Saturday, October 25, 2014

MOMENTS & MEMORIES

Dancing with my Dad!
The older I get the more I realize what's truly important in life. It's not how much money you have or your material processions, it's those special moments with loved ones.

Moments and memories that you will think back on that will make you smile and laugh and that you'll talk about for years to come that truly make your life rich.

I had a weekend like that last weekend, when Rob and I drove to Gananoque for my Uncle Bobby's 65th birthday/retirement party. My Dad, and my Aunt Betty and Uncle Dennis had drove up from Nova Scotia. We all had a great time at the party and I got to bank some more of those priceless memories.

Me with my Uncle Bobby.
Rob and I enjoying the fun at the party.
Quote of the night "He sure is a spry ole' bugger" - Rob, talking about my Dad.

Friday, October 17, 2014

THE OWL FOUNDATION - TAKE 4

The female Snowy Owl we delivered November 30, 2013.
Last month we attended our 4th open house at The Owl Foundation. We've been supporters since we learned about the organization and attend the annual open house every year.

We once again sponsored a releasable owl for a friends milestone birthday, this year for our friend, Patty, and she invited a mutual friend, Cori.

I enjoy the annual trip, it's a great way to get caught up on all that has gone on at the organization and with the resident owls over the past year. To learn more about the wonderful work that takes place here, please click here

It was Patty and Cori's first time visiting the foundation, and I know they enjoyed it very much. Seeing so many magnificent creatures at one time can be a bit overwhelming, and trying to remain quiet is sometimes difficult as excitement can get the better of you.

The highlight of this years visit for Rob and I was without a doubt being able to see the female Snowy Owl we delivered there on our first wedding anniversary last year. She's doing well and recovering from her injuries, we are all hopeful for a release. If that is not possible she may remain as a resident and be allowed to mate with a male Snowy Owl, if she so chooses, and their young would be released to the wild in a suitable habitat.

The resident owls there are kept wild, and allowed to mate and have young, which are released. They also play foster parents to injured and orphaned young owls. It really is all quite amazing.

The lady who started it all back in the 1970's turned 90 years old yesterday. Kay McKeever is something else, and it was nice to see her again this year. Unfortunately, work kept us away from her birthday open house yesterday, but I'm sure she was surrounded by many friends and admirers. 

I cannot recommend this book enough to learn about Kay and how the foundation started.
 To read about last year's visit and the others please click here.

Please enjoy a few photos from our visit this year.

A young Great Gray Owl born to resident parents.
A resident Short-eared owl
A young Snowy Owl born to resident parents.
Foster Mama star, Big Red, a Great Horned Owl. She's raised a lot of young Great Horned Owls over the years!
Two young Great Horned Owls raised by Big Red that will be released.
Sponsoring resident owls or a releasable makes a great gift, and will include an invitation to attend the annual Fall Open House for two people. Make sure to sponsor one yourself!




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

PROFECT 52 - WEEK 19 - CONSTANCY


The above cartoon pretty much sums up how I've been feeling the last couple months. I've been losing and gaining the same 5lbs for the past two months.

I am eating better, but I lack constancy, and the same goes for the exercise. Still too many nights of unhealthy snacking in front of the TV, too many desserts and grab and go lunches due to lack of planning. I'm also using too many excuses not to exercise; I'm too tired, I have housework to do or I just don't feel like it.

I'm not going to lie, a part of me just wants to throw in the towel, and not worry about it. Maybe wait until the new year....but the rebel part of me that wants to prove to myself that I can do this, and won't let me do that. I'm struggling, but I am not giving up.
  

Friday, October 10, 2014

CRANBERRY APPLE WALNUT PIE

First time making Cranberry Apple Walnut Pie, Dec. 2010.

With the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend about to begin, I thought I'd share this recipe I found on allrecipes.ca a few years back that I made some adjustments to. I usually make it at Christmas, but it would totally work for Thanksgiving too. Tastes great and the house will smell amazing while it cooks.

CRANBERRY APPLE WALNUT PIE

* 5 or 6 baking apples of your choice
* 1 16oz can of whole cranberry sauce
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 & 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
*  1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 (or, you can use 2 teaspoons of All Spice instead of the above 2 spices)
* 1/4 cup baking walnuts  (optional)
* 1 recipe for a 9" double pie crust or use the ready made Tender Flake Pie Crust like I do.

Preheat oven to 350F

Line pie plate with pastry.
Peel, core and slice apples into a large bowl.
Add can of Cranberries to apples.
Combine all other ingredients into a medium size bowl and mix well. Add this mixture to the apple and cranberry mixture, mix well.  
Pour filling into lined pie plate, cover with top crust. Crimp edges and cut slits in top crust.
Bake approximately 1 hour, until crust is golden brown and filling bubbly.

Enjoy!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

FALL ROAD TRIP

A Painted Lady Butterfly at Ruthven Park.
Rob was on vacation last week, and I took the Friday off with him so we could have a long weekend together. We ended up going on a bit of a road trip for the day.

First up, we visited Ruthven Park, as the bird banding station was open for the Fall banding season. Unfortunately, with the extremely warm weather it was pretty quiet for birds, but we did have one very cool sighting, and we also enjoyed the many Butterflies and Dragonflies in the meadow.

Our first Canadian Yellow-billed Cuckoo!
Rob spotted a Yellow-billed Cuckoo down by the river in the trees. This was a pretty exciting sighting for us, as it was only the 2nd time we had seen one. First time was earlier in the Spring, in Cape May, NJ.

Open wing view of the Painted Lady Butterfly.
Eastern-tailed Blue Butterfly, we saw many at Ruthven.
A new Dragonfly for us, Arrow Clubtail!
Always makes me a little sad to see the Purple Martin houses lowered for the season.
Box 17 was home to a family of Eastern Bluebirds this season.
After spending a lovely morning at Ruthven we ate our picnic lunch and continued on our way. We had won a raffle prize from The Owl Foundation's open house earlier in the month and went to pick it up. We won a Screech Owl box which we are donating to the Humber Arboretum, a place where we go birding quite often.

After a short visit with a couple of the people who work there, we were on our way again. We stopped at Halifax Donair to pick up a donair pizza for supper.

Tastes just like home!
It was a great day!