April Fool's Day

Since I have not blogged for awhile and just read that the ease at which we perform Facebook Status updates and tweets discourages blogging, I thought I'd better get back at this. I actually agree with this notion and believe that it may be one of the causes of my 2012 non-blogging activity.

Winter in Ottawa was very mild this year..not much snow or cold temperatures. My well documented in Facebook 2 week vacation in Southern California was a break. In fact, there were a few days when the temperature in Ottawa was warmer than it was in Torrance/Redondo Beach!! Go figure.

Season's Greetings 2011

I trust that this greeting finds you enjoying winter and the festive season. So far, we have no significant snow in Ottawa. 2011 has passed very quickly but before it comes to a close, let me share a few highlights. Many of you are receiving this message electronically. If you have e-mail, please e-mail me, so we can communicate electronically in future.

The first half of 2011 was the busiest year ever for my Network for Educational Leaders (NEL) consulting work as I had contracts with the Ontario Ministry of Education and Avon-Maitland, Halton, and the Near North School Districts. Am still involved with the Ottawa Regional Youth and the Coro Piccolo Children’s Choirs and continue to do double-duty with my Condo Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. The plan for 2012 is to cut back on much of this work and ‘smell the roses’ a bit more. Life is just too short.

Most of my work is now done electronically from my home-based office in Ottawa. I had lots of travel to the GTA and the Near North to attend meetings, meet with clients, and conduct site visits. Just love those expense accounts!

Since my health condition (AFib) has improved thanks to medication and a change in lifestyle, personal travel was also great in 2011. However, the annual February holiday in Hawai’i won’t occur in the foreseeable future since I now have a pre-existing medical condition. Health insurance companies don’t like this!!

I spent a few days in July visiting friends in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Just love the Amish country & food, Maryland blue crabs, and outlet malls. Spent some time in Niagara Falls and Toronto entertaining a Scottish friend in August. Also managed to return to beautiful Vancouver Island in September to savour the wonderful weather, food, and visit with friends. Every time I go to B. C., I have renewed visions of retiring there. So, all in all, life was pretty good in 2011. Check below for pics - 2011 in Review.

Elaine, a good friend of mine, acquired two Ragdoll kittens in August. If you know anything about Ragdolls, you know that they are wonderful pets and that they will become huge cats! Shadow and Shimeka are pure-bred registered show cats. Have been to one Cat Show and we’ll see if they get shown in 2012. They have a blog (shadowandshimeka.blogspot.com) where you can see them and read more about them.

In closing, may I wish you and your family and friends good health, happiness, Merry Christmas, and all the best for 2012.

2011 in Review

I'd like to share some of the highlights of 2011 in pics

2011 was the year of road trips in the comfy Camry Hybrid
Easy on gas and the pocketbook
Enjoyed three road trips to the Near North
New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland
the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
and Southern Ontario

Short road trips are taken in the
convertible on sunny warm-hot days
Hard on hair, gas and the pocketbook

July 2011 - dotti preparing the delicious Maryland Blue crabs

Steamed to perfection

Enjoying a Maryland Blue Crabfeast with Bern at dotti's

August 2011- Elaine celebrates a milestone

Best pic of the B'day party!

August 2011 - At Niagara Fall's

View from the suite in the Hilton at Niagara Falls
Is this the Corner Office, or what?



Short video of Rainbow at Niagara Falls - Get ready for action

Elaine and Andrew at Reif Estate Niagara Winery

Went to the top of CN Tower - Yikes!

Looking down to earth from atop the CN Tower

While we're here, what not try the Edge Walk?
Since there were about 1,000 people ahead of us,
we decided to pass on this experience

August 2011 - Preparing for the 1,000 Island Boat Cruise with Andrew

Elaine and Andrew cruising down the St. Lawrence

August 2011 - Those darling little Ragdolls -
Shadow and Shimeka - arrive

September 2001 - with George at the Crow and Gate Pub, Cedar B. C.

Exiting through the beautiful gardens at the Crow and Gate Pub

Fresh caught Pacific salmon grilled to perfection by John
Salmon will never be better

Spectacular view from John & Lee's at Ladysmith B. C.
Rockies in the distance
Retirement haven

At Cowichan Bay, B. C.

On the Kinsel Trestle - Cowichan Valley Trail, B. C.
Had to get some exercise

September 2011 - Celebrating a milestone for Bev
at Rideau Carleton Raceway (RCR)

Season's Greetings 2010

Picture taken at Holly Farm, Duncan B.C.

Hi Friends

I trust that this greeting finds you enjoying winter and the festive season. Snow has come early this year in Ottawa! 2010 has passed quickly but before it comes to a close, let me share a few highlights.

My Network for Educational Leaders (NEL) consulting work continues with the Ontario College of Teachers, Ontario Ministry of Education and Avon-Maitland, Halton, Near North, and Wellington Catholic School Districts. In the arts field I’m still involved with the UNISONG Music Festival, the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, & community development work in the Vanier community with the Coro Piccolo Children’s Choir. Am now doing double-duty with my Condo Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. As you can imagine, certain times of the year are very busy. Most of my work is now done electronically from my home-based office (we’re in the 21^st century!) but I still get to do some travel to meet with clients.

