I'm so glad you could stop by. This is my personal blog of daily life and my journey through life. You will find a strong emphasis on family and friends as well as finding my ancestors through genealogy. Unlike my other blogs this blog is more of a catch-all so any topic is fair game.

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Thursday, October 30, 2008

well alrighty then, watch the speed

This just in courtesy of email:

The O.P.P. are cracking down on speeders heading into Toronto For the first offense, they give you two Toronto Maple Leaf tickets. If you get stopped a second time, they make you use them.

Nuk! Nuk!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

waterfall


Waterfalls at Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
October 21, 2008



Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

hockeytown


Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Michigan
Oct. 18, 2008

Early Saturday afternoon a friend called asking if we would be interested in going on a casino bus trip, 3 days and 2 nights. We were thinking about that when he called again with tickets to the Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Rangers hockey game. You certainly do not have to twist my husband's rubber arm to get him to go to a hockey game especially when his beloved Wings are playing! We hurried to get on the road for the long ride to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Part of the fun going to hockey games is getting there in time to watch the pre-game warm-up while eating Little Caesars pizza. The game itself did not disappoint with the first goal about 30 seconds into the game by the Wings and the final goal about 30 seconds into overtime also by the Wings. The Wings won 5 - 4!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Friday, October 24, 2008

ssssssshhhhhhhh!

mouse2


My apologies for not posting but we have been away. Saturday within minutes of each we were offered free tickets to the hockey game and a free three day bus trip for two for Tuesday through Thursday. All I can say is wow! We already had plans for this weekend so the entire week has been rather a total write-off as far as blogging goes. Monday I canned raspberry jam and applesauce while I did the last minute packing and travel plans. With everything finished I snuggled into bed to dream of fairies, gnomes and lots of other neat stuff. But wait...

About 3 am I woke with a start. Now that's nothing new to wake at that time but this was different. Unfreaking believable! I shook myself awake then shook my husband awake. It was true! There was a flipping mouse in the house!

Somehow this mouse had got past the sealing of every crack and crevice, copious amounts of expandable spray foam insulation, shrink wrapping the house as well as very explicit signs saying "No Mice Allowed" and armed mice slaying gnomes! Even our answering machine clearly states if you are a mouse "do not leave a message". This mouse had even by-passed the lovely mouse buffet I had carefully set around the perimeter of the house carefully guarded by mouse skulls on the fence posts.

Well now at 3 AM and somewhat half awake yet being forced to function it somehow dawned on me that I needed to protect the food in the pantry that wasn't in plastic or glass containers. I've been busy with canning so some foods coming in were not in plastic or glass. So I bolted from the bed, stubbed my toe on the way to the craft room, dumped the huge Rubbermaid® bin of yarn stash and hauled the bin downstairs to fill with anything a mouse could chew through. My husband to show his support stubbed his toe while plugging in the electronic devices and making a lot of noise. Apparently stubbing your toe hurts when when protecting the food supply is not your primary objective! I think the mouse thought we were a little too loud or something. He either left or hid while we got another hour of sleep before being out in the chilly morning to meet up with the tour group.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


Autumn Leaves
October 18, 2008

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Friday, October 17, 2008

smart puppy

I received the following cute story in my email. I have taken the liberty of using a different puppy image.

-----



An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell
from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was
well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'

-----

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


Evening Beauty
Oct. 13, 2008

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Tuesday, October 14, 2008

toxic people


Here's Waldo!
Oct. 10, 2008

If you have followed this blog you will know I love wall art so I'm going to make a few comments before going onto the main topic for this entry. We found Waldo! He was on one of the bridge abutments on the lift bridge we had to go under before reaching the marina. As wall art goes this one is striking because of the contrast however it loses a lot of points because it is obviously a stencil and really not a well done one. It was cute though.

Friday night we settled in at the marina enjoying the beautiful Indian summer. Saturday a couple of late arrivers docked. Well within 10 minutes of docking one of the women who we have know for a few years and her husband is a real sweetheart made it very clear that she was greatly aggigated but this time I was the object of her furry! I managed to say hi when she just flew off. Without saying a word I got my husband's eye and we headed back to the boat where I talked. We figured it was just a fluke because we had seen this type of behaviour from her in the past. Nope, it wasn't a fluke and by the time we left she actually had her little group of girls over by themselves doing that childish schoolyard thing that mean "I'm talking about you and you aren't part of the in group" thing, I seriously could not believe this and that is just for being polite and saying hi? She was horribly nasty making snide remarks anytime I was in her presences. So knowing it had nothing to do with this particular trip, I thought back to the last time we boated and she was there. It was as far as I can figure August of 2007 and again nothing comes to mind that could have set her off. Prior to that it would have been the May long weeked of 2007 and again nothing. So I'm baffled. Neither one of us can come up with any explanation for her sudden vicious and nasty behaviour.

