First week down

I did it! I lost 3lbs this week.

Graphic from
www.theresourcecupboard.com

KIWI WORD OF THE WEEK

Kai Cart : mobile food stall

I remember a kai cart, we used to call the 'pie cart' you could buy the best tasting, awesome meat pies of all varieties you can imagine.

The pies had the best crisp flakey pastry crust, with fillings that were to die for. There were mince pies (savory ground beef) bacon and egg pies, steak pies, steak and kidney pies, Yuk! Potato topped pies, and the list goes on and on. Drool, slobber!!

I am thinking to myself, " what do you think you are doing? you just started Weight watcher's last week" Yes indeed, I did start the weight watcher's program. When you are 'knee high to a grasshopper' as I am you have to keep your weight under control. I am/was about 12lbs heavier than I want to be. Today is my first week weigh in, so I am anxious to see how I did this last week. I find it an incentive to work with a group of other people, as I really do not want to go and weigh in, and find I have gained weight.

Their new program is fantastic, as I can eat anything I want. All foods and drinks are given a point value, and I have so many points per day to use according to my starting weight. Also you are given a weekly point allowance of 35 points to spend however you want. I used mine this week on a meal of fish and chips and coleslaw which was sooooo good.

OK, enough of talking about food, I need to go eat breakfast. I will update this post, later on today with my weight loss. Having you all come along and follow my weight loss progress will be even more incentive to get the job done.

BEER, FISHING, GOLF & SEX:

A man was walking down the street when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner

The man took out his wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?"

"No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied.

"Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?" the man asked.

"No, I don't waste time fishing," the homeless man said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive."

"Will you spend this on greens fees at a golf course instead of food?" the man asked.

"Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless man. "I haven't played golf in 20 years!"

"Will you spend the money on a woman in the red light district instead of food?" the man asked.

"What disease would I get for ten lousy bucks?" exclaimed the homeless man.

"Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife."

The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting."

The man replied, "That's okay. It's important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up beer, fishing, golf, and sex."

Picture borrowed from dwpicture.com

So much for outside chores!

You know what the say about *well laid plans* As I was telling you what I was going to do with my day off (post below) I thought that I could see fog rolling in and decided a little fog won't stop me from moving some of my newly delivered compost.

Nope it was not fog, it is liquid sunshine, and I will not complain as we really, really need rain to wet down this very dry Island. As you see in the picture above, I did manage to move compost in to fill the new garden spot, before the rain chased me indoors.

Our little goldfish seems to be OK. He has survived two days, so that is a good sign. Gosh, he was dry and lifeless when Mr. C picked him up of the floor, that goes to show you, he is one tough little guy who was lucky he was not Rocket's breakfast on Sunday. The goldfish god must have been watching over him.

I see out of the den window that a backhoe bucket of "black gold" (compost) has just been delivered and dumped on the tarp I set out yesterday. I am off to get my breakfast and start moving the compost on to my gardens. The newly created garden will be first to be covered with the rich "black gold"

We are in charge today

At last I have a day to do as I wish. Mr.C has gone to the range today so Rocket and I will take care of Completely Castle all by ourselves.

First we have to watch over our new baby goldfish who decided to explore outside his tank this morning. Mr.C. found him on the floor and thought for certain he was dead, but no, he blinked his little eye. Mr. C. put him back in the tank and supported him with his hand until he could kinda manage on his own, but he really does not look well at all. We will see just how tough goldfish are.

My garden needs some TLC there are many flowers which need deadheading and a few weeds to pull, some hostas which need to be planted, and problably there is a nap to fit in somewhere.
Update I did quite alot of work in the garden today. See HERE HERE HERE

Rocket is in position at the window to make sure the birds are behaving, and I am deciding how to enjoy this perfectly fabulous sunny day.

Rocket is taking a break

"It really was hard work shredding all that tissue paper. I just need to stretch out and rest a while."

Clumsy Bum!

Such a lovely rose soaking up the sun behind the carport. The tiny tomatoes on the right are still ripening, and I am hoping for more sunshine so the rest of the tomatoes will ripen.

Just after I had taken this picture, I turned and hoisted one leg over the two foot high fence which surrounds the garden, and as I lifted the other foot to step over, my toe caught the top of the fence, and down I went. DANG! that hurt. I lay there on the dusty brown grass catching my breath and moving slowly to see if I had any serious injuries. My left shoulder, which is painful anyway, was telling me "that was stupid now you are going to pay" and I sure did.

It seemed I did not break anything so gingerly got to my feet and went inside to have Mr. C. brush the dirt off my back. Mr. C told me that it was his job to fall down, one of us is enough to hit the dirt. Mr. C. had fallen out of the plum tree when he was attempting to cut a branch to use for cooking hotdogs over our campfire last week.

I am stiff and sore this morning, and am hoping as the day goes by, my stiffness will work itself out. I am getting way too old to be falling down!

Farewell Party

I recently received these pictures from my friend Raewyn, who now lives in Australia. She had been going through some old photographs and came across these. The photos were taken at my farewell party at the Majestic Hotel in Palmerston North New Zealand in 1982.

1981 I went on vacation to Tahiti, where I met Mr. C who was on his way down to NZ on business. One thing leading to another, Mr. C and I were married In USA on my first visit here 1982. I returned to NZ handed in my notice at the hotel, packed up my belongings and returned to USA.

Keewee opening one of her farewell gifts.

The farewell party is one I will never forget. Kiwis really know how to party. My job at the Majestic Hotel, was as superviser of all the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. I was also responsible for setting up the buffet for the Dinner Theatre evenings which were held downstairs.

Our restaurant team, as well as many of the other employees of the hotel sure did have fun. Many times after work, we would all get together upstairs in the restaurant bar, to have a few drinks and act silly/socialize before going home.

Rosy cheeked Keewee, trying to take a few pictures. I had downed a few drinks by this time which were all supplied by Mr & Mrs Palmer the hotel Owners. Look at all the Champagne bottles on the table, there are more that you can't see.

Keewee, Raewyn, and I cannot remember the gals name on the right.

My farewell party started as the last of the customers were leaving the restaurant. Many bottles of champagne appeared and we wasted no time opening the bottles.
As time progressed and we all were getting a little giggly, (well the girls were) I had the distinct feeling that the gang were up to something, there were whispers and strange looks from some of my friends to each other.

I was sitting with my back to the hallway where the lift/elevator opened, I heard a commotion behind me, and as I turned around, there were a couple of the guys pushing my little Yamaha commuter bike I used to ride to work, out of the elevator. By this time everyone was laughing and I didn't know what to think. My Yamaha was hoisted up onto one of the tables and I was helped up onto the table sit on my Yamaha, someone handed me an open umbrella to hold. I felt like Mary Poppins.

Me and my Yamaha. Geez I was a lot thinner back then, Oh! and younger too!
Look at those shoes, they are back in style.

After I had posed for pictures on my Yamaha, I was helped down off the table and back into a chair. By now my sides were aching from all the laughter and I was glad to rest, or so I thought.
All of a sudden someone, I don't remember who, came up behind me and bound me to the chair with rope. I remember thinking, OH! NO! what now?

Two of the guys picked me up, chair and all, and carried me downstairs, across the foyer and through the door into the Theatre bar, Oh my gosh!!! it was a good thing I was mellow ( from a couple of drinks) or I would have been mortified. All eyes in the theatre bar turned and looked at us all as the guys deposited me on the floor. The guys explained that I had just got married and was returning to USA to live. The crowd all stood up and cheered, whistled and applauded.
I was left bound to my chair for a few minutes before one of the guests took pity on me and undid the ropes and bought me a drink.

At the end of the evening my Yamaha was taken downstairs in the elevator to the cellar and I was sent home in a taxi.

It was a very special, wild party, with some of the most fun wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Gas prices in New Zealand

1 litres = 0.264172051 US gallons

Conversion is around $4.04 per USA gallon

Read rest of story HERE

Pastor's Ass

The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and it won again.

The local paper read: PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read: NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10
This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is....being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery...and even shorten your life.
So be yourself and enjoy life... Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer!

Thanks to Joyce

CWSA Black Powder Rendezvous

Sunday morning we drove up to the range at Coupeville to see what the black powder rendezvous was all about. It was most interesting. The people were all dressed in costume, and many of them stayed in the old time style tents., though we did see a few modern RV's on site.

The blacksmith had his forge set up and was busy working some pieces of iron when we arrived.

How about those bellows?

We stood and watched the blacksmith working the forge for quite some time. I saw a wonderful iron hook with a leaf on the top end and could see a planter hung from it, Mr. C was kind enough to buy it for me.

Some of the costumed shooters standing around outside one of the trading posts.

The costumes were so personalized. Look at that one hat, isin't is great?

This gentleman, I believe he called himself Scratch, was doing some beautiful artwork on bone. It was so intricate, and many times he would hide another small figure or creature on the piece of artwork.

A couple more trading posts. Of course I had to check out all the merchandise.

This is the primative living area.

Looks as though he has just stepped from the pages of a book on the frontier days.

KABOOM!!

Loading the blackpowder rifle in readiness for the next shootoff.

This couple were the winners of the match.

One shooter would shoot at the lower coffee can, the soda can which was sitting on top of it would fly up in the air and the other shooter would shoot at, and hopefully hit the flying soda can.

