Life - Waiting for the Baby

When will the baby arrive?  All this waiting is driving me mad, and I'm just the grandma!!!  Another week to go.  My poor daughter is at the end of her tether.

Holidays - The New Year Begins

It's January 3 already!  Not two seconds ago, it seems, I was preparing snacks for a party on New Years Eve.  It was a fun party, by the way.  Eight of us just chatting, having a few drinks (champagne at midnight), snacking on snacks, and listening to music.  Then we turned the tv on for the countdown.  Yet, here I am, already thinking about my course at uni ... I have to get my laptop up to scratch because it's a third year online short story writing class.  I am doing an online course because I will be away for two months in Germany, assisting my daughter while she has her third baby.  I am so excited.  I will be doing a lot of writing, picture taking, and sketching with all the inspiration of a new environment.

Writing - Postcard Competition

Here is a postcard story I am thinking of sending in to a competition here in Canada.  The rule is for 250 words --- this has 251.  I am sure I can find a word that I can delete.   :)  

Gone!  (working title)

    Janet's love for Lewis had been haemorraging for a long time. The fact that he had made a fool of her again, in front of their friends was a moment of freedom. She looked at him, at his haughty face, thinking himself so clever, so superior. “We are talking business, Janet, because that's what puts food on our table,” he said, the sarcasm dripping from his mouth like invisible vomit.

     Janet sighed, thinking back over the last few months. She knew he was having an affair because she had hired a private detective to get proof . At last, she didn't care anymore. She would no longer be a victim of his beligerant moods; awoken late at night with lying excuses, the other womans' perfume wafting in the air of their bedroom. Lewis thought she was stupid, that she needed him, and that he could get away with anything. He didn't see her leave the party.

     Janet had prepared for this day. She had quietly sought legal counsel, and had set aside money in a separate bank account. She had already sold all her jewelry, even her engagement ring; replaced expensive paintings with cheap prints, the same with furniture; all sold for that possible future when she would get the courage to leave. The fool actually believed she was redecorating.

     She left the house defiantly littered with the photos of him and his mistress, doing what they thought was secret.  One, blown up to human size at the front door.

Movies - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

My daughter and I went to see this movie in 2D last Saturday night.  It was good, but I preferred the first Narnia movie.  I bet most people will say the same.  I do intend seeing the 3D version, and maybe that will change my opinion.  The dragon and monster scenes were exciting, and in 3D, must look even more thrilling.  I found the evil/good contrast very weak.  I liked the bratty cousin who finds his courage and new attitude.

For me, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader gets 3/5 stars.

Holidays - Happy Hanukkah

I found this awesome song about Hanukkah, and would like to share it.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCSR4MuhU&NR=1

Holidays - Christmas is Coming!

Slowly, but surely the Christmas lights are appearing on our street.  Some people really go all out, to the point you can barely see their house, so loaded are they with lights and other decorations.  Our house, so far, has only an outline of white lights around our front door.  We are one of those minimalists ... a string of coloured lights around the eaves, white lights around the front door, and a Christmassy wreath hanging on said front door.  Inside, we put up our tree, but not nearly as soon as our neighbors.  We decorate ours mid-December.  I guess you can see who the immigrants on the street are, 'eh!!!

The shops are getting busier by the day.  I'm already getting sick of the same carols playing throughout the malls, and stores.  Sometimes, I send gifts through Amazon, or similar online outlet, just so I don't have to go out to shop.  So much easier for me to send to those loved ones living far away. 

What I love about Christmas is the smiles on peoples faces.  Joy fills the air, not just the commercial kind, but the true type where people are thinking of others, helping each other, and giving more to those who have little or nothing.  This is the time when food bulges at the Salvation Army containers at the doors of the grocery stores. I hope it stretches far into the new year, when it slowly slacks off.

More comments to come about Christmas .......

Cooking - It's Soup Makin' Time!

It's been snowing all week ... the snow that should've been non-existent in this so-called temperate climate here on the west coast of Canada.  The snow and cold that drove us away from the interior, where -20 deg. C in winter is a balmy day.

I made my first pot of soup for the season yesterday, and it was delicioso, if I do say so myself.  This is how I made it:

I slightly braised a large chopped onion in a blob of butter (just until it was cooked through, not too browned), then chopped a red pepper and added it to the large pot with the onion.  In went two celery stalks, 1 large sweet potato (the white kind), a bunch of carrots (I think I had about eight medium sized ones left in the 'fridge) and a potato, all peeled and chopped.  I also added some chopped ginger, all the while adding a dash of water here and there to prevent burning.  The stove was on medium.  Then I poured in a whole carton of pre-prepared chicken stock - 500 ml, and a teaspoon of crushed garlic, and let the pot simmer for a long while at medium/low (about 30 minutes or so, until all the veggies were soft).  Once that was done, I whizzed it with my immersion whisk until everything was slush.  I continued cooking, threw in some salt to taste, white pepper, and a small carton of half and half cream.  Also, 2 teaspoons of hot curried mixture (I like a bit of a bite). I cooked everything through for about another half hour, then left it to cool just a tad - five minutes or so.  I served it with hot rosemary bread.

It was so scrumptious! The kids loved it too.  Does anyone else have off the cuff soup recipes you'd like to share? It's one thing I know how to cook well, so I make it a lot during the fall/winter season.