HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS!!

from:

Michael and Jane
Thank you to each and everyone of you for your gift of friendship,
there is no better gift in all the land!

"Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe
with a person; having neither to weigh 
thoughts nor measure words, but pour them all
out, as they are, chaff and grain together,
knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift
them, keep what is worth keeping, and then,
with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."
George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), 1819 - 1880

Jiggly Bits

Ha! If you thought I was going to show you a picture of my jiggly bits you'll be sadly disappointed. In fact, all I'm going to say on that topic is that I'm back on my bike, pedaling madly, and on my way to the city of brotherly love! Look out Judy, 'cause here I come! 


Nope, today and tomorrow I'll be getting my jiggly bits all set to go winter camping. I'm soaking some beans right now to make a big pot of chili to take with us and rounding up the supplies we'll need. Here's the list of what we need (and don't need) to take with us:

Yurts are equipped with two sets of bunks beds, each having a vinyl cover futon mattress, and a double vinyl cover futon mattress. Table and chairs. Electric heat and lighting (fluorescent). Electrical outlet (110 v). Fire extinguisher. Shelving unit. Broom and dustpan. Propane barbecue. Picnic table. Fire pit. Shovel What to Bring: Sleeping bags, cooking stove, pots and pans, utensils, flashlight, lantern, matches, food, drinking water. Appropriate cold weather gear for winter. Water container. Extension cord. Note: Domestic animals (pets) are NOT permitted in the facility or on site and smoking is prohibited in all facilities. Cooking in yurts is not permitted.

Unfortunately the snow we received yesterday and the day before yesterday is rapidly melting and the forecast is for rain/snow over the next few days. I think I'll be taking my rubber boots along with my winter boots as we may be hiking through slush as well as snow.


However, we are going to make the best of it and we have some plans in place for when we are inside the yurt, hee hee hee! Yes indeedy - we are going to make our vision boards for 2012 (fooled ya!)!! So expect a post on that when we come back.


Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve and Michael will be working at Jambalaya. I am going to go and sit in a corner with my iPad (free wifi) and let him serve me with whatever succulent delicacies Kevin (owner and chef extraordinaire) has come up with - he usually has a set menu for New Year's and I can't wait to see  err taste it!  Then we'll be dropping in on a friend's party - the entire evening should be a NO Spend night!! Love it!


We can't stay out TOO TOO late as we will be heading for our campsite on New Year's day and staying til Tuesday. I won't be able to post while we're away but I hope to have some great photos for you when we return. And now I gotta go get busy because I'm feeling antsy sitting here with my laptop when I need to get packing!!


I'll catch up with you again later!

January No Spend Challenge - I'm Doing it MY WAY!!

NOW is the time when most folks reflect upon the past year - what they did right and what they would like to change. I find, upon reflection, that I like to do things MY WAY (oh, so THAT's where my daughter gets it from) and even if MY WAY isn't the "RIGHT WAY" as seen by "normal" society I don't give a flying fig. I will boldly go ahead and make "mistakes" because, hey, they're MY mistakes and/or decisions and I don't like following the so-called norms of society.


So there!


Which brings me to Carla's January No Spend Challenge. If you would like to join or read more about it check out Carla's blog "My 1/2 Dozen Daily". 


What I love about this challenge is that everyone is free to make up their own rules...see?....I like it already.  I can do it MY WAY!  (Don't tell anyone but I'd be doing it my way anyways but now I can be both a JOINER and still maintain my own sense of independent weirdness!) How perfect!! 


Since I maintain a zero-based budget there isn't a lot of room to squeeze out much extra in the way of savings. But I am going to try. My variable expenses for the month include: gas ($200); food ($400) and Misc spending ($331). My monthly savings amount ($1550) and debt repayment amount ($2000) are technically variable but I would rather cut off my right arm than change them. Well, not really but I am pretty rigid on those amounts as they are tied into my goal of early retirement.


So how will I challenge myself? Right now my EF sits at $1700 and I add $100 each month. BUT in January I am going to try to squeeze out an additional $200 from my variable spending so that by January 31st my EF will stand at a nice round $2,000. That's it! That's my challenge. 


To help me reach my goal I will only buy a coffee and newspaper once a week. I will enter NO stores other than the No Frills grocery store. We will use up what we have in the freezer and pantry to stretch our grocery budget and we will have a low-key month to reduce entertainment expenses - I have a new iPad to play with and a LOT of new books to read - so that part should be easy.


