It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

 "The dog is the god of frolic."

-Henry Beecher Ward.

Yesterday was one of those perfect, magical days that really made you feel like the holidays are just around the corner.  Snow had been falling steadily since Wednesday and our world was encapsulated in white.  A trip to the local grocery store revealed that the first load of Christmas trees had arrived, and the entire parking lot smelled festive.  Inside the store, I noted that the "Christmas Foods" had made their annual appearance.  You know the ones I mean, fancy chocolates and cheeses and fascinating breads that only appear during the holiday season.  Storefronts and homes and telephone poles were suddenly alight with Christmas cheer.  We'd even attended our first festive party of the season earlier in the week.

There was just one thing left to do to put us in the Christmas mood...

Walk the dogs in the snow, of course!

If you can resist the sheer joy that is a dog in the snow, then you are made of tougher stuff than I.  Molly is and always has been a winter dog; she handles the cold extremely well and is very agile in the snow.  Our Tinky is all heart and gives it his all; despite his wee size he can hold his own in the snow, even if he does require a bit more coddling once he is home.


Once my pups were warm and fed, I settled in for an evening of Christmas crafting set to my favorite holiday mix.  The scent of cinnamon berry candles filled the air; My world was bursting with Christmas!  God bless us, everyone!

What little rituals or traditions do you follow to put you in the Christmas mood?  Is it something you can plan for, or do the stars have to align?  Share in the comments!


A Happy (if belated!) Thanksgiving to my dear American friends!  I hope you had all the turkey and pumpkin pie you could hold and that you are having a wonderful time at the Black Friday sales!


NB - For those of you concerned that Molly has shrunk, have no fear!  This is an old, old picture of her from when she was a puppy.  I promise to take some newer ones soon!

Nesty Creations - My First Craft Fair!!!

I had a great time at my first craft fair!  Not a lot of sales, but it was a lot of fun and I think I will do it again in the Spring!

Here are some pictures of our table and wares.  I sold a collection of Christmas ornaments as well as some "Tiny Totes;" little bags perfect for hands-free shopping, strolling, or dog walking. I also made the Christmas bunting that decorated our table.  My table partner Ann sold her original jewelery designs.  I really like her creations; we purchased some for Christmas gifts last year and I bartered a Tiny Tote for a pair of earrings (the funky pink shell ones in the photo collage below).    

Despite low sales (and developing laryngitis!), I had a lot of fun!  It was great to get out, meet people, and see what other crafters are making. 

Have you participated in a craft fair lately?  Do you sell your products online, either through Etsy or your own site?  If so, I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Have a great day!

Happy Weekend!

Hi Everyone!

As I announced on Wednesday, I'm participating in my very first craft show this weekend.  Things get rolling tomorrow afternoon, so I am going to be wise and get ready tonight!  And so, dear readers, I hope you will forgive me for not writing much of a post today!  I'll be back on Monday, and I'm looking forward to visiting some of your blogs for a "real" visit, not just a peruse in my reader!  We've been "staycationing" the last two weeks and so I've been spending time with my family instead of blogging quite as much.

Thanks for your understanding!  I'll see you on Monday!

Kim

I'm Thankful for Turtle Pumpkin Pie!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  As with many holidays here in Kitimat, this year we got together with a group of friends and had a Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck.  I love these holiday meals; in addition to the great time we have spending time with our Kitimat friends, we get to try out recipes that, while new to us, are time-honoured traditions in our friends families.  I volunteered for dessert duty on both Thanksgivings we have spent in Kitimat, and although my dessert of choice may not be a traditional family recipe, it is quickly becoming a tradition in my new household, and at our Thanksgiving potlucks!

Last year my mother introduced me to Turtle Pumpkin Pie.  My sister was making it for our family's Thanksgiving Dinner, and as Mom was describing it I knew it would be the perfect dessert to take along to our Thanksgiving Dinner!  I personally love traditional Pumpkin Pie, however some people don't enjoy it, although interestingly enough they almost always like pumpkin flavoured foods (lattes, cookies, and the like).  My theory is that it is the heavy cooked pudding consistency of pumpkin pie that they don't like.  And fair enough; these are probably the same folks who take a pass when bread pudding or custard is on the menu.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie, a Kraft Foods concoction, takes the flavour of pumpkin pie and puts it into a sweeter, fluffier form.  It still uses canned pumpkin, but instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip are added to make a delightful cream pie filling that is spooned into a graham cracker crust lined with caramel topping and pecans (just like a Turtles chocolate, see?)  The pumpkin filling is topped with lots of Cool Whip and then drizzled with more caramel and a sprinkle of pecan pieces as the final touch.  It's really rich and yummy, and will change the mind of many pumpkin pie opponents.  

Another great thing about Turtle Pumpkin Pie?  It's super easy to make; in fact, it's no-bake!  It only takes an hour to set up in the refrigerator, so you can even prepare it while the turkey's cooking. It doesn't get any better than that! (Oh alright, I suppose if it were calorie free...)

Here is a link to Kraft Canada's recipe for Turtle Pumpkin Pie.

I decided to roast a turkey for us on Monday so we could have "leftovers" during the week.  We especially love making Hot Turkey Sandwiches, and Turkey Leftover Sandwiches (with stuffing and cranberry sauce).  My project for tomorrow is to make Turkey Soup from my turkey frame (I always make sure to leave lots of turkey on the frame for the soup!) I decided to go traditional with this turkey and simply stuffed it with bread stuffing made form my Mom and Nana's recipe, and seasoned it with butter and poultry seasoning.  Sometimes, the heart just needs tradition!  Although, I will admit that I broke out my fancy turkey basting kit and injected some melted REAL butter into the meat before popping it into the oven.  It was unbelievable!

Of course, having a turkey with all the trimmings in the fridge leads to lots of late night snacking!  I will have to make sure I get in lots of walks this week!

I've enjoyed sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and traditions with you over the last few posts.  The next big celebration?  Halloween, of course!  I've started decorating and planning already, and we picked up a batch of candy and treats for the trick or treaters when we were in town this week.  As well, I have lots of wonderful homemade treats planned! And of course, I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you!

In closing, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on Friday's post; what an outpouring!  You made me feel great!  I am still catching up with visiting everyone who visited my blog last week and on Monday, but rest assured I will be stopping by your blogs soon!  

Have a wonderful week (it's halfway over already!).  See you on Friday!!!

It (Finally) Feels Like Home...

Any of you who have relocated far away from all you knew well, held dear, and loved with all your heart, will understand my next statement:

Dorothy had it right; there's no place like home.


As most readers of this blog know by now, about a year and a half ago my husband and I relocated clear across Canada to our current place of residence - Kitimat, British Columbia. After many long hugs, tearful goodbyes, and "one last times," we packed up our Jeep with Molly and the cats and set off on a long drive across Canada.  Upon arrival in Kitimat, we resided temporarily in a local motel. Although the lodgings were comfortable and the staff friendly, nothing makes you feel more uprooted than living in a motel (and this was after 8 days of motels on the road).  After about a week, we found a nice house.   Two days later, our belongings arrived.  Once we were unpacked, (about a week later) I decided it was time for me to head out alone and check out my new town.


Kitimat is a very pedestrian friendly town, with a network of pathways and green-spaces.  However, on my Day of Bravery, I was still not familiar with any of these.  Nonplussed, I headed out with my shopping bag and basically followed, on foot, the same route my husband had taken us on wheels (No, I don't drive.).  I got myself to town all right, although I did head up a dirt road and got to see some very nice houses before I got myself turned around.  (To the locals who are reading this, do not even ask!  I've never been able to locate this dirt road again.  I personally believe that Kitimat has it's own version of the Bermuda Triangle.  And no, it wasn't Cran-, Blue-, or Strawberry Street.)  Once in the "City Center" I was OK; I went for a coffee, visited the post office, and picked up a few items at the grocery store.  Carrying the remainder of my Americano, I headed for home, feeling very much in control and enjoying the bright spring air.


