The Garden Is Alive !

This morning I was up and at it early getting the dishes done up, the bed made and whatever else needed it doing as two of my friends were arriving at 9 am.

I had broke down a couple of weeks ago and asked my friends, BJ & Marg, if they would consider coming to help me with my flower bed that I had neglected for 2 years (since I had no desire the last couple years to even attempt weeding)  Now that I have been feeling better, after considering taking out the garden, I decided I wanted to keep it as I have enjoyed it in so many past years after I had first put it in.

The three of us got going just after 9 am, going until 12:15.  The time went really quickly with us talking and laughing as we worked.  I made them stop, as they would have kept going, since I had made lunch reservations for us at 12:30 at the Green Door Cafe.

We managed to get 3/4 of the garden weeded.

What a huge difference as you can tell from the before & after photos.  The garden is alive!!!  A few perennials got knocked around, however they are hardy and will all come back to their normal state.

The girls told me they would come back to help me finish it off.  We are hoping for a big rain day so we can weed a day after when the soil is not so hard.

The beauty of all this, in my books, is that I had two friends not only come and help me, but also never judged me.  Good friends are the best !!!  I am blessed with fantastic friends.

To be quite honest I am very much "out of shape" as that bit of gardening has set my muscles to aching and I am tired.  It is a good tired, one of those that make you look at what you have accomplished and take pleasure in.  Pleasure? something I hadn't been feeling for a long time, and quite ecstatic to feel this way once again.

The rest of my day?  I had to go out to take some photos this afternoon, then Rob and I had a lovely dinner of BBQ's Spatchcock Chicken and fresh asparagus.  Oh yum it was !

To all my Family & Friends supporting me through my illness .....

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

Not Much Of This Or That

There has been not much of this or that going on in my day this day, other then being a bit disappointed to see more snow had fallen AGAIN throughout the night (but really nothing from what they had called for).

My day didn't really get off to the greatest start as I was having one of those, "no matter what I do or say I can not please anyone day".  You know, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't kind of days?  even though all you have been doing is trying to help.  All I am pretty sure I lost 95% of any energy I had being upset over this and the other 5% crying about it.

Thank goodness I have a couple of really great friends I can confide in, as that is exactly where it took me.

My one girlfriend and I have been friends since we were 15 years old with all our history going from there right through with the birth of our children, the breakdown of our first marriages, and so on and so forth.  We lost contact for a number of years, but now we have reconnected it has been like there has been no break whatsoever in our friendship.

I have much to be thankful in this area of my Life, as to have a few lifetime forever friends is more rewarding then having hundreds of false friends in my eyes.

Emotional upset can so totally drain us of energy, can it not?  Truly I think emotional drain can at times be much more exhausting then physical.

After pouring out my heart and soul, I was still drained, however felt so much better for another understanding and relating to what I was feeling.  It feels liberating to have someone you can confide in that has also felt similar experiences to what you have yourself.

I am grateful to have friends where we do not judge each other, but understand.  Friends who we do not have to walk on eggshells or beat around the bush about things  Friends who if we say something that might hurt the other, that we are friends enough to say, "I am sorry" or "I screwed up" ....  I always pray that I am as good of friend back to my friends, even though I find myself speaking out of turn more often then naught, or saying something that might not be just so or politically correct.  My friends, my true friends, know where my heart is, and overlook these imperfections I have.

Gotta love how the "spelling error" was pointed out & acknowledged.  Much better then me just ignoring my faults where grammar & spelling errors are concerned. *smile*

I do not have to mention any names, for I know those who know in their hearts where my heart is realize who they are.  I cannot begin to express enough how much your friendship(s) me to me.  Thank you always, and I do love you all for being my friend(s) and loving me back no matter what.

I did manage to go forward with my day.  

After the lunch hour I had met up with an acquaintance, who I had quite the chat with.  Sometimes you just "connect" with a person, and for me this was one of those times.  This chat was good for me this day, as it took my mind off dwelling on myself.  Thanks for that chat, and I do look forward to many more.

This afternoon I got to spend a bit of time with my husband before he had to head out to do what he does best as the Crabby Cabbie, who really isn't that crabby at all most of the time.  I also managed to get some dusting and vacuuming done today, which leaves doing a couple of loads of laundry to be done for tomorrow.  Is there always something to do around here?  all of that plus more !!!

It was just me and the Aussies for dinner tonight.  They all had theirs in the morning, so I only had to worry about something for myself which was easy enough by whipping up a couple of eggs scrambled with toast and a piece of cheddar cheese.

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

The "Right" Friends & "New To Us"

I truly believe being as honest as I can, after many years of trying to figure it out, what the "right" friends are in my Heart.  Have you?

No surprise I was awake when Rob came home this morning in the wee hours. 

Bandit and finally decided to get up and stay up shortly before 6 am.  My poor Rob got up at 7:30 as we had an appointment scheduled for 10:00 am in Meaford, leaving here at 8:30 am.  At least he stopped to get himself a 2nd cup of coffee for the road.

While Rob was at the appointment, I turned back down Hwy 26 to head over to my friend, Toni with an "i's" house to visit.  Happy days that we got to have some "friend" visiting time for at least over an hour !!!

I had taken Toni a small basket of apples, and came away with much much more ... a new hat she had give me that I absolutely LOVE ! and a new cookbook with a recipe that captured my attention right off the get go when first opening it.  Lucky girl I am to have such great friends that I do ... really quite beyond lucky I think I am !

Once I had picked Rob back up from his appointment in Meaford, we headed back Owen Sound way where we stopped at the Billy Bishop Airport to pickup our "new to us" vehicle that we had purchased last week.  Thanks to Toni's husband, Bob, who gave us the lead this vehicle was for sale, we are now the owners of ....

.... a 2004 Kia Amanti 4 door Sedan.

Other then the price was "right", when I had realized there was a Sunroof, Toni had looked at me and laughed, saying, "the sunroof has sold you on it" !  Yeppers she was right !  love the Sunroof, leather interior, heated seats, roomy interior, and that it only had one owner, and that it was spotless !  I do not think the back seat or trunk were ever used.

The "new to us" car has been dropped off to our mechanics to have the brakes done on it, and hopefully I will get to drive it by Tuesday for a few weeks before Winter hits hard (did I say Winter??? YIKES !!! ). 

Speaking of Winter, I am sad to say it really isn't too far away.  As I sat here this morning at 6:00 am there had been Hail hitting our windows.  Between the rain and odd Sun shower today I am certain the High only reached 6*C .. brrrrr.

This afternoon Bandit and I took in how well the potted flowers in the front of the house, which faces North, are doing.  They never did this well all Summer.  Obviously something likes the extreme cooker temperatures.  Not me !

What do I have on the go for tomorrow? would anyone believe if I said I am still working on that dreaded book work of the Crabby Cabbie's?  Drat, it is true ... the house can go to shambles around me until I get that done.  Oh man I really don't care for shambles so much, so I best be getting 'r finished come Hell or High Water tomorrow.

Here it is 7:37 (is that not an airplane?), with Rob about to stoke up the wood stove, and I with a pot of  Homemade Turkey Soup on the stove top heating for us to have ourselves a late dinner, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Wrung Through The Wringer

I think I could have stayed in bed forever this morning.  Wiarton Wednesday was a long day for my body, as I was beat when I got to bed last night with the pain shooting from every muscle, as it still was first thing this morning.

I really did feel what I would imagine what it would feel like if I had been wrung through the wringer.

That does not stop things needing done.  Despite the "fog" I was feeling I still had to move forward as today was the day I had put aside in my head that I was going shopping for my Mother.  I had also arranged to meet up with two friends for coffee before I did the shopping.

After I was done my morning Aussie routine I was out the door by 8:30 am on my way to Owen Sound as around 9:30 my friends were going to meet up with me.  I was a bit early, but they were promptly right behind me.  I had something in the Van for my friend, Sharon, so I had to go back out to retrieve it.

Ha ! I had caught a picture of my friends, Toni with an "i", and Sharon on my way back in.  Toni was pretending she hadn't seen me with the camera.  When Toni & I had been down to Newmarket we had stopped in Shelburne on our way home where I had spotted a "cookie jar" that had Biscotti on it.  Of course, my friend Sharon is the Biscotti Queen in Cindy's Recipe Exchange, so I  HAD to get it for her.  She absolutely loved it so much she made a pan of Biscotti for it today.  Why do I know this? cause I stole the photo of her Biscotti from her Facebook page ... sneaky, am I not Sharon???  xx

I really LOVE all the wonderful friends I have made since blogging and having Cindy's Recipe Exchange on Facebook.  I have made some truly fantastic close friends.

Once we had ourselves a great visit, Sharon's cousin had came in to Timmies.  She joined them for a visit while Toni left with me to do some shopping.

Before we had headed over to the Penningtons and Reitman stores, Toni & I stopped at the new Thrift Store.  Nothing had "jumped out" at either of us, however a very lovely & organized store with very reasonable pricing.  This store is located almost behind the Boston Pizza in Owen Sound.

I managed to get 3 pair of Capri for Mother at Penningtons, however neither store had button down blouses, everything had been pullover type tops which she does not care for.  I might have to wait for the Fall line to come out to get her some new tops.  The Capri were on sale so I got $120.00 worth for $60.00 plus taxes, which was fantastic !

Next I have to take them up to get her to try them on (fingers & toes crossed they all fit so I do not have to return), then take to the seamstress to be shortened should they fit.  This will not be happening tomorrow.

Tomorrow I have the appliance man coming as my brand new Convection Oven is not working for some reason.  When I had made the Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie the other day, after 40 minutes on Convection I had put a tester in the center to see if it was set and it was still cold in the middle with only the outsides of it barely set.  It took 1 1/2 hours to bake before it set.  Something was definitely wrong with that picture.  Hopefully it gets solved tomorrow morning.  Barley used and almost $1,000.00 it had better be solved tomorrow !

