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Snapshots 2
It’s been about a month since I did a “snapshots” post and the pictures are building up on my iPhone. Here’s some more extra photos from here and there over the past month. Some from Instagram and Twitter, others I got too lazy to post. But certainly a fun little snapshot into my day-to-day life!
Archie hates it when I stare at a computer screen instead of paying attention to him.
Something he makes quite clear to communicate to me!
Last day at the cottage. Feet up, sunbathing poodle.
Fun fact: I’m not allowed sushi while on chemo (ie raw fish). So California rolls it is.
My stomach is covered in bruises from the two needles I have to give myself daily.
I bruise extra easily because of the blood thinners I’m on. This is just one of the more colourful ones as of late.
Cashew the cat was playing on my laptop keyboard.
What do you think she was trying to tell me??
Worth noting that after this photo was taken, she opened up an episode of 30 Rock.
Snack attack: blueberries and vanilla greek yogurt on a homemade biscuit.
Step-family portrait in a frame from Janetha.
I happen to collect elephant figurines. They’re my favourite animal!
Water tower in Hillsborough, NB.
Severely disappointed the Animaniacs were nowhere to be seen.
One of my favourite meals from all the farm fresh tomatoes I got:
bagel + cream cheese + tomato + S&P
Archie is able to sense when I plan on taking him for a walk.
Even before I put my shoes on or start getting ready, he’ll jump up on this bench and try to get at his leash in the closet.
I recently discovered I have the same haircut now as I did 20 years ago.
But wouldn’t it be awesome if chemotherapy was like drinking a milkshake?
My hobbies have gone from running and working out to knitting and rug hooking.
Painting in the hospital that I think looks like Conan O’Brien, my mom in turn thinks I’m crazy.
I can’t be the only one who sees it?
Attempt at taking cute picture with kitty leads to a kitty attack.
It’s how they show their love, right?
Rainbow!
Archie trying to get at his leash again.
That’s the “You finally got off the computer which means you are taking me for a walk!” face.
Randomly had a craving for junk food the other day and bought these items at the grocery store. Only these items.
Scotsburn is the best ice cream other than Cows in the Maritimes, FYI.
Watching Parks and Recreation with Cashew.
Best part of baking = licking the bowl and utensils.
A piece of the coconut cream pie I made for my mom’s birthday!
The crust was meh, but the filling was superb.
Buddy is the most forlorn dog I’ve ever met. Always a frown and big, big sighs.
Brunch at Calactus! Tofu rancheros with a side of potatoes.
Brunch is my favourite time of the week! With my mom and aunt.
Boxers take up significantly more room in bed than poodles.
Buddy patiently waiting for Mommy to come home.
Taken yesterday after finally getting dressed and going for a walk at 5pm. It went up to 27C!
I will never grow tired of living in a small town surrounded by TREES!
The big city was certainly missing that.
Off to get poked and prodded this morning. Have a good one!
Snapshots
I secretly love looking at the random photos people take on their cellphones. Not everyone carries a camera on them, so when life or the mood strikes, the cellphone is often the one that captures the moment. The photos are random and don’t typically string together to tell any kind of story. Compared to say, photos from a vacation. But that is the part I love about them. Tidbits from life that aren’t “important” enough to bring a camera for, but I think are special all on their own.
So today I open up my iPhone for you. I admit, I’ve already shared a lot of these photos of Twitter and Instagram. Some I forgot about, or got too lazy to post. Others are just too good not to put up on the ‘ole blog for everyone else to see.
Woke up one morning to my step-sister's cat staring at me from on top of the closet door.
My step-dad's birthday with my two step-sisters.
The sinkhole soon-to-be swimming pool in my mom's driveway. It's crazy!!
I'll take them all please.
How did this full carrot get through?
Scenes from an afternoon walk.
The many tortures of physiotherapy. Learning to straighten my arm by pulling it down with weight.
My baby nephew!
Waiting for the doctor after I found out I had a blood clot. Forgot to ask him for the Bieber sticker after.
Peanut butter chocolate cupcake my family brought me after being admitted to hospital.
This stuff saved me from getting an extra IV when I had the stomach flu.
I am never too sick to eat potatoes. And they're chock full of potassium!
Best/funniest "Get Well" card I received, courtesy of my Aunt Jane.
Found an old picture of my cousin Ellen and I circa 1990-ish.
Board game from my fellow foodie ex-roommie. One I actually knew the answers to!
I do not miss the hospital food AT ALL.
Cuddling with the poodle.
