The Eagle has landed......

Yesterday while hubby was out in the yard the sound of eagles drew his attention to the sky....he looked up and saw two eagles soaring overhead....he rushed into the house to get the camera....this bird just perched itself right on a tree on our property.......simply amazing and majestic birds....

The birds have been bountiful at the feeders...nothing exotic...just the quail, stellar and a couple of other variety of birds....I just love watching them and their antics.....hubby was telling me that the other day when he drove by the estuary that he saw about 40 eagles in the trees...it really is a sight to behold........

So I will leave you with a thought for the day.....this one has to do with Responsibility:

Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing; no one to blame.

~Erica Jong~

Have a great week!

What do you think?.....

So what did Humphrey Bogart....

James Dean...... and The Rat Pack............

all have in common?

Give up.....it was a Zippo lighter... Yes they all used a Zippo lighter in their movies and in their personal lives.Do you remember Zippo lighters? These movie idols somehow romanticize the art of smoking a cigarette...Humphrey Bogart as he pulls out his Zippo from his long trench coat pocket....offering to light Lauren Bacall's cigarette. Oh yes it was all so sultry and romantic wasn't it. It was common place in those days to not only smoke on the movie set but in the movies. You certainly don't see much of that anymore.

These lighters are still very popular and are quite a collectors item. Apparently you are considered cool and in vogue if you have a Zippo.

So where am I going with this. Well my hubby and I found out the other day that his boys step dad bought both of the boys ages 13 and 15 Zippo lighters. Now these are not your Bic $1.49 lighters....I'm talking lighters that start in the $20 -30 range and up....So my question is why, why would he buy the boys these? I mean what are lighters used for.....lighting a fire, lighting a candle, lighting cigarettes or recreational drugs. So being teenagers I'm thinking what would the need be for one of these? I don't support them smoking cigarettes or recreational drugs.....I am certain that I wouldn't want them starting any fires unless we were having a campfire...and if that were the case I certainly would have an alternate lighter for that...and again as for lighting candles...well I am pretty darn sure they wouldn't be out there lighting candles....so I ask the question again....why would they need one of these lighters?

I am upset about this.....hubby thinks I am silly. He said he had one when he was their age....and I said yeah...that was because you were smoking...is that what you want and besides...you bought it yourself......their step father bought these for them.....that is just wrong. Again, my hubby thinks I am making to much out of it. Maybe I am...but my gut tells me not.

These two young lads like to play with fire...they like to see things melt...they like to light fires....as far as I am concerned they are a tad over zealous about fires.....my antennas go up.....but hey....I am just the step mom....their overly protective mother obviously doesn't think there is anything wrong....the father and step father don't seem to think there is anything wrong...guess it's just me...I must be the nut ball in this situation....One of my brothers had an interest in lighters and fires when he was little...you know what happend....he ended up burning down the family home....my parents lost everything....my mom ended up running out of the house dragging four children.....my other brother ended up burning down the stairwell in another, all because of his infatuation with fire and lighters. I would hate to see this happen to my step sons. The only reason we found out about these lighters was because while youngest son was taking to my hubby on the phone his youngest son was yelling at his brother about lighting and flashing his Zippo lighter at him. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

I guess this is another one of the Venus and Mars things. You see I never raised boys....I had three girls....they weren't into Zippo's or lighting fires. My eldest and middle daughter are no angels they do smoke and I believe my middle daughter did own a Zippo at one time until it got stolen...but she was 19 and bought it herself. Lesson learnt. My sixteen year old doesn't smoke and has never tried to smoke...it's not her thing. So the question again...why?

As an adult and if your were a collector or something like that fine...but 13 and 15 years old....hmmmm. I just shake my head....and write a post about it...because this is one battle I will not win, nor will I attempt to put on the table....I write about this more so for me to vent frustration because I don't understand...and like me I always want to know what others would say or do.....

So readers.....what are your views....

All in a day.......and then some

Goodness sakes...here we are the close of another day....dang where does time go?

Well I know exactly where time goes....yesterday I started work at 1600 hrs..that would be 4pm...my scheduled shift was until midnight..but then I was on call until 0600 in the morning.....as it would turn out...I ended up staying at work until 0600 this morning....yup ...pulled a 14 hour shift...with a hour drive either way on top....very long night....I was saying to my hubby....I knew my eyes were open when I was driving as I could see the semi in front of me...but gosh it was like I was in limbo land whilst I was driving.....he said I could have been sleeping....but my eyes were open I said....his father confirmed that I could have been sleeping and proceeded to regale me with a story of hubby doing the exact same thing last year. After contemplating this I thought it might have been possible...as I remember looking down at my speedometer and I was only doing 90Km in a 110km zone...and I felt like I was swerving ....hmmmmm.....glad I was close to home. Windows open, music playing loudly...but finally my turn off approached and I was only 600 meters from home....

I arrived home exhausted....funny...I can't remember the last time I worked a night shift that I ever felt that exhausted....then it dawned on me.....normally on night shift we get a rest period...not so last evening...you see...we kept hoping that we would be able to send the patient to the ward...that wasn't going to be the case...the patient when not in pain...didn't want to breath....breath damn you ..... breath I say!.......but no...it wasn't meant to be...so we did a bedside vigil.....between counting respiration's and giving analgesic there wasn't much time for having a little nap.

So needless to say I arrived home tired and hungry and exhausted. I had a quick bite to eat....while I was sitting on the couch...I could feel my eyelids getting heavier....and before I knew it I was gone....yes gone off to la la land.......I do remember hubby putting a blanket around me.....3 hours later I awoke...still in my clothes.....I made my way up to my bedroom....undressed and made my clumsy way into my bed. Next thing I remember it was 1230 and hubby had come into the room to get ready to go out.....WOW it's 1230 already.....how did that happen?

I got up shortly there after.....he told me he was making a trip to Victoria with his father today and reminded me that it was his parents wedding anniversary. Ah the anniversary....in my daze state...yes yes I remember I said.

I got myself up and out of bed....managed the stairs without tripping and made it to the kitchen were the coffee was on....pour myself a cup of java....and proceeded to the couch....Hubby had left by this time.....I started thinking...it's his parents anniversary...we have to do something....what can we do...ah....dinner.....I can cook them dinner make a nice dessert and get them a card....yes that is what I shall do.

Energy....that is what I need....find the energy to get ones butt up off of the couch and get a move on.....slowly....yes....one butt cheek then another...yes yes that's it....I've managed to get my butt up off of the couch....it's all good....progress will be made....back to the kitchen I go.....I head towards the drawer where I keep all my recipe books......with mother in law being a diabetic and trying to watch her intake I think what can I make....father in law is not fond of cheese so the dessert can not consit of cheese....sorry honey no cherry cheese cake tonight. I scourer my way through the recipe books. I come upon my "Company's Coming " cookbook....this cook book is Low fat recipes....great I think....low fat...and I could watch the sugar....I search the pages.....I thinking comfort food. I find a great recipe for Corn Chowder....now that's comfort food...then I think what could I add...well a nice loaf of organic baked bread...warmed and cut in large pieces and served with low cal margarine...yes.....then veggies.....I decide I am going to make a salad....fresh greens with arugula lettuce, mandarin orange slices, roasted pecans, and red peppers....after mixing these I toss them with a mandarin sesame seed dressing...very light and oh so tasty.....Dessert....yes I searched the Low Fat recipe book for a dessert...what do I come up with is a Lemon Poppy seed Bundt cake with a Lemon glaze.

Ok now I am armed with my recipes...I check my cupboards to see if I have all the ingredients....most I do...but some I realize I will have to venture out to the store....but not until I get my house chores done.....did I mention I am doing this after working a 14 hour shift....ok then. So I get the house chores done...and off to town I go.....shop away. Like most even though I have come prepared to the store with my list.....I find I purchase more than what is on my list....how does that happen? Regardless, I have my ingredients of torture....no really, I was looking forward to preparing this meal. I pay for my groceries and make my way home. I call mother in law to make sure she is up to coming over for dinner. She happily accepts the invitation. I set a time. I am now on a mission.

It's after four pm by this time....I plan out my course of action. Make the cake...get that in the oven...while that is baking I can be preparing the chowder and the salad....mission accomplished. Cake is baked...out of the oven it comes. I make a lemon glaze.....but while the cake it cooling I prepare the table.....set semi formal....comfortable...yet enough to show that some effort was put into preparing things....nothing over the top.

Hubby and father in law arrive home sooner than I expected...but being who I am...I was prepared.....dinner was almost on the readyto serve. Father in law went home to get mother in law...they arrive and we sit down to our meal.

So here's to two of the most important people in our lives......M & R aka Mom and Dad...aka Papa and Nana....here's wishing the both of you a wonderful day....Happy 54th Wedding Anniversary to you both...you have brought so much joy to so many....Thank you!

This picture is of my inlaws...my hubby is the little one sitting on his mommy's lap....with his sister and brothers' next and then Daddy"O! Circa 1965

Lest We Forget.................

November 11th is the day dedicated to remember those who lost their lives to provide us with freedom and peace. Last year I mentioned that while I was doing the Flu Clinic I met a great great niece of Lt. John McCrae the author of In Flanders Fields. Lt. McCrae was a young Canadian doctor, born in Quelph Ontario.

On August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. Canada, as a member of the British Empire, was automatically at war, and its citizens from all across the land responded quickly. Within three weeks, 45,000 Canadians had rushed to join up. John McCrae was among them. He was appointed brigade-surgeon to the First Brigade of the Canadian Forces Artillery with the rank of Major and second-in-command.

Just before his departure, he wrote to a friend:

It is a terrible state of affairs, and I am going because I think every bachelor, especially if he has experience of war, ought to go. I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience. (Prescott. In Flanders Fields: The Story of John McCrae, p. 77)

He took with him a horse named Bonfire, a gift from a friend. Later, John McCrae sent his young nieces and nephews letters supposedly written by Bonfire and signed with a hoof print.

In April 1915, John McCrae was in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium, in the area traditionally called Flanders. Some of the heaviest fighting of the First World War took place there during that was known as the Second Battle of Ypres.

In the trenches, John McCrae tended hundreds of wounded soldiers every day. He was surrounded by the dead and the dying. In a letter to his mother, he wrote of the Battle of Ypres.

The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

A little Barbershop anyone......

Yesterday hubby and I had the most enjoyable afternoon with his parents. His parents are big fans of Barbershop music. Every year they attend a performance held by a local group....well local meaning the members for the group come form all over the Island. Anyhow, this year father in law asked if we would like to join them and then go out for dinner afterwards. Well my goodness how could one turn down such an offer.

A couple of years ago father in law and hubby had hired a quartet from this group to come and serenade mother in law and I for Valentines day. It was a surprise to say the least....we had been at a gathering and the group sang to us but the others present got to enjoy the performance as well.....

Valentine's 2007 This group is called "First Dibs"

So yesterday as I said was the "Tidesmen Barbershop Chorus" annual performance. This years theme was titled Bootleg Barbershop. The whole first half opens with an introduction to the era...1930's the crash on Wall Street and the great depression. The scene is set as a Cabaret Club struggling to make ends meet....the gangsters....the first song..."Cabaret".

The first half progresses with songs from the whole chorus and then songs sung by individual barbershop groups. It was really delightful...the first half ends with them singing "I'll Be a Song and Dance Man Again."

The second half starts off with the Tidesmen version of Barbershop Quartet Idol. They had five quartets supposedly competing for the top honours... with sudo judges and all. The judges of course were a take off' from American Idol....the names had just been changed a tad.....There were some great songs.....After that they had the 2005 International Quartet Champions "Realtime". They were fabulous, kind of reminded me of the Nylons when I saw them live back in the 80's....very professional.

What I found amazing about the Tidesmen Chorus was the age range....there were performers as young as 16 and as old as....well I really don't know...but the one old gentlemen on the end did give me a scare...I thought once or twice he might topple over....maybe he was a spry 80 something.....I think what was so enjoyable about the afternoon was that the performers all seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. It was nice to see.

A big thank you goes out to my wonderful inlaws for providing hubby and I a very enjoyable afternoon.

Today was a very busy day. I find now that I only get two days off that I certainly try and cram alot into one day. I was up early and finally finished sewing the shower curtain I was making for our bathroom....I will take pictures and post once the bathroom is completed...it's coming along great though....

Seeing as the rain had subsided for awhile, I thought I should take advantage and get outside and clean up my garden and get the tulip bulbs in the ground. Success I got it done...the dead brush all cleared away...the soil turned...the hedge trimmed....the porch swept...yippee....

After that I decided I wanted to bake these squares I had seen on Pea's blog. She had this recipe for Toffee Almond Squares....oh my goodness they are fantastic....I baked them for hubby but of course I had to try one....he ate the whole plate I put out....ooops....great recipe Pea thanks!

While I had the base for the squares in the oven I decided I needed to get onto my stepper....so half hour later I was done and so was the base for the square.....I made the topping and popped it into the fridge so it would be ready for dessert. By this time it was getting ready for dinner....so create I did.....I am a bit of a multi tasker....while dinner was in the oven I decided I needed to get some laundry done and vaccum the laundry room.....hmmmm....bit compulsive I think...lol

Anyhow, dinner is done, the dishes are clean..hubby is sound asleep on the couch....I am making this post...then I will go work on my knitting and just chill till bed time.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.......stay happy and healthy all....

I'd like to leave you with this thought.....

"Hope, is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul.....And sings the tune without words And never stops......at all"

~Emily Dickinson~

Saturday Scavenger Photo Hunt

Once again I haven't posted on the hunt for awhile....but this weeks theme is "Together". The first thing that comes to mind of together is being together with family and friends....and then I thought I needed to be a bit more creative than that....so here is my interpretation of "Together"......

These are some onions I pickled they are close "together" in that jar........

My hubby's foot and an oyster, they are close "together"....I think he was trying to show how big that oyster was..his foot is a size 13....

Or these flowers on the stem...they are close "together"

As you can see there are lots of things that can be "together".....if you would like to join in on the fun please go to tnchick for all of the instructions.

Happy Hunting all!

It's that time again......

So it's Flu season again. Today I did the first flu clinic of the season for the doctor's office. It was a busy day as always.

I couldn't believe that I have been doing the flu clinic for three years.

I really get great enjoyment out of doing the clinics. I get to see these people when they are generally healthy and happy. It's really a great time. Living in a seniors community going out to the flu clinic is a social event for them. Funny how that happens. Who would of thought that going to the doctors to get a shot in the arm would be considered a social outing, but for many that is exactly what it is.

Today I gave over 150 injections. I tell you.... if I don't know how to give a shot by the end of a day like that..I don't think I ever will. Actually, by the time I have finished doing the clinics I would have given close to 600 injections. That's a lot of people, but wonderful people.

I feel really fortunate to be able to enter into their lives if only for that brief moment. For some this is their first visit to the doctor's office since I gave them their shot last years. Now that I find amazing...how some people can go a whole year without having to visit a doctor. Good for them I say....they are doing something right. Maybe they can teach me a thing or two.

Anyhow, here is my public announcement....if you haven't t had your flu shot yet..please do, especially if you live with or have close proximity to a senior or someone who is immunocompromised....consider it your good deed for the day and year!

Stay healthy all!

Thought for the day......

~FAITH~

I believe in the ever lasting magic of life. I follow hope, guided by inspiration and faith - knowing that I am lead to what is good and true.

~author unknow~

The kindness of others.....

Do you remember the Andy Griffith Show.....with Gomer, Opey and the gang? When I think of that show it makes me think about my smalltown. My town where most people know each other by name or a least to say hello. There is always a welcoming hello at the grocer or at the one pump gas station. A community that bans together when someone is in need. Yesterday I experienced this kindness from our letter carrier.

We don't get home delivery, we have those super boxes that the letter carrier comes and deposits the mail for the folks in the area. As part of this mail box delivery we have a mailbox attached. The other day I had put a thank you card into the mail for my colleagues who I had lunch with last week. Unfortunately in my haste I forgot to put a stamp on the envelope. You know what my letter carrier did. She went and paid for my postage...she took my card to the post office, and paid for my stamp. Yesterday in my slot was a receipt for the stamp...which is totally ok with me.....I just thought it was so kind and thoughtful of her to actually take the card in the first place.

I am not sure that had I lived in the bigger city if the letter carrier would have done that. I guess that is just another one of the small perks to living in a Smalltown.

Well here's hoping you all have a great weekend and some kindess is sent your way...or better yet...you spread some kindess......cheers all!