tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296325772024-03-12T20:56:46.404-04:00Always StandingThe same old story about a small town girl surviving in the big city...Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.comBlogger2992125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-6150371830035634842021-12-29T18:01:00.001-05:002022-01-15T19:14:35.168-05:00182 Digital PuzzlesJason got me a new tablet for Christmas which means that <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2017/06/and-why-did-i-go.html" target="_blank">the one</a></b> I have been using for years is now going to go to someone else and will be brought back to factory settings. This means that the record of all the digital jigsaw puzzles I have done over the past couple of years will be lost:<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfQ4iofAHdrFwVL2baQGsz6m1NsY5MrOMSouJaNGk_HbQXiXT9Gvf3X2tPw7VEMpSsXG7naw58ILHAqJugj-LridJyTw6Dh2gMyxUV73NZd9IWUznLzythNEyLfi1k10BIHDSKA/s1600/1640991696148111-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfQ4iofAHdrFwVL2baQGsz6m1NsY5MrOMSouJaNGk_HbQXiXT9Gvf3X2tPw7VEMpSsXG7naw58ILHAqJugj-LridJyTw6Dh2gMyxUV73NZd9IWUznLzythNEyLfi1k10BIHDSKA/w400-h212/1640991696148111-0.png" width="400" />
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</div>There were 182 that I have finished! Most of the images were travel landscapes, with a few art and animal ones thrown in too. I used the app Puzzle Crown, which if you started a puzzle saved it in the tablet and you could work on it offline, so I did that a lot. You could pick from three different 'cut' styles and a range of difficulties, I usually worked on the highest difficulty so that meant it could take long time to finish. In fact, when I was in the hospital being induced, waiting to give birth, I was also working on puzzles - these four in fact:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9NRwBLCMtI6K7xCIfUCkZUX40GPtOROi_dCBslVJbhsJOkrsXPRkakRT_DmKchiGorGlHuki-v4wKj8D1dkSvSdT9PFmSIbo_WrYmHOGCOOXY_qssuPPSjR-qRD_DM8SchT4uA/s1600/1640991693009053-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9NRwBLCMtI6K7xCIfUCkZUX40GPtOROi_dCBslVJbhsJOkrsXPRkakRT_DmKchiGorGlHuki-v4wKj8D1dkSvSdT9PFmSIbo_WrYmHOGCOOXY_qssuPPSjR-qRD_DM8SchT4uA/s1600/1640991693009053-1.png" width="400" />
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</div>I wanted screen shots of my 'puzzle history' before I lost it all. Made sense to post on <i>Always Standing</i>, in hopes that would mean I would start posting more. (This tablet has a keyboard that can attach to it which makes it easier to post from.)</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-46584170521397054102021-12-20T20:18:00.000-05:002023-07-16T21:53:32.762-04:00Snow Like My Childhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNT-FJLo8PdRLiHVFCT8ZXPvHJDp3wyCdNMYdY2KdBUWz0ps79xWXtCSFMDTjaihke5884nlcfcgb9XCuYjM6KUDgYEunHC73fWc1kRI9ozu0aQfUUJa5ccu-9gib5AQ7D0-DS_-5rTrm0YE27sg7nA3Sfc0ntiUR6nOsKZ-vE-R-4LACrj9Y" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNT-FJLo8PdRLiHVFCT8ZXPvHJDp3wyCdNMYdY2KdBUWz0ps79xWXtCSFMDTjaihke5884nlcfcgb9XCuYjM6KUDgYEunHC73fWc1kRI9ozu0aQfUUJa5ccu-9gib5AQ7D0-DS_-5rTrm0YE27sg7nA3Sfc0ntiUR6nOsKZ-vE-R-4LACrj9Y=w150-h200" width="150" />
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</div>Sunday night brought a blizzard to Toronto and with it 36cm of snow by Monday afternoon. Jason spent the day shovelling, heading out multiple times to work through it all. The photo on the right is taken through our back door, the snow piling up in the backyard and back porch.<div><br /></div><div>Heading out for a walk today, the neighbourhood felt like what winters were when I was growing up in Paris. I don't know what it is about nostalgia, but the memories I have from childhood include mammoth snowbanks and huge piles after shovelling. Also I remember there being so much snow that it was shovelled with this strange big metal scoop thing that my dad would push and then tip (I saw someone down the street using a similar thing today, so they are still around.)</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-72175648127519099332021-12-13T18:30:00.000-05:002021-12-13T18:30:16.499-05:002019/2020 BACK DATED POSTS<div>I am in the process of predating posts. Hoping to finish doing posts about...</div>
- Running the cafe and then closing it in 2019<br>
- Hungary/Romania trip in August 2019<br>
- NYC, Palm Springs, Las Vegas/Grand Canyon Fall of 2019<div>- Drive out west in Fall of 2020</div><div>- Vancouver and Edmonton trips in Fall of 2021<br>
- Pregnancy and miscarriage in early 2020<div>- Pregnancy with Cigi and giving birth</div><div>- Cigi in general!</div><div>- Cigi's first year<br>
- Life in the Covid-19 pandemic<br>
- Restarting WoW again<br>
I will remove this post once I have finished updating the last couple of years.</div></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-85854678250455889272021-12-13T18:26:00.002-05:002022-01-15T19:16:41.657-05:00Xmas List 2021<div>* Used items are always welcome!!</div><div><br></div>Sweeton-Woods Family<div>- IKEA Gift Cards (For Pax closet in porch)</div><div>- Forks</div><div>- Plastic or silicone spatula, bowl scraping kind</div><div>- Window cling winter decorations</div><div>- Large wood cutting board</div><div>- Combination lock (Locker at pool)</div><div>- Vector cereal<br><div><br></div><div>Me</div><div>- Sims 4 expansion packs (PC)</div><div>- Travel bags for toiletries</div><div>- Pajamas (Women's XL)</div><div>- Boardgame: Cartographers</div><div>- Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub</div><div>- Masks, wire at nose</div><div>- Cheap Sunglasses</div><div>- Waterproof waist pouch for phone, swimming</div><div>- Arm pouch for phone, jogging</div><div>- Small garden snips, pruner </div><div>- Work gloves (Tight, bit stronger than garden gloves)</div><div>- Honey roasted peanuts</div><div>- Dried Mango</div><div><br></div><div>Jason</div><div>- Gift Cards: MEC, Amazon for Kindle books</div><div>- UV Swim Shirts (Men's Medium)</div><div>- Long stick-style umbrella</div><div>- Coffee Beans</div><div>- Sour Candy</div><div>- Coke, in glass bottles</div><div>- Craft Beer (Anything but wheat)</div><div><br></div><div>Cigi</div><div>- Beach towel</div><div>- UV Swim Shirts/Suits (18m)</div><div>- Bath toys</div><div>- Baby hair brush</div><div>- Baby toothbrushes</div><div>- Nut butters (No sugar added)<br></div><div>- Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo</div><div>- Thinkbaby Sunscreen</div><div>- Gerber Baby Cereal</div><div>- All/Any Books (Duplicates sent to Edmonton cousins)</div><div>--- Indistructibles</div><div>--- Classic Bernstein Bears (new ones are religious)</div><div>--- Bath books</div><div>--- Audrey and Don Woods</div><div>--- Munch</div><div>--- Dr. Suess</div><div><br></div><div>Two</div><div>- Small pet bed</div></div><div>- Stick with string toy</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-8130043110774957042021-08-22T11:00:00.002-04:002021-08-22T15:15:34.914-04:00A Space Of One's Own<p>It has been hard to blog recently because it hasn't been easy to get onto my computer. (And blogging from the tablet is super annoying.) When we started to redo '<b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2016/03/office-sneak-peek.html" target="_blank">the office</a></b>' to make a nursery it meant getting rid of the spot that I would use my laptop. Jason's work station was moved into the spare room/laundry room and there wasn't space for my chair and little table. For a while I used my laptop on the coffee table downstairs (as I am doing at the moment) or sometimes in bed. However, it was a strange phenomenon where it was either in the way or too out of the way. If it was in the way then it would get moved and tucked away somewhere and that made it harder to pull it out again later to use.</p><p>This has meant no blogging, but also my emails are piling up and I haven't done my banking. I have stopped playing WoW, which I have pretty consistently been involved with since Fall 2019. There is also jobs to apply for and more cafe stuff to finish up. Basically I need it to be easy, and comfortable, to work on my laptop. Didn't know this was an issue since I haven't really had or used a desk in a while, but I guess I did always have some type of set up that made it convenient. </p><p>We do have plans to rearrange the living room soon, for baby proofing now that Cigi is becoming more mobile, and that will have some ripple effects for the dining room. I think I will try to set up in there. So fingers crossed you will start to see more posts soon!</p>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-77144580039215974482021-04-08T16:00:00.001-04:002021-04-08T22:37:43.711-04:00Made For You<div style="text-align: left;">Drink of my body<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Maintain our link</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just as before</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everything I do</div><div style="text-align: left;">Is transferred to you</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-34459225329306745012021-03-14T14:30:00.008-04:002021-03-15T00:07:50.613-04:00Tripped Up By Time Change<p>My alarm didn't go off this morning, I have it set for 2:30am to get up an pump ahead of Cigi waking up around 3am (lately, and only if I am lucky.) Well, she woke me up by crying at 3:15am and I was very confused! But with 'spring ahead' my phone went from 2am to 3am in literally less than a second so there was no 2:30am today! Looking forward to the end of this <a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2008/03/losing-time.html" target="_blank"><b>weird time change thing</b></a> - the vote to do so provincially went through but I think it is currently on hold until other provinces agree to stop doing it as well or something.</p>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-9368343608209718772021-03-12T20:06:00.007-05:002021-03-14T23:02:18.916-04:00R Is For Bunny<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0pNgA1yi7FyU-PTAy35DBEh2lBtzENP6zgoYBlFW-gg4CXAD4ceorj4bDm_KOEcKhEqRJ3O0flZeMjks_0aiolToj68F7EvPxYJn2J8DW6OsyxN23QBKpyipXLA5Vj4yNnnmqQ/s3923/PXL_20210315_001542778.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3923" data-original-width="2972" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0pNgA1yi7FyU-PTAy35DBEh2lBtzENP6zgoYBlFW-gg4CXAD4ceorj4bDm_KOEcKhEqRJ3O0flZeMjks_0aiolToj68F7EvPxYJn2J8DW6OsyxN23QBKpyipXLA5Vj4yNnnmqQ/w151-h200/PXL_20210315_001542778.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>My mom spent a little time when I was younger doing cross-stich (this is before she discovered traditional rug hooking) and one of the things she made me was this alphabet (see image on right.) She used to say the marks on it was blood from pricking her finger with the needle, but then recently mentioned it was just from the age if it, so I don't know what is true.<p></p><p>I was showing it to Maya today, while Jason was holding it up, and she said, "A is for apple, B is for stuffy" and I was so confused until I saw that it was a teddy 'B'ear image. She is very young and not strong with letters or reading yet. She also pointed and said, "R is for bunny." </p>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-57781900483342670582021-01-01T19:59:00.000-05:002021-03-14T20:00:23.940-04:00No Resolution Last year's New Year's <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-good-resolution.html" target="_blank">resolution</a></b> was so good that I am just going to keep with that. I can't imagine what I would come up with after the past year we have had. 2020 was just such a crazy time - a global pandemic, unemployment, pregnancy, lockdowns. I just want to see it all fall behind us and have 2021 bring health and hope to everyone again. (I also want to go out and get a job as soon as this baby is born.)