Been away for awhile...Phew how the months do fly! Have had some pretty exciting things happen since I last blogged. I have a showing of my cherished art pieces on the Art Wall at the Welland Community Wellness Complex. Some pieces I could have sold a couple of times. Unfortunately, they are all sentimental pieces and can't see myself parting with any of them. Noone has asked if I commission pieces though!?. Quilling I will commission...but watercolours, not yet I've let my brush go dry. I will probably take up painting once again when I retire. One of my quilling designs was chosen to be published in a special book through Annies - quite excited about that...to be featured with other artists, some I know and others I don't. Feeling real special!

http://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=104399

NEWFIE STEAK...ever had it? Delicious! What we are talking about is the Big Stick Waxed Bologna. Fry it up in a fry pan (secret is to have it cut in 1/2" or more thick slices) with some eggs and hash browns and you got yourself a meal. Did some reminiscing this past week. Hubby and I visited a quaint Fish and Chip place in Cambridge, Ontario that was also a small grocery for all things from Newfoundland and their culinary tastes (have never seen so much wax bologna in a deli case in my life). My hubby, although a Torontonian born and raised, his people hailed from the rock...Newfoundland! He remembers having these peppermint nob candies when he was a kid and THEY HAD THEM...wow what a find! Love tastes, smells and sounds that take you back to when you were a kid!

It took me all evening but here is a slideshow of our wedding photos from 1975. Please take a moment to view, there are up to date photos of the "Bride & Groom" at the end and a memorial tribute to those that have passed. Thank you for sharing this Anniversary Tribute with us.

Love Alice & Wayne

Create a picture slideshow

OUR 38TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY...In 1975, I married my soul mate...did I know...hell yeah! We had been dating "almost" a year when we exchanged wedding vows. There were some that thought it wouldn't last...and that would be past when?  All kidding aside...I didn't like this guy at first, he passed me on a newly tarred and chipped road spraying this concoction all over my new Datsun. Well, he was told he had to apologise to me by a girlfriend that knew us both (you see, she happened to be in my car at the time)! We were both having ups and downs in out current relationships (mostly down) and decided to go out...as part of the apology and all you see. The rest is history folks. We have been partners for 38 years, parents for 35 years...36 if you count the cooking time and grandparents for almost six years. I am working on a complete slide show of our wedding pics but a lot more work than I planned...had to scan all the proofs...not too technical back then. Anniversary Cruise on the Grand River tomorrow night.

THERAPEUTIC POOL...."Welland's best kept secret" as one lady told me and then added..."and, I am not going to tell anyone because I want to keep it all to myself". I did get a chuckle but in reality it shouldn't be kept a secret. I can certainly attest to what this lady was hinting at. This pool is only four feet deep and kept at 91 degrees. It was built specifically to help those with achy bones and muscles. It is equipped with a gently sloping ramp to enter and exit the pool as well as stairs...and...there is a motorized lift for those that require assistance to get into the pool or 8 person spa tub adjacent to the pool. My sister and I take advantage of this wonderful resource during Open Therapy Time. You do need a Wellness Pass (membership) and Punch Card Pass to utilised the pool. Open Therapy Time does not have an instructor but a certified lifeguard is on duty. It is great for exercising as the water makes it feel like you have no resistance and can easily move your limbs about. We have heard countless stories of its benefits...only a few complaints about the water being too cold...(are you kidding me) ...ahhh those people are cold fishes to start with...nothing will warm them up. Visit the Welland Community Wellness Complex if you live in or around Welland...or if you visit please stop by, staff or a volunteer will be happy to show you around.

http://www.welland.ca/Leisure/Guide.asp

MEATLOAF...we had a "Quilting Friends" meeting on Monday night and the conversation ultimately turned to food (or course). We discussed the "Best Ever Meatballs" made with none other than Stove Top Stuffing for Chicken. One friend says you can adapt this to meatloaf, just put into a loaf pan and continue to cook as you would any other meatloaf. Well, had to go to the grocery store and get the fixings and try this. I love meatloaf but as all would agree meatloaf is better the next day when you can slice it and put it between two slices of bread and call it a sandwich. YUMMY! The moistness and flavour were great and just like my hubby likes it "no chunks". Secret: you have to smash the stove top stuffing by rolling pin or food processor.
This definitely would make great meatballs!

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/the-best-meatballs-114246.aspx

DATE NIGHT....Woo-hoo! Hubby suggested a movie. We saw The World's End with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman and more. Fabulously funny and grotesque-ish. Loved it! No nudity, plenty of bawdy language, fast-paced action....and ahhh...wasn't what I would have picked for an ending. Go see for yourself...you will be entertained, trust me ---- we've seen a lot of movies in our 38 years of marriage. But, then again, do you trust someone who took you to "Black Christmas" on a first date!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQA7HcRcLNg

STAT HOLIDAYS...why is it when you have a four day work week it feels like you've worked a month of Sundays. Well, Tuesday felt like Monday and that was OK but then Wednesday felt like it should be Friday and so did Thursday...then realization sets in...tomorrow IS Friday and I still have to get up and go to work and give my 5%. I think Allie needs a holiday!

COMING SOON...pictures of my Quilled projects!

This free digital greeting card personalized with Smilebox

MERMAIDS....Myth or Real!
I watched the documentary on Animal Planet and it was truly thought provoking. Is there a conspiracy theory...are there a group of people making this up or is this real evidence?!

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/mermaids/videos/mermaids.htm

We had some Green Pepper Jelly with cream cheese and crackers on our "Wellness Wednesday" at work this past week. Yummy...had to make some of that! Visited our local Farmers' Market and bought what I needed to create this wonderful condiment! I haven't canned in a while so this was an adventure. Actually, I haven't canned in my new kitchen so it was enlightening trying to manouver...by the time I pickled the remaining jalepenos I felt like a real pro!

This digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

BUNNY RABBITS...We have a cute little furry Bunny Rabbit residing under our backyard deck. YAY! We have two miniature Dachshunds (hound, hunter) and one Black Lab (hunter, retriever). We have seen the little critter in the flesh and averted an inevitable blood bath by herding the dogs back into the house...bunny had different ideas...decided to make a run for it...Bunny "1" Dogs "0"...YAY! Yah, I know nature and all that crap... hounds hunt, rabbits are prey but bunny gets to play another day. Wayne and Allie "1"

JAMBALAYA....ever since I heard Miss Kay invite Uncle Si to the table to share Jambalaya, I said I had to make me some of that! Surfed the net found several recipes and settled on a bit from one and a bit from another. Turkey Sausage with Rice and White Beans (Navy Beans).  Well, first off couldn't find canned white beans to save my hide so I started with dry - soaked overnight in the fridge. Once I sauteed all the veggies, added the semi-cooked sausage, canned tomatoes (chopped and seeded), toasted the rice in the pan...added Chicken broth and tomato juice leftover from the canned tomatoes (couldn't see wasting it). WELL, the rice overcooked and the beans were for lack of a better word...crunchy! I didn't have cajun seasoning so I added Hot Chili spices (this is the seasoning in those little packets which you have no idea what is in there but you trust the spice company to do you good). Wasn't wrong, it was tasty! I will try this recipe again but I would like to go a little bit more southern with it...maybe add some shrimp.

Guess what, did a Wal-Mart run and low and behold...Canned white beans! As Phil Robertson would say HAPPY...HAPPY...HAPPY!

HANK TALKIN' ...  any fan of Corner Gas would know about this episode (Season 4 Episode 8). Hank is encouraged to write a blog. Canadian Humour at it's best in my opinion. But then again, I hope people will actually read my blog and post comments!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAYhlNh0xtY

A GOOD CUP OF TEA...an English Gentleman told me, several years ago now, the proper way to make a good cup of tea. Yes, it was right to heat up your tea pot. He says that most people wait for the electric kettle to switch off before pouring the water into the tea pot. Not so, says he, once your kettle comes to a rolling boil that is when you pour the water over your tea bags in the warmed tea pot! Once done, I generally cover my tea pot with a tea cosy (or if lacking a tea cosy, a tea towel does just fine). Proper length of time to steep your tea would be 5 minutes or better. Sit back and enjoy! Guess what, for you tea connoisseur's out there...it truly does make a difference. Who better to trust than an English Gentlemen, he knows what he's talking about.

FOG...no not the brain...the weather! Woke up to put Molly (miniature dachshund, long-haired) outside and couldn't see across the park. Our home backs onto the greenspace/park behind our neighbourhood elementary school. It was great when our boys were young because they could use the park path to go to school and not have to cross any roads...better yet they didn't have to be bused to school. Well, blogging is brand new to me so I was blogging in my sleep...doggone if I can remember what topics I wanted to talk about cause got waylaid by the fog.

I have dreamt of doing a blog after viewing the movie Julie & Julia. What a novel idea to challenge yourself and talk (blog) about your accomplishments and some failures (hopefully few and far between). I create, that is what I do at Work and at home. I will try any new craft idea just once out of curiousity and stick with it should I master it. Tatting is one of those that I will not allow to break me...I will prevail. Seriously now, my niche (as my sister calls it) is QUILLING and that is with an "LL" not "LT".  LL is with paper...LT is with fabric. Quilling the art of paper filigree! Who knew when I took that one afternoon course at the Recreation Centre that I would be Quilling today....some twenty-five years later! Oh, yeah...just dated myself. What a wonderful tool the Internet is...surf around the net see what other Quillers are doing WOW and WOW the talent out there is magnificent...thank you all for sharing! I have learned new and exciting ways to twirl paper. Yup, it is true...you can teach an old dog new tricks...ouch!