Back to Internetland

Home from the camp now and back into the land of internet. We don't have internet service there, its supposed to be the place to get away from such things and spend time together. We decided to stay an extra week so we were there for 3 weeks total (since before xmas). I thought I would really miss being online but I really didn't. It was actually quite peaceful being away from the hussel-bussel or busyness of technology! Life used to be so much more simple.

The holidays were nice, family and friends and good food. I didn't spend as much time with my book as I planned but I did catch up on some scrapbooking! I had some Canada Games pictures from 2003 that needed an album and I have them almost all finished and looking good I might say! Our daughter competed that year in freestyle skiing so it was about time I got those pictures done! Just a few more odds and ends to find like newspaper clippings and its all done. This week I will have to work on my ATC Club project for January. That will be my art for the week. Its a harder theme this month for me so I will have to think hard about it.

Also it was a great time to be 'snowed in' at the camp considering I have been weaning off morphine over the last few weeks. So not having to travel anywhere or have plans was perfect timing. I am almost completely off the morphine now and should be done in around another week. That will be so great.

My boys are both teaching skiing this winter which leaves Saturdays to myself. It is weird not to be at the hill teaching with them but I decided to enjoy my day too being lazy, doing some art projects or something along those lines in the quietness. Sometimes I put an old movie on just for company in the background that I can watch or ignore, something like Gone With The Wind or Meet Me In St. Louis or another musical. Its fun.

Well, thats all for tonight, catch up some more later.

Time for updates

I guess it has been a while since I updated this blog. Shame on me! My friend, Rachel, puts a bug in my ear every now and then to get moving on it. It is certainly a white Christmas here and lately it has been in the minus twenties with the windchill (celcius) which is pretty cold especially considering it has been fairly mild all Fall. The kids are off school now as of today and the holiday shopping is all done, at least on my part but hubby is another story. He tends to be a last minute shopper. He is working tonight and the boy is out overnight with friends which means I had the house to myself and could wrap. We are heading to the cottage for most of the holidays which will be peaceful and fun because there is no tv which means we will play lots of games together, visit together and relax. Gotta love that. Plus I will get some quality time with my latest book recently published by Diana Gabaldon, a sequel to the Outlander series. I just love the story and the history in it. We don't have internet access at the cottage so it will be another while before I can update again but I'll try to write again before we go. There will be lots to report on after the weekend.

For all you Survivor fans, the finale is coming up this weekend. We expect a living room full of fans and lots of goodies to finish off what has been a really good season. Yes, I am still in the pool but barely!! Hoping to win the mulah!

Happy Holidays to all.

Birthdays

Its what I call my birthday week, which means my birthday falls on a day this week. Lets just say its a significant birthday this year which is why I'm glad to be a November baby, haha.

So along with a significant birthday come lots of different thoughts; one being, "do I have wrinkles yet??????" ahhhhh wrinkles? so I checked....ok so here are the eyes :

Here are the eyes when I grin:

So I guess we can call them laughing lines and yes, I still have freckles. So did my grandma.

My very very close friend Rachel sent me a beautiful quilt with a matching pillow cover for my significant birthday. Here is a picture of it:

Having been involved in skiing professionally for many years, the theme is really appropriate! Really really nice and a lot of work went into that. Its awesome. Not only that but she did the most beautiful write up on her blog about the long friendship that we have had. I had many tears in my eyes when I read that, it was sooo thoughtful and very real.

What else is new? hmmm, Levi is getting big now and looking more like a cat even though he is only 5 months. He is still very beautiful though. Loulou has now become the 'grown up' of the cats in our family. Pretending to not want so much loving but secretly loving every second of attention! She loves Levi too, except when he steals her chairs. She gets quite annoyed at him but still sleeps with her arm around him!

Medically is another story. I have not updated that part of my life story in a while. Lets just say that I have actually been doing better in the last few weeks and I'll update that this coming week in more detail.

Well, that is all for now. Hope you all enjoy your significant birthdays and celebrate all the ones that follow just because you get to have them, good reason to celebrate eh?

Growing Kids

My baby is graduating from high school this year. He and his first cousin whom he is very close to. So graduation stuff has already started, year book orders, ring orders, pictures,etc. all that good stuff. While we have had professional photos done of him, my sister and I decided to take some pics of the kids together for our family. So we got the camera out at the camp one day and did a few candid shots, which have not been touched up yet but here are a few:


Are they good looking kids or what? Of course, I am biased! While I am happy for him and his achievements, I must admit it is a bit sad to think of him almost through with school. I had to tease him a few days ago, he actually had his first cavity filled at the dentist, his dad thought it would be great to put in his baby book!!! Of course, he has not completely decided his next course of action, I think he is considering several options. When the time comes I will really miss my little buddy who chats with me when we are alone, rubs my back when I feel really sick and still kisses mom goodnight. (but don't tell anyone). Tell me again, why do they grow up?

Aromatherapy

Lately I have taken a real interest in aromatherapy. I have invested in several essential oils and have been making household, health and bath products. Its wonderful and healthy and natural and fun! I recently adventured to make my own lip balm. Not knowing if it would be a success or a total bomb that wasted a bunch of ingredients! Mr. Hubby and I were pleasantly surprised at how nice it is, it is soft but not greasy and feels really good, smells good, moisturizes and protects. If I get enough replies I might even share the recipe!!! Here is what they look like.
Of course, it made more than 5. I had 10 of these and the recipe could have filled 20 or so. So as a result I have one MEGA size lip balm because I had to find a container to put the rest of the recipe in! haha. Next time I will have actual lip balm tubes. I ordered them already, they were reallly cheap. I don't know why I didn't do that the first time! Live and learn I guess. These ones have a slight mint scent/taste but you can make it any scent/flavor you like really.

I really like some of the health remedies you can find recipes for too. I started this by looking up an illness in a health guide that we keep at home and it was recommending essential oils for certain remedies and also some home remedy teas. This perked my interest and I thought it was a great idea to know what things there are out there besides another bottle of 'crap' from the pharmacy. At least thats what it feels like at times. So, I am having fun experimenting and looking up information (there is still safety to consider).

The Spirit List

A friend of mine challenged me to make a Spirit List. A list of items you want to do in the short term or accomplish in life. I loved reading hers and so here is mine:

• Someday have a lead role in my Gilbert and Sullivan group, I had a solo once but I got really sick before our live performance and wasn't able to sing :(
• Travel to Europe, and especially Scotland
• Learn to play the piano really well
• Get well enough to be very active again and feel attractive again
• Vacation in Hawaii at least once
• Have a house cleaner!
• Be able to go out with Rachel on those times when you want to do something with your friends
• Go across the Rockies on a motorbike with Dana and have adventures.
  
• Have a lovely daughter-in-law that I can be close to
• Have grandchildren that are close that I can love and spoil and then send home.
  
• Have great-grandchildren
• Have a better relationship with my daughter
• Ski again and better than I did before.
• Own a resort or adventure park.
• When I die I want people to remember only a lot of good things about me.
  

Well thats good for now. Ha ha. There can always be more.

Oh Buddy Oh Pal

So Levi has discovered himself a new pal. Yep, Loulou finally caved and decided that he is not so bad after all! Here are the best pals here:


Not only did Loulou decide that it was ok to be buddies but that she was going to take on the role of the new mommy too. AND its bath time:



Once bath time is over its time for a nap with your new favorite teddy bear:

Guess that new baby wasn't so bad after all! It only took a little over a week for her to come around. We are all one big happy family once again! Oh, and if you are wondering, yes Loulou has pink nail caps. They keep her from scratching the furniture not to mention they make her look fabulous!