OF MICE AND MEN.........NO MICE AND GINNY

Isn't he/she cute....Kenny G Mouse...or Mouse in G!

MY Favorite Mouse.....anything THIS cute could come INTO my house to visit!

HOWEVER.............this is NOT what met me at the door at 6:30 this morning!

 

OK...You have NO idea how exciting it is to wake up at 6:00 after a great sleep and see it is a glorious calm sunny morning. Especially with winter JUST around the bend............. I couldn't get my coffee going fast enough in order to head to the deck and take it all in before beginning the rest of my day.  Joe was sitting comfortably on the couch  watching his morning market news on TV (who does this?)   while eating his cereal creation (another blog).  I set mouse traps every evening (yes I'm the Queen Trapper....of mice anyway).....It has been one of those exercises in showing me I can stop fearing little things and making them into BIGGER things....you know....like seeing a tiny snake about the size of a worm and SEEING it as a BOA Constrictor?  SO........back to mice.........Door is open....I see to the left the trap is full...YES!  ........I then notice to the right MOVEMENT............UGH........as I look I see TRAP 2 also sprung and the one moving has been carried to my door from about 8 feet where I had set it last night!  I screamed......YES Queen Trappers do scream at times. I slammed the door shut imagining this moving trap coming INTO the cabin.  I said "JOE, you have to deal with this; there's a live mouse in the trap". He calmly says with a bit of a sinister grin "Ginny, I'm enjoying my cereal." I looked MORE sinister at him sans the grin part. He says "OK get me a broom, something I can hit him with" SO I think...........aha.......that's the ticket........I open the door knowing there is a walking stick right by the door.  I go to the deck/shut the cabin door.  I took a deep breath and dealt with the movement! The 2nd I believe LOL....  Beethoven would be writing a symphony for this I'm sure had he been here to see the swiftness and accuracy with which I dealt with the issue at hand. and ALL BEFORE A CUP OF COFFEE.  I then had to empty the traps and NOT reset them OR my little ground squirrels will find them during the day and that is NOT good. 

 

I head back into the cabin and recite the experience to Joe who is just finishing up his cereal creation.  He smiles and says "Atta Girl" HIS lingo for saying "I love you, you Rock Oh Queen of the Mouse Traps"

 

I over sterilized my hands (is that possible in such settings?) and poured myself a HUGE cup of coffee almost pondering adding a bit of Bailey's to it.......but not sure it would be the best of ideas at 7 in the morning!  I shall celebrate more fully this evening as I again sit on the deck watching the sunset and anything else that appears in nature................I'm suspecting the chatter among the creatures will be "watch that woman in the cabin today...she's on a mission for mice"

 

 I enjoyed my hour on the deck returning to my inner calmness after a few deep breaths and some OMMMMMMs!

If mice met me at the door carrying hearts.........this would be a completely different story! 

 

OH did you know there is a heavy metal band called 'OF MICE AND MEN".... 

PIES, PICS AND PATIENCE ......with a little dab of Tractors and Chainsaws!

FIVE Homemade Pumpkin Pies..........my great grandmother's recipe.........In my 32years of marriage I've NEVER made 5 pies for any reason in one day.......heck in one month and possibly in one year!  Hence  the photo to document it really did occur!  and now that I have  the attention of some of you reading this..........I shall continue.....you know........as to WHY the PIE!  ........First let me just say that the aroma of these pies in my log cabin almost........I say almost makes me desire to continue this adventure in baking again........alas.........I return to reality.......and will at least say that these 5 pies went to a farm sale  and I made a 6th pie (for real) that I shared with Joe, Alan, Chelsea and Emily...........which I think they all enjoyed!  I have joined.............and semi "UN joined" a group of farm wives (do you sense why I might UN-join this group).................called The Mount Pleasant Women's Group....It stemmed from a United Church that many of the farm families attended until it's closure.......though knowing me, my history lesson could be incorrect here. Anyway....let me just say.....I meet the criteria to join this group ONLY because our log cabin is situated in the area these farms exist and have existed some for over 100 years!  NOT because I farm and certainly NOT because I can match their energy and love and talent for baking and organizing HUGE 'dos" as they refer to these experiences. They come together to serve at funerals, teas, wedding anniversaries and any other type of gathering, and putting the money made at these events towards charities in the Moose Jaw community.  I get tired just listening to all these women still do in a day (m65to80 years old. One is even 90!!!)  Being a farm wife is more than a full time job up here........ most had jobs outside the home on top of supporting their farming spouse.  They can ALL make pies in their sleep!  and darn good ones.  I don't attend the monthly meetings ( I tried) but I do offer to help at these food functions.  This farm sale was about 2 miles from my cabin.  Farmer retired and was selling ALL his large equipment along with anything else that was moveable on his land. The women anticipated feeding 500 plus people for lunch. (it didn't pan or is that pie out that way)    There was quite the system in cutting the pies............just so...and trust me I had NOTHING to do with the cutting part............I did put them onto the plates.........VERY carefully because I know I was being graded/watched! LOL.  I'd never seen so many pieces of pie (15 women were asked to bring 5 pies each and each cut into 6 pieces!!!) I won't do the math; I'd never seen so many cases of pop and boxes of premade burgers and hotdogs.........Joe asked if they served beer....I think he thought this was a Tailgate Party ..Not sure my Canadian friends know what that is..........but letme assure you they do know how to party....just not at a Farm Sale.......Joe  was  where else.......if not at work......up working on his log project....... but did ask me to purchase a good tractor at a good price if I saw one..........I was TOO busy with the pies and burgers to look over the tractors!..............I put in 6 hours at the 'food court'  and still had a 4 hour drive north to go to my "log cabin helpers course" ...put on my none other than Joe!    I enjoyed making burgers and hotdogs ON DEMAND..........another gal and I created quite the efficient system......I can now add "Farm Sale experienced" to my Resume!  

