Bead All About It

I need a blog makeover

2012-01-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

I see all kinds of neat blogs but I'm afraid to do anything other than use the templates that Blogger has. How hard is it to do all of that stuff? I guess that I need to know html. Heck....I can't even remember my name half of the time. How will I remember all that html stuff? Some of the digital scrapbooking stores have blog packages for sale but I read some of the instructions and got really, really confused.

I did add a new photo at the top...and changed my titles to a pretty pink. That might do me for a while...until I go looking at those other great looking blogs.

Think that I'll go and bead. My sisters bd is next week and I want to make one of those wrap bracelets that everyone is wearing. I saw an actress on Criminal Minds on Wed. wearing one even. Here's one version from this blog. Actually...there are two in the photo...one using ball chain and the other using strands of rhinestones.

And here's the other one:

I'm going to need drugs

2012-01-26T16:53:00.001-05:00

I am so ready to pull my hair out. 2012 isn't getting off to a great start. I won't go into all of the details....fridge broke, convection oven broke, I had an allergic reaction to gawd knows what and I can't seem to work my camera right. I've been concentrating on taking better photos for my Etsy shop but I can't seem to do it. Maybe I'm too picky. Anyways....I've pretty well given up. I'll just take them and post them. I've been snapping pictures in natural light which really does make the stuff look better....that is when the light's not blue!! I don't know how everyone else can take nice photos. And guess what? At this point I don't care! lol

Anyways..here's a little necklace that I put into the shop today. It is absolutely adorable and of course....it looks better in 'person' than in the photo. Gees.

She had a birthday!

2012-01-14T18:37:00.000-05:00

Our little gal....the delight of our lives....turned 1 yesterday. She got to do whatever she wanted to do. Guess what that was? Playing fetch the ball...in the snow...in the cold. We weren't thrilled but we did it.

Isn't she a doll?

Still here

2012-01-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

I'm retired but I still don't have enough time to do all of the things that I want to do. For the past week+ I've been re-taking photos of all the jewelry in my shop. I needed to brighten things up and had set my mind on white backgrounds...again. Before, when I took photos on white, the white always came out blue. I've resorted to extreme editing using Paintshop Pro and it's working. I'm so pleased with the results. Go and have a boo.

I got one of these for Christmas:

I didn't ask for one but I remember saying what a great idea it was when I saw the ad on tv. I've never made meatloaf since I've lived here. I don't particularly care for it. I usually only eat chicken and fish. I did come across a great recipe from Rachel Ray. I made it the other day and it was really, really good! Here it is:

Turkey and Stuffing Meatloaf

Ingredients

2 McIntosh or Gala apples, peeled and cut into small dice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pounds ground all-white-meat turkey or a mix of dark and white meat
3-4 ribs of celery, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 large egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups stuffing mix ******
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Serves 4

Preparation

Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF.

In a large bowl, add the apples and lemon juice and toss together. Add the turkey, celery, onion, poultry seasoning, egg, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

In a medium size bowl, add the stock and the stuffing. Toss around, letting the stuffing soak up the liquid, then add it to the bowl with the turkey. Mix everything together well, then turn it out onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and shape it into a loaf. Coat with EVOO, transfer to the oven and roast until brown and cooked through, about an hour.

******* Note: I don't know what this stuff is. I didn't have any so I just omitted it. Also note that this recipe serves waaayyy more than 4!!!!

BTW: the pan was excellent!

Brrrr!

2012-01-03T10:39:00.001-05:00

It's very, very cold. I've been crocheting up a storm of scarves to keep me warm. I can't knit very well because I had my Mom and my aunt try to teach me but one was left handed and the other right handed so I'm all mixed up. I broke down and bought a Martha Stewart Loom so that I can knit. I priced all of the others and this seemed to be the best deal. Hope that it comes soon!

Yikes!

2012-01-02T09:08:00.002-05:00

First of all let me wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2012!! I wish you all the best and hope that you all stay healthy.

Now...the biggie. You've all heard of 3D printing, right? Well, I was reading a blog where the writer was talking about 3D jewelry. She mentioned a shop so I had to go and have a boo right away. This woman designs jewelry and then PRINTS IT OUT ON A PRINTER!!! I had heard about this technology but thought that it was waaaaay in the future. Apparently not! I Googled 3D printing services and a whole whack of them came up. Guess that I've been caught with my head in the sand. Here's one of the places. And here's the shop where you can have a look at and maybe even purchase one of the pieces of jewelry. The shop name is ArchetypeZ.

Dessert

2011-12-28T13:18:00.002-05:00

This was the hit of the dessert buffet. This is the light version and it makes 2 pies. You'll need to cut small pieces because it's extremely rich but oh, so delicious!!!

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

1 cup powdered sugar

1 (8-ounce) block light cream cheese, softened

1 cup natural-style, reduced-fat creamy peanut butter

1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1 12-ounce tub frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

2 9-inch ready-made reduced-fat graham cracker shells

4 teaspoons fat-free chocolate sundae syrup

Preparation

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add the condensed milk, and beat until combined. Stir in the whipped topping. Divide the mixture evenly between shells; chill 8 hours or until set (pies will have a soft, fluffy texture). Cut into wedges, and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Note: We loved this pie frozen--its texture is more like that of an ice-cream pie.

I'm not much on 'I gots' but...

2011-12-27T13:25:00.004-05:00

I just have to tell you what Santa brought because it's funny. An LED, LCD, HD, 3D big screen tv with a blueray dvd player. Also....2 more remotes for his highness to keep a grasp on while watching tv. Geesh. We watche the new Pirates of the Caribbean last night in 3D. Fabulous. I was a bit miffed because I had to wear the stupid 3D glasses. I had laser surgery so that I wouldn't have to wear glasses any more!

So...Christmas went well. The only really upsetting incident this year was when flames started shooting out from the oven. I cook my turkey in a bag and I guess that the bag leaked a bit (well...more than a bit) and when I put the cabbage rolls in the oven to cook the grease caught on fire. Imagine 10 people in a tiny kitchen all giving advice while the flames get bigger. I had another glass of wine. Oh...how did we put the fire out? Just kept the oven door shut (after removing the cabbage rolls). Smothered the flames because of a lack of oxygen.

Dinner was delicious. The hit this year? A stupid broccoli cheese casserole that took like 5 min. to make. Everything else took way longer and the quickie was the best. Go figure.

Here's the recipe:

Cheesy Broccoli Bake

2 boxes frozen chopped broccoli
½ stick butter, cubed
8 ounces Velveeta, cubed
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
1 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook broccoli according to package directions. Drain liquid from the broccoli and transfer to a round casserole dish. Dot broccoli with cubed butter and cheese. Mix crushed crackers with melted butter and cover broccoli mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

SUGGESTION: You can assemble this dish a day or so ahead of time and store, covered, in the fridge until ready to bake.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

2011-12-24T08:53:00.002-05:00

Hawaii-Five-oh,oh,oh!

2011-12-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

I may be old but I'm not dead. Have you noticed the bods on the stars of the show?!! Whew....I have a hot flash every time I see them!

Do you love it?!

