you'll have to speak up.. I can't hear you

I had a very grandma type day (no.. I'm not being a ageist! I'm being futuristic on what I will be like as a  grandma which I think will very much so hit the stereotypes of.. grandmas... yes! the kind that makes ridiculous comments that is non filtered because NO ONE will tell me to mind my manners or whatever, I will also be the kind of grandma that bakes cookies and delightful things all the time, sitting in a rocking chair judging people as they walk by - especially on activities and looks of the youth. YES I WILL BE ALL THESE THINGS! I CAN'T WAIT)

anyways...

• ate oatmeal with raisins
• I drank tea and knit...
• drank tea and listened to a show on parenting advice in the background
• I also made stew with leftovers of vegetables in our fridge and lentils (dry lentils only have shelf life of 1 year fyi. but exciting because it is high in iron and protein)
• cuddled with the cats
• baked bread
• swept..
• do dishes by hand..
• did laundry
• and played solitaire..

mostly I did things avoiding the cold because I am fragile and don't want to get sick.. cause every autumn I seem to get the flu.

(okay I'm lying about the solitaire but I plan on REALLY living it up this evening and try to convince Aryk to do a game of DOUBLE solitaire with me!) (that is if we aren't too exhausted from our tour of the Mormon temple)
(okay I'm back from the mormon temple now.. and we are watching the presidential debate instead, and yes.. I'm still knitting)

its 8:30.. good grief! no wonder I'm so tired!

kindknitdeed

I've decided now that I live in a cold basement.. that its about time that I start knitting again

  (I haven't since my way youthful years of junior high when my nannie passed away)

BUT IT MUST BE DONE!! 

it will keep my fingers from freezing

annnnd..

my Nannie and my Great Grandma Bert BOTH would make stuff for the homeless and womans shelter 

(shame to my mother and aunt for not continuing on this family community service :) jk.)

But I!!!! (apparently)

have tons in common with my Nannie and Great Grandma..

  THEREFORE

I must continue on the kind knit deed!

but for now?

I'll be making testers of things... BEFORE giving them away for I want to give away something that will LAST and be holeless etc.

SO if you are willing to wear one of my handmade attempts of things.. 

such as a sock.. square... mitten... give me a shout! 

cause.. I'm sure I'll have a few lots of practice runs.

for.. without my Nannie around I have nothing but youtube teaching me what to do :( 

BUT happy times that I'm at least trying to do it! yay!

just keep swimming

so yes.. 

this blogpost kinda already has a bit of a known ending.

yes. beloved member of Aryk and I's basement family had passed away on Thanksgiving weekend.

I can't say it wasn't expected.. 

Fredrik the past little while has been slowing down on his rambunctiousness.. Usually he would bounce himself to the top of the water tank, crash his head into the corners of the glass, pick on Gail our Japanese Fighting fish, and playing hide and seek with Aryk and I. But the last while he would sit there.
attempt to swim to the tops of the waters and give up.
if he DID happen to move somewhere... it would be very slow.
and very unenthusiastic.

So Aryk and I did what we could. 
We ended up going to the pet store near our basement location and quizzed the people working there full of questions with major concerns about our frog.
Is it just old age? is he too cold? is he lonely?? DOES HE NEED A COMPANION?  

we found out he is bored.. and yes likely cold. (which we figured.. for the basement was getting colder,.. and we would put Fred in a separate bowl and put him by the mini heater and he would be all active and full of life again)

we ended up buying a MASSIVE tank (okay not that massive... but way different then the little one that can hold one fake aquarium plant) it even came with a fancy smancy water filter! oooooo!!
though we did also have to spend the big bucks and also buy a heater, gravel, a tree hide out, another hide out thing...

and then before transporting Gail and Fred into the new tank (you have to wait 24 hours to de-chlorine) I went out and bought 5 male assorted guppies (for Aryk, for his birthday was a few days after)

we were so excited and would stare mesmerized at our new fish tank, our new guppies, and how much fun Gail and Fred were having in their new home!! that is... until we realized that the filter is a safety hazard for Fredrik... He'd get sucked into it and his leg would get stuck and would struggle to have enough strength to push/swim himself away from it. We watched him helplessly struggle while being a cheerleading squad. Eventually I couldn't handle it. and was in great fear that we would watch his leg pop completely enough... and if you know me.. you would know that THAT (that that lol)

would be a traumatizing event! 

we also found that he would get pushed around in the currant of the filter and he would get swished and shoved about in the bushes so we rearranged the decoratives in the tank for him...

NOW it was a home! NOW it was safe!

