HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Happy Halloween .... Pumpkins Up !

I LOVE Halloween so much I couldn't resist sharing so many Pumpkins.

For months I had been looking forward to heading South to spend Halloween night with the Grandchildren.  I was all showered and revved to go when Rob arrived back home from his daily morning run "sicker then a dog".  He was burning up and feeling totally dreadful.

I could not go and leave him alone feeling so sick.  I called the kids to tell them I wouldn't be down. We were all disappointed, but still understood and really wanted Rob feeling better.

After an hour or so of laying down Rob told me he was feeling much better and for me to go ahead down, but what he had done was tried lying to me as he knew how long I had been looking forward to Halloween with the kids.  I stayed home, and there will be other times. (don't say anything, but do you realize how miserable a sick MAN can be???).

Today I started Rob on something I have been taking for sometime.  Ground Flax Seeds.  I usually mix it in with my cereal, or more recently 2 tbsp. into a cup of low fat Yogurt.  The benefits of Ground Flaxseed are amazing, being a good source of Omega 3 and high in Fibre.  Not familiar with the benefits of Flaxseed? just *click* HERE & HERE to find out more.

Still, thanks to technology, I was still able to see the grandkids, or at least some of them as I haven't seen photos of Chase or Greyson posted yet.

Scary ..... Aiden, Josh, his friend, Briar, Chloe, and Connor.

Hopefully I will get more photos later on in the evening.  Halloween is the BESTEST !

The other day Rob picked up the 4 year old Whirlpool Fridge with bought to replace our 16 + year old Fridge (the freezer seal started going on it back awhile ago).  We got a great deal on this model...

....which is almost the same size as our old one.  Hopefully it will last us 10 Years, and the price was right at $160.00.  A "steal of a deal" in my eyes.

A couple of weeks ago Portia had chewed my very expensive Bluetooth Jabra that was to last me a very long time.  I did find another Bluetooth at an extremely low price, but I can not handle the ear bud in my ear.  I went online to Ebay and found the same model of Jabra I had, at a fraction of the price in the stores here.

I ordered it from Ebay and it had been delivered Priority Post within a week.  Really with its cost, shipping & customs it was less then 1/2 price.  Yes I am being more careful of putting it up when I am very very tired...

What a blustery Halloween evening it is going to be for the children out and about Trick or Treating.

The North East winds blew our Rocker right off the stoop, and this afternoon the flurries began.  

October is really going out with a "BLAST" !  I am thankful we are toasty warm inside with the wood stove fired up.

Maybe it is just as well I stayed home today with Rob, as it being month end I have billing to do tomorrow.  The never ending piles of Crabby Cabbie paperwork, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

A Breath of Fall

This morning did not start out the greatest however turned out extremely beautiful ....

Not long after I awoke at 5 am the stomach pains began.  Ever since I had my Gall Bladder out September 2nd, I have had more "gastric" attacks then I had my Gall Bladder attacks!  The pains get so severe in my rib cage my lungs feel compressed and I can barely breath, with the pain shooting up into my shoulders.

After 2 Tums, 2 Ovol, a can of Root Beer (if you can imagine at 6:30 am), and a call to my girlfriend (as one always needs someone to validate their pain and agony), then 2 cups of tea, I finally began to feel some relief.  I was in somewhat mild discomfort until early afternoon, but eventually it passed, thanks goodness !

Some have told me this is quite normal after having their Gall Bladder removed.  Rob tells me my body is adjusting to not having a Gall Bladder anymore to process foods, and the "gas" attacks will pass with time.

The Doctor, as in "specialist" General Surgeon, says there is another "part" which imitates a Gall Bladder attack and will be referring me back to Dr. Kahl should they continue.  Hm mm not certain if I care for more surgery at this point until I see if Rob is right and it does pass with time.

On that note, "time will tell".

In my travels today I took time to have myself  "a breath of Fall" ....

A perfect day for a walk or a drive in the countryside. 

