Happy New Year's Eve......

The year is almost over and we are ready to celebrate the New Year. I guess some of us are ready, really I am not. My boys have their own places to go to celebrate. One is working till past midnight today, I guess he is celebrating at the pub where he works.

My niece's two children might be in Edmonton on their way back to Yellowknife tomorrow and may call me to celebrate tonight with them. If not, I don't mind celebrating by myself.

I usually watch the fireworks from my balcony but there is this tower that is 35 floors they are building and I will find out tonight if that darn tower will block my view of the fireworks. I don't really mind as long as I still have a good view of the river valley which is all the time rather than the  twice a year when there is the fireworks.

Whatever your plans are for tonight, drink responsibly and take a cab home or bus it.

I wonder how many of us will make resolutions for the New Year .....I know I won't as it is hard to follow it. I will just make simple goals in life.

Let us all be thankful that most of us had a good year and for those who did not, it will change and life moves on. 

One year ago....

Last night I was a bit uneasy and did not know why. Even when I was in bed, I kept tossing and turning. Then this morning, it hit me. A very close of mine who I consider like a second mother died a year ago.

I had even mentioned to a friend how I really miss her and sometimes would pick up the phone and then realized I can`t call her.

We had such good times, eating out and just being together. I remember her when we went to see Josh Groban with my free tickets.

Then I mentioned that Il Divo would be performing in Edmonton but sadly she was not around to see it.

I hope you are at peace wherever you are. God bless P.

 

 



Boxing Day.....

For Canadians, British and other countries which celebrate Boxing Day....take the time to enjoy it before going back to work.

This is Black Friday for us Canadians, this is the day where there are all kinds of sale and the malls are packed with shoppers. I only tried to go out on this day once and I have never done it again and I will never go out again on this day. I feel it is not worth the savings, having to line up and get squeezed.

For some, they wait for this day to get their shopping done....a tad late but it does not bother the recipients of the presents.

So I am just going to watch tv and relax. I don't have to go back to work until Jan 2, 2013 so I will enjoy the break.

There will be turkey leftovers so I do not have to worry about preparing anything for a day or two until I get sick of having turkey.

Happy Boxing Day......

Merry Christmas, everyone....

To all my friends and relatives all over the world, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you are with your loved ones and enjoying this happy day.

 

 



Christmas Eve.....

It's Christmas eve, and the celebration starts. For me it would be a quiet one. When we were kids, this is the most exciting part of the Christmas season.

We usually head to my maternal grandparents place which is like a compount with three homes and this is where we congregate tor this holiday.

We had midnight meal prepared by the aunts and this is when we are allowed to open our presents. When my kids were younger I followed this tradition but also made our own.

This time, the kids are now adults and we celebrate on Christmas day and they receive their presents, if they have been good....yes, even at their age I still do this.

On our last day at work, we had our Christmas celebration and had Chinese exchange gift which I really do not like. I would like to buy for a particular person and try to find out what is the perfect gift for her/him.

But I should not complain as I got a present which is a good addition to my collection.

I have this collection and this is a good addition.

 

These two Port Meirion serving knife and fork, I am glad to get and lucky that nobody stole from me during thd Chinese gift exchange.

 

This is a gift from a friend of mine. A collection of rock salt, one with rosemary, one with chile slices and one with black peppercorns. As I have posted here before I have all kinds of salt and another great addition. Thank you, C.

 

I will be busy starting to get ready for the Christmas dinner preparation.

Happy Christmas Eve.

 

 

One of my favourite Christmas song.



Christmas menu....

We were planning to change our menu, my son wanted to try steak and lobster and I wanted a whole salmon baked in the oven, then thought of crown roast of pork. Last Friday night after looking at what the weather will be like for the next 3 days, I decided to leave and go to Save- on - Foods to do my grocery shopping at 9:30 pm. I am so glad I did as the roads turned nasty the next day.

While in the store, I decided to just do the standard menu as I was thinking there will be leftover for sure and I do not have to cook on Boxing Day. So it is turkey and all the trimmings. I am trying a new dessert which I saw on line and it looks yummy and easy to make. I hope it turns out well.

