Profound Quotes

You may be deceived if you trust too much but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough - Frank Crane

Thursday 22 March 2012

Count...

...to ten. If that does not work take some ice in your hands and count, again. 1 2 3 try not to think, 4 5 close your eyes, 6 7 8 shut your mind, 9 ... 10, he is not gone.


He is never gone! I do not know how to let go because he is in everything I see, in everything I smell, he is the voice I hear throughout my days and the voice that keeps haunting in the nights...


...count to ten. I count,  I count, and I count but it never stops.


Milky

Remember Me?

Dear love,


Days go by and I still remember all the good we once had and now we have nothing because you are gone. I still hear the laughter we shared and I still hold on to every goofy moment we had together. My longing for grows deeper, even now when I know that I will never see you, again because fate is cruel. Are you in a happy place? Have you found peace and do you rest easy? So, many questions and too many unanswered ones. I know I will never have the answers to them because you cannot speak to me but when you do it is in my dreams. Please find me in my dreams or in yours. I am remembering all the good - do you remember me, love?


Milky

pOpCoRn...


The Mini Retro Popcorn Maker creates the feel, and look of a 1950's kitchen or diner. 


Amaze your family and friends with the exceptional experience of hot, light popcorn in minutes. Create fun for everyone, as a treat, or to enhance the enjoyment of fresh hot popcorn as an accompaniment to a home movie! 

This product looks stylish, in classic red and white colours, is simple to use and brings the 1950's feel and look to your home. An innovative way to enjoy a low fat snack at home, just measure out amount of popcorn pour into machine and watch it pop! Using hot-air instead of oil, it's a much healthier option than popcorn makers that require oil! Once popped you can add salt, sugar, or chili flavoring to your popcorn for more adventurous tastes! 


Happy popping!! 



Movie night's popcorn is a must! It does not matter if you go out to see a movie or go to the drive in (which I would really like to go to one) or if you are curled up at home on the sofa. Popcorn is one of those comfort foods that should always be stocked up on at home. My sister and I have gone through many bags of popcorn in our time. Good memories and great movies. Also, just a healthy snack when you do add all the other yummy stuff to it!





Ingredients
Cooking spray 
1 cup packed dark brown sugar 
1/2 cup light-colored corn syrup 
1/3 cup butter 
1 tablespoon light molasses 
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
12 cups popcorn (popped without salt or fat) 


Directions:


Preheat oven to 250°.
Coat a large jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and molasses in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes, stirring once. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Place popcorn in a large bowl; pour sugar mixture over popcorn in a steady stream, stirring to coat.
Spread popcorn mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Remove from oven; stir to break up any large clumps. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Note: Let the caramel popcorn cool completely before dividing it into holiday tins for giving.


Milky


Sushi Night's

Just another ladies night our having sushi at one of our favourite places, Shiki Sushi by my place. Kris and I get to catch up on each other while enjoying dinner. After dinner we normally catch the latest night. I do enjoy getting tonight and keeping in touch. Yang's is another great place.


Milky





Shiki Sushi
10593 Yonge Street
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3C5

(905) 884-7500

Yangs Teppanyaki & Sushi
3255 Rutherford Rd
Vaughan, ON L6A 

(905) 761-0268 





Teapots

just another obsession of mine. I am not sure when I started wanted teapots but I always liked the way they looked, mostly the Asian ones. I this of them as being artwork and each of the ones I have are a piece of art that I get to enjoy.

Milky




History



Before there were Teapots…


Teapots are relatively a new invention compared to the amount of time that tea has been around. In the 7th century, tea came in bricks. A chunk was cut off and then broken up so that it can be boiled in water. They were boiled in cauldrons and then the tea was sipped from wide bowls. Shortly after, powdered tea became popular. The grounded tea was mixed with hot water in a deep and wide bowl. This type of bowl helped facilitate the whipping of the powder to a froth with a whisk. When the powder settled, the tea was drunk out of the bowl.


Early forms of Teapots


The traditional teapots were not needed until the type of tea changed. In the 1300's, leaf infusion started and now teapots were necessary to allow for the tea to steep. Teapot-like vessels have been around in China for thousands of years, but they were used for wine and water. These vessels had a spout and handle and eventually were adopted for the steeping of tea. The most popular teapots from this time were produced in the YiXing region of China. These teapots were made purple clay and were known to be of fine texture and high quality. These YiXing teapots were hybrids of the earlier drinking bowls and the modern teapots. Not only were they used to brew tea, but were actually drinking vessels. An individual would drink directly from the spout of the pot.


