If you are on a diet I would skip this post........

as it may cause you to break your diet!!  I signed up for the Food Networks "12 Day's of Cookies" newsletter, and on Monday my first recipe arrived; Paula Dean's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies.  For those of you who are not familiar with Paula Dean she doesn't believe in anything low fat!!  She reminds me of Clarissa Dickson Wright  and Jennifer Paterson, better known as The Two Fat Ladies they also believed in using full fat butter, milk, cream etc, etc.

When I saw the recipe, I knew I had all the ingredients on hand, so figured why not try it.  It is so simple it's crazy, but there are a couple of things you should know.  You MUST let the dough chill, as it is sticky otherwise.  I let my dough chill for three hours and by the time I had finished making the dough into balls, my hands were a gooey mess.  For those of you who are not in the States, 1 stick of butter = 4 oz, or quarter of a 1lb block.  It does make life a lot easier if your cream cheese and butter is at room temperature.  Cream cheese should be on sale with the run up to Christmas, so this is a good recipe to stock up the cream cheese for along with my Pumpkin Cupcakes.

I found rolling the dough in icing sugar was less messy if you used a couple of spoons to do it.  It mixes up no problem in the Kitchen Aid mixer, and the raw dough is pretty good!!  I have an Orange flavoured cake mix, so am wondering if that would also be yummy? 

They are good when still warm.......ask me how I know!!  I am adding this to "this recipe is a keeper file," when I set one up!!

The bread bun header is an old photo.  I use my bread maker to make them. This recipe is similar to the one I use.

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Monday and we are talking about all sorts...

I should mention something from yesterday's post.  Although we put tar paper on the walls in the "new" basement, we don't actually have any damp in there.  Even in the old basement that is dry.  We are lucky as a lot of old basements in older homes can be damp.  We did have a bit of dry rot in the old basement, but that was taken care of in the spring.


Sunday was the start of Advent at church.  I enjoyed the service, though one of the hymns just went, on and on and on!!!!  I am looking forward to the next few services.   Also found out when the Christmas Eve services are.  We have three churches in our parish, so one is at 4pm, the other at 7pm and the one at the church I attend is at 9pm.  Looking forward to attending that also.

On Sunday morning we had a lovely sunrise, and I took some photos.

Accross the road is a cell phone tower, I think it may be a Rogers one.  Anyhow the sun was shining off the tower and it lookes as though it was lit up:

I think I will keep the other two for Skywatch Thursday as they are really nice.

I also put up my Fibre Optic tree.  Have to say I love  the simplicity of that tree.  Pull it out of the box, connect the parts and switch on.......couldn't be easier!!  I am hoping to get our main tree up this week..............now that takes a heck of a lot longer to put up!!

The plant left of the tree is an orchid.  I see I have a couple of buds on there so I am expecting flowers from it in the Spring.  It was flowering when I got it for my birthday this year, see this post.  The santa's each side of the tree are these ones.

As you can also see by the last photo we don't have much in the way of snow and we are forecast for rain on Tuesday, so it will be all gone that day.........

Also on Sunday I was doing a bit of sewing, I should be finished by mid week, so will show you the photos then.  Hoping for a quiet week again this week.

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Saturday down the basement.......

So woke up to miserable weather on Saturday, snowing and very windy!!  A great day to work in the basement.


So me and dh spent most of the day putting up the tar paper in the "new" basement.  Now we did have to take a break as we ran out of supplies, so had to run out for them.  Putting tar paper on the walls is not as easy as it sounds.  We could have done with an extra pair of hands, but once we got going it sort of came together not too bad.  We are hoping to finish it off on Sunday afternoon, depending on how long dh has to work on Sunday.

This photo is looking to the south side of the basement. The window is bigger it's just partially covered in tar paper.  Molly came downstairs for a look.......we bought all the insulation last year to do the attic and that is what is leftover.  We hope to have enough to complete the basement.

This is looking towards the north side of the basement.  Most of that end of the basement will be my new laundry room.  Again the window is a lot bigger when it's not covered with tar paper.  Oh and yes that is dh is the background!!

These are the patio doors leading from the basement.

Now it would be a big help if we could clear out some of the mess in there and so give us more room, but at this point, that isn't happening.

All we want to achieve at the moment, is to insulate the walls to make it warmer down there.  Then in the New Year we are going back to the attic with the hopes of getting that finished in the Spring.

The sun came out later in the morning and shone all day, it was a lovely day, cold but very sunny.

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Went grocery shopping Friday morning,

and got my turkey.  Paid just under $9 for it, so it must be around 11 to 12lbs in weight, which is ample big enough for us.  As there is nothing worse than eating turkey for days on end.

