I am blessed

I have wonderful friends, and that makes me truly blessed. I have so sadly neglected my friends this past 6 months and yet they are there for me. I have gone to them in distress, and needing help with different things, and there has never been any hesitation. There have been messages of encouragement, phone calls, and deeds of kindness through this very emotional trying time. Thank you all. It means so much to know people care.


Wanna hear a snippet of conversation between Christopher Robin and Pooh?



"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart; I'll stay there forever."


My friends have made me feel just that. They have kept me in their hearts, and that is very comforting. Thank you.


Want to see what I mean?...My birthday is coming up..( and NO this is not a hint!!) It falls hot on the heels of Christmas and usually everyone is so busy with all the festivities, it always touches me when I get remembered with gifts and cards and good wishes. Wanna see what I have been given this week?...and it isn't even my birthday yet!




This photo does not even come close to doing these wonderful, crisp, white linen hand towels justice. They are embroidered with a ribbon of holly ( I love holly!) I have them hanging on the bar at the bottom of my medicine chest in the bathroom. Love them!

Again my photography skills are lacking. I over exposed this photo, but just look at this precious miniature porcelaine tea set and tiny book of friendship quotes.
Is this not just the cutest? My grandaughters will be thrilled with this on their next visit.






Oh dear! Pardon my dust, but just look at this wonderful pottery mug from a precious English friend of mine. It has a little infuser "thingy" dish inside the mug for loose tea. And if I prefer to use a tea bag, well then I have the little dish beside it for the tea bag. Doesn't it just make you want to go put the kettle on and have a cuppa tea? You know I think I just might do that, but before I go I am going to leave you with another photo of a jolly fellow. He is the night light in my bathroom; not sure if you can see it or not but he has springy little bells on his top hat and a wonderful happy smile. Ta ta.
EDIT: I just went to make tea and realized that the little dish is also a lid to keep my tea piping hot while steeping. DUH! Don't mind me I was having a senior moment; I really did know that; honest!

Not a Christmas post, but it will make you smile...

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0 wedding entrance 33 million hits

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs evian commercial 27 million hits

I was reading yesterday about some of the most popular hits on youtube...of course most of you have seen the one of Susan Boyle in Britains Got Talent, but have you seen these. Of the 5 most popular videos,these came in #3 and # 5. Guaranteed to make you smile. Post a comment and let me know what you think.

Stirring Up Memories In The Kitchen

Man! It's cold outside this morning...but warm in my kitchen. I am making meat pies...again. Tourtiere actually. I made a batch for Mom before I left Ontario, and while that is a good thing; there are no meat pies in MY freezer. Now Mr. O really doesn't mind if I have no present for him under the tree, but no meat pies for Christmas, is another thing altogether! I heard so much about his Mom's meat pies , when we were first married that I went on a search for "THE" perfect meat pie recipe. Well Canadian Living, Bless their hearts, published this recipe many years ago and after trying it and getting the Mr. O seal of approval it has been my old stand-by. ( I know it measures up because when I made them and served them to Mr. O's father, he said they were the best! ...just like his Mom made them!) What is it about mom's cooking?

Now just to show you how old this magazine is, you might notice the price up in the right hand corner... .39cents! If you click on the pic and enlarge it you may even be able to make out the date under the letters "V I" in Living. It would seem I am a creature of habit, because even though I have another copy elsewhere, this is what I pull out of my recipe collection each year. The pages are getting quite shabby and un-readable in some places, and I never try to make it from memory, but just having this old magazine on my counter seems to be the "secret ingredient".

It is not very "Christmas-sy" around here, because as some of you may know, Mr. O and I are leaving in just 5 more sleeps to drive back to Ont. to spend Christmas with Mom; so I have not done any decorating or preparing for the festivities. Honestly, what was the point?

That being said, smelling my meat pies cooking and listening to seasonal music has stirred up a few memories of Christmas Past.

After they are finished I will make my "traditional" peanut brittle and that will be the extent of my Christmas baking. ...well maybe just a small batch of scotch cookies; but just a small batch mind you! Do you feel the Merry yet?

Bonne Appetit and Happy Holidays.

Joie de Vivre

I have just recently become aware of a book that I would like to own. It is Joie de Vivre by Robert Arbor and Katherine Whiteside. Let me show you a little of what is written on the inside flap of the book.

"When it comes to making the most out of life, nobody does it better than the French. Now, with Joie de Vivre: Simple French Style For Every Day Living, and inspired fusion of art, style and easy-to-implement ideas, anyone can feel like they spent a weekend in the French countryside, no matter where they live.

Renowned restauranteur Robert Arbor puts a refreshing emphasis on simplicity and accessibility ..."

Now I don't know about you, but any book that can make me feel like I have spent a weekend in the French countryside is a definite candidate for my library.

I looked up the term "joie de vivre" and here is what the dictionary has to say;

joie de vivre (zhwa de vi-vre) n. hearty or carefree enjoyment of life.

[French: joie,joy+de,of+vivre,living.]

Sometimes we get so bogged down with things in life we fail to feel or express that "joie de vivre". I am afraid I have been guilty of that lately. Even though it has been a long hard road this last 5 months there have been many things to be joyful about. I have met so many wonderful and caring people. I have come to appreciate good health. I have been fortunate enough to be able to be in Ont. to help where needed. (If I had a young family at home this would not have been an option for me) My family and friends have been very supportive of and to me. I could go on, but you get the idea. Attitude is so important, and I am really going to work on mine. It seems I have been behind on so many things lately and playing "catch-up" for quite some time, so I am going to get a jumpstart on all you people who make a new resolution each January and beat you to the punch. I am going to make that my "mantra". I may need some help, or reminding from time to time, ...I am counting on you.

I am on the lookout for this book...however a thought just struck me, that this book claims to be able to "make you feel like you have spent a weekend in the French countryside." How do I know what it feels like to have actually spent a weekend in the French countryside? So here's my plan; gonna look for the book, and read it, gonna see how it makes me feel, then I am gonna have to book a trip to France and do a little research. I mean we can't have this guy making claims of his book that are just not true...

Attitudes are contagious; is yours worth catching?

How do you spell relief?

H-O-M-E !!! ...and the stories I could tell you...