Today I had a chance to reflect and I honestly think she is one who falls into the category that they are not happy unless they are in total control of everything. The moment they aren't, anyone in their pathway is going to get the outfall regardless if there is no reason. They are bitter and always on guard to find fault and reward you with a sharp tongue. She reminds me strongly of some folks I have met online who revel in spreading nastiness and hard feelings. In both cases these are toxic people. They don't care how or who they hurt as long as they inflict pain and quite often I don't even think they know why they are doing so. They aren't happy unless they are hurting others. Every time your thoughts turn to them trying to figure out what the heck set them off yet one more time, they are getting exactly what they want. They are eating at your heart and soul.

I'm sorry but I don't have time to deal with toxic people. Taking the high road is always the best course of action when dealing with toxic people.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Monday, October 13, 2008


Happy Thanksgiving

-----

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


Mid-Summer Day
July 25, 2008

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Monday, October 06, 2008

I'm Right on Schedule...

Yesterday:

Seriously I am right on schedule for doing nothing! We were up at the crack of dawn, had the car packed and out the door. As with all plans things change and often quite quickly. An hour or so later we are back home with my husband figuring out our next move (long irritating story) while I dropped on EC blogs. He could have been at the office making money! Anyway, I looked through my canning book then hunkered down to be busy doing nothing. I was feeling horrid more like death warmed over anyway so doing nothing sounds just fine with me. I even considered combining doing nothing with doing diddly squat but that would be multi-tasking and I was determined to just do nothing without any ADD tendencies getting in the way.

Looking at the clock it is now just after 10 PM. I think I have successfully done nothing today give or take a few glitches of doing something kicking in. The sky didn't fall and the house didn't collapse even though I did nothing. The laundry is still sitting there and the produce is waiting to be canned. I tried to focus on the political issues at hand but that really didn't fit in with doing nothing. So I turned the tv to the comedy shows and started laughing. Then I realized that was actually doing something when my goal was to do nothing. So I cuddled up on the couch with the tv in the background and tried drifting off to sleep. Again I was doing something. Seriously, doing nothing is a heck of a lot harder and a lot more work than it would appear!

I've decided to dedicate a substantial amount of time to researching the finer art of doing nothing. I even put it on my to do list right under the have a nervous breakdown as soon as I have time if I can remember where the heck my nerves are in the first place.


Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Sunday, October 05, 2008

BYBS - Harvest Abundance


For the past just shy of two weeks I have been processing tomatoes into various tomato products for us to enjoy until the next tomato season. So far I have processed 9 hampers and if the weather holds I will be processing two or three more. The tomatoes are free thanks to a family member who grows commercially and in addition to what we grow. We are also on a road trip that will afford me the wonderful opportunity to bring home an abundance of fresh produce to put up. It's going to be a very busy week!

I can't stress how very blessed we are to live in an area where local produce is not only abundant but also inexpensive. So many folks have to pay outrageous prices for fresh produce and so many folks are struggling to pay the rising food costs. Each time I put more jars of home canned foods into our walk-in pantry I am reminded to be very, very thankful that we have the skills to put up food for the coming year as well as the opportunity and means. I can rest easy knowing that I can provide for my husband and myself as well as our grown kids and the grandbabies. That is a really good feeling. It is a true blessing to be able to see your food stores and know you have enough not only for yourselves but to help out others.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Saturday, October 04, 2008

election day is just around the corner


---

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Friday, October 03, 2008

husbands :)

To Be 6 Again...

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife,
looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he
asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.

'I'd like to be six again,' she replied, still looking in the
mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice
big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park.
What a day!
He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall
of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.
Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head
was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.

He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy
Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her
favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled
home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over
his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it
like being six again??'

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. 'I
meant my dress size, you dumb ass!'

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is
gonna get it wrong.

-- author unknown

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Thursday, October 02, 2008

road trip


Wheat Field
Sep. 28, 2008

Road trips are always fun for us and even more so when the destination is one of our kids. I had been canning all last week so was frantically trying to finish up in order to leave for the kids last Friday afternoon. By the time we were settled in the car I was exhausted so started drifting off to sleep. Struggling to stay away I grabbed the camera and started taking pictures. The country was beautiful, somewhat between summer and autumn with gorgeous blue skies.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2008


Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


A Child's Treasures
August 31, 2008


Garden Gnome
©2006-2008