In My World

Make a list of 30 things that make you smile. 1.   Hubby's lame jokes . . . especially the one about the guy on the high diving board 2.   Puns 3.   My oldest grandson and his wry sense of humour 4.   The way my sons, and now all of my grandsons, tower over me.  I never realized how short I am 5.   My middle grandson trying to make us believe we let him walk to school all alone when he was little . . . like that would ever happen 6.   Family dinners.  They are never boring 7.   Knock knock jokes 8.   Grey's Anatomy 9.   Lucille Ball 10. Finding a tricky letterbox 11. Facebook . . . most of the time 12. Oscar (the movie) 13. My youngest grandson when he is telling stories.  He speaks with a lilt at the end of each sentence that is absolutely charming. 14.  Spending time with my friends.  Oh, the stories I could tell . . .  15.  Sushi 16.  Thai food 17.  Going on a roa...

  When were you last surprised?

nervously waiting who will April prank me first I hope I don't jump or scream out loud spill my tea it's all fun and games until . . .

Today's Prompt ~ Invisibility Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you want.  What are some of the things you would do with your super power? You know all those occasions when you wish you could be a fly on the wall?  Being invisible would be even better because I really hate flies.  Or when you see someone you really don't want to talk to . . . Invisibility would be a great Halloween costume.  It would be an amazing power to have on April Fool's Day.  I think I could have a serious amount of fun with this super power.

Today's Prompt: Cut-throat Have you ever played a simple board game and it turned everyone into cut-throat die-hards? We were at my older son's home for a family evening.  My younger son and my three grandsons decided to play Risk, a favourite game which I haven't played in years and years.  The boys were scheming and making deals with each other.  I said, "This isn't a game . . . THIS IS WAR!!!!!"  LOL!  I didn't win.

The last place in the world you would want to have a romantic picnic is . . .

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) This is a great movie.  Gregory Peck did a fantastic job of portraying Atticus Finch, a southern lawyer, who is raising his children and trying to live an honourable life.  The movie begins sharing the idyllic life in the south of gentility and kindness.  When Atticus must defend an innocent black man who has been accused of raping a white woman, the lawyer and his family begin to feel the ugliness and hate that lay beneath the veneer of southern gentility.  Based on a book by the same name, this movie does a decent job of representing the author's intent.  As my grandson commented, after reluctantly reading the book for school and then watching the movie with me, the book is better than the movie.  But that's pretty normal, isn't it? Academy Awards, USA  1963 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role Gregory Peck   Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium Horton Foote Horton Foote was...

  Three pet peeves. https://daringtolivefully.com/journal-prompts

  Three favorite TV shows.

Write a list of songs that make you feel happy. Add them to your playlist or use some of the lyrics in your journaling or scrapbooking.

Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site Walk where Canada’s earliest inhabitants did and imagine the Attiwandaron longhouses and palisade walls that once stood proudly at Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site. Close your eyes and imagine a rare fortified village of 800-900 Attiwandaron, also known as the Neutral Iroquois, who inhabited Southwold from 1500 to 1650 AD. Directions . . .  The Southwold Earthworks is the remains of a pre-contact village site of the Neutral people, occupied about AD 1450 to 1550. The entrance to the site is located on Iona Road, approximately three kilometres south of Iona, Ontario, Canada. A double oval ring of raised earthworks surrounds the remains of the village.  Address :  7930 Iona Rd, Fingal, ON N0L 1P0 Phone:  (905) 468-6614

What characters would you most like to play if you were in theatre? Could I be a favourite Broadway actor?  Because I would definitely pick Carol Channing, particularly as Dolly in Hello Dolly, every time.   

