Computer troubles anyone?

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To date, whenever my computer has made funny noises, THIS is never what it's been saying to me? I guess I need Elvis in the building.
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And you have to watch this at least three times:

1. Once for the whole Elvis experience


2. The second time for the dancing girl in the pink dress with matching hair bow and red-headed Sir Walter Raleigh in the orange shirt and brown satin vest. (Cudoes for combing modern 60's dance moves with the limbo, buddy!)


3. And the third (and all consecutive times) for all the other dancers and their far-out, groovy fashions!

All I can say is I am diggin' that crazy scene!

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P.S. - FYI, I made a dress in Grade 10 Home Ec just like the one worn by that girl that Elvis is singing to -- but mine was a teal blue satin with a slight brocade pattern on it! Ewwwwwwww! I know, I know; you're all jealous! .

P.P.S. - Was that Gary Pucket from the Union Gap dancing there wearing the shades, green jacket and flouncy pirate shirt?

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I am ready to let go of summer and embrace fall. She has wooed me once again.
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This weekend at the Farmer's Market, there were Gravenstein apples. Have you ever had one? They are so delicious -- a tart/sweet experience that can only be had for a month or two each fall because they don't keep well over winter. And they're usually on the smaller side --- so you can eat 2 at a time without feeling like a piggy!

The days have still been warm. But evenings have cooled considerably and mornings are chilly. I refuse to close my bedroom window; so I had to put my thermal blanket on my bed. (I still get to stick my toes out.) It's lovely to wake feeling the cool air on my nose and yet be all snuggly under the covers.

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I need to wear a light jacket or sweater when I set off for work. And I needed to turn on the small space heater by my feet for the first hour when I arrived at work! I made an extra cup of tea to help warm me as well. And I thought about the arrival of fall .....
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I thought of the happiness I get when I reacquaint myself with my autumn wardrobe (like old familiar friends). I thought of warmer sweaters and walking shoes & boots; of hats and light weight gloves. I thought of how wonderful it is to walk in the cooler temperatures until your body warms up and you can see your breath. I thought of the leaves changing color; of scarecrow festivals and thick soups & stews; of cobblers & crisps; of baked winter squash (with drizzles of butter and maple syrup); of pumpkin carving and (even better) pumpkin pie.
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I thought of how blessed I feel at this time of year to live in a 4 season climate.
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And I thought of all the things I can do to introduce the beauty of the seasons and this province to my international students.
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The seasons are like my children -- I love them all equally, but there are some things that each one does that the others just can't compete with.

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Ahhhh! That was lovely!

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Ahhhhh! Sundays are so relaxing!
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I love the habit of meeting with other Christians on Sunday mornings -- worshipping and laying all my cares and worries at the feet of Him who is so much better able to carry them than I am.
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Then it was the perfect afternoon to amble. So, we choose Lunenburg. Up and down the streets past sherbet-colored buildings; in and out of the loveliest shops; looking and touching and sniffing such pretty items..
We treated ourselves to Chai lattes and shared Key Lime and Dark Chocolate cheesecakes, more walking and ... home.

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Then a lovely rest in the sunshine.

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Dinner was oven fried chicken, Jasmine rice and fresh baby beets. Isn't harvest season wonderful!

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The rest of my bag of beets were used to make Newfoundland beet salad. (I don't know if anyone else makes this recipe?) It's a very simple recipe: cubed potatoes, cubed beets, a little chopped green onion and mayo. Mix; chill; gobble down for work and/or school lunch! Enjoy!

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10 Rules for Being Human

This is a little something I came across the other day that was just too good to keep to myself. It should be printed out and passed on to our children when they reach adolescence; and it should periodically be re-issued. (As well as being tucked into our own inbox every now and then!)
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Enjoy!

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Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5.Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

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My advice?

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• Enjoy being a human.


• And don't be too hard on yourself ..... you're only human!

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September is .....

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I didn't want August to leave, but I hope that you don't all think that I don't like September or the approach of autumn. Not at all! I love the seasons and feel blessed that I get to experience all four of them (even if one does tend to linger a little longer than may be necessary).
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And the month of September is full of great holidays and observances.

• Did you know that September is Awareness Month for Gynecology Cancer, Leukemia & Lymphoma, Ovarian Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Pediatric Cancer. Let's all make extra effort this month to pray for a cure.



• Tolkien Week is September 18-24. So, for those of you who live in comfy holes in the ground, eat more than one breakfast or have unusually hairy feet -- more cause to celebrate. Me? I'll probably have an extra breakfast on Hobbit Day (the 22nd) and give some extra love to "My Precious'es".



• It's National Fruit and Veggie Month - A particularly tasty month as well as an easy one to celebrate with all the harvesting going on.



• It's also Healthy Aging Month (see above)



• And it's Women's Friendship Month. I love my gal-pals, you bloggie friends included. It would be a much sadder world without the support and love we give one another. Women are wonderful!



• Sept 1-10 is International Enthusiasm Week. I'm enthusiastic about the 3 beautiful girls who are living with me this year and about school starting today and the disciplines and routines being re-introduced to my lifestyle.



• Sept 4-10 is National Waffle Week; and although I didn't make waffles yesterday, I did celebrate Labour Day and my new students by making delicious pancakes with maple syrup, strawberry & peach sauce and whipped cream. A "labour" of love -- in the making and the eating!



• Sept 12-17 is Line Dance Week. Where have all the line dancers gone? And I don't mean John Travolta and Debra Winger. I know where they are; they're in line for orthotics and Geritol just like the rest of us. But what about the younger generation? You'd think by now they would have discovered the fun in line dancing. (And no; a group of you groin bumping in a row does NOT count as a line dance!)



• Sept 1st was also Chicken Boy's Day? Anyone know what that one is about 'cause I sure didn't celebrate. Who is Chicken Boy? Does it have anything to do with this little cutie?



• Sept 2nd was National Lazy Mom's Day -- not really a problem for me!



• Sept 7th is Salami Day: I will participate by making pizza for supper. I like that day!



• Please join me on the 9th for Wonderful Weirdoes Day. I love weirdoes -- well some weirdoes. I think uniqueness should be celebrated and practiced and applauded and encouraged. Being different is not always a bad thing!



• International Chocolate Day is the 13th -- again, not a problem for me!



• September also happens to be Fall Hat Month and the 15th is Felt Hat Day. Fall is the perfect time to begin wearing hats again; I like adorning my hats with different broaches and pins.



• I'm going to try not to participate in Big Whopper Liar Day on the 17th. (My dad, who tells a great story, will not have a problem celebrating!!!)



• National Respect Day is the 18th. Sing it, Aretha!



• Talk Like a Pirate Day is the 19th. Aaaarggg!



• Dear Diary Day is the 22nd. (I often but not always journal. I'll make sure I do that day.)



• And Love Note Day is the 23rd.



• But I bet you probably didn't know that Fish Amnesty Day is the 24th. Now, I need some explanation with that one as well. I try to keep up on current events, but I've never heard of any underwater political prisoners. Perhaps I'm just not herring all the news. Maybe I should tuna in to a different channel!



• National One-Hit Wonder Day is Sept 25th. I'll check out Edison Lighthouse (Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes) on utube; but I'll probably give a miss to The Pepkins (Gimme dat ding).



• And finally, on the 30th, we can all Ask A Stupid Question without fear of reprisal. Mark it on your calendar! (Still, it leaves me wondering if October 1st could be Give a Sarcastic Answer day. You'd think, right?)

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See what a fun month September can be. Enjoy!

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September Beach

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It was a beautiful afternoon to head to the beach with my international babies. Elly (in the middle) invited Eunjin (left) last spring when we went; they both loved it. It was Mariana's first look at the Atlantic Ocean; she dipped her toes, but then was afraid to even walk in the waves because it was just a tad cooler than the waters off the coast of Brazil where she lives! Yup!
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I, on the other hand, loved the water. Sure it was a little cool (read cold) when you first went in; but once you were knocked over by a large wave or two, it felt much warmer. Actually, it was so glorious! Large, foamy waves for body surfing, and then a beach chair and a good book for drying off.
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We got ice creams and walked the boardwalk and back around the beach. Man! It was just what I asked you for September!
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Back home while the girls showered, I lit a candle outside and sat with a glass of sangria in my salty bathing suit encrusted happiness with sand in all my nooks 'n' crannies and my wind-blown winged hair. Dinner on the deck was delicious -- home-made barbequed burgers flavored with parsley, cumin and a pinch of basil & chili powder and fresh corn on the cob slathered with oodles of butter and salt. Ahhhh!

And September -- corn on the cob wasn't even available here in August.
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So, who's a good month now?
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Thanks September! Can we do this again real soon?
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Rabbit, Rabbit!

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I begged August not to leave.

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"Look", I said. "The sun is still shining brightly; the temperatures are perfect; the ocean is finally warm; the beaches are beckoning."

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He gave me a sideways quizzical glance.

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I tried bribery.

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"I have a few days of vacation left, and I'll spend them all with you. I'll throw in a corn boil and that 4 pack of sparkling cider I have downstairs. I'll make you Smores!"

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He ignored me.

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I tried seduction:

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"You're such a great month, August!" I purred. "Probably the best month a-l-l year!" (I got as close to him as I could.) I wish you'd stay a little longer and we could 'play' together! I whispered in his ear: "I'll wear that low-cut cotton dress ... wink, wink, nudge, nudge!"

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He actually turned away from me! I could feel the coolness in his nights.

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I tried raising my voice and uttering threats.

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"Now lookie here, young month!" I yelled. "I'm not through with you yet! You get your butt back in this year and stay put until I tell you to!"

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He left!

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And here it is --- September. And I'm not at all ready. What's a girl to do?

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"So ..... September. How 'ya doin? Listen, before you get all orange and brown and red, there are a few things you and I should do together! I'll make it worth your while!"

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(I'm not sure how well September listens. I'll let you know!"

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By the way ... Rabbit, Rabbit!

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