THE LAST DAY OF 2021

 

Merry was very interested in our last meal of the year.

Rob had December 31st off which allowed us to get out for a nice nature walk that morning. We were treated to some nice owl sightings. Rob spotted a Great Horned Owl almost as soon as we started our walk, and I found my third Long-eared Owl. We also enjoyed hand feeding some Chickadees before we returned home. 

Great Horned Owl.

Long-eared Owl.

 

Hand feeding a Chickadee.

Rob and I have never gone out for New Years Eve, or even gotten together to celebrate with friends. It's always been just the two of us with our pet family, so it was as normal as it's always been. I made a nice dinner, and we watched a lot of the 4th season of Cobra Kai which dropped that day on Netflix. As always, I'm thrilled if I make it to midnight, which I did. Might not sound too exciting to some, but we enjoyed our evening.  

New Years Eve Dinner, we were too full for dessert. 

STROLLING THROUGH MY CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

 

Me, way back when.....

I always get a little sentimental around the holidays, but this year that seems to be magnified. Maybe it's my age, or maybe it's because this is my first Christmas without any living parents. Even though I didn't spend every Christmas with them since leaving home, it was always a comfort to know they were just a phone call away.

The Christmas's of my childhood were magical. My Mom did everything she could to make them special. Decorations all over the house, special foods, and Santa always left a special gift and stuffed stocking for each of us. We spent the majority of my childhood Christmas's at my Nannie Levy's, those trips were full of family, fun and food. My head has so many Christmas memories bouncing around in it this year, and even though I may shed a few tears, I laugh and smile too. Thankfully I have a husband who will listen to me ramble on about things that happened decades ago in another province.  

My last Christmas living at home in Nova Scotia before moving to Ontario was in 1988. After spending two Christmas's in Ontario with my older brother Jeff, I returned home for Christmas in 1991. My Mom was so excited she literally jumped up and down with joy when she saw me coming down the escalator at the Halifax airport. Little did we know at the time, but her joy was about to double. On Christmas Eve the back door opened and my brother walked through it. It was a surprise to all of us, even me. That Christmas was thirty years ago this year. That was the last Christmas all four of us were together. It was thirty years ago, but I can remember that evening like it was yesterday. If you would like to read more about that Hallmark Christmas moment, click here. 

I traveled home a few more times over the years at Christmas time, but the two dates that stand out the most are 2010, the last Christmas with my Mom, and 2017 when Dad, Rob, and I all flew to Alberta to spend Christmas with Jeff and his family, the last time the three of us would be together.   

Last Xmas with Mom, 2010. We had no idea how sick she was at the time. 

Christmas 2017

When Dad passed away this past April I went digging through old photo albums, where I found these pictures of my brother and I. I have no idea what year it is or who took them, but they make me smile. 

 

Christmas was, is, and will always be a special time of year, even though it changes. This year, again, is going to be a very different Christmas for us all, but I will do as I was raised to do, "make the best of it", and I hope you do too.

I've blogged about Christmas a few times over the years, I've included the links to previous years if you're so inclined. 

2009 - Pot of Gold

2011 - Time - The Greatest Gift

2013 - An Old Christmas Card

2015 - Christmas Changes

2017 - Christmas Cards, a Lost Tradition?

COUNTRY BRIGHT

 

When Rob and I take the week of our anniversary off, I always like to do something "Christmasy", this year is was Country Bright, taking place in Milton. 

It was a walk through thousands of Christmas light displays while Christmas music played in the background. There were also food trucks, treat stands and even Santa Claus!

Please enjoy a few photos of our stroll that Rob took with his phone. 

When I walked up to Santa, I told him I was a good girl this year. His response, "You know who you're talking to, right?" LOL!!!  

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER RECAP

 

A raccoon enjoying the decor in our backyard.  

Here we are well into October and I haven't blogged since July!  August was pretty quiet, our free time was spent in the backyard and we enjoyed a weekly nature walk to various parks where we never knew what we would encounter.   

Butterflies at  The Riverwood Conservancy.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the backyard. 

Enjoying a walk in a lake front park.

Bullfrogs were a surprise on the lake front outing. There were quite a few of them. 

I can hear their croak in  my head looking at these pics.

One of a few skunks who enjoy our backyard.

This Chipmunk entertained us much of the summer.

A sign summer is coming to an end when the Goldfinches start eating the Jerusalem Artichoke flowers. 

So adorable.

September was a little more exciting. After our birthday gathering in June, Andi and I decided we needed to have lobster together more then once a year, so the first annual "September Seafood Feast" was held on the long weekend. And what a feast it was!

Now, that's a shrimp! First course.

Mussels in a garlic wine sauce. Second course.

The main event! 

Rob also caught up to me in age last month. We both had his birthday off work, and enjoyed a lovely nature walk and picked up schnitzel and pierogies from V's Schnitzel House for dinner. 

Still a hottie at 52!

We had a vacation week towards the end of the month. It was mostly a stay-cation, but we did do one overnight to Niagara Falls. It was a much needed getaway, as we hadn't had one in almost a year. We also enjoyed a lot of nature walks, and some delicious meals at some local restaurants. Oh, and we also saw our first owl of the 2021 Fall birding season, which started September 1st. 

We stayed at the Fallsview Casino Resort.

Views from our room. 

We enjoyed a lively and very enjoyable dinner at Margaritaville, did some shopping and I won all the money back in the casino playing the slots that Rob lost. It was a nice getaway.

Our first owl of the Fall 2021 birding season! An Eastern Screech.

 I hope you enjoyed catching up with me!

FIFTY TWO

 

First birthday cake on my actual birthday.

Last month I celebrated my 52nd birthday, which was also my 2nd Covid birthday, so things were not as per normal. For close to a decade now, I've been celebrating my birthday with my cousin/friend, Andi, who's birthday is only 3 days before mine. We have certain traditions we try hard to stick to. We go to their place, she cooks lobster for us and something else for the boys, and only twice have I not taken care of the cake. I like to take care of the cake.   

Last year, due to Covid restrictions, we exchanged cake and lobster in a parking lot and went home to enjoy our goodies on our own. We were able to get together in July, but it was not the same. This year we celebrated together, safely outside, and it felt almost normal. 

My birthday was on a Thursday this year, and I was working from home. I had a little celebration with Rob over my lunch break before he left for work. We had both booked the Friday off to make it a long weekend. 

Happy birthday to me!

On our Friday off  we went for a nature walk and enjoyed drinks and lunch on a patio for the first time in months! First time visiting Harper's Landing, won't be our last. 

We were thrilled to see some Bobolinks on our outing. 

Enjoying drinks on a restaurant patio!!!

My Martini of choice, Vodka, dirty with 3 olives.

 Dave and Andi came over on Saturday to enjoy a birthday celebration in the backyard, and it was lovely.

Balloons for a festive feeling.

Lobster for lunch for us girls!

Table for two.

For that festive feeling.

Birthday cakes!

I ordered two birthday cakes again this year, just in case it rained and we couldn't get together and I had to deliver one to Andi. Her's was salted caramel and mine was strawberry, real strawberries, so good! Her's was delicious too.

Birthday Cake #2. 

  It wasn't our "normal" birthday get together, but it was still lovely.