Jamaican Style Baked Crab

I found a delicious recipe for Jamaican Style Baked Crab. Well, I love crab. Here it is with a few alterations.

It makes about 4 servings.

two 120g cans of crab meat (available at this time of year)

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

hot pepper sauce to taste

black pepper to taste

1/2 tsp dried thyme

2 tbs butter or margarine

2-3 tbs breadcrumbs

grated parmesan cheese

Season the crab meat with all the other ingredients except the parmesan cheese.

Fill dishes with seasoned crab meat. Sprinkle some more breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese on top.

Brown for about 15 minutes in the oven at 350F

How to peel a hard boiled egg

L came home for an extended weekend, on the train for the first time. Before she arrived I asked K if he missed her and if he was looking forward to the visit. He said, 'Well, I've adjusted to her being away, but I am looking forward to the visit'. We had gone to McDonald's on a very cold Friday, to pick up free coffees and an oreo McFlurry ice cream sundae. L was amused when he offered her his coffee and asked if she wanted to share his Oreo McFlurry. He even brought her a spoon! This sort of behaviour never happened before, he was treating her like an honoured guest. I've heard that the dynamics change when a sibling leaves home and it's certainly true!

K told his dad that I'm interested in getting a Maserati for my next car. M said to him 'Oh really!' (not really) We have purchased discounted tickets for the Auto show in February next year.

K had fun dissecting a frog in Science class last week and I had to listen to the gory details. He did nick his finger in a few places.

It was great catching up on L's news. She even managed to do her laundry BEFORE coming home. A friend of L's taught her an easy way to peel a hard boiled egg. I never knew this way either. Apparently you just wrap it in a towel, and roll it hard enough to just crack the shell. Then it just falls off! I'll have to try this next time.

Here's a photo of the CN Tower that I snapped on the way home, after we dropped L off at the train station yesterday evening. That's not the sun, it's a lamppost light.

M went to a Grey Cup football party last night. I'm embarrassed because we decided to send a few loot bags for the host's kids. For some reason I thought they were 10 and 7 years old. It turns out the twins are in Grade 8 and the youngest is just a couple of years younger. I saw them last year, but ... I guess the 'loot' will be ok, but maybe dinosaur and pokemon gift bags weren't suitable!

Xmas Tea Party - My Date

I'm delighted to say that Adam Lambert has agreed to escort me to Mmm's Dec 5th Tea Party. Adam is in London anyway, on the last leg of his International Glam Nation tour, how lucky is that. So he twittered that he will just stop over in Scotland on his way back to Los Angeles.

We discussed what he might be wearing. This is one of my favourite looks for him:

I also like this look:

But, I think this is the real Adam Lambert and I'm fine with that too:

And in the news, I've seen this designer on a number of TV shows. At first I thought he was gay, but he's not, and seems to have good taste. Now he's writing a column in the newspaper, I'll have to watch for it:

Designer Peloso promises to enlighten and entertain

Why men shouldn't write advice columns

Forgive me for this one, but it's a slow blog day!





Here are a few interesting news articles:


High-flying professionals producing a generation of stateless children

Kids of 'quiet migration' come of age

The Dinner Party

This past weekend, we attended a dinner party hosted by an old friend and her husband. I had not seen her in years although we have kept in touch via email. We had not seen some of the guests in quite a while either.

One couple announced that they were now 82 years old, an Englishman married to a German woman. He had forgotten how he had met me almost 30 years ago. I couldn't remember either. He showed me photos of their 60th wedding anniversary celebration, two years ago. I remembered he always kept photos in his pocket.

His wife was beautifully dressed as always, slim and chique in a red designer suit complete with taupe coloured, leopard print, high heeled pumps. She told me they had a new deck built behind their house over the summer. Her husband had painted it sage green, with a small brush that he preferred to use. The colour sounded so unusually pretty. She told me her passion has always been fine clothes and shoes. The only problem is closet space. They were never able to have kids so it is just the two of them. Both have things they enjoy doing on their own. For example, the husband still plays the penny stocks on the stock market although they don't own a computer. They have a lot of older friends that are alone for one reason or another.


