OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY - IT IS TIME TO EAT

 Many thanks to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for hosting us for Outdoor Wednesday. Stop in to see her post and visit some of the other participants. We are never disappointed over there.

My BB Guy was at the cabin last weekend and while out and about he came across a local who decided it was time to start eating.

He was really stuffing his face having not eaten in a few months. BB Guy was close but not to close. The camera lens helped him get up close in personal without bothering Mr. Bear.

Look at that shaggy old coat. He/she will rub it off over the next few weeks and tufts of it will hang from the tree trunks that they rub against. 

Luckily there were no babies around or even this distance with a camera would be too dangerous.
We have had bears right at the cabin. I always keep my distance.

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YOU GUYS GET ALL THE GOOD STUFF

 www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/3005682627/

I met with a friend for lunch yesterday. I was so nice to catch up a bit and have some girl talk. We went to a restaurant that is in a little mall. Of course that is perfect for a little shopping after lunch don't you think?
We went first to a leather shop looking at all the gorgeous leather coats and wallets. Not many deals there to catch the eye. Wander down a little further to a clothing store. The only nice piece of clothing I found was $70 for a little shirt. Uh, no thanks. I bought some nightgowns and we moved on.

On to a home decorating store where once again there was very little of interest. We did find something that is going to be the container for a birthday gift we are giving....next February. Hey I like to be organized. Don't laugh.

Lastly we went to a store called Home Sense. For all my US friends that is the same as TJ Maxx stores. Except one big difference. In Canada we don't know how to put something on clearance. I am serious. A regular sale price here is at most usually 20% off the item. I head to the clearance sections and what do I find?

Big clearance...Regular price $14.99 red tagged clearance $12.99. Big deal, not. I mean really people isn't a clearance price supposed to be at least half price. I saw this on most of the clearance items. They have barely marked them down at all.

Now how am I supposed to tablescape and decorate with all of you when I can't even get napkin rings for under 6 bucks apiece. I ask you how??

I have often shopped in Washington State and have seen the kinds of deals you guys get. I have seen the markdowns to 70% off with a store special coupon to take 10% more off everything in the store, sale price or not. Even if I pay duty and taxes on the stuff to cross back over the border the same day it is worth it. Not to mention the selection and choices you have as well.

That does it. I will have to plan a shopping trip to the US. I will buy only clearance items and I will be looking for those extra markdowns that are everywhere. I will shop til I drop and my car will be so full it will take me hours to get through customs but boy will I be tablescaping then. Look out.

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REPEAT POST: THIS GOOSE EGG WAS NOT GOLDEN

Here is an older post from last March. I thought it would be a fun one to repeat.

I received a long distance phone call this morning from one of my sisters. She told me to turn on the local news and have a look at my "weapon of choice". What did I see there. An old Electrolux vacuum cleaner of course She sure has a long memory. Many, many, many years ago when I was about 4 or 5 years old, in self defense I am sure, I took the metal pipe from my Mom's vacuum and whacked her across the head with it.

I was just a tiny little girl but apparently I had enough muscle to swing that sucker pretty good.
She ran to our Mom's room and woke her from a nap. Mom wasn't happy about the wake up but when she saw the size of the goose egg on my sister's forehead she let out an "OMG".

Now in my defense I must say she must have done something to deserve this because I have never hit anyone since. I also don't remember this so I have to take her word for it.

Mom did what they did in those days...she taped a huge coin tightly to it to try to keep the swelling down. No doctors, no Children's Aid, no clinic.

By the way this same sister used to double me on the back of her bike and she would go so fast I would scream and scream. That I do remember. See I told you she probably deserved it.

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A FAVORITE THING

http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/McCall%27s_4741

Do you know what one of my most favorite things in the whole wide world, ever, ever, ever is? No, of course you don't.
My fondest memory is of my sons when they were little. You take two little boys and dip them in the bathtub for a while until they are pink and soft and smelling of soap. You wrap those little guys up in a big warm towel and dry them off and then here comes the best part...flannel pajamas. With their wet hair combed neatly, the flannel jammies tucked in and their cheeks still pink from the bath.
This is the best thing in the whole world. A clean, warm, cuddly, loved child.One who will be cuddled and hugged and tucked into bed with a story and a kiss goodnight.

My sons are grown (my eldest turning 27 next week) yet I can still smell and feel the way this felt. I hope they can too. 

What are some of your favorite things?

