Stone Soup

Four bottles of fine wine, a holiday gift from my boss, were delivered by couier today. What a nice surprise. I decided to look them up on the internet before opening and I am glad I did. The Ascheri won't be at its best for a couple of years but is best decanted if served now. I think I will put it away. The other three are good now. . . and I will try one soon, very soon! I am sharing the tasting notes here.

Ascheri Podere di Rivalta di La Morra – Verduno, 2003 Barolo	Bra, Italy	Intense garnet red in colour, with the classic nose of violets and ripe fruits. It exhibits full bodied yet soft velvety concentrated fruit. Surprisingly approachable for just 4 years after the vintage but still might benefit from decanting. It shows candied cherry fruit over tarry-earthy notes and a hint of cut flowers. The tannins are still a bit puckery, but should be mostly resolved by 2010 – 2011. This wine is ideal served with red meats, cheese and strongly flavoured food.
Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay, 2006	Marlborough, New Zealand	Oyster Bay captures the special character of New Zealand’s cool climate viticulture…elegant, assertive wines with glorious fruit flavours. This one is a lovely friendly fruit-driven chardonnay with a lively grapefruit and melon palate. Has some nice flavours of gentle stone fruit with a little creamy richness. Nice wine for the next couple of years, with the fine acid providing a nice clean finish.’
Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003Sonoma County	California, USA	Warm sunny days, cool evenings and well drained soils found on the benchlands and hillsides of the Alexander Valley give this cabernet a distinctive taste profile: bold fruit aromas, red plum and boysenberry flavours centered on the palate with rich mouthfilling rtexture and soft tannins, all of which we’ve framed in the finest oak barrels for 18 months. Enjoy over the next 3 to 6 years.
Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot, 2004	California, USA	Black cherry and spicy vanilla aromas, bright ripe fruit flavours and a velvety smooth, lingering finish define the style of this Merlot. Aged in small oak barrels, this Merlot is blended with small amounts of other varietals that help accentuate its complexity. This wine complements a wide range of foods from seafood to lamb, pork, beef and cheeses.

I am so tired of shopping I couldn't care less about getting out to do more in the Boxing Day sales. Today is cleanup day and recovery...hope to relax this afternoon and see a movie after dinner.

Here is my happy couple, Glenn and Grace. They came for dinner yesterday, her mom, dad, sister and brother in law came also with the baby. I had forgotten what it is like to have a 1-year old around.

And here are a couple of shots of her ring. They are so happy and I am so pleased they are to be married. She is a lovely girl.

I usually drop by the Dorval Deli for a smoked meat sandwich, when I am in Monteal, at least once and sometimes more than once. Can't get the same taste here. I didn't get a chance to do that this time so I brought it home. Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, right from my kitchen. Mmmm!

You start with some good very fresh rye bread and spread it thinly with mustard. . . just regular yellow mustard.

Pile the bread high with thinly sliced hot Montreal smoked meat. Only old fashioned Montreal smoked meat has the correct seasoning, the best texture. It is simply excellent. Unique. Don't be stingy with the meat, pile it high, so high you can hardly get your mouth over the sandwich. Cut the sandwich in half and enjoy! A nice dill pickle on the side goes well with this.

and emotional eating.

These cookies were in the cupboard when I came home from Montreal today...they have been there for weeks. I finished the package in a short time.

and then I saw these sitting on the chair in the dining room....they came home with me from Costco last week. They will be opened when I am not so sick from the cookies.

The auxilliary caregiver called my sister's home yesterday morning when she could not get inside, because my mom could not get to the door to open it. We left for her home right away, my brother in law brought a bag of tools to remove the door but didn't need them after all; she had crawled to the door. We got her settled, cleaned up and comfortable. I talked to her about going to a nursing home; this is too hard and it hurts so much to see her struggling like this, looking uncared for, looking unloved.

When I arrived back in Toronto today I called her but the line was buy all afternoon. Called my sister who wasn't home. I eventually called 911 and was directed to emergency services in Montreal. They sent the police to check in on her...she is in the hospital now but I am sure they will have her back home, alone, by bedtime.

She needs full time nursing care but will not allow it...we will have to go to court to make it happen. She is not safe alone in her home but she doesn't want to leave.

Aren't they cute?

