Looking at old pictures....

and I found this hidden away somewhere.
"My" horse Blaze. I use quotations because he wasn't actually mine, but I'd been around him for 16 years so he was mine in a way. This picture was taken 3 years ago on May Long Weekend of 2007. That would make Blaze 26 or 27 in this picture, Yvonne couldn't remember if she got him when he was 4 or 5. He's only been gone since July, but I miss him terribly. Saying goodbye to him when I left Ontario was one of the hardest. So now I feel like talking about him. Whether you are interested or not is another thing, but its my blog so too bad! haha! :P

• Blaze was half Morgan, and the other half was either Appaloosa or Paint. Yvonne wasn't 100% sure
• He lived outside all year, not in a stable. So his coat would get super thick and long.
• He never had horse shoes, and he never had a problem with his feet.
• Blaze bucked, but I never had that problem with him
  
• He didn't like other horses behind him, so he was always last on the trail.
• Blaze and Missy (another horse at the camp) didn't get along.
• Blaze didn't like apples, he just wouldn't eat them. Oddly, he ate them from ME. But only Royal Gala apples...no other kind, and from no one else.
• Sometimes he wanted nothing to do with you, other times he followed you around with his nose in your pocket
• His favourite spot to be scratched was behind his ear, at the base there....he would just melt. He would just hang his head and his ears would droop in total relaxation, and his eyes would close. He'd fall asleep like that.
• He loved to run. We always got to have a gallop at the end of the trail. As soon as you turned him back up the road, he started to get excited. He knew that the run was coming.
• His favourite thing in the winter was for Yvonne to chase him through the snow on her 4-wheeler when she went into the field to break the ice so the horses could have water. He followed her, because he knew what was coming. It was his favourite game.
  

I loved that horse, and for the past 6/7 years he was the only horse I would ride at the camp. He was my horse, and I miss him terribly. I love this pic of him, I'm glad I stumbled upon it tonight.

More Christmas surprises!

Today was a great day!

I got home from work and there was a package waiting on the doorstep. It was from Ben and Mel, two friends from back home in Northern Ontario! Inside was a set of 6 pictures in frames of times we had spent together with Mel and Ben from various hikes we had gone on, to a weekend we spent at Ben's parents' cottage. It means a lot, especially since Mel doesn't celebrate Christmas. And it may have made me cry a little, because I miss the north, the lakes and my life there. Its the perfect gift, and we are going to find a very special place to display the pictures where I can look up everyday and think of home. I really miss Ben and Mel, so it was nice to get this from them and nice to have this reminder of them.

I also went out today and used my gift card from my parents for Canadian Tire. There were some things I had been wanting for my kitchen for awhile. First on the list was a new set of glasses. The ones I have currently are from the dollar store, and they wobble. It drives me crazy. I was able to find a really nice set of 16 for a cheap price of $20 (yay sales!). I was also able to find a really nice slow cooker on sale ($30), just big enough and fancy enough for what I would need...which isn't much. A wok was also added to the pile, and a bamboo spatula for it. It's not a top-of-the-line wok, its pretty cheap. But I didn't have one, and I like to make a lot of stir-frys. So it will do the job for now.

This is the glass set I got....square base with curved edges into a circle at the top. Its simple, but it will match everything and never go out of style. Just what I wanted.

And this is my new slow cooker! It even came with recipes to try!

Late Christmas presents, and free shopping for new kitchen toys...not a bad day at all! :D

weekend recap - Christmas

This weekend we celebrated our first Christmas together as a couple. Since Stephan was away in Germany last year, I don't count it because we weren't actually together physically, and didn't share any Christmas traditions.

I worked on Christmas eve until 2pm, then came home and showered. Stephan wanted a nice dinner, so we went out to get groceries and the very last of our Christmas gifts. For dinner I made a nice roast with potatoes and carrots, and we had a salad with Stephan's yummy salad dressing. After dinner, we opened our presents. We had decided to open them on Christmas Eve, as that is what they do in Germany.

From Stephan I got white puma running shoes (yay!! and I LOVE them). From my sister and her fiance I got a really nice dark grey long sleeved shirt. My brother gave me and Stephan a gift card for a restaurant. I got a stocking full of goodies from my parents, as well as a necklace and earrings and a really fancy frying-pan. I also got gift certificates for La Senza, Marks' work wearhouse, Chapters and Canadian Tire.

