A Wonderful Family Luncheon

I really look, forward to my Aunt, the Cousins and I getting together every Year for a pre-Christmas Luncheon  This Year was no exception.

We had a great time today, enjoyed the chatting among ourselves while lunching, exchanging a few small gifts, then the shopping afterwards in Downtown Wiarton.

Unfortunately I have been fighting a Migraine Headaches since getting up this morning, as the weather is changing again.  I am going to have to post about my day tomorrow, as at this moment I am going to seek out the comfort of my bed and a dark room.

Just this one photo for now of my Auntie Gladys who was in the Festive Spirit with Red Earrings and all this day.

Should you be in any of the areas that are now experiencing, or have freezing rain in their forecast, please take extra precaution if out, better yet stay in if at all possible.  To view this warning, please do so HERE.

I am hoping my bed and the migraine medication will ease headache, as it is the 2nd time I have taken meds for it already this day, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

What Child Is This ?

Today was not at all productive.  I was tired, thinking the past days, or weeks, have taken their toll.  I have had to slow down and this is what I did today.

A neighbour was in need of a ride to town this morning, so I did this and waited until she was done before taking her back home 2 hours later.  She was extremely appreciative, expressing how good Rob and I were.  That was a wonderful compliment that meant very much to me.

The snow was coming down pretty good here today, the roads a bit greasy, however visibility was really good making Life easier for those travelling.  I am praying the Freezing Rain storm they have been talking about for the past couples of days decides to stay at bay ... http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?on20#onrm39-508cwto-046240

I am always concerned when the weather is bad, worrying about my Crabby Cabbie, and his drivers out there in nasty weather.  I always say a prayer for all of them.

My Auntie and First Cousins, and Niece and I are getting together for a Christmas Luncheon tomorrow.  My Auntie Gladys, Cousin Vi, and myself have been doing this every year for sometime now.  I enjoy our get togethers, so I am also praying the weather stays calm for us tomorrow.

I LOVE getting mail (that are not bills), anytime of the Year, not only at Christmas time.

I received 4 more Cards today.  One from our young friend, Nathan in Australia, another from my friend, Abby, one from Nancy who is in Cindy's Recipe Exchange (& I got an awesome recipe from her too), and lastly a lovely card from my friend, Carla, & her family, of My 1/2 Dozen Daily (with a Tim Hortons Card inside ! she sure knows Rob & I).  

I love looking at our buffet as it is full of love and good wishes.

Another fantastic thing I had happen to me, which actually took place yesterday, was my girlfriend, Vicki, calling to tell me the (P) stamps over her way were still being sold.  She got me 100 stamps, and I was ready to do the happy dance about this, as our local Post Office told me the (P) stamps had been pulled from the shelves until after the price hike in March had occurred (dirty pool if you ask me about it).  Thanks Vicki, I LOVE you did this for me !!! xx

Did you not realize there was going to be another price hike for Canada Post stamps in the New Year? read all about it HERE.

Rob had been all over the countryside it seemed today.  When he was in Owen Sound at one point he had some time to kill, so into Canadian Tire he had went to spend the Gift Card he had received when we bought something there the other day.  It was for $10.00.

It appeared Rob could not wait to get home to play with his "new toy" he had picked up.

Also while Rob had been in Owen Sound someone had gone up to him while sitting in his Cab, and gave him a Tim Horton's Gift Card, telling him for Cindy & him to have a Merry Christmas.  When he called me he had not known who it was and said it was some lady with a guy who had red hair.  Hahaha ... I had put it out on my Facebook page, finding out it was my friend, Linda & her hubby, Mike.  The funny part about this is that Mike doesn't have red hair, he has NO Hair !!  Rob had to be hallucinating, or now says maybe the guy had on a red hat.  Made our day for having the laugh at my dear Rob's expense.

It was late when I got going on making Dinner for us, as well as cooking up some Mushroom I had gotten on special.  Cooked up and put them into the freezer for soups and stews later on.

Sticking to "bland" foods I made up a Turkey Burger for myself, Sirloin Burgers for Rob, along with White Rice and Steamed Broccoli.  It was good.

Almost right when Dinner was ready to put on the table Rob got called to go out.  Murphy's Law.  I could not wait much longer for him, so I had mine and heated his up just now, as he returned home at 8:00 pm.

I have many favourite Christmas Carols I LOVE, however this is one I have always really enjoyed ...

What Child Is This ?

What is your favourite Christmas Carol?  there are so many beautiful and fun ones to choose from.

My Crabby Cabbie has left again for work.  I am going to let our Aussies out for their last outing of the day, then call it a night myself, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Yesterday & My Today

Back to my yesterday ...

