Anniversary Dinner

What can I say?  The restaurant lived down to my expectations.  It was noisy, crude, ( there appeared to be a drunken sports team at the next table who kept loudly chanting  team cheers) and expensive. We won't be going there again.  I did get Cafe Royale made with B&B, but had to tell the bartender how to make it (  "Pour coffee in a cup, add brandy").  I did get some nice pictures of the children--of all ages, and one of Loren that leaves me wondering.

New Keurig machine

Most likely I really did wear out my old Keurig machine with too much use??  It has been misbehaving for some time now, and this morning I had had enough. It is a closed unit, and even though Harry has tried to look at it, and got it working once, it stopped again.  I thought we might get a deal this time of year with all the sales. Canadian Tire was our destination and ultimately the store to purchase a new upgraded model Keurig 2.0. This machine will give you a single cup, or a carafe of coffee (4 cups) The only drawback is that this machine will only let you use K cups or K carafes that have the official Keurig Logo . I actually tried tonight after I set it all up to brew a cup a tea but the machine said "oops" and would not let it work with the K cup I used ( not an official Keurig Logo). So I am stuck with a lot of Kienna coffee pods, K cups and accessories now that won't work in this new machine. I do have a spare one cup Keurig machine though that I keep on the shelf, so as a back up I will be able to use it with the old stuff.  
We are into the deep freeze same as you folks. The ground is covered with hard packed ice from all the rain a few days ago so the walking is very treacherous, and very dangerous for one who is deadly afraid of falling and breaking something!
I loved to see your hexis Pati sewn together in circles and wish now that I had not sewn mine into little 'flowers' as I went along. I'll still continue as I am doing since I am really just experimenting, but your idea gives me new ideas for another time!
We are going to have home made little nibbles of deep fried treats - meatballs, bacon covered  beef, etc for New years eve. Harry likes to make these and in checking out boxed hors'doerves it was cheaper to get the ingredients and make our own.
I got a double DVD from Mike for Christmas -the two  Crocodile Dundee movies - and since I loved this movie, and it's sequel, I will enjoy watching it - has been years since I last viewed it.. And then i hall start to take down the tree and decorations. Sad, but in a way refreshing to start anew for the coming year.  I shall miss getting up and turning on the tree lights and sitting with my first morning coffee in the peace and tranquility it offered.
Well, bed time. Take care everyone. What are your plans for New Years Eve and New Years Day?

Need a short break

Amber had a long medical appointment today, and Judie was too ill to stay with the children, so I was needed.  The same is happening tomorrow.  I have pictures of Sunday evening, but don't know when I might have a chance to post them. ( It will take awhile) I'm exhausted now, and bed is looking mighty good.  Probably the same tomorrow, but more so.

Pictures and memories

First of all, I promised you a picture of my new shelving unit, once everything was in place.  ( Also check other blog)

Thank you all for your good wishes on our 49th wedding anniversary.  This is the day the family has chosen for our annual family dinner.  Other years it has been on David's birthday, and has been an 'adults only"event, but this year everyone will be coming, and we have decided to go back to Ichi Ban.  I know we had said that our last visit there was not a pleasant one, but this time the company will be familiar and we hope to have a good evening.  Our first time was to celebrate Loren's 18th birthday, and we have returned for other  significant events.  The last time we were there as a family, both of my sisters were able to join us--one even brought her husband along!  This morning Amber and I spoke of that night: the cook being so kind to Jessica in helping her learn to use chop sticks and   giving a warning about the fire.  This time Samantha will be along, as well as her dad.

And I plan to take my camera.

Special days

Anniversary wishes going out to my sister and her husband. This is a very busy season for you two with Christmas and Anniversary and Birthday.   Hope every one of them is great

Boxing day gift

David was out to buy milk early this afternoon--via Canadian Tire.  He bought me a storage rack--some assembly required.  I have no idea what it is intended for, but we have put it in the studio.  You may remember this cedar chest.  I believe Daddy made it for Mom while he was stationed in Ottawa during WWII.  I have used these baskets as a means of sorting  catch-all stuff, and keeping it within my vision, so that it doesn't get forgotten.  The contents change once in awhile.  However, David accuses the stuff of trying to catch him as he walks by into the bathroom, so I think he sees the storage rack as a way of getting rid of the baskets.  Not likely!

So here we are getting the first bits of the rack assembled.

