Monday Morning

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine. and 
spreading the rest of your life over seven days!








1.   The Knights won on Friday night against the Saginaw Spirit, 6 to 3.  Domi and Horvat 
      were released from their NHL teams and now we wait for the defensemen to return

2.   We are organizing a hockey pool for the NHL season. Just finished the set up this 
      weekend.  So far 13 participants.  The half season pot will be 130 dollars. 
      Of course the real fun is the competition among us along the way.  

3.   Attended family brunch on Sunday at my brother in law and sister in law's place.  
      It was great to see Connor on a visit home from university in Toronto.  Fabulous food
       - tons of it.  My sister in law, Cheryl,  is such an awesome cook.

4.   Beekeepers....not.   For  several weeks we have had bees in our house. 
      A couple at a time--always around a window.  Then, we discovered bees hanging around
      the outside vent from our kitchen exhaust fan.  After examining the range hood we found 
      a spot that they were getting in the house and taped it up.  We solved the problem of the
      bees inside but I still didn't want them in our vent.  Given bees are in trouble right now, 
      we didn't want to kill  them. . So, I turned to the internet for 
      answers and discovered that if you smoked out the  bees, they eat their  hive and leave.  
      We bought large incense bundles from an Asian convenience store, held it just under the 
      exhaust  fan above the  stove and waited.  Sure enough the bees left the vent. 
      After an hour of holding the incense,  the house was full of smoke, the kitchen was 
      covered in incense dust, the house smelled like a hindu temple but we think the bees 
      are gone.  Only time will tell. 

5.   Breaking Bad Last Episode -  well done bitch!
      

Kingsmills - a London legacy

I am a Londoner, born and raised - at least fifth generation. My  great grandfather was a developer who built in many of our older neighbourhoods.  Steeles Street in North London is named for him.  I love London and proud to live here.

Our city is not without challenges but still a great place to live and to raise a family.  Much is written about the decline of London.  Headline after headline, article after article but none of the dialogue to date has spoken to me more strongly about London's demise than the announcement on Friday that Kingsmills is for sale.

My family has been shopping there since it opened well over a hundred years ago.   The sparkling hardwood floors and the old fashioned caged elevators are reminders and links to that past.  I just always took for granted that it would continue.

Although we like to think of Kingsmills as an institution, it is not.  It is a business that has to make a profit to survive.  I can only conclude that that is no longer feasible.  No other explanation makes sense.

There has been a  lot of chatter about the Kingsmills announcement.  Many Londoners will feel a sense of loss when the name on the store is no longer Kingsmills or run by that family or maybe even closed. There is maybe even a sense of Kingsmills giving up.  This is not about Kingsmills failing.   I think London has failed Kingsmills.

I have always admired those stores like Kingsmills and Nash Jewelers who have remained at the core of our downtown when all others have left.  They remained open and contributing members to the initiatives to revitalize our downtown.  They remained open long after the customers have left the downtown.  How long are these retailers expected to wait for the turnaround of our core area?  Richmond and Dundas only grows worse.  I wouldn't walk my dog at that corner.

I have not abandoned Downtown London. I am a supporter.  I am downtown at least once a week .  I shop downtown.  I eat downtown.  But my activities are concentrated on King and Talbot - at the Market and the  independent stores and restaurants in that area. That part of our downtown  is now alive and vibrant.

Why can't we make the same happen for Dundas and Richmond? Will it ever recover?  I know it will never  be the Richmond and Dundas that I remember -  Simpson's  windows decorated for Christmas- restaurants and independent shops lining Dundas - magnificent movie theatres.   Maybe the future doesn't look like the past but it must  be  better than the present.

The lack of revitalization of this part of our core comes at a cost.  The cost on Friday  was a tough one to accept.

Retirement - from here to there

Sneak peak #andrewgillet

The Covent Garden Market has commissioned a painting by my Artist In Residience for the cover of their annual calendar. Here is a sneak peak. Original painting based on a photo by #noel sargeant

Monday Morning

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine. and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

1.  Started weekend activities early this week with dinner and drinks with my PALs.  Great way to
      start the weekend

2.  Opening game of the London Knights Hockey season .  They won 3 - 0 #GoKnightsGo.

      #Budweiser Gardens looked awesome with the new LED light show around the entire
        circumference.

3.  Dinner with good friends Glenn and Sue on Saturday night. Hadn't seen them all summer.
      Great  to catch up

4.  First day of Fall and back to our regular Sunday routines - long walk at Westminster Ponds
      with Beau ,  and then breakfast at Riverdale.  The ponds weren't too muddy and
      the dog stayed clean!

5.  Did my fall plantings in the front garden.  Left a few annuals in until significant frost.
      The morning glory  are still blooming and such a treat every morning when
       I get the newspaper.

6.  Mom and Dad joined us for dinner tonight and I made my first roast beef of
       the Fall season.  I love BBQ      but it is good to get back to roast season.  Next time
       I am making Yorkshire puddings.

7,  Dexter's last episode.  I never thought I would say " I really am going to miss that serial killer"
     Good bye Dexter.  Definitely set up for a  movie sequel

It starts tonight.....#GoKnightsGo

The season starts tonight...on the path to the Memorial Cup. Go Knights Go!

Found (sort of) Dairy Queen Giant Ice Cream Cone Lights

For forever I have coveted the Giant Ice Cream Lights that have illuminated the entrance at our local Dairy Queen..  I  thought they would make awesome lights in my backyard. 
Yesterday whenI drove by, the road was dug up and the lights were gone!!  I called DQ only to discover that they were thrown out in the garbage a couple of weeks ago!!!!  I loved those giant ice cream cone lights!
Here is a perfect example that if I was retired I would have the time to see if I could track them .  Why do I worry that I won't be busy in retirement?

Homemade Snickers Bar Recipe

http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/03/02/homemade-snickers-bars/print/

I made these for Book Club last night.  Good news.. they are delicious and gluten free  Bad news - they are messy - full of peanuts if you are allergic,- and take too much time to make.   At room temperature, they begin to melt. I am going to keep these in the freezer until ready to serve.

Did I mention they are delicious!! The recipe is from Brown Eyed Baker (link to recipe above photo)

#German Apple Cake Recipe

REcipe from #All Recipes -  MY Revisions to the Recipe are shown in Blue

2 eggs I used 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil I used 1/2 cup of applesauce plus 1/2 c. veg oil 2 cups white sugar I used 1 c each of brown and white sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 cups apples - peeled, cored and diced I used five cups

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch cake pan. I used a bundt cake pan
2.	In a mixing bowl; beat oil and eggs with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.
3.	Combine the flour salt, baking soda, and ground cinnamon together in a bowl. Slowly add this mixture to the egg mixture and mix until combined. The batter will be very thick. Fold in the apples by hand using a wooden spoon. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
4.	Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes  55 minutes for bundt pan or until cake tests done. Let cake cool on a wire rack. Once cake is cool serve with a dusting of confectioners' sugarI used a caramel glaze - melt 1/2 c butter on stove, add 1.2 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of cream.  Bring to boil for 3 minutes.  Take off of heat and add  1tsp vanilla.  Pour over cake

#Monday morning......

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!





1.  This weekend went to see #The Family.  Not funny - rather violent.  Not the comedy I was expecting.

2.  Finished the book I was reading "The Love You Make" by Peter Brown  about the Beatles.
Fascinating.  I was just a bit too young to be involved in Beatlemania.  A real "insiders" look at the break up.

3.  Had my last# Salt Therapy session in the initial treatment cycle .  I think it has made a difference.  Not a miracle cure but certainly has relieved symptoms.  I need to think about maintenance now.

4.  Attended Ashley's bridal shower.  Lovely bride..  Looking forward to the wedding in a few weeks.

5.   Sunday's Breaking Bad and Dexter episodes - awesome ..  Both legendary TV programs coming to an end at almost the same time!!!!!!!!

6.  Furiously reading " A tree grows in brooklyn" for Monday's book club.  Almost done

7.  Made German Apple Cake  for dessert on Sunday.  . I amended the recipe a bit from  the All recipes and served with a caramel  sauce. (recipe in a separate post)

Looking forward to Book Club this week and Season Opening Game of  #Knights on Friday night!!!

Happy Retirement Sue and Dave

We had dinner this week with friends - Sue and Dave from North Bay. They are both school teachers (I guess former school teachers) and have just retired. Happy Retirement. They are so cool about it.... Making a list of things to do but really just enjoying the moment right now and the freedom from someplace to be - from something that must be done. Enjoy every moment.

Love how this retirement photo especially how the guy is carrying the bag!

Mathilda Mural #andrewgillet

I admit that I live with a very talented guy - my "artist in residence" as I affectionately refer to him. However, it is not my practice to repeatedly remind him of this. He receives tons of affirmation regarding how awesome he is from strangers everyday. I feel it is my role.... no... really my duty to keep him grounded and modest. I try to be helpful and remind him of the areas where he can improve. I think I am very good at this... but this largely goes unappreciated. He just finished a mural at the Covent Garden Market - Mathilda. It is awesome!

Photo, photos everywhere

My summer project this year was to reorganize my photo collages.   I had them in frames (by year) displayed on our staircase wall.  The frames were old and I had stopped doing the annual collages a few years ago. I wanted the displays to be less linear and more organic so I took the displays apart, mixed them all up... labelled each photo,  went through my recent SD cards.... found some new photos...bought frames that I liked.... Sounds simple ... it has taken .... forever.    The summer is over but this project is not....  Here you see the photos being reorganized into the new frames and the frames finished sitting in the hallway waiting to be hung. Clearly I should have saved this project for retirement!

Good Game Bailey #girls soccer

Just finished watching my niece's final game of the soccer season. Unfortunately they lost in the semi finals.
It was great to be at the park teaming with kids participating ... parents and families watching
Kids being active enjoying a beautiful warm day and most importantly girls competing on an athletic field. Great game Bailey - hurts to lose but so much fun to play.

back to dance class

First ballroom class after having the summer off.... Yikes.... A bit rusty to say the least....

Retirement: pros and cons

There is so much to consider as I plan for retirement. In theory, my retirement planning began decades ago with pension contributions, RRSPs, etc. Truthfully, I didn't give it much thought. Real planning for me didn't begin until much much later.... When kids are raised - left the nest.... when you are eligible to collect a pension...when the idea of a slower pace for the first time in your life seems somewhat attractive.... I think retirement like other major phases of life - parenthood; adolescence - is something that evolves within you - emerges. Almost naturally you begin to weigh options... think about timing. I am a pros and cons type of person. I approach planning and decisions that way. This was demonstrated to me in spades last week when I went shopping for a computer. My son and his girlfriend came along with me. There were so many choices - I think I was a bit bewildered. Suddenly, in the middle of the store, my son turns to me and says "Well, let's consider the pros and cons of each" Words that I know that I have said to him on countless occasions. Suddenly I was grounded and could see a path to a decision. Lesson Learned - my son really manages me well! .

Happy Birthday Dad

83 years old and still going strong. I am grateful to my Dad for many things;but most of all, for how is taking such good care of my Mom.  Thanks Dad