MIND(ING) THE GAP: Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas 2018

Last year was the year of the "Big Nap". This year was busy with regular life and also turned out to be the "Year of lots of Expenses" with renovations at home and the cottage.

The "What I did with my Summer Vacation" blog didn't get posted, so prepare for lots of cottage pictures.

Even in the still and cold of winter,
there is serenity by the water

This serenity was to prepare us for 14 relatives under one roof for Christmas 2017.

Val, "So, imagine, the turkey is right here..."

Jean-Francois, "Who you calling a turkey?"

Not me,
I'm on Santa's nice list

Hear that? Think it is reindeer hooves on the roof?

Jean-Francois, Rozita and me
Day out at the Canada 150 rink at $8.2 million.
Glad we took advantage...

At least the kids got some
of your tax dollars worth and enjoyed it.

We enjoyed time out in the nation's capital

Skating on the world's
longest outdoor rink at 7.8 km.
Better value at $1.55 million/year

Free skiing on the greenbelt

E's confirmation
and her pals V and A
(not the royal Victoria and Albert )

Winter Doldrums

Winter doldrums called for a Champagne tasting with my wine pals, Anna, Doris, Joe, Helen, Sylvie, Sylvie2 and Sylvain

Sylvain's namesake
De Margerie Champagne
chilling in nature's cooler

Robbie Burns night too.
Anna served her taters and neeps

Sylvain's homemade
Iberico- style-jamon
cured for 3 years
in his basement

Sylvie asks, "where did everyone go?
Looks like Thing was invited

E now has her orange belt in jujitsu,
She can walk home
in the dark when she gets her purple belt.

E getting ready in lane 2

A fun weekend of
catching up with old friends,
Helen and Donna

Escaping the Winter Doldrums in the Dominican Republic

Click onSamana-ou-na-na

Let's pretend
we'll behave on this trip

Did you say Beer?
Grandmaman has no intention
of behaving.

Grandmaman chilling

Race ya to the lounge chairs

Might as well slow down,
the chairs will still be there

All this leisure is tiring me out

Feel a nap coming on

Jill says,
Yup right in the Here and Now

Feeling far more refreshed now.
Is that a bird on my head
or just my hair?

Do we have to go home?

Work travel can be fun

(click on post I watched my dog run away for 3 days...)

Who knew that Moose Jaw Saskatchewan would be so exciting?

Not sure my boss
will let Mike and I
travel together again.

An amazing evening
up close and personal

Summer Fun

As part of the indoctrination into Canadian culture, we thought the Fulchers would have picked up a few hints on last year's canoe trip. Seems like Gabriel still doesn't get wearing a canoe as headgear is not beach appropriate.

Adrian: Hey, how do you
get this fire started?

Gabriel: I've got it.
The wilderness survival instinct
comes out in us Irish when bacon is involved.

Yeah, we got it too

Adrian and E gone on another camping trip,
I had clean countertops for 3 days!

We're not impressed
with the tidiness

The summer is a much more welcoming time at the cottage...

... until we got a text from cat-sitter, Luisa...

Check out the cat eyeballing from the ceiling...

Let Luisa deal with the cat while we have another "house" beer.

For those who haven't been to the cottage, is was formerly a one room school house my grandmother attended.

The chalkboard is still there and provides

lots of entertainment for kids and adults.

Now this is a fishing story.
It really was this big

Halibut transformed

I'm holding out for the lobster

The Wheatleys arrived with the magic Tickle Trunk. You wouldn't believe what tools and food come of there.

Mike says you never know
when you'll need
Japanese knives and wasabi paste

Jenn says she married Mike
because he is prepared
for any culinary possibility.
He also carries and ax in the winter

AMAZING oysters prepared by Mike

Crafts at the cottage
is serious business

Toys waiting patiently

Fun in the sun

A Three Hour Tour?
Cue the music...

How about
a Three Hour tour
on this cruise vessel?

This isn't going to be
a Three Hour tour is it?

Guest appearance from Noel

If you can't find it
keep digging... and digging..

The real reason Grampy has the tractor

Be glad I didn't capture
the plumbers' butts
while Craig and Steve
installed the dishwasher

Work being done

We had the big cribbage playoff

We played into
the wee of the night

Against all odds,
Pam reigned as Crib Champion!
I'll challenge ya.

Pam's crib playing was brilliant.
I don't know how she beat me

E cleaned up in Bananagram

Did you shrink Aunt Marilyn?

A day trip to St Francis Xavier University spent with Karen Anne and Dan, my university buddies.

Alma mater, Brian Mulroney
is sinking big $$ into St. FX for a new centre

Karen Anne and me
on campus

This must be our cafe?

I love watching the waves come in at the "Back Beach"

pic by Kelly
Who says Saskatchewan
is the only place of living sky?

Done!

I never tire of the sunsets at the cottage

Back to school

At first, I found my 23km bike ride to work long. Soon, the serenity of the river and being in nature on beautiful mornings made me want to keep biking past work. I have the memories to keep me going til the spring.