You can see the containers in the above picture.  They are soft-sided with a rigid base that fits inside.

 Above David is working on the first step of placing all 12 of the rigid bars into the holes in the side supports.

And here it is ready and waiting for the containers to be placed inside and filled.  And wouldn't you know that I would forget to take a picture of that.  

Family time

And here we are enjoying a toast to our being a family!  From the left is Jeremy, almost 18, then Judie Shipp, an honourary family member, at Christmas.  Next to her is Jessica, and you may notice that her hair is the same colour as Judie's--a Christmas gift.  Then Darren, and Samantha.  At the end of the table are Amber, me and Loren. then Sheila and Gillian, almost 16.  David volunteered to take the picture.

We had dinner and then opened gifts.  After that we played a game of Sequence, that Jessica and Samantha got for Christmas.  Samantha was able to play, assisted by Sheila.  Then we tried a game of 31.  I never say anything when we play 31, but on family occasions, I remember Beth, David, and I . along with Scott Thomson, playing it with Phyllis when Daddy died.  It is the strongest memory I have of that time.  Then David and I started to pack up while some of the others tried playing a another game the girls got for Christmas, called "Heads up".  It seemed pretty bizarre - from what I could hear, and then when we were heading for the car Loren was muttering " What a stupid game!"  All and all, a fairly normal Christmas.

Suppertime Selfie

With Kris in charge of the iphone we toasted the family near and far.  It is really hard to take a group selfie!

Hope everyone had a wonderful day.  I know that we did

Thoughts as we Toast each other.....

Here I sit with glass in hand waiting for the big hand to reach the top of the clock. Great anticipation I might add!  I am reminded when thinking about my "toast" to you, of an inspirational saying I read recently from my daily readings. It read:  Ever wish that your family knew how much they really mean to you and how much you need them? Go ahead and tell them!
So my Toast to you: You mean so much to me and here I am telling you.
And so it is done. The time came, and the drink was enjoyed from the "F" glass. I was just in communication with Mike in Toronto and he toasted with a beer in hand. Hope you felt the feelings being sent from Ontario. I felt all that love coming from Manitoba ! Bless you all, and take care.

'Tis the Season

Best wishes to all of you this Christmas Day.  We will be raising our glasses in Killarney tonight.

And so it now rains.....

.....and not really what I had hoped for or planned for today either Pati!!  I will likely have to be pumping water before too long and I hid the pump under the stairs thinking I wouldn't need it again this winter - silly me!
I appreciate your valid concerns about your machine. Your machines are an extension of yourself. And I so love seeing the pictures and reading the descriptions as you proceed with each step of your pieces.  And here I am with a very good Husqvarna and do not use it - I know where it is under all the stuff, but cannot really get at it right now, thank you very much!  One day though.....
I have been busy making up recipes that Harry is pulling off the computer. Today it was two "snacks" - one sweet and one savoury but both with similar ingredients ie corn and rice cereals etc.   Since I like the old standard Nuts and Bolts (which I cannot make to perfection at all), it's no wonder the savoury one appeals to me. The other is gooey and sweet with corn syrup. But Harry likes it haha
We bought our Christmas Dinner at M&M Store. We will be having Beef Wellingtons. Never had this before and they come all ready in a nice cellophane package. Great... no fuss cooking!  Thank goodness I also bought a bottle of wine!
So here's greetings to you all for a happy Christmas Eve, and wonderful Christmas Day with family.
I shall be toasting to you all at 7 pm (my time) on Christmas Day and be thinking about everyone doing the same - this is so exciting for me!  I shall look forward to seeing whatever pictures you can send my way.
Take care.

Not the day I planned

Had expected to spend the day doing FMQ'g on my "pain" piece, but I am functioning like I'm in "lala land", and then the machine broke down ( see other blog)

Loren dropped in to pickup the turkey, and drop off a gift he had bought, on my behalf, for Jeremy.  Oh, oh--Amber took all of my extra wrapping paper home with her the other night.  Gotta think about that one.  Thank Goodness we had planned a fairly simple supper, for tonight.  I have been sleeping better.  I stopped using the herbal teas and pills to try to sleep, and now am only having about 1/2 glass of wine in the evening, and making an effort to avoid a nap during the day.  Appears to be working better than all of those other things, even if I still get up several times.

Otherwise we remain in " waiting" mode.  Tomorrow I will do the last minute baking, and go to exercise class, even if I have to drag my knees kicking and screaming all the way.

Reminder

I'm ready here and I have been warming Mike and Erin up for the last month haha
Your day has changed from Christmas eve to Christmas Day which is much better because it will include ALL the family gathering together - great plan!

Christmas

We will be in Killarney for Christmas so I will try for a picture of all of us, including Chloe....  her first Christmas drink :)

It's that time!

Shall we synchronize our watches and plan to raise a glass to toast the family?   How does 6:00 Winnipeg time sound, on Christmas day?  And let's not forget all of the other family members who vowed to be part of this.  Shall we send out reminders?

Always good to know......

Thanks for that tip Pati, and sorry you did not get to enjoy nice dumplings with your stew!  I wish I used my slow cooker more often. It has actually moved from the counter in the kitchen, to a shelf in the basement.  I would enjoy meals cooked in this fashion but not a favourite overall here.  I have been eating cabbage rolls these last few nights. One of the meals "taken out" of the freezer in order to accommodate the two ( not one, but two) turkeys we bought in Walmart the other day. Really a bargain to get grade A for 75 cents/lb. Today I achieved a great deal and feel that I am ahead of the game now for Christmas. The weather is supposed to turn bad Christmas Eve into Christmas day. OK for us as we are staying home but Mike and Erin are driving down to Toronto to visit with her family, and I worry so much when I know they are on the highway this time of year. We are planning to have a Christmas Dinner at their place in North Bay on Dec 28 when they are back home.
I am planning my cinnamon buns for Christmas morning here - I am the only one eating them but I will not give up "traditions" and tend to persevere for their continued existence in my life.  Now here is the question?? I have leftover mince meat and wonder if I dare incorporate this into my cinnamon buns instead of raisins and cherries? What do you think? Ugh or not?
Well, Friday night and time to dream about winning the Lotto Max - only $21 million tonight, though, but I guess we'll take it!!  Have a great weekend everyone. Take care

One thing I learned today

You cannot make dumplings in a slow cooker.  "Nuff said.

Waiting for Christmas

.  I replaced what Amber took and made one more "slice and bake" recipe, and now have it safely in the freezer, although I may bake off a tray tonight--just to make sure they taste right, of course.  I spen what time I can in the studio.  And I attend my exercise class.  I get to do some of my exercises just about everyday, concentrating on those that are most difficult for me.  I'm making progress but not quickly.  I have the movement, but not the strength, and efforts to improve strength are impeded by the porr condition of my other leg--although that remains my strongest leg.  My arthritic back has been a problem, but the Physio has modified/corrected how I do the exercises, to protect my back and that's helped.  I guess I just "keep on carrying on". Progress, while it's slow, can be seen.  I'm using the cane less and less, and loosing track of it more and more.

Last Sunday we cooked one of the chickens we got from Cathy.  We have had two meals off it, and should be able to get two more.  I made stock, but a little differently.  I put everything in the slow cooker before we went to bed and it stayed on for over 13 hours.  And what nice stock it is!  Dark and flavourful--quite a bit nicer than my usual stock.  Today I plan to use the slow cooker again to make a chicken stew.  Then I'm going to see if I can cook dumplings in the slow cooker.

Beth, your cookie memories brought back so much to me.  I don't know why I was moved by it, but know that I was.  When I was working with Amber and the girls, we talked a bit about how to ice cookies, and I was talking about how we used to ice the tree, bell and star off center and to one side, and how that allowed us to stack the cookies once they were done.  Amber expressed surprise, saying that she thought it was just the weird way we iced cookies.  Ah-h-h,  family traditions!

A little chuckle on my part....

.......to read and see your pictures of "cookie making". I had just finished baking my own batch of cookies and decorating them. My dough cut outs of a tree, a bell and a star are favourites from the past. Oh, to have had little helpers just as you did Pati!!!  I stood all alone rolling, and cutting and baking, and mixing icing, and coloured sugar in little dishes. Just like we always did at home, and just like I always did with my two when they were little. At the same time Cathy writes about The Messiah, and I had my CD of the same name playing as I always do at Christmas time. So who says we are not close at heart ( even if miles between indicates otherwise)
Going through that sloppy mild time right now that you both spoke of earlier. We had bought a turkey last week and I had it in a plastic container in my big outdoor freezer!  I had to quickly reorganize the freezer indoors to make room for it because it would have thawed with these mild temps.  And tomorrow Harry wants to go to Walmart in Huntsville to buy a bigger turkey to take to Mike's for Christmas - they are on sale $0.75 / lb. I have no idea where I will put it. I guess I will have to take out more stuff from the freezer just to accommodate this other turkey. The best part was that a huge standing rib roast was removed from the freezer to make room, and cooked yesterday for supper. I have never tasted nicer more tender beef before. I made a point of boiling potatoes and cooking fresh carrots still left over from summer harvest to make a really decent meal. So often its always "pick up' meals lately which I tend to tire of quickly. Here's to a good week for all of us - take care XX

My evening

My evening was less inspiring than Cathy's.  In some ways I would have been glad to have been with you, as music tends to reach my soul too.  However, my offer to do some baking for Amber ended up with Amber and the girls spending the evening making and decorating sugar cookies..

/

Jessica has started baking at home and was quick to jump in and get to work.  She is growing quickly and is now 4'8". just 2inches shorter than her great-grandmother.  Samantha worked for a bit, but then abandoned cookie baking for playing with her Poly Pocket dols

She wasn't sure whe wanted her picture taken, and tried to hide in Grandmas chair

 Everybody got involved in the decorating, and Amber was a grat help with the clean-up.  Amber was standing, and Jessica sitting on a stool, so how close their heights are isn't really shown here.

When they left all of the cookies went with them, so tomorrow I have to start baking all over again.  No exercises today, and once I finish my wine, it's off to bed for me.  I'm beat!

What an evening!

I just got home from attending the Community Choir's presentation of The Messiah.  What a remarkable event.  I was totally caught up in the music.  There is so much talent in this area.  Of course the fact that my daughter had a solo in it didn't influence my opinion. :)  It gave me goosebumps listening to them.  The Hallelujah Chorus was fantastic.  Of course the entire audience stood for it..... even the ones with walkers.  It was well worth going out on a Saturday night.  It does make me feel a bit old when the children of the children that I knew are singing in the choir.  I feel re-vitalized and energetic enough to face the week ahead.

Awakening

Since Sunday, I've been trying to reduce the number of pain killers I take.  It's going well.  I'm also feeling the positive effects of having been taking an iron supplement for the past two months, and reducing my BP meds. I have energy, I'm working like a fiend in the studio, and am actually producing new work and am able to visualize potential pieces. ( Housework be damned!)  But--and it's a huge but(t)--lol)--eating like a horse.  Yep, after a year of poor appetite, and slow weight reduction, the old me is back in business, just in time for the holiday season.  Ar-g-g-g-h!

Last evening, I watched the movie "Maleficent" on my laptop.  Not the best way to see a movie, but I quite enjoyed it.  I was a little disappointed in Angelina Jolie's performance after reading that she was a potential Oscar nominee, and surprised to see that she was listed as Executive Producer, although maybe I shouldn't have been.  None the less, a good movie, and I recommend it.  I was less impressed by this week's The Quilt Show, but it still inspired me to consider re-visiting Kantha techniques, (poorly represented on the show).  I have to produce a response to a challenge requiring some sort of piece using "line" as the principal artistic element, and Kantha may satisfy that challenge quite nicely.

As mentioned, the housework has suffered for awhile now, but, if I have this energy, maybe some of it should be directed domestically??  I'm committed to some baking this year ( what on earth am I going to do with two litres of glace cherries?!?), and my butt really needs more goodies!  So this weekend will probably be spent in the kitchen, along with a bit of grocery shopping.  And speaking of grocery shopping, it might be beautiful where you are Cathy, (and I'm sure it is) but here it is just dirty and wet.  We are going through washer fluid like mad, and everything,( purses, clothing, boots, floors etc) seems to attract dirty slush. The car is now dirty grey inside and out.  I have to check the license plate to make sure it's mine.

David is up.  Time to get to work.

