January 31, 2012

Last day of January already.  I think I would post my weekend felting class projects.

                                                                Just some whimsy, the top ones are little bowls and the balls are                            just that balls!

 Front of bag, believe it or not that is suppose to be a sheep, looks better in person

 Hot plate, front

 Hot plate, back, that thing in the middle started out as a heart, but now it looks like I should give it to Oprah

 Back of back, just needs handles

More whimsy, these are little dishes, the left is the bottom and the right is the top

This was possibly the most fun I have had in a long time.  The best part is you don't have to be perfect! YAY.

January 28, 2012

Well I spent the day today at the Edmonton Weavers Guild learning how to felt, I truly can't remember the last time I had so much fun learning something.  It was great. Came home with 4 completed projects, a vessel, felted ball, hot mat and a purse. Way too cool for words, stay turned for pictures.  As much fun as it was I can't remember the last time I spent a whole day learning something, school was in the dark ages.  My brain hurts a tad as well as my body, but nothing a nice restorative glass of Pinot Grigio won't fix.

While I was away learning, my Oliver was out most of the day on his rug taking in the sun.  After the week of bone chilling weather that he couldn't be outside for long periods of time, this is truly doggy nirvana, even when it has been enough and he is beginning to get cold, which is a long time for a lab, he just wants two more minutes, like kid at bedtime.  And who doesn't remember that, I tried to stall it as long as I possibly could, Beatles on Ed Sullivan, drinks of water, one more story, you have all been there. Now I wish people would tell me to get to bed, so I don't feel so guilty for climbing into PJ's and bed at 9:00.  I think I should of been a bear, just sleep all winter and then come out in the spring and eat everything in sight to start the cycle all over again. Sounds like a perfect world to me.

January 24, 2012

A little catching up.  I volunteered at Pet Expo this weekend for Wildlife Rehabilitation Society for a couple of hours, we were kitty corner to Pitbulls for Life, my other volunteer job.  They had two of the cutest pitty puppies, I wanted to steal one and bring her to our booth for the cute factor.  They were just all wiggles and puppy kisses galore.  After my shift I walked around and apparently snakes like me, a lot!  I stopped at the Reptile table and soon had a corn snake and a ball python crawling up my arm, not at the same time.  It was one of the coolest things, they are so smooth and soft, if that makes any sense.  I did put on my brave face and actually touched a taranchula, and any one who knows me, knows I am deathly afraid of spiders.  It is a wonder I didn't have nightmares after that, she was very soft for the nano second my finger actually touched her.  Snakes are more my speed.

Today I went for an interview to be a "Puppy Cuddlier" for Dogs with Wings.  They train guide and service dogs, cuddliers get to play with the puppies and socialise them before they begin their training.  I start next Tuesday.  Oliver wasn't very impressed when I got home and smelled strangers on me.  And if you hear of a case of missing puppies in Edmonton, just don't look at me:)

January 20, 2012

Ah a balmy -17 when I was coming home from work, get out the bathing suits and sun screen.  Today was the first day in two that I have had wheels.. Went to go to work on Tuesday and my car was deader then a door nail.  Discovered the plug into the block heater wasn't all the way in, hate that when it happens.  Plugged the car in called my boss and said I would be about 3 hours late.  Well 3 hours later and nothing. Called my mechanic and he said to leave it all night and try in the morning, guess what, next morning, nothing, not even a noise.  Called a tow truck, told 5 hour wait, turned into about 8 hours.  Got the car pushed out of the garage and towed to my mechanic.  About the only one happy in the household was, you guessed it, Mr. Oliver.  He had momma all to himself for two whole days.  Did I take advantage of this imposed house arrest and actually do anything constructive, of course not.  That would of made sense.  Picked my car up this morning and it is running like a top.  Thanks to a new block heater, and battery, just in time for the warmer weather!

January 17, 2012

Why is it the colder it is out the more dogs just want to roll around in the snow!  If I knew the answer to that i would probably be rich. Yesterday morning we started out on our morning shuffle, Oliver of course wanted to walk to Timbuktu! But his paws gave up before he did. And then it is one foot then the other, and if he could all four would be off the ground. Last night it was once around the back yard and you better be done.  This morning out once again. but this time it was business then turn for home and Oliver has been in ever since, not once going to the door to let out.  I wish I had his bladder control.
So then to just make the day better, my car is dead, dead, dead!  It was like the end of the world.  Another question, why is it we Albertians forgot what a real winter is if we have three months of good weather?
I know I shouldn't complain, there are worst places to live, but I think that the main animal is a penguin!

Janaury 14, 2012

Well Oliver and I made it through Friday the 13th unscathed.  I was at work and he was in his favorite spot on the grass for a lot of the day.  Thinking this was the last day of that!  In the house after walkies for the next little while.  Although I am not sure if he will not be complaining, with it being so icy out.  My poor baby went down this morning and just looked up at me and gave the biggest heavy sigh, as if to say "really!" Can we please move to Tofino, even if I hate the ocean, I can adapt!

