Don't forget to leave at least a comment on this post for a chance to win a great CD! And if you're so inclined there is a way to get at least 3 more entries on top of that. But at least go get the one entry. You won't be sorry!

Friday's Fave Five #39

Welcome, welcome. It's Friday so it's time for Fave Five. I'm looking forward to all your favorites from the week. I could use me a bit of encouragement and making my own list and then reading all yours always uplifts me. So let's get right to it. If you're new, you can go here to get the details.

1. This youtube video cracks me right up.




2. The garden is in! Yipee, it was beautiful weather this week and I finally got to get all the flowers planted. I always feel really good when this is done.

3. Maple walnut ice cream. Haven't had it in years. Had it this week. 'Nuff said.

4. Pineapple Daiquiri Cooling Foot Creme. Love this stuff from Beauti Control. I don't even know if they make it anymore but I sure am love the tube that I have. It smells sooo good and actually leaves your feet feeling cool. Very nice.

5. Open windows at night time. The weather has been nice enough through the night that we can actually leave a couple of windows open just a little bit. There is something about fresh air that just makes me sleep better.

6. I'm breaking the rules just this once and adding an extra one today. And if you know me and my rule following tendencies, you will know the reason has got to be pretty extra special. And it is. The opportunity to do this giveaway has me thrilled. Please click on over to this post and have a peek and enter the draw for a CD. Leaving a comment will get you entered. And there is a way to get 3 extra entries in too!

What's been your favorites this week? If you've done a post, sign on to Mr. Linky and join the fun. The linky is a little different this week until they work out their issues. Just click on the words "Mister Linky" and sign on as usual. The links are not displayed so please click on it to display and access the links.

CD Giveaway!

I have the most exciting giveaway today. I first met Margaret Graham when she spoke and sang at a Christmas banquet at my church. I was moved by her testimony and her heart and her joyful spirit. Joy just oozes from this lady. As a worship leader, Margaret has built a thriving worship team in the church where she and her husband are senior leaders. Margaret's passion is to draw others into God's presence and she does this not only at her local church but by taking teams to other places to teach about worship and help others to grow into their giftings.

Which brings me to my giveaway. Margaret and her team were at our church on the weekend doing what they do best and after a powerful service in which she led worship I was thrilled that she had brought along her just released first ever professional CD. So I stalked her, followed her around, asked her and she graciously allowed me to give away a CD for you all.

The album is entitled "The Time Has Come" and is about the journey to God's promises and God's faithfulness to bring about His promises for you in His time. In Margaret's own words from her website:

"Challenges may come, storms may come, dark winter seasons may come but his love never quits it just keeps on coming. My hope is that as you listen to the album you will be overwhelmed by God’s amazing grace."

From the very first song "Beautiful Thing" (which, by the way, a little bird told me has been nominated for an award) to "You're All I Need" to "Saved the Day" you will be encouraged to hang onto those dreams God has given you until He fulfills them in His time.

So now the giveaway.

• Go to Margaret's site and look around
• Listen to the samples andleave a comment letting me know which of the songs that are featured you like the best for one entry
  
• For an extra entry, mention the giveaway on your site and link to Margaret's site and to this specific post.
• For 2 more extra entries in the giveaway, Tweet the same on Twitter and/or link the same on Facebook and that will give you more chances to win. Leave a seperate comment for each one of these things that you do.

So that's a chance for 4 entries to win Margaret Graham's awesome CD. Don't forget you have to leave a seperate comment for each venue that you that link you on. And you know, you can also purchase the CD and specific songs for your Mp3 on the site as well.

I will make the draw next Friday, June 5. As always please make sure I have a way to get ahold of you, either a link to a blog site or an email.

Wordless Wednesday

Before:

After:

She's been dethroned.

For the summer anyway.

For more Wordless Wednesday go here and here

I love my trees. For way too many years we lived without one tree in the backyard. The yard faces south so you can imagine how we fried out there by the time the hot afternoons rolled around with the sun beating down on us. It was almost unbearable in the hot summer months.

But one year, as a Mother's Day gift, because that is what I wanted, hubby put in a dozen or so lovely Colorado Aspen trees. They grow tall and straight up, 3 feet a year, so now I have a tall wall of trees. And no this is not pictures left over from the fall. These are the fresh new leaves that they are sprouting right now. They come out bronze, and over a couple of weeks they will turn green. And in the fall they become a gorgeous shade of yellow with some burgundy and red thrown in as well.

All summer long we have protection from the heat as we sit in it's shade and shadows and a shelter against the strong westerly winds around here. There is nothing I love more than to take my book and my coffee out to the chairs we keep close to them and just rest, even if there is at times a half dozen kids playing around me.

Everytime I'm out there I'm reminded of God's promise to us if we would come and draw close to Him:

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will
rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress,

my God in whom I trust"

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV

My daughter's flip flops:

My daughter's phone:

She is now well prepared, should the need ever arise, to have her phone camouflaged by her shoe.

I don't think I want to know what that need would be.

But I know I won't have to worry.

Oh God, move this day, in our cities!



Kris Allen leading worship in New Life Church, Mauelle, Arkansas

Friday's Fave Five #38

Welcome everyone! It Friday's Fave Five time again. I'm really looking forward to reading all your favorites. If you're new and want to know what it's about and what to do you can just jump over here and then join right in!

1. Scoring Great Deals on Books. We all know my love of books but my oldest also loves to read. As a kid she read the kid's version of the Left Behind Series and really enjoyed it, so I started to collect the adult version for her. But I haven't been buying them at the book stores, I've made my purchases at the library. Last week I picked up two more towards the set:

Notice how they look brand new! And hardcover to boot. Now take a look at the price on the back of them had I have purchased them in the book store.

Now look at the price I paid for them in the little used book purchase corner of my library.

So far I have half the set for her and I've paid a total of $18. And the books are all in great to excellent condition. The only thing is I have to keep going back and checking the shelves. I keep a running list in my purse of which ones I already have and check everytime I'm in the library. Good thing it's a place I love to go anyway. And hey for that kind of price, I'm even known to go a little out of my way!

2. Allrecipes.com daily dish. One of the recipe sites that I use the most often. After a couple years I finally registered with them to take advantage of storing my favorite recipes on their server rather than use up my harddrive storing all of them. And now I'm wondering what on earth took me so long to do this. I check marked the little box for them to send me a recipe page a day and I'm totally loving this litte feature. In my email each moring comes a page linking to about 4 different recipes from the sight, all with high ratings, usually following a theme. I don't even have to search if I don't want to for what to put on my menu plan if I'm making one or what's for supper that night. Love this feature.

3. This awesome webpage. I absolutely love this. Follow the instructions they give. How incredible and creative this is. Thanks to Angela Hunt's A Life in Pages for linking to this.

4. Looking back through photo albums of my kids when they were smaller. What a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. I've always loved every stage of their growth but have always wished I could be granted just one day a year where I could re-live them from when they were little. Just to keep it fresh in mind. Photos are the next best thing.

5. Birds singing. I've so been looking forward to hearing the birds singing through out the day and it's finally starting to happen. Their sweet voices can be heard throughout the day coming from my neighbors big pine trees. I'm sure there's got to be a couple nests in there somewhere. But when they start their song it just lifts my heart.

What are your favorites from your week? If you've done a Fave Five post go ahead and sign up on Mr. Linky so we can come and enjoy your favorites with you! Have a great weekend!

You Pick the Title

So the big excitement in the house last night was the American Idol finale. Quite an exciting show they put on. Hubby and I were commenting about wondering how much those people paid to get into that show with all those big names performing. It was so much fun watching the top 13 get to sing with all these huge music greats. The music was great, but the Idol awards, Blech. I could have done without revisiting Tatiana or Norman and Bikini Girl. That is one part of the show they can totally scrap in my opinion.

What struck me through the whole show is the seemingly genuine friendship that the top 2, Kris and Adam, seem have developed. It was really refreshing to watch. As was Kris' total shock and tonguetiedness ( I just invented a word, let's go with it) when he was announced the winner. I think he truly thought he didn't have a chance against Adam.

So why did Kris win was the topic of conversation amongst us last night. Several thoughts came up. First of all, let me say, I thought both final 2 were very, very talented. Just in very different ways. Adam's talent is way more obvious and in your face, while Kris' was much more subtle. That said, why didn't Adam, the obvious judges' and producers' favorite, win? Well this little Canadaian, who picked Kris from the top 32 but having to watch from the sidelines and not be able to vote, is gonna go out on a limb and tell you what I observed from the sidelines.

First, Adam was incredibly talented but incredibly polarizing. Either you liked his style or you didn't. He was very interesting to watch and you couldn't wait to see what he would do week to week with his theatrics even if you didn't like the screeming, but that is exactly the point. Would the general viewing audience of American Idol actually buy his CD, and listen without the visual effects, to his style of music. The majority of American Idol viewers, I'll bet, are not your hard core rockers.

Second, I think the judges and producer's blatant, constant endorsement and near worship of Adam actually backfired on him. I think it galvanized voters to vote for the more mainstream music style of first Danny and then Kris. This was American Idol after all, and their music is supposed to go onto mainstream radio, not a rock station. And it brought out the underdog factor. We all like to get behind the underdog, well, most of us anyway. Well, ok, me. I like to get behind the underdog.

Third, Adam came into the competition already with mega stage and professional experience. I mean the guy performed a main role with Val Kilmer in The Ten Commandments, the Musical. (Who knew Val Kilmer could sing, BTW, but that is a whole other post!) He was already the comsumate professional with great work ethic and know how, with his name well known in certain circles. Kris was totally the inexperienced guy next door who had a good voice and a desire to sing, who didn't even know if he could be the next American Idol when asked by the judges. And isn't the point of American Idol to find that unknown gem out there , the one hiding on that farm, or working behind the grocery store till, not necessarily the one who's already in the business in one form or another?

We watched Kris grow and get better and better each week. There is something inspirational about watching the underdog listen to the judges critiques and put them into practice and come into his own as an artist and performer. The judges didn't really critique Adam, they just fell all over themselves each week praising him, except when Simon would mention theatrics, but even then, he was never really critiqued. It didn't grab you and want to cheer him on and become his fan. He didn't grow on you. You were either a fan from the beginning or not.

Fourth, there was the Danny factor. When Danny got out, the question was who would get his votes. It only made sense that Danny's fans would back the guy who's style was more like Danny, which of course, was Kris. And with only 1 million votes out of 88 million separating Kris and Adam at the final three point those votes obviously went to Kris.


Fifth, there was something appealing to the general population about Kris' humbleness, in spite of the fact that Simon told him to cut out the humbleness, even in the face of Simon's disparaging comments the last few weeks and his telling the audience to make sure and get voting for Adam and even in the face of Paula and Kara's outright worship of Adam. Don't get me wrong I thought Adam was actually a very humble person too considering all the "can do no wrong praise" but he did have a very professional confidence in himself and his talents, whereas I don't think Kris really knew how good he actually is.

Sixth, never discount the tweenie vote, with their hundred mile an hour texting talents.

Congrats to both the final 2. I'm happy that Kris won. This will be life changing for him and his cute little wifey. I hope American Idol backs & promotes him well even if he wasn't their choice for the winner. I know I'll be buying his CD. Adam will, no doubt about it, get a big recording contract and go on to huge international fame, I'm sure. All he really needed was the exposure and for big recording execs to see him. In fact, it was probably better for Adam to not win as now he is free to do exactly what kind of recordings he wants without being tied to an American Idol contract and putting out what they deem would make the most money for them.

And that my friends is my post for my "Why Kris Won" or "Why Adam Lost" or "About American Idol by a Canadian" or "I haven't a clue what else to post about today so hey, why not post about American Idol" post. You can go ahead and pick your favorite title.

I've now done a first, writing about American Idol. What could be next? LOL.

Loving a Challenge

Well, there is one month left in Spring Reading Thing Challenge at Katrina's. I think I just might actually finish my books this time around. Although I must admit the one I am reading right now is slowing me down somewhat. And not because it isn't good, but just because of the simple fact that it is non-fiction. When I picked up "How the Scots Invented the Modern World", I did so because the title sounded interesting and I had seen it on a few sights. It's turned out not exactly as I expected, in fact, I'm not sure I could define exactly what it is that I expected. Basically it's a history of the Scots, from about the late 1600's, and how their history has wrought change in the world as a whole with ideas we've adopted and still adhere to today. Now I do enjoy history, so I'm sticking with the book, even though, it's not my usual fiction fare and even though it takes me way longer to finish it. It's one of those "it's not easy reading, but I just can't put it down" kinds of books. But just please don't ask me to take a test on it when I'm finished. There is waaaay too much information contained within it's pages.

But meanwhile, I have added other reads in there as well as there is just times a girl just needs something to escape with, something a bit more on the "read without concentrating too hard" level. Somehow, How Scots Invented the Modern World is just not kind of read you take into a bubble bath with you. Or one that you read during free time play with 6 preschoolers. So I think this is the first time ever in my life that I have so many books on the go at the same time. Four in total. Very unusual for me.

And one of the signs of a true book addiction, I'm already thinking of what to read for summer. I've got some lined up, but I want your suggestions. I love finding a new author and adding to my To Be Read list. For summer I'm thinking something of a lighter nature. Fun kinds of reads. So I'm asking you all, what are you reading and what can you recommend for good summer read. One that goes well with backyards, adirondack chairs, lakes, sunscreen and blankets on the grass. And of course, one that suits being interrupted 20 times in a half hour by the preschool set. If you know of something along these lines, suggest away.

Coming June 2, Travis Cottrell's newest praise and worship CD, "Jesus Saves Live" hits the stands.

You can have a sneak listen here at Travis' official website and pre-order, but even better? Boomama is giving away 20 copies before their release date. Whoo Hoo!

All Work and A Little Play

So it's a long weekend here in Canada. The first "official" weekend of the summer. As per our usual, we don't go anywhere on this long weekend. It's the typical weekend where all the campgrounds and parks tend to get the party-hardies out in droves and we're just not up for the crazy traffic out on the roads. Not that we camp either, but we do like our picnics and day trips. Just not this weekend.

No, this weekend is usually up for fun stuff like carpet cleaning, bush trimming and flower bed digging. Yeah, we are a fun people! We did manage to squeeze in a bar-b-que over at my sister's house yesterday. It was hot outside, 27*C, that means almost 80*F, so that is hot for this time of year. Perfect to fire up the grill and have some good visiting on the swing on her deck. Typical of around here though, today we woke to overcast skies and barely 5*C or 41*C, a little bit chilly.

So all my big plans of getting the bedding out plants in their planters and flower beds came to a screeching halt as there is still one night, next Thursday, that they are predicting below freezing temperaturs. Sigh, so these guys will be doing the twice daily dance with me of putting them and taking them in, putting them out and taking them in, for at least a few more days.

Saturday found me mixing top soil, which around here is clay, and peat moss together in the wheelbarrow and then putting into this flower bed. Yay, now I can say this one is done and ready and waiting for some of those flowers above.

If you look closely by the rock there, you can see the lovely burgundy leaved perrineal my kids got me for Mother's Day. I did plant that one out. Unfortunately, this bed still awaits me:

I took yesterday off to do some fun stuff, as in a birthday bar-b-que for my Dad at my sister's place. But now this is calling my name:


As is this:


and much to my chargrin, in years past I could always console myself saying I started a tan this weekend trimming these babies, but alas, I cannot even lay claim to that this year as I will probably be wearing a darn parka. Thank you weatherman! And yes, I do realize the grass is two different colors, as in there is grass in one strip, and stripped grass in the other. LOL. We really had to power rake our lawn badly this year, and my dear hubby, whom I, with much affection, call Mr. Extreme, did his job. He never does it halfway. So with some good fertilizer thrown down and some rain hopefully today that should be beautifully green by next week.

Somehow the overfilled parks are starting to look more appealing. But chin up, taking a deep breath and charging on. This must be done. And I'm giving myself a reward of a soak in the jet tub with a hot chai tea and a good book later on. But only if it gets done. So I'm off because that reward is sounding better by the minute.

Friday's Fave Five #37

Hi everyone! Welcome to the 37th edition of Friday's Fave Five! Are you ready to find your five favorite things from your week? Well, let's roll. If you're new to the Fave Five, details are here. Now all you have to do is jump right in!

1. Mother's Day. Spending time doing things that have become special traditions in the family was wonderful. Spending time with our moms was very special. We are so blessed that they both live here and are still with us and that the kids know them well and can spend time with them whenever they want is truly something we cannot take for granted. It was great to celebrate motherhood with them and thank them for all they give into our lives.

2. Reactions of my children. Funny ones like the one I got from my oldest this week when I asked her in a text message to give her grandfather a birthday phone call the following day around 5 or 6ish. I was thinking that would give him time to get home from work in the evening. Her reaction quickly came back: "In the morning???" I should have known her 19 year old self would have assumed that's what I meant and I probably gave her a heart attack requesting that of her. Oh, how I laughed.

3. The new Star Trek movie. We finally used the tickets I got hubby for his birthday and saw this on Saturday night. We are not big movie goers, preferring to rent when it comes out. But there is just certain shows we like to see on the big screen, and boy, was this worth the ticket. Not only was it full of great effects, but the story was good too. And you didn't have to be a die hard Trekkie to enjoy and understand the story. It had all the characters (not the actors, athough Lenard Nemoy did have a role) from the original series, and they picked up on their personality quirks and nuances perfectly. It was well written so that if you were not a viewer of the first series you still got a chuckle but if you were a fan you totally got the jokes and it made it really funny. There was good humor, lots of action, although there was one short scene that I would have totally have wanted to cover the eyes of my 14 year old had she been there. (Yes, I am funny that way). Hubby and I both thoroughly enjoyed it as did my oldest who went with her friends. And she'd never seen the original series and knew none of the characters. Great summer movie.

4. This rose.

Everytime I look at the color, I smile. I just love it. But not only was it gorgeous the day I got it (see picture above) at church on Mother's Day, which means it was bought on Saturday, today after 6 days, it still looks like this: Now if you knew me and my history with roses you would understand what a miracle this is. I mean this baby is not even bowing her pretty head one little bit. She's standing straight and tall and isn't evening turning brown. Usually I'm lucky if a rose last me a day and half without the head drooping and looking pouty. This one is still standing tall. So it definitely is making me smile this week and definitely makes my favorite list.

6. Tia's very first violin recital. This was her first year of violin. And this was the first conservatory concert we've ever attended. What a fun couple of hours listening to good music. I like orchestra music once in awhile and the different ensembles put on a great show. Tia did three songs with the other beginner students. Her class did well considering the wide variety in age. Next year she'll be in the junior orchestra so that will be a whole different experience.

The picture shows Tia in the center, another student and a senior orchestra student. There was a whole line of much younger kids I didn't get in the pic.

What where your favorites from the week? If you've done a post on your Fave Five sign Mr. Linky so we can come visit.

Wordless Wednesday

"Enough already with all the pictures!"

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here and here

Keeping Tradition, If Not Plants, Alive

Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat and a head that feels like it belongs to someone else. It's hard to describe but it just feels dozy and sluggish. And I feel tired. Very, very tired. An un-normal tired. Which tells me my body is fighting something off that is trying it's best to make a home in my system. I didn't blog and, horrors, I didn't go to my ladies study group. I just figured after the busy, busy weekend, that I should just stay home and try to give myself a fighting chance at getting rid of whatever is trying to creep up on me. And seeing this other head is not giving me anything award winning to write I have Mother's Day randomness. Sometimes random is good.

This was my first Mother's Day without my whole little brood around me. I didn't anticipate how hard that would be. I really, really missed Kay. But in spite of her not being able to be here it was a wonderful, wonderful Mother's Day. Church in the morning, Moms over for take out Chinese for lunch, traditional trip to buy bedding out plants in the afternoon. And the finale of the Amazing Race in the evening.

In spite of Kay not being here, we did get to talk to her, and talk to her for free, thanks to Skype. Too funny though watching her grandmothers, getting on headsets and getting used to talking into the mike. We have headsets that only have one ear piece and it was hilarious watching them keep trying to stretch the head band and try to stick the other side over their ears. Technology and grandmothers, too fun.

Kay totally surprised me by having this lovely plant delivered for Mother's Day. A surprise because I wasn't expecting it all and because I wondered how she was able to do it not owning a credit and all. Well, thank you boyfriend's mother's credit card. Love my african violets! I hope you got your cash. LOL. And be still my heart, there was even an adorable little bird stuck in the pot. We all know I love my birds.

It has become tradition that we head off to a greenhouse or somewhere that sells bedding out plants after lunch on Mother's Day. I love this little Mother's Day outing my kids have started. I get to pick out any plant I'd like and that is their gift to me. And they buy their grandmothers each one also. This year I picked this lovely colored plant. With it's red/bronze leaves, it will stand out nicely against some of the greener plants I have in the front and it's supposed to get little pink to white flowers on it during the summer. I'm so hoping it survivies my black thumb. I really like it and would hate to see it's demise at my hands.

What is it about greenhouses that possess a person me when I walk in the door. Note the above comment about having a black thumb? That totally seems to escape me when I walk in there and see all the beautiful flowers and colors and choices. I'm horrible at making up my mind to begin with and then I see all this gorgeous stuff and visions of what my paltry little flower beds and pots could look like overtake my brain and I end up walking out with more stuff than I ever know what to do with. So now I have this to find a home for. And because I bought it at Costco I had to buy a package three. LOL. What am I thinking?

But seriously who could resist these leaves?

And as if my mind was not in limbo enough, I walked out with these at another greenhouse:

As soon as I got home, my mind returned and now I'm staring at these gorgeous plants thinking "huh?". How did those get here and what am I going to do with them and exactly how much of my bank account was diminished? LOL.

So now I have to keep these poor babies alive until I can plant them out, which around here is not until the last week of May. The days are getting nicer, but our nights can still get down to freezing, so it's not worth the risk. So you all, might want to say a little prayer for my little bedding out plants. Coming home to live with me, they're going to need all the help they can get.

Wishing you all a wonderful Mother's Day

Friday's Fave Five #36

It's Friday already! Whoa, where on earth has this week disappeared? But Friday brings one of my favorite posts. Fave Five where I can look back on my week and pick five favorite things and then I get to go read all of your favorites. I love it. It's such a wonderful pick me up! If you're a first fave five timer, then welcome. Details are here.

1. Skype. Hubby downloaded Skype for business but it took me all of a day to figure out that, hey, I can talk to my girl, who's away at school, for free! So we got the both of registered and downloaded and off we went. How cool is that. Getting to talk to my girl whenever we want. And did I mention, it's FREE?!

2. Well you my faithful readers are going to know I am so going to mention the Celtic Thunder Concert we attended. I won't go into all the details again but I'll just direct those of who by chance didn't read it over to here.

3. Kris making it to the final 3 on American Idol. I don't blog about Idol each week but boy, oh boy, I was tempted this week. After a show that I felt was totally set up to favor Adam and get him into the final 3, and after, as Boomama so eloquently put it, Simon threw Kris under the bus, and after I sat and stewed because I couldn't vote being Canadian and all, Tia and I cheered when in a total surprise Kris was the first one through. I've rooted for him since he made it through on the wild card round. Go Kris and Danny!

4. Outside time. Oh has it been nice to have outside time. The kids have been so housebound it's been heaven to get outside into the sunshine and let them have some running around time. Burn up some of that energy they've had pent up. Today and tomorrow it will be raining but that's okay because we're busy making Mother's Day things and goodness knows my trees and bushes are appreciating the spring rain. Al long as it doesn't turn to snow, I am happy, happy, happy.

5. Canadian Tire Money. This stuff is great. Everytime we buy gas, hubby goes to the Canadian Tire gas bar where we get about 7.5 cents on the litre back in CT monies which we can spend in their store. Hubby saves it up and it bought my bedding out plants and the mulch and cedar chips we're putting under the trees. Again yipee for FREE! I'm sure I've had CT money on my favorites list before but how can it not make the list when I got stuff for, you know, FREE!

What have you enjoyed in your life this week? Special blessings from God, an interesting quote, special things your kids said, warm fuzzies? Anything that made you smile or lifted you can make your list. If you've done a Fave Five post, sign on to Mr. Linky so we can come and visit you!

Famous Firsts

I found this really fun meme at Barbara's who found it at Melli's who found it at Thom's who seems to have stolen it from a meme that steals memes. You got that? Whew!

First job: other than babysitting was working in the food shack at our local public golf course. It was fun, the golfers were the best tippers I have ever run across, it was outside. The only downfall was that the ripped open relish and ketchup packets would attract a mega amount of wasps. And well, can we just say I have a very healthy fear of the darn things.

First real job: cashier at Safeway

First favorite politician: this made me laugh. It's almost an ironic type of question. Like the words "favorite" and "politician" somehow don't go together. LOL. But I'd have to say it wouldn't be some famous for-whatever-reason politician. It would be our federal Member of Parliment who has served this constituency faithfully and well now for many a year.