I have laundry to get done up and much housework, so this I will tackle tomorrow as well as finishing up the books I left since I had been busy all day yesterday.

When coming back into Wiarton after the lunch hour I had to stop to take a photo of the home they are reconstructing on the South hill coming into Wiarton.  I LOVE this home, seeing how grand it must have been in its day ...

.... it has captured everyone's attention now the renovations on it have begun to hopefully return it to its once stately grandeur.

I would LOVE to go in to have a peek or two, would you not?

This afternoon I was still totally wiped, if not more so then this morning.  After the gang was all looked after I had sat myself down reclining back to shut my eyes.  Just about to drift off and Murphy's Law ! the phone rang.  I then tried again afterwards with not long after the phone rang again.  I finally moved myself into the bedroom and not only two more times it rang, someone sent me a text too.  I gave up and got up.  Am I still exhausted and hurting? you darn tooting I am.

We had a quick dinner of BBQ'd Turkey Burgers and leftover Potato Salad.  Rob helped me with getting everyone out and about for the last time this evening before he got called back out.

A little smile from last night .... Rob having himself fun with our Bandit boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMzMc4BBZkw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUU8bX5GB7YXVJhx9FwMtLvA

What to do now? that is the easiest, clearest question I have had to answer myself all day long ... I am off and running to my bed, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

A Most Perfect Day !

How could a day not be perfect when it started with a kiss from my husband at 5 am to say good-bye before he left for work, when your almost 30 year old Son calls you at 6 am and sings Happy Birthday through the phone, giggling part way through, when your sisters, brother, step-daughter, sister-in-law and Auntie call to wish you a Happy Birthday, and the brother drops you off a large double cream Tim Hortons, when you get text messages from family members and friends, as well as over 200 Happy Birthdays between blog comments, personal emails and Facebook, when your husband shows up at lunch when you are not expecting him to bring you flowers and a Birthday Cake, when you get the most wonderful package in the mail you were not expecting from a Secret Sister, when a best friend shows up at your door with a Birthday Cake, when your husband takes you out for dinner.  And I just got off the phone from a call with our young friend, Nathan, all the way from Canberra, Australia ! who called to wish me a Happy Birthday.

"This was the very very BEST Birthday I have had in a long long time !"

It is late by the time we arrived home from a dinner of Chinese Buffet, cleaned out the puppies before their bedtime, and took all our adult "gang" out.  Tomorrow I will share some fantastic pictures from throughout my most wonderful Birthday, but in the meantime I would like to share this that my sister, Jeanne, had emailed me May 2011.  I LOVE it, even though it brings tears to my eyes each time I read it .....

PASS THE BISCUITS

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his Biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your momma put in a long hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides... a burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

So...please pass me a biscuit. And yes, the burned one will do just fine! And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets... Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.


ENJOY LIFE NOW - IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!

I do so LOVE the people who treat me right and would go to the Moon and Back for them.  On that note I am going to try to find me some Magic Star Dust to see it it will bring me a good nights sleep with dreams of the wonderful day, thanks to YOU, I just had, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard."

An Abundance Of Colour

Last night, after I had published my blog post of yesterday, I had to deal with the Turkey Stock I had made.

"While a nice cuppa "Calming" Tea was steeping in my mug, I got going on packaging up the Stock to be frozen, leaving enough to be placed back in the fridge for Soup to be made today." 

The "calming" tea must have done its magic as I feel like I slept not too badly at all last night.  It sure makes a different in the day ahead when you have slept the night before, especially since my past few days have been spent with FM flareups and severe muscle spasms thorough my neck, shoulders and arms.

It is an awful feeling, causing alarm and stress to myself, when it first started happening to me 4 years ago, still taking me aback somewhat when it happens. It does pass though so this is a "good" thing.  Not sure about FM pain? here are some explanations found by *clicking* HERE.  On these "bad" days I really try to focus on how blessed I am to not have something worse debilitating disease, truly I do, and appreciate when I do have "good" days, when my neck issues and FM are both down to a dull roar.

This morning I had my Rob home, but after coffee he had a "project" cut out for himself that was a priority.

"Rob's very first "Crabby Cabbie" vehicle had to come out of retirement when the another we had, had its transmission go.  Old Blue got to go back into retirement today, as Rob got New Blue cleaned out and set up to go for tomorrow.  I do LOVE me the colour Blue!"

"Yes he did a great job cleaning it out, even placing the Grey-Bruce VON Piggy for Pennies in her upfront and center spot."

SHOUT OUT to all Saugeen Shores and area residents, please show your support by giving The "Crabby Cabbie's"  Facebook page a "LIKE", just by dropping in there by *clicking* HERE.  Thanks for your support, truly it is hugely appreciated.

What on earth would I be doing while Rob was busy himself?  I was busying myself with adding Colours to our life.  How would I do that you might wonder ... Easy, Peasy as 1-2-3.

