Who knew I would actually enjoy some country time? Seriously...growing up in the country...while it was beautiful and we did keep busy as kids...as an adult, during camping trips...I didn't actually care much that I was in the country.

We were camping at Sibley over the weekend..and I have to say, I cannot remember being so relaxed. It has been a long, long time. The kids loved the chipmunks that would come right up on their knee for a nut...guess they've become very tame..as are the deer who will, with some caution eat food right out of your hand. The poor skunk that was seen with the container over it's head...our friend Bruce tried to get it off...but in pulling on the container, he lifted the skunk right off the ground! It didn't even lift it's tail!! But, the skunk got away. Hope he wiggled out of that container.

The kids, ours and the ones all around us had so much fun. You could hear them laughing from many sites away. My son and his friend Chelsea made themselves a tent..they used wood from the site, some duct tape (orange)and Joe's camo sleeping bag to make their tiny shelter. They also decorated an old tree...with pop cans and other shiny things to decorate...and it was Christmas!! Presents on "Christmas Day" were painted rocks, daisy's and pine cones. Such creativity.

I cannot wait to go camping again.







Water Cooler Conversations...




Tuition fees for Canadian universities have tripled in the last 10 years. Experts say…if this keeps up…within 20 years – a basic bachelor of arts degree in Canada will cost over $100,000.

Some garden hoses are now coming out with warnings that it’s unsafe to drink the water from them. The problem – the hoses are made from recycled rubber – so they don’t know where that rubber came from. To be safe - don’t drink from the hose!

A man in Iowa is in jail after punching another guy who refused to give him a hug. Onlookers called police when they saw the 23-year-old suspect punching cars on Sunday night. The suspect, was drunk, he told police that he got angry and punched a car when the man refused his hug. Then he punched the guy for refusing the hug. He was charged with assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

We presented Brandon and Garrett with their little Jeep yesterday!! They LOVED it!!! We had Matthew drive it around to the front of the house as the boys sat on the steps with their eyes closed...when they saw it...they screamed and ran towards it. They took turns driving it for over an hour before we parked it in the garage with Joe's Jeep. I got pics of my men with their Jeeps...Brandon and Garrett were so excited. I asked Garrett if he liked his surprise...and he said "yes, but that's Matthew's Jeep"...of course they thought that! Matthew drove it to them!! When I told him "nope...it's Brandon and Garrett's Jeep"...he jumped up and down clapping his hands. Gaaad I love kids.


WATER COOLER CONVERSATION FACTS......


Interesting musical fact – it was this week back in 1985 (25 years ago), singer Phil Collins admitted to David Letterman that the title of his then #1 hit "Sussudio" means nothing………it’s simply a made-up word!



One million people gathered in Toronto’s downtown for their annual gay pride parade this past Sunday. Listen to this – this annual parade brings in $100 million a year to the economy in Toronto.



Police are warning that during tough times…fraud artists prosper as more and more people will try anything to get out of debt. AND, 10 Canadians a month still fall for the Nigerian Letter Scam –you know – where you’re promised loads of money if you just help a prince in Africa deal with some banking problems.

Are we spoiled right now or what? I am loving this weather...though I am not much of a sun worshipper...I do enjoy the warmth. Yesterday, Joe and I were out looking for a gazebo for our deck so we could enjoy the weather without the sunburn...and we could not find anything that would fit on our deck. Next year we'll have to look sooner...so...instead, we found ourselves in the toy department looking at the kids Jeeps!!! See...everything happens for a reason...now the boys, Brandon and Garret can ride in style! Just like Nono (Joe) and his Jeep. It's a Jeep thing with these boys.



WATER COOLER CONVERSATIONS


Researchers say computer keyboards can be up to 5 times dirtier than ... toilet seats. That’s because they become easily fouled with food, dirt, and germs just like other frequently touched things like doorknobs and money.



Over the weekend, it was the big UFC pay per vu. This is big business. UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) mixed martial arts TV programming is now broadcast in over 130 countries, reaching 430 million homes worldwide in 20 different languages.



The Ontario Provincial Police have warned motorists that they shouldn’t drive for longer than 8 or 9 hours at a time this summer while on vacation…. driving for 17 hours straight leaves the operator of the vehicle with the same abilities as someone driving impaired



The semi finals at the World Cup are set….. the Netherlands play Uruguay; Germany takes on Spain. PLUS – did you hear this? FIFA (the governing body of soccer), is upset with the President of Nigeria who has banned his country’s soccer team from playing international matches for two years to punish them for their poor performance at the World Cup.

Wow!!! That was quite the weekend!!

Friday, I went out to my best friend Theresa's house in the country...waay out there...turns out...she owns a mountain! They also have a dog named peanut (came with Theresa), chickens that lay blue eggs!! AND!!!Horses!!! I am so happy for her. She has always wanted to live in a home in the country surrounded by farm animals and natural beauty.

Travelling home on the highway...got to thinking about all those cones they use during construction season. Where do they come from? The cone truck? Do they have a home? And wouldn't it be hilarious if the company that provided cones to highway construction was called "Madonna's Cones"? Just sayin'.