There was a heavy rain in the night but the Sun was brightly shining at 7:30 a.m. as I headed to the Sale with my 5 pies........did I say "HOMEMADE PIES"?????  Just in case I didn't.........they were HOMEMADE PIES!  And just when I think I might be entering an area of life that I just shouldn't enter because I know so little about it..............I"m met with the awareness that YES..........I CAN drive on muddy roads w/out sliding into the ditch.....add this to my Resume too .....this flat bed semi....."sem EE" as Canadians pronounce it had somehow ended up half in the ditch....blocking the ONLY entrance to this farm sale............I knew enough not to attempt going around it and sliding into the other side of the ditch.  I know these things being from the city.............ha!  . I just watched as three men got a long strap hooked to a tractor that was being sold in this sale and very easily got this semi back onto the road and down the road where the flat bed was lined with lots of junk with one FANCY item in each pile to get you to purchase the junk with the GEM  in it!  The mud was sure messy........... but by noon the sun had almost completely baked it dry!  

Lots of John Deere equipment and quite a few items I have NO clue the name of!  Everything sure was clean and shiny though.

This is the tractor that saved the day by pulling out the flatbed/semi blocking the road.  It appears I am parked e in a NO PARK ZONE but I"m just waiting for these two men to get OUT of my way so I can leave.............notice the line of vehicles that goes on down the road over 1/2 mile!  They would have had more except the sale was also online.............AND one of the reasons all our pies were NOT consumed! People couldn't get them from their computers at home/work! DArn it all.  I brought 2 of my own pies home to freeze........YAY I won't have to bake any time soon!

Pieces of pie for miles!!!!!  Pumpkin, apple, lemon , lots of Saskatoon Berry and flakey crusts to die for!  We sold the fork to the person and they came and got the piece of pie..(Brilliant EH?)  .otherwise it has been said people get a piece of pie or two w/out paying!  Imgine that ....

Huge Quonset where we set up the feeding 'troughs"  I had fun listening/watching the locals meet/greet and look at times at this tall gal handing out burgers as if to say "who in the world is SHE I've never seen HER before" I am glad I was a part of this event and I have a greater appreciation for this group of women who come together to help serve those in the farming community where they have lived most of their lives. They have worked hard their entire lives......I cannot even relate to this dedication to family, farming and community in these often severe weather conditions from drought, to flood and harsh long winters when there are days you cannot see out your window because of the blowing snow.  They have a bond I will never penetrate but I do feel they appreciate my presence as a worker at these functions AND it does help me practice baking!!!!

I headed up north which is a 4 hour drive direct from the Farm Sale.  The following day the boys were at it ALL DAY!

chiseling is an art form and chisels are NOT CHEAP tools either! ha! 

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHAINSAWS!!

And this boys and girls is a 'tight fit'.....I enjoyed seeing Joe just stand and take in the fact that this all came together nicely from scribe to placing the log :)

PINE BEETLE ACTION......THE LOGS ARE TREATED AND I GUESS THE BEETLES GO TO BEETLE HEAVEN

I think Joe could do this part ALL DAY!

