I saw the drop of water frozen in time…….

I looked at the packages but was appalled at the ingredients. Maltodextrin, MSG, hydrogenated oils, excess sodium, etc……along with the spices. The list of bad things made me forgo the taco idea….

that is…until I figured I could make my own taco seasoning.  So with that in mind, I decided to make a healthier version of tacos than if I bought a taco kit.

I bought some wraps instead of fried taco shells, ground chicken, fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. I had whatever else I would need at home.

Finding a taco seasoning recipe was easy. Google is very useful tool….

I blended the spices in a bowl…then crushed a garlic clove and finely chopped some onion.

The chicken meat got browned with the garlic and onion and then the spice mixture and a bit of water got added. It simmered for about 20 minutes. I added salt and pepper to taste. I don’t like overly salty food,  so the salt was minimal.

While the chicken meat was simmering, I shredded some lettuce, seeded and chopped a tomato, grated the cheese and warmed the wraps.

When it was all ready, I placed some meat and the other ingredients onto a wrap and folded it around the filling.   I was quite pleased with the outcome. It was delicious.

I don’t ski anymore, but I still like to go up the mountains to get some fresh snow photographs. I like putting on my snowshoes and traipsing through the trees to find gorgeous snow scenery.

My friend and I decided that since we would have to drive too far (for a day trip)to find fresh snow , we would do something different.

We went to Boundary Bay near Ladner and Tsawassen BC to see the snowy owls that are resting there.  The snowy owls migrate from Alaska in late autumn to Washington state. However once in a few years they stop here on their way. We seldom get to see snowy owls, so despite the wind and  heavy rain, we went anyway.

I managed a couple of pictures….but because I had forgotten the lens hood, my lens got too spotted with rain to take any more.

Here is one owl…..

When we were leaving I spotted a Great Blue Heron hunting in some long grasses…so I tried one more picture before heading back to the car.

It was getting windier and more rainy….so we called it quits and went into Ladner to the Java Hut for some lunch and coffee.

Hopefully the owls will still be here by the time it stops raining…..I’d like to try again.

On the first day of Christmas my boyfriend said to me you need a Christmas tree.

On the 2^nd day of Christmas the boyfriend came with me to bring home the tree and new strings of LED lights.

On the 3^rd day of Christmas my boyfriend took over the tree, stringing the lights and tossing on the shiny new tinsel.

On the 4^th day of Christmas I watered the tree again, swept up the needles, picked up the tinsel and placed a present under the tree.

On the 5^th day of Christmas I bought a shiny star, decorated a door, watered the tree, swept up the needles and again picked up the tinsel…………

On the 6^th day of Christmas I defrosted a turkey, cleaned all the silver, washed all the china, and watered the tree….. picked up the tinsel…… and swept up the needles….

On the 7^th day of Christmas I prepared and stuffed the turkey, prepared all the veggies, cleaned both the bathrooms, watered the tree……picked up the tinsel…..swept up the needles and wrapped another present.

On the 8^th day of Christmas I managed to make some coffee, wash most of the dishes, have a leftover dinner, make a turkey stock….picked up the tinsel…..swept up the needles, watered the tree, and threatened to take the tree down.

On the 9^th day of Christmas I bought more fresh veggies, peeled and chopped the veggies, made turkey soup, watered the tree….picked up the tinsel….swept up the needles, had leftovers again, finished washing the dishes and took the tinsel off the tree.

On the 10^th day of Christmas I had turkey dinner for lunch, turkey soup for dinner, watered the tree, removed more decorations, swept up the needles……picked up stray tinsel……hauled out the recycling, turned on the TV, watched a Canucks game, went to bed early.

On the 11^th day of Christmas I had more turkey soup, took the lights off the tree, and swept up the needles, did not water the tree….picked up more stray tinsel……packed the decorations, boxed up the lights, had a cup of coffee, went to a party, stayed up too late and rang in the brand new year.

On the 12^th day of Christmas I slept in till noon, had coffee in bed, stayed in pyjamas, made French toast…..picked up more stray tinsel….did not water the tree, the boyfriend took it down, we bagged up the tree, he dragged it outside, then I made some tea, and swept up the needles and said good-bye to Christmas once again.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although I wanted to host a Christmas dinner, I had not intended on getting a Christmas tree.  It was an expense I did not want, and a lot of work and mess….Yes, it is pretty once done and the home smelled nice, however it meant moving things around to accommodate the tree, constant picking up the stuff that fell from the tree…or the tinsel that was statically charged and clung to me and dropped off everywhere in the house….all because my special man wanted a tree….and we don’t even live together….

