Beautiful Sunday

Blessed once again with a sparkling sunny day. The air was fresh, cool and windy, but that sun was nice and warm.

We did get ourselves a new car. Well, new to us. A 2007 Toyota Matrix. Sort of a small station Wagon. It has much more space than the VW golf, that we just sold. So we took it out for a run to Stanley Park and then to Steveston in Richmond.

The wind was stiring up the ocean and the smell of sea air was intoxicating.

Spring Clean Up

After a few days of mostly rain and gloom, the sun has come out to shine once more. My forsythia is starting to open, finally. What a delay in our spring we have had. Though spring officially has just begun, we normally have it spring like in February! Soon I shall get out and do some work in the garden, hopefully this nice weather lasts.

Before that we have a few details to take care of.

I haven't posted for quite some time... so I have to bring you up to speed on a few things.

To start the month off, we helped Norman find a place of his own. After 18 months with us, I think he, as well as us were ready for him to take the next step. We found a nice basement suite apartment just around the corner. We wanted something nearby so the children will still be able to come over here, and to their other auntie who also lives in the neighbourhood. With Norm working all sorts of strange hours, we feel comfortable knowing they can come over whenever they need to. Its right across from Lexis school, so its nice and close for her. Its so quiet! I miss them already!

We spent a week painting his place and getting them moved in. Keith and Norm moved everything in our mini van. It took alot of trips! We couldn't have done that if he weren't so close as you don't like to travel far with couches hanging our the back door!

Once we got them settled we had to do some cleaning and painting at our house, in the rooms that they had been using. One room is completely done and we just have the last coat of paint to do in the living room. It was all natural pine paneling and I decided to paint it. It looks much nicer and modern and bright. Ill post before and after photos soon.

We also had to get some furniture for down there. We got rid of our old couch to make room for Norms stuff. It was ready to be disposed off as it was very old and worn out. after all, it was purchased by my grandparents when they moved to Canada in the 70's. So now we are looking for a replacement. I have made the back bedroom into a guestroom for my parents as they visit here quite often and have been using our hide a bed upstairs. We got a really nice queen size bed with all the bedding for $130. off Craigslist. It is like new. Heidi has been helping me with the painting.

Both Heidi and Keith have been sick with bad colds the past week. I know Keith has just been doing way too much lately, he needs a good rest. Heidi hasn't been looking for work, no point job hunting with a runny nose. So Monday Morning, she will get started with the job hunt.

David has been working for two weeks and is really enjoying his first year apprenticeship. He feels that his boss likes his work and has started to give him more challenging tasks this last week. Dave has also been seeing a very nice girl for the past few weeks. This weekend, her father bought them plane tickets to come up to their hometown of Powell River so they can meet him!!!! OH TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL! It makes me feel good to know that her father would go to this length. Any dad who would do that must be a pretty caring parent, and that to me says she is from a good family. That sounds so snooty but I admire a parent who remains concerned about his child's affairs even though she is a young adult. I also think that sends a strong message to David that says "Don't hurt my little girl or you may have to answer to me". Hehehehe!

Andrew came home one night and cut off all his beautiful hair! He felt it was time to tidy up a bit. I loved his long dark tresses! But he looks cute with it short too.

Currently we are a one car family! I am off for a few days so we are looking for a vehicle this week. We sold the Volkswagen, which I always felt was too small, we are big tall people and it was just too cramped. The backseat was unbearable. So now we are looking for something just a bit bigger. Keith is in his heyday as he loves the hunt!

So he's hunting for a vehicle and I'm hunting for a couch! Ill post pictures once we have made the kill.

Look Out World.

Today was Heidi's graduation from Douglas College's Veterinary Office and Animal Care certificate Programme. Here, she gives Sasha a cuddle at our front door before heading off to the College.

It was a really nice ceremony. Her Daddy and I watched her recive her diploma with our hearts bursting with pride.

Posing here with her Dad out side the college,this once very shy girl has blossomed into a confident young lady.

