I Miss my Mind the Most

What's up???

My last two blogs and disappeared into the abyss of tblog.  I retyped the latest at my new 'secret' blog.  tmail me for a link. 
No worries, I'll still blog here when it's not being a hemmeroid.

~jen

These are fruits of my labour.  Picking blackberries is a tough job since the thorns rival sewing needles in proportion.  I picked so many last week that A large container got rotton in my fridge while waiting to be baked or frozen. The picture is of a few of the lucky berries That I was able to freeze in time.  I baked two blackberry pies, my very first time baking a pie ever.  I researched blackberry pie recipes, received some insider tips from my mom and threw caution to the wind.  They turned out absolutely wonderful.  My first pies were a success which makes me want to experiment a little with my next batch.  I think I'll add some apple to the blackberries, and maybe a pinch of cinnamon or even ginger?? 
My mouth is watering already. 
Jessica, when you get here there will definitely be a brand new batch of fresh berries ripe on the vine for picking, you'll be in HEAVEN. 

~jen

Yes girls, Suz (my sexy neighbor) has been holding out on us.  Big time.  I've been yammering on for ages about how i'd like to get my nails done but I can't part with 50 bucks just for that.  Yesterday during one of our marathon shopping sessions at Wal-mart, she introduced me to 'Broadway Nails'.  These things are bloody awesome!  You would never know that i did them myself (and they only cost me 6 dollars).  Do-it-yourself Fake nails have come a long way since 'Lee press on Nails' I tell ya.
Right now I'm putting them through their paces and seeing how long they'll stay on, so far I'm very impressed. I also bought the short 'everyday' length so I am still able to type and change dirty diapers without a problem.  I think they look great too... What do ya think?? 

It's nice to have hands that look pretty, it makes you feel pretty too... funny.

~jen

Okay, my blog the other day helped to bring me back into the 'technology loop'.  Apparently car cigarrette lighters are now called 'power ports' and most cars are now made with more than one.  So it's official as a society we use too much technology LOL!  I must have been living under a rock all these years...
Later Gaters,

~jen

Yes people you are seeing correctly- my daughter is sporting a Side ponytail.  After my husband and I watched Napolean Dynamite for the 15th time, she started requesting the hair do.  She's lucky, she's three and it looks cute on her.  So hopefully the trend is over again before she hits her teens, because then I'll have to tease her a little.

Paige made her rounds with my digicam the other day (again) and when I downloaded the shots, once again I was impressed by her work.  Take a look:

My watering can in the garden.

The tomatoes from the garden (yes blurry, but I liked the tomato in the centre)

Her feet next to Nolan's newest starfish baby toy. 

They are all interesting in a kiddy sort of way.  I think I'll start an album for Paige's photos in flickr... she deserves one.
Anyway- I should run and catch some zzzz's  while the getting is good.  I'll try my best to blog more tomorrow.  I made Pie today for the first time, that's worth a blog to itself.
Nighters all,
~jen

On our recent road trip to Alberta I found myself wishing for extra cigarette lighters in the car- and I DO NOT even smoke!  Everything with a battery can be charged 'en route' in the cigarette lighter, so handy.  Unless you have too much technology riding along.
I'll barf if someone tells me they are making cars with more cigarette lighters for this very purpose.  Seriously!
What ever happened to car bingo???

~jen

Here is a picture of Nolan eating rice cereal.  I've attempted to feed him rice cereal on several occasions but usually I end up feeding him the exact same spoonfull of food over and over again.  This night, it was different.  He actually figure out how to suck the food in and swallow it!!  He managed to suck back 2 tablespoons full, I was quite suprised and very proud. 
He hasn't been sleeping very well at all, we are thinking that it's a tooth coming in.  Teething can be a hellish time for little babies, and parents too!  I've been strung out with lack of sleep but hopefully I can catch up a little tonight.  It's 10:30pm right now, both kids are sleeping so I should be A OK.  I wanted to upload my photos and blog a little before i hit the sack.  Aren't you all luckY?? 
Check out my flickr if your bored- there's a lot of cute kid pictures in there. 

I do have a question for You readers out in blogland... Does anybody have any good- simple recipes for blackberries?????  I've got more blackberries than I know what to do with and I don't know how to can them or do anything but freeze them.  A recipe would be nice, something to eat with ice cream...  I know, I don't need that.  But it would be a nice treat!!

