Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Well It Could Have Been Worse

We have had a rather peaceful yet productive week.  We took one day off to renew our Nexus and passports that aside from a bit of rain went well.  Saturday we did a bit of electrical work, well actually a fair amount then Sunday while I was working in the kitchen my husband put the new pool winter cover on.  I'm getting things ready for my husband's upcoming hunt trip so decided to make the sauce for lasagna and moose meat chili.  Both freeze nicely and making them ahead of time means no rushing closer to his trip.  I use mainly fresh cooked or home canned foods but because of the move and fall vacation I missed the busiest of the tomato season meaning I am getting low on a few home canned tomato products.  I bought a few cans of tomatoes.  As I was opening one of the cans, the can slipped a little causing the lid to slam up into my thumb.  The resulting cut spans the width of my thumb less than a quarter of an inch below the nail on the underside.  It likely needs stitches but the reality is that close to the nail they won't stitch unless absolutely necessary.  I cleaned the cut, applied pressure to stop the bleeding then tightly bandaged.  Doning on a pair of latex gloves, I continued working. 

After both sauces were finished and into the cooling stage, I sat down to do a bit of blogging.  Dang my thumb hurt for typing and it was throbbing but it reminded me of how lucky I was.  The cut could easily have taken off the top of my thumb!  In that case the treatment would be pretty much the same as what I already started for the cut.  So for the next few days I will keep it tightly bandaged, clean and dry while watching for any signs of infection.  In the meantime, I'm thanking my blessings!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Bonding Time With Hubby and Bell

My husband and I spent most of today bonding aka replacing electrical switches and outlets on the main level.  As DIYers we tend to work reasonably well together and I do know when to not say anything sometimes unless offering a suggestion when my husband gets frustrated if some repair is not going the way it should.  The power was off on most of the main level meaning no sneaking in computer time without firing up the laptop so I took charge of the prep (eg. opening those stupid over packaged cover plates), organizing the necessary pieces needed in front of each outlet and doing the clean-up.  This was a rather smooth, only run to the hardware store twice, tongue twisting once DIY repair until trying to turn on the PVR because the power had been out.  After several attempts with the PVR giving an error code that the PVR had to be 40ºF to work, my husband finally called Emily, the lovely Bell assistant.

Emily was a real doll, finally directed him to a real humanoid.  Humanoid told my husband to reset the PVR because apparently trying a good twenty times wasn't enough.  When that didn't work, humanoid said to turn off the PVR, wait 15 minutes then try again and if that didn't work wait for an hour and if that didn't work to call back.  My husband called back to get humanoid II who had him go through all the reset stuff then proceeded to tell him that we must have a faulty PVR.  At that point my temper clicked in so I got on one of the other handsets.  You see, I have dealt with Bell ad nauseum over the issue of our PVR.  We 'bought' our PVR from Bell who decided to install a refurbished rental even though we paid for a new one.  When that PVR started acting up, I called Bell who gave us a $10 monthly discount for the inconvenience.  When that PVR continued to act up they sent us out a $500 replacement PVR of which we had to pay for.  So here we are fourteen months later and that PVR is acting up and we haven't even run out of the monthly discount yet!  Yet according to humanoid II, it is a computerized piece of electronics that can fail at any time.  Her attitude bit the big one and I'm not kidding so I demanded to speak to a supervisor.  After a good 10 minutes waiting for the supervisor to come on the line I hung up.  Bell should be downright ashamed of themselves for selling used equipment as new as well as forcing users into high priced JUNK that fails prematurely!  I will definitely be filing a complaint with the CRTC.  We are looking into changing our internet, phone service and television service to cable.  If Bell wants to be this shoddy it is time for us to say adios!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Good Gosh, Let's All Burn the Bra!

Ok, this might fall under the category of too much information but it certainly would not hurt my feelings if bras were banned, burned or even made illegal.  I'm not kidding and guaranteed many women feel exactly the way I do.  For men who may not understand the bra issue, try walking around in a sports cup for twelve or more hours in a day, every day of the year.  At the end of the day there is:  chafing, burning itching, and in warm weather a pool of sweat made worse by the wicking action of the bra causing a lovely heat rash.  Bras have enough metal in them to poke holes in a waterbed and set off security alarms but the good news is they can be used as short range missiles should the need arise.  I'm just saying...

