Finishing Friday - To quit or not to quit

How did I get started with blogging?  I think it was my daughter's suggestion to start so that my family and friends can follow me since I moved away from Canada.  It was the beginning of 2011, actually January was when I created my blog.  My daughter helped quite a bit at the start and then I just kept learning on my own.  I cannot believe that this is my 9th year and although I want to continue, I think I am running out of ideas.  During my last chat with my daughter, I seem to recall that she had stopped blogging after ten years.  Maybe that is the cut off time when people starts getting tired of writing post or starts running out of ideas.  So for the past few days, I have been contemplating on my decision with regards to my blog.  I don't have a lot of followers and the number of page views is really slowing down, so that is giving me the hint that maybe it is time.   Last week I also notice the Blogspot is changing the look of the their design and I am not sure if it's because it has been free for a very long time, and now if you want to keep the rest of your design, etc. that you will have to pay some sort of fee.  As most of the free apps, they are only free for a number of years and then they will start to charge some sort of a yearly fee or a membership.  If only I can hear your comments on whether to continue this or not, that might help with my decision. The problem is I really have not received any sort of comment for anyone for a very long time.  This confirms that maybe no one is actually reading this post except for a handful of my friends.  

Fairways Friday - Greens and Fairways

During the Memorial weekend in the USA, the Match (Golf) was on and I was able to record it but did not have enough time and it ended on the 17th hole.  It was such a nice treat to watch live golf again.  It's too bad the pairing was not Woods and Brady, and Michelson and Manning.  So I was torn because I love Tiger but not Payton and of course on the other side I love Tom but not Phil.  Anyway, the end result, Tiger won and even though Brady's team did not win, Tom had the play of the day when he had a nice iron shot on to the green and the ball rolled in the hole.  Yeah.  It was amazing how Tiger was playing in that rainy condition but he was always in the middle of the fairways.  That is one thing I learned from someone that when you are out there in the golf course, there are only two words you need to remember at all times - FAIRWAYS AND GREENS.  It doesn't work all the time but it's a good training in your head instead of maybe thinking of other hazards along the way.  A week ago, I decided to take a lesson from the PRO in my home course.  It has been over three years since I took a lesson.  So I thought I needed a little tune up.  I was very pleased that we don't have to correct too much with what I have.  Of course I am old so the body cannot do all that turning and all that power.  But one thing for sure that I can depend on is my drive (which is most of the time in the middle of the fairways) and my putt (two putt or less).  Where I struggle is the fairway woods and the irons, which is what my lessons will be concentrating on.  Hopefully after two lessons I will be able to apply what I have learned and not screw up what I have been depending on.  Last year I play with my BFF from Kelowna who works as a starter at one of the nicest course in that area.  Our 4th person was her neighbor and it was so funny that by the end of the 3rd hole, he said to me, "I have a new nickname for you, MRS. Fairways".  Then when we were visiting our friends back in San Jose, CA. I got a chance to play again with my golf buddies, and one of them gave me another nickname based on the previous story.  He said, your new nickname is " MRS. Always Fairways".  I just wish I could get more distance but for now I am happy with just being in the middle of the fairway.  

Simply Saturday - National Poetry Month

Did you know that April 1, 2020 is the national poetry month? And all this time I thought April 1 was April Fool's Day.  I was wondering if maybe they should pick another day.  It's a little confusing specially now that everyone is at home and no one really knows what day it is anymore.  Since I did not have any idea on what to post today, I thought I would just post some poems that I found from the 1984 Cranberry Portage Cookbook from Manitoba, Canada.  My MIL gave it to me a few years ago when she found out that my blog's name is Cranberry Portage.  Today I was actually looking for some interesting recipe.  Instead I found some quotes and a poem at the end of each of the section of the cookbook.  Now I want to share what I have found. Instead of the poem, I opted on some of the sayings/quotes.

The best thing you can do for spring fever is absolutely nothing.

When you are completely satisfied, remember what happens to a fat turkey.

When in doubt, do the friendliest thing.

Life fulfills few of its promises. 

Either we get what we don't want or we don't like what we wanted and got.

Take time to help and enjoy friends; it is the source of happiness.

Take time to read - it is the foundation of knowledge.

When the average man says he loves greens, he is speaking of a golf course.

Be kind, stay healthy, stay apart, stay at home.

Free Friday - In times like this, it's a nice gesture

As the world stays at home and follow social distancing, I have been busy with a lot of things around the house. Between blogging, sewing, painting, cleaning, organizing, etc. I am still finding some more free time to do whatever I want. Before I share some of the things I have completed this past couple of weeks or maybe it has been months, I want to share something that we got for free yesterday at our local Okanagan Distillery.  After our walk yesterday, one of our neighbor told us about the free hand sanitizer that the distillery is giving away.  Jeff lined up and got of the bottles which they have been producing after stores ran out of hand sanitizer. If needed, you can get a bigger bottle to refill this one. 

