Snapshots - Christmas part 2

We arrived fairly close to scheduled time. My niece had already had three snow days, she reported, after all this is Canada. It was good to be home, my parents farm is the perfect setting for Christmas. Family, food, traditions. And even though my parents head south a few days after Christmas, they still manage to decorate and host. My favourite childhood decoration was the skating rink scene she set up. I spent many hours staring at the scene, examining all the people and village.
 

We are a small group, 3 siblings and a few offspring. We tried to capture a photo of the cousins. For some reason Lucy thought she should be cheering with her arms. The littlest one wasn't so keen being apart from her dad.

Our annual boxing day sled fest was successful, my sons favourite event. Well, one of them at least. They are all his favourite events. Lucy fell a sleep just before we arrived to our secret location. A 10 minute hike in, bundled up and on the sled she slept as I imagine Inuit babies sleep. (But I wasn't sure, so returned to the car for more blankets.)

She woke for the ride home. We all returned home, and back to our daily on goings. We had one more night before packing up all the loot and returning to our home to pack again, and head to our other family in Istanbul.

Fa la la la lah, lalalala

We spend some of our Christmas holiday at my parents farm.  All the extended family gathers for the day playing with new toys, hiking through the snow, hanging out, dinner and a friendly game of Euchre. And then another day, Boxing day, of sledding and perhaps some hitting some winter sales.  I didn't go out to set traditions, but learned they happen naturally. My 10 year old asks to do such activities - "Can we hike through that forest to the hidden hill where no one else goes and go tobogganing" - with fond memories, which makes me realize these are important events and thus traditions.

Merry Christmas to all, and a jolly good New Year to come.

Snapshots - Christmas part 1

I'm going to sneak this post in, but date it back to its actual time.  I hadn't a chance to let all the Christmas memories sink in, let alone look at the photos. Now, looking back, I'm feeling nostalgic, even though it was only a few weeks ago!  Maybe going on a big vacation just after Christmas isn't such a good idea. It sort of shadows all the fun of Christmas time.

Seriously exhausted kids! Wow, we did all these traditional preparations in our home; making gifts and decorations and then drove to Canada for Christmas!

We finally got snow a few days before we were to drive to Canada. I had to strategically park in my driveway (back in), before snow fell. But I didn't.  Our plan was, soccer game at 12:30 and head to Canada after. Snow started to fall sometime in the night. I shoveled in the morning and then debated about backing the car up & packing, but it was too early to pack and the snow plow had not come yet. I wanted the snow plow to clear the front.

The snow was wet and heavy. I called the soccer club and the game was on. Not much else to do but wonder about how much snow would fall, so we headed out an hour early. Snow plow came, flattened the snow that I had shoveled and messed up my traction (gravel). Stuck in driveway, rocked and cursed my way out. A slip on a road, an accident on the opposite bound traffic, I wondered about this soccer game. But the forecast indicated the snow would slow and then cease in the afternoon. Limited visibility on the highway, 30miles/hr, I got off, drove around the city streets while debating whether we should just head north. Filled gas tank, slushy roads but strong traction. Regained confidence. Made it to the game. Boy scores a goal! And just as aforecasted, the game ended and the snow turned to light light flurries. And the rest of the 4 hour drive was smooth.

A recap

I injured my shoulder a while ago. In August, swinging at a green furry ball. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, maybe a pulled muscle or strained tendon.  A few months later and the pain had escalated. Did I dislocate my shoulder? What could cause so much pain? Rotary cuff damage? I'm not sure what triggered the 8 scale pain during that time, but I finally took an Aleve and laid down with a an ice pack wedged between my neck and shoulder. This actually helped. The next day, and there after, the shoulder pain decreased.  A few months later, pain is milder but still there. Mobility is low. I tried painting the wall in the kitchen, but quit that after I realized lifting arm above head wasn't going to work.  A few weeks later, I swung my arm around my child to embrace him. A swing similar to the swing in the tennis match that initially caused the pain. THAT HURT. My arm does not move that way. Dislocation and the thoughts of rebreaking shoulder to fix it creeps through my mind. (Going to doctor is an option, I suppose, but I'm not convinced about that, yet. Maybe a 2013 goal)

Anyhow, an attempt at painting the last kitchen wall, foiled, was the last house fixing up thing I have done.

I would like to see the lighting installed. I've got that packaged in boxes around the house. And the exotic wood shelf that is supposed to go above the oven, but remains stored on the dining room floor. Choosing a backsplash would get things rolling. And finding a reclaimed wood board to house my plates above the sink would be sweet. 

Until then, a 2012 recap is in order. (Disclaimer, listed points may not be in actual order of occurrence)

** Last January, unusually warm temperatures led me to call a stump crusher. He came. He crushed.  And then he became my full time contractor.


** We started w/ some electrical work in the kitchen,on this wall below.

 

** Ordered the fridge and cooktop from AJ Madison. Lived in a bit of chaos, while the appliances overtook the living room, boxes of cabinets stuffed under beds, and in spare rooms.

** We changed a regular door to a hidden sliding door to the half bath.

** Then we took out the huge 48x70 rotting window and replaced it with custom made french doors. Leading to a "Parisian Balcony" that was also built.

** Tiled the kitchen and bathroom floor.

** Took three trips to different cities (Ottawa,Boston,Philly) to buy the Ikea kitchen cabinets and oven and sink.

** Worked on a rock patio extension to the pea gravel patio. Did a little more landscaping.

** Took down a old tv shelf (previous owners) in my sons room. Painted the wall sky blue.

** Tweaked the half bath

** Updated nursery to little girls room.

** Craigslisted off the old appliances.

** Painted a few walls in the kitchen. The wall above, yeah, thats the one I need to paint. Thats the one that told me my shoulder still doesn't work.

** Finished the electrical in the kitchen.

** Built the cabinets.  Ordered the counter, installed the cabinets. Installed the counter.  Installed the drawers and fronts. Woot, a kitchen!

Looking for pictures to stick in between the items, well its now a before and after post as well as a recap.  I have never done the before and after pictures of the kitchen, so consider this a sneak peak and hopefully a full reveal in the new year.   The commitment took place in Jan 2011. A before tease, Jan 2011 and the gutting, end of Feb 2011 - almost 2 years ago.  But this is a recap of 2012, where most of the rebuilding and planning and decision making happened.   

A simple felt ornament

I came across HandmadeCharlotte's tutorial on this adorable felt tree ornament.  Very simple AND I have stacks of felt just waiting to be made into some kind of decoration

I printed out the template from HandmadeCharlotte's blog and did the cutting in the car while waiting at red lights, for my sons violin lesson to begin.  The next morning, assembly began.

Lu wanted to decorate the tree.

I had pompoms and beads in my supply tins so we added them to the tops.

Now we can decorate our homemade vanilla extract gifts and tree with these sweet and easy felt ornaments.