This view stops me every time I pass by ... from a top the hill leading down into Hope Bay.

I absolutely had to stop to take in this residence obviously from days long gone by.  My imagination overtakes me as I wonder what stories its walls hold.

I could not resist stopping at Kribs Road to take in the view there.  The water seems to sooth the soul, does it not?

Almost back home I took a few moments to stop in to meet our new neighbours, just around the corner from us.  The Glen Miller Motel had sold and they were there giving it a much needed "face lift".  As it was the owners are originally from Kitchener.  I am very excited to see it nice, bright and hopefully soon to be busy, and its new name will be the "Peninsula Motel".

New business is always welcomed in a Community, and if it is not, then shame on those who do not welcome it.

No surprise by my breath of Fall is short lived as tomorrow I have a busy few days ahead of me with it being the end of the Month and my favourite Holiday "Halloween" ... Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Soup's On !

I never slept the best last night, but you know when I got up with no migraine or headache I was walking on Sunshine !  even though the rain was tumbling down outside my windows.

Rob was fairly busy running here and there this morning, then this afternoon he went and picked up the "new to us" fridge we had bought to replace our 16 year old one.  Now I have to find time to clean out the old one, have the new one brought upstairs and get rid of the really old one we have in the basement.

The Wiarton Farmer's Market was having a Soup Supper Fundraiser this evening to raise more money for the Awnings to be put in the Berford Street Parkette.  My friend, Abby Miners, is the Wiarton Market Manager, and I offered to go help.  I was the gal who took the people's cash ... a right up my ally kind of job.

Yes Soup's On !  and part of the crew were at the Wiarton Community Centre setting up at 4 pm for the 5 till 7 pm serving times.  Behind the scenes were Debbie, Nicole, and up front Laura and Abby.

More Farm Market Producers bringing in their homemade soups.  Lena, Anita and Greig.

In came Gary with Hearth Baked Rye Bread, and not long after was Jeri with her homemade pies.

The fare was all for a good cause and had for an amazing cost !  if you missed out on this Fundraiser, be sure to stay tuned for their next one !  Homemade Goodness from your local Farm Producers.

Once things slowed down about 6:30 pm, I helped clear up a few things then headed on home.  I have a big day planned tomorrow, and Rob is going to be a very busy guy himself.

Until then I am going to call it a night here shortly, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Debilitating Migraines

Yesterday one of the WDCC office staff personal was off work with a Migraine.  I had been surprised I had not had one myself with a Weather system change moving in with rain and thunderstorms.  I thought too soon....

I barely slept last night.  Around 3 pm the pain behind my eyes was constant.  By the time I finally got up from bed at 6:30 am, for the umpteenth time, my teeth were aching so bad I could barely stand the pain of that, behind my eyes, and in my temples.

I took Portia out and put her directly back in her crate something which never happens.  I took two extra strength sinus/allergy pills and went back to bed.

By 10 am nothing had dented the pain.  Quite the contrary as a migraine had also set in with pain coming up between my shoulder blades reaching out through the back of my head.  I was nauseous, weak and barely could stand the sound of my own breathing.  It was a full blown debilitating migraine.

At 10:30 am I took migraine medication and went back to bed.  Thank goodness Rob had been in and out between calls to look after the dogs.

By lunchtime I was ready to go to the Hospital, but put it off by trying more water, however I was far from dehydrated.

Around 2:30 pm I said to Rob I needed to go to the Hospital, however he had to go out for a length of time so I decided to try more medication.  This time it was 1200 mg of ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol 2, and back to bed.  I finally found an hour of sleep or so.

In between all this I had tried some toast, then soda crackers for the nausea.  This back fired on me as all that did was create an attack of very extreme gas pains.  Thank God I had bought some Tums this past Sunday.  Between the Tums and a bottle of Coke that had been in the fridge I found some relief from the gas attack.

Finally by 4 pm the migraine "gave up the ghost", but not before it had "knocked the socks" off me.

