Really bizarre

Conditions at 6:00 am: overcast and wet and 20'
Expected later: sunny and 22'

What strange weather. Two mornings ago it was 3' in the morning, now this morning it's 20' when I let the dog out. It's unseasonable but we'll definitely take it.

I had a chance to chat with Patti yesterday. She was in St. John's Nfld, and was waiting for her flight to load. They've been really busy and so have I, so I haven't talked to the kids in a while so they're going to call me sometime on the weekend. When the flight was getting ready to load she said she had to go. I told her I would stand outside and wave as she flew over. We both laughed over that one. Years ago in Guelph, we had some friends who had small kids. When Patti first started flying and we were out with the kids we would look up at airplanes passing overhead and wave and yell "Hi Patti" at every plane. Then their mom was telling us what happened when they went to Greece to visit some relatives. They were in Athens and a plane flew overhead and all three kids were waving at it and yelling "Hi Patti" much to the embarrassment of their parents who were at a loss to explain this strange behavior from their kids. You just had to be there.

Things are pretty quiet around here because Brenda's been busy so we've been staying out of trouble! But it's Friday so we're going into town after work to have a bite to eat and catch up.

I finally talked to the supervisor at the Superstore. I've been in several times over the past two weeks but she was away on vacation and the person filling in repeatedly said she would call when she gets the schedule but I would never hear back. Now Laurie, the real boss, is back and I've been trying to connect with her all week and finally got hold of her yesterday. She says she's been trying to get hold of me too but it seems someone wrote my number down wrong. Good thing I kept persistently trying to contact her. Anyway she was telling me that the week up to Thanksgiving is busier than Christmas here in Charlottetown, so there is no time for training next week. But she is going to bring me in two shifts next week just to help wherever it's needed - bagging, putting things back, etc. I'm okay with that. She sounds really nice although we haven't met. She had me scheduled to work on Tuesday and I was going to be working with her. But when I told her I couldn't work on Tuesdays she joked "it's okay if you don't want to work with me" so I think it will be good. I told her I would prefer not to work on Sundays as I need a day for me, and she said she didn't blame me so it's good that she understands. However, because it's really busy before Thanksgiving, I told her I would work that Sunday because I have the Monday off. Then I will start training on cash the following week. So I think it will be fine.

Back to summer like weather

 

Conditions at 5:30 am: clear starry skies and 12'
Expected later: sunny and 20'

It's a really slow news day today. Yesterday was cool but got much nicer in the afternoon but today we're back to much warmer temperatures again. I was a little late getting home last night, around 6:00 and after puttering around and doing  a few things around the house, I just curled up on the couch with Cooper and watched some TV. The house was a bit chilly but I  knew it was going to be warmer this morning so I didn't light a fire.

One bit of news, though, is I have a copy of Chef Michael's new cookbook. I had emailed him to bring me one the next time he was in the city (he is a Toyota customer after all). I got a call from his assistant yesterday advising that she was coming in to town so she asked what name I wanted on it so he could sign it. She came in a little after lunch and delivered it to me. It was sitting on my desk and every staff who came by had to stop and have a look at it. He's got a very busy couple of months ahead, but Jen told me he'll be doing a book signing in the mall sometime before Christmas. I just looked through it briefly but one recipe came to my attention that I really want to try: Coconut Mussel Broth with Ginger, Lime and Cilantro. I really don't care for cilantro so may substitute parsley instead or I might put just a tiny bit of cilantro in just to try it. There are some other really interesting looking items in there as well - I can't wait to start trying some of them. There will surely be some we can use in our cooking class.

Another successful class

Conditions at 5:00 am: 3' and clear
Expected later: 15' and sunny

It's a chilly one this morning but will warm up nicely as the day goes on. Yesterday was a tiny bit cooler than we've been experiencing but it was still a beautiful sunny day.
We had our second class last night and all went well. We were still missing some people but it worked out just fine.We enjoyed making and eating the dips and we're getting used to people wandering in to see what we're doing and the comments as we leave of "It sure smells good in there". We must be doing something right.

I guess the other big news is I pick up my new car tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to talk to Lloyd about it yet but I guess I'll hear from him today!   I was browsing through the paper yesterday morning and there was this big ad for Toyotas with a really great monthly payment for  a fully loaded 2011 because they need to clear them out before the 12's come in. I asked Paul about it (our sales person) and he said he'd do some numbers for me to see if he could do better. When he gave me the choices, I said to go for it, never in a million years expecting that Toyota Finance would consider it on just my salary but John came back to me and said, whatever I'm doing, keep doing it, because about 15 seconds after he submitted the application to Toyota, it came back approved.

