tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47890963666696186212024-03-05T00:19:37.999-04:00The Witch's IslandThe Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-52764483923160613212014-12-25T08:06:00.000-04:002014-12-25T08:07:07.759-04:00Not A Creature Was Stirring...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ChHqGjYNEiuJfI1nNk785jDAq9Mys7WpbPMirEj0rVHwcWJNa8pvQHZ0CeaV5w09X4tISmyBsILAvUAL0_GEEgilbVU23su_4ywPjNlX30S0N467PNYNq9O3OSSnJl7ngKHDLMCmzTc/s1600/Fat-Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ChHqGjYNEiuJfI1nNk785jDAq9Mys7WpbPMirEj0rVHwcWJNa8pvQHZ0CeaV5w09X4tISmyBsILAvUAL0_GEEgilbVU23su_4ywPjNlX30S0N467PNYNq9O3OSSnJl7ngKHDLMCmzTc/s1600/Fat-Cat.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Merry Christmas from the Witch and all her crew!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-60901891233449460522014-01-03T14:00:00.001-04:002014-01-03T14:00:06.255-04:00First Grocery Shopping of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Okay, here it is, our first grocery shopping of the new year. And we
did it on the coldest day that I can remember. It was -26 C (about -15 F
for those of you who might be metrically challenged) according to the
readout in the truck but it was at least nice and sunny. It almost seems
pleasant now because it is storming outside again today. The wind and
snow are bad enough that they have sent everyone home from work. Good
thing I'm still on holidays! I’m just hoping the
electricity stays on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8B6hu1QTmb3Nk9vpfEpjYLcYVVts0b-wXVdjeqfjz4vgAqJI05ZYEXBg2HhPs5zYljmYdwjH-qKpUy5gLP7XFpl6Saf6nG-j5D0SIF5HvLmM0NUlWV0iV7rQHbjyjnycxWQB8_ona28/s1600/January-Groceries.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The first groceries of 2014." border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8B6hu1QTmb3Nk9vpfEpjYLcYVVts0b-wXVdjeqfjz4vgAqJI05ZYEXBg2HhPs5zYljmYdwjH-qKpUy5gLP7XFpl6Saf6nG-j5D0SIF5HvLmM0NUlWV0iV7rQHbjyjnycxWQB8_ona28/s320/January-Groceries.jpg" title="The first groceries of 2014." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first groceries of 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It
was nice that I got to go shopping, though. Usually, Hubby does the
shopping by himself after work so that we can avoid having to go on the
weekend. I love reading labels and squeezing produce but he really gets
grumpy if we have to fight the crowds to check out. So we had a nice
afternoon at the Superstore and I got some healthy ingredients for my
new diet. Have a look at that picture, not a single bit of junk except
for the oven fries and the cheese slices and those are all Hubby's! The
cheese slices were on sale, $3.00 instead of $6.99 so it was a great
time to stock up. I don’t use
them very much but Hubby has them in sandwiches all the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The veggies are always a staple in our house but I
purchased more because of the new diet. The pantry, as you can see, is full of temptation from Hubby’s
well wishers this Christmas. I think they are trying to kill us with kindness. These I will have to remove
from my view because there is so many good chocolates calling my name. They will make excellent Games Night prizes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO5LqTC_49rbahslv67SlrnDHvGS-ykX2XzhU_l6ReV5qlIOnvOZ2QZb62YcKfFpSEkO5XfrGa5ONNEQgjYC_cHMjBBXy50sJqb1L6NlRIPGzlYOO1dQ0ltyB0ws3xtKj0N154527ls/s1600/Calories-By-The-Ton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Temptation: a pantry full of chocolate!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiO5LqTC_49rbahslv67SlrnDHvGS-ykX2XzhU_l6ReV5qlIOnvOZ2QZb62YcKfFpSEkO5XfrGa5ONNEQgjYC_cHMjBBXy50sJqb1L6NlRIPGzlYOO1dQ0ltyB0ws3xtKj0N154527ls/s320/Calories-By-The-Ton.jpg" title="The Temptation" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Temptation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the madness of the Christmas spending spree we're
back to budgeting. I'm serious about paying of our mortgage this year.
We figure that if we can put down $5000 against the principal this year,
we can be done by November. This sounds more than doable. We have both
cashed out our banked overtime (hundreds of hours each) and will use
that, with some savings, to fund this year's RRSP contribution. The tax
rebate will be used to pay down the mortgage.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jnasVSy_dkACIb0Xl7JupqP7Hqm7CVY8VhlnuNYq3KRCI5mCWmyhXsORVpnJPI5AvwWjQ2nBmAu7d51bcvuRAVlWLDYAFjMeJVa58qZb9v-vdzeYIOf836q8Y81Pf8v2fuwZd06mZw0/s1600/Grocery-Bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jnasVSy_dkACIb0Xl7JupqP7Hqm7CVY8VhlnuNYq3KRCI5mCWmyhXsORVpnJPI5AvwWjQ2nBmAu7d51bcvuRAVlWLDYAFjMeJVa58qZb9v-vdzeYIOf836q8Y81Pf8v2fuwZd06mZw0/s320/Grocery-Bill.jpg" style="height: 408.41px; width: 273.125px;" width="214" /> </a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bill </div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Grocery bill: The Total" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RMrjYRH88hwja8ZjnZKxsORrxMbEHPCIqwtu3yoppvZuXDszGNtTpYQCMOAfpVo_xTyispleOgNp-pzK2XwJAifTElooN31lj717bc9mnPZcn6BCLPGtQrexGG_5okyz-XACiWnWPwc/s320/Grocery-Bill-Total.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The Total" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Total</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With that in mind, I spent some time earlier looking for a way to track our spending. I found a good <a href="http://www.squawkfox.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Budget-Spreadsheet.xls" target="_blank">spreadsheet</a> on <a href="http://www.squawkfox.com/" target="_blank">Sqawkfox's</a> site to analyze my monthly and <a href="http://www.squawkfox.com/2010/04/26/budget-spreadsheet/" target="_blank">annual spending</a> and Hubby made one using mostly her categories to track daily spending. Now I just need to be diligent in filling in what we spend everyday. Retirement is still on the near horizon and I have to know how much we'll need to survive.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCesOjT0PQA-F5SjnyKH8I3bphKkEh0sfzt14yOGptBkz7h8ZhrjmhzdpTPKiZDZ7kupuihKpQ6_SPcSehl1GX8h3v9pv0Lp3rFxZpGZEio36v8EFwzu62ZbfrLRI4OoUETDuoyylFTnA/s1600/Monthly-Form.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hubby's Daily Expense Form" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCesOjT0PQA-F5SjnyKH8I3bphKkEh0sfzt14yOGptBkz7h8ZhrjmhzdpTPKiZDZ7kupuihKpQ6_SPcSehl1GX8h3v9pv0Lp3rFxZpGZEio36v8EFwzu62ZbfrLRI4OoUETDuoyylFTnA/s320/Monthly-Form.jpg" title="Daily Expense Form" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daily Expense Form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the diet starts on January 6. That's when I return to
work. Unless I win the lottery, then I’ll just jump for joy and book a flight
somewhere warm and toasty. Of course I’ll have to buy a new bathing suit. No,
forget the suits, we’ll go to a private beach where no suits are required. Oh to
dream as it’s storming outside and everything is closed. Hope you are all safe and sound and your vehicle starts.</div>
The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-2631761598106576192014-01-01T00:01:00.000-04:002014-01-01T07:40:40.179-04:00Did Granny New Year find you?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy New Year All,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.ca/2010/01/granny-new-year-came-sometime-through.html" target="_blank">Granny New Year</a> find you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m hoping everyone’s New Year will be off to a great start.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is always promise, hope and of course, new year's
resolution to be had. I don’t usually go for this sort of thing because I know
it’s just a huge letdown when I break my promises to myself. Which is why I mostly don't announce them to the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, this year I’ve decided to post a few.</div>
<ol>
<li>Have the mortgage paid off by the end of this year.</li>
<li>Find a forever fur friend pet. Yup the witch has been
looking for a small dog or fun loving cat or even a bunny who needs a good
home.</li>
<li>Lose some weight and eat even more healthier than we do.
Sorry Hubby I’ve found lots of great tasting veggie recipes with kale. Plus
walking a dog will help, right!!!</li>
<li>Buy a set of snow shoes so we can enjoy the outdoors more
in the Winter.</li>
<li>
Paint the upstairs bathroom and add a new mirror and
shelf. Oh Hubby I have some plans for you. Don’t worry this will be easy
compared to the <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.ca/search/label/gazebo" target="_blank">Gazebo</a> you built us.</li>
<li>Finally buy a generator.</li>
<li>
Host a murder mystery party</li>
<li>
New lamps for computer room and down stairs.</li>
<li>
Try to do acts of kindness more often so I can watch the recipient's reactions. I find they cheer
me up more just giving them anonymously .</li>
<li>
The last one I won’t be sharing with anyone but myself
because it is the hardest and most personal decision I will be
making. I don’t need the added pressure of having printed it out if I fail.</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there you have it the goals and challenges for 2014.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for all who still hung around during my absence.
That’s what great blogger friends do. (Canadian Saver, I miss you!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I’ll leave you with a few pictures of my beautiful Amaryllis
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFd44aoUTN92D3k_tih80qVxOKAxDfU8qhoUmS2koKLsne7MtxLCQAsyihRNI-cv82jt1EkliuBYOsY_gg9lzDBHCqgdtNc48ms4ISYOVpRWGiD6KKGyutUz1JwhFPvF-pmQKTw6AeU4/s1600/Amaryllis-Again.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Amaryllis" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFd44aoUTN92D3k_tih80qVxOKAxDfU8qhoUmS2koKLsne7MtxLCQAsyihRNI-cv82jt1EkliuBYOsY_gg9lzDBHCqgdtNc48ms4ISYOVpRWGiD6KKGyutUz1JwhFPvF-pmQKTw6AeU4/s320/Amaryllis-Again.jpg" title="Amaryllis" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6qSNTiWjKL2UF_c2SOA-dLMZ7NrrxQ3gHShWi3CUCOOrWr2L9TKMJvYUs1XhyMYBMOTZP6Lp7N6wraqWFe_eqhT8rdbOyOKFXzF8QSMl2PiHZIiE8U074PjRtPVCHn9EMT8lR61hoX4/s1600/Amaryllis-Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amaryllis Closeup" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6qSNTiWjKL2UF_c2SOA-dLMZ7NrrxQ3gHShWi3CUCOOrWr2L9TKMJvYUs1XhyMYBMOTZP6Lp7N6wraqWFe_eqhT8rdbOyOKFXzF8QSMl2PiHZIiE8U074PjRtPVCHn9EMT8lR61hoX4/s320/Amaryllis-Close.jpg" title="Amaryllis Closeup" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9tgsnqG1UXfq52WAqJrBNash0qOVCdBiSXn7xqC1KOBySpJPLKFiSHGOuNc4ZgN-ulmcwldWwoP7gB6M_rnZwjFdMF3NgFRAHRzdmXSs3m5xKElctNbjwrKR7TbI4Fyrx5TF0R3rBvg/s1600/Amaryllis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amaryllis Again" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9tgsnqG1UXfq52WAqJrBNash0qOVCdBiSXn7xqC1KOBySpJPLKFiSHGOuNc4ZgN-ulmcwldWwoP7gB6M_rnZwjFdMF3NgFRAHRzdmXSs3m5xKElctNbjwrKR7TbI4Fyrx5TF0R3rBvg/s320/Amaryllis.jpg" title="Amaryllis Again" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-44577566995414706612013-12-25T08:46:00.001-04:002013-12-25T08:47:57.233-04:00Merry Christmas 2013, Everyone<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hnTVQxPUbbPGCVdhkyMm96oJNy57VfksbEwL4gMS_asthsL8Qxn7oEbBberp41JAx4HHsSteINEm5866tRn-4TAv0Kt6tEjmsMJCDQ1oG2FQElA9qk8YmQzxo3EmaJABNyg-qwRBhfk/s1600/DPP_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My first gingerbread hous!" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hnTVQxPUbbPGCVdhkyMm96oJNy57VfksbEwL4gMS_asthsL8Qxn7oEbBberp41JAx4HHsSteINEm5866tRn-4TAv0Kt6tEjmsMJCDQ1oG2FQElA9qk8YmQzxo3EmaJABNyg-qwRBhfk/s320/DPP_0002.JPG" title="Gingerbread House, by The Witch" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My very first gingerbread house and I made it all from scratch. I just had to share.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-14192534078960591352013-03-31T16:28:00.003-03:002013-03-31T16:48:34.119-03:00Games Night is Always Lots of Fun.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylLXJC4R2dJG1XR0VZlVBfgpz-zB_3AN9g1YGb2ZixoT4anVMSKhp2XUs1ueiISfO4XYaw4EsPy4UtoSSLrFOJJMqGfg4a8XLmqOw0k9Zk3RkcRwCOM2hLH0kH8siVLiSNR8oc_Aznu8/s1600/Easter-Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A new Easter flag to welcome our friends to Games Night!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylLXJC4R2dJG1XR0VZlVBfgpz-zB_3AN9g1YGb2ZixoT4anVMSKhp2XUs1ueiISfO4XYaw4EsPy4UtoSSLrFOJJMqGfg4a8XLmqOw0k9Zk3RkcRwCOM2hLH0kH8siVLiSNR8oc_Aznu8/s320/Easter-Flag.jpg" title="Easter Flag" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new Easter flag to welcome our friends to Games Night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, Games Night has come and gone for another year and I think it was a great success despite the fact that I was suffering with a miserable cold. Luckily, I had made most of the preparations and gathered all the games and prizes the previous week so all that was left to do was clean the house and prepare the meal. This being Easter weekend there were bunnies everywhere.Everything was done nice and early, and because it was such a beautiful day outside, Hubby washed Black Beauty (again!) so that he could show it off to our friends. It does look great when it is clean and the sun is shining on it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Every one arrived shortly after 3:00 and Hubby took the guys out for a spin around the block in the new truck (so much for it being clean, sigh). When they got back we put out some snacks and got everyone a drink and the we got right into the games!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV2vHnAb7gDE3Cp6TWmVhs1zmPPJ3922QXNs7-G8l39G_dCPr-d8d_vXq1XT2qkHNJ8CnYCV-olJIoQ4EarUQDBir3H6EZrMBu99c45cyDg7K-ixfzN2VjJVjtG_emz4s5hEZUEYED3k/s1600/Freshly-Washed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="It was a beautiful day so Hubby decided to wash Black Beauty, (AGAIN!)." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuV2vHnAb7gDE3Cp6TWmVhs1zmPPJ3922QXNs7-G8l39G_dCPr-d8d_vXq1XT2qkHNJ8CnYCV-olJIoQ4EarUQDBir3H6EZrMBu99c45cyDg7K-ixfzN2VjJVjtG_emz4s5hEZUEYED3k/s320/Freshly-Washed.jpg" title="Freshly Washed" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful day so Hubby decided to<br />
wash Black Beauty, (AGAIN!).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm30P9iAkjppKXaZl7Ql0WcEjclvWOSR3kOA6A6OskGTaBRiIJKF2zWdAJuxAuD6gGR2Dn_VjYVILqMl29LWOvf5rqRUM7a8QBKL7kVJSfp1BDMbUv6e-FbLgXxWuvFD99iQsRQzNj_NE/s1600/Gleaming-in-the-Sunlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="It is a pretty truck, especially when it's gleaming in the sunlight!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm30P9iAkjppKXaZl7Ql0WcEjclvWOSR3kOA6A6OskGTaBRiIJKF2zWdAJuxAuD6gGR2Dn_VjYVILqMl29LWOvf5rqRUM7a8QBKL7kVJSfp1BDMbUv6e-FbLgXxWuvFD99iQsRQzNj_NE/s320/Gleaming-in-the-Sunlight.jpg" title="Gleaming In The Sunlight." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a pretty truck, especially when it's<br />
gleaming in the sunlight!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first game was the Elimination Game. Last week I mailed each of the four guests ten playing cards and I gave Hubby his own set of ten right before the game. There were two cards left over in case anyone wanted to trade. I had a matching set of cards in a bag and, one by one, I pulled out each card and the corresponding card was eliminated. After each group of ten cards there was a small consolation prize and the person with the final card got to select a prize from the Prize Basket. All the prizes were wrapped so that nobody knew what they were getting but these guys have all been here before so the knew to go right for the packages that felt like boxes of chocolates! Everyone loves chocolates, right? The other prizes included shower gel, packs of Kleenex, a novel, a puzzle book, lottery tickets, etc. There wasn't anything really expensive, it was all just for a laugh. The winner of the Elimination game, not surprisingly, managed to find the biggest box of chocolates!<br />
<br />
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuSBSXtKktwlPertQJ2O_V_ydOPDlrMddgr2BLDETyLTP6Nnz8ns_YMDeHhBlv1trX2_eqdGAvUFnpKYY8R1kOyDx_-zWXCwl6PZwbKa491G2IzX-uSE2QE4q9tXAAGQjSqeeiazryCI/s1600/Easter-Bunny-Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Easter Bunny Girls." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUuSBSXtKktwlPertQJ2O_V_ydOPDlrMddgr2BLDETyLTP6Nnz8ns_YMDeHhBlv1trX2_eqdGAvUFnpKYY8R1kOyDx_-zWXCwl6PZwbKa491G2IzX-uSE2QE4q9tXAAGQjSqeeiazryCI/s320/Easter-Bunny-Girls.jpg" title="The Easter Bunny Girls." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Easter Bunny Girls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmw6AEMsOIuVapPt46b9-gThmLH6bjbk8xgBKm74Hx8QMgMntxk3NC3Z_k-Gaoctfn6ZykbDJNu1si4oVd18z64b7mMaRx3Z6CO6p65fL13upBFDq4LYIYpw1tkjCOWpPXRYomWgizJQ/s1600/Dining-Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The dining room / games table is all set for a night of fun!" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmw6AEMsOIuVapPt46b9-gThmLH6bjbk8xgBKm74Hx8QMgMntxk3NC3Z_k-Gaoctfn6ZykbDJNu1si4oVd18z64b7mMaRx3Z6CO6p65fL13upBFDq4LYIYpw1tkjCOWpPXRYomWgizJQ/s320/Dining-Table.jpg" title="The dining room / games table is all set for a night of fun!" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining room / games table is all<br />
set for a night of fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYjJfpC_hMX7pNFROlg7h_iUENkRS1UYdPB_a3M7PMVF9ev4W9GC484o_TMyZ0uVksLIySrGAEPKnILsop8EtNKC-Yu46ck6geS_xDbTmOQyGNVJFWP3dguAzdcMCnsAsjbVjW7pKL4U/s1600/Orchid-Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A close-up of my beautiful birthday orchid." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYjJfpC_hMX7pNFROlg7h_iUENkRS1UYdPB_a3M7PMVF9ev4W9GC484o_TMyZ0uVksLIySrGAEPKnILsop8EtNKC-Yu46ck6geS_xDbTmOQyGNVJFWP3dguAzdcMCnsAsjbVjW7pKL4U/s320/Orchid-Closeup.jpg" title="Birthday Orchid" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of my beautiful birthday orchid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kSd-43kI0sZO5BlwgkC9jaZrwcezLr587GztVAq_9WMrP5WuXesO-_eaL7EZdz8WABXIJ-xP-CIO_MOo0bzuPAX_dQAKwAc7XDTuuZWVGQoJ7vKNKhNyZzbcH_TfHfmgNNy4kGc2zT8/s1600/Butter-Tarts-and-Trade-Off-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Home-made butter tarts were just part of the dessert menu." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kSd-43kI0sZO5BlwgkC9jaZrwcezLr587GztVAq_9WMrP5WuXesO-_eaL7EZdz8WABXIJ-xP-CIO_MOo0bzuPAX_dQAKwAc7XDTuuZWVGQoJ7vKNKhNyZzbcH_TfHfmgNNy4kGc2zT8/s320/Butter-Tarts-and-Trade-Off-.jpg" title="Butter Tarts and Trade-off Cards" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home-made butter tarts were just part of the dessert menu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoeUmj_FSq-NWJei5eszIKE8oQiqws0tnl6Zcpj5_mSHUgEY02WUFG1qnkmqa5VsJfY7h3gZkVO8-yNqFBLeIHg_2Moxaeu4wG8nikKUmB4ygnDqiWvgHwQSltH6H7I7s97r-hm9wBzE/s1600/Games-and-Prizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Here are the games and the prize basket." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoeUmj_FSq-NWJei5eszIKE8oQiqws0tnl6Zcpj5_mSHUgEY02WUFG1qnkmqa5VsJfY7h3gZkVO8-yNqFBLeIHg_2Moxaeu4wG8nikKUmB4ygnDqiWvgHwQSltH6H7I7s97r-hm9wBzE/s320/Games-and-Prizes.jpg" title="Here are the games and the prize basket." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are the games and the prize basket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4unuGDi2ND414yPE2C6meDX7TfXUKJCFSWikhpqrH3EtMXMUrvypoU7GGD82tmhQ8OFpBYZrwoLQmFkXp9FF-BLBoQhA5rJwf6B5BJW5LVrj6ymzjxlP8v0_AI6hHAjHgKYlVnr4HjM/s1600/Elimination-Draw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Elimination game is underway!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4unuGDi2ND414yPE2C6meDX7TfXUKJCFSWikhpqrH3EtMXMUrvypoU7GGD82tmhQ8OFpBYZrwoLQmFkXp9FF-BLBoQhA5rJwf6B5BJW5LVrj6ymzjxlP8v0_AI6hHAjHgKYlVnr4HjM/s320/Elimination-Draw.jpg" title="The Elimination Game." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Elimination game is under way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUH51xnNld82QcgkdqXM8BdjnSCtI4LciVWQr0pay4VreW6AAQZdKdMU2pvSDRxhQVHg7DuBhkTHGnieo0mzJQVsBt_JNubmqAbBYHDCeW9BtEeHrSCsQ4q9sDDmks3CT2mDRLD37NV4/s1600/Selecting-the-First-Prize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The winner of the Elimination game gets to select the first prize from the basket." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUH51xnNld82QcgkdqXM8BdjnSCtI4LciVWQr0pay4VreW6AAQZdKdMU2pvSDRxhQVHg7DuBhkTHGnieo0mzJQVsBt_JNubmqAbBYHDCeW9BtEeHrSCsQ4q9sDDmks3CT2mDRLD37NV4/s320/Selecting-the-First-Prize.jpg" title="Selecting the first prize of the evening." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winner of the Elimination game gets to select the <br />
first prize from the basket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next game was trivia contest. I found a great and timely quiz on the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/penny-quiz/" target="_blank">CBC website</a> about the recent demise of the penny. The quiz is just below and I'll put the answers at the end of this post if you want to play.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
PENNY TRIVIA<br />1. Four of the five designs that have appeared on the reverse side of the penny have included maple leaves. What was the fifth design?<br />A portrait of a rock dove<br />A rendering of the Atlantic puffin<br />A view of the St. Lawrence River<br />A sketch of the Canadian Rockies<br /><br />2. About 35 billion pennies have been minted since 1908. If they were stacked on top of each other, this would be the equivalent height of this many CN Towers:<br />100<br />1,000<br />100,000<br />1,000,000<br /><br />3.The federal government announced plans to withdraw the penny, owing to production costs. How much did it cost to make one penny?<br />1.6 cents<br />2 cents<br />3.1 cents<br />5 cents<br /><br />4. The net cost of redeeming the six billion pennies expected to be turned in over the next six years will cost the federal government:<br />$10,500<br />$125,000<br />$3,000,000<br />$38,300,000<br /><br />5.How many pennies can you cram into a four-litre pickle jar?<br />344 pennies, or $3.44<br />4,992 pennies or $49.92<br />12,280 pennies or $122.80<br />175,333 pennies or $1,753.33<br /><br />6.This country has also eliminated the single-unit coin from circulation:<br />New Zealand<br />France<br />Spain<br />All of the above<br /><br />7.The last penny was produced in May 4, 2012 in which city?<br />London, England<br />Ottawa, Ont.<br />Winnipeg, Man.<br />Calgary, Alta.<br /><br />8.A rare Canadian penny sold for $402,500 US at auction in January 2010. The penny, one of three ever made, bears this unique feature:<br />A misspelling of the word "Canada"<br />A small dot below the year<br />Renderings of both King George V and Edward VII<br />A hexagon shape<br /><br />9.The letters KG appear on the penny below the maple leaf. This stands for:<br />King George, in honour of the monarch who preceded Queen Elizabeth<br />Kingston and Gatineau, to mark Canada's bilingual tradition<br />George Edward Kruger Gray, the artist who designed the maple leaf twig design for the penny<br />Kilogram, a reference to the metric unit of measurement standard in Canada<br /><br />10.Pennies produced from 1982 to 1996 were unique in this respect:<br />They were made of copper-plated zinc<br />They were no longer round but rather had 12 sides<br />They didn't have "Canada" printed on them<br />They were extra lucky</blockquote>
</div>
<br />
After that we tried playing a game called "Don't Fall" but Larry got a perfect score of eleven on his first try so we stopped there and moved on to the Memory Test. This proved to be a lot harder. Everyone got to study a plate that held 13 items for 30 seconds and then the plate was taken away. The most anyone could remember was 11 of the 13. More surprisingly, when we we repeated the test later in the evening with the same items, most people did even worse!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC12iTGbOFpHm9Ofq0gjAdIAJVMchvQk_3AtXSU0nSyYRhZ_qbZU6aM4r0bO0npIGzKZsCBCCrNbOZA_PhgACTqszlikZeSYX4SXhIew-ZYjBPGKACaA0pYVweDT5IcEYw7R_X5KS0Bk/s1600/Unbeatable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Larry played this winning entry in the "Don't Fall" game in his first try!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC12iTGbOFpHm9Ofq0gjAdIAJVMchvQk_3AtXSU0nSyYRhZ_qbZU6aM4r0bO0npIGzKZsCBCCrNbOZA_PhgACTqszlikZeSYX4SXhIew-ZYjBPGKACaA0pYVweDT5IcEYw7R_X5KS0Bk/s320/Unbeatable.jpg" title="The winning entry in the "Don't Fall" game." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry played this winning entry in the "Don't Fall" game <br />
in his first try!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBP6GucZwuzghZon9Cjv5PlksoEVWd20YtGcczHDRyrnl4TFyiwwVHw2hELQCbZ5QgwCrtSi0tUVBuAHv54KNWQn1bltS-2DQoNN-7J72LFeOHicpRiU79QivwWtzQjIbjKfpvkp4Al4/s1600/Memory-Test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This is the Memory Test Game. The best anyone could do was 11 of 13 items." border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBP6GucZwuzghZon9Cjv5PlksoEVWd20YtGcczHDRyrnl4TFyiwwVHw2hELQCbZ5QgwCrtSi0tUVBuAHv54KNWQn1bltS-2DQoNN-7J72LFeOHicpRiU79QivwWtzQjIbjKfpvkp4Al4/s320/Memory-Test.jpg" title="The Memory Test." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Memory Test Game. The best anyone <br />
could do was 11 of 13 items.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stopped for supper at that point. We had Cabernet Beef Stew and Home-made Cheese Biscuits for the meal and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, key lime tarts and butter tarts (all home-made as well) for dessert. Nobody went away hungry!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhwUkmaNAcYMU8uSbrdA2ErYQT1VmJ_fJtH-dTlFtXvaD2Y3D5XCrNbFhAfLzJe2co6n9ctKmuupaGszhRLaizcE8iNRwb4fJN4Gr42HpzxSaAxGQImCZUlBi9P3u2rmXzYsKdNOnRSI/s1600/Backgammon-Lesson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Freddy was the King of backgammon and, of course, crokinole!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhwUkmaNAcYMU8uSbrdA2ErYQT1VmJ_fJtH-dTlFtXvaD2Y3D5XCrNbFhAfLzJe2co6n9ctKmuupaGszhRLaizcE8iNRwb4fJN4Gr42HpzxSaAxGQImCZUlBi9P3u2rmXzYsKdNOnRSI/s320/Backgammon-Lesson.jpg" title="Freddy was the King of backgammon and, of course, crokinole!" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freddy was the King of backgammon and,<br />
of course, crokinole!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJWvuHE6c0rHunXZQ0HnfTtSC8oeWvNGmtC5grI_THF3BeLFhJywAYRwPO68RZOiUHKZizV6ve2OM1GAla9NOsj7dPNyU5amAEpUYY6iL7QLGDiijDQHk4tpNy1Pc185rCPowMbYvr8Q/s1600/Blockus-Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The only game I won all night was Blockus!" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJWvuHE6c0rHunXZQ0HnfTtSC8oeWvNGmtC5grI_THF3BeLFhJywAYRwPO68RZOiUHKZizV6ve2OM1GAla9NOsj7dPNyU5amAEpUYY6iL7QLGDiijDQHk4tpNy1Pc185rCPowMbYvr8Q/s320/Blockus-Board.jpg" title="The only game I won all night was Blockus!" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only game I won all night was Blockus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
After supper we went back to the games. We had a game of Yahtzee with everyone and then we broke up into a couple of groups and played crokinole and Blockus. Blockus was the only game I won all night but by then all the prizes had been given out. Oh, well. It probably wouldn't have looked good if I awarded myself a prize! We had great fun even though I didn't feel well and I'm looking forward to the next time we have Games Night, maybe it should be a semi-annual event!</div>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<br /></div>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<br /></div>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<i>(answers to the penny quiz - (1) A portrait of a rock dove, (2) 100,000, (3) 1.6 cents, (4) $38,300,000, (5) 4,992 pennies or $49.92, (6) All of the above, (7) <st1:city>Winnipeg</st1:city>, <st1:state>Man., (8) </st1:state>A small dot below the year, (9) George Edward Kruger Gray, the artist who designed the maple leaf twig design for the penny, (10) They were no longer round but rather had 12 sides)</i></div>
