Happiness Journal

I will finish the happiness journal I have been keeping all year, it was easy for me to jot down a happy thought each day as I am very structured perhaps.  One day last week I wrote 'happy seeing the positives on a day with lots of negatives'.  I found that there was always something positive I could write down, often the most simple thing. It could be just the weather or some part of the daily routine, for example.  You kind of just eliminate the difficulties of life and the horrors you hear on the news from these thoughts, just for the moment.

On a very stressful morning and day ahead I woke up to a fresh snowfall and winter wonderland.  I wrote that down immediately. It was interesting to find that I draw comfort from my regular daily routines.

Wishing you a Happy New Year 2017 when it arrives!

Paint Party Friday - Gift

Welcome to Eva and Kristin's Paint Party Friday! This piece is entitled 'The Gift' done in acrylic on good quality red cardstock (6" x 6").

And now thoughts must turn to the New Year, let's fill it with hope.

Springtails

Jenn mentioned snow fleas on her blog recently and I had never heard of them before.  They are also known as springtails. 'In winter, snow fleas emerge on sunny days and gather in large numbers around bases of trees where snow has melted. Because of their small size, they look like flecks of pepper or ashes on the surface of the snow. Snow fleas feed on decaying plant matter.'  I have likely seen them and thought they were flecks of dirt on the snow.

Here is a video I found if you are curious to see them.

Watching Reruns

Xmas Eve Brunch at home

We were still working on our gift basket foods as you can see above.

I've been watching reruns of 'The Gilmore Girls' with my kids over the holidays.  The series ran from 2000 to 2007.  It's interesting how much has changed since that time, the phones look different, they will mention famous people, current events and things that were popular at that time, even the fashions look so different.

Here is a bit of the storyline: 'Thirty-two year old single mom, Lorelai, lives with her daughter Rory in the small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, with crazy neighbors and many ups and downs. The two go everywhere together and are each other's best friends. No matter what goes on, they always end up happy and eating take-out!'

They have done a revival series in 2016, I don't know if I will watch those.

Gift Basket Brunch

The morning after we received a beautiful gift basket full of treats, daughter L and I had this wonderful gift basket brunch.  There was an artichoke dip, a tomato red pepper chutney, salmon pate, brie, and an assortment of delicious crackers.  Husband M would probably only eat the salmon pate and cheese, son K would likely eat some of the crackers and cheese.

Laneway Housing

We received this beautiful gift basket at our front door one evening last week. It was a wonderful Christmas surprise from a good friend!

I was speaking to a cousin in Vancouver before Christmas when she mentioned that Vancouver permits affordable laneway housing suites.  These are small suites atop the garage or at the rear of the property.  Of course you have to apply and wait for a permit.  However, it can solve the affordable housing problem for some and is an alternative to living in a condo.  Laneway housing is not permitted in Toronto currently.

Well, I thought that was interesting as I hadn't heard of this concept.

Season's Greetings

Shortbread

A friend gave us this attractively wrapped package of shortbread cookies. The 2nd photo shows the cookies unwrapped. They are chocolate chip shortbread.

Paint Party Friday - Snowy Scene

Welcome to Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday! I did a 'Snowy Scene' for you today in acrylic on good quality blue cardstock (6" x 6").

Have a Merry Christmas until next time!

Elderberry Shrubs

We got this pretty gift from some friends.

There was a lot of snow this past weekend.  I noticed flocks of birds in the trees and husband M said they were eating the elderberries from the shrubs in our side yard.  Those shrubs had seeded themselves over the years and I was happy that the birds could find some nourishment from them in the cold, snowy weather.

The days have started getting longer now that  the winter solstice has passed.  This is a good thing.

Candy Cane Lindor

Daughter L brought this package of Candy Cane Lindor home the other day. I didn't think I had tried this flavour before. It's good of course, as all Lindt chocolates are.

