Christmas Countdown - 2014

[snowflake22]

SeaWaters wrote: "I used to teach my students about “Makin’ Memories.” I don’t think they realized that when I told them my family stories that I was really reliving those memories as if it were yesterday.Some of the voices in those memories have been silenced, but they still ring true in my mind."



I often recall, with great fondness, many family gatherings over the Christmas holidays when we visited relatives on the outskirts of town and those in the same neighbourhood and every house was decorated in a unique way and it was something that I delighted in as a child. I would see decorations and lights that were different from each other, yet the conversations and feeling of kinship were the same in each place. I also remember where people were seated and the different foods or sweets that were offered in different places over the years. Certain smells or sounds take me back to those times like it was yesterday.



One memory that I hold dear is about the time when my brothers and I adopted grandparents in the neighbourhood because my fathers parents were gone and my moms parents lived in Nova Scotia so we didn't see them much. At Christmastime, we would make special crafts for our "pretend grandparents" and visit them on our own. My brothers and I had different neighbours we enjoyed more than the others because they paid attention to us and were kind and appreciative of our affection. I adopted one grandma and a couple because I liked them so much and they reminded me of my own grandparents who lived far away.



One year, my pretend grandma asked me if I would help her put Christmas Seals into envelopes because her hands were sore from Arthritis. I was pleased to help and thankful she had a sponge for me to dip into water instead of sealing them with my tongue (never cared for the taste of envelop paste - perhaps if it tasted like chocolate...). I didn't realize how much time had slipped away, but it was near lunch time when we finished stuffing the envelopes with Christmas seals. I was invited to eat with her and we enjoyed lovely soup and sandwiches. As a treat before I left, her dog Teddy sang me a Christmas song. That was the coolest Basset Hound ever. He howled Jingle Bells to the point where I'm certain I heard some specific words emitting from him.



I cherish memories and share them from time to time and feel so fortunate to have had such a great time growing up in a place where people can open their hearts wide to let the Christmas spirit reside.



:yahoo: Keep a merry thought in your head.

What beautiful memories, auntie!




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[snowflake22]

Good Morning, Everyone.



Another Weekend.

First one of Christmas Season 2014.



Another Milestone.

<< What, Crown? Aren't they all passed? >>

Not quite. One more to go.

It's the 90 percent Christmas Day marker and it's just THREE DAYS AWAY!

(Yes, Folks, the "forgotten Milestone". But we know it here at MMC!)



Days to Thanksgiving: 12 (Almost down to single digits!)

Days to Christmas Day: 40 (Down into the 30's tomorrow!)





Very chilly all day yesterday. More of the same today where we have started things off at a chattery 28 degrees here in the capital city.

Lots of sun, though, and no precipitation.





Have a Sensational Saturday, Friends.

Listen to lots of Christmas music.

It's the Season, you know!

Thanks, Crown~
Happy Saturday! Have a merry day!




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[snowflake22]

& Thanks for reminding me to pick up a new large gift bag for O'Malley the cat to enjoy, it seems to keep him from wanting to help me wrap gifts. He gets a bit too curious and doesn't help at all. He has a bit of a Scotch tape fetish, can't imagine where that came from - well maybe from me. He hears the sound of the tape or the rustling of the gift wrap and he's jumping onto the bed and trying to claim everything by grabbing at stuff with his paws and flopping down on it. I got wiser last year and started wrapping gifts on top of the freezer so he couldn't get into as much mischief. If I give him a gift bag, he'll drag it over by the balcony window and rest on it because his fur doesn't stick to it.

Love it! He is such a cutie!




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[snowflake22]

Good morning, friends~

It's a chilly morning! Currently 4 degrees! We are expecting more snow tonight, up to 3 inches.

What are your plans for the day?

I will be getting some things done around the house, working on Christmas cards, and watching Christmas movies!

Tomorrow, my family comes & we head to Green Bay for the Packers-Eagles game. So excited!

Hope you have a merry & festive day!

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[HomemakinGirl]

Good morning!
I'm heading out soon, I have to do a big food shopping trip and I want to get it over with. I also plan on doing some deep cleaning this weekend. I really have my work cut out for me, I kind of let things go with all of the construction going on. My husband is almost finished painting so things should really start to come together now. We had cushions and pillows made for the window seat, so we'll be setting that up. And we're also ready to hang the new curtains. I'll post pictures when its finished.
I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!

 

[Christmasstar]

Merry Saturday!

Busy day ahead. I am getting my hair cut and then we need to nip to the shops and run a few errands. I also want to get Christmas decorations down from the loft today. Once they are down I can check lights etc and start putting out a few things over the next few days.

Relaxing evening planned watching some Christmas shows and just chilling out before work tomorrow.

Have a great weekend everyone!

lovely day !
I just realised I promised my daughter a few strings of lights for her new apartment, I should get them out too and see what is there, bought a box at a yard sale this past summer so I know I have lots.
Enjoy you evening of Christmas shows !

 

[snowflake22]

Good morning!
I'm heading out soon, I have to do a big food shopping trip and I want to get it over with. I also plan on doing some deep cleaning this weekend. I really have my work cut out for me, I kind of let things go with all of the construction going on. My husband is almost finished painting so things should really start to come together now. We had cushions and pillows made for the window seat, so we'll be setting that up. And we're also ready to hang the new curtains. I'll post pictures when its finished.
I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!

Hope your errands & cleaning go well today~
Your window seat sounds lovely!
Can't wait to see pics.
Have a great day, HmG [emoji171]

xx




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[HomemakinGirl]

Good morning, friends~

It's a chilly morning! Currently 4 degrees! We are expecting more snow tonight, up to 3 inches.

What are your plans for the day?

I will be getting some things done around the house, working on Christmas cards, and watching Christmas movies!

Tomorrow, my family comes & we head to Green Bay for the Packers-Eagles game. So excited!

Hope you have a merry & festive day!

Good Morning & Happy Saturday Snowflake!
I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Keep warm and be safe in the snow!
xo

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Hope your errands & cleaning go well today~
Your window seat sounds lovely!
Can't wait to see pics.
Have a great day, HmG [emoji171]

xx




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Thanks sweetie!
xo

 

[snowflake22]

Good Morning & Happy Saturday Snowflake!
I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Keep warm and be safe in the snow!
xo

Thank you!

xx




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[Christmasstar]

SeaWaters wrote: "I used to teach my students about “Makin’ Memories.” I don’t think they realized that when I told them my family stories that I was really reliving those memories as if it were yesterday.Some of the voices in those memories have been silenced, but they still ring true in my mind."

I often recall, with great fondness, many family gatherings over the Christmas holidays when we visited relatives on the outskirts of town and those in the same neighbourhood and every house was decorated in a unique way and it was something that I delighted in as a child. I would see decorations and lights that were different from each other, yet the conversations and feeling of kinship were the same in each place. I also remember where people were seated and the different foods or sweets that were offered in different places over the years. Certain smells or sounds take me back to those times like it was yesterday.

One memory that I hold dear is about the time when my brothers and I adopted grandparents in the neighbourhood because my fathers parents were gone and my moms parents lived in Nova Scotia so we didn't see them much. At Christmastime, we would make special crafts for our "pretend grandparents" and visit them on our own. My brothers and I had different neighbours we enjoyed more than the others because they paid attention to us and were kind and appreciative of our affection. I adopted one grandma and a couple because I liked them so much and they reminded me of my own grandparents who lived far away.

One year, my pretend grandma asked me if I would help her put Christmas Seals into envelopes because her hands were sore from Arthritis. I was pleased to help and thankful she had a sponge for me to dip into water instead of sealing them with my tongue (never cared for the taste of envelop paste - perhaps if it tasted like chocolate...). I didn't realize how much time had slipped away, but it was near lunch time when we finished stuffing the envelopes with Christmas seals. I was invited to eat with her and we enjoyed lovely soup and sandwiches. As a treat before I left, her dog Teddy sang me a Christmas song. That was the coolest Basset Hound ever. He howled Jingle Bells to the point where I'm certain I heard some specific words emitting from him.

I cherish memories and share them from time to time and feel so fortunate to have had such a great time growing up in a place where people can open their hearts wide to let the Christmas spirit reside.

:yahoo: Keep a merry thought in your head.

memories, they fill our minds more and more as we get older. I love to read about and listen to the stories of how other people grew up.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[Bradmac]

Good Saturday morning, my Christmas friends!

It's cold down here, but not as cold as most of you, I suspect.

I had hoped to see a movie this afternoon while Elizabeth is at ballet, but I just found out she's riding with a friend, so I don't have a good enough excuse to drive 30 miles just to see my movie. :-( Maybe one day...

There's still plenty to do around here, so I better get to it.

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

 

[snowflake22]

Good Saturday morning, my Christmas friends!

It's cold down here, but not as cold as most of you, I suspect.

I had hoped to see a movie this afternoon while Elizabeth is at ballet, but I just found out she's riding with a friend, so I don't have a good enough excuse to drive 30 miles just to see my movie. :-( Maybe one day...

There's still plenty to do around here, so I better get to it.

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

Good morning, Brad!
Have a great weekend! [emoji4]




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[made582]

Good Morning, MMC!!!!! It's going to be a chilly day with a high around 30 this afternoon. Then tonight the first acculmating snow of the season moves in. It looks like we should only get an inch or so out of this system. I can handle that. Then tomorrow tonight we may see even more. My 2 niece's just showed up so I have to go fix them breakfast since their mom didn't do it before bringing them in. So I'll be back after that to get caught up. I hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!

 

[snowflake22]

Good Morning, MMC!!!!! It's going to be a chilly day with a high around 30 this afternoon. Then tonight the first acculmating snow of the season moves in. It looks like we should only get an inch or so out of this system. I can handle that. Then tomorrow tonight we may see even more. My 2 niece's just showed up so I have to go fix them breakfast since their mom didn't do it before bringing them in. So I'll be back after that to get caught up. I hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!

Good morning, again!
Hope you stay warm & enjoy the snow!
Have fun with your nieces! Bless your heart, you are a wonderful uncle.

xx




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[brent]

Good Saturday morning, my Christmas friends!

It's cold down here, but not as cold as most of you, I suspect.

I had hoped to see a movie this afternoon while Elizabeth is at ballet, but I just found out she's riding with a friend, so I don't have a good enough excuse to drive 30 miles just to see my movie. :-( Maybe one day...

There's still plenty to do around here, so I better get to it.

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

If the movie is Dumb and Dumber To, I think you have a perfect excuse to drive 30 miles!

 

[brent]

I have the same fireplace ! LOL, now if only we could the thing to trow out some heat !

Have fun with the rest of the decorating today, look forward to seeing the pictures.

I've been wondering the same about the fireplace. I turn up the volume, but still no heat! Thanks. We have to make a few stops before re-starting the decorating. Hopefully Kim allows me to show everything tonight!

Very nice, Brent! Looking festive!




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Thanks! We're getting there!

 

[brent]

Good Morning, Everyone.

Another Weekend.
First one of Christmas Season 2014.

Another Milestone.
<< What, Crown? Aren't they all passed? >>
Not quite. One more to go.
It's the 90 percent Christmas Day marker and it's just THREE DAYS AWAY!
(Yes, Folks, the "forgotten Milestone". But we know it here at MMC!)

Days to Thanksgiving: 12 (Almost down to single digits!)
Days to Christmas Day: 40 (Down into the 30's tomorrow!)


Very chilly all day yesterday. More of the same today where we have started things off at a chattery 28 degrees here in the capital city.
Lots of sun, though, and no precipitation.


Have a Sensational Saturday, Friends.
Listen to lots of Christmas music.
It's the Season, you know!

Another chilly day there, Crown! Enjoy your Christmas music-filled day!!!

 

[brent]

Good morning, everyone!

It's the first weekend of the Christmas Season! Kim and I are going to brave the shopping world today and attempt to purchase a few things. We're heading down to Bayshore Shopping Centre in hopes to spot some mall Christmas decorations and a few gifts for her nephews. We also need to make a few last minute purchases for our home decorations. Hopefully we don't spend too much money.

It's a clear blue sky in Ottawa today. Temperatures are to reach a high just above the freezing mark. Brr! I forgot to mention, yesterday, Simon experienced his first snowfall. Kim has new work hours, so she is off on Fridays... Simon was quite confused while watching the fluffy stuff dance its way down from the sky. Kim sent me a video. It was quite cute!

Well, I should begetting ready. I think were already about 30 minutes behind. Hopefully we're not out until 4. We have a busy day ahead of us. Aside from the shopping, which includes groceries, we also have to attend my friend Scott's 31st birthday celebration! I am actually not sure if it is a surprise. His girlfriend is hosting a bacon party. We all have to bring something that has bacon! It should be delicious. Kim is not quite yet sure what we will bring. She's excited to try making something though.

Have a great Saturday, everyone! The first weekend of the Christmas Season has arrived! Be sure to do something extra Christmassy today!

 

[snowflake22]

Good morning, everyone!



It's the first weekend of the Christmas Season! Kim and I are going to brave the shopping world today and attempt to purchase a few things. We're heading down to Bayshore Shopping Centre in hopes to spot some mall Christmas decorations and a few gifts for her nephews. We also need to make a few last minute purchases for our home decorations. Hopefully we don't spend too much money.



It's a clear blue sky in Ottawa today. Temperatures are to reach a high just above the freezing mark. Brr! I forgot to mention, yesterday, Simon experienced his first snowfall. Kim has new work hours, so she is off on Fridays... Simon was quite confused while watching the fluffy stuff dance its way down from the sky. Kim sent me a video. It was quite cute!



Well, I should begetting ready. I think were already about 30 minutes behind. Hopefully we're not out until 4. We have a busy day ahead of us. Aside from the shopping, which includes groceries, we also have to attend my friend Scott's 31st birthday celebration! I am actually not sure if it is a surprise. His girlfriend is hosting a bacon party. We all have to bring something that has bacon! It should be delicious. Kim is not quite yet sure what we will bring. She's excited to try making something though.



Have a great Saturday, everyone! The first weekend of the Christmas Season has arrived! Be sure to do something extra Christmassy today!

Have fun shopping!
Enjoy your friend's birthday, a very Happy Birthday to Scott!
I bet Simon was fascinated by the snow, how cute!






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