My year(s) in reflection.

One of my favorite songs. Image found on Google.

2010 was not the easiest, in fact one of my besties commented it was probably the toughest yet. I'd have to agree with her.

It's been a busy one, if I'm going to put it mildly as to not scare you away. Trips, family dealings, kids moving in and out..mild things, I censored the other stuffs out.
But my hubby and I survived it intact.
Points to us for that. I insist.

We sit and talk about the years we've had, going back three, ten even twenty years. We don't always remember everything but the times that do matter we remember when..

Twenty years ago, tough times were measured in days. Each stretching out to it's full maximum with us doing our best to hurry them along. We were parents for the second time, full of knowledge, hopes and a belief we were going to make it through the good & bad. The apron ties had been cut years ago and we had just completed a nest of our own.

Ten years ago found us in the complex, aggravating stressful world of teenagers. We were chained stayed there for  seven/eight years. Not a place I'd willingly go back to unless there was no choice. ( may the powers that be see their way clear I don't ) Such a rough right of passage these days, ours fairly tame in comparison. We felt our way in this world of confusion, emotional roller coasters and a complete understanding of why some species eat their young. No family near to help, to advise, to guide. But DAMN if we didn't pull a fast one on our teenagers, we survived them. Barely.

Three years ago found us at the tail end of that rough time, watching our 'baby' turn twenty finally finding the beauty and belief in her differences. It had been such a struggle for her, heart wrenching for us, unable to help. It also found us on our knees thanking GOD we saw our youngest baby find her 'self' after years of struggling with hurt and pain. She had chosen a very hard road to walk but we wouldn't stop till we helped her off of it. The fight was mostly hers but she came out on top, pregnant but not alone. She had her sister, she had her parents. Through thick and thin, the way it always was.

This year found us struggling to be, once again, the couple we were before kids.A lot older, a boat load wiser.. It was an awakening of sorts. A feeling that we had weathered a long drawn out season, peppered by periods of calm, with times of raging storms. When you have two daughters, it is bound to be an overdose of emotional highs and lows, coated with a thick layer of bitchy estrogen.. and that's just me. Our girls were/are a whole other kettle of fiery finicky females.  But we had signed up for such a thing, perhaps a little naive but in it for the long haul.  To this day, we'd do it all over again if we had to but all I can say is THANK GOD we don't. ;-)

2011 will find us thirty years together, no small feat this day and age. A source of pride for our girls, not many of their friends, sadly, can say the same. It will also find my husband turning 50. A time of decision for him, a time of change. Together we will explore our options and I will be beside him as he stands at his crossroads. I will follow, whatever direction he chooses to go.
I'll face my own crossroads in two years but it can wait. Really.

More than anything, I hope 2011 going forward will be a more evenly paved road. We've had a lot of bumps, potholes and walls to climb on our travels and should there be more ( there will be ) we will weather them together, through thick and thin.
As we navigate this new road not far behind will always be the proof of our love and belief in each other, our children and their children will be forging their own paths.
I pray our roads always intersect and run parallel to each other, our paths forged in love and the strength that has carried us this far.

Goodbye 2010, we survived.
It is with open arms I welcome you, 2011, and with you, the second half of our lives.

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas in my Kitchen

Calories be damned

Cookie Fail. Wine Whine.

Chocolate Mountain

Christmas Colours

Blink and it's gone

Making Wishes

My View after 3 drinks. Ha Ha

December's 'I believe'

I Believe

... scales are evil and possessed. Why else would it be calling out my name, taunting me?

...If I'm going to enjoy any part of this wretched winter, I'm going to have to gear up for living in the frozen North. It's hard to make boots, hats, mitts and coats looks sleek when you're bundled up like a three year old.

...things unfold as they must.. for the first time in 23 years hubby and I will wake up Christmas morning alone. Bailey's and coffee first order of the day. :-)

...Brioche baking is not for the faint of heart. Nor is the calories associated with it.But really yummy.

...Flannel sheets, peeps, it's the way to go. In Canada. In winter. In this freezing province.

...I'm DONE my Christmas shopping. Boo Yah!  Christmas shopping drives me to drink.  

...I'm looking forward to next year. I need a break from this one, it's been tough on several fronts. But... it was what it was supposed to be I guess.

...Zumba's going to be interesting to take. Attended a free class and it's um... different.  

...I need to get up and get my day started. But I really don't want to, I'm sooo comfy right here, right now. sigh.

...What do you believe?

December's Open Letters

Dear Lady,

It's YOU who cut me off in the grocery isle. Don't 'tsk' me, you bag. I almost laughed at the look on your face when I called you out. :-) 

Signed, 

Tsk'ette took her to task'ette.

Dear Dog, 

Continue barking and I'll remove your vocal cords, you little turding machine. 

Signed,

Partial to my ear drums.

Dear Hubby, 

You need to remember it's YOU who's deaf in one ear and 30% hearing capacity in the other, not ME. T.V. volume is way too loud. However, I do have a sign I can use once your hearing completely goes. It's universal and understood by all.   ;-) 

Signed,

Again, partial to my ear drums.

Dear Sanity, 

Why hello there. Haven't seen you in a while.. where you been? 

Signed, 

Welcome back, stay a while?

Dear Balance Bracelet, 

Huh.. imagine that, you do work. I haven't tripped over a piece of lint or misstepped off the sidewalk since you've been gracing my wrist. And a pretty pink you are.

Signed,

Balanced Bella

Dear Ol Man Winter

UGH, You're back you old Son of a ... and for the next five months . You.really. suck.  

Signed

S.A.D. Chick

Dear Boots, 

I'm hunting madly for you. Help me out, will ya? Come out of hiding, I'll take you home, I promise. 

Signed, 

These boots were made for.. me to buy.

Dear Bloggy Friends, 

I wish each and every one of you wonderful folks a holiday season filled with quiet moments, crazy times and an abundance of what makes your holidays a success. I raise a glass (or two) of wine to you all.  

Warm regards, 

Jamie 

Wordless Wednesday- The Grinch?

I 

I don't think she's in the holiday spirit yet..?  ;-) 

For Today..

For Today

Outside my window...

I'm hoping to seeing the sun. That big yellow circular object in the sky that's been missing for weeks.

I am thinking...

I have a heck of a lot to do today. How'd that happen? 

I am thankful for...

a good night's sleep. They don't happen too often.

From the Kitchen...

I have fresh ingredients for guacamole. Calories be damned, this is good fat, right?

I am wearing...

my work out clothes. It's a must. My scale hates the month of December.

I am creating...

my clone. She can attack my to-do list. Damn, I'm brilliant.  

I am going...

to the Rec Center today to sign up for a variety of fitness classes for January.  

I am reading...

or rather squinting at an ingredient list. Why is it typed so bloody small?  

I am hoping...

for my fence soon. It'll make me like my dogs more. 

I am hearing...

my neighbour cough up her lung. Have another smoke, Sugar. 

Around the house...

I see dust bunnies procreating in corners. Little friggers.

One of my favorite things...

is hubby waking me up with a steaming hot cuppa coffee. Why helloooo... No, no dear, the coffee, not you.

A few plans for the week...

a few? Please refer back to the to-do list. The stupid clone ran for her artificial life. 

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

Gone south. ( where I wish I was )

December's Musings of This, That and Other Things

I didn't make it back to school like I wanted to. I've been missing the process of learning and education. So I took it upon myself to self teach through Youtube . Sometimes it's a great place to learn, don't you agree? 

I an getting ready to do some Christmas baking. Someone throw me a lifeline, I haven't worked out in 3 or 4 months. I'm making authentic shortbread cookies. Help me. 

Ok, in my defence I haven't worked out because a) my summer was taken over by family members and their needs/ demands.  b) Having a do-to list that was a month long and kept multiplying on a weekly basis. c) an operation I had and was warned not to work out for a month afterwards and d) fighting this cold in my lungs for a month now waiting for it to take a powder. 

So I'm waiting patiently  or more like impatiently. I go downstairs and look at my gym and sigh. I miss it. Lots.

Interesting fact- I used to figure skate, I was able to do wicked spins at neck breaking speeds without the world tilting. Now, I can't even sit on a chair and spin once without falling off or feeling like I'm going to upchuck. Apparently once a woman gives birth, the ability to have a center of gravity is gone. Poof. Huh.. never knew that. Not that I had plans to return to figure skating but I found that little tidbit interesting. 

