The Picnic that was NO Picnic!

Today I am going to share a little story with you. It is about one of the days this summer that we decided to do a family outing. I know what you are thinking… You are thinking: “YAY!! Tootsie took a day to hang with the family!!! Good Times!!!” Right??? Ya…well what should have been fun for the whole family…turned into something else all together…at least for me.

It all started when we decided to take a day to go fishing. We chose a place to go to…and we picked a nice little site to set up. The plan was to let the kids fish a little bit…and then have a fire and a little picnic.

I am not much of a fisherman, but I do like to be outside , and I always enjoy just hanging out looking at the scenery or taking photos, or even just having a little time to read a book…or dream up a few posts!

The kids love to fish…

They were having an absolutely wonderful time!!!

They fished for a while, and I was snapping photos, setting up the picnic and hanging out and enjoying the day. I had just picked up a book to read for a few minutes until it was time to eat when it happened.

I heard a noise off to the left of me. I looked…but at first didn’t see anything so I chalked it up to the wind.

Then…I heard that noise AGAIN.

OMG!!!!! OMG!!!!! OMG!!!! A GOPHER!!!

Now, those of you who have been following Tootsie Time for a while know that I am no fan of rodents…in fact I am terrified of them. Mice, squirrels …gophers…muskrats…all of them…they are SCARY!

I tried to scare that little bugger away from my picnic table…and I thought it had gone…but I was wrong. A few minutes later…he was BACK!

So I threw a rock in his direction…

…He just looked at me like “whatever lady…is that the best you got???”

I am by this time, standing on the seat of the picnic table…trying to maintain my composure…

…so that no one would laugh at me…ya-- that didn’t work out either…the cowboy couldn’t even look at me without giggling…he isn’t scared of anything. I am sure he thought it was more than just a little bit funny .

DOESN’T HE SEE THE HUGE CLAWS AND EVIL EYES ON THIS THING??? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES HOW SCARY THIS IS????

The gopher stayed …he didn’t care that the kids were walking back and forth…he didn’t care that they were trying to chase it out of our site…that gopher was there…and I think he was there for ME!

That darned thing just kept running back and forth all over our picnic area…it kept me either standing in the box of my truck…or on the table seat.

I think he knew I was scared…and thought he would enjoy it just a little…he had a stash of sunflower seeds a few feet from the picnic bench and fire pit…and he taunted me…and seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

He kept his eye on me…

I bet he is thinking that he would eat me for desert!

He sure is watching me closely…or was it me watching him? I don’t know…all I know was I wanted him to leave!

If I was braver I would have stolen all his seeds while he was running around…IF I was braver.

I did ask my son to take all the seeds away from there…and throw them into the fire so he would leave and I could actually come out of the box of my truck…

I got the “look” you know the one…the “mother you are off your freakin’ nut” look….

…so I was stuck with this ridiculously scary gopher…all afternoon…

I think he thought it was funny too!

We had our picnic… it was nice. I got a lot of good practice at taking photos…and it seems that from my perch in the box of my truck, I had a good view of everything!

When it was getting dark and it was finally time to go, we got into the truck and drove home…all the way home….we planned our next fishing trip/ picnic day…and no one mentioned the gopher to me again.

Until Next Time….Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) Life is amazing as long as you have the right people around. Every day is a lesson.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Aug. 26/11

WELCOME!!!! This week's flaunt is up a bit early today because I have other obligations that would make me late in posting! Happy Friday!

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!! Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!
If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing!
You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly!
All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...

It has been another crazy week here at my house. WoW…where did summer go??? My kids are all geared up and registered for school that starts next week…on the 1st! I wish the break was a lot longer…seems we just got out! We have been on the go a lot this summer…lots to do and things to finish up…but we did make some time to have a little outing…or two.

This week, I had the chance to take a walk around the river that runs through our city. It is such a peaceful place to visit…and I thought I would share some of the scenery. I get a lot of people emailing me and asking me to share what it is like around Alberta…so I thought I would flaunt my walk this week. I took over 100 photos…but will only share a few with you today.

Welcome to Alberta Canada…where we love to play outside!

It is such a pretty scene…every single view is just breathtaking.

I wish I could have better photos…these just do NOT capture the beauty!

We chose to take the path less traveled this time…we hiked through the woods!

I was just in awe at how pretty every little thing is in here.

Even the evidence of beaver destruction was enchanting on this walk.

The dappled sunlight…and the smells of the forest…

I wasn’t so happy about some of the steep hills I had to do…lol I am a bit out of shape!

We could hear the hum…and I found the nest. It is still being used by the wasps. This one is quite big…must have blown out of the trees during a storm. We needed to be careful not to tick off the wasps…that would be all bad for us!

We hiked about an hour into the woods…found a clearing that someone had set up a camp in …very nice place for a little rest. My friend Michelle likes to bring her dogs to run in the water and trees often.

Oh look…wonder where this trail goes?

Timmy and Cody are interested in that trail too!

So…we walk…and walk…along the riverbank…

…down another steep hill…

…Past some of the most beautiful scenes!…

…through a small stretch of dead trees…it is amazing how even death can be so pretty in nature…

I found some lichen…

It is gorgeous!

…and we walk…yes…another steep hill..

….to get to this spot.

There is a little beach type spot we found…we sat here for a bit and let the dogs and kids play.

When we decided it was time to carry on..we arrived at this spot…doesn’t that moss look super cushy???

We went another 1/2 hour or so into the forest and at one point we could hear something…can you see what we heard?

Yep! You guessed it! We found a natural spring. It was gorgeous here…

…We were all so loving this little area…

The sounds of the waterfall and the running water over the rocks was so calming and relaxing…I wish I could have gotten some better photos…it was a bit of a tight area and we didn’t want to disturb things so you will have to trust me! lol

Just so pretty here.

We carried on a bit further, but the trail was on the edge of a very steep drop and I didn’t want to risk one of the kids falling…or having one of the dogs knock them off…

so we turned around…and got to see it all again on the way back!

I was in awe of all the beauty tucked so deep into the trees. I have seen it before…but just knew you guys would like some of it too!

…and that was the walk in the woods along the Red Deer River in Red Deer Alberta Canada. I can’t wait to have time to go again!

so? what are you waiting for…lets get flaunting!

Wishing you hugs, smiles and a safe

and happy weekend…thanks to all who have taken the time to visit, comment and flaunt with me!

Until Next time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) to my three special fans. Remember: Words mean little, when actions are proving otherwise. Tread softly, the ground is not as thick as you might think!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

you can find links to these and more great blog parties here