House of Straw.

These.

These are the last photos I took before our lives changed.

The one above is specifically significant because it later became woven into this fall.

Don't worry. Babe is fine. On paper so I am. I still have my job. Physically I'm healthy.

In the end, when the end came, I had no one to blame but myself.

I've picked up and started over so many times before. I guess I took pride in that. Felt I had paid my dues and learned my lessons. Thought I was strong, independent - that I knew what I was doing.

To get here I picked up and moved again - shortly before this blog stalled, as I threw myself into creating a fresh life and got whisked away with work and parenting - and ultimately love.

I jumped, risked everything, struck out on my own again, this time with my daughter in tow. I wasn't hiding, wasn't staying where I was safe. I left the security blankets behind and carved out something new. I was a strong mother and took control of our future.

I worked hard, I raised my daughter, I built a garden and loved a man.

Looking back here now, the post I wrote after we arrived is such a stark contrast to the most recent domestic one that I lost my breath.

I didn't want to believe that - sometimes - love doesn't conquer all.

Like a true journalist, I didn't have all the answers but I thought I could find them. I thought the answers would come if I sought experts, guidance and was patient. I thought a clear mind, true heart and good intentions would prevail.

I was wrong. Or maybe I was right but I couldn't do it alone.

I was so damn sure.
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I built a house of straw...but the winds have come.

Puff's New House.

Our bunny's new digs.
We thought about building our own and I had ideas about what I wanted but it wasn't happening.
So in the end we ordered this one online and it finally arrived yesterday. 

Puff is stoked!

Babe's First Pet.

Sorry.

I have no excuse except that we moved to a new town far away and I started a new job.

I'll try harder to keep this more up to date.

So this is almost the first post since we moved and started a new life in Northern B.C.

Babe is 2.5 now. She's practically all grown up and I wanted her to have a little creature to play with and love.

I had two lovely cats for a looong time. After Babe was born I found that as much as I loved them, I didn't have the time for them like I had before and they woke me up a lot which I had no patience for considering how little I got to sleep with Babe around.

Eventually one got too old and too sick and we had to put her down...I think I blogged about that sad day here. Then after we moved we decided that it would be better for my other long-time cat to have a new home with a single woman who had more time for her rather than being cooped up in a small apartment while Babe went to preschool and I went to work all day.

So we have been pet-less since we moved to Smithers back in August. It's been relaxing but a strange experience for me because I have always had animals around.

I wanted a pet and I wanted Babe to have one but I still wasn't ready to commit to the responsibility of a cat or dog.

Then I got sucked in to a baby bunny.

At first I just took him home for a few hours, then a weekend and eventually I couldn't fight the urge anymore and I just kept him.

I had bunnies when I was a kid but always just sorta regarded them as a boring pet that didn't do much.

But so far it has been great having a bunny. He is really calm, obviously very quiet, sheds way less than a cat or dog and is actually quite fun and.  He even comes when she is called.

"Puff" is a great first pet for Babe; cuddly and cute but calm and low maintenance. We love him.