Communities

community...the definition
people living in one district or country, a group of people having race, religion, or profession etc in common: commune: fellowship: state of being shared or held in common: joint ownership or liability

When I think of my community, I have to think of which one. There is the community where I grew up and still belong. A small town where everyone knew your name, and for me most likely I was also related to. The start for me to learn from, I knew from a young age I was loved and protected. I also learned in my younger years about the pressures of such a small community. Where you were pretty much expected to follow in the footsteps of those before you. Play the sports, join the clubs and belong. When I hit by teens questions arose about the path that was for me and not the path that was expected. I was exposed to the world and not just the small town where I grew up when i moved to Montreal on a school exchange seeing so many different things than what I was used to...hay bales and hockey games LOL. So being young and defiant I went out on my own, moved to the "big" city and carried on. I carried on to a new community, one full of young people I had met, and learned to love. We were on our own, learning about life as we went, travelling to see the world and discover a love of music and eachother. Sadly that community has somewhat disbanded over the years, finding our own paths once again after a serious of losses to our community. Kevin and Michael lost in a tragic car accident, David lost to a reaction to a glass of wine one New Year's eve, and finally Jamie yet another loss to a car accident. Somehow I think this was the downfall of our tight little family, the loss became to much and to terrible to bear together. Now thanks to the world online we all keep in touch, remember and celebrate the good times without such heartache.
Now I am mom, that is my community at the forefront, the one that takes precedence over all. I am mom to my children, to the children of my family and friends, I am mom, willing to go the distance and protect my family at all costs or loss.
Happily I have found another community, the online kind. Happily I have found a place to share the joy of my family, and my thoughts, along with the joy of our community. Better yet the thoughts I share are Adult thoughts, with adult conversations....what a joy and a gift for this stay at home mom!
I cherish my online community and friends, and I hold them dear in my heart (my dreams, my thoughts...my day) I hope that we will be a community to grow with for years to come, a community that can overcome that fears of betrayal, learn to share and not suspect or accuse, a community that can learn to trust again in the online world and know that we are meeting in a safe place once again, where we all have each others backs and know the words we speak or truth and genuine with love and light. but with that being said, communication in a community is the key to its strength, how we all can find the safe place together, communication is the key to beating the doubt, betrayal, and fear. without it only confusion will result and more questions be raised.
To beat a fear you must face it, to face it together can only make a community stronger.

The Staples in My Kitchen

One of my favorite things to do is cook! While I am not a baker my any means creating a meal is pure joy! Before I was wife and mom....as the hubby calls it...my circus years, I spent over a decade working in the food and beverage industry....always on the service end of things, but also not far from the kitchen and the chef's. And the range of places I worked exposed me to many fantastic kitchens, foods, and recipes...not to mention the best place to learn...Gramma Bernice's kitchen! The first time I cooked a roast was at Gramma's. She made an unplanned trip to Aunty Lil's in Toronto one weekend and called in a panic Friday night begging me to take a roast out of the freezer and prepare a meal Saturday for Uncle Buck,....and no, cancelling the invite she had forgotten was unacceptable! So there I was cooking a meal for the visiting Uncle Buck , spending the day calling Toronto every fifteen minutes looking for directions, praying that I did not disappoint Gramma.....luckily for Uncle Buck the roast beef dinner was a success and i tasted the "icing sugar" before I thickened the gravy with it!

Now over a decade later, I have no fear of the roast dinner (thank you crock pots!) and would like to think Gramma and Uncle Buck would love to try my improvements of the meal.

Staples in My Kitchen to the perfect Roast.... Dinner

When roasting your potatoes with your Meat....(and of course carrots, onions...tonnnes of Garlic)
my secret is.....add a pac of onion soup mix to the pan Your potatoes will roast to a golden brown, and the juices in the bottom..mmmm....can you say the best gravy ever????????????? I put this in with poultry, beef and pork

note...specially with beef I also like to add a spoon of balsamic vinegar...makes for a wicked flavor in stew or your gravy

Scallop Potatoes...or in our house...fryed potatoes on the BBQ
a twist on the old flour mix in with your potatoes I have a mason jar in the fridge which holds the following.....flour, italian bread crumbs, salt pepper, and parmesan cheese. Even more flavor to the mix I add in a spoonful or two of chicken soup mix...mix your potatoes into this mix and yummy smiles will be at the table.

