Baby I'm Back!

I should start off by apologizing...it has been entirely too long since I posted last, which is regrettable. Life today is so very different from this same time last year - heck it's different from even six months ago!

I will have to get some pictures up of my new house, and all the redecoration that's gone on.

You need some updates on my job change...

my attempts at swimming, and...

I also need to give some updates on the fur children and their antics...I have a hilarious video for you.

Last but not least I am hoping to post my survival skill practice on here. Both the successes and the failures ;-)

Looking over this list I realized that I probably have some horrific score on the stress scale. Haha - well what doesn't kill us makes us stronger eh? That's what I'm going for...super strong of body, mind, and spirit.

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Okay, what should we start with??

Readers choice! Post your pick and I'll get right on it!

P.S. It's nice to be back :-)

Happy Nurses Week!!

A couple friends shared this video with me, and I loved it!! It reminds me of the wonderful parts of nursing, and the kids we care for. Take a moment this week to pray for a nurse even if you don't personally know one, because your life could be in their hands tomorrow. Lets celebrate another year of hard work and lives saved!

This is so me!

My friend Jess is really so very like me ;-) She posted this quote, and I had to steal it to share on here.

"I am not bound for any public place, but for ground of my own where I have planted vines and orchard trees, and in the heat of the day climbed up into the healing shadow of the woods. Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup." ~ Wendell Berry

I'm not quite sure who Wendell is but he/she is a person after my own heart!

Presents...

I actually do like this song. The guy who wrote it is the cousin to a friend of mine at work. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

I know that this might not seem very Christmas themed, but I think it is. Ultimately, it's what Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas all!! May this season be a beautiful reminder of the gifts we have been given, and the greatest gift we've ever received.

In preparation for gingerbread house extravaganza!

I think I baked gingerbread for about 7 hours today. I smell like a giant gingerbread man!

It was a LOT of gingerbread.

I'm actually rather proud of this picture, it's very photogenic!

Here is the finished product, almost all packaged.

The Game of Catch Up!

I know, I know. I've been a terrible blogger, and haven't posted in ages. I appologize.


The past couple of weeks have been busy.

WOT and I had a wonderful trip to visit family in Indiana and Michigan. As it turns out I also got a bit of a job offer. I'll let you know what happens, but if the doors open I maybe in the market for a snow blower!! ;-) Which I might actually be able to afford seeing as I'd be making a halfway decent wage! Yeah! Not to mention it would be closer to family - I'll have SFL sign a good behavior contract before I move - don't worry.

Speaking of doors opening I find it highly amusing that the very week I get a job offer out of state I also get a request to allow myself to be set up with a guy. Lets just say if one happens the other won't be. Dun, dun, dun! Which will it be? Tune in for next week's episode "I'm Starting To Believe In Predestination". Can I just tell you how much I love the quote below, I laughed so hard the first time I read it...sooooo me!

Monday I leave for our family Christmas/Thanksgiving shindig. It should be great; big, but great. I think for Thanksgiving dinner we'll have around 16 people! That's a lot of food!!! I'm making gingerbread house parts to bring, so we can have a fun team activity. I'm hoping to post pictures - ;-).

Till later!

Drafting Harness arrival!

Torque's cart hauling (aka drafting) harness arrived!! Doesn't it look good! He actually doesn't mind it at all which it great, and I'm hoping to do some more training this winter.

RIP Vinny

Poor Vinny the Mafia Dog was killed last night by coyotes in his own backyard. Poor buddy. Julia is heartbroken, and the whole this is terrible. They found him not far from the yard this morning with half his body torn off, it was horrible. Please keep her in mind as losing a pet is always hard especially so traumatically. Vinny was a special little guy, and we all loved him.

I Think It's Called Personal Growth

I've decided that boredom is bad, and it's only going to get worse with the weather turning cold. Therefore, I am going to take up some new pursuits. Not that I am under any illusion that I may not stick with them for very long, but perhaps I can convince some other lonely soul to accompany me! ;-)

I'm going to start learning Latin! Woot! Eventually I'll tackle some other languages, but I think it would be fun to have an old school foundation, and frankly Spanish has me bored. I'm also going to learn to Knit. Why knit you ask? Well, it was 50/50 between knitting and crocheting, and knitting is easier to spell. I'm very logical as I'm sure you've noticed. The Library system is a wealth of information!

I'm already working on my yoga, fencing, and literary education by continuing to read through the Harvard Classics. Eventually I'd love to start piano lessons back, and take some more painting classes. Oils this time I think...I mean what's a girl to do stuck in a house trying to save money?

So you see, if I'm going to be a hermit at least I'm going to know a lot! Then maybe one day I'll put that knowledge to good use by harassing SFL.

We're not in summer any more Toto!

I woke up this morning to a breezy, rainy, 40-45 degree morning. Brrrrrr!!

So, updates!

Hand. Feeling better, but not completely healed. It stinks.

Last night we had our first Level 1 obedience class for this session, and I'm teaching it. Scary! It was fun though, and next week they bring their dogs for the real work to begin. It's always mayhem. I feel like a teacher when I was sitting drinking my coffee this morning looking over their homework hehe.

