Raspberries & The "Checkerboard Aussie" Gal

I survived another allergy shot in the arm yesterday, but what really got me was the "B12" shot in the other arm that I get once every three months.....oh man that one stayed with me for awhile.

A B12 shot is defined as follows:

B12 shots, also known as cobalamin injections, is a common vitamin used in the treatment of people suffering from acute anemia. People who suffer from acute anemia are found to have a deficiency of the B12 vitamin. These shots can also be used as an effective treatment for lowering stress levels, weight loss and skin diseases. It is also used as an energy booster. B12 is something which is not easily absorbed by your body therefore eating green vegetables can enhance the absorption rate.

Um now to figure out which reason my Doctor gives me a B12 shot in the first place is my next question ....my educated guess would be reason #4, lol.

Just before I headed out for my Doctor's,  North of the Checkerboard,  I managed to get a Roast Beef dinner put together in the Slow Cooker, so by the time I got home everything was all under control, giving me time to make a couple of my usual phone calls to my sister, Jeanne, and brother-in-law, Cecil in Nfld. 

My sister, Jeanne, has been in  St. John, Newfoundland's, Miller Center for Rehab, the past week and a half, and had received her first report just the other day commending her on the leaps & bounds she has achieved in her stroke recovery within the very short time since her admission there!!!!  I was so terribly excited when hearing that news !!!  She should be homeward bound no later then the 20th of October, if not sooner!  Good news for her, Cecil, and our family, and Cecil's family.  *Sigh* what a relief .... even though Jeanne is so far away from all her family here in Ontario, it has been a blessing we have been able to talk to her on the phone, and I do myself at least two or three times on any given day.

My next phone call of the day was to Gem Webb, Web Designer, for Explore the Bruce, as I had a inquiry on how to find something on the "Explore the Bruce" website.  I had the "biggest belly laugh" of the day, as just before I called him I had received an email from him with a little "giggle" ..... should you go back into my blog from yesterday, you will see for yourself the reason for my "belly laugh" there, as I had to edit and republish it later in the morning to include my very "Special  Explore the Bruce Thank You".

Our dinner was ready around 1:00 p.m., with the choice certainly paying off for me, as there was enough leftovers for me not to think about what I was going to make for our next dinner ....

"There is nothing quite like a slow cooked Roast Beef with baby carrots, new potatoes, onion and gravey ..... um mm."

It wasn't long after dinner Rob had to leave for work, by that time the migraine headache which had been brewing in my head  had become "full-blown".  It was that bad it caused my stomach to feel sick and my teeth to ache.  Then again I thought the weather yesterday was right up to par with how my migraine had been ..... "bad" !!!

"This is what I looked like the rest of the afternoon with the caption changed to read "in bed until 6:00 p.m."."

After some medication and a couple of hours bed rest, I was able to get up and get back at it again..... hopefully looking much better then "Maxine", lol.

Of course, my "Checkerboard Aussies" needed out by the time I did get myself back out of bed for the second time that day, so Bandit first, with Lexus having her turn second.

"I am very pleased with the second crop I am getting from the "Ever Bearing Raspberry" bushes we have lining our vegetable garden.  The second crop of berries being much larger then the first crop."

As I was enjoying a few of the ripened sweet raspberries, I look down beside me to see someone else was in there like a "dirty shirt" enjoying them as well...."

".....going at those raspberries as fast as she could."

"Pull, pull, pull.....come on off there you "dang" raspberry !"

"There "got it" ...... "

"How could Lexus not be just the picture of "health" with all  fresh fruits she consumes....lol."

That was pretty much my "whole" yesterday, as a person can't do much more, and even less sometimes with a "migraine headache" stealing the show. 

Shall I dare look see what the weather will be bringing today after having a whole day of rain yesterday?  What is there to loose, it is going to come whether I like it or not .... lol.

Wiarton Weather

13°C/°F Partly Cloudy Wind: 14 km/h SSE	TODAY	SUN	MON	TUE	WED
AccuWeather	18° / 12°	16° / 11°	16° / 11°	19° / 10°	18° / 10°

Looks like it is going to be another gloomy day, but since I will be inside most of  the day, I am not going to shed any tears over it.

