Who Knew!

A small boy in Australia asked if there were chains on those tires when I sent him these pictures.

 Oh no says I feeling all superior and wise.

How can a child on the other side of the world know more about this than I do?

I should have actually looked at those pictures.

He Said She Said

The fuel company that delivers the oil for our furnace called today.  The gentlemen on the other end of the line informed me that the driver couldn't get down our driveway because it was too slippery.  Aghast, I took my trusty camera with me and went out to investigate.

This is the top of our driveway looking out to the road.

The top of the driveway looking towards the house.

Long view.

 Closer

I don't know what that driver was talking about.

Bye.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Just kidding folks.  But I do have a problem.  We have a flat screen television.  In our living room.  I'm looking for something to put it on  and I've found some great flat panel tv stands

Here's a nice one:

Or this one:

How have you folks solved your tv dilemma?  Let me know.  I need help.  Fast.

International Cuisine Take Two

This boy is International.  He is sweet enough to eat.


I have no international food inspiration photo today.

But, I do have a good loaf of bread.

I wasn't going to let that silly old bread maker ruin my reputation.  My baking skillz were at stake.

International Cuisine

She is international.  She is not cuisine.  But I could eat her.

I digress.  I journeyed through the snow and the wind tonight on an errand of mercy for my husband.  I needed to pick up a prescription for him at the local drugstore.  More importantly,  look at what I found when I arrived:

Tim Tams!  To the uninitiated, these are cookies from Australia.  My good friend MMMC mentioned these once in a blog post and being the observant gal that I am I remembered!  Why can I not remember important things like doctor's appointments and regular showers?  I like to support my friends so I felt it was important to purchase them.  The Official Taste Tester of the Loyalist Cottage deemed them Yummy!

In local news:

I don't know if any of you folks use a bread maker to make your bread.  I do.  It's pretty hard to mess up a loaf of bread made this way.  However:

This is what I got today.  It's not even browned.  What a mess!  It doesn't taste too badly though.  The Official Taste Tester declared it edible.  Of course, he'd eat almost anything. 

200th Post

Yessiree bob, this is my 200th post.  I can't believe I have so much to say.  Well, not really.  I wasn't planning this topic for the bicenntenial entry but I was scared out of my shoes today.  By my blog.  It disappeared.  Really.

Edvard Munch

Then after hyperventilating and much weeping and wailing it reappeared.  What???  All by itself.  Go here for a complete tutorial on backing up your blog and saving your template.

You'll be glad you did.

Broken Item of the Week

Yes, Gentle Readers!  By popular demand I bring you this week's Broken Item.
I present to you, Moses:

My husband says he can't be Moses unless the printing press was developed sooner than history relates.  Anyway I call him Moses.  My husband bought him before we were married (in the dark ages) so he's been around here for awhile.

We owned a small house in Halifax when the girls were just babies so Moses was relegated to our bedroom.  One night, very late, after everyone was asleep, the phone rang.  Now I don't know about you but when the phone rings in the middle of the night, it scares me to death.  Husband leapt out of bed in a single bound, ran to get the phone and smashed his toes into poor old Moses.  He crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. ( Moses I mean.)

He is so heavy, I had to leave him in the corner to take the pictures.

He's a garden statue for heaven's sake!  However, he lives on in our living room.  Broken but not defeated.

p.s. The husband's toes healed up nicely.

The Little Teapot That Could.

This little teapot has traveled around the world.  Literally.

She started off in Norway.  Then she was seen in Australia.  Now she makes her home in Canada.  My good friend MMMC sent her all the way from Brisbane to the LC.  MMMC loves Scandinavian design.  Being the good friend that she is, she is converting me to her way of thinking.

I hate to use her but I've had my orders.  Maybe a soothing cup of Brisbane Breakfast tea would be lovely.
My friend was afraid the the teapot would arrive and do for a Broken Item of the Week but she arrived all safe and sound with a little house tucked in alongside her.

A Scandinavian style crafted house!

Thank you so much MMMC!  I love ya more than my snowbanks.

stop the presses!  I just found out my little teapot is vintage!

Happy Valentine's Day.

Hubby bought a ten year supply of valentines for me last year for half price. At the dollar store.  So romantic.

The Story of Millie

Last week when I showed the photo of the cat at the window some of you Gentle Readers inquired as to the ownership of said cat.  She is our cat and her name is Millie.

It is very hard to get a nice photo of her.  She is terrified of everything.  Except rodents. Most days we find a lovely decapitated rodent outside our front door.  Millie is that giving.

A neighbour brought her to us several years ago.  He saw a car dump her off at the building site he was working on.  He brought her home but their cat wouldn't tolerate the poor little kitten in his house.  Knowing we I was a soft touch for little four legged creatures, he asked if we would take her in.  It was late fall and we I couldn't say no.

Daughter #2 named her Millie. I fear for her baby's name.  She was the most loving, cuddly little creature you could ever imagine.  Then, Millie got fixed.  Spayed if you will.  Overnight, that poor cat's personality changed and not for the better.  Terrified of everything, Millie pretty much kept to herself.

Over the last year we lost our two other cats.  Millie is like a new creature.  Much calmer and she even purrs now.  She tries to get the dogs to play with her.  Outside she is possessed.  Climbs trees with wild abandon, chases the dogs, jumps over them, etc.  They keep their distance!

I'm sure there's a lesson here for all of us,  I just haven't figured out what it is yet.  Don't get fixed?  No way.

Shattered!

Lovely daughter #1 has been asked by the shop that she works for to start putting videos up on their blog demonstrating some of the store's products.  Here is video #1 by #1.



What lovely hands you have my dear.

Baby Love!

Dear Daughter #2 is expecting!  A baby!  I can't wait.  Although I will. We need advice, what books to read, what equipment to have, good baby blogs, etc.

It's been a long time, baby.

Public Service Announcement

Let me in you crazy lady, there's a snowstorm coming!


Please?



The terrible weather affecting people all over the world is reaching Biblical proportions.

North Queensland is being hit yet again.  This time by a cyclone named Yasi.  Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers.

They have a great spirit.  And a sense of humour.