Cowgirltales

Snow Falling on MO-bile...

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ah, the MO-bile in winter repose, sitting pretty and counting the days until we can throw open those windows and doors and just come and go with out a 20minute layering-up routine beforehand. Still re-muddling the interior and painting and re-purposing. We are moving into the nether regions now and starting to think about the bathing area. What to do? What to do? You know I have all kinds of ideas. I am thinking: chains, better view outside, shower drain in the floor and some other 'not your mother's bathroom' scenarios. This is all subject to change as is usual with DIY renos. Isn't that the fun of it?

It does drive some members of the clan quite crazy but that is their cross to bear.

My job is to get my way.

Yes, I do admit to some mistakes.

We all remember the matching, 500 pound, concrete end tables I had made, don't we?

They were really fun to move around the house.

Huntress-Gatherer

2012-01-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally got them. Normally, I tend to not be so 'brand' enamoured, but hey, what can I say? I like them and now I can stop looking at pictures of them and they were on sale, in town....yah! Okay, I went with the black which is always classic and goes with everything (since everything else I own is black too, I suppose this was no-brainer). Now when I go mucking around the property visiting the compost pile I can feel quite stylish while finally finding the perfect footwear that combines fashion and function. Usually, one has to make the choice between the two and sometimes it ain't so pretty. Thank you K-grrl for the fleece inserts that arrived a full year before the boots!

marching through the wilderness

2012-01-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

For lots of us, what is sometimes referred to as a ' winter wonderland' translates as...it is uber cold outside.

My girl tends towards the winter/wonder view of her world.

She is still a skinny, short-haired, typical mexi-mutt who by some quirk of nature (street genetics perhaps?) never, I tell you, never gets cold.

These days the most I do for outdoor exercise is put 4 or 5 layers of clothes on and grab the recycling stuff,

the compost stuff,

and the trash and march through the wilderness to the various and sundry containers for all of the above.

It is an aerobic work-out and I kid you not.

It is also playtime for PonyG. She has a neat trick of racing around and attacking me from behind because apparently, me falling on my arse in the snow is a great game.

By the time I get back inside those layers come off quick and I say a silent thank you for not breaking my neck and also feel a little crazy-but-good for continuing to do

winter composting, which could be called rural cross-fit.

Chain Mail From Canadian Tire

2012-01-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what this is? I know it's not everyone's style so no need to state the obvious.

But, it is functional.

And, most likely, long-lasting.

I made it.

It almost made the guy at Canadian Tire go postal on me.

Actually, he was a real good sport even

after I explained to him what his assignment was.

I had him cut 55 linear feet of chain into 33" lengths which came out to 20 pieces.

Each length required 2 cuts on his machine.

We worked together... like... on a... chain gang.

(Sorry)

A real life situation that required 'higher math'.

Yay, math!

(PonyG enjoying the noise it makes.)

'hugh heifer'

2012-01-04T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have had this cow skull for a lot of years. Actually, found it while on a trip in Baja Sur. It was just laying out there in the desert. I was with a couple of friends and we had all decided we were going to get us some skulls and so we were all scanning the sides of the hi-way as we cruised along. Each time someone saw a glint of white bones, we stopped the car and checked them out. Back then, there was hardly anyone on that Baja hi-way so just stopping anywhere was no problem, as you could see for-ever in either direction. We ended up finding several cow, goat and horse skulls, but my 'hugh heifer' was perfection in every detail. Although, it was a little stinky, and really, really dirty. So, when we got back to the cheap hotel we were staying in, I decided I needed to clean up this thing before taking it on the plane with me . Yes, I fully intended to 'carry-on' as there was no way I was going to check Hugh as 'baggage' and risk losing him. So, we showered together and that was even stinkier, if you can imagine. But, there was improvement. He still smelled, a little, even after a few more days....but what the hey? I wrapped him in a beach towel and a few days later-- off to the the airport we went. Seriously, we only got amused snickers from the Mexican airport staff when he went through the x-ray machine. There were no restrictions on size or dimensions of carry-on stuff at that time (way before all that nonsense) so, if you could carry it, you could bring it. I settled into my seat with Hugh on my lap still wrapped in his beach towel. We took off and no one was the wiser until Hugh started smelling. You see, he was still a bit damp. Rumblings from the other passengers like, 'what is that smell?' were ignored by me, for the next few hours. Well, we made it safely home and Hugh has been part of my home decor (!) for all these many years. Not the end of the story though. Here you see his latest incarnation. He is now a light fixture! Yup. I made him into my kitchen light! I am so excited and pleased and every time I turn him on I remember that whole, long story of how Hugh Heifer came to be. I know, I know....long. story.

MISSING DOG...

2011-12-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

...last seen 30 December 2008

My Christmas Surprise !

2011-12-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

I received this lovely Christmas gift and it was total surprise. Me loves surprises and me loves the man that can still pull one over on me after all these many, long years. If you know me, you know that this is no easy feat as I try to know ALL that is going on around me (as well as around most of my friends & family) and pride myself on my precise attention to details...or so I thought. Just shows to go ya. This one slipped through the cracks and I am so delighted. It is a beautiful lamp from another era and fits in so nicely with the new design scheme of the MO-bile. Seriously, ladies & gentlemen...this 'van down by river' is becoming a real fun ride. That's all she wrote.

morning

2011-12-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

Oh, we are living in the lap of MO-bile luxury, we are. Flannel sheets, down comforters (count'em...two) and a view out the window of the very place we want to be...here

...home...

and not just for the holidays. You would think it would be hard to get up in the a.m. and for some of us (aka 'Baddog') it is indeed. She apparently does not respond to the lure of perking java which works its magic on me no problem.

...joy

Silent Night

2011-12-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

I know that I have posted a full moon night picture before but it is just too beautiful to not post again. You can ignore and talk amongst yourselves but here it is anyway.

happpy day

2011-12-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering, we made it down south & back with only one minor incident. We managed to get rear-ended (the Xterra that is) while stopped at a red light in Bend, Oregon. Great guy who does classic car restoration for a living, so who better to run into us? It was an easy fix on the way back north. Always great to see close friends and relatives, but honestly, do not miss So-Cali in any way, shape or form. It seems so intense with the sport of 'shopping' remaining the sport of the masses....me included. I get just as caught up as anyone but my shopping muscles are so non-existent. I am totally out of shape for 'power- shopping'. I try, but without the daily shopping workouts of the past I quickly lose stamina. I can only get through two maybe three stores with their e n d l e s s choices and fab-ulously low prices, before I zone out. Its depressing. But then I find my rational mind again and with a little self-talk I get myself back to the 'real' world as in....what do I really need as opposed to...what do I want???? Crisis averted. Oh, oh, oh...must talk about the 'foot massage' that my dear K-grrl treated me to. This is the one indulgence that cannot be denied when down Sacramento way. An option that simply does not exist in my neck of the woods. The spa is aptly named 'Happy Day' and after the treatment which starts at your head and eventually gets to your feet, with all in-between body parts attended to first, leaves you feeling (no words to describe)...HAPPY, maybe? So, anyway, back home again with a few choice items picked up during my frenzy...I mean, come on, I am not a total lightweight and a good deal sometimes is just that, a good deal. I didn't even sprain an ankle or bust a hip or even pull a muscle. So, I guess I'm not that out of shopping shape.

So-Cali

2011-11-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Heading south of the border....well the Canadian border that is...and down into SoCal for a little bit. Sitting here this a.m. watching the flurries loating down and the SUN shining and just hoping this mild weather hangs on until we drive out of here. Looking forward to checking back in with friends and family and sharing some good times...kicking back, shopping, getting a foot massage (at the Happy Day Spa...oh, John!) and some good eats.

Okay, the picture is me in Mexico, last February, but you get the idea...a little sun, a little sea, a little bit evocative of how 'cali' is so often portrayed in the movies. Yes, everyone has beachfront property.

