57 Years Of Marriage To Go

Today is our wedding anniversary :o) Thirteen years! I'd say that we're starting to feel like an old married couple but that happened years ago. LOL! When we first got married, DH had promised me, in front of witnesses by the way, 70 years together so he's still got 57 years to go. After that, it's a free for all. Do you think we'll be prime dating material when we're 94? ;o)

A few days ago I took the dogs outside with me and tried to get some pictures of them. This is Tweedledee (Brie) and Tweedledum (Duncan) -

Quite the odd couple aren't they? LOL! I can't remember who asked but Brie is a miniature Dachshund. She only weights around 10-11 pounds with a very solid body. In comparison, Duncan is an Australian Cattle Dog and is about 55 pounds of solid muscle. It's really amazing how well they get along with each other. There definitely is a bond there.

The Odd Couple, Mutt & Jeff, Dumb & Dumber, the two have quite a few nicknames ;o) Duncan used to be a show dog so we only brought him home at two years of age. I can't remember but he was either number one or two in Canada. He's got quite the portfolio. DH and I consider Duncan our slow child. He may be pretty to look at but he's missing a few oars from his boat. LOL!

Duncan LOVES to bury his bones. He rarely chews them. It's so funny to watch him though because if he sees that you're watching him, he'll grab the bone and find another location to dig. But it's not like he makes a hole to drop the bone in. His idea of hiding it is to just lay it on the ground and push the dirt over top of it :oP

Brie continues to do well but we know she'll never be 100%. Her coat has grown all the way in and it completely covers the scar from her operation. She still loves to run and play. I was out with her the other night, trying to get her to go poo, when she decided she wanted to play. We ran all around the back yard, to the front of the house, around my car twice, around DH's car twice and then I finally had to give up because I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I can only imagine what our neighbours thought of this grown woman, in her fleece pyjamas, running around chasing a little black rat. LOL!

I have one thing to confess about Brie though...she does have a drinking problem :o) She's like a magnet to wine and beer. No drink is safe if it's within her reach. A few nights ago, DH and I were getting ready to eat supper in the living room (this is where we always eat) and he went in and placed his glass of milk down beside his chair. What he didn't realize was that he placed the drink 'on' Brie's carpet. Wee One figured since it was on 'her' carpet it was fair game. She did get a time out but it was funny as all get out ;o)

Btw, Happy Anniversary Sweetie! I'm looking forward to many more wonderful years together and I love you :o)

Watership Down

What can I say? If you've never heard of the book, I highly suggest that you go out, find a copy and read it. NOW! This novel has got to be one the most brilliant pieces of writing and it has even been compared to Tolkien's, The Lord of the Rings. It is by far the favourite book in my library and it's had a home there for many, many years. Richard Adams is a magnificent storyteller and by the time you are past the first chapter, you come to know not only the characters but the landscape that surrounds them as well. It's almost as if the story springs to life in your mind as you're reading along.

For those of you who are not familiar with the book, it's about a band of rabbits who decide to leave their current warren as it is about to be destroyed by the hand of man. Their dream is to find a new home and set up a better society than the one they are leaving behind. The story takes you through that journey and what it takes for them to eventually get there. By the end of the book, I guarantee that you will fall in love with Hazel, Fiver, Clover, Dandelion, Pipkin, Hyzenthlay, Bigwig, Holly, Silver, and Kehaar :o)

I read a review once where they compared General Woundwort and the Owsla to Hitler and the Nazis. And while I can definitely see this view, the story does not stray far from what our own society has evolved into today. We still don't live in a perfect world. It's ruled by government and corruption. Racism and inhumanity still exists whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Every one of us has an idea in our head of what our perfect world would look like and I think unconsciously we keep trying to find it.

That's one thing I love about this story. Hazel has a dream. He knows what he wants and he sets out to achieve it. The road there isn't an easy one by any means but it's his determination that keeps him going. He knows what will make him happy. How many of us can say this? I feel that after almost fifteen years of being together, DH and I are finally on our way to finding the happiness that we have been seeking. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying that we've been unhappy all this time but it's almost like we end up just living from day to day, waiting until that opportunity comes along. Some find it faster than others but the constant remains the journey. There is always a journey.

So, how's that for deep thinking on a Saturday afternoon? LOL! I'll end this post on a lighter note then ;o) Over the years I have been trying to collect a set of Watership Down figurines that were produced back in the 70's (I believe). These are the characters that I have so far -

Stupid me packed these away before writing down the information that was underneath them :oS I really don't know much about them but I believe they were produced in the UK and there was the name New Orleans. I received two from a very special friend who was lucky enough to find them at a flea market and the rest have come from EBay. If anyone knows more about these or where I can get additional ones to complete my collection, plmk. Thanks!

Animal Facts...

...you may or may not know ;o)

The average hen will lay 227 eggs a year.

The blood of a snowshoe crab is blue.

Chickens that lay brown eggs have red earlobes. There is a genetic link between the two.

The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet at all times.

A Holstein's spots are like fingerprints. No two cows have the same pattern of spots.

Turtles can breathe through their butts.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

It's possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs.

A polar bears fur is transparent in colour.

A duck's quack doesn't echo and no one knows why :o)

We Have A Michaels

It took years but we finally got one!!!! I know it isn't a LNS but at least it's a craft store and somewhere that I can buy DMC at a reasonable price. Yesterday they opened their doors for the first time. I didn't think I was going to be anywhere near the store so I hadn't planned on being there. Someone must have been smiling down on me because I was dropped off right in front of the store :o)

As soon as I got to the floss section, lo and behold there was Carolyn! She wasn't kidding when she said she was going to be there the first day they opened. We had a quick chat and then I picked up some floss. Out of all the floss that I have, I couldn't believe it when I only had one 451 in my stash! That's always the way though isn't it? LOL!

Well, the contractors are finished! The building for The Needlework Shop is complete -

There were times when I didn't think they were going to finish their job but they came through and worked steadily all week ;o) Now I have some time off while I hunt down a landscaper so it's back to stitching Tot. I wonder how hard it is to get a landscaper at this time of year. Anyone know?

DH and I had some company this weekend :o) Mom and Dad arrived Friday evening and work started on the bathroom right away. Because we'll be putting the house up for sale as soon as possible, we're trying to get some of the remaining renovation projects completed. One of those projects was the main bathroom. It was really dated with the grey fixtures so it just needed a makeover ;o) This was the progress by Saturday morning -

No more grey fixtures (okay, except the sink) and no more gross flooring :o) GONE! Woohoo! This is the status as of today -

Have you ever seen a redneck's shower before? Well it probably looks something like this ;o) LOL! Toilet and tub are in as well as my new floor. We ended up falling behind but not because of something we did. DH and I had picked up the roll of flooring a few years ago and on the label it stated - "6 ft x 9 ft, approximate size (minimum size 6' x 8'9")" but when we rolled it out, it was only 6' x 6'. Hmmm...where did the other 3' go???? Grrrr! Sooooo, DH had to run back into town to get new flooring.

I'm really pleased with the work that got done this weekend though and I've got to thank Dad and DH for their hard work. Mom did her share of the work though and ended up babysitting Brie the majority of the time. LOL! I'm sure if you asked her though, she'd say she doesn't consider it work when it comes to her grand-dog ;o)

The Bucket List

I'm sure most of you have either seen the trailer or the movie itself. If not, let me give you a quick explanation :o) The Bucket List is about two older gentlemen who write out a list of things that they want to do before they "kick the bucket", i.e. die. Some of the stuff is outlandish but hey, it is a movie after all. LOL!

I think we've all, at some point in our lives, kept hopes and dreams of some things that we'd like to do someday but how many of us have actually written these down on paper? After confronting my own possible mortality back in 2000 with my breast cancer (things were a little more complicated and frightening at the time with other unknowns that I have never written about), I decided that to get back into life, I would start to make small goals for myself and slowly work up to bigger ones. Thus, this was the beginning of my Bucket List :o)

As I stated, things started out small. My first goal was to stitch this pink ribbon piece before my surgery -

And I did :o) In case you're wondering what's written on the plaque, it's a quote by my DH and it reads "In honour of the spirit that all women possess when overcoming obstacles."

Not only did my Bucket List contain things that I wanted to do in my lifetime but it also contained the things that I had already managed to achieve, like marry my soul mate :o) As each goal was met, it would get transferred to this second part of the list. After a few years, I began to see this side grow and that does wonders for someone's soul.

So far I have managed to meet the smaller and more achievable goals for this time in my life but there are still many things on my list that have yet to be done. One of them was to see the Eagles in concert. I grew up with their music playing on the radio and I guess those tunes never escaped my head because I became a huge, HUGE fan. I have all their tapes/CDs, whatever you want to call them now. LOL!

Back in 1994 they were in Toronto for a concert and for some reason I couldn't make it :o( I thought for sure they'd never come together again. But then the news hit earlier this year that they were going to be the featured band to play in Moncton. I just about died! I probably would have walked over hot coals to get there but deep down I knew the reality of going to such a thing. A whole day venue, outside, with no chairs would not bode well with my Fibro :o( DH was more than willing to get me there but unfortunately I had to think of my health first.

Then something miraculous happened this week. I went to the mailbox and there was a bubbled envelope addressed to me from Moncton. As soon as I got in the house I ripped it open. At first I was a little confused as to the contents but once I pulled it all out, this is what I saw -

There ARE such things as Fairy Godmothers and I now have my very own!!!! To say that I was over the hill with happiness would be an understatement ;o) If this is as close as I could get to that concert, then that's good enough for me and I have Lori-Ann to thank for that! This is such a huge RAOK that I'm not sure I could ever repay but I will certainly try. You have provided me with a taste of the concert but in the comfort of my own home and what could be better. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the very bottom of my heart :o)

The Winds Of Change...

...Are actually blowing in the right direction for once and I'm almost afraid that if I breathe too hard, they'll change back. I'm sure you must know what I'm talking about. When things in your life start to go wrong, then it seems like everything crumbles and it feels like you can never get ahead of it. But on the flip side, when things suddenly go right, it seems that everything begins to go your way and that is where DH and I have 'finally' found ourselves :o) Mind you, this has been a two year process, at least. It's been a LONG time since we've seen this greener side of the fence so it's only natural that we're being a little cautious.

Now that the major players are aware of our new situation, I can finally share it with you all :o) How many of you have been dying to hear the news? Maybe I should hold on to it for a little bit longer? Yes? ;o) LOL! Okay, okay, enough teasing...

A few years ago, DH had applied with the Federal Department of Fisheries & Oceans with an interest in becoming a Fisheries Officer. His educational background is a combination of Natural Resources and Law Enforcement and after working 'too' many years at a job that he is becoming to literally hate; he felt it was time for a change. He almost made the cut last year but at the last minute, the government cut back the number of positions available and DH (and I) were crushed :o(

Two weeks ago, DH got the call that we have eagerly been hoping and waiting for since this all started two years ago...he was told to pack his bags because he was going into the training program to become a Fishery Officer!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! The call went something like this...

"Are you still interested in the job?"

"Yup."

"Are you willing to pack up and move?"

"Yup."

"Are you willing to live in the middle of nowhere?"

"Yup."

"Are you willing to move to Nova Scotia?"

"Yup."

That's right! Not only is DH getting a new job but we're moving! This was THE first time that I actually smiled to myself and was truly happy. This is huge and I mean HUGE! Not only are we moving away and starting somewhere new, we're also securing our future and taking charge of our own happiness :o)

Sounds pretty straight forward huh? HA! We have two months to finish renovating the house, pack and sell it before DH heads off for training. He will be away from October 27 to December 19 where he'll be training in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He will have two weeks off for Christmas and then he's gone again from January 5 to March 6, where he'll be in Regina Saskatchewan! I thought one week away at a time was a lot but now I'll have to get used to two months at a time :o(

So where does that leave me? Well, if the house doesn't sell, I'm going to stay here until it does. We won't be moving until next year anyway plus, we still don't know where he will be posted yet. If the house does sell, I have contemplated moving back in with good ol' Mum and Dad ;o) How that will work, I don't know but I'm sure we can set some boundaries. As long as I can have access to Dad's high speed internet, I'll be happy. LOL!

Remember when I said that when things start to go right, it seems that the winds completely change in your favour? Well, I have a job interview tomorrow with the Provincial Government for that job that I went in for testing! This is a job that I really want too. Figures huh? My thoughts...I might as well go and if I do get the job, I'll work there until such time as we have to move. It will probably be hard to leave it if I like it as much as I think I will but at least I'll have that experience to add to my resume :o)

Hopefully I will be able to keep up with my Blog but things are going to turn very busy now that the wedding is over and we can fully concentrate on getting our place in shape. Things have already been packed away and we're going to have one massive yard sale. I refuse to move any more than I have to! LOL! Does anyone have any good advice about packing up your framed needlework? Remember, this might have to go into storage for some time :oS

I'm definitely going to miss the girls and my other friends that I have here in the city but we can always keep in touch by emails :o) There will be new friends to make and who knows, it might even end up being a fellow Blogger! Until then, I will be dreaming about my man dressed up in uniform and sporting a gun on his hip ;o) What IS it with a man in uniform ladies? Sigh!

A Whirlwind Weekend, Literally!

I know they say that rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck but to have an actual hurricane? That must mean that my SIL and new BIL are cemented for life ;o) LOL! Despite the fact that we did have Hurricane Hanna bearing down on us, the weekend turned out surprisingly nice.

DH and I arrived in St. Andrews on Friday afternoon and checked into our hotel. What a nice place it was too! We had never stayed at the Rossmount Inn before but we will definitely be doing so again. The owners were friendly, the atmosphere was relaxing, the food was delicious and the overall experience was just lovely. The history of the hotel is quite an interesting one but I'm such a sucker for things like that :o) I only wish we had had more time to explore.

Apparently, Fun Cathey made an appearance on Friday evening at the rehearsal dinner. We were at The Gables, out on the patio, but since the wine was flowing (too) freely and it took an hour and a half just to get our salads, it wasn't surprising ;o) The last thing I can remember was the cheesecake. I 'can' tell you that the church rehearsal beforehand went very well. Good thing Fun Cathey wasn't there at that point because I doubt she would have delivered her reading in such an elegant fashion. LOL!

