Alaska Cruise 2010 was just about the most fabulous thing I have ever done. We set sail June 6 out of Vancouver. Some of the Points of interest were Hubbard Glacier and Icy Point Strait. We docked in Juneau and Ketchican and did side trips to the Mendenhall Glacier and the Glacier Gardens as well as a ride in a duck boat. The weather was wonderful, much warmer than we had expected and we did pack too many "Alaska" clothes and no sandals or shorts. The crew told us that it was above the normal temperatures for June.

The food was very good, but not up to the standards of the Royal Caribbean cruise I was on before. The Celebrity ship was not as big either but we both still had lots to do and Don did not have time to be bored. I think he enjoyed himself.

The Poolside Captain's buffet was exceptional, and we enjoyed it in the sunshine. We did not do too many of the late night activities as the fresh air during the day made late nights next to impossible.

Our friends Bill and Lois joined us for this trip and we spent a wonderful time socializing with the two of them. It was a first cruise for both Don and Bill. I was on a cruise before with my sister and Lois has been on short cruises out of Finland in the past. We were so happy to share this time with friends.

In Juneau we did a bus side trip up to the Mendenhall Glacier and then on to the Glacier Gardens that were breathtaking. I had no idea there was so much flora and fona in Alaska. Our tour guide was a bit of a comedian and that really made the side trip a special one.

In Ketchican we went on the duck boat. This was appropriate as it was the only rainy day of the whole cruise. It was wonderful weather for a duck. It rains in Ketchican more than 50% of the year.

The Amphibian boat was neat. Rain coats and umbrellas were in order but the rain did not stop Lois and I from doing a power shop after the side trip.

Returning to Vancouver and flying home all went well. We had no problem meeting our respective rides from the ship terminal. That was my biggest fear that we would not know where to go when we got off the ship. My sister met us and took us home and we got to the airport the next day without incident. Thanks so much to my sister and her husband for their hospitality to all of us.

I am back in Florida for the winter. Don will arrive before the end of the month, but unfortunatley he will miss Turkey Day.

American Thanksgiving is a big thing here, bigger than Christmas as far as the food goes. I got my turkey yesterday, 49 cents/lb at Sweetbay for a Jenni-O with a pop up that will tell me when its done. Cannot get any better than that. I will not be doing Thanksgiving dinner as we have it at the Rec. Hall every year. Since Don will not be here I volunteered to serve and do dishes. I will get to eat, and first dibs on pie as I get to cut it. There is a method to my madness. The big decision is which kind???pecan, pumpkin or apple, hmmmmm I will lose sleep over this I am sure.

I am keeping my turkey for Christmas. I have invited 2 other couples and a single lady to join us for Christmas dinner. Since I can't be sure of the weather I can't count on being able to eat outside so I am restricted to 7 chairs, 8 maximum. I may find another person that has no family or spouse around. 22 lbs should be big enough, but I just might do a ham to be on the safe side.

Diane and I have been at the beach a couple of times this week and the pool every day since we arrived. The weather has been so perfect I must have lived a good life to be so blessed. My daughter will be going home Saturday and I will miss her company. However, I have lots to keep me busy. I will start back to Shapes Aqua Fit on Monday and get started on my Christmas decorations. I would like to have everything done but the lights when Don arrives. He has to help with those or I'd do them too. Dec 1, the lights go on. I love decorating for the holidays!

I will do a post when Don gets here and we are ready for the Holdiays. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

2010 Will be a Very Good Year

http://www.celebritycruises.com/plancruise/ships/ship.do;jsessionid=0000u_5qDvdR3fw-T-pLu_FtOf7:12hdebdrn?shipCode=MR

Don and I are going on a cruise to Alaska on the 6th of June!

It has taken a long time to get him to come around but he has finally agreed to go. It will correspond fairly close to our 20th Anniversary so that will be our gift to each other. It is a once in a lifetime trip for us . We will be sharing it, as dear friends Lois and Bill are taking the same cruise and we have cabins next to each other. If you follow the link and take a tour of the ship. Our cabin is 9121 amidship, with a veranda. Don said we may as well go all the way, as it is the only one he plans on taking.