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WASP POST UPDATE

I want to add this website to the information on the amazing women who made up the Women Airforce Service Pilots. A family member of one of the pilots mentioned it in her comment on the original post and I know you will just love to see the scrapbook that was created. Thank you buglegirl for the information.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SCRAPBOOK

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WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS

 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-24_300-239.jpg

(left to right) Eloise Huffines Bailey, Millie Davidson Dalrymple, Elizabeth McKethan Magid, Clara Jo Marsh Stember. In the background, a B-24. (Courtesy: USAF)
 

I saw some photos of these women in an email and knew I wanted to share their story with all of you. I did a bit of research and I think you will be amazed by these women and their accomplishments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32912172@N00/3146350178/

Harlingen Army Air Field, Texas--Elizabeth L. Gardner of Rockford, Illinois, WASP (Women's Airforce Service Pilot) pilot, takes a look around before sending her plane streaking down the runway at the air base.
Photo and caption from the National Archives.

They were called WASPS or Women Airforce Service Pilots and they flew planes during WWII. These women were some of 3000 women with private flying licenses in 1942. There were only about 1800 male pilots in the army after Pearl Harbor. In all about 1000 women ended up in this service that was intended to free up the male pilots for their combat roles. Originally they were required to have 200 hours of flight time but by November 1942 the program was accepting women without prior flying experience. Many women stepped up for the job, more than 25,000 but only 1900 were accepted and 1,078 actuall earned their wings. This was on par with males that went through training.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/521510971/

JOCELYN MOORE EVERNHAM 2nd LIEUTENANT WOMANS AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOT (WASP)

The women transported aircraft, including the fighter planes and bombers, gunnery targets and cargo. They flew 60 million miles collectively. Some of the most qualified pilots also tested rocket propelled and jet propelled planes.

Sadly 38 of the pilots lost their lives. Twenty seven of them in active duty and 11 more in training. Their own families had to pay for the deceased women's bodies to be sent home and there were no military honors. They were not even allowed to drape the coffins with the US flag.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:100-004.jpg

Jackie Cochran in the cockpit of a P-40 fighter plane, she was head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)

All of the records for these brave women were classified and sealed for 35 years. There was a fight to get them recognized starting in 1975 with the records finally being released in 1977. They didn't get full military status until then.

http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/ http://www.afhra.af.mil/

Shirley Slade, WASP Trainee--Life Magazine Feature Story

In 1984 each WASP was awarded  the "World War II Victory Medal and finally on July 1, 2009 these women were awarded Congressional Gold Medals by President Obama and the US Congress. On March 10, 2010 there were 200 surviving WASPS that went to the US Capitol to accept their medals.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WASP_Congressional_Gold_Medal.jpg

President Barack Obama signs S.614 in the Oval Office July 1 at the White House. The bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Women Airforce Service Pilots. The WASP program was established during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, more than 1,000 women joined, flying 60 million miles of noncombat military missions. Of the women who received their wings as Women Airforce Service Pilots, approximately 300 are living today. The women in this photo are Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Women’s Airforce Service Pilots Elaine Danforth Harmon, Lorraine H. Rodgers and Bernice Falk Haydu, and active duty USAF pilots Colonel Dawn Dunlop, Colonel Bobbi Doorenbos, Lieutenant Colonel Wendy Wasik, Major Kara Sandifur and Major Nicole Malachowski (former Thunderbird pilot).

There are many sites online that have information on the WASPS. There is a blog that is about them too called Wings Wasps. I suggest having a look there to see many photos and stories about the women who served. You can also follow on Twitter.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USAAF_Wings_WASP_Pilot_Class_43-W-2_1943.jpg

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BY POPULAR REQUEST - PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

I had a couple of you ask for the dough recipe for the pizza so here you go. This is a bread machine recipe.

 PIZZA DOUGH:
1 CUP BEER
1 TABLESPOON SHORTENING
1 TABLESPOON SUGAR
1 TEASPOON SALT
3 CUPS FLOUR (in Canada the measure is 2 3/4 cups only)(I used whole grain...a little dry but good and healthy)
1 1/4 TEASPOONS YEAST

Put ingredients into breadmaker in the  order above. Use a dough/pasta setting and let it go until the cycle is complete. Remove from machine to a floured surface and knead in more flour if dough is too sticky. Not too much. Either roll out your dough now or wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
I cut this dough into 4 pieces and they make a nice size individual pizza each.
You can bake this on a lightly greased pan sprinkled with cornmeal but we use our pizza stone that is so well seasoned we don't need to grease it at all.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15-25 minutes depending on the size of you pizza. I like mine golden brown.

The dough will rise in the fridge so make sure you have it well wrapped because like the Blob that overtook the world this will happen to your refrigerator too. Quite a shock when you open the door and the giant ball of dough grabs you and pulls you inside.....

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FOODIE FRIDAY - PIZZA

If this is Friday it must be time for Foodie Friday and a visit to Michael Lee at Designs by Gollum.

I like to make a batch of pizza dough in the bread maker. One batch makes 4 personal pizzas. I wrap them up and they can sit in the fridge until I need them. They need to be well wrapped because they will rise up and take over the whole darned fridge. One day when I opened the door 2 of them came falling out at me because they had expanded a lot.

This one is a whole wheat crust.

I had red peppers, red onions, fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts and a tomato sauce with a bit of hot pepper flakes in it.

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WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN?

*** I have edited my blog badge code so it actually show the picture I have here when you put it on your site. If you have my badge on your site could you please change the code to the updated one. Thanks***

(No making fun of the hair do or the groovy 60's pants thank you very much. If you can't say something nice then don't say any thing at all at least make it funny)

Do you ever think of the people who have passed through your life only to go on to lives of their own? People who you may have played hide and seek with or kick the can on a warm summer's night? People who were growing up where you grew up?

I think of these people often. I think of the silly things we did. Apparently I told people that I was a witch. Uh huh. I had forgotten about that until this weekend. Why did I suddenly remember this? I made contact with a two sisters that I used to live near when I was about 11 or 12. I found her and her sister on Facebook. I guess I kind of scared her for a while. She was younger than me and I was pretty convincing. Sorry girl.

Once you start remembering some things bits and pieces start to flood forward. I started to remember lots of other names and details. It has been quite a trip down memory lane but you know what? You really can't go home again and quite honestly I don't want to. I want to see these women for the great people they have become today. How all of us from the same place in life have grown up and moved on and made such differences in our worlds.

This is an example of the world wide web at its best. Facilitating the reconnecting of people all around the world. Without Facebook I never would have visited with them. It has also connected me with distant relatives that I knew nothing about. So even though there is lots of  bad stuff on the net there is lots of good stuff too.  

I probably shouldn't even mention that one of my boys thought this picture of me was my brother. Uh huh. He actually thought that. C'mon people that side parted  flipped over hair was really cool. Really. If any of you have any doubts about how cool the 60's were here is a little clip for you to get you in the mood. This clip is so hysterical. Oh how I loved the 60's but you really can never go home again.

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A VERY CHEERY CHERRY DAY

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and

Susan from A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday. These women host us every week and it is really important to support them by visiting and commenting on their sites as well.

This year our spring is springing early. There have been cherry blossoms galore as well as flowering plum trees in full bloom.

These gorgeous flowers blanket the ground with their snowy petals but just like real snow. And they can be just as slippery as real snow. One of my coffee buddies slipped on some of them on the sidewalk a couple of years ago and he hurt his knee quite badly. Make sure you get them off your car before they dry or you will have a really hard time removing them.
But really what is not to love about these amazing, hardy blossoms. After all it means spring is really, really close by.

1.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/noelzialee/437615556/

2. www.flickr.com/photos/rachaelvoorhees/469057366/

 

3. www.flickr.com/photos/alaina/3417053652/

4. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newark_cherry...

 5. www.rudecactus.com/2005/04/

 6. www.flickr.com/photos/thru_the_night/3300838382/

7.  www.flickr.com/photos/mystic-venus/2722374376/

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SUNDAY FAVORITES - WINERY

If this is Sunday it must
be time for Sunday Favorites
with Chari at Happy to Design. 
Make sure you stop in to visit and
her and all the other participants. 




I first posted this last March. It is such a nice little place to visit I look forward to going there again soon.


On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning my BB and I found ourselves at a winery about 30 miles from our house. Domaine De Chaberton Winery, wine shop and bistro.

The red wine grapes are grown in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. This is about 220 miles away from here in the only official pocket desert in Canada. The white wine grapes are grown here on a south slope in a micro climate that is perfect for "cool climate" grapes.

The wine shop has the most beautiful gift baskets and wine accessories. We found a wedding gift here for someone but we can't say what it is for obvious reasons.

I suggested my BB should buy this for me but alas it is not in the budget. It had 8 bottles of wine and various other items in it.

The winery has won many medals throughout the years and had gold medals in Michigan in 2008 and California in 2007.

We tried several wines and bought the 2004 VQA Canoe Cove Shiraz and a 2007 VQA Pinot Gris to try at home.

The red was served with a steak dinner. It held up well to the grilled meat. It was a mix of spice and deep red fruits. Cherry, smokey, beautiful long legs. The white will be served on a sunny day with a light spread of cheeses, breads and maybe some olives. Buttery tastes. Many thanks to the lovely staff who declined to be photographed. The tasting was very enjoyable.