Recipes

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Waiting For A Diagnosis!

My one and only computer has gone off to the 'puter hospital for a rest and loving care.... I hope anyway. 

It did collapse on me and now will be diagnosed and given a tune-up.  'puter, I miss you already.  Your friend at the library is being so wonderful to accomodate me, but your buddy only shares for one hour a day.

Broken Computer Clip Art

I'm not sure how it will be away, but I'm hoping it will be well cared for.  :)

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Mani's and Pedi's

Natural French ManicureI love the look created by someone who can give a  beautiful manicure and I particularly like the look of a natural French manicure.  It appears so neat, clean and, natural for a lack of another descriptive word.  I have enjoyed many manicures in the past for which I have paid many dollars.  I loved the look of my beautiful, fake nails.  These mani's were completed in the past without much thought to the never-ending cost of filling in the new growth. 

When the time came where I turned from an "on my bum" job to "on my feet" working with food, these luxurious nail jobs fell by the wayside, as fake nails and nail polish were not permitted.  Now that I am away from this work, I am quite okay with performing the manicure with my limited knowledge of how to create a passable look and saving the cash for this service.


"Just Beachy" PedicureNow on to the pedicure.  Yesterday my daughter was telling me how she truly enjoys getting the pedicure done.  She loves someone rubbing her feet and just truly enjoys all that comes with the pedicure.  She doesn't spend the money on having this completed, but if she did have the extra I'm quite sure she would rush right out and have one.  Not me!  No, no, no, never, never, never.  I absolutely cringe at the thought of someone I don't know touching my feet.  Just thinking of a nail stylist filing my nails brings goose bumps to my skin.  And while I was strolling toward the exist at Walmart earlier today I had to look away from the nail salon where stylists were openly messing with customer's feet.  Cringe, cringe, cringe!!!

I was doing some surfing earlier and found this interesting article which talks about how the nail salon business came to be in North America.  Opportunity for employment at it's finest.

I think I'll be giving my daughter a manicure/pedicure for her birthday gift this summer as I didn't know she enjoyed them so much, particularly the pedi.

How about you?  Do you enjoy a manicure/pedicure? 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

'splain yourself

Okay, can do.

"Busy, really busy since Monday", she says ..............
"Oh, come on you can do better than that", says she ..............
"No, really..... busy, very busy", she says ............
"Everybody's busy, but they do find time to blog", she says .............
"I know" she says, hanging head in embarassment. 

A week ago today, daughter's FIL (I'll refer to him as B) whose hip was fractured in a fall at home was moved from hospital, after a six week  recovery period to a retirement residence located 20 kilometers from the town where I live and where my DD's family live.  The actual move was uneventful, and thank God for that as last Thursday was the beginning of the snowstorm covering two days.  He does have a PSW with him 24/7 right now and will continue to have one until he is healed and able to walk more steadily with his walker.  The individual in charge of decision making re his care continues to create drama and the challenge to remain outside the drama is still there but I am finding it much easier to deal with.  When I talk to her, I state the facts as I see them.... only the facts!  And that's working quite nicely.

Because she lives a distance away, she relies on my DD and her DS to provide assistance if he needs something, but DD is bogged down right now.  She has picked up the flu that her daughter had last week and as all mom's know, you can't be sick.  But she is exhausted from carrying on despite feeling unwell and I am now providing support with kids and also assisting with B as there are some ongoing issues re his early days in the residence.  There were a lot of changes very quickly for him so time and patience for adjustment are definitely needed.  Distance, time challenges, illness have all come together in an imperfect storm for a few days. 

Tuesday afternoon I created some time to bake sugar cookies with a simple decoration of red sugar for the GK's for a Valentine treat.
mixing


rolling


baked

packaged and ready to go

Time to get a move on!  The rest of the day is looking busy.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so the saying goes.  Did you miss me?  LOL

Friday, February 8, 2013

Received in Today's Mail



I was the winner of this lovely zippy wallet in a giveaway by Carla.  It is a cute wallet, a perfect size to use in my bag which I lovingly referred to my suitcase that travels with me wherever I go.  It shall become my new change purse as it is perfect for that purpose.  Her workmanship is so perfect, neat, tidy and finished so professionally. 

Thank you again Carla.  I am thrilled to receive this gift.  And thank you also for the wee treat you included. 

:)

That "S" Word!

snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow

Okay, what's the big deal?  It's February, it's the middle of winter, snow is expected, right?  Yes it certainly is, but so much?  The fluffy flakes started around noon yesterday and carried on through the evening stopping for a brief few hours.  I know the snowfall hadn't resumed at 2 a.m. when I turned out the light for sleep time.  When I woke in the morning the visibility was really diminished as the snowfall was quite heavy and winds had picked up tossing those flakes everywhere.  The storm of the winter thus far is supposed to carry on until at least midnight in our part of the province. 

