Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter



Hippity Hoppity

 
Hope you are having a egg cellent weekend!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Weekend Snippets

Weekend Plans
 
Cowboys and a bit of knitting.


 
 
 
Repainting some stairs.

 
 
 
A much needed pedi.

 
 
 
A brush and a clip.


 
 
 
More knitting

 
 

A looonnng convo with my sister in Nova Scotia

Not the most flattering pic of either of us but there was a bit of alcohol and copious amounts of makeup involved


Organising the "stash"


Not mine but close enough


Made the decision to refrain from knitting or crocheting for a wee while.
It seems to be aggravating my sore shoulder.

Oh and my orchid is blooming!
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Spring?


Note Card Party

 
Couldn't resist taking my camera to the local florist and taking some shots of the beautiful flowers there.
Can't wait for my garden tulips to peak their little heads thru,




My Nana called these little guys Sweetheart birds. To her their mating call sounded like "sweeeetheart"
 
 
This guy visited our yard a few times this winter.
Didn't really stop the action back there for too long.


My lovely hibiscus. I have had for over 10 years. She comes into the house for the winter and graces us with beautiful flowers. Then she spends her summers outside gracing us (and a few hummingbirds) again!
 
Linking with Vee @ A Haven for Vee
For a Note Card Party
 

skyping and a move

Hello Tuesday.
Well it is looking very winter wonderlandy out there this morning but
Thank goodness Mama Nature just did not have it in her.
Maybe 10 - 15cm?
I have a wonderful neighbour who is coming later today to clear the driveway,
 
Skyped with Miles and Riley last night (of course with my beautiful daughter and son in law too)

Suckers after a successful trip to the doctor



They are such chatterboxes these days.
Ang can bust some mean dance moves.
"Nona" is still a hard one.
Nana (which can mean banana too), Nono, Nonny.
I will take any!!

I don't think I mentioned they are all moving to Strathmore (east of Calgary)
Dan got a transfer to the office there with a FT position.
Of course it is not what this Nona wants but
Its a better job and they have found a nice half house with 3 bedrooms.

And I am going out in the guise of helping with the move.
Hb and I will be passing each other on this one.
He is home March 30th and I leave April 3rd.

Well I should go clear the feeders and check the feral station.

 
Ya lady! We are down to only half a feeder!!

Have a good Tuesday!

Monday, March 18, 2013

One Day Til Spring?

Good Monday morning everyone!
How was your weekend?
Mine was terrific.
Of course now it is Monday and time to get real.
 
 
And when I say get real I mean let's get ready for more snow.
What's that you say "more snow" but it is only 1 day til spring.
This is the time Mama Nature says -- and you thought you were in charge?
 
 
 Well I have a full week ahead of me.
I say F you Mama Nature -- I will start my spring cleaning despite what you have to say.
I am also a wee bit excited because I am turning one of our spare rooms into a "studio".
Is that too pretentious?
Oh well!
I will be getting that in shape too.
 


 
Ladies' plans for the day!


Sunday, March 17, 2013

How Green Are You Today

 
 
The finished blanket for my friend's daughter's baby.




Have a wee cuppa Irish Breakfast.

 

A bit mor o the green
 

Even Spartacat is getting into the greening of the day!
And yes there is a hockey game today.
 
 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday Plans


Off he goes on his annual golf extravaganza.
HB and his brother left around 4 this morning.
A 15 hour drive for
2 weeks in sunny and warm Myrtle Beach.


I've spent a perfectly lovely Saturday.
 
Got the bird station ready for the 20cm we have predicted.
 
Cleaned and topped the feral station.
 

 
 
Started knitting little mittys for my sweetys
 
Hockey game in the aft
 
Get well soon Craig
 
 
Cleaned the fridge

Crept on Blogs
 
Brushed the ladies
 
 
 
Plans this evening:
 
Salmon and a salad for supper
 
Maybe a bath?
 
Start watching my two season download of Downton Abbey??
 
Bed early
 
Got a new book to read
 
 
 

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Sunlit Sunday

YAY!!
Finally some sunshine.
So glorious to see and feel.
The ladies are loving the open windows.
 




 
Linking to Sunlit Sunday

Friday, March 8, 2013

Happy International Women's Day




A special Hoo Ya to two beautiful women whom I am proud to call my daughters!
And a special little girl who will one day be a beautiful woman just like her Mama.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sunday, March 3, 2013

My Sunshine

A bit of a grey overcast day today
but
Here is my little ray of sunshine.

Riley at the Indoor Playground in Camrose Alta
 
 
Linking to Sunlit Sunday

Friday, March 1, 2013

Hummingbird Nest Cam

This is so awesome!
I have been watching for a month and finally
The baby had hatched  :-)


 
 
 

Chocolate Anyone?

Here is a gluten free Brownie recipe I tried this afternoon.
Definately have a different texture to them.
A good excuse for a cup of tea or great big glass of icy cold milk (lactose free for me please)
I am not a huge sweets person (salty girl here) but it is nice to have some.
I will put a few in the freezer for later consumption.
 
one half cup of brown rice flour
one quarter cup fresh ground almonds ( I had no almonds so used walnuts)
1 cup brown sugar
5 TBSP cocoa
1 tsp salt
one half cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
one half cup chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips
 
Melt butter, then stir in the remaining ingrediants.
Spread in a 8 x 8 baking pan
Bake at 350 for 25 or 30 minutes.
Cool completely



Here is another chocolate recipe I prepared for Oscar night.
These were absolutely deeeeelicious.
Yes I had a couple.
There is minimal flour in them so they didn't affect me too much.
These will definately make it into my fav collection.
 
Brownie Cookies
 
one quarter cup all purpose flour
one quarter tsp baking powder
one eighth tsp salt
2 large eggs
2 thirds of a cup white sugar
one half TBSP brewed espresso
one tsp vanilla
2 TBSPS unsalted butter
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
3 quarters of a cup chopped nuts
 
Whisk together flour, B powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer whip the eggs to break them up.
Add the sugar, espresso, and vanilla. 
Beat on high for 15 minutes. (I used my kitchen machine which made the time go by faster).
While eggs are whipping.
Place butter in the top of a double boiler and add the chopped chocolate. Heat until butter and chocolate are melted. Remove the top and stir until butter and chocolate are combined.
Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Add the flour mixture and carefully fold in. Fold in the nuts. If the batter is runny  -- let it rest about 5 minutes.
Drop the batter by teaspoonful onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 til puffed and cracked about 8 - 9 minutes. Cool on wire rack before removing from the pan.