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Friday, June 5, 2015

Five On Friday - This Week's Pictures from My Phone

Wow! What a week we've had! I has truly been a whirlwind with swimming, softball, soccer, school events, professional learning and pet adventures.  
I am so glad to see the weekend on the horizon -BBQs, books and a day at the amusement park. 

But before it arrives, I wanted to take part in Amy's photo linky party, Five on Friday.
Once again, here are 5 photos from my phone that show you how my crazy week shaped up!

Number One: A winery tour in the Niagara Region
One of the ladies on my school staff put together a wine tour, complete with bus to drive us around, a boxed picnic lunch and stops at 4 wineries and one distillery.  Kevin joined me and 20 fellow teachers on a day-long adventure involving much wine and laughter.  Throughout the day, we tasted wine of all kinds, mead, gin and Canadian whiskey.  After every stop we were VERY glad there was  a sober bus driver to get us from place to place.  I can handle a drink or two, no problem, but 10 or 12, even part glasses was way too much for me!


Number Two: Cake of the Week: Spiced Applesauce Cake
This is my eighth week baking a "cake-a-week" and this time I chose THIS RECIPE which was almost a perfect match to the one my Oma used to make.  The frosting was amazing and I will definitely make this cake again!!


Number Three: A pile of baby blankets
Whenever I crochet I tend to end up making a baby-sized blanket.  I think this is because I have some kind of "crafting ADHD" and I can't stick to any one project for too long.  On the other hand, I have a touch of OCD as well, which means I can't leave a project unfinished.  So the way I deal with this is to make just enough afghan squares to create a small blanket so that the project can be finished quickly and I can move onto something else.
 Doing this, however, leaves me with many, many small afghans and lately, not many of my friends are having babies anymore.  The pile is growing much quicker  than I can give them away.  
So this past weekend, I went through my stack and sent more than half with my mother so that she could put them up for sale in a local shop.  I won't make much $$$ for them, but at least they'll be going to new homes quicker than they would here, sitting in my closet. 
 

Number Four: My softball girl
I was a softball player growing up.  So were both of my sisters and my father always coached us.  Even though he never had any sons, my father involved us in as many sports as he could always telling us that we could play just as well as the boys.  My sisters and I excelled at softball and reveled in our time on the diamond. 
When it was time for our three kids to pick their sports for the summer, both the boys jumped at playing soccer again , but Afton, our daughter, wasn't so sure.  Instead I suggested softball, told her the ins and outs of the game and let her know how much I loved it as a young girl. Afton was very excited to join in!
She played her first game this week and covered first base, was catcher for an inning and even tried pitching.  She seemed confident and excited to try EVERYTHING and came home from the game quite excited for the next one! 
Number Five: Casey's Diagnosis -LYME DISEASE
This past week I took Casey, our beagle/shepherd cross for his first visit to the vet.  Dr. Manjit checked him over and ordered some regular blood tests to ensure Casey doesn't have heartworm or any other doggie illnesses. Unfortunately, when the results came back, it turned out that Casey has Lyme Disease.  Luckily we have caught it in its earliest stages and we can treat him with anti-biotics and then a preventative afterwards.  The family is also being tested for Lyme because anyplace Casey could have met a lyme-infested tick, we could have, too.
Apparently Lyme Disease in pets is on the rise and is showing up more and more often in humans, too. 
What should you do?
Read up on ticks, know what they look like and how they effect the body.  Check yourself,  your children and your pets after walks in long grass, shrubbery and nature reserves. Knowledge is the greatest  power. 
 

Sorry to be a bummer with such serious-ness at the end of my post, but honestly, people know so little about Lyme, it's important to get  the word out!

 
 
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I hope the sun shine bright in your neck of the woods.
 
Much love to all,
 
XOXO
Bronwyn
 
 

42 comments:

  1. That pile of baby blankets looks amazing, they are beautiful. I am sure they will sell very quickly and there will be a demand for more. Thank you for the info on Lyme disease, have a great weekend.

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    1. Mom says 3 have sold already! I hope you had a great weekend, too!

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  2. Poor Casey! I have to get my dog to the vet right away too (they called to remind me about 2 weeks ago). You've had a lot going on at your home. Good luck to your daughter in the softball adventure. My son played baseball for years and loved it too. My daughter was the soccer nut (and is still a horse nut). I would love to go on a wine tour one day. BTW have you heard of the Linus Project? They accept donations of blankets to be distributed to young children. There is a drop off in the "Spun" yarn store in Burlington (or maybe it was in the sewing store beside it). Another option for too many blankets.

