Pages and posts about life at Larisa Grove in Mississauga’s Churchill Meadows neighbourhood.
The first big snow storm of the season roared in riding high winds in late January. We stocked up on groceries at home, and neither of us really had to go out anywhere, so we heard the winds of an Alberta Clipper, a fast-moving west-to-east storm, carry its load of snow into Mississauga. Everybody was nice and cozy at home, especially the cats.
Easter 2018 at home meant friends and family, and some delightful recipes to try, especially hot cross buns, oven-baked and fresh. They were terrific!
This October weekend, Bob and I have used our Facebook sites and other electronic networks to wish our personal and professional friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. In Canada, Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October, about seven weeks earlier than in the USA.
One Friday in late February of 2016, Bob stopped at our favourite pet shop to get some food for Bebe. At the shop, they have an arrangement with a cat rescue agency called Ninth Life Cat Rescue. They accept cat litters, arrange for people to foster expecting females, and place both kittens and also older cats given up for one reason or another by their owners.
One such cat, named Merlin, was at the shop on that day. Bob asked what the story was on Merlin. Merlin had been raised and owned by a lady, now elderly, who was slipping into dementia, and was struggling to remember to look after Merlin. Just past his 13th birthday, Merlin needed a new home. Bob picked him up, and something magic happened to both of them.
While Bob followed the Toronto Blue Jays journey into the baseball post-season, and I tried to learn the cricket-like game, autumn was also a time to bid farewell to the things we treasure most about our home: our divine garden and the ability to have our ‘outdoor rooms’ during the good weather.
We enjoyed a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast this October. Thanksgiving weekend was a balmy throwback to summer, with daytime highs in the mid-20s. Bob wanted scalloped potatoes to go with the turkey dinner, and set out to make it with me. We were both surprised at how relatively simple it was to do, and how good it tasted.
In the spring of 2015, a couple of red-breasted robins decided to build their nest in our crabapple tree along the side. Then along came some eggs, and we had a family move in. That year of 2015, there was songbird music as never before, and Mr. and Mrs. Robin were attentive parents. We saw two little baby birds poke their heads up over the edge of the nest.
Ontario got its first major snowfall of the 2014-15 winter on “Groundhog Day,” the day halfway between the start of winter and the start of spring. As the hokey commercial legend goes, if the fabled groundhog (Ontario’s is named Wiarton Willie after the rural place where the mid-winter drink-up is held) sees his shadow, the rodent goes back into his hole, and we have another six weeks of winter weather.
The wonderful thing about hosting friends and family is not having to travel, and putting on one’s very best for people we care about, and even a few who just need a place to be on Christmas. The other side of that, of course, is that Bob and I work like galley servants for several days leading up to, and through Boxing Day. You’re always cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, taking something out, putting something away, and also trying to make it look effortless while engaging in chatter with the guests. Other than all that, it’s a piece of cake!
Andrea and Mom have been cooking up a storm at the house all day Saturday. The place smells divine. Zach…
However, seeing as how Andrea was stuck inside, we did have a great lunch of freshly-made hamburgers. Andrea did a…
Andrea forgot the last part of snow shoveling. We finished up at about 3:00 p.m., and then at 10:00 p.m.,…
Andrea made a fantastic turkey dinner. She didn't believe me that a 7 kg turkey would be big enough, but…
I had to mind the cats and go to the Legislature during that cruise. I am looking forward to enjoying…