February 24-27

And these are the little ones I am sharing my mornings with this week.

February 22 - The Academy Awards

The wreath on the door welcomes friends to Oscar Night.  

This year we had a pot luck.  Tons of food came through the door and lots and lots of Prosecco.  Yes you need bubbly for Oscar night.  All were kept busy in the evening with Oscar Bingo (Debbie won the Bingo!!!), Guess that Smile, Name That Movie not to mention we also had to predict winners of awards.

Of course, we had swag bags to begin with.  This year everyone contributed so no one knew what the contents were ...  and the contents ranged from blingy nail polish, a priceless spa (hot tub night), a movie, lip balm, a quartz heart, chocolate, popcorn, facial scrub, a wee perfume and a pink sharpie ... did I forget anything??  There was so much!

Best Picture:  Birdman (heard mixed reviews)

Best Actor in Leading Role:  Eddie Redmayne (YEAHHHHHHH)

Best Actress in Leading Role:  Julianne Moore

Great friends, great food, great program (even though it went 45 minutes over time), great evening.

Rendezvous 2015

Rendezvous Weekend.  Friday was our Rendezvous Day, or perhaps Heritage Day or is it now Family Day??  Anyway it was the start of the big weekend.  Yesterday was so warm apparently you could snowshoe without a coat (right Gail?) .  Today I met SR and family down at Shipyards Park.  It was only -1C but THAT WIND!!  Last year I almost froze off my fingers.  This year, thinking -1C was quite warm was a wrong thing to think.  That wind cut right through me and my fingers.  Yes, I was cold once again.  Next year, even if it is +10C I will wear down clothing!!!

  

So the first thing I saw were the Snow Sculptures.  I love looking at those. My Favourite this year was a NAFTA one (Canada, USA & Mexico).  I loved how they even had the ice flows around the boat.  The top one was SR's fave this year.  Tomorrow we'll see who wins.

Although I didn't watch the one-dog-pull, I did see a few of the dogs lining up to see if they could pull the most weight on a sled.

Did push the wee ones around only for a bit though.  Mom and Dad did most of the pushing.

Mom and Dad looked more in the Rendezvous spirit than I was.  And the stroller was perfect for the snow.  

I wasn't until we were in the warming tent that the cover was lifted and we saw what what inside.  Two cute little ones!

And I arrived inside the tent just in time to see the Snow Shoe Cancan Dancers.  They are a staple of Rendezvous.  Gillian Campbell arrived just after them, another staple.  

Happy Valentine's Day

The day began with the Giant Garage Sale hosted by my old neighbour who now owns North Star Mini Storage.  It was held in the Canada Games Centre.  Debbie and I did buy stuff - kids toys but got a very good garage sale price on them.   Then, downtown for a coffee with Nancy who was pooped from delivering Valentine's Day flowers yesterday.  She had her coffee then had to return to her house to rest.
I was invited to spend dinner with the "Kids" - little and big.  It was a lovely meal made by SR with the little ones joining us at the table.  (Emerson had his first taste of roast beef - a wee wee piece which he chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed - like all men, he loved it!).  It was a lovely evening.
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Sunday Dinner

Brooke's Mom was in town this week - a very cold week to be here.  But, having said that, they went to see the dogs take off at the start of the Yukon Quest and went swimming at the Tahini Hot Springs where your hair freezes on your heat - both good experiences for one who has not yet had the pleasures.  She also worked while here, painting the guest suite downstairs in their house.

Sunday dinner was at my house.  It was a pleasure to have the company.  And it was also the first time that Emerson and Alanna ate with us in high chairs at the table.  Emerson is in SR's high chair and Alanna in one thanks so much to Cody-Anne.  They were both so good.  I couldn't wait for them to be able to join us during a meal and I was truly thrilled.  

Sorry, the pics of the kids not the greatest (no flash) but wanted to include them anyway (proud Gramma!).

And cannot forget the Grand-dogs who came along as well.  Lily, as usual, grabbed the fluffiest dog cushion but Timber was not too hard done by as he had the memory foam one.  They relaxed as we ate.

