Day 213 - Cowboys & Ice Cream Cake

Mmmm, I LOVE my new curtains! I picked up some plain white canvas curtains at Ikea the other day & they are perfect! They filter just enough light out to keep things dark... More sleep for me! Yay! Now, if only I could get to bed at a decent hour, I wouldn't have to worry about sleeping in the daylight hours! Nobody's perfect & I'm a bit like Garfield. I don't do mornings.


I woke up to a loud banging on the door... It was Dieter! And Jim! The are both cowboys from different continents. Dieter (Dee-tur) is from Germany, but has lived in North America for many years. Jim is from Australia & is here for a few months to work on a few ranches. Dieter used to keep his horses out at the ranch & that is how we met. On the exterior is this rough, tough cowboy who likes a good argument. If you're not in the right frame of mind, he'll catch you off guard. But under that tough exterior is a pussycat. He's got a big heart &  he always brightens my day when he stops in for a visit.


Jim was here a few years back & has returned for the summer. He is very quiet & soft spoken - quite the opposite of Dieter! He is a very kind man & quite generous too! He's coming out next week to help Mom build a bit of fence! Should prove interesting, I'm positive of that!


After the cowboys left, I started working on Mom's day planner for her. She has me do the menial, mindless parts, which take up too much time & allow her to do the creative bit. I don't mind. I need some experience in the program & it makes me feel useful! 


Today was Joe's birthday at EVIC & I had Mom pick him up an ice cream cake from DQ yesterday. We took it down shortly before the centre closed & lo & behold, the big boss was there too! Great! More to eat cake! Dave, one of the CO's & a very good friend of mine, also stopped by to grab a slice & wish Joe happy birthday. Dave barely got the last morsel in his mouth when he had to run out the door on a call! 


I walked the dogs home & went back to work on the day planner. I spoke with Ami's parents in California... Ami is super busy & I haven't had any luck tracking her down... Here's hoping tomorrow I will! Her parents are wonderful people & I only wish I could have made it there for a visit! One day! 


I chatted briefly with a few other friends & then, of course, Jaco phoned. We had a great chat tonight & guess who's going to see Michael Buble! Yup! What a guy! It will be a great date night for us! Last time he was here, we went to Keith Urban. I reckon it has just become a tradition! 


I spent the rest of the night trying to order my wigs. Argh. Only slightly frustrating. I have no idea what the actual colours will look like, but fingers crossed they will be fun! It's super late now, so I'm going to keep it short... 


Lekker slaap & big hugs!
Maria & Valentina
xxxxxx

Jim & Dieter - the Aussie & the German - I'm sure there's a joke about that... 

Happy 29th Birthday Joe!

Seriously at work

Mom enjoying her cake

Joe's birthday @ EVIC

Walking my wieners!

Crossing the road with 2 wieners

Finding the sunny spot

Day 205 - Crazy Day In May

Today was nothing like I expected! At all! I was off to Cochrane to surprise my dear friend Jenn at her birthday party. She turned 30 this week & her best friend, Cindy, was hosting a little soiree for her. I hadn't seen or spoken to Jenn since I'd been back, so I thought it would be fun to surprise her! 

As usual, I was late. I stopped to get fuel & then an ice cream cake. Cindy had asked me to bring an appetizer, but seeing as I was late, I thought I might just as well bring dessert instead! Jenn was very surprised to see me & I was excited to see her. She's been training hard for her triathlon & it has had an impact! She looks fantastic! I'm so proud of her! I only wish I had half that dedication! Wow! 

Jenn had a baby girl in December & I am always amazed at how much Heidi changes every time I see her! I also met Stan & Heather, Jenn's triathlon coach. (They were also Cindy's coach, but Cindy had serious emergency surgery not too long ago! She's healing well, but obviously triathlon training has been put on hold!!!) 

Heather is an OB/GYN Nurse & works across the street from the fertility clinic & had a lecture from Dr. Foong yesterday! Small world! Apparently they were discussing infertility in gorillas. Apparently acquiring semen from male gorillas is a bit of a task, as they aren't that into porn! :o) We had quite the chuckle! Heather's husband, Stan, started asking me questions about my health. At first I was a little stand offish, as I am not used to people being quite so direct, especially strangers! It took me awhile to warm up, as I wasn't sure what his intentions were. Sometimes people are interested in the 'gory details' & not too much else. But clearly Stan's intentions were true. He shared stories of a friend who was helping a couple in Cambodia, he encouraged me to pursue my photography career - he shared an inspiring website of a photographer he knows - Noah Fallis - Wow! Stan offered to help my Mom & I out in any way he could, which was most kind of him. I told him I wasn't sure what the next 6 months would look like, but we'll take it as it comes! After we had chatted for nearly an hour, covering various topics from cancer to photography to cruising, Stan excused himself & I chatted with Heather for awhile. 

I brought Valentina in to introduce her to Cindy's family & the kids loved her. (Of course!) When it was time to leave, I was saying goodbye to everyone & hugged Stan & Heather farewell & told them it was nice to meet them & I was sure we'd see each other again - if nothing else at Jenn's triathlon! As I hugged Stan goodbye, he put a wad of bills into my purse! I started to stammer right away, but he insisted that he wanted me to have it, just take it & don't say a word! What? Huh? But? I am still in shock! Speechless, humbled, flabbergasted, shocked & incredibly grateful! Crazy! I came for a birthday party for a best friend & certainly didn't expect something like this!

Looking back, I can remember the light & twinkle in Stan's eyes as he asked about my health & how I was doing. He had also just given Jenn a road bike for her triathlon, so I'm gathering he finds great satisfaction in helping people. I am so shocked by his generosity. What an unexpected gift! Angels come in all shapes & sizes! 

Needless to say, I drove home with my jaw on the floorboards & a lot on my mind. Dear ol' Contemplate was fulfilling her namesake tonight! 

With gratitude,

Maria & Valentina

xoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

I love birthday cake!!!

My Best Friend Jenn - Isn't she gorgeous!?

The Look of Love!

The Burnett Bunch are mostly May birthdays!

Lil' Miss Heidi

How cute is that smile!?!

Day 124 - Granny's 95th Birthday!

Wow. How many people do you know who have made it to 95 years old. My Granny is one amazing gal!

I left Grandma B’s around 10 – one hour behind schedule. She had me drop off a garbage bin she’d sold to a lady across town. By the time I finally found the place, I knock on the door, bin in hand, only to have the old bitty say to me, ‘Oh, no. That’s not what I want! I don’t want that! You can keep it!’ Thanks for coming out! I had paid Grandma B $10 for the bin, thinking the lady would pay me $10 for the bin. I didn’t have time to go back to Grandma B’s, so I left for Saskatoon, bin in car. I would send it back with Mom the next day when she left Saskatoon for home.

It was another long & relatively uneventful drive. I passed the time by taking ‘drive by shootings’ out the car windows, texting, listening to my iPod & singing my heart out. I managed to make decent time & stopped in Delisle for fuel. It’s generally a few cents cheaper than the city.

Mom had met up with Aunty Laureen & her daughter, Joleen, and Joleen’s three kids, Adison, Rhett & Nate. They were at the food court in the mall nearby & were on their way. Granny had no clue we were coming. I snuck up to the room to surprise her & she was certainly shocked! Even more so when Mom, Laureen, Joleen & kids came through the door!

We enjoyed cake, sang happy birthday & shortly after cake, Aunty Margaret showed up another cake! She was soon followed my Uncle David & Aunt Elva! It turned out to be a real humdinger of a party! And here Granny thought nothing would happen! Ha!

Perhaps the funniest part of the afternoon was when little Rhett explained his potty training to us. You see, when it’s a little poo, he gets a little marshmallow. When it’s a BIG poo (arms WAY up in the air, BIG eyes & an excited voice), he gets a BIG marshmallow! I think he told us again about the small vs. big, but I won’t repeat it! Too cute for 2 & a 1/2!

Pretty soon Granny got tired & we knew that was our cue to leave her alone for awhile. Before we left, Mom & I asked her what she wanted for supper. You’re 95 – splash out! Steak & lobster? Take your pick! Nope, her reply was, ‘Well, a hamburger from McDonald’s would be nice.’ Really? Really, really? Yup. No cheese, no tomato, just plain. I suppose when you’re 95 you can have whatever you want. It sure made me giggle!

We ate dinner with Granny & although I tried to lift the level of dining by offering a salad & some shrimp bruschetta, she would have none of it! We visited a little longer & then I drove Mom to meet Aunty Laureen again. We said goodbye & I left to meet Trisha. Mom was on her way home & I was just getting started!

Trisha was having a Silpada party at a friend’s place. I have never been to one, so it was nice to see some creative silver designs. And NO, I didn’t even buy anything. I think I picked out the most expensive piece in the catalog. Are you surprised? Even more surprised I didn’t take it home with me?

We finally got to Trisha’s house about 2300. We sat & talked until nearly 0200. I was so exhausted! What a day!

I was looking forward to a bit of a lie in – let me tell you!

Have a great sleep & see you tomorrow!

xxxxx

Maria & Valentina

Neat old buildings between Kyle & Elrose

True Definition of 'The Open Road'

Junkyard of old cars outside Kyle, SK

Old trees near the highway outside Kyle. When I was little I used to think that would be a neat place to live because of all the big trees.

Sometimes the horizon blended right in to the landscape!

Again, hard to tell where the land ends & the sky begins!

The Hutterite colony close to where we used to live. I used to go there & play with the hutterite kids.

Our old home. It's the little shack to the left. I remember riding my bicycle - with training wheels, getting my mouth washed out with Zest when I swore. Hey, it wasn't my fault! I took the garbage out with the Boss' nephew. When I came back in the house, I repeated what I'd heard. Mom asked me how it was & I replied, 'We saw a f***ing pussycat!' Oh dear. I was only 3 & I can still remember the Zesty burps. 

My daily reminder that what's behind me doesn't really matter. The past is the past.

Reason #759 why you should never listen to Yanni while driving!

Someone else asleep at the wheel!

388,000 kms on Contemplate. Did I mention it was free? Yes, the dash detaches below the steering wheel & reveals a great hiding place for Mom's missing edamame beans (don't worry, Adios caught the mouse!). Yes, the trunk pops open from time to time when you hit bumps. No, there isn't a stereo. But it was free & it runs!

Uh-oh. Fog ahead!

The fog rolling in & around.

Counting oil wells!

Peeling back the fog & 'I can see clearly now'

The bustling metropolis of Elrose, SK. We lived here from 1982-83.

Whoops, a little more fog!

Granny's 1st Birthday cake & Adison helping Grammy.

Nate - only 6 months, but measures in at 12 months! What a cutie pie!

6 months & 95 years old.

Adison & Valentina sharing cuddles & kisses.

Joleen, Granny, Nate, Adison, Laureen & Rhett - Joleen does something right. These are the best behaved kids I've ever seen! Wow! You deserve a prize!!!

Myself, Granny & Mom

Having a heart-to-heart with Nate.

Rhett & Adison - ready to go home!

Granny & her niece, Margaret

David & Elva - David is Granny's brother-in-law

 

I bought 95 flowers from Costco for Granny.

Yup, it's true. Camo floral wrap. What can I say?