Canada Brings Home the Gold

What a hockey game! This here is Crosby who scored the winning goal 7:40 into OT, the shot was amazing. Both teams played hard and both teams should be proud of their medals. 

The States almost had us, I was worried when the game tied with seconds left in the game. I feel that the States coach made an extremely smart move when he pulled their goalie with 1:30 left in the game, Canada played extremely defensively when this transpired and this is when the States had an advantage and tied it up. It was a nail bitter...great game guys, right until the end. You did us all proud Team Canada, way to go!

It is amazing that Canada broke the world record for most gold medals won at the Winter Olympics, 14 golds in total. I am having one of those "Proud to be Canadian" moments going on right about now. 

The Rescue

Today I met up with a cousin at the farmers market, we were to meet by the fireman. I had called my cousin when I couldn't find the statue, which is named "The Rescue."  We met indoors and after we browsed the market we went for a walk down Whyte ave. and out for lunch. It wasn't until I was walking back when I spotted the fireman. I was amazed, touched and had to take a photo. Now I am going to have to take my Rebel down to this same spot one day when the sun is out and take some more photos, I want to capture one which I can frame.

Good Friends, Good Food

Tonight I went out to dinner with two wonderful friends. I met these two men while I was studying English 30-1, a prerequisite I required to enter into Social Work studies. It's hard to believe that two years have passed me by since I met Dale who was our  instructor and Ilarion who was a peer. Both men are extremely interesting and I enjoy their company. Ilarion has advanced to college where he is pursuing his degree in education and Dale has moved on from the college I am attending, yet the three of us keep in touch. We go out for dinner every few months and I'm grateful that we do. I love hearing Ilarion's youthful perspective as well as Dale's wisdom and humor. Both of these men intrigue and  inspire me.

Thanks guys for the wonderful evening, I really enjoyed myself once again. And I did manage to walk into my home to see the final minute of the hockey game... Canada advances to play the US for gold!

Fat Franks

I think that this hot dog stop off is appropriately named, after all if you eat enough of these franks you will get fat. Fat Franks.... no thanks.

New Toys

Gotta love air miles, I didn't fly anywhere but I got one heck of a deal on a new camera through trading in some of my air miles. This new toy will be the one which I'll carry with me everyday for my P365. 

I loved my old camera but this one and it's sleek body will fit much better into my purse. Now to figure out how to work it and I'll be good to go. It's like my Rebel XSi, I'm slowly learning how to work that camera. One day I hope to know what I'm doing with my cameras, I figure as long as I'm having fun... isn't that what really counts?

You Scratch My Back...

Today we had a pot luck at the college, both first year and second year Social Work students participated. The lunch was fantastic! After our feast I wondered around aimlessly taking photos, this photo here is of three of the first year students. Two of the students were scratching the back of one of their peers.  

Now is this a social workey thing or it is a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" type of a statement? 

After watching the interactions amongst these students I'd have to say that it is more a "feel the love" statement. Today I felt the togetherness, the group unit, the working together sort of a feeling amongst the first year students. Hats off to you first year students! My biggest suggestion to all of you is try not to lose the connectedness, we all are going into one crazy making profession, and I know who I want to be covering my back when I'm out there...especially when I have an itch!

White Powder

Today I received a copy of "White Power" from Larry B. Lambert, a fellow blogger known as LL. This novel looks extremely intriguing. I've only read a few pages thus far but can't wait to have the time to delve right in. I know that this is going to be a wonderful novel, all one has to do is read LL's blog site and you will see that his writing is amazing.

To order this novel just click here, I'm sure that you won't be disappointed 

Thank you so very much LL (I won't tell anyone what a kind soul you are). 

Lists

I am a real list person, the busier my life becomes the more lists I write. I almost need a list to remember all of my lists!

As I was out shopping the other day I came across this simple plaque, this has to be the best list ever made. I am going to try to live by this list... all but eat the ice cream,  frozen yogurt maybe on the rare occasion but no to ice cream...nothing a permanent marker can't fix. :-)

A Gift From God

Technology today blows my mind; today as I sat in front of my computer at home I got to see my granddaughter who is due to be born in early May. This 3D image I captured shows our little gift from God's face.  She looks adorable and once she makes her entrance into this world, you bet I'll be sharing photos of her.

I am so excited, this moment in time is too large for words... all I can say is thank you Shayne and Sandy for sharing this moment which I will treasure forever.

Life In My Rear View Mirror

For some reason seeing the city in my rear view mirror looks much better than seeing the country in my rear view mirror. Today it was time to come back to the concrete jungle, back to do what I have set out to do. One day, degree in hand, I shall see this city in my rear view for the final time and my heart will dance. I already know the first thing is that I'm going to do when I leave here...I'm going to burn my daytimer.

Black Gold

In my travels today I noticed something which I generally don't. These oil derricks are quite common throughout Alberta so I quite often don't notice them. 

