Sick puppy

Kind of ironic that the first photo and post of 2015 included our French bulldog Chelsea in it.

The poor little thing has been very sick for the entire month of January.
The past four weeks have been more difficult than I could have ever imagined.
It started with a cough, which quickly turned into pneumonia which was most likely caused by an abnormality of Chelsea's upper airways. She's probably had it since birth, but is now becoming a life threatening issue.
Once she is healthy enough, she will have to undergo a serious surgery to hopefully correct her Brachycephalic Syndrome.
If she is ever healthy enough...

To say that the past two weeks have been emotionally taxing is an understatement.
She has spent three days in intensive care hooked up to IV's and oxygen and is on a boat load of drugs.
We even have to give her injections three times a day.
I get faint at the sight of a paper cut, never mind having to poke my sweet little puppy with a needle.
I have to feed her tiny amounts of soft food by hand every couple of hours, which hopefully she will keep down.
I haven't been able to leave to house for more than a hour at a time.
She's lost 25% of her normal body weight.
It's absolutely heartbreaking.
Big daddy is travelling for work.
Lulu has been devastated to say the least, which drives the dagger into my heart just a little bit deeper.
There were several times this week when I watched Chelsea struggling to breathe and foaming at the mouth where I thought...this is it.
She isn't going to make it.
I'm going to have to "put her down"
I've cried a bucket load of tears.
I'm spent.

Then I question myself if it is "normal" to feel so emotionally attached to an animal?
Am I being crazy?
I've never been through this, so I have no idea if it is, or not.
I think to myself that anyone without a pet would never understand and think I'm nuts.
How could you get it, unless you have been through it yourself?
But I've been surprised by the compassion of several of my pet-less friends.
Their support and understanding has been so helpful.
Not to mention the ones with fury family members.
I think they have cried right along with me.
But still I do wonder if it's natural or healthy to feel so attached.

Pets teach us so much.
Unconditional love and also fear of loss.
They teach us to follow your intuition.
Affection.
How to cope with anxiety...Chelsea always helps keep me keep calm while sitting on my lap when we are stuck in traffic by snuggling into me.
Not sure why, but it always seems to help.
I hate being stuck in the middle of a busy highway and not being able to exit if the need arises.
If I have a bad day, it all disappears when she comes running to the door to greet me when I get home.
If I've  had a good day it just makes that much better.
Having her makes me stop and smell the roses, or in her case, stop and sniff the squirrel that ran up a tree.
She's never made a mess on the floor (even when she was a puppy) chewed a toy or shoe that didn't belong to her.
Watching her play with her toys however, is more entertaining than anything else.
She follows me all over the house, even I go running up the stairs just to grab something only to come right back down.
She's my number one fan.
I just love her.
She has very distinct relationships with all of us.
I'm definitely the alpha leader-dog mom.
Numero uno.
Lulu is her playful little sister, but she is also protective and sits under her bed every night until she falls asleep.
Big daddy is her favourite wrestling partner and loves to play tug-of-war after dinner each night.
She also loves to hug him and doesn't let him put her down.
She would be content in his arms all day.
It's so incredibly sweet to watch.

She has made me stop and think that if this is how difficult it is to watch a sick pet, how hard would it be to say goodbye to a human family member.
I can't even to being to imagine the level of pain involved.

I want to be optimistic and hope that she will get better and survive.
But at this point it's all up in the air.
Only time will tell.
I can't be in control of everything in life.

This may be the biggest lesson she has taught me so far...

New Year...Same ol' same ol'

I usually compile a list of New Year's resolutions around this time of year.
Nothing too drastic or life changing, just things I would like to improve on and focus on for the new year ahead.
This year I could just as easily take a look back at 2014 and be lazy and just say ditto.
Because essentially I would love to continue working on all those things and maybe even more.
But that would be the easy thing to do.

It's important to set new goals and work hard to reach them.
I need to challenge myself more.
Find new things to strive for.
So I guess that's my New Year's resolution for 2015.
Set new goals.
Figure out the next step.

Although the past few weeks have been somewhat reflective, I guess I still don't know exactly what to work towards that is new and exciting.
But when I find out...I'll let you know.


Some other random things happening so far this year.

funny things that Lulu said recently.
"I wish I could trade 2 weeks of July for 1 month of January." she quoted Roald Dahl. love that she is quoting authors!
and yes...I couldn't agree more.

Can I watch just one more episode of Wicked Tuna on the National Geo channel?
pretty please??
I'm not entirely sure what I think about this latest television obsession.

