I realize it has been a month since I have sat down and written a blog.  I really do not have a good excuse for it.  I could blame how busy the Christmas holidays were, having sick kids and being sick myself, but these are pretty lame reasons.  What really happened was that I lost my motivation!  That and I started to read the Game of Thrones book series and became caught up in in the fantasy world of King's Landing, Winterfell and the Wall.

Last night at work I was given inspiration to write this blog thanks to a student asking me a simple question.  He was working on a homework assignment for his English class.  The assignment he had involved completing journal entries for a novel they are reading.  One of the entries had to do with having dreams and aspirations.  He must have been trying to brainstorm ideas because he asked me what my dreams are?

I was completely caught off guard by the question and actually drew a blank!  All I could come up with at the time was that I would like to do some travelling.  I honestly could not think of anything else.  If he had asked me the same question back when I was in University I would have had numerous answers such as: obtain a job, get married, have kids, own a house etc. 

Now that I have achieved those dreams I have never really thought about dreams for myself.  I have dreams as a parent for my children and short-term goals for myself like losing some weight and paying off credit card debt, but I have never really thought about any 'dreams'.  Do we lose those dreams and aspirations we had as kids because we mature and grow older or am I at a point in life where my dreams are simply to enjoy life and be happy?  What are your dreams?

Thought of the day: Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks?

Quote of the day:  You have to dream before your dreams can come true.  A.P.J. Kalam

A couple of weeks ago my daughter's school choir performed with a few members of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra at Southminster United Church.  After the performance I was motivated to see the Symphony again as I was reminded of my love for the orchestra.

This past Sunday I had a date night with my daughter.  We left the boys at home and attended our first ever performance of the Lethbridge Symphony.  Not only did we get to take in the wonderful sounds of the orchestra, we were also treated to singing by "5 Singing Guys and a Men's Chorus".  The title for this performance was "Ye Merry Men's Christmas", which makes sense being the time of year it is.

There were a few traditional Christmas Carols performed such as "It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year", as well as songs I was not overly familiar with.  My favourite song of the afternoon was the "Huron Carol" sang by the Men's Chorus.  The entire show was fantastic and I would have loved to watch the second performance if I would not have had to work!

I had tears in my eyes at the end of the concert when the entire audience participated in a sing-a-long with the orchestra and the Men's Chorus.  The way everyone came together in time to the music singing all of those Christmas songs we learned as children was magical!

I always thought the Symphony was for 'rich' people until I attended this performance on Sunday.  Many young families were there as well as older couples whom I can only assume may be the ones I imagined attending these types of events.  Regardless of 'status', I realized that attending the Symphony is an activity for anyone who has a love and passion for music.  I hope I pass this trait on to my daughter who seemed enthralled by the concert.

I hope to continue attending performances by the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and in writing this blog have hopefully inspired some of you to think about supporting the 'arts' in your area as well!

Thought of the day:  Why do you get on a bus and a train but get into a car?

Quote of the day: If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.- George S. Patton

One of my favorite meals has to be breakfast, from choices such as French Toast to Baking Powder Biscuits.  Who does not enjoy salty breakfast meat?  On the other hand, one of my least favorite meals to cook would have to be breakfast.  Whipping up pancake batter (from scratch of course) and being splattered by oil is not always as much fun as it sounds.

As a Facebook user I come across like many of you do as well, numerous recipes to experiment with.  One Saturday evening around 10:30pm as I lay in bed (my Saturdays are very exciting), I made the decision to attempt eggs in a muffin tin for breakfast the next morning.  I found a recipe that was simple, not that any of them are complicated, and tried it out in the morning.

To the delight of my family and myself, these were some of the best eggs I have ever made!  I did not have to stand over the stove watching everything either which was a huge bonus!  I used ingredients I had on hand to go in the eggs which included ham and diced tomatoes, but these ingredients can be swapped for almost anything you prefer.  Here is the basic recipe I used from the web site "The Lemon Bowl".

Recipe:
12 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
6 slices Canadian bacon - diced
1/4 cup minced scallions
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces shredded cheese (cheddar, marble etc.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray muffin pan.  In a large bowl whisk together eggs and milk.  Stir in bacon and scallions with salt and pepper to taste.  Divide egg mixture between 12 muffin tins (1/3 cup each), sprinkle with cheese.  Bake until eggs are set 25-30 minutes.  Let cool slightly before removing from pan.

I have seen similar recipes used with bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers etc.  Go wild!

