When Life Gives You Lemons, Build Yourself A Snowman!

Well the weather is just not co-operating in the least this winter. Games Nite got cancelled again last night because of an incoming snow storm. We had planned on having it last month but sad circumstances meant that it would have to be delayed. Last night was supposed to be our backup date and I spent a lot of time getting everything ready, food, house-cleaning and surprises but we could tell from early in the morning that the snow was going to interfere. The last thing that we want is for our friends to have an accident on their way home from a dinner party. So when the snow had still not relented by late afternoon we postponed the event for another week. Maybe, just maybe, we will get a break although snow is forecast for just about every day next week.

Look at that guy. Don’t you want to give him a hug?

The games were all lined up and ready to go.

Two ounces for gentlemen, three ounces for pigs, four ounces for jackasses. Who’s going to measure anyway?

So, what do you do when life gives you lemons? Well if your lemons come in the form of endless snow you build a snowman! Doing all the housework yesterday meant that we would have the whole day to do what we wanted to for a change. What a great break! The snow was perfect, too. It was nice and damp because the temperature is just about at the freezing point so it didn’t take long to roll up three big sections. This is the first snowman we have made here at the new place. Hopefully nobody is going to come along and trash him like the last one we made. Maybe the hooligans won’t notice us out here in the country!

We have all kinds of building material for snowman construction!

The snowman turned out great! I would say that he is our best effort in years but, well, he’s our only effort in years. Doesn’t he look happy? What a great way to lighten up a dreary winter day!

All snowmen should be just this happy!

Looking at the gazebo it’s hard to believe that spring is only a month away.

Valentine Wishes

This is just a short little post to wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day. Look what I baked Hubby. It’s his favorite treat, a double layer white cake with a rich butter cream icing. The saying goes that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but, for my man, I have to get past his sweet tooth before I can get anywhere else.

I spent a couple of hours getting this ready on Sunday afternoon. Hubby was upstairs and he figured I was making cupcakes but I fooled him. He was pretty pleased to get the cake instead.

Hubby’s Valentine cake, the lucky fella!

I got a lovely red mini rose bush and a really sweet card. These plants are great, I’ve had them before. Later this spring I’ll be able to plant it outside where it may last a few years.

My mini rose bush.

That’s all for now I guess. We had had another storm to day and more is expected overnight. Blah… How long until spring?

This little bobble-head frog just wants to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Earworms

Just can’t get this song out of my head!

Our local CBC station was running a contest last week, something about Earworms, you know that type of song that you just have to hear or think of that then stays in your mind for the rest of the day. Like a worm that has wriggled into your ear and just won’t come out. I was really tempted to call in because I’ve had one in my head for a week now. I wimped out though because I would have had to sing a few lines and that wouldn’t have been pretty. Besides, I could just picture my co-workers finding out. They would have laughed me out of the plant or worse, they would have started playing pranks and believe me when I tell you that these guys are wicked and would show me no mercy just because I’m a girl! One day I’ll share some stories, but not today.

My Earworm is the theme song from “The Littlest Hobo”. Do you remember the show? It starred London, a German Shepherd, who travelled around from town to town rescuing stupid humans who had gotten themselves in trouble. We loved it when we were kids. We were watching the original series which aired from 1963 to 1965, according to Wikipedia.

The CTV network revived the series in the late 70’s to early 80’s and that’s where the version of the theme song that’s in my head came from.

The Littlest Hobo on CTV!

Here’s a video from YouTube with the song if you want to hear it. I’m warning you now not to push that button!



If you went ahead and pushed it anyway, despite my dire warning, here are the lyrics as posted on the "Halifax Ukulele Gang (H.U.G.)" website.

Maybe Tomorrow – Terry Bush
The theme from “The Littlest Hobo” (1979)

[whistling intro]
There’s a voice that keeps on calling me
Down the road is where I’ll always be
Every stop I make, I’ll make a new friend
Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.
Down this road, that never seems to end,
Where new adventure, lies just around the bend.
So if you want to join me for a while
Just grab your hat, come travel light – that’s hobo style.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, the whole world is my home.
So if you want to join me for a while
Just grab your hat, come travel light – that’s hobo style.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.
[Instrumental Bridge]
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.
There’s a world, that’s waiting to unfold,
A brand new tale, no one has ever told,
We’ve journey’d far but, you know it won’t be long,
We’re almost there and we’ve paid our fare, with the hobo song.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.
So if you want to join me for a while
Just grab your hat, come travel light – that’s hobo style.
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll find what I call home
Until tomorrow, you know I’m free to roam.

