VACATION!!!

Yes, even I need a vacation sometime and finally the time has come for me to pack my bags and head on down to Florida for my annual Sister's Get-A-Way week in St Pete Beach Florida.
Pictures when I return
Now where did I leave the sunscreen....

See Ya Bye

A WINDY DAY

We got to experience a bit of Hurricane Sandy up here albeit a lot less severe than in southern Ontario I am sure.  But the wind is still howling like mad right now and it was going on all last nite and all day long - our power was out from about 6am till 2pm - thank goodness for wood stoves and Coleman coffee makers for over the gas stove.  We enjoyed our coffee in front of the wood stove this morning.  There was lots of debris around and the plows were out sanding the roads as it was a bit frosty this morning.
We headed over to Joanne and Mitch's to check that their place was ok and it was - and no mice to be found anywhere.
Our satellite tv is on the blink right now - I was hoping to watch the news tonite to see how things turned out on the east coast - from the Internet pictures, it is like hell.  I just can't imagine how they will ever restore things back to normal but I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.  People are tough and resilient - I have no doubts that everything will be ok eventually.
My travel plans have not changed - I am out of here on Thursday heading to Windsor for the start of my vacation.  Friday we head over to Detroit for some afternoon pre shopping, get our hotel room and then fly out on Saturday morning for St Pete Beach.  And the weather looks great!!
The hunters are arriving Friday to get set up for opening day - Monday.  We even went out today to check that the blinds have not blown away - they are safe and in place.

See Ya Bye

14 BIRDS!!

We have been away for a few days - up at Hinkler bird hunting.  We got 14 birds between the 4 of us.  The first picture is all that remained in the tree after I shot a partridge out of it - there were feathers everywhere but I got him.
The next picture is along one of the many, many trails thru the bush - some good for birds and some just good for the scenery.  We lucked out with the weather - no rain and mild.
We had to share the area with moose hunters and we did come across the remains of some moose who didn't make it - this lower jaw bone of a pretty big one was left hanging in a tree and the skin and hip bones were left scattered around.  Most camps were left as they found it - clean and no litter.  But others - not so much.
The next picture is of 4 of the 6 birds we got on Wednesday - I even cleaned one myself - I won't bother you with the details of how it is done to spare those of you that are a bit squeamish - but it does involve standing on the wings and pulling on the legs.....
The final picture is of 2 inukshuks we came across in the middle of nowhere - the loggers clear roads into the bush and some of them must have come across a way to use some of the big boulders they find.    I, for one, think it is beautiful.

I leave you with a question....people up here pronounce partridge as part-ridge but I have always said par-tridge.  How do you say it?

See Ya Bye

I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU...

I love you Sadie xoxoxo

IT'S GETTING TO BE THAT TIME AGAIN

The first Monday in November is opening day for deer season and preparations are just getting into high gear around here.  I helped Rejean put up the first blind across the lake in a great spot.  I think I will be sitting here the second week unless we push that week.  We have spotted a few deer close
 by and there are a lot of tracks on the other property.  I have a good feeling about this season...maybe it will be Barry's year...

Me, I will be soaking up the sun again in St Pete Beach with my sisters.  Life's a bitch (sorry Mr & Mrs Barr)  ;o)

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT, DO IT...

Another function on Axe on Saturday nite - a fish fry - in the rain - but John was well prepared with a tarp and awning on his trailer to cook under.  Guess what I made - yes - you know me well - my famous devilled eggs and poor John didn't even get one.  Next time John.  Darlene brought pickled eggs and they were very well received.  I personally don't like them but I do make them for the guys.  There was enough fish for everyone and then some - we sent a platter over to Arnold and his hunter friends who had just pulled in from a hunt - they were very happy.  And Linda made her rice Krispie Squares that I absolutely love - I had 3...
I got home at 11pm - late for me :oP

CAN YOU SEE HER?

I was on my way to town this morning and spotted her so I turned around, got Rejean, and had him take the picture - I wanted him to see her as well.  She was spooked and took off and so did another one!!  There were 2!!

GUESS WHAT I MADE TODAY...

...P is for partridge!!!  I was scheduled to help at the Hall today to make meat pies so I had an idea to make a Partridge Pie...and I did.  I took 6 breasts out of the freezer - 4 partridge and 2 spruce hens and took them to the Hall.  Cheryle told me how to cook them - I cut them into 3 parts and simmered them in a cast iron frying pan with salt and pepper.  Once the water had almost evaporated, I added some butter and browned the meat.  I then picked the meat off, added some carrots, celery and onions and some chicken gravy and put them in Phyllis' dough.  Ron was over for dinner and he and Rejean said it was delicious - tasted like chicken ;o).

...and yes, Ed, there is one in the freezer for you and Barry...

W T F

Woke up today to S N O W ! ! !  Actual accumulation!!  Even the snow plows were out today on 129. Just a small taste of what is to come I am sure - but really, October 11th????

Florida, here I come...

HOME AT LAST

It has been a hectic couple of weeks with all my travelling.  My latest journey was to Windsor for a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary dinner for Rejean's sister Anne and husband James.  But first we celebrated Matthew's 23rd birthday on the Saturday nite.  He has been accepted at medical school so it was a dual celebration.  Wed got to eat pizza!!  I admit I ate one too many pieces and swore off pizza for the rest of my life (as if that will happen).
I got to see more wildlife in Windsor than up here (slight exaggeration).  The skunk I saw in the middle of the afternoon in a residential area and the Canada Geese held up traffic on the EC Row expressway until they got safely to the other side.
Getting back to the surprise party, true to form, the guests of honor were late - 40 minutes late!!  Lise and Matthew and Lisa are shown checking their watches.  When they finally got there they skyped their daughter in Ottawa so she could join the party - that's Sara on the I-phone.  I finally got the happy couple to pose for a nice pic.
It was also a perfect time for family photos as you can see in the last picture.  From the left - Rejean, Claire, Pierre, Lise, Anne, Michel and Rick.

It is always better to get together for happy occasions

REST IN PEACE TOBY

You can now chase that ball again ... forever.

I will miss you...