Boots, hat, pants, etc

Let's be honest, I am not really cut out for ice fishing. I get cold. But, once I make up my mind, I am going to do it.

So, off I go to shop again. Yeah, I know I said I wasn't going to do that. I really don't like shopping. But I had something to take back . . . to Wally World. OMG, returns after Christmas. What was I thinking?!? But, I knew if I waited much longer, it would go on sale and I didn't have a receipt (OMG, returning without a receipt, again-what was I thinking?).

Actually the line was only about 6 people, not bad for this time of year. And once I got to the cashier, she gave me the total amount with the suggestion that next time I try to bring back the receipt. That was pretty nice. Oh, did I tell you I went to the Wally World in the English part of Montreal? Yeah, it makes a difference sometimes.

OK, I need boots. I was going to go to Canadian Tire next week because they will have some on sale. But, I went and looked anyway. There were several on sale. I got some pretty ugly boots but at a good price. Sort of big in the foot, but better for socks and foot warmers. It's all about layering, ya know.

Then I got some snow pants. I got them bigger so I can wear pants under them. Again, it's the layering process. Now, these were bigger than I would have wanted but they didn't have the size I really wanted and the price was right.

I got mittens. Thick, fluffy mittens for supper cold hands. And I have my hat from the first trip to Canadian Tire.Oh, wait, that's not my hat-that's my cat.

This is my hat. It's warm. Almost too warm at times.

I came home and got all dressed for outside. I was sweating by the time I was finished. How do parents of young children do it? Anyway, I walked to the lake and noticed that my pants are falling down. Yeah, too big. And no suspenders. I finally go back inside and think about the pants a bit. Yeah, I need suspenders. But lacking that, I tucked in my sweater and rolled down the waistband. It sort of worked. At least my pants didn't fall down to my ankles. I think I will just take them in a bit in the back. It's not like this is a fashion show for me. It's at stay warm show. I need my pants big enough for more layers (and yes, I do understand the idea is for the pants to be warm enough but, they aren't.)

Bottom, line, I stayed warm. That was good.

Yes, Tricia, I was ice fishing

I went ice fishing again. But there was a problem. It had rained/iced/snowed/rained/snowed the day before. My neighbor said it wasn't a problem. She invited me to go. She was going out and I said I would meet her out there.

I had a few things to do before going out. When I went out, she wasn't there. She goes home sometimes for lunch or potty breaks. Oh well, I will walk to the little poles and see what is happening. I had my camera so I wanted to make sure it didn't freeze-so I would take a few pictures and then put the camera inside my coat.

Out I go and after about 15 feet, the ice starts to crack. Hmmm, not good. But I can tell she went out there. Her stuff is there.

I walk along the shore a bit and try again. Crack. Now, I know the lake has to be frozen and logically, this is only surface ice with water under it. But . . . everything I was ever told as a child was screaming in my brain. STAY OFF.

I finally went to the path she went. It cracked and water but I knew she went that way. I got there. I was nervous but I was there. There was a fish on one of the lines.
My neighbor came out. She explained a few things. Another guy came out, then the crazy guy on the ATV came out with the booze. He didn't stay long. He decided to go the China Town downtown for the day. Off he wheeled-as fast as he could. Sliding and splashing. Yeah, crazy Canadian.
After a while, it became obvious that my "city boots" were not made for water. They got wet, then the feet got wet. The feet got cold real fast. Both the neighbor and the other fisherman suggested I get rubber boots. Showed me what they had. Okies, I knew I had to get something. I went in, warmed up, changed socks and went to Canadian Tire. Got winter rubber boots, which are not really good for real winter but good for walking through icy water. And some gloves. My hands are always cold.

I came home, put on the big clunky boots and then put my ice cleats on them. They don't work very well with the rubber boots. They come off. No matter, I picked the cleats up off the lake when they came off. I fished for a while. It's cold. Yeah, cold.

The sun was setting and I was freezing. But this is the best time to fish. Okies. The local millionaires came out to say hi. They started a nice conversation with us and I said-nice to see you guys, I am freezing so I am going in. They all understood- I am the American who is trying.

