A Few Here And There Photos

Now what?  I really do not know why I am having such an issue uploading photos into blogger, but it has been "Maddening" !!!  I have even gone from Google to Internet Explorer browser.  Google nothing, Internet Explorer is letting me upload a few.  Maddening I say ! maddening !!!  All this is happening on my new laptop which has been working out fine until yesterday.  What a pain to go upload all my photos from my Desktop then back out to "fill in the blanks" on the laptop.  Does nothing ever want to remain a smooth steady go of it on a daily basis in life?  Apparently not so in mine ... here I go back to our Yesterday.

"Yesterday morning at approximately 7:30 am the "Checkerboard Aussies" were loaded and ready to roll on down the Highway."

"It appears Lexus is checking everyone in the far rear is settled in okay."

"Missy Mercedes has her mouth full so we won't be hearing much from her.  Buddy is in the "can't see much out of this here" kennel right beside her."

"Okay, we are all ready to "rock", head it on out Pops !"



"It wouldn't be a Road Trip with out a Tim Hortons coffee, now would it?"



"At this point Wiarton and Southampton are way long behind us, as we are now entering Paisley.  Paisley is a very quaint little village."



"Next we head on by Dunkeld.  This Hotel has been a Landmark for Years."



"We are now heading into the valley fast approaching Walkerton."



"Carrick Wines, located in between Walkerton and Mildmay.  Well worth the "drop in" if you are by and they are "open"."



"We all arrive safe and sound for everyone's annual checkup and vaccination appointment at our Vet's, the Mildmay Veterinary Clinic.  We LOVE coming here as everyone is so nice to us!"

"Buddy's very first visit here.  What could possibly be around that corner? something scary maybe?"

"First one in and first one on the scales.  Good boy.  Buddy came in at 36 lbs.  Not too bad for a youngster that he is."

"Kisses to the Vet right off the bat."

"Then a very big smile !  He is quite the social boy, our Buddy is."

"Next in the lineup was Missy Mercedes who weighted in at a whooping 44 lbs.  She is our personal little trash can, this girl is.  Good as gold for the Vet she was, once she got over her initial nervousness."

"Bums up Lexus.  Not even a flinch out of this girl.  As a matter of fact, there wasn't a flinch from any of our "pack"."

"She does love her Mommy.  I always gets lots of hugs and kisses from my Lexus girl.  She is my "Pretty Girl"."

"Last but not least, is our Big Guy, Bandit.  The little bit of smudge in this photo? that is where Lexus kissed it with me not noticing right away."


"Bandit was in tune to some pretty mournful howling going on somewhere else in the building."

"Lexus had to have a peek out in the hallway to see where all the commotion was arising from."

"On our way out, we all wondered if it had been coming from these two handsome characters?"

We loaded everyone back into our Van to make the trip back home, which normally takes around an hour or so without any stops along the way.

"Rob had seen this Sweet Corn sign on our way.  We had to go back the way we came so we could stop to get us a dozen cobs."

"The honor system was at work at this Corn Stand.  Can you believe only $4.00 for 14 Cobs of Corn? what a steal of a deal now a days, and fresh picked that very morning !"

"The Corn Stand was located right here in front of the Dunkeld Turnip Waxing Plant.  Later on you could pass by here to purchase some Turnips at a real "steal of a deal" also."

"Next stop was the Tara Post Office so I could mail my second Post Crossing Post Card."

"Thanks to this very nice Postal Clerk, my Post Card was going to be on its way to Germany."

$255.00 and change later, $24.00 being Bandit's meds, we finally made it home.  Oh that didn't include the $4.00 for Corn, nor the $3.59 on Tim Horton's Coffees.

"Bandit was prescribed some antibiotics with hopes of speeding up the healing of the Hot Spot he has.  Poor boy, I hope it works quickly as I know he is in much discomfort with the itch driving him crazy.  I personally know what itching can do to a person, short of driving them over the deep end."

"More recipe books that my Niece Joanne gave me.  Already I have been browsing through them all."

"My friend, Diane, who had picked up some fresh garden veggies from us yesterday, can never come empty handed.  She brought a can of Cherries for Rob to have a pie this Winter, and I, Lip Balm that she had made herself.  I will have to get her method from her some other time."

We had a fairly early Supper with an appointment to meet up with someone shortly after.  Then it was off to try out the "Dog Park" over in Oliphant to give Buddy a run, run, run ... without the worry of the highway and him not listening.  It sure makes a huge difference I find from having our three other Aussies from puppies, then having gotten Buddy at the age of sixteen months old.  

"...and run, run, run he did.  Lots of sniffing going on with all the other doggie smells within the perimeter of the fences."

"Good boy, good boy, good boy."

"Rules to be followed."

"Double gated entrance and exit made it really nice."

There had been a pair of boxers there when we first arrived at the park, however they had been just finishing up their run, shorty leaving the whole park to us and Buddy.  Since Buddy is not "fixed", I would prefer having him run by himself, especially since he really doesn't want to always listen to "come" when it is time to leave.

