October 20th 2007 Western Magic Part 3

[Karen Mouse]

We live in Stanardsville Virginia. Our home is right at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We have lots of wildlife. Right now I feed 4 cats (2 of my own), a possum, and red fox. There is also a black bear that lives up behind our house. It is very rural. We are not far from Charlottesville. It is where Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is. I love the rural setting. We have trails through the woods the kids love to play outside all the time. I don't know many stats on the town. I wasn't born or raised here. Scott and I met in college in Charlottesville and haven't left. Take time to look it up, it is beautiful!!!

WOW Lori - that sounds like an amazing place to live. Not too sure about the black bear though - I love watching them, but not up THAT close

Blue Ridge mountains - theres an old song about them, was it Laurel and Hardy or someone like that .
Sounds like a great place for your children to grow up.

I wish I hadnt started this - I'm getting more envious with every post.

You do all realize I'm just sussing you all out to see where I want to stay next year when I visit America - only kidding folks - dont panic and move

 

[Karen Mouse]

What about you Chris?

Are you the mayor of Yorkshire or do you own Tetley tea? - (if you do by the way - nice work on the decaf )

Do you live in a castle or just a stately home?

 

[JLDSMD]

Am wrong to assume all you Brits live like those in "Footballers' Wives"?

Suz is hooked on that show. I want to be a "footballer".

 

[JLDSMD]

What about you Chris?

Are you the mayor of Yorkshire or do you own Tetley tea? - (if you do by the way - nice work on the decaf )

Do you live in a castle or just a stately home?

I think Chris is secretly Willie Wonka.

 

[Karen Mouse]

I think Chris is secretly Willie Wonka.

If he is, I have one of his wonka bars from the movie set.


Tomorrows challenge isnt geography........ its......... guess who Chris really is

Chris - give us a clue I reckon he's Peter Stringfellow

 

[Karen Mouse]

Or Robbie Williams





Or Prince Harry





Or he could be ........







Chris from Yorkshire who likes to keep people guessing ... Am I right Chris?






Whoever you are....we all luv ya








.

 

[Karen Mouse]

Right, thats me done for the day...I'm off to get myself a glass of merlot and watch tv.



I want lots more hometown reports to read tomorrow....and lots more apples - actually.....stuff the apples, I'd rather have cheesecake


Good night everyone

 

[Timon]

We know all about rude french people when we visit Disneyland Paris - they simply havent learnt the art of queuing

When we moved here to Calgary in 1982, my Dad took the bus one day and when he got on the bus the bus driver said "Hello!" My dad almost had a heart attack! He had this dumb look on his face and the bus driver asked him if he was ok, cus I guess he was just in shock...he just wasn't used to politeness having grown up in Montreal!

I know nothing about Montreal - more facts please. Look what a good effort Jeff produced once prodded - You'll go to the top of the class if you can give me few more facts.

LOL! Top of the class? Nah, I don't like it there...then there's no room for improvement!

Let's see...

Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city on Earth (after Paris).
It has great food! Montreal is known for:
Smoked meat sandwiches, crusty sesame bagels, pizza, pea soup and Poutine. (It's a good thing I don't live there anymore, I might be 400 lbs!)

Elevation: 118 feet/36 meters
Average Annual Precipitation: 37 inches/94 centimeters
Average January Temperature: 14 degrees F/-10 degrees C
Average July Temperature: 70 degrees F/21 degrees C

Ethnic Mix: 18% Anglophone ( English ), 23% Francophone ( French ), 3% Italian, 2% Aboriginal, 54% German, Ukranian, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Chinese, Arab, Irish, Scottish and Haitian

Major Industries: Aerospace, Biotechnology, Tourism, Pharmaceutical

Host of Expo '67 and Summer Olympics 1976


There! How is that?

WOW the rockies,it's on my list but a million miles from Hazel's list as she HATES the cold....

Come in June/July/August when temps run from about 15 to 30 degrees Celcius! The Rockies really are gorgeous!

Lucky!!! I love the snow and we have so little of it anymore!! Take Kira out and build a snow man for us!!!!

LOL! She can't even sit or crawl yet (although we are working on the sitting part! If she were 2 or 3, Rob would have been in the backyard with her building snowmen at 7am I think!

 

[Timon]

This is a pic from this morning:

The other day I needed air conditioning and today we get this!!!

 

[Dyerneeds]

Sounds like a good place for Mike and Cinnamon to visit. The "stripping" in Wisconsin is mostly kept indoors in dark little bars.

[/QUOTE]

im sure i dont know what you mean??? who is cinnamon?? ha ha
i wont be around for a few days. just found out my mom has to have open heart surgery tom. she had valves replaced a while back (as did i) but now she has 75 percent blockage. we will be up at university hosp in clev. right next to clev clinic. my brother works in surgery up ther so he lines up the best surgeons for us.
talk to you when we know more.
mike and robin

 

[Timon]

AFEG, Some Canadian Rockies pics for you and Hazel!

 

[Timon]

im sure i dont know what you mean??? who is cinnamon?? ha ha
i wont be around for a few days. just found out my mom has to have open heart surgery tom. she had valves replaced a while back (as did i) but now she has 75 percent blockage. we will be up at university hosp in clev. right next to clev clinic. my brother works in surgery up ther so he lines up the best surgeons for us.
talk to you when we know more.
mike and robin

Lots of hugs and pixie dust for your mom!!!!!

 

[JLDSMD]

i wont be around for a few days. just found out my mom has to have open heart surgery tom. she had valves replaced a while back (as did i) but now she has 75 percent blockage. we will be up at university hosp in clev. right next to clev clinic. my brother works in surgery up ther so he lines up the best surgeons for us.
talk to you when we know more.
mike and robin

Mike,

Good luck to your mom. We'll be thinking of her, and you and Robin.

 

[Lindy Loo]

So, what's a spotted duck? And Cheryl, what's freckled lemonade? Is it Strawberry Lemonade??

Its spotted dick ( dick is a slang word in the Uk for "willy" (Can I say that? ) anyway, a spotted one would not be good. !! This is a suet pudding, rolled in cloth and boiled in a shape of a sausage. it has mixed in it, raisins... the spots. Its a winter pudding served with custard. Its very fattening, im not too keen. But my Dad loves this pudding. Hope that wasnt tooooo much information !!

If it isn't too much to ask, I am being selfish and asking for a few little thoughts and prayers myself this morning. I'm going for my 6 month cancer check up today...in about 1/2 hour. Wish me luck....please!

A big hug to you Nancy,you know we are all keeping you in our thoughts.

If you do not mind me asking...what are ADRs?

I have all mine booked
Think Karen has explained it all very well. im a saddo who books 180 days out. But we do like to know we have got what we planned! and we love our food....


im sure i dont know what you mean??? who is cinnamon?? ha ha
i wont be around for a few days. just found out my mom has to have open heart surgery tom. she had valves replaced a while back (as did i) but now she has 75 percent blockage. we will be up at university hosp in clev. right next to clev clinic. my brother works in surgery up ther so he lines up the best surgeons for us.
talk to you when we know more.
mike and robin[/QUOTE]


Love to your mum and both of you. She will be in my prayers, along with everyone else that needs a prinkle of pixie dust.

 

[Lindy Loo]

As a repeat guest you will be able to book these Palo dining experiences
90 days prior to your sail date, at approximately 12:01AM, Pacific
Standard Time.


Got this reply from DCL about PALOS booking... can anyone tell me what time this is in England please ??

 

[Lindy Loo]

Cass wonderful photos.................................... Thanks for sharing !

 

[Wine Diva]

I have to tell you that my DH and I went to Montreal for our anniversary five years and absolutely LOVED it!! We had been told to expect to find rude people, but just as we experienced in Paris, we found none. Maybe it's all in how you treat them first. I think most Americans just expect everyone to speak English when they travel. We speak no French and never had any problem in Montreal or in Paris and were always able to find people that were pleasant and helpful. By the way, we ate smoked meat sandwiches atop of Mont Real (not sure on the spelling, sorry!!) I would go back to Montreal in a heartbeat!!

When we moved here to Calgary in 1982, my Dad took the bus one day and when he got on the bus the bus driver said "Hello!" My dad almost had a heart attack! He had this dumb look on his face and the bus driver asked him if he was ok, cus I guess he was just in shock...he just wasn't used to politeness having grown up in Montreal!



LOL! Top of the class? Nah, I don't like it there...then there's no room for improvement!

Let's see...

Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city on Earth (after Paris).
It has great food! Montreal is known for:
Smoked meat sandwiches, crusty sesame bagels, pizza, pea soup and Poutine. (It's a good thing I don't live there anymore, I might be 400 lbs!)

Elevation: 118 feet/36 meters
Average Annual Precipitation: 37 inches/94 centimeters
Average January Temperature: 14 degrees F/-10 degrees C
Average July Temperature: 70 degrees F/21 degrees C

Ethnic Mix: 18% Anglophone ( English ), 23% Francophone ( French ), 3% Italian, 2% Aboriginal, 54% German, Ukranian, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Chinese, Arab, Irish, Scottish and Haitian

Major Industries: Aerospace, Biotechnology, Tourism, Pharmaceutical

Host of Expo '67 and Summer Olympics 1976


There! How is that?




Come in June/July/August when temps run from about 15 to 30 degrees Celcius! The Rockies really are gorgeous!




LOL! She can't even sit or crawl yet (although we are working on the sitting part! If she were 2 or 3, Rob would have been in the backyard with her building snowmen at 7am I think!

 

[Dyerneeds]

This is Robin...

I am finally able to get on here for a few minutes. Thanks so much for the sprinkles.

Our next few days are going to be rough. Mike's dad has emphyzema and has to carry oxygen at all times. He walks about 20 steps and has to sit down. So, I think we're going to have to take him to and from the hospital because he's not going to be able to walk from the parking garage to his mom's room. (Not to mention changing his oxygen tanks.)

When he gets upset or anxious he gets worse, so this week is going to be tough. We're hoping he doesn't end up in the emergency room. (At least we'll be at the hospital.)

I had a funny story to tell everyone, but I'll tell it to you after all of this is over. Now doesn't seem to be the time.

Once again... Thanks for the Pixie Dust.

Robin

 

[goofyfreak]

WOW Lori - that sounds like an amazing place to live. Not too sure about the black bear though - I love watching them, but not up THAT close

Blue Ridge mountains - theres an old song about them, was it Laurel and Hardy or someone like that .
Sounds like a great place for your children to grow up.

I wish I hadnt started this - I'm getting more envious with every post.

You do all realize I'm just sussing you all out to see where I want to stay next year when I visit America - only kidding folks - dont panic and move

You would always be welcome to stay with us!!!! That is if I can understand you when you ask to visit!!!

 

[Wine Diva]

O.K. Here's my geography lesson on Racine.

Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.
Main ethnic groups: German, Italian, Danish, and Armenian

As previously mentioned we are famous for S.C. Johnson--both my parents worked there. S.C. Johnson is a family company--in its 5th generation. They brought in Frank Lloyd Wright to design a family home and the company's headquarters--both of which are amazing!

Also we have Insinkerator (garbage disposals) and Case Tractors.

We are the hometown of William Horlick who invented Malted Milk Tablets. I went to a high school named after him!! People from out of town always laughed when I said I attend hor-lick!

The thing we are most famous for though is our Danish bakeries. We are a town of 80,000 people and we have a ton of bakeries. Their most famous product??? Danish Kringle--a racetrack shaped pastry that you can get with all kinds of fillings. The most poplular being apple, pecan & raspberry. I am most partial to the apricot, almond, or pumpkin. They are a big treat to out-of-towners, but I think most people who live here are pretty sick of kringle because you get it everywhere. (very fattening, as well!!)

Racine has always been an industrial town, but we are currently going through a pretty nice Renaissance in our downtown. We have a beautiful marina which is filled with gorgeous boats. (Most of them have Illinois or FIB owners ) We have 17 art galleries in a four-block section of town and have I ever mentioned that there is a really cute wine store there with especially friendly help???