Ketchup....

...that is to say - "catching up"!

I went to my comment library today because I knew there were some questions from readers that I hadn't answered yet. I receive notice of comments through my email but when I went to the Blogger comment library no comments were showing up since mid-September even though I've seen/read several in my email.  I use Disqus for commenting so went to their site and did a little update. Not having much any computer background I found that all of the code and where to place it very confusing. So bear with me as I monkey around! Grrrr...

If you have encountered this or have any advice please let me know!

So I cannot go back and find the questions except by looking at every post, one by one (I delete my emails periodically). One question that I remember is about what product I use for waterproofing my hiking boots. I have applied this product several times over the past year and a bit. But I have to tell you that the insides of my boots were still damp on particularly rainy and dewy days. So we used the old hiking trick of stuffing newspaper into the toes of our boots overnight to absorb moisture and that really helped.

A while back someone recommended some flavours of Chapman's icecream/frozen yogurt to me (was that you "Living Rich on the Cheap"? Anyhoo, I recently purchased Black Jack Cherry and it is to die for! Kazi thinks it's too sweet (hmmmm strange comment with regard to ice cream!)...perhaps bits of sour cherry would be more up her alley? Actually, that's not a bad idea - my sour tooth is just as demanding as my sweet tooth!

**If there are any other questions please post them in the comments section (hopefully it still works) and I'll get right back to you. Now that I'm home I'll be posting more frequently. 

Also I want to give a "shout out" to my faithful reader "Freckles" who made a comment "she's back" after one of my posts :) Freckles - you know me too well! Yes, I am indeed feeling more like my old self. I still struggle with motivation some days but it's improving. I appreciate you rooting for me. PS- I like the name you use, "Freckles", because I read a lot of Gene Stratton Porter books as a child and one of them was named "Freckles".

So...what am I doing these days when I'm not posting about my trips on FB or on my blog? Glad you asked!

I spend a lot of time walking, hiking and biking and enjoying the fall colours. The following 2 photos are of a bike trail out at Fanshawe Park which is quite close to me. So far I haven't had the courage to try it (there are lots of tree roots and other hazards) but I made a vow to try it before the snow falls. I noticed next week we are going to have several warm days so wish me luck!! Wouldn't it be great if I broke my leg and had to spend the whole winter reading on the couch!!

This is me looking terribly sexy in my bike helmet - I have a "rear view mirror" attached to my helmet - you can see it sticking out. It looks a little weird but I can't believe how much safer I feel being able to see the traffic coming up behind me.

My new bike seat before I got a gel cover for it. It's quite comfortable (someone stole my other seat!)

Other folks enjoying the nice fall weather...

 Fanshaw Lake/Park/Conservation Area is such a beautiful place and I enjoy biking in an area where there are very few cars.

Oh, I've gotten back into decluttering. When I retired I donated about 1/3 of my entire wardrobe. But I went through it again ruthlessly! If I hadn't worn it in the past year out it went! I made quite a mountain!

Filled 4 garbage bags and took them to the local thrift shop.

My closet still looks well stocked but it contains almost all of my clothes for all seasons (I used to use 2 large closets and switch them around as the seasons changed). I just have a couple of summery dresses in a closet in the basement that also contains our winter coats. I'm not quite ready to bring out the winter coats yet!

I even have room in my closet for other things...like my backpack.

 My jeans and stretchy tights.

 My hiking pants and shoes. I pretty much just wear jeans, tights or hiking pants plus yoga tops, hiking tops (short and long sleeved), hoodies and T-shirts. I still have more "going out" tops than I can wear so I'll do another clear out in the spring. In the summer I like dresses but I usually ride my bike to wherever I'm going so end up wearing shorts or capri lengths black tights. Basically I only dress up for funerals!! I don't date so my social life consists of going to movies and concerts, out to play games and euchre, out to yoga and meditation, out for coffee or a meal or a hike - all with friends or family and I can dress casually for all of that! It feels GREAT to have a much more stream lined closet. So easy to choose what to wear.

 Ironically, another activity I want to get back into is sewing!! So I recently purchased a pattern (40% off though still expensive - I used to buy Simplicity patterns as a teenager for $1.00!! Yes, I'm that old!) and found material in the remnants bin that I really liked - is it paisley? Oh yes it is! Total cost about $25.00.

I hope it turns out ok. I'm a bit torn between using only the paisley material for the whole top (too overwhelming?) or substituting a solid colour (navy blue?) for the sleeves as shown in the photos on the left of the pattern. Undecided.

 I've been on a couple hikes though I'm becoming more choosy as I've discovered the big group hike experience isn't my favourite but I'll go occasionally to see people I haven't seen for awhile or if there is a particular place I want to go to like Meadowlily conservation area shown below. I also hike/walk/bike on my own for the purpose of exercise and getting out in nature - both helpful to my peace of mind.

Some hopeful young man spray painted a message on a cement culvert - "will you be my girlfriend?" I'm sure she was suitably impressed :) I like how he used the word "girlfriend" instead of her name - a reusable message if he strikes out with the first girlfriend!!

I'm also busy decluttering the basement as I brought home the rest of my belongings from my sister's barn in PEI. Most of it I'm storing though there were 3 chairs that I've managed to assimilate into various rooms. Let's just say there will be one helluva yard sale next spring!! But, meanwhile, I have to rearrange my storage areas to hold all my stuff for the short term.

I think that's about it - as the weather turns colder and snowy I'll be spending more time in my workshop as I've started carving a piece of soapstone and I'd like to get it done for a Christmas gift. This weekend I am going ziplining(!) and then to a Halloween stag and doe - I think I'll recycle my chimney sweep costume from last year as it will be a totally different crowd. Should be fun!

Toodles for now! Coming soon: "The Mother of all Days"!!

Ya gotta love a man who gets up at 5am just to make some Early Morning Eye Opener in the juicer for ya! Some apple, orange, ginger, turmeric, kale and what have you... (great way to use up leftovers - I think a lime went in there this morning)! I can actually feel the energy from all the vitamins and anti-oxidants flowing out to my extremities - a bit like the amazing HULK (it's the kale!)! So far this school year I haven't had so much as the sniffles (but I probably just jinxed myself by mentioning it though!)

I have nothing in particular to say, have you noticed yet? Last night I helped Kazi study for another bar tending test, this time for Earl's, the restaurant she's working in. I'd name a drink and she'd list all the ingredients and the amounts - I felt a little lightheaded after a couple of hours! She passed with flying colours especially when compared to the other guy doing the test who couldn't remember anything! Did you know a Mai Tai has almond syrup in it? Now you do!

Tomorrow I'm throwing my last ever classroom Halloween party. I just know I'm going to regret not holding it on Friday (think kids on sugar overload!!) but  Halloween fell on a Thursday this year and I don't like having a party AFTER the holiday is over. There will likely be a few very hyper people in the classroom on Friday...and that's just the staff!! 

The students' Best Buddies are coming - 29 in all - that makes 40 kids plus 7 adults all in one not very big classroom. I have some crafts organized, some games (teams racing to wrap each other up with rolls of toilet paper!!), lots of snacks/drinks, someone burned a CD of Halloween music (Monster Mash etc) for dancing to, I have prizes and treats, lots of decorations - should be a blast! I feel a headache coming on :)

So off I go to bed to get my rest! I'll need a giant glass of juice tomorrow morning MICHAEL!!

Halloween - It Ain't What is Used to Be

BOO!!

Did I scare you?? No? Oh.....rats...


Halloween isn't scary anymore and that makes me sad. When I was a kid I used to get scared out of my wits on Halloween night, and I LOVED it! I lived in a small village and we were able to roam the streets freely, no parents following us around. It was a night of almost unimaginable freedom - knocking on doors and people giving us candy - for FREE!! Mingling with witches, ghosts and goblins, dead leaves whispering as they blew across our path, REAL bats flying overhead - it was the most magical night of the year! We would bravely take shortcuts through vacant lots, get about halfway across and then run screaming, terrified til we were back on the sidewalk again! 


There were always a few of those houses, the ones you ran past or crossed the street to avoid. The shabby unpainted houses with those strange people who didn't "neighbour" like everyone else. Who were they really?  


After a few years we knew what treats to expect at every house. The Lossings made homemade sticky popcorn balls in every colour! Our school principal gave out FULL SIZE chocolate bars! My neighbour used to make a special goody bag just for me - she would have to walk to the kitchen at the back of her house to get MY bag full of homemade fudge and cookies. Once we got older we found out that those people who lived in those houses gave out amazing treats: cans of Coke and big bags of chips...who knew???


This year some schools didn't allow scary costumes. Kids were encouraged to wear "caring" costumes. What the hell is a caring costume?? Other schools held an "orange and black" day and kids were only allowed to wear orange and black clothing. WTF??


C'mon people, what is going on here?? Don't they understand how absolutely thrilling it is to be (safely) scared one night of the year? To run around freely with friends sporting vampire teeth and fake blood dripping off your chin? To wrap your entire body with toilet paper and stagger off down the road dragging a pillow case behind you? 


Sometimes I miss the "good ol' days". Sometimes I get really sad that I'm old enough to remember the good old days but my daughter isn't. Living in the city in this day and age means kids aren't allowed to be out on their own. They'll never know how delicious it feels to see a clutch of witches standing on a dark street corner watching you approach...and you don't know who they are....

Homey Oatmeal Recipe & Halloween 2011

A couple of you requested my oatmeal recipe so here it is. I just cannot say enough good things about oatmeal. With the addition of milk or yogurt it is a complete protein. It is low on the glucose index therefore it breaks down slowly keeping you full longer. It also helps lower your bad cholesterol AND provides much needed iron.  Depending on what you add to your morning oatmeal it can be a near perfect "superfood"!


Homey Oatmeal: (I especially like this recipe because the oatmeal is cooked in skim milk as well as water adding calcium and protein but few calories! AND this recipe makes enough for six days, at least for me.)


2 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt (optional - I only add a dash of salt)
1 1/3 cups large-flake oats
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup chopped almonds
3 tbsp. sugar substitute (optional - I don't add this, I get my sweetness from adding dried fruit and/or non-fat vanilla-flavored yogurt)


In a large pot, bring milk, water, cinnamon and salt to boil.  (Watch it closely so your milk doesn't boil over - yes, I learned the hard way!) Stir in oats and wheat germ and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, for about 8 minutes or until thickened. (DON'T overcook!) Stir in almonds and sugar substitute, (if desired).


Makes 4 servings. (I pour it into a tupperware container, let it cool, then slice it into 6 servings - I find 1/6th of this recipe PLENTY but then I add other stuff to it.) Store in fridge.


There is such a variety of stuff you can add to oatmeal to mix it up a little. Some of the things I add are: dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries, pomegranate arils, chopped fresh apple or applesauce, any kind of nut, flax seeds or ground flax, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, plain or flavored yogurt, you are limited only by your imagination - it can be different every day!


Your body will thank YOU!


Also by popular request - last night's Halloween costumes! I was going for a 70's vibe - long dress, long black hair, pale lipstick...Michael was the Man in Black (Johnny Cash) but wigs/hats got traded during the evening...

 This is pretty much how I looked circa 1974! (minus a few wrinkles!)

 My cowboy!

 Cowboy and friend (our "friend" turned out to be the life of the party!!

 Having TOO much fun!!

 That blonde wig made the rounds - it originated on the hostess who was dressed as Alice in Wonderland.  Now I'm wearing the cowboy hat!

 Michael rocking the "Carol Channing" look!

Taking a break from dancing to enjoy a REALLY good single malt.


Happy weekend everybody!