<br /><div><br /></div><div>My mom suggested that we open our front and back door to 'blow 2020 out of the house' which I thought was a cool idea and possible New Years Day tradition that we could start at Casa Verde.</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-44858004680127994362020-12-06T13:30:00.004-05:002020-12-08T11:35:39.877-05:00Xmas List 2020<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Fetus</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not yet born, not celebrating Christmas, no presents please.</div><div style="text-align: left;">(If you have a gift that really really must be given, please do so through Jason.)<br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Me</b><br />- Gift Cards<br />--- Dollerama, Ricki's, Chapters<br /></div><div>- Pixel 4a case</div><div>- Pixel 4a screen protector<br />- Epsom salts<br />- Soap and Glory: Flake Away body scrub<br />- Bath bombs, no glitter</div><div>- Plastic or silicon spatulas (flipper of pancakes kind)</div><div>- Stick with string toy for Two</div><div>- Running socks</div><div>- Easy crockpot cooking cook book</div><div>- Tank tops, any style, LRG</div><div>- Brown sugar bear (for freshness)</div><div>- Ivy, succulent, or cactus plants</div><div>- Cloth face masks with wire at nose</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Jason</b><br />- Gift cards<br />--- Amazon (for Kindle Books), MEC</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Sweat pants, Med</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Socks<br />- Coffee beans (not flavoured)<br />- Sour candy<br />- Coke in glass bottles<br />- Craft Beer (not wheaty)<br />- Cheap Sunglasses<br />- Spray sunscreen</div><div style="text-align: left;">- iPhone charging cord</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Drill bit set (for holes, not for screws)</div><div style="text-align: left;">- AAA batteries<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Joint</b><br />- Gift cards<br />--- Home Depo (for new lawn mower)</div><div>--- IKEA (for a dresser and bookcases)</div><div>--- Michael's (for frames)<br />- Boardgames<br />--- Ticket to Ride: Expansion Maps<br />--- Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It<br />- Large plastic cutting boards<br />- Soup pot with lid, roughly 8qt</div><div>- Baby Yoda tree ornament</div><div>- Large winter/Christmas window cling decorations</div></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-78417727365798826522020-11-28T20:59:00.010-05:002020-11-29T21:57:35.908-05:00Painting Refresh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kqjNCUcH-bcGp5p9K-2SBW7EexuO8bRo4WCfVIouhe4DYG6gbvnloyeJey26zQo1bH5joMeiuvbDlSWGvv_7pAZT8D1SrNnWGFSIRrX4kjG0YRFIl39QdgGTMFD_eRJzFHe5Gg/s600/Door+B.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kqjNCUcH-bcGp5p9K-2SBW7EexuO8bRo4WCfVIouhe4DYG6gbvnloyeJey26zQo1bH5joMeiuvbDlSWGvv_7pAZT8D1SrNnWGFSIRrX4kjG0YRFIl39QdgGTMFD_eRJzFHe5Gg/w400-h200/Door+B.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had always meant to paint the garage door a darkish grey, it has been white and slowly fading since we moved in. I had envisioned faking a row of windows near the top, with paint (taping out squares, maybe even some light shading to give them depth.) Then I saw that you can get decorative <a href="https://www.homedepot.ca/product/everbilt-traditional-decorative-black-garage-door-hardware-kit-6-pack-/1000773404">garage door hardware</a>, which would look fancier than windows and be easy. (They also have them in magnetic form to stick them on metal garage doors too, but I got the screw on ones since ours is wood.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I mentioned it to Jason though, he wanted it painted black. (Which reminds me of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-0_NoNit4">the song</a> when I was younger, that I gather is actually a cover of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4irXQhgMqg">The Rolling Stones</a>. But isn't a cover when it is done exactly the same? There is a difference, it is a bit like a remix or something. I like the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gob_(band)">Gob </a>version better and, upon looking it up, found out they are Canadian. It is a little more metal than The Stones rock version.) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Paining it black then meant that I had to spray paint the decorative hardware a different colour to get it to show up - I went with 'stainless steel.' It didn't really made it look like stainless steel so wouldn't recommend it for that purpose, but it worked to make it a greyish colour that would show up against the black. Jason helped me attach the hardware.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTkRKyUDFwYsngEZwjz6C-bfs7tqgSamMDwv9dDz3L-VdNE9oPHM4_1woGbIykMeE6_13MQ0PBwlNXQnS5WY3Aygz8PcaSVO72GNudqnH7GK0QiXfWOVyD2iMGvF0SF_tiaMxFQ/s620/Untitled+design.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTkRKyUDFwYsngEZwjz6C-bfs7tqgSamMDwv9dDz3L-VdNE9oPHM4_1woGbIykMeE6_13MQ0PBwlNXQnS5WY3Aygz8PcaSVO72GNudqnH7GK0QiXfWOVyD2iMGvF0SF_tiaMxFQ/s16000/Untitled+design.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy with how it turned out! Even more so now that I see what it looked like before!</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-22641358909522344832020-11-21T12:32:00.002-05:002020-11-26T12:41:53.765-05:00Birds In A Row<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3DwIeuyZRvyRiubBy-j4tG7213q5885TAYotq-5xNdqr9XR7BogrSVrXO7jVl-2WXFp7dpGvMbflJitHee5uxWXNqcy2sn9TrGEH05GI22Cd2hWkFBXd_REF8vKuxUYNvlIqzA/s1024/IMG-20201121-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3DwIeuyZRvyRiubBy-j4tG7213q5885TAYotq-5xNdqr9XR7BogrSVrXO7jVl-2WXFp7dpGvMbflJitHee5uxWXNqcy2sn9TrGEH05GI22Cd2hWkFBXd_REF8vKuxUYNvlIqzA/w480-h640/IMG-20201121-WA0001.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First time feeding <a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2007/11/chickadee.html" target="_blank">chickadees</a>, and he gets a line up!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jason at <a href="https://www.cloca.com/lynde-shores" target="_blank">Lynde Shores Conservation Area</a>, Whitby</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by me, with Jason's phone - Saturday Nov 21, 2020</i></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-32224228002418828332020-11-10T16:00:00.010-05:002020-11-10T20:49:21.513-05:00Couch Reno<div style="text-align: left;">It might have been Two, however I think it was more likely Binx, but at some point one of the corners of the couch got torn up. This couch has been around forever, I think it was at Rrunuv Bayit for most of the time and has been at Casa Verde since we moved in. My parents got it for our family room in Paris when I was a teenager, maybe even a pre-teen. The issue with the torn up corner is that it is right as you enter the room! It is the main corner, very visible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIPeVpQN6BtVZjhFSJl4k93ZHxc_9cqNMPcO3aiAVJqYhGJMS6-pBdYduiFiLR0x9W_Grl62FkPWb3RyB1TNAn1-jEmhHhUI0yKkJKfpI8IibCVylYEY6eUGqajqDOd8yKjgNoQ/s4160/IMG_20201108_110840841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIPeVpQN6BtVZjhFSJl4k93ZHxc_9cqNMPcO3aiAVJqYhGJMS6-pBdYduiFiLR0x9W_Grl62FkPWb3RyB1TNAn1-jEmhHhUI0yKkJKfpI8IibCVylYEY6eUGqajqDOd8yKjgNoQ/w480-h640/IMG_20201108_110840841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I figured you could get patches but I wanted stick on ones, not iron on ones, and they needed to be large enough, strong enough to work with a couch. I eventually came across some faux leather ones that you heat up with a hair dryer before sticking on. There were tons of colours so I was able to get a beige that coordinated with the blue and cream couch stripes. I cut a custom shape that so it would tuck under the first fold of the arm and then wrap around the corner with the the other three corners rounded (recommended in the instructions, also looks nicer.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu3LMQ9kOXyBps6m-r8sxhPeEfMbnLqZZ7CNuCWWbf0ImkTizEz6kuUb8HBwUIq3zLLVedGVn2wQ9r1eBhhVc8pacrVEhOY2hAfhiOkt4sPdTTGSJR6Tf3BIyyXXTt5al7vDU_g/s4160/IMG_20201110_151259346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUu3LMQ9kOXyBps6m-r8sxhPeEfMbnLqZZ7CNuCWWbf0ImkTizEz6kuUb8HBwUIq3zLLVedGVn2wQ9r1eBhhVc8pacrVEhOY2hAfhiOkt4sPdTTGSJR6Tf3BIyyXXTt5al7vDU_g/w480-h640/IMG_20201110_151259346.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So that it didn't look as much like a patch and more like a purposeful part of the furniture I made sure to get and make enough to do both corners on the couch and over on the chair-and-a-half so that everything matched. After I finished I asked Jason if he noticed anything new in the living room, and he had about 6 wrong guesses before I just gave up and pointed at the patches. He thinks this shows how well they blend in and is not continued proof of how unobservant he is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoZCmaRe3U3yq1k0eQG741Gv1GEL-HDL1AoTqAJHgaV6J8a00OyfkK4jYOsCylS76HFMft8HpfQn2z4dikNMHs2gAMGuQwkLnreE8RT04uE2kofTX2TnBHIxoLuWXX7FM6J-PWw/s1800/Untitled+design.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoZCmaRe3U3yq1k0eQG741Gv1GEL-HDL1AoTqAJHgaV6J8a00OyfkK4jYOsCylS76HFMft8HpfQn2z4dikNMHs2gAMGuQwkLnreE8RT04uE2kofTX2TnBHIxoLuWXX7FM6J-PWw/w426-h640/Untitled+design.png" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Looks like our living room furniture has little leather elbow pads, like on tweed academic blazers/sweaters. I am very happy with the refresh and hope that it will continue to extend the life of this couch because I don't want to replace it anytime soon.</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-23278835968000149962020-11-09T20:00:00.012-05:002020-11-10T20:50:22.786-05:00Baby Face?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiSv8-UiDW2wVjUlLntTNmF8flA3ysoq4E0M3C8lCRf6w2e0Y3OyJrgSrWhOzShNz7F4poNk74RP0xBcsiN_3lcK7G9BFqhZ9zhtAn5SwKLsSyNaxxo9f3y5tgzj8cNwHIvPsZg/s4160/IMG_20201109_184949286.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiSv8-UiDW2wVjUlLntTNmF8flA3ysoq4E0M3C8lCRf6w2e0Y3OyJrgSrWhOzShNz7F4poNk74RP0xBcsiN_3lcK7G9BFqhZ9zhtAn5SwKLsSyNaxxo9f3y5tgzj8cNwHIvPsZg/w150-h200/IMG_20201109_184949286.jpg" width="150" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Went for an ultrasound today to check on the status of my low lying placenta. Tomorrow I will be 28 weeks and officially in the final trimester of this pregnancy, so I guess right now is the last day of the second trimester. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">According to the various charts and sites on the internet, the baby is the size of a plate of pancakes, eggplant, head of lettuce, butternut squash, Kraft Dinner Mac and Cheese box, and the list goes on, all being slightly different shapes and sizes, making it really hard to understand how big she is. However, the tech asked if I wanted to know the baby's approximate weight - which is exciting data! So apparently she is currently 2.4 lbs (or 1.08 kg).