What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Another Winner Edition

I can’t praise the recipes I’ve tried at Sip and Feast enough! Every one has been a winner so far, and subject to repeat requests by my family. Here is a recipe for scalloped potatoes that I have made multiple times already since trying it.

Prepped and ready to go into the oven.
The finished dish..glorious!
What’s been on my plate this past winter. (This was actually our non-traditional Christmas dinner for 2023! My daughter wanted a break from turkey.)
Our dinner included this family favourite too.
And of course…a trifle (blueberry, made from the past summer’s pickings). No recipe here – I’ve made this so many times I just free-wheel it now 🤣.

That’s my short and sweet post for this month. I hope you’ll join my co-host Donna and myself and let us know what’s been on your plate lately, either in the Link Party or in the Comments.

INLINKZ:

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Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Slip Sliding Away

It’s no secret that Bowser knows his place. And it’s the couch. Every couch. Mommy’s office couch has loose cushions on the back and Bowser needs to be up high, on top of them. This will not go well.

Bowser, in preferred “perch”.
Uh oh, gravity is in play here and the slide down has begun.
What does a doggo have to do to get a comfortable resting position?
Almost there.
Sigh!
Bowser has finished his descent and come to full nappitude.

We hope you have a restful napping place this weekend.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Water Dog

Miniature Schnauzers are not known to be dogs that love water, and Bowser is no different. He won’t swim unless his only other option is being left behind, but he has no qualms about trudging through the water at any time of year.

I took these photos on a late December walk.
The thing is, he didn’t even have to go through the water. He is just exploring for the hell of it.
I’m not complaining, mind you. I love trudging through the shallows too 😁.

We hope you have some fun explorations this weekend.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Killing Me With Cuteness

By the time this post goes live, I will be away on my annual winter holiday and missing apres hike snuggles with my buddy. So here is a couple of shots my daughter took when we were chatting on my couch after one such hike, with Bowser snoozing between us.

Bowser is such a snuggle bug!
You can see from my face that his cuteness is just about killing me 🤣.

That’s it for this week! I am planning to have a few more posts lined up (with older photos), to maintain consistency while I am away. But I am not bringing my laptop on this trip so wish me luck with the Jetpack phone app if things happen to go awry! Looking at you, WordPress 🤨.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Sock Stealer

I have a bin of clean socks in my closet, that is Bowser-accessible. When he wanders out of sight, I can usually find him in my bedroom, having helped himself to a pair of them.

At least he is leaving my slippers alone.
Aha! Caught in the act.
I come out of the shower to this scene.
I’m going to borrow a phrase from a dog parent friend of mine: It’s a good thing you’re cute!

We hope you are staying out of trouble this weekend!

Rock on,

The WB

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Fairmont Empress Edition

In December my co-host Donna and I decided to treat each other for Christmas with an experience – Christmas High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. We had already tried a couple of high teas closer to home and I knew we would eventually make our way to the Grand Dame of all high teas on the island but didn’t think it would happen so soon. Kudos to Donna for suggesting it and making it happen!

We were kinda excited to make it to the lobby of the hotel. In case there was any doubt.
High tea is always served in the upstairs Lobby Lounge. Our table (framed by potted palms and near the grand piano) was waiting for us, candles in the tea warmers already lit.
Our server Yousef brought our teas shortly after we made our selections, and instructed us on the use of the tea timer.
Yousef also offered to capture the moment of our first sips of tea.
My beautiful friend and co-host, Donna.
It was a Christmas High Tea, and the sweets tier reflected that beautifully.
The savouries were also delicious! These are just a few of them.
And the still-warm scone was absolutely amazing with clotted cream and strawberry-vanilla jam.
Donna insisted I shoot this proof of her eating Christmas cake. (It was very good and I would have gladly eaten her piece and she could have eaten my chocolate thingy…which I ended up taking home for the kids, along with Donna’s macaron.)

During our 2 hour tea we were treated to piano playing as well as carol singers. Magical! After experiencing uh..overwhelm at the size and quantity of offerings at another high tea, we were pleased to be able to consume almost everything on our tiered tray…it would have been a shame not to; everything was so pretty and delicious!

I remember having high tea at the Empress back in 2003 with my late husband (then boyfriend) and the kids. He kept asking our server for more sandwiches, which were promptly supplied! I suppose this happens, with the men people with larger appetites who partake? I wonder if extra sandwiches would still be provided now, in these different times.

It was the perfect kick-off to the fast-approaching holidays, and with the perfect companion! Of course, we found our way to the hotel’s gift shop after our tea experience, and as well as purchasing some tea and one of those cute tea timers, I found the holy grail this:

I had been looking for a new waffle weave robe for years…ever since the one I had bought on my honeymoon had become threadbare from constant use been retired. SCORE!!! Merry Christmas to me 😉. Thank you, Fairmont Empress!

Please join me and Donna in sharing what’s on your plate! Join the Link Party or let me know in the Comments. I hope you all had a wonderful December however you celebrate (or not)!

InLinkz:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – And To All A Good Night

After a good long ramble in the woods, comes a good long nap.

Let’s do this, Oma!
Permission to come aboard the Good Ship Nap Time?
You ready too, Oma?
Ahhhhh…the life!
Is there anything more peaceful than a little dog snuggled next to you and snoring gently away?

Wishing everyone a calm and peaceful midwinter’s nap along with many happy moments with family and friends!

Rock on,

The WB and Bowser 🐾

The Sunday Schnauzer – Holiday Glow-Up

Everyone likes to look their best for the season, and Bowser is no exception.

Back from the groomer’s dog spa, and feelin’ fresh!
Who IS that handsome fellow I spy just outside the patio door?
Whaddaya mean, it’s ME, Oma?
I can’t blame the camera for choosing to focus on that face!

Are you getting a holiday glow up? We know it’s a busy time of year but there should always be time for some pampering too! (Bowser wants me to add that his idea of pampering is NOT going to the groomers; it’s being petted until he falls asleep.)

Rock on,

The WB