Jun 30, 2015

JOE FRIDAY | 7

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES


Jun 27, 2015

NEWS | Love from Coast to Coast

Photo by the AP's Evan Vucci
The White House is seen lit up in rainbow colours Friday night (June 26) in commemoration of the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same-sex marriage.
President Barack Obama called it "justice that arrives like a thunderbolt."
Read more here: http://ow.ly/ORwXz



Jun 26, 2015

KIDS |


YOU | Ready for Summer


We wish we had a before photo to show you. Lorenzo's yard looked very differently before his landscaping and new patio designing.

Completing home projects can make us happy as our friend demonstrates here.

No wonder you're chillin' with a cold beverage in your souvenir New York glassware Lorenzo...you earned it!

ME |




JOE FRIDAY | 8

PHOTOS & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES

NEW JOE FRIDAY COMING MONDAY

KIDS | She's Not "Berry" Happy

PHOTO COLLAGE BY MANDY DICK
We usually see our pal Em laughing and being happy. But here's proof that sometimes she's not. In fact, she can really put some brilliant melodrama in to it as we see here. 

As her mother Mandy said, "Em isn't exactly a big fan of trying anything new. This was a strawberry milkshake. lol... I made strawberry creamsicles with the rest. Hopefully I'll have better luck than daddy"

LOL, this is quite the collage Mandy, a good one to hang on to for Em's wedding reception. 

YOU |



READER'S QUOTES | William's Wise Words

PHOTO COURTESY NEIL BLYTHIN


RECIPE | Veggie Pops



How a Word (or Two) Can Make Such a Difference

This post originally appeared on Scribbles in 2011. It has since been edited. 


It happened quite unintentionally. I started my morning in the usual fashion on that fateful day. Wake up, pee, start up the coffee maker, feed my loud meowing hungry cat and my other pets- just like I had done time and time.. again.

Now sitting at the dining room table enjoying my extra-large cup o’ joe ... I began to think about the day ahead. I was a bit apprehensive this particular morning, as I knew that when I got to work, I would be manning the store all by myself. The thought of this brought back bad memories of when I worked elsewhere, often by myself, and just how frantic and frustrated that made me... particularly because it was usually quite busy.

A bit panicked at the thought of what may lie ahead of me, I came up with a word to remember throughout the day…“Perception”. If I perceived things were going to be a train wreck, I’d ruin the entire day. Instead I kept thinking of my word and guess what? The day went by smoothly.

Soon, the idea of coming up with a word or phrase each day became something I did every morning while the caffeine kicked in.

When I was feeling sorry for myself about what I didn’t have in my life in comparison to others, my word of the day was “Appreciation”.

When I had a funeral to attend one day, my word was “Reflection”.

When I had a long list of things on my ‘to do’ list, that day’s word was “Serenity”.

... For me, my daily word has often helped keep me calmer and happier.

It’s not a perfect system... One day my wise word was “Relax”, but when things turned ugly, “Relax” was replaced with a major four-letter word for the remainder of the day. As a result, I was physically and mentally drained by the time night rolled in.

The next morning I looked back at what I could have done differently to have made yesterday less stressful. 

My word to you is “Try”. Try coming up with your own word of the day. If your mornings are busy and hectic getting the kids ready for school, etc, pick your word on the ride in to work or after the kids have left for the day.

Perhaps bedtime is a better time for you to come up with a word for the day which will follow.

Wherever and whenever, there’s never a bad time to take a few moments and come up with an appropriate word to live by each day. : )

Jun 25, 2015

INSPIRING |

photo courtesy Rich Hunt

Jun 24, 2015

Jun 21, 2015

Jun 19, 2015

FATHER'S DAY FEATURE |

 


FATHER'S DAY FEATURE | Poetry


My Dad

When I was just a tiny kid,
Do you remember when,
The time you kissed my bruises,
Or cleaned by soiled chin?

You scrambled for the balls I hit,
(Short-winded more than not,)
Yet, every time we'd play a game,
You praised the "outs" I caught.

It seems like only yesterday,
You wiped away my tears,
And late at night I called your name,
To chase away my fears.

Though time has changed your handsome grip,
Your hair is snowy white,
You gait's a little slower now,
Thick glasses help your sight.

Oh, do I thirst for years gone by,
To be that growing lad,
Re-living all of the memories,
Of growing with my dad.

Author Unknown



PICTURE PERFECT |


JOE FRIDAY | 6

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES


PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES

Jun 16, 2015

PICTURE PERFECT | Carolynn R. Wiens Photography

We introduced you to Carolynn R. Wiens this winter, after Ken met her during a visit with our pals Mikol & Dave in Niagara Falls. We immediately became Facebook friends but it was only recently that we took notice of her astonishing photography.

Carolynn, it was nice to see you again last weekend at Pride in the Park (even though it was a brief but sun kissed encounter.) Thanks for allowing me to repost your photos.


Jun 15, 2015

Jun 11, 2015

SCRIBBLES VIDEO | Pride in the Park 2015

PHOTO COURTESY RHONDA KING / LISA VANDUSEN
CLICK ON PIX ABOVE TO SEE LARGER VERSION
A good time was had by all at Niagara's 4th annual Pride in the Park event on June 6th at Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines.  The weather was ideal....not overly humid, not a cloud or raindrop in sight, just lots of bright sunshine.

There were vendors, live bands, drag performances and a licensed area to enjoy a refreshing beverage or two.

In an attempt to reclaim their spot in the Guinness Book of World Records,  members of Niagara and surrounding region's LGBTQ communities took to the stage with over 60 drag queens and kings performing a 5 minute routine.  This was a major success, despite a last minute plea for more people to join the crowd on stage.

I attended the event with my neighbour Deanna Gilligan and we hung out at the Lezbian Lounge, a booth operated by Carrie n' Sandi Mcpaddy where you could purchase jewelry and other pride-related goodies.

We each came home with large bags filled with swag, which we collected while checking out the various vendors. Everyone from artists to politicians were represented at the vendors booths.

Pride in the Park was part of Niagara's Pride Week, the most successful one to date. It had kicked off with a dance the week before at the new Meridian Centre, Pride flag-raising's across the region, rainbow lights at Niagara Falls, the 2nd annual Unity Awards featuring a performance by renown Toronto entertainer Miss Conception and a Wrap Up party after the park event.

Here's a new Scribbles Video highlighting Pride in the Park.





To see photos of Niagara Pride's Kick Off Party and Pride flag raising's CLICK HERE.

To see photos and list of winners at the 2nd Annual Unity Awards  CLICK HERE.

JOE FRIDAY | 4

PHOTO & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES


PHOTOS & TEXT BY JIM STEEL  | LAYOUT BY SCRIBBLES


Did you miss our introduction to Joe Friday? 
You can see it by CLICKING HERE