Perfect Moment Monday: A Winter Day's Soup

Greetings Humble Readers...

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between.  Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.


This morning we woke up to this sort of a day...

It looks beautiful, doesn't it?  Blue sky against the fresh snow from Saturday.  Beautiful!  Until I checked the temperature, that is... this morning at 10am it was -37C!!  That's what my mom calls "snappin' a$$holes cold". 

So I thought that it was a fine day to make a big pot of soup and stay inside!

We had half a veggie tray left over from our little luncheon yesterday after Ginny's baptism, so I set myself to choppin'.

Of course I started with some carrots and celery, then I diced up an onion.

Then I found a zucchini in the fridge that had been languishing for a few days.  So I chopped it up too.

After that, I added some garlic, canned diced tomatoes and chicken stock.  Then I rummaged through my spice cupboard.  Added a little salt and pepper, some thyme, oregano, and basil.  Then I found a bit of pearl barley in the pantry and tossed it in too.

And this is what the finished product looked like.  It tasted wonderful, and it was such a nice way to stay warm on such a cold day.  

Want to check out more Perfect Moments?  Stop by Write Mind Open Heart and join in the fun!

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Two Months, An Opportunity, & An Event

Howdy Humble Readers...

I hope you are all doing really well.  We're pretty content here on the not-so-frozen flatland.  Ginevra and I were able to go out for a walk yesterday without fear of slipping on ice or freezing our tukkuses off.  A chinook has blown through (and for those of you who remember me asking... a chinook is a warm west wind that blows through central & southern Alberta, and can dramatically change the weather quickly.  It can be -20 in the morning and +10 degrees in the afternoon), so we had to take advantage of it.  It was wet and sloppy, but oh so nice to be out of the house.

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Ginevra is two months old today.  I can't believe it's been two months already.  She's such a little dolly most of the time, and even when she's being a stinker I still wouldn't trade a minute of it.  The poor little hobbit has been struggling with a unhappy tummy for the last couple of days (moderate constipation) and it's put her in a foul mood, but overall she is a cheerful little girl.  One funny thing... she is trying to figure out how to suck her thumb, but she hasn't quite gotten that she actually has to stick her thumb out to do it.  She'll suck on her fist for ages and then get upset.  Her two month shots are coming up next week, and I'm a bit apprehensive about that.  Any tips on getting through it without melting down too much (me or her)?

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My Beloved has a big opportunity ahead.  He's always been a gameshow junkie, and he does the Jeop.ardy online test every year, but he's never heard back from them.  A couple of days ago, he got an email inviting him to audition for the show.  This is a dream come true for him.  The kicker is that the audition is in Salt Lake City.  And in case you don't know your Canadian geography, Salt Lake is a heck of a long way from the middle of the frozen flatland in the middle of Alberta.  So, do we spend the money that we should be getting back for our income tax refund (money that we were going to put towards our debt) on a shot in the dark that he might get picked to be on the show?  What would you all do?

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 This Sunday is a big day for our baby girl.  She's getting baptized.  We had her christening gown made from my wedding dress, and it turned out beautifully.  I'm hoping to get lots of pics and maybe even video to share with you guys.  Afterward we're going to have a houseful for lunch... at least ten people in our little condo.  Yikes! 

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So, in honour of Ginny's two months, I have a few pics to share...

Snoozing with Daddy

The closest I could capture of her smiles...

Serious sleeping.... so serious...

Check out those lashes!

Perfect Moment Monday: Smiles & Thankfulness

Howdy Humble Readers...

So, how have I not done this even once in the last 2+ years?  How have I not participated in Perfect Moment Mondays? 

For the one or two of you who might not know what it is, Perfect Moment Mondays are about capturing those perfect moments, the ones that probably weren't planned, but they take root in our hearts. 

My perfect moment this week has been something that has been slowly developing over the last little while.  Ginevra has bestowed a few gassy smiles on us over the past weeks, but in the last few days she has truly begun to smile at me.  When I'm changing her diaper, when I bend over her cradle to pick her up, when I get in her face and make the sign language sign for mommy...  Her gummy little grin just lights up her face and my heart. 

And over the last couple of days, those smiles have illicited many prayers for a hurting friend, and of thankfulness for so many blessings.

I hope I can share a picture of her beautiful smiles with you soon.  I just can't seem to catch them on the camera yet. 

Join in share your perfect moments.  Hop over to Write Mind Open Heart and check out Perfect Moment Mondays.

Sometimes Moms Just Know

Hey Humble Readers...

Yesterday was a pretty blue day for me.  My heart was (and still is) hurting for WiseGuy, and I was feeling pretty low emotionally.  So it was a huge blessing when I got an email from my mom last night that made me laugh my ass off.  She sent it because she thought I needed a giggle, and I want to share it with you all, because laughter brings so much healing.

Keep in mind that this is a Canadian joke.  I don't mean it to be insulting to anyone, and it could easily be told the opposite way and be just as funny... maybe  ;)

Condom Emergency

The largest condom factory in the States burned down. President Obama was awakened at 4 am by telephone.

"Sorry to bother you at this hour, Sir, but there is an emergency! I've just received word that the Durex factory in Washington has burned to the ground. It is estimated that the entire USA supply of condoms will be gone by the end of the week."

Obama: "Oh damn! The economy will never be able to cope with all those unplanned babies. We'll be ruined. We'll have to ship some in from Mexico ."

Telephone voice says, "Bad idea... The Mexicans will have a field day with this one. We'll be a laughing stock. What about Canada ?"

Obama: "Okay, I'll call Stephen Harper and tell him we need five million condoms, ten inches long and three inches thick. That way, they'll continue to respect us as Americans."

Three days later, a delighted President Obama ran out to open the first of the 10,000 boxes that had just arrived.

He found five million condoms, 10 inches long and 3 inches thick, just as requested... all colored with red maple leaves with small writing on each one:

'MADE IN CANADA - SIZE MEDIUM'

We Need Your Help

Hey Humble Readers...

Kristin over at Dragondreamer's Lair has some thoughts on something that we can do for WiseGuy as a memorial for Lola.  Please swing by and contact Kristin if you want to be a part of this project. 

This is going to happen quickly, so please contact Kristin asap.