Rob made us some Dinner of Homemade 9 Bean Soup and Grilled Cheese.  That had been at 6 pm when I got out of bed.  I am thankful he had not been out of town today or I would have had more of a time coping then I already had.

Should you not be familiar with how severe Migraines are, please read some Facts on Migraines by *clicking* HERE.

There was a bit of silver lining in my day beyond the pain ....

... as my Kamenstein Swan tea kettle arrived, which I had ordered "used" from E-Bay last week.  Is she not beautiful ???   I hope I get as many years from her as I had from the previous one.  In the mail I had also gotten an Application for Jury Duty.  I hadn't received one of these since I was in my early 20's.  *Sigh*.

The blessing in this day was that this Migraine happened today, as I have myself otherwise committed the next two days, and I could not have possibly kept those engagements.

I did take time to go on my computer very briefly earlier today once to find out the results of the South Bruce Peninsula Election results from last night.  I had to say I was only pleased with two of the persons who had been elected in for the next term.  *Sad* to say, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.

On a lighter note, this Halloween do not forget to SHOP LOCAL !  as local small businesses are the backbone to our Communities.

I am tired and somewhat drained, so on that note I will call it a wrap until tomorrow, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Yesterday's Day ....

... & a bit of today.  Thank goodness I slept like a rock last night as being gone the whole day long yesterday had caught up probably with both Rob & I.  I was up at 4:30 am but headed directly back to bed whether I slept or not, but Rob did sleep in and high tailed it out of bed at 7:10 am.

We had a pretty good day.  I doesn't appear by the look of our house that I even had made a dent in "picking up the chunks", but honest to goodness I can certainly say I wasn't sitting on my behind all day long.  Rob was also busy bringing in more wood and taking care of this and that.

There is never enough time, energy or lack of things to be done around our place.

Back to yesterday .... Rob and I headed down to Kitchener to meet up with the kids at Costco, then with Rob's sister, Delores and her husband, Darol.  We had left home around 10 am and arrived down there about 12:00.

Waiting for the kids to arrive we spent some time browsing the Value Village, which is just across the way from Costco.  I got a nice throw rug for $5.00, and we also got a really nice stainless steel strainer that goes across the sink which Rob thought would be great for the RV (if we ever get to go anywhere in it some Year).

The kids did arrive and we got a shop done in Costco, however there sure wasn't much time for a visit.  The boys love going to Costco as they go around checking out all the samples !  I have to admit there were a couple I enjoyed sampling myself, especially the Bridge Mixture.  The kids headed out their way, with Rob & I still having some time to kill until we met up with Delores & Darol for Dinner at the Mandarin Restaurant.

Rob took me over the the Paderno outlet where of course I enjoyed browsing, even buying myself a new Tea Infuser.  Oh a set of the Cast Iron pots & Pans in a mix of that blue & yellow would make my heart sing !  so much awesome stuff to choose from.

After the Paderno store, then taking Portia out for a bit of running around, we still had a bit of time to spare.  There is a furniture store directly beside the Mandarin so in we went to check that out..

Out of the whole store the genuine leather recliner, and the 3 pc tweed /wood set were my picks.

Rob seemed to enjoy the "hot" pink !

4 pm rolled around and we headed on into the restaurant where we met up with Delores & Darol.  Dinner was beyond amazing as usual.  I was quite impressed that I never totally overate and even had dessert that didn't send me over the top.  I didn't even think to take food photos, however I did get a really nice photo of ...

.... Darol & Delores.  The food was great & the company most enjoyable. 

We headed home about 6 pm, and the drive until it got completely dark was beautiful to take in along the way.

Rob and I had a great 18th Anniversary, spent with a few of our most favourite person, and of course at our most favourite restaurant.

Then the cause of some of my "I can't keep up" would be a little girl that is going on 5 months old ...

... oh if she would only be in this state 99.9% of the time.  Even though Bandit gets fed up some days, he still  hangs out with her when she is on a "time out" to give us a wee break to catch up with the messes she leaves behind... almost like a mini tornado of sorts.

This morning the ground was covered with a crisp layer of frost not lasting long when the Sun arrived.  Dinner time brought Thunder rolling across the skies with the rains leaving puddles of water behind.

Portia surely thinking she would like to be free and across the way with Bandit I am sure.

Yes that pretty much sums up my yesterday's day and a bit of today, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Happy Anniversary Rob !

Yes it has been 18 Years since Rob and I said to each other "I do", and ever since then I am certain there has been many "I do nots" and definitely many "nos", or "I won'ts".  Part and parcel of any good marriage, friendship and forever partners, is it not?  and there have been lots of days I recall when we never thought we would make it this far, with still a few here and there.  But alas we are both past the point of being with anyone else but each other, and besides who else would put up with either one of us?

We married 18 years ago today on a beautiful sunshiny day at a small nondenominational Church down a back lane across from the Eaton's Centre in Kitchener, and more directly behind Braun's Bicycle Shop down on Gaukel Street.

Why pick a day late in October to get married? because it had been the 2nd anniversary of our first date on the 26th of October 1994 when we went to see The Rolling Stone's Voodoo Lounge Concert in Toronto at the Sky Dome.  It had been an electric night for both of us, and here we are 20 Years later..

This is at the start of our trip down to Kitchener today when were were both bright eyed and bushy tailed.

We just got home & it is now 8:51 pm..  Trust me we are far from bright eyed and bushy tailed now.

I would like to thank each one personally for the Best Wishes on our Anniversary.  They were very heartfelt and appreciated.  Thank you beyond very much .... xxx

On that note I am heading it off to bed, as I am certain Rob has already beat me there, and something tells me I will be up in the wee hours of the night with a certain little pup.

More to follow in tomorrow's post, as that is all she wrote today, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Not Feeling Much Like Doing ...

I broke down and took 3 little pills, all of a different variety, last night  which is a rarity for me, then had  asked Rob should he hear Portia through the night would he please take her out.  I awoke at a half descent time of 6 am, and really had slept the night away.  I had not even heard Rob take Portia out at 3 am.  Hooray !

My back and me certainly needed that, and truthfully I could have went back to bed to sleep more, however there were things to do and people to see.

While I did three loads of laundry, Rob, as the saying goes, "one more kick at the cat" by getting the lawn cut.  It had been pretty thick from all that rain we had last week.

We also made a trip into the Wiarton Home Building Centre to order some stainless steel liner for our outside chimney as we would like to get our downstairs woodstove hooked up and going again this Winter, as it had been in need of repair the past couple.  While there Rob picked out a Wheel Barrow to bring kindling and wood in from the shed when our indoor supply in the basement gets low.  I did not realize Wheel Barrows ran around the $70.00 mark and upwards, however dully noted it is a "Mark's Choice".  Wonder if Mark Cullen gets a cut for everyone sold?

We had Ivan over today, who is a stone mason.  The tile inside our chimney had broke, and they were putting r-bar down to break it up as it had been caught up in the chimney.  They did get it out, as well as Ivan's flashlight that had fallen down in too.  Now the chimney is clear the steel liner can be installed when it comes in.  Another big job.

I did take a moment to finally *smell the roses*, and admire the Monk's Hood in the unkempt gardens ... *hanging head in shame*.  Next Year I am NOT going to neglect my gardens as I have had so much joy and relaxation from them in years past.

Portia not only destroyed my Jabra Headset, yesterday she also chewed the hook from my new one.  How she managed to get it from where it was is beyond me.  My new place to re-charge is in the bathroom on the counter leaving the door closed behind me.  As you can tell from the dining/living room floors she keeps me quite busy cleaning up after her.  She is certainly a "fart in a wind storm" !

