Today is a housework day. Bed changed, dishes emptied and reloaded, walking the dog. Seems warmer today. Probably just getting used to the lowish temperatures.  Vacuuming and dusting may happen.  Payday today. Nice to fill the coffers again. No set in stone plans, just my rent to go out, I still have four guys to figure out for Christmas. Well, I have it figured out, just haven’t taken action yet.  This shows just how drab and grey it is today. Mid week, blah week. Jean xxx

 To get everything done before the temperatures drop. Yesterday, in Manitoba, lots of temperatures were broken for the warmest temperature. Here we hit 11C so just into the 50s F. A bit of wind but still a great day for walking. Shoulda woulda coulda if I wasn’t busy shampooing a carpet. At least that’s done for a few months. It sure was dirty from small paws.  I decided to take down my Knick knacks in the kitchen. It’s nice to have everything bare for the lead up to Christmas. Still thinking of doing more for Christmas. We will need more snacks as we are having 11 people come to my place. The plan is to have Dutch Blitz, Monopoly and the Nintendo Switch set up. We will eat whenever it is ready. I have been informed that The Millwright’s step kids have decided to come to our place. They are kinda on the outs with their mom so not going there. She will have her mom and her boyfriend over. Other than that some girlfriends are coming. So it will be 4 grandkids, two step grandkids...

 I took down the big tree today. The one in the living room. It was just too much. I like a minimalist look. Cleaned up that mess. Cleaned the kitchen. Cleaned my bedroom. Walked Oakley quite a bit. Knitted.  Had a nap.  Missy  D wants my help with Christmas. Three of my family will need rides. Meaning a drive to the city, then out to my place then return them later. Not sure when Mr. Baseball will arrive in town. He’s actually playing hockey. Not sure when his mom is doing their Christmas. I will assume Boxing Day . Yup Boxing Day is a sort of holiday in Canada . It isn’t a statutory holiday. Stores are open not sure if anything else is.  Anyhoo, it adds up to more driving.  Oakleys most recent picture. Surveying his territory. Blessings Jean xxx

 Put the outdoor lights on today. Helped by my neighbour. Thankful for him. Decorated two indoor trees. One pencil tree in the dining room, one in the living room. The other one in the living room. Yes two trees. The kids will think the pencil tree is too small for gifts. We don’t really do that many gifts. I think they just like the larger tree.  Outside I strung lights along my balcony bannister and I have a winter tree out there. Meaning, one of those stick trees with fairy lights.  I am done decorating.  Blessings Jean xxx

 Today it was dark already before 5:00 pm. I can hardly wait for the winter solstice. It’s been a rather dreary day. No sun just clouds. I talked with She Who Must Be Obeyed about nutrition and supplements. I kept saying I know that, which made her say why talk about it then. I said it’s a great refresher for me. She was happy with that?  She is up for an exemplary employee award and the golfer is up for the best run golf course. I hope they both get the awards as they both work so hard.  Grandson one - the airport guy is going on a trip to Mexico by himself in January. Daughter and him went to a hockey game last night. She said he was so tired. He is ready for a holiday for sure.  I stocked up on a few things today. I purchased two more bottles of the works Clamato juice. Love it as a juice. Picked up some salads. Three to be exact. A Greek one that will do two days. A mixed salad that has lots of broccoli in it. That will do four or five days. Then a kale one the w...

  My latest creation Can’t get it centered. Oh well. Another cloudy day. We walked, we talked to neighbours, we had a play and now we are too pooped to pop. Oakley is done for the day.  I am considering putting up outside decorations tomorrow. We shall see. Seems to me lights might be nice.  I’ll have to see how I want them. I have a pencil tree, an outdoor birch tree with only lighted branches and I may get a Cyprus fir tree to add as a grinch tree. I asleep have some gnome snowflakes to hang up. I like lots of lights in the winter. Today it was 4:50 pm and it was dark. Only a little more than a month till the darkest night.  I have decided I will do some baking. Just not yet. Closer to Christmas. I should get the gifts wrapped as well. They are all small so I may need to get some small boxes from somewhere. I will nosey around to see what I have.  We may have a bit of rain tonight which might mean a few flurries. Don’t really expect either as the temp will be ...

 Not much going on. Still on the + side temperature wise. No snow and now they say maybe next week. Well, it’s gotta show up sometime. My Christmas shopping is done. Some decorating has been done. We are now apparently doing Christmas at my eldest son (the golfer) place. We shall see. Depends when he moves, because he is going away for a week in December for a tournament. I am going to bet $s to doughnuts that it will be at my place.  My two thanksgiving cactuses. Boy have they grown since last year. Doubled in size. Oakleys training is coming along. He had a large run around the dog park today with his little buddy Charley. He didn’t want to come in. Took a bit to catch him. Doing housework slowly. Wish the clouds would clear. Need some sun in our lives. Jean xxx

 This week has been cold, skiffs of snow, lots of wind and a dog park no one could get into. What a farce. It took an old farmer guy to figure it out. In what word do you have to turn a handle up, insert a key, turn the key to the left all the while holding onto a leash and poop bag. It’s comical in a way. Oh ya, the gate has to be big enough to get a bobcat or a small SUV through. It is made of wood and I have almost been blown over a few times during the first week. The bark collar finally worked the way it is supposed to today. It surprised him so much, he screeched. Then I noticed I had inadvertently moved the power of the collar to 60. Poor guy, no wonder he slept all afternoon. I have now adjusted it to less than 20. Man, if something is going to go wrong, it will be me involved somehow.  No more barking though. On my month of no spend, I spent $100. $80 on gas and the rest on Oakley's food etc. I may have purchased a treat for moi. I believe I am now set. I have 36 meal...

 Well, no kids last night. Seems all the townhouses across the street had kids so only had about 60 kids come around. After the littles were done more lights went on to signal those houses were ready for the bigger kids. Onto today. I have realized I am most happy when I am making meals with what I have in the house. Not enough onion add onion powder. Too much meat, make the rest into sandwiches and freeze. My mom did that and it all worked out. We did not have extras like mayonnaise in those days it was butter and later on margarine that was used as a spread. Tuna and salmon were never frozen into sandwiches nor vegetables. It would have been roast beef, ham, or pork that was leftover. That way there was always lunch. Oh she froze egg salad also. Again with butter and it was egg made with homemade cooked dressing with a bit of vinegar. The vinegar certainly made the egg taste sweeter.  Today, I have only one small onion, lots of carrots, cabbage and prepared ham chunk. No ham...