Today is Thankful Tuesday and I am thankful for Spring . . .To me, Spring time means fresh asparagus.  But, too many people say they're not fans of this fab veg!  (recipe at bottom) I will admit, I wasn't always but it took a good friend to show me how to cook it properly and POOF!  I became an instant fan and now, like those wine affectionados counting down the days to the new Merlot . . .  I get excited about the fresh crop of asparagus :0) So let's begin our lesson in this fantastic veggie that wasn't always classified as vegetable.  Once upon a time it was a lily!!  It has been around forever, being pictured on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC. Asparagus is one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables in existence. It leads nearly all produce items in the wide array of... 04/12/2011

Lovely Tia Maria, who was featured last May, arrived at the shelter on November 13, 2009 and was placed in a foster home to allow an open wound on her back leg to heal. The extra care and attention she received allowed her to fully recover, and she's a healthy and fit lady cat. She enjoys the company of other cats but does take a bit of time to feel comfortable with them. She's now spent her entire kittenhood at the shelter and has been waiting a very long time for a family to call her own. Come and meet her today; she deserves better than to spend her entire adult life in cage too. Contact: The Gananoque and District Humane Society85 Highway 32, Gananoque, ONTel: 613-382-1512Open to the public from 9AM to 12PM Monday through Saturday 04/10/2011

My very much older brothers LOVE to terrorize me by doing one thing when I'm not aware - sort of a delayed prank if you will. You see, I really really appreciate my highly organized, labeled, alphabetized spices.    When I'm cooking, I don't want to put out an APB on my needed ingredients.  I know where everything is and I should be able to put my hand to it WITHOUT looking.  My pantry is a work of art and my pride and joy!  (OMG isn't that sad!) The thing is, I am not like that in any other place in my life.  When I ask my husband where my suede boots might be, he says, "Did you look behind you?  You normally drop everything at your backside!" Yes, we're happily married for 20 years!  But I digress . . .                     (photo credit:  Lee Valley)   Today I made my pilgrimage to Bu... 04/05/2011

Gananoque, Ontario There is a TV show called "Say Yes to the Dress" and it is all about a wedding dress store, the salespeople and the brides-to-be all looking for the perfect wedding dress.  Some brides come in knowing exactly what they want; they've dreamed of their wedding since they were 6 years old pretending with towels pinned on their heads as veils.  Quite a few come in and are adamant that they want a 'mermaid' style or others insisting upon a 'ball gown'  style. That is until they try them on - YIKES! Other brides arrive not having a clue as to what they want and are looking for major assistance from friends and family. And still there are those brides who allow the fiance to come along and choose for them! They mostly seem to have a budget in mind too. (Usually a budget that ... 04/03/2011

Gananoque, Ontario Today, April 3rd 2011, in the Town of Gananoque, we have 61 residential properties for sale.   The prices range from $44,900.00  up to $569,400.00 In the past 7 days we saw 4 sales of residential property ranging in list price from $135,000 up to $209,000.00 We also had 4 listings expire in that same 7 day period after not selling. If you or anyone you know is considering listing their home for sale, tell them to call Susan Emo - we need inventory!  Spring is bringing in a new crop of Buyers and we need properties to sell to them! If you're looking to buy a property in Gananoque or area, give Susan Emo a call - we may have exactly what you're looking for!   04/03/2011

3 Days left to get your Irish on . . .No visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland would be complete without calling in to The Crown Bar for a pint or two or even a cup of tea, for in the Crown Liquor Saloon "there are no strangers, only friends who have yet to meet." As one of the oldest and most loved landmarks in Belfast, where else would you find "a lovely burnished primrose yellow, red and gold ceiling, a floor laid in a myriad of mosaic tiles, brocaded walls ubiquitous highly patterned tiles, vigorous wood carvings throughout, ornate mirrors, wooden columns with Corinthian capitals and feathered motifs in gold? Painted and etched glass is everywhere you look, vivid in amber and carmine painted shells, fairies, pineapples, fleurs-de-lis and clowns incidentally,the colourful decorative win... 03/14/2011

Gananoque, Ontario YAY YAY and YAY! SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD I just love it when things work out for good people! My Seller is celebrating today because we just had all conditions WAIVED on the offer for her home and she can now move forward with her life's plans!! Is this the beginning of the Spring Selling Season? If it is, and you're thinking of SELLING your home - please give me a call because we desperately need more listings. We have plenty of Buyers looking but there is a shortage of inventory in town. I'm happy to provide you with a FREE Market Evaluation to let you know just what you could expect your house to sell for. If it is time to move, it is time to contact SusanEmoSellsHomes.com 03/14/2011

