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Showing posts with label Seasons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seasons. Show all posts

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cold White Stuff

Yesterday I was up early, and thought I heard a faintly familiar scrapping sound outside. It was very rhythmic in the quiet hush of the morning. I look to the gap in the front room curtains and was puzzled to see complete whiteness. Strange I thought, it usually isn't that bright at this hour. So I went to the window and what should I see before me....

...SNOW!!!!! And lots of it. Enough to need to shovel. Which is what that rhythmic scraping sound I heard was, someone down the block was shoveling their walk. Having grown up on the Canadian Shield, and the Prairies, I was very familiar with the sound, just wasn't use to hearing it here.

Hmmmm? I wonder if the people I'm house sitting for have a snow shovel?

Cause I was gonna need it.


Unfortunately, my camera had decided to give up the ghost, so I took these photos using Photocapture on my Mac Laptop.




I managed to find the snow shovel fairly quickly and did a quick shovel before heading off to work. Glad I was close enough to walk, as some people didn't make it in. (wimps) As I'm not at my own place, my boots are going to sit this snowfall out. I donned my rain gear for warmth and to keep me dry. I even tried wearing my rain bootie covers for cycling, they worked like gaters and kept now out of my pant legs and tops of runners, but they wouldn't stay put on the tips of my shoes, so I had to shake the snow out of them periodically. Pretty funny.

I was out for the evening so had to shovel again this morning as it continued to fall yesterday after I left. I even managed to find a bag of melting salt in the garage for the steps which had become rather icy. So the walk and steps were clear for the postman when he came to deliver the mail. When I lived in Calgary, the postman didn't deliver mail if the walks weren't shoveled. I didn't want to take that chance here. Besides, I have to use them too, and didn't want to wipe out myself.

Today it is really windy and cold, so it looks like it will be staying for a while. Maybe the snowbanks I've created will still be there to some degree, when my friends return from sunny and summery New Zealand. That's gonna be a shock. (hehehehe)

I must say about locals and snow, they don't know what to do with it. It's in their way, it makes the sidewalks icy and stairs up to you house dangerous. This is what I say to them...HELLO people, you are supposed to shovel it out of the way. We have had enough snow dumps in the last few years, everyone by now should have invested in a shovel by now.

Another thing about West Coasters, when its snowing they haul out their umbrellas. Yes, umbrellas, those plastic/nylon folding, portable shelters that most people have for rainy weather. I guess here on the coast, precipitation is precipitation.

It still makes me laugh though. Me I just donned my new wool hat and scarf and off I went. I rather enjoyed my snowy walk to work. Glad I don't have to be out in the biting wind today though. I'm snuggled up with my books and laptop working on homework.

I guess I won't be riding my bike anywhere until this clears. sigh It really was beautiful yesterday though.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Blessings from me to you in 2011.


This is a time of year that is a reflective time for me. To evaluate where I am at in all aspects of my life. I want to make some changes in the coming year, and have been very contemplative lately.

What ever 2011 brings for you I pray you find peace, joy and much love.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

HO HO HO and a bottle of ....Scotch

Every year Thom, Vi and their two sons Marcus and Phillip have a weekend where I stay over at their house and we have our own Christmas together.

Thom and I have a particular fondness for a good single malt, and they usually provide me with a bottle every few years for my own private consumption. It literally takes me years to get through it, I do bring it out for those special friends, but mainly it is just for me, and a wee dram on a cold winter evening. (or summer...lol)

Well, my usual scotch is The Balvenie, but this year they bought me a new brand.


Out with the old...

I just finished the last dram

this Christmas Eve.



If you've never tried Balvenie,

it has a lovely nutty after-taste.


And in with the new...



Auchentoshan...

we certainly had fun

trying to pronounce it.

Still unsure about it.

Here's the description from

the box.

Triple distilled and matured for over twleve years. The result a Lowland single malt whisky with the tempting aroma of toasted almonds, caramelised toffee and the signature smooth delicate, Auchentoshan taste.


Where's my glass?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Sharing Christmas Treats

This year, the main theme of my gift giving was cookies. I am an avid cookie cutter collector, and I thought I would put them to use this year. Armed with a vast selection to choose from and a killer sugar cookie recipe, I went on a baking spree.

There were snowflakes...







Snowmen,

Christmas Trees,

and stars.









Even a whole

Christmas Tree

made from almond cookies.

This cookie tree was

special project for some

dear friends who were

hosting 17 family members

for Christmas dinner.




The one recipe I make every year, mainly for consumption in my house is



Cherry Oat Bars

They are extremely rich, and absolutely
scream to be consumed. I put them in the
freezer, but that barely slows down their
consumption.



Here is the recipe for your enjoyment.



Bottom Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup butter or margarine

Combine flour with baking powder, sugar and rolled oats.
Add butter and mix until mixture crumbles.
Press firmly into 9x9 pan.

Topping -
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup red and green cherries
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

Beat eggs well, add remaining ingredients.
Spread over crumbs and bake in
300 degree F oven for 45 minutes or
until brown around edges.

I dare you to eat just one square at a time.

Enjoy.

The recipe for the Cookie Christmas Tree called
for a double batch of the recipe enclosed with
the cutters. But in actuality it only took one.
So with a batch of cookie dough in the freezer,
I have decided to make cookies a theme for
birthdays throughout the year. Next week
during the break, I'll bake them up and decorate
them for freezing. Oh joy oh bliss.