What’s a little Earworm amongst friends? Eh?

On another topic completely, I think I have found the longest icicle ever here on the Witch’s Island.

Now that’s a big icicle!

You wouldn’t want to be underneath that one if it let go!

And just before I sign off I thought I’d show you these two pictures of the beautiful sunrise we had last week. Hubby shot these while driving to work; I hope he was watching the road!

Sunrise on the Witch’s Island.

Do you remember the saying about red sky in the morning?

Snow For Sale... Cheap!

Sno Cone Picture via "Make Five"

Snow cones anyone? They are just about the only good thing I associate with that stuff. We were hit hard on Thursday and have lots of snow to spread around. We believe in sharing so the snow is going very cheap. Actually, you can have it for free if you bring a shovel and want to load the back of your pickup truck for weight. It’s all yours baby. Clean, white, pristine, heavy and FREE; just what you need!!!

The Witch’s Island can look cold and lonely in the dead of winter. It’s still beautiful, just different. It’s really a special place where you can find beach combers on the coldest of days looking for that washed up treasure. I haven’t found any recently but would like to share some photos and hope you enjoy your day around a warm fireplace with a good book which is what I plan on doing This afternoon.

You really don’t want to step too close to this edge.

This crow was surprised to find somebody out walking around.

The walkway might just need some work this spring.

It was cold enough that Hubby decided that he wouldn’t go swimming after all.

This is not actually the surface of Mars.

There was some light on the horizon.

Oh, the book I’m reading is “The Girl Who Played With Fire” by Stieg Larsson, the second one of his trilogy. Hubby bought me the set for Christmas and they are just as good as everyone is saying. My fireplace will be warm and toasty and hubby will bring me a glass of red wine. Life is wonderful in the Witch’s cold island paradise.

You can get yours from Amazon.ca.

Pie, Anyone? My First New Recipe of the New Year.

Well, here’s it is, the start of the second week of the new year and I’m following through on one of my resolutions. I made my first blueberry pie last weekend and it turned out great. It was easy too, in part because I had my pie crust already made. Back in October when I was doing a bunch of baking I made up a whole batch at once and then froze the extra in disk shapes, enough for one pie each. They are so handy and convenient to have on hand.
Here’s the recipe I used. It is my adaptation of one I found in the summer 2006 edition of Homemakers magazine.

Blue Berry Pie

Ingredients
5 cups blueberries
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp lemon juice
2tbsp orange juice
1 tsp orange zest
2 tbsp butter
2 pie crust doughs

Directions
Roll out dough into 2 rounds, ¼ inch thick and press 1 into the bottom of your pie plate. Toss the berries with the rest of the ingredients and pour into the pie shell.
Dot with the butter and then top with the 2nd piece of dough. Trim the edges and then crimp them together. Cut some steam vents in the top.
Bake in the lower third of a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbly, about a further 40 minutes. You’re done!

My first ever blueberry pie!

This is the easiest pie ever to put together and even better, blueberries are supposed to be great for your health! Look at that beauty, you know you want some. With the snow falling down around us today it helps to think about late summer when these August Blues were harvested. Oh August, that’s vacation time right? Sorry, memory lapse, I was thinking vacation already, sigh.

Yesterday we took down the Christmas tree. It’s always a sad thing to see it going away again, the living room looks so bare. We also put away all the decorations pertaining to Santa Claus. Snowmen get to stay because, well, um, they just do. That’s my rule and I’m sticking to it.

Here are some of the guys who will be hanging around for awhile. Try not to think about that pie while you’re looking at the snowmen. I bet you want some pie.

Warm Winter Wishes

This is the wall hanging I bought in the Big City last fall.

This is one of my all-time favourite decorations.

What do you suppose snow actually smells like?

My brother gave me this skating snowman for Christmas this year.

Over The River

This guy usually carries a Merry Christmas banner but it has been put away for now.

I don’t necessarily agree with this sentiment.

I love this little snowman lamp!

This guy will play Jingle Bells when you press his belly.

This guy is on the back of the front door.

This was a fun craft to make!

This star is made from dogwood branches.

He should be saying Let It snow Like Crazy SOMEWHERE ELSE!

Husbands, too.

