Chrimbo Limbo

Is it Friday or Saturday? It's that time of year again - Boxing day over and another few days until New Year's Eve...Chrimbo Limbo...!

Hope you all had a great Christmas, dinner was easy here as my Mum and I have got into the routine of splitting a roast dinner. She did the Turkey and the gravy and I did the rest. So much less hassle for everybody. Mum & Dad came to us to eat, we watched It's a Wonderful Life and then they went home.

Boxing Day was interesting...I can't say quiet - Sam was upstairs on the guitar practicing with his new 'Wah' (this makes that chicawahwah noise on the guitar), Joe was putting his new rubber handled drumsticks to the test in the basement and then me and the kids were singing to the American Idol for Wii that I got for Christmas. Steve watched the footie with the O'Malleys who came over especially, and anyone who has watched footie with Steve knows he is never shy at shouting at the screen. Like I said, not quiet...

Today, I've just dropped off Sam in Charlottetown for 'Awesomefest'...the local bands have got together for a music festival...22 acts over 2 days for $5. Sam was very excited in a cool sort of way. He's hoping to crash at a mate's house (I'm hoping the same, otherwise I have to fight through the forecasted snow to get him around 11pm...not relishing that idea!)

I have lots of photos - but blogger doesn't seem to want to upload at the mo, so I'll get them attached another day. I need to see what films are on as I've finished my book The Boleyn Inheritance...fantastic btw. I've also finished knitting Mum's scarf and I don't feel like cooking today...Chrimbo Limbo, like I said...I need a good Chick Flick...

PS Mamma Mia did nothing for me, sorry...

Twas the night before Christmas...

Oh yes...

The season is almost here and don't we all know it...we have had such a busy time so far, but it's all been worth it - it really feels Christmassy already...that may have something to do with the aroma of the Christmas ham on the stove.

Where to start? Ah yes, the Canoe Cove Christmas Concert...what a joy! Sam was the star of the show...doing his Jimi Hendrix thing...all the kids headbanging along...I was so proud. I don't know where he gets his confidence from, at 14 I was certainly not that brave!



Last Saturday we held our Christmas Advent Window Party here at home. It was a great success, fuelled by my hot Mulled wine (outrageous for the Cove, don't you know!) It was a lot of work, but worth it...Sunday was a particularly quiet day in our house.

So now we are on the final countdown...Steve and I have done our usual and went out and spent far too much on the kids.

Mum is doing really well - her sleep patterns are still out of kilter, but we can't expect too much.

We had a storm on Sunday/ Monday so we have lots of snow - the kids were out sledging on Tuesday and I was digging out the car! Minus 22 degrees, don't you know!


Last night was Jodee and Mari's Advent Window and they are very artistic - they were fiddling for entertainment (not quite the same as Gluwein tho!)

We are off to Libby's tonight as is our tradition on Christmas Eve. A lovely Christmas to you all...we miss you terribly, even though we hide it well!

We've been on the Telly!

You have to laugh...

The night before last I was that upset at an article on our local news that I sent them an email noting my opinion on a particular issue. At the same time I emailed them an entry for their 'photo of the day' to which I put in Sam's name as another photo of mine has already been featured earlier this year.

So, last night, we sat down to watch the news as our neighbour was to featured to commend her 'quick-wittedness' at realising that her cheapo $1 fairy lights were melting and about to burn down her house. (I bit my tongue, but my head was saying 'Sh*t doesn't burn...) Joe's friend was featured (especially brought home from school!) so Joe was keen to watch. After that, we carried on watching and to cut a long story short, my comments were shown and then the next feature, photo of the day proudly showed Sam's entry...we are taking over the island...it's official.

Off to Blair & Linda's tonight for their Advent house party...should be a good laugh, they are a great pair.


PS It's snowing - we have about 5 inches with 10 more in the forecast overnight!

Recycling & Tomato Soup

I don't know how much the UK has changed as regards recycling, but I suspect that it still doesn't compare to Prince Edward Island. I've heard that in the NW of England you have to divide your trash into various bins to be collected on different days of the week. PEI goes a step further. Here we have to segregate:

Newspapers/ Card
WASHED Recyclable plastic/ cans
WASHED Bottles/ Jars
Tyres
Electricals
Compost
Waste

Compost and Waste are every two weeks and recyclable once a month (and if you categorize anything wrong they will just leave it behind.) All the plastic bottles/ glass bottles, tetra packs and cans are taken to specialised plants where you get a refund of your deposit - remember that?? The AA man and taking the bottles back to the corner shop??

The really good news is that twice a year they collect Spring/ Fall clearout - which means that as long as you put it out on time, they'll take anything. This is the time of year that Islanders frequent other people's 'clearout' - just in case there's a bargain to be had - I kid you not!

Yesterday and today, the boys & I were waging through our bottles/ cans in the basement and have loaded up the truck for my trip to the bottling place tomorrow - such is the exciting life we lead! So tomorrow I'll be quids in - or should that be dollars in??

Mum & Dad has found a website that imports the UK products we don't see here. Today, Sam and I had Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup...an early Christmas present to me from M&D. Such luxury! I daren't go on the site just in case they have Vimto - I know I'll spend my life savings having it transported from Mississauga...yes, such a place does indeed exist!

