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What are we all about? 
What do we do?

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What we are all about - FUN

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TIME OF MY LIFE

As the song in Dirty Dancing starts out:

"Now I've had the time of my life

No I never felt like this before"

There couldn't be truer words perhaps, but not for the reason as in the song. 

Today I am going to write about one reason we REALLY NEED THE CROWN JEWELS.
I just got off the phone with a friend, the husband of a girl I've known since high school. Our families lives though have been intertwined since the early 1700's.
She is very ill and they don't know why. She's going through very thorough medical testing in New York. Her husband asked me to call her and hold her hand as she needs me.

The Queen of our chapter is going through a nightmare of a time right now with a husband who is critically ill, going through radiation and chemo in preparation for very intricate surgery. All her days are consumed with getting him to and from the hospital for treatments and appointments with Doctors.

I know several Jewels who are presently fighting cancer and other ailments. Some struggle quietly while others reach out to friends, family and Jewels for support. We all handle stress and illness differently, in our own way, the way best for us.

I've had my own medical battles the past five years and both my husband and I must now be tested every six months for cancer. Our youngest son has just had surgery and is critically ill. We are there to help him, his wife and care for their two small children as often as we can. The stress is overwhelming and it makes us realize how silly it is, some of the things we normally worry about.

This week I found out that another friend has died and another, in Montreal is ill and now his wife has fallen and required surgery. She is supposed to be his caregiver and now she needs her own help.

This is our live now. We are at that age, when these things begin to happen all around us and to us and our friends and even family.

This is why WE NEED THE JEWELS and why it is important to look around at our friends and encourage them to join too.

We need friends. We need support. We need to know someone cares.

Last night I ran into a friend who's sister-in-law lost her husband not long ago. Thankfully for her, she lives in a smaller town, where she has friends and neighbours to help her: because they know she is suddenly alone. Women in a large city are often "lost" - people just assume they haven't seen them lately because they are busy with their own life but all too often they are sitting at home, lonely, afraid, or just plain numb. We all need friends. We all need someone who checks in periodically to see how we are doing. 

Belonging to a CJCS chapter means you are invited to an event at least once a month and someone reaches out to tell you the plans and hopefully, if you don't respond, someone will be in touch to ensure you are okay and just busy that month.

Aging isn't easy. It gets lonelier each year that we get older.

Let's do it together!

Please, call a friend today and invite her to join your chapter.
She needs you, she needs us.

On behalf of your Board of Directors and Regional Representatives, we wish to wish our Jewels and their family and loved ones, a very

MANITOBA & N-W ONTARIO REGIONAL REP

A warm welcome to our newest Regional Representative, Cheryl McKitrick, who will represent Manitoba and N-W Ontario.

As someone recently described her, Cheryl is an an amazing, beautiful, kindhearted, fun, smart and exuberant woman and I will add caring, confident, fun, upbeat to the description of Cheryl. We are honoured that she has taken on this position for the Crown Jewels of Canada Society and thank her. I know that the members in Manitoba are happy to welcome Cheryl as their leader and she will definitely work to bring them back into a warm and happy Circle of Friends.

If you met Cheryl at convention, (she was the Master of Ceremonies) you will know that being near her will be being in an upbeat fun environment. Never a dull moment and she will have lots of hilarious stories to share! No, life is never dull when Cheryl is around!

The 2018 CJCS National Convention will be held in
Regina, SK beginning September 20th, 2018.

This event will be hosted by Marion Patterson the the Regina Rebel Rowsers & friends.
Mark your calendars Jewels, and start saving!

The above is a copy of the Iron-On Proof that was given to each person attending the 2017 Convention Committee.
The (blue) is clear rhinestones and the crown is purple, and the red maple leaf is red representing Canada's 150th Annive
rsary.

We will wear it with pride!

We have a limited supply available for sale.
You may order one of these. The cost is $15.00
Ordering information is in the October newsletter and in The Jewel Box.

Its time!

Yea! It's time to start packing, fill the car with gas
or download your boarding pass.

Convention is just around the corner.

Your Convention Committee has been working hard and are putting the finishing touches on decorations and plans. They're loading their cars with the gazillion boxes they have to move to the hotel (yes, it is just about a gazillion! We were stunned when the truck pulled up to the hotel in Vancouver and said that the entire load was "ours")

Please stop and say hello to your Board members and Regional Representatives, when you pass us and remind us of who you are and where you're from.
We love to meet our members.

And don't forget to thank the Convention Committee, and thank them more than once too, for all they have done to make the weekend a grand success.

SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS!