Personal travel was not so great in 2010. In February I returned to delightful Waikiki Beach in Hawai’i. This annual winter holiday won’t occur again in 2011 as I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and was hospitalized for one week in the Straub Hospital and Clinic in Honolulu. Had excellent care in the cardiac unit of a first-class American medical facility! Thank goodness for travel insurance is all I can say. Don't ever leave home without it...just like your credit card and passport. Have had additional treatments back in Ottawa and am currently stable thanks to medication and a change in lifestyle.

In closing, may I wish you and your family and friends good health, happiness, and all the best for 2011.

Warmly Marianna

mkmcvey@rogers.com

Maple Syrup Season 2010

Made my annual trip to Fulton's Maple Sugar Bush and Pancake House.
Yummy best describes this year's wonderful maple syrup.


If you have time, check the short video clip below
to observe maple sap running.
This is the old-fashioned way to collect sap.
Maple trees were tapped and the sap was collected in buckets.
Sap was collected by hand and dumped into large containers
and taken to the sugar shack for boiling.

Below is the modern state-of-the-art equipment for
boiling down maple sap to produce maple syrup.

Enjoy the taste of maple syrup - spring tonic

Waikiki Beach 6.0

Waikiki Beach 6.0 was great this year, but not for me.

Took some wonderful pics from our condo
(click on pics to enlarge)

After a bout with bronchitis, I managed to get myself admitted to Straub Hospital for one week. I was discharged directly to Air Canada's flight home to my own medical Drs and health care system.

If you ever need health care while in Hawai'i, I highly recommend Straub Clinic and Hospital. Be sure you have travel insurance. Needless to say, there are no pics of me in Straub!

GOLD it Is for Canada

What a GOLD Medal hockey game we just played with Team USA. Sidney Crosby is our HERO.

Vancouver Olympics 2010 have made Canadians proud as we showcased our country and athletes to the world.

14 GOLD medals...most ever won by any country at the Winter Olympics!

January 2010 Update

Haven't blogged in weeks!! January has been super busy. I'm completing grant proposals for my Network for Educational Leaders (NEL) clients as well as working for two school districts. Travelled by Bearskin Air to a new location to meet new clients and present an overview of how I can assist them with their Differentiated Instruction (DI) Project.

The Question Structure (QS) Project is still rolling right along in the Near North. When Semester 2 begins in February, there'll be a new wave of electronic data collection and a flurry of e-mails.

One more week to go until I transfer to the Waikiki Beach condo...will update from there...can't wait for the vista & the pics to come....

Happy New Year

Let's go for an Awesome 2010

Ottawa On Ice

'Put it on Ice' has a new meaning in Ottawa these days

as you can see from the pics below
taken from my condo (click to enlarge)

Some of us remember the Ice Storm of 1998.
This is a grim reminder of the power of nature.

Merry Christmas 2009

Enjoy the magic of the Christmas lights, wherever you are.

Canadian Parliament Buildings and Peace Tower are alight in Ottawa.

Our Notre Dame Bascilica in all its splendor

Christmas Dinner with Friends

My Christmas Dinner with Friends is over for 2009.

Yes, it's early, but we had to jockey schedules, etc. to make this happen.
For a change this year we had a Rosemary Tree.
Very fragrant & very different!


Miss Tiggy Winkles checked it out.

Our candlelit centerpiece consisted of Holly directly
from British Columbia surrounded
by Sumi (Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Mascot)
and Gingerbread People.

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon, pictured below, turned out
splendid and was the 'hit of the dinner'.

The Tomato Aspic garnished with green olives
was perfect, as you can see.

Of course, we had to wash this all down
with some seasonal liquid refreshments!

One of the desserts, as if we needed any, was Baclava.

Baclava on Pepermint Ice cream

Hungry, anyone?
Having left-overs to-night to re-enjoy & savour the tastes.

Miss Tiggy Winkles had the 'right idea' after the big meal.
'Nite all

Preparing My Early Christmas Dinner

Seen the movie Julie and Julia? I really enjoyed Julia Child as she's played by Meryl Streep.
Since it's the Christmas Season, I'm thinking about cooking and eating delicious gourmet food and Mastering the Art of French Cooking, linked below, just in case you need a copy.

To-day, I'm making wonderful Boeuf Bourguignon? Just like they ate in the movie?
Am also making Tomato Aspic..yummy!
Bon appetit!

Olympic Torch-flame Relay Arrives in Ottawa

Olympic-torch Flame

This has been a very exciting weekend in Ottawa, Canada. The Olympic Torch-flame headed for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games arrived in our nation's Capital. What excitement on the streets as numerous runners bravely carried the Olympic Torch-flame throughout our community. What a surprise when I learned that the Olympic Torch-flame was passing right by my home!

Choristers on Canadian Parliament Hill

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Olympic Torch bearer

Fireworks & Celebrations on Parliament Hill