This feeling did not last long.


I missed a turn.  As I walked by the soccer fields I felt my first stirrings of doubt.  Had I passed those before?  I kept going.  Hmmm. None of this looked familiar, and yet it did, as we had been taking a lot of drives around our new town.  I walked on.  Reasoning that I should just go strait (our town mainly consists of crescents and cul de sacs connected to main roadways), I plodded away, my Americano cold, my feet sore, and my spirits low, low, low.  Finally, I reached the end of the road, and saw a place that I definitely remembered from my husband's list of "Do Not Go" locations.  That was it.


I was lost.  I was lost, and I didn't know anybody, and I was never, ever, going to find my way home again.  In that moment, I hated my new town and wished desperately to be back in Sydney.  Whimpering, I turned around and headed back the way I came.  Desperate, I broke the first rule of being lost and left the "main trail" so to speak, and started roaming the crescents and cul de sacs.  At this point I didn't know if I'd even recognize my new house.  


Plum tuckered, I decided to sit down on a bench in a playground (we've got a lot of playgrounds, too.). As I crossed the grass, I looked up, and saw something I definitely recognized; the school that was across the street from our house!  There was hope!  Gathering what was left of my bearings, I headed back to the sidewalk, and, keeping one eye trained on the school, I slowly picked my way home.  Once in my house (yes, I recognized it!) I collapsed on the sofa with Molly and decided I would never, ever leave the house alone again.  At least not without a map.


Over the next few months, thanks to my husband and a few new friends, I learned the path system.  It turns out, the entire time I was wandering around lost, I was never more than 5 minutes from my front doorstep.  And the walk into town?  What took me half an hour is actually a 10 minute stroll.  With time and practice, I was soon zipping around town like I'd been here forever.  I fell in love with our new town.  The map got to stay home.  


By Fall I thought I was foolproof.  Last October I got my comeuppance when a some friends invited me to lunch at a local restaurant.  They offered to pick me up but I said that I would walk to get my exercise.  I headed out with plenty of time and enjoyed a brisk walk in the autumn air.  I kept my ears open and jingled my keys a lot, as there had been several bear sightings over the past week.  I reached the restaurant, sat down, and began to peruse the menu.  My friends had not yet arrived, but then, I was early.  Settling back in the booth, I glanced down at the table top. I noticed that the name of the restaurant was emblazoned on the tabletop...and it was not the name of the restaurant I was supposed to be sitting in.


Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no!!!!  Mumbling an incoherent explanation to the hostess, I stumbled out of the restaurant and took off running.  I checked my watch; I'd be late, but not too bad...if I took a certain path.  The path that the bears had been spotted on.


I approached the path and got out my keys.  Jingle jingle jingle.  In truth, bears are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day, but rarely wasn't good enough for me.  I saw bears lurking behind cars and mailboxes, waving at me from windows, walking into stores.  Jingle jingle jingle, all the while jogging and leaping over honest to goodness bear scat.  Finally reaching the road the restaurant was on, my cell phone rang.  It was my friends.  I panted an explanation.  Listening to their reply, I realized that this lunch was quickly becoming a comedy of errors; the restaurant was closed.  They picked me up and we made our way back to the establishment I'd been at before my mad dash through the woods.  I gave the server my sanest smile (I think she thought I was drunk).


This all came back to me this evening.  I was out for a walk and I was zipping through the City Center.  My feet were on the path but my eyes were on the clouds swirling around the mountain tops.  I realized I'd reached a point where I didn't even need to think about the paths and roads.  I knew where I was.  It finally feels like home.


I've felt it other places, too.  A few weeks ago my husband and I went to the local coffee shop for a snack.  As we entered, he saw a group of people he knew, and I spotted a friend.  Chatting with her, I glanced across the room at my husband laughing with his friends, and I realized that this was something that happened back East all the time.  It was a familiarity of place that I had thought we might not experience again for a very long time.


