Well, Hello...

**This is an extremely photo-heavy post... may take a while for all the pictures to load**

And a happy new year and welcome to both winter and spring while I'm at it.

This update is brought to you by another week off of work, and a lack of interest in housework...

October:

Hiking at Mt. Black Prince

Due to nice weather hanging on, we got a last minute hike at Mt. Black Prince. There are some lakes waaaaaaaayyyyy up the hill, but I didn't see them. The hill was too steep...

Hiking at Mt. Black Prince

Only 10 days in, I took off to Honolulu for 2 weeks. By myself. In a king-size bed - with no one else, fur or no fur!

Aloha! Waikiki from Diamond Head

14 days of paradise!

The best part of my trip - arriving at 11pm, into 25 degree heat, and realizing I was 4 hours ahead of where I came from. Coconut M&Ms for supper. ABC hot dogs. Humidity!

Hanauma Bay

And under the sea at Hanauma Bay

No, there were better parts, but even months later, these memories stick in my mind.

Honolulu Zoo

Mandatory sunset watching, every night at 5:55 pm

Lots of running, snorkeling, laying about in the sun. Starbucks in the morning. And afternoon. And evening.


And the walking, all over the city, even when it was 30 degrees out (which it was most days!)

Inside Diamond Head crater

The 99 steps to the top at Diamond Head (there are 78 more to get to this point)

North Shore day trip - the soap factory at Waimea, Laie temple, Polynesian Cultural Center.

Soap Factory

North Shore and the BIG waves (they were 6 ft. the day before...)

Hey look it`s me! At the Laie Temple

Polynesian Cultural Center

Coffee shopping. More coffee shopping.

And then the last day arrived. And I had to come home.

Mahalo! It`s the Humuhumunukunukuapua`ha

A little word of wisdom: red-eye flights suck! I would take a flight that leaves at 4 in the morning over one that leaves at 11 pm any day!

Waikiki by night

Best part of coming home (besides seeing my peeps again!): coming home to a snowstorm with toasty brown skin!

And some Buddy turns three!

November:

I think in future it would be in my best interest to jot down all the stuff I do closer to the time I do it - I can't remember what we did in November... probably wore some warmer clothes?!

December:

Oh December, the month I am so undecided about. I am glad when you arrive because I know there are holidays coming, sad to see you leave because I know holidays are over. Like the prep work, not so hot on the holiday.

Nice quiet Christmas at home this year. I made a stuffed turkey breast instead of the whole bird. With all the fixings too! And trifle, for dessert... for a week!

We bought new skis this year (finally didn't have to be seen with my straight skis of the 90's!) Sloane & I went out skiing at the end of December, only to be humbled by how weak our legs were (shaaaaaaaaakkkkyyyyyyyyyyy)

We started renovating the bathroom (finally!) on Christmas eve. Everything came out but the tub and toilet (my wise idea to wait until plumbers weren't going to be charging emergency call out rates...) I guess that's what I got for Christmas this year?!

The start of putting things back together

January:

I decided to train for a half-marathon at the end of April (same one we ran 10k at last year) Deep down, I was secretly doing this for the mexican meal afterward - really, there's not much I'd rather eat after that much exercise!

New sink, toilet and soaker tub!

And it got cold, like -30 and -40, and it stayed cold. And so there wasn't any skiing going on because I do not enjoy freezing while trying to have fun, and I have done it once - don't need to do it again!

Tub, toilet, new sink and cupboard, and flooring in the bathroom is in. Tile around the tub is not. Would like to shower at home, but instead we use the gym. Best $50 a month spent - I don't have to clean their shower, and there is no shortage of hot water!

February:

More cold, more snow, more days off.

More reno, more reorganization. Still no tile in the bathroom. But stuff is coming together.

Raspberry jam!

I hurt my leg after a long run (14k!) and so my run training came to an abrupt halt. Not happy about this at all; I have never run that much in my life, and I was actually starting to enjoy it.

March:

Snow. Really.

Bathroom still looks the same, living room is moved around, front bedroom gets a bed again, back bedroom gets the big bed again, basement floods. I tried to shop-vac the basement before work, but it was cutting into my coffee time (the Starbucks stop on the way into Calgary!)

We tried another skiing day - sun came out, snow got heavy, YUCK! So we went for lunch in Canmore instead.

Nesting geese at Three Mile Bend, Red Deer

Sloane was possibly going to Japan to help out after the earthquake, but with the threat of nuclear issues, his group decided not to go - probably a good idea. We listened to a lot of BBC news reports for days. So sad!

At the off leash park, Three Mile Bend, Red Deer

More snow. Just when it started to melt. Arrrrghhh!

An Update

Because it's been 5 months... because Gramma stops by to check this out, and there's never anything new... because I started this to keep track of our stuff...

Here is an update:

June: I got my kayak! Didn't get out as much as I would have liked to, but did manage to get out for some paddling. Finally, bike riding weather arrived. Then it was gone, and the rain started. Seriously, summer in Alberta always leaves you wanting more... I did manage to get my garden planted, and just a few planters this year. I had a summer student at work again this year - YAY!

July:

Cold... did I say cold???

Long weekend camping with friends, west of Sundre (in the middle of nowhere!) Buddy taught Bella-doggie how to swim in the creek (it was FREEZING!)

Left, left, left, right, left

Sloane, Buddy & I did an overnight backpacking trip in Kananaskis - fun! We learned 1. our tent is too heavy, 2. our sleeping bags weigh too much, 3. Glow sticks really do glow all night long, and 4. Buddy really likes sleeping in a tent.

Near Kootenay Flats

Summer holidays in the Okanagan - we drove out along the RMH/|Nordegg highway toward Jasper, before dropping south to HWY 1. Spent the night camping along the river at Kootenay Flats - beautiful!

There go the Griswolds, er, I mean the Reichlins!

Camping and kayaking at Adams Lake, Beaver Fever for Sloane and me (ugh! but a quick way to drop 10 pounds), collecting Okanagan fruits (raspberries and peaches!) and vegetables (pickles!) for canning, quick visits with 'Uncle Bernie' and West coast friends, running in the Bog (fun! really!!), a trip to Granville Island - before a long trip home.

Swimming races at Lincoln Beach

August: Returning home, seeing the garden didn't grow much (with this weather, can you blame it?!)

Lazy hazy dog...

...and cat days of summer!

I canned peaches and dill pickles (the raspberries are still in the freezer for jam) before heading back to work. Went camping west of Caroline with friends, tried quading for the first time - and managed to cut my leg open, resulting in a quick trip to Rocky Mountain House for stitches and ice cream. The next day, I worked in Calgary. Apparently nothing stops me!

September:

On the ferry

Drove out to visit Gramma for the weekend, no ferry reservations (who needs those?!) so my "going through Victoria will be quicker and just as easy" plan ended up being an extra 2 hours in the car on the hottest day the West coast has seen! Just the same, Buddy had a great time riding on the ferry. He also took a swim in the ocean for the first time (he wasn`t as excited as Sloane & I were...)

Blackberries

We has a nice little visit with Mom & Gramma before heading back, touring around Nanaimo to show all my old spots (schools, residences, great restaurants), with a much less exciting ferry ride back. Sloane took me along Marine Drive (from Horseshoe Bay) and then we got JapaDogs for supper - yum!

Driving from the lower mainland to Alberta on Labor Day should be outlawed. Period.

One hour before Golden, all the way to Canmore... stop and go rush hour traffic. That is all.

Next time: October & November...

6 weeks of Info...

Where do I start?? I shouldn't leave this so long - it's not like we had a ton of stuff going on, but I can't remember what we've been up to...

Let's see - mid-April, we took a trip out to Salmon Arm to help paint the basement at the midgets' house. Both Bandit and Buddy came with us. Bandit is a treat to drive with (he sleeps in his carrier for 98% of the drive!) I made a quick stop at the quilt store while I was there and found some neat fabrics I couldn't live without! I also ended up with a killer cold by Saturday night, which I managed to pass on to some (but not all!) of my loved ones - sorry!

May 1st - Sloane & I ran a 10k in Calgary with Jared & Lindsay. When I say we ran it with them, let me clarify - Jared (no training...) finished under 1 hour - Sloane & I saw him coming back when we were well under 1/3 of the distance in! Lindsay was heading back (she did train a little) and we saw her coming back around the halfway point. I sprinted across the finish line and finished a microsecond faster than Sloane. It was fun... I am still recovering.

May long weekend - off camping southwest of Rocky Mtn. House for 2 nights - it was COLD out (but because I sleep in a trailer, it was tooooooooooooooooooooooasty warm!) I made bison lasagna for supper one night, we had steak/potatoes/corn on the fire the next night. The sun finally did come out for more than 10 minutes on Monday morning (in time to pack up and drive home) Buddy went for a big swim in the river! He was pooped and depressed by the time we got home on Monday afternoon - poor dog!

The week following the long weekend, I was off. Decided it was time to finish painting the ceiling in the living room (it's been about 3 years with just the outside 2 feet painted...), which led to patching the walls again, and another pile of primer, and finally paint! It's not done, and I'm back to work now. And we're training for a triathlon in 4 days (I signed us up with 10 days notice) - it's Didsbury to Carstairs, so not too crazy! I've gone swimming a few times and am glad to be back in the pool again. I'm not so hot on the running, but it's not so terrible anymore!

So, for the most part, we're just working on finishing up the 'finishing' around the house, enjoying the finished parts, and planning to go camping as much as we can. And do some search and rescue training. In our spare time. Voila!

So yeah....

It's been a while, huh?! I promise a real post soon!

Alberta Gothic

Stoic?? Not as easy as it looks...

