The Bully Talk

Bullying has again been in the news lately.  I feel so sorry for people who get bullied.  It hurts peoples self esteem.  And it has gotten worse over the years where they seriously hurt people.  What is wrong with people.  It can change a child, but if you look back, maybe it will just make you stronger as a person.  I pray it will stop some day, but as we know there will always be another bully and another shy child.  Why they do it, who knows, to make themselves look bigger and better, for whom?  I say hurting people, hurt people.  Now I think I will share my story about my bullying experience, and we all have one, either being bullied, being the bully, or seeing someone be bullied.  So here goes.

I was always the shy, quiet child.  Got a little bullied here and there, but the time I remember most is when we moved quite a bit so in grade 6, I spent the second half of the year in our local town school.  So I was new and not easy to make friends so it started.  This big guy in my class would torment me daily, but I would just give back smart remarks and going about my business, then one day out of the blue walking home from school with my cousin and little brother I was surrounded by 3 or 4 guys and they started beating me in the head with books.  What a terrible moment in life that I have never forgot.  There was nothing anyone could do to help, my brother was only in grade 3, so he had to just stand there with my cousin and watch.  They only stopped when an Acadia student came along and she hollered at them to stop and leave me alone.  And they ran off and she asked me if I was okay.  I wish I knew who she was, she was my hero and I never got to say thank you.  I know I must have cried all the way home.  I don't even know if I told my mom or not, maybe I did, I don't even remember that far back, but I do remember what they did to me.  Did it change me, well maybe so in a way that I don't like to see children get bullied today, it makes me very angry.  It didn't make me scared, I guess it made me tough and say my piece when need be.  I had a chance to ask one of them years later about it, yeah brave I know, but I know when I did it this person was totally embarrassed and apoligized and said he was sorry but didn't remember.  Said they were just kids!  Well I think he did remember, who could forget that unless they did it daily. But I did get my say and it helped me let go of it.  Will I forget it, never, or I wouldn't be writing about it like 36 years later. What's my point in writing this you say, well I guess I don't know, to let someone out there know they aren't the only ones to get beat up and to not let the bullies get to you, which I know that would be hard.  I was so glad I was out of that school, I have no fond memories there and was on to high school after that where I didn't get picked on again. 
But it did make me over protective of my children.  I never wanted them to experience some of the things I had to experience growing up.  I think we did a good job at stepping in when we think someone was bothering them, and with my son I made sure he was in self defense and now is a black belt, which I wish I would have put my daughters in some sort of self defense class as well.  I worry about my grandchildren that they will get through life not getting picked on.  So I guess yes it affected me.  I have spoken up when I have seen someone arguing and maybe over stepped my bounds but yeah I can't stand it, haha.  I'm getting off track a little.  I just want kids to know they aren't alone, and please tell someone you trust, don't suffer in silence.  Things do get better and you can make sure when you grow up that you can make a difference. So protect your children, watch what they are doing and if you see any signs of anything step in and take control.  Until next time.

Dukan Diet Update Jan

Well it is update time.  I have now lost a total of 32 lbs.  I hadn't planned on the last 7 it just happened I guess.  Trying to find a balance of how much to eat.  I don't want to gain the weight back, but in the back of my head it is just temporary.  Which is a mindset that I need to work on.  I am also having a problem with people and their attitudes.  I know people mean well, but 32 pounds ago, I didn't receive any compliments, now I hear them daily.  You say "What's wrong with that?", well it shows you that people are judgemental when it comes to weight.  I don't judge people on their size, I don't look at their size, but other people are judging people on their size.  Makes you think why there is so many eating disorders, if you aren't small you are looked at differently.  I say if you want to loose weight, do it, if you don't then don't.  Personally I did it for myself, I want to be healthier, am I?  I don't know.  I'm off two meds, I feel lighter when I try to get around, I can climb stairs easier, I feel happier, I'm hungry, haha.  But am determined, not about size but about living a better life.  So no matter what size you are, be happy with you and if you don't like it change it for you and only for you.  I am 3/4 of the way through my second 50 days on the consolidation phase, not hard.  After that I go back to normal eating, scared about that, I like to eat.  But the rules are protein Thursdays and oatbran everyday, not too bad.  Anyway will update next month.  I do enjoy buying smaller sizes even though my brain hasn't caught up yet with that, my mouth drops open when I can get into a smaller size, I do like that.

Saddle Flower Arrangement

I have been thinking about my father a lot lately, so I wanted to do something special for him.  So I thought I would try a flower arrangement, called a saddle arrangement.  I never thought of myself as the least bit crafty, so this is a big undertaking for me.  I included a step by step in case anyone is like me and would like to do one but was never brave enough to try.  First I wanted to do it with little expense, so I started for the search for the frame, which was a little hard to find, but one day I just happened to go in a Loonie & Toonie store in Kentville and there was the frame and the floral foam.  And from there to the Dollar store where they have expanded and have a lot more variety, I can't believe the things in that store!  Anyway here goes.

