Fun Times

Tuesday evening is my Toastmasters meeting. This week our theme was costumes, and some of us dressed up for the occasion. It was a great deal of fun. Also, I gave a speech this week. The project was #1 in the Storytelling manual... The Folk Tale, so I had to tell a Folk Tale. I ended up choosing The Wolf's Side of the Story! and I dressed as a wolf in construction clothing, haha. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera, but some others were there so maybe I can get someone to email me some pics so I can share them with you. I made myself a pair of ears (from corners of a fake fur collar) and used some of the same old coat to make a tail which I sewed into the seam of an old pair of pants, then I added Dan's tool belt, safety vest & hard hat. Even found my safety glasses to add to it too. I took an old white t-shirt and wrote on the front of it in felt pen "A. Wolf Construction Co." Maybe I should have called it a destruction company, since the wolf... well, you know the story... or DO you?? Nobody knows the real story unless they've heard the wolf's side of the story. I got a really great evaluation, and lots of comments/compliments on my ears. On Saturday I'm going to be wearing the same 'outfit'. I will be working in the Centre's booth at the Body & Soul Wellness Fair both Saturday & Sunday, and on Saturday night I am hosting a Halloween Games Night at the Centre. Costumes are encouraged, bring snacks to share and a game if you wish, games will be supplied... open to anyone who wants to show up and have fun. I definitely will be the wolf for Games Night... and I think likely for the Wellness Fair too, after all, it is Halloween!! I think I'll take the laptop, even though there's no internet there, and my flash drive just in case. A girl never knows just what she'll need in the coarse of a day. If not busy I can always play Sudoku between customers. haha.

Dreaming & Gratitude

If you read Reba's Run, you will know she said I'm a dreamer. Well, this is true, I do tend to dream a lot. She told about how I want to redo my bathroom & kitchen, a total renovation. At this time, it can only be a dream, unfortunately. I abhor my kitchen and though I used to love soaking in the tub I haven't done so in many years as this tub is just too small. I'd love to add on just enough to be able to put in a 'real' tub, something I can relax & soak comfortably in, and also have a cupboard for towels and such. While the tub & hot water tank were out I'd seal up the holes where mice can come in, I am sO tired of the mess they make every fall and sometimes in the spring. I've managed to seal up most of the spots they can come in, but unfortunately can't reach these ones. My kitchen has so few cupboards and so little counter space to work on. The cupboards that are here I have to get onto a small ladder to get into them.
I borrowed this photo from Hansgrohe faucets to show you what I think would be a great kitchen to have. I don't even need a table if I have an island to work on and sit at, double duty.

Now that I've whined and complained about what's wrong with my home, I will tell you that I am very grateful to have this place. It's not fancy and yes, there are things I would gladly change if I had the money to do so. However, it does suite me well. For one thing, it's mine!! Well, a bit is still owing at the bank, but not a lot now. I just renewed my mortgage and found out I only have 6 years left to pay on the place... and my payments are just over $200 a month. I am warm, safe, secure, comfortable in this home that is about 10 minutes out of the city, have a gorgeous view and the joy of rural living. The driveway presents some real... ummmm, errr, lets say 'excitement' during the winter as it is rather steep, though I'm sure it could be worse... somehow. Being on the hill like this, no one can see in my windows for the most part, only a couple of places and that's no big deal, could put a plant in the way if that bothered me. I like having no curtains, or keeping the curtains open most of the time as I love light. So as much as there are things I'd like to change, there are these things and others that make this the perfect home for me and my wonderful fur & feather babies.

I am grateful to have a home to live in... period!!
I am grateful my monthly mortgage payments are so small.
I am grateful to be safe, secure, comfortable, warm.
I am grateful for good neighbors.
I am grateful for my awesome view.
I am grateful for oh so many things in my home and in my life.

Hi... Remember Me?

