A Flattering Opportunity

This morning I awoke around 4 am with sounds of the wind and heavy rain against our windows.  I snuggled back in to sleep until 6 am.  By the time I got dressed and outside to take out, one at at time, our "gang" it was really windy and rainy, at times turning to wet flurries.

Today was a regular kind of day with last night's dinner dishes needing done up, two loads of laundry to be folded, and the vacuuming of a whole other Bandit from the floors.  Nothing too strenuous or taxing really was done today.

The only thing that had been taxing was the thoughts of being lied to.  Really other then the odd "fiblet" to protect someone, or maybe out of a bit of fear, I do not believe I have ever viciously told lies to harm or deceive anyone, ever !

Once again we have came across people who have lied and been deceitful to us.  I was distraught of learning about this out and out nastiness, even thought I had been suspect to it I had tried to think the best.  The worse part of all of this it is not even youngsters, it is people way older then I !  I suppose once a person(s) has made a practice of lying and being deceitful all their life it remains to be their life all through.  Very sad indeed.

Oh well, I really am of the opinion of what goes around comes around, not wishing bad on anyone, but when we have paid our dues by being honest, why should someone else get ahead from being dishonest?  It does not seem right !

Rob had came home later this afternoon,  and actually took me downtown Wiarton to do a few errands such as the Post Office, Bank, and the Grocery store.  Sunday I had picked up my Mother a new toothbrush and some Sweet & Low Candies I know she likes, so he dropped me around to Gateway Haven so I could deliver them off to her.

"I found Mom in her room knitting away in front of her beautiful bay window.  Oops I forgot to "cue" her to smile this day.  My brother is picking her up on Thursday to go get her hair coloured and all dolled up.  This will be a nice outing for her."

"Once I had left Mom with promises of being back for a longer visit, off toward the Foodland store we headed, not without stopping down to look across the frozen waters of Colpoy's Bay.  Also down by the Bay is where the Old Train Station is located."

I find it kind of nice going into the grocery store at times.  It is like a little social outing when I run into and have a bit of chat with people I know, but do not see on a regular basis.  It is a nice "homey" feeling.

"Off we headed back home.  The photo to the left is when we had been going into town, and the photos on the right were coming home.  It had worked itself right into another bluster of "more SNOW again"!"

"Since I had been cooking like a Mad Woman, that I  had been doing since the freezer broke down, I decided for our Dinner tonight we would have some of that Big Batch Chicken Soup I had made up last Friday.  It sure was good with along with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich by really hitting the spot."

Recipe please?  FOR A PRINTABLE RECIPE PLEASE *CLICK* HERE.

This morning I had been reading what one of my favourite Food Bloggers had posted, who happens to be Mary of One Perfect Bite, to see it had been one of my friend's favourite treats she loves making, this being Biscotti.  Mary's post this day was Cinnamon Chip Biscotti.  If you remember, my friend Sharon, had brought me back from Florida some Hershey Cinnamon Chips just after Christmas.  Since she is still in Florida she had some on hand there in her Pantry.

"Sharon whipped the Cinnamon Chip Biscotti up in no time after I had posted Mary's link this morning onto Cindy's Recipe Exchange.  Oh wow Sharon they look so good, and I do LOVE me some Cinnamon.  Thank you for sharing, even if it is via photos."

I am patiently waiting for my new Whirlpool Range Oven so I can begin baking a few creations I have in the back of my mind.  One will be putting to good use the Hershey Cinnamon Chips Sharon gifted me.  Thanks Sharon.

Last week I was approached via Email by Knorr Canada and offered an interview with Knorr Spokeswoman, Sandi Richard. 

Sandi is working with Knorr Canada to help answer the ‘What’s for Dinner?’ question, and the What’s for Dinner? program was created to help families navigate the Dinnertime dilemma. The evening meal can ‘eat up’ a lot of moms’ day, as forty-four per cent say finding a recipe that suits their entire family is a challenge and three-in-ten struggle finding the time to cook a meal. When all is said and done, the large majority of moms (85 per cent) are looking for easy solutions for mealtime options so they can spend quality time at the dinner table with their families.

