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tuckered out
Darcey has been hankering for a hike so today we did a walk. A bit of a compromise, but it worked out for all involved. We found an old logging road and drove down it for quite a while (that Subaru can really go a lot of places!) until we came to a fork in the road and decided it was a good place to start walking.
At least we humans walked. Those of us of the canine variety mostly trotted [like something straight out of the Littlest Hobo], galloped, leapt like a white-tailed deer in and out of the bushes or just full-out-ran the whole way. No walking for her. 
The only times she stopped were to see if we slowpokes were still following her or to sniff something worth stopping for.
And when we made her pose for some pictures. 
And when we had lunch. But she ate hers in about 11 seconds, so it was hardly even a stop. She's stopped now, though, that's for sure. Taking up 3/4 of the couch, being serenaded by some CBC Radio Orchestra. And snoring.
It doesn't seem like the end of November. There is no snow anywhere to be seen around here. It's been on the plus side of zero most of November, and when it dips down below freezing it does so only barely, and only at night. I shouldn't complain, but I could use a dose of snow to get me orientated. Right now I feel like we've been stuck on October 8th for a long time. But on the plus side [pun intended], we can go for nice walks in almost-December and not even be really cold. Carley even waded into all kinds of water and seemed to have survived without any signs of hypothermia.
I think it's almost time for some supper. I think I'll go put on some Christmas music to make myself understand what time of year it is. Does anyone know any good Christmas harp music? That's what I've been having a hankering for lately.
julia rothman
I really like this book blog. It was no surprise to find out that the blog's author is a wonderful artist. Some of these books are so amazing-looking. I covet them all. I have no guilt when it comes to buying books. None whatsoever. Oh my.......
Image by Julia Rothman.
Today it's rainy but so warm. Yesterady it was 18 degrees Celsius here. That is not November weather if you ask me. But it goes to show how freezing cold Manitoba really is. I thought every place was like that. As long as we get snow for Christmas I will be fine with this new balminess.
That's the weather update. Talk to you all soon.
twice as old as me
Today is our dad's 60th birthday.
It is also our dad's twin sister's 60th birthday, and also Prince Charles' 60th birthday - just a bit of birthday trivia for you. Apparently Camilla didn't know what to get Charles [And I quote: "He is the man with everything, afterall."] so instead of just one present she got him 60. Yikes. I hope our Dad won't be jealous. I am making him something and in typical fashion it will arrive late. Sorry! He and my mom are on my way over to my sister's place as I type. I am sad to be missing the birthday weekend but I hear there is a skype-conference in the works for tomorrow. Hopefully to include the San Franciscans. I always thought a lot about my dad's 60th birthday when I was a kid because I had figured out that it would be the year in which he would be twice as old as I would be. After this year I'm catching up to him. Just think, Dad, when you're 100 I'll be 70. We'll both be retired. Maybe we can all live in the same seniors' complex.
Also this week [on Remembrance Day, when Darcey got to march in the town parade!]: our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. Wow, time flies. I am the luckiest woman in the world and that's about all I have to say about that. We thought about going to St. John's for the weekend but we didn't want to leave our dog alone, since she is so new to us still. We will go another time, maybe after Christmas. As it was, friends of our invited us over for dinner and we had a great time.
So today I made fried rice for lunch. I used a recipe because I can never make good fried rice.
You'd think it would be easy. Well it is easy, I just didn't know how.
Our little dog is very hard-done-by. This is how she always looks at me when I haven't played with her in the last 10 minutes and she feels sorry for herself. We took her to the ball field this morning and discovered that her new favourite thing is jumping on half-frozen puddles till the ice smashes and then she stirs up all the icy water and the mud below, and then she slurps it up. Yum. She was skidding all over the place today and loving it. 
And in case you're wondering, that's not an injury on her ankle, she is a bit of a funny dog - like a ragdoll sometimes - and maybe double jointed. That's why she likes the ice so much, because it doesn't seem to matter how she lands when she wipes out. Our poor neighbour Buddy the Labrador Retriever sprained a muscle just the other day on some ice. 
