Another Weekend Rolls Around

Yes it is Friday, the day when another weekend rolls around.  Weekends to Rob and I are now the same of the other days of the week, all running together into one.  The only time a weekend might stand out on us would be if something "special" with the kids or family has been planned, which seldom happens in the Wiinter months.

This morning I had to head over Sauble Beach way, to Owen Sound, then home.  I had been a bit blustery however got worse with the winds drifting in the roads on my way back home.  It was a pretty blustery day again with the School buses cancelled North of the Checkeboard this afternoon, and parents being called to pickup their children.  Rob had been called to the Lion's Head School to deliver one child back to their home.  With the Wind Chill it was a good day to stay home if one could.

I was lucky enough to get some deals at our local Foodland store this morning to replenish our fruit bowl.  An 8 lb box of oranges were $5.99, and three bags of pears on the discount rack for .99 cents a bag (I stole them as there had been only a nick in two of them and they had been far from overripe).  The bed? oh this is the bed I had when Rob and I had first met 20 years ago, which seemed to suit him just fine back then.  Last night we had to use this bed until our new mattress gets delivered tomorrow.  I woke up this morning freezing, no Rob and the bedroom door closed (no heat could get in from the wood stove with the door closed).  Rob decided to sleep on the couch, close me in the room so he could have the TV going, as the bed was way to cramped for him.  It is a lovely bed... and last night just reminded me how much I loved having it for myself !!!  I suppose I get it all to myself again this evening ... BONUS !

I had to get a bit of wood in this afternoon, or that I could wrench free from the now frozen pile of wood.  Of course I had help.

I am pleased to announce that while I was gone this morning, with Bandit and Lexus left in Rob's care, they had themselves a union by coming together.  Hopefully if all "took" as Nature intends it to, we will be expecting a new litter around the first part of April, give or take a few days.  Fingers, toes, & eyes crossed.

I haven't been as experimental in the kitchen as I once used to be since I have been too busy, or to tired, or down with a headache.  I really miss this as I do love trying new recipes to keep things interesting.  I certainly was uplifted a bit when I read the post Knorr Canada put to me on their Facebook page today.

Chef I am not, flattered I was ... and inspired now to get "cooking" again somehow, if I find the time.  Thanks Knorr for the encouragement !!!

Knorr Canada has over 7 million fans on their Facebook page .. check it out yourself by *clicking* HERE.  I  do love me some Knorr !!!

Disclaimer:  I have been in no way remunerated for my statements by Knorr Canada, these are my own opinions made on my own accord.

My day wasn't too overboard exciting whatsoever, but I can say one thing, "I am ready for that new mattress tomorrow", "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

A Thank You Is Always Fantastic

The Daylight Savings has not really effected me too much with my sleeping pattern.  However it has"  effected our "Checkerboard Aussies", but in a good way for me.  Ha ! at 7:00 am they think is still only 6:00 am, so until they figure it out I got a huge "break" this morning.  Shh, don't let them in on my secret.

Even though it does not look like I accomplished anything this morning, I was steady at it.  Dishes were done up, bed made, laundry folded, "Crabby Cabby" paperwork done up, everyone fed, including the Four little Fabulous Four porkers, heavy on the "porkers".

Since I had been so busy the past few days I had not gotten around to opening our personal Bell Mobility bill until this morning.  Good thing I was sitting down otherwise I truly would have fallen over.  Apparently not realizing it, Rob was using our personal phone calls as a Business Phone in turn going way over the daytime minutes our plan afforded by $112.50 plus taxes.  Can anyone well imagine the heart palpitations I was experiencing?  *Sigh* 

I tried to calm myself before calling Rob, but really do not think I succeeded as well as I would have liked to as menopause has a way of playing with one's emotions and stress levels so I have found.  I went forward with the phone call, and yes indeed my dear wonderful husband had not paid any thought to what daytime minutes he had been racking up on our personal cell phone account.  Now mind you this was far from being intentional on his part, and it never is because who in their right mind would want to incur unnecessary cost to themselves.