I haven't been doing yoga or zumba between my shoulder and hand, it's sad times!

More updates to come! Hope your mid week hump is going well ;-)

Poor Hand

Thursday I got a nasty hit to the hand in Fencing class. I actually thought I broke my hand when Friday I tried to work and was miserable. I could hardly put gloves on, and writing - my handwriting turned even scarier!

Fortunately, when I went Saturday to get xrays I found that there was no break. I think it's mainly just a bad bone bruise with some tendon and ligament soreness. I get to wear a fun little hand brace, and every day it's feeling a bit better. I'm hoping by the end of the week to be fully healed.

If only my shoulder felt the same. Good grief - I'm a mess! I'd like to have a week free of injury thank you.

Being off work for my hand has felt weird. Not that I've done anything but putts around the house, but it feels like it should be Tuesday or something. I'm not use to the extra days off!!!

Pinterest

If you enjoyed StumbleUpon, you'll love Pinterest too. It's a bit like a cross between StumbleUpon and Facebook - sort of.

It's a place where people make virtual pin-boards of interests to share. Everything from a collection of ideas for a wedding, to craft and recipe ideas. It's fun, and different!

Check it out on a rainy day!

We have a mouse.

6:00am

I step into the garage to grab a scoopful of food for the dog and cat.

6:01am

A mouse runs out from the food bags and brushes my toe.

6:01:30am

I'm awake now.

Conclusion:

I was not cognisant enough to react appropriately. Then I spent the next 30minutes deciding what I should do about the mouse. I don't want to foster the bubonic plague.

Suction cups?

So...I'm experimenting with my cats. Hey, they were the ones that felt left out and wanted a new toy! I saw this at Bed Bath and Beyond today, and had to try it out. I think they are going to like it!

Two Hand Gack is checking the weight limits. I don't think he topped the 50lb maximum

Torque didn't know what to think of the cats on this thing!

Even Polly gave it a try, hey! You can see the birds better from up here!!

Fall is Hiking Weather!

Today I decided to skip Zumba, and hit up a nice little wooded trail close to the house. It's about a mile I think, paved, and no crazy hills just a nice relaxing walk in the brisk morning. I put Torque's pack on, and for the first time added some water bottles to it. I was going for 1.5lb per side for a total of 3lbs carrying. Eventually we'll get to around 30lbs, if I feel like hiking that much hehe. I hope that you're enjoying the nice Fall days before Winter arrives!!

We haven't had a music Monday in a while...not that it's Monday...

My first grill!

I received a very early Christmas present today. In our family this is a common occurrence. Gifts on Christmas itself? Nah. Haha, we can't normally be together on the day of, so early works!

I got my first grill! I'm SO excited I've been wanting to get a grill for a long time. I actually followed the directions and got it all set up before it's maiden grill. Torque and the kitties were in on the action too. Torque didn't know what to think of it - hilarious! We made burgers, and foil bags of seasoned potatoes. Yum!!!! It was delicious, and I was stuffed. Yeah for nice Fall days that are still perfect to grill out on. Enjoy them while you can!

                                           He looks like the national grill rep ;p hahaha

I'm still a little nervous about this thing!!

Patience makes a yummy burger!

I'm all cool with this whole contraption now.

If I Tell You, I'll Have To Kill You

I'm writing a book.

Not alone.

It pertains to work related topics, but still!!

I shouldn't say anything more...I've been sworn to secrecy by my co-author, but I had to tell you guys. Maybe when it gets published I'll delude myself into thinking I'm famous and sign copies for you. Yup, I think that is adequate retrobution for your years of loving attention and faithful following. OR! I mean I could do a deal and sign a book of your choice written by a better author. Just keep that in mind, okay?

Life Lessons From A Squirrel

The back roads around my house have no side shoulder. They twist, they turn, and people drive fast on them.

Today I was heading out to Zumba class when I see this squirrel crouching in my lane. I will make an attempt not to hit an animal if I can slow down in time, but it's usually accompanied by me yelling "run mr. squirrel, run!"

Now, you should know that on this stretch of road not only is there no shoulder, but the road drops off into a ditch then plummets down a wooded hill.

As I come barreling down the road heading straight towards mr. squirrel he makes a split decision. Run.

I'm sure we've all seen squirrels run off the road just in time to avoid death, but this squirrel was special. He didn't just scamper to where pavement ends and forest begins lithely disappearing into the under growth. No, he runs to the edge of the pavement and catapults himself into the trees. He launched his little furry self at least five feet, and all I could do was stare my mouth dropping open before trying to focus on the road in front of me. I could see the headline now: Squirrel Faced With Imminent Death Flings Self Into Tree.

At first I couldn't stop laughing, the whole moment was priceless.

Then however, I realized that there was a moral to the story!

How many times when "one door closes, and another door opens" to we slowly walk through the new door while longingly looking at the closed one? I think that maybe I should be more like our little squirrel friend. What if I took steps in a new direction with confidence, abandon, and total commitment? Hey, I mean it looked like the squirrel enjoyed the moment being airborne, perhaps I will too!