Fish...we love it, and eat lots of Salmon...(.works great on homemade chicken fingers too)
I use the same mix in the Mason Jar above to bread the salmon/chicken but to it I add a couple of spoonfuls of whole sesame seeds which are wickedly healthy for you and tasty too.

So there's a new start to my blog .... Cooking tips
enjoy

Fourteen Years ago today

It seems like yesterday, sleeping in my first apartment at the ripe age of eighteen, a guy was banging on my window, car packed, ready to go shouting "Annette get up lets go, lets get on the road" It was Michael, bouncing with energy, which I had none. It was a late night, and too early for me so I waved goodbye, and climbed back into bed. Fourteen years ago tomorrow, Mike was lost forever, taken in a car accident on his way home from the ski hill. Along with another friend Kevin, our friends were gone.

Connections are made, friendships are built, and family grows. As I logged in this morning to see a message...remember them today I cried. I cried for the lost connection, the loss of my friends, and the loss of memories that should have been made. I cried because I still remember his face in the window that day smiling with energy. Now I try to smile as I log on to the many memories flooding the message board, and remember the times, the good times when we were kids growing into adults taking on the world.

I cherish those days, that apartment, and those friends. I love to reconnect and share in the memories. It reminds me that even the slightest connection made can become so much more, friendship family and a life time of memories which will never be forgotten. Today I will take the time to remember, the reflect, and to appreciate the yellow in my day, the connections that have been made, the connections still to come, and the love that carries us through even the hardest times.

Four Buckets of Sand

Well today the sun is shining, the skies are clear and blue, but yesterday was the day of water, they day we finally understood why there was four buckets of sand in the basement when we bought our Shoeless Acres, and the day we kicked ourselves in the ass for taking them out....Water! Our small babbling creek is now a twelve foot wide raging river, and my basement is collecting water. These are the daze when you wish you could speak to Mrs. Hughes (previous owner) when you picture her and her husband across the road giggling at the kids that bought their house.(they rest together now next door) The day when it is all clear that with a little sand the water would be controlled. And while we were cursing the water in the basement asking the kids to stay upstairs, where were the children? Finding their scuba gear waiting for the flood. A great smile for us, but still the water!

We are lucky really, a little water that will receed, while others in this crazy weather are waist deep in it. Not far from here, a small village shut down, deserted as the bank of the river exploded onto the streets. People in canoes entering their houses on the second floor to salvage what they can...so yes I am lucky.

A road trip we will make shortly with the camera, down to the lake to film the carnage. The winds yesterday reeked havoc on the ice shacks....blown across the lake, shredded on the shore. There will be many fisherman today I suppose looking out on to the ice with the questions of...'damn where's my shack" and "do I dare try to find it" The water is open now at the shore, but the weatherman is calling for a freeze...and we need it.

Today is also the end of an journey for me, which was started a year ago. I was in a sad place with no where to go, and found a place of comfort, a place to vent bout my little family blender, a place where you realize that you are not alone. I found STEPTALK a site for stepparents to vent, gain advice and lean on eachother. Sadly, it would seem however I am not finding a positive in it anymore, I find more negatives, more bitterness felt towards those that want to bitch and complain and not move forward, it seems many would rather feed from the bad instead of looking for the good. So i am walking away so to speak, taking with me the knowledge I have learned over the past year, and some friendships to boot.

So onto my day....soaking up the sun and yellow, some water, and of course the joy of taking more photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the incident...