There's other things, too.  When we arrived, we watched Maritime news, read the Cape Breton paper, and checked the regional headlines for Nova Scotia on CBC's website.  We knew little about BC politics and we really didn't care to.  But at some point, it changed.  Now, we wade into discussions about BC politics, events, and occurrences, and it's the "stuff" going on back East that we are less aware of (although we really do care to!).  

At first, when I realized that we were identifying BC as home, I felt guilty.  In time, I let the guilt go, realizing that to successfully relocate, you have to integrate.  So yes, while Dorothy may be right in that there's no place like home, home is indeed where you make it.  Confucius once said "Wherever you go, go with all your heart," and I think that's the trick.  Go with all your heart, and be there with all your heart.  

The Great Outdoors + A Blog Award!

Before I begin today's post, I just have to say how wonderful all your lovely comments were on Monday!  There is nothing more motivating to me than the knowledge that you enjoy my blog and my posts, and that you take the time to tell me so!  Among all the lovely comments was one from Kat of Kat's Confessions, telling me that there was an award waiting for me on her blog!  Awards are always a thrill, and this one especially so since I get to pass it along to ten lovely bloggers!  Before I can do that, however, I need to list 10 things I like in order to truly accept the award.  So here I go!

1. My beautiful dogs, Molly and Tinkywink.
2. Cape Breton Island (the "home of my heart" which I actually love)
3. "Super, Natural British Columbia" (my current home)
4. Knitting
5. Scrap-booking
6. Red wine
7. Lazy Sunday mornings in my jammies with lots and lots of coffee
8. Cooking up a storm!
9. The first snowfall
10. Blogging, and all the wonderful blogland friends I've met!

That was fun!  And now, here are the 10 blogs I'd like to share this award with:

1. Pattycake Manners
2. Housewife Bliss
3. Beat Until Fluffy
4. From the Kitchen of: Mrs. Bettie Rocker
5. Making the World C.U.T.E.R.
6. The Girl Creative
7. Bubblegum and Duct Tape
8. Tehlia.com
9. The Feminist Housewife
10. Live, Love, Green

These are all fabulous blogs and I am delighted to be able to acknowledge them with this award.  Blogging is rewarding, but it is a lot of work.  I know that many of the authors of these blogs have very busy lives in addition to their blogging, and I so appreciate the work they put into their blogs.  Reading their blogs brings me a lot of joy, and I know you will enjoy them too, so I encourage you to hop over and visit them!  To my 10 recipients, in order to accept your award, you must:

1. Post who it was that gave you the award.
2. List 10 things that you like.
3. Give this award to 10 other blogs and let them know with a comment!

Now then, back to our regularly scheduled program!

As some of you noticed, I was AWOL last Wednesday until the early afternoon.  At that time, I promised an explanation. We went for a campfire with some friends at one of the local "rec" camping sites.  Recreation Sites and Trails BC is a system of backcountry camping sites that are available for use free of charge (I believe they are all free of charge) for up to 14 consecutive days.  Great idea, eh?  It was a beautiful location by the river, and we had a lovely time visiting by the fire.  Before we knew it, it was after midnight and time to head back.  It was after 1:00 AM by the time we got home and clearly, if I started blogging at that point, half asleep and full of toasted marshmallows, well, the results might have been odd!  I reasoned that I promise new content "Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays" but I never specified what time (excuses, excuses, I know!) so I sensibly went to bed and waited until I was well-rested and caffeinated before composing Wednesday's post.

We've been blessed to have lived in two places that are full of breathtaking natural beauty.  Our home in Cape Breton ranges from wildly beautiful (rugged coasts, forests, and mountains) to heart achingly lovely (fields of wildflowers, sparkling lakes, and historical reproductions).  British Columbia, as the motto says, is "Super, Natural" and this week we experienced just how much so, as the "Nature" was practically on our front doorstep.

