Ten Questions

Jyl over at And So It Goes nominated me to answer these 10 questions on my blog.  Since I am trying to get back into blogging on a more regular basis, I thought I would oblige :)

1) How did you decide on your blog name?

I started this blog back in 2004, and I think I was at a loss of what to call it.  So because it is my thoughts on day to day things, I went with Angie's 2 Cents.  Not the most exciting name, but it seems to work.

2) How has blogging enhanced your life?

I have gotten pretty slack with writing posts over the last few years.  I was quite diligent in my first few years.  But I think once social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram took off, I really stopped blogging.  It takes more thought and effort and especially with Fiona, I have less time to sit down at the computer, so most of my online posts are done on my phone.  And typing a blog on my phone does not sound like fun. 

To answer the question....haha....I appreciate this blog, as a sort of a journal of the last 11 years of my life.  I like to go back and read old posts to see what I was up to 5 or 8 years ago, etc.  I also think it is interesting how many people I have met through blogs.  Not specifically my own blog, but I had a friend who blogged, and her brother blogged, so I followed a couple of the people he had linked in his blog, and some people that they had linked in their blogs.  So from my one friend, I have connected with a number of people at least online or on Facebook.  It can be an awfully small world.

3) What tip would you offer new bloggers?

I am not sure.  Write about what you know and what you enjoy.

4)  What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

I have to agree with Jyl on the Netflix.  These days, once the baby is in bed, and I am avoiding doing the productive things I should be doing, I can be found with my feet up watching Doctor Who. 

5)  What are you reading now?

I started reading The Rosie Project by Graeme C. Simsion when I was in Swift Current at the end of July.  It was quite interesting, but I haven't picked it back up since I got home.  I should spend more time reading, and less time watching Doctor Who!  Haha

6)  What are 3 things you can't live without?

Family/friends, lip balm and pizza 

7)  What season is easiest to dress for?  And what is your favorite season?

I am such a lazy dresser....when you work at home, and you're a new mom, most of my clothes look the same all year round, haha!  I think my favorite season is late summer/early fall.  When it is still nice enough to be outside without a heavy jacket but cool enough that you at least need a sweater.  I love the leaves changing and the smells of fall. 

8) What would you love to get paid to do now?

I have just been thinking lately about going back to school.  When I think back to the jobs I have done over the years, one that I enjoyed was working in a lab where we tested soil samples for different minerals and elements.  I just enjoyed working in a lab setting.  I think once Fiona is in school I may go back to school to get some training and then I could work in a lab, maybe.

9)  What is your favorite place to visit?

I have not done a lot of traveling in my life, but if I could revisit one place tomorrow, I would choose Vandusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver.  It was beautiful and quiet.  One of my favorite stops on that trip.

10)  Have you ever done anything that has taken you out of your comfort zone?  If so, what?

The one thing that comes to mind is speaking in front of our church.  Any time I have spoken in front of a group of people it is outside my comfort zone.  A few years ago our church did a series on marriage.  Each week the pastor had a couple from the church get up and share a personal experience based on the theme for the week.  I am pretty sure when he asked us to share it was about serving each other.  It was pretty scary when we first got up there, but we had some good things to share and a lot of people approached us after the service to tell us how much they appreciated what we had shared.

 

So freakin' cold!

Woke up to -38C this morning and with the wind feels like -45C.  Oh how I wish I could roll out of bed and go work in my basement office today.  *sigh*  Six more weeks.....

Snow Blower

I got an early Christmas present this weekend.  That's right, we are the proud owners of a new snow blower!  I am a little bit intimidated by it, however, I am sure when I don't have to spend four hours out shoveling the next time we have a blizzard, I will be especially thankful for it.  I feel like I might be a little bit embarrassed being out there snow blowing while the neighbours are struggling to shovel.  But I think it will be a good thing in the years to come.  

Autumn

In Saskatchewan autumn is a bittersweet season.  There are things about it that make me smile and things that make me sad.  I love to see the leaves change colour but with that comes the inevitable fall of the leaves which ushers in a season of seeming death.  I have to say I don't love winter, and I really wish that autumn wasn't chased away so quickly by the cold temperatures and snow flurries. 

Here are some of the things that I love about autumn:

• The cooler temperatures.  Not cold, but I don't mind the type of weather that requires a person to wear a sweater or a light jacket.
• As I mentioned above, the colourful leaves.
• Walking down the sidewalk and crunching dried up leaves.
• Breaking through the thin ice on puddles that froze in the cool overnight temperatures.
• Autumn makes me think of curling up with a blanket and a cup of cider or tea and reading a book or watching a movie.  
• Honestly, thinking about a nice long autumn makes me feel all warm inside and gives me butterflies in my stomach.  I just love it.
• Less bugs!!

And now some things I don't like about autumn:

• Snow!  Technically, autumn lasts until December 20th or so, and I can only remember two times in my life where there wasn't snow on the ground by December 20th.  
• Unpredictibility of it.  I would love to see snow hold off until at least mid November or even early December, but here in Saskatchewan that is wishful thinking.  We have seen snow by the end of September before....and I sincerely hope that it holds off until at least after Thanksgiving!
• The anticipation of the long cold winter.

I think that covers the major points.  I know that September is considered to be a pretty awful month for my hubby, being as it's the end of summer, cooler temperatures and it happens to be the month he broke his neck (14 years ago).  But I have to say September is one of my favorite months.  I like the transition and the change.  I have to agree with a blog by Lauralea, I think that spring and autumn should each be four months and summer three months, which would only leave one manageable month of winter.  I wonder if there is a place in the world that has seasons like that, hmmm...   

Summer VS Winter

We are getting even more snow today, but I think it is blowing more than it's actually snowing new snow. There is a blowing snow warning, which I don't remember seeing on the forecast before. I took a picture out of our bedroom window this afternoon because I am amazed at the amount of snow on our patio and how our planters have entirely been engulfed in snow. Man I can't wait for spring/summer. Look at the beautiful green yard. Can't wait for it!




That bump at the corner of the deck is the hose holder and hose that didn't get put away before the snow came....ooops...
The back deck. Not sure where Kiwi will go to the bathroom. I guess she will have to trailblaze a few more paths for herself. Poor pup!