The Pot Hole, now THAT is a Common Weed!!

I love Daisies.

They make me smile giving me a warm happy feeling inside.
Simple yet elegant.
I have, or rather, had a small bunch growing by my front door so that when I came home it would instantly cheer me up.

After a knock on our door one morning which found a 'Weed Inspector' from the county on our front step changed all that in a matter of moments.

Leucanthemum vulgare is what she said we had.  A common weed.
I knew that it was a weed, vulgar it is not.  Dandelions, they to me should be labeled as such, not the pretty little Daisy.
The Daisy that made up the bulk of my wedding boquet those many years ago.

We were told that it had to be removed... our little bunch of daisies that have been growing at the side of our house for the last 15 to 20 years. 
Yes we live in a rural town not far from pasture fields, but far enough that my little bunch of Daisies would not creep there and take over... in fact they hadn't even crept their way into our front garden or the driveway.

So now my little bunch of daisies sit dying in a vase on my dining room table.  The weed inspector saving the day as she keeps our yards safe from these pests.

However it seems a sad strange world when there is someone who drives around making sure that our gardens are free from flowering weeds when the pot holes grow in large numbers along many of the county roads.

A Happy Ending

My boy is home for a weeks holiday making this Mommy a happy one.
However with only a week there are a few 'to do's' that must happen and one of those was Dad and Son heading out on the lake to go fishing.
With my girl off to the Stampede with a friend I was left alone with my fur kids for the day.

The 'Mum' in me decided it should be a day of baking so there could be treats for the family for the next week.

Door propped open with a rock the fur kids could come and go as they pleased while I kept busy in the kitchen.
I had purchased a couple of flower pots and was not in full trust that they would not pull them apart so I did head out a few times to see what they were up to and throw the ball for Rigby.

Dogs in and out, napping at my feet and sniffing up at the counter, it all seemed like a normal day, there was no indication to the adventure that was about to ensue.

I was just cleaning up from my latest batch of cookies and had a tray in the over with about 3 minutes left to go on the timer when Hubba popped in whining and seeming rather agitated.
Drying off my hands I threw my chore shoes on (which are loose and clumpy on my feet), stepped outside and called to the dogs... "hey puppies!!"

Nothing.

The yard was empty.
Void of dogs.

The gates were closed.

What the hey???

Walking around to the back of the yard I just about fell over.  Two fence boards had been ripped off the fence and a huge hole stood between the yard and freedom.
My guess was a cat happened to be on the other side resulting in the escape that was most likely all Penny's doing.

"Shit!!"  I stood staring at the newly created gate to the front yard frozen to the spot with my brain reeling with what I needed to do to bring all 5 dogs back by myself.

Running inside I grabbed their collars which of course they were not wearing (bloody hell), the leash and stopped to tie my shoes that were slopping about on my feet. 
Leaving the back door open I grabbed my cell phone and keys and took off outside calling all the dogs names while standing in the middle of the road.

Nothing, no sound, no sign of any dog.

I jumped into the truck and started off down the road hoping that I picked the right direction, the one we use to walk the dogs.
Nothing, no sign of them at all.

Why did this have to happen when I was at home alone?

I drove about 6 blocks or so when all of a sudden I see Hubba and Elly sniffing a backyard fence.
Leaping out of the truck (surprised I put it in park) I called to them both.  Nothing at first, but as soon as I dropped to my knees they both came over to me.
However without collars on I could only get a hold of one dog at a time.  So Elly was picked up and put into the back seat, but before I could close the door she had jumped out again.
This time I grabbed a collar and slipped it over her head and put her back in the truck.
Hubba in the meantime was running around the truck looking all pleased with himself.
Putting him in the truck was a different story.

Collar on his neck I put his front feet on the floor to the passenger side front seat then lifted his butt up into the truck.  He would not however step up so I had to lift all 90 pounds of him up onto the seat.

I flew home put the first two into the kennel in the yard, grabbed a few dog cookies and ran out once more.

