MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
One for Sorrow
Remember the black bird on my front porch that I told you about yesterday? Well, it's dead.
Another one!
Should I have done more?
What could have happened to it?
Jamie is convinced that it froze to death.
I immediately thought of all these "bird diseases" that seem to be going around.
Poor little guy.
Can anyone tell me what kind of bird it is?
I am assuming a black pigeon because of the typical pigeon beak.
2 dead birds in less than a month in our house.
That's just plain weird - my home has become a pigeon death bed.
Why?
Monday, December 19, 2005
Hodgepodge
Weekend was pretty great, actually got to spend some time at home. It was still crazy busy time but at least we were in the house and not out running around everywhere.
On friday night Joann and Chris came to visit us. Chris did our wedding video and it was finally complete! Yay! I was so excited to see it, I feel like I finally got to really see the wedding. Everything seemed like such a blur that I was like "Oh, I missed that..." he, he. And Chris...Wow! What an amazing job he did for an "amateur". I mean, seriously, it looks like a professional job and he didn't even charge us anything for it. I'm thrilled at his work...Thanks Chris! Maybe I'll try and post a clip in my blog if I can figure out how to do that. Don't hold your breath, I'm not all that blog literate for stuff like that.
Saturday was spent waiting for the Brick to deliver more of our stuff. We have a new 42" Samsung DLP (I think that's right) and we also have our over-the-range microwave. Kristen helped Jamie install it yesterday and it looks great. Now, if only we could get our oven! It's been on backorder and it's supposed to finally arrive on Thursday.
Saturday night we had my Uncle John's 50th surprise birthday party. I still can't believe that Aunt Dianne pulled it off without him ever having even the slightest idea. Nobody accidentally spilled or slipped up, he thought he was going to a Christmas party. lol :) It was really awesome of her to do that for him.
Yesterday, scrapbooked and did some shopping. I finally got something for Erykah for Christmas. She asked for Bratz clothes but I haven't been able to find any. I guess that stuff sells out quickly. Only big girl sizes left :( But I did find the cutest "kimpossible" black velvety pants/jeans and a really neat shirt to go with it. And we bought her a sled too, a round blue saucer she saw at Walmart and wanted.
And then I went into Reitmans to look for clothes for my mom and saw some really nice clothes for me, I feel so deprived of shopping for ME...I want new clothes for ME...me, me, me...gotta hold on, Christmas is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to ripping open those gifts and then doing some shopping with my mama on boxing day.
And you'll never even believe it...Jamie opened up the door to go outside yesterday and I hear him say, "Oh what a fright, Myrna ya gotta come here quick!" And there on our front porch is another bird!! It's a black one...and alive and well as far as I could tell (Whew...finally, not an injured one). And Jamie's like "Is it gonna fly up at me? Can I pass by it?" and he did and the bird barely even flinched. And when Jamie came back home, the bird had perched itself right on our doorstep and again, when Jamie came inside the door, it just stayed there and kinda looked at us. So strange! Why is it so tame? Where did it come from? Jamie was so worried that it was going to freeze to death but I assured him that some birds obviously can bear the winter or else they would fly south...right? This morning, the bird is still there, perched on the far end of the porch by the railing. It bent down next to it and it didn't move. It's all puffed up like a ball, to keep warm I imagine. I notice it's shiny black with a shiny dark green collar. I don't think I would have ever noticed the green had I not been so close. I really gotta take a picture? I need to find out what kind of bird this is...any ideas anyone? Are there black pigeons? Maybe a blackbird of some sort?
My nan would surely freak out ya know...
One black bird means sorrow...she would turn around and go right back home if one black bird crossed her path.
As the old poem goes...
On friday night Joann and Chris came to visit us. Chris did our wedding video and it was finally complete! Yay! I was so excited to see it, I feel like I finally got to really see the wedding. Everything seemed like such a blur that I was like "Oh, I missed that..." he, he. And Chris...Wow! What an amazing job he did for an "amateur". I mean, seriously, it looks like a professional job and he didn't even charge us anything for it. I'm thrilled at his work...Thanks Chris! Maybe I'll try and post a clip in my blog if I can figure out how to do that. Don't hold your breath, I'm not all that blog literate for stuff like that.
