Handmade...always warms the heart...

We made a little rule a month or so ago... only homemade gifts amongst ourselves.. which really meant, don't spend money on stuff for us, cause you have none... My creative children took this to heart and made gifts for each other and us.

Stephanie made this sweet apron for Michelle, the baking fool, in our house. It is two sided and is adjustable as to how long it is. Michelle loves it for its length, its color and its pockets.. and she tried it out today while making cupcakes... worked so well, she didn't get a drop of bleck on herself at all.

Stephanie knit me a spectacular pair of socks which are in the laundry right now, and gave me a handmade pottery mixing bowl made by Helen Stanley, an awesome potter in New Brunswick and also her future Mother in Law. I gave my old favorite mixing bowl to my s-i-l, Kelly a couple of years ago, as it was her grandmothers, and I thought it was appropriate for her to own it. But that left me lacking in the mixing bowl department. Stephanie shopped through Helen's pile of pottery bowls and this one fit my needs just perfect. It is smooth, light and deep. It is earthy colored and feels just right. It is truly perfect and I love it already. Michelle used her creativity and produced a wonderful book for both Stephanie and I filled with pictures of all our family pets... it is a wonderful collections of both funny and heartwarming pictures of our beloved dogs, cats, piggies and even fish!!! I think we need to make this rule every year... handmade is the way to go!!!

Christmas Morning

Our morning was filled with oooo's and awwww's.. over home made socks, aprons, Shutterfly books... pottery... books, technology.. and fun cat treats, dog toys and chocolate.. candy canes and a swiffer Vac from the pets to me!!!! There were kittens, cats and dogs muddling between wrappers boxes and cups of coffee... We had an awesome breakfast.... no lunch, but nibbles all afternoon with a wonderful turkey dinner for supper.. and Pecan Pie for dessert...


Then we all passed out for a bit, after dishes were done.. and the carcass put on to make broth. Everyone had their respective part of the living room, and we watched the kittens chase the laser light dots, we discussed movies, Christmas TV Specials, and games we loved to play...

Terry drove Corey home, and while he was gone, Scott read up on a board game that Stephanie bought for her dad... it sounds like RISK to me, which I don't particularly like, but pretended to be interested... blah. Once Terry got home, Stephanie set the game up, explained the concept, which I didn't get, and the game was on.

It is called Settler's of Catan... and it involves roads, settlements, and cities... with lots of things to earn, like bricks, wood and sheep..

As mundane as it sounds.. it is a really fun game and its well past midnight, and all 4 of them are still playing and laughing their heads off. The game is for 4 players, and I graciously bowed out to blog, and sitting here listening to them, they are battling over wheat, bricks and sheep.. and apparently bricks are like gold...and there seems to be a bit more cutthroat strategies now that they are a bit more experienced at it... my settlement with shopping malls and highways is in red.. actually, they are Michelle's game pieces, and I wasn't really in the game.. but I did build a nice little village with her pieces...

Its been a great Christmas, with tons of phone calls from families a far, and lots of smiles. Scott said at least 6 times to day.. ah, I hate that Christmas is over, but really, its not over.. we have a couple more days of rest, relaxation, visiting friends, and of course.. more food...

Merry Christmas Everyone

This is the first year I have ever felt NOT ready for Xmas. I have lots of excuses, but in the end, when Terry and I played Santa at midnight (after our 20+year olds went to bed) and brought the gifts out from hiding and piled them under the tree, it truly felt like Santa snuck in the house and piled things under the tree and into the stockings. By 1am, the little last minute wrapping was done, the stockings were stuffed and the tree was evenly loaded with boxes, wrapped in a rainbow of Xmas papers. My sleep was interrupted several times with dreams of kids not wanting what they got, tantrums and sulking. This has NEVER happened in all my Xmas's but for some reason, I wasn't very confident in my choice of gifts for my kids. The morning came, with rain and a warm wind. I sat in the quiet, with the tree lights twinkling, a cup of coffee and MSN. An early morning chat with my sister in law, and also with Paula before the Christmas morning mayhem began.