I seriously didn't think I would get so lucky again, but lo and behold when I turned down the first street there was all three of my kids running back towards home (yes, this is what I am telling myself).
Jumping out of the truck and calling to them I watched in disbelief as they all ran right past me, not even glancing my way once!!
Again I dropped to my knees and called Rigby while showing him the cookie... he thought about running ahead but at the last second he changed his mind and came to me tail wagging with a big grin on his face.

One in the truck it was time to get the other two.

Rocky came to me next in the same way Rigby did.

Penny on the other hand wasn't as willing to get in the truck, but she did come to me when I called her, again squatting down to her level.

With all 5 dogs back in their kennels I went inside and dropped on the couch which was when I noticed that I was dripping in sweat.  No.  Not just dripping I was drenched.
I also had to take a few deep breaths to slow my heartbeat down to normal again.

After a calming break alone in my quiet living room (and finishing off the last couple batches of cookies) I head back outside with hammer and nails in hand to fix and make the fence escape proof once more.

I'm sure there was some form of guardian angel watching over me and the dogs this afternoon.
I feel very lucky to have all 5 of my kids back home safe and sound.

One thing is for sure. 

We are never going through that again!!

June is Finally Here!

FML

I've seen this three letter expression on some of my young friends posts on facebook lately.
It is usually followed after some announcement of a dropped cell phone in water, or missing a ride somewhere.  I've also seen it attached to a comment about how all their friends are out on a Saturday night and they are not.

Life is worth giving up after these events?

I've been feeling sorry for myself lately and find myself teetering on the edge of that black hole of depression once again.
So many 'unfortunate' events have taken place lately and have piled up and around me that at times I find if hard to breath.

Money is the at the centre of almost all of my woes and after reading yet another "I can't find my iplad, fml" post on a social media sight I took a wide eyed open look at my life.

Sure I do not have a vehicle once again and have to bum rides to my second job.
I've experienced the water shut off in my home.
And I now seriously wonder where the money is going to come from to continue my dream of the race in the Yukon next March to the point of it may not actually happen.

However
I have my health.
I did not lose my husband to a serious illness.
I still have a roof over my head.
And I have two jobs that I love.

There are others who would look at my 'fml' posts and shake their heads at my troubles with the thought of, "you should try walking in my shoes"

I made a comment recently about how May can go 'Suck It" as I was ready to move on to a better month.

Well here I come June.
Let's see if we can move on and remember what we have rather than what we could have.

Time to be Happy... and Just DO IT

I've been itching....

.... to be creative.

....................... to create.

My scrapbooking corner calls to me daily, yet I walk up to it to only stand there staring with no intention of sitting down to begin work.

My journal and pen have also been crying to be picked up.  Millions of random thoughts have been pushing their way to the tips of my finger tips with the nerve endings twitching and pushing to get me writing these thoughts down.

I have opened my book, scrawled a few lines down, but end up closing it opting for a sudoku puzzle that lays close by instead.

I have however begun running again and it is wonderful.
Running with my girl three times a week in the early mornings as the world around us wakes to a new day.
There is a huge need to get myself in shape this summer and ready for the training season this fall with my dogs.  One that will take on a whole new meaning with our big race looming next March.
Confidence soars through me as I feel fit and ready to take on this challenge.

At the conclusion of my last run on Friday I found myself staring at my watch after I had reset it from interval training to the regular clock.  The seconds were ticking away and I couldn't take my eyes off of the numbers.
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08..... on and on and on.
Seconds to minutes never stopping.

A sense of panic settled low in the pit of my stomach at how quickly times moves along.
I wanted it to stop, if only for a moment so I could catch my breath.

While watching the numbers tick along it felt as though I could feel the moments pushing their way past me knocking me over along the way. 
Reaching out trying to grab hold of it bringing it close and soothing time, "hush, shhhh, it's okay you don't need to be in such a hurry."
There was nothing to grasp onto as the moments rushed forward disappearing forever into the future.

Standing up I turned the watch away from me, brushed myself off and with a new determination in my step it was decided that these moments should not be wasted.
All this precious time must be used to my best advantage..... to live for the moment..... and in my moments I have decided to choose happiness.

With all the crap that has settled in the corners of my life it is easy to be brought down to sadness, frustration and mind numbing depression.
Yet with time rushing past at such an incredible speed I don't want to lose the opportunity to be happy.... carefree... doing things that I have only dreamed about.

I am going to live to my fullest.

AND I challenge everyone to join me.

Stand tall, smile and lets move forward doing the things we love with the people that we love.

The Percy and the Yukon calls to me.
I can do this.
I will do this.
I WANT to do this.

Mothers Day Past

My babies are all grown up.
Travelling paths that they seek out on their own.

My boy lives 3475 km or 33 hours from me.
My girl lives at home for the time being with big plans that include Indonesia, Russia and then ending up in Ontario.

I miss them when they were little... the home made Mothers Day cards with painted finger prints turned into flower petals, jumping into bed with me in the morning all excited to give me their creations.

This morning I was up early to greet my fur kids in the yard.  I was showered in wet sloppy kisses and canine love which always makes me smile and feel happy inside.
Settling down in my lounge chair while they played around me I received a Mothers Day message from my boy via text and felt immediately sad while laughing at his craziness all at the same time.  (message read;  Happy mothers day! My Birth may have been excruciatingly painful, but at least I didn't eat my way out like some insects do)

He will never change, always making me laugh.

...now look at him... all grown up into a man living in his own place in the hub of a big city.

Then there is my little girl, could always be found singing and so independent.
 She has now fallen in love and is dreaming of a future that includes her own 'home'.

Where did the time go?

A True Friend

What is a true friend?

Someone who is there for you through thick or thin.
A shoulder to cry on.
A willing ear.
The one you can laugh and cry with, sometimes all in the same moment.

You know this person will always be there for you no matter how stupid you have been.   Be it saying the wrong thing, a momentary lapse in reason, they know that you would never say anything to hurt feelings... This true friend would also understand that I suffer from foot IN mouth disease.

One who never judges.

My always messy home (I'm a terrible house keeper)
My lack of fashion sense (comfort is key to me)
The craziness of my adventures (sled dogs? 100 mile skijour race?)
Impromptu ventures (owning a coffee shop, becoming successful at it then selling)

I have been lucky in my life to have friends like this.
A friend who I could call anytime of the day or night if I needed.

There are a few who have stuck by me, who still call me their friend after many years of knowing me... really knowing me.

However there is one particular person who stands out amongst them all.
A beautiful woman whom I love very much.... and who I know loves me back the same way.
I would move heaven and earth for this friend ... as I know she would for me also.

My Mom

 

I love you Mom, happy Mothers Day!!

Alive

It has been awhile.

I think about writing all the time.  I DO write with pen and paper, but have avoided and neglected my blogs for some time.

It is not from lack of 'things' happening in my life.
Nor is it from depression.

I've just been,
                     well,
                            living life.

Spring has arrived here at Outback Huskies and thankfully it has been dry and warm out.  As I write this 3 of my fur kids lay at my feet in a peaceful slumber.
The others are outside enjoying the warmth of the sun.... which is where I will be once this has been published.

I just felt the need to pop in here and share my favorite song with you all.  I'm betting if you go back a ways here on this blog you will find that it was already shared.  To me, it is worth sharing over and over again.

Edwin - Alive

 

 

I should probably share a teeny bit of my spring break with you all as well, especially since many of you followed my adventure in the Yukon with Randy.

Instead of heading somewhere warm and tropical we ventured North to Fort McMurray.

 A city of close to 77,000, which sits on the Athabasca River, was originally established by the Hudson Bay company in 1870 as a trading post.  Today it draws attention, good and bad, due to the oilsands.

It is also home of Randy Mackenzie and his plethora of animals.

 

On our way up there we met Fred and his lovely wife, Diane for lunch and a visit.  I would love to spend more time with them both... what a wonderful couple. 

I loved our visit with everyone... Randy and Carol were the hostesses with the mostesses and I could have spent way more time up there.

Not only did I get to meet up with the Canine team again, but I was introduced to the many animals that Randy rescues, finds homes for and keeps himself.

We 'almost' brought home a baby ourselves... it was a close one.... if we had more land for sure as these babies are going to be rather large when full grown.

 Mommy and Daddy to the pups with Ray and Randy.