I'M BAAAACK (FINALLY)

Its November 3rd.  We've cancelled the plans we made this morning and are staying put where its warm, dry and no chance of getting into an accident.  We've been listening to the radio and hearing of more and more accidents and road closures.  "Don't try to drive up this hill... you won't make it."  etc.  It started snowing November 1st.   We now have 12" on top of our barbeque and patio table.  

I had my first yoga stretch class (preceded by a noon meditation at Nirvana) before we decided to park the Jeep and stay home.   

My poor Maggie hasn't gone for a walk in 3 days.  The wind chill factor has been high and the Weather Network keeps saying this will last 2 weeks.  So every few days the 2 week cold spell gets extended for "2 weeks".  This happened far too early this year!  We had one of the hottest summers on record here in southeastern Alberta.  We're already known as the sunniest city in Alberta but that was ridiculous.  We weren't able to ride our bikes as we weren't about to get up at 6:00 a.m. to do it.  We even had to cancel camping trips because there is no point going camping if its uncomfortable to sit outside and you have to sit inside the motor home in the air conditioning!   We did manage to have some great longer trips.  In May we spent 2 weeks travelling to BC and visiting family at Mirror Lake (south of Kaslo).  We camped at Creston, Crawford Bay, and Cranbrook as well on that trip.  The Discovery Channel had a program that showed a bit about Kaslo's May Days' logging competitions and we decided that we wanted to be there for May Days.  That was a lot of fun with all the people coming for the festivities.  We planned a family gathering of my siblings and their spouses but one sister wasn't able to rent a cottage and stay with us.  She got a ride out a couple days which was great because it wasn't a short trip for her.   We spent a week camping between Writing on Stone Provincial Park, Waterton Lakes Provincial Park and Taber Municipal Park.  Another week was spent camping at Creston after our Cypress Hills Provincial Park Labour Day weekend camping trip.  Creston's Fall Fair happened to be on the weekend we were there so really enjoyed that; and enjoyed going to the three wineries and doing wine tastings.  Also checking our their second hand book stores and going to coffee shops for specialty coffees and fabulous lunches.  

Fall hit so fast that we had to bring the motor home back 3 days after we had taken it back to the storage lot so that we could winterize the water pipes.  But Fall didn't last long and Winter hit before it was supposed to.  

I'm feeling much better just these past two to three weeks and have actually gotten back some of my motivation and creativity.  Its been probably 18 months or more since I had scrapbooked.  This past little while I've probably gotten 14 pages done!  Here are the most recent:

 

STAMP CARVING

This is my first attempt at carving rubber stamps.   I bought the Speedball pink rubber and the Speedy-Carve 3-piece carving set off of Blitsy ... hmm... possibly 2 years ago?   I got brave and made two different feathers tonight.  While not perfect, I am thrilled and trying to think of what I want to make next.

 

Labour Day Weekend

My weekend is going to begin at noon tomorrow when we leave for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (Saskatchewan side because its nicer than the Alberta side and because the showers are clean and free and the firewood is free as well).  There is no wifi where we are camping.  It is supposed to be cool, windy and rain Friday, Saturday & Sunday.   Cypress Hills is often 10 degrees cooler than here.  Oh yay.  I asked my husband,  "So if it is supposed to be so ugly this weekend, why don't we just stay home?"  and the stupid answer I got was, "Because we have reservations."  What he didn't say was that May long and Labour Day weekends are traditionally spent camping at Cypress Hills.

So, I am now the proud owner of fashionable rubber boots, have packed thick gloves, a toque and my winter coat!    I've packed 2 books but I know I won't get to even open the cover of one because we are camping with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law.  Of the four of us, I'm the only one who reads.  (I blame their parents.) I've therefore also packed chocolate chip cookie chips? (something new), hot chocolate, 3 dark chocolate bars,  500 grams of Haagen Daas Cappuccino Gelato (I have no idea what gelato is and want to find out) and 500 grams of Chocolate Haagen Daas ice cream.  Did you know 500 gram containers of Haagen Daas cost more than two litres of other brands?

Picture it, the sound of rain on the roof, while you are curled up on a recliner love seat, wearing sweat pants, cuddly sweater, thick spa socks and a cozy blanket and cute Shih Tzu on your lap; your favourite radio station playing your favourite music (not too loud; not too quiet) while you are reading a good book, drinking hot chocolate and nibbling on a "healthier" dark chocolate chocolate bar!

That sound you now hear is what happens when a pin pops a balloon... because your sister-in-law insists that there is no point camping if you spend any time at all inside your very comfortable motor home.  All meals must be cooked either on the bbq or right on the camp fire.  You are now bundled up in half the clothes you packed sitting on camp chairs huddled around a camp fire while the wind tries to blow your toque off and the rain tries to put out the fire.

I may be quite busy Monday after unpacking the motor home, cleaning it and doing laundry.  I'll be trying to work off the ice cream, gelato, hot chocolate and chocolate bars. Oh, and the  peach pie and potato salad my sister-in-law is bringing.   Have a great long weekend!