me in action

Sometimes feeling bemused and befuddled can lead me into a feeling of vague uncertainty. Actually, this particular state of being usually means to me that I need to get my fat arse into gear. So, yesterday I (finally) got on my x-country skis and got onto the river trail. It was amazing and eerie and cold and so beautiful and did I mention, quiet? How could I have forgotten how wonderful an aerobic workout feels...I didn't, I just got out of the habit since moving to the country. We all know the countless excuses for NOT exercising so no need for me to list mine. While they can be compelling the key is not letting the excuses slip and slide into becoming your 'lifestyle'. Okay, that is my motivational speech to myself. Talk amongst yourselves as I need to lift some weights now. Seriously.

CHECKERS, ANYONE?

Okay, so a friend gave me two boxes of these fabulous B&W, vinyl

peel & stick, tiles.

At first I thought I would use them on the floor

in maybe the mudroom or somewhere else.

So I stashed them out in the shed.

And there they waited.

Then, we continued the 'whiting-out' of the MO-bile.

I was thinking as we were painting this alcove where the fridge and the washer and dryer sit, that something

wasn't quite right and it was the fact that things were too

white. Too blah. Something was needed to liven things up.

Now that little corner of the kitchen

"just pops".

Simple MO-bile minds.

'e'-venting

It seems like most of the bloggers I tend to regularly read, have lately been writing about such 'serious' things. Major life issues, deep thoughts, emotions, cancer, gratitude and stuff like that. Well, here I go getting with the trend. Why does it seem when you start to believe that things are going really well and that you might just be....HAPPY...that some incident can throw you over the edge? There I was today, just as confident and sure of myself, and dealing with things perfectly fine, when I let someone's off hand remark and pissy attitude push me down a metaphoric spiral staircase. My tendency is of course, in these situations, to try to protect that other person's reputation and to 'cover' for their rudeness. I realize I am being vague (purposely) because that is just what I do....I would never,ever embarrass someone else even when they so deserve it. Much better to take on that role myself. God, I hate it when I do that. I hate it when I convince myself that I am responsible for someone else acting like an jerk. There. I said a not so nice word about someone and put it out on the internet where it will stay forever,floating in space, swirling around like that place in the ocean with all the plastic trash.

Snow Falling on MO-bile...

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

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

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

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'

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...

...last seen 30 December 2008

*

My Christmas Surprise !

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.