Sunday Afternoon Drive

Yesterday Justin and I seprately came to the same conclusion: we needed to head out on the road for a little trip. We didn't really have a location in our minds, although Justin did give me three options (heading up for lunch in High River, going through the Porkupine Hills or going to the Crowsnest Pass). Even after we started driving, with a bag filled with pop and rice chrispie squares, we didn't really have a clear idea of our trip; although we decided that we weren't going to High River since Justin is there too often as it is for work.

The weather was perfect, with a little bit of wind and temperatures about 15 degrees. The grass has slowly been turning green, and it's a welcomed sight.

As much as I admittedly hate the windmills, they do make for some nice photos, and remind me of trips that my mum, Grandma and I took around Southern Alberta after we first moved here. And now Justin and I have continued on this little tradition; after we first started dating we drove to Waterton, The Crowsnest Pass, Elkford and along highway 22 (which is where the ranch that we got married at is actually located), then the next weekend we made a trip to Medicine Hat and Brooks - love going on trips with that man, even if it's just a day's drive!

Eventually, we decided that we would stop at the Cowley Restaraunt and Pub (formally the Millview Restaraunt). We didn't know it had recently been sold to new owners that spruced up the place, adding class with new tables, chairs, big screen TV's and a totally new atmosphere. Prices are fair, and food is SO good! I had a club house sandwich (which Justin said he didn't know that I liked - I'm not a big fan of bread, and the last one I had was probably before we were dating), and Justin had a hamburger (he looked at me after looking at the menu and said he would have to ask the waitress if they had just a plain burger, as all he saw was bison and fancier burgers than he wanted, then I pointed out the one at the top of the menu which made him a happy guy). The french fries and gravy were really good too!

I had heard that the mountains had a lot of snow still, but Justin and I were shocked to see just how much snow was still up on top of them. I don't think we will be going camping in them any time soon!

After our meal, we headed by the Oldman River Dam to the Cottonwood Campgroundfor a drive through to see how it looked. We plan on doing some camping here this year, and are just itching to get out.

I think we were only gone from home a total of about three hours, but it was a relaxing time spent with Justin on the open road. I just hope next time we head out that we can be away longer, and our trip will involve camping!

5 May 2011 Goals

I've realized that I like to accomplish things, challenge myself, cross things off a list and see improvement this past little bit. Since my birthday, I've been working hard at my "26 Before 27 List" (eventually I'll post this list once I make a layout about it); I've been researching and making some plans (mostly in my head) for some items on my list and finishing lots of parts of a whole tasks on others (like completing one of twelve of something). Doing these monthly goals helps me out monthly, and my yearly lists helps to keep me progressing on bigger plans throught the year!

1. Now that the trailer is back, I want to get out camping. Justin and I have a goal to go twice a month, lets make this start in May! Between all the good times, good food and wonderful memeories (and seeing as how we only made it out three or four times last year), we really want to jack up our camping trip ratio! (Amanda Sipko's photos from our camping trip with them September long weekend in 2009.)

2. Drink a warm cup of tea each and every day. This has kind of been floating around in the back of my mind for awhile, and I think it might be able to help me de-stress a bit more.

3. Since the last few books I've read lately have been about spirituality (especially Eat Pray Love), I think it would be a good idea for me to sit down and come up with some of my beliefs in life. This will most likely include a bit of research, and maybe getting a couple more books read.(Photo taken March 30, 2008.)

4. Buy some new work pants. This is long over-due, (don't even ask me why this has been something that I have procratinated on) and it's time I just go and do it! (Photo taken March 17, 2008 - St. Patrick's Day.)

5. Cook two meals per week in the crockpot. After last month's goal of not eating out, I found it always easier if there was something quick on hand to eat, rather than having to make something when coming home from work tired. Well, I can make this even easier if the meal is already cooked when we arrive home!

Now for April's update: 3/4 completed to what I see as successful. I decided while out for supper one night (I know, I know), that if I could make it to 80% efficiency with not eating out, I would consider that a success - and I made it (at 83% and spending about $183). I did a resoundingly good job reading Flylady and tackling my cleaning "duties;" I've done my weekly home blessing hour each Saturday since reading the book, (and I surprise myself each time that it actually does only take an hour to accomplish), and it's making my life much happier! And I really liked doing things daily that wre just for me; some of my favorites: having a bath, shaving my legs, spending the day reading Eat Pray Love and then watching the movie.

