Strike it from the List!

It was a social outing with work colleagues, but this week I went on a Whirlpool JetBoat Ride down the Niagara River! It was excellent! It was also on my bucket list! Woo hoo!

One of my co-workers has worked for the Niagara-on-the-Lake company for several years, and he treated us to a great adventure on the river. Although it's perhaps not as well known for rapids as Ottawa, the Niagara River has some of the greatest rapids in North America, ranging all the way from a Class One in size (think of water flowing over a rock) to a Class Six (illegal for rafting). We experienced everyone on the Jetboat, including some amazing Class Five rapids. This trip is not for land-lubber. You will get wet, head to toe, soaking wet. We were warned before departing, it would be like jumping in a pool. There was no exaggeration to this statement.

I was a little anxious after a friend told me the Jetboat made her nauseous. Anticipation prevailed however; I have wanted to ride the Jetboat since I moved to this area. The boat is powered by 1500 hp and travels up the river about 60 mph, so the combination of speed, spray in your face and the exhilaration of the rapids removed any chance of feeling sick. I'm so glad I went and now, I can stroke that off my list!

How is your list coming? Are you going to get through everything you hoped this summer?

Summer Officially Has Arrived!

Happy first Day of S U M M E R !!!!!

In honour of the first day of summer, I'm sharing a few shots of my mother's flowers. I love my mom's knack to bunch of trays and fill her pots at random. They always turn out bright and cheery and full of variety! Here's a few on her front deck. On the right, one of her beautiful, red lilies.

It seems as if summer has been here for months already, so it's a little hard to believe today is only June 21. I've seen icky fog, had 2 sun burns and Toronto had the 2nd highest UV rating in history last week. Yes, seems like summer has been here for a while.

I have this theory; our Canadian seasons are shifting. We had really warm weather in May last year, then it was cold by July and August. I'm hoping my theory is incorrect, because I'm looking forward to at least 2 more months of this weather. I have a whole bucket list left! 

I also didn't plant my garden soon enough! I'll have to snap some updates for you this week. I caged all my tomotos tonight, and my zuchinni and squash are huge. On the advice of my mother and recollection of the 'everlasting- zuchinni' of my childhood, I ripped out several plants this evening. One plant will bear several zuchinni, so I don't need 15. I also don't need it to take over my garden. My potatos still haven't sprouted. If I don't see anything this week, I may dig them up and plant more spinach or beans.

All my dahlia bulbs have sprouted. I have sunflowers galore from 2009, not to mention leftover onions which have now gone to flower!

I bought and planted my annuals just this weekend. I've been searching for Snapdragons and Sweet Willam (dianthus), and they must be early annuals, because all the garden centres here are sold out. I found them up north at Granny's, in Neustadt. If anyone knows the area, you know Granny's. It's been a fixture in the hamlet for as long as I remember. Every spring and summer, their back lot is full of flowers, and they had beautiful annuals. I grabbed a flat for $10!

My Summer Bucket List

Perhaps, it's reading Christen's "Just do it"s at La Vida Lista. Or, it might be a realization that finally having a radio will result in less mind-numbing thinking and planning behind the wheel. Maybe, I am stressed almost to a tipping point.

Whatever it is, I decided to create a "Bucket List" of things I want to do this summer. I made my mind up the last time I drove back from my parents' farm; this is going to be the summer I do all the things I always think about doing. You know, visiting the stores you always look at with wonder & curiosity, but tell yourself, "not today".

I actually had to look up bucket list before I started typing this, because I wasn't entirely sure if that was even the right name. It just seemed appropriate for some reason. Well, it is correct with one exception; my list covers only those items I want to do this summer. It does not extend beyond to all the things I want to do before I die, like most bucket lists.

Photo credit: http://lovelifelists.blogspot.com/


It's not long. I will probably add to it as the summer goes on. Especially, if I accomplish these items. I can't sit around the rest of the summer and do nothing, afterall!

• Go tubing down the Grand River and the Elora Gorge
• Get a hammock and put it in my backyard (okay, this is more of a 'to buy', but I fully plan to lay on it this summer, so it counts)!
• Go antiquing with my girlfriends
• Lay on the beach for a day
• Go camping (in a tent)
• Enter crafts, baking and/or flowers in a local fall fair
• Jet boat in the Niagara River
• Stop at Grasshopper Imports on Hwy #6. If you are from the area, you know this place... it's a lot with a lot of clay planters and the building looks like it was painted by hippies.  DONE - BF & I stopped this past weekend. It was EXACTLY what we expected, but neat stuff and reasonably priced. I have my eye on a glass pitcher... sangria anyone?
• Go to the zoo
• Go to Duff's for wings (this is not anything special, except we keep talking about going there and never do!)
• Run a 10km race - likely a pipe dream, but I ran a 5km race last year, so aim high, right?

Do you have any plans for the summer?

Refreshing Iced Tea Recipe

On a hot summer day (which we have not had enough of yet), there is nothing more refreshing, or nostalgic for me, than a tall glass of iced tea. As it seems, I share this sentiment with many others; the current poll on Homemakers.com asks for readers favourite summer drink. Thus far, Iced tea is the most popular choice, beating out beer, lemonade, slushy daiquiris and pina coladas.

Finally into the summer swing of things, I decided to whip up a batch of frozen iced tea mix this weekend. I remember my mother making big tubs and freezing them when I was growing up. Not seeing the need to add water, I used to steal the tubs and eat the mix with a spoon. It really is yummy, but I now opt for mixing it with water as it was originally intended!

Here is the recipe if you'd like to try it out for yourself! It's very easy and will last this savvy, single homegirl all summer!

Frozen Iced Tea Mix

1 24oz unsweetened lemon juice
4 C sugar (I only used 2)
1 C cold water
10 teabags (I used 8) seeped in 3 cups of boiling water

Steep tea for 10-15 minutes (or longer depending on desired strength - I think you can use fewer teabags if you steep longer also). Stir in sugar until dissolved. Add cold water and lemon juice. Freeze or refrigerate.

1 inch of mix (I tablespoon) + cup water for iced tea. I just mix to taste.

I have yet to try it yet, but I think this would be great with a shot of rum and coke for a different version of Long Island Iced Tea!

Do you have any favourite summer drinks?