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Archived At Home with Ailsa
November 16th - November 10th, 2003.
Sunday, November 16th. YaaHooo! I'm back on 'The Air'!! Or The 'Net, as it were! Thanks for hanging in with me, if you were looking for my Site and couldn't find it -- the glitch in the system has been solved, and I'm back on track!! So, hello, Baby!! I hope your weekend has been great!
We really thought we'd get the Grouting done in the Sunroom, but with my Computer Glitch, I had to work on that, then I started on the House Cleaning in preparation for the Party. It'll literally take me a few weeks to get the House all set up for the Party, but it'll be worth it because it's always so much fun! Looks like we'll eaily have over a 100 people, so we should get a lot of stuff to go under our 'Giving Tree' and in the Food Baskets to take down to the Fireman's Fund.
I am really hoping to get the word out on that Party Idea. Just think how much stuff we could all donate if we took one item to a Party (or if you're throwing a Holiday Party, you can have a Giving Tree and/or Baskets...!). Wouldn't that be a huuuge amount of stuff for good causes?? There are all kinds of Groups in need of stuff -- the Fireman's Fund, The Salvation Army, Women's Shelters, Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, Churches...all sorts of Groups you can donate your 'Party Goods' to -- wouldn't that be sooo great! Then we can really enjoy the Holiday Season!
Since we didn't Grout, we had plenty of time to make our Guest List -- it keeps growing and growing. We have plenty of space, so no worries about how many people we invite, which is nice. I made out the Food and Beverage List, so it won't be too much work to get ready for the Party.
Tip of the Day: How to Throw a Great Informal Party!
Here's the stuff I think works well for a Winter Party -- it's all very Festive!
Hot Apple Cider in a Giant Pot, Wok or Crock Pot. Spiced Rum on the Side!! Yummy!
Great Punch, Non-Alcoholic. Vodka on the Side. Float some Sliced Fruit in the Punch -- looks lovely!
A Coffee and Hot Chocolate 'Station'. Baileys on the Side. (My Favorite!!)
A Wine Bar -- I just Set out a Nice Variety of Wine and Lots of Glasses.
A Bar Stocked with Hard Liquor. Mix on the Side (you know ... Pop and stuff!).
Lots and Lots of Ice!
Tons of Finger Foods -- Treats, Cheese & Veggie Platters, Shrimp Rings...
Some 'Real Food' -- I like to Serve Chili & Rolls.
That's about it! Not too hard to put together -- lots of nice Decorations, Napkins, Glasses, 'N All...
Oh, and I always have a Bowl of Cool Treats for the Kids on their way out the door.
Speaking of the Kids (we like 'Family Friendly Daytime Parties...), I set up their Treats and Drinks Downstairs. They can Watch Movies on the Big Screen, Go into the 'Dancing Room', Play with some Toys in Aidan's Den ... that sort of thing.
The Pool Table is Downstairs, so I would imagine their will be a steady group of men (mostly...) playing Pool for the good part of the day, so they can keep an eye on the kids!! YaaHoo!!
Treats for the Children are best if they are individually wrapped, to cut down on any 'cross-contamination', and if you know or have any kids, I think you'll know just what I mean ...! Ha,ha,ha! So Chips, Canned Pop, Small Chocolate Bars (they're eaten before they melt!!) ... it's easy and the kids will love it.
So the big key to the Success of an Informal Party is to have everything pretty much 'Serve It Yourself', that way even if the Host or Hostess has had the 'Mostest', if you know what I mean... the Party can still go on and everyone will have a great time. It's just a whole lot more relaxing for everyone if people can just mingle around freely, and eat and drink whatever they like.
You know a good name for this kind of Party?? A Mingle and Jingle Party! Ha,ha,ha!
So, pass this Giving Tree Idea along to your Friends, Neighbors, Pastors, Teachers ... the more people we get in on this, the more stuff we can give! Hey, we can all take pictures of our Giving Trees, and then I can post them on my Site! Then we can all check out your Living Room, too! Now, that'll be fun!
Here's your 'Daily Pics Fix'!!
These are from last Christmas, so you can see we didn't even have the Drapes up, yet, but it's still stunning!! This Great Room is sooo pretty! When the Tree is up, it's hard to get to bed at night, because you just want to curl up with a cup of Tea and watch the lights twinkle away, and listen to some nice Kenny G Christmas CDs!
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There's the Front Entry before I painted the Trim White -- it looked great, too! I really love Christmas -- can you tell? Ha,ha,ha!
Then in the Third Picture, that's my cool 'Bear Table' with Santa's Village on it -- it's hilarious the way it looks like the bear is balancing it on his feet, and gazing into the village ... probably looking for something (...or someone...) to eat! ha,ha! Oh, yeah -- I got that gorgeous Light-up Village set at Costco, the most wonderful of stores!
Oh, hey. I think you can see the Amaryllis in the Foreground of the First Picture. If you have never tried growing one from the Bulb Stage, give yourself a wee treat and grow one this year. If you start them about 6 weeks before Christmas, you should have them in Full Bloom in time for Christmas Day. They're absolutely amazing Flowers, and completely scent-free, for the other allergy-prone folks out there! I have a Link for them on my Books Page.
Click here to Get an Amaryllis!
Thanks for swingin' in! See you tomorrow!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!!
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Saturday, November 15th. Hi, Honey! How you doin'?? How's your weekend? Good, I hope! Looks like we're going to empty out the Sunroom to get it ready for Grouting -- WooHoo! Finally! Dwight's Dad brought out a bunch of wood for Dwight to continue building the Bar, so I hope that doesn't take precedent... The was we work the Grouting (when we're working on it, together) is Dwight mixes the Grout and puts it on the Floor, then I go in and clean it all off, making sure every Grout Line is really neat and smooth. There's a real art to it, so I enjoy that job a lot, and love the finished look.
That stooopid Videowave is still shutting me out, so I can't transfer my new pics onto the computer -- so annoyink! At least I was able to save the new pics from the Bar Building Process. It's fun to build a Bar -- I should make a new page for that ... Anyway, if you're thinking about Building a new bar of your own, the easiest way to build it relatively quickly is to purchase the base portion Cabinetry from your local Home Improvement Store. No kidding. Just decide what size your Bar will be (lay it out on the floor), then choose the appropriate Cabinetry. If you'd like to put a Sink in it, remember to pick up a Sink Cabinet Unit, too.
Now, putting Cabinetry together is a particularly tricky process, so we always hire a Carpenter to do that (yes, Trevor!!). You can try it yourself, but it has a 'swear factor' of at least 10!! ha,ha,ha! Once the Cabinets are assembled, you'll ned to connect them together (they're just screwed together), but they all need to be level. Sometimes they all need to be raised to your desired Countertop Height. Then you can Build a Frame for the 'Top Bar', and attach the Cabinets to that. Okay, this is totally gonna need it's own page!!
Let me go get you some pictures of how the Bar is coming along at our house!
And now for your 'Daily Pics Fix'!
The Bar is about 80% Done, at this Stage. All the Cabinetry is put together and set in place. The Plumbing and Electrical work is done, and the Main Frame has been Built. Dwight decided that he wanted to do the 'Finish' Board in Drywall, so I painted a giant piece to match the Lower Level Wall, and it looks fabulous. We'll Trim it out to look like the Bar has a nice continuous flow to the rest of the area.
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See that somewhat giant Fridge in the Corner? Well, that has to go. I bought it at Costco before we even started the Lower Level Development. Not a good idea! I should have known better, but I fell in love with the Fridge and had to have it. That's just me!! ha,ha,ha! So if you look like a fridge, watch out!! yuff, yuff!
The new little Fridge is sitting in front of the Cabinetry -- it's a much smaller Fridge and suite the space better. Dwight had to remove a whole section of Cabinetry that was in the way of the new Fridge, but it's worth it to sacrifice one thing to gain a better outcome, sometimes.
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We've decided to match the Tiled Countertop for the Bar to the Tile in the Lower Bathroom/Steamroom. It's a stunning Tile, and will look really nice. It's all coming together nicely!
Hey, thanks for stopping by for a wee visit! See you tomorrow!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!
P.S. Hey, you know what's happening on my Home Computer? It won't let me in to see what my Site looks like on the Internet! So if you are experiencing any problems with my Site, write and let me know. I'm working like mad to correct any annoyink problems!!
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Friday, November 14th. Good Morning, Sunshine!! Can you believe it's Friday, already?? Did you catch Survivor, last night. Gotta say -- I'm very happy to see Burton back -- man, he is soooo good looking! Hey, a girl can dream, no?? ha,ha,ha! And everyone's turning on my favorite guy, Rupert! Doesn't always pay to be the best at everything... sometimes it can come back and give you a little bite!! ha,ha,ha!