So, Lloyd, before you have a heart attack, here's my thinking:

This is a lease for 5 years. Lloyd will need a car come January or March or whenever he moves here. I'm very hopeful that in 5 years I can retire so when the lease on this one is up, I can just turn it back in and hopefully we will only need one car by that time.  So you can have the 2010 and I will use the 2011.  My new car has all the bells and whistles (compared to the 2010) - automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, cruise control, - all the things I've never had in a car will be mine for 5 years.  I'll alternate driving the two of them until Lloyd is ready to move then he can take the 2010 and the trailer to Ontario to move his stuff.

It was one of those things that just seemed like a good idea at the time and it all just fell into place.  I think it will work for both of us. Not that I'm trying to rush you down here, but now there will be one less problem to work out when the time comes.

Week 2 of "Think outside the box"- Dips and spreads

Conditions at 6:00- clear skies, lots of stars and 12'
Expected later: sunny and 14' - a little cooler today

After another absolutely gorgeous day yesterday, we are expecting somewhat more seasonal temperatures today. But it will be sunny so it's going to be just fine.

On my way home last night I picked up the supplies we need for tonight's class. I stopped in at the VanGaals to drop off Brenda's chaps and sweater that I had taken home in the back of my bike on Sunday. I got there just in time to see Bernie's photos from his hunting trip. Brenda had a meeting to go to but I had time for a sandwich and tea and a muffin so I ended up with supper as well. It wasn't my plan - as I was painfully aware when I went out to get in my car. I have a good memory but it's, unfortunately, really short. After sitting around eating and drinking I got out to the car to discover I had left it running. My intention was to run in and drop of the stuff and then leave. Then I got looking at the photos and totally forgot I left the car running. Good thing I had filled it up with gas yesterday. What an idiot!

When I got home, I did some badly needed tidying up and got everything organized for tonight's class. That didn't take very long as there was no pre-prep involved giving me time to watch some TV. I had taped that new show Pan Am. I called Lloyd to tell him to watch it and I'm sure Patti will hear about it at work. It takes place in the 60's and as I watched it, I thought about how that was supposed to be my life. You see, in the mid sixties, when I was in high school, I really wanted to be what was then called an airline stewardess. At that time you had to go to finishing school before you could apply to the airlines. I applied to one and a lady came out to our house to interview me, take my measurements, weight, etc to determine if I was a likely candidate. I was accepted into the finishing school program but when it was revealed that I have caps on my front teeth, I was told I would not be accepted into the airline program because of the caps. You were only allowed in if you had all your own real teeth. What a bummer. So that led me to look for other career paths but I was always sorry I wasn't able to do what I really wanted to do. So it was very ironic  many years later when Patti ended up doing that very job. I do have to say I don't think I had anything to do with her decision (at least I hope I didn't). I know what it's like to not be able to make your own career choice.
Anyway it was entertaining to watch so I'm interested to see what their thoughts are on it.

Now back to reality. And now that I think of it, as I always say, everything happens for  a reason. Had I taken to the skies in the sixties, chances are I would not be sitting where I am now, so in the end I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out.

On that note, here are the recipes for tonight's class:

Warm Artichoke Dip

1-6.5 oz. jar marinade artichoke hearts, chopped

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mix together the artichoke hearts, mayonnaise,  sour cream, Parmesan and garlic.

Spoon the mixture into a medium baking dish.

Bake in a pre-heated  oven 15 minutes, or until lightly brown on top.

Olive Manga Mania

1 cup pimento stuffed green olives

½ cup pitted black olives

¼ cup olive oil

1 tbsp pickled hot pepper rings

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp black pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 anchovies (optional)

Combine all ingredients in food processor and blend until desired consistency (slightly chunky  to very smooth)

Serve with crackers, grilled slices of bread or as a pizza topping.

Another option is to add an additional ½ cup of olive oil. 2 tbsp parmesan cheese and use as a pasta sauce. This will make enough sauce for one pound of pasta serving six people.

Hummus & Pita Chips

Serving: Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

4 pitas
1 tablespoon olive oil
a sprinkle or two sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 19 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 more Tablespoons olive oil
a sprinkle or two sea salt and freshly ground pepper
a splash olive oil
a sprinkle paprika
a sprinkle chopped parsley

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Brush each pita using 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut into 6 or 8 pie-shaped wedges. Arrange the pieces on a baking tray and bake until toasted and crisp, about 15 minutes or so.

Toss the drained chickpeas into your food processor or blender. (Draining and rinsing the chickpeas really well will not remove any nutrients, but it will remove any lingering processed taste from the can.) Add the tahini, lemon zest and juice, garlic and the last 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil. Purée until smooth, adding a splash or two of water to reach a soft creamy texture. Taste and season with salt and pepper as you like.

To serve hummus, splash it with some olive oil, and sprinkle paprika and chopped parsley on top.