A couple of standouts of my day ... Bandit cuddling with me when I tried to lay down for a bit this afternoon, a text message from one of our Forever Home pup owners sending out an announcement from her put to everyone on her Facebook Page, and then a post I had came across on Facebook which made me think of my BFF Vicki, who not only has had Dachshunds most of her lifetime, but who is also short herself ... matches made in Heaven.

This evening I wasn't feeling much like doing a blog post.  I am so tired and really would appreciate some energy.

Tomorrow is Rob and my 18th Wedding Anniversary, and 20 Years to the day of our very first date.  After the way our morning began I had my concerns whether or not we would make it to tomorrow together ... but all is good now, and besides who else would put up with the two of us but each other?  Never mind on all the energy that would have to go into training another ... geesh that would really be work.

On that note I believe it is time to call it a day, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Out With the Old & In With the New !

Last night I had an awful night of dreams.   When it had been time to get up I could have stayed put and slept til the cows came home ....

I must have the planning of the Wiarton Santa Claus Parade on my mind more then I had thought, as I dreamt there was to be a huge cake for where Santa Claus was handing out Bags of Christmas Cheer Candy and I had realized I had forgot to pickup the cake.  It got worse ... I had also forgot all about the Christmas Candy Bags !!!  I had been doomed, and if I had not woke up I am sure they would have "stoned" me.  

Is it no wonder I was so exhausted today?

I did have some "Happy Mail".  Every so often I get an email from Sample Source, who I had signed up with some time ago, for FREE SAMPLES.  It wasn't too long ago I had received such an email and today was when I received ...

... the package of samples arrived in my Mail Box today.  Hershey Almond bars are one of my all time Chocolate Bars, so you know that didn't sit in the pile of samples, nor did the Kellogg's Crispy Bar .... yummy !  

Interested in a chance to get FREE SAMPLES next time around?  do so by going HERE.  They run out pretty quickly, so once you receive the email from them you need to act pretty quickly.

I managed to get two load of laundry washed and out on the clothes line, however it wasn't as warm today as yesterday had been.  I will have to turn on the dryer to take the dampness off them to dry them out completely .... GRRRRR, I do NOT like using my dryer and giving more money to Hydro One then what they get from us now.

While I had been out at the clothes line, along with Bandit and Portia, there was lots of sound coming from above us.  It didn't take me long to figure out the culprit was ....

... up in the Walnut Tree.  Bold as brass he was.  When I came home after being out later today I even discovered where he is residing.  Over in our Wood Shed of course, where else could he hoard a nice supply for himself in the Winter Months which is nicely sheltered from high winds and blowing snow.

The Walnut Tree beside our line fence needs to come down..  They kill anything and everything around them.  This particular one has now killed the Pine Tree beside it, and two years ago the Lilac bush.  Time to go, and the Red Squirrels along with it !

This past Summer our fridge of sixteen years starting leaking from a spot along the freezer door.  I had thought it was not closing properly but soon discovered part of the seal on it was gone.  It just so happened I was browsing one of the swaps when I came across a fairly new fridge which was in excellent used condition.

Other then in the photos, I have not seen it personally, however Rob went to see it in his travels today and bought it.  It is a Whirlpool Brand, four years old, and like I had said EUC.  They had been asking $200.00 for it, however took $160.00.  I was happy with that price, as it sure beat anywhere from $800.00 upwards for a brand new fridge.  

It had not been an opportune time for our fridge to go, but then whenever is there an opportune time in Life for major appliances or otherwise to "go" ?   We will probably pick it up next week.  In the meantime I will clean out the one upstairs, and the old one downstairs, should I ever find time to do so, then call Hydro One to come pick up the really old one, something they actually do for FREE.

Want to book a pickup FREE for your old fridge or freezer from Hydro One? you may learn more about doing that by *clicking* HERE.  Out with the Old & in with the New !

