Chicken with Black Beans and Tomato on Rice #FoodPicFriday

I've mentioned before that John is a spice whiz, with the ability to throw together amazing meals without a plan. If he enters meal creation with a plan, it is pretty much a gaurentee it will be altered in some way. And always for the better.

When we pulled the chicken out of the freezer, this meal was going to be oven baked chicken breasts with various sides. Then he got the idea to dice the frozen chicken and curry it with diced tomatoes. Partway through cooking he said: "can you hand me a can of black beans?" and they got added to the pan too. It simmered for an hour, and once finished John said: "For a sauce I didn't pay too much attention to, this one turned out pretty great." I think they all turn out pretty great.

This meal lasted two nights. The first night I wished I had avocado, and the second night I popped to the store and got one. The avocado made this already amazing meal incredible. Yum!

It's Election Day in Ontario

We are having a provincial election today in Ontario and I'm hoping people get out and vote. In the last election only 49% of Ontarians voted. It doesn't seem like democracy to me when only half the people have a say. If you are in Ontario, get out and vote! There are changes that need to be made to the electoral system (see: Fair Vote Canada), but until they are made this is the system we have to work with. Vote anyway! Even if you think your vote doesn't count. Also, if you are able to take someone with you when you vote, do it! I'm taking John's Grandma with me to the poll.

When the election is over, I have to say I will not miss all the campaign signs in public spaces. I understand and accept the political expression, and always love to see a house with a lawn sign (there are only two houses with a sign on my entire road). However I can't help but call the signs along the roadway an eyesore. This stretch of the bike trail (right) has 17 campaign signs. In a row. For only four different parties. It gets to be a little much.

If you are in Ontario - VOTE! Polls are open from 9am-9pm. If you need information about your polling station, check out the Elections Ontario website. The website may require you to provide an exact address for the information you need. It could be that the address they have for you is different than your actual address. Fun, right? If you run into trouble, just give them a call at 1-888-668-8683.

Everything is a Photo Opportunity #30

I started reading Treasure Island for the first time, and what better place to read it than at the beach. My Dad loves this book and we've set a date to watch the movie together when I'm done. I've also put Muppet Treasure Island on hold at the library so I can catch up with that version too.

The beach was beautiful when I visited on the weekend, but it's currently only good for reading/sitting/or walking, as the water won't be warm enough for a good swim for a few weeks yet. A few hopeful people ran into the water while I was there, but they quickly ran back out. 

2014 Garden Planted

We got our started beans and tomatoes and put them in ground over the weekend. We haven't had any rain in far too long, so we are watering them with the hose and hoping they are happy. They are calling for rain one of the days this week, but I will have to see it to believe it.

Bean patch

Tomatoes in the ground

Patio Tomatoes

Knitting Needle Case

I've been knitting on and off for about 6 years now and in that time I have acquired various knitting needles and supplies. I found an old sewing box in the attic and appropriated it as my knitting box. Up until now there has been no organization of the contents, other than all my knitting tools can be found in the box.

A few months ago I spent about $5 on fabric from the ends bin at Fabricland, for the purpose of creating a knitting needle case. The sewing skills in the family belong to Mom, so I gave her the fabric and she proceeded to make me a fabulous case. She didn't need to measure while making this, she just went in with the basic idea of what it should look like and made it happen. My Mom has awesome skills!

My knitting needles, all bundled up

The majority of my knitting needles

I still have various sizes of double pointed needles and circular needles that need a home, and have tasked mom to make a smaller but equally awesome case for them. The long needle case is my current favourite thing in the world, so I am super excited to have a set of two.

Thanks Mom! You are the best!