Growing something other than babies - it's harvest time

So my husband escaped from the inside chaos in our house for a little bit of time out in the yard this Thanksgiving weekend. Yardwork in the shape of mowing the lawn is his usual shtick, however gardening?  Not so much.  That said, I think he enjoyed pulling up what we had and 'closing out' what was essentially his garden this summer. 

I thought it would be a great year for the garden, but I think the lotus tree in the middle of the garden is finally sapping the nutrient levels too much, as most of our produce suffered.  That, or the fact that momma gardener was completely MIA this summer stunted the growth of the poor little veggies... However, we still got some great stuff.  Check it out....we still had a large pile of runner beans that taste great.

And although we have clay soil, I keep trying to grow carrots - of both the purple variety and the usual.  Love the look of purple carrots on a plate...

We, of course, have a myriad of various peppers - of the sweet, hot and VERY hot variety. 

And finally, a wider shot of the baby onions, other peppers etc.

So vibrant and lovely, fresh and fragrant.  Thinking we'll do some roast BBQ veggies with a nice big roast and yorkshire pudding this coming weekend.  MMMMMMMMM......delish!

Bonding with Baby A

I will tolerate any level of discomfort if it comes with play time with my babies. 

Now this is not to say that Baby B isn't part of the action, but she is certainly not crazy active like Baby A is!  Imagine, if you will, you wake at 4am and feel kicks/punches and movement in your belly. So cool.  You can visibly see your stomach moving around.  Awesome.  And then you realize, when you respond by pushing down and around on the tummy where the 'body parts' are elbowing, punching and kicking, that after a moment, the baby responds to your touch at the spot you are touching! 

Little baby parts, responding to your touch, playful. Speechless with joy.  Laughter. Fun.  - it's amazing, folks.  Truly cool. 

I love these little babies more than I can express.  It's too much for words.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Be sure to experience joyful exuberance if you can!

Where's my sense of accomplishment?

Right. I forgot. It's being held up by others not doing their jobs.

Yes, folks, my list is getting longer and nothing is moving forward, all thanks to people either doing shoddy jobs, or others just not getting their gears shifted into drive to enable me to move on things.  Isn't that just the way?

Meanwhile, I am DEFINITELY gaining inches and weight, and having issues even getting up off the couch, so that later these things get pushed, the worse for me. Not a good recipe.  You'd think they would take pity on me, and put me to the top of their list of "People to eventually help out".  Harrumph.

So the venting is done.  Thanks for your patience.

On another note, I had a great long weekend and got to a friend's cottage for some sun, space and relaxation floating on the lake.  That shit is good for the soul, my friends!

What about you?  What does it take to take you away from it all?  A sandy beach?  A hammock and a novel? A patio and cold beer? 

Stay thirsty, my friends...

The week ahead, or, Adventures of a chronic and capable multitasker

Okay. Hmmmmm. Not nearly as productive a weekend as it promised to be, but then, on Saturday mornings of a weekend without structured plans, I'm always resplendant with grandiose ideas of the myriad of excellent adventures and to do list items I intend to tackle and have stricken forever from the record of jobs impending.

All for naught.

Oh well. I'm trying to learn how to take a little mental breather from the guilt, the spiritual weight these obligations and manufactured lists bring to me in times of trying to relax. It's only somewhat working when...the work week looms.

We all know this conveyor belt, don't we? Taking stock on Sunday nights of what's in store for us in the week ahead; itemizing after-work activities, sports and obligations as well as optional (but you ABSOLUTELY WILL GET TO THEM THIS WEEK COME HELL OR HIGH WATER) workouts; thinking about the other (equally optional?) jobs and/or tasks we've taken on due to a passion for the hobby, subject, or project, or just a desire to feel like we are doing something meaningful with our time here on earth. Recalling the committees and other sundry input you've offered up, and finally contemplating squeezing in chores, meals, grooming (ha. I'm SO not preening in my life these days), etc. And a little time with loved ones too.

Phew, I'm tired, aren't you?

But as the chronic and capable multitasker would say...here we go again!

The incredible benefits of coffee and how hangovers make it tough to taste wine

So I had these big plans today. Was going to have some fun with a good friend, Sean Moher, the creator of Groovy Grapes wine and food pairing events and many more wonderful things. Thought it would be fun to open bottle #3 of the top ten under $10 series for us both to try, and get his thoughts on it, but I don't think I can do it, given my impromptu Karaoke romp last night with my neighbours @westendchiles.

That said, coffee does wonderful things to help revive you on a morning like this. How bad does it suck that I plan to give it up again shortly, and mentioned my intentions to my husband (so now I'm accountable)...

For now - yay for caffeine!

The Under $10 travels to Italy

Trip to a new LCBO today (I went right, husband went left to the Beer Store to prepare for a night of drunken guy stuff with his volleyball team) landing me three of the remaining 4 bottles to try that a recent e-newsletter claimed were the best LCBO values under $10.


Number two on the list was the Casal Thaulero Merlot/Cab Sauv blend, listed as only $6.95, but I guess the word is already out that this is a good wine, 'cause it was actually $7.45! EGAD, but that is soooooo pricey! I had to dig deep deeeeep into my little change purse for that. (Does anybody actually have a change purse anymore? I, as always, used plastic and claimed my Air Miles, thank you very much!)

So, on the nose, you won't get old world Italian. This is a bold wine, which is generally my preference. I'm certainly not an experienced wino, but I DO get the cedar - I feel like it's a kinda wet wood/cedar, actually. Yeah, a little black licorice, but not so sweet as that. Blackberries, but not fresh - blackberry jam, I'd say. The vanilla is there, but not prominent. It's not a bouquet that makes me salivate, like some are (like the Lucky Country Shiraz, by one of our favourite winemakers, Two Hands, for instance. SO GOOD.)


Finally, time to sip...Okay. This one has more fruit - it's more forward than the Portuguese from last night. That said, the balance is still not bad. It's got a tannic kick to it, and the finish lingers a little bit. Not as much as the Pedras Do Monte from earlier this week.

Is it good? Yah, it's pretty good. Is it great? Well...it's $7.45, so yeah...it's a bloody good deal people. What do you want for $7? Jeez!

I think...(another sip)...it may need just a little more depth, like a third, earthier varietal of grape to give it just a bit more oooomph!

Nevertheless...it'll be a nice wine to sip for the rest of this evening and into tomorrow.

I have to ask, though...what else is out there? Who thinks that THEY know the best value wine in the LCBO? Is it on this list? And if you've had these wines, what do YOU think of them? Would love to know.

Happy weekend, everyone. Hope it's a good one!

Hello, my old friend

I have been remiss. I love blogging, but have gotten sucked into the Twitter vortex of late, and have be adopting information and retweeting and looking at other people's information more so than postulating and pontificating on personal opinions.

Which is fine.

The thing is...I am so busy at work that I am brain dead when I get home. I've got nuthin' left. In some ways, this is a good thing, but other times, I wish I had more to say on any given evening.

But now it is the weekend, and I have had two good full nights of sleep, so ya know...I am up for the challenge, but you still aren't going to get anything too deep today - the sun is shining and it is Sunday morning, thus any blog post should be a relaxed, casual and laid back affair, I think.

So...we have a lot on the go these days. Hubby is upstairs putting together the bedframe for our bedroom set. EGAD, we will actually have bedside tables!!!! Very exciting, and the last of the pieces to complete the set. Next will be to paint the remaining walls and decorate the room a bit. It's only been, like, 6 years...!

We have also bought the various paints needed to complete our kitchen reno. THAT is exciting too, but I can't get started on that today, as I may have to head out soon to help a friend clean and 'stage' her house for quick sale. I am praying this goes smoothly for her. She and her family need a little smooth sailing, as their lives have been turned upside down lately, due to an accident that left her husband in a wheelchair. I can't even imagine how tough this has been on all of them, and so I will do whatever I can to help them sell their former home and move into the new, accessible home and bring the family together again. Life sure is challenging, isn't it?

So...for the first time in a number of years, we missed the Ottawa Wine & Food Show this year. I couldn't help feeling we are missing out, but hey...there are reasons for everything, you know?

More to come - hope everyone enjoys this last (I presume) warmish day before the cold wind whips into the city and brings with it blankets of white and the xmas spirit.

What is it about this summer, man?

I need to rant about the fact that ALL SUMMER LONG, any plans I make have been thwarted! I think that at LEAST 5 or six well-laid weekends (some of them full weekends-worth of events and happenings) have fallen through at the last minute or have been sabbotaged by weather or just some sorta unforseen issue/event. Add that to a few months that have just seemed to be rife with bad news - seriously bad news - and I just, you know, have kinda had enough!!!!!!


