Man Oh Man What A Bunch of Dummies They Were !

5:58 a.m. a deafening crack of Thunder with the skies opening up and torrents of rain falling from them .... if I wouldn't have been already been lying there awake I surely would have been awoken by the loudness of it all.  The thunder is still rolling and the rain is tap, tap, tapping on the window pane..... as I go into a new day ahead.

In the meantime, I think I will just ignore all that goings on outside my window and carry on with my yesterday .....

I did go to the VON SMART exercise program where I "shook" it all out and tried to build some energy for the rest of my day .... lol.  I really do think it worked, as after it was over I had to rush home to get changed and "hook up" with my girlfriend, Colleen for lunch, so it must have given me energy to do all of that?

I made it to our luncheon in a timely fashion .... wow, I like the sounds of "timely fashion", really puts a bandaid on the fact that I am sure I was about 5 or 10 minutes late.  I will have to let my one Cousin use that line, as it would fit quite nicely into her busy World ... lol.

"Here we are the "blonde" and the "red"; what a combination us gals make !  All we need to do is to stick a brunette in the middle and we could have a "Charlie's Angels" team happening .... lol."

Colleen and I had such a fun time at the Home & Community Day Away program's "Summer's Over Luncheon", at Wiarton's Gateway Haven.  After an excellent lunch of Roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, salad and a roll .... oh yes and a chocolate pudding dessert with just a "hint" of berry sauce drizzled across the top, we settled in to be entertained by "Randy & Friends".

Randy is a "ventriloquist" who has quite the "group of friends" he brought along to assist him with the  singing and entertaining of us, and that is just what they did .....

"Remember Red Skeleton?  Well he too was there with Randy."

"Ha,ha,ha ..... I should have been keeping notes instead of having so much fun, as I can't remember who the rest of Randy's friends all were?"

"Colleen got to "hang-out" with one of Randy's friends .... lucky gal she is."

" .... but she shared him with me and made sure she took my picture with him as well.  Thanks girlfriend !"

"This is Wanda, trying to get in and out fast with her camera before she is "nabbed"."

"I do remember this friend of Randy's .... this is Topo Gigio, the Italian Mouse from the Ed Sullivan Show.  Oh man, he must be getting up there in years by now?"

"Can't remember who this next guy here shown with Randy, but he certainly looks like some 50-60's Dude with that hair style?"

"Dracula???????"

"Blonde?  Um Dolly Parton ... I don't think so but I had to make a guess, lol."

"This girl was recaptured by Randy, as she  had been sitting with one of the guests and had somehow lost her "drawers" .... I am certain I don't know what happened there !  LOL"

Regardless of who or what I can remember, Colleen and I had a fantastic day together and many many laughs thanks to "Randy & his Friends".  There is only one thing that is bugging me though ... I really thought that the whole time they were there, his friends seemed to be acting like  a "bunch of dummies" !  I wonder what was up with that?  LOL

"This is the wonderful "Home & Community" Staff for the Day Away Program located at Wiarton's Gateway Haven, who also put the luncheon and entertainment together.  Thanks Ruth, Wanda, Emily, Julie and Joanna, I am already looking forward getting an invite to the next event you gals are hosting." 

"I personally don't know who this guy was, other then one of the other guests, but he certainly wanted to get his picture taken with the girls!"

Ha, ha, ha, I just realized I got out of making three Dinners for Rob this week.  Monday we had subs, Wednesday I had a "migraine", and yesterday I was invited out.  Wonder how I can weasel myself out of it today?  Oh and Tuesday's dinner was easy as we had leftover Roast Beef & I had made Hot Beef Sandwiches with veggies on the side.   LOL.  Haven't got anything planned for today's Dinner, but I do know there is homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer I could take out .... I love "batch" cooking, as it is times like these it most certainly comes in handy.

I don't have to be an educated Weather person to know today is going to be rain, especially when it is still teeming down out there .... oh man, that means Bandit, Lexus and I are going to be "showered" by Nature this morning !  Oh well, best check what the weather guy has to say anyhow ....

Yeppers, looks like he predicted correctly today.  Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain itself out, as tomorrow is the first day of a two day event for Port Elgin's 25th Anniversary Pumpkinfest, and if I am attending for the first time this year, I most certainly want the sun to be shining !!!!

Last night I also created a Facebook Group for "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard", as with all the new Facebook changes I had a couple people tell me they couldn't find my daily "blog" postings. 

I think this could be a place where family and friends could come together to enjoy any thoughts and/or have any discussions between ourselves in respect to our sharing of each others life's together.  Coming together to share .... that has such a nice "ring" to it.

If you don't already subscribe by email, please feel free to "hook up" with me on Facebook, as I would welcome the friendship and sharing that goes along with it, by typing into the Search box at the top of
Facebook "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".   Or please feel free to email me anytime at justnorthofwiarton@live.ca and I will email you the "how to", if I can figure the "how to" out" myself? 

Speaking so much about the "Checkerboard", reminds me that once again it is Friday and I will be heading up "North of the Checkerboard" to be stuck in the arm with a needle once again to keep those darn dust mites and mold spores from invading my body .... oh just a minute, that is what is in the needle I get every week .... dust mites and mold spores !!!  Gross !!!!  Oh well if it keeps the little buggers happy, and me with out hives, so be it .... lol.

Into the rainy day ahead I go, soon to be showered by Mother Nature, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

What A "Washout" of My Plans Kind of Day That Was !

My yesterday was certainly the most "washed out" kind of day I have had for a long time ..... it all began last week with the deadly "migraines" setting in, ending up with the "big" one and me sitting in the Wiarton Hospital's Emergency ward.  It all began with blurred vision, nausea, upset stomach and an awful sensation of pain from the nape of my neck, into my temples and behind my eyes.  Anyone else who is a headache suffer can surely relate to my description of the "dreaded" migraine.

The upside to all of this is I was in and out of emergency in about an hour, as the attending physician, Dr Jeff Barrett, who I absolutely love getting when I have been in before, wholeheartedly agreed not to hook me up to an IV and go straight ahead with the two shots in the arm, instead of having me lay there in further pain with an IV attached to my arm and end up giving me the shots anyway.  Thank you Dr. Barrett !!!

Oh don't get me wrong, I have have had "washed out" days before, but not too many where I get stuck in each arm with a needle and spend my afternoon sleeping my day away ..... with my dear sweet Rob even hanging a dark throw over our bedroom window to darken the room for me while I slept ..... so thoughtful.  Rob can really tell how unwell I am when my camera doesn't even see the light of day from within it's case .... lol !!! 

The positive spin to all of this, is that I am still here to tell the story !!!  ... and every day I thank God for that blessing.

I am pretty disappointed I missed out on the second segment of the VON SMART program's course as well yesterday, however I am hoping I can make it up by reading the course material on my own time, and maybe slipping into Owen Sound another time to have my picture taken for my photo ID; and just think I was really having a "good" hair day for that picture too, and missed it !  Damn, damn and triple damn!

Okay now that I have gotten the "big" one out of the way, maybe I can plan ahead for the rest of my week ....  oops, I just made a NOTE to MYSELF not too long ago about making plans .... don't make plans or don't be upset when plans are made and they don't turn out as they should, or something like that?  Oh well it is not in my nature NOT to make plans so here I go again ....

First off I am hoping today I am feeling well enough to attend the weekly VON SMART exercise program this morning, and then come home to freshen up before I go have lunch with my girlfriend. 

Trying not to think too far ahead, but having to have the "plan" sorted out in my head, I am hoping Rob and I can go to the Motorcycle Touring portion of Port Elgin's Annual Pumpkinfest this upcoming weekend.  It is their 25th Anniversary this year !!!  Wow 25 years running and I have never been before, I think it is a good thing I am planning on attending this year.  As of right now it all begins in 1 Day, 12 hours and a little bit ....


They even provide a downloadable program on their website of the events happening on the both days of October 1st & 2nd:

Now that I have planned that out in my head, I just hope the Saugeen Shores Weatherman has the weather sorted out to be beautiful for those two days?

I suppose if one isn't into a Pumpkinfest kind of weekend there is always Mountain Biking in Bruce County as a "to do", as apparently I have been told there are like 5 Mountain Bike Trails in Bruce County, one being right in my own backyard almost, or shall I say "front yard".   My one Cousin's oldest son is almost 12 years old and right into the Mountain Biking with his friends when they come up to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Port Elgin.

I think I will be sticking to our Motorcycling and the Pumpkinfest plan, as I am sure it will be much kinder to my and Rob's "body" parts.  However for the more active then "me" type of person, as well as being more "brave", feel free to check out Bruce County's Ontario Mountain Bike Trails here.

Okay I now need to check out how the Wiarton weatherman will be treating me today.

Ummm, wonder how I can fit in the laundry and housework into my plans before the weekend?  Will have to "plan" on giving that some more thought, however in the meantime I think I will just give just enough thought to making myself that second cup of Java, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Just A Typical Day Out Shopping

Yesterday was a road trip into Owen Sound for a few supplies, as a good shopping of staples is much much cheaper at the big box stores then at our local grocery store. 

"This was our drive in and most of the morning, as we were almost out of Bruce County and going into our sister County of Grey."

"This was the most exciting part of our trip, the price of gas & the sky trying to clear, oh yes and Half & Half Creamer being on sale at Giant Tiger for $1.98 !"

I can't remember when I seen the price of gas this low?  I hope this is a sign of a downhill trend in fuel prices for us consumers, as it is a well known fact everything goes up but the "paycheck"!  ....and yes, I am being facetious, however it is "maddening" !!!

One other "maddening" incident I had also was going into the Zehrs Grocery store to purchase a can of Scott's Liquid Gold Furniture cleaner and a bottle of Liquid Smoke (a concentrated food flavoring), only to be told they do not carry the Furniture cleaner any longer, and had none of the Liquid Smoke.  Out of luck with two Liquids in one day !!!  I couldn't believe it ! 

The Scott's Liquid Gold Furniture Cleaner I really really wanted, as when I ran out I started using Pledge on my oak furniture, which in turn leaves a wax buildup, which in turn leaves a white ring on my oak dining room table should anything hot be placed on , even when placed on a trivet lately.  I took a chance and called our local Home Hardware Store, and was extremely delighted to find  that they do carry it, and had one can left, which I immediately went downtown and purchased.

I did "google" Scott's Liquid Gold, finding I can also order it online if there ever be a need to do so .... that is a relief !  Another good furniture dusting aid that contains no wax is "Endust", which is also getting more difficult to find ....  and I have "googled" as well.

Shopping days are usually pretty boring, from the time we go, shop, and come back home to put everything away we are well past the dinner hour .... and yes, then it was time to make Rob dinner before he had to leave for work.  *Sigh*  Then the day is almost over, or the part of the day I had energy for was over is really is the truth of the matter.

I received an email from Rob's cousin, Joyce, with a little bit of History I have read before, however enjoyed the read again, which I thought I would share ....

Where did “piss poor” come from?

We older people need to learn something new every day ... just to keep the grey matter tuned up.

Where did the expression "Piss Poor" come from? Interesting History:

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot and then once a day it was taken and sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor". But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot ... they "didn't have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.

Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs - thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat".

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of "holding a wake”.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be “saved by the bell” or was considered "a dead ringer”.

And that's the truth.

Now, whoever said History was boring!!! So get out there and educate someone! ~~~

Thanks Joyce, I always enjoy a good read, and I am glad we do not use lead in our dinnerware anymore !

I have a "big" day ahead of me today, so Rob will be fending for himself when it comes to his dinner.  I will be attending another segment of the VON SMART program's Course for Instructors/Volunteers, which I had began two weeks ago.  Between lack of sleep and headaches, I find it difficult to retain a lot of information, so I am "wishing" myself well for the day ahead ...... but at the same time, I am pretty excited about going !!!! 

Onto what the weather guy has to say ......

.....there is is sun?  on Saturday maybe?