After I had voiced my concerns to Rob on this oversight, in a more shrill voice then usual if I were to be honest about it.  I sat for a bit stewing a bit before deciding to make a call to Bell Canada to see if maybe a different plan might be better for the one we have had for the past couple of years, which I might add had been working well for us up until this past month.

I got a Customer Service lady in Bell's billing department, who I explained the situation to.  She obviously heard the stress in my voice, and in the most wonderful calm voice she said, "relax dear we are going to see if we can make this all better for you, as every day should be started out with a smile on your face and pleasure with looking forward  to the day ahead".  (Jeez how could I explain it to a Bell Customer Service Billing lady that is not the easiest to keep emotional Menopause roller-coasting out of each and ever day, however hard I try to.  I kept my mouth zipped, as she had such a calming effect on me, I could have spoken with her all day long I am sure).  

True to her word this wonderful lady at the other end of my phone line, somewhere in Quebec, made my day by eliminating those "extra" minutes that had been on our bill.  I must have had the biggest smile ever on my face at the moment she told me this, expressing to this lady how truly grateful I was to her.  The phone call ended with her telling me to, "tell my husband to be more careful with his phone usage from here on in and dear girl not to give myself over to stress to ruin the day".  

There are still Angels in this World, as I am certain I was speaking to one this morning.  I was truly thankful.

Last week I had been so busy with other matters, I had almost forgotten about a surprise I had.

"Do you not LOVE when a UPS or Purolator truck pulls into your drive way?  I sure do as usually it means there is a Happy Package of some sort in it for me."

"Whoohooo !  I was right.  Thank you Knorr Canada for your thoughtfulness.  How exciting was it to receive this package full of goodies in the way of not only Knorr products, but What's For Dinner recipe cards.  I can see some "new to me" Knorr recipes being made in my Kitchen's future ... stay tuned."

Should you have missed my post about my telephone interview with Knorr Canada's spokeswoman, Sandi Richard, please take time for the read by *clicking* HERE.

Really truly "a thank you is always fantastic", is it not? and it is only two little words taking maybe two breathes from your life to voice your gratitude to another who has made you happy in some way or another, or them towards something you have done for them, in turn they were grateful for.

My afternoon seemed to go very quickly for me especially when Rob arrived home early to run a couple of errands that needed done.  Once home it was chow time again for the Fabulous Four.  Speaking of which I heard from and received a couple of photos today from Bindi's new Forever Home.  You can read all about that HERE.

Our dinner tonight couldn't be any easier then heating up some really good leftovers.  Easy and good, I do LOVE me that combination, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Today Was Interview Day !

This morning the Sun shone, continuing all day through.  Regardless of how I feel, I am sure I always feel better when the Sun is high up in the sky.

February 12th, 2013 I had received an email from Knorr Canada, as follows:

Firstly, thank you so much for your continued and enthusiastic engagement on the Knorr Canada Facebook page.  We saw you recently made the Knorr Shepherd’s Pie recipe on your blog JustNorthofWiarton.blogspot.ca.  As a great love of and ambassador for Knorr, we wanted to offer you an interview opportunity with Sandi Richard, top Canadian meal planning expert.

Sandi has teamed up with Knorr to really get at the heart of why three simple words: “what’s for dinner?”  is so stressful. As mother to seven children, Sandi has first-hand experience with meal planning and has made a career of developing recipes for the rushed and inspiring families to get back around the dinner table. 

Sandi understands that for a mom, it’s not just about cooking dinner – there’s a constant struggle brewing before dinner even hits the table! Meal planning can be stressful and we know dinner inspiration can “eat up” a lot of your precious time.  To help make dinner less stressful and provide solutions to your dinner woes, she can shed light on the following:

• Key findings from a new, national survey looking at perceptions and behaviours associated with the meal planning process
• Getting the most out of your grocery store visits
• Tips to get kids (and husbands!) involved
• Easy meal solutions and recipes that the whole family will love 

If you are interested in coordinating an interview with Sandi to learn more from her experience and insight, please just let me know and we can organize a time for you.

After putting it to Cindy's Recipe Exchange Members, by requesting their input I compiled a few questions, which were emailed back to Knorr Canada.  They in turned responded with Sandi's suggestion a personal phone interview with me would be more beneficial then answering the questions through an email.