This was pretty much our Yesterday.  What a time I had getting this posted this day!  I will combine today and tomorrow all under tomorrow's post.  Today I made Homemade Laundry Soap with much ease I am sure it will be a "regular" thing to keep doing.

Little Missy Mercedes is calling for out, so I am thinking I will take the girls out for their run a bit earlier tonight, with Buddy following with his walk, then end it up with Bandit.  Looks like I am going to maybe have some time to get a bit more reading in tonight.  I found a couple of healthy "treat" recipes in the new book I was lent...leave it to me to "skip" the boring stuff and get right into the recipe, eh?  

By the way, whoever left me the comment, "they put the bread knife back in the knife block after cutting bread"?  You never left your name, so how will I know it is you  if I come over to eat at your house????  Dang, dang and triple dang I will never have a chance not knowing who you are ??????

Tomorrow is another day I always look forward to, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

OH NO ! No Photos !

We were up and all out the door by 7:30 am this morning.  That would be all six of us.

Oh no, no photos !!!  Of course  I have some wonderful photos, along with commentary describing our day spent together.  Blogger seems to be having an issue which is not allowing me to upload any photos at this present time.  Considering how amazing Google Blogger usually is, especially with the thousands who use it daily at no cost, they are allowed to have "oopsies" here and there with a bit of down time.

Hopefully tomorrow I will again be able to upload photos, giving a blow to blow account the six of us had together this morning.

This afternoon, of course once we just got our lunch together and ready to eat, the phone rang with us being called out.  By the way, would anyone else out there have a husband who might use a bread knife and return it to the drawer before it was washed, other then me?  I do "shake" my head some days, I do, I do ....

By the time we arrived back home the day had turned into late afternoon.

After her work day, my friend Dianne, stopped by to pickup a few Zucchini from me.  I had made her a "care package" with a few "acid free" tomatoes, some yellow beans, beets, a couple cucumbers and four Zucchini, as she is going to be making the "Stuffed Tomato and Cheese Zucchini" when she is entertaining friends tomorrow evening.  Diane, as all of my friends and family, do appreciate the Bounty I am able to share coming from our Garden.

Today I also posted a second Post Card through Post Crossing.  This one is headed for Germany, the first yesterday had gone off to California.  I am pretty excited !  I can't wait to see where I will be receiving Post Cards or Notes from, or where I will be sending off the next ones to !

On our way home from our outing his morning, we stopped by my Niece, Joanne's home to drop off a couple items to her.  In return she happened to give me four, or is it five? Company's Coming Cookbooks.  Just what I needed right? more cookbooks !  I am hopelessly a Recipe hoarder; I admit it wholeheartedly, with there being no cure for me ....  I have two recipes bookmarked right now:

Since I have an overabundance of Zucchini readily available (guess I should also get some put in the freezer for the Winter months too, now I think of it), there is every reason why I would pick this recipe to try:

Macaroni Zucchini Casserole (I know another one, but it has Cottage Cheese & Yogurt in it!)

Packaged Macaroni and cheese dinner 8 oz.  (220g)
Butter or margarine                              2 cups(500ml)

Chopped Zucchini, with peel                2 cups(500ml)
Butter or margarine                              2 tbsp.( 30ml)

All-purpose Flour                                2 tsp.  ( 10ml)
Cottage Cheese                                   1 cup  (250ml)
Plain Yogurt                                       1/2cup  (125ml)
Oregano                                             1/2tsp.  (   2ml)
Salt                                                    1/2tsp.   (   2ml)

Crushed cornflakes                             1/2cup  (125ml)
Butter or margarine, melted                   1tbsp.  ( 15ml)

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package instructions.

Saute zucchini in first amount of butter until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Sprinkle flour over zucchini.  Mix in.  Add cottage cheeses, yogurt, oregano and salt.  Add macaroni and cheese.  Mix together.  Turn into greased 2 quart (2.5 L) casserole.

Stir cornflakes into remaining melted butter.  Spread over casserole.  Bake uncovered in 350*F (180*C) oven for 30 to 40 minutes.  Serves 4 to 6.

NOTE:  I think I would use either crushed Ritz or plain crackers instead of the corn flakes, as corn flakes aren't a usual in our household.

Should anyone else out there happens to "give this a try", I would love to hear your feedback on this recipe, or any others I have previously posted, by way of comment (leaving your name), or by emailing me at:  justnorthofwiarton@gmail.com.  Thanks !

A couple of weeks ago, I finally figured out, all by myself I might add, how to add a Blog List to the right of my blog post on the side bar.  These are the blogs posts that I read on a daily basis.  I don't think I have ever missed too many ever.  When I finally get to sit down to have my morning  Java, this is my usual second start to my day.  The first start to my day is our four "Checkboard Aussies", what other possible first start to my morning would I have but them ....

Anyone out there LOVE "Pinterest"? come over and join me @NorthofWiarton.  Would love to see what boards you have on the go and share what I have on mine.