De-Volution

2011-11-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

The nights here are fairly remarkable in that over-the-top, oh-its-so-cold outside, kind of a way. Being away from city lights makes for a darkness that is in such contrast when the moon makes its appearance. In addition, the re-cycling, re-purposing, un-consumpting, re-storing, de-constructing

and re-doing of the MO-bile, has started.

Little things are finding their way in and a bunch of things have moved on. A vision is e-volving or maybe I should say de-volving? SO MUCH FUN

a not-so-funny thing happened...

2011-11-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

It seemed like it came out of the blue but apparently not. I have recently been told that I have a few (well, many) shortcomings which are making it impossible for someone to remain in my life. This person is considering removing themselves from my realm. This is very, very disturbing to me and I am puzzled by this turn of events. But, I have been given some very specific examples of where and when I have messed up and yes, I guess, guilty, to a certain degree. But if 'intent' is considered even in a court of law, than all I can say is my 'intentions' were never evil or designed to hurt....I was unaware, actually, of the seriousness of the incidents and was truly oblivious. I have a tendency to underestimate my own importance to some people...just a little self-esteem issue that is, there, at the very core of me. Yes, me, self-doubting and unsure, at times, more often than one might imagine. Anyway, this is a rather personal post for me and a direction that I usually don't go in, but this situation is very troubling to me and I need some input from my e-friends.

the 3rd season

2011-10-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here's to the end of October. These pretty pumpkins grew on their own from the compost I spread over my garden this past summer.

They were a pleasant surprise and I take no credit for them at all.

I just think their colour really says 'autumn'. Oh, and there is a light dusting of snow on the mountain this morning with the sun shining and the temp hovering at 0' Celsius. xo

Moving Tips & Tricks

2011-10-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes even in the midst of a moving mess, a girl has got to keep up her appearance. I was told several times over the week that I was looking real good which leads me to another very valuable moving tip.... get that 'sleeping chamber' set up first thing. One must have at least one tranquil area to retreat to when the sight of all your 'stuff' starts to drive you insane.

Bumkins? Hillbillies?

2011-10-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

It only took a week of moving, bit by bit, everyday and then...voila...it was done. It may be just a "van down by the river" but it's all ours...all 1.06 acres of it. Every moment has been spent unpacking and putting things away in the 'MO-bile' as well as long-term storage (for the winter) under the Mo-bile. Who knew there is this whole area underneath these things that you can put stuff and it stays dry and safe until you need it again! WoW. And the SHED! How can you not love the SHED? A HUGE thank you to our moving crew: Keiron (Superman), Mike (Kiwi Kamakazi), Mossimo & Bonnell (Sproule Creek Amigos mejor) and Gavin (aka the 'Gavinator'). You are all the best friends anyone could ask for. Also a big, BIG thank you to Stephanie for cooking us a 'traditional ' T0Furkey Thanksgiving dinner...yum...and to Bonnell & Gimel & Natasha & Wynn for the best 'brine-free' Thanksgiving turkey ever...OMG...and to my knitting superhero, Kathy, for the grande finale, big Canadian family Thanksgiving affair with all the trimmings...Mmmmmm. You fed us when we were tired, dirty and oh, so hungry.

LOVE YOU ALL!

MOVING

2011-10-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

People! Even when you DO NOT have a lot of stuff, when you move, you still have a lot of stuff. Seriously, it is amazing. I cannot post any pictures right now because I cannot find the cord thing for my camera. I don't know how to do it the card way and I am too exhausted to try. HAPPY THANKSGIVING FELLOW CANADIANS

adieu la vue

2011-10-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Just realizing that very soon I will not be seeing 'la vue' on a daily basis. This has been the scene out the front door for the last six (yes 6!) YEARS. Countless hours have been spent and many glasses of wine have been drunk on the deck watching the changing scene over the water.

No, it has never been taken for granted. Every day it was cause for pause. Every day it was a reminder of just how beautiful this place is. I've got dozens of pictures and not one of them is the same. So do all the friends and family that have visited us here. Every one of them seemed stunned at the first sight and proceeded to try and capture its beauty. Amazingly, many did. Stay tuned for pictures from the 'la nouvelle vue' as the move to the country starts in just a few days! So excited! 'adieu pour maintenant'

PonyGirl Progress Report

2011-09-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Some thoughts on the PonyGirl experience, so far. My dog has come a long, long way. It seems that once she hit 2 years old, a subtle change took place and she suddenly became more 'domesticated'. Her 'wildness' seemed to wane a little bit. She now comes when called (most of the time). She actually 'leaves it' when I say 'leave it'. We figured out that 'wait' is something she understands and is willing to do. This comes in so handy on the trail. Yay! Slowly, we have come to an understanding of each other. She is still the most unusual dog I know. She is not the Cowgirl, as I have finally accepted. But, I have learned to read her like a good book. She is still a reactive type dog so it is important for me to pay attention to her and everything around us. ALL. THE. TIME. We still work on 'impulse control'. This is a tough one. But she tries. She can now restrain herself in the presence of a cat, but only when she is on leash. The good thing is that if a cat holds its ground, PonyGirl just stops. She doesn't attack, and for that I am so grateful. It's the 'chase' that delights her. But still....well, I guess she IS a dog, after all. Oh and the one real sweet thing is that she is learning to like cuddling in bed. I guess she decided I was serious when I kept telling her that this was a non-negotiable issue. She is still just a bag of bones but now she lets me kiss her and hold her close. I am relaxing more with her and she is too. Funny how that works.

Good Eats

2011-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

I realized that the earlier pictures I posted of some of my harvest were rather pathetic. Granted, it was not a stellar year for the garden. Not just mine, but most everyone around these parts experienced lower than normal yields. Things that normally did well, didn't, and vice versa. So as we are finishing up our season and I took stock of the produce I did get and well, maybe not an abundance, but for a former dweller of a major metropolitan area, not too shabby. There is something wonderful about growing things that you can eat and it does seem that the garden gets bigger every year. That's a good thing, yes?

Maya and the High Heeled Canadian Adventure

2011-09-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

These boots are NOT made for walking...no they are not. But haven't we all fallen in love with a pair of shoes when we were young(er) and had to have them? We ignored the voices of reason telling us "NO, you'll be sorry" , "they're so impractical", "it's your money". Recently, when I had my favourite kid here, we went shopping together and much to the chagrin of her 'bad-dad', we came home with these beauties. I could not help it as it reminded me of myself and MY high-heeled heart throbs of so long ago. Sorry no pictures from those olden days. Need I say the 'girl' looked mighty fine when she pranced around the basement 'SATC' apartment to show off her style and her runway stomp. Alas, they were a bit of a disappointment when we went downtown and had to walk around the marketfest on the Friday night out ..."ow"...she said...and ended up taking those high-heeled sneakers off and going barefoot. Oh well, once again, fashion vs. function and like a true fashionishta, my favourite kid, is not giving up.

A Bit of a Bounty

2011-09-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

It took a while to get here but once it did, summer has been spectacular. So many long, hot days and cool-ish nights. But, most likely you are all experiencing the same thing in your neck of the woods, so I won't belabor the point. The garden wasn't the best one ever, but there were and still are some surprises. My flower garden newly planted last year, survived a very harsh winter and generously graced us with beautiful blooms. The bees have been very happy. I snitched a few peas before the deer got them all and they are in the freezer. Fabulous beets! Tomatoes...not so good. Yummy lettuces all season long. The squashes are still going strong and we should have a mess of them to store in the basement for eating this winter. Even the potatoes did okay. My sage, oregano, parsley, thyme, tarragon and savory are ready for drying. Basil was a disaster but thank god for friends with sunnier yards. By far, the stars this year have been my shallots and onions...aren't they just gorgeous?

Idaho Peak and My Favorite Kid

2011-09-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

This has been an amazing summer. We finally went on the Idaho Peak hike and my favorite kid came to visit. The vistas were amazing, both, far and near, and I feebly tried to capture some of the AWE we all experienced. It was so cool to share it with Sweet Maya. There were others too of course including (BadChad, her dad) and the dogs who were running around and enjoying themselves and provided many blurred & fuzzy photos. I am also including a terrible photo of me (eeeek...my neck!) but a great photo of the favorite kid. That's how much I love her!

