Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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Back by popular demand, the annual wrap up has re-emerged. Without travel and days of being just dressed from the waist-up, inspiration to sit in front of my computer screen just wasn't coming to me. With re-newed hope as we peek out from the multi-demic, here's to a joyous and healthy 2023!
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| The exact time/date stamp when I got COVID! First outing in the wild since the pandemic, and bam! Living large in the box while getting infected was fun though. |
A theme surfaced - friends, ice cream and "travel".
Sometimes even together.
We are blessed to have so many amazing friends and family surrounding us. It has been wonderful to connect in real life. I am indeed missing many faces to post - sorry - sometimes we were having too much fun for pictures!
Hit the slopes for Family Day with our dear friends. Trying to keep warm on top of frigid Mont Tremblant.
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February family day and getting our ski legs at Tremblant. BRRR! Ninja mode with A in black. E disguised as snow in white. |
Identities revealed
Gabriel, E, A, Adrian, Jill and me
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The girls got a head start on the apres-ski. Smart thinking with hot drinks |
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The adults (umm, me) weren't as clever at -25C. |
We salvaged our apres ski with wine slushies.
We were pretty excited and moving with purpose!
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With ski legs and ski bags headed to Whistler for March break. |
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Let's hit the slopes and get us some powder! |
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I am zen with the mountain |
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The Peak 2 Peak gondola ride is the world's longest unsupported span and travels 4.4 km between Blackcomb and Whistler mountains. |
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Gonna ski this black glade run! |
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Action shot...crashing |
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No problem here, making it down the hill! |
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I tired Adrian out on the slopes! |
Longing for adventure, I make do with walks and "trips" to utilitarian shops. I went to a newly opened grocery store with unfamiliar products. I pretended I was in Europe, on a real trip. My friend Valerie said, "good reframe".
Here's to the trips and journeys with friends and family.
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Frozen art gallery visit along a forest path. |
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Who? Barred owl |
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Missing you Anne, across the pond! |
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Up to shenanigans with Marisa, just like at university. |
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| Delisa and Carroll Of course, it is at a brewery.... |
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| Bev-the-Bouncer and Ange big city glam! |
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| Stopping to smell the roses with Catherine on a botanical tour. |
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| May Laura laugh this hard the second ½ century of her life's journey |
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Easter feast! Irish style! |
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Not the Trooping of the Colours for the Queen, but our own RCMP Musical Ride. |
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In honour of (then) Prince Charles' visit to Canada for the Queen's Jubilee. Duchess Camilla is circled! Almost like a private audience... |
From the "UK" royal tour, we travelled to the canals of the "Nether-lands".
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Tip-toeing through the tulips in Ottawa's own Tulip Festival. |
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| Cousin Roger at Costco in Halifax!! You never know you'll run into on a grocery "trip" |
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| Boating excursion fun with Helen and John |
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| So happy Karen-Anne and I both travel back to the Maritimes every summer. |
Look at this! My tropical vacation wish comes true! My remote NS cottage may indeed qualify for cottage country status after all. No need to travel to the Caribbean. Weather warnings usually means gale force winds and rain or ice not heat waves! I'm planting palm trees!
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| A hot weather warning never, ever seen for Liscomb! |
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| Warm enough to stay in for awhile! E with Small, Medium, Large and R&W |
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| Preparing for the extreme heat, we acclimatized with homemade ice cream enroute. Better have two just in case. |
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| Intense raspberry, made with local NB berries |
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| I'm going with more is more. |
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| Look what I got for good behaviour! |
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| Leonidas chocolate dipped ice cream cone....ohhh |
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| High brow frozen dessert with layers of hidden taste sensations. |
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Did someone say dinner? Don't want to be late! |
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| By the sea! |
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| On my "commute " to work-from-cottage |
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| Tim asks, "Will anyone notice if I hide extra lobster under my salad"? |
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| Paella is the new annual bbq dish, for a taste of Spain. |
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| Gratuitous money shot of Adrian's duck breast in puff pastry pie. Definitely benefiting from his Cordon Bleu cooking classes. This was delish! |
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| I'm told we shouldn't eat this |
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| Helen is ready for all of it! |
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We're gonna eat all this! |
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Enjoying my view through wine coloured glasses |
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A tasting tour of Nova Scotia wines. |
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Maybe too much fun on the wine tour? |
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Even the cat is in food coma |
Channeling Aunt Muriel in cream, light blue, pink and white!
Coincidence?
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| Matching in pink - Aunties Muriel and Marilyn |
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| The Appalachian foothills in the background for Sophie and cousin Matt's wedding |
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Wishing Sophie and Matt happiness and health! |
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Hey Mom, wanna play? |
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We're ready to take you on! |
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| Good thing Pam didn't take the bait - you know how she wins those cribbage tournaments. |
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Hanging with Aunt Marilyn |
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| Hanging with Aunt Pam. Not sure why Matt is already in trouble. |
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| Look closely for the bald eagle and the heron on the point! It is truly awesome to see these magnificent creatures from my doorstep. No travel required. |
No place like coming home.
Until that travel bug hits you....
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| Think anyone would notice if I got on AC 868 to London? It was the same time as my flight to Ottawa... |
Back to school and reality in Ottawa....
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| Back in "France", Adrian attends the Cordon Bleu Cooking School. Vive Julia Childs! |
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| Appearing on the red carpet... |
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Chantal, Booboo and Danielle looking spiffy. |
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On top of Mount Royal for the annual birthday trip to Montreal. |
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Top of Mont Royal with E and Laurie |
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Chillin' with E. |
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Even the pizza restaurants do it right in Montreal! |
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Waiting for another creative and tasty meal. |
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| Montreal restaurants do not disappoint. |
We'll take that big one on the top!
Definitely bigger than my head.
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| We love roasting Brussel sprouts on the stem and pretending we're not vegetarian. |
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| Cauliflower at the Jean Talon Market as big as my head. |
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"German" Christmas market at Landsdowne with Valerie |
We had a full year of voyages with friends, family and neighbours. The kindness of the people in our 'hood make it a better community. We can just travel next door for a cup of sugar.
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Sometimes we get random visits from neighbours to celebrate with cake |
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Enjoying the lounge vibe with Cheryl and Paula |
May you celebrate the holidays with joy and health.
May your year be blessed with wonderful journeys.
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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
Pam, Adrian and E
