Wow , Who Knew?

I just read this article about a beaver that was attacking and killing dogs. I had no idea that beavers were vicious or that they could be capable of taking down a dog. We have been living with one right in our marina for years. It just swims around and munches on grass, I've never seen it look the least bit peturbed by our comings and goings, nor of all the cats and dogs that are around the property. And to think I stood 2 feet away from one filming it for 10 minutes in our living room years ago. Sheesh, if I had read this first, I'd a been runnin' for the hills.

This is our resident rodent dining in his favorite restaurant. At least he doesn't gnaw on the house anymore!

Time for an update

I don't know why, but since I started my other blog, I couldn't log back into this one. I didn't mean to ignore it, just couldn't get in to write anymore posts. I finally had to change my account password but here I am again.

The new blog has taken up alot of my time. I am trying to write a post a day and some of them take me hours and hours to do, what with the research,sorting through pics and trying to sound cohearant. It has been more than a full time job for me. Its doing really well though. So far, in two months, I am averaging 88 hits a day and have had 2,300 readers to date. I am sooo glad I put a site meter on there, or I would think no one was reading. I have had over one hundred readers in a day but only 1-2 comments. If I was going just by comments, I would presume no one was reading.

I am glad I picked this forum to work with. I have often thought of writing a book, but this is easier for me. I can randomly pick topics that interest me that day, write my post and see it in print right away. As time goes on and more posts get written it is slowly becoming a collection of all my knowledge and a place to show off my inner Martha Stewart. I really need to get myself back into a home though. I have been collecting so much stuff,I'm starting to look like a hoarder. I need a real home to display it all and start entertaining again, which is something I love to do. I have a few big expenses coming up but they should be handled by the end of summer, then I will switch gears and start looking for my dream cottage.

I wish I could own my own home but, it looks like it will be back to renting for me. The worst thing about that, is I find myself not wanting to fix the place up much in case they decide to sell or something and I have to move. Besides I have a ton of cool stuff like my steam shower that I want to set up, hard to do that in a rental. Oh well just have to pray for a winning lottery ticket between now and September.

I seem to be going through a real shift this year. I have been exercising my very strong willpower to make some drastic changes in my life. The quitting smoking has gone well. It will be 3 months on June 3rd. I still get cravings once or twice a day, but they pass quickly. I find social situations the hardest. For some reason I guess I felt more secure talking to people with a smoke in my hands. I have been to the beach a few times this year but instead of being in the middle of things like usual, I am finding places to hide away from the crowd. It's a good time to quit tho, apparently there is a new law in effect starting in September that says no smoking allowed on any beaches or in any parks.
It's funny, buying cigarettes is legal but smoking them is becoming illegal almost everywhere.

Of course one of the side effects of quitting has been weight gain. I put on almost 10 pounds already. I wasn't skinny to start with so this has put me over the top. I wanted to start exercising but had to wait for the ok from the cardiologist and my physio. My pinched nerve episode lasted for 5 weeks and has me quite scared about doing anything that might irritate my neck again. Even though they had decided I didn't have a heart attack a few months ago, they wanted me to do a stress test to see just how healthy my heart was. I was quite pleasantly suprised to find out it is in awesome shape. Surprising in the least as I was an old,lazy,overweight,smoker. Apparently some are just born with stronger hearts than others. I'm very lucky as I definately haven't been kind to mine.

I really want to change my eating habits, especially my sugar consumption. I faired well quitting chocolate for Lent, but once the 40 days were over, I ate chocolate and pastries like there was no tommorrow.I think it will have to be like cigarettes, all or nothing.
I tried to diet for a week, changing my habits to include eating breakfast and more fish , fruits and veggies, but I just started packing on the weight and craving sweets so bad I was polishing off whole cakes. So I have decided to go on the Master Cleanse. It is a fast consisting of a drink containing lemon juice, cayenne pepper and B or C grade maple syrup. There is alot more to it and if you are considering doing it PLEASE go buy the book and read it FIRST!!! I can't be bothered to write it all out for you but there are things you need to know before starting it. Once I am done with the fast, my intention is to eat raw and organic as much as possible. I will try and limit my meat consumption to fish supplemented with some eggs,and to avoid sugar as much as possible. If I want a treat it will have to be healthy dark chocolate in small quantities. I want my body back, I'm so tired of being lumpy and in pain all the time. It looks like I might be around for awhile so want to be healthy and able to enjoy myself.

Anyways, it's been 2 days and Ive lost 11 pounds so far. I know the majority of it has been water but thats ok as I was really retaining a ton of fluid. The first day , I just took it easy as I was fighting cravings for food and cigarettes and feeling a bit spacey, but yesterday I made it to the gym. The physio has been giving me specific exercises to rearrange my posture so my neck won't be so comprimised and I have the go-ahead from the cardiologist to excercise so finally got a day off and went to the gym for 2 hours. I did 20 minutes on the treadmill (1.5 km),20 on the excerise bike (3.5 km)and 20 in the pool
(400 meters). My goal for now is to try and increase my distance in those time frames, then at some point increase my time or the difficulty factor (increase the incline etc). I would like to be able to go the distance in a mini triathalon.The distances I'm aiming for are run 5 km, bike 20 km and swim 800 meters. I can't actually run per say because of my neck, but can speed walk. That's ok by me, less strain on the old joints. I spent the other hour stretching, doing a few weights and spending time in the steamroom and whirlpool.

I'm feeling very positive this year. I am finally shifting things in my body and getting around to taking better care of myself. I love my new home even though it is small. The neighborhood is awesome, I love this part of town. It feels like the old neighborhoods of my childhood. Lovely homes with magical gardens, nice neighbors that say hi over the fence and convienient to the shops and work. I am coming to terms with being single again and am enjoying being able to spend my time,energy and money on myself for a change. The Wyldestone blog has been a blessing for me as it gives me a chance to do something creative which I need in my life. All my craft supplies and tools are buried in storage, so writing, taking photographs and posting recipes have taken the place of physical creations.I feel like a butterfly about to emerge from a coccoon.

I am still working on my transportation issues. The little car David gave me earlier this year was on it's last legs and was running on one cylinder at the end. My van had died a few months ago, and I hadn't yet gotten around to seeing what that is all about. It probably needs a few grand thrown at it but it's not really worth it anymore as it is so old and would still look like shit in the end.

My dear friends Todd and Shelley gave me an old car of theirs they weren't using anymore, but it is also in need of a cash tranfusion. The motor runs well but the ball joints need replacing, the electric windows don't work and I need all new tires. Not sure if I should invest much more money into this car as it is old and obsolete. The company went bankrupt and dumped all their parts so it is hard to get replacements for things. Even the tires are so rare, I could only find one store that carries them.

The scooter ran for about 10 minutes once I finally got it home but kept stalling when I tried to idle. I killed the battery trying to restart it constantly so it sat for a while. I finally found a mechanic that would do house calls and he has been working on it slowly. The battery got replaced, now waiting on a carburator from the States. The fuel tank needs to be taken off and something done to the inside of it to get rid of all the rust. I really hope I can get it running soon, I wanted it going for the summer.

Well I think thats all the news for now. Check out the other blog to see what Ive been up to. I will try and stay on track with this one as well as long as it lets me back in. I hope spring was good to you all and that this summer will be awesome.Stay in touch, I love to hear from you. If by chance you are reading the other blog, for the love of God, please comment (and thanks to those that have). I work very hard on the posts and don't know if they are anything people want to read, if they like them or not or find them useful. I really appreciate the feedback as I'm hoping someday it will make me some money so I can retire from doing massage therapy.

Thanks for reading,
Love, Rhianna

Wyldestone Cottage

I have been trying to think of the best way to share all my knowledge for the last few years. I finally decided to use a blog format. The Cyberangel Chronicles has been more of an online diary for me,a place to keep track of the events in my life. It serves that purpose well but I wanted another forum to showcase ideas,knowledge, how-to's, recipes, decorating tips, remedies and inspirational thoughts.


So I have just given birth to a new blog Wyldestone Cottage. Please stop by when you have a chance and help me spread the word by adding me to your blog rolls and becoming a follower.

I hope to be posting something new every day and welcome your comments.

Cheers Rhianna

I'll Just Scoot on Over

I used to have a moped when I lived in Germany. I loved that bike, cheap on gas, zipped through traffic, easy to park. It got stolen twice and I never saw it again after the last time. I have always wanted another one but they were never really popular or available here until a few years ago. When they finally showed up here, they were the price of a small car. I couldn't justify a $5000.00 price tag for a fair weather ride, when I would still need a car for business.

I finally found a good deal on one and picked it up today. It's 150 cc so I have to get a motorcycle liscence to drive it. I already wrote the beginers test and once I feel comfortable balancing on it and handling it, I can do my skills test. That will allow me to drive it around during the day. Eventually I will do the road test when I am comfortable driving it in heavy traffic.

I'm so excited, can't wait to try it out. Of course the minute I get it home, the heavens opened up and spewed a downpour on us. I don't want to start driving it under those conditions, so I'm tapping my feet waiting for the clouds to break. I guess now that I'm a "biker chick" I should get a tattoo ;)

( just kidding mom xxoo)

I'm Not a Quitter

...but some things needed to be let go of. I'm also not affliated with any religeon in particular but I do find some of their customs interesting. I like the idea of Lent where you give something up for 40 days. This year I chose chocolate. It may not sound like a big deal to you, but I love the stuff and eat some every day. Chocolate whip cream in my hot chocolate every morning to start my day is followed by at least one chocolate bar and usually a piece of chocolate cake or a brownie before the day is done. It has been a challenge to satisfy my sweet tooth without resorting to chocolate. My main treat these days has been cinnamon hearts.

As if denying myself chocolate wasn't bad enough, I have quit smoking for the fourth and final time. I recently had a checkup and the Dr. informed me that my hemaglobin was very high. Apparently my lungs are so clogged that my body has made extra hemaglobin to try and grab what little oxygen that managed to filter through the goo. He said if I don't quit now, I will probably be dead in 10 years. I have noticed that I have been quite breathless alot lately and that was the wakeup call I needed to deal with this.

My health has taken a shit kicking in the last month. I have been dealing with another pinched nerve in my neck for the last three weeks. It's not quite as agonizing as last summer but just by a degree or two. Luckily work has been slow as I can only manage one or two clients a day at most. Last Sunday just as I was finishing up my first client of six, I developed severe chest pains. Long story short, I was whisked to the hospital by ambulance, given a battery of tests and xrays and sent home 10 hours later. It wasn't a heart attack but had all the symptoms of one. I can only think it must of been another pinched nerve that inervates the muscles between the ribs.I'm grateful it wasn't more serious but wondering what my body is trying to tell me when so many of my nerves are so inflamed that I am in agony.

The last thing I gave up this month, was the thought that someday I might become a parent. I haven't had a period since November, so had the Dr. run a pregnancy test. Of course it was negative and I have to face the fact that I am finally in full menopause and a family of my own is completely out of the question. I kind of figured years ago, that I would never have children but until now there was always that small chance that a miracle would happen and I still might become a mother. Now I have to deal with the grief of knowing that it's not going to happen. Funny at my age I should be a grandmother, but never having children has left me feeling a little like Peter Pan, like I never quite finished growing up.

My Shabby Chic Bathroom

Craigslist has once again gifted me with some choice finds. I got this super-cute hand painted sink in an old desk and an old fashioned medicine cabinet to go with it. I think they will go perfect with this toilet I got last year and my steam shower unit.










I've never really pictured myself with a blue bathroom, so I have been looking at pictures of other blue bathrooms to see what I like and don't like. As all my fixtures are white other than the blue sink, I'm thinking either white beadboard on the bottom half of the wall with blue on top to match the sink, or keeping the room mainly white with touches of blue tile or trim.




I don't want to copy either of these rooms exactly, just looking at the difference of a lot of colour or touches of colour.

I would like to find a small crystal chandalier for this bathroom as well. I can't wait to have a home that I can decorate. I have so many great things hiding in storage. I find myself mentally going through my belongings wondering which would go best with what. I need it all sprawled out in front of me so I can rearrange and play with ideas.

I had to go to Squamish to pick my latest treasures up. I see the snow finally decided to make an appearance on the mountains. Too bad it's the week after the Olympics. The cruise ship in the distance was used to house volunteers or security during the games.


The lady I got the fixtures from told me to go check out this floathome that someone was building just down the road. I love the barge they are using, what a wonderful stable platform to build on. I guess the guy building it is a woodworker and is doing his best to build a one of a kind home. I would love to see it when it's finished.

All's Well That Ends Well

I think I held my breath for the last 17 days as the Olympic party unfolded in our town. Things started off rough with the sad death of the Georgian luger, a serious lack of snow on the mountains and a few glitches during the opening ceremonies but once we won our first gold medal, all that was set aside and the party started in earnest. I have to admit I'm not one for watching sports but I ended up glued to my TV as the days went on.

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the opening ceremonies. I didn't think we could come even remotely close to the spectacle that China presented at the last Olympics but I thought we did a fabulous job. The closing ceremonies were fairly hokey by contrast but we have always been good at poking fun at ourselves. We were so happy at winning the gold in hockey that a humerous light-hearted show was perfect for the giddy crowd.

And speaking of crowds, I have never seen so many people on the streets.I kept thinking the thrill would wear off and things would slow down, but neither work, nor rain, nor mile-long lineups stopped the people from pouring into the downtown core day after day. It was literally a sea of elbow-to-elbow red and white patrism. I've never felt prouder to be a Canadian.