A muffin to cure all that ails you

When *Mila* woke up and felt "oh, not so good"; there is nothing better than some Bisquick (R) muffins for the soul.

Ingredients:
2 cups Bisquick (R)
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tbsp sugar
* I add some vanilla or cinnamon or lemon peel depending upon the season

Topping:
3 tbsp butter
Cinnamon and sugar mix

Preheat your oven to 400F.  Mix together the milk, Bisquick (R), egg, and sugar.  Grease and flour your muffin tin or use some handy cupcake liners (so easy for lazy people, like me, and a inpatient patient).  Pour the muffin mix about 3/4 fill in each cup.  Bake the muffins for about 10-12 minutes.

Melt the butter.  Dip the warm muffins in the melted butter and the cinnamon/sugar mix.  Mmmm.  All better.

signed, the willow

@ the lake

This summer we went to the lake.  

*insert lake photo right about here*

Some grampas had naps during the Olympic coverage

Some grammas read bird books

Some kid made a snack

and even a fashion show!

back to the lake again....

Ah, the gratuitous sunset photo.

We made friends with a duck

We made some art

and sandcastles

We went for a boat ride and let the teenager drive (he had the boating licence)

Some of us went in a tube

...and most of us went to a party!

 and the best part is cousins and grandmothers and aunts and uncles....otherwise known as family.

My heart longs for home every moment, it cures all ailments.

signed, the willow

We had a photo shoot

all photos were taken by Zekar Photography...and you can find them if you click thru the link

signed, the willow

:( Facing our Realities

The past few years have been tough.  I cannot lie.  Releasing my truths to the Universe has always set me free.  Welcome to my blog, Universe.  Er, Internet.

Life doesn't get easier and we all know that we'll face death of a pet, a grandmother, or a parent of a childhood friend.  It happens.  Living in the moment and accepting the fact that it's okay to be sad, it's okay to cry, and it's okay to accept mortality - is life.

So, have a belly laugh.  Love your mother, your father, your children, your pets, your spouse, your friends.  Love the air you breathe. Love the steps you take.  Whether you take the steps outside for a run, or inside your head for a new challenge.  Love the steps.

and now for a belly laugh....

signed, the willow

Welcome to the Anniversary Par-tay

We married 10 years this past June 8th.
The same day my grandparents married, but 62 years earlier than us.

So we hopped in the car

 ...headed down the QEW.

and over the Burlington Skyway.

saw a bit of Lake Ontario

Love the signs that mean so much more in summer.

A splash of wine country.

 We made our first vineyard stop and were questioned by our 8 year old chaperone if we'd be stopping at every vineyard to buy "boring old wine".

and then we stopped at Jackson Triggs.

and fast forward to Niagara-On-The Lake

 Where *mila* had this idea that we should go for a carriage ride.

 and it was a great idea.

 a few vantage points later....

We met with General Brock

He saved Upper Canada....as did Laura Secord and all those who fought for this country.  It was well worth the efforts.

Let's pack that Brock monument up and ...

 One tourist at the Falls?

There they all are.

 I know the next ten years will be just as wonderful.  I love you *Steve*

signed, the willow

Dodgeball Blogging

Lately Right now, I'm thinking to myself  my blog:  WHAT THE H-E-Double Hockey Stick?


This is nuts.  Work full time, commute, drop off child, pick up child, get groceries, pick up commuting husband, make supper, eat supper, play with dog, exercise with child, beg commuting husband to clean up after supper, beg child to have bath or shower and do homework, crash in bed with glass of wine  ginormous glass of wine, sleep, get up and repeat.

I miss you blog.  I'm coming back.

signed, the willow

3 generations; same page

More often than not, my mother and I find ourselves doing/saying/thinking/dreaming the same things.  We think we're psychic.  Outsiders think we're psycho.  We don't care.

But get this, now my daughter, *Mila* is in on the act.

Last month, we all created art in our own ways.  Separately, yet simultaneously.

Beatles songs came forth.  Check us out.

Gramma [Golden Slumbers]

Willow [Hey, Bulldog!]

*Mila* [hybrid of Golden Slumbers]:

signed, the willow

*Sigh*

As of late I have been very absent.  Absent from creativity.  Absent from my blog.

I've focused my attention on the dribbling mess that my former business is leaving behind.  I've been winding down all that income tax mumble jumble.  Balancing a full time job.  Being a mom to a gymnast that now takes a night class for 3 hours.

Suddenly my life has become busy.

And I've had a chance to assess.  Assess what should have been.  What was. What is.  I'm finding the power of now.  For now comes to an end and recognizing the end makes me live in the "now".  Because the now will end.  Does this make us relish it more?  I like to think so.

Life is too short some say.  Life is too precious.  What do you think?

I think I need more of "Big Carl" and his contents:

signed, the willow

8 years later and whole lotta chocolate

How the world has changed in 8 years.  My world has changed.

Happy birthday sunshine

signed, the willow