The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-28591037565926821562013-03-16T11:14:00.001-03:002013-03-16T11:18:35.911-03:00So, Big Red is Gone, Here's Black Beauty!So, Big Red is gone. Do you remember how <a href="http://www.witchisland.blogspot.ca/2009/12/yeah-that-was-one.html" target="_blank">excited</a> we were three years ago when we bought her? <br />
<blockquote>
<i>After the heartbreak of losing the deal on the 2010 truck we were indeed lucky to find this beauty last weekend. It took some real thought to decide to spend this amount of our savings on a vehicle but we think that we chose well. It took us a week to finalize the sale but Big Red came home yesterday and we think that it is just gorgeous. It is much prettier than the new truck we were considering and much better equipped. Oh yeah, and almost $20,000 less than the list price of the new one! I guess that the a__holes at the first dealership actually did us a big favour, and they probably didn't need our money anyway.</i></blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj-82AYDleekDtFEKkAXVtt-vEK1thxbYaL6pFv1UvbBMxP7k3txaeMT3ZgjRlioZ7BzHVbwUAhWyW6Aa8JKtQUwaxr_LGwU2j_HYnhAW6fd5EtWOWn2I3hmVsCnOJtMut0vYe2fNPk8/s1600/BigRed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj-82AYDleekDtFEKkAXVtt-vEK1thxbYaL6pFv1UvbBMxP7k3txaeMT3ZgjRlioZ7BzHVbwUAhWyW6Aa8JKtQUwaxr_LGwU2j_HYnhAW6fd5EtWOWn2I3hmVsCnOJtMut0vYe2fNPk8/s320/BigRed1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Red was beautiful when she first came home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She was such a pretty vehicle that we had to think of it as "her". It turned out that it wasn't a good choice and it wasn't long into our relationship, that we started regretting our purchase. The issues stared early. We had an $800 brake job that was needed 4 months after we bought her, a failed 4 wheel drive system that took the dealer over 2 weeks to properly fix (thankfully I had insisted on the extended warranty!), seat fabric that was worn through to the foam, evil handling over bumps on the highway, faded and failing paint on the rocker panels and wheel wells and worst of all, rust in the rear quarter panels. It soured our feelings for this truck.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGwrV5z_LkZKadwPzAWqt2GbgbPmk1TDRfnx2-ymI_1m07X7hj6GpcLdK-hz_bZHkJRx5P7eiHYDcEcR5ICOnLtoapYxtPZqnWuGLzfy4rAFBTMS2HzTx4bTxg6HVb0wrufZAaaRklBA/s1600/BigRed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGwrV5z_LkZKadwPzAWqt2GbgbPmk1TDRfnx2-ymI_1m07X7hj6GpcLdK-hz_bZHkJRx5P7eiHYDcEcR5ICOnLtoapYxtPZqnWuGLzfy4rAFBTMS2HzTx4bTxg6HVb0wrufZAaaRklBA/s320/BigRed2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the disappointment set in...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, Hubby started looking for a replacement early last year. He still wanted a full sized 4X4 pickup, primarily for winter driving even though the fuel costs are significant. It didn't help that he goes past the local Chrysler dealer on his way to work every day. Their lot is full of new trucks and they are offering huge discounts (as high as $12,000 off on some versions). He watched the inventory come and go on the dealer's websites waiting for just the right one to become available and every once in a while we would go and peer into the windows in the dealer's lots and gasp at the list prices. This is exactly what we were doing a couple of weeks ago when we came across Black Beauty!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RI0MGpsdKk-RCjF6N3hym3J5LU2TlU2bRBm32wuV5x0FsEdarbU_ZLxmuvS1UUv8J2E0_IpzoEU5g04BQ2J0XmxNzmSQ_rEo2asOiJpEUQBrTZKvuaDODcdyU5hTDkRqsOre0-jRhkw/s1600/2011-Dodge-Ram-Sport-At-The.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RI0MGpsdKk-RCjF6N3hym3J5LU2TlU2bRBm32wuV5x0FsEdarbU_ZLxmuvS1UUv8J2E0_IpzoEU5g04BQ2J0XmxNzmSQ_rEo2asOiJpEUQBrTZKvuaDODcdyU5hTDkRqsOre0-jRhkw/s320/2011-Dodge-Ram-Sport-At-The.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Beauty, a 2011 Ram 1500 Sport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pulling into the lot we were wondering why this new truck was parked with the used vehicles. As it happens, it was used, a 2011 <a href="http://www.ramtruck.ca/en/1500/1500_SPT" target="_blank">Ram 1500 Sport</a> with just 50,000 kilometres on it. It was exactly what Hubby had been looking for, the correct model and equipment and even the right colour.<br />
<br />
We took it for a drive and it was nice. It drove well and felt solid on the road. The interior is loaded with just about everything you can imagine including automatic headlights, automatic dual-zone temperature controls, touch screen satellite radio that will also connect to a cell phone, built-in garage door openers, partial leather seats and auto-dimming mirrors. The outside has body coloured bumpers and mirrors, fog lamps, running boards, remote start, security alarm and 20 inch chrome wheels. Another very pretty vehicle, I decided to name her Black Beauty.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN-8gUhNDoH4-zsDS6yaiiowwhE7502-gre91pts73dbmr041BpYKn07Fc1IxAp5xWrhvaZ5UEhMMZ7lMsBQyVvis6aO67eFEptOwG3cqlKcj0ujB4cssb1cwgJGUKif5deinVab5Vqo/s1600/New+Truck+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN-8gUhNDoH4-zsDS6yaiiowwhE7502-gre91pts73dbmr041BpYKn07Fc1IxAp5xWrhvaZ5UEhMMZ7lMsBQyVvis6aO67eFEptOwG3cqlKcj0ujB4cssb1cwgJGUKif5deinVab5Vqo/s320/New+Truck+Interior.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The interior wasn't muddy until <br />
we brought it home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW78C7KNQxjPy3Vg6lMo3Pl23NEkCgf9_i1jdVwlYUDstWWn2AF1VXBLQeVkVzoUVNf7C_aBWNREMPm1Rvd9eX7EZ6O86bSxA0dC0jylBZP5Nf0GmAW1mA6FHrUIklYOzVfrnpWp2LJNQ/s1600/Centre-Stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW78C7KNQxjPy3Vg6lMo3Pl23NEkCgf9_i1jdVwlYUDstWWn2AF1VXBLQeVkVzoUVNf7C_aBWNREMPm1Rvd9eX7EZ6O86bSxA0dC0jylBZP5Nf0GmAW1mA6FHrUIklYOzVfrnpWp2LJNQ/s320/Centre-Stack.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The centre stack includes the touch screen<br />
radio and climate controls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The dance started as soon as we returned from the test drive. The dealer had looked at Big Red while we were out and had come up with a very disappointing offer. We went home to think things over and to do some research. Consumer Reports rated the model as above average in everything except fuel mileage. The asking price the dealer wanted was at the extreme end of the range according to the <a href="http://www.canadianblackbook.com/" target="_blank">Canadian Black Book</a> website while the amount they were offering for Big Red was thousands less than the minimum. We haggled with them for over a week, adding extended warranty again and a cover for the back end and don't forget the bloody taxes, before finally agreeing on a price. We came out at about half of what a new 2013 version would have cost. Vehicle depreciation is very scary in the first few years!<br />
<br />
We were back to the dealer yesterday to pick up a missing spare key and found out that Big Red is already sold. The dealer was going to recondition her, fix up the paint and her other issues but they decided that that would be too expensive. So they have sold her off to used car wholesaler and we will probably never hear of her again. Too bad, she held such promise when she first came home. Maybe her problems stem from the financial crisis the manufacturers were in at the time it was made or maybe she was just a lemon. We'll never know I guess. I just hope someone buys her and fixes her back up and maybe loves her a little.<br />
<br />
For us, I just hope that this new vehicle will last us a few years. Retirement is looming!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmYMNwx-JUYizMzzacHSzo_BpNod0NFRuvi0ospYxxDU0YMUDN5IQQv4D1jHk_AA9ySuEwiphuVDROOQE4tLGXXMsZoRFqWINi1oif19R5-hoqgPnY-MM9nQS06SSi_aLWmTEiUj-soI/s1600/2007-Dodge-Ram-SLT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmYMNwx-JUYizMzzacHSzo_BpNod0NFRuvi0ospYxxDU0YMUDN5IQQv4D1jHk_AA9ySuEwiphuVDROOQE4tLGXXMsZoRFqWINi1oif19R5-hoqgPnY-MM9nQS06SSi_aLWmTEiUj-soI/s320/2007-Dodge-Ram-SLT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Big Red, back on the dealer's lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3HsqmyswZ-8PA6K5cUoHN8xSKY7_90A1Neg4FExWmyM_opU2ryTdVySXHNV_GDUDW-1HbGe467vCzq68ukQt3sXCQTwv9VAGsWv4AlRBfWrfwsv8pRsUTk9ifl2FH4GxB2hNaXy0DaQ/s1600/Rust-Issues-Big-Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3HsqmyswZ-8PA6K5cUoHN8xSKY7_90A1Neg4FExWmyM_opU2ryTdVySXHNV_GDUDW-1HbGe467vCzq68ukQt3sXCQTwv9VAGsWv4AlRBfWrfwsv8pRsUTk9ifl2FH4GxB2hNaXy0DaQ/s320/Rust-Issues-Big-Red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the missing paint from the rust bubble over the <br />
wheel arch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOWhgdtOhdQmfsXmbe0MCcmtBbrGQHtRbTZb9jySAT61J6eBaPl8oYyIjRTvTu7LN02zwlyK82ICDr8DXY87-DmABcSVvMeGaHWXmKUpP9wQpw5rRLquwu4R14Hck-eYGsaEnQlzUFSA/s1600/2011-Ram-Sport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOWhgdtOhdQmfsXmbe0MCcmtBbrGQHtRbTZb9jySAT61J6eBaPl8oYyIjRTvTu7LN02zwlyK82ICDr8DXY87-DmABcSVvMeGaHWXmKUpP9wQpw5rRLquwu4R14Hck-eYGsaEnQlzUFSA/s320/2011-Ram-Sport.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new truck getting its first wash at home. You can see<br />
why the floor mats are muddy in the shot above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwCG31DpACbbJ8aPiKTTGmSZUD1yg7HY-5SmEpbtxIlKjqM0wjCuFtztLOwgWu5OaV69-Y-fzN7_Dd7FT44s2AwvpHEswrM3DFoomdQxgLwxjZx7uxuKsOww8Ptx_n4DopM1Szuwxghs/s1600/Goodbye-Big-Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwCG31DpACbbJ8aPiKTTGmSZUD1yg7HY-5SmEpbtxIlKjqM0wjCuFtztLOwgWu5OaV69-Y-fzN7_Dd7FT44s2AwvpHEswrM3DFoomdQxgLwxjZx7uxuKsOww8Ptx_n4DopM1Szuwxghs/s320/Goodbye-Big-Red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying goodbye to Big Red. She has been sold to a vehicle<br />
wholesaler already. I hope she will find some love out there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOkiLo2sJwkVdfKPH51jhefSd6c_ygX8fmGXn0XSviUxvHD1665En2EAG8QfCe2Y8CApu0BP7HPHU9ghLYZjTpHdUcE5KYxdFfm7stnuTtRjkBwqtCfeYLrEdlfGHk1XNgISQUoS_sL4/s1600/2011-Dodge-Ram-Sport-Rear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOkiLo2sJwkVdfKPH51jhefSd6c_ygX8fmGXn0XSviUxvHD1665En2EAG8QfCe2Y8CApu0BP7HPHU9ghLYZjTpHdUcE5KYxdFfm7stnuTtRjkBwqtCfeYLrEdlfGHk1XNgISQUoS_sL4/s320/2011-Dodge-Ram-Sport-Rear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean again for a short while.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-23283828733652542862012-12-31T16:12:00.001-04:002012-12-31T16:32:19.322-04:00Last Groceries For The Year.Well, this week we did our last shopping for the year. For a change, I was able to go with Hubby who usually does it by himself after work. Shopping is just another chore for him but because I only go while I'm on holiday I always look forward to it. I love to go and read all the labels and squeeze all the fruit; Hubby just fumes and tries to get it over with as quick as possible!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOcIqCjTTeN8q6iCk75UF4sSjc0DGUhAsaO6Uh20swl2cSC-96bh984qkXJW69Q-ZXDL2v-RNrcibfwe3aNKPGOUX7hf4HebNbttKwSlB7KF0oo-cv2HK07iDwoEkaadMbJdL1c-JQ8U/s1600/Shoppers-Shopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOcIqCjTTeN8q6iCk75UF4sSjc0DGUhAsaO6Uh20swl2cSC-96bh984qkXJW69Q-ZXDL2v-RNrcibfwe3aNKPGOUX7hf4HebNbttKwSlB7KF0oo-cv2HK07iDwoEkaadMbJdL1c-JQ8U/s400/Shoppers-Shopping.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Grocery" shopping at Shopper's Drug Mart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This week <a href="http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Shopper's Drug Mart</a> had great sales on coffee, peanut butter, paper towels and toilet paper. I saved $56.90 on just 14 items! As an added bonus they were having one of their 20X <a href="http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Optimum.aspx" target="_blank">Optimum</a> point promotions and now I am only a few points shy of saving another $60.00. It still feels weird though to be doing this kind of shopping in a drug store.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v6PjpsaqfTqIsY2ray0VvbFM97aC2pdmo7bHzNEtsqfZqujkal0Fle9yt03dCwGBB2fOiqSCbDXPQ0XDgs9kAX3kkMOM-B669vUP3ybe0J1MoPM3pLT0TFn01rJPxIrImLQcqhA-ClE/s1600/Shoppers-Bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v6PjpsaqfTqIsY2ray0VvbFM97aC2pdmo7bHzNEtsqfZqujkal0Fle9yt03dCwGBB2fOiqSCbDXPQ0XDgs9kAX3kkMOM-B669vUP3ybe0J1MoPM3pLT0TFn01rJPxIrImLQcqhA-ClE/s400/Shoppers-Bill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopper's bill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were shopping in the Big City this week, and because it is cold outside, we were able to get to our favourite fish mart. They close so early on the weekend that we are usually not finished with our day by that timeand you really don't want to have a bag of fish sitting in a hot car for hours so we come home fishless. This week Hubby bought six pieces of salmon side fillet (enough for three meals) for about $24.00. I'm looking forward to a salmon dinner later in the week.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL3WUg0HuOmXerbwjoWT2RUSgnb7HPvHrCEn5m-NNS3wmQBfb0r7yQp6WYJqCxpp8KhIX2voXN8M2tu9lOSiWJ8SRKjfeEPSDRmw08FqIdahV6uP4FpNTlZzpZg6IfhbpxvZsfwDx86Y/s1600/Salmon-Filets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL3WUg0HuOmXerbwjoWT2RUSgnb7HPvHrCEn5m-NNS3wmQBfb0r7yQp6WYJqCxpp8KhIX2voXN8M2tu9lOSiWJ8SRKjfeEPSDRmw08FqIdahV6uP4FpNTlZzpZg6IfhbpxvZsfwDx86Y/s400/Salmon-Filets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy, yummy salmon fillets!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW3Iez1i1ZZ0d0cegmeidvLcgq1aX7sO4dWkfc73NxSj8dtrq9zGUHe_u6mDZcYqYhBg89tusY97XbdT1IpQogzqzkDNArd9inoX7281o6SJe_3xlaZa5UDhOOuRwPOz1qZfVHK3km5s/s1600/Groceries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW3Iez1i1ZZ0d0cegmeidvLcgq1aX7sO4dWkfc73NxSj8dtrq9zGUHe_u6mDZcYqYhBg89tusY97XbdT1IpQogzqzkDNArd9inoX7281o6SJe_3xlaZa5UDhOOuRwPOz1qZfVHK3km5s/s400/Groceries.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rest of the shopping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the shopping was done at the regular old grocery store and while the bill was over $108.00 it did include some expensive items like freezer bags, parchment paper, cocoa powder and corn flake crumbs. Nothing much was really on sale except for the cheese slices and the steak (4 striploins for $11.50). I'm all set now for a good start going into January. It's time to use up the freezer stuff. You know the items bought weeks ago that have migrated really far down to the bottom of the freezer. Yeah, those items. Time for them to come to the top and get ready for menu planning. I'm not going to buy any meat for at least two weeks.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLgLqrU_mR_3mVZE8Ps8yztXu99srLiJOMnJ05nILPoK5UtIaqmKXAJGCa57wBxoddwGww6rG7zhrMar3g-bCNNVRmDuqXlL9MgDmuYJRzKpkkhiMPXOK7dMiz1lOfOfhJ7C0MU8blpU/s1600/Grocery-Bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLgLqrU_mR_3mVZE8Ps8yztXu99srLiJOMnJ05nILPoK5UtIaqmKXAJGCa57wBxoddwGww6rG7zhrMar3g-bCNNVRmDuqXlL9MgDmuYJRzKpkkhiMPXOK7dMiz1lOfOfhJ7C0MU8blpU/s400/Grocery-Bill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superstore grocery bill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't know about you but I haven’t made any resolutions for 2013 because I really don’t stick to whatever plan I come up with. That in itself can feel disappointing. Lead a good life, appreciate what I have and love the people around me, that's essentially what I try to do every day anyway. So I'm going to go with that. What about you, dear reader? Have you made any resolutions, or any that you think you will be able to keep?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
One thing that I am going to do next year is to try some new recipes. This week I am going to make a dish from the <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/" target="_blank">Pioneer Woman</a>'s site for "<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/12/black-eyed-peas/" target="_blank">Zannie's Black-Eyed Pea Dip</a>". It looks delicious and a good way to start the New Year off with some good luck from eating the black-eyed peas.<br />
<br />
So, New Year's Eve is tonight and usually I would maybe have a visit from <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.ca/2010/01/granny-new-year-came-sometime-through.html" target="_blank">Granny New Years</a> but, honestly, I have it all and don’t need anything else but love, good health and great friendships and the odd funny joke and a game to be played. C'mon Granny, bring me all that you can of that! Life is good.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy New Year!!!</div>
</div>
The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-10553356385021694832012-12-22T15:30:00.003-04:002012-12-22T15:32:34.580-04:00So, The Apocalypse Didn't Happen...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8bLL8TXXjfMWx8Q3bhhQIBrqb7SKNbr7ZkJHvMlH2WgBvp8Ljhm7W6VOEQPtsjo4zzF6q7pEQPWcvb9oYdoIUxbank5_qIXjCghy-n2bS14TK_o7PmOxwKbVdl_CIXjHgP2IAMpjQeA/s1600/Christmas-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Maritime Christmas scene" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8bLL8TXXjfMWx8Q3bhhQIBrqb7SKNbr7ZkJHvMlH2WgBvp8Ljhm7W6VOEQPtsjo4zzF6q7pEQPWcvb9oYdoIUxbank5_qIXjCghy-n2bS14TK_o7PmOxwKbVdl_CIXjHgP2IAMpjQeA/s400/Christmas-2012.jpg" title="A Maritime Christmas Card" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Maritime Christmas Card by Cape Shore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, The Apocalypse didn't happen as promised(?) by the Mayans. I guess that means that we will be able to get on with Christmas after all.<br />
<br />
I just wanted to wish all my fellow bloggers, followers, friends and family a very Merry Christmas. May we all feel the joy and magic that this season has to bring and remember to help the less fortunate with our good will throughout the year to come.<br />
<br />
I'm a very lucky person in that I do have a full time job which pays out a bonus in the new year. This year's bonus will go to <a href="https://becauseiamagirl.ca/" target="_blank">"Because I Am A Girl"</a> and the <a href="http://www.humanesociety.com/" target="_blank">local humane society</a>. Last year I gave to <a href="http://www.smiletraincanada.org/" target="_blank">"Smile Train"</a>. It makes me feel good to be able to donate which is why I do but also because I think that I am responsible to do so.<br />
<br />
I'm certain this year will be more challenging for everyone to save money as the cost of everything is on the rise. I'm going to be tweaking my budget even more, with <a href="http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/" target="_blank">Gail's</a> help of course. I have a challenge for myself to pay down more on the mortgage because retirement is close for both Hubby and I.<br />
<br />
When I first started my blog it was about the challenge of saving and paying down debt so I'm going to be writing about these ideas again and about the ways I plan to stretch our budget. The first challenge will be about shopping wiser and smarter so as not to waste any food. Now that will be tough because everyone has waste whether it be produce that went bad or unused. I'm going to try to buy less and use more of what we bring home.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck and together we can come up with some new ways and ideas to save some bucks. The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-80024963434137781752012-11-18T10:24:00.001-04:002012-11-18T10:24:10.906-04:00Halloween 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihQFp1iDenEOU6UPZ0Pg7pRiTzBfYJOzl0eB4PYnzlnDXNtuXmKafya8H5DlGS0gAlJIAsR0j29q5i-V6k7SSj3kX-Av73muMM4aTGeyg4mzPtaKpeGqoLRFyYADnTn_NyvGPyF0kVo4/s1600/Raw-Meat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This year's selection of pumpkins are ready to be gutted." border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihQFp1iDenEOU6UPZ0Pg7pRiTzBfYJOzl0eB4PYnzlnDXNtuXmKafya8H5DlGS0gAlJIAsR0j29q5i-V6k7SSj3kX-Av73muMM4aTGeyg4mzPtaKpeGqoLRFyYADnTn_NyvGPyF0kVo4/s400/Raw-Meat.jpg" title="This year's selection of pumpkins are ready to be gutted." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's selection of pumpkins are ready to be gutted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, how was your Halloween? After a whole month of planning and decorating we had rain at just the wrong time. It started in mid-afternoon and continued all night. Not that it was really coming down hard, just a fine continuous mist. I'm not really sure if it was factor or not but we only had three groups of trick-or-treaters for a total of eight kids. They all came by car so I'm sure that they didn't get too wet. It was a bit anticlimactic for us though. We were prepared for about twenty or so and now we have all this leftover candy and chips sitting around the house. Who do you suppose will have to eat it all?
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcvX7knaFetT71X8xjoK6SiHzUljfADCl9jxfRmvw3MgtNS1OBA0iDlGLGZ446zvRSuODq72VoCx6l84UqHRK3mV4aOGJPdCPbvmrgCEitE8IIEdGfqkPPExSXCHuWtYjkDpRNLxK7ZY/s1600/Stage-Set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Our Halloween display in all its glory!" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcvX7knaFetT71X8xjoK6SiHzUljfADCl9jxfRmvw3MgtNS1OBA0iDlGLGZ446zvRSuODq72VoCx6l84UqHRK3mV4aOGJPdCPbvmrgCEitE8IIEdGfqkPPExSXCHuWtYjkDpRNLxK7ZY/s400/Stage-Set.jpg" title="Our Halloween display in all its glory!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Halloween display in all its glory!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We didn't need the kids, we had fun anyway. Hubby was on vacation the week of Halloween so he was able to get all the pumpkins gutted the day before and they had a chance to warm up before carving time. I hate working on them if they have just come in from outside. Brrrrr! We carved five pumpkins this year. I did my traditional "Miss Kitty" and he did an owl, a spider face, a toothy guy and the moons and stars. They took a long time but it was worth the effort. Miss Kitty was the most talked about again this year. Poor Hubby, some day he will carve a pumpkin the kiddies like.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxkbYLcMUVFVuM5I3HFIekA9WskdOlUz0QgHRutMePdv8awLD_EBF5H4i9XAj4txQ4dCbtlRwr4f8PkqQ0Mv2AosZfAmtDeyub_hcmS0KVnQDtz0d3zFYX-zJW2TjxKSPlFykCOFonco/s1600/Seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The pumpkin seeds were nice and plump. They made great Devil Seeds!" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxkbYLcMUVFVuM5I3HFIekA9WskdOlUz0QgHRutMePdv8awLD_EBF5H4i9XAj4txQ4dCbtlRwr4f8PkqQ0Mv2AosZfAmtDeyub_hcmS0KVnQDtz0d3zFYX-zJW2TjxKSPlFykCOFonco/s400/Seeds.jpg" title="The pumpkin seeds were nice and plump. They made great Devil Seeds!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pumpkin seeds were nice and plump. They made great Devil Seeds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ID2dt8_uxUYua9nsk7qzLq5cE1lyggpa0Z6EZDztBfmBOI1sb3CxYq1cGhvOrWMjkPDkf0kFM28Ezz5eb8DnRwK1jww4bcKjMiwSf2OGrDaV2TtLDBCxdMfKMpSq8rew_w6TjV7jcu8/s1600/October.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The October woodcraft." border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ID2dt8_uxUYua9nsk7qzLq5cE1lyggpa0Z6EZDztBfmBOI1sb3CxYq1cGhvOrWMjkPDkf0kFM28Ezz5eb8DnRwK1jww4bcKjMiwSf2OGrDaV2TtLDBCxdMfKMpSq8rew_w6TjV7jcu8/s400/October.jpg" title="The October woodcraft." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "October" woodcraft got finished the day before Halloween.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One thing that we appreciated this year was the size of the pumpkin seeds. They seemed to be extra plump for some reason. Maybe the pumpkins were a new variety or maybe it was due to the hot dry summer but the seeds were nice and fat. They made great Devil Seeds. I'll probably be eating them until Christmas!<br />
<br />
We've been busy in the craft room again lately. Hubby made this cute October sign from a design we found on the net. It turned out pretty nicely but it was almost November before it got finished. I'll give it another week or so until I pack it away for next year.<br />
<br />
I'll leave you with a few more pictures of this year's crew. Bye for now.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fmG6DBzuTAxT1MZSwR6SKD41JHD-xj-eU23Rxtxm4RETJVnfe0YBNbo2RdJmRJTLwO_cGd7bT8Eyb4dzmRO0djeyeST4ZaT8DYzQlLhnBZhz1uIbkfxoqgQyL9huDiGxHMyTtVuYIKI/s1600/Ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Almost ready to go outside for their début." border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fmG6DBzuTAxT1MZSwR6SKD41JHD-xj-eU23Rxtxm4RETJVnfe0YBNbo2RdJmRJTLwO_cGd7bT8Eyb4dzmRO0djeyeST4ZaT8DYzQlLhnBZhz1uIbkfxoqgQyL9huDiGxHMyTtVuYIKI/s400/Ready.jpg" title="Almost ready to go outside for their début." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost ready to go outside for their début.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNLRAJpP5GRE43cFDqQK_JxXCjNN97o0hlYmuPPgKfVm0UvevfLmonrSS4M35Mnwy49il3nnsIT9xBOeB7ei0ZmTg25K8KRlaeMYYhgVrPX4RzqcixcJmnjclrjrg72a0m1fU3Hwuwt4/s1600/Miss-Kitty-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Miss Kitty 2012"" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNLRAJpP5GRE43cFDqQK_JxXCjNN97o0hlYmuPPgKfVm0UvevfLmonrSS4M35Mnwy49il3nnsIT9xBOeB7ei0ZmTg25K8KRlaeMYYhgVrPX4RzqcixcJmnjclrjrg72a0m1fU3Hwuwt4/s400/Miss-Kitty-2012.jpg" title=""Miss Kitty 2012"" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Miss Kitty 2012"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnsjPd6mZUz6lmGa2jN1AP3PYmctDtEmNfSv1SQSIcWwAX_et7RVlxZ6FTeE1o0MihnPnk2S8y_2RArycr85-gLySZTavbnLG7yrHLaaETE5DOuEZX_YnnEmYUiuZHsuvzZIH6VDjQXk/s1600/Owl-and-Spider-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Spider Face" and "The Owl"" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnsjPd6mZUz6lmGa2jN1AP3PYmctDtEmNfSv1SQSIcWwAX_et7RVlxZ6FTeE1o0MihnPnk2S8y_2RArycr85-gLySZTavbnLG7yrHLaaETE5DOuEZX_YnnEmYUiuZHsuvzZIH6VDjQXk/s400/Owl-and-Spider-face.jpg" title=""Spider Face" and "The Owl"" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Spider Face" and "The Owl"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSFn3UHVwHEaqD78xjeXhQUEFxNP6fEqByJG78FFMbH12CpdoTZDGif6wqmSuxIPf3AXnhnclwkUvVsnBsbhOy4sBqdCwpVhTi5m5mTvzRSowXkxir3HiR4UnZv8Fxa808nE1dFrwnTE/s1600/Snaggle-Tooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""Snaggle Tooth"" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSFn3UHVwHEaqD78xjeXhQUEFxNP6fEqByJG78FFMbH12CpdoTZDGif6wqmSuxIPf3AXnhnclwkUvVsnBsbhOy4sBqdCwpVhTi5m5mTvzRSowXkxir3HiR4UnZv8Fxa808nE1dFrwnTE/s400/Snaggle-Tooth.jpg" title=""Snaggle Tooth"" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Snaggle Tooth"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNz1u8o9LPfZX74qKLl-fsUI-82li7lYG9xoKQjfc83a6VHGfJnkfFiZVe34c_MnEqlPauidU891Q0ftYjhh1G6MB7p5iYcgSG3BEPuQv5XS38yjzFT6ltTrnypeFMoz8lOrs9iO0iFI/s1600/Cmon-Kiddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Okay, now let's have some kiddies!" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNz1u8o9LPfZX74qKLl-fsUI-82li7lYG9xoKQjfc83a6VHGfJnkfFiZVe34c_MnEqlPauidU891Q0ftYjhh1G6MB7p5iYcgSG3BEPuQv5XS38yjzFT6ltTrnypeFMoz8lOrs9iO0iFI/s400/Cmon-Kiddies.jpg" title="Okay, now let's have some kiddies!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, now let's have some kiddies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDFegmMuGA_9bVum18SiBEiuX7H-U-FVFSbbaiE4jHl5s8aMBgS3tfiseUY9fq4NZmknpt66n_vK6pP6QLjntgY_kKMmTHvoNPhLs2vB-mwSiRcUVVrU9fkx2DSETrpZiBCbdZEnQJ98/s1600/Job-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thanks, fellas. You did a great job!" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDFegmMuGA_9bVum18SiBEiuX7H-U-FVFSbbaiE4jHl5s8aMBgS3tfiseUY9fq4NZmknpt66n_vK6pP6QLjntgY_kKMmTHvoNPhLs2vB-mwSiRcUVVrU9fkx2DSETrpZiBCbdZEnQJ98/s400/Job-Done.jpg" title="Thanks, fellas. You did a great job!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks, fellas. You did a great job!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebt51aH7dXGq-bxxrzcYWlRU49MmGt7V0yWv46U-g1FHu3mGpbWbk0qGSUs-WN9Edpl7ZD6my1YoQNa8MAtKaCDF2861h4w7c3hZ5o2jveI5qHNH7VQavLdfFAKKSJCoxlerUeZ5HGnI/s1600/Thanks-Fellas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Glowing together for the last time." border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebt51aH7dXGq-bxxrzcYWlRU49MmGt7V0yWv46U-g1FHu3mGpbWbk0qGSUs-WN9Edpl7ZD6my1YoQNa8MAtKaCDF2861h4w7c3hZ5o2jveI5qHNH7VQavLdfFAKKSJCoxlerUeZ5HGnI/s400/Thanks-Fellas.jpg" title="Glowing together for the last time." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glowing together for the last time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4zYE3SIgeS6J5QkfGHu_kC7euHH8VQt3FFf1boYq2cMYcXKep5r1ZMT2-hVcQK_kAia5Vs2hfHJADPuIrV-NEWM5I0k3zOrNKCVviOPmDQ2uMqOfqnDGuL2hNRIAoxLZ5E2iFsnWUVg/s1600/Their-Moment-In-The-Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="In the sunshine the next day." border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4zYE3SIgeS6J5QkfGHu_kC7euHH8VQt3FFf1boYq2cMYcXKep5r1ZMT2-hVcQK_kAia5Vs2hfHJADPuIrV-NEWM5I0k3zOrNKCVviOPmDQ2uMqOfqnDGuL2hNRIAoxLZ5E2iFsnWUVg/s400/Their-Moment-In-The-Sun.jpg" title="In the sunshine the next day." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the sunshine the next day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-31831355647248785612012-11-11T12:40:00.000-04:002012-11-11T12:51:13.102-04:00My Vegetable Garden<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">So, it’s been awhile, hasn’t it? What’s been going on? Well not much to tell the truth. We’ve been busy with life and I guess I’ve been ignoring The Witch’s Island a bit too much. Thanks to those of you have kept in touch anyway.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNENy4ZAP2kvZpLCRnHBy7nANJlTTHrtdPwPji2cxbXXORg2MLZejIZNwfD2IoyUqVASOaB0njDev7gEutIfq8JNlb13fwk6sCsUeSw3ngvi3A6HH0o8gkzMNqasRL5ySQHxucaSZ8XQ/s1600/Vegetable-Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNENy4ZAP2kvZpLCRnHBy7nANJlTTHrtdPwPji2cxbXXORg2MLZejIZNwfD2IoyUqVASOaB0njDev7gEutIfq8JNlb13fwk6sCsUeSw3ngvi3A6HH0o8gkzMNqasRL5ySQHxucaSZ8XQ/s400/Vegetable-Garden.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vegetable garden in August 2012, just before the harvest started.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was a fantastic season for the vegetable garden this year. Lots of sunshine and heat, the plants loved it. Everything produced very well and we had so much that we couldn’t use it all and ended up setting up a table at the end of the driveway to give away the excess. The neighbours seemed to appreciate the gesture and we even received a nice thank-you note from one of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMB0LW7ev6LDSXnjNRsERoB8pcLFYb-QWN-ARWZp7UJVvGuy3BJ8_Ybz34pz2f8lU4sFVc9q34ZCEOton8hqDvdTHX3h95tAkaU5RtpwkLcK7c-Lp7sFPWaHyUUPv-I8k0vBfw59w8Yw/s1600/Garden-In-August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMB0LW7ev6LDSXnjNRsERoB8pcLFYb-QWN-ARWZp7UJVvGuy3BJ8_Ybz34pz2f8lU4sFVc9q34ZCEOton8hqDvdTHX3h95tAkaU5RtpwkLcK7c-Lp7sFPWaHyUUPv-I8k0vBfw59w8Yw/s400/Garden-In-August.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The onions were huge this year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">In my last post I mentioned that I had bought most of my seeds from <a href="http://www.heritageharvestseed.com/">Heritage Harvest Seed</a>. Well their stuff worked great. We planted some of everything I listed except the Steeve’s Caseknife and Jacob’s Cattle beans. There just wasn’t enough room to get those in so they will have to wait until next year. Just about every single seed from Heritage germinated and grew into healthy plants. I always plant more than I intend to grow because there are usually some plants that die but these ones beat the odds. I had so many starters that I was begging my friends to take some. I still ended up putting some healthy little plants on the compost heap. What a shame, but I’ll know not to start so many next spring!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiIafzAhbZNwXOLwRDEEiYAD4Kh2CP78VXbjE_rdLAFm8htAcRzfggBY6AHT66dLP9175qs_-EI4Bv_Ln_6wyB_A2w4peFK4OiDm7LuKCcg8ZkZ7PUIOSyWmoprBtHAvqCl1GrOu7KQE/s1600/Sylvan-Guame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="That's one BIG Tomato!" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiIafzAhbZNwXOLwRDEEiYAD4Kh2CP78VXbjE_rdLAFm8htAcRzfggBY6AHT66dLP9175qs_-EI4Bv_Ln_6wyB_A2w4peFK4OiDm7LuKCcg8ZkZ7PUIOSyWmoprBtHAvqCl1GrOu7KQE/s400/Sylvan-Guame.jpg" title="Sylvan Guame Tomato" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one BIG Tomato!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Just about every single seed from Heritage germinated and grew into healthy plants. I always plant more than I intend to grow because there are usually some plants that die but these ones beat the odds. I had so many starters that I was begging my friends to take some. I still ended up putting some healthy little plants on the compost heap. What a shame, but I’ll know not to start so many next spring!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another thing I learned was that four rows of tomatoes are way too many tomato rows! Even in a poor year it would have been too many and it prevented me from putting in some other things like more beans. Next year I’m going to keep it down to just 2 rows.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2RaGkp3nYN4TI_JfORWuUAfUzYs9OWUzJL6ZlBoXNX66bzblM-wk1PK3TCb7cXBVQf2-BAGawi1FtxfDrVP3JVauLDd7zJ8ohaCc0rrY-D3OfYLr7u3nK4zr6SgtHw0JoPabJlD8nHk/s1600/Thirty-Four-Ounce-Tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Even the ceramic owl seems surprised that that tomato weighs almost a kilogram!" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2RaGkp3nYN4TI_JfORWuUAfUzYs9OWUzJL6ZlBoXNX66bzblM-wk1PK3TCb7cXBVQf2-BAGawi1FtxfDrVP3JVauLDd7zJ8ohaCc0rrY-D3OfYLr7u3nK4zr6SgtHw0JoPabJlD8nHk/s400/Thirty-Four-Ounce-Tomato.jpg" title="Thirty-Four Ounce Tomato!" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the ceramic owl seems surprised that that<br />
tomato weighs almost a kilogram!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I taste-tested all the tomatoes as they ripened but I never did really manage to find a favourite variety. There was obvious differences in size and shape but they all tasted great. I guess if I had to pick I would choose the Bonny Best, Uncle Joe and Sylvan Guame varieties but they were all fantastic!<br />
<br />
We used as many of the tomatoes as we could. I made mustard pickles, hot dog relish and even some home-made spaghetti sauce and I ate a lot of cheese and tomato sandwiches this year! I'm going to miss them this winter when all I can get are hot-house tomatoes from the grocery store.<br />
<br />
The rest of the garden turned out great as well. It looked pretty, too. Everything was so lush and full that it was hard to get down the rows to do the weeding. I guess that's a good problem to have!<br />
<br />
The Red Peanut beans ripened very early and we put them into the potting shed to dry and then shell. we had about 12 or 15 plants (half a row) and they produced a total of about three pounds of dried beans.I haven't eaten any of them yet but we will be baking them this winter. Mmmm...<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0h48FT8wco97mkJMp_k_2d3qFjR3j0zf85udiuHX1pdlcHtNJYGBA9C5K8r6D3RYhKQXxkP4qRz_Ch_LnjIRRq62aSq0Zdk_Ure2oeXR_sdtN-IKM6WmuJeD502F4M5lWRSbNTZFpKM/s1600/Tomato-Rows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="All the tomatoes from Heritage Harvest Seeds did very well and were heavy producers." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0h48FT8wco97mkJMp_k_2d3qFjR3j0zf85udiuHX1pdlcHtNJYGBA9C5K8r6D3RYhKQXxkP4qRz_Ch_LnjIRRq62aSq0Zdk_Ure2oeXR_sdtN-IKM6WmuJeD502F4M5lWRSbNTZFpKM/s400/Tomato-Rows.jpg" title="Tomato Rows" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">All the tomatoes from Heritage Harvest Seeds did very well and were<br />
heavy producers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This was the first time I tried planting </span><a href="http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/vegetables/asparaguspeas/asparaguspeas?veseys=9cc924f894ea4ce6f1fefe426ef1635a" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Asparagus Peas</a><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"> from Vesey's. The description sounded intriguing: </span> <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #f0f0f0; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"Tasty and attractive addition to your garden. Small winged pods taste similar to asparagus when steamed and topped with butter Red blooms make this plant attractive as well. Low growing and spreading. Continues to produce pods throughout the season. Can be started indoors or planted outside once all chance of frost has passed" </span></blockquote>The plants were very attractive and they were still producing blossoms and fruit right up until the end of October when we cleaned out the garden. They were unusual to eat and were best when they were very young. I will probably put them in again next year just because they looked so nice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_w-wzxYZMIIwn0JlFKIiq2g_cS-QlOimlV4k6ON0yHZK9gA68-zrb1XtOQj51q8anrWSaonnr2dRHs55sg2SbhHMVUx8VXS1PUTDxqIZyQsb4I_EhD5X_MXSKIQoOMSpRMcg6jwkSZc/s1600/Aspargus-Peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_w-wzxYZMIIwn0JlFKIiq2g_cS-QlOimlV4k6ON0yHZK9gA68-zrb1XtOQj51q8anrWSaonnr2dRHs55sg2SbhHMVUx8VXS1PUTDxqIZyQsb4I_EhD5X_MXSKIQoOMSpRMcg6jwkSZc/s400/Aspargus-Peas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Asparagus Peas were still blooming late into the year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So besides the garden, what was I doing this summer? With all the beautiful weather I spent as much time at the beach as I could. The new beach tent worked great and went up and down easily and quickly. It made it so much more comfortable the the old umbrella could have.<br />
<br />
I also started geo-caching again and even hid one of my own for the first time. It's a fun hobby and it gets us out of the house and exploring in out of way back roads.<br />
<br />
Hubby put the final touches on the gazebo. He added power outlets and a couple of strands of rope lights and then panelled the privacy walls with some nice pine boards. It's a beautiful place now to sit in the evening and watch the world go by.<br />
<br />
I guess that that's enough news for now. I'll save the rest for the next time, hopefully it won't be six more months before I write again, but, just in case, Merry Christmas! Haha!<br />
<br />
Here are a few more pictures, enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB0-HP6jnq_Xs2Z7IieGt2MmYmhJW7_5cH7_hV2SBb5GmQeFZB__ROwuJTTzpQ5q_MEgJr_JRbBM1678W4ouwug4sqVvyF4u_OlaG1hyRh12SChjTaQiP_yVwnNFmNB9wOSkLLcGpxAo/s1600/Aspargus-Peas-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB0-HP6jnq_Xs2Z7IieGt2MmYmhJW7_5cH7_hV2SBb5GmQeFZB__ROwuJTTzpQ5q_MEgJr_JRbBM1678W4ouwug4sqVvyF4u_OlaG1hyRh12SChjTaQiP_yVwnNFmNB9wOSkLLcGpxAo/s400/Aspargus-Peas-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the edible portion of the Asparagus Peas. They look like green <br />
beans with wings and they do taste like asparagus if you cook them right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3AieNFlGTl1D9oQ88wHR4QOWFcNu7Z-prdCxWFCIwAZ5tFa1_QGh0Ezg2XmjrtbGAwOrUuojc4iXFJ1fQOyXE_VCEl9xer_GLOMp-Vr-xgY2PBiRs3E9oJh41G8d4EP4HdPHqNBvF0g/s1600/Red-Peanut-Harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3AieNFlGTl1D9oQ88wHR4QOWFcNu7Z-prdCxWFCIwAZ5tFa1_QGh0Ezg2XmjrtbGAwOrUuojc4iXFJ1fQOyXE_VCEl9xer_GLOMp-Vr-xgY2PBiRs3E9oJh41G8d4EP4HdPHqNBvF0g/s400/Red-Peanut-Harvest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We dried the pods in the potting shed and then shelled the beans. They do<br />
indeed look like red peanuts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZCI0LudblBuu_tBOZVxgB848R257_iAILuCRVvBmzxI4-DrDQEYWvArXCaDZtThhdBmgsctrhgwTVxHcqq59M8NEZ1dttTxCQswAysyZTc4hPM_jTcbvzUZHPt9t25TEG-ragPTKzZk/s1600/Tons-of-Tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="We stripped off most of the foliage late in the summer to encourage all the stragglers to ripen." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZCI0LudblBuu_tBOZVxgB848R257_iAILuCRVvBmzxI4-DrDQEYWvArXCaDZtThhdBmgsctrhgwTVxHcqq59M8NEZ1dttTxCQswAysyZTc4hPM_jTcbvzUZHPt9t25TEG-ragPTKzZk/s400/Tons-of-Tomatoes.jpg" title="Tons of Tomatoes" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stripped off most of the foliage late in the summer to encourage<br />
all the stragglers to ripen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMEaItBPVIPO0J81mEyuO-PyPKqJyTqySsPjOM6kA17jqkaoa3JtabELPBr-kJ87U4g9igaiWJ0xFeZB9WKJQaLPnFTOJsbOZdh6fk2SuJwvafZJpJTTuOr_XuT9R9PEzFFeKVW7x3_U/s1600/Sylvan-Guame-Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Sylvan Guames were not only huge but they were also very meaty and had very few seeds." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMEaItBPVIPO0J81mEyuO-PyPKqJyTqySsPjOM6kA17jqkaoa3JtabELPBr-kJ87U4g9igaiWJ0xFeZB9WKJQaLPnFTOJsbOZdh6fk2SuJwvafZJpJTTuOr_XuT9R9PEzFFeKVW7x3_U/s400/Sylvan-Guame-Sliced.jpg" title="Sylvan Guame - Sliced" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sylvan Guames were not only huge but they were also very meaty<br />
and had very few seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oo8WEIZN_jIGzNs99newoFREvWlvGUSzi5964j7QujcGsl0kz3pHu8aLjZnvm47Sp-pk9P7-Lgp60cPK4la0ZdgqLG-o5DPrnmBkiAPveoMfaHr-zVYZ4DP7hO3IyLcGDC2q4VIiRs8/s1600/Tomato-Selector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Here are five more varieties. There were definitely differences in texture, size, shape and the number of seeds." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oo8WEIZN_jIGzNs99newoFREvWlvGUSzi5964j7QujcGsl0kz3pHu8aLjZnvm47Sp-pk9P7-Lgp60cPK4la0ZdgqLG-o5DPrnmBkiAPveoMfaHr-zVYZ4DP7hO3IyLcGDC2q4VIiRs8/s400/Tomato-Selector.jpg" title="The Witch's Tomato Selector." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are five more varieties. There were definitely differences in texture,<br />
size, shape and the number of seeds. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pPwFKftETZSQuGYyt1-yMzTc9vI4Topn8QkZTdZZbFN8o-bHGTop-fbAZ6NEGgkseGR-cqbW_w_BKp5wouRmRBCpIkd2Qc8pCQZ2zYM84aFYB_Lfs3Xox0cAfMsaffLi3i51FUIn21Q/s1600/Uncle-Joe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="These are Uncle Joes. We used this variety while they were green to make Vera's Mustard Pickles." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pPwFKftETZSQuGYyt1-yMzTc9vI4Topn8QkZTdZZbFN8o-bHGTop-fbAZ6NEGgkseGR-cqbW_w_BKp5wouRmRBCpIkd2Qc8pCQZ2zYM84aFYB_Lfs3Xox0cAfMsaffLi3i51FUIn21Q/s400/Uncle-Joe.jpg" title="Uncle Joes" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are Uncle Joes. We used this variety while they were green to<br />
make Vera's Mustard Pickles. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrYXoZxJQJI9hdB8fuXxv5_iIGUnWeuP1QhSyngJj0UUtyfeHkh2gX851rgCHJ3ynrnaYFuGTe8PHbGSP0YafT4An2_vQI1VXjnQvbEdikqekTRdbj4BU75v89wdB-rfGUd6fclltZcc/s1600/Forme-de-Coeur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Forme-de-Coeur were nicely heart shaped as suggested by their name." border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrYXoZxJQJI9hdB8fuXxv5_iIGUnWeuP1QhSyngJj0UUtyfeHkh2gX851rgCHJ3ynrnaYFuGTe8PHbGSP0YafT4An2_vQI1VXjnQvbEdikqekTRdbj4BU75v89wdB-rfGUd6fclltZcc/s400/Forme-de-Coeur.jpg" title="Forme-de-Coeurs - green and ripe." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forme-de-Coeurs were nicely heart shaped as suggested by their name.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAFC2Nd5rKdcfWqXkBeinSiykmnLKEPHMGq5RL5k9FuLQY9rIi_5R7DDC-BQPpGxbvoJAF327yduo-BrPR5k0hUKSXdbfHO8DGyUd0-o4NkZICBuGaZlgmEHe8S18Rzhj9OLoaSuJqgI/s1600/Forme-de-Coeur-Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAFC2Nd5rKdcfWqXkBeinSiykmnLKEPHMGq5RL5k9FuLQY9rIi_5R7DDC-BQPpGxbvoJAF327yduo-BrPR5k0hUKSXdbfHO8DGyUd0-o4NkZICBuGaZlgmEHe8S18Rzhj9OLoaSuJqgI/s400/Forme-de-Coeur-Sliced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Forme-de-Coeurs were beautiful inside as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRk97Qu0kIL7eQzDeIlY5gsTzJdCS9fW0184fsbmoni4MOzOUr4-k9obV4QyB8UublguzNxfqh1QY-9xeRao_Ftr_YYM7qVeXZ4TaIMK-rvL14a_MhOYtuOVe9FbTNV9k5TwUM2Sey28/s1600/Bison-Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRk97Qu0kIL7eQzDeIlY5gsTzJdCS9fW0184fsbmoni4MOzOUr4-k9obV4QyB8UublguzNxfqh1QY-9xeRao_Ftr_YYM7qVeXZ4TaIMK-rvL14a_MhOYtuOVe9FbTNV9k5TwUM2Sey28/s400/Bison-Sliced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bisons were a good size for sandwiches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BSod-JMQ6Ol9OZ7VVrdKxd0kSc6bMxWncjA4eSJwZzV0eIpUD9EaBZAOpNQxdFNaPk6CyfIUxDatzTlUrLfW6HJerga5LA9o0PHVRDF1-P9kVbBEDO03ClqMhGwIyz-ywyQrxwMYa_w/s1600/Harbinger-Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BSod-JMQ6Ol9OZ7VVrdKxd0kSc6bMxWncjA4eSJwZzV0eIpUD9EaBZAOpNQxdFNaPk6CyfIUxDatzTlUrLfW6HJerga5LA9o0PHVRDF1-P9kVbBEDO03ClqMhGwIyz-ywyQrxwMYa_w/s400/Harbinger-Sliced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbingers produced early and had lots of fruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-fSTRvzOM0vaU-xznL9yFQtAmXXPcd5WiYYdQIcKM3Wc5OFXXeWfekxCLExx3NbLjbYS25iVsZnwF4o0tDAXF7_P9QsjdkIOcxJ5r3G-SDWNI_vIh88DD67AXcExsZOtBc4k469VKt4/s1600/Silvery-Fir-Tree-Sliced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-fSTRvzOM0vaU-xznL9yFQtAmXXPcd5WiYYdQIcKM3Wc5OFXXeWfekxCLExx3NbLjbYS25iVsZnwF4o0tDAXF7_P9QsjdkIOcxJ5r3G-SDWNI_vIh88DD67AXcExsZOtBc4k469VKt4/s400/Silvery-Fir-Tree-Sliced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Silvery Fir Tree tomatoes had very distinct foliage on the plants.<br />
The tomatoes were very tasty, too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7EwvaqJBGX01qBIdui1M8wquEH44JaK68F8r5PtPxMQLFvFyQf3Lll-OPYsGbBniQI1r0S-5N1s4KONMRueUb1eFWTi2UKGLXo-q3aWXUUGKBiLm3lNxi3Rp0cbbpGBZZGhbC6U0zrg/s1600/Black-Hungarian-Chillies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7EwvaqJBGX01qBIdui1M8wquEH44JaK68F8r5PtPxMQLFvFyQf3Lll-OPYsGbBniQI1r0S-5N1s4KONMRueUb1eFWTi2UKGLXo-q3aWXUUGKBiLm3lNxi3Rp0cbbpGBZZGhbC6U0zrg/s400/Black-Hungarian-Chillies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> These are Black Hungarian peppers. They produced very well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACD3CSMJt49V2yj_D4BXytmerk6YaroZHGSUT8yqVDTs69pWnYKu9hxzuqHFo5hQrMllQxonOSWqBhw-3e61IcuWYwog_cJzVD0odYWtS27CC3eFu_lh3OFMyh6fKj22GYo8yD4uRPY0/s1600/Matchbox-Chillies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACD3CSMJt49V2yj_D4BXytmerk6YaroZHGSUT8yqVDTs69pWnYKu9hxzuqHFo5hQrMllQxonOSWqBhw-3e61IcuWYwog_cJzVD0odYWtS27CC3eFu_lh3OFMyh6fKj22GYo8yD4uRPY0/s400/Matchbox-Chillies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Matchbox peppers were very hardy. They were one of the last things<br />
to come out of the garden this fall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-ynxgeVGV98-6Tdiqi35lJi81PYeCi5rozu0Z9mX1AT0xpzgvPWIJHW7OnW82B4gotUq_jZl0sOZQBSw3aitN3SwTsk4qaT8o2-FMltubSxyaexKNv5oPLFAX43E2lIC6PnB3zXNlwo/s1600/Red-Peanut-Beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-ynxgeVGV98-6Tdiqi35lJi81PYeCi5rozu0Z9mX1AT0xpzgvPWIJHW7OnW82B4gotUq_jZl0sOZQBSw3aitN3SwTsk4qaT8o2-FMltubSxyaexKNv5oPLFAX43E2lIC6PnB3zXNlwo/s400/Red-Peanut-Beans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Peanut beans were harvested when the pods turned bright red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPCLi8KykIYVz9MR2pGxDtbaM1rrMaCCzIWqYw_F6Alr4_DaJm325qmUPQKTkQkthWJKiWgRxrK0hZ8lW_ZsmBH-tdtSI_y4jxBmnHMypSwivuf2afLwfnkoobJpoRwihznX67DqraOE/s1600/Banana-Spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPCLi8KykIYVz9MR2pGxDtbaM1rrMaCCzIWqYw_F6Alr4_DaJm325qmUPQKTkQkthWJKiWgRxrK0hZ8lW_ZsmBH-tdtSI_y4jxBmnHMypSwivuf2afLwfnkoobJpoRwihznX67DqraOE/s400/Banana-Spider.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Banana Spiders were back this year. They seem to be around whenever <br />
the weather gets very hot and dry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuuu0ptrQufPurtzjzyTW6EHMTrPsFzYg5Cm0eINb8WMGAVblmmdEsRsWdvFu-njoAhEbDBJxWkFWqjNZmPIi-Bg5kEbJ4yN0Z3WGAhb8u4E-nFZ5epWQrKpFXB7n7kinFccyvT3eFN4/s1600/Gazebo-Panelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuuu0ptrQufPurtzjzyTW6EHMTrPsFzYg5Cm0eINb8WMGAVblmmdEsRsWdvFu-njoAhEbDBJxWkFWqjNZmPIi-Bg5kEbJ4yN0Z3WGAhb8u4E-nFZ5epWQrKpFXB7n7kinFccyvT3eFN4/s400/Gazebo-Panelling.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gazebo was FINALLY finished this year! It got some<br />
interior panelling, electricity outlets and lights.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-14132344120989305112012-05-31T17:59:00.000-03:002012-05-31T17:59:36.698-03:00Martha Stewart Arrives On The Witch's IslandSo it’s spring again and we’re finally getting out of the winter doldrums. Mind you, it was a great winter here, at least weather-wise and spring came early but the temperatures have been fluctuating like crazy. We had 20 degrees C in February and snow in April, Saturday was 32 C and today it is 10. It’s been hard to figure whether to get the garden under way or to wait for a bit. Last year I started my tomatoes and peppers way too early and by the time I got them in the garden they were very tall and spindly. I ended up restarting a lot of them and I swore I wouldn’t make that mistake again this year. I held myself back as long as I could but it does seem like spring is at least a couple of weeks early so I started them anyway. Let’s all pray that there is no frost in June!
<br />
<br />
Not that frost is the only thing to worry about. Our entire tomato crop was destroyed by <a href="http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/learn/reference/vegetable/tomatoblight">late blight</a> last year and we didn’t get more than 2 or 3 tomatoes from 40-some plants. What a shame as the plants were doing very well until the blight hit. So, this year we are going to mix things up a bit. We’re going to put the tomatoes at the other end of the garden away from the infected rows and we’re going to try a new supplier for the seeds.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXN2UVxZrORMq1mK_2jiuVYuWKOLT1s0_N2f9deLkme8rFOPuiwvxV34KlE4sfRk9Bi46qMr06XGo7XpbjDpo64rnhSb6h0-NHL5yuMrQ2FMr9ZyATpmMf0OLk5ns1FsxpV6PaQ3yB7w/s1600/Heritage-Harvest-Seed-Packa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXN2UVxZrORMq1mK_2jiuVYuWKOLT1s0_N2f9deLkme8rFOPuiwvxV34KlE4sfRk9Bi46qMr06XGo7XpbjDpo64rnhSb6h0-NHL5yuMrQ2FMr9ZyATpmMf0OLk5ns1FsxpV6PaQ3yB7w/s400/Heritage-Harvest-Seed-Packa.jpg" alt=”Our seeds have arrived from Heritage Harvest Seeds.”/> </a><blockquote>Our order arrived about 10 days after being placed.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJo-sAORWoyjd0P-LTq12H6o4uMIoRg5lG9IaiUrzJyEu136CzkTfAuLw705RlTGeHIFduEiQaoj_zE9yW19So2HXbSIZK-Nr1A7Hj4mtTknuNBOTepGzCLrYfymGmGDms-_ZnWKqOrkU/s1600/Seed-Packages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJo-sAORWoyjd0P-LTq12H6o4uMIoRg5lG9IaiUrzJyEu136CzkTfAuLw705RlTGeHIFduEiQaoj_zE9yW19So2HXbSIZK-Nr1A7Hj4mtTknuNBOTepGzCLrYfymGmGDms-_ZnWKqOrkU/s400/Seed-Packages.jpg" alt=”The packages are plain and simple. Let’s hope that the plants are more specatular.”/></a><blockquote>The packages are plain and simple. Let’s hope that the plants are more specatular.</blockquote></div>
<br />
I found out about <a href="http://www.heritageharvestseed.com/">Heritage Harvest Seed</a> while reading a post about seeds on the <a 02="" 2012="" budgeting-for-seed.html”="" canoecorner.blogspot.ca="" href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9D" http:="">Canoe Corner blog</a>. They specialize in “rare and endangered vegetables, flowers and herbs.” and they had dozens of different varieties of tomatoes alone! The descriptions for some were so compelling that I had to try them. As an example here is the blurb for “Sylvan Guame”:
<br />
<blockquote>
“An old heirloom from Canada that was obtained from an elderly man in his 80s. The original seed was from Russia. This excellent variety produces gigantic red oxheart shaped fruit. My largest was 3lbs and that was during a dry year! The fruit are not only large but delicious. My absolute favorite large fruited tomato. Indeterminate, regular leaf foliage. (80 days) EXTREMELY RARE. Highly recommended!”</blockquote>
How could a person resist? It was very difficult to pick out only a few types to try so I just went nuts and ordered 8 and then they threw in another for free! Oh, and 3 types of beans and 2 different peppers. What am I going to do with 9 different varieties of tomato, you say? Please don’t ask such difficult questions while I’m busy planting.
<br />
<br />
Here is a list of what we got for about $54.00 including shipping:<br />
<br />
<b>Tomato</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Sylvan Gaume </li>
<li>Harbinger </li>
<li>42 Days </li>
<li>Forme de Coeur </li>
<li>Fireball </li>
<li>Silvery Fir Tree </li>
<li>Bonny Best </li>
<li>Bison </li>
<li>Uncle Joe’s – free </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Beans</b> </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Steeves Caseknife </li>
<li>Red Peanut </li>
<li>Jacob’s Cattle </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>Pepper </b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Matchbox Chilli </li>
<li>Black Hungarian</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuoc9w-YO-4rr_2wfKs2Sds9wL7G6A88RVcUGj1RmaAMaf8icQsL6fhWDsITo4r303UwB8nAOOutHUcXPrKZ7UzyD1LLOu3993BL8u6MKNBu1YS0JsmIBx_XQcRS0fZD4iz7rc1NXlEI/s1600/Starters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuoc9w-YO-4rr_2wfKs2Sds9wL7G6A88RVcUGj1RmaAMaf8icQsL6fhWDsITo4r303UwB8nAOOutHUcXPrKZ7UzyD1LLOu3993BL8u6MKNBu1YS0JsmIBx_XQcRS0fZD4iz7rc1NXlEI/s400/Starters.jpg" alt=” Look, a whole garden’s worth of peppers and pumpkins are growing on my windowsill.”/></a></div><blockquote>Look, a whole garden’s worth of peppers and pumpkins are growing on my windowsill.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbQRluynPpaEvDh_nFfOIa7nBK0eedhxQMM-NZvQYbMA7DhGWJbCliF8PdHRTtA0CYm2Jax0gPIja9gPzM7UhRgbXvadJwi0pJ5x-gDUVfVTD8FqpYCJnNteHfEXoPe80UQPkdDN3V0k/s1600/Tomato-Seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbQRluynPpaEvDh_nFfOIa7nBK0eedhxQMM-NZvQYbMA7DhGWJbCliF8PdHRTtA0CYm2Jax0gPIja9gPzM7UhRgbXvadJwi0pJ5x-gDUVfVTD8FqpYCJnNteHfEXoPe80UQPkdDN3V0k/s400/Tomato-Seedlings.jpg" alt=” It sure didn’t take long for the seeds to germinate and now I’m hoping that they don’t get to spindly before I can transplant them.”/></a><blockquote>It sure didn’t take long for the seeds to germinate and now I’m hoping that they don’t get to spindly before I can transplant them.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br />
Spring is all about getting back outdoors after the long winter and to me that means in part that lobsters are back on the menu. I’m not a big steak eater but I love Surf and Turf. This little canner was just the perfect size. Hubby took it out to the back deck to break it up for me so that the juices didn’t stink up the kitchen. The body and shells all went out into the trees as a treat for the birds and foxes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZSBYAH_WNPpx34fYShxjYtk_LyEARcVmD8tvgGXUQwxDKRjcXt3Eoq2y7WgGqjRjB_LQ0_7yzyAaF_s8ztWCBZa09h9HoYzYhEb2yX9nC1pHKlvXsWmKbhZw4RQLjB6zcC_tAJdH4C4/s1600/Lobster-For-Dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZSBYAH_WNPpx34fYShxjYtk_LyEARcVmD8tvgGXUQwxDKRjcXt3Eoq2y7WgGqjRjB_LQ0_7yzyAaF_s8ztWCBZa09h9HoYzYhEb2yX9nC1pHKlvXsWmKbhZw4RQLjB6zcC_tAJdH4C4/s400/Lobster-For-Dinner.jpg" alt=” One small canner is all I need for my first taste of lobster this year.”/></a><blockquote>One small canner is all I need for my first taste of lobster this year.</blockquote></div>
It is also time to get out into the gazebo and see if all the effort the last two summers was worth it because blackfly season has arrived with a vengeance.
<br/>
<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe src="http://www.nfb.ca/film/blackfly/embed/player" width="406" height="265" ></iframe>
</div>
<br/>
So far, so good, the little bastards are staying out but we need something to sit on. We looked all of last summer and the best furniture set we found was the “Lanfair 4 Piece Conversation Set” from <a href="http://www.homedepot.ca/product/lanfair-4-piece-conversation-set/924433">Martha Stewart Living </a>. Yes, Martha has come to visit The Witch’s Island and it looks like she might just stay awhile!
<p>
<br/>
The Lanfair set came in one big box in disassembled form. It really is amazing just how tightly packed in it was. We spent one whole afternoon putting it all together and it came out all right. There were a few bent tabs and some pieces didn’t align quite right but we managed to make it work. Also, the fabric cover on the cushions was different than is shown on the box and the display set in the store. Those were a solid green but ours have a subtle striped pattern (which we actually like better).
<p>
<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rZrC4E79Z8ghVgICR0VoO4XBPmvJJG7NIqT_sdZWTEv9rptcah5dHI3FKFK-KkxZgDjXv1w5-OhLtlywT1IN3jvGbHghccGTcN7h-DAVIoC0Tb0-S6b1wkxKq6tLWqL2lmtWWzBaSI/s1600/Martha-Stewart-On-Our-John-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3rZrC4E79Z8ghVgICR0VoO4XBPmvJJG7NIqT_sdZWTEv9rptcah5dHI3FKFK-KkxZgDjXv1w5-OhLtlywT1IN3jvGbHghccGTcN7h-DAVIoC0Tb0-S6b1wkxKq6tLWqL2lmtWWzBaSI/s400/Martha-Stewart-On-Our-John-.jpg" width="400" alt=”Here’s Martha arriving on the back of our John Deere.”/></a><blockquote>Here’s Martha arriving on the back of our John Deere.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ZSoZ1GogzMkMvH8dpXBMe5qzPT83bvhcs0A4b6Tg7Q-zdPE9aV5H7ZgVLUKW3sA7r4R1dtQjSdGs0oJzPrKW0tEbz19mLB7LOUIL49F_ewbK85ptVJpMUvl6s5Khpaeknxpyq50xp8/s1600/Martha-Stewart-Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ZSoZ1GogzMkMvH8dpXBMe5qzPT83bvhcs0A4b6Tg7Q-zdPE9aV5H7ZgVLUKW3sA7r4R1dtQjSdGs0oJzPrKW0tEbz19mLB7LOUIL49F_ewbK85ptVJpMUvl6s5Khpaeknxpyq50xp8/s400/Martha-Stewart-Box.jpg" width="400" alt=”The picture on the box showed a different material on the cushions.”/></a><blockquote>The picture on the box showed a different material on the cushions.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbO5Vk1_kFhnQsOPPf_99tJJ_gKnAMiEgXSNYird3QqWuvMSA9fLBRykejcXar6gDyzoBwJgTM5WKdLzN7NyoxfCIfNS8bNlryp504blQM1AhqFMecpKiAcKfSavq8nRWbf2iLlqXMVk/s1600/Box-Label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbO5Vk1_kFhnQsOPPf_99tJJ_gKnAMiEgXSNYird3QqWuvMSA9fLBRykejcXar6gDyzoBwJgTM5WKdLzN7NyoxfCIfNS8bNlryp504blQM1AhqFMecpKiAcKfSavq8nRWbf2iLlqXMVk/s400/Box-Label.jpg" width="400" alt=”Even the tools needed to put it together were included in the box.”/></a><blockquote>Even the tools needed to put it together were included in the box.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3rFFy-dEZ4PFcB2xOyDEt7UG8gZS7MhUZCuCAHiag1xQsvVysriM2_CNLoZUVaQrMRqDU-tHOW2fmhj0ELVSyKC2d4CatSop9jw4Y1eMg59JptnPEtWTbF3vc_peR8fOSoIZKzdHAig/s1600/Stop-and-Read-the-Instructi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3rFFy-dEZ4PFcB2xOyDEt7UG8gZS7MhUZCuCAHiag1xQsvVysriM2_CNLoZUVaQrMRqDU-tHOW2fmhj0ELVSyKC2d4CatSop9jw4Y1eMg59JptnPEtWTbF3vc_peR8fOSoIZKzdHAig/s400/Stop-and-Read-the-Instructi.jpg" width="400" alt=”Here are all the pieces spread out and ready for assembly.”/></a><blockquote>Here are all the pieces spread out and ready for assembly.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSBP4aNNRbo6jARUcGBTP6R2inmP5KR6rC4FwTCaSPB7Qqtag2AJ3y9j4BeNTYj4FM3Hu03p0Si127P-iW-tW78FiAP5oUfLhyphenhyphenQG71NiBGwJNLHz_e3aSsUvU0UA6JydbXdjjkW6j6TU/s1600/First-Chair-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSBP4aNNRbo6jARUcGBTP6R2inmP5KR6rC4FwTCaSPB7Qqtag2AJ3y9j4BeNTYj4FM3Hu03p0Si127P-iW-tW78FiAP5oUfLhyphenhyphenQG71NiBGwJNLHz_e3aSsUvU0UA6JydbXdjjkW6j6TU/s400/First-Chair-Done.jpg" width="400" alt=”The first chair is done after an hour’s work to get it square and level.”/></a><blockquote>The first chair is done after an hour’s work to get it square and level.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hLavTJtwNCQO11KOqDZ0pXvpJZ-VBlmWDDaLxs2_BDUFq1UXvRFw9LVZNVzeUv2FJgpvanFyyJd6fY1ip4WB0zxkYG_8hC5kVvQRNl0l-IxO0eWyw8ScH80GEDHCXf5gQMkL7_HsGdA/s1600/These-Will-Do-Just-Fine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hLavTJtwNCQO11KOqDZ0pXvpJZ-VBlmWDDaLxs2_BDUFq1UXvRFw9LVZNVzeUv2FJgpvanFyyJd6fY1ip4WB0zxkYG_8hC5kVvQRNl0l-IxO0eWyw8ScH80GEDHCXf5gQMkL7_HsGdA/s400/These-Will-Do-Just-Fine.jpg" width="400" alt=”The chairs were finished just in time for a union-mandated beer break.”/></a><blockquote>The chairs were finished just in time for a union-mandated beer break.</blockquote></div>
We’ve also been out to the nurseries again and this time we came home with a “Yellowbird” magnolia, a “Honey Crisp” apple and a hybrid apple tree which has 5 different varieties on one trunk. We were just going to put in the Honey Crisp but it needs a second different type of apple to pollinate properly. We have lots of wild apple trees around the yard but just to be sure we got the hybrid one to keep the Honey Crisp company.
<p>
<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSLMnj7DTt66WpwHvc5UOnWf4PJrIezeBVCF-k1moVx0yiPbb-Rmwrlrz78yZ9r7EUY0RKKsoaPmCBcDhSEUpDLB3CGBuOdnEToTz8RjTQ7FRpdaItlGMXyLroOkD59YXKQFxTjO8cp0/s1600/Tree-Planting-Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSLMnj7DTt66WpwHvc5UOnWf4PJrIezeBVCF-k1moVx0yiPbb-Rmwrlrz78yZ9r7EUY0RKKsoaPmCBcDhSEUpDLB3CGBuOdnEToTz8RjTQ7FRpdaItlGMXyLroOkD59YXKQFxTjO8cp0/s400/Tree-Planting-Time.jpg" width="400" alt=” Hubby is planting my Honey Crisp apple tree.”/></a><blockquote>Hubby is planting my Honey Crisp apple tree. We’re soon going to run out of space for trees in the back yard.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJPbgDFiR7doHUD3ANcYUSAa1AbnmIJ5jSjh52Pz0Y5Mp35t3Q0nsCok32JHb5nquyX_nY4KsrJrLbIekzcAqRSZ09-VECS9ggl2sojMrjtR2bDPyI-jgSnWh7PNSGimQcEk-pu7bjpE/s1600/Apple-Tree-Labels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJPbgDFiR7doHUD3ANcYUSAa1AbnmIJ5jSjh52Pz0Y5Mp35t3Q0nsCok32JHb5nquyX_nY4KsrJrLbIekzcAqRSZ09-VECS9ggl2sojMrjtR2bDPyI-jgSnWh7PNSGimQcEk-pu7bjpE/s400/Apple-Tree-Labels.jpg" width="400" alt=”Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala and Red Macintosh all on one tree!”/></a><blockquote>Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala and Red Macintosh all on one tree!</blockquote></div>
Just to finish off, here’s a really quick and easy dessert recipe that takes almost zero effort. Get yourself a package of frozen tart shells and bake them (empty) according to the directions on the box. When they are cool just fill them with some key lime flavour “Oikos” Greek yoghurt from Danone and then sprinkle the top with a bit of graham cracker crumbs. One 100ml tub of yoghurt will fill 3 shells. Key lime tarts, mmmmmm.
<p>
<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBTxEjOU_0m8X4Ebs9MhHIAP7rK2L5u_ctwsBgZFC9gtd36xmdRxbays10AfHIDn_oXLGZbyOx9k2GdSAucaexf5tzTD37sT6EvGY7rQY4eoixSm7k8WZc1ivasUpeYZ3nx1pIravMI/s1600/Key-Lime-Oikos-Yogurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBTxEjOU_0m8X4Ebs9MhHIAP7rK2L5u_ctwsBgZFC9gtd36xmdRxbays10AfHIDn_oXLGZbyOx9k2GdSAucaexf5tzTD37sT6EvGY7rQY4eoixSm7k8WZc1ivasUpeYZ3nx1pIravMI/s400/Key-Lime-Oikos-Yogurt.jpg" width="400" alt=”Oikos Greek yoghurt.”/></a><blockquote>Oikos Greek yoghurt.</blockquote></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUGZf0t5aApw4WE2Jvd_L3Oj5jC8dzF03M2rVXsjUhDKsp9jVjo1c05o4ctqw-StVqMN2CE3LmK5_Nf0WGJew2O-IBmKV78wJcz-ElLe6yRfHrwJ5UUwhTt-DKDR3-d0sMqBJsoKxE9I/s1600/Key-Lime-Tarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUGZf0t5aApw4WE2Jvd_L3Oj5jC8dzF03M2rVXsjUhDKsp9jVjo1c05o4ctqw-StVqMN2CE3LmK5_Nf0WGJew2O-IBmKV78wJcz-ElLe6yRfHrwJ5UUwhTt-DKDR3-d0sMqBJsoKxE9I/s400/Key-Lime-Tarts.jpg" width="400" alt=”Key lime tarts. Very tasty.”/></a><blockquote>Key lime tarts. Very tasty.</blockquote></div>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-34882068868389242742012-02-19T09:47:00.001-04:002012-02-19T09:49:20.580-04:00Let's Catch Up.So you may have noticed that I haven’t written many posts lately. That’s just me being lazy, I guess, sorry. I’ve been keeping myself busy this winter with other things so let’s catch up.<br /><br />I finally got around to working on a craft project Hubby made for me as one of my presents last Christmas, that’s as in 2010, by the way. It is a set of snowmen and snowflakes for my hangar. You might remember that I <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.com/2010/10/happy-thanksgiving-everyone.html">posted</a> about “All in a Row” back in that year. The original design was made by Julie Hardy at <a href="http://countryfeelin.com/">Country Feelin’</a>. She has lots of other projects, too, but I like this one the best. You can see the “All in a Row” sets by clicking <a href="http://countryfeelin.com/interchangable/interchangeableallinarow.html">here</a>. <br /><br />Anyway, the snowmen had been gathering dust on my craft table so I decided that I would wipe them off and finish them up. I really enjoyed painting and decorating them, I was just savouring the moments till they were finished off just right. All they need now is some wire and they are ready to go. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vI5cFJx3UnjN9phRTLm9IY4-PQyLeWcELTJWjaAg1ZMy1g20GdoXe_te00JmZGtbefWSeXj96NFumHCYzBnJtLr3nh8ifcwbdDOCYdkV6PqYmUPwfb3mUPfGPPds_TORVtyYnGqmQfE/s1600/Snowman-Details.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vI5cFJx3UnjN9phRTLm9IY4-PQyLeWcELTJWjaAg1ZMy1g20GdoXe_te00JmZGtbefWSeXj96NFumHCYzBnJtLr3nh8ifcwbdDOCYdkV6PqYmUPwfb3mUPfGPPds_TORVtyYnGqmQfE/s400/Snowman-Details.jpg" border="0" alt=" Here is a close-up of three of the snowmen."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317418652393026" /></a><blockquote>Here is a close-up of three of the snowmen.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM9gHc4H-W10mx3hVbv2kgECrN58qIMsD8GiE6nBh68C1yhLfI6IAZyyItC1En3Ov7oGCu7_m9LZuP6x2XW0ZFE4YshbxJ-UXGqPkl1e6RC_zf9WG0LcwXsCEkOz37z2GVipVpZFMlFY/s1600/All-In-A-Row-Snowman-Set.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM9gHc4H-W10mx3hVbv2kgECrN58qIMsD8GiE6nBh68C1yhLfI6IAZyyItC1En3Ov7oGCu7_m9LZuP6x2XW0ZFE4YshbxJ-UXGqPkl1e6RC_zf9WG0LcwXsCEkOz37z2GVipVpZFMlFY/s400/All-In-A-Row-Snowman-Set.jpg" border="0" alt=" All the pieces have finally been painted and assembled."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317401008674306" /></a><blockquote> All the pieces have finally been painted and assembled.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik35AxCzF9iXwl5BrposrhLLtjcuAd9eS1VTVoHiiybMyb7lIiJSP9Ppyfz8QnbgeVFnu3mUqa_kiAFvihJQ9rLnL8SejzK4W-e3oqTWEGhiPgsJyCNcePhvVPG3GV94_9kSEe8hd-ee4/s1600/All-In-A-Row-Snowman-Set2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik35AxCzF9iXwl5BrposrhLLtjcuAd9eS1VTVoHiiybMyb7lIiJSP9Ppyfz8QnbgeVFnu3mUqa_kiAFvihJQ9rLnL8SejzK4W-e3oqTWEGhiPgsJyCNcePhvVPG3GV94_9kSEe8hd-ee4/s400/All-In-A-Row-Snowman-Set2.jpg" border="0" alt="All they need now is some wire to attach them to the hangar."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317396495074130" /></a><blockquote>All they need now is some wire to attach them to the hangar.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-BuPjecVdiWGQcXfQvIVFSYfkuwr9g5G-J3gzC_LE8SvlzRPE8A2D7eRf34MPyUnOYNrQCFNQIAcodvfmFAtIxezxrHw5MDbe11SXOTakxC28PDIjD1nwb41VgIibjzCZI5fIX9hDnM/s1600/Craft-Room-Table.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-BuPjecVdiWGQcXfQvIVFSYfkuwr9g5G-J3gzC_LE8SvlzRPE8A2D7eRf34MPyUnOYNrQCFNQIAcodvfmFAtIxezxrHw5MDbe11SXOTakxC28PDIjD1nwb41VgIibjzCZI5fIX9hDnM/s400/Craft-Room-Table.jpg" border="0" alt=" Hmmm… Looks like someone has been busy in the craft room."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317410004608098" /></a><blockquote>Hmmm… Looks like someone has been busy in the craft room.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcYJQ_d-2LSwOfv-jydQcURbFIzwjTt44q8yxJ4GIXxqtV31vuwPoULKURPHUtQBAUowXOHQPJfWEysMNRj9PqDaaT-BZRu9IzRnugdIx61j7LMSojaVgE102hrZX7eBL7U_Ne7zHBXo/s1600/Ipod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcYJQ_d-2LSwOfv-jydQcURbFIzwjTt44q8yxJ4GIXxqtV31vuwPoULKURPHUtQBAUowXOHQPJfWEysMNRj9PqDaaT-BZRu9IzRnugdIx61j7LMSojaVgE102hrZX7eBL7U_Ne7zHBXo/s400/Ipod.jpg" border="0" alt="My new iPod with its accessories."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317374724016418" /></a><blockquote>My new iPod with its accessories.</blockquote><br />For Christmas this year Hubby got me an <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/">iPod Touch</a> with a beautiful orange case to replace the mp3 player I had been using. I had given him an iPod the previous year and he had spent the entire year raving about it and all the things it could do. I doubt I’ll ever use half the features it has but as soon as I charged it up I immediately wanted to download a game called <a href="http://www.rovio.com/en/our-work/games">Angry Birds </a> which I have been hearing so much about that I just had to see what all the buzz was really about. <br /><br />BIG MISTAKE!!! <br /><br />I’m hooked and honestly can’t stop thinking about breaking levels and achieving the high scores. I have even purchased stickers for the inside of my professional notebook so I can have a laugh while sitting around important meeting which are truly boring. I’ve gone bird crazy looking for t-shirts and any cool stuff I can get my hands on relating towards this game. Oh and I’m not the only one who is infatuated with this game. I have talked some of my co-workers into down-loading the game and they are hooked, too. <br /><br />We don’t really know the names of the birds so I have devised names of my own for them. Speeder bird, splitter bird, bomber birds, fat ass balloon bird, big red boss, little fart red bird and boomerang bird to name a few. I bet you’ll look into angry birds to see what I’m talking about, maybe get a copy for yourself. Don’t worry you won’t be alone. With over 10 billion downloads the Rovio guys have done something right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09c-0yNUeIaFNX498BRWwvQeStqP3g2eGOm359a7NEpN9tJMH-SQbCw_NyIeJJflxgm8iUj0_MzY_NtYFSmSTgUMaCv_wmJJ-qYjsskDF9Key7Fz6XpP5c6lPHl51kqgnYY2XDEZHKi0/s1600/Angry+Birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09c-0yNUeIaFNX498BRWwvQeStqP3g2eGOm359a7NEpN9tJMH-SQbCw_NyIeJJflxgm8iUj0_MzY_NtYFSmSTgUMaCv_wmJJ-qYjsskDF9Key7Fz6XpP5c6lPHl51kqgnYY2XDEZHKi0/s400/Angry+Birds.jpg" border="0" alt=" Big Red Boss Bird "id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708325534475438258" /></a><blockquote>Big Red Boss Bird</blockquote><br />I have also been trying new recipes lately and made a fantastic supper for Superbowl Sunday that just so happened to exactly match a suggested meal written about in a local newspaper. Slow roasted BBQ back ribs, homemade baked beans and coleslaw, mmm. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU8SoHHaTBof2C8KdbTIt8wJPtnJPgFCR98A7PCTq3cU1nsZd_jv4rc9TJd7183EUSDdiDgMBjJ9UnZXJUfemP7Zok6jeSqWBiWVowoZT5KJjNF2cbvnQwogdseJA3RZsaN0jKAFqnFo/s1600/Super-Bowl-Paper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU8SoHHaTBof2C8KdbTIt8wJPtnJPgFCR98A7PCTq3cU1nsZd_jv4rc9TJd7183EUSDdiDgMBjJ9UnZXJUfemP7Zok6jeSqWBiWVowoZT5KJjNF2cbvnQwogdseJA3RZsaN0jKAFqnFo/s400/Super-Bowl-Paper.jpg" border="0" alt="The local paper had an article suggesting the exact supper we had planned."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317071172020290" /></a><blockquote>The local paper had an article suggesting the exact supper we had planned.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rkbNqnXIs4NpZeObxPbR4OrA05pdGRsBDPK-58RRUD0yNIlbfhV450vNYvncjj09KPoAAcy5fEvwjjXPBolfPfhy4TI8ddOkQ9vS-sfmt_FEnatsJV2Q8YPuTw_7JEe4xda_7Dpg5es/s1600/Yummy-Coleslaw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rkbNqnXIs4NpZeObxPbR4OrA05pdGRsBDPK-58RRUD0yNIlbfhV450vNYvncjj09KPoAAcy5fEvwjjXPBolfPfhy4TI8ddOkQ9vS-sfmt_FEnatsJV2Q8YPuTw_7JEe4xda_7Dpg5es/s400/Yummy-Coleslaw.jpg" border="0" alt="The coleslaw was a new recipe that included carrots, celery and green onions."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317062915394850" /></a><blockquote>The coleslaw was a new recipe that included carrots, celery and green onions.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAJiyWg7dZ-B_rQS3zHgUTSEXFPi76Rc-9kEA9pg3DBCUHlPtfBvAXnHMke-e1g-2v8gvtYGNIabzl-d_wTIUi2fTFDiLkfmXV2iE3S17kn3D8UdpoEueyqCSvTwfE6X-Glx26zkaK8A/s1600/Super-Bowl-Supper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAJiyWg7dZ-B_rQS3zHgUTSEXFPi76Rc-9kEA9pg3DBCUHlPtfBvAXnHMke-e1g-2v8gvtYGNIabzl-d_wTIUi2fTFDiLkfmXV2iE3S17kn3D8UdpoEueyqCSvTwfE6X-Glx26zkaK8A/s400/Super-Bowl-Supper.jpg" border="0" alt="Ribs and beans and coleslaw, yummy"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317033301006434" /></a><blockquote>Ribs and beans and coleslaw, yummy.</blockquote><br />I also made a turkey pot pie from a <a href="http://www.canadianliving.com/food/turkey_pot_pie.php">recipe</a> I found in a Canadian Living magazine. It was the first time I had ever cooked anything using leeks and it turned out great. We'll definitely be doing this one again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF9y0cs-OifnhTO6Z70hnve_Rga9ya-EDK7oFopYvquOTx3PBl8J7C-ublZdf7x73HIF0nWmwoDl-2B3jbbcDnOHEIus64rxZzqbTPFfosaXmS_7ORzOu2XbpsEIZ-pBKDIr71HdOBs4/s1600/Turkey-Pot-Pie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF9y0cs-OifnhTO6Z70hnve_Rga9ya-EDK7oFopYvquOTx3PBl8J7C-ublZdf7x73HIF0nWmwoDl-2B3jbbcDnOHEIus64rxZzqbTPFfosaXmS_7ORzOu2XbpsEIZ-pBKDIr71HdOBs4/s400/Turkey-Pot-Pie.jpg" border="0" alt="Turkey Pot Pie"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710837595678656162" /></a><blockquote>Turkey Pot Pie</blockquote><br />And then there was Valentine’s Day where we had our beef stew and fresh biscuits and I made Hubby a pecan pie from a <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/11/pecan-pie/">recipe</a> that I found on the Pioneer Woman’s site. The pie turned out great and was super easy to make. He loved it and he was kind enough to give me a small piece but, at 10,000 calories per slice, I didn’t really want too much anyway.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKurIP3bsclujm-q1O9oMilRIGZAuYZuqSwc9o1yqkU6XsALPWHYKArqmkknTV7XaA8QLURVPp6X3HTZSYb6itj17xXBzUmYQJOTuDkK4tl9jI6_ENUwPMW7zIBH9E3VyqrcgfnR4H2Y4/s1600/Beef-Stew.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKurIP3bsclujm-q1O9oMilRIGZAuYZuqSwc9o1yqkU6XsALPWHYKArqmkknTV7XaA8QLURVPp6X3HTZSYb6itj17xXBzUmYQJOTuDkK4tl9jI6_ENUwPMW7zIBH9E3VyqrcgfnR4H2Y4/s400/Beef-Stew.jpg" border="0" alt="We always make beef stew in a large economy size. It lasts for several meals."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317027173922530" /></a><blockquote>We always make beef stew in a large economy size. It lasts for several meals.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-eJk1GIgKD3BwGZeKnbavBe42A9b1xAW4OSEVygBgAh6PnQ7Cbfq5RPT1U01uKfg-XXKqoPbSJr-Ul4VSbelrIWDdofUS6ZWm4Sx5WSRsS0MpFrns25iH-Yh7hueOkZrnLurtHJ6xaw/s1600/Stew-and-Biscuits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-eJk1GIgKD3BwGZeKnbavBe42A9b1xAW4OSEVygBgAh6PnQ7Cbfq5RPT1U01uKfg-XXKqoPbSJr-Ul4VSbelrIWDdofUS6ZWm4Sx5WSRsS0MpFrns25iH-Yh7hueOkZrnLurtHJ6xaw/s400/Stew-and-Biscuits.jpg" border="0" alt="The perfect side dish for stew is fresh biscuits and butter."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708317025568786114" /></a><blockquote>The perfect side dish for stew is fresh biscuits and butter.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMEDfpKjzkyhYxisXrthevalSkIyM3Whd2mjXFhT-wtwKJVHl-7W2cgUPQBDENCXFwh6PbwV4u3i8AFnmc8zqoX8wqWfLjdI1PZqYscuoTfBwSEML42pFs6271XuuHZjOLKpvqTkuVvw/s1600/Valentine-Pecan-Pie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMEDfpKjzkyhYxisXrthevalSkIyM3Whd2mjXFhT-wtwKJVHl-7W2cgUPQBDENCXFwh6PbwV4u3i8AFnmc8zqoX8wqWfLjdI1PZqYscuoTfBwSEML42pFs6271XuuHZjOLKpvqTkuVvw/s400/Valentine-Pecan-Pie.jpg" border="0" alt="Hubby's Valentine gift, my first pecan pie."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710837609770112546" /></a><blockquote>Hubby's Valentine gift, my first pecan pie.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLxp_yDv8Wds9LWLEIjc3tVD-d2ELGkIo-lgjnjfmyZmEZVfyGvqCNsC3btYaBZ9aqn4J-ex0UUbsae7RrORYVHkcknyJzwaEQPIW0byGkDwEoIyw-0vGfdXBljyDrqh9c8Z2qU3zlqk/s1600/Pecan-Pie-Slice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLxp_yDv8Wds9LWLEIjc3tVD-d2ELGkIo-lgjnjfmyZmEZVfyGvqCNsC3btYaBZ9aqn4J-ex0UUbsae7RrORYVHkcknyJzwaEQPIW0byGkDwEoIyw-0vGfdXBljyDrqh9c8Z2qU3zlqk/s400/Pecan-Pie-Slice.jpg" border="0" alt="Don't stare at this picture, it will make you fat just by looking at it."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710837599635752434" /></a><blockquote>Don't stare at this picture, it will make you fat just by looking at it.</blockquote><br /><br />So that's how I'm filling up my days. Working and baking and gaming and waiting for winter to fade away so that I can get out to my garden. It can't come soon enough.The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-38583347944748869572012-01-22T17:31:00.002-04:002012-01-22T17:38:39.172-04:00A Lobster Port In The Winter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3v33XRFweBvikxVDoeARoyJQYKxvNnN-m42An2UgKd03ZhkH2ExzfU0M4DIE8z7GMVkIuecxjRtPJAFi8p7OPNmQsPLTqDF9xcp3nM6Iwg-JHDqY-GrTK-oZ_GUpF-25eingW9o9SBE/s1600/Waiting-For-Spring.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3v33XRFweBvikxVDoeARoyJQYKxvNnN-m42An2UgKd03ZhkH2ExzfU0M4DIE8z7GMVkIuecxjRtPJAFi8p7OPNmQsPLTqDF9xcp3nM6Iwg-JHDqY-GrTK-oZ_GUpF-25eingW9o9SBE/s400/Waiting-For-Spring.jpg" border="0" alt="These beautiful fibreglass fishing boats are waiting on the wharf for the spring season to open." id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700183219152122802" /></a><blockquote>These beautiful fibreglass fishing boats are waiting on the wharf for the spring season to open.</blockquote><br />There was “Knot a Chance” I was going to miss a cold, snow covered, bright sunny day to take some pictures of a cute fishing village wharf close to home here on the Witch’s Island. It’s an interesting place at this time of year. The boats are all resting, some in fine shape, new and gleaming and some are very much showing signs of wear and tear. One boat had an ugly metal patch on its gunwale and there were several more that were badly in need of a good paint touch-up. Still, they looked so graceful up on their stands waiting for spring so that they can sail the ocean far and wide again to bring home the daily catch. Oh, what stories and secrets have been told on these beautiful boats we can only imagine. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZmqAL0zC60jx6VQbS_kABDJQIYOc4Kq_W-6a7SQOCToSW1O7nHQfSguy8pyUV6PN_ZbgN3mBWXsp1ZLUBGKlEL60w_gyQFmv0e_ySfN-eAuWs91MlgaosEAK2bT1nT8u2gZtoOWYBJQ/s1600/Shabby-Mermaid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZmqAL0zC60jx6VQbS_kABDJQIYOc4Kq_W-6a7SQOCToSW1O7nHQfSguy8pyUV6PN_ZbgN3mBWXsp1ZLUBGKlEL60w_gyQFmv0e_ySfN-eAuWs91MlgaosEAK2bT1nT8u2gZtoOWYBJQ/s400/Shabby-Mermaid.jpg" border="0" alt=" Might be time to give this mermaid a new coat of paint."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700208029147673618" /></a><blockquote>Might be time to give this mermaid a new coat of paint.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3jj8_ZOsrNUFgbgwoHXd6AYTKrMobXdjVG2Hsvkg9w0E__eW36a-ihlUbRW3DpSOiMIZeb-EK4W5BKUwoWHS5j8AAIIsmeNVcDSFMNE4hTka2wg8vi8-OloDVP3wfv4sjijtmXneV48/s1600/War-Wound.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3jj8_ZOsrNUFgbgwoHXd6AYTKrMobXdjVG2Hsvkg9w0E__eW36a-ihlUbRW3DpSOiMIZeb-EK4W5BKUwoWHS5j8AAIIsmeNVcDSFMNE4hTka2wg8vi8-OloDVP3wfv4sjijtmXneV48/s400/War-Wound.jpg" border="0" alt=" Not the prettiest vessel in the fleet!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700208023738919202" /></a><blockquote>Not the prettiest vessel in the fleet!</blockquote><br />In summers past I have been on quite a few deep-sea fishing trips where I have fished cod, mackerel, hake, sole, and even the odd sculpin fish. Only the last kind was ever thrown back and that was only because they are so damn ugly. If you ever saw one you would know what I mean. Still, apparently while they are lacking in good looks they supposedly very tasty. Maybe you’ll try one and let me know.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3AMlEjYJpWrRb2KjpW-M8Efts-EPFjwdjnCHXO71RiTO6MwSo1Bu3JF5XCS9riHfvDu60hsx2oVndH9R_Gi1WkvIGm5_1giINNr5S5uRXkQa5-XhLL3NvprPd9JFe4_V0xzHVznzktY/s1600/Dockside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3AMlEjYJpWrRb2KjpW-M8Efts-EPFjwdjnCHXO71RiTO6MwSo1Bu3JF5XCS9riHfvDu60hsx2oVndH9R_Gi1WkvIGm5_1giINNr5S5uRXkQa5-XhLL3NvprPd9JFe4_V0xzHVznzktY/s400/Dockside.jpg" border="0" alt="The boats are all on shore at this time of year."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700182767584639522" /></a><blockquote>The boats are all on shore at this time of year.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim44vRlgTDAkCPds_bdLgA1s6MsdnPkdnRWXuPgHMkXOhmTg_AIJMzuk0iTWmd-Gs49wCYBWLCeSmZ4rA6nMoEcmQY_uOqHTGxJu_TiwUIGEsfPFcugwIo4jEztyh6hyQKLWf1wPuk6Fg/s1600/Empty-Pier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim44vRlgTDAkCPds_bdLgA1s6MsdnPkdnRWXuPgHMkXOhmTg_AIJMzuk0iTWmd-Gs49wCYBWLCeSmZ4rA6nMoEcmQY_uOqHTGxJu_TiwUIGEsfPFcugwIo4jEztyh6hyQKLWf1wPuk6Fg/s400/Empty-Pier.jpg" border="0" alt="Even with the mild weather we have had this year the water has still frozen solid."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700182770742491074" /></a><blockquote>Even with the mild weather we have had this year the water has still frozen solid.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx5NcLHMPIztl3QQ5S_bI5DK3bjxjnvWiWcMbDnISvWWNv_ViBlaIew3Es8c93n1Xl5DlfSho5s0duVycoawfwjyNu_6zFAFxF5YvMPA_u_3Bvj-gJPZkZdYhWfG0ycg0M3qW0XPT68w/s1600/Red-Shed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx5NcLHMPIztl3QQ5S_bI5DK3bjxjnvWiWcMbDnISvWWNv_ViBlaIew3Es8c93n1Xl5DlfSho5s0duVycoawfwjyNu_6zFAFxF5YvMPA_u_3Bvj-gJPZkZdYhWfG0ycg0M3qW0XPT68w/s400/Red-Shed.jpg" border="0" alt=" Not a soul around."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700183210520353442" /></a><blockquote>Not a soul around.</blockquote><br />The wharf itself was very still, not even the water was moving, it being frozen right to the edges of the pier. Even the wind stopped while we were there. It was kind of like a maritime ghost town. It was pretty, though. Most shacks had some kind of decoration, a bright red paint, some old tuna tails, a pirate flag. They really stood out against the winter sky and the ice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d2cLuvARX4ug6dHyAE13H1Boc_V0Ij5o-Y5kMdI1pqy9MSizTqPKjSzTl7c5FH6qyv3TqhL1M9hLu7tRAauxw-TUNcKV7wCgYcrwXWe6iPVKWLiPtk1pX9KC_sZpSgfz4lmRznAjC9Q/s1600/Tuna-Tails.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d2cLuvARX4ug6dHyAE13H1Boc_V0Ij5o-Y5kMdI1pqy9MSizTqPKjSzTl7c5FH6qyv3TqhL1M9hLu7tRAauxw-TUNcKV7wCgYcrwXWe6iPVKWLiPtk1pX9KC_sZpSgfz4lmRznAjC9Q/s400/Tuna-Tails.jpg" border="0" alt=" Like notches on the gunslinger’s pistol, someone is keeping track of the kill."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700183212803788978" /></a><blockquote>Like notches on the gunslinger’s pistol, someone is keeping track of the kill.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylLnms77_uX7PqC_AlLMU_rAPUOJawLGfyttPIjc_p6Fiy3ztgNahwZtox2kGWCvDQTyC0HbiKZEWL4EM_GXBtRpWFc2Hsiqqxggpgz576wARtLLNNVumjdfnED3TvSgt9WiSA7xRiP4/s1600/Pirate-Day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylLnms77_uX7PqC_AlLMU_rAPUOJawLGfyttPIjc_p6Fiy3ztgNahwZtox2kGWCvDQTyC0HbiKZEWL4EM_GXBtRpWFc2Hsiqqxggpgz576wARtLLNNVumjdfnED3TvSgt9WiSA7xRiP4/s400/Pirate-Day.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Skull and Crossbones. I don’t imagine that this flag leaves the port."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700183203774573954" /></a><blockquote>The Skull and Crossbones. I don’t imagine that this flag leaves the port.</blockquote><br />Three of the sheds had weathervanes, which seems sort of redundant but I guess it’s important to know which way the wind is blowing if you’re heading out on the water. My favourite of the three was the funky bird one which looked like it had been constructed from old yard tools.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOil_XAxx0cfYXNjZCFD2Ut_Zg15mdEyrVGrJYkmx7mz9dxqRRZZ29Lj3DYAzHRpup3zCdo4a1lhP3tr7bPAhyphenhyphen1CknQcoIdajH2Dl0NBGn7o2K3RFcq3rJOmOSmHHM_FAir5xcschEsA/s1600/Funky-Weathervane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOil_XAxx0cfYXNjZCFD2Ut_Zg15mdEyrVGrJYkmx7mz9dxqRRZZ29Lj3DYAzHRpup3zCdo4a1lhP3tr7bPAhyphenhyphen1CknQcoIdajH2Dl0NBGn7o2K3RFcq3rJOmOSmHHM_FAir5xcschEsA/s400/Funky-Weathervane.jpg" border="0" alt="This weathervane looks like it was homemade from old garden tools."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700182780070687250" /></a><blockquote>This weathervane looks like it was homemade from old garden tools.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6BC808i3p0zeibhB4uAUu5qjmsGWXWFgQVLMzvHqn7O54Ggy9L6XDsuyezAKA3HaPEHQNR-hG4J7RLKvGRd5hfyYBM1VT8zW958qqC6WW_TU3VfZFTtP9mbWtdopjxxQsWYJwoy-u88/s1600/Fisherman-Weathervane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6BC808i3p0zeibhB4uAUu5qjmsGWXWFgQVLMzvHqn7O54Ggy9L6XDsuyezAKA3HaPEHQNR-hG4J7RLKvGRd5hfyYBM1VT8zW958qqC6WW_TU3VfZFTtP9mbWtdopjxxQsWYJwoy-u88/s400/Fisherman-Weathervane.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700182774050581682" /></a><blockquote>This one has a fisherman in a dory.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41OzOjEECYfD04YQ1knxgd8hPOrT3tgrJoNqKXVz7TCBRBPm3wuSrBe0Ircjj5-nqbo91aSqHs7v7ygQYE0FGubPSXcsjN1FgeWnOLQacJb6piQa3fcZRXCx25HKUAHs88wveOuJz4ic/s1600/Swimming-Duck-Weathervane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41OzOjEECYfD04YQ1knxgd8hPOrT3tgrJoNqKXVz7TCBRBPm3wuSrBe0Ircjj5-nqbo91aSqHs7v7ygQYE0FGubPSXcsjN1FgeWnOLQacJb6piQa3fcZRXCx25HKUAHs88wveOuJz4ic/s400/Swimming-Duck-Weathervane.jpg" border="0" alt="This weathervane is some kind of duck floating in a pond."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700183214975450786" /></a><blockquote>This weathervane is some kind of duck floating in a pond.</blockquote><br />We have been very lucky with the weather so far this year. Winter is already a third complete and I choose to believe that spring is just around the corner. I can almost picture the boats plowing through the waves right now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnCVnvkiupDLAaahy20EAwooIimI5XurNmrkRnTUf_sAVOT_oYFEI9AJ6riJp_whDnlwp96ExNUzQvg5QJN274TPuL6U93qXDNskuJ4M14PamuY9-EOS-eAD9yretykufDTbot6fZCLE/s1600/High-and-Dry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnCVnvkiupDLAaahy20EAwooIimI5XurNmrkRnTUf_sAVOT_oYFEI9AJ6riJp_whDnlwp96ExNUzQvg5QJN274TPuL6U93qXDNskuJ4M14PamuY9-EOS-eAD9yretykufDTbot6fZCLE/s400/High-and-Dry.jpg" border="0" alt=" The last thing the lobster sees just before his trap is hauled over the side."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700182784703353778" /></a><blockquote>The last thing the lobster sees just before his trap is hauled over the side…</blockquote>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-41028842803993663842012-01-03T18:01:00.005-04:002012-01-03T18:45:21.850-04:00My Secret Santa Has Really Come Through!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMjhqzc8Q06dolhkpC4UEqGb7NaD4bfPdDGZP5XA_9rALWDtZu7gwm3CH0eH_M4ONHxjfMAlHPKglw3pvOgpqtTQW7gEWITOcvbEwbwBQgEPfhbimXZzIANIqEsNk3zDe_fz9ayItMSY/s1600/Secret-Santa-Box.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMjhqzc8Q06dolhkpC4UEqGb7NaD4bfPdDGZP5XA_9rALWDtZu7gwm3CH0eH_M4ONHxjfMAlHPKglw3pvOgpqtTQW7gEWITOcvbEwbwBQgEPfhbimXZzIANIqEsNk3zDe_fz9ayItMSY/s400/Secret-Santa-Box.jpg" border="0" alt=" My Secret Santa parcel has arrived!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693529600319912098" /></a><blockquote>My Secret Santa parcel has arrived!</blockquote><br />My Secret Santa has really come through!<br /><br />Christmas had come and gone and there had been no parcel in the mail and I was wondering if maybe there wouldn’t be one but, lo and behold, there it was in this morning’s post! Hubby picked it up before work today and then phoned me to say that it was here. I spent all day wondering what it could be, just like a little kid.<br /><br />When he finally got home this afternoon I tore right into it and it was full of wonderful things! There were four jars of home-made preserves in a table-top caddy, fours small books and a nice card. Wow, Secret Santa, thank you so much! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRi8qT3pfdrTxAQVcfcAnx43r-R13L7asOAUY5s3mO7jYlIDOTIeHZv_KHNuSLLaXfQKL3bnbyN9-2Verm2MlyyF7KYX40Ezp0wR7jLedqmsyT_O1P5s9DRjVI06lfruhlk-cvq04C-g/s1600/Opening-My-Secret-Santa-Box.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRi8qT3pfdrTxAQVcfcAnx43r-R13L7asOAUY5s3mO7jYlIDOTIeHZv_KHNuSLLaXfQKL3bnbyN9-2Verm2MlyyF7KYX40Ezp0wR7jLedqmsyT_O1P5s9DRjVI06lfruhlk-cvq04C-g/s400/Opening-My-Secret-Santa-Box.jpg" border="0" alt=" Pulling the contents from my Secret Santa parcel."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693529601672209218" /></a><blockquote>Pulling the contents from my Secret Santa parcel.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNRqtFHrlYdDrKXoX9DwifYRRFLJej1qFM6jAkwbnQG9Q7KpefoD-A83aMs2WxH_z94FFNQFTCg7cq8T6j0kP8wuDa4v4TJnIDry0Ho26j7l0SiCPsSvG_9WGZB2xnfiOIWQobGgAaNs/s1600/Secret-Santa-Box-Contents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNRqtFHrlYdDrKXoX9DwifYRRFLJej1qFM6jAkwbnQG9Q7KpefoD-A83aMs2WxH_z94FFNQFTCg7cq8T6j0kP8wuDa4v4TJnIDry0Ho26j7l0SiCPsSvG_9WGZB2xnfiOIWQobGgAaNs/s400/Secret-Santa-Box-Contents.jpg" border="0" alt=" Everything was nicely wrapped and looked beautiful."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693529591534051970" /></a><blockquote>Everything was nicely wrapped and looked beautiful.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu02SpjmlV1Xnd4_shcJiRLkAxeo84ayf3tD_ByHWlyNHmRF3NhmD3W2MretRF5ej-gOob63_Vz3XK5B8YJOzhHGe2rPax2e3gHUoUB6J8koRv-_0t2wPVVMjp2w-0ebIn-A2RNYMnt9o/s1600/Secret-Santa-Gifts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu02SpjmlV1Xnd4_shcJiRLkAxeo84ayf3tD_ByHWlyNHmRF3NhmD3W2MretRF5ej-gOob63_Vz3XK5B8YJOzhHGe2rPax2e3gHUoUB6J8koRv-_0t2wPVVMjp2w-0ebIn-A2RNYMnt9o/s400/Secret-Santa-Gifts.jpg" border="0" alt=" My Secret Santa gifts, homemade jams in a pretty metal caddy and four little books."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693529590322843442" /></a><blockquote>My Secret Santa gifts, homemade jams in a pretty metal caddy and four little books.</blockquote><br /><br />While I can’t be 100% sure who my Secret Santa really is I think that I know and she is a fellow blogger. You can find her at <a href="http://outmywindowtoday.blogspot.com/">this link</a> and if that isn’t her then that blog is an interesting read anyway.<br /><br />Thanks again, Santa!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-72858804062455335692012-01-01T10:02:00.007-04:002012-01-01T11:20:09.513-04:00Best Wishes For 2012!We were out for a drive yesterday and this caught my eye from the passenger side window. This guy was prepared for any possibility! I had to take a picture. It’s was just too funny.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXzExvbbl_cvTeateZHw5It71U0ZhHJqlfvX6mNRy8s2ymdZaoCrT-Wm2C9rr6Mc8rpBeUVH79voVJrIdQ1Eg58SeLeeblYJ2p7nTTT9wQYUvy_3hwiLOJQrhnfYH3i1KvRRqWKjlZhE/s1600/E_mail+Inbox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXzExvbbl_cvTeateZHw5It71U0ZhHJqlfvX6mNRy8s2ymdZaoCrT-Wm2C9rr6Mc8rpBeUVH79voVJrIdQ1Eg58SeLeeblYJ2p7nTTT9wQYUvy_3hwiLOJQrhnfYH3i1KvRRqWKjlZhE/s400/E_mail+Inbox.jpg" border="0" alt="Roadside email inbox"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692663922105546002" /></a><blockquote>Roadside email inbox. Funny!</blockquote><br />When I got up this morning I discovered that <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.com/2010/01/granny-new-year-came-sometime-through.html">Granny New Year</a> had arrived while I was sleeping. She keeps some late hours. I know because we were out in the back yard lighting off fireworks until almost 12:30 in morning and there was nothing on the kitchen counter before I went to bed. This year she brought me a book about <a href="http://www.pureseaglass.com/">sea glass</a> and it should keep me going until the weather is a little moe suitable for beachcombing.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrKeNUMPALaiyxfmSWFO8a6D-8hoO7Pw2JtoOBOdZvpJJtobees3OEXe3U-G0u5CYQcK_5O8V8sj8_Ey6Wpca0TK2FesH4yTDMyhStkANw3Pma4VbAhFQSI_-W5mYVBbLJpxWYHq_QgA/s1600/Sea-Glass-Granny-New-Year-G.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrKeNUMPALaiyxfmSWFO8a6D-8hoO7Pw2JtoOBOdZvpJJtobees3OEXe3U-G0u5CYQcK_5O8V8sj8_Ey6Wpca0TK2FesH4yTDMyhStkANw3Pma4VbAhFQSI_-W5mYVBbLJpxWYHq_QgA/s400/Sea-Glass-Granny-New-Year-G.jpg" border="0" alt="Pure Sea Glass Book by Richard LaMotte was my Granny New Year gift this year."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692679260946841730" /></a><blockquote>Granny New Year came through again.</blockquote><br />Anyway, I just wanted to wish all my family and friends (including you readers) a Very Happy New Year!!<br /><br />Enjoy.The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-84069473654505566412011-12-25T09:08:00.002-04:002011-12-25T09:11:56.812-04:00From Our House To Yours...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmahu9nf3632vPLr1ezLMAev-lIoEdvTeHI3FOKvnZ_P9MJRuOtJ5Q_pMoCSHqpDLDQVYqH9WJDq0-wJBMAmTe9NShpDJUGisQPrz6oLdnZ4dv5s72khLe2TiXdefNk_vxAqCjyr_krs/s1600/Christmas-Witch-House.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmahu9nf3632vPLr1ezLMAev-lIoEdvTeHI3FOKvnZ_P9MJRuOtJ5Q_pMoCSHqpDLDQVYqH9WJDq0-wJBMAmTe9NShpDJUGisQPrz6oLdnZ4dv5s72khLe2TiXdefNk_vxAqCjyr_krs/s400/Christmas-Witch-House.jpg" border="0" alt="Outdoor Christmas Tree"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690052225016714594" /></a><blockquote>Outdoor Christmas Tree</blockquote><br /><br />Merry Christmas to all.The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-7199661724111776122011-12-18T11:01:00.001-04:002011-12-18T11:28:17.124-04:00Christmas Is A Week AwayRemember the <a href="http://witchisland.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-is-tomorrow-time-to-make-some.html">picture we posted</a> back in October of the sky being reflected in the calm water of a nearby river here on The Witch’s Island? Well, they were having a photo contest at work to decorate the president’s office wall. You know, something to impress visiting customers with, and I entered that picture. Guess what. My picture was one of only three selected! Better still, each of the three finalists won a crisp new $100 bill! And even though it is one of the <a href="http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/">newly introduced plastic bills</a> it’s still a hundred bucks, yahoo! That’s right, baby. The Witch is rich, sort of. It was a shock, but a pleasant one. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iq2fUlF_TaslahwuxRiohcnCmaW0hPW5-sKgSGkrUeBmdcKKaOWD7bWFk-g4UjmjxFCzrS4jDaolQ1siOSNHhwibxENPMKDOEaQpPzQxBQmy1SqLWX3WfqETOkdkGIRs-DWByhSLWIY/s1600/Fall+River.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iq2fUlF_TaslahwuxRiohcnCmaW0hPW5-sKgSGkrUeBmdcKKaOWD7bWFk-g4UjmjxFCzrS4jDaolQ1siOSNHhwibxENPMKDOEaQpPzQxBQmy1SqLWX3WfqETOkdkGIRs-DWByhSLWIY/s400/Fall+River.jpg" border="0" alt="This is the picture that won me a hundred dollars."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687459223883307810" /></a><blockquote> This is the picture that won me a hundred dollars.</blockquote><br />So, what else have I been up to, you say? Well, I’ve been busy crafting away in my basement workshop. I created a little picture using shells and other bits and pieces I collected at the beach this summer while Hubby was in swimming. I really enjoyed designing this and the shells just all fit together nicely to make this scene come alive. I’ve already got some more ideas floating around in my brain and it’s going to be a long winter so I may try some more of these. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLl7pwv0QszICvDLoWcFi7m4DNdEcvgDSBNj0dunbw-eZzIL_l14X642sgD0HHZ-luNKI4J-3DyOMZw-BEsMDSSVgx2TZun3yFgBPlQ2AtxqYQ3FxnlBJJPoynm5HLSgFPvR3RGcjaLc/s1600/Shell-Bird.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLl7pwv0QszICvDLoWcFi7m4DNdEcvgDSBNj0dunbw-eZzIL_l14X642sgD0HHZ-luNKI4J-3DyOMZw-BEsMDSSVgx2TZun3yFgBPlQ2AtxqYQ3FxnlBJJPoynm5HLSgFPvR3RGcjaLc/s400/Shell-Bird.jpg" border="0" alt="I made this picture using shells and driftwood I found on the beach this summer."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687462538236217202" /></a><blockquote>I made this picture using shells and driftwood I found on the beach this summer.</blockquote><br />I’ve also been decorating the family room for Christmas. The fireplace mantle is one of my favourite things to work on. I love birds so I’ve given it kind of a nature theme. And some poor little elf must have fallen through the ice and gotten soaked. He seems to have left his clothes to dry by the fire. Someday I may find the right elf figurine to sit up there too but so far I haven’t come across one. He would have to be the right scale to fit the clothes and he’d have to be semi-naked or in his undies and that’s just a little too much to ask, I guess. I just might have to make my own. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuuGH8gVmn7qjBqsyR9wsQMqn0GDFBpD2M77n_JOIz75nuXbBzewcd0qcitkYlM0eccwYWqwbMXZoRtDpQTh7eL4XjA4rwi-skDs-RWRusPQK1FRv0TlY4UrEO8MIjoAsXH0kx9Yr_lU/s1600/Christmas-Mantle-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuuGH8gVmn7qjBqsyR9wsQMqn0GDFBpD2M77n_JOIz75nuXbBzewcd0qcitkYlM0eccwYWqwbMXZoRtDpQTh7eL4XjA4rwi-skDs-RWRusPQK1FRv0TlY4UrEO8MIjoAsXH0kx9Yr_lU/s400/Christmas-Mantle-2.jpg" border="0" alt="This is my mantelpiece all decorated for Christmas."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687459224248594898" /></a><blockquote>This is my mantelpiece all decorated for Christmas.</blockquote><br />I’m hoping you all enjoy this little up-date as it is only 7 more sleeps till the big day. Merry Christmas!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-41368754262914120742011-12-12T17:14:00.003-04:002011-12-25T23:17:09.196-04:00Wow, My First Award For Blogging!Well, I was really surprized today when I checked for comments here on the Witch's Island to find that <a href="http://anostrichnamedsam.blogspot.com/">It's Me, Sam</a> had nominated me for a Liebster Award.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnNOJhKSzrk/TuRA7SgwazI/AAAAAAAAAx8/Owbr0siZRMw/s1600/Liebster_Award.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 69px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="Liebster Award" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnNOJhKSzrk/TuRA7SgwazI/AAAAAAAAAx8/Owbr0siZRMw/s1600/Liebster_Award.png" /></a><br /><br />A quick Google search doesn't turn up much information about how the award originated but Sam has a brief description of its intent as well as the rules for passing on the love.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>The rules:<br />1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.<br />2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.<br />3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.<br />4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.<br />5. And most of all - have fun!</blockquote><br /><br />Here are the five that I would like to nominate:<br /><br /><a href="http://grunge-queen.blogspot.com/">Grunge Queen</a><br /><a href="http://agardenwench.blogspot.com/">A Garden Wench</a><br /><a href="http://connienaka.blogspot.com/">Japan - Living The Simple Life</a><br /><a href="http://canoecorner.blogspot.com/">Canoe Corner</a><br /><a href="http://thefathydrangea.blogspot.com/">The Fat Hydrangea</a><br /><br />These are all great reads and I try to get to them all every day. You might want to go to the Grunge Queen's blog first because she is all set to move to England to get married.<br /><br />Thanks again to Sam for this. It's been fun!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-79716567451285357712011-11-29T17:07:00.006-04:002011-11-29T17:30:40.691-04:00Secret Santa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi348PsFzf6k5016PLOCesho5d1rc_7c3mX7V8UBEP4WDUQxdUKfZPWidWP-kexEI_L3BrGONATAR3nPIh1dU4pWM98TFqd3tedkCHgGTPLdFX3v2SBiUGTkBO_m8XU4wRGcrjxYOFRUM4/s1600/secret_santa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi348PsFzf6k5016PLOCesho5d1rc_7c3mX7V8UBEP4WDUQxdUKfZPWidWP-kexEI_L3BrGONATAR3nPIh1dU4pWM98TFqd3tedkCHgGTPLdFX3v2SBiUGTkBO_m8XU4wRGcrjxYOFRUM4/s400/secret_santa.jpg" border="0" alt="Secret Santa"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680527629060591890" /></a><br />(photo above stolen shamelessly from <a href="http://buttonsribbonsandotherthings.blogspot.com/">Buttons, Ribbons And Other Things)</a><br /><br />Way back in October I came across “<a href="http://savernotaspender.blogspot.com/">Serendipity’s Guide To Saving</a>” while doing a little surfing. She was writing about “<a href="http://savernotaspender.blogspot.com/2011/10/introducingthe-bloggy-secret-santa.html">The Bloggy Secret Santa Project</a>” and it sounded like such a great idea that I signed up right away. It looks like about 3 dozen others were interested, too. I’ve been waiting for the email since then to find out who I would be sending gifts to and just yesterday I got it. The matchup is just perfect, as far as I’m concerned. Great job, Serendipity!<br /><br />So I was doing a little spying on my recipient’s blog and it turns out that she has already put up a list of her interests and what she would like to receive and it made me realize that maybe MY Secret Santa would appreciate the same thing from me! Well, here goes!<br /><br />• If you are crafty, any home-made goodies would be great.<br />• Home-made jewelry made with beads, sea glass or other found pieces.<br />• I love all earthy colours but my favourite has always been purple.<br />• Anything to do with owls, I’m just crazy about them.<br />• Dark chocolate covered almonds, mmmmm.<br />• I love gardening and all plants, too.<br /><br />I want to give Serendipity a big thank you for organizing this. It was just what I needed to put me in right frame of mind for the upcoming season. My brain is just buzzing with all kinds of ideas, now. I’m going to have to get busy if I’m going to make the deadline!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-16669113488458263712011-11-01T17:29:00.003-03:002011-11-01T17:37:32.313-03:00Oh, No. Halloween Is Over For Another Year.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm3aVqfoXFusFWtDhJLttgeO89Vv5Rgu-_LYJl4S9OD_47atr5jO_9JHLeIPK2q7-2YtS-huPR3JXm2iosYcq9fy4LuJsB3xFCTiO94SXHgsIevarN0hnQ_IB0F3t4G80eC4B_AgNWXA/s1600/Gonna-Get-Ya.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm3aVqfoXFusFWtDhJLttgeO89Vv5Rgu-_LYJl4S9OD_47atr5jO_9JHLeIPK2q7-2YtS-huPR3JXm2iosYcq9fy4LuJsB3xFCTiO94SXHgsIevarN0hnQ_IB0F3t4G80eC4B_AgNWXA/s400/Gonna-Get-Ya.jpg" border="0" alt=" This creepy pumpkin ghoul was ready to scare the crap out of the kiddies but none of them even noticed him. I think he was disappointed and may have shed a tear or two."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116642694640354" /></a><blockquote>This creepy pumpkin ghoul was ready to scare the crap out of the kiddies but none of them even noticed him. I think he was disappointed and may have shed a tear or two.</blockquote><br />Well Halloween has come and gone for another year but I had a great time while it lasted. After the big storm on Sunday, the weather turned out just beautiful yesterday and it should have meant that the kiddies would be out in full force. Not that any of them actually walk in our neighbourhood, there’s just too much distance between houses. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnr87Mj_4ayzXQRdS2YaMo52myb718l4hDZQzoVvnWk3phhXKmIXmmy6hPxJa6Ni-ZHs4qBJmM2oIOpfs7wh8vrF1NgTazsNx5GvwgBSjgWCrvNI4Zl9XwAb7GkWdtZq-_PcB5DI31k/s1600/Treat-Bag-Contents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxnr87Mj_4ayzXQRdS2YaMo52myb718l4hDZQzoVvnWk3phhXKmIXmmy6hPxJa6Ni-ZHs4qBJmM2oIOpfs7wh8vrF1NgTazsNx5GvwgBSjgWCrvNI4Zl9XwAb7GkWdtZq-_PcB5DI31k/s400/Treat-Bag-Contents.jpg" border="0" alt=" When you know that you are only going to get a dozen kids you can afford to max out the contents of the treat bags."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670127539144759282" /></a><blockquote>When you know that you are only going to get a dozen kids you can afford to max out the contents of the treat bags.</blockquote><br />We did end up giving out 8 treat bags out of the ten we had prepared but two of them were for kids who were stuck at home for some reason. The best costume of the day was worn by one of the mothers, she was dressed up as Smurfette and she had done a pretty good job of it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXENIJp6_6RSakzc4uD6Owt_ZBZRP78Yv3QcMgKvBBhgG-zuv6NMc4NkkWHzZfsQoKoN-dQ25q_oHXCRNzRsRQwomP7XYCjd7JfzCyBVYac_E4f-NTqztvY1WVyWgSNjFxi_lnIQu_B4/s1600/Smurfette.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXENIJp6_6RSakzc4uD6Owt_ZBZRP78Yv3QcMgKvBBhgG-zuv6NMc4NkkWHzZfsQoKoN-dQ25q_oHXCRNzRsRQwomP7XYCjd7JfzCyBVYac_E4f-NTqztvY1WVyWgSNjFxi_lnIQu_B4/s400/Smurfette.jpg" border="0" alt=" Smurfette?"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670127535093576194" /></a><blockquote>Smurfette?</blockquote><br />Anyway, here are a few pictures of this year’s crew. I hope you like them. Now how long did you say it was until Halloween 2012?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwSerqzEOpmUpmL0vAycOCo3FbzfVsML7UMFTpsYVdbaFHwCdAgx9akTZv0lQIrulrxS_zmOeh2mNthkjkd8AGNOiQ1flGdHrQ_amv3_qpSI3U993ei7_PT-KVwS_EGtOMndGU9kpMCg/s1600/Halloween-House.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwSerqzEOpmUpmL0vAycOCo3FbzfVsML7UMFTpsYVdbaFHwCdAgx9akTZv0lQIrulrxS_zmOeh2mNthkjkd8AGNOiQ1flGdHrQ_amv3_qpSI3U993ei7_PT-KVwS_EGtOMndGU9kpMCg/s400/Halloween-House.jpg" border="0" alt=" Halloween night was just perfect, weather-wise and the house was all decked out in plenty of time for us to go outside to enjoy it."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116648988447954" /></a><blockquote>Halloween night was just perfect, weather-wise and the house was all decked out in plenty of time for us to go outside to enjoy it.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzbBm4vKMJf0LLG6VTkP49bNAojW6XFaAM-m4JbUEKCeq1_3g1FQI71r6Tw86wFjnjg-Tvn918WcKWhm72pE1I-MO_KjC81ba_5mSNvhyphenhyphenNQHf7Y2So7tj5625IxUYj2HkECFphUyGrTo/s1600/Owl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzbBm4vKMJf0LLG6VTkP49bNAojW6XFaAM-m4JbUEKCeq1_3g1FQI71r6Tw86wFjnjg-Tvn918WcKWhm72pE1I-MO_KjC81ba_5mSNvhyphenhyphenNQHf7Y2So7tj5625IxUYj2HkECFphUyGrTo/s400/Owl.jpg" border="0" alt=" It looks like the owl has caught himself something to snack on for later."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116660701223138" /></a><blockquote>It looks like the owl has caught himself something to snack on for later.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBwfB2knnNX32V_AQ4WRBP9ANbUu_LXznpipTVdqmzlcfxiyJPFuNtsRfUtpCa7BNSC6PO8xSAVb1CL_2UnKM_HwMno6v-ortt24adxSASuzlNMJoyfvE0ZblUVe9iD5cx_rtcMDOAB8/s1600/Concussed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBwfB2knnNX32V_AQ4WRBP9ANbUu_LXznpipTVdqmzlcfxiyJPFuNtsRfUtpCa7BNSC6PO8xSAVb1CL_2UnKM_HwMno6v-ortt24adxSASuzlNMJoyfvE0ZblUVe9iD5cx_rtcMDOAB8/s400/Concussed.jpg" border="0" alt=" This is the first of the two pumpkins I carved this year. Hubby says that he may have a concussion because of the different sizes of his pupils."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116639612470754" /></a><blockquote>This is the first of the two pumpkins I carved this year. Hubby says that he may have a concussion because of the different sizes of his pupils.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v7LNSZlrSZTdt0NzeXVyGHYKrPZTjIXWQeZa4mYmfpBNgrMhWoLacrWiEmafU8RQhWa3unX3sujhKouVdLHy535ev2Cobl7n0GNxpt5veBIhA8S7PEsfuxdU5rKpb69f1JdeWXHyt5U/s1600/Winky.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v7LNSZlrSZTdt0NzeXVyGHYKrPZTjIXWQeZa4mYmfpBNgrMhWoLacrWiEmafU8RQhWa3unX3sujhKouVdLHy535ev2Cobl7n0GNxpt5veBIhA8S7PEsfuxdU5rKpb69f1JdeWXHyt5U/s400/Winky.jpg" border="0" alt=" Hey, I think this guy is winking at you."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116965695463202" /></a><blockquote>Hey, I think this guy is winking at you.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHzbGGyY5Dygeu7eA49Zm7ZKHOGQS40wDjRijMb7I7wvKLJxcYhluUxuW1Ro7LCADnBp5yG7Pwev0Nz9-53d1f1QxxgQBaD4KUnXASlWHPlnY8M72HLXIlV72t2PYSRko3NkptCNJDd8/s1600/Walkway-Pair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHzbGGyY5Dygeu7eA49Zm7ZKHOGQS40wDjRijMb7I7wvKLJxcYhluUxuW1Ro7LCADnBp5yG7Pwev0Nz9-53d1f1QxxgQBaD4KUnXASlWHPlnY8M72HLXIlV72t2PYSRko3NkptCNJDd8/s400/Walkway-Pair.jpg" border="0" alt=" This is my other pumpkin. I’m not sure what he actually is but he looks kinda like Grover from Sesame Street with a new nose."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116960050687778" /></a><blockquote>This is my other pumpkin. I’m not sure what he actually is but he looks kinda like Grover from Sesame Street with a new nose.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq3_tGuqjQR4joXPafirRTKZoi9ITrKNvMJyfi0rjY1jBjTsKUCSpnTInfJQauqUJ7le3hTb6R5vA8dUUYN2H7gKiY261nDFZr_AO2o8Lxc8FeYe9dbmbrNSgTaEgjSRH9RXmsUhsxm0/s1600/Skelleton-Moon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq3_tGuqjQR4joXPafirRTKZoi9ITrKNvMJyfi0rjY1jBjTsKUCSpnTInfJQauqUJ7le3hTb6R5vA8dUUYN2H7gKiY261nDFZr_AO2o8Lxc8FeYe9dbmbrNSgTaEgjSRH9RXmsUhsxm0/s400/Skelleton-Moon.jpg" border="0" alt="”Stars and Moons” got a skeleton guardian this year."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670116662858142146" /></a><blockquote>”Stars and Moons” got a skeleton guardian this year.</blockquote>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-19232586461500709882011-10-30T14:32:00.003-03:002011-10-30T16:36:21.831-03:00Halloween Is Tomorrow, Time To Make Some Bloody Fingers!Yeah, that's right. Tomorrow is my favourite day of the year. The day when all the ghouls and ghosts come out. Maybe some kids, too. At least they might if this storm eases up. Right now the wind is pounding the house with a hard-driven rain. An hour ago it picked up a plastic lawn chair and threw it from one side of the back deck 40 feet to the other side just missing the kitchen window. We're just feeling lucky though because we aren't getting snow and because we've still got our power on. So with a nice pot roast cooking away in the oven I thought maybe I could share my Witch's Finger cookie recipe with you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmx0YzOY4MO5ESTwV9N9Aq8XhaegmL8JwbQhTzhkE-dAEe98vi5Rcy07qtrTxIaNiigNYJKl9P5WmvOgz5m2Z2WKR_AJaT54AMoD2yJPp8v_C2dY1892YSXkjeTjQSBCq_sSSqWkFyU4/s1600/Witch-Fingers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmx0YzOY4MO5ESTwV9N9Aq8XhaegmL8JwbQhTzhkE-dAEe98vi5Rcy07qtrTxIaNiigNYJKl9P5WmvOgz5m2Z2WKR_AJaT54AMoD2yJPp8v_C2dY1892YSXkjeTjQSBCq_sSSqWkFyU4/s400/Witch-Fingers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669340203625755442" /></a><blockquote>Those are the Witch Finger Cookies under the dome of my cake plate.</blockquote><br /><br /><strong><em>Witch’s Fingers</em></strong><br />(adapted from a <a href="http://www.canadianliving.com/food/creepy_witchs_fingers.php">recipe</a> in <a href="http://www.canadianliving.com">Canadian Living</a> magazine)<br />1 cup butter, softened<br />1 cup icing sugar<br />1 egg<br />1.5 tsp almond extract<br />1 tsp vanilla<br />2 ¾ cup flour<br />1 cup almond, whole and blanched<br />1 tube red cake gel<br />7 or 8 drops green food colouring<br /><br /><br />Preparation:<br />In bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond extract, vanilla and the green food colouring; beat in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.<br />Working with one quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll into a long snake of dough and then cut into 3 or 4 inch pieces. Squeeze the pieces just enough to form the knuckles of the finger shape for each cookie. Using a fork, press the back of the tines lightly onto the top of the knuckle to simulate natural creases. Press almond firmly into end for nail. <br />Place on lightly greased baking sheets; bake in 325°F (160°C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool for 3 minutes. Lift up almond; squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed and press almond back into place, so gel oozes out from underneath. Remove from baking sheets; let cool on racks. Repeat with remaining dough.<br />Makes 3 or 4 dozen creepy and delicious cookies (the number will vary depending on how big you make them)<br />I usually pass these out to the adults who accompany their kiddies to the door if I can keep Hubby from eating them all! I hope you have time to make some, they’re worth the effort!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1A-OFq3v9230ZZdXpbL0B3tECvqCFq7rOByT4sKhSoOeMgTkBTEdXneTvbdwz8LuD_LfF_M1isfMshAP6scqz0nedkyipXpynCIKyMe81_cXpMpgHkhj5BE8jBGd7N9NIJib1ZDPaR0/s1600/Bloody-Fingers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1A-OFq3v9230ZZdXpbL0B3tECvqCFq7rOByT4sKhSoOeMgTkBTEdXneTvbdwz8LuD_LfF_M1isfMshAP6scqz0nedkyipXpynCIKyMe81_cXpMpgHkhj5BE8jBGd7N9NIJib1ZDPaR0/s400/Bloody-Fingers.jpg" border="0" alt=" Never let a witch play with your hammer, they always seem to manage to hit their poor fingernails."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669340199207056002" /></a><blockquote>Never let a witch play with your hammer, they always seem to manage to hit their poor fingernails.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuusT6X65k54xhzg83VFHJrHrnSUbbdeijrIZzd9960dmCZ8kj-TOTfnj18FSrnwwGZbbZ2OfQYBITsrVHODKRbGYzkiKIp4QbzFXqNCp4R5Wnsf4a8xmA4K8tdWUip-gy3A5Pc4pVCp0/s1600/Naked-Pumpkins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuusT6X65k54xhzg83VFHJrHrnSUbbdeijrIZzd9960dmCZ8kj-TOTfnj18FSrnwwGZbbZ2OfQYBITsrVHODKRbGYzkiKIp4QbzFXqNCp4R5Wnsf4a8xmA4K8tdWUip-gy3A5Pc4pVCp0/s400/Naked-Pumpkins.jpg" border="0" alt=" Here is this year’s crew warming up in the garage before their debuts tomorrow."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669340194935750530" /></a><blockquote>Here is this year’s crew warming up in the garage before their debuts tomorrow.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl96ymAoSjDqrqOHrbq7D3Ni1PdOALkKc8edrRGQMDv7HPM8OHCTidzVysxXKUha0ROI2CTUxlBdhS2jnoORD1mhGJHxaxmjHmWItjGtkIsZHtKCFE5NUj3THl9PguUydfcJzVuD-bf8k/s1600/Fall+River.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl96ymAoSjDqrqOHrbq7D3Ni1PdOALkKc8edrRGQMDv7HPM8OHCTidzVysxXKUha0ROI2CTUxlBdhS2jnoORD1mhGJHxaxmjHmWItjGtkIsZHtKCFE5NUj3THl9PguUydfcJzVuD-bf8k/s400/Fall+River.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669340187685392082" /></a><blockquote>You would never believe just how bad it is outside today after seeing how nice it was yesterday.</blockquote>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-22818170930629115042011-09-18T12:07:00.001-03:002011-09-18T12:12:13.431-03:00Witch Gazebo is Done? Well Mine of Course!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJb49_h-t226bH4-FVmRv12iSJHTmRMeyr_yjyRaIp1k3C59rmuYMQdY8mD4mpfldbO14aMMPzOMesDcsbNN3SFquaiUrm7O50clzWQPZctp7jC37gawOYcA__0h6Y_uPb0u_DNldaDc/s1600/Finally-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJb49_h-t226bH4-FVmRv12iSJHTmRMeyr_yjyRaIp1k3C59rmuYMQdY8mD4mpfldbO14aMMPzOMesDcsbNN3SFquaiUrm7O50clzWQPZctp7jC37gawOYcA__0h6Y_uPb0u_DNldaDc/s400/Finally-Done.jpg" alt=" It's DONE!" width="300" /></a></div><blockquote>It's DONE!</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo53u0AgNV61gkVaFJie80kdOfUtsB3o63Bf16WL3Z1erPTOdj2DX0n1-XpdIrKcG8suk770LCWOmRqfDy7eILvAS7v8B7SVs048OgS3BhQwNgmEaDCUv4Wql8dOLjcuLyvSA5i3vcDdg/s1600/Gazebo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo53u0AgNV61gkVaFJie80kdOfUtsB3o63Bf16WL3Z1erPTOdj2DX0n1-XpdIrKcG8suk770LCWOmRqfDy7eILvAS7v8B7SVs048OgS3BhQwNgmEaDCUv4Wql8dOLjcuLyvSA5i3vcDdg/s400/Gazebo1.jpg" alt=" It started with a couple of drawings and a few photos." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>It started with a couple of drawings and a few photos.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDFpPogl_FVXxnf1Qrwb_PDfMj2_3K1-BHBhApecdchhlg3icud4UoIc__kTwXzLlv0yPqd-5hEjVKQ18UJJEDDyoQQUT2RJI601KFBphJVvDHWfsUSsPk_07FkNB3aXHsKhxlzXbNaE/s1600/Foundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDFpPogl_FVXxnf1Qrwb_PDfMj2_3K1-BHBhApecdchhlg3icud4UoIc__kTwXzLlv0yPqd-5hEjVKQ18UJJEDDyoQQUT2RJI601KFBphJVvDHWfsUSsPk_07FkNB3aXHsKhxlzXbNaE/s400/Foundation.jpg" alt=" We made a template and installed the footings." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We made a template and installed the footings.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcKt1CH7XSM0pJX5umBuh0WLlUZfwieq21kIo0MjFjqzzlfmfEhRFSTYn4RcnyMCx1md5WEUuRP3Mbbt6y-VIiQHdGmxIcY3RjHwY03Sms57m1TtVmaT4DWDjQLBYGJEYOh4mfwBDzD4/s1600/Groundwork-done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcKt1CH7XSM0pJX5umBuh0WLlUZfwieq21kIo0MjFjqzzlfmfEhRFSTYn4RcnyMCx1md5WEUuRP3Mbbt6y-VIiQHdGmxIcY3RjHwY03Sms57m1TtVmaT4DWDjQLBYGJEYOh4mfwBDzD4/s400/Groundwork-done.jpg" alt="We added landscape cloth and river stones to control the grass and weeds." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We added landscape cloth and river stones to control the grass and weeds.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmqBZB3utdV2gqClfS5IrF1FmywnHrsKyzzeH0CFtlEx8uRjs-_OJ9GWlnk2rbJdOAes4xpgczph2Z3usjXRCm2epmjKmWLiDjvyhE13zLCPzVT2rKbwBcj11lqYtAf0haLWDu46EoGk/s1600/Platform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmqBZB3utdV2gqClfS5IrF1FmywnHrsKyzzeH0CFtlEx8uRjs-_OJ9GWlnk2rbJdOAes4xpgczph2Z3usjXRCm2epmjKmWLiDjvyhE13zLCPzVT2rKbwBcj11lqYtAf0haLWDu46EoGk/s400/Platform.jpg" alt=" We built a platform sturdy enough to constuct a ten story building on." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We built a platform sturdy enough to constuct a ten story building on.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAuL0XglgIKqTUOh2EAROpzoN_Ut6EInQ-wjFZWlzlFwAxDVRTqYVY4ar6hsX-ZT-vjNO8-wmejKdSo4kIud6jjoLu9Zea_U94Nw0YHNkxlGW9Dp_C6xYLjw3fmoAhDDOmHIuRg7EWKk/s1600/Top-Rails-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAuL0XglgIKqTUOh2EAROpzoN_Ut6EInQ-wjFZWlzlFwAxDVRTqYVY4ar6hsX-ZT-vjNO8-wmejKdSo4kIud6jjoLu9Zea_U94Nw0YHNkxlGW9Dp_C6xYLjw3fmoAhDDOmHIuRg7EWKk/s400/Top-Rails-Done.jpg" alt="We added the corner posts to get it up into the air." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We added the corner posts to get it up into the air.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_syt8jwOFCP5TaV5d-l7waBXDVfX6lj5dp3dTlx4AvIlBusRbTPQO4wq1Prjpb0BHpSp5PEdohmYkjRl3fOOL8FEjlsnr9YVwniYiNPdtvG0OgAnZO7hKcLCQz4_x9XTcMsRvIqmZz4/s1600/Break-Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_syt8jwOFCP5TaV5d-l7waBXDVfX6lj5dp3dTlx4AvIlBusRbTPQO4wq1Prjpb0BHpSp5PEdohmYkjRl3fOOL8FEjlsnr9YVwniYiNPdtvG0OgAnZO7hKcLCQz4_x9XTcMsRvIqmZz4/s400/Break-Time.jpg" alt="Getting the structure of the roof to the top of the posts was a bit of a challenge." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>Getting the structure of the roof to the top of the posts was a bit of a challenge.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR0GK-EuPRil1ugkv5ccoe9MhY1lexsqXqvZkTY76i5vLx9oCFuTcBPK0Ze4MieuScofpKtivjHdzZnwknGwDSFNetVaXrLquzO7TG15OqHafjyCxNrmJr4a95PxgGgI9cL5G3w3WFyE/s1600/Calculations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR0GK-EuPRil1ugkv5ccoe9MhY1lexsqXqvZkTY76i5vLx9oCFuTcBPK0Ze4MieuScofpKtivjHdzZnwknGwDSFNetVaXrLquzO7TG15OqHafjyCxNrmJr4a95PxgGgI9cL5G3w3WFyE/s400/Calculations.jpg" alt="Along the way there were some heavy calculations done along with a lot of head scratching." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>Along the way there were some heavy calculations done along with a lot of head scratching.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlmL9TwvnGtioOQ-twCklVLOOJYhid41QxVTdh_fmvXdhtzprzG1CRnmpJigmaAqzgPzdKIgKYZpo0tkos_CDBma3MGRtiSe-a6asg08WbfJ8ObMbfMX5HfiRZKmf1OH19_WThOw4F0g/s1600/Secondary-Roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlmL9TwvnGtioOQ-twCklVLOOJYhid41QxVTdh_fmvXdhtzprzG1CRnmpJigmaAqzgPzdKIgKYZpo0tkos_CDBma3MGRtiSe-a6asg08WbfJ8ObMbfMX5HfiRZKmf1OH19_WThOw4F0g/s400/Secondary-Roof.jpg" alt="The upper roof was added but was quickly deemed to be too small in scale." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>The upper roof was added but was quickly deemed to be too small in scale. We lengthened each rafter by a foot or so and came up with a much better diameter.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XSYWLgakeNnqqa3IikJeI0AOmNIGio45rlL0CZus3itOAGzQRd-M9cO6ChsIHMDVgF7bN103sUONxDTg278Q9dTymKvc40dEXOmIRqXiQ6A9CVwHAuHpP4UYvo8iuNf4UGl0lfrB6aM/s1600/Ready-For-Sheathing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XSYWLgakeNnqqa3IikJeI0AOmNIGio45rlL0CZus3itOAGzQRd-M9cO6ChsIHMDVgF7bN103sUONxDTg278Q9dTymKvc40dEXOmIRqXiQ6A9CVwHAuHpP4UYvo8iuNf4UGl0lfrB6aM/s400/Ready-For-Sheathing.jpg" alt=" Eventually the entire roof structure was completed." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>Eventually, the entire roof structure was completed.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Guxr1kf5eAnhcONtq403oEcRnNXBha73mi3OCOh-WOIvkJcw0XqAbLkaZlArTDYnTcfWMQibQkHr0zLvE935lXyCTF9QS7TgjoENHhOV9qwzpjltYVOHKnvxfFbTA-aBSSNEKIFfno/s1600/Upper-Soffit-Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Guxr1kf5eAnhcONtq403oEcRnNXBha73mi3OCOh-WOIvkJcw0XqAbLkaZlArTDYnTcfWMQibQkHr0zLvE935lXyCTF9QS7TgjoENHhOV9qwzpjltYVOHKnvxfFbTA-aBSSNEKIFfno/s400/Upper-Soffit-Detail.jpg" alt=" We added some spindles to the upper air vents to provide a little style." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We added some spindles to the upper air vents to provide a little style.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFkZTf5pW4SwldBF3PFrwokyo-6mPZXOgjgTjbO-GdTcDdNtBmKFZSKIEluSasgXVVcjxPRsC6zJEwkRzZG4WNON5zVu8MZUpRwf1APdbSMZzvc007Gp0u4rAjs9RjN34jmhc_gshD0o/s1600/Lower-Roof-Shingles-Started.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFkZTf5pW4SwldBF3PFrwokyo-6mPZXOgjgTjbO-GdTcDdNtBmKFZSKIEluSasgXVVcjxPRsC6zJEwkRzZG4WNON5zVu8MZUpRwf1APdbSMZzvc007Gp0u4rAjs9RjN34jmhc_gshD0o/s400/Lower-Roof-Shingles-Started.jpg" alt="Shingling the roof was a difficult exercise but eventually it got done." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>Shingling the roof was a difficult exercise but eventually it got done.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW7k-YyVK6stDsDanL9LTTO01XxrPY9cUn11p4i5eWhmVzND9EhqKQ16nLaFd153NbSzW8iCOVFs7XVj-CO19h3T8BckP9LgyjnQJ2qMLVp6rvhjzBtiV2x-8AhKe2bQNOLDD2GyfJNA/s1600/Spindles-Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW7k-YyVK6stDsDanL9LTTO01XxrPY9cUn11p4i5eWhmVzND9EhqKQ16nLaFd153NbSzW8iCOVFs7XVj-CO19h3T8BckP9LgyjnQJ2qMLVp6rvhjzBtiV2x-8AhKe2bQNOLDD2GyfJNA/s400/Spindles-Inside.jpg" alt="The inside of the roof is a sight to behold. There are a ton of man-hours hidden up there somewhere." /></a></div><blockquote>The inside of the roof is a sight to behold. There are a ton of man-hours hidden up there somewhere.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_gzMnz0k9iAaDafy-Mk-byTrHlh3Pao_wQhj8QZUwnMzoyNNeMyL82aQeL9IRdqjftu2lD0acwrXlRFva1UN728e3OEyfQm5eREnW5hcQUWU40K2S7uR8KDWnGb6EsfSFrT9sXH5_1A/s1600/Ready-for-Siding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_gzMnz0k9iAaDafy-Mk-byTrHlh3Pao_wQhj8QZUwnMzoyNNeMyL82aQeL9IRdqjftu2lD0acwrXlRFva1UN728e3OEyfQm5eREnW5hcQUWU40K2S7uR8KDWnGb6EsfSFrT9sXH5_1A/s400/Ready-for-Siding.jpg" alt=" We closed in the two back walls to provide some privacy from the road and we filled the bottom of the other walls with plywood." width="400" /></a></div><blockquote>We closed in the two back walls to provide some privacy from the road and we filled the bottom of the other walls with plywood. This is about as far as we got in 2010, the only other thing we did was to cover the privacy walls with cedar shingles.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFvC5vewvOT6YwFZWl28xSzhis_yUGob3qsAz2piZvjnuFUv27FqlDZZljW9tZLUAGpYP8CKyNnd1TZo8uRZimlkWSsNATYJQfFcrmK_pgxbgc_93uLInCStxbzFGWZTt0UFne0Dghe8/s1600/Cedar-Floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFvC5vewvOT6YwFZWl28xSzhis_yUGob3qsAz2piZvjnuFUv27FqlDZZljW9tZLUAGpYP8CKyNnd1TZo8uRZimlkWSsNATYJQfFcrmK_pgxbgc_93uLInCStxbzFGWZTt0UFne0Dghe8/s400/Cedar-Floor.jpg" alt="The first task of the new year was to install the floor." /></a></div><blockquote>The first task of the new year was to install the floor. It was so nice to be able to take the chairs inside and sit down that we started using it right away.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeaw3MOEvPzn0DJEU4hshcTnxGySEJW6qtBSiVxFTz2_AwJdB85RgXZ-aBWkq5vdy0PIK8AR_H5hB0u9M3DCVn-2aQx24Nmshbj7QIhEkxGSvJEIXLyJH4hVdcqC3vJq_xBlC2tCAYK8/s1600/Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeaw3MOEvPzn0DJEU4hshcTnxGySEJW6qtBSiVxFTz2_AwJdB85RgXZ-aBWkq5vdy0PIK8AR_H5hB0u9M3DCVn-2aQx24Nmshbj7QIhEkxGSvJEIXLyJH4hVdcqC3vJq_xBlC2tCAYK8/s400/Stairs.jpg" alt="Then we added a set of stairs so we didn’t have to crawl in anymore." /></a></div><blockquote>Then we added a set of stairs so we didn’t have to crawl in anymore. This was much easier than expected to accomplish.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddScBYfcP5QQDL1Edd6Cp6PvvePNhQ56DNkbycUUomvHhIw7xZkpsqPzzBzlrBpZ1MVZ2VURZ2oeQ1aZDQd6pJLAYSuzjw1SCNI7wLN8QkwKKBAa7m3xzrjFAbQqBymH6syS-qPO62GY/s1600/Window-Casing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddScBYfcP5QQDL1Edd6Cp6PvvePNhQ56DNkbycUUomvHhIw7xZkpsqPzzBzlrBpZ1MVZ2VURZ2oeQ1aZDQd6pJLAYSuzjw1SCNI7wLN8QkwKKBAa7m3xzrjFAbQqBymH6syS-qPO62GY/s400/Window-Casing.jpg" alt="The window sills and casings were added next." /></a></div><blockquote>The window sills and casings were added next.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1DWUCb3lufoPXmmrzCBKZhnhrR-r_mEtDrRlq4a8-58xc7SWYJy-je2tHcBrQ0aYJSfFA89uUuggshXOjF4V5fufN_aytPx0Mbzx-3BL-7qK2SmiV0qqsP6sbAFFMDGEQ2ezOtT5WS0/s1600/Siding-Prep.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1DWUCb3lufoPXmmrzCBKZhnhrR-r_mEtDrRlq4a8-58xc7SWYJy-je2tHcBrQ0aYJSfFA89uUuggshXOjF4V5fufN_aytPx0Mbzx-3BL-7qK2SmiV0qqsP6sbAFFMDGEQ2ezOtT5WS0/s400/Siding-Prep.jpg" border="0" alt="The trim was all painted and then the walls were covered in tarpaper before the siding was added."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652620492363434898" /></a></div><blockquote>The trim was all painted and then the walls were covered in tarpaper before the siding was added.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFc8qeQL8I_fYVZvjMh1etErIIR2y0P95EgxhJtLmw7Rz30cmLfu_ix3C1rkPkSlkrM5m_o2Kxll1AQurjqlPnPoj5puoIOQZjqTrQ9zYcQf8lLuCF8O7k90tuP3mLjV2zjCv7gmQeYFQ/s1600/Window-Screen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFc8qeQL8I_fYVZvjMh1etErIIR2y0P95EgxhJtLmw7Rz30cmLfu_ix3C1rkPkSlkrM5m_o2Kxll1AQurjqlPnPoj5puoIOQZjqTrQ9zYcQf8lLuCF8O7k90tuP3mLjV2zjCv7gmQeYFQ/s400/Window-Screen.jpg" border="0" alt=" The window screen frames were made and then covered with screen."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652620494653024594" /></a></div><blockquote>The window screen frames were made and then covered with screen.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQwPCJiJL4WazuOlR8elNQ-WO-VNHo0o7zDL6cWAewIgfHgYkc_PjWsndpp_pOHcJrq8rnQv9hYGitDilBIM7jIhyphenhyphen2hV3UbisfdW3xkTrdna-vCTm4VlbmNSiXYfb7w3qT_cxagkfxj4/s1600/Door-Inside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQwPCJiJL4WazuOlR8elNQ-WO-VNHo0o7zDL6cWAewIgfHgYkc_PjWsndpp_pOHcJrq8rnQv9hYGitDilBIM7jIhyphenhyphen2hV3UbisfdW3xkTrdna-vCTm4VlbmNSiXYfb7w3qT_cxagkfxj4/s400/Door-Inside.jpg" border="0" alt=" The door was installed next."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652620491254412402" /></a></div><blockquote>The door was installed next. We bought it on sale last year from the hardware store and painted it in the basement over the winter.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBZhBxRaIoYFhbt7ckVUOSLY23IC4b95lo4NCsKykR1aaG1972kesyZgPT39ra6m2H7UpI5pDySHSrR0hF2v3LzZYTJcy7BLNPQn9fko38aA_lp3rNQ1i3627LCCdMfx-lqDBxbyMv-Q/s1600/Finished-Floor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBZhBxRaIoYFhbt7ckVUOSLY23IC4b95lo4NCsKykR1aaG1972kesyZgPT39ra6m2H7UpI5pDySHSrR0hF2v3LzZYTJcy7BLNPQn9fko38aA_lp3rNQ1i3627LCCdMfx-lqDBxbyMv-Q/s400/Finished-Floor.jpg" border="0" alt=" The floor was finished off with a coat of Thompson’s Waterseal."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652620489551851682" /></a></div><blockquote>The floor was finished off with a coat of <a href="http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/waterproofing-products/waterproofers/clear-multi-surface-waterproofer">Thompson’s Waterseal</a>.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymVvZ9pRcxOUnTRsEjV7UyKVgJG1kaNE7p7t1BG_kUufTnv0JSemIxFsoaXGJtd4-Ao1-jfQdheDHq4Hxdvm0yJBA_mgsKJNA13M8K_qEX51ICdEj0LxDqc1dlGTqnfQZ8T0lsUzo11g/s1600/Water-Sealing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymVvZ9pRcxOUnTRsEjV7UyKVgJG1kaNE7p7t1BG_kUufTnv0JSemIxFsoaXGJtd4-Ao1-jfQdheDHq4Hxdvm0yJBA_mgsKJNA13M8K_qEX51ICdEj0LxDqc1dlGTqnfQZ8T0lsUzo11g/s400/Water-Sealing.jpg" alt="The last task was to apply the water sealer to all the exterior siding." /></a></div><blockquote>The last task was to apply the water sealer to all the exterior siding. At some time in the near future we may add some electric power and some lights to the gazebo but for now the building is done.</blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2Zbf7ONYxObMr3S0M8CqNXxpZ9tgvqOxWICY0dg8qa-ufZkOGWEjn8srb5aCCjCw1kvNgbTytAe84_E3FAFy9yUYTnQfuQThJ15I6UMVFgSgxQqtWDB5uI0z7ai4vpm7hBPREMuY4c/s1600/Another-Look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu2Zbf7ONYxObMr3S0M8CqNXxpZ9tgvqOxWICY0dg8qa-ufZkOGWEjn8srb5aCCjCw1kvNgbTytAe84_E3FAFy9yUYTnQfuQThJ15I6UMVFgSgxQqtWDB5uI0z7ai4vpm7hBPREMuY4c/s400/Another-Look.jpg" alt="This project did take up a huge amount of time over two summers." /></a></div><blockquote>This project did take up a huge amount of time over two summers. It cost a good chunk of money, too. We think it's worth it though and doesn't it looks pretty back here in the yard? </blockquote><br />Just a last note on the budget. We planned to spend about $4000 for our gazebo and we came in just about right on target. In 2010 we spent $3940 and in 2011 it has been another $520 for a total of $4460. Of course, that doesn’t include any labour cost. Thankfully Hubby works for love and beer! Want us to come and build one for you? Not a chance!The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-20645140378324455572011-09-14T09:36:00.001-03:002011-09-14T09:39:03.412-03:00Holiday Time!I have 1 week left out of my three week vacation and the time has just been flying by. We have done lots of interesting, fun stuff and have spent a ton of money. I said I was on vacation right? <br />I bought myself a new <a href="http://www.norco.com/bikes/asphalt/urban-performance/vfr/">bike</a>!!!! I got one that fits my frame size with lots of accessories for serious bike travel. I can pack great lunches, throw in some beach clothing and away we go. We have been riding the trails and loving every minute of it. My legs are very sore but I guess I have just been that out of shape. There are lots of very steep hills in our area so my new bike gears are getting a work out also. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZKqMm00L5OTlJAW5EHuOlS4mbjVPs42zXmt_2AzrRYJ46ioqoOJylaujU5IJtsuyzUCBCA5BS-y92wmFsqLx2iHkulKT-wPI6eJlBFI_yT8vv61r8jdQP99A78QQvDmXhk-cFbqPdVQ/s1600/Norco-VFR-One.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZKqMm00L5OTlJAW5EHuOlS4mbjVPs42zXmt_2AzrRYJ46ioqoOJylaujU5IJtsuyzUCBCA5BS-y92wmFsqLx2iHkulKT-wPI6eJlBFI_yT8vv61r8jdQP99A78QQvDmXhk-cFbqPdVQ/s400/Norco-VFR-One.jpg" border="0" alt=" Here’s my new bike on the day it came home. I got all the accessories to go with it, too."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199414044416578" /></a><blockquote>Here’s my new bike on the day it came home. I got all the accessories to go with it, too. I got a bottle holder, a trip computer, a kickstand and a carrier rack including a soft bag big enough to carry lots of stuff.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uuNikR__ry5q9fhWec1dBvKPBXTqYL6QDRfW9WBFQCkJ-BOkamhP0t0Pg3pfArhGNTAEiQcf30ORlpTPRJiU0APBFXCoVgqQyMCyFFzai1lygWWuDMDdtRukwRvgmVZbQumdu82cia4/s1600/First-Ride-On-My-New-Bike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uuNikR__ry5q9fhWec1dBvKPBXTqYL6QDRfW9WBFQCkJ-BOkamhP0t0Pg3pfArhGNTAEiQcf30ORlpTPRJiU0APBFXCoVgqQyMCyFFzai1lygWWuDMDdtRukwRvgmVZbQumdu82cia4/s400/First-Ride-On-My-New-Bike.jpg" border="0" alt=" On its first day we took a ride around the block to see how it would go."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199034649405394" /></a><blockquote>On its first day we took a ride around the block to see how it would go. I didn’t realize that it was that big of a block!</blockquote><br />We have also been out for the maiden voyage in the canoe we bought from a co-worker this spring. The day was beautiful, sunny and calm and we paddled around for about 3 hours. I even got out into the middle of the bay without getting scared. I’m just getting so brave!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFf-1Nn0DWAApC5VQDygTlssZBbGNVaZOLVmAybdpgepiDx7oCY4vc2ejnjpVBePWh6EgI4y3ysX0qDFAuEFL2y2uXUMAE_GFbM0atCxwZ_n3Nu-N6dNFRGtoCQw1TlehtwZDzNyLmUs/s1600/Sailing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFf-1Nn0DWAApC5VQDygTlssZBbGNVaZOLVmAybdpgepiDx7oCY4vc2ejnjpVBePWh6EgI4y3ysX0qDFAuEFL2y2uXUMAE_GFbM0atCxwZ_n3Nu-N6dNFRGtoCQw1TlehtwZDzNyLmUs/s400/Sailing.jpg" border="0" alt=" What a perfect day to go canoeing."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199419275593250" /></a><blockquote>What a perfect day to go canoeing. The water was just dead flat for the first 2 hours. We were able to travel around the entire bay and check out some of the homes that can’t be seen from the road.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xlWALHqxkJ4Phx1Wg1fvUtjqisPcUyPm8efGI_iiMOvY6UbPBKp2IxCcDTnf8bj92oji4obIrcEDenER_rj_068uccmaMM2wOGcboesy2CC-jpS08wfzIRTdjUGT4IPvok6JvBKX6L0/s1600/Witch-Island-Bridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xlWALHqxkJ4Phx1Wg1fvUtjqisPcUyPm8efGI_iiMOvY6UbPBKp2IxCcDTnf8bj92oji4obIrcEDenER_rj_068uccmaMM2wOGcboesy2CC-jpS08wfzIRTdjUGT4IPvok6JvBKX6L0/s400/Witch-Island-Bridge.jpg" border="0" alt=" We paddled right out into the bay and under the bridge just to see what was on the other side."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649200459386594274" /></a><blockquote>We paddled right out into the bay and under the bridge just to see what was on the other side. Well, okay. We knew what was over there but we did get to see under the bridge!</blockquote><br /><br />We have visited lots of restaurants and sampled some of the finest foods out there. I’m glad to be exercising or I’m sure I would have gained 10 pounds easily.<br /><br />I’ve had lots of time to fly my kite, build beach art and play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rummoli">Rummoli</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEWzfcg6pBRqs6HwF5dSvq0mhoCFfkIzq1NZtQZZt_TZd9sL4VZoYF_gWUsO66kFjVJrv7TXivwoOLX7c0rNqRm_XsZf9drkJBYz0yY4Qos9HKiiT5oG60sxcnKgygjSqncuhHLTTxDk/s1600/Beach-Sculpture-Start.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEWzfcg6pBRqs6HwF5dSvq0mhoCFfkIzq1NZtQZZt_TZd9sL4VZoYF_gWUsO66kFjVJrv7TXivwoOLX7c0rNqRm_XsZf9drkJBYz0yY4Qos9HKiiT5oG60sxcnKgygjSqncuhHLTTxDk/s400/Beach-Sculpture-Start.jpg" border="0" alt=" I found this funky looking piece of driftwood at the beach and decided that he looked like he wanted to dance so I propped him up and gave him a stage."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199029079162354" /></a><blockquote>I found this funky looking piece of driftwood at the beach and decided that he looked like he wanted to dance so I propped him up and gave him a stage.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcWU35SRHt3_CM_R69p4yj0ehVD7ThrYP6PP1c-oIUija5MoPY30gRZ3ZGtrUdfOzfen4ocmi6o-4RbJa01uKObREM3lpMFaOiNZsQVr-yKqyWwpC0BRv_OKfvVoaEcWrsuxx8AP01Wo/s1600/Beach-Sculpture-End.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcWU35SRHt3_CM_R69p4yj0ehVD7ThrYP6PP1c-oIUija5MoPY30gRZ3ZGtrUdfOzfen4ocmi6o-4RbJa01uKObREM3lpMFaOiNZsQVr-yKqyWwpC0BRv_OKfvVoaEcWrsuxx8AP01Wo/s400/Beach-Sculpture-End.jpg" border="0" alt=" The dancer looked so good that I made him a dance troupe to back him up."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199028308138738" /></a><blockquote>The dancer looked so good that I made him a dance troupe to back him up.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwlxWZ-MsimIQHjIfk3CCzdWe0nwVa3fMbJ0LtCtR24L0KWqGadOq-8zChsjdAPOKR3J_vfBwtA-XFJ9yrNyaLjMoK3EbbpdKDfVnRYcu8qgjgJTz_UuMgRibviVZXEv_9e7GPiyrlcE/s1600/Witch-Island-Logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwlxWZ-MsimIQHjIfk3CCzdWe0nwVa3fMbJ0LtCtR24L0KWqGadOq-8zChsjdAPOKR3J_vfBwtA-XFJ9yrNyaLjMoK3EbbpdKDfVnRYcu8qgjgJTz_UuMgRibviVZXEv_9e7GPiyrlcE/s400/Witch-Island-Logo.jpg" border="0" alt=" Of course, every artist needs to sign her work!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649200465750158962" /></a><blockquote>Of course, every artist needs to sign her work!</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaUYU9PoYVXe4tUIzkGN8NgPAsc-qnILW-m59-lX3Ks4Z1_1S7bwoSpbhTgtwSbVRoGsV6tq6MwgOvfNXn1-zRgnF6d8ovttTkraoMmkXlNa9MI6W5tu7x2kOxDrs6J0l4TqC7eku7hw/s1600/Rummoly-At-Dusk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaUYU9PoYVXe4tUIzkGN8NgPAsc-qnILW-m59-lX3Ks4Z1_1S7bwoSpbhTgtwSbVRoGsV6tq6MwgOvfNXn1-zRgnF6d8ovttTkraoMmkXlNa9MI6W5tu7x2kOxDrs6J0l4TqC7eku7hw/s400/Rummoly-At-Dusk.jpg" border="0" alt=" We’ve played lots of Rummoli this summer but this was the perfect evening to play outside."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199419073682098" /></a><blockquote>We’ve played lots of Rummoli this summer but this was the perfect evening to play outside. Needless to say that I won again!</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRnlqxQXBgroEPE9k5WSmk55Nw8v0uCmJiP4IE7ICbduO-gNoLy7cmvpCjQFa3e539yq44PVDlrt4HZKKVEUoe5ICCImAu18uuJyuXXfN8Vl_QTLl6aRPfX2apsh3greNI8U897Ba50M/s1600/Kite-Flying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRnlqxQXBgroEPE9k5WSmk55Nw8v0uCmJiP4IE7ICbduO-gNoLy7cmvpCjQFa3e539yq44PVDlrt4HZKKVEUoe5ICCImAu18uuJyuXXfN8Vl_QTLl6aRPfX2apsh3greNI8U897Ba50M/s400/Kite-Flying.jpg" border="0" alt=" There’s something so relaxing about flying a kite."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199411720903410" /></a><blockquote>There’s something so relaxing about flying a kite. It just hangs up there fluttering in the breeze.</blockquote><br />I’m leaving you with some great pictures and hopefully I’ll get back on track financially and will have more blogging time in October. Oh wait that’s Halloween Pumpkin season, the Witch’s favorite time of the year!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo0yDM2QN-PM_xifb7MTpG6JYxMudWVqg59PUSI8IhDJIVufC3EkE5QJbxdT0r3HTZI97PVRwBcIjLNs8Tkr-qsznD4ycJoHHCxaQhYKHIQ2c1Y4-U8POn9cvG2B9RMNqX1dxak6w2Io/s1600/The-Only-Good-Crab.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo0yDM2QN-PM_xifb7MTpG6JYxMudWVqg59PUSI8IhDJIVufC3EkE5QJbxdT0r3HTZI97PVRwBcIjLNs8Tkr-qsznD4ycJoHHCxaQhYKHIQ2c1Y4-U8POn9cvG2B9RMNqX1dxak6w2Io/s400/The-Only-Good-Crab.jpg" border="0" alt=" No, this crab is not sun tanning. He is quite dead and I’m okay with that."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649200451747838082" /></a><blockquote>No, this crab is not sun tanning. I assure you that he is quite dead and I’m okay with that.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRdtShaCDAHD-kHjdnMwT47-DEra8t_3F_R5vEmFxhQCc8wKU3cN2VKI9w2qhOLgOukXnHB-OVJBPMh8d-qhTAIivdsq69vfyiny-Z8to04IpvJZDSASI-DYDvPyPfNpvliKFYjsV51U/s1600/Shore-Birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRdtShaCDAHD-kHjdnMwT47-DEra8t_3F_R5vEmFxhQCc8wKU3cN2VKI9w2qhOLgOukXnHB-OVJBPMh8d-qhTAIivdsq69vfyiny-Z8to04IpvJZDSASI-DYDvPyPfNpvliKFYjsV51U/s400/Shore-Birds.jpg" border="0" alt="" We’re not sure what kind of birds these are. They might be semipalmated sandpipers but that is just a guess.id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199422456060226" /></a><blockquote>We’re not sure what kind of birds these are. They might be semipalmated sandpipers but that is just a guess. They were taking a siesta on a nice warm rock until we showed up.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rQQXlHCtGuJJ5anJ2pJpzGRzPgdFBBiT64tn4ol6H664fC8eph8NQOpgh2ufYHGRzEgC9tMyaPeHpamnjzHUTC0GeQbTuUGcCodqdJVkmZIaNMUOLny3UWr0qGR0sFlLoc-VyCYWUFM/s1600/Beach-Vista.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rQQXlHCtGuJJ5anJ2pJpzGRzPgdFBBiT64tn4ol6H664fC8eph8NQOpgh2ufYHGRzEgC9tMyaPeHpamnjzHUTC0GeQbTuUGcCodqdJVkmZIaNMUOLny3UWr0qGR0sFlLoc-VyCYWUFM/s400/Beach-Vista.jpg" border="0" alt=" We’ve been able to spend a lot of time at this beach this summer."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649199036499584962" /></a><blockquote>We’ve been able to spend a lot of time at this beach this summer. The weather has been crappy all year but it has been perfect ever since I started my holiday.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJFW2_47gQQjXPNQJvBlOYZD_SGqS3S2iB3IkjhtdOmSSciAt1jNNichI8OPw_gl0u4nPimuAH7HhjzA9dAVx0IS9QtKwF4Q4i7l6S2FG3dDbeq1GMlsITMWVygngHriqUWkf0Vfvdho/s1600/Fresh-Oysters.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJFW2_47gQQjXPNQJvBlOYZD_SGqS3S2iB3IkjhtdOmSSciAt1jNNichI8OPw_gl0u4nPimuAH7HhjzA9dAVx0IS9QtKwF4Q4i7l6S2FG3dDbeq1GMlsITMWVygngHriqUWkf0Vfvdho/s400/Fresh-Oysters.jpg" border="0" alt=" Now that’s a summer meal! Fresh oysters and corn heading off to the BBQ as a side dish for smokey chicken wings, mmm."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652173453119196114" /></a><blockquote>Now that’s a summer meal! Fresh oysters and corn heading off to the BBQ as a side dish for smokey chicken wings, mmm.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnFwQuehhxWVaUl5lWltsLvTC7hd_5T4rjMX-V57SaAX22NpavcqYbUGfBlW4qr1qHh3oOGsIerw-fRAggMZMcAs0E5mH4XJFpIdVPJPfpOH66eQ9Of-uxvwAJdQ_adu9ZaimcgMv1E/s1600/Red-Fox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnFwQuehhxWVaUl5lWltsLvTC7hd_5T4rjMX-V57SaAX22NpavcqYbUGfBlW4qr1qHh3oOGsIerw-fRAggMZMcAs0E5mH4XJFpIdVPJPfpOH66eQ9Of-uxvwAJdQ_adu9ZaimcgMv1E/s400/Red-Fox.jpg" border="0" alt=" This red fox came out to greet us while we biking down the trail."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652173460597197410" /></a><blockquote>This red fox came out to greet us while we biking down the trail. He was quite happy to pose for pictures and even brought a friend out to play.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnd3QnScLKggqXVOt4IsUCdiMVA_UyzcOYO0Zq1uM-JIExzfvyUB59ErbbA7tIUovbqgbA1ZNvvHj99zXh9AJjOl1Z4Rr51ipGhbn0baGcQnb1z8y_dHUe_AXdKvhHZwcrK5Qiod-3U0/s1600/Biking-On-The-Pier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnd3QnScLKggqXVOt4IsUCdiMVA_UyzcOYO0Zq1uM-JIExzfvyUB59ErbbA7tIUovbqgbA1ZNvvHj99zXh9AJjOl1Z4Rr51ipGhbn0baGcQnb1z8y_dHUe_AXdKvhHZwcrK5Qiod-3U0/s400/Biking-On-The-Pier.jpg" border="0" alt=" We found a small dockside café and had a bowl of mussels and a beer and then rode back again."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652173450267887490" /></a><blockquote>We had a great ride on this afternoon. We rode along the trail for 8 or 9 kilometres until we got to this fishing village. We found a small dockside café and had a bowl of mussels and a beer and then rode back again.</blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlRy_ODC7rJtxbQpis6kCbTtn_gTbFd7PLHoKJFAie9ZPaJh3i1OFjPhf8p6_8x3K6iszcr2X8_GzuXfAlx3VF8r98VwGgxdqfzckdICHunF15xmN8v0xvya_ra47wZ-V70HysDACzkk/s1600/Blueberry-Pancakes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlRy_ODC7rJtxbQpis6kCbTtn_gTbFd7PLHoKJFAie9ZPaJh3i1OFjPhf8p6_8x3K6iszcr2X8_GzuXfAlx3VF8r98VwGgxdqfzckdICHunF15xmN8v0xvya_ra47wZ-V70HysDACzkk/s400/Blueberry-Pancakes.jpg" border="0" alt=" Being on vacation means that there is lots of time to make breakfast and one of my favourites is blueberry pancakes and fresh fruit, peaches in this case."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652173449821595186" /></a><blockquote>Being on vacation means that there is lots of time to make breakfast and one of my favourites is blueberry pancakes and fresh fruit, peaches in this case.</blockquote>The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-80504663644580549872011-08-26T19:57:00.003-03:002011-08-26T20:16:21.347-03:00Our Anniversary Trip...Last Saturday was our 32nd wedding anniversary and we decided that we would do something different this year, so we packed up Big Red and headed off to the big city for the weekend. We figured that we would get in some shopping, renew our Costco membership, maybe visit a pub (or two) and have dinner at our favourite restaurant without having to rush home right afterwards. We ended up doing a LOT more than we bargained for and we had a great time.
<br />
<br />On the Wednesday before, Hubby did some checking online and found a place to stay at the <a href="http://www.deltahotels.com/en/hotels/new-brunswick/delta-beausejour/hotel-guest-rooms/signature-club-room/">Delta Beausejour</a> at $188 per night. The next day when we called to book the room the rate had increased to $203 but we did get a “No Tax” package that covered the room taxes for the stay plus added a $25 food credit for each day. We booked for Friday and Saturday nights.
<br />
<br />Check-in time was not until 4pm which was perfect because I had to work on Friday. I managed to get out a little early by using up some accumulated overtime so I was home by 2pm and we were on our way a half hour later. The day was hot and sunny (as was the whole weekend!) and we had a nice cruise to the hotel. Much to our dismay, as we got close to the hotel we found that the entire road way was blocked off and traffic was being re-routed away from the front entrance. As we turned into the detour we could see that the reason the road was closed was that there was a giant sound stage erected and it was right in front of our hotel! We thought “Oh No! This is not going to be good!”. We had no idea that there was a <a href="http://www.moncton.ca/Residents/Recreation_Parks_and_Culture/Planning_an_Event/MotoMoncton.htm">motorcycle rally</a> on. Maybe we should have checked for upcoming events!
<br />
<br />The rally turned out to be the best thing about the whole weekend! We had a great time wandering up and down the street checking out the amazing bikes, stopping here and there for a beer and a glass of wine. Later on each evening there was live music from some local bands and we stayed to the end of the concert on both nights. Friday night, the last group was a KISS cover band called the Love Guns and they did a great job both with the music and the stage show. I shot a bunch of pictures but they aren’t the best quality, sorry, but you get the idea. It was a lot of fun!
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI27cf5XEgtG-QgIPYUTIq4P6ZUSIXWl7QpoeNcLoJfJDH6FH-ftKHra6PZ9O539xkBTMd7jL4Zg55S6VM-MeE8VNyBSa2z6eqpbZ4RLPv_9LH-1jbcQvUUuXKz3-Md7xn3ZRV_srGi4/s1600/Bike-Show.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI27cf5XEgtG-QgIPYUTIq4P6ZUSIXWl7QpoeNcLoJfJDH6FH-ftKHra6PZ9O539xkBTMd7jL4Zg55S6VM-MeE8VNyBSa2z6eqpbZ4RLPv_9LH-1jbcQvUUuXKz3-Md7xn3ZRV_srGi4/s400/Bike-Show.jpg" border="0" alt=" The lineup of bikes started right in front of our hotel."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617758446790498" /></a><blockquote>The lineup of bikes started right in front of our hotel.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd9dy2miwwPNnK5dyrIkppi_LKOokh9IMIOHdWV7R1eb1XiB-tnrPrANswYE3ahxz-AFm66h_D_ULbynG74d1FW8tAHuju0SBbMkL1ZngNwxJXuolLHE6Ph5MolCq9Sl0AMDuqFX0EcQ/s1600/Victory-Hammer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJd9dy2miwwPNnK5dyrIkppi_LKOokh9IMIOHdWV7R1eb1XiB-tnrPrANswYE3ahxz-AFm66h_D_ULbynG74d1FW8tAHuju0SBbMkL1ZngNwxJXuolLHE6Ph5MolCq9Sl0AMDuqFX0EcQ/s400/Victory-Hammer.jpg" border="0" alt="This was my favourite new bike. It could have been mine for $17,000 or so."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617747879742914" /></a><blockquote>This was my favourite new bike. It could have been mine for $17,000 or so.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qDt8KdPlGqMWRPQd4INU-e9fZZhLCrQ-NIGkAY5U9QAvy2-5Vv5lb9XhwBGcxLrCxgh-Ol5kHGPc5-s_DftMUUmScqimuaCMA6hsDye7OTTYvkb20hbTyqpkxEU12BbFJyoT-6NHO4M/s1600/Green-Chopper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qDt8KdPlGqMWRPQd4INU-e9fZZhLCrQ-NIGkAY5U9QAvy2-5Vv5lb9XhwBGcxLrCxgh-Ol5kHGPc5-s_DftMUUmScqimuaCMA6hsDye7OTTYvkb20hbTyqpkxEU12BbFJyoT-6NHO4M/s400/Green-Chopper.jpg" border="0" alt=" The artwork on some of these machines was fantastic. It’s hard to believe that someone would actually ride this. I would always be worrying about stone chips!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617742198211794" /></a><blockquote>The artwork on some of these machines was fantastic. It’s hard to believe that someone would actually ride this. I would always be worrying about stone chips!</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9LzIRMKCjjqYdJpSZpsEB1T2LPgL_zVzRvytg7weon6Ymx2jyUy5qkwzr5n6V-onfoY86izJRyOvIJcQHnTvTT3ShytXLBgd69lc0KkqMNBqzwnTTGUxjU3QBauSHPolwq22AGN-YKw/s1600/Victory-Bike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9LzIRMKCjjqYdJpSZpsEB1T2LPgL_zVzRvytg7weon6Ymx2jyUy5qkwzr5n6V-onfoY86izJRyOvIJcQHnTvTT3ShytXLBgd69lc0KkqMNBqzwnTTGUxjU3QBauSHPolwq22AGN-YKw/s400/Victory-Bike.jpg" border="0" alt="Another Victory bike. It was just beautiful."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617751048509538" /></a><blockquote>Another Victory bike. It was just beautiful.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HvI8bnk1cE-KhEdqDZHaOz0ZqXA6zLjPQJCM8r5f1LUqBOxGS9Xqs73-x0lrhdUrecler729xSgCFbZnjjf-pJSp35tOP2aUV7unu5xprTk9o8EijGU884NSHpA3REp8-VyHis9bXEc/s1600/Girlie-Bike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HvI8bnk1cE-KhEdqDZHaOz0ZqXA6zLjPQJCM8r5f1LUqBOxGS9Xqs73-x0lrhdUrecler729xSgCFbZnjjf-pJSp35tOP2aUV7unu5xprTk9o8EijGU884NSHpA3REp8-VyHis9bXEc/s400/Girlie-Bike.jpg" border="0" alt=" It wasn’t just guys with their bikes on display. We called this one the Girlie Bike because, well, it just looks like a girlie bike!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617403770359234" /></a><blockquote>It wasn’t just guys with their bikes on display. We called this one the Girlie Bike because, well, it just looks like a girlie bike!</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GJEkxH5PqtUnpkZW1-LqSrmj-h_WR7XbUaAIFhu6yD-xP642i-FWaCn9KSAmydzoXcKBgNaEhIL2YNCOR6xTeOx2gAX3xdXUmA5u_wbP214r1fNaCY14lhKN0y8x2PakuQ0MWmICRxc/s1600/Girlie-Bike-Mascot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GJEkxH5PqtUnpkZW1-LqSrmj-h_WR7XbUaAIFhu6yD-xP642i-FWaCn9KSAmydzoXcKBgNaEhIL2YNCOR6xTeOx2gAX3xdXUmA5u_wbP214r1fNaCY14lhKN0y8x2PakuQ0MWmICRxc/s400/Girlie-Bike-Mascot.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Girlie Bike even had its own mascot. She was dressed appropriately with boots, leathers and shades."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617406190598882" /></a><blockquote>The Girlie Bike even had its own mascot. She was dressed appropriately with boots, leathers and shades.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fmCeClOg7JX-9tWMICNOItUeWWZYk2TAYu5ac_vgkfll2YLc5YcnxX79N6NcYSgg6p7SyvAfkRnEximI4TzpdetVfwx2yEgJbuMceVlbcDH4gDOmHPq6dcg3ZNz3AqQGKjt5adu62Js/s1600/Kiss-Love-Guns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fmCeClOg7JX-9tWMICNOItUeWWZYk2TAYu5ac_vgkfll2YLc5YcnxX79N6NcYSgg6p7SyvAfkRnEximI4TzpdetVfwx2yEgJbuMceVlbcDH4gDOmHPq6dcg3ZNz3AqQGKjt5adu62Js/s400/Kiss-Love-Guns.jpg" border="0" alt=" The concert on Friday night featured a group called the Love Guns."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617391935080946" /></a><blockquote>The concert on Friday night featured a group called the Love Guns.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RQr3wEDKSaXHJi-Vc5SQTzU1cLAttjE2qH_YT0wGPwZ-NQtusvUgvFc2POk2KasF2d8oTQcV_zrjOgJQzO2gzth01ZN7rfSvw0uXnl1GkCeGEySoOQSpXVh2tQGHV2tyXj7r6QBtRXk/s1600/Kiss-Love-Guns2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RQr3wEDKSaXHJi-Vc5SQTzU1cLAttjE2qH_YT0wGPwZ-NQtusvUgvFc2POk2KasF2d8oTQcV_zrjOgJQzO2gzth01ZN7rfSvw0uXnl1GkCeGEySoOQSpXVh2tQGHV2tyXj7r6QBtRXk/s400/Kiss-Love-Guns2.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Love Guns were performing as KISS and they had the music and the look down great."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644616987281957314" /></a><blockquote>The Love Guns were performing as KISS and they had the music and the look down great.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8twCUiUYMOS6eD2Gj59Xg7tmSMJxjji5yabAEQx8DD-oepz1sAUxovikyBMpflmfLRUF-uC3WiCgQ8xUqdGXrayjUc9XX1yBJ6btHxttiHWqD7bqUIHrkeyQpCHC-5yuFLCZuLsA7MBM/s1600/Love-Guns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8twCUiUYMOS6eD2Gj59Xg7tmSMJxjji5yabAEQx8DD-oepz1sAUxovikyBMpflmfLRUF-uC3WiCgQ8xUqdGXrayjUc9XX1yBJ6btHxttiHWqD7bqUIHrkeyQpCHC-5yuFLCZuLsA7MBM/s400/Love-Guns.jpg" border="0" alt=" The concert lasted until midnight and was just great."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644616982888693042" /></a><blockquote>The concert lasted until midnight and was just great.</blockquote>
<br />Saturday morning we were up early because we wanted to get to the <a href="http://www.marchemonctonmarket.ca/page8744.aspx">farmer’s market</a> before it got crowded. The first thing we did was have breakfast. The room we stayed in came with access to the “Signature Club Lounge” room. It was one of the best features of any hotel we have ever stayed in. The Delta describes it like this:
<br /><blockquote>Signature Club Lounge
<br />Enjoy the private, exclusive and comfortable Signature Club lounge featuring a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, canapés and honor bar from 5pm to 7pm, work stations, private check-out and concierge service. The Club Lounge is equipped with a 32" TV, magazines and newspapers.</blockquote>
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBet1jKJ5Mte-Be_wW0Q3J55y_mvIosnJD9iXjVfSkNqnYQVCwM_3Tt30a3hOdhiQ8rd96fPLKndQpGJMnAsd9TbtP6w6V9XsjUmX-gQi8XwjkV6oGvi8dSYeG31rJKb6J85TuCDjJXGI/s1600/Concierge-Room.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBet1jKJ5Mte-Be_wW0Q3J55y_mvIosnJD9iXjVfSkNqnYQVCwM_3Tt30a3hOdhiQ8rd96fPLKndQpGJMnAsd9TbtP6w6V9XsjUmX-gQi8XwjkV6oGvi8dSYeG31rJKb6J85TuCDjJXGI/s400/Concierge-Room.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Signature Club Lounge was a great feature. We had breakfast and evening snacks there both days. The fridge in the lower right was constantly full of juice, pop and water."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617402433020242" /></a><blockquote>The Signature Club Lounge was a great feature. We had breakfast and evening snacks there both days. The fridge in the lower right was constantly full of juice, pop and water.</blockquote>
<br />Everything in the room was included with the exception of the liquor available in the evening. In the morning there was fresh orange juice, fresh fruit, cold cuts, pastries, croissants, and cereal, a selection of breads and jams and hard boiled eggs. The room attendant was there to greet us and she brewed individual cups of Starbucks coffee made to order while we selected what we wanted to eat. In the evening there was a tasty selection of finger-food including cheeses, fruit, breaded shrimp and phyllo dough pastries with cheese filling. All day there was access to a fridge stocked with milk, juice, pop and water. We took full advantage of this!
<br />
<br />
<br />After breakfast we headed off to the Market. It was a two minute walk from the hotel which was nice. There was lots of fresh produce, baked goods and crafts for sale but the apple guy didn’t have any Honey Crisp apples yet and we were too full to eat anything else so we just wandered through. If we lived there we would be at the Market every weekend!
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQa1_AoAltoAmnVw215-S5tsP-NPog52mw2zQ-O69Jjpz7Z0bweIZwwDZSj5kaBbADIGtEphK_EOZOFMrnnf8KXse2UIYBo_Y2tDZI1tOgMDZfcWtVseXNRCkxi7KiJ7mnOLSuQS5AKw/s1600/Moncton-Farmers-Market.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQa1_AoAltoAmnVw215-S5tsP-NPog52mw2zQ-O69Jjpz7Z0bweIZwwDZSj5kaBbADIGtEphK_EOZOFMrnnf8KXse2UIYBo_Y2tDZI1tOgMDZfcWtVseXNRCkxi7KiJ7mnOLSuQS5AKw/s400/Moncton-Farmers-Market.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Moncton Market sign."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644616981567663458" /></a><blockquote>The Moncton Market sign.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNW-p64zWdMMBFvwvMr-cGgt_0Iq7xO7VUs9f35tvuQv0bf-Ln5KPoiYnbAv8AyH8HmEZKXqE3Hmu0BLW-yBy2IPti0qchT6TpDUxWQ0ipbatnGO3vwmKsLzV_OIMLg3U-psKYfezjDE/s1600/Moncton-Farmers-Market2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNW-p64zWdMMBFvwvMr-cGgt_0Iq7xO7VUs9f35tvuQv0bf-Ln5KPoiYnbAv8AyH8HmEZKXqE3Hmu0BLW-yBy2IPti0qchT6TpDUxWQ0ipbatnGO3vwmKsLzV_OIMLg3U-psKYfezjDE/s400/Moncton-Farmers-Market2.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Market was just a hundred yards or so from our hotel."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644616978391620418" /></a><blockquote>The Market was just a hundred yards or so from our hotel.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-mLdog0phDvGncOYnn-Vsb9AwNRwePoOytRdDbsDXrO6QZPlU_82ZzWuzmYQ1YiHsLSQ-_hBoV92DzOQfNGEddVUdYwfHf1nAuST9HX7VLwkpb0M7NvZT9HO_2tr8svx2eR11visvuo/s1600/Market-Gable.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-mLdog0phDvGncOYnn-Vsb9AwNRwePoOytRdDbsDXrO6QZPlU_82ZzWuzmYQ1YiHsLSQ-_hBoV92DzOQfNGEddVUdYwfHf1nAuST9HX7VLwkpb0M7NvZT9HO_2tr8svx2eR11visvuo/s400/Market-Gable.jpg" border="0" alt=" The Market building itself is a pretty thing."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644616975169316322" /></a><blockquote>The Market building itself is a pretty thing.</blockquote>
<br />We spent the rest of the day going from Costco to the Sally Anne to Value Village and the malls. I found some neat stuff at the used goods places but we didn’t buy a thing at the mall except the fixings for a little picnic lunch from the Superstore. There we bought some bagels and some pastrami and cheese from the deli and made ourselves some sandwiches. It was tasty and inexpensive, less than $6 for the two of us. Plus, we didn’t want to fill up too much because we were going to have Chinese food for dinner. The <a href="http://www.houseoflam.com/">“House of Lam”</a> is our favourite place to eat when we are in the big city. We both invariably have the same meal, the <a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208128_200639613304384_198901473478198_592828_7249727_n.jpg">Szechuan Platter</a> every time just because it is so good! The cost is low, too. I don’t think that they have raised their prices in years. The bill for Saturday night for the meal, an appetizer, a bottle of wine and the tax was just $54! I couldn’t finish my dinner and ended up taking half of it home for lunch on Monday, mmm.
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1iIkSjPQS9rLRKW5vz5R2Ta8woCrIZZtoAVwMVtYFfs5SZWq0nL21QQtB4qBWtCiZz55O_InBBOeXJbeuKvvTO-3EKf5TLk7Oytdnj0F-5Ud-rL2mUxwbm-H38LpFs_-mQeSc1kj2Zo/s1600/Stunt-Bikes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1iIkSjPQS9rLRKW5vz5R2Ta8woCrIZZtoAVwMVtYFfs5SZWq0nL21QQtB4qBWtCiZz55O_InBBOeXJbeuKvvTO-3EKf5TLk7Oytdnj0F-5Ud-rL2mUxwbm-H38LpFs_-mQeSc1kj2Zo/s400/Stunt-Bikes.jpg" border="0" alt=" This picture doesn’t show just how beautiful these motorcycles were."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617395994120402" /></a><blockquote>This picture doesn’t show just how beautiful these motorcycles were.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NHrFzPaMPqk0ucfNkoFAWppe4rF4X7KIv1I4hbtQ8O1jji4dQDn_56tAjiB8712draPZRZBINDoleucqAXz0MvpPU-mN-P9beaqy3J3ehWIEOdxpEvlvyj-FzeNqG9PaTMx8uulKI24/s1600/Starship-Enterprise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NHrFzPaMPqk0ucfNkoFAWppe4rF4X7KIv1I4hbtQ8O1jji4dQDn_56tAjiB8712draPZRZBINDoleucqAXz0MvpPU-mN-P9beaqy3J3ehWIEOdxpEvlvyj-FzeNqG9PaTMx8uulKI24/s400/Starship-Enterprise.jpg" border="0" alt=" This bike was called the Starship Enterprise and it was bigger than my car!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644617755353579410" /></a><blockquote>This bike was called the Starship Enterprise and it was bigger than my car!</blockquote>
<br />After dinner we went back to the hotel to relax for a bit and then it was back out on Main St. to see more of the bikes. We bought ourselves a couple of souvenir T-shirts and just wandered around for a while until the music started. The highlight of the night was a group called “<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angry-Candy/21422170386?sk=photos#!/pages/Angry-Candy/21422170386?sk=wall">Angry Candy</a>” and they were just fantastic! They played mostly covers of rock songs like “Mustang Sally” and “Welcome To The Jungle” and the female lead singer, Izabelle Ouellet, was just fantastic! She had amazing vocal range and stage presence, lots of energy, too. We were having such a good time that I didn’t get any pictures so I pilfered one or two from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150294785812840.361717.247137567839">Facebook</a>. I got to talk to Izabelle for a minute after the show and she was nice enough to sign a T-shirt for me.
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsiCjkdrnk4uT7rWLipGSU_188bw0ohGLAVLcbnebR8g2LZzf9dR1Jo17sjfVR31WadZqZOD_JX8MjLB3asbjfGmmqVZfZctSCUn7ZXyeDJn_WURX7jDUixTi34287Sdf-yoAGTOr8TU/s1600/Angry+Candy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsiCjkdrnk4uT7rWLipGSU_188bw0ohGLAVLcbnebR8g2LZzf9dR1Jo17sjfVR31WadZqZOD_JX8MjLB3asbjfGmmqVZfZctSCUn7ZXyeDJn_WURX7jDUixTi34287Sdf-yoAGTOr8TU/s400/Angry+Candy.jpg" border="0" alt=" This is Angry Candy and take my word for it, that woman can sing!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644761695440833586" /></a><blockquote>This is Angry Candy and take my word for it, that woman can sing!</blockquote>
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGxWc_CjCS9Tks4x-5Lkb3UXtuSexG_dT0wxB4nkfnyLlGtlUvzsKxEJoHbEfbdyoh7iLH5RQsZQ-SxiqsyGUi0Bog9DA0RRC_KF30_HNa3-GeF_vKzM2hp6K-CMaeoh96m9u3BM_62g/s1600/Angry+Candy+Poster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGxWc_CjCS9Tks4x-5Lkb3UXtuSexG_dT0wxB4nkfnyLlGtlUvzsKxEJoHbEfbdyoh7iLH5RQsZQ-SxiqsyGUi0Bog9DA0RRC_KF30_HNa3-GeF_vKzM2hp6K-CMaeoh96m9u3BM_62g/s400/Angry+Candy+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt=" This the Angry Candy logo on a poster for a Canada Day concert."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644761741837259858" /></a><blockquote>This the Angry Candy logo on a poster for a Canada Day concert.</blockquote>
<br />Sunday was the last day but, with check-out not until noon, we had lots of time to have breakfast and then take a nice long walk to see the tidal bore park and some more of the city. The sky was clear and it was hot, even at 9am. We had a great little stroll and then it was back to room to pack up.
<br />
<br />Checking out went fine until we got the bill and we found that the room service that we had ordered which should have been covered by the food credit that came with the room had not been deleted. When we pointed this out to the clerk she not only reversed the charge but also gave us a 10% reduction because of the “posting error”. The whole stay at the hotel cost us only $433. That’s pretty good for such a high-end place and it made for a great anniversary present!
<br />
<br />We had such a good time that we decided that we would take the long way home instead of just pounding back on the highway. We took a secondary road that followed along the shore of the Bay of Fundy and we saw some beautiful scenery. Then we spotted a U-Pick type of farm that was offering high bush blueberries so we decided to stop. I’m glad we did because the berries were just perfect, huge too. They were the size of grapes and very tasty. We easily filled our 3 litre basket in about 10 minutes and some of them actually made it home!
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh6kOumagBBxRet1A6FjYhsQGofDwtjcKzX7171Mns9S2p9VaVYXVoFj0Q6ozQI43G3uV1qDZTV-aT_bbssWyxV6rnc43Ouiu2n1ngdWObCaOUqBprdS-OS0BQ_Q5O1gJ7NuXitYPDRE/s1600/Blueberry-Farm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh6kOumagBBxRet1A6FjYhsQGofDwtjcKzX7171Mns9S2p9VaVYXVoFj0Q6ozQI43G3uV1qDZTV-aT_bbssWyxV6rnc43Ouiu2n1ngdWObCaOUqBprdS-OS0BQ_Q5O1gJ7NuXitYPDRE/s400/Blueberry-Farm.jpg" border="0" alt=" We found this U-pick farm on the drive home."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645119547516705746" /></a><blockquote>We found this U-pick farm on the drive home.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8z2qXyJfGXmBqokZOR_0HCsqBd3QukE1eTvQEjcKk-4tOFbkHY-padvpiTacmtf3pGJEJJPFZKaujgMnm0XqSICkC-FU7X_5J9y2bByQug952idIIVTaCfwn1oTF1MTPDOG8bn-jQAE/s1600/Blueberry-Shack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8z2qXyJfGXmBqokZOR_0HCsqBd3QukE1eTvQEjcKk-4tOFbkHY-padvpiTacmtf3pGJEJJPFZKaujgMnm0XqSICkC-FU7X_5J9y2bByQug952idIIVTaCfwn1oTF1MTPDOG8bn-jQAE/s400/Blueberry-Shack.jpg" border="0" alt=" Even the check-out stand was well done here."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645119543597959922" /></a><blockquote>Even the check-out stand was well done here.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRV3wXh_M9WcfX2wHJstmztrJeMBrO-t_0iqC4lvlXaKqun9MTMyqvnWjzE3Yz7fwlc5_peqrpNLKvavbrvS3q6vnT-0PACxa-iXpmO6HrmGTcw2rXtcLxSlg_M7yAj2zGGwZdUNFmF0/s1600/Pumpkin-Chart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRV3wXh_M9WcfX2wHJstmztrJeMBrO-t_0iqC4lvlXaKqun9MTMyqvnWjzE3Yz7fwlc5_peqrpNLKvavbrvS3q6vnT-0PACxa-iXpmO6HrmGTcw2rXtcLxSlg_M7yAj2zGGwZdUNFmF0/s400/Pumpkin-Chart.jpg" border="0" alt=" They apparently grow pumpkins here, too, although we didn’t see any. The sign was interesting, though."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645119537309378258" /></a><blockquote>They apparently grow pumpkins here, too, although we didn’t see any. The sign was interesting, though.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXYck_tsO3642oHWmKgS5AnA0W_9eEqJjJHFx-CkQjnDwbPnlbAHEAV3sxjuJ3193nUZ2l5N-p3AawKBrtYQCDbgbsY0rwyVJhiDeBgrKXtUWR8O_LcLZCYbSsgCIcQ2afJ6KaXtonqg/s1600/High-Bush-Blueberries.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXYck_tsO3642oHWmKgS5AnA0W_9eEqJjJHFx-CkQjnDwbPnlbAHEAV3sxjuJ3193nUZ2l5N-p3AawKBrtYQCDbgbsY0rwyVJhiDeBgrKXtUWR8O_LcLZCYbSsgCIcQ2afJ6KaXtonqg/s400/High-Bush-Blueberries.jpg" border="0" alt=" The blueberries were huge and there were so many of them that it was very easy to pick a basketful in a very short time."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645119533952855810" /></a> <blockquote>The blueberries were huge and there were so many of them that it was very easy to pick a basketful in a very short time.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXIrXGwgZEbTKV2WyA9I_uuftoAIatGo-KF53INyNnuTH4LjuYmge1m11c0wn6E60CaOD1rEhVFwMhtGy9DzFc7x7gOman5oNJir6qbRlWUa0vhzHa29r72EaSP11AsF02GVkHcF2C0U/s1600/Blueberry-Basket.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXIrXGwgZEbTKV2WyA9I_uuftoAIatGo-KF53INyNnuTH4LjuYmge1m11c0wn6E60CaOD1rEhVFwMhtGy9DzFc7x7gOman5oNJir6qbRlWUa0vhzHa29r72EaSP11AsF02GVkHcF2C0U/s400/Blueberry-Basket.jpg" border="0" alt=" Now that's a beautiful basket of blueberries!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645119535875836930" /></a> <blockquote>Now that's a beautiful basket of blueberries!</blockquote>
<br />All in all, it was a great anniversary celebration. I wonder what we’ll do next year.
<br />The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789096366669618621.post-65275858986271747552011-08-09T16:41:00.002-03:002011-08-09T16:51:25.810-03:00Summertime Picture PostSo, where has the Witch been for the last month? Well, I’ve been a bit of a beach bum. Yes, you read that right. I purchased a new bathing suit, a bikini no less, and we have been going to the shore every chance we get. Even I, who is deathly afraid of the water (there are CRABS in the water, you know!) have been in for a swim. We have just been in the water, on the beach and under our umbrella while the winds were blowing so hard I literally had to hold on to keep it from blowing away! But it has all been fun and I’m loving it, when we get any sunshine that is. I even had a wardrobe malfunction with the new suit (Hubby was surprised) but sorry there are no details I’m going to share.
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWi57rGLtCMZW8VopbvsA_gTnNjE6UfgOcO2VAkfdZBOdWl1a8YMXsmpWiNAAzsLlJwbV7lX84B-i4tEa6MULV1mr1IM41ifE5Z3398Ns2A-N07FEfrJRAk3-xqT7vb5pfsp094n_r9A/s1600/Holding-On-For-Dear-Life.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWi57rGLtCMZW8VopbvsA_gTnNjE6UfgOcO2VAkfdZBOdWl1a8YMXsmpWiNAAzsLlJwbV7lX84B-i4tEa6MULV1mr1IM41ifE5Z3398Ns2A-N07FEfrJRAk3-xqT7vb5pfsp094n_r9A/s400/Holding-On-For-Dear-Life.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638095944378476274" /></a> <blockquote>Here's me trying to keep my beach umbrella from blowing away again.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZpRz8gYr5kBC4oAQhKoahB6LYJ3JTkvRsZdGmiPE3FqAyr8QdTBaQ1NNRVieYYCmxWlUSkDb_V6b9VDGWDK2b3MY6SSM55iJS8d3iOZg6_ETrGMrk9biunoPGyd2w9scLW0DbmZgXmM/s1600/Hubby-At-The-Beach2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZpRz8gYr5kBC4oAQhKoahB6LYJ3JTkvRsZdGmiPE3FqAyr8QdTBaQ1NNRVieYYCmxWlUSkDb_V6b9VDGWDK2b3MY6SSM55iJS8d3iOZg6_ETrGMrk9biunoPGyd2w9scLW0DbmZgXmM/s400/Hubby-At-The-Beach2.jpg" border="0" alt=" Look at my brave Hubby, out there wading amongst the CRABS!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638098769642443874" /></a> <blockquote>Look at my brave Hubby, out there wading amongst the CRABS!</blockquote>
<br />So now you know why the Witch has been derelict in her blog posting. I decided the summer is too short to waste inside on the computer so it’s off to the beach we go. Well, okay, we have also been busy with the gardens, and of course the MOTHER!*//%** gazebo. What’s that Hubby? It’s almost finished? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha… what’s that?.. oh… you were serious… sorry!
<br />
<br />Anyway, for now, I’m going to leave you with a collection of pictures which I hope you all enjoy. They are just a random collection from the past month or so.
<br />
<br />Also, we are trying out a few changes to the design of the Witch’s Island so please be patient as we gear up some new stuff. Let us know how you like them.
<br />
<br />Enjoy your day everyone, I’m heading to the beach again and I’m going to try to keep my swim suit on this time!
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38Z90-R6fwF_C8xPHksBErjdtwnGuDm-p3S-YRgqurcBNSiQ_hBFoQMfom0-wBbgxOP2cNmcNYxdl6gw95-zVGnBV_IyPpULNUQ5LqmN5NHXHd9evMR2qQdvyrLPSjiWbPt-UG_vqL3A/s1600/Shorebirds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38Z90-R6fwF_C8xPHksBErjdtwnGuDm-p3S-YRgqurcBNSiQ_hBFoQMfom0-wBbgxOP2cNmcNYxdl6gw95-zVGnBV_IyPpULNUQ5LqmN5NHXHd9evMR2qQdvyrLPSjiWbPt-UG_vqL3A/s400/Shorebirds.jpg" border="0" alt=" These shorebirds were having a field day running back and forth. I don’t know if they were feeding or just playing!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085115620656018" /></a><blockquote>These shorebirds were having a field day running back and forth. I don’t know if they were feeding or just playing!</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H2by45b5ynYgcYZopfwvVCeWoEBmXRprhyyQmvKK99r3wmG6MR6ImUck9DsKXNyx6Sp8zKh1s-9ItyBe4v7uXvcf6iyRjeLAbZ4GuBQPdFucVEVhp8mIH11O6RXqzAm9J1ciaEElLGQ/s1600/Shorebirds-Again.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H2by45b5ynYgcYZopfwvVCeWoEBmXRprhyyQmvKK99r3wmG6MR6ImUck9DsKXNyx6Sp8zKh1s-9ItyBe4v7uXvcf6iyRjeLAbZ4GuBQPdFucVEVhp8mIH11O6RXqzAm9J1ciaEElLGQ/s400/Shorebirds-Again.jpg" border="0" alt=" Some black headed gulls on the beach at low tide."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085113861581634" /></a><blockquote>Some black headed gulls on the beach at low tide.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vQhstD6BK1jdwxuHDAFcvZrdbr72BM1q-22FX01qQt8sOc-9hvMNuS3jO-RWAWnnZVe-fnBiuCoUXFr1JuSyFDgGmCJ5OZUAnh8_gx1PnKxEKFTTK4zLSsnCXZOJCNnlDN9Mp1TN7fk/s1600/Beach-Art.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vQhstD6BK1jdwxuHDAFcvZrdbr72BM1q-22FX01qQt8sOc-9hvMNuS3jO-RWAWnnZVe-fnBiuCoUXFr1JuSyFDgGmCJ5OZUAnh8_gx1PnKxEKFTTK4zLSsnCXZOJCNnlDN9Mp1TN7fk/s400/Beach-Art.jpg" border="0" alt=" I found this message painted onto a rock while I was hunting for driftwood. They were obviously talented people but who goes to the beach with their paintbox?"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085109952875666" /></a><blockquote>I found this message painted onto a rock while I was hunting for driftwood. They were obviously talented people but who goes to the beach with their paintbox?</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44EZANBnBNoO3mU6zqxfnGER_7e99C-PXdF0UMmuYjRaFp3MDnOrmtKG5k7WRl0rFr5cMz_EM0G154PW6sWttPDamC3v4QrKp7daCBar2Lr4SGBm7tw6b2ufxCIdtW793D5SgOMLZDk/s1600/Storm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF44EZANBnBNoO3mU6zqxfnGER_7e99C-PXdF0UMmuYjRaFp3MDnOrmtKG5k7WRl0rFr5cMz_EM0G154PW6sWttPDamC3v4QrKp7daCBar2Lr4SGBm7tw6b2ufxCIdtW793D5SgOMLZDk/s400/Storm.jpg" border="0" alt=" The sky has been looking ominous for most of the summer. This particular system was very intense but not the worst we have had this year."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085583782203954" /></a><blockquote>The sky has been looking ominous for most of the summer. This particular system was very intense but not the worst we have had this year.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXqg-hMGzaR14_FRIANRy4u6vTitOVOf0JCieHmXsGvcTeKRlDUbVCcL5KbdYwYbjlU4tLUH81zi4m9kH-_kETGXdQBZd83NaX3SKKn3Rag_aQEwZ9ng7Z4fFA7Ob1E5_7z5p03l7Bg/s1600/Garden-In-July.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczXqg-hMGzaR14_FRIANRy4u6vTitOVOf0JCieHmXsGvcTeKRlDUbVCcL5KbdYwYbjlU4tLUH81zi4m9kH-_kETGXdQBZd83NaX3SKKn3Rag_aQEwZ9ng7Z4fFA7Ob1E5_7z5p03l7Bg/s400/Garden-In-July.jpg" border="0" alt=" The vegetable garden was doing pretty good back in mid July."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638092811340082562" /></a><blockquote>The vegetable garden was doing pretty good back in mid July.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtvVJyHefFpmlTZW2_A887IW7GIXEGQr3D7-_oVsJ34P0aC6D0_Z0brBiprJSpjowjTKaVxX8a4K0rJ4HIPiqVOd3KblC4H3HI0yYSNsVbOs_04umSN71Q4T1UAiHdCnPHBW2IpiOOXw/s1600/Garden-In-August.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtvVJyHefFpmlTZW2_A887IW7GIXEGQr3D7-_oVsJ34P0aC6D0_Z0brBiprJSpjowjTKaVxX8a4K0rJ4HIPiqVOd3KblC4H3HI0yYSNsVbOs_04umSN71Q4T1UAiHdCnPHBW2IpiOOXw/s400/Garden-In-August.jpg" border="0" alt=" By early August it was doing even better. The carrots, the beets and beans have been on our dinner menu almost every day for the past week."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638092814543907042" /></a><blockquote>By early August it was doing even better. The carrots, the beets and beans have been on our dinner menu almost every day for the past week.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDMpG4Q8Xx-9lNGe4zg2h98QXPh0SXea0ZdWUxJkVkRi9FMu5BakNrShEdWYvsNUlFMAUHqLb38DmLaD4LN9ypStZbPZH2ZuXITGhuNyMdz7ykaW6nXl6xyBgVpmJn7RA5f4S9FR6vXc/s1600/Gazebo-Stairs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDMpG4Q8Xx-9lNGe4zg2h98QXPh0SXea0ZdWUxJkVkRi9FMu5BakNrShEdWYvsNUlFMAUHqLb38DmLaD4LN9ypStZbPZH2ZuXITGhuNyMdz7ykaW6nXl6xyBgVpmJn7RA5f4S9FR6vXc/s400/Gazebo-Stairs.jpg" border="0" alt=" My gazebo has finally got some stairs so now I don’t need to crawl in. Here are the stairs just minutes after Hubby finished building them (Please don’t tell him that I let it slip that it took him over SIX hours to make them!)."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638092816020150914" /></a><blockquote>My gazebo has finally got some stairs so now I don’t need to crawl in. Here are the stairs just minutes after Hubby finished building them (Please don’t tell him that I let it slip that it took him over SIX hours to make them!).</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm6qvpEZmWSRa1Ok2vCTk-cDPLbTOvrupYNYU_FG9msS6BGB-3Jt9M8COyBmHizeNAepQU_Kx6sqfzPsnUF3w-zTw9KIKvazcYCuT2BXTOT5xahxtM7xGWdUmyolAiF31pArGh4IN8E8/s1600/Stairs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm6qvpEZmWSRa1Ok2vCTk-cDPLbTOvrupYNYU_FG9msS6BGB-3Jt9M8COyBmHizeNAepQU_Kx6sqfzPsnUF3w-zTw9KIKvazcYCuT2BXTOT5xahxtM7xGWdUmyolAiF31pArGh4IN8E8/s400/Stairs.jpg" border="0" alt=" Here are the stairs again the next morning after being treated with the water sealer. We used Thompson’s brand and it did a great job on the cedar."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638093135435027682" /></a><blockquote>Here are the stairs again the next morning after being treated with the water sealer. We used Thompson’s brand and it did a great job on the cedar.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWuu_zmSV_e2ooCV3aIm7y48fZgRzsB_dxJzmt6pqi0daVklDV_fpmbhsybblmWwWSp7p_wFhzH7DIpMjfrqq937k1eIs7lU7RW7V6HJCR0AxHu37BJIpHtcMBxHYO7WtyNyM7Q_gGr4/s1600/Window-Casing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWuu_zmSV_e2ooCV3aIm7y48fZgRzsB_dxJzmt6pqi0daVklDV_fpmbhsybblmWwWSp7p_wFhzH7DIpMjfrqq937k1eIs7lU7RW7V6HJCR0AxHu37BJIpHtcMBxHYO7WtyNyM7Q_gGr4/s400/Window-Casing.jpg" border="0" alt=" The final bit of construction prior to adding the siding was the window casing and now that is all done, too."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085436098354546" /></a><blockquote>The final bit of construction prior to adding the siding was the window casing and now that is all done, too.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjnZovb1XYlmX7uooRAAHhkqxO3RsqZWxd-GIsvtMcx9NyeBdarYus9Lh65OeH6I7_ZydmOEfHINStjk52NAfRHPw_WZAc3CXeQqJHJLCYvY5vSYEEhe2bOhbNpOCISg4h40jzbh6_NI/s1600/Tool-Belt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjnZovb1XYlmX7uooRAAHhkqxO3RsqZWxd-GIsvtMcx9NyeBdarYus9Lh65OeH6I7_ZydmOEfHINStjk52NAfRHPw_WZAc3CXeQqJHJLCYvY5vSYEEhe2bOhbNpOCISg4h40jzbh6_NI/s400/Tool-Belt.jpg" border="0" alt=" Okay, Hubby. You did great getting all that finished. Go and get that beer… Hubby? Hubby? All right, now where did he get to?"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085433847422178" /></a><blockquote>Okay, Hubby. You did great getting all that finished. Go and get that beer… Hubby? Hubby? All right, now where did he get to?</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W5aA1GXuO0URDDcM02tFjkk7rrjoQP4SgJY_6xsqSUgBSzRsN-krBAeE8RBCelA8ifEgpUKSBpKRNWdVsL4wnZWAMuPrfOJ5TpxSac_6qaN9rgCVcGS1J1bGG5fwgC8m_2ctKF87jro/s1600/Colour-Riot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W5aA1GXuO0URDDcM02tFjkk7rrjoQP4SgJY_6xsqSUgBSzRsN-krBAeE8RBCelA8ifEgpUKSBpKRNWdVsL4wnZWAMuPrfOJ5TpxSac_6qaN9rgCVcGS1J1bGG5fwgC8m_2ctKF87jro/s400/Colour-Riot.jpg" border="0" alt=" The flower gardens are doing pretty good, too. The lilies have all come out in bloom at the same time and they are just a riot of colours."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638092806865569122" /></a><blockquote>The flower gardens are doing pretty good, too. The lilies have all come out in bloom at the same time and they are just a riot of colours.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuCSxApM2gA1p60M-K7UMD8v0FamnDiYpLfwcQNAFonPou5rZ9wVSk87MFdWolrjf3fd5LQdw8_G51Qk1DExzgy9Y7vrMz_8KJNCcy4T6k3_DJTl37GVfoFT7jJpf6LlVwqIjM7acFKs/s1600/Pink-Lily.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuCSxApM2gA1p60M-K7UMD8v0FamnDiYpLfwcQNAFonPou5rZ9wVSk87MFdWolrjf3fd5LQdw8_G51Qk1DExzgy9Y7vrMz_8KJNCcy4T6k3_DJTl37GVfoFT7jJpf6LlVwqIjM7acFKs/s400/Pink-Lily.jpg" border="0" alt=" Here’s a close-up of one of the pink ones. They are huge, about 6 inches across and they smell wonderful, too."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638093131943510322" /></a><blockquote>Here’s a close-up of one of the pink ones. They are huge, about 6 inches across and they smell wonderful, too.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKdCkIKUdx9f35X5swHwy15Cr5cJcWaabYTgjbWbUCQEo6tfMr8rWn5PXzmVoRYK96DGhrWaETO_zDZdvdeF1o4NxherbPZltQoAHlMiupULKX5tYB4D4DbcIGql_JAnt2fkUJBDGxwg/s1600/Grapes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKdCkIKUdx9f35X5swHwy15Cr5cJcWaabYTgjbWbUCQEo6tfMr8rWn5PXzmVoRYK96DGhrWaETO_zDZdvdeF1o4NxherbPZltQoAHlMiupULKX5tYB4D4DbcIGql_JAnt2fkUJBDGxwg/s400/Grapes.jpg" border="0" alt=" The grapes are doing great this year. It’s going to be our best harvest ever as long as we get to them before the birds do."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638095949722267778" /></a><blockquote>The grapes are doing great this year. It’s going to be our best harvest ever as long as we get to them before the birds do.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHgXmEGsb1_maN34Qtqc9_g2wNTUqE0XAmn2CbvA6d3_yQRm4QPhQQzQdoz5Y5eIN2yv7JGfq5rpngxrSC8qBvmqEq0qzq9m9uTXalJQ7Dfoic6B80jlgg0Xh55OLjvc4NKcUh0luxmM/s1600/Canola.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHgXmEGsb1_maN34Qtqc9_g2wNTUqE0XAmn2CbvA6d3_yQRm4QPhQQzQdoz5Y5eIN2yv7JGfq5rpngxrSC8qBvmqEq0qzq9m9uTXalJQ7Dfoic6B80jlgg0Xh55OLjvc4NKcUh0luxmM/s400/Canola.jpg" border="0" alt="The farmers have planted a lot of canola this year and when it blooms it turns this intense colour of yellow. So beautiful!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638092803351998834" /></a><blockquote>The farmers have planted a lot of canola this year and when it blooms it turns this intense colour of yellow. So beautiful!</blockquote>
<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2LaHAwqSlDAtUlNMz4R1AlOxNqApJ0lk7IhNxoQ_GII2-L5ehyphenhyphen9etrDILwmdsi338IDTBGWL1ewXJEn1M2D7_mHuf9pqaLpqCuInN3_PhbZpqsnHuQ0AzaH6jxkyNYDF4aYL_5zHzNE/s1600/Summer-Evening.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2LaHAwqSlDAtUlNMz4R1AlOxNqApJ0lk7IhNxoQ_GII2-L5ehyphenhyphen9etrDILwmdsi338IDTBGWL1ewXJEn1M2D7_mHuf9pqaLpqCuInN3_PhbZpqsnHuQ0AzaH6jxkyNYDF4aYL_5zHzNE/s400/Summer-Evening.jpg" border="0" alt=" That’s me standing out on the back deck admiring all our hard work."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085123319709858" /></a><blockquote>That’s me standing out on the back deck admiring all our hard work.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ujewdkc8AHdyF2F0_US4p8ZsMmv3pKpv1nNWWQpvgjd2A84Heb0MA4BUomHRal91XdsnMrHfBgL8gu6Ay0pZ1jmOb03aLwrdDNrw-YRrR_0u-CbhDBLKPIRNrbCx392lm52AYzRCX-M/s1600/Storm-Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ujewdkc8AHdyF2F0_US4p8ZsMmv3pKpv1nNWWQpvgjd2A84Heb0MA4BUomHRal91XdsnMrHfBgL8gu6Ay0pZ1jmOb03aLwrdDNrw-YRrR_0u-CbhDBLKPIRNrbCx392lm52AYzRCX-M/s400/Storm-Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=" As another summer storm builds in the evening sky I will say see you later."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085119933107362" /></a><blockquote>As another summer storm builds in the evening sky I will say see you later.</blockquote>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeg28lO9HYT8qoo7dcl6v-Zl7K__Ka339cYNjm7E52UJYiHVsXQ0kIYBwTUAgjrFrO_95LS1ZWvYzkGWZLx6brLS0rvmyZcERVX1P_PM6w39GqOs1Iq1e4ZLHvlg7jlnMajfZZAb0IEA/s1600/Buck-Tooth-Llama.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeg28lO9HYT8qoo7dcl6v-Zl7K__Ka339cYNjm7E52UJYiHVsXQ0kIYBwTUAgjrFrO_95LS1ZWvYzkGWZLx6brLS0rvmyZcERVX1P_PM6w39GqOs1Iq1e4ZLHvlg7jlnMajfZZAb0IEA/s400/Buck-Tooth-Llama.jpg" border="0" alt=" One last picture of me staring down the world’s ugliest Llama. That is all."id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638085439670870002" /></a><blockquote>One last picture of me staring down the world’s ugliest Llama. That is all.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />The Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02021866057255311124noreply@blogger.com12