Still cold

Still cold this morning. Only -29 but -41 with the wind chill. It will begin to warm next week though. The Yukon Quest begins in Whitehorse on Saturday. Cold weather good for them.  My air cast is off now so when it warms a bit I'm looking forward to walking outdoors. 

Ground Hog Day

Cold again today.  -38C with the windchill.  A good day for shopping though as it seems the majority of people in Whitehorse are now wimps and won't go out in the cold.  Good thing for me as the stores are empty and no line ups when paying.  As it was -31 without counting the windchill, we didn't quite have total ice fog but the exhaust from trucks sometimes made it a little hazy to see through.

Had my camera out going up the Two Mile Hill as per the news " A cow moose and her two calves are still roaming the area of Two Mile Hill in Whitehorse.  The moose was seen crossing the road, several times, on the weekend. The animals caused some traffic confusion on Friday afternoon when they first appeared in the area."  It is now Monday and they are still in the area so I was ready, but saw no moose.  

Notice the absence of traffic, and this was during the lunch hour.  (Wimps??)

Had a couple of lottery tickets to cash in.  One purchased in Edmonton and although Brent's lucky Dime did me no good, I did find his lucky Loonie and scratched my way to $10.00!!!  Decided to cash in at the Gas Station at the edge of the Indian Village (don't tell them I called it that please).  I had to take a picture as it is the only place in Whitehorse that I know of that has metal doors and metal mesh over all the windows.  I felt like I was in Chicago.  Anyway, traded in my two tickets - the second was a Black Jack ticket on which I won a FREE one.  The very friendly person helping me inside (he was so friendly, I may start using this as my regular haunt) told me that two $21,000.00 Black Jack tickets have been sold at this location.  That's top prize!!  And although it was over about a 10 year period, I'm still impressed.  So I went home, scratched my new ticket and WON $23.00.  Looks like I'm on a roll!!!!

Home Again

Gas in Edmonton was 69.9 per litre.  Ours is 94.9 but I'm not complaining.  In fact, I filled up!

Temperature in Edmonton was 10 degrees Celcius.  In Whitehorse it was hovering around the 0 degree mark until I arrived home.  Then it dropped.  Was around -33 C with the wind chill but we did have beautiful blue skies and should stay at around -20 C for the next week (not counting wind chill).  Oh well, we do have warm houses and warm clothes.  That's what the north is about.

While I was gone it did snow and snow and snow.  Thanks to Seven (my neighbour) my driveway was cleared of snow when I returned.  The roads were full of snow though.  A few days after my arrival the snow ploughs came to clear the road.  They started before 8 AM to move the snow.

By 10 AM the piles were getting pretty high and continued through the day to pile up.  By the next day, all that snow was trucked away.  Good job City!

Edmonton

Then it was off to Edmonton to visit little Jenny and her family.  Even though she was in the midst of packing in order to quickly move to a new house once they found one that suited them, she opened her doors for her old aunt and welcomed me for a few days.

           

We  visited a few shops (including Costco ... yeah) crossed a few bridges - what would Edmonton be without crossing a few bridges?? - and made it as close as Whyte Ave to the actual downtown.

As I was not in need of anything in particular, the downtown was not a necessity.  I just wanted to spend time with Jenn and her family, which I did, had excellent meals, a comfy bed and good company.  Exactly what I desired.

Daws, who is now in Grade 9, actually had the Friday (my last day there) off.  It was great to see them and I am so glad I stopped along my way home.

Visit with Merv

We left Ancaster, SR dropped me off at an airport hotel, then they drove to the airport, boarded a plane and flew west.  I stayed in Toronto and met up with another 'ol bud, Merv!   She picked me up and off we drove.  We visited her mother at her new (new to me anyway) apartment.

Me and Merv's mom.

Merv and her mom.

We drove and visited 10 Spencely Court, my home from 1960 to 1971 and my parents' home to 2000!  It still looks the same today as it did when I lived there.

Then on to Westmount Park Road.  Dear Andrea's house.  Oh the parties we had there!

Our first school when I moved to Weston (now Etobicoke) - Valleyfield Junior School.  I was there for Grade 3, one year only then moved to Green Meadows Public School which was a bit closer to our house.  Merv and I both had Miss Carroll.  She was so nice and pretty.