We tried for an "American Gothic" shot... oh well. I guess what I was trying to get across is it was only the first week of March and we RODE OUR BIKES! It was awesome, and a perfectly good reason to skip a run!!!

Meanest cat ever

I had my Nikon set up on the tripod after our photo shoot outside (timer does work!) and managed to get some great shots of El Bandito - he's been camera-shy forever, but the big camera doesn't beep when you turn it on, so he didn't even realize I was shooting him. What a poop!

Last weekend I made a new purse/knitting bag/tote that I am in LOVE with! One day, I might even take pictures and share... Sloane took off to Kananaskis for the night and camped (is it really camping with a trailer, and full hookups??) and the fuzzy kids and I hung out.

This past Wednesday, we went to see Hawksley Workman at the Memorial Centre - what a great show! I think the last time I saw him was 2003-ish - he's in his 'tea years' now (ummm, he's younger than me, and I'm in my latte years) That is the best venue ever - not too big, and the music still sounds good with earplugs in!

This weekend was a big take-it-easy weekend, until the big run today (8k) - ick! We ran hills - down, up, down, up - then took Buddy for a run down main street. Ugh, hills!

Highlights (with Pictures!)

Shame on me - it's been months since I posted anything! Okay, here goes....

December: We worked our butts off in preparation for Christmas holidays at Rose & Guido's place. Sloane planned a stopover in Golden at the Super 8 (pet-friendly!) as we had both Buddy and Bandit with us for the trip. Buddy's nose was out of joint after dark because Bandit was in his carrier in the front seat (Buddy's usual after-dark in the truck spot). Bandit is an awesome little traveler - he 'nests' in his carrier and falls asleep. Christmas eve morning we arrived in Salmon Arm to two very excited little girls! Bandit was the star of Christmas 2009! They chased him all over the house, along with Diva-Bob. Poor cat! He managed to hide out downstairs and make covert excursions upstairs when no one was looking.

This is as still as they were on Christmas morning!

Diva-Bob's new sweater

Christmas day was sugar-powered! Two 3 year olds, 2 dogs, 1 cat, a pile of presents! Chocolate, survival gear, pink toilet paper... what else could anyone want?! Sloane made a pink & purple puppet theater for the girls, I made puppets.... hours of entertainment all around.

Feeding the ducks

We went on a lot of 'adbentures' with and without the twins. Walking to the duck pond to feed ducks, the first time skating on ice, cross-country skiing at Larch Hills. And of course, a trip to Vernon for Starbucks! There was lots of sock knitting from Rose & me, and a HGTV marathon. Bandit spent a night outside - that was his Christmas present. A trip to Kamloops to the BC Wildlife Park for the Christmas light displays. Raclette and fondue and a trip back to Alberta.

Zoo Lights - BC Wildlife Park

Hungry wolf - BC Wildlife Park

January: Sloane & I joined Red Deer Search & Rescue. In our first 3 days there were 3 activities, including our first real search! Since then, we have also joined the Technical Rescue team and have been doing training every other weekend. It's a lot of fun, challenging, and sometimes a little bit scary - we're facing our fears and building things, and jackhammering concrete - oh my!

We signed up for a 10k run (May 1) and have been training for that as well. Buddy has been running with us too (nothing like a run to tire him out!)

I had another quilting day with the Mormons. I finished piecing the top of a quilt by 4pm that afternoon. I've since finished (but not sewn on) the border. No actual quilting has happened. Yet.

February: Working, working, and more working! I had a week off in the middle (my boss went away for continuing education) and I didn't do too much of anything. I've been keeping up with the Olympics at work. Today we have the hockey game on (I'm not actually watching it, but I am drinking a beer and listening right now! Go Canada!)

Well behaved pets!

That's all folks!

S'now... I'm not Kidding

We can't really complain... it's the end of November, and this is all we have!

Over the past 2 hours, we've gone from dry (but cold!) ground to a dusting on the road. There was a blizzardy moment after I called The North Face for replacement parts for my pack (they're in Quebec, but I spoke to someone who actually spoke English, and he was HELPFUL too!!) Right now, the snow is that really nice Sunday afternoon kind, falling gently and silently. But it's Friday. And I still have to leave the house today to 1. Buy our little fat bastard some food from the vet's, and 2. Take Sloaner into Calgary tonight for his weekend "adbenture."

You're being unfair...

So me and the furry kids are hanging out without a parent this weekend. Party time! If things get really crazy, I might make a pizza. I have some yarn and fabric to sort out and put away (or put into use), plus more Christmasizing inside. I. Will. Not. Go. Crazy... Really.

This is the problem...

And this is the "Feed Me" face

My Christmas party was last night. That was the only holiday party I'm doing this year! It was a nice, quiet potluck/visiting evening. Delicious food. Great company. I'd even go so far as to say it was perfect. Even if Buddy wasn't there!

Be good, and don't forget to wear your hat!