House Guests For the Holiday Weekend

Not only is it Friday, it is also a Holiday Weekend  !  Happy Labour Day Weekend, as I am most certain everyone deserves an "extra" day off from what they do best.  I am not sure if my "Crabby Cabbie" gives himself the "extra" day off or not.  Thinking not, since Monday is his regular day off anyway ... to bad, so sad for my Dear "Crabby Cabbie".

We had a couple of "house guests" arrive last evening for the Holiday Weekend.  They actually might be staying over until Tuesday morning.

"I am pleased to introduce Lily and Aspen who have come to stay while their owner, Ashley, is gone way North of the Checkerboard, across on the Chi-Cheemaun, "Big Canoe" in Objibwa, up towards the area of Espanola visiting her Grandparents."

~ Photo Courtesy of Ashley Stewart ~

"Ashley showing off how friendly Lily can be.  Aspen is the newest and youngest addition of the duo and not as friendly yet."

"Lily (above) and Aspen (below) had no trouble whatsoever settling in.  I think they rather like our basement (good thing they do, as I most certainly don't).  Maybe it is the Spider Web decor they find so appealing?"

I was awake way before 6:00 am this morning.  I finally dragged myself from our bed at 5:45 am.  The winds seemed to be very high outside our windows, so I ventured out on the deck to see what the temperatures were like.

"Looking over into the Western skies I got the last glimpse of the Moon taking its leave."

Speaking of Moons, this evening is to be a "Blue Moon".

"Photo Courtesy of Spiritual Awakening on Facebook)

I am in hopes the cloud cover isn't too heavy this evening so I might be able to view this evenings "Blue Moon" myself, as I don't recall ever being witness to one ever in my lifetime.

The only Blue Moon I recall is this one ....

Quite the catchy tune, is it not?

Once I had first looked after all four of our "pack" this morning I then attended to our guests needs.

"Oh man, these two girls eat better then I at times ... Romaine Lettuce in a bag?  girls do you know how much that costs your Mama????"

"Both girls oblivious to the costs in today's World, passed me by without a glance and headed right on over to their Salad Bar I had made up for their Breakfast."

Once everyone was settled in for the morning, off North of the Checkerboard I went to see my Good Doctor.

"A little something going on next Sunday in the Village of Colpoy's Bay I noticed on Dr. Loney's bulletin board.  Um, maybe something interesting to take in for a few people in the area?"

A fairly new friend of mine, Lynn Wright, belongs to Wiarton's Optimist Club.  They are holding a Yard Sale at Wiarton's St. John's United Church on Berford Street in the downtown area of Wiarton (Main Street) to raise money to put into the Basketball Court at the Jimmy Brown Park.  The Yard Sale and BBQ runs from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm.  Go on out and show your support for Wiarton's Youth !

I decided I would donate some of my time to the cause by baking a couple of things to be sold at this Yard Sale.  This afternoon this is exactly what I did ... by trying out two more "new to me" recipes.

"Ingredients all ready to "rock" my kitchen by putting together a Zucchini Pineapple Bread."

"Dry is soon to meet Wet."

"The Recipe's batter divided into two smaller pans."

"Seventy minutes later they are out of the Oven and cooling on the Counter."

"Cooled, wrapped, labeled and ready to go."

By this time it was going on to 2:00 pm.  I had an appointment at the Wiarton Hospital at 2:30 pm.

"I arrived just a little bit before my scheduled appointment so I could get parked and walk the block over to the Hospital."

I was in and out of Xray lickity split.  Hopefully the xrays will tell all as to whether my left heel has suspected Tendonitis or a Heel Spur.  Whatever it is, it has been quite painful for the past few weeks.  I should know more by my next Friday appointment with the good Doctor.  I am hoping it is the lesser of the two evils, as my volunteering for the VON SMART exercise program begins on the 12th of September, and I can not afford to be laid up too long.

With the xrays out of the way, I returned home to first attend to the "Checkerboard Aussies", two pick some green tomatoes with hopes they will ripen in the baskets, as most of the ripened ones I was finding on the vines were getting Blossom Rot, more then likely due to the lack of rain this Summer.

