I am a British born, living in Canada since May of 1989. My blog is about all aspects of my daily life.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
British Football, Toronto FC and the Daily Savings Club.....
Dh subscribes to Setanta Sports and its well worth the $15 a month we pay for it. It keeps dh entertained for hours. Dh was watching the Cardiff vs Arsenal game on Sunday, I only saw a little of it, and didn't get into it. After that though was the Liverpool vs Everton game.
Now when the fans sang You'll Never Walk Alone I was all goose bumps. I love the way the crowds all sing together.
One thing I also love is the theatrics of the players, you would honestly think they had been mortally wounded the way they fall down, only to be up and running again two minutes later. Hello, weren't you rolling around looking as though you were in agony a minute before?
When we were in Britain last year, dh went with my brother to see Carlisle United play, he is a big, big fan of Carlisle United, someone has to be I suppose...LOL Anyhow years ago went he used to go regularly he would just stand in the stands, as he's getting a bit older they wanted seats this time. They sat next to two older women, who they said were regulars. They came all prepared with a flask of tea, china mugs, blankets to cover themselves. They sang along with the crowds they were really into it.
They were sitting quite close to the away fans, which could have been interesting as my brother is a big boy who wouldn't look out of place in the Mafia. However he is as soft as muck, and he went to the toilets and nearly ended up in the away side........mind you I don't think he was wearing any Carlisle gear.
So that brings me to the football hooligan stories. Like with anything else it's a small minority who look for trouble and who cause it. Are they true football fans, I don't think so as if they were they would be there to take in the game, not to fight.
I can't say I am "in" to any of the players like when I was growing up. I remember thinking George Best and Kevin Keegan were gorgeous. Nowadays you have David Beckham (I wouldn't mind waking up to him in a morning though!!), Wayne Rooney can't say I like him, and Cristiano Ronaldo who I am sorry I can't stand. I will say though Fernando Torres seems like a great player.
Well that's my take on British football, I don't know much,but what little I do know I like. By the way trying to get tickets to see Toronto FC is like digging for gold, or even looking for hen's teeth...LOL So needless to say we haven't been to a game.....I wonder if anyone from Toronto FC reads my blog, and could let me know what the secret is to getting tickets for a game???
Also with it being the last day of the month, make sure you put your last quarter in the pot, for the daily savings club, you should have $7.75 in your pot. I am posting about this and more money things tomorrow (Sunday)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Coffee or Tea....
When we lived in England we drank a lot of instant coffee, Nescafe being the brand of choice, and obviously black tea, probably either Typhoo or Tetley's. Both were with milk, no sugar and on the weak side.
When we came to Canada, still stuck to that choice, but over the years I began to develop a lot of headaches and decided to cut out coffee and stick to tea. I do drink coffee still but its make in a coffee maker with coffee grounds and its decaffinated. I am partial to the flavoured creamer, the liquid type, as I do find most ground coffee too strong for me.
Tea well that's a whole other ball game. I was always a strictly black tea type of gal, however I discovered green tea last year and love it. I can even drink it without milk, it actually tastes better without milk. I start the day with a cup of green tea with my breakfast. Its either the Tetley or the Lipton Pyramid tea brands. There is even a ginger green tea which I bought for when I have an upset stomach or am not feeling well.
I am still not a fan of herbal or flavoured teas, though at a push I will try one. I tried the Rooibas red tea the other week at Starbucks, and due to that I went and bought the Tetley's Rooibas Vanilla Tea the other day. I put milk in that and is different to any other teas I have tasted.
Are you a tea or coffee drinker?
How do you take your coffee or tea?
Do you like a mug or a china cup and saucer?
Do you like it weak or strong?
Do you have any favourties that you'd like to share with us?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Skywatch Friday
For more Skywatch Friday photos, please click on the link
Old Churches.....
The next one is Union Presbyterian Church which I have to say is a stunning church. This one reminds me of ones back in England.
The last church is St. Lawrence Church in England where we got married (this photo was taken when we were in Britain last year). I featured more photos of the church in this post.
I love old churches......
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Quilting 101 - How to cut the material.......
Anyhow, someone asked me to show them how to cut material and so here is my tutorial on that. So you've been to the quilting store found a lovely piece of material, now what? Well first wash it, some people skip this step, but just pretend you have made a black and white quilt and you never washed the material. You finish the quilt, its beautiful and then you spill some coffee on it so it has to be washed. Well out of the washer comes this dirty grey quilt, as the colours have run. Plus its now a wonky shape.
Pre-washing that material would have made the material colour fast and if there had been any shrinkage, it would have occurred at this point, before you cut the material. As I said some people don't wash their material, it doesn't take long, so why not do it? I don't use fabric softener, just laundry detergent. Here is my piece of material that has been washed and ironed.
The basic pieces you need for cutting are a self healing cutting board, a rotary cutter, a square ruler, mine is 6 1/2 inches square and a regular quilting ruler, oh and a pair of scissors.
So you lay the fabric on the cutting board with the selvedge edges touching one another, and the edge which was cut off the bolt of the fabric to your left (if you're right handed). The folded edge of the fabric closest to you.
Next place you're square ruler on the bottom edge of the fabric closest to you (see photo).
Place your long quilting ruler next to it (see photo).
Remove the square ruler and cut along the edge of the fabric.
You now have a piece of perfectly square fabric to start cutting from. Don't throw that scrap of material away as you can use it for a string quilt!! I have to say I just picked this material from my pile and it was actually not badly cut off the bolt, most times they are way off.
So your pattern is telling you it needs 2 1/2 inch strips. You place your quilting ruler on the material to the 2 1/2 inch line and then cut.
From that strip it is easy to cut out 2 1/2 square, or 5 inch rectangles, or what ever you need.
Its really important to have that perfectly square piece of material, as if that's off the rest of the material you cut from that piece will not be square.
Now I did find another link on how to prepare fabric for cutting, which you may find useful, here is the link
Don't try to run before you can walk with quilting. Here is a great site that takes you through the step by step.
Remember you need to use a 1/4 inch seam allowance in quilting. I have a special foot for my sewing machine, sorry about the poor photo.
You also need a walking foot for the actual machine quilting.......this is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment I had to buy. Mine was $90, but I have a Husqvarna machine and the accessories are more pricey than other machines. You cannot machine quilt without a walking foot. You of course can hand quilt, but that's not my idea of a fun time!!!
I hope that has answered a couple of questions. Let me know what else you want to know, also PLEASE let me know if I have missed anything out OR have made a mistake....
(as always click on the photos for more detail)
50 + 1 Recipes for Bananas
1. Pineapple Banana Loaf - perfect way of using up over ripe banana's
2. Baked Banana's with Coconut
3. Banana Crepes
4. Lisa's Banana Pudding
5. Baked Banana's with Brown Sugar - this sounds so good and so very easy to do...
6. Banana Dessert Squares
7. Banana Rum Custard - I like the sound of this too
8. Banana Pecan Bread
9. Orange Banana Smoothie
10. Honey Ambrosia
11. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
12. Banana Yogurt Cupcakes
13. Baked Banana Crumble
14. Banana Nut Pancakes
15. Easy Banana Bread
16. Banana Oatmeal Cookies
17. Fried Banana's
18. Banana Chocolate Cream Pie
19. Banana Split Dessert - I haven't had one of these in an awful long time!!
20. Banana Waffles
21. Oatmeal Banana Cupcakes
22. Easy Banana Cookies
23. Old Fashioned Banana Fritters
24. Cheesy Banana Bread Pudding - this is an odd combination if you ask me.....
25. Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich
26. Banana's with cream and sugar.......my nana used to make this. Mash a banana on a plate, sprinkle granulated sugar on it and top it with cream or milk, it is so good, again I haven't had this in a long time.
27. Chocolate Banana Pops - Ideal for the kids
28. Blueberry and Banana Bread
29. Banana Spice Cupcakes
30. Banana Jam - never ever heard of this? Has anyone had this before?
31. Banana Boats
32. Banana Milkshake
33. Banana Push-Ups - another kid friendy recipe
34. Banana Toffee Bread
35. Chocolate Banana Trifle
36. Banana Stuffed French Toast - I am drooling..yum, yum
37. Jamaican Banana Bread
38. Banana Squares
39. Banana Sour Cream Coffee Cake
40. Banana Velvet Doughnuts - I would love to try these
41. Applesauce Banana Bread
42. Banana Wrap - another kid friendly recipe
43. Banana Bread Pudding
44. Bananas con Mousse de Duraznos - Bananas with Peach Mousse
45. Banana Choc-Chip Spring Rolls - these look really good
46. Banana Crumb Muffins
47. Banana Peanut Butter Muffins
48. Baked Banana Spring Rolls with Rum Sauce - this would be good at a dinner party
49. Banana Raisin Loaf - I'll give this one a miss...LOL
50. Quick Banana Choc-Chip Muffins
51. Banana and Yogurt Icecream - this sounds good
Have to say there are some yummy looking recipes in that list. It was actually an easy fruit to find recipes for. Although we do buy bananas on a weekly basis, I think I will be buying more from now on.
Nutirtional info here
Next week it is grapes.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Watery Wednesday......
For more Watery Wednesday photos, please click on the link
One project completed, one a bit further on......
I got it pressed and put inside the trivet. I love the colours, it came out brighter than what it was on the picture. I also enjoyed doing it.
I have finally got the top pieced together on the quilt and the borders put on. The outside border will also be the backing and the binding.
I wish I had made it a little longer, it is 60 inches wide by 72 inches long. I am thinking of making matching pillow cases and putting it on ds bed. Don't worry ds doesn't live at home (I know its a bit girly the quilt), but it will always be ds bed.
This is a closer look at the border material.
So now to sandwich it together with the batting and backing material, and then I can start and machine quilt it.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Trip Downtown, Part 3
I did also pick up some 100% cotton muslin for $2.99 a yard, which I thought was a pretty good price, otherwise that was it for fabric.
I did find the most amazing ribbon/trim store called Mokuba However it wasn't cheap, I paid over $40 for this:
It does however have a great selection. It could also lead you down a whole new crafting avenue if you so desired..........which is not where I want to go at this moment, I have enough on my plate, thank you very much. Though if anyone out there crafts with ribbon, please let me know as I would love to see your work, as I am interested in what can be done with ribbon after seeing the selection in this store.
So overall I didn't buy that much, but we had a great day.
Now back to the subway. I find the whole thing a fascinating experience as there are people on there from all walks of life, so its a great people watching place. As it's nippy cold at the moment, people are all bundled up and so you see the odd person in fur coats. First let me say I am not a huge fan of fur coats, but I do like the look of the higher quality coats, though would never own or wear one myself.
So we are sitting on the subway and on comes this person wearing this Russian style fur hat with matching coat. This person was elderly and was using a cane, but what made me notice them was the coat and hat, plus the gold jewellery. They had gold hoops in each ear, numerous rings on their fingers and a high end mans watch. So far have you noticed I haven't said him or her, as I can honestly say I was totally confused at the sex of this person. On first glance I would have said a man, but because of the jewellery (other than the watch) I would have thought it was a woman.
Then there was the coat and hat. It was nasty, it looked like a rabbit which had been dragged through a hedge backwards, not that I have seen a rabbit dragged through a hedge backwards, but you know what I mean. So going by what this person was wearing they were hurting for money, but looking at the jewellery they were wearing they had a lot of money. Anyway, I was still none the wiser as to whether this was a man or a woman when they got off.
I then noticed another woman wearing a fur coat. Now this one was the real thing. The way it hung, the way it moved it was a beauty, I still wouldn't have worn it, but it looked good. There was a man sitting opposite us and he reminded me of a frightened little mouse. His arms were folded tight to his chest. He had beady little eyes and he had his legs crossed just like a woman would have. It was his eyes though that made you look at him, they were very twitchy darting back and forward.
Then a young man got on with a envelope that they give you at the doctors office with x-rays in them. This one however had a huge red sticker on it. What was really annoying was that the man folded his arms over the red sticker so I couldn't read what it said. My first thought though it must be a danger/alert sticker........do I have a vivid imagination or what?
I have to say I do enjoy going on the subway for that reason alone, people watching. Though I do have one requirement though, I must sit down, I don't like the whole standing thing. Also the seats are made for slim people!!! I also travel outside of rush hour, if what dd tells me, its a whole different bowl of cherries during rush house!!
So there you go, the last part of my trip. For part one click here, for part two click here.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Today's Flower
For more of Today's Flowers, please click on the link
I am being interviewed........
1. Can you tell us where you are from, and a little about your early life in England?
I lived in both Cumberland and Westmoreland, which was then combined to make up Cumbria, which if you live in Canada is the province, if in the States the State. I have two younger brothers and although we were not rich, we never felt poor. We were just your average working class family. I am sure my mam and dad struggled, but we were never exposed to it.
I was close to my Nana and Pop (my mam's parents) and spent a lot of time at their house in the holidays. They lived on London Road, in Carlisle. I have many fond memories of being there. I also used to go on holidays with them to Scarborough. My Nana and Pop also ran a bed and breakfast from their house, and it was there I had my first taste of canned grapefruit, it was so sweet I loved it. My Nana also always had TUC Crackers and butter, again loved those. They were the first in our family to have a colour tv, and my Nana used to love watching the wrestling on tv on a Saturday.
Me and my younger brother fought like cat and dog when we were growing up, as we both had the same temperament. Now we are the best of friends. My other brother and I, although not as close, I would do anything to help him if needed. They both live in England. My parents divorced just before I married dh, and my mother and step-father live in England, and my dad and step-mother live in Canada. So I also now have two step-sisters and two step-brothers.
2. Why did you move to Canada?
Dh worked for a company called British Gypsum in Britain. The plant where he worked was forecast to have enough "gypsum" in the mine until dh was around 40. At that point they reckoned it was going to close. My dad had moved to Canada, and we decided, why not. We were young enough to start over, the kids were only 3 1/2 and 5 years old, so missing there friends wasn't as big a deal as if they were teenagers. We also knew there would be more opportunities for both them and us.
Me and dh came over for a week in the fall of 1988 to see if dh could find a job which he did. We went back home and applied to come over and in May of 1989 we finally landed here. It took that long for the paperwork to come, despite the fact dh had a job, my dad sponsored us, and we had enough "points" to sink a ship to qualify us. They don't work with a speed of knots the immigration department!!!
3. What do you like best, and least, about living in Canada?
I'll do the worst first, the weather, it's getting worse the longer we live here. It's the extremes. In the summer its boiling hot, in the winter it's freezing cold, there never seems to be a happy medium. Also the fact that most of our family live in the UK, it would be nice if they were closer.
The best, well that has to be the opportunities. I know deep down we wouldn't have what we have if we had stayed in Britain, also the kids maybe wouldn't have done as well as they have done.
4. What is your best money saving tip?
The weekly boxes, where I put money away each week for birthdays and for Christmas. Think about it, how great is it to go to the birthday box, when there is a birthday and just take out the money, no scrambling to find the money. It's the same with Christmas, the money is there come Christmas time, no worrying about how we can afford to pay for Christmas, and no putting it on the credit cards!!!
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, we love the area, we love the people. The weather isn't as extreme and it's calming and more laid back down there. Will we ever live there, probably not, as the kids will be staying put in Canada, and its too far away from them.
These are the rules for this meme:Want to be interviewed by me? Here are the instructions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." Then send me another separate comment with your email address as to where I can send your questions.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link to it.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Another "how stupid are you to do that," story...
So one morning we went on a school trip to a skating rink at a place called Gage Park in the middle of the city where we lived. The skating rink is actually a circular footpath that goes around the park and is flooded in the winter. In the middle is a band stand and it is lovely.
Anyhow, all the kids skated, but I don't think I did. So when we were leaving, for some reason I decided to walk over the ice. I was wearing a pair of waterproof boots, called duckies, which were NOT made for walking on ice. Needless to say I fell, what a fool I felt. I banged my head and everyone came running.
I said I was fine and we walked back to school, all the while my poor jaw was killing me. I then had to do my lunchtime supervisor's job and I have no idea how I got through that. When I finished that I went home and got in the car and went to the doctors. He made me get an xray and I had dislocated my jaw, however I had managed to pop it back in, I have no idea how.
So fine, he gave me some painkillers, I go home. Next morning I was in agony with my poor neck. So off I trot back to the doctors and he says, I was expecting you back today, I say how comes, he says because I knew you would have whiplash, which is what I had. So why on earth didn't he tell me the day before!!!!
So the moral of this story is, don't walk over the ice wearing duckies/plastic shoes, or you may fall!!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Check this out......
I know it's an advertisement but it's really neat, I would have loved to be there.
Look out for the "older lady" in the purple jacket at around the 1 min 55 sec mark, as her smile says it all!!!!
Let me know what you think, also thanks to a pot, a thought and a smidgen of dirt for the original post.
Something funny.......
Let me know what you think and leave a comment for Mr "Two Legs." He must really love those pigs, I would have sold them for bacon if it were me!!
I forgot to do this.........sorry Clippy Mat
1. Leave a comment on this blog and I will assign you a letter.
2. Write about ten things you love that begin with said letter.
3. Post the list on your blog.
4. When people comment on your list, you assign them a letter, and the game continues.
So I of course commented and dear Clippy, assigned me the letter "W" I say Dear Clippy in a sarcastic tone, as DEAR Clippy what the heck you may as well have given me "X"............LOL
Anyhow, after many hours of racking my brain to figure out ten things I like beginning with the letter "W" here is my list:
1. Water, well filtered water, I wouldn't in this day and age drink tap water, especially where we live. We were told when we had a fish tank to never change the tank water on a Wednesday, as they pump that much chlorine in the water that day that it would harm the fish..........need I say more why I won't drink the tap water.
2. Wednesday, I liked it more when I worked as you were half way through the work week, now as I don't work it's not as important I suppose.
3. Wireless Mouse, so convenient.
4. Wooden stairs, I love my oak staircase, it was one of the things I paid extra to have when we moved into the house. Must polish them weekly as dusty oak staircases look tacky.
5. Windows, we have nice large windows in our house and I really love them as they let in so much light.
6. Wholewheat Bread, tastes so much better than plain old white bread, though if you're having a chip (fries) sandwich, it does taste better in white bread, all the British are shouting yes at this point. We British will put anything between two slices of buttered bread, and anything between two pie crusts!!
7. Walking, well only when its not too hot, not too cold, not raining, not snowing and not too windy........did I mention I am allergic to exercise!!!
8. Weather, well as I am British I have to be obsessed with the weather, its in our genes. Will say though I am never happy with the weather. Its not helped by the fact I live in a country that has six months of winter, followed by a week or two of Spring (if we're lucky), which then plunges into heat and humidity from hell, followed by a month (again if we are lucky) of Fall.........
9. Wildlife, quite like wildlife, as long as its not digging up my garden, then its annoying.
10. Wind, actually I only like the wind when I am hanging out the washing to dry, as it dry a lot faster. I also like to look at the sky on a windy day, to see the clouds zoom by.
What a lame set of things don't you think???? Anyhow, if you want to play along let me know and I'll assign you a letter.......no pressure or anything though!!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Skywatch Friday
I did post this last photo on one of my other posts, it was taken the same day just down the street from Much Music, I just love this photo, it was taken as I was walking across the street, just a quick click and hope something turned out and it did. For those of you who don't know it's the CN Tower in Toronto.
No Peekin" Chicken & Double Baked Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 Can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 Can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix, or any dry onion soup mix
1/2 soup can milk
1 1/4 cups rice, uncooked
paprika to taste
Preheat Oven to 350oF and grease a 9" x 13" pan, I use a glass lasagna dish.
Mix soups, soup mix, milk and rice, stir evenly and place in baking pan.
Place chicken pieces on top of the soup and rice mixture, and sprinkle with paprika.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 2 hours, and "No Peekin'!"
****Now as my dh won't pick chicken of the bones, I use either boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs (mind you he's not keen on the dark meat either!)
I had some mushrooms that wanted using up so I mixed them in with the rice and soup mixture.
I didn't have cream of chicken soup, so I just used two cans of mushroom soup.
I increased the milk to one full soup can, as mushrooms tend to suck up liquid.
I also popped some potatoes in the oven to cook at the same time, to make double baked potatoes.
I scooped out the middles, mashed them up with a little salt and pepper, added some mushrooms and onions that I had sauteed in a little butter to soften. Grated in some cheese and mixed it all together with the potatoes. Will pop them in the toaster oven to heat through, and will have them with salad and maybe some garlic toast.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
50 + 1 Recipes for Oranges
1. Caramelized Orange Flan
2. Fresh Cara Cara Pico De Gallo
3. Orange Pineapple Muffins
4. Sunkist Citrus Slaw
5. Glenda's Mandarin Orange Salad
6. Simple Citrus Pie
7. Grilled Chicken and Orange Salad
8. Orange Maple Sweet Potatoes
9. Orange Slice Jello Shots - Alcoholic Dessert
10. Orange Pancakes
11. Flourless Homemade Orange Cake Mix
12. Orange Scones
13. Lamb Chops in Orange Sauce
14. Orange Rice
15. Chicken and Pasta with Orange Sauce
16. Orange Cookies
17. Orange Barley Casserole
18. Orange Coconut Bread - Bread machine recipe
19. Orange Applesauce Muffins
20. Orange Nut Loaf
21. Carrot Orange Cake
22. Orange Marmalade - this is a step-by step with photos, which makes it easy to follow
23. Orange butter - super simple
24. Ambrosia
25. Orange Shortbread Cookies
26. Orange Cake
27. Orange Sour Cream Cake
28. Apricot - Orange Bread
29. Liquid Sunshine Soup
30. Mexican Orange Thins
31. Orange Butter Cookies
32. Orange Curd - we would use this like a jam, or a filling in a tart or cake
33. Orange - Olive Tapenade - they say this is a good starter
34. Duck a l'Orange Bigarade
35. Pork Fillets with Orange Sauce
36. Orange Couscous with Pine Nuts
37. Mousse au Chocolat
38. Crispy Mandarin Duck Breasts
39. Winter Pavlova with Kumquats and Blood Orange Compote
40. Ricotta Pie with saffron and orange syrup
41. One Bowl Orange Cake
42. Mandarin and Almond Cakes
43. Galaktoboureko with orange syrup (Greek custard pie)
44. Pork Ribs with Orange Sauce
45. Yoghurt Blancmange with Orange and Honey-Poached Cranberries
46. Orange Cumin Chicken
47. Beef Sirloin Stir-Fry with Orange-Garlic Sauce
48. Light Orange Cheesecake with Chocolate Glaze
49. Banana Orange Shake
50. Orange Chiffon Cake
51. Orange Sorbet
There are a couple of recipes there that I wouldn't mind trying. Hopefully there are a couple you would like to try.
Nutritional Information, please click on this link
Next week, bananas..........
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Watery Wednesday
Catch up time........
I am busy with my crafting. Got the 80 blocks done for my quilt top. Need to start stitching it together. I bought the batting yesterday at Michael's and used a 40% off coupon, saving $10 there, so that was good. So all in all this quilt will have cost me around $50 in total. Just so you know Michael's has a 40% off coupon on its website every week at the moment!!
I am still doing my cross stitch hoping to have that finished this week. Been making some fabric boxes, I'll tell you more about those next month, as there is a story behind them. Still haven't put together that table runner, that's on the back burner until I get some of these other projects finished. I would like to make a lot of my Christmas gifts this year, so plan on trying to do one a month.
I have to say I am really missing my laptop, and because of that I am not on the computer as much, as the laptop is convenient, whereas the desktop I have to trail upstairs to use that. So because of that I am not visiting many people's blogs, so my apologies for that.
I am trying to not go out much, as its too cold and snowy, so my goal is to go out twice a week if not once. This week isn't a good week, and I am out Monday, Wednesday and probably Thursday, as we are supposed to be getting another nasty snow storm? When I do go out I do try and run numerous errands at the same time. I am hoping next week will be better.
I took some photos of outside of the house, thought you might be interested in seeing the snow.
As you can see we have a little snow!!! Thank goodness we bought the snow blower this year, we have used it a few times.
I haven't been trying any new dishes recently, hopefully I will post a "new" recipe to you guys later on in the week, if I make it tomorrow, as its yummy.
At least we are all healthy for a change so that good news. Otherwise things are quiet around here, which is just the way I like it!!! Oh I could do with a "cleaning fairy" to come and clean the house, as I never seem to have time to do the housework nowadays???? So if anyone could spare me one, I would be ever so grateful?
*****Are you still remembering to put your 25 cents per day away in your Daily Savings Club jar/box? You should have $4 in there now....well done*****
Monday, January 19, 2009
My trip downtown part 2......
What on earth am I talking about you say.......well me and dd are walking along Queen Street when we come across this store with these strange glass jar/vases in the window. They were really neat, and I wouldn't have minded a couple of them in the house as decorative items. However on closer inspection I see the words Marijuana and a word beginning with "H" can't remember what it was now. So of course I put two and two together and I DO GET FOUR!!! I was going to take a photo, but luckily I thought better of this, as I was concerned about being arrested. I never knew you could buy that sort of thing. By the way there was another store selling the same thing on the other side of the street.
Also on this street was a store called the Condom Shack and all it sold was condoms.........who knew that there was a store dedicated to condoms???? I mean it was an education seeing these stores!!! Then we were walking along and coming towards us was a talk stick thin person in skin tight leopard skin leggings, high heels and furry bomber jacket and big sunglasses. I mean you noticed this person, however as I said to dd when they had passed, was it a man or a woman? I was telling my friend about this and she thought he/she was probably a hooker!!!!! Hadn't thought of that.
