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Tag Archives: New Year’s

Dear Quarantine Diary: Year in Review (2021)

06 Thursday Jan 2022

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

covid-19 diary, covid-19 humour, dear diary, family, humour, New Year's


Dear Diary – Midnight arrived and some of us cheered. Others chose to go to bed early. Because after all, it didn’t feel like there was a lot worth celebrating in 2021. It was a tough year, filled with moments of intense loneliness, frustration, anger and grief. I felt it too. But often, when I felt overwhelmed, God’s graciously reminded me that He is in control and He is still at work. In those times, He filled me with enough joy and hope to smile and soldier on. Sometimes, I even laughed. Out loud. From my toes. Not usually when I was standing on the bathroom scales or offering my family burnt offerings, but still…He supplied more than I needed and I am thankful.

My holiday got extended because Hubby came in contact with someone who called two days later to say “hey! guess what? I’m positive with covid”. So I got my booster shot yesterday. I feel crummy today. Good thing I spent the whole dreary afternoon on Sunday re-reading diary posts because I’m not up to catching up this week. Not that much has happened. I meant to just review the Monday What’s In My Cup segments, but I kept reading. I was amazed at just how much laughter and silliness there can be in a year, even if it didn’t always feel like it at the time…

In January, having spent Christmas apart from my folks, I rang in the New Year with pizza and white wine. By mid-January, the province had declared a state of emergency. I was having my own emergencies at home. I started shopping online for fabric and food. My “sewing business” slowed down, and so did the 50 year old sewing machine! On the phone with my Dad, he talked me through how to take it apart. I felt like I was defusing a bomb. Then my last needle broke. So did my patience. I baked macarons which were an epic failure. Crispy portughese custard tarts and unicorn poop soon followed. On the plus side, my sanctuary was coming together. I was going to need it!

In February, I talked some Facebook Friends into joining my revolution and we declared February 12 “PJ
Day”. We shared our photos.

Cheers!

I attempted to make pillow covers, which was an assortment of trials, error, and tears. For Valentine’s Day, Big Guy suprised us with drinks and cookies from Tim Horton’s. I made pastitio for dinner, with a bechamel sauce that refused to thicken. It tasted good anyway. I also tied myself in knots making pretzels. I cleaned the bathroom cupboard under the sink and discovered 5 bottles of men’s body wash. I’ve been smelling like spruce and pine trees ever since. My friend died of cancer, and made a bleak month stretch longer.

It was time to smarten up in March and I began preparing healthier food: eggplant parmigiana (which I hated), chicken pie (the pastry was sooo good) and a pumpkin spice roll (is pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?).


My hobbies include eating and complaining that I’m fat!


I stopped putting off that tooth that had been complaining and went to the dentist. I had the best laugh when he asked me if I was stressed. He fit me with a mouth guard. I’m still “…afraid of choking and drowning on my spit in my sleep. When I said I wanted to die peacefully in my sleep, this isn’t quite what I had in mind”. Hubby was the first to brave a covid test. He was negative and for the first time in a very, very long time, he could smell his coffee. I participated in Evil Squirrel’s 8th contest of whatever but I didn’t win. And I got shot, a cortisone shot, that is. I spoke too soon when I said, “that wasn’t so bad”!

I started physio torture therapy in April just as the province issued a stay-at-home order, essentially “cancelling” Easter. Bur miracles still happened: Hubby let me help him purge his closet. I baked hot cross buns, a tear-away cake shaped like an ice-cream sundae, mini chocolate swiss rolls, and a pretty, but tasteless purple birthday cake. Big Guy helped me celebrate with an ubered “breakfast in bed” from Cora’s. With stress already running high as people panicked to book vaccinations, everything going wrong in a 27 hour stretch almost pushed me over the edge. Good thing I started an 8 week comedy course online to help me cope. I wrote my first song, Queen of the Latrine, which seemed to be a big hit.

I finally got shot on Mother’s Day! Gatherings were still limited to 10 people but I was fine. I worked on 3 original songs: Teen from the Batcave, The Gamer Song, and In Too Deep. Spring had sprung and I took lots of time to wander my backyard enjoying lilacs, tulips, and apple blossoms. I managed to plant seeds despite our back door being patrolled by a stubborn carpenter bee.

