Just Like That!

I have no idea what I'm doing...

Beth snapped this photo as we were having brunch on the patio in Sandpoint, Idaho last weekend.

It was a rather fun and slightly decadent couple of days away from it all.

Maybe it was the wine...

Tnu's Magnificent Disappearing Act !

Lo and behold, I disappear for a week and find a new function in Blogger upon my reappearance...

In One Word...

What is greater than god
More evil than the devil
Poor people have it
Rich people want it
And, if you eat it, you will surely die?

Pause for a Picnic

One warm, sultry evening, we decided to build some supersandwiches and head up the road into Kootenay National Park for a cool respite beside Olive Lake.
This particular pond is very small, green and olive-shaped...

At the site, there are two short interpretive hikes along a boardwalk that describe the flora and fauna found within that specific area.
At the end of each walk are small decks where one can look out over the lake.
The above photo was taken upon one such landing as we were enjoying our meal.

Martini anyone?

The New Me

As some of you are aware, my house is on the market - it happens to be a necessary evil when it comes to spousal separation. I love my little home and yard and I will be very sad to say goodbye, but the sale is also an important step forward.

Our realtor is a wonderful lady, with whom I am having the extreme pleasure of working to sell the place. Yesterday I had to go in to her office in town to sign some papers and we had a nice chat while I was there. It turns out they are looking for an Office Administrator, so I asked if I could come by another day and drop my resume off. She told me to simply e-mail it to her, because she was going over the applications on the weekend. As soon as I arrived home I sent it along with my references - and no preconceived expectations.

Soon after, I received a call from her assistant to set up a viewing for this afternoon and later another call came in from the office. It was she, confirming the viewing. I asked if she had received my e-mail and the reply was, "Yes. Can you start tomorrow?"

I was caught slightly off guard and was a tad flabberghasted, but recovered quickly and aswered, "Yes, of course, but I'd like a few more details on the position." So, she went into more depth on the position and ensuing responsibilities and it is exactly what I'm looking for. Apparently I am exactly who she is looking for, too.

So, after posting this, having my shower, feeding the kids, cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, etc., I will be going in for my first afternoon of work! My usual hours will be the regular Monday to Friday. Today is only for training purposes, because the other girl will be gone as of Monday - nothing like jumping in with both feet!

Coincidentally, my new place of employment is directly across the street and overlooking the office where I worked for the past thirteen years...

Goodbye

A Big Idea

The concept behind this bumper sticker has sparked debate and raised a steady argument between the environmentalists and the developers in our community. Several years ago a large ski resort was proposed for a remote and wild location in the Purcell Mountains. That particular location includes Jumbo Glacier, which would dramatically increase the length of any given ski season. Many residents in the valley have taken opposite sides and have stood fast in defending their individual philosophies on the matter. Personally, as a lover of nature as well as a passionate skier, I have been torn between the two concepts.

In the end, exhaustive environmental studies have been completed, various levels of government approvals have been authorised, and the Jumbo Resort developers have been given consent to procede. I cannot say that I am familiar with the full particulars of this contoversial idea but, from my simple point of view, I am happy with the decision to press on.

After all it does snow in Jumbo...

"When in hell, walk steady so the devil doesn't know you're there."

.

.

.

Margie, I read your post and I am sobbing right now...

I feel that I have lost so much since Easter, when my life and that of my family took a giant leap into the unknown.
To me, family means everything and I feel that I have failed in so many ways.
When I read your post it brought to the surface many of those feelings that I have held down inside.
I am now separated from my husband, my dear children are angry and afraid, and I am officially out of work.

I am so proud of my Beth for working so hard at school and graduating one year early.

Beth attended an alternate school for the past couple of years, as she was having difficulties at the local public high school.

The difficulties were her doing, but the new environment really helped.

Beth is a bright girl and gifted in both the Language and Fine Arts.

I feel so bad that I will not be able to afford to send her to college.

I feel so bad that I cannot afford to buy groceries.

I feel so bad that I am not working right now.

