It's A Wrap !

I have some pretty busy posts over the past week or so.  I think I am feeling a little on the "blogged" out ide, or maybe it is the Winter Blues, also  I have still been looking for my "Mojo" with not too much luck in finding it yet.

The whole of South Western Ontario put a "halt" on all the School Buses running as there was a huge Storm Warning issued last night for today.  I know down Toronto way, as well in the Kitchener area, there was some freezing rain, however nothing like they had been calling for.  Not even a snowflake here; we had more yesterday.

Apparently the Ice scare is not over for Southern Ontario as there is still a Major Ice Storm Warning for this evening.  You may read more about that HERE.

My "Crabby Cabbie" was right in the spirit of the Storm Warnings with his Facebook post this morning, at the expense of the Groundhog of course.

"All we can say to this is we sure hope he took The "Crabby Cabbie" home that night !!!"

Hahaha ... could not have been a better time for this to be posted !  Are you in the Saugeen Shores or South Bruce Peninsula area, as a full-time resident or cottager maybe?  we would LOVE your support over at Facebook on the "Crabby Cabbie's" Page .... check us out HERE.  Thanks to all in advance who are able to do so.

What was happening in my day?  more stuff for the "Crabby Cabbie" AGAIN !!!  There is always a good woman behind every crabby good man, is there not?

Unfortunately Rob was having a few mechanical problems with his Crabby Cabbie vehicles, so this morning he had to bring a vehicle into our mechanics, where I had to pick him up while it was left to be fixed.

Rob does not let any least little mechanical problem go on once he is made aware of one.  Why is he all over a vehicle problem that might crop up?  firstly because the safety of our customers would be at risk, and secondly a little problem could always turn into a more costly problem if left any length of time.  Good smarts honey for being all over this like you are.

Even oil changes are done on our Crabby Cabbie vehicles like clockwork, every 5,000 km.  That can happen in just a short two week span.  *Sigh*, I really do not know how some people think if you are running a business you have all kinds of money.  On the contrary, as people forget that "overhead" such as maintenance, fuel and insurances (three of the major expenses that come to mind) exist and can at most times eat up any small profits there might be very quickly.

After picking Rob up, we had to go to the Wiarton O.P.P detachment to take in our applications for Criminal Checks to be done.  This is an annual requirement that goes along with applying for a Taxi License, needing done since we could be transporting Children, as well as Seniors or Mentally Challenged persons.  Oops there goes another $50.00 Bill.

Next stop was a courtesy call to a local Community Service.  While there we were told how someone had relayed to them what wonderful people we, The "Crabby Cabbie", were to deal with.  Wow, that made both of feel pretty dang good.

I am still of the opinion that all the negative forces which have been against us the past few months in our endeavours of creating a solid client base for The "Crabby Cabbie"  will be overthrown with our efforts of honesty and good business sense hopefully eventually winning out.  Building a business takes honesty, consistency and perseverance at the best of times, as well as excellent customer service skills, which can be tried at the best of times when in the Customer Service business, and hopefully not too many break-downs.

You have no idea how much my close family members, friends, and the Crabby Cabbie's excellent customers have meant to us the past few months.  Theses are the ones who have been encouraging us on and supporting us all the way.  Thank you, as you people know who you are.

Last stop downtown Wiarton was to our local Foodland store where we picked up some Multi-Grain Wraps for our lunch.

"Leftover chicken placed on a Multi-Grain wrap, stacked with shredded cheese, crispy fried bacon, Caesar dressing .... oops almost forgot the Romaine Lettuce.  Before you know it, "it's a wrap"!  and a very good one I might add."

~Shared at The Best Blog Recipes & My Turn For Us~

Well after lunch our Van was repaired, so out the door we were headed.

"Bandit can read our "Body Language" and just knew we were going out, can you tell?  The big suck pouted enough we figured we would let him go with us.  Mercedes has had a turn this week, so next in line will be Lexus and Buddy.  Just a little spoiled at times."

That day sure got eaten up fast by all the running around that had to be done.  My "Crabby Cabbie" went back to work while I returned home to do really not too much of anything as I was feeling a bit weary at this point.

Pssst ... for all of us with "sleep" issues, here is an article I came across today that might interest some:

http://beeuorganics.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/trouble-sleeping-try-honey-it-works/

The day has turned colder it seems.  I still have to go out and about one more time this evening with my Gang.  The home fires are still burning, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

A Fantastic Ending Of 2012 (Lot of Photos)

"Last Night blogging with another mournful look from my Bandit boy... a different ploy being used this time with a different toy."

This morning was nice as Rob and I had a little bit of time to enjoy a coffee together, do a "wee" bit of Year end book work before he had to adorn his "Crabby Cabbie" hat and leave for probably one of his busiest nights of the Year.

"Have I ever mentioned before how much I LOVE me some Snowmen?  Just kicking back with a few snowmen while I had myself a 2nd cup of Java this morning."

