in the yard

Or as I've been calling it, the domain. Cleo spends 15 minutes or so a day taking a tour of her domain and making sure everything is in order. I water plants, drink coffee and take pictures. Here are a few...

The toad who lives under the stairs.

Cleo on the prowl.

Garden consists of 1 mint, 1 tomato and 2 beans.
All growing like crazy!

Eddie the rain barrel goldfish, stalking a bug.

instant summer

Two weeks ago, when Alison was visiting, it snowed. Today it is +30 with a humidex warning. Crazy. But apparently this "isn't normal." That's what everyone said about the winter as well. At least a May heat wave can't be blamed on me. More than one person told me I'd brought Manitoba winter with me. As if I'd do that!

Cleo and I have been enjoying lots of time in the back yard. Things will be stupidly busy as of Monday so trying to relax a little on my last couple of days off. Her routine is: eat grass, throw up, lounge and occasionally show too much interest in a bumble bee. My routine is: find a shady spot and read books for pleasure, while keeping one eye on Cleo.

chowin' down!

happy 11th birthday to my fabulous niece!

Who made me this mug for Christmas! I enjoy tea every afternoon with Lexi.

june theme song

Not the greatest video but hard to find Roots Roundup on the web. Definitely brings back some memories but more currently, spending a lot on time on my trusty Trek and loving it. Except for going over my handlebars today. Wasn't hurt, other than some minor scrapes, but dignity seriously wounded.

June has been a busy and actually fairly eventful month, which is why this is the only post. Name change became official so have been spending a great deal of time getting all my ID updated. Got accepted to the MLIS program at Western, so generally getting my ducks in a row. Which includes fixing stuff in the house, meeting with our financial dude, applying for scholarships, etc.

Did take a break for the annual sister's weekend at Crooked Mountain. Every year we always say that we hope we see something. Something does not include: cows, crows, seagulls, Canada geese, squirrels or gophers. Last year we saw a fox kit who kindly posed for us until Ali got a dozen or so fantastic shots. This year we saw a ruby throated hummingbird and a great grey owl. Neither were particularly interested in having their picture taken but she still got 'em.

Also keeping on top of World Cup though not finding the time to watch many games. Really sorry I missed the Brazil-Chile game today. But knew who had won when people started driving through the Village, honking horns and waving green flags. And then the same again with Columbia.

And LASTLY, since it has been raining tons and keeping me indoors, I've become completely sucked into these books and spending all my last scraps of time on the sofa, totally absorbed.

Next month.... probably more of the same and then my nephews arrive! Yay!

vernal equinox

I'm stalling. It is gorgeously sunny and as long as I stay inside, drinking the amazing coffee my sister brought back from Costa Rica, I can pretend that it is actually a nice day. And not minus 33 with the wind chill. With a big pile of snow to shovel. *sigh*

I can only stall for so long because my pooch really does need a walk. *sigh*

I have so many things to do indoors that it is easy to stay in my jammies drinking coffee. Like applying for more jobs, putting together a feedback form for the workshop last Friday, cleaning the house, eating cookies (thanks Mama!), listening to Q and trying to figure out how the new Ikea bathroom cupboard goes together.

But then there is this....

takemeouttakemeouttakemeouttakemeout

One more cup of coffee, then I'll put on long johns, parka, scarf, big mitts, toque, Sorels and we'll go. Happy spring, everyone! *sigh*

pros and cons

Five good things about the frigid temperatures:

1. Yesterday I arrived at my house at the exact same moment as the Jehovah Witnesses. But because I was wearing my burka - er - parka, I was able to walk right past them without them recognizing me.
2. It's sunny! It's sunny! Hurray!
3. I like sleeping in socks with lots of heavy blankets.
4. Coffee tastes even better than usual when I have my hands wrapped around the mug.
5. Lexi enjoys winter and it is nice to have an enthusiastic companion when I head out doors.

Five bad things about the frigid temperatures:

1. My poor chapped hands. :[
2. It is nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning, what with all those blankets weighing me down.
3. The wind really does a number on my eyes. And the constant tearing really does a number on my cheeks. Bought facial oil today!
4. Despite my enthusiastic companion, I don't really want to go outside. But because of her, I have to.
5. Our heating bill will be through the roof.

Aforementioned enthusiastic companion...

minus 27 (minus 37 with the windchill)

But it's not the weather that's making Lexi and I feel grouchy. Nope. We're totally prepared for the weather. The problem is that Alpha Dog has mysteriously disappeared. Lexi figured out that there is a gaping hole in the hierarchy when he didn't return home two nights ago and we've been battling for top position ever since. It's making me a bit crazy. Hoping she figures out that I'm the new alpha soon. Because I am. Hmph.

beautiful day

Frost, fog and big, fluffy flakes. Of course, that also meant no sunshine but nice to have a break from the extreme cold.

you know it's cold out when...

Woke up to -34 with the windchill. Has since warmed up to a balmy -26. Quite the shock to my system after three weeks of beautiful weather in New York. I can no longer pretend that it is fall.

This was the scene in the house at 11 o'clock this morning. Very much wishing I was curled up with my tail over my nose as well.

Rufus in front of the heat vent. 

Cleo snoring. Literally.

Lexi in the smallest ball possible.

wildlife of manitoba

My sister is posting pictures of Manitoba wildlife over at her blog, so I thought I'd post a few here as well...

cheeky squirrel and oblivious cat

orb weaving spider in our garage

painted lady at pinawa

lexi leaping (okay.... not exactly wildlife
but she is pretty wild and crazy!)

and speaking of endearing....

Happy 4th birthday to Lexi. Our Poodle. Our Doggles. Our pretty girl. You can tell from the photo that she not digging the party hat but I told her to sit and stay, so she patiently did until I took the picture. She really is such a good dog!

the pack

Reading Sharp Teeth, a modern epic poem about werewolves. Surrounded by dogs. Hoping I'm pack leader.

ever wonder what your pets do when you're not at home?

Not us. Our dog does chores. Like sorting the laundry.

a really cool thing happened while walking the dog this morning

We were walking down the back lane (less mosquitos that way) and a crow that was on the hydro wire started cawing at two crows eating garbage on the ground. I happen to know that all these crows are named Sam (moniker given by my neighbour, Jen, who can't tell them apart), and that they nested in a tree on my block. One of them is a juvenile, which I know by the colour of its eyes and the way the other two treat it.

This morning, the two crows on the ground lifted up to the wire before I could figure out which was which. But I knew who Daddy Sam was because I stopped Lexi so that I could look at them, and he started crying like a baby. Like a human baby. Was the most surreal thing to hear that sound coming out of his beak.

Last week, Jen told me that Daddy Sam had been barking at her cat. It sounded so much like a small dog that she at first couldn't figure out why a dog was up a tree. Unfortunately for Sam, Jen's cat is deaf, so his amazing ability to mimic was lost on the cat.

I have long loved crows, but have had very little real experience with them. Almost had a nest outside my bedroom window once, but one crow was killed by a car before eggs were laid. Read Crow Planet earlier this year, and wished I could have a relationship with a crow like the author had. Then again, I know two people who have been pooped on by crows...

The Nature of Things had a fantastic documentary on crows earlier this year, which you can watch online if you are inclined. I liked walking under the crows this morning knowing that they would remember me and my dog, and be able to pick me out of a crown next time they see me. I'm probably more known to them than they are to me.

Even if you are a crow hater (and there are many of those in the world), you have to agree they are interesting and incredible birds. I offer Betty as proof:

pooped pup

Lexi after her first day at dog daycare*:

*Feeling like a bit of a DINK, minus the income. Actually took a little bag with "Lexi's lunch" written on it. A bit ridiculous, but she needed her lunch! And daycare is really good for her with O away. Not fair to have her crated all summer, even if I'm embarrassed that I'm buying into the dog culture.

poor, poor lexi

This was taken a week ago, after Lexi met a porcupine at Beaudry Park. Twenty quills in all. Six in the nose (including two up the nose), and fourteen in the paws. Two of them broke off, which meant a trip to the vet today for extraction. The went in the bottom and came out the top, which is pretty surreal, and I'm trying not to think about it too much.

If I were a betting man (you know what I mean), I'd wager a large sum that she did not learn her lesson. We did, however, and all future hikes will include leather gloves and needle nose pliers!

we have such a good dog

She's crazy, she nibbles on things she shouldn't, and she won't quit pulling on her leash. But she's happy, she likes the cats, she loves us and she's oh, so patient.

Our pup, Lexi