Wud Up 2021?

 Okay, so that was a weird year.

I had a lot of good times anyway. 

In the beginning of the year I got on with MaxWell Devonshire Realty as a real estate associate. I learned so many new things, I can't believe that my head didn't explode. 

My daughter, our youngest, graduated from highschool in the spring. Grandma came out from Penticton, BC and big brother Brody (far left, next to Coleson) flew out from Sudbury, ON to help celebrate. I can't explain what a good time that was! Despite restrictions, although some had been loosened, we were able to have dinner in the Water Tower, friendly game of bowling and take pictures at Henderson Park. 

In the summer, Mike, Raelynn and I flew to Victoria, BC and stayed for five days. What a beautiful city! We went with the original intention to visit family but unfortunately that didn't quite work out the way we had planned. Left to our own devices most of the time, we still had a great little holiday and kept busy the entire time we were there. Thanks to Mike's Aunt Diana and Larry, we were able to stay where we had a great view ALL THE TIME!

We were able to visit Mike's Aunt Pauline and Uncle Norm in the nearby Cowichan Valley. I can't tell you what a good day that was!

I now cannot eat fish and chips anywhere else. 

I kept going with whatever I possibly could as a volunteer with the 14th Scouting Group, as restrictions held us back with many of our regular events and activities. Hopefully next year we can organize more events where we can invite families of the members again. 

14th McKillop's booth at Whoop-Up Days

I visited with my local friends whenever I could. One of my favourite things to do with them is trying out coffee shops...even the ones I've been to before. I like to make sure they still have good coffee. :)

When not working, local hikes, warm summer evenings, wine, propane campfires, and good books kept me content throughout the year.

We had old Tootles, the cat, for a few months. She was a feline who's original owner moved into a nursing home and after bouncing around to a few homes, finally found her place. Tootles didn't play well with others so needed to be an only pet. Daffodil and Wasabi have war wounds to back me up. Her name is Harley Quinn now and she's living her best life in Calgary with Allan.

We seem to both have a larger left eye

In the fall, Mike tearfully sold the quad and his motorcycle -- and THEN purchased an even better motorcycle! The neighbours were tearful anyway, as he used the quad mainly to clear the sidewalks on our court the last few winters. I was a little sad too as gifts of booze, preservatives and homemade treats came to a complete halt. ( "Thank you's" from our neighbours for not making them risk heart attacks.)

At Christmas time, Mike and I ventured through the snowy Rocky Mountains to visit with his mom, sister and her awesome family. It was a small gathering but it was so so fun! 

But wait! There were other motives! Mike had to pick up his new motorcycle as he had purchased it from someone in Kelowna. Mike's sister, Sue and her husband Lawrence were kind enough to pick it up and nestled it in their snuggly garage in Penticton until we arrived.  

So that explains my 2021. Now that I'm looking back at it, it's not as bad as I thought it was. Maybe it was all the wine I drank, but I had a really nice time and laughed a lot.

I can't wait to see what 2022 brings to the party!

I've Been Feeling Chili Lately

I have a few cookbooks that look like they've seen better days. I don't particularly enjoy doing the math, but I've had this one for about 30 years. 

Anyone else have cookbooks that look like this? I'm sure you do or at least know someone--Grandma maybe? 

Where'd the cover go? I also have no idea why I wrote my name and address on the inside. (You won't find me there) Did I think someone might steal it? or I'd lose it? Where would I bring it to lose it?

I started off writing my faves in the front so I could find them again. That was fine and dandy until I ran out of room. Now the book just opens to my favourite recipes. Weird.

This is the Winnipegosis 30th Anniversary Cookbook 1990. I puchased it for $10 from my sister who lived there at the time with her family. It was a fundraiser for the Village of Winnipegosis, Manitoba.

It has been one of my dearly loved cookbooks!

My first chili recipe was thee best! It has definitely evolved over the years. And I still whip it up to this day.

Oh my goodness...my notes! Haha!

My dear chili recipe has been doubled, tripled and quadupled and travelled to countless potlucks ranging from family and friend get-togethers to Scouting events. It has been paired with bakery dinner rolls, homemade buns as well as buttermilk biscuits. It has been put on hot dogs, french fries and covered in different varieties of cheese. 