After Rob had left I got going on removing some more Christmas Decor, along with getting a little bit of housework done in the way of some much needed dog hair removal and dusting.  I also took time out to get my mini "Time Capsule Jar" ready for the Year 2013.

"This is my jar all ready for "good things that have happened" notes to be added to it all throughout the 2013 New Year.  How exciting will it be when Rob and I open it next Year at this time to have us some "Memories with Love"."

"Then I had to get a plate of Christmas goodies all ready since I was expecting some "special" company this afternoon to come visiting."

I was also totally thrilled to death when my Son, Paul, had sent me a text to say he was on his way up to spend New Year's Eve with me !!!  Here I thought I would be spending another one alone with just little old me and my "Checkerboard Aussies", but it was not to be after all.  

Paul arrived just before the lunch hour, but had been exhausted so headed off right away to his room for 40 winks or so.  Not too long after a knock came to the front door and my company arrived. 

I had a wonderful afternoon as my young friend, Ashley, along with her sister, Amber came visiting with no other then quite an amazing young man by the name of Nathan Patrick William Reynolds-Furry having arrived just last week all the way from Yass, Australia !!! to visit little ole' us over here on the Bruce Peninsula.  We had such a delightful visit all together.  I was thrilled at what a knowledgeable, educated, open and honest, young man I found Nathan to be.  Everything through our correspondence of the last month or so I had thought him to be, with naught a disappointment whatsoever.

It wasn't too late when Paul came out to join us after arising from his 40 winks.

"Bandit, of course, being the kind of Australian Dog he is had to be all over his very first Australian Human as much as he could."

Ashley could not believe I didn't have my camera going off all afternoon while they were here visiting, but I was way too busy enjoying the company of having them all there.  It was a real treat for me to have an afternoon house full of such enjoyable company at my mercy.  *smile*

"Ashley insisted she take a photo of I along with Nathan.  I suspect there might be a few more of Nathan showing up in my blog posts in the month of January."

Once the girls and Nathan had take their leave, Paul and I set out for downtown Wiarton to have ourselves a bite of supper at the Subway.  Not too much else going on in the big town of Wiarton, so back home we came.

Paul was busy with some text messaging so I "fired up" my Facebook page to find my name had been "tagged" by The Cluttered Cupboard, one of my favourite stores in downtown Wiarton.  I had, along with my friend, Toni with an "i", apparently won their Give Away they had just recently hosted.  You and a friend were eligible to win by  referring a friend to "LIKE" The Cluttered Cupboard's Facebook page.

"Check out what Toni with an "i" and I each won from The Cluttered Cupboard.  Are they not just too cool?  I think I am going to love having one of these in my home."

Really and truly, should you ever be up on the Bruce Peninsula in my Neck of the Woods in Wiarton, you certainly would not be disappointed should you drop on in at The Cluttered Cupboard.  Or if you are unable to do that, you may just like to have a "peak" in at their Facebook page to see exactly what kind of really authentic cool stuff that they do have to offer you and your home, or unique gifting needs, by *clicking* HERE.  

Just tell Bill or Holly I sent you, and you are a friend of mine (oh yes and I do not get paid or reimbursed in any way by referring you there, I really do just LOVE their store and the owners are pretty awesome people too *smile*).

I really have had a pretty good 2012 if I say so myself with some totally awesome Highlights that I would love to share .....

There were new "Checkerboard Aussies" HERE.

My wonderful husband, Rob, began his "Crabby Cabbie" adventure HERE.

There has not only been adventures going on this past Year but a few laughs HERE too.

Boys and their Toys HERE.

Lots of Summer Fun with the Grand boys HERE

"Check out what I won with this Scone Recipe I entered it in to Win by *clicking*  HERE."

The whole Year of 2012 had been one sort of an adventure all Year long, as you can tell .....

Here I sit reflecting back on all what a great year 2012 really has been while the love of my life is hard at it again doing what he does best with his "Crabby Cabbie" hat firmly atop his head while he says .....

"Happy New Year to ALL my Family & Friends.  Wishing much happiness and many blessings to all of you and yours in 2013."

I am looking forward to another wonderful adventurous Year in my Life ahead, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

With A Little Help I Could Do It !

In my post of Yesterday there had been a couple people curious on how much the Hand Painted Antique Ironing Board I had purchased at "Sweet Things at Dejong Acres Farm's" Open House this past Saturday had cost me, but there hadn't been anyone take a "guess" at the price.  If anyone has every been at the Dejong Acres Farm, or gone onto their website, they would know among other things they are "sheep farmers", so I really might have to admit I had fallen into a pile of "Sheep S**t, as the price I had paid....

".... for what I think is a pretty cool piece of decor was a grand total of $10.00 !  Can you believe it?  and I honestly think I "stole" it !  Regardless if I hadn't nabbed it I think Anita Dejong or Abby Miners' would have done so, that was for certain, but they been too polite not to grab it from my already firm grasp.  Ha !"

