Without Cable

So I have been without cable for probably almost a month.  Honestly, it's not that bad.  Yes, I do miss a few of my shows but between the station internet sites that play episodes of their latest shows and YouTube, it's actually been pretty painless.  In fact, so painless, I really can't see myself going back to it.  When I get to my new place, the plan is to took hook up my tv to the net and then I can be watching on the big screen.  I can handle a few "stops" here and there for free shows!

So, if you're a Canadian, try the following sites out to preview what full episodes they have!

• CTV
• http://shows.ctv.ca/video.aspx
• Global
• http://www.globaltv.com/video/index.html#video
• City TV
• http://video.citytv.com/video/home/0/
• Discovery Channel (this includes Discovery, Investigative Discovery, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, and Discovery World)
• http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/#clip497058
• The Comedy Network
• http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/#clip496428
• Family Channel Canada
• http://www.family.ca/video/
• Teletoon at Night
• http://www.teletoon.com/teletoon3/night.php?language=en&func=php|templates/video.php|0
• Much Music
• http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/
• CBC
• http://www.cbc.ca/television/
• CMT
• http://www.cmt.ca/shows/
• MTV Canada
• http://www.mtv.ca/tvshows/
• Showcase
• http://www.showcase.ca/video/default.aspx#video
• HGTV
• http://www.hgtv.ca/video/
• Various TV shows from various networks
• http://www.ch131.com/Tvshows.html
• EZTV (downloaded tv shows)
• http://www.eztv.it

I've also been told about http://www.tubeplus.me/ but I haven't done much investigating into that...

If you know of any more let me know, and I'll post them for everyone!

Before and After: Garden Obelisk

So the other day a friend passed on to me a very tall, very ornate garden obelisk/weathervane.  She and her hubby were flipping a house and didn't have need for it.  I loved the details and took it in an instant when she offered it to me...I figured it just needed some loving.

Here's the before:

Notice the greyish color?  What you can't see in the picture is the pieces of rust throughout too...There's also a medallion, look for the white spot that I figured I would replace with some scraps from my stained glass collection.

After taking a whole can of flat black spray paint, specifically designed to cover and combat rust on metal, this is what it looked like!

Once spray painting it, I realized that I loved the medallion black and won't be changing it!  I love that all the details of the obelisk finally stand out and think once it's placed in a good spot, it will look amazing!  Not bad for $7!

What do you think?




I'm linked to the following:

Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

Moving: Need Boxes

So as you all know, I am moving shortly.  I am thrilled!  But as we all know, there's a lot of work in moving, and one of the biggest challenges is getting enough boxes.  I am a firm believer that you should never have to pay for a box.  Yes, you can purchase them from some dollar stores and even from U-Haul companies, but why pay for something when you can get it for free?

In the past, I have loved Liquor Store boxes...they're strong as they've held glass bottles of liquor, but here that's not easy to get.  Our local grocery store though has been awesome.  By simply asking, I found out that there best dates to get boxes is every Monday and Thursday when their trucks come in.  They put the smaller boxes at the front, and any large boxes, they leave at the back.  You just need to let the teller know that you're looking for them, put your name and number on a piece of paper, and they'll call you and set up a time when you can pick them up.

If you're anything like me who is reluctant to ask sometimes, it's really not that hard and the truth is, is that as much as they are doing you a favor, you're doing them a favor by taking them off their hands.  Plus, you're helping the environment-you're reusing them again (then I usually send them to recycling).  Free is free, and since almost nothing is free these days, take advantage of it if you find yourself moving!

Deadheading: Getting the Best Out of Your Flowering Plants

Whether you have a couple of plants or many, plants cost a lot of money these days.  Having gone from a very large garden to only two hanging baskets (see previous posts for more explanation), it's just as important to me that my two baskets look as good as my big garden did.  I love plants that flower and provide color-it's a simple way to add some curb appeal to your home.

(forgive the crooked cane, the cane will not go into the ground anywhere on the property, but I'm only here for two more weeks!)

One of the best ways to do this, is by deadheading.  Deadheading is the process of removing dying or dead flowers from the plant.  A plant pours energy into all of its flowers, living, dying, or dead.  By removing the unwanted flowers, you actually allow the plant to focus on the healthy flowers and buds.  Does it make a difference?  Yes-huge.  If you have a lot, your plant make look a little bare the first couple days, but the plant will thrive.  

Signs that you need to deadhead include:

• torn flowers
• brown edges around the flowers
• lifeless flowers (they look like they have collapsed)
• dead and dried flowers

I do this on a daily basis, literally; flowers die often and to get the healthiest plant, it does need to be done on a daily basis.  It's actually kind of relaxing unless the flowers you need to pick are tiny and many and then it just gets annoying!

But I promise you, just by deadheading, you'll notice a huge difference in the amount of flowers you get.

Auction Purchase Reveals

So I promised you all pictures this weekend showing you what I purchased at last weekend's auction...well here you go!

This is my antique sideboard.  It also came with little castor wheels on the bottom which we took off for now, and there were also little attachments on the handles that fell off.  As you can see it's not a perfect peace, but most things old are not.  My plan and I know a few people have cringed at this is to paint it.  To remind you, I got this piece for $50 and it should have gone for $200 at the auction.

If you can ignore the crooked floor and the messy garage, than you might see the potential in this little table.  I picked up this guy for only $3.  I thought it might be good even at the front door for keys or such.  

I bid on this piece and I was the only bid, winning it for $2.  It's a bevelled mirror, and while in good shape, will be painted completely.  My plans?  To make a Chalkboard framing out of it...

However, nothing will be done until after I move which is in less than 2 weeks.  As paint takes time to cure, I don't want to risk the idea of scratching it and also, with the cost of moving, paint is going to have to wait.

Got Bites?

The other day I was packing up the back of the trunk to take a few things to work.  The result?  I ended up being mosquito bait.  A couple hours later as I was lying in bed, did the results of those nasty little buggers started to erupt.  I got up, and the whole top of one foot and around the ankle were completely swollen with bites.  I didn't have any After Bite, Calamine Lotion, and knew that I needed to try something to make me not start itching.

So I did some research...and one of the weirdest things that was suggested was deodorant or an anti-perspirant.  I used what I had on hand, which was Nivea's Double Effect Anti-Perspirant, which is a stick.  Within seconds, I had relief.  The next morning I woke up and even the swelling was down probably by 80%.  I did find that I needed to reapply when I woke up, but I felt so much relief.  On top of it, the anti-perspirant I use has avocado extracts, so my foot didn't feel too dry.

So, what do you use in your fight against mosquito relief?

Happy Canada Day!

So today is a special day...it's Canada Day!  Despite being under the weather and a bit strapped for cash (things will lighten up once I'm moved considerably), Canada Day is a very special day for me.  For me, I see it along the lines of Thanksgiving-it reminds us of what we have to be thankful for.

I realized this morning that this is the first summer in the past 9 or 10 years that I am getting paid this summer...I haven't had that before.  That's huge.  It's also the first summer I've ever known that I have a permanent job to go back to.  For others, it might mean being granted time to build more dikes in southern Manitoba as their fellow neighbors and towns help them.  It might simply mean having the freedom to be you.

I hope you all have a wonderful Canada's Day, and for my American friends, have a wonderful 4th of July.  Be safe!