While waiting for Rob to come  home I packaged up a big box of Christmas goodies.  My hopes were dashed once inch after inch of Snow had begun to accumulate.  After 10:30 when it had lightened up,we headed South and finally made it to our destination where we dropped of this lovely 1992 Toyota Camry to our Son, Paul.

The Weather did not stress me out the whole trip down, as I was momentarily distracted when we stopped for fuel to admire this team and homemade cutter.  

It was a very late lunch Rob and I had, I am certain it must have been well after 2 pm.  Rob had a hot beef while I enjoyed a Grilled Chicken Breast on a Chibatta Roll.  Paul showed up with the girls, Chloe and Briar in tow to where we met to change over all the paperwork required for Paul to have ownership of the Toyota.  Once we had headed out to return back home, I could not help but think of Blackbird Pie when seeing all these birds on a wire.

Well into our trip back home I had been experiencing severe abdominal pain.  After contact with my doctor, Dr. Loney, we headed on over to the Owen Sound Hospital's emergency department.  I have been having chest pains for the past month, with the pain getting to be pretty much at times.

Two and a half hours later with excellent nurses and doctor on staff, I was sent on my way back home after determining I do have Gallstones, as well as a slight change in my EKG, which was probably due to the pain and stress I have been under the past month or so.  Life does have its way of taking its toll at times.

I was happy to get back home, after being administered some meds, as by that time was had been totally exhausted, as Rob had as well.  Needless to say, I will be watching what I eat, trying to stick to a bland diet.

This morning I really hadn't felt much more rested after the sleep I had.  I actually was in bed until just after 6 am !  Hooray for me.

Rob was on his way out the door to work, while I stayed in waiting for a Service Tech that Whirlpool Canada had arranged to check out my poor performing Whirlpool Aqualift Range I have been so dissatisfied with.

The Serviceman had arrived around 10 am.   After he listened to my baking woes, he started up the convection oven.  A half hour later he determined the problem must be with the Motherboard and a Probe sensor not functioning properly.  He will be ordering one and it should or could be installed as early as the first of next week.  

I am so happy I went one step further to leaving a comment on how dissatisfied with this unit on the Whirlpool Canada's Facebook page.  The only other option I had up to that point was to pay a $150.00 restock charge to have Square Deal Neil's replace the unit as they had not thought there to be anything wrong with it..  I was not about to put out another $150.00 on a stove that had been barely used, that was not performing as it was to, and was still under its 1 year warranty.  I really hope this will solve the problem, as I am looking forward to using an oven that is up to the standards it boasted about in its specs.

I had to go downtown today to drop off my new prescription to the Drug Store, but before doing this I had received a phone call saying there was a delivery coming.  I could not for the life of me think of who would send me a delivery.

What an amazing wonderful and beautiful surprise I had to have this arrangement delivered to us from my Girlfriend, Colleen.  I had been so happy and surprised I could not help but cry a wee bit.  And a Snowman? I LOVE Snowmen !  Thank you dear friend, Colleen ... xxx

Before I had headed out, Rob had came home, so he took me down.  I had a 40 minute wait for my prescriptions to be filled so we stopped over to the Wiarton Library as the Wiarton Farmer's Market was there for some pre-Christmas sales for the town.  

It was great to catch up with the Market Crew.  Here is my friend, Abby Miners of Miners' Maple Products.  She even served up a homemade Turtle to Rob (actually they must have been really good as he asked for a second).  I fell in love with Abby's Santa top, it was so fun and festive.

When Rob had been over in Southampton today our Crabby Cabbie driver, Ron, passed on a card he was given for us from his youngest regular customer.   What a lovely card and gift he received.  This certainly put smiles on both our faces.

Before heading up to my appointment late this afternoon with my own Doctor, we had been out towards Oxeden.  Coming back into Wiarton, Rob stopped for me to take a photo of the cliffs across Colpoy's Bay.

The ice frozen on the banks makes an amazing photo.

I am still exhausted from the previous days.  I am going to be calling it a day here shortly and head off to my bed, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Caught Up With Me

It has been a very very long day this day has been for myself and my dear Rob.  We have just arrived home at the hour of 10:50 pm this day.

There has been much hustle & bustle in our lives the past few months, some good and some not so good at times.  I have to finally admit, I believe it has finally all caught up to me.

I am very tired.  We are both very tired.  Tomorrow is another day with a recap of how my day was this day being left until then.

This was part of my day when I was heading South, with Rob following me in our Van, snapping a photo of me driving down the road.  The Weather we started out with today would be enough to stress out anybody, or at least me anyway.

