Yay colour back on the blog!

Since I've changed the blog template all pictures have shown up in gray and it was driving me crazy. Tonight was the night to sit down and go through the Template HTML and find the problem. Turns out there was a Filter on for images and it has now been changed to 'none' and voila....COLOUR!!

Can you all believe that it's already almost the beginning of August? There was so many things that we wanted to get done in the yard but it's been set aside and we are learning that we have to quit saying "I'll get to it" and just do it while we think of it. It's far to easy to get sidetracked and carried away with other things.


Now for a vent! Went to breakfast today with the familia Taylor after garage saling and enjoyed seeing everyone, had a good meal and lots of coffee. Afterwards Laura, Colton and I did a little bit of shopping, took them home and then headed back to get Hal for lunch. Well outside OWT there is a group bbq'ing hot dogs and smokie dogs and thought "Oh Hal enjoys these and as soon as he smells them he's going to want some for lunch." I go pay for two and he comes out just as they were ready so he loads them up with mustard and ketchup. Off we go heading home. I told him at the table that they should be wrapped or stuff will fall all over.


We get home and sure enough there is mustard and ketchup on the console between us and he gets all spazzy. Heads into the house for me to get what is left in the truck so I load up my arms and in I go. He says to me "Did you clean up the mess?!?!" At this I say to him "Who made the bloody mess and was asked to wrap the things better so there was no mess?!?!" I then laughed in sheer madness and asked "Where are you eating your lunch? He replies "I'm not sure..why?"

My reply "Cuz where ever you are I AM NOT!"


Sheesh, try to do something kind and it bites ya in the ass....no more smokies at lunch for Hal, he's on his own, lol.

Here are some pictures from the last little bit to close off tonights random, all over the place blog.

Surprise! New neighbour.



View of the Kitimat River from the Drift Boat:

I believe this is Wathl Creek but am not 100% sure so my apologies if I'm incorrect.

Mom F., Hal and Dad F.

Staining the fence - what a difference!

It's been a while....

since i've blogged and thought it's time for an update.

It's been roughly one week since we've had internet and have to say that it wasn't really missed other then email and quick check ups on facebook to see how friends and family from near and far are doing.

I would like to ask that you all keep a dear friend, Jenny and her family, in your prayers. Her Dad passed away on July 1st after a month of many health challenges/hurdles.

To lose a Father is one of the hardest things on earth. They were your rock growing up, the one who was always there and who seemed to be the roots of the tree, holding it firm to the earth. Jenny, your Dad has passed but will forever live on in you and your family. I think every time you look at sweet Seamus you will forever see your Dad's reflection in his face. Can't wait to see you and to give you a hug in person.

Hal's Dad and step Mom Bernice were here for a week long visit and a lot of healing was done in that short amount of time. Bernice felt as I did and wanted Hal and Clancy to have time alone and what better way then to let them bond over fishing...one of Hal's true loves. Hal's Dad even outfished him, lol. It was wonderful to have them here for a visit and we won't be waiting 12 more years before seeing them again.

Back to work tomorrow and though I miss Marianne and Deborah it was sooo nice to have a break and just not even think about work. We will be trying to get a week off towards the end of September to go to Hal's great Aunt's 90th Birthday. On the way home we'll be stopping in Vernon and Salmon Arm to visit with family and get our butts home and ready for winter again. Can't believe how fast this summer has gone and that winter is really only months away.

Today was spent relaxing, Hal and I both slept the afternoon away, it's been a very, very long time since we've done that.

Off to clean up the kitchen and then get back to reading the last half of the book.

xoxo until next time.

A real holiday...did I just say that?

Holy crap, if I'd known 10 years ago that what I said tonight would have worked I'd have said it!!!!

I asked Hal where he would like to go on vacation: Mexico, Hawaii, Dominican, Europe, etc? He says "Well I don't know, would you be comfortable on the beach?"

Now before you all get hot and bothered I already jumped down his throat and ended the tirade with "WELL LOTS OF FAT PEOPLE GO TO THE BEACH!!"

Hal comments back: "Who said it's about you being fat I'm talking about the heat! Now that you've brought it up though I don't want to go to a resort and have you be self conscious either and listen to you grumble about your weight!"

SCORE ONE FOR HAL!!

He is right but I've come to realize in the last little bit that one can't put life on hold until they:

(a) Can afford it - something else will always come along so be like Nike and JUST DO IT!
(b) Are thin enough - sounds vain but yes i've put off booking a holiday because I never wanted to be fat on a beach. Chances of me getting that thin are realistically very slim and I'm not postponing life because I'm fat.
(c) Have the time - same as the money issue, if you don't make time it's not going to appear for you

Our conversation ended with me saying "I'm going away next year with or with out you. This is not debatable!"

Hal says "Of course I'm going with you!"

Sheesh, should have said that I was going with or without him long ago, lord knows how much of the world we would have seen.....may have to be more like that with other things too,lol.

Off to get caught up in blogland.
xo Pen

Little bits of Penz insanity..

Hi all, (or maybe just me...not much traffic here lately, lol)
Haven't been online much as we have no internet at home for the time being but it's okay. We have more stuff to do around there then we can shake a stick at.

Fence, deck and yardwork..need anymore be said?!?! Couple of things on the go inside as well. I'm working on different areas organizing and tidying up stuff that's been driving me crazy. Tonights task is under the Kitchen sink....lots to get rid of there and to organize.

Mom and Doug are coming at the end of the month so we're pretty excited to have them come for another visit. Doug is waiting anxiously to go fishing so hopefully the river is in good condition by then.

I'm not sure how many of you believe in spirits being around or maybe it's just wishful thinking and dreaming but a few cool things have happened to me in the last couple of weeks.

Had a dream one night and in it Dad says "Ahh, Quade likes Papa's cookies too!" and he was beaming that big smile he had. My Dad was a big softie when it came to animals and when he was alive he would always have our pets sit beside him and talk to them in this soft voice and give them commands to do. This was followed by a few of Papa's cookies....Ritz crackers, lol. I took this as a message that Quade and Dad have now met and he's been feeding him some of Papa's cookies.

Saturday, May 10 I participated in the Relay for Life and walked for just over two hours. What an amazing event, next year I hope to spend more time during the day there but this year had some important stuff to do in Terrace.

Part way through my walk I had a sense of people being in my space but for some reason found that it didn't irritate the crap out of me as it normally would have. It was a feeling of someone behind me and beside me. I realized that there were no footsteps as there should have been. It was then that a feeling of warmth, love and connectedness hit. I do believe that it was our family there that night walking along side. I'm sure to some it sounds like Pen needs to be commited and have a straight jacket put on but really, truly that's what it was.

Sunday night I dreamt of Quade again but this time it didn't leave me unsettled but gave me peace. In this dream Quade came bounding over the greenest hill and came running by us and rubbed his hips against our legs and smiled that goofy puppy smile that he had. He was happy, content and he ran like the wind, no funny gait or bunny hopping. He started to run back to the hill, stopped, turned, smiled and gave a toss of his head. He then continued back up to the top of this hill. Once at the top he sat, looked at us, looked back over his shoulder as though someone was speaking to him, looked back at us and then turned and went over the crest of the hill. My boy is home, he is happy and he is loved.

RELAY FOR LIFE

I don't normally ask for donations but do believe that this is a worthwhile cause. I honestly don't know one person whose life has not been touched by this terrible disease whether it's family members, friends or co-workers.

I walk this year in honour of my Dad, Hal's Mother, Grandmother and Aunt who lost their battle with Cancer. I walk for family, friends and co-workers who are currently fighting this disease and pray that they win. I walk for us who have been or are caregivers of our loved ones who have Cancer.

There is no pressure to donate, if you would like to it can all be done on this page or you can email and ask for my mailing address.

Thank you to all from the bottom of my heart!
Penny

PENZ WALK FOR LIFE

~~If this doesn't take you to my page you can do a search using my name and it should bring you there~~

Hiking, River Rafting, Weewanie Hot Springs

These are a few of the adventures I'd like to enjoy this summer here in our little piece of heaven.

I want and need to keep moving and what better way then to do some things that really pique my interest and that i've put off for way too long. I've been river rafting when we lived in Kamloops on the Lytton run and had a lot of fun so am seriously considering the Copper River run this summer. Another one that sounds like an inviting adventure is a trip down the Douglas Channel to the hotsprings and to do a little sightseeing along the way. It would be awesome to see some whales while on the trip there.

Stop by Shari's Blog and read up on Belly Dancing, this would be a good workout too but not one for me.

Around Kitimat there are lots of hiking trails as well from beginner to advanced. Well it would be great to do some of the beginners and work up as the summer goes along. Throw on the backpack, take the dog and the bells cuz you just never know when the bears will be about. We won't be able to take Quade this summer but next year he'll be able to join in on the fun. Cleo, however, needs the exercise like her Momma cuz we both be lookin' a little like sausages after this winter, lol.

So in short those are a few outdoor adventures planned for "Living in Kitimat".

Working on a new look...

It's kind of got a Pepto Bismol feeling to it right now so may just have to tweak the colours or once i've figured out how to put a background on the page it may change the look.

HAPPY MONDAY ALL!

Dance the night away!

Gotta say I had a lot of fun last night. It's the first time in a very long time that i've just relaxed, had a few drinks (okay maybe more then a few plus Fireball shots!!!) and danced, danced, danced the night away.



This was the first Oldtimers Hockey Dance that we didn't have to work when we hosted it. I'm not going to get into the dramz but will say yesterday afternoon I was NOT going but after talking to Shari and Hal I decided that 'Screw 'em' we're gonna go and have a great time!
It was a night of good company, laughs, dancing, good food and friends.

I'll post a few pictures later today after we get home from the finals.

xo Pen

..but i'm too fat to be pretty!

I'll be back with more later....

k, finally made it back...not going in to great details as to why but let's leave it at 'SOMETIMES I WISH I WAS A MAN!'

Last week I was complimented by a fellow who comes into work quite often. *Now don't go jumping to conclusions that it's anything untowards or i'm gonna be steppin' out on my Harry!*

This fellow is happily married as well and just an honestly nice guy who has a way of making one think.

Anyways, after he complimented me I quickly scoffed (as is usually a normal response to compliments for me..don't know how to take them, working on it) and said "But i'm to fat to be pretty!"

He asked why I would think that of myself and told him well it's how I feel, actually it's how I allow society to let me feel. That beautiful belongs to women who look like models, etc. but that I do have some very attractive friends.

"Are they all size 2's?"

"No, but they just are. They are kind, caring, compassionate and fun to be around."

"You're not any of these things? You're telling me that you don't care about people? You're cold and unfeeling? You're no fun to be around?"

"Well that's not what I meant and I suppose the next words from you are going to be 'Beauty is only skin deep' right?"

"I know a lot of women like you describe and some of them are the ugliest people I know. Beauty comes from inside too. It's the whole package and Hal is a very lucky man and so am I. We have the real deal.:

____________________________

Needless to say he did get me thinking about why we allow ourselves to be told what is beautiful and what isn't. Part of what i've been struggling with alongside of weight loss is self image. Now some may say that they are one and the same but they're not.

I remember in my 20's looking in the mirror and seeing a young woman that I thought was overweight and that I could stand to lose more. I'm 5'8" tall and at that time weighed 134 lbs. wore a loose size 9. It led to me getting very sick. I look at pictures now and think "Oh god, I really thought I was fat back then but the person looking back is not healthy looking at all!"

So where i'm going with this is that i've now set a goal for myself in this weight loss journey to becoming even more beautiful. The goal is to lose an average of 7 lbs a month for the next 9 months (realistic and attainable), get more physically active and continue to improve on cooking and eating healthier.

Too all of my pretty, wonderful and amazing friends....You're all beautiful to me and thank you for being exactly who you are!!

xo Pen

Sunday's at our house..

Ahhhh, this morning I got to sleep in! Well..............I was awake at the usual time of 7:00 a.m. but flipped back over and dozed. Cleo and Quade started rousing at their usual time of 7:10 a.m. (I swear you could set you clock by the two of them!!) and Hal got up as he had promised to do 'daddy doggy duty'.

Those of you who know Hal know that he is not a morning person but he was awesome. He fed them, made coffee while they were eating and then took them out to do their business. I could hear him talking to them and playing etc. and then off Hal and Quade went to hang out downstairs because Quade thought it was time to squeeze the crap out of his Wubba so downstairs they went with it.

I have to admit that it was hard not to get up and supervise because we have our own routine but then said to myself "Hal has to establish his own routine with them and they will all survive...your way is not the only way" Got up, went to the washroom and then jumped back in bed, fell asleep until 9:30 a.m.! OMG it felt wonderful. Woke up to Weenie (Willow) and Cleo snuggled up with me in bed, lol. Furry little buggers taking advantage I tell ya.

Hal came upstairs around then as well and peeked his head in the bedroom and saw his 3 chicks snuggling, said good morning, disappeared and then reappeared with a hot mug of coffee....sigh, life and love is good.

While Has was cleaning up the guy room I made us eggs benny and hashbrowns for breakfast. By then it was time to shower and get ready for Puppy class.

Quade is doing really well in class but not as good as Cleo did. She's such a pleaser though and a bit of a chicken shit too, lol. She was also older then him but he's already so stubborn that sooner is better then later for Obedience. We've finished OB 1 and are now doing OB 2. Once Quade's hip is fixed we'll see about getting him his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and then more in regards to Therapy type stuff. I hope his personality will be the type for Therapy.

We took some pictures last night of the dogs and yes even Cleo. She hates the camera as you can see by her picture. We try to sneak pictures of her and still it's a rare thing to get a really good shot. She was even growling at the camera last night when I turned it on, lol. This was the best shot we could get of our Diva!

Holy freaking snow!!!

Hal and I have lived here since October of '99 and this winter has had the most snow by far!! We're only the beginning of January and we must have had well over 8 feet of snow so far, this includes what has melted/disappeared from the rain and warmer weather.

Our deck has a 7 foot fence and our dogs now look over the fence to the back alley!! We're going to have to either get the snow blower back there to clear it off or else start putting them on a leash to go to the bathroom.

On other news my ankle is starting to feel a bit better but have a long way to go to heal completely. Hal has been amazing through this all, tonight he even did the grocery shopping and you have to know Hal to know what an amazing feat this was, lol. This week Laura called to see what I was up to while being laid up and I mentioned that Hal was going to bring up my Christmas totes so I could get the xmas decorations and ornaments put away as they were driving me nuts.

That night Laura, the boys, Jackie, Kenna and Michelle all showed up to pack up all the decorations!!! It was humbling and wonderful all at the same time. I'm so thankful for their help. I know Shari if you were available you would have been here in a heartbeat.....how's the first aid course going? You will do wonderful!

Marianne and Deborah have been complete angels at work too and big kudo's to them for their patience and help! I love working there and am glad to have been given that extra kick in the pants from those involved in getting me to apply!

On the work topic i'd like to ask those who can to please say a prayer for Hazel. She's a wonderful, sweet lady who last week was hit on the highway after her bus broke down. She's been seriously injured and was flown from PG to Vancouver, with not being at work I haven't received an update but will call tomorrow to see if they have anything new to report.

