It's all coming back to me now

Those words I believe are in a song, can't recall the name, but that is not what I am referring to in my title.

The SUN, it's coming back.  December 21st has the shortest day light hours and the longest dark hours.  Today, it reached the turning point, not that we have seen any sun for a good many days, as it has been grey and dearly.   And not that it will change anything any time soon either, we still have to get through January and February when our weather is usually the coldest and when we get the most snow.  Where I live there is no snow at the present time, however, that can change in a heart beat.

I need the sun to keep me in a happy mood, when it is shining I feel more energetic, there are a lot of other people feel the same way.  I am not depressed when it cold and grey, just love to see the bright sun shining.

Finished by Christmas shopping today, lots of cars on the streets, I was fortunate to not have to do what I needed to do in those big box stores.  Items at the grocery store for my contribution to DD1 B on Christmas day and bits and bobs for DD2 and her family who are coming on Boxing day. 

Very few mince meat tarts on sale here this year, I only buy a couple for myself, previous years I would make my own, however, being alone I can't eat all them as no one else in my family likes them.   The same with fruit cake.  I am thinking about making one this Spring sometime, giving it a drink every once in awhile for eating next Christmas.  A blogger I follow from "down under" sent me the recipe for a boiled fruit cake, which I made several years ago, and it was delicious.   Trying that one again.

Have a great day

Cheers.

Time to slow down-no life is too short

The past week as been a whirl wind of activities for me, and I am loving it.

A week ago Saturday the residents in the building had a Secret Santa party.  Women bought a $20.00 gift for a woman and men did the same for a man which were all wrapped and placed on tables.   We were all given a number, when that number was drawn you chose a gift from the table.  However, if someone had picked a gift, opened it and you wanted that gift you could steal it.  The person you stole it from had to pick another gift.  Gifts that were stolen quite often were the gift cards and wine.   Lots of laughs and good fun.  After everyone received a gift, a pizza party ended the day.  I ended up with a very nice dark blue over the body bag, my secret Santa spent more than $20.00.

Thursday last week, the owner of the apartment building invited all the people living here to a Christmas get-together.   A selection of sandwiches and wraps, fruit and cookies, all washed down with glasses of wine.  He also gave a small gift to every apartment in the building.

Friday, grocery shopping and then the evening happy hour.   

Saturday, a girl friend and I went out for lunch and then went to the cinema to watch Andre Rieu's  Christmas concert.  We love listening to the music his orchestra plays,

Sunday, out to lunch with the same friend then to the theatre to see "The Sound of Music",  it was a good play, however, not one I would have chosen to present as a Christmas play for children to come and see.  Home for a light dinner then walked to a church across the street for their "Carols by Candlelight" concert.  I am not religious by any stretch for the imagination, however, I do love listening to the carols sung by the choir accompanied by the organ.

Monday, Christmas shopping as I expected the stores to be a little less busy, and I was right so able to get a lot accomplished.  Had an appointment for an massage therapy session in the afternoon.  During the massage I was asked what I was doing for the rest of the day and replied I was going to the movies.  He said, I have a gift card I won't use and he gave it to me.  Thank you "S".   Had a light dinner, off to the movie, popcorn and a drink.  As there was nothing else that appealed to me I chose "Wicked".  It was an OK movie, however, if I had realized it was only the first half of the movie, the second part comes out late 2025, I would not have gone to see it.

Tuesday,  My ex called and we went to see "Conclave" at the cinema, it was an Ok movie, then we had dinner.   

Now, if you don't want to read my moaning and groaning skip this next paragraph.

The ex picked me up in his 57 year old daughters car, he had traded cars with her for the winter as she has trouble locking and unlocking the door due to the ice and snow!!!!!.  Your are a grown woman for heavens sake, put on the big girl pants.  This car is old, but runs OK but has seen better days,  How old is it, not sure but it does not have air bags, so that will give you some idea.  The glove box is held shut with a bungy cord, duck tape is covering the locks on the doors.   You will remember I had an accident while on vacation, fractured neck, skull etc. etc. I have recovered remarkable well, so riding in this car left me worried.  Our winters are cold, snowy and icy, what if we got into an accident, how would I be protected?  I wouldn't be.  I am too old to go through another session of being injured.   I will not be riding in that car ever again.  See you in April "D".

Today, Wednesday I am doing some baking, butter tarts and inside out carrot muffins.  Do my laundry and tidy up in my sewing room.  

It is dull and grey today, just as it has been for the last few days and the forecast is indicating more of the same for the rest of the week,  

Our postal strike is now over, the workers have been ordered back to work after walking the picket line for four weeks.  Packages and letters having been piling up, they need to be sorted and delivered, so the chances of my Christmas cards being sent to the UK are slim to none.   Will send Happy New Year cards instead.

Have a great day.

Cheers

Christmas Decorations are up

 Nothing goes Christmassy in my house until at least the first week of December.  

Yesterday was a day to stay inside, cold and windy and feeling colder than the actual temperature on my thermometer.   So what to do, Christmas decorations were found in the locker and brought upstairs.   I do not have a lot of decorations, I like it that way.   So, a few lights around the patio doors, they are not going to be opened anytime soon.  The big glass vase, it is big, filled with mini lights and blue, burgundy and silver balls and some artificial greenery,  looks quite nice if I do say so myself.   Jim Shore Christmas statues I have been given over the years.   Snowman designed cushion for my living room chair. Oh! also the wreath on my door.  A couple of weeks ago when the weather was mild,  I did put some decoration on my balcony railing.   

I was speaking to a friend in the city of L yesterday afternoon, they already had 15 inches of snow on the ground, still more coming down as we spoke and it was expected to do the same overnight.  So how much they have right now, more than I would even try and guess.   We had some over night, no more than a couple of inches by the looks of it.   We do have some sunshine today.

This weather has cancelled my lunch date with my DIL.  Both my son and DIL are here to look after their two granddaughters while Mum and Dad have a mini vacation.   Granddaughter A  attends school, but all of them have been closed yesterday and today due to the weather.  Granddaughter M goes to a child care school, it was also closed.  DIL is having a couple of hectic days she was not expecting.  My son always works from home, so he can ensconce himself in my grandson office and do his work.   Both of them will look forward to bedtime.

Sending or receiving Christmas cards this year is not  going to happen, as our postal service is on strike.  In my opinion, a bad move at this time of the year as they are reporting huge numbers of money being lost, as no one is sending mail or parcels.   

The cactus in my living room has decided it is almost Christmas, so starting to show buds, perfect timing.  The amaryllis I received three years ago was planted early last month and is now growing by inches every week.  

Have a great day

Cheers.

It's Here

As I have mentioned previously I live in S. W. Ontario, sandwiched between Lake Erie and Lake Huron.  At the beginning of Winter both lakes are still open water as it has not been cold enough for them to start freezing over.   When the North/West wind blows  over Lake Huron it picks up moisture from the lake and the cold temps change the moisture to snow, lots of snow.  This snow is formed into streamers blowing over the countryside, if you live under a streamer you can be sure of lots of snow.    If you live a distance away from the streamers, you might still have green grass and not a flake to be seen.  

That is what has been happening in S. W Ontario for the last few days.  "L" a city less that 20 kms from me has had so much snow, traffic has come to a stand still, schools closed, air port cancelled flights,  cars and trucks ending up in the ditches,  and police closing roads because the conditions are too bad for anyone to be on the roads, even the snow removal equipment.   However, where I live, not a single snow flake could be found.   

Last night, however, we did receive 4 or 5 cm  and it is very windy.    At 10:45 am the temp is -6*C and when the wind chill in factored in it feels more like -13*C.   Time to get the Winter wear out.

DD2 worked today and had to travel to the city "L" early this morning, after my call to her, she was safe and sound at work.   We are always Mother's no matter how old you children are.  

On Monday we are forecast rain, depending on how much we get, we could be into a messy commute on the roads again.  

Yesterday, the quilting guild had our December pot luck lunch meeting.   Lots of lovely food,  yes I ate way too much,  lots of laughs and fun from a game we played and some beautiful show and tell.

We donate quilts throughout the year so, at the meeting all of the members were randomly picked into couples.   Each couple chose the colours of the block we are to make and the month in which the block was to be handed in.   C and I were paired, we chose brown, teal and cream for the colours of our block to be made and handed in at the January meeting.  When we have all of the blocks we put them together, quilt and bind the quilt.   We also are responsible for an activity of some kind and a light lunch of some goodies and a drink at the January meeting.  Each paired couple does the same. so at the end of the year we end up with 12 quilts which have been donated.  

On Friday, depending on the weather I will be having lunch with my DIL and happy hour in the evening upstairs.   Saturday is the Secret Santa/pizza party upstairs.  

Have a great day.

Cheers. 

It is officially Winter

In my opinion, if it snows and it is cold, it's Winter.

Where I live we have had light snow on and off most of the day, no accumulation as the ground is still quite warm.  Just glad I live where I do as further north of me they have had over a meter of snow, with more to come.

The temp is hovering around the -4*C mark but with the wind blowing it feels more like -18*C.  This is hot soup weather, that is what is cooking in my kitchen at the moment.

I never look forward to winter, it dreary and cold and it seems to last forever.   The winter forecasts I read all say something different. It could be cold and snowing or it could be a mild winter.  We get just what is coming our way and we can do nothing about it, just hope for Spring.

The month of November has flown by as I have been busy with one thing or another, and the calendar for December it looking much the same. 

My two daughters were here for lunch yesterday and we were discussing a trip in the Spring,  So that is nice to look forward to.

Physical and massage therapy is helping my neck get back into shape, however, still waiting for an appointment with an ENT Dr. regarding my ear and the fact I cannot smell.  Two Dr's have declined a referral from my family Dr.  A referral has now been forwarded to another Dr., so the waiting begins again.  Other than that I am well and doing fine.

December 1st tomorrow, so it's time to start putting up some Christmassy stuff and also do what Christmas gift shopping I do. 

 No Christmas cards have been sent this year as it does not appear they will get to their destination as our postal service is on strike, and have been for three weeks now.

Well that soup must been done by now.

Have a great day.

Cheers.

What? almost a month

Looks as if I have been AWOL for a long time, it is almost a month since I last posted.

We have been having the most beautiful weather for the end of October and so far in November.  Days of record high temps and wall to wall sunshine.  Cool nights, two of which were frosty, which put an end to most of the flowers that were still blooming.   The most recent forecast indicates some rain, and  normal temps for this time of the year.  It was bound to come.

Leaves have all but changed colour and now falling fast and furious.  The balcony furniture has been put  in my locker until being brought out next year.  So many indications of people getting ready for Winter.

All of the Halloween decorations in the stores have been replaced by Christmas decorations.  Organizations and church groups are advertising their Christmas bazaars, hoping to raise some funds for all the good things they do for people in the city.  Christmas movies and songs will soon be showing on the TV and radio.   In my opinion it is much too early for all of this.

Have you every had a week where it seems there is one appointment after another every day?   I am just finishing up one of those weeks.  So the inside of my mouth is clean,  I can hear better, my shoulders and neck hurt from physio, no pain, so gain they say,  Maybe the massage therapy will help.    More physio and massage for the next three weeks, so can expect more busy days ahead.   I wouldn't want it any other way, to tell the truth. 

Quilting is my hobby, and I have been doing it for a great many years, however, all of my family and my sisters family have received at least one from me during that time.  I am still making them for our guild to donate to the chemo department at the hospital and a facility which is providing apartments for homeless people who are making a change in their life.  I am, however, changing what I make and moving to smaller quilted pieces, placemats, runners, etc etc.   Also,, focusing on fiber art pictures and wall hangings.  Stay tuned.

My insurance agent always has a contest, in which he asks for his clients to submit photo's for the calendar for the up coming year.   I submitted three,  again this year one of them was chosen, this time for the month of March.  Pleased about that as  this is the third year I have been "published"  lol.

All but healed from my accident, thus the reason for physio and massage, unfortunately, the only thing I have yet to recover from is my sense of smell.   Not expecting to get that back again.  When I look back on everything, only having that issue is OK, I could be in a much worse situation as far as my health and mobility is concerned.  Life is good.  

Life is good, as I am hoping to go on a vacation with my two daughters in the Spring, somewhere warm and sunny to get rid of those Winter blues.  

Life is good,  going to be a Granny again in May of 2025.   

Life is good, everyone in my family is healthy and happy.

Have a great day.

Cheers 

 

Colours and Lee

Autumn this year is certainly providing a beautiful display of colours.   

The trees are finally starting to change into the reds, oranges and yellows of Autumn.   It seems to have been a long time before they started to show  but once they start there is no stopping them.  A beautiful time of the year, which is made even more colourful with the aurora of the northern lights.   I have seen amazing photo's of them.  

Another colour, white.  On the roof tops yesterday morning was frost.  The first frost of the season, which seems to be quite late this year.  It was cold overnight, but no frost in the area this morning, however, there will be more to come in the future.

On Wednesday this week I went to the  movies.  Wanted so much to see "Lee".  It is a true story and has distant connection to my family.  This is a brief story.

Elizabeth (Lee) Miller was a photo journalist during the second world war.  She lived in Paris met Roland Penrose in London, UK, married  him in 1947 and had a son,  While in London, she hired a nanny to care for her son,  Anthony.  She and Roland also had a home in Sussex, UK and lived there after the war.   During the time at the village house in Sussex, the nanny would take the child to cricket matches on the village green.  At Christmas time ringers and caroler's would visit all of the houses in the village.   One of my cousins would be playing cricket and also was a bell ringer.  He met the nanny on many of those occasions, they fell in love and were married.  

The movie showed Lee in France and Germany taking  photo's of the horror of the war.  The movie ended with the son finding all of Lee's photo's in the attic of the house in the village, apparently he never knew what his Mother did during the war as she never mentioned it.  I can understand why as some of the things she must have seen were terrible.   

Lee's husband Roland was a great artist, and the house in the village has been visited by many well know artists when Lee was alive, she died in 1977.  Roland passed away in 1984.

The house is now a gallery showing her photo's and Roland's art. 

Unfortunately, the nanny, my cousin by marriage is no longer alive, she would have enjoyed seeing the movie.

Apparently, when the movie was shown near the village, Anthony, Lee's son opened the first showing of the movie about his Mother.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

To all of my Canadian readers, have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Have a great day

Cheers.