Home » Food » Weekend Share – January 28, 2018

Weekend Share – January 28, 2018

Posted on by

“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.”
― John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

Good Sunday afternoon, my Readers!  Didn’t write one last week because frankly, I had had a rather non-happening kinda week!  Didn’t want to bore you to tears with a whole lotta nuthin’ 😉

Only thing of note that did occur the previous week is that François, my ever-handy man, removed the last of the carpet and the !&*?! glue.  He finally gave up using an ice-breaker and scraper and went to rent a machine.

Oh!  Silly me!  How could I forget mentioning being invited for supper at our former boss’ house last Thursday. D’oh!  Was nice to get together a few of us from the restaurant of the golf club plus François (we allowed him to come even though he works the driving range 😉 )

Me, François M., Thérèse, Jimmy and François L. (host)

***

Before I get started on my past week, I want to share an upcoming writing challenge a fabulous blogger, Frank, from a Frank Angle, will be initiating at the beginning of February.  He is calling it the “If” challenge.  The goal is to write a post based on the word “If”.  Never mind my telling the whats and whatnots, just click here for the deets!  When the official date has been chosen, I shall be sure to mention it.  One thing is for certain, Frank sure knows how to get his readers involved.  He’s had wonderful challenges in the past and I’ve participated in quite a few, even wore the honorary title of Maître D.  Just sayin’ 😀

***

We had horrible feelings of déjà vu of 1998’s famous Ice Storm.  20 years ago this last 4th of January.  I was 8 months pregnant and will never forget that crazy time.  Actually, we made the best of it and hung out with my sister Tracy (also pregnant) and her husband Sébastien.  We had a great two weeks together!

This time, first came the snow, then the freezing rain, then with more rain on top.  Many people had to do without electricity for hours on end.  We were very lucky in my ‘hood.  Not even a flicker. Still.  As it did NOT turn into the storm of the century, we could just enjoy the prettiness of it all.  I just wish that on the days I went out with my camera the sun was shining.  When it did, I didn’t go out.  Ah well…

Bedroom window
Encased
Captured
Layer of ice over snow
Night shot

On Tuesday, François took me to the Canadiens vs Avalanche hockey game.  Let’s just say the Canadiens have not been on a wonderfully positive streak lately.  That said, I declared they would win.  And they did!  4-2 (which really should have been 4-1 but they got a tad cocky).  Before that, I brought François to Ye Olde Olchard Pub on Mountain Street.  He’d never been and enjoyed it quite a bit.  It’s a go-to place before sporting events so we made sure to be there at what my sister called Early-bird Hour to ensure we had a good place to sit.  And frankly, there are worse things to do than sit in a wonderful pub, where servers wear kilts, for 3 hours…  Then off for a walk down the street to the Bell Centre.

At Ye Olde Orchard Pub
Fabulous seats!
A True fan

 

Took another walk with Zeke on a day that promised sun but did not deliver…

Sun came for a few minutes
Love the ice on green
Zeke
Weighted down
Cool patterns

 

On my way back, I came across some rosehips and got inspired for a little Haiku.

And really loved the effects of the icicles on my neighbour’s house

Icicle Lace

Sat down on my front stoop and realised my Yew (thank you David, for telling me what my tree is!) was decorated for Christmas – just a tad late!

Ready for Christmas

One last icy image – that may just appear in a FF coming soon!

I haven’t posted a food pic for a while so… here’s my “Jamie Oliver’s Proper Chicken Caesar Salad” which went over quite well…

I made my pizza last night – with a mix of all my leftover flours (1/2 white, 1/2 whole wheat plus some semolina), expecting it to be a total flop but, not according to the men in my life!  I completely forgot to take a picture last night, so here is a quick shot of the leftovers… looks edible, even though I just took it out of the fridge, eh? 😉

Pizza

Now, hopefully I have not put you to sleep.  I wish you all a most fabulous week filled with love and laughter!

