Slowly refilling....

On the way home tonight, we drove down the Range road that I have taken many times in the past, to see the lake.  I've often stopped here to view wildlife - seeing moose, deer, and all kinds of ducks and wildfowl...and the reeds are often full of my favourite Red Winged Blackbirds in Summer - and their glorious song!!!  The last couple of Summers though, the water levels have become lower and lower - and last Summer they dried up completely and many of the unusual ducks and wildfowl didn't return :(

It is lovely to see the water levels at a good height again - although the larger side still needs more water - it should be closer to the road at this time of year.  Maybe after tomorrows snow fall things will improve.

Tonights dessert...

I am still busy using up my coupons from the wonderful coupon book I bought from my friend Samantha.  Only another couple of weeks left to make the most of them!!!  Today we went and got these GORGEOUS chocolate dipped strawberries as I had a coupon for a free box from Edible Arrangements!!  I was sooo impressed!  These would make a lovely git - they come in such a lovely box, wrapped in a ribbon and then in a gift bag!!  The strawberries are HUGE, sweet and the chocolate was gorgeous :)  Yum!!!  The kids were ALL very impressed too :)  

The girl that worked there was really sweet and helpful and didn't mind at all that it was with a coupon!  She just went in to the back and made them up for us there and then :)  

Definitely recommended!!

Studying DNA...

Today was library day...while Abigail was pottering about the library ordering the librarians around and getting them to find the list of books she wanted (a language course she wanted, Junie B Jones books she hadn't yet read as well as a dvd she was desperate to watch)  Sam and I sat at our usual table and journaled, chatted and looked through various books - including a HUGE book on the human body.  It was quite a mature book - too old for Sam really, but he liked the pictures and diagrams and had a lot of questions about the dna pages....and we started talking about dead bodies and forensic scientists etc.  It ended up being a really good science session :)  

For Today......

Outside My Window... it's cloudy and getting colder.  After some lovely warm days and a wonderful thaw, we are expecting a fair bit of snow in the next day or so.  I keep hearing anything from 5cm to 30cm mentioned by people on Facebook.  I don't actually mind the fact we are getting snow.  We always get a big dump again around now.  I have pictures from last year.  It's not like we were going to have a dry Easter anyway.....so we may as well get more moisture :)  I'm going to head out today for groceries, gas and a few odds and ends, then I won't need to worry until Saturday if necessary.

I am thinking...about life, love, trust.....especially trust.

I am thankful for... friendships - I am so so VERY lucky with the friends in my life.  Truly truly grateful for them ALL - my amazing friends who live close by and are always there for me, the ones I see now and then who live fairly locally, the ones internationally that I know but may not have seen for a long time but stay in touch.....AND the new friends who I have never met in real life but who have touched my heart in ways I can not explain!!  I am extremely blessed and completely grateful xxx

From the kitchen...I am excited to be planning something BIG regarding the kitchen....and also we are having a Yorkshire pudding cook-off!!  A competition between us and chef friend to see who can make the best yorkies :)  That will be a lot of fun!!  The children from the families are going to be the judges on whose taste best :)

I am wearing...pj bottoms and a grey top

I am creating...altered furniture for the basement and the childrens bedrooms :)  We are all loving it :)

I am going...to use the bad weather tomorrow as an excuse to finally hibernate and catch up on chores around this place - laundry, windows, floors, painting......
I am reading...coursework for a class I'm taking.

I am hoping...Laurence gets his learners permit very soon as I am excited to let him drive - I think he will make an excellent driver!!

I am hearing... Abby cuddling Kitty and talking lovingly, Sam playing with his new dinosaur Lego.  He got this AMAZING dinosaur Lego kit that can transform the dinosaur into three different ones.  He loves it :)

Around the house...I never seem to be home to do anything lately.  I'm hoping for heavy snow for a couple of days so I have an excuse to stay home and rest and catch up with a few things!!

One of my favorite things...Finding old furniture thats really cheap and can be altered into something perfect for my home.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...catching up on chores around the house, on coursework, going to take Susie to a party sleepover, use up some more coupons before the end of the month!!

Used to....

The Thaw.....

