The good old hockey game....

Yesssssss hockey is back!!

Well ok, so it never went away but the NHL is back!!

I am pumped!

My brother played hockey when we were young, I bonded with my dad over hockey games, have a photo with Lord Stanley, I got to see Lindros play in the juniors and I even dated a few hockey players in my day! Something about hockey that gets me excited and makes me happy!! Hockey has always been a part of my winter! I like yelling at the tv, getting into arguments….err I mean discussions with people about hockey and  depending who makes it - the play offs!! 

I have found that hockey is a good conversation starter when running into other Canadiens! I have a Montreal Canadiens jersey bag that I like to use when my team in playing their season....you would be surprised how many people notice it!! I can carry around my $400 Coach bag and get way less action.  I got rear ended while in a McDonald's drive thru many years ago and when I got out to deal with it I noticed the guy who hit me had a Toronto Maple Leafs license plate....so of course I let it slide.....clearly he was special.

It is always interesting to hear other people’s opinions on things and the NHL lockout was no exception! I thought I had a fairly strong and educated opinion on it until I spoke to some people who knew some of the insiders personally.  It reminded me that there truly are two sides to every story – especially when the media is concerned.

Do I think they get paid too much - I think that things are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them…..but since no one is asking me I am not sure it matters! I think a lot of people get paid too much and I think a lot of people are under paid! But that doesn’t change how I feel about watching my Habs play their way through an NHL season!  I think we all need to keep in mind that hockey, just like Duck Dynasty, UFC, and Wheel of Fortune, is just another form of entertainment!  We all have the freedom to enjoy whatever form of entertainment we want so, if you don't like it don't watch it! You aren't going to see that Honey Boo Boo freak show playing on my tv.....but good for them I guess....better than being on welfare - and it must be entertaining to someone!

As a small token of protest I may spend less money on hockey paraphernalia this year but to be perfectly honest - I have been excited about today ever since I heard they sorted out this lockout!


And what a great way to welcome back hockey with a classic match up, Montreal  vs Toronto!!  

Pass me a beer! 

Christmas Spirit

Another Christmas Day has come and gone! I love the Christmas season! Everyone is so happy and polite! Isn’t it nice? People holding doors open for one another, offering a smile and a helping hand. Most people are much nicer to and more considerate of their fellow man during the month of December.

Then….. boxing day madness!!!! And it is all over.

Such a shame to only have that feeling once a year!  How can we hold onto this feeling of goodwill towards men and what exactly makes us feel this way?

Other than creating another Christmas-like celebration in the summer I really don’t know how you would get this overall feeling of goodness back until next Christmas – and with how much controversy one Christmas has I can’t imagine there will ever be two!

So how do we hang onto this feeling? How do we not revert back to “bah-humbugging” our way through the year?

I guess it probably comes down to each individual person. We all have our thoughts regarding the Christmas season.

There is the religious aspect obviously…..but those “churchy” types seem to happy all the time, so that can’t be it. OR maybe that is it! Maybe that is the thing they hold onto all year….not just during Christmas – interesting theory.

There is the giving aspect! Which I personally LOVE! Nothing I enjoy more than watching someone I love open a gift that I selected or made specifically for them! SO maybe that is it…instead of just giving gifts at Christmas we spread it out all year. The 25th of every month is present day? Hmmm that could work you know; and as an all year Christmas shopper I would know! I love picking up the perfect Christmas gift in the middle of summer and stashing it in my closet until it is time to get out the Christmas wrap! So maybe instead of waiting until Christmas we just give the gift whenever we feel like it?

There is the “slowing down “aspect as well. This is another one that I love! Everyone just shuts down for that one day a year! You can spend it however you like; a crazy day spent traveling from relative to relative topped off with a huge feast; or you stay in your pajamas all day, opening presents, watching movies, playing cards and cooking turkey!  Either way you are with family and taking guilt free day off! SO is that it? Making more time for guilt-free days off? Or making more time for family events? Or would eating more turkey do it?