The summer has gone by so quickly I don't know what we did with ourselves since I last blogged. Other than the usual aches and pains and some allergies and normal stuff we are both doing well. I just tured 60 and plan on spending my CPP on fun, frivolity and travel. I worked hard for years to get it I am going to enjoy it while I can.

Thanksgiving and my 60th Birthday were all combined this year as well as my son Mike's 40th birthday. Being with family made me truly thankful for all I have.

Don, Mike, Zachary, and Rick

Diane, Me and Angela

My garden this year did very well. I had a bumper crop of tomatoes and froze, canned and gave away lots and they are still ripening some on the vine and some on the patio table. We are still aways from the frost coming, but I will keep an eye on the weather.

I go tomorrow with a Red Hat group of ladies over to Frankenmuth, Michigan to enjoy the Christmas Bavarian theme, shopping and a family style Chicken dinner. The picture here is Dinner in Frankenmuth Oct, 2008.

It is an annual trip we take but we make it home the same day so I won't go overboard as you can only do so much on a one day trip. I am saving myself for Black Friday in Florida. Diane will have gone home already and Don does not fly in til the next day. It will be shop til I drop day!

I may not get another one of these written up til I get to Florida (I leave Nove 13) but just remember my friends I think of you all often.

Keep up todate in the life of me

I will try in this blog to catch everyone up on the life of the McGraw's

I travelled to B.C. on May 24-June 7 and spent time with my sisters. We had a wonderful time at Pt. Roberts, Wa. as well as in Marg's home in Surrey. One thing the pictures tell me is that my diet is long overdue.

My garden this year has been very good. We have tomatoes coming out of our ears and the flowers are beautiful. Some kind of fungus attacked my cucumbers but we did get a fair number harvested first. Cucumbers, zuchinni, and squash plants were hardest hit, but my green beans are slowly dying. I'm not sure if it is a natural death or the fungus that got them. if memory serves me right they usually start turning brown and dying around this time. As I get older I depend less on my memeory as it usually lets me down.

I have gone on a couple of outings with the Red Hats this year so far that have been really fun. A 3 day 2 night trip to Shipshawana, Indiana that is an annual thing was, as always, the best. Shopping, shopping and more shopping. We also did a lunch and theater trip to Petrolia. We saw a play called : "Seasons" It was very good.

My friend Joni and I went to a concert in Lansing, Michigan and listened to a folk singer, Barb Barton who is very good. Her cd, that I purchased has been enjoyed by Don and I often since I got it. http://www.barbbarton.com/catalog/index.php

A good weekend was had by all of us. On the way back to Canada Joni and I stopped at Exit 133, not sure what highway , at a Tanger Outlet and shopped, and then at Exit 145 at the Cracker Barrel for dinner and then home before dark.


One big event of this summer was my Granddaughter Angela getting her driver's licence, granddaughter Nicole turning 18 and earlier in the spring only Grandson Zachary becoming a teenager. Hard to believe he is 13 already.



We attended baseball games with Rachel playing, and took her to her practise when Sue and Dennis were in Toronto.







My girls and boy are growing up. they are now Nicole (18) Angela (17) Victoria (15) Amanda (15 in Nov) Zachary (13) and Rachel (10). Hard to get a picture of them altogher but 4 at once is good too. L to R is Victoria, Rachel, Amanda and Nicole.





Zachary and Angela are below. Angela doesn't wear glasses all the time but this picture was the closest at hand.


Don is keeping busy this summer making a bit of furniture, doing alot of the gardening and a visit to Tim Horton's occasionally. Right now he has a cold sore in his eye and went to the doctor yesterday. It is very uncomfortable and he does not take being sick well. My sister in law, Doreen , from Kitchener is here with us. I went to Kitchener on Friday and stayed with her. We had a wonderful Saturday at the Market in Kitchener and she came back with me Sat. night. I always enjoy her visists.
I will try not to leave so many months inbetween the blogs. Hi to all my friends and family that read this.

