New Stove arrived!

 

It's got a pancake griddle on the top!  Guess we aren't going to IHOP this weekend.

The new stove got delivered Wednesday, exactly when Home Depot said it would be.  The gas contractor called and said he would arrive yesterday between 9 and 11 AM.  He arrived at 8:50!  They took the old stove out, I quickly cleaned the spot, they moved the new stove in, hooked it up and took the old stove away.  15 minutes tops.  They were awesome.  

I'm thrilled with my new stove.  Knock twice on the oven door and the oven light comes on!  Knock again and it goes off.  On the picture above the time is a wi-fi signal.  The stove has wi-fi.   Keeping with my geek love, I installed the app on my cell phone.  I turned my oven on and the stove sent me a message "your oven has reached it's requested temperature"!  I can turn my oven or any burners on using my cell phone!  You can also use voice commands!   Too bad that doesn't work with husbands.  That app would have come in handy when I was working.

Obviously my old stove wasn't working properly because I made mashed potatoes in record time.   

If anyone is looking for a new stove they have this new setting "Steam Clean".  My appliance friend said, "it doesn't work well, make sure you get self-cleaning".  So I did.  She is using oven cleaner on her steam clean oven like we did in the 70's!  Thanks for the good advice!

Now to find good Air Fryer recipes.  If anyone has any, please email them to me!

Today's Reality

 

Interesting

 

Hurricane Fiona weakens - Hurricane Ian strengthens

It was reported Hurricane Fiona was the worst storm to ever hit Canada. I watched the Hurricane and news broadcasts all weekend.  Nine people lost their lives with wind speeds 209 KM/H.  There is major damage and it's great to see the Federal Government, as they should, stepped in to help those people who have damage.  

Prince Edward Island's iconic teapot rock is gone!

 Before                                                                    After

When you sail into Sydney, Australia you see "The Opera House", Copenhagen displays "The Little Mermaid", Vancouver showcases "Canada Place" and Sydney, Nova Scotia has "The Fiddle"!   It's the largest "fiddle" in the world at 18.2 Meters/60 Ft.  The "fiddle" as they call it is a tribute to folk music and tradition of the provinces Celtic community. The storm headed straight for Sydney, Nova Scotia and I thought of our visit to Sydney.  This violin greets every cruise ship that docs in the harbour.    

Such a wonderful sight to see at the Port of Sydney, Nova Scotia

I took this picture in 2019 when Lexie and I visited.  The Morning Show on Global had a reporter in Sydney yesterday and it was still in place with no damage.  

Our next cruise sails out of Bayonne, New Jersey and leaves in 32 days!  I know the cruise lines follow weather very closely.  We are booked on Royal Caribbean and they employ their own Meteorologist, James Van Fleet.  I follow him on Twitter @JamesVanFleet.   He lets you know exactly where the storms are and how the ships are changing their itineraries so everyone is safe.  I never worry because in November 1997 we sailed in the remnants of Hurricane Rafael.  We pulled into port early and stayed until the storm passed.   That was our last port and we got back to New Jersey and flew out of New York just before Hurricane Sandy arrived!  Some of the cruises sailing now are changing ports as James Van Fleet watches the direction of Hurricane Ian.  

Here is James Van Fleet tweet from yesterday.  I hope it works for you.

https://twitter.com/JamesVanFleet/status/1574465023539220480?s=20&t=S6qhcAqZ7lpRlj6E-kiwbQ

Let's hope Florida doesn't get too much damage this week!

Ridiculous price differences for gas and food

Last Tuesday I filled my car with gas at Costco in Langley at $1.83.  I went on Gas Buddy today and at Costco Scarborough, Ontario it's $1.39 and Costco in Edmonton $1.27.  I've watched the prices go ridiculously high over the last few days.

Yesterday in my neighbourhood:

Today it's $2.39!  That's $0.56 a litre in SEVEN DAYS!  They tell us it's because of the supplier in Washington state.  I priced gas in Bellingham:

Gas prices are from Gas Buddy, a wonderful app.  I have a gas converter app on my phone:

The difference in price across the border is mind blowing!  My car holds 60 litres and isn't the most fuel efficient car.  

I just read this on Twitter:

Global BC’s top story tonight showed outrageous Vancouver gas prices - $2.33.9/litre. But why is it just $1.69.9 in Kamloops and $1.93.9 in Abbotsford? And, even with similar supply disruptions, almost $1.00/ litre Cdn. less in Bellingham? Major unexplained rip-off.

When Jeanie and I were in Niagara Falls, the first morning, I was shocked at the price of my breakfast.  We go to IHOP in South Surrey frequently.  I ordered the same breakfast in Niagara Falls as I do when I'm home.

$31.43 plus a 20% tip (the service and food was excellent and since COVID, I've increased my tips to servers as they deserve it).  $37.72 for two eggs, two pieces of bacon, two pancakes and a cup of coffee!   In Ontario you pay HST which is GST and Ontario provincial tax.  Niagara region adds NFDF that is a 10% tax on top!   24% tax on meals!

Yesterday we went to IHOP in  for breakfast South Surrey with Cheryl and Lexie.  I took a picture of the menu!

$12.39 in BC, $20.99 in Ontario.  We only pay 5% GST.  

