Monday, October 28, 2013

First Lake Freighters of the Season


I saw my first boat of this autumn season out on the Lake this afternoon,
it is always a thrill to see them!


then as I sat here at my computer I spied another out on the horizon, 
so I took the photo through the screened window

My Left Knee Progress



Time is flying, it is October already
I had surgery on my left knee just over 3 weeks ago. I went in to have the torn meniscus cleaned up, but once the surgeon looked at the inside of my knee decided to do some micro fracturing too. It is a slow heal. I am still on crutches, but am light weight bearing, thank goodness, as I am not good on crutches for non weight bearing. I am still mostly house bound, and unsure of what I should be doing or shouldn't be doing. 
I am looking forward to being able to go for a walk outside, or to even go to the grocery store..it is a lesson in patience.



My left knee a few days after my surgery a few weeks ago.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

September snuck in...


Time is flying, the first week of September has almost passed. 
In July I hurt my left knee, I had a MRI last week in the city and saw my family doctor yesterday to get the results. I tore the meniscus in a few places .. boy oh boy .. it sucks to be getting old. Lucky for me there will be an orthopaedic surgeon here next week and he had some cancellations. On Monday morning I will have surgery to repair my left knee again. 
This isn't the way I thought I would be spending the last weeks of summer and the beginning of autumn, but I am grateful.

Early Sunday Morning


sunflowers are starting to bloom


cloudy morning


bigger sunflower

Friday, August 16, 2013

Early Morning Dew


Heavy dew this morning, water droplets on sage leaves!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Happy Summer


Hello!
I haven't been around much.
 Two cats have been keeping me busy, busier than I imagined.
I have also been in the birch bush, then in the gardens. I am not finished with the gardens just yet. Still edging my neighbours garden, and will plant some sunflowers that I started in flats, over there. I will plant them here too, as well as the pole beans I also started in flats. They usually getting eaten off by creatures if I plant them directly into the garden.
In February I joined our local biggest loser group hosted by our medical clinic. I am happy to say at our last weigh in for the summer that I am down 11.7 pounds, I have lost 6.3% of my body weight!! Whee, I was very happy and excited yesterday when I got on the scale. I haven't lost any weight in the past month, but I haven't gained any either, so I am maintaining. I must get back on my weight loss band wagon, I still want to lose 15 or so pounds. I did 13 days of green juicing but was stopped short by a family tragedy. I would like to start juicing again, I felt really good while doing it.
Our lilacs are just starting to come out in full bloom as well os our ornamental crab apple tree. It is finally starting to feel like summer.
I will try hard to post more regularly..
Enjoy the summer!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Blue Ice, Spring Snow Storm, April 6th, 2013


I absolutely love the blue ice on the beach this afternoon. We are having a spring snow storm, snowy and very blowy. It was really cold out there, and the wind was driving the snow into our eyes. Hehe, I didn't want to come home, I was mesmerized by the vibrant blue ice. The blue just seems to pop in the grey of this snowy day.
I love it!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Fred and Morty

For Christmas I adopted two tuxedo male brothers.. Fred and Morty. Black faced Fred, and pink nose Morty. They lived in a shelter in a cage for one year. They were 18 months when they came home. The are both very fearful, we think they were abused in their first 6 months before they went to live at the shelter. 
We are trying to teach them about being outside, I would like them to be outside cats, but I am fearful they will run away, or out on the road. I had them out on leashes yesterday but two cats on strings are very hard for one person to handle.
They were out loose this morning but it took Mark and I a long time to catch them to bring them back in. Fred screams at the door to go out..
They are a handful but they are sweeties!


Fred & Morty

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Grey Day


It was a chilly damp, mild day today, but the wind was very cold down at the Lake. There is ice building up on the shore, it seems to change every day. I love to hear the tinkling sound of the ice as it undulates with the wave action underneath. Beauties!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

My Version of my Gram's Pork, Barley and Sauerkraut Stew

I made this delicious stew for dinner last night. My Gram L. used to make it years ago when I lived with them while I was in college. My Grandpa used to make their sauerkraut, yum! It is an old Polish recipe, but I had to wing it from memory and taste. It is pretty close to what I remember.



Pork, Barley and Sauerkraut Stew


1 tbsp. olive oil
2 large onion, chopped
1 bulb of garlic, chopped
2 pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat, and cubed
3 litres of chicken broth
1 cup uncooked barley
4 cups sauerkraut
salt and pepper to taste


In a very large pot heat the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until softened. Add the cubed pork and continue cooking on medium heat until all the meat has been browned. Add the broth, and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for an hour or so. Add the barley and cook with the pot covered until the barley is tender, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sauerkraut with the liquid, and cook for half an hour more, season with salt and black pepper to taste.
It is ready to serve!
It makes a lot, but we (three of us) had it for two meals with a little leftover for tomorrows lunch.
Enjoy!