I really did enjoy watching 12 Years a Slave.  I found most of it to be dramatic and well-acted.  My only disappointment was the way the ending was done.  It seemed like the director said "well I'm bored now" and really rushed the end.  Is the book like that too?  I've never read it myself. Did you know the original book was written by Solomon Northrup (the main character in the book and movie) who was a farmer and professional violinist in New York until he was tricked, drugged, kidnapped and sold into slavery?  Well, I didn't know that.  I am going to add this book to my to read pile which is so long I will probably by 89 before I actually open the front cover. Did you ever watch the movie?  What did you think? Academy Awards, USA 2014 Winner Best Motion Picture of the Year Brad Pitt Dede Gardner Jeremy Kleiner Steve McQueen Anthony Katagas 12 Years a Slave (2013) became the first film directed and produced by a black filmm...

Today's Writing Prompt: Escape What have you escaped from lately? Every few days I feel the need to escape from all the demands (admittedly, some are self-imposed) on my time and energy.  Usually I do something creative like scrapbooking or art journaling.  I just found out a friend likes to take a book, lawn chair and coffee and hide in Pinafore Park to recharge.  I may be taking a page out of my friend's book.

Today's Prompt: So What Do You Do? What do you spend most of your time doing - when you're not journaling , of course! Most of my time is spent working on various craft projects, trying to keep my apartment clean, looking for the joy in my life, and spending time with my family and friends.

If I tell people that I am an introvert they often look at me with disbelief.  When I do go out, I like to be the life of the party.  I like seeing people and saying hi.  I hate small talk . . . but love a good conversation. If I tell people I don't do well with illness and hospitals they definitely look at me with disbelief.  I have been a support person to many friends and family over the years when they are facing injury or crisis.  I stand up to people and for people.  I demand answers.  I don't do personal care though . . . mostly because I'm a klutz. If I tell people I'm depressed they often look at me with disbelief.  And yet I am so much of the time and it can be a battle to shower and get dressed, to take care of my responsibilities, to leave the house, to cook healthy food.  And it sucks.  But my smile is well practiced and knows to stay in place when I do appear in public. So don't be surprised if I disappear from time t...

Did you smile or frown more today?

  Happy Publication Day to RuFF by award-winning author Rod Carley, published by Latitude 46! RuFF is Carley’s highly-anticipated fourth novel. This historical fiction transports us to Elizabethan England, where we witness Shakespeare struggling through a midlife crisis while trying to win a national play competition to secure the King’s business. Hilarious hijinks ensue, with whip-smart dialogue and a captivating tale that touches on salient social issues that persist today, including equality, justice, and censorship.  Humour and incisive wit combine to create a compulsively readable and thought-provoking novel from this Leacock Award long-listed author. We know RuFF will be a favourite book of the year for many.  Praise for Carley: “At times I found myself both laughing and cheering out loud! The dialogue is some of the best I have ever read. The descriptions are transportive. Not only can you see Elizabethan London – you can smell it!” —-Heidi von Palleske You can gra...

Journal Prompt: Have you ever received a mean comment from someone you don't even know on social media? I have. This link was posted to Facebook and a challenge was made to choose the most trustworthy face . . .  http://www.upworthy.com/a-guy-with-a-twisted-sense-of-humor-explains-how-your-brain-is-quicker-to-judge-than-your-eyes?c=ufb3 I don't usually join in on these conversations but I must have been almost bored for a minute and I joined in.   Pam Matthews Hedden the guy with the resting bitch face . . . A few people commented and more people Liked my answer.  In my world, there is just something smarmy and too happyish about the guy on the left.  Yes, a snap judgement, but that's what they were asking for. Anyway, someone decided to try and be mean to me.  Obviously they don't know that I have survived marriage for 41 years and the raising of two boys and much more.  Not much scares me anymore . . . LOL.  So here is his mean post . . ....

Journal Prompt:  How can I make a difference? Well here's one idea. Keeping clean is an important part of remaining healthy, but families who have fled their homes because of disaster or war often struggle to afford these necessary supplies. Hygiene kits also are given through schools or orphanages to encourage healthy habits for children. There is always a way to help. For more information . . . http://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/kits/hygiene?utm_content=buffer84222&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The Port Stanley Terminal Rail (PSTR) is a heritage railway that passes over the historic tracks of The London and Port Stanley Railway (L&PS) between Port Stanley and St. Thomas, Ontario.   The first passenger train reached Port Stanley on July 5, 1856. Use of the line increased until 1943, when the end of gas rationing and the increased use of automobiles caused a slow decline in passenger traffic. On February 1, 1957, passenger service ended on the L&PS line.  The railway continued to carry freight traffic, especially between St. Thomas and London, Ontario.  The rail section between St. Thomas and Port Stanley fell into disrepair and was finally abandoned in 1982 after a washout. When the line was officially abandoned, a group of railway preservationists created the Port Stanley Terminal Rail Inc. and purchased the rail to be used as a heritage railway. After rebuilding the tracks, the group finally received a Provincial railway charter to operate trains b...

I love cartoon movies that are actually sophisticated enough for adults.  How to Train Your Dragon is one of the those movies. Hiccup (the boy in the photo) lives in a Viking camp who hunt dragons.  Because of his size he isn't taken seriously and trained as a blacksmith and inventor instead of a hunter.  During a dragon attack, Hiccup fires one of his inventions at Toothless the dragon and badly injures him.  I don't want to give away much of the story.  Suffice to say Hiccup learns to be strong, empathetic, and not to judge a book by its cover . . . or a dragon by its teeth.   An excellent movie for the whole family. Academy Awards, USA  2011 Nominee Oscar Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Dean DeBlois   Chris Sanders   Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score John Powell  

Today's Writing Prompt: Good News There have been a heck of a lot of terrible things happening in the news lately. Counteract it, tell me something great that has happened in your world recently!

Today's Writing Prompt: Winter Wonderland It is not much of a winter wonderland today. Above zero and heavy rain here this morning. What does your Winter Wonderland look like? (Or summer wonderland, I suppose, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere?) On the bright side, it's scrapbooking season.   I do not like winter.  The worst things about winter are freezing rain and ice.  I can live with just about anything else but those two little items strike fear and loathing in my heart. My winter wonderland involves warm and cosy, in my pyjamas, scrapbooking . . . 

Christmas Memories A few years ago my daughter-in-law started a new tradition and I absolutely love it.  She decorated Christmas ornaments and added photos of all our family living and past.  We all added the decorations to a special tree put up just for these ornaments.  It was especially touching watching the younger relatives.  I'm looking forward to continuing this tradition this year.

Happy Publication Day to Widow Fantasies , the debut short fiction collection by Hollay Ghadery!  Fantasies are places we briefly visit; we can’t live there. The stories in Widow Fantasies deftly explore the subjugation of women through the often subversive act of fantasizing. From a variety of perspectives, through a symphony of voices, Widow Fantasies immerses the reader in the domestic rural gothic, offering up unforgettable stories from the shadowed lives of girls and women.  “In these tight, sharp-witted, and expertly crafted stories, Hollay Ghadery distills the scope of an entire relationship or, in some cases, an entire lifetime into a single scene. Vignette doesn’t quite capture the breadth of these extraordinary flash worlds inflected with wry humour, incisive observation, and heartbreak. While a comedic title, line, or situation is often the hook—whether it’s a woman repelled by the smell of her oblivious husband’s bathroom ritual or a drunk divorcee talking to pat...

This is what I'm baking for breakfast tomorrow.  The whole house smells delicious. Quantity : 36 servings Preparation : 10 min Cooking : 35 min Cooking Dish : 30x38 cm 180 calories/serving Ingredients vegetable oil spray, for the baking sheet 4 cups rolled oats 400 g 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes 200 g 2 1/2 cups hazelnuts, shelled, coarsely chopped 260 g 1/4 cup canola oil 65 mL 3 cups pumpkin seeds 400 g 1/3 cup maple syrup 85 mL Method Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F. Lightly oil or butter a large baking sheet (about 30 x 38 cm). Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Pour the oil and maple syrup over the dry ingredients then toss well. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 30 to 40 min or until golden brown and crispy. Stir every 10 min to brown evenly and avoid burning the mixture. Let the granola cool down: It will become crispier and dry as it cools. Make sure to break up any large clumps of granola while th...

