Merry Christmas 2022

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

🎄

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!  

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.  

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

The girls got a head start on the apres-ski.  
Smart thinking with hot drinks

The adults (umm, me) weren't as clever at -25C.

  We salvaged our apres ski with wine slushies.

The Mont Tremblant trip was a warm up for Whistler.  

We were pretty excited and moving with purpose!

With ski legs and ski bags
headed to Whistler for March break.  

Let's hit the slopes
 and get us some powder!

I am zen with the mountain

The Peak 2 Peak gondola ride
is the world's longest unsupported span
and travels 4.4 km
between Blackcomb and Whistler mountains.

Gonna ski this black glade run! 

Action shot...crashing

No problem here, making it down the hill!

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.

Frozen art gallery visit
along a forest path.

Who?  
Barred owl in the 'hood on a wilderness adventure

Missing you Anne, across the pond!

Up to shenanigans with Marisa,
just like at university.   

 Delisa and Carroll   
Of course, it is at a brewery....

 

Bev-the-Bouncer and Ange 
big city glam!

Stopping to smell the roses
with Catherine
on a botanical tour.

May Laura laugh 
this hard the second ½ century 
of her life's journey 

Easter feast!  Irish style!

Not the Trooping of the Colours for the Queen,
 but our own RCMP Musical Ride.

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".

Tip-toeing through the tulips in Ottawa's own Tulip Festival.

  Cousin Roger at Costco in Halifax!!
You never know you'll run into
on a grocery "trip"

Boating excursion fun
with Helen and John

 

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!

 

A hot weather warning
never, ever seen for Liscomb!  

Warm enough to stay in for awhile!
E with Small, Medium, Large and R&W

Preparing for the extreme heat,
we acclimatized with homemade ice cream
enroute.  
Better have two just in case.

Intense raspberry,
made with local NB berries

 

I'm going with
more is more.  

 

Look what I got
for good behaviour!

 Leonidas chocolate dipped 
ice cream cone....ohhh

High brow frozen dessert
 with layers of hidden taste sensations.

Did someone say dinner?
Don't want to be late!

By the sea!

On my "commute " to work-from-cottage

Tim asks, "Will anyone notice 
if I hide extra lobster 
under my salad"?

Paella is the new annual bbq dish,
for a taste of Spain.

Gratuitous money shot
of Adrian's duck breast in puff pastry pie.  
Definitely benefiting from his Cordon Bleu cooking classes.  
This was delish!

I'm told we shouldn't eat this

Helen is ready for all of it!

We're gonna eat all this!

Enjoying
my view through
wine coloured glasses

A tasting tour of
Nova Scotia wines.  

Maybe too much fun on the wine tour?

Even the cat is in food coma

Channeling Aunt Muriel in cream, light blue, pink and white! 

Coincidence? 

 Matching in pink - Aunties Muriel and Marilyn

 
The Appalachian foothills in the background 
for Sophie and cousin Matt's wedding

Wishing Sophie and Matt
happiness and health!

Hey Mom, wanna play?

We're ready to take you on!

Good thing Pam didn't take the bait
 - you know how she wins
those cribbage tournaments.

Hanging with Aunt Marilyn

Hanging with Aunt Pam.  
Not sure why Matt
is already in trouble.

 

 
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.

I never get tired of these views. 

No place like coming home.

 

Until that travel bug hits you....

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....

Back in "France",
Adrian attends
the Cordon Bleu Cooking School.  
Vive Julia Childs!

Appearing on the red carpet...

Chantal, Booboo and Danielle looking spiffy.

On top of Mount Royal for the annual birthday trip to Montreal.

  

Top of Mont Royal with E and Laurie

Chillin' with E.  

Even the pizza restaurants
do it right in Montreal!

Waiting for another creative and tasty meal.

Montreal restaurants
do not disappoint.

We'll take that big one on the top! 

Definitely bigger than my head.

We love roasting Brussel sprouts
on the stem
and pretending we're not vegetarian.

Cauliflower at the Jean Talon Market
 as big as my head.

"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.  

Sometimes we get random
visits from neighbours
to celebrate with cake 

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. 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 

and a Happy New Year!

Pam, Adrian and E