Wednesday, December 30, 2015

THE CHRISTMAS BOX

Our 2015 Christmas Tree.
We decided not to put up the large Christmas tree this year. With Merry & Molly still young, playful kittens, we decided we didn't need the bother of trying to keep them out of it or knocking it over.

I had bought a small table top tree for my office at work years ago, and decided that we would use that as our tree this year. I can honestly say the kittens didn't bother with it once, and I put it out well before Christmas, November 15th to be exact.

Sleeping in the glow of the Christmas tree.
Not having a large tree did cause one little issue....where to put the gifts? I got an idea from the toy drive at work. We wrapped the outside of a large box and kept it in the room our budgies sleep in. (Merry & Molly do not have access to this room). We put the gifts in there and brought it out Christmas morning.
Presents under the tree.
Molly was impressed with the large kitty toy.
They both preferred the box empty.
The Christmas box worked well, but I am looking forward to having a large Christmas tree again next year, even if it does mean a few broken ornaments and kitty chasing.

Monday, December 21, 2015

CHRISTMAS CHANGES


Last week, while riding the subway to work, I was talking to a friend and mentioned how much I still had left to do for Christmas. We were talking about the different things that had to get done, and she casually mentioned. “you don’t need to do it”, when I was trying to figure out when I was going to get my baking done. I thought about that statement long afterwards. Why do I feel the “need” to do certain things every Christmas? If I didn’t make Seafood Chowder, bake Christmas cookies or send Christmas cards, would it really matter? I thought about this for a long time.

Most of us remember the Christmas’s from our childhood fondly, and the foods and traditions that we had at that time of year are very important to us. Christmas changes as we grow up, people move away, loved ones pass on, and people marry and have families of their own, and start their own Christmas traditions.

Those “chores” that I feel I must do every year at Christmas time is the string that ties me to the Christmas’s I had as a child, they provide some familiarity, comfort, and a sense of home. So, to answer my own question, "yes", it does matter, even if it only matters to me.   

Rob and I have started our own Christmas traditions and they complement the traditions I carry on from my childhood. I may huff and puff a little every year about all the stuff I have to do at this time of year, but as Rob reminded me yesterday, I love this time of year and all the Christmas craziness that comes with it.  

Tomorrow is my last day of work until the new year, and I am looking forward to all the festive fun this time of year has to offer and sharing a bit of my Christmas traditions with friends and family.   

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and all the best in 2016!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

MISSING MEADOW AT CHRISTMAS TIME

One of my favorites. Xmas Eve 2012.
If Meadow could of talked, I think she would of stood up on her hind legs and yelled "I LOVE CHRISTMAS!". She really did seem to love this time of year, and the closer December 25th gets the more I miss her.

I met Rob in January of 2004, when Meadow was just 6 months old. He didn't have a tree the month before and Meadow's first Christmas probably came and went without any changes in her daily routine. All that changed when I entered the picture. Right from the get go she seemed to enjoy all the fun and festivities of the season and was involved in all aspects of it in the house. Oh the excitement of the tree and finding that one ornament to bat at every year. In her later years she seemed to enjoy sleeping under or near the tree. She always assisted Rob with his wrapping and how she loved to play in the mess of the paper after gifts were opened Christmas morning.

We didn't know that last year would be our last Christmas with Meadow, but because of a health scare she had earlier that year, we took more pictures of her at Christmas and felt a little more grateful that she was with us to celebrate.

I spent 11 Christmas's with Meadow, and looking back at all the pictures over the years has brought me to tears and made me laugh out loud. Oh Meadow, you were something else. Please enjoy a small collection of some our Christmas's over the years.  

Having a tender moment after the tree was decorated. 2010 
Christmas morning 2011.
How they loved each other. 2012.
Supervising  the Christmas baking. 2012
Is that one for me? 2013
Sleeping by the tree. 2013
Empty boxes, the best part! Xmas Day 2013  
Helping Daddy wrap. 2014 
Santa's little helpers. 2014
Christmas Eve 2014
Waiting for Santa by the tree. Xmas Eve 2014
Playing in the Xmas wrap for the last time. 2014
Christmas will be different this year, not just because Meadow isn't with us, but because this is our first Christmas with Merry & Molly. Like Meadow's first Christmas, they won't have a tree to play in this year, as we choose not to put one a big one up. We will always miss Meadow, but we are looking forward to the amusement Merry & Molly are sure to bring us come Christmas morning, and that will ease the hurt a little.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

MERRY & MOLLY - SPAY DAY

Happy but tired after returning home from their stay at the vet.
Merry & Molly turn 7 months old on Monday. They are almost adults now, and the time has flown by. They went in for their spay operation on November 2nd, and we were like two worried parents waiting to hear everything went fine, and it did.

Their operation was on a Monday and they stayed overnight. We picked them up Tuesday afternoon and spent the remainder of the week at home with them. They were fine, but trying to keep two young kittens from too much play time while they recovered was exhausting for Rob and I!

Molly's shaved belly.
It’s been almost a month now, and all is well and back to normal. It’s been interesting for us to watch their different personalities develop over the last few months. They may be sisters and very bonded, but they are definitely two very different cats with two very different personalities.