I feel so bad that I have failed my family.

So, before I go out and save the world, I will have to save myself...

Heatwave

This was our sun preparing to dip below the peaks last evening - while I scrambled to find my camera before the sight disappeared forever...

It was a fascinating and eerie scene, as that merciless ball of heat sank through the haze of smoke from distant forest fires.

Overnight the the wind did rise, blowing in from the cooler north, to bring meager relief to the intense summer swelter.

As continued hot weather will take its toll on my good nature, I have recently found myself wishing - on more than one occasion - for the cold.

I now simply have to consider a drop from thirty-eight to twenty-eight degrees a blessing...

"Take a deep breath,

be prepared and keep my fingers crossed..."
That is what I'm doing today.

This afternoon I have an initial telephone interview for the career opportunity of my dreams.
For good fortune's sake, I will not go into details, but I will say that the position involves something I love, as well as my accounting skills - not to mention a suberb salary with lots of perks!

As I indicated in an earlier post, the business where I have been working for during the past thirteen years is in the process of closing down. I am still employed there on a contract basis, but my hours have been cut severely and I am struggling to make ends meet.

My resume has been updated, cover letters written and I have been winding up to pound the pavement. Of course, I will not settle for any job, as I am a trained, experienced and dedicated worker, therefore quite employable. (Wow, listen to me tell you how great I am...).

This position means very much to me so, Friends, wish me luck!

Call the Cops Gravy

Take one beef or pork roast.
Roast it.

Mix into a glass measure:
One heaping tablespoon Bisto (brown sauce mix).
Two heaping tablespoons of flour (I believe flour is quite universal and needs no explanation).
A whole bunch of salt and pepper to taste (also universal).
One tablespoon of beef OXO, or chicken OXO if you're doing pork (OXO being the equivalent to Beef or Chicken in a Mug).
Garlic powder is optional (depending upon whether you're having family over - or your boyfriend).

When roast is roasted, set aside - covered on warm ceramic platter.

Add water from potatoes and/or vegetables to meat drippings in roasting pan.
Heat on medium high burner to boiling.
Add to flour mix about one half cup of milk (to mollify the children).
Mix into a paste then add to water/drippings mix in pan.
Stir constantly with whisk on medium low until thickened.
Then, when the kids are not looking, add a tablespoon (or to taste) of fine red wine (as long as no one has already pilfered it - in which case, do not tell the children where you are going in order to replace it).

There you have it, Folks.

now hide the recipe

Through the smoke of distant fire

Drawn into the dusky sky

Growing stronger - rising higher

There it met my eye

Its glow was sure - a firey red

A pagan sight it's true

From the sleeping sun it fed

And yet it was quite blue

Quick! Call the Cops! Mum's making gravy...

Where is our society headed?

Several weeks ago, I was making a lovely prime rib of beef for Sunday dinner, complete with yorkshire pudding, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy. My gravy recipe requires a teaspoon of red wine, but I was unable to find the bottle of wine that I had stored in the pantry. I told the kids I was going to the corner store and that I would be right back. My ten year old daughter asked why, and I told her that I was going to purchase a bottle of wine. Her response was, "You can't feed us wine! That's illegal - you'll get us drunk! You know, I can call the police on you." I was stunned and subsequently outraged that my own child would think and feel that way. There have been other instances of my children attempting to take the upper hand - aka; avoiding doing what is asked of them... My older daughter also flatly refuses to pay rent, even though she is working. She told me that I am obligated by law to support her until she reaches the age of nineteen. That is incorrect, but my true point is that she has to help contribute to the family and learn to be a contributing member of society - laws be damned! Another time, I was feeling pushed to my limits dealing with the kids, so instead of taking it out further upon my children, I left and went to a friend's house just up the hill to relax and cool off. My cell phone rang while I was there and it was our local detachment of the RCMP. I was floored when I found out my children had phoned the police and the law said they could charge me with abandonment - what the heck is that all about? (In my own defence, the kids knew where I was, they knew how to contact me, I was gone up the street for a total of two hours and I did promise them I would be back). Society appears to be creeping into our living rooms and snatching away any of the empowerment that we, as parents, require in order to raise and teach our children to look after themselves and become accountable adults. The school system refuses to discipline our future generation (for fear of litigious repercussions) and the students receive no consequences for their actions. Or the teachers simply send a recalcitrant child home for the parent to deal with - in other words, a day off school for said student. The teachers are forced by society to pass the buck and force the parent to cope with an unknown situation - one that the school system should be dealing with themselves. We are not allowed to spank our children, raise our voices to them or oblige them to do anything they don't want to do...eg. homework or household chores. I have a serious problem with this metamorphosis that society is going through. It is threatening our mere existence as responsible adults and the future of our children. Television, the media, internet, video games and any virtual form of communication is further removing everyone from the physical reality of life. Global communication is not all that it's cracked up to be and I believe we are isolating ourselves more than ever as a result. Humans are a herd animal and we will not survive without the rest of the pack. Our future is with our children - it is a simple law of nature. We have to be trusted to be able to nurture, punish, support and raise our own children in a way we see fit.