Last week I had blogged about Karen's Creations Scrapbooking, located downtown Wiarton, as having a couple sessions set up for people to make Christmas Cards and Tags for the cost of $15.00 per person, including all materials.  Last night my friend, BJ and I took advantage of this (what I thought to be one heck of a deal) since neither of us had ever made anything like these in our life before.

"Just before 6:00 pm last evening brought us down to Karen's Creations Scrapbooking on Main Street in Downtown Wiarton.  You may find out more about Karen's Creations at her website by *clicking* HERE, or joining her Facenbook Group by *clicking" HERE.  I hope I will be welcoming Karen to the Bruce County Small Businesses Reaching Out group on Facebook very shortly too."

"I am very pleased to introduce Karen Lancaster showing us the very first Card we were going to be making with the selection to the right being the full package along with tags."

"At our stations Karen did not leave BJ and I treading water by ourselves, being there to assist the whole time we needed her.  Hmmm, I am thinking it could have been possible BJ needed more assistance then I ? or was it just because I had the camera in my possession?  Ha !"

"Karen took a bit of time to show us how the stamps worked on making a "glitter" effect.  Once Karen had stamped the paper, she poured glitter onto the stamped pattern, shaking the excess glitter back into a tray, then taking a heat gun to "dry" it.  Pretty cool to find out some of the "behind the scenes" stuff.  Thanks Karen."

We had been getting near the end when the door had opened to see my "Crabby Cabbie" entering.  He thought he would stop in to be nosy say "hello" on his way home.

"It was kind of nice Rob had stopped in as he took a couple photos of the two of us hard at work on our Handmade Creations (of course with Karen close by)."

"Some of us needed to concentrate obviously a little harder then others."

 

I am pretty sure we had spent a good three hours with Karen, but then again that included inquiring and talking about a couple of other things too.  Personally I couldn't do anything ever like this on a regular basis as my neck could not take the bending over such a long time.  I am really *sad* about this as I can honestly say I really had fun and enjoyed myself.  It wasn't too difficult not to enjoy myself either since I had been in such good company with BJ and Karen.  Thanks girls.

"With a little help I could do it !  Check our everything I made ... are they not lovely?"

Can you believe within two days I made my own outdoor Christmas Wreath, five Handmade Christmas Cards and four Tags ????  I surely hope I have made an impression on all of my already "crafty" friends ... *Smile*.

Today was not a productive day whatsoever as I woke with my whole body aching from "head to toe" and my neck feeling like it was ready to come away from my shoulders.  That is "okay" because we all know anything needing done is always going to be there waiting for us.  It took me awhile, but I finally convinced myself of this.

However I did have to go out this morning to do some banking and pick up a couple items from our local Foodland store.  After lunch my "Crabby Cabbie" had called to say he had someone in Saugeen Shores was inquiring about purchasing some Gift Certificates for Cab Fares.  I had not too long ago been thinking about Gift Certificates, but of course it had stayed a "thought".  

I called the lady back on the behalf of my "Crabby Cabbie", introducing myself as his "Not So Crabby Wife".  I thanked her for calling us, as she had found our phone number in the Bruce Municipal Phone Book in Saugeen Shores after being turned away by some others.  She expressed her pleasure at me being immediately receptive to her needs.  I told her I would get back to her by the end of the week with some Gift Certificates.

I made a couple of phone calls to friends (thanks Pam), to get some ideas, then found a template online and whipped up our own "Crabby Cabbie" Gift Certificates.  I then drove back downtown to Karen's Creations to purchase some stock paper from her and within an hour or so .....

"I placed the call back to the lady to tell her the Gift Certificates she requested would be delivered to her tomorrow.  I am pretty proud of myself.  I am pretty sure I am creative, but in more of the "computer" sense then other things.  What do you think of the "Crabby Cabbie's" Winter themed Gift Certificates?"

Unfortunately, but at times a reality we need to worry about such items being "photocopied", as there is some who wouldn't even think about committing fraud if such Gift Certificates might fall in to the wrong hands.  On the suggestion of another friend (thanks Toni), I had purchased a unique ink pen for Rob to sign the Gift Certificates as well as numbering each one.  This will make them more authentic and easy to "stand out" to us.

Should anyone care to gift a "Crabby Cabbie" Gift Certificate for Christmas or any time of Year, please contact the Original "Crabby Cabbie" Rob at 519-373-7000 or 519-379-7700 to place your order.  Please keep in mind, "only the Name is Crabby"  (and Yes, I am zipping my lip on that one).

Are you on Facebook?  The "Crabby Cabbie" would love if you went there to "LIKE" his Facebook page by *clicking* HERE, .  I would like to extend a "Special Thank You" to Russ Ewing of Stinky Dog, as the "Crabby Cabbie" is now ....

"Getting into the "Christmas Spirit" over there on his Facebook Page."

It had been that kind of day for me, with not much really accomplished but something significant accomplished.  It is "all good".

I am pretty excited about tomorrow as there is something on my Calendar I have been looking forward to, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".