Sunday June 28th

Good afternoon,

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather outside today. Well, it has been an interesting 2 weeks, sorry I haven't been on here but went to see my dad last Sunday as it was father's day. It was good to see him as this covid has kept us apart from seeing one another.

So, the week before last I got woken up by coyotes yipping. I live near the woods in Collingwood and with the windows open at night you can hear them in the early hours 3am. 

Coyote

And then this week I had a bat flying around my condo. Oh man, things you put up with living in the woods. I guess things could be worse.

Bat

So I am back to work and busy with getting people called and scheduling from 3 months of being closed. Well time to go walk my dog and decide what to have for dinner. Hope to get on here a little more regularly. As like begins to get back to the new normal.

Sunny Sunday!

Good afternoon,

How is everyone today? It's sunny on a Sunday, temperature isn't very high for this time of year in Collingwood. Although the sun is out so that makes a world of difference. What did everyone get up to today? Well, I walked my dog for an hour, then talked to my sister to see if we could get together and call our father as he is still in the hospital in Woodstock, and due to the covid we are unable to go and see him. Honestly this really sucks, not being able to see our dad! Well I did some cooking today. I like Sunday's they are usually my relaxing catch up days. Oh, I also gave myself a pedicure! I am still quite afraid of going to a restaurant or going to have a manicure or pedicure. Even getting my hair cut, I do it myself with the clippers, I bought some attachments from amazon and do it myself. I stopped coloring my hair over a year ago and it's money in my pocket instead of paying a hairdresser. 

Well, that's it for today, I hope everyone is having a good day and enjoying themselves.😎

Back to work part-time

Good Afternoon,

Hope everyone is doing well! I am back to work, just part-time for now as the dentist college and hygiene college can't seem to agree on or even speaking to each other about the conditions to return to work. As of now only the dentist is working, I don't mind having a few days off a week. So today I am home, cleaned and disinfected my condo. Kinda cool day but the sun is trying to come out. 

So when I was off work due to the virus, I love to cook and try new recipes, I made some Pad Thai, a couple of times so I think that is what I will make for dinner tonight. Most restaurants are still closed and patios are allowed to open, although I am a little hesitant to go to a restaurant. I don't mind doing take-out, this virus is pretty scary.

I live in a resort town, when were in self-isolation for the first part, there was absolutely no essential travel people were advised if they had a second home (here in Collingwood) not to go as it would stress our hospital and other essential services. 

I really wish things would go back to normal but I don't think it will for some time. My dad had a stroke on his way home from Mexico and is in the Woodstock Hospital now in rehabilitation, not able to go see him due to the covid virus or phone him as he has requested that we do not call him as talking causes him to be to exhausted. I miss him terribly and I hope a pray he recovers.

This is Pad Thai recipe I made from Pinterest, I love that site. I have made so many things from there and most projects or recipes turned out quite well. 

Well I had better get back to chores. Til next time!! 😋

Pad Thai 

INGREDIENTS

Kosher salt

8 oz. wide rice noodles

2 tbsp. lime juice

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tbsp. fish sauce

1 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 eggs, lightly whisked

1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined, or chicken

Freshly ground black pepper

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 c. roasted peanuts, chopped

 

DIRECTIONS

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook noodles until al dente. Drain.

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.

In a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Cook until pink, about 2 minutes per side.

Push the shrimp and vegetables to one side of the pan and pour in the egg. Scramble until just set then mix with the shrimp mixture. Add the cooked noodles and toss until combined. Pour in the lime juice mixture and toss until the noodles are coated.

Garnish with green onions and roasted peanuts before serving.

Gardening (small space no maintenance)

Good afternoon,

Another fine day in Collingwood! Just wanted to drop in and show you one of my projects that I did this week, with a little help from my friend. Small space and wanted it to be maintenance free. Well this is the before and after photos.

After

Before

We moved the BBQ to the other side of the yard. My friend had some plants that needed to be divided and he had a tree cut down so we had some mulch which needed to be used up. So, my sister was in desperate need of a  backyard face-lift to her small backyard and front yard. (We will get to the front yard another day) So in a few hours we dug up the yard put in a few plants ideal for the location, mulched and transformation Added a few chairs to the space. Was quite the improvement let me tell you! Now I can go over for a social distance visit without going through her house!! Whoop... 

Wednesday 27 May 2020

Hi!

 

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer temperatures out there. I love the summer, I love my little balcony and I put a few plants to make it homey and inviting. Well, it's been over two weeks since my dad has decided to travel back in his van from his house in Mexico, I am a little concerned but due to this virus and crossing the boarders I am sure things are slower. I just pray that he is safe and well. Is anyone else loving this weather? There is a photo of my balcony! I love sitting out there enjoying a coffee in the morning, reading or just having a drink. It's relaxing, and helps with my thought process. Just hope to be back to work shortly as it is getting to be 10 weeks I have been home. Not that I am looking forward to the new normal of dentistry. Just want to have some sort of meaning to my day, although being home during the summer is lovely. I do miss my family and friends.

Til next time, I need to go walk my dog. She is coming in the office giving me the look. 

Thursday May 14, 2020

Well, looks like I will be off work until June 2020. The weather here in Collingwood is getting more spring like. I cleaned up my winter boots and put them away. So, I am sure it will snow next week. I live in an upper level condo. I bought it in 2014, rented it out for a few years and then renovated it and moved in.I am quite happy in my own space. 

My dad travels and lives in Mexico for the winter, usually from Oct to Apr. This year he stayed a little later due to the virus and he bought another house there and was getting it ready to rent out. The last contact was him telling me that he was going to leave on Tues May 12. He was in the hospital with pneumonia, my dad is 79 yrs young. Hopefully he has a safe trip home as he drives his van, he has a wife and he has been driving down for over 40 yrs. So, that part I am not too worried about. Just his health and this virus. I pray that he has a safe journey home. 

Week 8 of self isolation due to co-vid 19

Good afternoon,

My name is Brenda, I am home due to the co-vid 19 virus. Trying to do new things and I have always wanted to start a blog and be creative with writing. I find people's lives to be fascinating. I always like to learn new things, keep active and enjoy what life has to offer. 

I live alone, well with my dog, who is quite the character, as most people think about their pets. I work in a dental office in Thornbury, the office has been closed due to the Co-vid 19 virus. Not certain when it will reopen but hopeful for June 2020. As much as I have enjoyed my time off. I am getting restless and would like to go back to work and feel as though my life has some sort of fulfillment.