K made it back safely from the Algonquin Park camp. He said it was fun, 'kinda'. It turns out it was a 2 minute walk from the bus to the base camp, so he was fine pulling his load on wheels. They slept the first night at the base camp and had chicken fingers and rice for dinner. The next day they did some canoeing and rafting in their swimsuits. In the evening their leader gave them all hiking bags and told them to put what they needed in it for the mile and a half hike to their camp. K used the old shoes we had packed to walk across a rocky stream to the campsite. He even used his raincoat as it was raining. He said the night in the tent was very cold. He used 4 layers of clothes including a down vest I had sent and his 3 season sleeping bag and his blanket. The leader heated spaghetti from cans over a kettle on the campfire for dinner. They also had salad. They toasted marshmallows and smores. K was able to brush his teeth that night in the bushes using water from his water bottle. The kids that don't wear braces didn't bother brushing. They relieved themselves in the bushes as they didn't want to walk to the 'weird' outhouse a bit farther in the dark. There were regular toilets back at the base camp which sounds like it was heated. Sorry about the toilet details, but I seem to find that stuff important.
It seems a distracted mom crashed her car into a cement post at L's school this morning. An ambulance and firetruck were called to the scene and no one could get into the school after that. Luckily M dropped her off a bit earlier this morning. Hope the mom is ok.
News
Finding Home Made Easy On New Real Estate Site
Spadina Wave will allow pedestrians to get closer to water near Queens Quay
You Are What You Post: Number Of Possible Bosses Checking You Out Online Doubles
Is Someone In Your Family An Internet Addict?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Accomplishing
I'm accomplishing a lot today, did my 'limited' weekly housecleaning, laundry is underway. K is due home later this afternoon and likely will have a few more loads to do. L can't find her cell phone at the moment, hopefully she'll be able to locate it. I think she has too much going on. M has misplaced our box of lightbulbs during the move up from the basement, I can't think where he could have put them.
At one point today, there were 5 men working in the basement. I've spoken to at least 3 of them and they all seem quite nice and easy to get along with. When it's all done, we'll have a washroom with a shower down there, a fireplace, a kitchenette complete with an over the range microwave, refrigerator and oven. We'll have a bunch of new storage closets counting the one under the stairs. And yes, our bank balance is receding dramatically these days.
I decided to microwave fish fillets in (what else) arrabbiata tomato sauce and it came out great, not to mention healthy tasting.
2 fish fillets (I thawed out a 1.7 pound package for frozen fillets)
2 or 3 cups of arrabbiata sauce
a pat of butter
salt, pepper to taste
add the butter, salt and pepper to the fish fillets. Pour the tomato sauce on top and microwave for 17 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Try it with my 'Yellow Rice' recipe (adapted Indian rice recipe)
2 cups rice (white or basmati)
1 tsp turmeric
5 cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 stick of cinnamon
2 pats of butter
1 TBS olive oil
1/4 cup chicken stock or bouillon powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
If you have a rice cooker you can mix everything together and cover with an inch of water or else you can bring it to a boil and cover and simmer for 20 minutes after most of the water has been absorbed.
I think it's the pats of butter that help things in the taste department. We had a whole bunch of little butter packs leftover from a recent Swiss Chalet (rotisserie chicken) takeout dinner.
News
What's The Number One Song Of The Rock Era?
Credit Card Shaving: Scammers Go Low-Tech With Trick
What’s a battered investor to do next?
Cot death could be linked to bacterial infection
New way to protect against heart damage explored
At one point today, there were 5 men working in the basement. I've spoken to at least 3 of them and they all seem quite nice and easy to get along with. When it's all done, we'll have a washroom with a shower down there, a fireplace, a kitchenette complete with an over the range microwave, refrigerator and oven. We'll have a bunch of new storage closets counting the one under the stairs. And yes, our bank balance is receding dramatically these days.
I decided to microwave fish fillets in (what else) arrabbiata tomato sauce and it came out great, not to mention healthy tasting.
2 fish fillets (I thawed out a 1.7 pound package for frozen fillets)
2 or 3 cups of arrabbiata sauce
a pat of butter
salt, pepper to taste
add the butter, salt and pepper to the fish fillets. Pour the tomato sauce on top and microwave for 17 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Try it with my 'Yellow Rice' recipe (adapted Indian rice recipe)
2 cups rice (white or basmati)
1 tsp turmeric
5 cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 stick of cinnamon
2 pats of butter
1 TBS olive oil
1/4 cup chicken stock or bouillon powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
If you have a rice cooker you can mix everything together and cover with an inch of water or else you can bring it to a boil and cover and simmer for 20 minutes after most of the water has been absorbed.
I think it's the pats of butter that help things in the taste department. We had a whole bunch of little butter packs leftover from a recent Swiss Chalet (rotisserie chicken) takeout dinner.
News
What's The Number One Song Of The Rock Era?
Credit Card Shaving: Scammers Go Low-Tech With Trick
What’s a battered investor to do next?
Cot death could be linked to bacterial infection
New way to protect against heart damage explored
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Honey Roasted Peanuts
I enjoyed my step class today, can't afford to stop. I saw that Rachel Ray was celebrating her 40th birthday on her morning show, thought she was younger. Valerie Bertinelli was a guest and she looks fantastic at 48, she's lost 20 or 40 pounds on that Jenny Craig program that she advertises.
