Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

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".

Tuesday, 1 January 2013

HAPPY NEW 2013 Year !!!

" 2013 is here !  it wasn't waiting for anyone to catch up to it, so if you weren't ready for it yesterday, you best  had been ready for it today.  I was happy to replace my 2012 Lang Calendar with the new 2013 one my Son bought me for Christmas."


I shocked myself by staying up until 2:30 am this morning watching TV !  that is the first that had happened in YEARS.  

"Some of us weren't able to even think about making it to the New Year ... I did  eventually wake them both up after midnight to send them off to their designated sleeping areas."


My "Crabby Cabbie" didn't arrive home until  5:30 am.; poor guy was beyond tired when his head "hit the pillow".  I am sure he barely was able to say two words to me.  I stayed in bed just before 8:00, then our "Checkerboard Aussies" needed my attention.

The day was cold when I went out, just below -12 C (10*F).  Even the girls were holding their paws up it was so cold ... brrr.  The morning progressed into a beautiful day with the sun coming out in full force.  What  a perfect day to start the 2013 New Year off.

"Paul packed his gear up to head out early back to his home, but not first  without gushing good-byes between himself and Bandit.  What a pair the two of them are."


"Umm.... -12 and shorts?  Really Paul?  Really ????   Off he goes heading South, hopefully with it being a bit warmer in that direction for his sake."


I had just happened to hear through the "grapevine" that my "Crabby Cabbie" had his very first local (or first of any kind for that matter) newspaper debut !  I had Rob bring me a copy home.  

Wow Rob you and the Grey-Bruce VON Piggy for Pennies are looking pretty good.  Oh yes, the lady sitting on the far side of my "Crabby Cabbie" Rob is Carolyn, who Rob is very pleased that he now has such a nice lady now working for and with him.  Thanks for joining the "Crabby Cabbie" team Carolyn !!!

"Should you see the "Crabby Cabbie" vehicles out and about, please be sure to feed the VON Piggy with Pennies (or dimes, nickels, loonies and toonies) !  Special thanks to the "Shoreline Beacon" for the BIG SHOUT OUT !!!


Should you happen to be on Facebook?  my "Crabby Cabby" sure would LOVE if you dropped on by his Facebook page to give it a big old LIKE, by going to it via HERE.  Thanks in advance for all your kindness and support.

My poor sweet Rob really never got too much sleep this morning at all.  Between the two of us, we got a bit of the last Quarter paper work begun by completing the December billing.  Poor guy had been barely up when he had a call to go out,  so go on back out he did.  While he was gone I got going on putting our Christmas Dinner into motion by stuffing the Turkey, and getting the veggies ready to be cooked.

Finally back home, Rob helped me with one thing that had been on my mind to get done for the past 2 weeks or so, however it was something I needed his help with.

"Christmas 2012 Photo Shoot had not been done with Buddy; it had to be a Winter 2013 Photo Shoot instead.  Here he is all ready and unsuspecting, hehehehe ... okay Mom whatcha think you are going to be doing with those things?  Big grin now for Dad ... see I just know I am styling now."


"Wow it all is a blur to me, what is going on here ????  Oh there that is much better.  Dad get them off please, get them off !!!"


"Okay let's get this over with if she is going to insist.  Okay this is the very very "Best" I got for ya Mom !!!  Happy New Year Everyone !!! from "Checkerboard Aussie" Buddy."


We no sooner finished up with the pictures and had Buddy for a big run when the "Crabby Cabbie" phone rang and he was off and gone on another call.  I had lots to do by getting a little more prepared for our Turkey dinner ... oh why were we having Turkey on New Year's Day, you might wonder? well I had a flu bug on Christmas Day, so we had missed out on it that day, making do with leftover Ham and Scalloped potatoes.  Thank God we had been blessed with leftovers that day !!!

Rob gave me a call when he was on his way back and not far from home so I would have a "head's up" to get going on the final preparations.

"This 8 pounder is going to be keeping us happy for a few more days this week.  Rob LOVES himself some Turkey leftovers."


"With the Turnip and Potatoes all cooked, I got going on getting the gravey made by using the water drained from the veggies.  I used Cornstarch to thicken my gravey.  When in a "pinch" I have used flour as my own Mother used to use, but prefer Cornstarch way much better."


"Easy Peasy as 1-2-3 it was putting it all together, and YES that Turkey was very moist and full of good Turkey flavour, let me "Tell the World"."


Do you make New Year's resolutions?  I have found over the Years the one that work the best for me to make is "My New Year's Resolution is NOT to make any, so that way I won't break any".  This way it  is pretty much a "win win" situation for me.  

However one thing I would like to make as one of my Goals for the whole of 2013 is to try and be more "kinder", as I really don't think there is such a thing as being "too kind" is there?  and besides .....


Now is that the truth !  Who would like to join along with me on the Goal of being "kinder" this Year..  I really don't think it should to difficult a Goal for anyone NOT to keep, and I certainly would LOVE the extra company.

Minding my manners, I would love to extend a warm welcome to my newest follower,  LuAnn of Back Porchervations.  Thank you for joining me here for my daily journey in life, and the odd opinion or two or three or .... I feel I might have to vent about from time to time.

Do you know what?  I really think I will be keeping my middle name of "tired" for the whole 2013 Year, as this is how I am feeling, "a little bit" here", "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".
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