Roasted Vegetable Soup

I made this roasted vegetable soup the other day using sweet peppers, broccoli, and carrots. Cut the vegetables into chunks. Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper. Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and 1/2 tsp of salt. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes. In a saucepan, saute some chopped onions and garlic in some olive oil add 2 cups of soup stock and one cup of water. Add the roasted vegetables and 1/2 teaspoon of italian seasoning or your favourite herb. Simmer for 10 minutes and enjoy!

An Office Party

chicken/beef entree with cauliflower mash, potatoes, squash, mushrooms, green beans

creamy chocolate dessert

It was just more than a week ago when my friend S called me up and asked if I was available to attend as her guest at the Christmas party being held by her part time job. I was just getting over a cold, but decided I was well enough to go with her that same evening. It turned out to be a dressy affair and I am sharing some of the food photos above. It got us into the Christmas spirit if we weren't already!

There was a nice young couple sitting next to us at our table. They showed us cute photos of their 8 month old baby. S told me nonchalantly that they weren't actually married yet. S said the very chatty man next to them, perhaps in his early forties did not show up with his date from last year and was in fact alone this time. The company owner was a very senior man sitting at another table with his wife who was apparently exhibiting signs of early dementia.

Yes, an office party is rife with gossip!

Sunday Sketches - Cloud Angel

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! I did an angel in the clouds for you today in my art journal in watercolour pencil and crayon (8 1/2" x 11"). It was inspired by some clouds I saw that made me think of angel wings.

At the Hairdresser's

I was at the hairdresser this week.  Being so close to Christmas, I brought him a bottle of wine.  I've been going there for what must be over 30 years  and going there is always like visiting old friends.  It is a 'warm' feeling, especially at Christmastime.  Someone always brings me a nice cup of coffee.  The hairdresser's wife died this year, so he eats out at restaurants now.  He has never cooked or wanted to.  I do know some women who also don't cook.  The esthetician had her eyebrows tattooed on.  It costs about $120.

 It was a bitterly cold day and the drive home was in white out conditions, the weather changed very quickly.  Shoveling snow that night was kind of fun, not to mention good exercise.  Fortunately it was light and powdery.

Paint Party Friday - Gingerbread House

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I did a gingerbread house in acrylic on textured cardstock (8 1/2" x 11"). It was inspired by the recent Creative Tuesdays theme.

Tylenol vs Advil

I recently found out that if you have high blood pressure, or heart problems, you should take Tylenol instead of Advil. Did you know that? Advil, motrin, aleve use ibuprofen anti-inflammatory drugs where tylenol uses acetomenaphin which is less likely to increase your blood pressure.

Oh Dear

Oh dear, looks like son K already had a snack of the gingerbread house, the chimney is discretely missing! It must have been good.

My poor mom is not responding well to her water pills, it's stressful, hope things turn around as we can't keep increasing her meds.  We were at the doctor yesterday.  The only good thing is that I am teaming with the pharmacist, the family doctor and the cardiologist.

Creative Tuesdays - Christmas Gingerbread House

I got this inexpensive gingerbread house kit from Ikea and asked daughter L to make it up for me. You have to make your own icing to decorate and then glue the gingerbread house pieces together. L found this wonderful gingerbread house icing recipe which uses only 3 ingredients, cream of tartar, icing sugar and egg whites. And of course, being Ikea this kit came with minimal assembly instructions in picture format!

Here is the result of L's efforts and our contribution to the Creative Tuesdays 'Christmas Gingerbread' theme:

Stacked Cooling Racks

Look what I found and bought recently, stacked cooling racks! Have you seen one of these?  You can bake and cool a lot of cookies at the same time.

I know of a couple of families who had their Christmas gatherings this past weekend, due to upcoming vacations and whatever, so the celebrations have begun!

Sunday Sketches - Whimsy

Welcome to Alexandra's Sunday Sketches! This is a bit of whimsy for you today, based on a photo I took recently. It's done in my art journal in watercolour pencil and crayon (8 1/2" x 11").

