New Year!

After we agreed to put the house on the market...It was time for pictures!

That was nerve racking! Because that was then that it hit me...I was putting my house on the market!

This was HUGE! This was going to be life changing!

It think it went on the market on Boxing Day. It is very exciting and scary all at the same time.


Now for the resolutions...nothing too drastic this year....I am moving after all!

I want to read more. Real paper books not the online stuff (so far so good!)

Walk more. I want more days where I walk more than 10K (so far so good)

Sign up for a yoga or tai chi class

Bike. Once I move I will buy a bike and ride on the waterfront

Take up needlepoint. I have 2 vintage needlepoint patterns new in their wrapping and I can't wait to
work on them!

A nice pantry! I know this sounds funny but when I lived in the burbs I had a nice space to store canned goods. Here not so much.
So I am dreaming of organizing and storing a nice pantry with all the essentials.

Meal plan or big batch cooking. I am still unsure between both but I think the big batch will win.
I would love to have 5 meals in the freezer.
I used to be super organized in the burbs...but I guess the proximity (relative) of grocery stores really threw me off add the mourning, the depression...etc....
we are only 2 most of the time, but we never know when my stepdaughter might drop by and look all sad and lonely....

you get the gist!

Life goes on

The ballet evening was a great success! We had a lot of fun.

 However the representation honoring my father was not on the 27 but the 28....

A bureaucratic mixup! Oh well...

Yesterday was the 11th month anniversary of my Dad's passing ....Of course I was sad and nostalgic but it is expected.

Dad's cat; Meaghan is slowly but surely getting used to life with us and the other cats....

She's quite the princess and talks a lot!

I am positive that in 2017 she will cuddle more and maybe even sleep

in the bed with us.....

Fingers crossed!

Even if 2016 has been traumatic and strange I can't say that I'm waiting eagerly for it 

to be over.

Time is just passing, it is the circle of life....

Happy, sad, birth, death...

And in between laughter, tears,joy, thrifts, pets, food and friends!

Sleep tight! 

Happy New Year!!!

I am wishing all of you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

I spent the last 2 days just watching TV, streaming American Horror Story, stuffing my face and vegging out in pjs on the sofa.

And I cleaned out the pantry and a pesky catch all drawer....

Purging and cleaning is always so satisfying. I can feel that 2014 will be a great year!

  Full of inspiration, road trips, thrifty finds and riches (of all kinds).

I feel blessed, full of energy and ready to go!

                                                                   
                                            This is a vignette from the backyard, so I actually see this as I
                                                 wash the dishes and it fills me with joy.

                                           

Santa and the penguins are keeping company

with Pinotte on top of her final esting place.

I had a feeling she would enjoy them and she reminded me of the penguins;

so it's a win-win for all!

 

This is it for tonight...Chopped Canada is beckoning!

 

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I wish you all the best year ever! May all your dreams come true but mainely may you be healhty and happy.
May you realize that happiness lies in the most unexpected places and in everyday things.

Joy is coming home after a hard day's work, seeing little furry faces. Noticing a new bloom on a plant, clean flannel sheets, a warm meal, laughing with your sweetie, a drawer full of socks still warm from the dryer.

I know, I know I wrote that I was going to post yesterday but I was in couch potato mode BIG TIME!

I read, I ate, I watched tv, then Dexter....We need to watch season 4's last episode and Dan is a total wuss so your guess is as good as mine when we'll be watching it.

Today I cooked the turkey that was still frozen yesterday...I rubbed it all over with bacon grease, salt and pepper, it was delicious! We have plenty of leftovers and I'm thankfull for that.

I'm working tomorrow and I love to be prepared. Some cooked food in the fridg; I.E: cooked turkey, mushroom risotto and pumpkin soup. The wash is all done, my lunch is ready, my cereal is in a Tupperware with dried fruit, I have snack size baggies with pumpkin seeds, vitamins and jasmine tea bags. I just need to wake up, drink coffee and shower! SWEET!

We cleaned out the crap/tool/craft closet and it should be more organised....A work in progress!

The Danmeister is on vacation this week and I've heard promises of painting and door building.....We'll see lol!

I anted to participate in a 365 picture project, but I didn't take any today :(

Here's the one I took yesterday

I'm still trying to work out the Iphone pictures...but I'm not so crazy about them.

Dan thinks that I developped an unhealthy obsession with Anthony Bourdain...What can I say? I got 2 of his dvds for Xmas. We had a marathon on Travel channel and I can watch him on my Iphone for free when in the comfort of my own WIFI. Like I told Dan: I love traveling with that crazy guy with the dry wit and potty mouth.

I'm sure we could hang out all together if we would meet.

His episodes about Quebec and Montreal really cracked me up!

Well until next time.....

Thank you for all your good wishes! Hugs and kisses to all ;)     

Year round up and other tid-bits

Well 2011 was certainly an interesting year.

I had the big falling out with my mother's family in January. I decided I didn't want to waste energy on that battle and that I would never have contact with them, ever again and that suits me just fine.

I learned what I was worth and that is priceless.

We went to Maine in the big snow storm of February 2011. You can see pictures here 

I found a job in February. It had been rocky at times and I realized that when you're a temp you're not worth a lot. You're considered half a person. How crazy is that?

In the midst of all I actually made a friend and we share a lot of values that are not necesseraly those of the company we work for.

I didn't enjoy summer the way I normally did, maybe it was because I was not used to work yet. You do remember that I stayed 3 years at home, don't you?

The thrifting scene was let's say not so great. Dan will say that it's because I have all the Pyrex in the world, but we know it's not true! Once in a while I'll find a piece I was missing and shout with glee!

I still smile when I see this cutie!

We went back to the U.S in September and we got to discover Rye beach. I hope to go again in 2012, but that is another ball park :)

In October to celebrate our 21st anniversary we treated ourselves to a dinner at Joe Beef (one of the best restaurants in Montreal) We still talk about the food; which means this was totally worth it!


in November well my contract was nearing its expiration date....but my contract was renewed for 6 months, which was definitely better than nothing but still.....

We made purchases which are totally at the opposites ends of the technology spectrum, really!

A IPhone. It is loads of fun and now that we both have a telephone we will (I hope) avoid some commuting snaffus.

We did get a greeeeaaaaattt deal, on of the perks of working for the phone company!

Now here's the other end of the spectrum....

 A 1969 yelow Contempra phone for the living/dining room....These babies are scarce and pricey! I've seen some at 80$ plus shipping on Ebay....This baby was waiting for me and I won it for less than 30$ shipping included.

It needs a good cleaning but I should be getting around this tomorrow or Monday.

On December 16th I got a huge surprise! I got offered a permanent full time position with benefits! Merry Xmas to me! I still don't know what possessed my boss but I'm glad she changed her mind. I did work extra hard and upped my numbers and I decided not to be stressed anymore. I'm guessing it helped.

One thing that struck me in 2011 (this is really on the small scale of things) is that some retailers are making loads of money and laughing at us at the same time. I have 2 luxury stores near my office and I go from time to time just to window shop. You can tell that their regular customer base is rich people or wannabees, i'm neither.

Before Xmas I saw an 8oz jar of pickled veggies for 65$. That's sixty five dollars! I could get 1 pair of pants, 2 pairs of socks, 1 t-shirt and a sweater for that price!

After Boxing day I saw an airplane cushion for 125$ instead of 250$, a really cute wool cap I wanted to buy until I saw the price tag....125$ instead of 250$

and last but not least....

These kids mittens are about 3 inches long and were 49$ instead of 65$.

to top it all off the sales clerks are snooty! This is a crazy world!

I don't think I would shop there if I suddenly became rich! I would probably give my 2 weeks notice, thrift until I drop, volunteer at a pet shelter maybe even start a shelter and go spend the summer in Maine with the cats!

On that note have a nice New Year's Eve, don't party too hard and I'll be there sometime tomorrow with my New Year wishes.

   

Hoppin' John

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Did you eat some black eyed peas? You must! They insure you'll get good luck and moneyssss!

We all need money! LOL

So this morning I made a batch of Hoppin' John. Hoppin' John is a southern recipe. A delicious mix of rice,black eyed peas,bacon, tomatoes...DELICIOUS!

I started doing this after hearing about it from Paula Deen y'all.

It is very cheap and filling and very comforting! Dan eats it for breakfast...It's great for lunch.

I got the recipe from the internet but couldn't find it if my life depended on it! I did find a lot of great recipes , some more complicated than other. I used canned black eyed peas and no ham hock, i had delicious bacon instead!

I also heard last week that you had to eat cabbage on New Year for good luck...I won't, afterall bean is the musical fruit!

Happy New Year!!!

I wish everybody a truly wonderful New Year full of possibilities (aren't possibilities the best?), tons of thrifting finds and JOY (laughter is a must) and let's not forget Health (where would we be without it).

I love the idea that we have a new year to explore!

2008 was certainly an interesting year (to say the least!!!).
I got canned, I did most of my TO DO list, really I mean REALLY enjoyed the company of my cats, started a blog, became an ebay seller (when people actually pay for the stuff...LOL), opened my little boutique on Etsy, went crazy in the Pyrex collecting and started to really appreciate who I am. Aaaaaah! The wonderfulness of me! I found out in 2008 that I was much better and talented then I thought and certainly more creative.....I can't wait to discover what 2009 has in store for me!

The picture is of Hoppin' John, a traditionnal New Year's day dish that is supposed to bring you money....I made a big batch....LOL, it's delicious...Rice and black eyed peas, tomatoes and bacon (What's not to like! lol) I saw it on Paula Deen's show, thought it was a good idea and found one on the web...I do add some chicken stock, parsley and tons of green onions. Delicious!

Later my friends!