Simply the Best ~ Tuesday 4

Here is an older Tuesday 4 from Toni Taddeo.

1.   What was the best place you've ever been? A Place you would love to return to again and again.

There are two places I've returned to time and again.  The first is Australia, everywhere and anywhere on the east coast.  Cairns in the Far North Queensland has a special place in my heart due to family connections.  I also loved Sydney because in its winter it reminds me a lot of where I currently live.  After my 3rd visit to Australia though, I decided I'd better visit other places. One day I'd love to return and see the City of Melbourne.

The second country I love so much is Kenya.  It's a relatively small country compared to Canada where I live but it does take time to travel to places outside of Nairobi.  I love all parts of Kenya though I haven't travelled to the far flung northern areas mainly due to lack of time, money and issues of insecurity in the. north.  Perhaps one day I'll get to see the northern areas too.  In particular, I love the area around Kericho, Kenya, located in the Kenyan Highlands and home to many of the country's tea estates. I've visited the country 7 times and would like to return one day. If you search my blog you'll be able to see some photos of my travels to Australia though limited because it was in the days before smart phones. I do have more posts about my Kenyan travels.

Tea fields in Kericho, Kenya

2.   What was the best book you have ever read?

The best book I've ever read is a difficult one to answer. I have to identify several different books and I've shared these before in many different blog posts. The books are: The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry & The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I'm going to add a 4th book because it sticks in my brain though I've never had it on my favourites list before. It's called Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. If you've read any of these books I'd love to know what you thought of them.

3.   What is the best food you've ever eaten? How about the best restaurant?

This is a difficult question too because I've eaten many best foods but I think two stand out. I do love Greek Souvlaki dinners (Chicken or Lamb) but they must include rice pilaf, roasted Greek potatoes, Greek salad, tzatziki sauce and grilled (warmed) pita bread.  It's the combination of all of the above that make it special. I also love calamari (deep fried squid) with tzatziki sauce.  Virtually any Greek restaurant I've eaten at knows how to prepare these dishes very well.

Chicken Souvlaki Plate

Another favourite dinner is special because it was a romantic meal. My now husband took me to an Ethiopian Restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya.  We had Beef Tibs and he fed me each bite and I fed him in turn. It was the one and only time I've ever had such an experience and we both laughed at attempts to feed one another.  We enjoyed ourselves and the meal was very tasty. Since then I've experimented with other Ethiopian dishes and I enjoy the food very much.  The restaurant we ate at was located in the northern part of Nairobi in the United Nations area but I can no longer find it on the Google Maps.

Beef Tibs

4.   What was the best movie or TV series you've ever watched? 

Best movies ever watched are The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston, Dances with Wolves with Kevin Costner and any of the Bourne Trilogy, James Bond and Mission Impossible movies.  Do you sense a theme here? Historical and spy movies.  

Here is a movie trailer for The Ten Commandments. Have you seen the movie?  It's a very old one and I first saw it when I was quite young. In fact the movie was released before I was born but they would run the movie every Christmas. I haven't seen it on television for years.

 
So what would your answers be?  Get blogging and let us know.

We've Got Questions ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  Here are some questions for you.

1. Where did your mother and father grow up?

My mother and father both grew up in northern Alberta in several small communities close to what is now the city of Grande Prairie.  They were both born in Grande Prairie, Alberta too.  Back then it was a one horse town but today it is a thriving and much larger city.

Grande Prairie as you approach from the west

It looks very flat around this area but that's a bit deceptive because there are gently sloping hills and valleys all around just off the main highways and byways.

The following photos are not really in order of how we visited or passed through but they will give you an idea of the scenery in the area.

It was summer when I was last there. This beautiful flower pot decorated the entry to the hotel.

More northern scenery

And more....I think this was just after entering Alberta from northern British Columbia 

We visited relatives in Grande Prairie & East to Valleyview before visiting an uncle in Fairview.

Not too many of these old wood buildings are still standing.

Now we are heading west to Dawson Creek, British Columbia (BC)

2. Where did you grow up?

I grew up mainly in a small northern city in the province of British Columbia. The city is called Dawson Creek. It was small back then and it's still quite small today. It's claim to fame is that it is the place where the Alaska Highway begins.  There is a sign to show where the highway begins at "Mile 0".

3. What was your favorite meal your mother made? What is your favorite recipe to make?

That's a difficult one.  My mother could make something out of nothing and it would all taste good.  Whatever she made was filling, 'stick to your ribs' food so you were not always hungry.  The dishes that I recall liking a lot are spaghetti and meat sauce and roasted chicken pieces.  The chicken was to die for, so tender and juicy and reminiscent of KFC chicken with flavour.  My favourite as a child.  She also made wonderful bread, muffins, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, cakes and pies, with the latter being her specialty.  One of my brothers took after mother in the pie making department.  I didn't inherit mother's skill of making pies.  You would laugh if you saw my sorry attempts, especially concerning lemon meringue pies. It's too bad I don't have a photo of my efforts to share with you. I can laugh about it now but I remember at the time being frustrated when my efforts did not pan out.

I don't really have a favourite recipe but something I make often is a stir fried noodle, vegetable and meat dish or a stir fried vegetable and meat dish to have with steamed rice. Perhaps my favourite recipe is one I don't make very often.  It's a Greek meal of chicken, lemon potatoes, Greek salad, Tzatsiki sauce and pita bread.  I'd make it more often but it's quite time consuming and labour intensive because almost all of it, with the exception of the pita bread, is made from scratch. I prefer making something that is quick to put together but now and then I like something a little more involved.  I also love to bake but try not to do too much of it because I eat too much when there are freshly baked goods in front of me. 

I especially like baking bread.

4. What are the advantages you enjoy where you live?

I'm assuming you mean, where I currently live which is a considerable distance from where I grew up albeit in the same province. 

I live in the large metropolis of Vancouver, British Columbia. I love it for its plentiful trees, green spaces (parks and private gardens), and spectacular scenery (beaches and mountains). I live in the rain forest and I even like the rain.  However, as as I get older I'm finding that even a winter with more rain than snow is still a bit too cold for me.  The other thing I love about where I live is the fact that I don't have to travel out of town to access government services or health care and we have an excellent public transportation system.

I hope you enjoy this photo heavy post. I couldn't resist sharing a lot of photos.

Thank you for stopping by!

Holiday Express ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome Friends to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. 

The holidays are coming fast!  They are loaded onto the Christmas Express  train and there is no stopping them now.

Are you ready for them this year?  

Well it's been a very busy few months and it hasn't helped that I've had a very long lasting cold. I feel okay one day then get a set back the next. This has hampered my ability to get things done. So basically I'm going with the flow. Everything will get done when it gets done. There's no point in stressing as this is the season we should make time to reflect and rejoice in the birth of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

 1. Is your tree up? How tall is it?
what color lights? 

Yes, thankfully I managed to put up the tree. I bought a pre-lit tree a few years ago because decorating is not one of my favourite things. Now all I have to do is add some Christmas baubles and I'm done, lol.

The tree is 7 feet tall with clear lights. It is a very narrow tree to fit into different areas of my small home.  I love it!

Are there lights in the window? On the door?

No lights on the window or on the door though I do have a wreath on the door with some string lights. I also have lights on the mantle along with some greenery.

 2. Got a menu for Christmas Eve and Day?

No menu for Christmas Eve and Day as we'll be spending Christmas with my niece who has asked for Italian food.  By that she means spaghetti but we'll see what else is on the menu at the restaurant. Our dinner will also not be exactly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but it will be close to the day.

3. Who is coming for Christmas or who will you visit?

Yes, one brother and my dear hubby and I will travel to  my niece and brighten her holiday.

 4. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

I was about 6 years old, maybe even a bit younger. I remember the house was so beautifully decorated. The tree glowed so prettily in the dark with the lights and the artificial snow spread across it's branches. I'm sure there were other decorations as well and it all looked so magical.  For sure I remember the nativity scene came out each year and took pride of place.

That year, a beautiful 'walking doll' was under the tree for me.  They were all the rage at that time. I remember how pretty she was and how much I enjoyed her. My mom told me many years later that that Christmas was a hard one financially.  She had bought the tree many months before and she was so thankful that she did because there was little else under the tree that year.

I always marvelled at how much my parents were probably stressing and suffering over the idea that Christmas wouldn't be as good as usual for the children but my childhood memory is that of a very special Christmas.  It wasn't so much the gift I received though I really enjoyed it. It was the magical atmosphere that was created. 

Wishing each of you a wonderful, blessed and magical Christmas.

Holiday Specials ~ Tuesday 4

Thank you for joining in for Tuesday 4, begun by Toni Taddeo and kept in her memory. Christmas is fast approaching for billions of people.

1. Do you have a favourite Christmas carol and if so is there a particular version you especially like?

My favourite Christmas Carol that I sing if I'm at church is "Oh Holy Night".  I don't have a favourite version. I just love it no matter who sings it. I also love the entirety of Handel's Messiah and try to attend a concert to hear it every now and then during the Christmas season.

2. Do you have a special dinner for the holidays? What foods are included? 

In past years, the Christmas Dinner consisted of turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies like Brussels Sprouts, various salads, cranberry sauce, pickles, a variety of appetizers and desserts.  Now with only two of us, sometimes three, I've opted not to make the large turkey. Instead I make a roasted chicken but the others foods remain the same. On New Year's Day we often have a roasted ham, sweet potatoes or scalloped potatoes and various appetizers and desserts. The leftover ham is good for a few meals and for making pea soup.

This year I may not be making a Christmas meal. We're going to visit my niece and she has requested an Italian meal.  She simply loves all kinds of noodles and is looking forward to spaghetti.

3. Holiday movies ... which do you like to watch?

I don't watch Christmas movies every year but there are a number of them I enjoy when I'm able, such as It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, Home Alone and Home Alone 2, and Miracle on 34th Street.

4. What traditions do you continue to keep year after year for the holidays?

Actually I'm in the process of doing away with most of the traditions because our family has gotten so much smaller and for years there haven't been any young children with whom to celebrate.  The generic kind of traditions that I've kept are sending Christmas cards, making handmade gifts (a newer tradition of about 7 years) and calling one or two loved ones on Christmas and/or New Year's Day.  Oh I guess also, we open gifts on Christmas Day not on Christmas Eve and I decorate every year even if I'm not expecting to be home. I like to see the lights before and after Christmas but I take them down before the Epiphany.

Last year, I said I wanted to start making new traditions.  Depending on what happens in the the world, one of the things I'd like to do is travel to a warmer climate.  If we do start this new tradition we'd probably do it before or after Christmas so we can avoid the crowds of people and potential travel delays. 

This and That ~ November 11, 2025

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you are well and keeping warm or cool depending on where you live in the world. We've had 2 dry and sunny days here for which I'm grateful. Every year it seems to rain on Remembrance Day and I always feel for the elderly veterans that have to sit outside in the cold and rain in order to participate in Remembrance Day Services. On the news today they were saying how few veterans are left of those that fought in World War 11. Sad to know they will soon no longer be with us.

True to form, each year at this time of year I'm delayed in getting a flu shot due to getting a bad cold. When I was working I always got a flu early in the season. Now that I'm retired, I always get a very bad cold or bronchitis and seldom get a flu. Again, the illness prevents me from getting a vaccine.

I'm keeping steadily busy. There is always something that needs to be done both inside and outside of the home.  I've had to reorganize a few appointments until I'm feeling a bit better.  I don't really like to do that because then it makes for a busy time trying to catch up later but sometimes it must be done.

I haven't made much headway yet on the latest book I'm reading but I'm really enjoying it so far.

I've almost finished the small, red beaded dress pin in honour of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW). I still have to sew the front and back together and create a border.

I've been craving Butternut Squash soup for awhile and finally made some today. It was delicious. Even better, it's healthy.  I made the soup in my new Dutch oven. 

Someone came to pick up my old Dutch oven today. It was large one and very heavy.  I gave it away on my local Freecycle site.  Someone responded to my ad within an hour of posting and came to pick up the pot this afternoon.  I'm glad I didn't have to throw it away. It doesn't look that pretty and the enamel had started chipping away from the cast iron but it's still perfectly usable if you can handle the size and weight.

The new pot is not as heavy and the capacity is about 2 litres less. I can tell it isn't as well made as the old one I have but I'm sure it will be fine for my needs.

In other news, we finally managed to get the home phone, internet and television services all working at the same time. It's the first time since late August. Hopefully that will be the end of the issues and the billing issues I've had to sort out with Telus. It had become a real nightmare.  We don't know for sure but the problems seem to have stemmed from using the old (reconditioned) set top box that we were given when we signed on to Pure Fibre (high speed internet).  Once we used the small, new set top box, everything started working as they should have and so far everything is still working.

Thanks for stopping by. If you missed my submission to Tuesday 4. You can find it here. 

November Musings ~ Tuesday 4

It's time again for Tuesday 4 held in memory of Toni Taddeo it's founder and previous host.   Thank you so much for joining in and helping to keep this alive. It is much appreciated.

It's Autumn and temperatures in many places will be going down, days will be shorter and leaves are tumbling down. 

1. What kind of weather and temperatures make you feel most comfortable, most healthy?

I feel most comfortable and healthy when the sun is shining and the air is slightly bracing. It's good walking weather and I can wear a lighter jacket without getting overly hot or cold.

2.  Do you like the colors associated with Autumn. Clothing wise do they look good on you?

Yes! I love autumn colours like golds, browns and oranges.  I don't usually wear these colours but this year I'm trying to expand the wardrobe colour pallet with more gold, brown and green.  Orange is not my colour. I've also got my eye open for items in a deep red but no success so far. 

3. Would you rather:… 

•   …get lost in a corn maze or go on a hayride? Hayride
• … visit an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch ? Pumpkin Patch
•  … eat a caramel apple or  a candy apple?  Caramel Apple
•  … have some cinnamon buns or Pumpkin muffins? Cinnamon Buns

4. There are 7,500 varieties  of apple.  What is your favorite and do you regularly eat apples?   What fruits do you keep on hand?

I'm not a huge fan of eating apples unless they are crispy. I used to love green apples but these days I find the skins too tough and hard on my gums. Instead I buy Honey Crisp, Pink Lady or Fuji for snacking on. 

We always have apples on hand but we also have bananas, oranges, avocados & lemons/limes on a regular basis.  Less frequently, we have pears.  In summer we have fresh peaches or nectarines and gooseberries.  Except for the apples, I find it very hard to keep most of the fruits in adequate stock however if I buy too many they will go bad.   I also buy a variety of fruits to keep in the fridge. Normally we have one or two of the following fresh berries & frozen berries (for the freezer to be used in smoothies):  strawberries, raspberries, blueberries & blackberries. Less frequently and usually in late summer, we have green or red grapes and melons such as watermelon or cantaloupe. 

Thank you for stopping by!