Local Public Eatery, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had lunch today on the patio at the Local Public Eatery (in Liberty Village).  

He's been having lunch there on Fridays for the last month and I've been working so haven't been able to go.  Today it was sunny and 17C and probably the last nice patio day 'til next year ... so I went along with him today.

We both ordered the Deluxe Burger.

Gord got his with no tomatoes and a side salad.

Book ~ "Greenlights" (2020) Matthew McConaughey

From Goodreads ~ From the Academy Award–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.

I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.

Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges - how to get relative with the inevitable - you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”

So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.

Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.

It’s a love letter. To life.

It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights - and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.

Good luck. 

I wouldn't say I'm a big Matthew McConaughey fan.  He seems like a nice fella and a free spirit and I was interested enough in him to read his book.

The book starts back in the beginning with his parents ... who divorced each other twice and married each other three times.  He tells of growing up as the youngest of three boys and their unstable childhood (his parents sound whacked).  He was popular in high school and spent a year in an exchange program in Australia.  He went to university with dreams of being a lawyer but switched when he realized he wanted to get into movies.  He's done a lot of travelling and seemed to go where the wind took him.

I liked the writing style and liked that it was written at a high level (so not a great deal of details).  I found the sticky notes, bumper stickers, words of wisdom, etc. a bit weird so ignored them after awhile as they didn't make a lot of sense to me.  I came away feeling the same about him as before I read the book ... he seems like a nice fella and a free spirit.  As a head's up, there is swearing, adult activity (with himself!) and drug and alcohol use.

Nova Scotia's Community Haul ~ November 2020

I received my first Nova Scotia's Community Haul subscription box today.

Weddings and school concerts, charity bake sales and chase-the-ace - our community halls are where Nova Scotians have come together for generations to celebrate and support one another. Since we’re together apart for the foreseeable future, we’ve transformed the community hall into a Community Haul. 

Community Haul, partnered with Symplicity Designs set out to create a safe and fun way to help the small business community through the next year. Our product forges connection, creates community, and offers you the opportunity to explore Nova Scotia - all from the safety of your home. 

We've launched a 12 month subscription box to celebrate Nova Scotia business owners and help reboot the regional economy. By pledging your community support with a subscription, you can help keep the lights on for dozen of small businesses during these economically stressful times. What's more, every box sold will support the IWK Foundation to provide care for the women and children in the Maritimes.  

Support Nova Scotia businesses by opening your doors to our Community Haul!

I'm originally from Nova Scotia and thought it would be fun to receive stuff from "back home" and help support their economy.

Here's what was in the box ...

Book ~ "Alfie the Christmas Cat" (2020) Rachel Wells

From Goodreads ~ Christmas is around the corner and Alfie and George can’t wait. This year, the residents of Edgar road have come together to put on a festive show and raise money for a local homeless shelter.

As December approaches, plans are in full swing: auditions are being held, props are being built, Alfie and George are rehearsing daily and everyone is having a very merry time.

But then things start to go wrong. And when the residents arrive at the theatre one morning to discover their set has been trashed, it becomes clear someone is trying to sabotage their performance.

Alfie and George know it’s up to them to find the culprit and save the day. Because, after all, the show must go on.

Alfie is a doorstep cat who has many families.  He lives with Claire and Jonathan and their young children.  Polly and Matt (and their young children and cat), and their children, Sylvie and Marcus (and Sylvie's daughter) and Harold (Marcus' father who also has a cat) are their neighbours and Franceska and Tomasz )and their teenage children) are former neighbours.  All the families are very good friends with each other, thanks to Alfie.  Alfie is the adopted "dad" to a cat named George.

Connie, Sylvie's daughter, is dating Franceska and Tomasz' son, Aleksy.  They are doing a school project and decide to do something to help the local homeless shelter.  After brainstorming with everyone, including the cats, they come up with idea of having a Christmas show and giving the proceeds to the homeless shelter.  Plus they will ask for donations of clothing, etc.  The neighbourhood pitches in and they have quiet a show planned.  But someone starts sabotaging it but know one knows who.  Alfie takes it upon himself to find out what's going on. 

This is the seventh and latest in Alfie series and I liked it (I've read them all).  Though it's part of a series, it works as a stand alone.  It is written in first person perspective in Alfie's voice.  We can see the conversations he has with other cats and now Pickles.  Plus he understands the conversations of humans around him (rather than "blah blah blah blah blah Alfie blah blah blah).  Though he can't talk back to them in their language, he does try to communicate in cat-talk and expressions.

Topbox - November 2020

 My November Topbox arrived today.

Get 4 hand-picked deluxe samples delivered to your door for $15 per month. It's the best way to discover the products you'll love.

Cake Beauty Microneedle Spot Dots - $14.99 value 

Matcha Green Tea + Lemon Detoxifying Charcoal Mask - $9.80 value

The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer - Benefit Cosmetics - $5.20 value

Hikari Eyeshadow Quad Tonya - $19 value

Total value = $48.99

Book ~ "Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Dogs: And the People Who Love Them" (2004) Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

From Goodreads ~ Dogs. Our best friends. From thedawn of civilization, we have cherished them as our loyal companions, exuberant playmates, healing and gentle souls. 

From adorable puppies with floppy ears and wobbly steps to full-grown guardinas of our love and trust, there is no other animal that compares to the dog. A playful growl, a boisterous bark, a cock of the head, an inquisitive stare - each inspires us with love and adoration. 

The stories and photographs in this wonderful volume celebrate the humor, loyalty, love, courage and healing power of our canine companions. Each page in this book rejoices in the wonderful and poignant moments we share with our furry friends and the lessons of love they teach us each and every day. 

I love reading stories about animals.  And I've read a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books over the years.

This is a cute quick read.  There are ten short stories about people and their dogs.  Plus there pictures of dogs throughout the book.

Fan and feather dish cloth

I knitted a fan and feather pattern dish cloth today ... I like this pattern and have made many over the years.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn (Green Dream) and size 4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 42 stitches (or a multiple of 18 plus 6)

Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3

Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3

Row 7: Knit

Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length

Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border

Cast off and darn in ends.

General Assembly Loving Cup Pizza Kit for 2, PC Chef

In the last couple of weeks, Gord and I have taken advantage of  PC Chef's promotions of ordering one of their meal kits and getting one free a few times ... and they've been good!

I love love love pizza and have been wanting to try General Assembly's pizzas.  I saw they are on PC Chef's meal kit list so I ordered two Loving Cup Pizza Kits for 2 (regularly $19.95 a kit).  They arrived this morning and we used one kit this evening for supper.  The kits are good for a week so we'll probably have the second kit on Friday for supper.

Each kit comes with EVERYTHING for two 10-inch pizzas all measured out. 

Here's my pizza ...

Before

After

Yum!  I'm so glad we have the second kit!

Penne alla Vodka with Chicken, PC Chef

Last week I'd ordered the Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans, Sweet Plantain and Coleslaw meal kit and Gord had ordered Korean Gochujang Chicken from PC Chef (I'd gotten an email from them that I could order one of their meal kits and get one free).  They were both really good.  

They have been posting a code on social media for the same deal so we ordered again ... I got Penne alla Vodka with Chicken and Gord got Korean Gochujang Chicken again (both regularly $12 each) and they arrived today.

And that's what we had for supper tonight.

The kits come with EVERYTHING all measured out. 

I'm not a fan of parmesan cheese so didn't use it (Gord likes it so will use it on something).  It was really good.  In fact, I had planned on having half for supper tonight and the other half for lunch tomorrow ... but I ended up eating it all.  Yum!

I'd get this again!

Fan and feather dish cloth

I knitted a fan and feather pattern dish cloth today ... I like this pattern and have made many over the years.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn (Emeral Energy) and size 4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 42 stitches (or a multiple of 18 plus 6)

Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3

Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3

Row 7: Knit

Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length

Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border

Cast off and darn in ends.