June started with snow. Patios opened and restrictions lifted, and people were people: “restless, housebound natives behaved like teenagers when Mom and Dad are away, and partied hard with their friends”. I googled how to deal with bad hair. One suggestion was to wear a low cut blouse. Big Guy ubered McDonald’s for Father’s Day, and we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at the end of the month with Italian food, and a unique photo session with Little Guy. We dressed up and posed with Halo reproduction guns, zombie axes, and face masks. Why? Because 25 years without killing each other was worth celebrating. And we couldn’t go to Italy.


I got shot again on July 1st – Canada Day. I had a greater reaction and lost a day. My basil was finally growing and it was really happy. Little Guy and I spent some time at my parents. On morning, we woke up to jet engine in the back yard and a giant blue fireball. They were venting gas line for repairs. The busiest week was Vacation Bible Camp, where I spent 5 mornings out of bed before 7 and taught kids in character. That character was Ima Victor, a spunky, nerdy, spastic eight-year old with a serious lisp. It was exhilerating and exhausting!

August brought my baby home after months apart. Big Guy helped me purchase a new xbox controller to improve Halo Night. While he was visiting, I accidentally thawed (and consequently had to cook) 24 burgers. I didn’t enjoy it. I got my first hair cut in almost 2 years. I celebrated Mom’s birthday with lunch at O’Connor House, and I baked a lemon cake. Little Guy and I fought with bugs in the evenings, and I fought with a “simple” japanese knot bag pattern during the day. I shared a magical evening watching the
meteor shower with Little Guy.

September started a week holiday at my parents with the boys. We played games, had a water fight (that ended badly) and a haunted walk. Big Guy taught Little Guy how to climb trees, and I accidentally flashed a trucker grocery shopping. One evening we drove around town looking at houses for sale. It’s fun to dream. I savoured homegrown watermelon and made homemade salsa. My alarm clock went psycho, and we finally got some sewer issues repaired. They aren’t all fixed…I’m still queen of the latrine.

I should know by now that nothing is simple but crap doodle, I keep hoping!

Jenn, jennsmidlifecrisis

Thanksgiving was celebrated with my folks but only 1 boy. We got stuck in traffic coming home, but I managed to “hold it” until we got to the service centre…where I had to go looking for service in Tim Horton’s. I baked a lentil pie and visited 2 friends in the garden. It was good for the soul…the visits, not the pie! As an old dog, I’m still required to learn new tricks and this month included setting up and using a new worship tracks app. It was terrifying. I also went shopping for glasses for Hubby and was totally ignored by the female staff. Some thing never change!

I spent a week with Mom while Dad was hunting and it was some firsts for me: first time in a Mall since the world shut down and the first meal in a restaurant. Fortunately my “covid passport” worked! I baked
pumpkin pecan muffins that were so greasy, they almost slipped out of our hands. I also baked louisiana hand pies and white bean and leek stew. I spoke to a group of ladies, something I have missed. Purolator also missed, delivering my package to the wrong house and starting a whole mess for me to sort out. I enjoyed an impromptu visit with my parents in my sanctuary. They were delivering Little Guy’s birthday. He insists that I give him a new name here.

Finally December arrived and I dove into Christmas preparations: shopping, wrapping, and baking. In addition to the usual squares and cookies, I tried hazelnut toffee, chocolate babka, German stollen, and a yule log. I also fought with squirrels at the feeder and gnomes. Best of all, I made it home for Christmas, where I will spend the first week of January because Hubby was in contact with someone who, two days later, called to say he was positive with covid. Happy New Year!

My “word” for 2020 was “finish line“. In 2021 I embraced “Be Faithful” because no matter what was happening in my world, I was still responsible for what was happening in my heart. I’m not sure what my “word” will be for 2022, but I’m sensing that I need to lean into “joy”. Joy is more than laughter or warm fuzzy feelings. It goes beyond feeling happy, excited or content. It isn’t based on my circumstances or my actions, but is a gracious gift and a lasting state of the heart and mind that overflows from my Heavenly Father. I believe my joy in Him will be my strength.

Let Year 3 begin…after my nap!

2021 “Tea” Year in Review

03 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Food

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

New Year's, tea, tea addict, tea lover, tea time


Hello and cheers to all!

Believe it or not, I just spent over 5 hours looking back over 2021’s blog posts. What a year!

I’m not sure I would have survived it without tea.

I’ll be posting a Dear Quarantine Diary: Year In Review later this week, but I thought it would be fun to briefly look at Monday’s “What’s In My Cup” posts over the last 52 weeks.

In 2021, I posted 17 tea reviews from David’s Tea, Steeped Tea, Tetley, Stash, and President’s Choice. They included black tea, green, white tea, rooibos, and fruit infusions. Of those, my favourite was Bee the Change, a sunny sweet floral infusion.

I talked about German Rock Sugar, a sweet alternative to sugar or honey.

I also featured 3 tea cups, including my coronation tea cup, and the story behind my silver tea set.

Scones, a quintessential tea time treat, were featured in a 2-part series. Part One looked at the history of scones and tackled 3 great debates related to them: 1. how do you say “scone”; 2. should butter be included; and, 3. what comes first: the cream or the jam. Part Two gave instructions on how to bake fluffy scones and included a recipe for Lemon Ginger scones.

In addition to Lemon Ginger Scones and Pumpin Scones, I tried 2 other summer recipes: Pineapple Rosemary Ice Pops, and Peach Bellini Sorbet. I shared an Ice Tea Hack.

I visited one Tea Room, the O’Connor House, in August, for my Mom’s birthday!

In past years, I focused mostly on tea reviews and histories of china companies. But this year, some other topics were included as well. Here are some you might have missed…

On the Go – what to look for in a travel mug

Keep It Fresh – how to properly store your tea

Death Before Decaf – all about caffeine

Seasons – how seasons affect tea leaves

Water – the importance of hydration

Sun Tea – how to make it, and should you

Last, but not least, I tackled the biggest debate of all: Pinky In or Out!

It was so much fun reading the old posts, that I decided to try a new thing. So…I’m asking you, dear tea grannies, if 12 of you would consider helping out. On the last Monday of the month, I’d like to feature your favourite tea in your favourite cup. Pick your month and send me your write up and/or photo. Tell me what your favourite tea is, and why. It can be as long or as short as you like or share a personal story.

It’s a new year. Let’s get to know each other over a cup of tea.

Happy New Year!


2020’s What’s In My Cup Review

04 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Food, Foolishness

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, New Year's, tea


Happy New Year!

They say it’s good to look at where you’ve been to help you plan where you are going. I don’t know who “they” are, but “they” obviously didn’t just live through the past year.

Have you started making resolutions or plans, and if so, how many have you broken already? 😉

Each new day is an opportunity to start afresh, to see each new day as an opportunity to embrace life’s events not fear what lies ahead. 

Byron Pulsifer

So without fear, let’s pour of cup of tea and review 2020’s What’s In My Cup posts. (I promise, it’ll be short!)

In 2020, I posted 25 tea reviews and researched 9 tea cups and 1 tea pot. If I had to pick my favourite flavour for the year, I would have to say Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea. Just Peachy as an iced tea was a close second.

I explored 2 tea time additions, honey and lemon, experimented with hot brew vs. cold brew, and researched skinny tea, to dunk or not to dunk, the types of “tea times“, and Irish hospitality. I tried a recipe for tea-stained chicken and shared a cookie recipe. And I sampled my first Irish coffee. Sláinte!

It takes strength to step enthusiastically into each day of our lives. This strength comes more readily on some days than on others, but every day makes demands on us.

Karen Casey, The Promise of a New Day

Planning for the new year includes all my posts here on jennsmidlifecrisis, and as always, I’m open to ideas. Have a tea cup you want to learn more about? Share a pic and I’ll see what I can do. Have a question? Pass it on. Is there something you like? I could always use some encouragement. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but didn’t have the nerve, maybe I’ll test the waters for you? Unless it involves sky-diving…I’m not skydiving, no matter how much you encourage me!

In our current global situation, where opportunities are limited and interaction is discouraged, dreaming is not. I encourage you to step enthusiastically into each day, as well as take time with your cup of tea, and let your imagination go…

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you, Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be, dream a little dream of me

Ella Fitzgerald

Happy Monday!

Recap of 2017

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

humour, New Year's


2018 is right around the corner and I’m still asking —

What am I going to do.gif

At the close of the 2016  Year In Review , I prayed:

May 2017 be a year with more laughter than tears. May I have the ability to rise above the challenges of supreme annoyance. And may I retain the ability to dress myself at the end of each day! Amen!

This past year has certainly not been a year of laughter, Humiliation yes! But not a lot of laughter. There were plenty of annoyances, and consequently the odd rant. But only one confession. But I can still dress myself!

I have aged by a year, which has led to a tumultuous relationship with my bed, the raging inferno of my dying youth, and a Faulty Filter.  I decided to be daring and I wore my first bikini. The beacon was lit that day, but on other days, I became positively invisible.

