got any grapes?

A duck walks into a bar and asks, "Got any grapes?"The bartender, confused, tells the duck no. The duck thanks him and leaves.
The next day, the duck returns and asks, "Got any grapes?"
Again, the bartender tells him, "No -- the bar does not serve grapes, has never served grapes and, furthermore, will never serve grapes." The duck thanks him and leaves.
The next day, the duck returns, but before he can say anything, the bartender yells, "Listen, duck! This is a bar! We do not serve grapes! If you ask for grapes again, I will nail your stupid duck beak to the bar!"
The duck is silent for a moment, and then asks, "Got any nails?"
Confused, the bartender says no.
"Good!" says the duck. "Got any grapes?

out of steam

I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm just not getting enough sleep these days, that I'm getting older or that life is just busy, but lately I feel so tired.
I can barely keep my eyes open past 10:30-11 and that's so not me as I'm a bit of a night owl.
And I've been waking up at 6ish. Which is also so not me.
A morning person I am not.
Not sure what's up with this, but by the time 7 pm rolls around I am completely spent.
And it's not even the school year and dark out by that time.
I'm a pretty active and energetic person so this is something I'm not really used to.
Lulu is in camp all week so I've had some personal time to just get caught up things.
Which I have.
A fairly productive week in fact.
But I lack the energy or desire to socialize or even exercise.
Two of my favourite things to do.
I just feel like being at home, enjoying my back garden and taking it easy.
That being said, I went to a yoga class yesterday and loved it.
It's been ages, since I usually fill my fitness time with high impact cardio & weights.
But it felt so good.
Must do that more often.
Anyhow I guess I just have to go with the flow and if my body is telling me to take it easy, slow down a bit, go to bed earlier and get more rest then I should just listen.


Our own physical body possesses a wisdom, which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders, which make no sense. ~ Henry Miller

summer of 2013 To Do list

Every summer I put together a To Do-Wish list.
Seeing as we are already half way through July, I figured I should probably get on that.
So without further adieu...

1. make a summer to do list. check.
2. eat lots of Ontario Cherries (and peaches). check.
3. have friends over for a BBQ
4. go to the beach
5. go for a long hike somewhere new
6. plant some herbs. check.
7. plant some new herbs and take care of them so they don't wilt and die.
8. visit a museum
9. go to a movie and enjoy the A.C. cranked to the max. check
10. go swimming. check.
11. do a puzzle with Lulu
12. play crib, backgammon and card games
13. set up the teepee in the backyard. check.
14. Let Lulu stay up really late and look at the stars. check.
15. lie in a field and watch the clouds
16. go to the library (check) and try to read at least 4 books this summer.
17. help Lulu organize a lemonade stand
18. make a sidewalk chalk masterpiece
19. go on a trip out west to see the mountains
20. go canoeing.
21. go out with a group of girlfriends. check.
22. try to learn one song on the guitar.
23. buy a new weekend house out of the city. check.!!!
24. find new furniture and pretty much everything for the new house.

and finally.....
#25. enjoy each day as much as possible because they really fly by far too quickly...

John & Sons

When the terroni at Yonge & St.Clair moved locations, we were a bit sad, as we had been going to that location for years.
It was kind of our go-to Friday night neighbourhood pizza place.
Fortunately the new location is only a few blocks south and is still a great place to go on a Friday night.

So when John & Son's moved into the old location we were really happy that a good restaurant  took over one of our favourite spots.
We've been several times and have never been disappointed.
It kind of has a Cape Cod feel, with a Carrara Marble oyster bar, bleached wood, and a subtle nautical theme.
But it still has a similar layout that Terroni did, which is great for people watching.

Speaking of the crowd, it's not really a place I would take Lulu to.
Not that it's fussy, in fact it's nice and casual, which is what I love about it.
But she really doesn't like seafood and other than the fries, there's not much on the menu she would like. No kid menu here.
Besides, I don't think I would want to spend over $20 on an entree for her quite yet.
(then again, the pizza at terroni is around that same price)
That being said, I have spotted a few kids there, but not too many.
The service has always been really good and the noise factor is just right.
I'm getting so tired of super loud restaurants with the music cranked so much that you can't hear the person across from you.
G-d I'm getting old.....

I've tried several different things on the menu and really enjoyed everything.
The Tuna Tartare was delicious.
Loved the Tuna BLT.



The scallops with squash (in the winter were amazing)



Big daddy had them with a summer pea & mint puree a few weeks ago and also enjoyed them.
The wedge salad is almost as good as mine, if I do say so myself ;
I was inspired by theirs though.
(will post recipe soon)



And it goes without saying, that the oysters are some of the freshest in the city.
Skip the condiments except for the freshly grated horseradish and a squeeze of lemon and tuck right in...mmm.. slurp slurp.
It's a nice tight menu, with just the right amount of options.

So if you are looking for a great place mid-town for dinner (or lunch) John & Son's is fantastic.

artkive

Does anyone else feel like they are drowning in kids arts & crafts?

I have so many plastic bins full of Lulu's masterpieces and I'm simply running out of places to store them.
G-d forbid throwing anything out...gasp..
I've been busted a few times and Lulu was quite devastated to say the least.
"But mama, it took me soooo long to make that specially for you! How could you??"
oh the guilt...
But then I discovered Artkive.
LOVe it!
You simply take a photo of all her artwork and creative projects and store them in a digital file.
Then eventually I can just order a book with it all compiled neatly and chronologically.
I can't wait to order one for Grade 2.
Genius.

happy belated canada day

Well the Canada Day long weekend has come and gone, and though it was lovely to have a few extra days together as a family, it was a bit on the exhausting side.

We were looking after my four year old niece for the last week of school and over the weekend.

And as adorable as she is, she's four.

And I kind of forgot how much more work a little four year old can be.

Wow...

Especially when it's not your child.

I just didn't want anything to happen to her on my watch. 

And she is so much more active and bouncy that Lulu was at that age.

So I was on duty 24/7.

At one point she was spinning around and hit her head on a tray on our ottoman and I thought "oh lord how am I going to explain a huge bruise or worse, stitches to my brother when I drop her off?" gulp..

Fortunately it didn't come to that, but still, after that incident I was on full alert.

Thankfully, Lulu was amazing, and helped out so much.

In fact I was beyond impressed at how responsible and sweet she was towards her little cousin.

A.K.A. her pint sized animated shadow.

She was pretty tolerant about having all of her things man handled and even turned a blind eye when she was constantly being tattled on.

Welcome to what it would be like to have a sibling..

I guess I'm so past that stage and love how independent Lulu is now.
I just don't think I would have the energy (or desire) to look after a little one anymore.

At least not on a regular basis.

That being said, I loved watching the two of them together and would welcome her again with open arms.

(only maybe for a shorter length of time next time around....)

Needless to say, after the week was over, I think Lulu is very content about being an only child.

As am I.
Any doubts I may have had about our family dynamic have been put to rest.
Ah....rest...having an eight year old is the best.