Monday 31 May 2010

Yessssss...

You have got to love this...today is Quit Facebook Day in Canada! Of course I have already 'deactivated' my F-book account (2 weeks ago). I was suspicious of that word as really I wanted to 'destroy & delete' but F-book as far as I could tell, wouldn't give me that choice. Here are some of my own reasons: *it is boring to read other people's messages to eachother * it is addictive as I found myself on more than one occasion looking at friends of friends and then, their friends * it is a HUGE waste of time * it is boring, in general * the so-called 're-connecting' with long lost friends reminds me why we 'dis-connected' in the first place * it is very impersonal & isolating * joining those various groups & clubs, well, I just don't know what that is all about * even an email to an individual is more personal, let alone a phone call, or a card, or a note, or dear God....a visit (?!) * blogging is better -- no convincing needed here right? * no one can possibly have that many 'friends' ...can you say 'narcissistic' ? * resorting to the public forum of F-book to contact someone made me feel that something was terribly awry in my life I am sure there are many other reasons that I will think of later but for now I am going out on hike with the dogs. Yes, actually in the real forest, even past the real farm down the lane. Cheers and get out there and get dirty today.

Monday 24 May 2010

'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep'

How do they go from being so timid and shy to basically taking over the bed? This is where Miss 'PonyLongLegs' ends up by morning...every morning. Of course she has her own, very comfortable sleeping arrangement, on the floor. That is where she starts out the night. Then, as soon as I enter the deepest of sleep modes, she must make her move. I then realize I am being crowded to the edge of the bed, but of course, can do nothing about it because I am sleeping. This struggle goes on for the rest of the night with an occasional moan from her if I dare disturb her at all. Okay, tonight, I am putting my foot down. I vow to make her return to her own bed each time she creeps into mine. My days of the ''menage a trois" are over. Wish me luck?

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Health Food?

I am just posting this picture because this cake was delicious and so pretty. I made it for a friend's birthday. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I am finally learning how to bake. For-ever, I have believed that I was not a baker. But, over the last couple of years I have picked & chosen a few special recipes to try and master and this is my latest. It is an Italian almond cake. It calls for 'almond paste' as one of the ingredients and guess what?!? I made the paste myself. ( The miracle of the internet ). I was amazed at how easy it is to make and now almond paste has been demystified. Life, really is getting simpler by the day. Oh, dear god, what is next? Actually, I am thinking of fostering a Mexican puppy. We are trying to work out the details of getting one here. Its complicated, but not impossible. I love how this movement is taking on a life of its own and more and more people are finding 'mutts' in the most unlikely places. More to follow as this develops.

Thursday 13 May 2010

Home, with the neighbors fighting...

Its been so incredibly beautiful here the last few days that I feel I have to mention it. To have this view just out the front door, off the deck, is sometimes beyond belief. Here is where we spend so much of our time during the summer. It is a great place to sit in the morning with that first cup of coffee. Lunch 'al fresco' is sweet. Dinner outside every night, just as the sun is setting, is pure bliss. It seems that I have so many pictures of this view and every one of them is just a little bit different. At times like these, it is hard to remember the 'downs' (you know... 'life's ups & downs'?) and I guess that is the beauty of feeling 'at home'.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Happy Birthday Puppy

What I was attempting here was a birthday 'cake' of spare ribs sort of thing. Something only a dog could appreciate and go crazy over. Looks delectable, doesn't it? You better believe PonyGirl certainly thought it was. She got a little crazy (well, more so than usual) and we only gave her a couple of them to celebrate the event. This was after torturing her by making her pose for pictures. She of course, thought she was going to get the entire pile so proceeded to eat her allotted two in record speed. Sorry, sweet tarte, but there will be another meal and you are so acting like a dog here. We have taken the liberty of moving the PonyGirl's birthday forward a couple of days to 'Cinco de Mayo' . This will make it easier for us to remember and anyway she was born in La Paz, Mexico so it fits. So, by all calculations she is now 1 year old. What we know now is that she is a bit of a gangly, silly, hungry, playful & mischievous girl. Not an A-student and maybe not college material but doing the best she can. We love the skinny rascal and are having a blast.