Variation

Hummus is one of the most common foods in the Middle East, and every cook has his or her own version. To create yours try adding more or less of the tahini, lemon zest and juice, garlic or olive oil. You may also add other ingredients like olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, parsley, chives, green onions or the traditional ground cumin. The pita chips may also be dusted with any herb or spice before baking.

Tomato Basil Bruschetta

Serving: 16 pieces

Ingredients

1 baguette sliced into 1/4 inch slices a splash or two  olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic, cut in half
2 or 3  ripe tomatoes
a handful fresh basil leaves, finely sliced or chopped
2 or 3 green onions, finely sliced

3 tbsp parmesan cheese
a sprinkle or two sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

Preheat your barbecue or broiler.
Generously brush each slice of bread with olive oil, and grill or toast it until golden brown on both sides.
Vigorously rub both sides of the toasted bread with the garlic, dramatically scenting each slice.

Cut each slice into quarters.
Chop the tomatoes and toss them with the basil leaves and green onions. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Place a spoonful on top of each bread slice. Drizzle with a bit of balsamic vinegar  and olive oil

Variation

You can add any flavour you like to the tomato mixture. Olives, capers, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes are all great ideas. Besides basil any fresh herb or pesto works well. 

 Keg Crab Spinach Parmesan Dip Recipe

This is a recipe for a dip that is almost identical to the Keg Steakhouse Crab Spinach and Parmesan dip.  This is the best warm crab spinach dip ever.

Ingredients:

• One 250 ml (8 oz) container of  regular cream cheese
• 1/2 Cup of regular (14% M.F.) sour cream
• 1 Cup of grated Cheddar Cheese
• 3 Tablespoons of Mayonaise
• 2 Cloves of chopped or minced garlic (we found 3 cloves to be even better)
• 1 Cup of chopped spinach (you can substitute frozen spinach, but make sure to remove all water)
• 1 can crab meat (Drain well)
• 1 Tsp parmesan cheese (a few shakes from a container)

Directions:

1. Heat the cream cheese in the microwave for 30 seconds or so to make it stir-able
2. Mix in all other ingredients except for the parmesan cheese, mixing the carb in last (leave out a little of the cheddar)
3. Sprinkle the parmesan and left over cheddar on top
4. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 or until bubbling at the edges, then broil for 3 minutes or so to let the top get a little crispy

A belated birthday greeting to Bernie

 

Conditions at 5:45 am: clear, starry skies and 17'
Expected later: 19' and a mix of sun and cloud

Well, Saturday was Bernie's birthday and he was rewarded with a moose. He and James finally got what they went to Newfoundland for, on their last full day there. Needless to say they were a couple of happy campers. They should be back sometime this afternoon so I'll hear all about it later in the week.

What a glorious day yesterday!
Our great weekend got started on Friday night when I met Brenda for pizza at Famous Peppers which has re-located from Cardigan to Charlottetown. There was an article in the paper about it and apparently it worked because the place was constantly busy. There are only 4 or 5 small tables inside so it's not really a place to go and sit inside and eat but we did anyway. Almost the entire time there was a line up of people there to pick up pizzas. The pizza we ordered was not tomato based so we can't comment on the majority of their pies but ours was quite good and the crust - was divine. We will definitely go back. I did read on their website that they plan to re-open again in Cardigan in 2012 so I'm sure the folks there will be pleased about that.

Saturday was a work day and on my way home I stopped in to visit with Jens and Linda and they dug up some herb plants for me to take home. By the time I got home, it was time to go to the Rec Centre for a wedding. But it was a smaller wedding - only about 100 people so we were done before 9:00.  When I got home I started in to watch Season 5 of Dexter, which I had missed last year. I found the complete season at the video store in town so rented it for the weekend. Needless to say I did spend quite a bit of time sitting in front of the TV on the weekend but in the end I got it all done.

Sunday didn't look too promising when I first got up but it quickly improved. Brenda and I called each other - literally- at the same time. I picked up my phone to call her, dialed her number and she said hello before it rang. She was calling me at the exact same time. So we decided to head to town to Farm Day in the City and then decide from there. Well, by the time we got into town it was very warm and really sunny - a perfect day. After touring the market and then stopping for some Dutch treats on Victoria Row we met up with Mireille. From there we headed east towards Cardigan, and then on from there. We drove miles and miles on deserted winding roads and it was absolutely perfect. We eventually ended up in Fortune where we enjoyed something to eat at the Sheltered Harbour Cafe. When we finally left there, we weren't quite ready to go home just yet, so we detoured off the highway at Bedford and toured across through the National Park before heading into town via Brackley Road. By the time we stopped in town for gas, it was 5:38 pm - we'd been on the road a long time but what a glorious day. By this time we were pretty tired so we headed home. I have to say I spent the remainder of the evening with Dexter but I'm happy to say I have my life back - I finished watching them all. Tonight I will collect all my stuff for this weeks cooking class. More on that tomorrow.