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli 4 cups regular or spicy Clamato juice Celery salt 4 celery stalks 4 lime slices Wet rims of four 8-oz glasses with water and spin in celery salt. Put ice cubes in glasses and fill with Clamato juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, and stir. Garnish with celery stalks and thin slices of lime. I don't really like celery salt on the rims so I skipped this step. And of course my Caesar was "experienced" with 1 ounce of Silent Sam vodka . . . lol . . .

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli 4 whole chicken breasts, halved 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil 4 tbsp Italian salad dressing mix 1/4 cup fresh lime juice Place chicken breasts, skin side up, in large baking dish.  Combine oil, salad dressing mix and lime juice in a small bowl. Pour evenly over chicken. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Put baking dish under broiler 3 inches from heat and broil, basting with marinade and turning several times, for 30 minutes, or until chicken is fork tender and glazed. I substituted 1/4 cup of Italian salad dressing for the oil and dressing mix and I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I was nervous about the whole 3 inches from the broiler instruction so I lowered the rack a little more. When I put the potato casserole in the oven during the last 10 minutes, I had to turn the heat down to 350 F. It didn't seem to be a problem. Hal gave the chicken 2 ...

Quantity : 2 servings Preparation : 5 min Cooking : 10 min 50 calories/serving Ing redients 130 g collard greens, cut into 1 cm thick pieces 1/2 leeks, cut into 1 cm thick rounds 150 g 2 tsp olive oil 10 mL 1 pinch salt [optional] 0.1 g 1 pinch cayenne pepper 0.1 g Before you start If collard greens are not available, substitute with another type of leafy green. Method Cut the greens and leeks into 1 cm thick slices. In a large saucepan, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Add the leeks and greens. Season with salt and Cayenne pepper. Cover and let cook until softened, about 10 min. Serve. https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/collard-greens-leeks

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli 1 package (4 servings) instant mashed potatoes 1/2 cup dairy sour cream 2 tsp prepared mustard 2 tbsp chopped green onion In saucepan, prepare potatoes according to package directions. In another saucepan, heat sour cream over low heat (do not boil). Add mustard and 1/2 tsp salt; stir to blend. Mix into hot potatoes with onion. Immediately turn into a 4-cup casserole and heat in preheated 350 F oven for about 10 minutes. Okay, these potatoes were delicious. I say "were" because I had one helping and Hal ate all the rest . . . lol . . . I think that means he liked them. They had a really nice texture and turned a box of instant potatoes into a lovely side dish. I did not heat the sour cream in advance.

Supper tonight was really tasty.  I served Collard Greens with Leeks on the side.  I'll be sharing that recipe next. Quantity : 2 servings Preparation : 10 min Cooking : 25 min 320calories/serving Ingredients 2 chicken legs, with back, skinless 600 g 1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g ground pepper to taste [optional] 2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL 1/2 onions, chopped 100 g 1/2 tbsp white flour (all purpose) 4 g 1/3 cup chicken broth 85 mL 1 tbsp white vinegar 15 mL 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 lemon 1 sprig rosemary, fresh 5 g Before you start Keep the serving plates in the oven at the lowest setting so they are warm when you serve. Method Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the chicken 10-12 min until golden-coloured on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep the pieces warm in the oven. Add the chopped onion and flour to the pan, then sauté 2 min with stirring. Pour in the broth, bring to a boil...

One Word Story Cozy. I know it is cold out . . . we actually had a wee bit of snow this morning. The superintendants always turn on the boiler system October 15.  You would think I would be happy about that.  I am currently wearing a tank top and all the windows are open in the apartment.  It is a little too cozy . . . which is actually spelled cosy in Canada . . . LOL.

Happy Publication to Melanie Marttila’s debut poetry collection, The Art of Floating, published by Latitude 46. The Art of Floating is Melanie Marttila’s debut poetry collection, and a result of and testament to years of honing her craft. The collection of five sections of free verse poems is wide ranging and eclectic, bringing to life her deep connection with the earth and sky of Ontario. The aptly named collection describes her learned ability to ride the unpredictable waves of mental illness  and prevent herself from drowning within it, while seeking solace in the natural world around her. These lyric poems are stunning and transportative, absorbing the reader with captivating imagery, complex diction, and highly relatable themes most pivotal in life, such as loss, grief, and hope.  The Art of Floating is an elegant and beautifully crafted debut collection of poetry by Sudbury’s Melanie Marttila. Her poems are mirrors to the tiny, often quiet, and supposedly insignificant m...

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli 1 bunch broccoli (about 1 lb.) 4 tbsp butter 3-4 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese Cut off broccoli stem and leaves, and break the rest into florets. Wash well, drop into boiling salted water, cover and boil until tender-crisp, 8-10 minutes. Drain and return broccoli to saucepan.  Melt butter in small saucepan and pour evenly over broccoli. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Turn into serving bowl, being sure to drain all the butter from the saucepan onto broccoli, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. The only thing I did different with this recipe is to use my rice/veggie steamer instead of boiling the broccoli. I prefer my veggies plain, but this recipe was a nice change of pace.

Quantity : 3 servings Preparation : 20 min Cooking : 4 h 340calories/serving Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL 1 onions, chopped 200 g 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 carrots, chopped 100 g 1 stalk celery, chopped 70 g 1/2 tbsp dried oregano 1 g 3/4 dried chili peppers, minced 0.4 g 340 g ground beef, extra-lean 1 slice bread, whole wheat, processed into bread crumbs 35 g 1 eggs size large, beaten 1 1/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 5 g 1/4 tsp salt 2 g ground pepper to taste [optional] 2 cups My Mother's Tomato Sauce 500 mL 1/3 cup water 85 mL Before you start A slow cooker is needed to make this recipe. A blender or food processor will be very useful to pure the vegetables. Method Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables then sauté until softened and translucent, about 3 min. Stir in the oregano and chili pepper, then cook an additional minute, with stirring. Layer about half of the...

For 4 servings you will need: 4 Cornish game hens, about 1 lb. each 1 tbsp oil Marinade: 3 tbsp soy sauce 3 tbsp teriyaki sauce 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp lemon juice dash ground ginger dash black pepper 2 cloves garlic, sliced. Remove bags with liver and neck from hens.  Wash hens well.  Pat dry. Rub hens with oil. Prepare marinade.  Place hens either in a glass bowl or in 2 plastic bags.  Pour marinade over hens. Let hens marinate overnight in refrigerator, turning hens or bas over occasionally. Remove hens from marinade. Place on rack in roasting pan. Roast hens at 400F for 50-60 minutes, turning once during cooking time and bastin with marinade occasionally. Check for doneness by piercing with a fork.  Hens should be fork tender and juices should run clear. Cut hens in half lengthwise to serve.

Today's Writing Prompt: Halloween Candy In honor of Halloween, one of my favorite holidays, today tell me about your favorite candy! I know a lot of people will think I am crazy . . . but I have always loved Hallowe'en taffy.  I really can't be the only one or why would they keep making it every year?

  HMCS Ojibwa is an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and later the Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM). Originally intended for service with the British Royal Navy as HMS Onyx, the submarine was transferred to Canadian ownership before completion, and entered RCN service in 1965. Ojibwa operated primarily with Maritime Forces Atlantic until her decommissioning in 1998. In 2010, Ojibwa was laid up at CFB Halifax awaiting disposal, with the Elgin Military Museum planning to preserve her as a museum vessel. The submarine was towed to Port Burwell, Ontario in 2012, and was opened to the public in 2013. She is now the new focal point of a planned Museum of Naval History to be built alongside. Design Main article: Oberon-class submarine The Oberon class were considered an improved version of the preceding Porpoise-class submarines, with a different frame of the pressure hull and constructed from a better grade of steel. These build differences all...