  The placement of this log was trickier as Joe had to back the tractor into a rather tight area and make sure he didn't back up and take out the Out House .he built and erected ........OUT BACK! I have  learned how to help with this traveling swinging log placement and so far haven't been yelled at!  We are all concentrating so hard NOT to hurt each other there isn't room for yelling!  This task has to be done twice. You put the log onto the other log to measure/scribe and see how it wants to lay. Then you remove it and take it to an area where it is notched, and 'groomed' for the final fitting..........yes you do want it to fit like a shoe or a glove......these boys ARE getting better with every log!

Alan being rugged 6'7" and 30 yrs old chooses to work with the heavy end instead of using the physics of managing the lighter end.  I never took physics but when I helped after Alan left I opted to go with Physics! Not sure how they will manage this as the logs get higher on the structure..........I'm learning to watch and not ask too many questions.  This is HARD for me.  I do see the watching of the Robin building her nest a few weeks ago gave me the lesson in patience I needed to watch Joe do lots of hard manual work that I just am not able to help him with (and trust me........my help comes in NOT being in the way and asking many questions) I know this makes no sense but at the end of the day I'm as tired as Joe is and I have done NOTHING but be present...........present watching someone live a dream.........working on reaching  a goal...........and having it be between the father and the son..........a mother's dream !

Walk on the Wild Side..........on the Inside!

 Moose Jaw built an indoor facility with a walking track about 2 years ago.  When you live in our long winters you will resort to walking in a circle INSIDE a building!  As you will see in the last photo the facility has indoor turf which can be used in its totality or sectioned off as 2 fields for soccer as well as baseball practice, a driving range and even our CFL Football team practices here if weather won't permit the to be outside.  I walk 2-3 times a week an average of 6 miles which takes me roughly 90 minutes.  Twice a week I go early in the morning. Here's the deal...you can go at 9-11 and pay only 2.00 if you are a senior....I'm considered a Senior at 55! Whoopee!.....However, I choose to go between 7:30 and 8:00 and pay $3 because I've learned at 9:10 a.m. it is as if Moses has lead the mass to Yara Centre to lead them home.........they do save $1.00 but it is wall to wall people for a few hours and always we seem to be on the same side vs. spread out around the entire track.  Moose Jaw Herd!

 This is the regular crew I encounter early in the morning before "discount time" begins at 9 a.m..  If one thinks they must have the latest spandex, Nike, North Face walking gear/shoes in order to walk effectively. ..well that is quite the myth!  There is a woman who walks in sandals and carries her purse on her shoulder the entire time. She is I'm sure 2 decades older than I am too! Quite a few with walkers which I think is awesome....and some day I may be one of them but hoping it is about 30-40 years from now. 

The short gentleman in the back of this group of folks must be in his mid 70's and He has been walking for years.  He is always in his levis and blue shirt and black walking shoes. One would think with my 5'11" stature and "youthfulness" I could walk circles around this man. HA HA HA........the joke is on me! Well, seriously, the joke is on everyone who walks this track .....as this man is quite the little speed demon walker...great form.....and he walks 60-90 minutes.  I was able to pass him twice last week while walking. Part of me wanted to ask him if he was feeling all right (the caring soul that I am).........however, it would have been depressing for me to hear he was under the weather.......I would prefer to think he was on top of his 'game' and I was just the better walker that day.........well.......not day.............just 2 laps!    There is a taller man in his mid 60's who is also in jeans, t shirt and tennis shoes...he has a handkerchief  in his hand at all times wiping his brow and trust me.....he is 'boogying".........HE even passes the short FAST man like he's not even moving!  What's with these older people walking SO much faster than I???????????????????
We have to walk the circle 4.5 times to reach 1 mile.  They play music on the loud speakers that is not to bad early in the morning. Maybe this is why these  men race around so quickly....he dislikes the 50's and 60's genre and wants to get the hell out of there!  Sure doesn't make me walk faster later in the afternoon when it is heavy metal music!  There are moms with strollers too, but on this day they must have slept in! OR their babies did.

 As you see, this little gentleman is quickly passing the four folks to his right! Actually I see there are five folks.  They greet him but he is walking SO quickly he only appears to be waving as his hands move up and down to the side of his body as he races past everyone!  I have to attempt to jog just to get these photos! I am sure I burned a few more calories than usual!

