the wall

Wall Composition
May 9, 2008

I'm not going to disclose the meaning of this composition. All I'm going to say is I really love Photoshop! Those who know me well will likely be able to decipher it. My husband could tell you the meaning right off the bat as could likely my kids. Quiet reflection may reveal the meaning behind...not likely but maybe.

Garden Gnome
©2007

Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories

My Beloved Childhood Books
Volumes 1-6 (1950 - 1962)

When I was growing up reading and lady-like activities like needlework was encouraged. Playing with dolls was not. In fact I had very little in the way of toys but I had lots and lots of books! I can't ever remember a time where I did not have books. Books have always fascinated me. I could travel the world and learn about things I like would never see in my lifetime. Books were my friends. I preferred them to television and even as a young child my reading preferences tended to be geared towards non-fiction. My childhood love of books continued into childhood. I have a extensive and always expanding library. The nice thing is this love was passed onto our children who are now passing it on to their children.

Pictured is my beloved set of Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories. The inside cover of each book has my name written in my Mom's handwriting. When I say Mom I am referring to the wonder woman who raised me (more on Mother's Day 2008 entry). She was well into her 50's when I came to be but she was a good Mom and I miss her dearly. You might remember these stories from a large, blue table top book in your doctor's office. I think some doctor's offices still have copies. I have volumes 1 through 6, written by Arthur S. Maxwell (1896 - 1970) and published between 1950 and 1962 although the original stories were first published in 1924. While I didn't know it at the time, the stories within were to teach good Christian values. The stories not only teach morals they sooth your soul much the same as chicken noodle soup soothes the body when not feeling well. As you can see from their covers, these books have been well used. I read them cover to cover many times while I was growing up then when I had children I shared those same stories with them. Now his stories will be passed on to our grandchildren as they cuddle on our laps. These much beloved books are a way of melding my past with future generations. I hope they will love the stories as much as I did and still do.

Garden Gnome
©2007

The Garden Gnome :)

A couple of months ago I clicked on a link to Entrecard on another blog. Unlike other traffic generating websites, Entrecard uses a system of credit currency where you earn credits by dropping your entrecard (an online form of a business card) on other members blogs. They in return can choose to visit your blog or not. Credits earned may be used to advertise on other blogs or they can be used to run special events like contests or giveaways on your blog. They can also be transferred to other members as a reward or just to say thank-you. The biggest difference is that unlike other traffic generating websites, credits earned through Entrecard can be bought or sold, so they do have a cash value.

Each blog must have a unique email address associated with that blog. To date, I have two blogs active on Entrecard. Each blog is allowed a 300 maximum daily drop. I created icons to be used as my entrecards for each of my blogs and one for my Epinions link. I tried to keep them similar so if you see any of these icons while are surfing you will immediately recognize them as mine. Clicking the icon will bring you to the associated site. So if you stumple upon one of my icons, please click and leave a message to say hi.

For those of you who don't know, my nick name Garden Gnome came from one of my kids after affectionately patting me on the head and telling me I looked like a garden gnome! The nick name stuck. The avatar on my profile is a picture of Gnameless, one of my gnomes, At present, I have fourteen gnomes, all with names. Some are outdoor gnomes while others are indoor gnomes. I also have a few fairies, smurfs and pixies but only one troll who only appears at Christmas along with a few elves.

All of my blogs have the common themes of family and friends, love of nature and good food yet each are unique in their own way. They were created as a way of sharing what is important to me. In many ways when combined they have become somewhat of a personal diary. Family is my priority so while I may blog my opinions and occasionally a minor rant you won't see inappropriate material. All are family oriented so even little ones can enjoy them. I'm a very visual person so you will see a lot of photos, video clips and that type of thing. Most of the photos and images are either taken or created by me. So a bit about my bogs:

Garden Gnome Wanderings was my first large scale blog, created on April 25, 2006. At that time I had five raised beds and small greenhouse, planted using the square foot gardening method. I also had traditional flower beds and grew in containers. Blogging about my gardening experiences became a way of sharing the ups and downs of gardening. It also became a learning experience for me. This blog has evolved to include environmental issues and more detailed write-ups about various plants and garden visitors. We moved last year so I'm in the process of re-organizing gardens, while re-establishing vegetable and herb beds as well as learning about what is here.
Mom's Cafe Home Cooking was created April 28, 2006 as a natural extension to my gardening blog. With gardening comes excess produce so I do a lot of home food preserving, mainly canning and freezing but also drying and curing. I like to cook and I like putting good, healthy food on the family table. This blog really features my cooking style and how I do things in the kitchen. The food is very much a down home, country style of cooking and while I like to experiment with new ingredients, you won't find a lot of gourmet here. What you will find is good food mingled with my thoughts and something I feel important is the economics of food preparation especially when it comes to canning. Entries include but are not limited to recipes, opinions, methods, tips, appliances and so much more but the main focus is on cooking.

My Journey (this blog) was created September 19, 2006 as a way of sharing things that didn't fit into either cooking or gardening. Just about any topic I find interesting that day is fair game. Most Sundays are a Blog Your Blessings (BYBS) post, the brainchild of BluePanther, so please stop by and say hi. Thanks to him I've met some very nice bloggers. For quite some time Mondays were reserved for funnies and Wednesdays were wordless but 2008 saw that changing a bit although both still appear from time to time. The change was not deliberate but more of my sometimers kicking in. I have a lot of fun with this blog simply because I talk about anything and everything!
Garden Gnome at Home went online December 10, 2006 at the request of an online friend. This blog highlights some of the things I do as a homemaker. It also highlights crafts and hobbies as well as problems we encounter being home owners. Posts tend to follow what I'm doing then and if I feel others will be interested. Photos, tips and methods are included. This is more of a how to blog but not always. Some of the topics featured include: gardening, cooking, scrapbooking, knitting, sewing, crocheting, decorating and much more. There is a strong environmental component as well with energy efficiency playing a large part in some posts.

I joined Epinions on October 18,2006. Why? I have a lot of opinions on the products that I use. I try to be very fair and very detailed with any of my ratings as any product will have both pros and cons. What you will find are products I've use and rated according to performance. Disclosure: I am compensated for my opinions but that doesn't affect my ratings for products and/or services. I basically tell you what it is based on my experience.

Now you have met all my icons so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Garden Gnome
©2007

hide-aways

Lilacs
May 11, 2006

Lilacs have to be one of my fondest childhood memories. We had three lilac trees. One was the same colour as that pictured, another a pale bluish purple and the last was white. The pinky purple was my absolute favourite especially when in bloom. That was my tree! I couldn't wait for spring to see it in bloom. Then to the dismay of my Mom as climbing trees wasn't very ladylike, I would climb up to find my favourite sitting spot while breathing in their sweet fragrance. Years of trimming had formed a perfect sitting cradle complete with a couple of stumps just perfect for small feet to boost their way up to that special spot. Most times I brought a book with me and later the much cherished Kodak instamatic camera. Embraced by the leafy bows and hidden from view, I spent many a summer afternoon shielded from the heat while enjoying a good book.

My lilacs are just starting to blossom here reminding me of days gone by...

Garden Gnome
©2007

when I grow up

"A slideshow of the lovely Mrs. Shirley Jane Temple Black, with pictures from 1929 to 2006, set to her song "When I Grow Up."

Look closely at 1:14, it's Shirley strolling across the MGM lot with Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, and Judy Garland. And she's hugging Dakota Fanning at 1:12."

by lastsafeplace from YouTube

Garden Gnome
©2007

Shirley Temple Black (1928 - )

When I was young one of the things I looked forward to was watching Shirley Temple movies Sunday afternoons. My other favourite was The Wonderful of Disney but was terrified of The Wizard of Oz. Back then we didn't watch a lot of television not because we only had four channels through the arial but because there were so many other kid things to do outside. My Mom looked forward to watching Bonanza and The Big Valley. Every Sunday night the television was tuned to The Lawrence Welk Show.