There was another couple M and I met for the first time, a retired diplomat and his elegant wife. They are my friend's neighbours in the condominium complex. Being a diplomat they had lived all over the world and the wife had never learned to cook because all their meals were provided for. He speaks 6 different languages. They have grown children and in fact, grandchildren in university. The wife looked much younger than her husband although there was just a 5 years difference. Perhaps because she never had to cook all her life? Lol.

My friend's (our hostess') husband had recently turned 70. I inquired about his son and daughter from a previous marriage. He mentioned that his daughter had ended up adopting a child within Canada after five unsuccessful in-vitro attempts. It turns out both parents had fertility problems. The child is now a wonderful 5 year old who actually looks like them.

Another lady had had two hip replacements, but I wouldn't have known, she was walking so well. There was a woman we knew about my age who was dressed kind of flamboyantly like Liza Minelli. She was telling jokes to some of the men. Her husband had been unable to attend.

Eventually, after eating some delicious desserts, it was time for everyone to leave. The years do fly by, and it was good to catch up with old friends and acquaintances.

Wikipedia Donation

I caught this beautiful shot one overcast morning just before the sun completely broke through.

Have you heard David Archuleta's Christmas Album? I heard one of his songs on the radio yesterday and was impressed. Listen to his Ave Maria, it's so beautiful.

A few days ago, on a whim, I made a small donation to Wikipedia and received this acknowledgement:

Thank you. Imagine if every person on earth could share in the free and total access to all human knowledge. Your donation helps get us closer.
— Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia

It felt like the right thing to do. I also get a tax receipt as it's a non-profit organization.

Here's a nice video on how to beat the winter blues.

Living on the edge of hunger

This news article caught my attention when I read 'According to a growing number of believers, the key to tacking on an extra 20 years to your lifespan is to live on the edge of hunger — constantly.' It discusses eating until you are 80% full. Would you do this? I wouldn't have the discipline.


I gave L this simple recipe for bean sprouts when she left for university:





454g/1lb bean sprouts
2 tbs dark soy sauce
1 - 2 tbs oyster sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbs canola oil
(as always, my measurements are approximate and you can adjust to your taste as L does. Note that no additional salt is required)

Heat canola oil in a saute pan.
Add rinsed bean sprouts, soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic powder.
Stir fry for about five minutes and you're done.

L has started to cook more, and finally decided to try the recipe. Always creative, she added some snow peas to the mix. It was a big success with her friends. They even asked for the recipe!


Here's my finished product:



Amazingly, this is one serving of the two or three meat/alternative protein requirements for the day. Because bean sprouts are a legume, I think.

Creative Tuesdays - Heavenly

'Sunshine Through the Clouds' is the title of my entry for Creative Tuesday's 'Heavenly' theme. It's done on watercolour paper using acrylics. Whenever I happen to see these in real life, the word 'heavenly' does come to mind.

If you haven't already, do have a look at what I'm wearing to Mr. Toast's upcoming Xmas Tea. This is what Wanda's wearing. And have a look at Heather's travelling clothes in her post! I'll be confirming my date for the party this coming weekend!

Eye Glitter Liner

Ok, I heard Christmas music on the radio yesterday...that is a bit early I think. Although I am working on my list.

I found this Lise Watier Eye Glitter Liner product in a magazine and thought L would love it. It looks like a good gift/stocking stuffer. There are quite a few shades to choose from too.

So I bought some solid perfume from Lush as pictured, orange blossom scent for me, and vanilla scent for L. I tried it and it's ok, but I'm spoiled by my regular Nina Ricci L'air du Temps fragrance.



Lately (on the weekends I think) they've been including the business section at the back of the sports section in the newspaper. Hmm.

LadyCat recently posted a song by Sara Bareilles called 'King of Anything' and I really like it, as she does.

In case you miss this:
Prince William 'saves man's life' in chopper rescue

The Country Decorating Show

I went to the local Country Decorating Show on Friday. The theme was 'home for the holidays'.

It's good to go early so you can leave by the time it starts to get really crowded. There is always a lineup to get in, as the show has grown considerably over the years. But Santa was there entertaining the customers, as well as a Christmas choir. There was lots of sunshine, but no snow, so it didn't feel all that much like Christmas. I did buy some art as pictured in the photo.

The lady next to me in the morning lineup was talking to a bunch of us in line. I decided it wasn't a good time to take a photo of Santa or to videotape the carollers. She had come with a party from the nearby town of Orillia. She told me they all work in the casino there, in various jobs. In fact, her son is a dealer. She works in one of the restaurants, I think. While the casino provides steady employment to a lot of people, she had stories of all the gambling problems the customers have. There are the high rollers, who will lose hundreds of thousands in one night. Then the people who pawn their jewellery to feed their habit. And of course, the house always wins. Something's not right here.

Anyway, the line moved quickly and I was soon browsing away at all the country collectibles. I sampled some shortbread cookies, some dip and applied some body butter to my dry hands, before I encountered an old friend. We decided to walk through the rest of the show together while we caught up on each other's news. It was as much fun as if we had planned to get together.

We spoke to a few of the vendors and discovered a lot of them are retired folk simply doing what they love part time. One man restored antique furniture, lovely stuff. Another lady owned a stressful flower store business but now does the craft shows. We happened upon a store selling lovely quilts and Christmas collectibles. They also had reasonably priced country furniture made from salvaged wood on display. It seems the furniture maker and his wife hold an open house in their country barn in the fall. This year, they all but sold out, so this was the only show the wife was doing. They spend the winter in Florida as they are also retired. At any rate, I left my friend contemplating the purchase of a new shelving unit. She wasn't completely sold on the 'salvaged' look, which I actually like.

Because of Love

I received this moving story in a recent email:

A Beautiful Reflection for your perusal....

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life. The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end. Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of 'The Old One'. She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?" The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of new boots". His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love." Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts? So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One". In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss. By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us. And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms. Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light. Bedded down about the "Old one" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift-- Because of love. Only Because of love. Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again the peace of love filled their hearts.

World-wide Dining Etiquette Test

I got this in an email and it's quite entertaining and informative:

Click on "Dining Out In The World" below, then select your answer by clicking on the twirling utensil.It will give you the correct answer, then move to the next country.

Dining out in the world

Pumking Ale

It was windy and rainy yesterday. But apparently it was snowing in Calgary out west. So unless you're a skier, rain's better for now. There was a nice photo of Prince William and his new fiancee Kate on the front pages of the newspaper, it made me smile. It's nice to have good news for a change.


Our regular fitness instructor is on vacation, so we had this other instructor, who also has a great sense of humour. She'll say things like 'kick back with your heels, you should have bruises on your bottom if you're doing this right!'


I met some friends for lunch after my exercise. One is visiting from Florida. We ate at a Mediterranean restaurant. I had falafel (chick pea patties) in a pita which came with a delicious lentil soup. Everyone else had Greek salads with their soups. Oh, I think one of the ladies had a tabouleh salad.





I found another neat gift idea or hostess gift called Pumking Ale, as per the following article:

Pumpkin pie, bottled

My Eye Exam

I had my annual eye exam at the opthalmologist a few days ago.

While I was in the waiting room, a toddler came in with his dad and grandmother. (Probably the grandmother had an appointment). The dad dragged a toy close and attempted to get the child interested in it without success. I thought it strange. Then later on, I noticed the toddler reading this leaflet with concentration. His dad was reading his own paper in much the same way.

I noticed the waiting room was not as crowded. The doctor's assistant told me she developed a new system where she will call in 2 patients at a time. One will sit in a room nearby while the other is being assessed. Then the doctor will see them in that order. The time saving results from not having to wait for each patient to walk from the waiting area to the assessment room one by one. Ingenious, and they are moving patients faster, resulting in a less crowded waiting room.

I've had a small cataract in my right eye for a number of years, so the doctor checks to make sure it hasn't grown to a point where I'll need to have surgery. It's been stable. I used to have a recurring eye inflammation in that eye toward the end of my working years. When I quit my job, the problem disappeared. It must have been the stress. I've been seeing this doctor for about 13 years now. He has a lot of older patients who think he's wonderful and I certainly think he's a good doctor for the few minutes I spend with him once a year. This time, I couldn't help but notice his hair is thinning and he's coloured it. He must be middle-aged now.

While waiting my turn, I flipped through a current issue of People magazine. Singer Ricki Martin was featured with a photo of his new surrogate twins. He talks about 'coming out' and how difficult it was being a gay Latin man. There was another story on Ellen DeGeneres' wife and her struggle with an eating disorder.

