Movietime

We had a lazy day today.

Gord watched the Blue Jays game and NASCAR race in the living room this afternoon.

I watched a couple movies in our spare room (I like this room ... I find it cozy). I watched some oldies but goodies I hadn't seen in a while ... Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Morgan loves the spare room ... but only when there's someone there. Otherwise he doesn't bother with it. So, of course, he was there with me this afternoon snoozing on the futon next to me. Crumpet came too towards the end of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and cuddled up behind Morgan, using his bum as a pillow.

It was nice to have the company!

Book ~ "Smokin' Seventeen" (2011) Janet Evanovich

From Amazon ~ Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

This is the latest in the Stephanie Plum series.

After the last one, Sizzling Sixteen, I said I would continue to read the series but I wouldn't buy them anymore. And I didn't ... I borrowed an ecopy from the library.

Though I enjoyed this book, I'm glad I didn't pay $30+ for it.

I like the writing style of this series ... they are quick and funny. We've gotten to know and love the quirky characters.

The author continues to follow with her formula. Stephanie is lusting after Morelli and Ranger ... check. Grandma Masur needs a drive to the funeral home and tries to look at the bodies when the casket is closed ... check. Stephanie's mom's nerves are shot so she irons irons irons ... check. Stephanie's dad is surly and rude ... check. Grandma Morelli hates Stephanie and put hexes on her ... check. Lulu is eating all the time and is gets violent when someone calls her fat ... check. The people Stephanie has to track down because they skipped bail are colourful characters ... check.

Without giving anything away, I wasn't crazy with some of the choices Stephanie made with Morelli and Ranger. It was very convenient because of the hex Grandma Morelli put on her but still Stephanie crossed a line. Stephanie acknowledges in this book that she loves both Morelli and Ranger but isn't it about time she makes a choice?! Or moves on? Both love her but neither take her out ... they just want to sleep with her.

The Office Pub, Toronto, ON

After we left Burrito Boyz, we walked a couple blocks to check out The Office Pub.

It opened two weeks ago on John Street, just south of Richmond E.

We sat on the patio, which was a great place for people watching.

Here's Amy, our server. She was very friendly and took really good care of us.

She's moving this weekend and I hope it went well.

Before we left, we checked out the rest of the bar and it's huge! The main floor is kind of trendy, the second floor is more like a pub and the third floor will be rented out for events. There are two patios in the back (on the ground level and second level). If you are hungry, they serve food.

Burrito Boyz, Toronto, ON (Adelaide W)

Gord and I love Burrito Boyz so after the movie we had a late lunch at the Adelaide Street W location.

Here's Gord before we went in.

All I've ever had there are their burritos.

Gord and I both got chicken burritos.

I had chicken, refried beans, black beans, tomatoes, green peppers, salsa and cheese on mine. Yum!

Their burritos are so delicious!

Go, Blue Jays, go!

Apparently Crumpet is a Blue Jays' fan.

Gord was watching the Toronto Blue Jays/Baltimore Orioles game tonight and Crumpet was quite enthralled.

And now they finally sleep ...

Crumpet is going to be four months old on Monday. She is a spaz of nocturnal energy.

At night Morgan sleeps at the foot of our bed. Crumpet likes to attack his tail or legs which gets them playing/fighting. Or she likes to jump on our bed attacking our toes. Or she'll stick her face in my face and purr.

As much as we love the kitties, we were looking forward to being away for a couple days and sleeping through the night for the first time since we got Crumpet on June 3. Sweet!

Last night we were back to reality ... the kitties wouldn't let us sleep. I sprayed them with water when they played/fought. I even tried putting them in the hall and closing the door on them but they tried to open it by sticking their paws under it and pulling.

I finally gave up about 5am and went to our spare room because I knew they would follow me. At least Gord could get some sleep. But when Crumpet wasn't attacking Morgan who was sleeping on the futon next to me, she was chewing on paper and boxes.

So I moved out to the couch in the living room about 6am. That seemed to settle them down because they both slept on me for a while.

It's now noon and look who are finally settling down!

It's a good thing they are cute :)

The Judge & Jury, Burlington, ON

One of Gord and my favourite pubs is the Judge & Jury in Burlington. We go whenever we are in the area.

We discovered this pub after we'd been snowshoeing in January. We stopped in this evening on our way home from Niagara on the Lake.

We always get the same thing ... a side order of Mac and Cheese.

And wings. Gord's were Mancester style (he doesn't like gunky wings) ...

And mine were tossed in a hot sauce ...

Yum-mee!!!

Though we always get the same thing, we are never disappointed. The Mac and Cheese is soooo good and the wings are big and delicious!

The servers are always friendly. Terri, our server this evening, remembered us from us stopping in after one of our snowshoeing adventures.

You should check this pub out if you are in the Burlington area. We wish it was closer to us because we could see this being "our" place.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Shaw Festival, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof today ... it is part of the Shaw Festival.

