Baby Tested and Approved

The only concern Jrock had with getting a puppy now is that the pup wouldn’t be ready for kids when they arrived. I am happy to report that there is nothing to worry about – Laughlin is definitely kid-friendly!
The story: My poor friend L called me Sunday saying “where are you?  Where is the Picnic?” – [...]

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OK FCA Picnic

Our group, Okanagan Families With Children From Africa, met this past Saturday for a family picnic in Lake Country.  It was really nice to see one of our original members with her daughter home (only 10 days after arriving in Canada!) We also had some new members join us: a couple who are just starting the process to adopt [...]

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Have a good weekend!

Rough week?
 
Smile!  It’s the weekend!

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Vote Your Values

There are elections looming in Canada, down south in the US, in our province of BC … and even municipal elections in Kelowna! in the next couple of months.
I would never dream of telling people how to vote – the power of democracy is choice! But I do encourage everyone to gt informed about the [...]

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Communication Tools for Older Kids

Most of you know that Jrock and I have requested two kids under 4 years old.  SO, while it’s entirely possible we will be referred twin babes, more likely, we will be jumping into parenting a couple babe/toddler/preschoolers!
Something that you may or may not know about us is that we have hosted many many exchange [...]

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More puppy love…

Heck, they are only small, cute and cuddly once!  So here is some more gratuitous puppy footage – photos and vid.  Warning: the video is uncut and only for dog-lovers

Still wet after his bath – but no dampened spirits, I can assure you.

EXTRA Happy face!

 

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Cheeky Haatim

Little stinker…

You would think he doesn’t like me! Haatim actually licks my pet off!

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Introducing…

Laughlin!
formerly known as “Leftie”

“dweller by the lake”
We picked Laughlin (pronounced Laak-lin) up yesterday in a whirlwind trip to the coast – He is spunky, brave, polite to the cats, and a big suck to me.  His daddy was the top cairn terrier in Canada in 2004… which really doesn’t matter at all except that the lady who bred him obviously took [...]

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Trick or Treat

Well, we are off to get a new brother for Maggie tonight – “Leftie” was the viewer’s choice but we’ll have to see who the cocker spaniel prefers!
Speaking of the little devil – Maggie has always enjoyed the falling reminants from Jrock’s granola bars.  But she would never, for example, rip into the box of [...]

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Which Puppy?

Since our Hamie passed away, our house has been very empty feeling…. so we’ve decided to get a puppy to keep me and Maggie company, run around, chase the cats, eat our socks and pee on the floor.  Hmmm…. well, it comes with the territory.
So… here are the two candidates – 4 month old cairn [...]

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Fun Cooking

Pictures served!
My sister (seen above cooking and crying over onions!) and I had fun cooking for our guests – she brought some of her favorite recipes and we resurrected some of my successful ones.  We cooked and we cooked – actually, it took about 4 hours.  (And then the next day we cooked the injera [...]

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Tej Recipe

Our Tej Honey-Wine Recipe
This is our Canadian version of an Ethiopian specialty.  It’s delicious!  Try it!
Ingredients:

bottle of Riesling or another light, sweet, wine
the bottle full of water
1/3 cup honey

Simply pour the bottle of wine into a big jug or carafe, and top it up with the equal amount of water.  Stir while adding the liquid [...]

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Ethiopian Dinner with Surprise Guests

Tomorrow I am having a big dinner with 7 surprise guests.  Earlier this year I donated an Ethiopian dinner to a silent auction o raise money for local charities, including the hospice.  This lady bought the dinner and we’re now hosting it.  The trick is hat we don’t know any of the people coming! ha [...]

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Maggie’s Fav Summer Activity

Maggie LOVES playing in the garden hose.  She is a really good girl and waits patiently by while I water the vegetables, but when I say “ok” – she just goes nuts!

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1 year

Break out the candles!  The balloons! It’s our one year anniversary!
.
Oh, wait. 
I mean, it’s ONE WHOLE YEAR of waiting for a referral.  ONE WHOLE YEAR since our dossier arrived in Ethiopia.
Hum.  Well, that doesn’t sound so celebratory…
Well, I suppose I can wish us good luck for next year.  Right on – that’s what I’ll do. 
Good luck, self! 
Good [...]

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