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Sunset at Our New House

Sunset at Our New House

October 16, 2011

I'm a skywatcher, always have been.  Over the past decade we have enjoyed some of the most beautiful sunsets while boating and living on the water.  While we can still enjoy the gorgeous sunsets on the water while boating, we are no longer living on the water so I was concerned that we would be missing out on sunsets.  Pictured is the sunset I took a picture of through our bedroom window.  It was quite pretty.  I will have to get used to the fact that the windows have screens on both the outside that gives a grid when I have become used to taking pictures through a clear pane of glass.  Surprisingly my digital camera does that quite nicely.

We have a fair amount of open space around our new home giving a minimal of obstructions for skywatching.  I was surprised to be able to get a nice shot of that sunset.  I will be able to get even better pictures from the pool deck and not bad pictures from the main deck.  What is really nice is even though we have a glow from our new urban setting I can still use the telescope for a bit of star gazing!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Wordless Wednesday - The Promise

The Promise

September 29, 2011

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

The Number Three

The number three has a lot importance, coming up over and over again in conversation, superstition and simple daily life.  One belief is bad things always happen in threes and quite often that is the case.  In decorating, the three rule is used for displays usually organized as a short piece, a medium piece and a tall piece.  Photos on display look better grouped as three as do candles or any other like grouping.  On the ominous note, the sign of the devil is 666 a multiple of three containing three numerals.  The number three appears in nursery rhymes (eg. three little pigs, three billy goats gruff) and children's stories (eg. The Three Musketeers).  Then there are three strikes you're out in baseball, chances to stay in someone's good graces or stay out of legal hot water in the judicial system.  Even certain gambling is based on threes!  Older slot machines were based on three, using three coins and three wheels.  There are six sides on a die (a multiple of three) and the highest score you can get on a pair of dice is twelve, another multip of three.  Some genetic disorders are caused by an extra chromosome.  These are the trisomies (eg. Trisomy 21 aka Down's Syndrome).  Have you ever noticed plant leaves ordered in threes?  That can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Clover, a benign and beneficial plant for bees has three leaves yet the saying is leaves three leave them be when refering to poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. 

The number three has a bit of a personal meaning to me.  Unless I am exhausted, I wake at three each morning just like clockwork and my normal sleep pattern is a three hour stretch on any given night.  There is a physiological reason for this.  During the body's normal circadium rhythm, the corticosteriod level is lowest between 3 - 4 AM which is why those using corticosteriods for asthma control are told to take their corticosteriod inhaler/tubohaler around 4 PM.  An asthma flare-up is more likely when corticosteriod levels are lowest and for most asthmatics it is when the are more apt to be exposed to dust mites that can trigger an asthma flare-up.  I haven't used my turbohaler in almost four years which is a good thing but it does mean I never sleep through the night.  At some point I may have to go back to using corticorsteriods but for the meantime my body is enjoying the rest from the side effects.  I'm sure my bones will thank me at some point!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - DIY Skills

My husband and I have been very fortunate to learn a lot of DIY skills over our journey together.   Our new house doesn't need a lot of work, mainly a bit of updating and decorating.  The updating consists of replacing electrical switches and outlets as well as ceiling and outdoor light fixtures.  Even though we like the colour tones of the rooms, each room does need to be freshened up with a new coat of paint.  We will be able to do the majority of this work ourselves.  We are also very blessed to have family and friends who are qualified to help us with some tasks (eg. hooking up natural gas appliances) that we are not qualified to do.  They are always willing to lend a helping hand.  We learn from them and in return we share out knowledge of how to do tasks that we know how to do.  As a result, we are able to save a considerable amount of money on needed improvements and decorating that would otherwise be spent on labour.  This has allowed us to build equity in our homes much more rapidly than possible if having to hire out all home repairs and maintenance.  

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Wordless Wednesday - The Magic of Micky

The Magic of Micky

September 19, 2011 

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Fairwell Xplornet

When we moved into our last house we had the choice between dial-up or satellite internet.  After a long and arduous relationship with Xplornet, our [sic] beloved satellite internet provider I was in seventh heaven giving them their final marching orders.  Xplornet has piss poor customer service and the internet connection is beyond piss poor.  If a mosquito flies through that beam the signal is lost.  You would think paying almost $70 per month would get you ... oh I don't know ... customer service with a smile or good gosh even working internet.  Nope it doesn't.  Toodles Xplornet, I would not wish you on my worst enemy!  Good riddence to very bad rubbish ... I'm just saying and I do believe in calling a spade a spade. 