I bought some honey roasted peanuts for us to snack on, they're delicious. Maybe it's because we usually just go for plain, unsalted roasted nuts.
L got the info for her Washington DC school trip next week, they're going by bus. I have to peruse the 5-page itinerary. Haven't heard from K. I'm making that arrabbiata tomato sauce I spoke about a few days ago, it smells good, all 12 cups of it. L wants to eat out tonight as K, the picky eater isn't home.
News
'Nagging Wife' May Be Best Prostate Cancer Preventative
Intellectual Activity Leads To Increased Calorie Consumption: Study
Cold water rings dinner bell for West Coast salmon
I bought some honey roasted peanuts for us to snack on, they're delicious. Maybe it's because we usually just go for plain, unsalted roasted nuts.
L got the info for her Washington DC school trip next week, they're going by bus. I have to peruse the 5-page itinerary. Haven't heard from K. I'm making that arrabbiata tomato sauce I spoke about a few days ago, it smells good, all 12 cups of it. L wants to eat out tonight as K, the picky eater isn't home.
News
'Nagging Wife' May Be Best Prostate Cancer Preventative
Intellectual Activity Leads To Increased Calorie Consumption: Study
Cold water rings dinner bell for West Coast salmon
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
We messed up
Here's the new fireplace so far.
So K went off to camp, the only kid with a large duffle bag. All the others had small duffle bags along with their knapsacks as apparently they have to walk one and a half miles to their campsite. For some reason my son didn't clue into this and I missed the briefing last week. Well, hopefully he survived this obstacle. Not being a camper, I didn't know better. L has been to camp, but usually in some kind of lodge!
M is stressing as his friend told him to make sure we have enough heating ducts in the basement. Well, we asked for an extra one just in case. Having a tile floor is going to be cold as it is, although we'll put rugs down.
Took my mom to the dentist today. L is playing tennis after school. She received her new G1 Driver's licence in the mail, it basically looks just like mine. It's good that she now has a piece of ID besides her passport.
News
Online dating new tool for zoos with rare species
Monday, September 8, 2008
Lots of action
So the drywall arrived. I had to sign that it was ok for Home Depot to deposit stuff on my property. The 2 contractors say they've never lifted so much drywall before, considering it's just 2 of them. Hopefully they can get it all inside today as it's supposed to rain tomorrow (hopefully not this afternoon). They say each piece is about 50 pounds.
The electrical inspector arrived and just found a few little things. There are about 3 light fixture receptacles that have to be mounted a bit lower, likely because they put it in before the framing was complete. He noticed a wire a bit too close to the furnace pipe, said that there should be some insulation between it and the pipe. The plumber is here and has shut the water off for about 15 minutes.
You know, it's good that I'm home with all these goings on, if only just to answer the doorbell.
The electrical inspector arrived and just found a few little things. There are about 3 light fixture receptacles that have to be mounted a bit lower, likely because they put it in before the framing was complete. He noticed a wire a bit too close to the furnace pipe, said that there should be some insulation between it and the pipe. The plumber is here and has shut the water off for about 15 minutes.
You know, it's good that I'm home with all these goings on, if only just to answer the doorbell.
Arrabbiata Tomato Sauce
It's sunny today, we're waiting for a drywall delivery I think. They decided to lift it downstairs as opposed to keeping it outside which sounds like a good plan.
I'm going to make spaghetti and meat sauce today. I found a nice recipe in Chatelaine magazine for an arrabbiata tomato sauce that I'd like to try one of these days.
K is pretty much packed for his camping trip and he made sure to the read the bear safety email I sent him. I guess he has a sense of self-preservation.
L is starting her driving course later this week after school. They start with in-class sessions.
News
Cleaner By The Dozen: The 12 Safest Fruits And Vegetables
Canadians need less money than Americans to feel rich: poll
I'm going to make spaghetti and meat sauce today. I found a nice recipe in Chatelaine magazine for an arrabbiata tomato sauce that I'd like to try one of these days.
K is pretty much packed for his camping trip and he made sure to the read the bear safety email I sent him. I guess he has a sense of self-preservation.
L is starting her driving course later this week after school. They start with in-class sessions.
News
Cleaner By The Dozen: The 12 Safest Fruits And Vegetables
Canadians need less money than Americans to feel rich: poll
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Bear Safety
It's looking rainy outside. We have 145 sheets of drywall coming either today or tomorrow. The big Home Depot truck with it's crane-like facility will likely do the delivery. It has to go outside somewhere. I got my paint swatches and am leaning toward a 'calming cream' shade.
K's floater seems to have broken up yesterday. It turned into 3 little dots and went away. Because he's going camping up north on a field trip next week, I found him some bear safety tips just in case. They've asked them not to bring any snacks to attract animals. I've never really been camping myself.
L exchanged a work shift so she could watch the U.S. Open Tennis semi-finals today. Nadal's match was suspended yesterday due to rain.
News
Canadian finds bride in Britain through blogging
Seasonal disorder: It's time to avoid the markets
K's floater seems to have broken up yesterday. It turned into 3 little dots and went away. Because he's going camping up north on a field trip next week, I found him some bear safety tips just in case. They've asked them not to bring any snacks to attract animals. I've never really been camping myself.
L exchanged a work shift so she could watch the U.S. Open Tennis semi-finals today. Nadal's match was suspended yesterday due to rain.
News
Canadian finds bride in Britain through blogging
Seasonal disorder: It's time to avoid the markets
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)