Bill Bojangles Robinson and Shirley Temple
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms
1938

I have remained a Shirley Temple Black fan over the years collecting memorabilia include all of her movies in various formats. As DVDs of her movies came out, I collected those as well even though I have them in VHS. Many of the old movies have been colourized but I have to admit I prefer the black and white versions. Our television was a black and white so that's the way I remember them. Original paper doll cut-out books, colbalt blue bowls and cups, news clippings, collector dolls and other collector items along with her award winning autobiography Child Star joined my collection years ago. I'm always on the look-out to add more to my collection. Thanks to YouTube I have discovered some lovely video clips so will be enjoying them as well.

Garden Gnome
©2007

Sparkling Waters
May 4, 2008

Dear Readers, when we go on vacation you are used to seeing the "'puter on vacation" image. This time I decided to do two things differently. Thanks to Blogger's new scheduling option, I've worked quite hard to give you several scheduled posts for reading during my absence. That means I created several posts before leaving but have each scheduled to go online on different dates. By the time you read this post, we will be on our way. The main theme for this vacation series is childhood memories but there are a couple that do not fit into that category. Through these posts you will learn a few tidbits about me. Some you may find interesting and others not so. I hope you enjoy them. The second difference is as a new owner of an iPod Touch I will be able to stay in touch with blog comments, emails and may even make a blog post while away. Although I won't be online much, this will be a nice change for when I want a little personal down time. The iPod Touch will be a lot easier to travel with than the laptop as well.

I'll disclose more about our vacation through later posts. Take care and enjoy,

Garden Gnome
©2007

Happy Mother's Day

Garden Gnome
©2007

life is like that

Folks send me some rather interesting emails, some of them containing jokes or laughter that fit into the "life is like that" category where somehow my funny bone just takes over. Here is one I recently received that gave me a chuckle while vivid images floated through my mind. Honestly I could easily see this happening! As a little person lover (gnomes, dwarfs, fairies, smurfs, etc) please be assured the following is in fun.

Officer, this is how the fight started...

I rear-ended the car in front of me. I admit that. It was my fault.

So, we both pull over to the side of the road, and slowly the driver of the
car I hit gets out of his car. . and you know how you just-get-sooo-stressed... and life...
sometimes life seems like... well suddenly funny?

Well, the driver of the car I hit is a DWARF! He gets out of his car and
I get out of my car.

He is frowning and scowling and he storms over to me in that cute little wobble walk and he gets right up close at me he looks up in my face and says, "I AM NOT HAPPY!"

And I swear I don't know what possessed me, officer, but I look down at him and I
said, "Well, if you're not Happy..............................which one are you?"

. . . . and that's when the fight started...

Garden Gnome
©2007

paradyme shift

The Messenger
April 28, 2008

Last week was trouble with a capital T with a stress level high enough to make the most patient person turn the air blue. It all started quite innocently with me taking a walk about the gardens. As always my camera was safely tucked in my hand because you never know when a photo opportunity will arise. Spotting the beautiful blooms on this bush, I just had to take a picture. The bush sits in front of one of the lower level windows, the only one with a window well. The reason for the well is that is were they put a sewer clean-out. There is the window well sat a good portion of the red jello I had flushed down the toilet! Silly me put the cap back on the clean-out and ran a load of laundry resulting in a bit of a water blow-up in the upper level washroom and a window well full of soapy . Well it was all down hill from there. A flurry of phone calls got the plumber and backhoe operator out. More frantic phones were made to get line locates before digging. With the prospect of being with indoor toilets, laundry or bath facilities we had to make quick temporary arrangements. Adding to the stress was the prep work of two larger get togethers we were hosting Saturday. The first one was to great our newest grandbaby into our expanding family (54 expected), followed by a family dinner and finally my husband's poker games (30 - 35 expected). On top of that I was forced into a rather difficult decision that left me both hurt and saddened but in my heart I know it was the right decision. Just when I thought I was at my breaking point, something amazing happened. My sense of humour as warped as it can be kicked in. A sense of humour can be a huge blessing and so it was for me last week.