The weather is nasty, cold and snow. Christmas eve will be cold but no snow and it is almost the same for Christmas day. Now I am just relaxing and making sure I have everything.

Early morning on Christmas eve, I will go out just to get fresh buns from the bakery and maybe some kind of pie.

I am watching a lot of movies and then it is time to do the dinner preparation.

Enjoy the last two days before it really gets busy Christmas Day.

A sad time........

With Christmas just around the corner, we are so busy trying to get things done. But in the last week, it had been a sad time for everyone. I am sure everyone has been affected by what happened in Newtown.

Even though we are far from the tragedy, it still affects us. It is harder to celebrate the holiday when there is sadness all around.

We should remember the 26 people and hope that this will bring something good. I know a lot of people all over the world are saying prayers for the family so they may be able to move on.

Twenty children who were taken at a very young age, who knows what could they have become. It is nice to watch the support in all forms given to the town by strangers who just want to help and I am sure it is appreciated by everyone in Newtown

I am sure there will be a lot of discussion about mental health, guns and safety of schools. I hope there will be changes and that everyone will feel safe anywhere.

God bless the 20 children and the heroes....the teachers who saved a lot of lives.

Table decor....and others...

For every holiday, we decorate our homes and part of that is the tables. When I was in San Jose, the dining table was decorated but mostly with autumn colours.

My little sister's dining table at Thanksgiving.

 

This is my coffee table and I have displayed my coin and teaspoon collection, though I have not decorated it for Christmas yet.

 

This is the electric fireplace that my brother-in-law liked when we were out on Black Friday and bought it at about 40% discount, It looks classy and lovely at night and it gives out heat.

 

My cousin's table where she puts her Christmas give aways, mostly home made presents.

 

I am sure everyone is aspiring to do the best Christmas decoration in their home this holiday season.

 

 



Rogers wireless.....

The worst service provider and I mean the worst!!! My son was trying to pay his phone bill and they were asking for his postal code....so he gave it to them and they told him it was not what was listed on their record.

They never ask for that before and they just plainly told him, we can't help you. So I tried to see if I could just make sure it was the correct code they have in their system. Oh they can't give me that information. So I told them I paid his bill before and you gave me information and you took the payment.

But they have this attitude. And why can't they find his account just by his name and phone number and his address. He even showed them his ID which clearly shows his postal code. What a bunch of idiots. He is not paying for someone else so if you have his identification in front of you.....is that not enough?

I have heard a lot of negative things about them and I used to be one of their customers and I had also a really bad experience with them. So if anyone is considering going to them.....DON'T. Save yourself the grief. Worst....ever.....Rogers can be the biggest, but definitely the WORST!!!

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort...

We decided to go to this casino as my sister has not been here before. It was about 2 hour drive from San Jose and a nice, leisurely drive.

We passed by a lot of wineries and fruit farms and even stopped at a roadside fruit store with lots of other baking, jams for sale. I bought persimmons as I really like them.

Arriving at the casino resort, we tried to see if our room was ready and it was and we checked and went to the casino after having a light lunch, sort of. We had lunch at Margaret's Cafe and Bakery and had the rib eye chicken fried steak which is their specialty. I had posted it here before.

After we had to get our memebership card and was given $5.00 to start with. I won over $120.00 on the same slot but different location.

I did not take a lot of pictures as my battery was dying. It was ok and the service is friendly and the whole place is clean. I am used to non-smoking casino and this was not but it is a dry resort.

 

Entrance to the casino taken from our room on the third floor.

 

Showpiece at the entrance to the resort.



Two sisters......

We have always been close even when we were younger. We tell each other all kinds of stuff and we always have fun when we are together.

Now that she is further away, we probably see each other once a year. Hopefully it could be twice a year.

When I visited, we cooked things we like to eat and go out and look for bargains. She is good at making sure I don't overspend and we have an agreement on what is a good deal and what is not. Things we should wait to buy and ones that we should just buy there and then.

I can't wait tovisit her again...Thanks a lot lil sis.

Two sisters on our way to shoppping.

 

Admiring the roses at the Heritage Rose Garden. I guess that dress must have been a uniform for me since I am wearing it in two different days.

 

Well, it is Friday, I am going to put up a few Christmas decor in my place to make it feel Christmassy. Time to start planning what cookies to bake and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menu.

 

I have finished my Christmas shopping. To all you folks, get busy and go shopping, do not wait for the last few days.

 

Enjoy the weekend!!!

 

 



Thank you, thank you and more thank yous.....

This is for my sister and hubby....thank you for your hospitality, all the exciting short trips and all the yummy meals, wonderful breakfasts and a lovely Thanksgiving meal.

And of course all the shopping trips, my brother-in-law I feel knows the kind of shoes/boots I like. And my sister for not letting me buy any dress over $15.00 but at times if I beg enough, she will let me get one.

My first night was really exciting as she gave me my belated birthday presents, the number of which corresponds to my years,so I will just show a picture.

There were all kinds of stuff from reading glasses, make up, creams, hair products, manicure/pedicure set, candies, soap, purse and wallet and so much more. A big thank you, Jeff and to Annette, my sister's mother-in -law and my adoptive MIL.

 

My birthday presents...getting old but what a nice surprise.

Thank you again, lil sis.



San Jose Heritage Rose Garden...

I love roses and even when I live in a highrise, I sometimes plant roses in the summertime. So before my holiday in San Jose, I checked out what else I can see that I have not seen/visited yet. I found this and we went to see it one day.

November is not the best time to visit a rose garden but I just wanted to see if it was nice and big and lots of different varieties of roses. The blooms at this time were not as beautiful but still there were some that were still lovely, so I took some pictures.

A variety of rose named after me.....

 

 

 

 

Even though it is not the season, they were still beautiful and I love them.

 

 

 

 

 



San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles....

This is the one place I was excited about to see while in San Jose. So we went to see and it is located in downtown San Jose.

I have made a small quilt before and I am really interested in the different designs and how they coordinate the fabrics with the design.

There was an entrance fee of $8.00 per person which is not bad but after we got in and saw the displays.....what a great disappointment. I am sure there must be only 25 on display and textiles was not really much. I would not recommend this one. Give this one a pass....go somewhere else.

I did take pictures especially when I found out the number of quilts on display was not a lot. I think if they charge only $5.00, there will be more people who would see it or display more quilts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those are probably half of the display, maybe whne I run of things to post, I will post more pictures and that will the whole display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



More food......

These are more of what I tried or cook while I was visiting my sister. As usual there are foods I ate that I did not take pictures of mainly because I always forget or remember just after I had a few bites.

 

Oysters with asiago cheese, there were six oysters but remembered to take pictures after I had eaten two. I had to rearranged them to look good. I had this at Hawgs. Really good.

 

 

Beef Kabobs at the House of Kabobs in Sunnyvale...my last lunch in San Jose. Another excellent meal and the service was good and friendly.

 

 

Water chestnuts and bacon with spicy/sweet sauce. Yummy!!!

 

 

Cassava cake, one of three desserts for Thanksgiving dinner.



Fruit picking....

I love picking fruits and vegetables and since we do not have a lot of fruit trees in my city, I get excited when I see trees with lots of fruits. I would tell my sister that I will steal fruits from neighbours yards.

So one day while I was in San Jose, I went to visit my cousin who has lemon tree in her backyard and proceeded to pick. I had so much fun....did not pick a lot but enough to just enjoy the experience. Just like my sister, it does not take much to make me happy.

Once we got home, my sister asked me to bake lemon loaf, lemon muffins and macadamia white chocolate cookies.

 

 

 That's me picking a lemon...

bj's - Livermore

When one is on , you want to try to eat at different restaurants especially the ones you do not have at home.

Just before the US Thanksgiving, my sister and her hubby and I wanted to check out the new Paragon Outlet at Livermore. It was crowded and we did not stay long. We were getting hungry and decided to try bj's in Livermore.