I wanted to include my Recipe Exchange members in this given opportunity, so this is what I put to them after I had received the email: 

I would LOVE to know if anyone in Our Recipe Exchange would have a Question(s) they would like to have put to Sandi on behalf our the Exchange, that might be included in the questions I comply myself for Sandi. Would love for any and everyone's participation in this most flattering opportunity. Please post your question(s) in the comment section below, and I will take note of any and all. Thank you in advance.

Today I submitted five questions to Knorr Canada to be answered by Sandi Richards.  I am hoping later this week I will be posting about this most flattering experience soon.  Thank you Knorr Canada for this opportunity.

For those who follow me here, know I have enjoyed in preparing with great success Knorr's What's For Dinner Recipes such as Chicken with White Wine Cream Sauce, Savory Cheese & Leek Scones,  Herb-Rubbed Citrus Chicken, , Skinny Scalloped Potatoes, and one of our all time Classic Favourites, Shepherd's Pie with a Knorr "twist" of course.

I have yet to be disappointed with a Knorr Recipe.

Rob is gone out on a couple of Hospital runs, so I think I will wrap things up here, make myself a hot beverage and give my Sisters a call, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

**Disclaimer:  I have not received anything from Knorr Canada for posting my opinions here about their Company or their products.

Lonely Girl

Yesterday I had just a little bit of what it used to be like a couple months ago, this being ... a little bit of my Rob and I together.  I enjoyed every little moment we had.  It gets pretty lonely when your best friend is not around to kibitz and bicker with, especially the bickering part when I get to win.  Oh yes, I almost forgot the "bossing around" part.  *Smile*

Wow Paul Anka ! that takes a few of us way back there, does it not?  

This girl decided the heck with everything that needed doing around here today, as there is ALWAYS something to be done like those spare dogs floating around the floors that I refuse to feed.  I had been invited out for a coffee, and I decided to go.  I was pretty excited at the prospect of meeting up with a lady who I had only met through Cindy's Recipe Exchange on Facebook.  

I had to return a couple of items previously bought at the Deals Store in Owen Sound, so we had decided to meet up at the Tim Horton's Coffee shop at the strip mall there.  

I had a totally "awesome" time meeting up with Sharon.  The pleasure was all mine.  Chatting away was so easy and natural with no break in conversation on what to say to each other whatsoever.  Really truly I absolutely LOVE "Down to Earth" people with no pretenses.  Really who wouldn't ? 

"What a total surprise when Sharon had said she admires what I do to help so many people, wanting to give me a gift in gratitude.  Wow, how nice was that Sharon, as I really don't see myself as that, but thank you so much for your geniune kindness.   I am also sorry to say, being in Owen Sound, I couldn't believe when I seen my "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle driving by  just outside where we where ... were we being "stalked"?????"

Hahahaha .... NO, Auntie Gladys, my "Crabby Cabbie" was not stalking me again.  Rob had a Taxi call to Owen Sound, and I had asked him to meet up with us if he had a moment for a coffee and to meet Sharon as well.  Ha ! but if one hadn't known better, he could have pretty well been "stalking" me that "Crabby Cabbie" guy of mine !  

Sharon had to be on her way, and I went on mine back towards home.  The Christmas Store at The Fyre Place in Springmount caught my eye, so I took a quick stop in to see what they had on Sale, if anything at a good sale price.

"There had been nothing I needed, however I still could not help but admire the amazing different themed decorated trees all throughout the store.  The Nativity Sets were Out of this World !"

"It wasn't long after until I arrived back home to see the Mailbox flag up.  I was kind of taken aback at the flag being up, but then realized it was only Friday.  Here I am certain I had been thinking it was Saturday all day long.... another "brain fart" gone off in my head."

I think I will post the photo on the left of our mailbox to Post Crossing on Facebook, as my Mailbox "North of Wiarton" on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada.  I like it !

As soon as I looked after my Aussie girls and boys, I got into the house as fast as I could cause I was all excited to try on my new hand-knitted Cowl Sharon had made for me.

"I absolutely LOVE my new Cowl.  It is perfect for keeping the front and back of my neck cozy warm from bitter winds.  Would you look at that gift bag?  I know Sharon also reads my blog, or how else would she know how much I do LOVE me those Snowmen.  And check out those Hershey Chips ... they are Cinnamon !!!  I can't wait to make us up something with those in.  Ummm...wonder how fresh Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Chips would go?  I am thinking pretty dang good ... stay tuned, there might be a new muffin recipe showing up here some day in the New Year."

Sharon thank you for your kindness, it will make me *smile* many times thinking about it.  Looking forward to our next future coffee meeting together.

I was also excited to finish off a frame needing just two more photos.  Aiden and Connor had recently been to Disney Land in Florida.  I had picked a few photos from their Florida photo album, deciding on two to print off.  It was not such an easy choice, however I went for the bright colours.

"Complete finally after what I am sure has been 2 years.  I LOVE it.  Can't wait to go buy me another collage frame to begin another one now."

Coming up a Year ago now ... I am not exactly sure, as I will have to check with Gill, but I know she had started a Sealed Pot Challenge of sorts way back when, that I had decided Rob and I would participate in my saving our loonies from that day forward.  I thought I would do a count on how many we had actually saved up since that time since I do LOVE counting me some money.

"Any guesses at what our "Loon Nest Egg" was holding for us?  it was holding a grand total of $215.00.  Not bad for a bit here and there, even though secretly I was hoping for a bit more.  Beggars can't be choosers though, so this will be a bit more towards our "some day year" vacation fund.  I think I will get this put away into a bit of an account and give the pot a "go again" in the New 2013 Year."

I must say I was forever grateful to my friend, Toni with an "i", as I thoroughly enjoyed two lovely, full of flavor, toasted Turkey sandwiches today.

My "Crabby Cabbie" not only enjoyed taking three turkey sandwiches on a bun along to work with him today, he neglected to tell Auntie this when she called him to offer to make him some of his favourite Egg Salad Sandwiches up for his supper tonight.  Oh my Gawd !  what a character I have married, and to think it has lasted 18 Years and running.  Thank goodness I do have myself an understanding family and lots of really good friends, who knows my husband would never turn down Turkey or an Egg Salad Sandwich, or two, or three, or ....

Anyone who knows us, surely knows why I get lonely without him here at times, as when he is here there is NEVER a DULL moment.  Ha !

I can not believe I just felt a sudden wave of tiredness go completely through my whole being.  *Sigh* I can see myself having an early night here all by my "not too terribly lonely girl" when out with my "Checkerboard Aussies" here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Flowers Made My Day !

Here I am all tired, feeling blogged right out at the moment, barely believing I am almost at a loss for something to say.  This is so unlike "ME", as I am certain all those who know me can testify to this fact.

My day so began ....

"I love mornings like these.  A heavy frost beautified everything it touched with it's shiny glimmer in the early morning light.  Beautiful .... "

I was up before 5:00AM getting my "Crabby Cabbie" a lunch/dinner put together for his day ahead, then attended to all those wonderful "Checkerboard Aussies" needs right after.

Rob and I had a bit of conversation between us this morning, with never finding enough time together these past few weeks or so .... most of our time together has been a few hours together on a Sunday, or on the phone talking to each other.  Strangers in love we have seemingly become.

You can imagine my surprise when I happened to find this morning, tucked in among the Carnations Rob had surprised me with two weekends ago....

"Roses !  A mixed bouquet of roses !!!  Are they not beautiful? as I certainly think them to be."

I called Rob, and he had said, "you have just found them now"?  With my reply being, "no I seen them just before you left, but we had been too busy getting ready for our day and I had forgotten to tell you.  Why did you get me roses?"  His reply was simply, "because I love you."

