December Daily 2014 - Day 11

I decorated the mantel at least 3 weeks

ago, and although I was happy with it,

there just seemed to be something missing.

And, after much searching on Pinterest,

I felt I needed to a banner or

something like that to add the finishing

touch to it.

 

All I needed to purchase was this spool of

twine, which I got at the dollar store.

 

I then used my cricut to cut out these

great frames, which I inked green,

then I inked the computer

printouts of Christmas sheet music

with a Tim Holtz ink, and then, using

versamark ink and a black embossing

powder, spelt out the words,

"tis the season". After the initial

work was all done, I adhered each

letter to the back of a frame,

punched two small holes in the top

section of each frame and wove through

the twine, alternating between front

and back to give it some texture.

And, when all was said and done, it

was the exact perfect fit for the mantel.

And now I'm even more happy with how

the living room looks for the holidays.

December Daily 2014 - Day 10

 

A simple gesture of kindness in

the form of a giftcard, can mean

a lot when things are tight.

 

With Tim on medical EI right now,

getting a fraction of his normal

earnings and topping that off with

3 visits a week to the chiropractor

(in which we pay all out of pocket)

getting a little help with the everyday

needs is a big load off.

 

$25 may not seem like a lot, but it provided

groceries to tide us over until payday after

the weekend. Thanks Linda, for always

watching out for us. xoxo

 

 

December Daily 2014 - Day 9

Work days can be long and boring

sometimes, especially in an

outpatient veterinary practice.

But it seems that at this time

of year, we are seeing more new

puppies and kittens, and our

days are full with appointments.

 

Added cheerfulness in the air,

people more in a festive and

personable mood, make for a

even better day.

 

My coworker and myself decorated

the clinic last week, and although

they may be minimal, they bring

joy to all of us that work here

and to clients walking in.

 

It's also that wonderful time of

year where clients and both food

and drug reps come in with goodies

for the doctors and the staff. And

you do know that since it is all

kept up in the reception area, it's

us girls that tend to do most of

the eating of said treats.

 

Merry Christmas from my work to yours.

December Daily 2014 - Day 8

I'm not much of a shopper, nor do

I like malls or any other shopping

situation. But during the holidays,

I LOVE Chapters!!! There is no place

happier, quirkier or more full of

glad tiddings in my mind in the

commercial market.

 

I always take photos in Chapters

at any time of year, due to their

awesome selection of giftware

and other fun stuff. But when

Jordyn and I visited this past

Sunday, I took many photos that

made me happy, so why not let

them be one of my December Daily

posts, right?

 

 

Felted Christmas ornaments

and stockings to hang

 



Sweet treats whether you've

been naughty or nice.

Mugs that say a lot about you.

 

Awesome chocolate advent

calendars that look vintage

 

Little jars of candy happiness

 

Sock monkeys galore!

 



 

Vintage looking candy canes

in all kinds of flavors.

 

 

And warm, fuzzy hats to

keep you warm on a cold

winter's day.

December Daily 2014 - Day 7

This year, the Tally Ho Carriage

Tours are offering free trolley rides

every Saturday and Sunday afternoon

until Christmas. I really wanted

to go on this, and was even more

excited when I found out Jordyn

would be coming over for the weekend

and she could come along with us.

Tim decided on Sunday that he wasn't

up to doing any Christmasy things,

so her and I went to town, shopped a

bit, then walked down to the Empress,

where we saw the horses making their

way up Government Street headed towards

the first pickup of the day.

 

 

 

After her and I went and checked

out the Festival of Trees at the

Empress Hotel, we went to the closest

trolley stop and waited in line for the

next trolley to show up. I have to say

I was a bit excited that we got the

black horse team and that we were

sharing our first trolley ride together.

 

 

After we were done with our ride,

we only went one stop as so many

others were wanting to get a chance

to ride, Jordyn took some apple

slices to feed them as a treat. The

horse team were named Sam and Herby

and we had a very talkative guide who

shared funny stories of the antics of

his team. What a fun time we had, and

want to thank the TallyHo for a great

job on putting this together for the

holiday season.



December Daily 2014 - Day 6

This afternoon, after a great

morning of shopping with Jordyn

and then the Teddy Bear and

Gingerbread displays with Tim,

Jordyn and I sat down to write

Christmas cards together.

 

I am still a traditionalist in this

modern day of technology, and still

love to send a hand written message

to family and friends during the

holidays. I am happy as well, that

both Amy and Jordyn also share in

this joy, so getting to sit together

doing so just made it a bit more

special. Although I have gotten

away from making my cards during

the holidays, I actually like the

look and feel of store bought ones.

 

 

I know how happy I feel when I open

the mailbox to find cards waiting to

be opened and greetings read.

 

I hope that when my cards arrive at

their destinations, the same feelings

come from them to the recipients opening

them. Love and happiness for the holidays

to all my friends and family. xoxo

December Daily 2014 - Day 5

These photos were taken Friday night

on our way back into town from

picking Jordyn up from the ferry.

This is the big tree that is in the

courtyard of Uptown shopping center,

the top photo being taken by her and

the bottom on by me. I love that we

see things differently, yet still

the same, especially as seen through

our photographs of the same events.

 

 

What these photos don't tell, is that

I am so grateful for any time that my

girls get to come over for a visit, and

around the holidays is even better.

 

Victoria is a town that shines and

sparkles during the holiday season, and

getting to share the joy of that with my

family means the world to me.

 

Thank you Jordyn for making me extra

happy with your more frequent visits

now that you have changed jobs that

allow you more of a flexible schedule

for visits to the island.

December Daily 2014 - Day 4

Today I received a wonderful gift in the mail.

As many of you know, I collect Starbucks mugs,

and a newer friend on Instagram asked if I had

one from Alaska. When I had said no, she picked

one up for me and sent it down to me. How amazing

is that, that someone I met through the great

friend making site of IG , thought to do something

that would bring a smile to my face. And a handmade

Christmas card was the first of the holiday season for

our home. And the extra excitement of this package

was that she sent along 6 of her own released

geotags for us to add to our geocaching collection.

Thank you Susan, for your generosity and

your growing friendship.

 

 

 

December Daily 2014 - Day 3

Today's story is about my mom, and this mug.

 

 

Last year, at this time, mom was undergoing

radiation therapy, to try to shrink a tumor

growing in her lungs and pushing against her

esophagus, making it almost impossible for

her to swallow. She was so tired and sore

after her treatments, that she was unable

to get out to do any Christmas shopping for

herself, and she sent me money to get the

girls and ourselves gifts for Christmas.

 

Knowing, deep in my heart, that this was

going to be her last Christmas with us, I

wanted to make the gifts more meaningful,

more something we would hang on to forever.

 

Mom, like always, insisted we get things we

needed, but this year, I wasn't listening to

that, I was getting what our hearts needed

instead, memories, things to hold close to our

hearts for all those missed years ahead, without

her to celebrate with us.

 

After getting everyone else's gift, I hung on to my

share, still not knowing what it was I would need, what

my heart would need, in the coming years. I happened to

go into the Christmas Store, and there was a display of

these wonderful Christmas mugs, but none with the

sentiment needed. Then, I saw this one, the perfect one,

just peeking out from behind the others, and I knew this

was the one speaking to me, the one, that years from now,

I could cradle in my hands, warm drink soothing my soul,

as I knew I would need soon enough. Along with this mug,

I also got myself one last ornament from her.

 

And, yes, my heart was right, and she didn't make it until

this Christmas, she's now in Heaven for her first Christmas

with my dad and my sister, so I know she isn't alone.

 

So, thanks mom, for last years gift, something so

precious, that words really can't say how I feel.

 

I love you and miss you terribly. XOXO

December Daily 2014 - Day 2

This story isn't about the snowman, although he was

important enough, to travel across Canada and back

when we packed up our lives last summer.

 

But todays' story is about those three red,

 rattan balls. Those three balls, found on

Boxing Day, in the only store that was actually

open, while we were on Salt Spring Island

 for Christmas in 2007.

 

We decided earlier in the season, that

we wanted to get away from everything

this Christmas, and after having stayed

at this cabin earlier in the year, we

wanted to share the experience with the

girls. Well, you think we had killed the

family dog, had we had one at the time,

with how miserable they were with the idea

of being away from friends during the

holidays and no shopping on Boxing Day.

 

But Christmas Eve, as we drove through a very

snowy downfall, caught the ferry and arrived at

the cabin, only to find we were almost snowed out,

and the power out with no fore seen time of return.

Did that stop us? Heck no, we embraced it, the

adventure, of setting up a fire to keep warm,

candle light and lanterns to keep us from being

in the dark, and a freshly cut tree, our first

real tree as a family, sitting against the

cabin, cut down by the cabin owners, just for

us. We moved all our stuff in for the night,

and not too long after, the power came on,

and it was an evening of Christmas carols,

cookie decorating, and making garland and

ornaments for the tree. The girls were

now enjoying our time together, and it was

even more special, when we awoke to the quietness

only nature can offer, with a fresh covering of

snow that Christmas morning.