How very clever

Conditions at 5:45 am: 17' and a little overcast
Expected later: 20' and a mix of sun and cloud, with a chance of showers this evening

What glorious weather we've been enjoying. It seems it's Mother Nature's way of making us forget what a crumby Spring and early Summer we had. Now those memories are long gone as we enjoy the fabulous weather   we're currently experiencing.
It's a slow news day today. All I did last night was tidy up a bit and so laundry. However tonight Brenda is meeting me in town and we're going to try out a new pizza place in town. It used to be in Cardigan and was quite popular and has now re-located to Charlottetown. We'll let you know how it went.

My friend Helen sent me an email yesterday with some interesting inventions out of Japan. They have some very creative minds in that country.Have a look at some of these:

More new ideas from Japan

Conditions at 5:30 am: clear skies, lots of bright stars and 12'
Expected later: 21' and sunny with maybe the odd cloud thrown in

What a glorious day again yesterday. It was much too nice to have to be at work. But I was. At least I got to go out for a while at lunch and enjoy it. Looks like more of the same today.

I was saddened to read in the paper yesterday that my friend Donna's mom had passed away on Monday. It's not that long ago that Brenda and I stopped in at Donna's one Sunday when we were out on our bikes in the spring, and Glenda was just getting ready to go out somewhere. Just goes to show we should never take anything for granted. I went to the funeral home last night for the visitation and the place was jammed with people. It speaks volumes about the person and their family when so many come out to say good bye. The funeral is this morning but I won't be able to go, but I'm sure it will be just as busy.

I had a brief chat with our friend Stefan yesterday afternoon. Lloyd called me on my cell phone but I didn't get to it in time and when I called back, Stef answered. He's in Guelph to visit his sister. She didn't come down to the island this year as planned. She just bought a new house and is busy getting settled in there. Stef assured me that he and Lloyd were NOT up to no good - such as eating and drinking - but I suggested that I could recognize the sound of the Shakespeare Arms in the background. He admitted that was indeed where they were. Now that's a big surprise!  Hope they're not feeling too badly this morning. They're a dangerous combination when they get together.

Spotted at Shakeys? Guess you'll just have to go on my behalf.

Well, we're off to a good start

 

Conditions at 6:00 am: (yes, I slept in) 14' and clear
Expected later: 21' and sunny!

What a glorious day we had yesterday and today looks to be even better. This weather is wonderful for the farmers who are working to get the crops in. Let's face it, it's wonderful for everybody.

We had our first cooking class last night and it's going to be a busy year. We had agreed to increase the numbers from 6 to 8 but somehow it made it to 10. Well, actually we agreed at the last minute to let it increase because there were 2 people on a waiting list and we hated to disappoint anyone. So it will be very busy but we'll try our best to make it work. We have all our students from last year plus 4 new ones. I guess they enjoyed it last year. The only trouble is we can't do the same things we did last year, although a couple of things may get repeated for the new people and those who missed some things last year. It will be a challenge but I'm sure Brenda and I can handle it.

Last night we did salad dressings. We made French dressing (which didn't turn out as planned the first time but was okay the second time) two Ranch dressings and Caesar dressing. We also made a Greek Village Salad that everyone really enjoyed - even one student who said she didn't care for feta cheese. So, we're off to a good start. I do have to get myself a little better organized though, as I tend to be all over the place when I get there. I need to focus a bit more and concentrate on what's going on one thing at a time, but I guess that will come with time. It's just a matter of getting back into it again, I suppose.

In the recovery room at Guelph General

Poor little Tristen had his dental surgery yesterday. They had to remove 2 teeth and fill a bunch more. He has a lot of cavities and yet the other two kids are fine. I suspect he inherited his bad baby teeth from his grandma. When I was a little kid, apparently I had very soft teeth and had at ton of cavities and required all kinds of dental work when I was really little. Now he's the same. Sorry T, for passing that on to you. But Patti said he did very well and was really happy to have gone to Mommy's work so I guess he wasn't too traumatized.  They had to give him morphine, because it seems he's allergic to whatever they normally use in the dentists office, which is why they had to do it in the hospital. He looks so peaceful, Patti suggested perhaps we should give him morphine more often!

I think we're ready...

 

Conditions at 5:20 am: 11' and a little wet
Expected later: 17' and sunny

...for round two of the fall session of the Donagh Community School cooking class.  We have everything ready for our first class.
Last night Brenda came over for supper and we put together the folders for everyone and I have everything all set to go (I think). Tonight we are going to spend some time talking about food safety, working on a few knife skills and then we are going to make some salad dressings - French, Ranch and Caesar.  This year we have a bit of a theme going so that may make it easier to plan each week. Our "title" is 'Think outside the box' - in other words, we plan to make things from scratch that many people buy already made. The salad dressings is just the start. I plan to bring in some bottled dressings so we can compare the ingredients on the label with the ingredients in the recipe. My goal is to try to get away from the added preservatives and unnatural ingredients that we don't need to consume. There are so many things in a lot of prepackaged foods that even if we can get away from some of them, it would be a start. We'll see how it goes.

It was quite cool and damp in the house when I got home last night, and I had gotten chilled  so I started a fire in the wood stove. Brenda went to the fitness class at the park and came over after so it was very warm and cozy when she got here for supper - and a gourmet meal it truly was - a dozen ears of fresh corn on the cob and a glass of wine, finished off with a cup of tea and some cake and ice cream.

Bernie and James made it to St. Anthony and have had their first day of hunting. They saw some moose yesterday but if they shoot one on the first day, they are done - what will they do with the rest of the week?  So they are pacing themselves.

Two other things of note this morning:

1) We have an artiste in our midst! Richard Anderson has one of his pieces of furniture on display at an exhibition  in Summerside. He makes these amazing chairs and other items out of branches and assorted natural objects. Each one is truly unique and there was a photo of various pieces of work in the paper on Saturday. I recognized the chair as one of Richards before I even read the article to tell me it was his. So congratulations to Richard on the first step of having his art recognized.

2) Meghan (1) has a new job within her company. Congratulations Meghan! She will be doing training and apparently there will be some travel involved as well so she'll get to see some of the country along with it! Well done Meghan, you're the perfect candidate for that position and you'll do well.

Another great weekend comes to a close

 

Conditions at 6:00 am: 5' and clear skies
Expected later: 16' and  clouds

What a great weekend it turned out to be. Friday night Brenda came over and we made a birthday supper for her. Our menu was pretty simple - roasted Rock Cornish Game Hens, corn on the cob and steamed potatoes cut into the shape of mushrooms. For dessert Lloyd had baked a mandarin orange cake, that we make all the time but for this one he substituted peaches for the oranges. It was very good, served warm with a dollop of ice cream on top. A little wine capped the evening off quite nicely.

Saturday was a busy day as well. After work, I met up with Lloyd and Brenda at the Globe. Our friend Bob was sitting in on the drums so we went to provide morale support (like he needs it!). It was a great afternoon  with some great music, good food and cold beer. When we were done there we wandered over to the Shellfish Festival. It was packed with people. We were there for the oyster shucking competition and lots of music. There was all kinds of food to try including raw clams, served like an oyster. They were a little chewier but very good. We hung out there until a little after 10:00 then stopped in to Tim's for a coffee on the way home. Not before playing a really nasty trick on the boys. She sent an email suggesting that she'd had too much to drink and needed a place to crash for the night. It played out pretty funny.

Sunday dawned cool but bright and we were out and about by a little after 10:00 and headed out to Applicious. We took our time and a scenic route, making a couple of stops along the way, and arrived in Arlington a little before 1:00.  What a great day. The weather turned out beautiful and there was lunch waiting for us when we got there. We had mussels, corn on the cob and apple pie with a slice of a lovely aged cheddar on top. There was some great music and, of course, Chef Lynn Crawford was there. I had my photo with her from a few years ago and she gladly signed it for me. It was a really entertaining afternoon. When we left there, we contemplated going out for supper but we had to stop in Summerside at Canadian Tire to pick up a furnace filter so we went to the Grocery store and the liquor store and picked up a couple of steaks and a bottle of wine and went home to BBQ. On the way we stopped at a little antique place along the highway and picked up a couple of framed prints that we both really liked and were a price we couldn't turn down. They are both Group of Seven prints and we've both always liked that collection of work. Now I just have to figure out where to put them.

All in all it was a quiet evening and an early one as we had to get up at  4:00 this morning to get Lloyd to the airport. Fortunately he was lucky enough to get on the first flight so he'll be home in lots of time to get to work.

The next stretch will be the longest but it will go quickly. He won't be back now until Christmas.But he got all the wood stacked and I'm really grateful for that. That makes a huge difference to my being prepared for the winter. I think this winter will be much easier than last year was in terms of wood handling. You learn a little more each year. By the time I'm 80, I might just have it all worked out!

Happy Birthday Brenda!

 

Conditions at 5:30 am: 14' and it has rained a little bit but is dry right now
Expected later: 17' and some showers this morning but clearing later today

Let's all wish Brenda a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope she has a great day today, and I'll touch base with her later on to plan for supper tonight. I have something special in mind to go with our corn and wine we planned the other night - but special very easy to execute when I get home.

Yesterday was yet again another perfect day weather wise. I have to say I was totally shocked and in awe when I got home yesterday - every single piece of wood has been moved and is all where it needs to be for winter. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have that all done. Lloyd really worked hard yesterday.