Here is the photo. I actually did see the yellow sun peeking through the heart shaped hole but it was almost gone by the time I got my camera ready. The skies change in moments.

Cookie Exchange

These are the cookies daughter L brought home from a cookie exchange party she participated in, my favourite were the butterscotch shortbread.  There were lemon twists, red velvet, oatmeal, snowballs and mint chocolate ones.  I had cookies for breakfast the next day as I wanted to taste them all.

Paint Party Friday - Squirrel on a Wire

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! December is moving right along. This piece is called 'Squirrel on a Wire'. I was driving along one day and saw this squirrel running quickly and expertly across the street using this street wire. Has he figured out it's safer than crossing the road?  This piece is inspired by this incident. It's done in my art journal (8 1/2" 11") in watercolour pencil.

The Dress

Husband M and I went to a Christmas party last weekend at the home of some friends we've known for a very long time.  The food was very good, it was a potluck supper.  One of the ladies there, she would be in her early to mid-sixties, remembered when she worked at the old Eaton's department store in the eighties or earlier.  She worked in the section where they sold very expensive dresses.  It is common knowledge that some women would purchase an expensive dress, wear it with the tag tucked inside and return it to the store soon after.  Maybe people still do this.  One particular lady had bought a dress and came in complaining she broke out in hives after wearing it.  Her money was refunded.  The manager sent the dress out to be tested.  They discovered it had traces of formaldehyde!  It seems the dress had been used on a deceased person for a visitation!  It must have been returned and the dress was sold to this other person.  Can you imagine?

Bibimbap Korean

Daughter L found this Korean restaurant via Yelp and so Husband M came with us to try it. I really wanted to try Bibimbap ever since I saw it featured on a Masterchef cooking challenge on TV. The dish came with a lot of interesting side dishes which added to the experience. I really enjoyed the different textures of the bibimbap, you had to add some Korean hot sauce and/or soy sauce to the dish, then stir it all together.

Oh the Korean beef patty appetizer was even more delicious!  Daughter L liked the rice rolls a lot, they were kind of hard/crispy on the outside.

bibimbap

Nice Cutlery

Koren Beef Patty appetizer with rice rolls

The Christmas Visit

Husband M and I were able to visit an uncle at his new long term care home late last week.  It was our first time there.  His girlfriend was there as she is every day.   The home was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  My uncle is in a well-appointed suite with a small kitchenette and a lovely window view.  I took a red poinsettia plant and it looked so pretty on his windowsill.

My uncle's dementia is progressing but he was walking quite well, using his walker more as a backup.  We were in time for the 3pm social hour so we went downstairs and had a quick walk through the facility before heading to the dining room.  His girlfriend said he rarely smiles being more of a quiet, listener type of person.  But he was all smiles for us that afternoon.  We sat with them for a cup of coffee before it was time to leave. 

I thought, isn't this what Christmas is all about? 

My Precocious Daughter

It was the year 2000 and I decided to quit my job as a systems analyst at a major bank to stay home with my young children.  Daughter L was 7 going on 8 and son K was 4 going on 5 at the time.  Life was very busy.  It was a stressful job not to mention all the dreadful politics among co-workers.  Husband M and I decided the timing was right for us and that I could stay home and look after the kids who had a wonderful babysitter at the time for after school and holidays.

Last week, I was talking to daughter L.  She told me she took it upon herself to have a discussion with then babysitter all those years ago.   She asked the babysitter why she didn't want to look after them anymore.  Upon being reassured by the babysitter that she would miss them very much, L pressed on  'Is it for financial reasons?'

Needless to say, the babysitter never told me of this conversation!  We just assumed the kids would be happy to have me home, never thinking/knowing how much they loved it at the babysitter's place!  I guess kids that age are little people and you do have to sit down and explain things to them, things that may seem obvious to you!

I had to laugh about this precocious daughter of mine!

