Thursday, May 31, 2012

Youbidlocal

I'm reading Jai Pausch's new book 'Dream New Dreams' and the first few pages where she describes meeting Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture) are nothing short of magical. She will talk about her 2 years of caregiving and life after loss, her husband died of pancreatic cancer 4 years ago and I had read his inspiring book then. It's interesting that she has since re-married and I have to read her story of survival.

I recently read about Youbidlocal in the newspaper.  Apparently you can save money by bidding on items at these local auction houses.  I've never bid at an auction real or virtual, have you?

Here is more on that interesting article on saving money.


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ebates

L made these lovely cupcakes the other night, don't they look scrumptious?



I recently read about Ebates online cashback shopping in the newspaper. It seems to make sense if you do a lot of online shopping (which I don't really). Still, it's nice to know what's out there these days. It's free to join up. You get cash back whenever you purchase an item online from them. There seems to be a wide range of products to choose from.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Fire at the convenience store

There was a fire at our local convenience store a few weekends ago.  K happened to be driving by in a friend's car that night and was able to photograph it.  I have since learned that it was fortunate someone was working inside at the time and was able to call emergency otherwise the entire building/plaza would've been destroyed.  The store is being repaired and I hope it will be as good as new soon!  Apparently it started at the back of the store where the refrigerators were, a compressor blew.




Monday, May 28, 2012

Spring Flowers

We saw the new musical 'Bring It On' yesterday afternoon.  It plays in Toronto until June 3 before they move to Broadway in New York immediately after. It is well-written, with wonderful singing, energetic dancing and stunts. They received a standing ovation from the audience. It was an inspiring, 'feel good' production. My daughter L and I loved it. Son K and husband M thought it was 'ok'. (I guess it's not action/adventure!)



Sharing the beauty of all the spring flowers around here at this time of year:









Sunday, May 27, 2012

Sunday Sketches - Sunrise

For Sunday Sketches this week, I was inspired by one of Jim Steele's photographs as pictured below. I just noticed that Jim has a website. My painting is acrylic on acrylic paper (5.6" x 4.5").

Please visit the other talented participants in this fun art co-op hosted by Alexandra.







Saturday, May 26, 2012

Little Birthday Cakes

I found this recipe for cute Little Birthday Cakes from Pinterest.







I have some photos of the local pond for you today.








Friday, May 25, 2012

Paint Party Friday - Nail Art

For Paint Party Friday, I was inspired by a Kate Spade runway photo I saw in a fashion flyer. It featured polka dot nail art as demonstrated in this video.
My painting is acrylic on acrylic paper (3" x 4.5").

Please visit the other talented participants in this ever growing art co-op!



Thursday, May 24, 2012

Early Morning Walk

My husband M, son K and I went to see 'The Avengers' a couple of nights ago.  It's lots of 'action/adventure'....give me a  'chick flick' any day!  Crash, kill, boom, kapow!  But if you do go to see it, remember to stay till the very end.  In the middle of the long list of credits, there is a scene, and also at the end!  Most of the audience had left by that time, but daughter L had heard about it from a friend.

Here are some photos I took from an early morning walk, it was peaceful before the crowds and dog walkers came. The bugs had not come out yet either! 









Wednesday, May 23, 2012

how to backup your blog

Recently Laurie lost her blog and mentioned that she now backs it up.  It made me think I should be doing the same and found this website with simple instructions.  It encourages you to make frequent backups and I will do so from now on.  I hope you will too!

Here are some recent photos from a morning walk for you to enjoy!  I love it when it's quiet without the crowds.






Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Fresh Asparagus

My friend S gave me this bunch of fresh asparagus grown in her sister's garden. She told me to stir fry it simply with crushed cloves of garlic. I broke the woody stems off, used a bit of canola oil and cooked it for about 9 minutes. It was super delicious and better still, I didn't use any salt!






Monday, May 21, 2012

Benefits of Honey



I got this in an email and it seems to make sense:






Thought this was very interesting.
Cinnamon and Honey

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will
do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey.
However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what
I rather call "crystallizing".

When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey
container in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then
as good as it ever was.

Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the
enzymes in the honey.