But before I talk about Xmas morning, I need to do a little Christmas eve recap.

Every year we seem to have an extra one or two friends who share Christmas morning with us, for one reason or the other. Every year, we have Corey, whose parents are in Ontario and since he spent a week there close to Thanksgiving for his brother's wedding, he couldn't afford the time off to go back. This year, for the FIRST TIME EVER, we had Scott here for Xmas morning. In 7 years of Scott and Michelle being a couple, we have had Scott for meals and whole weeks over the holidays, but he has always been at his own home for Xmas eve and day. Last year, Michelle went to Scotts' parents in Winnipeg for Xmas and this year Scott spent his Xmas with us. A part of me was thrilled for all of us to share Xmas with him, and the other part of me was heartbroken for his parents who spent Xmas without him. We, as parents, have to adjust each Xmas to what ever is happening around us... with kids in university or in careers, we just never know where they will be. Last year was our first Xmas without Michelle, and although it was a nice day, it felt somewhat solemn, with only one child home. Not even Corey was here. I can only imagine how weird the day felt for Scott's family, as Scott is their only. We chatted today about how fun it would be if we all spent Xmas together, in the near future, maybe in Ottawa, when his folks get posted there... sounds like a great idea... so make room for us Kelly! (In a couple of years!)

Ok, that was long winded.. but the point was, this year, we got to share in a Matheson family tradition of Christmas Eve fondue! Scott was the chef and Terry and I were his sous chefs. We chopped veggies, pimento, onions, almonds... sirloin roast.. Scott made this incredible sauce which started with Hollandaise sauce and then all this yummy stuff was added afterwards.. Sadly, we got so excited to eat, we didn't take one darn picture! the Menu was Beef and large shrimp to cook in the fondue, with fries, Caesar Salad (with Scott's homemade dressing) and the hollandaise sauce. We ate for over an hour and no one had room for dessert... oh my it was yummy, and we toasted Scott's parents who were also having fondue in Winnipeg at about the same time as we were. Our evening was quiet, with lots of talk of traditions, family and past Xmas highlights. Now, my Sandra put together a really fun basket for Steph & Mick, of funny letters, numbered packages with fun and kookie gifts. Since Sandra's family spent Xmas eve opening their gifts this year, due to some Christmas day travelling, we decided it was appropriate for the girls to open their fun basket from Sandra on Christmas eve. The basket had lots of kitchen aids like measuring cups, AMAZING can openers, recipe books, pizza cutter, wine and even a lady bug clip and some chocolate. It was fun to open and heartwarming to know that in her busy life, she found time to put together such a fun and thoughtful basket for two girls who are learning to live on their own in their own apts!

Thank you Sandra, your the greatest.. you really are.! Christmas Day is not over yet, therefore, I will blog it tomorrow... but for now, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

OK, Laura... your turn!

The Birthday that just keeps on happening..

So, today is my birthday... well, actually last Tuesday was. I am writing this quite late in the week. Who had time to blog when you were constantly looking over my shoulders. !!

The day started with a Happy Birthday from Terry and a couple of early morning family phone calls. When I arrived at work, I wasn't sure what I was going to walk in to.. but it was all the same.. The big 50, the throne.. the jewels...etc. Today, I gladly put my tiara on, just for fun, but no funny outfit today. No jewels, scepter or cakes. I moved the throne to a new spot and found my own comfy office chair... It was a good day. Being a school secretary at an Elementary School allows us to wear funny hats whenever we want, because kids think its cool. Wearing my crown today was just as normal as wearing a scarf..

Terry arrived at breaktime with a little bouquet of yellow roses, red berries and gold "stuff" that made it all look very festive. We chatted for abit and he left and back to work I went.. Just before noon, all areas' of the office was full of people, noise and mayhem.. kids on detention, staff with questions, & the school photographer and I were trying to solve some picture mysteries. I was on the phone, leaving a message to a parent with picture problems and I scanned the office to make sure all was in good order, when who do I see standing in the door way... but MY SANDRA..