"This is what I picked today, before rot set in, with another 3 L basket in our kitchen I had picked a couple of days ago.  Oh I so hope I get some kind of tomato crop for my stewed tomatoes to hold us over the Winter months."

With all that out of the way, I carried on with some more baking ....

"With the tops scored, it is easy to recognize these cookies as being Peanut Butter, is it not?"

"First batch fresh out of the Oven to cool."

"Six bags containing 1/2 dozen cookies all labeled and ready to go."

"I managed to get these all safely delivered to Lynn just after the supper hour."

Recipes please?

Zucchini Pineapple Bread can be found HERE, many thanks to Mary at One Perfect Bite.

Peanut Butter Cookie recipe can be found HERE, with thanks going out to Joanna Goddard at A Cup of Jo.

Both recipes were easy to follow, and everyone knows how much I LOVE Easy Peasy as 1-2-3, with everyday staples you would find in your coffers.

I think that was pretty much an "enough of a day" for myself.  I think I will take our "Checkerboard Aussies" out for their last jaunt of the evening, check on our Guests and hopefully take in a Blue Moon this evening, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

A Couple of "Crabby Cabbie" Moments

Since I had posted Yesterday's Wednesday with the day before Tuesday, here is a little bit of Yesterday's yesterday, being Wednesday.  This all makes perfect sense to me in some weird way, but it does, it does.

"Once all the mornings usual chores were out of the way Yesterday, I got everything out needed to make Homemade Laundry Detergent for my first time.  I had already bought the ingredients last month, but just have begun to run out of what detergent I had."

"This is a heavy duty plastic pail, with lid, I picked up for the storing of the detergent.   I purchased this from the Deli Department at our local Foodland store for $1.00."

"First off the Sunlight bar of soap had to be grated."

"Into a pot with the required amount of water the grated soap went until thoroughly melted.  I actually reminded me of Lemon Pie filling.  Once melted in went the Borax, Washing Soda and Tea Tree Oil Essentials."

"All into the large white pail it went along with two more cups of hot water, with then twelve cups of cold added gradually while stirring."

"All packed away to make more when I deplete this first batch.  I kept the receipt of everything I had bought, so I will have to sit down to figure out the actual cost per batch.  This is low suds, so it is used in my HE Washing Machine."

Recipe/Method Please?

As submitted to Cindy's Recipe Exchange on Facebook by Exchange Member~Diane Sheppard:

You will need a large plastic container that will hold at least 17 cups of liquid which will give you 34 washes. It can easily be double for those households with more washes.

Grate 1 bar Sunlight Bar Laundry soap into a large pot with 3 cups of water and heat on medium heat until melted. Stir with a wooden spoon to help get all the bits melted. Add 1/3 cup borax and 1/3 cup arm and hammer washing soda and stir until melted. At this time add about 12 drops of tea tree oil as an antioxidant. (I have never had a batch grow mold). You could also use any essential oil that you have but tea tree is reasonably priced.
Next, have your clean container in the sink and add 2 cups of hot water. Pour the mixture from the stove into the pot and start stirring with the wooden spoon. Now add 12 cups of cold water while continuing to stir and you are done. It will look like a thick egg drop soup but it will eventually set. Use 1/2 cup per load.

...or just to compare check this site out HERE.

"Crabby Cabbie" moment Number 1 on Wednesday, August 29th 2012:

"My "Crabby Cabbie" retrieved the mail to find the new Phone Book was there for Owen Sound and Surrounding Areas.  Right away he went to the "Taxi" section to find he was there !  It is a pretty neat feeling to see yourself in print elsewhere, other then on your own Business Cards."

"With all the "Crabby Cabbie" and detergent making going on, I was dang glad to have had some homemade Spaghetti Sauce made up to make our Dinner an easy one to prepare."

"It always takes me aback when walking out our front door to see this abundance of beauty before me.  I enjoy every moment of the Hibiscus Blooms while they last."

"It was still daylight when last evenings Moon first made its appearance.  I was surprised my camera actually captured it so well.  So ended my Yesterday."

Here I go into my present day ... hopefully I am back on track?

"As this is how the morning began behind our house looking over the fields, back towards our bush line."