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    1. I've never heard of "Linus" before. I will look that up right away. My mom often has a surplus of blankets too. Get your dog to the vet. We all have to keep these vaccinations up to date and keep these pooches safe!

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  3. dog across the road just been diagnosed with lyme disease and is a hundreds time happier since treatment. Poor thing, this is a bad year from ticks. I guess your dd is playing for the 407 team!! Cake looks yummy as always.

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    1. Casey's antibiotics have been upsetting his tummy, but other than that he's the same old dog! A lot of my friends have taken their dogs tot eh vet for lyme tests, just in case, too. Too many ticks these days!!

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  4. Wine and cake... you are my kind of gal.

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  5. Loved reading the first part, While I love a good alcoholic drink any more than two sees me falling asleep. I'm a cheap date! Lovely pile of blankets there. Interesting what you say about Lyme disease & dogs. The grass is a lot longer here now but I do give Rocky hound a check over after his walks. Luckily he has short hair. Hope Casey will be ok x

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    1. Casey is on the mend. The anti-biotics are upsetting his tummy a bit, but other than that he's his old self! Keep brushing your pooch- it's helps a lot in preventing Lyme.

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  6. Sorry to hear about your sweet pup's diagnosis. I am glad the whole family is being tested. My sister's dog had Lyme and she also does. You always have it, though it can be controlled if caught early.

    Love all those afghans! Wow! That's so much work! I started crocheting again after about a forty year break, and found my arthritis can't handle it. So now I am teaching my daughter to crochet. I still embroider, and love that so much. I also quilt, but not hand-quilting so much. Your softball girl looks so happy with her new activity! I am new to Five for Friday and look forward to vsiiting every week (and posting). Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Casey will be fine and the whole family is getting blood tests done this week. Hopefully we are all clear - but we will be extra careful from now on!
      I embroidery,too. Lately it has been cross-stitch but I like the fine finger work it takes. Off to another ball game again tonight with my softball girl!

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  7. Poor Casey. Not nice. But oh my your cake. I really fancy making that.

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    1. The cake was delish. I hope to do a post with the recipes in the next few weeks.

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  8. Four really good things and one really good to know thing. I hope that Casey will be alright very soon. I am glad that it is something that can be treated. On to cheerier things, it is great that Afton is enjoying softball, it is good fun isn't it. I love your pile of blankets, they look so pretty all lined up on the chair like that! Thank you so much as always for joining in. I hope that you have a great weekend! xx

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    1. Casey's meds are making his tummy upset, but other than that he is goo. Afton has another ball game tonight- hopefully the rain will stop before then or she'll be mighty disappointed!

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  9. You have had a busy week. Hope Casey is okay, great that it was caught in the early stages. There is so much on the news about Lyme's disease right now. I miss the year end events at school, have been retired for 4 years now. I don't miss the work but do miss the interaction with all the people. Those are great little afghans, hoping they all sell for you. Have a good weekend.

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    1. 14 days of teaching left! i am so tired - I cant wait to have the down-time of summer. We have lots of fun things planned for the students - concerts, playday, splashpad visits.....I'm even more tired just thinking of it!

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  10. Poor Casey! I hope he's OK and recovers quickly. The cake looks amazing (my doctor would tell me off though!) and I could give those wine racks house room. (Well actually I couldn't without throwing out something else - but I'd like to.)

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    1. I love the hexagon wine racks too. Of course this "Queen B" would! Hubby says he might build be some for bathroom storage. I wont hold my breath..... :)

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  11. Bless Casey and thanks for the advice. Go Afton!!! Your wine tour looks fantastic, cor I couldn't manage that sort of alcohol either - glad you had a great time! Have a fun filled weekend xx

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    1. We had another great weekend around here. More pics to share after I get around editing them!

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  12. I loved your 5 on Friday! I'm so glad your dog will be ok! Have a nice weekend.

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    1. Doggie is good. He was bouncing around here all weekend!

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  13. Lyme disease sounds awful and I'm glad that the signs were caught early. I do hope Casey will be well again soon - pets are such a worry aren't they? The wine looks wonderful as does the cake and your little blankets are so pretty with all their colous and well done to your young soft ball player:)

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    1. He should be just fine. Adding a dog has been like adding another child to our family. More stress, but more love too!