And most importantly - I'm Doing it MY WAY!!...just like Johnny Rotten! 


Now honestly, doesn't this version put a smile on your face??

Crockpot Mulled Wine

For those of you who asked - here is  the mulled wine recipe I used - Michael LOVED it and wondered why I hadn't made it before? I really don't know - memory loss, I suppose!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/11/crockpot-mulled-wine-recipe.html

Enjoy! It doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy mulled wine - just cold is all!

Sealed Pot Challenge

I have joined Sft's "sealed pot challenge" and I'm sure that if you haven't joined yet but want to there's still time.  


I've decided to double the challenge and tie the "opening" of the sealed pot to a weight loss goal. I get to spend whatever I've saved it the "sealed pot" on myself IF AND ONLY IF I drop a size and maintain it til next December. Otherwise it stays sealed until such time as I reach my weight goal - I could be a millionaire someday if I keep eating the way I have been lately !!  


So far I've been adding coins on a pretty regular basis. It should add up as I only add $1.00 coins, $2.00 coins and quarters. I think I even stuffed a $5.00 bill in there a couple of weeks ago!


I have no budget update. That's because the budget for December is in shambles and I really don't want to face the numbers right now. It's not that I spent outrageously because I didn't, but I did go ahead and buy myself that iPad I was desiring so badly and I did come under budget for December by about $300 which will be applied to the cost of the iPad. BUT I did pay for it with my mastercard because I just couldn't wait! Bad Jane, bad bad Jane!!


So I just want to ignore that little indiscretion a while longer til the Christmas glow wears off and January is staring me in the face. Then I will bite the bullet, draw out what I need from savings to cover the rest of the iPad bill, and start January 2012 with no credit card debt once again. 


On the bright side I updated my MONEY BARS way down on the sidebar. I reached my 2011 goal of increasing my TFSA (long term savings)to $15,000 and am already working on 2012's TFSA goal of adding another $5,000. (I'm at $2,000 already and 2012 hasn't even started!!) My RRSP total should hit $45,000 by March 2012 and then I'll need to increase that goal - I hadn't planned on making anymore RRSP deposits due to increasing the TFSA instead but I might change my mind once I do the number crunching at tax time. 


My EF is close to its goal, once I hit $2,000 I plan to increase the goal to $3,000 or higher. Christmas and Gifts is at zero of course but will reach $1500 once again next December. My PEI Maintenance fund and the PEI Home Insurance and Property Tax accounts are right on track and I've decreased my Line of Credit by  a whopping $26,350 since Aug. 2010. By the end of 2012 I will only have $5,000 left to pay!! If I can throw any extra $$ at the LoC over the course of this year I will with a stretch goal of $0 owing by Dec. 31st, 2012. Big stretch!!


I'm very happy with how the financials are doing right now - I'm still on track for retiring in 914 days! 


Thought for the Day: "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it."  William A. Ward


So I'm sending out a big thank you to all of my blogging friends who have supported me through the many ups and downs in 2011. I look forward to maintaining those relationships through 2012 and hope I can provide as much encouragement as I receive! 

It's the Most WONDERFUL Time of the Year....tra la la la la...!!

Yes, my friends, it the most wonderful time of the year. The time when presents have been opened, large meals have been cooked and devoured, carols have been sung, rum and eggnog consumed, family visited, reminiscences reminisced, boxing day sales attended or ignored as the case may be, old movies watched once again, parties enjoyed and jolly old St. Nick has finally returned to the North Pole.


Yes folks, my favorite time of the year is AFTER all of the obligatory festivities are over. Especially this year. Today is the first day that all activity has slowed to a mere crawl and I can finally stop and appreciate and reflect on all that has happened...on all that I received, of time spent with new acquaintances and old friends, of phone conversations with far away family members and thinking about what went well and what didn't. 


You see, I don't do well with the hustle bustle, the boisterous parties, the vast amounts of food and alcohol, the go go go with no stops to rest and reconnoitre in between. I'm an introvert.


Although all of the social interactions are NOT yet over - there's still dinner out with my neighbour tomorrow and New Year's dinner and parties this Saturday - today I was able to pause and recharge my batteries. I can be sociable, I can be witty and friendly and interesting...but it takes a lot out of me. It doesn't come naturally and I even have to think ahead about what I could say to people I don't know and what I could ask a total stranger when I find myself standing alone in a room full of people. Horrors...