The place was crowded and the menu looks good. We just ordered appetizers and drinks. I ordered calamari, sister order the lettuce wraps and my borther-in-law ordered chicken wings.

I love calamari and would order it if I hear the place had good calamari. Well, when the calamari arrived, it was mostly tentacles. Unfortunately, we did not take pictures. I have never had this kind, there were probably only 5 or 6 at the most of squid rings. We kind of complained but they said that is how the calamaris come.

If I am not mistaken, a squid only has a set of tentacles and out of it you can have maybe 6 or 7 rings so I do not understand the explanation at all. We ate it but was not too happy. In most restaurants, you may get 3 tentacles and the rest are rings. Go figure.....

Not going back there......a big disappointment!!!! Will not recommend it to friends who are going on vacation in California.

Black Friday....

I know it is not Friday, but I wanted to just post about Black Friday. I guess it is not considered Black Friday as they open the stores at 8:00 pm Thursday night and depending on the stores, some open at 9:00pm and the rest at midnight.

It goes on till midnight Friday. Last year, I saw in the news that one or two people got trampled and I have never had the urge to go to this event. But on Friday later in the afternoon, we decided, meaning my sister, her husband and I ventured out and some malls are still very crowded and there are a few that are not as crowded.

I was not intending on buying anything for myself but got some stuff for my two sons. They were still good price. I also found a pair of flat shoes. Please do not ask how many pairs that would be. 

Anyway, I had almost finished my shopping on my fourth day here. I do not have a clue how many dresses I have bought. I will find out when I unpack when I get home.

Then it is back to work...yikes!!! it was a lot of fun visiting my sister and her hubby....it's like I have a second home in California.

American Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American relatives and friends. This would be my first time to celebrate this holidayhere. I understand that this day is bigger than Christmas to Americans.

While at the Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel, we saw this guy who was carving a very big pumpkin at the entrance of the casino. I understand that it would be there for about a week.

We had a short conversation with him and found out he is Ed Wickman and he is the Food and Beverage Manager of the hotel. He was carving an 850 pound pumpkin and another bigger one too.

Here is the picture of the one he has started to carve. I mentioned that I was going to post it in my blog.

He has started to carve a bear who has just caught a fish. I wish we had the time to see the finished product.



This very nice coloured is called Cinderella pumpkin.

Food......

When you are on holidays, the first thing that we are worried about is gaining weight. It is because there is a lot of eating outside and sometimes you have no choice but to eat something that are not really healthy.

On my first day here, we had our lunch from a food truck serving Mexican food. We had each 3 different tacos. Pork, beef and chicken.

On the second day, we had lunch at In and Out Burger. It is not only cheap and good but the french fries are made fresh all the time. According to the menu, this is all 1000 calories. Whoa......I better be going on a strict diet.

On the third day, we had lunch at Margaret's Cafe at the Jackson Rancheria. I will not describe it but you can just see from the picture.

My sister and I and my brother-in- law shared this one, even though he had ordered something else. It is the chichen fried steak with country gravy, country potaoes, scrambled eggs and toast. What a big serving!!! worth all $13.50.

And now I must have gained another dress size....I hope not!!





Blogging from San Jose.....

Yes, I have arrived here and done a lot of things already meaning ....lots of shopping. After I arrived, we headed straight to a store to shop and then had lunch at a food truck in Sunnyvale. .by mid afternoon I had done a lot of damage to my wallet.

After we went home and unpack, I was ready to start packing. After dinner, my sister and I went out shopping again. Came back by 9:30 and watched a movie. I slept in which I had never done in a while. Then it was time to shop again.

It is sad that it was very difficult to get my shoe size so that is what is my priority. But I have great help from sister and my fave brother-in-law. Another damage to my wallet.

Monday, we are going to Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort. We will be staying overnight there and coming back Tuesday. Then we are passing by the new outlet in Livermore called Paragon. 

I am excited about Thanksgiving. For Black Friday, the stores are open 9:00pm Thursday. Even now the stores are already open late which is kind of nice.

I am taking pictures but will blog and post them later.

There you have it.... 

1 more sleep.....

