Recent Pictures

Having a bath, isn't she so cute!


Goofing around with Dylan, actually I was trying to get a good picture but I gave up after 10 shots, hes a little turkey!

Sliding on the ice out back. And trying to get the trucks free, never did happen, we'll have to wait till spring.

From Pumpkin to Pie!

Yahoo look at me pumpkin pie from scratch!!!

Olympic Excitement

The torch arrived 100 Mile House today, and the school was invited in to share in the ceremonies and excitement. The kids could hardly contain themselves and the turnout from the city was incredible.

Amazing Turnout!! and everyone was so fired up it was so neat to see and experience. Lots of things to see, the ice sculpture above, there were supposed to be lots of sculptures lining airport road, but the weather has been too warm, so they couldn't do it .

Coca Cola had a trailer with all sorts of stuff to look at, there was the trailer where you could video a message to be played in Vancouver (we did as a school, Taylor is right up front) RBC had tons of stuff and then the stage show was huge too! The kids were very overwhelmed, well I was too, I had my three and one more, so it was hard to navigate through the crowds, so we stayed in the back and watched. Also it was COLD!!! the wind was whipping across the lake out front and I forgot mittens for the kids, they were so cold.

We decided to start walking back to the car and on the way we saw the torch coming in, that was AWESOME!

This is Gabe Bergen, he is a rower and trains in Victoria, he grew up in 100 Mile House.

Tayler had Strong Start today and her teacher made the kids a few momentos for the occasion.

She was very proud of her torch and medal, even the boys were a bit jealous!

After it was all over (well after we left ) we went to get groceries and do laundry and low and behold we were just in time to see the torch again right on Birch Ave. And this time we were able to see the transfer of the flame!

Unfortunately, I don't who these people are, though when it was coming down Birch ave to meet up with the guy on the left, there was a huge crowd of First Nations in the jogging suits with the flame, but I'm not sure which Band they were part of.

It was a real neat experience today and I am glad we partook in the whole event - well as much as we could, even though it was hard for the kids. I kept telling them this is probably a once in a lifetime thing and part of history, they were pretty keyed up about that.

I was on the phone to Ed this evening (he is in Victoria tonight) and I was telling him all about it, and he said he applied to be a torch bearer when he was younger - I did not know this, I thought it was pretty cool, even if he didn't get to run, I never thought of doing things like that.

7 Things

This is a post in answer to a very special friend, with whom I drink alot of tea and eat cookie dough, yes dough.

This is not my usual news about what we are doing, and things to come, this is 7 random things about just me. I don't normally do this because I can never think of things to write but I have thought long and hard, well maybe not long but anyway here goes, 7 things about me:

1. I Love Tea!!! I could live off it, if the need arose! When friends and family come over, out comes the teapot and 2 mugs (or more). Dylan Russ and Tay love tea too, not sure if that is a good thing or not.

2. I love anything country, lifestyle, music, foods, etc. I have been a country music junky since, I can't remember. Country lifestyle, I am all over it, whether its cutting and stacking wood or walking hand in hand across a wide open meadow I love it! And food, well call me crazy but I want to learn all the forgotten ways of making different foods, when one started with the true basics.

3. I can't stand make up! I have worn it willing very few times in my life, my graduation and our wedding. I have never liked the feel of it on my skin. And also I am hair challenged, I can do a ponytail, but nothing fancier than that.

4. I love to get mail, email, snail mail. I get excited when there are envelopes in the post box, and I get overjoyed to find someone has sent a parcel! Over the past 6 months I found out I love to write letters, yes handwritten. Though I am falling behind very quickly!

5. I dont drink, alcohol that is. I have never been in a state where I can't remember what I did, well that was caused by alcohol anyway, and I am very proud of it!

6. I need my girl time with friends. Whether its an evening picking up Chai tea Latte and going to superstore (right Erin and Bev) or talking over the wires or written letters, I need it and feel lost without it.

7. I LOVE Horses! They catch my eye everywhere. I started riding when I was 6 and continued till I had Dylan. Everyone laughed when I was young, that if the guys couldn't keep up to the horses, they never had a chance. Good thing Ed could keep up! One of my most cherished memories of riding, when I was young, was saddling up Sherry and riding down to Taylor Beach in the rain, it was wonderful, so quiet and peaceful. Yes I am not a fair weather rider, well I wasn't then.

So there you have it, 7 random things about me. Probably not many surprises.

