Wednesday, October 31, 2012

My poor hand, and more Christmas shopping...

My right hand is still giving me heck and is sore at the moment, as on Saturday and Monday I painted doors, and door and window trim down the basement.  I need to do another coat of paint on them, so took Tuesday off and will do the final coat today.

Dh mentioned the other day that I need to take the car out every few days otherwise it will seize up.  So decided on Tuesday morning to drive into the big town of Orangeville to do some shopping.  I had to call into the dollar store to pick up a few things.  Then I popped into From the Kitchen to the Table and picked up some Christmas presents, including the pizza stone and paddle which is for "R" & "M" for Christmas.

The book I bought on Bookcloseouts for $11.99 on Amazon it was just over $20.  So that is them finished.


I then discovered a new to me store called Acheson's in Orangeville.  What a feast for the eyes that store was.  It's decorated for Christmas and everywhere you look there is something new to see.  I did get something in there, but can't share with you what I got until next week.  I was very impressed with the customer service in there.  I need to go back with my camera, as you would also enough looking at the things in there.

I decided I would also call in at an independent book store called "Book Lore."  For anyone who reads books this is a book lovers paradise.  I was just browsing on Tuesday but managed to walk out with a cooking magazine and a little book for the new baby.  Their children's section was wonderful and I can see me popping in there on a more regular basis.

The funny thing is I have been past these stores many times but never have been in them.

Talking about books, I am have just started the book called, "A Year of Biblical Womanhood," by Rachel Held Evans.  I will do a post about it when I get it read, so far so good though.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Call the Midwife.......

No I'm not pregnant, it's a TV series that I watch on a Sunday on PBS

I really enjoy this show, and think Miranda Hart is great as "Chummy."

I see they are doing another series which is good.

As I am a big reader I really need to read Jennifer Worth's books that are based on the series.  Will have to call the library to order them.

Are any of you out there fans of this show?

Monday, October 29, 2012

Cold wet Sunday

So cold and miserable on Sunday.  I have a goal in mind that I do not want to turn on the heating until November 1st.  We do have the wood fire on, so the house is not cold.  On a weekend we have cheaper hydro all day, so I decided to put the oven on and do some cooking.  That way I am using the oven when the hydro is cheaper and it heats more of the house up.

I took a cake mix and made some cupcakes.  Made them into fairy/butterfly buns.  Take a cupcake, cut part of the top off.  Put in teaspoon of jam, then top with some frosting.  Again this is bought butter cream frosting.  Cut the circle you cut off the top of the cupcake in half and pop on top of the frosting.  Sprinkle with icing/confectioners sugar through a sieve.
This is a close up of the completed butterfly bun.  I am making these next week, but they'll look slightly different.
I also decided to make my own sausage rolls.  I had a package of puff pastry that I defrosted.  I took a package of sausages, in my case Presidents Choice English Bangers.  I skinned the sausages, popped them in a bowl with two peeled and cored apples and an onion that I had chopped finely in the food processor.  I mixed in an egg to bind it.  Rolled out the pastry and put the meat mixture down the middle and folded the pastry over the meat mixture.

I used a pair of kitchen scissors to cut them into rolls.  Placed them on a parchment lined baking sheet and I washed them over with a little half and half.  Popped them in a 450 oF for around 25 minutes.
While I had the oven on I put 8 potatoes in the oven  to bake and cook at the same time as everything else in the oven.  When I bake my potatoes, I place the scrubbed potato on a piece of tin foil.  I drizzle a little olive oil over the top, and then season them with garlic/onion salt and pepper.

With some of the cupcake mixture I put a tin of peaches in the bottom of a dish, and then put some of the cupcake mixture on top of the peaches and baked it.  It didn't fully cook through, but it was still good and we had it with some Carnation Milk.
So there are enough sausage rolls left for another meal and a couple for dh's lunch.  There are enough potatoes for another meal and my lunch, yum, yum!!!  There is enough pudding also for another meal.



Sunday, October 28, 2012

More on the packing peanuts and other things....

Well the packing peanuts have shrunk a lot, but still have a ways to go.  It has poured down for the past 24 hours.


When I went grocery shopping this week, I saw these bulbs on sale for half price, so picked a couple of packages up.  I try to add a couple of packages of Spring Bulbs to the garden each Fall.  Do you plant bulbs each Fall?

I picked the remainder of the tomatoes off the vines on Friday and placed them in the widow sill with other tomatoes.  I won't have to buy tomatoes for the next while.

