Baby's first Roller Coaster

Baby's first Roller Coaster
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

We went to the Canada day celebrations at a nearby park. They had these awesome mini roller coasters that were really just a car on a plastic track. But Charlotte loved it. There was just enough speed to be fun and she was only inches from the ground, so I felt she was safe. Best of both worlds.

Happy Canada Day all.

Botanical Gardens

In the tunnel
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton with some friends on Sunday. Charlotte had a blast, there was lots of room to run and two extra adults to pay attention to her.

They have a discovery garden that had some nice tunnels for kids to play in. Once she figured out that she could go through by herself it was hard to tear her away.

I can't beleive what a big girl she is now.

Charlotte plays with water

April upload 138
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

Charlotte discovered garden hoses this weekend. She spent a long time playing with it and got absolutly soaked.

She also lost a fight with our Rose Bush. Poor thing is all scratched up. Daddy took his big shovel and removed the bush. We are looking to replace it with something softer in case Charlotte gets in a sparring mood in the future.

Car full o'baby!

Car full o'baby!
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

Charlotte and I took the train down to Windsor to visit an old High School friend of mine and her baby. Kennaroo is 6 weeks older than Charlotte.

We had a great time and can't wait to do it again. Charlotte was perfectly behaved on the train and got along well with Kennaroo.

They were both crammed in the back of a hatchback car. There was not a lot of room in there!

But they sure are cute! (Charlotte is the one in the grey)

Juicy baby!

Juicy baby!
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

Grandma and Grandpa brought back this outfit from China.

If you can't dress your baby up like a watermelon when they are small - when can you do it?

Ruh-roh!

Ruh-roh!
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

I think we are in trouble. She can pull herself up to standing in her crib. We need to get that lowered - STAT!

Rock Glen Falls

Rock Glen Falls
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

Darryl and Bitty and I went cherry picking last week. After all that picking we stopped by Rock Glen Conservation area and took a hike.

It was the perfect way to cool off. The falls were great and we went wading in the creek.

From my garden

From my garden
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

I am drying som herbs as part of a present for my sister. I love having fresh herbs in the back yard. We have eight kinds at the moment - Parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, sage, dill, basil, oregano and chives. To tell the truth we are a little over run! Any one want some fresh herbs?

Or know a recipe that uses a TON of parsley?

Mmm...Canada

The main reason I restarted this blog was an invitation from Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict to participate in a Canada Day food blogging event. She invited Canadian bloggers (and honorary Canadians and Ex-Pats) to write about the food that means Canada to them. So here we go.....

What does Canada taste like to me? Difficult question. Canada tastes like lots of things.

Toasted tomato sandwiches taste a lot like Canada to me.

Toasted bread, drippy tomatoes, oozy mayo and a sprinkle of salt. Mmm.

Every summer growing up we had baskets of fresh tomatoes, jars of mayo and the toaster on the table for breakfast. Everyone made their own. More mayo/less mayo, lots of pepper/no pepper, it's up to you. We used the old toaster, the one where you had to flip the toast halfway through because it only did one side at a time.

You could eat as many as you wanted and the tomatoes always tasted like REAL tomatoes. They came from our backyard or the farmers market and dripped red goo everywhere. And we all sat together and licked our fingers and elbows and ate.

That tastes like Canada to me.

Kisses!

Kisses!
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

We went to the Royal Botanical gardens in Hamilton yesterday. And visited Auntie Cathleen too. The Husband got this shot in her Mom's backyard.

Check out other pics from our day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pookiefatcat/

Downmarket Vanilla Latte

I am addicted to the vanilla lattes from Starbucks. Unfortunately they are super expensive and the Maternity money only goes so far. So I taught myself to make a similar version at home to save the bucks for more important things - like diapers! And I don't have a steamer or espresso maker. That would cost money! This uses my kettle and microwave.


Make yourself a small cup of strong coffee. Espresso, drip, whatever. I use instant (told you it was downmarket!).



Add vanilla sugar** and a few drops of vanilla extract. If you are feeling very fancy you could make a simple syrup with a vanilla bean and use that but I am lazy and already have this stuff available in my cupboard.

(coffee, vanilla sugar and milk in a jar)



Put 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of milk in a glass jar that has a tight fitting lid. Skim milk actually works best but you can use what you like. Microwave the milk until very hot but not boiling over. Screw on the lid - tightly - because otherwise hot milk will spray all over your kitchen and that's no fun at all. Shake your jar pretty hard until you can see the foam on top. (use an oven mitt - it's HOT!!) This amuses the baby. Even better if you do a booty shaking dance and sing while you are doing it.

(shake, shake, shake!)





(foamy!!)

Use a spoon to hold back the foam while you pour the hot milk into your coffee. Spoon the foam on top and enjoy!

Mmmm.



Feel like a yuppie as you tell the baby she can't have any of Mommy's Latte.

Total cost? I not sure but it's a lot less than at the shop and I don't have to leave the house!

** If you don't have vanilla sugar, what are you waiting for?? Buy some beans on eBay (much cheaper than anywhere else I have found) and stick them in sugar. It's awesome on strawberries, in coffee, in cookies and cakes and in pretty much anything you would put sugar into.

Thought for the day

Am I really going to lie here and let my baby kick me in the face while I try and grab those few precious extra moments of sleep?

Yes.

Was it worth it?

Oh, yes.

Wow - it's been a long time

Just reviving the blog for a few special posts.

Lots has happened.

Mostly this:

This is Charlotte Grace. She keeps me busy.

Stress at work

Work has been Psychotically busy in the past week. I run and run and run and never seem to catch up. I have about 6 hours of paperwork to catch up on and am working my second job this weekend.

Where O Where is my 649 win?

Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras!
Originally uploaded by Pookiefatcat.

I don't celebrate Lent. Or Easter (aside from the chocolate!)

But I do celebrate pancakes. Lots of pancakes.

Buttermilk pancakes with bacon and melon. And lots of maple syrup. The real stuff, no imitation syrup here.


Happy Fat Tuesday!