Come & Go Celebration

Today was a busy morning, as I had to take my friend into work, then pickup another friend and take her downtown for shopping.  Time flies when you are having "fun", and the morning was almost gone before I had realized.

The Handicraft House is only minutes up the Highway from where we live.

When I returned back home there was time to take out all the Aussies, have a quick lunch, get showered and ready to head on South to my Hometown Southampton for a Come & Go 90th Birthday Celebration.

My friend's Mom turned 90 years old, and her family were having a Celebration for her at the Anglican Church this afternoon from 2 until 4:30 pm.  I meet up with my Auntie Gladys at 2:30, along with her best friend, Marnie.

Happy 90th Birthday Margaret ! 

Margaret was a Scottish War Bride, brought to Canada by her Husband, Basil Shular (now deceased), Mother of six children, Doug (now deceased), Stuart, Ross, Heather, Bonnie and Gord.  Heather and I had been best friends many years ago now, so I had spent many days and evenings at the Shular's home.

I also seen a few other ladies that I had known in years gone by, which is always nice.  Funny my Auntie and I both noticed all the elderly Church ladies serving, and wondered who will do this when they are gone ???   It will then be a lost generation? will we have to rally up people to bring back the Churches?  I wonder .... and yes if I had to I would be one of those people as the Church does bring members of the Communities together I believe.

That was the whole afternoon spent away, as by the time I had stopped for fuel, and again in town to take a couple of photos, it was 5 pm before I managed to arrive back home.

Photos?  of course photos, as Cathy of Cathy's Confections now has her handmade chocolates ready available downtown Wiarton at Rankin River Trading Co.

I LOVE Cathy & her homemade chocolates, and really I can't think of who would not.  If you are passing through Wiarton drop on in to get yourself some, or better yet yourself and more to make a great gift giving idea.  Not in Wiarton? well drop on into Harrington's in Southampton, as you will also find Cathy's Chocolate Creations there too.

Dinner?  that was easy peasy as one, two, three.

French Toast with local home grown Syrup from Dejong Acres Farm.  Oh yum, yum, yum.

I am all in but for my shirttail I am so tired.  My dear Rob worked all day yesterday, all night last night, and is still out working.  He is really tired.  At least I had his Dinner made before he had to go back out again, my poor dear.  No rest for the wicked, or really is it suppose to be "no rest for the weary"?

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

The Story Behind The ...

I had thought today was going to be a crazy busy day, but what I found it out to be a day spent crazily anticipating it to be, in turn not getting too much accomplished whatsoever.  Do you not just hate those crazy like days ????

This morning I had an appointment to meet up with a lady who I admire and met 2 years ago at Canada Day in the Park, in Wiarton's Bluewater Park.  I would like to re-introduce Cathy of Cathy's Confections, who did a Guest Post that you can read all about her, by going HERE.

I had an idea that Cathy Confections could possibly pair up with a local merchant, so I had met with Cathy, and her husband, Clare, this morning for a pre-arranged introduction.  After my job there was done I took my leave, but before doing so Cathy gifted me with a couple of her sweets ... she knows I love Dogs, and Roosters I am sure, as that is exactly what I got in the form of chocolate.  I had to admit, but the Rooster is no longer.  Thanks Cathy, and truly I hope your newest business adventure with Cathy's Confections is a wonderful success for you.  

Should you like to follow Cathy's Confections on Facebook, you may do so by *clicking* HERE.

A couple of times today I found myself outside in the brilliant Sunshine having some fun with our Aussies.

Bandit's favourite pastime in the snow is to make Snow Angels (obviously with his tongue sticking out).

A Buddy Birthday update:  Buddy was very happy with his Birthday Gift of a new bone which he thoroughly enjoyed this morning.  

Now for the story behind the .....

.... empty cellophane wrapper.  A week or so ago I had bought some "healthy" cookies for Rob & I when in need for a light snack. Mine were Cranberry Orange, and his Oatmeal Raisin (as I do not really care too much for raisins). I had my last pkg on the kitchen counter waiting for me to have my afternoon cuppa tea. When I went to have my tea the cookies were nowhere to be found. I thought I had set them somewhere else, which would not surprise me. Later on when moving a small box that hubby's new Bluetooth headset arrived in today, not knowing what possessed me to look inside, I discovered this empty cellophane packaging... can you imagine the nerve of someone I love and trust doing this to ME ????

And that folks is the story behind the ....

I am always very grateful for leftovers.  I can even remember times when I would be disappointed if company dropped in unexpected and stayed for Dinner, as that meant my plans for leftovers were no more.  The Turkey we had for yesterday's dinner turned into a great meal for this evening's dinner.