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  14. What a fun post! So glad to hear that the Lyme disease was caught early. Have a great weekend!

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  15. What a fun post! So glad to hear that the Lyme disease was caught early. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Hopefully we've beaten the "Lyme." Fingers crossed.

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  16. I wish we had lots of wineries here that we could tour. When we visited Australia it was lovely to go to all the beautiful vineyards and taste their produce. The cake looks delicious and your little blankets are so pretty. Glad the softball went down well and that you caught the Lyme disease early.

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    1. Mom says some of the blankets have already sold. Sweet. I'll treat myself to a pedicure with the $$$.

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  17. Hi Bronwyn, oh poor Casey! We have more ticks than you can shake a stick at and one doesn't even have to walk in tall grass here. We live on an old farm and ticks are everywhere! It really creeps me out... they are such vile creatures. I even find them inside the house so in the summer all I need to feel is a little twinge and I'm up hopping around to see if it's a tick. YUCK! Sorry to talk so much about ticks but you are right... the disease is on the rise which to me can only mean one thing, the ticks are on the rise! Eeek!

    I can't drink wine anymore because it makes me sneeze like crazy, not a pretty picture! LOL!

    I am with you on doing small-ish projects because my attention span stinks! LOL! I do love your little blankets though. Just call them throws to use for curling up on the sofa with a good book and you're all set! :D
    Hugs for now,
    Beth P

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    1. I never really worried about ticks before. Now I can add it to the "worry" list. We're brushing Casey really well after every walk and checking the kids ,too. Better be safe than sorry!
      I started another afghan this weekend. The 3 kids and hubby were fighting over the 3 we had on the couches. It was cold and there weren't enough blankets. Now I need to make another full-sized one.!

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  18. Hi Bronwyn, you shared three of my favorite things; wine, cake and crochet. It looks like you have had a fabulous week with softball. I'm so sorry to hear about your dear little dog. I have a cat (Lilly) and she really an indoor cat. Hopefully your dear little dog will recover. Wishing you a wonderful week. My best to you.

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    1. Maybe one day we can crochet, drink and eat cake together! :)

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  19. Sorry to hear about your poor dog but glad he has been diagnosed quickly and hopefully should make a full recovery, your wine tasting day sounds like fun. What A lovely stack of blankets I'm sure they will sell very quickly, thats why I love to craft for charity it means I can crochet/knit to my hearts content knowing someone will benefit form my addiction haha I love the sound of the cake I must give it a try. Have a great week. :) xx

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    1. I never thought of donating these blankets. I must look into that immediately - then I can knit and crochet constantly and never worry about my blankets finding a loving home!

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  20. Hopefully your dog will soon recover now they no what the problem is. I love your pile of blankets, I'm sure they'll soon be snapped up. x

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    1. Casey is on the mend. We're in for a few blood tests over the next few weeks, but I think everything will work out just fine. :)

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  21. Beautiful photos of your world this week, Bronwyn. The blankets are very pretty and practical, your cake looks and sounds scrumptious, and your daughter looks like a natural. So sorry to hear about Casey's diagnosis, but glad you caught it in its early stages. I've been reading quite a lot about Lyme Disease in the local papers, and on the internet, and learned that it is on the rise, here in Ontario. I admit that this really scares me, and has even intimidated me from taking walks in areas that may host ticks. I'm so frightened that I will refrain from going through nature trails in Uxbridge, a town that is known for its picturesque trails, and where my sister will be moving to at the end of this month.

    Hope Casey feels well soon!

    Poppy

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    1. We are having the same "second thoughts" every time we go to walk the dog too. I've avoided the more "nature-filled" places lately and I definitely haven't taken Casey up on the Escarpment - and we love it up there! He's on a stronger tick vaccine now and hopefully that will keep him Lyme-free. We can't live in fear, but we have to be vigilant in brushing him really well after every walk so that we can catch any pesky bugs!

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  22. I do love a bit of blankety squooshiness and the cake looks yummy, too, but best of all I love the sound of a winery tour! I don't know what softball is! And well done for raising awareness of Lyme's Disease. (My Five On Friday post was written with you in mind, Bronwyn.) Hope barbecue, books and the amusement park were all good. x

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Thanks so much for popping by my little world. I'd love to hear from you. Comments make my day!!