He was planning to go to Cape Breton today but has decided to cancel that. I feel badly that he's not going but he says he has things that he wants to get done before he leaves and it was going to be too rushed. I feel bad he's not going to see our friends, but on the other hand, I'm pleased to have him here for a couple more days.

Well, not much else is new today so I will be off for now. I got this photo from Patti the other day. Tristen has started Speed skating as well this year so now all three are involved. She says he did very well his first time out - he only fell down once. Well done Tristen!

What a knight!

 

Conditions at 6:15 am: 19' and clear
Expected later: a humid 25' that will feel more like 31' - how crazy is this weather? But we love it!

Elton John in Summerside last night!

Last night was the first of two sold out concerts at Credit Union Place in Summerside and Sir Elton didn't disappoint. The concert featured just him, playing solo on the piano, starting at 8:00 and not ending until 10:47. It was just one hit after another but then the man has such a vast catalogue to draw from. I've not seen him perform live before and I was totally blown away by his skills on the piano. It was such a treat.
I remarked to Lloyd when it started how fortunate we are to be able to see our favorites from our teen years still performing and releasing new materials after all these years. In one small way, we never have to grow up. As we drove into town yesterday every where there were signs posted on businesses saying "Welcome Elton John and Live Nation". I'm sure that's not something they would see in most cities they travel to.
Towards the end of the show fans started surging towards the stage and there was a large group packed right up to the front of the stage. When he finished one of the songs, he went over and started at one end and worked his way across the whole front of the stage signing autographs on everything imaginable. I was amazed because you would never see anything like that in a bigger centre.
All in all, it was a great show but it was quite late when we got home so I've gotten up an hour later this morning.But I wanted to get this posted before I get ready for work.

It's Elton John Day!

Conditions at 5:15 am: 17' and clear
Expected later: 24' but the humidity will make it feel like 30'?

What the heck is up with our weather? We're finally getting the weather we should have had in July. Not that we're complaining or anything. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous and when I got home I made a quick supper then stacked some wood. It was just too nice to stay inside.

Well, tonight is the Elton John concert in Summerside. I still can't believe he's coming to our little island - and for two nights. I see that there are still lots of tickets available on Kijiji and some people who bought tickets solely for the purpose of making a big profit, will be sorely disappointed.

I've never seen him perform live before. The closest  I've gotten was on the jumbo screen at Buckingham Palace in 2002 at the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Even if we'd been inside the palace grounds it still would have been on a screen as his performance was broadcast from inside the music room in the palace. I would have loved to have seen him back in the early 70's when he wore some outrageous costumes. I think that would have been quite an  experience.

It seems like a long time ago the tickets went on sale but it was only in July so I guess it's not really that long. I heard about the concert the day I came back from seeing McCartney in New York City. But it still  just kind of crept up on us - especially Brenda,  as she and Bernie have all kinds of things they want to get done before he goes away on his hunting trip on Friday.

Lloyd is also going away on Friday. He's heading off on his bike to Cape Breton to visit our friend Seeward. He was planning to do the 'Ride for the Cure' but then he wouldn't get back till quite late Saturday or sometime on Sunday and that might not work as he'll miss too much going on here. We'll just have to wait and see how the trip plays out. Like I told him, he can't do everything - he'll just have to choose. So I'd better prioritize my list of jobs so he has time to get those done that really need doing before he leaves Friday morning - anything else outside will just have to wait till spring.

It's a slow news day - and a quick one

 

Conditions at 5:50 am - 11' and a little cloudy
Expected later: 23' and sun with a few clouds and maybe an isolated shower this morning

It's going to be fast and furious this morning as I slept in. My alarm went off at the appropriate time but I just didn't want to get up this morning. Might be partly due to the fact that we stayed up until 11:00 watching TV.
Not much going on last night. Brenda called and left a message that there were newly dug potatoes in one of their fields. When the harvesting is done, there are lots of little potatoes that get left in the field. So we took a drive over when I got home and picked up a bag full. Freshly dug potatoes for supper was going to be delicious. Lloyd had put a piece of beef in the oven to braise so it was going to be good. And they were absolutely scrumptious when we had our supper later in the evening.

After we came home with the potatoes, we worked for a little bit stacking some wood. It's slowly getting there and we should be done by the end of the week. There's actually really not that much left now. He got quite a chunk of it done on Saturday. Yesterday he spent part of the day helping Bernie with the barn. He has a bit of a bump on the head as a wrench got dropped from overhead. Bernie felt badly, but as Lloyd pointed out, he knew it wasn't on purpose because if he meant to hit him on the head he would have dropped the five pound hammer he was using instead! I think the plan is to continue with it this morning. He also spent some time with Richard and got his computer questions taken care of as well. Good move Lloyd - get yourself accepted into the community BEFORE you get here!

We have a part of our back porch that has the vinyl siding melted quite badly. There was a bit of an incident when he was here last time and the BBQ got heated up a little too close to the house.  OOOOPS. Anyway he took the pieces off that need to be replaced and will put the new ones back on today. The really exciting thing for me is the fact that under the siding  - are shingles! I would dearly love to pull all the siding off and see just what shape they are in. The ones in the spot we looked at appear to be in quite good condition but I know that may not be the case on the entire house. But we'll put he pieces of siding back on for now and decide next spring what to do. Personally I would love to take all the siding off the back of the house and see what's there but I was told in no uncertain terms, that the vinyl will be staying on for now. I know he's right but I'm just so curious!

This just in - got a photo from Patti, of James getting ready to head out to his first hockey game of the season. He's ever so thrilled that they have to wear a shirt and tie to the games now that he's in the next level. I must say he looks quite handsome - not to mention pretty pleased! You can tell by the goofy grin on his face!

I'm now a published author (okay - self published but what the heck!)

Conditions at 5:15 am: 13' and some clouds
Expected later: sunny and 22'

There's a feature on the blogger website that allows you to import your blog posts into a program, that will put your seriously boring ramblings into a book. That's right - I have put all of 2010 into a book and my goodness, what a fine looking book it is! It's hard cover with lovely colour photos and it's ever so impressive. It's also a permanent record of that year. It arrived in the mail last week but had to be picked up at the post office, so Lloyd very kindly did that for me on Friday. I was ever so impressed when I opened it.
I couldn't wait to share it with Brenda and Bernie when they came over for supper on Friday night and they were also dutifully impressed (but of course, they are very polite people!)
After a bit of confusion, as to who was invited where for supper, the Van Gaals came over to our house. Lloyd made a simple supper of fish and potatoes for us and Brenda arrived with a delicious apple crumble for dessert and a lovely evening was enjoyed by all.
Saturday I worked then came home and we just had a light lunch and  watched some TV until time to get changed to go to the Cultural Potato Feast featuring Mark McEwan. And what an evening it was. It was at Fort Amherst, just across the harbour from Charlottetown and held in the interpretive centre. It was a small venue - only seating for 40 people and featured presentations from various individuals highlighting the history of the area, including a native woman, a man dressed as an Acadian, depicting the founder of the settlement and three young people from Fort Louisburg in Cape Breton who represented the French soldiers, in full costume from 1795. One of them sat at our table and it was really interesting to talk to him. But of the course the highlight of the evening was the food. The menu went something like this:

Menu:

Amuse Bouche - Rapure bites (Acadian), Medallion Smoked Salmon on Potato Luskikn with sour cream and herbs (Mi'kmaq) and Bubble and Squeak poppers (British).

Appetizer - Mark McEwan's Signature Dish Lobster Poutine.

Salad - Crispy Romaine and Tomato Salad w/ a Tomato and Summer Savory vinegrette.

Entree - Confit Pork 'n Potatoes, Peas in Gravy and Market Veggies (French/Acadian).

Dessert - Poutine a Trou Baies de IPE (Acadian)/ Fresh Island Fruit Pastry.

Needless to say, everything was delicious but for me the best part was the Lobster Poutine. It had to be one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was served as an appetizer in a paper cone. The fries were perfectly done - crispy on the outside yet creamy on the inside. It was drizzled with a light Bearnaise Sauce containing bite sized chunks of butter poached lobster that absolutely melted in your mouth. It was a dish that was absolutely perfectly delicious. They did come around and offer second helpings but I chose not to have one for fear of spoiling the rest of my dinner. During dinner there were three young fellows from Rustico known as "Ten strings and a goat skin" - one guitar, one fiddle and a drummer - who played beautifully and I think they were maybe all of 16 or 17 years old.  When it was over, I nabbed Mark and got him to sign my picture from a few years ago and also his cookbook which Lloyd had bought when we first got there. (It wasn't a foodie group - I think we were the only ones who bought a book and there was only one other person going up to him after the dinner to speak with him.) When I went to ask for the autographs, we went out into the lobby and sat down and chatted and it was really, really nice. All in all, a very nice evening.