I ran into my family doctor in the parking lot as I was leaving. He's in the same building. He actually saw me because my eyes were still dilated from the eye drops.

The Visit

On the weekend, we drove up to see L at her university. It was so good to see her, we gave her lots of hugs. We took some utility shelves and a small coat rack that fit the space perfectly. Now she's all organized. She has settled in well and has made lots of good friends. In fact, it's home now. It seems 2 of her roommates share her shoe size, so the sisterhood has 3 times the shoes to choose from! L had bought K a jogging suit with the university logo and he loved it. She said her friends think M is the greatest dad who puts awesome care packages together. It seems they had all gathered around to see what came out of the huge box last week.

We did a grocery run and had a nice meal together afterwards. Before you know it, darkness fell and it was time to for M, K and I to head home. I felt a bit sad, but life goes on and my mind got busy thinking of the upcoming week's activities. I can always message her on my blackberry and she gets right back to me. K was fine being the centre of attention again.

Xmas Tea - What I'm Wearing

Well, Mr. Toast's 2nd Annual Xmas tea is coming up December 5th and I spent some time deciding what I was going to wear. I hate waiting until the last minute as it adds to the stress of travel. I understand it will be held in Scotland somewhere. Please let me know what you think of my outfit, and accessories! So far I don't have a date yet, I can't get up the nerve to twitter Adam Lambert. But it was so much fun choosing my dress and accessories.

I'll be wearing my faux fur coat. The dress is a Vera Wang taffeta cocktail dress, and my jewellery is all tanzanite gems. I was looking at designer clutch purses such as Jimmy Choo and Prada, but settled on what I liked that would match the silver of my shoes. I was going to wear strappy sandals but felt my toes would be warmer in these.

I just noticed Mr. Toast will be serving lots of hot cocoa and mulled wine, so be sure to stop by on the day of the party!

Solid Perfume

I saw this advertised somewhere and thought it would be a good gift idea: Lush Solid Perfume. I've never heard of solid perfume before. It comes in different scents. It says on their website: '...you can carry our solid scentsations wherever you go. Apply on your pulse points, reapply whenever you like and let them work their magic on all who cross your path. ' Hmm, I may get one for myself. It would be great for travelling.


News

Spray-on DNA helping to thwart robberies

Adult Truths

I got this in an email and enjoyed the read:

*** Adult Truths ***
1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Terrible Service

I've developed a recent addiction to cheezies, the crunchy kind. They are so high in calories and salt. Help! The weather has been so nice this week, I've been out and about shopping. Then I'm scrambling in the evenings trying to get all my chores done. K got his flu shot, so M is the only one left in the family. It's interesting, we all get our flu shots at different places.

K has a $20 credit in his old cell phone account. We had switched to a family plan months ago. M has been having a hard time with Rogers Wireless, our cell phone company, trying to get the credit back. It's a small amount but it's the principle of the thing. Last month the person he spoke to on the phone assured him that a cheque would be on the way. This week when he called, another person told him we would have to call our bank and have them transfer the money back into our account. He thanked her for her terrible service. That didn't sound right, but I tried and the bank said they could do no such thing. So now M is going to call them back. Rogers is losing a lot of customers and you can see why. We're just happy it wasn't a larger credit.

On a happier note, I went to the grocery store just before closing the other night (I ran out of cheezies). K decided to come with me, he told me it was late and it wasn't good for me to be alone! Of course he's more of a nuisance tossing more junk food into the cart, but the thought was there.

Pork Parfait

Canada observes Remembrance Day today. We remember the sacrifices made during the wars.


I took my mom for a test at the hospital a few days ago. It's a busy place, with lots going on and everyone seems to have a story.

A lady in one of the waiting rooms was there for a cortisone treatment. It seems she had broken her ankle 2 years ago while she was in Nairobi, Kenya. All she did was slip as she was leaving the bathroom of the house. She had flown back to Canada for treatment 10 days after the accident. The doctors think it had started to heal by that time and was somehow
set incorrectly. The only way to fix her recurring pain may be to break it again. She can't face that option right now.