For being part of the wedding, my SIL gave me this gorgeous compact, engraved with my name -

It's definitely going to be treasured :o)

On Saturday, DH and I put on our big boy and girl clothes so we looked somewhat respectable and headed to the church ;o) The ceremony was beautiful and done in both English and French. My BIL's uncle helped with the French part of the ceremony. In the past, he has served at The Vatican! My SIL made her dress along with all the dresses for her Matron of Honour and her Bridesmaids. Her dress was white with a touch of burgundy while the others complimented with a combination of cream and burgundy.

I got a lot of compliments on my dress (and yes the girls stayed in check!). I only wish that we had had someone take a picture of DH and I together though :o( This is the best picture I have and it's cropped from one of the wedding pictures -

This was taken after the wedding so I'm showing lots of signs of being tired. I don't even think my energy level has even registered on the meter today :oS

The reception gave DH and I a chance to catch up with some friends and family members we had not seen in quite awhile. The food was good and the entertainment was second to none. LOL! But hey, the French always know how to have a good time so maybe that's why I come by it honestly ;o)

Yesterday was the brunch at the church hall and the gift opening by the bride and groom. When we arrived, DH and I got to see the effects of the storm that passed overnight. All the basements in St. Andrews were flooded and there were hoses coming out of almost every driveway. On the way to my in-laws, we saw the sides of the road washed out, creating great big craters. We were lucky in that I think that was the extent of the damage. Definitely just a drop in the bucket compared to those that are dealing with the hurricanes down south :o(

So, now we're home again but gearing up for another adventure! I know you are still patiently waiting and guess what? You'll be finding out in the next few days what I'm talking about so don't go too far away ;o)

Before I close, I want to thank my SIL and new BIL for a wonderful weekend and I hope it was as special as they had hoped it would be. Congratulations to you both and DH and I could not be happier for the two of you :o)

Here Comes The Bride

No, that's not me ;o) LOL! DH and I are just packing up now, on our way to St. Andrews. His sister is getting married this weekend so it's going to be a busy three days. Thankfully, this is the last SIL to marry so hopefully no more weddings in my near future. I think I'm all wedded out :oS I'm not your girly type girl but I am anxious to wear my new dress that I bought this past summer. DH even bought me a set of earrings with matching necklace just for this occasion. We're calling it my anniversary, Christmas, next year's birthday gift :o)

I'm actually going to leave my computer at home and will only have my PDA with me but that will only work if there is WIFI at the hotel. I imagine when I get back there will be tons of Blogs to catch up with so I'm going to warn you now that I might not leave any comments next week so that I can read up on everyone's news in a timely fashion.

While I'm gone, the contractors have agreed to work on The Needlework Shop so come the first of next week, I should have another progress picture for you ;o) They're now working on the second story walls and it's looking really good. Even my dad would be impressed with their workmanship. LOL!

I want to thank everyone for all the nice comments on Tot. It really means a lot to me that you stop by and take the time to say such nice things :o)

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll see you again on Monday! Bye!

Ahhhhh...I've Had My Fix

You're probably thinking that I went stash shopping or had the satisfaction of eating something that involved chocolate but if that's the case, you'd be wrong! Yesterday afternoon, I hung out the clothes, put my stitching in place, refused to answer the phone, planted my butt down on the couch and...watched the two hour season premiere of PRISON BREAK!!!! Ever since I saw the preview in August, I've been just jazzed about the show starting up again :o) And I have to say, they did not disappoint. Only five more days until the next episode...

DH doesn't like the show and says it's too 'unrealistic'. But what show that's on television these days is???? The reason I love this show so much is that they keep you on your toes. Characters can be eliminated from the show at any time. The writers make you love some characters while making you absolutely hate others. Even the ones you hate, you end up loving. It's been a long time since there's been a television show that has kept my interest for three years running.

It was a super busy weekend and my body is NOT happy. Even though it was, and still is, screaming at me, I'm still managing to get some stitching in :o) As I stated before, the contractors for The Needlework Shop completed the brick work on the foundation -

I've spoken to them since and we've come to an agreement that they will work on the shop a few days a week so you should see some progress in the near future ;o) Contractors! But what can you do? LOL!

Don't like working on linen? If that's you, you should try this Natural Pearl Linen by Zweigart. This is one beautiful material that I guarantee you'll love. It's linen but it has the feel and thickness of Jobelan. There are flecks of color throughout, giving a sort of tweed look to it. Nice, nice stuff. I love it :o)

I know you've all been dying to see Tot...or maybe not ;o) Since the day the fabric arrived, I've been working on her and I'm quite excited with the look that is emerging -

What do you think? Lori at Enchanted Fabrics did a one-of-a-kind piece for me and she captured the image I had in my head to a tee. I'm not sure if you can see the full effect quite yet but there are clouds in the sky, which I'm hoping will make the moon pop, and the ground gives lots of room for the pumpkins to trail their vines. The colors blend so well and have the same hues as her dress -

I've started using the Kreinik but I think I'll leave all the beading until the end, again. LOL! I know Katie has been working on her (and we're STILL waiting for a picture!) and has quite a bit done. Is there anyone else? I'd love to see how others are coming along with their own Halloween Fairy :o)

Baked Brie

Anyone need their batteries charged or their car boosted???? If so, I've got just the thing -

ROFL!!!! This was our little girl this afternoon during her second acupuncture session :o) Yes, you heard me right...acupuncture. Electrified acupuncture. This was so over the top that I just had to take a picture. Dr. B called her Frankenbrie. LOL!

