All In A Day's Lack Of Sleep !

This day seems to be mostly a blur within my mind at the moment.  I have been awake, once again, since before 3 a.m.  Really I am beginning to feel the effects of lack of sleep over the last two weeks or so.

"All in a Day's Lack of Sleep" I did manage to .....

.... strip our bed, make it up fresh, do up some dishes, as well as a bit of vacuuming before I headed downtown to the Wiarton Foodland.  Lean Ground Beef is sale on this week for $2.47/lb., with our freezer being "void" of any for the past month or so, off I went ....

"Of course I never came home with "just" the ground beef.  However I did manage to get all this for $61.25.  The beef alone was $48.57,  so I did pretty good on all those mushrooms, a celery and cauliflower for .49 cents a pkg., then $2.99 for the Cottage Cheese."

"That $48.57 got us 19 - 1 lb. packages of Ground Beef for the Freezer.  I think will be good for a bit.  It doesn't take long to use up once I start making "Big Batches" of Spaghetti Sauces, Chili, and such for back-up "quick" and "convenient meals."

By the time I was done weighing and wrapping it was Noon hour.  Time does fly by .... with in, out and about, inbetween everything else, with the "Checkerboard Aussies".  I don't know if it was because I was so tired or what, but it seemed they wanted in and out more then usual today.  I can not complain as all four of them had been "perfect" yesterday with all the company being here.

Speaking of Company, after being out for a Sub Supper, we returned home to one really happy boy who was considering his banishment to the basement officially over ...

"Right back up on his Dad, loving him up like there was no tomorrow."

"It didn't take long for the two of them to be back into their regular routine.  TV and sleeping."

I had taken some Italian Turkey Sausages from the freezer this morning.  I "googled" Slow Cooker Turkey Sausages and found a recipe I thought would work for me.  I got to getting it prepared so it would be done in time for when my "Crabby Cabbie" returned home for our Supper.

"Layered Vegetables with Italian Turkey Sausages in the middle of the mix.  Garlic, Oregano and Basil stirred into a can of diced tomatoes to be poured over all in the Crock.  Slow Cooker set on HIGH to cook for  5 hours.  Later a side of long grain rice prepared in the Rice Cooker."

"I must say I really enjoyed all the flavours brought together with the veggies, sausages and spices."

Recipe please?  PRINTABLE RECIPE HERE.

Later this afternoon I had full intentions of drifting off to sleep as my eyes were heavy and drooping, but alas this was not to be ... as it usually never is.  My girls needed my undivided attention, and there were a couple of phone calls with my Niece Joanne, my Auntie Gladys, and my Sister Donna.  Much more important then sleep any old day !  Ha !

My Niece Joanne had also participated in the Secret Sister Swap organized by the way too kind Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily.  Joanne had received a most wonderful filled package this very day from her Secret Sister.  Since Joanne does not "blog" I have offered to "show off" her gifts for her.

"Feast your eyes on this unbelievable handmade Shawl in all those warm cozy colours, for Joanne to wrap herself in while she dreams away whilst reading "Style at Home", sipping on a cuppa Vanilla flavoured tea, while nibbling on a Lindor Chocolate Truffle or two...  Who would gift such a beautiful and thoughtful "Secret Sister" Gift, well none other then the very crafty talented Judi over at "Tales of a Blended Family". "

My dear Judi, you can be my Secret Sister anytime in my books !  Lovely !!!  Needless to say, Joanne is very very happy with her "Secret Sister" gift !

I almost forgot when speaking to my girlfriend, Leona, this past Saturday, we got caught up in so much excitement.  Her with telling and me being happy for her !!!  Leona's daughter, Steena Holmes had just landed herself a a Contract with Amazon for her published book "Finding Emma" .....  please do drop on over to have a "sneak" preview before picking up yourself or ordering a copy from Amazon.com.  Just *click* HERE for that sneak preview.

Once again a very big "congratulations" to proud parents, Leona and Doug.  And a really really huge "congratulations" to Sheena !  Way to go girl !!!  you make your family proud.

I am tired with still "blurred" eyes.  The dishes are done, the kitchen tidied up, so I am thinking it won't be long until I am thinking my bed might be looking pretty good within the next hour or so.  Wish me sleep, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Bittersweet Memories

I sit here looking at the screen of my laptop feeling quite "blank" on where to begin.  It is seldom I am wordless, as those who know me well.

Today was quite a bit different from any of the days I have had this past week.  Today I attended to a funeral for my long ago best friend, Heather's brother.  I was deeply saddened for the family's loss, as I would for anyone who has a loss of their loved one.