Another man was in for a CT scan. Apparently they do 50 of these a day at the hospital, one every 10 minutes. He told me he had gone for some routine tests and his doctor uncovered colon cancer at an early stage. So he had 6 inches of his colon removed in the summer and was doing some follow-up. He's only 55 but his prognosis sounds good (so far).

My mom and I had lunch at the hospital. They have a cafeteria attached to a Tim Horton's coffee shop that is also accessible from the street. There are Tim Horton's everywhere. Anyway, my mom had chili con carne with a pumpernickel roll. I had a hot, delicious potato leek soup with crackers and a pumpkin spice donut with coffee.

Oh McDonald's is starting their free all day coffee special November 15 - 28 nation wide, if anyone cares. They have good coffee.


And have you ever heard of a pork parfait? I'd try one of these:

Pork parfaits rule the Royal

Flushable Wipes

I got a free sample of these new flushable wipes and we like them. They are available in pop up containers, in travel packs and also in refill sizes. It's a small luxury.

K's English teacher called recently to say that she is very pleased with his work this term and that he's doing very well in the applied class. I must admit that when I answered the phone I thought the worst. It was good to know that the current novel study is using the same book as the academic class. K was happy to deliver the good news to his dad.

He also did well on the last Science quiz. He doesn't have a problem with memorization, it's more of thinking things out. So he has to spend more time on some topics to make sure they are properly explained and fully understood. Preferably before the test. Our motto is 'never give up'.

Meanwhile M ended up mailing an 18 pound care package to his daughter! I think he got a bit carried away and the list kept growing. I included some pumpkin bread.

Creative Tuesdays - Little House

Here is my entry for Creative Tuesdays - Little House theme. I decided to do a collage using construction paper.

It's Movember 2010 in case you haven't heard. 'Movember kicks off its fourth campaign in Canada, rallying gentlemen across the globe to grow moustaches during November to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. We invite you to join us on our journey to change the face of men’s health.'

Chocolate covered blueberries

I heard that chocolate covered blueberries are delicious so I decided to try them. K and I love them. They must be healthier than a chocolate bar too.

News

Canadian researchers transform skin into blood

Our Good Deed

I went for a morning walk with my friend S yesterday while running some errands at the same time. It was sunny and a cold 4C so I decided to wear a heavier coat. Outside the bank, S noticed a black cat stuck high up in a tree. So we rang the doorbell of the home and S explained the problem. The lady said she did have a cat, but it wasn't black. However she would put some treats at the base of the tree and that would bring him down. S said that hunger takes precedence over fear, so it would eventually come down. And that was our good deed for the day.

Our clocks went back one hour today, this is the easy adjustment.

This is a funny video, Kellie Pickler is adorable in it.

Xmas Baskets

I bought these new nesting baskets yesterday. The first photo shows the Christmas colours a bit better, and I also liked the shape of them.

That morning, I noticed McDonald's restaurants had a new muffin flavour (apple and oatmeal) that I would have liked to try, but I had my mind set on a bacon and egg mcmuffin. They had Remembrance Day poppies at the counter, so I got one to pin on my jacket.

A nice older man sat at the table next to mine. He informed me that it was likely going to snow that night as the temperature would dip to -3C. In Canada, you can always have a great conversation about the weather, it's the national topic. He was off to work and I said I was on my way to the gym. Guess what the conversation was there? Yes, it was... the weather, snow tires, snow in Aurora, just to the north.

M returned from a short business trip to the U.S. K was being the 'man of the house' for the past few days and did a good job 'keeping me company'. L emailed a short list of things she needs in her next care package and is busy with tests.

Microwaved Oatmeal

This the bowl of microwaved, large flake oatmeal I had for breakfast yesterday morning. I love oatmeal but hate cleaning the pot afterwards. So for 4 servings, I add 1 1/3 cups of oatmeal, 3 cups of water, 1/2 tsp salt to a large mixing bowl and microwave uncovered for 12 minutes. That's it! Then I just add a bit of brown sugar and a small amount of milk to my bowl.

It's that time of year again, when the newpaper man puts the paper right up against our front door in the mornings. I made a note to remember his Christmas tip!

I had a telemarketing call from a major newspaper with a special offer. Newspapers are really struggling and some are offering 3 month free subscriptions.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I picked up several boxes of gourmet Swiss chocolates recently.