The teapot design of today


We are more familiar with the globular shaped teapot of today. This was basically a European invention. The inspiration for the design might have been twofold, Islamic coffee pots were similar and so were the Chinese wine vessels. Early European teapot designs were inadequate due to poor workmanship and poor quality of materials. A breakthrough occurred in the early 1700's. A new clay was found and with the help of new technology, a fine porcelain was created that rivals the best that China had to offer.

All sorts of Dishes...

imagemy obsession! It really is not about how many dishes I have but rather, how I use them when I make food. The plating is important and in hence's the food's look. I have a HUGE collections, so I get to play with all kinds of food. I would like to say that it started when I worked at Stokes but that is just not the case. Although, my collection did get bigger because they did shut down and the prices were unbelievable, so I stocked up. 


I have used every piece I have ever purchased and I have had many breakfast, lunch, dinner and any other parties where all of these dishes had a purpose and have seen many memories.


I have always liked the formal sit down at the table for family or friends meals. It is not something that happens often now that the house is empty. It would be nice to get back to those really great days. I do miss cooking for others and having taste tester is always fun. So, I hope with the nice days ahead of us I could talk some friends and family to come on over for some tasty food, BBQ's and other treats.


Milky

Smoke's Poutinerie



A 3am snack after a night of dancing at Babaluu's! That night the line up was insane but Kris and I both wanted Pulled Pork Poutine, with a few other guys. The rest had Mexican which was just below Smoke's Poutinerie. 


Babaluu's nights with the ladies is one of the funnier nights we have together and we are always pretty hungry. Sometimes, it would been a hotdog or sausage with the closest vendor but that night was different! Oh, and let's not forget that night when two of the ladies where in the back of the van not wearing their seatbelts - as you were yelling at them to buckle up, you had to stop and the tow of them came flying from the back of the van to the front. Later that night it was frozen pizza for them and I think we had something else since was not my thing! Let's remember what happens at Babaluu's and after, STAY'S between us ladies!


I think we are ready for another night at Babaluu's and Smoke's Poutinerie! let me have a fun night out and indulge in a tasty yummy treat!
Milky

CONCEPT

Smoke's Poutinerie is the first of its kind in the World offering a broad menu exclusive to Poutine. The goal of Smoke's Poutinerie is to bring the authentic Quebec classic to the rest of the World.

What makes Poutine at Smoke's Poutinerie so unique? Is it the fries, the seasoning, the gravy, the curds, the toppings or the finished product? The simple answer is that it is all of these elements…plus more!

Smoke's Poutinerie has taken the Traditional Poutine of fries, curd and gravy, and has added fresh toppings making unique, custom Poutine meals for everyone. Whether your preference is beef, chicken, veggies, pork or simply just a different type of sauce, Smoke's Poutinerie has the recipe for you. Choose from over 20 core Poutine menu items or create your own.

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR POUTINE? 



http://smokespoutinerie.com/About.aspx

B*tchin' Kitchen

I started watching this cooking show. Nadia is pretty crazy and the setting is something else. But i have to say it is pretty funny to watching and her recipe's are great. I am enjoying this show, since I gave up most of my favourites! - Milky

Nadia G's Bitchin' Kitchen 


Hilarious, informative and deliciously demented, Bitchin’ Kitchen is a brand new cooking show for a new generation of foodies. From one night stand breakfasts to dump ‘em desserts, twisted mastermind and chef-comedienne Nadia G offers recipes, lifestyle tips and more madness than you can shake a zucchini at! This program is based on the wildly popular web series. 


The irreverant series stars Nadia G. alongside Panos da Fish n' Meat Guy, The Spice Agent, and Hans the Scantily-Clad Food Correspondent. 


She's young, funny and can cook up a storm in 3-inch cherry stiletto heels. Food Network's bad girl chef Nadia G. and her misfit crew of food correspondents look at the funny side of everyday life situations and turn them into occasions worth celebrating -- with great food and big laughs. Bitchin' Kitchen is the first-ever comedy cooking show to hit the small screen and it tastes good: From One-Night-Stand Breakfasts to Break-Up Brunches to Impress the In-laws Extravaganzas, Nadia G whips up the perfect blend of food and humor for any occasion. The focus is on accessible haute cuisine, fresh organic ingredients, and a hands-on approach that will inspire hip audiences of all ages to Rock the Kitchen!

Easter Brunch

I cannot believe that Easter is already going to be here in a few short days. The year is seriously flying by! Hope you get to celebrate with friends & family and enjoy the day on Sunday! Here are a few recipe ideas for Easter brunch celebrations to help get you started.