It was not that long ago that we wouldn't have been able to pry her off our arms. Today she was off mingling with her classmates, looking so amazingly grown up.

In other news, last Friday David completed his first year of the Electrician Programme at BCIT.

He has been out every day this week seeking employment as a first year apprentice. Yesterday, he got hired for a full time possition, starting at $15.00 an hour!!!! With the economic slowdown, we were worried thet it may be difficult to find work. Hopefully Heidi has such quick results next week when she starts her job hunt.

And here, Dad looks like he is the graduate! Graduated from parenthood? Yes, with top honours. Dad you did a great job!

100 MILE CHALLENGE

If the clip doesnt load up for you, you can also go directly to it by clicking HERE.

Keiths brother Mike and his wife Angela participated in a reality show called the 100 Mile Challenge which will air on the FOOD Network on Sundays, starting April 5th at 5pm Pacific Time.

The show involves several families living in the town of Mission, B.C. They had to live for 100 days off food grown within a 100 mile radius of home. It was alot harder than they thought it would be. The idea is to get people thinking about eating more pure and natural diets.

Mike is the bald guy who near the end of this clip says "Why would anybody do this to themself ?" Angela is the gal with the short, dark curly hair, wearing big loopy earings and says "There is no gray area. It is either within 100 miles or it is not."

I think this is going to be a lot of fun to watch with our family!

ROAD TRIP

Last Wednesday evening we were graced with yet another snowstorm. We only got a couple of inches which melted away by noon, but it was a good reminder that winter was still upon us.
I had to take Thursday and Friday off work as I had a nasty stomach upset. Word of advice.... Salmon cream cheese does not appreciate being taken back and forth to work all week! By Friday, i was still yucky but no longer tossing my cookies. The storm clouds had blown away and we awoke to blue skies. This clear morning inspired me to pick up the camera to shoot this gorgeous scene from my kitchen window, of our mountains with fresh snow.
That same evening, the skies remained clear and we had this lovely night sky.

Gladly, on Saturday, I was almost feeling my usual self and decided to make the road trip I had planned for the weekend to the OUTHOUSE CAPITAL aka my parents place. I checked the road report prior to leaving and it seemed like the roads were fine. Which they were, except for a few areas of compact snow, but it was fine.

Heidi and I enjoy the 400kms of winding mountain road. I was amazed at how little snow there was at the side of the road. Allison Pass usually has over 10 feet snow walls along the road, but there was very little.

Once we left the mountains and entered the Okanagen, there was a little snow in the fields but nothing on the road. It looks so pretty with all the dried grasses poking through.

The river running along the highway in Princeton usually is completely iced over at this time of year and it is quite open already. So in spite of our extreme winter out here on the coast, it would seem that inland they have had it a little milder than usual! We saw a huge bald eagle sat on the edge of this ice today but not at a place where I could pull over to shoot it.
I had to wonder if the cattle out this way, should be considered fresh or frozen beef? Isnt this a handsome creature? What a gorgeous colour hide, and what a cute pink nose!

It was Saturday when I took this picture, but it looked to me like these beasts were heading off to church! This is just outside of Headly. The older building on the left was the original church, probably where the great grandparents of these cattle would have congregated!

And taken this morning from my folks doorstep, Dad (Mr Outhouse), Heidi, Myself, Aunt Gail and Uncle Larry. The two dear people on the right were our prime reason for making this visit. Though its always great to get up to visit my family. My Aunt and Uncle were up visiting from Washington for a few days, so I was eager to catch up with them. Here we were all ready for the mass exodus. Dad was in his short pants as he likes to keep the wood fire in the house at a roaring blaze.

Our drive home was almost uneventful, as the little snow that was on the roads on Saturday had completely disappeared. We did have a near miss with a deer though. Fortunately, I had already geared down as I was travelling a winding steep road. So I was able to cram my brakes on to miss Bambi by a mere hairs width as he ambled casually across the road. I was just praying that the semi which I knew was not far behind me would not barrel around the bend and cream me! I live to tell!