Camping down the South Canol

Matt has this weekend off so we are headed out again in our wonderful camper. We are getting a lot of use out of the camper and I am so glad that we bought it. Camping with a kid in a tent doesn't sound like a heap of fun to me, especially with this rainy weather we have been having. It was fine when it was just the two of us, but with little Tulugak, it is nice to have a hard shell over our heads.

The area of the Yukon we are exploring this weekend is the South Canol Road. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy having a road again!! I am in search of grayling this weekend. We have yet to get a line in the water this summer and I am itching to catch some fish. I picked up a brochure on the road from our visitors centre and it outlines a side road that leads to the Seagull Lakes and it specifically says there is good grayling fishing in there. I sure hope the brochure is right. Tomorrow morning I have to go through our mess of tackle and set us up. The camper is all loaded, just have to add food and us. My berry-picking-bear-gun will also be joining us this weekend.

Oh! And the raspberries are out in droves here now as well. I am still picking wild strawberries from my yard and the neighbours yards. I love berry picking! So far none of the raspberries have made it to the house- all have gone straight to our tummies!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Picture of the town BBQ in Faro last weekend. Great turnout, great food, great friends and even great weather!!

For Michael!

Michael over at Michael's Meanderings sounds like he is having some fun with a kitty giving him nice "gifts" of voles and birds. I think it is hilarious, but doesn't sound like he is enjoying it all that much. MMmmmm vole stew...

A friend of mine forwarded this email (thanks for the laugh Lana!) to me and I got a real kick out of it. I think you will enjoy it as well Michael!! And don't worry about Jade seeing a dead/dying little critters- good for kids to learn about that stuff- I loved animals, dead or alive, when I was a kid and it led me to a degree in wildlife and a wicked passion for the outdoors and critters of all kinds. Betcha can't wait until Jade brings home her first dead animal she found on the road.... or a bunch of baby mice.... and then a 18 year old boy friend... hehehe parenthood is a riot!!!

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary......

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary . ..

Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in a elevated cell, so he is safe. For now................

For Benjamin

Aida over in Arviat asked me to make her son a pair of booties and they are all done and ready to be shipped out! Hope you like them!

Lazy Sunday

I think we have had rain here everyday this month. This afternoon was no different! We were all pretty lazy and naps were had by all. Some cute pictures from today:

Cuddling with dad on the sofa:


He got new cowboy boots from his Grandma and Grandpa:

First Steps!!

Okay- the fourth post of the day. I am sure you are all getting sick of me by now, but I am pretty excited! Hunter took some steps today! A couple of steps behind me that Matt saw and then later on he tried to walk to me. He got in 2 steps and then bailed. He is such a fast and efficient crawler, I was wondering if he would ever try walking! Now to try and get this on camera...

Berry Picking

A friend of mine called the other night and asked if I wanted to go berry picking. Well I can never turn down a berry picking opportunity. In two and a half hours we had picked 9 cups of wild strawberries! And my friend decided that she had enough berries already at home so she gave me all of hers; what a sweetheart! So there are now 8 cups of berries in the freezer ready to make jam when I track down some certo. The other cup was put on top of a homemade white cake with whipping cream that we took over to some other friends to enjoy.

Sorting berries:


What a haul!

Daddy is my Jungle Gym

Fresh Veggies

I have really missed fresh veggies over the last few years. When we lived in the NWT I grew some on my porch out of any container I could find that would hold dirt. I don't have a garden here yet, but just out of town is a really nice organic farm. Yesterday morning Hunter and I went for a drive to check out what they had. I came home with huge bags of lettuce and spinach, turnips and chinese cabbage. We had a huge salad for lunch yesterday with some of the lettuce. Then for supper I cooked up some of the spinach in a frying pan with olive oil, green onions, garlic and a bit of lime juice. Delicious!! Tomorrow we are going to have the turnips with a home grown roast chicken. Yum! Hurray for moving to the Yukon!

Hunter and his book

The other week I had a picture up on here of Hunter sitting under the coffee table reading a book. Hunter is in love with this book. It is an alphabet book and each letter has a picture of a child with an expression to correspond to a feeling (A is for angry when I'm having a bad day....). He spends so much time looking at this book. I think he likes to see the pictures of other kids. When I try to read him other books he goes and finds that one to bring it to me to read to him. He sits so still and listens through the whole book. So if you are looking for a good book for a one year old go with it!

ABC Look At Me
By Roberta Grobel Intrater

Okay, I give!

I figured someone would ask for this! (Hi Jennith!)

How to bake banana bread like Kara the banana bread baking goddess:

2c flour
1c sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 c margarine (melted)
2 tbsp milk + 1 tsp vinegar
3 bananas (mashed)

Mix dry ingredients together. I like to use a whisk to mix them up nicely. Add egg and milk (vinegar added to milk prior to this) whisk some more. Add mashed bananas and melted butter last. Mix away! Whisk no longer works well so I like to use my hands since I make such a big batch at once.

Turn into greased loaf pan (secret ingredient- Wilton Cake Release!! Spread this all over your loaf pan- amazing stuff!). Bake at 350 for 1 hour. My oven is a little hot, so I just do 325 for 1 hour. Take out of oven, let loaf sit in pan for 5 minutes, shake a bit, and pop out your beautiful banana bread!

You can make up to 6 loaves at a time. I say 6 because that is how many fit in a regular oven at once. 4 side by side along the back, and two lengthwise in the front. And bananas can be frozen for use in banana bread. Just leave out on counter for a few hours on paper towel (they ooze a bit). Then just cut one end and squeeze it out! I have about 60 bananas in my freezer right now!

*Pet Peeve- uptight people who won't share recipes! It is just food!! Good thing I am not one of those people! I just didn't even think to include it in my last post. So you can all go to Jennith's blog and thank her for prompting me!

**WARNING! If you make this, members of your household (human or furry), will require you to bake it at least once a week from here on out.

***oh! And chocolate chips can be added in as well. Husbands seem to like this option.

I am a banana bread baking goddess.

I bake the best banana bread on the face of this planet. Yep. I do.

I have a banana dealer here in town and we have a good deal worked out! The owner of our little store here in town gives me the old bananas for a wicked deal and I just send him down a loaf whenever I bake.

I bake 6 loaves at a time, and usually do this once a week. We give most of it away to people and Matt eats the rest! Okay, I do eat some as well, but not as much as the hubby! Hunter is starting to like it too. I did this in Kugluktuk too; we gave most of the loaves to the elders since most of them aren't fond of sweet desserts. There was an elders centre where they would get together at least twice a week and I would drop off loaves for them there. Always got a smile from the elders in Kugluktuk!!

Hunter is learning the trade! Helping to grease the pans:


mmmmmm gooey banana goodness:


Final product:

Monday trip to Carmacks

When we lived in Kugluktuk there was a Bed and Breakfast across the street from us. It was being run by a wonderful couple, Cathy and Ray, originally from just outside of Edmonton. They moved back south just a few months before us. And as I continually point out, this is a small, small world! Cathy's sister does something with home-care up here in the Yukon and they were up to visit her and tour around the Yukon a bit. On Monday we drove to Carmacks to meet them for lunch. It was so nice to see familiar, friendly faces again! Not to say we haven't found friendly faces in the Yukon; we have been meeting amazing people here!

We met at the Coal Mine Campground for a couple of hours. Couldn't stay too long as Matt was on call starting early evening, but it was worth the 350km round trip for lunch with them. And they also brought us out our first cinnamon bun from Braeburn Lodge. Wowee! We should have taken a picture of that thing; it was the size of a dinner plate. Delicious! The chocolate milk-shakes at the campground are great as well.

