Having A Wonderful Time Off

I have been off work since Dec 21.  Must go back on Wednesday.  But it has been so refreshing.  However, I have done a lot of shoveling. :-(  Not exactly keen on that part, but it is dry and the snow is white so that is a good thing.  This morning I got up and went to Home Depot for opening time.  Since it is a regular work day for many people I just wanted to wander the aisles quietly and see what things they had on sale.  Found a few excellent buys and now have spent the day installing organizers in closets and a very cool light piece in the kitchen. 

The pups are doing great.  Still dogsitting Otto, but he fits right in so it is nice to have him around.  It is minus six today so we haven't been able to walk, but they don't seem to mind as they are all curled up on the bed at this moment.  Otto has this one quirk: when he rides in vehicles he gets  all whiny and stressed.  Anyway, this vet was talking about something called a thundershirt that puts pressure on the dogs nervous system and makes them totally relax.  So I went out and got him one, and now everytime we go in the truck I put it on and sure enough he rests his little head on the seat and relaxes.  Now he can just enjoy the ride...and so can I. :-)

Well last week I watched that documentary about Joe Cross and his buddy Phil that started eating just veggies and fruits (SICK FAT AND NEARLY DEAD (not me yet, but I thought I would try to head it off :-) ) to cleanse their system and then switch over to a plant-based way of eating, and thought what the hey I would give it a try.  So now I am on day six and I feel great.  It is easy, and the most important thing is that is a logical way of eating.  I had a little extra inspiration to think about health this month.  My neighbor Paul, died.  He was a non-smoker, non-drinker, slim, and not that old, but his heart stopped while he was sitting watching television two weeks ago.  Crazy. Anyways, rather than let moments be accepted and pass with a mere "that's terrible" comment, I think they are good times to think about where improvement can be made.

Well, I am going to get going.  I have a few more things to do around here.  It is supposed to be really cold for the next week so I want to make sure I have things all extra organized with easy access to stuff.  

Okay, have a great week no matter where you are!

Love to all,
d  :-)

A Very Scary Skkiiiidddooo To The Kingdom Hall Today

Well got in my truck this morning and started driving to the meeting.  Thought I was doing good, went down the big hill, no prob.  Then tried to take a left onto Berry Road.  It was then that I knew doing this today was a bad idea...back of truck took off toward the far bank with the fenceline below.  It is funny how a person never notices how steep a bank is until you are peeling toward it.  Anyway, kinda corrected things and ended nose-up on the other corner.  But narrowly missing cars and trucks on-coming was a real heart-thumper.  However, from what I heard at the KH it was a good thing I didn't make that corner because a bunch of cars slid all the way down and were ditched.  One sister said she was sliding straight toward a sister that was walking to the KH and ditched just before she hit her.  She said at that point there was nothing left to do, so she got out and walked to the hall too.  I was more fortunate.  I stuck my arm out the window and waved to a farmer that was out doing something.  I told him that due to my back end position that I would call AAA, but he seemed to think with some wiggling and waggling that we could get back on the road.  And it worked. :-)  Without a second set of eyeballs though, I could never have done that.  In the end I broke a couple traffic rules, but got myself to the parking lot of the Community Hall.  Rather than stress, I decided to walk to the KH because I thought things may look a bit different in two hours when the meeting was over - and really I was too tired to walk home.  Well, it was still snowing after the meeting, but the long route that winds around looked like it might be plowed, so myself and some other decided to use it.  And here I am now frantically eating a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  I know for a fact I will not drive when it is snowing again.  Today was too much of a nerve shattering experience.  So tomorrow morning I am going to put on the boots and walk to the bus stop.  I would rather get the exercise than go through that again.  Just hope the others did okay getting home too.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Love to all,
d  :-)

A Special Request for The Study

It has been about 4 months since I started studying with my Bible students in China.  They are doing wonderful, but I have to tell you something.  SYPE and other VOIP are discouraged in China and the government regulates the internet trying to prevent using these programs by cutting bandwidth when it is recognized.  Apparently this became stronger this last year.   So having the study can be quite challenging at times.  Sometimes we have to reconnect half a dozen times to get through our chapter - but they are all so eager that it makes all the effort worth it.  And often how it works is that when I say my prayer before it starts I ask for enough internet power just to make it through the study.  And I was thinking tonight how funny it must sound, because usually just before the study starts to wynd down, in the last paragraph, the internet starts to crackle on the China side. Everyone knows that this means any second it is going to cut out, so we all start talking really fast all at once to get final answers and comments in.  Hopefully years from now we can all laugh about these memories together. :-)