Living in a rural area, and on the dead end of the street, generally things on the acres are wonderful. Generally the children play in the yard, the dogs run free, and we putter about our day. Yesterday ... the inncident. Dennis was working in the shop, the kids were playing in the melting snow, and the dogs were lying under their tree together enjoying the mild weather. Next from the window I see the girls take off towards the end of the Acres, and I hear them barking. So ok, either 1. they saw a deer or moose or rabbit or fox etc or 2. there is someone on the street with a dog. So boots on, outside I go to "man whistle" the girls home, which is a 50-50chance if I can get the man whistle out, or if they will return right away. But it wasn't the dogs barking anymore it was a man shouting every form of the f word in the book telling the girls to "git" So I call Dennis, he gives the man whistle, and the girls return with their heads held low knowing...we are in trouble now, because they know they are not suppose to do that. But no it doesn't end there, here comes the man and his wife storming towards our driveway walking two huge bull mastiffs. The couple...I have never seen before, and the dogs...I think I would remember Denis crossed the yard to speak to the man...who is once again shouting and cursing, and once again having to listen to the barks of my girls, (as he stood at the end of my driveway screaming obsentities) So I instructed the kids to just run inside for a moment, and approached the couple and Dennis, who had Daisy in toe by the collar...Nishka is not a dog that is caught by anyone in this situation. The man is shouting "get your f'n dog...she is going to attack these dogs, and we are bording them at our kennel up ;the road." (i will stress the f word was inputted every second word)"you can't just have a rottie running free to attack...these dogs are worth thousands of dollars"

WTF????????????????????? so dennis calmly replied that while he was sorry the dogs had barked ....at this point the man shouting obsenties on the street in front of the kids was more of a nuisance than the barking dogs, and that he needed to calm down. He also told the guy that we would not own dogs that attacked let alone let them run free, and obviously since they had walked over a hundred feet to scream at the end of the driveway .... the dog had plenty of time to eat the couple and the dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I understand the whole...dogs on leash, and under control but holy crap....I had a freak'n bear in the yard for an hour and a half last spring, I have had the neighbour next door warn us ofthe pack of six wolves last week! They are dogs only barking! They bark when there are two strange dogs walking around our acres...yes they leave the property to do so, but hell they know damn well where the kennel is....if they were problem dogs they would be up harrassing the dogs running the agility course every weekend....they never have gone there! They will only walk with people/dogs on the road to the edge of our property and then come home....with the exception of the direction of Mofo...when they will walk with the neighbours down to his house...play for ten minutes and come home...usually with Mofo in toe! This couple of freak'n dog people yet still somehow they cannot see past the black and tan of Nishka, they cannot take the time to see she is grey now around the mouth and old!!!! So during the incident...I stood back and bit my tongue, let Dennis handle the situation...and he looses all respect for people who swear and shout infront of children so he handled things very well. He told the guy feel free to call the cops...I don't give a shit....ie...guess the dogs will have to be tied for the coming week! But to further my frustrations....ten minutes later the same damn couple comes driving down our street (past the post speed limit) to only turn around and basically crawl past our driveway....only antagonizing the dogs more!!!!!! Nishka, proudly however who was not tied only stood at the end of the drive barking furiously at the big truck as the man sat and gawked!!!!!!!

So now...I will tie the damn dogs up (except in the wee hours of the morning, and probably after dark) and I will wait and see if I get the visit from the local enforcement....but let me tell you should these f'n neighbours choose to raise an issue...the feisty will prevail, and I will be raising some issues of my own! drive down our road exceeding the speed limits, in vehicles, four wheelers, and sleds ignoring the helmet laws, and the safety of those who may be on the road!!!(ie my kids!!!which is one beneift of my free running dogs....Nishka will step out to slow the a-holes down because she is and has been for the last ten years...the best damn nanny my kids could every have!!!)

I have been a dog owner all my life, I worked at a kennel caring for over sixty dogs at a time....I am a large dog lover yes, but damn I wish they people would see past the black and tan of my Nishka, I wish people would get off the pot and see the small children in the yard with the big dog and think about something other than...she is going to eat us!!!!! I wish the damn media would actually report more than just the stories about the rotties, and the pitbulls...because I know for a fact it is NOT the rotties and the pits that bite the most...why don't you ever see the news report about the pretty golden retrievers that bite and who are amoung the highest of the biters. One of the main reasons we chose Daisy is for her golden color! I love my black and tans, our doberman was the biggest loaf of a dog you could meet, but sadly in this day and age a dog of black and tan is labelled vicious in the blink of an eye!!!

Ahhhh....amazing how much better you can feel after a good chai and a blog...might just save the neighbours from the rath of a loony cannuck!!!!! Back to school today in the Acres...onto a new species, some yoga (augh!) and a musical refresher course for me to find, and a generally clean up after the chaos of the past two weeks....holidays over!!!!! Sadly (more gross) my clean up this week will also include the various "mousicles" around the walkways, and yard which are multiplying daily with the melting snow!

It's Wedding Day!!!!!

Well in just a few hours one of my best friends in the world will be taking the plunge into married life! A wonderful day for Alison and Brent, and all I can do is send happy thoughts! Celebrations were held at Hallowe'en for the happy couple in good old Canadian style with a "buck and doe", and right now as I type the bride sits in a chair finishing her nails, having her hair completed, and the finishing touches applied. With her beautiful daughters, sister and mother by her side, a ceremony held short in the local town hall...her life shall begin a wonderful journey. At her side an old friend, reunited online, a partner for life, their hearts combined.

How I wish I could be there, as she was for me on my special day! She truly made me into a princess, hair done, forced makeup upon me and yes even gave me my dress! But alas the happy couple will be wisked away to the airport for a honeymoon in the sun! These are the days I wish I was closer, and not the four hour drive away. But I will look forward to their return when all friends and family will gather to celebrate, to welcome the new member to the family, and of course warn him...as I have today with my well wishes, treat her right or else!!!!

ahhh.....2008 eh?

Well first off.....brrr freak'n brrr!!! After the first week of holidays being absolutely fantastic weather...we are now coming out of a three day freeze, starting out this morning at -40!!!! Poor Dennis had to boost his truck to get to work, and then let it defrost in the shop(I am guessing still there) to start work! But I am also guessing the client getting eight windows today would have also called to request a postponment...LOL

Things have been busy busy here on the Acres, with no rest for the wicked! Never fails with my kids...up by 7am everyday! I can barely remember the daze when I didn't move before nine am! And the things they can do video games to charades to the new tape recorder with two mikes, this is just this morning! ...including what seems to be eating none stop!!! To say we are a multi-meal eating family would be an understatement around here, not to mention the abuse the poor pink bathroom faces daily...as i knock my head against the desk. High fibre babies the doctor calls them...but does it have to hit them all at once?????? But no complaints, "fric, frac, and freak" have been loving their holiday time together, and having a blast.
Sadly we were missing a member this Christmas, do to an Ice Jam in the Family Blender our oldest Anthony did not make it home for Christmas. For me the first time in eight years, for Dennis the first xmas morning without is son in 16years. Worse we seem to be adjusting to his absence, which sets in the guilt. Even sadder is that the guilt is far easier than the stress that is involved in the blender. The piece of my heart that flows out on a tether waiting to be reeled in, waiting for the tug on the line that says...ok I understand things now.
So now the end of holidays, Alex will return to his mom in the beach on Saturday, only two more sleeps to go! The weatherman claims the temp are going up starting today, so hopefully we will get some outside time before he goes. Our skidoo is low on gas, so we will wait for Dad and as I learned Tuesday morning going to the store for the first time on it...steering in a parking lot is not that easy(i am not that strong?) so you can give a really big smile on the sno plow drivers face at 8am when you slide right past the pumps and onto the road infront of him smiling and saying sorry as I pulled the skiis in the right direction...and skipped the gas station, grabbed the milk and returned home to the Acres.