Heard this the other day, hadn't heard it in a while.  Really like this.


Saturday, October 27, 2012

More about Christmas...

I ordered some items online this week for Christmas.  The item I ordered from Amazon on Tuesday was here on Thursday, great service and I never left the house!  Bit sad when the UPS guy arrived with the package, as he had dog biscuits at the ready to give to Molly..........had to explain to him about Molly's passing.

I am finding that I am buying more and more things online nowadays.  The older I get the more I dislike trailing around stores fighting the crowds.  Plus when you can often get free shipping why waste my gas/petrol?  I will admit though the item I ordered this week from Amazon I did have to pay nearly $15 in shipping as it came from an affiliate store, but out of the $70 + this present cost it only cost me $20+ as I used my Amazon gift cards I got through Swagbucks.

I can't tell you what I ordered as it's for our son for Christmas and although he doesn't read my blog, it still might get back to him what I bought.  I have my eye on some more things from Amazon, so as soon as November arrives I will cash in Swagbucks for more Amazon gift cards and will be able to order another $25 worth of product for $0 out of pocket.

The one thing I won't be able to do is cash in big time at Shopper's Drug Mart, as I haven't been shopping there much, so have under 50,000 points :( 

I need to do an inventory of what I have for Christmas and lay it all out on the spare bed to see what I have got for whom.  One thing I have ordered is a magazine subscription for Money Sense for son-in-law, has asked for it.  I enjoy giving magazine subscriptions, as it's a year round gift. 

I also buy the kids a $10 gift pack of scratch and win lottery tickets that come out every year.  They enjoy sitting and scratching them on Christmas morning, and the year dd and son-in-law got engaged, ds won $1,000.

What's these in amongst the flowers and weeds????
They are the packing peanuts from ds Christmas gift.  There was a note inside the box saying that they dissolve in water.  So as we are going to have rain for the next few days, I thought we would see if what they say is true!!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Making do with what you have & home of the Week

What do you do when you have a bunch of broccoli, a tub of garlic cream cheese and one pastry shell, you make a quiche of course!!!
Had it with Greek salad and cheese and broccoli rice on Thursday night.  It was good and there is enough left over for tonight's supper.  Think we'll have it with baked potatoes tonight.

This week's "Home of the Week," is very bright and modern, which of course translates to pricey and at $6.85 million it is indeed pricey.  They seem to have forgotten to take out the posts in the living room that you normally use when constructing the building?  Parts of it seem to be unfinished, but I guess it's all to do with that "modern feel," they're going for.  Thankfully it will never be a house I could afford and even if I could, I would still pass!

This week's "Condo of the Week," doesn't appeal to me at all.  Though it looks better inside than it does from the outside. I am confused as to why it's $2.5 million, but the comments seem to think its a good price?  Glad I don't have that kind of money to waste on a condo like that then!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Skywatch Friday

The sun peeking through nearly bare trees:





For more Skywatch Friday photos, please click on this link

Dull overcast day.....

It was foggy and misty all day on Wednesday.
Made it look like early evening even in the morning.
This tree has a lot of leaves still on it.
This one has dropped nearly all of it's leaves.  Here's hoping for a windy day to blow away all those leaves, as I don't feel like raking them up!!!
One thing though at least we don't have any snow.......yet! (I'm touching wood as I wrote that!)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Are you making plans for Christmas yet?

I have started thinking and buying things for Christmas.  We are cutting back major though this year with everyone, as things are iffy financially, so we don't want to go overboard.  I did use a big chunk of my Christmas pot on a house repair, which isn't helping the situation, as I do put $20 a week away year round, but I think with cutting back and careful shopping we should be alright.

Me and my mother were talking about Christmas cards and we both were wondering how long it would be before people stopped sending cards at Christmas?  The price of postage is crazy and more and more people are just sending cards through the Internet.  I do however love to receive cards myself, just like I do like to read a book or magazine, rather than look at it digitally.

I am planning on sewing a couple of things to give as gifts and using up points and gift cards to buy presents for people.  I ordered some gifts on the Internet today, using a promotional card I bought through Kijiji.  I have scoped out other gifts and trying to buy them at the best/cheapest possible prices.

I think with a little thought we will have a decent Christmas, maybe not as many presents under the tree, but given with the same amount of love; and that's a good thing.....right?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

It's all in the details,

as dd says.  So guess what I was doing Sunday afternoon?  Ripping off the labels on water bottles to add our own customized labels for the baby shower.  Even dh raised his eyebrows; but as I said it's all in the details!!