It's been quite some time since my last post. Just have been busy with so many other things. I must admit that online Sudoku has been taking up too much of my time, and MahJong continues to take up too much of it too, though not as much now that I have Sudoku. I truly must cut back on these games. I have so much to do and keep getting nothing done due to time flying by while I sit on the computer playing games. This is appearing to be a bit of a problem for me... must over come it.

All has been well otherwise. I showed a 1/4 pound gain at TOPS on Thursday, and am not worried about that, so tiny it's not important, likely just water retention or something. In the last couple weeks I've had some big dinners, including Pasta Productions and the Chili Cook Off of last weekend, so likely over ate... no... definitely over ate at both of them, so am fortunate to only show that tiny gain. This week I have been much better, don't even need to think about an appetite suppressant, I've been doing well without them. I started keeping a food diary yesterday so I am much more aware of what and how much I am eating. So far it all looks very good. Okay, two days, both at home, is not a lot but it is still a good start. At TOPS we have a Cut & Burn challenge on just now... cut 100 calories and burn 100 every day. That is an extra 100 of course. So far the cut not so bad... the burn not so good.

Yesterday I got a few things accomplished around here. With Dan's help I got a new tarp onto the travel trailer I use as a storage shed, took the tool box out of my truck (it doesn't fit with the canopy on) and put it and all that was in it into the one shed for the winter. Then, after Dan left, I cleaned out the back of the truck & put a pallet in there & made a bed for Reba, the pallet will keep it off the floor as water does get in there. About a 6" thick foam covered with carpet on the pallet. She should be comfy when in the truck.

I took some pictures to show you of the truck when we took off the rack and put on the canopy... can't seem to find the cord for transferring pics from camera to computer, so may have to use old laptop with it's card reader, and flash drive to bring them over here. so be patient and I'll post them one day soon.

Now... off to look after animals... then to bed.

Ahhhh, It's Over... Until Next Time

I'm here at the Centre for Spiritual Living. Almost ready to go, just packing up my 'stuff' and was about to put my laptop into my case when I decided to sit down for a moment's rest and do a blog post. I had hoped to do some blogging earlier today and didn't get to it. So... what was I doing all day? Was I laying around sleeping? Reading? Well, if you read this blog and if you have a good memory (snicker) you might know I had a Pasta Productions to put on this evening.

This afternoon I met with my friend Stacia, and DJ who had called while I was getting ready, wanting to go for tea and I invited her along on the shopping :o) We went to the Great Canadian Supperstore (often known as Stupid Store by some people I've encountered) and did the grocery shopping for our meal for which Stacia was the cook. We then came to the Centre, here by 3:30, to start prepping/cooking the meal. DJ came with us and visited, ran an errand to the nearby thrift store to purchase a large mixing bowl, chopped a very nasty onion & 3 bell peppers - red, yellow & orange, nice harvest colors. Dinner consisted of: baked Butternut Squash, cold slaw with shredded apples in it, sauteed peppers/onion, sauteed mushrooms (which got put into the microwave to reheat after being set aside a bit too long, and got left there until I found them later), alfredo sauce, tomato sauce, hamburger, and apple crisp for desert. Great meal!! I helped with the kitchen work this time, something I don't usually do. I also did most of the set up of tables. This after planning it all, etc. Two out of three performers didn't show up, and several people who had promised to come tonight also were no-show. So it was a small crowd and we had a very nice time.