DEXTER, PDAs, Blockages & Political Incorrectness

2011-08-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, just finished watching the entire 5th season of Dexter -- uninterrupted. WoW. Our favourite, lovable, serial killer has done it again (and again and again), yet we continue to forgive him and even like and respect him. Yes, it is a macabre attraction to his world of right & wrong. Annnnyyyyywwaaaay. my real topic here is the fact that I have been dealing with some blog blockage lately. My life continues to be as unremarkable as it always has been, yet previously I have not had trouble finding something ri-dunkilous to write about. The other day the significant other and I had a 'PDA' not the good kind, but a 'Public Display of Attitude' right out in the driveway. Now you'd think that would be funny, right? Okay, now that I am thinking about it , it was funny. We got kind of loud and both commented on the other's piss poor excuse for a life and other such nonsense. It felt really good, actually and went no where before it just fizzled out. I decided to clean the bathroom ( it needed to be done anyway) and practiced my Daily Ruminations. Just like other forms of meditation, this one works really well for me...my heart-rate slows down, my BP lowers, my mind clears and once again as I find my inner child with a touch of tourrette's ( I know, it's not PC to find humour in this disorder/syndrome but I do, at least the swearing part). Honestly, trying to find something meaningful and significant in the daily morass can be frustrating at best and downright depressing at worst. I have got to stop making sense.

Some Puppies are TOOcute

2011-08-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Not much more to say.

Pepper
Sydney
Baddog
Badgirlz

Summertime 2011

some more montana

2011-08-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

I don't take nearly as many pictures as I should when I am traveling or maybe as I could but here are some of the 'mythical-Montana' that movies are made of with conspicuously missing ones of 'meth-Montana'. Yes, it appears that from the loads of signage around that say things like 'do Meth and Death will be your designated driver' for example, that this is a real problem in these parts. I guess sometimes when you are born into, and live your entire lives with such astounding beauty, you don't see it after a while. Could that be it? I am sure it is quite complicated but I still just want to see what I want to see and choose to disregard the messy, methy rest. So, here are some of what I saw but could not really capture totally, but you get the idea.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G & ' WILD- DOG' INCIDENT

2011-08-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Montana was truly just that...amazing. Although the bugs at the National Park were a bit much and we blew out of there rather quickly, we ventured to other as beautiful places, a bit itchy, but 'awed' and happy on lakes and rivers. It was the less visited places that hit the spot, of course and the 'coy-dog' (that is a dog-x-coyote which we are now convinced is what PonyG is) agreed. She was very, very good on this trip (mostly) and really got into the rhythm of the road and seemed to get calmer and calmer as the days passed. There was only one 'incident' that I will report at this time....she hunted down and caught and killed a snake. No, I have no pictures of this but I will do my best to describe. We were walking through a lovely meadow beside a river and Miss PG was hopping around in the high grass looking just like a coyote--her front paws were folded up on her chest and she was hop-hop-hopping around the field and then she started stomping the ground. She was hopping & stomping and just looking so cute until she popped up with a snake in her mouth. This was the O.M.G moment...the first. Then she started violently shaking the poor thing like the feral beast she had become and the next thing we see is this snake flying through the air (in slow motion for what seemed like minutes) and landing in a tree. Me stunned. Snake obviously, dead. This was the next O.M.G moment. 'WILD-DOG' was as happy as could be and would have eaten the thing if she could have reached it..yeah, like that was going to happen. Baddog,baddog,baddog,baddog.......snake-killer

M O N T A N A....

2011-07-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

ON THE ROAD TO BIG SKY COUNTRY

Find the Moon

2011-07-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

So, I was trying to get the sweet, sliver of a moon the other night. But, being that I have a very basic (read 'cheap') camera, this is what I got. Anyway, such is the beauty of the blog. A rare sighting of PonyG in repose.

Obligatory Food Picture

2011-07-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry, apologies in advance, but I couldn't resist the prettiness of this dish. I love the summer-time-cooking-on-the-BBQ easy meals. We've been roasting everything and anything and adding bunches of herbs fresh from the garden. After these beauties were done they were chopped up and added to some cooked pasta and magically became 'summer roasted veg/herb pasta'

PonyG of course is always very interested in any food related activities but in reality she is very satisfied with her raw meat diet. Don't worry, I won't be showing any photos of her meals.

Not Guilty ...

2011-07-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

...by reason of insanity? I don't know the specifics but after spending days (three of them) and being frustrated as only a computer snafu can frustrate, I finally figured out my blog 'problem'. Apparently the photo of the lovely Princessa Kate that I snitched off the internet and TRIED to post on my very own blog was a no go...uh uh...not allowed...take it off or we will come get you - type situation in the making. Okay, the offending photo is off my Canada Day post. Not need for me to go on the lam, no need for any community service...not even any parole. So, for the time being I have eluded the royal wrath. Cheers.

Woo hoo .... CANADA

2011-07-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Canada Day ! We had a full day celebrating a wonderful life in a great country. As if it could be no other way, the sun finally came out and the rains stopped. It was a glorious and warm day. It's really nice to be here.

Princess Bride of the North

2011-06-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

What the heck have I been doing? Let me tell you it's been taking up all my time doing whatever it is. We have a visitor. Cousin Kathy from Kal-i-for-ni-a. (Now I have her to supervise and instruct) We exercise (I must constantly prod) We shop (only second-hand stores) She uses the washroom EVERYWHERE She insults my fashion choices while I only encourage hers. She flounces around in this silky, layered,printed thing like the Princess Bride and do I say anything negative at all? Why, of course not. She does appreciate a fine meal, though, I'll give her that. She, like PonyGirl, requires constant training but I see that in both cases, it is starting to pay off. Love, love,love.

'Meth Lab'

2011-06-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well, the snow is melted (mostly) and two of the grizzlies have been "euthanized" so we braved the trail yesterday despite the signs still being up. I went on a nice run in the opposite direction of where the bears were causing trouble and took the sacrificial dog with me, of course. She is always happy to oblige and I am fairly sure she will do her best to distract any large, furry, land mammal were we to encounter one on the trail. I am assuming she will be mesmerized by the sight and smell and will lose complete control and never even notice me hightailing it in the opposite direction. This fact is sometimes her saving grace for the many, many times she misbehaves and acts like annoying french street mime on crank....yes she is a purebred and rare, 'Meth Lab', one of the very few of this new and fascinating breed, not yet officially recognized, but nevertheless, gaining in popularity. An athletic and fearless dog with a loud, intimidating howl (used to alert us to any thing ordinary and mundane) and an uncanny ability to elude capture in a joyous display of swiftness and tight turns. Yes, my dog (aka 'MyCrossToBear') is nothing if not a delightful addition to my insanity.

worth it !

2011-06-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

This climb is always worth it...so much so that I have committed to climbing it every Monday for the rest of the summer. Yikes! Ladies...are we serious?

Monumental Madness

2011-06-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

...this is one of the most eerily, lovely spots to wander around in our town. No, it is not spooky or scary, except for the occasional grizzly bear sighting, but what the hey (eh)? We are afterall, in Canada and if you can't deal with a bear once in awhile then you should consider moving back to Southern California. What I adore about living here are the encounters with wildlife that happen on a regular basis. I think all living beings deserve to share the bounty. I would not want to be in a world with only human beings....yuk. Compassion includes accepting the 'messiness' of animals. It is a much purer 'mess' than human beings make, by far. I digress. Maybe, I like the cemetery because of the ultimate fairness of dying. Everyone from the most arrogant to most innocent ends up the same way. You can only choose the way you live and how you interact with the world. The cemetery is good place to think about that.

Compromising Position

2011-05-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Here's PG with her 'new' best friend, Bailey. Bailey is a beautiful wolf-malumute-husky and since he's still a puppy, he lets Miss 'I-am-tougher-than-you' do these sorts of things to him. He already outweighs her at six months old and even she with her pea-sized brain, knows this and acts accordingly. Dare I say things are mellowing out with wild child.