Every time I looked in the mirror I gave myself a quick smile. I made sure to get my daily 30 minutes of walking in even though I didn't feel like it. I went out of my way to find something, anything to make me smile or laugh. Instead of my normal HGTV or FoodNetwork watching I purposely turned to the comedy shows. I even decided to research a bit on an Apple product (iPod Touch) on of my kids recommended instead of a new PDA, not that I was seriously considering updating. Every time something negative happens I forced myself to take 10 deep breaths while chanting this too shall pass. By the time the kids with grandbabies in tow arrived I was in a right chipper mood.

My family brings me great deal joy. They are my most cherished blessing! Oldest grandbaby (16 months) is a true treasure much like one of her parents aka both (one biological, one through marriage) our pride and joys. Now oldest grandbaby discovered youngest grandbaby (1 month) who I think looks like the parent who married into the family but who is very much considered one of out kids but others think the baby looks like our kid. Little Miss Sunshine (oldest) is used to being the one and only so it was interesting when grandpa held the youngest and the oldest insisted on being up on his lap as well. She snuggled up to grandpa then every once in awhile would plant a soft kiss on the baby, something she has just learned. Talk about adorable! Grandma's camera was in high gear. Then when grandma held the baby all of a sudden grandma's lap was the place to be for the oldest. We ended up with a lot of precious, precious pictures! I couldn't help but being a bit saddened at the thought that this too shall pass and yet marvel at watching these two little ones, each their own personalities and blossoming surrounded by an abundance of love.

PS, the iPod Touch is now en route so I will be able to blog a bit while on vacation. I post about both shortly. Oh and the boat is down with this year's maiden journey enjoyed yesterday.

Garden Gnome
©2007

bizzare

The Head
May 1, 2008

When we moved here last year, I had little idea that we would encounter hidden bizarreness. On first sight the massive fireplace and and beautiful tongue and groove panels ceilings sporting large beams combined with matching wainscoting in most of the lower level meant love at first sight. Set on a beautiful park-like setting with overflowing gardens and backing onto the water sealed the deal. Hidden throughout the house and lurking in the gardens was what I can best describe as being bizarre and that's coming from someone who prides herself in having a gnome empire!

We seriously hauled out two truck loads of very weird almost scary garden decorations last summer. The gnomes in their wisdom declared the findings bad karma. Not one of them were in one piece. There was the dinosaur missing a good portion of his top half, small statues missing arms or legs or heads and similar type items including the tombstone I posted about shortly after moving in. Seriously the former owner either had a very warped sense of humour and/or had issues! My poor gnomes were all in a tither at the scary findings.

Yesterday we were clearing out a garden bed as in eliminating it. Just when we thought we had found all the strange ones out pops The Head pictured above along with more of his garden mates. He actually is intact with all apparent parts. The toothy grin sent me into fits of laughter! Considering by that time we were into day four of sewer problems meaning no indoor toilets or showers, that grin just smacked of a gotcha. Then it hit my funny bone and I started laughing. After all the week's upsets, a belly rolling laugh was just the perfect stress buster. Laughter is good for the soul regardless of how it comes about :)

Garden Gnome
©2007

my new game plan

Blossoms
April 27, 2008

Any one who has been following this blog will know I have had some recent and ongoing health problems. Unfortunately they are continuing and we seem to be no closer to the root of the problems. Since I know my diet is quite healthy I decided to look at a couple of other aspects of my lifestyle. My physiotherapist said bodies are designed for movement and one of the best things you can do for your heart is to walk briskly for 30 minutes daily. So I focused in on that. I'm really a fairly active person by nature but to dedicate 30 minutes daily to walking, well now, I can seriously come up with a lot of excuses. It's either too cold or there is some type of precipitation, neither of which my lungs tolerate well. Then there are the things like canning, cooking, housecleaning, blogging and if I really need a shallow excuse, I can use online poker. Besides, I don't want to miss Corrie or Law & Order and we all know the latter is on 24/7! You get the idea. I love being outdoors, working in the garden and enjoying nature but walking just for walking, I don't think so! Ok, so I had to have a nice friendly little chit chat with myself reminding me of how much I enjoyed hiking at one time and how good this would make me feel and how much my body would benefit from this new game plan.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am now onto day five of my new plan. I wrap a jacket around my waist, put on my walking shoes and clamp the iPod tightly onto my ears, tuck the cell phone and digital camera into pockets then head off. There's no point backing out once I'm all packed :) Day 1 was novel and Day 2 showed me I really needed this. Day 3 my buns were tender. Day 4 I actually was able to push it a bit longer than 30 minutes. Off to do my 30 minutes...