There is something very WRONG about My Sandra being in my office on a weekday... well in my office ever. She lives in Moncton.. thats 4 hours away..... and she is like the busiest person I know... and what is she doing here.. meanwhile.. I am in the middle of leaving a message on the phone about some sort of picture size.. and blah blah... I finished some sort of message and hung up.. and to everyones confused surprise...I lept up and put a strangle hold on Sandra's neck.. with both arms... wow... My Sandra, if you have never heard me mention her is like my cousin/sister and we have been best friends since we were 10 years old. We hardly ever get to see each other but we are connected always.. sometimes eeriely..... My Sandra, for my 50th birthday, took the day off, drove 4 hours to have lunch with me.... We went to the Aurora Inn for the best Spinach Salad ever, and chatted more than we ate and then back to work.. and Sandra was back on the road at 1:30 for a 4 hour drive home!!!! Like, how fun was that!!!! I call her MY Sandra because she is like my very own Sandra... not like anyone elses.

When I arrived back at work.. there was a beautiful yellow birthday bouquet delivered from my the kids and it was bright and cheery (except the 50th ballon floating above it). Such a sweet thing and they were just the right size for my desk... And that was it.. the day done... I was bushed.. and couldn't really think straight and was happy to head home.. to be greeted by those same 50 bras... and it was almost dark when I got home, but I could still see them...

When I got home, Terry was giggling because he knew that Sandra was going to surprise me... and as I climbed the stairs and telling him about my day... I was greeted by 4 new couch/chair cushions, my couch cover for the sofa all neatly installed on my couch, and some people fabric draped over the red chair. What a lovely site to see... the couch cover was purchased on the weekend but I hadn't a minute, nor the energy to do the sofacover aerobics to get it on there. also, on Saturday when I was shopping for Xmas, one of my jobs was to pick out couch cushions to accent the new brown cover but also with a hint of blue from the carpet.. oh geesh... I hate that stuff and I cracked under the pressure and couldn't do it... So when I walked into my livingroom I knew right away that Paula had snuck into my house while I was at work and fixed the couch, added all the cushions she went and picked out for me and also a piece of fabric that I could cover the red chair with... What an awesome friend.... I am so thankful.

After a few minutes of admiring my new livingroom look, the dog barked outside... and as I walked to the back door to let her in, I said to Terry... "there, thats it.. I am done with surprises for this birthday". He didn't answer me, but I am use to that.. he was reading the news...

Little did I know, he was listening, but he was holding his breath for my very next step because when I cleared the diningroom, I was SHOCKED by the site of a brand new Stove... a convection oven and glass top stove... like a really beautiful shiny new stove.. with all burners that work.. a warming burner, and a warming drawer.. It had lights, beeps and features I have never heard of!

I had no idea... none... and I was thrilled to death. I look at convection ovens EVERY time we go to an applicance department, I ask anyone who has one what they think, how they work, how they use them... etc... But I just wouldn't buy one, because my stove of 22 years worked just fine.. except only 3 burners work, and you have to turn your baking items half way though baking so the back part doesn't burn..

Oh, it was quite a birthday.... lasting 3 days... but, alas, it wasn't over yet... I apologize for this, but I have one more birthday blog to go, and that is about our curling potluck supper...