Sweet Potatoe Pecan Waffles with Peaches


Ingredients


1/2 cup finely chopped, toasted pecans, divided
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 can (15 ounces) sweet potatoes or yams in light syrup, not drained
1/2 cup 2% milk
2 cups buttermilk waffle mix
2 large eggs, separated
2 cans (15 ounces each) light sliced peaches, or sliced peaches in juice, not drained
1 can (8.5 ounces) light sliced peaches, or sliced peaches in juice, not drained
1 tablespoon honey
Non-stick spray oil


Directions:


Heat a medium skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 tablespoons chopped pecans and brown sugar. Stir until sugar melts and coat the nuts; be careful that they do not burn; set aside. 


Purée sweet potatoes with their liquid and milk in a blender until smooth; set aside.

Preheat a non-stick waffle iron. Mix waffle mix, sweet potato mixture and egg yolks in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in the remaining, uncooked pecans; set aside

Beat egg whites in a clean bowl with a whisk until they hold a shape and fold into the waffle batter; set aside for 5 minutes. 


Meanwhile, strain juice from peaches into a large skillet. Stir in honey and boil over high heat until lightly thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in peaches and reserved sugar-glazed pecans; keep warm.

Lightly coat the interior of the preheated waffle iron with spray oil. Pour about 1/3 of batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until puffed, brown and crisp, according to manufacturer’s directions. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve immediately with peach topping.
Spinach Eggs Benedict

Ingredients

8 free-range organic eggs
4 thick slices of white bread
butter
 
For the creamed spinach:

2 lb fresh spinach
8-12 oz cream
salt and ground pepper
freshly grated nutmeg

Directions:

First make the cremed spinach. Put the leaves into a heavy saucepan on a very low heat and cover tightly. After a few minutes, stir and replace the lid. When the spinach is cooked, after about 5-8 minutes, strain off the copious amount of liquid that has been released and press between tow plates until almost dry. Chop roughly and return to the pan. Increase the heat, add the cream to the spinach and bring to a boil, stir well and thicken with a little roux if desired. Continue stirring until the spinach has absorbed most of the cream. Season with salt, pepper, and freshly ground nutmeg to taste. (If you wish, the spinach may be cooked ahead and reheated.)
 
Next poach the eggs. Bring a small pan of water to a boil. Reduce the heat, swirl the water with a ladle, crack open an egg and slipit gently nt the centre of the whirlpool. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the white is set and theyok still soft and runny - the water shot not boild again, but bubble very gently just below boiling point.
 
Toast and butter the bread and place on 4 warm plates. Spread the creamed spinach over the toast and top each portion with two poached eggs. Serve with freshly ground pepper and a few flakes of Maldon sea salt.

Mini Blueberry Turnovers

Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg
¼ cup sugar plus extra for sprinkling
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
½ pint blueberries (1 cup)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with oil or cooking spray. Place the cream cheese in small bowl and stir until completely smooth.
 
Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Place the egg white in a small bowl and add the egg yolk to the cream cheese and stir until combined. Lay the sheet of puff pastry on a flat surface and cut into 9 small squares. Spoon a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture down the center of each square from one corner to the opposite corner. Press the blueberries into the cream cheese. Fold the sides into the center, wet the points with a little water, and press tightly to seal. (Press the sides tightly together or they will open while they bake.)
 
Place the turnovers in the baking pan, brush with the egg white, and sprinkle lightly with sugar. (If you are making these ahead, you can cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for up to 4 hours before baking.) Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until golden brown. Remove form the oven and serve warm.

Easter Egg Nests

Ingredients

6 oz good quality dark chocolate roughly chopped
4oz rice krispies
72 mini chocolate eggs
cupcake papers or ring molds

Directions:

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Bring just to a boil, turn off of the heat and allow the chocolate to melt in the bowl. Stir in the Rice Krispies.
 
Spoon the mixture into cupcakes cases. Flatten a little and make a well in the centre. Fill each one with three speckled mini chocolate eggs. Allow to set and hide from the grown-ups


Game of Thrones

game of thrones...


I watched this for the first time with you and you had me hooked. It starts up this April. Though I stopped watching many things we watched together because I needed to change my routine, I am going to watch the second season with others.





http://screenrant.com/game-thrones-season-2-trailer-houses-kofi-160391/




A Game of Thrones follows three principal storylines simultaneously.

