See ya later!

We're officially, sort of moved :) We will be completely moved tomorrow. This is my least favorite part of moving... being half here and half there. BUT it will be over soon!
We still don't know when the site survey dude is going to show up, so who knows how long we'll be without internet.
Next time you hear from me I'll be in full farm mode. Up to my knees in chicken shit... or horse shit... or bull shit :) bahhahaaaaa. I know I'm not funny. I'm just tired.
See ya later alligators!

Any bridge builders out there?

I have to fix a bridge.... I'm not sure how yet. I know I can look it up online, or get a book or whatever, but if there are any bridge builders out there who know a thing or two and would LOVE to pass on some wisdom, just let me know.
It can't be that hard... right???

The bridge in question. (Apparently beavers stole the other half).

Ahhhhhh, the snow

In the midst of moving some things out to the new house we decided to take a break for some fun. Nyla and I explored a good chunk of the farm, and also had a great attempt at tobogganing. Unfortunately the snow was too deep, but we still enjoyed playing around.

Next week we officially move. We'll be without internet for a couple of weeks while we wait for some dude to come out and do a site survey. Apparently if they can see the tower we can get wireless out there... otherwise its the dreaded dial up.

We have a new number already. We never seem to be able to catch the 'post office' open (Its actually just someone's house) so we don't have a new mailing address yet. I'll be sending out an email with the new info before we go. I love village life :)


Trying to make a snow angel...

Nyla the great explorer.



Nyla's Aunty Ashley got her this little duck in the bunny suit. It quacks a crazy little song... she loves it.

While I was packing Nyla discovered an old pillow of mine. I've had this thing for YEARS! It's a massive king sized, down pillow that she has now claimed as her own big body pillow. She lays on it, stretches out and goes 'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh'. What a cutie :) Anyway, you can see a corner of it in the pic.

My two cents

We watched 'The Golden Compass' tonight. Now, I know this movie (and book the movie is based on), has received a lot of bad press due to the 'religious' undertones. I've heard people call it 'poison for children' and have gone as far as to say that it is used to brainwash children in order to keep them from believing in God.
These kinds of claims drive me up the wall.

I haven't read the books, (Philip Pullman is the author) but I do plan to. I don't care that he is an athiest, I don't care if his beliefs, or lack there of are present in his novels. We all have a choice to look for the 'good' or 'evil' in everything. I can't believe that watching this movie or reading this book would shake someones faith to the point where they feel it must be boycotted in order to save the minds of our children. PLEEEEASE!

It might comfort some people to hide in a bubble of their spirituality but what does that REALLY accomplish? We can hide from things that scare us, or challenge us, or we can deal with them. What does it teach children when we bury our heads in the sand when we think something is scary, or we don't agree with or understand it? Why not teach our children to use their brains to tell the difference between fantasy and reality? Why not give our kids the tools they need to weigh what they see, hear, experience etc so they can work through what they believe?
If its important to believe in God, I happen to think think its important to know why and what we believe. Hiding teaches us nothing.
Just because someone points at something and calls it 'bad' it doesn't make it true.

In my opinion, this is just another movie about the ever present battle between good and evil... not that different from the Chronicles of Narnia, or The Lord of the Rings trilogy. (I personally wouldn't watch any of them with young children because they all have scary bits that are just too much for little ones). I really enjoyed it. I found it very interesting and entertaining.

My opinions are never popular so I don't doubt that a lot of you will disagree with me. I'm ok with that. One great thing about growing up is that I've realized that I can believe what I believe and let you believe what you believe. We don't have to agree on everything in order to be friends.

That's my rant for today... now its time for bed :) Goodnight all.

Here's a short clip so you know what I'm talking about if you've never heard of this movie...

Joni is a super hero

I need to say a big thanks to Joni for hearing my lament of no cardamom and being kind enough to rectify that for me.
Ever since reading Christy's post about chai I've been dying for some. I can't find cardamom anywhere around here, and I can't make it without cardamom... so I was bummed.
Now super Joni made my day. THANK YOU! You truly rock the jukebox!

Moving day is approaching (22nd). I'm still incredibly excited, but did find out that highspeed is not available out there.
We're looking into some other options, but if we decide to just go back to dial up the blog will be exploded into nothingness because nothing ever works right with dial up. In that case, I guess we'll have to go back to regular phone communication (and we all know how great I am at keeping in touch...).
So once I email our new number, feel free to call for updates if you haven't heard from us in ages. I promise to try hard to be better at keeping in touch... really, I'm telling the truth... REALLY!

The amazing swelling face...