I start walking to the nearest exit from the lake. Walk, crack, walk crack. The ice cleats come off. The locals behind sort of giggle at my process. Slow. Nerve racking slow. Each step screamed: DON'T WALK ON ICE THAT BREAKS! I knew I was ok, but still . . . . I almost get to the edge and the local couple come up behind me. They made it in 1/3 of the time. Yeah, well, they know what they are doing. They don't think they are going to die with each step. My ice cleats are off and it hits me-I have to walk up an icy hill to get off the lake and home. Not that far but . . . . The man held out his hand and said, let me help you. Normally I would have said no. I thought for a minute. And said, okies. And yeah, I almost took him down once. Poor guy. I can see it now in the papers: American Kills Local Millionaire on Ice.

I got home. Said goodbye and clumped into the house. My hands were ice. My feet were a little cold. I need better gloves. I need real winter boots-that are not the rubber things. But, I will wear my "city boots" for a while. If there isn't water, they keep my feet pretty warm. They are like Uggs but from Costco. Not water proof at all. And I suppose they will be ruined the first time a fish lands on them. Yeah, yeah, I need real boots. But, I hate to shop and I have already done with shopping for the week. Someone send me boots that are light weight, good on ice, and very good in cold weather. Oh, and that also fit.

You can take the girl out of Georgia, but you can't take . . .

This picture is the marina where all the boats are docked in the summer

What was I thinking? Ice fishing? Oh dear.

Yep, I went ice fishing yesterday. I walked on the lake. Now, while it was a little nerve wracking to walk on the lake part near the house, it was downright weird to walk on the bigger part of the lake. But I did.

I cut holes, put my line in the hole (using a tiny little fishing pole that I got for Christmas), and froze. There wasn't a lot of wind near the house but once I was in the middle of the lake-the wind was really picking up. Finally, I decided to call it a day. I had a great excuse-a turkey in the oven. The local nut on ATV was there at the time passing out booze.

I didn't catch a fish. I had a couple bites. But my goal wasn't to catch anything, but figure out what the deal was. How did they do this? What are the tips? And what did I learn?

It's cold.
I need special mittens with liners.
I need better boots (not so much but I am ruining my warm everyday boots-the ice cleat things are hard on them)
I need winter pants. I have some, but I didn't use them yesterday. When I look at the ones I have, I think I will take them back and get "bib" type pants.
And finally, I need a hat. Think crazy Canadian type hat. Fur that folds down. You know the type-Canadians sitting around drinking beer type hats. Yep. That would be what I need.

And finally, just so you know that Canadians really are a little off kilter when it comes to winter, I will leave you with a video that Dave sent me yesterday. Yeah, Canadians are a hardy bunch.

Photo ID anyone?

MainMan called the D/L place and was able to get an appointment sooner than mid-January. They had suggested that he call as sometimes appointments open up. Our new and improved appointment was for Monday afternoon.

Now, this isn't an easy place to find. It's on the OTHER side of Montreal and a bit north AND it's the only place Americans can go to exchangege their US D/L for a Canadian one (ok, make that a Quebec one). So, we leave early. Since it is the beginning of Christmas week, traffic was lighter than we expected and we got there pretty early.

We were met by a guard at the door. Hmmm, I see a trend. He asked when was our appointment. 2:10. Oh, then go to this waiting room. It is waiting room 1. Well, I think it is, my French is bad. We sit with lots of others-all the chairs facing the front of the room. At the front of the room were two bathrooms and a drinking fountain. Our entertainment was watching folks go in and out of the bathrooms (which were unisex-both men and women and changing tables). Okies. Every ten minutes they call for that time. We wait.

Then our time is called and the group of people who also have that time get up and we go to . . . the next waiting room. I go to one of the check in ladies and she gives me a number and sends us to . . . the NEXT waiting room. As I sit I think (under my breath but loud enough for MainMan) "Hell . . . I am living in HELL"

It really didn't take that long for my number to come up. Off we go to find booth 11. We find it. Two ladies are sitting on the other side. I say who I am and that I am there for a D/L. We sit. She starts asking for my "papers" and my card, etc. Every once in a while the lady sitting behind the lady who is helping me leans over and says something in French to her. (Hmmmm, ohhh yeah, I get a trainee). Ok, fine. I can deal with this. She asks my name, etc. And I pull out my passport and say, it has to match. (Which btw, my MO D/L matches). I do this because my MAIDEN name is not on my passport. Hmmmmm-and do I have anything that proves that the name on this piece of paper that shows my Maiden name is really my maiden name? Hmmm again. Well. I have a birth certificate. I start to take it out and the lady leans over and points out to the trainee that my landing papers from years ago has my father listed and my father's last name is my maiden name.