On that note, I am off to say "hello" to a bed that I have not seen since 3:30 am this morning, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Just Giggle At It All !

Rob and I had both been up before 6 am this morning & raring (not) to go !!!  Rob was out the door by 7:30 am, after being reminded the garbage had to be taken out, while I stayed behind to do the usual morning household chores, Aussies and whatnot.

I was getting ready to head out the door, as I was on a very important mission on my mind, when the phone rang.  I was so happy to find that I would be getting into have an Ultra Sound this very day at 2 pm.  I was very happy about this news.

After a quick visit with my friend, I then headed right on over to see my Mom at Wiarton's Gateway Haven.  Was it ever nice to see every resident's doors individually decorated with Christmas Cheer.  I had taken along a Christmas Card that one of Mom's friends from Kitchener had sent her.  The best part was the look on her face when I took the "tree" I had gotten her from its bag.  Her eyes "lite" up !!!  this had made me very happy.  When I drop back next to see her I bet she has each little red apple decoration, I had also gotten her, on her tree.

Mom does not care for the little boxes of Kleenex they provide in the Home, so when Rob had been over in Owen Sound today he had picked her up so more "large" boxes for her.  She will be happy later this week when I drop them around to her.

When I got back home I had to deal with some business via a phone call.  It ended up to be very unpleasant business, so much so I had been outraged at the unprofessionalism I had to deal with this person.  In a fit of upset I publicly published my distaste about dealing with this person on my Facebook page.  This is what I wrote:

I have always liked to think I have never been a prejudice person, as my opinion has always been we are ALL Human, and ALL bleed the same, and ALL have Hearts that pump blood. It is very difficult to remain un-prejudice against a person who so openly displays prejudice of others out of their own circle of people. I was very disappointed to have heard this outburst against my husband & myself, especially when this same person(s) must be passing prejudice behaviour onto their own children, which is very sad.

I have now chewed over it through and through, spitting the bad taste of  it all out, but it has been not forgotten.  I can not believe how some people in this day and age can still be so prejudice over another person or people.  Have we not yet evolved and left the past histories of our forefathers behind?  There is GOOD & BAD in every Race, and as I stated we all have the same red blood pump through our Hearts, do we not?  Hopefully the bad taste of what was said to me this day will leave soon, so I can carry on as Life has so many other Sweets to offer us.

Speaking of Life's Sweets, I got to see my friend, Diane, who just happened to be the Ultra Sound Technician this afternoon at the Wiarton Hospital.  Diane and I met almost 3 years ago while I was there having an Ultra Sound at that time.  I believe she had never missed one of my blog post since our first meeting.  We have become friends through email, Cindy's Recipe Exchange on Facebook, and the times we have been able to get together on a personal basis.

The Ultra Sound Department in Wiarton is going to have a great loss once Diane leaves their premises within a few weeks time, as Diane told me today she will be retiring at the end of this Month.  I know she will be very much missed with her smile, and for all the care she gives for her work.  Diane even had a little "Care Pkg" ready to send home for Rob & I.  Thanks Diane, I absolutely LOVE the Gingerbread Men ! and since Rob does not like Ginger I got to consume both all myself .... xx

Truly the Gingerbread Men were totally awesome.  Since I LOVE to share with others, here is the recipe Diane used to make them:  http://tonispilsbury.com/recipe-for-a-perfect-gingerbread-man/

Back to my Ultra Sound ... results will be acquired once I have my follow-up appointment with the Good Doctor on Thursday afternoon.

Update on my Brand New Whirlpool Aqua-Lift Range I purchased in the Spring of this Year. After contacting Whirlpool Canada's Customer "Experience" Dept last week they told me to go back to the Dealer. The Dealer, who is Square Deal Neil in Southampton have been amazing. The other day I posted my displeasure on the Whirlpool Canada Facebook page that how sad it was Whirlpool was passing the buck to a Dealer instead of standing behind their product. I had a response less then 8 hours. They have contacted me and set up an appt. with another Registered Whirlpool Technician who is coming Thurs. Updates to follow after this appt. Poor performance? Cakes taking over 2 hours to bake, Sugar Cookies taking 50 minutes yesterday ... frustration with a Capital "F" is right ! it has been that kind of month, I think I need some Dark Chocolate to take the pain away.

In the meantime back to the "now" at North of Wiarton ... today via email a friend reminded me  about something I had posted last year that I will share again now.  Got your *giggle* ready?

