Sunday, December 30, 2018

2018 recap

2018 was one of the craziest year of my life!

Ups and downs, mostly ups and a lot of things happening at the same time!

January started innocently enough but on the 3rd Dan had a heart attack! Fortunately the superstars at the CHUM (University of Montreal Hospital Center) fixed my SO better than new with stents.

We were scared and an event like surely puts things in perspective!

In March we travelled to Toronto (spending my Dad's frequent flyer miles).

I really liked Toronto, people were so very friendly and the city is super easy to navigate. We like to walk and that is what we did! I recommend visiting the Botanical Gardens, entrance is free and it is fabulous. I saw lemons bigger than my head!

I April we had the kitchen and one bathroom repainted...The both needed a refresh so bad!

In May I spend the last of Dad's frequent flyer miles and we spent a week in Rome. A total dream vacation! I am glad we took a roaming package from the phone company because I used my phone a lot to find places! If you are in the historical center, you can walk pretty much anywhere and see living history!
 This old fountain has always been one of favorites ever since I first saw it 
47 years ago (yikes)
Somethings are just burned in your memory!

                         Another favorite is the Trevi fountain. To think it is the garden of this palace!
                          and if you visit don't forget to throw a Euro in and make a wish!

Just after coming back I had the back stairs grinder and repainted! It makes such a difference and gives another 10 years of life to them .


Just after that I had the basement fixed with membranes and a sump pump and a dehumidifier.



That is a huge difference as well! the humidity has gone down, no more water...woohoo!

That work was long overdue but for some reason Dad did not take care of it....Oh well, now it is done  and I feel I did right by the house. I took care of it....

So this concludes part one of recap 2018! Next part will be purge, purge, purge, falling in love,Vegas
baby and getting ready to move!

Be well my friends!

Friday, December 28, 2018

It is live!

So I am so excited that my house is finally on the market!

The photograph did an amazing job! I was so stressed, cleaning and purging and not sleeping.

It is one thing to whip up our space up to par...but we had to motivate my stepdaughter as well!

I do understand that it is not easy and a lot of the stuff is still my Dad's because there was just too much....


 Sometimes I forget that I have some Gooseberry fridges!
I think they are lovely!

I don't think I ever saw this counter top so uncluttered!
It looks so big!

Skeleton Bob is keeping warm despite the freezing weather...
I wonder what the potential buyers will think of that....

Of course I wanted to post pictures of the house but they are not in the laptop yet!
But I figured out the secret....I need to open the laptop everyday!





Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is such a magical day for me....

It is the expectation, the waiting, the magic.....

December flew by...with us running every where, adulating a lot more than we like to....

Decisions, decisions.....and ...wait! More decisions!

We started packing today because we can start moving things on January 6th.....and that is just around the corner.....

YIKES! there will be a lot of storage place in the new house, such as a dedicated towels and sheets closet....and a laundry room....oh my with cabinets for the soap etc....

so 3 crates of summer sheets and comforters and 2 boxes of Pixies, 501s and butter dishes (Pyrex of course).



 The Clear 501 and 502 were a gift to my Dad and I decided to keep them
and get the butterfish.

So for now no more packing....just enjoying the family , the cats
and the food......

Happy Xmas Eve!


Sunday, December 23, 2018

Just in case

of course I had every intention of blogging every day but as usual life is busy, busy, busy.

we are taking a lot of life changing decisions and during the Holiday season it sure can throw a wrench in someone's Holiday planning!

so even if I dropped a couple of Holiday treats from this year's roster like caramel corn and cranberry fudge....

I am still churning out the classics ...gingerbread, pferffernusse (pepper gingerbread), Xmas candies and candy cane meringues.

and fruit squares and mini butter tarts for Xmas supper at the inlays.....

today I will share my candy cane meringue kiss recipe...very simple in case you are missing a cookie on your cookie plate...

you will need:

4 egg whites room temp
1 cup super fine sugar (I use powdered sugar)
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla
crushed candy cane


set your oven to 170F or lower if you can

start whipping the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Add salt and cream of tartar
continue whipping and gradually add the sugar.
whip until you get glossy firm peaks, add the vanilla. blend well
use 2 teaspoons to form little kisses on a parchment lined cookie tray. sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.
bake 2 hours with the oven door slightly ajar. after 2 hours turn off the oven but keep the oven door ajar to let the meringues time to dry.

 These are always a bit hit on our Xmas table!

ENJOY!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Vegas Baby!

This trip was a gift to myself and my stepdaughter from my SO.

I like buffets, I like bright lights, I like the Backstreet Boys...and that is why I went to Vegas!

Sounds simplistic?

So wanted to treat us to a trip....Vero and I both love the BSB...they have a residency in Vegas...

You do the math!

we walked over 125,000 steps, visited 24 casinos/hotels/malls.....some awesome, some ew...just ew

we ate at celebrity chefs restaurants....and some rock bottom dives.

Tip no 1:

Pick your hotel as close to the strip as you can. You can find really cheap rooms...but you need to commute. The farther from the strip...the sketchier

We stayed at the Cosmopolitain. I don't remember how we picked this hotel....but it was perfect for us.

We had a terrific view of the Bellagio fountains...and that is one of the best show in Vegas!

 Check in the internet for showtimes.
the fountains are synchronized with music!


 I had never slept in a bed so plush...it was firm and mushy at the same time!

 Double sinks! What is not to love?

 I would not have this in my house but it was pretty 
WOW in an hotel bathroom!

Tip no 2: Bring comfortable shoes!

we not only saw a lot of women teetering on high heels...but we also saw LOADED women
trying not to fall off those crazy heels while under the influence....

Yes you can drink everywhere in Vegas...the drugstores are opened 24/7 selling booze...
and people drink on the street.
I am not being a prude but this is not something I normally see.
In my neighborhood what you see is people smoking doobies....

Until next time and more Vegas tidbits....

Sunday, December 9, 2018

I had every intention....

I had every intention on blogging about Vegas...

but on Thursday night....something happened and I needed to share that first....

the new house came with tenants upstairs...that need to go since my stepdaughter will move in there.

So my SO called them to introduce us and give them our contact numbers....

well that did not go as peacefully as one would think!

My SO was met with a shower of accusations and threats...and aggressive behavior.

Okay picture this...If you are a tenant and your landlord wants to sell and there is a For Sale sign in front...

should you not be prepared???

I would!

so that was another cause of tossing and turning in the night...

But I promise....next time definitely Vegas! LOL

The Bellagio and their fountains...
early morning. Sunrise!

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Ages I tell you!

what can I say? I last posted in October!!!

To tell you the truth we have been quite busy here.....

We have bought a duplex and will be moving in 2019. We are now running around and purging like mad to sell the present house....

 This will be my new kitchen.....

 And this is the family room....

I have so much stuff to get rid of that if I could I would 
just open up a booth in a flea market and stick everything in there...
but this is Montreal and we don't really have that.
 I was lucky enough to find a great lady who runs a second hand store and 
let's just say we help each other.
I sell cheap and she buys....
 You know what? I don't like copper, brass and pewter
I have come to hate it and I was really glad
when she left with it!

and yes I am taking all my Pyrex with me.....lol

Next post? my trip to Vegas!!!