Procrastinating....

...from studying, cleaning and any other tedious chores. So Jim got a special dinner tonight:
Mussels with sabayon
and
Stuffed "Pork Packages" in Lemon Sauce with
Portebello Mushrooms, Broccoli and Egg Noodles
I'm told it's a keeper!
Going to try it cold, sliced on a tossed salad.

the recipe...

the result

Lobster Season has Begun!!...

...WOO WOO!! Jim's excited for sure!









Jim, Bijou and I took a walk around West Quaco (the other side of the highway) at sunrise and low tide this week. The weather was warm and the day clear, so good to get some pictures.

This is a mother seal with 2 pups watching us watch them...they're quite a way out, and unfortunately, my camera has a limited telephoto (click to enlarge)
















Bees are all snug in their "cozy" but because of the on going warm weather they keep coming out to fly and check out the wrapper.















We had a firefighter and his wife for dinner this week (they're from Ontario as well) and a new St Martins arrival from the Yukon. Good eats, good company and lots of fun...well maybe too much fire department talk!





Jim and Rob dig in...

Table decorated for a fall meal...

Cath and Laurie wait for a pass...





miniature pots of chocolate cream ...
"coffee and donuts"













Now back to the studying for the 2nd last exam on Monday...one more in December and we're both Level I, official firefighters!

A Lot of Training...

Jim and Eldene try out "foaming" a roof


The morning with the new firefighter recruits...lunch put on by the United Church (every church puts on breakfasts, lunches, and dinners...somewhere every weekend!) oooh, Jim loves that!....























...then an afternoon of training with a "woodsman" on my chainsaw. (Note the excessive gear - Elmer's idea! I least I'm very visable)














Who says that country life is boring!?

We are having the BEST weather ever! So trying to get out for a 10,000 step walk every day (yep the Christmas training regime!) in the hopes of removing some excess weight....cause...

WE'RE GOING TO MEXICO THIS WINTER!!! ....I know, I can hardly believe it myself! Elmer finally gave in when I said that I was going for sure in February to visit my friends. So...

"Buenos diaz! ¿Cómo es usted? Me llamo Kate. ¿y usted?" need lots more practice, but off to a good start?

Update...kinda...

I know I have been very remiss in updating this journal, but the reality is there has been nothing really worth commenting on lately.
It is said that Canada is a country of only two seasons; winter and getting ready for winter...and nowhere is that more true than here!
The bees are partly winterizeed, I'm just waiting for some snow to wrap the "cozy" around them and to place some straw bales for a wind break. Too early and the field mice will take up residence!
And speaking of the cutey-pie mice we have had a huge reduction in indoor population since having the basement foamed. To date only 3 bodies - a far cry from the 15 or more last fall and none are frolicking around my feet in the morning!
Jim's friend Father Yvon Brault (from Maryland) came for a weekend visit and was given the full tour of St Martins as well as a local potluck. Jim took him to mass on Sunday, and he regaled the congregation with his theatrics! A wonderful guest and of course a great excuse to cook.
A dinner party with Yvon, Jim and Kathi Walsh saw an opportunity to bake up a vat of seafood casserole and a spin on coffe and donuts for dessert.

Father Yvon and Jim

Jim and Kathi Walsh

I took a quick trip to TO for Thanksgiving - a traditional get together for my family at the cottage and more time to spend with the kids.

the traditional turkey carving and Rebecca picking!

...and the traditional beach walk...last year we were swimming and spending the day sun tanning!


My daughter Sara completed her Masters in Urban Environmental Planning and had her convocation - and Woody Harrelson too (though I doubt he did the work the students did!)...how proud am I!?




















Then Jim, Bijou and I took a 3 day jaunt to Freeport Maine to do some shopping - not much in bargains but we had a great hotel and wonderful meals (our measurement of all or vacations!)
Jim had the BEST fillet Mignon EVER!!!

The hotel is for the dogs too!

It is a very pretty town, historical buildings used for the shops and services. There is the mother of all L.L. Bean stores - hunting, fishing, home, clothes...they've got all the bases covered!
McDonalds in Freeport

On display in LL Bean are 2 moose that got their antlers locked in battle (see the sidebar) and died in that lock. Only the antlers were found, but the moose were reconstructed (using 9 other moose hides) using a taxidermy process that had only been done once before . This was pretty awesome to see the size of these two guys...but sad to think they had a long slow demise.
And of note, one of the firefighter's husband was charged and hit head on in the chest this week by a bull moose - he's fine, even after being run over by the 2 cows that the bull was protecting!

The morning after getting home was firefighter training and a good one it was! We're coming close to the finish of our theory training - 2 more tests and we should be Level I by the end of the month.

Jim learns the pumper system
Buddy system on a charged hose
Ian, Shawn and Laurie focused on the straight stream

A t-shirt given to me by friends in ONT...still struggling with the instructions!