... Shout Hoo-Ray!

Some body celebrated another birthday last week. Big Deal. Another year older, but where the heck is the wiser when you live in the middle of the frozen tundra? We could be in California enjoying the spring, dying of housing debt and woes... Maybe the frozen tundra isn't so bad...

The boys thought there should be candles, but the fire department wanted a bond fire permit to light them all. We decided a Mexican sparkler almost 3 feet long would be better, so...

It took about 25 matches to get it to light in the -30 degree C temps. Once it was lit however, it would not go out

We finally stuck it in the snow "gnome" that in the summer time is a beautiful flower pot on the front porch rail. The little pile of snow is the natural accumulation over the winter so far. The sparkler would not be extinguished, kind of like me, I do not want to be extinguished just yet either.

Lights out. The sparkler continued to burn for several minutes before it finally gave up.

And a good time was had by all...

to be continued...

Canadian Gothic

...and to All a Good Night.

We hope your holidays were as wonderful as ours. You may be surprised to know that we had a white Christmas here this year (along with Veterans Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc...)

Better still, we had VISITA. Yvette, Amy and Ethan, and Jacob made the trek north this year, and we were glad to have family here again. We missed Ashley, Drue and the boys, but they are planning a trip this summer to see Fort Mac during the 3 week summer (just kidding) Actually our seasons are: Spring = 3 weeks, Fall = 2 weeks, Summer = 4 months, and winter.


Christmas is not really here until the cookies are ready for everyone. Yvette is the Cookie Queen here.

Santa's little helper.

Traditional Christmas Day breakfast = bacon, eggs, home style hash browns, and biscuits. Hot and made to order.

Aggie tuques.

Ashley sent pictures of her family. We are really looking forward to the summer visit now. I think I will take the boys fishing at a local lake. The rainbow trout here are about 20", and the river northern pike are 36"+

Guess who received the Yellow Calzones - Ethan. He was a great sport and wore them the rest of the day, according to tradition. Too bad there were no good movies at the theater in town, He would have made quite a spectacle.

"I got you this really great cook book this year..."

When the boys go play hockey,

the girls go watch Mr. Darcy. (Pride and Prejudice is an annual tradition also here in our home)

Sunday morning.

Happy New Year, and may the Lord bless each of you as he has blessed us this year. We are all healthy and happy.

Hugs and Kisses,

to be continued...