If going to Convention you might want to check out our "CJCS Canada 150" iron-on transfer which is a special design in honour of Canada's 150th birthday.
We have a limited supply available (if delivery is not delayed due to the hurricane!!)
A purple crown on a red maple leaf with clear rhinestones around it.

CONVENTION 2017

It's almost here! Convention 2017. Can you feel the excitement mounting as our Jewels all across the country start to put special outfits together, picking out their most precious jewels, digging out those saddle shoes and their formal gown. 

Your Convention Committee has been working hard for months now to ensure we all have a bang-up fabulous, zippity-doo-dah type time. From adventures out to Gimli and sightseeing around the city to chair Yoga and other activities, they are going to make sure you're not bored. Oh yes, and did I mention shopping?

Even if you can't get to convention, but live nearby, you're invited to come and shop! Check the newsletter for details and times.

Beside me is a box full of trinkets and jewels and iron-on transfers and other little surprises. Melanie will be on hand to sell you at least one new treasure! So don't forget to bring extra cash and a credit card!

The tentative schedule is posted on the convention website in case you're still not sure of the theme or what to pack. Many I know are just about packed. The excitement in our Facebook group is mounting. Conventions are always so much fun. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones is bound to be fun for you.

OK, off to pack. See you soon!

SUMMER GET TOGETHER WITH THE JEWELS?

When the Jewels drop in for a summer visit (or even winter as you can see by the Santas on a stick of cranberries above) it's nice to serve something in our colours!

CRANBERRY COCKTAIL (a refreshing blend of sweet & tart) Serves about 12 (but that depends on your glass size and if you only have one each)

1 cup (250ml) frozen lemonade concentrate

1 1/2 cups (375ml) water

1 bottle (24oz/682ml) cranberry juice

1 bottle (750ml/25oz) ginger ale

In large pitcher or punch bowl combine lemonade, water and cranberry juice. Refrigerate until serving time.
Just before serving, carefully stir in ginger ale.
Serve over ice.

Here's another simple recipe for a refreshing summer drink;

Spritzers (Non-Alcoholic)  (Makes 6 servings)

3 c white grape juice (or purple!!)
3 c Club Soda (any soda/sparkling water will do)

Mix and pour over ice into glasses
Garnish with grapes on a skewer or toothpick, or just freeze a few grapes and drop into the glass with the ice cubes
64 calories/serving

These and other recipes may be found on our www.cjcsmembers.com website.

GROWING OLDER

While going through old family photos of my grandmother's  I came across this prayer that I thought I would share with you today:

A Prayer on Growing Older

Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old.

Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to try to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details - give me wings to get me to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. Help me to ensure them with patience.

But seal my lips on my own aches and pains - they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint - some of them are hard to live with - but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all - but Thou knowest, Lord, I want a few friends at the end.

ONLY IN CANADA YOU SAY?

BUTTER TARTS

First did you know that in Ontario they have something called a “Butter Tart Tour” – check it out! www.buttertarttour.ca  and www.wellington.ca

A butter tart is simply butter, sugar, syrup, and eggs. The magic happens when these simple ingredients are combined and baked in a pastry shell until golden brown and the filling is semi-solid – or really runny depending on your tastes and baking style. This simple combination is what was featured in the first known printed recipe from the early 1900s. Found in the Royal Victoria Cookbook by The Women’s Auxiliary to the Royal Victoria Hospital located in Barrie, ON, this simple tart has become a staple of the Canadian cuisine landscape. In 2007 the Toronto Star newspaper, an article suggests they date back to mid-1600s and the arrival of the filles de marier, or imported brides, from France. 

I have two recipes, one, my mothers, is similar to the above with the addition of raisins, and the other, the award-winning recipe from Canadian Living magazine which is made with corn syrup. Butter Tarts are the way to a man’s heart!
CROWN ROYAL  (of special interest to those attending the 2017 National Convention)
Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whisky owned by Diageo, which purchased it when the Seagram portfolio was dissolved in 2000. It is the top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States.
When King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth visited Canada in 1939 Crown Royal was introduced that year by Samual Bronfman, president of Seagram, as a tribute to the royal visit. It was only available in Canada until 1964.
Today, Crown Royal is produced solely at the Crown Royal distillery at Gimli, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was also produced in Waterloo, Ontario, until the plant there closed in 1992.

NANAIMO BARS
British Columbia’s favourite dessert consisting of wafer, chocolate and custard. Famous for coming from the city of Nanaimo, BC (on Vancouver Island)

MOLSON’S CANADIAN BEER
In the US they have Molson’s Export (just not the same – for one thing the alchohol content is different in Canada.

MAPLE SYRUP
Nothing is as awesome as real Maple Syrup from our beautiful Canadian Maple trees.

COFFEE CRISP CHOCOLATE BARS
Chocolate bar with a crispy vanilla wafer and foamy coffee-flavoured chocolate inside.
CAESAR (Drink)
Similar to a Bloody Mary but made with Clamato Juice which is only available in Canada. Known as the Canadian hangover cure! 1-2oz of Vodka, 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce and 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce mixed with 4-6 oz of Clamato juice. Served over ice with a stick of celery as a garnish and it’s done!

RED RIVER CEREAL
One of the oldest cereals in Canada, created in Manitoba in 1924 and named after the Red River flowing from the USA into Winnipeg, it’s still available today.

KINDER EGGS   
A chocolate treat shaped like an egg with a small toy inside. In the USA there is no toy inside.

SMARTIES
Small round candies in various colours filled with chocolate.

ROOTS CLOTHING
A true Canadian tradition. Often the official clothing manufacturer for our Olympic teams.

BITS & BITES
A mix of mini Shreddies (shredded wheat cereal) and Cheerios  (cereals) and pretzels and cheezies.

TOURTIÈRE
The savoury meat pie from Quebec is made with ground pork, veal or beef. French-Canadians usually bust out the delicacy around the holidays but it's a homey dish that is perfect for those days when you just need a little comfort food.

HICKORY STICKS
You might not have enjoyed a bag of the best "simulated potato sticks" in a while, but that smoky flavour is incomparable.

CHAPMAN’S ICE CREAM
Canada’s largest independent ice cream manufacturer, the have over 289 products and they are only available in Canada.

CANADIAN MILK CHOCOLATE
Crispy Crunch, Smarties (the Canadian kind), Aero, Wunderbar, Caramilk—while the names and textures of these candy bars may differ, they all contain the same unique “Canadian” chocolate taste. Apparently, there is a Canadian preference for a sweeter, creamier milk chocolate, as opposed to the gritty, bitter taste of American chocolate. In 2013, The Hershey Company changed its formula to develop a milkier, creamier chocolate “that is unique to Canadian chocolate.” Even Canadian versions of popular American chocolate bars, such as Kit Kat and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, taste completely different, as documented in a 2009 Food Network survey.

KRAFT DINNER (Not Kraft Macaroni & Cheese that is in the USA)
Kraft Dinner, or “KD” as it’s affectionately (and now formally) known in Canada, is the country’s unofficial official food. It been reported that Canadians consume 1.7 millionboxes of the neon-colored pasta tubes a week, out of the 7 million sold globally. Yes, you can get similar pasta-and-powdered cheese concoctions in the United States, but you can’t find the “KD” packaging anywhere in the U.S., and there tend to be more varieties of the pasta in Canada as well.

BAGGED MILK (Not available in the west)
The bags are placed in a pitcher container and the corner is snipped off at an angle for easy pouring. Bags of milk are still popular in Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada, but have been phased out in other parts of the country.

MEC – Mountain Equipment Co-Op
Similar to the U.S.-based REI, MEC was founded in 1971 by four mountaineering friends who wanted to offer Canadians a low-cost way to purchase outdoor equipment without having to go to the States. Today, MEC still runs as a co-op offering memberships for $5 (you need one to purchase anything at the store). It’s found in 18 cities across the country and boasts 4.5 million members from Canada and around the world.

SWISS CHALET
Mention the words “Quarter Chicken Dinner” to any Canuck (Canadian) and the words “Swiss Chalet” will immediate come to mind. The restaurant is known for chicken, ribs, and one-of-a-kind dipping sauce. Started in Montreal they now have restaurants across Canada.

LAURA SECORD CHOCOLATE
Take the name of a Canadian war hero and mix in some cocoa, sugar, and butter, and you have a recipe for national chocolate-making success. Laura Secord was an American-born pioneer woman in what was then Upper Canada (Ontario), who successfully warned the Canadian and British forces of an impending Yankee attack during the War of 1812. In 1913, Frank P. O’Connor opened the first Laura Secord candy shop on Toronto’s Yonge St. Today, over 100 stores are found across Canada—boasting more than 400 products, including the marshmallow Santa Claus, a seasonal favorite stocking-stuffer, and their box of “miniature” chocolates.
Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be any stores in B.C. because western Canada has PURDY’S CHOCOLATES.

HAWKINS CHEEZIES

There are many more items but wanted to share a few with you.

ADVICE FOR AGING

 

One of our Jewels from SK (Shirley) shared this with me this morning and I thought it was worth sharing with all of you:



Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old.  This is an excellent list for aging.

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.
4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”
7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.
14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.
16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.
17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!