"First thing I gathered together all the colours I was going to use, then I got to cleaning and preparing them all, as they were going into a very colourful Turkey Vegetable Soup I was making for our Lunch.  Lots of goodness packed into that Turkey Stock with all those wonderful colours."

"The "hardy" veggies were first to go in such as turnip, carrots, onion and celery, with the chopped up turkey and broccoli  was added in near the end of the cooking time.  When would the end of cooking time be? just when veggies are fork tender when pierced."

"The flavour was "Out of this World" with "an abundance of colour" and all the goodness contained."

.... and as I said, it was as Easy Peasy as 1-2-3, using a Turkey or Chicken stock as your base soup, then adding in your favourite "colourful" veggies.

This COLOUR your soup as been linked into http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.ca/2013/01/foodie-friends-friday-linky-party_10.html

I received a beyond totally awesome "flattering" email this morning.  I responded to its writer, also asking if they would mind if I "shared" it here.  It is something I am proud to share, and again thank you so much again, Jo-Ann for all your kind words.

Hello Cindy,

My name is Jo-Ann and I follow you on twitter. I really enjoy reading your daily blog, and the pictures and recipes that you share along with your daily journey. When I was a young girl my grandmother lived in Wiarton and I spent a fair share of my time there. That was over 30 years ago and there are a lot of changes, progress right? Her house is still there a white 2 storey on the west side of Berford Street just before you come down the hill into Wiarton. There use to be 2 brick columns one on each side of the road with a wrought iron Wiarton sign that spanned between them. My husband and I just purchased a seasonal place near pike bay this fall and one of my favourite topics on your blog is your support and promotion of the small businesses in Wiarton. You are helping me reconnect and feel familiar in a town and area that holds so many memories. I look forward to stopping in to the Cluttered Cupboard ( I love your "winnings" from there) and having a lite bite in the Cocoa Vanilla. I like your kindness resolution, it starts with a smile, I'm for that and I'm rooting for you in your de-cluttering efforts, I've always been a little obsessed in that area. I just wanted to introduce myself, say hello and how much I enjoy your posts. All the best to you and yours "North of Wiarton."

It is people like, Jo-Ann, and all you who read my daily journal,  some leaving many kind comments, either here or by email, ones who participate along in my interests and/or challenges, or those I see in my everyday life in person, that encourage me to continue on with the journey of my life here.  Sincerely it is people like you who have made my "heart" sing many times when there have been times it sure hasn't felt much like singing at all.

Hopefully a very sincere, simple "thank you" shows my huge gratitude for YOU all supporting my journey in life, here "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Onto some more Colour from my day ....

When I had Ashley and Nathan (remember our young visitor from Australia?) over before New Years, we had made plans to go see the movie The Hobbit.  Today was that day, as Rob wanted to go see it too (bonus because, other then the Drive-in, I think this is the first movie we had been to in at least 15 yrs.).

"We arrived at the Galaxy Cinemas in Owen Sound just before the 3:00 Matinee."

"Yeah, got to use the GC we had received 2 Years Christmases ago, bout time, eh?  Really there are machines now to take your money and issue you a ticket?   Wow it has been a long time since  I had been in at a Movie Theatre !  Of course there was a line-up for popcorn ... really who can NOT have popcorn at a Movie Theatre?"

"Did I mention "colour"? or was that an "abundance of colour"?  The graphics in this movie was unbelievable !"

The Hobbit had been filmed in New Zealand.  Beautiful beautiful and more beautiful  I am sure that is why I love any photos I see posted by Susan at Kamo Lady, as the photos she posts are always so lovely, green and lush looking ... New Zealand is another place on my "Bucket List" if when I win a substantial huge lottery amount (dang I keep forgetting I need to buy tickets on a regular basis if this is ever to happen).

"I had to run into the Giant Tiger store for a moment before we left the mall, coming back out to find Ashley and Nathan having themselves quite the "snowball" fight.  Really is there no snow in Australia to have so much fun, or "only in Canada" you say?  Apparently Nathan took a snowball to the head when he had "ducked",  so I would say that was one for the Girl's Team in my books.  *Smile* "

We returned back to Wiarton to drop Ashley and Nathan to their vehicle and headed it back home ourselves.  Supper was Easy Peasy with leftover Turkey Veggie Soup, along with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich .... yummy yum yum.

Before I forget, there are now twelve of us all together participating in the 52 Week Savings Challenge.  Karen, in answer to your message just right click on the schedule and "save as it" to your computer, or shoot me off an email to justnorthofwiarton@live.ca and I will email it to you.  Thanks for all who are "on board" with me, and there is still time for more to join us !

Oh man, I just looked up at the clock to realize it is 9:30 pm already !!  That day sure flew by me in seemingly a "blink of an eye".  

Should you not have seen the movie The Hobbit I would say, "definitely go for it",  and if you have not read the book that is a "must", along with reading the following 3 volumes, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.  I read them all years ago, but getting the "itch" to read them again.