 WHERE IS HE NOW!?? He has already made it around the corner far in front of the five folks he sped past!  They just keep on keep walking  on at their own friendly pace.  I usually pass this group of folks w/out much difficulty. Now this doesn't always mean I'm walking at my usual 3.5-4.0 mile pace.....sometimes they are just slower!!  They sure are friendly souls though and for me that is part of the fun of walking early in the mornings.  The real athletes do NOT care who is there, how fast they walk or run and the walkers can't bother them because the runners go in the opposite direction.  Athletes  rarely speak...even when spoken TO!  This is why I shall never reach the status of "athlete"..........and why I never DID! and I'm totally OK with that!  AND let me tell ya, when a walker is going in the direction the runners are going..........they 'get the look"!  When I'm really feeling 'wild' I do this just to irritate people............I used to be one of those people who were irritated over such trivial rule breaking scenes!  This is helping me relax and exercise at the same time!

 The man in the red shirt and woman in the black are married to each other SO someone is making the other one walk with them.  They are relatively new to the morning group so I have not decided who wishes they could walk quicker. Ha!  See Joe would be struggling to walk alongside me in this setting........heck because of all my years in the nursing home walking with the residents, I'm afraid I struggle with walking as quickly as I really could walk IF I'm alongside someone else. It is as if I'm conditioned to walk the pace they are walking.......not the pace I CAN walk.  I walk really briskly if I am alone and listening to some peppy tunes!    Joe....he can't understand how I cannot walk at his pace since we really are much the same height!  I just want to enjoy the scenery.....YES EVEN at the track! 

The facility used to have coffee hour after the seniors walking time had ended. I think TOO many showed up for that that hadn't walked much!  That's where I have to draw the line though.   I'm just not ready for that atmosphere!  The facility  also puts on a monitored exercise group for those who have undergone heart surgery or had a heart attack. There are nurses and EMS workers on site during this time "just in case". Now what would really be great is if there were volunteers handing out power drinks and "way to go you are almost finished"  comments as we rounded the track! Oh ya, I forget I'm just walking at an indoor track.........I'm not in a marathon..............the only marathon I'm in is our Northern Winters!

Follow Me Friday................SEE what I SAW!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Swallows guarding the nest.  This one is sitting on the log directly below the mud nest. 

Not sure which is male/female. This one sits often on this birdhouse which is in view of where the nest has been built.

When I looked out the window this coyote was on a mission.  Had to grab the binoculars as it was just so large. I knew it wasn't a wolf as it wasn't tall enough and we don't have them this far south (I tell myself anyway) but it was just SO fat! Must be ready to have pups.  I watched her pounce 3 times onto probably a mole (there are lots of hills as you hike around on this area atop the valley)  Through the binoculars I watched her not even put salt/pepper on what she caught...she just ATE away! 3 Times!!!!! 

She posed and sat and looked around for roughly 10 minutes.  Can't recall what it was I was supposed to do when I noticed her but who cares..................it will come back to me and this photo op may not...makes me wish I had a huge lens...sometimes!

I tried to sneak up and hang behind a tree (yes there are a few around) but these Canada Geese and goslings saw me and began to head to the water.

The water!

I think there are 9 here.  I ended up just sitting on a picnic bench and read  for close to an hour...'As time went on 4 couples were in one spot and I counted a total of 32 babies!!!!!  I could not capture it in a photo due to the spacing of them and if I'd have moved much they all would have raced around and scattered to hide the babies...........LOVED IT!

Name that Flower!  Ha! I have more where these came from if you would like some!

this is up atop the valley along a river/runoff from the lake...it is to the northeast of our place about 7 miles......wonder how long it will take for the ground to get green! 

Caught these two kissing!! 

MY FAVORITE! Look at him go after the bugs!  It was hilarious!!!  HE was the only one doing it while I was taking pics!  SHOW OFF! 

coming in for a landing...must have been an important meeting. I watched 3 coming to this cove all at the same time to hook up with 2 already there.

Does Waiting in Line TOO LONG ever happen to you?

A few days ago I woke with the sun at 5:00 a.m.! I got moving and headed into town to the indoor track to do my 6-7 mile walk and fully expecting to be back out at the cabin way before noon to enjoy the day OUTSIDE! as it was glorious and to be in the high 70's possilby 80's.  Well, as they saying goes............LIFE had OTHER plans!

