Delightful

When I clicked on Google today, the image was celebrating the 46th anniversary of the first episode of Star Trek.  I hope you both had a chance to see it.  When the first image comes up, make sure you have your sound on, and look for parts of the image that have a blue line around them.  When you click on one of these, there is action.  Be sure sure to click on the doors to the "elevator" as this takes you to two or three more images.  What fun!

The reason I wanted to get on to post was that I spoke to Eileen in Vancouver today.  She has a number of things from Auntie Margaret, and Grannie, that Eileen feels would be better with the McGrath side of the family.  She is talking about family photos, and samples of lace.  She is looking for a museum for much of  the lace, but is looking for a home for the pictures.  She is quite aware that Kenny cut himself off from the family, and doesn't expect that we would consider discussing any of this with him.  She didn't mention any of Uncle Bert's family, and I have no way of contacting either of his daughters, in any case.  Are either of you two interested in this?

Crazy storm during night

Brilliant lightening lit up the sky for a few hours with very close and very loud thunder bangs and lots of rain - kept me up during night to watch the water and run the pump and generally sit in amazement watching the storm move all around us. This was apparently the "remnants" of Hurricane Issac but it sure hit here quite hard during the night. I would hate to be in the direct path of those hurricanes that are hitting the USA south - it must be terrifying to witness and endure.
Spent the day doing garden produce again - more tomato juice (which I love), and pickles and even made a salad for supper with nasturium leaves from the garden. You can apparently also eat the flowers but haven't tried that yet. Had more ribs smoked on the smoker - went to the local grocery store early as they were having a one day only Thurday sale and we bought some Hallowe'en candy ( chocolate bars) and Kraft Dinner in the case for about half usual price - Mike will enjoy this. Also ribs on sale so made more smoked ribs for supper. Actually quite delicious. I walked up to the post office this afternoon to check the mail - I want to continue being active with exercise so take every opportunity to walk - I wish I could ride my bike more, but that never happens much. I forgot to buy a lottery ticket for last night so I had absolutely no fun in winning the big one- no hope at all. I must remember to buy a Lotto Max for Friday so I can have a reason to anticipate the winnings. Finished the Clive Cussler novel I was reading ( Night Probe) so now can get into the Library book I picked up the other day. I so look forward to the evening hours so that I can settle down, and read and prepare for bed without too many expectations to do "this and that" which is the usual day time event. I always look forward to reading all about your activities and adventures so be sure to keep writing, OK? Take care

Balanced diet

Amber and the girls came for supper on Sunday.  David was looking after the turkey, and as soon as the girls arrived, I was told that they wanted to make wallets. Thinking we had lots of time ( everything was prepared ahead of time and just needed monitoring upstairs) I agreed.  Jessica knew exactly what she wanted to make, but couldn't explain it to me, so Amber gave me an idea, and away we went.  Amber wasn't feeling well and left us to it.  We were just getting started when David told me that things were coming together a little faster than expected, so I tried to rush the process a bit.  Next thing is a frantic call from David saying he needed help.  Everything was cooked, but salad etc wasn't ready, so we had a frantic rush to set the table and get the food over there.  A nice meal, but sometimes I forget that children are not neat eaters.  We had brownie for dessert, and they left early, as Amber really was really suffering with a sore back.  Both David and I were "pooped out" when they left, so I don't know how you do it Cathy.  Seventeen people!!

Next day, I had thought we would survive on left overs.  I was up a little early, and had my breakfast of tea and cinnamon maple sugar on toast, when David got up and suggested we head for Tim's for breakfast.  Having eaten, I just had a donut, then home and a bit of basement work.  I wasn't hungry at lunch time so just had a large piece of leftover brownie ( with chocolate icing).  Later in the afternoon, I was feeling a little "peckish" so had another large piece of leftover brownie.  Nibbled on a bit of turkey for supper, but remembered that the lady I was to visit that night always served chocolate cake  to guests, so had a piece of cantaloup instead of more of the leftover brownie.

Lo and behold, she served us a very rich brownie, no chocolate icing, but a big scoop of ice cream.  Needless to say, the scale was a little up on Tuesday morning.

