Seasons Greetings

My Grandma Brooks made this tree years ago in her ceramics class. I forego putting up a real tree and instead put this on display. I love this tree as it holds so many memories of Christmases past and of loved ones that are no longer here.









I find the holidays are always a time for reflection. As 2017 winds down and 2018 looms around the corner, I look back on this year, on the trips I've taken, the people I've met and all the experiences I've had. I look forward to the new adventures next year holds and to the new places I'll visit.





Whatever you're doing this holiday season, I hope you are surrounded by loved ones. Thank you for sharing this blog with me and all the best to you in 2018.

~MT

Anne of Green Gables

Kip and Henry

Anne and Diana

Before Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari became Bosom Buddies, Canadian author Lucy Maud (L.M.) Montgomery had already penned the term in her 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables.



Montgomery tells the story of Anne Shirley, an 11 year old orphan who comes to live at Green Gables with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Set in the fictional town of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island, the Cuthberts are middle-aged siblings looking to adopt a boy to help on the farm. Instead, they get Anne, a talkative, dramatic, intelligent, freckled, red-haired girl. Matthew was taken with her straightaway and he and Marilla agree to keep her. Anne settles into her new life in the close-knit farming town. She meets her bosom friend Diana Barry,  and confides to Marilla, Miss Barry is a kindred spirit after all.  She also meets Gilbert Blythe who teases Anne about her red hair, calling her "Carrots". Anne hates her red hair,  red hair is my life long sorrow  and despises Gilbert for teasing her. Gilbert becomes Anne's adversary in school but will eventually become very important in her life.


My sister and I read the book as children, and eventually the entire series. Montgomery decided to continue Anne's story and there were eight books published in total, following Anne throughout her life. Millions of fans of the book have traveled to Prince Edward Island, where they can see numerous Anne-related attractions.

In 1985, the CBC created a four hour television miniseries which I spent more than a couple Sunday afternoons watching with my Grandma Kennedy. It starred Canadian actress Megan Follows as Anne, and Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe. They went on to film Anne of Avonlea in 1987, Road to Avonlea in 1992, and Anne of Green Gables:The Continuing Story in 2000.

Gilbert Blythe played by Jonathan Crombie

The Brits may have Mr. Darcy, but we Canadians have Gilbert Blythe. When Gilbert first meets Anne, he is immediately smitten. He teases her to get her attention but this backfires and Anne resents him. They become rivals at school, competing for the highest grades and a scholarship. Gilbert saves Anne from drowning when she's 16, and although her friends find this romantic, Anne still refuses to warm to Gilbert. He eventually gives up a teaching job so Anne can take the position and continue to live at Green Gables. This act of kindness finally cements their friendship. Eventually Anne and Gilbert marry and have children. Gilbert sets the bar high for romance!

Adelaide, Andrea and myself

Imagine my delight when my very own bosom friend...my kindred spirit Andrea, asked if I'd accompany her and her daughter Adelaide to an Anne of Green Gables play. It was showing at the Community Centre about an hour and a half away in Petrolia. When Andrea got the tickets, she realized it was a musical and her cousin had a role as Miss Stacey, Anne's teacher. The play followed Anne's adventures from 11-16 years old and for the most part, stayed true to the book. Andrea and I both think Adelaide would make the perfect Anne with her red hair and just the right amount of dramatic flair!

The book has been a favourite of mine for years. It's a must-read that will make you laugh and cry. As Anne says, I love a book that makes me cry. I was so happy to share this musical experience with Andrea. We both share such a love for the book and Gilbert Blythe! If you're not much of a reader, than check out the miniseries. I'm sure you will love it just as much as I do.

~MT

Sister Trip

Aruba, Jamaica, oh I want to take ya.
Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama.
Key Largo, Montego....

STOP!! You had  me at ARUBA!
My sister Jennie and I decided a few months ago to book a trip to Aruba for October. It's a place I've been thinking of visiting the past couple of years. We chose the Riu Palace Antillas an adults-only, all-inclusive resort. After booking, we sat back and watched as hurricane season started to tear through many Caribbean islands. Fortunately, Aruba wasn't harmed and we were all set to go.

We flew out of Toronto early Thanksgiving Monday (in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October). This required us to leave home at 2a.m. and drive in the rain along the treacherous 401 highway to reach the airport. Neither of us had slept prior so this photo is what being awake for over 24 hours looks like.

We chose Sunwing Airlines and although not the greatest, the flight was seamless and we arrived in Aruba around 2:30p.m. Our hotel was only a 10 minute drive from the airport so we were checked in and changed into our bathingsuits by 4p.m.


Before hitting the pool and the swim up bar, we grabbed a couple of Balashi beer from the fridge. This would be our drink of choice for the week. Heading out to the pool, we couldn't believe the weather. It was absolutely stunning! It stayed that way all week. We didn't have a drop of rain and the temperature hovered around 32-35°C everyday. It was humid but there was a constant breeze to keep you feeling cool.



The island of Aruba is quite small, measuring only 32 km (20 miles) long and about 10 km (6 miles) wide. It's a Dutch island so you could hear that alongside English, Spanish and Papiamento, their local language. Jennie and I visited St. Maarten a couple of years ago and it was comparable. Even though our hotel was all-inclusive, we ventured off the resort a few times.

We visited the Bugaloe Pier (down the beach from our hotel) where they had happy hour daily from 5-7p.m. This was a great spot to catch the sunset and listen to live music.

Lobster tail

Mushroom risotto 

The food was fantastic in Aruba. You could have anything your heart desired. I had lobster every chance I got while my sister opted for steak. We went to an amazing Italian restaurant, Gianni's, and both the service and food was incredible. There's a huge lobster tank in the restaurant and you can dine either inside or alfresco. Next door was a steakhouse called Daniel's and it was just as busy.

We couldn't have asked for a more relaxing vacation. We walked the beach each morning, spent the day reading, drinking and playing cards by the pool, enjoyed the entertainment and casino at night.

*These 2 photos were taken from the balcony of our room. We had a great view and it was amazing to wake up to this view each morning.





We decided to treat ourselves on the Saturday night and booked a Sunset Sail trip. It was just two hours and we got to sail along the gorgeous coastline with an open bar, delicious snacks and great music. Again, the weather was perfect and the trip was entertaining.

Jennie and I had to
get our picture with
this sign!

I highly recommend a trip to Aruba. The weather, people, food, drink and shopping can't be beat. I've been to a number of islands and this was definitely my favourite. After a week there, both my sister and I said we could have stayed longer. I'm not sure my liver could have handled it though!





So if you're looking for an island adventure, check out Aruba. You'll love it!

~MT

The Fire Down Below

For my third and final Summer concert, I went to see another legend, Bob Seger. At 72 years old, the DETROIT MADE rocker sounded STILL THE SAME and showed the crowd his NIGHT MOVES. We arrived 30 minutes before the RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' MAN hit the stage, and as we walked down MAINSTREET, we could hear some OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL blaring from the nearby parking lots. I was so glad my brother asked my sisters and I. When he showed us the tickets and said YOU'LL ACCOMP'NY ME, we thought this was a great way to end the Summer.


We fought AGAINST THE WIND and entered the venue where we lined up with all the other BEAUTIFUL LOSERS getting ready to SHAKEDOWN to some HEAVY MUSIC. Seger definitely ROLL(ed) ME AWAY with his vocals and skills on guitar and piano. LOOKIN BACK, I'm glad we went to the show. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the TRAVELIN' MAN as he went through the Detroit area. LIKE A ROCK, Bob and his Silver Bullet Band played all the classics. The crowd knew WE'VE GOT TONIGHT and only the one night to enjoy this special live performance.


First Neil Diamond, then Lionel Richie, and finally Bob Seger. It was a Summer of classics, good music and legends.

~MT

Dog days of Summer

Kirby sporting my Tom Ford's
while lounging on my chair. 

As we enter August, there is still little relief from the heat except at night. There are a number of ways to cool off...you can sit in the A/C, jump in the pool, or have a refreshing drink of Hoopers (this is my drink of the Summer). For our 4-legged furry friends, it's not always that easy. So what can you do to add some relief from the heat?



