More Randoms

 I had a few more things to write about, but I didn't want to put it all in one post! I just deleted a few drafts that I had; I hadn't written anything in them; they were only ideas and titles...I still have a few that I might post about...or, I might do the same as I did in the last post and do them all in one post!

I really need to get a new computer. I haven't decided what (or if) I should get (one). A few months ago, my track pad died, so I have to use the mouse with it; which is good and bad :) I am thinking of a Chrome Book, as they are so small (I had one while I worked at the school, and I loved it!), but I am also old, and I still would like to have a computer with a DVD player in it :) I also would like a laptop that can be unplugged for more than a few hours. If I am going to be an influential blogger and IG-er, I had better get a new computer!! I also need to go through my photos and documents and sealed 99% of everything!

After growing my bangs for YEARS (and then cutting them when they drove my crazy), some of them are finally long enough to be put in my bun!! I am so excited! I also need a hair cut. Badly!

I nearly became a Sipologist for Sipology, but I decided not to.

So, I started this post last week, so I should probably finish it :) 

Our Valentine's Day was pretty quiet, but it was ok. The last few years, I have pressured Anker to do something, and the last few years I haven't pressured him as much (I don't think!). I still find it hard, since our married is, well, different, and we have no kids, but it wasn't that bad this year. Anker cleaned off the little table in our living room (I asked him to do it, but still!), and I bought us things for dinner. We made dinner together; tacos! We watched a few episodes of The Crown, and then we went to bed. It was a nice day. I went over to my nephews' place to drop things off for them (I only really hang out with my brother and his family, and sometimes, my older friends down a few doors), and then I had gotten Anker a few little dollar store gifts. Anker made me earrings (oh, yes he did!), and I also bought myself some and my big gift is getting my rings fixed...I will talk about that another time. Ok, I just looked at my last Random post, and this was included. Oh well.

I talked about TV in my last post, but I was going to say that I will record (and sometimes, sometimes just delete) them for awhile, and then I get tired and just stop recording them. I am weird like that. I also like listening to the Christian station :) I will often have it on when I don't feel like watching anything; or when I want Christian music, but with no commercials (YT).

My mom had hand surgery last month. She has had carpal Tunnel for 20 years, and she decided to finally get it done. She is doing really well, and I think she is getting her left hand done next month. 

As most of you know; I have have a sleep machine (BiPap) for almost 11 years now, and I decided to FINALLY organize the components to/of it. I am not great at replacing the items (head gear, mask, etc), and I finally replaced my Velcro head gear, and wow...I should have done that six months ago! The old strap was SO lose, it was horrible! I need to take better care of my things :) I am SO THANKFUL that this is all provided to me FREE OF CHARGE! BCITS/PROP has gone far and above in the last 11 years! They usually come and visit, but b/c of C0v1d, they were unable to. We were able to connect via phone the beginning of the year, and anything I want or need for my machine I can ask, and they will give it it me no charge. #blessed

I am thinking of the people of/in TX, OH, ARK, OK, GA (see? I know all of my US Abbrevs!!), and wherever else never gets snow. I have to admit, I know I shouldn't, but I was laughing, b/c this is something we Canadians experience ALLLLL THHEEE TIIIIME! What they were going through (no power, accidents, etc) was so foreign, b/c snow is an every day occurrence over here. But then, I straightened up and decided that laughing is not the best way. I DO find it all amusing (not people dying, and houses caving in) watching their reactions, etc. Take pools, for example. One family was picking ICE out of their pool. I msgd her on IG and let her know that we just use a pool cover for pools, and she said that they don't exist there! I know that similar things happen on VI; as this happened a couple of years ago; half of the island was down, b/c they are not used to having snow and ice down there. Some places had no power, accidents happened, etc. I don't think it was as dire as it was in the US, but when winter happens over there, it can get pretty bad!

Speaking of cool....it was a balmy 11c today!! We are out of the Polar Vortex (yes, I realize that we are wimps and can't handle temps below -15c!) I tip my hand to everyone else in Canada who has been dealing with the cold! AND, I went for a walk TWO DAYS IN A ROW!! Miracles can happen!!!

