Quick review....

this is just a quick note, since the entire blog I posted on Saturday disappeared! I was glad when Saturday came. We went to meat draw on Friday and won our usual. We had only been home for 1/2 an hour when Jim got a call from the Legion. A friend of his son's ex-wife's mother was there and wanted to meet him for a drink. So back we went. She had come from Dauphin with 4 other women for an old time dance but the dance was over sold and they were sitting in the hallway. They figured the clubroom was a better place to drink. It was going on 11 before we got home again. Saturday was the annual legion banquet. It was okay, but the roast pork was really dry, and there were sure a lot of protocol mistakes!! Even I could spot them. Sunday, dispite our good intentions we did nothing. I sat outside in my shorts and t-shirt and read a book. We were going to haul some more wood out of the bush. There is a whole section that got hit with the wind the day we lost the tree in the shelterbelt. It looks like a small tornado touched down in the bush, bounced over the house and hit the shelterbelt! I did talk to Kris on Sunday. A couple of people had stopped me on Saturday and asked it it was my son who had won?!?? Not a country station listener I knew nothing about the contest. He won a $5000 shopping spree at the Brandon Mall. You phoned in over a couple of months and the 80 people that got through had to be at the Mall on Saturday for the final. It was last man standing as people were eliminated when called. Guess who stood there the longest!! Okay, today is Monday and back to work... there is a casting call tonight for the spring production, a rehearsal tomorrow for the DIckens reading and an ACT meeting on Sunday. THat's all I remember right now. Enjoy the week ahead

Birthday challenge

All the portends were good, schedules came together, and we had money in the bank--so today we met Amber and the girls, and treated them to lunch at McDonalds ( the one with the BIG playland), and then a trip to "Build a Bear". Both girls had gift certificates from Day Care, and Grandma and Grandpa added a bit. This is a store where the bodies are already made. You choose wich bear you want, and what extras you want with your bear ( noise thing-y's in a paw, or maybe music). There are three or four types of hearts to put in your bear. Then you run the machine to blow as much stuffing as you want in, and a helper stitches up the back ( the lacing is already in place and she just has to draw it up and tie it off) Then you take your bear to a special "massage" table where you can run a machine to blow off any extra stuffing and there are brushes to give your bear a brushing. Then you get to choose clothing including footwear, and hats and underwear--all at prices comparable to adult clothes. I was blown away with what was available. You the register the birth via a computer,-- so that when it comes time to pay you don't notice grandparents collapsing in price shock--as the clerk gives you a birth certificate with both your name and the bear's. Samantha actually picked out a green frog, instead of a typical teddy bear, and refused to have any clothes, although she spent some time considering boys undershorts. Jessica picked a multi-coloured pink bear, but had been warned that there was a budget, so all she took home for her bear was a purse--with pink sequins. But now Grand parents have a real good idea of what would work for Christmas--along with the required pyjamas, of course. The trouble is that Amber has a strong views of what is acceptable as the girls.

Needless to say, we both came home and collapsed. When it came time to leave McDonalds, Samantha refused to get out of the play structure--one of those things with towers and tubes etc--somewhat like a maze they have for gerbils--I'm sure you've both seen them. So Amber ended up climbing up into the structure and actually having to crawl through one of the tunnels--high in the air--to catch the little monkey. She is as stubborn as both of my children put together. When she doesn't want to do something, she just holds her ground and refuses to move. Amber says that she can walk away and disappear from view and it doesn't make any difference--scare'y!!

But that is one thing to stroke off the "To Do" list.

Be - apparently no reprieve

I was out in the blowing snow this morning putting tarps on some of the outside furniture etc. I should have had it done earlier but honestly thought the snow accumulated would disappear and we would have some nice weather for a bit more. That may happen yet, but not anytime soon. Took the dog to the South River Park and it felt as if I were in a bitter winter storm as I walked along the riverside trail. I think the dog was as happy as I to get back to the van. Would you believe that I got out the Christmas Cards today to get organized and ready to get them made out and mailed. Mike gave me the trilogy set of "Back to the Future" and as yet have not had a chance to view - it might be an idea to do the cards while I watch. Somehow it seems unacceptable here to just sit and be doing nothing. The other day we bought Brandy to soak Christmas cakes - there was a little bit left and I had a hot milk and brandy before bed - wow it was delicious - alone my stomach cannot take it, but I was so surprised to enjoy it with hot milk. I believe I had a much better sleep as well!
So, the weekend is here. Hope you both have a great weekend. Enjoy your visit with Jessica and Samantha Patty - I put a card in the mail to Jessica on Thursday so it should get to her in time. Then I'll send one to Samantha as well. Take care ....

More beaches

There was a further article in today's paper saying that, yes, the beaches were down to stones and rock. Damage is in the millions. They are describing it as a "non-tropical cyclone".

Things remain quiet around here. The studio area remains a disaster. Every day I try to do a little bit more, but the mess never really goes away. An emerging problem is the paintings I seem to be accumulating. They just hang around making a nuisence of themselves.

I made up a recipe for my chicken and soup casserole. It was quite good, but I can't remember what I put in it. Today I'm going to try rouladen. It's been awhile since I made anything like that. For the most part, I've been eating veggies. The diuretics I'm taking have had a negative effect on my digestion, and I'm really trying to push fibre. It seems to be working, and I've even lost few pounds--so that can't be bad.

Amber and the girls will b eover for supper on Sunday. Both girls have birthdays with month, and Amber had promised ot send a "gift list", but I haven't seen it yet. I guess I better get on her about it. We haven't seen them for ages, and we're both looking forward to it.

Beaches

The only pictures were of damaged and flooded cottages and the torn up boardwalk. The article said that there were 2metre waves going right over the board walk and into the sand dunes, so I'm guessing that a lot of the sand was drawn back into the lake. It said further that the other beaches in that area had lost most of their sand. Victoria Beach is the one where no cars are allowed and you have to park and walk in. Most people have wagons etc for hauling groceries and luggage. The year I remember Dad and Mr. Martin rented a cottage there for a week, but Mom stayed home. I think it was before Cathy was born, or while she was still a baby. I can see Mom refusing to do something like that if there was a little one. Of course you're sore! The heavy work you usully do uses totally different muscles than curling. I hope you keep it up. The socialization is much more important than the actual game.

Be - Thoughts of long ago

Isn't it wonderful that we have flashes of good times from long ago. I often think about happy remembrances - I guess it takes the "dismal" out of my daily life. I especially remember the Lake - at Boundary Park we walked and picked hazelnuts off the tree. I believe it is to Victoria Beach where you drive towards it and at some point on the road you look ahead and all you see is water. I cannot picture Grand Beach without the sand dunes. Did the water rise to cover it all, or was the sand swept back to the lake, and if so, what is left of the beach area - is it now rocks? It was to Patricia Beach where I remember going more frequently with Mom and Dad. Equally beautiful with long sandy beaches - I guess it, too, must be damaged.
I went to curling last night and actually played for the first time. I also had a terrible fall trying to sweep - it happened so quickly and I was flat on the ice. Caused a great commotion but fortunately no damage except perhaps my dignity! Besides that, I was able to throw the rocks and sweep not too badly after years and years (how about decades) of being away from it. Today though, I have to admit I am a little sore. I wonder if I made a wise choice to sign up for the league when I could really hurt myself, but it is nice to get out and see people. One lady asked me if I was new to the area, and I responded, ...no, I was new to getting out !
The snow is still thick on the ground after the storm on the weekend and I wonder if it will go away, or is this the real start to winter. We only had 22 kids at our door Hallowe'en night - we had candy bags made up for 160 - in years past we have had well over 100 but things are changing. Of course, it was also below freezing and snow on the ground which was likely the major reason. So today we dropped into Mikes with bags of little chocolate bars, and licorice nibs. He said with all his friends, and at work, he could "move it".
Harry spoke with Mothers Red Cross homemaker tonight and after over two months off, she will be starting back again tomorrow. So part of my "duties" will be removed, but apparently NOT the bathing. Mother will not allow anyone to help her except me. She cannot manage safely alone, nor is it safe even for me to assist her in and out of the tub so I refused to help her do this. So I brought a bath bench and faucet hose with attached spray and for the first attempt with this method, it worked out so now I am designated to assist her regularly. She refuses to have the homemaker help her, so it leaves little choice for me.
Well, bed time. Hope all is well with everyone??? Take care

Storms

Was reading in the paper about the damage done to places on lake Winnipeg by the recent storm. It seems that, at Grand Beach, both the board walk and the sand dunes between the boardwalk and the lagoon are heavily damaged--the sand dunes gone--and, my memory says they were huge. Victoria Beach and those beaches in between there and Grand Beach, were damaged as well--most of the sand gone. The paper said that this has happened before, and that the sand beaches tend to rehabilitate themselves without human help, in about 10 years. Gimli was hit too. These places were part of our childhood. I remember spending a week at Victoria Beach with Dad and Mr. Martin and Ron Martin. I think you were there with us Beth. And there were many holidays at Boundary Park in Uncle Tom's cabin. All of this reminiscing makes me feel old

We were out to Wal-Mart again today to se if we could find another sweat jacket for David. he really likes the fit of the one we bought a few days ago. So he now has three of them. But while we were out I saw several old men. Some of them were just wandering around looking lost, and a couple of others were quite debilitated and pushing shopping carts to appear less so. It doesn't seem fair that life has to end with a loss of dignity--and that it seems to hit men worse than women. Possibly because so many men base their self esteem on physical ability.

Boy! Have I ever taken a dismal pill today! But I also spent time this morning looking up recipes on the internet. OMG! When did I turn into a boring old woman? Does anyone have a recipe using Campbells Mushroom soup and chicken and mushrooms,that doesn't have broccoli in it? Maybe I'll just have to make one up--that includes wild rice.