Anyhow saw a couple of interesting things while I was at the grocery store.  So the first snow plow wander by......luckily not because there was any snow, but they were salting/sanding the roads.  We had a horrible weather night on Thursday night with a lot of rain and really, really windy.  Anyhow, the temperature must have dropped like a stone, as I saw all the sidewalks had also been salted/sanded.

Also as I was paying my bill a Mennonite carriage with two horses trotted past the window, it was a closed carriage like this one.  It turns out there is a hitching post out back for them.  Anyhow we all discussed how much easier and cheaper it would be to have a carriage and horses, than paying for gas/petrol for a car etc.  However I then piped up about there was one downside to that, there is no heating in those carriages!!!

Now I know I am Miss Hot Flash,  but even I had to put the heating on in the car on Friday morning!!  Didn't wear my winter coat of course, or a hat or mitts, but did put the heating on low.  Back to the Mennonites, there are some farms north west of us with Mennonites farming them, no idea about them though.  I don't see them that often in the grocery store, but when I do they are generally very friendly.

When I came home from shopping I made a Shepherd's Pie, I love shepherd's pie, don't make it that often but it is a hearty meal.

I make mine using ground/minced beef, browned in a pan with a chopped up onion.  I then drain the fat from it, add a chopped up carrot or two, a couple packets of oxo (check out that oxo site for some good recipes as well), some "W" sauce, seasonings, and top up with water.  Bring back to boil and boil for around 20 minutes.  I then thicken it with a couple teaspoons of cornstarch/flour and Bisto powder.  Bring back to a boil and then pour it all into a casserole dish.

You then add mashed potatoes on top and pop in the oven at 375 oF until heated through and the top is nice and crispy.  You can also add some grated cheese on top if you want.  To bulk up the meat mixture just add more veggies.  Shepherd's Pie also freezes great, so make a couple at a time and pop the other in the freezer for a quick meal.

We also like the meat mixture on its own on top of toast; haven't had that in a long while either thinking about it.......

I would also love it if you can pop by LizBeth's blog as she writes about a lovely little girl in Russia looking for her forever family.  She is asking that everyone donates $5 to help this little one.  Even if you don't want to donate, just read Olga's story. 

And finally pop by this blog and I bet you will be laughing at this poor doggy.......it will make you smile all day just thinking about the look on his face!

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It's one of those days/night where I have nothing much to say..........

so I guess I will just ramble on about nothing as per usual.


Molly's ears have stopped smelling....yeah for that.  I feed her twice a day, most days.  No specific time, just when her bowl is empty.  I have discovered she likes to have something to eat before she goes to bed, but other than that it's whenever she is hungry.  Luckily she has dry food, so it doesn't go off, and it's lucky she doesn't have a housemate that is also a dog!!!


Here she is on "her" side of the sofa, which actually makes a change, as she normally takes up half of dh's side as well!!

Yes she is spoiled!!

Going to get my Christmas turkey today at No Frills, as they have them on for 77 cents per pound.  I don't think I have ever seen them that cheap in Canada?  Now granted they are Utility Turkey's which means it could be missing a leg or a wing, or the skin may be torn....basically rejects.......but they taste as good as the regular turkeys.  Might have something to do with all the butter I slather on the top of the breast, and all the bacon I skewer on the top as well!!  Hey, in for a penny, in for a pound as they say!!

Gosh this post is boring, I'm sorry, hopefully tomorrow will be better!!

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Skywatch Friday

I have been having touble uploading photos, but seem to have it all figured out now.......well for the time being!!

This was a stunning sky from a week or two ago that I wanted to share with you.

For more Skywatch Friday shots, please click on this link

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A whine about the hydro/electric bill, a question and other stuff........

I got our hydro bill in the mail yesterday and it was $140.38 for the month.  So what you ask.......well of that $140.38, the actual hydro we used was only $54, that's it, the rest were miscellaneous charges.......it cost us $59.35 just to get it "delivered" to us.......what the heck.......


It wouldn't be so bad if we were frivolous with it, but I don't use our electric dryer to dry the clothes.  I switch lights off whenever possible.  There is only the two of us in the house.  If I use the dish washer once a month, I do well.  Obviously the a/c wasn't on.  I'm not sure what else to do to bring it down.  When we lived at the other house it was generally around $75 a month, but the "delivery" charges were a lot less and we were taxed less.  And now as per this news report, by 2030 our hydro bills will be twice as much as we pay now????


Is it as bad where you live?

