Leapin snow lizards!!

Saw this snow lizard on my walk yesterday

For the fun of it?!

Anyone that knows me knows I'm addicted to the apps. Yes I said it. It's out in the open. They say the first step is admitting a problem.
I have apps for everything but my favorite app currently is the Nike app that records my walk/run progress.
I never take a walk without it and if it fails while I'm walking ( which it has done) I am crushed.
I have logged over 170 miles since I started using it in sept and am looking forward to logging 500 in the coming year.
Yesterday I went outside to say goodbye to a friend who had stopped for coffee. The weather was just above freezing. Sooo nice after the deep freeze. I thought I would walk down to the end of the driveway.
I was enjoying myself so much I ended up walking over a mile before It stopped bring fun and started to seem like a workout.
So I had to walk home again and all this time without an app to record my progress.
Yup app free just like the good ok days. No photo with this post cause as I stated above I was sans app.
The world she is a changin'

Morning on the porchstep

How lucky am I that I only have to go out on my step to see such beauty.

Many times I go out on the step without a camera. Scenes like this one send me running back for it.

Christmas gratitude

Christmas day spent in a warm house full of heavenly scents, surrounded with love and laughter. I was happily cementing the days events in my mind as we drove the boys home. We drove behind this man on a bicycle and I hoped that he had been spending his day with loved ones. And felt so blessed that it wasn't me on that bike in -30c weather. My prayers tonight will be that those less fortunate will be touched by the spirit of Christmas. Merry Christmas my loves.

Jingle bell run

Who in their right mind drives an hour in this to run when it's -25

Treasure

While looking for stuff to finish up a project I came across this little needlepoint canvas that I did a few years ago. Such a pretty little piece, 4x4 approx. It would be a shame not to do something with it.... But what? Any ideas?

Happy December First

Woohoo! Twenty days til the first day of winter, I guess I should get out and enjoy the fall weather. Seems like the only outside I get these days is when I bundle up to shovel snow two or three times a day. Stay warm my friends.

Monkey business

My first ever sock monkey turned out a little wonky but still cute.

Heart healthy

I've been thinking ahead to the annual cupcake party in Febuary. I love that tradition but I'd like to see more healthy snacks. A little carving and these fit right in.

Housekeeping

Washed away some dust today and made this little canvas.

Snowy afternoon

Snowy afternoon is a great time to make some Gelatin monotype Christmas cards. And good practice for the class I will be teaching beginning of December.

Butternut soup

I call this yummy soup
Faux Cheeseburger Soup
Cut a butternut squash in half. Scoop out the seeds and place on a baking sheet face down. Bake @ 375 until tender ( about 45 min depending on squash size )
Meanwhile sauté onions, celery, garlic and ground beef or turkey.
Spice with salt, pepper, paprika, a little oregano and curry powder.
Add peeled and well mashed squash.
Add milk and thicken with flour and water paste.
I have gone gluten free and use rice flour - works fine.
Also today I ran out of milk and used water. Not as creamy but still tasty
Simmer and taste before serving to make sure it's perfectly seasoned.
Good and hearty

Date night

A impromptu date with hubby. Love to go to a place where the service is pleasant the food is good and the coffee is hot

6 weeks til winter

Everyone enjoys making snow angels.

Yams

We had yams for supper. And even the pan was smiling about it.

Work then play

Last week I went in to see how the new playhouses were coming along. Those shop kids sure put in a lot of work.

Trick or treat

Halloween is in a couple days. Looks like mother nature is playing a trick. Brrr

Smile

I love to come home to a smiling face after a run. This was in my driveway yesterday. It was naturally occurring. I did not arrange it that way. In fact I ran over it and had to go back to see if I really did see what I thought I did. I keep hearing Uncle Kracker singing Smile.

Almost frozen

Winter has come early to northern Alberta. On the way home from running today I heard a beaver slap a warning to all his beaver friends. So the creek is not quite frozen yet.

So far so good.

See that little clump of stuff down in the valley. That's my place and I'm two miles away. Now to get back there. At least it's all downhill from here.

Relaxation

Today I got a facial from the cutest high school girl ever.

Beauty and grace

When I was young I could do this. But I never could make it look as easy and graceful as this beauty does.

Evidence of Bigfoot

We live a mile down a dead end road. There are no other residences in that mile. Look what I found half a mile from my house. Eek maybe the girls were right. And he DOES exist.

Hang in there

The last of the leaves are trembling today.

Lighten the load

I have been working out and trying to eat right. To date I have lost 31 pounds. Here I set this up to give myself a visual aid to see what it really looks like. Now this is roughly what 31 pounds of groceries looks like. Notice I put that pound of fat on top. In my mind I usually measure mentally with 10 pound bags of potatoes. Now that's a lot of spuds.

