Holiday catch-up

I didn't have an opportunity to post pictures over the holidays, so I'm finally sorting through some of the photos...this was a low light picture taken at my Dad's over Christmas. Dad and Gisela always have their home so beautifully decorated...it is very festive. We on the other hand are minimalists! Some pine cones on the dining table, an ornament tree (from Pier One) and some ornaments set out in bowls, and we're set. No Christmas trees for us. Too many years planting real spruce trees at our other home to ever want to cut one down.


While we where there I asked Pete to snap a photo of the painting of "Fannie". I painted this for Gisela and presented it to her Christmas 2006. Fannie had passed away that year, so it was an emotional moment. I used to get very creative over the holiday and many times gave paintings to family members. Now, not so much...gift cards this year (easy peasy).

For New Years we went up to Mont Ste-Marie and spent a great evening with Georges and Sylvie, and a great group of their friends and family as well as their two dogs, Mousse and Milou. Mousse is the little terrier mix in front. He's a character and scrappy like most terriers. Milou is still a pup, and full of beans. A real sweetie. We stayed over and went for a lovely walk on New Years day.

Mousse is wondering why we've stopped...he's already through the gate.

Sylvie and Georges have a wonderful property. 170 acres of woodland and meadows. It borders two rivers with 1200 foot frontage on the Kazabazua river. In the background, an abandoned farmhouse on top of the hill on a neighboring piece of land.

Here is the river, all frozen over. There isn't a house in sight; it is peaceful and so very beautiful.

For New Years Eve dinner Sylvie made Cipaille...a French tradition (pronounced sea pie). It is made with pastry and six different wild game meats. Being hunters they supplied the game...caribou, venison, moose (and three other meats). We had fun guessing what they were. We guessed things like racoon, possum, gopher! hahaha. Actually, she put chicken, pork and something else so it wasn't too gamey for us. It was delicious.

We had a lovely holiday, enjoyed the company of our family and friends. Hope everyone else did too.

Week in review

Well there isn't too much dog related in this blog, except that Pete and I took a trip down to Toronto on Tuesday to drop Cocoa off to her handler. (We learned today that she won a Best Puppy in Group, so that is a good start.) We stayed downtown at the Royal York and Tuesday afternoon I had a pedicure and a soak in the deepest tub I've ever been in! That night we had the tasting menu at Canoe Restaurant high above the city in the TD tower. It was a great day!

Wednesday I made my way underground to do some shopping. Costco aside, I'm not much of a shopper. If you've never been to Toronto, there are miles of tunnels with shops and restaurants under all the banking buildings...you could live underground all winter if you wanted! So I began at the Royal York, went to the TD tower, turned right and into BCE place and back to the Royal York. Hmmm... that wasn't what I wanted to do! So I start out again. This time at the TD tower instead of taking a right I went straight...good, new territory. Into First Canadian Place...past the fountains into a food court and ...????? LOST...again. Hmm I find a map, but I can't find the YOU ARE HERE on the map. So I look up, looking for a sign, back to the map. I am pretty lost. A woman comes along and asks me where I want to go. "The Bay" I said. She said I had to go to the Eaton Centre to look at the tree. I hadn't planned to, but since she thought it was worthwhile, I figured, what the heck. She led me to the corridor and pointed me in the right direction. Ten minutes of walking and four Starbucks later, I found it! They had a Christmas tree decorated with Swarovski crystals. The tree had no lights that I could see, but it just twinkled and sparkled...it was beautiful, and worth the trip. I went into one store, Abercrombie and Fitch. I have never shopped there, but it was full of young people, and their logo was a moose so I thought it would be a great place to buy gifts for our Aussie relatives. (They won't know it is an American moose and not Canadian) I found some things and made my way back.

Heading back to the Hotel, I noticed a crowd and some TV cameras. It was Don Cherry giving an interview. Some people were taking pictures with their cell phones and one guy asked me what he was doing. (I thought...how would I know???) So I said to him...I think he's selling suits! ha ha. If you don't know who Don Cherry is, he's a hockey commentator who is flamboyant and makes his own suits. This one was a yellow plaid number.

Thursday I woke up to breakfast in bed. I then ventured back underground looking for some nail polish (OPI Vodka & Caviar) to touch up one of my nails that had chipped during my marathon shop. I came upon another happening. This time it was the "Canadian Tenors" practicing...sort of the Canadian version of Il Divo. They sounded pretty good. We made our way back Thursday afternoon.

Friday I spent baking my grandma Hilda's traditional Christmas cookies and squares with my cousins and father. It was a super day. I saved some crumcake for my Mom if she gets here fast enough...
Pictured left to right: me, Gisela, Judy, Chris, Dad. Taking the photo is our hostess, Karen.

The little oil painting above I painted in 1987...it is me in our claw foot tub at our first home. My nails are about the same colour!