The Wind Whipped the Hair Right off My Head

It warmed up quite a bit today, but the wind! Whew. It is blowing a gale out there, whipping the snow into snowbanks across the roads. We did venture into the village as I wanted to get my hair cut (check another one off the list), and Carm needed milk (I haven't been able to convert him to Almond milk for his coffee).

When we got home we bundled up and shovelled out the end of the laneway (again), I'm pretty sure we'll have to do it again tomorrow morning. The dogs stuck their noses out, but immediately turned back into the house - they are out for business trips only! Especially now that the poodles are hairless as well. In fact when I got out a blanket to lie on the futon, Spike was right there nosing his way under the covers. Poor wee guy is cold.

Even on a day like this there are pleasures and things to be grateful for: our Subaru - 416K + kilometers and still going strong - it is great on these snow covered, icy roads ; watching the raw fury of Nature ; having a nice, cozy house - r2000 really pays off on these cold days, especially when it is windy ; cuddling up with the dogs (talk about warm and cosy!) ; eating those 2 little lobster tails that I got at Independent Grocer for just $3.99 - a yummy treat! ; getting my hair cut for just $15, and it is as good a hair cut as the $40 ones I used to get downtown ; and here's one that should never be forgotten - having access to an excellent medical system without having to worry about paying the bills, or losing coverage ;

The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only.

Joseph Wood Krutch

Less Than One Week Away

I checked off another task on the to-do list for getting ready to leave on my trip. They weren't due for another few weeks but I had to get the poodles clipped before I leave otherwise they'd be furry, matted beasts by the time I get home. It broke my heart as it was minus 20C and here I was stripping them naked. Poor things. But they really don't complain and cooperated fully. Kabira feels a bit left out I think, and when Bella is on the table sits right by her side for the entire time.

I did a bit of packing too, or perhaps re-packing would be the more correct term! I've been tracking the weather for the last few weeks - temps seem to be consistently between 68F and 72F (20C and 22C), so the sleeveless tshirts have been swapped out for another long sleeve tshirt. And I've added a vest. My bathing suit is still packed though - I'm holding out hope to maybe dip a toe in the Pacific! I've started not wearing a sweater around the house so that I can get used to the cooler temperatures (okay I tried but froze - add 1 more sweater to suitcase).

One thing I didn't pack though was a new camera. You see, I had this little fantasy that Carm was going to bring me home a new Nikon p7700, but no, no new camera. The one I have now will surely do the trick, it is a handy little camera after all - but it would have been great to have an amazing camera to take pictures of the far-away lands.

One week today and I'll be on my way! Wait a minute... it is Thursday... which means that I'm leaving in just 6 days, not a week, and next Thursday I'll be somewhere enroute. I arrive in Wellington at 11:30pm Friday, which will be 5:30am Friday here. I'm thinking of wearing two watches - one set for NZ time and the other for home time - then I'll be able to figure out when it is - ha ha. I do have a little app on my tablet that tells me what time it is in both places - maybe that will help me to get sorted! I have trouble figuring out what day/time it is at the best of times, let alone being confused by 18 hours and a date line!

The only journey is the one within.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Unless you are going to the other side of the world!

Starting the Year Off on the Right Foot

Well, mostly the right foot! We had Jo Ellen and Don over for a veritable feast. With plenty of animal protein along with all the vegetables. I used 3 Italian sausages to flavour the tomato sauce, and then to make the stuffing for the peppers. We also had meat ravioli for a first course and chicken breasts for our main course. Oh my. We had a good visit and all managed to stay awake for the dropping of the ball in Times Square. We are getting older though - even though there was a bottle of my favorite bubbles chilled, we didn't even open it.

Today was a quiet day with time for reflection. 2012 was a good year with much to be grateful for. Not just the big stuff (visit with Kirsten and the girls ; camping at Presquile, trip to Alberta, new camper, turning 50 are the events the first come to mind), but almost every day was filled with small pleasures. Simple things like: watching the swallows learn to fly ; teaching Spike new tricks ; snowshoeing on crisp white snow ; lovely fresh produce to create healthy but good tasting meals ; the blue sky ; hot summer ; wild flowers growing in the hay field ; time spent with Carm ; visits with family ; playing with the dogs ; listening to Grace talk ; my morning smoothie ; bubbles ; watching old movies ; the smell of garlic sauteeing on the stove ; music, all different kinds of music ; hot baths ; leaves budding ; the smell of clover ; visits with friends ; ... I could go on and on as there is so much to be grateful for.

Here's to another spectacular year!

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson