This is the last day to make your list and check it twice. No fun to sit down at the table and find you forgot to take the turkey out of the freezer.
For our home it means to double check the table to see that everything is as it should be, complete with fresh flowers and candles, Christmas crackers in place at each setting and a small stocking filled with chocolates, candy cane and baby mandarin oranges for our guests to enjoy.
Turkey is brought up (having been thawing for a couple of days), ham on the counter, tourtiere done, potatoes done, turnips done. Peas and corn ready to be cooked tomorrow, along with the cornbread side dish and dressing.
Silky butternut squash soup is done and must be brought up, creme fraiche has been made. Buns will come out of the freezer tomorrow.
Good! Now, dust the furniture, clean the bathrooms until they sparkle, put some fresh flowers on one side of the sink and maybe a small Christmas decoration. Vacuum the house and you are set.
From the time I was 3 years old, my father took the family out for dinner as his gift to us. He did this to showcase the work my Mom would be doing on Christmas day and he was saving her cooking dinner. It was a tradition he carried on almost until his passing and Don has now carried the torch. It is a simple gesture for sure for some, but it is engraved in my heart forever. We always had a ‘special’ coffee, he and I and I always seem to miss him more than ever at this time. The same with my Mom. She made a dressing for the turkey and in 60 plus years of marriage, she never once tasted it and my Pop loved it.
Pop always peeled the potatoes, carrots, turnips and set them aside in water. That was his ‘job’ lovingly done each and every year. He was never asked – he just did it.
My check list is now done except for one thing. Never forget the reason we celebrate this time of year, regardless of your choice of religion; the homeless, those left alone or living in horrific conditions, just say thank you and pray for a better world and on behalf of Don and myself Merry Christmas, and Blessings for a year ahead that sees your dreams and hopes come to fruition.
Learning Curve-Family Fun
I haven’t put up anything for a couple of days and the reason being, we have family here to spend some time. As one daughter was coming from Belgium (where she lives) for her vacation, and family from Alberta (son and family) and Vancouver (daughter and family), we thought we would celebrate ‘Christmas” together.
We also, Don and I, suggested that each family would pick a theme and prepare a dinner from start to finish, this way we weren’t in the kitchen all the time. (good idea, huh?) They could not, say, called it Italian and put out a plate of pasta and leave it at that. Oh no, you had to go the whole 9 yards.
First night, we did the Christmas dinner….turkey, mashed potatoes, 3 veggies, homemade cranberry sauce, gravy and stuffing. By the way, the temperature here was 37 plus degrees. For dessert we had pumpkin pie with whipped cream, shortbread and homemade mincemet tarts. Whew! Christmas crackers, candles and some decoration took place as well. Also, some mini gift cards…after all, we did say Christmas, right? You all know us so well….
The kids took the job of cleaning up and what a great help that was.
Day Two – Carole, from Belgium, prepared a Belgian “stew”..it has a name I can neither pronounce nor spell. We had Belgian style frites and it was wonderful. This time (again) the kids took over the job of cleaning up. I have never been kicked out of a kitchen so often in my life. I tried to give away more Christmas baking for dessert.
Day Three – The two families (with teenage daughters in tow) prepared this next adventure. Don and I were first banned from the dining room area (open style home and hard to do), then the kitchen and finally the entire house. We were left on the deck. The girls were shown what I have as far as candles, tablecloths, dishes are located and were left to do their thing.
The day before we were asked to take a guess what their theme was an, of course, could not. Well, here the story continues…..
The table was perfectly set with a blue cloth and a shining silver cover…candles, black and white on the table and, around the room many candles were on (battery operated). When it was time, we were invited back into the house, asked to pick out someting in the bottom of a big box and, lo and behold, they were wands..one for each of us….from Harry Potter! Our grandchildren are so hooked on Harry and the gang, it was all making sense now.
Dinner was fabulous…each dish has a name from one of the foods eaten in the Potter movies…in reality it was a spinach and strawberry salad ( Gilley weed and red slug salad) , macaroni and cheese (mugglemac), with asparagus (broomsticks) and, for dessert, a chocolate “pudding” cake. They called it The defence of black arts pudding. The two moms helped out in the kitchen as well, but my oh my, this was a production. The thought and work put into this dinner was mind boggling.
Today, being day four, one family heads back to Alberta. We get to keep the others for another day and then, they too, will leave the parents/grandparents. The one sad note was one son and one more daughter were unable to attend. It would have been so wonderful to have everyone, just once, together at the same time.
We are so very blessed for this past week I don’t think I would change any of it. The kids went down the channel on a raft, everyone went cherry picking, the girls swam in our lake, played bocci on the lawn and just relaxed on the deck. By night time (sun finally set) it was beautiful…we played hawaiian music,and just laughed and talked.
Thank you God for this time. We surely won’t forget it.
Anniversary Time
Twenty-two years ago today, Don and I were married in Killiney Beach, in our yard overlooking the Okanagan Lake. This lovely community lies between Vernon and Kelowna on what our friends called “puke road”. The west side road. It is a dandy, to say the least.
We have had our share of ups and downs, good times and times that definitely could have been better. The bittersweet memories from that day are that my parents, aunt, uncle and Don’s brother-in-law are no longer with us.
The good times now is having 5 ‘kids’ working on making their own lives work for them, having two of our grandchildren graduating from high school this year and living in our dream home in Canada’s only desert. The best thing for me is that Don is much better, health-wise, since we moved here. I thank God every day for this, believe me.
He is a super-duper cook, wonderful father, grandfather and husband. Besides, he is so much fun to tease and flirt with every day it makes life so good for us. This is something neither one of us takes for granted.
He made me wait three years before he asked me to marry him and I didn’t give him the chance to take a second breath. Did you really think I was crazy? Besides, his sister always said she would have married him first ‘cuz he is such a wonderful cook.
I met Don 25 years ago through friends and fell so hard for this man with the silken voice. We talked for hours on the phone (something I very rarely do, except when talking to Kelly or Suzanne) and planning and carrying off surprises for this guy is always the best thing to do.
Am I in love with this man? There aren’t enough stars in our Universe to place separately on each one the feelings I have for this wonderful man. He owes me 40 years still. (It was 40 years the day I married him and every day I tell him he still owes me 40 years.
Thank you Don for all you have given me and, again, you owe me 40 years.
p.s. I love you so, so much.
A True Act of Love
Birthdays come and go and everyone celebrates in different ways. This was done for me this year and without going into the reasons why, I have only had very few birthday celebrations in my whole life.
For many weeks now, Don was telling me my sister-in-law was coming here to celebrate with me this year. (Reaching a new decade is cause for something). On Friday we drove up to the airport and I am intently watching everyone arrive and no “little redhead” coming off the plane. The next thing that happened is the face of my daughter popping up in front of me saying “how’s it going sunshine”. I almost fainted and certainly could hardly breathe for a few minutes.
We head for home and the next couple of days were busy. My cousin showed up (she was expected) for a night and then on Monday I was told “not to ask questions” and don’t go outside. The consiracy between my daughter and husband was epic. It was funny, cute and heart warming all at once.
Now the phone calls start, and the timeline of mine is loading up with good wishes, jokes and jibes. The cards from special friends brought a few tears and, believe it or not, Don and Kelly went over and above anything you could imagine.
At about 5 p.m. the doorbell starts ringing and 14 friends show up. Don cooked, put together all the dinner and appetizers; Kelly made some guacamole and salsa, set up the bar, played bartender, set up the deck and the two of them really worked hard, all day long.
This was an act of love. Truly planned, executed with nothing but smiles and hugs and love. You will never know how blessed I feel right now. Don is definitely a ‘keeper’ and I wish we could ‘keep’ Kelly.
To one and all, thank you so much. This was one celebration I will never forget…..ever.
Love? Nothing that money can buy. It is from the heart, given freely and when it falls on the one it is directed to…priceless. And to my two granddaughters and Suzanne…no one could sing it any better. Wendy and Bill? Don ‘t quit your day jobs….tee hee.
Christmas Is On Its Way
We live in a small community in southern British Columbia and, as of yesterday, lights are adorning the yards, stairs, roof lines started sparkling around town . As if someone pushed a button, you can see the lit Christmas trees in the windows as you drive on the different streets.
When out walking, you can start to enjoy the smells of baking wafting throughout the neighborhood and you almost wish you knew who lived there and invite yourelf in for a coffee and closer smell.
