The Water Taxi

We have a highway widening project going on in our area. It is the only highway that goes from one end of our valley to the other. Well after 9 months of work being done, they had a setback. A HUGE crack appeared on the side of the mountain--where it wasn't supposed to be! The blasting created this fissure(crack). There must have been a fault at that spot.It made the highway below it unsafe for travel, as it was slowly sliding down towards the road. SO this meant that we were now cut off from the central and northern end of the valley. Which is where the largest city happens to be. So that meant that hundreds of people were no longer able to get to their jobs on the other side of this now closed road. People came up with different solutions. Some took the backroads through the bush. This was rather dangerous as these roads are sometimes very narrow with steep drops over the edge! YIKES! So that wasn't safe. The government decided after a week or so to upgrade a former logging road for use. They did this and it helped very much but a former 45 minute drive now became 1 1/2-2 hours. Then they decided to put a water taxi into service around the blocked road. This became a very popular form of transportation. Well...I decided that I'd like to try out the water taxi service. So one saturday afternoon my daughter and I drove up to the terminal and got on this FREE water taxi. I figured we could go have coffee with friends on the other end and then turn around and come home.
We had a great time on the boat! It was a neat experience. The boat was a summertime tourist boat....all set up for summer parties. It was a very pretty boat on the inside.
We should have left earlier in the day so that it wouldn't be so dark by the time we got to the other end of the run....oh well....it was a fun experience.
Once we got to the other end our friends talked us into staying overnight. It was great! We left in the morning so we could get back in time for church but ended up missing most of it....oh well...all in all it was a great experience and a fun weekend!

The walkway to the boat.















It was a chilly foggy day on the water.







Our windblown selves on the boat.


This picture shows the crack...sort of...too bad it was so dark by this time. Anyway...along the right side of that orange fence is where the crack goes...right down to the road--it goes across the top and then back down the other side to the road again...nice clean break..but WAY too much material to come down at once as it would land in the lake and cause a mini tsunami!
If you look you can see the smoke coming up from the drills...you'll also see the lights. They're drilling and blasting across the top of the crack. They blasted a bunch of rock etc. -pushed it over the edge and up against the bottom of the crack. This was to hold it up enough so that it would stop sliding! C-r-a-z-y!! Not my idea of safe! But I guess it's temporary and they say that if it does decide to let go and slide that there will be enough warning for everyone to get out of the way. I sure hope they're right!

If you look-you can see a mountain goat that fell down into the crack. They were able to sedate him and lift him out...apparently he was okay.
**I got this picture off Google**

My place of origin....ain't it purdy??

that warm fuzzy fleece blanket

I've been wanting to make some knotted fleece blankets for my kids for Christmas. Do they need them? Well...not really..But I thought they would make a wonderful snuggly gift for them...that would last for years! "A special memory of something that Mom made for me when I was a kid..."
Well..there's nothing wrong with any of this really...but then this morning I read this:

December Project!

As you know, a major earthquake hit the Sichuan Province in China in May. This earthquake killed over 50,000 people and left man more homeless. Save the Children says that, “3 million infants, children and teens have been among the worst affected”. This was a disaster of immense porportions. School buildings, orphanages and small village towns were completely destroyed along with hospitals and office buildings.

As you can imagine, recovering from a disaster that destroys EVERYTHING you own is not easy. However, if you are living at or below the poverty level. . .it becomes nearly impossible. Today, many children and families remain homeless. Many others are lfet without basic necessities. And. . .it’s getting colder by the day. Winter is fast approaching with overnight temps already at freezing. Children remain without blankets.
Doesn’t that just break your hearts? As you tuck your children into bed covered up with multiple blankets in a home that has heat, can you remember these children? Would you like to do something?

Our KidsLake’s project for the rest of this year is. . .

BLANKETS FOR CHINA!!!

For $10, you can provide a warm blanket for a child that needs it!
Not only can you meet a need for a precious one, but you can teach your precious ones in the process! Use this opportunity when you put your children to bed and snuggle them up, to teach them about children who do not have what they do. Teach them to pray for the children who are cold that night. Teach them to be thankful for the blankets they have. . especially during this season! Then, help them to do something!

• Allow them to ask for a blanket for Christmas and forgo a toy in favor of supplying a child with a blankie!
• Have a hot chocolate stand in your neighborhood to raise money!
• Have them do chores to earn money. . .possibly making beds!
• Forgo a fast food lunch or dinner and have pb&j at home and donate the money

Whatever you do, get creative and involve your kiddos. Help them expand their vision of our world by teaching them about the children of China. Help them be a part of the solutions!

Blankets for China!
PS: We’ll have a paypal button on the kidslake site soon! The organization we are working with would love to receive donations as your kids earn them (instead of waiting until the end of the month) this way, they can buy blankets as it gets cold! Feel free to blog about this too. . let’s spread the word!

I copied this from Red Letters Campaign blog....go take a look at the good things they're doing! Maybe YOU can help a shivering little one be able to snuggle up in a warm blankie tonight. Tucking my kids into bed tonight won't be the same. :-\

Another day at the Zoo.

Well this morning was spent chasing paperwork around town. My first stop was at the police station. Randal and I are both required to have a criminal check, a vulnerability report, and fingerprints done. So as I stood with the policeman holding my hands with black ink on them I told him that I never thought that I'd ever be standing in a police station having my fingerprints taken! He chuckled..and said "well this isn't bad unless you come in the back door!" He was really nice and waived most of the fees for the three things I had done because we are adopting. He only charged me $15 for the fingerprints! I was SO happy to hear him say that. He was very helpful and made my visit very pleasant. He told me to go have a seat and he would do my criminal check while I waited so that we wouldn't have any delays!
I then headed for my next stop and had a very important thing done! My eyebrows!! :P My next stop was the drugstore for a passport photo and one canNOT have one of those done with big bushy brows!! :-D I then got the photo done..for a great price too! -$9.99! I picked up passport applications and lunch and headed to Randal's office to have lunch with him and give him the forms...It was a nice little visit that we don't often get to enjoy in the middle of the day.
So this was my first day of many to come (me thinks!) spent running around with paperwork.

Well will keep you posted on the journey. Have a great evening.



Heather

Thank You!

Thanks to Randi Jo...I was able to figure out how to change this. These different templates are something new for me..I'll have to play around and see if I can make it look better...well...maybe! I spend enough time on here as it is, without finding new stuff to play around with! Thanks again Randi Jo...I see alot of other fun gadgets on the cut8st blog on th* blo*k..like I said I'm sure I'll be over there playing around. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Heather

HELP!

Okay...I changed my blog background to what you see here. Shortly after changing it up I decided to do it again. One small problem! It DOESN'T WORK!!! I do everything exactly as they instruct me to do...and the same thing I did to change it to this template..and it doesn't work, it stays exactly the same as what you now see in front of you!! grrr...frustrating! Does anyone have any idea to help me solve this mystery?? I hope so...please leave a comment if you think that you can help me.
thanks so much!
Heather

We're adopting!!

For those of you who didn't figure it out from two posts ago...Yes!! We ARE adopting! We're all very excited and can hardly wait until she gets here! Yes we have applied for a baby girl. She should be somewhere between 0 and 6 months old..at least when she is proposed to us. Hopefully this will be a quick journey.
The girls have already been looking up baby names and have started a list. When we've been out shopping we have all been over in the baby section...ooohing and aaaahing over how cute this and that would look on her. We have no idea what she will look like but it doesn't matter..she will be absolutely adorable whatever she looks like!!
Our current youngest is 10 years old...so we are going to have to start over collecting baby furniture and all the incidentals that go along with having a baby in the house. We're excited to get her room ready for her too....that will be fun picking out colours etc.
This reminds me of all the work we have to do around the house before she gets here! Two other bedrooms need to be painted, as well as the entryway, bathroom and hallway! We've also got bits of trim here and there that we somehow missed when we did our last painting project..the kitchen, diningroom and livingroom. We are either going to have to add a bedroom somewhere downstairs or two of the girls are going to have to share a room. That is yet to be decided.
And all of that is just the physical work ....
All we've done as far as paperwork goes is submit our application and retainer. So as any of you know, that have already adopted or are currently doing so, there is a TON of paperwork left still to do! I welcome any comments or insight you can give me if you have already been through this or are currently doing so. I would like to figure out how to find people in my area(or even in my country!) that may be going through the same process. I'm not sure that there will be anyone though(in this area), since our agency is on the other side of the country over 4,000 kilometers away!
Well time to get off here and go get another load of laundry on and get some homemade soup in the pot to simmer for supper.
Have a super great day!
take care


Heather

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure
• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this
• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit
• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally
• * Ask me questions to help me get clear
• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery
• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings
• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation
• * Let me know you like what I've done or said
• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting
• * caring for and being concerned about others
• * being able to relax and have a good time
• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
• * being confused about what I really want
• * caring too much about what others will think of me
• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue
• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm
• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/are-you-a-jackie-or-a-marilyn-or-someone-else-mad-menera-female-icon-quiz

IT'S OFFICIAL!! FINALLY!!!

We've sent in the paperwork----finally!

Here's a hint! :) :)

Wordless Wednesday .....Autumn pictures

Almost "wordless"...
...the Autumn photographer


PS

Peter~
these are the fall photos that you had requested...I waited too long to take the pictures and most of the trees were already bare. Hope you enjoy the ones that I did get.
take care
Heather

Time FLIES!

Wow!! here it is 2 months since I last posted...oh dear...I didn't plan on letting things fall so far behind. I guess you could say that I've been busy!! I've been doing a bit of volunteer work at the girls school...which includes driving for local activities, as well as day trips. Helping the student council get their school coffee shop up and running...and a few other things. One other thing I did was prepare a hot lunch for the teachers. It was something I did to honour them. They have our children under their care for almost as long as we have them in a day. Sooo I made hot beef on a bun with au jus on the side, caesar salad, veggie tray with dip, ice tea with sliced lemons and chocolate iced brownies for dessert! They loved it. I also set the table in their staff room with a nice tablecloth and some pretty napkins and name cards. I also made a big sign for the wall that said "we appreciate YOU!" They all very very blessed...that's what I was aiming for so I guess it was a success. They've all blessed us so much in the past that I just wanted to pass it back to them for a change. :)
Our church just had a 60th anniversary this past weekend. It was really busy for me! I was in charge of getting the place decorated. I had my girlfriend help me out with it~she's amazing! I told everyone that she was the brains in the operation and I was the brawn! haha.. She came up with alot of the ideas and I did alot of the footwork...which is hard for her as she has arthritic knees. We had a ton of fun working together. We used to do this together in years past but it's been quite awhile.
Two girlfriends and I got together last weekend and made 96 meals! We made meals for the freezer for a month!! That was a really long day. We were at it for about 11 or 12 hours. The day before the "big cook", we did the shopping for the food.
I've tried about 6 or 7 of the meals with our family so far and they've all been quite good and some were delicious!
All in all it's been a busy fall! The trees have changed colour and I have pictures to show for it...I just have to get busy and post them!! So hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow...or the next day. ;)
Have an awesome week friends!!
love

Heather