I did some research on the internet about treatment for Doxies that have had back surgery and acupuncture was one thing that was mentioned. It not only stimulates the nerve endings but it was also suggested that it would help with incontinence problems. Of course at our last visit, we found out that Brie had a urinary tract infection :oS So now that that is being treated with medication as well as with acupuncture, we are seeing improvement!

Dr. B is still very happy with Brie's walking. She still goes a bit wonky when she first gets up from a nap and she loses a bit of control of her back end if she gets too excited but that will all improve with time. We've been working on strengthening her hind end and that is going well. She even gained 0.2 Kg since last week and her hair is almost all grown back in :o)

While I'm on the subject of the critter kids, I took the time today to groom another member of the family...Pickles. He's my bunny wabbit :o) Pickles is changing his apparel at the moment, i.e. shedding. For some reason, he looks like someone drug him through a knot hole backwards. I felt so sorry for him that I took him outside to brush him. The next thing I know, I'm in the middle of what looks like a dandelion fluff storm! I took as much fur off of him as DH takes off of Duncan!

When Annie commented on my last post, she hinted to the fact that contractors are very unpredictable. Well, she's right. They came back long enough to finish the brickwork on the foundation of The Needlework Shop but now they've disappeared! Good thing I didn't pay them yet ;o) I know they'll be back at some point though.

I'm SOOOOOO excited! My fabric arrived today for Tot!!!! WOOHOO! It is absolutely amazing and just what I envisioned for her :o) I couldn't resist...as soon as the fabric was ironed, I started stitching her. Maybe that's why my contractors are taking a break. No picture yet though. I'm building up your anticipation ;o)

Okay, I was a bit behind on my Blog reading and came across another award that I was nominated for. This one came from Rachel -

Seriously, you've got to stop this because my head just won't fit through the doors in the house anymore and DH is getting tired of having me inside ;o) Here are the nominees, again, in no particular order and not to hurt anyone's feelings -

Loreta - a new Blog for me, her stitching is just beautiful and I love the fact that she's from Lithuania.

Jenn - she seems to always come up with great ideas.

Tammy - a stitcher with great inner strength even though she doesn't realize it.

Iris - she's a Halloween freak that does amazing finishing.

Olga - another new Blog for me and I'm inspired by her designing.

Chiloe - she makes me laugh with her antics and I love seeing her pieces come to life.

Judy - a fellow book lover and stitcher with a huge heart.

Again, there are some rules:

1) Put the logo on your Blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least seven other Blogs.
4) Add links to those Blogs.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their Blogs.

There's a long weekend coming up! I hope everyone will enjoy it :o)

Welcome To My...

Needlework Shop -

As you can see, it's still under construction but it's going at a pretty good pace. How they have the upstairs windows hung in mid air like that, I'll never know ;o) The brickwork on the foundation should be done in another day and then the upstairs walls will go in. The architect, CCN, did a lovely job designing this place don't you think? LOL!

LOOK -

When I saw this there was a HUGE smile on my face :o) That means that fall is just around the corner AND it's my favourite time of year. The nights have been cool and I've been enjoying that but the mosquitoes are still out >:o( DH is talking about going camping in Maine sometime during the month of September. Brie and I are all for it!

Today I went and had FOUR vials of blood taken out of me. It started hitting me on the way home even though I had some apple juice and a donut ;o) You didn't hear the donut part. Shhhh! The girl that took my blood was really good but then again, I have 'wonderful' veins. I almost associate those nurses with vampires because they mention this every time I go in. LOL!

On my way home, I took a quick peek to see if I could find myself a strapless bra for my dress. Wouldn't you know it...I did! Not only is it black, my size and seamless, it's got straps so you can convert it to a regular bra AND it comes with those 'invisible' straps :o) When I got in the dressing room, I stuffed the girls in and put my t-shirt back over top to see the effect. Not only does it hide 'the' nipple but it makes the girls look like twins again. My only problem, trying to stay in that thing!

I'm almost embarrassed to say but I've been nominated for another award {blush}. Jennifer awarded me this -

Here are the rules:

1) Only five people allowed.
2) Four of them have to be dedicated followers of your Blog and one has to be new and live in another part of the world.
3) You have to link back to who gave you the award.

Here are my nominees and again, they are in NO particular order -

Mumsy - as you know, this is my mother and she has been an avid reader and fan of my Blog.

Karen - I know you're not Blogging at the moment girl but we've got a lot of history together.

Lori-Ann - a retreat buddy that Katie and I converted into a Blogger buddy.

Nancy - the queen of scrapbooking and an artist.

Joanne - an Aussie with a flair for stitching and cake decorating.

To round off my day, I just got THE most awesome, life changing news!!!! My mind is racing with uncertainties, my face is flushed with happiness and my heart is relieved :o) I hate to be a tease but I cannot say a word for the time being. I know, I know! But there are some things that have to be taken care of first before 'the cat can be let out of the bag'. Stay tuned.

Birds & Bits

Even though there are still some hot and humid days lingering, the feel of fall is in the air :o) It's during this month that DH and I see a special kind of bird flying high in the sky. Over the years, they've been too high to determine what they are but this year, I think I've finally figured it out! They're called the Common Nighthawk and contrary to their name, they are not strictly nocturnal.

This year they were flying low enough that we were able to identify a white band on each wing and we could also pick out some brown, where before we thought the bird was completely black. It's so interesting to watch these birds because they fly in small flocks and they sore the sky like jets, scooping up insects in the air. I read in our bird book that one Nighthawk alone will consume over 500 mosquitoes! Heck, I'd set them up with housing if they would stay around all summer ;o)

Our other bird encounter this year has been with the American Goldfinch. For as long as I can remember over the past several years, there has always been one male and one female around our place. That's it! No other Goldfinches whatsoever. I'm always wondering if it's the same pair that comes back every year. You know they're around because you either hear their beautiful song or see a streak of yellow fly by :o)

This year we had quite a few sunflowers by the back patio and they were just the right height, around mid-thigh. About a week ago I startled the female Goldfinch when I walked out the patio door. Then I noticed why she was there. The sunflowers were turning and going to seed and she was packing up for the winter :o) I tried several times to get some good pictures and I don't think I was too popular with her at first -

But finally, with lots of patience, I snapped this one -

On to other things...I've noticed from my last post that I received quite a few comments! To my new readers, this is just a sample of my twisted sense of humour and I hope I didn't offend anyone. It's meant to be a funny post and I want people to laugh with me so I hope you will and never feel bad about doing so :o)

I know a lot of people are using Google Reader now so we're not directed to a Blogger's main page anymore :o( I just wanted to point out that my Cadbury Easter Cream Egg marathon has finally run its course. With those few extra from Shannon last month, I was able to achieve a breaking record but you'll have to go to my main page to see what it is ;o)

A lot of you have asked about Brie and don't worry; I will be putting up a post later this week about her. I have something very interesting to show and I didn't have the camera with me the first time around :oS She is doing just fine though and gaining even more strength in her hind end. DH and I think that she loves her new bed just a little too much because we've had a few mornings that 'we've' had to get 'her' up. LOL!

And finally...I want everyone to know that my mother now has her own Blog! That's right :o) I helped her set it up on the weekend and I'm quite proud of her :o) She's the quilter in the family and has even won a Grand Champion. I'd love it if you would head on over to her Blog, Quilts & All, and just say a little hello. She's been tickled pink with this new adventure and I'd like her to be welcomed into the Blogging community.

Stay tuned as there's more to come this week :o)

The Phantom...

Menace! No, but that was an awesome movie :o) The Phantom of the Opera! Nope, but what a classical love story that is. What about The Phantom Nipple? HA! That got your attention didn't it? ;o)

I'm sure you've all heard about the 'phantom limb' that people experience when they lose a leg, arm, finger, etc. Even though that part of their body is no longer there, at times they still get sensations as if it were. Apparently, this includes nipples as well :oS

As most of you know, I no longer have 'identical twin girls' ;o) For those of you who are new to my Blog, I had a radical mastectomy on my right side back in 2000 due to breast cancer. During that operation I had reconstruction surgery but all I have is a bump with no cherry on top. LOL!

There have been times over the years that I've had this sensation where that right nipple should be. Basically, it's like an itch that you can never scratch >:o( And that's pretty much what it feels like, an itch. It can drive me bonkers! I can scratch it all I want but it's like rubbing your lip after you've had it frozen at the dentist's office. Do you get my frustration? Probably not ;o)

I have a family wedding to go to in a few weeks and I'm having a dilemma with my dress. Because of the way the top is cut, none of my bras will work so that means I either go 'commando' or I try a strapless bra. Dilemma number two...because the girls are no longer twins, there is a significant difference when they are let loose or not held together properly ;o) My job is to find a strapless bra that will be comfortable and provide support. Does such a beast even exist????

Another problem I encounter a lot is the nippy 'hard on'. You know what I mean girls, when it's too cold outside ;o) Well...it looks kind of funny when only one pops up. In this instance, I have some options as well. I could have one surgically put on but my surgeon and plastic surgeon have tried for years to convince me but knowing where the 'extra' comes from, they can keep trying until they're blue in the face ;o)

Option two is to buy some nipple covers. Yes, believe it not, they do exist! That way, the little 'ready when done' pop up nodules are restrained and you look, well, just very well rounded ;o) The last option is to buy a nipple. Okay, maybe I should have mentioned earlier that you should have put down your coffee or tea before reading this post :oP Such a thing can be bought and I've even seen one. They're like suction cups with a bump. I never did ask how they stay on though... Just imagine you could actually create your own third nipple like Chandler on Friends! ROFL!