Yes, I just typed that - "alone in a room full of people." To make things even more challenging Michael is an extrovert. He thrives on being with people. The difference between an extrovert and an introvert is where we derive our energy from. Introverts recharge by being alone, reflecting on things, being at peace in a quiet environment (HOME!) whereas extroverts recharge like a solar panel - out and about in the sun with crowds of people, noise and excitement.


Yesterday Michael and I did some boxing day shopping and he bought me two new books: "The Introvert Advantage - How to Thrive in an Extrovert World" and "Introvert Power - Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength." I am going to learn more about ME and what makes me tick and we are both going to learn more about each other. Happily I am with someone who wants to understand me and accepts me as an introvert. I imagine I'll be learning more about extroverts as well.


Our winter camping in a yurt experience should be illuminating to say the least!!


As a compromise we stayed in all day in our pjs. I was able to catch up on all of your blog posts which fills me with great happiness. There is wine mulling in the crockpot, the house is a mess and I can finally just BE. Soon we'll be going out to see Mission Impossible at the Rainbow (it's $4.00 Tuesday!) I'm re-energized and now it's Michael's turn. 

Don't I look happy? My name tag wouldn't stick to my top so I stuck it on my chest. In the photo is Robin, the hostess and her son, Jarrod. I had just found out that Jarrod and Kazi both went to the same french immersion elementary school and the same highschool - in fact, I remember him walking to the bus stop every morning with his hoodie pulled down over his face. He's a couple years older than her so they weren't best buds or anything but they did know each other. Small world! I went to the party with a good attitude, determined to talk to people and make an effort to have a good time. It worked!

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS!!

Hi everybody!! What a crazy busy time! Work is finished for two weeks so I will get caught up with everyone once the current madness is finished:) Had a party last night and now I'm behind the 8-ball trying to get things ready for dinner tonight and Christmas with my brothers tomorrow. 


The turkey is in the oven and the troops are marshalled with their various tasks to complete. I wanted to thank you all for the well wishes this week and I can happily say my mood has lifted and though I am feeling OVER BUSY it's a GOOD kind of busy.  We're firm believers, Michael and I, that whatever we get done is what was meant to get done, and what doesn't get done wasn't meant to get done. Is that fate? I don't know what to call it but it sure soothes the psyche to think that way!!


I wish you much joy and peace this Christmas season and look forward to continuing our relationships in 2012. Being a part of this amazingly supportive group has meant more to me than I can possibly put into words. 


Are you waiting for a sarcastic quip right about now? Nope! Not today but I promise to be back to my usual mocking ways in the New Year lol! 


My love to you all, and I really mean that (Mark - mock me if you will!), stay safe, stay warm, hug your loved ones and appreciate all that you have because we really have it all!

My Brain is on Holidays...

I find I am in need of a break. I have been down in the dumps lately - feeling pressured, sad and out of sorts. At work I have been doing double duty as my dep't head has been out of town helping to care for her sick mother. And I just found out that her mother has passed away. A hard time of year to lose a loved one.


So as this busy week unfolds I am going to write less often, if at all. When the blog starts to feel like just another task among the many to be accomplished each day - it's time for a rest.


But first I want to say a special thank you to Carla, a fellow blogger and a very sweet woman from my home town of London.  I received a nice little treat in the mail on Friday, and that was quite a surprise! 

Thanks Carla - I certainly wasn't expecting another parcel in the mail so you really made my day! 


See you all soon!

Secret Santa came to Town!

I am truly enjoying my Secret Bloggy Santa gifts from my mysteriously anonymous Santa! There is a wee bit of dark chocolate left (and no I didn't share! - get your own Secret Santa I say!!) and now I am enjoying two more parts of my gift - LOOK LOOK!!

 I finished "Edge" by Jeffrey Deaver a couple of days ago and since I always have at least one book on the go, even during the busiest times of the year (especially then!) I dove into "Plum Island" from my Secret Santa.  All puns aside it is a "plum" of a book - only 30 pages in and already a DOUBLE MURDER!! Yippee!


What's that you ask? What am I wearing on my feet?? Why, only the coziest pair of hand knitted slippers complete with pink bows! Here, take a closer look...