My new shoes. I think I have to get a half size smaller though, so I need to exchange them.

Stephan got deer sausage from my sister and Russ. Russ hunts, and we tried some of his deer sausage last year. It's delicious, and Stephan LOVES it. I normally don't eat any red meat, but Russ' deer sausage I'll eat. It's THAT good. You can't not eat it. Stephan also got a stocking from my parents, and gift cards for Mark's work warehouse (his favourite store), and Chapters.

Sunday we went to Church in the morning. We came home and had a bit of a lazy afternoon with a quick nap before we got ready to go over to my Cousin's for Christmas dinner. I had offered to make the spaetzle, and I prepared it at my apartment before we left. We had a wonderful evening with my cousins, and followed the awesome dinner up with The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Sunday we took the opportunity to sleep in. I badly need a day off sometime soon. :( We spent a bit of the day shopping and spending some of our gift cards, and I also bought new dress boots with some bonus money I got from Subway (A christmas bonus, who knew?!!). I got a great deal, gorgeous boots for $44!

These are my new boots! But, they are black. The top also rolls down. You wear them over the pants. They don't go so well underneath pants...I tried.

The rest of the day we spent lazing around. We rented a few movies and had a quiet night, as neither of us were feeling the greatest yesterday. And still today...I think we are both getting a bit of a cold.

How was your Christmas?

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with family and friends! Stay safe, have fun, eat lots, drink responsibly! And I hope you all get what you asked for, and more!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The weekend I washed my cell phone...

Friday night I finished my last night of piano teaching for the holiday season, the studio is closed for the next 2 weeks! Some of my students brought me presents: hand lotion (thank the lord! I live on this stuff now!), and Bailey's caramel chocolates (SOOO yummy!).

Saturday we slept in, had another pancake breakfast and did some laundry around the house. Stephan left to do some errands and Christmas shopping and I rushed to get the last of the house work and laundry done before the youth service and concert in the evening.

We keep our mattress on the floor, we didn't bring our bed frame out with us. And we have no night stand. My cell serves as my alarm clock, so I keep it under my pillow beside me as I sleep. Well, I forgot this as I grabbed the bedsheets and put them in the washing machine. I discovered my cell when I was putting the sheets in the dryer, and realized it must have gotten caught up in the blankets and I didn't notice. Man, was I TICKED at myself. I rushed to get out the door sooner, so I could replace it on the way to the concert. I needed a cell phone, as I have applied for a few jobs and could get called for an interview at any time. Thankfully, I was able to replace it relatively cheaply (once I get the mail-in rebate), and I didn't have to pay upfront. It will show up on my next bill! It was also time for an upgrade and to renew my contract anyways. But I'm still ticked at myself. What a STUPID mistake.

After the concert, I came home to find a Christmas package in the mail from my parents full of presents, which are now waiting under our tree to be opened. Later in the evening me and Stephan had our usual movie night and, as usual, I fell asleep 10 minutes into the movie. Can you tell I need a few days off?

Sunday was a lazy day. Church as usual, with a quick choir practice after. And then a lazy day at home.

How was your weekend?

GREAT NEWS!!

I've been waiting to tell this, until it was ok for me tell!

Last Sunday my sister, Meaghan, got engaged to her boyfriend Russ! CONGRATS TO BOTH OF THEM! I'm so very very happy for them! They also just got possession of their first house last weekend, so it was a very big important week for them. I know they will have a wonderful Christmas as a newly engaged couple in their beautiful new house!

New Years 2008/2009

The Engagement Ring

Sorry its not the clearest picture, but its the best I have!

So, congrats to my beautiful little sister on her engagement! I'm so happy that you found such a wonderful guy, and I know that the two of you will be truly happy. CONGRATULATIONS MEAGHAN AND RUSS!

Done and finished!

This week has been busy, but productive! And I am happy to say that I am now done all my Christmas projects! Last weekend I mailed the blanket, it will be late but oh well. It is done. This week I finished the 2 scrapbooks for my Omi and Grandma, as well as bought my family their presents, and did all my Christmas cards (outside of Calgary) and sent everything in the mail today!

SUCCESS!!