Bruce Peninsula Heath Services is having their 4th Annual Health & Wellness Fair today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Meeting Place, 575 Edward Street, in Wiarton

Rob's cousin, Joyce, who is very involved with the Hepworth Legion, also emailed me to let me know there is a full Spaghetti Dinner at the Legion tonight from 5-6:30 p.m..  Dinner is $9.00, and includes spaghetti, meatballs, Cesar salad, bread & butter & jello & whipped cream for dessert.  Wow what a deal for all of that !!!

In the meantime, I think I will ponder life over a second cup of Java before I start moving too much further into my day ahead, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Fall 2011 Has Officially Arrived In Bruce County !!!!

Fall has arrived, and most certainly not as I had hoped as rain seems to be tumbling down outside my windows .... I had a dry, crisp Fall all planned out, the kind where I walk through a bush of Fall colours with the dried leaves crunching underfoot .... oops, was I dreaming again?  Dang that Pisces coming out in me ! 

I best be getting back into my yesterday, as it was more like a Fall day I had planned out for myself ....

It all began in quite a usual flurry with me trying to get the bed made and a few things tidy before I rushed out the door to make it to the weekly VON SMART exercise program.  Rob had to go in for work earlier, so he was in the "mix" of being in my way by trying to get his lunch ready to go ....

I had gathered up the basket of Zucchini Muffins I was dropping off to a "group" of well deserved individuals who I imagine work very hard at keeping the wheels well oiled behind the scenes for Bruce County's very own "Explore the Bruce", as it is a "very" happening County, if you don't already realize this ..... Explore the Bruce is much more then just about Summer and "hiking" the Bruce Trail, it also has Fall activities in abundance; one such activity I, myself, just was made aware of the other day .....  there are lighthouses to be seen all along the coast of Bruce County that would make for some wonderful Fall day tripping !

Growing up in Southampton,  the most famous lighthouse I grew up knowing about is at the mouth of the Saugeen River, which guided travellers and fisherman alike into its harbour for years .... but I never gave any thought to how many others there are about and about Bruce County.  They are out there and can be found by first checking out where they all located on the following link that who other then our very own Explore the Bruce team has provided on their very well thought out website:  Ontario Lighthouse Tour



If we get a really nice crisp, dry Ontario Fall day, and Rob has a day off at the same time, maybe I could convince him for us do a little Day Tripping ourselves on the motorcycle to check out some of these Bruce County coastal lighthouses for ourselves.....ummm a new adventure for us in the making maybe?  LOL, we will see how that works out for us.

After the "muffin" drop-off I went on to the 1 hour exercise program, which for the second week in the row I enjoyed immensely, looking forward to next week already .....

I just came across an article this morning telling us that if we are to walk 10,000 steps per day, we will remain "fit".  I normally wear a pedometer on a daily basis, however for some reason it keeps slipping my mind to attach it to myself lately .... wonder if my brain has been on "overload" too much for me to remember?  I am sure with me this is quite the possibility; "brain" and "overload" together has a tendency to let things slip away from me from time to time....lol.  I have been a huge fan of walking all my life, so this article was just a gentle reminder that I should be resetting some walking goals for myself again.

http://www.realage.com/health-tips/walk-5-miles-for-cardiovascular-fitness?eid=1010648394&memberid=32127704

Pedometers do not have to be a big expense, as the one I picked up at Walmart was under $10.00, I think around the $5.99 mark or so.

After a couple of stops in and around downtown Wiarton, I made it back home after the lunch hour to some pretty happy dogs who wanted some playtime with me before I actually got to get myself in the house and settled. 

The rest of my day was spend pretty much catching up on some humdrum stuff like folding two loads of laundry, emptying the dishwasher, sweeping some stairs ..... the stuff I should be trying to keep up with every day, which never happens.  Now I think about it, if I was trying to "keep up" with all the cleaning I think I should be keeping up with, that would really put the meaning back into the statement "being a slave to your house" for me.  Don't think I will go there .....

I did have a little more fun yesterday when I was adding some recipes to "Cindy's Recipe Exchange" on my Facebook page.  The group became a total of 77 members yesterday, in reality 76, as I think my one girlfriend has herself in there twice for computer backup reasons, so I put it out there that I would like to hear from everybody where they are all from in a geographical sense. 

It was fun, and we have members from as far as way as Australia, Florida, Prince Edward Island, and as close as in my own backyard in Oliphant.