Saturday was spent waiting for the Brick to deliver more of our stuff. We have a new 42" Samsung DLP (I think that's right) and we also have our over-the-range microwave. Kristen helped Jamie install it yesterday and it looks great. Now, if only we could get our oven! It's been on backorder and it's supposed to finally arrive on Thursday.
Saturday night we had my Uncle John's 50th surprise birthday party. I still can't believe that Aunt Dianne pulled it off without him ever having even the slightest idea. Nobody accidentally spilled or slipped up, he thought he was going to a Christmas party. lol :) It was really awesome of her to do that for him.
Yesterday, scrapbooked and did some shopping. I finally got something for Erykah for Christmas. She asked for Bratz clothes but I haven't been able to find any. I guess that stuff sells out quickly. Only big girl sizes left :( But I did find the cutest "kimpossible" black velvety pants/jeans and a really neat shirt to go with it. And we bought her a sled too, a round blue saucer she saw at Walmart and wanted.
And then I went into Reitmans to look for clothes for my mom and saw some really nice clothes for me, I feel so deprived of shopping for ME...I want new clothes for ME...me, me, me...gotta hold on, Christmas is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to ripping open those gifts and then doing some shopping with my mama on boxing day.
And you'll never even believe it...Jamie opened up the door to go outside yesterday and I hear him say, "Oh what a fright, Myrna ya gotta come here quick!" And there on our front porch is another bird!! It's a black one...and alive and well as far as I could tell (Whew...finally, not an injured one). And Jamie's like "Is it gonna fly up at me? Can I pass by it?" and he did and the bird barely even flinched. And when Jamie came back home, the bird had perched itself right on our doorstep and again, when Jamie came inside the door, it just stayed there and kinda looked at us. So strange! Why is it so tame? Where did it come from? Jamie was so worried that it was going to freeze to death but I assured him that some birds obviously can bear the winter or else they would fly south...right? This morning, the bird is still there, perched on the far end of the porch by the railing. It bent down next to it and it didn't move. It's all puffed up like a ball, to keep warm I imagine. I notice it's shiny black with a shiny dark green collar. I don't think I would have ever noticed the green had I not been so close. I really gotta take a picture? I need to find out what kind of bird this is...any ideas anyone? Are there black pigeons? Maybe a blackbird of some sort?
My nan would surely freak out ya know...
One black bird means sorrow...she would turn around and go right back home if one black bird crossed her path.
As the old poem goes...
"One for sorrow, two for joy
Three's a girl, Four's a boy
Five for silver, Six for gold
Seven for secrets never to be told."
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Sexy Rexy Edition 2
Jennifer just sent me the link (click HERE) to Rex Goudy's website where you can watch the video "Run" from his new album "Under the Lights".
Sexy Rexy sure is lookin' good...don't you agree?
Gotta support my home province (and Canadian Idol) and get me a copy of this CD. Stocking stuffer perhaps?
Sexy Rexy sure is lookin' good...don't you agree?
Gotta support my home province (and Canadian Idol) and get me a copy of this CD. Stocking stuffer perhaps?
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Sour Girl...What would you do?
Ever had one of those days? One of those days where nothing satisfies? Where nothing is good enough? Those days when it seems the world is against you? Like everyone is playing some kind of sick joke on you behind your back? And you know it really is just your imagination?
I am having those of those days. A day when the song title "Sour Girl" suits me perfectly.
I can't even pinpoint what it is exactly. Nobody did anything. I am just downright contrary. We had our girls cookie exchange today and I think I may have almost ruined it for everyone because I was in such a bad mood. But I think I snapped out of it for at least those few hours this afternoon, surrounded by sugar and flour and chocolate chips and the scent of all those other baking confections permeating the atmosphere.
When I got home I was happy to see that our dishwasher had been installed by Jamie and Mark but it didn't take long for me to get annoyed at Jamie complaining about what to have (or rather, not have) for dinner. We then got ready to go visit Christa's and Kristen's. I was more than happy to go and didn't want to miss the get together but it wasn't long before I was squirming and just itching to come home. I told Jamie to stay, he'll get a ride later with Jenny and Chris. I didn't want to ruin his night and besides, I could probably really use the alone time. Poor guy would probably get eaten alive were he at home "bugging" me.