Again...

Justin's got some wild and crazy ideas lately! We were headed out to meet Amanda and Lincoln for supper at The Sharkclub, and Justin got that same look in his eyes that he had a week ago, and suggested we take our passports with us. Alright, we'll take them, but I think you are crazy; we don't want to go through the border crossing two Friday's in a row - just for a trip to Shelby, Montana! The border gaurds are going to start questioning!

Soon after we sat down at the restaraunt, Justin mentioned his idea, and Lincoln seemed like he was totally on board. Amanda and I exchanged looks of craziness with each other, but humored the idea for a bit. The more we sat there, the more the boys liked this idea, and were going full steam ahead.

Lincoln needed to change one of his headlights before the trip could be made, so him and Justin headed to Canadian Tire, and I drove Amanda and I to their house in the Dakota. (The first time that I have ever driven that vehicle, and I've been around it since it was brand new back in 1998. It's really nice to drive, and not really a whole lot different than my Blazer in size.) The boys didn't take that long to get there after we made it, and were eager to get going. Amanda and I were on the fence, and after some debating, decided to just stay home and curl up with tea and Gerard Butler! We said good-bye to the boys, and took a photo to remember them by, but Justin was making faces, so we took another, and bid them ado.

Then Amanda and I quickly changed into sweats, and snapped a couple of photos of ourselves (somehow they end up racy?).

We made our tea, sat on the couches and talked, then decided to get our movie on. Gerald Butler swooned us in The Ugly Truth, and we had a little nap while dreaming of him. We woke up close to the end of the movie then put in Tangled. I think I managed to stay awake, but Justin and Lincoln came home shortly into the movie.

And they had tales for us. They purchased a couple things in Shelby that were much cheaper there than back here in Canada. When they came back through the border, they had to pay about $350 for something that cost them about $8. They asked if they could forfeit their purchase, and they were allowed. Amanda and I honestly didn't believe them until they showed us the paper that they signed to prove that Justin and Lincoln had wanted to give-up these items, and that they weren't being forced into doing so. I'm Hoping, this might just put a stop to Justin's crazy border runs!

A Year To The Day

You might remember our snow day from last year, let me tell you all of us around here do. I can't believe that was a year ago today. Last night it started with the wet, heavy snow again. I woke up a couple times last night and looked at the clock, I think I was just checking to make sure the power hadn't gone out and that our alarm was still set, and would wake us up.

Justin woke up early this morning and before he got in the shower, he looked outside and reported the weather to me: at least a foot of snow. I knew this would mean a difficult drive to work; wait, I had switched my dad vehicles last night! I didn't want to drive his van, I wanted my Blazer since I knew how it would handle, and it's got four wheel drive. Justin kept trying to convince me that I would make it okay, and the drive would me fine; I was not convinced and wondered if I would be able to get ready fast enough for him to give me a drive. I hopped into the shower, and soon Justin was poking his head into the bathroom. He told me that the Blazer was back, and the van was gone. Fantastic, I was safe to be on the road again! But no matter what I was going to be driving, the snow was still deep, wet and heavy.

Apparently I wasn't the only one wanting to look at the amount of snow. (He looks short in these photos.)

Thankfully, Justin had shoveled before he left for work. (And the pictures really don't do it justice.)

The lights flickered a couple times at work this monring, and I thought once that the power was on it's way to a blackout, but sadly that part of our new April 14th tradition didn't happen. (I really enjoyed lunch with my mum last year, and was looking forward to it again!)

Not Eating Out

Well, my monthly challenge of not eating out has been a little bit challenging at times. On Sunday, Justin and I took a drive around town to Sears first for a weed-wacker to no avail, then drove around looking at trucks. There were many times that eating out would have been so nice while we were out, but we resisted. Well, I resisted, Justin kept trying to get me to spend my birthday money on Chinese food, a donair or fast food.

We got home wanting something greasy so Justin made us frybread tacos. Yum!