March 20th

Well, the weather took a turn for the worse since my last post – but we did manage to avoid the snow that was forecast.  What we got was (and still is) cold temperatures and wind.  The temperature is back above 0C now at +4C, but it has been dipping below 0C at night and during the day times.   I haven’t checked the forecast, but I am hoping that we get back to our early spring time temperatures again real soon.

I had another of those birthday days yesterday.  The date happened to fall on my weekend, so I didn’t have to book it off to avoid working on my birthday.   It was a nice day, even with the cold temperatures.  I had supper at the Red Lobster with two of my favourite people (my mom, Hazel and my daughter, Angela).  That was followed by a birthday party for another of my favourite people (Judy) at a bowling alley, where I tried Bingo Bowling for the first time.  I had a blast!

The Red River is beginning to rise as the snow and ice melts.  I took pictures yesterday and today while walking the dogs,  to add to my files.

Red River looking North March 19

Red River looking south March 19

Red River shore March 19

It was sunny on both March 19 and March 20, which really helps us put up with the cold weather sometimes.

Red River looking North March 20

Red River looking south March 20

Red River looking south March 20 (opposite shore)

Red River shore March 20

Red River shore March 20

I am still waiting for work to begin on the house next door.  So far it is still standing and there is no signs of demolition starting soon.  I know they had planned on at least the demolition being done by now, so hopefully they have not run into a bunch of red tape that is delaying it.

We had a little bit of excitement at work this week when Jon Montgomery, who won the gold medal for Canada for the skeleton, came to visit.  During his visit he autographed a gold t-shirt and cap for us to auction off to the highest bidder to raise funds for our strong kids campaign.  When I last checked, both items had $100.00 bids on them.

February 27th

February is almost over – the Olympics are almost over – winter is almost over.  Life is good!   

The temperatures are in the minus 1 digit numbers now and the snow is melting.  In a little over a month, I hope to begin riding my bike to work again.  I will have to bring it back upstairs from the basement where it has spent the last few months.   We now have a camera aiming at the bike rack at work so hopefully that will deter theft and vandalism from there and I bring my bike into the house every night, so it should be safe here too.

This morning I took Dakota in to see the vet because she has a swelling on one of her nipples.  At 13 years of age, she is covered with lumps, but many of them have been tested and are just fatty lumps, which cause no problem.  This one is different, and a sample was taken from it and from another new one that is along the same line.  The other one is also just a fatty lump, but this one did come out differently.  The vet is sending the sample to a pathologist, but she indicated that she does not believe it is cancer.  I should get the results on Monday.

Since Dakota got the trip to the vet and the treats that go along with that, I took Chester for a walk on his own after we got home.  We walked quite a bit faster and farther than usual, which was good for both of us, especially since I missed my exercise class at the Y due to Dakota’s appointment.

In the afternoon, I had a funeral to go to.  A friend lost her husband suddenly due to a heart attack and I picked my mom up and we went to say our respects.

The house next door should be coming down soon.  I have asked them to give me notice before the demolition starts and they have promised to let me know.  Not that there is anything I can do, but it would be nice to be home to keep the dogs and Jewel calm while it is happening.

The Canadian Olympic team has sure given us Canadians plenty to cheer about this year.   Congratulations to all the medal winners as well as to all the rest of the participants.  You make us proud!

February 15th

February is now more than 1/2 over!  Spring is on the way.  Right now it is -13C  here with the sun shining down on us.  The days are getting longer, which means more sunshine.    We could certainly get some of that -30′s type weather, and a blizzard is never out of the question with March on the way – but this has been a great winter.  The wind on our walk this morning kept it pretty chilly – but we can take it.

Are you watching the Olympics?  I don’t have them on all the time, but have really been enjoying it.  Its too bad every single athlete could not go home with a medal because they have worked so hard to get to this event and 1/100 of a second could mean the difference between receiving a medal and going home empty handed.  Congratulations to everyone who has won a medal for themselves and for their country so far.  Everyone has a heartwarming story to tell.  That being said – of course, I am Canadian and I cheer mostly for the Canadian team 

Go Canada Go ! ! !

My friend Connie and I have started to make reservations for our summer vacation this year.  We are going to Banff and Jasper in Alberta.  I haven’t taken this trip in years and am really looking forward to it.  We plan on going horseback riding and whitewater rafting.  We have our rooms booked at the Y Hotel in Banff (I didn’t even know there was a Y Hotel there) and at a motel in Jasper.  We will be taking the #1 Highway to Banff then going to Jasper and then to Edmonton for 1 night  while visiting the West Edmonton Mall, before heading back home along the Yellowhead Highway.

My trip to Africa is still in the plans, but I have given up hope of ever saving the amount of money I will need for it.  I do have equity in my house though, so when the time is right, I will re-mortgage and use the money for my dream trip.   I would love to have this trip include Australia and New Zealand as well, since I would be in the neighbourhood.

I haven’t put a picture up here for ages, so this morning I took a picture of the snow on my fence in the back yard.

Snow on the Fence

Its strange how it took shape like this.  

I thought I would also add a couple of pictures that I snapped at  Africam in the last few days – one from Nkorho and one from Elephant Plains.

Blacked Backed Jackals with Old Faithful (the buffalo skull)

Elephant Herd Early Morning Visit

Have a great day!

more Dakota

It turned out that I didn’t have to take Dakota to the vet today.  Over night, the cyst drained.  When I first saw it bleeding, I assumed that it had been bothering her and she then started licking it, which caused it to bleed.  Now, I think that it must have burst open, and the bleeding caused Dakota to lick it and that is when I noticed it. 

It hasn’t completly disappeared yet, but I am hoping that this will continue to drain and I am really hoping that it does not come back again.  I will be keeping an eye on it and for at least a couple of days, I will continue to put the collar on her when I go to work.

I am still enjoying watching the olympics every evening after work.

Another Busy Day

I started the day with a good workout at the Y’s brand new & wonderful fitness center.  This was immediately followed by a “not so healthy” but “oh so good” big breakfast.

Once I got home, the dogs were ready for a walk, so we got the walk in before it got too warm.  Even on leash, Chester gets twice (at least) the mileage that Dakota and I do because he goes side to side constantly as we go forward.  If I wasn’t holding on to both the leashes and thereby using both my hands, I’d try to take a video.

Then I sat down to get my article ready to go online first thing tomorrow morning.  You can have a peak at it at http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art58212.asp if you are interested.  I was watching some of the olympics while I was getting the article ready.  I would love to see that Jamacian guy (can’t remember his name), run for the whole race and see how fast he can really go.  I can’t believe he stops running once he knows he has the race won.

Then I headed out to get my grocery shopping done.   Tomorrow its back to work – followed by Pirates of the North Saskatchewan at Celebrations Dinner Theatre.