DIZZY !

Yes I am Dizzy, and have been  for about the past Year or so. Hopefully the MRI I am scheduled to have will shed some light on exactly why I have been.  Not my Blood Pressure as that is almost perfect most days.  Dr. Diodati has ordered an IAC MRI for me.  We will see, and hopefully it is not all in my "head".

Today I also had my followup appointment with Dr. Caulfield, who performed the first Colonoscopy I had on May 22nd, when I had his "2 for 1 Special" scopes.  My stomach checked out just fine, however Dr. Kaal has recommended I go back in six months time to Dr. Caulfield for another Colonoscopy.  Three in one year ! seems a little much does it not? however preventive measurements are to be safer then sorry.

We also discussed the quite large Gallstone that had showed up in my Gall Bladder.  He has suggested I have my Gall Bladder removed.  This is to take place on the 2nd of September this Year.

I can most certainly not say I have not have had my share of hospitals this Year.  I hope this will be the end of it, and not jinxing myself now it has been said.

Good thing we are SOUTH of the Checkerboard, as I just noticed some new T-shirts that Rankin River Trading Co. just got in their store the other day ....

.... and one of the stories behind "North of the Checkerboard" can be found by *clicking* HERE.

I have a meeting in 6 minutes with the WDCC.  I best be off and running, Just North of Wiarton & South off the Checkerboard.

Ups & Downs In This Day

This morning the roads seemed a bit snow covered and slippery to me, or so I had thought when gazing through the front window at the highway this morning.  Since I just got going back to my every Friday at the Doctor's again last Friday for my weekly allergy shot in the arm I didn't want to start putting them off again.

"Rob drove me up North of the Checkerboard to the Doctor's in Lion's Head, as you see the roads really were a bit "tricky" in some spots."

We were in and out of the Doctor's this morning in good time.  My Blood Pressure was a little on the "high" side this morning, with it being no wonder at some the things I have been dealing with on a personal level this past week or so, then to top it all off my day continued ...

When back home I went downstairs to take a Roast out of the stand up freezer to find it was defrosting.  What a chore that was, mostly for Rob, as he went down to find the fan was no longer working in it.  Out everything had come so he could investigate further.

"Once everything was apart he found the fan behind the panel had somehow broken a blade.  We are thinking a container of soup had its lid come off, freezing down behind in turn causing the damage.  Good news? a friend had lent us this littler freezer for the chickens we had been planning on raising last Spring so it had still been here to use in our bit of emergency.  Secondly we called Square Deal Neil's Appliances in Southampton to find we could order the fan for $4.99 and it would be in on Tuesday ... phew !"

"Frustrated with having a couple of down days and not getting to the recipes I had thought I would start organizing this week, or anything else done for that matter, I started gathering them all up to remove from the dining room table only to have had knocked over one of the candles and it breaking.  When picking it up I had to off course get a shard of glass in my finger that bled like a "stuck pig" taking three bandaids to finally stop it."

When I had started to make an apple pie Monday then realizing the oven we had just bought the day before did not work, I had been halfway into having the apples all peeled.  What had I done with these apples?

"I had sliced them into water with lemon juice, then put them on parchment paper on a cookies sheet into the freezer.  Today I remembered about them when I had needed some freezer room and got them put up into Freezer bags.  Look how nice they have "held" their colour."

"Back to a "down" with a huge black hairy legged spider crawling across the ceiling.  Thank goodness Rob was home as he got it and BURNED it for me.  *Sigh* they just give me the heebie jeebies them spiders do."

This afternoon Rob and I got to discussing about what we were going to do about a new oven range, as our old one I had put up for sale, having gotten a call on it last night, and another today.  If we were were to sell that stove , along with the refund the owner's of the stove we had bought on Sunday were mailing us, that would give us $300.00 towards a new range.  Now where would the extra money come from as I had priced out Brand new Whirlpool Full Convection Oven out today, as Rob did not want me to buy used again.  Once I had priced it out I would still need the difference between the $949.00 plus tax and $300.00.  

Four and three years ago I had made pickles and sold them "roadside", along with Hostas on our front lawn.  I still had the money tucked away for a "rainy day".  The rainy day has arrived ....

"After counting my pickle/hosta money it added up to $569.00.  I then found another $40.00 left from my puppy money last year.  I am going to be pretty close to having that new Oven Range with my "rainy day" money saved from 3 years ago.  The Bulk Barn Gift Card? oh that was a gift from our Crabby Cabbie driver, Carolyn, another "up" for this day.  Why did she give us this? because she said she has not worked for better employers then Rob and I, and wanted to give us a little token of her appreciation with something she knew I would use.  This really made my day, and really the pleasure is all ours for having such an awesome employee as our "Crabby Cabbie" Carolyn."

"Unfortunately a few things had been totally thawed with there being no more freezer room for them to fit anyway in the "extra" freezer space.  With no oven I will be busy tomorrow making chicken soup, and seeing how a duck is going to cook in the Slow Cooker for me.  Today we had some of the thawed Stuffed Green Peppers cooked in the Slow Cooker.  They were really yummy with some home canned Stewed Tomatoes over top.

Recipe please?  PRINTABLE RECIPE *CLICK* HERE.

"Despite everything that was going on or what was being thought about this day there had still been time for those who make me *smile* at least once or twice a day.  Bandit's got the "Ah Mom more pictures" look on his face again."

Late this afternoon the gal had come to see about buying my stove.  She loved it and could not get over how "clean" and nice it was.  I try to make sure anything I sell goes out our door as sparkly clean as I can ever manage to get it.  She has bought it and is making arrangements for it to be picked up this weekend.  Then I retrieved our mail to find there was a reimbursement cheque from those wonderful descent people who we had gotten the stove from which unfortunately decided not to work when we got it home.

Rob stopped to check out the new Oven Range I had called to inquire about at Square Deal Neil's today, saying it was awesome.  I am thinking he will drop back tomorrow to have them order one in for us, as it will take until the 1st of March for it to be delivered.  The price includes delivery, setup and removal of the old stove.  You sure can't beat that kind of service, as when I had gotten a price from Sears today it was the price of the unit, plus $69.00 Delivery, plus $25.00 to remove the old unit.

This is not the first time I will have had great service from Square Deal Neil's Applicances.  My own parents had made a few purchases from them as well, many many many years ago ... and they are still going "strong" in the Community of Saugeen Shores in Southampton.

I can not wait to try this new State of the Art Whirlpool Convection Range when it arrives and is installed in our kitchen.  Check out the specs for it HERE.  I have ordered it in White, as white goes with anything, does it not?

Yes there was more "ups & downs in this day", but if I were to count them up I am pretty sure there were more "ups" then "downs", "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Annual Auntie & Cousin Christmas Luncheon

Morning began just after 5:00 am.  Up and at it heating some homemade Beef Stew for Rob to take along in his Thermos today, a coffee, Aussies, fed, in, out and about, bed made, dressed and out the door heading "North of the Checkerboard" to Lion's Head.

Befpre 8:30 am or so I was in at the Golden Dawn Nursing home to drop along a Christmas Pin my BFF, Colleen, had sent for my Mom and to have a bit of a visit with her before heading on over to my 9:00 am "shot in the arm" appointment with the Good Doctor.

Once home it was to attend to all the Aussies, make some "Crabby Cabbie" Gift Certificates that had been ordered, and get ready to go out again.  My Niece, Joanne, came to meet me at the house so we could head out together, as today was the Annual Auntie Glady and Cousin Christmas Luncheon we have been doing together for ?????? long now?

We arrived at the Green Door Cafe, downtown Wiarton, at the "reserved" time of 12:00 Noon, with Suzanne arriving there after which was a huge surprise as she is always really ever only minutes late, and never beats the Auntie and Cousin Vi !

My Cousin Vi had also been along at the "Open House" held at Dejong Acres Farm last Saturday, and also having had won a Door Prize too !!!

"Vi was more then pleased and surprised that I had her winnings for her of a hand painted saw blade of a  Cardinal on it.  Is it not lovely?  Vi really appreciated having it, as she, herself, does such beautiful hand paintings, appreciating how much time and love went into this one."

"Here we are after placing our orders.  Funny as it was not too long ago at past luncheons we had been passing photos of our families/grandchildren, and today phones were being passed around with photos of Grandchildren on them."

