Women of the world in the camera eye

We celebrated together as the camera clicked and children played; next day came the shocking news about Benazir Bhutto. Let us all be strong in these times...let us love and support each other...let us always remember those whose lives have in some way touched our own. I'll say goodbye to this year with all its joys and sorrows, and hold my family close. A new year awaits! Best to all reading this post...Take good care.

Happy Holidays!

Forty-two and woo hoo hoo!

Had a great 42nd-birthday, pre-Christmas weekend: Carmen made me a surprise roast beef dinner (and chocolate cake!) at their place on Friday, Dad came over for lunch on Saturday, and Steve and Mom took me out to Blue Eyed Marys bistro that evening (where Mom took this photo). Sunday afternoon was a Christmas party at the home of our friend Penny and family...and tonight we're off to Cheryl's for a Christmas Eve gathering. Today I'm walking to the village to pick up a few last stocking stuffers--and then we'll prep the dessert to take to Christmas with the Cousins tomorrow... Merry Christmas to all!




And I don't look a day over... 41.5 !?!

Honoured Guest at Raven's Nest

Our Xmas party invitations promised mulled wine (forgot to make it), festive music (no idea where we thought that was going to come from--we were far too soused to play our guitars, let alone sing), and sweet and savory taste treats (many of which I found in the fridge later--neglected to put them out during the evening)...

Nonetheless, with some 40 souls aboard (so to speak), our first (annual?) Island Yule soiree was, thanks to the excellent company--and I do admit to doing an excellent job with the decor (Miranda and I started on November 24th)--surely a success. Cousin Catherine got the prize for being from the farthest away: Ottawa. Distanced from her native time zone, she retired for a wee nap towards the end of the proceedings, and Miranda suddenly noticed the absence of our honoured guest--and this is definitely the quote of the week from our little cynic:

Miranda: But WHERE is COUSIN CATHERINE?!

Me: Oh, she went upstairs for a little rest.

Miranda: She's probably dead.

She wasn't, of course. And on that happy note, I'll sign off for now. Coming up this week, our friend Cathy's 40th b-day bash here on the Island (Sat.), Miranda's Christmas party at her Montessori school (Thurs.), and my 42nd birthday (Fri.)...Oh, and somewhere in there I need to finish marking all my term papers and final exams. By the time it's all over, I'll probably be dead. Tired, that is.

Our House

Although it scarcely resembles the prototype in the Joy of Cooking, this charming abode has the distinction of being Miranda's (and my) first-ever gingerbread house, made from (how could you guess?) scratch! When our neighbour Claire invited us for dinner this weekend, we offered to bring dessert, so we intended to make a model of her house, replete with outdoor staircase leading down to the waterfall, trees, grass, etc. You see the result: yet another one of those projects that seems simple until you actually try to do it! And it takes all day! Yet still looks cobbled together in the most haphazard fashion! (Although Miranda pronounced our handiwork to be "bootiful"!) Thank goodness we made some gingerbread men, too, so Claire can enjoy the decorative effect of this gingerbread "castle," such as it is, for days to come (perhaps indefinitely!)...as for me, I'll be happy never to see the blessed thing again! Ah well, 'tis the season!





And here she is...

The sweetest cookie ever!

Wild Weekend

...weather-wise, for sure!

We wended our way through the snow to our Isle's festival of lights (Saturday night) and Christmas craft fair (today). Will it all melt away before Frosty comes to life? Only time will tell--there's magic in the air...

Hello! I just noticed this post number--as Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit would say--eleventy-one!