Loose Lips

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Everyone,
I'm opening Loose Lips today so that I can answer Karrie's question about paddling. Hope you all are having a good holiday weekend.

Hi Karrie, What is your level of paddling skill? If you are still basically a beginner, I would stay away from fast-moving rivers and try to get out on small lakes and ponds (on days that are not too windy!). The water levels this spring are extraordinarily high and many rivers that are normally easy paddling are much more challenging. On a fast river you could easily be swept along and get caught up in debris ("strainers"). You do not want to get flipped over and be trapped under your boat by a strainer! Do get in touch with a local paddling group. They will know what the conditions are. It is always best to go out with other paddlers. Not only do you learn, but there is safety in numbers. There must be many outdoors clubs in the Ottawa area. Perhaps you and your DH could join one.
Paddling is such a great sport. I hope you'll be able to find a nice quiet-water spot to start out the season.

Ella (I'm moving this to Loose Lips!)

Love hearing about Rusty

Can I ask you a question about paddling? How do you know when its safe to go out? We bought our kayaks in July of last year. The lake/river was really calm. Its been a high water year here with lots of rain. Nothing like you guys. But how do you know when the undercurrents and open rivers are safe? I'm going to look for a local paddling forum to ask. I'm nervous. Where we go there is a inlet that is quite sheltered. Still very nervous about the first time out.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

happy sunday!

i saw this cute little momma cat/baby video on FB and thought everyone here would appreciate it. it's so very maternal and loving. ok, and the baby is adorable - little kitty dreams and little feet moving. it's just 1 minute long.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/momma-and-kitten-sleep-in-blissful-cuteness/20j2428b

one of my close friend's son is graduating from college today. her mom is in the hospital (can we say sandwich generation) so our quilting group has done all the food for her son's party. i love doing things like this. so there are meatballs in bbq sauce in a crockpot in my kitchen (from another person) and i made a goopy yummy cake for the party. the sons are all 6'+ and hefty guys, football player size, so we have a lot of food coming.

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

Julie thats so cool of your group to do the cooking. Bet the boys loved it.

Ella thank so much for the feedback on paddling and the water etc. I think I will find a local group before we go out the first time. I am a beginner and the river here is more like a big lake. Not like what you'd see on TV. The inlet is quite sheltered. But I'm scared of drowning HAHA. One of my biggest fears. I know how to swim, but its still a fear. I have to stay within swimming distance to the shore. So the unexpected about the first kayak of the season makes me nervous. I'll look online later tonight.

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

My friend has adopted (long term foster really) Mufasa. But he has issues remember? She brought him into the vet to get his big mats shaved and they did an exam. His eye doesn't respond to taps and they see a lump inside his ear. They will not be doing a cat scan or mri so they do not know what is going on. He is 13 and will live his life happily with a loving bean vs in a cage or being pts at the shelter. He is a big love bug but I still haven't met him.

Here he is today:

 

[Ann & Maggie11 (GA)]

Bless your friend for giving Mufasa a home. He is so precious and so lucky to be found by your friend. Keep us posted on him when you visit him.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

of course we remember mufasa! he's got such a lovey face - i'm glad he's gotten a forever home. thanks for sharing the pic of him.

i've got the same water fear, karrie, it's pretty unhelpful, isn't it?! the good thing is you'll have a life vest on when you're out kayaking, i assume. we have a rubber raft and have taken it out in a lake. one time i just nearly paralyzed myself - i was out with one of the kids, shifting in the raft and my sandal strap caught and pulled out the air valve. it emptied one of the chambers. :lol: funny now, but at the time i was scared to death! fortunately there are a lot of chambers and the floor one didn't matter. not to mention the lake was so shallow i probably could've walked to shore anyway!

got the party food all set up and waited for the family to get home before we left. i felt like a Party Fairy - so much fun. i assume his friends will inhale the food.

 

[squeem3]

Link to yesterday's Loose Lips: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44293

I got the adjustable window screen things Traci suggested Lowe's only had 2 of the size I needed so I got both for now. I can keep my third window sash lowered enough to prevent accidental falls. The screens fit well and look kind of odd because the frame of the non-movable part is just off-centered and the extra layer of screen kind of blurs the view but I guess I'll get used to them.

My brother moved the tree and helped me put the rug in place. Hopefully it will muffle the jumping-off-the-top-of-the-tree thumps enough so it won't bother the person downstairs.

Hope everyone is ejoying the weather and holiday weekend :smile:

 

[Christie & Willie (GA)]

Happy Sunday, everyone! Kayaking sounds just wonderful. Haven't done it since I lived in Florida! Paddling off an uninhabited key off of Key West is one of my most favorite memories ever... other than the sunburn (even worse on DS as she refused to wear sunscreen that day.. and she's a blue-eyed, freckled redhead! :shock: :shock: ). We dropped anchor about 50 yards from shore, and at low tide, the water was waist deep and just stunningly beautiful.
:shock: :shock

Spent 3 hours at a furniture store yesterday, and walked out with nothing, though I did end up ordering some stuff online. Also found bedding to go with my steal of a find of curtains, some great thrift store pieces, and also found a couple other furniture pieces that I'll pick up tomorrow at the Penney's Outlet (25% off storewide! Woo hoo!). After that, I just need a new bed, some night stands (found both cheap on amazon!), a lawn mower (another amazon find!) and a new freezer (lowes... they deliver and install, and it's going to the basement, sooo......). From there, it's just little decorative things, and I've been working the Stein Mart and Gordman's Coupons and clearance to the max!

My big splurge was a new laptop. My old one had died awhile ago, and I've been using my sister's desktop which is slow and not configured well. Right now, it's next to the sofa, but in the new place, it will be in the office. With 30 months/no interest and needing to hit a minimum purchase number for a couple things I picked up, I went with it... so no more struggling with the android to post Willie's condo in the morning! Have had a productive day of packing, and I need to stop playing with the computer and go do some more! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Karrie-- Mufasa is such a sweetie! So glad he has a forever home now!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

So glad Mufasa has his forever home where he will be loved no matter what.

JULIE: OMG that is the absolute sweetest video I have EVER seen!!! What an incredible thing to catch on video. Food sounds yummy...hope the guys enjoyed it.

 

[Christie & Willie (GA)]

I think I just died of cuteness. That video is so adorable!!