Maybe it's just leftover illness from yesterday when I had a migraine and had to leave work early. Those terrible headaches are really enough to screw ya over.
The song says that the girl was sour when she met him and happy when she left him...I do believe I started this day sour...I only hope that as I close my eyes I can end the night off on a happy note. Here's hoping to waking up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.
I am having those of those days. A day when the song title "Sour Girl" suits me perfectly.
I can't even pinpoint what it is exactly. Nobody did anything. I am just downright contrary. We had our girls cookie exchange today and I think I may have almost ruined it for everyone because I was in such a bad mood. But I think I snapped out of it for at least those few hours this afternoon, surrounded by sugar and flour and chocolate chips and the scent of all those other baking confections permeating the atmosphere.
When I got home I was happy to see that our dishwasher had been installed by Jamie and Mark but it didn't take long for me to get annoyed at Jamie complaining about what to have (or rather, not have) for dinner. We then got ready to go visit Christa's and Kristen's. I was more than happy to go and didn't want to miss the get together but it wasn't long before I was squirming and just itching to come home. I told Jamie to stay, he'll get a ride later with Jenny and Chris. I didn't want to ruin his night and besides, I could probably really use the alone time. Poor guy would probably get eaten alive were he at home "bugging" me.
Maybe it's just leftover illness from yesterday when I had a migraine and had to leave work early. Those terrible headaches are really enough to screw ya over.
The song says that the girl was sour when she met him and happy when she left him...I do believe I started this day sour...I only hope that as I close my eyes I can end the night off on a happy note. Here's hoping to waking up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Joy to the World
...I have just officially wrapped my very first Christmas present of the year. This one is for my sister from Jamie and I. Sorry, can't share what it is but I really think she's gonna love it. My sister is the best person ever to buy gifts for. I love shopping for her and she seems to really like what I buy for her. Great combination.
But boy, I am so behind this year. Normally I wrap gifts as I get 'em. This year I've barely even gotten them and even the ones I have are laying unadorned in the closet of the spare bedroom.
Luckily, gift wrapping is a "chore" I greatly enjoy. I like for my gift wrap to be like a gift in itself. A neatly sealed box, everything is much easier and better-looking in a box. Not too much tape because you actually want the person to be able to get into the box. And then I like to choose a gift paper that I really feel the person will like. My sister, for example, loves red. So I really go out of my way to wrap her gifts in red. I try to do something a little more masculine for the guys and try and keep the santas and penguins and snowmen for the kids.
Just to let you know, this was never the intention at all of my blog to start with. I only wanted to express my excitement at FINALLY getting my first gift wrapped. But while I am ranting and raving, may I express my sincere distaste of gift bags. I tell my family every year that I want my gifts to be wrapped in paper. Tearing the paper to shreds on Christmas morning is one of the highlights of the day. Stress relief perhaps?
But boy, I am so behind this year. Normally I wrap gifts as I get 'em. This year I've barely even gotten them and even the ones I have are laying unadorned in the closet of the spare bedroom.
Luckily, gift wrapping is a "chore" I greatly enjoy. I like for my gift wrap to be like a gift in itself. A neatly sealed box, everything is much easier and better-looking in a box. Not too much tape because you actually want the person to be able to get into the box. And then I like to choose a gift paper that I really feel the person will like. My sister, for example, loves red. So I really go out of my way to wrap her gifts in red. I try to do something a little more masculine for the guys and try and keep the santas and penguins and snowmen for the kids.
But then wrapping paper is really not enough. Ya gotta have the bow. It's gotta be the kind that wraps all the way around the box and ties in the middle. Those plastic stick-on ones....really only acceptable if they're used by a grandma who has arthritis and is therefore unable to firmly grasp and tie an appropriate bow. Otherwise, stick-ons are really just the lazy way out. And yes, I do get lazy and use them at some point or another every year....GASP! Breaking my own wrapping rules!
And then the much needed identification for the gift recipient a.k.a. the gift tag. It's gotta match. It's gotta be a co-ordinating colour with the gift wrap and also an appropriate size for the box in which the gift is wrapped. Otherwise, you end up searching frantically over the expanse of a big box only to find a tiny little white rectangle almost hidden in the corner. Write the tag in neat handwriting, place it proudly in a space on the gift for all to see and enjoy.
And that my friends will help you give a gift that recipients will almost not want to unwrap because of how pretty and perfect it looks on the outside.
Caution: Never make the gift wrap better than the actual gift. Otherwise there will be grave disappointment over actually having unwrapped such a pretty box only to find something crappy on the inside.
Just to let you know, this was never the intention at all of my blog to start with. I only wanted to express my excitement at FINALLY getting my first gift wrapped. But while I am ranting and raving, may I express my sincere distaste of gift bags. I tell my family every year that I want my gifts to be wrapped in paper. Tearing the paper to shreds on Christmas morning is one of the highlights of the day. Stress relief perhaps?
Here are the reasons to use a gift bag, in my opinion:
1. The item you are giving is very oddly shaped. i.e. hammer. My first choice would be to put the hammer inside a box. But if no box is found then you do not want to even attempt at wrapping an object such as this. Made for a great Canadian tire commercial tho'. Anybody seem that one? Everything under the tree wrapped exactly in the shape of the actual object, including the dog....ha ha!!!
2. You have carefully and lovingly made (perhaps sewn) the gift bag yourself. My Aunt did this one year for us. I adored those cloth bags!
1. The item you are giving is very oddly shaped. i.e. hammer. My first choice would be to put the hammer inside a box. But if no box is found then you do not want to even attempt at wrapping an object such as this. Made for a great Canadian tire commercial tho'. Anybody seem that one? Everything under the tree wrapped exactly in the shape of the actual object, including the dog....ha ha!!!
2. You have carefully and lovingly made (perhaps sewn) the gift bag yourself. My Aunt did this one year for us. I adored those cloth bags!
3. You did not have a box for the item. i.e. a shirt. So you wrapped it up as is (soft and smushy) and then placed it down into the bag. This means the element of surprise is still there. If not in a bag, you would automatically know as soon as you pick up this gift that it is an item of clothing. But now, you get to dig through the tissue paper in the bag, and bonus! you still get to unwrap!
4. Your gift is for your "Secret Santa" or "Kris Kringle" or whatever you want to call it. Cause let's face it, we just end up buying candles or chocolates or a cheesy ornament for this person anyways so why bother with all the fuss of proper gift wrap. (See Caution noted above)
5. You are a mother of 3 crazy kids and 2 cats thus making it impossible to use wrapping paper without it being torn to shreds as soon as you place it out on your flat surface. And then you can't find the tape because your 5 year old has taken it to make a craft out of the empty paper tubes. And all the ribbons you had bought last year on boxing day are "God Knows where" and even if you did find them they've probably been crushed in the back of the closet still in the Walmart shopping bag you bought them in.
So there you have it...as if the holidays weren't crazy enough!
For fun ideas on gift wrapping and decorating, visit Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart, Cityline, HGTV or just do a google search...tons of great holiday ideas, I need to use some of them for my new home.
Wishing you all the best of this blessed Christmas season!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
I am officially 4 visitors away from....
2000!!!
Yay! Thanks for reading!
Please leave comments, I love them.
Yay! Thanks for reading!
Please leave comments, I love them.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
My Bliss List
An idea from Daphne's blog...
Here is my bliss list in no specific order:
1. The sound of my nieces laughing. It's so sweet. Children's giggles are definitely one of the most amazing sounds ever. Pure happiness.
2. The way that Jamie always wants to squeeze as close to me as possible on the couch even when there are tons of other spots for him to sit.
3. Creating scrapbook pages I'm proud of and then looking at them over and over and over again and just remembering.
4. Eating breakfast. Love this meal - bacon and eggs, pancakes and strawberries, toast and tea, bagel with cream cheese - love it all!