"Apparently someone in the house was looking though the window with my camera. "

"Very good "close up" on the Rubber boots.  Thanks."

"Now this is the reason my "Checkerboard Aussies" and I have no fear of Bears, Coyotes, or such, in the mornings, as surely they are more scared of I looking like this, then I of them....  Thanks to my dear Rob, as it is really difficult to explain Wild Animals having such a fear without having the Visuals to prove it."

Back in the house, but not yet dressed, as I still needed to keep my Animal Hubby apparently at bay, I sat myself to get some items ready to post.

"First off a letter to my Sister Donna, as one of the Southampton Public School's class photos had been submitted to the Shoreline Beacon Newspaper in Saugeen Shores.  It just happened to had been her Kindergarten Class.  Long before I was born this is most certain, or at least 3 or 4 years prior."

Before Rob and I headed downtown Wiarton to do some errands, we had to check out how tall the Sunflowers had gotten in our Garden.

"Rob is six feet tall, so I had wanted to see how much taller this one Sunflower was before its flower bloomed and weighed it down.  Pretty darn tall I would say."

"Not too scary after all without the Rubber Boots and the nightie?"

"They are just beginning to peek out of their head dressing now."

"Lots of the smaller Bronze variety still hardy and blooming."

Once downtown our first stop was to ....

"Drop off some Noodles and Spaghetti sauce to my friend, Koreen, as Koreen is always so sweet and wonderful to me and my "Crabby Cabbie".  Koreen is forever busy working away at her business ... "

".... here downtown Wiarton making all kinds of great stuff like "Crabby Cabbie" shirts and hats, as well as for other great people who also have their own business(es).  You need something for "just you" done up "personally",  check HERE with Koreen first as she might be your girl to do the job !"

"Next stop was The Salvation Army Thrift Store to drop around some fresh picked Zucchini for the girls there."

"Look at this little adorable "Movie Star" material I happened by when at the Thrift Store.  Her proud owner, who I am sure was in her 70 or 80's,  readily agreed she was indeed a "Movie Star" already."

"After the Zucchini drop I went looking for Rob thinking I might find him across the way at Bennett's Dollar Store as .... "

"... this is Rob's "go to" place for Licorice Babies.  Other goodies can also be found at this counter, as I am sure you can tell."

"Off I went to post my mail at the Wiarton Post Office of course, where else?  I also mailed off my 3rd Post Card through Post Crossing at a cost of $2.03 heading off to Russia.  How exciting !  The Postal Clerk was telling me there is one lady who pen pals to a large number of people, has been doing so since a young girl, who comes in to purchase $500.00 worth of stamps at one time for her Post Hobby."

Finally I got back home, but not until at least the hour of 11:30 am, where I then had to think about getting our Dinner put together.  Two "new to me" recipes I was doing this day.

"Ingredients all ready to "rock" the pots."

 

"Diced Zucchini sauteing, while the macaroni was cooking."

 

"All ingredients cooked, mixed and topped with Buttered Panko Crumbs."

 

"Where would a gal be without all her Kitchen Essentials?"

 

"Crabby Cabbie" moment Number 2 with his new Table Topper and his requested Fried Green Tomato order filled:

"I thought since I was trying out two new dishes today, we would celebrate by using the new "Crabby Cabbie" table topper gifted to him by Debby over at Nanny's Place.  Another "Crabby Cabbie" moment ... lucky guy he is so."

 

"While the casserole was being heated through on the Barbecue, I got to making the next order of the day, "Green Fried Tomatoes"."

 

"Fried up nice and golden brown they were."

 

"Dinner served befitting of a "Crabby Cabbie" and his NOT so Crabby Wife."

 

"These two dishes will definitely will be served up at our Dinner table again.  Yummy!"

 

Recipes please?

Macaroni Zucchini Casserole, just "click" HERE.

Best Fried Green Tomatoes, just "click" HERE.

The rest of my day was spent with cleaning up from Dinner with two sink full of dishes (again), then a bit of this and that ... nothing too terribly serious.  Wednesdays are normally my "clean the bedrooms" day, but that had been put off until today.

Here is to hoping I am finally all caught up, at least on the Personal Journal end of things, cause there is always something to be done, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".