New Year's Eve 2015

The year 2015 is coming to an end.  I didn't see the fireworks tonight (they happened well before midnight apparently) but I still did see a light show - not spectacular but magical as always.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and I hope that 2016 brings you all health and happiness.  Cheers!

Merry Christmas ... is it still Christmas???

 I will start with an explanation.  The afternoon of December 23rd I started to feel achey.  I napped that evening and awoke feeling weak with a chest infection on the 24th.  I laid on the couch all that day hoping to combat the problem.  I awoke on Christmas Day and didn't feel too bad.  I showered, put on comfortable clothing and drove to the Rudolph House (had to call it that at this time of year) to open gifts with their family and Brooke's parents and her sister Hayley.  All my gifts for them were already there except for the two chairs for the kiddos (seen below).  I entered the house, put the chairs down and Alanna ran up and gave me a hug and Emerson ran past me and sat in a blue chair, ignoring me completely (whell !! ).  Below is my Christmas Day.

The kids, all decked out in new PJ's got their breakfast smoothies and returned to the chairs.

It took nearly 3 hours of present opening before a break came.  There were still gifts under the tree but the kids and the adults were beginning to be overwhelmed.  You can see the sun shining in the window on the left so it was around noon when this was taken.  It was a cold day, -26 in the morning with a windchill dropping the temperature to -40 but nice and cozy in the house.  

Hayley spent some book time with Alanna while SR (not pictured) played trucks with Emerson.  The hosts then busied themselves in the kitchen preparing the fresh turkey and all the fixings, the guests departed downstairs to shower and dress and I returned home to recharge with a nap, then dressed for dinner and returned to the house.

As the finishing touches were put on the meal, Gran and Gramma spent a bit of time with the kids.  Above, Gran pours tea from Alanna.

We all sat down to an absolutely astonishing Christmas Dinner.  Words of thanks went around the table and Emerson even sang us a song - the first one I have heard him sing since Wheels of the Bus song.  Kudos to the chefs - the meal was festive and delicious.

A   B I G   T H A N K Y O U goes out the SR and Brooke for all the hard work they put in to make this another memorable Christmas Day.  Their beautiful children were an added blessing this year.

I left around 8PM.  It was still around -26 outside.  Hayley wanted to do a "tea throw".  When you do this at -40 the tea freezes in the air around you.  At -26 it did begin to freeze but quickly turned to fog/mist.  It was a valiant try though and through a slow-mo camera some frozen spikes  were captured before turning to a foggy mist.

Home again, home again, I went to bed and didn't get up for 4 days.  What I thought was a light touch of a cold was actually a deathly flu.  My chest filled and wheezed, I coughed and coughed and coughed ... which gave me a head ache, my eyes ached, I was hot then cold, then hot and luckily I had no appetite so I didn't have to get out of bed for food because I could hardly move a bone in my body anyway.  The very unfortunate part of this story is the virus also spread to the Rudolph household so despite the extremely enjoyable December 25, everyone has been under the weather since.  Hopefully this too shall pass - the sooner the better.

A Book Club Christmas

Did only did a bit of Xmas baking this year.

It looked good next to my new napkin holder (thanks again MJT).  Also received compliments on my Xmas paper napkins (thanks again MJT) which of course were cut out of this photo.

I had planned to take a group photo after we ate our appies and sipped our champagne ...

... but I forgot and by the time I remember had only 3 club members left.  Not that they don't make a fine picture themselves.

Merry Christmas to all - only 6 days left now

Sunday, December 13

Sunday was my day to look after the wee ones.  SR was out of town and Brooke had to travel to Vancouver for the day.  Above, NO, they are not getting ready to go outside.  Don't tell their mom, but I let them play in the outside clothing room.  Of course, Alanna is trying to get into my purse.

She got tired of sitting the floor and moved into a coat box.  Emerson looks on, then decides he wants to be in the same box.  When I wouldn't let him in the same box ...

... he hits Alanna on the head.  Boy I'm getting a lot to blackmail them with when they get older.

All in all, we had a very good day.  The above was just a small tiff which was easily settled.  We played and read books and went for a sled ride outside and shovelled snow outside and ate and ate and ate and napped.  I really have to give it to SR and especially to Brooke who raise these two healthy happy kiddos in a clean organized house and with all the other things she/they do.  She is amazing.  Me, I was exhausted after a full day.  But it was fun and I would do it again, anytime.

December 2, 2015

On my way to Line Dancing on Wednesday I saw the SS Klondike sitting brilliantly against the blue sky and just had to stop to look at it and take a few photos.  As I was taking my pictures a man walked by and asked if I wanted him to take a picture of me with the boat.  So nice.

I turned to get back to my truck and the Yukon River was sparkling with sunshine.  There were also 3 other people taking photos of the river, so it wasn't just me that was attracted by this beauty.  

P.S.  This is how high the sun is in the sky at 1:00 PM in December.

Last weekend of November

SR & I took the kids to Shipyards Park - there is a toboggan hill there.  This is the first time the kids sat in this particular sled.

Emerson truly enjoyed it and Alanna took it all in stride.

SR went down with them the first few times.  There he is near the top in the orange sled with a little girl in pink.

Then he set them up and sent them down to me at the bottom of the hill.  

At home, he read Emerson's new favourite book.  We also made a snowman as the snow is now packing snow (it is so warm outside).  Had a fun weekend with my big kid and his little kids.

Seniors' Soirée

Last night was the Seniors' Soirée held at the Convention Centre.  I love it - you pay $35 for an evening of a beautiful buffet and dancing (as well as door prizes and silent auction) or the next night pay $200 for the same thing.  Sometimes it pays to be a senior.

Music was provided by the Cannucks.  I love those guys.

It is a part of the Festival of Trees.  Corporations or groups sponsor a tree, fill it with goods, and people bid on them  The trees lined the centre (the one above on the extreme right is filled with beer cans).

My Line Dancing group filled table 4 and a handful of other dancers were sporadically located throughout the centre.

After dinner and dessert the dancing started.  We formed our lines on the perimeter of the dance floor and started dancing.  Lots watched and at times we had new dancers joining us as they couldn't resist.

Late November

The sun is now lower in the sky and creating dramatic reflections.  Our morning skies are becoming a moving sea of crimson and this day, about 3:30 in the afternoon, it reflected brilliantly off the top of a mountain.  Don't like the shorter days, but do like what the sun is doing to the sky and landscape. 

These are taken on the Robert Service Way beside the Yukon River.

Sunday at Gramma's

Sunday dinner at Gramma's house.   Above is Alanna chillin' in an Alanna sized chair munching on a Farley's biscuit until dinner is ready.

Emerson enjoyed resting in his chair as well.  They both had to learn how to back into a chair then sit  rather than attempt to climb into it in a forward position.  And they learn quickly those two.  

They also have to have a bit of time at the "table and chairs" and push those beads around. When one sits at the table, both have to do it at the same time.  When one leaves, both leave at the same time.  Interesting.   Notice Alanna is still eating her cookie whereas Emerson wolfed his down ever so quickly.  

Spruce Bog Saturday

Ahhh Christmas.  I had just started delving into my Christmas boxes when Spruce Bog came along.  It is our biggest, and perhaps oldest, Christmas fair. 

It was a beautiful morning.  This photo is my old neighbourhood, McPherson, on my way to pick up Helen.  Pink sky in the morning ...  But I guess that since we were't sailors, the day turned out beautiful.  Well above 0 and melting roads, which meant dirty trucks, but that is A-OK with me.

My friend Helen and I went first thing in the morning - seniors enter 10:15 to 11 and all others come at 11 AM.  (There are perks to getting old)  It was held in the Canada Games Centre and as we got there early I bought us a coffee and the only table we could find in that area was the kids tables, on which we sat, although considering she had a hip replacement a year ago, perhaps not the wisest choice.  We both didn't need a thing and ended up with a bag full of crafts.  

Christmas Already

 Driving downtown the other day - that is, Wednesday, November 18, I saw some construction happening at the end of Main Street.

It is officially the beginning of the Christmas season.  Our Christmas tree is going up at the end of Main Street and soon its lights will shine down the street.  This coming Saturday is Spruce Bog, a craft fair that has been in existence even before I came in '78.  I am taking Gramma to that (at the Canada Games Centre), then we will visit a couple more craft fairs that day.  It is becoming busy with December 25th approaching.

PS:  Thanks Sister Deb for looking out for me.  It is nice to know when I am tardy at posting on my blog, people (at least 1) are concerned for my well-being.

Spectre

OK, look at the above picture.  Now who wouldn't want to sit for 148 minutes and look at that!  OK, we'll start again.  Went to see the latest James Bond movie last night.  And it was very James Bondy - lots of crashing very expensive equipment - cars, helicopters, buildings,  lots of fighting with armies of men shooting their machine guns at James and he kills them all with his one gun,  lots of chase scenes and with all that miraculously James doesn't get a scratch on him.  And you watch James fall in love.  It is the kind of violent movie I like to watch because I know it is not real and in the end the good guys always win.  I enjoyed every 148 minutes of it.  I give it 4 Stars out of 5.

P.S.  This may be Daniel Craig's last 007 movie (although I heard rumours they are negotiating with him for one more)

Happy Birthday Gail

My friend Gail turned 65 on Saturday and her lovely daughter arranged a Surprise Tea Party for her.

Jennifer made all the sweets and Joan was in charge of the sandwiches.

When Gail arrived, we were all quietly standing behind the table waiting for her to enter the room (no jumping out of hiding spots for seniors!!!) and when she entered we yelled SURPRISE!!

And she was - surprised that is.

Unfortunately the silence followed by the shouting scared the wits out of little Mayela

It was a great gathering of her friends and we all wish her a Very Happy Birthday! 

Bridge of Spies

Saw this 92 Tomatoes Critics Choice movie last night and I must agree with them.  Tom Hanks won't be nominated for an Academy Award for his role in this film but after saying that I can't fault his performance.  It was a straight forward story of Spy v Spy during the cold war of the late '50's and it is a true story.  Mark Rylance, an actor I was not familiar with, did an excellent job as the Russian spy Rudolf Abel.  Although just over 2 hours in length, the time passed quickly (which means a pretty good movie for me).  I give this movie 8 Stars out of 10.

Hallowe'en Night

The Farmers and their chicks came to my door on Hallowe'en night.

Gramma gave them pumpkin pails filled with goodies, like new mitts, finger puppets and (edible) goldfish.

The kids were so good, watching all the Trick n Treaters as they came to the door.  As the night lengthened, the Trick n Treaters became scarier and scarier.  They almost scared me and the kids sometimes ran away crying.  But they always came back the next time new ones were at the door.  It was their job to wave good-bye and shut the door, a job they took very seriously and did very well.  They were excellent little chicks all night despite the fact they missed their afternoon nap.  

Great costumes Brooke.  I think you won Best Costumes in Whitehorse this year!

October 31, 2015

Our first snowfall that will stay, I'll bet.  Usually our first snowfall that stays is October 11 (SR's birthday).  Quite a bit later this year.  And just in time for the Trick or Treaters on Hallowe'en night!

Hallowe'en

Today - the day before Hallowe'en - the kids are going to the Daycare Hallowe'en party.  Brooke designed and made their costumes and they couldn't be cuter.  Above, Alanna is getting dressed in her costume.

Emerson had to take a book break in the midst of his dressing.  Wheels of the Bus is his favourite.

And finally, they are ready.  

I think they will be the hit of the party!

                                                      Emerson                                                               Alanna

Their comb was bound to come off their head.  Oh well, they look just as cute and we can always use our imagination if we want it back on their head.