Love to check for messages

and see news from you both! Glad you had a successful trip Patty and also happy that you are so close to the US shops and casinos that it really is a nice break to be taken whenever you so desire (or can afford haha) Sounds as if you also had a great shopping day Cathy so good on you both. Harry suggested dinner out tonight at the restaurant here in Sundridge that we like. He went out to check the mail and came back to say it was closed. I had set my hair in curlers and was feeling good about going out so was a little disappointed. I believe Harry saw this so went to the store and bought some food and cooked it up for supper – I wasn't to enter the kitchen so did not know what he was making! It turned out to be a nice supper after all in spite of the dishes that needed to be done by me – apparently this particular cook does not clean up after himself haha We don't have plans for NYE and never really bother about it – I usually start to take the decorations down while watching TV – may chose a funny movie to watch. I spent a good part of the afternoon sorting through gaming cards for Mike. I spoke with him today and he actually now wants all the cards – apparently the boys are going "retro" with their games night and turning to these games again – Star Trek, Star Wars, and Magic. I already have two big boxes of cards to take to him next week. The plus of all of this is that I will have a bit of space once I empty the cupboard and the fact that I actually saved all of this stuff after Mike moved out and wanted none of it at the time. Also, there are a lot of memories in that cupboard – some of his early art work, pictures, etc and the shelf also contains all of my old CHS yearbooks. I went to the dump yesterday and got rid of all my old Nursing textbooks – they are so old and out dated that were of no use to me or anyone else, but I shuttered to think of the cost of texts and just throwing them away bothered me.

I send best wishes to you for a Happy New Year – don't make any resolutions you know you cannot keep, but for sure resolve to keep up with this blog as it means so much to me to keep in touch. Take care

Frying Pans

Home Hardware had all their Paderno cookwear on for 60% to 70% off. We bought a 12 inch fry pan, and 8 inch frypan and a stir fry pan. They were still expensive but we could afford them at the sale price. I really hate cheap pans. I have my eye on their stock pots, but they are $90.00 on sale. I would still like one. Maybe the sale will end before I make up my mind and I won't have to decide. As usual, I didn't get all my cleaning done while I was on holidays. I sorted through the office and have a big box of garbage to burn. I also cleaned & sorted the "pantry" downstairs. I will always wish for more cupboard space in the kitchen, but then where would I put them? I would have kitchen left. This warm weather, (sorry Beth!) has been nice, but the flies keep waking up and crawling around. My floor seems to be constantly covered in dead flies. The cat likes to play with them, but they only amuse him for so long. Once they stop moving he loses interest. I was trying to budget a bit today and figure out how much money I have for this month. The bank still hasn't fixed the screw up with my mortgage. I phoned on Dec 17 and yesterday they put some money back, but it was $200.00 less than they took out. I phoned again and they said it was really complicated so they were turning it over to the mortgage specialist & I would hear within 24 hours. Later that day I got a call from the Royal bank. It was automated and had "personal banking information for Catherine I. McGrath" I followed all their instructions and the information turned out to be them telling me I was overdrawn and must correct the situation immediately. Of course I am overdrawn..... You took $450.00 out of the account! I sure hope they fix this soon. We went through the last 2 weeks $450.00 short and I couldn't access any money because my account was overdrawn and I don't have overdraft on it. There, now I have vented. At least we both got paid this week. Rrain is supposed to go to Winnipeg & Beasejour for New Years, but she has had a bit of the flu all week. (of course she got sick... she is on holidays too.) I hope she feels better today. Jim & I are staying home tomorrow night. Steak dinner, glass of wine and in bed asleep by 10:00 pm. How exciting. The Levy is at the Legion on New Years Day. Jim's friend Stef is coming for the Levy and spending the night with us. I think the two of them are planning on drinking beer and talking. Stef was one of Jim's best friends until we met, and I always tell him he should go to Minnedosa for some "Stef" time. Instead Stef will come for some "Jim" time. today for excitement we are going to town to buy a shut off valve for the kitchen sink. Last time we had to fix it we had to shut the water off to the whole house. Hope everyones Christmas and New Years (and anniversary) brings all the joy you deserve!

A very nice trip

We had a lot of fun Wednesday evening, after getting to Mahnomen about 5:00.  We opted for a less formal dinner, and I had a club sandwich, on a wild rice/cranberry bread that was a real treat. And as our special anniversay treat we each had a drink--Chivas Regal for David and B&B for me.  The two of them cost almost $25.00--so one each  was enough. We had a little more fun this morning, and I left Mahnomen up about $75.  This is very unusual, but has happened before--which is why we like going there--but it meant that I didn't have to restrain myself too much buying thread and beads in Fargo.  Bonus--David found not only the sweat jackets he was looking for--and at a very good price, but also some tee-shirts.  Amber got what she wanted and we were on the road home by about 3:00.  We had enough cash to pay the tax due on our purchases, but we were just waved through--another bonus!  The weather was fairly nice for traveling, and we did over 800 km in 36 hours, so we are grateful for dry roads and warm temperatures, with enough of a cold North wind to remind us to be grateful.

In the deep freeze

Wow! almost 30 below with wind chill and I was outside shovelling snow after the storm of yesterday. The ploughs this morning really dumped it in the driveway and it was heavy snow which gave me a real good workout. I needed some exercise, and just in case that wasn't  enough, I took a long walk today to check the mail, and buy lottery tickets. And all afternoon I was sorting through game cards from boxes and boxes in Mike's cupboard. But I had time to make an apple crisp with some apples that were badly in need of some attention (there goes all that exercise haha). We will likely go to Sprucedale tomorrow to check on the mail, and other things and bring a bit of garbage back. The garage is too cold to do any work right now and we really need Harry's sister to come and pick up some of her stuff before we can do much more in the house. I was able to watch Zorro last night and had a very nice evening of it. I forgot how funny it was, and so had a few good laughs, and anything with Anthony Hopkins and for that matter also Antonio Banderas is worth the watch, right? Hope you had a good trip Patty and that the roads and weather were OK – not to mention the shopping! Take care for now.

