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.

January 13, 2014 - Christmas Cactus

The little Christmas cactus plant I have bloomed gloriously through the Christmas season. The larger plant is surprising me, after all, with blooms.

January 12, 2014 - Mr. Snow

Mr. Snow - what a wonderful name for this lovable, furry critter. This is niece Jacey Herle's ole cat that came to visit with me several times during the evening.

It was the last of the Christmas gatherings on Sunday - the Weslak folks. Missing in action was sister Brenda, as she was off in Vancouver, for her work. The nieces and nephews are all growing up so fast; including the Great-Niece and Great-Nephew. Time is flying by. But at Christmas, there is still the delight of Christmas through a child's eyes, no matter how fast they are growing up! And Jacey was busy this year with some creative home-made decorations she put together for the tree!

Crocheting

I used to be an avid crocheter many years ago. Learned how to crochet when I was 15 years old, with my Mom and her friend Shirley. There was a once-a-week, over four weeks, I think it was, evening how-to-crochet class at my High School. After the first class, I was so frustrated, as I couldn't get the knack of it. When I got home, I got out my Singer Sewing Book, and found the section on how to crochet. Read through and self-taught myself. When I got to the next class, I had a 24" x 24" granny square ... on the way to making my first granny-square afghan -- all one big granny square. Except at that class, the teacher was annoyed and told me I was doing it all wrong. Apparently, I wasn't holding the crochet hook the way she'd like me to hold it, nor was I holding the wool that way she'd like me to hold it. And I remember my Mom quietly interrupting her barrage and saying, 'but she's doing it and it's working. Leave her alone.' God, I love my Mom. The teacher didn't at that moment, but then she never bothered me again! After the four weeks, Mom and Shirley asked me how I was doing my crocheting, but they just never learned how that teacher was teaching us! Hah! I taught them both my way. This is the only piece of crocheting I have left from all those days ago ... well, I might have another afghan I did downstairs from wool my Grandmother Weslak gave me, cause she was so proud I could crochet. That afghan was a bunch of granny squares hooked together--black centres, peach surround, finished off with white; all joined with black. But this piece in this photo is a Christmas poinsetta one I did, and it only comes out every year at Christmas!

Top 10 - Photo Shoot with my Niece Kendall - Champagne B-D 2013

Thank you Kendall for the idea to do posts of Top 10 photos from different Photo Sessions I have done -- so, I'll start with Kendall's Champagne B-D last year on a not so cold winter's day, but winter nevertheless!

January 10, 2014 - Angels

This angel is new to my life ... she arrived in late November and brings clam and tranquility into my days. She embodies peaceful quiet and roaring strength all wrapped together. My Mom used to be an angel collector and after she passed, I inherited three that grace my computer area at home; and a two angel/cherub statue that nestles into my flowerbeds in the summer. Typically, I am a solid glass rooster or hen collector and have a few in my home and in my office at work. So when this angel sat ever so gracefully on a shelf in the nursery gift shop, I was quite surprised to discover that she definitely was meant to come home with me.

January 9, 2014 - New Year Blooms

A friend gave me a little plant that was full of gorgeous soft, vintage-looking baby fleurs. I have had this variety of plant before and have always managed to killed it off. But not this one. This was is healthy and growing, and is going to bless me with a plethora of blooms again. Can't wait!

Alice

This beautiful mannequin lives in my computer/craft room and her name is Alice. When she arrived, I initially named her Myroslawka, after my Mom. But next evening, when I got home from work, Myroslawka was wearing a dainty little camisole. This was one of my husband's clever little tongue/in/cheek witty moments. I, however, did not laugh. And I, could not, in all good conscience, keep the name I thought she should have. He actually didn't even know her name, but informed me that her name was Alice. So Alice it is. She currently wears a vintage lace wedding dress and is adorned with strands of faux pearls. I hung a mini wall-hanging I did last fall among the pearls ... cause I so love the bold red of my work of art. At her neck is a black/white collar gifted to me by a friend, covered by a hand-made vintage pearl collar; and then on top of that, a hand-crafted crown that I received from a friend when I was down in Los Angeles in April last year. She makes me smile every time I come into this room of mine to work on my genealogy or any other craft adventure.

January 7, 2014 - Normandene Full Fashioned Super Grade Hosiery

Found - last night, while I was looking for something else, in a box of things from my dear Mother-in-Law. This darling box full of her old recipe books! I was looking for her lime jello recipe! Found that too, in the box! Talk about retro - and she would have bought her nylons in bulk like this; cause she was a young teacher and would dress appropriately in her day! Nope, no nylons in the box - that would have been way cool.

And a ditty about today, I had a job interview and really am not sure how I did. Hoping that one of the two positions that they are looking to fill will become mine! Fingers crossed.

January 6, 2014 - Flowers

Today's photo a snap of the gorgeous little bouquet of flowers my girlfriend gave to me on Saturday. Besides being the most perfect color - red! - they brighten up the room during these long, cold, winter nights. When is the last time you gave someone flowers? Go ahead, before the end of this week, gift someone with one stem or a little bouquet ... and brighten their day. Hugs to you.