You know, I haven't heard back from that Pediatric Dentist, yet, with "The Quote"... I feel very uncomfortable with the whole 'Surgery holds no risks' schpiel from the Doctor -- of course there are always risks involved with any surgery, and Aidan is only 4! I just dn't think I can go there. Surely there must be a happy medium where we can deal with his teeth without him having to 'go under'. I would do it in a flash if it were medically necessary, but I really don't feel like that's the case. Think I'll call them, this morning, to cancel the whole thing -- for now, at least.
Dwight's still kicking around the house -- his truck is in getting fixed, so he's using my Van this week -- which means I have to stay here (YaaHoo!! Not a bad place to be stuck at home!!), but it also means he doesn't have the space to haul a zillion tools and stuff. No Furnaces in the Back of my Van!!
I was thinking that I'd pop around the house and take some pictures of cool Interior Architectural Features that I like, and will definitely do again in the next Build. It'll take me a couple of minutes, but I'll go get those for you! I am particularly fond of a Vaulted Ceiling, and I love Interior Windows -- they're just cool, and they really open up the space.
I'll go get the pics for you! Be right back!!
Tip of the Day: When you're building your house, or having your house built for you, and you're putting in a Basement (many homes in Warm Climates don't require a Basement...), spend a little more money and have the Basement Ceiling Raised to a 9' Ceiling. What a difference that makes. I provides more space for the Furnace and/or Air Conditioning Duct Work, which allows for a much higher Ceiling, all around. Much nicer feel to the space.
Okay. I'm baa-ack!! And I've got some pics for you... but you know what happened? I went all through the house to get some great shots of some of my favorite Interior Architectural Features, then when I went to transfer them from my Video Camera onto the Computer, that annoyink box came up for me to Register the thing -- well, I don't have that knid of time, so I clicked the 'Later' button. I was able to save about 6 pictures, then it shut the program down. Ugh. Sooo annoyink! It's like buying a book, and some days you can't even pry your way into have a wee read! Why can't you just install it, use it, done?? It would be much easier, no??
Here's your Daily 'Pics Fix'!
Well, since I couldn't save the Architectural Shots, here are some pics of the Lower Walk-Out Level. You can really see the height on this Level -- that's what a 9' Ceiling looks like. Nice, huh? So that's my Office in the Corner, all glassed in -- that really is a very cool feature. Aidan plays Pool all day long (no toy trucks allowed on the Pool Table -- another of our crazy rules, according to Aidan!! ha,ha!) -- he loves the game, and it's great for his hand-eye co-ordination, too!
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In the second picture, you can see the new Bar -- Dwight has been working on it, again, after quite a long hiatus, but it's good to get back to that. The Bar is 9 1/2' long, 3 1/2' Wide, 36" in Height to the Sink & Countertop Area, then 42" in Height for the Top Bar. I like the Height at 42" for the Top Bar because it allows for a nice height Stool, and enough room for your knees if you happen to like crosing your legs when you're at the Bar, which I like to do!
And then there's the Lower Level Fireplace -- the one that Dwight just put the Fan (or Blower) in -- and that Fan really works, too! I use it all the time to heat up the whole room, now. Dwight wants to match both of the Living Room Fireplaces (one up, one down...), so I take it that he's going to put the Emerald Pearl Granite Tine as the base for the Fireplace Surround. Now I want a Mantel -- a great big mantel -- we'll see how far I get with that!! Maybe we can get to that, this weekend!
Okay, let me go see if I can fix that stooopid Videowave III Program! Wish me luck!! (Just for the record, I looove that Program when it's working -- I just get so frustrated when it shuts itself down for no good reason...!)
Thanks for popping by! See you tomorrow!!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!
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Here's a great place to do a litle Holiday Shopping and Support a Good Cause at the same time...
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Thursday, November 13th. Hey, there, you gorgeous thing, you! Man, your hair looks good today! And are those False Eyelashes?? (They are?? Hmmmm... Don't worry -- I'm sure there'll be a Film Crew around sometime today to get a shot of your special new look...!) Har, har!
Well, I took Aidan (my little 4 year old boy, if you happen to be new to the Site, and if you are, "Welcome!") to the Pediatric Dentist, yesterday, and it was a very interesting visit, to say the least. Aidan loooved all the cool toys, and actually opend his mouth for the Dentist to have a peak... Aidan has inherited Dwight's Construction Sense and his terrible teeth when he was a kid...poor wee thing. So it looks like he might have to have a Surgical Procedure to correct his teeth. I guess I'll be getting 'A Quote' on howmuch that will cost, and that's never good -- when you have to get a written quote that takes a couple of days to make up, that's not a good sign!
