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!

Skiing and Stuff

After our adventurous snow hike, we decided to take up cross-country skiing on Remembrance Day (may as well, seeing as how we spent all that money collecting gear!) Buddy stayed home, and Sloane & I went out to Lake Louise - the only place with enough snow & trackset - to the Moraine Lake trail. Did you know that trail is UPHILL almost all the way (or at least the 2/3 we went???) The worst part wasn't going up, but rather coming down. Downhill skiing rules DO NOT APPLY with cross country skis. Lots of lessons learned. Most important one - wax on, wax off. No, really, it was awesome, and I can't wait until we get snow closer so it doesn't take half a day to get there. Weee!

The next day sucked. I counld hardly move. Did you know about hip flexors?? I do now!

A few days later - Sloane & I completed our Search Basics training in Red Deer. We had to "hike" with a pack, navigate, start a fire, build a shelter, bandage a wound, and search for evidence. Then we ate pizza. Then we wandered around in the dark for 2 hours. Then we drank a beer, and it was all over. We passed!

Funny thing... only 1 beer and the next day we're a couple of old hung over fools. Either I have to start drinking more (it's not for the shortage of alcohol in this house) or not at all. I'll get back to you on that one....

Last Monday (Nov 17?) we saw Matthew Good in Red Deer. Awesome show, nice little venue, not too loud. Mother Mother opened. Well worth the money!

This weekend was Christmasizing time. Outside lights are up, inside (star) lights are up, nativity is up, and I brought out the candy cane candle. Baby steps until I'm ready for more. Right now, no pets are decorated - give me a little more time and I'll get it done!

SNOW!

Queen of the firestarter

The view from over here

Snow Buddy

No, not down here... We took a hike in Kananaskis on Sunday - Black Prince Cirque, in Spray Lakes Provincial Park. Lots of snow. Maybe enough for a ski tomorrow (cross country - gotta try out the new gear!)

This One's A Long One...

Well.... let's see what we've been up to at Chateau Pumpkin:

Introducing the Chateau Pumpkin Hallway

Middle of September, Buddy, Sloane & I went out to Salmon Arm for a weekend of houseboating with Rose & Guido (and 10? other people we didn't know). Buddy stayed with Diva, the Twins and Guido's mom (he had LOTS of walks, so he was happy.) I had never been houseboating before - it really is like a floating motorhome full of yahoos! No, seriously, it was pretty good, and hopefully something we will do again. With people of a similar age/drinking bracket as us. And no oomps oomps oomps music. Ahhh....

You don't see that every day!

We took another hike - the last one for summer - up Grotto Canyon (just west of Exshaw). The path is along a creek bed (dry by the end of summer), but you could see how the water carved out the sides of the trail - the sides of Grotto Mountain. Buddy was just thrilled by all the attention he got from wearing his backpack, as usual. Great views, a hike we'll do again.

Grotto Canyon

Grotto Canyon

Search & Rescue - we joined in Olds, did Basics training in Red Deer for 2 weekends in October. A lot of the stuff we learned is common sense, but I'm inspired to do more training now! We have a night search and shelter building adventure coming up in a few weeks - should be fun (as long as it's not too cold!) I've become a compass and rope-tying master. Sloane went out near Rocky Mountain House for Operation Octopus last weekend - it was a Central Alberta search practice. If you want to know how it went, ask him. He has a few opinions. (Buddy & I stayed home and taunted Bandit. Way more fun!)

It's not easy being us...

This weekend we have more fun - first aid/CPR for 2 days. I painted the back entrance (again!) with a new orangey color today. And baked a birthday cake for Buddy - he's 2 tomorrow!

Mr. Pupple's birthday cake

Happy Hallowe'en everybody!

Retrieving and Hiking

Learning patience

Here I come!

What a busy weekend! After all the fun we've had, I'm almost looking forward to going back to work to relax...

Friday morning, I headed up to Red Deer to give blood. Buddy got so excited about me leaving (or about going somewhere) that I didn't have the heart to leave him home. Met Sloane for lunch, and a quick shop - backpack for Buddy. The Budster and I headed to Calgary for more adventures (MEC, Bass Pro Shop) and finally headed home at 7pm. It was hot. We were tired.

To finish off our day, Sloane hauled us out to Melvin Hall for some retrieving practice. Buddy was in HEAVEN!

We went hiking at Mt. Yamnuska (near Morley) on Sunday with Brenda (from my work). It was a mildly strenuous hike up to the ridge (more or less the edge of the treeline in the picture below), followed by some bushwacking back down to the trail. Buddy wore his new backpack, and received many compliments and head scratches from other hikers we passed.

Mt. Yamnuska

Mighty Hikers

So that's our weekend. Nothing less than an adventure - we wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy Birthday Gramma!

End of the Weekend

... but not the end of the summer!

I worked in the city on Saturday, then went on a mission to find a pasta machine. I came home with a mortar & pestle instead (super deal at Superstore!) Bed Bath & Beyond opened a couple weeks ago at the new superMall - they have one, but it's 45 minutes from me. Maybe an after-work adventure this week!

Working on guitar stuff

Sloane did housework. Enough said.


I baked up a pile o' bread this morning - white, oatmeal, and a batch of sticky buns. My poor husband has been suffering without home baked goodies this summer (it's too hot to bake!), although he got bread a couple weekends ago while he was off in Waterton.

Next mission - supper!

And here we are...

Welcome. Keep track of what we're doing. Or not. Either way, we're doing something, and this is where we'll share it!