I will finally, FINALLY have time to do other things like read, play my keyboard, work on my oboe-reeds, do some Christmas baking, work on puzzles. I have not read anything in over 2 months, its been consumed with the blanket and 4 scrapbooks.

ALSO, my skin has found relief from the dry air here in the form of THIS lotion:

Stephan's family suffers from dry skin, this is what they use. He has the German version, it has only 3% Urea, so that is what I'm using. The one in the pic is the Canadian version (10% Urea), since its so much colder and dryer here. But already, with just the 3% one it has worked wonders on my skin! In one week the red marks from the cold on my legs are fainter, and my hands are soft again, and the bumps on my arm are almost gone and getting smoother as well. After 1 week!!!
I thought all hope was gone, and I was almost starting to hate winter (a FIRST for me!) but now I can enjoy winter because I have this miracle lotion! And I have to thank Stephan, or he'd make me go back and edit this post and write it in. He wants to be clear that it is HE who gave me the miracle lotion and saved my skin from the Calgary winters. So thank you babe, my hero!

Now its time for the weekend! Tomorrow night I teach, and then probably we will be at the German club. I have a Christmas youth service and concert on Saturday that I'm helping out my cousin Rachel with. Sunday is just relaxing after church.

What are your plans for the weekend?

weekend recap

This weekend was AWESOME!

Friday night we had a nice relaxing evening. Some of my piano students canceled so I got home early. We spent the night just watching tv and relaxing.

Saturday we slept in, and then had a pancake breakfast. We got ready and set out to go pick out our Christmas Tree. I found a garden centre near our house, as we had decided on a real one. I have never had a real one before so this was to be a first to me.

We picked out our tree...a Nova Scotia Balsam Fir...

Then they cut the end off, and pulled it through this thing to wrap it up....I was fascinated.

Then we headed off to buy decorations, and grab groceries (including a new roasting pan to replace the broken one I have, so I could make Stephan a roast for dinner Saturday night).

We got home and set up the tree...And fed it some sugar-water....
I got the roast in the oven, then Stephan helped me put the lights on the tree...
And then I decorated! The finished product!
We put on coloured lights (Stephan's choice), and did blue, silver, white and teal-coloured balls. I was really excited for this tree, as it is mine and Stephan's first tree and first Christmas together (last year he was in Germany for Christmas). It kinda marks the beginning of our life together, and now we get to start our own memories and traditions, so I was really excited for it!

I think I could get used to a real tree every year. I really like it so far, it smells AWESOME!

The tree was followed by a delicious dinner and movies.

Sunday was lazy, and we had leftovers and watched The Blind Side. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you must! I loved it. It's on my must-buy list.

How was your weekend?!

Winter and Christmas in Northern Ontario.

I'm homesick for Northern Ontario in the winter and at Christmas time. And my tummy is upset. And that makes the homesickness worse.

So today, I'm gonna show you what Northern Ontario looks like in the winter. And then I'll sit and look at the pictures wondering why I left this place in the first place, and I'll blame Stephan for dragging me out here. Not that I don't like it! It's just not...home. Plus, Northern Ontario has bass-fishing. Alberta does not. Alberta can never win. You don't know what you're missing until you've caught some bass and BBQ-ed it in foil with lemon juice, garlic, pepper and dill.......oh my gosh the deliciousness!! I die a thousand deaths with every bite, its THAT GOOD!

Anyways, I digress! Let me show you the beauty of snowy Northern Ontario. It includes things like hiking, ice fishing, and pond hockey. Be warned...there will be lots of photos. As always! (There's just too many to choose from, and I want to do it ALL today, not break it up!)

We get to play on the frozen lake

and make slides down the hill to the lake

the horses get to play too!

walking down trails, with lots of pretty views

The lake freezes over

and kids play pond hockey
and the huts come out for ice-fishing

Man, do I ever miss it!!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Today is the 7th, which means its the time of month I get to buy flowers again! This month, it being Christmas and all, I bought some poinsettias.