Something borrowed, something blue

I remember being chest high to the dresser and running my fingers lovingly over this piece of jewelry in my granny's room, I thought it was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen as I turned it this way and that to catch the light. I wore it on my wedding day, my oldest daughter wore it on her wedding day. And last month my youngest daughter, Julie wore while her and Tom made their vows. A tradition that speaks to me of love, honor, and family support. Somehow I think my granny was smiling down and blessing us all. I can't help wonder if my daughters will pin this to their girls dresses with the blessing of generations past.

Let the sunshine in

The weather has been so good this summer and has continued into the fall. I for one am very pleased. I do love me some sunshine.

I'm part cat.

Lazy days on the deck are not done yet

Bittersweet

Well it looks like its official. Most times fall seems to move rapidly here. Taking us from the green youth of summer and quickly, by some sort of magic, changing to a more grown up glorious fall splendor. People have told me that they wouldn't want to live anywhere where the seasons didn't change. Eternal summer may have its drawbacks but i dont think it would make me face my mortality every September. It's too beautiful to ignore but I wish I could get back my misspent youth.

Ready or not

Phew that was a big job. These boxes are my art framed and ready for the gallery. Mad rush with a wedding and a solo show opening this weekend. Like all whirlwinds it's very exciting.

How have we come to this?

I have always detested wearing socks. Maybe more than wearing shoes. But I am finding wearing my runners without them is just too icky. I wasn't excited about my run this morning until I realized I would get to try out my new socks. So grateful that I can find the joy in such trivial things.
Ps and the new socks are awesome

This pretty takes work

Today we had joint hair appointments. It's so nice to have a hairdresser on our little town.

Danger zone

Today I am cleaning out the travel trailer. The season is over for us. So everything that could freeze or is perishable comes out. Bring all those camping snacks in the house might be trouble.

Shared

This fisherman and I were the only ones out in the foggy morning. We shared a beautiful moment. He in his way and I in mine.

True love ways

This morning I was touched to find this string of 4 extension cords running from my house to the greenhouse. Knowing that he had hunted up the cords and heater after I had gone to bed, seemed like a very loving thing to do. I was concerned that the frost would get the plants in my greenhouse. He made sure it wouldn't. Makes me want to do something special for him

It smells like fall

While the grand daughters and I were in Beaverlodge attending an art show and drinking tea. (real peppermint tea) daughter Julie was at my house filling it with heavenly scents of stew and biscuits, with these individual rustic apple pies. Ahh life is good.

Bountiful

The tomato vines quickly outgrew the cages I set for them when I planted them as tiny plants. The height of the vines is over six feet. The support rope that I strung out finally succumbed to the weight of the fruit laden vines. This morning I picked anything that was on a broken vine. That left the vines trimmed down and a little easier to tie back up. We shall be enjoying garden tomatoes for quite some time.

The sweetest hour

I love the long shadows and golden light at this time of the day. It's like the sun is kissing the earth goodnight and neither one wants to it to be over... Not just yet.

Did I ever tell you I love Saturdays?!

When youre a farmers wife every day is like the next. The only difference between Saturday and the weekdays is that the parts places might be closing early. But my love for Saturdays goes back, way back to a time before meeting my farmer. A time when I was a single parent. A special time with my kids. No getting up early, no making lunches, cuddling and watching cartoons, eating and getting dressed whenever we wanted. Now if I get to spend part of a Saturday with my special ppl it makes me happy. Like coffee with my son today and visiting with my grandson.

Not a good day to be a mouse

Why oh why does she have to try to get them in the house. And why oh why does she have to play with them so long. Cats are meanies

Tiny bytes

Since I got my iPhone I have been using it for "everything". I make my lists, identify stars, listen to music, track my nutrition, load coupons, post to my blog,you name it I'll try it. This phone has become a huge part of my day to day routine. One of my favorite features is the camera. And since I don't always have a camera and I do always have a phone , I have captured a lot of images that I just might not have without it. Some of the images I've made into tiny magnets for my art show. A bit fiddely but I love how they've turned out.

Costco's got balls

Only one hundred and thirty three days until Christmas. Don't ya think we might be pushing it Costco?

Eden

I love being barefoot in the summer. I like the way the grass feels wet and cool in the morning. I like how I can feel the way the sun warms the soil. It makes me feel wild and free and somehow grounded to nature . After all arnt shoes for school or for work.

The first cut

Yup the first cut is the deepest. I narrowed it done from a couple hundred Gelatin monotypes to just under 50. I am also including some photography so I am going to have to do more cutting.

Connect

I have been feeling a little out of sorts lately. I think I need an art day to sooth my soul.

To the gardener go the spoils

Mmm fresh beets and baby potatoes alongside my perfectly grilled steak. I do eat like a queen. Maybe that's why I have to work like a slave to lose it.

It's the little things

Yesterday when I was walking I noticed the wild yarrow in bloom. These tiny little flowers thought of as weeds have long intrigued me for their looks and their medicinal purposes.