We have an abundance of oil, which is also known as "black gold",  spewing from our land in this vast province which I was born and raised in.  I often wonder though when it's going to dry up and what will happen when there's no oil left. I'm sure that I'll be long gone but wonder what is in store for my grandchildren. I shall pray for nothing but the best for our future generations. 

A Fresh Coat

Well wouldn't you know it, paint is back in my life once again, the farm house is getting a new coat of paint. I love these colors I picked out, a rich cream with dark brown accents. The bonus this time, I'm not the one painting! 

Let's hear it LL... lol

Burnt Cookies

 

Today I was baking some peanut butter cookies and got busy with Chance and lo and behold we ended up with a pan of well done cookies. Chance had a brilliant idea, why not feed them to the donkey? So that he did! Chance fed the donkey about 6 cookies then I thought that the poor donkey might get an upset stomach.  So that was the end of the donkey eating cookies even though the crazy donkey begged for more, it was no deal. I ignored him long enough and he finally shut up.

Thanks donkey, no evidence of burnt cookies in this house! :-)

Cat and Mouse

Quite the combination of pets I'd say, a cat and a mouse. This cat sits waiting patiently for the mouse to make a mistake, to slide out of his cage and the one thing I must say for this cat, he's got a world of patience. Now what I'd like to know is whatever possessed Herb to have a cat and a mouse for pets, this one is beyond me. Mind you he also has a rabbit who likes to think he's a chicken and a donkey who thinks it's a dog.... need I say more? :-)

My Hero

I was out having a blast, ripping around on the skidoo, taking tons of photos when BAM, I found myself laying in a ditch, skidoo flipped over. I tried to stand up and that didn't work very well, so I reached into my skidoo suit pocket and found my cell phone. I called Herb, (my hero to the rescue), who showed up in no time at all, he helped me into the truck and got the sled pulled up. I cracked the windshield and thank goodness that's all I cracked. 

A trip to town and xrays show that nothing is broken although I have a severe sprain in my knee. I guess I'll have to say close to home for the next few days but I'm going to try to get back on that skidoo before I head back to the city. They say that if you fall off a horse to get right back on again, this might not be no horse, but I'd best get back on it before I get scared.

I suppose that I'll focus on that essay that I wanted to get knocked off while I was out here, this is incentive to get that done, I can't do much else! :-)

Kelty

Kelty is the good old faithful farm dog, she's a Great Pyrenees and what an awesome guard dog. There's no more cows out here for her to watch over but she does her rounds almost daily and again throughout the night. If there's a thunderstorm she gets scared and hides out in the shop or has taken to coming in the house, I can't say that I blame her... I won't go out there when it's lightening, why should she?

It's a good thing that she's got a black nose and dark eyes or you wouldn't barely be able to see her against the snow!

Built Ford Tough

 

I love this old truck, it's one of my favorite things to photo. Today when I arrived at the farm it was pretty chilly and the Ford wasn't far from the house so yup here's the Ford once again.

I think I found winter and maybe, just maybe, there's going to be enough snow to take the sled out. I'll assess that in the morning when I can see past the patio.

Night Moves

My car had some pretty interesting numbers on it this evening. Odd I'd say to notice that the odometer read 50505 and I happened to be parked giving me the opportunity to take this photo (which I am pleased with especially due to the fact that I used my point and shoot ). This also shows our unreal temperatures we have been experiencing lately, it's been wonderful to be in single digit temperatures. I love it but  I still can't wait for spring!

There's something about this photo that puts the song "Night Moves" by Bob Seger into my head, I think that I'm going to have to go and give it a listen to now. Happy shooting to each one of you, thanks for stopping in, I love company!

Best Friends

Derek my son (on the left) has known Earl since about grade 8. These boys... men... have been best friends for quite a few years. Earl can often be found visiting with Derek and Aimy, it's not too often that I go to visit Derek when Earl is not there.  The guys spend a lot of time together, even after all these years they remain best friends. 

 I have recently learned that Earl is going to join the Canadian Army, he is going to be leaving for training on March 6th. I feel that it is honorable that Earl is choosing to do this. Earl I wish you all the best and God speed getting back home to your loved ones... and Derek naturally.

Stylin'

I was out browsing today and I came across the funkiest rubber boots I have ever seen. I thought about  purchasing these for the upcoming  gardening season, I'd be stylin'  out on the farm.  These boots are something that would suit me and my personality, dare to be different. I'll sleep on this and make my decision before spring arrives, after all who needs fancy rubber boots out on the farm? 

It is so nice to see spring apparel in the stores, this means that spring soon will be here, at least that is my wish for tonight.

One Smart Cookie

I received a very nice package in the mail. My cousins daughter, whom I have never met face to face, sent me this cookbook. This book has lower fat desserts in it and now I'm going to have to get busy baking and trying some of them out, when I have a break from all of my assignments this is. 

Now to live up to the title of the book, "one smart Cookie" ... this could be a tough one to live up to!

Thank you Bonnie, I shall cherish this gift for years to come.