By the way, just in case you are concerned about me being in a seedy part of town, I don't think I was. I didn't feel frightened or anything, in fact I love to go downtown to people watch as there are so many strange and unusual people around. One man passed us, swearing up a storm, it was obvious one of his personalities was having an argument with another of his personalities...LOL
Now a I am getting old story, or at least dd treats me as I am getting old and senile!! So the Toronto subway is like a U shape. We generally get on at the top right hand side and to go to downtown we get off at the bottom right hand side. However this day we had to go round the bottom of the U and get off at the bottom left hand side. Are you following me?
So dd had a meeting downtown in the afternoon, so I said that's fine I will just get on the subway and go back up to dd house and pick up my car and go home. Dd says no I will go with you, as you'll end up getting lost and her dad will "kill her." I say no I will be fine, she says no and we argue back and forward. With me finally giving in. Have to be honest just as well I gave in, as I had forgotten we were on the left side of the "U" and automatically went to get on the Northbound train, where in fact I should have got on the southbound train, to go around the bottom of the "U."
So I get a lecture from dd about how I was going to get on the wrong train and I would have got lost. Then she goes on about standing in the wrong place at the station. When we got to her stop, I got a lecture about where I was to go to get to her house, and she was going to call me later to make sure I got home....LOL Oh how the roles are being reversed, it's normally me giving the lectures!!! Needless to say I managed to get to her house without getting lost and got home fine.
By the way on our way down town we called in at Starbucks and we got a Vanilla Rooibos Tazo Tea Latte I had a two for one coupon, so we thought we'd give it a try. They were really nice, very different. As I don't take sugar in my tea or coffee, I had mine without the vanilla syrup. They are expensive though, as we got two large ones, and even with the 2 for 1 coupon it still came to just under $5, still it warmed us through while we were on the subway.
Well I think that will do for today. I will leave part 3 for another day........yes I know there is more to this day......LOL
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Today's Flower
For more of Today's Flower posts click on this link
A little fairytale for you...........
But it was a long time ago, and it was just that one day.
THE END
I would like to say thanks to Nancy for this.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
It's a sad, sad day......
Dd laptop went KAPUT again the other day. This isn't the first time this has happened, infact it's the fourth time it has happened. Now to cut a long and miserable story short, she faxed over her receipt to HP on Thursday and she should be getting 80% of the money back on the receipt. How she got to this point is long and painful, but basically they knew she meant business and within an hour and a half of being on the phone she was through to a case manager and had a case number etc. Which may not seem like an achievement, but believe me it was a great achievement. It can take days before a case manager speaks to you.
So as dd is still in school (final semester of her graduate studies), she needs access to the Internet. Dd boyfriend only has a desktop and it doesn't have a wireless connection which is what they need where they live. So I was gracious enough to offer up my laptop until she gets another one.
Dd was talking to HP yesterday and they seemed to think she would have her money within a month???? Dd of course doesn't want to buy another computer, until she knows for certain how much money she is getting back, and when. Which to my mind is very prudent.
So I am now having to use our desktop in the spare bedroom. I normally work on my blog and on the Internet in the family room when I am watching tv. So last night it was strange, no laptop. I sat and did some more of my cross stitch which was fine, but I am missing my little red Dell.
Dh is always saying I am addicted to the computer, and I have to finely admit I am. I just pray and hope my poor little baby is not away too long. Meanwhile I will be sitting by myself in the spare bedroom......
Friday, January 16, 2009
Had an interesting but cold day downtown Toronto....
We took the subway down and walked along Queen Street. One landmark we had to pass was Much Music. Here are some photos of there. Now they did have a sign on the sidewalk saying that some girl was going to be there and a tv camera, and a bright light there. However I had never heard of her and neither had dd, so we walked on, plus it was too cold to hang around anyhow.
One of the "attractions" is that they have a car smashed into the wall, here is the photo, try not to be too excited about it all!!
We had lunch at a Restaurant called "Peter Pan," which is on Queen and Peter Street. I must say despite the wait it was really good. I had a pizza and it was very tasty. Sorry about the quality of the photo, it was too cold to fiddle on trying to take the perfect shot.
This shot I took as we were walking across the street, it turned out pretty well I thought.
These poor pigeons were sitting on a doorstep, look how fluffed up they are.
I then ran out of battery on my camera.......it's always the way!!
By the way, I didn't buy as much as I would have liked, as there wasn't much I was looking for, however I'll post more on my adventures in Toronto another day.
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