Speaking of Metric; did you know that there are only 3 countries in the world that use the IMPERIAL system?? And I just read that two of them are going to be switching to the Metric soon...sooo...come on, US...keep up with the times, will ya!! Head on over here to read it for real!

I still have my Christmas tree up, and it is now a "winter tree". I love it, y'all!!!

I cleaned my kitchen fairly well the other day, and that made me happy! I love clean things; I just don't always like to clean said things!

My friend and I are still doing our monthly Sushi dates! We are having car picnics, so we kept having to  reschedule them, due to the cold:) We went to Oya Sushi, and it was really good. I went there a few years ago (I think that was my first sushisperience -and yes, that is a word!), and I don't remember liking it very much. This time, though, it was really good! I got the Crazy Girl roll (I know, I ned to expand my horizons!), and the gyoza! We went to DQ for a blizzard. We were hoping to have the Red Velvet one, but they were out of it, so I had the Mint Oreo, which was really good!!

We tried a few Meal kits last spring; Hello Fresh, and Chef's Plate, and I think I can say that I like CP best :) I have had to delete my account, though, so that I don't get charged for meals (yes, I know I can skip weeks, but I keep forgetting to). I would definitely give them both a try again, though. I can definitely see why people like them :)

I spent a few evenings with my youngest brother in the last couple of weeks, and we watched the last season of The Big Bang Theory. He has never watched the last season, so I suggested that we watch it together. I didn't think I was going to enjoy it so soon after just watching it with Anker last month, but I actually really enjoyed it!

I have been feeling really unmotivated lately; I have to (sometimes) struggle to get things done. Thankfully, I usually almost always get SOMETHING done in the day. I have been sleeping in a lot, which I don't know why, but I am trying not to feel super guilty about it. I applied to 4 jobs today! It can sure be easy to sit on my bed and watch TV all day!

Speaking of applying to jobs, I LOVE Indeed (I was going to link it, but I don't want y'all to see my information in case it was stored there). Once they have your resume, you can just upload yours to the job you want, and viola! They also have a record of all the jobs you have applied to, and you get alerts from places, saying if they have viewed your resume or not. That is my only place I apply now. There are some companies that want you to apply on their job site, which I have done a few times as well.

I finally got myself a large headset :) Y'all...it is life changing!!!! I can even sleep with them on!! I was wondering if I could, as I am a side sleeper, and while I am sure that it isn't the best for them (or me), I find that I am able to sleep with them fairly comfortably.

Our free laundry is coming to an end (I think) soon! It was fun having free laundry for 9 months! I can count on one hand how many times I have had to use Loonies for Laundry (one set was free, and one was paid) the last few months. Oh well :)

I have about a billion items on loan from the library. I have a problem, y'all! Our library is also waiving all late fees now (has been since it reopened in the summer), and I am not sad about it. Also, the librarians are my friends, and we are on a first name basis :) 

I just found out that Carman (the singer..all we 80s kids will remember him) died last week. I knew that he had been sick with cancer, and the funny thing was, I was thinking about him just the other day, wondering how he was doing. I was very sad (but not surprised) to find out that he had left this world. I knew that he had been battling cancer.

Speaking of dying, I nearly ran over a pedestrian the other evening. Ugh! There needs to be a rule that everyone wears high vis clothing when out at night! I am thankful that no one was hurt! I swear I looked before turning left, and saw no one...grrr!

I think there were a few more things I was going to write about, but I can't remember! Happy Monday, y'all!!

Chocolate Shortbread Heart Cookies

 I realize that it is after Valentine's Day, but I am going to post these anyway. You can use any cookie shape you want; you can probably leave out the cocoa and dye them green for SPD if you would like; or you can use your Easter/Spring cookie cutters; you can also decorate them. I made them with a friend (I do respite sometimes) who lives down a few doors from me, and they turned out well. Now, to be honest, I am not a cookie girl. I can have cookies sit out for days in our kitchen, and unless they are absolutely delicious, I generally will not eat them. Don't know why I am so fat :) Ha! I do love chocolate chip cookies, gingersnaps, and oatmeal/raisin/pb cookies, though. Even then, unless they are very good, and (not) old tasting, I usually won't binge eat them. So, to be honest, I think I only had one, and Anker didn't have any (more on that later), and the few that I did take back to my house, they sat and never did get eaten. HOWEVER, these would be great to make with your kids (esp if you home educate your children).