[edit] In the Seven Kingdoms

The novel begins with Lord Eddard Stark (Ned) in Winterfell, ancestral home of House Stark, a noble house of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and rulers of the North. Ned executes a deserter of the Night's Watch, with his sons among the witnesses. On the return to Winterfell, Eddard's sons discover six direwolf pups, which are entrusted to Eddard's six children. The direwolf is the sigil of House Stark and is integral to the Stark family. Following the death of Jon Arryn, King Robert Baratheon visits Eddard at Winterfell, with the Queen and Court. Because he trusts him, King Robert asks Eddard to become the Hand of the King. Eddard agrees, against his instincts, and at the same time promises his wife, Lady Catelyn Stark to investigate the death of the previous Hand, Lord Jon Arryn, who may have been the victim of poison and political intrigue involving King Robert's wife, Queen Cersei and her powerful family of House Lannister.

Before the Starks leave for King's Landing in the South, Eddard's young son Bran Stark is gravely injured when Jaime Lannister tries to kill him because Bran accidentally witnesses incest between Jaime and his twin Cersei. Bran survives but remains in a coma and becomes a paraplegic, causing him to stay behind. During his recuperation, an assassin attempts to murder Bran, but his direwolf saves his life as well as his mother's. Catelyn realizes her husband faces danger in King's Landing, so she travels there by ship to warn him, leaving the eldest son Robb Stark to rule as the Lord of Winterfell. Not long after Catelyn's departure from Winterfell, Bran awakens from his coma and names his direwolf Summer. Upon Catelyn's arrival in King's Landing, she is brought to a meeting with Petyr Baelish, or Littlefinger, a childhood admirer, who identifies Tyrion Lannister as the owner of the dagger used in the attempt on Bran's life. Littlefinger then brings Ned to see Catelyn in secret. While traveling back to Winterfell, Catelyn encounters Tyrion, returning from the Wall, and takes him captive. She changes her destination and takes him to the remote Eyrie, where her sister Lady Lysa Arryn, widow of Lord Arryn, rules as Lady of the Vale. Lysa blames the Lannisters for Jon's death and is eager to execute Tyrion, but he demands trial by combat and regains his freedom when his unlikely champion, Bronn, wins the duel.

Meanwhile, Lord Eddard travels toward King's Landing, the capital, taking with him his daughters Sansa and Arya. Eleven year-old Sansa is betrothed to King Robert's twelve year-old son Joffrey, the heir apparent. At King's Landing, Eddard assumes the duties of the Hand and the ruling of Westeros as Robert is uninterested in governance. Eddard learns (as the murdered Jon Arryn had learned before him) that Robert's heirs are in fact Jaime Lannister's children by his sister. He confronts Cersei and offers her a chance to escape before he tells Robert the truth, but Robert is mortally injured in a hunt and Eddard cannot bear to tell Robert the truth about his supposed children, on his deathbed. As Robert is dying, his youngest brother Renly suggests that Eddard should use their combined household guardsmen to detain Cersei and her children and take control of the throne before the Lannisters can act. Eddard refuses on the grounds that it would be dishonorable. Instead he recruits Littlefinger to have the city guards arrest and charge Cersei, but is betrayed by Littlefinger. Eddard is arrested, Sansa made a captive, and Arya escapes.

Cersei's and Jaime's eldest son, Joffrey, is crowned as Robert's heir, and he immediately has Eddard imprisoned and ultimately executed. Prior to Eddard's death, Cersei's and Jaime's father, Lord Tywin Lannister, wages war against Houses Stark and Tully and their supporters in retaliation for Tyrion's abduction by Catelyn. As the news of Eddard's execution spreads, a civil war erupts. Robb Stark leads an army of northmen to rescue his father and sisters in King's Landing, but upon learning of Eddard's death, goes to the Riverlands to raise support from his maternal grandfather Lord Hoster Tully. Jaime Lannister leads the siege of the Tully stronghold, Riverrun, while Lord Tywin holds a large army south of the river Trident to prevent Robb from advancing to King's Landing. In a bold move, Robb covertly detaches his cavalry toward Riverrun while his infantry carries on toward Tywin's army. Tywin, joined by the liberated Tyrion, repulses the Stark footmen but discovers too late that they were a decoy. Shortly afterward, Robb's forces surprise and destroy the Lannister camp besieging Riverrun, capturing Jaime in the process. Renly Baratheon proclaims Joffrey's illegitimacy and with the support of House Baratheon and House Tyrell, declares himself King of Westeros, becoming the second of the war's five kings. Robb Stark becomes the third when the Stark and Tully bannermen proclaim him King in the North.

