Holidays

Christmas has come and gone...and admittedly, I'm glad. I hate the clutter and the craziness that seems to transform our lives. We had a great one, with dh's parents coming in for a visit. The kids were so thrilled to have their grandparents with them. They got spoiled to death, and dh and I are going to try and scale things down next year. With Ethan's birthday on the 24th, it seems to be a huge whopper of gift overload. I don't know what we'll do, but it's insane.

The year past has been one of ups and downs....it's been an awful one with friends and family losing their loved ones. I think it has been an exceptionally tragic one, as it seems many people have lost loved ones this year. :( I'm hoping 2008 brings a fresh start, and one with lots of good health and happiness.

Just recently, a student of mine that I taught last year lost his little brother to a tragic farming accident. His father had been working the tractor and accidently ran over the 4 year old (backing up, didn't realize he was there). I'm just stunned at this, and cannot imagine the guilt and grief that the father must be going through. I feel for my student R, who was a success story at school...began the year being at risk and troublesome, and by end of year won awards, was a star in my class and a huge help for me in a few of the music projects we had going on. He was the country music audition I will always remember... I think I blogged about him earlier on. Anyways.... my post is more about wishing the year to close peacefully, and open with a fresh start, not forgetting those we've lost, but moving on and living fully like they'd wish us to.

A toast to the many who we've lost, and my friends who always deserve hug.

Hoar Frost

This last week has felt incredibly cold, colder than it should be. I've learned why. I've experience ICE FOG, and Hoar Frost, which are due to higher humidity levels. Ice fog is incredible....especially when the sun is peeking through. It's like regular fog, except it shimmers like crystals in the air. Well, it IS crystals in the air. :)

Hoar frost is frost that makes the trees, etc look like we got a good snowfall. Usually, the snow here is so dry, that the snow doesn't stick to the trees like it does in BC. Here is a close up of my LP friend who takes amazing photos...I'm stealing her photo to show what Hoar Frost looks like.



This is a photo she took of actual flakes that landed on her pant leg!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? Used to be real, until I worked with someone who used to work for firedept dispatch...we now have artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? I would rather wait until about the 15th of Dec. Hubby wins this, and it's up the first weekend of Dec.

4. When do you take the tree down? Boxing day or the day after. The sooner the better!!!

5. Do you like egg nog? Does it come in wine barrels? Yes!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Fashion Plates designer drawing set.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? no

8. Hardest person to buy for? mother in law

9. Easiest person to buy for? ME

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? can't think of one...

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas ? Usually December 24th, this year, I started beginning of November!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ? cookies and sweets

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth with David Bowie and Bing Crosby

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both - this year we're staying put!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and RUDOLPH

20. Angel on the tree top or star? Nothing!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve is Ethan's birthday... we open Christmas Presents on Christmas Day

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Commercialism and people asking what my list is. Hello? Do you not know me and my interests???

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? wooden ornaments from Germany

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas Eve dinner with european deli weiners and meats, pickled herring, and breads...

25. what do you want for Christmas this year? A really expensive quilting/sewing machine..not gonna happen!

Christmas Baking

I have made plenty of it. Do I have anything to show for it? nope, except for yesterdays creation which is on the chopping block, literally.

Menu today:
stollen and coffee for breakfast
grapefruit for guilt snack
stollen and milk for lunch plus a side of tuna for extra protein **
stollen for afternoon snack with a cup of tea
dinner - i think I'll stop the stollen now. i hope. god help me. there's leftover lasagne in the fridge.

** I realized after eating the tuna that my stollen actually HAS protein in it! I have a good 250g of almonds in the loaf!

My visitors are getting costco and sobey's baking assortments for their treats. They will be purchased within an hour of their arrival. I've done enough damage to my body to last through the holidays.

Where Am I?

I'm delayed in posting I know. I've been busy with visitors...my friend, my sister...details to follow. Life.

But in the meantime, check out www.dooce.com it's one of the most hilarious blogs I've read. This woman is so clever with her words. I've only read 3 pages, and they are awesome.