Now let me show you the fabric face masks that I have been sewing a lot.  So far I have mailed a total of 17 masks to family and friends in Ontario.  In case the health officials order everyone to wear mask when they go out, we will have it ready. Although it is not the prescribed one (which is saved for the front line health workers), we can still get some sort of protection if someone coughs or sneeze, or even if it's just from the dust or other allergens.  The best part of this project, I have been giving them away for free.  My next door neighbor wanted one as well, so we had left one on her front door.  A few days ago during our walk in the neighborhood, one home had a bunch of fabric masks hanging on a hook in their front yard and anyone can help themselves, again for free. 

If you like to get one of these, please leave me a comment and I will try to get the details from you by email.  Unfortunately this offer is only for Canadian residents. 

Frame Friday - A hole in one

Now that we are always home, both of us are starting to do a lot of different projects. It could be woodwork, sewing, bottle painting, baking, and of course cleaning.  Last fall when I got my hole in one at my home course, my golf buddy gave me a very special plaque. It was specially made by his best friend who does special wood work and engraving.  Anyway, my hubby thought he would make a special plaque to show this one, plus the golf ball as well as the score card for that big event of my golf career. LOL.  We search for something similar to give us an idea. At first my hubby was going to get a piece of wood, cut it to shape, sand it, stain it, etc.  Then one day we were at Home Sense and on the clearance sale, there was this piece of wood which I think was meant to be a chopping board for bread or cheese.  But the shape was perfect and of course it had a great sale price.  My hubby started playing with it, trying to find the best way to showcase the plaque, golf ball and score card.  After a week, he presented me the completed work of art.  Now I would like to share it with you.  Notice how special he added two pieces of wood to hold the glass frame for the score card.  He also added a small piece of wood to hold the golf tee and golf ball. He placed a magnet on both the tee and the ball, so it does not fall.  He did not want to glue it so that I can the ball easy for show and tell. Now this once in a lifetime event is showcased on this amazing frame. 

Fearful Friday - How safe are we?

It's not easy to just stay indoors when you still have to get groceries, go to your health appointments and go for your daily walks.  But with all the news and the amount of information with regards to the Corona virus aka COVID 9, there is so much fear out there and we have been watching too much news, I guess.  We needed something at COSTCO and we did go in but at that time there were not panic shoppers.  A couple of days later, it was on the news that the same Costco had ran out of toilet paper and some other shelves were being emptied. In our province there is currently 19 confirmed cases and we believe there is one in our small city but that information is not on the local news.  Most of the grocery store and drugs store and even the dollar store are out of the hand sanitizer.  As for the face masks, I believe they ran out of it at least a month or so ago.  In fact the hospitals started locking up their masks as some of the staff were taking them home.  So how safe are we in our small city?  I think we are lucky in that we are retired and don't have to go to work.  We could self quarantine ourselves as much as we can and for as long as we can.  As for me I really have to be so careful as I am one of those with some underlying health issues. It doesn't mean my hubby shouldn't be careful.  On that note, we are hopeful that this hopefully will get resolved sooner and that a vaccine will be available by next month.  Now it's time to wash my hands.

Fragile Friday - Family Relationship

As the old saying goes, you can choose your friends but you sure as hell can't choose your family.  Friends come and goes but family is always family.  Some families are really close and others are so distant that you are surprised when they mention that they have family.  Through the years, we have lost some because it was their time and others were just unacceptable.  I envy those families that have stayed together in the same area so they can have each other for support.  In the olden days, most families do not have the choice to venture out somewhere far.  They usually have to stay around their parents and help out in the farm or some type of business.  Now a days, it's very seldom you will meet someone who has lived all their lives in the same place they were born.  Most people have move around because of work, relationship, better living conditions or for adventure.  But when you do, this is the part where you have to make some difficult decisions for your family.  Once you make that decision, then you will have to live with it and sometimes others cannot or does not forget nor forgive.  Families who are living so far apart, eventually grow apart.  They don't see each other, they all have busy lives and there's not much you can do, except understand.  The one benefit for now is that technology allows you to communicate and actually get a chance to see them while they tell their stories.  But what happens when you are not on the same page or maybe there's a bit of misunderstanding between families.  As an adult you think that's an easy solution, but at times when family gets older and life changes, the relationship becomes fragile and it causes more friction.  So let's try a variety of saying that might be more applicable. Life is short, forgive and forget, let's just try to get along.  By the way, this post should have been for Monday, February 17, it's Family Day.

Family and Friends Friday - In Memoriam

Today I would like to do a special In Memoriam to remember those who have gone in the last decade or more.  This special post is honoring all of them, both family members and friends. If you are reading this and had the chance of meeting or knowing them, maybe you can pause for a moment and think of the good times.  It's not about being sad but being grateful of the time we had with them.  When I got up this morning and looked at the date, it has been a year since by brother passed away.  So I guess this what prompted this post. Although this list does not cover others who I cannot remember, I am hoping that you will still take the time to think of your own list of family and friends who you have lost through the years.  

• Romy boy - 2019
• Gino - 2008
• Star - 2007
• George - 2008
• Grace - 2008
• Becky - 2016
• Laura - 2016
• Romeo - 1996
• Del - 2017
• Sylvana - 2008
• Tanya - 2008
• Michelin - 2017
• Wendy - 2018
• Danny - 2020
• Nonong - 2020