The Year Behind and Ahead!

2007 held a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

My health has had ups and downs but for the most part I have continued to try hard to gain better health and maintain an attitude of Hope.

We have started a really exciting renovation which should be done by the end of March!

No family members or pets passed away. With parents 88 years of age this is a real bonus to have just spent another Christmas with everyone present.

My husband's chiropractic business is fairly stable and he earns extra income by teaching neurology at a school for Registered Massage Therapy.

I continue to be able to volunteer in a Gr. 3 classroom at my school while on a leave until retirement. I love it!

We have had many wonderful get-togethers with so many friends, it's unbelievable! Those memories are precious to me.

Life has been pretty good to me on the whole.

No one knows what is in store for them in life. I look towards 2008 with the thought that I quite possibly may come upon new challenges that may be difficult, yet I know I can count on my husband to be fully supportive as always.

I truly wish that all of you will be blessed with a very Happy New Year!

Some Cute Christmas Shots

We've been really good!




Yeah, remember all those mice we caught?!!

Christmas tires me out!

But it does have its sparkling moments.

Just give me some tissue paper and I'm happy!

I can't guess!

What was your sparkling moment this holiday season?!!

Light of Hope

This is a shot I took on a whim of a night light I gave my sister-in-law and I love the way it turned out. It sums up my Christmas message or if you don't celebrate that, it can be the eternal hope for us all....The Light.

May we find The Light and be The Light..... and shine our Light for others.

Shine on!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

'Twas In The Moon of Winter Time

In honour of my Solstice Birthday today, Dec. 22nd, I'm posting my favourite carol! I love pictures of the moon and deer. The bottom two I took outside my door.

The Huron Carol ('Twas In The Moon of Winter Time)

'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled

That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;

Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,

Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;

A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round

But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high

Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair

As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.

The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.

Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou

The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.

Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.

Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Words: Jean de Brebeuf, ca. 1643; trans by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926

Music: French Canadian melody (tune name: Jesous Ahatonhia)

For several years when I taught Gr. 3 Native Peoples of Canada and Pioneers, we would enact this carol for the concert. We got away with the religious content because it was related to curriculum. Everyone, imcluding myself, would dress as pioneers or natives of The Huron Tribe and sing this as some children moved on the stage. We had a giant silver foil moon and four blue floodlights focused on the whole scene. The kids thought it was cool, especially when the electric guitar solo twanged. They all sang their hearts out and were really "in role".

It was eerily beautiful, and to this day it is my absolute favourite carol.

Still Unplugged!

I'm still limited to the office computer so I still can't get around to visit. Bad timing since it's also the busiest time of year and we're so far behind...as in just got the tree done on the weekend!

We had Huge Snowstorm #3 all day Sunday! It's now at 2 1/2 feet and is beginning to be like the winters I remember from the 50's when I was a kid!

My knees are slowly getting better and I don't need the cane so much on stairs.

Hope you are all in the thick of preps for the season and anticipating the JOY!

Computer Glitches!

This one was taken from the car as we approached the snowsquall.One second we had briliant sun and the next we were into it.

Sorry I have no internet access on my own computer so am limited to the use of the office computer.. which translates to very little! I am also really busy with two choirs, both singing cantatas this weekend so am spending every night practising. Then, there are also several lunch get-togethers and the usual shopping, decorating and sending cards, all of which I am late doing.

I have been dealing with two different knee problems which necessitate the use of a cane for stairs...and I have plenty in my house! One knee is afflicted with tendonitis (sp?) of the patella and the other is "baker's cyst". (I knew I should never have made those shortbread's! HA!)

The trips to the attic for gifts and decs are killing my knees, even though I'm wearing a brace like the NBA players do!

The reno is coming along and we have our 3-sided fireplace installed today as well as heat! Inside brick work is done so the next step is drywall! They'll be breaking through the wall to the existing part of the house just after Christmas and then.... the REAL MESS begins!

I'm off to the dietitian today to discuss sugar and limiting carbs...what a time of year for that! (My sugar has improved and my cholesterol tests, kidney and thyroid were all NORMAL!)

I'll leave you with some bright sunny pics after the last storm and a promise that I WILL be back visiting when time AND computer permit!

Happy preparations and try not to get too stressed out!

Snowstorm #2!

I am still feeling crummy, tired, and getting super chilled. My temperature is always lower than normal at about 34.5. I gave 6 vials of blood this morning for my regular diabetic check and I won't be surprised if there is evidence of worsening hypo-active thyroid. I sure hope I start feeling better! And ....we are going away for the weekend to a an important family birthday party so I really wish I felt good. It's a five hour trip to Ottawa.

Sorry I haven't been visiting blogs as regularly as I'd like to but ....

I'll leave you with pictures around my house of Snowstorm #2! It basically snowed for 24 hours and we got a total of 2 1/2 feet!

Have a good weekend!

MOI

The Beauty of Simplicity

I love log cabin homes. When I go down that aisle at the store, I buy those log home magazines all the time and wistfully peruse all the pictures and designs from cover to cover. The huge homes do not interest me. Seldom do I look very long at anything over 2000 square feet. In fact, I'd much prefer a very small log cabin; 1800 square feet would be fine for two people and two cats.

At this time of year, I don't imagine how difficult they are to heat, I just think how pretty they would look decorated for Christmas.

The new ones are okay, but I really just want to hang a simple wreath with cranberries and some ribbon on the door of this old pioneer cabin.

I love the simple elegance of this bedroom. It is quite homey to me. Many antique pieces adorn our home and I love wandering through antique places.

The long log that runs the whole length of the ceiling reminds me of the log cabins we stay in for our summer vacation.

Even though this isn't a log cabin, again, I am drawn to it's plain but cosy warmth.

In this day of ever-expanding modern technology, I find myself longing more for the basic and simpler life of bygone days. Maybe I was just born too late.

Under The Weather...and there's a lot of that!

l have a cold and the sore muscle-type flu, first of the season. BOO! Here I am just hanging out on my grubby tracksuit and making many return trips to my bed where the cosy flannel sheets beckon between cups of Lemon Thriller Tea. (I'm not that thrilled!)

I even had to cancel out on a baby shower today I was really looking forward to and we also cancelled my husband's office annual Christmas Sunday brunch at a really nice Hotel/Convention Centre for tomorrow. Well, perhaps we'll enjoy it better in the February Blah season. (The blind gift exchange will be Christmasy!)

We have major snowsquall warnings for tonight and tomorrow with accumulations of >15 cm! Our town's Santa Claus Parade is this evening too! The hot chocolate sales might be brisk!



The sun is actually shining brightly right now after last night's flurries. It looks beautiful even though it is -10 C!

Good thing I have almost all the Christmas baking done that I can do and freeze.


Mother of Invention, who will be watching the parade tonight, looking out the office window, wrapped in a blankie and sipping the 5th cup of Lemon Thriller!