One night last week we decided to go for a late night drive. We bundled the dogs into the car and headed out.  Not far from our house, my husband slowed the car and pointed at a lamp post in  a church parking lot.  There it was, an owl.   I've always wanted to see an owl in the wild (as opposed to a wildlife park) so this was a thrill!  We parked, got out, and quietly made our way across the lot.  However, you can't be quiet enough for an owl, and soon an ear-piercing shriek filled the night air and the owl took off, showing it's dramatic wingspan.  Mentally crossing this item off my "bucket list" we headed back to the car and out of town to Hirsch Creek Park.  Hirsch Creek Park is a provincial picnic park, and it's a few miles outside of the town proper, on an extremely dark stretch of highway.  We pulled into the parking lot and my husband told me to get out, and I didn't waste any time finding his arm to hold onto!  What could he possibly have to show me in the middle of the night out here, I wondered, when he stopped and told me to look up.  A perfect, endless northern sky, absolutely glittering with stars, canopied the Northern woods.  We star-gazed for a few moments before my nervousness returned, and we headed back to the car and into town. 

Not long after we left the park, we passed another vehicle who flashed their lights at us.  Odd, we thought, we had turned our high-beams down as soon as we saw another car on the horizon.  We shortly discovered what it was they were alerting us to: a very large porcupine was slowly making his way across the dark highway, unconcerned with anything except making his way to his next snack.  I had always pictured porcupines as tiny little fellers, but this one was huge!  Once he was across the highway, we continued into town.  As we drove past the Golf Course, another giant porcupine was waddling along the side of the road!  Marveling at all the wonderful wildlife we had observed that evening, we headed for home, and on the main road, just before we turned off onto our street, we saw the piece de reisistance, a young grizzly bear frolicking in the night air.  At the sight of the car, he stumbled around in confusion for a few moments before running off down a walking path (this is how we knew he was young; an older bear wouldn't have been confused by the sight of a silly old Jeep).  Once we were sure he was off the road, we headed home and went to bed, millions of stars still sparkling in our heads when we closed our eyes.

It was a week for nature in our small town, as we had a very rare visitor, a Kermode Bear.  Kermode, or Spirit Bears, are a rare species of bear that live in Northern British Columbia.  Some, but not all of these bears are born completely white due to a recessive gene (there's a little trivia folks, not all Kermodes are white!).  For more information on the Kermode, please visit this link to Canadian Geographic.  However, it was a white Spirit Bear that made it's way to our town and for a few days he caused quite a bit of drama as sightings of the bear were reported.  It is important to remember that even though a white Kermode is rare and exciting, it is still a bear, and it was becoming frustrated with the amateur paparazzi that were following him around (NOT advisable!).  Conservation officers were able to lure the bear into a humane live trap, and the intrepid little (well, not so little!) traveler was relocated to a better location 100 kilometers away.  Now stay put, Mr. Bear!  We love you, so we want you to stay where you're safe!

To top things off in "Super, Natural British Columbia" this week, our next door neighbor, Alberta, got its first snow of the year!  And when Northern Alberta gets snow, Northern BC is just a hop, skip, and a jump behind!  According to Environment Canada, Canada will actually have a real winter this year (for my international followers, last winter was a joke by Canadian standards, with very little snow and balmy temperatures).  This year, however, things will be different, and you can read all about our upcoming "longer and more intense" winter here.

So there you have it!  Mother Nature in all her wonder, knocking on our door and breathing down our neck!  Time to make a list of winter supplies and get on it, even with our "milder" winter last year we still had lots of snow, and it started before Halloween!

Have a great day!  See you on Friday!

Window to My World - A View from the Shore...

Gone Hiking - North Cove Trail

Today, we decided to pack up the dogs and head out to one of Kitimat's many hiking trails, the North Cove Trail.  This trail is rated easy to moderate, and it provides a little bit of everything.  Cathedral like calm in the woods, rugged coast, inclines and some uncomplicated climbing combine to make this a fun hike for just about everyone.  This link will take you to Tourism Kitimat's descriptions of the many trails in our area; at the bottom of the page is a link for a PDF file of their hiking trail booklet.

It was raining today, and this made some parts of the hike a bit slippery, however, this was only on the beach and we could have skipped that part (but we didn't, 'cause we needed an ocean fix!)  I did, however, get a skinned knee!  It was a bit humbling to watch my pups charge down the slimy rocks ahead of me with nary a slip while I slid down knee first!