After the bad taste of prejudice displayed earlier today it had been brushed aside while I went on to enjoy friendship, kindness and understanding from many many of my Friends I have on Facebook, seeing a friend in person who was thoughtful of Rob and I to give us a little bit of herself, and then to have the pleasure of sharing a "giggle" from someone else who had shared it with the World to view on Youtube.  

Life is good, even though some days we have crosses to bear that seem a little heavier then other days.  I just need to stop to smell the roses more some days then others, or "giggle" at it all other days, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Adding Insult To Injury

I really do not like when I am overtired and have yet another nasty poopy day, but then does anyone? truly I would like to think NOT !  Another bad night's sleep behind me and a full day ahead really is adding insult to injury in my books.

This morning I got a few Goodies together for gifting.

A box with a few Christmas Goodies along with a bag of Mocha Cookies for our Mail Lady.  Does anyone else gift their Mail person, Doctor, or Paper boy/girl?  I feel when I do it has always been appreciated.  I still have to make up a tin each for my Mom, and my brother, Allan.

I wanted to get a bit more baking done since I still had to do a big box of goodies up for the kids.  It is a BIG box I have planned to fill, as that is required when there is seven of them.  Yes that would be 7 of them.   The 2 big ones, Paul and Liz, then the 5 little ones, Josh, Aiden, Chloe, Briar and Connor.

I got the flour, cornstarch & sugar sifted first thing so I could get going on the Shortbread Cookie cut-outs.  The pan below had been in the Whirlpool Aqualift Convection Oven that has been giving me so much grief for 40 minutes and had still not been cooked.  I had to turn the heat up 50 more degrees to get them cooked after another 10 minutes.  This was ridiculous for a cookie that should only take 20 minutes top in a regular 300*F oven !!!  Regardless I did manage to get what I needed done after a considerable amount of time.  To add more insult to injury I knocked the bottle of sprinkles over with half the bottle ending up in the sink.  I suppose it could have been worse ending up all over the floor.  *Sigh* more cleanup added to the already huge mess I had created.

Rob had to head out very early this morning to work.  Once back home he called a neighbour to see if he could drop around, as he had no time until later today to get the new battery put into our tractor.

Good thing for a neighbour with a tractor and blower to unplug the end of our driveway.  After the lunch hour Rob was able to get the new battery installed and our tractor out of the shed.

By the time I had finished up the baking, it was time for us to head out to our Doctor's appointment this afternoon at 4:15.  We stopped at our mail box before heading North of the Checkerboard to Lion's Head.

Rob had to look in at me going thru the mail to see what the cheque was for $30.00.  I had forgotten all about applying for a rebate from Danone Activa Yogurt on a Class Act Settlement that was finalized.  What a nice little bonus in the mail.  While we were driving along Rob said, "at least it was something good for a change today".  Yes it just happened to be another one of those days for the both of us.

Finally arriving at the Good Doctor's, Dr. Loney had put freezing in Rob's backside again, adding a bit of Cortisone this time around.  Once he was done I got to discuss what has been going on with the pains I have been having in my chest for the past month or so.  It has been feeling like someone is sitting on my Chest, and the shortness of breath is not even corrected by using my inhaler.  The Doctor ordered an Ultra Sound on my chest, which we are hoping I can get done tomorrow so we can check any results from it by the end of the week.  Then move on to Step 2 if need be.  I am truly grateful we have a Doctor that is very thorough.

Earlier today I had put a Cottage Roll in the Slow Cooker.  Being distracted by baking and a very poor performing Convection Oven (only 9 months old and barely used, with a complaint put into Whirlpool in an early post), I had forgotten to put carrots and potatoes into the Slow Cooker as well.  Never mind to that slip up, as when we returned home from the Doctor's I did the veggies in the Pressure Cooker in no time at all.

Dinner was very good.  I strained the vegetable water into the water the Cottage Roll had cooked in.  Once I skim off the fat tomorrow I will have a great broth leftover for a 9 Bean Soup.  Hooray!

Other then cold and crisp, the Sun was out in full force today ending up a very beautiful weather day.  When we had came back home the Moon had been out in full force.

Truly there is beauty in both the Sun and the Moon, is there not?

This day is almost done, with hopefully a much better day ahead with no insults to injury coming my way, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

The Nitty Gritties Of This Day

I am completely exhausted, with that inner voice saying, "do not post today", as we all know when one is beyond tired the World does not always look as rosy as it should, or we do not deal with matters as well as a much more rested person would.

*Sigh* oh well, maybe some day I will look back on this day's post and laugh about it, or be in the state I am now, feeling like a damn good cry.  

It has been a very stressful week, this one pass, with an "Over the Top" stressful day today as well, with one particular incident too raw to even mention, that I have to chew inside about until I can think more clearly, hopefully when I am less tired.