As always, I was the MC... Chief White Buffalo Man Many Feathers (who I knew for many years as Dean, before he was given that name in ceremony) talked awhile then did his traditional native dancing... very good dancer!! He was pouring sweat by the time he was finished. I then gave everyone a 10 minute break before getting into the second half of it, which I started out by giving a speech. I had to fill in the entertainment section somehow and had thought to share some of my poetry... it turned out not to be on this laptop, so it must be on the other one which is at home. Therefore, an impromptu speech would be the only way for me to go. I told them all that my life had gone to the birds, then proceeded to tell about how, about a year & a half ago, I had had 1 dog, 1 budgie, 1 rabbit & 5 chinchillas when I was asked to babysit a parrot for 3 months. This lead to how DW came to stay with me permanently, and all the way through to me now having 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 rabbit, 4 chinchillas, 1 Pacific Parrotlet, 2 Indian Ringneck Parrots & 5 Cockatiels. Everyone seemed to enjoy the story. Lorraine was here, it was her daughter Darleen who was the previous owner of (slave to) DW. Granddaughter Kayla showed up just after supper to see her grandmother & so after I gave my speech she asked if she could get up and say something. She's somewhere around 13 or so and gave an amazingly good talk on DW and the other 2 Parrots her mother had/has. I was impressed that a young gal would get up in front of strangers & talk like that. Anyway, then Chief went back up and did some wonderful singing & drumming, also in the native traditional way.

All that were here seemed to enjoy the evening. Dean's sister Carol came too, and told us later that this is the first time she's ever seen her brother dance. Oh, he dances around the house a bit, she admitted, though not like on stage and she'd never seen him in his regalia before. So it was a very special evening for Carol.

It is a bit disappointing when people don't show up for something like this, especially considering all the hours I put into these events... and yet, it is still gratifying when, with a full belly and a full heart, I look back on the evening and know that the right people were here. I feel that this was a special evening for Kayla and for Carol, and maybe even for others that didn't express it in quite the same ways. I heard several times what a nice place this is and what a nice evening it was. Ellen is new in town and had dropped in here on Wednesday when I was doing the programs for this Sunday. She ended up buying a ticket & coming this eve. Wendy, walking by and seeing the light on, came in to see if we had a schedule of things that happen here so she might come some time... and stayed for the entertainment, having missed the meal already (paid half price). And hey, I got 6 kisses (just pecks) from Chief before he left, and hugs too. Those always make my day. :o)

So... after Pasta Productions is over you'd think I would be looking for some Panama City beach hotel reservations... but no time for that. Tomorrow Stacia is involved with the hosting of a Chili Cook-off in the small town where she lives, about a half hour drive from here. I will be going out there to help her. Pay back...sigh. And this evening I was asked if I'm putting on a Halloween Games Night like I did last year. Two people wanted this to happen, so I said sure, we'll do it. So on Sunday I will have that put into the announcements... and start planning for it. Everyone is welcome to dress in costume and come play some games. No charge, just come have fun... OH and bring some munchies to share.

Of course, I will soon be starting to plan the next Pasta Productions... though it will not be happening until we find some better ways to market the events here. I put in way too many hours to have 9 people show up... and that includes the volunteers & me. Yes, we must work on the marketing. Anyone want to volunteer??

Wednesday October 14

Good day, my friends. Welcome to my home on the net, as always. I'm sitting here trying to think of a good way to fit the words "salicylic acid" into my post... and not coming up with anything really great, so will skip it for now. ;o)

Today I felt much better than I did the last few, though did have a headache and sore neck for part of the day. Was sure glad when it backed off a bit. Dan came by for a short visit this morning and I got him to bring in a bag of pellets for me, so that was good as the chiropractor didn't want me packing heavy things for a couple days, and these bags are 40# (18.14kg) each.

I went to town and did up the programs for Sunday Service, as I do every Wednesday. Then I went for lunch with a very dear, long time friend, Stacia. I refuse to even think of how long we've been friends, but it started some years before she had her youngest daughter who is now in her early 20s. It's been way too long since we sat down and had a visit and I totally enjoyed it today. The Chinese smorg was much less good than I'm used to my Chinese food being, but the company made it all worth while. Stacia is going to be my cook for the upcoming Pasta Productions, which, if you read this blog much, I think you've read about recently.