Bring on the pupsicles! These treats are easy to make, take only a few minutes (plus freezing) and your dog will love them. I've made two different kinds and I think Kirby may like them more than I like my Hoopers.

1) Peanut Butter & Banana
Mash 2 bananas. Mix in 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Pour into your ice cube tray. Add a tiny treat (I use mini milk-bones) and freeze. Pop them out and give to your pup.

2) Yogurt and Apple Sauce
Mix a cup of yogurt (I use vanilla) with some apple sauce. Pour into an ice cube tray. Add a tiny milk-bone and freeze.

You can also make these with watermelon and blueberries, and even chicken broth. Your dog will love them because they are cold and delicious. I wonder if dogs get brain freeze like humans do?

My sister's Bullmastiff, Lucy on the left and my Cockapoo Kirby on the right. They anxiously await these treats. Lucy tends to gulp hers down in 2 chomps but Kirby likes to lick and savour his treat.










Another relief I've found for Kirby is a kids pool. Although we have a pool, he doesn't like it much unless he's on a float. The kids pool is perfect as he can touch the bottom, lay down and drink the water.

It's important to keep your pets cool in the Summer. Try making the Pupsicles and hosing your pooch down when outside. Make sure there's plenty of shade in your yard. Most importantly, leave your pet to enjoy the A/C at home while you run errands. Hot dogs belong on a BBQ...not in a vehicle!

Enjoy the rest of Summer. Stay cool!

~MT

Camping

My first camping experience was as a Brownie. I needed to earn my camping badge and headed to Camp Peco-Dah-Quah in Wyoming, Ontario with my Girl Guide troop. We spent the weekend pitching our tents, going on nature hikes, cooking over a campfire and singing Kumbaya.

Zach getting comfy on the
mattress while Kirby stands guard. 

My nephews Drew and Zach (aged 12 and 10) never joined Boy Scouts but I wanted them to experience the great outdoors. They would have preferred "glamping" in a yurt or teepee but they settled for a tent in my backyard.


They didn't complain much as they had a blow up queen size air mattress, access to wifi, a swimming pool, and they were steps away from the backdoor leading to a bathroom with running water and flushing toilets.

Drew would have spent the entire night on his watermelon float but was worried about the bugs. He loves swimming and spends hours at a time in the pool. No lake swimming at this camp, but the pool was a good substitute.










Bonfires are prohibited in Windsor, so I had to make do with a gift from my friend Paula, a ceramic fire pot. Not quite the same affect as a real bonfire. Fires were the best part of my camping memories where we roasted marshmallows and sang songs.





My sister found a recipe for Campfire Cones which I dare say, are even better than S'mores. You take a waffle cone, add ingredients such as marshmallows, peanut butter, chocolate chips and Gold Fish graham crackers. You wrap the cone tightly with tinfoil and bake it in the oven at 350° for 5-7 minutes. You can also heat them over a campfire for 3-5 minutes for those lucky enough to have one going in their backyard. Yummy!




The weather was perfect and the boys lasted all night without sneaking inside to sleep on a real bed with the A/C. We woke up the next morning to find their dog Lucy sitting outside. She was probably wondering why Kirby got to sleep inside the tent and she didn't. The tent is a 4-man and held 3 people and a dog. Two dogs would have been a tight squeeze.


Drew and Zach had a great time and asked if we could do it again. They conquered their fear of sleeping outdoors. They don't have all the skills I learned as a Girl Guide, but hopefully in time, they'll get there. So if you're looking for a fun "getaway" this summer, you don't have to go far. Pitch a tent out back and enjoy!

~MT

All Night Long

After seeing Neil Diamond in concert, I didn't think I would see another for awhile that would impress me. Then along came Lionel Richie, playing at the Colosseum at Windsor Caesar's. Just a ten minute drive from home, free parking and to top it off...free tickets!

My first memory of Lionel Richie, was watching him perform with The Commodores on Solid Gold. If you're not familiar with Solid Gold, it was a Top 40 music show that aired on Saturday nights. It was hosted by Dionne Warwick, then Andy Gibb and Marilyn McCoo. Arsenio Hall became involved in the last couple seasons of the show. The draw for me was not only the music, but the Solid Gold Dancers. I wanted to dress in their risque costumes and dance to the most popular music of the week.