Also on the Christmas topic...my Mom's Christmas village is done being set up...what my dad would let her set up anyways. He totally bogart-ed the Christmas village and barely let my mom do anything. And he tries to claim he's a scrooge. DENIAL DAD, DENIAL! (Me and Mom were making fun of my Dad, over the phone, for being a fake scrooge. Dad was in the background denying everything and threatening to take away my Christmas presents, haha!!) Anyways, my dad still wants to build the stone steps up to the church, but other than that it's done.
Take a look:

This weekend, we get to go pick out our tree! Stephan finally convinced me to get a real one. I'm so excited to decorate my-first-ever-very-own-Christmas Tree!!! YAY!!

weekend recap

This weekend was really nice!

Friday after I finished work we headed to the German club for some table tennis. It was good to see everyone, we hadn't been in a few weeks.

Saturday was busy. I had to work that morning, as my boss was on holidays and we had a huge order for 125 subs. Luckily I only had to work until 11:30 am...although I had to start at 6:30am, my normal time but on a Saturday that is gross! I came home and the plumber was at work fixing our shower and kitchen sink, FINALLY! It has been one on-going problem. He got it fixed, although it took a few hours. We got ready then to go off to baby sit for the evening.

We watched Mikayla and Ethan, 2 absolutely adorable kids from my church. We are good friends with their parents. I made them spaghetti for dinner, Mikayla was my little helper! After dinner, Mikayla and Ethan wrestled with Stephan. Mikayla also had a tea party with Stephan, and painted his toe-nails...on one foot only before Stephan made her stop. HAHA!
We made cookies with the kids, Mikayla was my helper again.
We wrapped up the evening watching a movie with the kids while we waited for their mom to get home.

Sunday was church, and then later in the evening we had a congregational outing to go see the zoolights at the Calgary Zoo! They had lights decorated all over the entire zoo, and lots of things for the kids to do. It was really neat, I definitely would go back to check it out and would recommend it to others!

You can check out a link for the zoolights here: Calgary Zoo Lights.

It was a great weekend, but very busy and over too quickly. How was your weekend?!

The Finished Blanket!

The blanket is back, the backing is on!! All ready to be mailed!!

Check it out!

The Fake Scrooge

My dad denies liking Christmas. He says he's a scrooge and walks around going "bah-humbug" to anything Christmas related. He complains when there are Christmas songs on.
Each year, he puts up the lights outside earlier and earlier. He says its because he wants to get it done before the snow.

I don't believe a word of it. I think he's a bigger Christmas freak than even me and my mom, he just doesn't want to admit it.

But now finally I have proof!! Last year at Christmas time my Dad was studying my Mom's HUGE Christmas village, and decided it wasn't realistic. "How can there be a church up on the hill with no steps or way to get to it?!" he said.

Well this year he decided that he was going to fix this problem and build a stone wall and steps for my Mom's Christmas village. For the past week and a half, he spent several hours each day building the wall , individual stone by stone (steps are still to come!!!)!

This is the result so far, minus the steps.



Well Dad, I think you blew your cover. Its official, you are a fake-scrooge. The game is over! You LOVE Christmas. This Christmas village is now official proof!

And December starts....

Well, December is off with a bang!

To start with, we spoke to Stephan's lawyer. They had to re-do the entire process from scratch. But, the job ad needed for the LMO has been completed and posted for the required time. Now they are filling out the application for the actual LMO. The lawyer is very positive that it should go through no problem right now. They are expecting the application to take 4-5 weeks. Stephan's deadline is January 26. If, for some reason the LMO takes longer and is held up, Stephan can apply to stay as a visitor and that will give him 6 more months and allow him to stay here while the process is being completed.
Fingers crossed that the LMO doesn't take longer! I just really want this whole process to be over with, its exhausting worrying about it!

Second, I got a call on Tuesday and Wednesday I had a job interview!! FOR TEACHING!!! Its a 0.5 (half-time) position, from January until June (could go longer), for music K-grade 5. However, its a bit of a drive. Its over in a little town called High River, about 15 minutes from Okotoks. From where I live, its about a 50 minute drive (no traffic). But, its a start! And the school and staff seemed really nice.

I should find out next week if I got the job or not, fingers crossed! I would really like the position. I'm just happy I at least got an interview.

Blanket update!

So, I stayed up late last night finishing the blanket, and getting it ready for my manager at work to put the backing on. Then I woke up and noticed I missed a spot out-lining (on the big lion's back leg), but it still looks ok. I fixed it, but this picture was taken before I fixed it.