To start I had to get my husbands wire cutters and measuring tape.

And I had to get him to secure the floral foam to the saddle.

I started my measuring things, but that soon went out the window, I just guessed and cut, a little impatient I am.

First I started by adding the greenery to the sides.

And started by putting the first row of flowers in the centre on top.

The next three on the side.

And the other side.

Two on the front and back.

I got red and white tulips, so they were next.

Then I just started adding things around.  I bought two bunches of carnations, two bunches of tulips, one bunch of the little white flowers, and the greenery.  But that wasn't enough, I had to go back and get a couple more bunches of carnations today and more greenery.

I had to add one of my ribbons that I used around the house at Christmas time, just a little special touch.

Here is my finished product.  I am quite pleased with the results.  I guess now that my children are grown I am finding the time to do the things that I never thought I had the time or talent to take on.  Life isn't over at 50 I guess, we just have to redefine ourselves.

I am figuring total cost, around $14.  I should go in business, lol, I did enjoy it for sure.  I hope my dad likes it.

Of course well I was at the Dollarama, I noticed this.  The glass dish came in different colors, I may have to go and get more for only $2, and the candle holders were 3 in a pack for $2.  I added the touch of berries.  Well I wonder what I will think to do next, can't wait.  Until next time.

January Walk

Our weather has been unreal this winter, but there is a lot of winter left and I am sure we will get dumped on any day, after all this is Nova Scotia.  Usually people are complaining about all of the snow and the shovelling and cold, but this year on the news and everywhere else, people are wondering where the snow is so they can ski, snow shoe, coast, skate.  After all we don't stop having fun because summer is over, we live in a great place where you can have all kinds of weather fun.  Don't worry people it will come, in the meantime I will enjoy getting outside for a little walk, the ground is just froze enough to walk on top without sinking in the snow, gotta luv it :)

The flurries were actually pretty this morning, but they didn't last.

Nova Scotia is known for its Blomidon beauty.

Love it.

Getting some shots for next years Christmas cards.

The sunshine makes everything better.

My favorite walk.

My walking companions.  My hubby Peter and dog Chancie.

Take advantage of this weather and get outside.

Full Moon

When the moon is full it is so pretty.  I try and get some shots when I can. 



This is overlooking the Valley from the Ridge.  A nice view from where my dad and brothers are.  Very peaceful.




The moon is magical.




It's time to get my camera busy again, I love taking pictures.





I really like this one.





It was a little later coming up where we live so to get the nice orange color I have to be on the move.



Chili

Feeling like some winter comfort food today.  So a chili is on the menu.  Nova Scotia was 5 c today with beautiful sunshine.  We have no snow and it is the 8th of January.  Very unusual.  So here is my homemade recipe.

These are the 4 cans I decided to use this time.  1 can of heinz tomato soup, 1 can of kidney beans, 1 can of Aylmer tomatoes, with chili spices and 1 can heinz tomato sauce, no salt.

In fry pan I put a pkg of lean hamburger, 1/2  a green pepper, chopped, onion, chopped, & mushrooms.  s&p, some chili.  Fry and drain.

In the slow cooker put the cans of sauces.

Add the hamburger mixture to sauce.  I let it cook on low in my slow cooker for approximately 3 hrs. 

Nice a creamy, so good, and with a piece of garlic toast on the side, perfection.  Happy Sunday everyone!

Blueberry Coffee Cake

I decided to make a coffee cake for a funeral reception we were having in our community.  I hope they liked it.

Mix together, 1 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup shortening, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup milk.  Then add 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt.  Beat together, add 1 cup of blueberries, (I put some flour on the blueberies), gently stir them in and don't over stir, they will start to run.  I used frozen.

Grease and flour a tube pan, and put in pan.

Topping:  2 Tbsp flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbsp butter.

Put this mixture on top.  And bake in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I had a bit of a problem getting the centre out, but i managed.  Let it sit to cool completely and it sliced up really nice.  I hope they enjoyed it, because it smelled so good!

My Homemade Crockpot Turkey Soup

Happy New Year Everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, we did.  Now it is all over and put away on to the new year.  I don't make resolutions, I just want to continue to improve on myself and be good to others.  My first crockpot recipe is something I created myself, so you can do whatever you like with it, as per your taste.  Anyway here is mine.

1 box of chicken broth
1/2 onion
2 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 carrots, cut small
3 large potatoes
3/4 cup of large egg noodles
leftover turkey
salt, pepper, sprinkle of thyme, parsley

In frying pan, fray bacon and onion.  Crumble bacon up and put both in crockpot.  Add everything
else, except egg noodles.
Cook on low for 5 hours, add egg noodles, cook another hour.

I added a little more ingredients this time to make a bigger soup and if you feel there isn't enough liquid add
a little water.

Enjoy!