I have all the papers they asked me to bring and more. I am ready. I have checks to prove my address in CanadaLand, I have our lease, I have marriage, birth, etc. I have my perm resident card. I am ready.

She looks at my Perm resident card and says=do I have proof that I was living in MO when I got that licence? Huh? Well, you have been a Canadian resident since 1979 and we need to know you got this legally. But you have to show something with the dates between 2005 and now. I sit there. Maybe a health card (at this point I want to say, look lady, anyone can get a #$%@ing medical card in the states: its NOT a form of ID down there) I flip through my book of papers. I have papers for every couple years up to . . . 2004. Nope, that won't work. I am floored. Never did they say I needed that. Never. MainMan says, no one told us we would need that. Well, if you had asked them, they would have told you. I think for a moment. We did ask. We were told. I have what we were told. But, let's be honest, it doesn't matter. We have been through this before. Quebec and Canada are famous for this. I should know better. I really should. She says, well if you can't prove it, you will have to leave and come back another time.

You are kidding me.

No, she isn't.

I do have one little tiny piece of paper from 2007 that is a local community tax for our house. Will that work. The trainee looks at it and says it might. The lady behind her says no. Why? Cause she has never seen anything like that. Oh. But you said a piece of paper that shows we lived there. It has both our names, the date and the address. Hmmm. We will have to ask. If it is accepted, then we can process it. But we don't think it will be accepted. They walk away.

Under my breath I think . . . Hell, living in hell. I am sure MainMan is thinking the same thing but rather because of how I am going to be once we get in the car.

They come back. It is accepted. But they can only put that I have been legally driving since 2005 because I don't have any other D/L to prove that I drove. Huh? Whatever. She says, now just go to the waiting room and they will call your number for your picture. You will receive your D/L in the mail in 10-20 days (the extra 10 days is because of the holidays)

Okies. I wait. I get the picture taken. He is nice. Says it will come in 10 days.

Sure it will.

I go home without my MO D/L and with a little piece of paper that is my D/L until my real one comes.

The next day I go to the post office to pick up something I bought off ebay. "May I see a photo ID?" Ohhh hhh hhh godddddddddddddddddd. I hand him the paper and say, I am sorry this is my D/L. I just got it yesterday. Will a Costco card work? (Hey, I wanted that package, its cold outside and I don't want to come back). He looks at me and says, oh, thats ok. Normally we need a photo id, but I will take this. He hands me the box. Merry Christmas.

I get home and open the box. I show MainMan-he groans. I show #1-he grunts. I show #2 and he says"You're kidding me-right?" Yeah, I love it when I drive em nuts.

Standing Rib Roast for Suzan

Standing Rib Roast (Prime Rib) for Suzan

A 3-rib roast usually weighs 5-7 pounds. I normally use the roast with ribs but you can do it with the ribs removed. Use the best quality meat. It will be expensive. Sam's was the best place when I lived there. Maybe Costco? It's on sale at Costco up here right now.

Remove meat from fridge an hour or so before roasting.

Place meat in a 2 to 4 inch deep roast pan. with the bones down-fat on top. Do not use a rack (metal thingy that keeps the meat up off the bottom of the pan).

Rub with meat with salt and pepper. Do not add water, do not cover. You will be roasting this as in the oven.

Insert meat thermometer to the center of the thickest part of the meat but don't touch the bone. Pre-heat oven to 325. Place meat in oven for 15 minutes and then raise the temperature to 450. Cook until meat rare or medium rare. Remember that you can always cook it a bit more but you can't uncook it. And the ends will be more done than the inside. Approx cooking time is about 15-18 min a pound for rare, 20-22 minutes a pound for med rare. Even if you like your meat well, don't go that far. (remember the two ends will be more well than the rest of the meat)

Let meat "rest" a bit when you remove it from the oven. Then slice for din din.

Do's: Buy the best meat

use a meat thermometer

Don't's: Never add flour, water, cover of baste.

Leave it alone. I don't cook anything else in the oven when I am roasting.

Merry Christmas!

Below zero isn't human weather

-2 F is cold. The wind chill is colder.The snow is here to stay, the lake is freezing even with the layer of snow on it (snow acts like insulation and slows the ice) and the cars take a long time to warm up. I however, layer, layer, layer. Amazing as it sounds, I am not that cold. Wow.But then again, I am not going out much.

