Preparations are underway

Time is running out and I am getting quite anxious about the food preparation for the party. Certain things I can only do on the same day as I don't have space to keep them, other things such as cakes, I can make ahead.

I have prepared tickets for the door prize last night. It is a donation from Carmen and I think that people will love it! She has wrapped it up so attractively!

I have decided to make open faced sandwiches, fruit trays, vegetable trays , cheese and crackers trays, homemade scones, preserves, cakes and sweet loaves. If I have time, I also will make cucumber sandwiches.

Mohammad will bring falafel, dip, and pida bread and a Middle Eastern salad.

I also plan to make a lovely non-alcoholic punch. Unfortunately, I no longer have a punch bowl but have two pitchers I can use instead. I can always use my large pot to make it in and keep that in the frig in the party room so the pitchers can be refilled.

I will go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday and get the fruit, cold cuts and also cucumbers, the rest my shopper will be getting for me tomorrow.

Once that is all done, then I can concentrate on getting it done. I am expecting at least 50 people but the room has a capacity to hold 100 so it should be fine. Hosea will borrow some chairs from St. John's for me and be in charge of that.

I had to make up a little introduction for myself as well of my writing experiences. It was an interesting thing for me to do. I generally don't like to "blow my own horn", but I have done more than I realized. Once I saw it in black and white, I kept remembering more and putting it down on the introduction sheet.

I have to learn to be more assertive and put myself forward more. Mohammad said that to me, after my reading at Philpott!

It is hard for me to do though as I was not brought up that way.

If the party is not a success, it will not be for lack of effort but I am sure that it will go very well as I have invited some very nice people!

Niagara on the Lake, Queenston and Ste. Catherine's

The plaque at Laura Secord's House

Laura Secord's House

Statue of George Bernard Shaw in Niagara on the Lake

The plaque for George Bernard Shaw in Niagara on the Lake

Some candied apples in a bakery - we resisted the temptation but was it hard!

Jennifer with the same flowering bush

A flowering bush I really liked

In Niagara on the Lake - me

Jennifer - note the matching colours there!

My friend Jennifer and I went on a lovely day trip to this area. We brought our thermos full of coffee, our own sandwiches and cookies and spent a wonderful time looking around at the colourful leaves, the beautiful water scenes and the quaint little shops in Niagara on the Lake.

We dropped in at a fantastic book warehouse in St. Catherine's called Vanwell Publishing Limited, which is opposite Happy Rolph's. It was a very interesting experience for me and I found some books which I will give as presents in the future. My friend had been there before.

Apparently, their main focus is publishing war related books. They carried other kinds of books as well and at marvelous prices! They also had an army surplus store.

They were extremely friendly people and very nice to deal with.

Jennifer knew the area very well and we did a delightful tour in her car and saw some of the local highlights of the areas. So many vineyards and delightful fruit stands to see.

We spent a number of hours in Niagara on the Lake and it was great to be there again after about 30 years away!

We loved poking about in the many little shops and we enjoyed chatting with some of the merchants who were very friendly to us.

The roads were not as crowded as we had anticipated on the way there or even on the way back to Hamilton.

Even though there was no hint of sunlight the whole time we were there, it was still warm enough to check out the various shops and enjoy people watching.

All in all, a fantastic time!

A nice time spent with a young friend

Shona came over yesterday after school and this time we used hardware wire and made window decorations.

It was so much fun and we had a lovely chat while working. She will hang her artistic endeavours in her window so that the light will catch them in the morning.

She comes once a week and we do a different project each time.

I really enjoy her company! I like being around young people.

The Philpott Coffeehouse 2009

Olga and I, at our table, taken by Mohammad

Mohammad and Olga, friends we had invited.

Ed & Wilma on stage

Ed & I together on the stage. Taken by a very nice man who offered to take us together.

Another shot, taken by Ed

Wilma on the stage reading

Another view of Ed reading.

Ed Woods, reading from his new poetry book

We had a marvelous time last night. There was a good and appreciative crowd there which makes performing much nicer.

As usual, Philpott had decorated their gym in a fantastic manner. As one stepped in, one felt the ambiance right away with twinkling lights on large potted plants, comfy sofas and chairs, tables for four, and on top of the tablecloths, tea lights glowed.

A long table, laden with refreshments was near the music stage. It was laden with vegetables platters, crackers and cheese, and a lovely array of squares and cakes. To the side, they had a beverage table with coffee, tea and juice for those who wished it.

I have found this event very well organized in the past and I was not disappointed this time either!

Sara and Joel Klinck were the Masters of Ceremony and they did a terrific job. Joel even remembered from last year that he needed to give me a hand up to the stage when it was my turn. Such a lovely young couple. It was grand to see them again.

The programme was well set up, in my view, allowing people time to stretch their legs and walk around and view the wonderful paintings and pottery on display which Philpott members have done. I particularly loved the needlepoint one and took a picture of it.

The programme was varied with two intermissions of ten minutes each. There were poets, singers, a medley of Reels and Jigs, and an opera singer. Japanese, French, Spanish and English were all used in this delightful programme.

It ended about 10 and was a wonderful evening, spent with compatible friends. If Ed and I are invited to perform next year, I think both of us will do that. They are such an appreciate audience and so very friendly!

A delightful time spent with young Shona

We spent much of our time going over pictures on CD's. I had made her a CD of Rattlesnake Point as she spent a lot of time there with her sisters and her Mom and Dad when she was younger.

My pictures turned out great and I think she will enjoy having that CD. We did a crocheted necklace with beads intertwined in the necklace. She will wear it to school today and will let me know what her classmates say.

My friend Jennifer called and asked me if I wanted to go to the Poetry Center's author reading but I declined as I was having such a nice time with Shona and being creative and I was glad that I stayed home, as I got a few more piece of jewelery done for the show.

I watched the movie Cacoon which was very interesting.

Today, I will need to continue to do inventory and taking pictures. Will put them on a CD as well.

So much preparation for this party but hopefully everybody will have a great time!

Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area

Another gorgeous view!

Carol, James and me

Carol, James and Jeff

This is such a peaceful scene to me. Leaves on the ground, tall trees reaching up to heaven, the rustle of feet tramping through the forest, what more delightful thing can there be!

One of my favourite kind of trees - Birch bark tree.

I thought this view was lovely, observe the mist.

Jeff, on one of the many rocky parts, in the mist.

Note the rugged look and rock formation.

Part of the floral arrangement at the entrance to the Conservation Area.

What a misty day it was! Some drizzle, a glimpse of the sun momentarily, fine mist and warm weather! Lovely!

Jeff picked me up for our group outing to the conservation area. It is in the Halton area of Ontario and not too far from us.

When the other two folk got there in Carole's car, we paid our entrance fee and went in. While we were waiting for them to arrive, we drank the coffee I brought in my trusty little thermos.

I must say that coffee outdoors is such a treat!

Although the ground was rough in many parts, with the help of my friends and my trusty cane, I was able to do much of the trail. What a real treat for me! I haven't been in a Conservation Area for years and years and being close to nature is what I really love.

I love being in nature, particularly in the Fall Season. We were alone in the area for the longest time and the natural hush around us was much appreciated by me.

It refreshed my spirit and calmed my soul. Just what I needed!

We got back after six p.m., tired but very happy! All in all, a splendid day spent with compatible people in a wonderful outdoor setting.

Thanksgiving E.L.W. potluck

A lovely decoration for Fall in the church hall.

Thanksgiving Potluck – E.L.W. October 20,2009

The day could not have been nicer as the E.L.W. ladies gathered together in the Church Hall for their annual potluck luncheon to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Happy chatter filled the room as people lined up to pick from the delectable array of home cooked food set before their appreciative eyes.

Individual tables, decorated with fall leaves and white mums with greenery graced the cream coloured tablecloths. It was very well attended with a wonderful variety of food.

After the main course, a programme of hymns, poetry and a short talk by Pastor Frank was held. Once the business meeting was finished as well, the desert table was laid out and people helped themselves to a scrumptious feast of sweets.
All in all, another success story for the E.L.W.