A few of the 10,000 things that make me happy

  1. Ice storms – they may cause difficulties but they give great photo ops!
  2. My gas stove – allows me to make food for my guys
  3. My eyes – they permit me to see the world around me
  4. My legs – they get me from one place to another
  5. My camera – allows me to capture my world

 

 

48 thoughts on “Weekend Share – January 28, 2018”

  1. Many thanks for the challenge plug. Your readers are more than welcome to know about. Cheers to François helping out around the house … and cheers to the club for letting him into the restaurant. Ah yes – the power of the off-season. 🙂 (As you know, I also work at a club – so I know how they can be). Meanwhile, thanks for sharing the pics of your cold – which make Cincinnati cold look warmer.

    Liked by 1 person

    • You are most welcome, my friend. I hope we snare a few more 😉
      Yeah, my gang is lovely. I shall miss them by not returning to work there. But, technically, my François does work there, just not upstairs 😉
      And yeah. We have been nailed this year. Piles of snow, bitter cold and now ice. And we haven’t even reached February yet!!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Your pictures were a reminder of that dark week (literally — except for the flashes as power lines went down) when we lived through “L’Enfer de Glace” in Acton-Vale.
    Hurray for you getting your house work done. Here’s to nice new flooring. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • I wish it had only lasted one week! Were you on vacation or visiting family? Talk about bad luck…
      Thanks. None of this would be done without Frank’s help. The man is a machine!

      Like

      • We lived in Acton-Vale for almost a year during that time. We had friends whose preemie twins died shortly after birth Jan 2nd-3rd; we had a little funeral for them in a local church cemetery that Saturday morning.

        It was starting to drizzle—or started that afternoon — and continued until the next Saturday. At least there at Acton Vale. All those trees and branches crashing all day and all night — a sound you never forget!

        Liked by 1 person

        • Oh how very sad. I can’t imagine. Actually on the 17th it was the 1st anniversary of Austin’s death…

          Man, oh man. That was a crazy time. We tried to stay in our house for one day with a regular fireplace – awful. We then went to my sister and bro-in-law’s where we stayed for just over 2 weeks. Tey missed a whole 36 hours only of electricity

          Like

    • It would have taken *forever* to do it by hand. Not to mention back-.
      breaking.
      Yep. I am pro homie and folky 😊

      Like

  10. Great pictures! The one of your pizza really made my mouth water! And yes those icy shots remind me very much of the ice storm..beautiful but scary at the same time 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, my friend. Well now, if an Italian’s mouth watered, I’m doing ok!
      Yeah, it was a scary-beautiful time…☺

      Like

  11. I am so thankful Dale that we missed the freezing rain here in Toronto. Instead we had some pleasant weather.
    Love the photo of the true fan – he really loves his team, doesn’t he 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  13. So I am hopelessly behind, no? Francois? I thought he really was your handyman until I saw the other photos and realized you probably do not bring your handyman to dinners with a former boss and hockey games:). You look very happy–good for you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ha ha! It’s still pretty new. Will be 4 months beginning of February. It’s kinda nice to feel special again, I cannot lie.
      And thank you! I am happy..😊

      Like

  14. such a fun post and I like the things that make you happy at the end – are you really working up to 10,000?

    and how fun to catch the game (and a winning game) and I am an Avalanche fan (used to live in CO) – but not that into hockey really…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you! Well. I was inspired by another blogger and figured why not? I have no time limit 😉. Course I keep forgetting to add to the list on other posts like Pegman or FF!

      Yes. Tickets are so bloody expensive, I only go when invited or when, like this time, we get them half price. I enjoy it but am not an avid fan. There’s something about the ambiance of a live game though!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Hi Dale, lovely to catch up sans Friday fiction- it allows me to read other things. Loved your post- and yes I’m eager to see the “if” challenge. Lovely pics…..but best of all LOVE Zeke😍😍. I have Zeus at home- also a German Shepherd. …so ❤💙💛💚- you’ve captured my heart.
    Ps- the quote at the top is spot on 👊

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.