Another custom project arrives

We woke up to a morning shrouded in fog with temperatures at -22 degrees. H ventured out quickly at 5:30, brr. The day began with coffee as usual. I checked in with Nathan, who is facing some conflicting plans regarding his release and a potential shorter surgery to remove a residual lesion left by the tumour depending on the pathology report. Hopefully, they will determine the details soon to address any issues and allow him to start his full recovery at home.

Renn was taken to school somewhat reluctantly after spending four delightful days with her mom, Shaina, and grandparents, including visits to her Dada. However, once there, she appeared to be content. The theme for this week is vegetables. She shopped the daycare's farmer's market today. Just look at the way she handles and loads her basket! :) I might just have her do my vegetable shopping.

S went outside, hooked up the small trailer, and loaded his broken grader blade. A customer came at 10:30 to have her coffee table reloved. He moved it into the garage for her, where she and I decided on the color. Afterwards, I enjoyed my yogurt bowl for brunch, worked on Spanish lessons, and he spent time surfing on his laptop.

I sent H out to find an esophagus buried in the snow, below S took these photos for the blog

Har's cheek is doing much better now

S had lunch, packed his hockey bag, and left for hockey at 12:30, dropping off the grader blade he needs repaired on the way. I completed yesterday's blog, uploading all the videos and photos. Renn has some hilarious videos don't you think? Then it was time to get busy with the projects. I started on the small table I had stripped. The new curved carbide scraper worked wonderfully on the fold-down edges that I hadn't stripped.

The customer's table was thoroughly scrubbed and left to dry while I sanded the small tabletop, which turned out quite lovely. Afterwards, the custom coffee table received one coat of primer after minor repairs and sanding. By 5 pm, it was time to begin preparing supper. Sheldon was arriving back home, his blade still unrepaired due to the cost exceeding $1000. I proposed a different solution - welding the blade into a fixed position.

We enjoyed our salmon dinner while I set up the Amazon Prime NHL Monday Flames game on his laptop. He was the epitome of contentment: starting a fire, enjoying a couple beers, and settling in for the game. Meanwhile, I updated today's blog as well as published the green magnolia table tutorial and did all its post publishing shares. Britt and Coop ventured out around 7:30 to feed in the chilly air and returned home by 8. Afterwards, I went back outside to apply the second primer coat on the table. We wrapped up our night watching more Perfect Couple episodes  just stopping short of the finale.

BRRR it is a cold one out but sunny

S had coffee going before 8, savoring it in bed while engaging in some Flow and browsing our social media. The sun shone brilliantly today, which was ideal. Harley's cheek was treated and she ate her breakfast. I began creating a sample board for the trunk customer as S left for church. As it dried, I returned to complete yesterday's post, which was laden with photos and videos. Happy birthday to Stephanie today too!

Upon checking in, Nathan reported that his pain persists, making it difficult to sleep in the hospital. However, he continues to have a positive outlook. He also showed off his unbandaged head to the girls during their morning visit, which makes him look quite bad @$$.

brushing her teeth to go visit Dada <3

Nice to see a smile, it does look like it might smart a little

S arrived home at 11:30 with a tea and donut in hand. He then went out to push snow, which seemed more like play in his fancy skid steer. In the meantime, I worked on the steps of the sample board, interspersed with tutorials, practiced my Spanish over a bowl of yogurt, refined the Christmas list, and then enjoyed a bowl of soup while watching Outer Banks on the iPad. After plowing, S headed over to Matt's place.

crisp clear and cold outside starting at -21

S's view

The antique table was brought out to garage again, and the stripper was applied; now it's time to sand the coffee table for a couple of hours. 

sample board complete, customer chose middle colours

I was sanding the edges of the maple coffee table when S returned after 2. He shoveled the sidewalk, then came in for a beer and lunch. Britt and Cooper arrived to tend to horses. While she fed the horses, I bundled up and took the dogs for a walk to the gate and back. B had left when Cooper returned to the house.

These 2 love their walks even if their feet get pretty cold

                                                            She loves climbing snow piles

this child, so many emotions in one dance :)

then there is her supper escapades

I checked the stripper on little table but realized it needed more time so back to sanding. While I was stripping the tabletop, S went back to town to catch a hockey game after 4:30. Afterward, the table was scrubbed, neutralized, wiped down, and left to dry. During this time, I wrapped up the season 4 finale of Outer Banks and made spaghetti for dinner, which I enjoyed in bed.

beautiful yet very cold night ahead

Later, I watched "Buy Now," a shocking documentary that highlights the crisis our world faces with consumerism and the lack of sustainability in our purchases. Alarming all the clothes in Africa's water and the mountains of computers and phones in the small tropical countries of Asia. People need to think about giving or throwing away.. where is away?  Just as I finished, S came home at 9, having visited a friend post-game. He had his meal, and together we completed the season of Alex Cross. We started watching "Perfect Couple" until S dozed off, leaving me to finish with "Man on the Inside."

Heavy snow day

The day began with a gentle snowfall that soon intensified. Our morning routine unfolded as usual, starting cozily in bed with a Spanish lesson before I fed the animals, adding hot broth to Harley's meal. Initially reluctant, she only acquiesced when I mixed in some dried liver—such a dog. S played his games and perused the net. I then turned my attention to marketing and finalizing yesterday's blog post for publication. Updates from Kaylin and Nathan himself about his post-surgery condition were reassuring; he's managing ok, despite the expected discomforts of surgery and a follow up MRI today. XOXO

what a champ!

Kaylin braved the snowstorm to take him coffee. His parents had visited around 8 and set off for their journey back to Kelowna by 9. Wishing them safe travels! Shaina took charge of Renn, persuading her to eat scrambled eggs and snack on cherry tomatoes. She also enlisted her help with laundry and enjoyed a game of hide and seek.

bit of a mood this am ;)

yay she is trying eggs

then her fav berries and some apples

learning the laundry chores

playing hide and seek

then she tries cherry tomatoes but not so sure

just a little girl and her pup

S dressed warmly in his coat and gloves to clear the snow from the sidewalk and deck. Meanwhile, I let Harley out with a bone to savor the fresh air. By the time S was done, a fresh layer of snow had covered everything again. After a light lunch, I began making two apple crisps. Sheldon settled down to watch his Flames play at 2 PM. About ten minutes into the game, Britt called in a panic, unable to drive into the snow-filled driveway. She continued down 817, then back via Namaka until he managed to clear a path to the gate with the skid steer. 

Royal Order of Water or is it Snow Buffalo .. and the snow dog in background

He was astonished by the amount of snow on the road, which was about another foot deep. B followed him back home and then left to feed the horses. I had a bucket of apple peelings to add to the compost. I placed the apple crisps in the oven just as S returned and started a fire to watch the game.

B popped in briefly to check on Harley before she and Cooper headed home at 4 for slow careful drive. I carried on with today's blog, converting and uploading all the videos. I also prepared a pot of hamburger soup at S's request. Harley cautiously ate her dinner while I cleaned the dog bowls. Meanwhile, another hockey game held S's attention.

This poor little bird hit the office window as I was typing then sat for awhile gathering its senses

The soup was ideal for a chilly, snowy day, complemented by apple crisp for dessert next to a crackling fire. After enjoying his first bowl, S ventured out at 6:30 to clear the snow. He finds it much simpler at night since the daylight can cause snow blindness, making it difficult to discern the edges. Afterwards, I spent some time on my Spanish before beginning to watch Outer Banks on my iPad.

It was then back to today's blog post until S came in before 8:30. The wind had picked up and the temperature dropping again. I doctored Harley's cheek up, it is improving slowly. We crawled into bed and watched about 4+ Alex Cross episodes even making popcorn after 11 to keep going. We almost finished the season but S fell asleep.

Nathan's surgery day

Today, Nathan underwent surgery; they needed to be at the hospital by 5 am, with the procedure scheduled from 8:30 am to around 3:30/4 pm. I woke up at 5:15, 6:45, and 7:30, sending positive thoughts and prayers, joined by many others. Kaylin planned to return home after Nathan was taken to the operating room. Renn is still feverish and will be comforted to have her mom at home for cuddles today. We had our usual coffee on this overcast day with temperatures at -16°C.

After breakfast, S resumed finishing the deer butchering, and I returned to marketing. I also managed to glue the remaining three legs onto the little antique table and brought it inside to dry on a level surface. I completely forgot to list several holiday Barbies in my Etsy shop, which was my next task, although it might be too late now, and the mail strike could hinder delivery as well.

S completed his task, cleaned up, and came in for lunch. He packed his hockey gear, the deer head for CWB testing, and a large bag of makeup from Shaina's stash, then headed to town before 1 PM. I resumed promoting the hutch tutorial and yesterday's post. Kaylin called after 1 PM with great news: Nathan was out of surgery early and in recovery. They discovered abnormal growths, which might suggest a more favorable prognosis than initially thought. My gratitude goes out to everyone for their prayers and positive thoughts for him. <3 <3

After sharing the good news with those following his progress, I returned to working on tutorials. As the fog began to thicken, I decided to take a break and lay in bed to watch an episode of Outer Banks, though a headache made me a bit drowsy. Harley, on the other hand, was eyeing me, indicating her desire to eat. Yet, when I offered her usual beef, she showed no interest. She seemed to prefer the fresh deer meat instead.

Kaylin doing a blindfolded diaper, Renn's face is hilarious.

I posted a cute bathtub video on yesterday's post if you missed it.

After S returned home from his hockey and coffee at 4:45 as I was doing indoor plant care. It had started snowing around 3, so after 5, he went out to clear the snow. Meanwhile, I peeled potatoes and prepared several deer meals for Harley, as she seemed to prefer that for dinner. I even concealed dried liver treats in her dish to encourage her to eat.

Renn making her way to see Dada

Visitors above and the patient catching up on rest post surgery

Once back inside, I cooked prime ribs in the instant pot and ordered Harley's food, opting for wild boar to see if she'd like it. As I finished cooking the rest of our meal, S came in from clearing snow off the road and sidewalks. While B went out to feed, I washed all the dog dishes. Following a brief rest, S went back outside to finish shoveling the sidewalks. He enjoys the task, but since he was hunting yesterday, he hadn't had the chance to shovel after the dresser was picked up.

B and Coop quickly set off to enjoy their Friday evening in the warmth of their home after her long day beginning at 5 am. Meanwhile, S returned soon and was catching up with a friend while I worked online and watched Netflix. We then started a new series called the Perfect Couple.