My sister is counting and so am I. So tomorrow early in the morning I am off to San Jose.

I have to be at the airport at 5:00AM so I am going to be in bed early tonight. I believe I only have to work until noon today as the rest of the office staff will be on a chartered bus to Calgary for the office Christmas party. There will be only 5 of us missing it, all with prior commitments.

Of course, I am not complaining.

Here are some of the things I want to do there.
-- see the Municipal and Heritage rose garden
-- the Japanese friendship garden
-- San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
-- San jose Museum of Art
-- shopping at the new outlet which just opened about a week ago
-- eat at a nice, authentic Mexican restaurant
-- Japanese dollar store
-- Kohls, Ross, Macy's, TJMaxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Sees candies, shopping at Los Gatos and every other store
-- experience the US Thanksgiving
-- not sure about Black Friday shopping

Maybe I can play tennis with my sister, have a just the two of us outing, and I am sure being forced to sing while she drives. Well, I am ready and I will try to blog if I have time.

Enjoy the weekend.

5 more sleeps....

As my sister would say, 5 more sleeps before I get to San Jose. I am starting to get excited now. We talk a lot about our plans and what we will be doing and cooking.

Later I will post what I wanted to see and do and eat when I get there. I am all packed....I am taking nothing as I was told not to bring anything. But there is one thing in my suitcase that I have packed which I want her to have for sentimental value and I am sure she will appreciate it.

I also finished my coffee table project and will post picture here soon as well.

I just read my sister's blog and I am sure she will force me to sing our favourite song which she posted on her blog. I was thinking of that as well and was trying to decide if I will put it here as I have posted about it here before.

The weather has not been really nice and so this will be a really welcome break for me. And this is the reason I always go on vacation in the winter time. I might just do one again in February but I have to save some days for an aunt who is celebrating her 100th birthday in April.

Gish, another work week, I know this will go fast.....enjoy.

Remembrance Day......

Today is Remembrance Day.....a day to thank all those who sacrificed their lives for us. I believe we should remember them any and every day but this is their special day.
 
It is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Sometimes we do not really understand the great sacrifice these brave and honourable men and women gave to us. Also we should thank their families who gave up a lot for them to do what they wanted and felt they needed to do.

This day is also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day. This is the reason we wear those red poppies in honour of them and from the poem In Flanders Fields. The significance of it is the blood spilled during the war.

Today, we honour and pay respects to all of you.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

 



Snow, snow......more snow

The nasty white stuff has come and made it really difficult to drive or walk. It is quite annoying but what can we do....not much but take it.

It would be nice to walk but some of the sidewalks have not been cleared. Though it is not so cold, it gives me the feeling of winter being upon us and staying for four months. I don't even know why I complain as it happens every year.

I am glad it is Friday and another weekend and only a week more and I am off to San Jose to visit my favourite one and only sister. I am sure we will be having a good, fun time.

I only need to get her Timothy's K-cups which I will try to do today...hopefully the weather will be good as I do not want to drive and find parking downtown so I might take the transit with an office mate of mine.

And then I can just relax as I don't need to pack a lot of stuff.....need space for what I will buy when I am over there. I have a list of what I want to do and where to go.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Sandy and aftermath.....

Before Sandy, there were a lot of activities in our building for charities. I always try to support them by buying hot dogs or baked goods or books. These always happen before Christmas and it is all for a good cause.

It is also gratifying to watch all the heroic things people do for others. As they say, it is during these times that you see the good in people. Watching the news, the worst of it is now almost over but the rebuilding is just starting.

They are lucky to be alive and as one person being interviewed said...they are material things and can be replaced. What a good attitude to have.

Now that it is close to Christmas, there will a lot more going on to try and get stuff for people who might not have anything for the holidays. Please let us all give generously.

 

I heard this song a while back and I think it is appropriate.

TV watching....

My sister and I were talking and our conversation turned to tv shows. It was amazing that we watch a lot of the same shows.

One of my sons told me that I should cancel some of the channels I have because I only watched a few channels....mainly HGTV, Food Network, CNN, National Geographic, Travel and Escapes and the Learning Channel. I watch The Voice and try to check Dancing with the Stars.

Last weekend was Travel and Escapes and I wanted to see Scam cities and find out what are the things to avoid. I have seen scams in Las Vegas, Bangkok, and a city in India. It is not like that I would be travelling to the cities featured but it is interesting to find out about the different scams that some people do to tourists.

I also told my sister about the CBSA show featuring the staff in Vancouver....watching people lie to immigration and customs officer. She used to work for them. I don't understand why these people don't just tell the truth, it would be a lot easier and maybe they will get off lightly. Unfortuantely, they do not get this show in San Jose.

When I travel, I have always kept all my receipts so it is a lot easier clearing customs.

Well, let me see what else I find on the telly that is interesting.

Long time coming.....

Tonight, I got a call from my cousin in the Philippines. She is from my father's side of the family and we had only started communicating again after more than 35 years.

She found us through a friend in facebook. Thanks to social media, we get to have communication with long lost relatives.

They are having a reunion back in the Philippines and they called me and I was able to talk to my aunt who I have not seen nor talked to in as many years.

It is nice and a wonderful feeling to get in touch again. She is 87 and I believe the only surviving sibling of my dad and the youngest.

Thanks to my cousin Nodie for making this possible and I would like to say hello to my cousins visiting the Philippines from Australia and I hope they have a wonderful reunion. Please send us pictures.

Mid week......

Oh yes, hump day....I have been so tired that I have not turned on my computer to check email or to blog. And I seem to have run out of things to say.

I don't know how some people blog everyday. My sister is one of those people but then again, she is retired.

The last few nights, I watched baseball. I used to watch games before but for years now, I have not watched a complete baseball game until this World Series when my sister asked if I was going to watch. And so I did....but I did not know any players at all.

I have been watching The Voice and read that Christina and Ceelo would not be there next time. I think that would be good...they need a bit of a change. Maybe it will make it more exciting.

The Layover with Anthony Bourdain is a show I have been watching lately. It is about things to do, places to see and to eat while a traveler has time on a layover in a particular city. I don't understand how he can eat all the time and so much. Amazing!!! I would be sick if I have to do all the eating he does.

Well, I just finished a short blog....thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow is another busy and hectic day for me.

New recipes to try......

A good friend of mine gave me a cookbook.....actually a gluten-free muffins.

I have looked at some of the recipes and this week end I am trying one or two recipes. The first one is the bacon scallion muffins and the other one is golden raisin rosemary muffins.

These recipes call for finely ground brown rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch. This is the base of all the recipes. I have seen tapioca starch and potato starch but I have not seen brown rice flour.

Worst case scenario I will just use cake and pastry flour or just all prupose flour and see how they turn out. There are lots of recipes I want to try and it is good that it makes 12 muffins.

I will post result as soon as I have tried them.

That is the picture of the golden raisin rosemary muffins.



Good news.......

Before I had posted pictures of my niece's daughter who got accepted to a hockey school out west.

Today, while talking to my niece, she told me that she is now a member of Major Midget league, while she is also playing in a triple A league.

I hope I am correct in all these divisions. Anyway, we are so happy and proud of her.

Maybe, just maybe there is a chance of her being in the Olympics in the future. I have attended a few of her games and must say she is good.

I might go to a big tournament she is going to over the Christmas holiday.

Will post if there is any news. Way to go Vickie.......

 

Vickie in action.

 



Surprise on the street.....

Last Friday afternoon I had to go to our other building across the street to train our new manager. I told the reception, I wasn't coming back and I will be going home from there. I had to meet a friend for dinner.

While busy with training, the phone rings and it is for me and I was told to go back to the office and bring the two ladies with me. I asked why and they would not tell me. Before coming here, a lady at work told me she has given notice and will leave at the end of the month. I just thought that the announcement will be made.

On the way there, an office mate was telling people walking on the side walk it is my birthday. It was the next day. But people were wishing me Happy Birthday.