ENOUGH MAN!

This summer sucked.

At least I get to stomp on some grapes on Sunday. Hey! Do you wanna sponsor my team? Go to this site to get the details...all the money goes to fighting Cancer!

The mixed bag day

You know what I am referring to, don't you? The day that has some really great moments and some crapulous ones. The day that makes you feel like life is sometimes just a roller coaster and now that you are on it, you just have to hold on and if necessary, close your eyes (or ignore what you are seeing)...

So what was good? Lovely sunshine. Time on the deck with a glass of wine while I water the lawn and my now lovely garden. Getting some errands done, including freeing up credit on our Home Depot card in preparation for our very exciting kitchen reno. Getting an invitation out to good friends for a full-day social and sport day we have planned on Saturday that starts out on the beach volleyball courts and ends with drinks and food at a friend's home - very much looking forward to it. Great stuff, right?

Then there's the tough moments. Unhappy coworkers and a tough work environment. Taking a multitude of busses to get around town because I didn't have a car today, but I DID have an appointment. Which brings me to the really tough moments. Any time I now go to my doctor's, I face kids. Babies. Pregnant ladies. Lots of them. It's not a fun environment for a woman who has had two back-to-back failed pregnancies. And then the big moment, when my doctor calls my name out, and I look up, and SHE is pregnant. So pregnant that while I was suffering miscarriage, she was happily pregnant. Jeeeeeez. C'mon people! Ya gotta stop! Every day on Facebook - pictures of babies, pictures of growing bellies, status updates about baby heartbeats...and then....visiting babies at work in the hallways...it's a steady stream of reminders. All. The. Time. Over. And. Over.

Okay. I'm done. I am fine. I am sure that we will eventually have a family. I have lots of hope.

And sunshine, a garden and a new kitchen to enjoy and/or look forward to.

Shopping on a grand scale

It's a uniquely energizing and slightly anxiety-laden experience to spend big-time dollars on big ticket items. Like cars. Like houses. Like NEW KITCHENS! It's a unique feeling, and it is soooooo goooooood!

Husband and I had a hot date with our kitchen reno sales gal (woooohooo, a threesome for my hubby finally!) tonight to see the 3D design of the new kitchen, and go over to confirm all that we were visualizing. Not only did we love it, but it was much less than we expected to pay - and if the idea of a new kitchen feels good, spending less than you thought you would pay is simply orgasmic! Everything was so little, that we chose to upgrade further to thicker granite even. AND, it is all another 15% off right now...

Gosh... this is the best date night I have had in a long time!

Good start to the weekend - hope you have a great one.

Duelling Qs

You know that the summer has officially launched the first night that my husband and our next door neighbour get together to plan and execute an elaborate BBQ meal. It's not REALLY a competition, but they sure seem to try to step up their game constantly.

This Saturday was that night. Slow smoked pulled pork shoulder with a cumin spiced coleslaw, warm rosemary grilled potato and green bean salad for the main, and three different types of grilled dessert pizzas (with some cocktails and wine thrown in)... soooo gooood!

Great friends, great food and the great outdoors...fabulous.

Selling the farm

Well, no, not really. But we ARE selling old (but good) furniture to make way for the new. We have lots of great little pieces (and other, not so great items) that were for the most part either hand-me-downs or donations scattered here and there in our home, and the way I see it is that we are a two-income professional home with more than enough to afford some nicer damn furniture! So yeah...time to transform our home bit by bit, and I am excited.

And did I mention that the work week is almost over and I will be at the Nordik scandanavian spa at this time tomorrow night? That's what I am talkin' about, people!

And...I got more of my gardening done tonight, which also feels good. I can see the spinach, the beets, the beans, the snap and snow peas, the cucumbers, the shallots, the onions all coming up, and already have great tomato and pepper plants (Of any and all variations) on the go. And lettuce! I have planted a pot with arugula and mesculin mix that are coming up alongside all my herbs. Coolness. Will take pictures soon of the garden and post. Should have taken some before shots!!!