 

A great horserace

 Meet Vyvyanne

A few months ago my brother-in-law, Richard, and a couple of friends bought this race horse!  She is two years old and her father made more than a million dollars in eight years racing.  They went to Florida to see her.  It's not easy to name a horse as the name must be original.  I have no idea how they came up with Vyvyanne, but we call her "Annie". 

This summer the female trainer moved her to Woodbine Race Track in Toronto!  Today was her first race!  We went to The Derby where they show North American race tracks!

For her first race, she did great!  She came third!   I bet $10.00 to "Show" and won $39.00!

From the TV on the wall at The Derby

I should have waited to get the Official Results, they were right!

What an exciting afternoon.  Lunch and a race!  I can't wait for the next race.

Time change

 

First full day of Fall

I just BBQ'd a Shepherd's Pie

On Tuesday, I needed gas for my car so I went to Costco to get petrol before it drastically increases in price!  I bought some groceries and they make a great Shepherd's pie so I picked one up.  I invited Richard for dinner.  It takes 35 to 40 minutes to cook the pie.

I've known for a while my 17 year old stove was not working great, but on Tuesday, the oven would not work.  So after 50 minutes of frustration, I ordered Mary Brown's chicken on my app.  Good thing they are half a block away, so we ate on time but not what I'd planned.

I went online and found a stove I liked.  I price checked by going online to Costco.ca, and we got in the car and went to Home Depot, Coast Wholesale Appliances and Trail Appliances.  Same stove was $100.00 cheaper at Trail.  I asked about delivery and set up.  Trail said, "delivery is half price, $45.00, take away is $85 and we will arrange the gas fitter.   You pay him and it should be between $400 and $500!"  I didn't expect that but prices have gone up.

My friend Margaret told me Home Depot would price match so I went back to Home Depot.  Not only did they price match, delivery is free this week.  Taking away the old range and complete set up $185 and you pay Home Depot.  Not only did they price match, they gave me another 10% off!   The range is in stock and will be delivered next week!

Last night I turned on the BBQ, carefully watched the temperature as it only cooks at 320F and it was done!   We have a week of BBQing and I'm glad it's still warm and not raining!  

A senior's version of Facebook

For those of my generation who do not, and cannot, comprehend why Facebook exists:  

I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying in same principles.  Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers-by what I have eaten, how I feel at the moment, what I've done the night before what I will do later and with whom.  I give them pictures of my family, my dog and of me gardening, taking things to the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving around town, having lunch and doing what anybody and everybody does every day.  I also listen to their conversations, give them "thumbs up" and tell them I "like" them.  

It works just like Facebook.  I already have 4 people following me:  2 police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist.

Should you travel?

 

How Canadians confuse the world

• We measure the outside temperature in Celsius and oven temperature in Fahrenheit.
• We measure length in meters and our height in feet
• Cheese is weighed in kilograms but our bodies are measured in pounds
• We speak like Americans, spell like Brits and randomly throw in some French words

Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth

On November 13, 1973 I got up and watched the marriage of Princess Anne to Mark Phillips.  On July 29, 1983, Cheryl and I both got up and watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana.  Cheryl was 9 and absolutely loved every minute of it.  Again, on July 23, 1986, Cheryl and I got up early and watched the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah.  We know all three marriages ended in divorce.   It must be a difficult life.  We never saw Prince Edward and Sophie get married because they had a quiet wedding.  On April 29, 2011, Cheryl, Lexie and Louise came over and we all watched Prince William and Catherine's wedding.  We dressed up, and had tea and breakfast.

I've always been a Monarchist.  I admire the charities the Royal Family supports and their tireless support of hospitals, military and under privileged people.  I will never forget going to Buckingham Palace for a Royal Garden Party.  

Last Thursday I felt a huge sense of loss at the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth.  We had BBC on when the announcers, already dressed in black and stopped regular programming announced her passing.  I've watched BBC continually since it happened.  

Watching the massive queue of people lining up for hours in London shows just how loved she was by the Brits.  I've got my PVR set to start recording at 2 AM tomorrow morning.  I'm not sure if I will get up to watch it but when I do get up, I'll watch from start to finish.

I'm indifferent with Prince Charles.  I just can't get over how Diana was treated.  I admire what he's done with climate change and his work with charities.  Hopefully my attitude will change as he's waited a long time. 

I love Prince William and Kate.  They are both dedicated parents and have really stepped up to the plate in the past couple of years with the health decline of Queen Elizabeth.

If Prince Harry and Meghan are happy in the US as non-working royals, good for them.  I just hope they don't have any more interviews discussing Royal life with Oprah or any of the late night talk shows.   Let's hope the divide between the two brothers is mended this weekend!

Here is a quick interview with the photographer that took the last picture of Queen Elizabeth with the new Prime Minister of the UK two days before she passed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVJ123Qbud4

Memories for Seniors

 

PICTURES FOR SENIOR PEOPLE   WARNING:  If you are not a senior don’t bother to look at these     pictures because you will not understand!   MY FAVORITE V         If you remember most of these       –   You (like me) must be really old   .       Spread the laughter, share the cheer,   Let's be happy while we're still here!!! At our age we don't buy green bananas.