A Good Day

I was so tired last night I don't even remember anything after my head hit the pillow until I awoke before 6 am this morning.  I slept well, which I definitely needed.

I felt so good I got going pretty much right off the bat at some much needed and overdue housework.  Even though I did not get done what I had set out to do, I still managed to get some of the furniture moved and some of the floors washed, dusting done, and some more paperwork cleared away (why is there ALWAYS paperwork???).

I received this photo by text this morning.  How could this not start off anyone's day on the right foot?  

Aiden, Chloe, Briar & Connor.

I had called my sister Jeanne also this morning to invite them to come up to have Dinner with us.  They arrived a bit earlier then dinner, but I still managed to get everything back somewhat in order to make us all lunch after Rob was done cutting the lawn(s).

After lunch Rob had to go out on a call while Jeanne, Cecil and I headed down to the Wiarton Farmer's Market.

As soon as we got back home Jeanne & Cecil headed for the comfort of the swing.

Good thing we had all arrived home when we had, Rob included, as a big truck pulled in with a delivery.  I am so EXCITED as our new Gazebo arrived today, even though goodness knows when it will get put up, it is still here !!!  .... and it is a hard top one so no more seams coming apart ... and it has a 3 year warranty too !

Late this afternoon Jeanne and I left Cecil relaxing in the rocker on the front stoop while we headed down to have a much overdue (on my part) visit with our Mother.

We had first stopped at Tim Hortons so I could get Mom a Coffee, as you can see she LOVES Tim Horton's coffee.  Then I  had her "wave" and say "hello" so I could text my Paul this photo of her, since he has always been Grandma's boy, and I do so every time I go visit her.

Jeanne was uncomfortable sitting on the side of Mom's bed so I gave up the chair for her and laid back and relaxed on Mom's bed, as you can tell by my feet, while having some laughs and carrying on with the two of them.  It had been a fun visit.  We had to leave when it was time for Mom to go down for her dinner.

Once back home I finished getting our Dinner of Ribs, Rice and Pork & Beans together.  Jeanne and Cecil left shortly after we were finished, as they were a bit weary themselves.

Oh yes I almost forgot ... I had been contacted by the Wiarton Echo, our local newpaper, asking if they could print one of my photos I took of the Tall Ships earlier this week.  It will be on the front page of next weeks edition of the Wiarton Echo.  I am flattered of course.

It has been a good day.

The dishes are done up, Rob has gone out on another call, and I am going to take care of our Aussies for the last time this day, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Doggie Parks & Turnip ?

Really my morning yesterday did not start out as good as it went on to be, as I had made myself a coffee first thing as usual, settling in to enjoy it while I did my social networking updates.  Halfway through the coffee I reached over to have myself another swallow to feel something between my teeth ... I spit into my hand to find it had been a DEAD FLY !

Omg, out into the kitchen it went and down the drain went the rest of my coffee !!  That was the end of coffee drinking right then and there at that moment.  I was fine until Rob called me and I was describing what had happened to me ... that was that, then came the dry heaves.  It really had not been a good start whatsoever.  Yech, yech, yech !!!  and a double big EWWWWW.

Back to a much better start with my coffee this morning, with hopes that never happens again.

Rob and I had an appointment in Owen Sound this morning.  Off we went to be over there by 9 am for when the First Choice Haircutters was open as Rob was in bad need of a hair cut.  While he was getting his hair "done", I was able to do a bit of shopping, managing to pick up a couple Christmas Gifts.  I pretty much think I have Christmas wrapped up already, other then a bit of this and that maybe and of course, Christmas Baking to be done.

When we got back into Wiarton I had received a "text" message from our pup's Forever Home to see if I could meet up with them at the Dog Park.  We had a bit of time, so off we went.

Rusty was having the time of his life with a couple of other Doggie Park "regulars".

Here is Rusty !  Other then apparently being pretty protective of his Forever Family towards other humans when first meeting them, Rusty is known to be quite the "smart" pup and absolutely loves other doggies to play with.  It is great to watch his progress since he is so close to us.

We finished with our doggie park visit then headed on back home.  

Last evening we had a local Wiarton Echo newspaper picked up for us by our driver as I had remembered I had been approached last week about my photos being used from the Food Bank Fundraiser Dinner on October 4th that I had the pleasure of being invited to by my friend, Gayle.  Of course I also wanted to see how well the fundraiser had done.

Hats off to Wiarton !!  Holy moly, $9,000.00 raised !!! that is beyond belief for a Community our size.  This just proves what I believe in ~ Unity Creates A Strong Community ~ with Wiarton once again proving this to be true.  Also it was nice to see Mandy Seboc's photo of Wiarton Willie was posted.  I believe she will honestly hold the title "Willie Whisperer", Mandy will.  *Smile*.

I was in total surprise to find my "Crabby Cabbie" had also made our local paper.  Thank you Wiarton Echo, this indeed was a most pleasant surprise.  Also I could not help but notice Gateway Haven's Annual Bazaar is just around the corner.  I attended to this same Bazaar a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  

Unfortunately there had been a disappointment this day.  I had made chicken broth yesterday, so today when in Owen Sound we had stopped into the No Frills grocery store to pickup a turnip as I wanted some to put in the Turkey Soup I am making tomorrow.

Rob peeled and sliced it for me to find it was "bad" inside.  It is almost appears as if it had been previously frozen and was rotting from the inside, out  This turnip at .57 cents a lb., almost cost me $3.00.  With produce being "In-Season" and supposedly local and fresh in the stores at this time of year, this had been a definite disappointment.  It is also being definitely returned when I am back over that way next.

The *sad* part about all of this was we drove by the farm fresh Dunkeld Turnip Waxing Factory the other week and missed stopping to get some there.  *Sigh* can't always think of everything, this I know, but a whole bag would have only cost $5.00 !!!  Hopefully we will be back down again that way sooner then later.

Did I manage to get anything done at home today other then a few dishes washed up?

Since this Autumn Clematis is quite aggressive by branching off with runners to re-plant itself, I actually got the one in the left picture all cut back this afternoon while out with Mercedes and Bandit.

Bandit and Mercedes had no problem amusing themselves while I work away at the clematis.  So much to get done inside and out, with no time to get at it most days. 

I think we have all felt like this sometime, or another in our lives, have we not?



All in all it had been a good day, other then seemingly going by me way too fast, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Another Totally Amazing Day In My Life !

Today began in its most usual fashion going on to lots of living in the most amazing ways ....

"Was I ever grateful I had taken photos of  our Manitoba Maples after they had just turned their colours a couple of days ago, as in another couple days I am sure they will be bare of all leaves."

Rob and our friend, Mike, had wood they were going to be working on this morning.  While they were out doing that I was in getting what else done but more cleaning tackled .... how amazing is that?  Not too amazing as it never ceases to end ever, does it ???

No fear as my day did get better as I began to fix the three of us an "amazing" Easy Peasy as 1-2-3 Dinner ....

"Right out of the Masterson Reunion Family Cookbook one of our favourites by my Auntie Gladys ... and made with just an "amazing" few items."

"Mix it all up, pour it all over, then 1 1/2 hours later you have an "amazing"  Cabbage Roll Casserole dinner to serve up."

The guys were so busy, I had to go out to let them know their dinner was done and waiting to be served up to them.

"It was "amazing" to see how many Cedar boughs Mike had gathered yesterday from our Bush.  Ever wonder how you come by those Cedar or Balsam Boughs for your outdoor Christmas decor at the stores ... this would be how."

"Then to see how much wood Rob and Mike had split and piled was "amazing" in itself.  And would you look at our "amazing" little Missy Mercedes nosing around."

"Glancing around the shed to see really how wonderful it is to be surrounded by so much "amazing" spectacles of Nature."

"Is this Wasp Nest not totally "amazing" in your eyes?"

I did get the guys fed their Dinner with it all cleaned up before I headed on "North of the Checkerboard" to retrieve my Mother as we had our six month cleaning scheduled with our Dentist this afternoon.

"Ha ... I was "amazed" at how well the balloon my brother and I had gotten Mom for her Birthday in September had held up, but even more "amazed" when my Mom had asked if I had been taking a picture of her butt ....hahahaha, Mom you are way too funny !!!"

"Check out these "amazing" fishies made from CDs which were hanging around the Nurse's Station at the Golden Dawn Nursing Home ... are they not cool?"

Mom and I had a good check up with our Dentist, going away with nice clean teeth good until we return again in six months time.  We really had a great visit together today too !

When I made it back home around 4 pm, Rob and Mike were waiting for me as we had to head down to drop Mike back home at Saugeen, and then head on over to where we were invited to Aunt Gladys and Uncle Basil's for Supper.

"First before dropping Mike at his home, we dropped the boughs off at the Pickup Depot ... wow that is a lot of boughs !"

With Mike dropped back to his home, Rob and I made a trip to the Bulk Barn and Dollar Store in Port Elgin before landing at the Auntie and Uncle's house.

"It never ceases to "amaze" me how much MY Auntie and Uncle spoil MY Rob, all the time!  Here they are serving him up one of his favourite meals again ... Kentucky Fried Chicken with Homemade Apple Pie for dessert !  Check out that Bean plant in the middle of the table having grown right up top the light fixture ... pretty "amazing" eh?  And how could I not be "amazed" at my Uncle Basil being the "SMARTEST" man in Port Elgin? (so he tells me)."

The next few photos are not for the squeamish ... I being one of those squeamish paranoid persons of these "insects" that DO NOT  "amaze" me, but scare the "crap" out of me.  Have I ever mentioned before how much I HATE ......

"SPIDERS !!!  but still could not help by being "amazed" on the size of this sucker !!!  Scary ...."

"And what were those other two, its offspring????"

"Captured onto a fly swatter.  Ewwwwww..... I am happy to say Uncle took care of this "huge" sucker and hopefully all of its offspring it had spawned."

After that nasty Spider episode we said our good-byes with both of us grateful at what an "amazing" meal we had been fed.

"I couldn't believe how "amazed" I was at the story Rob told me when we were passing by the Crabby Joe restaurant ... he actually tells his Taxi fares that Crabby Joe is the Crabby Cabbie's brother !!!  How lame can people be if they believe that "tall" tale ... hahahaha !  What comes out of my husband's mouth at times never ceases to "amaze" me."

We made it home rather late, but not quite yet 9 pm.  I was further "amazed" to have picked up our local newspaper, The Wiarton Echo to see ....

"My photos I had submitted from when I had been out at the Dejong Acres Farm's Thanksgiving "open house" had been "printed" in our local newspaper !!!"

"Yikes !!!  with full credit having been given to me along with my "Just North of Wiarton" Blog link !!!!  Wowsers ... a big THANK YOU and then some to the Wiarton Echo !!! "

What an "amazing" feeling it is to see one's own name in print staring back at one's self !!!  A little bit crazy and wonderful all at the same time ... really it is.

Once Rob and I had gotten ourselves settled in each with a coffee, him watching TV and me checking out my emails, I had one more wonderful and ....

"... "amazing" occurrence this day.  This would be a Teriyaki Chicken dish my Son, Paul, made from "scratch" for their Supper this evening.  A Son after his own Mother's Heart, would you not agree?  Once I get the recipe from him, trust you, me, I will be trying it out myself , as by the looks of his picture it appears to be pretty appealing !!!"

This really was "another totally amazing day in my life", with many more I hope ahead of me, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".