Then we drove on to 30 Feltham Avenue.  I lived there from 2-1/2 years of age to 9 years of age.  A garage has been added as had awnings and the houses on both sides have been torn down and much bigger houses build, but the old abode looks much the same.

We then broke bread together (in a manner of speaking as I am wheat free and therefore bread free) then said our good byes for the time being.  It was great to visit with my high school friend.  Thanks Merv!

Still Ancaster

Just had to add the Kate photos.  First she received new moccasins, which she apparently loved.  (They did look great on her)

Then she focussed on the babies.  And especially Alanna.  She followed Alanna all over the house and Alanna was enthralled with Kate.  She smiled at Kate all night long.  In fact, Kate asked if the twins could sleep overnight at her house when they were 5 or 6 years old.

Four Generations

And finally, I think it was my friend Michele who suggested this photo.  FOUR GENERATIONS:
Mom, me, SR, Twins.  Thanks Michele!

Ancaster - once more

A few more group photos.  Sister Deb took holidays so she could spend time with us as did Sister Teri.  It is always great to spend time with them, just like the old days.  Will thought he was going to shock me with nose and ear piercings but I liked them, then he took them off - they were fake!

Little Shaun grew up and is now bigger than Aunt Debbie.  

And we usually get a photo of a couch full of people.  Age range in this one:  15 to 91!!

Ancaster

Ancaster

We flew into Toronto but our final destination was Ancaster, an hour away.  This trip was really to meet the twins.  So first,  baby photos.  

Sister Teri, being the excellent host she was, Kijiji'd two saucers which turned out to be a godsend!  The twins loved loved loved them and the adults loved loved loved putting the twins someplace they were happy.  It was so great for all.  Thanks Sis-Ter!

A big meet 'n greet was arranged and Aunt Liz meets Emerson (above).  The old and the new together was great to see.

Above is Alanna, all happy in her saucer as is Emerson, below.

I thought the babies would be spoiled forever as they always had arms to pick them up as soon as they squawked!  Oh, they deserve to be spoiled sometimes and it WAS a busy bustling environment for them, something they are not quite accustomed to.

Kristin came home from Ottawa to meet the twins, so we put her to work - a lot.

To January 15, 2015

Hi, 'n HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I'm finally back.  Here's the scoop.  As you may or may not know I was sort of crippled after my foot surgery.  I could not drive with a huge air cast on my right foot, but after about a month I thought my foot felt good enough to attempt to drive.  I couldn't do it with a huge cast on my right foot so I had to figure out how to drive - wear air cast to driver's seat in car, take off air cast and put on a moccasin {I know you cannot drive in bare feet in Canada but haven't seen any ruling for a moccasin}, drive carefully as my foot is still quite sore, arrive at destination, take off moccasin and put on air cast, walk to wherever I am going and back to car, take off my air cast, put on my moccasin, drive carefully ..... -  it was all very tiring and very disillusioning.  Consequently, I did as little as possible.  Then SR talked me into travelling to Toronto with his family, departing on the 15th of January.  The paperwork I had from the hospital re recuperation stated the air cast could be removed on the 15th of January.  All right!!!!  Then my surgeon said to keep it on till the 15th of February.  In any case, my foot was feeling pretty good, I could walk quite well with the cast on so off I went.  And, wearing an air cast at the airport is a good thing.  People help you, move out of your way, give you lots of room etc etc.  (I may keep it for future travel).  

So down to YVR to connect to the flight SR and family were taking (the red-eye!!).  As I had time between flights I contacted my 'ol friend Bev.  She met me and we dined at the White Spot in the airport - yes all you White Spot lovers, there is now one in Vancouver Airport!!  We had an excellent meal and a good chat to catch up with one another.  

Then it was off to wait for SR.  Bev stayed to see SR and to meet the twins and Brooke.  I lost SR et al when passing through Security at the airport.  They went into the fast lane with the babies and all their paraphernalia and I was in the slow line with all the other people trying to get through to their gates.  I met up with them on the way to our gate.  

SR had a chat with another man who also had twins while Emerson was relaxing in his new stroller.

The flight went well, both babies slept for most of the flight and we arrived in Toronto at 6AM the next morning.