I was mailing one of the 'mom packages' to Emily..you know the kind...well you who mail things to your children who live far away may know the kind......the box contents do NOT exceed the cost of the postage and the postal workers look totally stunned that you are paying for a box full of itsy bitsy items or in this case those Canadian things that Emily can't get in the states..........I no longer explain myself to them!  BUT today........I encountered a NEW adventure............Customs in the U.S. is requiring a computer form be completed online before they can stamp the package and get it into the system. WELL Lucky ME...I was their FIRST such customer. SO I was involved with this process for 20 minutes! Fortunately the postal workers were friendly, i was still on my perceived schedule of getting to the cabin WAY before noon and NO one was behind me to irritate us in this new adventure.  It all worked out and like I said.....20 min later I was Off to the next errand.............the GROCERY STORE!



EVERYTHING was going SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smoothlyl.........even when I pulled up to the ONLY open check out lane (it was only 10:45 a.m so not ALL that many folks in the store yet).  One older couple was in front of me and they were almost finished.............OR so I thought...................

I start glancing at ALL the magazines in the checkout lane....................I realized I was about to finish an entire article in a Health Magazine (why I chose THAT one I do not know...maybe so if anyone saw me reading a magazine I'd not paid for yet and it was about health, I would be forgiven?

I then see the woman reviewing her receipt with great concentration....asking about senior's airmiles and senior's discount. I'm not fretting as the cashier is so friendly and helping this lady and her husband and I am still thinking I will get to the cabin before noon----even with a drive of 30 minutes........and THEN IT HAPPENS>...........the cashier takes this lady's receipt over to customer service...........they husband who I end up knowing (he is a retired minister here in town and a nice gentle soul) comes up to me and says "i'm really sorry this is taking so long...she is particular about her air miles." I just smiled and said "it is OK I don't have anything frozen today".............we chatted a bit.  He has macular degeneration and can hardly read any more and had to retire from the ministry. Was a wonderful visitor to the various nursing homes here in town and that is His GIFT!......it was nice to catch up with him and see him doing his best to be in the public with his disability......... and then the waiting  got SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo long he went to fiddle with his groceries that were in the cart (perhaps HE did have things that were frozen? HA!).............I kept trying NOt to glance at my watch, I'd put all my groceries onto the conveyer belt so wasn't going to remove them to go elsewhere and there WAS NO ELSEWHERE!!!!! no other checkouts but express for 10 items or less was open!

I was lucky that NO ONE got in line behind me........because then I start feeling responsible for how they are feeling about all the waiting and I haven't even caused the delay!

I used to end up purchasing quite a few of THESE items as I waited in line but NO MORE! WHEW! 

I then looked at my watch and realized I had been in line for 25 minutes and NOT even begun MY grocery checkout yet!  My mind began wandering  and I imagined how great it would be to get your exercise out of the way as I waited in line at the grocery store......heck at the post office..................I just saw on CBS morning show there are corporate offices that now have treadmills at desks............can you believe it? people in high places NOT sitting at their desks.........they are coordinated enough to stand up /use a lap top, talk on the phone, use a calculator ALL while walking on a treadmill.......................I have to admit.........I remained calm in both 'waiting experiences.........everyone was friendly and I still made it home (though an hour later than anticipated) and enjoyed my afternoon outside at the cabin..............and JOE was SO grateful I had been the one doing all the waiting...........as for such a patient man in SO many areas (or at least he appears patient), he does NOT do well in lines..........or waiting while the people in front of him are chatting about the weather, the best coffee, gas prices or what their latest blood pressure reading was last week!

We all have our gifts..............and I think one of mine is now being more at peace in WAITING......at least on this day! and seeing the GIFTS IN the WAITING!

Noise On the Deck...........AGAIN! Ginny to the Rescue!

This is "Gerald Of the North" Ground  Squirrel..we have Gerald 1, 2 and 3 also...
.
Gerald is NOT a Gopher and Gerald(s) is/are SAFE from any shooting except with my camera!!

Today, I'd  just sat  down on the couch/sofa/chesterfield (some people up here call it a chesterfield???? sounds like the name for a dog!) to have lunch.  This piece of furniture I was sitting on  is right next to the front door..well the only door.  NO music, NO TV just hearing the sounds of silence,  when I hear a noise/snap. I ignore it (since it wasn't footsteps!)  I then hear a bit of noise/banging around and I literally "rise up" from the couch like there is a FIRE.,,,,or "FAR" as we Okies say.......I rush to .open the door BECAUSE...........I think OH NO............"Gerald of the North" may be on the deck. and TRAPPED! 