Sunday morning dawned quite chilly - only 8' but the die hard bikers went out at 8:00 to meet in town for coffee and travel to Summerside so Bernie could pick up a part he needed for someone. Brenda and I, on the other hand, took a more civilized approach and had breakfast after church, and then got dressed and went out. We had talked to the guys and told them about a Fall Flavours event being held at the church in Indian River - Soupfest. So the plan was to meet up there around 2:00. Brenda and I took a scenic route to get there, arriving around 1:35. We got our tickets and checked everything out. There was a large tent beside the church and inside were stations set up with various restaurants serving cups of soup. There were at least 10 stations and your ticket gave you 5 soups and a piece of bread. The hard part was trying to decide which soups to choose. Unfortunately that was made a little bit easier because some ran out of soup early. The guys (5 of them) arrive shortly after 2:00 but only Lloyd and Bernie stayed - the other three headed out. We all spent a wonderful afternoon sampling those soups that weren't sold out, and sitting inside the church and listening to entertainment. I was so pleased that Lloyd got to experience some music in that amazing building as the acoustics are absolutely incredible. When it was over we headed down the road and reconvened at Phinley's in Stratford for ice cream. Bernie had decided he would head out east to drop off the part he had picked up and the decision was made that all four of us would go. Bernie took the lead, followed by Brenda, then me, and Lloyd keeping it all together at the back of the pack. It was a great ride and a great day. Thanks guys! 

All is well - my sweetie is home.

Conditions at 5:15 am: 15' and starry skies
Expected later: sun and cloud and 21'

It's a really strange morning. When I let the dog outside the sky was filled with bright stars but everything is sopping wet like it has just rained - how can that be? Don't you need clouds for rain???
As I write this, the dog has gone back upstairs to bed, ever so glad to have someone to snuggle up to when he comes back in and really isn't ready to stay up for the day. What a lazy bones. And I really mean that. One day last week he wasn't at the door when I left for work. Our usual routine is I give him a dog biscuit as I'm leaving. This particular day he was upstairs so I left the cookie on the floor in front of the back door so he'd find it when he came downstairs. Much to my surprise it was still there when I got home from work. The little brat apparently stays upstairs sleeping all day long. What a tough life the poor thing leads. I needn't feel bad for him stuck inside and wanting to get out. Apparently he's adjusted quite well to my schedule.

Lloyd changed his flight yesterday and came in through Montreal, getting him here at 5:15 which was a nice surprise. I just left work at my usual time, drove to the airport and the flight had just landed. How perfect was that. After picking up his suitcase, we went downtown and took a walk down Victoria Row to decide where to eat. We ended up picking the Globe. Several of the other restaurants in the area had Fall Flavours 3 course menus but the Globe didn't. But the waitress went and asked the chef to put one together for us and it was really nice but in retrospect, way too much food. We've both been really watching our eating for a while and  to sit down and eat three courses (and large servings) was really the wrong thing to do, even though it was all delicious. The first course was a lobster bruschetta with goat cheese that was divine. Our main course was Pan seared Halibut with pineapple cream sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. The fish was a little overcooked for our preference but it was tasty and there was way too much potatoes (not that I didn't eat them all) and the veggies were perfect. We had our choice of desserts from the menu so Lloyd had the turtle cheesecake and I had the creme brulee. We both ate way too much and agreed today will be a better day.
This morning he's planning to drive me to work and pick up groceries on the way back home, stop in to see Richard and then go over and assist Bernie with something he's working on.

Brenda's cold is sounding a little better and she says she's feeling better although she's not quite over it yet. But she says she's much better than she was on Wednesday night.

Saturday is our Fall Flavours event with Mark McEwen. I have to remember to take the picture I had taken with him and Sash several years ago in Toronto and get him to sign it for me. ( I really do need to get a life!).
Hopefully the weather will be nice on Sunday. Saturday is meant to be a bit chillier but Sunday should be nicer. But, if it's not, I'm sure we'll find something to do to keep us busy - there are so many things going on here that the hard part is deciding which events to take in.

Not again!

Conditions at 6:00 am: 14' and light sprinkles of rain
Expected later: clearing and 19'

I'm beginning to really dislike this time of year. I let the dog out this morning and within minutes I could smell skunk all through the house, even though he was outside. I don't think he got sprayed directly but obviously one sprayed very close to the house because the whole place smells. Needless to say, Cooper won't be in the house today. I'll see how things are when I get home tonight. I think for now on, at least in the morning when it's still dark, I'd be best to keep him tied up outside when he first goes out, once I've determined there are no visitors near the house, of course.

I stopped by the grocery store last night and they start training on Monday evening. So I told them I won't be able to start until the 20th, so I'll have to wait for the next training session before I can start. There's little point in Lloyd being here if I'm working day and night the whole time. So it may delay my start a bit but that's okay.

Not much new today other than Lloyd arrives tonight. His flight gets in at 6:00 tonight so we may just have something to eat in town before we come home. I'll also pick up some peroxide in case we need it to bathe the mutt!

I talked to Bernie last night and Brenda has caught the cold that Ethan had on the weekend. She thought she might be coming down with it when we were at the Rec Centre on Monday evening. Not a great way to start her first week of school. Hopefully it will be better by Sunday so it doesn't interfere with any fun stuff we might be able to do if the weather cooperates. Get well soon, my friend!