 Interesting tidbit:  According to www.incredibleegg.org East Indian history indicates wild fowl were domesticated as early as 3200 B.C.  Egyptian and Chinese records show fowl laying eggs for man in 1400 B.C.  It is believed Columbus' ships carried the first chickens to the Americas.  There are nearly 200 breeds and varieties of chickens worldwide.

Thought of the day:  Do they call a fortune teller who can't see a 'blind seer'?

Quote of the day:  A clever person solves a problem.  A wise person avoids it.- Albert Einstein

On Wednesday November 11th, 2015 we should all take the time to honour and commemorate the men and women in the military who have lost their lives in armed conflicts.  Remembrance Day is recognized as the anniversary of the official end of the World War I conflicts on November 11, 1918. www.timeanddate.com

Symbols of Remembrance Day include poppies that people wear and place at war memorials, wreaths, cenotaphs and the poem by John McCrae called "In Flanders Fields".  The tradition of Remembrance Day includes a one or two minute of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  The Last Post is played followed by the period of silence followed by Reveille.  This often brings tears to my eyes.

Each year it seems that less and less people can find the time to attend the local Remembrance Day services held in their communities.  The people who do end up attending these services are for the majority the 'older' people in the community or those who had/have family serving in the military.  Everyone young and old should realize that the reason we have the rights and freedoms that we do are because of those brave men and women who fought in World War I, World War II, Korean War etc. and who are fighting against terrorism now.

I believe this quote from the Canadian Armed Forces program they run called Canada Remembers sums it up well: "It is important to teach our youth to understand and appreciate what those who have served Canada in times of war, conflict and peace stand for and what they have sacrificed for their country'.  www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day   I plan to attend the ceremonies with my children to emphasize to them how important Remembrance Day is!

Thought of the day: How can there be "self-help GROUPS"?

Quote of the day:  The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.-Czeslaw Milosz, The Issa Valley

Aside from Christmas, Halloween or All Hallows' Evening is a highly anticipated event for many children and adults.  From carving jack-o-lanterns to visiting 'haunted houses', Halloween has been a popular 'holiday' since the Gaelic culture celebrated a festival known as Samhain (sah-win).  www.halloweenhistory.org/

As a kid I used to love Halloween, not for the candy I would collect, but for the opportunity to dress up in some sort of costume.  For me the fun in Halloween was piling into our huge van with my cousins and then driving from neighbours house to house in the countryside.  The social aspect was what I enjoyed, of course receiving 'treats' was a bonus. 

Using my imagination to create a costume from items we had laying around the house was also one of the reasons I looked forward to Halloween.  Nowadays people spend hundreds of dollars on costumes that are worn once and then tossed aside.

I still enjoy dressing up as some random character that comes to mind while taking my own children 'trick or treating'.  They think it is hilarious and I get to act like a kid again, win-win!  Seeing the excitement and joy on my children's faces as they dress up in their costumes is what makes the night worthwhile!  Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone!

Thought of the day: How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the morning?

Quote of the day:  What is forgiven is usually well remembered.- Louis Dudek 

Yesterday I exercised my right as a Canadian to cast my vote and take part in the electoral process.  By the time I was finished work at 8:00pm a notification on my phone informed me that the CBC had already projected a majority Liberal government.

Is this the outcome I had been hoping for?  Not at all.....but was I surprised?  I was not surprised in the least bit.  Like many, I will take this change as it is, keep up with current events and wait patiently to cast my vote again.

As I sat waiting for an eye exam this morning, I could not help but overhear a conversation about the previous night's election.  I was curious what these ladies had to say about the result but was taken aback by one of the ladies' comments.  When asked if she had voted she said 'no'.  In fact, she said she had never voted in her lifetime (this lady appeared to be in her 50-60's)!

How can that be?  In a world where people wage wars and give up their lives for the chance to vote once, how can a person who lives in Canada with all of it's rights and freedoms have never voted?  In my opinion it is a privilege as well as a responsibility for each and every individual to exercise their democratic right and go vote!

Is the outcome always as we want?  Of course not, but at least I was not apathetic about the process!

Thought of the day:  Why can't we tickle ourselves?

Quote of the day:  When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.- Euripedes

When I think of Thanksgiving the first thing to come to my mind is family.  My family gets together for the Thanksgiving holiday and enjoys, like the majority of people do, a turkey dinner with all the goodies that come with it.  This year I want to ensure that my family take some time to give 'thanks' for all of the blessings that we have and enjoy.

This is what the holiday was intended for, more so than the reason of getting together to eat a turkey!  According to www.kidzworld.com the origins of Thanksgiving in Canada are closely connected to traditions from Europe.  The first celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada took place when Martin Frobisher arrived in Newfoundland in 1578.  He wanted to give 'thanks' for his safe arrival.  Thanksgiving for Canadians is more about giving thanks for the harvest season which is why we celebrate in October.  On January 31st, 1957, Canadian Parliament decided that the second Monday in October would be a "day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed".

Taking the time to give 'thanks' for all of the good in our lives should not be a hard thing to do, yet it seems to be easily overlooked and forgotten about.  Everyone has something negative or problematic in their lives and I am not denying that, but we all have something we can give thanks for even if it is as simple as being thankful for friends and family who love us and the life we have been given.

My aim this Thanksgiving is to try and have my family members stop to think about what they are thankful for, it cannot hurt to try and start a new tradition!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Thought of the day:  Is it wrong for vegetarians to eat animal crackers?

Quote of the day:  Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.- William Arthur Ward

The last time I whipped up a bunch of these muffins they did not last through the day.  My kids gobbled them up like candy so as I was making these this morning I decided to share the recipe.  I found this recipe in a book I was given by my kids' great grandma Jesse.  The recipe book is comprised of recipes submitted by family relatives.  This particular recipe is my go to recipe when I want to use up those overripe bananas.  It is a simple recipe, but tasty!


Best Ever Banana Muffins

3 large bananas
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup melted margarine

Mash bananas.  Add sugar and slightly beaten egg.  Add melted margarine.  Add dry ingredients and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Interesting tidbit:  English style muffins date back to the 10th or 11th century in Wales (yeast raised and cooked on a griddle).  American style muffins are 'quick breads" made in molds.  These were developed in the 18th century.  The word muffin comes from the French word 'moufflet' which is applied to bread and means soft. http://mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/muffin-fun-facts/

Thought of the day:  Why do croutons come in airtight packages?  It's just stale bread to begin with.

Quote of the day:  We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.- E. M. Forster

As a Teacher I experience a lot of ups and downs through my students.  I was recently working with a student who while working through an assignment commented on how badly she was 'failing' the exercise.  There was no grade being assigned to this activity so it made me wonder what failing meant to her.

Her reply to my question was if she received a score of 65% or less on a test.  The activity she was working on was not a test, but instead was walking her through how to interpret tone and mood when reading a passage or story.  It was all about her understanding of the concept, not whether she was going to pass or fail, but failing was all she could focus on.

Even if she were to score 65% or less on the activity it by no means is automatically a fail.  Instead it means she needs to keep practising.  I see this attitude all of the time in students who are so afraid of failing that they will not try, or when they do try and do not see the results they expected simply give up.

My daughter does this all of the time when it comes to math.  She is so afraid of getting a question wrong that she stresses herself out to the point of tears.  Some may think that perhaps I am putting pressure on her to achieve perfection.  This could be further from the truth as I understand all too well how math can be frustrating and confusing!

All I ask of her and anyone whom I have as a student is that they try and keep on trying.  It is ok to be wrong, making mistakes is one of the ways in how we learn.  It certainly does not mean we have failed.  Maybe as a society we are failing because of how negative we perceive failure to be!

Thought of the day:  If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the center of the earth?

Quote of the day:  The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.- Ralph Waldo Emerson

My children are in all most likelihood the same as other children and prefer to eat a few select items.  Two of their favorites amongst chicken nuggets and French fries, spaghetti, hot dogs etc. would be macaroni/cheese and tacos.  When I came across the recipe for the Macaroni and Taco Bake I thought I had struck gold!

What could be better than their two favorite meals combined into one?  As it turns out they were not as excited by this meal as I was, but they still liked it enough that I felt it was worthwhile to mention and share on my blog.

Macaroni Taco Bake
1 lbs. ground beef
15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 1/4 oz. pkg taco seasoning mix
3 cups elbow macaroni, cooked
8 oz. container sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Garnish; green onions, chopped

Brown beef, drain.  Stir in tomato sauce and seasoning mix.  Bring to a boil and remove from heat.  Combine cooked macaroni, sour cream and 1/2 the cheddar cheese in a  bowl.  Spoon macaroni mixture into a greased 13 X 9 pan.  Top with the beef mixture and remaining cheese.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Garnish with green onions.

Interesting Tidbit:  According to CliffordAWright.com the origin of macaroni lies within Arab culture and not the Etruscans, Greeks, Romans or Chinese as some have thought.  By the 15th century macaroni was commonly known and eaten in Italy.  The very first macaroni products were most likely little balls of pasta which could be easily stored and cooked quickly.  By the late 18th century macaroni was the food of the common people in Italy.

Thought of the day:  Do one legged ducks swim in circles?

Quote of the day: Happiness depends upon ourselves.- Aristotle