I just had the greatest weekend. Susan and I had it off together which rarely happens. We had a wonderful time. We didn't do much; slept in, cleaned the house, did laundry, watched some movies and shopped a bit. It was so nice just to be with Susan and spend time with her. She is my best friend and I am so thankful that I have her in my life. It seems, these last couple of weeks, we've been so busy and working opposite shifts, that we never get to see each other and if we do, it's just in passing. She cooked some delicious meals this weekend, french toast brunch and curry chicken - it was the best!
Now we are back to our work week, she left for work at five o'clock this morning and I won't even see her until late tonight when she picks me up from work. That's okay though, I cherish the time that we get to spend together and know that eventually we will get into a routine and be able to spend a little more time in each others' company.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Power Outage!
We'd just finished cooking dinner tonight when the power went out! The table was set and all of the side dishes were on the table. I'd just taken the ham out of the oven and was about to cut it when we had to go running around the house to find some candles. There was just enough light from outside for me to cut the ham by.
We had a very nice candle-lit dinner. There were six of us: Susan and me, the kids and Eric's girlfriend Maryl. It was so quiet though. Usually the TV is on and we are sitting in front of it. It was nice to have a relaxing, quiet dinner where the only outside noise was Kyle's phone vibrating every five minutes as people texted him.
Shortly after we'd finished dinner, the power came back on. It was a good break to help us slow down a bit and think about what we were thankful for. I feel sorry for all of the people who were right in the middle of cooking though. That would really have put a damper on the evening.
We had a very nice candle-lit dinner. There were six of us: Susan and me, the kids and Eric's girlfriend Maryl. It was so quiet though. Usually the TV is on and we are sitting in front of it. It was nice to have a relaxing, quiet dinner where the only outside noise was Kyle's phone vibrating every five minutes as people texted him.
Shortly after we'd finished dinner, the power came back on. It was a good break to help us slow down a bit and think about what we were thankful for. I feel sorry for all of the people who were right in the middle of cooking though. That would really have put a damper on the evening.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for what we have and a time to reflect on how blessed each one of us are. The thing that I'm thankful for is family and I'm very thankful for mine.
On Thursday, which was also my birthday, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. Susan cooked a turkey and also made mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a broccoli bake, coleslaw, ambrosia and I did my part with sausage stuffing and pumpkin pie for dessert. It was so good! I stuffed myself so that I could hardly finish my second plate, it was worth it though.
Mom and Dad came down and all of the kids were home which is nice for a change. I ate two big plate fulls and could hardly finish the second. I still had room for dessert after a little while though.
I guess that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is the first time of the year that we sit down with family and have a big turkey dinner. It's a special time for me, not because my birthday is always close but the family time is important to me -- and so is the food!
On Thursday, which was also my birthday, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. Susan cooked a turkey and also made mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a broccoli bake, coleslaw, ambrosia and I did my part with sausage stuffing and pumpkin pie for dessert. It was so good! I stuffed myself so that I could hardly finish my second plate, it was worth it though.
Mom and Dad came down and all of the kids were home which is nice for a change. I ate two big plate fulls and could hardly finish the second. I still had room for dessert after a little while though.
I guess that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is the first time of the year that we sit down with family and have a big turkey dinner. It's a special time for me, not because my birthday is always close but the family time is important to me -- and so is the food!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Pie
Well, it's been a year now since I've been out of the baking industry and I did something tonight that I haven't done since I left -- I baked a pie! And what do you know, I didn't forget how to bake.
We are having our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night so I baked a pumpkin pie (Mom will be so happy). It's in the oven right now. Soon the wonderful smell of spices will fill our house. It was fun; nice not to have to bake a hundred at a time, over and over.
I made the crust from scratch which is the only way to do it. So many people don't know the secret to a good pie crust, which is to touch it as little as possible - over mixing makes it tough. I also made the filling from scratch. It was so easy and so much fun. I cheated last Thanksgiving and Christmas with store bought pies, but I'm glad I baked this one.
The other thing which is very good about baking a pumpkin pie is the evaporated milk which goes into the filling. There is always some left over and it is the best thing to put into my coffee. I wouldn't want to have it all of the time but it's good for a treat.
Mmm, I can smell it now! Can't wait to have some tomorrow.
We are having our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow night so I baked a pumpkin pie (Mom will be so happy). It's in the oven right now. Soon the wonderful smell of spices will fill our house. It was fun; nice not to have to bake a hundred at a time, over and over.
I made the crust from scratch which is the only way to do it. So many people don't know the secret to a good pie crust, which is to touch it as little as possible - over mixing makes it tough. I also made the filling from scratch. It was so easy and so much fun. I cheated last Thanksgiving and Christmas with store bought pies, but I'm glad I baked this one.
The other thing which is very good about baking a pumpkin pie is the evaporated milk which goes into the filling. There is always some left over and it is the best thing to put into my coffee. I wouldn't want to have it all of the time but it's good for a treat.
Mmm, I can smell it now! Can't wait to have some tomorrow.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Raccoons
The other morning Susan had to work at five in the morning. When I got home, I went out for a smoke. I thought I heard something so I went to the railing and saw three masked bandits in the back yard. They were so cute, wandering around, checking things out.
One of them started making a noise - I'd never heard a raccoon before - which was almost like a purring sound and then a soft bark at the end. Another one climbed up on a kids play table and proceeded to play with one of the toys as it lay in the water which had pooled on it.
It was a great experience because they couldn't see me and just went about their business. I love the way they move, they look so powerful with their bulky bodies all hunched over. They look as though, at any moment, they're going to stand up and start running.
I love being able to peer in on wildlife unnoticed, it is so amazing to see the wild creatures in my backyard, no matter what it is; birds, squirrels, deer, raccoons. It is all so special to me, a little taste of wild nature so close to the city. It's too bad that man has to continually encroach on their natural habitat.
One of them started making a noise - I'd never heard a raccoon before - which was almost like a purring sound and then a soft bark at the end. Another one climbed up on a kids play table and proceeded to play with one of the toys as it lay in the water which had pooled on it.
It was a great experience because they couldn't see me and just went about their business. I love the way they move, they look so powerful with their bulky bodies all hunched over. They look as though, at any moment, they're going to stand up and start running.
I love being able to peer in on wildlife unnoticed, it is so amazing to see the wild creatures in my backyard, no matter what it is; birds, squirrels, deer, raccoons. It is all so special to me, a little taste of wild nature so close to the city. It's too bad that man has to continually encroach on their natural habitat.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Medals
A couple of years ago, I posted a story about my Grandad after I'd visited his grave site in Aldergrove. Tribute to my Grandfather
This Summer, while we were in Penticton visiting Gramma, she showed us Grandad's war medals which she had just received. Grandad had never wanted to ask for them because if he'd earned them, they just should have given them to him (I agree with him on that point). Why should a war veteran have to ask for medals he earned fighting for his country? Regardless, Gramma had sent a request for them and I'm glad she did. Auntie Iris just sent me pictures of them.
The medals are in order from left to right:
1939-45 Star
France and Germany Star
Defence Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
War Medal 1939-45
In the picture are also his dog tags and service pin.
I am very proud of my Grandad, he was a great man and I am sorry that he died when I was so young. Having those medals in our family now is a token of the service he did for our country so that we could have the lives we now lead. It is also serves as a reminder of him, so that we may look at those medals and remember what a great man he was, not only for being in the war, but also for being who he was as a person. He is one of my greatest heros!
This Summer, while we were in Penticton visiting Gramma, she showed us Grandad's war medals which she had just received. Grandad had never wanted to ask for them because if he'd earned them, they just should have given them to him (I agree with him on that point). Why should a war veteran have to ask for medals he earned fighting for his country? Regardless, Gramma had sent a request for them and I'm glad she did. Auntie Iris just sent me pictures of them.
The medals are in order from left to right:
1939-45 Star
France and Germany Star
Defence Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
War Medal 1939-45
In the picture are also his dog tags and service pin.
I am very proud of my Grandad, he was a great man and I am sorry that he died when I was so young. Having those medals in our family now is a token of the service he did for our country so that we could have the lives we now lead. It is also serves as a reminder of him, so that we may look at those medals and remember what a great man he was, not only for being in the war, but also for being who he was as a person. He is one of my greatest heros!
Hurricanes
Each year, as hurricanes develop in the Atlantic Ocean, they name them. Starting with the A's and then going through the alphabet, alternating between male and female names.
I don't really pay attention to east coast weather but I did hear last week about hurricane Kyle and laughed because one of our son's name is Kyle. Now I hear that the east coast is worrying about hurricane Laura -- our daughter's name.
Isn't that funny. What are the chances of something like that happening? I didn't even realize that Kyle and Laura are right beside each other in the alphabet, and to have the two of them have hurricanes of the same name, one right after the other is very curious.
***********************************************
I did a little research on hurricane naming and found out that they use the same lists of names on a six year rotation. That means that in 2014 there will be another hurricane Kyle and right after that a hurricane Laura. The only exception to that rule is if a hurricane causes an extensive amount of damage, then the name is retired for at least ten years. For example, hurricane Andrew in 1992 was replaced on the list in 1998, by Alex.
I'd always wondered about the naming of hurricanes but never bothered to research it. Now I know and you do to. You learn something every day if you pay attention.
I don't really pay attention to east coast weather but I did hear last week about hurricane Kyle and laughed because one of our son's name is Kyle. Now I hear that the east coast is worrying about hurricane Laura -- our daughter's name.
Isn't that funny. What are the chances of something like that happening? I didn't even realize that Kyle and Laura are right beside each other in the alphabet, and to have the two of them have hurricanes of the same name, one right after the other is very curious.
***********************************************
I did a little research on hurricane naming and found out that they use the same lists of names on a six year rotation. That means that in 2014 there will be another hurricane Kyle and right after that a hurricane Laura. The only exception to that rule is if a hurricane causes an extensive amount of damage, then the name is retired for at least ten years. For example, hurricane Andrew in 1992 was replaced on the list in 1998, by Alex.
I'd always wondered about the naming of hurricanes but never bothered to research it. Now I know and you do to. You learn something every day if you pay attention.
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