Stayacation

My DH’s cousin, San, is visiting from Arizona with her two golden retrievers, Sadee and Sunshine.  We started the day with a drive to Escuminac to buy lobster and crab at O’Neill’s fish market  on the wharf.

A visit to the ocean was also part of the plans.  The dirt road to Escuminac point had a few questionable moments but it was well worth the drive.

The highlights of today were a walk along the beach,

A roll in the puddle

A swim in the ocean

A picnic on the rocks.

A nap on the drive home.

A day full of surprises

When I checked my site yesterday and noticed the comments count was 22,  my first thought was “Sh$t,  I’ve been spammed”.  I was so happy to find the comments were all genuine birthday wishes.  Thanks to my extended family and my daughter’s twitter friends for all of the warm wishes.

What a great day!  My husband surprised me by leaving a birthday card along with a package of sewing machine needles and two blades for my cutter.   When ever he finds a card that is perfect, he buys it and puts it away.  Mind you sometimes he forgets where he puts the card and I receive six or seven when he finds finally locates them.   I was very happy he found my birthday card on my actual birthday.

Speaking of cards, my brother sent me the cutest electronic greeting yet.

The best present arriving on my birthday’s my DH’s first pension cheque (as small as it is).

This Day in History: July 29:

1890: Artist Vincent van Gogh died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers, France.

1958: President Eisenhower signed the congressional act that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1981: Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, married Lady Diana Spencer.

2003: Red Sox switch hitter Bill Mueller became the first baseball player to hit grand slam-home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game.–

Famous birthdays today (besides mine):

Singer-bassist Geddy Lee of Rush, 1953;

Documentary maker Ken Burns, 1953;

Actress Alexandra Paul (”Baywatch”),

1963; Country singer Martina McBride,

1966; Actor Tim Omundson (”Psych”),

1969; Actor Wil Wheaton,

1972; Singer Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men,

1973; Actor Stephen Dorff,

1973; Actor Josh Radnor (”How I Met Your Mother”),

1974; Musician Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley,

1977; Actress Allison Mack (”Smallville”), 1982

THE YEAR 1909

Here’s an email I received from my old buddy Tim.  Makes you think,

The year is 1909. One hundred years ago.What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1909 :

The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only

144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower

The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.

Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as ’substandard. ‘

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into the country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet.

There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn’t read or write.

Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.”( Shocking? DUH! )

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. !

Sweet grass

This remarkable hand woven sweet grass turtle was given to me by Joe Ward of Eel Ground First Nation.  Joe is a spiritual advisor and teaches native culture at the Centre where I work.

Joe also wove this beautiful ash market basket which I recently purchased.   He and his wife Sarah are true artist.

Life on hold

This summer has been a time of waiting.   The project that was to take my DH to Cape Breton in June is now 5 weeks behind from the original start date due to the inclement weather through June and July.   He is tentatively scheduled to begin in two weeks time, finishing sometime in October.   The job was to start mid June and finish up in August.    This would have given him the rest of the summer to over see the building of our retirement home.

Our current house is still on the market with very little activity due to the weather, the recession, the unemployment rate and God knows what else.

But that is okay.  We are exactly where we are meant to be.  At the beginning of this year we were hoping to have our present house sold and our new home started by now.  A long time ago I realized the only thing I have control over is my self and my own actions.   I learned to Let Go, and Let God.

I began this entry earlier today after spending another Sunday morning at work, attempting to catch up so I can take vacation.   Michelle arrived half way through to drive me to swimming.

In the car, she handed me a small plague, which she meant to give me for the past couple of weeks.

The plague consists of one simple word FAITH……………… and that is what I have.

This Charming Man

“At the cemetery three kids noisily playing football around a grave. Disrespectful. Until realized it was their little brother who had died and they had made him goalie.”

If this line from Miriam Keyes “This Charming Man” does not bring a lump to your throat, then it is not a book for you.  You laugh, you cry, you wonder “where the hell did that come from”.   If you want to be entertained, buy this book.  I love the way each character’s story was typed in a different font.

Synopsis

Now that’s talent

My wonderfully creative granddaughter Emma made these two in honour of her current favourite Pixar film Wall-E.

Emma loves to creative using toilet paper rolls, aluminum foil, pop bottle and any other material that is recyclable.

I wonder if this is how Marshall Alexander’s family realized his talent. .

Wordless Wednesday

Quick supper

Michelle and I go swimming at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evening.  By the time I arrive home I’m too hungry to think, so I try to make something ahead of time, which heats up easily and is high in protein and big in taste.    This recipe for sausage lentil casserole from Towards Sustainability certainly fits the bill.

Julie’s recipe was prepared in a crock pot but it adapted easily to stove top cooking. Instead of dry lentils, I substituted 1/2 can of drained lentils. I cooked the casserole for Sunday lunch, tonight I added cheese tortellini for extra protein.   You could eliminate the sausage for a vegetarian friendly dish.