[edit] On the Wall

The Prologue of the novel introduces the out-kingdom Northern wilderness beyond the Wall, an ancient 700-foot-high, 300-mile-long barrier of ice and magic fortifying the Seven Kingdoms, manned by the order of the Night's Watch. Men of the Night's Watch (nicknamed "Crows") take an unbreakable oath to serve on the Wall for life, living in celebacy, and they wear clothing colored only in black. In the lawless lands North of the Wall, a small patrol of Rangers from the Night's Watch encounter the Others, an ancient and evil race of beings thought to be long extinct; with all killed except a single survivor (who flees south, becoming the deserter who Ned executes). Jon Snow, the bastard son of Lord Eddard and despised by Catelyn, is inspired by his uncle, Benjen Stark, the First Ranger of the Night's Watch, to "take the black" and go to the Wall. Jon travels North to the Wall with the Queen's brother, Tyrion Lannister, and other members of the Night's Watch. He becomes disillusioned when he discovers that it is little more than a penal colony meant to keep "wildlings" (humans who live in relative anarchy, north of the wall) in check.

At the Wall, Jon unites the recruits against their harsh instructor, and protects cowardly but good-natured Samwell Tarly. Jon hopes that his combat skills will earn him assignment to the Rangers, the military arm of the Night's Watch. Instead he is assigned as steward to the Lord Commander of the Watch, Jeor Mormont, nicknamed "the Old Bear". He arranges for his friend Samwell Tarly to be made steward to elderly Maester Aemon. Meanwhile, Benjen Stark leads a small party of Rangers on patrol beyond the Wall but fails to return. Nearly six months later, the dead bodies of two of the Rangers from Benjen's party are recovered from beyond the Wall, and their corpses re-animate as wights in the night. Undeterred by sword wounds, they kill six men while Jon and his direwolf, Ghost, save Lord Commander Mormont by destroying one of the wights with fire. For saving his life, Mormont presents Jon with the Valyrian-steel bastard sword "Longclaw", an heirloom of the Lord Commander's house. Lord Mormont replaced the existing bear pommel with a pommel in the shape of a white direwolf's head, representing both House Stark and Jon's direwolf.

When word of his father's execution reaches Jon, he attempts to desert the Night's Watch and join his half-brother Robb's war against the Lannisters. His friends among the Brotherhood convince him to return. Mormont convinces Jon that his place is with his new brothers, and that the war for the throne does not compare to the evil that winter is about to bring upon them from the north.

[edit] In the East

Across the sea in the Free City of Pentos, Viserys Targaryen lives in exile with his thirteen-year-old sister Daenerys. He is the son and only surviving male heir of Aerys II, "the Mad King", who was overthrown by Robert Baratheon during the War of the Usurper. Viserys arranges to sell his sister in marriage to Khal Drogo, warlord of nomadic Dothraki horse warriors, planning to use Drogo's army to reclaim the Iron Throne of Westeros for House Targaryen. The wealthy merchant, Magister Illyrio, who has been hosting Viserys and Daenerys, gives as his wedding gift three petrified dragon eggs. A knight exiled from Westeros, Ser Jorah Mormont (son of Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch), joins Viserys as an advisor.

Unexpectedly, Daenerys finds trust and love with her barbaric husband, and they conceive a child who is prophesied to unite and rule the Dothraki. Drogo shows little interest in conquering Westeros, which provokes the temperamental Viserys to lash out at his sister; Viserys initially tries to browbeat his sister into coercing Drogo, but Daenerys, emboldened by her position as the Khal's wife, begins to stand up for herself, refusing to be bullied by her brother. Initially, Drogo endures Viserys and punishes his outbursts with public humiliation. But when Viserys publicly threatens Daenerys, Drogo executes him by pouring a pot of molten gold on his head. As the last Targaryen, Daenerys takes up her brother's quest to reclaim the throne of Westeros.

An assassin seeking King Robert's favour unsuccessfully attempts to poison Daenerys and her unborn child. Enraged, Drogo agrees to invade Westeros to seek revenge. While sacking villages to fund the invasion, Drogo is wounded. The wound festers, and Daenerys commands a captive maegi to use blood magic to save him; however, the treacherous maegi sacrifices Daenerys' unborn child to power the spell, which keeps Drogo alive in a vegetative state. As the leaderless Dothraki horde disbands, Daenerys takes pity on her once-proud husband and smothers him. Eager for revenge, she orders the maegi tied to Drogo's funeral pyre and places her three dragon eggs on the pyre with Drogo. While she watches it burn, Daenerys is seduced by the beauty of the flames and walks into the inferno. Instead of perishing in the flames, she emerges unscathed and with three newly-hatched dragons draped around her and nursing at her breasts. The few remaining Dothraki and Ser Jorah swear their allegiance to her as Mother of the Dragons.

[edit] Viewpoint characters


Smallest Bookstore

I heard about this place and it is on my list to do. I would like to see it. I think it is great and would like to learn the history about it.


...to be continued
milky

his voice



...his voice is haunting me. I remember the first time I heard him and what I felt. I had goosebumps and I was so nervous, excited and I had no idea what would happen. Our days were filled with real conversations, dreams, history and it was filled with hope. Love grew and was believed to be real and true.


...now there is only emptiness and a voice that is not clearly heard but rather just a whisper that haunts me. It gives me both pain, loneliness and my heart is broken like all the broken promises. So many lies and broken trust that cannot be fixed, will never be repaired. 


...so what was said in the beginning, what was beautiful and true, what I believed, every promise you made, now nothing is said because it was all broken promises and lies. I am broken, now - are you?


...his voice is haunting me in all the wrong ways.


Milky

A great story

Do you remember when you first fell in love with traveling? Even if you’re not a travel enthusiast, I hope our travel adventures will encourage you to venture to an unfamiliar state or country.

My wanderlust began at the tender age of two. My brother Jimmy, considerate sibling that he was, came down with pneumonia. Our doctor insisted he spend the winter months in a warm climate. Jim and I were never fans of cold weather, particularly those often brutal winters in Chicago.

The opportunity to spend winter in a tropical climate was the best holiday gift I could have received. I don’t know if we ever made the connection, but of the four siblings in our family, the two, who as toddlers spent one balmy winter in Cuba, are the ones who for over fifteen years have lived in the warm climates of Las Vegas and Houston.

Here's an old photo my mom had of Jimmy and me enjoying Varadero Beach. I'm the healthy looking one.Me and my brother at Varadero Beach, Cuba

My parent’s friends were rather shocked at their choice of Cuba as a Caribbean getaway… even pre-Castro. However, at the time Miami was very expensive. So, my mom found a cottage in Varadero, a resort town in Cuba’s province of Matanzas. At the time, it was one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. My parents were fortunate that the cottage was large enough to accommodate a nanny. We were not so thrilled, since the only English she spoke was “No cookies, no candy.”



MY VERY FIRST GIRLFRIENDS GETAWAY - by Elena

I left home for the first time without my parents the summer of my ninth birthday. It was going to be a two month stay at Camp Birch Knoll in Phelps, Wisconsin. My neighbor Donna and I joined forces to attend. I’ll never forget waiting for the train at the station in Wilmette, Ilinois with my fellow girl campers. Some of us had tears in our eyes as we clung to our parents. Others hid their tears, trying as hard as they could to show they were strong. Then there were the "cool girls," acting as if they didn't even know their parents. They looked instead for their friends. The look in their eyes said not only that they didn’t want their parents to worry about them, but also that they were mature enough to take care of themselves. Who were they kidding?
Those of us girls who had never been away from home without our parents were terrified. The rest just wanted their parents to think they weren’t.
Donna and I started camp that first year knowing only each other. Yet it didn’t take long before we developed friendships with the other eight girls in Cabin Two…a.k.a. "Beaver’s Nest." Camp was a place where we could learn how to swim, synchronize swim, Swimming at Camp Birch Knollhorsebackride, water ski, and even take a few trips a summer to popular tourist sites not far from Camp Birch Knoll. One summer, we traveled to Mackinaw Island, Michigan….no one makes fudge like they do. At the end of the summer, we put on a broadway type show. This gave us the chance to try our chops singing or seeing whether we had two left feet while trying to dance.
Archery at Camp Birch KnollFor those of you who don’t think you could survive eight weeks without boys, you always have the option of reducing the number of weeks you spend at camp. For those of you who see the benefits of spending eight weeks at a girls-only camp, fear not. We had two socials a year with boys' camps. Canoeing at Camp Birch KnollFurthermore, I can’t think of any of my camp friends who would have given up the opportunity to learn all of the above mentioned activities without worrying about boys making fun of us.
I’ll never forget some of the pranks we pulled. There was the time we rounded up all of the bras in each cabin, tied them end-to-end, and hoisted them up the camp flagpole. And then there was the shoe heist. Early one morning we rounded up all the shoes we could find and lined them up in straight rows spelling out “Camp Birch Knoll.”
Sure we took a “lickin,” but it sure was worth it. We were given what we considered the worst punishment possible. Once the culprits were found, we (I’m not saying that I was amongst them, though I’m not saying I wasn’t either) had to go to the Camp Director’s office. Just one snarly look from “Pops” was enough to render us nine year olds scared to death. Apologies were given and accepted. None of us wanted to find ourselves there again. (even though some of us hadn’t gotten the prankster out of our systems, yet.)

