St. Norbert Market

About a month ago, I was at the St. Norbert Market, but later in the day. Was busy trying to get some pictures and the one vendor told me to come back early in the morning -- market opens at 8:30 a.m. and there is usually not many people there. So, this past Saturday, I go waltzing off to the St. Norbert Market for 8:30 a.m. ... and people were everywhere! Nevertheless, it's the opening time of the market and all of the stalls and displays are plentful. So, with camera in hand, I was dancing through it all ... and so enjoying remembering my Mom and Dad's gardens on the farm. Loved, loved, loved all of the fresh produce everywhere! The little girl with barefeet in the dirt kind of dancing! Even found a little piece of lace! Enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day

I love the arrival of the Canada Geese every spring ... and I love discovering the same nesting couples back in the same nesting spots at Gavin's work ... there are two sets of repeat nesters there, three years in a row now. Soon, these lovely beauties will be Moms again! I scared one Mom off her nest by accident; she scrambled away squawking ... so I took a snap of her brood and kept on walking. More interesting is the mates ... cause I look to see if they are nearby, so I don't get a surprise visit from them. The first picture, I was pretty confident to visit a little closer to her, cause I couldn't find him anywhere nearby. She stood up, squawked ... I took a picture ... and heard a commotion of honking coming at my backside ... and he was full flight from I don't know where, giving me a word or two about his family ... what I should have done was point my camera and got an awesome photo of him with his wings spread out as far as they go ... but I scurried away. Really not interested in feeling the force of those wings or his beak!

Bits & Pieces of Spring 2014 - on Mother's Day

I know - spring is very late this year. The temperatures zoomed up yesterday, finally, and today was equally nice, albeit, clouded over now and then. Gavin and I went for a long country drive today (love these!!!), starting with a drive down Waterfront along the Red River, Winnipeg ... old River Road ... Lockport ... Lower Fort Garry ... old River Road again into Selkirk ... Birds Hill Park ... Lorette ... home. Wonderful day of driving ... stopping lots for me when I wanted to take some pics ... and just the two of us walking at Lower Fort Garry and again at Birds Hill Park (Pope's Hill). Loved watching all the fly-bys of the pelicans and then when they all fluttered just above the water and skimmed along in unison. And the seagulls screeching away, even catching one of them feeding another. And there was that one little seedling that has eeked its' way out of the full bloom of thistle seeds, but still hanging on. Maybe because it is Mother's Day! As soon as a real good blast of wind comes along, this seedling will take flight and start new beginnings elsewhere.

Angels

My Mom loved angels/cherubs and she had a bit of a collection when she passed away. Four of them now live with me. One is a larger two-cherub outdoor garden variety, while the other three a perched in m scrapbook/genealogy room, keeping me company on a daily basis. My computer sits on my large, old desk and behind the computer is a small cabinet that my Dad hand-made about 54 years ago. Atop that cabinet is this! This is what I see when I look up. I see that cherub angel, with its eyes closed, resting -- to me, peace and tranquility. A little photo of Gavin and I -- our first visit to my parents' farm when we were just getting to know each other, and my Mom insisted on taking a photo. Love this photo forever! Another small photo of us on Gavin's Mom's wedding day in 1976 -- we were dating then and I had just graduated from high school about 1 1/2 months before this photo. And third, a photo of my Mom and Mother-in-Law, taken when Mom and I stopped for a quick visit at my Mother-in-Law's home in Whitewood, Sask. Both of them now angels.

The Wrapping Is What It's All About!

Did you ever get a gift that you simply did not want to open? The paper is folded and tucked immaculately and then the gift is adorned with the extraordinary! That what this was ... it was like icing on a cake! I won a door-prize when I was at a crafty event in LA last year and fell in love with the icing! I have it tucked up on the wrought arm that my antique-looking clock hangs from in my craft room. I love the colors and brightness it brings to the room each and every day! The gift inside was okay too ... but I much prefer this little tweety bird.

Hibiscus Bloom

Every now and then, among the never-ending blooms on my hibiscus tree, I find a veregated bloom, like this one. Not sure why the odd one does this, but I love it's uniqueness all the same. My hibiscus tree was given to me by my Mom and Dad when we moved into our current home; so it has lived with us for 33 years almost and bloomed all those years. I clipped it at the wrong spot on the main trunk, so it stays at about 5' tall now. Although, now and then, there are some push-off branches that go spiralling higher! I have transplanted it only twice and it loves it's current pot now for many years. I once tried putting it outside on the front step for the summer months, but the sun pretty near did it in; so back into the house it came.

Catching-up on Photo a Day

Have been busy fighting through a bad bout of bronchitis and no particular energy was to be found to do much about anything, including taking some photos. But an odd day, I did pick up the camera. So, this post will be a catch-up with those few photos, and then back to the daily postings.

A thrift-store stuffed-baggie full of miscellaneous equals a scrapbookers delight, at $2.00 for the baggie. Score.

An earlier posting showed these in bud form - it's blooming - gloriously!

Daughter Samantha spent Saturday morning with me doing wedding-related shopping. Fun time. Great lunch!

My hibiscus tree is full of buds soon to be blossoms again!

The plant is now in full bloom - love!!!

January 23, 2014 - La Chef-tress!

So, the thing about being home and trying to recuperate from a bad bout of bronchitis is to find something to occupy your time. Can't do much of anything. Lots of sleep. But when I was awake for short periods of time, I became a TV cooking show addict. Love watching how people are given ingredients and how they turn them into something I would never think of doing. Day 4 - today - I think I'm on the road to being a chef. Hah! I grew up learning to cook under the tutalage of my dear Mother - who never used a recipe for anything; except for baking sometimes. She was an incredibly excellent cook and, living on the farm, was always using fresh produce, etc. To this day, I don't use recipes; well, except for baking! There is an odd time that I do follow a recipe. Something I need to start doing more, I think. Or not! Anyway, today was not the day to start using recipes. I created this chicken stirfry for my supper, with ample left-over for Gavin for a snack later (at midnight, when he gets home from work) and to have for his work meal tomorrow. Two chicken breasts sliced into thin pieces, slightly browned in hot pan with T. butter, pinch of salt (I learned on the cooking shows that you should use this "key" ingredient - that's what - according to the shows - makes a great chef) {note, I never cook with salt, except for perogies} ... back to my recipe ... 1/2 tsp. crushed peppercorn, 1/4-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper. Once browned, add in two julienned onion greens (white included), half a celergy stalk (I like taking the centre piece with the leaves), 1 carrot julienned, and one medium orange beet sliced thin; and 1/8 c. water. Toss and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes and remove from heat. The carrots and beets will still be nicely crunchy! Separately, and not photographed here, I made some mushrooms for myself with garlic. I would have loved to put garlic in the chicken toss, but hubby does not like garlic. So, to appease myself, garlic in the mushrooms ... which he also does not like! Selfish on my part, but mixed in well on my plate with the chicken mix!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - Mother-in-Law's Tongue

This plant came with the house when I married Gavin .... 36 years ago ... we bought his Mom's house and moved in and she left behind some plants. This plant just kind of grew a bit over the years. About five years ago, I decided to take it out of its pot and break it up and re-plant it. Wow! I growed up big - honestly! The one pot is full of new growth and reaches about 4' high. And it blooms! Never knew that it bloomed!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Sunday, the blessing of bronchitis crashed my day! Here's the result of Monday's visit to the doctor. Deep chest wheezing and absolutely knocked off my feet. Sleep is my best friend! It is really quite amazing that someone discovered penicillin to help you get well. But this bout of bronchitis is hanging on regardless! The penicillin is making it somewhat more bearable. Drugs and me don't mix. Zonk me right out. But sleep is probably the best medicine in the end anyway!

January 18, 2014 - Malanka

Just home from Malanka in Beausejour, Manitoba. The Ukrainian dance group that Samantha dances with performed at Malanka tonight. It's an adult group that practices out of Anola, Manitoba. Good food. Good entertainment. Good fun. But I am one tired girl!

January 17, 2014 - Marcaroons - Part II

I haven't had one yet! Just sayin!

January 16, 2014 - Macaroons

It's been awhile, but today I arrived home late from work ... and when I finally made it upstairs to my computer ... there was this gift from my husband. One of my favs - chocolate macaroons. Not like it's going to do my diet any good ... will have to ration myself to like 3 a day ... so that'll stretch them out for awhile! Or maybe I'll take them with me on Sunday when I go scrapbooking and share the goodness ... fewer for me then. :)

January 15, 2014 - Some of My Favourite Things

Some of My Favourite Things ... they're little things that are rather chochka-ish ... but they make me smile. The old sugar dispenser if full of old pearl strands ... the slim bottle with the crown on top is a momento from my first adventure to LA in November 2012 ... the little jar and the other old sugar dispenser are full of vintage buttons. Big sign inserted here. Like I said, little things that make me smile.

January 14, 2014 - Ruby Red

Red is my favourite color. I bought this brooch at a second-hand store about two years ago ... drag it out at Christmas, but never seem to pin it on and wear it. I love it. So, it now is not being put away, but will sit on the ledge in front of me, behind my computer. That way I can enjoy the dance of the light that sets it off in glorious ruby sparkle.