Sundays, Sunshine and Shopping

What a great day! Found some clothes for both hanging out and heading to work, which I desperately needed, and while getting there, had the sunroof open and the music on, and loved every minute of it. Now I have BBQ burgers to look forward to - have I mentioned that I have a wicked husband (albeit a hungover one)?

I wish this day could go on for a full week or more. I wish I wish I wish. But just 'cause I wish it, doesn't make it so, does it?

Of wine and words

So I am reading a book I found on the shelves of our 'SAS library' at work called A Fool and Forty Acres about how a Toronto urbanite picked up his family and moved to farmland in Prince Edward County (an unlikely, but increasingly popular new wine region in Ontario just around the start of the 1000 Islands area in between Kingston and Toronto) in order to plant vines and see what happens.

I am not usually much for memoirs and non-fiction in general, but the premise of this man's journey intrigued me, and for obvious reasons, the subject appealed to me. And it is a good read, as I reach about the half way point. I can't wait to discover how his initial attempts to graft roots and vines and manage all the natural elements pan out. I also like his slightly poetic, lilting style of writing - it almost conjurs the pace and feel of the life and land around him.

What I don't like has been the occasional and painfully long segments of the book that break into history lessons, reviewing Loyalist settlers and colonialist mindset back in the 1800's etc. I am reminded (oh, gawd, it was hell) of suffering through Susannah Moodie's Roughing it in the Bush for our Canadian literature class in my first year of university (it was a requirement for journalism students - ???). I'm sorry, but I don't care that it was extremely rare to have a female settler of the day actually able to read and write, let alone write 600 pages of SCINTILLATING day to day stories of the trials and tribulations of life in Canada at the time. Actually, you could have just told me about how cool that was, and that would have been all I needed to take away from that. Hated. it.

So yeah...I love this book, OUTSIDE of the Moodie-esque ramblings. When he gets back to tales of his travails and the characters he comes across live and in person, he's got me. What's especially cool is that just this week I received an email from Huff estate and inn offering a great weekend stay and 'play' package, and to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, husband and I are heading there in person to explore unchartered territory, and visit some of these estates and try these wines. And in doing so, a lot of the people mentioned in the book will likely be kicking around the community when we get there. I think that is pretty neat, and it is adding a whole new dimension to why I am excited to go. We love Niagara, and I am curious to see how the wines of this new region measure up.

I just love how little layers in life converge, making for fun and meaningful memories. Should be fun.

Sunday Slam

I gorged myself on reality TV today. Each Sunday repeats of all the television I miss during the week play, and on those lovely, lazy last day of the weekends, I plunk myself down on my cozy couch, pour a glass of wine, cover up with a nice fleece blankie and watch the most hideous, peurile and indulgent crap that is on offer on television...and love it. Not surprisingly, the bulk of it is on MTV, and I wonder if they realize this secret demographic that exists of highly professional, approaching middle age (okay....that doesn't sound good, but I guess it is more the OLD middle age than the new) intelligent and active happy women are in love with the crap they pass as programming.

I mean, it was fabulous! Brody Jenner found romance with a new bro from Boston. Whitney had ethical pains trying to decide between siding with a fashion mogul critical of the emancipation of a model, and the model herself (aside: is that not a bit hypocritical of her? She hires them and works in that industry...????). OOOOOO - and the best was that Rikki and Nikki picked the love of their life, except that it was the same dude. Poor bisextual Nikki...losing out on love by the hands of her also bisexual sister. What is a bisexual to do? I know....go back on reality television with a new concept and another search for love!!! Any guesses as to what the show will be called and how soon it will be on? Yup - A Double Shot at Love has to be the worst show I have yet to see on television. FANtastic.

So...what shows do you catch up on on Sundays? How do you recover from a long week of work and relax to face another?

And if you haven't seen any of the above shows...how could you miss them????

YES - It's the WEEKEND!

that's all. It's just great to be home and know it is Friday night. We're having BBQ steak because the weather has finally 'broke' and the hubby is able to weather it outside and grill them up. A little wine, some asparagus...life is sooooooo verrrrrry gooooooood!

Ah....FRIDAY

And so the weekend begins. It's a busy one, but we've had quiet weekends of late, so this will be nice. A little bowl, then superbowl action on Sunday. Should be fun, and really bad for my diet habits, but WHATEVER! It's the WEEKEND, baby!

Here's hoping yours is great and feels long enough (they never do, do they?)