Victoria’s Read

AMELIA RISING SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE

Open Group

Women are welcome to drop by, enjoy a coffee or tea and chat with other women who attend. Drop in is held every Thursday from 1:00pm-3:00pm and every woman is welcome to attend.

EVE-OLUTION

Amelia Rising presents evolution through EVE-OLUTION. A celebration of women and their talents. Join us as we kick start International Women’s week. Saturday, March 5th. Doors open at 7pm. Curtain at 7:30pm. Algonquin High School. Perron Theater. 555 Algonquin Ave. North Bay. $5.00 admission or a donation of a non-parishable food item.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Next meeting is 12pm, March 8th at the Best Western. 700 Lakeshore Dr. North Bay. www.nipissingwomeninbusiness.com

CALLANDER’S 1ST ANNUAL SINGING COMPETITION

Come and help Callander help celebrate their 125th anniversary by showing us that you have talent.
The 1st Annual Singing Competition will take place on March 26, 2011, at the Callander Community Center on Swale Street in Callander.
The first place winners will receive $100 cash and prizes. Prizes will be awarded to second and third place winners in all categories.
The first 60 contestants will compete in Junior, Youth and Adult open categories.
The rules and regulations can be found on the following websites: callander125, FaceBook, Google and mycallander.ca.

HERITAGE GARDENERS

You are invited to share in an Evening of Education with the Heritage Gardeners.
On Wednesday March  9, 2011 at 7:00 pm, Dorothy Stewart will help us identify the best plants for our plant hardiness zone which  in the area of the city below the escarpment is considered to be zone 4. Dorothy grew up in Sudbury during the years the landscape in the area resembled that of the moon. 
Please call the Heritage Gardener Coordinator by noon on March 9, 2011 to register for this educational session. Call Monica McLaren at 472-4006. Doors will open at 6:45.
Bring your own mug for a cup of Organic coffee or Organic Tea.
We will have a raffle draw that evening so please bring a twoonie if you wish to participate and donations to cover the cost of our speakers are always welcome!
E-mail:  heritage.gardeners@heritagenorthbay.com

I hope people will finally come to realize that there is only one “race” – the human race – and that we are all members of it.

Margaret Atwood - Canadian author

Sometimes motherhood is not what we thought it was going to be. The adjustment to motherhood or to another baby can be much more difficult than we ever expected. Our expectations of a perfect life with a new baby are soon met with the realities of very little sleep (sometimes it feels like no sleep!), changes in our bodies, changes in our partner and family relationships and meeting the ongoing demands of an infant.

One in five mothers will experience mood changes during pregnancy and in the first year after giving birth. It is important to remember that not only birth mothers, but mothers who adopt can experience mood changes. These mood changes, called Postpartum Mood Disorders (PPMD) affect women in many ways. Mothers who have had PPMD report experiencing difficulties with sleeping and eating, feeling lonely, irritability and frustration, feelings of guilt, teariness, constant worry, not feeling like themselves, exhaustion, loss of joy, withdrawing from others and feeling like they are not bonding with their baby. Some moms tell us they felt depressed, some tell us they felt anxiety, and that they worried all the time.

If this sounds like you or someone you care for there are things you can do to help. Mothers who have experienced PPMD tell us there are certain things they did that were helpful. They talked to their doctor or Nurse Practitioner, they went to counselling, they attended parent drop in programs such as the Nipissing Child and Family Centres, they talked to others about how they were feeling and they challenged their own thoughts on being a “perfect” mother.
Partners, friends and family can play a key role in helping a mother who is experiencing PPMD. They can ask her what she needs and fulfill those requests. They can listen and support her and help her understand it is not her fault. Encourage her to access help and assist her with following through with accessing that help. Remember it takes a village to cherish a parent to nurture a child.

One of the most important things for moms to remember is that they are not alone. For further information contact your local Nipissing Best Start Child and Family Centre at nipissingbeststart.ca or contact Michelle  PPMD Community Education and Development Coordinator at 705 472-6515.

Rarely, women may experience a postpartum psychosis. If a women has had thoughts of harming herself or her baby, hears or sees things that are not there, believes people or things are going to harm her or the baby or feels confused and out of touch with reality. This is a medical emergency and she needs help right away from the nearest emergency room.

With the winter season wrapping up its final weeks, the interior of your vehicle has likely been a noticeable casualty of neglect.

Vacuum the seats and floors to remove the surface dirt, then use an upholstery cleaner to work out the more stubborn stains.

Also lubricate the door hinges, which likely sound creaky after enduring wetness and ice.

Charlotte Whitton was born on March 8, 1896 in Renfrew, Ontario. Born in family of rather modest means, Whitton grew to become the first female mayor of the City of Ottawa, a tireless defender of the less fortunate and a relentless crusader for professional standards of juvenile immigrants and neglected children. She was the driving force behind the Canadian Council on Child Welfare and was in high demand, across North America, as a lecturer on social programs.

Whitton was a study in the modern woman. She attended Queen’s University, where she studied for a Master of Arts and played hockey.