Hello? Anybody left?

2011-05-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

HELLO. It's hard not to joke about the beginning of the end of the world, but it appears that enough $money$ was donated to the doomsayers to get us a sort of reprieve...for now. Of course the world is ending. We all already know that. Now let's get back to our own personal realities. So, the garden is in. As you can see there is not a whole lot of action yet, but the rocks look real keen and I am just so pleased with the whole prehistoric, crop circle look of the yard. I love the beginning of a garden, when there is just the dark dirt with nothing messing it up. I know that is not quite the point, but I can't help it. It's just knowing that there is stuff happening underneath that dirt. Amazing things actually. And in just a matter of days/weeks these patches of dirt will look very different. I also am pleased to report that I have finally admitted that PonyGirl is not COWGIRL. Sure, obvious to you, but some of us are major practitioners of denial. (I think she is giving me the evil-eye in that pic?)

BIG BAD DOG

2011-05-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Because PonyGirl is, shall we say, obsessed with the cute cat next door, and has broken through almost every collar and leash and rope and cord trying to keep that cat off of our property and keep the cat off it's own property and off of all fences and decks and lawns and trees.... well, you get the idea...

**OBSESSED**

we have become the people in the neighborhood who have to keep their (poor dog) a.k.a. . ***BIG BAD DOG*** on a chain! when the dear puppy is sunning herself on the deck or really anytime she is outside at all. It is most annoying and I am trying ALL training methods and tips to try and change this OBSESSION. Some days I think we are making progress and other days it's 'thank God for the chain'

a few things...

2011-05-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a very busy week but here's the important wrap-up. The Pony turned 2years old on the 5th of May. She almost didn't make it to this birthday as we are all well aware, but the 'thing' incident seems to be behind us. I took the stitches out myself and you may not believe this but she is a really good patient -- not just with me but with the vet too. It surprised me how docile she was during all her medical procedures. Yesterday was her first official outing and WOW was she happy to be out and running around. She met up with a couple of her old pals and also met a new one. She had a good romp and some good rough-housing. Got tired, but here's the amazing thing...she actually CAME when called, off leash, no less. I nearly suffered cardiac arrest as you can see by the panic-blurred picture below...

Patient Prognosis: Full Recovery !

2011-04-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting sooner but its been a busy week with puree-ing (?) all of PonyG's food and keeping her quiet and still. She is doing so well and is on the road to a full recovery. All systems seem to functioning properly and she is through with the antibiotics as well as the anti-inflammatory stuff. No signs of internal gut leakage so we are passed that fear. I must say I was amazed that she never, never, bothered her stomach stitches at all, in fact, they are still in. Sometimes that little pea-brain surprizes us. She still is not allowed to hike with me or run free or play with others but she is feeling good enough to check out the cats next door with her usual 'evil eye'. So as the saying goes...'she's baaaacccck'. Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and supportive emails and comments. We were so very touched and it helped so much to have a dog-loving community surrounding us. LOVE, Love, love...

the 'thing'

2011-04-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

It came from below...a creature unlike any other...it wreaked havoc for days on end...no one knew it was there until it was almost too late. So there you have it...the $2,160.60 jagged piece of rubber that plugged up PonyG's plumbing. That 'thing' got stuck in her small intestine and would not move any further along. Hence the refusal to eat or drink anything for 7 days and the downward spiral of energy and life force. ( the patient resting comfortably ) She is now under house arrest which means no running or jumping, no exercise at all, only blenderized food several times a day, and rest and quiet. The outside incision is healing nicely, but it is the inside one that we are most concerned about. Without getting into too many details, we want to avoid any 'leakage' from the intestinal incision....that would not be nice.

PonyG

2011-04-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to not have to write this but here goes. PonyGirl has not eaten or drank for 7 days now. It started last Thursday morning with vomiting that wouldn't stop. We got that stopped with an anti-nausea injection. Since then she has refused any food or water or anything we have tried to tempt her with. She is lethargic and very sad and seemingly depressed. We have been back and forth to the vet's this whole week and done a myriad of tests -- all come back normal -- she is seemingly a 'healthy dog' except for the fact that she is starving to death. She has lost weight and lord knows she can't afford that as she is pretty skinny already. She does not appear to be in any pain, either. Today, we discussed 'exploratory surgery' as we are all stumped. Since everything else has come up clean, the vet is thinking more and more that there is an obstruction. But we all decided to try one more night with (gulp) forced feedings of macerated food and water through a syringe. Before we even made it home from this last visit, she vomited again in the car (just the miniscule tidbits we had convinced her to eat this morning). So, another call to the vet's office. I am waiting for the vet to call us back to schedule the surgery. Most likely tomorrow morning but maybe tonight. We are not trying anymore feeding as it seems pretty obvious now that there is something stuck down there. This post may be lacking in some details, but yes, we have considered everything else it could possibly be and this is where we are at this time. Wish us a good outcome please.

Addendum: We made it through surgery. The 'thing' was found and removed. Patient is in recovery. More details to follow in another post...soon. We are over the worst.

me so sad

2011-04-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well today has been a real bummer. 'Chica' the mexican pup me and my compadre, Joey, wrangled off of Isla Mujeres a few years back, died today. She had a rough go of it towards the end as Joey told me. But she could still wag her tail despite that. Makes me shake my head and smile. Yes, I smile, thinking of her on that beach in Mexico, just a bundle of sweetness and total innocence. Doing her best to survive another day. Joey, you did such a big, good thing that day. You made the difference in one dog's life and I know she made a difference in yours. R.I.P. 'la chica dulce',

a real good dog.

'KENNETH'

2011-04-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

It is so easy to go from feeling strong and healthy to feeling like, death warmed over. So, I wake up Sunday, fighting it, because I know I AM SICK. Head is aching, stomach is rocking & rolling, all muscles are hurting. What? Why? Help me. Feeling so bad that the ultimate solution actually sounds like not a bad idea. The only good part is that I know I am not going to throw up because I haven't had the sub-title run in front of my eyes...the one I always get....the one just before the deed that goes, "oh dear God, I am going to throw up". At least we can be thankful for that. Okay, I get up, I slug some coffee (it doesn't help), I hydrate with lemon water (that has to help), well not so much. I think maybe some bland oatmeal will settle things (no, not at all). I go back to bed (not what I need). I start to think about the big guns....pain medication --Yeah! I just happen to have some leftover pain meds from a previous dental incident that are still good, well, I still have them so, that is good. I down a couple and then (hear the harp music) , I come up with the bubble bath plan.....Yesssssssssss......this is good. We are going to thwart this. Hah. After a good hot soak, con bubbles and subdued light, the meds are starting to work. I am feeling less terrible and more un-dead. Then and only then do I know that I can make it to the birthday party for our friend's 4 year old daughter later this afternoon. Yes, its true, but only after I first drag myself to the Evil-Wal-Mart to get her a present. The shocker I tell you is that I started to feel even better once I got into the store...they must pump something into the Evil-Wal air... pheromones, perhaps...? I say this because I fell in love with 'FASHIONISTA KEN' in the toy section . I had to have (buy) him and while I was at it , I bought him a change of cloths too, you know just in case he got 'dirty'. He seems so metro-sexual and all, that I assumed he would appreciate that. I made it to the party and truth be told, I had a blast and 'KENNETH ' was quite the 'Mr. Popularity'. He seemed to have trouble keeping ANY of his clothes on....what a dog.

Hahaha...you so funny!

