Tuesday, December 29, 2015

LITTLE HOUSE IN THE SNOW.......................finally

Good morning everyone !

Hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours................despite the fact that I prayed for snow and it didn't happen it was a glorious holiday !

I've been feeling a little under the weather and yesterday it escalated into a full blown cold - runny nose - leaking eyes - earache - fever - the works.

Still......................I waited in anticipation when the weather news said to expect a " dump ".
I put my rain boots on - threw on my coat and ran outside - like a kid !

We woke up to a winter wonderland yesterday morning !!!

A few days too late but it's here none the less -
THIS is how it was supposed to look on the 24th - but I'll take it now.


John says - WHAT are you doing outside - you're sick as a dog !
Suzan says - The snow !  Look at the snow !  I almost want to make a snow angel 
John says - Get back in the bloody house !  Do you want to become a real angel ???







A real angel?
No...............not really.

Suzan says - Please tell me you've made a snow angel at least once in your life?
John says - Not likely
Suzan says - Do it now !!!  It's fun !  I'll snap a photo for the blog !

But he came dangerously close to whacking my legs with the shovel


So I ran back in the house
Made a tea
and sat down to record our conversation................
( on my new notebook that one of my daughter's had personalized for me !  No more jumping up and looking for scrap pieces of paper when they happen )


Probably the last recorded one for this year.............


We were supposed to go to a movie tonight ...............
But I feel lousy - and the roads are icy


So..............since we've nowhere to go


Let it snow


Let it snow


Let it snow...................


Have a wonderful day everyone.................
I'm going to crawl back into my bed now - get under the covers and try to sleep this thing away - now where'd I put the Drixoral?


Hugs,
Me



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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS....................


Turkey - 25 pounds
Stuffing
Carrots and Green beans with olive oil and garlic
Mashed Brussels
Broccolli
Mashed Carrot and Turnip
Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes and Onions
6 Baguettes................

Then............2 Lemon Meringue Pies
2 Chocolate Cream pies
Assorted Cookies
Macaroons.

And 21 of us sitting down to dinner and celebrating this most wonderful time of the year !

Wishing every one of you the happiest Christmas -

Eat a little too much
Laugh way too much
Dance - drink ( if you're of that mind - and I am ) and go to bed more exhausted than you've ever been in your life !

All the joys of this season with as many blessings as I can stuff into your stockings and..........have yourself
a merry little Christmas now.
Love,
Me

Oh - and thought I'd share this headline.................

Warmest Christmas Eve on record forecast for Montreal


62 degrees in Oh Canada !
One of the little ones wanted to know if they could swim after dinner LMHO !!!







MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY !

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IT IS I SHOULD DO
SANTA TO THE LEFT OF ME - SNOWMAN TO THE RIGHT.........HERE I AM..............


OWNING ADDICTIONS !


 FIRST KISS


WON'T YOU GUIDE MY SLEIGH TONIGHT?


I can't wait - really - I just can't wait !!!

( if anyone missed the post on Evan's port wine stain  cranberry kisses - you can read about it here )

See you tomorrow !
Hugs,
Me

Monday, December 21, 2015

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!


John says - There's too many lights - are you nuts?


John says - I can't imagine what the electric bill is going to be


John says - I need sunglasses to watch t.v.




John says - we have more lights IN the house than everyone else combined has OUTSIDE their houses !


Suzan says - Why don't you just go Bah Humbug in the den  - watch t.v. or something?


John says - I would but it looks like a discotheque in there !


I don't think John has ever stepped in a discotheque in his life.
I on the other hand basically lived in them in the 70's
And they did NOT look like this !

