Canada Day!!...A video...Warm Reuban Dip Recipe - Dry Shower - Rained Out Picnic

Check out my video with Abby and my baby talking at the end... Don't laugh..

Today is Canada's 142nd Birthday. Happy Birthday Canada. Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian blogging friends. We're going to have a picnic with friends here at the cottage as you know across the Lake Ontario from Canada in New York State.

On the weekend Marc and his SIL started installing a new shower stall. They worked all day and we weren't ready for a shower at the end of the day when he had to go home. I had worked in the garden and planting the wheelbarrow. At about 9:30 p.m. we packed our towels and change of clothes and headed down the beach road to our friend's shower.

The next day the work continued and it was rainy again. We all had picnics to go to and the shower wasn't progressing very well by the late afternoon. Eventually we were all late for our parties but the shower was useable.

Our picnic was an Elk's Past Exalted Ruler picnic. It was raining which put a damper on the picnic, no pun intended. I made a Reuban dip and we served it with rye cocktail bread and crackers. We don't back that back in "my" country as Marc and I say about Canada and the USA. It was yum. In case you haven't made it, here is the recipe:

Warm Reuban Dip

In a 1 1/2 qt. casserole, mix together the following ingredients:
8 oz Cream cheese
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Russian dressing
dash of Garlic powder
2 tbsp Sour cream

Mix in:
8 oz can Sauerkraut, drained
6 oz Corned beef, snipped into small pieces
4 oz Cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz Swiss cheese, chopped

Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes. Serve with rye bread slices quartered or cocktail rye slices. It was a hit and we have copies of the recipe we have to email out.

The following is the Abby Video....

I've recently discovered how to video with my digital. Its been pretty bad and I haven't wanted to share them with you. Today I'm doing it though...for all its worth. Don't laugh. *lol*.

Have a lovely day... Judi xoxo

Summer Has Arrived in Ontario....

I believe summer has officially arrived in Ontario Canada. Hallellujah!! I thought it would never come. I thought the rains would never stop. Quite unusual and it feels like we’ve missed out on 2 months both May and June being rather wet. But now it feels lovely!!

I wanted to say hi and that I’m fine…I’m just very busy. I’m getting ready to take a week’s vacation starting Thursday night and going to the cottage on Lake Ontario in New York state. Marc has a special birthday during that week. I’m trying to organize my thoughts because my nephew is visiting after my vacation… I have to finish up some of my projects…family visits…. hair appointment …have some shopping to do…… and I have discovered the evening after work is a bit short... So on that note its rather nice to come in to work and have my mind on other things.

I have had a chance to do some blog visiting…….
While I’m away I will be able to visit and may even have something to post about.
Keep well…and enjoy this lovely summer…..Judi xoxo

Convocation..Soaps..Hicky Fangs..Birdhouses..Rain

Today and tomorrow we're holding convocations at the college I work at. There was one each in the morning and afternoon and the same tomorrow. I worked the one in the morning seating and assisting in the gym all the proud mothers and fathers, relatives, friends of the graduates who are ready to move on to a new life. One young student arrived on her own with her 7 month old girl hoping someone would help care for the child while she graduated. Fortuntely the little one was a gorgeous, little angel so content it didn't take much amusing from any of us to keep her happy during the ceremony. Everyone worked hard to make everything perfect today from the indoors to the beautiful gardens outdoors. Lovely day....even the rain held off for a change...but alas its evening and its raining once more. Our grass is way too green by now I think!

I've been reading and looking at your precious pics of birds sitting in their little nests built in the strangest places so close to view. Tonight I noticed my own little bird nest...see the little birdie? And its indoors and in my plant in the diningroom. I was actually admiring how happy the plant is. It has 2 "flowers" coming up. See the 2 white stems coming up on either side then it sort of uncurls. Do you know what plant this is? Its so healthy and I rescued it from sure death at work some years ago.

Tonight I wrapped the soaps I made a couple of nights ago. I labeled them and some will go into my etsy shop, a couple will be going into the blogging mail and I have family who feel slighted I ran out at Christmas time. They do smell delish and I love their lather. Thats a good start next week I'll be filling orders for bath bombs and lip balms. I'll slip some into the shop also.

I look like I have 2 fangs down from my bottom lip and no I was not going to take a picture but just imagine it. We had little ice cream sundaes at work and we had little round plastic spoons to eat with. I totally forgot what would very well happen as I turned the spoon upside down and scraped the ice cream off with my bottom lip, every spoonful. I ate 2 of those little sundaes that way and when I got home and checked the mirror I had dracula type "bruisy red fangs". How embarassing. If you have the opportunity, try it and see if it happens to YOU! When I worked part-time a few years ago at a retail store I bought a sundae before work. When I use a ROUND plastic spoon thats the way I like to eat it...well...it was a large sundae and once I got to work and looked in the mirror...oh my I had to spend the whole evening working as if I had these gruesome hickies running down from my lips. *lol*. Whew.

On that note...have a really lovely day and watch how YOU eat your sundaes... Judi xoxo

Giveaway Winner!!

Tonight at 5:00 p.m. I printed out the 21 comments left by you all and numbered them. Then I found a Number Generator and asked for a number between 1 and 21. Up popped #16. First, this is the Giveaway which I am showing for the first time....

A handmade Bird on Red Tassel. I hope she'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Tonight I made some handmade soaps. One of them is a Fruit Deli Bar. It is made of 3 different fragranced and coloured soaps which I then cut with a swiggly cutter and cover with a luscious looking and smelling Cranberry Peach Vanilla scented soap! Yum. I will include one of these soap bars in the giveaway as well as a key holder I've made which reads "Dream ".

Ok..... so #16 is....

a lovely lady with a lovely blog....Congratulations Carrie from http://cottagecozy.blogspot.com/!!

Her response to my question of what blogging means/has meant to you was:

"Blogging is a place to share your thoughts, your comings & goings and your creations with like-minded people. It's aplace to get away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and a place that always brings smiles!

Thanks for you giveaway...that makes blogging fun too!

Stay Cozy, Carrie."

Carrie, email me your address and I'll slip your Giveaway into the mail for you.

I wish you could all have won something today. I really enjoyed reading your comments about blogging. We are such a close knit blogging circle of friends. *hugs*

Have a lovely evening... Judi xoxo

Flowers and Lavender Scented Bird Tassel

ONLY 4 more days before the number generator draws the winner to my Giveaway. Click on the sidebar if you haven't left me a comment on that post yet. Good luck!.

Its Friday wohooo and a vacation day. I'm going to get some gardening done at the cottage. I would really like to plant a clematis and I'll pick up some flowers for the window box and a few annuals for the perennial garden.


This picture was taken late last summer. In August which is rather late but I pulled out the old stuff and replanted these perennials around the shed. You should see how big and strong they came up already this spring. I also have the wheelbarrow to plant flowers into...let us pray it does not rain! We had rain AGAIN today. Sally please don't be upset with Marc. He was in Miami Tuesday through last night (Thurs) and it wasn't him who brought the thunderstorm with him!!


I've been making Lavender Scented Bird Tassels this week. I hope to visit a shop in the area and hope also they will take some for me. One of the new ones is on my header. Isn't it cute sitting there with the little birdie on the birdhouse. Doesn't it look like the little guy is about to fly to join the bird tassel? I plan on putting some new ones in my etsy shop this week also.

Have a really lovely weekend... Judi xoxo

Target....introduces Madeline and Jack

My Giveaway is coming up....on Monday afternoon.

Click on my Giveaway on the sidebar and leave a comment on

that post if you haven't yet done so.

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You know in Canada we do not have Target. Do you know how I felt all winter as you all played around with your white bird salt and pepper shakers knowing I couldn't buy any. I knew I had to wait until spring for the cottage trips to New York state. Well last weekend we were out and about and I told Marc I HAD to go to Target.

We dashed in and a store assistant must have sensed some urgency and asked what I was looking for. I said oh china...looking for salt and pepper shakers. Well he said he knew where EVERYTHING in the store was and he proceeded to take us to that direction. He stopped in front of a display and I'm glad he didn't see my disappointment when he told me I would be delighted because they had lots of salt and pepper shakers. But they were all wooden ones!!

After rounding a few more corners we found the "china" department and way upppp high was what I was looking for! ONE little ole pair of white bird salt and pepper shakers. I told Marc they were left there just for me and I snatched them up. I wondered whether they had gone through the other ones quickly because surely Rochester has lots of crazed lady bloggers like me...*s*..

Tadaaaa meet Madeline and Jack so named after our grandchildren peeking in getting acquainted with my Faux Fluff in the cage.

Have a lovely day... Judi xoxo

Caricature Judi

We had our annual picnic at work on Monday. One never knows what the weather will be like it can be rainy cold and dismal like this year or it can be 90F. We have a lake and its wonderful to be on it when its a hot picnic. As it was we were in the tent most of the time eating and keeping dry.

What was fun this year was having "Cartoon Bob an Airbrush Muralist" there to do caricatures of us. He was great and so fast and captured something about each of us. He asked us what we enjoyed doing and away he went with that.

This is me. I told him I enjoyed travelling and these are some places I've been to.

I was so chilled after the picnic that I came home and had a couple of cups of warm green tea. I can only drink decaf and it can't be too late in the evening or I'm up for hours. Well I realized this morning it was organic tea and not decaf tea and thats why I was still counting sheep at 2:05 a.m.

Hope you have a lovely day today and wherever YOU are... its sunny and warm! Judi xoxo

Are Women Born This Way...the Cord and Mr. Flower Pot

Remember my GIVEAWAY....on my Sidebar... Good Luck!

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You must watch this little dear little one on the video. She has certainly been born with much to say..*lol*. If that is her daddy then he is going to have lots more listening to do. It is so cute and makes you wonder... "Are Women Born This Way?"..*s*..

http://richards-creations.net/Videos/Are-women-born-like-this.html

Update - guess what I found the cord to transfer pics from my camera. Thank goodness! I came home on Thursday with all kinds of bags from work. Sometimes I haul all kinds of stuff around with me.

Anyway I couldn't find that cord in anything I'd hauled home. I wasn't too concerned initially because I was certain I would find it at work on Monday but it wasn't there. After work on Monday I raked all over this place and then I remembered a bag where I keep some of the goodies I make. I'd forgotten I'd brought a plastic bag to work with a couple of the new bags I've made and I'd slipped it in there. So I'm good now.

I only do have one picture to share from the weekend so I'll share it. Isn't it kind of neat. They were selling it at a garden centre by the cottage. It cost $49.99. I didn't buy it but my mind started working on that one.....

Have a lovely day... Judi xoxo

Albino Deer Herds in Wisconsin

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I did. We still are not having warm weather though. Hope yours was nice and sunny.

Well I've lost the cord to transfer pics from my camera to my computer. It didn't seem to make it home with me on Friday. Either than or it did and I put it someplace without knowing it. In any event I have no pics.


REMEMBER if you haven't yet left me a comment and answered my question in my Giveaway please don't forget to do so. Its in my side bar and the Draw is next week Monday the 15th.

I do suggest you take a look at this video. Its about White Deer Herds in Wisconsin. Albino deer. The wonders of nature and the site follows...just click on it...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=inwi10s22a3q81f

Have a lovely day...Judi xoxo

A BEAR!!!!! here????

First - Check my sidebar for my Giveaway!!!

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Watch this live video... of the bear in town...

http://www.yorkregion.com/article/92596

I live in a small town and we have lovely parks and forests around. Little forests. We don’t have enough to house a bear! But yesterday morning as I was getting into my car at 7:30 I wondered what a helicopter was hovering so close to my area was about. It turns out a couple of minutes from me police were after a bear in our little downtown area. Where did he come I can’t even imagine and how he made it this far into my town we wonder….there is a video clip and the following was written:

Top Stories
June 03, 2009 03:08 PM

Joe Fantauzzi When John Stephenson saw the York Regional Police helicopter this morning, he thought a criminal was on the run.

As it turned out, the suspect was bigger and furrier than any man, woman or child.
Emergency workers rushed to the a neighbourhood in the Wellington and Wells streets area around 7 a.m. to find a black bear, believed to be two years or older, up a tree.

"I didn't think I would ever see a bear in Aurora," Mr. Stephenson, 55, of Aurora, said while standing amid dozens of people, some with cameras and mobile phones capturing images and video.

By 9:45 a.m., firefighters and Ministry of Natural Resources officials had raised and leaned a ladder against the trunk of a willow tree.

As York officers carrying long guns kept a crowd in neighbouring backyards at a distance, the bear held his ground. A ministry official slowly walked up the ladder with a pole, known as a poke stick, topped by a syringe full of drugs.

A few moments later, the crew changed its plan, repositioned the ladder on another side of the tree and unfurled a tarp at the base in anticipation of the bear tumbling down.
Instead, it ambled up even higher into the branches.

Also in the crowd, Aurora resident Erik Bowles, 47, noted garbage collection was scheduled for the area.

"It might have just been garbage-picking," he speculated. "It's not everyday you see one of those. I think it's just scared with all the people."
Lynn Steele, 34, of Aurora said she believes too much development too quickly has driven wild animals from their homes and into surrounding neighbourhoods.

"I've never heard of this," Ms Steele said. "Wasn't there an elephant a while back?"
Ms Steele was referring to three elephants that escaped from Garden Bros. Circus in Newmarket about two years ago and were eventually corralled.

By about 10:05 a.m., the bear was visibly losing its grip on the tree branches.
Firefighters and ministry workers again positioned the tarp and about four minutes later the bear dropped. But didn't stop.
As emergency workers jumped out of the way, the bear, which by some estimates was in the 90 kg (200 pound) range, trekked further into the yard.

It sent some onlookers in a nearby yard could scrambling for safety by climbing a fence.
"Move back for your own safety!" one firefighter called out, when one man appeared to nearly fall over the fence.

At about 10:30 a.m., the crews, with the bear in tow, slung on the tarp, moved the sedated animal safely to a cage and placed a pink blanket over its face.

Bears have a home range and young male bears tend to move around, ministry biologist Warren May said.
"This male may have been moving outside of his area already, so we'll be taking him into an area that hopefully won't have as many people around," he said.

The ministry had not received any calls about the bear previously, he added.
"He just kind of showed up over night," Mr. May said.
Bears do wander into urban areas but not very often, he added.

"It's not the first time, it won't be the last time but it's not an every day occurrence," Mr. May said.
The plan was to release the bear north of the Greater Toronto Area, he added.

"You would never have this if it was a big skunk," Mr. Stephenson said lightheartedly. "No one would go near the place."

Have a lovely day…and if you are out walking…watch out for bears…. Judi xoxo

Giveaway Reminder...

Reminder...I'm having a Giveaway so please go to my Sidebar at the top and leave me a comment there. Good Luck.

Thank you to everyone who gave me assistance in linking the sidebar to the appropriate post. It worked!

Thank you also for the comments yesterday.....*hugs*

Have a lovely day... Judi xoxo

I Miss My Father....

This is going to be a very thought provoking and quiet day for me because 2 years ago today my precious father passed away. I still can't imagine he could be gone. He was a good father and husband and his family meant so much to him. He was always so proud of me... and my brother... and my sons....and his other 2 grandsons and great granddaughter.. and my mom.

In the above picture my dad was about 18 years old and in the army in Finland.

I can still hear his laughter and see the wonderful look on his face when he was laughing. He could always see the bright side of life and would quietly chuckle at some things where someone else might not see it that way. My dad was a hard worker and it seemed he could do and fix anything.

I like this picture of my father and I.

This picture was taken on my wedding day. He was so handsome.

My dad had so many interests and had a real love for life and his family and friends...the cottage...fishing...playing the accordion...dancing...picking berries...he built out cottage to name a few. I've learned, we all have, so much from him and miss him dearly and I always...always will.

He was the most optimistic person and I know thats what always made him better when others I'm sure would have given up. My dad had to undergo a number of surgeries for vascular problems but he always pushed through. A few years ago during surgery while the repair went well there was accidental damage and although he tried so hard for a couple of years, in the end he just had to give up. I think that might be the first time he ever did...he was always so persistant in life, in a good way. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think of him. Memories are wonderful aren't they...something may happen or someone may say something that triggers a memory and brings him back to me.

I love you dad.....we all do....

I hope your day will be lovely and shared with someone you love.... Judi xoxo

Don't forget I'm having a Giveaway..click on my sidebar.

A Giveaway

There are so many wonderful blogging friends here with whom we share so much. We've gotten to know so much about each other and some of you have even met in person. I eagerly look forward to reading how your day is going and what new things you have to post about. I've learned so much from you all and truly treasure the friendships. That all seemed reason enough to have a Giveaway I was certain of that.


I'm not entirely sure what the winner will receive but I'm sure it will be something I've made. So that you'll all have time to leave me a comment I'll close the Draw on Monday, June 15th at midnight and draw a name on Tuesday, June 16th early evening. How does that sound?


Now all I ask you is to tell me "what blogging means/has meant to you". Please only leave your comment on this post so I don't miss your name. I'll slip your name in the pot....or basket...or something pretty. :o)


Well thats not all I ask you, the other thing I need to know from someone is how do I add a sidebar about this Draw. So that its visible all the time and you can click on it to come back to this Post? I know so many of you are doing it but I need Help!



On that note as I get ready to go to bed I'll share a very favourite position Abby has as she "keeps me company" while I blog. Its a hard life....

I hope you have a wonderful day.... Judi xoxo

BLUE MONDAY

Oh my I was out by the lake yesterday with my mother. It was only 45F...need I saw when that wind blew off the lake we were near froze? We were... brrrrrr... but today is a nice day....BLUE Monday hosted by....Sally! Sally from SmilingSally and we all know her. Be sure to click on her blog name to visit all the other Blue contestants. Grab a coffee or something cold to drink and enjoy..

While on vacation I've been crafting. Here are a few BLUEnesses I've made.

First a Potpourri BLUE Bird Tassel. The top of his little head is BLUE also. He is not like any other tassel. This one is sporting a pretty organza bag in its tassel with lovely lavender buds. mmmmmm now when he's hung not only will it be a lovely tassel but the lovely fragrance will fill the room.

This bracelet is inspired by the BLUE waters of summer and the BLUE skies and the sand and shells. It has glass beads with Caribbean colours that remind me of fish with silver starfish and clams and even a dragonfly.

And a necklace in the colours of summer and the beach as well. Two lovely BLUE and white glass bead fish with BLUE and white swarovski crystals and Czech crystals....and white mother of pearl round beads...

They will all make their way into my etsy shop tomorrow....

Be sure to stop by tomorrow because I have some news...about a Giveaway!!

I hope you are having a wonderful spring day today...with BLUE skies.... Judi xoxo