Fred would swim about, and we'd play even more intense games of hide and seek with him for now he REALLY knew how to camouflage with the gravel and had so many little hiding places!

 (Aryk was way better at spotting Fred than I!)

a week later we left for 4 days to go to Kelowna to have thanksgiving dinner with his family..

MY DAD SAID THAT FISH DON'T NEED TO BE FED EVERY DAY SO THEY WOULD BE FINE! 

(not pointing any fingers of blame at anyone..)

but when we arrived to our basement sweet basement.

I said hi to the fish, looked for Fred.. couldn't find him, Fed the fish.. and carried on bringing stuff in.

Aryk found Fred..

in the filter.

a mushy booger looking blob.

and with his face down in the gravel.. one of our new guppies (and favourite) Spit. Aryk tried to bring him back to life. but no luck.

we went outside and dug a whole and placed them peacefully in the garden.

and then realized we could have brought split back to the petstore and got a new fish because they have 30 day warranty.

its ever so clear that nor Aryk or I have ability to take care of things.. Frog death, guppy death, 2 deaths of snails, 5 tomato plants dead and rejuvenated and deathed many times over the summer, and 2 cactus's at least I think it was two? maybe three... there is also a semi alive lemongrass plant..
not to mention... many many many many fruit flies.. 

to end this on a happy note..

CHECK OUT 

HOW ADORABLE THIS PHOTO IS

--->  

avoiding the compost bin

I am currently sitting here with the inside of banana peel covered all over my face.

I've decided that until the landlady attacks the compost bin.. I will not BE attacked by the compost bin.
aka.. when you open it.. there is THOUSANDS of bugs that shoot out at you now. I was fine (well not really, when there was a few hundred dancing about. But the last time I opened that thing I was itchy for hours after thinking I was covered in bugs.

SO! that saddens me.. SO! I'm finding uses for things that I would usually compost so that I don't feel bad about throwing it out (okay I still feel bad.. but not AS bad because I'm being resourceful)

so far?
orange peel candy - its good.. but not incredible. I also made orange syrup (yet to try it out though) 
lemon zest from lemons.. cause most recipes as for lemon zest. I also use leftover lemon to clean our sinks (works amazingly) annnnd the left left left over lemon I put in water which I then put in the microwave (it cleans your microwave easier and clears it from any smells)
okay okay zest from oranges and grapefruits too! (I just found out you can SAVE ZEST!  by putting it in the freezer! oh man..)
coffee grounds in my hair - because it brings out the natural highlights on brunettes
tea bags - SOOOO MANY USES! but i haven't done them yet.. I was saving them for too long and they as well started getting a collection of bugs swarming around - I might use it for a relaxing foot bath. or to naturally dye my hair. use it as a conditioner (it makes it shine and easier to manage)..


uhmm.. okay maybe I haven't done THAT much. 
YET!!
I would like to point out in this photo above that my hair is looking NORMAL! thats right! 3 weeks now or so of homemade shampoo! doubt i'll go back to shampoo. and I know it looks odd.. its bedhead okay?

Zucchini

We have TONS of zucchini in our house due to Aryks wonderful and amazing gardener Nana and our landlady who has things growing in her garden which she doesn't know about.

So for dinner tonight i decided to make something with zucchini before it goes bad and to waste.

Zucchini casserole?
 Allllllllright...

Cook rice (3/4 rice 1/3 water)
1 1/2 pound zucchini Annd a cup green onion (which I grow at home now!! You just put the ends of your store bought green onion in water and it starts growing rapidly! Quite amazing really) and chopped onion in a oiled up heated pan (I had it on medium heat) and let it soften up

Meanwhile get a cup and a half of slices tomatoes a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and toss it into the pan with the others once your zucchini looks softened
Add 1tsp garlic salt, basil .. Whatever seasonings you jolly well please

Annnnd plunk it in a casserole dish
Awwwh pooh. All this work and apparently we have no casserole dish! Very Kristen kinda day type happenin.. Event.

Eventually got it sorted! Only filled half the thing but whatever.
Throw a cup of cheese ontop

Oven 350 - cook 20 minutes- yum

And zucchini is sooooo good for you!
Low in calories, high in protein and fiber, high water content so it helps prevent you from dehydration, cancer fighter, high in vitamin c, folate, beta carotene!! Need I go on?
no! If you wish to know more do homework and look it up! Anyways yay zucchini and yay that it worked out!

karma also can make me chuckle

sooo..
this blog post isn't really about 'Hugging it out and being happy'
but.. It happened the other day when I was out walking the dogs and I let out a "HA!" 
THEREFORE I say.. it is blog worthy!
so lets get started!!

