Hi Mel! I see your egg's lit. Shad and I are just having coffee - poor thing must have thought I'd never get up and start the day. No more chitchat for now, I must get dressed and find something to feed the poor woman - the cupboard is rather bare... Have a leisurey chamomile day.
Hi Ruth, nice to meet you, and thanks again for dinner. We got back before dark,and were in bed by midnight. S is raring to go, so I'll save any other stuff for later. If you PM me your email address, I'll send you the snaps I took yesterday on departure. Droit du signeur, you evil woman?
Shad has more than earned her brekkie - I hit the wrong key and the post disappeared but she told me about Ctrl Z (Zed as we call it up her in civilization ) and the day was saved.
Hi and bye to all the others. Not ignoring you, but Madame awaits...
Just wanted to warn everyone that if i don't post much for a bit it's just because I'm saving some mental energy. I'll pop in and read and throw my two cents in here and there but I feel as if I am being pulled in 14 directions at once and I'm not sure spending more time on the compter than necessary helps much.
I'll be back when and if I can. I appreciate everyone's support!
Morning all,
Carla is about to drag me out on a Canadian Route March. If I don't get back before the middle of next week, send out the Mounties.
Happy - take it easy and the job will make more sense more quickly. Bet you are glad the weekend is here and you can make plans for more interesting things.
Mel - we had breakfast at the Long Horn yesterday - I have some pictures of the outside of it. I've been initiated into Delta's intrigue and mayhem, visited the mill and been part of society. Lucy and I raced each other up the stairs a couple of times (she won) but she did not get the chocolate bar. Morning Lucy and Hershey and Ruth.
Ruth - I really enjoyed meeting the friends and rellies - hope we can get to meet up again in Perth in the summer. I'll check out some websites for weather patterns and things to do later and let you know what gives over there. Maybe we should send them to Broome for pearls as well!!
Thank you very much for a lovely time and the chance to see the 'real' Ontario.
I'm now up on the 14th floor in Carla's place along with some more inquisitive cats. Today we are going for a walk on the Wolf Trail. I'll let you know whether I managed to keep up with Carla when I get back. Having said that, it might be time to go finish brekky and get my backpack packed so we can get off to the place.
Meadow I will check the itinerary and let you know. It is not the 16th for Kamloops but I think it maybe Tuesday - I won't guess, I'll go look. Matt James is interesting alright, anyone who loves plants as he does is okay by me.
Madcat - thoughts are with your sister. I should have thought of the scarf idea earlier, I could have bought one at Graceland - possibly with a picture of THOSE gates on it, (happy should understand that one) I'm sure she would have been delighted NOT. Laughter is such good medicine.
Okay, okay I am off.
"I love to go a wandering
Along the mountain tracks
And as I go, I love to sing,
My knapsack on my back.
Fal de ree, fal de raaaaaa
My napsack on my back."
MEADOW~ IS THIS THE ONE? JUST TALKED TO JEN AND SHE LIKES THE IDEA THAT IT CAN BE FROZEN. SHE'D MAKE MORE THAN ONE! LOL THEY HAVE STANDS FOR FRUITS AND VEGGIES AND HONEY IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE THEY VISIT ON THEIR WEEKEND JAUNTS.
Honey Cake with Vanilla Icing
Sonia O’Keefe and Jill Curran, co-owners of Lighthouse Picnics, swear by the robust flavour of Newfoundland wildflower honey for this recipe. We tried it with regular honey, too, and the cake was still outstanding.
Nutrients per piece
3.7 g protein
14.2 g fat
57.2 g carbohydrates
136.6 mg sodium
363 calories
Preparation time 15 min
Baking Time 25 min
Cooking time 3 min
Makes 9 pieces
CAKE
1/3 cup
(75 mL) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 cup
(125 mL) lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup
(125 mL) honey, preferably wildflower
11/2 cups
(375 mL) all-purpose flour
11/2 tsp
(7 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp
(2 mL) cinnamon
1/4 tsp
(1 mL) salt
2
eggs
ICING
1/4 cup
(50 mL) unsalted butter, at room temperature
11/2 cups
(375 mL) icing sugar
2 tbsp
(30 mL) milk
1 tsp
(5 mL) vanilla
1. For the cake, place butter, sugar, honey and 1 tbsp (15 mL) water in a small saucepan and set over low heat. Stir occasionally until butter melts and sugar dissolves, from 3 to 5 min. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
2. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Butter an 8-in (20-cm) square or 8-in (2-L) round cake pan. Using a fork, stir flour with baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Whisk eggs, then stir into cooled honey mixture. Stir into flour mixture. It's okay if a few lumps remain. Scrape into cake pan. The batter will not be high in the pan. Smooth top.
3. Bake in centre of preheated oven until a cake tester inserted in centre of cake comes out clean, from 25 to 30 min. Remove to a wire rack. Let stand in pan for 10 min. Then, to loosen cake, run a knife around inside edge of pan. Turn onto rack to cool completely.
4. Wait until cake is cool before you start icing. Place butter in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat butter until smooth. Gradually beat in icing sugar until evenly mixed. Then beat in milk and vanilla. Spread over cooled cake.
5. Cut into squares or thick wedges. Drizzle a little honey on top, if you like. Cake will keep well covered at room temperature up to 2 days. To freeze, skip icing. Wrap cake first with plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze up to a month. Defrost before icing.
Well, mine is almost gone now so it will never see the freezer Yes, this is the recipe I made, turned out really light and I was very impressed with the flavour the unsalted butter and honey combo gave the cake I actually followed the ingredient list, well maybe a bit more cinnamon. I put the melted butter/honey/sugar mix into a stainless steel bowl and popped it in the freezer to cool off (10 min. tops). It would have taken quite awhile otherwise to put the ingredients together... scrambled eggs in a cake might be rather nasty
Let the baking begin
We're back!!!!
Lots of - all of 8km I am told. Then we went for a in the cool lake. Legs are busted, head is busted, I'm stuffed. That Carla walked the legs off me.
We've done a tour of Ottawa as well. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Now we are going to bbq some duck for dinner and have some Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Early to bed and away to Calgary for the train part.
SHAD & CARLA~ THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY!!
HAVE A SAFE TTRIP!! CARLA TAKE A NAP!!
A SENIOR WOKE ME AT 6:30 TO ASK ABOUT A SIGN ON THE WASHING MACHINE!!! THIS WOMAN WANTED IT TRANSLATED...SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT "DON'T OVERLOAD" MEANT! MONDAY I AM GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE TRANSLATE FOR ME THAT SHE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS!!!!! I MEAN WTF!!! SHE IS A SELF CENTERED BIOTCH.
OK NOW I FEEL BETTER. THE SUN IS OUT BUT STORMS ARE ON THE WAY THEY SAY. WE'RE STILL IN THE "WAKE OF SHAD" MODE
NOTHING NEW. EYES ARE STINGING SO I WILL LEAVE. LOL
HAPPY SATURDAY!!
MEADOW I JUST FOUND YOUR POST IN MY SPAM BOX...MAYBE AOL WAS TRYING TO KEEP ME FROM THE RECIPE!! I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING ABOUT THE FREEZER IT WOULD NEVER LAST IN MY HOUSE. I'D BE PICKING AT IT ALL DAY LONG. TOLD JEN WHEN SHE COMES BAC AND IF SHE MAKES IT TO JUST DELIVER ONE SLICE TO MY DOOR
Oh my! That honey cake will join my Food Porn file. If it's anything like my rum cake, freezing it doesn't help as it'll cut when frozen.
My legs are aching just thinking of Carla and Shad doing the Wolf Trail. There's a hill there called "Wolf Howl" which I've skied many a time. I hope they both get some leg rest before they hit SF and Calgary.
The Girls and I are having a quiet Saturday with some gardening, some writing and printing of the Church bulletin and definitely some deck time with a book. It's going to be very hot later today so I'll get out the Dog Wading Pool for later. Hershey just loves to lie down in it but Lucy regards it as just a great big water dish! She's a Portuguese Land Dog, I guess.
I have an ear worm this morning so I'll pass it on! Slow down, you movin' too fast
You gotta make the moment last
Just kickin' down the cobblestones
Lookin' for fun and
Feelin' groovy____________"
There ya go! Try to get that out of your head.
MADCAT TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED. CLOSING RANKS IS A GOOD IDEA. SAVE THE PC TIME FOR BETTER THINGS. LIFE IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT. KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL IN MY HEART AND I CARRY YOU WITH ME WHEREVER I GO.
Location: A beautiful and peaceful place in the woods
Posts: 8,905
S/C/G: Stuck/Working on it/Good 2 Go
Height: Fun Size
Morning chicks,
Terrible response time on the site this morning. Almost gave up on it.
Happy Saturday to all. My day will be filled with cleaning and laundry. Mom comes in on Wednesday for an extended visit in advance of the rest of the crew in July. Gotta make sure everything is tidy and there's nothing for her to do I think the pool has finally "warmed" up to to a temperature that I can stand for a few minutes, so I'd like to get a swim in this weekend before DH adds more water and cools it down again. I have some cards I have to make out too before the mailman comes by.
Happy birthday Teel! we miss you.
Madcat - thanks for letting us know you're pulling yourself in. You go do what you need to do. We will be there for you when you return. And are always thinking of you even if you're not active at the moment. Still sending the healing thoughts to your sis...
Mel - what a loony lot you have in the building. I would be hard pressed not to respond with sassy answers after a while. Need to be like that lady - is it Madge - on the Hallmark cards. Take care of those peepers. Got to get you some books on tape so you can close your eyes and enjoy. I'd send you some but all I have is stupid how to be a good/improve your style management type things from long ago that I found in a box. I never was one for books on tape tho I know some people are big fans of them.
Thanks for sticking that song in my head Ruth -
You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you.
You'd be like heaven to touch,
I want to hold you so much.
At long last love has arrived
and I thank God I'm alive.
You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you.
I LOVE YOU BAY-BEE and
if it's quite alright
I need you BAY-BEE to warm a lonely night
I love you BAY-BEE
Trust in me when I sayyyyyyyy
Oh pretty BAY-BEE
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby.
Let me love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Afternoon all,
I'm in Calgary. I went for a walk and then took advantage of my free voucher to go up the tower for a view of cowtown. Went up the 525 feet standing right next door to a real life cowboy - well he was dressed like one right down to the dusty black boots and 10 gallon hat. The tower has a glass floor on one section. It is meant to hold 6 elephants without cracking. No doubt it does! It wasn't a great feeling standing on it. Some folk sat on it and slid around - what difference does that make except they get dirty backsides. I'm not really afraid of heights but that was one strange feeling standing on that thing. Aahh well I have done it.
Carla - thank you so much for having me stay. And for the barbeque last night. I hope Lily gets over the fact that I stood on her foot! Zen was seeking revenge last night with marathon leaps from the cat house to my bladder to the windowsill and back to my bladder.
I very much appreciate the effort that everyone has put into this trip. It has been so good to meet everyone in the flesh instead of relying on photos or my (fertile) imagination. Now I have to do things on my own for a while.
Madcat - our thoughts are with you and the family right now. I really hope some good news comes your way very soon.
Mel - what are you up to?? What's the idea of racing around and making yourself worn out again?? Stay well my friend. I will be in touch very soon. Oh and by the way, can you please PM or e-mail with Jens address so can thank her and Richie.
Oh and one other thing - naughty lady - I haven't done anything with your 'gift' yet. Haven't found the right thing as yet. I'll let you know!
Happy - hope you swam and swam today and that it was reasonably warm. If you are ever looking for a cool swim - check it out with Carla - she'll point you in the right direction. Still it was a very refreshing swim. And it was the first real exercise since I left your place. I am surprised that I am not as stiff as I thought I would be. I can feel it in the calves tho'
Ruth - big pat for those beautiful girls. Tell Lucy to stop the barking! I can almost hear her from here. Thank you for a great time and a lovely dinner. I've eaten very well on this trip. It will be a hard effort to go back to my normal routine.
Oh and by the way, I saw Poutine yesterday. It's a very large bowl of cholestrol. I think my chicken wrap looked better.
Time to go. I'm being given the use of the Business Centre and I promised only half an hour. I'd better sign off. See ya - yeeehaaaa.
Well, it's now been 24 hours since I woke up with a start thinking I'd slept in and made Shad miss her plane, and 22 hours since I got up to run the parcel to the airport... Then cleaning, laundry, instructions for the catsitter, and off to catch my own flight. Like idiots my colleague and I had neglected to book the shuttle from Van, so ended up with a 2 and 1/2 hour wait, then an equally long (and bumpy) van ride to the hotel. Unpacked in my very posh room (complete with fireplace and kitchen!) and thought I'd drop in to say hello to the gang. Of course I should be asleep, but since my room faces the road, I'm being treated to the yowling of drunks wandering home from their Saturday night on the town. Grrr.
Do I get a free pass to heaven or the equivalent thereof for giving Shad a good workout, a cool swim (the water wasn't cold as Canadian lakes go) and, especially, not feeding her the promised large plate of poutine? She hiked along like a game little soldier, nary a complaint, and smiled throughout the chilly plunge in the lake. Which, by the way, was extra entertaining because we swam from the same spot as all the Ironman triathletes out for their training swim back and forth and back and forth and.... Mel would have enjoyed a glimpse of the total hottie we saw later on a bike. Tall and tanned and lean and sexy in black cycling shorts and a tight black sleeveless cycling shirt. Just barely sweating despite the loooong climb up the hill... (Excuse me for a second - must go wipe up this little pile of drool - can't imagine where that came from!) Just as well he wasn't at the beach in a wee speedo - I'd probably still be in jail for "assault"...
Shad, enjoy Cowtown, glad you could get access to a computer, what with the dearth of internet cafes out there. Do enjoy your trip up to Banff and Lake Louise, and keep the eyes peeled for grizzlies. If you meet one face to face, remember the good news: they can't climb trees, and you can. Also the bad news: they move amazingly fast in spite of their bulk.
Sorry to hear about Zen's nightime gymnastics. I'll have him send you a letter of apology when I get home. Or, at the very least, make him stand in the corner and think about what he did.
Happy, you git in that pool, you hear me? Do it for all us little folk who don't have anywhere but an icy lake to swim...
Well, I'm fading fast. Tomorrow I can sleep late, and will go down to the village in the cold and rain (!) to stock my fridge before I have to do a short stint of work.
but she told me about Ctrl Z (Zed as we call it up her in civilization 
) and the day was saved.
I appreciate everyone's support!
I actually followed the ingredient list, well maybe a bit more cinnamon. I put the melted butter/honey/sugar mix into a stainless steel bowl and popped it in the freezer to cool off (10 min. tops). It would have taken quite awhile otherwise to put the ingredients together... scrambled eggs in a cake might be rather nasty 
in the cool lake. Legs are busted, head is busted, I'm stuffed. 
That Carla walked the legs off me.
to any worldly chicks lurking at this #&%$#@ hour.
THIS WOMAN WANTED IT TRANSLATED...SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT "DON'T OVERLOAD" MEANT! 
MONDAY I AM GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE TRANSLATE FOR ME THAT SHE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS!!!!! I MEAN WTF!!! SHE IS A SELF CENTERED BIOTCH.
we miss you. 
I'll have him send you a letter of apology when I get home. Or, at the very least, make him stand in the corner and think about what he did.