Yesterday, I volunteered at the gallery in Selkirk.  The show is lovely, but a little smaller than other years.  Still, the reporter from the local paper was in, and quite interested in the art that involved less common techniques, such as fibre and collages.  The fellow I was working with, someone I had worked with before, warned me that next week, when I'm going back again, I will be working with the Board Chairman, who is planning on talking to me about sitting on the Board.  It's a slippery slope, isn't it Cathy.  I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I've become discouraged with the more local artists' group, and probably won't be getting more involved with them, so this might be an option.

great message

...I haven't been on for two days and just logged on now to see the wonderful message with all your comings and goings Cathy! When do you get a chance to breathe?  And I wonder also why you were called to check the office for an intruder - I would think maybe the police might have come and I worry that you were there alone at night - did you just check to see if doors or windows were opened, or did you go into the office and check if anything was ransacked? Did you have someone acting as backup? I guess it is just me being a worry wart?
I think I told you I ordered a book through the local library - they did not have any novels written by Matthew Reilly at all which surprised me a bit. I had just read two books that were of a series - one of those two having been bought in Wpg. So since I was anxious to read the third, I had to order it to come to the library. It took a long time to arrive but I picked it up today - I was very surprised to see that it had come from the Fort Frances Public Library - just amazing how things work, eh? But I can have one month to read it before return date - that should let me take my time and not feel rushed as I usually do with borrowed books with only a two week date.
I take the dog down to the lake for walks as I have told you frequently but I have started also to do something different over the last week. I take off my socks and shoes, and wade into the shallow water and rub my feet into the sandy bottom and more or less get a nice massage and foot therapy session all in one haha I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before - it feels so refreshing! I pulled the dog into the water the first few times, but she has told me that she is not interested so now I leave her just at the shore and she watches me and sips a bit of water. Funny how she does not like to wade in the water. She acts this same way when we have taken her to Harry's cousins lot on the lake - I have tried to encorage her to run in the water but no doing!
We go to North Bay on Tuesdays so today was to North Bay - but we have found a new little restaurant to have lunch. Usually we go to the A&W in the Mall, but spotted this place called Bay Bistro opened next to the Value Village. Today was our second time in and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch. Harry ordered panini both times so tomorrow for breakfast we are going to try to make our own - bought some bread and meat and have a little waffle iron type grill that should work just fine. I'll let you know. I guess panini is the in thing as when we drove past Tim Hortons, there was a big poster in the window announcing new panini now available. I had perogies today and they were great. Both times I also had a home made soup and both were very very tasty. Maybe the thrill will fade but for now, it is exciting to do something different.
Better go to bed and start my new novel before its time for sleeping - take care.

If at first you don't succeed.....

I still can't get in at home, but there is no problem at all at work.  (I am on a break... no one can bug me)  It was a really busy long weekend.  Saturday morning I picked a bunch of tomatoes, onions and peppers and got them ready for salsa.  I boiled 2 dozen eggs for deviled eggs.  Just as I put the salsa on the stove Jim came upstairs and said we were going to Springhill Colony in 1/2 an hour.  The salsa came off the stove and I was showered and dressed in lots of time.  Jim and the others, however, weren't ready.  (the others being Kellie and her little brother Grant).  April, Cory, their 3 kids and 1 nephew and Cory's Mom were going to follow us.  We ended up with April and Kellie and the 2 girls in our car, with Jim driving and the 3 boys and and Cory and his mom in the other.  We got there and the kids went wild.  It was a colony wide yard sale, so their were about 39 houses set up as well as draws for charity and a bake sale.  Jim and I left with 2 dozen buns and 2 dozen ears of corn.  April and Cory bought a drill press and some junk and Cory's mom bought a love seat and some junk.  Good thing we had the truck 'cause that's where the drill press and love seat went.  We got the boys on the way back.  Did you know that the conversation of 3 ten year old boys involves mostly poop and snot?  Jim dropped me off to do the grocery shopping and took everything out to Aprils.  He picked me up about 1/2 hour later and off we went home.  I put the salsa back on the stove and started to think about supper.  We ended up having steak and french fries and salad and garlic bread.  Everyone thanked Jim for the great supper (go figure!)  I then peeled a bunch of potatoes for potato salad.  They were just about done when I got called into the office.  SOmeone had been spotted searching around the doors and stairs.  At least I get a 4 hour call in on that.  By the time I got home it was almost 9 pm and I made myself a drink, sat down, looked at it, put it in the fridge and went to bed.  Then came Sunday!  Make the potato salad, make the deviled eggs.  Get the turkey ready, get the buns ready.....April phoned.  Can Lisa come for supper?  Sure.   April phones back.  Lisa's husband is coming too.  Oh boy.  Rodney & Kristy and Jen arrived.  Tyler will be over later with his girlfriend.  Tyler?? Girlfriend?  Good thing it is a big turkey.  By the time we all ate,  17 people had been fed.  Stu had been driving by and stopped in 'cause he knew we were home (obviously)  He didn't want supper, but he nibbled at the turkey.  He had never had a deep fried turkey.  Oh... there are deviled eggs.  He'd have one of them too.  All the eggs were gone in no time.  As well as all the salads (2) most of the potato salad, all the cucumbers and tomatoes (there were a few cherry tomatoes left) and a bag of chips.  We also had angel food cake and strawberries and whipped cream for dessert.  The best part???  APril, Kristy and Kik cleaned up. I went and sat by the fire.  We sat around until about 11 pm.  April was going to take Lisa and Tom home and come back for a drink, but Lisa was having such a good time that I asked Kik if she would mind taking them home.  She wasn't drinking so it was no problem.  We ended early as we had started about 1 pm.  I was in bed by about 11:45.  A busy day.  Monday I did up some more tomatoes, but just as stewed tomatoes and garlic for spagetti sauce. That wasn't too hard.  Finished cleaning up and did all the laundry (stripping the beds and everything!!) At about 2:30 I asked Jim if we could go to the Vivian for a beer and just relax.  We headed into to town and guess which hotel had a broken air conditioner?  We drank our beer quickly and headed home.  Not quite as cool and relaxing as I had wanted.  Left overs for supper and into bed by 9:30pm.  And how was your weekend?