I am in Beautiful Brtish Columbia on vacation at the moment. I flew out of Windsor on May 24, and I will be here until June 7. Don is keeping the home fires burning and the grass cut. After being in florida for over 4 months he was not quite ready to head out again, but with my gypsy blood I am always more than ready to travel. It's in my genes.

As I am using my sister's computer I can't add any pictures into this blog but feel free to go to my flickr site and check out a few. http://www.flickr.com/photos/72938403@N00/

So far I have had a few days in Point Roberts, Washington, We went to Northwood Casino one day for lunch and to help the Indian Band out with a donation. Marg and I took the bus, skytrain and seabus out to N. Vancouver to Longsdale Quay yesterday and had a nice lunch by the water and window shopped. Today was a quiet day of reading/tv. That is waht vacation is all about, right?

Thurs. is a Ladies Tea and fashion show and hopefully on Fri. a trip up the coast to Molly's Reach for unch (remember The Beachcombers").

I will have a full update when I return home next week.

Update on my life

It's a Florida Lifestyle! I am sad to say it is time to put a drop sheet over my palm tree, cover the furniture and set off bug bombs. I head back home next Friday (April 17/09) and leave my home away from home for the next 7 months.

Don has been home for awhile already as he flew back March 26. Allergies were at an all time high this spring and it was very difficult for him the last few weeks. Puffers, antihistimines, etc did not help too much, so he was glad to head back to the cold northern regions of this great continent. He has been keeping busy and has ripped up the broadloom from the master bedroom of our home and put down wood floors. When I get back I will pick out paint and trim to do a complete makeover.

A friend of mine from home has flown down to stay with me and drive back with me acting as navigator. We are using every day to it's fullest doing the pool, the beach, the stores, the flea market as well as bingos and casinos. What a life!

This week the packing has to be done full steam ahead. I have already done some sorting, throwning out and give aways. It happens every year that I shop too much and now with a small car instead of a van I just cannot bring it all back with me.

this was what a packed van looked like in past years, now my little Dodge Avenger has to hold it all (LOL).

We will manage I am sure and what doesn't fit stays here. I am looking forward to going home, but I will miss it here. I'll write again after I get back to Canada.

Winter in Florida 2008-9

Myself, Ellen and Arlene on a sightseeing boat trip up in Tarpon Springs. We arrived in Florida this year Mid Novemeber and the weather was perfect. We always have a good time together

Christmas in Florida is the only way to go. Turkey can be roasted outdoors under the carport so as not to heat up the house. Flowers are outdoors as well.

The picture to the right is of me in the center with my

friend Arlene's granddaughters at Sand Key beach

My sister Marg from Surrey B.C. visited again in February and we attended the Palatka Bluegrass festival . It was wonderful anyone wanting information should go to

http://www.aandabluegrass.com/Festivals/PalatkaBluegrassFestival.html

The music was great, weather co-operated

and we had a good time together

The food was good too.

Today is March 1, 2009 and it is National Pig Day. We had Breakfast at SkyWay JAck's in St. Petersburg and here is a picture of Don with Miss Piggy.

If you want to see more pictures of Pig Day and my time in Florida see my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/72938403@N00/

This past summer was great. We enjoyed our kids, grandkids, many barbeques and lots of company. We made a trip to the East coast spending some time in the Eastern states as well as in Quebec. Don's family is all well, and we managed to see all of them that are still down East. A stop in Kitchener on the way home proved productive as we were able to bring Don's sister to our place to visit for a few days.

Now the visiting is done, and we are busy getting the yard and garden ready for winter. Bushes and trees are cut back, leaves piled around rose bushes, and garden dug up for next year. Work, work, work!

Fall is here, the leaves have changed color and are falling faster than they can be mulched up with the mower. Before you know it, this scene will be covered in white. But, the good news is I'll be in Florida so I don't care.

