November 25 - Let it snow!

 We know it's not going to last but Sunday's snowfall certainly helped to put folks into the holiday spirit - all 21.5 cms of it!  It sure did for me.  I didn't have anywhere to be so I spent the day digging out the Christmas decorations I brought with me, to see just what I have (not quite as much as I thought, but enough to work with) and then I spent the better part of the day baking cookies. 

We're hoping we'll be able to have a special day for our volunteers in early December. In the past they have had a banquet but that's not an option this year. So each will be given a gift certificate and we'll have treats available. Hence the baking. A few of us are going to undertake that task, and a snowy day was just the right atmosphere.

 

I spent Saturday in Guelph at the Dennison's. Patti was working and Tristen had a project he needed to complete for school. One of his classes is donating handmade small toys to a woman's shelter. He needed to learn how to crochet so he could make a rabbit. So of course I got the text, "Grandma can you help?"  I went over and we found a very simple pattern to make a rabbit out of a crocheted square. Pretty simple but even at that it didn't turn out quite like the picture but it was a semblance of a rabbit. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the finished product!

Sunday morning (before it started snowing) was spent putting greenery into my bucket I rescued from the metal recycling at work. The bottom is rusted and has some small holes but doesn't affect what I needed it for. Not as fancy as I could have had on PEI but it will do. I saw on a neighbourhood facebook page that some folks had decorations stolen off their porches so good thing mine isn't that fancy. I certainly won't have the lovely birch sticks that we used on the island. I was at a local building store the other day and they had bundles of 3 birch sticks, about 2 feet long. They were a mere $16.98. Seriously??? Needless to say I didn't buy any, My bucket will have them in my imagination!

It is officially one month till Christmas. I still have some stuff to do and my move downstairs has stalled slightly. I'm going to be able to use the kitchen and the living room but for now I will leave my living room furniture upstairs. I have the tree put up in the downstairs living room (although not decorated as yet) and there's even an electric fireplace to add some atmosphere. We'll put the table and chairs in there for Christmas dinner and call it done. We then can finish the dining room renovations after the new year. No point in getting ourselves all in a dither about something that's not that critical. After all there will be lots of other things to remember about the COVID CHRISTMAS 🎅

It's actually going to work out really well this year. Patti is working overnight on Christmas Eve. I'll go over there in the afternoon and we'll have our finger foods. Then she can leave for work, the kids and I can clean up and watch a movie or whatever, and I'll stay over. When Patti gets home in the morning, and after the gifts are open, I can go home and make dinner while she sleeps, before they all arrive later.  A win/win for all involved! I'm really looking foreword to it.

Lest we forget- Wednesday, November 11th

 

Things sure are different here in Ontario. Back on the island, November 11th is a statutory holiday, but not here. At least our store is being observant enough to remain closed until 12:00. This way those who wish to view ceremonies, will have the time. Gone this year are the ceremonies that the boys took place in as cadets. Not sure how James will be observing the day up in Base Borden.

As most people, not a lot is going on right now. Off to work and then back home again.

I did spend an enjoyable weekend in Brockville visiting Stephan and Trish. There was a light dusting of snow on the car on Friday morning but fortunately it was gone by the end of the day. My drive to their place was lovely, sunny and bright and not too cold. It was great to catch up with them. We drove to an area with trails in the woods and, sadly, none of us had a phone with us to take any photos. But it was a lovely walk, in spite of the fact we somehow got lost and had no idea where we were. But we did eventually find our way out of the forest but it was a much longer walk than was intended.

Sunday I left to come home and drove half of the way in pouring rain. Then the sun came out, then I literally drove into a blizzard that lasted for several kms before coming out into the sun again. A rather bizarre journey, but a safe one, so that's all that matters.

I've had my appointment with the eye surgeon regarding my cataracts and it's not likely to take place till sometime next summer. Same position I was in a year ago - oh well, what can you do.

The doors between the living room
 and dining room downstairs

The house I'm living in has a main floor apartment, with bedrooms and bathroom in the basement. However the basement area is badly in need of some construction work. With time and the economy not at it's best right now, I've struck a deal with my landlords to allow me to use the main floor in addition to my space upstairs. I have at tiny kitchen and small living room. The downstairs space has a larger kitchen, much larger living room and a separate dining room. The main  floor is in need of some cosmetic repairs and we are working on that at the moment. My hope is that I can be using the larger space by Christmas. That way I can host the family dinner at my place - a win for all concerned! Fingers crossed. Stay tuned for updates!

Recently I met my friend Kay at Conestoga Mall to go for a walk and a coffee. I'm loving the back parking lot. Facing one way you see the mall.

If you turn around you will see on the other side of the parking lot, the place where the Mennonites park their horses while visiting the mall.

  Wonder when Montague will look like this?

One of the things I did miss about Ontario when I lived away, was the vibrant colours of the leaves in the fall. 

Of course, those leaves do fall onto my back yard, creating quite the colourful quilt on the ground.

I'm told it's good to leave them on the ground. Guess it will give me lots to do raking them up in the spring when the weather starts to warm up again. 

Speaking of weather, a week ago Monday we awoke to about 2 cms of snow on the ground. The past few days we have enjoyed very mild temperatures - up to 24' when I left work today at 2:30.  The past 4 or 5 days have been the same - sunny and very warm. We know it can't last but we're enjoying every minute of it while it lasts.