January 5, 2014 - Pomergranate Jelly Salad

For my Christmas dinner yesterday, I was thinking abou the little vintage Christmas picture that I used for my invitation and also used for the card setting at each place setting at the table -- and I thought 1. vintage 2. what would be a vintage kind of thing at Christmas and 3. voila - jellied salads. I found this recipe for a jellied salad with pomergrante and thought I'd share it with you. Note: I did not use the sour cream and mayonnaise! It is a fabulous salad. I actually made two - the other was a lime jellied salad with shredded carrots. I set them up about 1 1/2" in the bottom of small canning jars. When I went to serve the meal, the lime one served as a base for the pomergrante red one. Very Christmas looking! Today's photo, a left-over from yesterday - Pomergranate Jelly Salad!

Pomergranate Jelly Salad 2 packages (3 ounces each) raspberry gelatin 2 cups boiling water 1 cup cold water 1 1/2 cups pomergranate seeds (about 2 pomergranates) 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup mayonnaise In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in cold water, pomergranate seeds and pineapple. Pour into an 11" x 7" dish. Refrigerate until firm. Combine sour cream andmayonnaise and spread over gelatin. Refrigerate until serving. Nutritional Facts: 1 cup equals 194 calories / 11 g. fat (3 g. saturated fat), 12 mg. cholesterol, 106 mg. sodium, 22 g. carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g. protein.

January 4, 2014 - Celebrating Christmas

Photo-a-Day - January 4, 2014 - place settings before company arrived to celebrate Christmas today. The little stuffed cloth hearts are actually Christmas ornaments. I loved the different patterns that all collide together so well! The first photo is my picture-of-the day.

Pomergranate

On Christmas Day, my son introduced me to Pomergranate. Oh my goodness--what a delightful fruit. I am so surprised I haven't discovered it before now. I have always enjoyed pomergranate fruit juice, but have never sampled the real thing. And yes, I just finished munching on some! ... while watching the snow that continues to fall, that kept falling and falling all day today ... ahh, quite the thing to be a Winnipegger!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Jan. 2, 2014 - Photo-a-Day: My Christmas tree. The story behind this tree is I went determinedly into Canadian Tire to buy myself a Christmas Tree before Christmas. And I have to say, I was not impressed with most of the fake trees, never mind the price tags attached to them. Then way down where the check-out was, I spotted a tree and wandered over to give it a look-see. Me liked! So I stopped a clerk and asked for the code no. of the tree, because I wanted to see if it was available. She slipped away and came back to tell me they had no more left and in the next breath, but you can buy this one. So I looked at her and asked, like really, the obvious! What is the price? $399.00 and my mind is going, yah, how many tanks of gas and how many years could I go travelling to the farm and get myself my own real tree. But after her pause, she says, but it's on sale for $79.00? Do you want it? I said yes! I told her I had some shopping to do and that would give her time to dress it down. By the time I got back, the tree was ready for me and much to my surprise, it included all the lights too; oh, and something for the he-man in my life - a remote control for the lights! Bobble head effect happening here! Win win! It has been up ever since, and I know many have already taken their tree down, but mine gives me great joy to come home to at the end of a work-day and to see it sparkling away, waiting for me. Add to that, that I'm still in Christmas celebrating mode and am having some friends in on Saturday for Christmas festivities! After that, we'll see how long I take to tuck it away in the basement. The best part of Christmas for me, growing up, was waiting for my Dad to bring home a live tree and watching Mom dress it up. I loved, loved, loved the tinsel! It was always last to go on and it would never be a complete tree for me until the tinself was on. Today, there is no tinsel on my tree, but that's not because I didn't try! I asked at stores for it, but it was all sold out already. So, next year I hope to see tinsel glittering on my tree.

2014 and New Sprigs / New Beginnings

If you have arrived here, you are going to find me posting photographs that I have taken in my life's journey. My father was a passionate photographer when he was young--I have disocvered--but, he took very few photos in the process. I found a box of old black and white negatives when he passed away and printed them off. It captures bits and pieces and sprigs of his trip to Vancouver, BC back in 1958 and return trip--when he went to bring my Mom back home to spend the rest of her life with him. She was pregnant with me at the time. A romantic love story--and a few old black and white negatives that captured their journey back to Manitoba. I'll post them another day. Today, my same passion has me finally creating this little blog to share the sprigs of memories that I capture through my camera lense. And today, January 1, 2014, I started to do a Picture A Day. So, today, my first picture-a-day! Potted Geranium blossoms reaching for the warmth of the sun shining through the winter on one very, cold winter's day here in Winnipeg. I love this Geranium plant--given to me by my daughter three years ago. It actually made it outside the first summer, but I the intensity of the hot sun nearly killed it; so, it now resides in-house all year round. And merrily blooms for me all the time! January 1, 2014--a New Year--new beginnings--new sprigs of blossoms to brighten my home.