Interesting, I find it all to be interesting ..... the recipe exchange is about everyday simple cooking and/or baking.  "Quick, Easy & Nutritious" !  I don't think I could handle complicated, as I have my brain working overtime enough as it is without adding anything else into the "mix" by adding "complicated" to it.

Since my Crabby Cabbie's work schedule was all mixed up yesterday, he took a time out and came home to have supper with me at 5:30, and then headed back out ..... now that is what you call a "dine & dash", however I did get a "quick" peck on the lips and a "I love you", as he was walking out towards the door ....

"The mist began to roll in as my day was coming to an end ..... the last day of Summer going towards the first day of Fall."

Now with going forward into the first day of  Fall.  Just a thought, why bother with the daily Wiarton Airport's weather forecast when I already know it is pouring down rain outside...oh what the heck, why break with tradition !

Yep, I can now look forward to the showers ending sometime tonight, or not .... lol.

I am back on track with heading up North of the Checkerboard to have my weekly allergy shot in the arm this morning, then I will be able to get on with the rest of my day ahead however it will be, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

I Get The Feeling I AM Going In Reverse All The Time Lately?

Wowsers ! .... that was quite the thunder "banger" and lightning show Bruce County got last night !  Not sure about everywhere else but reports from over Oliphant and Southampton ways certainly got it as much as we did here. 

I went to take Lexus and Bandit out just before 9:00 p.m., and nope they just stood there and wanted back in .... at that time it the thunder was just starting to roll in from the West, with the rain hitting not too long after.  Good thing Rob let them out when he got home, otherwise I think I would be greeted by two Aussies crossing their legs in agony this morning !  LOL

I had one of those "non-stop" doing something all day, but not really feeling I was accomplishing anything kind of days.  *Sigh* and felt completely worn out by the whole day !

I am finding it to be "quite the challenge" changing the way I have scheduled my days (or attempted to, to say the very least) from the past couple of years, to now accommodating  the preparation of a Dinner at the lunchtime hour.  Not that I mind, it is just a whole life change by having to change my way of thinking and planning.  I am the type of person who thinks ahead to the next day or two, on what I am going to make for a meal .... I like having it in "stone" in my head on what I am going to do .... lol, that small bit of organization in my life must give my brain a "calming" effect.

Anyhow, yesterday it felt like I was preparing food the whole day long.....and not getting anything else accomplished. 

Once I had gotten my morning going with first by putting the Pork Ribs in the slow cooker, then going out into the garden to retrieve onions, beets, dill, and chives.  Next was preparing the Barbecue Sauce .... a little chopping and mixing went on there, and then some heating of same.  Beets and potatoes needed then to be scrubbed and put into a pot to be boiled.  By the time all was said and done, we managed to sit down and eat around the 1 o'clock hour.

Now mind you, inbetween all of this there was the making of our bed, general cleaning up of the kitchen, setting the table, oh yes and the "picture" taking !  Time does seem to fly, for loss of a better cliche ....

"It began by retrieving the Slow Cooker Ribs recipe from "Cindy's Recipe Exchange", on the laptop, since I didn't have the method for the sauce printed off."

"To the finished product of a Slow Cooker full of saucy ribs."

"Ending with a very enjoyable 10*Star Dinner served up with garden fresh veggies."

Then comes the cleanup, onto the loading the dishwasher, and then trying not to "stick" to the kitchen floor where I must have had a couple of "oops" moments.  After that was all done,  not much later going back out into the kitchen to find Rob had made his lunch leaving the counter in another "mess" to be cleaned up.... um, how does that happen my dear "Crabby Cabbie"?  ...and he wonders how I turn into a "Mrs. Crabby Cabbie" some days ..... LOL !!!

After Rob and I had completed some business we had to attend to by phone, it was time for him to leave for work .... it was 3:00 p.m. already and I had only made a bed and cooked a meal !!!  OMG !!!

*Sigh* I took a half hour out for myself before I got going on making a potato salad from the leftover dinnertime potatoes, oh yes, I forgot I had boiled eggs for the salad that morning as well, but no big deal, right?

"Here it gets started from the beginning ...."

"....ending here."

Ha, ha, ha, looks so simple in the pictures .... good thing I don't include pictures of all the "mess" inbetween the beginning and end !  With that out of the way for the next day, I took myself outside to enjoy the lovely day we ended up having to have some fun with Bandit and Lexus, and get myself some much needed fresh air.

I see myself as being a very "frugal" person, or as Rob would call me "cheap", so I waited until the hydro rates were down at 7:00 p.m. before I started the dishwasher and began the making of 2 dozen Zucchini Muffins.  By the time all the chopping and mixing was done, and they came out of the oven, I am sure it was close to 8:30 p.m..

"The Zucchini Muffin Recipe from my Muffin Mania book is one of the best I have ever made; um mm moist and tasty."

I finally had my "shower", and went to bed to relax for the rest of the evening.  I don't remember what I was watching on TV, only that it was about 12:30 a.m. when my Crabby Cabbie returned back home ....guess I missed out on whatever I was watching.

*Sigh* that was "my day in reverse" on how I am usually used to doing things, but I am sure I will get used to it somehow or another, and overcome the challenge of it all, as that is just the way it is. 

When I did manage to read a couple of my emails inbetween everything else yesterday,  I loved the one I received about "cucumber uses", some I have heard before and others I have not:

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need

every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin

B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin

B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron,

Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and

Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B

Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few

slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive

garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before

going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten,

firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and

headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by

European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a

quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels

water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a

cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for a massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber

will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the

surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the

cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

I know it was a little long, but I can't email it to everyone and I wanted to "share", as I do love sharing ..... lol, and thanks to Zolton

Things to do and people to see today, so I had best be checking the Wiarton Airport's weather report for the day and get on with it.

Today:

Increasing cloudiness this morning. High 17. UV index 3 or moderate

Tonight:

Cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers. Low 10.

I think it is going to turn out to be an "okay" kind of weather day, as it must have rained itself out last night.

Here I go off and not really running into my kitchen for that very much needed 2nd cup of Java, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Another Day Gone To The Dogs !

My cousin, Suzanne, wanted to go to the Keady Market yesterday morning, as she hadn't been for sometime, so I told her I would go along for the ride....well along for the ride I did go, but we didn't leave until 10:00 a.m..  In days long past I had been quite the Market goer, living just minutes from the famous St. Jacob's/Waterloo and Kitchener Markets, my idea of going to Market was leaving no later then 6:00 a.m., and returning back home by 8:30 or 9:00 a.m..

Not only did we go to the Keady Market, we went on a quite the adventure getting there ..... as we had missed our turn and carried on into Scone, since we had been probably talking a mile a minute I am sure, since I had been curious on how Suzanne  had made out when she went on a hike, last Friday, for 6 hours along the Bruce Trail up by Tobermory, and she was telling me how well she did and what a "fantastic" time it was.

There are lots of perfect and interesting places to hike on the Bruce Peninsula....so no wonder she had such a great time on the hike.

So begins our adventure......

"It all began when we were "greeted" by the dog.  What a sweetie she was I might add."

"One of my most favorite stops is this vegetable stand in Scone....the corn here was so sweet."

"Suzanne needed eggs, so here she made the purchase along with one pretty big sweet onion."

We left there and carried on thinking if we went from Scone along the top road, with the hope we would come to the crossroad that would take us to Keady.....we did make it to Grey Road 3 which we turned down onto where Suzanne spied a sign that said "Puppys For Sale".  Turn around we did.....

"Indeed there were puppies for sale, and the cutest laid back puppies going....Golden Retriever/Pyrenees cross they are."

"Suzanne was really quite taken by the three of them....as I was too, but someone had to take the pictures, and besides I have and love my "Checkerboard Aussies"."



"The man even guaranteed they were house trained, as this little guy demonstrated for us, after just arriving outside."

"The original homestead was on still on the property when the puppy owners had first moved there, which I thought was of an interesting structure you rarely see anymore."



Before we took our leave, the puppy owner assured us the Keady Market was only 15-20 minutes further up the road.  I didn't have a problem not knowing where the Market was, I had a problem with Suzanne's gas "warning" light was on !!!!  LOL, I can imagine the story I would be now weaving if  we had ran out of gas?????

We eventually did make it to the Market, where I made a beeline for the small animal barn, as that is where I definitely knew there a washroom located.  As I was waiting for Suzanne to have her turn at the washroom, I took in some of the sights surrounding me....

"This little piggie went to Market....."

"...and there is certainly enough Christmas Geese all together, not by their choice, here."

"The fluffiest little Easter Bunnies !"

"This gentleman was transferring the three geese he had purchased into his own crate."

"He informed me this one was pretty skinny for the pot, and that they were purchased to go along with his chickens to their "demise" the very next day."

"These were Christmas Geese indeed, from what I gathered from the gest of the conversation...."

"Suzanne loves cows, so into the sales barn we went."

"Those cattle in the picture above weighed over 10,000 pounds !  That is a lot of Canadian "beef"."

"We made it back out to the open air and took in the all the sights as we walked around the Market."

"I would never have thought to have seen our friend, Ralphy, at the Keady Market this late in the day....but "plain" as day, here's ....... Ralphy !!!  and Bob.  Taking advantage of the perfect day out and about on their motorcycles."

Further along in our travels, Suzanne stopped to get some information from a gal representing and selling Norwex products (environmental friendly), who are known Worldwide.  Doing what I do best, we got to talking and this gal lives in Calgary, but is a Bruce County gal, from Port Elgin !!!  ....and was only 2 years ahead of me in High School....imagine that, maybe that is why she looked so familiar to me?  LOL.

"Mary Jean has some pretty great products,, and is planning to move back to Bruce County, but in the meantime purchases and information can be obtained from her website at  www.mjbelrose.norewex.biz ."

"...and here is "Kenny", a professed Medicine Man for many years from Canada's Western provinces, where the products he represents can be found by clicking on this website:  http://www.stoppainfastonline.com/?ai=2 .  I purchased some "Miracle Mist Spray" from him, so I will see how that works for Rob & I."

Suzanne and I called it a day and head off to the closest gas station in the area, which just happened to be Mennonite Corners, a few kilometers away from the Market, but we made it there, or as I had stated earlier, this story would have had a totally different "twist" to it.....lol.

We made one more stop in Hepworth at the Apple Vendor there for Suz to get a basket of  Crab apples, and then headed back to my home "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard", arriving there just before 3:00 p.m..  I did manage to get a load of laundry hung out on the line, Bandit and Lexus out for their runs, and a peanut butter sandwich into me, before I sunk myself into a chair, as I was "bushed".

"After supper, our friend Dean, came by to pick up another load of hay."

"Lexus, of course, had to be right involved with what was going on."

"I think Rob was telling Lexus how to go up one more bale....lol."

"Our "Checkerboard Aussie" was just pretty proud to be on the bale she was by the looks of her."

"...and there is Dean's truck/trailer, all loaded and ready to go down the road."

That was my yesterday, beginning with dogs, and ending with dogs....it was just another "doggone" day !!!  ...and I am tired this morning, as it was a very big "adventure" for me, so if there is a problem with spelling, or grammar, or whatever else my weary mind could not grasp....so be it ! LOL

I certainly hope my laundry drys today, as I never did get it off the line last night....best be checking that weather situation out.

Today:

A mix of sun and cloud. Becoming cloudy this afternoon with showers. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Fog patches dissipating this morning. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h this afternoon. High 22. UV index 4 or moderate.

Tonight:

Showers ending this evening then clearing. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light after midnight. Low 10.

Looks like the laundry will be alright for this morning at least.


I hope I have a more productive "adventure" at home today, as there is certainly never a lack of things to be done here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Birthday Cakes, Pies & Imaginations !

I was just thinking how wonderful yesterdays are, as when I am in the day at hand I am usually and hopefully having good memories of my yesterdays, and going ahead in my journey of life to making myself some new memories.......there I go being all melancholy again !

Back to my yesterday....here is a website that is guaranteed to start your day off right and put you into a good mood, as it did me when I first seen it, and it still does:

http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/70-cutie-baby-animals-bring-your-a-good-mood/

I can't imagine one person out there in the World going into this site and NOT having a little smile put on their face !!! 

..... then there is this other one I found through our friend, Ralph, which put a "WOW" look on my face.....so much that I had to run it through Snopes.com to see if it was "true" or not.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/giantgeorge.asp

Yep it is not only unbelievable it is also true !  and again, WOW !!!!  LOL, fun is nice...we all need a few belly laughs, more smiles and good feelings in our lives more often, as it all makes me feel good inside and out.

I did make the French Leek & Ham Shepherd's Pie recipe yesterday which I had posted, and um mm good it was.  A great way to get the Fall "Comfort" Food off to a great start .....

"It all began in our garden where these Ontario leeks just happened to be growing...."

"....ending up on my stove top in a pan along with some other delectable items."

"Right out of the oven....."

"onto our plates.............."

....and the rest is history !!!  LOL.  It was very very good, Rob and I both really enjoyed it.  I made a a couple little minor adjustments to the recipe by using 1/2 & 1/2 creamer for the heavy cream, omitted the nutmeg and egg yolk wash, & I sprinkled Kraft Italiano 4 cheese as it was what I had open in my fridge at the time, oh and I didn't remove the seeds from the tomatoes.  NOTE:  1 1/2 lbs of leeks is approx. 4 cups cut-up.

The following link describes how to select and store Leeks, along with other very useful "leek" information and recipes:

http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodstorage/a/leekstorage.htm

After our fantastic Dinner, I headed over to my brother Alan's place to have some Birthday Cake with them and our Mother, Stella.  Our Mother celebrated her 84th Birthday yesterday.  In honor of her birthday, Alan had taken her out for lunch and back to their home for cake.

"Happy happy birthday, Mother !!!  Mom does love getting her picture taken."

"Here we three are, Alan, the only boy, Mother, and me, the baby of the family"

All I can say is, I am sure glad I took after our Father in the respect I got a little bit of height, and Alan got the most out of all four of us children....lol. 

I made my way back home to where Rob was all ready to head out to our friend's place in Southampton, as he had promised to drop around with some stuff for them.  Off we went ....

Okay this was my same girlfriend, Fran, we had been to see the day before who I had made a beet drop to.  At the same time, Fran had asked me if I had any crab apples which I don't, but what were the chances of being on our way back there and having an apple stand erected the very next day, just as you are going into Hepworth?????

"Low and behold right there in the old Duffy's Hotel Parking lot was an Apple stand, and they had crab apples !"

Barbetta Orchards of Meaford have setup shop in Hepworth for the next two months, or so I was told by the chap who was tending the "fort".  This will certainly save us a drive to Meaford when we are ready to purchase a bushel of Spy apples later in the Fall, as Hepworth is only a hop, skip & jump from Wiarton.

The surprise on Fran's face when I showed up with a basket of crab apples was priceless.  What were the chances of that all coming together???  Anyhow we couldn't have arrived at a better time then we did, as I caught Fran in action with her baking talents ....

Oh man, look at that those pumpkin pies just out of the oven, and that Lemon meringue !  I would die to be able to make my meringue like that...trust me, she will be teaching me...lol....and there is that basket of Crab apples, can't wait to see the finished product from those."

 I absolutely love our grandsons, but what I would do to have a granddaughter close to me, as I am in total envy on Fran's relationship with her sweet little granddaughter, Lily.  Grandma had made her some Rapunzel hair, so they had been playing "Rapunzel" when we had arrived on the scene.

"Just look at that lovely "Rapunzel" hair Missy Lily is styling !"

 LOL, imaginations are wonderful, it is just too sad there is not more imagination being taught to the majority of children now a days ...... sad.

I, once again, enjoyed my visit with Fran.  Two days in a row is record for us when it is usually once or twice a year....lol, but I will be making a point of us getting together very soon, especially since she is going to be teaching me how to make meringue the way she does, but does not know it yet...lol.

By the time we got home it was after 7:00 p.m., but supper was made easy by having leftover Shepherd's Pie, and Rob enjoyed some homemade Carrot Cake as well, since Auntie Gladys had sent home some with him Sunday night....the "suck". 

I am hoping the weather is somewhat better then the constant downpour of rain we had yesterday, so let me have a look see....

Today:

A mix of sun and cloud. Becoming sunny this morning. High 19. UV index 5 or moderate.

Tonight:

Clear. Increasing cloudiness after midnight. Low 11.

Looking much better for today !!!  Yeah !!!  Looks like it would be a perfect Keady Market Day.

*Sigh* I must be getting myself off to a "kick start" this morning, as I have made plans with my cousin, Suzanne, today and need to get some things done before her arrival, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".