The funeral was at 11:00 am at the Anglican Church in my Hometown of Southampton, Ontario.  I thought the Minster to be awesome, especially since she had never met Doug in all of his 65 years.  Doug's children spoke, who all did amazing, as well as his brother-in-law, and friend of ours, Bill.  I was happy to have ran into an acquaintance who I knew going in, so I sat with her and her husband.  This was good, thanks Joleen.

Afterwards a luncheon was put on at the Southampton Legion for everyone who had attended.  Wow ... times like these are like walking down "memory lane" from many Years long gone by.  I was thrilled to see my old friend, as we had not seen each other in what I am sure has been 25 Years.

Ha ! I had told my friend, Heather, when I had moved back to Bruce County that her younger brother, Gordie, had a "crush" on me way back when (he is 7 years younger than I or more), so he had confessed to me.  She had a laugh and said everyone had a "crush" on me way back then as I was such a looker and still am.  Well flattery got her everywhere, as I then realized again why we had been such best friends back then.

She was laughing when reminicing about her and our other friend, Debbie, both being 3 years older then me,  dragging me about with them everywhere they went way back when.  BAD INFLUENCE she said they had been on me, but they always looked after me, if my memory serves me correct.  Funny after they had gotten married it wasn't long after we all drifted apart ... they both had relocated down in London, Ontario.

Heather also touched down on some pretty *sad* memories of how times had been for me growing up.  I am happy her and her family had been there in my life throughout those times.  Funny you think you get over some of those things after many many years have past, but they still can sometimes feed into your emotions.  All I can say I became a Caregiver at a very young age ... maybe some day I will be able to express it all and be done with it all as a memory, keeping it exactly where it belongs ... way back then.

Hahaha... I had some laughs with her one brother, as he used to share a drive with my Dad and others way back when the Nuclear Plant first began at Douglas Point ... now called Bruce Power.  It was like "oil" had been found in the jobs being offered to an area that had little industry other to speak of much then Furniture Factories back in the late 70's.

I also was able to meet old friends I had grown up with, and even a couple Mother's of old school friends.  I even had someone I used to babysit for when I am sure I had been 13 years old, come to me to say "hello" and ask how I was.  She was from a family who used to live not far from my Mom and Dad's home.

Today had held many "Bittersweet Memories" for me.

Leaving the house at 9:45 am I never returned back home until after 3:00 pm, as I had also met up with "Crabby Cabbie" at the Southampton Tim Horton's for a coffee together.  He is a sweetheart, and I do LOVE him so much.  How many people get to marry one of their best friends in their lifetime ... it took awhile but I really have never regretted us finding each other.  Wow ... I am feeling pretty melancholy today, with so many old memories being stirred up within me I suppose.

On a "lighter" note I found a "chit" in my Mailbox for a parcel to be picked up downtown.  After I cleaned the bathroom, made a couple of phone calls, and sent a fax off, I headed on downtown to claim my parcel.

I was so excited as it was the gift box from the Secret Sister Swap Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily had organized for a bunch of us gals .....

"Check out all the wonderful "goodies" I received ... and chocolate, out front and center if no one noticed !  Lots of wonderful teas to go in a beautiful Mug that says, "Forget Love I would rather fall for chocolate".  Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts you packaged up for me Kelly !"

"Not only did Kelly have my Name as her Secret Sister, I had also had her Name !  I couldn't show what I had sent off to her before now, but this had been my Secret Sister Gift to her.  Kelly's favourite Holiday was put down as being "Christmas" so Christmas she got with homemade bath salts & soap, some Natural remedy books, a Handmade Chocolate Christmas Tree, Ornaments for her "real" tree, and a couple of other goodies for good measure.  I sure hope she loved her gift too, and by receiving the Thank You Card along with my gift from her, I am certain she had !"

This all brightened my day.  Really considering I have not been feeling the best this past week, I have still received an abundance of Life's Rewards in so many wonderful ways.  I am grateful to have so much in my life in way of Family and Friends.  Thank you for all being in my life ...oops I think I am getting all "wishy washy" again, but dang it all that is just "me", and emotional "puddle" some days !

"Just to let the rest of Bruce County know, we did get a little bit of snow in and around Wiarton today, with this photo being my proof of this."

"...and really it was snowing here as I was almost back into Wiarton this afternoon."

Funny I have so much more inside I want to say, but for some reason it is all stuck down within myself somewhere.  Regardless, I am here, I am happy and it is all good at this present moment, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".