Well, I was SO RIGHT.(in my mind I usually am LOL)   I have 2 mouse traps with peanutbutter on them at the front door. "G.O.T.N." was face first INSIDE one of them.....I had to breathe, speak gently to him to calm down (assume it is a HIM as HERS don't usually take such risks!)  I opened the trap (it's a plastic spring loaded one)   My apologies, is this TOO much information?  OUT sprang Gerald...he scampered over to the west part of the deck (about 10 feet) and stopped.....then LEAPED off the deck which is at least 2 feet (Joe will probably correct me if I'm wrong) down and he raced like a 'bat out of hell" (am sure there will be bat blogs later) and I was never so happy to see something scamper away from a mouse trap in all my life!

SOOOOOOOOOOO, I have now picked up the traps and will hopefully remember to set them out (every night......really? I will go to this length to save the "Geralds of the North"????  YES!   I will reset them when it gets dusk out ............if the "Geralds of the North" get into the trap at night it is NOT on my head.............they obviously were NOT minding their parents!  I have to hold my ground with the mice population........and set a few traps...........So far I'm very successful. Wish there was a bounty on them.....I could collect enough money to  eventually pay for a plane ticket somewhere fun!

What a life....................heck................what a WIFE! ha! ha !

Pandora's SCARY Pantry and the fun that follows.........................

Joe and I are growing  tired of our long, cold windy winter.  WE are never sure if April/May are harder on us or if the actual October through March with the severe frigid temperatures and snow mixed in with the wind is what 'does us in'..............I think this year it is the April/May wet, cold, still frozen ground, brown hillside that is testing our patience.  Brings a whole new meaning to WAITING!  Joe is waiting for the snow to melt up north (4 hours plus north) so he can begin his trapper cabin buildling adventure.  Much prep work to do before that begins.  My adventure is to learn HOW to be in our 'close knit quarters' in our log cabin with Joe pacing.........and I mean "picking up the pacing" as he tries to decide if THIS IS THE DAY (yes, that the Lord has made.....but isn't the weather day Joe desires!!!)  that he will haul the camper up to the land 4 hours north  so it is there, ready to sleep in when 'things get rolling" up there around the trapper cabin building project!

Joe is toying with the idea of heading north with the camper or should he stay here because it's so cold/has a headwind driving over four hours and can't do much once he's there.  I have plans that have me heading into town and decide this time (a new discovery.....I don't have to alter my plan because someone comes up with a plan last minute .....I have choices!!! and this has been a revelation for me.....no one else got upset if I stayed with my original plan, but I sure got upset having to change my original plan many times.or missing out on THEIR plan because later it was better than the one I had planned!   ..UGH.....) I decide that I want to keep my plan and Joe isn't for sure he's leaving anyway and if I stay home watching him work through whether he will drive north or stay here and pace, it could be 'dangerous' for the both of us! ha! 

About an hour after I'm in town Joe calls to tell me he's headed north with the camper.  I know he is happy and I know too he will get to see our granddaughter. NOW true confessions....this used to SO set me off..........I would say outloud it was OK that I wasn't going.....or say "It is OK that you are going" and then within a few hours I would find myself in quite a funk about it all and for years really not know what was actually occurring...........but I sure made sure Joe knew it was ocurring or that it HAD occurred.. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

with new technology I FACETIME with family! (well if we are in town)..we don't have good cell tower reception at the cabin...go figure.....I can Facetime in the boonies up north but not 30 minutes from Moose Jaw. (Maybe I will move to that trapper cabin some day!)
I was  SO lucky that Chelsea and Pepper were home and Pepper was awake and I got some giggles, kisses blown to me and just watched her a bit through our cell phones and got MY PEPPER FIX knowing Joe was going to get his too!  IN PERSON!

I returned to the cabin and it was cold, windy (Oh yeah I've already shared that weather report haven't I?).
I tried reading and it wasn't working......the book is good, but my mind was on "how is Joe doing pulling this camper he's never pulled that far before and of course creating many as Alan says "worst case scenarios" in my head about what can go wrong and I'm not there to ..........to.................to help? Hmmm Help is stretching it .....but I could be there....SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo

the next thing I know..... I have gotten into our small pantry and decide after living here 4 years maybe I need to check the dates on cans of things in case there are some that are out dated...................THIS IS WHERE I MEET PANDORA!!!!  Well, I meet her PANTRY!!!!

MEET PANDORA........FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE MORE ATTRACTIVE......SHE LOOKS A BIT RUGGED HERE I THINK.