Meet my son, Rory, and his fiance, Holly. (I know, they're adorable, right?) Okay, now see that unidentifiable piece of furniture next to them in the photo? That is something they picked up at a yard sale recently. (They told us it was a desk). College students on a tight budget and a limited income, their source of entertainment lately (aside from planning their wedding this fall)? Estate sale shopping! Oh, but this story is NOT about them. It's about ALL of us. Yup - You, me, and them too... That's right - ALL of us. A couple of weeks ago, they dragged that thing out of Holly's garage. And they began stripping off the old finish. One night Rory told me that he didn't think it was EVER going to come off - He said it was just in too bad of shape. (I promised him it ... View Post
When A Nurse Says Goodbye
Just the other day, I was asked, "How do you sleep at night?" by the friend of a patient who was dying. But I was not asked nicely. I was asked very sarcastically because I was one of the participants in the bearer of bad news. "There is nothing else we can do. Your loved one is going to die." Nurses don't enjoy being the bad guy. And we don't enjoy having to agree with the bad news just given to the loved ones of those dying. The truth is, every one of us would love nothing more than to see you get that miracle you are praying for. But we would rather be the bearers of bad news that the encouragers of false hopes. Twelve-hour shifts - Often several of them in a row, with breaks only long enough for a drive home, a shower, and a "nap" before returning to care for very sick ... View Post
Saluting Our Heros!
The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. Dad earned his United States citizenship while serving in the Army during the Korean War. That makes me a 1st generation American. I also spent 10 years in the US Army. So the 4th of July means freedom to me - not just BBQ's and fireworks. But 10 years ago this July, Dad passed away. Yesterday, recalling some fond memories with my Mom, we both agreed that the past 10 years has flown by. Yet, it seems like so long since we got to see Dad. The 4th of July is bittersweet for me now. Time has a way of doing that.... The older we get, every holiday has more meanings to it. Every relationship does too. What used to seem like big things, seem to mean so little. And the little things in life tend to mean much ... View Post
Lacing Up My Combat Boots
When I was young, trying new and exciting things was fun for me. That's why joining the Army at age 18 was not a surprise to anyone who knew me. I wanted to see the world, and see the world I did! There were no wars going on when I served. My job? Always administrative support to different kinds of units, most often of which were military police. And in some of those units, that meant taking my administrative skills out to the field. It meant carrying an M16 while lugging my typewriter and files out to my tent. It meant knowing how to don a gas mask in seconds if need be. You see, regardless of what "job title" anyone enlists in, there are some very basic combat skills ALL soldiers must have. Because regardless of the particular area of expertise (finance, accounting, medic, ... View Post
My Dad – “Peter Little Allan”
It's the day after Father's Day, and the bright sun beaming down on my face through the window woke me up. I wanted to write about Dad this morning, and all of the reasons why he was the best, but I wanted to sleep in and do it a little later in the day! But I'm reminded...... My dad never slept in. Never. He worked until he was in his mid 70's, despite having a blood disease that for most of my life tried to kill him. He never missed a day of work even though there were times when he could hardly walk. When he was very, very sick, and he was home unable to work for months, I don't recall him EVER complaining, except if someone bumped his sore foot. Then, he would yell out in pain, and forgive whoever bumped him. Even while dad was going through chemotherapy for his cancer, every ... View Post
A Nova Scotia Kitchen Party
Today is July 2, 2012. Eight years ago today, my father passed away. Anticipating today while I was working over this past weekend, I couldn't help but think about what I was doing 8 years ago on June 29, 30, and July 1st of 2004. I was enjoying the last of my Dad's days with him, getting in my last giggles between us, enjoying tapping our toes in perfect timing together to Cape Breton tunes playing on a CD next to his bed, taking shifts with my mom and sister spending time in the room with him, and spending time with each other in Mum's kitchen. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or ... View Post
PorcuPine MeatBalls, by Claudette
Ingredients: 1 pound of hamburger 1 egg ½ cup finely chopped onion ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1-¾ cups cooked Rice or ½ c of uncooked instant rice (that’s what I use.) 2 Tbls Oil 2 cups tomato sauce ¼ cup bread crumbs (or more, to make it stick together) Directions: Mix ½ cup of tomato sauce into the rice and mix into the meat. Mix together and set aside to pour over the lightly fried meatballs. Dry ingredients: 1 ½ cups tomato sauce PLUS 1/8 cup water (You may need more water to spread the sauce, but not much. Eyeball it.) 1 teaspoon Parsley ¼ teaspoon Basil ¼ teaspoon Garlic Salt Mix the egg, onion, salt, pepper, rice, breadcrumbs, into the meat, together and form meatballs. Fry on all sides. Then set aside. Spray with PAM a 9x13 glass dish or baking ... View Post
Claudette’s Pecan Pie Bars
Ingredients: 1 ¼ c all-purpose flour ½ c plus 3 Tbls. Brown sugar, packed and divided ½ c butter 2 eggs 2 Tbls. Butter melted ½ c light corn syrup 1 tea. Vanilla extract ½ c chopped pecans or walnuts Directions: Combine the flour with 3 T brown sugar. Cut in ½ c of butter until coarse crumbs form. (I microwave it until soft enough to work with). Press into an 11x7 baking pan. I spray the pan with PAM. Bake at 375 degrees in preheated oven for 20 minutes. While the crust is baking, beat eggs in a large bowl, and add the remaining brown sugar, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla. Blend in the pecans and pour mixture into the hot crust. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 2 dozen. ... View Post