You know, there's a real veil of secrecy over the Canadian Health Care System. There's a general illusion that we get free health care -- well, we certainly don't... Dwight owns his own Company, so he is considered 'Self-Employed', but when you tell some people that, they look at you like you don't have two cents to rub together... Man, that's annoyink!! The reason I tell you that little story is that we don't have any Dental Insurance, so all Dental Expenses are 'out-of-pocket'. And when I told them this fact at the Dentist's Office, they seemed to be about as concerned with HOW I was going to pay as much as how Aidan's teeth were... I don't know about that.... And I was asked how I was going to pay during my first phone call with them when I was just making the Initial Appointment. Maybe that's normal, but it rubbed me the wrong way... I'll let you know what the quote is. It'll be fun! Entertaining... We'll laugh out loud!
So, of course, I left the Dentist's Office thinking that I should immediately get a job with Health Insurance and Dental Coverage. And Aidan had sooo much fun in their Play Area that I felt guilty that he doesn't have a wee school to go to -- Cara used to love her Nursery School in California -- we both made many great friends, there! I came home and made a few calls -- we'll see what happens!!
You know how I was telling you about having a 'Giving Tree' for our Holiday Party Guests to bring a Toy that we can give to the Firemans' Toy Drive? Well, it came to our attention, recently, that people you come into contact with on a regular basis are often in need of all sorts of things -- food being at the top of the list, quickly followed by clothng. So now I'd like to add a couple of Giant Baskets under the Tree for our Guests to bring a Food Item, as well, to make some Food Baskets. So many of us are very fortunate, and taking one item out of your Pantry or out of the Cupboard barely makes a dint, so it's an easy way for folks to Give.
Tip of the Day: If you happen to be throwing a Holiday Bash, or know Someone who is, consider adding a 'Giving Tree' to the Party Theme. Just think of the amount of stuff we all have to share, and how much we could provide for some people in need! Hey, when you've had your Party, drop me a line to let us all know how much stuff you collected -- won't that be fun to see how much Good we can all do??
Oh, and please pass this message along to anyone you like -- the more, the merrier! (See the Christmas colors?? ha,ha! It's all very Festive!)
And now for your 'Daily Pics Fix'!
Hey, I just figured out how I could make the pictures 'stay apart' -- man, that was painfully simple, but it eluded me until now!! Three little 'asterisks', and now there are no more pictures all squished together! WooHoo!
It seemed appropriate to show you some pictures of my Pantry. When I first Drew the house, I had to come out to the land to literally 'Draw' the house on the ground. I wasn't clear in my maind about how the Pantry wouldplay iself out, and it's exact location, so I had to do a 'walk-through' in the dirt! I'm a little unconventional, but it totally works!!
My Pantry is a Walk-In, much like a Walk-In Closet, only shelved right around. Dwight would only let me put in Three layers of Shelves, which I regret -- think I'll add another row of shelving.... You can never get enough storage space, am I right?? ha,ha!
The Two French Glass Doors are side-by-side, one leading to the Laundry Room (good to have a door there to keep the sound in...), and the other leading into the Pantry.
The Pantry is 9' X 5', pretty much the same size as the Island, so I must really like that size! ha,ha! Oh, yeah -- you can see 'Tia's Sink' through the Laundry Room Door in the first picture -- we put in a big enough sink with a Spray Attachment so she can stand right in the sink to get washed on muddy days! I'll have to take her picture in there -- she's hilarious!!
Thanks for swingin' by! See you all tomorrow!!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!
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Now what are the odds that I'd find an Ad with the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs on it?? ha,ha! I love every Team where I've lived or if I know someone on the Team -- plus, it's just fun to watch -- those guys are amazing athletes! I love the way they can get in and out of 'the box' as quickly as they can -- very cool.
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Wednesday, November 12th. Hello, Darling. That's right -- we're back in the '50's...or is that just how some people would like to live?? Hmmm... Well, I talked with my Mum, last night, about their trip to Cuba, where Communism is apparently a great thing -- that stooopid freedom -- people will do God-Knows-What with it, if they're just given a choice. Better for the Dictatorship to be in charge -- We don't see eye-to-eye on the whole issue of Freedom -- it's critical to me because I have been held against my will for so very long because of stooopid Canadian Law that lets my abusive ex-husband decide where I can and cannot live, because I had a child in that first and awful marriage. And so he gets to control my life until Cara is old enough to have the freedom of choice, herself...
