This has probably happened to you all....

On Thursday I ran outside to bring the dog's blanket in from the washing line.  I popped my crocs on and went flying flat on my back and bopped my head.  Everything was as muddy as heck and as I had not got all the dog poop picked up either there was the odd bit of dog poop amongst the mud.

I have grossed you out yet?  No, well I was covered in mud and probably dog poop from the bottom of my heals to the top of my head on the back of me.  When I realized I was okay to move the thought that then passed through me was that I hope no one is watching, as I then felt like a fool.

There was no chance of anyone seeing me as I was behind the garage.

24 hours later I have a mild case of whiplash on the left side of my neck, it's as stiff as a board, but otherwise I am fine.  Mind you I went and nipped the skin between my thumb and finger and have a blood blister there now!!  I know I am a walking disaster.

We have got rid of a lot of snow with the mild temperatures and the wind.  We should even be able to use the whole driveway by next week, as the last of the snow should be melted.  The garage isn't standing in water anymore.......well not all of it.

I truly think that Spring is just around the corner.  There is signs of life in the garden and I can see them all now that the snow has melted.

Having a busy day today as I am going to Toronto to go bridesmaid's dress shopping with the three bridesmaids, dd and her future mother-in-law, so looking forward to that.  Hopefully I am allowed to tell you all about it.........

More bits and bobs.....

I keep forgetting to mention I am still writing columns for the Eden Valley Messenger and the Orangeville Banner.  Haven't mentioned them in a while.  I try to do one a week for them both, but sometimes that doesn't always work out....life has a habit of getting in the way!!


Also you may or may of not noticed the big red heart on the left hand side of my blog?  I am taking part in a "Made From Love" swap.  If anyone is interested in participating, just click on the heart.  I am doing a table runner for my item.


I was up by 4.45am on Thursday, as dh "woke" up the cluster flies when he got up and they started dive bombing me when I was in bed.  At least that is what it felt like; okay I could hear them buzzing and they drive me nuts, so guess who was a tired miserable bunny all day Thursday!!!


If you have a few moments read this blog: http://sothattheymayhaveavoice.blogspot.com/ It breaks your heart that these poor children could end up in institutions......


Blast from the past, read this post of mine from way back in 2008, it's still as funny in my opinion:
http://thatbritishwoman.blogspot.com/2008/09/this-is-so-funny.html

Another thing relating to goats is a book I read recently called "Sunlight and Shadow" by Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl.  One of the character's in the book keeps goats. 

This book kept me on my toes the whole time I was reading it, as you just weren't sure what was going to happen next.  It delves into customs of Mexico as it is set in New Mexico, an area I am not familiar with.

You feel for the main character Abby, and also felt the love and concern of all her neigbours had for her.  A really good book and one worth buying or borrowing from the library.

Skywatch Friday

Not a cloud in the sky, just some smoke.......

For more Skywatch Friday posts please click on this link

Catching you all up with my news....

As you know it was my birthday on Tuesday, I wanted to share with you what my brother wrote on his blog about me.  I was close to tears with that post; that was so nice of him.

One of the gifts I got was this sun catcher, isn't it just gorgeous?

Spring has sort of arrived.  We still have snow but it is melting.  With the melting though everything turns into pure mud, including the driveway.  At this point I am not sure what is worse, the ice or the mud?

The garage has flooded and there is an inch of water standing in there.  It's on my list of jobs to do today to try and shovel the water out........adding more water to the driveway and making it even more muddier!!!  Should be keeping pigs they would be in their element with the mud.

I finally finished staining the new banisters and railing on the stairs.  It's a stinky job though and I still have the varnishing to do.

Got a heck of a deal on Wednesday.  I got an email from Shopper's Drug Mart with a coupon for 20 x the points on Wednesday when you spend $50.  Lean Cuisine/Stouffer's has a promotion on here .

Enter 12 PIN codes from specially marked packages and you will receive $25 in FREE groceries*, consisting of $15 in Free Nestlé product coupons and a $10 grocery gift card to the store you selected at registration.
When you qualify, we’ll automatically mail your reward to the address you supplied us when you registered.
You’re eligible to receive two $25 rewards within the promotional period (February 1 - May 3, 2011), so keep collecting.

The meals were on for $1.99 each and so I decided to pick up 24 meals so I could do two submissions, and something else to put my total over $50.  I ended up getting 20 x the points as I used that coupon, which is worth maybe $15 of free product, plus there was a promotion on when you spend $50 you get a $10 Shopper's Drug Mart gift card, so they gave me that.  Then I'll get two other $10 gift cards from the Nestle promotion, I am choosing Presidents Choice cards.  So all in all this will basically cost me nothing to have bought all that in the end.

Can't say you will get fat on eating those meals, but as I am supposed to be on a diet......failing miserably at the moment......this might make a difference!!!  I wouldn't count on it though, as I love my food!!

The vacuum is now out 24/7 as those bloody cluster flies have woken up and are now invading the house again, along with ladybugs.

Thanks and a book review

First of all the book review:

"The Search," by Suzanne Woods Fisher

"As a child caught up in a crisis, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision with far-reaching effects. Fifteen years later, when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge--the very town in which that decision was made--she is forced to face the past and discover how her decision has impacted so many.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm helping her intimidating grandmother Bertha recover from surgery. It doesn't take long for Bess to realize that her grandmother coaxed her to Stoney Ridge for an entirely different reason. But once Bess meets hired hand Billy Lapp, the summer starts to hold some promise.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes you through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Immerse yourself in this heartwarming--and surprising--tale of young love, forgiveness, and healing."

I loved this book, it was one of those books that I didn't want to put down.  I needed to know what would happen next.  I fell in love with the characters, especially the grandmother Bertha.  She was quite the character and so not typical of an Amish grandmother.  Some of what happened in the book was predictable, while others things surprised me. 

The way the book finished means that another book can be written as a sequel to this one; which I truly  hope she does write one, as there is still more stories to be told.

Stars out of 5: 5 nothing but good things to say about this book.  The storyline was believable as were the characters.  I truly would recommend this book to one and all.  I will be searching out more of this authors books now as I love her style of writing.

Now for the thanks for all the lovely birthday wishes yesterday I really appreciated them all.  I had a lovely day out and about.  Met up with people I hadn't seen in a while.  Dh took me out for supper which was lovely as well.  So another birthday over with for another year.......

I was lucky enough to win the gorgeous mouse below from Mary Anne, isn't it lovely?  I have put  her up on the mantlepiece out of Molly's way!!!

I didn't have time to go by your blogs on Tuesday, sorry, will catch up with you later on in the week.

Another birthday........

The kids brought over a Baskin and Robbins mint chocolate icecream cake for me on Sunday.

They also bought me this beautiful bunch of flowers and vase.  Plus they got four glasses with bees on them.

Having a day of running errands and visiting people today.

Book Review and a really, really funny video.....

"Angel Sister" by Anne H. Gabhart

"It is 1936 and Kate Merritt is trying hard to keep her family together. Her father has slipped into alcoholism, her mother tries to come to grips with their dire financial situation, and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to all of it. Kate could never have imagined that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what her family needs.

In this richly textured novel, award-winning author Ann H. Gabhart reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer."

This book was hard work.  It took me until chapter 13 to really get into it; there were 44 chapters in the book.  You really had to concentrate as the story kept going back and forward between the 1930's and the 1910's.  It was interesting to read about how some people didn't have electricity or indoor plumbing back in the 1930's, and how poor a lot of people were; but this book was not a book I really enjoyed reading.

There were a couple of surprises along the way that I didn't guess and kindness in a very hard life the characters led.  Overall it was not a joyous book, infact it was a depressing book in a lot of way.  I even began to feel the worry that Kate was feeling and thought for a 14 year old it was a hard, hard life she had.

Stars out of 5: 2.5 this just wasn't my kind of book, I don't want to be depressed reading a book and this book made me feel down.  Would I recommend it to you to read........if you like stories set in the early 1900's then go ahead and read it.  It just wasn't for me, sorry.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Val had this on her blog and I laughed until I had tears going down my face.