Figure Skates #AndrewGillet

My talented husband just completed his latest commission .  I think this is his best figure skate painting - even better  than those that he did for the World Figure Skating Championships last year.
Awesome.

Detail of the laces

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. So You Think You Can Daaven  My weekend started early on Thursday attending a play produced by my friend, Ellen.  She is a great role model for retired life - taking on new experiences and new challenges like producing a play.   
2. Hockey -  The hockey gods certainly were not smiling my way this weekend. Ollie Maata is staying with Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Penguins.  The Knights lost on Friday which usually doesn't bother me but they did not play well which is unusual.  I didn't send my Friday night post game Knight tweet as I couldn't think of anything good to say. Another loss on Sunday.  And, after three consecutive weeks of being in a leading position in my hockey pool  I sank to mid pack.  
3. Captain Phillips -  Great movie.  The last scene is movie storytelling at it's best.  Brilliant performance by Tom Hanks.  
4. Sunday Morning Walk - Instead of our usual hike around Westminster Ponds we decided to walk Beau around Springbank Park this week.  Such a beautiful park.  Lots of activity.  Beau likes the wildness of the Ponds better - not a fan of being on a leash on his Sunday morning walks.

     5.  Sunday Breakfast   - Sunday was a day of change!  Our normal post walk - Sunday 

          breakfast diner has been declining in quality so we tried a new spot this week -

          Edgar and Joe's.  It is an initiative of our local Goodwill giving employment opportunities

          to those  needing experience.  What a great idea. The food was delicious - a sunny 

          and bright seating area.  I think we have found our new Sunday breakfast spot!

     6.  Cookies, Cookies...   I spent the summer baking pies and trying to improve my pastry 

          skills so this weekend's cookie baking was a welcome change.........

          I am intrigued by the "Compost Cookies" from  Momofuko.  This New York bakery

          recently opened a store in Toronto.  The compost cookies have a variety of ingredients

          including potato chips, pretzels, coffee, chipits.   The name is unappetizing - I think

          "Kitchen Sink" cookies is better.  I had to try them . 

          I also baked the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookie.  I froze two batches as a 

          start to my Christmas baking. 

    

Hockey Pool

I finished making my hockey picks for the week. This is the second week in our hockey pool (not counting the first three pilot weeks).

 Why is it that I was in first place or second place during the trial weeks and sink to the middle of the pack when it gets serious!!!

This is the first year for our pool -the half season prize waits for the winner -
not exactly the "Shiva Cup" .

Good luck everyone.

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.  Knights lost both games this weekend.  Disappointing.  However, the hockey gods continue to smile upon my choices in our hockey pool.  I was in second this week but in first place overall.   I can only hope that my luck continues as the race for the KIA starts with this week's picks.
2.  Wedding bells ringing   We attended a beautiful wedding this weekend at the local golf course overlooking the lake.  Gorgeous fall colours.  Unfortunately the rain didn't cooperate so they were married inside,.  however, they were able to take some photos outside.  Beautiful light with the overcast and brilliant colours of the trees.  Some funky shots with bridal party under umbrellas.
3. Poignant ceremony, beautiful bride  and my awesome son did a great job as emcee of the evening's program.
4. Quiet Sunday recovering from the dancing, and frivolity of the night before.  Brunch with friends from out of town.  
5. Quest for the Cup premiered Sunday night.  The documentary is following the London Knights through to the Memorial Cup. It was a good intro segment.  The deadline for purchasing our Memorial Cup tickets is  fast approaching.  The price is ridiculous - the debate continues in our household.
6.  50 things   I am close to completing my list of 50 things I need to do before I retire.... should be publishing it soon....

     

The Bunny Whisperer

Our neighbourhood is full of rabbits.  Every evening at dusk as we walk Beau, rabbits are perched everywhere.  We have had two close encounters with these creatures this summer - really bunny rescues.
You see I live with a talented artist who is a bunny whisperer as well.

The first incident occured early in the summer just as we opened the pool.  We were in the backyard and a baby rabbit bolted into our yard, inches away from Beau - for a split second both stopped and stared - and then the bunny leaped across the backyard.  Unfortunately our pool was in his direct path.  He landed in the water, swam across the pool in a nonosecond and of course couldn't get out.   Bunny Whisperer to the rescue!!!  He fished the rabbit out of the pool with the basket, then the rabbit let him lift him out and out of the yard to safety!!

The second incident was later in the summer - again around the pool.  Pools and rabbits don't mix......

 When checking the pool first thing in the morning, we found a bunny in the skimmer.  He had been swirling around there for awhile.  The poor thing was exhausted and barely breathing.  The Bunny Whisperer delicately picked him out- gently massaged the rabbit hoping to get him breathing properly and the circulation going.   After wrapping in a towel and creating a little nest in the backyard, the rabbit slowly recovered and within an hour hopped away.
Happy endings in both cases.  Since his first bunny rescue, the Whisperer has experienced much good fortune.
Recently we came home and found laying against our front door a bottle of wine -  "Good Kharma" wine to be exact with bunny ears and tail with the following inscription:

"You are lifesaver.   All my love ... Jack Rabbit"

Thanks Glenn.... oops.. I mean Jack

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.     HAPPY THANKSGIVING....  What a beautiful Fall day to enjoy.   It is
                      so much better for us as Canadians to celebrate now rather than late
                      November with usually dreary weather.

              2.     Thanksgiving celebrations started early with our traditional Thanksgiving
                      coffee break at work.  I am very thankful that I love my job and have
                      such a wonderful team to work with.  As always tons of food - that we
                      nibbled on right through to end of day Friday.

              3.    Thanksgiving means food - so did a far amount of baking/cooking this
                      weekend -  Puppy Chow for work celebrations,  Loaded Potatoe Dip,
                       and made my first Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin tarts, Ham, Scalloped 
                       Scalloped Potatoes

              4.    My sister Donna is having Thanksgiving today at lunchtime - Thanks Donna
                    This morning I am getting organized with my contributions.

              5.    Knights won again on Friday - I tied for first place in our hockey pool last 
                     week and we will probably watch the Knights away game on TV this
                     afternoon with the rest of the family.  How Canadian is that!

               6.   I am going to try and eat wisely today since I have been endulging in Thanksgiving
                     food since Thursday.  Starting tomorrow - if it is not green - I am not eating
                     it!

               

             
                    
                      





http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/jobs/embrace-your-age-and-conquer-the-world.html?_r=1&

Friday , October 11 - Day of the Girl

Tomorrow... we celebrate the Day of the Girl

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world and to support the right to education for all girls.

Tomorrow... the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced. It should be awarded to Malala Yousafzai.

Tomorrow ... show your support for Day of the Girl - Raise your Hand for the Right to Education for all Girls - post a picture on Facebook and Twitter of your hand raised with #Day of the Girl

how are they hanging......

Finally finished my photo gallery project.!  Just a little bit behind schedule.  My summer project completed just before Thanksgiving.  It was a much bigger job than I anticipated but a lot of fun putting everything in new frames.  A bit of a challenge figuring out how to hang organize them   Lots of great memories hanging around..... and space to always add more....   

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.    Hockey was the theme this weekend-  2 Knights games this weekend both Friday and 
        Saturday night.   The London Knights won both and played well.  

2.    This weekend we were finalizing our  new hockey pool for the season.  12 participants so far -
       have almost signed everyone online and in our group.   The first couple of weeks are trial
       weeks and don't  count for the prize.   I had the top score this week!

3     we (really Craig) tackled the jungle at the side of the house.  Looks great now -
       new garden bed ready for planting in the spring.   Thanks Craig!

Going gray..

I was at the hairdressers yesterday for a haircut.  Not coloured or highlighted -just cut.

You see, this month marks the two year anniversary of letting my hair go to its natural colour or "going gray".  I have put no colour of any kind on my hair since September 2011.

Being a blonde all my life, your hair colour does get attention.   From the time you are a small child  - people/ strangers comment on your hair - touch your hair  Why did my mother let strangers just come up and touch my hair????- Your hair colour  helps define you  (good and bad to that)

Even though there is some blonde left  - I feel that I can no longer describe myself as a blonde.  It is interesting there is no  label/noun for someone with gray hair -   One can be a blonde, a brunette, or a redhead but what about gray?

It has not been easy and many times I have been very tempted to highlight or colour.  But I have persevered and now I am happy with it.  My hair is healthier and I think the colour suits me.  Once again Shanna, my stylist and the owner of Eskape Salon, was right.  You see, she recommended I try my natural hair colour.  That is one of the reason she is such a great stylist - not concerned about the loss of business of no longer colouring my hair but always committed to what is best for her client.  Thanks Shanna.

For me going gray has been a very public acknowledgement of the "emerging senior" in me.  But as a generation/ as Boomers I think we approach aging and retirement with a different attitude. Covering gray is no longer a must for women.  Gray hair is no longer our grandmother's gray - dyed white (sometimes looks blue), cut short.  Now it is not unusual to see a women in her 50's, 60's or 70's  with long beautiful gray hair.  I think it is empowering.