I am hoping to enjoy a restful evening ahead, as I had yet another day where what I had planned never did get accomplished.  Maybe tomorrow the disgusting foyer that needs scrubbed will get done, as it most certainly not get done by lack of trying to the point the vinegar and the hot water had been in the bucket.  Thank goodness for tomorrow or nothing might ever get done.

That was all she wrote, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Down for the Count

This morning I was awake at 5, up by 7 and out the door by 8:45 am.  How did my day you might wonder?  Not worth a dang, dang, triple dang, as my lower back is so swollen it had me in tears a couple of times today, but do you know what ?

... I was still able to drink in the beauty most of this day.  

With what has been going on in Ontario these past couple of days, regardless of pain, how can someone not be blessed to waking up each morning?  I most certainly try to count my blessing each day, do you?

There are days when I get photos sent to me by text by my soon to be Daughter-in-law which not only make me smile, but also warm my heart.

Here is Misssy Mercedes with our Chloe, who had been playing hospital with each other this day.  Mercedes had broken her leg and Chloe had bandaged (in toilet paper of course), then headed in for an x-ray appointment.  Ah the fun of imagination and being a child ... I long for those days again at times.

Even though there are days when I "dont' feel" like it, or "couldn't be bothered" I am fortunate to have such great Australian Shepherd Dogs.

There usually isn't a day that goes by that they do not give me their unconditional love.  This is our Bandit, who not only turned 9 Years old this past June, he is going to be a father come this December.  Yes, Lexus and Bandit will be parents again the week of Christmas Days with puppies available for new Forever Homes mid-February.  Puppies are always exciting, are they not? and I have also been informed the grandkids will be coming here this Christmas, so that will make it all that more exciting !

We pretty much can't say Portia is little any more as she is growing upwards pretty quickly now she is 4 months old.  I took a look in her mouth today and she has lost quite a number of her baby teeth ... more then likely a couple from chewing my $100.00 Bluetooth headset the other night.  *sigh*  She is pictured here after eating her Yogurt and Diatomaceous Earth, and looking for more.

Interested in knowing more about Diatomaceous Earth (FOOD GRADE ONLY)  for your pet?  please do so by *clicking* HERE.

I had been downtown Wiarton this morning at 9 am for a photo op for the Wiarton District Chamber of  Commerce with regards to the Facelift the Berford Street Parkette is getting through grants and most generous donars.

Pictured here are a few of the Committee members, along with a few of the Sponsors, including Bruce the Spruce.

Cindy Walker (Lions Club), JD Everest (Everest Nurseries), Val Mitchell (Lions Club), Patrick Sutter (Home Building Centre), Gail Ermel (Lions Club), Steve Fox (Lions Club),
Wyn Chivers (Wiarton Revitalization Committee), Carl De Jong (Home By Design), Jack Van Dorp (Spruce the Bruce), Danielle Mulasmajic (Town of South Bruce Peninsula), Kari Korpikoski (Wiarton Revitalization Committee), Liz Ples (Wiarton & District Chamber of Commerce).

The Berford Street Parkette will be amazing by the time the Santa Claus Parade rolls around on the 6th of December this Year.  What would our Communities do without organizers, committees, sponsors, and most importantly VOLUNTEERS?  I am afraid we would be in disarray, do you not care to  agree?

This afternoon I spent in bed sleeping.  My back is still by far in much stress, however I will be trying to rest it as much as I am able to the next couple of days.

I am off and running, NOT, again wrapping up another day here, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

After Hours Please

You would not believe what I possible did !!!  I had a pair of shoes that I had purchased in June that the seams were all coming apart on both shoes.  Gilbert's Shoes downtown where I had made the purchase directed me to Brooks, the company which makes the Avia brand shoe.

The Company directed me to box them up to send back to them via Campar.  Yesterday I packaged them all up and dropped them off to be picked up at Gilbert's Shoes.  3 am I am lying wide awake in bed and the lights came on (in my head of course) that I had not removed my Orthotics from the shoes which are worth over $300.00 !!!!

Needles to say I was downtown at Gibert's Shoe Store as soon as they opened at 9 am to re-open that package to retrieve my orthotics !  Marg, store owner, had made the comment on how careful and well I had undone the package.  I had to be truthful and tell her it must of been from back in the day when I had one year snooped in some Christmas gifts Mom thought she had stashed away .... oops I wonder if I had every told Mom that I knew what I was getting one Christmas ?  *BLUSH*

Today I had been too busy to even think straight.  I even had to lay down for about 20 minutes this afternoon as my Fibro had been getting the best of me with every muscle in my body aching.  The rest helped a bit before my feet hit the floor again.

This evening Rob and I attended an "After Hours" at the Wiarton Chamber of Commerce office, which had been hosted by the Wiarton Farmer's Market.  It was a wonderful and most enjoyable event.

First photo is of Abby Miners, who is the Market Manger for the Wiarton Farmer's Market, who I might add has done an amazing job of it the past few Years.  Lois & Peter just joined the Market this Year offering fresh garden produce.  Below is Jeri pictured with Abby, who is a Honey Producer as well as offering fresh bake goods, and lastly pictured is Anita Dejong of Sweet Things from Dejong Acres  (and truly if you have known Anita as long as I have you would also think her as sweet as her produce).  Anita & Family are Lamb Producers as well as having a number of other Farm Products available at their Farm Store & at the Wiarton Farmer's Market.

There was a great show of business people from the Community who attended this evenings "After Hours" event.

After Hours please anytime for me, especially when all the goodies are locally grown and produced.

Squash Dip,  local cheeses, Honey crusted Bruchetta, yummy quiche, and there had also been Lamb Summer Sausage and a Crock Pot dish with local homemade Maple Chipolte Sauce.

As the saying goes, KNOW YOUR LOCAL FARMER, and truly I LOVE the ones I do know !!!

Rob had left for home before I did to take care of the dogs and whatnot.  I stayed until the very last to help Abby load her van up, getting home about 8:30 pm myself.

I am pooped, and Rob has already gone to bed.

Before I sign off just a little sneak preview to those who like a Vintage Christmas with a little Santa with a side of Coke ....

This morning I had stopped in at Home by Design to see some of the amazing Christmas displays he had set up with of course Santa catching my eye along with the elves.

Interested in knowing a bit more about Wiarton's Home by Design store, owned and operated locally by Carl Dejong?  please just *click* HERE.

Now on that note I will call it a night, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Christmas Bazaars Have Begun !

My dear husband, otherwise known as Rob and a few other choice names at times, had me running errands for him at 7:30 am.  It is love that I go the extra miles for him, right?  I thought so.

After returning home around 10 am, I still had a whole house screaming out my name to clean it, but alas once again my plans have been put on the back burner while I go forward with other more pressing matters like first calling Bell Canada to ensure the service man was going to show up by 12 Noon as promised.

The Bell Service man did not show up until long after I had left, but fortunately Rob had been home to have him hook-up a new Router to provide us with faster Internet upload and download speeds.  Hooray !!!  even though there was an extra cost of $5.00 attached to it.

I had been gone by 12:30 pm to collect my neighbour and wait at the downtown Tim Hortons for my Auntie Gladys to arrive as we were headed out to the Christmas Bazaar at Gateway Haven Nursing Home, where my Mother resides.

Once we arrived I left the other two to go up to bring Mother down from her room.  By the time we had came down to where the Bazaar was going on my Sister Jeanne had also arrived.

When I had been upstairs looking around Aunt Gladys & Pari had made their way around the Bazaar.  Aunt Gladys had gotten a nice little Cheese Cake perfect size for her and Uncle Basil.  Jeanne and I then went to have a look about.  She had bought an Apple Pie and I a Blueberry.  You have to get there early to have first pick from the Baked Goods table.  There had been some other nice homemade items, however nothing I needed, although I did love the unique carved bird house in the face of a man.  The "old fashioned" tea towels had also been very lovely.