I encourage all young women to spend some time, whether it’s locally or away from home, developing that special bond. While it may not necessarily be unique to women, there is often in our DNA a particularly exceptional closeness that binds us together from the time we’re kids through adulthood.
Donna and I went on to spend five more summers in that same cabin. Those are memories I wouldn't trade the world for.
p.s. I welcome input from any of you girls/now women, in our cabin… Ann Dee, Barb, Linda, Margo. Are any of you out there? What are your memories?







Let love find you




Both women and men deserve love and respect. Some women and men show their romantic side easily because it is not complicated.  However, there are many others that cannot show what they feel. Sometimes, romance needs to be sweet and unique but also passionate and oddly dirty. Dirty love? Dirty romance? When I dirty I guess I mean raw right from the heart and not holding back. It is the 3am wake to intimate kisses and those led to others intimate pleasures. The simplicity of love and romance goes beyond the flowers, chocolate and date nights. When one person tells another person "I love you" for the first, they may feel confused and have concerns on how to tell the person they love in fear that it may have not been romantic. The thing is we all trip over our own words when it comes to confessing our love. May be we cannot find the right time or moment to say I love you.

Encouragement needs to be present for one another and you both want to feel like he/she is the only one for you. Showing one another how important they are, telling them that they are everything they ever wanted and so much more, is encouraging. A woman sometimes desires more out of a relationship because they are able to show their feelings of love with words or by actions. Remember actions speak louder than words. For some men this is not an easy thing but what may surprise you is that there are some women who have trouble showing how they feel or show their love.


In the end both men and woman want to be loved and to be shown love. Give it a try what could be worse? I know! Doing nothing! Let love find you, your moments and let love fill each day with some much more then the average day to day schedule. never stop showing or expressing you love because time is short. Tell that person just how much you love them. 


A Love letter. A letter expressing words of love can speak volumes to anyone's heart. It truly does not matter if the letter is corny or not because the only thing that does matter is that you have put your own words down. Every word of the letter is coming from your heart. It can be simple or in depth and the words may even trip over each other but it is written with words from your heart. Letters are a way to write spoken words beautifully and from the heart. It is a simple way to express your love or to tell you love how much you miss them and/or how important they are to you. Expressions of love sometimes do not come out right but when written down it can be everything and more.

The mood is everything. Light a few candles, and play some romantic music are the perfect mood setters to set the romantic mood for romance. You want to remember the moments you share together. The moment you speak those three words, you will want it to be special. The mood to tell someone you love them is a moment in time to remember. You don not want just any mood to be romantic and to romance your love.


Food always speaks to the heart, especially sweets. Whatever the favorite dessert may be, decorate it with  favorite candy, spelling out the three special words. This is definitely corny but it will be fun and you could tease each other because being serious all the time is boring. Sweets are yummy to the tummy. Also, unique cuisines are a remarkable trait to show each other how much you love them. Knowing what foods the other likes and cooking up a storm shows how much you know them and how you would like to take interest in what they like to eat. Food is a key to a romantic evening and to heart of the tummy.


However you decide to tell the person you love be sure it is a special memory for both of you to cherish for a long time. Showing each other love is special and should not be shown only on a special day, it should be shown often. It should be sweet and memorable. Always remember the details of the moment you told each other for the first time and everytime.


There are many ways to express your love for the first time. If you truly want to amaze yourself, put some thought and effort into the moment. The moment is everything. Be yourself.

Milky

Compass




Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.





The compass is an instrument used for navigation; it generally has a magnetic needle that points toward the earth's magnetic North Pole. The magnetic compass has been in existence for nearly a thousand years and is the most common type of compass. The gyroscopic compass is far less common than a magnetic compass.

The Magnetic Compass


Magnetic compasses, the most simple and common type of compass, are aligned to the earth's magnetic field. These compasses point to the earth's magnetic North Pole. (The magnetic North Pole is located in northern Canada but is continually moving, albeit slowly.) Magnetic compasses are very simple, easily built devices, but must be laid completely flat on a platform, require some time to adjust to a turned platform, and may suffer interference from local magnetic fields.


 In order to adjust a magnetic compass to due or true north and toward the geographic North Pole, one must know the amount of magnetic declination or variation that exists in a specific region. There are online maps and calculators available that provide the difference in declination between true north and magnetic north for every point on the globe. By adjusting one's magnetic compass based on the local magnetic declination, it is possible to ensure that one's directions are accurate.