2011-04-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

It appears that I have been missed...yah! I love it. Well I am about to use the excuse that all of my funny, funny friends have been using.... I HAVE BEEN BUSY. Yes, too true. I won't even go into what it is that I have been doing but suffice to say IT IS IMPORTANT. It also involves paperwork and gathering of all kinds of numbers as well as some running around. Okay, I am still having fun and did recently go on my last x-country ski. (See cute apres-ski photo...is my nose really that big?) Now, the skiis are put away as the snow is almost completely gone. Then there is some secret stuff that I can't blab to everyone about on the internet. ...and I have been dressing up the dog, sort of. It seemed funny at the time although she is none too happy about it.

home

2011-03-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been thinking (obsessing some might call it) about having a place of my own to call 'home'. Well, to be truthful, I never really have not thought about it, I have just pushed it to the background for a few years now. Why? Well, just to keep the peace & tranquility, I guess. But, you know how it goes with denial...eventually, it rears its ugly head. Admittedly, we have a sweet little spot of wonder here and to choose to leave it for no good reason except that it is not really 'ours', is a hard pill to swallow. But, as good as it is, it is too small for two people and a dog. I just need a bit more interior space, not to fill it up with stuff....no. I have enough stuff for any size house and the thought of it spread out in a bigger space is quite exciting. I have pared down so much over the last few years yet I still have, in bins, some beautiful useful items that I haven't had room for in this tiny place. I would like to see them again and to use them again. I promise to hold on to 'simplicity' as my mantra, even with more square footage. I have so many out-of-the box ideas for 'home' and it is frustrating to not get to try them out. I find myself stopping at a certain point in a project and saying to myself...'that's enough...this isn't your house'. Ingrained 'nature' is so obvious. So, what then? Well, my 'nature' tells me to plod on forward and wade through the mechanics of the mountains of paperwork (mortgage loan papers) and see if it can happen. Maybe the question is, should it happen?

26 years later

2011-03-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

My father died 26 years ago today. He was really quite young. Only 55 years old. At the time I didn't realize quite how 'young' that is. I do now. I feel like I hardly had time to know him. Like, he had hardly enough time, period. He was a solid, quiet presence in our lives. One that I never ever considered wouldn't be there, until the day he suddenly wasn't. I remember saying goodbye on a Sunday evening and making arrangements to see eachother again the next weekend. Then, there was the middle-of-the-night call, just 3 days later. It was my Aunt on the phone at 3:30 am Wednesday, March 20th, 1985. When she told me the news, I hung up on her. It just could not be. But, indeed it was. It was the sudden, unexpected nature of his death that was the big shocker. But, I know now that, that is the case much of the time My father was a good guy. He always, always worked hard. He didn't take 'vacations' like other dads did. When he had time off of work, he did things like put on a room addition or re-roof our house. Of course we (me, my sister and my brother) whined and moped because we had to help. (typical) He trusted us kids completely. He provided us with everything we needed on a very meager paycheck. I know because I used to go to the bank to cash his paychecks for him on Fridays after I got my driver's license. It was a few bucks and some change. At the time I did give it much thought but now, I can't imagine how he and my mom did it. Lucky us. Lucky me. Lucky anyone who has, or has had, a great dad.

"la crema dona"

2011-03-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

...let me 'splain. So it seems everytime I spend time in Mexico I end up searching for creme/crema/cream for my coffee. People! I do not see the point of coffee without cream. Seriously, I would quit coffee in an irregular heartbeat, if I couldn't have it con crema.

That used to mean, in the early mexican days (mucho moons ago), doing without cream (ie without coffee) and thus being very cranky for about a week into the holiday. Mostly it was the insufferable headache and the cold-turkey withdrawal from that morning java jolt that caused my misery. The headachey week was always spent searching in every tienda, in every pueblo, for the elusive crema. Yes, "hello my name is Gina and I am an addict...". I would be met with openly puzzled stares when asking for this product because apparently the concept of adding it to cafe in Mexico was unheard of. Stupid gringa.

I mostly always got pointed to the enchilada crema and yes, I did try it in my coffee (several times) and no it didn't work....it separated into an oily, greasy mess.

There were several other white, viscous and solid concoctions that I tried over the years as well....all complete failures.

What I am saying is that for years I was always in Mexico in an altered state of consciousness one way or another, UNTIL....the appearance of WAL-MART in Mexico. Okay, at first I hated it...hated it...hated it....until the news got out that the evil - Mexican WAL carried real cream !!!! The proper name being: crema para batir....cream for whipping.

In the name of the father and the son and crema para batir.

What a thrilling discovery . I hightailed it out of my NA meeting and hitched a ride to the evil - WAL and gazed upon the cold case filled, FILLED, I tell you, FILLED with litres of crema para batir.

Although it is easier to find nowadays as not only the evil - WAL carries it but also the MEGA store which eases my conscious somewhat because that is a mexican store chain at least. But inevitably what happens is that I end up no where near these big stores when I run out of my sacred crema. So I hit all the little tiendas, all of them, and pathetically ask in each

"tienes crema para batir ?"

It becomes my very own Groundhog Day (you know... the movie).

As I find myself being led back to where the enchilada crema is, my head starts hurting. OWwwwww.'La Crema Dona in Misery'

You Can go Home Again

2011-03-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

Climate change? You might say that. Easing back into life here in the north. All lovely. Mexico is as usual, Mexico, with all its quirks, chaos and common sense. Imperfection reigns supreme and that is so refreshing. It is such a psychic break. It is easy to understand why so many Mexicans work, for years, in the US and then return to whatever village they came from to live simply again. Or maybe just to simply live, again. I heard a lot of stories, all with the same ending. Work hard. (At the worst jobs) Provide for yourself and your family (mainly your family). Return to your home when you can. The details left out are the ones that wreck your heart. And still they put up with us.

Things to do with a Watermelon

2011-02-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but I blame it on the mescal. We have been adding a little bit to our water, to our sun tea, to our freshly-made juice. You know, just to take the 'edge' off. It might be working. I bought this 'baby ' from the guy who goes around in the truck, loaded down with them. I knew it would be good. And indeed it has provided hours of family entertainment. We tortured it for days before finally eating it.

Cows Allowed Off Leash

2011-02-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

It's nice being on a beach that you can not only bring your dog, but you can also bring your cows. You can also bring your horse, but I don't have those pictures yet. Mexico is so easy going about those kinds of things. Nobody gets bent out of shape and there isn't a law against this or that. It doesn't get out of hand. Even if everyone in town brought their horse down to the beach at the same time, there would end up being a

FIESTA. Live and let live. Individual responsibility. If you fall off the sidewalk and hurt yourself....guess what? It was your own fault....not the city... not the county.... not the shoe manufacturer... not the hot coffee you spilled on yourself. Yesterday I watched an entire family climb into a barely seaworthy fishing ponga and head out to the open ocean. I am talking mom, dad, aunties, grandma, grandpa and several kids. I had to smile because there was absolutely no safety gear on that boat at all. Nada. Pretty soon they were just a dot on the horizon. Reckless? No, not here. Here is was just a Sunday treat for the family. Yes, something bad could have happened, but something bad could always happen. Travel always reminds me that there are many ways to be in the world. I love the differences. Love them.

Manana has Arrived

2011-02-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

"Violence begins with a fork"

2011-02-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

This quote is Ghandi, pure and simple and straight to the heart. You might think that being here with all the beauty of the Pacific and having a holiday I might be in less of a 'mood'. No such luck as I am indeed in quite 'the mood' . As I write this I am also making toast that I will slather with butter and give to some of the neighborhood dogs. These are not what you are thinking. These are not your typical, starving mexican street dogs...no. They are well cared for in the mexican way...meaning they are fed irregularly, never have fresh water available, sort of belong the the people at the end of our lane and are not intentionally, physically abused. As good as it will get for them and not bad. So, I give them some little treats because I can. The first time I put water in a bowl and offered it they looked at me like I was trying to poison them. They backed off and cowered. Then the big one bravely approached the bowl and sniffed. Let's just say they were a wee bit thirsty. I am doing a lot of thinking and ruminating and coming to many of my usual conclusions regarding, well just regarding everything. I am having trouble finding the right words to share. I don't want to preach but I do want the people I know and love to think. This quote below was at the end of a book I just finished reading. It speaks to me and I hope it speaks to you. "Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife -- birds, kangaroos, deer, all kinds of cats, coyotes, beavers, groundhogs, mice and foxes by the million--in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills his domestic animals by the billion and eats them. This in turns kills men by the million, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative--and fatal--health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures to these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year sends out cards praying for 'Peace on Earth'" - C. David Coats

2011-02-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

Not Exactly Hot...

2011-02-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

No, not exactly 'hot' in the way you expect the coastal jungles of Mexico to be in February. Pleasantly temperate. Unusually cool. Less humid. Less tourists too. Its quiet here. Except for the roosters, the dogs, the truck airbrakes, the waves. Thankfully it is not a time of fireworks or fiestas. Its more tranquil and I like that. There are some changes here that I find a little sad. One of them is that more people are speaking English...I know that is a concession that the locals make to survive but I force my Spanish on them anyway. I usually get away with it (my dark hair and olive skin helps). I want Mexico to remain a foreign country to me....does that make any sense? I want it to stay Mexico. I don't want it to be 'fixed'. It isn't broken.

Manana...

2011-01-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

Manana.

I am starting my journey to Mexico. There will be a few doors to step through. I hope to be HOT the next time you hear a peep from me. Hasta Luego.

....WOW...

2011-01-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

I saw an eagle today. Yup, it was extremely windy and frigid cold on the lake this afternoon. The dog and I were just getting a wee bit of exercise...well her more than me as I wrenched my back skiing (aka 'falling'). So there it is, directly overhead, a beautiful black and white, huge bird just gliding on the currents. Made me stop and gape. I gaped for awhile. Gape, gape, gape. The dog didn't even notice. Nary a gape from the dog. Nope, no dog gape. Nada. Nothing. No, I did not have my camera with me so that is why we have this random shot of you-know-who looking especially gazelle-like in the snow.

Foreign LOVE Affair

2011-01-22T09:24:00.001-08:00

Maybe we can blame it on the humidity. 'they' always say its the humidity not the heat. Personally, I think its the combination. Your head is overheating and you're sweating, really dripping. It's not so pretty. Let's not forget how bright the sun is...blinding even through your shades. Then you see the being who steals your heart in an instant.

Shall we say, blindsided? At first there is the typical denial. (Good luck with that). Then there is some tentative eye contact. A bit of silent communication. A private "hello".

In a very short time you are quite relaxed and amazingly comfortable with each other. What is happening here? You end up spending everyday together.

Life is sooooo much fun. You cross over into believing this could work! We can do this....we could be together! Why not? All obstacles to 'being together' fall away. You see yourselves 'together'...it looks good. The decision has been made. You commit. This is not just a foreign affair. This is the real thing. This is a foreign LOVE affair. This is how it happens. ...and they lived happily ever after... (in South Dakota, USA of all places)

Crime Scene

2011-01-18T16:37:00.000-08:00

I am in a mooooood today. Should be depressed, but I'm not. Actually verging on uber-happy. Got me thinking about the last mexi vacay I took with a pal of mine. She is such a good friend. I know this for a fact because she allowed me to keep these photos of her. Knowing that I might share them.

I remember the time we spent meditating, exercising and cleansing toxins from our overloaded systems. Hence the peaceful sleep that followed.

The intensity of self-discovery and the letting go of pretenses was profound. Feeling safe to really expose our true selves in a safe, caring and intimate environment was very liberating.

The freedom to just let go and not be anything but the beautiful, delicate flower that we keep hidden inside. (Clearly evident here) Some memories are forever and oh so sweet. Love you JJ.

MEANWHILE...

2011-01-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

....back on the metaphorical farm, so to speak, we are in our full winter white. At the risk of stating the obvious, I must say, it is snowing a lot. Yes, still LOVE it. Yes, still gaga at how the world is transformed. Yes, still love the challenge of negotiating a life on ice. So the trick is to get outside EVERYDAY. Of course, with PonyGirl that is a given. My skinny, mexican mutt is really a snow dog. There is no hesitation on her part to get out there and just dive in. Once she figured out what x-country skis were, she became a great companion on outings. . That girl can run and basically swims through deep snow. A great workout for us both. We also usually pick up one or two of her friends to come with us. On this day it was her BFF, Koda. Embracing the winter opens up an enchanting world. Going to Mexico has nothing to do with disliking winter. Au contraire, I just don't want to miss 'the winter' in Mexico.

Some do's & dont's for my Mexican Adventure

2011-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Must get some of this whatever it is.

Need to avoid this guy.

May have to update my lingerie.

This place looks like fun.

Okay, all right...I'm sorry...I won't do it again.

Be reminded that color is NOT a bad thing.

So pretty in the details.

Must remember to look up.

Wanna come?

2011-01-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

Its official. I'm going to Mexico!

Going to meet some new friends. Going to become politically involved.

Going to dine in some fancy restaurants. Going to buy something ridiculous.

Going to see some real cute kids.

Going to dress in weird 'vacay only' outfits.

Going to go to the beach.

Going to hurt myself (mysteriously). Going to P-L-A-Y with puppies.

2011-01-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

It's official. I'm going to Mexico! Going to dine at fine establishments. Going to shop for a new dress. Going to dress up in weird outfits. Going to play with puppies Going to go to a fiesta.

My Own Personal Day of the Dead

2010-12-30T08:42:00.000-08:00

December 30th

Today is a beautiful, sunny, cold and crisp winter day. She was such a good dog. Even when she was bad. My baby girl.

Helpless

2010-12-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

Helpless in the face of adversity, aka... the holiday tables... laden/loaded/heavy/groaning with delicacies of every description. All the pretty little poppers that just fit & fill your mouth and take their time disolving. Insert full body moan here. I like the savoury ones the best. Appies so wonderful you are barely civilized. Then of course there is the holiday fall from grace, the turkey. Let's talk turkey. The aroma alone causes me to forgo all pretensions of being a non-meat eater. I know, I know, there was that disturbing incident with the elk salami, but this one is even more visceral. There is a bit of the 'honour & adore' syndrome at work here and a lot of salivating. I am happy to know it was free-range, organic etc., but in reality, I really don't care. I eat it anyway. There, I said it. Father forgive me my trespasses and pass the gravy. I am pleased that we seem to have passed into a phase of celebrating Christmas more with edible excesses, rather than with 'gifts' and I am very okay with that. The few gifts that are received tend to be very meaningful and so delightful in their unexpectedness. So, 'cheers to that' and 'may the wind be at your back', and 'may you live longer than you imagine' and 'may all good things come to pass' and 'sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite'...oh...we can't really say that one anymore, can we?

Seeing No Evil

2010-12-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

So anyway 'tis the season of fantasy. Let us put on our 'PPE' (Personal Protective Equipment) and forge on into the holiday fray. I love this season of indulgence. I am a top competitor in throwing caution to the wind. I dive into that holiday buffet table at party after party with no regard for calories or even ethics...yes, guilty. I recently ate and enjoyed several types of, godforgiveme, elk salami (!) the other night and would have eaten more if only there were no other pesky guests around. Next was a hearty hello to the salmon/goat cheese pate-filled marinated cherry peppers that were, how you say, to die for? Then, I heard rumours of a fig/goat cheese appie that was making appearances at parties here. My dental hygienist was describing their deliciousness to me while she was scraping my teeth and hosing out my mouth. I was moaning and spitting at her in agreement...yes, yes, yes, must have some of those. Soooo, yesterday there they were at a little afternoon getogether sitting innocently on a tray, each one in its own tiny pastry shell. So pretty. I think I ate an embarrassing number of them. To be continued...

Six Weeks Crash Course

2010-12-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

i learned to drive in the snow. i remembered how to pump my own gas. i entered a grocery store and actually shopped. i used up most of the 'back-up' basement food. i slept like a zombie. i spent less time cleaning the house. i checked in on myself. i trained the dog to be polite (mostly). i thought a lot about the future. i spent time with friends. i forgot to pay the stupid credit union and got a delinquent notice. i skied in the woods and enjoyed the quiet of that. i learned how to make charcoal out of eggs.* i knit for good.** i believe that being alone is not the same as being lonely. i am not lonely. i had a birthday. i read some really good books. i like to cook for myself. i am looking forward to having Mr.Big back. *place eggs in pan to hard-boil, turn burner on and go out on the trail to ski for 2 hours. **the Nelson Knitting Co-p where we all 'knit for good'...it's our motto.

Birthday Revolutionary or Che Bambina?

2010-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Every year on my birthday (yes, it is today) to celebrate being alive and ambulatory, I make a point to get outside and work out. It is my birthday present to myself. I like to celebrate still having the use of my body....still having everything in working order. I am thankful that I have legs that can run and arms that are strong and a heart that keeps it all going. So, this year, living in the ice & snow of the lovely north, I took myself and my dog for a ski through the woods. It was pretty nice.

SnowSnowSnowandMoreSnow

2010-11-28T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hit me with a snowball and push me down the hill. Slipping, sliding and gliding. We are in full snow mode here and it is just starting. Last night was amazing. It was so cold and the snow was falling so softly that I found myself standing outside on the deck, looking and listening to the quiet. There is a sound to snow falling. Snow-fall. You can say what you want but I will argue that there is nothing more beautiful than waking up to the sun shining and fresh powder covering everything.

Sometimes I Wonder

2010-11-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

What is this thing on my bed?

Treats for a Change

2010-11-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

Into the oven ... Flip them over and brown on the other side.... Voila... Well, I am going to try and pass on a simple recipe that I have come up with after doing some research on making my own dog treats & food. It is so easy...really. Granted, PonyGirl is not a picky eater and is always hungry. I just want to know that what I am giving her is good. Okay, here it is and remember the proportions are NOT that important. It's the consistency that is key. Drier is better than wetter. (Dry is better than wet?). You will need: Pumpkin (I use plain, canned ) You can use: oats, milk powder, a wee bit of wholegrain wheat flour, ground almonds, ground peanuts, quinoa, some good oil, nutmeg, ginger, oat bran, ground coconut. You can use all of these ingredients or some of them. Combine all the dry ingredients that you have. My approximate measure is abut 1/4 cup for the oats, milk powder, wholegrain wheat flour, ground almonds, ground peanuts. A little less on everything else. And just a pinch of any spices. Add enough of the pumpkin and oil to the dry ingredients only enough to moisten the mixture and have it hold together. When the consistency is right (remember dry is better than wet in this case) coat your hands with a little flour and shape your treats. Here you can use your imagination and have fun. Place on a very lightly oiled baking sheet and bake in 375' oven for at least 20 minutes (or more) on each side until the treats are browned and crisp (like biscotti). Taste them...they are pretty darn good, baby. Addendum: you can also use shredded carrots and apples to vary the recipe although, remember, this will make the dough wetter, so cut back on the pumpkin or oil or add more dry ingredients. You can also top each treat with a blueberry for cuteness and dog seem to love them. I would love to hear any ideas and suggestions. Disclaimer: I am not a vet or a nutritionist, although I do play one on the internet. Hah! Good Luck.

Feed Me

2010-11-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

Its funny how just a generation or two ago, which is NOT that long ago, people didn't really think so much about what their dogs ate. I mean there wasn't any such thing as 'dog food' when I was growing up. Our family dog (one and only), Rusty, ate what we ate. As did everyone else's dogs. Rusty lived for 19 years! Can you imagine that? A mutt puppy that just showed up at our door on a Christmas Eve in a rural neighborhood way back...well way back in the olden days. Of course, she was dumped on our road by some awful person who just threw her away. Regardless, Rusty was ours and we were hers for the next nineteen years. She went everywhere with our family, without a leash, without a license (didn't exist then) and was just the most well-behaved dog ever. During all the time we had her in our life I do not ever remember her visiting a vet except once for spaying. Was it luck that she was so healthy? I do not think so. I think a big part of her long lifespan was living a fairly natural lifestyle. Rusty enjoyed a rather traditional 'mediterranean' diet --- lots of fruit, vegetables, pasta, meat, fish and bread, for her entire life. Okay, folks, this is just my opinion but I think if YOU are what you eat, then it just makes sense that YOUR DOG is also what she eats. Which brings me to my point...finally. This new dog gets only real food. Real good food that takes into consideration that she is a dog. Unless you have been living in a bubble, you must be aware of the real food revolution going on. Funny how things come full circle and these days the stuff our ancestors ate (stuff from their garden and farm) are now what we are supposed to (and should) eat. They also got lots of exercise on a daily basis as did our dogs way back then. So real food and lots of daily exercise....any questions?. I do make a large quantity of 'dog food' every week and freeze half of it. I also make yummy biscuit treats -- it is so easy to do and so much less expensive than buying questionable dog 'food' from the store. Will it make my dog live long? Not so important as being healthy for as long as she lives. I hope it works for me too. BTW most dogs are omnivores as any one who has a dog knows. In fact, my girl discovered a lovely open compost pile the other day and feasted on old Halloween pumpkins and some other rotting vegetables. Once a Mexican street dog, always a Mexican street dog.

Thoughts About a Change

2010-11-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

Well I was thinking about changing things up here on the old blog site so I tried a new template and....hated it! There followed a few moments of sheer panic trying to get back to this very basic design and I am so relieved to have recovered it. Phew, certain changes can be way too frightening. I think this 'old' version is just fine. It is simple and not so busy-bee with a dozen other things going on in the margins and on the top, etc. I just want to say a few words, post a few pictures and this format serves my purpose. This is no novel, it's not even a short story. It is just a place to essentially talk to myself and to garner a bit of feedback (which I dearly love) from some friends (whom I also dearly love) to bring me back to earth. I have decided to make some other minor changes though. One is my 'links' list which I think needs to be updated. There are some more blogs out there are near and dear to my heart and I want to share them. The other reason is that I have noticed that a lot of people start a blog and then let it fizzle....sure there are lots of good reasons for that... but it kind of saddens me a bit when someone just stops posting. I often wonder what is going on. It is kind of like being dropped by a friend with no explanation. Yes, 'e-friends' are friends too, just in a parallel universe, and really, we can never have too many friends, 'e' or otherwise, can we? So, for anyone out there I am posting some random photos for no good reason at all and saying "HELLO".

Big Mouth/Small Voice

2010-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

I have a dilemma. I have been told, on occasion that I have a big mouth. I have also been told that my voice doesn't carry. Huh? Sometimes I give voice to my opinion in an attempt at being honest and in an attempt to bring about a change. A change I perceive as necessary but more importantly, as possible. I get on roll with something and can NOT, not say anything. I really try to be diplomatic. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, as that is not my style and is never, ever my intention. I am doomed to the endless adolescent pursuit of being 'liked' over and above the nobler pursuits of adulthood. But it is frustrating when you can't get someone to see the brilliance ( oui, mes amis, being funny here) of the argument or the clarity of the point. What is up with not being able to change the world? I know, I know... blah, blah, blah... one step at a time...be the change that you want to see....and all the rest of those inspirational homilies, but precisely when, should one just shut up? Sometimes, kindness itself, just doesn't seem to be enough and then... small voice comes out of big mouth from soft heart?

A Goat in the Bush

2010-10-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a friend introduces you to someone so remarkable, that you realize (not that you actually forgot) that there are so many different ways 'to be' in the world. Here is someone who lives quite peacefully right smack dab in the thick of things. Visiting him and spending an afternoon on his property with his goats and his dog and the creek and the view just puts everything in place for me. He is so not preachy or braggy. He just seems so content and so sane. Even though his home is rather off the grid,' isolated ' is not a word that I would use to describe him. 'Full' would be much better. Thank you Lynn and Nick for a wonder-full afternoon. The pasta and the wine just added to overall pleasure of spending that time with you.

PERPLEXED & PANTING

2010-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Today I am trying to figure out how to protect myself from this feeling of suffocation. Let me try to explain. I am being suffocated by FOOD. Someone in my family (hint: it is not me) has a food hoarding addiction and is filling the basement with it. There are canned tomatoes, packages of pasta, cans of pumpkin, gigantic bags of flour, surplus baking supplies, bags of coffee, sacks of potatoes, a huge jar of marinated artichoke hearts and other stuff I am starting to forget about. In addition, I have my own small stash of homemade jams and garden tomatoes which is what the basement is for, in my mind. Every time 'this person' goes out, I am in fear of what he will bring home to store in the basement. Inevitably, he returns with some 'deal' that he couldn't pass up because it is something we use and will need again in the future...so into the basement it goes. Things are starting to get piled on top of other things. This is BAD. Of all the things that aggravate me, and trust me, there are many, this one thing is my worst nightmare. How do I get it to stop? or at least to slow down? I have tried pretty much all approaches except... the ultimatum. Now, here's the kicker...he wants to get a freezer! Where is the oxygen tank?

le petit mal

2010-10-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

I am loosely using this term to describe an episode (a Proust moment, perhaps) that recently stopped me and took me on a little trip back in time. We all have these moments, don't we? Something sets it in motion...a word...a smell...a look...it could be anything really. Suddenly, we are 'back there' again in all its glory... happy or sad or any of a million other feelings. For me, and not to belabour the issue, I time-travelled back to Cowgirl. Right there, in the woods on the most beautiful of fall afternoons I suffered ' a little death ' of sorts. The details are not so important but here they are anyway. I met a guy and his old, black & white dog on the trail. The dog had a pink, elastic bandage on one of her front legs. That was it. That pink bandage was all it took. My boarding pass. I melted on the spot as she gently pushed into me (the way old dogs do) and let me stroke her head and ears. She had some stitches on her neck, along a ragged incision from her recent surgery, and her guy said she wasn't feeling "so good these days". The tone of his voice said it all. We continued on our walk and slowly came back to life.

La Luna

2010-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of a sheer, unabashed, in-your-face, look at me, how could you not, beauty of a night, on the road... somewhere. I remember this night and how cold it was and how utterly clear everything was.. There are no doubts on a night like this. There are no gray areas or half-truths. There is no wondering or questioning or searching. It is all pretty much right there in front you, bright and shining. What more proof do you need that all is as it should be?

Being Here Now

2010-09-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

It has become impossible to ignore the new season that is here. No more hopes for an 'indian summer', as much as we all love the sound of that, chances are slim that it is going to happen. I was walking on the trail last evening (the one that is closed due to some visiting grizzlies...yikes) and it was littered with the first leaves of fall. The true colours have not come in yet but with a few more chilly/cold nights we are just hours away from a good show. I seriously need to make time to do my annual closet changeabout, which I look forward to. For me, cold weather wear is a good look as you can see by my very, fashionable legging picture. Leggings are a point of contention amongst some of my cohorts but I buck their attitude and forge ahead clad in practical, comfortable and effortlessly stylish cold-weather gear. It also is good time to dive more into knitting. Our Nelson Knitting Co-op is so much fun. We have already donated to one charity's fundraiser event and will be donating to two more charities this November. It takes our knitting to another level when we can give our beautiful, handmade items to strangers and know they are appreciated and used. The 'Co-op' concept is really coming to fruition and I am so pleased. Okay, enough of this drivel (dribble?) and we'll talk later.

BEING THOUGHTFUL

2010-09-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Betwixted & Between

2010-09-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Before we launch into another season wholeheartedly, I am savoring these in-between days and nights. Waking up to a day that doesn't know what it wants to do...it can't decide what to wear...its a bit befuddled as to its exact purpose...it has temporarily lost sight of its goals...is unsettling. You know where it is ultimately destined to arrive, but the back and forth banter and playful scuffling of temperature, sun, rain, clouds and wind keeps us off kilter. Keeps me, anyway, feeling a bit twisted inside and out. Not in a totally bad way but just in an 'anything can happen' way. In my mostly ordered life, I like this major uncontrollable force. I am still preparing like crazy for the winter. I already made plum and strawberry jam. Just picked all the shallots and onions and have them hanging & drying. Beets and carrots are in cold storage. Pesto has been made and is in the freezer. Peas and rhubarb are frozen too. The tomatoes are picked, getting nice and ripe and will soon be ready for preserving in the form of my roasted tomato sauce which, if i do say so myself is quite yummy. Today is predicted to be almost hot after a chilly night so maybe a nice float on the lake would work. Of course the monster dog will go for a swim as she has not figured out that the dog days of summer are coming to an end. Winter will be quite a surprize for her.

Falling in Love all Over Again

2010-09-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

Falling in love all over again. Me and my imp were at it all last week. A girl after my own heart and let me tell you...she caught it. The defining moment was when she discovered 'free-boxing'. We were driving and saw a box with a sign over it that said 'FREE' so I pulled the car over and told her to jump out and see what was inside. That was the beginning of her obsession. After that we were on a constant hunt for free stuff. How can you not love that?! She found some really good stuff too (two cool purses). She also found some funny stuff (that weird puppet). She also found some gifts for other people (nice make-up bag for me and earbuds for T.). Her excitement was hilarious. An added bonus to this whole affair is that we have all decided that we are related (it's distant and a bit stretched, but we are taking it) and that makes things even sweeter. The only down side was our time together was way too short. But this is not just a geographically-convenient love. This is L-O-V-E in all caps. xoxo to my favorite little funny girl.

Be-HAVE !

2010-08-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

Of course, she's not perfect and I've been told, neither am I. But, I confess that I do have an obsession with trying to be. I figure if we can at least get close then we are doing okay. I am being cheeky here. It is just that it is coming up to a year since PG has bounded onto the scene and she has come a long, long way. But she still has a few itsy, bitsy, teeny, tiny issues. Here is one of them that I could use some input on. With most dogs her size or bigger she is very docile and playful but with smaller dogs she is a bit rough. She tries to step on them and growls. After a few minutes, everything is okay and they start playing, but she is still too rough for the little ones. In almost one year, I haven't seen any serious aggression but I admit, I am a little tense and watchful when she is around smaller dogs. I am hoping that with more exposure this will work itself out and I always stay at the ready to intervene if necessary.

Don't Hate me Because I Blog

2010-08-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

I used to feel so conflicted about blogging. Before I started blogging I would destroy anything I had written down. The reason being that whenever I would re-read my writing, it always seemed so trite, so simple-minded, and so, well, so, stupid. Starting a blog and putting things out there to the 'world-wide-web', was a risk. A BIG risk. Now I think... no big deal. Although I do temper myself somewhat, this has been a such a rich experience. It has provided a great forum to work things out. The blogging community has gotten me through the darkest of days and has expanded my view of the good world. I feel grateful to have shared such intimacy with all my newly made 'blogger pals' and with all my 'real world' pals. WOW. Now this may be borderline 'trite' but hey, forgive me my trespasses and please keep on blogging. I love reading yours.

OH...You Dirty Dog!

2010-08-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Who knew that mud could be so much fun? It is apparently 'joie de vivre' to the max for this rascal. This is the dog that was scared of everyday things a few months ago and now will dive into a black hole if it smells good enough. She has never been frightened of thunder or any loud explosive noises on the other hand. This is a very good thing as we have the most lovely thunderstorms here all summer long. It's great to sit on the deck and watch them rock & roll their way in and have her peacefully watching as well. Oh, and one other thing...she knows the names of her friends. Tell me you haven't done this with your dog, "Hey is that Lilly? Ry? Raja? Q? Koda?". They fall for it every time...can't help it...it's funny.

SHOES

2010-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I could have posted all the usual, unbelievable and beautiful scenes of summer that are gushing all around us here in the great white north. But, as you can clearly see, my new flip-flops have won out. Yes, the garden is blowing out beets and peas and squashes. Yes, we are having our vital greens every night. Herbs are getting chopped and added to every dish. It is a veritable vegetable carnival. It is almost like this is a different place. In fact that is what I love about living with four seasons. Life is totally changed four times a year. This time of year, life is almost constantly lived outside and compared to winter we wear hardly anything. Hence, the wonder of the flip-flop. In just a few months we'll find ourselves transported to a winter wonderland without going anywhere. We're definitely not in California anymore. (okay, a little summer peek)