Today was interview day I had the telephone interview with Sandi.  I initially had been a tad nervous, hoping I would not put my "foot in my mouth" as I am  known to do this out of nervousness or fatigue, quite often then naught.  

My phone rang at 10:42 and it was Sandi.  The conversation started of as if it had been a long time friend I hadn't spoke with in a while.  This put me to ease in a "split second".

Once the easiness of our conversation continued on for over a half hour (oh my), we had thought we had better focus our attention to the prepared questions on hand.  This is pretty exact on how it went, with Sandi's educated replies on the subject outlined in red to the best of my knowledge from what I have gathered on my note taking (really my attention span and short-hand is not what it used to be):

1) How to budget for a Healthy Menu with today's rising food costs? (mine)

Families need to modernize themselves, rather then making a weekly grocery list.  They can do this by creating an Eat Sheet (Weekly Blueprint Menu).  This can be done by bringing the family together by choosing a "low stress" time to have every family member give their input on what they would like to eat within a 5 day period..  Once this has been established the shopping for this Blueprint can be done for this week.  Sandi recommends 3 Blueprints be made up to be used on a rotation basis, then incorporate more as time goes on.  This Eat Sheets can be used 90% of the time, saving money and time with good healthy food organized and easy to be made with food choice from the family as a whole.

Paying attention to the Grocery flyers (who base their sales on weekly rotations) with buying non-perishable foods or foods that can be frozen, that are listed on  your Blueprint, "on sale" for another week or two ahead.  

Sticking to your Eat Sheet and avoiding going into the store more then once per week will SAVE YOU MONEY in the long run, as we all know what happens when we go into a Grocery Store for that "one" item.

What is an Eat Sheet?  Examples can been found HERE.

2) How to prepare Quick & Easy Meals without the salt content that so many pre-packaged foods have in them? (Kathy Evans)

Yes we always need to be cautious with the amounts of our salt intake.  Sandi recommends going by the Mayo Clinic Standards of 2,300mg/day.  That being said, Salt content made with product "helpers" (pre-made packages) combined with fresh ingredients lessens the salt content in the packaged foods.

NOT eating out is a good way to cut back on your Salt intake.  Cooking and eating at home gives you control the amount of salt that is used in your foods.

3) In your opinion, Sandi, what is the best cooking material you would recommend for oven and stove top? glass, Teflon, cast iron, ceramic? (Angie King-Webber)

Stove Top:  

Sandi's favourite cookware is Non-Stick.  She uses Swiss Diamond Brand non-stick cookware.  She is not a fan of Teflon.  Also Non-Stick is good for the person who does not cook too often as it an easier type of cookware to be used.  Non-stick is also easier for a family to use when working together in the kitchen.  ie, wherein a different type of cookware might require a specific temperature, or oils to be used in them for some desired cooking results, in turn maybe not being so user friendly for the less experienced cook in the family.

Oven:  

Sandi is a fan of using ALL types of cookware.  Changing up cooking materials gives way to our bodies a change to remove heavy metals from it naturally.  Glass, metal, enamel.

4) What is your preferred cooking appliance when cooking for your family? BBQ, Stovetop, Oven, Microwave, Slow Cooker, etc?(mine)

Sandi's most favourite way to cook, if she could all the time, would be the BBQ.  However with that said she thinks every type of appliance should be made use of  when required.

5)  What would you recommend a budget be set at for a family of 2, 4, 6, that would contribute to healthy eating?(mine)

Sandi based this answer on feeding a family of 4-6.  She stated they could be fed extremely healthy, foods to include lots of chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, on a maximum of $125.00, and even could go as low as $100.00 per week.  This can be accomplished by keeping an eye on the bargain flyers for sale rotation, not shopping more then once a week, and of course making and following a weekly Eat Sheet.

Sandi also stated this could also be done on a decreased budget of $60.00 to $75.00 per week.

6)  How to deal with a child who is a picky eater?(Mandy Newgent)

Sandi has a "one bite rule" for picky eaters, believing it is not the food they dislike but the texture.  Picky eaters are often caused by loving parents who bend to what their children wants instead of standing fast on boundaries.  

