Friday, August 22, 2008

Etsy Bloggers Team Blog Carnival for September 1, 2008 - Labour Day Weekend

Whether going to school or while out in the 9 to 5 workforce, I loved Labour Day Weekend! In fact, I always looked forward to the 3 biggies in Canada - Canada Day (c. July 1st), Civic Holiday (c. August 1st) and Labour or Labor Day (c. Sept. 1st). These are the 3 long weekends of summer. I'd always try to add an extra day or two on either side of the long weekend to stretch out my vacation days.

Where I worked, it was possible to add a few extra hours to our work days in advance of the long weekend - just enough to enable us to leave work a half day early. This was to help us get outta town before the traffic rush - especially appreciated by those trying to get out of metro Toronto and its environs.

I remember booking my last vacation just shortly after the Labour Day Weekend. We were all pretty sure it would be our last vacation as a whole family unit. Mom was dying and we knew there would not be another chance. I was the last holdout, still hoping that we could keep our plans. Sadly, it was not to be. Mom died in August.

Oddly enough it was my last Labour Day weekend working a 9 to 5 but that is another story for another day.

I'd love to put together a picnic lunch, pack Sally into her 'carry-me' and head out to a roadside park. Bring the camera and take some photos. Maybe bring a good book. There's a Nora Roberts that I am hoping to read. Snooze in the shade. Maybe do some 'plein aire' sketches.

At the very least, maybe I'll just take a little walk. Spend a few minutes in the sun.

I'm planning a picnic lunch anyway wherever we eat it! Here's the menu:

potato salad
cabbage salad with walnuts and apples
cold meat
sponge cake with jello (if the day isn't too humid)
bake a songe cake and let cool in the pan; make a jello with 1/4 cup less water to which you add whatever fruit - fresh or canned that you have on hand; pour the jello mix into the cake pan (you've left 1/2 the pan for this); let jello set; serve with cool whip -Yumm!!!

Whatever you do, take a break, give the ones you love an extra hug, play a little -- ENJOY!!!

3 comments:

3 REXES JEWELRY said...

Thank you so very much for sharing your story. I believe that "true" thoughts are like wishes that can go wherever you ask them to go to. Your picnic sounds like something very special!!! Enjoy it!!!

The cake sounds yummy. My late Aunt used to poke holes in the cake so that the jello would seep further in... yum

Tara

Anonymous said...

Like 3rexes, I poke holes in the cake to let the jello seep in!

Nice blog carnival, really enjoyed reading it.

~Lily

storybeader said...

sorry to hear about your mother. But at least it sounds that you can relax for a long weekend, and do whatever you want! Like read these blogs lol