Sub freezing isn't supposed to be below 0. Sub freezing is 32 to ummm maybe 20. Nothing below that is allowed. That's my new rule.

The card . . .

What a day. Yeah, I won't leave you hanging. I got the card.

Now, for the blogging stuff.
We got up really early for the 8am appointment. It was snowing. After driving for more than an hour and a half, we were late. Rush hour traffic, snow, messy roads, rush hour traffic (oh, I said that already). But we got in anyway (thank goodness).
As with most federal government type places now, they checked my bags. You know, my tiny purse that barely holds my Costco card. Yeppers, lots of room in that bag. Larry was parking the car so I went in by myself. There was a guard at the door who checked bags and then said go to the elevator. No stairs allowed. There was a man on the elevator with me. As we got off, his wife (I am guessing) meets him with tears. She is crying. Nice start for the day.

I sign in. Do I have the letter? Ummm, no, no letter. I didn't get a letter. A phone call? Yes. Who is your appointment with? I say it. Exactly as she said it. He corrected me in French. I repeated it as he said it. Hmmm, she speaks English with a English accent in a very French office. I bet she fits in just fine.

I sit and wait. Larry comes in. We sit. Then he gets up to go to the bathroom. Yep, the lady calls me then. Timing-its allll about timing.

We walk and walk and finally get to her cubicle. I give her all the papers she asked for -and more. Because I have been out of Canada, I have to prove I have been with MainMan. After a few questions (where did we live before, etc) she said, just go out to the waiting room and they will call me and give me the card. Whoooo hoooo. She shows me the card. Smiles. Yeah.

The card. Finally. Got it. It has a complicated bar code on the back. It probably is my life in bar code. And when you look at the card, it looks like I have been in CanadaLand since 1979. Gee, you would think I would know some French by now.

We drove around a bit. This is a church downtown.And then came home. With card in hand.

Next step-driver's license. I made the appointment a couple weeks ago when I knew about this meeting. I have an appointment for mid January. Cool, I get to prove who I am all over again. Hey, folks, its ME, honest, me. But you know how much paperwork it takes in the states for d/l. It's the same here for US folks coming up to CanadaLand.

The car will get clean . . . one day

#1 job is over due to winter weather. Yeah, engineers don't expect people to go out in sub zero snowy, icy weather. So, most of the workers are laid off on December 11th. Now, the kid has been driving the blue car back and forth to work. I made the mistake of getting into it. Sigh.

Clean the inside of this car. I want all this trash removed, totally vacuumed and then everything wiped down. (Since I have yet to find a real car wash (you know, where they do the inside as well as driving through for the outside), he is going to have to actually vacuum it himself).

Hey, Mom, do we have a vacuum I can use on the car?

Nope (if you think I am going to let MY Dyson do that, think again folks)

not even a hand held?

Nope, we lost the charger in the move. I haven't found one that works yet.

oooohhhhh man, how about I Windex the inside really, really good and forget vacuuming?

Nope, vacuum it

oh come on, I will do a really gooood job

Nope

please

Nope (and I wasn't swayed one little bit by that sweet talk, let me tell you)

But, its cold out and snowy and cold and

The car has to be vacuumed.
. . . ok. (little sigh here)

I am sure he will vacuum it. I am not sure just how long it will take him to get it done.

And, keep your fingers crossed for me, please. I am going downtown Montreal tomorrow morning at 8 am for a meeting to prove I am really married to Larry. It is supposed to snow. It is downtown (and we all know what happens to ME and downtown) and it's during rush hour. All this adds up to me feeling a little nervous. 8am? Sighhhhhh.

macgyver kitty

Quick! Get me two hair balls, some dead rodents and string so I can make this bomb.

