Monday, November 30, 2009

Gratitude Monday -- Still Here



Hiking in Kananaskis Country in August. Photo by Mike Mayrl.






Still here.

Still hiking.

Still grateful.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I’m Over the Top!


My dear friend and fellow writer Thomma Lyn at Tennessee Text Wrestling gave me the Over The Top award.
I am beside myself over it.
However, there’s a catch. Questions. And they need answers. Okay, I have the option of not answering, but this is way more fun ‘cuz I only get one word each.
Here goes:

1. Where is your mobile phone? unbought
2. Your hair? short
3. Your mother? yes
4. Your father? same
5. Your favorite food? bacon
6. Your dream last night? freaky
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? published
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? clowns
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? famous
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? talkative
15. Muffins? sure!
16. Wish list item? heartbeat
17. Where did you grow up? Alberta
18. Last thing you did? ate
19. What are you wearing? sicko
20. Your TV? old
21. Your Pets? none
22. Friends? loved
23. Your life? fun
24. Your mood? weird
25. Missing Someone? no
26. Vehicle? Corolla
27. Something you’re not wearing? boots
28. Your favorite store? grocery
29. Your favorite colour? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? earlier
31. Last time you cried? dunno
32. One place that I go to over and over? mountains
33. Facebook? fun
34. Favorite place to eat? camping

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Twofer Twosday With Extras

It’s that time of the week again. I get to tell you what I’m reading and have to prove that I’ve been working on a manuscript.
I’ve managed to get through a few books lately and last week finally got to the one that brings me to this week’s selection. I’ve had the book for a few years after rescuing it from a garage sale. I’d been meaning to read it since I found it. In fact, I’ve wanted to read it for several decades. Now I have, and the TBR pile is getting smaller.

From Black Beauty, The Autobiography of a Horse, by Anna Sewell (Masterpiece Library, Magnum Books, 1968):

“When he was gone my driver began to flop the reins about and whip the harness, by which I understood that I was to go on, which of course I did, glad that the stone was gone, but still in a good deal of pain.
That was the sort of experience we job horses often come in for.”

I’m plugging away on the second draft of my first manuscript and realize there’s a long road ahead for it. I’ve thrown in a bit extra for the sake of giving readers a better idea of what I’m on about.

From The Legend of Shallal:

“The Sleepweavers have been at them and they’re prepared. I’ll meet them at their game field and lead them to the tunnels. There’s a young one, Nurl, that the Sleepweavers have given some extra attention. I think he’ll be the main toner.”
“How old is he?”
“Three.”
#
For more, or to find out how to participate, please see the Women of Mystery.
And thank you for stopping by. I appreciate it.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Gratitude Monday - Birthday Porn

My 51st birthday was yesterday ( Nov.22) and for it my husband baked me
a cake. Here he is prepping the cake pans for a carrot layer cake.




He devoted most of his Saturday to it. We grew the carrots, the flour is organic, the eggs are from his dad. It's healthier than most commercial health food.




Here he spreads the cream cheese icing for the inbetween section.


The icing on the cake.


Adding the ground pecans for the finishing touch.




The finished product.



Very, very yummy.



Yes, I am grateful.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Photo-Finish Friday -- Chile


It looked cold and foreboding and absolutely beautiful.

The second link takes you to the first time I posted a picture of it. I thought it deserved another view.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

An Olympic Seig Heil Moment

I presume I have your attention.
The Olympic Torch is making its way across Canada and will soon burn at the 2010 Winter Olympics in B.C.
It's a wonderful thing and I'm happy about it. We last had the Winter Olympics in 1988 in Calgary and that fair city still trades on it.
Good for it.
I was working at the Alaska Highway Daily News in Fort St. John, B.C. back then and the torch came through. It was run around a local arena to a thundering crowd and it was my duty to take crowd reaction pictures. It was fun.
Back then I didn't know any better and thought the torch run was a legitimate hearkening back to the Olympics' ancient origins.
No.
It hearkens all the way back to the 1936 Olympics. It was the brainchild of Carl Deim and was meant illuminate the glory of the Fatherland.
All this aside I like the Torch Run. As a nation it has whipped us in a frenzy-- as much as a Canadian can be in one-- and has us all excited about the upcoming games.
But I still think we ought to know what we're doing as we cheer the flame on and I am not above the occasional sardonic Seig Heil whenever its on the news.
Then again, it may be better if we forget that part and simply enjoy it for what it is.
What say you?