This is one of this year’s Christmas presents from Hubby.

This guy is actually a candle holder.

Okay, thanks for looking. Here’s your piece!

It was as tasty as it looks.

Welcome to 2011!

This is the first time my Christmas amarylis has produced 5 blooms!

Granny New Years has come again in a small and quiet way. What you don’t remember "Granny"? Check her out in last year’s post here.

Granny New Year Present

A new puzzle book, thanks Granny!

Hubby had a visit from Granny, too. Well, sort of. He finally bought himself a new table saw with the extra cash he received in December. It will replace the $50 Black and Decker saw he has been using for the last 25(!) years. The poor old thing (the saw, not Hubby) fell off the tool trailer one evening during the gazebo build this summer and broke the table top. The stubborn old bugger (Hubby, not the saw) would still be using it if not for that. The saw got great reviews and the price actually went down $1oo from the time he first started drooling on it in the store. Granny works in mysterious ways!

A life-time warranty and great reviews, oh yeah!

Hubby’s new saw over by the stack of the gazebo’s cedar deck boards.

We had a fantastic year with lots of fun, laughter, great food, good weather, late night fire pit parties and just a deep down happy feeling in my stomach. LIFE IS GOOD!! I really don’t see how things can get any better but I’m going to give it a huge try. So I looked back over some of the goals I wanted to accomplish for 2010 and it seems like I have met the challenge head one.

I wanted to have more “No Spend Days” and I managed to keep from spending anything on 106 days for an average of about 2 per week. The same went for “No Drive Days” and while we had a bunch we didn’t record the number anywhere. It’s a little tricky anyway because I car pool and pay on Friday so really I’m not driving.

The meal planning was a great habit to pick up and we still do this daily because when we don’t it really screws things up. We end up running into the store to buy something on the way home from work. So there are lots of positive reasons to continue with this goal.

We bought a new BBQ for all our outdoor cooking needs. I love it; it’s much better looking than the old hunk of junk. Hubby is still getting used to the smaller BTU’s and slower cooking times but he gets the food cooked.

Losing weight has become an up and down cycle with me. I want to lose 10 pounds and will continue on this goal. My new job involves a lot of sitting on my ass and I’m not used to this. I plan on requesting a new work table so I can stand more during the day. I need to spend less time at the computer at home, too.

So now we are at the nitty-gritty of this year’s new resolutions. I honestly don’t have many.

I will continue with the old goals because they work.

I want to set up a daily savings plan with a charitable organization. I have a few I’m checking out.

I want to take up running; VERY, VERY slowly at first till maybe I have enough stamina to run a small 5 km race. We have a company challenge coming up and I would love to be able to participate without me looking like a complete running moron.

I want to have more dinner parties with friends.

I want to cook a new meal or baked item every month and share it with you all.

I want to save more money in my Goofy account so one day we can visit Disney World and go first class all the way.

I want to watch more football games so when the Super Bowl rolls around I’ll have a team to cheer for because honestly the Oakland Raiders just aren’t going to the Big Game again this year.

Happy News Years everyone, may the best be awaiting you in 2011.

A Waste of My Waist(line).

What's a girl to do? With the new year just around the corner now, I'm starting to think of resolutions and how I could improve my life and health. A diet is my perrennial favourite. I mean who doesn't think that they could stand to lose a few pounds? But just look at the picture below. Between the presents Hubby brings home from his customers, goodies I make myself and lots of Christmas gifts we have a ton of temptation sitting down in the pantry cupboard. Very tasty temptation. too! People know all our favourite treats and weaknesses and send us only the best. So it's not like I'm just going to chuck it all out or something but while it's in the house I'm going to be feeling its pull just like a high-calorie black hole in the middle of the house. It's not just me, either. Hubby apparently had half a bowl of Bridge Mixture with his morning coffee before I even got out of bed!

How do I resist eating all these goodies?

So today we packed it all up into a box and tucked it away in the farthest reaches of the pantry underneath the bottom shelf and in amongst the garbage bags. We did reserve three of the nicest boxes of chocolates to pass out to the friends who are coming over tomorrow evening. Hopefully this won't ruin their diets! I haven't even thought until now about all the Christmas cookies I baked and the Yule Log, what about my Yule Log?

I'm clearly going to have to come up with a different resolution this year. I mean was it any more successful last year? Maybe I'll just give up eating tripe and eggplant instead. Yeah, I think I can stick with that one!