I have a few things I need to get done before I leave the house today, but first it will be heading out to my kitchen for that second cup of Java before anything gets done, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Hooray For Another "Wrong" Weather Forecast !

I have to be thankful this time for the Weatherman "incorrectly" forecasting the weather yesterday with the rain not beginning until 8:00 p.m. last night !!! 

Whoohooo my plans finally worked out, with nothing breaking them and the weather to my favor !!!!  LOL, 'bout time I should think .....

After hearing outside my window, and then sticking my nose out the patio door I have seen for myself that it definitely is really raining out there now ..... but I care not now, as some wood has been gathered, split and piled, and the lawn has been cut.  "Rob" is "good" ..... lol.

After we had coffee all out of the way, I was "gun ho" to get going, but there was a "minor" holdup .....

"How come it's "okay" when they are on the phone talking?  I have yet to figure this one out?"

"We "finally" got the wood splitter out and down to business ..... "

"This is all we have left from last Winter, as it being such a long Winter we did burn a lot of wood."

"This is the start of the wood being put in for this year.  Not too much yet."

"Here is my "Rob" hard at it.  Forget what I said about you earlier, Honey, you are a "good" man .... lol."

"This is the dog who always lays in the way of progress .... don't move yourself one little bit Bandit, we will walk around you !"

I think we made some good progress and got a couple cords or so of wood in before we had to call it enough for one day.  Once lunch was over with and the lawn was cut, we really did call it a "day" at about 3:00 p.m..

Once we got sitting with a coffee, I thought I would give our boy a call, so I phoned Paul.  You have no idea how surprised I was when he answered his Blackberry and told me he was in the Hamilton Hospital !  He could hardly talk .... apparently he had an allergic reaction, to what, is still a mystery, and this being the second within the past couple of months.  They kept him for at least 6 hours before they released him.  Thank goodness his cousin Stacy lives in Hamilton, as I was able to contact her to go pick him up from the Hospital to take him back to get his truck from the work site he had been at.

I personally know first hand how scary it is to have my throat close up and my face become unrecognizable.  Not a nice thing to happen, especially when you don't know what is happening to you in the first place.  If anyone has an Epipen, carry it with you, as it does "buy" you time to get yourself into a Hospital. Once Paul called me after getting back to his own home last night, he was taking his Epipen and putting it right out in his truck .... thank goodness, as he can't get into the allergist until at least February I believe.

Before we called it a day from being out in the great outdoors, Rob and I picked our very first ripe tomatoes off the vine this year .....

"Um mm I can't wait to fire up a pan of bacon and have these ripened reds on a BLT  I am hoping the frost stays at bay long enough for us to get a half descent crop in yet.  Such a late start it was with all the rain we had in the month of June, with our garden laying so low."

I belong to AnnaMarie's Steeped Tea page on Facebook, where yesterday she had posted an article on how "Green Tea Improves Memory, especially as you age".  You can well imagine why this article so quickly "caught" my attention .... lol.  Not only would I like to share this article with everyone I can, I would also love to share AnnaMarie's "Steeped Tea" website as well:

Green Tea Improves Memory, especially as you age:

http://www.steepedteablog.com/2011/09/green-tea-improves-memory-especially-as-you-age.html

AnnaMarie's Steeped Tea:

http://www.mysteepedtea.com/AnnaMarie/

I was introduced to AnnaMarie's Steeped Tea through her sister, Linda, who I am friend with.  There are some pretty good "gift" ideas on AnnaMarie's website for those "difficult" to buy for people, and those people you know that love tea, including one's self maybe?  AnnaMarie is also located not too far from us over in Hanover, but orders can be placed through her website and/or by calling her or emailing her also, just refer to her Website for those options.

Thanks AnnaMarie for sharing the "Green Tea" article, as I do have some in my cupboards, so this was a "gentle" reminder to me to get it out on my counter and start consuming it again on a daily basis.

Another "very important" article I came across in one of my Internet surfing adventures, was one posted by our very own "Explore the Bruce's" main man, Gem Webb, (other then Bruce himself, lol), which pertains to all of us LOVERS OF FACEBOOK .... all about the "new" Face, Facebook will be putting on very shortly.  Check it out at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzPEPfJHfKU&

 Thanks Gem for sharing this tidbit with us.

Just one more share item .... with Apple Season upon us, I also came across a new recipe I am hoping to try as soon as I get my bushel of Spys, hopefully after Thanksgiving, but in the meantime would like to share the recipe with everyone else.

This recipe for Almond Apple Squares was contributed to Egg Farmers of Ontario’s ‘Grade A’ Family Favourites cookbook by Rick and Edith DeGraaf

Almond Apple Squares

Makes 24 squares

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
2-1/2 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 apples (e.g. Courtland, Spy, Empire, Granny Smith)
Lemon juice (optional)
1/3 cup slivered almonds

Cream sugar and butter by beating with an electric mixer in a large bowl until thoroughly blended. Add eggs and almond extract; mix until blended.

Stir together flour and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture; stir together just to blend, but do not over-mix.

Spread half of batter evenly in a greased 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) baking dish.

Peel, core and thinly slice apples; lay slices on top of batter. Sprinkle apples with a little lemon juice, if desired.

Using two spoons, drop remaining batter in small spoonfuls over apples. The apples don’t need to be completely covered as batter will spread as it bakes. Sprinkle almonds on top.

Bake in a preheated 325°F oven until firm to the touch and lightly browned, about 40 minutes.

Tips:
* The squares can be made without the fruit layer. Press all the batter into the baking pan. Smooth out the top; lightly moisten with 1 tsp milk. Bake for 30 minutes.
* Try using pears instead of apples.

I told a "fiblet", as I still want to share today's weather forecast too .... lol.

So happy I could share that little bit of sunshine with everyone .... this Friday maybe????

I did remember to strap on my Pedometer yesterday !  I walked 10,623 steps, just over 5 miles .... wow, now if I could just manage somehow to do that everyday I would stay "fit" !  In the meantime, if I don't get myself up off this chair, I am going to cease up .... dang rain !

Another day ahead with that 2nd cup of Java calling out to me, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

A Great Mix ~ Hometowns Birthdays & Friends

"..... and so began my yesterday, with the mist still laying on the bush line and the dew heavy on the ground."

Another beautiful Bruce County day it was with the sun out in full force and a gentle breeze to keep the day from feeling too warm.  A perfect day for me to attend an 80th Birthday Come & Go Tea Celebration for my friend's Mother, Coral Mercer, in my Hometown of Southampton. 

My cousin, Suzanne, has been friend's with Coral's daughter, Gwen, for years, and I with her daughter, Patti, who I hadn't seen for about 34 years forsure....or maybe a little less, who is counting?  LOL .... anyhow I made my way over to Oliphant to pick Suzanne up so we could make our way to the party at the Southampton Walkerhouse.  However before we left, I had to take a picture of the "new man" in Suzanne's life.

"Here is "Max"...um not sure if Suz got a good one or not....looking pretty layed back, sure hope he isn't "lazy" .... lol."

That pup is so darn cute.  He didn't move an inch the whole time I was there.  He should maybe run somewhere around the 100 lb. mark when full grown with him being Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees cross (one of the pups from our Keady trip last Tuesday), so I am thinking once he weighs more then Suz, she will be riding him, instead of walking him down the road ?  LOL....I can't wait to see his progress !

We made it down to Southampton without a hitch, hanging out down by the Cenotaph while we waited for our Auntie Gladys to arrive from Port Elgin so we could all attend together. 

"Suz and I recaptured a few of our childhood memories as we sat here looking out over the waters of Lake Huron."

"Auntie arrived, and we headed into the Walkerhouse where there was a very nice turnout of well wishers."

"Here is my cousin, Tami, taking pictures for the Mercer family.  So nice to see her after .... um how many years?  Too many years ....."

"The lady of the hour .... "Coral Mercer" !  I have many good memories of her daughter, Patti & I running through this ladies house in days long past.  Can you imagine the patience of having a husband, 5 girls and 1 boy?  Hats of to you Coral !!! "

"Here is Coral and her daughter, Sheree, serving up cake, with other family members delivering it to their Guests.  What a nice "touch" on the family's behalf."

Remember my cousin, Tami?  Well I asked if she would take a picture of Patti and I and......

"She snapped the picture while we were still being "silly".... but then some things never change....lol.  Silly it is ! "

"Then Tami was kind enough to snap one when we were more composed....lol."

I am telling you I had such a great time catching up with old friends and family members I hadn't seen for .... that long ! 

By the time we said our goodbyes, Auntie went on her way, we went our way, with me not arriving back home until after 5:00 p.m.!!!  Wow there is that old saying again, "time flies when you are having fun", and fun we had, or at least I did !

Since it was such a lovely day out Rob and I had decided earlier that when I got back home we would go for a ride on the Motorcycle, as we hadn't for such a very long time.  We headed out right after I changed into more appropriate "biking" attire, to Owen Sound where Rob surprised me by taking me to our favorite little Chinese Restaurant for supper, the Twin Dragon.  Nice touch Rob !

Another perfect Fall day well spent from the beginning to the end.  Life is Good.

Not too sure if the weather is going to be so kind today, but what the heck we can't have perfect everyday, or it this Canadian gal would have nothing to complain about now would I?

Of course it is going to rain for the last two Mondays in a row, being Rob's day off, when it has been planned to get the wood ready for this upcoming Winter .... guess there will be some really "brr" moments being blogged about this Winter if it doesn't get done !

Regardless there is always something to be done, so I am off and running, once again, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".





A Pretty All Around Healthy Day It Was

When I got up yesterday morning, I was a tad worried it was not going to be a another good day, as remnants of the migraine from the previous day were still lurking around in my head.....but I got on the medication as quickly as I could and "stomped" it out before it was, once again, full-blown !  I suffer daily with headaches, never mind having a "migraine" two days in a row, which is by far not unheard of, but I was relieved I was able to avoid yet another one....

My day went on to be more pleasant with the weekly chore of stripping of the sheets from our bed, washing and hanging them out on a most glorious Fall Day that we ended up having .... boohoo to you Wiarton Airport, as I was glad your weather forecast had been wrong !  LOL  Once the laundry was hung, Bandit and Lexus were all cared for, and my Crabby Cabbie was out the door, I got on with my day ......

....and what a day it turned out to be !  First off I headed down to Wiarton's Meeting Place, where I attended the Bruce Peninsula Health Services Foundation's 4th Annual Health & Wellness Fair.  There were several Health related displays at this event, with myself stopping at each one as I made my way around the room.

"The Bruce Peninsula Hospice is a non-profit charitable organization who provides such "wonderful" support for individuals and their families who are coping with a progressive life limiting illness.   It was through the Hospice, when my own Mother had Cancer, that I became friends with a very caring compassionate woman who I am very fortunate to still have in my life, as she is one of the "best", and she does know who she is."

"There appeared to be a few "vibrating" moments going on in the room at any given time at this location... lol."

"Wowsers !  This machine is something else, declaring you can get the benefit of a 1 hour workout IN JUST 10 MINUTES !!!   Any further information on this state of the art piece of equipment by the T-Zone Health Vibration Technology can be gotten by contacting the Company's Agent, a local Bruce County gal as I see by her phone number, Nancy Schade @ 519-534-0177 or justme@auracom.com .

"Wiarton's very own "Complete Wellness" had a couple of things going on, from their display of 100% Natural Products to a "hands on" Reiki demonstration, which I unfortunately didn't have time to experience for myself....."dang"."

"Bath & Taps from Owen Sound were there, with this pretty cool bathtub, which I have only seen advertised on TV before, so it was nice to see what they looked like in person.  This floor model was marked down from an over $8,000.00 ticket price to somewhere just under the $4,000.00 mark if my memory serves me correctly.  Anyone in the market for such an item should be clicking on "Bath & Taps" taking you directly into their website to further check it out, where you also will find some pretty nice stuff, as I was doing some "dreaming" myself as I perused through it."

