Kitchen View

I love my kitchen.  Before we did this renovation there was only solid wall here.  Now we look out to the ravine every day and usually see birds and squirrels, or the occasional raccoon or coyote.
Even when no animals are about, the evergreens are lovely, to me.
The view has been a little different lately, but just as nice. 

(Click to enlarge)

Remember the 'I Spy' books? I could write one of my own here, based on counter top clutter:
~~~
I spy some onions, a blender, a cup, a cutting board, cookbook, a towel hanging up.
A mixer, a some lemons, a sugar bowl too, a poinsettia, and plenty to do!

Some butter, and syrup, a small pepper mill, a shiny round teapot that's steeping here still.
Some hand soap, and look at that tiny pink square, my ipod, the 'nano' provides music there. 

Up above are some bird houses, beer steins, a bowl, a rooster and hen, must I fill every hole?
I'm almost done naming; don't go away yet, the corner displays mom's old canister set.
~~~
Enough clutter-rhyming for now. I could go on and on....
The rain has started.  The view will be different tomorrow.

The make-up artist

Over a year ago I posted about my daughter here.  She had decided to attend Vancouver Film School to become a make-up artist. 

I worried that she'd find it hard to balance work and school.  I hoped she wouldn't give up.
A year later I can say that she most definitely did not give up.  Somehow, she managed to support herself and not only achieve her goal, but excel.
I am so proud of her!

Here's a  link to read a brief article and see her portfolio.  The work these students do is phenomenal; the corrective and special effects are amazing, and contribute so much to the story.  I don't think I'll ever watch a movie the same way again.

Now school is over and the work of finding a job begins.  Like before, I wish her all the best and I know she'll do well.
~~~
If you know our family you may see some familiar faces in the portfolio....

You will be relieved to see NO picture this time

Well, Happy Gosh Darn New Year!

Today while out at New Year's Day Brunch my husband and I looked out the restaurant window to see at least two naked men changing after a Polar Bear swim.

One was rear view only, but the other was the Full Monty!

I don't know whether to feel uplifted by this, or shriveled.  Maybe I should feel 'in the pink'!
Either way it was good for a giggle; a great way to start a new year.

May 2012 be just as revealing, surprising, eye-opening, and funny for all of you.

P.S. Brunch was good, but I didn't eat any of the sausages.  Just couldn't.

Cat vs. Dog: a Christmas Tale

Cast of characters:

1. 10-year old resident cat. 

2. 10-MONTH old visiting dog. Still a puppy, really.

3. Litter box.  To the cat, it's a toilet.

Sequence of events:

1. Cat lives here.  Cat is King!

2. Daughter and son-in-law bring dog over for Christmas visit.  Dog is interloper!

3. Cat is dignified and regal.

4. Dog is goofy.

5. Cat watches dog from strategic vantage point.

6. Dog innocently wanders past, oblivious to cat.

7. Cat CHASES Dog.

8. People react and yell.  Chaos ensues.

9. Dog is caught and held.  Dog is scared.

10 Cat is chased away and given a little spanking.

11. Cat stomps off to kitchen and eats some of dog's food.

12. Dog is oblivious.

~~~

13. Time passes.

14. Humans eat Christmas dinner. Yum.

15. Cat digests dog food.

16. Cat visits litter box, leaving massive and pungent treasure due to unaccustomed dog food.

17. Humans sit around, semi comatose from Christmas dinner.

18. Dog walks past previously unnoticed litter box.

19. Dog decides that litter box is some sort of Christmas BUFFET.

20. Dog reaches in and grabs (with paw? mouth? who knows?) large and succulent cat poo.

21. Dog puts cat poo on small carpet in front of litter box.

22. Dog ROLLS on massive squishy yummy cat poo.

23. Dog rubs face in same. Arf Arf Arf this is wonderful.

24. Man of the house notices dog behaving weirdly in utility room and suggests that son-in-law see what's up.

25. Son-in-law waves off dad-in-law.  Son in law says dog is just playing with 'something'

26. Odor of flattened, smeared, cat poo wafts into family room.

27. A nanosecond passes.

28. !?!

29. Men spring off couch; men yell; dog jumps up from mat; dog runs around scared; men catch dog.

30. Dog is temporarily tied to front door.

31. Daughter comes running from other room to find dog smeared in poo and tied to front door.

32. Daughter drags dog to bathroom.

33. Dog has unexpected Christmas bath.  Dog is not thrilled.

34. Cat sits on Christmas village, in triumph.

35. Cat 1; Dog 0. Merry Christmas!

Merry You-Know-What

This is the general mood around here.

In case anyone was wondering.

Fathers and Sons

Talk about the 'world in a grain of sand'.  Did Blake have a son?

~~~

We had occasion to have our son in the car with us when we had to stop and pick up a few groceries.
He doesn't live at home any more and we miss doing things for him.

Dad to son: This won't take long. If you need some groceries for yourself, I'll pay for them.
Son: OK dad. Cool!

Shopping starts.  We grab cart, son grabs hand basket.  I confer with husband over bananas and squash; son goes his own way.

We go down one aisle; we see son scooting down another, items accumulating in his basket.

Nearing the end now - our cart half full, son's basket full.

Dad peers into son's basket.

Dad: Hey that peanut butter's full of sugar.  How about you put that back and get the natural one without all the added crap?

Son: Well dad, how about I pay for my own groceries and then I can get what I want?

A few seconds pass.  I look at these two, who are really quite alike.  Dad 50, and son 21. Both kind, reasonable men.
They look at each other. No antagonism - just measuring, assessing. Looking.
Eternity in an hour.

Dad:  Well, how about you get what you want, and I'll still pay for it?

Son: (Smiling) OK dad.  Let's go then.

Me: *smiling*.  We go.

The Weather Outside is Boring?

It's pretty blah out there.  No exciting snow, no blustery wind, no cosy rain, no gentle late fall sun.

Just grey, cool-ish, blah.

I'm remembering last spring; the deck was warming up, annuals were grabbing hold, and it was nice enough to go and take pictures of outdoor stuff.

And just like that, summer was here.

At least things were happening out there.

Whereas now.....nothing.  Just blah.

We need some action around here!