Due to the fact my sister and I used to race to see who could have all the gifts bought and wrapped before Hallowe’en, leaves me to be disliked by those who leave it until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. I can’t help it, it still happens in our house to this day. In September, while visiting Don’s daughter and family, we took their gifts (all wrapped) to keep until Christmas, and also those gifts for our friends in the City where we used to reside.
As mentioned before we do all our Christmas baking on November 11 and then I started….slowly……sneaking a little ornament here and a new wreath or two on a couple of windows, all the while wrapping more gifts as they were available.
Oh yes, Christmas letter is done and cards were addressed, stamped and ready to go out next week.
Then, I had to figure out what the colour theme is going to be this year….it is never the same and we always try to make the table a joyful site to sit at, enjoy our traditional dinner and talk about everything and nothing for hours with family.
Boxing Day more family arrives and we do it all again. What joy to be able to sit down and enjoy another feast.
Christmas is also time to sit back and reflect on seasons past with family members who are no longer with us, the joyful times, the silly games played or stories of long ago and, if you are like me, a slow smile crosses your face and you do feel good, even though you wish for all you can, that they were, once again, sitting at your table. Oh yes……..
Most of all, going to Church and never forgetting the real reason for this special time of year…..singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and being so thankful for all in your life.
Thanksgiving Day
This is a beautiful time of year to sit back, enjoy family, big turkey dinners and watch football on television…or is it?
Friday morning I had another surgery, for the umpteenth time and this time, hopefully, the last for awhile. My husband stayed with me and after, when he came to pick me up and take me to a hotel to stay overnight before heading home, he had bought me a bouquet of my favourite flower-tulips in an autumn colour. I was so thankful.
The next day as we were driving home (1 1/2-2 hr drive) the colours on the trees are changing ever so slowly, the sky was clear blue and the sun shining. Every time we make this drive, we chat about how beautiul it is, how lucky we are and it is true.
Getting back to Thanksgiving…so many times while waiting for my surgery, the Dr. was coming out and speaking either to a parent or spouse about what they found on their loved one and it wasn’t very good news. This is when we say thank you for God (or your religious leader) to put you in the position you are now…one where help is available, another day dawns and your loved ones are there for you. I hav e been fighting cancer now for twelve long years and have never had a pity party for me….it is not needed. I have always believed that God has put me where I should be and I am so thankful for that.
I am thankful for my daughter for what she has accomplished; my husband for what he has been through and for what he has given me – his undying love and care; my “step-children” whom I love very much and my grandchildren, all whom I adore; our new home and all what it took to get here; friends from far and wide, Doctors who really care…yes, this is a time to be thankful and I am so thankful I had the parents I had, and what they taught me.
Blessings to all and enjoy that turkey dinner.
OMG – September You are kidding.
The summer is officially gone and most families are enjoying the last days of bbq’s, trips to the lake, etc. and just enjoying everything.
We are too as my sister-in-law is here for a nice long visit and we get to catch up on all the stuff we miss during the year. So…let the weekend go and I’ll get back to you all on Tuesday.
Enjoy and be safe.
Sun, Sun, Sun
I decided to be like everyone else this weekend…enjoy the sun, Yes it is hot here but it is a dry heat and not so suffocating.
Last night we went to the campground here and had a super dinner with my cousin and her husband. It is great to be able to do this. For years the miles kept us apart but phone calls almost every week kept us up to date. To sit together and talk about the things we did (or in my case, of course) didn’t do is a big laugh and so enjoyed by the 4 of us.
We left a bit too early perhaps but the heat finally catches up and sleep seems like a great alternative. We’ll see them next week for sure.
My other cousin, had just left for a holiday in Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland. Will have lots to catch up on when she returns.
After our walk this morning, we sat on the deck drinking coffee, reading the paper, finally having breakfast. Oh yeah, then we had lunch as well out there. Don says to me….’boy, this is the life of Riley, isn’t it?” Yup! have to agree. Retirement should have happened years ago. (Sorry, I am supposed to say semi-reirement. That’s for him. Me? Uhuh…I am retired and lovin’ it.
Gee, must be time somewhere in this world where a martini would be a good idea. Later.