This chili recipe has been, and can be, modified to suit many personal tastes. 

If you want it spicy, add hot more sauce or chili peppers. If you want it without meat, smash a can or two of beans in place of beef. Or use ground turkey or pork and mix it with prepared mac and cheese.

Do whatever you want with it! In my experience, there has been nothing that can ruin this chili recipe. (Unless you don't put any spices in. Then I can't help you.)

When I first made this recipe, I wasn't wearing reading glasses and I didn't have any children. I was driving a 1980 Chevrolet Chevette and I was 21 years old. I was married, working full-time at a hardware store, and owned a little old bungalow in southern Manitoba. My dog's name was Bugs and she was a standard-sized dachshund. 

In hindsight, perhaps I was prepping for the Mennonite wife life? (Shudder)

There are many great chili recipes out there and I've tried a few but I always go back to using this one. (I have found another one that's pretty good. It uses a can of beer. It makes a batch big enough to feed a Mennonite family of 20. But, you know, Mennonites don't drink.) 

Without further ado, I present to you....

Chili

1 lb of ground beef, pork, or turkey

Onion, chopped, optional

1 can beans, kidney, black or pork and beans

2 tablespoons sugar

1 large can tomatoes, diced or crushed

1 tablespoon chili powder, heaping

Salt and pepper to taste

Garlic, minced or powder

1-2 tablespoons mustard, yellow and/or dijon

1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, or to taste

Hot sauce, optional

1/4 cup chili sauce or to taste

Add chopped mushrooms or peppers if you like

Directions: Brown meat with onion. Drain. Add rest of ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.

You can alter this recipe in so many ways. Add more spices and sauces you enjoy. Perhaps throw in shredded carrots or frozen peas. Leftovers freeze well for several months. 

Wait until I show you my Mennonite Cookbooks. Oba!

Book Review "Laughter Growing"

I haven't read a page-turner for long time. And then a childhood chum of mine posted this book on Instagram that her mother recently wrote. 

What have we here?! I LOVE stories like these!...particularly those surrounding the Mennonite culture.

This is such an interesting read! I couldn't wait to get my grimy hands on it. (Unfortunately I had other books on the go and didn't start reading it for another month!...what's wrong with me?!)

Being of Mennonite descent myself, I have some insight on the life of the subject of this book. I grew up in the southern Manitoba area where I knew many Mennonites and heard stories from those who came from Mexico. 

It follows the life of a man who was born in Mexico and lived in a Mennonite Village with his family. Eventually the family came to Canada but most of the story takes place before the trek north from when young Isaac Penner was about 5 years old up until about the time he was a pre-teen. 

No matter how hard of a life the family had, Isaac found the humour and the excitement in whatever was going on around him. 

If you like biographies, this is one you will enjoy. 

I bought mine in Kindle format as the "cheap Mennonite" in me decided that it was the best choice but it's available in paperback and hardcover. I love reading paper books or e-books...depends on my mood I guess!

Thanks to Renita for advertising her mom's book on Instagram!

Laughter Growing: a Mennonite-Mexican boyhood

by Esther Penner

is available on Amazon.ca in hardcover, paperback and Kindle format.

https://www.amazon.ca/Laughter-Growing-Mennonite-Mexican-Esther-Penner-ebook/dp/B09BTPMS23/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#customerReviews

Ten-Four Good Buddy

This is truly an ominous time in our lives. The virus sweeping the world right now is something out of Hollywood.

It's making many panic, and to be honest, after reading too much social media, I too, panicked. But when I shut off the computer, phone and television, I feel a soothing calm. My family is doing well. We're eating well, thanks to simple, often Mennonite-inspired, meals that can be prepared with a little planning. We all still have our sense of humour and when I'm feeling a little too cabin-fevery, I head outside for a walk or go for a drive in the car.

I've only gone into public to do the grocery shopping once since the state of emergency was issued. We can make anything out of anything, so instead of making a menu before a shopping trip, I see what's left in the store first, then plan meals in my head. My parents taught me how to make do in a McGyvery-Mennonite way.

My 16 year old daughter is finishing up her grade 11 studies at home through an online system that her highschool set up, quite swiftly I might add! She played her cards right so she's only got two classes until the end of the school year and an optional distance learning course. My 19 year old has been told to stay home and his work as a security guard has been put on hold for a couple of weeks. (He phoned in for a day off because he wasn't feeling well and they told him to stay home.) My husband is still heading to work every day but he works with so very few people in the auto body shop right now and they have work in the shop to keep them busy for awhile.

Normalcy for me consists of studying for my real estate exam (which I won't be able to write until the college opens up), listening to the radio as I'm going about daily chores and routine, baking treats, and anything to make us feel like we're not stuck in a chicken coop.

There's desperation in the air as people are struggling to make ends meet. The unsung heroes are working so very very hard to keep this country afloat and keep our population alive. Often not thanked enough.

It's our trucking companies who get a big shout out from me. That is whom I can relate to. It takes a special kind of person to work in the trucking industry.

I have family members, distant and immediate, friends and acquaintances in the industry so I have seen first-hand how truck drivers worry about paying the bills, the mortgage, keeping their families fed and happy. I've seen the distraught faces of truck drivers whose trucks have broken down on the side of the road. Fixing the truck on the side of the road sometimes is their only option or they manage to "limp" home after a multi-day trip of deliveries while their truck is making noises as steam curls out from under the hood. The expense of keeping one of those rigs on the road isn't cheap! I've seen the anger, frustration and disappointment when they're laid over for a few days at a warehouse far away from home or far from their destination due to changes in schedule. They have an incredible need and desire to stay on schedule.

They can only drive for a certain amount of hours each day and sometimes their "off" time may be filled with other tasks other than rest or sleep so please, for the love of God, if you see a semi-truck parked on the side of the road, maybe with a driver slumped over the steering wheel, don't hold down your horn for the purpose of startling the driver as you drive by. Just slow down and move to the other lane if possible.

Right now our truck drivers can't even find a decent place to eat while they're on the road. The ones crossing the borders can't take their own food along so they must rely on convenience-store food and we all know how healthy that stuff is. You've all seen the hours-old hot dogs tumbling around on the rollers in 7-11. Yeah, that. How about those sandwiches that are vacuum sealed, with condensation dribbling around in the bag, and display an expiry date a few weeks from now? Yum. Was that mould I just tasted or am I just too damn hungry to care?

The people in the trucking industry, health-care workers, emergency responders, cleaning industry, food service and grocery stores/bakeries/butcher-shops/hardware store owners and employees are working on a day-to-day basis, praying to God that they don't catch this awful virus and worse yet, spread it to their families.

Oh sure, my generation got a kick out of many great movies involving the beloved highway tractors we know and love today. How about Smokey and The Bandit? Or even Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive? Weren't those movies a hoot!

Let's give a cheer for all those essential services that are being provided for the rest of us at this trying time!

We'll get through this! Let's KEEP ON TRUCKING!!

Hiking the West Coast Trail

Getting ready

Day 1: Really started to have doubts about this hike when I lift my pack onto the fish scale. 47 lbs. What. The. Hell. How did it become so heavy? Too late to back out now. Our group attended the mandatory orientation earlier in the morning and we were now sitting on the riverbank awaiting a fishing boat to ferry us across the river to start our 75 kilometer hike on the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island.
First off on the other side of the river is a ladder at a 90 degree angle. I have to two-step it all the way up. I know for a fact that my pack is much too heavy. I look back at the ferry making it's way back to the other side with the hikers who finished this morning and were looking forward to hot meals and even hotter showers. Thinking of crawling back down the ladder but I don't.
Carry on.
Lots of fallen trees, roots, mud and rocks to work through, over and under. Right leg, particularly the thigh and hip are getting weak. After hiking for three hours, realized we've only hiked about one and a half kilometers. Can't think of enough words to express my feelings at this point.
I make it to the first campsite by supper time. I am so sore. Can hardly stand up from a sitting position.
Do I cry? I've heard many hikers cry on the trail. Thinking of crying but not sure if that would help matters much. Realize that this is still day one. By early evening, we're at our first beautiful campground by the ocean. Thrasher Cove is probably the most memorable for me!
I make myself supper, my son helps me pitch my tent and I go to bed.

Waiting to get on the boat to be ferried across the river

Day two, my left leg and hip are arguing with me. Even though my physical aches are getting the better of me as I'm hiking, I try to look up and around every now and then to take in some scenery. How beautiful! Pitching the tent at the end of each day, making a hot meal and parking my head on my new blow-up pillow is one of the best parts of my day. We end up at another magnificent campground for the night.

Drying out our socks and boots to no avail

Bonilla

Day three, I pop those Tylenol 3's like a boss! Those are the painkillers I saved in case my abscessed tooth acted up. I'm not monkeying around.
We come across another beautiful campground, Bonilla Point, at the end of the hiking day, which I've deemed my favourite on the entire hike.

Coleson getting ready for night-night

Drying out my boots and socks turns into a daily occurrence and am mildly disappointed when they are still wet when I slip back into them in the morning.

Bonilla Point

The boys trying to stay cool

Day four we camp at Tsusiat Falls. That is where we end up beside more waterfalls and camp next to rock. We get there early in the afternoon. It was the hottest day or maybe it just seemed that way because we were next to lots of rock....but anyway, that, my friends, is where my socks and boots finally get dry! How exciting!

The next day we make it to what's affectionately called The Crab Shack. What a welcoming site! The family there kills the crab right in front of you so you know it's fresh! Baked potato, potato chips, pop and chocolate bars were big sellers with our group. We arrived later than we anticipated but Carl Edgar Jr and his family were kind enough, or they took pity on us, to stay late and bring us across the narrows in their fishing boat after we filled our bellies. I don't know the name of the campground we stayed at that night but they told us to hike until we see ladders going down, there would be camping for us. It was great! Beside the ocean and secluded ...just what we needed for that was our longest day of hiking.

On the fishing boat crossing the narrows

Probably should not have worn shorts on the first half of the trail

What a beautiful site!
The water was like glass

Day six we make it to the end of our trek. A day earlier than expected.

Camping beside the ocean every single night

We get taxied to the sweetest little town called Bamfield and stay the night on the lawn of a tourist information centre. We find a convenience store/pizza place and I ate myself crazy. If I lost any weight on that hike, I gained it all back that evening.





There is so much to say about our trek on the West Coast Trail. We walked for many kilometres on warm beautiful sand, trudged along miles of small rocks, scrambled over boulders the size of my house, walked across slippery logs, stepped into knee-high mud, climbed up and down ladders, crossed rivers on swinging bridges or on trolleys but damn it was fun.
I'll admit, I didn't enjoy every moment due to my inexperience as a back country camper, but that's not to say that I wouldn't do it again. Many times I saw the rescue boats or helicopters in the distance and considered waving them down.
I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted to because I had to work hard to keep up with the group but now that I look back, I don't feel so bad about that anymore. There are so many pictures and videos of the WCT online that I will just have to keep many parts of the trip as a wonderful memory.
We met many other hikers along the way. Most were happy but a few were not.

The best part of each day was sitting down with my after-dinner tea or coffee and staring over the ocean.

A big thanks to everyone that cheered me on -- my family, friends, clients and acquaintances.

The BIGGEST thanks go to the 14th McKillop Veuturer Company who got me into this and wouldn't let me bail out.....Scouter Dave, Scouter Coleson, Brett, Thomas and Evan.

How long is this walk?

Hiking is my newest hobby/project. What, pray tell, made me want to do such a thing? Well, I'm getting older. Really? Yes I am, and I knew that with several decades of mild neglect, I had to do something so that my body will still be ticking well into my golden years.

A couple of years ago I decided to start walking more. Then it turned into going for longer walks. Then it turned into buying real big girl hiking boots. THEN I heard that our scouting group's adventure to the West Coast Trail on British Columbia's beautiful coast needed another adult to accompany them. I gave it some thought. Yep, I'm gonna do it.

