Hazy, sticky,smog ridden days.

Well we are already on the second smog day here in the Greater Toronto area and it feels like 41 with the humidity. For those of you who live in Alberta or other non Humid areas this type of heat is the kind that hiding under a shade does nothing! ziltch, nada! Inside our place is partialy below ground and since we have kept everything closed off since the start of the hot weather we were fine without the air conditioner until tonight then on it went. Anistens pool is up and running and no doubt will see much action this summer. I forgot to take a picture of Anisten and her friends playing in the pool, will have to remember tomorrow. The forecast for Tuesday is for slightly cooler weather, if you can call 30 cool + the humidex if we are lucky maybe it wont go over 35.

Census 2006

I have just started a 7 week Enumerator job with Statistics Canada following up on those who have not submited their complete census form. Anyone living in Canada must fill out a form by mail/intenet/phone by May 16, 2006 so if you haven't here is your reminder filing late is better than not at all. The penalty for not filing your information is $500 and/or 3 months in jail!

Carolyn Lisak

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Carolyn Lisak passed away on Friday May 26, 2006 at at the age of 21 from the ravages of cancer. My heart is heavy, but it cannot even come anywhere close to what her parents and 2 brothers must feel and others who were close to her. The Heaven to come for us, is Carolyns glorious reality today. She no longer hurts or wonders about her future but rather she is basking in our dear Saviours arms and enjoying all the benefits in the ultimate future.

Have a Blast Carolyn!

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Update: Rose situation

Well I think I was dreaming last night of the rose and delphinium and today I decided that if there was no change I would lift up and just see what was happening underneath, since the problem started after much rain. Sure enough it was a bog beneath so I lifted and added dry peat moss with extra compost and replanted much higher up. The moisture doesn't seem to affect the other plants, figure that! I also moved the rose closer to the front in able to allow it more sun and upon removing the Lamium and cutting back the Dianthus it left me some room for this years annuals which will add the colour. I added drawf Darwin Dahlias so far and I will fill out the other spot soon maybe with a pink Lavatera.

Dying Rose and Delphinium

I am really concerned about the Hunter(?) Rugosa rose and the Delphinium as they are turning yellow. As you can see everything in the surrounding area is thriving but in the past days these 2 plants that have looked amazing have began to deteriorate. The spot where the Rugosa is in the middle previously had a young Magnolia tree and the same occured. I did water in some high Nitrogen and Iron in yesteday. Any suggestions would be so welcome, sooner than later please!!!!!

Spring East GTA plant swap

Wow what a great Swap! It is fabulous to get together and swap our extra plant divisions and seedlings. We must of had about 20 give or take and the pictures show "The winners circle" that is where the unclaimed(not pre arranged trades) go and its where everyone eventually ends up and we all find things we didn't know we needed but walk away with such a sence of accomplishment. Thank you Wanda for coming with me. Looking at my 50 plus things I brought to the swap I knew that I wouldn't come home with that much and I needed some one to share in the spoils with. Wanda is hooked and thought this was such an amazing "Community" event.

The pictures by the car are of Wanda with the "spoils" of the swap sure to bring us much enjoyment during the growing time and also leave us salivating for the next swap. Oh Wanda. I forgot to mention that there is a Fall Swap as well.

Da Vinci Code

Bill and I went to see the Da Vinci Code and we both came to the same conclusion, that it was kind of boring in spots and lacked the thrill the book provides.

Now regarding the content it is purely FICTIONAL and in no way do I ascribe to the falacies of the book. There are more historical proofs for the Bible and Jesus Christ than any other ancient event or literature, more than are even required to proove anything as truth so Dan Brown was successful at making a good fictional piece. 

Why having two is better than one!

Having 2 cats is a much better position than having just one. Why you ask? For years we had Dufus (as soon as I get a scanner I will post on Dufus) and at the time he felt he needed to wake up is the time that he wanted you to be awake and made his request known! Big cat, big sound! Well having 2 eliminates that because they have each other to bug and not you. So if you are lucky and are in deep sleep you don't hear the ripping and roaring that occurs as they fight and play, usually at 3 to 4 a.m. Also have you ever seen 2 cats love each other such as the picture shows and how they groom each other, it is so adorable... I guess we have come to the conclusion that since God made us to be together so our feline friends enjoy each other(unless you are Dufus) 

Winter sowing!

Again for all you gardeners or wannabees. Here is the images of some of my wintersown seeds. Wintersowing is where you sow your seeds outside as the title says in winter and cover it over with plastic. The next step is just wait, when temperatures warm up then make sure the soil stays moist and the seeds will sprout when they know it is time for them to do so.

I kill every thing that I have ever started indoors so this is a foolproof method. No more damping off and the seedlings are much more hardier with no need to introducing them to the outdoors as you naturally do this as the plastic cover is gradually pulled back.

As you notice the seedlings are really close together as this was my first year and I wasn't sure it was going to work so I sowed heavy and they did too well. Not every seed of everytype germinated and some of the empty spaces in the crates are of the seedlings I have already planted out.

I had germinate this year,
-Stachys, Lambs ears (purple and yellow flowered)
-Livingston Daisy, Ice Plant must be 100% germination
-Painted Daisy
-Rudbekia Hirta, yellow coneflower
-Echinacia, purple coneflower
-Purple Mallow
-Amaranthus purple
-Calendula
-Zinnias
-California Poppies
-Raspberry Spinach
-Birds foot trefoil?
-Portulaca, Moss rose
-Marigolds
-White Nicotania
-Helychrism, Strawflower
-Dahlia
-Yucca

Since the weather was crazy around January/February, I did notice that the ones planted out in Feb/March did better than the ones planted in January.

The crates were free from a local garden center that sells grapes for wine. So once they press the grapes the crates are no longer needed. I lined the bottom with plastic with holes cut for drainage. The plastic was kept in place with thumtacs(just press into the wood with thumb).

Nursing a weed?

So for you gardeners out there. Am I nursing a weed or is this an actual wildflower?

What is Love?

Is Love a fuzzy feeling or is it devotion that leads one to love when no love is returned? Its so easy to love the loveable, but is not true love to love that which is unloveable, the one who rejects and pulls away the one who hates back instead of Loving?

As a teen I used to have a saying which was "I am above all women!" pretty bold and stupid as I don't have the right to assume anything above anyone else. As I grow older I am faced with many challenges that put these questions in my mind.

This past week Cecilia Yungs killer was sentenced and through the hurt and betrayal of their only child abducted and killed the parents have previously expressed forgiveness. Wow I consider things that have happened to me in the past and have seen how at times it ate at my very being at the anger of the injustice, and that in no way compared to the pain and hidious actions of this senseless murder.

What about women or men who undergo betrayal in the marriage? Is it not the Love spoken off in the marriage vows that allows such a spouse to forgive and trust that the marriage is worth saving. I have heard many women state that there is no way they could stay in a marriage if adultery had occured, is this not just one of the situations spoken off when we say "for better or worse"?

In the bible book of Hosea, God called him to marry a prostitute to help the prophets life signify what we ourselves do to our Maker. God in all his wisdom sent his only Son to die for our sins so we may attain eternal life and right standing with the Father. Though this gift must be received, God did not imply conditions on how big or little of a sinner you could be inable to accept, but rather all could.

As Jesus lay on the cross he looked up to heaven and stated "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" Luke 23: 34 as they rolled the dice to see who would get his clothes as he lay dying on the cross.
Now, that is real Love!

Longing for...

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

Mothers day, for many it will be a great day and for others a huge pain will weigh heavily on their hearts. I am specially thinking of my Aunt Elvira who lives in Minnesota and whose youngest child her beloved daughter is on her last days of life.

Carolyn at the start of her teens was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis a condition where many tumors just grow throughout the body with the biggest fear being that one day they will become cancerous. Carolyn has had many surgeries and some benign others were found to carry cancer and now being 21 the fight is almost over.

My heart breaks for all of her family and the pain and sickness she feels right now. My uncle has recently lost his sister(my cousin also) to cancer, she was in her fortys.

For my aunt its a bitter sweet Mothers day knowing it will be the last shared with her daughter on this earth, all the while wanting to erase her daughters plight. Carolyn has 2 brothers who love her dearly and the pain they feel these days could never be underestimated.

As tears stream down my face, I can't help but state that this world is a harsh and makes me long for Heaven where there will be no more tears. Oh, how I long for that...

Here's Spotty

Hello my name is Spotty and I am the Hamster mentioned as one of the Dunsmores pets. Since the cats were top billing in the last post I decided that I better jump right in and introduce myself. All the talk in this house is 'Shadie and Dietrich" just makes me sick! Let me tell you what Shadie does to me! She sits outside my cage which sits on a small table in the kitchen and waits for me to go up to the bars and swats at me, so I won't take that sitting down I swat her back and back until I decide that the battle is over. Dietrich is much more of the gentle giant and if ever he watches me its more to see what Shadie will do and he cheers ME on.

I have heard Maria say that I am a spaz and that I Nip, what do they expect from a little guy like me? We'll see what you would all do you saw an object 10 times bigger than you approach you while you are nice and comfy in your home.

I do have a great pad with a maze attached. I heard the maze came from someone on the freecycle network so it was free and Maria really likes that word. She received a cage to go with it as well but since I am happy in mine she is trying to Freecyle it back to someone else.

My favourite thing to do of all time is to go in my ball outside of the cage and cruise around the house. I cruise in that ball for hours on end, unless I get stuck then I try and try to push on the sides until someone comes to rescue me. Even though cruising around the house is so much fun I still prefer to stick around in a room where one of the Dunsmores are.

Can you all do me a favour and tell Maria to stop changing my bedding. I have this shredded newspaper and I pile it up into a real cozy spot to hide out my days and sleep, but everyonce in a while I get to go in my ball and then when I get back... everything is new and my smell is gone and it takes me all the time to redo my den, the nerve of her.

I really like it here, I get all the food I could ever want to eat and also to store away and plenty of water from the hanging bottle, and my cruising times in the ball are the bomb. Pssst... Just between us, I have a secret, I would love to accomplish "something in my life" so I am trying to escape by eating through the bars. Its no easy task I tell you as the bars are hard, "Baring" complications I predict I am 1% on my way.

Anistens first blog post.

3 Dunsmores
Hi my name is Anisten. I just turned 9 . I have two cat's Shadie and Dietrich ( thats their names). And thats what I'm telling you about now. Shadie is my little kittykens( well that's at least what I call her ). Also Dietrich is really FAT and SLEEPS ALL DAY!! However he's REALLY SWEET!!!! The best part about having cats is they keep you company when you need it! Dietrich is deaf and shadie knows it but you can't tell by looking at him. Sometimes Dietrich will meow to call Shadie but she will never meow back to him to let him know thats shes coming knowing that he can't hear her.

Dietrich is white and Shadie is Black.

Anisten turned 9

Anisten just had her Birthday party so I thought you may all enjoy some pictures to look through. We had the party at our home (which means I had to clean... great!). The Snatangelos have a business (which I can't quite remember the name of so look for them to post that info on the comments listed with this post, I hope they realize this is a strong hint!) which Frank does the magic shows and Lisa the amazing face painting. Frank was very witty and kept the kids really entertained. So if you live in Orangeville or the G.T.A. I strongly recommend them. Pizza and Icecream cake were the finishing touches to a great party and most of the kids stayed for hours on end.

To Lie or not to lie

3 Dunsmores
I have a confession to make! I am a recovering habitual lier; when I was 13! I must give credit for my lieing demise to my dear best friend Denise Burma(Kowalchuk now). She busted me so by confronting me and embarrasing me so that it forever set a precedent in me. I am often now found to be ever careful not to lie that I even have to clarify my statements with a "as well as I can remember" or some other form of clarification. I have recently been told that I should embellish facts on my resume so it would get me in the door for an interview. To the surprised look of the advice giver, I told her I could never do so as that could put a seed of doubt on every word spoken from that moment on. Weeks later there was a situation of money thought to be missing from an account I had personally tallied. While the recounting took place I could sit in peace knowing that my integrity at the moment hopefully left no room for questioning. The money was found and I lost not a second of worry.

So today as I read the fact that Paul Martin(Canada's previous Prime Minister) came out of hiding in the House of Parliament and spoke his mind regarding the recent gov't budget, it makes me shudder. Mr. Martin piled on the lies so thick in his career I am sure it not only made my head spin but his as well. Another Headline that also made me shudder was the picture of MS. Heddy Fry announcing her entrance into the running for the leadership of the Liberal party(yes I know, it must be pretty clear by now my distaste for the Liberal Party). Ms. Frey was the one who years ago made comments about the burning of flags in BC insinuating the ever presence of white supremacists. There were other instances of tall telling as well from Ms. Frey. But the best politician to "somewhat" come clean once, the honour must be given to the right Honourable(shuder, uhhhhh) Jean Cretien as he stated "A politician cannot be held accountable for promises made in an election year" in response to a public outcry demanding the resignation of the MP Sheila Copps as the G.S.T. had not been scrapped and she ran on the platform that she would resign if not so. These politicians have many people who have called them to account, yet no change occurs? It's no wonder that Canadians in the last election were so disapointed and no longer held clout to any promises given, and the smear campaigns that contained half truths(lies... twisting the truth is no truth at all) resounded in many.

Bill has a motto in life and it is that "you only think what people are capable of, is indeed what you yourself are capable of doing". Do you have a problem trusting others? Is everyone out to get you? Maybe the problem is not them, but its the fact that you yourself know you are capable of the same!

In recollecting the beginings of my lieing history, I remeber it just being like a game or like a story written by your own will to say what you wanted it to say. Unfortunatly, you eventually get caught and are made to look like a fool. If I cannot honestly live every moment in truth then I am only fooling myself in that the lie becomes the truth to me and thereby I am a Fool.

Plant Sale!

3 Dunsmores
For all you garden enthusiasts who live in the GTA here is the information to the May 13 Charity plant sale.

Scottish money at work!

3 Dunsmores
I was wondering what I could do a next post on and while reading the paper this morning on the second page was this the article (I have pasted below). In case you don't have time to read/choose not to, it's about a new pamphlet being distributed in Scotland to doctors offices about the right way to deficate(the medical way to explain pooping!). This is all based on a research done on penguins(the research winning a Nobel prize), turns out slouching is wrong and opening the mouth is in.

How do penguins go without ever leaving?
Scottish health pamphlet offers tips on the art of doing your business

Joseph Brean
National Post
Thursday, May 04, 2006
LONDON - On a visit to Antarctica in 1993, two biologists hunkered down behind a Chinstrap penguin, placed a ruler by its rectum and measured how far it squirted its feces.
By testing several birds this way, they came to a rough estimate of the birds' defecation pressure, which at 60 kilopascals is considerably less than that of a fully inflated bicycle tire, but still high enough that, barring the effects of wind, a penguin can expel waste from its nest without actually leaving it.
That remarkable conclusion, which earned the scientists an Ig Nobel Prize when it was published last year, was back in the news this week when a National Health Service trust in Dundee, Scotland, endorsed the practice of defecating with an open mouth.
In a four-page pamphlet titled "Good Defecation Dynamics" and distributed to clinics and doctors' offices, the NHS trust describes the art of voidance, complete with diagrams.
In this delicate system, the mouth plays the role of abdominal pressure valve. To avoid hernias, the trust says, this valve should always be open.
The now-famous Antarctica experiment proved that penguins have developed a high-powered pressure-wash style of defecation (their feces have roughly the viscosity of olive oil) that succeeds in keeping their nests clean.
And humans? Sometimes we get a bit of reading done. But other than that, we usually just sit back and let gravity do the heavy lifting, giving no thought to our aim and trusting the plumbing to wash it away.
Even at the best of times, most humans couldn't hit the side of a barn with their feces, given that our normal abdominal pressure is about one-sixth that of a full-up penguin. Perhaps we do need some advice.
The Scottish approach is mostly uncontroversial -- feet apart, back straight, hands on the lower stomach for support.
"Do not slump down but keep the normal curve in your back," the pamphlet reads. It even suggests using a small stool as a footrest.
But the dictum to "Keep your mouth open as you bulge and widen" seemed to fly in the face of experience.
"Perhaps it is to guard against a potentially damaging build-up of pressure that might blow off one or other end of the digestive tract," The Times of London wondered, while suggesting the very need for such a pamphlet revealed "a gaping cultural black hole in a well-populated part of eastern Scotland."
Such wisecracks are unfair.
"One in three people suffers from bowel and bladder dysfunction, and this can be extremely debilitating and distressing for individuals," an NHS spokeswoman told the newspaper.
"These patient information leaflets contain advice for those people who suffer from this condition, and are based on national guidance from the Association for Continence Advice."
© National Post 2006

Why Blog?

Just thought I needed something to do, and thought somehow this may be therapeudic... ok just cut the crap Maria and tell like it is, I just thought it may be nice to get on this blog bandwagon and test my writing skills. Nowadays the web seems to be a great place to not only stay connected but an incredible way to meet and discuss ones thoughts and ideas. Who knows maybe It may lead to reconnecting with some far off aquantaince or meeting new ones.

My first thought on a personal blog was fear and the need to use discretion. It was only months ago that I had a "no secrets, what you see is what you get!" attitude and motto in life, well that can sure BITE YOU IN THE BUTT. So now I think I am finally realizing that I was living in a dream world and discretion is a strong skill to learn, unfortunaltly I had to learn it the hard way.

Years ago Vanessa a friend used to joke about how if our child was lost (she was only 3 at the time) that the proffesionals would have to photo age enhance her baby pictures as I am not the sentimental take pictures at every moment kind of person, but we all know blogs are boring without pics so I may have to stretch myself and start shooting away. The picture on the right is of Anisten taken not too long ago as she is getting ready for bed. So stay tuned and soon those who don't see me regularly will see how "FAT I am", or maybe a more politically correct way would be to say "how much more of me there is to love" yah right!

So please don't be shy and post your replies and jump right in with me. Since this is called the 3 Dunsmores Anisten will probably at her young age will jump right in and share some of her comments and views. Bill on the other hand will probably never check this out unless someone posts something to his interest and let me tell you sports or politics are not it! Politics I love and so let me ask you all Canadians, What about that new Federal budget eh? Any suggestions for new blog entries?