Family

Yesterday was our annual visit to David's sister, Gail, and her family.  I thought we had been told that the open house was between 11 and 2, so arranged with Loren to show up around 12:00.  Well, we got there --no cars, just a van a little way down the street.  What the H--l?  We slowly drove by and I saw a male figure inside, so David dropped me off and went down the street to park.  Well, I was standing in front of the garage doors waiting for David when Gail came running out of the house waving her arms in the "c'mon in" sign--they thought we were driving away.  I seems that the affair was from 10:00 to 2:00, and almost everyone else had left!  Anyway, Gail's daughter Lyala was there with her two children and Loren with his two--an unexpected pleasure.  We hadn't expected Loren's children to be there as they were to have been at a gathering with their step-father's family. Turned out that just about everyone in the other family were sick and gathering had been postponed. 

So it was more of a quiet Findlay afternoon than the chaotic Doucette gathering we normally attend.  And it was a pleasure.  We talked about the children, reminisced about time at the lake, and most surprising of all, Jeremy and Gail's grandson Harry appeared to hit it off.  They had a remote control helicopter that they flew around the house and basement for most of the afternoon.  Lyala's other child, Belle, has just turned 18 and received her small  inheritance from her Grandfather.  She is looking into using a portion of it to fund a trip to China, during which she would spend time volunteering at an orphanage!  I think Gail may be trying to encourage her to take a "gap year" before considering university.  Belle is somewhat dyslexic, and there is concern about her ability to cope with the university atmosphere and expectations.

Tomorrow we head down south for two days ( one night).  Amber is going with us.  I sometimes refer to this as the Findlay women's annual brassiere buying trip, but Amber tells me that isn't what she is looking for this time, and  I don't need any.  Actually, I'm hoping that David can find some new clothes while we're there.  He hasn't had much luck up here, and needs clothes more than he admits.  Amber had hoped that Darren could come, as well, but they weren't able to get anyone to care for the children, as Judy is working this week, and their usual "go-to" friend found herself a job just before Christmas.

Then home Thursday, and jump into a whole bunch of housework, as--surprise--the family is coming for supper on Sunday--including Gail.  Then my Ravenesque ladies for the afternoon and supper on Monday.
So I'm grateful for the pleasure of hearing from both of you today.

Licorice allsorts

What a shame everyone knows I like licorice allsorts as I now have enough to last for a while although I have already done justice to one box!! Two days past the big day and I am still thinking about it all with great fondness. I loved the picture you sent Patty – I always think that pictures of family sitting at the dinner table speaks volumes and this one did not disappoint me even if I had to look sideways with a magnifying glass haha And I was thinking about you Cathy at Chicken Delight again – I hear on the radio and read in the newspapers about all the "charity" dinners being served on Christmas day and have often thought this would be nice to do if my situation were different.

While at Mike's I noticed a new box of "Magic, The Gathering" playing cards – he used to play this game when he was young and I thought of all the boxes of cards I had in his closet which he abandoned when he moved out. He mentioned that his group of friends who get together weekly to play games have started to move towards some of the older favourites and one of the guys brought Magic cards to encourage the others. Mike said he went up to the gaming store and bought a box so he could play along since the others seemed to have their own still. So guess what I did – rummaged through his closet which has gained a considerable amount of other stuff in the meantime, and gathered two large cardboard boxes full of smaller game boxes full of cards. They are now at his house since we went to North Bay this morning for a bit of shopping. There are still boxes of other game cards eg Pokemon, and Star Trek, and Star Wars left to sort over but I'll give him a bit of space until I dump them on his doorstep haha

We bought some wrapping paper, and some ribbons on sale today, so I shall organize all the wrapping materials this afternoon and take them downstairs to store for another year. I also bought a VHS copy of the first Zorro movie which I hope to view tonight if all goes well. I have the second movie but not the first and have always wanted to see it again – maybe some day I can get a DVD copy but for now this will do. I was given the trilogy of Back to the Future last year by Mike and if time allows this week I plan to tackle those back to back to back. A marathon of sorts!

Flash freezing warning is in effect for this area tonight and it hasn't stopped snowing all day but the temps are still mild – calling for a drop of 14 degrees in a very short time period – hence the warning for flash freezing. But a walk to the lake this morning with the dog still indicates open water so I am afraid that the outdoor enthusiasts may not have a very good year – at least it will be a short year to be sure if it happens to freeze over soon – need at least a foot of ice to sled or fish. I'm ever so glad my ice fishing days are over – how many years did I have to pretend I was having a good time for the kids sake while all along so desperately afraid to go on the ice!  With that happy note, I shall jump into Mike's cupboard for awhile and then walk the dog. Have a good day!!

Merry Christmas to All and to all a goodnight

Yes, I know it is boxing day, but the christmas sentiment survives. Chicken Delight was once again a success. We had a slow start but things picked up. At about 4 pm about 25 Phillipinos showed up for supper. We needed to heat more vegies and Turkey but to pass the time they sang Chrismas Carols. It was great. They had gone to Church and arrived after church. They did not mind waiting while we heated more food. We had the food, but we hdn't heated in case we didn't need it. Next year we hope that they will let us know that they are coming so that we can have hot food for them.. On the other hand the carols were great. Jean had new volunteers this year and I almost felt redundant. Two other people took over dishes and there was a new person on serving. It was great to have new people but you start to become possesive of your job. Jim says that with new people trained we can maybe take a year off. It was a success as usual. I may get tired each year, but I will be back again next year