Garden Gnome
©2007

my new read

I have to admit aside of reading online, I'm really not into reading anything besides non-fiction. When I was visiting the grandbabies, I had the opportunity to check out a nearby book store. I have no idea what attracted me to this book. Perhaps it was my mood after getting a couple of one finger salutes that told me I'm number one in their book. Or perhaps it was the idiot that rubbed me the wrong way when all I wanted to do was enjoy a nice cold beer while playing the monster game until the kids picked me up. Maybe the sick feeling I got seeing all the rubbish along the tracks was an influence. Whatever it was this book literally slapped me in the face begging to be be bought.

Like many I find the lack of manners today a bit distressing. What happened to using please, thank-you and you're welcome? A few things I consider rude and annoying in no particular order:

1. cell phones - Sorry but I don't want to hear a one sided conversation about intimate details of one's personal life aka relationships and etc. And if I have to be forced into your soap opera world at least but the dang phone on speaker so I can get both sides of the story!
   
2. the liberal use of the eff word - This is so old! Like there are other words out there. If you can't find a word to express how you are feeling or to use as a verb, noun, adjective or pronoun there's always a dictionary. You know that's a book that has a lot of words in besides the eff word. It helps to know the alphabet when using but I'm sure if those who only use the eff word work hard at it, they can come up with other words too.
   
3. littering - This is incredibly rude, obnoxious and selfish! 'Nuff said.
   
4. blogs that tell me where I'm from - Excuse me, I know where I'm located and your location indicator is so far off I do find it rather humorous albeit rude. If you want to welcome me to your blog, at least have the courtesy of getting my location correct.
5. telemarketers - I pay for my phone which means you do not have the right to call me on my dime to try and sell me something that I don't need or want in the first place. And I find it incredibly rude that when you do call you can't even pronounce my name correctly.
6. automated answering machines - You know the ones where you have to press a button then another button then another button and can never get to a humanoid?
   
7. your call is important to us - Do you think anyone with an IQ higher than an aemoeba buys into this crap? If my call was important to you, you would answer it when I called not 40 minutes later! I honestly sat on hold 40 minutes waiting to talk to my ISP. Yep, the very same one I pay a lot of money to each month for service. Perhaps I will just take my money elsewhere as a payment for your incredible rudeness.
8. pants worn down below the butt - If I wanted to see a butt I could look at my own, thank-you very much and trust me I think mine is cuter than yours!
9. web ancronyms aka LOL, ROFLMAO etc. - The writer expects you to decipher what they have written without any real clues or using a real word - RUDE! Then when you finally figure it out the meaning can be even RUDER!
10. guys assuming every gal is fair game - This has to be the ultimate in rudeness! Hello, do you see the wedding band? That means I'm not interested in you, period! It should also serve as a warning that if I am hormonal, had a bad day or simply not in a congenial mood, you just might find yourself in a very bad situation. Take your egotistical, self-inflated, testosterone overflowing self to the nearest corner and let me enjoy my drink, meal, slot machine, or anything else I may be doing in peace so I can analyze your sheer stupidity while contemplating all the ways I could eliminate you and your ilk without leaving any incriminating evidence behind. How's that for how I feel about this one in terms of rudeness.

©2007

housework

A good friend sent the following by email (waving hi and thanks!). I had a good chuckle so thought I would pass it along. Sorry, some of the formatting was lost but the message is still there.

HOW TO CLEAN THE HOUSE



1. Open a new file in your PC .

2. Name it 'Housework.'

3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN.

4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN.

5. Your PC will ask you,
'Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?'

6. Calmly answer, 'Yes' and press mouse button firmly ...

7. Feel better?



Works for me!