Oh and Xpornet, I would like the refund you owe me like yesterday or I might just have to give you back of your pissy service.  Cheers!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Moonscape

Moonscape

October 9. 2011

My gosh it was a beyond busy September and start to October what with moving and going on our fall vacation to our vacation home.  We have been home only a week and a half of which we entertained twenty-five for Thanksgiving in our new home then entertained another twenty on Saturday (October 15). 

Our new home is looking good!  I have washed and shined more floors than I ever thought I could in a one week period.  The marble floor in our kitchen has been restored and does it ever look absolutely gorgeous!  All in all unless you peek into two rooms or the garage you would think we have been living here for ever.  The garage is less than a day away of getting our one car in and given it is a one and a half (what's with that?) garage that shows you how much work we have been doing.  My pantry would be completely organized had the movers not dismantled my industrial shelving resulting in the clips going missing but as soon as we find them that room will take less than a day to organize.  My husband bought two new televisions for his games room and wall mounted them yesterday just in time for the guys last night.  My husband and I are beyond exhausted!

So we declared yesterday a SOMA day.  It was wonderful!  I put a roast in the oven for dinner then he watched football while I blogged.  After dinner we caught up on The Mentalist.  You just have to love PVR, don't you?  It was not as early of a night as it should have been but the day was just lovely.  We need a few more SOMA days!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Getting Into a Routine

Moving is always disruptive but in our case even more so because we went on our fall vacation just days after the move.  That meant we knew we were coming home to having to get the house settled.  It was nice going to our vacation home because we basically have a routine.  The first couple of days are spent doing the necessities but we have a fairly well established laid back routine we follow.  

Last week was our first full week in our new home without having to go between two house.  We quickly formed a routine to help us organize our new home.  Eliminating my husband's daily drive gives us a lot more time together which is really nice.  We have always sat down as a family for dinner ever since we were newlyweds but now we are enjoying more meals together.  One of the biggest changes I made was where the computer is.  In our last three homes, the computer was located in the family room.  Quite often one of us would be on the computer while the other was watching television.  The computer is located in a bedroom turned office in our new home.  We now have a routine of eating dinner together then spending time together which is really nice.  Another thing we changed was to remove the television from our bedroom.  It wasn't meant to be that way it just happened.  We don't have a television in our bedroom at our vacation home and here we didn't get it connected up but then we aren't missing it either.  We've decided to forego the television in our bedroom for awhile.

Within a week we have established a nice, rather laid back routine.  Routines are a good thing.  They help keep daily life manageable and that's a blessing!


Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Oh Good Flipping Gosh!

I have always marched to my own drummer.  So we are down at our vacation home and your's truly won $50 in a hoola hoop contest.  My husband has the $50 and my arm is bruised to the point I'm getting it checked tomorrow.  Anyway, years ago when I was a somewhat wee little one we had clackers that where basically two large, hard balls on attached strings that you had to get going then keep the momentum somewhat like hoola hoops.  Then there was that ankle thing that swung a huge ball for the other foot to jump over.  In hind sight the clackers and ankle thingie weren't available so this old lady did the hoola hoop.  And I did do it nicely if I don't say so myself.  I'm actually kind of proud because I've never been much of a physical person to the point of ever winning anything but I could always out perform in terms of academia.  This was just a hoot!  I had a lot of fun too.  It was definitely our of character, surprising our guest but I had a good time.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

I'm Not Ignoring You, I'm Just Not Into Small Talk

I am by nature quite a shy person.  I talk if I have something to say but it takes me a considerable time to warm up to people enough to talk to them.  Academia taught me how to perform nicely in front of large groups of people but other than that, I tend to listen.  Academia also taught me I have a voice.  Most of my voice these days comes through my writing although a few debates gets going amongst family and friends.  I really don't like small talk, period and never have.  I don't even do much in the way of small talk with my husband.  My husband and I have been married long enough we know what the other is thinking without wasting time on small talk.  Rather we enjoy each other's presence without the small talk.  So I'm not ignoring you I just don't do small talk...