Sunday Sketches - Pretty in Pink

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! This mixed media piece is called 'Pretty in Pink' done in watercolour pencil with tiny heart stickers. It's in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11"). I was inspired by a ruffled pink sweater I saw in the newspaper. The tiny hearts evolved when I somehow made a slight hole in the paper in the upper left corner and I decided the stickers would cover it beautifully and save the piece! Thanks for stopping by to see some creative fun/repair work today!

Coconut whipped cream

I got this can of coconut whipped cream free as one of the coupons mailed to me by Sample Source. It is delicious and does taste of coconut. I had also got a couple of free granola bars in the package which I had posted about here.

Paint Party Friday - Tag Ornament

It's time for Kristin and Eva's Paint Party Friday! I made an ornament tag for you today, appropriate for the season!

Cookie Exchange

Welcome to December!

Daughter L made these shortbread cookies for a cookie exchange she is attending. The sample I tasted melted in my mouth!

A New Book

I put a hold at the library for this book 'Dinner with Edward', and was able to pick it up after 3 months, looking forward to reading it. I already got this cooking tip to add balsamic vinegar to pasta to allow the sauce to cling, I intend to try this! Really the book is about a warm friendship that develops between a younger woman and a man in his nineties, it grows over their weekly dinners together. He is a fantastic cook, in the style of Julia Child I think, all about the precious, perfect details.

Seasonal Treats

Son K brought these seasonal treats from his workplace recently, it's fun everywhere at this time of year!  I am happy to say I got some Christmas shopping done yesterday and have started on my Christmas cards.  After doing cards for so many years what's happening now is that my friends' kids have moved out in some cases and it's difficult to decide what to put on their family cards.  Some of the kids are even living with partners.  A couple of people have changed addresses and haven't bothered to let people exactly know what their new addresses are.  I buy one international stamp for $2.50 every year to send to an aunt living abroad.  Of course, I lost it and had to buy another one.  It may show up at some point.  It was the tiniest stamp too.

An Unhappy Coincidence

Display at the Mall

Our newspaper delivery man left us a card one morning. It said he would be on vacation soon. We usually leave him a small tip in his card every year, so I was sure to put it out early enough so he could receive it in time!

Within the past week or so, in an unhappy coincidence, my mom fell out of her bed one morning, and so did husband M's mom at their separate residences. It might be time for them to get bed rails, or use them if they already have them. Fortunately, they were both okay.

Sunday Sketches - Tall Grasses

Welcome to Alexandra's Sunday Sketches. This piece features 'Tall Grasses' in the fall, because I like the look of them with the colourful trees acting as a contrast in the background. It's done in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour pencil.

Thoughts now turn to the Christmas season as it is upon us! 

Seasonal Decoration

I thought this was a cute decoration at the doors of the shopping mall.

So have you watched the Disney movie Frozen?  They have started running it on regular TV now.  I absolutely love the ending!

My mom is having fluid retention issues due to her congestive heart failure condition.  Every few years she has these episodes where her ankles become swollen and she can gain 5 pounds within only a few days. She becomes very short of breath.  She tells me she is not tired, just out of breath.  I keep records of these occurrences and the doses of the water pill she takes.  The pills really help her but the body can develop a tolerance for this medicine.  The pharmacist was really helpful and faxed a requisition to our family doctor asking for refills we can use 'as needed'.  So I have a plan in place and my fingers crossed that she can weather this episode!  She lives with my sister and her family who are now ready and anxiously waiting for her to move into long term care as she needs a lot of assistance day to day.

Paint Party Friday - Cleanup Time

Welcome to Paint Party Friday, hosted as always by Kristin and Eva.  The leaves were all over the ground everywhere a few weeks ago, it was time to get them all cleaned up.This piece was done in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour pencil.

Santa Clause Parade

Well Toronto had its 112th Santa Clause Parade this past Sunday, it was appropriately very cold with snow flurries. It was nice to see some of the parade on tv (yes, all warm at home) and hear the Christmas songs being sung by live artists. I love to see the little ones all bundled up, excited to see Santa at the very end!