2011-12-22T08:59:00.002-05:00

They're a hit!

2011-12-21T12:30:00.001-05:00

I made a double batch of the Sugar and Spice Nuts. They're really quite delicious. I'm going to add a bit more sugar and pepper to the next batch which I'll make today. The other ones are all packaged up in cello bags. I added one of those crystal snowflake decorations that I had made and a big red bow. They look great.

Here's the recipe:

Sugar and Spice Nuts

Makes: 3 cups

Cooking Time:20 min

Ingredients

1 cup cashews
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 egg white, beaten slightly
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine cashews, pecans, and peanuts. Add egg white and toss to coat nuts evenly.
In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and ground red pepper; mix well then add to nut mixture. Stir until nuts are well coated then spread nuts onto baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly toasted, stirring halfway through cooking time. Let cool.
Mix dried cranberries into nuts; serve immediately, or store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Cute idea

2011-12-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

I did these one year. Well...not these particular wrappers. I made my own using digital scrapping kits. You can get these wrappers on Our Best Bites blog. All you do is download, print and wrap. Simple, easy.

By the way...this is an excellent blog. I follow it using Google Reader. If you haven't tried Google Reader you should go and have a boo at it. All of your blogs come into one window so that you're not looking for them in your favorites. Google it!

Gail

I'm addicted

2011-12-19T19:38:00.001-05:00

Finished all my Christmas shopping and wrapping so now I have time to play. I've been purging but decided to put the brakes on that in order to get the Christmas stuff done. I'm so pleased with how clean (and empty) my craft room looks. Did a lot of Freecycling and many trips to the thrift shop. Well worth it...I can now find stuff.

Anyways, I've been making these snowflake ornaments. They're fast and easy and very addicting. I'll be putting one on each bag of sweet and spicy nuts that I'll be giving as mini-gifts. I haven't tried this recipe yet so I won't post it. When I taste the results and if they're yummy I'll do a post. Keep your fingers crossed that they're good. I don't need any more stress.

Adorable, huh? I think that I'll make some in non-Christmas colors and put them in my windows. They're almost like suncatchers.

GAil

Remember my post on the Vanier Cup?

2011-12-13T19:14:00.001-05:00

Well, my brother, who's one of the coaches, said that he only had one drink in celebration of winning.

He neglected to say that it was one BIG drink!!!

Dolly Dog

2011-12-12T18:57:00.001-05:00

Roxie is not impressed with her new holiday collar. I put it on her and she won't more. Too bad....I wanted a dolly dog that I could dress up. Roxie has quite the wardrobe...sweaters, a hoodie and a raincoat with boots. When I put any of these things on her she just freezes. *sigh* I wanted a little girl to dress up. I had a boy 27 years ago. I really wanted a girl too.

Gail

Wanna drool?

2011-12-11T08:58:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth Taylors jewelry is up for auction at Christie's. You can see it all here along with descriptions and prices. There are slideshows and catalogs. Imagine being able to afford even one of these lovely pieces?!

The Vanier Cup

2011-12-09T08:23:00.001-05:00

I posted last week about my brother being a coach for the University that won the Vanier Cup. He's also a teacher and took his experience back to his school with him. There was an article in the paper about it.

What does it take to boot a 20-yard field goal in overtime in front of 24,935 screaming fans to win your football team’s first national championship when you are 3,500 km from home?

Courage would be near the top of the list.

So it made sense when Queen Mary elementary invited members of the Vanier Cup-winning McMaster Marauders to a character education assembly this month, when the attribute of the month was courage.

With students packing the gym and staff snapping photos, students presented a short history of the cup, and used all of their senses to talk about courage. Grade 5 students like Tommy P. said courage sounds like “doing the right thing.” Taylor R. said courage matters “so you don’t live your life in a shell.” Jeremy R. said courage is essential for standing up to bullies.

Introduced by Vice-principal Richelle Bratusz, Marauders quarterback Kyle Quinlan and receiver Matt Peressini brought in the Vanier Cup – and highlighted the east-end school’s connection to the win.

The distance from Queen Mary to the final played in Vancouver is smaller than you would think. Teacher Al Anonech is also the Mac receivers coach, cramming his time outside of school with reviews of game films, practices, more game films and plenty of travel. He says character matters, in football as in life.

“For these players, character really comes from their experience,” said Anonech, explaining the hype before Mac’s game against the impervious Laval Rouge et Or. In BC Place Stadium this year, Laval suffered its first national championship loss in school history. Mac stopped Laval from winning a seventh national title.

“Courage is about being able to execute, taking it down a notch, and just getting out there to play your game,” Anonech said. “There have been some very good speeches, and encouragement is good on the sidelines, but every player will have different buttons to push. You could call it differentiated motivation.”

Peressini, in front of the assembly spoke about how much courage it took growing up to believe that he could play at the next level. He was never as big as some coaches thought he should be. But he made up for it with heart. “Without courage, I would not be here,” he said. He also said football is a team game, and no matter how good a single player is they will always depend on their teammates.

Quinlan added, “everyone knows about courage in sports, but you need a lot of courage outside of sports as well.” In life, you will face challenges, he said. “You can complain or you can get better,” added Quinlan, who had to work for his starter’s position at Mac. He said football is a game that requires discipline: you have to work hard, practice and focus for success.

The players and coach met students, signed autographs and posed for countless photos after the assembly. Bratusz, a Western graduate, happily said the Vanier Cup game was one of the best she had ever seen.

She and Principal Darrin Griffiths agreed that their school was lucky to have the day’s special guests – great examples of the kind of courage it takes for success on the field, in the classroom and beyond.

PS - He's in the back row at the left. The adult...sometimes.

Hmmm....

2011-12-08T16:47:00.001-05:00

Should I order one of these to wear on Christmas morning! Me thinks not. If anyone's interested, go here. There are a lot more colors and undies to match!

A cute funny

2011-12-07T17:00:00.001-05:00

Fascinating

2011-12-02T09:07:00.001-05:00

I was reminded of this phenomena yesterday when I was listening to the radio. The announcer was talking about the annual Monarch butterfly migration to Mexico. I knew about it but decided to do some more research into it. It really is fascinating...have a boo at this page: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/ The migration is over but the reading is still good.

Gail

PS - We're having wet snow. I'm not going to complain because we've had a fabulously mild fall.

Tushy weekend!

2011-11-28T10:14:00.001-05:00

I'm all footballed out. On Fri. Hamilton, ON, Canadas McMaster Mauraders football team played for the Vanier Cup (National University championship). My brother coaches for them. He himself played in a Vanier Cup game way back in '84 which they won. The win on Fri. night for McMaster was doubly sweet for my brother. He got to re-live his '84 experience. Things have come a long way since then. In '84 the game was played at Torontos Varsity Stadium. Not a nice place. On Fri. they played in Vancouvers BC Place. What a difference. The game was amazing. I know that I have never seen a better football game in my life. Fabulous! My brother took his wife and 2 kids with him. My nephew was on tv many times. I guess that he's their mascot or ball boy. At the opening of the game when they were announcing the starting lineup, there was my nephew right at the front of the line giving these huge players the high five. Too cute. He's 12.

Yesterday we watched the Grey Cup game which was played at the same stadium. Not a bad game but not nearly as good as the one on Fri. night.

So......I like football a lot. I'm wondering if it's because of those sexy, tight spandex pants that they wear that show off those oh so athletic bottoms!?

Cute

2011-11-23T17:12:00.001-05:00

THE FOLLOWING ARE ALL QUOTES FROM 11 YEAR OLDS' SCIENCE EXAMS:

* "Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is
     pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."

* "Artificial insemination is when the farmer does it to the
    cow instead of the bull."

* "When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire."

* "H20 is hot water, and CO2 is cold water."

* "Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes, and caterpillars."

* "Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on
    them and makes them perspire."

* "Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they
    look like umbrellas."

* "The body consists of three parts - the brainium, the borax and
    the abominable cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the
    borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abominable cavity
    contains the bowels, of which there are five - a, e, i, o and u."

* "Rhubarb: a kind of celery gone bloodshot."

* "Vacuum: A large, empty space where the pope lives."

* "For drowning: climb on top of the person and move up and
    down to make Artificial Perspiration."

* "For Fainting: Rub the person's chest or, if a lady, rub her arm
    above the hand instead. Or put the head between the knees of the
    nearest medical doctor."

* "The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of Indiana."

* "The tides are a fight between the Earth and Moon. All water
    tends towards the moon, because there is no water in the moon,
    and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in
    this fight."

* "Equator: A managerie lion running around the Earth through Africa."

* "Germinate: To become a naturalized German."

* "To prevent contraception: wear a condominium."

* "To keep milk from turning sour: keep it in the cow."

Eddie Bauer....Eddie Schmauer

2011-11-23T15:52:00.001-05:00

Gees. I got all excited today when I got home to find a special rewards envelope from Eddie Bauer. I opened it to find 2 discount cards......25% off everthing plus double the reward points. Since I've finished my Christmas shopping I thought that I might like to go and do some shopping for myself. I love Eddie Bauers clothing. I have quite a few of their pieces plus I have a coat that I wear all of the time. I thought that maybe I'd buy the winter version of this coat. I checked the coupon card and guess what? The discount card expired on Sunday. I received the cards today. I called Eddie Bauer and there was nothing that they could do. Gees. I'm mailing the cards back to them with a note. I'm ticked! Also, if you order online you have to pay in American dollars. They're exchange rate is ridiculous so I'm only going to shop in the stores from now on. I'm really ticked.

Who'd a thunk!

2011-11-20T16:51:00.001-05:00

Wow...it's Nov. 20th and we went for a walk today.....in the forest of all places. We thought that we'd take our little Roxie to the woods...thought that she'd enjoy herself running through the leaves. Nope. She has more fun in the piles of leaves out back. It was in the 50's today...perfect forest walking weather. Normally we wouldn't go near the forest at the end of Nov.....way too cold and maybe even snowy. It was the perfect day though. There were tons of leaves and it was neat to crunch through them.

We've now been to that forest in all seasons. I think that fall is my favorite time. I don't think that we'll get another fall walk in. It's supposed to get cold and pretty soon there will be snow. We've already had a bit and everywhere around us has had more than a bit. Gees....I wish that it would stay like this all year round.

Ho, ho, ho!

2011-11-18T07:50:00.001-05:00

Well...I put up all of the outside Christmas decorations on Monday and I'm really glad that I did. The temperature dropped and it's actually dipped below freezing. We've also had flurry activity. I may have looked like a nut decorating so early but I'll be able to sit back in a nice warm house when the neighbours put their decorations up!

Been beading like crazy. Time to get your Christmas shopping done!

Gail

My new favorite store

2011-11-15T08:50:00.001-05:00

This might not be a big deal to those of you who live in the States but to us in Canada it certainly is. A Kiehl's store opened up here about a half hour away from me. I visited one about a month ago and purchased some shampoo and conditioner. I also had a skin analysis done and received a ton of free samples to try. I left them for a week because I was too lazy to go and get my glasses to see what the heck was in them. When I did start to use them I was amazed. The products are fabulous and the consultant in the store was bang-on with her choices for my skin type. I went back and bought full sized bottles of these items plus more!! Love this store. Kiehl's has it right...you try...you buy! What I like also is that there's a full 28 day money back guarantee. No more buying stuff, finding it's not right and then giving it away. Money down the tube.

I'm not really going to review anything. What I use on my skin may not be right for you. You should go into a Kiehl's near you and speak with a consultant. Anyways...what I'm going to do is just show you my my 'I'll never be without this' stuff.

Let me just say though....this volumizer is the ONLY product that I've tried that does exactly as it says....no residue either. The same with the cream wax. My hair is stupid super straight and fine and until now I'd yet to find something that didn't goop up and weigh my hair down.

Oh...and you may think that some of these items are expensive but they're not really....a little goes a long way!

My new toy

2011-11-13T09:48:00.001-05:00

I broke down and bought this yesterday. I have the original Kobo e-reader and love it but I thought that I 'needed' this one. I really, really, really want and iPad but this will do for now. This reader is smaller than an iPad so I'll be able to tote it more easily than an iPad. My other reader I could fit into my purse and that was really handy. This new one is a little larger. I'll have to test it out in my purses.....if it doesn't fit then maybe I need new purses! lol

Specs and stuff are here if you're interested. I'll be selling my old Kobo and all accessories on Kijiji to help me pay for my new one.

Don't panic when you read this!

2011-11-12T08:47:00.001-05:00

I was reminded yesterday that Christmas isn't very far away. We had our first light dusting of snow. Not very far from us, towns had lots of snow. I'm not complaining but it has become a lot colder. We were spoiled by a wonderful fall and Indian Summer. At the beginning of the week people were out in shorts and sandals if you can believe it. Now we're all bundled up in winter gear. I managed to get all of my fall gardening done....and part of my spring stuff. It was so nice out that I felt like working outside so I just kept on going.

Christmas is like 6 weeks away. It sounds like a long way off but be careful...before you know it, it will be here. I'm posting this because I want to remind everyone about shipping dates. If you don't start shopping soon (if you're an online shopper) then you might just be in a panic if you leave it later. You'll be stressed about whether the parcel will arrive on time. I have all of my shopping done. I'm now planning the menu for the Holidays. I did most of my shopping online. So easy.

Today I'm heading out to get my pine boughs, garlands and wreaths. I won't be the first on our street to have the decorations up. I need to get those boughs stuck in all of my planter before the dirt freezes. I left them too late one year and I was really sorry.

So......get shopping!!!!!

Gail

Lest we forget

2011-11-11T08:55:00.001-05:00

Yummy!

2011-11-10T19:23:00.001-05:00

I think that I've posted this recipe before but we just had these again last night and they're
absolutely scrumptious! You need to try them....so easy to make!

Oven-Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts

1 1/2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, divided

3-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling before serving

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

Rinse sprouts in cool water and then chop off the tough ends. Pull any straggly leaves off the sprouts and then chop each sprout in half. Place in a medium bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together oil, 1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt, and the freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle it over the chopped sprouts and then toss to combine. Spread the sprouts out evenly over the baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes or until the sprouts are tender-crisp.