Every morning for the past few weeks, Lulu tiptoes into my room sits beside me on the edge of the bed and whispers "do you want a hand massage mommy?" and proceeds to give me the most amazing hand massage while I wake up.
Her small hands are surprisingly strong and capable.
What an awesome way to wake up.
I mean seriously?
what did I do to deserve such an amazing kid?

On a more serious note.

Turns out our puppy (3 year old french bulldog, but will always be my little "puppy") needs a pretty major surgery.
I'm kind of freaking out about it.
I could never imagine loving an animal so much.
The thought of our family without her in it is pretty frightening.
I just hope she'll be okay.
Also trying to conceal my anxiety about it in front of Lulu is proving to be a bit challenging.
Who knew a 20 lb, snorty, little fury creature would become so much a part of our family.
Dogs really teach us about life more than we realize.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
—Roger Caras (photographer and writer)

so true....

Let's just hope she gets to teach us plenty more about life in 2015.

change is all around

 As I was looking at the tree in my backyard with it's now vibrant golden leaves, instead of being in awe of its beauty it made me feel a bit melancholy. 
Wasn't it just yesterday that I was eagerly awaiting the white spring blossoms on the naked branches?
I was anxiously keeping my fingers crossed that the brutal winter and ice storm of 2013-14 would spare all the beautiful foliage on our property.
Thankfully it did.
Well, minus a large emerald cedar, 27 boxwoods, and a 18 ft' hornbeam.
All of which needed to be replaced.
It was a brutal winter after all.
But for the most part, the trees were resilient and survived.
I love green leaves and trees.
So I'm sad that it is coming to another end.
I'm not ready to say good-bye.
At least not yet.

I usually embrace this time of year and get really enthusiastic about roasted squash, comfort soups & stews, hot mulled apple cider, cozy sweaters and the beautiful colours of the changing leaves.
But this year I'm having a hard time.
Maybe it's my age.
Is it me or are the seasons flying by even faster?
As you get older the years grow shorter.
Isn't that what they say?

Either way that's how I've been feeling.
And if time is indeed moving faster, I have this constant fear that I'm wasting it.
(I knew I should never have joined facebook & instagram) grrr...
Every day, every minute and every second counts.
I never want to waste any of it and feel so guilty when I do.
For the most part I do try to cram a lot into a day.
Then again, so much of it is spent doing mundane domestic stuff.
I know I could be doing more with my time.
At least more meaningful, creative & fulfilling things.

Autumn is a great time for reflection and also for change.
The leaves are just nature's way of reminding us that change is inevitable.
Time is not to be wasted and taken for grated.

So maybe it's a good thing those leaves are changing and falling...

good to be back in the hood

After spending the entire summer out of the city and surrounded by beautiful vineyards, sprawling perfectly manicured green lawns, huge old trees, the fresh smell of the lake, bountiful fruit orchards and long glorious trails and paths, I almost didn't want to come home.

What am I saying?

I totally didn't want to come home.

I so didn't miss the ridiculously frustrating traffic, the endless construction, the noise, the smelly Toronto sewers, the graffiti, the gum caked cracked uneven sidewalks, the laughable political situation, my small (in desperate need of an update) city house, my neighbours...grrr...
and did I already mention all the construction?? Gah...My street is in an endless cycle of renovations and mess.
Basically the general chaos of it all.

But crazy as it sounds, I guess I did kind of miss it.
I missed "the routine." G-d love the routine.
My girlfriends.
My amazing neighbourhood. (renovation construction be damned)
The proximity to everything.
The plethora of grocery stores. Oh how I missed you Rowe Farms, Cumbrae's & Cobb's Bread.
And clothing stores.
Shopping in general.
And as shallow as this may sound, my nail salon. Best mani pedi's in the city.
My gym. Yes I'm a gym rat and proud of it.
Being able to walk to everything.
The restaurants.
The endless options of fun things to do. Hello TIFF.
(not to say that NOTL wasn't super fun and didn't have a ton of options in the cultural stimulation department, but it's a far cry from the big city)
Our social life.
The diversity.
The excitement of it all.

So I guess you could say that I am blessed.
Blessed that I could take a break from it all so that I could appreciate it all the more when I got home.
Smelly sewers and all.
I do love Toronto.
But we are officially moving if Rob Ford gets re-elected.
Just putting that out there.

summer To Do list

Well hello there....
It's been a while.
I've not blogged in ages (nor read any) though it's not for lack of stories, or things swirling around in my head. I guess I've just been busy with other forms of social media.
Facebook & Instagram for the most part. Feel free to check me out on IG @ cherryparsnips.
Also as Lulu gets older, I need to respect her privacy and not go too far when it comes to spilling the beans about her day to day life.
Which essentially is my day to day life.
Especially now that summer is here.
She has been my constant companion 24/7 since school got out.
And is very reluctant to partake in over night camp.
No matter how pretty I paint that picture, she is just not interested. sigh...
And seeing as things have been "strained" (to say the least) with my parents this summer, (long story) there have been no offers for camp Grandma & Grandpa this year either.
But that is a whole other post...
So I guess I have a perma miniature shadow all summer.
But I'm making the most of it, and trying to embrace having the opportunity to hang out with my little buddy everyday while she actually wants to hang out with me.
I know these years are fleeting.