When Dionne announced The Commodores were her co-hosts for the night and they played Heroes I was moved by the ballad and the vocals of Lionel Richie. These men were so talented. I look at "boy bands" of today and most don't play instruments.  They are popular because of their image. I'm not saying they lack talent, but I don't think any of them compare to the music being put out in the 70's and 80's.

When Lionel left The Commodores and embarked on a solo career, I continued to follow him. I bought his Can't Slow Down album on cassette and listened to it on my Walkman (dating myself much?).

Years later, watching him play a mix of both his and music and the music of The Commodores,  I couldn't believe how many hits he had. His ballad with Diane Ross, Endless Love, Brickhouse/Fire medley (Fire is the theme song for Gordon Ramsay's Hells Kitchen show) and of course, Hello and We Are the World.

The crowd went crazy when he sang old hits like Three Times a Lady, Lady (You Bring Me Up) and Sail On. 

Summer always brings great concerts to the area. I think Bob Seger will be next!

~MT

Brother Love's Traveling

I truly believe that music can transport you to another time and place. You hear a song from high school and remember dancing to it at prom. Or you hear a song from long ago and remember sitting on the living room floor while your Dad danced in front of the hi-fi. The first record I ever owned was Prince's Purple Rain and I listened to that album on repeat. Music has changed considerably through the years. Most people no longer buy albums or CD's since everything is available by download. Concerts are still attended but the price of tickets have risen exorbitantly. So when my brother got a sweet deal for Neil Diamond's 50th anniversary tour tickets, we jumped at the chance. For $27 U.S. we would see our Jazz Singer at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.

We were first introduced to Neil back in 1980. My aunt rented a VCR and two movies for the weekend. The first was Kramer vs. Kramer and the second was The Jazz Singer. We watched these movies over and over until they had to be returned to the video store on Monday morning. The Jazz Singer received critical reviews, even though Neil Diamond never claimed to be an actor, and the great Laurence Olivier starred as his father. The movie itself may have been a flop, but the soundtrack was incredible. By Monday morning, I had all the songs memorized (much to my family's chagrin).

When I moved to Japan after university, I found not one, but two kindred Neil Diamond spirits. The first was Kelly who was also from Ontario and grew up not too far from me. Her and I would listen to Neil's greatest hits CD and belt out Cracklin' Rosie at the top of our lungs. We laughed at how Neil could make anything rhyme and fit into his songs. The second friend I found a few years later, when I moved into a new apartment. Chris and I watched The Jazz Singer on more than one occasion. We loved both the movie and the music.


Neil is now 76 years old and his voice hasn't changed a bit. Why did I wait so long to see him in concert? My Grandparents saw him years ago at PineKnob (now DTE) and this was Neil's 59th show in Detroit. The concert was completely sold out and although a lot of the crowd was older, most people in the audience knew every word to every song. Especially when he sang Sweet Caroline.

So good! So good! So good!

~MT

Love on the Rocks

On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, we found ourselves in Killarney and after a day of sightseeing, we decided to spend the night enjoying some Irish whiskey. Just minutes from our hotel was a bar that offered an "Irish Whiskey Experience". They offered a few different classes to choose from, but our reservation was made at the last minute so we got the Distiller's Apprentice class, an introduction to Irish whiskey.

Being from Windsor, Ontario, we are no strangers to whisky (see how Canadians drop the e in whisky?) Canadian Club and Crown Royal are produced here. The difference is we tend to mix our whisky. As I mentioned in a previous post, my drink of choice is a "riot" (rye whisky + diet Pepsi). When we told our guide Allan about this, he cringed and told us we were doing it wrong.

With his vast knowledge, Allan explained that Irish whiskey was to be savoured on its own- with no mix- not even ice. After starting with a sensory perception quiz where we sniffed different ingredients that go into whiskey, we watched a film on Irish whiskey and how it's made.