Well, folks, I wasn't going to say anything about that whole fiasco, yet, but it looks like they're going to be dealing with it on Dr. Phil, and if I can help anyone else with my knowledge of the crazy system, then I should, right?? This isn't only in Canada -- it seems to be a pervasive problem throughout the First World, thanks in part to the Hague Convention. Much of my adult life has been a living nightmare, because of the unbelievable control that little nut has had over my life.
Did you know that when you leave a marriage -- for whatever reason -- the parent who doesn't have the kids has control over where the parent who takes care of the children gets to live? Yep. So if you add any abusive, controlling, or crazy characteristics to the 'other spouse', you're in for a horrible ride.
Frankly, I think it's a backlash against women in the Workforce, since often you have to move in order to get a job to support the children (d'uh!!). I used to get $30.U.S. from my ex as Child Support, so, of course, I was working to support my little family. And then the Court said that I was away from my daughter for 8 hours a day (egads! Sounds like a job!!), thus might have lost custody of Cara. See the nightmare? It gets much, much worse, but I won't get into that, now...
Here's what I'm hoping will happen -- we need to raise awareness about this issue, because it forces women who have left abusive relationships to stay nearby the father, which puts them all at great risk. There are so many stories on the news, these days. about mothers and children being killed at the hands of a father in the middle of a custody battle. That's a horrifying thing, and serves to keep women in a terrible relationship, out of fear of leaving.
I know. This is weighty stuff. I don't like to talk about it, much, either, but it is a huuuuge problem, and more people need to speak out about it. I'm fearful of our safety just writing this, and that's not right, is it? I shouldn't be held against my will in a Country I don't want to live in because I married the wrong man when I was 24... that's more punishment than the vast majority of criminals get in Canada. That's why I felt such a kinship with Ben Johnson, when I was seeing him. It's a bizarre thing for your life to be so vastly affected by one thing that is not technically illegal (not illegal in my case, at all...), preventing you from pursuing your own life and furthering your career.
Well, I know this won't go over well in some circles, but I guess this is a chance I have to take to help other people. And this is NOT to suggest that only women deal with this -- their are some Dad's out there coping with the exact same thing, it just isn't nearly as common.
What needs to happen is a realization by Lawyers and the Courts that when Custody is actually a Battle, there's a deeper problem, and typically it revolves around abuse. A real no-brainer, but one that seems to have eluded everyone... and Court Ordered Mediation never works when there's coercion and threats -- there's a big surprise! Puh-leease -- who comes up with this crap??
You know what I don't get? Why is it that you can just pop into a County Office and pick up a Marriage Licence, but a Divorce has to be handled by the Lawyers and the Court? When a couple doesn't want to be together anymore, the Court isn't going to force them back together, so what's the hold-up?? It's like we're living in the Dark Ages with this. And a woman should never, ever be punished because she had a child. What's that all about?? That's crazy.
Okay, I'm done with my rant... I'll go back to 'building stuff', tomorrow. I promise! You know the good thing, though? I'm one incredibly strong chick, now, and take chances like you wouldn't believe. Why not? I've been to hell and back, so the future looks pretty easy, compared to the past. Now I just look at everything as 'risk management', and 'how much can I make from that' (financially...!), not, 'can I survive another day'. Gotta tell ya, this way of living is much better!!
Tip of the Day: Don't get involved with anyone you can't visualize having to bother with on their angriest day for the next 18 years of your life. There, that oughtta cut down on the Pregnancy Rate, right there!! But these Laws need to change so women won't fear having a baby for the possible future implications they could be facing... that's not right.
Okay, still up for some Pictures?? Me, too. It'll lighten the mood! (That and a glass of wine, but you're probably way ahead of me, there...!!ha,ha!)
And now for your 'Daily Pics Fix'!
Here's our sweet little Tia -- she's always fun to look at! You can see she has a hectic schedule, what with all the running and looking out for deer, 'n all!
This is Tia on her 100' Rope -- that was a great solution to the 'no fence' rule in our neighborhood. She is free to run and run, but I always know she's safe. Great combo!! This is our back garden, by the way -- nice, huh??
Thanks for coming in for a wee visit! Maybe we can all work together to make life better for everybody! There's strength in numbers, so we'll see what we can do!!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!
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< Refinance >< Mortgage >< Home Equity Loan >< Debt Consolidation >
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Tuesday, November 11th. Hey there, Honey-Pie! See, there's that crazy food reference, again! Shut up, Freud!! Well, it's Remembrance Day -- a day that is full of all sorts of memories for me... We used to alwsays go to the Cenataph in the center of Town for an Outdoor Service with my Family. Standing in the bitter cold for that short amount of time seemed like a much better way to Remember those who had Fallen then to be in a comfy Auditorium...
When I first moved here, I bundled up Cara, who was 6 at the time (cannot believe I have been here soooo long...! She's 15, now...), and we all went down to the Cenataph and stood there in the freezing cold (only one foot of snow, that year...!). 11:00am came and went, with not a soul around. We waited and waited, but no one showed up. I found out later that 'they' didn't bring the Veterans out until around 1:00 -ish! Since then we've just stayed home and observed Remembrance Day along with the TV Service. Ah, well. The important thing is to Remember.
So Cara had yesterday off, so she decided to decorate her Bedroom for Christmas! No kidding! When I went up there to say Goodnight to Cara, last night, there was a full-size Christmas Tree, fully Decorated with lights 'n everything... it looked gorgeous! Aidan kept running in and shouting,"Yeah! It's Christmas Eve, already!!". And yes, in case you're wondering, the childrens' Bedrooms are huge -- I can never understand why the Kids' Rooms are sooo tiny and the Master is absolutely enormous -- it could easly be more balanced, since kids need plenty of space for all their zillion things that they like to collect, right? (Just for the record, our Master is huge, too, but that's just because I Drew the House, so I just drew in what I really wanted! That's the easy way to get what you want!! ha,ha!)
I was in the Sunroom reading a little Dave Barry, yesterday evening, and I could hear Aidan ask Dwight a quick question ... Aidan wanted to know what Chanuka was. So Dwight tells him, "Oh, it's the Jewish Christmas"...So I had to say to Dwight later that that was one of the craziest answers I'd ever heard (!). Puh-leease. Here's the really funny thing -- Aidan actually knows a lot about Chanukah from Blues Clues, so he was quizzing Dwight! Now what are we gonna do when Aidan learns all about Rocket Science, Hmmm??? ha,ha,ha,ha!
Wow, I'm watching Ellen as I write this, and Earth, Wind & Fire are the Guest Band! One of my all time favorite bands!! I'll tell you, if you haven't seen Ellen and Wayne on their equally great Talk Shows, do yourself a wee favor and check them out -- it's always good to add some laughs and great music to your day!!
Gotta go get everybody up in time for 11:11am, so they can all observe Remembrance Day.
Tip of the Day: Today's Tip is for Fyly Away Hair -- no, not hair that's taking a quick trip to the Bahamas, although I wish MY hair could do that, and of course I'd have to go with it, to do all the combing 'n all... Anyhooo, the tip is to Put Regular Hand Lotion on your hair when it's still wet -- comb it in -- don't just leave it there in a big ol' clump -- that probably won't imporve your look!! ha,ha,ha! Or maybe it would... really, we should get to know each other better!!
If you happen to have long hair, and you want it to have some big soft waves, after you put the Hand Cream in it (I use Lubriderm Unscented), put it up at the back with a little hair thing like you're doing a Pony Tail, but pull enough hair through to create a loop. I'll have to take some pictures to show you that... that was a terrible description!! Ah, well! When you take it out, your hair will have a lovely wave. Then you'll look just like me, and we can be twins! YiPeee!! har, har!
Now let me go get you some Pictures!
Here's your 'Daily Pics Fix'!!
These are some of the River Views from Elbow River Falls, about 45 minutes outside of Calgary! The first picture reminds me of that great song, "Somewhere Down The Lazy River", which I've been singing in my head all morning!!
And here's my lovely daughter, Cara! It was freezing outside, but gorgeous just the same! Aidan kept running around shouting, "I just looove the outside doors!" Entertaining children!!
Thanks sooo much for swingin' in! See you tomorrow!
Later, Baby! Ailsa!
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Monday, November 10th. Hey, there, Honey Buns!! Now why do so many of my greetings, lately, have food references?? Think there's something Freudian, there?? ha,ha! Ah, well...what are you gonna do? I took yesterday 'off' from the computer, and we went out to the Mountains -- it's soooo gorgeous out there, so I took a whole bunch of pictures to show you. Especially if you have never been to Alberta, Canada, or live in a warm 'snow-free' environment, I thought you'd get a kick out of these shots. I'll put them on 'Your Daily Pics Fix'...
I happened upon this Link, this morning, for Vacation Rentals that I thought was cool -- it's a set up where you can actually rent someone's own House or Condo in really nice, fun locations. It reminded me of a Teacher Exchange Program they used to have when I was growing up -- my Dad was a Teacher, too, and we knew a lot of people who would 'switch' Houses and Jobs for a year so you could experience a whole other Culture, and bring your whole family. This is kind of the same thing, only it's great for a quick vacation... Plus, there's a Link for Myrtle Beach in South Carolina -- we went there every Spring Break for years and years -- I love it there!!
So we didn't get anything done around the House, this past weekend -- but we did get our List Done for our Holiday Party. There's a Day Off, tomorrow, for Remembrance Day, so after we pay our respects at 11:11a.m., we can get started on the Grouting in the Sunroom -- finally! There a few things I really want to get done before the Party -- the Fireplace Surround on the Lower Living Room needs to be done -- I have no idea why Dwight has been so resistant to getting that done...and the Downstairs Bar needs to be finished, too. It's such a big house that you really don't notice when these normally 'big' jobs haven't been done, yet, so it's fairly easy to forget all about them. So now there's a focus, again, so we can get the work done!
Poor wee Tia has been trying to cuddle up next to me all weekend (now, who doesn't want to do that?? ha,ha!), but there was a new Girl at the Groomers last week, and she used a massive amount of perfume on the dog...and we specifically have it written on her Chart and I reminded them when I called not to have any perfume, since I'm allergic to it. So I couldn't get anywhere near Tia all weekend... but she still kept trying to inch her way onto my lap! Sooo funny!
Tip of the Day: This is a 'skin tip', because I'm amazed at the healing power of Aspirin ... it's not just for Headaches, anymore! Here's what you do: Get a really tiny container (or use a teaspoon) and dissolve about 4 Aspirins with just enough water to cover them. If you have any skin problem (blemish or what have you...), put the Dissolved Aspirin on the spot. You can mix the Aspirin with a wee bit of whatever Skin Cream you might use to 'hold it in place'. Now, chances are high you won't do this during the day, or out on a date (!)-- try it at night when you're sleeping, anyway...
I discovered that little trick last year -- I love to experiment with Home Remedies -- it's fun, and I'm always thrilled when they work!
Okay, let me go get your Mountain Waterfall Pictures for you!
And now for your 'Daily Pics Fix'!
These pictures are from Elbow River Falls (straight out 22X, if you're heading out of Calgary!!), and it is absolutely stunning, here! The Waterfalls are all iced in, which is beautiful. The shade of Blue is gorgeous...
Can you see the Caverns at the side of the Rocks? Those were made from decades and decades of water erosion -- very cool!
Elbow River Falls is right in the middle of the mountains, and it's a great place to go for an Afternoon Picnic and little Hike. We love going there for a Weenie Roast -- always refreshing! I think it's good for your soul to get out into Nature for a while, to rejuvenate yourself! Plus, you get to Roast Marshmallows, which is always fun!!
Hey, if you ever want to save any of my pictures as Wallpaper for your Computer, I'm okay with that! You can 'repay me' by telling a few of your friends about my Site -- you're my best bet for getting the word out about www.buildyourownhouse.ca!!
Thanks for 'Clickin' In!!
See you tomorrow!
Later, Baby!! Ailsa!
P.S. You know what?? I just went in to see how my Site looks
on your computer, and the Font was enormous, so I took the Full Menu at the
Top (which I put on in my efforts to improve Site Navigation...). Anyway,
I hope that solves the problem, cause it's just annoyink!!
Check out Overstock.com for Anything You Could Possibly Hope to Find!
Recipes -- Cheesecake ,Cinnamon Buns, Salsa Chicken , Macaroni Salad ,Chicken Noodle Soup, Taco Spaghetti , Easy Pie Crust , Creamy Peach Pie , Great BBQ Marinade , 'Pass da' Pasta, Rosemary Steak, Onion Barley (an Aphrodisiac!), Stuffed Green Peppers, Fruit Puffs , BBQ Veggies, Apple Crumble for One , Barbequed Meatballs, Everything Else!!
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