There were moments when I failed as a mother, and other times I had to exercise faith. Little Guy participated in a fundraiser for those who need a hand up and wrote a guest post for me this summer about Tom Thomson. We had more serious “grown up” talks.  I hope he never grows old.

In October, I experienced the sublime with my mother-in-law’s sudden passing. She was a lovely woman and we shared may giggles over cups of tea.  That same weekend, I experienced the ridiculous with some sudden and naughty text messages and phone calls from strangers. “Hey Baby”, maybe I should have considered changing careers?

In April I participated in the A to Z Challenge. In September, I started a regular Monday tea feature called “What’s in My Cup?”.  I took my summer vacation in December (it’s a long story) but at least I escaped the annual Winter Concert. Wednesdays nights remained Halo night. I also took time to lament being short, and compiled my own list of requirements for a wife. And a bunch of other silliness…

giphy

Bing Crosby may have crooned his dreams for a White Christmas, but he could afford someone else to white-knuckle drive in white-out conditions, and he certainly didn’t brave freezing temperatures that rival the north pole. It was -20C today and it’s numbed my brain. Whether it’s the lack of sleep and trays of sweets, or the fact that 2017 wasn’t a particularly grand year, but I seriously lack any enthusiasm to begin yet another year. But just like Christmas, it’s coming.So to all those who have popped by from the blogsphere –

Jenn

 

 

 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year?

06 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

New Year's


Social convention dictates we greet one another at the beginning of January with “Happy New Year”, and I have had to exercise a great deal of willpower to not sarcastically snap, “Is it? Is it really?”

This year, I made some resolutions, which included cutting back on caffeine, losing weight (a losing battle), training for Mud Hero (knowing full well I can back out any time), and approaching each day with a more positive attitude (i.e., replacing my sarcasm, my snarkiness and my vocal displeasure of the morons stupid people around me with sunshine and lollipop thoughts). It was a glorious 3 seconds before I burst out laughing at my own farcical attempt to delude myself. You can’t teach this old dog new tricks!

We’re 6 days in to 2017 and so far, I have:

  • driven home from my parents’ in snow and high winds
  • killed the guinea pig’s water bottle
  • nearly been killed  by a moron bad driver (apparently I still have great reflexes and there was no oncoming traffic)
  • stood in a store trying to replace a dysfunctional lava lamp (the clerk used my batteries and screw driver to test 3 more…we now own a plasma ball instead)
  • driven into the city to pick Hubby up from work because his car is dead
  • nearly froze to death at work
  • test drove a new car – the cost of which will wipe out 4 years of savings
  • been walked into at Tim Horton’s by a moron…and there was plenty of space to go around me
  • nearly broke my big toe kicking…the kick-plate

And that’s just since Wednesday…

My house is trashed, my clothes don’t fit, my bank account is empty (along with my resolve not to eat the last box of homemade cookies before starting the box of liquor-filled chocolates), my winter boots leak, it’s freezing outside…Hubby’s dead car is still in the city…and now I have this song stuck in my head!

My new year’s resolution should have been to stop kidding myself that I’ll make a lifestyle change this year. Cheers!

 

2016: A Year In Review

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

humour, New Year's


It’s the last day of the year and too many people are starting to share how they are going to make big changes to enrich their lives in 2017.

cpigst6ukaedozo

Personally, I feel more like crawling into bed with a big boxful of rom-coms and an even larger box of chocolates. Bridget Jones may have despaired at the thought of dying “fat and alone” and being “found three weeks later, half-eaten by wild dogs”, but her evenings alone in her pjs still holds a certain appeal. Canadian winter is bearing down on us. Earlier this week, I froze my extremities, drove to my in-laws in an ice storm, sloshed through giant slush puddles (apparently my winter boots leak), and dug my car out in a blizzard. Good times!

So while you’re polishing off your stationary bike to start your training for the Tour de France, I’m planning to polish off a Henry (O Henry!) and take a horizontal life pause. Thank you to all those who shared 2016 with me – it was quite a year!

2016: A Year In Review

2016 was certainly a year! I started it by sitting in the E.R. for 5 hours on January 1st with Big Guy! He had suffered weeks of hiccups that resulted in the inability to keep food down. X-rays confirmed what we already know – he’s full of “poop”! He was released around midnight and feeling peckish, so we picked up McDonald’s fries on the way home. He was obviously feeling better!

This year, I struggled a lot…mostly with stupid people!

