Day Three Hundred and Twenty Nine - Stevenson Memorial Hospital

Dear all,

Today I had to make a random excursion to Alliston for a routine health check at the Stevenson Memorial Hospital. http://www.smhosp.on.ca

Despite a horrendous turn in the weather (snow/ rain/ fog) me and my intrepid car hit the road and started out down the [notorious during inclement weather conditions] airport road.

But, I made it. Thank goodness. And spent a couple of hours sitting in the Stevenson Memorial Hospital reading an English copy of Horse and Hound.

Not much to report from Alliston. There was a Canadian Tire and a Sobeys. Ooo and a Tim Hortons. But it was nice to have a drive, even if it was in zero visibility along a very exposed and dangerous highway.

And Thank you to the lovely doctor that I saw who not only runs marathons but whose daughter has just graduated from the exact same course I am taking at Georgian College, who loved it and is now is Halifax, with her own gallery show and doing a masters. Very encouraging!

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Eight - Scentuals

Dear all

I would like to say that spring is on the way, but it isn't, so what better way to lift the mood than to indulge in some sensory treats and retail therapy on Ebay.

I am a huge fan of massage and have just run out of oils so thought this a perfect opportunity to purchase some more. After googling 'organic massage oils' I stumbled upon this site http://scentualsbodycare.com and was intrigued to keep on clicking.

Scentuals is a company located in BC who pride themselves in being 100% natural, sourcing products from around the globes with all the products being handmade, eco friendly and not tested on animals. I chose a 'calming lavender' oil which, when it arrived, came in very attractive packaging and smelt incredible. The package actually arrived at Darren's office and upon opening the envelope ( It came disguised in a very important looked dossier-type file) Darren halted procedings almost immediately when his entire office became enveloped in 'girl smells' as the potent lavender oils were released)

They are so lovely, they threw in two free soaps and a lip balm ( the latter is incredible; peppermint flavored and makes your lips feel like silk). I love this company and will certainly be buying more products in the future. It's pretty good value too and well worth a look.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Seven - Frozen Maple Syrup

Dear all,

It's maple syrup time again (See Day Fifteen) but this time around, we have had some 'interesting' weather. Our first 'hot' (-2) day was succeeded by a barrage of snow and wind which meant that the sap that had run into the {already tapped} maple trees was now frozen solid in the buckets (yay).

So, we set to work. My gorgeous comrade Cornelia and I were appointed as the 'fire ladies', therefore in charge of sorting all the random 'driftwood' found by Stef in the bush and newly chopped by Chris. We would then get the fire going while Leah and Julia ( two new and very lovely maple-mad volunteers) collected the 'ice pops' from the trees.

And of course, dear little Mac followed me out and proved a great help in the 'kindling' collection.

We had a wonderful couple of hours out at 'the stove'. Stef bought up load upon load of wood that Cornelia and I stacked with great care and dexterity.

We built up a monumental pile of wood and were all ready to go as the mighty ladies came hiking up from behind the reindeer pen with large jugs of frozen sap.

(and a little wave from our favorite ewok in tribute to his incredible maple syrup making skills)

Chris decided to step in when it came to 'lighting' the fire ** don't try this at home kids but as you can see from the video footage, it worked a treat!

.... please don't try this at home.

We dumped the frozen sap into the large pale and popped it onto the furnace ready to boil down and [eventually] make syrup.

Here is Stef with a 'maple brick'.. not so tasty in this form.. but certainly 'refreshing'.

And in other news:

1. Mac, after a hard afternoon, getting some beauty sleep.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Six - Leons

Dear all,

We are back in the warehouse today on the hunt for furniture but Darren made a bee line for Leon's in Collngwood in an attempt to find the perfect sofa (http://www.leons.ca). After I got home from work, I was whisked off to Leon's on a mission to find 'Wendy' the new Goddess of Upholstery and sales person extraordinaire.

It was dark when we arrived and due to a minor detour via Starbucks and the liquor store, we arrived just as the front doors were being locked up for the evening... After a [vaguely] maniacal dance and wave combination in front of the main entrance, we managed to get the attention of a lovely lady ( who turned out to be Wendy... the stars were aligned for us this evening) who took mercy and snuck us in through the side door. We had the whole store (late at night) all to ourselves!

It was wonderful! Wendy led me straight over the a selection of beds which I 'sleep' tested one by one. Yet another wonderful stroke of luck as Darren and I had happened to pick the same mattress, so that was a done deal within the first 5 minutes.

Now onto Sofas. Darren had already found an amazing sectional earlier in the day and I couldn't help by gasp when we turned a corner into 'lounge items' and the new couch was revealed. It is AMAZING!