Don't worry, I will show a picture of the blanket once it has the backing on, complete with the fixed out-lining. For the backing me and Stephan choose a light blue fleece that is super soft, and it matches the blue border around each animal.

By Friday, I will have the finished product!! Can't wait to see how it looks with the backing on!

weekend recap

I know its a day late, but I was up super late last night finishing the blanket. Update on that later.

This weekend was busy! Friday I worked on my scrapbooks (the 2 that are being sent to Germany anyways). I also gave Stephan an early Christmas present that night....a new camera! He'd been wanting one, his other had broke and he was planning on going out to buy one so he would have something to take pictures with on Saturday. Saturday morning we went Christmas shopping and then later we checked into the hotel and got ready for Stephan's work party.

It was very formal...they even had a red-carpet with a photographer taking pictures just like movie stars. Seating was prearranged, but when it came time to sit down someone had moved our name tags and we couldn't find our seat anywhere. So we were invited to sit down and eat at the same table as the president of the company. VERY nerve-wracking! I am not the most eloquent person, and I'm a bit of a klutz. I was very tense the whole time.

Once the formal part was over, the fun began. Drinks were all included, and there was a dance. It was really nice for Stephan because he got to see all his buddies from work, especially since he hasn't seen them since he had to stop working. All of them were asking when he would be coming back. It was also nice to put faces to names. All of the guys he works with are super nice and cool. I had a lot of fun hanging out with them, and talking with some of the girlfriends. Dancing was a blast! Its been a long time since I've been out dancing.

We were up pretty late though. Sunday morning we checked out, and then went home and crashed for another 3/4 hours. I then spent the rest of the afternoon finishing the scrapbooks and working on the blanket.

That was our weekend!

My Christmas wishlist

It was decided and announced to my parents this week that we will be staying in Calgary for Christmas. Sadly, we just can't afford to go home at this point, especially since the cost just skyrockets at Christmas time.

So I decided to make a wishlist, since my presents and stuff will have to be mailed. Please consult with Stephan, I don't know what he's getting! haha.

1.) White Puma running shoes.
I have shoes for when we go walking, but they are not stylish and pretty. I need something to wear everyday with my jeans that looks good....maybe not in purple. Or maybe purple. I don't know. But definitely white!

2.) A new Habs jersey - women's fitted style! Size medium...I think. You can put on Koivu's name, even though he's no longer a Hab...he's still my captain. Or Markov (love him!). Or Plekanek (also love him!).

3.) A Habs liscense plate for the front of my car...its empty! I couldn't find a picture, sorry!

4.) Habs 10-greatest games DVD Box set. Ok, SERIOUSLY people...this has been on my wishlist for the past 2 years!! AND, the movie The Rocket. I have a burned copy, but its not very good quality.


5.) Gift Certificates for Canadian Tire, or The Great Canadian Superstore (part of Loblaw's chain for you Ontario people).
I need to buy new glasses for my kitchen. Currently I have ones from the dollar store, and some old ones someone gave me. The latter are breaking slowly and I'm down to 2. And the dollar store ones...well, they're just not nice.
I also need to purchase a new roasting pan, since the lining in my current one is chipping off. Ohh!! And I would love a slow cooker! I want to make soup!

6.) Socks. Seriously.
Warm wool ones for when it gets cold.
And everday ones...I like fun socks. If they are fun Christmas socks, EVEN BETTER!

7.) Gift cards in general.
Stores I like are: Smart Set, Le Chateau, La Senza (hey, bras are expensive!) Aldo, Spring, RW & Co, Coles/Indigo/Chapters ( I love to read!) Future Shop and Blockbuster (we like to rent/buy movies a lot).

NEW HAIRCUT part 2

Ok, so I went back today and had them cut in some bangs. I decided I just look better with the side-angled bangs. I'm really glad I did, because now it looks complete!

Here's a pic...you can't see the highlights very well (they are subtle, I wanted the natural instead of chunky look), but its a richer brown with a red tone to it. I guess that would be more low-lights then high-lights? I don't know....


Voila! I kept it long, let's go long for awhile this time...

NEW HAIRCUT!