So, apparently its common to devolp allergies when you're an adult... WHO KNEW! Not me that's for sure.
Last night my bro's girlfriend (Ashley) was over. We had dinner and were happily munching on some strawberries when all of a sudden my scalp started itching. I didn't think much of it... it was weird but not alarming. Then my neck was really itchy and my lips felt funny. I went to the bathroom and freaked the hell out of myself when I looked in the mirror. My face and neck were insane... (apparently Ashley didn't notice that my face had swollen to ginormous proportions because she was sitting beside me and we were watching T.V). I was about as sexy as Will Smith in the picture below.

I called the Nurses line, and of course they told me to call 911... Well, by the time we got to the hospital my throat was closing and I was trying to rip my skin off it was soooo bloody itchy. It was kind of funny now that I look back on it. It reminded me of a Monty Python doctor sketch... maybe it was just because I was in a panic, but it seemed like a freaking nut house. Ashley was holding my hands trying to keep me from ripping my skin off and I was swearing like a sailor at everyone. Then of course they tell you that they're going to shove needles into your butt cheek... so I stood up and bared my arse for the world to see (nothing new for me I guess) and because I was still panicking I set off the heart rate alarm. If you ever want a lot of attention at a hospital, set off the heart rate alarm.

Anyway, I left drugged up. Slept like a log for HOURS and am completely fine. Its probably the stuff they spray on the strawberries (just another reason to go completely organic). I'm not going to eat strawberries again unless they come from my own garden. Too bad, I love strawberries...

The morals of this story?? First, when they tell you to call 911 listen to them. Second, that spray stuff is evil. It doesn't come off with normal washing. I'd suggest firebombing your fruit to clean it from now on if you don't buy organic. :)

Evil Bastards.........

Moving???

So, we're supposed to be moving very soon... VEEERRRY soon. I meant to get some packing done today, but instead Nyla and I decided we needed to have some fun. She loves to play with my hair - put clips in it etc. I help her get stuff into hers and she instantly starts tugging them out.
You can't see my amazing hairdo in this shot, but you can see part of hers. What a cutie.


And I guess she did help us pack a bit :)

Grrrrrrrrrrr

This is the kind of night where I want to curl up with one of my all time favorite movies and enjoy a nice quiet(ish) evening... there's only one problem... all of my 'all time favorite movies' have magically disappeared. I'm not sure how it happened. I don't watch movies often so it could have been ages since I actually had them.
H'mmm foggy memories are coming back... I know where a couple of them are, but if anybody out there has my copy of 'This is my Father', please send it back to me. I'm having a hell of a time finding a new one.

Anyway, just because I miss them, here are a few of my favorites (this list is mostly chick flicks because that's what I feel like watching right now).
Not many people share my taste in movies, and I get a LOT of flack for 'Hideous Kinky' - even though it really is a great one. Totally not hideous OR kinky...
Now that I started this I can think of at least 5 more I reeeeaaaally like.
H'mmmm..... It's too hard to pick favorites because there are favorites in every genre. Now I'm babbling... OY! Can you tell I'm procrastinating? I'm supposed to be packing.


This Is My Father

Anne of Green Gables

Any of the 'Lethal Weapon' movies



Chocolat




Hideous Kinky



Sense and Sensibility

How I'm staying sane(ish)

I know myself well enough to know that I'm not a city person... I'm not even a town person. I need trees, need nature, and I go MENTAL if I can't be surrounded by nature on a regular basis.
This summer was pretty insane due to many different issues, so we didn't get to do nearly as much hiking, camping etc as we wanted too... But I remember this one hike... I was so stressed out over things that were happening with my family. For me, being surrounded by trees is soooooo calming. I feel like I can breathe and relax... Its hard to explain unless you're the same kind of person, but I just remember stepping into a clearing and knowing that I needed to be there. Again, hard to explain, and it might sound like I'm a crazy hippie...
Now, I'm close to being at my breaking point again, and its sooo fricken freezing outside. I can't get out with Nyla because its just too cold. So I stay sane by looking at some of my favorite pictures.
I absolutely can't wait to move onto the farm. Its like a little magic kingdom... I can't wait to share pics :) We're going to be having a work bee to get the farm and gardens to where they can be used, so if anyone needs to take a 'vacation' this spring (ha ha, vacation as in... work your butt off) let me know!! I'll even cook (don't let that scare you away, I'm actually a very good cook now).

Anyway, I hope if you're needing a breather these pictures help a little bit.
I stole them all from the internet... I'm not this talented with a camera.

My dream house