5. A hot shower with yummy smelling body wash.
6. Being near the ocean...the sound, the smell, the salt spray on my skin...ahhh!
7. Savouring every delicious morsel of a favourite chocolate.
8. Finding awesome stuff at the Dollar Store for only $1 as opposed to $3.97 at Walmart.
9. Getting a new outfit - an entire outfit, complete with shoes and accessories. Even if it's a track suit with flip flops and a scrunchie for my hair.
10. The feeling of the take off in an airplane.
11. Watching a favourite movie for the 17th time.
12. Hearing the girls say "Love you too". Well, Isabella actually only says "too" cause she hasn't quite figured out the rest yet.
13. When Jamie comes home from work and immediately acknowledges me by giving me a hug and/or a kiss hello.
14. Spending time with friends even when we're doing nothing.
15. Breaking out the old Christmas albums.
16. Listening to a gospel choir.
17. A tall refreshing glass of ice cold water, especially if it's straight from the tap (spring/well water) back home.
18. Antiques
19. When someone takes the time to write a hand-written note or card.
20. Our wedding photos
21. Fresh berries
22. Old men who still have a twinkle in their eye that reminds you of the young men they once were.
23. Having a furry friend (my cat) to greet me at the door no matter what. Unconditional love.
24. When Jamie calls me (even when he calls too much) because I know it means I'm on his mind for some reason or another.
25. Pretty painted toes
26. Fresh homemade bread
27. Stopping to smell the roses
28. When Nan and Vicki call me every year to sing "Happy Birthday".
29. Playing a good (and fun) game of volleyball.
30. The peace of going to sleep every night with "I love you" as the last words spoken.
With that I will end, I'm sure I could go on and on. Life is full of so many wonderful "little" things. Sometimes we just have to stop and think and dwell of them to realize how lucky we are. Hope your day is full of blissful moments!
Here is my bliss list in no specific order:
1. The sound of my nieces laughing. It's so sweet. Children's giggles are definitely one of the most amazing sounds ever. Pure happiness.
2. The way that Jamie always wants to squeeze as close to me as possible on the couch even when there are tons of other spots for him to sit.
3. Creating scrapbook pages I'm proud of and then looking at them over and over and over again and just remembering.
4. Eating breakfast. Love this meal - bacon and eggs, pancakes and strawberries, toast and tea, bagel with cream cheese - love it all!
5. A hot shower with yummy smelling body wash.
6. Being near the ocean...the sound, the smell, the salt spray on my skin...ahhh!
7. Savouring every delicious morsel of a favourite chocolate.
8. Finding awesome stuff at the Dollar Store for only $1 as opposed to $3.97 at Walmart.
9. Getting a new outfit - an entire outfit, complete with shoes and accessories. Even if it's a track suit with flip flops and a scrunchie for my hair.
10. The feeling of the take off in an airplane.
11. Watching a favourite movie for the 17th time.
12. Hearing the girls say "Love you too". Well, Isabella actually only says "too" cause she hasn't quite figured out the rest yet.
13. When Jamie comes home from work and immediately acknowledges me by giving me a hug and/or a kiss hello.
14. Spending time with friends even when we're doing nothing.
15. Breaking out the old Christmas albums.
16. Listening to a gospel choir.
17. A tall refreshing glass of ice cold water, especially if it's straight from the tap (spring/well water) back home.
18. Antiques
19. When someone takes the time to write a hand-written note or card.
20. Our wedding photos
21. Fresh berries
22. Old men who still have a twinkle in their eye that reminds you of the young men they once were.
23. Having a furry friend (my cat) to greet me at the door no matter what. Unconditional love.
24. When Jamie calls me (even when he calls too much) because I know it means I'm on his mind for some reason or another.
25. Pretty painted toes
26. Fresh homemade bread
27. Stopping to smell the roses
28. When Nan and Vicki call me every year to sing "Happy Birthday".
29. Playing a good (and fun) game of volleyball.
30. The peace of going to sleep every night with "I love you" as the last words spoken.
With that I will end, I'm sure I could go on and on. Life is full of so many wonderful "little" things. Sometimes we just have to stop and think and dwell of them to realize how lucky we are. Hope your day is full of blissful moments!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