Harry Potter with my sister Sara and step-sister Sarah! Yes, I have two sisters named Sara(h)
Fuel to get me through chemo from the Clif company. Peanut Butter Pretzel Mojo is the best EVER.
I stick two of these in my stomach every day. I am a human pin cushion.
A common view from where I sleep.
Bird in the oven.
Schnitzelhaus in Aulac, New Brunswick. Mom and I stopped for a roadside lunch.
Schnitzel with spaetzle. Ie flattened and breaded meat with soft egg noodles.
First time schnitzel experience was a very, very good one.
Falafel crepe? Pita is better.
I usually have to share my bed with these two misfits.
My wig! Still haven't started wearing it yet.
Buddy with a star on his chest.
Still get a surprise when I reach for socks and grab a cat instead.
Get even more surprised when she hops out of there unexpectedly.
My Nana puts orange marmalade in everything she bakes. Even chocolate chip cookies.
Sometimes she snores.
My dad's grocery list.
Knitting!!
Untangling said yarn because of cat.
Yet another coconut flour pancakes fail.
My sister Jane and her band.
Under cover.
Progress made over the past two months on the arm with the broken elbow. I can see my palm now!
Story of my life.
Burgers stuffed with brie, sundried tomato, and portobello mushrooms.
My Dad, posing with some of our best burgers yet.
P.S. Thank you for the feedback on my last post! If you haven’t left any yet, I encourage you to do so. It’s been fun, helpful, and super encouraging :)
A Pub To Call Home
If you follow me on Twitter, then you’ve probably seen my daily menu postings. I’ve eaten out every day for over a week now in attempts to experience some of Toronto’s best food before I leave on a jet plane in a couple weeks. Menu consultations are serious business and they often require the help of my peers.
Tuesday’s menu came from The Queen & Beaver, a place some call Toronto’s best gastro pub.
I was expecting some dark run down pub in the downtown area filled with noise and sticky tables. Boy, was I wrong.
Tucked between Yonge and Bay, just north of Dundas, is this old style British pub inside a house. Even though it was packed with people it still felt like a home.
Okay, it felt like my home. My mom has always decorated with old English paintings, china, and has a set of creaky stairs to boot.
Navigating the menu however, was a little more difficult. I’m familiar with a lot of traditional British fare, but not quite this traditional.
I came here with Cathy and Lauren whom I both met while working a Simply Bar event this summer. They’re some of the few people I know in Toronto who I didn’t meet through my Maritime or blogging friends!
We started with the Ploughman’s Platter. I was positively delighted when they brought out the plates.
I love dishware like this. We have a bunch at my cottage and my sisters and I always used to argue over who had the “prettiest plate” as children.
The platter was the perfect appetizer. Piled high with pickled goodies like eggs, beets, onions and other veggies. A slab of meat, hard cheese and soft bread.
Cathy ordered the Sea Bream & Fondant Roots without the cream sauce. I had a piece of the fish, mild and cooked to perfection!
Lauren went for the Fish Cakes & Tartar Sauce. Surprisingly spicy with a thick breading.
After reading multiple reviews, I was left with only one choice. I had to get the Q&B BLT.
Served on buttery white toast with roasted tomatoes and romaine. The most interesting part was the bacon, which wasn’t really bacon at all but pork belly. The meat was positively delicious. A soft and smoky pork flavour that flaked with each bite. Despite its deliciousness, I would say it’s more of a pork sandwich than a BLT. In my mind, a BLT is made with cool tomatoes, crispy slivers of bacon, and oozes with mayo.
On the side was a small bag of Hand Cut Chips. So good!! Cathy gobbled them up while I wasn’t looking ;)
We were all equally stuffed by then, but Lauren said their desserts couldn’t be missed. I must say, British style sweets are probably my favourite.
We played around with the idea of getting almost everything, but in the end the Walnut Maple Butter Tart won out. Served with a scoop of Whiskey Gingerbread Ice Cream.
The tart was like pecan pie, but with big chunks of walnuts. Absolute heaven. The ice cream super boozy!
All chased down with a cuppa tea ‘o course. No Earl Grey though. I’m a rooibos girl.
Cathy and Lauren managed to escape my camera’s iris. I did however pose for an Instagram pic on Lauren’s iPhone rocking the one-handed sandwich.
And check out my nails! I did them myself!
Many thanks to Cathy and Lauren for the amazing meal. The Queen & Beaver is a cozy little pocket of Toronto I could see myself coming to for a pint or two again. It’s easy to get so comfortable there you lose track of time. Just like we did last night, while eating tart and gabbing about Twitter ;)
