A Southern Girl Discovered The Great White North

Most days you can find me....

2011-02-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

I am spending all of my time on my craft blog Cariboo Butterfly Handmade these days. I will likely pick this blog up after the winter thaw and gardening season starts. I will probably be sporting a new blog design by then too. Hope your new year is off to a great start!
Cheers!
Jen

Lady of the Woods

2010-11-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

According to the Celtic Zodiac, I am a Birch Tree. This is not too surprising to me considering that I have such a strong fondness for Birch Trees. I love their simple beauty. The most peaceful sound in the world to me is hearing the leaves of a Birch tree rustle in a gentle breeze. We cut down some dead Birch trees last year to have for firewood this year, and we got a lot of Birch bark. It is so beautiful, and versatile. My creative juices start flowing when I see a sheet of Birch bark, but I have yet to pinpoint that one unique thing to craft with it.

My year in Pictures! 2010

2010-11-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have been horrible in keeping an up to date blog for over a year now.
I thought it would be nice to a photo slide show summary of things that we did through out the year. :) I will add more pics as the year progresses.

Create a free digital slideshow

Um....

2010-09-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

I guess I let this blog fall by the wayside once again.

A new year on the way....a reason to blog!

2009-12-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

After a year on hiatus from blogging, I have decided it was high time I got back to writing about my adventures here in Canada.

A year ago we purchased our first house, my daughter was 2 1/2, I was suffering from depression, overwhelmed with grief at the loss of my stepdad, and the list goes on and on. Winter was much too long, and I suffered greatly for not having had access to more than one tv channel, and a whole whack load of children's dvds which I can quote from memory. This fall we got a satellite, and just purchased a Wii Sport, and Wii Fit expansion, so winter blues can go to hell!

The year was a busy one for us, being that we we not able to do much outside until the snow melted late April, early May. We had a summer vegetable garden which would have been more enjoyable had I not been suffering from depression, and having a child that would not be corralled for any length of time. In May we got a 4 1/2 month old Black Lab/Shepard mix that is enormous! She also has a bit of Bull Mastiff thrown in for good measure, so we were told at the SPCA. We also spent a lot of time getting ready for the W word....lots of firewood to prepare, and yard maintenance, which included building a nice fenced in play area for Molly. By the time we got our dog, the ground was way too hard to manually dig holes to build her a run, but we ended up stringing a cable run until this coming Spring. We are going to have a run, or I will lose my mind! She hates being tied up, and since she is the neighborhood wanderer, we have got to get a hold on her misbehaving. She actually bolted on me 4 different times with me today, and the 5th she got out of her collar, and that was that. She will soon learn the hardship of being a yard dog only.

The year also brought about that our immediate neighbors were going to be a problem, which is actually what sparked this blog post today!

Our immediate neighbors are the poster children for low class ignorance, and all around "trailer trash" I really don't like using that term considering I am from Alabama, and I really don't know what else to call these people. I never lived in a trailer, and I had many friends that do or did, but there is a class of people that just don't fit in anywhere else. Whether it be by poor upbringing, or whatever these people are ignorant, and most unpleasant. It is a woman, her husband, and two young sons. Her father lives in a trailer off the grid off to the back of the property. He seems nice enough, but "she" is a total bitch. I really can't say too much for the kids, and the husband, because I really don't have a problem with them per se... I really rather feel sorry for them. This woman is deplorable, and she is offensive, a loud mouthed harpy, and just all around unpleasant person.

The problem started after the weather started to get warmer, and we were outside more. Since we moved in Winter, we never really heard anything out of these people. Well, let us just say that it was an utter screamfest over there most days, with the f-word flying at all directions, and all other obscenities...it was really the only word we could make out. In fact it was so bad, that most days I had to go back in the house because I didn't want my daughter subjected to such crap.

This went on off and on for weeks, and there was some late night partying going on as well. Greg finally had enough when he heard her threaten to punch her child in the f-ing face if they didn't clean up their room. We didn't call immediately, but the night before our daughter's 3rd birthday all hell broke lose over there, and during the night I heard some very weird screaming and carrying on. Alcohol is probably a major contributor. Greg called child services because no child should have to endure that kind of environment. They in turn did not have a record of this family, but according to our other neighbors they were known to police. So child services called the RCMP, and they immediately sent over 3 cruisers. They were there for about half an hour. We were in the middle of setting up for a birthday party, and I was dreading the outcome of this. You know you want to do the right thing, but then you feel strange, and worry about repercussions. We do have to live next door to these people. After the RCMP left, the woman yelled out the window...saying "Thank you very much" in her harpy voice.

Well, things got a lot quieter over there now that child services was in the know. Occasionally , I will hear her screaming about something, carrying on, or unfortunately singing as loudly as she can to Janis Joplin in some drunken karaoke stupor. I could not tell you what this woman looks like, I have actually never seen her. I know what her husband, and kids look like. I know that voice though.

Well, like I had said we have had issues with Tera taking off, and she does spend some time over at this trailer, since they do have dogs. The boys tend to keep her occupied when they are outside playing, and she will not come if I call her. Not to mention, I worry about this woman doing something mean to Tera. Well, I was just back from retrieving Tera from down the road, and this woman yells to me from the window that Tera has been pooping and peeing in her garden, and she was sick to death of it. I simply replied " I am very sorry". I then turned and got in my car because Tera took off while I had to briefly respond to this woman.

First of all there is at least 8 inches of snow on the ground, and what garden was she speaking of?? Another thing that I really wanted to say is well, that is what you get for polluting our ears with your foul loud mouth. I could have said so many things, but I refrained. I understand that she doesn't want Tera over there, I don't want Tera over there. We will be installing an electric fencing system this spring, and until then Tera is leash, and cable run bound . She blew all freedom privileges out the window today.

I am really feeling sorry for those kids, having to grow up in this kind of environment, because unfortunately if things don't change you can just about guess their futures word for word. :(
Wow, do I feel a bit better for getting that load off.

Hopefully my next posting won't be a total rant. :)
Cheers!

2009-12-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Beautiful and Deadly

2009-01-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

Isn't it strange how the mind works? I would have never thought that taking a picture of a perfect little gift of nature such as a snowflake to cause my mind to overflow with thoughts.

I often wondered as a child how adults knew what snowflakes looked like in real life, because one, I lived in the Southern U.S., and two, it is wet snow, and messy when we do get it. Living in the North Central Province of BC, Canada I have experienced Winter in a whole different perspective. Extremely cold temperatures, and more times than not, dry snow. Perfect powder. On a rare occasion such as today, you can actually see individual perfect little snowflakes, and wonder how? How is this perfect little wonder created?

Now, this flooded my mind with all kinds of thoughts about snow. Some words I find to describe snow: beautiful,serene, perfect, peaceful, romantic,angelic,delicate,treacherous, vicious, unforgiving, and even deadly. Vicious, unforgiving...deadly? Wow, what happened to beautiful? Well, as with most things in the natural world with beauty also comes the potential for circumstances beyond our control. Events that change something beautiful, and in a blink of an eye can turn that beauty against you, and put you in harm's way, even causing death.

I know that it is impossible for a single snowflake to inflict harm on anything bigger than itself. Lots of snowflakes can however, as with anything in overabundance. Wind, rain, bodies of water, trees,mountains, sand, earth,snow, ice... the list can go on and on. All these things are pleasing to the eyes, and people flock to enjoy their beauty. But these wonders of nature can turn vicious and unforgiving, and quickly hurt, or take a life without hesitation, without guilt, without remorse.

That is why it is so important that we respect our earth, and it's beauty. Know her boundaries,her strengths,her weaknesses, and respect, care, and love her for in return we will reap the benefits for years to come.

It is funny how the mind works, and this whole blog entry started with a single snowflake....

New Year's Eve day visitors

2008-12-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

After a month in the house , and after gazing out the kitchen window everyday in hopes of seeing some wild life....we finally had some visitors. What I thought was just one doe turned out to be 3! They weren't took scared, and I threw some apples out for them.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T10:52:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Season's Greetings!

2008-12-24T11:06:00.001-08:00

Well, Christmas Eve day is here, and Christmas Day is nearly here. We are spending a quiet holiday at home, and I can't be glad enough. The weather is frightful, and it is snowing, and I don't want to be the poor stranded travelers that are trying to get home for the holidays. We are looking forward to Molly's Christmas, as she is now 2 1/2 and she will be so fun tomorrow!
I can't wait to see her reactions to Santa's visit.

I wish you a very warm, safe, and memorable holiday whatever your beliefs.
Season's Greetings!

A little bit of history...

2008-12-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

My mom sent me a package with a clock that my grandmother cross-stitched in the mid-sixties. My granddaddy framed it for her. It is now proudly hanging in my kitchen. It actually fits the color scheme quite well. So that is great. :) My grandmother, and granddaddy have been gone from this earth more than a decade, but a little piece of them is always with us.

Living in a Deep Freeze

2008-12-20T07:39:00.000-08:00

Well, the past week, and a bit we have been in a deep freeze here in Quesnel. It is currently -30C/-22F this morning. That is some kind of bitter cold. It is life as usual though because you have to keep on keeping on. Where I am from, if it got this cold, everything would be shut down. Milk, and bread fly off the shelves at the smallest mention of snow. Here is it life as usual for the most part. We just bundle up , and go. Greg, and I had to bring in some more fire wood, and shovel a different path for our wheelbarrow yesterday, and by the time we were done we both looked like victims of the Titanic, or some frosted over explorers of Mount Everest. My breathe froze the hair surrounding my face, and Greg's goatee, and mustache was full of chunks of ice. I got a vision of what I would look like with white hair, and what I might look like in 15 yrs. I would have taken a picture, but didn't really want to bring the camera out in that kind of cold.

It is going to be this cold for at least the next week. It is amazing that it has to be at least -40C for a week or more to kill off that stupid pine beetle....they apparently make their own antifreeze from the pine sap.

Well, Christmas is nearly here, and we have just gotten our tree last night. I am going to decorate it today. We were going to just cut a tree off our land, but there is so much snow, and so cold that it is too brutal a task. So we purchased a cut tree from a guy that had been bundled up all day, and in the cold since 7:30a.m at the Walmart parking lot. Poor guy....the things people do to earn a living.

We are going furniture shopping today, and I hope to finish up the last of the unpacking in the kitchen today,and all I will lack is my craft room, and a couple of things in Molly's room.

We hope you have a safe, warm, happy, and peaceful holiday!

Cheers!

2008-12-17T09:46:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Seasons' Greetings from Quesnel, BC!

2008-12-11T13:53:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Life in the Bush

2008-12-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess you could say we live in the bush, there isn't even a street light near our place . So at night it is truly dark!! I remember the first night, that I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face until my eyes became adjusted to the dark. I get around ok now, and I think we sleep a lot better now because it is dark, and soooooo QUIET! No street noise, no show offs racing down the street, no sirens, no noisy drunks, just peace and quiet. It is heaven. The sun rises through my kitchen window and it is so beautiful. We haven't seen any big wild life yet, though I hope we see a moose at some point, definitely deer. I have seen a very large red headed woodpecker a few times.

I am slowly getting things sorted out with the unpacking and hope by this weekend I will have most of it done.

We don't have cable here, and opted not to get satellite. So we pick up one channel on the antenna, and that is E channel. Of all channels why the heck is it Entertainment tv? You would think it would at least be PBS. So Molly watches a lot of DVD's. I am getting sick of the same old ones, and I have got some ordered, and a friend is suppose to burn us some dvd's of 24 hrs of Treehouse TV. In the warmer months, we will be spending lots of time outside, so no need for the tv at all really....though Molly gets bored with playing sometimes , and wants to watch her "deedle d" as she calls them. :)

We have a gizmo we use through Telus to get our high speed internet over cell signals, and it is kind of pricey, but since the internet is my link to the outside world, it is important to us for personal stuff as well as business.

I have ordered a steel jeweler's block and hammer, and hope to learn to work with wire more, and explore my creativity.

So many plans ahead!

Cheers!
Jen

We are moved in finally!!!

2008-12-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well, after 8 days of moving stuff from our old place to our house...we are officially MOVED! We are officially house owners!! :)
YEAH! You can't imagine how happy I am to finally after many many years to have a place of our own! I can hardly wait to get this place organized, but I am going to take it easy for a day, just to recoup from the move. I was never so glad to be done with that. There came a time when I just didn't have it in me to move another box or thing. I told Greg to help me move a reasonably sized box, just because I couldn't bring myself to pick it up. I was sooooo tired!!

It is all good now, and the house looks like a tornado hit it, but I hope not for long!

Winter has set up shop in Quesnel, though by this time last year we had lots of snow already, and it was freakin' cold!! So far it has only gotten down to -8C at night. It has been hovering around freezing for the high.

We are trying to get accustomed to a wood furnace, and oil furnace.....no wood or oil, no heat.
So far the furnace hates me, and I have difficulty getting a fire going, but usually get it going after fighting with it. I am loving the wood fire smell though, and since where I came from having a fire going was more for ambiance than warmth for the most part, I wonder if the romanticism will soon wear off every time I have to trek down to the basement to load the furnace with wood, or crawl under the deck to retrieve more wood when it is -30 outside. I think we will have to store more wood indoors. We do have a cool trapdoor in the basement we can bring the wood through though, and not have to bring it through the house.

I took Molly for a walk around the yard today, and down to where the two out buildings are....boy there is a lot of junk that we now own!
I guess come springtime we will be doing a lot of clean up.

We are on well water now, and that sure has been a blast from the past. The look, and the metallic smell of the water reminds me of my summers as a kid on Lake Martin. It has been interesting. I think we can get some kind of filter for that, but we are still learning. We have a water softener too....so much to learn!

We are loving it here though....for the first time in a long time we can actually see the stars at night. It will be so cool this summer to sit outside at night, and stargaze. I will have to brush up on my constellations. I wish we were able to see an Aurora Borealis, but I don't think we are quite far enough north.

Well, I am looking forward to having a lot more to write about with having started a new chapter in my life. For so long, there wasn't much to write about. Interesting times ahead! :)

Cheers!
Jen

Dealing with grief,and getting on with life...

2008-11-02T15:59:00.001-08:00

The last week has been a roller coaster of bittersweet emotions. It has only been a 8 days since my step dad succumbed to fatal injuries from a tragic tractor accident, and yet it seems like so long ago. We are finalizing the purchase of our very first home, and trying to gear up for a short move to the new house in a couple of weeks. I am trying to come to terms with my family's loss, and beginning a new chapter in my life all at the same time. It is a very confusing time.
I was in Walmart shopping, and they were playing Christmas music, and I became very sad, and began to cry. I am sad for my mom who lost the love of her life, and I am sad for myself, for losing my Daddy Jerry, I am sad for Molly for losing her granddaddy whom she is too young to remember. I am sad for LeAnn and Jay who have lost their dad, and for my whole family. It is so unfair. :(
I keep trying to remember that he is only away, until we can meet again.

If things couldn't be complicated enough, I am also planning on selling Christmas crafts that I have been making for the local Christmas markets coming up at the end of the month.

I am also scheduled to have a laproscopic procedure with cystectomy the 2nd of December. I will be looking forward to a calmer December, and hoping that aside from being away from my family at Christmas we will have a good holiday with Molly.

Here are some pictures of our new home
pics
Cheers!

Life can be cruel, and unfair...

2008-10-28T08:33:00.001-07:00

It is always hard to lose the ones you love. It is hard when it is expected, and it is even harder when it is not. My stepdad was fatally injured, and died over the weekend from a tractor accident. He was loading the three wheeled tractor onto a trailer to take to a tractor show. The tractor toppled over with him, and pinned him. They were not able to save him, and he died in my mom's arms. He was such a wonderful man.

It is not very easy to put into words how you feel about someone, and how do you summarize 21 years of memories? There are not enough words to describe the person Jerry was, or what he was to me.

I first met Jerry when I was 16 years old , and I believe it was he, and my mom's first or second date. They came by the place I worked so that my mom could introduce me to him. Being a skeptical, and very opinionated teenager, I wasn't sure what to think of this man sitting in a Mercedes Benz with a gold chain around his neck. I am sure that I was thinking, what on earth was my mother thinking? My first impressions of Jerry were definitely not the best, but over the last 21 years I grew to admire, and love him as if he were my own biological father.

The last 21 yrs are flooded with so many good , and wonderful memories, and I am happy to know that I can share those memories with my daughter. Molly will know through those memories what a wonderful man her granddaddy was, and still is.

Jerry wasn't just a father figure to me, he was also my friend, and he played a huge part in the woman I became. I will be forever grateful for his guidance, his immeasurable advice, his support, and for his love. He is, and always will be my Daddy Jerry. I love you, and I will miss you.

Jennifer

Huge change in plans!!!!!

2008-10-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Been super busy in the house of Webster. I have been getting ready for the Christmas Fairs the last few weeks, been sick, and been a traveling....then
the last week has been a whirlwind of activity! We came up on a wonderful offer very suddenly, and we are going to BUY A HOUSE!!! I am so stoked about this. We sign the papers on Tuesday at the bank, and just waiting on the inspections which we are expecting to be just fine.... then in 1 month we close, and we will be house owners!!! The house is on 5 acres, so we will likely sell our other land, and the great part is that it is a 10 minute walk, and a 1 minute drive from the land we already have!!! More details once everything is in place. You can't imagine how happy I am about this! I have only been waiting a zillion years for a place of my/our own. We got a great deal, and we have slowly realized that building was going to be way more than we could afford. Details to come, stay tuned.....

Graphic Designs

2008-09-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting a really nice banner image for my new etsy.com shop, and I was referred to a fellow Etsy member who does amazing work!!

She is Lyn Lloyd of LynLlloydDesigns

If you are in the market for a banner image for your etsy shop she is the person to get! She also does video editing. Lyn will make you a one of a kind custom banner! She understands how hard it is looking for that perfect design for your shop! So she will work on your banner until she get it
exactly how you want it.

So take a visit over to etsy to see what Lyn has to offer! :)

Making use of the land...

2008-09-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

Fall has begun here in Quesnel, and thus the rosehips are ripe, and ready for the picking. Who knew that rosehips were really good for you?? Molly, and I went today, and picked most of an ice cream bucket full!! She is quite the rosehip picker helper :) I plan on drying them for tea.

The benefits of rosehips are fantastic, and our land is full of them! :)Rosehips have long been valued for its refrigerant and astringent properties. It is very well-known for its high concentration of Vitamin C. It has 20 times the amount of vitamin c than an orange.

The following are some of the health benefits of drinking rosehip tea:

*Rosehip tea is considered strengthening to the stomach;

*is useful in combating diarrhea;
*fights dysentery;
*is valued for its pectoral qualities that is good for coughs and spitting of blood;
*can be used to help treat distempers of the breast;
*can also help break the stone and to ease and help the colic.
*is good for fighting colds, and flu
*helps lower blood pressure
*helps lower cholesterol
*is an anti-inflammatory

My Etsy Shop

2008-09-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

Gas Coupon

2008-09-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

I got this in my in box today. :)

I didn't realise this but these coupons are good for
one litre of gas at most retailers. I have seen them
around lots but never knew what they were for.
You probably have one lying around somewhere now.
Make sure to use it before it expires!!

Where did the Summer go, and did it even show up?

2008-09-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Well, our Summer is gone here in the Cariboo for the most part, not that it really made a strong appearance. The leaves having been changing for a couple of weeks now, and Fall will be here in full swing very soon. This is very fine by me, as Fall is my favorite time of year. I have been really busy, and therefore no time for posting blog entries.
I decided I should do an update since it has been nearly 2 months again since my last post.

We are still in the talking stages with a contractor about building us a house. We have been having to do a lot of legwork to get him the needed figures he needs to generate us a proposal. We will not be building until the Spring at the earliest. Winter will be here much too soon, and even though this contractor builds in the Winter, it will be too much for us to keep the 5 ft of snow we will get under control. I hope to post very soon that things are in motion, and we will be in our house finally next year!!!

I have been working hard on our website myjobtips.com hoping to generate some more traffic to the site. It has the potential of doing really well if we can just get it to where people can find us easily.

I have also been crafting, and selling at the local farmer's market. I did ok with my sales, but not enough to keep it up for a few more weeks. I have decided instead to take a break from going on Saturday, and get ready for the Christmas markets in late November, and early December. I have however set up an online shop on etsy.com to sell my handcrafted items. I am currently making barrettes, zipper charms, pins, and some fridge magnets. All of the pieces are made with buttons. I am really enjoying the time to create, and express my creativity through my work. You can view my shop here- Cariboo Butterfly Crafts.
I have only added a few items,but have a lot more to do yet.

In addition to doing all this, plus keeping house, and being mommy to Molly, and wife to Greg, I have also been doing a lot of charity work online as well. We donated our services, and built a website for a foundation we are now a part of as board advisers. I volunteer my time to do all the website maintenance and update the site for them. It has been a rewarding experience, and It makes me feel good that I am doing some good in the world. If you want to see the work I have done, and see what Okala Foundation is all about, take a look at Okala Foundation

Molly turned 2 in June, and is now 3 ft tall, or taller, and at least 35 lbs!!! She is going to be much taller than her mama that is for certain!! She has started back to StrongStart which is a free government provided program that is held at the local school. It is a structured program that prepares the kids for kindergarten. They have free play time, snack time, circle time, crafts, gym, library, and story time. It is really neat, because it is a drop in program, and you go when it works for you. We have also signed Molly up for a toddler gymnastics class. She starts on the 18th of this month. It will be for 13 weeks. We are looking forward to this ,as Molly loves to do flips. She really loves to play with balls, so we know for sure she will be into soccer. I recently purchased her a toddler basketball goal, and she loves it! She has several different size balls, and she will try to gather them all up at the same time, and then she will toss them, and try kicking them around.