I am off to almost call it a night here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard."

Family RULES !!!

"Family Rules cause Families do RULE ! "

What do I think of my new sign?  I LOVE it !  Where would I get such a cool "Family Rules" sign from ? especially since I am participating in a No/Low Spend Challenge for the Month of January.  I could not believe I was fortunate enough to win it in a Give Away from one of our local Wiarton Stores who is on Facebook.  What local Wiarton store would make such a unique sign for a Give Away?  one of my favourite stores that I never tire of visiting or taking anyone by to visit ..... that being The "Cluttered Cupboard".

"From the outside you are immediately drawn in ... the front entrance way is so cozy leading up the stairs to wonders from re-purposed antiques and retro items, as you see here with a pair of old skis made into a hall tree, to some items you will find to be lovely and new.  Unique you want? then further venture up the stairs .... trust me you will not be disappointed. "

"You would never leave The Cluttered Cupboard without finding something that you would not want or desire for your home.  A work shop where I had the honor of peaking into where many of The Cluttered Cupboard creations have been and are being created is below the store.  New? look at the wonderful selection and colours of yarn being offered up to tickle your own creative fancies."

"As you glance from one item to the next, you will find yourself again drawn back to look a second or third time to make sure you never missed something on the first look."

"Ah there is Owner, Bill Morrow, making a wee adjustment to something that might not have been "just" so, as nothing should be out of place to a customer's pleasing eye."

Thank you to owner's Bill and Holly for hosting another Give Away on their Facebook page, that myself and my friend, Toni with an "i" were able to win one of your creations through, as well as giving so many others a chance to do so by just "liking" your page.

You will not want to miss out on any of The Cluttered Cupboard's newest creations and/or future Give Aways, so I would love to suggest you stop on over onto their Facebook Page to give their page a huge "LIKE" by *clicking* HERE to do so.

I heard also from an "inside" informant that there will be some new renovations within the next while at The Cluttered Cupboard.  This certainly will be cause for another excuse to go back for a visit so I can check out all the new changes in person !

Once I had enjoyed my visit at The Cluttered Cupboard, I headed on over to a friends place as I had picked up a little something for her last year that I had wanted to gift her as a combination Christmas/Birthday gift.  I just happened to "catch" my friend and her hubby as they were pulling out of their driveway.  I have since had a message from her that she had been most happy and thankful for the gift I had dropped around to her.

I am so happy I have made my Goal this year to be Kinder, as it does make me feel good to do so.  And really does it take any more effort to be kind, then not to be?

I had to drop off some of the stuff I had decluttered this week to our local Salvation Army Store, where I was able to see another of my friends who works there.  Friends really are the BEST aren't they, in any shape, form or age, as long as they are friends.  I LOVE me my friends !!!

I have yet to get some Turkey soup made from the Turkey stock I made the other day here, so when I returned home I got to skimming the fat from the top, which I was happy there wasn't too much to skim.  What I also did was strain it more to clarify it somewhat more then it was after skimming the fat from it..

"I laid a clean tea cloth in a strainer over top another pot while pouring the stock through, leaving the sentiment behind in the tea clothe as shown below."

Now I am happy to go ahead with make some Turkey Noodle Soup and freezing the remainder of the stock for another soup on another day.

I am so happy happy happy I am not alone on the 52 Week Money Saving Challenge, as of today there are a total of ten of us participating.  Don't miss out on joining along ... it is really quite the "doable" challenge to save a bit of money by the end of the Year, with all details found by *clicking* HERE.  Look forward to you joining Toni, Judy, Stacey, Michelle, Diane, Ellen, Debby, Cathy, Jean, and myself.

I think I will wrap things up here now so I can go and get that done now, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Turkey Soup & Declutter Day

Holy yawning and tears streaming down the face ... does yawning cause your tear ducts to open, or what?  I am feeling totally exhausted.  I didn't think I exerted myself that much today, however my brain seems to be thinking otherwise.

Going through the usual routine first thing this morning, it continued on, not without at least consuming two cups, or was that three, of java.  I do need me my coffee first thing.  

The Taxi business is kind of slow at the first of the New Year, so Rob wasn't planning on going in to work until late this morning.  Instead he took me downtown on some errands; the usual, banking, check the Lottery ticket (when I remember to buy me one), stop at the mechanics to see when he can check why my engine light as it is lite up like the 4th of July, drop around to pickup a parcel waiting for me .... 

"What a way to begin the New Year with some HAPPY MAIL right off the bat !!!  This is the Recipe Book I won through a Virtual Cookie Exchange over at Author Steena Holmes website, Pop on over to have a "look see" at Steena's website yourself  HERE.  Watch out there will be some new  cookies baking in the "North of Wiarton" kitchen come Christmas 2013 !"

Once we had all our running around and errands done, we hightailed it back home so Rob could get himself ready to take off into his "Crabby Cabbie" world.

