Home Ownership.... one step closer!

Dave and I are excited to report that we've bought a house! The offer is still conditional on a home inspection, but should be firm within the week!!



Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well. If so we'll be moving in May!

Spring!

The weather is so lovely right now I've got all my windows open and am wearing a skirt (which sits nicely above my cast). Last night Dave bought me 2 dozen gorgeous orange and yellow tulips which are cheering up our apartment. Apart from having difficulties finding a great place to live, I am quite happy these days! Something about all the sun, the emerging green, the little chirping birds at my window and my new found freedom from crutches!
I taught my hardcover bookbinding class last Saturday which went extremely well, and spent the rest of the weekend in London relaxing. My mom and I even squeezed in a visit with baby Kayla, Julia, Jason and Mary. Tomorrow Alison visits, this weekend we'll be in London, next Wednesday my cast comes OFF and the next day we are driving up to Montreal to visit Keith!!!

maybe we can be friends?

Loooook! Ewan McGregor and I have the same cast! Though my crutches are wayyyyyyyyyyy better.

Pump Up, Air Out

I never had Reebok Pumps. My neighbour, Ricki was the first person I knew who had Pumps. His were black. The shoe was introduced in 1989, and being one of the most expensive basketball shoes on the market, becoming an instant status symbol, and well, if you remember the 1990's, you probably remember stories of people being jumped, even killed for a pair.

Today I visited Ambulatory Care at the hospital where I was outfitted with an AIRCAST. The sides of the heel are outfitted with air pockets, and you are given a pump to inflate and deflate the air cells to adjust fit and support. I will be able to take this on and off, but it's recommended I keep it on full time for at leats the next two weeks. I am definitely lookg forward to snagging a bath without the aircast soon. Also, I will be able to walk on this! (not yet, but in the near future).

Bones!

So, I had my x-ray follow up appt. this aft. I found out which bone is broken. It's the tibia (the bigger leg bone) at the back of the bottom of the bone. Tomorrow I *should* be getting a cast. Updates to come.

Moving!

We've given our notice and are furiously looking for a new place to call home (and work/my studio), watch for updates!

Soft Pretzels

Rave reviews to this recipe! Dave's dad and step-mum came to visit today and we made these soft pretzels as a snack. I'm not sure there are any left.

Soft Pretzels I
Yields: 12 servings
"Like bagels, these big doughy pretzels are first boiled and then baked. Sprinkle with coarse salt for the authentic look and taste."


INGREDIENTS:
1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoons margarine
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

4 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons baking soda

2 tablespoons kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Proof for 5 minutes.
2. Mix in butter or margarine, flour, and salt. Cut dough into short strips, roll into ropes, and shape into pretzels. Cover, and let rise on a greased baking sheet for about 45 minutes.
3. In a cast iron or other nonaluminum pan, bring water and baking soda almost to a boil. Gently lower pretzels into water for about 1 minute, turning once. Do not let water come to a full boil. Remove pretzels, and return to greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
4. Bake at 475 degrees F (245 degrees C) for about 12 minutes. They'll be just beyond golden. You know, pretzel coloured.

blung.

since to bling should be a verb.

as promised, here is the crafty crutch revamp! Enjoy!

I owe you pictures and posts

but I'm exhausted, and my foot is throbbing. My camera parts are scattered around, and I can't be bothered to try hobbeling around to find them all.

The crutches are half blung. I need to do the other sides.

I am heading to part 2 of my focus on energy workshop tonight... and opting out of the spur of the moment tour of Guelph Hydro.

I have lots of homework to do.

4am, and awake in the dark.

So, my heel is burning inside my cast. Not sure what to do about it at this hour. Since my temporary cast is a fiberglass gutter and tensor bandage system I've unwrapped it twice to let some air in..... but it's not really helping, and well, I'm worried I'm going to screw this broken ankle up even more.
I have already dug out my family health practitioner network's number, I'm going to call those bastards tomorrow for advice. (And to book my next x-rays and "permanent" cast). The fiberglass cast/splint is designed to fit through the initial swelling, so adjustability is key.

