My Day-To-Day Photos

Jared is at least still partly a child. He was up earlier than usual, sitting eagerly by the tree, and he completely forgot to eat breakfast. It was a short morning and easier to clean up than usual because our stocking stuffers are getting towed along with us to Edmonton. Buns were made yesterday, and a ham and scalloped potatoes are in the oven and just about ready as I write this up. More on the cool gifts I received in later posts.  

It was quiet, until people started shouting at the TV. After that, it nearly felt like any other Christmas. Loud, and people giving up trying to understand each other. After awhile of all those raised voices, one is ready for home and some quiet and we made it home by 8:30, and I promptly tucked myself in with a book. Diana did a lovely job of  setting up a Christmas dinner for the six of us though, and it felt close to perfect. As perfect as it can be with so many people missing, most of all Kaitlynn. But with our plans to go to Edmonton in five days, (we saved all of our stocking stuffers for that visit) I'm feeling pretty good about things.  

Dad had plenty of opportunity to teach son how to properly shovel a deck and driveway. They were no fewer than four times. We're guessing that about 7 - 8 inches fell from mid-morning to early evening.  Todd is never more grateful for that little, blue tractor and giant snow blower than when so much snow has fallen. It saves a lot of work. Snowshoes were essential for a walk around the yard this morning. It's quite a workout lugging those things around, especially when they get heavy with snow.  What's great about the snow is the landscape. It's absolutely beautiful with its fresh coat of pure white. It had been looking dreadful for weeks.  

 Everybody's napping. It's not quite three in the afternoon, but holidays, you know? I might be sleeping too if I weren't nursing a cup of tea. It's that sort of day.

 The tree is up, gifts are (mostly) wrapped, the house is all decked out and Christmas is cancelled. Welcome to yet another gift from 2020. I knew it was going to be a bad year from the moment I flipped the calendar to January first nearly a year ago. And holy fucky, it really has been rough. We can only go up from here. 2021 doesn't have to be great to be a hell of lot better than what we just went through. But, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...yadayadayada. I'm still waiting for the stronger part, or at least, I hope that's the part of that phrase I'm gonna get.

I know it's early, and maybe it's the gorgeous weather we've been having, but I am so far really enjoying winter and am looking forward to more of it, (Insert crossing of fingers and toes that this feeling stays) The feeling may be prolonged with continued effort of making life comfortable. Simple things like lighting a candle, and eating so healthy during the main meals that a mocha and cookies throughout the day is no big thang.  I didn't have my phone with me yesterday when Bear and I, enjoying the weather so much, continued our walk around our 4 mile 'block' . We saw 5 moose, 3 of which were young ones. There were deer, and of course, plenty of tweeting action.   This light was a great find at Rona and it fits the room perfectly. Creating a calendar for the upcoming new year with some favourite photos from last year.  The last scene of my 2020 kitty calendar from KK. Barry Balleybucklebow looks extra handsome now that the little tree is in. The wee sweater-e