Sixth Finish For 2008

Woohoo! One more step closer to the goals I set for 2008 :o) This is Herb Garden by LHN -

I really love the colors and I can't seem to say that enough. I'm not a purple person either but this fabric is so soft and lovely.

Here's a close up of the brown hare himself -

I shouldn't have a problem finding a frame. It's getting off my butt and actually stretching the piece is what will probably slow me down. Hey, I'm being honest because I know myself ;o) LOL!

So, this piece will go towards one more small finish. I really need to start focusing on my medium sized projects because so far I have none completed :oS I was really hoping my fabric for Halloween Fairy (I've named her Tot, short for Trick or Treat, thanks to Rachael) would arrive today but no such luck :o( I'm anxious to start her. My lips are sealed about the fabric until I show you my first WIP picture ;o)

I guess that means I either dig out my project for the Christmas ornament exchange or I can start one of the medium sized pieces that I have lined up and actually have all the stuff for. Hmmm....I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone know a great substitute for 28 count Vintage Lentil linen by Lakeside Linens? They say it's close to DMC 644.

There are a few thank yous that I want to extend. The first is to Suzanne for her RAOK :o) She sent me this pattern off of my Want List -

The other is to Rachael for nominating me for this award -

I know I say this a lot but I can't tell you how much it means to me when people tell me that they enjoy reading my Blog :o) From some of the comments that were left last time, it seems that a lot of you have memories from my fart posts. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing! LOL! Anyway, this time I will follow the rules and pass this award on to other people. Please DO NOT be offended if I don't list your Blog. My criteria this time is to promote some awesome Blogs that may not be as well known in Bloggerland :o) So here they are -

Jocelyn - this mighty woman adds magic to everything she does from stitching and quilting to gardening and baking.

Mary Ann - I am in awe of the kindness that she spreads around with her stitching for sick children.

Sue - I love watching all her stitching come to life and she's a fellow animal lover.

Nursy - she's finally been roped into the Blogging world so check her out to see how she's doing.

Renee - this wizard does model stitching for Nora Corbett and Country Cottage Needleworks, plus she's a great friend.

Cindy - not only does she make beautiful fobs but she's a huge Bon Jovi fan as well.

Stitch Pink - a wonderful Blog set up by Kim and deals with anything that has to do with breast cancer.

For those of you who have been awarded, please post the following rules on your Blog -

1. The winner can put the logo on their Blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other Blogs.
4. Put the links to those Blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the Blogs of those you've nominated.

That'd be it :o)

Who ARE You People And Where Do You Come From?

No, I'm not talking about aliens! Although... LOL! This morning I was out doing my daily Blog visits when I came across something neat on Chiloe's Blog. Like Chiloe, I wonder who exactly stops by my Blog but never leaves a comment. I know, sometimes people are shy, or too busy to write but I love getting to know my readers so here's your chance to speak up :o) I know my counter speaks volumes so who's reading my Blog????

Here are the rules:

1) As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we've never met, leave me a comment about your favourite post that I wrote and why it was your favourite.

2) Next, re-post these instructions on your Blog (if you have one) and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your Blog and leave one about you :o)

You Know The Weather's Bad When...

You open the door and even the dog won't go out :oS Poor Duncan took one look and if a dog can show disgust, he hit it spot on. LOL! What a rotten summer this has been. We've gone from hot and humid to wet. And with that comes the Blah's :o( Yuck! Curling up on the couch and watching television is as good as it gets this week.

Today I went to apply for a job with Michael's. It was 'supposed' to be for an Office Assistant but I wasn't told until I got there that it was already filled. Grrrrr! Waste of time. The good news is the store will be opening on September 13! At least I got that bit of insider news ;o)

In my last post I talked about Cindy being an inspiration. Well, I'm going to talk about her again because she is also one talented girl ;o) I have a HUGE thank you to pass along to her for sending me these gorgeous scissor fobs -

I apologize it took this long to get a picture up but...the weather is just not cooperating >:o( Now I have a pair of scissors waiting for Halloween and the pink ribbon fob goes very well with my pink bunny scissors. If you want to check out what Cindy sells, take a peek at Cindy's Stitchy Stuff.

I've been plugging away at Herb Garden, although not very enthusiastically. I'm pretty much at the halfway mark -

Please forgive the crooked linen but I was too lazy to take it out of the Q-Snaps ;o) I'm still really loving the colors in this one and since it fits a 5 x 7 frame, it should be easy to get up on The Wall of Stitch.

