All the Best in 2010!

     We have been going out to a Hall way way out in the country to a New Years Dance the last couple of years.  Most of our friends join together for a big sound rythym and blues dance band and it is lots of fun.  They play lots of dance tunes and the place get really rockin'.  This may be our last year to go to this if all plans keep on track. ( unless of course we fly back for it! ).  I worked today and tomorrow off and then work the next day so we better cool it tonight - we do not drink so that is not an issue.
     Posts tomorrow and hopefully some pictures!
     Happy New Year and all the best for 2010...... as we are getting ready we are watching the Junior Worlds' hockey and the game between Canada and the US.....

Figuring and Family

Kims' parents saying' I love you' on Christmas Day

 We have not posted for a couple of days and we would like to claim the excuse that Christmas was busy, however, it was not and very quiet so we have no excuse! We had a few friends in for Christmas Eve snacks and drinks.  Our youngest son came over Christmas Day about 10:00 am, and we opened our stockings and gifts then.  We do not do very much in the way of gifts and we have been trying to cut back on Christmas and the commercialization of the holidays.  We would rather say 'I love you'. Donald and I only gave each other a gift that would work/needed for the RV. Christmas dinner was going to be the 3 of us, but just as the turkey was coming out of the oven, a friend called and he was just driving back into town after visiting his sister 5 hours away and that was perfect timing to set another place for dinner.  It was a great dinner.
   One of the strange joys of Christmas this year was finding out ( via Facebook ) on the 25th that I have many many cousins in the province that I live in and I was not aware of them. They are on my mothers side of the family and she had no knowledge either.  I have been corresponding via e mail with them for the past couple of days relaying the family history, that they were eager to learn.  So, Christmas is about family! 
   Donald's family was all in Edmonton this year.  It would be so nice to have lots of time and not be working and the roads to be good so that we could join them one year.  Plans for next year are for us to be ' down south' and our 2 boys and daughter in law to join us.  She is the most thrilled and has requested disneyland. ( Tinkerbell fan ).
   Donald and I were talking about the blogs and he has been reading those which post their expenses/budgets.  I have worked up a couple of excel spreadsheets with both present and future ( full time )  expenses/budget.  We are both fairly convinced that we will be perfectly fine. Now, to get it together to start the journey.....
   
  

Merry Christmas from all of us!           

Christmas Lights Drive

    Our youngest son dropped by to pick up his Icelandic cake, and as always, managed to arrive right at dinnertime.  There is plenty, so he enjoyed supper with the ol' folks.  I also sent along some of the peanut butter fudge ( recipe found courtesy of Rick's wife on her blog - thanks! ) along with him that perhaps he will share with the other gang at his house. 
     That is all the christmas baking that was done this year ..... no shortbread, no sugar cookies, no rumballs, no truffles.... I am on 'the plan' so I am not about to do any baking to be a temptation and for only 2 people in the house, we surely do not need it.  Christmas dessert will be an apple crisp with ice cream.  I have been very good about sticking to the plan and have managed to remove 16.5 lbs this month so far. I figure if you can go to Christmas parties, only drink water and not indulge in anything, then you will have made it through the toughest month to diet, and be that much farther ahead come January when people typically start 'the plan'. It is a good thing the staff/coffee room at work is on the second floor.  If I never go upstairs, then there is nothing to tempt me.  Donald was good and lost about 25 lbs last early summer, so he can maintain that, as long as there is not a lot of things in the house.
     I just wish it was warmer to walk! Brrr!  Tonight we are going for the annual 'drive around to see the Christmas Lights' tour. I won't take any pictures because they do not really show up well anyway.
     Thanks for stopping by for a read! 

cake distribution

     We have been busy with working ( me ) and making Vinetarta ( Donald ) which is Icelandic cake.  He has made 3 cakes and was busy today distributing pieces to some of my fellow co-workers, to his coffee buddies and the waitresses who serve the coffee group.  He also sent a whole cake to Victoria to our son and daughter in law.  He is enjoying making butter icing -  he thinks it is amazing how it seems like it won't work, and then you keep mixing and it turns out awesome.  Who says you can't learn new and exciting skills in your retirement?
     We have been going to Christmas parties - one was last Saturday night about a 35 minute drive out in the country.  There was about 80 people there and noisy!  It is an annual thing with singing carols and musicians, but I think there was too many people with too much wine.  The violinists did not even take out their instruments.  That was too bad, as we look forward to that.
     Like many Rv'ers that we read, we do not indulge very much in gifts for the holidays, so when we are on the road full time, it will be easier.  Next season, we shall be in the warmer climes, and to have the gift to our adult children be the airfare to join us, would be wonderful.
     Our cold weather ( minus 25 celsius today ) has not departed as yet so we are enjoying staying in, watching a bit of tv and doing I don't know what because we seem to be busy.

busy monday chores in the deep freeze

We attended the CNRA ( retired association ) Christmas Party last evening - mostly retired railroaders and their spouses.  It was a very nice evening with lots of conversation and I think the dinner supplied was very good ( roast beef ).  Of course, most of the party broke up before 10 pm, which was alright by us.  I had a quick doctors appointment today, and Donald has been fussing about with the satellite dish and speaking to the installer.  More on that later as he prepares to figure out things for the RV.

I managed to get our oldest son's birthday card made and sent off today.  He was due to be delivered many years ago on Christmas Day, but he hung around with me till early January. It is always a terrible time when you have your birthday close to Christmas, so we always made sure all the Christmas decorations and things were put away prior to his day, so it was more special. On his first birthday after he moved away from home, we hired an amateur opera singer to attend the restaurant where he was having his special dinner out.  This singer sang the birthday song, and I think gave him some flowers or a stuffed monkey or something.  His girlfriend ( now lovely wife ) and her parents thought it was great. He thought it was very embarassing and I suspect still has not forgiven us - oh buddy, you are way too serious!  We miss both of them very much as they very far away now.  Today we were discussing though, about moving things into storage and how to get items to their abode in Victoria.  They will be getting a few things - mostly antique furniture and china.

Well, not a real exciting day - beautiful crisp, cold ( -26 C ) and sunny.

Hmmm, Nathan, I wonder what your birthday card theme will be???????????

Early Christmas shoppers!

This lovely mum Moose and her calf came by our house at 6:50 am and then these shots were taken on the way to work about 9 am.  They look in good shape now, but by spring they will start to look
a little ragged in their fur.  You do not want to go near them - she will be fairly protective of her offspring. They also travel without a sound - your first hint is when your dog starts to whimper, that they may be nearby.

This is one of the beautiful things about living in Northern British Columbia! ( and it makes up for enduring some cold weather sometimes )

 

movie and a wreath

I had to e mail off a picture of our new front door and the beautiful wreath that Donald's sisters sent to us from Nova Scotia.  It smells incredible.  I was a lovely surprise last week and cheered us up on a cold day.  The week has been progressing with the normal chores, except that last evening we managed to wrap the Christmas presents that must go to further locations and watched a great movie.  Donald suggested we order a PPV movie ( since we have 8 free ones to use up to the end of December ).  The pick was Julie and Julia and we both thought it was very entertaining.

christmas decorations

First of all, welcome to blog followers John and Terri and MaryAnn and William - thanks very much for joining, it is much appreciated!

This morning on my way to work, Donald mentioned that this is the last year for the Christmas tree - an easy decision as is a fake tree that is starting to look fairly shabby.  I do not think a 9 foot tree will fit in the RV! Ha!

a new front door

  I just realized it has been a few days since the last post.  Today is simply beautiful outside - clear, sunny, sparkly, glistening and minus 22 degrees centigrade.  Brrr. I have a roast ready to go into the crockpot, as it is too cold to bbq something ( yes, we use our natural gas bbq all year 'round ).

We have a had a busy week with a few things.  Of course when the weather turned cold, our local supplier called to inform us that our new front door had arrived. So, with the help of a professional finishing carpenter, Donald and he installed this beautiful new door.  One more thing off the list ( as soon as the trim is finished ).   Work was insanely busy for me this week, culiminating in the annual company Christmas party - very fancy, lots of people you do not know... Some of us were remembering 15 years ago when we started work with having only 14 employees and the party would be maybe 35 people. Last evening in the ballroom of a local hotel, it was 200 or so.  Maybe my last, and I will not miss it.

  I have our Christmas cards made, and they should go out in the mail this week.  I haven't really started the shopping ( a chore I do not like ) so I may have to get busy today.Donald will be enjoying 'football day', starting at this very minute with the New Orleans/Washington game.

short post zzzzzz

This is just a short post - so have just spent from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm with our friends in the local airport as they were trying to fly out of here to make it to Vancouver and to further connecting flights after our busy weekend.  The weather is warm for this time of year, with no wind, and we have been completely fogged in since yesterday afternoon.  Some were unfortunately going to miss important gigs and teaching schedules.

We came home after a quick stop at the grocery store and visited the couch for a quick hour snooze.  It was a busy weekend - they were all teaching at a Jazz retreat here.  By Sunday evening everyone was tired, but we still managed to "yuck it up" and watch the Grey Cup, enjoying a great dinner of ribs, chili, sushi, thai spring rolls, potatoe salad, and quite a few bottles of red wine.  A good time.