There was snow a couple of weeks ago in Saskatchewan, and snow earlier this week in Northern Ontario. That is getting too close for comfort. As much as I love our Canadian Seasons and the changes that our foliage undergoes, I would much prefer just Spring, Summer and Fall. Winter is a 5 letter word to me. I guess growing up in Saskatchewan where -40 was the norm for so much of the winter has something to do with that feeling. I do have 2 siblings that decided to stay in that fridgid provience and be tough, but whimp that I am I decided that Florida is the only place to be during the months that have Snow in them.

CATCH UP TIME

It has been a long time since I posted anything. Needless to say it has been a very busy summer. We had a few grandchildren stay with us at the beginning of the summer. Don's 72nd birthday in July called for a big dinner and 5 out of 7 of the kids attended a big barbecue along with spouses and children for a dinner for 16..

My garden this year may have been small, but it was very productive. We have been eating cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini and okra. Herbs include parsley, thyme, basil, and chives. We are enjoying the fruits of our labour.

Don's sister Doreen from Kitchener visited towards the end of June and again just last week. We always enjoy her visits. We took the first two weeks of September for a vacation . We travelled through New York, Main and up into New Brunswick for a visit with Don's siblings.

Some pictures of our vacation were posted on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/72938403@N00/ My camera was left in Kingston so I'll post more later.

A couple of days were spent in Rimouski, Quebec reuniting Don with a friend he hadn't seen in 53 years. It was a touching reunion. We then spent a couple of days in Cornwall, Ont and visited friends from Florida and had a grand tour of the countryside including Moose Creek and St. Albert where we visited a cheese factory. I ate Poutine for the first time. A couple of casinos were visited over in the U.S. across from Cornwall and we played dice for hours with them. We spent one night with Don's niece in Amherstview just outside of Kingston, Ont. Her husband will be shipping out to Afghanistan early in November for 6 months. We learned how to make beer can chicken. It is excellent!

Lots to do when we got home as Doreen was with us and lots of catching up to do. Everything is now back to normal, Don keeps busy in his garage and I am back working at the local Food Bank and meals on wheels kitchen. Bingo on Wednesdays is the biggest game in town.

Heat Wave 2008

If you can't read the temperature it is 35.7 C. That is in the shade outside my livingroom window at 3:45 pm June 8/08

As soon as the heat breaks I will get back onto my Blog and fill in the blanks since March when I made my last entry.

A Cruise to Remember

The Royal Caribeean "Mariner of the Seas" Mar -29, 2008 visited St. Marteen, St. Thomas and San Juan, Peurto Rico. This picture may not be our vessel as we saw so many and I took so many pictures, but it will give you an idea of the size. There was a total of 14 decks the top two being only part the size of the whole vessel. We were in the center of the 10th deck and that was just about a perect spot to be. Hardly any motion felt at all.

The service aboard the ship was outstanding. This is a picture of just a few of the waiters and assistant waiters in the dining room. They performed for us a couple of times during the trip. The food was great! We had prime rib, Lamb T-bones, lobster, lamb shanks, chicken, tenderloin, and just about everything you can imagaine inbetween. Breakfast and lunch most days were in the buffet, but dinner (2 formal nights) was in the dining room.

My sister, Margaret and I did a tour of the Is. of St. Martin/St. Marteen, I shopped on St. Thomas and we just took pictures from the ship of San Juan.

Many hours were spent reading on a chaise lounge on the upper deck, a few relaxing turns in the spa, as well as many miles traveled up and down the halls. The ship was huge. There was a parade on the Royal Promenade, an Ice show one night on the skating rink, several musicals, as well as the Casino and bingos. We were kept busy.

This is sunset over San Juan. The color of the water changes as the sun goes down.

Here you can see the true color of the Caribeean. This is a view from a hilltop on the French side of St. Marteen. We did a bus tour of both Dutch and French side.

A 45 min. stop at a small flea mkt. to shop made the trip well worth taking. We saw wildlife (sheep that looked like goats to me) , and the salt lakes that used to supply the island with an industry before tourism became it's mainstay.

It was a week I will not soon forget.

