Monday Morning #Snovember

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!

The news in my part of the world this weekend was the huge snowstorm!  Although not strangers to snowstorms one of this amount of snow is rare for us in November.  In total over 70 cm (27 inches) fell overnight smothering the city and for the most part shutting it down.

We woke up Sunday to the beauty of the staggering snowfall

We spent the morning shovelling and made a trek to the grocery store to get supplies. With the city shutdown we were out of dog food  (don't want to be housebound with a 100 lb dog without food) We made Beau carry his own groceries.

It is Monday Morning and routine returns to the city.  The snow plow just went by again so we are back to shoveling to get out of the driveway and off to work.

I want to say a special thank you to my colleagues at the hospital yesterday who while everyone else had the luxury of not going to work or their business closed.  The hospital never closes.  To those hospital workers and all essential service workers who got to work under very difficult circumstances.  Thank you.

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.     London Knights had a much better weekend of hockey winning both Friday night and Sunday 
        afternoon.  Good friends, Leigh and Karen came to town for the game.  Great to be able to
        spend some time together and catch up.


2.    Good Ole Freda was playing at the Hyland on the weekend.  It is charming documentary
       about Freda Kelly, the girl in charge of the Beatles fan club from the beginning of the fab four
       through the height of Beatlemania and it's demise when the Beatles broke up .
       It was a great story. http://www.goodolfreda.com/

3.    Fall behind provided an extra hour of sleep yesterday and even with the clocks turning back the 
       sunset was around 5pm -  a real sign of winter coming 

4.    A Tim Horton's Christmas Moment  After a morning of shopping , my sister and I made the picks
       for our family Christmas gift exchange over a cup of coffee at Tim's.  How Canadian is that!
       












3. 

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. 

    

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....

     

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&

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!

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!
      

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

#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!!!