Combine the sultry heat of the Mississippi Delta with Tennessee Williams’ rich language, add Maggie the Cat and you’ve got an American classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Maggie and Brick’s marriage is on the rocks and Brick is drinking as much as he can to quiet his thoughts and forget about his past. But Big Daddy’s inheritance is at stake and his two sons and their wives fight to win their share. An explosive drama and a Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

It is playing at the Royal George Theatre on Queen Street.

Here is a statue George Bernard Shaw, the namesake of the festival, which is across the street from the theatre.

I love this quote which is next to George!

We'd seen this play five years ago at the Stratford Festival and enjoyed it ... it's one of Gord's favourites. They did a good job with it today. The actors playing Maggie and Big Daddy were fabulous, as was the one playing Big Mama. It's a three act play with two intermissions.

It was interesting and annoying going on a Wednesday afternoon as there were a lot of older people in attendance. We got our tickets just a couple weeks ago so were in the balcony on the left hand side. All around us, we had older women chatting and opening candy wrappers. A woman behind us had her cell phone go off. All no-nos! Gord and I gave them the "stern" glare but it didn't work.

My new Laurel Burch purses

When Gord and I were out strolling on Queen Street yesterday, I stopped in a store called Godel.

I saw a colourful purse that had dogs on it by Laurel Burch. I thought it was cute but wanted to think about it.

We stopped in again this morning so I could look at it again. I talked myself out of it and walked away.

But it was on my mind and I knew I wanted it ... so we went back before we saw the play. Not only did I buy the one with the dogs but I also bought one with cats. Ha!

Here are the front of them ... Rainbow Cats and Canine Friends.

And here are the colourful backs ...

I used the one with the cats right away.

Here I am in front of the store with my new cats purse!

They are fairly big so I can carry a lot of stuff around in 'em.

Fort Mississauga, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I explored Fort Mississauga this morning.

The fort today consists of a box–shaped brick tower and historic star–shaped earthworks—the only one in the country. The all–brick fort was built from 1814–1816 during the War of 1812, to replace nearby Fort George. It was built on a foundation of brick and stone salvaged from rubble left after United States forces sacked the nearby town of Newark (now Niagara on the Lake) in December, 1813.

Before the fort was built, the site was used by at least three Native American tribes: the Neutral (15th century); Seneca (late 17th century); and Mississauga (18th century). In 1804, a lighthouse was erected at the site, which had become known as Mississauga Point. This was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes but was dismantled in 1814 to make way for Fort Mississauga, which incorporated stone from the lighthouse. Mississauga Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1937 and is today commemorated within the walls of Fort Mississauga by a plaque erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

The British Army was stationed at the fort from 1813 to 1855, followed by the Canadian Army, which used it as summer training ground beginning in the 1870s, then during both World Wars and the Korean War.

The block house is the only building of the original fort to survive with all other buildings destroyed or dismantled. The interior of the blockhouse is closed, but has wooden staircases leading to some upper windows.

This is looking over at Fort Niagara. Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built in 1678 to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, NY.

This is the gate from Fort Mississauga to the water ... the stone steps looked kind of dangerous so we didn't go down.

There's no cost to check this out and worth the half hour it takes to walk there and back from downtown Niagara on the Lake.

Yianni's Mediterranean Bistro, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had breakfast this morning at Yianni's Mediterranean Bistro on Queen Street.

It's a large restaurant with a patio in the back. We sat in the front of the restaurant because it was brighter. It seemed like the lights were low towards the back ... not cozy at all.

We both ordered Yianni's Special.

Plus Gord ordered a coffee and I ordered a large milk.

Here it is ...

Breakfast was good and there was a nice variety.

Our server started out fairly friendly. But after we'd ordered and got our meals, she kind of forgot about us. We were trying to catch her attention to let her know we wanted our bill for a while. It took us a long time to be able to pay.

Wine Country Vintners, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had planned on doing a structured wine tour this afternoon. But we were enjoying exploring Fort George so much that we decided to stay there.

We stopped in at Wine Country Vintners on Queen Street afterward.

We are wine club members (we receive two bottles of wine from Peller Estates every month) so our tastings were free.

Linda gave us samples of a bubbly, a sauvignon, a riesling and finally an ice wine riesling.

The ice wine riesling was yummy ... but expensive!


We bought a couple bottles of Ice Cuvée. The first New Years Eve Gord and I spent together back in 2008 he brought a bottle of this wine so it's been "our" wine. We haven't had it in a while. We also bought some funky new champagne flutes.

Since it's our anniversary, we thought it would be nice to have "our" bubbly to celebrate.

The Olde Angel Inn, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had supper tonight at The Olde Angel Inn.

Great food, accommodations and friends await you here at Ontario's oldest operating inn. Established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1816 after the War of 1812, The Olde Angel Inn is a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

We'd been here back in the fall of 2005 and enjoyed it.

Here's Gord in the doorway.

The hostess sat us in the back. There was a better vibe in the front so we sat at the bar instead ... I though it was hilarious that this plaque was in the corner behind us.

Gord ordered fish 'n chips ... he thought it was okay, not great.

I ordered curried chicken and rice.

My meal was good. There was a lot of chicken and the sauce was spicy. All that was missing was some naan bread.