Molly is our “hippie". She’s a lover not a fighter, and we laughed when we found out Merry was teaching her how to hiss at the vet when they were there for their operations. Molly would prefer to purr, and when her motor gets running it can be very loud. Molly doesn’t seem to need or want much. She loves her food, to be brushed, lots of sleep and to be loved. She also has a fascination with the computer screen. She’s one very happy go lucky girl!        

Snuggles with Daddy.
I'd like to play with that kitty!
Merry on the other hand is a total “diva”. Everything from purrs to playing is on her terms. She prances instead of walks and has a fascination with water. She doesn’t seem to need as much sleep as Molly, and can play fetch as well as any dog, until of course she gets bored with you. When she does want your attention, she lets you know it and can be very loving.

I quite often find Merry in the sink. 
We are slowly seeing the kitten craziness slip away as they grow up, and that’s both a relief and sad at the same time. We are looking forward to a sense of calmness in the house again, with just a little Merry & Molly mayhem from time to time to keep things interesting.


Daddy's Girls

Always ready to play!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

WHISKY WEDNESDAY

Rob was pretty excited about our visit.
Rob's drink of choice is whisky. He has a few favorites; Forty Creek, White Owl and Jack Daniels. These would probably be his top three and he drinks Forty Creek more than any other. I'm not even sure how he learned about Forty Creek Whisky, but he has been enjoying it for a few years now. It's made here in Ontario, and we have drove by the location where it is made numerous times without stopping in. On our way home from Niagara Falls a couple weeks ago we finally visited. We knew the tours weren't running that day, but we wanted to visit the gift store, and I'm so glad we did, and they probably were too!

Rob isn't a big drinker but enjoys a couple through-out the week. He has one every Wednesday after work, and "Whisky Wednesday" was born, much to the amusement of his Facebook friends. It's kind of taken on a life of it's own. Some nights others even join in an enjoy a drink themselves.

We spent quite a bit of time there chatting to the employees in the shop and learning about the product. I told them how I usually pick up a bottle of the special reserve blends for Rob every Christmas, and have tried some of the recipes on their website, to great success and I even caramelize onions with it. We will definitely be returning for a tour and maybe even attend one of their Whisky Weekends held in September.

The tasting bar in the gift shop.
We tried a couple blends. Just a couple, Rob was driving.
Me browsing the shop. We picked up quite a few things. It was fun to spoil Rob.
Rob in his new jersey about to enjoy a drink.
When he gets a new bottle of a blend he's never had before we always do a shot together, straight, it's tradition. Cheers!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

FUN IN NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara Falls
Rob and I were on vacation the first week of November and spent a day and night in Niagara Falls. Merry &  Molly were  dropped off at the vet for their "Spay Day" (blog to follow on that) on the morning of Monday, November 2nd, and we were on our way. The weather was spectacular and we really enjoyed the drive, as we had borrowed Rob's Mom's car and could listen to Hair Nation on Sirius Radio.

We made one pit stop along the way, to The Owl Foundation, to drop off some carriers from a release Rob had done a few weeks before. We enjoyed a nice visit before heading on our way.

Bird Bird at The Owl Foundation. 
We arrived in Niagara Falls around noon, and were able to check-in early at our hotel, Four Points by Sheraton. Once settled, we made our way to Clifton Hill for some fun. It was on our walk to Clifton Hill that we received the call from the vet, the kitties were awake and recovering nicely. WHEW! We could now relax and enjoy our trip.

The Fall colours were beautiful and it was so warm that no coats or sweaters were needed.
Taken moments after the vet called, the kitties are fine! YAY!!!
 Rob and I had never experienced Niagara Falls together, so we wanted to do some of the classic stuff. We went to the Movieland Wax Museum, played  Wizards Gold, Ghost Blasters, and had three games at Strike's Rock N Bowl. We had a blast!

New York side.
Skyline
Visit to the Hershey Store
Rob in the Coke shoppe/diner!! He thought it might blow up with him there. (he works for Pepsi)
Hanging with the Simpsons. 
These two looked so real!
Wizards Golf
RCMP Moose Chair
After dinner we were going to hit the casino, but we found out our hotel got the channel WWE's Monday Night Raw is on. So, we opted for the double whirlpool bath in our room to watch wrestling from. We did hit the casino, after breakfast at IHOP the next day. We made a deposit at the casino this trip.

We had a such a good time, we may make this a regular Fall vacation trip.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

HALLOWEEN ON BERNICE CRESCENT

Dressed as a "Hogwarts" teacher.
Rob and I love Halloween. We enjoy dressing up, putting up decorations and giving candy to the trick or treaters. He had to work last year, so this year was extra special. Halloween is as much fun for the adults on our street as the kids. Most of the neighbors who hand out candy stay outside, and we all mix and mingle through out the evening. We also enjoy a few adult treats in the form of jello shooters and the like. The weather was great this year and fun was had by all!

Ready to hand out candy! 
Merry wanted a sniff of the goodies.
Merry wasn't scared of Rob's mask. 
Even Norbert got in the spirit.
Scary Rob! One little girl starting crying when she saw him.  
Our neighbor, Pat, loves Halloween.
Pat admiring Rob's new face.
The kids enjoy going to this house on our street.
The adults enjoy the jello shooters.
Me running around the neighborhood with a tray of jello shooters.
The "Zombie Disco" at the end of the street was a huge hit. 
Molly slept the evening away and Merry joined her once we went outside.
Feel free to stop by next year for some candy and a jello shooter! Hope you all had a "Happy Halloween"!