As promised more our little Princess photos......

Our little Princess thinking about being a Ballerina.....

 

 

Our little Princess thinking about the upcoming tennis season...

 

Our little Princess laying on the kitchen table just relaxing!!

Our little Princess saying good morning, I just had the best dream ever........

She is now out of newborn clothes and into the 3 month ones.  She will be two months old on March 12th.

For those of you who asked, I am covering for someones vacation at work, so it's a temporary thing me working.

Sorry............

Just haven't felt like blogging.

Life is pretty mundane at the moment, the weather sucks and honestly nothing much has been happening.

Worked both Tuesday and Thursday this week.  I normally only work on a Tuesday now, as I have too much to do at home to work more.  Anyhow the money will come in handy as it cost $200 to put a new exhaust/muffler on my car this week.  Had to take the car back to the garage on Friday as they hadn't tightened the screws enough and I even heard it rattling, so it had to be bad!!  So I guess I won't be using that garage again...........

I see gas prices are finally starting to drop.  I paid $1.215 at a Canadian Tire gas station on Friday.  I wish it would drop to below $1 a litre, but I guess that'll never happen.

For those of you who are not in Canada, we are on week three of a postal strike.  It's a pain in the butt, and I wish the government would get on with legislating them back to work.  It's really going to hurt Canada Post, as I have signed up to get some statements online now.  I know at work we are emailing invoices out as much as possible.  Again we have registered online to pay bills.  So when this strike is over we will not be using Canada Post for a lot of things at work, and I am guessing a lot of other companies and people will do the same.

Did anyone watch the new series "Combat Hospital?"  I have to say that was one of the best shows I have seen in a long time.  I am normally in bed just after 9pm, but stayed up to 10pm to watch this show and I am glad I did.  If you have a chance make sure you catch it.

Still struggling with leaving comments via Blogger

Karine, you are one of those that I cannot leave a comment no matter how I try.  There isn't even an anonymous option on yours.  It's beginning to become more than frustrating to say the least!!!

Had a question for you all.  When you cut your grass do you always cut it in the same direction every time, or do you vary it?

I personally try and cut it in different directions as I read somewhere that it makes the grass grow in better.  Not that mine needs any bloody encouragement, it's still on steroids the way its growing.

Had to spray myself from head to foot with bug repellent on Wednesday night as they were out in force.  Must admit it did do the trick as they left me alone.

Got nearly 310 hours on the clock on the tractor since we got it in May of 2009.  Will say all that time has not been spent cutting grass with it, I use it with the trailer for hauling stuff around the property.

That reminds me, on Tuesday at work I sent out nearly 250 marketing emails.  Now granted I just kept forwarding the original email on, I did have to make changes in the body of the email to personalize it though.  I was fed up to the back teeth of the computer by the time I had finished, plus my poor bum was numb with sitting there all day.  So being on the computer was the last thing I wanted to do when I got home.

We are now sending invoices via email to customers now, partly due to the postal strike that we have on at the moment.  We have also set up online accounts to view bills.  I think the Canada Post employees have not done themselves any favours this time with going on strike, as people are finding other options to get mail to one another.  I know we will be saving a ton of time and money at work not having to send invoices out.

A visit to the dentist.........

I had my 6 monthly check up yesterday, which resulted in my being put back on antibiotics for an infection where I had my root canal done last year.  As per my dentist a small percentage of people's root canal's are not successful.............of course I am one of the small percentage {{{SIGH}}}  I go back on the 17th to have another x-ray done and to make sure it is fine; as at this moment, it isn't!!!

I have to say my dentist knows me so well, as he skipped over that area while he was cleaning my teeth, as he knew fine well he would get it, as I had warned him not to touch it, but his assistant forgot and she was just about to spray cold water in that are when I clamped my mouth shut.  The dentist warned her not to do that or she would get it from me.....LOL

I am also a major gagger when it comes to having x-rays done.  I really don't like it when they put the plastic thing in my mouth, it makes me want to gag.  We have decided I am a perfect little helper though, as I have that plastic thing out of my mouth and in the assistant's hands in a flash when she has taken the x-ray!!!

I didn't get around to writing a post last night, as I was so tired when I finally got home.  Luckily I had made shepherd's pies the night before, so we had them for supper.  I am hoping maybe these antibiotics will also cure this awful cough I have as it's wearing me down all this coughing.

As always got a busy day ahead of me so I guess I had better get on with it.......

At work today.......

Normal blogging service will resume tomorrow!!

Another Christmas video and another cookie recipe.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the Trans Siberian Orchestra, now would it?





Thursday's cookie recipe is "Anne's Dried Cherry and Almond Biscotti."  Well must say that didn't do anything for me either, so going to give that a miss also.  This is not going well is it!!

So I went to work on Thursday.  I enjoyed it and it made a lovely change.  Will say though I wasn't too keen on the early start and although I was "perky" on Thursday, must say I am glad I am only working the two days, starting at 8am, as I can't guarantee on being "perky" everyday when I have to get up at 5am.

It takes an hour for me to get to work, and on Thursday morning, I also had garbage to put out, plus do a few other jobs, including putting supper in the crockpot.  As I said though it made a nice change.

I see its coming up to a big week in Coronation Street.........

The giant fungi/mushroom's are back.....

There will be a correct term/name for them, just not sure what.

Super busy day at work on Friday.  When I came home I had two loads of laundry to iron.  Where is the ironing fairy when you need it.......and I had to do it, as some were dh`s work clothes that he needs for work on Saturday.

Luckily I had made too many potatoes the night before and had enough for Friday nights supper.  So we had fish fingers, mashed potatoes and Heinz baked beans.  There is nothing better than mashed potatoes and baked beans.  Not sure if that is a British thing or not.  My question mark icon is not working on my laptop, I keep getting this symbol É when I click on the question mark icon.

No humidity on Friday which is a great thing, and it should be the same on Saturday as well.  As usual got lots and lots to do over the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend.

Gill

Zucchini, zucchini and more zucchini.....

It's that time of year, when you go out one day to see a couple of tiny baby zucchini and the next day they are huge.  I went out to cut the grass on Thursday night and happened to drive past my two zucchini plants only to discover another couple of giant zucchini.  So I decided to make some carrot zucchini muffins, the recipe is here

I made 4 dozen, using 4 cups of shredded zucchini.  I shredded the rest of the zucchini and had 5 x 2 cup bags for the freezer.  Also in the photo is my first ripe tomato.  I am going to have it with my lunch on Friday.

Dh won't eat anything with bones in it.  So I had bought some boneless skinless chicken breasts.  I personally find them tasteless.  However I poached a couple in a strong chicken stock and then thickened the stock with Chicken Bisto and cornstarch/cornflour and it was so good.   I will be cooking it like that again.

Otherwise Thursday was a quiet day.  I did a bit of stripping and decided that wasn't my kind of job.  Paint stripping that is.

I am at work on Friday my last day, then I can get on with decorating the bedroom, bathroom and the closets.

Another busy day on my day off........

However I have to say it was a perfect day weather wise as there was no humidity.  It was gorgeous, and for the first time in a couple of weeks the a/c didn't come on, which was good.

I got half of the remainder of the logs moved and stacked.  My back was killing me, so I will complete the job probably on Sunday morning.

I had to nip into town for a couple of things, and then I made a start on the grass.  I managed to get the rest of the field cut, and round by the blackcurrant bushes and the front lawn.  The field will be to cut again the beginning of next week, as it was so long, I had to lift the blades higher, which in turn means I couldn't cut it as short.

It's a long weekend for us here in Ontario, so my goal for this weekend is to cut all the grass.  My potato tops are also dying?  So I need to dig up those also this weekend.  I dug up four tops on Thursday and was pretty disappointed on how few there were on each plant.

Today's Peek from the Past is here  I haven't seen the horses for a while, maybe they are on their summer holidays?

I'm at work again today, actually pleased about that, as maybe I can get a rest........

Just sitting there, waiting and waiting, and waiting!!

I had a doctors appointment after work on Wednesday.  My appointment was at 3:40pm, I finally got in to see him at 4:20pm, which was actually pretty good for our doctor!!

So of course I had plenty of time to read all the magazines, and have to say their selection sucked.  I forgot to take my book or take some of my old magazines for them to have.  Infact the National Geographic magazine were from 1981????

Then to add to my joy and I think to the rest of the people waiting in the waiting room, there were a couple of teenagers who were obviously very much in love.  So much so that they kept kissing one another.......I was very close to telling them to get a room!!  Then they were talking to one another in very loud voices, and their language left a lot to be desired using the "F" word quite frequently.  I was so glad when he had to go for his appointment, I think we all sighed with relief.

Our doctor is notorious for running late, but I always find it disturbing that all the other people who you walked into the doctor's office with have had their appointments and you are still sitting there.  There are around eight doctors in this practice and our doctor is always the one running behind.

I did manage to send dd a text without getting one of the receptionists to do it for me.  Granted it took me forever to type it all out, but I did it all by myself.  They too were very proud of me doing it all by myself.  I normally get one of them to do it, as it's a heck of a lot faster.

Then when I went to get my prescription filled at the pharmacy, there was a woman in front of me with one crutch, her arm in a sling, with a nasty cut on her head, and a lot of blood on her leg where she must have fallen.  The woman was a mess, it was really strange why she was wandering around like that.  I did hear her say she had spent the last day in the hospital.  No idea why they hadn't cleaned her up though.  She was on her way to see her family doctor to try and get some more Tylenol 3's as the doctor at the hospital had only given her a prescription for 20 of them.  Regardless it kept my mind busy watching her while I was waiting for my prescription!!

So it was nearly 5:30 pm when I got home on Wednesday night.  Luckily I had left dh full instructions on how to put the shepherd's pie in the toaster oven to cook.  So supper was ready when I walked into the house.

Today's Peek from the Past is this I had forgotten about this post, but after reading it over I do remember this.  I still have that material as well.  I keep meaning to do something with the owl fabric, not sure what yet though.

That bloody tractor is broken AGAIN.........

and this time it wasn't me that broke it..........

Actually all that's wrong with it, is the battery is flat in it, as ds left it switched on and flattened the battery.  So now we have to go and buy a bloody battery charger for it.  Meanwhile the lawn looks like a hay field again.

I don't know, that lawn tractor will be the death of me.  So I guess on my "day off" on Tuesday I will spend the day cleaning the house and doing laundry again instead of cutting the grass.  At least it's a bit cooler with temps in the low to mid 30's with the humidity, so that's a blessing.

Otherwise things are quiet around the Acreage.  Oh, dh did pick up a new garage door for $165.  It says on the instructions that it take's between 9 to 12 hours to install it????  What the heck...........told him he could install it when my brother is here..........I bet my brother would love that....not!!

Meanwhile must nag encourage dh to get the closets finished so I can get the bedroom and bathroom decorated before he arrives, otherwise he is going to have to sleep in a foot of dust in the bedroom.  Oh and Molly has decided she likes to sleep in the spare bedroom bed, under the covers no less when we are not in.  So along with all the dust there is the dog hair as well......nice or what!

Welcome to "Chez Acreage," the hotel will all the added bonuses: wildlife, super clean rooms, and great meals (get you're own or starve!!), and staff who cater to your every need ;0)

Taking dh with you grocery shopping - BAD IDEA!!

It was lovely of dh to drive me to the grocery store, however I can't say I was thrilled when the bill came to $102.  So the moral of this story is don't take dh grocery shopping if you don't want to spend more money than you normally do!!

Friday was just plain awful weather wise.  It poured down overnight and into the morning.  Then when it stopped raining it's as though someone had turned on the sauna.  It was so humid and sticky it was just plain awful.  Luckily the office does have a/c so it wasn't too bad at work.

Then of course the newspaper guy delivered the weekly paper after 8:30pm on Thursday night, so of course there was one big soggy mass of paper at the end of the driveway Friday morning??

It's a short and sweet post tonight, as I am pooped with this heat and humidity.  It will be 40 oC again with the humidity on Saturday, the kids are going to be pooped stacking all that wood.............

Thursday, a day off.....

I will admit I am shattered while I am writing this.  Thursday was a super busy day.  One of the jobs I got done was move last years logs from one end of the woodpile to the other end.

Before photo:

After photo:

I then weeded some of the flower beds, and then lit the fire on the firepit and trimmed trees and burned branches.  In between hands I did laundry and had lunch.  By this time it was 1pm.  So I then started to cut the field.  With the grass being so long it is taking me twice as long to cut.

I picked more raspberries, and then after supper spent just over an hour cutting more of the field.  I would have been out there longer but I knew I only had so much gas in the tank.  Friday it's going to rain, so I will have a day off from gardening.

Meanwhile inside the house hasn't been touched; no doubt you'll be able to write your name in the dust.....

I'll be glad to be at work on Friday so I can get a rest!!

Wednesday night, just a quick post...........

I have just got in from cutting Kamikazie Hill.  I hadn't planned on cutting it all, but the grass was nice and dry; and as it was super long, it was difficult to cut, and it would have been impossible to cut if it was slighty wet/damp.  I cannot let the grass get so long, as it's nigh on impossible to cut so it looks good.  I must also remember not to wear my capri's that are made out of a shiny fabric, as I thought I was going to have to velcro my bum on the seat, as I was slipping around that much.  I could have gone inside to change but couldn't be bothered; I'd rather complain about it...LOL

I called a friend today and she gave me some upsetting news.  I was actually lost for words, which for anyone who knows me, knows that rarely happens.  It's a few hours later and I am still flabbergasted and upset.  At the beginning of the month another friend that I don't talk to on a regular basis called with some upsetting news, again I was lost for words.  Both things I can't talk about on my blog; I am praying and hoping that these bad news calls don't come in three's like death's do?

I had work on Wednesday, and all was well, I didn't have to get my big stick out to sort them out!! (Inside joke for them!)

Thursday, I am at home, but again have a hundred and one jobs to do, including moving all the logs left over from last year's wood.  So as they say, there will be no rest for the wicked!!

Enjoy your Thursday.......

Gill :0)

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

Is it just me or do you also think that July is just flying by?  We are already on the 20th of the month......

Had work on Monday, nothing exciting happened, and I didn't have to get my big stick out to sort everyone out...LOL

Molly was fine and no accidents, however I do believe she was sulking when I got home.  She's not used to be left all alone all day.  I am treating her for another ear infection at the moment, not an unusual thing for a beagle I guess........

After supper I picked some more raspberries.  I should have enough now to make at least one batch of jam.

On Sunday we went to Home Depot and I picked up this Hydrangea called Blushing Bride  It was on sale for only $7.  I will try and get it planted on Tuesday.

I forgot to mention I have cashed in more Swagbucks, so will have $105 in my Amazon account now, so if you haven't already joined Swagbucks you should.  I have been a member now since the end of November, so it's easy enough to do..........

Also I checked my sitemeter for the first time in a while and got quite a shock to find that I am averaging 274 individual readers per day????  So I wanted to say a big thank you to each and every one of you.  I figured I would only have 150 or so.  Please feel free to leave a comment...............I may not get back to your blog right away, but I do visit eventually!!!

Hi there........

Must say I am glad its the end of the week, I'm writing this on Friday night.  Molly had me up just after 5am on Friday morning, so of course by lunch time I was yawning like crazy at work.  I was glad to see 3pm, as I was pooped.  Anyhow I got most things done for Linda, so at least she'll not be rushed of her feet when she comes back from vacation.

Does anyone know why the older you get the more thicker longer eye brow hairs you get?  You know the ones that stick out or grow in a different direction to the rest of your eye brow hairs?  Just wondering...........

Here is your money saving tip for the day:

Don’t beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Even if you make ten good choices, it’s easy to beat yourself up and feel like a failure over one bad choice. If you make a big mistake and realize it, think about why you realized it now instead of then, and try to apply that later on. The memory of that mistake can end up being very valuable, indeed.

Sorry for such a short post, I am just plain tired tonight (Friday)

How are you doing with the Daily Savings Club?

We are now into day 8 of this challenge, so depending on how much you are saving per day, you could have $2 saved up, if you're doing the 25 cents per day.  Or up to $8 if you are saving $1 per day like I am.  I hope you will continue on with this?

I am still doing the pantry challenge, though mine is more like a freezer challenge.  I have been using up things more in the freezer, rather than the pantry.  I still haven't got around to doing a menu plan yet, I keep saying I am going to do it and never do it!!

Here are a couple more links to help both you and me planning recipes.

Recipe Matcher and Mealtime.org

Had another busy day at work on Thursday.  Once again the day just flew by and the phones were busy as well.  I basically do everything in an office, like accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, answering phones, and everything else in between.  I DO NOT MAKE COFFEE THOUGH!!!  My boss has figured it is easier and less aggravting just to make the coffee himself, than get me to do it...LOL

I also had a special project to do on Thursday reconciling an account, and sorting some financial things out.......that's my speciality...I suck at making coffee but I am good with numbers!!!!

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the daily savings club?

Today's money saving tip:

Make a quadruple batch of a casserole. Casseroles are nice, easy dishes to prepare, but on busy nights, it’s often still easier to just order some take-out or eat out or just plop a prepackaged meal in the oven. Instead, the next time you make a casserole, make four batches of it and put the other three in the freezer. Then, the next time you need a quick meal for the family, grab one of those batches and just heat it up – easy as can be. Even better, doing this allows you to buy the ingredients in bulk, making each casserole cheaper than it would be ordinarily – and far, far cheaper than eating out or trying a prepackaged meal.

I just found this article and thought it was interesting: How to make a casserole with what you have on hand

Working, wildlife and what the heck.......

Well I survived my day at work on Wednesday. I must admit the six hours went by so fast. One minute it was 9am, the next it was 3pm. The office is in Mississauga by the airport. Infact the airplanes fly over top of the building to land or take off. It was pretty interesting at first when we moved there, as you had a habit of ducking when the big planes flew over as it was that noisy when you were out back.  In the office and building itself, you don't really hear the airplanes.

Now I am so used to the planes, and don't notice them, so no more ducking. Its funny when someone new comes by and you see them sort of duck. I was fortunate with the weather as it was so nice and the roads were nice and clear, so it only took me 50 minutes to get there and about an hour to get home.

Read this story its unbelievable........what is the world coming to?

That list of jobs I posted yesterday.....that's only the tip of the iceberg of jobs to be done around here.......believe me there is a heck of a lot more to be done!!

These are cute little birdies

Did you remember to put your money in your pot today for the daily savings club?

Today's money saving tip:

Never give up. Whenever the struggle against debt feels like it’s too much, go read a personal finance blog and remember that there are a lot of people out there fighting the same fight. Read around through the archives and learn some new things – and perhaps get inspired to keep going, no matter what.

Finally, due to lack of time I won't be able to visit everyone's blogs for the next few days, sorry!

Some photos of my drive to work and an issue with Molly.

You will need to click on these photos to see the detail. They were taken on my way to work. If you look carefully you will see the CN Tower which is downtown Toronto. I am around an hour and a half away from downtown Toronto when I took these photos. The view is spectacular, I would love to live there, but the properties are very, very expensive in that area.





Now I think this is a once in a lifetime photo, one which I am guessing you have never seen a Golden Moose in a garden....LOL It's a statue, just in case you're wondering.



Now the issue with Molly she has pooped in the attic twice now. She didn't ask to go out, she hadn't been inside all day, both times it happened when we were at home, so she is in and out all day. Any ideas?

Finished working the week and honestly I enjoyed it, it's not a hard job physically just mentally as you are using your brain, it's office work. Still I'll be glad to get the garden and the house ship shape again!!

If they had only talked to me first.........

they would have saved a pile of money!! My local county administration has just shelled out a pile of money to repaint the double yellow lines on our road. Why they decided to do that is beyond me, as no one takes a blind bit of notice of the double yellow lines, and over take when ever they can :p I keep meaning to email them to tell them to take down the speed limit signs, as again no one takes a blind bit of notice of them either..........yes I am being sarcastic...LOL


Anyhow on Wednesday morning I was close to tears driving to work, as it was foggy and in the bottom of the valley the mist was just hanging over the trees, just like it does in my beloved Smokey Mountains.....we can't afford to go this year, so this is as close as I am going to get to seeing something like them.


I was shattered on Wednesday as that dratted dog of ours nose is going to get the better of her. She was going crazy on Tuesday night sniffing stuff around the house, especially around the baseboards/skirting boards. So I am guessing she can smell mice or something, so I need to set the traps again. She was up on and off all night because of this, which wasn't good when me and dh are tired. I had her out at 4:50am for a pee and poop and managed to make her go back to sleep. However it meant I slept in again and wasn't up until nearly 6:30am again.

It rained again Wednesday, so of course with the heat and humidity the grass is growing like mad. However with it being so wet I haven't been able to cut the grass, which is maybe a blessing, as I don't need the extra work at the moment.

Overall work is going well, its not busy enough for me, but my boss got me doing a project today that should save the company at least $500 to $700 a month, which makes it worthwhile going in for. As I feel as though I have at least earned my keep...LOL People think we are married as the banter between us is very informal.

For instance I was telling a customer that I was hot, and when I get hot I get miserable, so my boss piped up and said "then she must be hot all the time!!" I know he doesn't mean it!!! If you work outside of the house, do you have a good relationship with your boss?

I also wanted to say thank you for visiting my blog and commenting, crazy busy week for me, so haven't had too much time for visiting other people's blogs.