Day 314 - Toon Town!

We groggily woke up to the ‘beep beep’ of my alarm clock. Still tired from the previous day’s drive, we slowly got ourselves ready. We showed up at Granny’s place just as they were getting ready to serve lunch. We offered to take Granny out for lunch, but she seemed quite confused about going out or eating in.

While we were discussing what to do with one of the nurses, she called us over & showed us Granny’s recent blood work. Her WBC was through the roof, which meant some kind of infection. Okay, so we’re not going out for lunch. By the time we took Granny & her tray of food back to the room, they had spoken to her Doctor & scheduled a chest x-ray for that afternoon.

Thankfully Jaco was here & he could decipher the blood work & offer an opinion on what was happening.

We ended up taking Granny out for some sunshine to a nearby park where we could sit & visit, Valentina could run & play & we could all get some vitamin D. I snuck over to Grandma Lee’s for a soup & sandwich to try & get some more food into Granny’s belly. She hardly drank or ate anything the entire time we were there.

About the time she decided she was tired, it was time to leave for her x-ray. Her Doctor didn’t have the best bedside manners, but I also know what Granny can be like. She was pretty tolerant until he handed her a prescription for what he thought was pneumonia. Then she lost it. I don’t think she quite understood what was going on, but clearly she was tired of taking pills! Bless her heart!

II stopped to fill the prescription, not without hassle, and then I met Jaco & her back at the Lodge. She was exhausted by time we returned, so we helped her into bed & said goodbye for today. I’m a little concerned that she might not be very well tomorrow after such a big day today, but we’ll cross that bridge when tomorrow comes.

We left for Brad & Trisha’s for supper. It would be a quick visit, as Trisha had a meeting & Jaco & I had decided to go back to the city for the night. Trisha had slaved all day cleaning her house for our arrival & stay, but we decided it would be better for the kids & us (the big kids!) if we stayed in town again. Trisha made mini pizzas for supper, which were super yummy! She ran off to her meeting & Jaco & I visited with Brad for a while. We left just after dark & we were both so exhausted we could barely keep our eyes open on the drive home. Tweet Pea was equally as tired after running with the ‘Big Dogs’ all night!

Yawn! Here’s to a great day tomorrow!

Maria, Jaco & Valentina

xxxxx

The not-so-clean glasses at the Super 8. I should probably also mention that I found 5 long hairs in the bathroom... Obviously not Jaco's & certainly not mine!!! Eeew.

Huxley has grown so much!

Buster is talking up a storm & growing like a weed!

We enjoyed the mini pizzas outside in the sunshine

And a little ice cream too!

Huxley is a little charmer!

Me & the boys!

Day 313 - Saskatoon via Black Diamond

I finally finished the Stirr edits at 0300. I was beat. I crashed, knowing full well that my plans to leave for Saskatoon by 1000 would NOT be happening. My revised plans to leave for Saskatoon at 1200 didn't even happen. Nope. We left around 1400. For Black Diamond.


We had to drop off the edits & Yay! Clayton liked them! I am very happy that he is happy & I am excited to take my cooking class in trade somewhere down the line! One step closer to domestication. No wonder I like boots so much. They allow me to dig my heels in when I want to resist something. Like domestication! :o)


We stopped at Chinook Windz to pick up some food for Valentina & a hot chocolate for Jaco & I. And we were off. At the wonderful hour of 1630. Oh dear. 


Jaco drove the entire way. I kept him company by nagging at him about his driving, reading a book to him, pointing out the Northern Lights (sweet!), giving directions, & steering so he could give Tweet Pea the odd cuddle now & then. 


We managed to get 2 stone chips in the windshield just before Hanna. There was a stretch of highway that seemed to last FOREVER & lo & behold, we each got a chip at about eye level. Hopefully we can get them fixed before they spread right across the line of view!


We talked about politics, childhood memories - when is your earliest memory? - dreams, buffalo, where to live & where NOT to live... Before we knew it, we were in Saskatoon. We found the LAST room at the Super 8... It's now 0130 & I'm beat... Tomorrow we surprise Granny... I brought a wig so she won't be horrified to see my bald, tattoo'd head. Here's hoping the red pixie cut isn't too much for her either! ;o)


Oh yes, Mom took a few snaps of the Henna Do while it's still dark & before I have to attempt at tracing over it. Thanks Mom! She's redoing the office while Jaco & I are away, so here's hoping she manages well on her own! She's always got Oceana for a 'little' support! 


xxxxx
Maria, Jaco & Valentina

Photos by Kim Taylor; Henna Artistry by Larissa of Dragon Fly Designs

Thank you to Larissa of Dragon Fly Designs for her incredible talents!