Love to all,
d  :-)

Excellent Week Despite Lots of Rain

The last couple weeks have been just great.  It has been raining almost everyday, but since we are warm and cozy inside that hasn't been a problem.  I am still riding my bike back and forth to work.  Since the highway is dark now in the mornings and at night I put the bike in the back of the truck and drive it to the other side of the lake to an intersection where the lights on the roads start.  It is only half the ride - so 10 miles per day - but that is fine with me.  I still get the exercise I need.  I noticed other riders on the road were even more brighter than me with their flashing lights so I put a couple more of those on the bike, and I was quite pleased when a man on the sidewalk that I was skirting around complimented me on how "mega bright" I was.  In an odd way, that is a great compliment. :-)  But I really don't want to give up the riding no matter how cold it gets because it makes me feel so good mentally and physically.

One wonderful thing about walking Harvey and Pearl in the morning and night is meeting people and their dogs along the way.  There is one elderly lady that has had cancer for the last couple years and her hip replaced.  So when I initially met her she was walking her dog with her walker - faithfully everyday,over the railway tracks and up through the industrial section on the hill.  Slow but doing what she needed to do.  Her dog is a Cardigan Corgi.  Well he always has the most beautiful sweaters on.  His sweaters make Harvey and Pearl's sweaters and coats look like pauper clothing.  So I got talking to her last night - now she walks with a cane...still slow and drags one of her legs a bit, but they are both out there which is the important thing.  I wanted to ask her where she got his clothing.  She said she hand-makes everything for him!  She knits him buffalo sweaters and every other kind you can imagine.  Anyway, I am kind of thinking maybe I will give that a try too as it sounds kinda fun.  :-)

I was talking to another inspiring person this week too - one of my students from Quebec.  At the college we get 99.9% of the time uni students.  But this lady was in her mid 60s.  She decided she wanted to learn English and got in her car and drove across the country.  Her husband couldn't come so he stayed home for 3 months to hold down the fort while she went into Homestay.  The interesting part for me is that she has Parkinson Disease.  So she would study with all the other students but dealt with the shaking at the same time.  Last week she left the program a couple weeks early.  Her husband flew out to drive back with her.  She was very apologetic, but I was telling her that I thought it was incredible that she decided to live life with zest regardless of what she was dealing with.  Her other choice would be to stay home and not venture out again, and live the rest of her life with a remote control in her hand.  I really admire people that despite problems that would hold others back just live life to the full.  When they die, they will die with "their boots on" doing something they love. :-)

Okay, here are a couple pics of the fur-kids enjoying life on the cold mornings.  As you can tell there are A LOT of huge quilts on our bed - my theory is big and fluffy equals comfy, and lots of hiding places for Harvey and Pearl. :-)

Love to everyone,
d :-)

The Ice Palace :-)

Snow is here!  Very pretty.  One of the prettiest creations by Jehovah I think.  Time for crusty icy windows on our little ice palace...and staying inside, at least for today. :-) It was minus 8 this weekend, but nice and cozy inside.

Just a few pics to show what a wonderful day it is.

1) Harvey laughing at me from bed when I suggested we go for a walk.

2) The path I cut across the yard with the snow shovel so that Harvey and Pearl could go across the yard comfortably to do their "business".  No need to exert myself by doing the whole yard. ;-)

3) The view out the bedroom window.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. 

Love to all,

d  :-)

The Small Rewards Along The Way

Hey hi :-)

Sitting here after getting off SKYPE with my Chinese studies.  The internet was crazy tonight so it was a hard go for the study, but everyone of them was so enthusiastic I still feel like it was a success.  They are always so well prepared, and now that jw.org has all the information, online Bible, books and all recordings in one central place it makes it so easy for everyone to participate.  Absolutely loving the study.

This week was good at work too.  One young man who studies with me for about six months returned to the school with a big box of 50 cookies for me today.  He hit it dead bang on because I really do love chocolate chip cookies...not sure a box of 50 is a good present for single person, but I will just have to share.  He came by to say thank you.  While he was studying with me he was a handful.  He would stand up in class almost daily and say "I hate you" because I would ask him to do homework and say things properly.  At the time he couldn't understand why, and he would stand up, fold his arms across his chest, and repeat those words.  I would respond with "I can live with that", or "I love you too, let's keep going".  But he actually was serious.  Anyway, he is now finished his studies and heading back to Japan for his regular university studies and came by to thank me for pushing him hard.  It is always the most difficult ones that make the biggest dent in my heart.

Okay, everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Love to all,
d  :-)

First Snow is Today...We Think

At least that is what the weather network says.  It definitely feels cold enough outside.  Inside we are warm and cozy though. :-)  And Pearl is feeling well again...even perky.  Last Sunday was a different story.  She came down with a bout of hemorragic intestine infection.  That means when the infection is so bad, blood enters the intestine.  She was really looking bad by the time I got her to the vet, but was put on the right meds immediately and with a few days was really looking good.  Another week of antibiotics and she should be back on track.  I posted a pic of her though when she just needed to sleep a lot.  She is waiting it out sleeping in the duvet.

Everything else though is going well.  Work is great.  I really am thankful to Jehovah for providing a place where I enjoy going everyday.  This week has been a bit trying though as I have a Saudi in my class who has been very privileged in life.  As I have said before, the Saudis are generally my favorite students because they are very devout, and I of course appreciate that quality in a person, and they have been sheltered from the rest of the world so there is something different about them in their outlook on life.  However, if you get an arrogant one, it is usually arrogance to an extreme.  Soooo...there is Aqhmed.  He has spent the last several weeks asking me how I cannot recognize his excellent quality of speech. :-/  And how I cannot elevate him to the highest level. :-/  The other day I did an oral reading test at which time I listen intently to recordings of the students' voices and circle any pronunciation errors they make so they know exactly what to work on.  After he received his sheet back he came to me and said as usual "I disagree". :-(  When I see him rising from his seat I can usually predict what words he is going to say.  He then proceeded to tell me that he didn't make any pronunciation errors and he wanted to listen again with me. (Bad idea).  I jested with him at first and said that if we listened together and I heard any pronunciation errors for every circle on the paper he would have to pay me $1000.  He responded that this deal would be acceptable. Considering there were about 30 circles on the paper this would have been my opportunity to make a years salary.  But when I realized he was more than serious I read him the riot act and sent him back to his seat.  Grrrr...anyway, Ahqmed, tells me I am his favorite teacher because I have high standards for him but there are a few crazy little moments along the way where I just need to clench my teeth and say nothing for five minutes.  He has told me before at most colleges and unis even in Canada because the Saudis are "money pits" they basically get whatever they want and now he has someone saying no to him everyday and it is hard.  I tell him almost daily that when he leaves my class he "will speak BEAUTIFUL English and work hard to achieve it!"  Slowly I think he is realizing I am serious.

We had an absolutely wonderful one day assembly yesterday.  The speakers were great but especially Brother Clark from the Canada Bethel.  I have 5 pages of notes just from his talks alone because he has a fabulous way and putting points across.  Very motivating.  :-)

Now today, it is time to be lazy and go through the notes again.   And I hope all of you can have some lazy moments today too. :-)

Love to all,
d :-)

Busy Busy Getting Ready For Winter

Wow!  Time really does fly.  It is cold here now.  I have spent the last four weekends getting ready for winter.  Within a month it will likely snow so I feel like I really have to get all this done.  I was telling my mom yesterday that after this weekend I just want to be able to do things on the weekends that don't revolve around winterizing - like enjoy service, have more time for meeting preparation, read a great book do a hobby, fun stuff. :-)  After today I think that will be possible.  Mom with her keen eye found me some carpet so we are laying that today through the entire unit.  This is the last item necessary to make this into a wonderful little warm cave for the winter months.  Everything else has been tucked away.  Oh one last thing is waiting...the kayak.  But I have a plan for that - going to slip it under the unit and let it stay all cozy under there until the weather gets warm again. :-)

Harvey and Pearl are gradually adjusting to the colder weather.  Harvey and I are pretty much on our own for the morning walks though.  When I hold up the leash Pearl runs to the bedroom and crawls under the covers, but she is all hyper and happy for the afternoon walks when the sun is out.  I guess the appeal of walking when it is black out and cold at 5:30 in the morning just isn't there for her.  Wish I could go later for the little coot, but gotta keep on schedule due to work.