I ’m not too bothered about cut trees because they are from tree farms. They are raised by people who make their living off tree farming.  Once done with the tree it got taken to a nearby park where the firefighters have an annual chipping program….they chip the trees…by donation….the money goes to the firefighters burn fund and the parks boards uses the chipped trees for mulch in the parks.

I opted to host my own Christmas dinner for friends this year instead of going to my family’s dinner. It was worth the fatigue and sore back…..It was a calm pleasant evening instead of the usual family chaos and tension….

In fact, I even got a Christmas tree…..the first one I put up in years. This was the first Christmas in my new home….so it felt somewhat special.

This was taken in the darkened room…

It’s not a great picture, but it shows the colours. The lights are LED’s and they change colours from blue to white and blue to white….not blinking…just changing…

I had set the table with my bone china dishes that I have not used for a while….I polished my silver cutlery….put a lace table-cloth on the table…..

A friend of mine who does florist work made me a fresh centerpiece. My room looked very nice.

I cooked a traditional style turkey dinner for 7 people. I even had a Christmas pudding to steam….unfortunately I forgot about it until it was too late.   but we had a mocha cake on hand for dessert.

I ground some coffee beans and made some delicious coffee to have with the cake.

Early in the day; before my guy had to leave for work, we exchanged gifts. He was thrilled with his new motorcycle tire. I received a new lens for my camera. I have been wanting to get a longer lens….so he gave me a 70-300…..yippee!!!!

I had planned to go visit family on Boxing Day…but 2 of them came down with colds…I will wait until they are not germy before I go over there.

Prior to Christmas I had been buying a bottle of wine here and there in preparation for Christmas….My invitation for Christmas said I would have wine and beer for people to drink…..well…one couple brought their own wine…..I think only one bottle of wine I bought got used. 2 beers and a cider got drank….I think I overdid the wine shopping…..I have a lot of bottles of wine in the pantry……that should last me most of the year.  :laughing:

I’ll have to invite the friends  over for a New year’s beer…so it doesn’t get stale….I don’t drink beer…..I just cannot develop a taste for it.

The work is not over yet though. The tree has to come down, the lights and decorations put away and the turkey soup has to be made.  I have taken care of the hardest part though. The stock is made and ready to be made into soup.  The soup will be good for a New year’s Eve lunch.

Here is one from Mount Seymour a couple of years ago.

It’s still early…not even winter yet… so there will be plenty of opportunities soon.

I found a short video on YOUTUBE…Imagine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b7qaSxuZUg

It is still very valid today.

And here is another  video from  YOUTUBE of Happy Christmas-War is Over

Warning…there are a few graphic scenes of injured and dead people from war zones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg

We miss you, John….

The first picture shows the beauty of fresh snow on the mountain.

This next one is my nephew….we went down a short trail to the beach area.  There was plenty to interest a kid…rocks, frozen leaves, driftwood, logs….

If this kind of weather keeps up I’ll have to insure my motorcycle. I saw several motorcyclists out yesterday … I would have been one if I had insurance…..

On the way home the sun was starting to go down so the colour of the snow on the mountains was changing.  I found a place to pull over and go get a picture of the scene.

That was the last bit of available light….the sun dipped below the horizon as soon as I got back to my car.

I dropped of my nephew and met up with a friend to watch a movie. It was a great way to end a great day.

Monday, November 14 presented itself with sunshine and blue skies. It was a such a treat that my photo friends and I were motivated to go outside with our cameras and brave the high winds and cold temperatures.

This picture gives you an idea of how windy it was.  This flag flies at Granville Island in Vancouver.

Here is one view of False Creek from Granville Island.  There is a seawall walk that connects Kitsilano to False Creek both south and north sides of it.

After my friends and I were finished at Granville Island I went to Queen Elizabeth Park. I’ll post a few pictures tomorrow.

Over the years so many young people have lost their souls, their spirit, some lost limbs, eyesight and hearing.  Some paid the ultimate sacrifice….they lost their lives.  There are still wars being fought around the world.

Rememberance Day isn’t just about the veterans who fought in the 1st and 2nd World Wars, or the Viet Nam War or the Korean War….Veterans are all those who are currently coming home from overseas. They have served their countries and deserve our respect.  We owe a lot of what we have to the brave people who joined the military.

That is why I will observe the 2 minutes of silence. It is a Pittance of Time.

Terry Kelly is a Canadian songwriter/singer who made this video called a Pittance of Time. It is a lovely piece of music that always makes me get tears in my eyes.  It is worth the time to watch and listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo