Deer Mouse Study

No better chance to draw a deer mouse than when you find a dead one on your floor, right?

100 Things to Eat Before You Die #8

Carrot cake. Because of the carrots, it's always moist inside. And you can't beat cream cheese frosting. Isn't it Bugs Bunny's favourite dessert?

Under the Snow

With all the warm weather we had last week, much of our snow has melted. And under that snow? Looks like I might just have enough fresh parsley for my chicken soup. In January, around here? How strange is that!

New Year's Cake 1992

Looking back: I made this New Year's cake in 1992, complete with retro paper horns being blown by round cupcake faces wearing chocolate-dipped ice cream cone hats. Silly, eh?

Go Team Go!

Sunday brought us out to the Vankleek Hill arena...


...to watch our friend Yvette and Ken's daughter Sam, who is 14 years old, play hockey...


...against a team from Potsdam. It was an exhibition game, and a lot of fun so the score didn't really matter.


What did matter was the Mexican poutine we shared after the game. To read a review of it, click here to go to Poutine Chronicles!

Fun With Food

One of the gifts I got over the holidays was a camera, complete with a "food" setting.


I've been experimenting...look out! More to come in 2011. (How do you like this funky box of chocolate caramels from my sis?)

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 to all my friends and readers. Cheers!

New Year's Wishes

The critters here in eastern Ontario wish you a very happy new year.


Here's hoping that your glass is always half full.


That you make new friends...


...and always remember to share with others.


May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be ever at your back.

Vanilla Snowflake Cake

This cake has white chocolate snowflakes, which I piped onto waxed paper and then once cooled, applied them to a vanilla frosted cake. It looked just right for the season and was kind of fun to make.

Godfather Saga

My parents started a tradition many moons ago that over the holidays, we'd have a Godfather Day, meaning we'd watch all 3 films and have an eating fest of lasagne, garlic bread and the works.


Richard offered to cater the affair and while Connie was getting married...


...like Clemenza when the boys went to the mattresses, Richard was cooking the sauce for the lasagne.


I was taking notes on how to make a wedding cake this tall...


...and Richard was getting ready to put the lasagne in the oven.


It looked fantastic...


...and it was delicious!


I hope we can do it again next year. Perhaps I'll make Richard an offer he can't refuse!

Domino 1990-2010

Domino showed up at our house on December 24, 1990...


...and Mom named her Domino because she was wearing a domino mask, like the ones worn at carnival.


She gained fame when her image was featured on a door hanger for New York's Hotel Pennsylvania.


When she sat on my lap, which for the past few years was every mealtime, I often dressed her up and swore that she'd be a shoe-in for a part in Fiddler on the Roof.


She celebrated her 20th birthday just last September.


One of her favourite things was to drink milky tea from a mug. I'd make a cup of tea especially for her when I was fixing a cup for myself.


In the past week, almost exactly twenty years to the day she appeared, her health started to deteriorate and she passed away. I will miss you my sweet Domino.

Hey, Who Took My Peanut?

Doesn't that blue jay look a little peeved? Maybe that peanut was the jay's Christmas dinner?! Share Mr. Squirrel, share! Merry Christmas everyone!

Silly Times at the Office

A half day of work today meant Bailey's in my coffee...


...and too many sweets (is there such a thing?) at my desk.



At noon we locked the front door and headed to the shipping area for a fantastic lunch...


...and tricks performed by our managing editor Steve, who moonlights as a magician.


After that was a funky horse racing game, which I won three times!


Chantal and Helen were pretty happy with their win too!


See ya next year, dear office...

The Days Are Getting Longer

We're now over the hump of the winter solstice and the days are starting to grow longer...


Check out the hopeful signs of budding plants I found in the woods. Happy winter everyone. Spring is only three months away so enjoy the winter while it's here!