 
"Here is a display of 100% All Natural Products put out by Arbonne .  I was quite impressed by what their local, Bruce County again, representative, Sharon Goodwin, was showing and explaining to me.  Sharon is located in Hepworth, and has just recently took on the Arbonne line of products so did not have any business cards yet, but feel free to contact her by calling 519-935-2182, and she would be more then delighted to assist anyone with any inquiry regarding her product."

"Pictured here is Karen Kerr.  Karen is yet again another Bruce County gal (I am loving it) from the Mildmay area, who represents "Only Green".  This gal has not only have some really good "green" products, but she also has the knowledge to back it, along with the "bra" line she has to offer for purchase, I was very impressed !  ....and Only Green is right in our own backyard with its products manufactured in Midland, Ontario !!!"

"Here is the Grey-Bruce VON display, a cause with many tentacles reaching out to people with needs in many different areas.  One organization I have personally become fond of myself, especially through their Caregiver Support and Education Program Series, as it has been and still been a great benefit to  myself, as my role in Caregiver to my own Mother for the past 5 years."

"Here in the background is Grey-Bruce VON's very own Jessica Slater-Hamilton, who leads the Caregiver Support & Educations Series in the Grey-Bruce area.  If anyone is a caregiver for a family member and/or friend, and needs support in any capacity, please feel free to contact Jessica, as she will be sure to assist and direct you as need be.  Jessica can be contacted at the  Grey-Bruce VON office in Owen Sound ~  519-376-5895.

"This lady is Rosemary Peer, yet another local gal right here in Wiarton, who is an Independent Jeweller for the Fifth Avenue Collection.  The jewellery pieces are not only very beautiful, but they are also "NICKEL & LEAD" free ! 

"Last but not least, this is Anita DeJong, who represents not only Epicure Selections, but their very own family run business, "DeJong Acres", located at 463028 Conc. 24, Lake Charles, RR 2, Wiarton.  Food being one of my "loves", I will be sure to mark my calendar for the 7th of October, as DeJong Acres is having an open house at their Farm Store that day from 4-8 pm.  Um, wonder who I can rope into going along with me that day?  Anita can be contacted either by email at anitabrian@gbtel.ca or phone at 519-534-1211."



That certainly took not only most of my morning, but a little bit into my early afternoon, however I enjoyed every minute of it speaking with all those great gals !

Once back home, it was time to take my dried bedding from the clothes line, not without taking Bandit & Lexus out for a romp first, then having a "little" rest before I went on into the remainder of my day....

"I arrived at the Hepworth Legion in where else but of course Hepworth, where I was invited by Rob's cousin, Joyce (who is now treasurer, I believe, for this Branch, hope I got that right, Joyce) for their Annual Spaghetti Dinner."

"It's amazing who I run into when I get out and about .... here "guarding" the door, is my Father's first cousin, Bill Cutting, and his wife, June !  I am sure they were more surprised to see me then I them."

"The volunteers serving up the dinner were more then generous with the helpings.  Here again, in this picture getting her dinner, is Judy Jones, a gal I have known for years from when I lived in Hepworth, as well as her Aunt Jean who is taking the tickets.  My World gets smaller."

"Here is Rob's cousin, Joyce, who never sat the whole time I was there, as did any of the other Legion volunteers that I noticed, until it was time for her to sit and have dinner with me.  The way these volunteers are with their work ethnics are unfortunately of a dying breed, as the saying goes..."

"The murals lining the  one wall of the Hepworth Legion, Branch #586, are really something to see in person."

"Oh, and there is Joyce, back at it again....lol."

*Phew* I am tired again from just recapturing my yesterday again...... but here it is 8:38 a.m. already and I need to get going into my day ahead, as I have been at this since 6:00 a.m., with two coffees into me already !

Onto today's weather I go ....

 

 Not looking too bad, and the sun is shining outside my windows.

Don't forget by "clicking" on the highlighted "key words" you will be taken in to that specific website, that will provide more detailed information on the subject

Things to do and people to see, so I best be getting the "rag" out and get on with my day ahead, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".