Garden Gnome
©2007

Earth Day

Graffati
April 20, 2008

Something always fascinates me about wall art aka graffati. Well not all wall art is graffati but all graffati is wall art in some form. Most municipalities see it as vandalism. Building owners see it as a bane and expense. Yet graffati continues. Graffati is a form of pollution to some yet expression and communication to others. From day one we teach our kids to be independent, free thinkers, to express themselves then when they do through graffati, well that is just plain wrong from society's perspective. In some ways it reminds me of the old painted building advertisements yet we live in a different world. The only difference in the art was one was accepted and one is not. Graffati marks gang territory, costs building owners countless dollars and reminds us of the darker side of life but sometimes it just is what it is.

Today is Earth Day so I thought this would be a rather fitting post. As I rode the train I was on the look-out for graffati something I seldom see where we live unless you count kids using sidewalk chalk in their driveways. I found the graffati as you can see in the picture but what else I found that was more discerning was the horrendous amount of garbage. As the trail rocked it's way from destination to destination I could not help but be discusted at what I saw. Lining the tracks and fields where nothing more than died off last year's grows mixed with this season's new growth there were countless plastic bags, fast food cast-offs, papers, appliance and funiture parts. I even saw at least two discarded washers, one television and three couches. Come on folks! A vast majority of use go out of our way to reduce our impact on the earth yet some are not getting the message.

Here's a few questions

1. Where the heck do you think the garbage is going when you toss it out your car window?
2. Since you have no regard for the planet we live in, I trust you also toss garbage around inside your own home?
3. Do you feel you are so important that others must clean up after you?
4. Where you dropped on your head during birth?

Hello! Are you listening? Our earth, you know the one that we live on, third planet from the sun can no longer deal with your selfish attitude!

Garden Gnome
©2007

helping hands

Helping Hands
April 19, 2008

Early last week my husband and kids arranged a mini-getaway for me to visit our newest grandbaby (age 2 wks) and oldest grandbaby (age 16 months). Family members shuttled me around to and from the train stations as well as staying with me to make sure I was safely on my way on that leg of the journey. What a fun time I had!

The first part of the journey started here and ended with my arrival by rail to be picked up by one of my kids while another one of our kids made sure I reached the starting point safely. The journey was smooth and uneventful. The sounds of the train lulled me to sleep. At the end of the first leg of the journey was a small, pink bungle of love. Talk about a beautiful baby! She's very alert and attentive but very quiet. I marveled at how small she was. Soon she will be crawling and walking and oh my gosh, grandma really is going to have to get in shape then! The smiles on her mom and dad's face say it all. They are so proud!

The next end of the journey ended at oldest grandbaby's home. This adorable little one saw grandma as a toy :) Unfortunately, grandma didn't come with Energizer batteries and had no wind-up thingy either. In short, grandma isn't the Energizer bunny and the only ticking grandma is going to do is if they put a pace maker in. But grandma kept up pretty good and when grandbaby tuckered out after a walk but woke everytime grandma tried to set her down and she cried while clinging to grandma, grandma snuggled closer enjoying the little arms that wouldn't let go reminding of days long ago when little arms were the norm. Grandbaby found out grandma has a sense of humour too and that temper tantrums doesn't faze grandma either. Grandma forgot that toddlers can easily take out their clothes as well as anyone trying to change them. Grandma learned the "oh oh" game aka "let's toss something, anything on the floor then go oh oh 'cause grandma will pick it up" game. Grandbaby loves feeding grandma yogurt using her finger too. She also likes grandma's hair gel and sunblock. What a gal!

Grandma is in official sleep mode for the next couple of days...or until one of the grandbabies call :)

Garden Gnome
©2007

bunnies

Mama Mallard
April 8, 2008

We are very blessed to live in an area with abundant wildlife quite often in our own backyard and sometimes indoors. Now I will tolerate some household invaders, I am not fond of certain invaders in the house especially those horrid centipedes! We have a pair of mallards frequenting the backyard. Both seem to be quite photogenic and friendly. I think she may be starting a nest under our bushes but I'm not sure yet. At any rate, I'm enjoying their company.

