Happy Birthday Grampa

Another busy Saturday. I started getting organized with my Xmas cards. So far, I have all my homemade cards that I have been making each month with my card club, all laid out on the table, along with my address book. I thought I would take a picture of them in case I send them all away. Now I haven't send Xmas cards in about 3 years, so I need to compile a bunch of addresses of friends who have moved away and my aunts and cousins, etc. Next... I had church crafts to get ready. Advent started today, and our little group of 30 kids (all 6 and under) are making ornaments for the Jessie Tree. I have cut out 30 apple cores, 30 serpents, 30 Arcs (as in Noah's) and 30 tents (as in Abraham's) as well as hole punched them and tied strings for hanging to each one!!! (with Terry's help, mind you). Today, we sent up stations for the kids and they had a ball!!!. Most of Noah's Arcs were bright orange, yellow and Green, with very few of them brown!. The apple core was also a rainbow of various colors but the serpent was always green. Because I printed them on green paper. They had a blast hanging them on the bare tree. I will take a picture next week when it is a little fuller. Next week... Joseph's coat of many colors and a lamb covered in cotton balls...

It was my dad's birthday and he turned 78. What do you buy a man who needs or wants nothing. A CD of Celtic Women.. whom he has enjoyed on TV during the past week of channel 4's membership drive. We had a great day of many phone calls and birthday wishes and a small fruit cake for dessert. The most exciting part of Dec 1st, was that it was the first televised curling game of the season and we had to subscribe to the digital cable people to get the "Country Channel" . But lo & behold.... Curling in the "Large". Terry used his techno magic and set dad up on the Big Screen for the games this weekend. Almost like being there, but better!

My sister tells a story of Starbucks in her blog. So I thought I would relate my Starbucks story. For those of you who do not live in Canada, Starbucks is not a common coffee shop here. We are a hard and true Tim Hortons nation. but Starbucks in in the city, and in most Chapters book stores (again, no where near where I live). I rarely go to Starbucks.... but two weeks ago on my "Paula"aday, Paula insisted we go to Starbucks for a "Latte" break. Now, Pat is diabetic and I am lactose intolerant (quite a crew!!). So Paula and Pat had long discussions before we got there as to what Pat could get, because Starbucks accommodates almost everyone's limitations! I didn't want to be a stick in the mud, but I really don't drink latte's because they are more than 50% milk. I waited in line, trying to read their most confusing menu up above, and was amazed at how expensive a plain coffee was. So, the two girls ahead of me got eggnog lattes, non fat, no sugar (for Pat), and both got a grande (or a tall, I can't remember). When I got to the front of the line, I had no idea what to get, so I stood there like a dummy, and stared at the waitress. I truly wanted to fit in, but if I got a Latte, I would surely be sick before I even got home and I had another 6 hours of city shopping before the end of our special day. The young lady at the counter made a suggestion of a gingerbread Latte, and I whispered "I can't because I can't have milk" and she brightly said... "oh we have them Milk FREE". Well, that made my day... and I had my very FIRST Gingerbread Latte and it was delicious and hot and so much fun. So thanks Starbucks for accommodating even me.... the milk free girl!