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While showing Jason over the phone at the end of the scan the tech was able to get the front of her face - Jason let out a little squeal! I asked if we could get print outs and the tech was very excited about how 'cute' the face was, with its 'chubby cheeks.' I have included the images but made them small since I think they are super creepy and look ghost-like, click the picture to see larger. Jason claims that when it showed up over the phone it looked a lot better (it depends what 'slice' the images are as to what they really look like.) It was the first time he had seen something that "maps directly to a real face, a real human thing."</div></div><p></p>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-62501065839412203662020-11-06T15:14:00.002-05:002020-11-09T16:18:31.531-05:00A Door By Any Other Name<div style="text-align: left;">There was a very heavy windstorm <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2020/10/rtw-and-so-it-begins.html" target="_blank">right before we left</a></b> for our road trip. It broke the glass on one side of our porch door. Once we got back, Jason and I discussed what to do about it and decided that we would replace all three screen doors using the people we got to do (most of) our windows in 2018. Since Jason had been the main person to deal with that, he reached out to get a quote for the doors. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We have an <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2016/02/signed.html" target="_blank">enclosed porched</a></b> at Casa Verde, so there is a screen door into that space (which has the broken window from the wind) then once you are in the porch there is a screen door in front of the main wood front door. Then in the back there is a screen door before the wood back door. Basically all of these are broken in some way, usually the spring and cylinder closer part. Also we are slowly switching from white doors and windows to black ones as we update things so this is a chance to do that for the doors.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, Jason got the quote and wanted me to look over the fine details with him, "starting with the fact that they said they were for <i>storm doors</i>," which had him very confused and concerned. I explained that 'storm door' is actually the more accurate and contractor-used term for a 'screen door.' He wanted to know what the wooden front door types where called, my guess was 'exterior door' but I wasn't as positive on that term. It is going to take some time for them to be ready and installed but I will post the before and after shots when they get put in.</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-60207612832307504112020-11-04T15:59:00.011-05:002020-11-29T22:12:22.730-05:00 A Distanced Game Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83vK4R7Et0f3lT8_VNzSlcYz_xumlET31fbJulLbR0yJ4gWePB8b1w1GkT4HIiSBiFhsteVkEFttL7NCJcakP683qvOxExWficFjsJSwfrKvvUhfJ-GJDdSypAic_SK7_vM2LVA/s512/GGday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="512" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83vK4R7Et0f3lT8_VNzSlcYz_xumlET31fbJulLbR0yJ4gWePB8b1w1GkT4HIiSBiFhsteVkEFttL7NCJcakP683qvOxExWficFjsJSwfrKvvUhfJ-GJDdSypAic_SK7_vM2LVA/w400-h170/GGday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last year Teri and her family launched an annual event in honour of <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-perfect-poem.html" target="_blank">her late father</a></b>. <b><i>Gord's Game Day</i></b> is held in September and brings people together to be outside, active, and connected. Her dad was involved in many team sports both playing and organizing them, as well as, a driving force for their extended family to gather and have a good time. The event last year, in 2019, was at a public park in Hamilton, with obstacle courses, giant jenga, soccer and more. Entry fees and fundraising go towards the Brain Aneurism Foundation of Canada.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />With the pandemic this year, the event had to go 'virtual' with a request that family groups and small gatherings of friends try to keep the budding tradition going by running their own Game Day in honour of Gord. A bunch of the participants sent in photos and clips from their activities, which have been made into a video. We did our own Game Day at the waterfront in August, organized by K. The video starts off with a clip from that day and me pushing a ball of Jason's spoon during a race (I am the worst!) You can catch glimpses of Teri, her mother and brother, Greg, R.O.M, K, Jason, Mike, LeMonde, Kristen, Noah, Leo, Monica, Andras, Sebi, and the list goes on. It is a fun montage!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e4QCzjhLwx8" width="560"></iframe></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-67484579477822497322020-10-31T22:00:00.007-04:002020-11-02T17:26:32.024-05:00Halloween In Quarantine <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Disclaimer: Ok, so we aren't really in Quarantine at the moment or even doing extreme self-isolation, but it rhymes better with Halloween than "pandemic" or "covid" does.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDqw1DoLUwsQ0n1Tp6Fcn6moyoAoXQyGk2wR8txjSzXhQNsNovd6x52G67bzttTmC4cEQ_oTAjO0NIx_MAeiQ9AiNUNoWSzUzajXWVtsLA53dfJGhuIG67I5Ti4Qdbw_Zp3g9dQ/s1600/IMG-20201031-WA0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDqw1DoLUwsQ0n1Tp6Fcn6moyoAoXQyGk2wR8txjSzXhQNsNovd6x52G67bzttTmC4cEQ_oTAjO0NIx_MAeiQ9AiNUNoWSzUzajXWVtsLA53dfJGhuIG67I5Ti4Qdbw_Zp3g9dQ/w400-h300/IMG-20201031-WA0014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Happy Halloween!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jason and I on Oct 31, 2020</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Selfie taken with Jason's Phone</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think this is the first year at Casa Verde that we haven't given out candy! We normally get between 50 and 100 trick-or-treaters, it is hard to keep track because Jason messes with my system of counting (he gives more than one piece of candy, and eats it while handing out, so who knows what our real numbers are.) This year we here highly discouraged from doing the traditional Halloween celebration in Toronto because we are a 'hot zone' with substantial increase in Covid cases recently. So our blinds were pulled, and lights turned off, super sad!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, why are we dressed up this year? Well, we did a on-video, in-costume, mini-raid (20 instead of 40 players) on WoW. Our costumes were put together about 15 minutes before it started, since I do still have a dress up box with various bits and pieces; which is now also home to Jason's cowboy hat I made him buy for the <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2013/07/alberta-trip-calgary.html">Calgary Stampede</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKrOfqCe-lncBLXhpQI-41F7UPBatfSgNfa6ZcIaNVEdWOj_7cHnnEuZNM8c-vGotDcGzXPbHtNc1k_lYw-huZj2jqItoIUZhz_OywaHBDsMmLXeUm8KS6pj792kfuB6VvlWlfQ/s652/IMG-20201028-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="652" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKrOfqCe-lncBLXhpQI-41F7UPBatfSgNfa6ZcIaNVEdWOj_7cHnnEuZNM8c-vGotDcGzXPbHtNc1k_lYw-huZj2jqItoIUZhz_OywaHBDsMmLXeUm8KS6pj792kfuB6VvlWlfQ/w200-h149/IMG-20201028-WA0007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>There was still fun for kids, I am part of a local neighbourhood parents group on Facebook and a women in the area arranged for a physically distanced parade, scavenger hunt (we were an 'eye ball house' check out photo), and ghost message game in a nearby park. All the kids in the parade got a treat bag (I sent her a bit of money towards making them). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw92DkDvTqbaz328kpCvvgMlBDGnhUQgOViVk5lsHfxp6nNbzf8hysVjv0uN0ms2PeKQGc_reTVng01q_a1zF9es7uQqmXW7rDcNPi2GkBaspvLwxR4GDhyphenhyphenrF3gwIypjmaWidUg/s3561/IMG_20201031_143401936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3561" data-original-width="2682" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw92DkDvTqbaz328kpCvvgMlBDGnhUQgOViVk5lsHfxp6nNbzf8hysVjv0uN0ms2PeKQGc_reTVng01q_a1zF9es7uQqmXW7rDcNPi2GkBaspvLwxR4GDhyphenhyphenrF3gwIypjmaWidUg/w150-h200/IMG_20201031_143401936.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The activity sheets were posted on Facebook and we printed off the one for the park to try it out. It was quite the challenge! Jason and I spent over an hour wandering around the park to do it, we had to find 100 little ghosts and then colour in squares on a grid to learn the message. We found 95 of them and discovered that the answer to "What does a ghost say?" is "Boo!" I took a picture of Jason working on it, he took over the colouring part right away, and my job was to hold the pencil crayons. It might have been designed for kids, but I had a great time!</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-9233452827278663582020-10-23T10:00:00.001-04:002020-10-23T21:53:55.285-04:00JBR - Beer Was Beer, Fish Was Fish<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwxsdRCg7WWnbfDFKm9B0oWmQuqK6Ashp8ukqs8wFtlm4fOzRe5j6pEiWwdgU7nwL6B0WH-329hjgzzUYFwvioMbx91zybpi2g8JtsVq5poSzY39xBNLTodsDoJzNnRd5I4i9NQ/s4160/IMG_20201022_191119148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwxsdRCg7WWnbfDFKm9B0oWmQuqK6Ashp8ukqs8wFtlm4fOzRe5j6pEiWwdgU7nwL6B0WH-329hjgzzUYFwvioMbx91zybpi2g8JtsVq5poSzY39xBNLTodsDoJzNnRd5I4i9NQ/w150-h200/IMG_20201022_191119148.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Beer:</b> Lakeside Kolsh, <a href="http://www.lowbrewco.com/" target="_blank">Lake of the Woods Brewing Co</a>, Kenora <div><b>Name: </b>Lakeside is one of Kenora’s first neighbourhoods with many of its homes situated on the shores of Lake of the Woods, spattered with small beaches, boathouses & docks. </div><div><b>Details: </b>Brewed using an old-world technique which produces a crisp, clean ale with lager characteristics. It is a delicate & subtle beer with a hint of malt & fruit in the nose. </div><div><b>Fancy Numbers:</b> 5% ABV, 6 IBU, 3 SRM</div><div><b>Date Tried:</b> Thursday October 22, 2020 <div><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.cornerstonerestaurant.ca/" target="_blank">The Cornerstone Restaurant</a>, Kenora, Ontario </div><div><b>Meal: </b>Good dinner but too much food! I had the local fish, Lake of the Woods <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walleye" target="_blank">Walleye</a> - it tasted like fish.<br /><b>General thoughts from Jason, when asked for his review: </b>"Not great, just like any other beer. Tastes a bit like Molson, which is not a compliment" <div><b>Editor's note:</b> Huge glass though, he was pretty tipsy by the end of it (I drove us back to the hotel after.)</div></div></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-2454329885751690492020-10-21T21:59:00.001-04:002020-10-23T22:10:24.560-04:00Avery And Maya<div style="text-align: left;">We did not get to see my brother and his family for long enough - the trouble with driving is that it takes so long to get out to Alberta (and so long to get back) that is doesn't leave much time for actually visiting. The kids were awesome and hilarious, I can't believe we haven't <b><a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2019/11/long-ago-insult-comes-back.html" target="_blank">seen them since Palm Springs</a></b> this past November. Here is my favourite quote from this visit...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Avery:</b> Maya hates me.<br /><b>Me:</b> No, that can't be true. You're her brother, she loves you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Avery: </b>Uh-uh, she doesn't like me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maya:</b> I like you!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Avery:</b> No, Maya wouldn't like me if I ate her.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Me:</b> Umm, I guess that is true?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Maya:</b> Yeah, if Avery eats me, I will kill him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Jason:</b> <i>confused</i> I don't think you can kill him if he has eaten you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Me: </b><i>confused that Jason is trying to add logic into any of this</i></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-91632537181117058692020-10-19T21:06:00.003-04:002020-10-23T21:39:22.734-04:00JBR - Fahr Beer Pilsner<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC5Y7HC4ALXEw8x2P9GJPNyd6T7itIgT2taSvTwARtbuCqJGl4SY56fuwM2HJI-we0DaZMM2tIvi_NbyxfDeQA74UnoLU14iV4JEGO-kX39jXO2Rz6nsUH9Z344gHUywPdMqJVA/s1600/IMG-20201023-WA0005.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC5Y7HC4ALXEw8x2P9GJPNyd6T7itIgT2taSvTwARtbuCqJGl4SY56fuwM2HJI-we0DaZMM2tIvi_NbyxfDeQA74UnoLU14iV4JEGO-kX39jXO2Rz6nsUH9Z344gHUywPdMqJVA/w150-h200/IMG-20201023-WA0005.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Beer:</b> Pils, <a href="https://www.fahr.ca/" target="_blank">Fahr Beer</a>, Turner Valley, Alberta<br /><div><b>Details: </b>This Black Forrest style Pilsner is unique to North America. Fuller bodied with less hop and bitterness, this beer stands out amongst other Northern German Pilsners more commonly found in Canada. This beer is filtered for clarity, has 5.0% alc./vol. and has a crisp finish. The Pils maintains flavours of crackers, floral notes, and a slight lingering bitterness to cut through the initial sweetness of the malt used. <div><b>Awards: </b>2020 World Beer Awards Canada Gold Winner for Best Classic Pilsener Style Lager Beer</div><div><b>Recommended By: </b>Sutik a few days earlier, he told us it was a really good microbrewery</div><div><b>Date Tried:</b> Sunday October 18, 2020 </div><div><b>Location: </b><a href="https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/dining/sky-bistro/" target="_blank">Sky Bistro</a>, on the summit of Sulphur Mountain, at the top of the Banff Gondola</div><div><b>Meal: </b>A light dinner that was really delicious - Jason had the gnocchi and I had a mushroom and asparagus dish.<br /><b>General thoughts from Jason, when asked for his review: </b>"Very clean, crisp, high quality. You can taste the German in it." <div><b>Why it tasted German:</b> The founder of Fahr Beer is Jochen Fahr, who was born and raised in Ebringen, Germany. The brewery also follows <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot" target="_blank">Reinheitsgebot</a>, the “German Purity Law.” </div><div><b>Editor's note:</b> Was hoping a drink would help Jason on the gondola decent, he really isn't a fan of heights - it didn't, I think he was even worse going down than up. </div></div></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-39564806187756292182020-10-17T20:51:00.005-04:002020-10-23T21:38:52.538-04:00JBR - Lager With A Scary Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWVpRjADfmSFmQqFk3Qx1hO0KN1ybO5Ax3H7WDz87y0qTjV94_YHJyKH8t-OaXTtTnG9CK064wuZseuxOQxY_atHIUADecnktuCKSGSDY8_wyfZD4YwwUEZAWrVL_gUGc9LcHag/s4160/IMG_20201017_185555294.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWVpRjADfmSFmQqFk3Qx1hO0KN1ybO5Ax3H7WDz87y0qTjV94_YHJyKH8t-OaXTtTnG9CK064wuZseuxOQxY_atHIUADecnktuCKSGSDY8_wyfZD4YwwUEZAWrVL_gUGc9LcHag/w150-h200/IMG_20201017_185555294.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><b>Beer:</b> Ghost Bride <div><b>Type: </b>Lager<div><b>Date Tried:</b> Saturday October 17, 2020 </div><div><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.vermillionroom.com/" target="_blank">Vermillion Room</a>, Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel</div><div><b>Meal: </b>An amazing steak dinner!<br /><b>General thoughts from Jason, when asked for his review: </b>"I don't know, fine." <div><b>Another Custom Brew:</b> This beer was <a href="https://alwaysstanding.blogspot.com/2020/10/jbr-but-it-was-special.html" target="_blank"><b>also a limited edition</b></a> made specifically for the hotel by Big Rock Brewery.<br /><b>Editor's note:</b> We heard <b><a href="https://royalalbertamuseumblog.tumblr.com/post/179628580328/the-mystery-of-the-ghost-bride" target="_blank">the story</a></b> last night during the Ghost Tour of the hotel.</div></div></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-6118092263515801492020-10-16T20:33:00.001-04:002020-10-23T20:50:54.246-04:00JBR - But It Was Special<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYVVrEJrh4PhxhojH7DCThWBOzm5gCK_dgbDJ6H0iYt2OXRxrJ0UFX-M0mL1sNZvSu_x9tsCPhLFKnuEchSUztHglIZUXEAn_MkqXPImH5gVBV8SN0EZnC41OWYaLdyoa6NZ1sg/s4160/IMG_20201016_172257087.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYVVrEJrh4PhxhojH7DCThWBOzm5gCK_dgbDJ6H0iYt2OXRxrJ0UFX-M0mL1sNZvSu_x9tsCPhLFKnuEchSUztHglIZUXEAn_MkqXPImH5gVBV8SN0EZnC41OWYaLdyoa6NZ1sg/w150-h200/IMG_20201016_172257087.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><b>Beer: </b>Banff Spring Lager, Big Rock Brewery, Calgary, Alberta<br /><b>Date Tried:</b> Friday October 16, 2020 during the bar's 'Rush Hour' so it was only $6, I ordered it for him while he was in the washroom<br /><b>Location:</b> <a href="https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/dining/rundle-bar/" target="_blank">Rundle Lounge</a>, Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel<br /><b>General thoughts from Jason, when asked for his review: </b>"Nothing special." <div><b>Why It Was Special:</b> Even though Big Rock now has a bottle shop and dining hall in <a href="https://bigrockbeer.com/eatery/eatery/big-rock-brewery-toronto/" target="_blank">Liberty Village, Toronto</a> and does brewing out of Vancouver and Etobicoke, as well as, Calgary - this beer was obviously a limited edition made specifically for the hotel.<br /><b>Editor's note:</b> My drink came in a monkey! A 'zero proof' cocktail that was very tasty.</div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-65947102216361037792020-10-13T19:49:00.001-04:002020-10-23T20:04:50.023-04:00RTW - Quick, Get Through Manitoba<p><i>RTW - Big drive out west from Toronto to Calgary/Banff/Edmonton and back. Covid means no flying or cutting through the USA, so Jason and I are taking the car and doing a road trip!</i></p><b>Date:</b> Monday Oct 12, 2020 (Thanksgiving Day)<div><b>Starting Location:</b> Cabin just north of Kenora</div><div><b>Ending Location:</b> Basement Bachelor Apartment in Regina, Saskatchewan</div><div><b>Distance Driven: </b>791 km</div><div><b>Scenery: </b>Farms, fairly flat, occasional river valley.</div><div><b>Animals: </b>Tons of bald eagles, magpies, young coyote, big bunnies</div><div><b>Soundtrack:</b> In the morning <a href="https://peggy991.com/" target="_blank">Peggy 99.1</a> (Winnipeg's Favourites) and then in the afternoon 96.1 Bob FM (80's...90's...and Whatever! out of Brandon, Manitoba)</div><div><b>Notes:</b> We tried to limit our stops in Manitoba because they have stricter Covid rules than the rest of the western provinces, however we did need to get gas once. (And I peed on many country side roads.) I packed us a lunch, made sandwiches, roast beef for Jason and bologna with cheese singles for me. The last couple of nights we have been making Hello Fresh meals but are finished them now - for it was Kraft Dinner in the Airbnb in Regina.<p></p></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-76950159036038034582020-10-11T20:58:00.007-04:002020-10-14T21:49:19.370-04:00RTW - Still In Ontario<p><i>RTW - Big drive out west from Toronto to Calgary/Banff/Edmonton and back. Covid means no flying or cutting through the USA, so Jason and I are taking the car and doing a road trip!</i></p><b>Date:</b> Sunday Oct 11, 2020<div><b>Starting Location:</b> Catfish Lake, near Wawa</div><div><b>Ending Location:</b> Cabin just north of Kenora</div><div><b>Distance Driven: </b>976 km</div><div><b>Scenery: </b>Big hills, farm land, lots of trees, Canadian shield rock, lakes.</div><div><b>Animals: </b>Beautiful red fox, a bald eagle, deer, more fields of cows and such.</div><div><b>Soundtrack:</b> In the morning a burnt CD with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOVNvFkKVRM" target="_blank">Neil Young</a>'s <i>Harvest</i> album on it, in the afternoon it was a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPLV7lGbmT4" target="_blank">Santana</a> CD (a purchased one, he collaborated with a lot of different people.) Borrowed music from my Dad's old collection when I last visited my Mom.</div><div><b>Notes:</b> It takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to get out of Ontario! Longest scheduled driving day, over 10 hours on the road. Passed a lot of nice waterfalls that we hope to stop and see on our way back. A time changed part way through helped us arrive at our Airbnb while it was still light out, but barely. Got to spend some time down at the water's edge before cooking dinner and heading to bed.<p></p></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29632577.post-56184513607036672892020-10-10T21:57:00.024-04:002020-10-14T23:35:55.351-04:00RTW - Ferry Ride!<p><i> RTW - Big drive out west from Toronto to Calgary/Banff/Edmonton and back. Covid means no flying or cutting through the USA, so Jason and I are taking the car and doing a road trip!</i></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosSzhNfmVxwAXw35iEQqZTyYG84WpSIeucGpD2bBoK88CevDOVrtk2cp_HBv4PzchY7hmuxnAha5EW7-6aou-7gbo42mFl9GoPmeL1MakYP_bDdI_McKTx6mzG6uCQH61eO91Jg/s1600/IMG-20201011-WA0003.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosSzhNfmVxwAXw35iEQqZTyYG84WpSIeucGpD2bBoK88CevDOVrtk2cp_HBv4PzchY7hmuxnAha5EW7-6aou-7gbo42mFl9GoPmeL1MakYP_bDdI_McKTx6mzG6uCQH61eO91Jg/s320/IMG-20201011-WA0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b>Date:</b> Saturday Oct 10, 2020<div><b>Starting Location:</b> Jason's Parents</div><div><b>Ending Location:</b> Catfish Lake, near Wawa</div><div><b>Distance Driven: </b>712 km</div><div><b>Scenery: </b>Water, short trees, lakes, and large hills past Sault Ste Maire</div><div><b>Animals:</b> A lot of agriculture - fields of cows, some with horses and occasionally sheep.</div><div><b>Soundtrack:</b> Local radio stations, really local.</div><div><b>Notes:</b> We took the Chi-Cheemaun, a big car ferry that goes from Tobermory at the top of the Bruce Peninsula, to Manitoulin Island, which is the world's largest freshwater island. I took this ferry once before with my family (I think in the opposite direction) and it has been the only time I have ever been motion sick, I remember being very very ill. Was fine this time though (and on any other ferry I have taken, which by now has been a lot.) The coolest part of the Chi-Cheemaun was definitely the car part, besides that it was a pretty normal ferry ride. You can see in the photo that the bow is hinged and lifted up so that we can drink into the hull area to park. We had to be there really early and it took up most of the morning. The Fall colours are beautiful!!<p></p></div>Christine Sweetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02882519925811953093noreply@blogger.com0