 

After gifts were opened, we bundled up, and

went on a walk around the property, down to an

almost frozen lake, we laughed, threw snowballs

and took lots of pictures. We had games to

play, videos to watch and dinner to eat.

 

By far, the most special family time we have

had together. My favorite Christmas of all time,

 

December Daily 2014 - Day 1

Todays' December Daily story is this Advent

Calendar, given to our family a very long time

ago, when the girls were little. Tim's mom, Linda,

either got it from a craft fair, or a friend that

had made them, that part I am unclear of now. But I

do know it was made with great care and detail.

 

 

 

Every Christmas, we would hang this up and

the girls would take turns each day putting a

different "ornament" on the tree. Each little

handmade ornament, attached with velcro, would

then find it's spot on the felt tree for the

holiday season. And can you believe the Velcro

still works after all these years (at least 20).

We have since lost one of the characters, and one

of the top tassles has also gone astray, but the

memories this simple tea towel, turned Advent, hold,

are many, and joyous. Each year, our felt tree was

decorated differently, and the daily offerings in

different orders. But one thing has always remained

the same, Rudolph has always held the 23rd spot and

Santa, off course, Christmas Eve.

 

 

This year, as was last Christmas as well, it has

just been me that has moved the days onto the tree,

times change, your children grow up, and you may be

heavy hearted some days, but these family traditions

are what wonderful memories are all about. I can't

imagine a Christmas without this hanging in our home

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

We have never had the tree up before December,

EVER, but when you have both of your daughters

over on the same weekend, and it's mid November,

you decide what the heck, lets do this. :)

I decorated the tree all by myself last year,

the first time since the girls we little, and

I must say, I didn't like the experience at all.

This year, our tree will once again be a family

Christmas Tree. So, Nov.16th, let's do this.

 

Now, there is one thing I have to admit,

the lights and I do not get along, never

have, and so Amy, not wanting a repeat of

every other year, of mom yelling a them,

made me sit this part out, oh darn.

 

Of course, you know I said a few

things while it was happening, about

placement etc, and I was given that

look, you know the one, like 'mom,

I'm getting it, don't worry' look.

And yes, when she was done, it was

just perfect, why did I doubt her ;)

While Amy was the light girl, Jordyn

was now the garland girl, and this

garland she is placing on the tree in

these photos is beyond special to me.

You see, when she was about 6 or 7, mom

taught her how to crochet, and all she

could do was crochet a straight line.

So mom, having given her leftover wool

in Christmas colors, just let her go.

Eventually, when she stopped, we had

this length that stretched from one side

of our backyard to the other. Now what

were we going to do with that? Ah, wait,

I had an idea, let's put it on the tree

as garland this year. She was so proud,

and every year since, it's been on our tree.

 

 

 

After they sorted out all our ornaments,

I let them both just decorate, I just

sat back with my hot drink, watching them

decorate, and no arguing either, something

to be said about them not living together

any more I guess, lol.

 

 

Now, usually, when the tree is all

decorated, it's Tim's job to add the

Angel to the top of the tree, but our

Angel is too heavy for our new, smaller

tree, so he thought this was a much

better tree topper for this year. I did

too, but unfortunately, he wears it each

and every day, so it was a conflict of

interest for him. 

First Family Time of the Christmas Season 2014

This was the first time that both girls have

visited us on the island at the same time.

And we made the most of it, that is for sure.

 

It started with me and the girls heading out on

Saturday morning to hit our favorite stores, and

look at all the fun stuff out for Christmas. Our

first stop was Target, where we took silly pictures

in silly hats or glasses :)

 

 

 

 

Later in the day, we drove up to Cobble

Hill, to check out the free Christmas

light display at Merridale Cider Works,

and although it was a decently mild night,

Tim still complained about being cold, how

did I ever think he would have survived a

Northern Ontario winter? I was quite surprised

when he grabbed some Santa hats and took a

photo each with both of our girls. I love

these next two photos. I love my family.

 

 

Afterwards, we drove back to town, and

went to the Brickyard for pizza. It was

such a great day, and I'm so thankful we

could start out the holiday season just

the four of us, like old times. I miss our

family unit, I miss us all being together.

Time changes, we move forward, but sometimes,

stepping back is muchly needed for this mom.