And. I should be careful what I wish for! Or maybe I should just wish more often. So far it's worked out in my favour. My [favourite] aunt surprised us by sending us this: 
I think it was a good week. Right now I am waiting for some [chocolate chip!] banana bread to be finished baking so I can eat some. In the meantime I am sitting on the couch watching Corner Gas. My leg is acting as an armrest for a little dog who somehow is not so little when she is sprawled out over the entire sofa. Happy Friday.
why i spend so much time on the internet:
The paintings by The Black Apple are like fairy tales. Lots of woodsy references and whimsical children-animals.
A lot of you probably already read Alicia Paulson's delightful blog. She also has a shop, where she sells her equally delightful hand-made creations. For the holidays she has created 70s-inspired felt ornaments. You can order the whole kit and make them in the cozy comfort of your fire-lit living room.
I have recently been enlightened: Marc Boutavant is a genius, and I want to own all the books he's ever illustrated. Some of his books are now available in English. Just in time for Christmas.
These papercrafts by Elsita just boggle my mind. Laser Cutter, you might say. But no. Exacto Knife. Whoa. And also by the same artist is this beautiful drawing called Cold.
How lovely are these buttons, from Moonstiches. They are made from old Christmas trees, and just beckon you to touch them.
I think this is beyond adorable. Go here for more over-the-top plushy cuteness.
I was directed to this German folkart website by the above-mentioned Alicia Paulson. This scene is called "Meat and Sausage Booth at the Market". This stuff reminds me of a lot of the Christmas ornaments that my family has - wooden children with painted on faces and tiny knitted scarves, sitting on sleighs or attached to yellow skis. Some of them actually have nothing to do with Christmas but they are considered Christmas ornaments just the same. 
Kris, of the aptly-named Krisatomic, has a wonderful blog. Her photographs alone make it worth the click, but I especially love her illustrations. This is a guache drawing and is called Catgirl dresses like this all year round.
If you are tired of Hallmark e-cards (I am, although I can't really ever get enough of Hoops&Yoyo), then you can try the milkjar site for some original cards. Also there are great sketches and artwork.
My dear friend ANM has recently started up her very own blog, ANM Daily. I am so glad she did. She mostly blogs about her family, because that's what's most important to her, but her photographs are beautiful and also sometimes very witty. 
I've already raved about this website, more than once, but here it is again. I love it. It's hard to choose, but I think this is my favourite photo set of theirs to date.
circus part deuxIf you'd like to know more, you can click here.
lunch...Well this sure looks good. I've been browsing this website for a while now but have yet to cook anything from it. But I think it will be leftovers today. I really should go hang out the laundry, because it's a nice day (edit: it is now snowing). And maybe start raking some leaves, but then we'll have to leave Carley inside and she will cry and I can't handle that...
Carley has been relegated back on the leash as of late, because she has developed a bad (but understandable) habit of running into the neighbours' yards to chase a certain squirrel (which has now begun stashing food under the hood of our car...not the brightest little rodent, that's for sure). Once Carley's on the squirrel rampage there is little we can do to call her back. She'll just come back when she feels like it, which is not cool. She is always proud of herself for managing this, though. That's why we have to nip it in the bud. Speaking of buds, there is a yellow rose outside our door which is now blooming. November 2nd. I guess it will get dark early tonight.
So we decided she's not ready to be off-leash. She is sulking about that, but on the up-side, I think she will start to do better on our walks. She still pulls quite a bit. We were using a head halter on her for a short while, but I didn't like it. So we're back to her normal collar and a lot of "Heel, Carley!" and so on. I think she is slowly starting to improve. We go out in the morning and the evening. In the mornings we go north towards Embree, the next town down the road where there is a shipwreck, and in the evenings we go south, approximately to the old cemetery by the water on Main Street. The routine is important for Carley, I think.