I found the recipe on good ol' PT (do people even still use that anymore?), which led me to Two Peas and a Pod. I have added it to my MANY blogs that I follow!

I am going post the recipe here, and then I will give you my personal tips and tricks, plus I will add some photos.

First off, if you really want to make a lot, I would say double the recipe. It made barely 3 doz; granted, I probably could have rolled out the dough a bit thinner. 

Second; it says to refrigerate it for a half hour, but we only did 15 minutes. 

Third; you need a really good rolling pin and flat space (duh). This is the part that young kids would find hard, but older kids could most likely do. 

Fourth; Don't make them too thick. 

Fifth; get a ton of sprinkles! I bought a pack of 4, and we could have used at least twice that much, and that was without even doubling said recipe.

Sixth; I thought putting kosher salt on it would be a good idea. Don't do it.

As usual, I didn't read the recipe, and I thought that we needed icing sugar, as I thought they were iced cookies. Guess what? They weren't! Although we DID ice them, and I think they turned out ok! So, you can skip the dipping them in the melted chocolate chips (again, something that I didn't read until I went to do the cookies! I thought that the melted chocolate chips were to GO IN the cookie!); I think the cookie is pretty versatile! You could make them for any holiday or just for "whatever"; you can change your sprinkles for different colour (green for SPD, Spring colours, Christmas colours, blue for winter or Hanukkah, etc)

I am sorry that these photos aren't in order :) I think you get the idea, though. I think they turned out well, considering that I didn't know what I was doing, and that I had never made them before. 

Would I make them again? Yes! I would double it (if I wanted lots), and add more sprinkles, and I probably wouldn't ice them (except if I made them for Christmas?).

So, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this little "tutorial" :) Happy Baking!

Hello? Is This On?

 Yes...I am here and alive!! I have not felt the blogging bug in months! MONTHS, Y'all!! I blame Covid!! Ha! Every time I have thought about blogging, well, it is just ends up as that...a thought. I even have gone to my Blogger Dashboard, to read blogs that I am following, in hopes of becoming inspired, but, no such luck! You would think that all this time off (more on that in a moment), I would have blogged TONS! Ya, no! I thought I would come on and do a bit of a LifeDate (Life Recap, etc) on us. I also had probably 19 (no lie) drafts (with titles only) in my draft section. That has no been widdled down to 9. My aunt has a great saying, "I am so far behind I'm ahead!", and I believe that that is true with this blog. I am seriously considering "rebranding" (whatever that means), and revamp this blog. I wish I could just hire someone to do a total "blog makeover", or "blogdate" and redesign it, but I don't have the fees for that right now. I don't even know if I should change what I talk/write about. I do kind of like being a general blogger; life, family, friends, design, beauty, recipes, etc. I tend to not follow bloggers who are hone on one or two things. That isn't the same with Instagram, though. I often follow design, beauty and food-only accounts. I heard that if you want to make in the Insta Biz, then you have to hone in on two or three things...I hope still TRYING to be an IG influencer, buuuuut, it's not working so well! Ha!!! I really want to try to be an Instagram/Blogging Influencer...Yah, I know...but a girl can dream, right?

Anyway...I have a few posts that I had hoped to write and publish, but I haven't gotten around to them yet, so I might either just talk about them in one post, or not worry about them. Or, I might do a small write up on each one (individually). We will see.

So...HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021! How has this year been treating you so far? We are a month away from "Covid-versary"; I can't believe that it has been a year since the world stopped. How have you all been holding up? Life in here in BC (or at least Kamloops) is I would say about 85% back to "normal". Most everything except churches (don't get me started on THAT!), and a restaurants are open. You have to have a mask on in EVERY public place (inside). It sucks! So, our churches are still "meeting" online, and I really do miss the interaction with people! My "bubble" has actually gone down since leaving work (more on that in a bit) in January.  I don't even spend time with Emily (neighbour) anymore. I only hang out with my friend's parents (and her when she is there), and her sister (who I do take out occasionally), and my brother and his wife, and their kids. Oh, and my brother, Isaac, who is in town, but he is moving back to the ranch soon, so I won't see him as much anymore. I see my parents VERY rarely...and we are always really careful, plus they live in the country; so I feel a bit "safer" when I am out there. Anyone else I hang with, we do it outside; either a walk or a socially distanced car visit :)

So...workdate: I had a job with Interior Health (our local Health Authority), and after a few weeks, I really wasn't sure if this was the job I wanted. I won't bore you with the details, but sufficient to say, I quit in early January. As someone that is in my 40s, Iam tired of being jobs where I get stressed out, don't feel supported, and I also felt that I wasn't doing a good job (they told me). A part of me really misses the job, but I enjoy not working right now. I know, I know..after 6 months of my "CovidVacation" "CovidCation", you would think that I would want to be working! I actually felt that I was burnt out (yes, I know..after only 4.5 months!); it was THAT kind of a job! It didn't help that I was working alone (the case workers were/are working from home); which in some ways was really nice, but in some ways, I felt really lonely. So, I have been looking for work; helping out my brother and his wife with looking after the boys, and doing a few other odds and ends. I gotta say, that I am not entirely sad about it! I am thankful that "my" library has stayed open (it opened back up in the summer for in patron use!), so I can come read, and look for work, etc. I KNOW that the Lord is looking out for us, and I know that HE is leading me to a job in HIS perfect timing! I have even thought about opening up my own business....we shall see...:) I was only at the job for 4 and a half months, from Sept to Jan, and with every job, I learned and grew, so, there you go!

In the Fall, we had "Fakesgiving" the weekend before the real Thanksgiving. This was when travel was "ok", and my brother and his family came and visited us from Vancouver Island. Anker was feeling horrible, so I went (I wasn't impressed) alone. It was great to see everyone, and we had a lovely time together.

Christmas was very quiet. I don't even remember what we did for Christmas Eve. Things were back in "lockdown", so there were no in person CE Services. I did work on CE for the first time in 4 years, and it felt odd, but it was kind of fun. Not sure what we did in the evening. I think I did some last minute shopping/gift organizing and Anker and I hung out together, and then he went to bed, and I sat in front of the "fire" in our living room. Anker and I opened our gift from his sister; which was so fun! We got hot chocolate bombs, a shirt for Anker, more oil for my diffuser chocolate, hand sanitizer, Starbucks Gift Card, and some hand warmers. Speaking of Starbucks Gift Cards...I sure made out like a bandit in that department this Christmas! I think I got over $100 in combination this year...and I still have money left on it! In all honesty, we both made out pretty good this year for gifts!!! We are really blessed!

Christmas Day, we went to my brothers for waffles. We had a lovely time, until Anker fell down their stairs on the way out! He wracked his shoulder, but he was in good spirits about it. We went to my parents' cabin, and we had one meal together, and we opened up our gifts together. Since I had to work the Tuesday, we came home on Monday. We had a lovely time, though. We visited, we walked, we played games, we did puzzles, we ate and we slept! 

New Years Eve, I spent with Emily watching movies. Anker and I went to bed at 11. We were SO tired! New Years Day, I think I went over to A and Ks. I don't even remember! Ha! It was THAT memorable!

All of Canada was in a polar Vortex last week. We are such wimps here, b/c we are not used to the cold. BUT, unlike some places in BC (and other places in the world), we are equipped to carry out life during winter. We have snow tires, chains, and our animals are bred to stand the cold winters. When VI gets winter, the whole island shuts down, as they are no equipped for ice and snow. Poor muffins. I always "laugh" (I know I shouldn't) when the few states that don't normally (TX, AR, AK, LA, OH, OK, we're looking at you!), experience winter, freak out when they get ice and a few flakes of snow! I actually do feel bad when there are accidents from people driving; they just have no clue how to drive on the ice and snow, as they aren't used to it. But then, I guess our Prairie friends are laughing at us when we are "cold"; they have been in the -30s and 40s for months! So, there you go! I know it is all relative! Stay warm, Southern Friends!!!

Anker and I had a "Covidcation" to my parents' cabin for a few days in Jan, and it was delightful! I went back alone for a "Solocation" and stayed in the same cabin, and I loved it!!! I would love to go back out there again when it warms up. When Anker and I went out, he helped my brother with a few things, so I had the place to myself for a few hours. We also watched the final season of Big Bang.

Valentine's Day and Family Day, we just hung out. I took the nephews a few little gifts, and they much appreciated them. Sunday evening, we had a nice dinner of tacos together and we watched there episodes of "THE CROWN". Yes, I got into the last week, thanks to my brother and his wife. We watched two episodes of season 4 together, so I decided to start on it. I thought Anker would like it, and he did, so at least we have something to watch together again. I feel like we watch VERY little together now, and that makes me sad. I did get a few gifts for Anker; my big gift to myself is getting my two wedding rings fixed and soddered together. Before Christmas, I looked down at my ring to notice that oe of the diamond was MISSING! I took it in to a few places; one place quoted me $800, and the other quoted me $300! You can guess which I place I went with. 

I have gone over to A and Ks a few times; I usually go a couple of times a week. We will watch a movie, or we will have a chat. It is nice to get out of the house. 

I am doing a couple of Social Media "games" this year. On Instagram, I an doing two Photo Prompts. Renae Photography and Fat Mumslim are two photo prompts that I am joining this year. I am also doing a "Travel"-like Question of the Day on FB. I try and do a QOTD relating to travel...I wouldn't say it is a super hit, but I have gotten some responses. I also only started the beginning of this month. This is FM's personal account: Chantelle; and this is her Blogging account Fat Mumslim.

Jan 31 was Omphalocele Awareness Day! I actually forgot all about it, until that night! Last year, I did a few facts about Os leading up to Jan 31, but this year, I wasn't as into it. I even forgot to wear black and white!

Jan 28 was Bell Let's Talk Day! This is a day to promote awareness for Mental Illness. I did a little blurb on my FB and twitter about that. 

I am trying to remember things that I have done that you find interesting....I went for a walk with a friend, and my Sushi Friend and I are still doing our monthly sushi dates; we just do them from our car now. Our Ladies Bible Study has started up, but I was at my brother's last night, so I didn't join. I will try to join next week.

I have no less than 50 devotionals that I am doing. No word of a lie! I have a problem! I am trying to read through the Bible, but that isn't working so well for me. I use and love the You Version Bible App, and I love getting Devos started, but the problem is that I don't always finish them! 

Aa for TV, all the shows are FINALLY back! Well, NA is coming back next month...but GA, The Good Doctor, The Resident, The Neighbo(u)hood, and Bob Hearts Abishola are all back! I also will watch various cooking and and HGTV shows. Quite often, I will record something, and then just not watch it. I will end up deleting almost everything that I have recorded. I also am watching Hallmark movies..I watched more than my fair share of Christmas HM movies; I watched Winterfest movies, and now I am watching "Love Ever After" movies; among others. As for Netflix; I will watch the odd movie on there, but other than "The Crown", I am not watching a lot. I stoped watching "Call the Midwife" after season 8, but I might start up again (I think it is on NF). Season 9 is about to air in Canada in March. I have heard interesting things about "Bridgerton", so I might start that. I think it is kind of like of "Outlander"and "Downton Abbey" had a baby :)

I have started briefly reading books again. I so far have read 3 books in the last month (umm..ok..maybe parts of three books!). I am back to magazines, but I hope to try to get back books soon!

I had to buy a new oil diffuser the other weekend. It is really pretty, and it does the job well, so there ya go! Anker tried to fix the old one, and he thought he had it going, but then it died again. Also, our microwave is almost ready to die. We noticed that it started zapping a few days ago, so I guess we will have to buy a new one. How one survives without a microwave is beyond me!

I still have my Christmas tree up; I turned it into a "winter tree". I must say that it is very lovely! And yes, I am still watching Xmas HM movies! 

Anker is trying to stay off wheat, gluten and yeast. It is harder than it looks, y'all!! So far we are not winning on the products that we have bought..well, maybe it's a tie! Some products are good, and some are horrible! Please pray for us!