Cinnamon and Honey

~ Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around.~

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases.
Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of
today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all
kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the
right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17
January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured
by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:
HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of
jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast.. It reduces the
cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process
daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the
above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.
In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients
successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose
their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the
arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot
water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon
powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a
recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University , it was found
that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one
tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast,
they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated,
practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a
month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because
of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a
glass of lukewarm water and drink it.
It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in
16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.
As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any
chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the
said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of
cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon
lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This
process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears
stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if
Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and
protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found
that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use
of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and
viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food
relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural '
Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from
flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests
the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon
powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea.. Drink 1/4
cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and
arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old,
starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.
PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste.
Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning
with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from
the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts
cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach,
and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in
one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the
most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow
the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high
calorie diet.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer
of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients
suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of
honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a
day.

FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more
helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body.
Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are
more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a
half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with
cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at
about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease,
increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH:
People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one
teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their
breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts
restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real
butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Sunday Sketches - Bright Moon

For Sunday Sketches I thought I'd show this  painting my daughter made me for Mother's Day, I loved it!  It's acrylic on canvas  7" x 5".  We call it 'Bright Moon'.

Please drop by the other talented participants in this lovely blog hop!




Saturday, May 19, 2012

The start of the summer season

I had a lovely walk yesterday, birds were singing in the air, the sun was shining... We have a long Victoria Day weekend starting and I noticed a few people have already done or started their summer planting. Traditionally, this weekend is considered the start of a frost free summer season. A lot of people will be opening their summer cottages up north.

Summer Planting


There is a lot of development in the area and these geese seem a bit lost, wondering what happened to their watering grounds. A few of them have unfortunately become road kill.

Where's my habitat


Friday, May 18, 2012

Paint Party Friday - Bright Moon

On May 5, 2012 the moon appeared 14% larger and quite a bit brighter according to news reports, so I went out that night to take photos and this painting (acrylic on acrylic paper 4.5" x 6.5") was inspired:

(Linking to Paint Party Friday, please visit some of the talented participants!)




Thursday, May 17, 2012

One Day at a Time



These are some pretty flowers I saw on sale for Mother's Day.  M and L noticed me admiring them (the gerberas) and got some for me on Mother's Day.

A young woman fell in our aerobics class yesterday but luckily was not seriously hurt.  Her ankle throbbed for a few minutes and she said she was thankful it wasn't her 'bad' ankle!  We all know the feeling!  Apparently this happened to an instructor who ended up actually fracturing her ankle and the ambulance had to be called in!

My son K and I have been having a lot of teenager arguments/discussions all around his freedom or 'seeming' lack of it.  A good friend's advice is to be super strict but I am of two minds having heard stories of teenagers being alienated from their parents.    17 years old is not exactly a child, so it requires a different mindset.  Gone are the days of total control.  He tends to listen more to his peers than to his parents at this age.  Luckily he has a few wise friends.  Wish me/us luck as we go day by day!

I got him some 'child abuse' books from the library for a parenting class project.  I can barely look at this topic, it's tough to bear.


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Incongruous

I passed by this shrub wearing a hat on my walk yesterday!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous. 




My visitors have come and gone, three loads of laundry have been done and the house is back to normal. I think they enjoyed themselves. A male cousin (in his early forties and single) who I hadn't seen in at least 15 or 16 years came into town. Our families were very close in childhood. He said he was bringing a friend and I assumed it was a male friend. So I had arranged to put them in the guest room where we have 2 twin beds. Lo and behold it was an attractive female friend and not a girlfriend either! I had to ask if this would be a problem but they said it would be ok. For sure, my cousin said he didn't mind, lol!

It was great to catch up after all these years, family will always be family.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Creative Tuesdays - Everyday Happiness

The theme for this week's Creative Tuesdays is 'Everyday Happiness'. Please visit the other talented participants in this fun art co-op!

This piece (acrylic on acrylic paper (6 3/4" x 3")) is inspired by one of Jim Steele's daily sunrise photos (pictured below my painting). I have his permission to paint any of his photos.
Jim  photographs the daily sunrises on Canada's East Coast where he lives.   Talk about everyday happiness!  I'm on his email subscriber list.









Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Blog Break

I'll be taking a blog break for about a week as I have some out of town visitors!

Here is a photo of a floral arrangement I just put together. I've had this old vase for a long time filled with sunglasses. I saw these lovely roses and hydrangeas at the dollar store ($5 worth) and cut the stems to fit the vase. Hope you like it!


Roses and Hydrangeas

The newspaper had this interesting article yesterday concerning a recent lottery winner and his painful experiences afterward. I think he's doing all the right things unlike most winners.

Lottery winner Craig Henshaw paid a big price for his millions

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Creative Tuesdays - Healthy

Welcome to MMm's Creative Tuesdays, now weekly!

This week's theme is 'Healthy'. I did a sorbet cone, a healthy frozen dessert!  It's 6" x 2 1/2", acrylic on acrylic paper and it's actually a birthday card I made for my niece, turning 17 soon!

Please visit the other participants in this fun art co-op!





Monday, May 7, 2012

Laws to Remember

I needed to google directions to a location this past weekend and just needed to say how incredible street view is.  I knew immediately as I went past the location that I had missed it and immediately turned back.  Even though I'd never been there before, it was as if I had been!  The wonders of technology!

And these 'Laws to Remember' are hilarious, enjoy!


 1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
3. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

 6. Variation Law -  If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the  Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
8. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
11.. Law of the Theater & Stadium - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over.  The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance.  The aisle people also are very surly folk.
12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
15. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.
18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better..  But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.
 
 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sunday Sketches - Dove

Welcome to Sunday Sketches! Please visit the other talented participants!

This 9 x 12 acrylic is called 'Dove Landing on the Rocks'. It's based on a fabulous photo by Jim Steele pictured below.  I was pleased to get his permission to paint it.  Jim also photographs the daily sunrises on Canada's East Coast where he lives and I'm on his email subscriber list.  Isn't that a neat observation he made?







Jim Steele


Saturday, May 5, 2012

Too Helpful


My daughter L had her 20th birthday recently and this is the gift I got for her. It's a Katy Perry fragrance and some tangerine nail polish because I think it's the colour of the season!





So my girlfriend S gave me these flower plants and they were doing so well,
I didn't even have to water them due to the recent rain. So I go out to
check them and at first I thought the rabbits had got to them, but no, my husband M mowed
them down thinking they were weeds. urgrhhh! Hopefully a few of them will survive. He's
done this before.  S said these flowers grow really tall like sunflowers but she doesn't know
the name as she had originally got them from a neighbour.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Paint Party Friday - Mother's Day Card

For Paint Party Friday, I made a card for Mother's Day. I'll actually give this one to my mother. It's on cardstock paper (9" X 5 1/4").

Please do visit the other participants in this ever growing art co-op.



Thursday, May 3, 2012

ColonSentry blood test


So I got a Mother's Day gift, some pretty tubes of hand cream in various flavours for my mom this year. I paid an extra 50 cents for the wrapping which will be donated to an environmental cause.


And when I was at the lab the other day doing some tests, I noticed this ColonSentry blood test that is now being offered for testing colon cancer. Based on the results, you can decide if you actually need to undergo a colonoscopy.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Pretty Pathway and the Sample

 I took this photo on a walk a couple of weeks ago.  The trees likely have a lot more leaves on them by now.


Pretty Pathway

My mom and I went for routine fasting blood tests at the lab last week, as a result of our annual physicals at the doctor. We also had to leave urine samples. My poor mom went to the washroom but forgot to actually collect a sample! So the technician gave me the container and we decided to go McDonald's for breakfast. I made sure to get an extra cup of water with our cups of coffee! And all is well that ends well, I was able to deliver the missing sample shortly after breakfast!

And a couple of days ago, we got our Shingles shots.  When I went to pick them up, the pharmacist told me I had to have them administered (by the doctor) within 15 minutes even if they are kept on ice!  Well, that didn't happen, it was more like half an hour, so hopefully they will still be effective.  In fact, I had to sign off that I was accepting the 15 minute terms of use.

In other news, my daughter L's well-used blackberry phone erased her entire contact list yesterday.  She was so mad and not to mention panicked!  Looks like it's time for an iphone!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Creative Tuesdays - Lovebug!

Welcome to the month of May!

Creative Tuesdays is weekly once again!  Please visit the other talented participants, or better still, join us!

For the Lovebug theme, I was inspired by this pattern I noticed in the local paper. It's a floral pattern into which circuits were embedded, a design for an electric blanket.   My version is painted in acrylic on cardstock paper (9" x 5 1/4 ").