A Life, Lived

Travel Tuesday - Venice

I'm taking a break from London for this travel Tuesday post.

In the event you're wondering why - I'm deep into the latest offering by one of my favourite authors: Dona Leon. Leon writes beautiful mysteries set in Venice.

Spring?

Yes, this is exactly what this spring has been like. It is hard to believe that May 1st is right around the corner.

Doug Ford

Things keep going from bad to worse here in Ontario because of this guy . . .

. . . at least people are still able to laugh about things. Humor helps.

Travel Tuesdays - London

Yup - more pics from our trip to London!

Happy Easter!

Hope that all who celebrate have a wonderful time with family and friends.

Butter Lamb - An Easter Tradition

Lent and Easter are full of seasonal foods. Chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks are the likely conversation starters nationwide, but in Buffalo you can’t make it through a conversation without including the famous Butter Lamb.

With every unique eat or holiday custom you hear about in Western New York – from the “angel wings” chrusciki to the post-Lenten bash, Dyngus Day – just about every one of them stems from European culture and is faith-based. Most people don’t consider the religious symbolism behind the popular foods they eat every spring – be it pork (a “forbidden” food) or bread or eggs (signs of new life) – they just know it’s all good!

And for the cute little creamy butter lamb, the same rings true. There is a very significant meaning to the butter lamb, which ties specifically to the biblical time of Passover and the exodus of the Jews from slavery. During this time, the blood of a sacrificial lamb was placed at their door so the angel of death would pass over their first born. Catholics refer to Jesus and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God.

Today, the lamb in its butter form is usually accompanied by a ribbon around the neck and a cross or a banner with a blessing such as “Alleluia” on its back. Peppercorns make the eyes, said to symbolize the light of the world. So why make it of butter?

Simple. To eat! Butter is an ingredient in just about everything so we can pin the idea on necessity.

For many the Spring and Easter season isn’t complete without a trip to the Broadway Market – which is Butter Lamb Headquarters. Look for Malczewski’s (Malla-cheski’s) – that’s where the Buffalo Butter Lamb got its start. And if you can’t make your way to the east side market this year, lucky for you most of the major grocers in the area carry at least a size or two in stock. This is what we do (although we have been to the Broadway market a few times)

Of course - if you can't make it to Buffalo you can always try this 'do-it-yourself' version I found on the internet:

Childhood vs Adult

(and as an adult it takes you s months to recover!!!!)

The 60s

This made me laugh yesterday!

Travel Tuesdays - London

Yup, still more shots from my trip to London . . . this could go on for weeks. Just sayin' . . .

Cruising in 2020

I know, we just returned from our trip to London and here I am talking about our 2020 vacation already!

Unfortunately with my work schedule vacations take more planning in advance than they used to - finding the perfect week to go away is a challenge.

When I first asked Paul where he wanted to go I assumed he would say 'back to London'.

He did not.

Instead he wanted to go to San Antonio, Texas. I've been a few times for conferences and I guess he wanted to get in on some of the amazing experiences that I've had. While I understood that thought - heck, I'd LOVE to go back to Texas - there was no way I can fathom doing that while Donald Trump is President. To distract Paul I started tossing things his way - like how about a cruise?

That is how we ended up booking a 7 night Western Caribbean cruise. We'll be relaxing on the Celebrity Equinox and sailing to Key West, Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, Cozumel, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands.

Something to look forward in 342 days.