Ok…I am licked. I am so sorry for all of you who have been faithfully following me on my blogging misadventure.  WordPress is just a bit technical for me in that I don’t want to have to monkey around to set everything up the way I want it… the content is whats more important me… 

So as of today, I am back at www.lalalime.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there and thanks for bearing with me.

My first morning home started off quietly - too quietly. Miles got up early to go to the gym; I got up to check my email. I was just getting used to the idea and was listening for the sound of the van driving off. It did not come. I looked outside and found him underneath the dash. The van would not start. It would not even turn over. Poor Husband. He patiently tried jumping the front battery from the back one, but that was not the problem. He resigned himself to the fact that he would work out later in the day and I searched out my BCAA card dreading asking about our 4th or 5th tow this year. I think they should have a punch card - we would qualify for a frequent user freebie by now!Before I dialed I ‘gently’ suggested he call our landlord who is as inclined toward anything mechanical on a vehicle as Miles is on computers. This relationship works well for both of them. Elroy came down and together they explored some possibilities. Eventually they managed to get the van to start. Thank the Lord. I am SO grateful this did not happen on our trip home. Miles has an important business appointment later this morning and this would have been a big setback.

Blue Flower Element

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It’s very strange being home.  It’s familiar and yet new a

ll over again.  I enjoyed being away, especially as I look back the biggest blessing was spending time with Mom and Dad.  We had intended on coming home a lot sooner, however, Miles found it very valuable to study there rather than home because he was uninterupted - and cool.  While home was experiencing scorching days and smoke from the fires in Washington (we live right on the Canada/US border) we were enjoying the relative warm days with cool nights at the coast.  While Miles would hide himself away in the basement and study for most of the day I would spend time with Mom.  This is the longest stretch of time we’ve stayed with our parents and it worked out very well. Yes, after having to return from the US early, which was a big disappointment, I took some time to try to figure out what was the blessing and it was getting to know our Mom and Dad better. (My Mother and Father in Laws)  It was Mom’s birthday during this time, and their anniversary so we got to celebrate with them.  Our sister Michelle, and our nieces spent time at home too, so it was good to share time with them.

Mom and Rachel walking!

I am SO glad to have my computer come back to life…won’t take it for granted again.  And now I need your help.  I’ve lost ALL OF MY BOOKMARKS…yes… ALL…

so I am begging you, if I have sent you a useful link in the past, or you would like to share your favorite links with me, please email them to me at lalalime@hotmail.com and please put BOOKMARKS in the subject line.  I would so appreciate this.  I would especially love scrapbooking links, photoshop links, free fonts links, recipes…hey, you all know what I like.  Thanks in advance. 

BARB’S HANDY HINT # 61

Stop Whining Already!

I saw this most handy tip recently in a magazine.  We don’t drink, but I love the looks of some of the wine racks out there… a neat solution?  Roll up an assortment of small hand towels or facecloths and display them in your bathroom!

Hello Everyone!  I’m not apologizing for being away as I’ve been enjoying some much needed ‘downtime’. 

First of all, I want to say a HUGE thank you to Gina and her lovely family who invited us into their home and totally spoiled us on our vacation.  We were fed amazing food (THREE different salads and yummy Grilled Thai Chicken)  and we were taken out on a ride into the deep, dark woods so we could learn how to geo cache.  It was really fun and a treasure which had eluded them in the past several times was located while we were there!  Darin, you are a gentle, sweet and patient for putting up with us (specially me ‘directing’ you and Miles in the background as you guys set up the shelter) - Hannah, you are pretty and interesting and talented - keep painting!  Matt, Miles and I were very impressed with how polite and helpful you are!  Gina - words won’t cover what I could try to express here…but then you already know, I am sure.  Your the hostess with the mostest.  I miss ya!  Please come up in the future and let us show you some good Canadian hospitality!  I can still smell the mouthwatering fragrance of your kitchen the morning we left - the amazing Zuccini Bread you baked for us.  We sure enjoyed eating the leftover later on our drive! I am writing this entry from the public library in Mission - a 15 minute drive from Mom and Dad’s in Abbotford, where we have been ‘hiding out’ for the past week.  We are enjoying our time here and well, its cool here, so we are not going home to hot Osoyoos until we HAVE to! 

What are the mishaps which have led up to this moment?  I believe the last time I REALLY posted was while we were in Oregon.  This is what happened JUST before we left.  It was an evening and I decided to make it magical for my sweet husband.  Camping does not often lend itself to romance and so I was determined to make the most of an opportunity.  He headed out to capture a sunset on film and so put some nice music on my computer and took some time out to decorate myself and light candles and to spruce up the van.  All was going terrifically until I hung a sparkly scarf up on the ceiling and inadvertently knocked a heavy battery operated lantern off a hook and it fell with a glancing blow onto my laptop.  OOOPS!  All seemed well for like 10 minutes, then all of a sudden everything quit.  Needless to say my sweet husband came home to a very upset (though nicely groomed) wife.  After checking out the non-performance of my computer which was doing countless number of weird things, he came to the conclusion it might be a problem as serious as needing a new hard drive or something.  We had to face the possibility if this was the case, we might have to shell out loads of money to fix it.  We decided to head back early.  FORTUNATELY, he was able to completely restore my sweet ‘puter by reinstalling everything.  Whew!!! My hero. 

We stopped at Gina’s on the way home which was a blessing.  That day of driving after, by Mount St. Helens was dreary and we saw virtually nothing. We drove all that day and camped at some small community that night.  The next day Mom and Dad met us in Bellingham, Washington and we went out shopping and for dinner and came home together and here we are.  I’ve just yard-saled and shopped and visited since being here.  We work out in the day and go on bike rides and just relax.  I look forward to visiting with you all.  I will visit your blogs etc.  Got to hurry to get this posted before our time runs out.  You can check out my last few pics HERE.