THE TROUBLE WITH JANUARY

Last Friday at work as we were slugging our way through the afternoon, one of my co-workers says "I just want to eat everything!"
To which I replied: "It's January. We all want to eat everything!"

Because that is the trouble with January, and winter in general, we just want to sleep, and eat, and watch TV (and eat), stay warm (and eat). You get the picture. The eating thing at the office is particularly easy cause there are a lot of women in my office with lots of cravings so there is lots of food around (see my blog "It's Sexy Time" from Aug. 24). Also, they are all amazing cooks!

So, because it looks like this outside:

I spent a fair bit of the weekend in the kitchen. I also did laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, and straightened out a closet..but that's just me.

I tried my hand at some new recipes. First up was a Curried Cauliflower and Sweet Potato soup

I topped it with roasted sunflower seeds and Good Golly Miss Molly, Lord hah mercy, this is good stuff! It also has a bit of a kick to it, cause that's how I roll.

Next up was Chocolate Banana Muffins, to use up some frozen bananas and attempt to get my ballerina billet to eat fruit in some form. Though she tells me she likes fruit I have lived with her since September and have yet to see her eat one piece of fruit....not one.

This is classic comfort food. Especially if you eat one with warmed up caramel sauce poured over it. Which I did.

By now, the dishes were starting to pile up as Lulu is so clearly pointing out with her stink eye.

I did the dishes, turned on the TV to watch the Avengers (sorta) and hit the couch for a nap.

Today, I'm prepping for stick to the ribs Chicken Stew to get us through a few nights. Later I'm going to try my hand at a sweet potato quinoa salmon patty recipe to use up a few staples. 

Not sure why there is such a big push for hitting the gym in January. Just goes against our Canadian grain. Perhaps we should aim for the beginning of December so by Christmas when things are starting to heat up you are already in high gear and come January, well, then you can start to let things slide. THEN you can do what comes naturally! Sleep, and eat, and watch TV (and eat), stay warm (and eat). 

ASSESS THE MESS

As I'm working on this week's blog in front of the fireplace, I can see out the window the snow falling every so lightly. We've put in a dang cold week but temps are now back to reasonable. 

Most of us are definitely in hibernation mode in Ontario, or for that matter, Canada! We hunker in our abodes, watch TV, go to bed earlier and consider our newly acquired holiday plump. 

January is my assess the mess time. I really get the urge to purge, I check out what we need or what needs replacing, I dream about changing this or fixing that in my life and I want to try something new and fresh. 

So, this week I did the following:

Sent two huge bags, and a couple of boxes off to charity (power to the purge)

I restocked up on a few things I needed: 
     New washcloths
     New guest towels for the downstairs bathroom
     New black pumps (to replace the ones Lulu destroyed)
     New warm fuzzy PJs (as noted above re: Lulu)
     New camisoles
     New makeup brush

I tried a new recipe! Chickpea, cauliflower and red potato curry. 

No, I'm not going vegetarian, just trying out something new and January is an especially good time to hang in the kitchen.

I got a facial! That is not something I do on a regular basis, let me tell you. I'm pretty low maintenance. But I had a gift certificate that was collecting dust so after work I went to the spa and "Stephanie" laid me on a bed, covered me with blankets and proceeded to massage my temples. I was nearly out cold. That sweet young thing with the perfect skin worked some voodoo magic on me. 

I've also been saving my money up and yesterday we ordered new dining room chairs to replace the ones given to us free like 100 years ago. 

So, here's to January! Before you know it, those longer sunny days will arrive and my bike and garden will be calling. For this month, I will assess the mess, restock and renew!

LIFE IN STATS

Welcome to 2015! Wow.....wow, wow, wow...

Hope you are all ready and reasonably optimistic for what the new year has to offer. I started looking at some stats that I've been collecting and have been totalled up on my behalf.

For example:
I've been on this earth for 51 years
The first Robin I spotted last year was on Feb. 21/14. In 2013 it was on March 7. 

I play a lot of solitaire (it's my "wind down" game). 

 So far I've played 12,185 games, and won 12% of those.

I've been writing this blog since 2009, with 10,427 views! My audience is mostly from Canada and United States with Poland and France bringing up the rear.  

Mind blowing stuff - I know. And if you are a stat kind of person this is your cup of tea. 

Personally, I find stats interesting but you and me, we are more than just stats, which can be skewed, says everyone who has ever worked in public relations or government. 

We are body, soul and spirit, all 3 of which play an important part in making up the unique one-of-a-kind individual, that incredible creation, called YOU.

We all are curious to see what the future holds. We check out horoscopes, the Almanac, the stats, the prophets. We want to have a jump on our lives and be in control.

"Aha! Saw that one coming I did!" "Good thing I was prepared for that!"

That includes me too. So I spent some time in prayer to see if there  was anything I should be aware of, prepped for, got a jump on. I'm paraphrasing here, but this is basically how it went down.

Me: "What's the deal God? What does this year hold for me? Any hints??"
Big Guy in the Sky: "What is your life verse Cyndi?"
Me: "Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"
BGITS: "That's right. You will have to trust me. If there is something you need to know ahead of time, I will tell you."

Yup. Comes down to faith, trust and doing my best to listen. I don't know about you but apparently that's my plan for this year.

Happy New Year Everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read my Blog! I hope you have a different Life Verse than me!