I was in my home office this afternoon enjoying a little alone time, just me and Oliver, the better half was off watching football with the boys, I am going to miss the NFL season :) I had a few errands to run, nothing major and I look up and out the window is Ice Station Zebra, thanks goodness my errands were just at Bonnie Doon.  Not used to all this weather, but then I just looked out the window and in the neighbour's yard was a big white jack rabbit, it made the snow seem just a little better some how.  Or I had too much wine! But to my defense is was about 5:30 in the afternoon and I just got home.  Anyway back to the bunny, I can't remember the last time we had rabbits in the yard, I guess since we got Oliver.  The seem to sense that there might just be an enemy in this yard,even though I don't think Oliver knows what to do with bunnies. Every time we are walking and I point them out to him, he just seems not to care, guess in his old age he knows that he can't catch them so what 's the point of wasting all the energy!

Stay warm everyone!

January 12, 2012

Went to hot yoga today, I haven't been in over a month, and driving there I was thinking that I won't be able to do it all.  I was pleasantly surprised. Had a great instructor, and managed to finish without passing out.  Anyone doing hot yoga may know that one of the last positions is "pigeon" and today I was never so happy to hear that word.  I knew the end was near.  But when all is said and done it is so good and you feel like a new person afterwards.  You have this glow about you and you feel cleansed, and after a night of drinking there is nothing better then doing yoga to get all the toxins out of your body, of course if you went completely overboard the night before, be warned your brains will fall out when you do downward dog!  And don't say I didn't warn you.

On a completely different note, on our morning shuffle, Oliver and I met an old friend, who Oliver hasn't seen in ages,  one of his favorite German Shepherd's  Blue Bear and his mom.  I think they both practicably unscrewed their tails they were so happy to see each other, lots of kisses all around until they did that thing that dogs do when they meet and the kisses were over for me, and you dog owner's knew exactly what I mean!  It was a very nice visit.

January 10, 2012

To all the Rod Stewart Fans our there, it is his birthday. Happy Birthday Rod!  You just keep getting better with age, call me!

Ok here comes the rant, I would like to get my hands on the person that invented "Angry Birds" I have done nothing but play this game, and I hate computer games.  WTF!  I log on and check my email, bank etc, just like normal grown ups, but then there is this icon in the upper left corner of my computer that demands that I click on it and then before you know it 4 hours have passed, Oliver is crossing and uncrossing his little legs and nothing is getting done.  Step away from the Birds.  I dare you just play one game, it is like that old Mark Messier commercial and Lays chips.  Can't just have one.

Although I did manage to wash the kitchen floor today, but living with two boys, two and four legged, it doesn't stay clean very long, oh well it was clean for a nano second, and I have the dirty water to prove it. And really what else was there to do on a blustery day like today?

January 8, 2012

First of all Happy Birthday Elvis and hopefully the car wash gave you the day off.

It has rained in the last couple of days, and we have been going for our little shuffle around the block like normal.  Poor Oliver slipped twice and the second time he just looked up at me and gave the biggest heavy sigh known to mankind, and yes dogs can sigh.  It was like "really Mom do we have to do this " But being the trooped that he is, he was up and walking and sniffing like nothing happened.  Only Mom was panicking!

Oliver actually came up the stairs again today with just a little help from me!  One small step and you know the rest.

January 4, 2012

Back to reality and back to work.  I wish it could be Christmas all year long, but am afraid that my waistline and liver wouldn't last! 
 For those that know me and Oliver, you know that we have been carrying Oliver in and outside since about September, with no ligaments in his back legs it is hard for him to go and down stairs. Which is not an easy feat when Ollie weights 100ish pounds.  But we do what we have to do right, and once he is out or in, he is a very happy normal dog.  Well today I am in the basement, finishing a Christmas present, and yes you heard right.  It is a hand made quilt section and I am just about finished it.  The giftee will get it on Friday. Anyway back to Oliver, who was outside and my partner had just come in  and was going back outside, long and behold guess who was on the back porch after climbing up to stairs.  Yes Mr. Ollie himself, he came in and after much thinking a little crying, both from him and me, he came up the two other stairs into the kitchen.  He had only done this one other time, and fell, so never attempted it again until now.  He is on recovery, makes a mess of his ears, he has allergies, but those I can clean, but I think it is really helping.  I am slowly getting my Oliver back, and as he promised me he made in through to the New Year.  His next promise is to make it through to, oh about 2020.  That would only make him 19 years and don't even try the math to what it would make me!

It was a good day today.  Thanks Ollie, I love you!

New Years Day

Here it is 2012 already.  Oliver and I celebrated New Year's Eve with fondue and wine. Well I had the wine.  Oliver's dad went out for one more beer and Oliver and I went to bed, if you are thinking this is past midnight, think again.  It was 9:30, yep you read that right!  We are such a fun couple, and to top it off slept in this morning.  Oliver and I went for our daily morning shuffle around the block and then I joined "the girls" for walkies in the revine.  There were at least three trees decorated for Christmas.  It was really nice to see, and the fact that all the decorations are still there is a miracle in itself.

I think another day of doing nothing is in order for tomorrow, then back to reality and work!

Happy New Year's everyone from Oliver and I!