I went to the post office on Wednesday to mail my Christmas cards to Britain........just under $60 later..........now granted $24 of that was for a couple of parcels, and there was one card to the US, but even so that is just crazy.  So there is going to be a different plan of action for next year.  I still have the Canadian cards to mail.  It is $1.70 plus tax per card to Britain now.  I will mail the Canadian cards next week.

I have been busy reading a book over these past couple of days: Sandra Dallas "Alice's Tulip."  It was about two of my favourite subjects quilting and history.  The book is in the form of letters from Alice to her sister, so a bit of a different way of story telling.  It was still really interesting and there was a little "blurb" about different quilt blocks at the start of each chapter.

Finally the question.  Do any of you have a Wii.  If so do any of you have Just Dance or Just Dance 2?  Are they worth getting?  Also are any of you getting Michael Jackson, The Experience?  They look like fun and thought I may use some of my Swagbucks to buy one.........

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Advent Calendars and other stuff

One of the things my kids look forward to each year is receiving an Advent Calender from my mother in England.  Now granted they are nearly 27 and 25, but Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the Cadbury's Advent Calender.  They haven't arrived yet, but I am assured they are on their way. 

Now one year my mother thought she would pay a bit more for the calender's and buy the mixed chocolate one.  When dd started to open the windows out would pop these fruit and nut chocolates and the nut chocolates.  She was horrified as none of us like currents, sultanas and raisins.  She was even amazed when my mother told her that Cadbury's Fruit and Nut Chocolate was one of the best selling chocolate in Britain.  As dd said she couldn't even give way those chocolates.

So now my mother just sticks with the plain Cadbury's chocolate.  As I have told my mother, don't bother sending them, as it costs her more to mail them than it does to buy them, but she still insists and both my kids (the little stinkers) keep saying to her that Christmas wouldn't be the same without Nana sending over those Advent Calendars!!

Now the chocolates in these advent calendar's are so tiny it's crazy.  However when I was over at Shirley's blog she had come up with a novel advent calender for a chocolate lover like myself.  Pop over and have a look and you'll see why I thought it was just the best.

I spent a couple of hours on Tuesday morning catching up on people's blogs.  I think I got most people visited; but if I missed you would you yell at me!!

So I have figured out a way of uploading photos onto my blog again.  It's a bit of a pain, but not sure what else to do.  I am loading them onto Photobucket and going from there.

So in celebration of the fact I have figured out how to do this, here is a photo of Molly.  She has stinky ears again at the moment, so I am putting ear drops in her.  Must say stinky ears are a regular occurrence with her and she is not a fan of having drops put in her ears!!

Her stomach is also not happy with all the scratching.  I must remember to get some baby oil next time I am out to see if that will help.

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Janet and John......

I won a giveaway on Janet's blog.  Have to say it was an easy one for me, as I have been to the place many times; Blackpool Tower, although I don't recall how many times I have actually been in the tower itself?  Janet is raising funds and awareness for MND - Motor Neurone Disease, as her brother Andrew has Progressive Bulbar Palsy a type of Lou Gehrig's Disease.  So if you have time could you pop by her blog and say hello and wish her well with her goals........


Now Janet's brother is called John.  I have never met him, but I adore his blog and his way of life.  I would love to live in the same village as him, as the going's on with his menagerie of animals always makes for  good read!!  They have just adopted the most gorgeous Bulldog, which I think would make a lovely friend for our Molly.  Dh is not allowing me to get a friend for Molly.....(I am pouting at the moment!)   So if you have time pop by John's blog also to say hello.

Did you watch Dancing With the Stars?  If Jennifer doesn't win there is something very, very wrong...........

Helped dh with the basement on Monday when he got home from work.  Confirmed that I DO NOT LIKE insulation or drywall dust, both are icky, icky, icky!!  However have realized if you clean up as you go along, it makes for a better working environment!!!  Shame dh doesn't get it!  Still can't complain as he does work really hard.

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Ever had a day where you did nothing?

No? Me either!!!

Mind you Sunday was pretty close to that for me.  I did hoover up, clean out the fire, brought in logs, tidy up in the mudroom, picked up the poop (always a great job to do!!)

Did some tidying up, made meals, washed dishes and fed the birdies.  However after that I don't think I did much of anything.

I did watch a couple of movies in the afternoon.  Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age both starring Cate Blanchett  Brought back memories about history lessons in school.  I loved history and geography at school, I think they were my favourite subjects.

Otherwise Sunday was a super quiet day which is how I like it.  Lets hope the rest of the week is the same as well.

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Sunday morning........

Didn't get around to posting last night like I normally do.  Ds came for a visit, his moustache is doing well and I am growing to like it.  His group have managed to raise just under $1,500 so far, their goal is $2,000.  If they reach that a guy in the office who already has a moustache will have to shave it off!!

