Cutie Petutie

Douglas has been in El Salvador for over 6 months now without us and it has, of course, been emotionally draining.  The poor guy needed a companion - so he decided to buy an adorable teacup Chihauhau - better than getting himself a girlfriend!  He named him "Tequila". 

I can just see it at the airport now - when Douglas comes to meet us, the girls are going to ignore him & make a big fuss about this little cutie petutie!

Building Art

I just love these transformations. On the way to my office, I pass by these works of art. I absolutely love them! This Architectural firm's building was painted with irridescent paint and it just glistens in the sun.

I also love this wall - love the colours!

Thanksgiving

While Douglas is dealing with torrential downpours in the heat (and no Thanksgiving dinner) - we guiltily enjoyed a day at the farm and then a wonderful dinner with cousins and other extended family.

Avalon & I on the wagon ride - it was a chilly day!
A pony ride through the farm for Anitcka.
Freya loved all the barn animals - and they loved her and the food she offered!
A trek or two or three through the "Haunted Maze".
Thumbelina wondering when dinner would be served.

Avalon made it through the long day, but was not her usual "Dennis the Menace" self. The reason for that? Unbeknownst to us she had come down with H1N1 (Swine Flu). She was so generous, that she gave it to her sister also. So, the week that unfolded was filled with two sick littled kidlets home from school for the entire week! I think I heard "Mummy!" every 10 minutes for the last week.

Acceptance Speech

Excellent acceptance speech by President Obama, who never asked for this award. I think he found it difficult to accept the Nobel Prize, realizing that after only 8 months in office, he is just getting his "feet wet"; he was very humble and gracious. (Perhaps Europes' slap in the face to George W. Bush?)

Nobel Peace Prize: Canadians Should Be Insulted

We all heard/read the news today - the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Barack Obama. I do not dislike the President. He is an eloquent speaker and has delivered excellent speeches around the world.

Also, in The Huffington Post today there are two articles entitled: "Obama to Accept Taliban in Afghanistan's Future" & "U.S. Considers Establishing Political Party for Taliban in Afghanistan". The articles outline how the President Obama is prepared to accept the Taliban to have some rule in Afghanistan.

With all due respect to President Obama, as a Canadian I am insulted that the Nobel Peace Prize would be awarded to him. Let me explain.

Canadian soldiers have been embedded in Afghanistan since 2001. The cost of this offensive military operation, until 2011, is expected to be $18.5 billion. More importantly 131 young Canadian soldiers have been killed and brought back to be driven in a hearse down our "Highway of Heros" as Canadians stand on the overpass bridges waving their Canadian flags.

A very interesting read that outlines the Canadian soldiers' liberation of the Afghani women from the Taliban and rebuilding of Afghanistan, is Christie Blatchford's "Fifteen Days", awarded the Governor General's award.

If you are familiar with the atrosities of the Taliban (especially against Women) and the hard work of the Canadian Solidiers who have carried the weight of Afghanistan on their shoulders since they were removed from power in 2001, you should be insulted.

The ideologies of the Taliban should never be allowed to have a voice or place in any society on this earth.

"Those who cannot learn from History are doomed to repeat it." (George Santayana)

Renos - The Ongoing Project...

Below are the photos of the living room and dining room prior to the Renos. (Wide angled lens would have come in handy here, but you can get the idea.) It is very obvious that Douglas and I are addicted to the store "Home Sense". Note to self: look into Minimalism theories. The floors previous were black and had lost their shine and gleam over the last couple of years.

AFTER: Clean and bright with cherry hardwood floors installed on Monday. I'm very happy with them. They are also in the entry way as well.

Currently underway - the kitchen, bathrooms and entire upstairs. Should be done soon. In the interim, the housing market is making a slow recovery here - hopefully it continues to trend upwards!

Mother Cat

Just as a follow up - we had great difficulties trying to catch the Mother Cat mentioned in previous entry. The poor hussy is still running around the neighbourhood somewhere! Hopefully the kitties will find nice warm homes.

Meow Update

We were at the old house last night. I begrudingly try to go over there some evenings. Of course the girls don't even come inside anymore to help me, it is pretty much a shell with a few boxes here and there, but looking very bright inside now! It was painted with a fresh coat of white paint everywhere, as opposed to the yellows and the wallpaper etc. that we used to have.

When I arrived at the house, the girls immediately ran over to the house across the street to check on the kittens, only to discover that they were gone! The poor little Mother Cat was sitting in her little "box home" that the girls made for her. The girls told me that the Mother Cat was very sad for her kittens. I'm not quite sure how they guaged this.

I just got off the phone with the SPCA (Animal Control). They did indeed come by and pick up the cute little 2 week old kittens from the porch, but left the MOTHER!!! I cannot understand how an organization against animal cruelty would do this. I feel so bad for that poor Cat, to have her babies ripped from her as she is nursing them! So, I have made arrangements, whether they like it or not, to bring the cat there this evening to hopefully reunite her with her babies. The girls are pretty sure that they will be able to point out the kittens as they spent a lot of time looking after them the past little while.

Meow!

We moved out of our house at the end of August. It is under renovations and currently uninhabitable. We moved to the beautiful city close by to us, that we used to live in 7 yrs ago. The girls were extremely excited. They started at a new Catholic School - so new uniforms had to be purchased. Trinity went into Grade 7 and Avalon went into Grade 4. They are settling in well. It was the first time that their Daddy was not there to walk with us to school on their "first day back".

This Immigration beuracracy "ticks" me off. I never would have imagined that we would be apart this long. I have a conference in Victoria, B.C. at the end of this month that will take up my time, but I am in the midst of obtaining a sabbatical soon to fly down to see Douglas.
The girls and I are debating about whether to surprise him or to let him know of our arrival date. He knows that we are planning to come down in October or November time, but that is all that he knows. He is soooo looking forward to seeing us.

The other day the girls and I were back at our house that is being renovated and my girls discovered these little adorable kittens with their Mum nursing them across the street. Unfortunately, their Mum is a stray and a single Mum as well - no husband to be seen! ha ha

They are only a couple of weeks old. So adorable! The girls made a little home for them in a cardboard box and fancy leopard furry material, fed them and gave them water. Our local "nosy neighbours" caught wind of the plight of these kittens and called the SPCA. I don't know if they were picked up yet, but I hope they will get nice homes.

The Summer of Music

This past summer was filled with music and concerts. Shiloh is a 16 yr. old Canadian singer that was on the National circuit this summer and my daughters, Trinity and Avalon, travelled far afield to see her various concerts. They were also very excited to meet her and she even signed Avalon's sock monkey!

We finished the summer off with the Britney Spears concert at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. It was a great night for the three of us! We boogied and screamed! We enjoyed it all!

"Copps" is just past the blue sign that says "Farmers Market".

Avalon did not want her picture taken, but never mind that, she was happy to be going to see Brit!

My proverbial 11 yr old going on 21! Off to yet another concert!

Shiloh signing autographs at the first of her concerts that they attended. Love the false eyelashes!

Trinity getting Shiloh to sign the sock monkey at the last concert they attended! Avalon takes it with her everywhere!