Some people live with monkeys on their backs -
I live with one of these one mine


Have a wonderful day everyone !
Today's my last " shopping " run


Hugs
Me




Sunday, December 20, 2015

Yeah the years go by fast...................far too quickly they fly


A young lady runs out at the crack of dawn
and runs through the snow with her slippers on
Oreo cookies are crumbled just so
and scattered against the pure white snow

Then she carefully makes a few tracks here and there
With frozen fingers and ice on her hair
She hasn't much time......she must get back inside
and pretend to be sleeping - her secret to hide

For there's 3 young ones who still believe
that when they close their eyes on Christmas Eve
something magical happens - it does every year
When Santa arrives with 8 tiny reindeer

But there's questions of late - and whispers at night
and a school friend said " no - it just isn't right "
" There's no Santa Claus - it's your parents " they say
" who buy all the presents for you Christmas day "

" Is it true Mom ? " - they ask - with a look of despair
with a sadness the young lady almost can't bear
She hugs them all closely and says " Angels of mine "
" when morning comes you must look for a sign "

" Because I know he's real but it seems you need proof
so tomorrow morning you must look for the truth
Believing in something - well that's something you choose
but if you look with your heart - there will always be clues "

She hears them stirring !  The clock has struck five
The moment of truth has finally arrived !
It worked !  They come jumping onto the bed
With kisses and giggles for what lay ahead

Mommy wake up !  Santa was here !
We saw the tracks of all the reindeer !
And they did it again Mom - we TOLD you so
The reindeer left poop all over the snow !


That was the last year that " Santa " came by
They grow up so quickly - in the blink of an eye
But not a Christmas passes ( and it never gets old )
That that story - our story - doesn't get told

They laugh just as hard as they did way back when
They tell it to others and then laugh again
They fondly says " thanks " for that memory
But how could they know it was really for me?

That it was I who couldn't and wouldn't let go
That I needed that magic a bit longer and so
You do what you can and I did what I could
to 100 percent  make sure that it would
____________________________________________________________________

Each Christmas morning at the crack of dawn
A middle aged woman remembers years gone
She hurries downstairs - puts the kettle on
and grabs a few cookies....................
                                                           to throw on the lawn.

She leans on the door - looks up at the sky
Yeah the years go by fast
far too quickly they fly.

Hugs,
Kisses
That middle aged lady
( who was just as crazy then as I am now )
XOXO

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Thursday, December 17, 2015

A FRIDAY CHAT ( about this & that )

Good morning - good morning - it's great to stay up late !!!

Come in - could you please try to jump over the shag rug in the den?
Just jump over from the doorway on to the couch - it's a small room so not too difficult at all - trust me - I do it every day !

And here's why I do it
It's a little embarrassing but I've been over sharing since I started having these chats - so what the hell.

When I tell you I have O.C.D. you have no idea what I'm talking about.
One of the ways that it manifests itself is that I have to see vacuum marks on a rug.
It soothes me for some reason ( Oh my God Suzan - stop this series immediately )
I hate to see footprints all over it.

Why would I have the rug in the den if it causes me anxiety?
Because John insists that it stay there - he likes it - says it makes the room warmer.
So I vacuum it.
Constantly.
Like sometimes more than once a day.

When the kids were small I'd vacuum us right out the door............and leave it in the entry way -so that when we came home at night we were met with fresh brush marks.
Obviously they wouldn't last very long with 3 kids running all over the place -
Sometimes I'd vacuum after they were in bed and literally hop all over the place - you'd swear I was an Olympic Sprinter.

So - if you don't mind..............start sprinting !
Ugghhh - never mind - we'll sit in the kitchen - I can't hop over rugs with a tray of coffee's in my hand.
Thankfully it's the only one in the house
________________________________________________________________________________

We have 3 sources for music and the c.d. section on every single one of them have died.
I'm losing my mind - no music !
So last weekend while decorating I started singing every single Christmas song I could think of..............
John was watching TV in the den ( footprints all over the rug ) and because this is a tiny cottage he could hear me -
He kept turning the t.v. louder whereupon I would sing louder.........
Until the t.v. was blasting as loud as it could go and I was screeching/singing at the top of my lungs.

