The Never Ending Wood

So I swear this is going to be the last time I start a post like this but seriously i've been a busy girl! Living here is not as easy as I thought it would be, seriously there is so much to do! But that doesn't mean I'm leaving, don't worry Marc and Mom don't get excited. Last month I was telling you all we just got snow well it didn't stop snowing for about three weeks, and with that came a few things that I have never experienced or ever thought I would experience.

I didn't get a wheel barrel, apparently no one sells those in late November. So I waited for Marc- it took us about 4 hours to move this pile to the wood shed, it would have taken me about 4 days if I tried to do it alone. 

Now there is a reason other then this pile of wood that I have named this post The Never Ending Wood. I feel like my entire life revolves around wood now, I'm either bringing it into the house or putting it in the stove. I have to carry wood into the house almost every day I use a basket,  my basket approximately fits 5 pieces at a time, and it takes about 10 baskets to fill the space we keep fire wood- it can take a while. I'm getting better at using the wood stove too, definently no more fire starter. If I wake up once in the middle of the night to fill the stove I can keep it going all night, I've also figured out how to keep it going while I go to work- well going enough that there are hot enough coals to start the fire with only one piece of wood. And as you can tell from the picture below Toby has found a new bed so he's pretty happy I don't need to use too much newspaper to start the fire anymore.

Did you know you can cook a roast beef dinner on top of the wood stove? Well when the power goes out for over 12 hours and take out or delivery isn't an easy option you have to improvise. The wood stove was already going so there was no need to wait for the oven to heat up. I put the roast in a roasting pan with potatoes, onions, spicies and some chicken stalk and on top of the stove it went. About 20 minutes later it started to smell delicious in the house and it was cooking, about 15-20 minutes after that the roast was perfectly cooked and I finished cooking some mushrooms in the cast iron skillet- dinner was served 

We bought a snow blower! I looks like that one. Something I never thought I'd be so excited about, however the thought of shovelling my driveway by hand is terrifying. And since we bought a snow blower I had to learn how to use it, fairly easy, however Marc was there to help me so we shall see what happens next time we get enough snow to use it. Fingers crossed the snow holds out for the next two weeks (Marc's home in two weeks lol) Also did I mention it has hand warmers? Pretty fancy eh? So far since we got the snow blower we've only used it once, because all the snow decided to melt and come back and melt and come back. Right now there is only about two inches on the ground.

The melting snow also created so much fog here that planes couldn't take off and you know what that means? Marc got to stay for an extra couple of days! And there was no snow! Both of those things make me a very happy girl. But want to hear the most excititing thing that happened in the last few weeks? 

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We Bought A New Car!!

Meet my brand new 2015 Jetta- still waiting on a name for it, Marc has a few ideas but I'm still thinking.

Funny story actually so you know how last month I said my old car didn't want me to go to work so it just turned itself around, well that thing definently did not want to go to the car dealership/scrapyard. It went and put itself right in the ditch! Again I was fine and so was the car, but it really makes me appreciate my new car even more. So if you live anywhere there is snow get snow tires! It makes a huge difference. 

Christmas is coming! And I'm ready well my house is anyways, tree is up, stockings are up, as well as other various decorations. Now it's time to start shopping, have I mentioned the shopping here SUCKS! Thank goodness for the Internet. 

Well time to get more wood (seriously not even joking) 

Have a good night! 

The Snow

So again I've been slacking on my posts, but I've been busy! It's been an interesting few weeks. Marc's been away for almost three weeks and I've been home alone since then and it's been pretty interesting. Mostly I've been working but along the way there's been some things worth writing about.

My Halloween costume! Lol oh you can't tell what it is? Well it's someone pretending that she doesn't live in the middle of nowhere and that she doesn't have to go to work! Lol creative I know! 

My new love is my Starbucks card! There may only be ONE Starbucks in town that is generally completely out of my way but I'm 22 stars away from being Gold Level! So I better drink up! Also if anyone ever wants to buy me random presents Starbucks gift cards are perfect. In this picture I also just got my nails done, I know not very exciting, but I am pretty happy I've found a place here that does a good job! 

Toby is obsessed with trying to get outside, I have no idea why! Probably wants to "chase" bugs, luckily the bugs are dead, thanks to the SNOW but I'm not there yet in my story. 

I attempted to hang new curtains in our bedroom, I say attempted because well if you haven't noticed they are about 5 inches from the floor. The issue is I couldn't put new holes in the wall due to the lack of drill, but they are 100% better then the ugly broken blinds that were up before. Sorry Marc one more job for you to do when you get home. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, at least on my stairs. This is what happens when Halloween is over and I get bored. Now I saw this on Pinterest and thought hey that looks easy! Well it has potential to be easy however when multiple extension cords are needed and each light needs to be in the right place and the burlap stuff you bought is the wrong size, and oh you have a cat who wants to play with everything you touch it's not so easy. More Christmas decorations to come! 

I'm famous! Lol clearly kidding but I was in the SaultStar for a post for new management at BP, it is a really strange feeling when a total stranger tells you they saw your picture in the newspaper.

I piled wood! We finally found wood and it was delivered last week however it's all at the front in the drive way and the wood shed is behind the garage. Funny story actually, as I was going outside to move the wood in the shed to make room for the new wood Nicole texts me a picture of female lumberjacks and says that's going to be me! So not really funny but I was amused. Anyways I made room for the new wood and carried about 50 new pieces to the shed, 50 of about 1000! But I tried, maybe I should get a wheelbarrow, or wait for Marc to come home. But really I'm going to get a wheelbarrow. 

The snow is here!!! And it's cold, but I know it's just the beginning! So far my car has been stuck twice, my drive to work is 15-20 minutes long, it takes 10-20 minutes to clean off my car and the water pipes have froze once. 

Last night my car got stuck in my driveway- fire ashes saved the day! 

This morning I woke up to no water, so that sucked! However thanks to a hairdryer and Marc being so smart I was able to unfreeze the pipe that was frozen! But seriously why would anything that has water flowing through it be about the size of a pencil- because really no kidding it's going to freeze! 

Then on my way to work my car decided it didn't want to go in and turned itself around, well the snowy ice maybe made that decision but I ended up stuck again. 

Time to shovel again! Have a great night, missing everyone from Mississauga! 

The Emotions

Since Thanksgiving I've had a wide range of emotions! To sum up Ali went home, my Mom and Stephane came to visit, and Marc was home! So here's what happened along the way.

Before Ali went home we experienced an eight hour power outage. Now I know this doesn't sound too bad but really it is pretty damn scary. Not only is there no lights but it's loud and windy outside, oh and did I mention I live in the middle of no where. So we watched Friends until Ali's computer died and then listened to One Direction ( Ali would be proud to hear this but me wow can't believe I'm admitting to it) until we fell asleep... Yes on the couch instead of our rooms! 

A few days later Ali left me! Basically felt like a break up, the long silent walk to the car and a sad goodbye, followed by a please come back text message. Below is a picture of her empty room! It will always be Ali's room- pretty sure Toby misses her too 

Ali left and my Mom and Stephane arrived- first stop Pino's..mostly because Pino's has a Starbucks! And also probably the best doughnut I've ever had. Chai Tea Latte and Coconut Doughnut.. YUM!

After a fun filled day of shopping and great company came dinner at Giovanni's, below is chicken parm. Also YUM! 

Purchases of the day:

WARM WINTER BOOTS-  never thought I'd ever have to buy these, but I'm so happy I do

My new coat! 

Marc Comes Home! 

We had a fantastic week! It went so fast but I enjoyed every second of it. I also realized I do not take enough pictures. Below are two pictures of Marc going "swimming" now as sunny as it looks it was Freezing, I was wearing two pairs of pants and a winter jacket and was still cold! Marc was fixing our water pipe and I am so thankful he was able to do that for us! 

The last few nights I've been at the house by myself and it's been okay, only a couple windy gusts have scared me a bit but I'm doing great. Fires been going and Toby and I are doing just fine!

However there are things I'm missing (other then friends and family):

Shopping- the mall here SUCKS

Delivery- seriously I have to cook for myself every night

Cable Tv- I need to order cable or satellite soon!

Millions of Starbucks- Seriously there's one here, and it's on the other side of town 

Good Night All! 

The Turkey

It's definitely fall here! And with fall comes Thanksgiving, although it wasn't easy being away from my family in Mississauga Ali and I made the best of it. I was lucky enough to have Thanksgiving Monday off work and I spent that day making my first ever turkey dinner. It was definently an experience! 

First was the stuffing! 

I followed a pretty basic recipe that included spices, bread, celery, butter, and eggs.

While the stuffing was cooling it was time to get the turkey ready. Sticking your hand inside a turkey is not as much fun as it sounds, it's actually pretty gross. Especially when you're not really sure what you are looking for or what it should look like. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the millions of turkey's my mom has made in the past. 

Then the turkey went in the oven and we waited! While we wated we figured it was only fitting that we got dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, even if it was just Ali and I. Now the reason it was only Ali and I was because I was scared that I would mess up the turkey terribly and I really didn't want to cook the emergency hamburgers that were in the freezer! Once we were looking fantabulous, it was time to pull out the turkey, and I must say it was looking pretty fantabulous as well. 

My craving skills need some work! 

Ta Da!! Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, and gravy.. Yum! 

And finally there was dessert! Ali made pumpkin pie! And it was awesome 

Happy Thanksgiving! Love Erin and Ali 

The Plumber

I've become a plumber since the last time I've posted! Well kinda... Last night the toilet wouldn't flush so I had to unhook the pipe from the wall to toilet and then when there was no filter on that I had to lay on the floor between the toilet and the sink and pull out an orange filter thingy. Well unfortantly I found out it was two pieces and the second part dropped out and almost fell right in my face. Finally I got a the little rocks out! One rock did get in my eye- and I may have been slightly worried about pink eye no matter how many times I was ensured that was the in pipe not the out pipe I was still cornered about the "poop rocks" in my eye. Ali thought it was hilarious and I may have told her to fuck off but I really didn't mean it! There also may have been a few tears from me, but as Ali says we are beauty queens not plumbers!

In the last week it's been pretty busy and definitely interesting. I've started working full time as a restaurant manager, and it's pretty crazy. I have a lot of work to do and most of the current staff seems pretty excited and willing to see changes but only time will tell. However this blog isn't about my job, it's about my adventures in the bush so I'll move on.

On Wednesday we went into Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to go shopping. Thanks to Jess' guidance and company right across the border there is a TJMaxx, JCPenny, and a few other stores, but most exciting Bath and Body Works! The shopping was slightly better than it is on the Canadian side, but I'm still thinking online shopping is going to be my new go to shopping method. After shopping came lunch at Applebee's, holy it was cheep! And of course with my luck there was hair in my food, they were great and replaced it and I received a free lunch. However I'm thinking next time I cross the boreder I try something different!

Wednesday night I experienced another first! Ali and I attended our first Soo Greyhounds game! And they won! Exciting yes, but very strange at the same time, I am 99% sure everyone there knew each other. And we were outcasts!  

I have discovered I SUCK at chopping wood. I was successful enough to not freeze to death- however shamefully I have to admit I've been using fire starter. Until today when I went stick hunting, yes that's right I went hunting- wore camo and everything. I filled an entire basket full of sticks and twigs pretty great hunting day I must say. Oh and that's Hank the deer. 

The fox now has a name. Meet Gus! 

He is not my friend, but he has turned Ali to his side and now both Marc and Ali think he is a pet! 

As you can see he enjoys cat food and Ali touched his nose! I'm not impressed! 

To sum up the rest of the week in photos:

My new drivers license came in the mail! 

Ali and Toby are best friends

I can fry perch

The view is fantastic! 

  

The Shower

In the last week days have quickly turned to nights and then back into days!

I have come to the conclusion on several things:

1. Lance sucks at killing spiders, but he's pretty good at drying dishes! Sorry Lance ! 

2. Ali makes great dinners and so do I 

3. Marc likes foxes

4. Don't beat Ali and Marc in Monopoly- because they team up on me in the next game

5. I need a dishwasher- the machine not a person 

6. I have no idea how to test the chemicals in a hot tub

7. Going back to work is interesting 

8. Rainbow cakes are awesome 

9. Foxes like cat food

10. Cans of pop at the closest store are still $1 each but Monsters are $4 each 

Since I have moved here other then Boston Pizza (where I'm working) the only place I've had food that was not cooked by Ali or myself was at Fratelli's Kitchen. The best mozzarella sticks I have ever eaten! I had the meatball sub with onion rings- onion rings were yummy, so were the meatballs and cheese; but I wasn't a fan of the multigrain bun it was on. Ali had a panzarotti- it was cheesy but baked. It didn't have the greasy goodness she was looking for. However looking around the pizza looked amazing, and I'm sure I'll go back! 

I have actually started eating leftovers- maybe because dinners have been great! 

So far we have cooked:  (if anyone is interested in recipes let me know and I'll post)

Tofu and Shrimp Peanut Stirfry

Spaghetti and Ali's home made meatballs 

Butter Chicken

Tacos 

Cheeseburgers

Fabulous home made salad dressing 

Stuffed pasta with olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers

Roast beef dinner- including Yorkshire pudding

Ham with scalloped potatoes  

Tofu and Shrimp Stirfry 

Butter Chicken

Ham Dinner 

Since I am on the topic of cooking- rainbow tie die cakes are awesome ! I feel like the pictures explain the awesomeness! For instructions let me know! 

It was DELICIOUS !! 

Marc wants a PET FOX! You know the one that peed on my flowers and trapped Ali and I in the house! Well that fox is Marc's new buddy! Something I can not even imagine! Marc fed the fox roast beef (before any person even got to eat it) and Toby's food! Trust me no matter how much Marc wants a Christmas picture that includes the fox, that fox is not coming in the house! Well no closer then that the fox is in the next few pictures: 

Oh and the reason I called this post "The Shower" guess what!?!? No more hot lava showers!!!! THANKS Marc 😘

Good night everyone! 

Side note this means Ali and I started a wood stove-well kinda