Take Care

Like Mother Like Daughter

We went to Coras birthday last saturday (this is Taylers friend from school) - We swam at the Hills Health and Guest Ranch and then back to her Oma and Opas for cake. This rocking horse immediately caught Taylers attention, she was on in a flash! Coras Opa made it, the tail is real horse hair!

More Wood

Fire wood day! Eds hard at work - and I'm hard at work!! ;-) Hanging on the back porch waiting for another load to stack.

Beautiful Winter!

I absolutely love this frost on the trees - it looks so beautiful in the sunlight!

I was finally able to get a picture of the frost on the trees. I love the first picture with the dark clouds in the background.

Our driveway in the sunlight. I took this picture this past weekend when temperatures soared to +13. It was a wonderful day. We did lots outside just to enjoy the beautiful sun. You can't tell from the picture but our driveway is almost a complete sheet of ice, in fact the last corner coming in to the house I usually slide a few feet before the tires catch again and we drive in.

Eds Workshops

This is the main shop, it has shelters on either side for the two trucks.


Wilson is tucked in for the winter. However the crane truck is a little tall, we have to dig down a bit to get the crane under the first rafter (its lower than all the others.)



This is the second shop, it sits directly across from the one above. Right now its storage for machines and wood, but one day it will be for fine woodworking stuff.

Exciting News!!!!

Ed and I became Auntie and Uncle again, Rick and Johanna had a beautiful baby girl just over 7lbs. She was born January 12 - I think! Ekk I might get corrected on that. I am hoping to get pictures soon so we can all see their new bundle of Joy!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Rick and Jo!!!!

Weekend Visitor

Yes we have a guest this weekend, but not your average guest. His name is Charlie and he is about 2 inches high and fluffy and SO cute . He is the pet in Dylan and Russells class. The teacher has just started arranging for kids to take him home over the weekends.

This weekend Russell was rewarded for all his hard work and participation. Russ is so excited and has been telling me what we have to do. Dylan is so cute he has been asking Russ if he can do things with Charlie, like fill the water and pet him and stuff, because he knows Charlie is Russ's responsibility. Too cute!

I brought him home this morning after dropping the kids off, because his cage is huge. Tayler was excited to ride in the car beside him and hasn't stopped talking about it all day.

The dogs are really not sure what to make of all this, Shayleigh is curious and has been sitting at his cage most of the day, just watching. Cody however almost had a heart attack from all the excitement this morning. He was trying to get into the cage and clawing at me. I put up a baby gate into my office so Charlie could have some peace and quiet - we don't need him to have a heart attack from all the big furry creatures nosing the cage!

Day at the Dogsleds

We had a great time at the Dogsledding. The kids we awed for a while then they started building a fort in the snow, while I just stood and watched all the activity.

When we first arrived this competitor invited us to pet her dogs, Tay had to hide her cookie so it didn't get stolen. I was asking questions while the kids were enjoying the dogs and she told me she just competed in the 4 dog race, against her mom and they ran 9 KM is approx 24 and 26, minutes - HOLY COW!!! She also told the kids that a couple of their dogs are from the Disney movie Snow Buddies, above is Freckles and to the right is Sarge, he was very vocal!


Ski Jouring - that looks like so much fun, but at the same time, absolutely Crazy! This was the last competitor to come across the finish line and she was so upset because she had to drag her dogs part of the way as they wanted to turn around and head back. I felt bad for her, but I give her credit for just competing. I was thinking this would be a great way to excerise Shayleigh but I don't think I can trust her THAT much.

There were quite a few teams, and from all over, Edmonton, Prince George, Vancouver Island, Grande Prairie, Lac Lac Hache, 100 Mile House and the above team was from Whistler. I watched them set up for 2 competitors to run the six dog race, it was mass of jumping, excited dogs, but they had them completely under control. One of the team members was a really young boy, but he was right in there helping out and I think he competed too as he was wearing a number. The biggest thing I found amazing was there are no lines to the lead dogs at all, they are controlled by voice commands only. One lady went out and when she was getting ready two of her dogs were actually jumping over the dogs they were paired with, I was thinking to myself, Oh man I wouldn't want to be in her shoes, this is cause for disaster. But when she came across the finish line there was no one there to meet her (as with everyone else) her dogs stopped just beyond the finish line, she got her time, called "UP" to the lead dog and he took her right to her truck - It was really amazing the control and trust she had with her lead dog.

Between all these people you can barely see the first racer, in the 6 dog race, to come across the finish line - they were FLYING!!!!

All in all it was really fun to watch. And the weather was wonderful clear skies and warmer temperatures, which made standing around watching way easier! And the setting was beautiful, 108 Heritage site and they raced around the ice covered lake.

Dogsledding!

This is on our agenda tomorrow - I am so excited I have never seen dog sled races before!!!
I will let you know how it was and I will take lots of pictures!!

Mini Kitchen and new TV

HAH I did it, I FINALLY set our flat screen TV up after all this time. Now hopefully Matt will stop asking for it for his birthday!!! And we watched G-Force Thanks Matt and Leanne the kids really enjoyed it.


Tayler got a kitchen for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa and she spends hours with a cup of water and her dishes. Washing, baking, scrubbing, mixing, good thing the table has a slight dip in the middle - holds the water quite nicely!

Its a little dry up here!

Check out hte hair - I was pulling her nighty off to get her dressed - holy wow!!!

Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb Cereal Crisp
So yummy even without ice cream!


4 cups chopped Rhubarb
1 ¼ cups Flour
¼ cup Sugar
½ cup Strawberry Jam
1 ½ cups Honey Almond Granola
½ cup Brown Sugar
½ cup Pecans (or extra Almonds)
½ tsp Cinnamon
½ cup Butter

Combine Rhubarb, ¼ cup flour, sugar, stir in jam and set aside.
In another bowl combine granola, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and remaining flour. Cut in butter until resembles coarse crumbs.
Press 2 cups of the granola mixture into a greased pie plate or 8” square baking pan, spread rhubarb mixture over the crust. Sprinkle with remaining granola.
Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is brown.

Serve warm with ice cream, or custard.
*I used homemade strawberry peach jam, and homemade granola

Best Buds

Dylan and his best Bud Travis. When we go to Victoria they always have a playdate and have a GREAT time together. This is for you Trav!

Getting Firewood!

Sunday is firewood day. We go into the "back 40" cut down some dead pine and bring it home for the fireplace. So we are not only getting wood but cleaning up the dead pine too!

I figured I would walk behind the trailer to get excerise (after the Christmas binge) but after about a half hour of trudging through the deep snow I got in the trailer too.

Its a family affair! Though this only lasts for a few minutes then they decide its too much work and disappear behind the tractor. not to be seen again, until we head for home!

My poor old Cody is having trouble with his back legs, they fail him once in a while, so much to his disgust (he tried to jump out twice to join me walking) we made him ride in the trailer too. Notice Shayleigh, she jumped at the trailer for quite awhile trying to get in, we figured she needed the excercise.

Dylan got lessons on stacking firewood. He stayed right till it was all done and he was very proud of his stacking abilities.

Inside the house

Here are a couple veiws of the inside of our house


Of course our master bedroom with big bay window its about three times larger than the one in Victoria. And the window over looks the valley and across to Forest Grove. This was taken the day after we got back from Victoria, what a mess!!!


The kids are bunking with us for now in our bedroom, they are right beside our bed. Three little bugs in a rug. At the head of the middle bed, we will put in french doors to a small deck. Ed designed an inverted bay window, so the deck is under the cover of the roof- I can't wait to sit out there with tea and a good book in the summer evenings.


This is the kitchen, still very rustic but a little organizing and I will have a bit more room. Our dining room is beside to the right, there will be french doors to the back deck, that looks towards the same valley as the master bedroom.


Living room. This is looking from the base of the stairs and to the right is the kitchen. The fireplace puts out amazing heat!! When its loaded you can only sit on the harth for a few minutes and then you have to move away from the heat!!!



My office Yahoo - I finally have a place to spread out all my work stuff and I don't have to put it away from little fingers!!! The desk is very much a throw together - can you tell! Its shimmed with bits of drywall and the top is hardiboard. BUT it works for me!!!Out the window, you can see a flat bit of snow - that is on the cabin roof, shows how close the cabin is.


This is looking from the fireplace upstairs, to the far right is my office. The top of the window in the centre is Taylers room and as you go left you pass the bathroom and then to our room. The living room has vaulted ceilings that go to a beam in the center of the house (that is what the ladder is leaning against and it is the top of the roof from the outside.
I hope this helps to visualize the inside. We are so happy to be moved in, even if its still rustic. Ed and I were sitting by the fire this afternoon saying how great it is to stretch out on the sofa and and have all the warm space.