In November 1950, she entered Ottawa municipal politics winning a seat on the Board of Control. The newly elected Mayor of Ottawa died in office and Whitton was appointed to succeed him for the remaining 14 months of the mandate. She was elected mayor in 1952, 1954, 1960 and 1964 and later served as an alderman until 1972.

While Whitton was a power house in social welfare and politics she is best known for her immortal quote: “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”  

She was also the author of  great quotes such as: “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” “When one must, one can.” and “It’s how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success.” 

Whitton did not shy away from controversy. During the Flag Debate in 1964 she confronted Lester Pearson over his choice of three maple leafs for the flag. For Whitton, the Red Ensign, with its Union Jack and coat of arms containing symbols of England, Scotland, Ireland and France would be a stronger embodiment of the Canadian achievement in peace and war. She lost the battle but made her mark.

During her time as Mayor she pioneered the communications of city politics by hosting her own TV program and writing a column in the local paper.

Never married, Whitton lived for 32 years with her companion, Margaret Grier. She died in 1947 at the age of 55 years.

Charlotte Whitton died on January 25, 1975 and was laid to rest in the Thompson Hill Cemetery in Renfrew.

www.mysteriesofcanada.com

BLARNEY STONES

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

FROSTING:
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups finely chopped peanuts

Directions
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to egg mixture. Beat on low speed just until combined.

Add the milk and butter; mix well. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Cover and freeze overnight.

For frosting. Combine confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth. Frost frozen cake squares; roll in peanuts. Place on wire racks to dry.

HOMEMADE IRISH CREAM

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3 tbsp. chocolate-flavored syrup
2 ½ tbsp. instant coffee granules
16 fluid ounces non-dairy creamer
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 1/4 cups brandy

Directions:
In an electric blender, combine eggs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup and coffee granules. Blend for 3 minutes.

Add creamer, vanilla extract, almond extract and brandy to the mixture in the electric blender. Blend for 12 minutes.

Refrigerate the mixture overnight.

Strain the Irish Cream through a cheesecloth, then serve.

Valentine’s Day came and went. Falling on the first day of the week, mundane Monday didn’t help one bit to set a romantic mood for my hard working hubby. Not to mention that I had to work that day as well except, my job is my dream job but I was tired as well. “We’ll celebrate on the weekend.” My husband stated. I felt a little let down especially after hearing my friends boast about what their significant others did for them.  Candle lit dinners, long stemmed red roses and chocolate. All my favorites but nothing for me.

The rest of the week sailed by with all the hustle and bustle of normal life. Finally the weekend was here and I needed to take care of my household chores. Valentine’s Day was long gone and to be honest, I was over it. My husband tells me he loves me every day and that I am grateful for. 

Aww Sunday. A day of rest and relaxation. “Are you ready to go?” he asks as I’m leisurely enjoying my second cup of flavored coffee. “No!” I answer, a little annoyed since the weekend is when I don’t need to rush around in the morning.  Besides, I was still in my warm and cozy flannel pj’s and didn’t plan on getting out of them any time soon. Yes, I admit that I am not a morning person! Mornings are for the birds, literally.

“Well, when you are ready, let me know.” He softly announces. And then it dawns on me. Oh ya, today is our Valentines Day.  My husband is very good at remembering things like that. He never forgets our anniversary or my birthday. He knows how many years we have been married and always takes my birthday off. He says that they are special days that deserve to be celebrated.

“Do you want to go and walk around the mall?” he asks. My husband would rather wash dirty dishes than go to the mall so I jumped on that invitation right quickly.

Suddenly, I find myself sitting in a jewelry store trying on wedding band sets. Mappins has lots of sparkly bling let me tell you! “Do you like it?” my hubby asks. Of course I do. I’d have to be dead not to like the  rock on my finger. “Wrap it up, please.” I hear my husband say to the sales lady.

It was the best Valentine’s day ever.

Victoria says….Bling is beautiful

~Women talk to their cars more then men do

~Forty percent of women say they have thrown a shoe at their significant other

~About 1800 women per year give birth to triplets

~Women who are romance novel readers are reported to make love 74% more often with their partners than women who do not read romance novels

~90 percent of women who walk into a department store immediately turn to the right

March is :

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
Feminine Empowerment Month
Craft Month
Women’s History Month
Peanut Month
Rosacea Awareness Month

The second week in March is Girl Scout Week

Chocolate Week is the  third week in March

The Fourth Week in March is Egg Salad Week

March 8, Daylight Saving Time Begins

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8th

March 9 is Cabin Fever Day

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10

Organize Your Home Office Day is observed on the second Tuesday In March

Potato Chip Day is observed annually on March 14th

March 15th is St Patricks day

“Mary Tyler Moore Show” TV Series final episode aired March 19, 1977

Earth Day - the official Earth Day is March 21

March22nd is Goof-Off Day and National Sing Out Day

March 23rd is Easter Sunday

The first color TV was manufactured by RCA on March 25, 1954

The new $100 bill went into circulation, March 1996