Kyle, The Snake Whisperer

This afternoon, the neighbor kids came over to let me know there was a bull snake in my back yard!! I was like "Wha?? In my backyard?" I've been here nearly three years and never seen a snake! Course Mark is at work, and the dog is oblivious, so I had to go and deal with it.



The neighbors are hanging over the edge of the fence with hockey sticks and golf clubs (not sure what that was accomplishing, but it was funny LOL) and I am looking in and under every nook and cranny trying to find this snake that they say slithered from their yard into mine. I'm looking under the trees and bushes, in the sandbox, no snake to be found... At this point, I was kind of happy that I hadn't run into a snake, but also worried that it could just pop out of no where when I least expect it anytime too... so I continue on my hunt for a few more minutes. Meanwhile the neighbors and now the neighbor's neighbors and other mystery people are on the other side of the fence with their weapons, ready to strike. I asked Dale (the husband) if he'd like to come over and help me find it, but he was quite happy to be on the other side of the fence watching LOL (geez, thanks tough guy...). He had called The Wildlife Conservation office and they were on their way, which was pretty smart - I hadn't thought of that!


Mark finally came home to save me from the slithering beast... Or so I thought. He grabs a hockey stick from Dale and starts peeking nervously in places the snake surely wouldn't be ... Oh sure.. Mr. Gold Medal Tough Guy in the newspaper is scared of a snake. I brought it up to him how I thought it was interesting that he could fearlessly battle a trained TKD competitor two belts above his own, and yet he was scared of a snake... He joked "We don't hide from each other and then jump out!"... OK... Guess I know who NOT to count on to save me from snakes. Not the neighbor, the neighbor's neighbor or Mark for sure.


After a while, we all had just assumed the darn thing slithered back down into the coulee. My audience at the fence had dwindled and I let the kids back outside. Kyle went to practice his golf in the backyard and Jessica went off to the Mayday tree in search of caterpillars. The Wildlife Conservation Officer finally arrives and is poking around looking for our hide 'n seeker friend... nothin. Kyle grabs his "Lightening McQueen Snake Finding Flashlight" and goes hunting too... Finally, a guy not afraid of the snake! Kyle was going to save us all from the terrible being! He went straight under the cedar trees, where we had all been (except for the neighbor, neighbor's neighbors, mystery people and Mark) and says "I found the snake!". Of course we were all thinking "Yeah ok bud...", but he did... he found the snake! It was a 4ft bull snake. The officer packed it up and took it away! Thank goodness we found it, so now I don't have to worry about it jumping out at me while I'm playing in the garden.

Personality Test

So I took a personality test, and it's quite accurate... Try it for yourself - link at the bottom ;)

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

I've Been Tagged Too....

Thank you to Dina who tagged me this morning... Wish I had more exciting answers!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? 10 years ago I was enjoying staying home with Jessica who was 10 months old.


2- What 5 things are on my to-do list?

1. Finish the landscaping we started if the wind & rain ever quit. It feels like hurricaine season... does Alberta get hurricaines? LOL

2. Order Irish Cream Tea - I'm out :(

3. Somehow try to figure out a way to get the plumber over here to start on my bathroom so we can get the renos underway.

4. Book summer camps and birthday parties for the kids.

5. Probaby this should have been the first answer... LAUNDRY - huge pile o laundry :/


3- What snacks do I enjoy? C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E... I enjoy most snacks actually which is really unfortunate for my ass.

4- Things I would do if I were a millionaire. That's a real tough question... I don't know that I would do much different other than maybe I'd have more to share... and I'd like to live in a warmer climate and travel more.

5- Places I have lived. Calgary, Medicine Hat, Victoria

Now.... drumroll please... I TAG AIMEE

Mark Takes Gold

On May 24th, Mark competed in a Tae Kwon Do Friendship Tournament here in Medicine Hat. He took a bronze in patterns and a gold in sparring. He is quite proud of himself, as we all are. He unfortunately has a case of swollen ego LOL, which I am hoping will soon pass. To the left is a copy of the newspaper clipping (Mark with his foot in the air - you can click on it to read the article), which we all must look at daily and revel in the golden blissness for him.

So Many Teas, So Little Time!

I think I may have gone a wee bit tea crazy... My tea pinkie has never been so over worked, and here's why!

About a week ago a friend of mine (she is such a tea bag! ) sent me a huge box of teas! This is actually the second time she has done this and I am amazed by all of the different types of teas and flavours. Some of them taste like fruit juice and contain no tea leaves at all, some are refreshing, or calming and some are just as delicious as dessert! I really used to think that tea was just tea. Sure, I knew about peppermint and lemon... but did any of you know you can have Bubble Gum, Banana or Tiramisu Tea? Seriously... it can be done! I have learned through all of my testing that most green teas or green rooibos are not my cup of tea, but I am really digging the red rooibos blends. They have a real tea type taste to it without the caffiene.

Here's a list of some of my current favourites:

Cuppa T (Regina SK) - Irish Coffee Rooibos - This one actually has coffee beans in it and has a true Irish Cream flavour. I could drink this for dessert! I love this one so much I think I'll order the big bag! Wish they had a website!

SBS Teas - Earl Grey De La Creme - I have never tasted an Earl Grey Tea with such flavour. It was so rich and creamy.
Black tea, cornflowers and intense natural flavors.

SBS Teas - Fairytale Tistane - This one is like a dreamy chocolate/mint dessert.
Organic rooibos, peppermint, chocolate pieces, vanilla yogurt nibs, almond slivers, apple, and natural flavorings.

SBS Teas - Creamy Strawberry Kiwi Tistane - This one tastes so much like juice that I had the kids try it iced and they had no idea it was tea - a healthier alternative to sugary juice? I think so!
Blended with rose hips, apple bits, hibiscus, strawberry bits and natural strawberry-kiwi flavor.

TeaOpia - Iced Princess - Another tea that tastes like juice and is totally going in the kids juice cups iced, unrecognized as tea!
Green Sencha and Ceylon Black with apple pieces, hibiscus, papaya bits and orange peel.


I'm off to try a cup of Rooibos Lemon Chiffon, toodles!

Stay steeped,

Candy