My gramma always gave me crocheted slippers every Christmas but she died in l986 so that's how long it's been since my toes were this cozy! How did you know Secret Santa??  Not only are my toes warmer but you've taken me back to a simpler time when opening my gramma's lumpy Christmas packages were the highlight of the day. 


My gramma never put gifts into a box...no, she let the lumps and bumps transform the wrapping paper into a lunar landscape that my siblings and I would grapple with trying to figure out the contents. Along with crocheted slippers we would find other little treasures: homemade fudge, a card with a $5.00 bill tucked inside, socks, mittens, the Christmas Lifesavers "book box" (with a whole lot more rolls of lifesavers than you get these days!) and other "homely" items. 


While I'm thinking of my beloved gramma I want to share with you how she managed her money. She lived on the Old Age Pension (OAS) and also a small veteran's pension she received because her husband fought in WWI. Every month she'd cash her cheques and keep the money hidden under a pillow in her bedroom. She'd take out a bit to live on week by week until the end of the month. Whatever was left got transferred into an old purse which was also kept hidden in her bedroom and became her "savings". Then she started over from scratch the next month.


That old purse was her "bank" - like a lot of people of her generation she didn't trust banks and preferred to keep her money close by. When she died in l986 she left instructions for each of her four children to receive a certain amount from that savings purse, in the neighbourhood of $1000 each and left each of her almost 20 grandchildren $100. She also prepaid her funeral expenses. How she managed to save that amount of $$ while living on next to nothing would probably make the most frugal of us look like wastrels! 


I used the money she left me to buy a silver locket at Birk's jewelers in which I keep her picture.

 Ida Belle Catton (nee Gordon) 1891 - 1986

Ida Belle with three of her four children: she's holding the crying face of her youngest, Arthur, while seated in front of her are my Uncle Verne, and my mother - Edith Jane Eileen Harrison (nee Catton).  My gramma's three sons are still living but my mom died from complications of Parkinson's disease in 2000. I looked just like her at that age!


Wow, what a trip down memory lane! I really enjoyed that Secret Santa - thank you!  I guess I do believe in Santa after all!

Playing Hooky

Life is getting busier by the second so I am wimping out on my post tonight - I spent a bunch of time on writing Christmas cards, selecting my baking recipes and making a grocery list. I'm also on my way to Philadelphia as we speak and what with all the Christmas "cheer" I've been into tonight I need to hop on the ol' bike and pedal like mad!! 


So I leave you the ghosts of Christmas' past:

 My very own Christmas ELF!

 Holding my aching stomach from laughing so hard with my bestie at last year's Christmas party with my pals!

Michael enjoying a coffee while wearing his new running shirt and new scarf!


CHEERS!!

I'm Dreaming of a...

GREEN Christmas!! Today it's pouring down rain and +13c (55F) - did I miss winter??

Trenton, Ontario - What's not to LOVE??

You are in for a treat today my friends. All of you know Little Lamb who wants to be debt free? Well, she lives in Trenton, Ontario and has provided me with a wealth of information about her great city and surrounding area. I have to admit to a little jealousy, as this is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Canada and well, all of Canada is pretty darn amazing so I am giving Trenton a HUGE compliment!


After I'm done sightseeing and going for a run with Little Lamb perhaps I can persuade her to splurge on a meal at Tomasso's where I hear the bruschetta is to die for AND they serve up a mean dish of jambalaya which I LOVE! 

After I've cycled on through Trenton I'll be heading southeast into the United States - first stop will be Philadelphia - the City of Brotherly (or in this case sisterly) Love to see Judy!

But first - TRENTON!!


There is so much to see and do! First up the National Air Force Museum to view the "Halifax", a WWII bomber that lay submerged at the bottom of Norwegian Lake Mjosa for over 50 years and then exhumed and lovingly restored by over 100 volunteers.

Now THAT's cool!!

 Fishing in the idyllic Bay of Quinte!

This is the world famous Bleasdell Boulder - yes, it's HUGE!! which sits in this location after being carried a great distance by glacier thousands of years ago. 

 The Trent-Severn gateway: also known as the gateway to "Canada's Playground"!! Sounds like fun!! I wanna play! Oh rats, it's winter!

 Lake on the Mountain - this mysterious lake with an unknown fresh water source sits 60+ metres above the Bay of Quinte and defies all known geographical logic! Mohawk Indians believed that spirits lived in the deep waters and early settlers believed it to be bottomless!