I had heard that to get thinning hair to grow thicker, add some Lavender & Rosemary essential oils to your shampoo. I went to the health food store to get some and talked to a gal working there. She had never heard of that. She asked a few questions, including "Do you get heart burn?" and "Do you feel bloated after eating?" to which I had to answer "yes". She figures I'm not absorbing minerals properly, so said to stop drinking anything minimum 1/2 hour before eating, and best to drink nothing during or for 20 minutes after the meal, but if I can't handle that, at least just have a few sips. This is to stop diluting the digestive juices that are so important. She also suggested Silica Gel. This will help give me healthy hair, nails, skin, etc., and lots of hair growth. She gave me a pamphlet to read and I bought a bottle of it. 6 months from now I should be very hairy and have strong claws with baby smooth skin... or something like that, hahaha.

I needed a new tarp for covering my Travel Trailer become Storage Shed, so got one of those today and some other odds & sods things for the house. Next was the grocery store for a few much needed items, and a few less needed but wanted ones. I got Reba an 18kg bag of dog food... so much for Chiropractor wishes, I had to handle this myself (pick up, put into cart... take from cart & put into truck... take from truck & carry into house). I was as careful as I could be though.

This evening I watched TV, visited critters, did some Facebook stuff, instant messaged with 2 people... hmmmm... oh ya, blogged. Now the birds are all gone to bed hours ago and it's time to put the other critter to bed. Then to put the Critter Servant/Slave to bed for the night. Ahhh, that will feel good.

- I am grateful to hear some of you like my grateful list (Back by popular demand, haha).
- I am grateful I know how positively powerful it is to do a gratitude list.
- I am grateful for Lorraine who puts the programs together once I do the computer work & print them out.
- I am grateful to have met a new gal who came into the Centre for Spiritual Living today. From Norway, very nice.
- I am grateful to have found out about Silica Gel, and recently about Himalayan Crystal Salt (full of minerals) which both should help a lot to seeing me in better health and beauty.
- I am grateful for the 'stolen moments' with my cat. She hides when the dog is near, and sneaks out to cuddle when she feels it's safe.
- I am grateful to have reconnected with Stacia recently, after a few years of being out of touch. Always friends, just not always present in each others lives.
- I am grateful the weather is warmer now than it was for a few days. Unseasonable hot temps turned to unseasonable cold temps waaaayyy to fast!! Now have evened out a bit.
- I am grateful I put silicone along the windshield of my truck yesterday... just before the rain started. That should plug the leak I had there for the past couple years. (It was only a problem when it rained.)
- I am grateful that I have too many things to be grateful for to list here in one sitting. :o)

Nite for now.

Tuesday October 13th

Hi. Welcome back.

Last night I got to talk to my friend Jerry who lives in Wenatchee WA. He had been hoping to have enough money to send me for gas to make the trip down for a visit. Unfortunately that didn't work out. He is a vendor at fairs, rodeos, etc., and with the cold weather coming so suddenly and early, there was not the usual amount of sales so not the income he needs for necessities, never mind the extra for my trip down. However, we will keep in touch over the phone & via snail mail as he has no computer. By spring maybe one of us will have the spare money, and if not then at least I'll still go to Omak to the Stampede in August where I met him about 5 years ago. In the meantime, life goes on and is great. Quilly had suggested that if I went down to Wenatchee, I go visit her sister in a not-too-distant town. That would be way cool and I hope to still do that one day. Will have to contact her by smoke signals or a note sent by pigeon as she lives in the back woods, and is something of a hermit... or so I've been told. :o)

There is always lots to do around here, and if I ever ran out of stuff to do I could always read colon cleanse reviews. Today I got Reba's run all cleaned up and looking pretty for winter, then I screwed a piece of laminate flooring (left over from my new floors of course) onto the bottom of the doorway into her house. I then took a bag of old sheep fleece, 2 fleeces to be exact, and put them into her house so she'll be cuddly/comfy this winter. The moths got into several bags of my fleece so now it is not worth washing/carding/spinning. Oh well, I'm about at a place where I'd like to just buy my fibre all prepared and ready to spin.

I also got to work on sorting pop/water/etc. bottles & cans to take to the depot and sell them. Still lots more to do, but a good start has been made.

Last night, Sheri Chinchilla got out of the cage while I had the door open feeding her & Daisy. There was no way I was going to be able to catch her, so just let her run free. She was running all over, driving the dog crazy. I would let them all out to play like that except they are near impossible to catch again until they are good and ready to let you get them, and while out they like to chew things, mostly electrical and phone cords. Best they stay safely in their wee homes. Tonight she came out of hiding and got up on the bay window, near the cages. I took her bath bottle (wide mouth gallon jar) with bath dust in it (Chins love their bathes!!) and put it where she could see it and get into it. Once fully involved in the experience, I reached out and put my hand over the opening, lifted it up and returned it and her to the cage. This is the best way I've found to get them back in once they've gotten out. They don't get out often, thankfully, though it does happen from time to time. Over the years of having them, I sometime have been tired when feeding etc., and have accidentally left a door open.

The last few days I've had headaches again, and a stiff, sore neck. Of course, being a long weekend, the Chiropractor was closed until today, so this afternoon I went in for a much needed treatment. I still didn't feel up to going to Toastmasters this eve, but am feeling quite a bit better now. I know that morning will see a great improvement.

I am grateful for all my friends... wherever & however I met/know them.
I am grateful to have cleaned Reba's space outside and gotten her house all nice for her.
I am grateful for the cordless tools I have for doing these kind of little jobs.
I am grateful I recently put shelves up in my house using those tools too. One in the bathroom for towels, and one in the living room for my modem & router, and some other things to be decided on later.
I am grateful for phones, internet & snail mail.
I am grateful all my chinchillas are now safe & sound in their homes.
I am grateful all of my babies - 4 chinchillas, 8 birds, 1 rabbit, 1 dog & 1 cat are all warm inside my house with me.
I am grateful for my wonderful laptop computer & for the lap board I use with it.
I am grateful for my chiropractor. Not only do I highly credit him for my being able to walk and use my arms (long story) but also he's like visiting a friend (have been going to him since 1983). If I'm working on a Sudoku puzzle when he comes in, he gets right into helping me with it, lol.
I am grateful for my bed and the new pillow I bought myself last week. I am now off to visit them.

Night night All!!

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.








I am blessed to have so much to be thankful for... an entire cornucopia of things to be grateful for.









To name just a few:
I am grateful to have seen & spent some time with my older brother, his wife & her family (mother, uncles, etc) today.
I am grateful for time spent with Mom today and often.
I am grateful for the turkey dinner we all wolfed down at the Mable Lake golf club Club House.
I am grateful my brother paid for it!!! LOL.








I am grateful for my wonderful pellet stove and for a winters worth of pellets already sitting in my carport. With colder weather upon us it is gratifying to have this in place.
I am grateful I got some of the yard cleaned up today.
I am grateful the 1989 Ford Ranger sold and is now gone to its new home.
I am grateful for my 1992 Ford Ranger 4x4 which is very dependable and a joy to drive.
I am grateful for truck accessories.
I am grateful for money in my life.
I am grateful for all of my awesome animals.
I am grateful for humor in my life, even if it's spelled humor by some and humour by others.






















And I am grateful that....









Now I am off to my bed... which I am grateful for too.

I also am grateful for each and every one of you!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Canadians!!!!!!!!

Truck Sold

Great news. I have sold the truck I wanted to sell. I bought it about 5 weeks ago for a parts truck, then realized this wasn't going to work. I put it on Kijiji and CheapCycle for sale for $800. One woman emailed offering me $400. Of course I turned that down, it was less than I'd paid just a few weeks before and I got a good deal on it. A couple days ago I noticed someone out in the yard looking at it so I went out with the key. By then they were in their car leaving, apparently not interested even though they saw me coming with the key. Yesterday I put a For Sale sign on it that I just bought, along with a list of its qualities and that it needs an oxygen sensor, asking $800 Reasonable Offers Considered. This morning I got a phone call, the guy really wanted it and offered $600. I countered at $700, he said he didn't have that much, so I said $650 and he happily agreed. He said he'd get the money together and call back in 2 hours. He didn't call back. Within an hour after his 2 hours had passed, another guy came up and knocked on the door. I went down with the key. He had the hood open and I started it up so he could hear it run. He wants it for a parts truck. He ended up giving me $100 down, the rest to be paid tomorrow and he'll bring his flatbed trailer to haul it away. He didn't even try to talk me down on the price!! I am very happy and relieved to have it going. I don't want money tied up in something else that just sits in the yard and rusts.

In my yard I have my truck, a utility trailer, a flat-deck trailer, as well as a small travel trailer. All were given to me, so I sure can't complain. I did have to put about $250 into the utility trailer to make it usable, and a bit of work into the flat-deck. The travel trailer is old, the rv warranty long since ran out before it came my way. There are no ownership papers with it so I can't insure it. I'm just using it as a storage shed for now. Maybe I'll get papers some day and use it.

I'm not only happy to have the truck sold, I am also happy to have sold it for more than I paid for it. I can use the money to have the body of the truck I drive fixed. Rust over wheel well cut out and new metal welded in, as well as some spot painting. That will happen in the spring.

Vehicles...

Thought I'd post some photos for you. Click on them if you would like a larger view.

About a week ago I had Dan come over and help me to move the canopy off the utility trailer, putting it onto the flat deck trailer. I need to get some fiber glass and patch the hole in the roof of the canopy one day soon. I also plan to put it onto my truck in the next couple days, taking off the steel rack for the winter. Reba needs the canopy on now that the weather is getting cooler. I have it on it winter months for the comfort of my dog.

I hooked up my '92 Ranger to the utility trailer
& moved it to the upper part where my home sits (my property is on a hillside) so I can put stuff into it to take to the dump.

Then I started up the 1989 Ford Ranger 4x4 I recently bought

and moved it to where the utility trailer had been.

I bought this truck from a long time friend as he didn't need it anymore and I wanted some parts off of it. He tells me he did a bunch of work on it in the last 1 - 2 years: rebuilt front & rear differentials, front & rear brakes, and transmission. Also, he replaced the original box in the last couple years as the other one was rusted fairly badly. This one is in good shape and has lots of that spray coating on it to stop rust from happening.

I had planned to take this box off and put it onto my '92 because the box on it is rusted through one one side while still good on the other side.
My friend Tuggy is a welder so I asked him how much he'd charge me to switch the boxes. He looked at the '92 and said it would cost less to fix this hole than it would to change the boxes as it is a lot less work for him to do it this way (cut rust out, weld new metal in, paint that area). So okay, that kills the plan to use that box on this truck. Oh well, I still want to switch the windows from the extended cab. You see, these 2 side windows in the '89 open while in the '92 they don't. Ya right. They are the same size and yet just a tiny bit different shape, so they can not be changed over. Drat!!!

I thought about keeping the '89 in case I ever need to replace a differential or tranny or whatever, but decided this is only a good idea for someone who can change the parts over themselves. By the time you pay someone to do the work it's just too costly to make it worth while. So now I want the '89 gone and to have my $$ back. Today I am putting it up for sale. This time of year it will be a great buy for someone who likes to hunt or fish (4x4), it's great as a work truck, or for someone who needs a vehicle and isn't fussy about it looking perfect, it would be good. It has a 2.9 Lt engine, 5 speed standard shift, so is pretty good on gas for a 4x4. All it needs, from what I have been told, is an oxygen sensor in the engine and all will be well. I think it would be a good buy for $800 for someone who can use it.

I'm BACK

Well, I'm home from my trip to my first TOPS Jamboree/Rally. Had a really good time and am glad to be home too, lol. Critters are all happy to see me and I'm happy to see all of them too. It feels great to be sitting in my recliner chair with the massage & heat turned on. Ahhhh, so nice. Relaxing. I'm planning to go to bed early tonight for a change.

Yesterday, about noon, Francis & Pat arrived to pick me up. I drove Francis' van from here. We picked up Levina and drove her down to her cancer treatment then went down to Penticton. After checking in to our motel we went to a thrift shop across the road and did some shopping, then to the mall and did some more as well as had supper. Back at the motel we talked and laughed and had a great evening. I was delighted to be able to get onto the net at the motel (yup, I took my laptop along). Today we spent the day at the rally. Our 'square dance' went over really big. Many Chapters put on skits or songs of some kind. We decided to do a square dance as the theme was western. I wrote the words of the song & was the caller for the others to dance to. Some photos were taken. Maybe I can show you some soon.

I think someone should invent a software program of some kind to make sharing photos easier, without posting them to the internet. They could call it Sharepoint... or something like that. We all took lots of photos that we want to share with each other.... and emailing them is a real PITA. I find only about 3 can be put in each email or it takes waaaay too long to send them. Maybe I'll have to get the gals to all upload to a common site or something.

Since I just got home I think I shall leave you now. Have a great night.

I Love 2 Laugh

I am so blessed to have all my animals in my life. They give me so many reasons to feel joy and to laugh. Friday, the little blue Parrotlet, tends to fly over and land on my head quite often when I let him out to play. He likes to hang upside down by my hair and look into my face. I'll be standing there with him on my head then all of a sudden, there he is, hanging upside down peaking through my bangs. It is so funny.

DW and Paco, the 2 Ringneck Parrots, like to eat food out of my mouth. I get a real charge out of this too. It can be hard not to laugh while they are eating. I'll just get my food somewhat chewed and the bird or birds, depending on who is on my shoulder at the time, starts sticking its beak into my mouth. Oh, I know this would disturb some people, but I find it very amusing and it shows how close my birds feel to me. How much they trust me and yes, even love me.

Ahhh, my friends, laughter is the best medicine and I choose laughter over sad any day of the week. With all the reasons I have to laugh with my critter kids, I may never need any form of medical equipment. At least I can hope.

The other day, I was in Boston Pizza to take some photos for Melli's September Photo Challenge. When I came out, Reba was waiting patiently for me, laying on the tool box. She was watching the door for me to come out, as usual, and I took some photos of her. Check these out. Pay particular attention to the 2nd & 3rd ones and see if you pick up on something interesting/cute about them. I'll tell you what I mean after you look at them. Click on the photos, if you like, to see them larger.



Did you see what I meant?? In photo #2 Reba is smiling, she is watching me walking towards her. In photo #3 she noticed someone else and glanced over at her... she lost her smile really quickly. Isn't she cute?

Melli's September Photo Challenge

The miraculous Melli came up with the idea of a photo challenge for us to play along with during the month of September. She gave us a list of 30 items to photograph, then post to our blogs on October 1.... that's today. (Yes, it is still today in my part of the world, though getting near tomorrow now). So, here are my 30:

1 - Something in flight

It almost got away on me.


2 - A gas pump

3 - Graffiti.... or street art

It is not uncommon to see graffiti around here, though when I went looking for it I saw none. However, we do have many beautiful murals painted on various buildings around our small city. Here is one of them.


4 - Soap or soapy

A shelf full of Goat Milk soap in the bulk food/health food store I shop in.


5 - An herb

... or 4. The same store as above with the soap.


6 - Something vinyl

My wonderful chair. I'm sitting in it right now as I do every evening and most mornings. I was given this chair over Freecycle this summer and now am sooooo enjoying it. You see, it's an electric chair! :^ ) Well, a massage chair complete with heat, so I am sitting her being vibrated and warmed and absolutely loving it.