I went into town on Saturday morning, and did my Shopper's Drug Mart trip.  I spent nearly $85 just like that.  Granted I stocked up on coke (4 x 12 packs) and butter (4 x 1lb) and a few other things, but I must say that $85 didn't go far.  Even dh was saying things seem to be getting more and more expensive.

There was a no tax sale on at Zehrs, so probably Superstore, Fortino's and Loblaws as well this weekend.  So I picked up a tin of cookies/biscuits for a Christmas gift, so saved 13% there are well.  Every little bit helps.  I have discovered that Bulk Barn sells imported British candy bars, so I will wait for the next coupon to come out and go and get the kids some candy for Christmas.  I normally buy them an imported British selection box each (notice how I put a link on that, as I just thought most people may not have heard of them?) but figured this would be a more economical way.

I bought some breakfast sausage yesterday.  They are a smaller version of regular sausages, and this pack had apple in them as well.  Anyhow I cooked them at lunch time  and put them into sandwiches for us.  This is something I have never done before as I am not a fan of breakfast sausage, but thought it would make a change.  I have suffered ever since.  My poor stomach is not at all well, and here I am Sunday morning, still with a bad stomach.  Dh meanwhile thought he had died and gone to heaven as he loves that sort of thing....

I don't even know if I am going to go to church as my stomach feel so bad.  So next time I get the urge to give dh a treat I must remember not to treat myself as well!!

Enjoy your Sunday!

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How's everyone getting on with their Christmas shopping?

I'm not finished yet, but well on my way. 

I was just sorting out my coupons, I have a special wallet that I keep them in as its 20 x the points at Shopper's Drug Mart today so I want to get those extra points.  Not sure if I'll have enough points to cash in for free stuff soon, as I haven't been shopping there in a while.  However if anyone is going to shop at Shopper's, make sure you buy a $50 Shopper's gift card before you pay for your stuff and then pay for your stuff with the gift card.  You get 500 points for buying the gift card.

I took advantage of a great deal at Mark's Work Wearhouse.  In this weeks flyer there is a great deal, that when you buy $100 in gift cards, you get an extra $20 gift card that you can use between December 1st, 2010 and May 2011.  Also in the flyer there was a $10 off coupon when you spend $50.

So I went in there and bought the $100 in gift cards, and got the extra $20 gift card.

I then bought the things I needed using the gift cards to pay for the items, and also using the $10 off coupon, so saving an extra $10.  They also gave me a $10 coupon that is good for December.  So in December I will buy $50 worth of things, and only pay $20 for them as I have the $20 gift card I got for free and the $10 coupon.

I got an email from Mark's and Spencer with a coupon for 10% off.  I must say I am tempted to order some stuff even though the shipping is 15 pounds.  Our exchange rate with the pound is pretty good at the moment.  It's just a shame I can't get them to send over food items, that would be just perfect.

Are there any other good deals out there, online if you're in a different country to Canada, or in person if you're in Canada, that I should be aware of as I still have a few people to buy for?

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Writing this on Thursday night........

My dad came over on Thursday and we worked down the "new" basement taking up some of the glued down 1974 lino tiles.......a lot harder job than we originally anticipated.  We got what I wanted done, so that was good.  We even started to pull out the nails and screws out of the beams on the ceiling and walls.

Dad is a great worker and he is a hard worker.  Meanwhile I am pooped and am hobbling around as my back is killing me.  However dh is really pleased with what we did and it has saved him a full day's work. 

This Saturday he is going to finish of doing some prep work. The prep work takes longer than the actual job itself.  He has to work on Sunday.  Then the following Saturday we need to put the tar paper on the walls...........not sure why we are doing this but we are.  Then I hope the following Saturday we will be putting up the stud walls and the following Saturday insulating.

Dh generally has a Saturday off but seems to be working most Sundays at the moment, as well as Monday through Friday, he too is a super hard worker.

Meanwhile it's 8pm at night, and I am heading to my bed, to see if laying down helps my back.  Hoping a good nights sleep will do my back a world of good, it generally does.............

(P.S. haven't dealt with the computer/photo problem yet, haven't had the time yet)

UPDATE:

Friday morning and after a nights sleep my back is good again, thank goodness!

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Snow fences, a very talented lady and a problem....

We finally got the last of the snow fence installed on Tuesday.  It's actually technically not snow fence, as when you go to the store to buy snow fence it is generally orange or black, or wooden.  We had this fence and the posts from the old house and we brought it with us. So figured we would use it this year to see if it prevented the snow from drifting as much on our driveway.

 It has a rotten habit of drifting just as you come into the driveway and just up the driveway.  We had a lucky escape on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, as we have a pile of rain.  Luckily it was still warm enough to come down as rain as otherwise we would have got a good six inches of snow if it had been colder!!!

Looking at those two photos, it looks as though the grass is covered with leaves.  They are the tiny leaves from the willows and are impossible to mulch, so fingers crossed the wind will blow them away.

If you have a moment pop over to Valerie's blog as she is such a talented lady, you should see her parchment craft and the gorgeous cards she makes.  Here is a link to her blog.  Look at Monday and Tuesday's posts.

I have run into a problem with my blog.  The Picassa Web Album which Google uses is full, so I cannot upload any more photos on my blog.  If I delete photos in the albums they are deleted from my blog as well?  I could pay for more space, but I would rather not spend anymore money at the moment.

Any suggestions/ideas/tips?

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A very, very, very good and yummy recipe.......

I grew pumpkins for the first time this year.  More as an experiment than anything else.  Anyhow, they were a great success and I have numerous small pumpkins sitting on my deck.  So the other day I cooked up a couple of them.  So now I had some pumpkin puree to do something with.  On Wednesday I decided to make some pumpkin cupcakes and they were really good.   

Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Cake/Cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 cups white sugar
1 1/4 cup vegetable oil  I used 3/4 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 cup apple sauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups pureed pumpkin or canned pumpkin
4 eggs
2 cups plain/all purpose flour
3 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour a 12" x 18" pan.  Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.

In a large bowl combine sugar and oil.  Blend in vanilla and pumpkin, then beat in eggs one at a time.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in nuts.  Spread batter into prepared 12" x 18" pan. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool.

This will also make 24 cupcakes.  I baked them at 350 degrees F for around 25 minutes.

I iced them with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing:

1/2 cup butter
8oz cream cheese
2 - 3 cups powdered/icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together until very smooth.  Add the vanilla extract and slowly add the powdered sugar, until well mixed.

This is enough icing to ice 24 cupcakes or a sheet cake.

I sprinkled pumpkin pie spice on top of the icing.

They are so moist.  I kept them in the fridge because of the cream cheese icing.

This recipe is a keeper!

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Our son and his moustache.....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, ds is growing a moustache in the month of November to raise funds for Prostate Cancer.  So last Saturday was the first time I had seen him since he started this.  I was pleased to see he had a full moustache, bit confused though, as he has brown hair and his moustache is red/ginger in colour?


I always assumed if you grew a moustache it was the same colour as the hair on your head, but I guess not?  His hair colour comes from his dad's side of the family, but his moustache colour comes from my dad's side of the family.  So there you go another new thing I have learned.


I also am not a fan of facial hair on a man.  Dh is clean shaven and I hope after this month, ds will go back to being clean shaven.


On Monday Molly needed to be let out at 4:14 AM, and for some reason I couldn't get back to sleep, so by 5:30 am I gave up and got up.  I don't do well when I get up at that time of the morning.  Anyhow, I got a jump on all the jobs I had planned for Monday, and got everything I wanted done, done.


My car is now able to be parked in the garage now for the winter since I cleaned it out AGAIN!!!  I put up the Christmas lights around our back deck.  When we were coming home the other night we were amazed at how many people have their Christmas lights up outside and turned on.  I had thought about putting some lights up outside the front of the house this year, as dh has put in an outside plug out front.  It was nippy cold though on Monday so I was frozen by the time I had done the lights on the back.


It was nice enough on Monday to get the laundry dry outside.  Have to say I think the days are numbered for that happening, as it does feel like November now here.

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Busy weekend........

I have to say we have had a busy weekend and got a lot of good jobs done or at least started.

Saturday I got the emerald cedars wrapped in burlap for the winter.  I planted them directly in the way of the north west wind, so they will get hit hard.  On Sunday we made a start on putting up the snow fences.  I'll take a photo of it all when we have got them finished. 

Dh worked away in the new basement getting some more insulation done.  We hope to have the new stud walls and the insulation in before Christmas.  However there is such a lot of prep work to do, so its taking a long time to get to the installing the stud wall stage.

I actually got all my Christmas cards written on Sunday.  I was determined to get it done.  This year though I am not doing my yearly news letter.  I write down each year on an excel spreadsheet who I get cards from, and if they included photos, or a note written in the card or a letter.  I think last year I got 5 letters and not many more notes in the cards, so I thought why on earth am I bothering?  If other people can't be bothered why should I?

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A bit of this and a bit of that......