I did have a burst of ambition yesterday when I decided to go through my two drawers of fabric. Yes, I did say two drawers :oS I now have a better inventory system and they are grouped together by count and type. I thought it might be going too far if I went for color too. LOL! So not only will my fabric be easier to find, I now have spreadsheets done for each count so I know what I have on hand (count, type, color and size). Did anyone else do something motivational this week?

Brie is still doing very well :o) My parents were over on the weekend and said they noticed a big difference from a few weekends ago. It's harder for DH and I to see because we see her every day. That was nice to know. I was afraid we weren't going anywhere. She will now allow me to lift one front paw at a time as long as she is standing. Her hind end is becoming even stronger. On the weekend, DH and I bought her a new kennel because the other one was just too small and she would get too stiff if she spent any amount of time in there. Today I bought a huge pillow and some fabric so this week it's my job to cover said pillow with said fabric :o)

Seven Wishes

"If you were handed seven wishes, would you turn your back for more? Would you hold on tight to what you have, would you try to change the score?" ~ Lyrics by Night Ranger

After reading Cindy's Blog the other day, this quote caught my eye and peeked my interest. I knew an idea had already engrained itself in my brain and I asked Cindy's permission if I could borrow it for my own post. Thanks girl :o)

Okay, imagine you've been presented with seven wishes but you have three options, what are you going to do? Will you ask for more, keep what you have or try and change your present circumstances? Seems pretty straight forward doesn't it? I gave this serious thought and although I am not one to look back on the past and run through the "What Ifs", I have come up with my own answer.

I definitely would not ask for more. I feel that when it really comes down to it, I am very lucky in life. Yes, there have been some crrrrappy things happen this year but I have a roof over my head, food in the cupboards, clothes on my back, friends who enjoy my company (I think!), family that love me, critter kids to torment me and the love of my life, DH :o) How could you dare ask for anything more when you have all that?

Now here is where the waters become a little murky...would I keep what I have? YES...but no. As you just saw, I listed off a number of great things in my life and those I would definitely not wish to be different. What would I change then? There are two things. Only two. One would be to erase Brie's back problem. Brie has been nothing but the sweetest of dogs and one that only knows unconditional love. She never deserved the fate that was dealt to her.

The second change would erase some of my health problems. The breast cancer I can live with. I've come to terms with that and I think it has made me a better person. It's the Fibromyalgia and the Chronic Fatigue that I would want taken away. They have brought nothing but grief to me, both physically and mentally. I want to break free of this prison and have my original life back.

And finally, would I try and change my present circumstances? To be completely honest, yes, but not in ways you may think! Do I want to be rich? No. Do I want a perfect body? No. Do I want to create world peace? It would be a nice thought but not truly realistic, so no. End world hunger? Again, unfortunately no. There are only two things that I'd want to be different. Really, really :o)

One, I would like it if DH and I had jobs that we absolutely loved. Jobs that made us truly happy and that we looked forward to going to every morning. Two, I would absolutely love it if DH and I had an oceanfront property :o) I just want a view of the water from every window of our quaint little house and a small beach where we can go beachcombing every evening. A quiet solitude away from the bustle of a hectic society. Sigh.

As you can see, my wishes are not extravagant. Yes, this is all for fun but I wanted it to border realism at the same time. So...which one would you choose? My challenge to you is to try the same thing. Be honest with yourself. Look deep inside and let your heart tell you what you 'really' want. Believe me, it's not as easy as you think ;o)

When Good Donuts Go Bad

A sport's store sells sporting goods. A pet store sells pet supplies. A grocery store sells food items. It would stand to reason that a donut shop would sell donuts. Or so you'd think, right? That's what I always understood.

This morning, I went into town to do testing for a job that I applied for with the government. It took about an hour and a half. After I finished a few errands, I thought that I would stop and treat myself to a gooey treat :o)

Up here in 'da nort', we have a chain of donut shops called Tim Horton's. They are literally like a cult and it's the coffee, not the donuts, which pulls people in. There's practically one on every corner and their drive thru line ups have actually caused problems because they've been so long. Some people travel there a couple of times a day, seven days a week. Now that's dedication!

Anyway, I'm over by the Exhibition Grounds so I stop in at the Tim's there. I pull up to the drive thru and the lady comes on and asks me if she can take my order.

"Yes, I'd like a Strawberry Blossom and a chocolate glazed donut please."

"Um, I'm sorry but we don't have any more Strawberry Blossoms."

"Okay, can I have one of your chocolate cookies then?" ~ I'm looking right at a picture of one on their drive thru menu board.

"Nope, I'm sorry, we don't have those either."

"Alright, what do you have for filled donuts?"

"Do you mean the powered donuts?"

"Yes."

"Oh, we don't carry those here."

O-kay... I bet you that if we had a Krispy Kreme here we wouldn't have that problem!!!! Btw, if anyone can stuff a KK donut into an envelope and send it to me, I'd be FOREVER grateful ;o)