So what's the big deal?  We're just not used to seeing so much snow.  At this moment, about 30 cm has arrived in my town with another 4 to 6 cm expected before it stops.  This is the largest storm in 5 years and in the intervening years, the winters have been mostly mild, hence the big wallop to the psyche.  This day didn't turn out to be an official snow day, but some businesses closed early, libraries, the town government offices, the regional gov. offices closed early also.  There were few people out on the roads so these places wouldn't be carrying on any business anyway. 

photo credit:  Province of Ontario traffic camera

Only in Canada would shovelling occur to assist cars to make it on to a major highway.  This is the main east-west route through Southern Ontario.


photo courtesy of my friend James


 What's under the blanket of snow?  Any guesses?

I've been through many blizzards/snowstorms in my life.  I'm an old gal, I'll survive this one too!!!  I've been indoors for two days and do need to get out tomorrow for some pics of this winter wonderland.  :)

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

'puter probs!

A brief post today just to let you know I'm experiencing problems with my home computer.  Windows won't load immediately, then cuts out, then reloads, then works for a bit, then disappears.  May need some tender loving care by a techie.  Right now, posting from the library computer.  Stay tuned!

I'll Be Back!!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Out & About... doing this, doing that

No post for 2 days in a row.  Tisk, tisk..... better smarten up or I will run the risk of losing my (few) followers.  I unexpectedly worked Fri. night, all day Saturday and then on Sunday.  My scheduled day was Sun and I was a fill-in the other days and I was so tired late Sun, my mind was vacant!  No blog thoughts ventured through, so thought best not to even attempt.

This morning I did finish up the tidy up/clean up that I didn't quite get to last evening.  After a lunch of a fried egg sandwich, I headed out to take care of business and pleasure.  First off to the bank to withdraw cash for two weeks of living, then next door to have a needed haircut.  It was a bit cold out there today.   I think about -8 C when I headed out the door. 


After those two items were stroked off my to do list, I drove to one of my favourite places to hang out for a couple of hours.

It is a book/novelty store where I love to grab a few magazines and books, find a seat by the window and flip through the pages while enjoying a Tall Blonde from....


located in the same building as Chapters.   I can easily spend two/three hours reading but only spent a couple hours today because it was so cold and I didn't want the car to cool off too much while I was enjoying myself. 

After my leisurely read, I was off to Michael's for embroidery floss, then to Freshco for a couple of items.  Oh my, the prices are atrocious!  Iceburg head lettuce was $1.97 a head, romaine was $2.98 a head, grapes, all kinds, $2.97 a pound and pink grapefruit which was smaller than a navel orange was $0.50 each.  I could go on about the cost of meat, chicken, etc.  but I won't.  Freshco sometimes has meat near it's sell date at 50% off  but none today.   Protein will have to come from other sources.  There will be no food waste, for sure, in this household!!!!!! 

Then home, put away today's purchases and then to check the blog to discover that I am the winner of a fellow blogger's giveaway.  When I receive it I will post a picture of her beautiful work and a link to her other beautiful creations. 

Oh and I almost forgot.  My grandson is a coin collector and for his birthday later this week I was able to find this set for him.  It includes a Canadian 2013 penny, nickel, dime, quarter, loonie, and toonie.  The quarter has a birthday cake with candle on it and it is so appropriate as he will be 13 this year.   

And that's the end of another wonderful day in my life.  Afterall, life is sometimes how you view it to be! 

Friday, February 1, 2013

SAD???



No, I'm not sad, are you sad?  More to the point, do you or have you experienced Seasonal Affective Disorder?  I was thinking about this earlier today when I looked out the workplace window at 5:00 p.m. and saw that the sun was still shining.  About a month ago at 5 p.m., the darkness was firmly entrenched in what was left of our day.

I have in past years experienced the symptoms that are associated with SAD; feeling generally miserable, lacking in energy, being tired, low spirit, depressed, craving for sweets, weight gain.  I don't know if those cover all the symptoms but those are what I can relate to in the past.  But this winter is different.  I can't point to any of these and say that I've felt them or experienced them and I was questioning myself today why this year is different.  And the answer I have come up with is my change in the work situation which has given me more time to spend outdoors.  I have spent time outdoors on the very coldest days even when the sun wasn't shining and just being outside for part of each day has made a big difference on how I view the day.  Some days I didn't really want to go out, but forced myself and was glad for having done so, 'cause my spirit was so much better for it afterward.

Tomorrow is the mid-point of winter.   Each day will grow a little longer, maybe just by a little bit but every minute counts, right?  In another month, we'll be pushing our clocks ahead by one hour, if that is mandated where you live.  It's just another step along the year, maybe not one everyone looks forward to but one that brings about rewards in itself. 

So I'm wondering how everyone is feeling and if you have experienced SAD, how have you coped with it or continuing to deal.