Happy "Bra-thday"

After such a fun-filled and exhausting day... I headed home for a peaceful night. As I drove into the driveway, I noticed a big mess in the middle of the lawn. After a closer look, I noticed that it was clothing.. of some sort.... I stopped the car... and in my most confused thought process I started to get out of the car, and scanned the pile.... it seemed to be too organized a pile to be windblown... In looking at this pile, I didn't realize I passed several bras hanging from the tree in the driveway, several displayed on the tree under the bird feeder and more wrapped around the tree trunk.. My angels on the side of the house were adorned with black and blue bras.. my snow man on the door.. Bright RED... my dragon fly, mailbox, and that big pile on the lawn.. was a "50" written out in bras.. A giant sign in the livingroom window.. Happy 50th Birthday Donna. So now my neighbours all know...
Who did this you wonder... I didn't wonder one bit... I made the stupid mistake of leaving my lovely sister in law, Kelly, alone in my house. I went to work, and my brother in law Tom came up from the city to pick her up.. In the span of 2 hours.. she had dragged out ladders, staple guns and her imagination along with 50 bras she recruited from friends, co workers and Frenchies. Geesh, even I contributed.. thinking I was giving her teen daughter a bag of hand me downs from Michelle.. Geeessssh... If you look really close at the picture below, you we spy the guilty culprit...

My sexy willow angels.. with their blue and black bras...

That was the end of the Pre Birthday day..... but stay tuned.. Its my real birthday day next.

The Birthday Surprised continue

Now that its over, I don't mind telling everyone that my birthday is on Dec 16. Before hand, though, I tried not to talk about it, you know, in hopes that people would forget. Its my thought though, that because my birthday is so close to Christmas, and people are so energized at that time of the season, my birthday is rarely forgotten.

As always I need to give you a little history... I am somewhat controlling and delegate when needed. A few years ago, on a special "Hat Day" celebration at school, I forgot to bring in a hat to wear. Nancy I. made me a wonderful cardboard crown. Me, wearing a crown, caused a lot of commotion in the school. Both students and teachers began calling me the Queen... and you know what it stuck... and I liked it... it was so fun.... Gifts for special occasions began to steer towards royal objects... Tiara's , bling, etc. I used to randomly wear my crown when the moment struck me. But is sort of got to be too much and I have tried for the past 5 years to stifle the title. All my royal objects have been put away (ok, except my favorite tiara) and I corrected people who called me the queen). I was 50% successful and it was dying out... until.. today.

I have participated in more than my share of birthday pranks and began to realize that I would pay the price on my next "big" one. So, I totally tried to stay innocent for the past year or so. But I knew that they would get me.. I wasn't sure what it would be.. but I figured my desk would be covered in balloons.. or banners.. big "50"s. My birthday was on Tuesday. So on the weekend, I made up signs that described the 11 different ways to say "revenge". I planned to tape them to the desk on Monday night.... in hopes of deterring any tampering. Monday morning I arrived at work, armed with my signs and some funny "threats" written up on post its... ready for the end of the day. As I turned the corner to my office.. the BIG "5 0" was on the window... and then I saw the throne... then the big sign... The crowd at the office were all wearing tiaras which always got a reaction from me.. cause I am usually the only one who is allowed to wear them! And then.. the outfit was waiting for me and my wand... and scepter..

The castle cake made by Debbie P. Not only was it creative and beautiful but very yummy. So moist and the icing was delicious. (this is Cake number two) My day was filled with laughter and visits from all the students and I was sung to in French and English and two classes did the big countdown.. you know the one.. "Are ya 1, are ya 2, are ya 3, are ya 4, are ya 5.... when they got to 37, I yelled YES... they just kept going... I tried again at 44.. "are ya 44?"... YES YES ... they ignored me... are ya 45... are ya 46.. are ya 47, ................. and finally are ya 50.. to which I yelled and jumped up and down.. Yes yes yes...

I received hand drawn booklets filled with things like "What I wish for you today on your birthday".. another was "What a Queen should do"...... several classes worth of cards and even the cutest little cake... adorned with 50 large candles. A large card with an awesome poem and 50 Queen Bee's on it... along with 50 helping hands filled with things a Queen would use...

Although it was my birthday, I still had to work.. so I held up my little cake with the 50 candles why I answered phones. Notice the 50 cupcakes we got delivered as well..

So, this little cake was the cutest thing i have ever seen.. just crowded with big fat candles. We watched it slowly crush under the weight of the candles over the day.. (cake number 3)




By the end of the day, one half of the candles slid off the cake.. too much weight I think. We finally put it out of its misery by eating it for coffee break the next day...

