An outing with Little Whiski

Contrary to popular opinion that small dogs are yapper dogs and a nuisance, there is one little dog that has the smallness (3 1/2 lbs) but all the personality of a people. 

This little ball of energy and fun has a mind all of her own, yet is the probably the funniest member of our family. We always term that "Little Whiski misses us" or "oh Whiski, you're soooo cute!" and even 

 "oh HONey," and "I know I'm your favorite auntie."

Thanksgiving on Thursday

Special Special times! Two Thanksgivings in one week. First at home and one on the East side.  And for some reason I didn't get any photos of all the people.... must have been a tad side tracked with one subject! But what a sweet day. Fellowship, friends and family.

Thanksgiving on Tuesday

What a fun night! Just like the old days. Gamma's, Englishbee's and Brist's. The only thing is that 4 of the 8 kids are absent. But it was a great time anyway! We miss you Orin, Emery, Laura and Rob!

Giving the weather report.... it's 17 below zero

Mom's table

This is normal

This is is usual..... one might be paying attention.

Cold now, forecast- more cold....

These are a few photos of the white caps we're getting on the lake. This is also the kind of weather that we brought the docks in on Saturday. Sadly, I don't have any photos of Operation: Docks, but it was fraught with some hilarious moments. Like when Tony jumped on a dock and nearly slid into the lake. Or listening to Justin R say, Ooooh it's sooo cold. And when we all came inside and couldn't get out of our coveralls because they were solid ice from the knee down....  We 'defrosted' in front of the fire first.

The wind howls around the house trying with ceaseless efforts to get in. The house is warm, snug, cozy with temps of 90 inside because there isn't a way to control a thermostat on a wood stove! It's a thankful girl I am to have plenty of firewood.

The waves on the lake

                                              

                                                           The dock overhanging the lake. Very frosty!

Fog rolling in

This is Dad and Tony. Tony had just shot a deer. it's still snowing, it's still cold. Old Man Winter is happy.

Snapshots of sky in color

Give me the splendid silent sun at sunset  - Walt Whitman

    The sunrise is Gods greeting - the sunset, his signature.  - Unknown

A fun outing

Last night my brother said, Go to the Banff Film Festival at the High School. So we did, we had good laughs, chair gripping experiences, some good bonding and plain ol fun just watching the film. It is amazing. The human body is so impressive along with the brain being conditioned to do what we would call "death defying feats" Truly amazing.

I encourage ALL to take advantage and go to this- it's on a world tour. The film is made up from 257 applicants in 32 countries of which maybe 60 are selected and 27 ish get contracts. Something like that. Some of the best quotes:

"Life is a river; there is a beginning, and end and a million different ways in between. The ebb, the flow. That is life" -cyclist

"I think paddling is a love. And love is awesome!" -kayaking Queen


"We find that we are a mystery living in even a bigger mystery outside ourselves. And that is powerful to realize"

"This is reDICULOUS!" -snowboarder

http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/

While I find it so impressive, I'm glad that nature is not my God, but that it can be appreciated.

I can't organize myself this week! HELP!

I found a quote today that made me laugh: Of course it's from Maxine which is one of the best comics of all time.

"It helps to organize in 3 categories:

     1.Things I won't do now

       2. Things I won't do later

          3. Things I'll never do"

Thus, I feel justified for laziness. Which is justifiable given that's snowing and it's 24 degrees. And I'm just loving the thought of - staying inside -hot tea -some of Jewel's Pumpkin Chip Muffins -big fuzzy blanket- any book by Mark Twain. This would make me happy. All day. I promise. Then go for a walk with my camera and I'd be in love!

however, that's not to be my lot in life today. Instead I'll be stressing over organizing my life:

>Sew 2 skirts, 1 dress, 1 shirt for those I've promised them to.

>Find out how to make the rubs from Real Simple magazine which is easy, I just need adorable containers....and yes containers can be adorable. Much like sweet stationary. And flowers on little girl dresses.

>Send those yoga tapes back to Tami. (yes they're being mailed today.... This time I promise!)

>balance the check book.

>MOSTLY i need to write a short survey, have 10 people take it, and then write about it for school in 1400 words. This is not popular with me at all. I hang up on telemarketers, throw out all surveys and always press 2 for NO when Verizon asks if I want to take a short survey. 

