Brunch

The day after Christmas we were invited to a brunch at a beautiful home just north of NYC. The family are long time friends of Kristen's family, they were once neighbors in the same development.

The hostess explaining all the food choices and there were many delicious dishes. In fact, the best quiche I have ever had.

Usually no one wants to be first but Eric stepped up right away.

John, to Mick's left was our host. 

The women in attendance over 30 years of age.

Then the under 30.

John owns a horse and rides in shows. I loved his ribbons hanging on a lamp shade.

Thought of Mom and her Santa collection. She would have enjoyed seeing this display.

Thanksgiving Day

Our 22 pound turkey looked and tasted wonderful. I need to roast turkey more often.

I used the same tablecloth, napkins, plates and place cards, etc. as last year. Although, I did have to make six extra place cards.

I bought a Groupon from a company to print photo books. Going to make a six inch by eight inch book of our Thanksgiving. Will include recipes on a few of the photographs. Amie got me started with Photoshop instructions. I keep a cheat sheet & hopefully I can figure it out.

We had pumpkin pie, apple crisp and raspberry pie squares for dessert. I eat pumpkin pie once a year. Like turkey, I should make pumpkin pie more often.

We had a wonderful meal and day, except for the part about the Dallas Cowboy's winning.

Homegrown Tomatoes

A few of my just about ripe tomatoes.

Photo taken on my iPad with one of my apps.

Eh

Can you tell where we were on Friday just by reading this sign?

We were in Canada visiting a parent of one of Eric's Junior A teammates. I have not seen Tony since Eric & his son Vince played against each other in college, over five years ago. Mick has stopped in to see Tony twice since our last hockey game. Tony owns a restaurant, Capone's, for 28 years. If you are in Ottawa the food at Capones is wonderful. Make sure you tell Tony we sent you there.

Our Canadian friends are the best part of all our connections to Canada.

Wineries

Last month Marie, Kristen and I toured two wineries. We arrived at the first winery right at opening, drinking at 10:00AM seems strange.The father of the owner was our guide and he told lots of interesting stories concerning the wine business.

The winery is small and most wine is on the sweet side, just the kind of winery and wine I like.

Our second winery had a wine named after the owners wife, Marie.

Our Marie with "Marie's Selection." I bought a bottle to have with our dinner of Naan pizza. The owner tried to talk me out of buying it. Only his wife likes the wine?? (If you haven't tried Naan pizza you must.) I'll have to do a post on Naan.

Brewery

During our Toronto visit we toured a brewery.

 The workers are shoveling mash out of a copper vat.

A beer in the making.

I don't drink beer and Mick doesn't drink wine. This tour is making up for all the wineries I've brought him to.

I ended up liking the darkest beer, the one I thought I would like the least. I actually think I would even drink a glass of that dark beer.

Mick was very happy we were at a brewery and not a winery.

Barbecue

Saturday evening Andy & Amber had all of us over to their house for a barbecue. The food was delicious and it was nice to meet Mike & Brian's girlfriends . Yes, the boys have a life outside of hunting!!!

Amie made me promise I would never wear Crocs. She made me promise again & again I would never wear Crocs. I saw the camo Crocs and HAD to buy a pair for Eric. Kristen thought Amie should have had me promise I would never wear or purchase Crocs.

 

Kristen is smiling even thou Eric loves his Crocs.

With the technology of today the boys are already looking at the photos I had just taken that afternoon. Did I mention how much I loved Eric's wide angle lens??

Brian delivered to me the hunting clothes that I would wear for the Sunday morning hunt. Yes Mick, I did get up at 3AM. Very, Very hard to believe.  

Little did Brian know he should have brought me skunk repellent instead of bug spray.

New Bakery

I should not have titled this post "New Bakery." To my knowledge, 30 years worth, we've never had a bakery in town. 

Can't speak on the Berlins. I've never had one, since I don't really care for them. At least there is one sweet I don't care for.

 I've had their bread pudding and it was delicious!!!! They also had many varieties of bread.

 Look at this chocolate raspberry cake. It looked so good and you'll never believe it was only $12.00. What a price. I was in the bakery at 7:30am, yesterday. I'm sure it sold quickly. 

If only I had a reason to buy the cake.  : (

Cabana Night

Bob, pictured below, and Charlie recently returned from a vacation in Puerto Rico. Saturday night with temperatures of 20 degrees they held a Cabana Night at their home.

Bob made several different rum drinks and severed pina colada's after dinner. The dinner consisted of chicken, red beans and rice. Oh, there also was Mexican coffee. Although, I stayed with my usual hot tea. Everything was delicious. The highlight of my evening was the slide show of photos they took during their trip! I love photos.

End of an Era

We've been meeting for breakfast at McCarthy's Restaurant the first Thursday of every month for just over seven years . The restaurant had been for sale a couple years and yesterday it served its last meal. It finally sold and is going to become, of all things, a funeral home.

We've had Scott as our wonderful waiter for many years. Hope he is able to find a new place work. We were all afriad to ask him what his plans are.

We have two diners, a bagel shop and sandwich shop to try out for our McCarthy's replacement.  We each had our favorite meal and ordered the same breakfast every time. Well, maybe eleven months out of a year. Let the taste testing begin! 

Mick was in Toronto Thursday & Friday attending business meetings. Saturday I drove to the train station in Brockville to pick him up.

 He sits in business class which has Internet access. He can work on his laptop the entire trip.

I was looking forward to a Tim Hortons Canadian Maple Glazed donut once I found out I'd be going to Canada. The donut always brings me back to my days of sitting in a Tim Hortons during hockey practices.

 We should go back to the days of train travel. Especially now that flying is such a terrible experience.

Day After

Pumpkin cheesecake or a celery stick.

Decisions to decisions.

A lot of delicious food was consumed yesterday.

  Monday would be a good day to go back to normal eating habits.

Celery stick cuts the sweetness of the cheesecake !

Early Thanksgiving Dinner

We will be eating Thanksgiving dinner at friends on Thursday so I cooked a turkey dinner on Sunday . The turkey looked as good as it tasted. I read an on-line recipe to bake at 500 degrees for the first 30 minutes and then turn down to 350 degrees for the balance of cooking time. Once you like the color tent with foil.

I will roast the same next year.

My grandmother Lothridge's "Jewel Homemakers" bowl. Only time I use it is for mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving. Told Amie I would cry if it got broken  

She then gave me the scenario, if it was broken, would I want to be the one to break it or someone else. I didn't take me long to decide, someone else. I would forgive someone else but never myself.  Make sense?

Herbal sun tea for one.

Organic Green Gardening

I had an insect eat an entire field green plant. I knew it was a insect because a rabbit would have eaten the entire garden. There is also an inscet that likes my basil. The other herbs show no signs of being consumed.

At the Farmer's Market in Kingston, I told an organic farmer about my insect problem. She suggested I dust with garlic or spray garlic water onto the plants. So far the dusting seems to be working. There is NO way I would use any type of chemicals in my garden.

Rice to Riches

Have you heard of Rice to Riches? Only rice pudding is sold in the store.
Well, I guess they sell coffees also.
Brittany & I shared a "see me" bowl. Amie didn't even like the look of it and wouldn't even try it.

We did not experiment with toppings.

I am a dessert loving person but,

IdidnotcareforRicetoRiches.

I'll take my homemade, made in the crock pot rice pudding any day. I'm going to make some for Brittany next time she visits me.