I had ran into old friends of my Mom & Dads, who were actually going to surprise her by stopping in for a visit.  She had not seen them for at least 5 or so years.  It had been very nice to see Ralph and Eva, as when growing up we had been at their place all the time it had seemed.  I still see their children from time to time in my travels.

We all had a nice visit together over a few goodies and a cup of tea.  I even had offers a couple of times to have my Blueberry Pie looked after.  What a great price of $8.00 for a Homemade Blueberry Pie.

I was very very *sad* today as my favourite wood stove kettle had heated its last pot on top of the wood stove.

My poor Swan Kettle was found this day with a broken neck.  I was heartbroken.  I posted on my Facebook status that she was broken, and Toni with an "i" found me one on Ebay, where I placed a bid on it.  It looks brand new this RARE 1991 "Kamenstein" Swan Kettle, that you may view by going HERE.  I am hoping my lowly bid will be accepted as the shipping is $28 + alone.  

Should anyone local have a unique kettle that would suit on top our new wood stove that they no longer have any use for I surely would give it a good home.  Just let me know if you do.  Thanks in advance.

I am exhausted.  When out in the weather today it had been very cold and windy, however a day regardless the cold I would not want to have missed out on.

I am having a pair of shoes replaced by Brooks who make Avia, however I am very tired right now with our young pup, Portia, needing my attention, so that story will have to wait another day.  In the meantime I am signing off for now, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Beaver Tails !

I heard Rob get up from bed and head into the washroom and back.  I was not long after him.  It had been 3 am.  Portia decided she needed out also, so back up I got and outside we went.  I was thankful it had not been pouring rain as it had been when we went back out at 7 am.  Buckets of rain that is !

I had so many plans to wash floors and clean with so much that needs doing, however my husband had other plans for me this morning.  I, once again, was his runner.  Run to town for this, and for that, consuming the whole morning.  

How could I deny being his runner when he had been so busy taking our little wood stove out and replacing it with the down draft wood stove.  He had it up and running by lunch time.  Thank goodness as the rain has not let up all day long causing the dampness to seep into the walls of our house.

I served lunch up for us, then Rob got called out.  I had started doing a bit of tidying up, but not much by any means, when I heard someone pull in.  It had been the trapper we had come around for our Beaver problem.  I could not bring myself to say "little" beaver problem, as truly for the amount of damage they can do it had turned into quite a "large" beaver problem by the first of Summer this Year.

The trapper was coming by to check if there had been anything other then the first one he had gotten in our drainage ditches.  He had just been over the way at a neighbour's property where he had finally gotten one which had been quite crafty for the past while until this day.

I had never seen a Beaver up close and personal before, so this had been somewhat of an "awe" factor for me today.  This one was apparently a medium sized Beaver.  Not too attractive are they? somewhat like an over grown Mole in my eyes, except for that leather thick tail and razor sharp teeth.

I never knew until today that Beaver teeth never stopped growing.  This I wondered as you would think with the amount of and what they chewed down, they would not have any teeth for long.  You can learn more about Beaver Biology by *clicking* HERE.

I surely did not accomplish anything I had set out to do this day.  Once again I had to fall back on the good old standby of "eggs" for our Dinner choice.

I had also been happy to realized I had some leftover potatoes at hand in the fridge to fry up as well to go along with the Cheese Omellet I had thrown together.

Dinner had hit the spot with both Rob and I leaving the Dinner table satisfied and full.

You will be hearing more then once I am sure how much I am missing my laptop.  It went through my mind to call a guy up in Ferndale who does repairs, and who I had been referred to, however I got sidetracked too many times to get a call into him.  Maybe tomorrow, the next day, or the day after that I will get a call into him.

Tonight The "Voice" comes on at 8 pm.  The table was cleared and dishes done long ago now, so I will just make a trip out with Portia and settle myself in with a bit of TV watching, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.