I'm updating...can you believe it?

It's late and I have started to update my blog so I must finish :-) I have had a very busy August with company here since August 1st! Three sets of company actually with some overlapping. Lots of family, lots of parties, and lots of meals to prepare! Grab a coffee and take a break!

Rick's Family BBQ

another family gathering, another great day! Rick, Bryan, Hiba, Layla, Nancy (Rick's daughter visiting from Truro, Nova Scotia) and her husband Ian and I were invited to Rick's niece's. Rick's sister was there along with his niece Tammy and hubby Brent, along with their four children. His nephew, wife and three kids came too. It was so great to see everyone, some I've not met before. Tammy's husband Brent is such a nice guy and they both have the coolest temperment of any other person I've ever met.

It rained, go figure, on the day we planned the bbq and the pool party! We swam in the rain anyway and had a great time.

Thanks Tammy and Brent, you guys are awesome!

Our Family Reunion

Or the MalFam Reunion as Kasey called it. We were up north last weekend with my family. We were only missing 5 people, 22 attended so that's darn good considering, I guess. My sister arrived from Sidney, BC on Thursday morning, Rick, myself and my sister headed up north to Magnetawan on Saturday morning early, we were up at 5 am. We met my two sons in Mississauga to form our caravan. Shane brought walkie talkies for our vehicles, we had a good time on those during our 4 hour drive, it made the time go by fast and it was tons of fun.

When we arrived at the cottage, we got settled and put up the Caldwell Cottage (the tent trailer). We sat around in a group and played Movie Trivia, I was clearly winning or so I said I was but Hiba was the real winner, she knows so many movie things! Everyone was swimming, playing games or sitting around chatting...it was great.

Some of the highlights over the weekend were a grand spectacular firework show in honour of Rick's 50th birthday and my sister, Budgie's 49th birthday. My sister and I made Lemon cupcakes and we had those on Sunday night around the campfire...we thought those would be better than a cake, easier to bring up and less trouble serving them. We played a Family Trivia game around the campfire on Sunday night too. Prior to going to the cottage I asked everyone to send me a little known fact about themselves. with each fact I mentioned at the campfire, everyone tried to guess who it might be. It was fun and we learned alot of things about each other...just when you thought you knew your own family.

The highlight of Sunday was the Pie Eating Contest! No one knew I was going to do that :-) I set up 6 cream pies around the picnic table, conned my participants and called them to the table where their pie and fork were waiting. Once they all got in position, I said "on your mark, get set.....wait" and I walked around the table and picked up all the forks...those were there just to entice the participants, hands behind your back...and then I said "on your mark, get set.....wait" and I proceeded to cover each pie with about 4" of whip cream...they were hysterical and it was a blast. "On your mark, get set...go!" Mark and Kiearra tied for first place, talk about hoovers! and their faces were a mess! No one was sick :-)

Monday we headed out around 9.30 a.m. while most of the kids left earlier. A long drive home but well worth it. Looking forward to the Mallen party next year.

Bryan created a photo album where we have all uploaded pictures, if you want to see them, send me a note and I'll send you the keys to get in.

Thanks Jimi for all the prep work you did an for hosting such a special weekend. And I was pissed when I remembered I forgot to sign the wall....

Tis the night before.....my sister arrives :-)

it's been 7 months since I've seen her, it was Christmas. I'm so excited. While we only have a day or two together, just the two of us, the whole week will be amazing, I'm sure. I've planned a trip to the St. Jacob's Market and then the rest of the day shopping in Stratford, perhaps lunch by the Avon River. Friday we are going to be busy making food and getting ready for our family reunion this weekend up at my brother's cottage near Magnetawan. I hope it doesn't rain. We will also be celebrating my sister's birthday along with Rick's 50th this weekend. I've got a surprise for everyone Saturday night :-)

Not much has been going on in the last couple of weeks as you can tell, I haven't posted much. We've had the last two weekends to spend with friends and drink a little too much but great fun was had by all.

I'll leave you with a few interesting photos.....call me crazy!

Science 101...or should I call it Photography 101 ??

Will ya look at these shots! Rick watched a birds nest on our deck all spring and took pictures throughout their stay. These turned out fanTAStic, didn't they? It's interesting how there are two different types of eggs in the same nest. Be sure to double click on these pictures so you can see the babies waiting for food, how cute! One guy's arm/fingers looks like Edward Scissorhands.

High above the traffic....at work.

Rick hates traffic and he doesn't have to worry about any on this job. Yesterday Rick and my son Shane worked on the roof of the Skydome (or whatever the heck it is called these days). They sent me these pics. I'd never go up there! Great shots though :-)

Sunday was a Bobday!

And I had a blast....I drove up to meet friends at Casino Rama in Orillia to see the final Bobshow at that venue. He played both Saturday and Sunday night and I did my best to restrain myself and go to only one show, I was successful. Not happy but successful. I hadn't been peeking at the setlists or reading reviews from this tour so whatever was in store was going to be a surprise and a surprise it was! He actually sang "I Believe In You" which was our wedding song. I've only heard this live once or twice, I'd have to check my stats, heehee! It was beautiful and you could have heard a pin drop. He also sang a killer Shelter From the Storm and a moving Masters of War. Of the 5000 seats in the venue 2500 were comp tickets so there was alot of movement in the audience, you could tell who came in to get off their feet for a song or two. Overall the show was really good, better than I was expecting considering I'm not very fond of his current band.

The drive up north was uneventful and good weather. I stayed at a friends cottage in Washago after the show, it was close and I was tired....that worked out fantasticly! Thank you Bob :-) (not Dylan!)

Monday morning I headed out to the dentist in Bramalea, lunch with my girlfriend Barb in Brampton and then off to a clients in Oakville, only to get home around 5.30 and happy to get out of the car.

I had a great time at the show...and memories are what I cherish. To quote Dylan "I'd rather fill my life up with things I can't touch" .

Bridges of Conestogo County :-)

Heehee! While out for a drive last Monday, Rick and I drove through the only covered bridge in use in Ontario, located in West Montrose. We took a few pictures. I wrote him a note and left it on the bridge.

I think I'll rent the movie Bridges of Madison County next week and watch it, I loved it. Read the book too, loved it as well.

Rick gets his new truck....finally

He is so excited, loves it and it really isn't anything special. He decided on a 2007 Ford Ranger, gun metal grey metalic with a tunnel cover. I was surprised how small it was but it is what he wanted. He put alot of weight on the gas mileage when he was making his decision, he drives over 100 kms to and from work a day and if gas is going to hit $1.50 a litre...what more can I say.

A pick up truck has been a long time coming, Rick has talked about it for years, kind of like a toothache that won't go away. I'm so very happy that he finally got it, I can put the oragel away now!

Happy Canada Day!

And a busy day it was....we had a family bbq here complete with appy's...here is the menu!

Cantelope wrapped with Proscuitto
Feta and Goat Cheese stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
BBQ'd Shrimp in Chipolte and Cilantro marinade

Casear Salad
BBQ'd Ribeye Steaks with Herb Mustard butter
BBQ'd Ribs with an Apricot Chili bbq sauce
Grilled vegetables
Oven roasted new potatoes

Double Chocolate Bundt Cake with white chocolate glaze, with strawberries and whip cream (for Patti, who thinks whip cream is a food group!)
Margarita Cheese Cake

and drinks...no time for coffee as Bryan, Hiba, Ladybug, Patti and Ken and I ran out the door to catch the Canada Day fireworks in Waterloo...They were spectacular! Absolutely spectacular!

Unfortunately, Rick had to bow out of the fireworks because he had to get up early this morning to work. Much to my delight, Rick came home at noon :-)

Can you believe Mighty Mouse! We found this in a front yard when Rick and I went out for a drive and to browse around Conestogo...such a cute little town.

You can always click on any picture I upload to view a larger image :-)