A panoramic view of Trenton and area from the top of Mount Pelion (let me tell you I'm glad this is a "virtual tour" and that I didn't have to actually walk up all of the steps in order to see this!!

Ahhhh, remember summer? This is one reason why this is Canada's playground!

Snowmakers hard at work...whoosh!! Did you just see me fly by on my skis?? No? 
Pay better attention!!  This is where Little Lamb goes with her running group - yes they run on HILLS! 

 I don't know how Little Lamb knew my favourite food is icecream but it is and at Slickers they make homemade icecream! She recommended either Campfire (tastes like burnt marshmallows - oh yeah!) or Apple Pie...decisions, decisions...

I LOVE chocolate AND nuts so the Chocolate Almond is tempting but then so is the Banana Pecan Pie with Caramel or Oh Henry goes Camping!! Perhaps a scoop of each! Ok...where are my running shoes??


And now for the grand finale! Little Lamb also reminded me that Trenton Air Base receives all of our "repatriated soldiers" and that Trenton is the beginning of our Highway of Heroes. I'm familiar with Trenton also because Michael's son, Dane, is a firefighter on the base. We're glad he's based here in Canada where he's safe and well-cared for. Other families with sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters in the military aren't always so lucky. 


The Highway of Heroes is a grassroots patriot "happening" that has become a matter of fierce pride among Canadians. We are known as being rather reserved and quiet about our nation's contributions to peacekeeping missions etc across the world but we LOVE and RESPECT our heroes. 


Take a look: (you'll need a kleenex)

Thanks Little Lamb for an in depth look at your part of the world. I truly appreciate it!

This is what my...

brain looks like:

Sorta pretty isn't it? A pretty little muddle of random thoughts, random and disorganized thoughts...random, disorganized and overflowing thoughts...you get the picture. Those of you who also have an ADD brain will understand.


It's as if Christmas were only 11 (almost 10) days away and I still had a million things to do and no time to do them in. Oh, wait a minute...that's real...rats.


Ok, focus Jane...


I thought I would do a financial update since almost 2 weeks of December has gone by in the blink of an eye but to do that I'd have to be organized and to be organized I'd have to feign an illness and stay home from work for the next 8 days and THAT ain't gonna happen so neither is the financial update!


Basically it all boils down to one very significant number this month - I call it the BUFFER amount. (I kinda like this strategy - I might use it every month!) I like having just ONE number to think about - sure makes budgeting a much more streamlined process. 


My BUFFER amount is the amount of $$ I have left after everything else is paid (I used estimates for all the gifts I needed to buy, the cost of the Xmas tree, dinner out, wine, groceries, savings, debt repayment, baking supplies and a million other expenses particular to this month).  On Dec. 1st my buffer amount was $245. Over the past 13 days I have added and subtracted from that amount about 100 times. If my hydro bill was less than my estimate I added the overage to the BUFFER. If a gift cost more than my estimate I subtracted from the BUFFER.  


This is the ONLY number that matters this month - and right now it stands at.....$220!! Not bad eh? BUT, still 2.5 weeks left to the month! I am highly motivated because whatever is left in the BUFFER zone goes into my iPad envelope which right now only contains $15 (I found $5 in a coat pocket and saved $10 in change). Once I have $600 saved I will buy my iPad!! It's going to take a few months to come up with $600 as I do zero-based budgeting and my pay goes way down Jan. 1st due to certain payroll deductions starting up again. But that's ok, it's worth waiting and saving for. 


Hey - see how well I can focus when it's something I'm interested in? Typical ADD!

Ooooooh what a busy...

weekend it was!  After work on Friday I finished my shopping - hurrah hurrah! I also picked up milk and fruit at No Frills and two poinsettias - one for my neighbour and one for us! 


On Saturday I cleaned and decorated. The cleaning and decluttering resulted in two box loads for Talize and 2 winter coats plus a box full of scarves and mittens being donated for our annual coat drive at school. 

 Some decorations in our foyer...

 I tried to be good Santa, really I did...

 My favorite combo this year - Christmas tree in an old clock case that I refinished.

One of several gifts from my still Secret Santa...but someone who has/had access to the red PEI sand and shells....hmmmmm....that narrows the field somewhat...
Thank you Miss Santa - I am loving my gifts - one is rapidly disappearing!! and I can't wait to sink my eye teeth (har har) into that BOOK! Yeehaw - I know what I'm going to be doing in a couple of weeks when I'm on holidays, laying on the couch ignoring everyone around me while I enjoy what looks like a truly great READ!! I'm so excited!