Take it easy!
~jen

This is Milly the millipede.  She belongs to my nephew James. James is really keen on bugs, reptiles, amphibians and anything that does NOT have fur.
 Yes it's a bug, a really large bug.  It's related to the centipede but one million times the size.  This also means it has one million more reasons to gross me out.  Believe it or not though, it didn't bother me much.  I mean, I wasn't kissing it, holding it or even so much as touching it but I didn't run away screaming either.  It's 13 inches long which means it's full grown (thank goodness, can you imagine that thing escaping into your house????).  Milly eats lettuce and sleeps under a hollowed out log. I really like the way the light was reflecting off of it's exoskeleton so I had to snap a few shots of it.  When it walked along the newspaper you could hear the light 'pitter patter' of approximately 250 feet.  It was interesting to say the least. 
My neices and nephew also brought along a small lizard which I thought was cute but didn't manage to get any photos of it.  I'll save that one for next time.  I hope everyone is okay to sleep tonight.  Just be thankful it isn't in your house with you!  Well, I should run, we've got another busy day ahead of us and i'm already tuckered out. 

Take it easy everybuggy,
~jen

It's getting about the time I should be watching my tongue in front of the kids.  I should have been doing it all along but what can I say, I have a potty mouth from waaaay back. 
Today Paige was entertaining Nolan in the living room and making faces at him.  She looked at me and said "Mom, Nolan is saying 'What the hell are you doing??'".  I let out a bit of a gasp with a look of suprise and said "Hon, you should probably say 'heck' instead of hell.  It's not nice for little kids to say hell".  Then I had to proceed to explain to her that I was saying heck and not the 'F word'- they are in fact two different words.  Then she says to me "NO. But Mom, Nolan was saying 'What the hell..'".  Okay, if my 6 month old prefers the potty words too (and he can't even REALLY talk) then I'm in BIG trouble.

I think I'll stick with words like 'fudge' and 'poo' from now on, it's just a lot easier to explain.

~jen

Yesterday was my big date with the scalpal.  I had a funny looking spot excised from my palm.  All went well.  At one point my doctor asked Paige to lean back because she needed the light to see.  Paige, visibly upset, said "But Mom, I want to see your red blood."  Dr. Findlay told her she could see the red blood as soon as she was finished cutting.  Paige squealed with excitement. 
Now, most kids I know would be a tad alarmed at seeing their mother's hand being cut open and bleeding but NOT Paige!!  I'm sure hoping she goes into the medical field because with fortitude like that, being a tennis player would be a waste.  Dr. Findlay explained that she would be stitching my hand up, much like sewing on a button.  Half way through the stitching Paige asks "When is she putting on the button Mama??"  She's got a little ways to go before she can perform surgery, but a Mom can dream right?

~jen

I was reading on one of my favorite blogs (spewing 4th art) and Lolo mentioned this site for toys.  When I arrived I found this hilarious puzzle that uses a random set of words and characters from their very hideous yet comically cute doll collection.  See one of my creations to the left.  I had originally done up some elaborate poetry using the words provided but *someone* closed my windows before I had a chance to save it.  I'm going to feature a new kissy doll as my avatar for the next week or so.  I've made a few and they are all so dang funny!  If you have a job (or not) that leaves you with a lot of boring time, this site will keep you occupied for at LEAST 15 minutes.  I guarantee it.  Any puzzle that includes the words 'bum' and 'love' for use in the same scenario has GOT TO BE good.

Okay, I'm back to sleep- thanks to kissy kissy for getting me through this small bout of insomnia.

~jen

I've discovered that those effervescent minty tabs used for cleaning dentures work great for cleaning all kinds of different things around the house.  So far I've used it on my thermal coffee carafe, the toilets, my coffee pot, the dishwasher, my stainless cutlery and a really dirty mixing bowl.  You just plop them in hot water and sit back while they do their cleaning magic.  All that's left is a minty scent.  I bought a large box of the generic brand so they should last me quite a while.  Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Don't say I never gave ya nothin',

~jen 

This is an actual picture of some of the fruits of my labour.  I planted chili peppers, green bell peppers and cherry tomatoes this year and so far I'm showing a bumper crop in all categories.  I accidentally knocked off those two little green tomatoes while I watered the plants so I included them in the picture.  I'm waiting to see if they will still turn red in the window sill.  I'm quite proud of my accomplishments and plan on bigger and better things next year.  In the future I will include several more Bell pepper plants along with several Basil plants, chives and last but not least DILL.  I can't make Suz's dilled potatoes without fresh dill.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I wish you could smell that green pepper, it's phenominal and I've got it earmarked for our home-made pizza tomorrow. ::drool::

We had a barbeque at Suz's place the other night and it sure was a good time.  She made her deeeelish Brushetta and I ate more than my share.  You can't leave her place without having tasted something delicious out of her kitchen, I swear to gawd.  The kids played well into the evening and the guys played some poker (also well into the evening).  It was a really good time.  Thanks to Suz, Laurie, Toni and the 'Big Daddies' for all of the great conversation.  Life is grand isn't it?

Paige has started going to bed nice and early in the evening.  It's a beautiful thing.  Nolan has been sleeping better too, so I would love to know what the heck is wrong with my body.  Sleep just eludes me lately.  NOT a beautiful thing.

I should run, Mr. Island is watching Napolean Dynamite (again) and I really want to watch it too.  I'll try to keep up with my blog postings this week... promise!

If you care to see more photos from the BBQ, check out my flickr (link to the top right).  You can see all of the guys Poker nicknames- They are hilarious and honestly earned too, I might add.
Take it easy,
~jen

Apparently you guys miss me, you really miss me!  I haven't had a chance to blog since we got home from Alberta but it certainly hasn't been due to a shortage of interesting events.  I just haven't had a moment to myself that I wanted to spend sitting at the computer.  That is, until this morning.
Since we arrived home here is a sampling of the excitement going on in the Island household.

Paige's infection started spreading and was re-diagnosed as impetigo.  It's on the mend with the help of some antibiotics and cream.
She has also come down with a head cold (keeping Kleenex in business).
Mr. Island and I decided to try and sell our house (don't want to talk about it).
Suz, Laurie & I have started walking in the evenings (I'm LOVING it).
I bought groceries yesterday While Laurie watched my kids (can I hear a 'HELL YA!!'???).
The landscaper knocked out the side window on the van with a rock projected from his whipper snipper (I told him, don't worry sh*t happens- and it happens to ME a LOT)
Nolan has also come down with the head cold and insomnia (which is also my insomnia).
I'm severely short on sleep which is evident by my blistering bad temper.

I've been trying to clean and de-clutter the house but it's been difficult.  Dealing with 2 sick, aggravating and terribly cute kids is really more work than I can handle at the moment.  I manage to get a little bit done each day but I have so much more planned that it's a little frustrating.  I think I was spoiled while visiting my parent's place.  There was always a set of eyeballs on my kids which allowed me a lot of relaxation time to think to myself, it was nice.  Now I'm having a heck of a time getting back into my daily grind.  Don't mind me, I'm just belly aching because I'm tired, a nice long nap and I'll be right as rain.

On our holiday I was lucky enough to get a chance to see my sisters new Honda Element. Tres cool.  I also had a chance to play around with her ipod.  Wow, I love it!  I've been lusting after it ever since.  I know that it's just another material thing that I don't NEED, but by golly a gal can dream can't she??  It's got me thinking that I should start painting full time again.  When I was painting every night, I was selling a lot of work and I always had extra spending money for frivolities (and lots of art supplies).  Maybe that little tin music machine is the kick in the arse I need to get back at it. 

I'm really pumped about the walking regimen that Suz has started us all on.  It's nice time away from my kids and gets my body tingling all at the same time.  I am going to monitor my food intake for the next couple weeks and hopefully I'll be seeing a few changes in my energy levels and perhaps even on the scale?  Don't worry, I don't get obsessive over the scale, it's just a nice perk.  If I can lose 30 lbs while being pregnant, I have no excuses.

Anyway I should run, this turned into a novel.  I just sent the van off with the landscaper to have the window fixed.  His name is Mark and he's a super nice guy.  Tonight we are getting together with neighbors (past and present) for a barbecue at Suz's place.  It will be nice to see everyone again and eat Suz's dilled potato's.  Yes, I love those potatoes.

Take care everyone and keep your whipper snipper level with the horizon,

~jen

Okay, Okay already- I'm blogging!
I just wrote out a very extensive blog and f*ckin' tblog erased it with no help from me.  Just **POOF** and it was gone.  So I'm just a tad pissed.  I'm going to be blogging it at my new *secret* blog and I'll post it up here when I'm done that way I'm sure it won't happen again....

Check back in a few.

~jen

We've been having a wonderful time here in Leduc but out holidays have come to an end.  I've been able to go shopping (found some great deals!) go to a movie, hang out and do nothing and enjoy a couple rip-roaring thunder storms.  I wish I could stay a little longer but we'll just have to arrange another visit- and soon!
Yesterday was my cousin Dean's Wedding in Red Deer.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and the ceremony was outside in the park.  It was gorgeous, the bride (Nancy) looked stunning and the ceremony was short and sweet.  For a gift to the bride and groom I have spent the last three weeks working on a couple large paintings.  One painting was of Nancy the other of Dean.  I was very nervous that Nancy wouldn't like hers because I had never met her and wasn't sure how accurate her portrait was.  I wasn't prepared for it but My cousin had a special presentation of the painting after dinner and before the speeches.  The crowds reaction was great (gasps all around) I caught a picture of the bride holding her painting up and she's slack jawed in amazment... I guess that was all the assurance I needed. 
It was also really great to see all of my cousins, aunts & Uncles from my Dad's side again.  It's been too long.

We are leaving first thing tomorrow morning and we are anxious to get home and get back to our usual routine.  Suz has been looking after my tomatoes and peppers while we've been gone.  I wanna give her a large Thank you- apparently, she's been doing a good job and my tomatoes like her.  Suz has a way with the tomatoes that's for sure.

I should be hopping along, I've got laundry to finish up and some visiting to do before the day is through.  I'll be catching up with ya'll again real soon.

~jen