Skwxwu'7mesh

Skwxwu'7mesh
That means Squamish in some dialect in Canada.

• Kwtsa'7tsutsin means Olesen Creek
• Ma'mxwem stands for Mamquam River
• Saw'a'7elt is Stawamus Chief

Today Peter and I went up toward Whistler, B.C. to check out that place where we found crystals a few years ago. 

Didn't find much in the way of crystals but road signs were very entertaining and I just thought I'd share.  How on earth do you pronounce a numnber 7 when it's in a word anyway??

Working days as a stripper.

So this is what married life is all about.. I'm now stripping for a living. 

Today was the start of turning the batchelor pad into a suitable apartment for Peter's mother.  I spent 8 hours stripping wallpaper from one wall and this is all the farther I've gotten.  This wall is only about half done and there are still 3 more walls to go!

Tomorrow I get to keep going.  Yay! 

While I was working my new Mother-in-Law came by to chat and offer a bit of assistance. 

During our conversation she shared the following sentiment:  "I'm so glad you're here. A man without a woman is really no good at all."

You know..  I have to agree!

Livin' the dream..

It's day two of living the dream.

• I accidentally cut down five rows of onions.  Chopped 'em flat.
• The dog barfed on Peter's carpet.
• Left the wet towel on the bed which caused the bed to be all wet.
• Weeded a bunch of plants that didn't need it.

I'm tired and slightly disheartened.  I'm sure tomorrow will bring a new outlook.

On the good side:

• We hauled a dresser into Peter's room and I am now unpacked.  No more living out of suitcases for me. 
• I found out Shelley (This old farm and someone who lives just down the road) has a microwave.  I may need to sneak down to her house to microwave a hotdog or something.
• My dog - even though her stomach seems to be upset is really getting into the farm life.  She is listening and behaving (although I think she may be eating stuff she shouldn't be).  She is good with the animals.  She is preferring life outside to life inside.  She likes riding in the car.  She's like a whole new dog!
• I've been looking into Pygora Goats.  I'm so not ready - maybe in the spring - but it's very fun to plan.
• Someone is giving us 3 young turkeys as a wedding gift.  They are a cross between Bourbon turkeys and chocolate turkeys.  I'm kind of excited.  They are a heritage breed and very friendly.  So I hear.
• My girls - Carmen, Carmen & Lucy are loving all the bugs and the things around the property.  We worked on their new coop tonight but didn't get it done.  They've been sleeping in the wood shed and really need a proper home.  I've been forced to quite numbering their eggs - since I can't find them!  Although Lucy, bless her heart, has layed her eggs right in the flower pot by Peter's front door.  How convenient.

Now - it's time for bed.  G'night.

Farm Life... Day 1

The dog and chickens are getting used to the surroundings.  Surprisingly well.  More on that later.  First -  I am REQUIRED to share photos...

July 7, 2011

I know TODAY is July 8th.  But YESTERDAY was July 7th.  Yesterday was very busy.

You see. . .  Peter and I had a plan.  About two weeks ago - well after we made arrangements to take Jill to Hawaii for her graduation/birthday gift - we decided  (this is a very abbreviated version of the decision making process)  to "just get married" during the trip. 

Oddly enough, he never actually asked me to marry him.  I told him that if we were standing in front of the minister and she said:  "do you Sharon..?"  I would say "No! He hasn't asked me yet!!"  That's why he finally asked on Wednesday.  I made him. 

Peter's assigned task for our clandestine event was to make the arrangements in Hawaii.  My tasks were: find myself an appropriate dress, not tell ANYONE  (a huge chore for me!!) anything, and to get Jill an appropriate dress while not telling her why.  I did tell Kyle - I wanted him to know but no one else knew!  It was very fun.

Surprisingly, I found the perfect dress for myself in under 20 minutes.  It was the third dress I tried on.  Then I spun a yarn to Jill about how Peter was taking us to a fancy schmancy dinner and that we needed formal wear.  I found the perfect dress for her.  It was a clearance prom dress that had a decidedly Hawaiin flare and small train.  Perfect for a Maid of Honor.  The problem was, she became worried I would not find such a perfect dress and that she would be over dressed for the mystery occasion.  So we shopped.  And shopped and shopped.  We spent days shopping for a dress for me but I was way too picky and nothing was ever good enough.  She got very worried.  Finally - the day before we left, while she was off hanging with her friends, I brought home my wedding dress and sewed it, and her dress, into a garment bag.  Sewed it shut tight.  I described the dress to her telling her it was green and quite suitable but that she couldn't see it because I'd already sewn up the bag.

Amazingly.. she never questioned it. 

She had a theory that Peter was going to propose at our fancy event (why else would we need to dress up so much??)  She just KNEW it.  Then he proposed in the water.  She was very confused.

Thursday morning we woke her up and said it was time for the big "to-do" and we had to get into our fancy clothes.  She was not happy.  It was early and she was tired.  I pulled her aside and said, "do you want to see my dress?"

She gasped.  She paused.   She put her hand over her mouth and said.. "It's white."  Then the light came on.. and she said.. "Are we getting married today??"

It was all great fun.  Thank you Maui-Angels.

After the ceremony we went to breakfast in our fancy finery, then off to the Lavender farm on Mt. Haleakala, and then last night we attended our Luau.


Today we did the road to Hana and we're now ready to drop.

It's a fine vacation indeed!

I want to add better photos - and will - but I'll have to wait until I get home.. sorry!

I LOVE Hawaii.. Just love it.

Jill took a surfing lesson today.  She loved it.  She had a ball. She got right up on that board and went for it.    She's a natural.  And of course, she was busy planning out her surfer girl dreams before we even got back to the hotel.   She wants to move to Hawaii, go to college here, sell her art work at the local shops, surf every chance she gets.  Ahh.. the dreams and passions of youth...

This afternoon we went to Honalua Preserve to go snorkeling.

Honalua Preserve is on the west-most tip of Maui.  It is on private land that the owner opens to the public.  They have an on-site care-taker and an entire set of rules.  No sunscreen.  No touching.  No taking.  No standing.  No wandering.  All good rules to make the experience fun AND safe to the environment.

The three of us snorkeled about for quite awhile.  We saw red fish, blue fish, one fish, two fish.  We saw yellow fish and sea urchins and trumpet fish and parrot fish and all kinds of fish.  It was amazing the diverstiy of sea life we saw in such a small location.  I was in awe.

At one point Peter gestured to me to lift my head out of the water.  He removed the snorkel from his mouth and said in that nasal-ee twang you get when half your face is covered by mask:

Will you barry be?

I knew he meant:  "Will you marry me?"  but it was somewhat unexpected - the timing - you know?  It was funny because his lips were all pushed out funny because of the dive mask and I immediately got nervous so I started to giggle.  Then I started to full on laugh.  Of course I eventually managed a hearty "YES!"    He tells me my laughter was not the response he expected.  I feel bad.  Well - maybe not so much - but definately a little.

So now I'm  officially engaged.  Peter has managed to finally shed the title "my fella" in exchange for the title "my fiance."  I totally prefer that title. 

Mahalo!

Aloha!

Our first day on Maui drew to a close with a beautiful sunset. 
It was a beautiful (and long) day - spent mostly trying to get here, get settled in and get oriented.  We did play in the ocean in front of our hotel for 1/2 hour or so.  The wind was blowing vigorously and the surf was quite powerful.  It would knock you about and push you over.  It would push you into the shore, and then suck you back out again.  Now I know how a log (or a whale) feels as it's getting tossed about on the way to getting "beached."  I had sand everywhere.  I mean EVERYWHERE! 

After our swim in the ocean (and a rinse in the outdoor shower) we went for a swim in the hotel pool.  I was entering the pool so very dignified when my foot slipped on a step and I tumbled head first into the water.  Good thing I have a sense of humor because I'm sure that was a most undignified show! 

Jill seems to be having a pretty good time.  I saw glimpses of the little girl she used to be as she played in the water.  She stood on her hands, she did somersaults, she wanted us to count how long she could stay under the water.  It warmed my heart. 

Peter seems to be having a good time too.  I saw glimpses of the little boy HE used to be.  He dove and did somersaults in the pool and tried to body surf (not so successfully..) in the ocean and generally frolicked.  Yes.  I think frolic would be a good description.

Oh..and I'm having a swell time.  I barely stopped smiling yesterday and I laughed through the surf tossing as well as the pool tumbling. 

By nightful we all agreed we were relaxed and happy.

sigh..