Herd of Deer

Here you can see the herd of deer running for the bush when they realized we were up at the top of the hill. You can only see 2 of the 7 that ran off.


If you click on the picture you will actually see 3 out of 7 deer.

Pound Some Powder

Saturday my husband and me along with our friends Danny & Sandra rode sleds from Brancepeth to Crystal Springs and back. We couldn't have asked for a better day for riding. This was our last ride of the year.

Sandra and I at on of our rest stops... Down at the bottom of the hill behind was a small herd of deer. There were tracks all over the area.

Following in last years tradition, the last ride of the year isn't the last ride unless I can manage to get the sled stuck. I had to pick the softest spot to cross the road and ended up sinking in soft snow. I tried walking the sled out only to move it a couple of feet and then sink it deeper into the soft snow. Took 3 of us to lift the back end up and move it around as well as the front end to line it up strait to the road.

It was almost too warm of a day for riding hard as by the time we returned back to the farm I was freezing from getting so warm then cooling off too fast....took me a long time after to warm up..... A good time was had by all. We put on about 50 miles that day.

Peach Cobbler

6 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
2 cups sliced fresh or frozen peaches
cream, whipped cream, or ice cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in a deep one-and-one-half quart casserole. Combine flour, one cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk; mix well. Pour batter evenly into melted butter without stirring. Combine peaches with one cup sugar; pour into middle of batter without stirring. Bake about 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve warm with cream, whipped cream, or ice cream.

As a variation, substitute apples, blueberries, or blackberries for peaches.

SERVES: 4 - 6

Pecan Bars

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup flour
1 cup finely chopped nuts

Cream butter and sugar. Beat egg yolk and add. Mix in cinnamon and flour. Spread on lightly-buttered 10- by 15-inch baking pan with 1/2 inch sides. Batter should cover pan. Brush slightly-beaten egg white over top of batter. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and pat lightly. Bake in 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. While still warm, cut into bars, about 1 inch by 2-1/2 inches, but do not remove from pan until cool.

Makes about 4 dozen bars

Nissan Altima

On Tuesday my husband and daughter went out car shopping. On Wednesday Brittany bought her very first car on her own. Our kids have always had a vehicle to drive through high school. With living nearly 20 minutes out of town it was easier to make sure they had a vehicle to drive instead of us chauffeuring them around all the time. She bought a 2002 Nissan Altima Black 4-door. Very nice car, excellent shape...actually mint condition. The interior looks like brand new, the stereo is good. The previous owners was an older couple from Regina, the car had just come in on trade so Brittany's timing was just right. It was love at first site for her. Her dad helped her make the deal...he was telling her don't look too excited, stay calm and relax. It is so nice to not have to try and juggle 2 vehicles around 3 of us any more. There were times that it was difficult to do but we got through it.

Where does time go?

In a few days we will be saying goodbye to March and hello April. Where does the time go? I remember when I was a little girl how I couldn't wait until I was 13 then I would be a teenager, this it was I couldn't wait until I was 16 then I could get my driver's licence and at 18 I would be legal voting age and 19 I would be old enough to get into the bars. I remember it seemed so long to reach those milestones in my life....from year to year as a child time seemed to go by slow it felt like it took forever for the next year to come. Now I am afraid to blink as I might miss something. Yesterday marked 3 months to the day after Christmas even though spring is here it doesn't feel like it just yet. Seemed like only yesterday we heading into winter and here we are heading into spring.

It is true what they say the older you get the fast time flies by!

Ho Humm!

Ever have one of those days where you just feel ho humm......so so.......like you just don't give a crap about anything. Today is my day for the feeling.....might have something to do with the argument I had with my daughter last night...the fact that I didn't sleep properly...think they are all a part of the process leading up to ho humm feeling today.

On the up side of things yesterday at lunch time I started looking for an outfit for Meagan's grad. Well to my surprise I was able to get into a Size 14...I was so thrilled. I haven't worn a Size 14 in over 10 years probably closer to 12 years..... Yes that was a great feeling when I realized that I was able to try that outfit out with out feeling uncomfortable. It was a bit tight for me to wear out in public but definitely well on my way to being able to wear Size 14 all the time....a few more pounds to go and Size 14 will be my new size. My ultimate goal is to get back to Size 7 or 8 but hey I would settle for Size 10 even....

Spring is Arriving

It seems that Spring is arriving. It is nice to be able to drive to and from work in daylight. I usually leave home just after 7am and it is so nice to be able to drive in the daylight. I find that it is uplifting to have the daylight hours. Soon the snow will change in puddles of water, tree will bud and crocus will be in bloom. It is such a joy to watch Mother Nature awake from her winter slumber here. I look forward to the days when the ducks and geese return, little ones hatch, spring flowers bloom, pussy willows bloom and the song birds return.