Whacha doing? Watching water freeze

A day and a half ago-No ice in the lake. Today, it is just freezing before my eyes. I guess when you dump that much snow in the lake, it gets cold pretty fast. And it is really freezing as I watch. Pretty neat as long as you don't think about going out there. And I will be going out there when it is really frozen. Why? To ice fish. Why? Cause I am nuts. I was told to embrace winter. Not sure I have the right mind set for it yet. But, ice fishing is a very social thing around here. All the neighbors get out and walk around (yep ON the lake). And they socialize, the kids play, the dogs run, the crazy neighbor drives up on his SkiDoo and gives everyone booze. Oh, did I forget to mention that before? Yeah, he is well known. The crazy guy on the snowmobile. Yep, I think I will try ice fishing.
And as I sit here, thinking of snowmobiles, I realize that I haven't mailed any Christmas packages. This is a problem. MainMan's family is on Vancouver Island. It takes a while for packages to arrive. You know, it takes longer to ship Canada to Canada than it does to ship US to Canada. And it's more expensive. It's faster to ship to Florida than to Vancouver. But that's not the issue. The packages aren't ready. I haven't finished shopping, I didn't get my crafty thing done. I don't know where my Christmas paper is. etc. And why is that? (Besides the fact that I have put off the crafty thing many times?) It's my cold. While I am feeling better, I am still sick and run out of energy pretty fast. Just going to the van takes a while. I have to drive packages to the post office (no house delivery or pick up and the group mailbox area doesn't have a ship out slot for packages) And, well, I ain't gonna go anywhere for a couple days.

I am going to have to rethink Christmas this year. I had such plans. A head cold and 18 inches of snow changed those plans.

Snow today, ice in the water already!

Well, a lot of snow has fallen. And a bit more to come tonight. It is looking like someone is going to have to shovel. At this moment, I miss our hill in the backyard in St. Louis. It was great for sledding. But then again, that would mean a lot of snowy, wet coats, gloves and shoes.

About a foot and a half. The cats are not all that happy. Get used to it kitty, its life up here in the frozen north . . . CanadaLand

This was taken early afternoon, and the lake is starting to freeze. No ice yesterday and ice today! Now, that was fast.

Waiting . . . .

The first "dump" is coming (again, I just can't say that without a middle school giggle). I am waiting. I am ready. Hey, I am even ready to give the squirrels a little more of a treat.
But, Cesar isn't ready. He thinks he is. Snow is new to him. He was only allowed out a couple times last year in the snow. And we have an inch or two now. He isn't pleased with the cold wetness on his paws. Boy, is he in for a surprise tomorrow!
And taking pictures of him reminds me of trying to get the boys to look up when I was taking the good old Santa shots. "Look look at me C. No, not that close. Oh, forget it. "

It's Monday and I am sneezing

Monday morning and I have a cold. I have to thank my children for this. Thank you children, please keep your germs to yourself. They won't, mind you, but I can wish.

It's funny, but we were relativly healthy the first year we were here. Gee, I wonder why. I think it may be because only MainMan left the house. But, once #2 started school in August . . . whammm! He got sick and then # 2 got sick and it's been a monthly thing since.

My neighbor gave me a bottle of ColdFX. Now, in the states, ColdFX isn't allowed to say it improves colds, cures colds, or anything related to fixing colds. Not here. The government here hasn't gone after them yet. They will, but remember, Canadian government types take their time And if my medical card, car importing issues, SIN (like SS#) and Permanent resident cards are any example of the speedy government responses, the ColdFX company has years before anything will be said to them. Anyway, I gave the boys the ColdFX when they had the cold that I now have. Then I thought, maybe I could try it. Hey, why not? It's just vitamins, etc. So, I went to the store and picked up the bottle. And looked at the price. OMG-it was OVER $50. I think my neighbor likes me. My fishing buddy wanted me well. How sweet. But now I feel guilty-but I am going to do what I have told friends over the years . . . accept the gift and enjoy.
The men in the family decorated the outside of the house over the weekend. They found the lighted wreath and put it up on the garage. Looks very nice at night all lit up. And they tried very hard to do the front of the house. I have to say now that the front of the house doesn't lend itself to decorations very easily. Since I have no intention of going through the decorations until I feel better, the outside is perfect. :) And since we are getting our first sort of big snow on Wednesday, the outside is super perfect! But then again, we have lots of wreaths with pretty red bows that I can put under every window here. Let's see how this cold treats me. :)

My little visitors

It snowed Monday. I was ready. Well, as ready as I will be. The cars have snow tires. Yep, that's it. I am ready.

Over the weekend, I thought I would put a little bird feeder where I can see it on the deck. It goes on the railing. And you hang the feeder from it. Okies, I put it out, put out the bell of bird food, turned my back and walked inside. I turned around to give it a look to see if it was in a good position to see it from inside. 30 seconds-MAX. And I had a visitor already. Yeppers, the squirrels were munching away. Black ones, gray ones, lots of squirrels!

I moved it a bit and made it higher. That way, the squirrels have to work a little harder to eat. You know, they have to stretch maybe an inch. We don't want fat squirrels. Or should I say fatter squirrels?

calling 911

la la blah meergancee la blah
Hi, I would like to report an accident. no one is injured
Where are you located?
The accident is on Highway 40, going east, near the exit for John Abbott school
Is anyone hurt
No, no one is hurt
How many automobiles involved?
It is one car
May I have your name and cell phone number?
It's Victoria ******* and my cell number is . . . (whisper to the kid beside me...um, #2, do you know my cell phone number?) Oh, yeah, it's ***-***-****
And where are you located?
Umm, highway 40, near the Morgan exit
And the name of the exit?
I am not sure, its Morgan, its close to the exit for John Abbott School. I am sorry I don't know how to pronounce the names.
Please hold and I will transfer you to La La Lablah That line is busy, please stay on the line with me. And is anyone hurt or is the car on fire or smoking?
No, no one is hurt, the car doesn't look like it is smoking, but let me ask her. . . . She is ok and the car isn't on fire or smoking.
And where are you located?
Highway 40, near exit 44-Morgan
There isn't a 44, you are on 40.
oh, well ok
What direction are you going, east or west?
East
are you sure?
umm, well (thinking) yes, its east
What town are you near?
(oh, yeah, like I know) I am not sure
are you in Lalalla, or lalalalal or lalalalalll?
I am not sure, I am sorry. I am near the town that John Abbott school is located.
lallalla,ladblah, lalla blah?
Oh, maybe the last one. I am at the very western part of Montreal island.
You are near exit 44.
Yes, I am.
Rue Morgan?
Yes
And what color is the car?
Yellow
What kind of car?
I don't know, its a small hatchback type car
What?
Small car that opens at the back?
Hmmmm, ah, it's yellow?
Yes.
where is the car located, is it on the road?
No, its off the road. It's on the fence beside the freeway.
The ummm fence?
Yes, she drove off the highway and hit the fence. The chain link fence . . . beside the road.
ohh, ok,
Thank you for calling, emeegarcay lala is on the way. (the emergency vehicle pulled up right then)

I hang up, and look at #2.
Remind me not to do that again
What? Call 911 and make a fool of yourself?
Yeah, something like that.

ps-the car went off 40 and hit the chain link fence almost head on, flipped around and ended up facing in the opposite direction-about 6 feet from us.. We were on the service road/exit. It there wasn't a fence, there would be a good chance my old van would be in a world of hurt right about now. The driver asked me to call 911. I would think her new pretty yellow car is totaled (she got all four sides and the driver door wouldn't open

I hate to shop . . . but

I hate to shop* . . . but I do like to find good deals. Now, it's hard to satisfy both "likes/dislikes" at the same time. (*Web surfing does not qualify as shopping)

My normal routine (here and when I lived in the states) is to shop at the same stores, know the sales routine and do power shopping when forced. Go in, get it and get out. At this time, I have to admit that I walk around Canadian Tire. I am always amazed at this strange store. Not sure it would fly in the states, but it has it's place here. Hey, I actually found Fruit Fly traps last week. Mind you, I don't need them now, but I sure did this summer.

All that said, I discovered the dollar store up here. I have shopped before at dollar stores in Chesterfield and was totally unimpressed. Just junk. Not really worth the time to park. But, my neighbor kept saying things like- oh, I get this or that at the dollar store. Someone at work told Larry that people get "craft" items there too. I remember my sister-in-law Marilyn saying something about the dollar store before. They got luggage wraps there that we ummmm borrowed years ago and still use em.

So, I finally forced myself to go into the store. It helped that parking was good (unusual for CanadaLand). I walked in and stood there. This isn't like the dollar stores in the States (unless they have changed a LOT since we moved up here). It was big, it was clean and it had "normal" stuff. Not full of cheap plastic china stuff. Well, it had its share, but it also had cool little things that you would normally buy at more expensive stores. If you scrapbook, this is the place to go.

I bought a few things. Stocking stuffers, etc (which is basically cheap stuff that I insulted above-but there is a time and place for cheap stuff and stocking stuffers qualify for that!). And I found the luggage wraps that we have. Yep, they still have them there. I wonder if Marilyn and Dave would like em. I mean, we have only had theirs for 6 years now. Hmmm, a great Christmas item? :) Nothing says Christmas than warped humor gifts.