>Say no EVERYDAY to bread. I fully know I'm allergic to it, I just love it..... then I look like a balloon. Okay, a tall balloon, but a balloon nonetheless.

>Work has a major takeover time in my 'free' time for this project that I am fully responsible for. 

>My sisters come home tomorrow. Maybe. Who knows. How does one go from SYD to GPA but wind up staying in SFO and the other got lost and is in SLC. A mystery. From 2 countries, to 4 states.  How I miss it....!!!! 

> I know there is a ton more, but my brain has detached from my head. 

a garden harvest

Mom was the amazing one this summer for tending the garden.  These were some small highlights. I didn't get any photos of the gi-normous potatos, the kale, the swiss chard, spinach, lettuce, zucchini etc... what an amazing thing a garden

Simple, plain ol' falling in love

About a month ago, my sister came home one evening calling out, "hope you don't mind, but we have a new roommate" I looked up from putting dishes in the dishwasher, turned and find her holding a blanket with a tiny, furry half Siamese kitten. When I think if little cuties like that, I think of an adorable fluff ball with too big eyes and too much curiosity for comfort. Having a dog on weekends is plenty in my book! However, the story of this little sweetheart was sad since she was found huddled, without mother, starving. My sister took a triple dose of compassion for all of us, whisked up the pitiful squaller and fed it with a syringe. Apparently the mother didn't any milk, so it left.

It looked pathetic. I hate cats in the house. To me, a kitten isn't even an exception. I hate the way they smell, the way they can stalk you and you can't hear them, how the jump up on stuff, etc etc.  I do NOT like cats in the house.

But.

And it's a big but.... this is what the little blighter did after the bundle was handed over to me. Her claws came out, her pathetic growl came in earnest and she started in on filling that tiny belly.

After a few sucks, she got tired and did this:

Okay. I am not proof against some simple, grateful, cuddles of appreciation. Cuddled right into me. My hate of cats in the house ... yeah.... about that.....

After getting some milk in that belly every 30 minutes, her pathetic cries turned to inquisitive kitten meows. And the purring started immediately. Deep, rumbly, sweet, contented, purrs that you can't help but smile. Which was so cute. And became very disrupting! She cried if she wasn't held. And purred like a steam engine if snuggled in my lap while I did homework.

Long and short of it, I do not have time to care for this sweetheart and being only 4 weeks old, she requires constant attention. So after the weekend, I brought her to work Monday morning. It took two minutes for her to be adopted and she now enjoys being a princess named Torra Bella. or Beautiful Tiger.

In a few weeks....

Today is the first day of it really feeling like it's going to snow. As I was driving to work, a bunch of cows were starring at the road from inside the fence (thankfully because I had on some sweet heels that I didn't want to ruin chasing cows!) but it is odd to see cows stare intently and as I rounded the bend, I saw 15 turkeys! I guess I would stare too if I heard those creatures. They moved jerkily across the road, up the bank and continued their gobble. I didn't see a tom, and I'm sure he's in hiding as it's not too far from the day he may be unfortunate enough to grace a table!

Frosty morning turkeys

I've been fortunate and thankful for this past year. I know it's good to reflect on the holiday this month, but for the first time in a long time, I am thankful from my heart. It's not been an easy year, very difficult on some levels, but it's so good to know it's been a time for growing. A time to get grounded enough to make some very big changes in life that will shape the rest of my life.....  it's not without some fear, but it is with a deep thankfulness.

someday

Often I don't feel as though I have much to say, and then I remind myself that I've very much like my father and I retract that statement and suddenly it makes sense of why I have several nicknames that all have something along the lines of, "does she ever stop talking?" So in consideration as to why I would suddenly start blogging? I don't know. Perhaps it's because life is taking some drastic amazing turns? Honestly, who's doesn't. Maybe it's because I have great things to say? Um... as my siblings often say, Carmyn what's your point..? So that can't be it. I don't have kids, I'm not married, but I am the proud owner of a new serger, I have a wonderful amazing totally cool camera (and Yes. It's Nikkon. I'm proud.) I do not have a VitaMix but I was at Mom's yesterday and she has incredible food, and I'm next door, and food just tastes better at moms, but that's nothing new. It could be that my blogs name is chocolatesgood4u. Really, what better medicine does anyone need.

I do however, have a wonderful fantastic totally incredible boyfriend. Who is a long ways away.

Maybe that's what this blog is about. I miss him.