I might not be able to share any photos today, but I most certainly can share one of my favorite bands performing one of my favorite songs ...



On that note I am going to call it an early night by reading a little bit, something I don't do enough of anymore, take our "Checkerboard Aussies" out, about and around for their final jaunt of the evening, before calling it a night myself, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

The "Crabby Cabbie" & "Piggie Penny" Join Forces Again !

What a welcoming sight this morning arising to a gentle rain caressing the plant life ... a nice fresh smell to the nostrils when one first awakes.  It had ceased to fall by the time I had taken out, first Buddy, then Lexus followed by Missy Mercedes, with Bandit being last on the list this morning.

I actually woke up without a migraine or any sort of headache first off.  What a relief.

Since I was going to begin Post Crossing today, I needed to get a Post Card, as well as a couple of other regular cards I required.  Downtown Rob and I went first thing.  I had also promised a lady, who I had purchased a canner from, a couple of recipes.  I had to be good to my word, so these I also had to drop around to her.

Rob headed over to the Bank and Drug Store, while I headed out to get a Post Card and the other cards.  Finding a Post Card anymore is no easy task as it had once been, not seemingly that long ago?  I had to go to two stores before I found one, then even at that store there had only been three post cards in total.

"We had just finished dropping off the recipes as promised to the lady, taking in the view across Colpoy's Bay.  The view is never disappointing.  The Wiarton Marina in plain sight in the second photo."

"Does anyone remember these?  We can still buy them at our Bennett's Store downtown, along with Black Balls.  Memories from the past ... just a few left in the bag Rob had bought the other day were eaten in short work."

Once back home we got our lunches together.

"I threw a coleslaw with sunflower seeds and raisins together for Rob to have to go along with his Hot Dogs, while I had a Oriental Salad for myself."

Immediately after lunch I got going on preparing the Post Card and other cards so I could get them off in today's mail.

"The nice thing about the Post Card I was able to purchase was that it was of the "Corran" located a couple minutes up the road from us at the Spirit Rock Conservation Area."

"The next was to send along a note with the found Pirate's Eye Patch to our Grandson, Connor.  Thank goodness Connor can't read yet, as not to pick out Grandma's spelling  error(s)."

"The last card was one being sent off to Australia along with a packet of Sunflower Seeds.  This lady had commented on the photo of my Bronze Sunflower(s) I had posted to the Gardening Group on Facebook which I belong, stating she would love some of their seeds.  Well I searched the stores until I was fortunate at this time of Year to have found a packet, thinking they will be better then what I might have a chance to gather before the birds the seeds produced by our flowers."

"Ha !  I also found a couple of other cute cards I thought I had best pickup for when I need them at a later date.  The inside of this card says, "when you have to iron out the wrinkles".  Now which of my siblings will be getting this one for their next birthday ... hmmm."

I had all three cards ready to be posted, so on our way to Owen Sound we stopped to do just that.

In Owen Sound we had a stop at Walmart for a few things, the big ticket item today being Pedigree Dog Food ... 2 bags full !  Then over to Food Basics for a few items, finally stopping at the Bulk Barn as I needed some Spelt along with a few other items for a recipe a friend had just sent me the other day for those Spelt Crisps I had eaten on the way to Hepworth Saturday ... yummy.  I had to have the recipe !  Now I need to find time to try out the recipe.

"At Walmart Rob had even found these Post Cards !  I picked up five, just in case."

"Great News !  The "Crabby Cabbie" has been paired back up with a brand new VON Piggy Penny !  The forces have been reunited.  Angela just happened to have another "Piggie for Pennies" when we swung around to the VON Grey Bruce Office in Owen Sound this afternoon.  Thanks muches Angela !  I think Rob might be chaining this one down after his last experience HERE.  Should anyone see my "Crabby Cabbie" in his travels, please be sure to donate to the VON Pennies for the Piggie."

It was way past time to get our Supper going once we got home from Owen Sound, so I had to get right on it.

"Melted butter, minced garlic, cracker crumbs with eggs ready to be mixed in before shredded cheese and Zucchini are added."

"Hot cooked right off the BBQ, Zucchini Casserole."

"I never heard one complaint from the Chief BBQ guy, this being a sure fire indication it was all being enjoyed."

"A friend had just lent me this book the other day.  I am hoping to get some reading of it in between blogging and bedtime each evening.  Wish me luck, as I know I will be in dire need of lots of it."

"Finally I had a finishing touch put in the spare bedroom this day.  Rob put on the Angel switch cover I had gotten for "free" a month or so ago.  Suits this room very well, not to mention my love of Angels."

"What on Earth would this photo of my toilet roll be doing here?  I am just stirring the pot a little bit by raising a bit of "poop", no pun intended.  It did make me chuckle today when I was reading all about it HERE.  Let the "war" begin, Cathy, I am thinking Dave is ahead ! "

I have a very big day ahead of me tomorrow.  I best be calling it a night here very shortly if I am going to be starting at that book tonight, "North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".