IN THE COMPANY OF PETS

This is the first year my daughter Randi was not home for Christmas and I truly felt it. I put the fireplace on, lit the tree lights, sat in my big chair with Lulu and sipped a coffee. Across the road I could see the neighbours starting their Christmas morning festivities. They have two little children, a boy and girl, about the ages of 5 and 3. I watched as Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa handed out presents. I watched as the little boy jumped up and down quivering with excitement. And I ached. Oh, how quickly those days fly by. Enjoy your little ones people, for soon they are off and in my case, spending Christmas in other countries. 

I thought I would start my holiday off by ending a nearly 4-year sickness free run. I've had not so much as a cold, but I ended it with a bang. By the afternoon of Dec. 22 I was feeling pretty nauseous. By 6:00 I was throwing up on cue every 20 minutes. Exhausted from this little workout I finally fell asleep around 10:30. Alas, at 3:00 am I was at it again, but from the other end and I blacked out in the bathroom with Lulu licking my face. Because, I'm in the company of pets.

They are always nearby, keeping vigil over me, like furry angels. Old man Frodo hangs with me in the garden.

Sasha waits for me at the top of the stairs

While I laid in bed, moaning and groaning and upchucking into the big silver bowl they hung out on the bed, little warm, steady lumps.  

They are sometimes a nuisance, taking up all the room.

But I don't mind. Because I'm in good company. 

The company of pets.

MY VERSION OF FAVOURITE THINGS

I had this song floating through my head lately - don't know why, I don't particularly like it, but since it refuses to go, I thought I would revise it to my own version. I shortened it, so as to keep your attention cause I know how quick you are to hit the back button. So, Here goes!

SNOWMEN

AND PUPPIES ON WARM FUZZY BLANKETS

CHOCOLATE

AND RED WINE

AND PEACE WITHOUT RACKET!

WARM SUMMER SUNSHINE AND BIKE RIDES IN SPRING

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

WHEN THE KIDS FIGHT

WHEN THE SNOW FALLS

WHEN I'M FEELING SAD...

I SIMPLY REMEMBER MY FAVOURITE THINGS

AND THEN I DON'T FEEL- SO BAD!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, filled with love, laughter and many of your favourite things!

THE CONE OF SHAME

Lulu has had a bit of a rough go this week. I didn't know how to break it to her, so I didn't, but she was going in for major surgery aka, getting spayed.

We got up Thursday morning as per usual and went for our walk but when we got back there was no breakfast for her. She kept hanging around the closet where her food is and looking at me questioningly. 
"Sorry girl, no food for you today.."
She might have clued in when we got in the car (but she didn't).
I think it finally dawned on her that something big was goin' down when I handed the leash over to the lady at the Vets and started walking out the door without her!

Lulu spent the night at the Vets so that meant a vacation for the cats and a full night's sleep for me! No pawing between 3 and 5:00 am. I left closet doors open, because I could and did not even put my slippers or my shoes away, just left them out all vulnerable like.
But I did miss her - the big coffee chair seemed pretty empty without her warm body beside me. 

Sheldon picked her up the next day at lunch and she arrived home looking no worse for wear except for a shaved belly with stitches, a shaved patch on her leg where the IV went in and the "Cone of Shame". 

She bumps along and knocks into things, she unwittingly scoops up snow and going up stairs takes some maneuvering. It totally freaks my cat Frodo out.

Ever felt like you were wearing a "cone of shame?" All awkward and obvious, freaking a few people out? I sure have.

Fortunately, it's Christmas. A time of renewed life, hope, blessings and miracles. Just listen to a few Christmas songs and let those words sink in:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing: "Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth"

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: "Peace on the earth good will to men, From heaven's all gracious King."

White Christmas: "May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases by white."

Every now and then, we feel like we are wearing a Cone of Shame. But every day is brand new, a chance to start over, shake off those mistakes and move on. 

I hope you feel the magic and wonder of Christmas this year!

THE BIG CONCERT

Every now and then, you need to do something you have never done before. In fact it is encouraged to try something new every day....every day? Well, not so sure about that! I'd be through my bucket list is less than a week. Where's the fun in that?

But I do try and push myself and try new things and experiences: things that I'm curious about, or interested in, or terrify me. This past Friday, I managed a new experience that covered all 3 of the aforementioned boundaries.

My incredibly talented cello teacher, Linda was putting together a string ensemble for any brave enough to try. I signed myself and Morrie up and for the past 3 months, every other Tuesday, we have been meeting to rehearse for a Christmas concert.

Here is a shot I took at the dress rehearsal

My little heart was apounding already!

Then came the big night! Break a leg or a string or whatever the musicians say. As much as I wanted to bring my iphone up on the stage and snap shots of the full audience, enraptured by the exquisite sounds, I did not think that would fly in this setting. So I nabbed a shot before everybody showed up (except for the early birds, those two sweet little old ladies, God bless em).

It was a beautiful old church and the acoustics were a treat to work with.

Meanwhile, smuggled outback, incognito were my comrades tuning up and getting ready to go. 

Here is Francine one of the other cellists and John our narrator with a voice as smooth as butta...

We had some technical difficulties...

I messed up in a few places... 

I got totally lost on Hark the Harold! It was more like Harold, Where the Hark am I in this song??

But our Ode to Joy and Coventry Carol were beautiful!

So, thanks to the sweet little early bird old ladies, to all my friends and family who came to cheer me on and support the cause and to my new string ensemble friends and especially Linda who spear headed the whole thing.

I did something I've never done before....how about you?