I finished wrapping almost all my Christmas gifts yesterday but ran out of gift bags. These fellows are sitting on the couch waiting for their bags, which I will buy tomorrow when I can get out to the stores. They are plush Christmas/Winter animals holding ultra-soft fluffy micro-fibre throws. . . so nice to snuggle up with while watching the television or reading a book. Don't they look nice?

I am keeping the reindeer, or is it a moose?

This was my front doorstep December 24, 2006.

It was warm outstide, comfortable to go out in a light sweater.

What a different Christmas we will have this year. The snow will continue here through the night, and some days next week call for snown and freezing rain.

I am on vacation as of Monday evening and was planning a drive to Montreal to visit my family and deliver gifts. Craig is coming with me, possibly Glenn too. What scares me is remembering the time I hit ice and spun around 360 twice on the 401 before we landed in the ditch. My car was never right after, the boys in the back seat were shouting, "Mom, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!" We sat in the car stunned at the bottom of the ditch for a few moments then they got out and pushed the car up on the highway again (we were 10 feet down) and two tires were flat as pancakes. Rims ruined too. But we were safe and uninjured.

After the tow to a garage in a nearby town where the car was repaired, I was so shaken my youngest son drove the rest of the way to Montreal, his brother beside him and me in the back seat. They didn't trust me to drive...and they were quite right.

When we returned to Toronto, I began to have trouble with the engine of my car, a lovely Grandprix that I loved. I always wondered if it was the trip to the ditch that started the trouble. The car eventually went to a scrap yard, looking beautiful but way too expensive to repair. It was a five years old. I am sure the accident did it.

So, now I am careful about what kind of weather I travel to Montreal in.

A storm is ripping through southern Ontario and Quebec. Usually Toronto doesn't get hit very hard...just enough to make road travel pure hell but that isn't saying much for this area. Road travel is bad in any weather. Today the city is at a standstill...I wonder if they will call in the army this time. Toronto just cannot handle snow.

I sat warm and comfy in my home, watching the progress through my windows, camera in hand. My son came over this afternoon, in his brother's car because it was blocking his in the driveway. He got stuck on the roads a few times (most people in this city do not have snowtires, I don't either) and finally reached my visitor parking lot where he got stuck permanently. Glenn was restless while he was here, worried about getting back home. He left and after a while was back at my door, the car was hopelessly stuck. He walked home and will be back later with his brother to push the car out.

It is snowing again, pretty if you don't have to drive to work. It snowed all night, there are squalls all over the area and the city of Toronto didn't get the ploughs out; they wait until the last flake falls then hope the sun will come out and melt it all. It is called saving money. No wonder insurance rates in this city are the highest in the country. I am feeling ugly about it all.

Oh well, I'm off to Tim's to grab a coffee for the drive...think I will make it an extra large this morning, I am going to be on the road a long time.

And The Drive In, This Morning:

It is an icy morning on the roads after a storm yesterday. The skies are dark but the city of Toronto is waiting for the sun to come out and melt the ice. (saves money you know) So, wary of black ice, I got on the highway behind another Honda, as we began to pick up speed his back bumper dropped on the road in front of me. The whole thing just dropped and spun around on the road. Traffic was moving at a good clip. I kept going but swerved over to the shoulder escaping the spinning bumper which was on it’s way over to the middle lane, where it eventually stopped as far as I could make out in my rear view mirror. The bumperless car pulled over to the shoulder. I think he was going to try to retrieve his bumper. Fat chance in that traffic! Cars were swerving right and left to avoid the bumper but barely slowing down.

Sorry, I didn't get a camera shot of all this! I was busy.

After vacuuming the house I needed a shower and while blow drying my hair I didn't like the sound of the blow drier...thought I had better hurry before it died, thought I better also pick up a blow drier when I went out, and just as I finished the front of my hair there was a "pop" and it stopped with a tiny puff of smoke that smelled like burnt hair. So I went out to shop with the back of my hair damp, greatfull it was not a weekday morning. I would not go to work with the back of my hair unfinished.

I want one of these magic mirrors. Is anyone listening?

This week my youngest son showed me the engagement ring he has bought for his girlfriend--it is beautiful, absolutely beautiful and we are all happy and excited for him. He plans to propose before Christmas and is trying to think of a nice way to do it.

I told him I would pose the question on my blog so here it is...he is looking for great ideas. How were you proposed to? Was the setting unusual, romantic, unexpected, or like mine...unexciting? My ex proposed to me at a bus stop. I even remember his words..."we may as well get married." He was certainly not romantic, just wasn't in him. Geeee I was so young and foolish, I accepted that. Should have known it wouldn't work out.

Meet a little friend I ran into today while shopping at The Bay this afternoon. He followed me home.

Christmas Moose

His energy is getting low this evening so his mouth doesn't move anymore. I think he needs fresh batteries.

It wasn't supposed to be a lazy Saturday, I have things to do but have wasted time puttering about my house. There is a sale at The Bay today and I had hoped to beat the crowds but since I have missed my goal, I may as well delay a little longer and post something here before I leave for the day.

I stopped by Old Webbly's blog a few minutes ago and got hungry so now I am munching on low-fat cheese with jalapeno as I type. I must go back and tell her to try this on her spaghetti with meat sauce. My diet is still on, I have lost 11 lbs but seem to be stuck at that this week. I have been drinking a little wine in the evenings and that may be the problem.

It is beginning to feel and look like Christmas around here with the snow we had this week. It made driving hell but looks pretty on the lawns. I purchased some Christmas decorations last week and can't wait to put them out. First is a lighted polar bear for my front garden. I am going to place him beside the holly bush.

I also bought a new wreath for the door. This one is verylight and made of bark. I have wrapped a small thin garland of twig and red berries around it. Do you like it? My front door is dark taupe. See it below, patiently waiting on the dining room chair for December 1.


Here is a closeup of the wreath.


Another thing I picked up while shopping is this black candle and a hurricane glass jar for it. A few black, white and taupe polished river stones at the bottom set it off, I think. I thought the candle was black but it really isn't...more like a very intense eggplant, some eggplants appear black, don't they. It is scented cedar vanilla which adds to the enjoyment. As you can see, it has been lit--I don't save them. That's me in my yellow terry robe in the reflection on the glass! I think the glass makes me look thin, don't you?

What a drive it was to work this morning! Morning radio reported 1 accident per minute during morning rush hour. It was chaos on the 401. The photos below give you a feel of my drive in. Average speed 15 km/hour, I travelled the 5 exits on this highway to work in 1 1/2 hours today. Toronto just cannot handle snow...or rain either. I hate driving here.

Cinder is my sister's new kitten, well she's a cat now. They grow so fast. Charlie has been around for ages. He came to them as a stray, a handsome marmalade fellow who appeared to be abandoned. They put food out for him because it was winter. Then he worked his way into the garage on cold nights, then into the house sometimes during the day. And then sometimes all night.

Her cat Boots reigned in the house still and Charlie was grateful for whatever he could get. Eventually he was their cat. Adopted at last. He and Boots lived in sullen suspicion of each other, glaring and hissing when necessary. We all knew he was just waiting for old Boots to die. Old Boots eventually obliged and Charlie had the house and the family all to himself...for a year maybe. Then they missed having two cats. In came Cinder, a rescued calico cat from a ferral mother.


Below is Charlie (on the stairs) and Cinder drinking out of . . . I think that is Karen's vibrating foot bath? Why is she using her footbath as the cat's water bowl? You see the garage door opposite Charlie? I think he has moved back out there because no one intrudes on him.


Charlie's nose is still out of joint and we are back to suspicious glaring relationships in the house...yes there is jealousy afoot and dark plots brewing.

is not a village but an upscale mall in the heart (or one of the hearts) of Toronto. High end stores and excellent restaurants, what more can one ask for on a Sunday afternoon? I spent some time here on Sunday, exploring the mall, did a little Christmas shopping and then stopped to meet a friend for a glass of wine at the Sierra Grill. It was a gorgeous crisp sunny autumn day.


Above, a view of high-rise condos south of the mall.
Below, the mall entrance.


Below, Oliver & Bonacini Cafe where the food is excellent, service impeccable and the molten lemon cake with stewed blueberries to die for!


Below, looking south from the parking lot


The Sierra Grill is a popular place with a fabulous Sunday brunch buffet. All soups of the day are strictly vegetarian and delicious. My favourite snack for two here is sweet potato fries served with ancho mayonnaise for dipping.

Who is in control of your relationship? Read and then take This test.

The War Memorial in Ottawa, with Chateau Laurier in background and Tomb of The Unknown Soldier on the right of the Memorial. I took these photos when I visited Ottawa this summer. Rememberance Day services will be held here at 11:00 AM this morning.