As I was reading Kim's blog yesterday, she was worried that the property around her is going to be sold and developed on, taking away her no neighbour living in the country feel.  It made me reflect on where we live.  We have five acres and our neighbour owns 39 acres, all around us.  Imagine a "C" shape, we are the hole in the "C".  Luckily though for us, our township only allows 2 severances per original homestead/farm of 100 acres.  In our case those severances have already been done.  We are the original homestead, the neighbours above us have the 39 acres, and behind us is another property with the rest of the acreage.  So there can be no more dividing of the land.  Also the land directly behind us is so hilly that it's not much use for anything other than pasture.  If anyone wants to put animals in there, they are going to have to re fence the whole property which I actually don't have a problem with.  Also I have no problem living next to a field full of animals.  So I think I can safely say we shouldn't be getting any more neighbours of the human kind any time soon!!

My poor old swiffer gave up the ghost the other day.  I have had it since they first came out, so it has earned its keep!!

 The new one looks all very fancy dancy, and is actually a bit longer, as although I am only 5' 5" the old one was a bit short.

 We went to dd's on Saturday afternoon and we took them, including ds out for supper to Mr. Greek.  It was good and it had been a while since we had, had Greek food.

I made dd a birthday cake.  However mine isn't as fancy as when she decorates cakes.  Mine was a packet brownie mix, with store bought frosting to go on the top.  Her "pet" name is Cons, that isn't her real name.

I had bought her a cake pan the same as the one I had baked the brownies in, so I took the cake down in the tin, and brought hers home.

Managed to get some more jobs done in the garden, including planting some more spring bulbs.  Fingers crossed the squirrels and the mice don't eat them all!!

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A Foogy start to Saturday......

I never got posted last night as I normally do as I was so tired.  Friday was a super busy day getting lots of things done.  Saturday isn't going to be much better, so I thought I would take some photos of the sunrise for you........

I probably won't get to anyone's blogs until after the weekend, sorry.........

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Toilet paper and a glorious sunset.......

When we were at the Women's Show on the weekend, one of the booth's was for a company called Cascades.  They sell toilet paper and other paper products that are made from recycled fibres.  The guy asked if I used their toilet paper and I said no as it wasn't soft enough for my delicate backside!!!

There is one thing I will not skimp on and that is toilet paper.  I am a 3 ply girl; okay I will use 2 ply if I have too, but I refuse to buy the 1 ply stuff  or the recycled stuff, as its "rough" on my skin!!  My favourite brand is Royale, but will buy Cottenelle or Charmin if I have some good coupons.

We don't have coloured toilet paper like they do in Britain, not that I was really keen on it.   At least I don't have to use Izal Toilet Paper.  Dh's mother only used that brand, read about it here.  Are you picky about what toilet paper you use?

Thursday was another glorious day around here, I could get used to this weather!!!

Of course the sunset was spectacular as well, so I thought I would share some photos with you.......

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Skywatch Friday

A beatuiful blue sky today..........not at all like a November day....

For more skywatch photos please click on this link

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Did you dread reaching a certain age?

I found my 25th birthday the hardest.  I thought I was so old; no idea why.  When I turned 30 or 40 it never bothered me, but 25 was a bad one.  How about you?

Does anyone know why Bristol Palin is still on Dancing With The Stars.......

Wednesday was another gorgeous day.  I got all the Spring bulbs planted, so that is another job out of the way.  Also got the remainder of the leaves mulched with the lawn tractor.

I was reading this article which had the Title: Revealed: The embarrassing wrong quiz answers that prove Britain really is dumbing down.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328602/Quiz-answers-prove-Britain-dumbing-down.html#ixzz14vvXbj6T

and finally:

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

For more info on this most poignant poem click on this link

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Happy 25th birthday to our baby!!!

It's our daughter's birthday today and here is the card I made her:

I talk about her birth story here if you're interested.  Didn't want to bore you with it again.  We got her cake decorating "stuff" and I forgot to take a photo of it all.  Plus I think I got her some other bits and bobs including some necklaces that are actually candy.....thought it was cute and she would enjoy it!

We are all going out for dinner on Saturday night somewhere in Toronto......no idea where though.  I said I fancied Greek, but no one else said anything?

My trip to the dentist was a total waste of time, we have to "watch" the tooth to see if it gets any worse.  Presently it's only aching and I don't have chronic toothache anymore so I guess that is something?  I am seriously considering getting a second opinion as I am not happy with the way my mouth is falling to bits.....   Mind you as dh said it hasn't stopped me talking!!!

Here's our Molly Moo, what a hard life she has!!

 This is an female Downy Woodpecker.........

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Glorious weather again...........

Just when I was complaining about it snowing the other day, up pops a glorious day.  Monday was a super day with the sun shining all day.  I had my dad and step-mum over and after they left I went outside and planted some spring bulbs.

When dh came home he drove me to TSC and I picked up another 50 tulip bulbs and 50 daffodils bulbs.  They were on sale for 75% off, a price you can't beat.  So I hope to have a lovely show of bulbs in the spring.

Is anyone watching Dancing With The Stars on a Monday night?  It's the first time I have watched it and I am thoroughly enjoying it, other than all the adverts.  They are driving me crazy.  Every two minutes there seems to be an advert????  Not sure who I want to win, probably either Brandy or Jennifer.........if Bristol Palin isn't kicked off this week, there is something clearly wrong!!  I am also reading online at Daily Mail UK about the British version of Dancing With The Stars.  I am rooting for Felicity Kendal, as I loved her on The Good Life.

I am back at the dentist today.........another one of those bi-weekly visits!!  Good news is that I don't have toothache at the moment.......for how long though who knows!! I will let you know on Wednesday how I got on........

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My apologies and the Women's Show......

I must apologise for not posting, but it has been a heck of a busy weekend and as I write this Monday morning I must say I am shattered.

Anyhow on Sunday me and dd attended the Women's Show in Toronto and had a super time.  Here are some of the freebies we received while there:

 Our leaving gift was three pairs of tights (pantyhose), a can of tuna, a box of Triscuits and some hemp "milk," we both passed on the hemp milk!!

 The only things I bought were the nuts for 2 cans for $5, will put them away for Christmas and the caramel dips, that were 2 for $3.  They are so good with cut up apples.

There were food samples galore.  Dd got her face done with full makeup and the makeup artist was really good and gave her some good tips.

I did try some sort of eye cream that removes the bags and wrinkles, but only got the one eye done as I was in tears.........my eyes are so sensitive that I can't even stand people close to them.  I was the first one to have tears coming out of her eyes, and that's why I refused to have the other eye done.  When I showed dh my eyes he couldn't see any difference and to be truthful neither could I!!

Dd bought some bath salts and while she was smelling the scents, a lady from the booth came up to me and asked me to smell some.  They were in glass containers with metal tops.  She stuck it right under my nose and the metal must have touched my upper lip and boom, I got an electric shock.  Boy did that hurt, so after that I refused to have anyone come close to me, as goodness knows what would have happened next!!!

All in all we had a great day, but I did get stuck in a major traffic jam on the way home........which sucked.

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Church Supper and Molly

On Friday night our church hosted a Pork Roast Supper.  For $15 you got roast pork, gravy, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, roasted parsnips, carrots, rutabaga (turnip to the British) and beetroot.  Coleslaw and rolls with butter.  Dessert was apple crisp with a caramel sauce and cream, tea or coffee.

You could go back for seconds if you wanted and there were all sorts of homemade pickles on the tables as well.   This is not my plate, I forgot to take a photo of my plate!!

 This was dessert.

It was held in the "Orange Hall," opposite the church and we ate in the basement which seats 100 people. 

They also had a cake table where pies were $8 each.  I picked up half a dozen butter tarts for $4.  They also had a bread stall and I picked up a dozen tea biscuits for $5.  All in all we had a good time and we enjoyed some great company, all for a good cause.  The last time they made around $3,500.00, so hopefully they will make the same this time.

Thanks also for all your advise regarding Molly.  I think I will pick up some baby oil when I am out next to see if that will help on all her hot spots.  She made the dreadful mistake of wandering upstairs Friday morning as I was heading for a shower!!!  So into the shower she went.   She was NOT happy, as she HATES getting wet period!!

Actually Molly's favourite occupation after watching squirrel tv is what she is doing below!

She has a hard life that poor dog of ours!!

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Poor Molly.......

Had her back at the vets yesterday for a follow up to her tooth extraction.  Anyhow, that is healing nicely and the vet was really pleased with her.

The poor Molly bit, is her allergies are playing up something rotten.  She barely has any fur left on her stomach with her scratching.  We have had a couple of "killing/hard" frosts so thought maybe things would calm down, but so far not.

One thing I think may be an issue is that we have the heating on a little more and the fire on every day now.  So the heat may be drying her skin out?  We do have a metal pot filled with water on top of the wood stove when it is on, so that put a bit of moisture in the air, but obviously not enough I guess?

She is a happy camper but her stomach looks pretty sore.  I may try and trick her into coming upstairs with me and having a bath to see if that will help?

I was going to add a photo of Molly, but for some reason blogger isn't uploading photos this morning?

(big font's = not much to say!!)

P.S. It's bloody well snowing = not happy :-(

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Super Busy and Skywatch Friday

This photo was taken Wednesday morning, we had a nasty frost and this was when the sun was coming up.

For more Sky Watch Friday posts, click on this link

As I said I have been super busy and by nightfall I am pooped.

I am still chopping up the wood for the fire.  We have friends coming on Saturday so that has given me a kick in the butt to get things tidied up  around here!!  I am cross stitching some Christmas Cards on a night now.....I know last minute, so all in all I am super busy.

So sorry if I haven't visited your blog, hoping to make time to do that soon!

(Notice how I made the font large to make it look as though I have written a lot!!)

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"Movember," and Regal Gifts

Movember

The following text is from the official Movember website:

"The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember.

Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for prostate cancer.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days. 

The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia.  The plan was simple – to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men’s health. No money was raised in 2003, but the guys behind the Mo realized the potential a moustache had in generating conversations about men’s health.  Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement. 

In 2004 the campaign evolved and focused on raising awareness and funds for the number one cancer affecting men – prostate cancer. 432 Mo Bros joined the movement that year, raising $55,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia - representing the single largest donation they had ever received.

The Movember moustache has continued to grow year after year, expanding to Canada, the US, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands and Finland. 

In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $47 Million for Movember’s global beneficiary partners.  We are proud to announce that last year’s Canadian campaign was the second largest in the world behind Australia, with 35,156 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas coming together to raise $7.8 million for Prostate Cancer Canada."
Our son is participating in this great cause.  If anyone would like to sponser him please leave me a comment with your email address in it, (I WILL NOT PUBLISH IT) and I will send you a link to his group page.  I do not want to publish the group page on my blog as there is a lot of personal information on the page that everyone in the world doesn't need to know......if you know what I mean!!!

A friend of a friend is a rep for Regal Gifts and I offered to provide her link to all the Canadians out there if you want to order anything from Regal, here is the link  I used to buy my cards and wrapping paper from there all the time when they had a store, but now it is all done online.  One good thing shipping isn't too bad at $5 when your order is under $100 and 4% of your order value over $100.  From what I can gather though they only ship in Canada; however someone else may know different?

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A first and a last..........

I'll tell you about the last first as that is a shorter story.  On Monday the weather was lovely so I barbecued for the last time this season.  I had three more burgers left in the freezer so it was a perfect time to cook them.  I am not one to barbecue during the winter season; and to be honest if I barbecue once a week in the summer months I am doing well.

Now for the first, I used a power tool for the first time on Monday, along with other regular tools.  For anyone who knows me, I do not use any type of tools normally; I was not put on this earth to use tools, so for me to use tools is a major deal.

Anyhoo....when dh pulled the old stud walls out of the new basement, we decided to burn the wood.  Before we can do that though, we have to pull out a million and one nails.  So dh got out the correct tools for the job and proceeded to take out the nails of some of the wood and cut them up with an electric saw.  We have been burning that wood since Friday and it is really good wood to burn and burns really hot.

So on Monday I decided to have a go at removing some nails.  I used a hammer, a crow bar thingy, and a pair of pincher thingys.  I thought I did quite well, so decided I would have a go at sawing it up.  After a long while I finally figured out how to turn it on, but couldn't figure out how to bring the blade down.  So decided to wait until dh came home to give me a lesson, as I was concerned I may end up chopping my fingers off.  Anyhow after him telling me what to do I think I have mastered it.  I ended up chopping up a bucket full of wood, so was quite proud of myself.

When dh came home we also cleaned out the leaves in the gutters as all the leaves have more or less fallen off the trees now.  We cleaned out the gutters using a leaf blower; we got it from Canadian Tire and we got it on sale for $40, I think it is this one  it is a Yardworks one, and works like a dream.

I also got the garage swept out on Monday and got a pile of leaves mulched with the tractor.  I also got the garage door frame primed, I plan on getting a top coat of paint on it on Tuesday.  I also plan on getting more wood cut on Tuesday as there is a pile still to do.  It's never ending around here at the Acreage, but it keeps me out of mischief!!

Monday nights sunset:

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The winner and saving money.......

And the winner is: WENDY

I have emailed her and if I don't hear back from her in the next 48 hours, I will draw another name.


One show I love to watch on TV is "Til Debt Do U$ Part" with Gail Vaz-Oxlade.  I love her no nonsense style and she isn't afraid to call you an idiot when you are being one.  She has a great web site with all sorts of useful resources on it that are free to use; which when you are trying to save money is such a bonus.  Here is a link to it.

We had our first snow on Sunday, not that it lasted for any length of time, but when I was driving home from church it was very difficult to see because of the snow.

I spent Sunday afternoon doing more work on dd birthday card.  It was too cold and snowy to do anything outside.

No sunset on Sunday night, just lots of clouds..........

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