HAPPY 2012

New Year is the time to

                                        unfold new horizons & realize new dreams

to rediscover your strengths and abilities 

to rejoice in simple pleasures and

gear up for  new challenges

Wishing you a truly fulfilling 2012.

HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS.
SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

Merry Christmas

We spent the morning here opening gifts and having breakfast.

The afternoon and evening was spent at Peters. We had a wonderful turkey dinner with ALL the fixings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!



Morning Surprise

This is what we woke up to this morning.



Christmas completed!

Visitor

Emma and Charles came to visit today.

Charles is sitting well on his own but he still needs supervision.

Newfoundland or Thrum Mittens

I've started a different mitten and they are suppose to be the warmest hand made mitten around.
They are called Newfoundland or Thrum Mittens.
They are made with Briggs and Little Yarn.

    

       After you finish the cuff and start to knit the main mitten you add a piece of this handspun yarn, called roving, every 3rd stitch. Each strand is 3-4 in. long.

I found mine online from a lady in BC.

It takes approx. 50g. of roving for one pair of mittens.

Usually you will see mittens like theses with one color of roving, but I was into our local Cricket Cove and saw a pair that was multicolored.

When I received my roving in the mail, she had packaged 6 different colors, and so I can get my varigated look in the mitten.



This is what the inside of the mitten looks like, therefore the warmth.



Help for Local Food Banks

Harbour Lights - the 15th Annual Campaign

$50,000 will light the star atop the Harbour Lights tree.

2011 Donations to date Harbour Lights Total: 110,726.66

The Harbour Lights TreeThe Harbour Light Campaign raises money each year for food banks in Southern New Brunswick... from St. Stephen to Saint John to Sussex.

Each year the Saint John Port Authority installs a giant Christmas tree made of hundreds of twinkling lights near the Saint John harbour.

Each two dollar donation lights a bulb. And as December progresses bulb by bulb the tree is lit. Once that year's financial goal is met, the star on top is lit up, too!

Do they do anything like this in other cities?

Mittens! Mittens! Mittens!

The needles haven't stopped. 

Christmas Traditions

Some of you may recognize this nativity set. I had painted it years ago and gave it to Mom and

Dad, Paul had made the manger. About 3 years ago it returned to my home. Each Christmas morning the girls take turns putting baby Jesus in his bed.

This is our Advent tree. I made this probably 20+ years ago.

It stands about 18 in. high.



On December 1st the garland is placed on the tree and every day after that an ornament is placed on the tree.

The girls would divide the ornaments and they would alternate Santa each year. 

Even though the girls aren't around, Paul and I have continued the tradition.

This summer I hope to make another and give it to Emma for Charles.

Last evening Brenna came home for the weekend and the gang was here for supper and to decorate the tree.

We also have a tradition of putting candy canes on the tree.

Brenna was introducing one to Charles.



Following a bath at Nannys, Charles fell asleep and Brenna

was quite happy to hold him.

These are some of my memorable ornaments:

Ziggy, the first ornament Paul gave me, over 30 years ago.

We always find a place to nestle him in the tree.

This was given to me by Emma, it's glass and reflects beautifully the lights on the tree.

This is a blown glass ornament from europe.

Brenna brought it back for me when she was over with the school choir.

I love santas and found this in Burton, NB

This belonged to my nanny.

 It along with 4 other ornaments were given to me to first christmas she was no longer with us.

Lucky Me

Last evening Paul and I had the pleasure of celebrating the Christmas season at a house party at Adele and Jon's. Before we knew it we were walking home at 1:00am. LOTS of drink, great food and oodles laughter and stories from the "Green Boys".

I departed with this lovely arrangement of holly and evergreen from the "host" own yard.

Thanks soooooo much.....we had a wonderful evening.

Following is the "spinach dip recipe"

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup mayo

1 pkg Knorr veg soup mix

Mix together and let sit for a few hours.

Add 1/2 chopped onion

1/2 pkg thawed and chopped spinach

Serve with pumpernickel bread.

Pauls Birthday

Another year, another birthday.

Paul was in Montreal on his birthday, so we celebrated it last weekend ( I'm really slow getting pictures posted)

Peter and the boys were with us and the boys brought a birthday hat for Paul.

They told us that anyone who celebrates a birthday in this house must wear the "Birthday Hat" when blowing out the candles and eating their birthday cake.