I might start blogging for Fertility Matters again. I did that a few years ago, but I stopped, as I guess I wasn't following instructions! Ha! I reached out them again last week, and I asked, and they said that I have to email them. So, we shall see.

I find that I will go days without being on IG (either posting photos and stories, or viewing others), then I will be on I a lot. I know. It's weird. 

Have y'all seen my sock collection? Would you like to see my sock collection? I have a lot, y'all!

Anker made me some earrings, which he gave to me before and on Valentine's Day. They are so pretty!  Jewelry is his new thing now! Head on over to my IG to take a look!

I made cookies with my friend's sister last Thursday. They turned out well, but in all honesty, I am no a huge cookie fan. They can be sitting out, and they usually don't tempt me. I also made a Cookie Pizza Chocolate chip cookies with the boys (not on the same day!).

We also have a Fresh St Market, Marshall's, and Old Navy that have opened up here in town. I went to FSM three time; once with my brother, once with a friend, and once alone. I tried their Cronuts at the coffee bar, called Twisted Goat, and they are SO GOOD!!! 

I am sure there are a few things that I am missing, but I will stop now. I will try and update more than once every 5 months!!

I also have decided that my words for the year will be Brave, Preserver(once), and Risk :)

My Words for 2020

Wow!!! I totally forgot that I was going to post about this! I haven't been into blogging much lately! I thought I would get #alltheblogging done over Spring Break, but it never happened! Anyway, every year, for the past few years people all over Social Media have done "Words of/for the Year", and last year was the first year that I had decided to do one. Last years was "Brave", and for this year, I have chosen two! I think it is funny that I chose these before all Covid-19 happened all over the globe! Oh how we need Patience and Gentleness with each other!! I can be very quick, abrupt, short and curt sometimes, when I am engaging with people. I 99% of the time don't mean to, but I know that I have noticed it the last while, in my exchanges with people. I really wanted to have more patience and gentleness with the kids I work with, with my nephews, with my family, my husband, etc. And while I don't always come off as gentle and patient as I should, I think for the most part, I am doing better (except for the one time I got impatient with my 8.5 yr old nephew this winter..oops!). And yes, I do realize that there have been more than one time, but I think I can honestly say that I have been better. I have consciously made the decision to react/talk to people in kind, even more than I usually do. How true this is for our current time! We NEED to be PATIENT and GENTLE with everyone, whether it is our own family, or others we meet shopping. We need to be patient and gentle with our neighbours; maybe there is a way that you could help them. Are they older? Do they not have the means to get around? We also need to be patient and gentle with our frontline workers. Yes, that includes, nurses, doctors, 911 operators, but let's not forget the grocery and retail store workers, our pastors, our leaders, our scientists, our news people, our city workers, and also, ourselves!

Ha! I started in Jan of 2020, wrote a bit in April, and it is now Jan 1, 2021, and I never did post this...well, I am going to do this right now. How funny that these were my words of the year last year....and how much we all needed to be patient and gentle with each other, and with ourselves!

Still Alive

 Yup, I am still alive. I just can't be bothered to blog. Btw work, life, Hallmark movies, reading magazines, and who knows what else, well...I just haven't had it in me. I have been at my new job for just over 3 months. It has been a bit of a rough go; I'm not gonna lie, but I guess I am growing and changing, so that's cool. Also...how can it be Christmas already???? Here is a picture of our tree :)

I am kind of hoping that with this little bit of blogging, I MIIIIIGHHHHT just get into the spirit of  blogging? Maybe. Hopefully. One day.

September, Salsa, Soft Dairy, Sushi, Scrunchies, (Pumpkin) Spice, Sausages, Sunflowers, Skies, Sleep, and a Surprise!

 Well, I probably should at least do ONE blog post this weekend!!! I haven't been in to blogging much lately. The only thing I seem to be interested in doing these last few weeks I watch TV :)

Anyway, September is HERE! I have FINALLY have accepted and embraced fall, or as I like to call it, FallTumn! I am still wearing my sandals, and sometimes, my capri pants, but I think those will come to an end soon enough, I'm sure.

As I stated in my last post, Anker made salsa. We will both admit, however, that it isn't his best batch. It seems to be missing something. Anyway, at least it gave him something to do, something to use up our tomatoes, and it will save us from buying salsa for another year.

Last Saturday, my friend Adela and I went for our monthly sushi date. We are trying every sushi place in town. We tried Sushi Royal Tokyo, and it was good! I wouldn't say it was my favourite place in town, but it was good. Their tempura was delicious!!!

Before we met up, I went to our local Farmers' Market (for the first time this season), as I wanted to get some awesome scrunchies! There is a local lady in town who makes scrunchies, and I love them! I was given one by my SIL last Christmas, and I bought two this summer, and I wanted to get some more. If you are local (or semi-local), check out S. Design. I also decided to grab some sausages, and some cheese (soft dairy), which are both delicious!!! Kamloops Farmers' Market is a fun-filled market that goes from early April, to the end of October. I don't know why I didn't go more this year; especially since I wasn't working for most of it. Anyway, it was fun wandering around, and checking out the vendors. I bought some Terroir Cheese, and Kurt's Meats (I can't find their link).

There is pumpkin spice EVERYTHING floating about, and I am not sad about it. I got the first PSL in the form of a frap. YUM! Anker made some pumpkin waffles, and they are really good!!

Of course...I love me some sunflowers!!! There were some beautiful sunsets this year....:) I wish I could have caught them all; and/or done them justice!

                                                     ...and now, for the surprise! 

I have a new job! I am working with our local health authority, and I started after the Labour Day weekend. I had the interview online, and I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call to say that I had the job! H was the first to know, since I was looking after the boys when they called. Ha! It is a mix btwn a desk job, and driving around the community. I am starting my 4th week tomorrow! I have my own (mostly) office, ID/badge, parking pass, email, voicemail, cell phone, I work downtown, I get in a walk every day, plus my job is very interesting. Lots to learn, and VERY different than what I am used to. This is my first real office job (though I have worked at call centres before, so I guess that is kind of like an office job), so that is a new thing as well. It is s temporary position, which will probably be for a few months or so, or it could be longer. It is M-F 830-430, which is great, and kind of a first (at least in ages!). Other than my 12 hours shifts a few years ago, I hadn't worked 8 hours in a long time! It is a lot of getting used to (my evenings are usually me watching tv, and the weekends have me being VERY lazy!). I am finding that I am very tired at the end of the day. I mostly just watch tv, I might run an errand or two, or say to to K and the boys on the way home, and then I am home for the night. I don't even go to the library much anymore! I am also finding that I am giving things that I don't fully enjoy. I have given up on reading some of my less favourite magazines, I don't clean as often as I should (but I do do laundry!), nor do I go out as often to socialize. I am joking that I am just working, eating, sleeping, and watching tv :) It is a union, which is good, and the $ is a blessing as well! My co-workers are nice (we are actually different divisions, but we share a building), but we all kind of do our own thing. I am very thankful for this job, and I am excited to see how the Lord uses me in the new position, and how long He he has and wants me there for!

Summa Time!

I am going through my blog, and I have posted very little this summer. I haven't felt much like blogging, and to be honest, I haven't done a ton (a lot of people have been camping, having holidays, etc, despite COVID), but we have pretty much laid low. I looked for work (albeit VERY slowly!), looked after the boys, went to the library (when it FINALLY reopened), met with my friends for coffee and dinner, went on a few walks, went to a couple of beaches (Lac La Jeune once, and Chase Beach twice), and I was going to go camping with my friend and her kids, but that didn't end up working out (more on that later). I had hoped to house/dog sit for some friends, but that didn't work out (actually A LOT of things didn't work out this summer), which was a bummer, but I also looked after my nephews, so that kept me busy, at least. 

It was defiantly a different summer; with covid, and my looking for work. Anker and I didn't do a ton, either. I did go to the ranch 3x, but two of them were b/c I was looking after kids. Oh well! It was still nice to get out! Emily and I continue to watch movies once or twice a week. It is nice to have that neighbourly connection. She has come to church with me a few times, which has been really nice.

And as of 2020 hasn't been crazy enough, we got the smoke from the US fires. Ugh! At least it isn't horrible. Thankfully, there hasn't been a ton of fires in BC this year! Last Saturday, I met with what I call my "Old Ladies Group", where we "ended" the summer with a bbq and an evening on the patio. It was lovely to catch up before the busyness of September starts.

Labour Day weekend, I went out to the ranch for a few days. Anker stayed home, and I ended up staying at my aunt and uncle's, as they were away as well. It was a lovely few days, of eating, sleeping, reading, visiting, and movie watching. A and K were up with the boys, too, so we spent some time together. The weather was PERFECT, and it was nice just to "chill and grill" for a few days. I was going to dedicate an entire post LD, but I just wanted to get it out ASAP, b/4 Christmas came! Besides, it wasn't that exciting of a weekend (at least, not that much that it warranted an entire post of its own!)!

Speaking of Christmas, I never did talk about our Victoria Christmas TWO Christmases ago....oops! Well, we went to Victoria (we flew on Christmas Day!), spent time with his sister and her family. Ate, opened pressies, relaxed, made gingerbread houses, visited, and of course, slept. I think Anker was "fighting" with his new Mac that our BIL gave him, which caused me stressed, so I went for a walk. Oh, and we watched movies, and we walked around the harbour, and had a nice dinner one evening. One day, I met up with L and his family. A was pregnant with E at the time, so it was "only" N and L. We all had a lovely day wandering around V-town. Anker spent the day with K going to the BC Aviation Museum, which if we had been there a few more days, I would have gone, but since that was the only day that worked best for L and his family to come down, I chose to visit them. The Christmas in Victoria was lovely, and we will probably do it in another few years.

I think this was while I was spending a few days at my friend's; house/dog/plant sitting! Oh yah, I did have another set of days hanging out at my friend's for a few days in July! Murphy and I always have a fun time together!!! That was a lovely few days of eating, sleeping, meeting with friends, and I think I also met up with another former (but we are still friends!) work/school family; where we had dinner in the park. The weather was pretty cool here, but we finally got some hot weather the end of July, and into August. K and I took the boys to the river a few times, which was fun. Jill and I had our annual "Jill and April's Day of Fun", which I will try my darnedest to get posted! My friend, Adela, and I are trying to go for sushi once a month. She and I are also planning on going for a day trip to my parents' in a couple of weeks! 

I also took the boys to one of the parks, where there is also a wading pool. K needed to get some stuff done, and I was feeling bad for her, and I was kind of bored, so I offered to take the boys. We went to the park and wading pool first. Then we went to Scoopz, and then H begged me to let them play at the park next to the parlour, so I decided I would let them. Bad mistake. J decided that that was a great time to go the bathroom (ummm..yah...Thanks, Covid, for allowing ALL bathrooms to be shut down!), and then as we were leaving, J decided that he didn't want to go home, and he had a trantrum. So yah, fun times! A very tired aunty dropped the boys off! Hey, it was a memory...what can I say?? It was a fun way to close out the summer!!!

I have been enjoying a few sips from Starbucks, and of course Dollar Drink Days from McDs!!!

I haven't been journalling as much lately, nor have I been reading books (or even magazines) as much, either. I did, however, sit out by the river and read for over an hour yesterday, so that was nice. I haven't been doing a ton of "stories" on IG, either. I have still been posting, though, so go ahead and take a look, and get "caught up" on what we have been doing! We still are still running the a/c and fans, in our house, car and office (more on that in another post). I am still wearing capris and sandals. Laundry is still free :) I have been watching A LOT of Hallmark movies, along with some cooking shows, some JJ, and I have also started reordering "Murder, She Wrote". I have also started watching "Counting On'. I really like it. I remember watching "19 Kids and Counting, and I am really enjoying watching the kids grow up, get married, and raise families of their own.

We had our 5th Cali-versary in August. We love her so much!!! Just now, she was "helping" blog! She sure loves her pets, especially at night.  We love you, Cali-Girl!

Oh yes...Anker has been making salsa, as we have had a billion tomatoes!!! He made jam, and I made two fruit crisps, and helped with freezing some beans and carrots!

More to come.....plus an annoucement!