Ok, so I don't have the best picture of it. I basically got it trimmed, and they did something to the layers and cut it in a certain way so that the ends flip under on their own and I don't have to do mass-straightening on my hair. Low-maintenance, hooray!! I also got highlights....a rich brown with a reddish tone to it. I love it, I think it turned out great!

AND, since it was the highschool cosmotology unit the grand total was $25.

Here's a pic, it doesn't show the colour well. Should I have gotten angled bangs? Hmm....I wonder.....

Ok...so blogger is being dumb with the photo-uploader. I will try again later! Sorry!

weekend recap and monday musings

Well, the weekend just flew by!

Friday I worked my two jobs as usual, then we just spent the night in because it was so cold outside!
Saturday was busy, we slept in a bit and then hit the mall. I was in search of a long-sleeved shirt for work, because our boss still has the air conditioning on. And I was also in need of a dress, as next weekend is Stephan's work party and it was changed from semi-formal to formal. I got a great deal at smart set for $55, plus a belt for $20. Its great for the party, but not too formal that I can't wear it to other places like church. I still need shoes for it, but that will have to wait and will probably be last minute on Saturday, as I will be working on finishing the blanket and scrapbooks this week. I also had a choir practice for the youth on Saturday evening. Stephan kindly drove me down to the south end, and then picked up groceries while he was waiting for me. We had a late dinner (home made stew, yummy!) and then some movies.

Sunday I had church, and then spent the rest of the day picking out choir and congregation songs for December, and working on my blanket.

I made the mistake of NOT washing my new work shirt...and combined with my really dry skin from this winter weather, it gave me a huge rash all over my arms. FUN.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to get my hair cut and highlighted! Super excited! It is WAY over due. I'm going to a high-school (their Cosmotology) to get it done SUPER CHEAP. The girl who works next door to my work got her hair done there and it looks fabulous. So I thought why not? I've had bad haircuts, and learned anything can be fixed. I'm certain it will turn out great!

A letter

Dear Mother Nature,

I just love all this snow you've been dumping on this week (seriously Mother Nature, I'm NOT being sarcastic). And while I love the snow and I don't wish to complain (because I'm afraid you'll send a warm chinook wind to take the snow away), can I ask you to please please PLEASE send me some packing snow? The reasons would be two-fold:

1.) Packing snow means I could build a snowman, a snowfort, make a snowball.....that I WILL NOT throw at Stephan's head.

2.) Packing snow means kinda wet-snow, which means MOISTURE and HUMIDITY! My skin is sure taking a beating from the desert dry winters you have out here, its ridiculous. I have to moisurize 3 times a day, and my skin is STILL dry.

So, dear Mother Nature, SEND ME SOME PACKING SNOW!! Please and thank you.

-Jessica

Our first snowstorm!

Last night, it snowed! Inches of it! It snowed all today and it will continue to snow all week!!
WINTER IS FINALLY HERE!

I'm so excited! Sadly, its not packing snow so no snowman or snowangel yet. But I'm waiting, and ready! ...It may also have taken me longer to walk to work today because I was playing in the snow as I walked. Note to self, I should leave 10 minutes earlier for work tomorrow.

We knew this storm was coming, so I decided to do all my errands last night so I could stay at home tonight. WAY too many stupid drivers out there that could potentially hit my car. People forget how to drive in the snow for the first snow-storm. In fact, some people drive like they have never seen snow before. It never fails, every year. Same thing.

But boy, what a day today was! I walked to work, got inside and turned the alarm off. Then I discovered I had dropped my house keys somewhere! Either in front of the door, where I had gone to put them in my purse after locking the door, or when I had taken my cell-phone out of my purse to make a call on my way to work. I hoped it was the first situation. I had an extra set on my car keys, but sadly it didn't have a copy of my garage key (which means access to my car!!). Panicking, I called my boss and explained the situation, asking if she could come in to cover for me while I retraced my steps to look for my keys. Since I live so close by, she said I had permission to open the store late while I went to look for my keys. I never walked home and back so fast: 20 minutes and I was opening the store! And happily, I found my keys! I opened the store up about 15/20 minutes late, but easily caught up since it was quiet.

Thankfully I have such a nice boss!! I think some Swiss chocolate as a thank-you are in order!

Oh, and here are some pictures of winter I promised (I just snapped them quick from my back porch, so they are not the best):