One of my goals for 2013 is to learn to crochet, as I love grannie squares.  So on Sunday night I thought I would go on You Tube and see what I could learn.  Well after about 20 minutes I had mastered the slip knot thingy that starts you off.  Then I got totally lost and confused when we had to start doing a chain?  So I can see this is going to take a bit more work than I thought.  Although I think some smoother wool/yarn would help as I am using Martha Stewart Alpaca Blend which is a #5 bulky (?) whatever that means?  I was using a 6.5 mm or K hook with it.

Dh had an appointment at the hospital on Monday to see the surgeon who did the scope on his right knee.  Was told his knee is as good as it's going to be and to use his left knee to kneel on!  Anyhow the MRI on his left knee shows the same problem, torn meniscus and arthritis.  He can have it operated on whenever he wants, but after what has happened with his right knee, he told the surgeon he'll wait until he can't stand the pain no more and then he'll have it operated on.

Anyhow why I am even mentioning this is I wanted to share something we found out today.  Whenever we have an appointment at the fracture clinic we they are always running a couple of hours behind schedule which is bloody annoying.  Found out why the surgeon we saw on Monday had 70 patients booked in between the hours of 8am until 12 noon.  Yes you read right 70.  One that's just bloody ridiculous and bloody greedy, as no doubt he gets paid for every patient he sees.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Baby Shower prep.......

On Sunday I had the dishwasher on THREE times washing all the china for the baby shower.  Wanted to do it on a weekend, when the hydro is cheap through the day.  I rarely use my dishwasher, so I bet the poor thing is exhausted from all the use now!!

I also sat down and finalized my menu and printed out some recipes I would be using, and a shopping list of things that I have to buy.

We're having afternoon tea, so it's not like we have to feed the guests a full meal.  Here is my menu plan:

Egg & mayo sandwiches on white bread
Ham and mustard sandwiches on brown bread
Tuna & mayo sandwiches on brown bread
Cream cheese & cucumber sandwiches on white bread
Scones with raspberry jam and mock clotted cream. (I have used both the scone and cream recipe before with good results)

Peanut butter cookies
Choc-chip cookies
Sugar cookies
Chocolate and caramel cupcakes
Lemon cupcakes
Spice cupcakes
Fairy/Butterfly buns
Lemon Bars
Lemon Cranberry loaf
Marshmallow Crispie Bar

Tea: various loose leaf teas, or P.G. Tips, served with milk, sugar or lemon slices
Coffee: served with half and half and sugar (if needed)
Juice
Water

The only thing I am not making are the sugar cookies, as dd best friend is making "fancy" baby themed ones, I hope; that's what I told her to do!  I am using cake mixes for the cupcakes due to time constraints, but "tarting" them up to make them special.  I am not 100% about the lemon bars; if I have time I will make them, if not it's not a big thing.

I think I am feeding 55, so as long as I do most of the baking and prep the day before (after I have come back from the Indian baby shower), everything should be fine.  The one thing I do have to do the day of, is make the scones as they are best fresh.  I will also make the sandwiches and decorate all the cupcakes.  There will be two dozen of each of the four flavours, so I think we'll be eating cupcakes for a while afterwards!!!!

I have the flowers to organize and a small cake to sort out for the top of the cupcake tree for the parents-to-be to take home with them.  Otherwise I think I am all sorted?????

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Ever wonder why your fresh/real Christmas Tree never lasts long?

Well I know; I just wish I had, had a camera with me.  We passed a big field of Christmas trees on Saturday and a lot were cut, wrapped and stacked ready for the Christmas market.  It's only the middle of October for goodness sake.  I'll stick with my artificial one thank you.

On Saturday ds and son-in-law ran up the CN Tower to raise money for charity.  As per this article there are: 1776 steps to main deck level (1135 ft), 2579 to Sky pod (1465 ft). 

I don't know if they went to the main deck level or beyond.  Anyhow son-in-law did it in under 25 minutes and I think ds was 28 minutes, not 100% sure though.  As I said to dh if it were me I would still be climbing up those stairs.  Mind you I wouldn't go up the CN Tower even if you paid me.  The last time I was up there I discovered I was afraid of heights!!!  And those glass floors don't excite me either!!  

We spent Saturday at dd and son-in-law's house as dh went to give them a hand to install their new kitchen. Must say it's very nice and very bright and clean.  It's pretty plain and is off white.  They got it at Lowes and is made by a Canadian Company, but I can't remember the name; but constructed very well.  