So speaking of summer I usually make a "To Do List"
And seeing as we are already at halfway mark, I figured I should get on it.
So without further delay....

Summer of 2014 wish-to do list

Spend most of it at our new place out of the city (check)
order blinds & curtains, rugs, some art, new doors and start to tackle the garden. (working on it)
have some friends down to visit (check)
theatre (check)
mini road trip to upstate NY.
cycle. a lot.
run & work out. (check)
fly a kite (check)
have a picnic
watch some fireworks (check)
go to a few concerts (check)
vineyards & wine tasting (check, check and more check) (in fact a few too many checks...)
paint a picture
do some baking
pickle something
have a campfire (check)
watch the fireflies (check)
take a few days to go off line...no computers or iphone.
crafts with Lulu
swim
go to the beach (check)
hike
do some yoga
get a massage
read (check) the town library is fantastic
buy fruit from local farmer stand (check) love Quiet Acres...
make Popsicles
speaking of food....
want to eat these things this summer...

Burgers
potato salad
pasta salad
cold cucumber soup
fish tacos
cedar plank salmon with salsa verde
blueberries
cherries
watermelon
homemade pie- still warm if possible
peaches, plums & apricots
lots of salads
corn
zucchini
beans
eggplant
ratatouille
cold soba noodle salad
smoker chip ribs
grilled tuna niciose
lobster roll
my jerk chicken
watermelon & cuke salad
S'mores
Ice cream
oysters
homemade granola with fresh fruit
avocado & spinach banana smoothie
poached eggs
grandpa ham

spring cleaning

It's that time of year when I get kind of crazy and feel the need to completely disinfect my entire house from top to bottom.
And after spending far too much time cooped up at home over the winter, it really could use an overhaul.
I try to stay on top of things on a fairly regular basis throughout the year, but truth be told, the winter always tends to bring out my lazy side.

So I'm on a mission.
Trying to do a few tasks each week before the weather gets nice and I don't want to be spending any more unnecessary time inside.

We finally got rid of the dead evergreen Christmas planters the other day and I feel much better already.
They were frozen in place so I had no choice but to wait until the big thaw.
But lucky me gets to still stare at my neighbours plastic snowman, tacky reindeer and Christmas lights (probably until June) grrr...
But that's another post.

First on the list is the windows & screens.
Between the crazy storms, tree debris and construction across the street from us, we can barely see out of the windows.
I use all natural household cleaners. My favourite being Mrs. Meyers.
I love all the scents, package design and the fact that it's earth friendly makes it that much better.
However, after several attempts at getting a streak free shine on the windows I finally caved and went and got a bottle of the blue stuff.
As much as I hate to admit it, it worked SO much better.
I know I could have used good ol' vinegar & water, but I hate the smell.
I really try to refrain from using any toxic house hold cleaners, but sometimes I can't see any other option.
I know bleach is the worst.
But I have a small bottle of it that I use occasionally only when I need to get the stains out of my white kitchen cloths.
I've tried the "natural" alternatives and they just don't seem to work as well.
Anyhow exciting post I know...my life is so glamorous that I feel the need to write about cleaning products....sigh....

But I do try to use natural products the majority of the time, but sometimes they just don't cut it.
How about you? (all three of you) what do you use to clean you house?

pearly whites- notsomuch

So Lulu is officially in the "transitional tooth phase".
Or as I like to put it, the jack-o-lantern-smile-phase.
She has a big gummy grin and is missing 4 teeth at the moment. Her new teeth are having a hard time coming in as she has a tiny mouth (though you wouldn't know it with her endless chitter chatter)
Like I did, she is most certainly going to have crowding issues.
Off for an orthodontist consult next week... whoopee!

I have to refrain from constantly asking her to let me get a closer look to see if her new front teeth are coming in yet though.
I'm becoming obsessed.
It's been since Christmas and still nothing. poor thing.
I'm trying my best not to give her a complex. Probably failing miserably...
She's the last in her class to not have her two front adult teeth and my heart goes out to her.
I was that kid too.
I remember how self conscious I felt when my two front teeth were missing when everyone else was sporting a regular smile.
Plus I just want to see if her two front teeth are normal or not. The waiting is torture.

Unfortunately she has some other dental issues.
She has Hypoplasia on all four of her 6 year molars and one of her bottom front teeth.
Thankfully the other bottom tooth is ok. whew..
The dentist can't give us a reason for it or tell us how many other teeth are affected, other than possibly while they were developing, she had a bad virus or infection that interrupted the enamel development.
So long story short, Lulu can no longer consume sugar. Which isn't the end of the world, but in the eyes of an eight year old, not great news.

We already limit sugary sweets, drinks and candy anyhow but now it's pretty much forbidden from here on in.
I was always one for moderation, but now, even that isn't enough.
Zero sugar, otherwise risk loosing her permanent teeth completely.
No orangina with her pizza on a special night. No juice, granola bars or candy from loot bags.
I don't even want to think about next Halloween...
It's actually amazing how much sugar is in our diet when you start to think about eliminating it.
It's not as easy as it sounds.
But from a health perspective, maybe it's a good thing anyhow.
So Lulu's super sensitive teeth might just be a blessing in disguise for our whole family.
At least that's what I keep trying to convince myself to stop myself from getting depressed about it.
Just have to convince friends and grandparents that "just one candy isn't the end of the world."

But things could certainly be worse.
I think about all the kids (and adults) with severe food allergies and I can't even imagine how difficult that would be.
So things are not that terrible and I need to keep things in perspective.

But it all comes back to my quest for perfectionism.
It's not possible.
Life isn't perfect.
Nor are teeth.

But thankfully there are great dentists to remedy that.

Home is where the frozen heart is

After spending a glorious week in California (Palm Springs and visiting family in L.A.) it's back to the never ending winter here in Toronto.

I had such an incredible time and really, I mean really didn't want to come home.
So much so in fact, that when we did arrive home, I found myself checking out neighbourhoods and homes on MLS and researching the best school districts in L.A.
I could SO live in California.

Great weather- obviously being #1 on the list.
We have family there.
Great economy and plenty of career opportunities. Albeit, having to start over is a wee bit daunting...
Amazing (and I mean Amazing) grocery stores and restaurants.
I love you Trader Joe's!
Lovely homes and cool architecture. (Reasonably priced I might add.) Especially when you compare to Toronto's over inflated real estate market and often ugly boxy brick houses.
People are so friendly and laid back.
So much to do. Especially if you love being outdoors.
Hiking, cycling, walking the dog (no coat and booties required) surfing, skiing. You name it, you can do it in Cali.
Excellent shopping. Bonus that you wouldn't need 18 different types of winter coats and boots.
Great people watching. Keith Urban was on my flight and Eugene Levy was at the airport when I landed.
Hiked past Moby's house on my morning walk and I just missed Orlando Bloom at the local coffee shop according to my sister-in-law. rats...
So you never know who you'll bump into in Los Angeles.
It's easy to live a healthy life style and stay fit and optimistic.
Everyone is so into fitness! Plenty of inspiration.
It's on the ocean.
Delicious wine. My favourite pinots all come from California. Not to mention that the wine is a third of the cost as it is here in Ontario. damn taxes.
It's green. I love all the varieties of trees and flowers. It's a gardener's paradise. We picked fresh lemons and made lemonade one day. Seriously. I mean where is the justice in the world?
Oh and the biggest bonus of all...
Rob Ford doesn't live there.

So needless to say there are plenty of reasons to want to live in California.

But for now we are here.
And for better or worse, Toronto is our home.
Business is good.
We live in a great neighbourhood.
Lulu loves her school and has a strong sense of stability. Which is very important to me.
We have a lot of great friends that I would miss if we moved.
My family is here.
I do love Canada and all that it stands for. So I would miss that for sure.
Free health care. Whoopie!
And sure, the weather really, and I mean really sucks. But it builds character. Right?
At least that's what I keep trying to tell myself every time I venture out and freeze my ass off.
Bonus that in the winter you don't need to wear make up. Especially blush.
My cheeks are always a rosy shade of pink from the wind chill.
And I don't have to wash my hair every day. Hats rock.
In fact I don't really have to get dressed at all.
I often drop Lulu off in my PJ's and no one is the wiser.
Gotta love big puffy all covering winter coats and snow pants.
Speaking of pants..don't need to shave my legs so often. Those pasty white bad boys are completely covered up, so who really cares about stubble? Also a bonus that I don't have to unveil the lovely little blue broken veins that no amount of self tanning cream will conceal.
I don't really see or hear my neighbours for half of the year as they go into hibernation for the winter.
Trust me, this is a very good thing.
Just wish they would shovel the driveway and sidewalk on occasion instead of always waiting for us to do it. grrrr.
But hey, shovelling works the biceps, triceps and quads! So their loss.
And at least we don't have to garden. Screw you weeds, tiny squishy rotten apples, and pesky wasps and mosquito's.
Yay no bugs!
The water is crazy cold when it comes out of the tap. I love a nice cold glass of H2o. Don't you?
My back deck doubles as a fridge and freezer when the need arises.
Snow is pretty. So are green leaves and flowers. Oh how I miss you green trees...sniff sniff
And let's face it, winter is a perfect excuse to be lazy and anti social.
Which is kind of okay once in a while. Summer can be so exhausting with all that going out and having fun.
Right?
And hey, we save a fortune on babysitters and restaurant tabs.
Sitting by a fire, drinking red wine reading a good book is the best. Sitting in the sun, drinking white wine, reading a trashy magazine...oh how I miss you summer....sniff sniff
T.V.  I love binge watching all my favourite shows on HBO. Currently obsessed with Downton Abby.
I'm a television junkie, what can I say? And I feel too guilty watching during the fleeting summer months.
And last but not least...winter gives you something to bitch about.
That is until the heat and humidity of July & August set in...

But in my mind...I'm going to California....(some day)

resolutions

Now that that we are finally above zero in the weather department, I feel a sense of relief and optimism for the first time in almost two months.
What can I say? the weather really affects me.
Though I know we are still in for many more long cold weeks of winter, it has been a nice reprieve.

While in hibernation mode I've had a bit of time to reflect and think about some of the changes I would like to make in 2014.

1. Simplify.
when it comes to pretty much everything. I don't need so many options. whether it be clothing, meals, activities.

2. be more mindful about waste and being more green.

3. be more grateful. I live a very blessed life and I need to continually remind myself of that.

4. have fun. spend time with people who make me laugh and who I enjoy making laugh in turn.

5. Love more. my husband. my daughter (if that's possible...) myself.

6. Make peace with my past so it won't disturb my future. this one will take some work, but it's so true.

7. ignore the word perfect. Because seeking perfectionism will surely be my demise.

8. do something out of my comfort zone.

9. give back. volunteer. play it forward. do something unexpected for someone. maybe even a stranger.

10. be more positive. the glass is always half full. if it isn't, fill it up.

okay..I lied. I don't like change.

I had originally planned on saying good-bye to this blog.
At least for a while.

I've pretty much felt like I've had nothing really too interesting to write about these past few years  months.
When I do, I sensor myself so much because it's no longer anonymous, so where's the fun in that?
Besides, I never really seem to find the time to sit and collect my thoughts and write them down, so why bother?
Excuses excuses..

But truth be told, I miss rambling on about myself and my family.
It's such a great outlet at times.
So I'm back.
Probably not consistently or with anything ground breaking to discuss, but I just need a place I can call my own.
So without further adieu...

Can I just start by saying how freaking happy I am that the holidays have come & gone?
I've never really been a fan of Christmas. 
I know. Bah humbug.
I just find it all so exhausting and intense.
I'm very relieved that the glittery balls, wooden snowflakes, miniature reindeer and all the other holiday accoutrement are safely packed away for yet another year.
Thankfully there are no more cookies lingering around (pretty sure they are all attached to my waist & butt I'm afraid) and I cleared out the refrigerator of all things sinful.
The latter due to the fact that our fridge died over the holidays due to the power surge & outage from the big ice storm.
Good times...
I'm secretly kind of happy though, as I kind of wanted a new fridge.
Sadly it's not the built in subzero I've been dreaming about for years, but it fit through our tiny doorway and into our tight space in the kitchen, so I'm thrilled.
Bonus, it died during the boxing week sales, so we ended up saving a bundle.
Always a silver lining.

But it's a new year and a great time to start fresh.
Eat healthy and exercise often.
Though I try to do this through out the year, it's always nice to have a clean slate.
I don't really have any resolutions per say.
Maybe I should.
There are several things I would like to accomplish this year, but I have to admit, I find it difficult to get motivated to do too much when it's minus 40 degrees outside!!
Holy cold!
I hate to bring up the weather, but geez...this is ridiculous.
Enough with winter already.
I woke up in the middle of the night to loud banging noises, which I discovered were "ice quakes".
W.T.F.???
I had never even heard of such a thing.
I'm so over it.
71 days. 1 hour. and 13 minutes and 21 seconds until spring.
20 seconds...19....18...
but who's counting?

Happy New Year!

farewell...for now..

When I first started this blog, blogs were a new thing.
I was also stuck at home with a new born and wasn't really part of any "new mommy group".
I was alone and trying to figure it all out by myself.
Then I found all these funny (and some not so funny) mommy blogs to read and it kind of helped me get through it all.
The blogosphere became my salvation back in the day.
It was my stay-at-home mommy group.

I also wanted to document the early years of parenthood and all the cute (and not so cute) things that Lulu did each day.
It gave me a creative outlet during an often monotonous and challenging time in my life.

Flash forward eight years and well, Lulu is still super cute, but I'm guessing that she wouldn't be so thrilled about me writing about her and sharing tidbits about her life with people she doesn't know.
Plus life is far from monotonous these days.
Then again, what is really private these days?
with Facebook, Twitter, Instragram..there is not much left when it comes to privacy.
But out of respect for her, I think it's time to hang up the petite gourmand's hat.

It's been great.
A wonderful outlet and a way to remember.
But I'm thinking that I would like to move it in a new direction in 2014.
Not sure if it will still be called the Petite Gourmand or not, but it's time for a change.
So for those of you who still stop by or have been along for the ride for the past eight years
-Thank-You.
It's been swell...but I'm going to take a break for now and go on a bit of blog hiatus.
But until then...

Happy Holidays & wishing you a very happy and healthy new year.

workin it

Regardless of how dismal things can sometimes feel, (and yes, unfortunately there are days when I just feel blah)  the perfect antidote for me is a good workout.
I love to exercise.
It's my life saver and totally keeps me feeling not only fit and healthy but so much more balanced as a wife & mother.
It's such a huge stress reliever and I need my kick boxing class fixes, the way Rob Ford needs carbs & crack.

But seriously, I never thought ten years ago when I joined an all women's neighbourhood gym that not only would it become such a part of my weekly routine, but that I would also make so many genuine friendships with so many incredible women.
I've been going to different fitness clubs since I was in my early twenties, along with yoga studios, but there has never been a place I enjoy as much as my current gym.
I walk in the door and instantly feel happier.

roast me a grape

It's been a while since I posted anything to do with food...or pretty much anything for that matter.
With Pintrest, and all the amazing food blogs I figured why bother?
But I had to share this one.

We had some friends down to our new place a few weeks ago and we had a nice late lunch/early dinner on a Sunday afternoon.
Love doing that.
Anyhow being in wine country I tried to use as many local ingredients as possible.
So we started out with this delicious roasted grape and ricotta crostini.
I had something similar once on a trip to California and wanted to try to make my own version.
so tasty.

Roasted Grape & Ricotta Crostini   

1 good quality baguette, cut into 12 half-inch pieces
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 cup ricotta cheese 
a bunch of red grapes - you want about 48 grapes total.  Keep the grapes as clusters.
5 tbsp olive oil
sea salt and pepper
10 fresh thyme sprigs

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Brush the baguette slices with olive oil and toast on a bake sheet until golden - about 8 minutes.  Remove from oven and turn heat up to 450*F. 
In a large bowl, toss the grapes with 3 tbsp olive oil, good grindings of pepper and salt and 6 sprigs of thyme.  Place on a parchment lined bake sheet and roast until skins pucker - about 8-10 minutes.  Meanwhile, spread the ricotta on the cooled baguette slices.  When the grapes have puckered, remove them from oven, let them cool until you are able to comfortably handle them but are still quite warm.  Remove them from their stems and toss with 2 tbsp olive oil.
Place 4or 5 roasted grapes on top of the ricotta, garnish with some fresh thyme sprigs and serve immediately.  Makes 12 crostini.   

You could also add a few crushed roasted walnuts on top or substitute a creamy goat cheese for  the ricotta.
enjoy!

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving was kind of bitter sweet.

On one hand, it was amazing to be able to spend four days at our new country home and soak in the beauty of the area.
The weather was near perfect and I couldn't seem to get enough of the fresh air and gorgeous trees and vineyards everywhere.
I actually didn't want to leave.
It was so peaceful and relaxing.
All I kept think all weekend was "I could so see myself living here full time."

I also had a great visit with my brother and his family and kind of bonded a bit with him for the first time in a long time.
We've never really been close, or at least not since we were kids, but now that he has a young family, things are slowly changing.
We actually had some meaningful conversations this weekend and found ourselves reminiscing and sharing stories about our relatives.
We are pretty opposite in many ways, but the bottom line is that we are family and it's just the two of us.
And family is everything.

Speaking of family, there was a strong absence from our Thanksgiving weekend this year.
Unfortunately my parents were not with us.
They were with my grandmother out East.
Who, after a long fight trying to hang on and keep a foot in this world, finally gave in and took her last breath surrounded by her family on Thanksgiving Sunday.
I am so thankful for all that she's done throughout the years.
Without her, there would be no me.

She was an amazing woman and I was always so in awe of the fact that she had eight children!
To me this is so incredible.
But not only did she have a big family and married the love of her life, she also worked full time.
She was the head nurse at the hospital for years.
I remember my mom telling me that she worked the 4pm- 12 am shift Monday-Friday.
All the kids would sit down for a hot lunch everyday at home though, so they could all have "supper" as a family.
That is also amazing.
I have one child, work a little here and there 1-2 days a week and there are still times I feel like I can't keep up.
But she just got on with things.
"No fuss- no muss" was her motto.

She also had a great sense of humour and a real zest for life.
She loved a good party and never left the house without her lipstick on and her perfectly pressed coordinating outfits with a simple strand of pearls or her gold bangles.
I can still picture them on her wrist making a gentle clinking sound as she moved around.
She was smart as a whip and was always in the know about pretty much everything and everyone on the island.
She loved to read and could pretty much strike up a conversation on any subject.
She was a fantastic story teller and I think passed the gift of gab on to several generations.
Not mentioning any names or anything.....

92 years...wow.
Exactly 50 years older than I am today.

I'm sad that she is no longer with us, yet I'm happy that she is no longer suffering and was with all of her children who looked after her with great care and compassion.
She was lucky woman to be surrounded by so much love and devotion.

One of my favourite quotes (and there were many....) was  "enjoy every day dear...'cause there's no getting out of this world alive..."

So true.

R.I.P. nan
you will be missed.
xo

fall is in the air

I really love this time of year.
The humidity is for the most part, a thing of the past.
It's just chilly enough for cozy sweaters and fall fashion.
I love cooking inside again.
Nothing against my barbecue, but nothing beats the smell of something delicious baking in the oven.
And what's not to love about all the amazing produce at this time of year?
Bring on the squash, apples, pears, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and pumpkin. (just to name a few)

I also love the return to routine.
Having a regular schedule always makes me feel more balanced and together.
It's still a busy time of year, yet things also feel like they are slowing down a little bit after the whirlwind of summer.
I've actually found a few seconds minutes here and there to reflect and actually think about my life.

I was compiling a bunch of photos to be printed for a school project that lulu is working on and it made me realize how fast it all goes by.
The beginning of each season tends to reiterate that even more.
The older I get, the faster the days tend to disappear.
It's as though it was yesterday and Lulu was in grade one and then I blinked and now she's in grade three.
How the heck did that happen so quickly?
Even scarier is that the pre-teen days are right around the corner...shudder...

So I'm going to try to savour every moment this fall.
Get outside as much as possible, breathe in the fresh crisp air, pause long enough on the walks home from school to let Lulu stop to collect the colourful fallen leaves.
Hold her hand tightly while I still can.
Curl up with a good book in front of the fire, watch less t.v. (that's what winter is for...not to mention only one more week left of Breaking Bad!!...sniff sniff)
But most of all just be in the moment.
Because before I know it all the leaves will have fallen and I'll wonder where did the autumn go..

Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.
Elizabeth Lawrence

Shana Tovah

Because I'm a bit  lazy  busy today, I just read this and it kind of sums up exactly how I'm feeling at the moment.
Minus the part about me being Jewish (even though, according to big daddy, I'm kind of an honorary member of the tribe- by association.)

And even if you don't celebrate Rosh hashanah (I have to look up the correct spelling year after year..argh) isn't the beginning of September the perfect time to start fresh and make resolutions?
I know I am.
how about you?
Are you doing anything different this season and making any new commitments or modifications in your life?
Fall is the season for change after all.

Jill Kargman, Ready for the New Year Each December 31st, as millions of drunk, cavorting revelers smooch and screech in Times Square as the dropping ball demarcates a new year, I'm usually asnooze and wake up no more invigorated than the chilly night before. That’s because my fresh start has always been September: the feeling of turning a corner, pressing the reset button, and walking with a renewed spring in my newly-booted step. And not just because I'm Jewy Jewstein and I’m going the eat crisp granny smiths and honey to ring in a sweet annum ahead, but because (open door, enter confession booth, lower voice to a whisper...) I loathe summer. "That's right, you heard me over your blaring Robin Thicke." I hate strangers' flip-flopped feet. I hate midriffs, chipped blue pedicures, tanorexia. I hate sweating my balls off, slathering sunblock on squirmy children and eating like a bulimic without the purge part. I miss routine. I miss discipline and work. But also I miss jackets and scarfs and new packets of opaque tights. I worship fall. I truly believe I have RSAD: Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder. This may be because I'm the Addams Family relative who doesn't appear on their Halloween card. I choose black over teal. Charcoal over coral. As a die-hard New Yorker, I subscribe to the blustery cinematic version of a grey October day out of a Woody Allen movie - cozy layers on the way to an exhibition or walk in the park - watching a season's colors morph as the mercury drops with the fluttering orange and red leaves. Fall is exhilarating, inspiring, and also sexy: July always yields a birth boom in most city hospitals (I was pushing my first out in a supply closet as a result) because peeps get chilly then bizzay come the wind-whipped months. "Fall is exhilarating, inspiring, and also sexy..." But long before an interest in the new stylish threads emerged, I always loved that back-to-school feeling. Fresh school supplies, a new book bag, grade level and classroom are not a distant memory to me - they’re all a lovely hangover from the ghost of student past, in sync with my Jewish New Year experience as well. I'm not entirely great at sitting still in temple (in fact I am so into my Soulcycle class, I call it Spinagogue). That said, I crack out new duds, sit with my family and basically listen and think. My mind often obviously drifts to other places but in this insanely tumultuous chaotic world it's nice to press the pause button and feel that momentary beat between seasons. Rosh Hashanah is like the top of the roller coaster after slowly inching my way up through an interminable August. And then (deep breath!) we go speeding gleefully into fall, hitting the ground running in heels to meetings, dismissals, activities and parties. And I love it all. Maybe when winter’s sniffles start and I'm blizzard-weary I'll have a fleeting pang for summer's snail's pace. But knowing my ants-in-my-pants, sun-loathing vampire self, I highly doubt it. So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 5774. "...a lovely hangover from the ghost of student past..." Jill Kargman is a writer based in New York City. Besides contributing to major publications such as Vogue, Elle and Travel + Leisure, she has also published several books. Her memoirSometimes I Feel Like a Nut was a National Bestseller and her latest is The Rock Star in Seat 3A.

my summer behind the lense (and in front of it)

This has to have been one of the fastest summers ever. I still feel like it just started, and now in a mere week it's back to school! Crazy...

Anyhow as short as it seems, we managed to pack a lot in.

 Canada day spent with family was a really great way to kick things off.

yes another gratutious photo of my pooch

Speaking of family, we spent most of it with my 4 year old niece who is now moving back to Canada from Taiwan.

 

  

 

She's super cute. Though I forgot how much work a 4 year old is...

But it was sweet watching Lulu bond with her little cousin.

she was smitten with her Uncle "Monkey"

               

 Lulu did a 2 week horse camp, along with a week of nature camp plus another 2 weeks of an art & music camp.
Lucky girl!

 

We took a trip out west. To visit family and also take in the sights. We had such a fantastic time.

 

 We had so much fun at Heritage Park and travelled back in time. We learned how to make butter. Fun!

 Lulu also got to spend some quality time with her grandma & grandpa. Very sweet to watch..

We went to Lake Louise as well. It was so beautiful. I so needed a dose of nature.

 

 

 

  


But staying in a swanky suite at the Chateau Lake Louise with the best view in the hotel didn't hurt either....

  

 
Did lots of hiking.
Breath taking views.

We made it out to Drumheller with Lulu's grandma & Grandpa and saw all the dinosaur bones.

  

 Squeezed in a few dates here & there.

Sat by the lake to watch the sunset.

BBQ pancakes...why not?

Plenty of time was spent swimming and splashing around.

 yum.....

 A few nice picnics at the park....

 a new bike for the little miss...
now we can all go cycling together.

Hawaiian day at camp.

Good old fashioned fun.

 Lots of play dates and catching up with Lulu's bff.

A day at the farm...

Some carnival rides. I almost threw up on the Caterpillar. The things I do for my 8 year old...

 Not to mention what big daddy does....

And no Lulu is not wearing my shirt. She's growing fast, but not that fast! 

We still managed to get out to eat at restaurants a fair bit, which is always fun and a treat.

But the highlight is our new purchase.

A new weekend home in the country.

So exciting and I've been consumed all summer with choosing furniture and decor.

It's like a dream come true. 

We are here for the last week of summer and I'm in heaven.

                                        (and yes I'll be changing the door colour asap...)

So all in all it has been a wonderful (albeit busy) summer but I've loved every minute of it. 

I'm so blessed and fortunate to have such an amazing partner that helps to make all of our dreams come true....

Hope you have had a wonderful summer as well....and enjoy the last bit of it.