We were back and the reason was thay they bought cake for me and gave me flowers. It was nice of them to do that. On my way to meet my friend, I was waiting to cross, I must tell this.....I cross this busy intersection so many times during a work day. So while waiting for the green light, a man driving looked at me as I was carrying this package which is obviously flowers. He smiled at me, turn down his window and with a smile told me..."Wow, you got flowers," exactly his words and smiled and drove on.

The people behind sort of laughed.....well, what a great way to end a hectic day!!!!

This was what was inside the package I was carrying crossing the street.

 

Another work week, as always let it pass quickly.



Thank you......

A big, big thank you to all my friends who sent emails, cards, presents, texts and phone calls, flowers and a cake for my birthday.

CG, the ticket you gave won $2.00. I feel that is a start of my luck with tickets.

I appreciate the thoughts and being remembered.

Thank you. Wow, my shortest post ever!

Dinner with a close friend......

Friday night I had a very nice dinner with a close friend from my old office. We went to Tropika, a Malaysian restaurant. We had time to talk a lot and made other plans to do things later.

We had Pineapple fried rice, Tropika chicken and mixed vegetables with coconut milk. They were all good and we started with a cocktail, Chee chee, I believe it's the drink/cocktails of the 80's. It was good and refreshing. As usual, it was too late before we remember to take pictures. She did take a picture and she will email it to me.

It is my birthday today, so she treated me to that dinner and gave me a very nice birthday card with a ticket so hopefully I will check if I had won anything.

I had to tell her that I had dropped or cut my friendship with another lady who I think is a bit toxic and I would rather have one less friend who I don't trust now.

I really enjoyed our time together and hopefully we will do it again.

Thanks a lot CG. It was a fun night.

2 years of blogging.....

I did not realized until the other day that I have been blogging for 2 years now. I started my blog October 1, 2010.

It took me a while to figure out how to do it and I remember one time, my blog looked like it only had empty space. My brother-in-law was able to figure it out and I am now very careful about editing or other stuff to do with my design.

Thinking of what to say/write was the most difficult part of blogging. One time I tried to see if I could blog everyday like my sister and I believe it only lasted 10 days for me. There are times I could only blog once a week so I just do it when I feel like it or when I have something I think would be interesting.

I also forget to take pictures even though I remind myself that I have to take pictures.....just like last Thanksgiving while waiting for people to arrive, I told myself I should take a picture of the turkey because it turned out really well and the colour of the skin was golden brown. But of course it was too late by the time I remembered it.....I had already carved the turkey.

My friends let me know how I am doing with blogging and I appreciate their comments and suggestions. Well, I guess I would be blogging for a while yet.

Thanks to all my readers and for their comments whether it is in this blog or by emailing me privately.

Projects.....

I have just started on my next project, cleaning and wiping my souvenir teaspoons collection so I can display them. And the problem is this...

 

There are more than 200 teaspoons in this box.  I guess it will take a bit of a time to get it done.

I will just sit on the floor and do it while watching tv. There better be really exciting shows to watch while I am doing this.

 

 

And this is where they will go. I have to rearrange my coin collection to make room for the teaspoons. This is my coffee table. I am excited to see how it will look like.

 

 Just finished watching the voice and it is exciting to find out what happens to the stolen members.

Breaking Amish is also getting interesting.....how much of it is real, I don't know.

As my sister would say it 4 more sleeps before the weekend.

My birthday is this Saturday....no plans yet.

 



Whatever post.....

A productive weekend.... I did not go anywhere this weekend as I did not feel so well when I came home Friday. I took it easy that night and just watched tv.

I watched The Secret Princes and I do not know how real is that show. The one Lord can't even carry a conversation and no wonder he can't find a date. I watched Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Once in a while I follow a recipe from there.

This week end I was in the mood to bake and did biscuits and a loaf of white bread. I have not baked a loaf of bread in ages and it turned out so well. First time in years using my long loaf pan.

Maybe for my birthday next week I will bake a birthday cake. I used to bake a lot of cakes when we lived in Yellowkinfe....up North where winter I heard has arrived.