We might not see each other as often as I would like sometimes, however I take great comfort in knowing how much I am loved.  *Sigh* if every day held such a good feeling in it...   Really is there any reason each day shouldn't hold such a good feeling?  I think not, we just need to dig a bit deeper some days to find one, as I am sure there is always one to be found.

Today being Friday I warmed up my Van with the frost being removed from its windshield and headed it "North of the Checkerboard" to see my Good Doctor for my weekly shot in the arm.  I wonder if my allergies will ever leave me, or if I am doomed to a weekly "shot" in the arm for the rest of my Life?

Before I went to my Doctor's appointment in Lion's Head, I had a quick stop in Fernadale on another matter I had to attend to ....

"Looking for a Summer Cottage Rental to vacation at on the Bruce Peninsula?  Rentcottage.com might be the place to call."

When I did return home from the Doctors I got right to a bit of cleaning of this and that.  Always there is something in the vicious circle of cleaning is there to be done.  Since Rob's gift of "flowers made my day", I spent a little time making myself feel good before beginning anything else by ....

"... spending time arranging and placing them around the house."

I really need to make sure my "Crabby Cabbie" has some good lunch/dinner choices to take with him to work, so I then spent time in the kitchen making sure this was going to happen.

"Out of the freezer came some stew beef that I got to preparing into a Beef Vegetable Soup to switch things up from Chicken for a change."

I actually began with some Campbell's Beef Broth (as I haven't made any of my own for freezer backup lately), when I realized I had purchased some Beef Bouillon from my Epicure party two weeks ago.  I gave it a whirl, along with the usual Beef, onions, celery, carrots and potatoes (dang I forgot my frozen garden peas again!).

Funny thing it just so happened Rob had came home for a wee bit this afternoon for something, just after the soup was finished cooking.  What a nice surprise.  Together we had ourselves a bowl with his comment being "what did you do different, as that was the best Beef Soup you  have ever made".  Well the only difference was the Epicure Beef Bouillon I had used, so this is going to be a usual "keeper" favorite in our home from here on in (sorry Campbells).

"I got the lunch/dinner menu for my "Crabby Cabbie" all put together by way of Homemade Beef Soup, along with a side of Potato & Egg Salad, and a hard boiled egg.  A banana will be the choice of fruit with an Ice Tea drinking box.  That hopefully will give him a nice change up for tomorrow."

With my "Crabby Cabbie" back out the door after a quick lunch with me, I got myself organized a little bit in the way of thinking "Christmas".

"That would be in "Christmas Card" sending.  One of the gals on "Cindy's Recipe Exchange" thought it would be nice we send each other a Christmas Card.  I thought so too and was happy when 14 members signed on to do so.  This I had began giving some thought to this afternoon, along with my usual Christmas Card list."

Speaking of "Cindy's Recipe Exchange" on Facebook, I am pleased to be able to say we are now up to a count of 327 members !  Wowsers! way beyond any of my expectations when this group was first begun 1 1/2 years ago.  For me it has been a great interest on something I enjoy, and really lots of fun.  I have truly met some pretty awesome people within the Recipe Exchange, with new ones seemingly arriving daily.

Not only did my Rob's gift of "flowers make my day" ... there is seldom a day goes past without either one or all of my "Checkerboard Aussies" putting a *smile* on my face.

 "I just have to look out the Patio door to have Buddy put a *smile* on my face this day.  Such a handsome boy he is."

After Buddy and I had our walk together this morning, out, about and around the property, and while I was in cleaning the kennel run, he jumped up on his shelter and started giving me the biggest, and wettest kisses.  Now that makes some days just worth it all !

Today I also received some "Happy Mail" through Post Crossing.

"I received this amazing card from Cologne, Germany."

I love I can travel the World without even leaving my own home.  Post Crossing and the Internet are amazing!

"Don't forget I am offering a Give Away with the draw being on this Monday coming up.  *Click* HERE for details."

Jeez for someone who is tired and all blogged out with nothing to say, I think I managed to blah, blah, blah along just fine after all !  On that note I believe I will go see to my "pack" then relax myself with maybe just a wee bit of TV before I call it a night here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".