My poor Rob has had barely any sleep, and I not much better with this silly CSD that seems to pair up with having Fibromyalgia.  Maybe that is why I have had a sleep problem most of my life?  Hmmm....

Okay enough of feeling sorry for myself and carry on to the best parts of my day, letting the goodness of the day & past week bury the crappy parts.

We had to head on down to Thornbury this morning as we were picking up a little something for our Paul, to hopefully make his Christmas a little bit brighter.  I was a little nervous as the weather was pretty gloomy and not seeming too too delightful.

Really though there was a bare track on Hwy. 26 making it much nicer then it had been when we had been driving this way on Wednesday evening.  Regardless it was Christmas Card pretty with all the fresh snow coating the trees.

Despite how tired Rob had been, he took the time out of himself feeling tired to make a couple of stops just for me, and our neighbour friend, Pari, who we had invited along for the drive.  He stopped at the Value Village in Owen Sound, and the Meaford Market before we landed in Thornbury.  Thank YOU my dear husband, that was so very unselfish of you, and I did not even have to ask.

By the time we got to Meaford we had all needed a hot beverage, so Pari treated us to a Tim Horton coffee and each a Maple Pecan Danish which "hit" the spot.  By the time we had arrived in Thornbury, made our pickup and headed back home the highways had been cleared of all snow.  Rob wasn't too pleased I am thinking as it was a long 60 km per hour drive all the way to Owen Sound stuck behind a Snow Plow.  At least the roads were good !

From Owen Sound all the way home huge snow flakes had made their appearance and were teaming down.

We had  three happy purchases today which were:   a Tree with decorations I had gotten for my Mom (I wanted her to have a bit more Christmas in her room, and know she will just LOVE this little tree and the few red apples to put on it) @ a Total of $5.00; a Pair of Snow pants for our Connor, who needed a pair for when he is at his Dad & Liz's place (I also couldn't resist getting him the Spiderman jacket I had also found as Connor LOVES Spiderman) @ a Total  of $12.00; then last but not least a totally awesome 1992 Toyota Camry 4 dr, 4 cyl vehicle purchased for almost a Song & a Dance, a  found Gem indeed.   The car was the reason for our trip, and would be a vehicle I would LOVE for myself if it had not been spoken for our Son, who I know is going to appreciate it so very much.

And now for a bit of nitty gritty downer stuff that really was pretty minor ....

By the time we had arrived home the Snow had been coming down pretty fast and steady again.  The problem with this? Rob went to start our tractor yesterday to find the battery had froze.  He had gotten another battery yesterday, but of course we are so busy getting other things done and almost no sleep does not get a new battery installed.  We had also stopped at Canadian Tire on our way home where I had spotted a "snake" for the sink at the check out.  I am sure glad I bought it a I think I have  gotten to the nitty gritty bottom of the smell coming from the bathroom sink that nothing seemed to work getting rid of it.  Now that it has been cleaned out, I think it might be the nicer smelling answer.   The driveway?  I am hoping we can still manage to get out until Rob finds time and energy to get the tractor going, the poor dear.

On a lighter note, again, how is everyone who went  in on the  52 Week Money Challenge with me doing? as you know it is almost over for 2013 !!!  Hooray US !!!

Check out all the interest I have been getting on my investment !!  Whoohoo ....and the total when the 52 weeks is up will be a lovely $1,378.00

Truly I have had so many ideas of what I want to do with this money I do not know how to decide?  pay down the mortgage, give our bedroom a much needed makeover, buy a new mattress for our bed, have the inside stairs that need doing, refurbished, install new windows in the kitchen & our bedroom ... decisions, decisions.  A decision I want to make that I will be very satisfied with and not look back to think, "oh I wish I would have done that instead".  Maybe Rob and I could put a list of choices in a hat and let the draw decide for us; good idea?

For those of who have gone along on this Challenge with me, have you decided yet what you will be doing with your savings yet? will you be going in on the new 2014 ~  52 Week Challenge with me?  Let me know as it won't belong before the New Year 2014 will be here along with me starting a new challenge.

I am truly happy I blog.  One of the main reasons I began blogging was to give myself somewhere to vent and somewhere to go for just ME, where nobody could take it away from me as it is all mine, as my thoughts and feelings are my own.  There are days, weeks and months blogging has helped me to focus, project and be myself, this I am forever grateful to myself for choosing to blog, even though there have been some days it is the last thing I feel like doing.

Another day behind me almost, with a new day ahead.  I must remind myself, time does not wait for me to enjoy my Life, so I best remember that as best I can, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".