Had to laugh. I was driving with hubby on a very busy road when he dropped his cell. Landed between his feet, so being the kind helpful person I am, I unbuckled and reached over. Only I had to stretch and his umm crotch was in my way. So turned my face sideways and pressed down as I reached for the cell. He got all in a tither because, well, it looked bad. And bigger trucks were passing. And I'm sure conclusions were drawn. And probably a few fist pumps thrown his way. 

Geeze, what's with all the kerfuffle? It's just a damn cell phone, peoples. ;-)

Standing next in line at the corner store, waiting for a boy to pay for his purchases. Came up to more than what he had. He takes the chocolate bar to put back, I grab it from him. I'll just ring it up with my order, can't stand to see the look on his face. He lit up like a Christmas tree, embarrassed, happy, shy. I asked him if he had ever heard of the saying, " Pay it forward". Nope, he's just a young 10 or 11 year old after all. I explain it to him and I ask him to do this one thing for me, to go find a kid at his school who's bullied or alone and hang out with him for recess or lunch. Made him promise me. I hope he carries through and...pays it forward. 

Made two batches of Christmas cookies for Christmas time. Didn't even make it to the container I was going to freeze them in, hubby attacked both batches like a man starved for three days. Snuck what was left in his lunches for work. Who else has to bake in 'hiding'? He sniffs them out, I swear.

What are your musings today?

Wordless Wednesday- Star





Wish upon a star



We own a Village- sans idiot.

This is our Village. Feel free to look around, the locals are super friendly. :-)

Memories of my childhood.. The Sugar Shack :-) 

The nut acorn doesn't fall far from the tree 

A little Flake(y).. like us :-) 

A view of our Village

Canadian Moose.

Can you say 'Engrossed'? Ten second exposure.  

A little bird's pride and joy

Ice, baby, Ice

Our humble abode.

Curling.. it's Canadian, eh. 

Sadly this little guy's not going to make it through the winter . Yes, married to a hunter.

The animals celebrate The Birth. 

Wordless Wednesday- It's crystal clear

It's crystal clear

If ya can't beat 'em..

                        Sigh.. It's going to be a long one. Just as well to try to find the pretties of the season.

Quite the ballet move.. for a tree

Only the hardy and brave bundled.

Love pristine untouched snow

A punch of reds to pretty it up

Hope (and proof)  the great winter melt will happen again. 

And the secret ingredient is..

Google image

Most people collect things, be it salt and pepper shakers, saws, antiques, spoons, perhaps overdue bills or even bad friends.  Some collect to the point of being on a TV show ,grant you this is the far end of the spectrum. But you get what I'm trying to say.

I collect recipes. But just not any recipe, those that are 3 generations and older. Some times easy to get, other times not so much.

I was recently gifted an old Scottish shortbread recipe from my Aunt. I am of Scottish decent so you can imagine I was quite happy to have it in my possession. Truth be told, there's an art to making shortbread. Much like pie shells and I suck at those. I might never make the cookies but I have the recipe and that's what matters.

In getting this recipe I was reminded of a time last year when I tried to get one from a staff member. It was a generations old dessert recipe from Iceland. A fussy one at that,but it was a challenge I was willing to take on.
Problem was, she wouldn't part with it. Her voice dropped down to a near whisper as she toyed with her pen, stupefied at the request. She looked over her shoulder, she fidgeted, she stalled.
WTF? Were we being watched/tailed/recorded here? I swear she acted like I had just commited a breach of national security.
I asked for a recipe I could of googled if so inclined. I figured straight from the horse's mouth type of thing..
Never did get it but I can still see her facial expression, it was almost comical. The looked of a deer caught in the headlights. No way, no how, driving along the road to never would she part with it. Ok whatever then, keep it Secret Recipe Rita. < not her real name ;-) >

What about you my bloggy friends? Do you share your family foodie favorites? Can someone shed light on why one wouldn't want to? Is it not a compliment to be asked for a recipe that showcases your roots/heritage? If you do share it, do you purposely leave out a key ingredient? I've heard of that before. Are you a collector of things maybe different or oddball? What lengths will you go to get that elusive piece?

By the way, I was given a 5 generations old recipe from 'Na-awlins'. I got a right kick out of scoring that one. It's the oldest I have and again will probably never make it, (You may be sure I will tweak it if I do. Those Cajuns use mega amounts of oil to cook with. ) but I have it and that's what matters.

Wordless Wednesday- Bookstore Cafe

My Bookstore Cafe (when I win the lotto)

My Customers (Don't look for me, I'll be in the Cayman Islands)

For Today

For Today

Outside my window...

I see the shovel. It can stay there, screw it.

I am thinking...

I need to go in for a manicure. 

I am thankful for...

really good coffee.

From the Kitchen...

I am gathering my ingredients for a meal that takes 6 hours to create. Worth it.

I am wearing...

warm socks, my lulus and a five year old apron. I need a new one. Hint Hint family.

I am creating...

a tropical world in my mind. Stay off my planet unless you are invited to join. 

I am going...

to ignore my scale. I don't like it much these days. 

I am reading...

my magazine I just received in the mail I was supposed to get start of October. 

I am hoping...

this winter isn't a harsh one. 

I am hearing...

my hubby cursing and banging stuff around in the basement. I'm steering clear.

Around the house...

I am visualizing my Christmas decorations. Who's offering to put them up for me? 

One of my favorite things...

is flannel sheets right now.Northern Canada, it's c o l d, eh. 

A few plans for the week...

trying to find that perfect pair of boots. Getting my xmas tree.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

My doormat. Not antisocial.. much. ha ha

Visual after approval. Ooopsy, rejected.

Ahh the blogging world.. a wonderful place to write, to share, to have creative power. And yes, a place to express.
Which is what I did on a post I read recently.
About a mother searching ( read raiding) a 17 year old son's room, after finding a crinkled up condom package in the laundry. She proceeded to search his room only to find oodles of condoms, ( that's a shocker) taking a picture of said condoms and posting it. ( had to laugh, he thinks ahead and often judging by the amount.)
Then blogging about how she caught her son in a lie. He stayed overnight at a girl's house when her Mother and sibling were away.
Mother threatened to tell the girl's mother about the evening.
Son breaks off with 'love of his life'.
Anger, heartbreak and misery. For son, for girl,for son's mother who was lied to.

Yes.. the right to blog about her upset over it, the right to express.

Which is what I did when I commented on it. I expressed in my humble opinion that perhaps it might not be her place to tell the girl's mother. (remember it's only my opinion here, I'm not talking for the masses)  That searching through his room was probably not the wisest thing either. (I was thinking more like invasion of privacy, especially over condoms)  That the end result would be to push her son into 'hiding'. I gave praise to the boy for being responsible and respectful of the girl by protecting them both. And I asked what the legal age for consensual sex was in her area. I was truly curious. It's 16 where I live.
I wasn't agressive in my response, I wasn't looking to stir. I was merely stating my opinion. Damn, I raised two teenagers, been there, done that. ( I thank GOD every day I'm done the teenage years, they are h a r d and they suck. period)

I hit post and was directed to a captcha, which is never required for posting on this person's blog. Ahh ok, she only wants back up responses. I knew there was NO way my comment was going to be posted.
Sigh.

I have to wonder what boy of 17, on the face of this earth, wouldn't lie through his eye teeth if he had the chance for a hot night of lovin', unrestricted?
And to be responsible enough to wear a condom? I say this because the boy who got my daughter pregnant 3 1/2 years ago said to her, upon learning of the pregnancy, 'I hope you die in childbirth, bitch'.
Yes.. miraculously he lives today and he's still not much of a 'father' figure in the child's life. However, I can see it was spoken out of fear and immaturity. Oh don't get me wrong, I'll never forgive him for it but I know where it came from.

I learn new things about the blog world on a weekly basis. Some good, some meh.. not so much, others not so surprising. This one falls under that category.

I mean no disrespect to her in this blog, on the off chance she comes a'visiting. She rarely does.
And yes, she had a perfect right to choose not to publish my comment, to raise her son as she deems fit but me thinks she's in for a change in her relationship with him.

How about you, my bloggy friends, do you add a captcha to your comments? (They drive me nuts by the way. But I do understand why some might need it.)  Would you have posted my comment if it was your post? Do you only want sunshine and roses on your blog? ( I am allergic to 'pollyanna' types so if you are that, I don't follow you, sorry ) Are you able to logically see another side and opinion to your own?

As an FYI, my kids take great pleasure these days in telling me what they pulled as teens. Things like my eldest taking my jeep for a spin at night, when I was fast asleep, without any sort of licence. Or her happening upon a boy youngest daughter was making out with in her bedroom, chasing him out of the house then down the street with said jeep. Or youngest drinking my vodka with a friend,straight up, replacing it with water then going out and puking their guts out in the bush.
Oh I can go on... and on... and on. Get my drift?
We laugh, sometimes I cringe but we all agree; those little turds of mine are lucky I'm only finding out about this stuff now.
However, we never did shy away from birth control. The topic or need for it. Yes, my lil Boo was an oopsy but always was/is/will be a blessing.

Wordless Wednesday (sort of) -Fungi Week

Silky Center

Mad Hatter's tabletop

The aliens have landed.

Mushroom or Sea Creature?

Looks fresh off the barby

Trend Setting among it's peers

The House of 'Shroom?

November's 'I Believe'

 

...I'm using spell check more and more as I age. This fact sucks.

...Paperwork is an aggravating waste of my quiet time.

...my town needs a kicked up bookstore cafe. I need to win the lotto.

...my dental hygienist is going to start hunting me down soon, can't seem to find the time to get there. Ugh typing that out makes me want to go brush my teeth I just brushed.

...I'm going to go for an iPhone 4 over a Blackberry Torch. GULP. I'm used to my crackberry.

...if I don't get rid of this cold soon, I'm going to hack up one of my lungs. On the bright side, excellent ab workout!

...I have to start wracking my brain to think of a kickass Xmas prezzy for my hubby. Hardest person to buy for. EVER. GULP.

...I would like to win the lotto. Did I mention that already? ;-)

...I'm getting withdrawals from my camera.Bad. :-(

...the Micky D's McRib commercials are gross.

What do you believe?

Musings of This, That and Other Things.

I know my 5'2 point five" ( yeah, I'm hanging on to the point 5) stature marks me as short but what part of me didn't you see standing there? I was next in queue when you waltzed right up in your filthy windbreaker, 80's style up under your boobs jeans and that lovely mullet. Even when I said something and you shrugged your shoulders.\ I should of dropped kicked you right then and there but I would of joined the 'People Of Walmart' ranks you obviously were trying out for. I might be short, sister, but do that again and you'll find out how mean I can be. 

Is it just me, my bloggy friends, that has a reoccurring dream? I'm talking for years now. Different people, same two events. I dream I'm back in my little house I used to live in. I really need to use the loo but I can't, it overflows every time. And bugs, lots of different creepy crawlies everywhere. The feel of bugs on me wakes me up, takes me several seconds to realize my skin's not crawling with them. Ugh. Why? Why do I keep having the same stupid dream?

Speaking of, I've a fear of overflowing toilets. Based on, you guessed it, another reoccurring dream I always had as a youngster. I'm in a bathroom with black and white checkered floors and walls, there's furniture stacked on top of each other. A table, a chair, a lamp.. you get the picture. The toilet overflows and starts filling up the bathroom only I can't get out, I'm locked it. The water starts swirling and creates an eddy trying to suck me in. I've got a death grip on the door handle but I'm losing traction... and there I go, caught in the eddy, unable to come out of it, slowly drowning.

Yeah, I'm afraid of overflowing toilets. 

Osgood Schlatters Disease. Pseudocholinesterase Disease. Paraphenylamine Diamine allergies, bordering hospitalization. Yup.. just a few of the weirdness that is my family. We're special, doncha know. :-)

Hubby and I decided to buy a village scene for under the tree this year. Complete with accents like trees, people, roads and the likes. Our claim to fame: the first building purchased was a red barn and an outhouse. Come on.. ya know you're thinking it... 

'Ya know you're a red neck when.." Love. It. muahahaha

As I sit here smelling the bacon I'm cooking for breakfast, I'm drawn back in memory to my dad's kitchen. He's making a grilled cheese for us. Not your ordinary run of the mill grilled cheese though. He takes english muffins, halves them and layers on the cheese slices. Taking it up a notch, he adorns all that lovely cheese with cooked bacon slices. Sliding those beauties in the oven he cooks all that goodness till the cheese is gooey and golden. Yup, that there fixes all the wrongs of day.

My first born 'baby' is turning 23. When the f*#k did that happen?? I gave that child life and this is how she repays me. Growing up faster than I'm ready for.  Sigh.  I love my adult children but at times I sorely miss my babies. 

What are your musings today?

Wordless Wednesday- You use post it notes, we use...

Hubby: Communications Specialist

Addendum (next day)