Molly is really advancing in her language skills. She has known her abc's for quite some time, and she can count to 12 in Spanish, and 20 in English already. She also knows several words in Spanish,and can say hi in 4 languages. What is interesting about the Spanish is she knows it is different. If you ask her to count in Spanish she will do so...she knows the difference. Last night in the bathtub, she had 3 turtles, and 3 frogs, and she lined them up on the tub and counted them out in English, and then in Spanish, all on her own. She has so many words in her vocabulary, and knows some words by sight. She knows that c-a-t spells cat. It is really amazing to see her grow. She knows some shapes, and colors already as well. It is funny though, we still sometimes have no idea what she is saying!:) Especially when she gets excited....which is a lot. I just wished I could potty train her!

Greg is busy with work, and is doing really well. He has traveled a lot this year, but that has slowed up for now. He is also going to start taking some classes online with Athabasca University next month to get a degree in business or something. I can't remember exactly.

So, you can see why you don't hear from me that often. I certainly wished I had more time to keep in touch properly. These days you will find me updating, and posting pictures on Facebook. It is a great tool for keeping in touch.

I hope that this finds you all well in your parts of the globe.

On Hiatus

2008-07-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a busy 2 months, and it is still busy. We are no closer to having the house, than the last time I posted, so I don't think we will have a house this year, unless we buy one.

I am busy working on a new venture. I am crafting, and selling at the local farmer's market. Last weekend was my first Market. I did ok, but not fantastic, but at least I got some marketing done, and I had lots of compliments. I am hoping that if I do well locally, that I might try to sell online. I might do that anyhow.

Anyhow, I am simply way too busy these days to blog, and I hope that next time that I get to post that it will be great news about selling lots of my creations. :)

Hope all is well in your parts of the world!!

A sample of Cariboo Butterfly Crafts

Moving Forward....finally!

2008-05-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Greg, and I have been dreaming about having a home of our own for the last 5 years. We started out by purchasing 5 acres of land in 2004 with dreams of building a home there one day. Well, a year and a bit ago we moved up to the town where our land is here in Quesnel, BC. We rented an older townhouse in town, and we started some minor clearing, and put a drive on the property last year, but didn't get much else accomplished.

Winter set in November 1st, and so did the snow, and the snow stayed up until about a month ago. We actually still have snowy spots here, and there up in the shady parts of the property. Greg actually thought we could get some stuff done this winter, but was rudely awakened by the amount of snow we got. At least 4 feet or more stayed the whole winter at our place, and most of the higher spots.

Greg has been researching cordwood masonry for the last 5 years, and we had hopes of building us a cordwood home ourselves. I was skeptical that we could do it ourselves, but I was willing to give it a shot. Well, we have been muddling over plans, and more plans, and trying to decide what we wanted to do, and up until about a month ago, we were still set on doing a timber frame with cordwood infill. We even met with a timber framer. Having a house still seemed so long away, even years if we had continued on the path we were.

We finally decided to go to our credit union to see what kind of money we could get for a building mortgage. They came back to us with a decent figure, and not way off of the charts too, and within our limits. Until we got a ballpark figure, there was no way we could even decide on what we could afford to build. So now we are getting somewhere....We had talked about house kits before, and played around with putting a trailer on the land until we could build, and all kinds of alternative housing until we could build our cordwood home. This just made things more complicated.

So we revisited the house kit idea, and decided that with Greg's work schedule this year often having him out of town, that we would should do a house kit instead. This would put us on our land in a reasonable amount of time, and not years from now.

I had only wish we decided this a year ago! :)

So we have been looking at house plans, and we have looked at lots of websites, books, and magazines. Greg found a plan he really liked, and I sort of liked it too, but it just wasn't giving me that "I really love this house" feeling.
I was looking through another magazine the other night, and I found a plan that I really loved, and the house was very nice. I showed Greg, and he really liked it too.
Unfortunately the company that produced it was in Tennessee.

We decided to contact log home builders in the area to see if anyone could reproduce this house, and fortunately a local builder right here in Quesnel answered our email with a very positive yes, I can help you response. So we are going to make an appointment to meet with the builder, and hopefully everything will continue to fall into place.

I am very hopeful, and optimistic that we will be in our own home in the near future. I think the Fall sounds good to me, but we will see.

Here is the link to the floor plans, and a sketch of the place online, and this is a photo I took of the picture in the magazine.
House Plans

Burma Cyclone

2008-05-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy over the last several days, that I had not heard about the cyclone that hit Burma until now. Such epic devastation to the country of Burma, and the world. 100,000+ dead and one million homeless, aid is slowly making its way to victims of cyclone Nagris in Burma. Please donate to your local Red Cross, or Doctors without Borders to help.

As for what I have been up to as of late....lots of online charity work.
I have been very busy working on Okala Foundation's website, and setting them up a cafepress shop.
Please take a visit over to okalafoundation.org. There are a couple of fund raisers going on, and then the new merchandise sporting various Okala Foundation logos. You can view everything new going on listed under the recent posts section at the bottom of the main page.

Spring has finally sprung for the most part, and I for one couldn't be happier about it. I am ready for color, and warmth.
I hope all is well in your world.
Cheers!~

And you wonder why such a high percentage of people are overweight....

2008-04-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I think mostly in part that in order to eat healthy you have to shell out some extra green stuff. Since we have been on the South Beach Program, and eating much healthier, our grocery bill has sky rocketed. This is really kind of disheartening. You would think that it would be the other way around , so that eating junk would be discouraged if it cost too much. No wonder a high percentage of the population is obese. Very sad indeed. If anything could be done to make people healthier, make it affordable to eat food that is good for you.

Happy Earth Day!!!

2008-04-22T09:03:00.001-07:00

Make everyday Earthday!! Do your part by conserving,renewing, and reusing. Plant a tree, a garden, clean up litter along the road ways, turn off lights when not in use... there are so many things you can do to help save our planet!!! This is my reason for making this world a better place. She is 22 months old, and she is my future.

Hello

2008-04-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been busy with various projects over the last little while, and Molly just got over a case of roseola. So I have been pretty busy. Greg left today for the states for work for 16 days. I hate when he goes away, but this is hopefully the last trip to the states for work. The other trips will be within BC, and Alberta, and hopefully Molly, and I can accompany him on some of those trips.

I have a ton to do it seems, and I just don't know where to begin. I feel I need some "me" time, but I don't know when I will get it. I have some little breaks here, and there, but nothing specific. The crafting, and knitting is coming along, and I keep practicing the knitting.

Well, I need to do some things, just wanted to poke in and say hello.
I hope all is well in your parts of the world.
Peace~
Jen

be sure you hop over to see my new blog
right action

I am over the moon!!!

2008-03-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

As of this morning, I have lost 11.6 lbs on the South Beach diet! I don't feel like I am dieting at all. :)
I am on my way to a leaner, healthier me, and I am happy about that! :)

I have added a new blog

2008-03-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

I have started a new blog. Please take a trip over, and take a peek. :)

Right Action : a page dedicated to making a difference, helping those that need our help, and to make this world a better place to be.

Right Action

Happy Dreary Snowy Easter

2008-03-23T11:04:00.001-07:00

Well, today feels like winter instead of the coming of spring. :( It is overcast, cold, windy, and now it is snowing. :( So much for taking nice pictures outside today.
Bah!
Hope it is nice, and springlike where you are.

World Water Day

2008-03-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

World Water Day March 22
"The Walk for Water is inspired by the example of women in water stressed countries who often walk 6 miles each day just to get water for their family."

"Join us as we take action to address this critical global problem. Major events and activities are being planned in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle as well as select local communities. Walk for Water in your city or virtually, and please help us spread the word."
"If there is not a Walk in your area, you can join the global "Virtual Walk For Water". We’ll include your name in a symbolic water jug to be carried by a participant in one of the local Walk for Water events." - World Water Day

Wanting to make a difference...

2008-03-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

As of late I have been doing charitable work through the power of the internet. Just take a look at my web page, and you will see all the things I am currently involved in.

Just today, Greg, and I are helping a new friend Tamara Davy we met on Facebook. She has started a foundation, the Okala Foundation to help the children, and people of Cameroon. We are going to set up her website as our contribution to helping her get her foundation out there beyond the walls of Facebook.

She had a chance to volunteer with a chimpanzee sanctuary in Cameroon, and had a chance to get to know the people of the villages there in Cameroon.

Last year she found sponsors for 57 children, and provided them with school supplies, and books. This year she is raising funds to build them a new school.

She is also collecting prescription eye glasses for the villagers as well.

If you want to donate eye glasses or donate money to help build the school, please drop me an email, and I can forward her contact information to you.
Cheers!
Jen

A state of mind...

2008-03-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

I have had a change of mind...I don't know why it has taken me this long to realize that eating healthier, and eating wisely makes you feel good physically, and mentally. We have been on the South Beach diet now going on 3 weeks. We just entered phase 2, and we are now able to introduce things we were restricted to eat during phase one...namely fruit, and starches. I have felt better than I have in years, and I am eating my veggies daily, and lost about 5 lbs so far. South Beach isn't so much a diet as it is a tool to retrain the way you think about eating. It gets you ready for eating for the rest of your life.

I have been watching a lot of things on tv as of late, and have found out just how bad refined wheat products are for you. We had pretty much decided to start eating nothing but whole wheat, and whole grains before we started South Beach...you will no longer see white pasta, flour, rice, or bread in our house.

We even cleaned out our pantry of the bad stuff. It is going to be hard to never eat a doughnut, or cake from the grocery store again, because they taste oh so good, but they are oh so BAD for you, in more ways than the obvious. I have never been a big fruit eater, but I think I will be able to manage a sweet tooth with some berries, and fat free sugar free yogurt. :)Splenda is my new best friend. :)

Anyhow, I am feeling pretty confident that this is just the beginning to a much healthier life. :)
You really are what you eat!!!
Cheers!
Jen

2008-03-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

I have been on the South Beach diet now for the last week, and I have shed 4.6 lbs!!!
I am so excited that this will be a life altering event for me! I am really liking this program.

This chaps my ass!

2008-03-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

Extremists claim to be doing good for what they believe in...extremists are pollutants in my eyes. You can get your point across without doing more harm... Violence, and crime is not an answer. There are many things in this world I do not agree with, or am happy with, but resorting to harmful, potentially deadly actions is not my idea of how to fix a problem. This environmental extremist group in the Seattle area decided to blow up some of the Woodinville Street of Dreams houses because they claim they were not "green" homes. Whether they are green or not green, using chemicals, and the burning of things that release harmful pollutants into the air sure didn't help the environment!! What a bunch a freakin' retards!

Read this storyhere.

Make Poverty History Campaign

2008-02-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

I just saw an advertisement on tv for this website.
All celebrity cast...quite compelling.
When you sign on to the Make Poverty History campaign, your name is added to the list of a quarter of a million Canadians who are asking our elected representatives for:

* More and better aid
* Trade justice
* Debt cancellation
* An end to child poverty in Canada

Your voice will be united with millions around the world committed to making poverty history.

Good Causes Revisited.

2008-02-22T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am a facebooker, and I have become quite an enthusiast of charity applications on there. I am a loyal clicker on the hungersite, and all it's affiliates. It makes me feel good that I am making some small difference in the world for someone not as fortunate as me. I hope also that I can make a much bigger difference by recruiting others to do the same. I have been doing this for a while, but I have been going strong 26 days in a row! I am going to try to do this everyday that is humanly possible.

All it takes is one click per day. A few minutes out of your day to make a difference in the lives of someone that needs our help.

For each click you provide the equivalent of 1.1 cups of food to the hungry.
For each click you are helping provide a free mammogram to a woman in need.
For each click you you are helping a child in need get health care.
For each click you are helping a child attain literacy.
For each click you are helping to protect 11.4 sf of rainforest.
For each click you have given the value of .6 bowls of food to a rescued animal.
100% of sponsor money goes to charity.

They also have wonderful items for purchase in their online store that goes toward the cause.
The hungersite provides a pie chart, and other information to show you how people are making a difference by purchasing items, or clicking.

With Ripple.com
Each click provides 6 days access to fresh water.
Each Click provides the tools for a village to feed itself.
Each click provides 2 days access to education.
Each click helps finance a $100 loan for a day.

Greg, and I are both supporters of Kiva.org as well, and have helped entrepreneurs in developing countries by donating $25 in micro loans, that will be repaid to us. Once the loan is repaid, we can turn around, and use that same $25 to help another person get their business off the ground, and make a difference.

Even if you only have time to do it once a week, it still makes a difference.
Thanks! :)
Peace, and Love,
Jen

A post with no real title...

2008-02-19T23:39:00.000-08:00

I went to the store this evening with Molly to get a few groceries. As usual Molly is very social, and loves to say hi to people. Some are taken aback, and if they don't respond the first time, she promptly says hi again. she always gets a response back, and usually a compliment or two...mostly about her beautiful blue eyes, or her big smile. In my experiences if you say hi to someone, and they don't respond, you move along.

Growing up in a small Alabama town, I was raised to be polite, and speak when spoken to. People greeted each other on the streets, and in most cases you will see many people you know. You stop for a moment to exchange hellos, and well wishes.

When I moved to Vancouver aside from a few rare occasions, I found people in the city to be stiff, closed up, and sometimes downright rude. If you greeted them with a smile, and a hello, they look at you like you have the plague. Now, not everyone was like that, but a huge majority of them were. After some time, I stopped speaking at all to people passing by, and I closed right up. This did not make me a very happy person. In the city, you have so much at your disposal. It is a fast paced lifestyle, and many hunger for it. Not me...

When we moved to the BC interior nearly a year ago, I almost immediately noticed a difference. The people were nice, they spoke to you, and most will strike up a conversation with you if you don't do it first. Now, we live in a small town, but aside from small shopping inconveniences, we have everything we need. Including the kindness, and socialization that makes a community strong. People ask us why did you move to a small town in the middle of the BC wilderness? My answer would be because it gives me peace, it gives me hope, and it gives me what I need.

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we stayed in the Vancouver area. Would Molly be greeted with the same positivity that she gets here when she says hi to someone? In most cases probably not. I am glad that we moved here, and I am looking forward to a much happier, and healthier life here....
now if all this snow would just melt! :)
Peace!

Some relief, then more snow today...

2008-02-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

Well, after my winter blahs post, we had a couple of nicer days in which I actually got to take Molly for a ride on her sled, and I got to take a nice walk. Today, however, it snowed like mad again, and we got at least 8 iches or more. The only good thing about it was that is was a wet snow, and I could build us a snowperson! :) I was thrilled. Our snow is usually powder dry...this was the stuff I was used too. :)
Won't make for a nice drive tomorrow though. :P

Winter Blahs!

2008-02-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't posted much lately, because I really don't have anything new to talk about. We are getting a bunch of snow as I type this, and that will be more than a foot inside of a week. It has been cold, and not much fun to be outside. So we have spent a lot of time indoors. We are currently under a snowfall warning. Everyone is tired of the snow, and say it is worst than last year. I for one am dreaming of warmth, and color. I guess we should have expected this moving further north, but didn't expect it to be this bad.

Life is too short...

2008-01-24T10:20:00.001-08:00

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets,
so love the people who treat you right,
forget about the ones who don't, and
believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your
life, let it."

All it takes is a few minutes a day...

2008-01-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

Please take the time to make a difference. All it takes is one click per day. A few minutes out of your day to make a difference in the lives of someone that needs our help.
100% of sponsor money goes to charity.

What good is snow if you can't really do anything with it?

2008-01-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well, something I have learned since moving to the BC interior is that the snow here is powder dry! The only thing you can do with it is sled down a hill, make snow angels, and tromp around in it. The ski, and snowboarding fanatics are in heaven though. But, you can't build a dam thing with it, meaning no snow people, no snowball fights, nada! That is just plain disappointing! Today the wind was really strong, and blowing the dry snow off the trees, and buildings making it look like it was snowing, and sometimes looked like whiteout conditions. It isn't snowing, it is just moving the stuff around.

Back home in Alabama, if we had a really good snowfall, we could make some damn mammoth snowmen, and talk about heavy! Snowball fights were treacherous because if one of those hit you, it hurt like hell, and left a red mark.

Anyhow, I guess I will have to learn to live with it, and I guess I will learn how to ski, or snowboard.......yeah, right! Now, I could have a blast on a snowmobile!

Happy New Year!!!! 2008!

2007-12-31T14:33:00.001-08:00

Well, another year is coming to a close, and we are approaching our first year anniversary in Quesnel in a few weeks. I can't believe where the time has gone. It has been a very fast year for us. Molly is 18 1/2 months old, and it is hard to believe in a few short months that she will be 2!!! Life really does pass you by in a huge hurry if you don't watch out, so live it to the fullest!

The year started off with Greg's job coming to a close, and our decision to make the move to Quesnel, BC where we purchased 5 acres of land in 2004. We packed up, and headed north on the 27th of February. Greg started work with West Fraser Mills near the end of March. He is quite happy with his job, and is doing very well. His job is going to be taking him to the southern U.S. in the coming days. West Fraser owns 13 mills in the states, and the majority being in the South. He will spend time in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas for the next few weeks.

There was still plenty of snow on the ground when we moved here, and it was a couple of months before we could really begin any work on the land. We got a culvert and drive put onto the land so we could access the property by vehicle. We got some clearing, and burning done on the property this summer, and we had the idea of building a shed before winter, but that didn't come to be . We had an area dug for the foundation, and that is far as we got. The cold weather came much to quickly, and we had our first snow fall on November 1st. We have to keep in mind that the warm season is much too short in these parts. As for our building plans, they are still in the planning stages, as we change our plans so often. WE are hoping to break ground this year, and start to build, but with Greg' s travel schedule we are not so sure what we are going to do just yet. So we will see.

On June 11, Molly turned a year old, and soon began to walk within a few days after her birthday. She is going full force now, and won't have it any other way. She is always on the move.....ALWAYS! She keeps Greg, and I pretty busy, and plenty tired. :)
She is really doing well, and is growing like crazy. She is already 32inches + tall, and nearly 29lbs! She is not a fat kid by no means, she is all muscle, and healthy.
She is starting to really develop her vocabulary, and can say quite a few words. Though she is still selective as to when she says them. She even will come up to you , and say what's that? That is a new thing. She is also trying to say her abc's, and count to 10. She is really doing well with that, and though she can't pronounce everything clearly, you can tell what she is trying to say, and she knows the order in which the letters, and numbers come. It is really amazing to see her grow, and develop. She is really smart, and such a joy.

I have been working on several crafts the last several weeks, and I am enjoying that very much. I am crocheting, and knitting both with a loom, and I with the help of my friend Melissa have finally taught myself to knit the old fashioned way. I am just beginning with that, and I have a whole lot to learn yet. I am very interested in quilting, and hope to start doing that too... Another friend of mine says where do I find the time?? I don't really find time, other things will, and do fall behind in the process. :) My friend Melissa, and I are going to do a whole bunch of crafting , and go to some of the local craft fairs later this coming year, and I am very much looking forward to that.

I have also been working on a couple of web projects, and we are still doing web hosting, and some computer contracting through our home business Webwise Network Services.

I hope to officially launch my free ecard website in the coming weeks. This is a project that we have stopped, and started a few times, but have not completed. I decided that the photos I have taken over the years would be much better served if they were in use. I am not a professional photographer by no means, but I enjoy it, and we both have taken some nice pictures.

I hope to get Molly involved in some recreational activities this coming year as well. I definitely want to take her to swim classes, which we have not done yet. She is still not quite old enough to do a lot of activities , but we do have some friends, and we are trying to get together some play dates more frequently. She loves to be outside!

I am still trying to get used to the colder temperatures, and the snow. We have had snow on the ground pretty much since the first part of November, and continuously since November 14th. We got Molly a toddler sled, and she really loves being pulled around on it. She however, does not like the fact that she has to wear a snow suit, or big heavy coats, and hats, or shoes, and socks for that matter. I think I am going to have to put extra strength Velcro on her feet!!

Molly, and I went to Alabama in mid November, and stayed until the end of the month. We had a very nice visit with friends, and family. Unfortunately, despite being there for nearly two weeks, we still didn't manage to see, and do everything we wanted, or visit with everyone. The trip down, as most of you heard was pretty hellish, and the fact I was traveling alone with a toddler made it even harder. A trip that should have taken about 12-14 hours turned into 48 hrs of frustrations, headaches, and stress. We made it through without me killing anyone, though I think I could have a few times! We had a nice time once we got to our destination though. Molly is a well traveled toddler already with a stamp in her passport. I didn't even get a passport until I was 31!

We returned home to -25C/-13F , and lots more snow. We were in the deep freeze for better than a week, the coldest night we had was -28C/-18F. It finally warmed up to -9C/15F for the daytime highs. It has since warmed up a bit more than that, but it is back down to about that again. We still have lots of snow on the ground, and have had new snow as well. It just hasn't warmed up enough to melt it. If I were to guess we have had several feet of snow fall already since November. We still have at least 4 more months of the white stuff, and from what I have heard, it will get much colder than -25C before all is said, and done. We won't see the first signs of spring until mid to late May.

We have been asked a few times when we are going to start on baby #2, and few of our friends are working on, and or awaiting baby #2 already! In the beginning we were telling people no way, no how, but since then we have changed our tune a little bit. This is not too surprising since we went into this marriage with the idea we didn't want children. I had a lot of trouble after Molly was born, and I am not so sure if mentally I could start all over with a new baby... though I think it would be nice for Molly to have a brother or sister. I think about having another baby a lot, and then I think I must be crazy! I think though because of my age,( I just turned 37 on the 26th) and my previous problems that if we do decide to have another child, that we will try to adopt. Nothing is set in stone, and we will see what our future holds for us. Only time will tell. :)

Greg, and I had our 5th wedding anniversary on the 16th of November, however we "celebrated" apart. I was in transit to Alabama, and he was in Alberta for work. It is hard to believe that I have been in Canada 5 years now. It seems only yesterday I hopped on a plane for Vancouver with no idea what was in store for me there. :)
I finally feel at home here, and we are both very happy.

Anyhow, we are really enjoying living in Quesnel, and are looking forward to what the new year has in store for us.
We want to wish you all a Happy New Year, and hope that the year brings you much happiness, and joy!!

You might live in Canada if....

2007-12-31T14:28:00.000-08:00

I got this cute email with well known things said about Canadians, and these ones I have experienced first hand. :)

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada.

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada

If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada.

If the speed limit on the highway is 80km -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you may live in Canada

If you find 2 degrees C 'a little chilly', you may live in Canada!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like we will likely still have snow on the ground Christmas, and likely will get new snow by then as well. We finally went out to get our tree last Sunday, and the snow there was realllly deep. :)

We took Molly around on a sled, but it proved to be a much harder job than expected...so it wasn't much fun.
I just wanted to wish you all a very happy, and safe holiday!
Bets wishes in the New Year!
Cheers!

It's warming up...

2007-12-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Well, the deep freeze we have been having here is finally warming up as of this past week....we are finally above 0C today. Now, the roads will be come really dangerous with all the melting snow, then freezing at night. We have more snow in the forecast as well. It sure is more pleasant to be able to go outside, and not have snotcycles! :)

Well, Christmas is only 9 days away, and we have yet to do any shopping as usual...the weather has been no help there. I can finally get Molly outside for short bits at a time...when it was -19C to - 28C no can do. It is really hard on their lungs, and it is just no fun being outside.

Anyhow, I have lots to do. Hope you have a great weekend!!!
Cheers!

The Hunger Site

2007-12-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

All you have to do is click...what can it hurt?

I am on a roll...

2007-12-12T15:03:00.001-08:00

The weather has been really cold, so I have been doing a lot of crafting.
I have been doodling around with this project today. I took another craft, and put a different twist on it...I tend to do that, not sure why? :) This is a great craft for older kids as well, and is really, really inexpensive.

You will need a bunch of misc buttons. I picked up a few packs of these at the dollar store for a $1 each...

You will need two different gauges of tin copper wire...the same stuff used in jewelry making. I believe I used 14 & 24 gauge. I used the thinner wire for threading the buttons, and beads, and I used the thicker wire for the hook.

You will need some clamp scissors, or needle nose pliers will do. Also, you will need some beads if you like , this is totally optional, and you can add other items to your liking. This project is all about creativity, and imagination. The sky's the limit!

Here are some pictures: Have fun!

Being Crafty-Spice Scented Fabric Ornaments.

2007-12-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

I came up a with this idea yesterday, taking a craft my mom used to do to another level. I had an old factory manufactured quilt that was starting to come apart. It has a lot of holiday colors in it, and looks old timey. So, I decided to use the fabric, and batting to make ornaments. The twist is adding cloves, and bits of whole cinnamon inside to make them smell nice. They will make my tree smell so wonderful! I also can use the fabric to do all sorts of other things, including re quilting the pieces into a new design. I didn't have to buy anything but the spices, and I am making something old into something new. It is always best to reuse if you can.

I cut pattern shapes out of construction paper using some of my cookie cutters, and some old Christmas cookie cutters that were my grandmothers. I made the necessary adjustments to the scale as needed.

Here are some pictures of the first ones I did before, and after. Now they are not perfect in the slightest, considering it has been a while since I have used a sewing machine. I am hoping they get better as time goes along.

p.s. Since posting this, I have adorned the ornaments with buttons I got at the dollar store, that I had picked up for another project . The buttons really added a nice touch. I made the little dress after the first pictures, and made the hanger from jewelry wire. I can't wait to put these on my tree. :)

-26C this morning...

2007-12-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying a nice cup of hot tea, and homemade banana bread this morning.
The deep freeze continues here. I finally bundled Molly up on Thursday, and went to Walmart just so I could air out. I don't like being cooped up in the house. I didn't have the camera handy , but Molly reminded me of little Randy on A Christmas Story in his winter bunting. She just laid motionless in her carseat, simply because she couldn't move!

I went out that evening to a party I was invited to...it was an interesting feeling when the moisture in my nose started to freeze almost immediately upon going outside. I thought, oooh yuck snotcycles!

It is suppose to warm up a little bit next week. Instead of -19C for the high, it will be -9C :) Greg is going today to PG to get a block heater installed on the Subaru. I didn't have too much difficulty starting her up this past week, but the weather will get much colder than now, and I don't want to not be without a vehicle in case of an emergency.

Well, enjoy your weekend, and certainly hope it is warmer where you are! :)

The weather outside is frightful, and a fire would be oh so delightful....

2007-12-06T10:36:00.001-08:00

We woke up to a sultry -28C/-18F this lovely December morning. It will warm up to a balmy -18C by this afternoon. It is days like this that I wished we had a fireplace. I love the smell of a wood fire. We are plenty warm in our townhouse, but a fire would add some ambiance. :) I think later Molly , and I will have to venture out for some supplies. We need the airing out anyhow...that is if the car will start. :/
Well, I hope it is nice, and warm where you are!!

Cheers!
Jen

I am really in the Great White North!

2007-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

Well, Quesnel is really living up to the title "The Great White North". It is COLD, and snowing. The temps have been dipping down into the -20's C for a week or more now.
This is my first "real winter" in Canada. We have had really cold weather in Alabama in years past,snow, and at least 3 ice storms in my lifetime. I have not experienced anything below 0 F before though. I have never seen ice crystals inside of a window before. The moisture on the inside of our storm windows is frozen solid, and it is so strange to see that. The locals say it is not usual for it to be this cold this early. Temps like this are more common in January, and February. So, I think we will be in for a long cold Winter. At least I will get plenty of practice with my crocheting, and knitting!!

Our Alabama Trip

2007-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hi There,
Well it is December 2nd, and it is Winter here in Quesnel for absolute certain. Molly, and I returned to -25C temps/-30C with the wind chill on Friday, November 30th.
A far sight colder than the 60 something F we left back in Alabama. The locals say it is very unusual for it to be this cold in November...usually not until January or February.
I think we are in for a very long, and very cold winter. I guess I will get lots of practice on my knitting, and crocheting. :)
Molly, and I had an great visit with friends, and family while we were in Alabama. I am really sorry if we missed some of you, it was really hard to squeeze everything in, and we still had lots we didn't get to do, and for that we sincerely apologize. It is really hard to do much with a toddler with a schedule.

Anyhow, we started our journey November 14th in the afternoon. Our flight out of Prince George was to leave at 8:10pm. We were going to be taking a red-eye to Toronto, arriving in Atlanta on the 15th at 9:40a.m. Well it didn't exactly play out that way. It started to snow on us before we left to go to the airport, and the drive was pretty bad at times with white out conditions. We got to Prince George however, and there was no snow at all...so I was hopeful that things would be just fine. Well, after we got there it started to snow, and it got bad, but not bad enough until Greg left us to go back home that they canceled my flight. I was already dreading this trip, and this was just the beginning of a nightmare that took over 48 hours.

I waited in line to reschedule my flight with Air Canada, and picked to go the next morning at 7:30a.m. They were able to put Molly and I up for the night in a hotel, as I was totally stranded. Greg was to leave the next morning for Alberta for work for the next several days. I didn't sleep well, and got up around 4a.m. I got Molly up, and went downstairs at 5:55a.m to catch my ride to the airport, only to learn my flight had been canceled. Air Canada says Prince George is a difficult place to get in, and out of this time of year, but West Jet seemed to be doing just fine as they landed their planes about 20 minutes after my first flight was canceled. So, I was able to stay at the hotel until I needed to go to my flight that had been automatically re booked for 2:45pm that afternoon.

Greg was coming through PG to pick up a fellow at the airport before their 15+ hour drive to Sundre, AB, and was able to bring me some diapers for Molly. I had only packed enough to get us there on a regular trip. So we got to see him again, and say good bye.
Our flight left on time , and we were to arrive in Toronto at 1a.m. EST. The trip over was not so bad, as the crew on the Vancouver to Toronto leg of the trip took pity on me, and gave me their seats in the back so that I could stretch out with Molly. Otherwise the trip would have been horrible, as it is always a full flight from Vancouver to Toronto.

I get to Toronto at 1a.m., and we had no reservations for a room, and instead of getting a room for a couple of hours, I decided to just stay at the airport. So, Molly, and I attempted to sleep in the Toronto Airport....Molly got about 3 hours....I got 45 minutes. I was so paranoid about falling asleep, and finding her gone when I woke up. I had my hand on her the whole time. We were perfectly safe though, as the head of security that evening helped us out, and took us a too a safe area. She had to retrieve my wallet that I left by the pay phone in the secure area. I left it there after I had called the Sheraton at the airport to only find out they wanted $289 a night. SHEESH!

So, at 5:30a.m. I decided to push my trolley of luggage, car seat, and Molly in the stroller to go check my baggage. I had to retrieve that too when I entered Toronto so I could go through US customs.

Well, if you might have heard about the major computer glitch that caused the reservations network to be down for several hours during peak travel time... I was part of that statistic. (News Story) . When I went to get in line there were easily 300+_ people in front of me, and the line only grew. When people got to where I was, they looked disgusted, only to find out that it just kept going, and going, and going, until they ran out of building, and had to start snaking around, and around . The end of the line passed the beginning very quickly. :(

I was able to get through pretty quickly after the system came back up, but having to deal with customs, and baggage I still managed to miss my flight, as so did half the other passengers. They let that plane leave with 15 people on it! So, they sent us back to where we started with an $8 dollar voucher for breakfast, and a new flight to leave in 2 hours. In the meantime, my mom, and step dad were wondering if I was going to call anymore. :)

There were a group of us that kind of hung together, so it was nice to have someone in the same boat as me. Molly had no trouble at all making friends, and she was so good. She had a meltdown towards the end of our wait in Toronto. The lady that was sorting passengers, said she felt like crying too. All in all I couldn't have asked her to do any better. Also thank the heavens that Greg got her a portable DVD player! That saved me so many times on this trip.

Our flight from Toronto left about 45 minutes late, as they were trying to get all these backed up flights out. After they loaded us on the plane they told us it would be a little longer wait as they were taxiing out another plane, then they had to load our luggage. HEH! yeah, ok....RIGHT!

Molly, poor thing fell asleep before we took off, and didn't wake up until I woke her up after we landed in Atlanta an hour later than originally planned.

I gathered her, and her things,left the plane to go get our luggage, and meet my step dad, and mom at baggage claim. They weren't there, but I soon found out they were circling the airport waiting for us to arrive, instead of parking a million miles away.

Well, you think the story ends here, but it doesn't.... I am soon to learn that our luggage, and Molly's car seat are still in Toronto!!!! I am furious, but not too surprised. It was only fitting. I think everything that could go wrong went wrong except the plane crashing, which is something I am happy, and thankful for.

I had to file a lost luggage claim, and they would deliver it as soon as it came in to Atlanta. I was ok with this, but I told them that I have to go another 2 1/2 hours to our destination by car, and I HAD to have a car seat! I wasn't about to wait until this luggage showed up. So they gave us a loaner car seat. I was so glad to get out of there.
Our luggage showed up the next day, and Molly's car seat showed up on Monday.

Finally, we could rest, and relax, and enjoy ourselves. We had a wonderful time, and had lots of good food. I did lots of shopping, and enjoyed the weak US dollar while I could. :)

Our trip home was without problems, but was extremely long, and tiring,. I wasn't so lucky on the Toronto to Vancouver leg of the trip back as the flight was overbooked, and completely full. I had to hold Molly the whole 5 + hours. I was miserable, and ready to have a meltdown by the time we got to Vancouver. We were late leaving, but go into Vancouver in plenty of time .

We arrived in PG at 7:50pm. and met Greg with tears, and hugs. We were both exhausted.
I had never been so glad to see him in my life.

Anyhow, I have decided that I won't fly with Air Canada again unless I am forced to. It was the worst experience in my traveling life.
We are home now, and glad to be home. It will take us a few days to recover I think.
Here are some pictures from our trip South.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20851&page=1&id=549365894
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13876223@N00/

We hope that this finds you all well, and in good health.
Peace, and Love!--

Fall is the reason I love it here so much!

2007-10-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

It is so beautiful here right now with all the pretty colors of fall. It is getting cooler here, and cold at night. It won't be too long before we get our first snow of the season. I have been taking pictures of the area, and I am so glad we made the move here. I might not feel the same way after we have snow for the next 4-5 months!! Maybe it won't be as bad as last winter!
Here are some pictures I wanted to share. Enjoy!

Seasons of change...

2007-09-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

I believe our Summer is mostly over, and the Fall is peeking on the horizon. The leaves are already starting to change here. Spring comes late, and the Fall comes early in these parts. It is hard to get used to. We will probably have snow on the ground by Halloween. It is getting cooler, and you can tell that Fall is in the air. I love the Fall...it is my absolute favorite time of the year. I think I could live amongst the colors of Fall all year long. There is just something about this time of year I can't quite place my finger on, but it makes me feel at peace.

Finding inner peace...

2007-08-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Finding your inner peace is something that doesn't always come so easily. Finding something that truly makes you happy can be hard too, especially if you have roadblocks along the way... Life is general to be exact.

I have found the last 3 years were really hard for me...trying to be happy where we were, and making the best of life in the big city. No matter how how hard I tried it just wasn't working for me knowing we had 5 acres of land in the beautiful BC interior. 5 acres that truly belonged to us. It wasn't a place that we rented, and were limited.
I have longed for a real place of our own for a very long time, and I felt we were never going to get there.

That is finally all changing, and with our move in the spring to Quesnel our dreams are starting to come true...slowly, but surely.

I still find it hard to get motivated to do anything in this rental we are in. Because it is the same thing as before when we were in the city. We have been working on the land, and it has been so refreshing for me. I love spending time there. It is so peaceful, and quiet. We have lots of trees, of which a good lot are Aspen. I love the Aspens. When the wind blows it makes their little leaves dance, and flutter, and it is so relaxing to me.
Yesterday, I gathered rocks for the driveway, and I was so happy to sit there, and create something that will be ours for as long as we are there. I told Greg that I can't wait for us to be out there full time. I long for the day that we can sit on our porch, and listen to the Aspen dance, and flutter in the breeze.

On a different note:
We had friends come up a week ago, and camp out at the land. It was a fun time. We cooked out there, and it was great. We have more friends coming up for the long weekend, and it will be nice to have them here. We are planning a trip to Barkerville, and it will be our first trip there since we arrived.
Well, I have to get busy, I have tons to do this week!!

I am still here. :)

2007-08-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

I have been extremely bad about posting on here. I have to admit I am spending most of my time on Facebook these days. It is very addicting!!!
Well, it is the start of August, and we are doing fine here in the our little part of Canada. The weather has been warm, but not as bad as it could be. We in fact have had cooler weather this week. It has been nice.

Greg is working hard at his job at West Fraser Mills. He likes it quite well. I am just busy being a stay at home mom. Molly is 14months old today. It is amazing how much she has changed in the last few months. She is walking, and growing like crazy. She is already so tall it seems. She outgrows her clothes lengthwise long before anything else. She is eating regular table food mostly, and loves all kinds of things. Greg even has her eating raw tomato, onion, and peppers. I still have her on a transition formula because she eats like a bird, so I feel it is necessary to give her that extra boost to get her daily supplement in.

We have been doing some projects around the land. Greg got a old used utility trailer at a moving sale, and took off the old wood. It was rotting, and the bolts were rusted. He sanded, and painted the frame, and replaced the plywood, and it looks awesome. It will come in handy to haul things back, and forth to the land. Greg has started some clearing of smaller trees, and underbrush on the front part of the property. We spent a few hours last weekend cutting trees, and trimming. It was nice to get my hands dirty. :) We had to get a sitter for Molly as it is not an ideal environment for a toddler just yet. I really enjoyed it since I haven't been able to really help much because of Molly. We plan on spending time out there tomorrow as well.

We are loving small town life, and enjoying the area. There seems to always be some kind of function going on in Quesnel. We are making friends, and making contacts. Greg is volunteering for the Lion's Club, and will join them this Fall. They don't meet in the Summer, though they still have functions, and activities they do during the Summer months. The Lions do wonderful work, and contribute so much to the community.

Molly, and I have been enjoying the Summer, taking walks, and spending time at the park. Most of the baby group functions stop for the Summer, so we will forward to the Fall when things start back up again.

We are still renting a townhouse in town for now. It is really convenient for me to be able to walk to where ever I need to go for now. That will definitely become an issue once we are on the land. It will be time to get a second car by then.

We have debated putting a trailer, or building a small dwelling until we can start the cordwood process. For now, we are going to stay in town. We are going to try our very best to build a shed on the property for storage. We are getting quite the collection of lawn equipment, and tools , and we just don't have the space here.

We are very much looking forward to some of our friends from the coast coming up at the end of the month for a visit. It will be nice to see them. It is quite the drive back down to Vancouver, so we haven't made the trip since we arrived in March. Greg will have to take a trip to get his passport soon. We will be traveling to Alabama in November to visit family, and friends, so he will definitely need it by then. He will also need it for work, because on occasion it may be necessary for him to travel to the U.S for work. West Fraser owns about 14 mills or more in the States.

I am desperate to fix up our bedroom, so that it is a nice place to relax, and spend time together. I would love to spend more time reading. We got the new Harry Potter, and Greg has already finished reading it. So, I had better get busy.

Anyhow, not much else to report around here....hopefully it won't be a month again before I post. :)
Cheers!
Here are some pictures we took working on the property:

Happy Canada Day!!

2007-07-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

Getting used to the weather ...

2007-06-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

Well, it has definitely been an adjustment with the weather situation in our new home. It has been hot some recently, but mostly mild. In fact it has been cold again at night the last couple of nights...Getting down to 4C. The first signs of spring didn't even come until mid May. When they say scattered storms, they mean scattered...sunshine, and blue sky in between. I was even wearing a sweatshirt last night, and it JUNE for crying out loud. :) I would never be able to pull that off in Alabama unless I am in a building that has the a/c on in the 60's F.

We are adjusting well otherwise to our new town, and making friends. The people here are so nice. We do like it very much. We miss our friends back on the coast, but we don't miss the city at all.

We are in the midst of finding temporary housing to put on our land, so that we can be on our land. We don't want to rent anymore. We don't really want to live in a trailer, and the only way I will agree to that is, if it is temporary. We want to build a cordwood house, and that will just take some time. Once we are on the land permanently, that will make it easier for us to do the things we want to do with more ease, and comfort, especially with a baby. So we are looking, and trying to find something.

In the meantime, I just feel like I am spinning my wheels, and biding my time here in town.
So, we will see....Nothing much else to report here.
Hope all is well where you are!

High Gas Prices

2007-05-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

Find the best price in your area from users like yourself.
Post your local gas prices on gastips.com. Find the better deal!

alt="Click here to visit GasTips.com" height="60" width="468">

I would have never thought...

2007-05-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

I got this interesting email today warning about the toxicity of hand santizers, and the dangers they could impose on small children.
So much of the stuff that comes through our inbox is a bunch of garbage, but every once in a while you get something on the up, and up.
Very scary stuff...

And to think we are REQUIRED to buy this stuff for their school supplies! (SMB)

Please read below and follow the link:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp

Ok. I don't know where to begin because the last 2 days of my life have
been such a blur. Yesterday, My youngest daughter Halle who is 4, was rushed
to the emergency room by her father for being severely lethargic and incoherent. He was called to her school by the school secretary for being "very VERY sick." He told me that when he arrived that Halle was barely sitting in the chair. She couldn't hold her own head up and when he looked into her eyes, she couldn't focus them. He immediately called me after he scooped her up and rushed her to the ER.

When we got there, they ran blood test after blood test and did x-rays,every test imaginable. Her white blood cell count was normal, nothing was out of the ordinary. The ER doctor told us that he had done everything that he could do so he was sending her to Saint Francis for further test.

Right when we were leaving in the ambulance, her teacher had come to the ER, and after questioning Halle's classmates, we found out that she had licked hand sanitizer off her hand. Hand sanitizer, of all things. But it makes sense. These days they have all kinds of different scents and when you have a curious child, they are going to put all kinds of things in their mouths.

When we arrived at Saint Francis, we told the ER doctor there to check her blood alcohol level, which, yes we did get weird looks from it but they did it. The results were her blood alcohol level was 85% and this was 6 hours after we first took her. There's no telling what it would have been if we would have tested it at the first ER.

Since then, her school and a few surrounding schools have taken this out of the classrooms of all the lower grade classes but what's to stop middle and high schoolers too? After doing research off the internet, we have found out that it only takes 3 squirts of the stuff to be fatal in a toddler. For her blood alcohol level to be so high was to compare someone her size to drinking something 120 proof.

So please PLEASE don't disregard this because I don't ever want anyone to go through what my family and I have gone through.

Today was a little better but not much. Please send this to everyone you know that has children or are having children. It doesn't matter what age. I just want people to know the dangers of this.
Thank you

My top 4!

2007-05-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

tom welling62
Originally uploaded by louiseq.

Here is my top 4 male celebrity Hottie list!!!!

Tom Welling
Johnny Depp
Hugh Jackman
Colin Firth

Colin Firth
Originally uploaded by [LaPanteraRosa].

OUT17292538
Originally uploaded by juani.

Johnny Depp
Originally uploaded by everchanginggirl.

I absolutely LOVE the show Smallville, and I look forward to it every week. It is my one treat for the week. The season is over until the Fall, and it sucks. :( There are always re-runs. Tom Welling has the most incredible smile, and those eyes...YUM!
(I need help, I know :)

Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, and Colin Firth are incredible actors, and very easy to look at. I am a sucker for Australian, and English accents, and rebels with a cause. :)

I guess I am a sucker for brunettes! :)

GRIZZLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Came across this young adult Grizzly bear this afternoon on our way to Wells, BC....what a rare treat! He didn't seem to be afraid of cars, or people. There was even this woman that got out of her car to take pictures....what an idiot!!!!!

Our New Sofa! :)

2007-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is our new microfibre double recliner sofa we got on Saturday. It is really comfy. The microfibre is a suede-like material. :)

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's Friday! :)

2007-05-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a while since I have written an update really. We are doing well here. Greg likes his job, and is doing really well. I am making new friends, and getting out. I joined Curves a month ago. It has helped me a lot to get that "me" time every week, plus get much needed exercise. Walking with Molly just isn't enough, and I do need time to myself to de-stress, and unwind. I go 2-3 times a week.

Greg, and I have a date on Saturday!! It is the first time we will leave Molly alone with a sitter. I met her at Curves, she is a really nice girl. We are going to go for dinner, and to see Spiderman 3.

It was high time we got a sitter, but just haven't had the resources really in finding one, since we were new in town. I am a little bit nervous leaving her for the first time, but we will only be a couple of blocks away...small towns are great for that. :) We are even going to walk since the theatre, and restaurant are so close.

It will be nice to have time together. We need that as a couple, and Molly needs to have time to be without us too. She is growing more independent each day, but she loves her mommy, and daddy.

I invited the sitter over last night to spend some time with Molly, and I just to give Molly the chance to get to know her a little better. She met Molly on Monday.
She spent two hours with us, and Molly just took to her, like she was one of the family. I went upstairs for a few minutes, and left them alone. I came back down, and watched from around the corner. Molly, and the sitter just sat there, and played. Molly didn't make a sound. It was awesome! :) So, I think she will be ok.

We are also going to get a new couch this weekend, hopefully as part of my Mother's Day gift. We haven't had one since we moved, and we desperately need one. It isn't so fun taking turns sitting in a the rocker glider that belongs in Molly's nursery to watch movies together. Sitting on the floor is incredibly uncomfortable. I just hope they have the one we saw in the flyer online. I am going to go today to check.

Molly is 11 months old today! It is so hard to believe that in one month she will be a year old!! Where has the time gone?

Anyhow, not much else to report. We hope you have a most lovely weekend, and a wonderful Mom's Day to all you Moms out there!!
Cheers!
Jen

Shane's Wish

2007-05-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Shane is a little boy in Ontario that has leukemia, and his one wish is to receive the most birthday cards ever. His birthday is May 30th. His story has made the headlines, and been broadcast on the news. His goal is to receive 350,000 million birthday cards!!! There are only 22 days left until his birthday. (correction on amount)
Let's see if we can help him make his goal.

You can read about his journey, and get news updates here:

Shane's Wish

I am going today to get a card for him.

First Signs of Spring! Finally!! :)

2007-04-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

We finally have the first signs of Spring!! :)

Playing in the Sunshine!

2007-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well, the sun is out this afternoon finally after an overcast, cold, and foggy morning. I got outside, and puttered around in the area by the back door. There is a little grassy area on either side of the stairs. It is just enough space to have a very small garden, and or flowers. The maintenance man took down the old dilapidated fence that was back there, and so it is really sunny there now. I don't know if they will replace the fence or not at this point. I hope they do to some extent, but having it opened up was nice for a change. There is a walkway that runs the length of the building, and we have wanderers come through there all the time.

It made me happy to clean up the dead stuff, and get ready for when it is warm enough to put some flowers, and veggies out. I find a nice breeze, and a little sunshine is a cure for what ails ya! I had the back door open, and a nice breeze was coming in...the kitchen window is stuck, so once that is open, then it will be nice to have the breeze as I am cooking dinner. :)

I think the difference with here, and living in Richmond is the lack of noise here. :) We are in the downtown core at the moment, but it is quiet for the most part.
We had a yard, and space to putter, and garden in Richmond, but I just didn't enjoy it because it was noisy, and loud from all the traffic.

I am really looking forward to being able to work our land once it is nice enough to do so. It is still pretty cool out.

Well, I am off to spend some time with my girl.
Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Johnny Depp

2007-04-20T14:18:00.001-07:00

I love it!!! A tribute to one of my all time fav actors! :)

The Illusionist w/Neverending White Lights - The Grace

2007-04-19T22:33:00.001-07:00

I love this song, and this movie was just awesome. What a wonderful tribute to both!

Remembering Virginia Tech

2007-04-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

We all unfortunately have another tragedy to add to our recent memories...far too many so far for a person my age. It is always hard to understand, or make sense of any tragedy or why 32 innocent people had to die yesterday on the Campus of Virginia Tech University. A list of people that included a holocaust survivor. It is very sad, and angers me that the world is not in a very nice state right now. It makes me second guess my decision that brought a life into this world. I only hope that her life will make a difference someday, and make the world a better place to live.

A bathroom with a view...the best seat in the house. :)

2007-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I find a nice cool breeze blowing lace curtains most relaxing, and refreshing.

What a beautiful day!

2007-04-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well, what a beautiful day this has been. It warmed up to a nice 21C which converts to the 60's in F. This is quite a change from our -13C earlier in the week. We even have our windows open today. We took a drive this afternoon out on the back roads in the surrounding areas. It was a beautiful drive. We saw some deer, and a dead coyote. :)

Still lots of snow in places, but it is beginning to thaw. I took a few pictures, but not as many as I should have. I was on the look out for bears, as it is about time for them to be waking up. Spring comes late here, and we don't have any blooms yet. No pollen yet, but it will come soon enough. I wonder how I will react to the pollen during the Spring up in this part of the world.

It's warming up!

2007-04-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

This Easter weekend is suppose to be fabulous. Highs in the 60's! :) This will be Molly's first Easter. We are not going to do anything special really. I am going to make her up a candy free basket of goodies, and dress her up...have to take lots of pictures for the family. :) Have a great weekend!

It is winter again in Quesnel!

2007-04-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

We woke up to -13C this morning which converts to 8.6 F! It is bloody cold. It is April for crying out loud! It is suppose to be much warmer by Friday. I sure hope so!!! :)

Now talk about being pampered, and spoiled...

2007-04-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I was talking to an acquaintance on the phone today. I will say her name is Sally Sue. (names, and relation being kept anonymous for certain reasons) Sally Sue told me that she was talking to Norma Jean on the phone today. Norma Jean's daughter lives in California, and lives quite the pampered life if you ask me. She has two little boys under the age of 4. She orders her groceries online, has a housekeeper come in once a week, and has a nanny that comes in to help with the boys. Norma Jean's daughter claims she still needs more help, and despite her husband's complaints that she already has enough help, he has brought more help in. It must be nice, I must say. I would love to have someone come in, and help me sometime with Molly. In fact, I am looking to have someone just come in, and entertain her so I can get the house in some kind of order. We still have unpacked boxes, and stuff everywhere. Anyhow, I just had to write about how funny I find this. *shakes head in disbelief* Some people just don't have a clue, do they?

Weird Weather!!!

2007-03-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to think we moved to Calgary...
Yesterday it was 13 C nice, and a bit blustery. This morning it was 8 C. Now it is 1 C and snowing!!!!! I just don't get it. Wacky weather...even the locals say this past winter was unusually snowy. It is spring time for crying out loud!!! :)

Great News!

2007-03-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Greg got offered a job today, and he accepted it. He starts on Monday. We went out for dinner tonight in sort of a celebration. It was so nice, because we were the only people in the restaurant, and our waitress took it upon herself to take Molly on a tour around the dining area while we had our dinner in peace. She stayed close by so we wouldn't feel weird. Molly did really well, and it was strange eating dinner out , and not having her right there with us the whole time. It was a nice break. :)Small town life is so different than the big city. I think we will do well here :)

It's the weekend...

2007-03-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Just trying to plan out our Sunday. Saturday got botched because Molly had a rough night on Friday night, and bled into Saturday. She is trying to cut her upper teeth, and is suffering a bit. She is having a really hard time this go around. Luckily what started as getting up every hour or so whining, and crying ended about midnight, and she slept through until 5:30a.m. had a bottle, and up again at 8 or so. So we had a much better night. Thank goodness. Anyhow, it is suppose to rain later, but looks nice for now. I think we are going to go out exploring. So, I better go get ready, and pack up some stuff for Molly. :)
Have a great day!~

It's snowing again!

2007-03-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

It is the first day of spring, and we are getting snow. It has been snowing all day. We haven't gotten a whole lot of accumulation though, and it will probably be gone in the next couple of days. I am ready for it to be nice, so that we can spend some time on the land.

Kiva.org- microloans for small businesses

2007-03-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

I really love this idea.
They manage no-interest loans for small businesses in poorer countries. They have a 100% payback rate (since they took over…prior to that it was 96%), and that’s a pretty incredible thing. They are choosing the right people who need the right kind of help.

Their spiel:

I want to let you all know about a cool non-profit that is doing great things: Kiva.org

Kiva.org allows individuals to make $25 loans to low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world (microfinance). By doing so, individuals like you provide affordable working capital for the poor (money to buy a sewing machine, livestock, etc.), empowering them to earn their way out of poverty.

It’s a new, direct and sustainable way to fight global poverty, and the way I see it, I get a higher return on $25 helping someone build a future than the interest my checking account pays.

Anyways, if you have a minute, please check out the site: http://kiva.org. If you need more “reputable” validation than my recommendation :), know that they have received great press in publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR to BusinessWeek.

Thanks for reading!

Greg, and I picked one borrower to help right now. Olga Djondo of Togo is seeking a little more help to get her beauty salon business to a sustainable state. She's apprenticing two sisters. Looking over this, I'm willing to give it a $25 shot, and the repayment terms for her are 12-15 months (where I can reinvest in another business or take back my money).

I think it is a worthwhile cause, hopefully you will too. :)

Cheers!
Jen

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

2007-03-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Raises a pint in honour of me late Grandma Gert!!! Here's to ya Gertie! :)

Woke up to snow this morning...

2007-03-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

The old snow was about gone in town, and now we have a whole new batch! We got at least 5-6 inches. The locals say that this is the worst winter in a long time...usually don't get this much snow. I don't know what the grand total thus far for the area is, but I am sure it will help out it being so dry this Summer.

It's just after midnight, and the town is asleep

2007-03-12T00:14:00.000-07:00

It is so weird getting used to a small town again. Being from a small town the towns were pretty close together where I am from originally. The largest town near here is over an hour in either direction. It is currently after midnight, and we have a good view from our townhouse. This town is definitely asleep...I don't see a soul. Now, I am not saying someone isn't driving around, and we are near the highway, but all in all it is QUIET! It is kind of creepy.

I went out to the store last night, and no kidding, I was the only customer in the store aside from the 2 clerks on duty! A couple people came in after, but it was soooo weird. It was only 9:30pm. The Safeway does close at 10pm, but even in Richmond, stores have people in them up until closing.

Anyhow, I am off to bed. Daylight savings time has me all screwed up!!
Cheers!
Jen

It was Quesnel or Bust, and We're finally here!!! :)

2007-03-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I just got my home machine hooked up this afternoon. I have been checking my email from our laptop for the last week. I haven't been able to upload any pictures, or do anything really.

We made the move from Richmond, BC to Quesnel, BC finally after having bought land in Quesnel in the Summer of 2004.

Our plans are to build a house on the acreage we bought in the next year!!! Here's to hoping!!! :)

I am going to cheat a little, and post my husband's blog entry about our little adventure to the Cariboo. He just makes it sound so much better than I could ever make it sound. :)

It was an interesting adventure to say the least! I am just glad we are here, and ready to get on with our lives.