So that was my day... I was looking forward to a quiet night at home.. and early to bed! Tomorrow, i will send along some pictures of what I had to face when I got home!

50 years old...

well, not quite... but this is day 1 of the 4 day celebration that transpired without any of my doing!

As you read in my last blog, I went shopping on Saturday, in the big city... TOTALLY against my normal shopping routine... I mean, who in their right mind goes to the big city, on a Saturday, 2 weekends before Xmas. But first off, this weekend was originally planned to be a "Sandra" weekend. We were going to meet just for Saturday in Truro...for an all day chat, and all night too.. then zip back to our respective homes to continue the Xmas madness. But it just couldn't happen.. we were dreamin' when we planned this a month ago. But.. also, during this weekend, Paula and her handyman, Terry would be working on the room and I needed to be gone.. (for my own sanity). I am so far behind in shopping that I had to do it... ok.. so that's' the history of why... long, I know.. had to be said.

On Wednesday night, my sister in law, who lives in the city, calls.. "I hear you are coming to the city this weekend". My initial reaction is... oh no... I don't want anyone with me.. I have to shop.. I have to finish my list. But all she wanted was for her and my M-I-L to take me out for lunch. Well, that sounded awesome. A birthday lunch.. How sweet!!! I loved that idea.. and we left it at that..

Saturday... shopping.. Canadian Tire, Sunny side Mall, Zellers in Bayers' Lake... oh, and I was finding EVERYTHING I needed.. Parking spaces magically opened up for me, store clerks were extra helpful, items were available and ideas were flowing... Kim calls me... she is running behind but will pick up Joan and meet me at the Canadiana Restaurant.. sort of like Smitties but nicer. I love it there and knew right where to go.. When I got there (a few minutes late), they were already there and having a drink..In retrospect, they seemed so happy to see me.. I thought maybe they were nervous or something... we chatted a bit,and I made the statement that I would rather save all my calories for dessert and not have a pop.... and Kim says... oh speaking of dessert.. here's a cake for you now...

When I turned to see what she was talking about.. there on the table was the most hilarious, yet beautiful cake in the world... full of Peas.. gross, little green friggin peas!!!! and holding the cake was my sister in law from OTTAWA!!!! I was in shock... we were just there, for sad reasons, tearful good byes and BAM... she is right here... smiling and laughing along with my 13 year old niece Caliegh (from Halifax).. What a blast...

they had this planned for months.. these little sneaks had kept their secret through a week of chattering about things from my birthday to airline tickets, seat sales. etc.. to listen to them tell their near misses, I should have been way more in tune with the hints that fell from their lips...

We had a great lunch, we laughed and retold stories of surprises from the past, and I amazed myself by not suspecting this... because Kelly has flown down on a few occasions to surprise someone.. Its usually me organizing it though. My next surprise was that Kelly was coming home with me for a couple of days... We just spent 5 days together in Ottawa, and we never really got 5 minutes to just talk.. I was so excited, I know I punched poor Kelly at least 10 times in disbelief...

Now, my cake... Kim made the cake, and the fondant.. on Friday night before Kelly arrived by plane. Then Saturday morning, while I was shopping, they got creative!! Even Caliegh got into it and made the tiny little peas for the pods.. what a hoot...

Kim's idea to do the "Hap-PEA" birthday (awesome play on words)... have I told you yet, I hate peas.. my friends take great pleasure in adorning me in pea items... this takes the cake.. (pun intended) This is something you will NEVER see me do.... with a real pea But these ones were pretty good. Somehow, I just got creeped out by it all and had to leave one on my plate...

So, Birthday surprise Day 1... I got a huge surprise from the family, a wonderful shopping day, and a fantastic reveal of my dad's room (last blog), I mean my new guest room. Kelly and I spent a wonderful evening, catching up and laughing at it all. oh, and we had another piece of cake when we got home too.