This sectional has EVERYTHING, including a 'double theatre seat'. I am in love. Now we have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery and *hope* that they can get it up the stairs. ** Above, Darren taking a welcome break after a hard day at the furniture store.

It was a total success. Wendy even gave me a 'Leon's Hat to take home and fend off the minus 20 wind chill. Here I am modeling my new addition ( with robe, of course. I find it difficult to wear anything else these days)

Hurray for Leons!

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Five - Moving Tables in the Snow

Dear all,

Gaaaa, It's snowing again. After a full day of torrential rain, we now are now being submerged with 24 hours of sloppy, wet snow and lots of it! Collingwood resemble a winter wonderland again with trees laden with snow and houses looking like giant marshmallows.

Darren and I are [slowly] moving over to our gorgeous new apartment on Oak street and today, D was keen to get started on the major furniture and try make more of a dent in our 'items to ship'.
r

So, we switched D's car with his truck and dove his work storage shed where his gorgeous wooden table he got from his mum was being carefully contained.

The table is incredibly beautiful but h my, it's heavy, especially in a heavy snow storm. Darren go the base winced up into the truck and then we both clambered over a plethora of tools and other furniture carrying the huge table top. It must have been quite a sight seeing a truck with a large slice of a tree stuck in the back, charging through town in a snow squall.

We made it and without injury ( quite a feat) and whisked the table off to our lovely new place which is starting to gradually fill up with our things. It's so exciting. More house moving posts to come...Watch this space!

And in other news:

1. Our favorite ice cream flavor is being DISCONTINUED.

This is a tragedy of massive proportions and I urge everyone to purchase a tub immediately ( if only to see how incredible it is) and hopefully Haagen Daz will reconsider their decision. Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Swirl: The Ice Cream flavor of kings.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Four - Meaford Factory Outlet

Dear all,

We are on a mission! Move date is [changing regularly] but imminent so today we whisked ourselves off to Meaford on the hunt for some new furniture.

Meaford Factory Outlet is famous in these parts for being a mecca for furniture that they sell off at ludicrously cheap prices. I have driven past the sign for the outlet many times but had yet to venture in and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

http://www.meafordfactoryoutlet.com/page/page/3824901.htm

After Darren had finished work and we had wolfed down a quick A and W 'papa' burger ( very tasty although probably not the sort of thing that one should eat every day), we sped off to Meaford

Unless you are on a specific mission to find the outlet store, you would probably drive straight by without bating an eyelid. They are certainly keeping the overheads down but blimey, it is reflected in some of the prices!

This place is HUGE! And full of a vast range of furniture; it was hard to know where to start...

... but we rolled up our sleeves and got started. Darren grabbed a piece of paper and started to jot things down as we drifted through the huge warehouse.

We tried out the 'squish-value' of sofas, lay on beds, swivelled on chairs and cooed at flower pots ( well, that we me). We ended up picking up a coffee table set, some very fancy bar stools and a 'Klick Klack' [swanky executive style sofa that morphs into a bed in a two-stage 'klick' and a 'klack'].

Ooo and a tool belt and 4 pairs of sunglasses ( they were $2 each). And we plan to head back.. it was just a little overwhelming on the first pass but was great to get started and excitement is seriously brewing for the move!

And in other news:

1. Darren offered me a taste of his ice cold Dr. Pepper after I confessed I had never tried it before ( apart from the Jelly Belly flavor). It doesn't taste of Pepper but instead is a wonderful-vanilla-creamy-soda-taste sensation.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Three - Tattoo Parlour

Dear all,

No, I am not getting a tattoo ( I have a rampant fear of needles and would look daft wearing any form of body art, especially the permanent kind) but wonderful Asher, who is currently proving to be a saviour at the inn (but who is leaving already on Wednesday *sob*) had booked himself in and I thought I would swing by after work and check it out.

Asher had decided to have Tin Tin's hot air balloon tattooed on his arm in tribute to his travels as well as being a great design. There is a sizable tattoo parlour in down town Collingwood which is an oasis for all those wanting to indulge in piercings, body art; you name it, it can be done at Perfect Image. I managed to burst in just as he had finished up and here is a pictured of the finished tattoo; still covered up but looking great!

http://www.perfectimage.ca/

Asher is really pleased with his new tattoo and ready to take on the world as he continues on with his travels. We will miss him at the inn!

And in other news:

1. A massive shout out to Asher and his brilliant music. Turns out Strummerville (http://www.strummerville.com) supported him and his career back in the UK.. it's a small world. He is a very talented chap!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-The-Bear/211195697482?ref=ts

http://www.myspace.com/andthebear