Lucky Crap Indeed

Thanks Sonya Ann for putting a whole new twist onto the letters CL - which previously stood for "Crofters Lane" and now stand for "Crabapple Landing". Trust Sonya Ann for coming up with the idea of switching the letters around LC, instead of CL, (duh, why didn't I think of that?) with her offering of "Lucky Crap" for starters :) :) :) I lol'd myself right out of my chair and onto the floor!! I'm still laughing and that feels simply wonderful!

So...here goes...

(ahhhhh, look at my sweet Kazi around age 12 - pre-blond hair and extensions and makeup days:)

Yesterday's list of "Lucky Crap" includes but is not limited to the following:

Thames River pathway

Reflection

Great Blue Heron

• a 90 minute walk along the Thames River (breaking in my hiking boots!!)
• a visit in my patio area by Charlie the chipmunk (perhaps he stowed away in my truck from PEI? I have many squirrels around here, rabbits and skunks but have never been befriended by a chipmunk before here in London so I was using my best friendly chipmunk speak so he can get used to my voice-I'll let you imagine the conversation :)
• I gave myself a haircut which along with a lovely indulgent pedicure (complete with massage chair!) and some facial waxing has put me back into peak form!!
• I made a really good batch of hummus in my beloved Vitamix and along with a few bottles of wine visited my friend Troy who has moved into a new little house near the river (Jules came too) so we sat in her back yard, enjoyed the sunshine and catching up on news - and there was PLENTY to share since I hadn't seen her since June!
• came home around 8pm and caught up on blog reading which was delightful as always and full of good laughs
• cuddled with my 20 year old cat and watched a couple episodes of "Rectify" on Netflix (I have to lift my senior citizen kitty up on the couch now as she is so arthritic she can no longer jump up and down - she nestled in behind my legs and we had a nice long cozy cuddle)
• read a few pages of "Wild" on my iPad in bed but was asleep in no time - it could take me quite a while to finish that book at this rate - but it's not like I have a deadline or anything!

And now to clear some space in my bedroom - I'm going to buy a new desk and bookshelf as I have more "Lucky Crap" than I have places to put it! I got rid of a lot of old furniture during renos so there is nowhere for all of my school crap to go nor all the stuff I brought home from PEI. If I can swing getting a trailer then there will be lots of stuff I can take there but I REALLY REALLY need a computer station/desk type area and I no longer own a desk! The horrors! I have one picked out but will wait til it's here in my room and set up before I share it with you.

Have a great day and I hope yours is filled with as much LUCKY CRAP as mine has been so far!

Soup's on!!

 Who woulda thunk that I'd be busy making soup during the long weekend in May? Well me, that's who! When the temperature barely rises above 0c it's SOUP TIME!! And besides, I wanted to try out my new GREEN PAN and VITAMIX! Yes, I've been spending money like it's going out of style so let's see if the results are worth the expenditure.  Oh, that's a lovely pan that Green Pan of mine!

The bottom pan has a no-stick surface guaranteed for a ridiculous amount of time. There is also a steaming basket that fits inside the bottom pan with a handy handle and a lid that actually fits! Kazi was cooking something a couple of weeks ago and complained that there was no lid that fit on top of our big frying pan in which she was whipping up a stir-fry.

Yes sir, the state of our pots and pans was pretty sad.

Look at this lovely squash steaming away - it took less than 10 minutes to steam to the desired softness - because the steam basket is so big I was able to spread the cubed squash thinly hence cooking FAST!

With my super duper Vitamix I received 2 cookbooks and a CD Rom :) Because I had a lovely squash sitting in my pantry I decided to make the Acorn Squash Soup.

 I happened to have chicken broth on hand...

but I substituted almond milk for evaporated milk - I like to live on the edge!

A variety of spices, salt & pepper to taste and a dollop of maple syrup :) :)

Everything goes into the Vitamix...

which operated on high for 5 minutes at which time...

the soup was steaming hot - it looks delicious!

 A little sprinkle of ground flax....

 and I sat down to eat!

It was even better than it looks. I seem to remember groaning and moaning over how delicious it was:)
And...if you follow me on Facebook, (and if not WHY not?? just send me a friend request - Jane Harrison in London, Ont.) you'll know I posted a pic of the empty bowl that I did indeed lick clean! Just couldn't waste a smidgeon!

Do you know with my Vitamix I can make all sorts of things from nut butters, to hummus, to soup to sorbet? Oh yes and let's not forget the pina coladas, the margaritas and smoothies, not to mention batters, dips, dressings and sauces. Lots of good eats!

If you're in Canada enjoy your extra day off tomorrow :) looks like a nice day weather-wise. If you're not then hahahahaha you're back to work!

Sorry for gloating...