Stupid people in parking lots
Stupid people at the school
Stupid people at the car dealership
Stupid people at Canada Post
Stupid people at the passport office
Stupid people at Home Depot
Stupid brides, stupid computers and 2 stupid squirrels – the one who stole my cupcakes and the one who stole my panties!

eye roll giphy

 

Either stupid people are taking over the world, or I’m turning into a cranky old lady! This year I started facing the raging inferno of my dying youth, a bout of insomnia, and the stupid people who decided 50 year olds shouldn’t wear jeans. I started embracing my new identity with half an empty nest, and watched my mother caring for Nana in her last days.

While my midlife crisis adventures were limited this year, I got to join the VIP room for 2 days, improved my baking & video gaming skills, took belly dancing classes, and found out what happens when a group of women get locked in a series of rooms and told to escape in an hour. (We escape in less than an hour, then spend an hour trying to find a parking space at Jack Astor’s for dinner!)

 

snickers

 

I posted my 1000th post this Fall! So from the ridiculous (a body in my deep freeze) to the sublime (How much do you love me?) – it’s been a year! I expect 2017 will be…

beautiful

God, may 2017 be a year with more laughter than tears. May I have the ability to rise above the challenges of supreme annoyance. And may I retain the ability to dress myself at the end of each day! Amen!

Waiting for the Stars

08 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by jennsmidlifecrisis in Foolishness

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

humour, New Year Resolutions, New Year's


Life isn’t always about big bangs, mountain tops, or shooting for the stars! Sometimes the stars are so veiled that not even a glimmer shows through…sometimes for weeks.

The last few months have felt like that.

It’s Day 8 of the New Year, and just like my New Year’s Eve celebration, it’s come in with more of a fizzle than a bang. On the other hand, I really enjoyed my quiet New Year’s with my family – a good movie, a good game, a good family photo on the couch, and a good glass of wine right before I fell asleep.

_MG_8168-002 (534x800)

And it wasn’t even a full glass.

Like many of you, January 1st signals time to do some soul-searching. To review what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. To figure out who you are. To set goals and make plans and forge ahead with more than good intentions.

I’m not there yet.

And I’ve decided “that’s ok”. I’m not an overachieving, super-anxious woman of action (some who know me might disagree). Sometimes I need to sit in the dark, ponder the silence, wait for the stars.

That’s not to say I’m aimlessly and idly sitting by. I still have meals to cook and a house to clean, a job and rehearsals to attend, programs to plan, and relationships to nurture.

I’ve made a few plans for 2016:

I will start with taking down my Christmas tree…and hiding Frosty in the basement for Big Guy.

Mr Frosty

Does this look like the face of an evil genius to you?

I’ve started a diet, and will  be really crabby by the weekend. If Wednesday’s squirrel had been holding a nut, no matter how cute he was, I might have hurled myself through the glass door in an attempt to steal it.

I’m going to stare and smile at people who are gullible, weary, or pissing me off solely for the purpose of increasing their paranoia.

I’m starting a belly dance class next week (what was I thinking?). I take comfort in the knowledge that when I took it 10 years ago, I was the youngest in the class so maybe I’ll still be in the “middle of the pack”!

I have a brand new Beth Moore study into which I’m itching to dive head first. I also have a Bread Bible to muck up with butter and flour!

I’m considering running in Mud Hero again this year – it was a big deal…and a lot of work! But then I’ve been saying this for 2 years…(I also thought about aiming for a bikini this year but they’ve already outlawed whaling…)

I’m carrying on with my lessons in Italian and seriously considering a trip for our 20th anniversary. I’ll probably take my husband.

I’m going to try “10 Minute Mondays” (where I can write about whatever I want for minimum 10 minutes, no editing – mayhem, memories, maudlin mumblings, or  “mwa ha ha” moments). I’m keeping Wilderness Wednesdays (and learning what all the buttons do on my camera – mostly because I keep hitting the wrong ones)! And I want to make Fridays funny – because I want to laugh more and cry less (and if I cry laughing – bonus!) I may post other days – I may not. I think I’m ok with that…

I’m going to try to “drink deep in the morning”, and be gentle with myself when I’m tired and discouraged. And to bless others more.

I’m going to keep watching for the stars – and be amazed!

“The stars are visible only in darkness, but though equally set in the firmament during the light of day, they are lost in the brightness of the glorious sun.” – Rev. Edward B. Moeran

Happy Weekend!

 

 

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