Of course there is the receiving of gifts aspect…Who doesn’t like getting gifts? The “ohhh, what is it?” the “WOW I love it” and the “OMG, how did you know!?”  It feels good to be thought about! To know that one of our loved ones was out and about when something caught their eye and made them think of us! How nice! So it that it?? We need to get more gifts throughout the year in order to keep the Christmas spirit alive all year?

Now let’s not forget the Christmas music and decorations! There is something so nice about getting out of your car in the freezing cold to get that last minute jug of eggnog and being greeted with Christmas carols! Is it just me, or does it seem like every store has outdoor speakers in December?  And the decorations!! Beautiful! Even the tacky ones are beautiful!! Lights, snowmen, santas, nativity scenes, reindeer….amazing! So maybe that is it? Leave the trees, garland and lights up all year? 

 I don’t have the answers and really, do we need to know what makes us feel this way?OR do we just need to try our best to keep the Christmas spirit alive as long into the new year as we can? 

I think that is it! Just try our best! 

Ok, so whatever you need to grab onto or remind yourself of or alter in your life to keep that goodwill towards men thing going  - do it! 

I bet it will rub off on those around you……and if it doesn’t -  well at least yule feel good! ;o) 

easy ribs

I first had these ribs at my sisters cabin this summer! Easy and delicious, exactly what you need at the lake.....or anytime you want a time saver meal! The hardest thing about this meal is what to make as a side! Yam fries are an easy option!

So here is what you need: 

 - pork ribs....back or side

 - your slow cooker

 - ketchup

 - liquid smoke

 - brown sugar

 - your bbq or your oven on broil

 
Step one: cut up the ribs and place in slower cooker, leave on low all day!

Step two: combine ketchup, brown sugar and liquid smoke.

 

Step three: place the ribs in the grill and brush with sauce

Step four: turn and brush with sauce - repeat until you can't stand it anymore!

Step five: load up on napkins and dig in!! 

Easy hey?

Inspiration - the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something.

Being mentally stimulated to do or feel something. 

Simple.

 

I try to feel inspiration everyday, I like to get out with my camera and capture it. It has gotten much easier moving to the country. Everywhere I look, a deer sleeping in the field, a bird enjoying the bird seed in our feeder, a clear night with a full moon, a breathtaking sunset, and the list goes on.

 

Besides staying in tune with mother nature, I try to keep a look out for inspiration in words. Here are a few of my favourites,

"It is not your job to like me - it's mine!"

So true. We all know this......and we all are guilty of forgetting this. We all want to be liked and included and even admired. Who doesn't like a compliment? or a thanks? or an 'atta girl? I think this saying is a good one to keep in your pocket. Sometimes when you try too hard to please people or have people like you - you forget to like yourself! When you like yourself.....so will others!  And if they don't......remember, "it's not their job to like you....it's yours!"

"Mind your own business, and you won't be minding mine!"

Not only a great saying - also a great song, and how true! We seem to be so concerned with things that don't concern us. Unless someone asks you to stick your nose in, or if by not sticking your nose in you are becoming an accomplice or leaving someone in harms way....then keep your nose out of it!  

 

"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!"

These words warm my heart. This is true of all of the loving relationships I have in my life! We all are better because of each other. I especially think of my marriage when I read this......faults and all we are one when we are together. We are complete, we are safe.

"Only work out on the days you want to be happy!"

Healthy eating and exercise have become a big part of my life over the last few years. As we age our metabolism slows and sometimes so does our motivation. Working up a sweat and "feeling the burn" makes me happy! Makes everyone happy - ask science....something about endorphins.

"If you don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree!"

For the first half of my life I thought my dad made this saying up.The first time I saw it was in an old yearbook belonging to my parents. Under the black and white photo of my young handsome father, this saying listed as his favourite inspirational quote, so of course - it became one of mine!

Inspiration

We all need it.

We all need to be it. 

We all need more of it.

Where do you find yours?

How do you help others find theirs?

lasgana

The wind is whistling; outside the are leaves rustling down the lane and the sun is sinking lower across the horizon. You know what that means - it is comfort food time! I love to eat and cook and eat while I am cooking. There are so many options for me, growing up in rural Saskatchewan with parents who grew up in Northern Manitoba I learned a thing or two about hearty comfort foods!