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Wordless Wednesday - Threatening Weather

Threatening Weather

September 22, 2011

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

A Bit of Telemarketer Fun

We spent a bit of time at our vacation home from September 19 to October 6.  Considering we spent the first two weeks of September moving into our new home I was beyond exhausted so believe me was in no mood to deal with telemarketers, let alone American telemarketers who are considerably more forceful, abrasive and down right rude in comparison to Canadian telemarketers.  Anyway, a roofing telemarketer called and unfortunately I answered.  This person insisted the roof inspection was a mandatory one so I went back and forth a couple of times but was just too tired.  They insisted we be at our home on at 4 PM a week ago Monday.  Hey, no problem because we come all the way from Canada to get a sales pitch.  They told me to be sure I called the guard house to let them in.  That gave me a brilliant idea.  Since they didn't want to take no for an answer I called the guard house and told them what happened.  G who is a real sweetheart said don't worry, if you don't want them in, they aren't getting in.  He also told me this particular company was well known in our resort for the heavy handed sales tactics and shoddy workmanship.  So, they didn't get in which is one nice feature of a gated community.  Hopefully now they comprehend the meaning of the word no!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

I Fixed His Golf Cart

It turned rather cold while we were at our vacation home.  Now, I tend to be rather observant so our neighbours put the covers down on their golf carts.  I hauled out our golf cart, unzipped all the covers, snapped them into place then pleased with my work waited for my husband to call for a ride.  He was down playing cards with his entourage.  When he called I tossed a couple of jackets in the golf cart, zipped it up then headed out to pick him up.  I don't walk anywhere here after dark as there are gators and reports of a cougar.  Being small, old and not prone to running without them there adult diapers means I like using the golf cart!  Anyway, you should have heard my husband when he saw the buttoned down golf cart.  He was in serious fits of laughter before I even got the cart stopped then was doing that laughing through his teeth thing that only he can do while tears streamed down his face.  He wasn't buying the fact the neighbours did that to their golf cart so I did it to ours.  Oh no, he just laughed harder. I tried to redeem myself by pointing out that unrolling the covering and using it occasionally would prevent molding issues.  Ok, at that point he seriously lost it!  He could not stop laughing!  Hmm, and I was only being helpful...so I thought!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Discovering Home

We spent our last night at our old house on August 31^st then spent September 1^st and 14^th living between two houses.  Our new house was officially in our name on the 15^th and we flew out to our vacation home on the 19^th  where we stayed until October 6^th.  We are both exhausted even though the fall vacation was quite pleasant.  We had gorgeous sunshine and heat mixed with good company and a lot of fun.  As we packed on the Wednesday before flying out to 'home' I couldn't help but think we really weren't going home.  It's still a house not a home to us because we haven't been turned it into our home yet.  Yet in many ways it is going home.  It's where our friends and loved ones are so it is home.  We feel comfortable there.  It's our community, where we belong.  It is our home in the big picture now we are discovering our new house that will become our new home :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

A Very Busy Early Fall

Oh my gosh!  September was a very eventful month for us.  We started moving into our new home on September 1 but it was officially ours September 15.  Now my husband and I are getting on the downside of the hill so to speak so a two week moving period was very much appreciated.  We never spent another night in our old house after August 31 but essentially we were living between two houses.  The main services were on at both houses.  The internet and tv went on at the new house on the sixth, the same day the movers brought out the main part of our possessions.  My new gas stove and dryer weren't connected until the fourteenth.  We did the final clearout of the old house on the fourteenth as well and quite frankly while it was a gorgeous home in a wonderful location neither of us are going to miss it.  Our lawyer was quite good so with no indication of any problems we were able to sign the final papers on the thirteenth then pick up the cheque on the fifthteenth.  Our old house was officially sold and we were the proud new owners of a very nice [if I don't say so myself] five bedroom home with two decks and a pool.  We held our first large scale entertaining on the seventeenth then flew out to our vacation home on the nineteenth.

I would love to say the vacation home was nice and relaxing but eighteen months of trying to sell a house, moving and sheer disruption caught up with me.  I was a bear, not able to relax or sleep, couldn't eat and just downright miserable.  There was a lot to do at the vacation home [most of it hired out] - powerwash the siding, pest control, and landscaping.  We had a great time with house guests for a week in the middle of our stay then headed home on October 6.  We are hosting Thanksgiving for 30 at our new home on October 10th so there won't be a lot of relaxing until that bit of entertaining is out of the way.   I am beyond exhausted!