Our four days of fun and adventure are over. Today I have to go back to work.

Time for a nap

Rocket says " I really worked hard last night watching over the house while you two were sleeping, now I need to take a nap"

A Day At The Fair

Yesterday it was Mr.C's and my turn to man the Fishin' Club booth at the county fair.
We were at the booth for about four hours, starting off the day before the general public were admitted to the fair grounds, by eating our breakfast of biscuits and gravy we bought from one of the vendors.

Mr. C and two our our Fishin' Club friends at the Fishin' Club booth.

We were seated here on the midway watching some of the entertainment, and in the distance the kids were yelling and screaming from, whatever that ride is there in the background. You can tell I am not a fan of those rides as I don't even know what they are called.

Jake at our booth, talking to a potential new club member. We sign up most of our new club members at the fair.

The kids from The Children's Theatre in the parade through the midway.

This itty bitty girl, probably about seven years old, starting up the pole to ring a bell at the top.

Almost there.
She was showing how tired she was, but she did manage to reach the forty foot mark and ring that bell.

There was a demonstration on log chopping, the boy on the log over the water was demonstrating setting a cable choker, a logger left rear, with a chainsaw sawing through a huge log, and a young man climbing the pole on the left. All the guys started their various tasks at the same time and the logger on the right, in the blue shirt, was the first to complete his task. He sure could swing that VERY sharp axe.

One of the barns holds wonderful antique farm equipment and buggies.

Some antique farm equipment

As you can see from the pictures, it is a small county fair, but we always enjoy doing our part in manning the booth for one of the shifts, then afterwards, wandering around the fairgrounds visiting with folk we usually only see once a year at the fair. And of course there is all the yummy fair food, chocolate covered strawberries on a skewer, strawberry and whipped cream covered funnel cakes, some tasty asian food, and nut covered icecream on a stick. There is so much food you can't eat everything so I choose something I would not ordinarily have elsewhere.

Honey-Maple BBQ Wings

4 dozen fresh wings or miniature drumsticks
16 oz. favorite BBQ sauce
6 oz. honey
8 oz. pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towel
Mix remaining ingredients
Marinate chicken in 1/2 of the sauce mixture
Refrigerate minimum of 6 hours to 24 hours
Bake at 350F for 60 minutes, basting with sauce and then again at 30 minutes.
Or grill on outdoor barbecue, medium heat, basting with remaining sauce, turning frequently, until done.

Mini Vacation

Wednesday evening, after I arrived home from work, we jumped into our RV and headed out for a two day break before our upcoming busy weekend. We drove up island to the Keystone Ferry, a twenty minute crossing to Port Townsend, then about an hour's drive to the campground.

We arrived around nine PM pulled into our campsite and crawled into bed for a good nights rest lulled to sleep by the noise of the water as it flowed over the rocks of the river just about twenty feet from our RV.

The camp ground is fairly small, with just eight campsites in this beautiful forested area right beside the river.

The trees are hung with moss and the ferns grow very large.

There had been a huge tree felled next to our campsite and as you can see, the two pieces of the tree trunk make our small RV seem even smaller.

Yesterday we explored the area around the camp area. We walked through the forest beside the Dungeness River.( About forty feet in front of our campsite) Some of the rocks were the size of a VW bug.
At one spot where we had come down beside the river, I spied something in the water. I cried out to Mr.C "Look there" he says " where?" and I pointed at a huge salmon which had come up the river to spawn. The salmon had actually found it's way up a side branch of the main river and as we moved in for a closer look, it took off back down the way it had come, we were hoping it found it's way to the main flow.

We walked further up the river bank and came across this deeper pool of water just below a small rapid. Here we saw three large salmon resting before their swim up through the rapidly flowing water to their spawning ground.

If you look in the center of the picture, you can just make out the two dark shapes in the center of the water. These are two of the salmon.

Later in the day, we went exploring the Greywolf River.( about twenty feet to the right of our campsite) Both the Greywolf and Dungeness rivers converge very near the campground.

A young salmon (center) in one of the small pools.

There were many of these brightly colored butterflies flitting all around, and drinking up the minerals from the muddy patches along the riverbank.

This little beetle was enjoying warming itself on the rock.

Last evening we did the all American (well almost American) cookout. We roasted German sausage over the embers. Oh! Boy! they were good.

And a cookout is not complete with out perfectly toasted marshmallows.

We left the campground fairly early this morning and decided to return home continuing on past the campground on the forest service road which would connect with SR101 Well we took a wrong turn at a Y and drove up to this point before deciding to turn around and take the other leg of the Y which did eventually take us back to SR101. A beautiful drive indeed.

Back at Port Townsend ready to catch the ferry home.

Goodbye Port Townsend.

Mr.C has some more on the trip HERE