soeurs du jour

Trick or Treat!

 

 

 

I'm updating at lunchtime today.   We had a busy night last night getting ready for Halloween and Margie's visit. 

 

 We did a smart thing by packaging up the candy into treat bags.  I'm not tempted to grab "just one" from an open bowl.   But I will have a cheat day today because there will be wine. Skipping the candy seems to be a good tradeooff for a glass of wine.

 

Our office is into Halloween in a big way, every one dresses in costume and most areas get together and produce group efforts.  This year we had Hell's Kitchen in reception complete with a tasting menu and Chef Ramsay.  I toured through McCain Campaign Headquarters where there was a Sarah Palin look alike and many American Flags.   People were on the phones and looked busy although defeated ;-).  I took a side trip to Disney World and I spotted the witch from Sleeping Beauty,Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Cruelle de Ville and Pirates of the Caribbean.   We were the Witches of Westwick since we sit in the "west wing".  It's great to see how much effort goes into it.  People will bring their kids in at 4:00 for a halloween parade and trick or treating at all the offices.  Of course, I forgot to bring my camera (I'm the witch that's not too bright!)

 

Margie's on the road, I received an email from her and cannot wait to get home to see her, she'll get there before me.    I started a Moroccan Lamb Stew in the crockpot this morning so we won't have to fuss with dinner.    We will keep you posted about our many plans and how we're doing.

 

Have a spooktacular Halloween.  

 

xo Kath

love thursday

this is my teddy, he's 55 years old, just like me.

he leans against a photo of me kissing my then two year old middle son.

i took this photo from my chair, sitting in my office.

happy love thursday.

margie

Healthy Shmealthy

I'm disappointed.  I figured all the healthy eating, exercising and vitamin-taking on our 8 week challenge would provide me with some sort of superhero protection against the common cold which is making the rounds in our office.  Nope.  It got me.   

Aside from the annoying scratchy throat, nagging cough, sniffy nose and tiredness, the really aggravating part is that I feel guilty because I can't exercise.  This is sooooo not me.   They say, okay so I don't really know who "they" are, but they say that if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit.   It might have happened to me.  I have exercised every day for the past 30 days (except for yesterday when I stayed in bed).  I must admit, I'm shocked because I never dreamed when we started this challenge that exercise would become something I want to do every day.    

I'm planning our weekend as I lay around and sip soup because I know I'll be better by Friday when Margie and Charley arrive.  I'm thinking a tour of the local antique stores and some of the local wineries is in order.   We also have to go to Jordan Village.   It is one of my favourite places to go.   And while we're on the wine route we may as well stop at a few wineries.  Organized Crime is a lot of fun.  Go check out their website.  It's not what you think and there is a great story attached to their winery.   Fielding Wines are a favourite and their winery is beautiful, high up on the Niagara Escarpment.   I think we will also have to stop at Flatrock Cellars to sample their wines and take photos. Flatrock has the most spectacular view.  I know for sure we're going to slip across the border  at some point and go to Target.  The only thing left is to choose a place to eat, because we're going out for dinner Saturday night, just the two of us, but I've already written that post.

You know what?  I think I'm feeling better already.  It's either the codeine or the power of positive thinking!   Having something to look forward to sure helps the healing process.

stay well

xo Kath

take time

on the organization road again this week.  i have a multitude of tasks, big and small, some are just phone calls, bills to be paid and medical appointments to be made and kept.  sadly i have to admit that during the great desk cleanup of last week, i discovered i had missed a very important medical appointment and it needs to be rescheduled.  as well i need to get packing and planning for my road trip to see kath.  i am off to join the gym today so that A. and i can step up the full body tune up.  

but before i do anything i want to say that i hope all of you have someone in your life who gives you a warm, fuzzy, nice feeling each time you speak to them, and even better if that person is on the receiving end of the same feelings from you.  i am fortunate that i have two people like that in my life and i have been neglecting them.

so here you go, a big shout out to my dawgs sarah and julz.  

yo mommies, vat's machstah?  whasssup?

the mommy misses you, loves you, thinks about both of you all the time!!

sarah, my daughter, on the left, julz, my almost daughter, on the right, 

floating down the nile river on a raft, 1998.

this photo sits in my office, i look at it all the time.  yo.

take time out to give a shout out to someone special.

margie

Sky Hunters

When BB and I went to Ball's Falls to the Thanksgiving Festival we discovered an exhibit of birds of prey.    I was mesmerized by the bald eagle.

Then she took a bath.

She didn't seem quite so tough then. 

Go read Margie's post from yesterday.  Who did she buy those fish for?  I don't think it is me, but I love them.    I think we can likely add to A.'s new collection when we're together next weekend.   It's going to be a long week waiting for Friday, I'm very excited and I plan a cheat day on Saturday so we can go out for dinner (week five of the 8 week challenge starts today).   I have a plan for making the week fly by, I'll stay busy getting ready for our guests.  Charley's bed and bowls need to be washed and put out for her, I'll have to hook her long leash to the clothesline so she can have the run of the yard and then we'll be ready.

Yesterday, I drove BB to work and I arrived home to discover a phone message from Watson's Farms.  