Ahead is an exciting week...I'm putting together a website for the Canoe Cove Community Association and I'm cleaning out the basement. We have 3 Advent Evenings at neighbours' houses before Sam performs his coup de gras at the Canoe Cove Schoolhouse for their Christmas Concert. He wants to play Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix and so we are re-naming it Christmas Haze. He also has his school competition - Lip Sync - on Friday for which his band have been rehearsing for months.

Joe has disappeared to Nathan's for the day, so god knows when he'll be back.

Here's some photos of the schoolhouse - it's like our tiny community hall - cute eh?



Ice Rain








It's a wonder of nature and also deadly...but I love Ice Rain. We awoke this morning to everywhere crystallized and beautiful - it lasted about 3 hours before it melted. It coats everything in a film of ice which is incredibly slippy. We first saw it last year when it caused all the power lines to collapse...some people had no electric for two weeks! We were just down for a day...which is still no fun - but two weeks - can you imagine? No running water, no fridge, no loo - just a woodstove to heat and cook with.


Anyhow, we have some very good news, my Mum came out of hospital yesterday. She's still not too good and she seems to have lost a lot of weight but she tells us that her sofa is better than her hospital bed. Hopefully, she'll now catch up on some sleep.

I'm taking Joe to the school to watch a film tonight, aswell as Sam for band rehearsal. Hopefully, Steve will fix our water filter and we can go out to Pauline's as promised for her Advent Evening. Mine's next Saturday...weather permitting and no ice rain!

One Kidney Down

Aren't mother's remarkable? Well mine is..and it's been proven. Her operation has been a phenomenal success and her 7 day hospital stay looks set to be only 4 days. Such are her powers of healing and mental staunch. Like I said, remarkable - and now doctors agree!

Enough said, I'm busy. :)

PS...Tarty's having a girl.....soooooooooooo jealous but very excited...!

The Big Day

My Mum's operation day has finally arrived and with it a nasty winter storm. We only have about 5 inches of snow - but the problem is that it is blowing. That means it drifts along the roads making driving treacherous. I've just got an email saying the kids are being sent home from school due to weather conditions. I blame Joe - he's been parying for snow for a week!

I've convinced my Dad to stay home rather than go to the hospital, I think Mum would be more anxious with him there than with her. I dropped her off at 8am and so far she is yet to arrive in Recovery.

For those of you that aren't aware, they found growths on one of her kidneys which they tell us has a 60% chance of being cancerous. Since her other kidney is perfectly healthy, they just remove the whole kidney. It's a brutal operation and I'm hoping my Dad can cope. Not with the basic stuff, as I'm around to do that, but emotionally. Apparently her recovery will be around 2/3 months so I'm praying that my Dad's health keeps up.

Anyway, enough of that...back to the storm...Sam and Joe have just arrived home with hopeful talk of a snow day tomorrow...that'll be fun with Steve in bed after a nightshift! I'll send them over to terrorize Grandad - he can do with the company!

I still haven't taken photos of our Christmas lights...have it on my 'to-do' list...taking my Dad to the Dentist tomorrow - thank god for snow tyres!

Keep safe and WARM!


Christmas Wreaths




What a fab day...6 of us went to the local Karen's Christmas Tree farm and made wreaths/ centre pieces...not bad for a virgin wreathmaker- VERY pleased with myself ;-)






Off to Kathy's tonight for a girlie night in...tomorrow I'll take some photos of the christmas lights outside...so exciting!

Update...

Don't you just love the build up to Christmas???!! Our boys presented us with a list of stuff to the tune of around $1000...they obviously did not get the memo that said that Christmas was about giving rather than receiving...there is an upside, of course, we get to use these old nuggets for the next month...!

'you better do it otherwise...'
'you better get up or...'

'you have to do your homework now or...'

'you have to bring the wood in or...'

'you have to unload the dishwasher or...'

'you have to get a shower or...'

'you have to put your ironing away or...'

'...Christmas is cancelled' !!

Even so, we've - lol - correction - I've been rushing around like my tail's on fire...no doubt all of you got our extremely early Chrimbo cards...tsk, tsk...What was I thinking?? I was thinking Canada post is bloody useless...and last year took til February to get the parcels there...! But what do I know?? Not alot, obviously.


This year we had a snowfall late November, about 10 inches which was a bit of a shock, but has disappeared again now...just a little taster for what's to come no doubt. We've been getting some incredible sunsets...



Steve's just finished putting up the Chrimbo lights, luckily its been around 3 - 8 degrees the last few days and he didn't have to put them up in bitter winds like last year.





I realised that we haven't shown you the chickens lately and Rooney the Rooster, and they've been having 'vacation afternoons' much to Max the cat's amusement...









'Don't you just love these leaves Rooney???'
Cluck...cluck...














'I smell chicken'



Joe and Sam are both well - Sam has just formed a band - they have their first gig at school on the 19th...rehearsals are in full swing...he's also playing the Canoe Cove Christmas Concert. Joe is Joe...








We have agreed to do an Advent Window on the 20th...that means the neighbourhood come to your house for a couple of hours, which should be fun, and gives us an excuse for a party. Tomorrow I'm off making Christmas wreaths...wish me luck, I'm just not that good with Crafts..something else I'll have to learn!