TICK TOCK . . . ONLY 4 MORE DAYS TO GET YOUR IRISH ON! Do you ever hear Irish words or terms and not have a notion of what they mean? Well let me talk you thru a few of the more popular phrases and their meanings and a few more Irish Facts: Blarney . . . 1796, from Blarney Stone* (which is said to make a persuasive flatterer of any who kiss it), in a castle near Cork, Ireland; reached wide currency through Lady Blarny, the smooth-talking flatterer in Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield" (1766).   *The Blarney Stone in Ireland has been named as the most  'unhygienic' tourist  attraction in the world.  It is kissed by more than 400,000 people each year and is now said to give you more than 'the gift of the gab' now!Catherine Kelly, who died in 1785, was allegedly the smallest Irish woman ever... 03/13/2011

5 DAYS TO GET YOUR IRISH ON . . . I've made these for the past 5 years now so I thought they were appropriate for our 5 day countdown to St Paddy's Day! (I make a Tirimasu version too which is pretty darn tasty but these little gems win the day on the 17th - YUM!)Cupcakes:1 cup Guinness1/3 cup butter¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups sugar1½ tsp. baking sodapinch of salt2 large eggs2/3 cup sour cream Baileys ganache filling:8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped2/3 cup heavy cream2 tbsp. butter, at room temperature2 tsp. Baileys Irish creamBaileys butter cream frosting:1/2 cup butter, at room temperature3 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted4-8 tbsp. Bailey's Irish creamDirections:To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line your cupcake pans w... 03/12/2011

  Leprechauns have been protected on a European directive thanks to a group of lobbyists in Carlingford, Co. Louth. "We are delighted in the knowledge that our little people will be protected from extinction and allowed to thrive on the mountains," said local man Kevin Woods. As he explains in the video, "there are only 236 leprechauns still living in Ireland on the Foy mountain at Slate Rock". He believes that this place is of the spirit world. The story goes that in 1989, P.J. O'Hare, a local businessman and publican, was up on Carlingford mountain when "he heard a scream coming from the area beside the Wishing Well. Being curious, he went to investigate and found a patch of burnt ground. Beside this patch he found a little hat, jacket and trousers with four gold coins in the pockets.... 03/11/2011

Gananoque, Ontario Back in August 2010, I wrote a post about my new favourite place in town, The Socialist Pig - a coffee shop extraordinaire! I loved it so much I received a gift certificate for my 50th birthday for 50 Lattes !! I met there yesterday with a client/friend for lunch and had the most amazing meal with my new favourite hot drink: fresh lemonade with fresh ginger!!! Forget about all the wonderful health benefits to this concoction (and there are many) - it is just a fantastic taste. But the soup of the day was out of this world good: Thai sweet potato, squash, baby spinach and coconut milk soup. They even publish the soup of the day on their Facebook page!! I'm not the only one singing the praises of The Socialist Pig; they made the front page of the paper with the headline... 03/11/2011

7 DAYS TO GET YOUR IRISH ON . . . Do you have a Claddagh Ring or Claddagh jewelry? It has certainly been a popular item over the years, the centuries even. The history is questionable but some believe the ring was first produced in the 17th century, in Galway,  though elements of the design date to the late Roman period. "Legend has it that an Irish young man, Richard Joyce, bound for the West Indian slave plantations was kidnapped himself in rough seas by a band of Mediterranean pirates and sold to a Moorish goldsmith who over the many long years of his exile helped him perfect the skills of a master craftsman. When in 1689 King William III negotiated the return of the slaves, Joyce returned to Galway - despite, it said, the Moor's offer of the daughter's hand in marriage and a princel... 03/10/2011

8 more days to get your Irish on! Did you ever wonder which Irish names are the most popular? Here's your Top Eight . . . 8. O'Connor - patrons of warriors They might not be warriors themselves, but at least O'Connors descend from them! They trace their heritage and name from the Irish "Ua Conchobhair," meaning from Conchobhar,  and is considered to be historically the most important of all Irish surnames. It represents the last of the true Irish monarchy. 7. Ryan - the little kings The meaning of the Irish name Ryan comes from the old Gaelic word "righ" and the old Irish diminutive of "an," which together form the meaning of "little king." The Ryan family motto is 'Malo More Quam Foedari', which, when translated, means 'I would Rather Die than be Disgraced'. 6. Byrne - the ravens Byrne... 03/09/2011