Winter respite

I feel guilty telling you how nice it is here!  Very little snow and temperatures at or above zero.  I know we will pay for it later, but I sure am enjoying it now.  I'm hoping to get down to see Chloe soon.  Every weekend I have been busy or Kris has been working.  He is off this weekend, but I am going to the Community Choirs' presentation of Handel's "Messiah"  Rrain sings soprano in the choir.  I was at the Choraliers concert last week and it was really nice.  They had 8 different choirs from the area (school and church mostly). And, yes, Rrain is in that choir too.  Oh, and today she says she will probably be joining the united church choir.  I asked her if she realized it meant she had to go to church on Sunday (and rehearsal!) but she loves the music. I don't know when we will be celebrating Christmas around here.  I  had hoped to have Christmas in July and avoid all the rush, but Kris and family are going on an Alaskan Cruise next July so that sort of kills that plan.  Nancy's family is having Christmas in February, so that month is gone, and January is Ukrainian Christmas which Sandi's family has.  I might be forced to Christmas Day.  Maybe we will go to Killarney at Christmas and just take the food with us to cook there.  Jim made lazy cabbage rolls last night and I am sure there is enough left to take us through the weekend.  At least I don't have to plan anything :) I saw Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on TV last night.  The one with Burl Ives from years ago.  It sure looks dated with all the animation they have these days, but it seems to be a Christmas classic.    Time to get back to work.  The week is almost over and Christmas is only 2 weeks away.  The years go by faster and faster.

Here it comes again....

After a nice reprieve from the snow, we are hunkering down for another blast today. All school buses are cancelled and I see the snow and winds have already started out my window. No plans to go out on the roads today, so I'll just stay home and shovel! Likely walk up to the mail as I have been doing these past few days. The other day after Harry arrived home from his shopping trip to Huntsville, he desired Chinese food for supper. The local restaurant was closed so we drove to the next town to Wong's Delight. We had taken out from there years ago but were disappointed. So with some misgivings, we ate in there. Delightfully surprised at a delicious meal. First time I have really enjoyed Chinese food that much. I do not know if ownership has changed but I would eat this again if ever in the mood. Doing some wrapping and watching Christmas movies at same time. Yesterday I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. What a crazy but classic movie! I have my favourites that I will soon start to watch as Christmas draws closer. White Christmas, The Polar Express and Miracle on 34th Street, are a few I love year after year.Starting to receive Christmas cards every day now - I just mailed mine and although they were made out way back in November, I didn't mail them too early.This is the only time we hear from some people, and as the yars pass, you never know if theses people have suffered losses etc so sometimes hard to send out cards addressed to folks who you think may have become ill or died? As well, gradually I have started to delete some other from whom we have not heard for years. Time for another morning coffee and sit by the tree before the days starts in earnest. I enjoy this time of morning and maybe why I get up so early haha Take care.

Yesterday's sale

|After the terrible expoerience of an alarm ringing at 5:30, we were up and off to the sale, via Tim's.  We were one of the first in line at the loading dock and had everything inside and set up by 9:00.  Then we sat, ate our Tim's donuts and watched everyone else scramble and run around like the sky was falling.  We took turns walking around to see if there was anything we might want to buy.  The local library had a big display of second hand books and David found one he wanted, while I found a scarf that i couldn't live without.  It is one of those curly scarves that were all the rage 3-4 years ago, and being offered for sale at less than the cost of the yarn.  There were several vendors trying to unload these scarves, so I have to guess that the fad is really over.  Anyway, it matched the outfit I was wearing and I proudly wore it--and may even wear it again one day.

Sales were quite slow, but I finally sold two older pieces, and five small purses--enough to pay for the booth and gas.  It was nice to see my friend Vivan getting along well.  She had the same surgery as I did, but 5 days later.

We had some A&W coupons, so stopped in Lockport on the way home for supper.  The woman must have been in the Christmas spirit, as she let us substitute an order of onion rings for the French Fries on the coupon.  They've never let us get away with that before!  Then home and veg-out for the rest of the evening.

This is the last of the active commitments I have before Christmas, and I'm sort of glad.  I now have a ocuple of social engagements, but more of the sort where you show up and enjoy yourself, than anything that is going to mean any major involvement.  Today, I exchange ATC's, and mine are ready to go.  Tuesday  my Tuesday Stitchers are having their annual Christmas luncheon at the local Olive Garden.  I have at least two projects in mind, and the beginning of a glimmering of a third.  Two of them involve a lot of fiddly work, of which I have pictures on the other blog.

Baby, it's cold out there..........

But not much snow. So that's good, eh? Keep hoping that the snow will not be as much this year in spite of that early scare we had last month. Have been rounding up our shopping for gifts and seem to be making headway. Yesterday the friends we have in Sprucedale surprised us. They came to the house with a gift basket for us. And the surprise was, we did not have the basket for them ready! We exchange a token gift basket each year. They were the couple who live across from Harry's Mom and were so helpful in her care. What started as a thank you from us one year way back has continued each year even after Mother's death. So....off to Huntsville in the afternoon to shop. Then I spent some time last evening wrapping each item. Today I will organize the basket and wrap in clear wrap with a bow on top. Harry always goes to the Seniors flea Market in Sprucedale on Saturdays, so he will drop it off to them. I have made a batch of Cheese tarts, and some mince tarts. Usually these are eaten only by me (yummy!) Harry bought a homemade Carrot Pudding at a bake sale for me. I love steamed pudding but never make my own. So as a treat, I also made some hard sauce with rum. I have had a couple of helpings so far. I steam it in a pot on the stove for about an hour just to warm some up, and then top it with sauce. (again, yummy!) and I wonder why my weight keeps climbing haha  Well, it is friday again and where did the week go?? Hoping you have a good Sale Day Pati, will be thinking about you. What will you be doing Cathy? Enjoy the weekend. Take care

Update

Saw my surgeon this morning, and he was pleased with my progress.  He also took a look at the other knee, and I am now on the waiting list to have that replaced, with a general date of April or early May.

Everything is wrapped except for one small token gift.  We couldn't find a tree that was in any better shape than my old one, so it's set up in the living room.  We did discover that the fairy lights needed replacing. So David checked at the Canadian Tire store on St. James St. on our way home from the hospital.  He found a very nice set of coloured lights, so our tree will have a whole different look this year.  I haven't yet tried to add any of my crystal icicles and ornament, but it will get done.  Yesterday we completed our annual search for coarse ground Scottish oatmeal.  Not easy to find. We did come across a package that was labelled "Scottish Oatmeal" but was the finest grind I've ever seen.  However, we also found a package of "steel cut oats" that appear to be exactly what I want.  At least suet isn't a problem, as we bought so much last year we have enough in the freezer for the next decade.  (Although I did have to explain to Amber what suet really was.  I don't think she was impressed.) Both of my children have told me that there is no way we could prepare too much dressing, so everyone is going to make a batch for Christmas dinner.  We have pretty well reached the end of the extra money we had, so have to go back on the budget starting today.  It was a good run, and both David and I picked up a few things we needed ( he actually bought himself a pair of winter dress boots--OMG!  I don't believe it!)  And quite fine they are, too.

Beth, I know exactly what you mean about a few minutes of time to yourself just to relax and enjoy the ambiance of the lighted tree.  I don't necessarily sit down with a drink, but love to pause and enjoy the sight of the lighted tree in the dark of the room, when passing by.  To me, that peaceful feeling, however fleeting, is what I search for during the holidays.

My Artists' Trading Card group will be meeting on Sunday, and I had prepared 12 cards, as the most we have ever had a meeting is 8.  However, an e-mail came out saying that 14 people have RSVP'd, so now I have to scramble to make two more.  This after David had taken all of the supplies downstairs, and I had put them away, including the embellisher. These last two may not be as fancy as the first few, and certainly won't be needle felted. So for tonight, my task is to finish those and make up one last label for Saturday's sale.  I better get on it.

Christmas tress and Doctors

I had my appointment for blood pressure check this afternoon. So I thought I would try to reduce my stress and thus my BP by putting up the tree and decorating it this morning.  Although I had great fun doing this, apparently it didn't help my BP any, I took my own machine with me to be sure that it as calibrating consistent with the office one. Both were high! Even though I took my record from the last two weeks, which were normal(ish) the numbers were not in my favour.  So I am to keep recording and report or go back if the results show in a consistently high range. I am borderline high. I have switched to decaf coffee but I guess all the chocolate squares I have been eating counter that strategy???  Oh well.....just another thing to worry about haha. But I do have the tree up now so my early morning solitary time with coffee and music on the DVD/TV will be made that much more enjoyable with the lights glowing all about me. We go to North Bay tomorrow to do a few chores, and then take Aunt Evelyn to the Scott Woods concert at 7 pm.  It should be another fun time as I really like his shows even though we have been for many years now. Each show has a new theme and although still Christmasy, it will be different from last years.  So that's it for now....very dull life?  I haven't even had time to work on hexis - shame on me! Take care