Strange but True

6:35 am my phone rings...it is a call from my security company informing me that the alarm was triggered at the office.
He says, "There is movement in the kitchen..."
I asked, "Have any of the doors been compromised?"
He responds, "Nope. Do you want me to summon the police?"
I say, "If the doors or windows are not compromised then I should check before we call the police." (There is a charge for false alarms if police show up)

Went over to the office to discover that everything was as it should be. No sign of any intruders. It can't be mice because it has to be at least 25 pounds to set the alarm off. In three years we've never has a false alarm. Hmmmm.

I am thinking it was the ghosts of the previous owners, two spinster sisters. I think they were checking on the property. They lived well into their late 90's and stayed in the house until they died. Although I must add that they did not die in the house.

And there was a full moon...

Too hot in the Kitchen

Why is January so long? I don't know if it is just me or what, but it seems like January is in slow motion. I've been busy, yes. But it is still January!!!

I pass my time on long cold January days by drinking hot chocolate or tea, making soups, baking cookies, reading by the fireplace, hot bubble baths. And talking on the phone...

A couple of days ago I was making french toast and talking on the phone. Yes, my bad. I noticed the oil was getting too hot and starting to smoke, so with one hand I moved it to another burner and in the process oil splashed on the hot element. That's right, it started a fire. First I yelled into the phone, then quickly thinking, I was able to contain it by smothering it with the potholder. whew!

Later when my heart stopped pounding against my chest and I was calm it occurred to me we had a fire extinguisher. But it was not anywhere in sight. I later found it inside a kitchen cupboard on the highest shelf. It is now sitting next to the stove where it should have been all along.

A word of caution - all it takes is one small mistake for a fire to start...you should be prepared in the event this should happen by making sure you have a fire extinguisher and place it in full view next to your stove. A kitchen fire is not the kind of heat anyone needs on a cold day in January or any other day for that matter.

Good for the Soul, Good for the Belly

On days such as today, cold, cold, and cold I recommend a nice warm breakfast and a blueberry smoothie. Today's choice is to make the guys some french toast with extra eggs!

A week ago, Andrew decided he wanted to make pizza. This is the masterpiece, vegetarian wholewheat pizza!

Where's the Money???

One week into 2010 and all is well on the Ottawa River.

I’ve been thinking about personal finances this week and have asked myself the preverbal question where is the money going? Which compelled me to mindfully keep an eye on where all our disposable money is disappearing to. Okay, not really disposable only being disposed of willy-nilly. I know what the major expenses are spent on, like for example the mortgage, gas, credit cards, and such. But also it is those small purchases from Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, and takeout meals that elude me. In addition, grabbing a newspaper, magazine, and other things we pick up just because we can, adds up.

A colleague recommended this site to help get me organized. I fount it to be awfully helpful and user friendly.

However, I decided only to created an excel expense spreadsheet to target my spending for a start. For the moment, I am not going to worry about a budget and the other items suggested. The reason is one baby step is the only way to establish good habits, I think. Once I can maintain documenting all our expenses, become more aware of the spending, I will be able to turn off the spending autopilot. Moreover, I will finally have the black and white facts to answer the question of where’s the money?

A positive result from this exercise is that the once cluttered section of the kitchen counter is now cleared because I have started a proper file management system to tract bills as they arrive. Yay for me!

How are you starting your new year? What projects are you tackling?

It Went like This...

The eve of 2009 gives me pause to reflect on the previous year’s accomplishments and look forward to the possibilities coming up. I see this time of the year as a magical period where anything is possible as I renew and create new intentions.

I reviewed my blog and was able to recreate some memorable moments of the past year.

The only New Year’s resolution I made in 2009 was to take Fridays off work, and I was more or less was able to do that, making this year the best year for reading books.

I read tons of great books this year, but I really, really, really, enjoyed Stieg Larsson’s trilogy. As luck would have it, I received from my hubby the last book of the trilogy for my birthday in December. Because it is not yet released in Canada he had to order it from Amazon UK and I am so glad he did. Yay!!! I am therefore blissfully ending the year reading “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest”. I highly recommend you read all three books because in my humble opinion they are the BEST books ever.

The concert highlight of the year was seeing Leonard Cohen in concert at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Wow!!! Double wow!!!

In 2009 I had my first vegetable garden! It was not very big but I harvested green onions, carrots, zucchini, two types of lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and various herbs. In 2010 I am going to be adding even more vegetables. But will have less lettuce because I had too many lettuce plants last season. I didn’t realize that with lettuce one could just trim the tops of the plant and it would keep growing all summer. My whole family loved the garden and helped with the harvesting. Absolutely nothing compares to vegetables fresh from the garden.

I blogged a lot about tea, here, here, and here. I must enjoy it immensely!

Sadly, the 2009 summer was a dry one. In that we didn’t have use of our swimming pool because when the old liner was removed we noticed some serious damage to the concrete putting into question the integrity of the pool. Since we plan to rebuild our house we thought it best to not invest into the pool until we have a design of the new layout.

On the bright side, a new experience for me was staying at a B&B not too far from Ottawa, which opened my mind to the possibility of staying at B&Bs in our plan trip to Scotland in 2010. Staying at this B&B coincided with another new experience, sending our son off with his schoolmates for nine days of camping in Quebec. It was the longest we have been apart!!! Fortunately, I was being pampered at Hummingbird Hill B&B Spa, creating a wonderful distraction while hubby went to meetings during the day.

I was lucky to have been able to visit briefly with my mom, some family and friends while on business trips out west. In the fall, I had a surprise visit when my cousin from Fort Chipewyan showed up in Ottawa. I had not seen him in about 20 years, and what’s up with the fact that he didn’t gain an ounce? He and his girlfriend joined me for a lovely lunch at Sweetgrass Bistro in the Market. Later, they sent me a surprise package with homemade jams and dried fish. I’m never losing contact with them again.

What do you do when there are no cookies in the house... my son baked his first batch of cookies all my himself, skyped me at work and showed me.

On the whole, I experienced a magnificent 2009 where I renewed contact with old friends and family, made new friends, wrote more, and laughed more. My very favorite pastime is spent at home, drinking tea, and enjoying the company of my family,dog, and fish.

A 2010 intention:
Inspired by the foodie blogs I read (check the blogs to the right)…to cook more healthy and creative meals! Now all I need is a sharp knife and willing taste testers. Awww, where are my hubby and son? Ok, I’ll bake some sweets too, guys, come back!

Cheers! Wishing 2010 brings you health, happiness, and peace!!!

Finally...now What?

Image via Wikipedia

I guess, I wasn't as over it as I thought I was. Before the holidays I checked a name on facebook and noticed that a former friend had a facebook profile. I debated with myself before sending her a Christmas message. I never expected her to respond, but she did, and with an equally nice seasons greetings.

I admit, based on our history I was surprised she responded at all. Although, I am very pleased she did, it was as if the universe sent me a special gift. But does this change anything, after all, she didn't add me as a friend or anything. I hope we will be able to pick up where we left off before it all fell apart.

"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend" William Blake

P.S. Just got a friend invite : )

I Love the Holidays!!!