Or where will our society end up?

Stuck Truck

Our vehicle in question was taken into the bush about a month ago and never came back...

Due to a mechanical problem (yet to be diagnosed) the truck could not make the return trip up the steep rocky mountain track.
The boys had to walk out in the dark of night, leaving their transportation in the forest deep at the bottom of a creek valley.

We made several hikes back in over the past weeks, attempting to extract it from that tight spot, but to no avail.
On our second sojourn into the valley, with another 4x4, we managed to tow the truck about 1.5 km up the precipitous trail but, when we got to the summit, we weren't able to negotiate the sharp right turn.
There the truck sat for another 2 weeks, until we were able to procure a tough little jeep with a winch attached.

Last Saturday morning 7 of us loaded up 3 vehicles that included 2 vans and a 4x4 pulling a trailer carrying the jeep.
There was the air of adventure with a taste of summer holiday spirit surrounding the event.
We even toted along a packed lunch containing sandwiches and various refreshments - of which water was most important in the 35-degree heat.

The jeep was manoeuvered into place in the thick undergrowth and the winch was hooked up through a pulley attached to the front of the waiting truck.
When the winch was first activated nothing happened - nothing but the jeep being winched back down the hill...
After anchoring the jeep to a stout tree trunk farther up the slope, the winch was wound tight once more.
Ah ha! The truck began to inch its way up the rugged incline.
Slowly, but surely, it made its final ascent - I held my breath during the entire procedure...
Amid hoops and hollers the truck finally turned over, fired up and was able to make its own way over the last hump at the top of the hill.

For the first time, after many treks into the bush, we were able to drive out of that place instead of doing it on foot!

Young Julian's first attemt at dragging the truck up the hill...

Eugene and Jerry hooking up the winch cable.

Jerry jockeying the jeep into place.

At last, an empty track where no truck should have been in the first place!

* The photos do no justice to the steepness of the slope. It was at least 45 degrees, making it difficult to negotiate even on foot.

Sticking my foot in it...

This lovely shot was taken along an old mining/logging road not far from here.
It was a beautiful, hot (37 degrees) day in the mountains.
Pretty white daisies lined the road, accented by scarlet indian paintbrush, purple fireweed and my favourite orange tiger lillies.

And no, I wasn't driving...

HYSTERIA

Apparently, I've been rather out of it lately...

Proof being in black and white on Gypsy Noir's blog!

There was talk on a recent post of hers regarding one delectible actor who has played a myriad of different character parts.

Johnny Depp has raised the pulse of many a girl and woman over the past twenty years and he continues to do so.

One of the more colourful portrayals Depp has created is one certain pirate captain who stalks the Caribbean Sea.

Now I have always prided myself in my ability to use words and my quick wit, but this time I was completely innocent of what I had written on Mme Noir's blog.