I forgot that I had gone out to get groceries and washed my SUV. I did not know they were open on Sundays and when I was driving home from the store, I saw it was open. Unfortunately I did not vacuum as I had my winter tires there. Yes, it is time to change tires.

My next project is to clean my teaspoon collection from all over the world and put it where I have my coin collection. That would be a lot of work but finally I have a place for them.

Some of the biscuits I baked.

 

Loaf of bread that turned out really well.

 

My fave snack when watching tv.

 

Another work week, hope it goes really fast.

 

 





A kind person.....

A building with 25 floors and hundreds of people living in it is like a small community. The lobby becomes a meeting place where you see people you know or just met.

I have been in my building for more than 3 years and I know a lot of people but there are also movements and people I like move out and on to a different building or bought homes.

There is one resident here who is retired and every morning he likes to be in the lobby and read his papers or flyers. He uses a wheel chair. I don't get flyers in my mail box as I have put a no flyers note in it.

We have a place where you can get them and this gentleman would get me my paper and flyers every morning on my way to work.

Today, I was sick so I took the day off and when I went out my door to throw a bag of garbage, the paper and flyers were hanging on my door handle.

This is not the first time and I really appreciate that. I like to read my Metro and look at flyers.

What a nice person!!! It makes me feel good that there are kind and wonderful people around.

It's Friday, enjoy the weekend.

Recycling and the cheque....

My place of work is proactive when it comes to recyling. We have one building which won a prize for being a green building.

We have all kinds of bins in our kitchen for waste, plastic, paper, cardboard and so on. Under my desk is a plastic container for recycling paper and another for regular waste basket.

As part of my job, I handle the deposits and any cheques that need to go to the bank or to a vendor.

One day, I was working in the reception area and Fed Ex came with a package. I opened the package and took the envelopes inside and gave to the recipients and threw the package in the recycling bin.

Then I had to go help across the street in one of our new buildings and did not come back until close to lunch, In the meantime our Project Manager was looking for me and looking in my desk for a cheque intended for him.

When I came back, he was after me for his cheque and I told him there was none for him and he was adamant and I too was determined to let him know there was none for him. When he told me that there was one sent by our head office in the same Fed Ex package and that it was close to a million dollars, I got worried and when I thought about it, I realized it might have been still in the package which was now in the recycling bin.

Thank God, it was still there and the million dollar cheque was inside the package. I don't know maybe because it was so big, it did not fall off when I did it the first time.

From then on, every time a big cheque comes...they will say....do not give it to her. I guess I will never live this down. There have been cheques more than that and it goes to the intended recipient. A lesson learned....check the inside of the package or envelope. There just might be something big there.

The fluffy white stuff.....

Yes, the dreaded white stuff fell today but luckily did not stay....a bit wet and temperature not so cold. But still it was nasty, knowing the cold weather is upon us.

I have appointment to change to winter tires next week and the forecast is in the teens. Hopefully, it will stay for a bit longer.

It is time to take out the coats and jackets and winter boots, gloves and hats and toques and scarves.
Not to forget warm clothes, sweaters and cardigans.

I am glad I will be away for while visiting sunny California. At least it will be a lot warmer.

So there it is.....old man winter is getting ready to come back....yuk ....it will be for 6 months and I will start counting the days when spring is here.

Thanks for stopping by......

Enjoy Centre....the plants

Enjoy Centre used to be Holes Greenhouse in St Albert, Alberta. I used to live in that city and I have lived there for 10 years off and on. It is quite a drive if you work downtown so when the chance to live downtown, I decided to move.

I love gardening and I used to buy my plants from there. When they became the Enjoy Centre it was quite a while before I got a chance to see it.

This summer was my first time and I did not take a lot of pictures. It was busy but the flowers were so beautiful and varied. The last time I was there I took some pictures of house plants. Some of them I don't know the names but would like to share them here,

These two are by the entrance to the store.

 

 

 

 

 

I used to have a collection of these African Violets when I lived in St. Albert.

I love plants and I am planning to get some for my place as they make one's home more alive and beautiful.

 

Hump day....looking forward to the weekend...I have a mission to find something for my sister.