I guess I'll head back to bed now, since google isn't telling me what's going on. I seem to be finding only links to cast fetishes. How utterly bizarre.

It's true. I am in a cast.

Not in a theatrical sense either. This morning, while walking my lovely little dog I slipped on a huge pacth of ice and broke my ankle. (Thank you old man winter). I flagged down a car, whose driver helped me up and drove me to my door. My landlady called Dave, who rushed home from work to sit in the ER waiting room for 5+ hours (even though he has an audit tomorrow). I was very happy to remind Dave to grab my stash of Tylenol 3s to take before we got to the hospital, but not so lucky to have remembered to eat anything.
So yes. I have once again proved my clutziness.

Next week I'll be getting a new cast, and as per Ro and my conversation I will be forging everyone's notes on it myself, since I know like 4 people in Guelph. That or I'll get a coloured one. Decisions, decisions.

PS. Lauren's note has already been composed. It mentions GTs.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

an appropriate naughty card shamelessly stolen from This blog. Enjoy!

Chloe!!

Recipe Swap!!

I recently received a great recipe themed swap package from a friend on craftster!
She found a cute polk dot box, to which she added a giant clip for holding up the recipe cards. So clever!
Inside are various sections of recipes, with several cards for each. She also sent along a sweet oven mitt and hot pad set, a button. cupcake liners and some "found" recipes!
I don't pretend to be a great studio photographer. It's dark inside in the winter.

Guelph has just gotten a lot more appeal.

They are building my favourite restaurant here!!!!
I'm not sure where, or when.... but I was on the company page and it's "opening soon"!!!!!!!!!


I first went to Ben Than on a date with an old flame. He "picked" my meal for me and I was supremely impressed. He moved away to uni shortly thereafter and we lost touch, but I was able to bring Dave there and it quickly became our classic Friday night dinner.
601, 602, 644 and two 38.
Dave's mom even graciously hosted our "rehearsal dinner" there, where my small cousin Carley tried tofu for the first time. (She liked it).

goodbye old couch!

Saturday Dave is heading to London to pick up our new couch (which feels long overdue!). This gem was my grandma's. I inherited it much to the dismay of a certain family member (who owns 4 other couches previously loved by my grandma). We've found a young bachelor with an empty first apartment who'll love it fondly. I hope he finds a way to make it comfortable, those back pillows suck balls.

uuuggghhhh [alternate title: brrrrrrrrrrrrr]

I HATE my landlord.
And hate is a very strong word. We had to sleep on our pull-out couch last night in our 17.5 degree living room, why???? Because my bedroom was only 13 degrees. THIRTEEN DEGREES CELCIUS. How lovely. This morning it had continued the drop to a lovely 12.5. Raoul (pictured below in his early 30s-yes that is hanging in our foyer) is an hour overdue to check things out. And he blew us off yesterday. And he's mad that we are going to take him to court for our rent back.

totally exhausted.

So much has been happening in the last couple weeks!
I've got a real program to follow at the Y, my course is keeping me very busy, I just finished a swap and have two more on the go, I'm working on many crafts and my sleepover party went well.

Gah. Photo updates to follow!

spoiled rotten!

So, my latest swap was geared for the pet lover. We crafted for each others pets.... my partner finished and sent over a week early and we've already got the package!!! She's made some marvelous things for Chloe, the least of which is not a super cosy sweater. First phot is Chloe checking out all her goodies! We got a great crochet bone shaped mat, three soft toys, a Tee for me, some stickers and a dino sweater. Not only do you all wish you had a small dog, but now you all wish you could put your small dog in a small dino sweater. Loves it!!

giddy!!

It's almost time for the themed slumber party weekend!!! I am looking forward to a weekend of drinking, kitchen dance parties, cranium, baking, crafts, food and splendid company, with 3 of my best girlfriends! Yay!