Kazi's plaster hand print from when she was one year old - a prized possession:)

Donations - books, coats, boots, housecoat, hats, mitts, scarves...


On Sunday we went and cut down our Christmas tree, or rather, Michael did all of the work while I drank hot chocolate, ate cookies and took pictures!  It was just the two of us this year as my daughter was involved in boyfriend drama! I spent much time consoling this weekend - things are still up in the air - she's over at his house as I write this having another heart to heart. Personally, I don't think he deserves her, but that's up to her to figure out.

 We spent about 20 minutes tromping back and forth between Trees A, B and C, and finally went with A. 

 Yup, this is it, I'm pretty sure...

 My "manly" man!

 He never carries ME around like that!   (Darn it!)

 Oh look, that tree has legs!!

 Hmmmm...I think the tree is bigger than our car!

The tree with just its lights. We call it the "dancing tree" as its always boogying to the left or the right - it never stays still. I think its the fattest tree we've ever had.


Finally, I would like to thank "Finding my Way" over at The Quest to be Financially Abundant for nominating me for the following award:

Oh, and by the way Sam over at It's Me, Sam also nominated me for this award! How about them apples! What does liebster mean??


"Liebster means friend in German so this is pretty much the best award ever! There’s no tell-us-seven-things rule to go along with this award. It’s sole purpose is to connect bloggers, specifically those with less than 200 followers."

Because I don't really follow rules very well, I am dedicating this award to all of you, my blogging friends. Without the connection we have with each other we wouldn't exist.  I may not see you in the flesh, but I know you're always there ready to celebrate, commiserate and hold my "hand" when I need it. Thank you for being there for me through thick and thin. I really do appreciate each and every wacky one of you!!


And now, I'm off to Trenton!

Brighton, Ontario

The second stop on my cycling journey is Brighton, Ontario. My friend and fellow teacher, Christy, told me about some of the best stops along my route.  So, before I arrived in Brighton I stopped near Colborne, ON and this is what I saw!!

 It's the world's biggest apple!

 Holy moly - that's a lot of apple!

So of course I had to try their very own apple crumble - you know it takes a lot of energy to peddle away down in my basement on Hwy 401!! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!

Fortified for my journey I continued on to Brighton and spent some time enjoying beautiful Presqu'ile Provincial Park - you know how much I LOVE the great outdoors and this park is also a bird sanctuary!

 Isn't it gorgeous??

 Barred owl - so cute! So serious...

And a lighthouse!!
Now into Brighton itself!

 If only I had the time and $$ for shopping - I would definitely check out The Clan Shoppe!

 A very quaint Main Street! Much preferable to the usual mall experience!

 I'm the sort of person who LOVES museums - I checked out the Memory Junction Railway Museum and...

the Proctor House Museum.

Of course by then I was hungry (again) so on Christy's recommendation I dined at Dougall's by the Bay so I could sit by Lake Ontario and drink in the booze errr view! Yes, the view!

 Brighton's harbourfront.

Dougall's by the Bay restaurant.

And this is what I saw:

Simply divine!

Of course no visit to Brighton, ON would be complete with a visit to our very own Canadian financial guru - Gail Vaz-Oxlade!! I asked her if she had any tips she could pass along for the Christmas season and here is what she said:

"Do you buy expensive wine because you think they taste better? Save yourself some money: $20 is about as much as you need to spend to get a great bottle of wine. And there are $10 bottles that taste great too! And if you’re going to be drinking all night, start with a more expensive $20 bottle, and then switch to the cheaper stuff later in the evening. Most people won’t notice."

Heh, heh - "drinking all night"...she's MY kind of gal!!


Funny that! I recently read in the National Post about quite a few red wines that cost less than $10 and taste great!  So far I've tried two of them and they each cost only $6.95!  I found them very palatable:)


Here they are: (in the Italian red section)

• Citra Sangiovese T Di Chieti
• Casal Thaulero Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon

So, after Gail and I shared a bottle of each (ha ha no we didn't.......................we each had our OWN bottles!!) I got back on my bike and wobbled on down to Hwy 401! 

Next stop - Trenton, Ontario!!