Welcome 2026

All of the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over, and I am pleased it is.  The last two week of 2025 were just a whirlwind of too much travelling back and forth from home, too much food, to much socializing and just too much.  So now glad that I can sit and do absolutely nothing if I want to.

All of the Christmas decorations are now down and put away for another year.  The left over turkey carcass that DD1 gave me, made a lovely pot of soup, which is now all gone.  One small mince tart and one shortbread cookie left which will likely been eaten some time today.  Some better eating habits will start when they are all gone as the scales are reading a number I am not very happy about.  Planning on doing a lot more walking, either upstairs in the gym or on the walking track at our local arena.  

When a new year starts I tidy, tidy everything.  The linen closet looks like it belongs in a shop it's so neat and organized.  Socks and scarves all neatly together and folded in my bedroom dresser,  Closet just inside my entry door is also neat and now I can find all of the winter gloves, scarves etc. without having to rummage through things.  Food cupboards have given a good clean and turn out.  Some items way past their best before date are now in the garbage container.  Note to myself, don't buy it, if you will not use it right away.  Three loads of laundry done and put away.  Vacuum out to pick up all those sparkly bits from the decorations and everything dusted.  Plants watered and all of the dead leaves removed. Two of my orchids have put forth three spikes of flowers, which I am happy about.  When the poinsettia I was given is looking a bit worse for wear, I will pot up my amaryllis,  as I don't have the room for it as present.   

Now that is all done, I am hoping to get my mojo back to do some sewing, as I have not visited my sewing room for a long time.  I need to make a block for the quilting meeting on Wednesday, and also will require a trip to the fabric shop to pick up a couple of things for the challenge our group is doing, which is to be finished for our March meeting.    I have fabric cut and ready for sewing for a quilt I am making for me. 

Have a great day.

Cheers.

I have a vacation booked.  My three children and their spouse and I are all going on a vacation together.   We have never done this before so it may be an interesting trip.  After recently losing my sister, it makes me think life is too short, enjoy yourself while you can, as you never know when your number is going to be called.  

We had a light dusting of snow again last night, and the thermometer is indicating it is -8*C now at mid morning.  Later this week temps will rise and we may have rain.  

Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best for 2026.

Cheers 

Back Normal

Since the passing of my sister on Dec 17, and Christmas, my life has been a whirlwind of constant coming and going.   What day is it? the date? I kept asking myself as all the days melded into one.  Just waiting for the New Year to come and go, so that I have some time to just sit and not have to go anywhere or do anything.   Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have wanted these past two weeks any other way.

Two things these past days I was grateful for was  1 - the weather,  most days when I needed to travel, the roads were good, and 2 - I did not prepare a big meal, I did however, prepared things for each meal and house I visited. 

After all of the snow we had in November, Christmas was green, thanks to some warmer days and rain during a couple of weeks earlier in December.  However, as I write this and look out of my window, we have a blizzard.  Blowing snow and high wind gusts.  I am not venturing out today,  tomorrow though, I do have an appointment, which is in town, so the streets should be good.  I am thankful all of my family members that had to travel are now all safely at home.

Some of the residents in this apartment building are arranging a New Years eve party, in our community room upstairs.  I am planning on going, as we always have a good time at these events.  Then my partying is over and hopefully getting back to a near normal as possible.  

Winter has never been my favorite season,  so not looking forward to January or February.  I have plenty of things to keep me busy.  Photo's need to be sorted, there are just too many of them.  My memoirs need to be completed up to the present time.   And, of course, I have my quilting.  Recently, there seems to be a increased interest in knitting, years ago I did a lot of that, and now feel the urge to start doing some.  Maybe the little great grands is the reason for me to think about that again.

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy New Year.

Cheers,

SISTER

SISTER

YOUR LIFE WAS A BLESSING

YOUR MEMORY A TREASURE

YOU ARE LOVED BEYOND WORDS 

AND MISSED BEYOND MEASURE. 

Glistening and gentle

It's 8:25 p.m. Sunday evening, I have just returned home from a Christmas Carol service at a local church.  

As I have not had much exercise today, I decided to walk, there was no wind blowing and it was not too cold, and the ground underfoot was okay so got there and back with no slips or slides.

I am writing this now as it was a perfect evening for me to walk home.  It had started to snow- yes again- but this snow was magical, falling soft and gentle with every flake sparkling bright as it landed,  I was walking on a sparkling carpet of white lights.

Snow does look good when it falls like this, pity it is not like this all the time, then I wouldn't mind winter at all.

Cheers.

Seven more days

 With the cloud cover and the snow fall, we have seen very little sunlight this past week.  As a result the evenings have been drawing in earlier than I would like.  December 21st will give us the shortest daylight hours, so we have to wait only seven more days before the sun starts to travel back again.   Hopefully, we will see a little bit more of it in the coming days.

I am almost ready for Christmas, having finished gift shopping, only need to pick up some food items needed, and that will take place later this coming week.  

Lots of outdoor Christmassy events are happening near and far, however,  due to the bitter winds we have been having, I have not ventured out in the evenings to see some of them.  Not only is it cold but the ground is covered with snow and some ice, which is difficult to see, so staying safe inside for the most part.  Having said that, tonight I will be going to a Christmas carol service at a church a very short distance from where I live.

Monday, I visited my sister "B"  she is okay, appears to have lost a little more weight, I do want to see her again before Christmas, for reasons I will not write here,  Shopping on Tuesday, as I said above.  Thursday, two friends dropped in for a crafty couple of hours and we made a fabric wreath and had a sweet snack with tea and coffee.  We will not be meeting again until 2026.  Friday, was happy hour in the community room upstairs, lots of snacks and drinks and a birthday cake for one of the regulars that comes up.  His wife put on a lovely spread and we all enjoyed karaoke. 

Spending a quite weekend at home, as it all starts again tomorrow, but, I will save all of my comings and goings for next weeks post.

As I live in an apartment I miss my garden, as a result I have several, READ-- way too many plants-- inside at the moment.  In the past I have kept my previous Christmas poinsettia plants, nursed them through the summer and tried to get it to "bloom" again in December the following year.  I have done it this year, however, have not been as successful as previous years.  I do believe I should have started the 14 hours of complete darkness earlier than it did.   AND-- DD1 planted some passion fruit seeds, she said they have beautiful flowers and they do,  and they grew, she gave me two plants, they have grown and grown.  Google indicates passion fruit VINES grow to 10 - 30 feet tall----WHAT!!.  I believe Google, as mine now reach the ceiling,  they are going to get a hair cut, or they may end up back at DD1's house.  My miniature  orchids are blooming,  they must love being on my coffee table.  

As I finish writing, we do have sunshine at present, however, the forecast is predicting light snow this afternoon.  

Have a great day

Cheers

AWOL

My goodness, it was ages ago since I posted something here in blog land, so here is a catchup post which is not in any particular order.

First the weather, it has turned cold,  where I live there is not much snow, however, only 20 miles or so areas from me have received substantial amounts.  Then it warms up and rains, you guessed it slush, then gets cold again with icy conditions on the roads.  We do have a good service of keeping the roads clear,  starting with bus routes first, then highly travelled roads and streets, last are the subdivisions or streets less traveled,   It's winter in Canada and I don't look forward to this time of the year.  

After having to go to a city north of where I live, my car was a mess so had to give it a good wash. I try and do that often during the winter as the salt which is put on the roads, does not do the body of the car much good. 

It's cloudy today, no significant weather forecast, temp  -2*C,  this will be the high reading for most of the next seven days, with one night going down to -13*C certainly not the norm for this time of the year.

Last week it was very very windy and the direction of it caused a seiche on lake Erie.  The levels near where I live receded 6 to 8 feet.  Photo's show enormous waves, looking both awesome and dangerous at the same time.

Had lunch with two past coworkers and having another lunch with six different past coworkers this coming Friday. 

Happy hour Friday's and the last Friday of November was pot luck dinner.

Went to the theatre and dinner with my ex's friends, and a lovely evening was had by all.

There was a town hall meeting with the owner of the building I live in, in which we were informed about the swimming pool that will be ready for next summer, a library will be installed in our common room, etc, etc.   Residents also advised about issues they were having, which we were told would be rectified. 

Connected to a couple of long lost friends.  Visited them early in the afternoon, invited to stay for dinner, chatted and chatted some more and home at 10:00 p.m.  Had a lovely visit catching up with all of their news and telling them mine.  We will get together again soon.

Had a Dr. appointment, all fine there.

Today, is our holiday pot luck lunch with my quilting guild.   After we have eaten we will be doing a crafty project, sounds like fun.

Saturday, is our Secret Santa gift exchange upstairs.  We always have a great time at this event, so looking forward to it.  New this year is a ugly sweater contest, I couldn't justify the cost of buying one so made my own.  Snacks are also included.

If you look at all of my coming and goings food seems to be quite common, doesn't it.  Can you see a DIET starting on January 2nd ??   I can.

Christmas shopping done for three of my great grands, only five more to go, but they are easy gifts.  I have had to reduce my gift giving during the past few years, just too many family members to buy for. Put an age limit of under 18 years, so only give eight grands gifts. Christmas is for children. 

I have a lot of fabric in my sewing room, so thinking about making a new quilt for the youngest in the family as they were all given one when they were born.  They now need a new one for their bigger beds.  Hopefully, they will all be done for the great grands for next Christmas. 

Retrieved my Christmas decorations from my downstairs locker, I don't put up a tree any more, however,  do make my apartment look festive with lights and numerous Christmassy items I have collected over time.  I started doing that yesterday, will likely finished it off this weekend.  

My sister had her family Christmas get together last weekend, early I know but necessary due to several circumstances.  If the roads are safe I will visit her on Sunday.  

Time to get moving and get ready for my lunch outing today. 

Have a great day.

Cheers.