What Breed of Dog Are You?

I tried the test 3 times just to be sure. //sigh// Strangely enough I get the same breed in my results when I try those "which dog breed should you own tests."

Ho, ho, ho!

So now it's officially Christmas I can open what's left of my gifts. //grin// Thank you Niko for the books and the really cool measuring spoons. I've started the book on cheese, it is fascinating, and I can hardly wait to make stuff from the cookbook.

With the kids in Victoria it has been very quiet here, so I got the "peace & quiet" that I asked for - finally. Last night I drank cyser, ate the handmade chocolates Jennifer gave me and watched "Galaxy Quest." I could have gone out but really just wanted a quiet evening with the pets. Today I'm making myself I giant omelette in my new pan with eggs from our chickens (they are down to about 1 or 2 eggs a day now), having a long shower, making some cheesecake chocolate cupcakes, and much later in the day going with Mum to uncle Darryl's for dinner. Another uncle is picking up Gramma on his way past, so we don't have to go SO early, and John is going up with Val. I almost decided to stay home but a) would have to cook my own damn turkey and b) Mum would have to drive up by herself. So off I go to the family dinner.

I still am not totally sure when we are visiting the other grandparents and Dad & Cat, my work situation seems to change by the minute. Unfortunately I am not in a position to turn down ANY hours, so the rest has to work around it. So far Wednesday morning is the best candidate but we may end up showing up unannounced. . .

Christmas Comes Early

This year the kids were heading down to Jay's a bit earlier, yesterday instead of Christmas Eve. So we had an early Christmas on Tuesday rather than making them wait until they come back next week. Dinner was a bit un-traditional too, we had ham and corned beef & cabbage. Yum!

Us adults opened some presents as well. I got an awesome deep fryer! I've been wanting one for ages but couldn't choose and didn't want to spend the $$. It's a slick stainless one what comes completely apart for cleaning. Very cool! I can hardly wait to deep fry something.

The kids gave me the non stick omelette pan I'd asked for, a really cool framed calendar of vintage travel posters, and Star Wars Ep 3 DVD. Add that to the Future Shop gift card from Dad & Cat and I am pretty well set. I plan to get a memory card for my camera (hopefully at an after Christmas sale).

I got a bottle of Zanatta wine from Fatima, just what I need to enjoy the peace & quiet of no kids. //grin// She also gave Selena a panettoni (yummy Italian cake) and Ry some candy & a cheque. "The kids" as she calls them (Ry and Bobby, the teenaged dishwashers) got $$ because she is going to take the rest of us out to a fancy restaurant for dinner in January. She certainly spoils her staff!!

Even the dogs were spoiled this year. We signed up for a Secret Santa exchange on the Greytalk board. We sent packages to the UK and Georgia, and got packages from Florida and Michigan. The boxes had treats and toys, and Skye even got a doggie necklace. What a blast!

The cats, as usual, did it their way by stealing their treats out of their stocking in the dead of night and eating them all. //laugh// That's cats for you.

Eggs-travaganza!

Two days ago I was taking the dogs out and about to let the chickens out when I heard a God awful noise coming from the chicken coop. It sounded like something was in there murdering hens! I very carefully opened the door to see - nothing - just hens (and roosters) on the roost. Then I looked down and right beside the food tray is an egg. Finally! A nice warm blue-ish green-ish egg. A very expensive egg.

We've had the chickens since June(?) I think and have been waiting for eggs ever since, so this was truly worth it's weight in gold. //grin//

On to yesterday, when I called home on my way home from work (my 5th shift in 3 days) I thought I was hearing things when Selena told me she had collected 18 eggs. 18! We only have 4 hens. Most of the eggs were a light brown, 3 were pinkish and there was one more greenish one. Apparently Ninja lays the greenish eggs and Selena thinks Owl layed the rest because she was the one on the nest when Selena found the eggs.

Needless to say we gave eggs to Mum and Gramma, and I will probably be making some sort of egg related dessert this week (I just bought eggs the day before all this laying happened).

Updated Website

I added a bunch more pics to my Pakistan website today. It took forever to scan them and my fingers are now frozen (cold where the 'puter is), so that will have to do for a while. Pakistan94.com

Something Wicked This Way

Came . . .

A couple of days ago I was eating breakfast and heard some ungodly noise coming from the chicken coop. I looked outside and didn't see anything, or any chickens for that matter. Then I noticed all the outside dogs in the neighbourhood are barking. They don't usually all bark at once. I decide to go investigate and find that the roosters have herded all the chickens into the coop and are standing watch just outside the door (and making a horrible racket!). I did quick check and found nothing. Very spooky! I think it must have been some sort of critter passing through to get all the dogs barking. After a few minutes the chickens were allowed out and all returned to normal.

Of course, my dogs slept through the whole thing on the couch . . .

Here's a Trip for Me!

Probably out of the question as a Christmas gift //grin// but here is the trip I want to take. It's being escorted by one of the agents I went to Pakistan with - Shelley really knows her stuff and I'd love to travel with her again. She is still looking for a few more people since she had cancellations due to the earthquake, so if you have a spare 3 weeks and 7 grand give her a call.

Ho, Ho, Ho or Oh, No, No? Snow!

Yep, it started snowing again this afternoon. //sigh// Apparently someone has forgotten that this is the west coast. It seems to be wet so probably won't be around long. Since most of my drive to work is on rural roads that will be salted/sanded/plowed last if at all, I'd rather a little less of the white stuff.