8 Random Things About Me

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Deborah

Why 7? ‘Cause if I told you everything about me, then I would have nothing else to write about in the future….

*ok…so I messed up the numbering and fixed it…which now gives 8 Random Things About Me….oh well! Thanks Trishie for pointing out my goof….funny how you can look at something and NOT see a typo???

1. Favourite Sport – NASCAR

2. Favourite Colour – Blue (at the moment, it changes seasonally)

3. Favourite Musical Group – Led Zeppelin

4. Favourite Food – Pizza, followed closely by Pierogies

5. Favourite Outdoor Activity – Fishing

6. Favourite Indoor Activity – … Read more...

It’s Healthy Food Time

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Deborah

Sometimes you need to step away from the butter laden, ooey-gooey, rich, decadent, make-you-swoon recipes and stabilize your blood sugar or before you know it, you will be living in sweatpants and over sized t-shirts hauling around an oxygen bottle for the rest of your life.

Not to get all preachy….ok, maybe a ‘little’ preachy…but the average person should aim to get 25 – 30% of their daily calories from fat, of that amount, approx. 7% should come from saturated fat (meats/dairy). Less than 1% should come from trans fat and the rest should come from mono and poly unsaturated … Read more...

How To Make Your Own Croutons

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Deborah

Making your own croutons takes about as much time to make a pot of coffee…and just as easy. Trust me, once you make your own croutons, you will never go back to store bought again. With the use of heart healthy Olive Oil, they are much better for you than the butter/transfat laden commercial variety too. These are made from day or two old fresh bread. Not the packaged, preservative laden stuff either, because no matter how long you leave it out, it just doesn’t get stale enough to be used as croutons.

Grab a fresh baguette (preferably whole wheat … Read more...

Growing Peppers in November

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Deborah

In Canada Even! Amazing? Incredulous?

No, not really….but I had to make it sound exciting didn’t I?

2 months ago I brought 2 pepper plants inside so the remaining peppers that were on them could finish growing. A Poblano Pepper plant and a Serrano Pepper plant. They both had at least 8-12 peppers on them. But the peppers really didn’t get much larger, even with a dose of fertilizer every 2 weeks.

I went to water them the other day and noticed three of the Poblanos are turning red. Well then, they obviously think they are ready to be picked, … Read more...

Wooly Checkered Flags

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Deborah

For those that do not know me very well (or haven’t read the About Me section, and shame on you if you haven’t), I am a NASCAR Nut. I have been one since….oh…about the late 80’s or so. Even though I am Canadian and *should* love hockey, curling, ice skating and careening down a tree-filled slope 90 miles an hour on a pair of skinny wooden planks, NASCAR is my sport of choice. There is something about the 43 Supercharged 800+ horsepower engines roaring to life every week that give me goosebumps.

In honour of my NASCAR fetish, I created … Read more...

A Fork In The Road….

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Deborah

Leads to Blackness…

Hubby and I went to dinner at the neighbours Saturday night. The couple with the 4 kids I mentioned in Homestead Halloween. We had such a great time, and the food was simply awesome (and I am STILL waiting for the recipe for the marinated pork tenderloin kebabs they served – outstanding) as well as the company.

Living up here in the north away from the city has lots of great advantages….but it has one slight disadvantage when it comes to nightfall, when the moon is non-existent or obscured by clouds.

It is friggin DARK when … Read more...

Clutter Gremlins

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Deborah

I have Clutter Gremlins living in my Office/Sewing Room. How else do you explain this mess?

All of sudden, one day out of the blue, I walk into the office and it looks like this….I swear it has to be Clutter Gremlins that hide under the desks and come out to wreak havoc in my teeny space when I am not looking.

After 2 hours of organizing and tossing, it is back to normal…..until the next time the Clutter Gremlins emerge….does anyone else have these mysterious critters in their house? It can’t be just me that gets blessed with their … Read more...

Childhood Memories

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Deborah

Are you a packrat?

Have you saved every single toy, magazine, book, first piece of chewed gum or lock of hair from your childhood?

If so, you need help…..

Childhood memories are just that, memories. The mind can store tons of info and images, just like a computer. Without the worry of hard drive failure to boot.

BUT….

Sometimes you need to have the one special thing from your childhood that you just can NOT get rid of no matter what. It could be worthless, broken, ripped or torn, but you love it and just can’t let go of it.… Read more...

The Homestead Zoo Update

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Deborah

Everyday here on the Homestead is an opportunity to see some very different critters than what are usually seen within city limits.

There have been some additions to the cast of ‘regulars’ that roam the Homestead….

Frank the Fox recently moved into the area. He is a single guy looking to pick up pretty chicks..but he’ll settle for my ducks. He lopes through daily looking for the perfect opportunity to snag a tasty duck confit…. I have not seen him successfully nab one yet, but he has made off with something smaller a while back, most likely a squirrel.

Harry … Read more...

And the winner is….

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Deborah

Congrats to Chris from Saskatchewan!!! She is the lucky winner of the random draw of correct answers for the La Gitana Creations Microsuede Handbag.

She correctly identified the mystery critter below, which is a North American Freshwater Leach. Fish, Loons and Diving Ducks think they are pretty darn tasty…and Fishermen swear by them as bait (as one of our contest entries mentioned).

Hubby fished the critter out of the lake a few weeks ago, so of course, I took it as a great photo op moment.

Thanks to all who entered! Chris, I will get your new handbag packaged up … Read more...