The Gyroscopic Compass


Gyroscopic compasses are aligned to the true North Pole and have a needle that spins in relation to the rotation of the earth. They are often used by ships or aircraft so that any local magnetic equipment doesn't interfere with navigation. Thus, they can quickly adjust to movements. This type of compass is usually set to point at true north, based on the direction of a magnetic compass, and then periodically checked with a magnetic compass to assure accuracy.


 The History of the Compass


The earliest compasses were most likely invented by the Chinese in around 1050 BCE. They were created first for the purposes of spiritual life or developing a feng shui environment and then later used for navigation. It is disputed whether other cultures, such as some Mesoamerican societies, may have developed the idea for the magnetized compass first, also in accordance for spiritual aligning and not navigation.
 Compasses were originally developed when lodestones, a mineral that has naturally magnetized iron ore, were suspended above a board with the ability to pivot and turn. It was discovered that the stones would always point in the same direction, and align themselves with the north/south axis of the earth.


The Compass Rose


The compass rose is a depiction of orientation and direction that is placed on compasses, maps, and charts. Thirty-two points are depicted around a circle in equal intervals, marking the four cardinal directions (N, E, S, W), the four intercardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW), and the other sixteen secondary intercardinal directions (NE by N, N by E, etc.).


 The 32 points were originally drawn to indicate winds and were used by sailors in navigation. The 32 points represented the eight major winds, the eight half-winds, and the 16 quarter-winds. All 32 points, their degrees, and their names can be found online.


On early compass roses, the eight major winds can be seen with a letter initial above the line marking its name, as we do with N (north), E (east), S (south), and W (west) today. 


Later compass roses, around the time of Portuguese exploration and Christopher Columbus, show a fleur-de-lys replacing the initial letter T (for tramontana, the name of the north wind) that marked north, and a cross replacing the initial letter L (for levante) that marked east, showing the direction of the Holy Land.


We still commonly see the fleur-de-lys and cross symbols on compass roses today, if not just the simple letter initials for the cardinal directions. Every cartographer designs a compass rose a little differently, using different colors, graphics, and even symbols. Multiple colors are often used simply as a means of easily distinguishing the many points and lines on a compass rose.


360 Degrees


Most modern compasses utilize the 360-degree system of indicating direction on the compass with zero and 360 degrees representing north, 90 degrees representing due east, 180 degrees representing due south, and 270 degrees representing due west. Through the use of degrees, navigation is more accurate than through the use of the compass rose.


Uses of the Compass




Most people use a compass casually, for instance with hiking or camping. In those situations, basic compasses like the thumb compass or other orienteering compasses that are clear and can be read over a map are suitable. Many casual uses where travel is over a short distance require basic markings for cardinal directions and a basic level of understanding compasses. For more advanced navigation, where large distances are covered and a slight variation of degrees would offset your course, a deeper understanding of compass reading is required. Understanding declination, the angle between true north and magnetic north, the 360 degree markings on the compass face, and your course-of-direction arrow combined with individual compass instructions requires more advanced study. For simple, easy-to-understand, beginners' instructions on how to read a compass, visit compassdude.com. 














Wednesday 21 March 2012

Children Books



Very cute and fun books. I would recommend these one's but there are so much more. I have enjoyed reading them to my sister and all of my nieces and nephews. - Milky














The Singing Butler


Jack Vettriano's "The Singing Butler" is one of the world's most sought-after works of art. In 2004, the painting, which features the romantic image of a couple dancing on a storm-swept beach, was auctioned at Scotland Sotheby's for a record $1.3 million. One of England’s most popular artists, Vettriano is known for working tirelessly for days on end until a painting is completed. 
  
"Dance Me to the End of Love" typifies Jack Vettriano's work: noirish dramas with dashing men and glamorous women, all smoldering with underlying narrative. Nicknamed the “People’s Painter,” the self-taught Vettriano is one of Britain's most popular and successful living artists. Vettriano's use of light—whether sunlight or haze— absorbs viewers into his artworks' atmosphere and storyline. 

Jack Vettriano’s melancholy “In Thoughts of You” tells an intriguing story in his signature atmospheric style. Needing to feel emotionally uncomfortable in order to paint his cool, mysterious creations, Vettriano says that he often achieves this state while listening to Leonard Cohen’s requiems. Nicknamed “The People’s Painter,” the self-taught Vettriano is Britain’s most popular and successful living artist, whose sales set a record at Sotheby’s.  
  


Just a few of my favourite paintings and I have three of them. - Milky