festive baking and parties

We started the day with a slow start and coffee. Britt was off for late start spare Thursday before Grama joined Papa, Sheldon and I. We spent the morning visiting over breakfast and lunch as they headed home just before 2.

Sheldon grabbed the Christmas tree from storage then was off to town. Errands and a visit with a good friend was his afternoon. I started a lovely fire even though the weather was lovely and sunny by now.

Shaina came  out after work. she and I took the dogs for their ever excited walk. She also helped me move the buffet so I could assemble the 5 min tree. We all enjoyed supper together before Shaina ran to town for an oil filter and workout while Sheldon and I watched a few episodes of SOA. Shaina (who was staying the night) brought home Tim's and joined us just before Britt made it home from work. She proceeded to try and make cookies for an exchange her work girls are having but ended up making not so tradable cookies.

Friday was Coreena's famous toffee tart making lesson day. Britt was off to school later too as spare to start the day, Shaina was rousted slowly getting ready but Kaylin arrived with Lexi right on time at 10 to head over. Sharon kindly hosted this event and for the next 4 hours we all mixed and flattened and formed and poured and created 279 tart shells, filling 260 of them with the yummy toffee filling. 4 pounds of butter and 30 Macintosh toffee bars went into this successful mission.

Sheldon stayed home as dog wrangler and kindly changed Shaina's oil.. finally!! ;-) First time since she bought her new Jeep. He also put a bale for the horses and laid lights along the front of the house claiming too cold.. at -7 to finish the project.

I enjoyed a coffee & baileys with Sharon after all cleanup and fellow trainees headed home before getting back home around 4. Time to shower and get ready for our evening out at the McArthur's. They hosted a fabulous festive party with about 50 people, lots of room in their spacious 4000 sq ft home. Food, games and fellowship filled the evening. Fog surrounded us coming and going but safely arrived home just after midnight where Britt was cleaning up after herself. She successfully made her usual cookies for the work cookie exchange after work and walking the dogs, yeah B!

me mastering the minute to win it game ;-)

a wee peek at the living room,

seafood feast

Sunshine and coffee make a great start to a day as does a warm shower! I sorted Britt's school photos which I had forgot to do for a bit. Hard to believe she is in her final year of public school, she did

Sheldon was off to town for a massage and errands while I walked the pack. He arrived home with lunch from Edo then promptly fell into a coma on the couch

this crazy ice on all north rails

 quick pic of antique vanity as a desk

 Pepper and Switch enjoying a romp in the sunshine

Grama and Papa arrive mid afternoon, we had a visit while waiting for Britt. Once she was home after school ti was off to the city, thru rush hour to the girls new house. A tour and visit there as we waited for Aaron to finish up work then off to Red Lobster. A most delicious seafood meal and great family supper was had, THANKS Grama & Papa. Stuffed, we all ventured home and soon were off to bed.

Giving Tuesday

yay a bit warmer this day -9 to start with hitting a high of -4 today

I worked on putting vanity back together, hauling inside and staging a few pics then put on auction.

In honor of Giving Tuesday posted the red frame for a charity auction, stop by and bid, proceeds to Wheatland foodbank Stop by for this one too, it is a good cause helping local less fortunate.

I took the dogs for a walk in the glorious sunshine and -6 temperature, note to self, DO NOT wear down filled vest under coveralls at this temp! Nearing the end of the 1 1/2 mile jaunt I was so hot I took a break in the snow (after taking of hat and gloves) to wait for pokey Coco only to be covered in slimy kisses from the big guy! slime freezes at -6 lol The dogs sure love their walks!

these two tried to catch up near the end of the walk ;-)

Amazing but the new big nebulizer is still going over 24 hours later and when I checked the water it was only half gone, think this is thanks to a secret setting figured by John smarter than your average Bare!!

While putting dog food in a new tupperware bin I found new tea towels, from my wedding shower!! Those of you who know me well know I love my things to look new some even be new with tags still on. This I get from my Dad, he likes to season his clothes before wearing, me I just like to know I will always have something new to wear if I was ever in the need ;-) But yeah, I can use new tea towels! (back then they wrapped gifts in them so I had MANY!)

Today also happens to be a blog follower and my auntie Mindy's birthday, Happy cake day!!

I marketed the vanity and cooked up supper. Sheldon arrived home around 6:30 to enjoy a good HOME cooked meal, not that fancy steak and crab kind. He then promptly fell asleep on the couch. Once he woke up we watched a couple SOA. Britt was not home from work and working out till late but fit supper and dog time in before bed.

dec 1?? oh my

Monday morning had early wake up from Lola at 3:43 for a outside break but then when up for real at 8 saw it was -14, yahoo. Britt was slow at getting off to school this day :-) I touched up the chair and flipped the vanity over to do the bottom. I posted a free giveaway (this rustic Christmas trio) for all my friends, family and 1300+ Creative Moments followers. Stop by and enter

Amanda dropped the kids off around 9:30 and was off to a dental appointment in the city. As we were having a great time, some of eating marshmallows, jelly bellys and popcorn, after all it is Auntie Nan's, that is my job :-) Britt and Grady arrived around 11 for their school break. Asher quite enjoyed playing safari yum with Grady while Britt did homework and cooked us all pizza for lunch.

Ada loves her Coco and Weenie ;-)

my new jumbo neb in action

Amanda picked up the kids around 1 with Britt and Grady heading back to school around 130. I ask if they actually ever go to school :-) I was back out distressing the vanity and dark waxing. While waiting for dry time I made 2 banana breads and cakes. And since I have a diet of chips and beer for 2 weeks of the month and this would be dessert I took the dogs out for a walk while they baked. It was getting dusk and hit the high of -7, the snow along the west trees was fairly deep but we all trudged thru even little legs Coco.

Back to the toasty house that smelled heavenly, it was supper for all the puppies even though a bit early. The usual cleaning duties took up some time, baking always has that down side as does my super cool paint sprayer but they got to be done as well as blog updating ;)

But a bit more work on the vanity, this time on handles, I tried this sanded waxed look but opted to repaint and go with solid purple, they are so sweet all hand carved.

Britt was home just after 9 from work and checked cat food situation and took the crying Ralph back to what Britt calls the "meat locker" due to the temperature, however I remind her they all have huge fur coats and since only -12 they would sweat in the plus 18 garage. She made some eggs and had banana bread before hitting the hay. I did one more puppy potty break before I went to bed and found Britt actually put Ralph in the garage! Outside he went.