One of the girls on Cindy's Recipe Exchange had just purchased a new iron skillet.  We all had a fabulous time sharing all our experiences with cast iron skillet cooking, and keeping the skillet "seasoned", as you can all well imagine.  This inspired me this evening to pull out one of my skillets to fry up the leftover mashed potatoes in.

I remember so well my own Mother frying up leftover potatoes, and thinking how good the crust from the bottom of the skillet was ... still my favourite part of fried potatoes.

I have had my Dinner, but my dear Rob still has not.  Just as I was starting the fried potatoes he go called out.  He called to say he was going to be later then expected for me to go ahead with my meal.  When he did arrive back home he was heating up the gravey when the phone rang again .. he was called out again.  My poor dear I hope when he gets back home (again) he will get his Dinner.  Thank goodness he had a nice hot bath this afternoon, or he would really be running into problems later I am thinking.  Hahahaha ... poor guy, guess that is the way the cookie crumbles, does it not Rob????

And those were the "highlights" of my day, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

My Boys & Wiarton Willie Festival 2013

Last night my boys arrived !!!  All three of them from almost 30, 8 and 5 years old.  Once again, or shall I say, as most usual, I am outnumbered again.  Really though I LOVE they are here with me.

"After arriving "safe & sound" last night amist snow squalls and slippery roads, we awoke to over a foot of snow in our drive way.  Regardless of the snow, we headed out early to the Wiarton Willie Festivities."

"All four of us were revved up for some Pancakes in the Big Tent.  Ha ! now that is one way to mix lots of pancake batter is it not? in a 5 gallon pail.  By the time we made it around the line-up to the service tables a fresh batch had just been cooked up to be served."

"We enjoyed some Wiarton Willie time, as well as some really good pancakes."

"There is our neighbours, Verna & Ed Elliot of Elliot's Garden Centre being interviewed by a reporter..  Check out the TD's Ice Scupture ... pretty cool replica of Wiarton Willie.  The predication, should you not have heard? Spring is coming early as Willie never seen his shadow."

"Back home there was some Wee Willie snuggling time going on, as well as "stop with the camera, Mom" !!! "

Once Papa "Crabby Cabbie" got up after a much needed sleep since he had not arrived home until 3:30 am, we had a bit of family time together before he was called out.  Later on though while the boys were watching movies, Rob and I snuck out for a bit of time to ourselves.

I was going to go to the Wiarton Willie Tea, however the weather had been too bad down Saugeen Shores way for my Auntie, Cousins and friend to come up this way today.

"Rob and I did a bit of touring around town to end up at the School where a Craft Show was going on."

"I was so happy to walk in to see Cathy of Cathy's Confections & Clare, her Crockinut !  Check out all the goodies ... and yes they are all really beyond "good" !"

"Remember those Blueberry & Cherry Cheesecake Tarts ... guess what I got from Cathy?  Yes and I enjoyed every morsel of the "one" I got to try.... as I had made the mistake of leaving the other two in the "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle thinking they are long gone now.   Thanks Cathy I really LOVED the one I did get, and would have enjoyed all three had I been given the chance to."

Valentines Day is just around the corner now, make sure you give Cathy a call to get your order placed at 519-934-1351.

"There is my Rob trying to flatter my young friend, Wanda.  Wanda is a lady you might want to get in contact with should you need to get yourself on a healthy intake of nutrition?  Then please give Wanda a call to find out about the Vi-Shape Nutritional Meal Replacement Shake Mix at 519-422-1515.  Wanda is walking talking proof that Visalus Sciences does have products that are working.  Another interesting item we had came across was a local lady selling Balance Bands ... the sign "Live Pain Free" tells it all, based on these bands.  Interested in knowing more? please contact Linda Bridge at 519-534-5710.  And Margie Doman was also there with Heaven Scent Natural Products, she may be contacted at 519-376-5685 ... some very nice products.

We "hooked up" with Paul and the boys at Tim Hortons for a coffee, then head back home as Aiden was itching to get out to enjoy some snow fun with his buddy.

"Fun is exactly what Aiden and Bandit had themselves."

 

"These were the best photos I had taken all day.  I still can't not look at it without chuckling.  Here is my Aiden and Connor."

It had been a long day but I still manged to whip up ....

" .... a Lasagna from scratch to serve it up to my boys.  All four of them."

This is is all she wrote this day, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Captured By Chocolate & Pastries

Hello Sunshine, I am so happy to finally see you again, after what has seemed like a very very long time.  Now that I have cleaned well over a foot of snow from my vehicle, I will let you, hopefully work its magic, by melting the remainder of it.  I think I still might be dreaming a wee bit here, as the temperatures are still well below the freezing mark.

Today I am extremely pleased to have a Guest here on "North of Wiarton" who just happens to be one of many of Bruce County's local talents.  Cathy is a wonderful lady I had the pleasure of meeting last Summer at the Canada Day Festivities down in Wiarton's Bluewater Park.  Please take a moment to drop in for a read at that post by going HERE.

Cathy, welcome to "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".  Please read on to find out how Cathy was "captured by chocolate & pastries".

My name is Cathy Kuepfer, and in the summer of 2011, I found myself at loose ends after working as a chocolatier for the past 11 years. I floated through the summer, watching the job postings, but not really sure what it was that I wanted to do. Nothing that came up really clicked with me, or for me. At 62, it's not easy changing careers, and there's not a huge market for a chocolatier in small town Midwestern Ontario.  My other previous work experience was daycare and I although I love children, after 30 years in that field; I had felt burnt out and in need of a change.

Then in early fall of that year, I found two challenges, that helped me realize what I would enjoy doing! First, I had discovered some yummy Black Forest cheesecake tarts at the Mariposa Market in Orillia! I fell in love with them, and decided to try to replicate them since I don’t get to downtown Orillia very often. I managed to come up with a tart that was very similar, and that my family and friends really enjoyed. One of my friends doesn’t like cherry, so I also came up with a blueberry version.

                                        

The second challenge came when my husband Clare, the “Crokinut”, gave me a challenge. He is crazy about the game of crokinole, going to as many tournaments and games as he can find! Clare decided that he would like to organize a local tournament, with the help of others from the two local crokinole clubs that he attends. My challenge was to make chocolate crokinole buttons as small thank you favours for those attending, as well as a chocolate crokinole board as a prize for a “20’s shootout”. I was unable to come up with the requested chocolate board, but I did make a caramel one, as well as the chocolate buttons.

                                                         

The Crokinut was thrilled, and I was hooked!  My creative juices were running by this time, and Cathy’s Creations was born!  I discovered my   “passion for creating unique sweets and treats,     including custom made chocolates.” Cathy's Confections' goal is to produce unique items that are hard to find elsewhere and are what the customer wants.  This is something that a larger company cannot easily tackle, but a small, home based business can.  An example of this is putting dates in butter tarts for the Crokinut.

Last March, I was offered the chance to set up a table at the Walter’s Falls Maple Syrup Festival. I made a few unique items, as well as some that are tried and true, and decided to give it a try.

       

This was not my original intention, so I went back to my initial plan for awhile. Unfortunately, I found out that most people don’t pick up the phone and make that call. Mostly we have become a society that runs out to the store to pick up the most convenient pre-made item.  It’s also hard for consumers to understand that someone is willing to make their version of a particular item. My premise of people calling and putting in unique orders, was not working as planned. 

 

Therefore in midsummer of the past year, I decided to go out to the people again. I had a table at Wiarton’s Canada Day celebrations, which is where I first met Cindy, one of the most genuine and giving people I have ever met!  ... . And what a beautiful view we had from our booth!

 Since then, I have visited various venues and have met so many wonderful people! They have all been so helpful and supportive, and I want to thank them all. A very special thanks to Cindy for inviting me to write this guest blog.  

Cathy thank you so very much for being a Guest here this day at "North of Wiarton".  It equally has been an amazing pleasure to meet such a lovely person such as yourself who possesses such a talent that so happens to be one of my most favourite "addictions".  I am so looking forward on continuing to follow your "Chocolate & Pastry Journey".

Cathy can be found at her Website at  www.cathysconfections.ca or on Facebook by *clicking* HERE.  Should you be having a "special" upcoming event, or company dropping by? Custom Orders, as well as regular,  are always welcome by calling Cathy at 519-934-1351.

I am certain Cathy would LOVE to have you drop by to "LIKE" her Facebook Page.  I also know for a fact, she has been creating some wonderful "unique" treats that can be ordered just in time for Valentines Day gift giving for that someone "special" in your life.

I do apologize for the format of this post today, as I am pretty sure Blogger has been possessed by some unseen force.  Maybe it has not had its "Chocolate Fix" yet today ???

What are my plans for a finally Sunshiny day ?   I am sure some will include the dreaded, forever there, housework, as well as popping out to have a visit with a lady who has been unable to get out for the past couple of weeks.  Whatever the rest of my day brings on thing I am certain of is that I am happy to be here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".