With Grateful Hearts

Light the candle on a holy night

singing loud and proud

grateful hearts ~ both Mom's to my right

cherish this moment

snow is gently falling

it is a perfect Christmas Eve

back to the house ~ gather around the table

a little "nip" or two

and listen to stories of days gone by

laugh and smile

exchanging of cards with my boy

it's late and I am tired ~ fill the stockings

then up to bed

we awoke Christmas morning to a layer of fresh fallen snow

when the sun came out around 11 it truly made it 

a magical Christmas Day

coffee in hand ~ loved ones around the table

we shared a fabulous meal

then spent time just talking and being

and sharing the love around the tree

waving goodbye ~ a couple hours "free"

before round 2

so a nap was had

ding ding

in the car ~ surrounded by our other clan

stockings were dug into and presents were opened

lots of oohs and ahs

eating cookies and sweet breads

crunching on candy and nuts

then everyone grabs a bowl of seafood casserole

and more sharing of the day so far

coming together ~ being together

another gathering on Boxing Day

around the table ~ good eats

sweet treats ~ raise your glass

toast the season

blessed to be part of two wonderful families

blessed to have power as so many around us do not

blessed with the ability to love and be loved

xo

Christmas Wishes

Happy Sunday!

Everything is done ~ I have just completed my wrapping and I am going to 

curl up with my fur baby and watch a movie

it has been a hectic week at work so overtime was in the cards

3 out of 5 days so that makes for a time crunch at home

thankfully I was organized so other than not getting enough sleep

we coasted through it without too many problems

last Sunday we decorated the tree

can someone love and hate something both at the same time?

I love picking it out and bringing it in ~ the smell is heaven

on the flip side putting the lights on it

because I am type A and need 10 million or so

it took me a couple of hours ~ not my favourite job

then unwrapping each ornament and smiling at the memory

and finding the perfect spot on the tree

I am so traditional ~ no themes here

Christmas is a celebration of family and memories of days gone by

and making new memories ~ right

Cathy aka the best neighbour ever made this for us this year

she is so talented and I love it!

my wrap station and chalkboard

love this little room of mine

we had Secret Santa at work last week

and these are a couple of my gifts ~ are they not the cutest!

this is outside right now ~ 3 storms in 7 days

we dug out from 27 cm last Sunday only to receive 27 more on Wednesday

last night started with freezing rain ~ turned to snow and then more freezing rain

this was the car Wednesday night but I loved how our outdoor lights looked under the snow

yesterday we stopped at the in-laws as we do a cookie swap every year

and I had to get some shots of the icicles on their house ~ so pretty

I remember as a kid breaking them off and eating them like popsicles

did anyone else do that?

home we came and I put together a few cookie and sweet trays

some to keep ~ some to give

I have chicken stock simmering on the stove to make chicken fricot for

Christmas eve supper

Lists are made for last minute prep

after church on Christmas eve we will host Trev's family

for drinks and some munchies

I am also hosting Christmas dinner this year for my side

so turkey dinner for 6 and possibly 9

then that night we will go up the road to our inlaws and have 

seafood casserole and open gifts

Boxing day is a lazy day and we have our big dinner with Trev's family

so we will be surrounded by those that we love

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas

thank you for your friendship

xo

Friday Potpourri

the hustle and bustle is here

have you been caught up in the whirl of it all

or are you laid back and just biding your time for the big sprint

at the end

via

via

although I could curl up in a ball and pretty much sleep most of the day

I will go down swinging

busy week ~ overtime at work busy

and something going on almost every night 

tis the season

via

via

I needed some festive ~ some red

because you know how I feel about red

looking forward to bringing the tree in tonight

then we will have lights ~ a party

some wrapping ~ hot chocolate drinking

cookie eating ~ secret santa gift prepping weekend

via

via

snow in the forecast for Sunday

hope it warms things up because baby it's cold outside!

via

via

I have been keeping up with you by reading via Bloglovin

but hope to get around this weekend to leave some comments

hope you have the best weekend.

xo

Friday Potpourri

Hey ~ it's Friday

and although my vacation time is coming to an end

I will welcome the routine and hustle and bustle in the coming weeks

via

this is the second year in a row that I have taken this week 

as part of my vacation and I kinda like it

just getting my baking alone done alleviates my stress level

it really does 

via

my days have been full of shopping and baking

sorting and writing

slow cook meals and quiet nights

appointments and our first party of the season

today is my do nothing day ~ and you know I will be doing something

but hope to find time to grab a mug of hot chocolate later

or sink into a bubble bath

via

via

Sunday I will pack the car with sweet stuff and head out to a cookie exchange

I will get to see some of my favourite people

including my God daughter that got engaged last Friday

so excited for her ~ she texted me a picture of her ring ~ he did good

the date is set for August next year ~ she is going to be a beautiful bride

via

via

tomorrow we will go to the local nursery to pick out our tree

and bring it in later next week

there are so many things to be thankful for this holiday season

and I will be taking some time leading up to Christmas to pay it forward

thanks for visiting and have a great weekend

And So it Begins....

We ushered in December with happy hearts

and hopes for a healthy holiday season

I got a bit of a head start on Saturday by putting a few things out

but concentrated on food prep for our gathering that night

along with running my errands as snow was in the forecast for Sunday

love my hot beverage station filled with our favourites

this is something that will stay out now all winter

Sunday I made these baked beans in the slow cooker

this is the easiest recipe I found last year on Pinterest

and Trev loves them so it's a win win for me

and today vacation started

first on the agenda was the groomers

Cooper will not let me brush him and he does not groom himself

he has a triple coat ~ even the shortest hairs on him will mat

so twice a year he goes and gets a "lion cut"

I think it makes him look handsome

when I got home it was time to bake some cookies

3 different kinds

I am going to a cookie exchange on Sunday

so I will make those ones later in the week

it feels good to have these all done

and as of today all the decorations are up as well

we will wait and get our tree this weekend and put it up closer to Christmas

tomorrow more plans and hopefully some more check marks off my ever growing list!

Have a great week.