My Grandma Griggs

I just got an email from my cousin who's given me the sad news that our grandmother has just passed away this morning. She has been in the hospital with pneumonia for the past while and today she took a couple of breaths with my dear Aunt Sharon by her side and peacefully went to sleep. She was 83. She was my biological dad's mother. When I was about 12 years old she came to Alberta to meet me for the first time and from there I kept in touch through phone calls and mail until I moved out East. I was blessed to have spent the time I did with her while I lived in Ottawa. It's too bad I couldn't have been able to see her again before she passed on, it's so hard when you're so far away. We spoke on the phone about 2 months ago when I said I'd send out some pictures of Sam.

I'm sad for the family but glad that she is no longer in pain.

OPA!

Ok - before I start I have to tell you a little conversation with Sam just now. I'm sitting here starting my post and Sam is sitting on the floor next to me having a tea party.
Sam: "MAMA - I have to go potty!"
Me: "OK let's go!" as I grab her hand to the washroom.
Sam very seriously: "Hurry mama, I have tea party guests!"

HA HA ...was pretty cute.
Anyway, today I'm gearing up for the Greek dinner my neighbour Shana and I are preparing for our families. I used to work at a Greek restaurant many moons ago in Vernon, so I'm quite fastidious about my Greek food, whether I order in, dine out or make it at home. One thing that has bothered me to no end is when people make a Greek salad with lettuce! WHAT THE..??! An authentic Greek salad does not have lettuce! When I moved to Ottawa I could not find a single restaurant or anyone who did up a Greek salad without lettuce.... it just blew me away. There must be something about the East vs. West, as when I moved back to BC I was back to normal authentic Greek salad again. weird...but I'm sooo happy! SO....I'm looking for a greek salad on my favorite cooking site (http://www.recipezaar.com) for a dressing to make for tomorrow and found a Greek guys whose 2 grandmothers were in the restaurant and food service industry. He had the same issue I did with the lettuce in Greek salad....finally someone who understands me.

Maybe I was Greek in my past life.

Update For June

While we're quickly approaching the first day of July, everyone here is looking forward to a lovely hot weekend, which is well overdue to say the least. From May - June our weather has been a long cold and rainy spring, if you can call it that. On Tuesday we are spending Canada Day with our neighbours up in Harrison. Our hubbies are leading the way on their motor bikes while we pack the kids in the car and follow....speaking of bikes....

So what have we been up to on those colder rainy days? Addicted to Craigslist.com, an online classified ads network. Wayne bought 2 motorbikes from it (to build the one bike from the other for parts). Now he saves so much money on gas and parking which is the way to go these days with the ridiculous gas prices constantly on rise. (click the pictures to enlarge).



A couple of weeks ago my cousin Bill from Edmonton came to visit. We met him downtown where we checked out Stanley Park and let him work his magic with the camera. http://www.billycowen.com/