Happy Halloween 2023!

 Have a good one!  Here are some neighbourhood decorations:

A good deal

 These truffle chocolate bags were clearing at the grocery store a few weeks ago, they were expiring within a week after I saw them, but for 25c per bag, we got 6 bags anyway.  Daughter L took 3 bags.  They are delicious of course!

Sunday Smiles - Halloween Fun

 I was at Costco last month and took this video for you.  It is my Sunday Smile for Gillena.  Visit her at her Sunday Smiles.

Doctor Appointment etc.

 

I went to the family doctor this past Thursday.  I got my pneumovax 23 shot and a flu shot.  He said I can repeat this shot in 5 years or get the new Prevnar 20 shot in a year.  He is retiring April 2024 so I have to find a new family doctor.  He has my files since the mid eighties so it will be a  big change.  Hopefully I can find a good new doctor, apparently it is not easy these days.  I will do a bone density and a blood test and he will call in December to discuss the results.  My blood pressure is good.  

Meanwhile the neighbourhood kids are growing up.  The little boy next door is in senior kindergarten now and the little boy across the street just started Grade 1.  His dad told me his is acting up a bit in class in fact he got a call from the school which interrupted his work call the other day.  I remember being called in to school for the kids' illness issues.  It is a stage of life for sure.

Friday Art - Skull

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I did a skull for Nicole, she loves skulls.  

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art for Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Halloween Decorations theme and Rainbow Chard

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date.  Her theme is 'Halloween Decorations'.  Here is my piece, an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2").

My friend S dropped off some vegetables for me last month.  There was Rainbow Chard, kale, fresh beets, even some tomatoes from her garden.

This is my Rainbow Chard stir fry for the Dinner Date.  

I chopped the stems into 1/2" segments, the leaves into 1 1/2" segments. Then I sauteed the stems for 10 minutes in oil and minced garlic.  They were well softened, so I mixed the leaves in with my stir fry sauce for another 10 minutes. 

My stir fry sauce

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs dark soy sauce

1/4 c oyster sauce

1/2 tsp red pepper or chili flakes

1 tsp sugar

  

Wednesday Memes

 

Some Fall Colour for 2023

 

The fall colours are really pretty right now, I stepped outside and snapped these photos for you!  Husband M is busy raking the leaves.

 My friend's husband caught covid for the first time and it was not mild.  He has no idea where he could have caught it.  Hopefully his wife will not get it.

I made a few Halloween loot bags for some of the small kids in the neighbourhood and bought some candy in case we get some kids this year.  Are you getting ready for Halloween?

Neighbourhood Decorations

Baked goods treat

Tim Horton's Donuts

bacon and egg bagel

apple fritter and a medium coffee

 Husband M and I went to the mall one morning to run errands.  We decided to stop off at the Tim Horton's store to split a bacon and egg bagel and an apple fritter with our coffees.  I took a photo of their donut selection for you!

Gillena's Sunday Smiles - Fun Meme

 I had fun with this one, hope you do too!

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles

A great concert

 My sister who lives in Miami visited over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.  Queen and Adam Lambert were performing at the Scotiabank Arena October 8th.  It coincided with husband M and my wedding anniversary so that is how we celebrated!  

Friday Art - Candy Corn Faces

 Welcome to Friday Art!  These are my candy corn faces for the season!  Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Fridays.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Monsters Theme

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  I did Frankenstein for our 'Fictional Monsters' theme!

For the dinner date, I made some okra.  I cut the ends off and sauteed them in oil salt, pepper, thyme with onions, garlic and tomatoes.  Then I simmered them covered for 15-20 minutes.  I know not everyone is an okra lover, but I am.

Wednesday Memes

 

Cauliflower and potato shepherd's pie

 I made a cauliflower and potato shepherd's pie recently.  Just mash equal amounts of boiled cauliflower and potato with a bit of cream, a tablespoon of butter, salt and pepper.  Spread the mash on top of cooked and flavoured ground beef, sprinkle with paprika.  Bake 30 mins at 350F.  Daughter L said she broiled hers for about 10 minutes.

Have a look!

 This was entertaining, have a look!

Gillena's Sunday Smiles - Orchid

 I am showing daughter L's orchid plant.  She got it as a gift earlier this year and it refuses to die like many orchids will do.  It has now sprouted new shoots, 3 to be exact!  It needs very little water and doesn't get much care.  It must be in just the right spot in the house.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

On Bananas

 

 Here is an interesting link with more information.  Apparently it is distantly related to ginger.  Also bananas are relatively low potassium compared to beans, milk, carrots, apricots, bell peppers and sweet potatoes.

Friday Art - Zucchini Faces

 Welcome to Friday Art!  I did some zucchini faces for you today!  Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday!

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - In the Laboratory theme and Wax yellow beans

 Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date!  This is is piece for the 'In the Laboratory' theme, some Erlenmeyer flasks.

For the dinner date, I am sharing my roasted wax yellow beans.  420F for 20 minutes in the oven, with olive oil, herbs and seasoning.

Wednesday Memes

 

I'll take the caesar salad please!

New Air Fryer and Brussels Sprouts

 Husband M bought a new air fryer.  He had been thinking about it for awhile and the sale price seemed good.  

My first attempt at air frying vegetables were these rather charred brussels sprouts.  Fortunately they were still edible!

It seems an air fryer is pretty much a convection oven, smaller thus hotter.  They work by circulating hot air with a fan giving foods a crispier finish.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving and Kettleman's Bagels

 Daughter L found some authentic Montreal style bagels within a reasonable distance and brought some for us to try.  It is called Kettleman's bagels.  Apparently to be called Montreal style bagels, they have to be boiled in honey water.  They are moist, chewy and delicious!

Hope you are having/had a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend!

Time Flies

 It is husband M and my 35th wedding anniversary today!  Time really does fly.  I have been feeling my age when I heard that the Scarborough Light Rapid Transit line was being discontinued.  It opened in 1985 as a part of the Toronto subway system.  I remember using the brand new line to get to my job downtown.

Daughter L recently did some volunteer work as part of her job's initiative,  at a wonderful charity called Nova's Ark.  She told us the charity was started by a former high school principal who quit her job to pursue this initiative.  The owner accepts severely autistic children who benefit from animal therapy. It is a small animal sanctuary with therapy animals such as a kangaroo, a lynx, a camel, a zebra and many more. The owner needs a lot of food to feed the animals.  She gets donations of food that would otherwise go to waste from places like Costco and the local Sobey's.   Daughter L's volunteer work consisted of cleaning the stables, it was hard work she says.  It was moving to hear of the owner's purposeful life, it made me think of Mother Theresa.  She made the point that disability can happen in seconds, nobody is immune.  We cannot separate ourselves as if it does not involve us.  Her stories of the autistic children she helps are moving.  Sometimes it is good to identify a charity such as this for our donations.  Cancer, heart foundations already have a lot of donors.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Florida Memories - After the Trip

St-Viateur bagels

Florida avocados 

A week after I arrived home, I met up with my good friend to celebrate her 65th birthday.  She brought me some bagels from her recent trip to Montreal.  St Viateur bagels are world famous, moist and delicious!  I enjoyed them with these avocados. I brought them fresh picked from my cousin's farm in Florida, they finally ripened, creamy and buttery tasting.

 

Friday Art - Another Wedding Card

 Welcome to Friday Art!  Daughter L had asked me to do a wedding card for her good friend's wedding and this is another one I had done in the series.  We did not use this one.

Linking to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday,  I forgot to do a face for Nicole's Friday Face Off. I guess there is a face there.