Maggie's Journal

Tags: Fun Fitness Health Life
Kit has lost a noticeable amount of weight with his fitness and diet change. He has run out of notches on his belt, he'll have to shop for a smaller one now. He doesn't do NIA, that's my thing, but he is following the 100 pushups program and doing regular yoga.

It's not all about exercise, diet is playing an even larger role, I believe. Getting rid of most of the meat and eating more vegetarian has not only reduced our gravitational pull but it has made us mentally clearer as well. I know I feel better when I follow a more vegetarain diet and Kit has said the same. There is a history of cardiovascular disease in the Davis family and too many diabetics in both families. Hopefully we'll stave off both those lifestyle tragedies. After all, what works to promote health for one health issue nearly always applies to other maladies. One positive change in lifestyle should help prevent or delay both diseases. Time will tell.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 3:51 PM Location West Bay Hall and the floor at home | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Food and Wine and Entertainment Life on Marble Mountain Local Business
Home Party of the Scentsy product line, specifically the 'Scentsy Warmer', a unique wickless candle concept that gently melts fragrance wax bars. This is not just for the ladies, as there is something for everyone!

There are several scent categories including:

- Favourites (e.g. Home Sweet Home)

- Fall & Winter (e.g. Snowberry)

- Bakery (e.g. Baked Apple Pie)

- Scentsy Man (e.g. African Mahogany)

- Romance (e.g. Satin Sheets)

- Spa (e.g. Olive Wood & Cypress)

- Scentsy Café (e.g. Mochadoodle)

- Tropical (e.g. Coconut Palm)

There will be 80 different scent samples introduced for you to see which ones appeal to you, or for those you think will appeal to others. Several warmer models will be on display as well, including a plug-in model which can also serve as a night light, and several full-size warmers including a Design It Yourself (DIY).

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO ATTEND MY HOME PARTY:

1. By coming to my home on February 20th at 1 p.m.

2. If you cannot make it, in person, but would like participate in my home party, by purchasing any of the Scentsy products online, please do so, at any time up to February 20th at 3 p.m. through the following website: www.macbenn.scentsy.ca and click the Buy from Party listed by my name under Open Parties.

Both these options are considered 'ATTENDING' so please click Attending if you plan to do either.

Thank you.

Maggie

P.s. You can order Scentsy online through my party in both Canada and the U.S. and have it sent directly to your home. https://macbenn.scentsy.ca/Buy?partyId=1885675 Or go to www.macbenn.scentsy.ca and click the ‘Buy from Party‘ listed by my name under ‘Open Parties’.

Orders can be placed at any time up to February 20th at 3 p.m.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:14 AM Location My House | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Well-Being
For the last two days I have arrived home to a hot bath in a bathroom warmed with a space heater, rose petals floating on the surface of the water, a vase of multicolored roses sitting under the window, a glass of wine waiting for me, multi-color votives flickering on the sink counter and along the tub's edge. While I soak, a lovely vegetarian meal is being prepared in the kitchen.

Men, the competition is on!

Posted by Maggie Davis At 5:46 PM Location Bathroom | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tags: Weather
The ground is thawing but the grass & weeds have not yet started growing nor have the trees begun budding. You know what that means - it's mud season. Don't go out without rubber boots or shoes. At this time of year the ground is usually frozen. If the weather continues in this direction, we will have a very early spring. Soon I expect we'll hear stories of bulbs sending up their green shoots.

Just to confuse the issue, last night approximately 2" of wet snow fell, the wind is blowing like crazy, and we should expect some drifting, at least until the snow melts. The temperature is just barely cold enough to freeze and the snow is likely to be gone by lunch time.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:49 PM Location Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Fitness
20 minutes of yoga and 76 situps for both of us. Can you believe the self-discipline? Physical disciplines combined with a mostly vegetarian diet, Kit has lost an additional 2 pounds from the last weigh-in. He is likely lengthening his life by several years, maybe even a decade or two.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:19 AM Location Home | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life In Cape Breton
We had another lovely all-day Gaelic Immersion session on Monday. Our usual instructor, Jeff, was not able to make it so Jessica took over and did an excellent job or running the session. The house in which we were holding our session is infused with the residue of cigarette smoke. As soon as we walked in we noticed it and I thought Oh no! but I managed to make it all the way to 3:00. After lunch many of us were fading drastically and I wonder if it wasn't due to being slightly poisoned from heavy exposure to cigarette smoke residue. There was a lovely lunch of stew, soup, fruit salad and cake. It was nice and now I know that eck is gaelic for horse.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:28 AM Location Aberdeen | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Tradition The Arts Entertainment
Sunday afternoon was spent learning a square dance at The Inn On The Canal in St. Peter's. There were 3 full sets plus a few spares.

