HAPPY BIRTHDAY

It's my husband's birthday today and he is out golfing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He is a passionate golfer.

This was one of his highlights - playing St.Andrew's several years ago.

However, he has been lucky to play in many places around the world.

HAWAII

IRELAND

 MANY PLACES IN THE STATES

Thirsty Tuesday - Costa Rica

Happy Hour includes the monkeys popping by. This is a little blurry, but you get the idea. This is the bar in Manuel Antonio where we stayed.

Charleston South Carolina for a Day

We drove into Charleston on Friday after we landed in Myrtle Beach. Unfortunately traffic was awful and we didn't arrive at the hotel until 5pm. Also the hotel was not in walking distance to Meeting St as advertised. However, we got a cab and within a ten minute drive we were there. It was  beautiful evening and we stopped for some crab cakes in an Irish pub. Dinner was at Bubba Gump's.

Car, Boat and Airplane

We flew from Toronto's island airport officially called Billy Bishop directly to Myrtle Beach. We took a cab to the ferry terminal, boarded the ferry for the 5 minute ride to the terminal. This is only 20 minutes from our house

as opposed to getting a limo and driving to Pearson International Airport. Porter only requires you to be there an hour before your flight.

I cannot say enough about the impeccable service from Porter airlines. Check in was flawless, the lounge is set up so that you can sit in pods, with privacy walls rather than in row upon row of hard benches.

Beverages and snacks are provided free of charge. There is a large business centre with computers and the area is all wi-fi.

Once on board, wine, beer and soft drinks are also free. They even brought us a snack pack containing a delicious ham and camenbert sandwich on a cranberry whole grain roll.

The views from the airport looking towards downtown were wonderful as well.

Week 12 - Decluttering

Sunday March 20 - did a quick cleanout of the fridge and all the takeout packages were thrown out. No more saving them!! You know, the packages of soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup etc!!


Monday - bunch of papers from ESL course. Ran into a work friend I had loaned some books to, ages ago, he said he needs to bring them to me, I said instead lend them to someone else.

Tuesday -getting ready to pack and found this in the suitcase - no idea where from!

Wednesday - took some extra office supplies, unused, back to the office.


Thursday - old pair of shoes in office


Friday - off to Myrtle Beach!

Foodie Fryday - Universal Studios LA

Toronto Thursday - TTC High Voltage

Toronto Transit TTC put in the automatic door opener at Greenwood for the handicapped. It's been there less than a year and is very handy especially when the wind blows through the station and it is almost impossible to get the door open manually.
However, last week when I went to the subway this is what I saw:

Monday's Child

We attended a six year old's birthday party last week. The children had a great time.

Week 11 - Decluttering

Sunday March 13 - I decided to bake and found this recipe for Irish cream pound cake. I'll post the recipe later. It was perfect as we had some opened bottles of various Irish cream liquors hanging around.We don't drink it and I'm not sure where the bottles came from, likely purchased a long time ago for a party.
The first one, Baileys, had a drop in the bottom, but neither of us could get it opened, the sugar had sealed it shut!

So that got got put in the box for returning bottles to the LCBO. The next bottle was almost full, and finally after running hot water over the cap I got it open to find that it had completely turned bad and it had solidified. I am still currently trying to clean it out.
The last bottle, Panama Jack's was fine to use. We have no idea where this one came from!

So 2 liquor bottles and 1 wine bottle got decluttered from the drinks cabinet. The wine bottle was empty, but it was in the shape of a purple cat that I was saving for something...

I also had 2 presents for my cousin's daughter that I had bought earlier in the year which will be given to her today. I used wrapping paper that had been languishing in the basement.

I also "found" one of my BIL's Christmas gifts that I had bought way way before Christmas and put away in a closet so I forgot to give it to him. Hopefully I will see him today and that will be "decluttered" as well.

This just proves what my GF said, there's no point in buying gifts too early if you forget you bought them!

Monday - I have a nice bottle for liquid soap by the kitchen sink, but I was admiring a Scotch bottle that DH had bought at Heathrow and decided I should use it for soap for a change.

Tuesday - poked in fridge and got rid of 2 opened jars that will likely never be used again.



Wednesday - just a quick one. Found this lurking in the cabinet and combined it with another one. I love the bottle.

 You can tell we don't drink any of this stuff very often. I found a bottle of dark rum which I think was a gift 5 years ago for DH birthday. I have since found some recipes that used dark rum.

Thursday - A cookie sheet that had seen better days. I had mentioned  during the week that I should get a new one so when DH did the groceries he bought a new one as well as this pizza pan.

Friday - Tidied some papers and threw some random stuff that was in the bottom of the basket. Included were last year's garbage tags which were never used.

Saturday - did a quick tidy of front porch since it was so nice out. found a mat in the cabinet along with an old plant pot and 2 candles that went into the charity/garbage piles. Also a Scotch container that I was saving because I liked it went into the garbage. There was an old blanket on the porch shelves that really isn't needed and is a little past its prime. Soon it will be time to return the gargoyle to its summer home in the back garden.

Waiting for Spring

Peeping its little head out yesterday!

 Catkins on my pussywillow tree last Sunday

And I forgot to mention that I spotted my first robin on February 13. There were 2 of them, I'm assuming a couple, and hoping they are scouting out our tree for their new home.

Recipes to Try

Cheesecake pops from women Who Do It All look delicious, would be such fun for a dinner party.

Chocolate raspberry marble pound cake from Susi's Kochen and Backen Adventures which I found by way of Brenda's Canadian Kitchen.


http://www.bfeedme.com/orange-and-rum-chocolate-truffles/ the curried lamb below is also from bfeedme.

Rum pound cake this looks deadly delightful!

Grilled curried lamb

Foodie Fryday - Bonnie Springs Nevada

Bonnie Springs Ranch Est. 1952 - Home to Old Nevada

Menus in the bar where we had lunch.

St. Patrick's Day Tablescape

In honour of St. Patrick's Day I thought I'd share tablescape from a blogger I follow Between Naps on the Porch.

Ireland

Toronto Thursday - Happy St. Patrick's Day

Templebar, Dublin

Considering how culturally diverse Toronto is, it always amazes me how big a holiday St. Patrick's Day is.
The parade takes place the Sunday before the 17th.

These photos, below, were taken in the Dollar store last Saturday and are only a small sampling of the goods available. No self-respecting Irish person would be caught dead with this stuff!

All photos are my property.