Biking to work is still going good and saving huge on the gas bills.  Have to say though the other morning when I was riding at -4 it was a tad chilly on the toes - when I got to mile 10 I could feel it.  I have some sheepskin in the cupboard though and am thinking I will sew some toe mitts.  Really they were the only part of my body that was feeling the chill.  I want to go as long as I can though because I feel so good when I arrive.  It probably sounds laughable but the cold air for an hour in the morning really makes a person feel alive.  However, my students say that the skin on my cheeks doesn't turn back to a normal colour until mid morning. :-/

The little guy that was living with me is gone now.  It was great having him around.  We made a bunch of videos of him having fun because it was all new for him. so here is the last one we shot.  My mom taught him how to ride a bike the first day he was here, and by the end he had become a master. Just really happy I was able to give him six excellent weeks of life.

Okay, should get running.  Lots to do. :-)  There is one last video I am including here because I believe the message behind it...doesn't matter if it applies to our goals in the Truth of just how we live life.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week...or month. :-)

Love to all,
d :-)

The Oregon Coast Was Just Wonderful!

Hey hi everyone! :-)

Everything is going just great here.  We got back from tenting on the Oregon Coast a few days ago.  Couldn't have gone better.  We took off from Kelowna on a Friday morning and drove down to Lake Chelan.  It was just beautiful - crystal blue water and hot hot weather.  Totally loved it and would go there again.  It was hot all the way through Oregon and only dropped down to the 70s once we hit Nehelem Bay.  Beautiful State campground.  Economical, but a fabulous place to stay.  Free entertainment for everyone in the park in the evenings, and a free junior ranger program each day for the kids.  It also had paved roads for the kids to ride their bikes, and endless beach for walking.  I got up early in the mornings and walked Harvey and Pearl way down the beach.  Pearly got so tired that I had to carry her back in her little pack.  Mom and Dad, and Mike and Marcelle and their kids, Jack and Paulina and their kids and Sabrina and her kids were there so there was tons of association for everyone.

We took off from there the following Friday and drove to Seattle then did shopping on Saturday and drove straight through and arrived late Saturday night in Kelowna.  Couldn't have been a better trip.  :-)

We have a new addition around our place too.  A young guy, eight years old is living with us.  His mother has some health problems so he will stay with us.  So in our pictures you will see lots of him.  Harvey and him have become close buddies and now Harvey is in heaven to have someone that will brush him and rub his tummy 20 times a day.  Pearl is not really the play type but she likes him too, and watches intently as him and Harvey play ball together.  And actually it worked out well camping because him and Harvey could be lazy bones together and sleep an extra hour in the tent in the mornings while Pearl and I went and chatted with mom and dad over coffee in their RV.  Anyway, there are lots of pics to come but the only ones I have downloaded so far are of Christopher doing things.  The ones of Harvey and Pearl are trapped in my camera still with the dead battery holding them hostage.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the ones below as I think they will give you a peek at the scenery we saw.  Jehovah certainly has created some beautiful landscapes. :-)

Love to all
d  :-)

Christopher riding his bike on the trails.   He has become quite the mast bike rider.  Nothing can slow him down.

Christopher and Liam burying themselves in sand.

Christopher floating on a log in the ocean at sunset.

Jack wave jumping with all the kids.

The beautiful trail that led to our campground through the sand dunes.

Okay, We Are "Practise Camping"

Or should I say "glamping".  That word is apparently for people that like camping but with extras like lights in the tent and a fan, and laptop, and a mini George Foreman, and coffee maker, and ... :-)

Anyway, in the middle of August we are going camping/tenting, something I haven't done many years, but have decided it is the kind of travel I can afford for the time being.  SO...I have collected, and others have collected for me, some equipment.  Some from secondhand stores, and some from the back of dark garages, etc., and now I have this cool little campsite organized.  I thought I would set up early so I could make any tweaks before we actually hit the road...AND Harvey and Pearl have never slept in a tent before so I thought we could sleep in it a few nights over the next couple weeks so they will be comfortable and hopefully won't bark all night in the real campground. 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

love to all,
d  :-)