Christmas Greetings

I needed a touch of red 

and since my camera is collecting dust

it was Pinterest to the rescue

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the tree is trimmed ~ finally!  

better late than never this year I say

the halls are decked ~ cookies made

menus planned and I wrapped the final gift last night

the house is clean and ready for company

thanks to hubby for the help with that one

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tomorrow night we will gather around the table

both mom's and one brother

then we head to church

everyone is spending the night

not sure if that was a good idea but we will make the best of it

then we will have 7 on Christmas Day

as the girls will join us

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that night we will go to my mil's

for munchies and gifts

I am sure I will reflect on past years

and miss Lee just a little more than usual

I purchased little pewter frame ornaments this year

and put a pic of him in each

ours in on the tree and I gave my mil hers on Sunday night

she cried ~ she loved it

I am so glad that she did

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tonight I did some food prep

and checked my list

I am cozied on the couch with my family

and watching the tail end of Polar Express again

love that movie

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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and the happiest of holidays

the magic of Santa

and blessings as we celebrate the real reason for the season

Happy Birthday Jesus

xoxo

Comparison

I have been on the blog trail this week

looking through all the beautiful homes on a

holiday house walk

it can inspire you or deflate you

a little green with envy at some

then I went on instagram and read these words

Comparison is the thief of joy...during this time of year when you see so many gorgeous homes decorated beautifully from top to bottom, it's easy to fall into the comparison trap and feel 'less' or not 'as good' etc. It just happened to me...But it's so important for us to keep the focus on why it is we adorn our homes in the first place. It's something that during the chaos of boxes and lights and pine needles and gift wrap and good store deals gets too easily lost. We have been given Christmas to spread the good news and to sprinkle love, kindness and compassion to those around us...it is my hope for you and me to keep this front and center as we enter the holiday season. xoxo

Wow ~ she nailed it ~ she really did

the person that said it was Lucy from Craftberry Bush

she touched on it again in her blog post as she was part of the holiday house walk

I have not been following her feed for a long time

but that night I was so glad I did

you see I decorated the house last weekend

all but the mantle and centerpieces are done

and we will only go out on Sunday for the tree

my house will never be one to participate in a house walk

but it is home ~ the little trinkets I placed out on Saturday

spark a memory and bring me joy

and you know ~ that is what Christmas is all about

so year after year

I will put basically the same things in the same spots

I will put my tree up 2 weeks before Christmas

I will bake cookies ~ the ones we love

and only seem to make this time of year

I will buy my Mom cherry chocolates

because my Dad used to buy her one every year

and I love carrying on that tradition for her

I will wrap the gifts and curl the ribbon

listening to Elvis Christmas music

because I love it so

when I take these ornaments out of the box

and place them in this big vase I will remember that they hung

on the big tree at the farm

and be grateful that my Aunt gave them to me

this year we will make new memories

there will be an empty chair

we will miss my father in law like crazy

but we will be blessed because we will be together

Happy weekend.

Sunday Thoughts

The sun is shining and I am getting ready to head out the door

list in hand to run some errands

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it has been crazy busy at work

and as we head into the holiday season

evenings are filling up as well

so much fun!

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Tuesday we celebrated Remembrance Day

as part of my Instagram feed ~ I saw the most beautiful sight from London

I had to find out more and the images were amazing

The memorial, which was created by artist Paul Cummins, includes 888,246 ceramic poppies which have been progressively filling the Tower's moat. At the peak of the installation on November 11, there will be one poppy for each British fatality in the First World War.

Up to four million people are estimated to have visited the installation, called 

Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red.

Wednesday night was a retirement gathering

and it was so nice to catch up with some people I have not seen

since the beginning of the summer

then Friday night ~ supper with a group of girls from work

we used to go to a beach cottage for a weekend in July

but have not done it in a few years

stories were told and many laughs had

we also had our first major snowfall ~ it was so pretty and although

it is still a tad early for my liking ~ it helped kick my butt

and later today I just may pull out my Christmas cards

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last night I got together with more friends

Kim, Lori, Andrea & I

met when we all worked together

and went out dancing together, traveled together

these are the girls that have seen you at your best

and your worst

they know secrets, habits and still love you

they are numbers I can call in the middle of the night

in a crisis and they would be there

I love that our husbands all get along as well

it just makes things fun

so the 8 of us have not been all together for about 3 years

we have seen each other ~ but there always seemed to be

a couple missing

so last month I picked a date and we all made it work

besides the company and the beverages

we all make food and eat like kings

I made one of our favs and although the picture and recipe link above 

is not the one I made ~ these are delish

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1 pound bacon

water chestnuts

honey garlic sauce

toothpicks

wrap half slice of bacon around each chestnut ~ soak in garlic sauce for up to 8 hours

bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until bacon is cooked

I like to finish mine off under the broiler just to crisp up the bacon

I used the bottled garlic sauce ~ the thicker the better

but you can make your own as well.

and with that ~ I am off 

enjoy every moment of today

xo

Friday Potpourri

So ~ I was suppose to be on vacation this week

and decided to work 3 days of it

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we had been on the go most of the weekend

and Monday I ran errands

got home late and made the best dinner

it was just a roast chicken but man it was good

and after attending Barb's school of gravy

the last 15 years

I made the best gravy of my life ~ I wish I had a bucketload of it

seriously ~ my mother cannot make gravy

and she will tell you that

she buys the packages and adds it to the roast or turkey drippings

my mother in law Barb makes the best gravy

every dinner we attend ~ I stand beside her and watch

and take direction and after all these years

I finally have it mastered and I am a happy girl

all that for gravy ~ imagine that!

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so I worked on Tuesday and I joked to my boss that I had workers remorse

so she asked me if I wanted to take more of my vacation

and I said ~ yes please!

3 weeks ago when they offered the extra shifts

I thought it was a good idea

some extra money for Christmas

and we have been slammed at work ~ working overtime

and the such

so I only worked 2 days and took yesterday and today off

bliss I say ~ bliss

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yesterday I did little things

you know the stuff you have been putting off

they have been on the back burner ~ yeah that stuff

and pretty much stayed in my pj's most of the day

which is really a shame since it was a nice day

and today they are calling for rain ~ blah

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I am finally getting a chance to go to this shop

and then there is a craft fair on Saturday

starting to get into the planning stages for Christmas

although I know out in blog land some people are already 

full force into it and decorating

sorry ~ too early for me

I shall sit over the next couple of days

and make gift lists and think about what I am going to bake

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speaking of gifts ~ Becky's shop is open until the 14th

and along with some beautiful cuffs ~ she also has ornaments this year!

click here for her shop and here for a discount code

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perusing Pinterest and some of my favourite food blogs for recipes

for Christmas and everyday

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so this weekend will be low key

no big plans other than checking a couple more things off my list

Happy weekend!

Friday Potpourri ~ Boo!

Truth be told I am really not into Halloween

I love the treats

and the pumpkins

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but I have never been one for dressing up

or doing a lot of decorating

I do love seeing the kids ~ especially the little ones

so I cannot wait to answer the door tonight

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tomorrow we head to the cape

and close up the cottage for the season

so sad ~ we hardly used it this year

rain is in the forecast so I will make a big pot of soup

to have when we come home

with some home made biscuits

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brownies are in the forecast as well

a little craving going on here

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it has been a long hard week

a very busy time ~ stressful

I have a couple of friends going through some difficult times

so I think about them and worry

and pray

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maybe cake will make everything better

no?  ok then

I originally had vacation planned for next week

but decided to work a few days of it so I made 2 long weekends

I will take a day for me and a day for errands and getting things done

as November comes the calendar begins to fill up

plans are made ~ we start the lists

so I will take this weekend to do some pre-planning

to help ease the hustle and bustle of what is just around the corner.

happy weekend

Friday Potpourri ~ Life Lately

Rain ~ rain ~ rain

taking away all our wonderful fall foliage 

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I feel like it has been so long since I just did a 

random what I have been up to lately post

well today is the day

last month the weekend before I flew to Toronto

I got together with my Eaton's girls

we talked ~ we danced ~ we sang

and we may have consumed a few beverages

I laughed so hard ~ my voice was horse the next day from signing

and I my knees may have been a tad sore from busting a move or two

I love my times with these girls ~ they are forever friends

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trying this cake soon ~ looking for an excuse to make it

tomorrow night is game night with

#thebestneighboursever

trying to figure out which dip to make to take

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 Thanksgiving weekend we had 2 full days

and one relaxing one

Saturday we headed to the camp ~ it was fall clean up

so while the boys were outside cleaning out the shed and putting

away the summer stuff ~ the girls were inside sorting through

things in the loft and purging what we could

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before we had supper the 5 of us walked down to the river

I read a poem ~ we sprinkled some ashes in the river

then each threw a yellow carnation in 

the photographer in me wanted a shot of the 5 flowers 

floating along with the current

but it was a sacred time ~ not a kodak moment

it is burned in my memory though ~ it was beautiful

#prayingforOttawa #Ottawastrong

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I have never made apple butter but this recipe is the best excuse to try it

catching up on my shows ~ loving Nashville

and Thursday nights are my favourite

also caught up on my blog reading ~ feels good

currently reading James Patterson ~ 12th of Never

cannot put it down

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Thanksgiving Sunday I hosted dinner

there were 7 of us around the table ~ it was a stress free day

I had everything done up early and a lot of the dishes went into the oven

hoping to pull it off again at Christmas!

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the flannel sheets and quilt are back on the bed

the summer clothes are put away

now to do the same for the outdoor stuff

praying for a nice day on Sunday

Hoping you have a great weekend!