Lunch Time. I am starting to think that maybe my lovely wife is trying to add a few inches to my waist line. Hmm, but it does look tasty. Home made bread too. She can whip things up so quickly, and the best part what she makes tastes and looks good too.

Oh, alright, we do have some treats for the young ones later on too.

So my sweet tooth got the better of me today and my lovely wife made up some Rice Crispy Squares. Easy to make, and I am thinking there will be a few left for Halloween too. Maybe. And as you know there are no calories there to speak off. Right?

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So I got a hankering for some home made bread. The wife being such a nice wife made me some LOL. Along with some Cinnamon Rolls and a few buns thrown in for good measure. I am watching my waist line these days, so these should help things out a bit.

I took some pictures of our homemade bread we made today. Turned out great, and will have a taste shortly.

Click on Pictures to Enlarge.

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So thinking a bite to eat is warranted. Salmon lettuce sandwiches and a bowl of home made tomato basil soup, all from our own vegetable garden. On another note, I managed to get our car washed this morning, and wiped down. After lunch, I will put a coat of wax on the old feller. Sure is a nice day for it.

Here is a picture of our supper for tonight that my lovely wife made. Two meat pies with leftover roast mixed with all kinds of vegetables. Sure tasty. Also, some fresh broccoli from our garden, with a dip which just makes you want to eat more.

1. Top of the List : Oatmeal is a nutritional powerhouse. It contains beta gluten, which is a thick, sticky fiber that helps a person to feel full for longer and may also lower cholesterol. Also, great for lowering blood pressure.
2. Eggs Some people think that eggs are unhealthful because of the amount of cholesterol they contain. However, research has shown that the dietary cholesterol from eggs has only a minor impact on bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in the blood.
3. Nuts, eating nuts is another excellent way to get enough protein. Nuts also contain antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, and heart-healthful fats.
4. Coffee also offers other health benefits due to its antioxidants, which help fight inflammation.
5. Berries Berries such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are an excellent way to start the morning. They are low in calories, high in fiber, and contain disease-fighting antioxidants.
6. Flax seeds The health benefits of flax seed include lowering blood levels of cholesterol, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering blood sugar, and even protecting against cancer.
7. Greek yogurt is another excellent source of protein to eat in the morning. Greek yogurt is thick and creamy and contains more protein than regular strained yogurt.
8. Greek yogurt is also rich in calcium and contains probiotics that help support a healthy gut and immune system.
9. Tea These teas contain some caffeine but not as much as coffee. Tea can also help a person stay hydrated.
10. Cottage cheese is also rich in B vitamins, vitamin A, and calcium. People can eat cottage cheese by itself, or mix it with other savory foods, such as pepper and spring onions, or fruit or nuts.
11. Bananas contain resistant starch. The body does not digest resistant starch, so it travels through the body unchanged, which helps support digestive health. Unripe bananas contain more resistant starch than ripe bananas, which have more natural sugars.

Just working away on my new book and stopping for lunch. The wife prepared a lovely meal which looks mighty tasty. GW

So my lovely wife, my son Karl and I decided to go out for lunch the other day for my sons Birthday. Had a great night truth be told, and a great meal. We decided to try Lot 88 Steakhouse & Bar in North Bay. Which turned out to be quite good. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a great steak. The nice thing about it is that they serve it on a Laval rock so you can take your time and cook it to your perfection. That is what my son and my wife had, I had one of their famous Burgers and a tossed salad. It was fantastic also. We finished our meal with a nice bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel Wine slightly chilled. Then for desert we had a piece of Cheese cake with a drizzle of Chocolate. Life can’t get much better than that! GW

Here is a story written for one of my stories by my friend Bob Bartlett.  Just one of many.  Very talented fellow.  Thanks Bob great poem.  GW

 

THE CANDY STICK TREAT

(1) Laura was cooking bacon and eggs,

The smell of fresh coffee filled the air;

Reg was getting ready for breakfast,

As George ventured down the stairs!

 

(2) George knew they were going on a trip to town,

When he saw a penny by his plate;

This was to buy a candy-stick for him,

So his breakfast he quickly ate!

 

(3) After breakfast he was out the door

And hitched up the buckboard and horse;

He was anxious to get started on their trip,

With the penny in his pants pocket of course!

 

(4) On the trip to town Reg would always ask George,

How he liked living with Laura and him;

George said he liked it there just fine,

As he looked out from under his hat brim!

 

(5) Reg and Laura were George’s guardians

And Reg was a very special guy;

He often knew what George was thinking;

In the blinking of an eye!

 

(6) George liked to talk with Reg,

‘Cause he felt like a grown-up man;

And he liked to spend time with Laura too,

In the kitchen with her pots and her pans!

 

(7) But George was eager to get to town

To make a visit to the hardware store;

So he could buy his candy-stick treat,

In a big jar just inside the door!

 

(8) Usually he only got just one candy stick,

But sometimes he got two or three;

When someone else would buy some for him,

It made George happy as can be!

 

(9) The big glass jars were really tall

And could hold fifty or sixty sticks;

They were all the colors of the rainbow,

So George could take his pick!

 

(10) Reg was never in a big hurry,

As he learned all the local news;

Or when George was making up his mind,

On which colors he would choose!

 

(11) Reg would sit on a keg of nails

And on his face there would be a smile;

As George picked out his favorite colors,

Even though it might take quite a while!

 

(12) Green was the color George liked the best

And red cherry would be his second choice;

Sometimes Reg would make a suggestion,

As he spoke in a helpful voice!

 

(13) But he let George make the decision,

Of which color it was going to be;

This would be his choice of candy-sticks,

Whether it be lime-green or the red cherry!

 

(14) Well, George was really excited,

When the owner took off the jar-lids;

He could then reach in for his candy,

In that town he was the happiest kid!

 

(15) Then he would hand over his penny,

To pay for his candy-stick treat;

He could hardly wait to get it in his mouth,

It was the sweetest thing he could eat!

(16) Then George and Reg would sit outside,

On the old bench by the store;

And George would enjoy his candy-sticks,

How could anyone ask for more?

(17) Reg would fill up his favorite pipe,

With the tobacco that smelled so sweet;

And George would savor his lime-green candy,

It was the end of a perfect day treat!

 

(18) That evening as they travelled back to the farm,

There was a smile upon their faces;

They were having a nice ride in the old buckboard,

As the horse was pulling on the ‘traces’!

 

(19) George looked forward to the trips to town,

It was a regular weekly event;

When they would hitch up the horse and the buckboard

And then down the road to town they went!

 

(20) The days of the horse and buggy are now gone,

You don’t see them so much anymore;

But George will always remember those times

And the candy-sticks at the hardware store!

Bob Bartlett,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Maple Syrup Season approaching fast thought maybe you would like a recipe which makes a drink come alive.  For those that enjoy a bit of spirit now and then, that is.

2 ounces bourbon
One teaspoon maple syrup (I like the darker grade)
3-4 dashes of bitters lemon or lime.
Finish off with a couple of small ice cubes.
The next step is to sit back in a quiet atmosphere and enjoy. I would think two of these would relax anyone.

    Food worth waiting for.

Restaurants. Here is an place that I am sure that most of us stop at now and then.  Some more than others.  For myself I don’t get to eat out to much but every so often when I head into North Bay or down to see my other son in St Catharines we do enjoy a meal or two out.  Look forward to it.  I won’t mention any names here this morning as this blog isn’t meant to bring on pain to a person or business.  But after yesterday’s event I just had to say a few words.  First off I figure restaurants are like a cold or the flu.  If your sick you should stay home and not pass your sickness around.  At a restaurant if you can’t cook then you shouldn’t be passing food around as folks could get sick.  Anyways.  I had to have some tests done yesterday, had to fast and things and by the time I had this looked after my wife and I were starving. So we picked on an establishment that has been in business for a good many years.  Walking in music was playing and had a cozy feeling which we enjoy.  Ordered a simple meal with eggs over easy, two strips of bacon extra crispy, home fries with a touch of onions. They asked which kind of toast we would like and my wife said rye.  I myself took wheat.  Food came to the table and just by looking at it I knew right away we were in trouble.  First off the potatoes were so old they looked green and tasted even worse. Along with that they cooked them in lard or some kind of grease that tasted just terrible burned black almost.  Onions were half cooked and again covered with a type of grease that would choke a horse.  Toast was burned and no flavor.  Eggs were not cooked hardly at all covered with slime.  Then to top it off at the end of the meal which we didn’t eat they gave us a bill.  On the bill they even charged us an extra 49 cents for the rye bread the wife had.  Couldn’t believe it.  They did ask what we thought of the meal and me I just nodded.  Wrong move on my wife’s part as she said. “Would you really like the truth?”  They got it.  Nicely of course.  With that they didn’t offer to return our money and we left the meal sitting on the table pretty well as they served it.   Will we return.  Not even if I was starving which actually I was on that fine morning.  So thought I would share a bit of our day in North Bay Ontario.  My Opinion on the whole thing.  Folks if you can’t cook don’t open a restaurant.  The rest of the day was fine had a good time. GW

Some facts that have been thrown to the way side.  All about Beer!

It keeps your heart healthy

It helps you live longer

It helps and in getting the energy you are made of flowing more freely.

It is an aid in the prevention of Alzheimer’s

It produces stronger bones

It can help in the prevention of type 2 diabetes

It is proven to help with stress and anxiety.

Hot beer served with a couple of teaspoons of honey makes for a great cold remedy.  According to reports the hops in the beer, when heated, help fight viral infections like the common cold. The active compound itself (humulone) could combat pneumonia and bronchitis-causing viruses. Hmm, not to sure on this one. Warm beer and me have never gotten along Ha Ha.

And one last biggie, Beer can protect against prostate cancer and breast cancer. Found in hops, the substance called xanthohumol blocks the excessive action of testosterone and estrogen. It also helps to prevent the release of a protein called PSA which encourages the spread of prostate cancer. Of course you should only drink beer within recommended limits – one to two pints a day for women, two to three pints for men.

In saying all this it has also been proven that some humans can’t drink, causes all kinds of problems, mentally wise which in turn can cause ailments of the body and grief to those around them. So care should be taken as with any medicine, including pharmaceutical drugs. Now, those that can, go get yourself a pint and enjoy.  Have a great day.

Pretty Good Article

Wish I’d thought of this!

Elder Banking…  !

Shown  below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86

year old  woman.

The bank  manager thought it amusing enough to have  it published in

the New York Times.

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        Dear  Sir:

        I am writing  to thank you for bouncing my check with which

I endeavoured to pay my  plumber last month.

        By my  calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed

between his presenting  the check and the arrival in my account of the

funds needed to honour  it..

        I refer, of  course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my

entire pension, an  arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for

only eight  years.

        You are to be  commended for seizing that brief window of

opportunity, and also for  debiting my account $30 by way of penalty

for the inconvenience caused to  your bank.

        My  thankfulness springs from the manner in which this

incident has caused me  to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed

that whereas I personally  answer your telephone calls and letters,

— when I try to contact you, I  am confronted by the impersonal,

overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless  entity which your bank has

become.

        From now on,  I, like you, choose only to deal with a

flesh-and-blood  person.

        My mortgage  and loan repayments will therefore and

hereafter no longer be automatic,  but will arrive at your bank, by

check, addressed personally and  confidentially to an employee at your

bank whom you must  nominate.

        Be aware that  it is an OFFENCE under the Postal Act for any

other person to open such an  envelope.

        Please find  attached an Application Contact which I require

your chosen employee to  complete.

        I am sorry it  runs to eight pages, but in order that I know

as much about him or her as  your bank knows about me, there is no

alternative.

        Please note  that all copies of his or her medical history

must be countersigned by a  Notary Public, and the mandatory details

of his/her financial situation  (income, debts, assets and

liabilities) must be accompanied by documented  proof.

        In due  course, at MY convenience, I will issue your

employee with a PIN number  which he/she must quote in dealings with

me.

        I regret that  it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but,

again, I have modelled it on the  number of button presses required of

me to access my account balance on  your phone bank service.

        As they say,  imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

        Let me level  the playing field even further.

        When you call  me, press buttons as follows:

        IMMEDIATELY  AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR  ENGLISH

        #1. To make  an appointment to see me

        #2. To query  a missing payment.

        #3. To  transfer the call to my living room in case I am  there.

        #4 To  transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am  sleeping.

        #5. To  transfer the call to my toilet in case I am

attending to  nature.

        #6. To  transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at  home.

        #7. To leave  a message on my computer, a password to access

my computer is  required.

        Password will  be communicated to you at a later date to

that Authorized Contact  mentioned earlier.

        #8. To return  to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through  10

        #9. To make a  general complaint or inquiry.

        The contact  will then be put on hold, pending the attention

of my automated answering  service.

        #10. This is  a second reminder to press* for English.

        While this  may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait,

uplifting music will play for  the duration of the call.

        Regrettably,  but again following your example, I must also

levy an establishment fee to  cover the setting up of this new

arrangement.

        May I wish  you a happy, if ever so slightly less

prosperous, New  Year?

        Your Humble  Client

        And  remember: Don’t make old  people mad. We don’t like

being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to …. us  off.