This was Tinky's first hike (with us) and we set out unsure of how he would fare.  We were very impressed with how he made out.  Our rugged little Yorkie kept pace for the majority of the hike and only had to be carried over a few particularly rugged spots (he assured us he could handle it but we decided to err on the side of caution.  As a breed, the Yorkie's excessive confidence has landed them in trouble in the past!).  He did accept a ride on his dad's shoulder at the end on our walk to the Jeep, but he ran the last few meters on his own four legs. And Molly, an experienced hiker, put us all to shame with her natural athleticism.  She even charged into the choppy Douglas Channel for a quick swim in the Pacific Ocean!

Tonight, we are all a bit sleepy, but in that good, "fresh air and exercise" kind of way.  Here's a few pictures from our adventure.  Enjoy!

Window to My World - "If You Go Into The Woods Today..."

Shortly after we arrived in Kitimat, we were enjoying a Saturday afternoon drive when we rounded a corner and saw this fine fellow on the road ahead.  We kept a safe distance away (this photo is taken with a zoom) until this Grizzly Bear retreated back into the woods, leaving the road free for us to pass.  However, after we had driven by, we paused for a moment and looked back.  Guess who was back in the road, watching us drive away?

Although fascinating, bears are wild animals with the potential to be very dangerous, and should always be treated as such.  For some information on bear safety, here is a link to a page of information prepared by BC Parks.

Have a wonderful week!

The Day the Bulls Came to Town

While most people would not consider Cape Breton to be a raging metropolis, it certainly was full of activities.  There's always something to look forward to, something going on.  Whether it's Celtic Colours in the Autumn or Rock the Dock in the Summer, just when you start to feel bored, an event comes along.  And so, one of the biggest adjustments for me when we moved to Kitimat, a smaller, more remote area, was the lack of social buzz.


I will admit that as I get to know Kitimat, this is actually quite an active town with a fair bit going on.  There is a concert series, an active theater group, hockey games, and more.  Coming up we have Canada Day, which is celebrated in a big way, the Dragon Boat Regatta, and The Dave Saunders Memorial Hill climb.  These are all stand-out events.  But one event, though fairly new, has reached dizzying heights of popularity.  This event is Bull-o-Rama, and it took place last Saturday.


Bull-o-Rama is a bull riding event where riders attempt to stay on a bucking bull for 8 seconds for an award of $10,000, a silver buckle, and a set of prize spurs.  And last years' inaugural event was a sell-out.  The whole town was there!  I attended with a friend, and we were amazed at the line winding around the arena, the pool, and towards the Overwaitea grocery store.  I know that if you aren't familiar with our town, it's hard to get perspective, but trust me, this was a LONG line.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and everyone was thrilled to hear that the event was returning in 2010. 


It seems that the whole town was at Bull-o-Rama 2010, also, although I missed the line since a few of us decided to have dinner beforehand.  This worked to our advantage since it had been raining intermittently throughout the day.  We got some great seats in the Beer Garden, and settled in for a night at the rodeo!  We had a great time.  Everyone wore their Western best, including me (although my duds were quite subdued compared to some of the fancy outfits being modelled).  Spirits were high, and spirits were also for sale, and the beer garden proved to be quite popular, making it a great place for people watching.


During the "half-time" there was a performance by the Coppertown Clown and his pack of trained rescue dogs, The Muttley Crew.  I cheered very enthusiastically for them, as I am a fan of all dogs, and rescues in particular.  


After the rodeo there was a dance featuring the music of country singer Rick Stavely, and we had a great time.  It's been forever since I went out dancing and it was so much fun; the band, and the DJ in between acts, played tons of country western favorites.  I can't remember the last time I danced to "Boot Scootin' Boogie;" it was long enough that I no longer remembered the line dancing moves (insert sigh of relief "here").  By the time the band played "Achy Breaky Heart" my feet were tired from dancing and my face was sore from laughing.  It was a night out I didn't even realize I needed, and I don't think I was the only one who felt that way.  Since Saturday, so many people have remarked what a great time they had, and how much they wished we had more events like it.  


I hope you have as much fun this weekend as I did last Saturday!!  Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday. 

I Want to Ride My Bike!

As you know, Nesty is about pursuing a honeyed life through simplified living.  Sometimes, the things I can do to make my home's life simply sweet are obvious; cook healthy, delicious meals, practice a "greener" lifestyle, and  embrace time-tested crafts like sewing and knitting.  Other times, however, the simple pleasures of life take me by surprise.


Such was the case today, when, for the first time in well over a decade, I rode a bike.


I was getting ready for a walk, just tying on my sneakers when my husband mentioned that his bike was back from the shop if I'd like to use it.  I stopped.  In all the time this bike has lived in our home, it never occurred to me to ride it.  It was his bike.  Now, in retrospect, I realize how silly that was; he'd never said I couldn't ride it, it was just one of those things. I made a decision.


He helped me get it outside, and after a rather embarrassing moment when I attempted to ride it with the handle bars turned around 360 degrees ("Why are the brakes on the wrong side?" I asked as I careened out of control) I did a practice run on the street in front of our house.  Soon, I was ready to hit the road (or the paths, as the case may be).  With my husband's advice to stick close to home on my first run, I headed out.


It is true what they say; it really did just all come back.  Not just the skill, but the elation that comes with soaring effortlessly along asphalt, the wheels making that wonderful buzzing sound.  I veered slightly further from home than I probably should have,  but it was just so wonderful.  I took turns experimentally, and made a game out of finding my way home.  When one path led to a street instead of another path, I looked both ways and then, tentatively, made a turn in the street and headed back the other way.  Success!


I cruised around for a little while longer, and then made my way home.  As I turned up our street, I felt muscles I hadn't heard from in a while.  I'm sure I'll be a little achy tomorrow.  But it was so worth it, and I can't wait to do it again.  In fact, I'm thinking about checking out bikes when we go to Terrace tomorrow, so we can enjoy biking together.


Thanks for stopping by!  See you on Friday!!!!

Simply Lovely - The Simple Woman's Daybook

Hello!  Happy Tuesday!  Are you surprised to hear from me?  Although I am still keeping to my regular posting schedule (New content Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!!) my cousin Ains at Pattycake Manners recently sent me a link to a wonderful blog called The Simple Woman's Day Book.  As soon as I read her blog I knew it was something I would enjoy participating in, so I will occasionally be linking to it on Tuesdays.  I strongly encourage you to check it out, too (just follow the link above)!

The Nesty Girl's Day Book, 
Tuesday May 4, 2010

Outside my window...Snow capped mountains

I am thinking...that I'm happy my dogs have stopped barking :)
I am thankful for...my happy life

From the kitchen...Root Beer Floats!
I am wearing...a turquoise t-shirt and jeans
I am creating...warm wool socks in "Fireside Red"
I am going...home in July!!!
I am reading...Real Simple Magazine, and the new National Geographic (shortly,with coffee!)
I am hoping...the dogs stay quiet ;)

Be good, little babies!

I am hearing...muffled sounds of hammering and power-saws (but it's not unpleasant!)
Around the house...Pitter patter of my Yorkie's feet
One of my favorite things...My vintage lusterware tea set that my mother-in-law gave me
A few plans for the rest of the week...Write, knit, scrapbook, perhaps wash the Jeep.

Jeep Picnicks

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

It was one year ago this week that we arrived in Kitimat!

If You Go Into the Woods Today...

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz...and so has the skunk cabbage!

Skunk Cabbage, a favorite bear treat

 Molly the Wonder Dog and I have been enjoying exploring the prime walking areas in our new neighborhood.  We've found a great route that goes strait down the hill into town, with a slight incline that provides a nice light workout for me on the way up.  It passes a few wooded areas, and while passing one of these areas the other day, we smelled a familiar "perfume" on the air.  Peering into the woods and down into the ravine below, we spotted the first bright green clumps of skunk cabbage.

