Moving forward - Welcome 2015!

Happy New Year!

I'm a little late in posting this. The last few weeks of December were a whirlwind of activity around here. January began very busy as well and I am finally breathing a sigh of relief.

 On December 8th, Fathers job of almost 20 years ended abruptly.

It was suddenly discovered the business was millions of dollars in debt and had filed for bankruptcy. All employees were sent home, and it took another 2 weeks before paychecks were issued. Not exactly the kind of thing you are expecting to deal with just a few weeks before Christmas! This has yet to be sorted out, but it may be a blessing in disguise for Father. He is a great worker and very good at what he does and so I don't think it will be a problem to find a new employer.

We spent Christmas Eve with my parents, and my sisters family.

I am blessed to still have both parents - here I am with my Dad on Christmas Eve.

New Years Eve was quietly ushered in at midnight here at home.

Little Country Girl and I stayed up until midnight and then promptly went to bed at 12:05!

On my dog walk the next morning I was lucky enough to spot this Snowy Owl resting on our hydro pole. I walked right up to the pole and took pictures and it didn't fly away.

Somehow I took this as a good sign of the New Year ahead.

2015 will be an interesting year 

:)

Merry Christmas to All!

~Merry Christmas to All~

I hope your Christmas is full of Family, Feasting, and Fun!

December already?

I just realized it has been almost a month since my last post!

I've had my hands full with fall clean out, working around the house, skating with Little Country Girl 3 nights a week, volunteer time with the skating club, Country Boy and Big Country Girl and their schooling, and most recently, Christmas shopping!

I was in denial that it was December until finally Little Country Girl asked if I had picked up an Advent Calendar. I had trouble finding them but finally found one for sale the other day... An NHL hockey calendar! 

Not sure why it has 32 windows, but in my house MORE chocolate is always a good thing.

And because I bought it late, Little Country Girl got to eat 6 chocolates right away!

So the count is on in our house.

4 days until Country Boy comes home for the holidays.

11 more days of school for Little Country Girl before the holidays.

14 more shopping days.

15 days until our Christmas celebrations begin.

16 days until Santa comes!

Farewell to 2013

It's hard to believe that another year has passed!

My Mom once told me "The older you get, the faster the time goes." As a child, I never really quite understood that statement.  My amazing Mom celebrates her 82nd birthday today, and I can just imagine how quickly the year has passed for her!

Looking back now, on 2013, I will be glad to see it go.

 

In February, the farmhouse 3 doors down caught fire and burnt to the ground. A husband and wife, as well as several pets lost their lives that night. And although we did not know them, we all felt such a horrifying sense of loss. 

 In March, I fell while skating and hit my head. A quick trip to the ER and 5 staples later I was on my way home. Not too bad of an injury, thankfully, but it was traumatic to Little Country Girl who is still to this day afraid to skate with me.

 Spring didn't want to show it's face in 2013. We had a late frost, May 29th, that killed any plants we had already put out in the garden. Thankfully I had not planted all my seedlings, but I did have to replace several things out in the veggie garden.

June was a bad month too.

I almost lost a good friend in a car accident. Thankfully he is still with us today, but his life has changed forever.

We lost our Papa to Cancer.

We lost another friend to Cancer.

July and August were nice and we were busy with soccer, gardens and summer fun.

September and October were cool.

November was the month of rain, cool and dampness.

Our Opa was in a car accident and the car was totaled. Thankfully Oma wasn't out on this trip or I am not sure she would be here today.

  Losing the car was a big blow and not a good thing for seniors trying to hold onto their independence. So far they are doing OK with public transit.

In December it snowed everyday. And it was COLD!

Christmas Eve was to be spent in Toronto at Oma and Opa's house.

An ice storm a few days before Christmas left them without power for 3 days and so Christmas was moved to my sisters house. On this day, Big Country Girl had to work and Little Country Girl was sick with a stomach bug. We did proceed with the festivities, but it was quick.

Christmas Morning here at home was nice. Everyone was spoiled as usual.

On boxing day, the stomach bug struck again, this time Netty got it. 

And the next day, Country Boy got it.

And then Country Dad.

I feel like I was robbed of Christmas.

Today I will be waving goodbye to 2013.

And good riddance!

 

Merry Christmas!

From Our Family to Yours

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Merry Christmas!

 The baking is done, the gifts bought and wrapped.

The tree has been decorated and now the cat is at at her post under the tree.

Thankfully she doesn't try to climb the tree, but is quite content to lay underneath between the gifts.

The table is set 

In a few short hours, I will put on the traditional Christmas apron and help prepare a wonderful meal, and share the night with my family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The weather couldn't have been more perfect for this long weekend.

I had the privilege of spending time with both family and friends this weekend, and I truly feel blessed and thankful to have such wonderful people in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I leave you with beautiful scenes of Autumn in Ontario

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day to those who celebrate.
I'm not the kind of person who really celebrates Valentine's Day. I've been with DH almost 25 years and we have never celebrated Valentine's Day. EVERY day should be a day that you show love and appreciation for your significant other.  There is one thing I like about Valentine's Day ... the SWEETS!