While they were doing that I was putting together the favours for the baby shower.  I can't wait to show you what we are giving them, it is really nice, but bloody fiddly to do.  Luckily for me dd Martha was busy installing the kitchen so I wasn't "supervised!!"  Now for all my whining, I had to admit, dd has done an excellent job with all the details for this baby shower; she should be a party planner.  I can't wait to share photos of everything, only two more weeks.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

I hate Brussels Sprouts..........

There I've said it.  Why am I telling you this, well I went grocery shopping on Friday and bought dh a treat, Brussels sprouts in butter sauce.....icky, icky, icky!!!

For 88 cents they were a deal and just enough for dh on his own!!!

I also bought 10 lbs of carrots for $1.88, so made a double batch of carrot soup; some for us and some for dd.


Carrot Soup recipe here, it was the first recipe I posted on the blog.

No Frills also had peanut butter on sale for $3.88.  I do not like peanut butter either, unless it is mixed in with something.  How about you do you like peanut butter?

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe here

They also had Duncan Hines cake mixes and frosting on sale.  The cake mixes are 2 for $1.88 and the frosting is 2 for $2.88.  So I picked up some of those and made this cupcakes with the Spice cake mix and topped with the cream cheese frosting.  They are good, and I sprinkled pumpkin pie spice on top of the frosting.  I was looking at the Duncan Hines website and they have some good recipes on there.  Some I may make for the baby shower.  I liked this one and this one.

Finally a view from our family room window.

Enjoy your Saturday.....

Friday, October 19, 2012

Is a pie sexy? And home of the week......

I got the November edition of Chatelaine magazine on Thursday.  One of the "headlines" on the front cover was: "the easiest (sexiest) Pumpkin Pie."  Since when has a pie been "sexy?"  A pie may be delicious, tasty, lovely, but sexy?

This week's "Home of the Week," isn't too bad.  Overpriced of course at $1.2 million, but overall I could live there, minus the art work of course!!!!  I love the backyard.  Don't see the point of having that deck on the third floor do you?

The "Condo of the Week," is way overpriced for what it is. At $1.2 million it also doesn't make full use of its space.  The whole master suite is a total waste of space, who on earth needs that much room?  Love some of those windows and the whole place does seem light and airy which is in its favour.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Missing Molly in the strangest of ways.....

The strangest things make me miss her.

I was slicing tomatoes for my lunch the other day and turned around to give her the top and the bottom.....she wasn't there.

Went to tell her to look out the window at the rabbit.......she wasn't there.

At night before going to bed I always topped up her water bowl.....it's not there.

While having my breakfast in a morning, I am always at my computer with Molly sleeping on her ottoman, keep turning around to tell her something....she's not there.

While preparing supper she was always under foot.......not anymore.

Oh well, it's early days, it will get easier.  I have had various people ask me if we'll get another dog, not at the moment, but I'll never say never.

I am dropping off all of Molly's things at Orangeville Humane Society today.  We are keeping her collar, leash and her tags and they are in a drawer with Maxine's (our first dog) tags.

If you have a moment I posted a book review here, it really is well worth reading this book as it will shock you.........

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Any ideas what these are?


 
They seem to be the bug of choice around here at the moment.  Normally its Asian Beetles and Cluster Flies I am complaining about but this year it's these.  The only blessing is that they are outside and not in the house.  It's been a very quiet Fall for cluster flies and I'm touching wood  (my head) when I say this; I haven't seen any Asian Beetles at all.  Dare I hope all the work we have done in the house is starting to pay off?
 
I have had a busy couple of days both inside and outside of the house.  Missing Molly like heck, but the pain is getting easier to handle.

I posted a couple more book review's, here and here.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Thank you so much..

We are very touched by your thoughts and concern and really appreciate what you have said.  It's getting easier, only had tears a couple of times on Sunday.  We are getting used to our routine's minus Molly.  I swear the chipmunks were constantly looking into the house on Saturday looking for Molly.  We are leaving the table in front of the window as we enjoy watching the squirrels, chipmunks and birds feeding.  However there is something missing and it does tug at your heart:

On Saturday we went out mainly to give us something else to think about other than our dear Molly.  We went to the dreaded Wal-Mart and I bought this vacuum cleaner:

Ironic it has all the pet features, it was however recommended by the assistant manager in the store, as we were talking to him.

I am not sure if you can see it clearly but see the amount of dirt and hair it picked up.  It has major sucking powder that's for sure.