Thank you to Mom for her fabulous photography skills!

Day 127 - Alberta Bound

Today was my last day in fair Saskatchewan. I was up early by my standards, but Kristina's Mom & Dad were long gone by the time I opened my eyes. Kristina was up & ready for work & we had a quick chat before she was out the door too. Now, it was just lil' Miss V & me. 


I quickly showered & swallowed my morning pills, loaded up a plethora of bags & hollered & hollered for my darn dog to come get in the car. I tell you, when her nose decides its onto something, there's no hope! 


I managed to get lost in North Battleford. Pathetic, yes. But those phone book maps are no good for nothin'! I was trying to find City Hall to visit my friend Mike. Mike & I went to school in Golden Prairie many, many moons ago. He was one of four groomsmen at Wedding #3. He has spent the past 10 years in Broadcasting & Communications & now he has recently made a shift & works for the City of North Battleford doing Marketing. 


Mike is a hoot. I can remember laughing with him when I was in elementary. I'm still laughing today! I visited him at his office & somehow the topic of dry air & dry skin came up... He proceeds to tell me, 'Yeah, just use Head & Shoulders' (This coming from the bald guy) Then he adds, 'But they really need to make a Head & Shoulders Saskatchewan.' I thought that was pretty funny. It's so dry the province needs it's own brand of shampoo & conditioner! Ha! We shared some mini oranges & Valentina showed him her tricks. By then it was time for lunch. Mike had a date & I had to hit the road. As we're going out the back way, what do you know, it's the Mayor. Of course it is! Who else would you meet at City Hall but Mike & the Mayor?!? Mike drove me the half block to my car, although we drove past it twice because I don't think he believed me when I said the oldest car in the lot was mine. Poor Contemplate. 


On the road again... I was headed for Wainwright. I was stopping in to see Roxie, the dog lady. Roxie is the lady who raised Valentina. She has Pebbles, Valentina's mommy, and I drove to her house twice last summer to pick out & pick up my little baby. It was really quite amazing. Valentina knew exactly where she was. She started whining & fussing as soon as I pulled up. She ran up the walk way, all excited about her homecoming! Her mother had another batch of puppies, so the two of them didn't meet, but Valentina had a blast playing with Macie, Roxie's granddaughter. Macie especially enjoyed Valentina following her through the tent & it's tunnels! I waited until Cohby, Roxie's son, was home from school to show them her tricks. Roxie was so impressed, she said she wanted Valentina back! Ha! I offered to train her new pups for her! :o) If you need/want a little doxie, let me know & I'll put you in touch with her!


I still had a ways to go, so I said goodbye & headed out on the road again. My final stop for the night was Janis & Dustin's house. I rolled in just before 1900 & was happy to turn off the car for the night! Valentina had a wee outside & then proceeded to make a 'deposit' at the top of Dustin & Janis' stairs. Way to make a first impression! Argh! I was so mad! Thank goodness they have 2 dogs & were forgiving. (Janis & Dustin, not the dogs!) Janis' cousin, Shantala, was there & we enjoyed a wonderful night of visiting & laughing. Janis & I met in College & she was also a bridesmaid at Wedding #3. Her & Dustin have the cutest little boy, Caleb. I think it's amazing to see them all in action. Dustin & Janis are both very calm people, they are a perfect match for each other. Their little boy, Caleb, is exactly like them. Calm, cool & collected. Even their dogs are chilled out! It's really quite the sight! I love it!


Janis is a teacher, an exceptional artist & very creative. I love her house & sense of style. She has recently ventured into a web based business - http://www.littletreehugger.ca - selling eco-baby goods. She had just been to the health food store & picked up some delish dishes for her guest! How spoiled am I? Even my favourite Luna bar! We visited until 0100 when our eyes got tired... Shantala had gone out on the town & Dustin went to work.  The bed called me name & I was out like a light! What a fun-filled day!


Tomorrow will soon be here!
Lekker slaap,
Maria & Valentina
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Uncle Mike & Valentina

Reminds me of a Bryan Adams song.

Beautiful blue skies

Enjoying the ride

Still enjoying the ride, just a bit unconscious

'...She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts... She's Cheer captain & I'm on the bleachers...'    - nothing like a little Taylor Swift to spice up the drive!

Macie & Valentina

Valentina & Caleb - they were both so excited!

Valentina learns to pick on someone her own size!

Caleb - beautiful blue eyes!

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?