Remove from oven, transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with the reserved tablespoon of vinegar, and sprinkle with kosher salt to taste. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

2011-11-07T08:43:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite recipe at the moment. I make it once a week. It's quick, easy and delicious. I serve it with a salad. This recipe was copied from http://www.mrfood.com/ Check out the website. There are lots of good recipes there. And DO try this one....you'll love it!!

Chicken Empanadas

This shortcut version of the classic Hispanic favorite, the empanada, is made with convenient refrigerated pie crusts. Robust and satisfying, our Chicken Empanada goes from prep to table in about 30 minutes. Now that's easy!

Serves: 4

Cooking Time:30 min

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated rolled pie crusts
1 tablespoon olive oil
¹/2 cup chopped onion
¹/2 medium-sized red bell pepper, chopped
¹/2 medium-sized green bell pepper, chopped
2 cups coarsely chopped cooked chicken
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 tablespoons dry fajita seasoning
1 cup Mexican cheese blend
1 egg, beaten

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place 1 pie crust flat on a 14-inch pizza pan; set aside.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and bell peppers; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken, corn, and fajita seasoning; remove from heat.
Spoon mixture onto pie crust, leaving a 1-inch border around edge. Sprinkle cheese evenly over chicken mixture and brush edge of crust with egg. Place second pie crust flat over filling. Fold and press edges together. Using a fork, crimp to seal edge.
Brush top with egg.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

Notes:

Garnish with sour cream and salsa for a delicious Mexican meal experience!

Treats for me!

2011-11-06T14:47:00.001-05:00

I went to a huge pottery show yesterday with my sister and her hubby. Ken bought me a few things even though he wasn't there (read: I used HIS credit card!). The burgandy colored thing is called a French bell or French butter keeper. I'm going to fill it up today. Here's a site that tells you about these things. This fella also has a fabulous and affordable assortment of them. We've decided to start using butter again because we hardly use margarine so we figure that it would be a nice treat.
http://www.frenchbutterdish.com/FAQ.php These would make fabulous Christmas gifts.

The second thing that I bought was a gorgeous little vase. If you look at the photo you can see that it has a little frog thingie in the centre. They had one set up with flowers in it and it looked fabulous. I already have a Japanese type vase which has three tubes in the bottom of it to put the flowers in. I buy myself flowers every week to put in it. I love it. I can hardly wait to get some flowers for my new frog vase.

My poor baby

2011-11-05T11:15:00.000-04:00

Well.....I had to do this. I bought an electronic dog collar for little Roxie. She almost got hit twice by cars on Mon. and then once on Wed. We have a runner. This is the only dog that Ken and I have ever known that will not come when she's called. She listens to every other command but not to 'come'. I keep telling myself that this is for her own good....and it is. This collar has two ways of training. There's a high pitched tone button and an electrostatic shock button. She was obeying to the tone but one day she took off to the neighbours yard and wouldn't come back. I had to push the shock button. It was on the lowest setting. She jumped and yelped but came. I feel so bad. We tried it on Ken to see what it would feel like but he didn't feel anything. In this case it's probably no sense, no feeling. Anyways, we have to keep using it until she 'gets it'. I feel so bad but the dog trainer from TV (Caesar something or other) recommends them.

Wow!

2011-10-14T09:20:00.000-04:00

A friend and I went on Wednesday to see the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson Immortal Tour. It was fabulous!!! Check out some of the highlights here. I've seen three other Cirque productions and am a huge fan. My friend hadn't seen any. She is now a huge fan.

The troupe was in town earlier this year with a production of Quidam. I really, really wished that I had gone to see that one. Now I'm kicking myself.

I know that the tickets are expensive but if you ever have a chance to see one one of these shows....go! You definitely won't be disappointed.

Check Google again today

2011-10-12T09:07:00.000-04:00

http://www.google.ca/ Do the clicking thing on the balls.
This is just too darn cute.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-10-10T08:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian readers. If you live in southeastern Ontario then you know how fabulous the weather has been this weekend. It's just like summer.....sunny, warm, no rain. The leaves are gently falling from the trees and the nights are crisp. Perfect weather.

I sat out yesterday reading. The temperature was great and I could hear the leaves falling from the big trees in our yard. I could also hear Ken cursing those leaves falling!

I'm sorry that I didn't plan a huge Thanksgiving this year. I only have 2 people coming. It would have been fabulous to sit outside and have our dinner. Oh well....we'll do that anyways....there will just be
less of us to enjoy it!

How cute is this?

2011-09-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if the same bar will be at this site tomorrow so check it out today.
http://www.google.ca/ Move your cursor and watch the little guy in the middle.
When you 'click' he does something else.

I've been busy

2011-09-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

Now that the hot weather is gone, I feel like beading. Here are 2 of my latest creations. I
absolutely love them. I'm really tempted to keep them for myself.

Fall Surprise

Honey Bee

I'm wearing socks!

2011-09-07T17:55:00.000-04:00

Yikes....on Sat. it was about 100 degrees here and if you were breathing, you were sweating. It rained all day Sun. and I didn't go out. When I poked my nose out the door on Mon. I had quite the shock. It was freezing...about 50 degrees. That sure was a drop in temp. I've had to wear long pants, socks and a sweatshirt. Sure was a shock to the system! It's supposed to warm up though so that's good. I'd hate to go right from summer to winter!

Gail

Earthquake

2011-08-24T19:34:00.001-04:00

I felt the Virginia earthquake here even though we're 900 km away. I was sitting outside and all of a sudden my chair was doing weird things. I told Ken that we were having an earthquake. He didn't feel it though because he was on top of the pergola...still working on the outdoor room. Weird feeling.

Now we're getting ready for tornadoes. Gees....one already hit here in Ontario this week. It demolished a cute litte town....Goderich. Hope that it stays far away from us.

Gail

It's summer

2011-08-19T09:23:00.000-04:00

And summer to me is parking myself on the back deck with a good book. That's what I've been doing and loving every minute of it. I've quit stressing about the garden and the lack of water. We have had rain but not enough since the grass is turning brown again. I guess that we're going into drought mode again.

Ken started some renos in the backyard. We have a pergola at the side of the house. The hot tub was in it. We decided that we need a covered area so that if it rains we can still sit outside. The hot tub was moved this week onto the wooden deck. He and a friend dropped the one beam on the pergola to give it a slope so that the rain will run off. All that's left to do is to shingle the top. I will have a lovely outdoor room to decorate. Gotta love that! I think that I'm going to put some drapes up. I'll have to make those because the roof will be too high for store bought ones. That will definitely keep me busy for a while.

Looks good doesn't it? This was an area of the deck that never got used so we won't be noticing any lack of space. I have to check into the bylaws for hot tubs. I know that there's supposed to be a fence around it (we'll do it around the whole deck with a little gate) but this hot tub has locks on it. I'm wondering if we need a fence with the locks.

Poor Baby

2011-08-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

My little girl hasn't been happy this past week. We took her in last week to be spayed, have her dew claws taken off and to have a microchip put in her. We picked her up a week ago and everything seemed fine. Her legs were wrapped really well but we had to take her back on Sat. to have the wrappings removed. I wish that they'd left them on. She was biting and pulling at the stitches so we ended up having to get a cone. Funny but not. She kept walking into things with it and getting it caught everywhere. You'd think that after all that surgery that she'd just want to rest but no. Eventually we ended up wrapping gauze around her legs so that we could take the cone off. She picked at the gauze and even managed to get it off. We gave up. Yesterday the incisions looked like they were healing well so we didn't bandage them. Now when she goes to lick or pull at them we just say 'no' and she stops. The trouble with that is you have to have her with you at all times. That's ok because she's always underfoot.

good news and bad news....

2011-08-03T16:28:00.000-04:00

BAD NEWS: Our poor baby girl passes away last week. We watched Ariel hatch two years ago. We're sad. What makes us even sadder is that her Mamma passed away at the beginning of this year. Now poor Papa, Louie, is lonely. Really lonely. He just started eating again today but he won't come out of his cage. He keeps whistling and singing hoping that Ariel will show up again. Breaks my heart. I hope that he's gonna be ok.

GOOD NEWS: It's been raining. I'm happy and the garden is happy. Too bad that it's humid and hot as h-e-double hockey stick!

Gail

All is well!

2011-07-26T08:26:00.000-04:00

Everything is fixed and the weather has changed. Yesterday everyone around us had thunderstorms. I was really hoping that we'd get some too. We did benefit though......the humidity went away and it's lovely and cool right now. Let's hope that it stays this way.

What a week

2011-07-23T09:13:00.000-04:00

Sunday the dishwasher broke. We had company coming that night. Ken tried to fix it but couldn't. Dishes were piled up on the counter because I figured that it wouldn't take long to rectify the problem. He finally went and bought a new dishwasher and installed it Wed. I did all the dishes then. I didn't wash them by hand because I don't even own a dishdrainer.

Wednesday night we had no hot water. A pipe had burst. I couldn't have a bath and I was pretty stinky from the heat. I went to the gym on Thurs. for a workout and shower. Ken fixed the pipe on Thurs. I had to wash all of the floors because we don't have a basement and Ken had to crawl around in the muck under the house and then he tracked it all into the house because access to under the house is in the house.

Friday we had no hot water. The pipe burst again. Ken went and fixed it another way. I didn't wash all the floors again....just swept up the dirt. I went to the gym again Fri. morning.

Last night the air conditioner went kaput. Water leaking into the house. He's working on it now. I hope that he gets if fixed soon. It's gonna be another hot one.

We've had more water in and under the house than we've had rain. In the past month we've only had 0.14 " of rain. No wonder we're in a drought.

Sauble Beach

2011-07-20T09:27:00.000-04:00

We spent 9 glorious days at Sauble Beach which is on Lake Huron. We could have stayed another 2 days but Ken was anxious to get home. Wish that we'd stayed....it's much cooler on the beach than in our yard! My sister owns a cottage there. She's just put in a new kitchen and flooring and had siding put up. It looks fabulous! We took our little Roxie with us and she had a blast. I could live up there all summer. My sister was a teacher and on the last day of school she packed up her things and moved to Sauble for the summer. What a life, huh?

Here's Roxie waiting to go home. I guess that she didn't want us to forget her.

Wicked Weather

2011-07-19T08:39:00.000-04:00

Like the rest of North America, we in Ontario are experiencing suffocating heat and unbelievable drought. Yesterday it was over 100 degrees. No amount of watering will bring back the garden or the grass. Even my hosta are 'fainting'!

Stay cool and pray for rain!

Gail

AWOL

2011-07-01T08:56:00.000-04:00

What can I say? It's summertime. I've been parked outside on the deck in the shade reading my brains out. That's what summer's for, right? I have to be outside as much as I can.....winter is way too long!

I have managed to make some new pieces for the shop though....summer related. They're stunning.

If you're interested.....you can have a closer look here.

'Daddy' bought her this

2011-06-13T09:24:00.000-04:00

The tag and collar are encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Her name is on the front and her address is on the back. This from a guy who's so tight with his cash that he squeaks!

Aren't these great!?

2011-06-12T10:36:00.000-04:00

I bought this planter full of gerbera daisies for my table outside. I paid an arm and a leg for it but I HAD
to have it. I admire it every day plus I've been able to cut 3 of the flowers and pop them into my neat
vase in the house. I added some forsythia branches to the arrangement. Looks fabulous. Now I can admire these gorgeous flower both indoors and out.

Hmmm.....

2011-06-10T17:08:00.000-04:00

I can't remember if I posted this picture before. It's my garden pride and joy. A trillium! When I first moved here there was this lonely little trillium. I moved it to a shady spot and it didn't come up again for 2 years. It always had one stem and one flower. Last year it had 2 stems and 2 flowers. And this year (are ya ready?!).....it has 6 stems and 3 flowers!! I was so excited. I'm never gonna move that thing again. I'm just gonna leave it to propagate all on it's own. Here's a photo of it:

Fantastic Etsy Artist

2011-06-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

Love, love, love these scarves! The 3 on the right I already own. They're fabulous. They're soft and drape so nicely and very well made. I wear them with my jackets and tops. I always look so put together. I love these so much that I ordered a bunch more. Some of them are for gifts...thinking ahead here.

Where can you get one? Here: Textile Monster at Etsy. Mine (the shop owner) is so great to deal with. You'll love her. She has all kinds of other scarves in her shop. If you want to see the ones like I've purchased, do a search for Flamenco in her shop. They'll all pop up. You'll have a difficult time choosing just one!!

Gail

My new favorite thing

2011-05-27T13:44:00.000-04:00

I purchased this vase at a recent pottery show that I went to. I didn't write down who made it and there weren't any business cards. I'm kicking myself now because I love, love, love this thing and wish that I had bought a smaller one for myself plus a few for gifts. There's another pottery show in the fall and I'm hoping that this same vendor will be there.

Anyhoo.....this vase has 3 cylinders in the bottom of it. You can pop anything into them and have a Japanese looking arrangement. So far I've done forsythia branches, lilacs and now lily of the valley. So elegant looking.

Good Knives

2011-05-25T18:34:00.000-04:00

Fabulous knives. Too fabulous. I received this set from my son for Christmas and absolutely love it. The knives are really, really sharp. I would like more of these knives and I plan to get some. Now....like I said....they're really, really sharp. My finger found out the other day. I was slicing up some asparagus and was at the last cut and a little bit impatient and managed to slice my thumb almost right around. The kitchen and bathroom looked like something from a crime scene from CSI. I'm NOT kidding! I was still cleaning up blood the next day. Ken came inside just after I cut myself to see if there was anything that he could do. I told him to please clean up the blood. It was everywhere. My own blood makes me nauseous. Anyone else could be bleeding to death and it wouldn't bother me...but seeing my own blood is almost a guaranteed pass out. I had to carry on though....we had company for dinner! Whew....I sure needed a second glass of wine with mine!

Cutie Patootie

2011-05-24T18:33:00.000-04:00

I think that this is a mouse...not quite sure but it sure is cute!