I was out walking the dogs

and I see this guy on his bike

and a woman walking a bunch of dogs

ONE of these dogs is a old fat hound dog

a low old man "wooooooocoughhackgrunooof"

this is me and my bike. look how peaceful and calm we look

slowly marching after the guy on his bike.. the guy on the bike starts trying to go faster on his bike, while this old man dog is getting terribly upset 

'what is this fast moving thing? is everyone safe? MUST PROTECT AND BARK AT MYSTERIOUS OBJECT!'

they are both now passing me at the intersection of the pathways

"SCAT!! SCAT!"  he screamed!
(haha) and other bad rude words being yelled at this poor floppy eared four legged cutie.
BUT THEN THE GUY ON THE BIKE PREPARES TO KICK THE DOG!
so I of course prepare myself to march over to protect this dog and inform the guy about how to behave around animals

but as he violently kicks..



he then falls dramatically off his bike onto the gravel/prickly bushes.

HA!

karma.. sometimes I just love it. 
the dog also was then at peace and slowly walked up the hill with me with a big grin on his face now exhausted on his way back to the owner.      :)

something I think that made me so pleased about this happening.. was about a year ago when my black dog Eddie was about 6 months old, we were out a walking minding our own business saying hi to strangers as they pass.
a little golden retriever puppy ran up to this old man. and the old man started screaming "CAN'T I WALK IN PEACE" and marched up to Edgrr whom was much more interested in everything but him. 
AND HIT MY DOG WITH HIS CANE!!!
Eddie yelped and slunk down

I have never experienced such anger as I did at that moment. And that cranky old man suuuure knew it. in fact he even lifted his cane to hit me! but I gave him a piece of my mind while strangers stood around doing nothing. and I fumed in anger for the rest of my walk!
luckily Eddie is not a angry dog after this. 
and fortunate that I have not seen this man or anyone like this again..

annnnnd i got to experience funny karma :)

people: learn how to act around dogs or any animal for this matter. 
I feel like this is a topic that should be included in Elementary schools with basic knowledge like 'stop drop and roll' when you are on fire.

Modern family

Both of these gave me real smirks and giggles. I hope you get those as well!

Fredrik the frog died. I'm to sorrow to blog.

you might think I'm cool..

but if you think that...

you would be terribly wrong.

and no. I'm not singing to myself!
the dogs are also with me...

and yes now that I watch this I:

• 1. appear to be more of a distracted driver than I thought.. my eyes are looking everywhere!
• 2. don't seem to know the words when i thought I did.. (maybe I'm just camera shy)
• 3. my bluegrass TWANG that I thought I had perfected isn't TWANGy enough
• 4. I seem to have NO SHAME!  (or because i get rave reviews on my putting myself out there in blog word... sigh)
• I thought I had more dance moves.. but it seems the frog face is popular..

Meountain time

Im soaking in the no job life
And doing this i took a solo day trip to the mountains
It snowed.
And i said to myself
"Why on earth did i just drive all this way to be near snow?"
But when i drove back to Calgary it snowed soon after.
...
I dont understand why i havent moved..

Hello Loves
just giving you a heads up I'm deleting my 'photo accounts'
on redbubble and... instacanvas
I just found other photo sharing ways
annnnd.. DIY things too!
so lets save our money!
besides... the companies get like... 87% of the money anyways! yeesh!
I'll keep you posted!
I'll also write a less lame blogpost soon.
Love Kristen

thankful to urinate and poop in peace

A treasured valued friend and I were talking on the phone today
(one of the very few people I will talk on the phone with)

annnd.. we were talking about some pretty deep stuff.
like.. health related stuff.
like.. sad, upsettting worrisome stuff..

so..
lets not take things for granted k?

"like... think how many days you go to the bathroom in the day without even thinking about it. Some people its just not that easy. like... think about how often you sit on the toilet and multitask by texting on your phone or something" 

"yeah.. i pooh and text all the time!!"

see? serious stuff. (and actually those things I just quoted.. WAS in a serious context)
but seriously...
think about it k? how you really don't think about how grateful you are that you can urinate in your own home without the help of someone else. without the struggle to even GET too the toilet.

like.. some people aren't that lucky
.. and we should be thankful and appreciative

(no. not just because thanksgiving is around the bend.

 and no thanksgiving has nothing to do with this blog post!)

I love you valued treasured friend of which I was speaking on the cellular device with. I'll be crossing my fingers till I hear news from you again. (I will also be crossing my fingers that this stressful school week coming up will be easy breezy beautiful, and you actually get some snoozing time in!)