Hunter playing in the truck while waiting for Cathy and Ray to arrive:


Hunter trying to convince Matt to let him drive home:


Cathy and Ray- the original adopted grandparents:

Rock Picking

We would like to eventually do some landscaping for our front and back yards. Might have to wait a while though until we are bit richer, but in the mean time we are content to pick rocks for our future rock walls. Sunday gave us a couple brief hours of sun and we went to the rock patch.

Truck filling with rocks:


Tailings pond out by the mine (yuck!):


The mine:


The mountains of waste rock from the mine:


Matt searching for the perfect rocks:


Hunter was content to sit and count the kleenex while we picked rocks. We then spent a while tracking them down, but it was worth it!

Cute Stuff

*Warning- These pictures are so damn cute they might induce vomiting. Seriously. They are that cute.

Unreal cute.


Kitty begging for mercy:


Kitty trying to think of ways to get even with us.

Beer!

Hey! Hey Dad! What is that? Looks good! Can I have some?


Yeah... thats it... come a little closer. I promise I won't tell mom and I will sleep all night! Just give me a sip...


Oh yeah! Thats the stuff! glug glug glug...


Oh shit dad! She caught us! Quick- hide the beer!


Beer after effects:


*And for you retarded people out there who might think we actually gave our baby a bunch of beer- get real! He more or less just chewed on the beer bottle.

Thanks Indigo!

A few weeks ago this huge parcel arrived in the mail for us from someone we have never met face to face; Indigo Sweetwater! She has traveled all over the globe and is a dedicated nurse who also loves the north. She has been following our blog for quite a while and we are trying to convince her to either work over here in the Yukon or at least stop in for a visit! Well this parcel that arrived was such a riot to open. There was so much stuff in there! A few toys for Hunter, a cool shirt for Matt, some wasabi peas that have brought me to tears, a bunch of sewing stuff and some books. What fun! But by far, my favorite part of the parcel was this toy for Hunter. I had one that was a blue-green when I was a kid. I had been trying to find one for Hunter for a while. Thanks so much Indigo! We really appreciated your kind words and generosity! Can't wait for your visit one day!

I love you Freak!

*surprisingly, Freak let Hunter maul her for about 4 minutes. After that, the boy had more hair on him than the cat.

The Boy

Some cute pictures of the boy from this week:

Learning how to open drawers and attempting to use them as stairs:


But Nanny said I could call anytime!


Still hates grass!


While I was cooking lunch today Hunter found his new book that just arrived in the mail from the Dolly Parton book club and was busy reading it! Later he tried to read it to the cats!

Tagged

I was just tagged by Carole the Yukon Chatterbug.

Here is the info:

You have to ask your significant other to tell you three things that they know about you and then publish this information on your blog. You also have to pick more victims and then go to their blogs and leave them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged. The comment must end with the word ‘pthththth’. I don’t know why, I am just repeating what I was told.

So I asked my hubby when he walked through the door here this evening and this is what I got:

1. You take part in irritating internet crap!

2. You are kind and generous.

3. Ummm well it was something a little naughty so I will add another :)

4. You are a dedicated mom.

Well I think he is suck-holing so he can buy more tools or guns or both!

And I am going to tag some of my favorite stalkers and since they come here lots I don't even need to go to their blogs to let them know about it!

Deiss (since you suck ass at blogging this should get you back into it)
Jen of Nunavut (you need something else to think about other than McDonalds)
Tina (just cause you need something to do other than upack boxes!)
pthththth

My Jobs

On top of being a mom, I do a bit of other work. It is a tie between job #1 and #2 for the title of "Favorite Job".

Job #1:
I work for a company that makes student study guides for Canada and the US. I have been reviewing and creating work for them and loving the work. I am learning the ropes slowly, but am always excited to see what they have in store for me next. I usually do about 3 hours a day when I have work from them. Right now I have finished what I was working on and am waiting for more work. Love love love this job.

Job #2:
My sewing. My mother is a seamstress and I swore I would never sew a stitch. Damn. My baby booties seem to be a hit and are being sold online now at Due North Delivery in Whitehorse and also by the Midnight Sun Gallery in Whitehorse. A place in Dawson City is selling a couple and the visitor centre here in Faro also sells them. So far still just one size, but I have orders in for bigger ones, so I hope to get started on them this weekend.

Job #3:
Tutoring a girl here in Faro over the summer. Good fun and only a few hours a week. Keeps me on my toes!

Job #4:
By far the most disgusting job I have ever done. The school has hired me to clean and organize their science lab and storage room. Teachers are horrible; they are evil little packrats that store everything away because you never know when it might be useful!!! Well these rooms haven't been cleaned out in probably 20 years. Tonight I set out over 30 bags of garbage. I bet I have thrown away over 50 egg cartons. Seriously teachers- if you need an egg carton eat some eggs a week before you need it!!! It is actually an extremely dangerous place as so many mystery items are not labeled and there are chemicals beside matches, open bottles of chemicals, mystery items in beakers, test tubes and bags.... It just goes on and on. Tonights winners were: cheeze whiz on the shelf now brown, rat for dissection but now leaking fluid on to the floor, and drum roll please...... A JAR FULL OF LIQUID MERCURY. Shit. How the hell do I dispose of that?? Well I will be calling environmental health in Whitehorse tomorrow for some advice. And what the hell do you do with heaps (and I mean heaps) of glassware that has had mystery items in it? Can I take it all to the dump? What if one glass jar has remnants of something that will react with another glass jar and KABOOM! Frig-a-roo they are not paying me enough. I think I am going to charge for a gazillion hours for this job. Well at least I am sure this is the most entertaining of my jobs. I think I will bring my camera and show you all what I am talking about....

So I think that is it! Mom is definitely hands above any of these listed. Although tonight I was happy to escape to the school to discover my precious brown cheeze whiz while Matt did bath and bedtime. Hunter is wicked cranky with molars coming in. He has a fever, puked all over daddy at bed time, and was just generally unhappy. Poor gopher.

I love you Tweakers!

Hunter Clan Reunion

My dads side of the family got together for the second year in a row. I missed out last year since we had just had Hunter and weren't about to fly back down south again. Hunter and I were able to make it this year, but Matt had to stay here in Faro and work. The whole event was a blast! I got to see family that I hadn't seen in at least 15 years. Many of my cousins now have kids of their own and I finally got to meet them. I can't wait to do it again!

How many Hunters fit on a quad? Baby Hunter is in there being held on to by Granny:


My sister in law, Damon, Granny Hunter and Baby Hunter:


Me and my dad out for a drive on the RZR:


Dad turning around the RZR:


Hunter loved the little tractor!


He is also in love with his Great Auntie Wenda!


My brother flipping pancakes made with Carolans! mmmmmmmm booze in pancakes! Does it get any better than that?


Little man Damon scarfing down his pancakes:


My cousin Colleen giving some lovin' to Hunter:


Hunter meeting his Auntie Sheri. Beat this weird connection- she is my dads first cousins step-daughter and her half sister was a teacher we knew up in Kugluktuk! Odd eh?

Strawberries

The wild strawberries are out and my yard is full of them. Matt wants to landscape our horrible yard, but I am now in love with it because of the berries. Not sure what is going to come of this war!

Little gopher is addicted to the strawberries and is eating about a cup of them everyday. On our walks each day I take a little container to store the berries I steal from everyone else's yards.

A few berries from the backyard:


Strawberries for breakfast:


Strawberries before bed:

I love being a mom

I love being a mom. Really I do. Mainly because I can do stuff like this to my kid and then take pictures:


Not as much fun as lick and stick with cheerios though. For bored parents needing a laugh use the multigrain cheerios instead of the plain. They stick better.