Are you getting your Irish on?  Only 9 more days . . . Whether you be at home with family, or out with friends, these toasts always prove to be winners on St Patrick's Day: 1. There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be. 2. May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live. 3. May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out. 4. May your neighbors respect you, Troubles neglect you, The angels protect you, And Heaven accept you. 5. May you never forget what is worth remembering, or remember what is best forgotten. 6. Don't ever iron a 4-leaf clover . . . You don't want to press your luck. 7. Life is like a cup of tea, it's all in how you mak... 03/08/2011

Get your Irish on . . . Pot Roast in Guinness Gravy   16 ounces Guinness3 to 4 pounds of chuck roast2 tablespoons Spice House English Prime Rib Rub Seasoning* 2 tablespoons olive oil2 large onions, coarsely chopped1 clove garlic, minced2 cups beef stockVegetables (see note near the bottom)3 tablespoons cold water2 tablespoons cornstarch *amcelery salt, onion powder mixture. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pour the Guinness into bowl and set aside to allow the Guinness to flatten. (sacrilegious some would say!) Rub roast with combined seasonings. In large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Sear seasoned roast on each side until browned. Immediately remove meat from pan and set in large roasting pan. Coarsely chop onions and add to pan along with garlic. Saute to soften and... 03/06/2011

Get your Irish on with this fantastic soup . . . Potato and Cabbage Soup you need a blender for this! 1 medium white onion - sliced 1 clove garlic, chopped1 green cabbage/Savoy cabbage - cored and roughly sliced1 1/2 lbs. white potatoes - chopped in small chunks4 cups chicken broth2 sprigs of thymeolive oilSalt &PepperIn your soup pot, saute the onions for 3-4 mins in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Don't let them get too brown as this will discolour the finished soup. Add in chopped garlic and cabbage. Stir and cover for 8-9 mins. or until cabbage begins to soften. Once softened add chopped potatoes and thyme and mix everything together over the heat for about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups broth, bring to a boil and reduce to simmer for about 20 mins. approx or until potatoes are cooked. (... 03/05/2011

HOMEMADE IRISH BROWN WHEATEN (BREAD) Takes only moments to prepare and 30 min to bake!!! Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups whole wheat flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda3/4 teaspoon salt2 cups buttermilk Cooking spray (or parchment paper) Directions Preheat oven to 450F Combine the flours, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly. Make a well in the center of mixture. Add buttermilk to flour mixture; stir until blended (dough will be sticky). Turn dough out onto a generously floured surface. Knead lightly 4 to 5 times. Shape dough into an 8-inch round loaf; place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray (or parchment paper) Bake at 450 for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400 and continue to bake for another 15 minutes, or until loaf sounds hollow when tappe... 03/04/2011

I thought I'd take a look at our National rankings here in the rain, wondering where I placed in the country. Well whoo hoo . . . imagine my surprise to discover that not only am I now ranked in the Top 10 in Canada, but . . . I'M IN THE #9 POSITION !! How did that happen you ask? Well it happened because I have these amazing 8 Bloggers ahead of me, leading by example!!! Congratulations to Canada's best . . . #1  Al and Peggy Cunningham, in Ontario @ 603,738 points #2 Li Read  #1 in British Columbia @ 540,367 points 3.  Liz Moraz in British Columbia @ 518,376 points 4.  Brian Madigan, in Ontario @ 512,874 points 5.  Kathy Clulow, in Ontario @ 473,584 points 6.  Marc Swartz, in Ontario # 441,580 points 7.  Fred Carver, in British Columbia @ 392,120 points 8.  Jo-Anne Smith, in Ontario @ ... 03/02/2011

TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING BUT THOUGHTFUL CARE HAS KEPT THIS ROMANTIC CENTURY HOME ALMOST ORIGINAL WITH THE UPGRADES WE DEMAND: NEWER WINDOWS, ROOF, AND FURNACE!Three bedrooms and 1.5 baths.  Gorgeous hardwood throughout.  Separate dining room and formal living room plus a fantastic family room too!  Spacious fenced yard with deck and retractable awning.  5 appliances includedJust the place to call home!240 Pine St, Gananoque. Call Susan Emo 613 331 4885 02/23/2011

Gananoque, Ontario I was so touched to receive an invitation to attend a "Thank You" event at our local Salvation Army. I made sure I cleared my schedule in order to be able to attend. It was wonderful to see every single chair in the room filled with a volunteer. Volunteers that Dave Harvey, the Director of our local Gananoque Salvation Army, thought enough of, to host an appreciation luncheon. It was humbling to see the wonderful buffet that was provided for all to enjoy. Trays of tasty deli sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, and desserts that were calling to everyone there :0)  Dave then asked for everyone's attention and he shared with us that our Christmas Kettle Drive was more than successful. He had set a goal of $20,000 and was so worried that it might not be attainab... 02/22/2011