MIA

Hi everyone

You must be wondering why I've been "Missing in Action"!!  Well, I do have a valid excuse/reason.  I'm back to work....so what?, many might say...but I have a contract in the city (3 hours away).  I started back on January 14 and I am contracted up to March 28.  It takes a bit of getting used to, and I am training to use some programs that I've never had to use before.  All fun and games...ha ha.

I am really enjoying it though, and I love getting to stay at Mark & Rana's for these upcoming few weeks. 

We had an engagement party for Mark & Rana on Saturday night........




The party went really well.  Roger wowed the masses with some of his signature treats like stuffed baked arctic char, sauteed shrimp, and his own smoked Atlantic salmon.

I made crab dip and chili & cheese dip.  Rana made mini cupcakes with cream cheese frosting--she also made a cream cheese dip served with chocolate wafer cookies---ummmmm-mmm!  

 


I drove home on Thursday for the weekend, and I took a few minutes to touch base here.  I do have my camera carried to St. John's and plan to start getting some photos and trying to get back to blogging...at least once a week until this contract is up and I get back home.  My work is in a beautiful area of the city that I'm not real familiar with, but just eight minutes to drive each way.  The building I\m working in is actually right on Quidi Vidi lake, where the St, John's Regatta is held every August.  Once I get right into the swing of things, I plan to take my camera to work some days and get out to get some photos.  Of course, that will be weather dependent too.

Speaking of weather----it's been brutal!   Minus 16-18 degrees Celsius daily, not including the wind chill!!  I must say it's been awhile since we've had a cold snap like this...hope it soon passes!  According to the forecast, there is hope.....

Long Term Forecast Updated:Saturday, January 26, 2013, 8:30NST

• Day
• Night

	Sunday January 27	Monday January 28	Tuesday January 29	Wednesday January 30	Thursday January 31	Friday February 1
Conditions 6am - 6pm
	Variable cloudiness	Cloudy periods	Mainly sunny	Cloudy periods	Snow	Variable cloudiness
P.O.P.	20 %	20 %	10 %	20 %	90 %	20 %
High	-9 °C	-9 °C	-8 °C	-5 °C	1 °C	0 °C
Feels Like	-19	-20	-21	-12	-7	-8
Low	-15 °C	-15 °C	-16 °C	-11 °C	-2 °C	-4 °C
Wind	W  25 km/h	NW  25 km/h	NW  25 km/h	SE  10 km/h	SW  35 km/h	SW  25 km/h
24-Hr Snow	-	-	-	close to 5 cm	close to 10 cm	-

14 Day Trend Historical Statistics Weather Maps Video Forecast

Anyway---better run, my coffee is cold and my laundry needs doing--haha!


Cheers
:o)

Stuff

I have been so busy over the past week helping my sisters and brother sort through all our Mom's "stuff".  It is amazing that someone can live for over 87 years and have such a full, wonderful life, but when that person dies, all that is left is "stuff".  I am not complaining, it is just baffling to have to be sorting through things and wanting to give each item the respect that it deserves.  In the midst of all this, I've thrown out my back.  It something that seems to happen once every year and a half or so.  It usually never involves heavy lifting or straining, just maybe a certain way I reach for an item and BAM--very uncomfortable and looking like a cheesie for a few days.  Oh well, at least I can get to catch up on all the episodes of Nurse Jackie, Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife.  I didn't get to watch much TV at all last fall, so now's my chance!    

Our mother was a collector of recitations, verses and poems.  Actually, about six months before she died, she read a recitation at a gathering at the local Senior's Club.  She was often called on for a copy of a certain verse or recitation, and she enjoyed all that thoroughly.  I will leave you with a copy of one of her favorite recitations....called "STUFF".....

STUFF

You got all your stuff with you??  I bet you do.  Guys have stuff in their pockets, women have stuff in their purses.  Of course, some women have pockets and some men have purses...that's okay.  

There's all different ways of carryin' your stuff. 

Then there's all that stuff you have in your car.  You got stuff in the trunk, lotta different stuff--and you've got other stuff in your car.  In your glove box is stuff you might need in a hurry.

So stuff is important.  You gotta take care of your stuff.  You gotta have a place for your stuff.  EVERYBODY'S gotta have a place for their stuff. 

THAT"S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT--TRYING TO FIND A PLACE FOR YOUR STUFF.

That's all your house is--a place for your stuff.  If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house--you could just walk around all the time.  A house is just a big pile of stuff with a cover on it!  You can see that when you're taking off in a airplane, you look down and see all the little piles of stuff.  

Everybody's got his own little pile of stuff-and they lock it up.  That's right---when you leave your house--you lock it up!!  Wouldn't want someone to come by and take some of your stuff.....cause they always take the good stuff.

Sooo...when you get right down to it, your house is nothing more than a place to keep your stuff......while you go out and get more stuff....cause that's what this country is all about--trying to get more stuff.  Stuff you don't want, stuff you don't need, stuff that is poorly made, stuff that's overpriced---even stuff you can't afford--gotta keep gettin' more stuff!

So you keep gettin' more and more stuff and puttin' it in differnt places.  In the closet, in the attic, in the basement, and in the shed behind the house.  There may even be some stuff you forgot you had.

So now you got a houseful of stuff, and even though you might like your house-you gotta move--gotta get a bigger house.  Why??  Too much stuff!  Now that means you gotta move all your stuff; or maybe put some of your stuff in storage.  

Storage??!!??  

Imagine that--there's a  whole industry based on keepin' an  eye on other  people's stuff!  

Now, let's talk about traveling.  Sometimes you go on vacation you gotta take some of your stuff.  Mostly stuff to wear--but which stuff should you take?  Can't take all your stuff, just the stuff you really like and that really fits you well that month.  

In effect, on vacation, you take a smaller second version of your stuff.  

It's funny ---when you start out, all your stuff is neatly packed in a couple of suitcases in the trunk.  Before you know it, the trunk is overflowing, the backseat is full---

where did you get all that stuff??

Well, by the time you get home, you're pretty much fed up with your stuff and all the problems it creates.  And so about a week later, you clean out the closets, the attic, the basement, even the shed and all the other places you've been keeping your stuff.  You get things down to a manageable proportion and vow to live a simple and uncomplicated life.

And that's when the phone rings.......it's a lawyer!

It seems that your aunt has died...and she's left you all her STUFF!!! 

OH NO!!

What do you do???  You do the only thing you can---the honorable thing......

You tell the lawyer to.....

 STUFF IT!!!!!!!

Cheers

:o)

Merry "Old Christmas Day"!!!

Here in Newfoundland, on January 6, we celebrate "Old Christmas Day".  This date marks the twelfth day of Christmas. Usually, Christmas trees and other decorations are left up until this date.  Years ago, most rural Newfoundlanders celebrated heartily on each of the twelve days of Christmas.

I didn't decorate this year like I usually do, but I did manage to put up a few things early in Decemeber before my Mom got really sick.  Here are a few pictures of the last remnants of Christmas from around our house this year..............

A vintage sleigh that I bought at a Yard Sale several years ago....I love it.

I love the blurred look of the lights on this one....I had my camera set to "No Flash' so my shutter was open for a long time and my movement gave this effect.

It is a beautiful sunny day here today, only -4 Celsius, so hubby took advantage of the good weather and took all the outdoor stuff down.

I like to do my mantel different each year...this year it was very simple...but still "Christmas-ey"

I got up bright and early this morning and "de-christmasized" my house on the inside.  I must say it feels good to move everything and give it a good dusting and put things back in their rightful place.  I feel like I may have to take my camera and go for a good long walk this afternoon.  Hopefully I'll get some good shots to share later in the week.

Cheers

:o)

To New Beginnings

Happy 2013 Everyone!!

I am so excited to be posting about good news and new beginnings today.....how fitting for starting a brand new year.

Our daughter, Rana got engaged on December 14 to Mark, who has been her "signifiicant other" for over seven years.  Yes....I agree---it's about time!! Anyway....we are over the moon with happiness and are so looking forward to a wedding.  Here's the happy couple............

 

Cheers, my friends.  

I wish you all health and happiness in this new year.