Christmas 2!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!

Quick post this evening as heading out to get doggie walked before bedtime.  Full work week ahead and back to school this week for kiddo.

Super busy the last few days, work, and all the other things that go along with running a household, doggie walks and throw in some Nordic skiing.

Today I prepped dinner so that it would assemble quickly after a trip this afternoon to Hawrelak Park for Nordic Skiing.

Earlier in the week I had not had time to do anything for Ukrainian Christmas.  Today I made a quasi Ukrainian Christmas Dinner.  Not the 12 dishes it should be, but.......

Freezer pyrohy, poached salmon with a sour cream dill sauce, green salad, sour cabbage cabbage rolls that I made when I got back from skiing, homemade dill pickles and an apple crisp!  

SOOOOOOOO full, but super yum!

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all a BEST Day EVER Monday.  Stay safe out there😷

Kathy

Happy New Year!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!!

I hope that y'all had a truly wonderful New Year's Eve Celebration!

No big changes or resolutions in my life.  I plan to continue to boycott big box stores with the exception of HBC because it is an iconic Canadian Brand and does not sell junk; Costco because of how they treat their staff and customers.  

Over the past year I have made a conscious effort to only shop the local small businesses in my community.  It has not been an inconvenience and in fact I learned about services that they provide; like delivery of the Made in Canada Salmon Dog Food for my dog.  No more of me having to lug around bags of dog food to feed the Montyster, it's delivered!!

I also focused this year on making do with what I have rather than acquire more stuff.  The money that would be used could then be directed to charity organizations that need it.  This year in addition to the JDRF, and Juvenile Arthritis we will also add the Australian Koala Foundation.  

To celebrate New Year's Eve I did do a pick up order of specialty cheese from Paddys Cheese.  I made a cheese, cracker, veggie, fruit, and nut platter for evening snacking while playing board games.  Sooo YUM:

Somewhere after 2100 different neighbours started setting off fireworks and we were able to see lots of them from our back yard deck:

A really pretty evening out!

Today I spent a bit of time in my craft room and made another 2 blocks for the 2020 Darlene D'Eon Designs 52 Week Block Challenge.  I am "Sew" far behind that I will not even share that with you🤣:

TAH DAH and shall see how many of these I can possibly accomplish before my return to work on Monday.  

For dinner this evening in keeping with my theme of "Make Do With What you Have" I made kiddo zucchini, cream cheese, green onion stuffed chicken breast, garlic roasted mini potatoes and a salad mix that was in my fresh fruit and veggie delivery this week:

A bit of knitting after dinner and board game for a lovely January 01, 2021!

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Saturday tomorrow and stay safe out there😷

Kathy 

Boot Scootin' Christmas...

 Good Evening Internet Friends!!! 

Busy day at work today.  Made a quick dinner out of gnocchi, steamed broccoli, red onion, mushrooms and a cream sauce topped with Better Than Bacon Topper.  Turned out yummy and left overs for kiddo's lunch tomorrow. 

After dinner I decided that I should get going on the Christmas table runner I am making for my brother.  Bought this kit several years ago and decided to assemble this year.  The news at dinner also reminded me of the dates to mail things for Christmas delivery so maybe I should get going...

Super excited about this as I used what might be my new FAVOURITE product:  fusible batting.  Sooooo, much easier than quilt batting!!!  Picked this up with help from Pat and staff at Sew Divine.   Stitched around the borders and a few of the boots in the center this evening.  If I do a couple each night I just might be able to get the binding on it this weekend and post before the Christmas deadline for postal services.

Hope this inspires your own creativity.  Wishing y'all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday out there tomorrow and Stay Safe😷.

Kathy

We Will Remember...

 Good Evening Internet Friends! 

Today was another day to appreciate all that we have in this time of Covid.  Yet another significant day impacted as we "soldier on" in our quest to hopefully contain it.

There were no Remembrance Day Celebrations here in the community.  I did take doggie out on a walk to observe some of the tributes to the Canadian Armed Forces.  While we were out three Griffon Helicopters flew over:

For lunch I made a baked cream cheese, parmesan, artichoke dip all from pantry and refrigerator ingredients.  Served this along with veggies, fresh dates, and multigrain chips.  BEST Lunch EVER!!!  

Growing up my mom had a Tupperware roaster.  It eventually started to break down and there was no replacement for it.  Until recently!  Last week I received my new Ultra Pro Casserole!!!  It's large enough that I probably could have put 2 roaster chickens in it!  The chicken came out nicely browned and not dry at all!  I had topped the chicken with pesto and sundried tomatoes:

Served with 4 cheese and green onion scalloped potatoes, multi coloured carrots, and a stuffing from croutons all found in the pantry or refrigerator it was a DELICIOUS dinner!

After dinner I decided to stare at my October 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit.  After a good long stare I decided that I did not like the instructions so I decided to make 4 of the Christmas Cards my way:

TAH DAH!!!  Not as fancy as the kit pattern, but less I think is better in this case.

Hope this inspired your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Thursday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there 😷

Kathy

What Time Is It???

 Good Evening Internet Friends!!! 

Seriously though.....what time is it???  I still really hate time change and do not see a reason for it.

Took doggie for an extra long walk with the extra time I had today.  A beautiful day out there.  I did manage to somehow get hit by a bicyclist.  Have kept moving since then to try and decrease stiffness tomorrow as some large bruises are starting to form.

Several geese honking about the ice on the lake.  

Still pretty green outside for November 01.

Limped my way home and made some Lentil Soup and added fresh lemon juice to it.  SOOOOOOO Yum topped with Feta and fresh green onions.  

Took a nap after lunch as the anti inflammatory medication was starting to work.

Earlier this morning I put chicken in the slow cooker for Cashew Broccoli Chicken for dinner for kiddo.  Turned out pretty tasty he reported.

Going to limp the dog out now for a bit of an evening stroll.  Will see how that goes.  Lunches are packed for tomorrow as well as breakfast prep.

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there😷

Kathy

Labour Day...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope that y'all had a restful Labour Day and are ready for whatever tomorrow brings.  I really tried hard not to do any kind of labour today at all!

I took doggie out for a really looooooooong walk this morning.  Quite chill out there and no doubt that Winter is on its way😰❄

I took several pictures of the Autumn Blaze Maple in my front yard.  It is SOOOOOO beautiful right now.  I was supposed to get a different type of red maple, but the supplier was all out so I got this type (this is the one I really wanted).  🍁

Late this afternoon I baked a Rhubarb Cake with the Rhubarb I got at the St Albert Farmers' Market on Saturday.  I froze 8 bags with 2 cups in each bag and kept the last 2 cups for use in cake today:

For dinner I made kiddo Spinach/Mushroom/Green Onion/Zucchini/Red Pepper/Boursin stuffed chicken.  Served with baby potatoes and fresh green beans it was a HIT with him.

This evening I spent a bit of time with my knitting and even watched a little tele (not something I do regularly).  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there.  😷

 Kathy

Saturday!!!

 Good Evening Internet Friends!

Rained on and off all day today so I decided I would stay home and get things done rather than go out and run any errands.  The forecast looks like rain for most of next week so I will be driving to work as I am not that dedicated to riding my bicycle🚴.

Did the vacuuming, floor washing, baseboards wiped, all surfaces dusted, wood surfaces oiled and 9 loads of laundry done so all clothes, kitchen and bed linens have been washed as of now.

Baked a loaf of banana bread:

After cleaning was done and between loads of laundry I did a few rows on my newest knitting project: 

 I bought this set of books for my birthday last week from River City Yarns.  I bought all three books and as a bonus 2 skeins of their Epic Yarn was included in the pack.  I chose Maritime and Snow for my colours.  

Kiddo wanted chicken for dinner so I marinated some chicken drumsticks that were on sale earlier this week at Costco and made some Parmesan roasted veggies to serve with:

 

 Took kiddo and doggie out for a long walk after dinner.

Will do a bit of knitting now and maybe get to bed on time....

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Sunday tomorrow.

Kathy

Summer Vacation

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Day Four of Summer Vacation.  Still have not made any plans as non essential out of province travel is still not recommended.  Enjoying my time at home though.

Today I did some knitting and also spent some time in my kitchen.  My friend Lynn at No Regrets Ranch posted that she was making Pesto.  I have a planter of basil on my deck so I decided that I would make some too!!!  Nuts make my throat itchy so rather than nuts I use a 50:50 ratio of chick peas and sunflower seeds as a subsititute:

I don't own a large food processor but my trusty blender never fails me☺

I used the pesto on top of the Spaghetti Squash Parmesan that I made for dinner along with a Greek Salad (no olives - that is a taste I have yet to acquire).

For dessert I used freezer blueberries and strawberries to make a crisp.  So YUM!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity.  Wishing y'all the BEST Day EVER Friday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there.

Kathy

Making Do!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope y'all had a fabulous Victoria Day Weekend.

Today was a stay at home kind of day.  I did walk the dog early this morning of course and took my bike out for a bit this afternoon but that is all.

My copy of the Butter Baked Goods cookbook was still out so I made a batch of Sugar Cookies.  I LOVE these sugar cookies; the recipe uses butter and oil and makes a perfectly crisp on the outside soft in the middle cookie.  Perfect for Tea Time:

Between Batches I knit on my XO socks that are from my January 2020 Biscotte Yarns Mystery Box.  Not sure what keeps holding me up on these socks.  Could be the circular needle that does not allow me to knit the left handed way that I want to!  Or....could be that the colour work requires attention:

I have now passed the gusset and so was able to try them on.  OMG are they comfortable!!!  Might spur me on to get this one finished so I can start on the other one☺

For dinner I used freezer food.  Since the 10th of March we have been eating what we have in the pantry and the freezer.  I have had milk and fresh fruits and veggies brought in.  Two trips to Costco since that time and both have been in the last two weeks.  I would like to say that we have made a dent in the freezer....but alas it is still full somehow.  Today I used some Bison sausages, perogies, and green peas from the freezer.   Sauteed onions and mushrooms from the fridge along with sour cream (will need to start a shopping list for this one):

I am not a fan or meat but on occasion for some red meat I will eat a wee bit of bison.  This is kiddos plate; I had a half sausage and might eat the other tomorrow with the leftovers we have.

Heading out to walk doggie now as tomorrow is work and I still have one more load of laundry to put through so that everything is clean!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there!

Kathy

Open???

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was the soft reopening of the province.

After work I took kiddo for a hair cut.  He like me has not had a hair cut since January as we were both due for haircuts in March just as the hairdressers closed shop!

After his hair cut we went for burgers at Delux Burgers.  As a small local business I decided that we would support them.  Was FUN to go out again and of course the mushroom burger was delicious:

After we got home and doggie walked I made another two Flock of Geese Blocks for the 52 Week 2017 Block Challenge Hosted by Darlene D'Eon Designs:

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Friday tomorrow.  Stay Safe. 

Kathy

Ready....Set.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Back to work tomorrow after a couple of weeks off due to my asthma.  It's spring so I always have trouble breathing but because of The Beast out there I was not able to go back until my lungs were back to "my normal".  Not healthy person normal - "my normal".

Today I got all of the vehicles out for their annual service check ups, oil changes and winter to all season tire swaps done.  Spent a lot of time in shuttles and waiting for shuttles,

Did a Costco run for some groceries this evening.  

Seven loads of laundry were also tackled in there and as of right now everything is washed and folded and put away!  Kinda proud of what I accomplished today.

In and around all of this I did manage to get another three 52 Week Flock of Geese Challenge Blocks from the 2017 hosted by Darlene D'Eon Designs:

More scraps used up.  😼

For dinner I baked a spaghetti squash.  Grilled halloumi cheese.  Topped the baked squash with grilled halloumi, tomato sauce, and Parmesan.  Yummy as usual. 

Now off to take doggie for a walk and then think about bedtime.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Wednesday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there.  

Kathy

Happy Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day Internet Friends!

I spent most of my day in the kitchen.  Before y'all sigh,,,, I LOVE spending time in my kitchen.

For breakfast I made buttermilk waffles with fresh strawberries, and raspberries.  Served with whipped cream and Maple Syrup from Quebec:

For lunch I made my son's favourite lunch of Macaroni and Cheese.  I topped with deep fried onions for a different flavour:

For Dinner I made a roasted cauliflower/lentil dal:

For dessert I made a coconut cheese cake square:

SOOO Yummy!

Plan to knit a bit before I take doggie for a walk.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe.

Kathy

Making Do...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I decided today that I needed to do something productive.  At present we are still eating from the house with the exception of milk, and fresh fruit and veggies every week.

For dinner this evening as I did not go out nor feel like going out I made a Salmon Wellington with freezer and refrigerator ingredients:

Turned out delicious!!!  Plus there are left overs for tomorrow.

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Thursday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there.

Kathy

Stay Home on Tuesday??

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful Tuesday and were able to find a little bit of fun, good, or even both today.

Fresh milk, fruit and veggies arrived today.  There were 2 eggplant and 2 zucchini in the box so I decided that kiddo and I would make Lentil Moussaka for dinner.  It was DELICIOUS:

After dinner I went up to my craft room.  Breathing still tight with my asthma so I make minimal trips to the second floor of the house.  Assembled the last 4 blocks of the Laundry Basket Mystery Quilt:

This will eventually be centre block for the quilt☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity.  Stay safe out there and please WASH your Hands!!🙏  Wishing you all a BEST Day EVER Wednesday.  

Kathy

It's Getting Warmer...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It's Getting Warmer out there and I feel like a kid playing the seek and find game saying this.  But it really is getting warmer.  I was beginning to think that since Mother Earth is taking a Time Out that maybe she cancelled spring!!

Quiet day at home today.  My breathing is still difficult....getting better but marginally.  Of course it does not help that my triggers are outside and are trying to spring forth!!  

For lunch today we had spaghetti with sauteed broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, yellow pepper, onion, and garlic.  Topped with feta and pesto that I made last summer and kept in the freezer until recently:

For dinner I must have had spaghetti on my brain as well because I made spaghetti squash Parmesan and garlic bread from the freezer:

For dessert we had Strawberry/Blueberry/Cherry Crisp with fruit from the freezer:

After dinner and before doggie walk I put together three sets of blocks for my Laundry Basket Mystery Quilt.  I had all the pieces cut so able to sew together quickly:

"Sew"  that's all from around here.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there🙏

Kathy

Day 6

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Day 6 of Self Isolation in our part of the world.  Off work for the weekend now so will actually be able to participate in Self Isolation.

Walked kiddo and doggie down to the village to see what was new and get in our exercise.  Made 4.96 miles round trip so that should do us.

Made a batch of Rocky Road Brownies for snack while we played a couple board games this afternoon.  

Currently I am making sure that we eat the fresh fruit and veggies from the refrigerator and using only ingredients that we have on hand.  I did pick up one jug of milk this week but that is all.  Really trying not to go out.  For diner I made a Cottage Cheese Souffle (cottage cheese from the freezer) with oven roasted fresh veggies.  Turned out delicious and will have left overs for tomorrow.  🍲

After dinner and before last walk around the lake with doggie I completed Steps 1 and 2 of the Laundry Basket Quilt Along:

I am using fabric from my stash vs the yardage that the pattern calls for "sew" will see how this turns out.  "Sew" far "sew" good.

Hope this inspires your own creativity 🧵 and wishing you all the Best Day EVER Sunday.  Stay safe, get out in the fresh air if you can and WASH your hands 🙏.

Kathy

Flattening the Curve...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It has been a while since I have had time to blog.  🤷

Today was a conscious decision to "Flatten the Curve".  In my head though I had the Good Ol' Boys song stuck in my head𝆕. 

We started the day with pancakes, fresh fruit and Quebec maple syrup.  Apparently we have no whipped cream in the fridge so added that to my Grocery Wish List.  Who knows how long that will take to get.....

After breakfast we took doggie out for a really long walk.  The neighborhood was super quiet.  No one seemed to be doing anything.  Was very odd to see. When we got back I made a batch of Rice Krispie Squares. I had bought the cereal a couple of weeks ago before the crazy shopping began.

Turned out delicious as a treat.  After that I decided to get serious about planning for the week with lunches etc and knowing that what we eat mostly has to come from what I have at home.  Banana bread of course is a staple for lunches and no worries there are still LOTS of frozen bananas in the freezer.  There will likely still be bananas there when the pandemic is over.  🤣

While the banana bread was baking I finished the toe stitching on my latest sock.  🧦

Might try to start the other one before bedtime this evening.....

For dinner I made a Cauliflower, Green Bean, Lentil Dahl as these ingredients were all available in the house.  I also made a batch of fresh naan bread to go with and topped with herbed sour cream.  So yummy and there will be left overs for tomorrow!

After dinner I finally got around to washing the basket of scrubs that I have been keeping in the garage.  I wear my scrubs to work and then change in to the hospital ones for my day at work.  At end of day I put my own scrubs on to travel home.  The reason for this is that scrubs are able to be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer.  

While I waited for the laundry I finished the last row of my 2018 Red and White 52 Week Block Challenge from Darlene D'Eon Designs:

This quilt called for a patch work and snowball block a week for 52 weeks.  I chose however to make this quilt larger to fit on my overstuffed bed.  I made 156 blocks instead of the 104 so I will justify my tardiness on this quilt by that factor🤣.

We have no learned that school will be cancelled indefinitely.  🏫  This is going to be interesting......however, tomorrow I will put on my scrubs, wash my hands and go stare this beast in the face!!!  Literally.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Staff safe and WASH your hands.  🙏

Kathy