John says - I know you're doing it on purpose
Suzan says - What?  Singing Christmas carols?  It's Christmas - that's what people DO !
Johns says - You sound like a fish wife.............

fish·wife
ˈfiSHˌwīf/
noun
noun: fish-wife
  1. 1.
    a coarse-mannered woman who is prone to shouting.
  2. 2.
    archaic
    a woman who sells fish.


Since I've never so much as sold a fin to anyone I guess I fall under the number 1 category..

Suzan says - Listen buddy - I NEED Christmas music - get it ? ( I shouted it in a coarse mannered way )
John says - That's it - we're getting a new sound system

We ordered a Bose - kind of expensive but that's our Christmas gift to each other :)

This is what the site says  ( apparently if you order it today they can actually travel through time to get it to you - now that's a sound system !!! )

6 days left for guaranteed holiday delivery. Order by Dec 22 with express shipping. IN STOCK items only.

_________________________________________________________________________________

They're calling for 10 degrees ( celcius -which is roughly 50 degrees " American " ) for Christmas eve.
With rain.
I can't tell you how much this has affected my holiday mood.
All those decorations outside?
They look depressing without a little snow - I chose RED because of the contrast that the white would bring to it after all.

I mean really - what do most of YOU think of when you think of Canada in the winter?  Eh ?

Suzan says - I should have went with green wreaths
John says - Why?
Suzan says - Red and rain are not a nice mix
John says - Do you ever take a moment to listen to yourself?
Suzan says - I may buy 20 green wreaths and change them out actually
John says - That'll be the frosty Friday - YOU'RE NOT CHANGING A DAMN THING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well !  Merry Christmas to you too honey !
_________________________________________________________________________________

I started everything early this year.
I felt so smug that I decorated outside - while we were having a warm spell in late November - and saved freezing my fingers.
Only to have the temperature keep climbing every day - that mild weekend I got it all done?
Was the least mild weekend since then.

I can't remember it ever being so warm here in Montreal in December..............but I can't remember where I put anything lately so maybe I'm completely wrong.

I started baking early too- and then realized I had so much time - that I promptly stopped to take a break.
But I have no concept of breaks..........now there's less then a week left and I'm still not even finished shopping let alone baking and wrapping
I'm hopeless really.
_________________________________________________________________________________

And speaking of not remembering things - I spend far too much time in a day trying to remember things.
Why I went downstairs..........
Where I put things ..........
Who I am.............
_________________________________________________________________________________

Plus I've been working on that armoire - my new mantra is " not quite finished "
So here it is " not quite finished "


But oh so close.
_________________________________________________________________________________

This conversation happened last night.

Suzan says - I find Hockey becoming a priority in your life
John says - Don't be ridiculous - it's not at all
Suzan says - Do you want to go to a movie or something
John says - Nah - let's just stay in ( as he nervously checks his watch )
Suzan says - Do you want to go out for a bite to eat ?
John says - Maybe tomorrow - I have a ton of work to do tonight ( as he nervously checks his watch )
Suzan says - I know !  Let's have a game of scrabble - I'll turn the fire on
John says - I really have to get work done - I have to deliver fabric tomorrow morning
Suzan says - Aren't you going to check your watch again?
John says - I haven't looked at my watch !
John says - Do you want me to pick up tacos for you?
Suzan says - Yes please !!!
John says - I'll get a pizza for myself

He came back with our food................and ran into the den with his pizza

Suzan says - Where are you going?
John says - CAN I JUST SIT AND RELAX WHILE I EAT?
Suzan says - Enjoy the game John............enjoy the game.
_________________________________________________________________________________

And speaking of Hockey - the French Language Police are at it again here in good old Montreal !

Seems they haven't been too busy lately with their measuring tapes ( French words must always be larger than English words and so they must carry the measuring tape to ensure the law is being followed )  When you have an inferiority complex these things are very important.

Such as the words BOXING DAY.........................poo poo ca ca !

Now stores can no longer use those very offensive ENGLISH words.

They should be replaced with  SOLDE DU LENDEMAIN DE NOEL - how's that for a mouthful?

I want to know who sits around thinking these things up..................this has to be the most backwards place in all of North America when it comes to these issues.

You travel to Paris and there's bilingual signs everywhere - and OMG the lettering is all the same size.
Not here.
No way mon amie..............
The French letters must be bigger because the French language is the most important language here !
Don't like it?
Get out ! ( is the standard reply )
Never for a moment considering the fact that they are part of CANADA -
The thought constantly crosses my mind - that if they can't stand English perhaps THEY should get out?
Except where would they go?
Paris?
They'd go into a culture shock over there with all the English LMHO !

Anyway there's a reason for this story.

We have a beloved hockey player ( the Montreal Canadiens ) called P.K. Subban.
It's pronounced exactly the way you are reading it.
PEE KAY - the initials.

Well there's a French Language Rights Group ( I kid you not ) who are demanding his name be pronounced the French way - I'm seriously laughing my ass of here.
Nut cases -
So they want him referred to as PAY - KAH

He donated 10 million dollars to the Montreal Children's Hospital?
So what !
We don't like the way his name is pronounced !!!!!!  Too English !

I'm telling you - it would be impossible to live in Montreal and NOT have a sense of humor !
Take a listen at P.K.'s adorable response



Did you watch it?
Did you notice where they mention they have to be lenient with foreigners?
HOLY SHIT
He's a Canadian for crying out loud.

And he's our version of Denzel Washington or should I say DENZELLE lmho ???
Go P.K. !!!

And to be fair this is certainly not all French - just a noisy insecure bunch of them !
_________________________________________________________________________________

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend -
The mad rush is on for me -
Hugs,
Me Moi
The Fishwife ( or if the French Language Police are reading ) Le Poissonniere




'TIS THE SEASON TO BE OBSESSIVE

DECK THE HOUSE WITH 20 WREATHS
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


IGNORE YOUR HUBBY - GRIT YOUR TEETH
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


TIS THE SEASON TO BE OBSESSIVE
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


AND I'M NOT ONE THAT YOU CAN MESS WITH
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


WHEN HUBS COMPLAINS IT'S ALL TOO MUCH
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


WHILE RELAXING ON THE COUCH
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


DECK YOUR HUBBY IN THE KISSER
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


DO NOT SCREAM - JUST BE A HISSER
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


TWENTY STOCKINGS AREN'T ENOUGH
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


YOU STILL NEED TO BUY MORE STUFF
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA



GRAB THE GARLAND - GET IT JUST SO
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


TAKE A SIP OF WINE -  IT MUST FLOW
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


BAKE AND BAKE AND BAKE ALL WEEK
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


RUN AROUND AND TWEAK AND TWEAK
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


BRUSH UP ON YOUR CRAFTING SKILLS
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


WHERE'S MY ADVIL - I NEED PILLS
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


FRANTIC RUNNING HERE AND THERE
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


FORGOT TO CALL ABOUT YOUR HAIR
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA



UNTANGLE LIGHTS - HANG THEM GAYLY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


LISTEN TO MR. GRUMBLE DAILY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


WHEN HE SAYS THAT IT'S JUST CRAZY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


REMIND HIM NOT TO BE SO LAZY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


NOW WHERE'D I PUT THAT FREAKING  HOLLY?
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


SCENT THE HOUSE WITH BOUGHS OF PINE
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


IS IT TIME FOR A  LITTLE MORE WINE ?
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA


TIS THE SEASON OF GOOD CHEER
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
BE THANKFUL IT'S JUST ONCE A YEAR
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
OH AND DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP EGG NOG
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
THEN DOCUMENT IT ALL ON YOUR BLOG !
FA LA LA LA LA

                    LA  
                           LA 
                                   LA  
                                            LAAAAAAAA ..............................................

Have a  wonderful week before Christmas everyone !
It's nuts - but I wouldn't have it any other way :)
Love,
Me


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TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS