More Words of Wisdom from Sadie and Dasie. All three ring true for me.
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Author Archives: Mama Cormier
A Trip to the Market
…. not just any market….the St. Lawrence Market
I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a very raspy voice. I lay in bed for a spell and read while my husband and the dog went for a walk. When I finally emerged from the bedroom it was going on 10:00. I took a Tylenol, made myself a cup of coffee and K whipped up some eggs for us.
After we cleared up the dishes I started to feel better and in a low whisper (my voice wasn’t back to normal) I asked my husband if he still wanted to make a trip to the St. Lawrence Market. He was game and seeing that it was going on noon the market would probably be less busy.
Well if it was less busy it must have been horrible earlier in the day. The place was swarming with people. We walked around to take in the sights and compare some prices but we soon realized that we were hungry. I guess our morning eggs didn’t stay with us for very long and we knew that shopping when you’re hungry is not a good idea. 
It was so crowded that we were feeling somewhat claustrophobic and finding a place to sit down to eat was next to impossible. We left the market and walked up Front Street and found a restaurant where we could sit and have a leisurely lunch. It was also easier to make healthy choices. We both ordered salads with a protein and tea. After our meal we shared a cookie. We were both shocked when we saw how big the cookie was. I’m glad we shared it but I really thought it was going to be half the size. I guess I could have eaten half of my half but that old European custom of cleaning your plate won out.
When we went back to the market we bought a capon to roast for Sunday dinner and lots of fresh green vegetables. One big change we’ve made in our eating habits is to include a lot more leafy green vegetables that are high in anti-oxidants. Some of the vegetables we bought included kale, dandelion leaves, romaine and arugula.
Even though it started off bitterly cold this morning you know spring can’t be too far off when tulips appear in the markets. I bought 3 bunches. Nothing lifts my spirits faster than fresh cut flowers.
When we got home I went out again to purchase the things we couldn’t get at the market. For dinner we had a kale salad and oven roasted chicken breast. No dessert.
I arranged the flowers into 3 separate bouquets and placed them around the house. The buds are still pretty tight but in the next day or so they should open up nicely.
As the day comes to an end my throat is still sore and raspy. I think I’ll make myself a hot tea with honey and lemon and read some more of my book. Hopefully I’ll feel somewhat better tomorrow. No plans as of yet but if the weather is nice I’d like to get out for a walk again. I’m missing my walks.
Cheers!
Snow, Slush, Rain and More Snow
…..didn’t reach 20 cm of snow on Wednesday but made up for it today
With all the hype of more snow or lots of rain I had a feeling it might be the latter. Sure enough on Wednesday morning there was very little snow but it had been raining and sleeting all night long and the end result was slush. Yuck!!!
I was on yard duty Wednesday morning and the kids were jumping in the puddles and sliding through the slush. By the afternoon we had to keep them indoors because too many of them had wet feet and damp clothing. The parking lot at the end of the day filled with water in the low lying areas and some of the staff had to wade through calf deep water to get into their cars.
Last night it started to snow again and this morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. The snow was heavy and clung to tree branches and hydro lines. It was pretty and made for great packing snow. Today the kids had a great time building snow forts and getting very wet again. Our poor caretaker was mopping floors all day.
The ground is so wet that the mud is starting to seep through the snow. The temperature, however, is suppose to go down overnight and all the puddles and slush will freeze over. It should be an interesting drive tomorrow morning but I fear that those of us who like to walk will face more challenges. Here’s hoping that my husband doesn’t fall again.
Cheers!
A Word a Week – Zoom
…. I love the macro zoom feature on my camera
For more A Word a Week – Zoom photographs check out Sue Llewllyn’s site A Word in Your Ear
Enough Already!
…. three falls on patches of ice in one week is too much
I know I wished for snow this winter but I’m ready for Spring. Really ready! 
The snow has been beautiful and when it’s fresh, deep and crisp and you don’t have to drive anywhere it is lovely to look at and even fun to walk through.
The problem with the snow this year is the pattern of weather we’ve been experiencing. Shortly after the snow we’ve had warm weather and the snow all but completely melts away and then we get more snow. Not a bad scenario but after the last BIG storm not all the snow melted and we were left with slushy patches and puddles that froze a few days later.
This made walking very difficult for humans. Frances is small enough that she basically walks on the crust without breaking through and of course she wants to continue with her daily walks. She doesn’t realize how treacherous the walks have become.
I recently reported how my husband fell on one of his walks with the dog and hurt his back. It was just starting to feel better when he fell again….not once but twice on the same walk this morning.
On Groundhog Day, Wiarton Willie predicted that we would have an early Spring. Boy did he get it wrong! We definitely haven’t seen the end of Winter, in fact we’re suppose to get another snow storm on Tuesday. Wiarton Willie
Wish us luck. I guess I’ll be taking over the dog walking duty for awhile. I don’t mind but I like it better when both of us go out, especially when it gets dark. March 21st can’t come soon enough!
Cheers!
Hitting the Jackpot and my Weight Loss Conundrum
…. couldn’t believe my luck when I stopped in at Marshall’s today
After getting my hair cut today I decided to check out Marshall’s which just happens to be located around the corner from the salon. Right at the front of the store there were a few ‘final markdown’ racks. I’ve never seen such reduced prices in my life. Who marks down a brand new sweater to $0.70? I checked the entire garment and couldn’t find any flaws. I took nine garments to the change room and decided to keep five of them.
A friend told me when I retire I won’t need as many clothes but I love to shop and since I’ve lost 32 pounds I love it even more because I have so much more to choose from. I’ve really hit a plateau with my weight loss. I won’t lie and say I don’t understand why. I’m really good for four or five days in a row and then I’ll have an off day or two with my eating. I’ve been trying to get out and walk every day regardless of the weather but I’ve missed a few days in the last couple of weeks. It’s become so icy outside that’s it’s actually become treacherous for walking. My husband hit a patch of black ice week and fell flat onto his back. He’s had quite the time recovering from this accident.
I’ve also been seeing an acupuncturist for the last 2 months to help me with a balance issue I’ve had for quite a few years. In the last year it actually got worse and I would get terrible dizzy spells during my yoga or exercise sessions. Back in December my personal trainer witnessed one of my dizzy spells and recommended I try acupuncture. I’ve always been open to alternative medicine and decided to give it a try. I’m happy to report that the spells are fewer and very minor in comparison to what I used to experience.
I don’t know if it’s the winter doldrums or boredom but I’ve noticed an increase in my appetite. If I can avoid sampling foods that are put out in front of me at social gatherings I can pretty much control my food intake but once I take my first bite of anything ‘forbidden’ I find myself on a slippery slope. I know that I won’t feel well if I continue to eat but sometimes I just can’t help myself.
I need to put myself into a different mindset. I’ve done it before and I know I can do it again. I just don’t want to wait until I start gaining weight again or worse gain it all back. Maybe I need to come clean and admit to how much I actually weigh. I’ve avoided it up to this point and kept telling myself that when I lose another 10 pounds I will reveal my weight. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I haven’t taken off any more weight….. the fear of the reveal. One of my problems is that I actually feel very good about how I look at the moment, even though the number on the scale should tell me otherwise.
I’m posting pictures of the garments I bought today. My daughter kindly took photos of me as I modelled the clothes for her. All the tops, except the workout top can be worn to work and some I will combine with a camisole or thin t-shirt.
Can you believe that I got all of these garments for only $14.70 before taxes?
Word of the Week – Industrial 4
….this will be the last of the industrial pictures for awhile
One of the aspects of this challenge that I love so much is the variety of shapes, sizes and forms found in industrial equipment and structures.
For more industrial photography check out Sue Llewellyn’s blog at A Word in Your Ear
Word of the Week – Industrial 3
…. my neighbourhood used to be a very industrial area but over the years businesses have closed or moved to other areas
Some factories look like bombed out shells that keep out curious visitors with steel fences and barbed wire
In other parts of town all evidence of former factories have been razed leaving behind empty fields, also surrounded by fencing and barbed wire.
Even factories that have been ‘rocks in the community’ are beginning to leave to make room for more condos. The latest casualty is Christie’s. The smell of freshly baked bread wafting along the Lakeshore has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
For more industrial photos check out Sue Llewellyn’s A Word in Your Ear
Word of the Week – Industrial 2
…..industrial sites converted into new businesses
or parts that have been turned into pieces of sculpture (with a practical side)
For more industrial photos check out Sue Llewellyn’s http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/9740/
A Word A Week Challenge: Industrial
…. over at A Word In Your Ear, Sue’s A Word A Week Challenge this week is Industrial. Today I’m focusing on old industrial sites that have been restored to be used by the public.
I love this challenge. Living in Toronto presents itself with all kinds of industrial photo opportunities. On our daily walks we always come across this amazing old building that used to be a power plant in the early to mid 1900’s. Today it’s been restored and is used for recreation purposes. In the winter it houses a seating area to lace up your ice skates and a place to warm up after enjoying the outdoor skating rink next door.
Another great old factory that has recently been restored is the old Brickworks in the city’s east end. It’s also become a multi-purpose facility. It houses a farmers’ market in the summer and is used for workshops, art exhibitions and a variety of functions. I love walking around the old brick ovens.
Tomorrow I will share photo of more industrial areas that have been re-invented and are now used for new businesses.
Cheers!