"Once we had all finished up with our lunches, Cousin Suzanne's daugther, Krista, popped in on her lunch break from work.  How nice was that for her to be able to join us.  Here is my Cousin Vi, Krista, and to the right my "don't bother taking my picture" Niece, Joanne."

"Suzanne had ordered the Lemon Blueberry Cream Pie (I hope I got that right).  I had a wee smidgeon off the end to taste, and it really was quite good."

"Look at all the goodies I received !!!  Homemade Gum Drop Cake and Nuts & Bolts from my Auntie, and a Snowman she had also made !!!  is it not the cutest?  There is my Cousins Vi, with her "evil twin" grin, and Krista with her beautiful *smile*."

"Had I mentioned Cousin Vi hand paints?  Look at this amazing hand painted Christmas Ornament she made for me, and a couple of others who were also there.  I think this has to be several she has made over the past few years for me.  My own personal Christmas Collection by Vi."

Once we had left the restaurant, we headed next door to do a bit of browsing at the Rankin River Trading Company.  They have a lovely selection of a bit of everything you might love or need to have for yourself or your home.  Just a little bit of everything from high quality clothing, to children's toys, homeware, etc ....

"Cousin Vi had found a very stylish dress top she was in trying on, while of course I waited for my "prey" to come out !  Ha !"

"See the lovely Christmas decor Rankin has to offer for sale?  and my favourites, Snowman !"

We all said our goodbyes and headed on home our separate ways..  As Joanne and I made our way back towards my Van, I was not only surprised, but delighted to see ....

"My friends, BJ & Paul really are Grandparents as seen by my very own eyes !  For some reason why had I gotten the feeling Paul was trying to avoid me?   Ha !  caught ya anyhow, Paolo !"

I am telling you those little Grands of Paul and BJ's are an absolute delight !  The little guy was explaining to me exactly where they were heading, and pointed to exactly who was going with him there.  The sweet little girl gave Joanne the biggest "hug" ... ahhhhh, way too sweet those babes are.  Oh yes, even Ruby was excited to see me, more then I can say for "some", Paul !  Oops did that "slip" from my keyboard?  xx

Before we went off to lunch, and then again when we had returned back to my house before Joanne headed home, she had crocheted up at least eight Granny Squares for my friend, Lynn, for her Optimist Club Fundraiser project.

"Joanne just chatted away while she whipped these up in no time at all.  I use to be able to do these like she at one time."

I had ordered something a few weeks ago from Proprietor, Nancy Davis at the Handicraft House, which is minutes up the Highway from our home, a little bit "North of the Checkerboard".  Joanne headed on home while I went to go pickup my order.

"Here I am at the front of the Handicraft House.  Check out the "retro" Santa greeting everyone coming in."

"I haven't been in for some time, but after being back today, I am itching to return as there is so many nooks and crannies I wanted to look into but didn't have time to do so.  Lot and lots of Gift giving ideas for a "special" someone, or better yet maybe yourself?  Nancy even had some gift giving packages made all ready to go !"

"The Handicraft House is Open Year Round.  Well worth your time to stop on in for a look into all those "nooks and crannies". "

Straight back home with my purchase I was able to package it up all ready for the mail with a couple other items I had to post, then headed on downtown Wiarton for the 2nd time today to post everything.  I wanted to get it done and out of the way, as I don't want to be leaving the house tomorrow, as I have way too many dust bunnies and floating dogs that need my undivided attention. *Sigh*.

"There was some Happy Mail in our mailbox for me again today.  Here is the card I received from another member of Cindy's Recipe Exchange.  Is it not lovely? as I most certainly think it is."

Before I sign off here for the evening, please take a moment if you haven't already to drop on in at my Post of Yesterday to see how you could contribute to the "Granny Square" project and to "Enter in to Win" my Christmas Gift Give Away.  You can go there by *clicking* HERE .

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

Flowers Made My Day !

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

My day so began ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Heard It Through The Grapevine !

"I am so very grateful for all the "well wishes" I received for me to have a speedy recovery from that dang ole' Stomach Flu Bug I have had the past few days, as well as all the encouraging comments on carrying on with what I have always done !"   Everyone's comments I receive here, as well as on my Facebook page, do mean more to me then maybe anyone could understand, and would never ever go without be appreciated.  Thank you."

Honest to goodness I really felt so much better then I had the last couple of days.

Surely there isn't people out there who actually enjoy having their lives interrupted by being sick, is there?  Oh man, if that would be the case then here has to be some pretty "sick" dudes out there ... as I HATE being sick for any reason.  Takes way too much of my time up, and surely we can't be having that happen.

Speaking of sickness and Doctors, today was the day I head on up "North of the Checkerboard" for my weekly allergy shot in the arm.  Really after 2 years of shots you would think mold and dust mites would have had about enough of attacking my immune system by now, would you not?  Regardless until they do, I am not giving up my shots to end up again how I was back then with "no immune" system, as I was SICK ALL OF THE TIME, spending days on end in bed as it had been getting that bad.  Happy happy happy someone out there figured out how to combat some of these allergy problems some of us suffer with, or we would most certainly be in a real "pickle".

"My breath was taken away when I first walked out the door to head towards my Van.  Our Manitoba Maple trees had not changed colour  until a couple of days ago.  Look at them all in their glory now ... stunning and beautiful they are."

"Once I had been well on my way "North of the Checkerboard" I couldn't help but take in what a state of frenzy these Seagulls were in while following this Farmer along as he turned up the field.  Breakfast was being served up, or should I say being "turned up" for them."

I did make it to my Doctor's office right on time for my 9 am appointment.  It was a bit of a wait as the Good Doctor had been running behind schedule this morning as he had been off sick himself this past week.  I think some Doctor's patients tend to forget our Doctors are also human and not invincible from life's "hills and valleys".  Unfortunate at times I am certain, but true .... but some Doctors, on the other hand, being human as the next person, can probably be a bit on the "tardy" side too maybe?  Hahaha .... just saying.

Before I headed back "South of the Checkerboard" once I had my appointment, I made a quick stop in at the Garden In Thyme to see if Molly still had any "jalapeno" peppers left.

"Garden In Thyme is located on the road off Hwy 6 at Ferndale going into Lion's Head on the right hand side.  Lots of goodies and home preserving to be found here."

Molly had yet a few peppers for me, so lucky this day I was when we picked a few together.

I believe by the time I had stopped downtown Wiarton at the local Foodland store for some corn, I finally made it back home to the delight of our four Aussie around 11:00 am.  They kept me busy for the first 1/2 hour or so of arriving home, then it was on to getting done Today what I had began Tuesday with hopes of completing Yesterday.  Ha ! did that all make sense to someone other then myself?

"Finally the very last of the Tomatoes were going to be done up this day if nothing else got done."

"Trust me with still not feeling 100% nothing else did get done (other then the bed made of course), by the time I was done chopping and dicing everything for the triple batch of ...."

".... Black Bean and Corn Salsa I did up."

"I can officially say I am done !!! "

Was it the end of this Month I normally get that bushel of Spy Apples to do down????

"What a surprise I got today when I received this beautiful Post Card in the mail from my friend, Diane.  I knew she had mentioned she was going on a Holiday with her sweetie a week ago but  I had no idea where.  Is it ever nice to be thought of ... thanks Diane, I can't wait to hear all about your trip to New York City."

"I just had to share a photo of these cute little Christmas Gift Boxes I picked up the other day.  Aren't they just the perfect size for what I have planned to put in them ... that is a surprise."

It is amazing what I sometimes hear through the "Grapevine" and I don't even have to go anywhere....

I heard my Auntie Gladys bought my "Crabby Cabbie" a coffee over at the "Loose Leaves" Tea Room in Southampton this afternoon.  Can you imagine that ... could she spoil that guy anymore then she already has???

Where might you find the Loose Leaves Tea Room in Southampton in your travels, you might ask?  it is located at 178 High Street, Southampton, Ontario (that would be my Hometown by the way).  Open Hours:  Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Any further inquires, please contact them by Email at Steepedtea@gmail.com   Really I haven't been back down there myself since this past Spring, thinking I am long overdue and should maybe stop in with another "hello" to Co-Owner, Joleen Nickel.

I can't believe where and how quickly my days go by most days.  Here it is going onto 8 pm, with my "pack" needing all out, about and in for the evening before I, myself, call it an early night, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".