At Random

I never thought I would be able to say this, but we really do need to take more pictures...
Here are a couple that we have snapped of ordinary life over the last month or two.
My canning pumpkin experience. This was all from one pumpkin. It managed to fill 18ish pints. And the seeds were yum baked in the oven with a couple of different seasonings.

Broom attack. It really needs to be brought out more often....

On location for shooting engagement pics for a couple. It was so cooooold that day! We always get to the location with enough time to check out lighting and different places for pics.

The church has started a 'girls club' every other week. We make a craft or bake and then we have little topic/discussion. If there is extra time, we even play a game. It has been very encouraging....to me at least! (here we were making photo album covers)

This is 'out back', down the stairs, in places mysterious and unknown. Haha! We have a little storage/basement area where we can keep a few things. It is more or less a lean to. Bert is covering up the places were the snow would blow in. I, of course, was limited in the help I was offering at that moment.

See, all neat and tidy!

Who's doing the writing

Here is a fun thing do do in your 'spare time'.

Man or woman - who is writing that blog?

Click on the logo.

Hot Tuna

Ok, Bert was laughing cause it was the logo for Hot Tuna, a Aussie classic surf supplier.

They opened the business in the 1960's and were pretty well know in the hard core surf crowd in Australia, but it was never as well know internationally as names like Quicksilver and Rip Curl. Business apparently was booming for Hot Tuna in the '80s when Bert was out surfing.

We popped into a surf shop to see if they had a bumper sticker (cause I thought the fish was so cute, haha). The guy at the counter looked up at Bert, "Old school, huh?"

Nothing like reminding somebody they aren't in their teens anymore!

Here are a couple of pics from the 'old school' surfie.

Wind surfing....

Skimboarding when he was younger...

Most resent pictures of 'old school surfie' .... (above at Waitpinga, South Australia coming in from what I the newbie surfie would classify as terrifying waves:)

And here out in California (Oceanside I think)....

Another Hmmm...

Last time we were in Oz, we spotted this bumper sticker on a car. I loved it. Bert just laughed and seemed pretty pleased.

Any ideas why?!?

The Little Boy

When this little boy was in the first grade he asked his teacher, "Do I really have to learn how to write, can't I just learn how to type instead?"

Hmmm, who could this be?!?

Improvising

Apparently there is no substitute for a genuine eyelet fastener. A button does not work. One lies in a hundred pieces all over my kitchen table. And size E crochet hooks definitely do not work. After being smashed with a hammer, the sorry hook end resembles a purple praying mantis. I wonder if a pliers would be able to help the little crochet hook's identity crisis....

Happy Birthday Dad!

It is a Big Happy Birthday to Poppser Dude (aka: Dad)! We love you and don't ever change, hehehe!

Ahead of His Time

When we were kids, it was not all that uncommon to see Dad in his black recliner, clip board in hand, talking the phone. That was his office. He loved to be by the rest of the family so he sacrificed peace and quite-and a desk.


He is not a 'chatter' on the phone. It was almost always business. He would often be looking for a part to a machine in the shop. One phone call would lead to another and so on until the part was found.


Then one day he came across an amazing find. The Thomas Register Reference. It was a 'comprehensive resource for finding information on suppliers of industrial products and services in North America'. Visions of the end of phone tag and frustrating chain calls were no doubt bouncing around Dad's head. It was a must have.


He managed to locate a slightly outdated set from a library in Fayetteville. I do remember a sigh from Mom when Dad first came out of the library pushing a two wheel dolly stacked full of masive green books. That was first load.


The internet took over not too many years later, but the Registers served their purpose well. In honor of that, I am pretty sure you can still find the set on the back of Dad's bookshelves. Behind the bike helmets of course.

Glimps

We had a great time with Mom and Dad. The visited here in Smiths Falls for just over a week. Bert and headed out to Buffalo, NY for for church meetings and met up with Mom and Dad there. Then we all headed back to SF. It was the first time Dad has been up here. We did a bit of driving around seen new places, lots of chatting, and tons of coffee. Thanks for coming! (Bert again, is strangely lacking from the photos.)

Aawww!

Jones Locks

Mom and I had very good shopping in Buffalo...

My cute new little cup compliments of Momma...

Dad cracked out the shovel after the light snow...

My old old favorite...

The boys (Dad, Gord, and Bert) took a little bike ride...

Thankfully they all made it back in one piece....

From Sea to Shining See

And that's that. It really was a pretty close election according to popular vote (53% Obama, 46% McCain). Not something with which I would feel comfortable using the popular term 'landslide'. Electoral votes were a bit different, although I have to confess I do not have a clear understanding of how it all works.

One thing is clear, Americans have chosen a new president. People seem to be either elated or discouraged by the results of the election. But life goes on. One thing we must all remember regardless of which political camp we support is - God is in control. President Elect Obama will not be able to fix our problems as a nation. Nor could have McCain had he been chosen. Our help is not in one man. We need help from One much higher than an American President. This One can help and does help. All we must do is ask.

The Parties

It seems as if the political parties in different countries are similar. Just different names and logos.

The first three are similar to (or include:) the US Republican Party.

American Republican Party

Canadian Conservative Party

Australian Liberal Party

The following four are similar to (or include:) the US Democrats.

American Democratic Party

Canadian Liberal Party

Australian Labor Party

Canadian New Democratic Party (NDP)



And then there are always the not so main stream parties....

Canadian Marijuana Party

Australian No Pokies Party (no lottery...you have to love it!)

American Independent Party

Canadian Green Party


American Libertarian Party

And many many more....

It is compulsory for Bert to vote in Australia...his Mum and Dad have been fined more than once he was out of country and couldn't get the ballot back in time. I sent off my absentee ballot in time too I hope!

I've been tagged....

I've been tagged by Kath to come up with six quirks about myself. So here goes....

1. I love shoes but can never find the right pair. Sometime when I buy a pair I love in the store, it goes with absolutely nothing when put with my clothing at home. Bummer.

2. Coffee is the best, but unless I actually pay for a cup, I very rarely drink a full cup. I pour half a one at breakfast and sip on it half the morning....and still end up with left overs.

3. Sometimes people think I am all 'sweet and innocent' ( you all know me better :), but I really flip my lid with poor/rude service in business.

4. I bought my first car (an awesome, but 'pre-owned' BMW) with money I made from making rag dolls as a kid.

5. I love outdoor gardening, but can barely keep and indoor plant alive.

6. I can be OC about cleaning things up. This has bugged my sister more than once when we would be working in the kitchen together.


Now this is meant to be sent on to six more people, but I am afraid most of you have already been picked!

Hmm...

Two guesses to who this handsome couple might be!

New Technology

Maybe it is just the Auntie in me, but I always felt that James and I have had a special bond. And I love it.

Most often when I am talking on the phone with Lanette, she will ask James if he would like to talk to Auntie Kryna. He would always get pretty excited, take the phone and start jabbering away. The only problem was when Net wanted the phone back.

Lately though when she asks if he wants to talk to me, he says no. Just a matter of fact no. But the times he does actually take the phone and speak with me, Net says he seems to think that I can see things through the phone. He will be showing the phone different things while he is talking to me.

He has also started asking for the family picture on the fridge. "Auntie Nina..." Net will give it to him and he will take it around the house and show 'me' his new toys.

I love that little boy!

He was painting Woodstock, the plaster piggy bank. Woodstock also has very colorfully insides.

He loves books. Pretty much any book. He doesn't even care what you are wearing when you read to him....obviously.

"Now Auntie 'Nina look like Uncle 'Boo' with the camera!"

We never said he was a daredevil.