December 29

Glanced out the window yesterday and saw the sky turning blood red.  I remember watching the sunrise in December from my bedroom window on the second floor of my old house.  I had a wonderful view of the sky and mountains from that viewpoint.  Now, although I love my new house, my view is restricted and not so spectacular.  But the colour still shows, even if it is above a fence and the rooftop of houses.  I love the Yukon skies in December!

RIP Joe Cocker

It is with a sad heart that I write this entry.  Joe Cocker passed away on the 22nd and our world is a little bit emptier.  His music takes me back to Andrea, Mary and the old gang.  We had so much fun together - memories to last a lifetime.  First time I saw him was in the Woodstock movie.  Although just a bit too young to have attended Woodstock, I watched that movie I don't know how many times.  I was there in heart if not in person.  The days of Peace, Love and Freedom.  What a time!  Andrea took her mother to see Joe at the CNE stadium many many years ago.  That was in a time before mothers and daughters (or sons) did such things together.  His gravelly voice and unique stage presence will live on.  RIP Joe Cocker.  You sure brightened up our lives!

Winter Solstice - December 21st

Yes it is winter solstice.  A day Yukoners celebrate.  The shortest day ... longest night of the year.  We celebrate it because starting tomorrow, each and every day gets longer and longer and each and every night gets shorter and shorter.  Yeah!!!!

And this year we celebrated Christmas on this very day.  SR and family are travelling south to Vancouver to celebrate Christmas with Brooke's family and will depart tomorrow morning bright and early.  So December 21st is Christmas.

Thanks to Brooke for taking some photos.  I seemed to be busy either opening presents, holding babies (as seen above, sometimes both at the same time), cooking dinner and a number of other things it seems.  

This is the only photo of Brooke.  You can see her nice necklace - a teething necklace for babies.  And they used it too.  Emerson's first tooth broke through yesterday.  His second one isn't too far behind.  And Alanna's were soon to come too.

Alanna was very excited when opening gifts.  Her little legs were bouncing (look at her tights - they are ballet shoes on the bottoms - so cute) and she was grabbing all the paper and bows and immediately eating them.  Who cares what was in the box.  

So, this is my first Christmas with the grand kids.  They looked so cute, Alanna wearing a knit dress and Emerson in his skinny jeans and plaid shirt.  And Lily and curious little Timber were with us as well.  It was great being with a houseful for our celebration.

A Book Club Christmas

Another Book Club Christmas.  Unfortunately Joan was at home with a killer flu - two weeks now and counting.  But the rest of us were healthy, happy and ready for Christmas.  This year we donated children's mittens to Kaushee's Place, the Yukon Women's Transition Home.  Apparently kids lose their mittens all the time in the winter, so it is something that we hope will be appreciated.  Thanks to Nancy for being our elf who delivers this gift.

And we still have one member who is uncomfortable with internet facial recognition, so I am honouring that.

I was trying to life my casted foot in this photo, but did't get it high enough to be in the photo.

Gail n Deb hamming it up.  Yes we did have wine on this night.  

So another Christmas with good friends, good food, great gift exchanges, and fun conversation.  

Merry Christmas to all!

Low Gas Prices

Low gas prices have even hit the Yukon.  Good for me.  Bad for the economy.

Dec 14

Dinner at the Rudolph's tonight.  Babies had just been fed when I arrived.  Alanna was in a very good mood and sat on my lap for a long long time chatting and smiling.

Emerson slept, then woke.  It took him a while to really wake up.

 SR had Emerson while he was waking up.  He is not usually so quiet.  Soon he was awake, put in his jolly jumper and was extremely happy there for quite some time.

But as you can see he is not always happy and when he is not, he shows it.  SR very conveniently snapped a couple of picks with Gramma holding Emerson when he wanted more than being held.

(I'll show these pictures to him when he wants something from me when he has grown!)

P.S.  I did hold them both when they were happy and smiling.  Only I didn't get any picture of that!

Gimpy

December 4th was my Right Foot 1st Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomy and Akin Procedure.  In other words bunion surgery.  I always heard it was a painful surgery (and also heard horror stories, thanks to Dianna) but as mine was performed early I thought it would hurt a little then be OK.  Wrong!  It is now a week and two days and this is the first day I can actually walk on my heel (like the literature says I can do on day 1!) with the aid of my crutches. 

Thanks to my new neighbours Seven, Stacey and their teen age daughters for keeping the snow cleared on my drive and walk way.  They are actually doing a better job than I would do and I really don't know them as I just moved into my new house.  And thanks to all my friends for offering and giving the assistance when I need to get some place or need groceries.  A Great Help!! And thanks to my son and daughter-in-law for providing me with my first real meal last Wednesday, then leaving the leftovers so I could continue to enjoy a real meal all week long.  They are also at my beck and call as need be and never say no.  Hopefully my recovery will progress at a quick pace now.  Of course I have hoped for that since day one and it is not quite as quick as I would like but what will be will be.  

Today SR is picking me up and taking me to the drug store for a few items, then Sears for my new twin beds which are finally in.  Below is a photo of what this day looks like so I am thrilled to be going outside.