Take Five

My desk is amok with books, papers, notes, research pulled off the internet and my head is telling me to stop, to take five. I was up at the crack of dawn today eager to get this major essay on the go, it's due on Wednesday so that's not giving myself much time at all. I have so much to say and so little time to say it all in. 

Today I have accomplished my map, I have my essay outlined and I am on page 4. I only have another 10 pages to write which will be quite easy to do, I am writing on addiction in adulthood. This is a topic which strikes close to home and I would love to have free reigns on this paper but it is a research paper which requires facts. It is rather hard not to be biased when I become passionate about what I am writing about. But if I stay closed minded I am only robbing myself of new knowledge and I will also be robbing  future clients of any ideas except my own. Now that wouldn't be a very social workey thing to do! 

So now that my break is over, it's back to writing, I am after all aiming to have this paper near completion today, this way I'll have two evenings in which to tweak it.

I Love Lucy

I love Lucy, almost as much as I adore Snoopy. It's odd but the kids at school used to call me Lucy, they said I looked like her.  That was forever ago and I'm over that now, it took some doing but I like to think that I'm ok today. 

Some days I sure could use some of Lucy's psychiatric help, she's in the right ballpark cost wise.  If memory serves me correctly Lucy's advice was some of the best advice ever, wasn't she always right?

Smile, Life is Like This

I had a day off today. Fridays are my "me" days. On "me" days I have no classes, Cheryl is in school and it's my time to do as I please, today that wasn't the case.

At 9:00am Cheryl had a dentist appointment on the North side of the city, then I drove her to her school on the South side, next I had an appointment scheduled for 11am at the college and a meeting which lasted from 12-4.

The meeting was very interesting, it was for the Alumni Association which my college is now forming, real grassroots stuff! It is a real pleasure and honor that the faculty has chosen me to sit on the committee to hear a students opinion, and that they heard! I'm not shy when it comes to vocalizing how I feel as a student. I ensured that I mentioned that I am not speaking for ALL students, I only spoke from my perspective and my opinions seem to be valued, this feels good.

I figure that I might just as well get used to meetings, I foresee plenty of them in my future and these stress balls, you bet I have one of them tucked away in my bag and I plan to take it with me whenever I attend meetings. I will remember my first official meeting and try to remember no matter what transpires during a meeting to put on a happy face!
(In reality, this is a projected objective which is not in the least bit quantitative, and is almost impossible to reach... but what the heck, it sounds wonderful!)

Morning Drive

This morning it was horrific driving downtown to the college, the roads were extremely slippery and it was dense with fog.  I left my home ten minutes earlier than I normally do and got there ten minutes later than I generally get there. The positive - I got there safe and sound. 

The fog lifted shortly after I was settled into my class and the day went rather well. This puts me one more day closer to my diploma!

Books and More Books

My empty side of the bed isn't quite so empty these days. I have text books, books which I am reading for pleasure and I also have the paper for those brilliant thoughts which pop up when I'm nearly asleep all keeping me company in my big bed.  Naturally I have my Love Dog guarding it all. I have books near my bed in a bookshelf and books on my nightstand. I have books surrounding me on my desk, in my book bag and more shelving in the living room overflowing with books. I live in books.

At times I wonder how I get to read at all.  I have essays on the go, notes to prepare and non-stop research bookmarked on my computer.  Some of the "must add"  research if printed out and what pile is it in again?  I still manage to keep in touch with family and friends and get out in the world occasionally. Is it no wonder some days such as today I just crash? I stayed home from my one class today with plans of "catching up."  Is there such a thing as catching up when one is in college?

Instead my body begged me for rest. I slept an extra four hours and now I just want to crawl back into bed but my self discipline is going to finish at least one of my projects off for the day.

I can't allow myself to get overwhelmed now, I'm so close to that light at the end of the tunnel and this time I know that it's not the headlight of a train! :-)

Good Eatin'

Tonight I went to pick up some fresh chickens, fresh eggs and 50lbs. of potatoes. (What I'm going to do with 50lbs of potatoes God only knows!)  The fresh foods were brought to the city by my step-dad, it came from the Hutterite colony and if memory serves me correctly, the last time I had one of these chickens it was the BEST chicken I've ever had. 

I got to asking myself that age old question once again, which did come first, the chicken or the egg? At this point in time, who cares... I have fresh farm food and  it's going to be some good eatin'!

Buyer Beware

I love to read but with all of my textbooks I find that I have very little time for pleasure reading these days. This past weekend I treated myself to a magazine, something I rarely do. As I was browsing though my new magazine yesterday I became amazed at all of the advertising. There are 54 pages out of approximately 182 pages in this particular magazine which I could actually read, the rest... yup you got it, advertisements. I did the math, the cost of this magazine, tax included, $6.29. Each page of actual reading material was approximately 11 cents, and not all that much was even interesting. Now add to this the cost of the trees destroyed to produce the paper and the cost escalates. 

My lessons: a) do not purchase any more magazines, be the lady who holds up the checkout line reading the magazine for free or b) do a quick scan through the magazine to know what I am purchasing and ensure that there's at least one article I want to read, at least get my money's worth!