The Burning Question...

Whether it's a warm sunny afternoon or blowing snow in the middle of November there's a perfect dinner for every occasion.

The burning question.....
What's your feel good dinner?

On a cold night you'll find my husband and I dancing around the kitchen prepping one of our favorite meals. Grilled cheese and tomato soup...ain't we's fancy. I love dipping my perfectly tanned wheat bread with a mixture of deli cheeses into a deliciously doctored tomato soup. By doctored I mean a dash of milk, red pepper flakes and whatever fresh herbs that are in the fridge. Although, we often find ourselves living in cold environments we can't always wait for the weather to participate...grilled cheese and tomato soup in July is yummy too.

What about you?

*If you want to add fun to your grilled cheese sandwich add a little mustard and/or use a mixture of deli cheeses with a little mayo, garlic salt and paprika.

Squashed Creativity

It didn't just come to me, but it's just now coming out of my mouth....renting is suffocating my creativity! Seriously, read Burlap and Blue, The Whispering Creek House, Decor8...and so on. You'd be right there with me, feeling all the creative juices bubbling up until you're about to explode then nothing. Fizzle. Well, I'm going to take action. (Stand up-hands on the hip) Not really, but it sounded so fierce, right. (Laying back down-wrapping myself in a blanket.)

I guess if I came up with a plan then maybe I could approach my French speaking landlord in my terrible French about painting a room or two. (I would practice my lines over and over...) Then I have another thing to think about.... Wait let me grab my paper bag for breathing control because it always makes me hyperventilate to talk about....MoNeY. Do I want to invest in this apartment? I've been here 2 1/2 years and I haven't done anything, but I will be here another 2 years. That is a long time to "settle" on the way things are. As I lay here in my bed (I know it's 9:25, but I just got a call that my student needed to cancel today because she's sick...I still get paid, so I went back to my favorite place to blog for a while.) my head is spinning out of control with ideas, my debit card is hiding from me and my husband is shaking his head from side to side.

What's a girl to do?
To paint or not to paint...that is the question.

Reading My Mind

(A photo I took at my Grandma's house this time last summer.)

Inspirational blog after blog is where I've been spending my free time. I'm totally distracted (not disturbed) by someones ability to write a post that has been written in my mind. Their words whisper in my ear and mess with my authenticity. Without question originality in the blog world might play a limited roll to those borrowed. Like minds will gather. If it's in my head it's on this blog and maybe another blog too.

Here are a few of my newest blog affairs:
One Crafty Fox
The Light Garden

Have you found a new blog you want to share? Do tell.....

Wordless Wednesday Ashes...Ashes.....

I'm sure I'll read about it tomorrow, but there was a fire somewhere in the city that turned the sunny blue skies into an eery haze....

The Burning Question...

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend.

Are you ready for the question?

What types of books do you like to read?
What book(s) are you reading right now?

I enjoy reading different types of books, but I usually have my nose buried in girlie books with a mix of drama, history, comedy, social and/or relationship issues. Recently, I joined a book club here in Quebec City. It is a group of 15 or so, who range from 30-85 in age. They are all Anglophones (English speaking)
which makes it nice for me.
This month we read The Birth House
by a Canadian author, Ami McKay.

First, let me tell you that I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately drawn to the main character, Dora Rare. As the first daughter born into the family after five generations you know right away that she is special. Others quickly realize the same thing in the small village of Scots Bay, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, special doesn't always mean good. Shadowing the village midwife, Dora's hands not only catch the falling babies, but she is forced to juggles the future of Scots Bay.

Your turn!

Mary Edward Walker on Memorial Day

The last Monday in May is reserved and recognized by the United States as Memorial Day. Once called Decoration Day, it is on this day that we observe the men and women who died while in the military.

Women in history... Mary Edward Walker

Photo Credits
The only female to finish medical school in her class, she volunteered for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Working as an unpaid surgeon (because of being female) close to the front line then eventually receiving a "Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian)" she became the first female U.S. Army Surgeon. Captured by the Confederates and arrested as a spy she was eventually released. Dr. Mary Edward Walker was given the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson. The first and only women to ever receive this highest of military medals, which was revoked for "unusual circumstances" two years before she died, but Mary refused to give it back and wore the medal until the day she died. (In 1977 the medal was reinstated by Jimmy Carter.)

Like many women who have made history, Mary Walker was devoted to women's rights.

This is just a snippet about Mary Walker. If you would like to learn more click here, here and here.


As a wife, daughter and grand daughter of soldiers who came home after servicing in the military I can not imagine the loss felt by those who take this day to remember family members. Saying I'm sorry most likely wouldn't begin to heal the hurt, but I am humbled by their sacrifice.

Across the lines, but still a proud American....

Sex In My City

There was sex in my city too...English sex. I'm not even sure why I was excited to see Sex In The City, but I was.... I can not deny the fact that I like fashion and makeup. I'm not a shopaholic or a fashionista, but I enjoy dressing up, putting on heels, doing my hair and make-up whenever I can.

My movie review without giving anything way: From sparkle to shine...starting with gay glam had me smiling and laughing out loud. Swans were floating, butts were slapped, the purity of white was an entertaining twist at the worlds best gay wedding. Jetting off to Abu Dhabi in only couture the foursome told their stories one by one. Mommy talk, marrital strife and menopause heated the reel. There was a little something for every woman in the audience to nod her head at. When luxury turned and their glass slippers lost, reality set in and it was time to go home.

While I enjoyed the movie for the limited depth it should rightfully be given...the disrespect for another culture and religious beliefs made me pause in discomfort. It's just not something I find funny and perhaps it's what makes me different from others who can just laugh it off.

Leaving the movie I was still batting my fake lashes and spinning on my stilettos. As I walked to the car hand in hand with my Mr. Big I reminded myself the entertainment world is where it should be for me....$12.00 out of my pocket.