Taken from www.gadgeteer.net

So much here, I’m just not sure at all where to begin.

On the 27th of February, I picked up a moving truck from U-Haul. If you think about moving trucks for a second, you probably know how crappy this was. The truck itself was just one year older than our 1999 Forester, but it was beaten up pretty bad in its life. Really, if I was an honourable U-Haul CEO, I’d make a rule that said anything someone pays $800 for three days use of a vehicle, they should be given something that works properly, and has a very few comforts. At the very least, comforts like a working set of tail-lights and a stable suspension should be provided. Alas, the world is a different place than my aspirations for the quality of my moving truck.

The 27th was a very difficult day. Thanks go very much to JD and Gret, who helped us immeasurably. But in the poor state of our packing, and the difficulties in playing 3D Tetris with misshapen boxes and miscellaneous furniture in the back of a truck, and attempting to pack with a needy and cold-afflicted 9 month old baby in the house…things got problematic.

Our original intent was to split the trip over two days…Richmond to Merritt, and then Merritt to Quesnel. It ended up being Richmond to Chilliwack (not anywhere near as far) and then Chilliwack to 30 minutes from Quesnel and then back to Williams Lake, and then a third day into Quesnel. The hotel we booked in Merritt for that night said that they had to charge us anyway, but the hotel in Quesnel that we weren’t able to reach did not do so. From now on we’ll just not bother booking hotels ahead of time. It never works out well.

1 hour from Quesnel we came across, on an unlit rural road, a truck over on its side in the ditch, with blood in the interior and the rear cab window apparently kicked out. After getting a flashlight to make sure there was no one still inside we headed on, after a fair delay.

30 minutes from Quesnel, according to a trucker I talked to around 10:30pm was a semi that decided to take steep “Chin Hill” without chains in February. He ended up jackknifed and across the whole road, so while the RCMP, a sand truck, and a wrecker-tow truck arrived, they had to stop all traffic in both directions and wait. We waited an hour or so, before I made the judgment call to turn back to the previous town…over an hour backtracking. According to that and another trucker, it could have been another 1.5 to 3 hours before they had it clear, and I didn’t want to make Jen and Molly sit through that.

I wonder though, if we hadn’t stopped for the truck that was flipped over, would we have gotten ahead of the semi? Or perhaps been involved in the accident?

So, on back to the road in the morning, but much later arriving than desired. We got in around 9, and meeting the people who offered to help us unpack. My father’s wife’s sister lives in Quesnel and she arranged for a couple of young, bright, and kind Mormon men to help us unload. I truly cannot express how much I appreciated and continue to appreciate this help, and I still don’t know what I can do in return but continue to be thankful. I asked about offering payment, which they refused, as expected. I ended up offering whatever computer advice I could give whenever they needed it. I hope they take me up on the offer eventually. After helping us, they headed off to wash dishes at the Salvation Army. Like I said, awesome young men.

Now, the house is a disaster, but we are here and can manage it over time. It’s a 2.5 level townhouse, with 3 bedrooms upstairs, kitchen and living room on the main floor, and a half-level basement with laundry, furnace, etc. Pico managed to find his way down there and into the enclosed crawlspace beneath the townhouse…we’ll have to keep him out now, as I don’t know what all is down there. I’ve already managed to make a few contacts that might pay off, and have an interview next week.

The place itself…kinda sucks. When I found this place, I wasn’t able to see it. I was allowed into a neighbors place to see it, and was assured that our place was “in better shape". It’s not. Holes in the industrial-level carpet, crappy paint, and a need for more serious cleaning and updating. It’s livable, but really does need some work. I hope to convince the owner that it’s worth doing.

So, all in all…we’re safe, we’re in Quesnel, and we’ve got a lot of unpacking ahead of us, as well as a lot of bill-paying to do. I haven’t yet looked at the credit card statement. It’s going to be ugly, and I’m certain I’ll need to scrimp and save for a while to recover from this move.

So that is it in a nutshell...

Aside from that Molly is growing like crazy. She stood up on her own in her crib yesterday. Today she waved to a nice lady at the drugstore. She is so happy, and healthy. She is not quite crawling on all fours, but she is getting there. she is so expressive, and she just makes us laugh. She is a joy.

Well, I am off for now. I will be posting new pictures on our flickr account, and hope to have some good ones as soon as the place is put together.

Cheers!
Here are some pics I took today on a walk along the river:

On hiatus for a while...

2007-02-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Well, we are in the midst of packing up our lives, and moving 9 hours away. So life is pretty hectic these days. I won't be blogging until after we get moved, and somewhat settled. In the meantime, feel free to read the archives. :) Be back soon...
cheers!
Jen

We have a place to live!!!!

2007-02-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

Greg secured us an older 3 bedroom townhouse in downtown Quesnel today. While it is nothing super fantastic to look at , it is clean, safe, and quiet. That is all I ask for. It has three bedrooms upstairs, the kitchen, and living area are on the main floor, and it has a partial basement with a washer/dryer hookup. There isn't a yard so to speak, but hey we have 5 acres a few miles away! :) I am so excited now, and relieved. I guess it is official now. We are on our way!! :)

Snow on our land in Quesnel :)

2007-02-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

Greg went up to our land today, and took these photos. There is a lot of snow for February :D

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Life Changes yet again...

2007-02-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

Well, we are finally going to do it! We are going to move to where are land is...lovely Quesnel, BC in the interior. In the summer of 2004, we purchased 5 acres of land off of the Barkerville Highway.

We have had a lot of change in our lives this past year, and with Greg's job ending in December, we decided after long consideration that this was the best time to make the leap to Quesnel.

We are a little nervous, but excited about this new chapter in our lives. I let my employer know that I won't be returning after my maternity leave is up, and we gave our landlady notice.

Greg is currently driving on his way up now to try to find us a place to live. He has started up a small home based business Webwise Network Services in hopes that one day it will take off into something full time. He has been doing well on contract stuff since his job ended. For now, though he is looking for other employment. He has a job interview on Friday. So wish him luck.

We have so much to do in the next 3 weeks! It is crazy. :)

I will continue to stay at home with Molly for now. Daycare in the city is freakishly expensive, and so whether we had opted to stay in the Vancouver area, or move away I would have probably have stayed home either way.

So, it will be interesting to see how this move goes. Especially with a soon to be 8 month old. I imagine we are going to very tired for a while yet! :)

I will try to update as frequently as I can. Life is about to get really hectic for the next little while.
Cheers!
Jen

I will never use regular cat litter again...

2007-02-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

We have a male cat named Pico. He is 5 years old. About 6 months ago we quick using the scoopable litter that we have for years. His litter box would just reek from the strong ammonia smell of his urine. So, we tried the crystals, and he would try to eat those. Then Greg brought home these pine pellet things. I was apprehensive, because I thought it would be really bad. Well, to my surprise they work really well. They absorb all the bad smell, and you can't even tell Pico uses his box, unless he just made a big stink, but that goes away. You can scoop out the poop, and after a week I just dump the whole thing, and add fresh. The pellets become a powder after they absorb, but there is no mess really. I highly recommend using the pine pellets if you have a cat. It is better for the environment as well. :) They come in different brands, so just ask you local pet supplier.

Cheers!

Missing the Southland...

2007-01-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I really miss Alabama. Especially the sounds, and sights of the warmer weather. I don't necessarily miss the warm weather. In fact I don't miss the 90+F temps, and the high humidity at all that we get there in the warmer months. The spring tends to be balmy a bit too. Fall is the best though.

I miss the sound of the crickets at night, and I miss seeing the stars out at night. They do have stars here in Canada, but you have to drive a couple hours out of the city to see anything. I miss thunderstorms! Thunderstorms are really rare for this part of the country.

I miss southern cooking so much! I miss catfish, and chicken 'n dumplings, cornbread, and butter peas. I could cook chicken, and dumplings & cornbread myself, but nothing replaces my mama's home cooking.

Most of all, I miss my family, and friends.

British Columbia is so beautiful, and I love it here, but sometimes you just have to have that fix every now, and then. :)

I feel pretty lucky...

2007-01-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

I have my health,a great husband, a beautiful healthy daughter, and wonderful supportive family, and friends. I have food to eat, clothes to wear, and I have a roof over my head. When I watch shows like Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I feel even luckier that I haven't had to endure some of the hardships, and tragedy the people featured have had to go through. I am so touched by this program, and the good they do in this world.

Fear of becoming a "helicopter " parent...

2007-01-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

Helicopter parents are so named because, like a helicopter, they hover closely overhead, rarely out of reach whether their children need them or not.

Now, I wouldn't categorize myself as an extremist in this, but I do tend to hover over Molly when she is learning to do things on her own.

Take sitting up for instance... I am just so paranoid about her wacking her little noggin on our laminate floor. So I pad her with quilts, and pillows. Now, she is exploring her padded area, and showing signs of crawling. She is breaching those boundaries, and because her arms are not quite strong enough to support her at a crawl stance she chooses to push her head into the floor, and put her butt in the air. Now this is fine when she is in her crib, or on the quilt because it is padded. Greg says we have to let her learn on her own that if she hits her head, it will hurt. I know he is right, but I hate not having carpeting.

She has hit her head a few times already, and she knows it hurts, but she hasn't made that connection yet in what causes this. It doesn't help that I accidentally let her slip, and fall while getting her out of her jolly jumper while it was still hanging. She hit the floor head first. I was so upset, I cried. She screamed of course, but was fine a couple of minutes later.

I don't want to become a helicopter parent, but does it make me a bad parent for knowingly letting my child hurt herself? My guess is it doesn't make me a bad parent, but it sure makes me feel bad.

Alleged Serial Killer Robert Pickton goes on trial

2007-01-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

Once convicted, Robert William Pickton will go down in the history books as Canada's worst serial killer ever.

From Wikipedia " Robert Pickton is charged with the first degree murders of twenty-six women, and is implicated, as of January 28, 2004, in the murders of up to five more, many of them prostitutes from the Downtown Eastside district of the city of Vancouver. The British Columbia Crown Attorney has indicated it plans to bring at least seven more murder charges against him in the coming year, and new DNA evidence continues to be unearthed at his pig farm.

During the first day of his trial, January 22, 2007, the Crown stated he confessed to forty-nine murders to an undercover police officer posing as a cell mate. The crown reported that Pickton told the officer that he wanted to kill another woman to make it an even 50, and that he was caught because he was "sloppy""

There is no death penalty in Canada. This will be a long year.

New Snow on the Ground...

2007-01-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I just discovered that we have new snow on the ground. The lingering bits from the snow we had over a couple of weeks ago was about gone last night. This is our 5th snowfall of the season, and that is highly unusual for the immediate Vancouver area. Molly , and I have baby group today. I am really glad that it is changing over to rain as the temperature climbs above freezing today. I don't want to drive in the snow. Molly was up at 5a.m. this morning, which isn't too unusual. So after her bottle we go back to sleep on the couch. She will usually sleep until 8-8:30a.m. She woke back up at 7a.m.! I was not ready to get up. There's a new episode of Smallville on tonight. YEAH! :) I just love that show.