Monday 30 July 2012

Charlotte's berries

I dropped down to visit my sister, Charlotte yesterday.  Her and husband, Bob, had just 
returned from a little jaunt around the bay in their motor home.   They happened upon 
a great spot for bakeapples.....here's the evidence....


Anyone who has ever picked bakeapples, or any type of berries, for that matter, knows 
that it is HARD WORK!!
 
 Charlotte absolutely loves picking berries. 
Mom always said that when a berry patch is picked clean, Charlotte can go in
and  still get lots of berries.  I think it takes a lot of patience.

Don't they just look like jewels??


They had been gone all weekend, so they had to pick raspberries from their
 backyard patch upon returning as well......



If these pics don't make you want to have some berries or make some jam, I just 
don't know....ha ha!

My visit sure put me in the mood to make some jam......so I pulled some of my frozen
bakeapples out, thawed them and made a little batch of jam.  Roger likes any type of jam cooked for just a very short time with just a touch of sugar.  This way the berries keep their shape and you can really taste the berry, not the sugar! 

Of course, I make very small batches at a time and always keep it refrigerated.

Have a look........


A little dish of this stuff with some thick cream, or even on ice-cream is delectable :o)

Sunday 29 July 2012

Liebster Award!!

I've been given the Liebster Award!!!

Liebster means :

" Liebster, as a word, is German and means: sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. What a lovely word!"
In order to "accept" the award, your blog must have less than 200 followers.

Here are the rules....
 

1 .Each person nominated must post 11 things about themselves.
2. They must answer the questions that are given to you from the person who nominated you
3. You must then create 11 questions for the people that you nominate
4. You must then nominate 11 bloggers and link them in your post.
5. You then let that blogger know they are now nominated!
6. NO LINK-BACKS!

So, here are my 11 random facts about ME 
  1.  I can't swim
  2.  I love to read
  3.  My favorite treat is a piece of milk chocolate 
  4.  I love to travel
  5.  I love to eat out at little cafes and bistros
  6.  I have a feeling that someday I am going to be very rich...(dream on!)
  7.  I have only one child, a daughter.
  8.  I dream of being a grandmother....I want to be called Grammy.
  9.  I have been married for almost 30 years to my high school sweetheart.
10.  I got my motorcycle license and bought a motorcycle just before I turned 50.
11.  I would love to write a book.

Here are Rana's questions for me:
  • What's the most colorful thing you are wearing right now?   Answer--a orange t-shirt
  • What's the last thing you ate?  Answer--some fresh cherries
  • When was the last time you slept in a tent?  Answer-- Can't remember, it's been too long.  It is on my summer bucket list though
  • Who did you last speak to on the phone?   Answer--Rana, my daughter
  • Who would play you if your life were a movie?  Answer--  Renee Zellweger with her hair dyed medium brown----I just love her!!!!
  • What's you favorite color?  Answer--I have two, brown and blue
  • Do you have any pet peeves?  Answer---People with an external locus of control!!!!!
  • What's the one thing your dream house would have?  Answer--a huge laundry room with a "big-ass" laundry sink
  • What's the nicest thing someone has recently done for you?  Answer--last night Roger did my one of my favorite treats on the BBQ (smoked capelin---Yummmm)
  • What's the first thing you would do if you won $1,000,000?  Answer--Roger & I would drive straight to St. John's---I'd have to see the look on Rana & Mark's faces when I told them that I am a millionaire!!!!! ;o) ;o) ;o)
  • What's your favorite "cheat/junk" food? Answer--Milk chocolate

Here are the 11 questions that I want the people that I nominate to answer:
  1.  What are you most proud of?
  2.  What's your favorite food?
  3.  Do you have any hidden talents?
  4.  What music would you say is your favorite right now?
  5.  What's the last book you read?
  6.  What's your favorite movie?
  7.  What got you interested in blogging? 
  8.  What is your favorite season?
  9.  What would you do with a totally free day?
 10. If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
 11. What is your favorite Christmas tradition.
   
I don't have 11 blogs that I can nominate, but here's my list:
http://byporchlight.blogspot.ca/
http://baygirl32.blogspot.ca/
http://sarcasticgranny.blogspot.ca/
http://werelivingafulllife.blogspot.ca/
www.catherinelovesstamps.blogspot.ca

Thanks, Rana, for the Liebster award!!!

Cheers ;o)

Saturday 28 July 2012

Off-Roading in Newfoundland in July

Here are a few photos of a little off-roading Roger & I did yesterday--Friday, July 27.

It was 29* Celsius...just a glorious afternoon.  I packed us some tuna wraps, loads of fresh fruit and cold beverages and we took off for a few hours. 

We started out at the Gambo trestle.......


 
Meandered in to Butts Pond, and saw two loons..



 
The trees are loaded with "Old Man's Beard" in the trails around Butt's Pond.....






 This is a view of the pond area from Butts Pond trestle...
 

 Mushrooms with your onion, anyone??????





How about some cracker berry jam?

 
....wild raspberry jam??
 

or....wild blueberries?????
 

Tons of lily pads around the shoreline at Dark Cove Pond.......


On our way back home, just off the old railway track by Dark Cove Pond, we caught a glimpse of some pitcher plants---Newfoundland's official plant.  They were way out on the marsh and I couldn't get a great shot because I didn't have any rubber boots.  They are real pretty though


Cheers Everyone ;o)

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Berries, anyone??

I was inspired by my blog pal, Ms A today, who has some beautiful photos on her blog at Sarcastic Granny

We are having another dry, hot spell, so I've been watering my berry bushes daily.  They looked so pretty today in the evening sun, I took a few photos.  


Here are my gooseberries....






....the red currants........







and....last, but not least, the black currants....




Have a great day everyone!!

Monday 23 July 2012

I did it!!!!!!!

Well folks, the Tely 10 is scratched from my bucket list! 

Yes, you read it right......I finished the Tely 10 road race!!!  I walked the 10 miles in 2:32:47.......not bad for  an old gal on her first try......ha ha!

This was Rana's second year to run the Tely.  She finished in 1:39:41.   She was a little disappointed in her time, but was afraid to push too hard in the heat.  It is very important to know your own limits and respect them, especially in high temperatures.   

It was so hot.  The race started at 8:00 am sharp, with 3560 runners and walkers registered.  The crowd was amazing.  The organizers did a phenomenal job.  I can't imagine managing that number of people, but the organizers moved literally thousands of people from all over the city into the "Start Area" in Paradise without skipping a beat.  The finish line was in Bannerman Park, right in the heart of old St. John's.  Wow.................Congratulations to all the organizers and volunteers------Awesome job!

Here are a few pictures of the Tely..............

Rana & Mark, just after she finished


Rana & Roger, just after her finish

Rana & I, just after I finished



Part of our reward...ha ha--Chocolate Raspberry cake....and some great, chilled white wine 

We had a fabulous weekend. 
We also went to the market on Saturday morning, so that's two things I scratched from my summer bucket list over the weekend.

Have a great week, everyone.

Thursday 19 July 2012

One of Gambo's hidden treasures.....




 Smallwood Interpretation Centre, Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador

Tucked away in one of the prettiest corners of Gambo is Cashin's Chestnut Tree Cafe.  It sits right on the NL trailway, is a stone's throw from the Smallwood Interpretation Center, with an awesome floating dock.....and is within shouting distance of the only pub in Gambo, The Trailway. 










The cafe's owner, Bill Cashin relocated the current building, which originally opened in 1938, and served the locals as one of the main general stores in the area for almost 70 years.  He has kept many of the original features and actually still uses the old weigh scale that was used in the store to weigh things such as hard cheese, peas, beans, salt meat and bologna.

He has created a beautiful atmosphere, whether you are looking for a cup of tea or coffee, soup, chili, or a great sandwich made fresh to your specifications.  As well, there is a great selection of fresh baked goods daily, ranging from the traditional date squares, bake-apple cheesecake, or maybe you feel like a fresh raisin scone or a gigantic snowball.  

In addition, it still serves as a general store, carrying simple daily staples, as well as many specialty items.  If you happen to be in the area this summer, drop by and see for yourself!!!



Upon approaching the main entrance, to your right is a delightful seating area on a 
rustic covered deck...



Enjoy a great meal with a bunch of friends, have a game of Scrabble, or simply curl 
up in a big chair and enjoy a coffee or one of the many varieties of tea available.

It is hard not to relax and want to sit here....you just want to stay awhile and take 
in the warm, inviting surroundings.....



There is local artwork, available for purchase, displayed throughout the cafe and covered deck.

From the moment you enter the front door, you feel welcomed.  Your eyes will be drawn to the original board ceiling, antique tables, complete with Newfoundland tartan place-mats, and beautiful old mismatched china......

......to some old dry-good items that used to be sold in the store......

 ....and an old weigh scale at the end of the original counter....

 .... maybe you'd fancy this old parcel wrap set-up, used to wrap grocery items such as hard cheese, salt meat or a few slices of bologna....

 ....or this, my favorite, an old telephone that was used in the store back when telephone 
service  was first established....and still works!!!!


After you order, from the great menu board, sitting atop an antique upright piano.....


there is lots to look at while waiting for your meal, like this old sewing machine....

.....great old advertisements signs....


 and pieces of beautiful, local artwork that can be purchased...





There is something magical, almost a camaraderie among all the patrons of the Chestnut Tree Cafe.  When you walk in, someone always offers a chair for you to join them or they pull out any spare chairs from their table for you and your group, if needed.

When I go, I sit with the greatest bunch of girls from around town, some of whom I never really knew, but at the cafe, I just pull over a chair and join the group.....It is just awesome!!!

There are many laughs and it is not uncommon to see desserts and cookies come to the table with several forks for sharing.  


It is a wonderful place to get a traditional breakfast, second to none, or grab a late lunch 
and catch up on local news......




 Upon leaving, most people are drawn to the front window displays, featuring old items 
used in the origianl general store.  
 
There is definitely something that keeps drawing you back to Cashin's Chestnut Tree Cafe.  Maybe  it's just a combination of Bill's welcoming warmth, as he personally greets everyone 
that comes through the door, the great food, and the simplicity and ease that everyone 
seems to slip into as soon as they enter.

While at the cafe this afternoon, I enjoyed a great coffee and a chat with an old 
friend, Vern. She laughed as she said, "You know, when I come here, I just don't want to leave".  

I think that sums it up!!