First car: can't remember the year but it was a silver four door Ford Granada. I loved that car.

First record/CD: My very first record I ever got was a reward for a good report card in grade 2. It was this one. Oh how I loved it. I knew every song by heart!

First Sport played: I played a wicked tether ball and was the playground champ many a day.

First concert: My very first concert I ever attended was a Tommy Hunter concert and I went with my Mom and Godmother. I was a pre-schooler and I don't remember anything about it except that my sister had her first anaphalactyc shock reaction to a chocolate bar that had peanuts that night. The first concert I ever attended as a teenager was a Bachman Turner Overdrive concert who's opening act was a Canadian group named Trooper, who later became my favorite group as a teenager. And no, my Mom and Godmother did not come with me! ;v)

First foreign country visited: Hungary at the age of 10.

First favorite TV show: From what I can remember it was this one and this one.

First favorite actor: Mark Lester who starred in 1968's Oliver! and 1971's Black Beauty.

First favorite actress: Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins

First boyfriend/girlfriend: a boy in grade 7 named Greg who asked me to "go around" with him. I said yes and then was so freaked out I totally avoided him. That lasted about a week before he broke up with me. LOL.

First encounter with a famous person: I once quite by chance got about 15 feet from Donny and Marie Osmond and the rest of the Osmond brothers but I couldn't get an autograph because the elevator doors were closing.

First brush with death: When my Mom caught me lighting up a smoke behind a truck on my way to school with another girl in grade 7 and told my Dad. LOL.

First house or condo owned: A cute little 1000 square foot 2 bedroom right across the street from the school where I worked.

First film seen: I was 4 years old and the film was Mary Poppins.

First favorite recording artist: Donny Osmond

First favorite radio station: 1090 CHEK

First book I remember reading: A beautiful hard cover edition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that my Mom and Dad gave me for my birthday.

First meme you answered on your blog: It was this one that Shalee tagged me for. But it was not the actual first meme I ever did. Before I got my own blog, I used to hijack Shalee's comment section and answer her meme's. I had no idea about blog etiquette. It's a good thing she was such a sweetie!

Thanks to all the original stealers. This was fun.

If you'd like to join in the stealing of this meme, let me know in the comments so that I can come and read.

Menu Plan

Monday: Roast chicken, rice, mushroom sauce gravy, mixed veggies

Tuesday: chicken ceasar salad

Wednesday: tilapia, crash hot potatoes, veggies and dip

Thursday: crockpot beef stew

Friday: Bev's chicken casserole (from Company's Coming Casseroles), noodles.

Saturday: grill burgers, macaroni salad

Monday Mish Mash

If you came looking for a post that was short and to the point, you might have clicked on the wrong place. But if you want to pretend we're sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee, come on in! I've got a lot to tell you.

Guess where we went on Friday night? (Said in a sing song voice). Remember this post? Well, we were there. In Row 9!

And oh, my word! What a great show! Hubby and I both agreed it was the best show we've seen together. Celtic Thunder really outdid themselves in song, music, and humor! So, so good. If Celtic Thunder is coming to a city near you, it is well worth it to go. Even my teens enjoyed themselves. My 14 year old girl even managed to leave a little bit of skin on my arm every time young Damian McGinty, the youngest of the group, now 16, came out to sing. She was a bit disappointed he didn't sing "Puppy Love" and "Young Love" but hey, the kid is growing up too and his songs have to get a little older too. And it just wouldn't have computed correctly to hear someone singing Puppy Love when his voice was now deeper than the oldest member of the group who was 45. This song video courtesy of a couple years ago when he was only 14, was beautiful but now you just have to imagine his voice being an octive or two lower. LOL.



Tia was happy, I think, when he did "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" and "Breaking up is hard to do" complete with the Fonzie kind of outfit and combing of the hair back into a duck tail. But her favorite of the night is still the song on the above video. My highlight of the night was when Paul Byrom sang my all time favorite song "You Raise Me Up". He sings tenor opera and it was amazing. Blew. us. away. It was totally a surprise as it's not on their concert DVD. Every single song was enjoyable, "Danny Boy" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" being another couple favorites, oh heck, we loved every single song they sang! And the sell out crowd really got behind them in clapping along and sometimes even singing along. Really funny listening to a crowd of Canadians singing belting out the Irish rugby team's theme song. LOL.

I had great plans for a gazillion pictures except for the fact that they announced that there was to be absolutely no pictures or recording devices and if you got caught your camera could be confiscated. So sorry, guys. Getting pictures for you was not worth getting thrown out and having my camera taken away. A blogger's nightmare! What a dilemma. Take a risk or post no pictures. I did get a couple before the concert started and they made the big announcement.

Tia waiting for it all to start.

Whoa! Zoom out, zoom out!!

Saturday, I survived the big youth group fundraiser: the dreaded highway cleanup. But it turned out great. While having to be there at the ungodly hour of 6:40 was a killer, the day was beautiful and it turned out fun. Thirty six people turned up to help the youth group out, a record, and so we finished our 20 km of highway on both sides in about 3 1/2 hours. So much nicer than the almost eight hours it took a handful of us to do it the very first year we did it. Whoo hoo!

Sunday, my wonderful hubby started putting the mulch and cedar chips under our trees that surround our backyard. And he even forked out the moolah for it. What a good guy! Now instead of the the ugly grey dirt that surrounded our yard we're going to have a lovely natural finish. And does it smell good! Just look at it before: Boring!

And now? Much better and smelling great!

And he also sprung for most of my bedding out plants. Thanks to his Canadian Tire bucks that he worked so hard to save. Now that's love, when a man gives up his Canadian Tire bucks for ya! And you all in Canada know exactly what I'm talking about. So here's my stash waiting until the last week of May to be put out into their summer homes. We don't dare do it earlier around here because even though it might be really nice and warm during the day, the nights can still get below freezing right up until the end of May. There's some geraniums, petunias, portulacas, ivy, statice, lobellas, and a few violas. I just need to find some impatiens for my pot that's in total shade.
Sunday we Barbqued steaks. Our first steaks of the season. Yum, yum. And just for fun I tried Pioneer Woman's Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. It was easy, it smelled wonderful. But I think my sheet pan was a tad on the small side. While it didn't run out during baking, it did rise right to the top, so the icing was a bit of a mess, as it ran off the side of warm cake rather than being contained. But hey, when you've got two teens volunteering to lick it up, what's a little chocolate on the counter top. If you like chocolate, this cake is chocolate nirvana!
So that's a wrap for my weekend. Back to work today. But that's okay. I'll be doing it listening to the CD I nabbed at the concert.

Friday's Fave Five #35

It's Friday's Fave Five time! I'm looking forward to all your favorite things from your week. If you are new, hop on board. Details are here.

Starting off my favorite things from my week is:

1. Pictures. Our family pictures from our photo session a few weeks ago. We got the disc and it was so much fun looking through all the shots my friend took of us. She's just learning and I thought she did a pretty darn good job for someone who's still taking courses. It's going to be tough picking just one favorite to get made into a portrait.

2. A cup of white chocolate mocha coffee hand delivered by a friend. My best girlfriend dropped by out of the blue holding my fave coffee from Starbucks in her hand. It was such a treat. I haven't seen her in a long time. We had a really nice, if way too quick of a vist.

3. Sunshine. Today we have sunshine. Never underestimate the mood changing powers of the yellow ball in the sky. I just want to sit outside in it all. day. long!

4. Stanley Cup Playoffs. I grew up with hockey. While I didn't have any brothers who were involved in the sport, my Dad did used to watch it on TV. And he used to get tickets to a lot of the games of the local club. Later on, I had a family I babysat for that would take me to games if I took care of the kids at the game. I've always enjoyed a good, competive game. Nowadays, I don't usually watch hockey during the regular season, but I do really like to watch the playoffs. So I've gotten in some really good games during this last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, my hubby hates hockey. With a passion. LOL. So he's been a real sweetheart letting me watch 2 or 3 games a week. Thanks, Sweetie.

5. Fridays. I love Fridays. Weekend's around the corner. Yipee!

What are your favorites from the week? If you've done a post on Fave Five then link up with Mr. Linky so we can come and visit you. Please make sure you link to the specific post and not your home page so that it makes it easier for those folks who like to leisurely go through the list on the weekend. Happy Friday, everyone!