Been in the garden lately. We were supposed to be having rain but for some reason we didn't get any. That's ok. Been out digging. Still lots to do. I was absolutely thrilled to find that my trillium (our provincial flower) now has 3 stems and 3 flowers. I transplanted it a couple of years ago and was afraid that it wasn't going to do well. It took a couple of years but it has come around. Actually....I discovered the third stem and flower on Sat. Today I went to prune the ivy surrounding it and found three more stems!!! I'm over the top happy with this discovery. Man...me thinks that I need to get a life!

Gail

Have a boo

2011-05-23T12:28:00.000-04:00

You need to check this bird out...seriously. Her name is Marnie and she looks very much like my Sidney. My Sidney is bigger though and a different bird. I wish that I could get Sidney to talk as much as this one does. I love her!

Squirrels

2011-05-17T16:09:00.000-04:00

I saw a Mama squirrel today. The only time that I've seen a baby squirrel though is when a Mama was moving her babies to a new nest higher up in a tree. I came across this photo of a baby. Adorable or what?

Weatherwise...still raining. I think that we've had a week of constant rain. Can't get the gardening done until it stops. It's pretty jungle-like out there. At least we're not having flooding here.

Golly Wally!

2011-05-14T18:41:00.000-04:00

So much for trying to post something every day. I just seem to be floating around and not being able to focus on anything. As a result, nothing is getting done. I need to get my act together.

Been looking after my little girl. She's a delight. Here's aphoto of her:

Why did it take so long!?

2011-04-30T08:18:00.000-04:00

This video is 17 years old!!! Have a boo...you're gonna be surprised.

Note on the Fridge

2011-04-27T07:53:00.002-04:00

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY..

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, IT'S STILL A TRUE STORY.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food.

The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it
becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed.

I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however... Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom!

If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using
the bathroom for years - - - - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is:
Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt.
I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here.... You don't.

(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture..

That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy,
walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children

2011-04-24T08:52:00.000-04:00

Poor, pooped pooch

2011-04-22T16:02:00.001-04:00

For gawds sake!

2011-04-19T18:52:00.000-04:00

Where in the hello is spring!? So sick of this weather....snow, sleet, ice pellets. Isn't it friggin' spring yet!?

On the other hand...I'm totally enjoying the spring flowers. They're all my favorites. I have tulips here in the house. The neighbours garden right now is fabulous...so full of spring blooms. Every year I say that I'll plant some bulbs but I never do. I did that one year and the squirrels dug them all up. I do have some blooms in the garden though...violets, pussy toes, snowdrops. Not nearly enough. I keep popping around the side of the garage to have a boo at the neighbours blooms...absolutely gorgeous!

The unfinished living room

2011-04-15T12:21:00.000-04:00

I never did post any photos of our living room once we got through the renos. I still have things to go on the walls but Ken doesn't want me to put any holes in the walls. Gees. Soon though because I have some really nice things!

Thrilled to pieces!!!

2011-04-11T17:20:00.000-04:00

Wow isn't enough to describe these fabulous little items that I purchased at Gim Carry on Etsy. I needed a little gift so purchased 2 of Toas key fobs plus I rec'd a bonus mini fob. They are to die for. I'm going to order more of them to have on hand for gifts. I always have a box with a few extra goodies in it just in case. Oh....and check out the adorable, cute little pouches. I'll need some of those also!

And that's not all!!! I've been eyeballing some wallets and now I find out that the shop that they're in is associated with Gim Carry. You'll need to check put RN&TN too!

AND........the parcel came so fabulously packaged. I honestly don't think that I've ever had one so artistically done up. I really didn't want to open it.

Gail

Hmmm....some people have too much time on their hands!

2011-04-08T14:10:00.000-04:00

Love this photo!

2011-04-07T19:01:00.002-04:00

Why dogs turn mean

2011-04-05T08:56:00.000-04:00

I've been looking for a little sweater and carrier for Roxy. Came across these photos:

Paris Hilton Woofer

2011-03-31T13:08:00.000-04:00

Someone asked what I meant by this. I mean a small dog that can be carried in a purse. I seem to remember Paris Hilton always toting one around.

I'm still tired. Roxy gets up at 4:30 and 6:30 whining. She goes back to sleep but in the meantime I toss and turn. Things can only get better! I wasn't even this tired when I had my son!

Awwwwww

2011-03-31T12:52:00.002-04:00

Hmmm...

2011-03-29T13:05:00.000-04:00

being a Mama is hard work. This little woofer has had us up all night. I've had to start crate training her. Started last night so I'm hoping that she'll be settled tonight so that I can get a full nights sleep. I'm totally exhausted.

And yes....that is snow. It's what's left over from last Wednesdays storm! It's getting milder though so that's ok. All of our summer friends are returning....chippie, the 5 baby raccoons, the starlings and all of the other birds. It's fun to watch them....I love spring!

Meet Roxy

2011-03-24T18:54:00.001-04:00

I had to have her. She won't be getting any larger than 5 lbs. She was born on New Years Day. She's a 'Paris Hilton' woofer and just adorable!

Cute!

2011-03-17T14:39:00.002-04:00

Who'd a thunk?!

2011-03-13T15:01:00.000-04:00

This article was on Earth to Bodys website. I never in a million years would have thought that potato juice could be used as a skin treatment.

The juice of raw potatoes, has also proved very valuable in clearing skin blemishes. This cleansing results from high content of potassium, sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine in the potato. These elements are, however, of value only when the potato is raw as in this state they are composed of live organic atoms. In the cooked state, they are converted into inorganic atoms and are of little value for constructive purposes.

The juicy pulp of the shredded raw potatoes can be applied as a poultice in clearing the wrinkles and other skin blemishes due to ageing. It may be rubbed on the face and other portions of body that have wrinkles before retiring for bed. It will help 'melt' the wrinkles, banish age spots and clear the skin. The enzymes in raw potato pulp, combined with the Vitamin C and the natural starch, helps create a 'skin food' that nourishes the starved cellular tissues of the skin. Furthermore, the alkaline juices of the potato promotes an antiseptic action that gives a glowing look of youth. Much of the decaying skin sloughs off by the acid portion of the pulp.

When I Googled 'potato juice on skin' I got a lot of results. I was amazed at what potato can do besides becoming part of a beauty regime!

Gail

Earth To Body

2011-03-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

My sister discovered this company. I had asked her if she'd found anything to alleviate her dry, itchy scalp and she said that the Earth to Body Shampoo and Soap bar had done the trick. She had ordered it from their website but noticed that they sold it in my town. I went to the shop that sold it to get the Shampoo Bar but came out with a few other items (of course). I have tried them all and am absolutely blown away by their quality and by the results that I have experienced already. This is a Canadian company but they do ship to the USA. The bonus is that the shipping is free if you spend $100. Love that.

On to the products. Here's the blurb from the Earth to Body website:

"Natural Skin Nutrition

Earth to Body’s all natural skin care is pure handmade skin nutrition. Our ingredients include plant based, organic, fair-trade, vegan & gluten free all natural products . Our product recipes are originally developed with skin nutrition as the primary goal. We make all recipes from scratch and do not use use sulphates, parabens, polysorbates, fragrances, perfumes, dyes or harsh preservatives. Our natural skin care is known to nourish the skin and soothe many dry skin irritations aggravated by acne, eczema, psoriasis."

I am extremely allergic to most of the chemicals used in today's products. I have been using things containing sea buckthorn on my skin which has been fine. I needed a change though as I felt that because of my mature skin I needed to up my moisture. I think that Earth to Body's products are going to do that and without any irritation. I purchased a few items. Here are my reviews of them:

Sheamu Butter: A fabulous shea butter and emu oil moisturizer. I haven't been able to find anything moisturizing enough until now for my parched body. I had tried just shea butter but I couldn't get it to rub in no matter what I did. This Sheamu butter is fabulous. It melts right into my skin, does some serious moisturizing and is absolutely NOT greasy. Love it!

Shampoo & Soap Bar: Another love it! Rich and creamy with lots of lather. It 'cured' my dry, itchy scalp with one use. If you thought that you had squeaky clean hair before, give this a try. You'll see that you probably haven't. My hair actually does squeak after I use it. The bonus with this bar is that you can slice off a small piece of it to travel with. No more large bottles to haul around. I've yet to try this in my bath. That's next. I know that I'm going to want more of it.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse: Love this also. It's full of healthy ingredients for your hair. I pour a bit of this into a cup, add some water and then pour it over my hair. I don't need to rinse it out. I figure that I'll get the benefit of the ingredients if I leave them in.

Lip Balm: Melts into my lips like nothing that I've ever seen, leaving them super moist.

Emu Oil: Wow....this is seriously fabulous. It's one thing that I had never tried. Sometimes when I hear the word oil I get kinda leery. I don't want to have really greasy skin or look like I've just applied butter to my face. This is definitely an oil. I popped it into the fridge (recommended) and it solidified. I love using it this way. I just rub my finger over it and it melts. I can easily apply it. So far I've done my face including my eyes with it. I didn't have a reaction which is great AND......it totally, totally absorbed into my skin! I'm definitely hooked. It made my skin so soft. I've also tried it on my cuticles....miracle worker stuff!

So....that's my review. Go and get some. From Earth to Body. The products are unbelievably terrific. I'm heading on back to the shop here in town to get some of the rest of the line. It all looks fabulous. I know that it will be.

Gail

Our Mama Cockatiel is gone

2011-03-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

She passed away sometime Monday night. We found her 'hubby' trying to wake her up
the next morning. We're devastated as are her hubby and baby.

Too cute!

2011-03-04T08:27:00.000-05:00

A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbour and says, "Please

come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I
can't figure out how to get started."

Her neighbour asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The little silver haired lady says, "According to the picture on the
box, it's a rooster."

Her neighbour decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all
over the table.

He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns
to her and says,

"First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to
assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster."

He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's
have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh ............

"Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

Delicious!

2011-02-27T14:52:00.000-05:00

Seriously!!

Oven Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
1 lb brussels sprouts
1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, divided (I always use white balsamic vinegar now. It doesn't make things go a yukky brown color)
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 tsp sea salt plus more for sprinkling before serving
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchement paper.
3. Rinse sprouts, chop off ends and then cut in half. Place in a medium bowl.
4. In a small bowl whisk together oil, 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, 1/2 tsp salt and the pepper.
5. Drizzle over sprouts and toss to combine.
6. spread the sprouts out evenly onto baking sheet and roast for 20 - 25 min.
7. Remove from oven, transfer to serving bowl and drizzle with the rest of the salt and vinegar.

NOTES:
I will try this recipe with slivered almonds and parmesan cheese.
I will try this recipe with asparagus instead of the sprouts.

We can vote for a stamp

2011-02-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

I think that that's neat. Canada Post is issuing a new stamp and Canadians can vote for which one they like.
The stamp is in support of mental health.

Mental illness affects one in five Canadians. Seven million of our friends, neighbours, colleagues and loved ones will need help for mental health problems this year. Many will not get it because of the stigma attached to the illness or because the resources simply aren't there to provide help.

For more information on the fundraising that Canada Post has done for mental health awareness click here.

To vote for a stamp go here.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

I'm wearing sandals!

2011-02-15T15:06:00.000-05:00

But not because it's warm out...dang. I just went and had a pedicure. My feet are freezing but I need to let my nails *set* or whatever. It's still way below freezing here in Ontario but guess what? Tomorrow it's supposed to go to 43 degrees and then warmer each day. I might just be wearing sandals soon!

I think that instead of hitting the gym tomorrow I'll go for a long walk. I'm dying to breathe in some fresh air. I'm also dying to clean out the inside of the car. It's been way too cold to do that. We have places that do that for you but unfortunately there isn't one here in town. That's ok...I don't mind doing it at all.

Maybe spring is on the way? Do ya think so? I'll need to go and peek out in the garden. The snowdrops should be popping their heads outta the ground just about now...even if there's still snow on the ground.

Gail

What happens when guys bake cookies

2011-02-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

Cute, huh?

Reasons why you should carry a camera

2011-02-08T14:01:00.000-05:00

Interesting stuff

2011-02-07T15:23:00.001-05:00

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed
to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen
Only...Ladies Forbidden'.. .and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma
Flintstone.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
Coca-Cola was originally green.

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair..

The first novel ever written on a typewriter wasTom Sawyer.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died
of natural causes

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser
printers have in common?
A. All were invented by women.

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer
to sleep on. Hence the phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the
wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could
drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period
was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when
customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'
It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'

Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or
handle, of their ceramic cups When they needed a refill , they used the whistle to
get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

I bought me some weights!

2011-02-06T19:21:00.000-05:00

I didn't get a whole set of them. I just bought some 5 lb. ones to get started on here at home. I don't want to pay for a trainer at the club so I've ordered a book to show me how to use them properly. Once I know how to do that I should be ready for heavier weights which I can use at the gym. I'm a 98 lb. weakling and it's really showing. I can hardly do some of the yoga and strength training stuff because my poor arms can't handle it. I aim to fix that. I don't want to look like those body builder women...just want to tone.

I bought this book:

Got a fabulous deal on it. If you don't mind having used books, go to Thrift Books and have a good look around. I purchased 4 other books and can hardly wait to get them. None of them were over $3.95!!! Now that's a bargain. Some of the ones that I purchased were really, really expensive else where. The other books that are coming are cookbooks.... 2 for the bread machine (I couldn't not buy them at those prices) and 2 healthy muffin books. I have them here in my house right now but their the ones that I borrowed from the library. I had a boo at them and then decided that I *needed* to have them.

Gail

Just in time for exams!

2011-02-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

Negative People

2011-02-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

This is something to think about when negative people are doing their best

to rain on your parade. So remember this story the next time someone who
knows nothing and cares less tries to make your life miserable.
--------------

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome
with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:

" Rome ? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're
crazy to go to Rome . So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser.. " That's a terrible airline. Their
planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late.

So, where are you staying in Rome ?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome'sTiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be
something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump."

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. You and a million other people trying
to see him. He'll look the size of an ant.

Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser
asked her about her trip to Rome.

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in
one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they
bumped us up to first class.. The food and wine were wonderful, and I
had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot.
And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job,
and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked,
so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you
didn't get to see the Pope."

'Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss
Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet
some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and
wait, the Pope would personally greet me.

Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and
shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say ?"

He said: "Who the Hell did your hair?"

Love These!!!

2011-01-31T16:29:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to decide if I *need* one of these bathing cap bags! I love them. They're so novel! You can check them out here and here!

Cute!

2011-01-29T09:18:00.002-05:00

Happy Saturday!!

Wow.....I feel great!

2011-01-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

I'm still hurting from the gym. I did something called 30 Rock on Mon. and was crawling for three days. My muscles felt better to day so I went and did a yoga class. Hopefully I won't hurt as much as I did after last weeks yoga.

I don't know if I've told you about this treatment or not. Probably not because I had it done 5 years ago and I didn't have a blog then. My whole body used to hurt because of a car accident and from falling. I ended up quitting work because I 'almost' fell on the ice and did a lot of damage to my back. I could hardly sit let alone do anything else. In desperation I tried a treatment called Bowen Therapy. It did the trick when nothing else would other than strong pain meds which as you know just mask the problem. At the end of last year I started to feel a tightness in my neck again...like I couldn't turn it to the right or to the left very much. I finally decided to go back for Bowen Therapy treament and I went today. I feel fabulous...my neck can actually turn, my muscles don't ache and I have tons of energy. The good news is......I will probably only need one more treatment because my body responds well to the treatment. Five years ago I needed 5 treatments but it was worth all the time.

So, if anyone is hurting, please give Bowen a try. It's all natural and really does work. Here's some more info on it: http://www.kneadedcare.com/services/bowen.html This is the place that I'm going to. It's in town which is a real treat. The last time that I went hardly anyone was doing it and I had to go out of town. You can Google Bowen Therapy if you need more info.

Gail

This should make your day

2011-01-26T19:14:00.000-05:00

Love this video!!!

This unique video is of a tourist who sat on the beach to watch the seals and penguins on Gold Harbor , South Georgia . Unexpectedly, one of the seals is apparently attracted to her and, slowly works his way over to her. He seems to 'falls in love' and snuggles and flirts with her. It is quite an unusual and interesting scene. The seals are huge (600 lbs), yet she never seemed afraid . . . more amused . . .. while someone shot the video of this incident.

Gold Harbor , South Georgia, is located off the southern tip of South America .. (sub arctic) It is a small bay five miles SSW of Cape Charlotte , with Bertrab Glacier at its head, along the east end of Georgia . The west end of the beach where a glacial stream flows is a breeding ground for various types of penguins and large seals. It is not a frequent destination for tourists.

Treasury

2011-01-25T13:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to Ninon for featuring my Clarice bird necklace. Ninon owns Annabelle Art on Etsy.

It's soooo cold!

2011-01-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how cold it is. It's around -4F today. It was the same yesterday but guess what we did? We went for a walk at a nature centre. Yup....bundled up and away we went. I wasn't cold except for my face and I loved walking in the woods. It's not something that I would want to do all of the time though. Today I spent the day indoors reading.

I did myself in with the gym. On Thurs. I did an aquafit class and then a yoga class. Friday I was very sorry. I was so sore. I did go to the gym that day but all that I could do was the treadmill. Ditton yesterday morning and today. I'll do some sort of class tomorrow. Gees....I sure am out of shape!

Gail

Holy screaming muscles Batman!

2011-01-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

Whew...whose idea was it for me to join a gym?! I'm hurting so bad today. I just started there Tuesday! Yesterday I lasted exactly 10 min. on th elliptical machine. Yup.....10 min. I overdid it on Tuesday with all of the machines. I was up bright and early today to go to an aquafit class and then a yoga class. I came home after those and had lunch. I'm about ready to crash and have a nap which I don't usually do. I can feel muscles that I didn't even know that I had tightening up. I don't think that tomorrow's gonna be a good day BUT.....I will go back to the gym and do something.....even if is just walking.

Gail (zzzzzz)

Ladies....throw those undies out!

2011-01-19T18:38:00.000-05:00

I don't know why I didn't start doing this sooner. I have drawers full of undies...some of them not even worn. What do I do? I keep wearing the same ones (after washing them of course!). Some of these 'same ones' are so uncomfortable! I had a pair on the other day that made me say to myself 'Why are they going up THERE? That's not nice or comfortable!' It was at that point that I decided that if I wore a pair of undies and they weren't comfortable, when I took them off I'd toss them in the garbage rather than the clothes hamper. It's working pretty good right now. Maybe this will push me to wearing my 'new' ones instead of saving them for a special occasion. I've realized that I'm probably not going to have any special occasions anymore because of my age! lol

I took the plunge

2011-01-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

I signed up today for a gym membership. Never had one before but I need to exercise to see if I can get this cholesteral thing in check. I do have a Mastermoves disc here that I was using, but only sporadically. If I pay for the gym then I know that I'll go because I hate to waste cash. I used to belong to Curves. Loved it but couldn't do a lot of the machines. I was going to go back again but decided to check the local gym out. They offer so much more than Curves and for less money. I'm going to have a blast there. I already know it. Maybe I'll meet someone hanging around the juicie bar! lol

Check this place out: The Athletic Place Lots of equipment, classes and activities. Right up my alley.

Gail

Oh so retro!

2011-01-15T11:45:00.000-05:00

I ordered this little number just before Christmas. The seller wasn't sure if I would get it before Christmas but I did and I was thrilled! Chandoeun of BeeBop Creations did a wonderful job on this apron....so well sewn! I sew so I can appreciate the amount of work that went into this. If I got off of my behind I could probably whip up (hah!) a few for myself. As it is I can't even whip up some new items for the shop! I'm in a creative slump but I feel the urge to bead coming on again. Anyhoo....even though I was sick Christmas Day I did remember to wear this....but not until AFTER I had the dinner all set up on the buffet. The apron and the dinner were a great hit!

Hmmmm.....so far a not so happy new year

2011-01-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

The doctor called on Wed. My cholesteral isn't responding to the medication. He's doubled the dosage (as high a dose as you can go) and ordered more blood work. Me thinks that it may be time for a specialist. Now I'm worried that I'm going to have a heart attack at any moment.

I've been a sloth

2011-01-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

Instead of going to Tai Chi, I've been drinking Chai tea. Gees. I was really sick over Christmas. I lost my voice on Christmas Day which made me NOT the hostess with the mostest. I had 16 people for dinner and all I could do was squeak at them. After Christmas I had a horrible cold and today I have a sore throat which means that the cold will be back again.

Oh...back to tai chi. I signed up for classes but just can't seem to muster up the energy in the morning to drag myself out of bed to get to them. I'm glad that I didn't pay. I've cancelled them. I'd rather stay snuggled in my beds with the flannel sheets than brave the cold. Maybe when it's warmer out. I tend to get up earlier when it starts to get warm.

That's it...I don't even have the energy to tell ya that other than being sick I had a fabulous Christmas.

Gail