Mr. Buggs, our resident wild rabbit was seen frolicking with a Mrs. Buggs. As soon as I saw them my mind turned to rabbit control for the new vegetable gardens but watching them in the backyard while I sipped my coffee, it was easy to imagine they would leave the vegetables alone. I'm in the stock-up on staples mode so while I don't need to buy any groceries aside of a few fresh fruits and vegetables, I have be making one or two trips a week specifically for stocking purposes. Now this is something I very much enjoy during the month of April. I have this perfected to the point that by the end of April I'm set for all the basics to last until the following April. So this morning I left early to stop and visit my husband at the office then do a stock-up shopping. Our road is maybe 700 ft off the main road. Just after turning onto the main road I encountered the first carcass and not even 200 ft further there was the second one. I am almost certain these were our resident bunnies! This really bummed me out. We live in a reduced speed zone and everyone knows there is a lot of wild life in the area. People will stop to let a family of ducks cross the main road. They will swerve to avoid hitting squirrels. They stop to take pictures of the Canadian geese along the roadside. It would appear the same vehicle hit both rabbits :( Rabbits move fast enough but are large enough for anyone going the speed limit to avoid hitting. Sadly, driving under the influence is a problem along the main road despite a police crackdown. Chances are quite good a drunk driver hit the rabbits. Sad but very much true.

Garden Gnome
©2007

my morning

Dead Centipede!
April 9, 2008

I haven't been sleeping well, not more than a couple of hours at a time so come this morning I was rather on the groggy side. That turned out to be a good thing! Waking from a fitful sleep I hit the washroom first then still in sleep mode set up the coffee maker and slept standing up waiting for the cup to fill. We have one of those pod coffee makers that works well when the operators are in sleep mode. Sniffing deeply to get the aroma of the coffee along with a sip I sat down to the computer. The sat was being pissy as usual so waiting for it to reset I grabbed my coffee and headed to the washroom to make myself look a little presentable. THEN IT HAPPENED! I came face to face with a huge centipede. The body was about an inch and a half long without all his appendages sitting right in the bathroom. Coffee went everywhere just not on the offending invader. I ran for the spray. One squirt and he was toast, leaving me to clean up the tossed coffee and change my clothes because they had coffee on them as well. Dang I really hate these things!

Garden Gnome
©2007

newest member of the family

Second Grandbaby
April 3, 2008

As most of you reading this blog already know the countdown has been on for second grandbaby. She arrived safe and sound at 10:34 am this morning. She weighed in at 7 lb 3 oz. Despite leaving as soon as the call arrived Grandma and Grandpa arrived about 20 minutes after the birth even though Grandpa likely broke a lot of traffic laws along the way. It was a beautiful sunny spring day ready to greet this little bundle of joy into out lives. And our family increases by one little life but ten fold in love...

Garden Gnome
©2007

adventures in space

One of my adorable offspring thought I would be interested in signing up for Virgle: The Adventure of Many Lifetimes. I'm not sure if this was a hint. Hmm? So I wander on over and fill out the easy 15 question multiple choice questionnaire to see if I would make a suitable Virgle Pioneer. Hmphf! Here's my results:

Well, you're distressingly normal and could conceivably adjust to life as a deep space pioneer, though we recommend instead that you leave the Mars missions to the serious whack jobs who scored over 130 and instead finish year 3 of law school, tuck your toddler into bed, design Web 2.0 applications, run for Congress or do whatever other normal, healthy, middle-of-the-road thing you're currently doing with your normal, healthy, middle-of-the-road life. If you're determined to give Virgle a try, though, you can submit your video here.

It would appear I will not be heading out on an space exploring venture to colonize Mars! I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't ask about any gardening, cooking, food preservation or homemaking skills. They didn't ask if I could use a computer! Maybe they assumed that but still. They did not even ask if I could blog. Honestly, what self respecting space pioneer would think of not blogging about his or her adventures?

So my family is just stuck we me for now. Gosh darn! Like they are going to get rid of me that easily! Besides who would cook all the meals, tend the gardens, do the laundry, keep the pantry well stocked, do the decorating, oh and all the other million things a domestic engineer does?

Garden Gnome
©2007