Then came the sampling. We compared 4 classic styles and under the guidance of Allan, we learned how to appreciate the whiskey. Being ideal apprentices, we were able to identify the citrus, spice and oak flavour in each glass. My favourite was Redbreast, a single pot still whiskey, dubbed the "Irish Nectar".






The class lasted an hour and after sampling the 4 whiskeys, we were feeling comfortably numb. After chatting with a lovely couple from Put-in-Bay, Ohio, we made our way to a local pub for some fish and chips.

As much as I enjoyed the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, this experience was equally worthwhile. There was a plethora of whiskey available, the staff was both friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere couldn't be beat.

~MT

Sheepdogs

No, this post is not about Canada's rock band, Sheepdogs. Instead, I'm referring to Jack, the border collie who stole my heart on a sheep farm in Sligo, Ireland.  We visited the Atlantic Sheepdog, home to shepherd Martin Feeney, his 300 sheep and 9 working dogs, including Jack. Martin was a grand host, describing the history, land and work that goes into running his farm.




Even on little sleep, Martin was entertaining, showing us his different sheep and introducing us to these adorable lambs that were born about 8 hours before we arrived. I was so excited to hold this little gem.









Martin was full of information. He explained how the expression black sheep came to be. We often use the expression when referring to an odd member of our family but did you ever wonder why? Martin explained that in sheep, it's a genetic effect where a recessive gene manifests itself. He showed us the difference between white and black wool, and explained the black wool is inferior and lesser value because it can't be dyed. I've used the expression before and had no idea of its origin!


As informative as Martin was, it was Jack that stole the show. As soon as Martin released him, he was ready to work. Take a look at his skill and determination. There's a reason he's one of the top 3 sheepdogs in all of Ireland.

Jack never took his eyes off the sheep

The most noteworthy feature of the sheep would have to be the spray paint on them. These markings are for the farmer to identify which sheep belong to him. They are also used during the lambing season and to identify any problem the sheep may have. With 300 sheep roaming around, it helped Martin to have an 'F' on them to distinguish between his sheep and his neighbours. As my cousin Kristopher said, that's a whole lot of F-ewe's in the field!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the sheep farm. It was certainly one of the highlights of my trip. Stay tuned for my whisky experience...




**If you get a chance, give the Canadian band Sheepdogs a listen. Their song, "I Don't Know" is pretty good.

~MT

Steak and Guinness Pie...oh my!

Since my last post was about the Guinness Storehouse, I figured I'd continue the theme and post about the most delicious dish I sampled in Ireland...Steak and Guinness pie.

On our second day in Ireland, while walking the streets of Dublin, we came across a lovely pub, The Ferryman Townhouse. An old Georgian building that overlooks the River Liffey, this charming pub looked inviting. Music could be heard from the sidewalk and when we opened the door, wonderful scents from the carvery greeted us.

Having difficulty choosing what to eat, the chef suggested the daily special. He said the Steak and Guinness pie was something you must try before you die. That was all the convincing I needed.  He had me sold with that slogan and gave me  a few chips on the side (that's french fries to most of you). I ordered a pint of McGargles local brew to wash down this delicious lunch.






This meal was by far the best I had in both trips to Ireland. It was mouth-watering delicious. The meat was so tender and flavourful. The pie crust added a nice texture to the stew. I highly recommend a trip to this pub while in Dublin. The atmosphere is delightful, the food and drink are unbeatable, and if you are too pickled at the end of the night, they have rooms upstairs.



Returning home, I thought I could try and recreate this dream dish. I searched on-line for a recipe. In hindsight, I wish I had asked the chef for his!








I found something similar on allrecipes.com (my go-to website for recipes) for a Beef, Mushroom and Guinness Pie. After reading all of the reviews, I tweaked it slightly and came up with this.

It definitely didn't look the same or taste as heavenly as the Ferryman's. For a first attempt, I'd say it wasn't half bad.








I enjoy cooking (and eating!) so it was fun to try this recipe. I figured that if it didn't turn out, at least I had the remaining Guinness to drink. I had to buy a 4 pack of tall boys as they didn't sell single cans at the local Beer Store. Steak and Guinness pie is a dish you must try in Ireland. I dare say it's even better than the fish and chips!


~MT