Our next visit to our vacation home will be considerably more pleasant as by then we will have adjusted to the move for the most part and be back into a bit of a routine without a lot to do at our vacation home.  We are already planning our next trip to our vacation home but this time I am insisting on being home between Christmas and New Year.  Then I plan on doing some serious hibernation for the winter getting close and personal with paint chips!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

The Creek

September 19, 2011

Our vacation home is located in a beautiful resort with many, many gorgeous bodies of water.  This small creek is a short walk from our house so I visit quite often during my walks.  I love how the sky and trees are mirrored in the still waters.  The water is quite clear revealing fish lazily swimming by.  I haven't seen any gators at the creek but the nearby larger pond is known as a popular gator breeding area.  Part of the pond is shown at the top of the picture but it expands quite some distance to the right (not shown).  It's quite common to see gators sunning themselves along the shore of the pond.  There is also an abundance of waterfowl at the pond.  I always take my camera with me when going for a walk as there is just so many wonderful photo opportunities.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Steven Jobs

I am a die hard Mac fan so it is with great sadness to hear of the news of the passing of Steven Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.) on October 5, 2005.  RIP Steven and thanks for all you have given us.  You will be sorely missed!  God speed....

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Wordless Wednesday - Sneaking a Kiss

Sneaking a Kiss

October 3, 2011

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Out With the Old, In With the New

Without going into a long a drawn out explanation my husband usually carries the purse. The purse really is a community purse that I seldom carry but it does hold a lot of both of our critical 'stuff'. The purse has held all important documents, make-up, scoffed menus, cell phones, Pictured on the left.  Now, my husband is a large man and large men carrying purses is not the norm but it is even more abnormal when a large man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and checked shorts sporting a straw hat carries a flowered purse.  You cannot believe the number of comments he gets and oh good gosh one of the funniest moments was him carrying the purse with casino security running after him!  Now that was priceless!  Anyway we bought a new purse (pictured on right).  It is not flowered but it is so us!  The new purse will  go nicely with his Redwing attire as well as his Jimmy Buffet wear.  Surprisingly the new purse holds more than the old purse.  Time will tell how others adjust to to the new purse.  I will let you know...


Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

New Clothes

I am not a shopper by any stretch of the imagination.  Unless it is a farm stand, orchard, antique shop or food related I have no interest in shopping unless I have to.  Despite being a foodie, I shop very little in traditional grocery stores.  So we decided to stock our vacation home with clothes so we don't have to bring clothes back and forth.  I saves money by not having to have a checked bag when flying and no suitcase when driving.

My favourite colours for clothing much to my husband's dismay is black, grey and white.  This colour combination doesn't work well for Florida but I managed to find the cutest two piece swim suit  with black skirted bottoms and a black polk-a-dot top.  It is trés chic and I am so tempted to bring it home for lounging around our new pool.  I bought a really nice cowl necked grey knitted dress that will work nicely at home.  It is really cute!  I'm also supporting clothes with part of the price going towards breast cancer.  I like pink and we have had relatives strickened with breast cancer that did not make it.  We have one battling breast cancer right now and another battling cancer so any support is better than no support.  At any rate I actually shopped for clothes.  Will wonders ever cease?

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Blog Your Blessings Sunday - Wireless Connedtion

We first went wireless at our previous house.  It was such a delight to take our laptop out onto the dock, sit by the water and still be able to go online.  We now have wireless at our vacation home and our new home.  The kids can connect when they are home and I can use the laptop at home anywhere in the house.  Oh I should mention that my husband bought a new laptop with the old one to be left at the vacation home.  Now I wanted to bring my old iMac down to leave at the vacation home but he really needed a new laptop.  Anyway, we have an iPhone, iPod, iPod touch, laptops and iMac all on wireless and oh my gosh what a delight it is.  Basically wireless takes your office to you wherever you are.  I've blogged from air ports, restaurants, marinas and wireless home connections.  The neat thing is when traveling through heavily populated areas like Chicago we can pick up wireless connections along the way.  My doctor's office even provides free Wi-Fi, something much appreciated as I while away the mandatory one hour wait time.  You would think with all this technology they could get the scheduling a bit tighter but I seriously love my doctor so don't mind the wait especially with free Wi-Fi.  Being able to connect using wireless is such a blessing!  We can stay in touch with our family and friends while traveling.  Oh and the neatest thing about wireless is we can now do video conferencing so get to see out kids and grandkids on a very regular basis.  This is way beyond cute!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011