We paid around the $100 mark after taxes.  I did notice a huge difference in my rugs, and they look a lot cleaner.

Anyhow, onwards and upwards as they say.............

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Molly 2004 - 10/13/2012

This is one post I had hoped NEVER EVER to have to post, but as you know anyone who has pets knows that one day we all have to say good bye to our beloved pet.

Today was that day for us, we said goodbye to Molly she is now running around in heaven chasing squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits to her hearts content and is pain free.

This has been one of the longest 24 hours in our lives.  I took Molly to the vet on Friday morning and our vet told us that medically it was time for Molly to go.  She had all the symptoms of Cushing's Disease, but it was caused by the steroids, not one of the glands.  Her skin was red raw in a number of places and it was only getting worse.  The two steroid pills we had her on a day were not doing their job.  Her liver was very enlarged and her back legs were shaking all due to the steroids.  


No medication could reverse these issues so it was in Molly's best interest to have her put to sleep.  We could have stretched this out for a couple more months but that in our mind was being selfish and putting our feelings ahead of Molly's well being.

Our emotions are very raw at the moment.  We both were with her when she fell asleep and a tear did trickle down Molly's cheek, but she knew right to the very end she was loved and will be deeply missed.  Even the vet was crying.

I will be taking a few days to mull things over and grieve.  I thought this says it all:


Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown... 


from this site

Friday, October 12, 2012

Home of the week and more on vacuums

Although pricey at $4.4 million this week's "Home of the Week," has a lot of good things going for it.  Love, love the kitchen that is a perfect kitchen for me and my tastes, I wouldn't change a thing, though not sure about the maintenance of the soapstone counter tops?  The owners seem to have a bit of a fetish for ladders, they are everywhere.  DO NOT like the red bathroom and I personally can't see the point of the hot tub on the roof top deck?   I also think the choice of art work is to modern for the period of the house.  Other wise if someone was giving it too me, I wouldn't say no!!!

It's now past cottage season they are all closed up for the winter, so no Cottages of the Week for a while now.  So we jump right into the "Condo of the Week," and I'll pass on this one!!! It does not feel like a home at all.  I am guessing by the closet a guy lives there on his own?  It feels so sterile and unloved to me, how about you?

There was an article announcing the opening of a new restaurant in Toronto called "Skin and Bones."  Now I don't know about you but that name really turns me off that restuarant?  I can onlyimagine what they are going to be serving up!!!

I published another book review here.

I was out all day on Thursday and it was nippy cold.  We had a hard frost in the morning.  Still no heating on, but did put the fire on first thing in the morning.  I am hoping to go another week or two before putting the heating on, wish me luck!

When do you normally put your heating on?

I went into Wal-mart on Thursday and saw a couple of Eureka vacuums including this one  So I may pop in there on the weekend and have another look at them.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Question for you all......

My vacuum cleaner is on the fritz.  I picked up the part I needed for the power head today and it was around $12 + so no too bad.  However I need a new hose, a couple of new filters and some bags.  The hose is $138, by the time I get the rest of the stuff it will be cheaper buying a new vacuum cleaner.  Its a Sears canister vacuum cleaner by the way.

I have mainly wood floors in the house, but I do have area rugs that I need to vacuum on a daily basis to get rid of the dog hair.  I called in at Canadian Tire on the way home and they had a number of vacuum's on sale, some for under $100.  As money is tight at the moment, I would prefer to keep it under $100.  If I had plenty of money I would buy a Dyson like this one:



So my question to you what would you suggest?  Do you have a cheaper vacuum that works well and where did you get it from.  For those of you in other countries outside of North America, just give me the name and model number and maybe I can find a similar on here in Canada.

I tend to lean towards canister ones rather than upright ones.  Also which is best, bagless or one with bags?

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Baby quilt, and my car..........

Finally got the quilt finished other than the label.  Will add that after the baby is born.

Pleased with how it turned out though after looking at the photo, I could have spread out the fabrics a bit more evenly?  Even dh wants a quilt backed with minkie fabric!!


As most of you know I am not car savvy.  I put gas/petrol in my car and occasionally put window washer fluid in when I remember.  That is it.  So imagine my surprise when a light flashed up on my dash board.  Pulled my book out and it was the tire pressure sensor telling me my tire(s) has low pressure.  I had only just had the oil changed last week and thought they had checked the tire pressure.