We missed the first class at the beginning of the month, which was teaching the Inverness Set, one of the more commonly done dances.

This past weekend they were attempting to resurrect the Grand River Set. There was some discussion between old timers who had danced it years ago and frequent adjustments were made to the caller's notes. If not the exact original, at least we have a set of figures that works. Btw, Kit was rather impressed with himself - he said he was one of the better dancers on the floor. That may very well be true.

I have been told that there is a Marble Mountain Set and that it is a distinct set, not merely a variation of the other dances. If you know it or know someone who does, please let us know. We'd love to learn it but, more importantly, record it before it disappears forever.

So far as I know, there are currently no further classes scheduled but I believe that there will be many more, starting in the near future. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning the dances, let us know and we'll be happy to start classes among ourselves.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 4:47 PM Location Various Venues | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Fitness
20 minutes of yoga and 64 situps. Can you match that? Come on, we're 59 and almost 58! If we can do it ...

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:56 AM Location Mat | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Fitness
Have you seen this website?  Trevor (my baby boy) is using it. 

http://www.hundredpushups.com/ and to go with it

http://www.twohundredsitups.com/ plus, for good measure

http://www.twohundredsquats.com/ rounded out with

http://www.twentyfivepullups.com/

Posted by Maggie Davis At 11:40 AM Location Home | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Technology
From Kit: There are two virus/spam/malware problems making the rounds that are proving to be a real problem.

The first are fake anti-virus programs such as Internet Security 2010, AntiSpyware 2009, PC Privacy Cleaner, System Security etc. (The full list of identified programs contains 149 entries).

Several people have recently been infected by these programs and it has taken extreme measures to remove them.

These programs typically identify dozens of problem files on your computer, lock you out of many programs, and then ask you to use your credit card to buy the program to "fix" the problems. If you try to navigate to a website to get removal information, you are redirected to sites that then install other malicious software on your computer.

The best solution to these problems is to keep your anti-virus program and run and install Spy Bot Search and Destroy. (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html) At the first sign of one of these programs, shut down everything you are doing, reboot and then run a virus scan and a spybot scan. The second problem is a set of very cleverly designed phishing messages targeted at your personal information.

These types of messages have been around for a long time but what is unique about this new Phishing scam is that it uses enough personalization and randomization to confuse the recipient into believing it might be a legitimate message from the user’s own email administrator. The spam filtering service company that we use is reporting that these messages are so convincing that even when they are blocked, people will take them out of quarantine because they are convinced they are legitimate.

Again, the best defense is to be suspicious and verify any message that asks you to disclose information. As a rule, any legitimate company will include a customer service number that you should be able to call and verify.

From me: This morning I allowed an entry in my spam filter to be delivered to my inbox, only to find that it probably was infecting my computer, possibly even without opening it. It said it was from a reputable greeting card company. Instead of a link to a reputable greeting card site with a password to access it, it had an attachment, which is not how the greeting card sites work.

The message here is that if anything looks different in even the least little way, be suspicious, don't open it. If you think it has started to infect your computer, close out the site as quickly as possible, reboot and run a program to clean your computer.

It's a good idea to keep your anti-virus/spam/malware programs up-to-date, just in case you need them. Once your computer is infected, accessing the necessary programs can be just short of impossible. If it's gone too far for you to fix, call Kit. His rates are better than places like Best Buy and Future Shop.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:12 AM Location Your Computer/The Internet | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Birds
Hi Birders;

Here is one of our great annual birding events. We always get a good turnout. Barc

Saturday, February 13: Glace Bay and area "Harbour Hop" (Storm Date: February 20)

Meet at 9:00 am at the Fishermen's Memorial Park, Glace Bay

Leaders: George Crowell and Bev Sarty (849-5317)

We'll be checking a number of birding sites in and around the community for a chance to see our winter ducks and gulls, and to get out and enjoy a winter day.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:11 PM Location Fishermen's Memorial Park, Glace Bay | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life
You'll find me there tomorrow as well. 8:30 - 4:30.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:09 AM Location Cape Breton-Canso Realty | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Food and Wine and Entertainment
A group of us has reserved a table for 8 at the culinary schol tomorrow evening. I don't think the table is more than half full so call or email Dawn if you'd like to join us. Or just show up, there are always empty seats.

THE FIRST YEAR NSCC CULINARY STUDENTS ARE OFFERING LUNCH ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY.

DINNER Wednesday & Thursday One Seating @ 6:00p.m.

LUNCH Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Friday 11:30 – 12:30 Dinner menu offered

To make a reservation, contact Dawn Coady 902-625-4296 dawn.coady@nscc.ca

Bon Appétit!!

SUPPER

SOUP

Seafood Chowder en Croute/ $8

Fresh Tomato Puree with Basil and Thyme/ $5

APPETIZER

Caesar Nouveau Salad/ $6

Smoked Salmon Puffed Pastry Tart with Mesclun/$8

ENTRÉE

Oven Roasted Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding/$17

Safron Poached Seafood Medley with a Mushroom Risotto/ $17

Vegetarian

Black Bean and Corn Stuffed Pepper/ $10

DESSERT

Chocolate Pecan Bar, Vanilla Cardomon Ice Cream, with Whiskey Sauce and Ginger Foam/ $6.

Chocolate Raspberry Panna Cotta Layer, Orange Basil Sorbet, with a Grand Marnier Shot/$8

WINE LIST

RED

Caves du Papes Heritage, Grenache, France

Cotes du Rhone, medium- bodied wine

with ripe cherry fruit spice and leather aromas $7/glass $30/bottle

Woodbridge Merlot, U.S.A.

Medium bodied with herbal notes $6/glass $25/bottle

Wolf Blass Yellow Label, Cabernet .Sauvignon, Australia

Deep red color with aromas of plum and berry, subtle mint and licorice $8/glass $32/bottle

McWilliams Shiraz, Australia

A well balanced wine that will wake up your senses with its cherry mocha scents $7/glass $30/bottle

Jost ,Trilogy, Nova Scotia

Smokey black cherry and anise flavours $6/glass $25/bottle

WHITE

Louis Latour, Chardonnay, France

Light – bodied with green apple fruit flavours $10/glass $35/bottle

Lindeman’s, Bin 65 Chardonnay, Australia

Fresh yet soft, full flavoured wine $5/glass $20/bottle

Montevina Pinot Grigio, U.S.A

Full – bodied, ripe pear with citrus and fruit flavours $6/glass $25/bottle

Woodbridge, Sauvignon Blanc, U.S.A.

Bright, fruity, aromas and crisp, dry flavours $6/glass $25/bottle

Jost, Eagle Tree Muscat, Nova Scotia

Full-bodied, intense spicy passion fruit and melons $6/glass $25/bottle

E&J Gallo, White Zinfandel

Pretty in pink, a pleasant sweetness with some citrusy acidity. $4/glass

LUNCH

START

Daily Soup Creation 3

Sweet Potato Frites with Curry Mayonnaise 3

Romaine Hearts with Caesar Vinaigrette, Reggianno Chards and Buttered Croutons 4 Panko Crusted Onions with Grilled Striploin Steak, Champs and Scallion Caper Green Sauce 7 Homemade Fettuccine with Spicy Butterflied Shrimp, Tomato White Wine Cream Sauce, Basil and Feta 6 Beer Battered Haddock Loins, Frites, Classic Tarter Sauce and Slaw 7 Roast Turkey Panini with Sweet Peppers, Grainy Mustard Aioli, Caramelized Onions, Provolone and Frites 6 Smoked Ham Panini with Tomato, Spinach, Mozzarella, Basil and Frites 6 FINISH

Butterscotch Meringue Tart 4

Chocolate Sticky Toffee Pudding 5

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:19 PM Location Port Hastings | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Real Estate
Real estate in Florida is plummeting in value. Houses are dropping in value as much as $300,000, down to only $125,000 and still going down. If you think you'll get a realy bargain, consider that out-of-staters are taxed at a much higher rate than Floridians and house insurance is very expensive in areas that are prone to hurricanes, that's if you can get insurance on your house. Insurance companies don't like to insure houses that are empty a good part of the year.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 1:45 PM Location Florida | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life
We are home, returned from a vacation to Florida.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:59 PM Location Home | Permalink | Comments (0)