Last Half 2022 – November

Good Morning ALL! Well here we are at another Monday morning. More snow! I think that we are going to break some records this year for snow. Seems like every day it is snowing. Shovelling and more shovelling. This morning my neighbour shovelled our sidewalks before she left for work. I am working from home so I will shovel after work or perhaps at lunch break. I hope that we get some days where Alvin and I can head out for a walk even if it is a short one.

I am happy that Mr. Alvin has now started to do his business on the deck in the layers and layers of snow. Easier for me to see and to clean up and I do not have to worry about him jumping off the deck onto the hard frozen ground/snow.

Yesterday morning two of my friends came over for coffee. We had so much to talk about work, home, the state of the world. There was much chatter happening and even some laughter along the way. Much better than “tears” for sure. Another wonderful visit with these dear friends of mine. G was heading out to the grocery store in the afternoon so I tagged along as it had been over a month since I had been to the store. I had a few things picked up by my daughter and friends but not been for a serious grocery shop. I even found a sale on chocolate chips and evaporated milk and mini marshmallows so I have some of my Christmas baking supplies. Funny how a little trip to the grocery store can feel like a huge outing!

I baked some sweet potatoes, onions and carrots for supper with a piece of Highliner Cod. Honestly I do not remember the last time I had fish. Was so tasty. Tonight I am baking a Hamburger Quiche which uses YVES Mexican blend (meatless) instead of ground beef. I will have that to eat from for most of the week.

Time to head downstairs and turn on the coffee. Have a wonderful day.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Always, Carol & Alvin

PS: will download/upload some photos of the Xmas Decorations tomorrow.

Second Half of the NEW YEAR

Good Morning ALL, yay it is Friday.

Alvin and I enjoyed a full walk last night after work.

He didn’t stop or walk slowly.

I could tell that he was enjoying each and every step.

Sniffing and walking.

Walking and sniffing.

 

Just transferred the money to the gal that is baking my birthday treats.

Those treats are a delectable carrot cake with cream cheese icing and cupcakes.

The cupcakes are one dozen vanilla with key lime icing and the other twelve are chocolate with salted caramel icing.

I can hardly wait to bite into these sweet amazing treats.

My friend is one of the best bakers, I know.

I have met up with a few of them over the years.

My paternal Grandmother was one of those women who could bake the socks off anyone.

She made the best jelly rolls, angel food cakes, orange chiffon cakes, cookies and homemade bread.

I can taste them now.

All the gloriousness (I guess that is a word).

The jam in the jelly roll.

The thin layer of icing on the cakes.

The smell of the bread baking in the oven.

That was a long time ago and I can recall those smells.

It is funny how much food plays a role in our lives.

We have to eat to maintain health and energy and to live.

But food has become over the centuries so much more.

We eat when we are happy.

We eat when we are sad.

We eat to celebrate.

We eat when someone dies.

We eat, eat and eat.

Christmas cookies.

Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

Easter bread.

The list goes on and on.

We have channels all about food.

The industry is crazy.

There are bake offs and cook offs and grilling championships.

The list is a mile long.

Every celebrity that can cooks has their own television show.

We blog about food.

We have YouTube videos about cooking and baking.

We put photos on Instagram.

FOOD, food, and more FOOD.

Sweet and Savoury.

 

Well with all that goodness now instilled in your brain, I have to go to work.

I baked a coffee cake …. second one with this new recipe that I found in one of my favourite recipe books.

The night before I baked a few dozen peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

For an outing this evening.

I am still a bit nervous as this is my first larger than 3 people gathering.

But I am prepared.

I made separate packages of the cookies and will come up with something for the cake using cupcake holders.

 

With kindness and respect, we live our lives.

I/We, shall remain,

As Always, Carol & her Alvin