I am hoping to get out this spring with camera in hand to get some pictures of Mother Nature's Awakening....the way I look at I will be killing two birds with one stone...getting some nature pictures but also getting some exercise in with walking. Last year I got some nice photos of Crocus' in bloom this year I hope to capture more sights of spring.

Saturday in Saskatoon!

Saturday morning my husband took off for Saskatoon to look for a car for our daughter Brittany. We found one car at Saskatoon Hyundai - 1999 Nissan Altima nice little car, drove nice, no rust etc......well on the test drive my husband was getting very frustrated that he couldn't find anything wrong with the car other than it was a 1999. Al was hesitant as he doesn't want to be back to doing the weekend repair jobs on an older vehicle. The other factor is Brittany might not be able to get a car that old with her loan either...something that she will have to check as we know someone that took a loan for a used vehicle and he couldn't look at anything older than 2004 or he wouldn't get the loan. Well we didn't find a car for Brittany yet but we are still looking, we still have time to shop around. We are staying away from a private sale, so we may be making a few trips to different dealers the area.

After looking at at a few other lots we headed over the Home Styles 2009 Show at Prairie Land Exhibition Park. We spent the better part of 2 hours there looking at all the different displays. We were mainly interested in Windows, Doors, Insulation and Siding as that is our project for this year. We did look at some of the kitchen cabinet displays as well. I don't know why people insist on taking their babies to these events....yes I got very frustrated when some of these parents would gather at the ends of the isle 3 or for strollers blocking entry or exit for everyone else....I know I shouldn't complain right....well if it were me I would get a babysitter and use this opportunity to be away from the kids......oh well I guess that is a sign of getting older getting annoyed at things that didn't used to bother me. We seen lots of good displays, Shell Busie was there, he did 2 shows we caught the second one....now I can put a face to the voice we listen to on the radio on Saturday mornings. Al bought a ticket on the ultimate Man Shed --- OMG if he wins that I will never see him....comes with 4 LCD TV's, Fridge, Dishwasher, Bunk Bar, 2 Decks, Awning, Patio furniture and much much more...the prize is worth something like $56,000 oh it even has a Urinal in it.....like I said I would never see my husband except for when he was hungry and maybe not even then.

After the home show we headed to over to our son's place for a visit. We haven't seen Michael since January...no he was in PA for a day back in February so I took him out for supper. He is doing really well, lost some weight looks really good. We had supper with Mike and then he and Al had a few beers together before we left for home. I must say I was very impressed at how nice and clean Mike's apartment was as well....very impressed...not the same kid that once lived in my house. I guess we did a good job with him.

Salmon in Parchment

8 oz. thin spaghetti
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley, chopped
1 cup carrots julienned
1 cup zucchini, julienned
1 cup asparagus tips
1 cup red bell pepper, julienned
24 oz salmon fillet, cut into four 6-ounce pieces
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 large sheets of parchment paper

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cook thin spaghetti in rapidly boiling water until al dente, drain, toss with a bit of olive oil, salt and chopped fresh dill or parsley.
3. Rinse salmon fillets and pat dry. Spread Dijon mustard evenly over the top of each one.
4. Prepare the parchment: fold each piece of parchment in half. With scissors, cut the shape of half a heart from the folded side. (Remember Valentine's you made in grade school?) Open the heart shape and place 1/4 of the pasta on the center of the paper, top with a salmon fillet, and add the vegetables. Bring the sides of the heart over the fish and fold the edges together starting at the top of the heart, overlapping the folded edge as you go. Fold the tip several times to secure it.
5. Place the pouches in the middle of the hot oven and bake for 10 minutes. Serve immediately in the sealed pouches, opening them just before eating.

4 servings

Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
533 calories
14.9 g total fat (2.8 g sat)
76 mg cholesterol
52 g carbohydrate
46 g protein
5 g fiber
696 mg sodium

Broccoli Slaw

We've lightened this popular potluck classic with a dressing of reduced-fat mayo and yogurt. To speed preparation, use shredded broccoli slaw from the produce aisle.
Makes 8 servings, 3/4 cup each

4 slices turkey bacon
1 12- to 16-ounce bag shredded broccoli slaw or 1 large bunch broccoli (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1/4 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 8-ounce can low-sodium sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup finely diced red onion (1/2 medium)

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning frequently, until crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. (Alternatively, microwave on High for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.) Drain bacon on paper towels. Chop coarsely.
2. If using whole broccoli, trim about 3 inches off the stems. Chop the rest into 1/4-inch pieces.
3. Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add water chestnuts, onion, bacon and broccoli; toss to coat. Chill until serving time.

Tips:Cover and chill for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Information
Per serving:
80 calories
4 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono)
9 mg cholesterol
9 g carbohydrate
3 g protein
3 g fiber
297 mg sodium

Nutrition bonus:
Vitamin C (70% daily value)
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Smoked Salmon Spread

Plain vodka can be substituted for the pepper-flavored vodka, but season generously with cracked pepper. Serve on crostini with freshly cracked pepper.
Makes about 2 cups

8 ounces smoked salmon
1 1/2 cups nonfat cottage cheese
3 tablespoons pepper-flavored vodka, such as Absolut Peppar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

Cut half of the salmon into chunks. Dice the remaining salmon. Place cottage cheese in a fine-mesh sieve and press on it to remove excess moisture. Transfer the cottage cheese to a food processor. Add the salmon chunks, vodka, lemon juice, mustard and horseradish. Process until smooth. Transfer the mixture to bowl and fold in the diced salmon. Refrigerate until chilled.
TipsCover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Information
Per 2-tablespoon serving:
41 calories
1 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono)
4 mg cholesterol
1 g carbohydrate
5 g protein0 g fiber
214 mg sodium
29 mg potassium
0 Carbohydrate Servings

Burning Down The Barn

Saturday night was the scene of a barn burning at our friends farm. The barn has been empty for many years and according to Danny it was time to come down. Before the official lighting we took Toonie bets on when the last wall would fall. All together there was about $32 in the pot. The bets ranged from 45 minutes to 33 hours. 1 hr 20 minutes after the fire was lite the last wall fell in. I was the lucky winner with a guess of 1 hr 30 minutes.

The starting blaze

It didn't take long for the blaze to burn through the plywood walls of the barn

The tree you see here next to the south wall survived the fire.

Katlyn and Brittany in front of the fire. I really like how they look silhouetted against the burning barn.

Fire's Burning, Draw Nearer Draw Nearer! Fire's Burning

Most of the walls are gone except for the back wall and part of the north side.

This is the last of the walls that finally fell 1 hr 29 minutes later winning me the Pot of Gold!

Snowmobiling

Saturday my husband and two daughters went out to our friends farm for the night for a day of snowmobiling and a barn burning that night.

Well Old Man Winter kept his ugly head reared just enough to make it cold with the wind. Brittany, Meagan and Katlyn decided to go for a ride shortly after we arrived. Meagan was the second person to get a sled stuck but not as bad as the guy before her. The girls were able to dig the sled out, I think they did. They had a good ride a bit short as they weren't sure where all they could ride to and didn't want to be caught tress passing. So after sitting around in the trailer visiting with many friends that came out for the day I decided it was time to dress up and go for a ride. After donning my snowmobile suit, new helmet and new mitts I was set to go. Of course Sheldon was telling me I was going to freeze out there....told him if he would dress for the weather properly he wouldn't be cold. I was gone for about 30 minutes when I stopped back at the trailer only to catch a tongue lashing from my daughters (all in fun) where were you, we were worried, you didn't check in we had no idea of where you went, what if something happened to you how would we know where to look for you...that was all it took for me to head back out the door for some more riding time. After Al, Dwayne and myself hauled logs back for the bonfire that night Al and I took off for a ride. Once Al decided it was time to head in I kept on going. It felt great to be out there with in the fresh air and I wasn't cold, I was actually very warm, close to sweating even. After I made my last run of the day as I came in the door Al is telling Danny I don't think I will ever get my wife off that sled, with her new helmet and good equipment. He didn't see me standing at the door way....all I said was we need another sled by next winter so that we can go riding together as neither of us will ride as passengers.

So the plan is that we are going to head out again in two weeks for a weekend of snowmobiling. Hopefully Old Man winters stays away with the bitterly cold winds and gives us some good temperatures for riding.

Lunch Date

Today my daughter surprised me by stopping by my office right at lunch time. She thought she would see if I was to go for lunch with her. Told her that I would take her for lunch so off to the mall we went. What a busy place at lunch time. It was hard to find an empty table, but we did. It was nice just to spend some time with Meagan. Evey now and then my kids have ways of surprising me in little ways. No matter how frustrated I get with them they always redeem themselves with these little surprises.

Welcome Home Lucy

Lucy came home to live with us on Saturday March 7, 2009. She is an adorable 7 year old Shih Tzu, that came from a neglectful owner to be rescued by the vet in the area when the owner brought her in as she was having problems having her pups. Long story short the lady signed Lucy and the pups over to them and in turn they asked the owner of Molly Dogs to help find Lucy and the 2 surviving pups a good loving home.

Lucy loves attention and fit right in with our family. She is very much my little shadow, at least she was yesterday. My daughters both love her as much as they love Rocco. Our son hasn't met Lucy yet we know that once he does he will fall in love with her as well.

Lucy travelled really well on the way home from Regina Beach bonding with each of us (Brittany, Al & I) on the way. She got to bond with Meagan yesterday afternoon and evening. Lucy fits in with our family perfectly, her and Rocco get along as well.

Snow Snow and More Snow

Well with the warm weather in true Saskatchewan Style we got snow yesterday. According to the radio this morning we received 3 inches of the fluffy white stuff, twice as much that was in the forecast. Yesterday along with 4 other co-workers we head out for Saskatoon around 10:30am well the visibility downtown was not very good but we decided that we would go out on the highway and see what it was like. Once we got up on top of the hill it was better that is for sure. Between McDowell & Duck Lake was the worst on the highway...I had decided that if it wasn't any better my the time I made it to Duck Lake we were turning around. Why was I waiting to turn around at Duck Lake when it was so bad....because I couldn't see a turn off along the road to go into so figured it would be safer to do so at Duck Lake. From there to Saskatoon was good driving and coming home it was just after McDowell to PA that was horrible.

I was able to make it down my driveway last night but knew full well that there was no way I was getting out in the morning with my car. So this morning with the Yukon and 4 X 4 I made it to work with out problem. My girls on the other hand will not get out until my uncle plows the road out as there the drifts will be too much for the cars to get through.

Filling the Void

I have been thinking a lot about this new feeling that awoke inside of me on Monday. Realizing that there are many factors to my awakening. I realized that my awakening was a slow process that needed that final push to get me through the fog I had been living under for so long.

One of the hardest things to get through was the passing of my dad in June 2008. My dad and I were very close...in many ways he was one of my best friends with the exception that I didn't share all my secrets with him if you know what I mean. I could turn to my dad for just about anything...if I just needed someone to talk to, someone to tell me that I am doing okay and everything is going to alright and someone to just laugh with. This left a huge void in my life and it hasn't been easy to fill that void but it is getting better. As crazy as it sounds my husband and I have gotten closer since my dad's passing - we both realized that we needed each other than we thought. My daughter Brittany and I have developed a closer bond....we are not just mother and daughter, we are also friends....very good friends. I talk with my Aunt in Cranbrook & Kamploops more on the phone than I think I used and really enjoy those conversations (some of this void is filled by my aunts). I only wish I lived closer to both of them so we could get together more for coffee or just to go for a walk. I still talk to God and my dad.....I have lots of time on my way to and from work.

I have also found time to fill this void left in my life with taking time for myself....something that I didn't do very often before, I was always involved in one thing or another for my kids. I have started reading more than before and then there is my card making and stamping which go hand in hand together with scrapbooking. I have picked up all the material except the batting and backing to make myself a throw quilt. So I am finding ways to fill the void and will still have times when the hole's show through that void now that my dad is at home with the Lord, my mom, grandparents and many other loves ones.

One thing I have learned through all of this is that time with friends and family is very special and shouldn't be taken for granted.

Live for Today Plan for Tomorrow Remember Yesterday!
Make every moment count!

Awakening

Have you ever felt like your soul has been awakened from a deep slumber. This is how I felt this morning when I woke. Looking back I feel like I have been walking around in a fog of some kind. My heart feels alive full of life, energy, passion and much more that it is hard to describe. It is strange how I feel, very hard to describe but I haven't felt like this in a long long time. What brought this about I am not sure but I do know.

Over the last six days I have read 2 of the 4 books in the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers, it could hardly put them down. Last night I read for 6 hours until I finished the 2nd book "New Moon". Her writing style is amazing, she has a way of pulling you into the story....making you feel like you are the one living it. Last night as I was reading how Bella was running across the town square to the clock tower to stop Edward from stepping out into the sun; my heart was racing, my palms sweating and my legs vibrating like it was me running across that the town square. Is this story the reason for my awakening??? It might be part of it but I think it is mostly the soul searching that I have been doing for over a year and I think it is these books are helping me see beyond the fog that there is wonderful things out there and I need to take the time to enjoy them before it is too late.

This feeling of my soul being awakened is a wonderful feeling, I hope it is the start on a new path in life as it is time I moved forward and away from the fog I have been in. I can't truly explain the feeling of joy, excitement, passion and so many other things that I am feeling inside my soul but I do know I never want to loose it.