Our pond as of today:

A neighbours yard, this is a low field:

This FIELD is normally full of goats but right now has several geese and ducks swimming on it instead :)  Yes I'm smiling, because this is a VERY good thing right now because we have been in drought conditions for a few years now, so this is getting our water levels back to normal!!  :

Sleepy Kitty....

My boy :)

S.U.S.

Secret Underwear Service ;)

Kittyboo gets comfy....

My Rosie Posie girl....

I do....

• I Dream : of one day living in Canmore...or having a second home there so I can pick up and go a couple of times a month or spend the Summer there...

• I Eat: too much.  Lately - since January I'd say, I've been eating far too much and I've gained more weight than I like.  I always do in Winter - I'm hoping that now Spring is here and I am more active again, that it will fall away again like it did last year.  

• I Love: refinishing old ugly furniture and making it into something beautiful and wanted....I guess the idea of taking something unwanted and making it loveable and wanted again means something to me...

• I Make: the most yummy roast potatoes by mixing a tablespoon of marmite into the hot oil and covering the potatoes in it....they have the yummiest roast beef flavour to them!!!  Mmmmm

• I Work: hard at giving my children a fun and relaxed childhood.  Filling their minds and days with hobbies, crafts, fun days out, friends, trips here and there, experiences, activities....they know that school is not important to me, but EDUCATION is...and to me there is a big difference between the two.  

• I Go: to a tanning salon in town that I love - it's so nice that they recognise me when I call and know my name when I walk in...and it's a friendly chatty place.  I love the sauna and how good it makes me feel, and the tanning has kept me going through this long Winter.  

• I Live: in a house that I have turned into an amazingly beautiful home - I have filled it with small touches, piece by piece that have changed it from an empty structure, to a home filled with memories, love, comfort...a place to relax, cozy up in during Winter...and enjoy the natural beauty outside of, all Summer :)

• I Play: with paints and mod podge and bits of paper...with collage pieces, brushes and brayers...they call it art, but I call it play..and it's relaxing and therapeutic and beautiful :)

• I Am: much stronger than I EVER thought I could be.  

• I Think: it will be a long time before I risk my heart again...but I'm going to see where things go this time anyway...because I'm hopeful.

• I See: a few changes taking place in my life in the next couple of months...I also see myself surrounded by amazing friends and support - I really am VERY lucky.  I feel so grateful for everyone in my life - I have some amazing friends xxx

  
  
  
  

Today...

Today I went to downtown Edmonton
Today I hoped my account was back to normal - and it was :)
Today I dreamed about a tall dark gorgeous man and what he might mean to my future.
Today I forgot to take my meds...and now I am paying for it with a migraine.
Today I heard pride in my Sons voice when he spoke about school :)
Today I said I would reply to something and I haven't...and I feel bad about that.
Today I read 'Lists to Live By' and also a book about Transcending Divorce. 
Today I watched the cutest video of a cat kissing a dolphin.  And Kims Biggest Loser audition vid!
Today I believed that I am doing the right thing for my children and their future. 
Today I felt sad for being put in this position.
Today I wondered about religion and death and Faith through grief - and love.
Today I bought a few groceries, a cupboard for the basement.  A circle journal.
Today I cleaned the kitchen while making early morning coffee.  Three bathrooms. The front yard of dog poop and garbage (yuck).
Today I was sad, a little stressed, hopeful, loved, interested, TIRED!!

Mad Hatter :)

 

The McD's boxes are supposed to turn into hats with fruit on top!!  However, we just could NOT figure out how to get it to be a hat - and to fit Abigails head....we tried and tried and eventually gave up ;)

Making the most of a breezy April day....

 

Abigail and Sam were THRILLED that it was sooo windy this afternoon as they have been really excited to fly their kites.  The kites flew really well and they did a great job!!  :)

They were out there ages having fun with them!!

The winds had caused a lot of the snow to melt fast today.  It was 13c today and by the time we got home from town the pond had filled up to 3/4 full!  That's the highest it has been in YEARS - I have a feeling it will definitely flood this year which is a VERY good thing - even if it does mean no Easter egg hunt in the woods!!