Saturday...gorgeous day!! We went exploring....I cannot believe I have never been to Silver Harbour! We went out for a ride in the jeep...we had Elvis with us..and decided to go to Silver Harbour to check it out. It was great!! The waves were huge and the water was crashing against the rocks...we walked around and checked out the spectacular views....

Elvis..when close enough...would chase the waves and try to eat them!!! He also swam for the first time in his little dog life...and didn't know how, at first. But when he started...and when he wasn't trying to eat the waves...he was awesome!! He swam in circles.

There were two guys who launched their sea-doos from there..wow! The waves were huge and they were flying! Looked awesome!

It was quite the day out.

Kept waiting for those thunderstorms that never did happen. Did see some lightning as I fell asleep...

Sunday was quite quiet, which is what is needed sometimes. I went out with my son Matt to pick up some stuff for his birthday...and we also cruised around to see what was going on in the city...then it started to rain! For the ladies...I have to share this...we were travelling near Boulevard Lake...we rounded a corner and there they were...two runners...males...no shirts...in the rain. You know when it's just the right moment. That was it.

Have a great day!!!

What a fabulous weekend!!

We went to Whitefish to a friends camp and had an absolute blast. We fished...until it rained...then we headed back in to enjoy supper. There is a group of people who put on a pot luck on Saturday night's...we really enjoyed our time there.

Sunday...Matthew turned 13 at twelve noon...and of course it was Father's Day. The boys went fishing with Joseph's dad for the afternoon...so, of course I took the opportunity to lay low and relax!!

We put dinner together for the men when they got home..ribs, chicken kabobs...corn on the cob...and Birthday/Father's Day cake! The little ones...Garrett 2 and Brandon 3 have discovered they love to eat the icing on the bottom of the candles..so as I was cutting the cake...this candle would slowly appear and be directed towards the icing...accompanied by a giggle and little feet running back to the table. Those kids!! lol.

I also was presented with one of the first strawberries from our teeny strawberry patch in our garden. It was amazing! We also have some raspberries on the go...not ready for eating yet though.

Great weekend.

Hope yours was as great!!!

Hello all!

I was on remote at Value Village Saturday. It is truly amazing the gems you can find there. They say there are regulars who come looking for one of a kind treasures and rare finds. While I was there, I noticed a large, red box on the counter near where we were set up. The lid was on it. I was busy so I didn't have time to go and satisfy my curiosity about what may have been inside!

About a half hour before we were finished, I saw someone had taken the lid off...I had a wee bit of free time til I was on next...so I went over to the counter. Wow! It was a box of puppets...a lion, a giraffe and four more...along with a little stage set complete with curtains! It was an amazing little theatre! I had to buy it!! I had my daughter's two little men...Brandon, 3 and Garrett, 2 in mind as I purchased this wonderful treasure!! They LOVED it! They were so excited to use their theatre and we enjoyed many plays put on by the "Little Man Theatre Company"!

But I was really surprised that my 12 year old son and his friend put on a play...and recorded it. See...something so simple can entertain so many.





WATERCOOLER CONVERSATIONS......

On this date back in 1956, Paul McCartney and John Lennon met....and the rest, as they say, is history.......

After Paul's song, "Penny Lane" became a Beatles hit, the street signs for the actual Penny Lane in Liverpool disappeared with such regularity (as they did on the real Abbey Road), that the town reverted to simply painting 'Penny Lane' on the buildings, rather than have street signs.

Contrary to popular belief, the title for "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" was prompted by 4-year-old Julian Lennon's description of a painting he brought home from school, not the drug, LSD.

* Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jude" for Julian Lennon, John's son.

* Though the Beatles were still largely unknown in the U.S. in October 1963, Ed Sullivan got his first glimpse of Beatlemania on Halloween of that year. His plane at Heathrow Airport outside London was delayed due to hordes of screaming Beatles fans welcoming the boys back from an overseas concert. When he was notified about the cause of the delay, Ed Sullivan said, "Who the heck are the Beatles?" That experience prompted him to book them on his show in 1964. (The Beatles, for their part, had not previously heard of Ed Sullivan).

Too busy to blog? Gaah!!

It has been crazy busy around here. With summer closing in...it's not going to change, so we must make the time to blog!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!


WATER COOLER CONVERSATION....

The world comes together for the next month in South Africa – it’s the FIFA World Cup 2010.

32 countries particpating in what is truly the ‘biggest sporting event’ ever!!

The highest attendance for a soccer game, was in 1950 at Marcana Stadium in Rio De Jenero, Brazil. The game: Uruguay vs Brazil. 199,584 fans. The stadium has since been renovated….and seat around 82,000 fans!!

The World Cup has been held every 4 years since the first tournament in 1930 (except in ’42 and ’46, because of World War 2)

To date, the final of the World Cup has only been contested by European and South American teams. The two continents have won nine titles apiece. Only two teams from outside these two continents have ever reached the semi-finals of the competition: USA in 1930, and Korea in 2002.

Paolo Rossi was the top scorer at the 1982 World Cup in Spain with six goals, leading Italy to its third title

Over 1 billion people are expected to watch soccer on a daily basis over the next month.

AND…already looking ahead to 2014 – that’s when Brazil hosts the next world cup.