So the season is well underway! In fact, I've already received my first Christmas card, pictured above. The bauble had to be pasted back on as it detached in the mail. Husband M and I are already invited to a party in early December.

Do you mail Christmas cards to friends and relatives?  I do.

Poached Salmon

This healthy meal was inspired by Jan of The Low Carb Diabetic. She recently posted about a healthy salmon and broccoli bowl and it made me decide to try a poached salmon. Mine was done with white wine, water, tarragon, onions, lemon juice, a generous amount of salt and pepper. It is simple to make, just bring ingredients to a boil and simmer covered for about 10 minutes depending on the amount of salmon fillets. I ate it with blanched vegetables.

Mince Tart Bites

My church had its annual Christmas craft and bake sale this past weekend. I bought these delicious mince tart bites that my friend S spotted. I also bought stamps for the Christmas cards I mail out. Are you starting to get ready for the season?

New granola bars

I signed up for these free samples on a website that my friend had told me about, and received 2 new granola bars among other things. One is a Kellogg's nutrigrain cranberry nut bar, the other was a blueberry nut bar. Everyone liked them and so we bought a box of the cranberry nut ones. It makes a change from the rice krispie squares son K takes to work for snacks. The problem with the free sample site is that you are supposed to do quick reviews of the product, I didn't read the fine print. So I will be receiving an email survey soon, but I might refrain from getting more free samples. I felt obligated to try the detergent, pain reliever, and daughter L tried some of the hair products and creams. Fortunately I had only requested stuff I thought I might really use. Here is the website if you think you want to join.

Leafy Pathway

Alexandra's Sunday Sketches has been postponed as she is ill, hope she feels better soon.  Anyway, I had this piece  ready to go, entitled 'Leafy Pathway'.  It is done in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour pencil and crayon.  It very much looked like this around here last week. Today it has gone very cold and is more like winter.

New Spiralizer

I got this inexpensive new Veggetti Spiralizer device that turns vegetables into neat spaghetti-like spirals. It is really fun to eat these. This small manual device is great with zucchini, cucumbers and carrots so far. It's not so good with beets and larger vegetables. Maybe the larger machines are better for those. But so far it has encouraged us to eat more vegetables in a fun way. I did cut my finger already, you have to pay attention when you are cutting anything.

Paint Party Friday - The Girl

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! Thanks to our hosts Kristin and Eva. This piece entitled 'The Girl' in done in my art journal (8 1/2" x 11") in watercolour pencil and crayon.

Intriguing Story

This new cottage cheese treat is available in our area, it tastes like cheesecake, we have tried the vanilla bean and lemon flavours both are delicious. It says it's 100 calories per 100g serving.

This is an interesting story I read in the paper recently and saved for you.

It is entitled 'The stabber, the victim, the lost son, and the wedding'. 'In 1999 Sean Clifton stabbed a stranger, Julie Bouvier. This summer they stood together, attending a wedding only made possible by the extraordinary aftermath of the crime and the filming of a documentary about it.'

Tortilla Soup

Fish Ceviche

Banana Eel Sushi

Tortilla Soup

It would be remiss if I didn't talk about the food we ate at the all-inclusive Secrets Resort on our recent vacation. Being all-inclusive you eat too much to begin with. I tried to taste food from the region as much as possible.

It was my first time trying jicama (pronounce the 'j' as an 'h'), it is a Mexican turnip and delicious eaten in raw strips, with none of the bitterness of fresh raw turnips.

One night featured Mexican food from the region. It is where I had this delicious tortilla soup for the first time. It starts with ladling a tomato based soup into your bowl. Then you add tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, roasted peppers and avocado. It was sooo good. I also tried a fish ceviche at another meal, which I also enjoyed.

There was an Asian restaurant that surprisingly made delicious sushi. Apparently the chef had trained in Japan for a year.

It was also fun going on the trip with friends.