NORTHERN LIGHTS

 Living up here you would think I have seen the Northern Lights quite a bit.  I can probably count the number of times on one hand.  Tonite, with the help of a Facebook post from The Tunnel Lake Trading Post just about 15 minutes ago, I saw them again.  After verifying the posted picture was taken “right now” I quickly dressed for the -13 but feels like -20 degree weather and stood on my back porch and watched the lights.  They weren’t vivid or plentiful but the shafts of light thru the sky was unmistakably the Northern Lights.  There was a glow of a pale green color in the northern sky and I am sure if I had the proper camera equipment, it would have been brilliant.  I will check later to see if they are still there - once I warm up.

My iPad had some updates last nite and I am unable to access my photos now.  Give me a day or two to ask Andrew to help me fix this.

TEMU

 After saying I would never order from Temu, I finally placed an order.  I have seen more that a few people fall down the rabbit hole called TEMU.  Large packages being delivered chock full of neat little gadgets and clothes you know are not made to last years.  Altho Stacey bought the Scott Sisters beautiful beach coverups for our Mexican vacations that I think are amazing.  I am sure people at the pool watch as we walk by and wonder where we got our colorful paisley tasselled coverups.  They are perfect and if anyone asks, I would tell them TEMU.  Stacey has given me little tools to clean out crevices and clips for various bags.  Joan has also shared a few items that I admit I was glad I had.  It seems that if you now ask people “where did you get that?” They say with pride “TEMU!”

Well I was scrolling thru my Facebook feed and lo and behold there was a beautiful sun dress that had my name all over it!  It was on the TEMU site.  I checked it out on their website and after I got my Sisters’ approval, I downloaded the TEMU app and down the rabbit hole I went.  I snuck a few looks at other sundresses but stopped after about 10 pages and returned to my dress and ordered it!  Stacey was proud of me.  Rejean laughed at me.  

I am now waiting for my first TEMU package to arrive.  I am hoping for the best but not holding my breath.  But I really like the dress…

AS PROMISED - IN SIDE MY NEW HOUSE

 First picture is the fuse box!!!  I have never seen one so big!  I will spend my days searching for which switch is for which light or fan.  Hydro is coming tomorrow to connect us to the grid.

Next is the view into the dining room and the living room from the primary bedroom area.  The kitchen is on the right.  Nice big windows!

The next picture is looking up at the loft from the living room area.  The tall wooden column is our propane fireplace.  There will be stone covering the column all the way up to the ceiling  There are 2 bedrooms and a full bath plus a sitting area up there.

The last one is of the sun room that morphed into a she/he cave.  There will be a tv and a bank board shuffleboard if we can find one.  I think this will be my favourite room.

There is also a dedicated laundry room, a half bath, pantry and a utility room.  It really is one floor living for us as the loft will be for guests.  Charlie and Monty are happy it will be ready for them - I hope. 😱

ps  some of the rooms appear larger as I found a new setting on my phone to make the rooms appear larger to get more in the shot.

ANOTHER WEEK GONE BY

 We had a big thaw the last few days after a stretch of very cold temperatures and lots of snow.  This usually happens every January or February and it leaves such a mess.  The driveway is horrible.  Slushy and every vehicle leaves huge ruts that will refreeze when the temps finally return to normal.  And extremely slippery.  We have a pile of trap rock that we use for everything - paths, bare spots on the driveway and to provide traction in just this situation.  Rejean chips a load off the pile (it is frozen solid) and fills the loader.  I get to follow in the tractor as he throws the trap rock on the icy sections of the road with a shovel.  Works like a charm and I get to drive the tractor.  Always a good day when I get to do that!

And the snow starts to fall off the roof of the garage and the cottage.  1/2 came off the driveway side of the garage and the other side curled almost touching the ground.  The new house has shingles so we won’t have to face that problems any more.

I will post a few pictures tomorrow of the inside of the new house.  They have dry walled and muddied.  The pine for the ceilings in the sun room and main room arrived this week and there is a lot of it.  I like the color we choose.

DRY JANUARY

 I have done Dry January for a few years now.  I don’t drink a lot but I have do have genetics to worry about.  Some seem to think it could be hereditary and my father was an alcoholic.  I never wanted to come even close to having his demons and I think I have accomplished that goal. But I do enjoy a cold beer on a hot day, spiced rum mixed with pineapple juice with a splash of orange juice sitting on my deck enjoying the views.  A margarita with my Sisters in our new favourite spot in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  And a new favourite holiday drink, chocolate Bailey’s. Mmmm.  But since January 1st my drink of choice is water on the rocks with a splash of President’s Choice liquid water enhancer which isn’t that bad.

Only 26 more days to go…

SHILOH

 I got to babysit my grand fur baby Shiloh. Her parents spent the night in the Sault so Shiloh spent the night with me.  She has her routines that I tried to follow but our property is different than Parker’s so we made what we had work.  They brought her bed over for her but her favourite spot is on the couch.  Shiloh used to live here before the fire so she still remembers when this place was hers.  She gets confused sometimes.  When I let her out for her last pee last nite, she ran off towards the highway barking at something.  I had to get all dressed in my boots, hat, gloves and big winter coat to go out and get her.  I called and whistled for her and she did come back running up from the highway expecting the promised “treat” I said to bribe her.  She got it because she is cute.  I slept on the couch with her so she wouldn’t cry and I must say she is difficult to sleep with.  She had to be on top of my legs or squashing me.  Woke me up at 4:30am to pee but went right back to sleep.  

She is patiently waiting for Stacey and Andrew to come back and take her home.  Back to her own domain.  I will sleep well tonite.