So I trundle back to the garage and they check out the tires.  Each one was a different pressure ranging from 25 to 29 whatever's (no idea the term).  So they check the one with 25 whatever's to make sure it didn't have a nail in it.  It didn't and he blew up each tire so they have 32 whatever's in them now.

My tires are filled with nitrogen, no idea why, but the garage did say I could top the tires up with regular air if I had to.  They obviously didn't check my tires last time, so I must make an effort to ask them when ever I am in the garage to make sure I have equal "whatever's" in each tire as the bloody sensor will no doubt come on.

I was telling them that having a car with a computer in it and lots of sensors is a pain in the butt, for people like me who know nothing about cars and have a panic attack every time a bloody light comes on.

Oh well onwards and upwards as they say!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Quiet day around here on Thanksgiving Monday.......

The one job we had to do was clean out the fire pit.  We thought the pile was ashes, but it was a combination of soil and ashes, very unusual?

Anyhow, ten trailer loads later and it was done.  Should have taken a photo before I put in a pile of scrap wood from dd house.  They took down the tongue and groove ceiling in their basement.  It was all varnished so we don't want to use it on our wood stove.

A couple of shots of the trees near to the house.


We had a very light frost on Monday morning, but nothing overly exciting.

If we had gone to dd Martha's and son-in-law's for Thanksgiving Dinner this is what we would have all come home with:

They are caramel apples.  Granny Smith apples, dipped in caramel, then dipped in white chocolate and then into graham cracker crumbs, or if you don't have those digestive biscuits crushed would give the same effect.

She was copying the ones she has had at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Published a couple more book reviews here

Monday, October 8, 2012

You will either be grossed out or find this very, very funny!!!



 Personally I laughed until the tears were streaming down my face.......not good for the seagulls though.......

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians out there.....

It's Thanksgiving Day today in Canada.  We had a full turkey dinner yesterday as I know we are going to be busy with yard work today.

Dh suggested that we go out for a Thanksgiving meal, but that would have probably cost us $100.  Turkey's were on sale at No Frills for 95 cents per pound and they had small turkey's for a change so I picked up a 9 pounder.  Mind you they were utility turkeys so there may be a part missing!!!  In my case it was a leg; it cooked up lovely.

We had turkey, stuffing (recipe here), bacon rolls, mashed potatoes, carrot and turnip (or rutabaga) and gravy.  I didn't make bread sauce and I forgot the cranberry jelly in the fridge!!
It was really good, but honestly it takes a heck of a longer to tidy up than eat the meal!!  With the leftovers I put together two casseroles for the freezer.  I am freezing the one whole turkey breast.  There is a plate of sliced turkey, stuffing and bacon rolls for sandwiches and tonight's supper along with a bowl of potatoes.


For dessert we had apple crisp and ice cream and that too was really good.

I even used the dishwasher to wash up the dishes for me.  It was a cool day on Sunday, although we don't have the heating on we did have the fire on from first thing in the morning.  It is definitely getting cooler around here.  

Hope you have a lovely week; I have something on every day this week......no rest for the wicked as they say!!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Ladies who lunch.......

On Wednesday Jane and I met up in Orillia again for lunch and a catch up.  I was not in a photo taking mood and warned Jane not to take any of me, I guess I was being a right diva........no idea if she took any notice of me though...LOL

So the photo's from the day are very few and far between.  We had lunch at the Brewery Bay Company and I took this photo.  The day was gorgeous.

The colours on the tree are just gorgeous at the moment.


Now I am just being plain artsy-fartsy with this shot!!!
The Brewery Bay is also having a Fall Food Drive.  We helped the lady get the sign straight.  It involved a lot of nodding and thumbs up from Jane and I.


Can't remember what this store is called, but son-in-law is a big Beatles fan and so I took this photo with him in mind.  I think it was priced at around $1,900, so not cheap.  Notice the sign below.  It was clear glass with "All you need is Love," written on it and that cost around $90.  There were other signs with catchy phases on it that were as nice.

For once we both left with bags of shopping.  I got a suet feeder for the birds, a bar of Goats Milk soap and a pair of Crocs that I am using in the house as slippers thank to Jane for the suggestion.

While we were in the shoe store we did a public service and educated the girl serving us.  They sell a product called BOGS, now that is slang for toilets in Britain, which we thought was a funny name for boots.            

This is what BOGS look like:
They look very comfy, but I can't go around wearing a pair of boots with the name BOGS on the back of it, honestly I can't........

Hotel Stay

First of all thank you for all your birthday wishes.  Each and every one of them was greatly appreciated.  The kids bought me/us an overnigh...