social events

One way to gauge how many were expected would have the number of tables/seats that had been prepared.  I tend to think that social events, such as this, and things like ladies luncheons are less common these days, which is a shame.  But I think many of them came aobut as the only opportunity that many women had to get out and socialize.  I also remember the number of house parties that Mom and Dad used to attend.  I even remember square dances in our basement., but you never seem to hear of such things these days. Or maybe I'm just feeling a bit of cabin fever.  Both of my social/stitchery groups didn't meet over the summer, but my Ravenesque group is meeting Monday evening.   I don't know how many of us will actually make it.  At this point it's looking like the hostess and myself.

Other than gettign out on our bicycles the last three days, we have been very busy sorting my fabric stash and getting part of it ready for a sale. I had three big Rubbermade tubs full of fat quarters, many of which had pieces cut out of them, and many others had shrunk in the wash so they were no longer the right measurement.  We checked every piece and ironed the ones that could go for sale, wrapped them and labelled them.  Then I sorted through everything that was left, and put aside anything that I thought could be used in the two scrap quilts I have planned.  Anything that was left was put in large Zip Loc bags and labeled as a "scrap bag", for the sale. Two of the Rubbermade containers are empty. This took three long hard days for both of us.  We sure slept well last night, and the fact that  it was cooler made it even nicer.

Tomorrow, Amber and the girls will be here for supper.  Other than the big family Easter dinner, they haven't been here since before Christmas.  Samantha starts school next Wednesday, the last of my Grandbabies to do so.  I'm very grateful that I'll be seeing my Grandbabies again.  I hope it goes well.

Bridal Shower

Well, I have experienced my first community shower this afternoon and I am more the wiser for it. I am glad I went as there were few people there - I counted approx 20 which I thought was not too many but then maybe this was actually a good turnout - I have nothing to base my comparison on. The family put a lot of time and effort to make it nice - good food and lots of it - like sandwiches, cheese and crackers, pickles, punch, tea and coffee, desserts and decorated cake. Fancy tea pots and china cups and saucers! Each tea table was decorated with a centerpiece, and there was a sign in book, as well as blank envelopes that you were to put your address on - supposedly for the thank you cards to be sent out. A good idea actually so that the bride will have the correct address and not have to go searching for it. My gift seemed to be received favourably so I was pleased. I made pleasant talk with the people at the table I sat at, so all in all it was an OK two hours. I came home and poured myself a drink. The "box" of wine seems to work just fine haha!
More recipes from the KISS cookbook - I made the Zucchini Orange Loaf on page 104 - trying to use up zucchini. It is very tasty. I really think this cook book is guite good! Have you tried any of the recipes?
We had smoked spare ribs for supper - Harry bought the ribs at the meat market this morning, and we put them on about noon, and ate at about 5:30 so not long to cook them. Harry has an electric smoker and we have had salmon, pork chops and now ribs in the last week. The smell is delicious while cooking and fills the yard with a great aroma.
Time to go to bed and read - great novel on the go right now so anxious to get at it. Take care