Skunk cabbage is a favorite bear treat, and if you see it you can be assured that bear sightings are not far behind!  One of our favorite memories of our early days in Kitimat was of driving around and seeing bears frolicking about...on roadsides, in the rivers, and in the dumpster behind the local burger joint!  We haven't seen any yet this year, but I'm sure they'll be making an appearance soon! 

A bear we encountered on a drive last Spring

Extreme Fishing For Girls!!!!

Just after Christmas, I went to a local hunting and tackle shop with a friend. We had a great time digging around all the really cool stuff. I wandered over to the fishing rod department to check out what they had since I was planning to get some gear and start fishing in the new season. Suddenly my eye caught hold of something so wonderful, so fabulous, I did a double take. I took a step closer and swooned...

A pink fishing rod!

I asked the sales person if it was a "real" rod or just a novelty item. She assured me that it was a sturdy angling rod that would be good for fishing for smaller salmon and trout. Just what I needed to get started! And, not that I needed any more convincing, but she also pointed out that there were two LED lights running off a dynamo in the reel!!

Of course as soon as I got home I dropped lots of loud hints about my find. After all, I had a birthday coming up! And sure enough, last week, on my birthday, I received my pink fishing rod along with a tackle belt and a starter kit of tackle and hooks. I was so excited, but resigned that I wouldn't be trying out my new stuff for at least another month.

I was wrong.

Kitimat has been experiencing the most unbelievably beautiful weather. All week the temperature has been well above zero, with bright sun and clear skies. The snow is melting, the water is running, it feels like Spring!!! And so this afternoon our friends called to see if we wanted to go fishing on the Kitimat river.

We quickly decided to go along, if only to enjoy the fresh air (and the bonfire, hotdogs, and marshmallows!) Fishing licenses start in April, so it really wasn't worthwhile to purchase one for a month. However, a quick internet search revealed that one day permits are available, and so we loaded up my gear and headed out! We stopped at a tackle shop to buy my permit and I got my "anglers number." You have this number for life - exciting!!! We made another quick stop for weiners and continued to the river.

I had a great time casting and reeling in (although it was so sunny it was hard to see the lights). We decided to move to a sunnier spot beside a large log jam (trout apparently gather around fallen trees). After a few more casts I realized that I hadn't put a worm on my hook. So I headed back to get some bait. I was assured that I would've been fine without a worm, but to feel free to use some. I was pleased that years after my Dad showed me how, I still had the knack, and the stomach, to bait my own hook! (With apologies to the worms, I'll remember you always!)

The river was fairly shallow, so getting snagged on the bottom was inevitable. Most of the snags were easily released. However, one cast very close to the trees got snagged really well, and no amount of coaxing would release it. I had no room to move downstream to ease it out, unless I was willing to climb the trees...

Well, I'm a thrifty sort, and I also really hated the thought of having to go back to the fire with my line cut. So with the phase "no lure left behind" in my head, I started clambering up the logs. I felt muscles I hadn't used in a very long time. I quickly realized I would be more mobile if I took off my groovy tackle belt (think a fanny pack with three sections, one of which is holding a solid plastic miniature tackle box). Free of my belt, I moved a bit easier over the logs, but I did have to watch out for frost (slippery!) and sticks (trippy!) I got into position and started moving my line around, to no avail. She was stuck.

By now my pal had joined me. She was able to see my lure, and pointed it out to me, so we had an idea where it was snagged. She also came up with the idea to find a large stick to bump the rock off of my hook. Well, the stick ended up being a tree. If you've ever tried moving a tree through a briskly flowing river, well, let's just say it's a great resistance workout for your arms. Finally, thanks to hard work, innovative thinking, cooperation, and a very heavy stick / log, my line was free. Still attached was a very relieved looking worm. I lost him soon after (to the river, not a trout) but it was nice to see him come through that ordeal.

So, no trout were caught, but we had a great time and a yummy campfire supper of hot dogs and marshmallows. Soon I'll have a regular permit and there'll be no stopping me!

Now, where can I find a pink fishing vest...?