I may end up being the weak link in the group but unless something horrible happens like I break a body part, I'm doing it. It's been months of preparation, mentally and physically. I've had several opportunities to back out. I've heard several horror stories about the 75 kilometre trail but more often than not, I've heard wonderful stories. More and more negative thoughts swirl around in my head but all I keep thinking about is stepping out of my box.

I don't like being in my box all the time anymore. My box is comfy and warm. My box has a flush toilet and running water. My box is cool when it's hot outside and warm when it's cold out. My box also has plenty of food and beautiful clothing. I'm taking my chances and stepping out and allowing the sun to shine on my face and let the breeze flow through my hair.

(The hair that's going to be dirtier than I've ever seen it in my life!)

I've worked hard to build my nice box. I appreciate how pleasantly snug and warm I've built it but I need to open the door more often.

So next month, I'll be hauling 30+ pounds of water, food, clothing, sleeping accommodations and other necessities, on my back and walking across beautiful beaches, rickety ladders, thrilling cable cars and slimy trails...for...a...week.

I can't wait!

"It's Not Easy Being Green..." Kermit the Frog

I'm trying to be environmentally sensible. I really am. Sometimes it's cost effective and sometimes it's not. I swing towards the cost effective route whenever possible. Sometimes my memories will wander back to my childhood and think "What would my parents have done in this case?" That seems to help.

My parents were extremely frugal. (Except they didn't have plastic coming out of their you-know-what) I'm not going to start burning my garbage in the backyard and only drink water from a hole in the ground but using more reusable items and re-purposing everything possible is a wonderful way to get going.

We already cook a lot of our own food. I make many convenience foods and spice mixes. I make my own laundry detergent and use vinegar as a softener. That's just to name a few things. I'm almost to "hillbilly" level of make-your-own stuff!

Anything that I find too expensive, like purchasing items just because they're "green", well, that doesn't work for me.

Recently I discovered Norwex products. This company sells cleaning and other household products and beauty supplies that are made from environmentally-friendly ingredients and eliminates the use of harmful chemicals.

Although quite pricey at first, many of the items are of great quality and will stand the test of time. Many products contain silver which doesn't harbour bacteria. That's an idea they would've gathered from a century or two ago....even baby soothers were made from silver! (Learned that from Pawn Stars!)

Being green is hard work sometimes. I've taught my offspring a lot of DIY tactics and life skills...you know...how to sew on a button. Thanks to the internet and you tube videos, there's no excuse for anyone not to be able to figure things out on their own.

We haven't gone off the grid or anything and we're definitely not minimalists. Living in one of those "tiny houses" isn't our idea of a good time either. We find ways to lighten our impact on the environment if possible. If something just doesn't work for us, that's okay....we take from it what we can.

Which brings me to minimalism. (Does anyone else find this almost as extreme as hoarding?) You've heard the jokes...your friend comes over, she asks you if you have a place for her to sit down and you say no...because you own enough chairs for just you or your family but not enough for if guests were to visit.

I recently started following The Minimalists on social media. They say you need to get rid of "stuff" so you can make room for more things that bring you happiness. I've lived in small homes and I don't like clutter. When there's something that doesn't get used or is just taking up space, I like to give it to somebody who can use it, re-purpose, upcycle or throw it away if necessary. I realize what size house I have and that I can't fill it up with too much stuff. It's just not reasonable and it looks ridiculous when my house is jam-packed with crap. But I like my home to look homey. I like it when a friend  comes into my house and feels at ease...feel like they can just plop on the couch or pull out a kitchen chair and have a seat waiting for the coffee I'm about to serve them. I like guests looking at my pictures on the walls and asking me about them or discussing some of the pieces I retrieved from my mother's house after she passed away.

My parents were frugal because they had to be, not because it was the thing to do. They didn't know who David Suzuki was and they probably would've thought he was an idiot. Ma and Pa were from the "dirty 30's" era and everything, I mean everything, was scarce. But they made do with what they had and what they could share with and from family and friends. They didn't know that they were poor at the time.

We can read all the blogs, articles and videos about having less impact on the environment all day long but what we really need to do is think back to a time when our ancestors were alive.

Unless of course you're a close descendant of a royal family. That may be a little different I suppose.