TGIF

December 1st and voila...It is Friday...Yahoo. I think today is the day the Christmas shoppers will descend upon us. Just to make it clear...Kolmels has beautiful jewellry at prices that are probably better than the competitors that is advertising 70% off.
I did a little tour of Marks last night and can safely say that I am happy to not be working there anymore, tho they still have some great looking clothes and accessories . The store doesn't look as jammed up as it was last year, making it a little more shoppable.I met up with Anna and we had dinner over at Quiznos on her supper break. She still works at Marks a couple of days a week. It was fun to have a few laughs and learn all the juice on the changes that have taken place.
Okay...looks like it is check the hot-tub time and then jump in the shower time.
Just a reminder that it is Light up the Hospital Day and any donation can help purchase something special for a hospital in your vicinty. You can choose which hospital or long care facility gets the proceeds. Tune in to KBS to get the goods or drop by Chako-Mika Mall today.
Have a great week-end and hopefully everyone has begun to thaw out. We still received more snow fromt he heavens last night. I don't think Frosty will be able to stand up today,unless I brush him off. He was only half standing last night...


"The Creator"

Congratulations ROJO!

And Congratulations to the happy newly engaged couple...a couple of tricksters, cause they didn't tell let us in on the big secret! In any case, it looks like it was a fun occasion for the two of you...unless you brought along the family! Can't wait to see you both at Christmas! Once again, Congrats to the two of you and may this be the beginning of something even bigger! WOW! Love ya both!

"The Creator"

Another one of our Christmas Cuties

Eva sent me a nice letter with pics of the little dance star, in her recital costume. I can see that she is growing up ! Thanks Eva for the update. Too bad everyone didn't live a little closer so we could see our little grandsweeties more often and get to know them better.







"The Creator"

And We all got Snowed in...

Here are a few shots from around the province in places that don't normally get snow!
The top one came from Ronda in Vernon...a little brighter there, but clearly a large dump of the white stuff. Sonia sent the rest of the pics from their snow drenched part of Victoria. The sunset seemed to make the snow look perfect! Sounded like kids were home doing schoolwork and making crafts for a big craft fair coming up. Annette was the chauffeur with her four wheel drive Tracker...but even she stayed home on Monday when the snow was at its worst.
I am hunkered down in my new sheepskin lined slippers... They are the cozy ones that I had once before, until I wore them out completely.
This afternoon, the shoppers ventured out,after the wind stopped blowing. We began to see a little upsurge in Xmas shoppers. I think tomorrow will be the day that people get their payday and get into the mood!

Good night all... I still have fifty things I want to do, but the old beddie weddie is calling me...



"The Creator"

A Snowangel

Look at this little cutie doing her snowangel! Hard to believe there is snow in those parts! 

Growing Pains and More Snow

Okay, I am about done for the night. twice, I tried to upload four photos with no success. Now I have two pics of our Frosty and I can't seem to delete the extra one. Bear with me while I get this picture posting thing figured out for this Beta blog. Wait a minute...Looks like the extra Frosty pic is gone. I'll upload some pics, the slow way...grrrrr.

In the meantime, it is bedtime.

I will once again try to get the other photos to post. Yes, nothing but snow and freeking cold. Sonia and fam have had it cold and snowy in Victoria ,also. Then Correna wrote to say it was dropping to -42* with the windchill. Brr...don't humans freeze into a popsicle about at -20*? All I know is that when it got that cold, you drove without brrakes, beacuse the brake fluid was pretty much frozen. We drove on an ice-rink all the way home. Everyone was doing about 50.

Hope everyone and their outdoor plants are all toasty. Thanks for the letters and photos, everyone of my dear friends or relatives.. I'll try to get back to everyone sooner or later.

Cheers!

"The Creator"

Poor Frosty could hardly stand up with the weight of the snow on his hat. This is after I brushed him off and essentially uncovered him from snow that had him buried. note my little deer are also more or less buried. 

Let it Snow...

Oh my...winter arrived with a vengence today...blowing snow and cold...a snowfall warning, in fact. I got out and shovelled the back deck off when there was only 2 inches of snow, but I bet there is a half foot of it now..try 15 cm. if you are metric.

Did I mention that Lynn and Rick had us over for a wonderful turkey dinner on Friday night...along with Dick and Anne and Ursela and Barry. Barry heads up the Storytelling Festival held at Proctor everey summer. Sounds like they have already rounded up many story tellers for next year. It will be adult oriented with stories dealing with history as the basis for the festival. Balfour will host a Children's festival in light of the changes. It is all good, as I guess the cost of doing a similtaneous Children's festival was more than the Story telling Festival could bear., or is that bare? I'll have to look that up in my funk and wagnells!

All in all the dinner was great,and Rick cooked most of it, including a delicious make ahead potato dish that was baked in the oven. He mashed the potatoes, added plenty of garlic, cream cheese and sour cream, then baked them up in the oven until they were turning golden on top. Certainly was yummy and saved all that mess associated with last minute mashing of the spuds.

Also, they had a huge pan of baked veggies...broccoli, artichokes, mushrooms, mixed with parmasean and cream, I'd say.
They were layed out in a large shallow pan and then topped with slices of tomatoes and a sprinkle of parmasean. The dish was colourful and yummy and was a smart way to serve up a bunch of people.
We had a lot of laughs and mostly people were still laughing when I returned from the bathroom. Seems that Anne had volunteered me to join her and Lynn on a Polar Bear swim on New Year's Day!
SAY WHAT?????????
I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

Emil dutifully resolved to build a large bonfire, and Dick said he would ply us with brandy!

Sooooooooooo--o-o-o-o-o--o--o-oo-oo-ooo .......
If any brave souls wish to take the plunge with us, it will be at 2:00pm New Years Day on our beach!
Anne has volunteered to have the New Year's party this year! I'll have the "warm up your buns" party after the big plunge!
Oh My!
The thought of plunging will make these next few weeks buzz by.

Today I got nearly all my gifties wrapped. Did I mention that my Christmas shopping was almost all done...the main stuff anyhow.
I am thinking that work will be quite crazy in the next few weeks...32 days till Christmas , someone said,so I want to have all the shopping details out of the way. It will seem strange not to be packing up for our annual trip to Victoria. I can't think about that part of Christmas.

On Friday, Carolyne gave me a preview of her new jewellery!
TO DIE FOR!!!!

If you thought you've seen it all....you are in for a big surprise! Lots of spanky new looks with this very funky whitish sterling silver that has either pearls or natural gemstones, from star sapphires to beautiful citrines, with everything in between. She has bangles and bracelets, earrings and pendants of every size! Not to mention, beautiful full necklaces that are adorable.
Also , Chris has been making up lovely pieces for the store... an Australian opal pendant with a diamond accent, a heart shaped ruby pendant, and a beautiful square blue topaz...in a cushion cut facet. MMMMM....

I'll take a reality check and be happy to sell any of the above items. Good thing there is pleasure in making a nice sale.The good thing about jewellry is that it is light-weight to ship,thus we have had a lot of early shipping shoppers already.

Oh yes, and don't be fooled by those 70% off sale signs at Ted Allen's. His prices are now at regular retail prices. It won't be soon enough when he closes, which probably won't be well into the new year.

Ok, time to go wrap the last ten little doodle-bops upstairs.
Look out your window...Merry Christmas!





"The Creator"