Fan and feather dish cloth

I knitted a fan and feather pattern dish cloth today ... I like this pattern and have made many over the years.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn (Mod Ombre) and size 4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 42 stitches (or a multiple of 18 plus 6)

Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3

Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3

Row 7: Knit

Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length

Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border

Cast off and darn in ends.

Remembrance Day

The federal department of Veterans Affairs Canada states that November 11 is of "remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace"; specifically, the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and all conflicts since then in which members of the Canadian Forces have participated.

Remembering my father, Frank (1935 - 1971)

Honouring Gord's dad, Ken (1925 - 1971)

Honouring Gord's paternal
grandfather, Sid (1890 - 1963)

Book ~ "Everyday Hockey Heroes, Volume II: More Inspiring Stories About Our Great Game" (2020) Bob McKenzie and Jim Lang

From Goodreads ~ In this uplifting and entertaining volume of stories, Canadian broadcasters Bob McKenzie and Jim Lang bring together hockey players, coaches and refs, as well as those behind the bench - the parents, scouts, analysts, and agents - to tell us, in their own voices, why they love the game and how they’re shaping its future.

Meet Dallas Stars’ winger Andrew Cogliano, who captivated the hockey world by playing 830 consecutive games, despite various injuries, and hear how hockey and his parents instilled in him the strong work ethic that made his streak possible. Learn about how Jeremy Rupke found his passion and created the popular website, How To Hockey, to help young hockey hopefuls who might not have money for professional lessons develop their on-ice skills and give them the confidence to achieve their dreams off the ice. Read about players like Jack Jablonski, who didn’t let a life-changing spinal cord injury at age sixteen stop him from being a part of the game, and is now using his experience to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury research. From LGBTQ players like Jessica Platt who are breaking down barriers to the women such as Danièle Sauvageau who are breaking glass ceilings as coaches, refs, agents, and analysts, these are the everyday heroes who are using hockey to inspire change.

Featuring incredible stories of comebacks, milestones, and friendship, "Everyday Hockey Heroes, Volume II" highlights the very best of hockey: the power it has to unite us to be the best we can be - for ourselves and for others. 

I'm not a big fan of hockey but I do like reading stories about real people and that's why this book caught my eye.

This book is a collection of stories about people connected to hockey and some are Canadian ... hockey players, wannabe hockey players, a gay hockey player, a trans hockey player, scouts, referees, statisticians, agents and more.

Though I'd never heard of anyone discussed in this book, I found the stories inspirational.  I liked the writing style and found there was just enough enough information.  Social media accounts were listed after the stories and I sometimes checked out the Instagram accounts.

Hockey fans will enjoy this book.  Non-fans (like me) will also like this book and it deals with real people.

RIP Alex Trebek

Alex Trebek passed away on Sunday.

He was originally from Sudbury, ON, and received a plaque on Canada's Walk of Fame on King Street W in 2006.  I'd heard that people were creating a memorial to him near his plaque so went for a walk this afternoon to check it out (it's almost a 3km walk each way).

Roasted Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans, Sweet Plantain and Coleslaw meal kit, PC Chef

I’d received an email from PC Chef that I could order one of their meal kits and get one free. 

I’ve had my eye on their Roasted Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans, Sweet Plantain and Coleslaw meal kit and figured it was an excellent reason to try it ... so I ordered two (one is usually $18.99). Gord ordered a couple meal kits too (Korean Gochujang Chicken and Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo). 

The kits come with EVERYTHING all measured out. I made one of mine for supper. 

Coronation Park, Toronto, ON

It was 18C and sunny this afternoon so I went for a long walk to Coronation Park and back.  Needless to say, it was a lovely walk!

On Saturday there was a ceremony in remembrance of the
3,452 Torontonians who fell in the Second World War
... 3,452 flags were planted to honour our residents
who made the ultimate sacrifice in that war

Fan and feather dish cloth

I knitted a fan and feather pattern dish cloth today ... I like this pattern and have made many over the years.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Yarn (Fruit Punch) and size 4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 42 stitches (or a multiple of 18 plus 6)

Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3

Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3

Row 7: Knit

Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length

Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border

Cast off and darn in ends.