Winter in Florida

Between Valentines Day and now my flowers have stayed beautifully fresh. It is a lovely bouquet. Today I picked my first cherry tomatoes. Feb 24 and gardening, I just love it. It is hard to believe that in just a month+ Don will be heading home already. I have been here already 3 months + a week. and soon will be thinking about packing. I hate the thought of it.

On the bright side, my sister arrives in just 3 days, not counting today (we count get-ups), and one week from today we leave on a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise. I am so excited.

Don will be well looked after while I am gone. He has many friends in the park and all of them will make sure he is well tended to as far as getting to the store, company, and maybe even an outing on the Treasure Island
Casino cruise. In fact I think he is planning that even before Marg and I sail. That is ok, we are doing the beach that day.

All in all it has been a perfect winter so far, and I have no doubts it will get even better.

Green Iguana

http://www.greeniguana.com/ The Food was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Too bad I forgot my camera. The burgers are to die for.

I had the burger on the bottom right topped with tabosco onions

Black and Bleu Burger
Take a whiff of this! Caribbean spices, bleu cheese, mayo and tabacco onions. $6.95

Winter in St. Petersburg, Florida

We had a near Tornado type rain/wind storm on Saturday, windy yesterday, cold today and tomorrow I will go to the beach. High of 75 F and sunshine all day. That is winter in Florida it changes day to day. So far our winter has been absolutly great. The rain on Sar. was the first of 2008, and not much expected over the next week or so.

I have been busy in the park, also joined Shpaes so go their for water exercise classes 5-6 times per week. Hopefully it will firm me up a bit. Eating out does not help the waistline but I have had lunch out last week at Leverocks in South Pasadena with the Shapes group. Dinner Saturday with the Scarlett Hustlers of Penellas (Red Hat Society) at Sam Seltzer's (See picture, I am on the right). and tomorrow the Crafter's group from our Park are going the the 4th Street Shrimp House for lunch. Oh well, it is a tough life......

Comfort Food

We had 2 days of cooler weather down in St. Peterburg, Florida so it was benificial to use the oven. This is a Cauliflower and ham Impossible Pie. I used the recipe on www.aliciasrecipes.com and just added some ham, sauted red pepper and left-over green beans to the Cauliflower Impossible Pie recipe. It had more volume so it took about 15 minutes longer to bake. Severed with some zesty chili sauce and a salad and we had a nice supper in a warm kitchen. Happy to report that the high today is back up to 22 and by early next week we could hit 30 again.

Merry Christmas

Not sure if I will have another chance for blogging before Christmas Day so I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Don and I are spending Christmas Day with his cousin from New Brunswick that is here in the park, Gerry and his wife Stella. We will be having a traditional turkey dinner. Christmas Eve we are having a couple over for hor'dourves and eggnog and/or tea after early church service. We are going to another cousin from New Brunswick (niece of Gerry McGraw) Marie and her husband Lou for New Year's Eve. I am going to have to have the whole bunch over here for a meal, maybe Ukrainian Christmas Eve. I think that is the 6th of January.

Dinner on Dec 9, 2007

Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 boneless skinless chicken Breasts

4 thin slices deli ham (I used black forest)

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

1 cup crused corn flakes

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1-2 tsp. Essence (recipe below)

Flatten chicken to 1/4" thickness. Season one side with garlic powder, pepper, and parsley. The other side with Pepper and Essence. On the Essence side place a slice of the ham and the slice of cheese. Roll up, tuck in the ends and secure with toothpicks.

In a small bowl , wish egg and milk. In another bowl put your crumb. Dip chicken in egg mixture then roll in crumbs.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min or until chicken juices run clear.

Discard toothpicks beofre serving

ESSENCE

5 TABLESPOONS SWEET PAPRIKA
¼ CUP SALT
¼ CUP GARLIC POWDER
2 TABLESPOONS FRESH GROUND BLACK PEPPER
2 TABLESPOONS ONION POWDER
2 TABLESPOONS CAYENNE
2 TABLESPOONS DRIED OREGANO
2 TABLESPOONS DRIED THYME

COMBINE WELL AND STORE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN YOUR SPICE CABINET FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS