Freecycle is so.....

AWESOME!  We love freecycle and have picked up many odds and ends over the last 7 years. Here are a few of our very favorite finds.

 Howdy, the Hedstrom spring horse.  Howdy was huge and very popular for years, we sneak moved him to our shed to make room for the punching bag but he was an intrinsic part of our household for 4 years!

 Then there was the pool.  OMG what a find and of course Dad was a superhero and installed it himself.  It came with everything 6 years ago and it is still in perfect working order. 

 Then there was the play structure.  What a super find and to this day it is still used all the time.

 Last month we picked up a "like" new cat post.  The feline kids LOVE it, especially since Sid keeps it well stocked with catnip!

 And now, our newest find.   With the NHL locked out, we needed some sort of hockey action in the house and we found it.  A beautiful solid 3' x 5' cooper air hockey table.  Kenny picked it up yesterday and it was assembled and ready for game play last night.  Our right biceps are a bit sore today and for some strange reason Ken is complaining of a bruise on his ribs ~ooooops sorry 'bout that!

Game Face

Serious loads of fun.  Thank you to all who give and take on Freecycle and if you have never heard of it then be sure to check it out, you never know what treasures you will find.

Race Day!

Chili Heat versus White Lightening

On your marks, get set.... GO!

We have some CRAZY drivers in this house!

Spin out.

Holding her lane

Passing on the outside.

Oh! Not the turbo button!

Flipside.

Chili Heat wins the race!

Not only do the two leggers race, we have a four legged participant in the house too, click this link:

Race Day With Lilly

ACTION!

Lots of Karate, a little back yard fun and some drama all put together to create a post on Sid in motion!

 These three shots were taken from a play the children spontaneously created while at the Arboretum. 

 The play was called "The Woman With One Hand!".  It was about a woman (Bella) losing her hand in a sword fight but fortunately it did grow back!

 The End!

 More agility practice.  Sid and Lilly have got tunnels down for now.  Lots of running and throwing going on here.

 Last week at Karate they practice break falls and shoulder rolls.  I looked outside to see Sid jumping off the roof of her play house onto the trampoline.  AHHHHH!  Towards the end of this craziness she was jumping and flipping in the air then landing in her fighting stance on one knee.  I didn't get pictures, I couldn't watch.

 Time for a hair cut?

 Sid is the one in the air all the way on the right. She doesn't just kick, she flies!

 One of her very favourite things at Karate,

 Grappling!

 He's going down!

Gotcha!

The Two Youngin's

 Lilly turns 3 November 10th and Sidney turns 7 two days later.  This makes these two girls the youngest in our family and when they team up the results are unexpected!  Since tomorrow is Junior Handler class, Sid wanted to work Lilly a little bit today. 

 Lilly knows several tricks from working with me when she first came to us last July.  She knows go around, tuck, spin and weave (through the legs).  Sid worked her in the tunnel then had her doing her "around" homework.  This all went very well until....

 Sid asked "Mom do you think I am tall enough for Lilly to weave through my legs?"

 I said "No."

 Sid said "Yes!"

 And our good girl Lilly who aims to please said "OK!"

 Yeeehawwwww!

 Going for a ride.

 Perhaps lifting a leg will work better thinks Sid!  Good thing she's got those great Karate kicks.

At a standstill.  What a hoot!

Oh Lilly, you are such a good girl.  Comical, goofy and always eager to please if the reward is as simple as tossing a ball.  No one was hurt during this trick.  As a matter of fact Sid did it several times all the while bursting out in fits of giggles as she got taken for a ride every time.  And sweet Lilly just said "OK!" every time Sid asked her to go through her legs.

Thanks for the laughs girls.

New Class ~ Junior Handler

This week we started two new classes but I am only going to tell you about one of them.  Sid and Lilly went to dog school so Sid can learn to be a junior handler and Lilly can learn to do agility.   

First exercise was teaching Lilly to go through the tunnel.  She was a pro and Sid was there to meet her on the other side to feed her treats right on time!

Next Sid brought Lilly over to an upright to reward her for going around.  This is Sid's homework for the week too.

Here her instructor, Magda, shows the girls what she would like them to do.

Success!  Awesome job Lilly, and awesome job Sid!  These two have quite a special relationship.

Lilly plays a recall game over a jump.

Sid holds Lilly in preparation for the next activity.

This is a buja board.  It teeters and wobbles and gets the dog used to being off balance and standing on moving objects.  No fear from Lilly at all and Sid was right there with the treats again.

At the end of class it was playtime for the doggies and kids.  The mom's had a bit of a break while we walked the pups in the back fields.   What an awesome time, thank you Magda for sharing your expertise and for making it sooooooo fun!

Pickled Eggs

Really, this is a post strictly about pickled eggs.  Why?  Because they are sooooo good they deserve their own post!

 When we went to Granny and Grandpa's we were treated to some delicious pickled eggs with our lunch.  After raving about the eggs yumminess, I was assured that they were very easy to make.  Granny sent me home with the perfect sized sealer jar that holds exactly a dozen eggs and the know how to make these myself. 

This couldn't be easier!  While you are hard boiling your eggs for 10 minutes, heat 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of water in another pot.  Add a bit of salt, a bit of sugar and heat until all mixed together.  Cool and peel eggs, put in the jar, pour vinegar mixture and add some garlic and pepper corns.  Seal, refrigerate and wait .....

We had our first eggs 3 days later and they were perfect.  These will keep for a long time but I know they won't last!  We made them less than a week ago and we have already gone through over half a dozen.  Try it, you  won't be disappointed! Oh and a side note, if you want to make egg salad sandwiches, these are ready to go and add a zing to your lunch.

Thanks Granny!!!!