The pitfalls of being a dog owner...

What did he do with the other one????

One of a Kind

This wonderful creature was elected by her peers to be one of the Grade 7 Reps on council. An honour both children have had at age 11/12!

Thanksgiving 2018

Okay, another overdue post....

Thanksgiving weekend and I just wanted to bake and make

This rosemary focaccia was so popular that I made it twice during one long weekend

we nibbled on cheese and figs and saucisson from Issigeac

We once again gave thanks with and for these wonderful friends

It was time for the annual homage to brussel sprouts

a delicious puff pastry with sweet potatoes, chilis and feta

and then we closed the weekend by chopping up all the leftover veg and slow-cooking them in Auntie R's pot


We are grateful for all the wonderful people and fortune that we have. xo

Nairobi days

Once again, I was so fortunate to head to Nairobi for work 2 weeks back.

Heading off in my new shoes - Toronto felt like 34 degrees with the humidity, whilst Nairobi was 27!

I stayed with Margaret and saw her sister, Cathi, and Shavs.

And then the Alliance meetings started. We worked at the restaurant

and outside whenever possible

Here are the programming members of my "CPMS" team. Not very diverse, are we...

The new portion of dear Village Market - looks like South Africa!

Its soaring sails 

Metal Masai with headphones and laptop?!?!

And then I came home to a new reality...

 It was a high (ha ha) of 7 degrees and a low of -1. Someone had definitely turned the thermostat down... But at least Lisa was visiting!

A round-up of Autumn to-date

A certain Grandma noted that I haven't been blogging much... I have not one but 4 contracts open at the moment!!! and many of them involve travel. And let's face it, the kids aren't so happy to mug for the camera and do sweet things for me to brag about. That said, here is a round-up of the last few weeks.

For the last 10 days, I was fortunate enough to be in Nairobi - seeing old friends and attending the annual meeting of the global Alliance that I am part of. Unfortunately I pulled my back, so wasn't as active and easy going as I would have liked. But I did attend every session and network during the breaks. The trip home was helped by a magic pill but then last night I  aggravated it doing nothing at all it seemed. Ah well, 50 is indeed knocking at the door!

The news at home is that Sophie has finished her first academic cycle (or "contract") and did well. She handed everything in early and now her school embarks on its "in-between" week. Lots of outings and extra speakers, inter-grade art projects etc. I am chaperoning tomorrow's venture into the underground pathway - they have to self-navigate to various spots. They do a laundromat morning on Friday! Ballet is going well. She is interested in going on pointe in the next year but has yet to tell her teachers of her goal. Rock-climbing is a blast with a gang of old pals on Friday. They then take the subway home at 8 pm. The only thing is that she hangs around from 3:20 - 6 pm when it starts. As the weather gets cold, we have to figure out something better - though she has picked up some interesting books at the local library. 

Seb has a twice/week tutoring job. Just 30 minutes of making French cool for a local 9 year old. They meet at our local library. The mum seems pleased, so hopefully that will continue. He is working on 2 new moves in trampoline which is good to hear about - not sure that I want to see them!! And while there is loads of homework, he seems to be enjoying history & "civics"; they did chemistry for the 1st unit in science - which he found easy but still interesting.

Mr mr. is working our municipal election tonight. He is the results guy in tonight's radio show. He is still running 2-3 x / week - with and without the dog. He is now doing a weekly analysis piece for each Ontario radio station. So on Thursday mornings, he heads into the Toronto studio for 6 a.m. (!) and then does 7 X 5 mins interviews by 8:30. He is enjoying it. And while I travelled, it meant that the kids had to get themselves up and out the door  - having walked Darwin for 5-10 mins. I was told it all happened! A dear friend moved here from BC over the summer, so they have been seeing each other every other week. He loves live current music, so hopefully we will get out with him and his wife to see something in the coming months.

And we are both counting down the days till our mini-break in Mexico City! We have a list of places to see and amble. We have been in touch with a couple of people we know there and expect some nice drinks on terraces and meals at hidden gem restaurants. So no doubt, lots to blog about there!

Okay back to work go I!

Foods of summer 2018...

Just reminiscing about some of the amazing foods we consumed this past summer

Delicious Italian crackers infused with olive oil

We lived on chilled soups

1 of his multiple smoked meat sandwiches this summer

Store prepared lox on a bagel for our camping trip breakfast

a delicacy

First day of holidays and he out did himself

When the allergic cat was away at Grandparent camp...

I had said that this was the yummiest dish I made all summer but there were many contenders

Visiting friends who get as excited by us at the French frozen food shop are welcome any time

Too gorgeous and delicious

Bought as a joke (on sale no less!)

Via the M&S food hall at CDG airport... yup, you heard that right.

Cabicou with Sophie

One of our many many salads during the canicule

Teaching a basic skill to our youngster

Raspberry lips

A working lunch

A working breakfast while I was solo in Issigeac

That time I ate the baguette by myself in one sitting...

Fruit gazpacho as promised

Party food in Brighton!

Fine ale wherever we were

I couldn't resist because we didn't resist any chance to picnic (bread, cheese & ale)

BBQing on the Hove beach - Emma did herself proud again!

Oh my - what a party!

So, we threw ourselves a joint 50th on Saturday. Well, to be accurate, we threw two 50ths simultaneously. As befits a good party, we don't have great photos, but we do have some stunning memories (and more photos come)

newly-weds (after 25 years), Doug & Michelle

her wedding Fluevogs!

Much yummy food, finished by 3 cakes!

Got to own it!

KCal and Trevor & Erin

David & popped in from DC, Wendy - with the downtown lights behind

Oh look, that's me and my party kaftan!

Two of my favourite fellas - Matt & our host, Rob

Rob is the sort of host who writes out all the booze options for us. 

And his - last minute absent but oh so guilty feeling - wife, Angele is the sort of hostess
who organises not 1 but 4 vases of sumptuous flowers