Once you begin introducing foods to the child(ren) using the "one bite rule",  or one tablespoon, on a regular basis, they indeed will begin increasing the different textured foods in their eating habits.  Do not worry about them losing out on nutrition when administering/introducing the "one bite rule" to them as they will be fine.  Buckle down parents, let them turn their little noses up, or sit at the table a little longer then the rest of the family, as it will eventually turn around with their different food intake increases with constant persistence on the parents part.

(On a personal note, I used this method with my own children, and still follow through by using it with my Grandchildren.  It does work, and they do not starve by any means.  Also I had read an article in the Lifestyle section of the Kitchener-Waterloo Record years ago which was based on "If we would Train our Children with the same consistency as our Canine(s) we would have very obedient Children.", this is not word for word by any means but the general gist of what I do remember it saying.  Consistency and Boundaries do have their rewards with lots of "love" put in the mix).

This was pretty much the how all the questions I had put to Sandi had been answered.  

I am genuinely thrilled to have had this experience, thanks to Knorr Canada and special thanks to Sandi, herself.  I really would look forward to any future opportunity to another telephone interview at any time.

Should you like to see more of Sandi's meal preparation/cooking insights and tips, you may do so by seeing Knorr What's For Dinner by going to their website HERE, or Facebook Page HERE.

Also here are just a couple of Knorr What's For Dinner recipes that I have made in my own kitchen:

"Knorr Savory Cheese & Leek Scones"

"Knorr Chicken with White Wine & Cream Sauce"

"Knorr Skinny Scalloped Potatoes"

"Knorr Herb-Rubbed Citrus Chicken Breasts"

"Knorr Classic Shepherd's Pie"

... and for Knorr's collection of What's For Dinner Recipes, you can find them HERE.  Stay tuned at a later date as there is a couple in there I am anxious yet to be trying out myself in the very near future.

Any grammar or spelling errors, I do so apologize, however I do the best I can do when I am running on only a little sleep.  I really do not think it was such a good date with Mr. Insomnia after all, knowing all his promises of a night on the town had been bottomless ones...hopefully tonight he stays at bay.

Here I am looking at all these wonderful Knorr dishes I have cooked thinking I have not even begun to think what Dinner is going to be tonight for myself and my "Crabby Cabbie".  What I am thinking is I had better get "cracking" on that right now, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

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.

A BIG Brown Box

This morning I was up and wide awake at the usual early hour of just before 4 am !  This time I opted to go lay in bed until at least 5:30 am.  Rob had to get up and be out the door with his "Crabby Cabbie" hat on by 6:00 am or so anyway.  At least we had time to guzzle have a coffee together first.

I have been, for the past 1-1/2  years at least, or maybe a bit less, trying to be more compassionate, loving, considerate and positive.  I like to think of myself as also being an "honest" person, however from time to time there has been known to be the odd "fiblet" getting in the way the of that.

This morning I had to have a "heart to heart" with myself after stressing myself right out to the point of almost feeling ill.  I realize there are times I might be honest to the best of my ability with others, as far as not being deceitful goes, but I haven't been "honest" with myself.

Why was I stressing?  because I do not have time, either because of being not well (2 weeks this last time around), living my life at home or out and about, doing the few things I choose to do because I like doing them, such as cooking, baking, blogging, or social networking, to practice on being an instructor for volunteering for the Wednesday morning VON SMART exercise program.

I thought to myself this morning, why would I put myself through so much stress over something?  why would I enjoy something I am stressing so much about?  I thought it all over and decided this can not be and I was going to resign this morning from my Volunteer position.  I was to lead the Strength and Flexibility parts of the exercise this day.

I arrived early, as us girls always do to set up before the participants arrive, and blurted out how I felt to my two Co-Volunteers how I was feeling and that I thought because of this I would just resign.  Ha !  well when you volunteer with "wonderful & loving" persons like I do, this is easier said then done !  Needless to say, I was consoled, cared about, and encouraged to stay on.

Exercise began, I lead the 18 or so participants thorough the Flexibility exercises without a "hitch", when it had became my turn to do so.

Why do I stress myself over something I think I can not do, then go do it without a problem?  Oh man ... stage fright, out and out lack of confidence ???   I don't know, but it sure didn't effect me much one I got up there and started doing .... I really believe there are days we are our "own worse enemy", do you also think this?

I LOVE the gals I volunteer with, I LOVE the group of people who participate, I LOVE getting out of the house to do something for someone else .... so why would I quit all things I LOVE ?  I have rethought this and I am going to carry on to the best of my ability, and that is ALL that can be expected of anyone.  I do not ever want to be considered myself a "quitter" in any light of the word ... onward I go !

"Below states something I do believe I do on a regular basis in my Life.  I will just persevere more within my being.  I am going to try to LOVE those areas that cause me FEAR and continue on with the things I LOVE."

After exercise had ended, I joined some of the participants and one of the other volunteers over at Tim Hortons for a coffee.  I had such a wonderful time visiting with everyone there, how could I possibly give that up?  I am not ....

On my way home after coffee I decided I was going to buy myself something; I have had it on my mind since I had first seen them on sale at the Rankin Trading Post V & S Store downtown.  Since I had gone in there yesterday and seen the stock was almost more then half sold in just a week's time, that encouraged me to make up my mind even faster.

"Yep, I got me a 12" Paderno Ceramic coated pan.  I can't wait to try it out !  Really how sad is it when I get excited over the prospect of trying a new pan out?  Ha !   I am sure I will have an update all about the experience of using it when I do."

When I did arrive in our driveway with my arms full between my package, a couple of empty boxes I had gotten from downtown and the mail flyers, I almost hadn't noticed what was sitting beside our side entrance way !  "A BIG Brown Box ...."

"Really now, anyone else would trip over something this size, and I almost sashayed myself right past it."

Do you think I was excited? as it didn't take me long to realize it was my package from winning the Knorr Contest last week over at Mardi's blog at eat.live.trave.write.com !!!

Once I lugged brought it into the house, I left it sit for about two hours while I first attended to our "Checkerboard Aussies", made a couple of phone calls, cleaned the ashes from the wood stove, got the wood stove "fired" up, attended to a bit of paperwork and then made myself a cuppa tea.  I did not want anything to interrupt the shear joy I was going to be having myself whilst opening A BIG Brown Box !

"I then very carefully cut open the tape to open up the box to find this note inside the "huge" basket."

"After calmly and being careful further , I continued with some more opening measures to find ALL OF THIS !  Then I was really way BEYOND EXCITED !!!!"

"Could this apron and this Wine Bottle opener be the exact ones they actually use in the Knorr Canada "test" kitchen?  Oh how titillating is that thought??ha?? to me pretty dang, dang, triple dang so."

I stopped after I had everything spread and arranged on the kitchen counter to think what I would say via email in way of a thank you to Christine Lu, the gal who had been in contact with me about this contest, after Mardi had let me know I had won.

Ha ! why email when I could make it personal (as there is never enough of that as far as I am concerned now a days going on).  I picked up the phone and put a call in to Christine myself.

When I reached Christine I told her how much I appreciated all the "thought" that had been put into the Knorr Gift basket and how much I appreciated this.  Christine also told me all product(s) in the basket would give me what I needed to make the three Knorr Recipes they had also included, Shepherd's Pie, Chicken with White Wine & Cream Sauce, and Perfect Steak Rub.  Anything needed for these recipes not included in the BIG Brown Box, in the way of perishables, could be purchased with the 2 - $100.00 President Choice Gift Certificates that had also been part and parcel of the BIG Brown Box.

You can be certain as your last Dollar, I will be trying out these three recipes !

A very big thank you to Knorr Canada, Christine and her "Team" over at Edelman, and Special Thanks to Mardi at eat.live.travel.write.com .

For those who might not know how I just happened to win all these wonderful Knorr Goodies, please drop on in HERE to find out.

After all that excitement the rest of my day was quite mundane, or so I thought.

Wow ... where has time slipped away from me to? it is after 8:00 pm here already.  No wonder a couple of  those  "Checkerboard Aussies" of mine are trying to seek out my undivided attention.  I am off and running, once again, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".