7 - A bottle of perfume/cologne

I often wear essential oil rather than perfume. It is nice smelling, has many health benefits, and so many people are allergic to perfumes/colognes that it is no longer a good idea to wear those.


8 - Snazzy shoes

Found at a really cool 'treasure' store in the next town to the north of here. As soon as I told the gal that I was taking part in a photo challenge, she was checking out the list and doing what she could to find me things to photograph.


9 - A worm

I was going to take a photo of a real worm, I bought a bag to take fishing one day. Didn't catch any fish and didn't get the photo taken. Eventually I took this one of the bin of gummi worms at the bulk/health food store.


10 - City bus

At the mall picking people up to take them downtown.


11 - Something curly

Branches of the Curly Willow.


12 - A key

My keys hanging on a wooden key at the 'treasure' store.


13 - Something cold

Wow, this water was sO cold!! I know because I had to sit in it. Yup, doing a spiritual cleansing with a native shaman friend of mine on September 14 this year. We have very different beliefs spiritually, though I enjoy doing things with him. This was a very interesting afternoon. He had me sit right in a small pool near where he is standing in this photo, then lean back into the falling water. It was COLD!!


14 - Sports memorabilia

I think the young gal at Boston Pizza may have thought me very odd when I went in and asked permission to take photos of their sports memorabilia. She asked her superior then told me it would be okay.


15 - A feather/feathers

Before my dip in the very cold water, Chief White Buffalo Man Many Feathers had to cleans the area. This is done by 'smudging', using a special herbal blend that is burned, in this case in a shell, using a feather to move the smoke around. When finished cleansing the area, he put his smudging items down and I was able to photograph them while he played his drum and sang.


16 - Something twisted

I thought of showing a rope, a braid, something like that, though being one who enjoys being 'unique' I decided to color outside the lines a bit here and show you how my sense of humor can sometimes be a little bit twisted.


17 - A hole

My truck needs a bit of body work :^ ( Oh well, I love 'him' anyway.


18 - A leprechaun

I went to Kelly O'Bryan's restaurant for this one.


19 - Something lacy

Silver Lace Vine. This is one single plant that grows up the side of one of my sheds... and a long way up the roof as well. It's incredibly big for just one plant. I've cut it right down many times and it still comes back beautifully. I'd like to move it one day to be able to grow up something that is larger... like my house.


20 - Something nutty

A bin of mixed nuts at the bulk food store... now that's nutty my friends.

21 - Sheet music

... and a wee drum to make it more interesting. Found at a thrift store some friends & I frequent.

22 - A Splash

Not a wonderful photo (dogs just don't seem to cooperate) but gotta love that splash.


23 - An apple - apples - apple something

How about a sign? Apple Valley Dental Clinic. It even has an apple tree on it. Amazing what one sees when driving down a street.


24 - A shovel

Went to Surplus Herbie's knowing they'd have a shovel display out front. I figured it would make a more interesting photo than one of my shovels.


25 - Something empty

A lower shelf at that same favored thrift shop.

26 - A triangle

Again, from the 'treasure' store.

27 - Something purple

And another find in the 'treasure' store.


28 - JuicyWhat is more juicy than Juicy Fruit gum?


19 - Noisy

I am fortunate in that my birds are not at all bad for noise. That being said, there are times (oh brother, are there times). This is Paco, male Indian Ringneck Parrot, and when he wants to he can be very, and I mean VERY noisy. Even then, he is quiet compared to some of the larger birds. Here is is grooming himself. He tends to over groom and destroys tail & wing feathers.

30 - Something sad

Cute isn't it. So why did I choose this for my something sad? Because I believe everything, everyone is perfect, there is perfection even in our differences and in our 'mistakes'. We are all God's creations. We are all perfect!! I think it's sad that so many people judge themselves and others as being unworthy, imperfect, 'less than'.


At Melli's blog you will find her post as well as links to others who participated in this fun challenge. Now... to find the next challenge. :^ )