These had been picked and our pail of Chardonnay juice was ready.   This week, we'll start winemaking 101.   Should be fun!

xo  Kath

weekend bliss

it was pouring here yesterday.  raining cats and dogs, knocking down the last of the autumn leaves, soaking the ones already on the ground, an impossible day to attempt any clean up in the yard. 

don't tell my sister but we hung around home friday night, had a delicious steak dinner, listened to music, laughed and then we watched tv until late. catching up on project runway episodes, a decorating show, and the new indiana jones movie. saturday morning we slept in until almost 11:00 a.m.  what a treat!  saturday afternoon we went to an antique show.  big mistake for a couple who are looking at mandatory de-cluttering in the future. 

 

best item 

price:  $350.00

jadite shot glasses known as bottoms up

they were unbelievable!  exquisite!  over the top!

second best item  

price:  $200.00

mother of pearl luncheon set

teapot, cream, sugar, luncheon plates, tea cups

if i had bought it, i would have used it.

third best item 

price:  $325.00

art deco lamp, the colour was gorgeous

here's what we did buy.

a lamp for the living room.

little butter knives, bone handles, tattered purple lined leather case

 A. started a collection, 

he added the blue johnny walker water jug to his bell's scotch jug.

it's a collection of two.

a gift, ice fishing decoys.

now i have to get rid of at least ten items.

Chchchchanges

The pumpkin trees have laid their pumpkins on the ground.

This beauty is laying a carpet of leaves on our front lawn.

This happens way too early in the evening.

Then you blink and you turn around and this is rising

So, what are you up to this fine day?   I'm off to school in an hour.  I love saying that, "I'm going to school."   I never say that I'm taking a course, which is really what I am doing, or even more truthfully, I'm attending four weekend seminars, nope, I say, "I'm going to school." It just feels so good to say it.  And I'm learning too, for instance, one of the things I learned last week was that 26 years of being a secretary trains you to take great notes.  

I have a hair appointment at 2:00 p.m.   I will be getting a trim from my beautiful Sandra at a salon named Bliss.   She will make my hair gorgeous and as an added bonus make me laugh and smile while she does it.   She always says to me, "You're sooo cute, I love cutting your hair." Sandra is 20 years younger than me, weighs about 50 pounds less than me and she thinks I'm cute, ha, she sure is talented, she not only gives me a good cut, but she makes me feel special.

Then, home to clean my house.   I've got company coming next week you know.   This time next week, I'll be drinking tea and my sister will be drinking coffee and then she can drive me to school -  I wonder if she'll just throw a coat and boots on over her pyjamas?   (Actually I don't know if she ever did that, I used to do it to walk the dog when I lived in an apartment and had to go out with him because he never did figure out how to push the elevator buttons.)

Have a great day.

xo

Kath

makin me crazy

we had the two grandsons here for a couple of days, sleeping over.  there is nothing like grandchildren.  i swear i could have just ripped their little heads off and eaten them up, i just want to squeeze them and pinch them, oy, they were makin me crazy they were so delicious. here's how delicious.

charley and danny became friends. 

charley does not like to be more than 6 inches away from danny at any given time.  

danny lay around.

but the funniest part of the day was when david wanted to play with the tripod.  

he played "look i'm bubbie.  

is this what i look like to him?  always squinting, looking through a lens.  

i must look ridiculous to him!!

so get out on the weekend kids and shoot some photos, squint away.

visit kath and i over at our new photo du jour site.  

we are having fun, together, as usual.  

this time next week, 

charley and i'll be having a glass of wine with the sister and BB!!!  

countdown to the road trip.

margie

Love Thursday

Baby Love.   She didn't leave him for a second.

There's nothing better than being guided by someone who loves you.

Happy Love Thursday.

xo

Kath

organize your desk day

remember i told you i was turning over a leaf and as part of the plan i have spent the last two days the organizing my shelves/desk and whatnot in my home office.  i did not finish because i was distracted by old photos. woo hoo look at kath! she lived with us while convalescing from surgery and that cast came close to casting a shadow on our relationship.  there were specks of plaster everywhere and i followed her around with a dust buster for weeks. poor thing. forgive my insensitivity, please, dear sister, dear sister.  although i must say she looks pretty happy in this photo.

needless to say with all the reminiscing i did not finish the organizational challenge.  kath and i were doing a little reminiscing over on photo du jour today as well with our vintage photos. kath has the dolls sitting in the bleachers and and mine, well, can you guess what it is?

but i did put a dent in the mess by disposing of a ton of junk mail and useless paper.

A. and i went out for a quick supper at our local bar.  we needed to review the electrical/structural plans for our new condo and since the house is full of distractions, read kids, we thought a bar would be quieter.  we SHARED  a steak and salad, remember we are dieting, and splurged on a glass of wine each while we discussed lights, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, etc.  A. plays old timers hockey tonight (it's a sport here in canada) but on the way home we took a detour to our drug store which just happens to be next door to an office supply store. now nothing makes me happier than a new pen, or a little notebook, or a letter organizer, or just about anything in that store, except a binder, i hate binders.  

imagine how we were laughing when we walked in and realized that all the staff were wearing t-shirts that said "organize your office today".  who knew?  yeah, well, kids i am ahead of you.  i've been on the case for two days now.

margie