"Before I know it all that leftover Turkey will have magically disappeared into the vastness of a "Crabby Cabbie" guy I just happen to know.  Lots of concentration, as you can tell by this photo, goes into the "art" of making one self a Turkey sandwich or two or three."

With Rob off to work, I got going a pot of Turkey Soup started by first getting a stock together to simmer for a couple hours or so on the stove top.

"Turkey carcass into the stock pot covered with cold water.  Veggies gathered on the counter top while I went outside to snip some Rosemary from just above the snow.  All into the pot it went to simmer the afternoon away."

"Later in the afternoon the stock was strained of carcass and veggies.  Look at the rich dark Turkey stock I gained .... a whole Dutch Oven full to sit overnight in the fridge for the fat to gel so I can skim it easily off the top.  Tomorrow the Turkey Soup adventure continues .... stay tuned."

While the Turkey stock was simmering the afternoon away, I couldn't possibly do the same (or could had I?).   I got myself busy with the dusting and cleaning of our bedroom, it is Wednesday you know.  Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily has put forth the mini-challenges for the first week of the January Challenge, so I thought I best comply to what she had set out:

Financial Goal Week One: Instead of buying something you need this week, find a way to "make do". Do you grab a coffee each day on the way to work? can you brew at home & use a travel mug? Run out of an ingredient for a recipe? Can you find a substitution? There are many ways to "make do" each & every day... track how much you would have spent.

I am going to make "do" by drinking coffee we have at home, not allowing having asked Rob not to buy us any Tim Horton's coffee this week, even though we need crave it..

Decluttering Goal Week One: What "thing" clutters up your home the most? Is it clothes? Toys? Books/magazines? Kitchen Stuff? Knick-Knacks? Find a way to get rid of some of these items! Be sure to snap a pic of your declutter!

This second one I got to after I had cleaned our bedroom, since I was already in there anyway.

"Three bags full ... one for my Master, one for my Dame, one for the hopefully somebody else that lives far away from my lane !  Clothes, belts, a couple of DVDs, books ... oh man why do I keep this stuff for so long !"

"Then I made myself a nice cuppa tea.  I have a lovely variety I have been enjoying from what my friend BJ had gifted me a while back.  A tea for almost every time of the day there is.  I do LOVE me my new Tea Tin I had bought myself last week too, is it not the "cutest"? "

With Tea time over it was "Checkerboard Aussie" time.  I  bundled up and headed on downstairs to take each on out one at at time (as the girls get fighting sometimes too much, and I just don't like it).  Looking at Missy Mercedes in her kennel, I wondered what was on the floor of it.

"It didn't take me long to figure out that this is all that was left of the collar that had once been around her neck.  Jeez that girl will be pooping out material once again.  Since she has been a puppy she has eaten socks, or any type of material within her reach, such as rugs, etc ... this is the second collar.  Think it might be time for a metal choker next time around."

Warning to all Pet Lovers, should your dog consume any materials, as my sweet little Missy Mercedes does from time to time, please if you should see any come out the "other end", do NOT pull it out !!!  as it could be wrapped around something internally.  Let it come out naturally.  Should your pet consume such materials and has not passed it in a few days, along with showing signs of stress, please contact your Vet immediately.

Really as a Pet Owner, our parenting skills are not to be left on the counter to collect dust at anytime.

Ha ... when I was scanning through my Facebook page earlier today, I happened along Lucy and Snoopy, who reminds me of my own Lexus and myself exactly to a "t".

"My Lexus girl makes no bones about "smacking" me with a big kiss right on my nose at any given time."

I think a lot, probably some days too much to the point it is probably unhealthy for me to do so, but that is just me.  Yesterday I had made my New Year's Goal to try and be more kinder all year through.  Last week someone had made a, what I thought to be a unkindly comment, on someones Facebook post.  I never commented but it made me think.  This was my thoughts ....

We all have to walk in our own shoes, not knowing what is happening in another's walk of life. Please take care in your comments towards judging others when they have to make a decision concerning their life circumstances. We all have had to make difficult decisions at one time or another concerning, I am sure a number of different, life choices, hoping not to be judged by another. Be kind, as you enjoy kindness towards yourself. ~ By "Just Me"

... and this is what I had also posted as my Facebook Status not too long ago this day.

I have been adding a "good" thing to my "Memories with Love" jar every day so far.  My best memory for today will be from my young male friend in Ireland who just received my Christmas package today.  This was my friend's thanks to me ....

Cindy thank you so so much for the package, I'm so used to just getting bills it was such a treat,the cookies were fantastic just as i knew they would be, I even managed to save a few for after my dinner this evening....I wont return the favour and send you something I baked until a time comes that you might want to poison a family member :)...thanks again xx

That is my friend ... to the point and very sentimental, can't you tell?  Ha !  Really Dave? really ? you get bills too?  How could we get them to stopping sending them to us ... don't they know how allergic we are !!!

I LOVE  me all my friends !!! in person or otherwise.  Thanks for being one of them.

Did I mention how exhausted I was feeling today?  I think maybe I should bundle up and get myself out with a "Checkerboard Aussie" or two for some fresh air, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

How Many Dogs Do You Have?

Aha ... I popped more pills, along with some Gravol, had myself a steamy hot bath, hit the sack and slept the night away.  This morning? just a few remnants left of the migraine which was squashed in no time at all with a couple more Tec 2's.

Despite having a migraine and trying to do my blog post last night, it was still difficult not to find myself being amused when ....

"... my "oh so amusing" Bandit is trying to vie for my attention so hard.  Poor boy needs someone to spend some "quality" let's play ball time with him I am thinking.  Maybe tomorrow .... but Mom !"

My "Crabby Cabbie" never arrived home until the wee hour of 5:00 am. this morning.  Needless to say, I tried to be very quiet around here this morning so he could get himself some very much needed sleep.  I busied myself with tidying up the kitchen, and putting a few more Christmas items away again.  Slowly but surely all evidence of Christmas will be all gone until next Year.

Rob did arise just before the noon hour  We had to stick around a bit as we were expecting someone to drop by just after lunch.  Once the person had arrived and left, we headed off to Owen Sound since we needed to replenish our "Checkerboard Aussie's" food supply.

Rob was pretty happy when he had hit the Dog Food aisle in Walmart to find their had been a "blow out" sale on our brand of Dog Food !  $26.00 a bag, rather then 29.00 or 30.00 usual price.  We stocked up on our usual with trying a different brand with Salmon for Bandit ... ewww hoping the transition isn't going to stink knock me out of the house !

There had been quite a bit of line up in the checkouts.  We had been in-between two cashiers at the time with Rob commenting to me that one kept glancing over at our cart all the while.  Finally the one we had been standing beside asked how many dogs we had, with the other following suit by asking the same question not too long after ....

"Should you not know, by looking at this would you be asking, "How Many Dogs Do You Have?  Ha ... with four dogs we have to take advantage of any savings we are able to grab and stock up on.  Just wait until the puppies arrive in February."

"I have been mulling over the Low/No Spend and Decluttering Challenge I have signed on for the month of January over at Carla's My 1/2 Dozen Daily the past couple of days."

The one very very very huge goal I have in mind is the part of the basement where I dogs are, and then onto the "OH MY GAWD I don't want to go in there" bathroom Rob uses and abuses, along with the bottom area of the stairs with tons of coats, etc ....  This in itself is going to be very time consuming for me on top of trying to keep up with the regular every day stuff I do in piece work when I am feeling well enough to.

The following is what I am going to try and attempt to do, when and if I am able:

Declutter Challenge:

1)  Declutter and clean the whole portion of the basement where the dogs reside;

2)  Declutter and clean the downstairs bathroom;

3)  Declutter and clean the bottom stair area;

4)  Declutter and clean the kitchen cupboards.

Trust me there is more to do, but I have to begin somewhere, and this is enough at the moment.

Low/No Spend Challenge:

1)  Spend absolutely no money at the grocery store, making an exception for milk and bread;

2)  Having 6 out of 7 "no spend" days per week;

3)  No eating out for the month, with the one exception outlined below (good thing we had King's Buffet today, is it not?);

Exceptions for the Month will be any regular monthly bills, vehicle fuel consumption and/or maintenance, Prescription or over the counter drugs (as last year I had pneumonia when the challenge had been on which incurred unforeseen expenses),  and any unexpected "emergency" family expenses/costs, as we all know "FAMILY COMES FIRST OVER ANYTHING" !

Another quite large exception will also be that we have had a pre-planned trip to the City in January for a once a Year shop at Costco, and a meeting we have to attend to.  This trip will also be costing us the expense of a lunch out as well.  This will be the one and only "spending" exception in January as the last time Rob and I were at a Costco had been 2 years ago.  Purchases will hopefully be on a "need" only, more then a "want" basis.  The amount spent this day will not be included in the Low/No Spend January Challenge.

There I hope I have covered that.  Now I can sit back and enjoy the next couple of days before the "crunch" of the Challenge begins.  There is still time to join up, just drop on over and sign yourself up HERE.

My youngest boy, Paul, used to play hockey when he was younger.  I was very happy to had been sent a photo last night to see he had gotten himself a pair of skates to go down to the outside rink in front of the Kitchener City Hall to enjoy some recreational skating.

".... and I had even been send a photo proving that he really had done so.  Wow it only seems like Yesterday I had him at Waterloo's Rink in the Park at 4 years old learning to skate with a chair in front of him.  *sigh* "

While skimming through the news feed page on Facebook this morning, I came across something that I thought was a totally "excellent" idea someone "out there" had posted.  Check out this very idea...

What do you think? is this not a "wicked" great idea to do throughout the year?  and a great idea for a single person, couple, or a family.  I think I might just "do" this one myself, what do you think?

"Should anyone have noticed in the side bar under "Join this site", I have some new friends there again.  Whoopee as I do LOVE me some new friends, as well as all my old friends."

A warm welcome to Jaime at Love Bakes Good Cakes, Kathy at Live on Lakeshore Drive, Hilary at Threaded Life, and Anne at Domesblissity.  Such a pleasure to have you ladies join me here for my everyday this and thats, along with my "odd" I need to vent my opinion and get my point across days.  I too look forward to dropping in on each and every one of you as well.

Not quite, but as my dear hubby just pointed out Yesterday I have almost had myself 100,000 page views to date.  Maybe, just maybe by the New Year ... ha, as if that is something I would really deem important to worry myself about?  NOT !

Really can you believe the Year 2013 is only but hours away from us now?  Oh where or where does my time get dwindled away to ..... "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

An "Awesome" Christmas Dinner & More

Still last night I was again up and down with an upset stomach, which finally seemed to pass by the time this morning rolled around.  Rob adorned his "Crabby Cabbie" hat, heading out the door first thing this morning, while I did a few odds and sods around here.  Nothing too strenuous mind you, but gained a start on sorting out some of the bookkeeping needing done sooner then later.

I was thrilled to have had actually caught up with our young Australian man via Skype when he had a stopover at the LAX LA International Airport, 10 am my time.  It was quite amazing to actually speak to someone and see them after so many weeks gone by of commuting through a Private Messenger.  Yes talk and see the person you are speaking to is pretty amazing, or maybe for some NOT?  *smile*  

I am still awaiting word of Nathan's flight to arrival into Toronto's International Pearson Airport, as it had apparently been delayed.  Hopefully I will hear word soon.

Rob worked until lunch hour today, then came home to collect me, as we had been invited out for a Christmas Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings for 2:00 pm.  If anyone knows my Rob, he would very, if ever, seldom turn down a Turkey Dinner at the best of times.  

Off we went on scheduled "take off" time ....

"Rob decided we would take the scenic route, which I really didn't mind whatsoever as it was pretty nice with the bit of snow we have just had."

Going the scenic route had one disadvantage, it got me turned around since I was used to going to my friend's, who I had only been at twice before, another way.  Yes we were headed the wrong way and quite a ways until realizing this, but did get ourselves turned around.  Really it wasn't too much longer until we did arrive, and thank goodness maybe 10 minutes before Dinner was being served.  At least we weren't late !!!

I was happy to be invited to such a wonderful dinner by my friend, Toni with an "i", and her husband Bob (NO?) .....

" .... and what a feast it was, as you can tell by my Rob's plate loaded up for his first helping.  The table set for eight of us, with the chief cooks hard at the last minute preparations before we all came to sit.  I never know how I always seem to manage room for dessert, but the homemade pumpkin pie was to difficult for me to pass up on."

Really it was a totally well put together "amazing" Christmas Dinner.  Center of attention had been the 27 pound Turkey that apparently had to be "shoved" into the roaster to make it fit, along with Brussel Sprouts, Carrots, Pea, Turnip, Potatoes, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, pickles and even Yorkshire puddings.  Oh yes, did I mention dessert ??? of course I did !

Thank you again for the lovely Dinner, Toni with an "i" and Bob (NO?).  Rob will be begging me to somehow get another invite out of you someday, I just know it !  

Since Rob has to work again tonight, we had to take off for home around 5:00 pm.  Coming back through Owen Sound, the way I know, we both couldn't believe our eyes when ahead of us we seen ....

"... a person out on their Scooter !  The temps were -6, never mind the Wind Chill.  Oh my do people ever cease to amaze me?  I think not when I see such goings on."

Christmas Eve there had been a "chit" in our mailbox for a parcel pickup for me.  The store wasn't open to pick it up until today.  It was HAPPY MAIL all right !  Happy Mail that I was beyond surprised at receiving ....

"Just look at what my dear young beautiful friend, Lena, had posted me !  How did she know how much I LOVE Snowmen?  I am pretty sure that girl has been reading my blog !  Ha!  And look at the amazing Christmas Card she included with her beautiful family and herself.  Lena, you truly truly made my heart sing this day ... biggest hugs going South of the Canadian Border to you my sweet friend.  xxx "

I truly get blown away thinking how fortunate of what great friends I have, and have made throughout the past few years since moving back to Bruce County, and through blogging.  How blessed I truly am in all these respects.  Thank you to each and everyone of you.

Okay I really was happy I had been sitting down when we had arrived back home to realize what my dear hubby had been up to ....

"I could NOT believe when I got up to find him in the kitchen directly after we had gotten home making himself a double decker sandwich out of a bun and the turkey, Toni with an "i" had so graciously been shamed into sending sent home for him.  And is that a "smirk" on that face I see ?  Oh man !!!!  he never ceases to amaze me that man of mine."

I really couldn't have had a better day then I did this day with spending time with my husband,  with new friends, and then to receive such a thoughtful gift so far away from yet another friend.  Truly I am blessed, and need to remind myself how much at times when I am not feeling so good and/or having myself an "off" day.

On that note, I shall be calling it a day here shortly, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".