Here is a traditional lasagna that is very easy to make and freezes well. When I make this recipe I pick up some disposable tupperware while I am getting the ingredients so I can stock up my freezer with easy lunches!

Ingredients:

lasagna noodles - I use brown rice noddles

extra lean ground meat - I used beef

tomato sauce - I used earthpure organic tomato sauce

cottage cheese

onion

green pepper

clubhouse Italian spice

three cheese italiano shredded cheese

 

Chop green pepper and onion and sautee in pan

Bring a large pot of water to boil and add noodles. Cook until just soft (al dente)

Add hamburger to pan and fry.

Add tomato sauce, garlic and a dash of Italian spice to hamburger.

Add Italian spice to cottage cheese and mix.

Alternate layers of  hamburger, noodles and cottage in pan.  Top with cheese.

Put into the oven covered at 350 for about 45 minutes and then uncovered for 10 or so.

Let cool, cut up and enjoy!

a nice surprise!

Our old neighbours stopped by my work this morning, they live in BC now but they were in town for a doctor’s appointment so they popped by to ask about a fridge and to say hi! 

Big Hugs! 

Big Smiles! 

Man, they are great people! I forgot how nice it was living beside them! They taught us how to play dice, and we had many a game of dice with them.....and many a glass of wine!

It was a great way to start my day and much needed reminder to me that things are not always as you remember them…….

 

I always think of our time in our old neighbourhood as negative and angry, when in fact it was only one person that was that way. It took up way too much of our energy dealing with him and clearly it has taken up permanent residence in my memories too. Thanks to a surprise visit today I was reminded of the good friends we made, the fun card nights we had and the laughs we shared!

From my meeting today I am reminded that we are in charge of how we feel, we are in charge of what we take away from our experiences. Instead of focusing on the negative of that situation I should be focusing on the positive!

We moved out to the country and are living in a beautiful, peaceful setting, and who knows, without that one rotten egg we may never have gotten the push we needed to get out of town!  We were able to keep our house as a rental property, have lucked out with a great renter and have a great excuse to still pop by and see some of our old neighbours that we got along with! We have met and become part of a great community of people that share the country lifestyle with us and are some of the most helpful, kind people we have known!

 

So really, I should be thanking that one bad egg for all of the good things that came as a result of his actions!

I like that!

It feels so much better!

It is so easy to focus on the bad…..why is that?

 

Are there things in your life that can be turned into positives by just taking another look……..

Fall

Fall is such a wonderful time of year! The days are warm, the sun is starting to set earlier, but still stays up long enough to provide some  brilliant sunsets! The mornings..... well, the mornings are a little too dark for my liking, just a reminder that winter is around the corner. 

 

Harvest, a time of gathering and reaping what we sow. Sometimes we have a great year and harvest is bountiful, providing us plenty of reserves for the coming winter. Other years harvest is poor, leaves us wondering how we will make it through another winter. 

 

My mom always had us do a fall and spring clean at our house, I can't say I loved doing it; washing the walls, cleaning out the closets, all the re-organizing....but now that I am older and running my own household, I totally get it! It feels so good to start a new season with a fresh outlook and a clean house! 

So along with harvesting crops and gardens, fall is a good time to take an inventory of some of the things in our lives and not just our winter clothes and the junk piled up in the basement; but also some of our relationships. It is a good time to see how what we have planted in our lives has fared through the summer, if it is going to provide us with what we need to make it through the winter. Who says New Years Eve is the only time we can re-evaluate things? 

It isn't always easy either, like a favourite pair of shoes, we all have relationships that we really liked....but they just don't fit the same anymore, you can still wear them - but they just don't make you feel the same as they did when you first got them. Just like those shoes,  some of the things we "planted" haven't done so well and as much as we wanted them to thrive and even though we have nurtured and cared for these things.....they didn't make it. So you have some choices to make - you can leave them be, let them keep taking up space in your life, you can bag them up and drop them off somewhere, making room for the new, you can give them one more season "mend some fences", see if things turn around or you can just call it a day and let them go.

Whichever way you decide to go, remember, winter is around the corner and you want to be ready - it is going to get cold..... you need to surround yourself with warmth.