I bought some balls to use for sculptures. I forgot that Cesar loves to eat Styrofoam. I have to hide it. Whoops, he got to it before I remembered. He ripped open the bag and was having great fun when I found him. Yep, that bag is in a drawer now.
On a different note, we woke up to our first snow of the season. Not much, but its a start.

I am pretending to know what I am doing.

Remember a while back when I said I was doing fabric sculpture? I finally took a few pictures. I have been looking for my camera cord to download the pictures (it was a world traveler if you know what I mean . . . I do believe MainMan took it with him).

The family's reaction was interesting. #1 gave it a couple side long glances and didn't say much but he tried very hard to hide his smirk. I was proud of him. #2 said it was nice but didn't have a face (I know kid, she isn't supposed to have a face . . . .) and MainMan said he really liked it (remember, I have had longer to train MainMan than I have had on the kids).

It's an interesting process to make these things. It was a flat color when it dried and then I painted the highlights. I think I will dip the flowers in the hardening stuff (such technical language here) and then they will be the same color as the lady. Then highlight the flowers a bit. Like I said-its finished but it isn't.

I have to admit I enjoyed it. Maybe gloves are in order next time because that fabric hardening stuff is tough to get off the hands once it has dried.

I have plans for another one. One that be left outside. Now all I have to do is make the shape, get the silk, paint, have a great idea on placement, etc.

Yep, I have plans.

Ohhh, MainMan will be home today. And it's his birthday. So-off I go to shop, get ready for a nice dinner (which he will probably sleep through), clean house, etc.

He has been traveling for over a day and a half. He will be tired.

And once he settles in, sleeps, eats and feels at home again . . . I am going to get him to find the camera cord for this computer. It was put somewhere when we switched from my Dell from Hell to this computer. I looked and looked but it is just hiding from me.

My goal, to start blogging again. Or not. LOL Love you guys!

CanadaLand Update

Oh, what a few days can bring. Hell. Yep, hell.

Anyway, here are the family updates. #2 goes to school and gets home after dark. #1 goes to work and gets home after dark and MainMan is gone for 3 or so weeks. I suppose that means after dark too. And we have leaves. And I am home during the daylight. Hmmmmm. I am guessing I will be raking. Bah.

Hell . . . I suppose you were wondering . . . my computer died. Two hard drives and they both sort of went zonk. I really don't like Dell. MainMan bought me the Dell a few years ago. It died within three months. Yep. The Dell guy came out and fixed it. It died again a few months later. The Dell guy came out. At this time I went out and bought a back up computer (I ended up giving Matthew the back up computer). However, the stupid Dell continued to work (mostly) until last week. I am now working on the back up computer (which was Matthew's until Matthew got his super deluxe computer this summer). It's NOT a Dell. That's a good thing.

But I lost a bunch of stuff. I lost a bunch of stuff when I moved to Canada. It wasn't the computer's fault (yes, it was, cause it was acting up and then MainMan worked on it and by a comedy of mistakes, my stuff was erased). So, I have been working on cool clipart and taking pictures for a year. Zip-nada, allllllllll gone.

I am happy, however, to have a computer to use. I will think of it as I rake.

Things to come . . . maybe

I thought I would try something new. I used to do that all the time. I would see something that was a bit interesting and out of my comfort zone . . . and say-oh heck, why not. (This is how I ended up playing bells at church-something I was never totally comfortable doing but did anyway-for years).

I have always wanted to be an artist but something is missing. It's called talent. But why let that stop me! Yesterday I tried fabric sculpting. Or I went goth (I haven't decided yet). Ok, fine, I didn't go goth, that's the fabric gunk. You dip fabric made with natural fibers into said gunk and then put on the doll thing (that I made earlier and everyone in the house giggled at!). Then you sort of shape gunky fabric until it is draping the way you like. Or draping the way you hate.

It is drying. Today (or tomorrow), I will finish it. And then what? I guess my gunky fabric doll/girl thing will sit near me on a shelf.

Here are the steps for gunky fabric girl/doll art thing.

Find a rock

make a doll out of wire, aluminum foil and masking tape

set the doll on rock

slap gunky fabric on doll

let dry

highlight a bit with paint

let dry

smile when family laughs

A picture to follow another day (maybe)

(Oh, MainMan, if you are reading this . . . happy anniversary, honey)

Double. Really??

We have a guest photographer this morning. Yep, MainMan took this picture. I think with his phone. Looking out the front of work.Ohhh, yeah . . . it's a double rainbow.