Appreciation Luncheon

The other day, some ladies and I from the school, were invited to an appreciation luncheon.
It was held at a local high school, and it was really nice to
a) be appreciated
b) meet the other breakfast club ladies in our area
c) not have to make lunch

It was very civilized as the culinary students made and served chicken and rice, and salad with a yummy dressing, and fresh rolls with real butter.  Fresh fruit for dessert.

As a parting gift, we were given a little basket with the dry ingredients and recipe for a friendship bread.




All I had to do was add the wet ingredients, and pop it in the oven.

My friend called the house and told me to get on it, as it was really good.  She was right!

We had an option of adding apples, bananas or any other fruit.  I added bananas as I always have a stash of frozen "overripe" bananas in my freezer.  

I had to snap this photo really quickly, as the friendship bread was disappearing fast!

It is so nice to be appreciated, why not tell someone that you appreciate them today?

I love turquoise!

My mother in law visited a while back, and bought a ton of stuff that she had cleared out of her cupboards.  "take what you want, and the rest can go to the dusty" she said.
"the Dusty" is her name for Goodwill.

I was instantly attracted to the PYREX white and turquoise bowl.  I love the feel of it, the weight of it, and the sound that it makes when it is put down on the table.   I was excited to show it to my husband and I served a salad in it that evening.
My husband saw it, and said "oh no, not the barf bowl"  He remembers this bowl in a rather negative light, as it was the bowl that was placed beside his and his brother's beds when they were ill.
Now I am not allowed to use my beautiful bowl without hearing "gross, or nasty, or get it off the table"  my son even chimes in, and this story is a good 30 years before his time.

I secretly use the barf bowl for mixing cake batters, and making marinades, but never for serving.

The barf bowl is the one on the far right.  Since I have discovered this newfound love for PYREX, I have found several matching bowls at Goodwill, and all under $2 each.  They stack nicely into each other.




I also have found a beautiful website that shows all the patterns of PYREX that ever was. I find myself just looking at the photos, and reliving memories of eating at friends houses, cottage visits, and family dinners at the Ponderosa.  Visit if you get a chance, it really is fun. Perhaps you'll even relive some memories that make you smile!
 www.pyrexlove.com

What a lovely day

It's been raining on and off here for a couple of weeks.  Kids are getting antsy, and mums are getting grumpy, and just when you think you can't take it anymore...a day of sunshine!!

We stayed in the garden the entire day and pulled out the furniture, swept and hosed it clean.  We weeded and trimmed, and gathered and tossed.  We hammocked and bubbled, and played Pictionary.  We washed a wagon, a bike, a deck, green, blue and grey bins.  We ended the day with a delicious BBQ.

The Muscari that I planted a couple of weeks ago, is sweet and white and smells oh so good.

I must go and scrub the garden from me, perhaps I'll treat myself to a face-mask...I deserve it.

Fantastic Friday Finds!

Goodwill was having a 50% off sale today!  I cannot resist rummaging and good deals.  My friend and I, went to a brand new store today in Etobicoke.  The store smelled new and organized. The shopping was leisurely, and nobody was fighting for a cart.  A very different 50% off experience than normal, which left us feeling like we did not satisfy our rummaging needs....until you looked at our overflowing shopping baskets.  Why do we feel like we need to fight and race, and be flustered, to get a good deal?  Are we conditioned to feel this way?  Hmmmmm.

Look at this haul!!  I paid only $12.00!!  Now, lets discuss each and every item, shall we?

First of all, I mentioned the other day that all I wanted for Mother's Day was an umbrella, well cross that OFF the list as I found a Union Jack one for $1.50!  Perfect! No holes, all wire intact, and it will fit in my bag.  It might rain this afternoon...yeah!!!

If my friend Monica is reading this...the wire rack is for your pantry.  $1.00, and perfect for that cupboard.

Glassware...the first section I go to in the store.
This lovely grouping cost $2.75.

• Glass jar with lid, ideal for cat treats.  Seal intact.

• 50's drink guide glass with instructions for Manhattans, Daiquiris, Old Fashioned etc.  Nice and sturdy, and I might just have to make one or two tonight.

• Teeny Tiny butter dish with lid.  Watch this one, as I have a FIMO creation circulating in my head, and I'll be sure to share in the next couple of weeks.

• Capt. Tony's SALOON glass.  I don't know who Captain Tony is, but he sure looks surly, and he hails from Key West Florida.  Ideal for my husband's whiskey sips.

Crafting Section...another favourite of mine...and a section that I have to beat Amanda to, as she loves a great crafting find too.

• Twill tape 2/$.99 to be put into my stash

• Sculpty packages 2/$.99 again, to be put into my stash

• Little book of crochet hats.  I don't know how to crochet.  But now I can learn how for only $.75!

Teeny Tiny Flowerpots!! The largest is 2 1/2" wide, and the smallest is 1 1/2".  Cute, cute cute!

Tiny cactus, pincushion, I don't know YET.
But for $1.00 for the lot, I could not say NO.


Last but not least, this set of four magnets.  Handmade from Fimo and silk (you can see the "fingerprints" in the clay) Warriors perhaps. Only $.25!!!

I don't know what W10,000 means, but it sounds expensive!
So lovely, and came in a hand-made paper covered box.  It should be gifted, but I cannot do it.

Well, that's it for today.  I feel very satisfied with my loot.  By the way, it did rain, and I did get to use my new umbrella, and I was very happy.

Feels like Spring

Ahhh...smells like spring, feels like spring, it must be spring!

I went to my favourite neighbourhood garden centre today.  I promised myself that I would just look.
I left the store with four little pots of White Muscari.  They are still that new green colour, and just about to turn white.  I had to plant them right away.

Five years ago, I planted Purple Muscari (aka Grape Hyacinths).  They have multiplied and spread and are very happy where they are.  The new white ones are planted close by.
If there ever was a place in my garden where a fairy would live, it would be here.