Last Sunday, while I was cooking brunch for the family, the hilarity of it all hit me broadside as my children were watching Pirates of the Caribbean; The Curse of the Black Pearl - for the at-least twentieth time.

It was then that my faux pas became clear to me.

I know that certain captain of the Black Pearl is named for a small bird that occupies most of the large land masses of the world.

My dear Gypsy pounced on that one when I mentioned Captain Swallow on her blog.

The porn version of the movie, of course!

I did not realise what she meant until I heard said captain's name mentioned during the movie - Captain Sparrow.

My children were not watching the porn version.

To that, I was reduced to laughing hysterically over my breakfast.

Cracking up over my omelette...

Crying in the bacon...

Giggling over my sausage...

Sputtering through my orange juice...

My children looked up at me, eyes round, "What are you laughing at, Mum?"

Looking up...

The indelible tenacity of mother earth will endure...

Looking down...

A testament to the human condition...

Lovely flowers - even the view from behind - but then there happens some ugly human interference to scar the scenery.

As I Imagine Perfection ...

My day begins at seven o'clock in the morning. I stretch langorously, feeling the warmth of the sheets upon my skin. Rolling over, I snuggle close to my partner. There's a slight chill in the room - the embers in the fireplace dark, long-since burned down. Outside the window, in the gathering light, I see mounds of new-fallen snow clinging to the sills and railings of our high mountain cabin. As dawn continues to unfold, the valley below comes into focus - a broad monochromatic expanse of rock and tree and cliff and peak against a cold clear sky.

An hour later we are padding about our retreat, coffees in hand, while lighting the fire and readying our first meal of the day. On the menu is eggs benedict, topped with a creamy hollandaise sauce, accompanied by bacon, crispy-fried potatoes, fresh fruit salad and orange juice. There are sprinkles of love and laughter during the preparation. By the time breakfast is served, the sun is not long below the horizon and a spectacular view is revealed in its entirety through the large window by the table.

After cleaning and tidying our cabin, we bank the fire then don our thick underwear and socks, climb into our warm suits, buckle our boots and gather our hats and gloves. We shovel a path through the light fluffy snow from our door to reach our skis where they lean against the rough log of the outer cabin wall.

We can hardly wait - first tracks!

We swoop through the white, our laughter trailing behind us - face shots. We duck into the trees over to the ungroomed outer limits, then it's up to the summit for a simple burger for lunch on the deck. The temperature has risen to a comfortable minus three degrees by this time and the sun is hot upon our faces. The view of one thousand peaks steals our breath. After a morning of breaking trail through the trees and untracked powder, the food and warmth bring on a drowsiness - we come to with the sun in our eyes, ready to tackle yet more elevation.

It's four o'clock and we manage to sneak in one last run before the lifts close. The slopes are deserted and we take our time. In the waning light, we practice our turns - sorting out the odd kink in our techniques. Forty-five minutes later we reach the base. Breathless, we look at each other - eyes alight. We break into more laughter with grins splitting our faces ear to ear - tired yet happy.

Shaking the snow from our clothing, we stomp noisily down to the locker room, where we change into our jeans before heading back upstairs to the bar. Upon arrival, we wedge ourselves into the crowded room and order a couple of cool crisp, glacier fresh Kokanee beers. Our friends are already enjoying their drinks and we join them at the big table while the band pumps out a variety of cheerful beats.

Supper time - and it's beginning to snow again.

At the last minute, we decide to spend one more night and book a lovely suite with a balcony and hot tub looking out on the dark bulk of the sleeping mountain. The snowflakes are falling thick and fast. The lights on the trees twinkle in the dark. Sounds are muffled and our breaths waft thick on the air. A fine dinner at the five-star restaurant is a savoury seafood delicacy nestled in a fluffy bed of rice. Dessert - a wondrously decadent strawberry chocolate cheesecake. The wine - a fine imported Australian infusion. We take a bottle upstairs.

A warm crackling fire. A soft rug on the hearth. Snow falling silently.

Two wineglasses...