Off to finish watching a movie and hang with the dogs....well my girl as Quade has gone to bed.

Here are some new pictures of the pets and please don't think Cleo has something contagious as her allergies are back and it's time to switch her food again.

Holidays and family of your heart!

Okay, i'm laid up and bored silly and am not allowed to do much so thought i'd do a mega blog....do you have your cuppa water, mugga joe or a stiff drink ready? K, well kick off your shoes, put up your feet and lets get at it, lol.

Christmas time is an extra special holiday for me and always has been. Our family had many Christmas traditions and it was a time for just that, family. With us family doesn't just mean blood family. We came from Nova Scotia to BC when I was 3 months old and because of that we have a lot of 'adopted' family here that are as much family.

When Hal and I moved here in '99 we came alone with our dog after living so close to our families from the time we basically left home. It was a difficult decision and as much as we thought we were prepared for the separation it was far harder then anticipated. December 99 Hal and I flew home to Kamloops for Christmas. The next year we were so blessed to have our dear friends Laura and Adam Taylor bring us into their family circle and to share Christmas with the Taylors. It was wonderful to be around a big family again and to see what their traditions were and hear them sharing there Christmas stories of years gone by.

Last year we were surprised by my Sister, Brother in law and nephews being here for Christmas with us.....how exciting again to have a houseful.

This year Shari and Doug invited us to spend Christmas Eve with them and to share in there Christmas morning with Kali and Parker. For some of you it may be hard to understand how this can make someone so happy. To have 'our Kitimat' family of Laura, Adam, Damon, Colton, Shari, Doug, Kali, Parker, the Taylors and Sharon and the girls open their hearts and homes to us is beyond amazing! It shows that family is truly in your heart and not what runs through your veins.

Christmas morning I wanted to cry so bad because I witnessed something that made my heart swell with happiness and pride but also a little ache. I now look at it that this would not have happened nor had the same effect had our lives been different.

Hal had gone upstairs to lay down for a bit because he had a fat head, lol. Well we heard Parker chit chatting and then he was quiet. A few minutes later we hear Uncle Hal say "Pen, come up and bring the camera." Shari and I snuck upstairs with the camera and here was Hal snuggled in bed with Parker beside him and Kali snuggling under the blankies beside Parker. She was playing hide and seek and Parker was grinning at Uncle and babbling away. My heart was so full of love for him, the kids and this moment.

Christmas morning was fun watching the kids enjoy their gifts and the four of us just chit chatting. We had breakfast and tried to do a quick tidy up but i'm afraid that poor Shari and Doug were left with the majority. Hal and I had to get our butts home and put that bird in the oven for dinner.

On our way home we stopped in at Laura and Adams to see how their Christmas was and to see how the boys scored! Walking in the door and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and the rest of the gang was so awesome too! Lots of hugs and holiday wishes, a visit with the boys and even playing Guitar Hero (holy crap am I bad, lol). I love those boy so much and my heart bursts with pride as well for the young men they are turning out to be. Laura and I had some laughs about the gifts we had given each other and a few minutes to just be. She's an amazing friend who has been by my side through so much and I hope she knows just how special she really is. I can only hope to be 1/2 the friend she has been.

Hal and I headed home to get the bird stuffed and try out the new vacuum (I'm so happy with it..more on it later!). Doug, Shari, the kids and her Mom were coming for dinner and it's something I thoroughly enjoyed!

Dinner was awesome and we finished off the evening with a game, omg we laughed so hard at Doug acting out Crash Test Dummy...it was perfect.


I'll have another post about the rest

7 Days and Counting!!

I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!!!

Christmas Spirit has finally hit here. I'm not sure if it's because the stress of getting the parcel off to Vernon is gone or if it's the feet of snow that we have but all I can say is it's about darn time, lol.

Here's some pictures that we took today of the snow, xmas decoration, Cleo and Quade:

Not sure what happened

but my old blog was all screwed up so this will be the new one.