I had a fasting blood test yesterday morning, along with an ECG (electrocardiogram). The ECGs have improved these days. They don't have to put gel all over you before placing the newer electrodes that monitor your heart function.

K is stressing me. His Science marks have taken a turn for the worse and we have no idea why. It must be his learning disability. At least he's still passing. He had identical twins over yesterday after school for a little while. They do look exactly alike.

Fall Flowers

Swiss Chalet's Festive Special is on again. It's a favourite of mine at this time of year. Their quarter chicken dinner comes with stuffing, cranberry sauce and Lindt chocolates!

I had the most comfortable mammogram appointment yesterday. First of all, the facility was in a spacious, well-decorated new office. I was in and out within 20 minutes of my arrival. The technician was super-efficient and made the process quick and pain-free. The registered nurse taught me how to do a proper breast self-exam which should be done monthly. I learned a lot, more than if I read the instructions. Women over 50 in Ontario just have to call and register for this program. They will notify you every 2 years to remind you to come in for your checkup. Visit the Ontario breast screening program at www.cancercare.on.ca/obsp

Food Photo

Here's some Corn Beef Hash I made on the weekend. I kept the corned beef separate because K will only eat the potatoes. It was yummy.

I think I'm addicted to uploading photos ever since I got my new Blackberry smart phone. It's so easy to snap and email a photo these days. Bear with me!

Yesterday. this lady at the gym was telling me she just got back from a vacation to Spain and Portugal. It was a religious senior's tour and she was the youngest one there in a group of say, 20 people. She said it was a bit slower than she liked but she did love Portugal for the warm people and the food. She even saw a bullfight there, because they don't kill the bulls as they do in Spain. Surprisingly, she said most people in Portugal spoke English, which made her more comfortable. That was not the case in Spain where she really felt the language barrier. I like to hear about people's travels, it gives me ideas of where I'd want to visit myself, if the opportunity presents itself. She enjoyed the bus tour and driving by all the scenery, as opposed to a slow cruise. I think I'm like that too.

Now I really have to stop snacking on all the Halloween candy and chips for awhile, I'm wary of a gradual weight gain.

A Full Checkup

Yes, I did sort of make a blueberry pie on the weekend. I used a pre-made Pillsbury pie crust and a can of ED Smith blueberry pie filling. It was pretty good, not to mention that fresh baked feeling.

I went to my doctor last week to renew my blood pressure prescription. He noticed I hadn't had a full checkup since January 2009. He proceeded to do just that, and gave me some test requisition slips for a full fasting blood test, stool test, ultrasound, mammogram and the secretary is going to call me with a colonoscopy appointment. So it's going to be a busy month following up with all this stuff. Let's hope they don't find anything serious.

When I called to make the mammogram appointment, the girl told me that women over 50 can join this program where they will notify me annually to come in for testing. They will send the report to me and a copy to my doctor. So in future, I won't have to go to a doctor to schedule a mammogram. My appointment will include a nurse exam and some education. It seems to me that they are trying to offload some responsibility from the doctor and give the patient more control in his health management.

Well, I did get my flu shot.

News

I enjoyed reading this topical article:

How introverts can survive the party season

The Ford Mustang

I think this photo shows the last of the fall leaves. November is a pretty stark month.

Welcome to the month of November anyway!

K is displaying a marked interest in driving these days. He also said he wants to start learning how to drive as soon as he turns 16. He's also trying to convince me to buy a Ford Mustang as my next car. Yes, right, in his dreams. I told him middle-aged women like me drive staid looking 4-door sedans. He's not happy with learning to drive in something like that!

Church is crowded at this time of year. Yesterday, there were lots of little kids heading downstairs for catechism classes. A couple of rows ahead of me, there were 2 cute little toddlers bestowing kisses and hugs upon each other to our delight. Too bad they had coughs. The priest announced there would be a children's Christmas pageant this year just before the Xmas eve mass. It's almost time to visit the annual Christmas craft sale too. There were snow flurries on my walk home and some more in the afternoon although the sun came out.

It was a cold Halloween. We only had 11 kids. K and his friend had fun anyway. L thinks they're too old for trick or treating. They did watch some scary movies prior to heading out.

I made these Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies from The Southern Lady Cooks. They are delicious. I left the nuts out (K's preference).