The Next Chapter: christmas

Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Friday, April 15, 2011

Day 539 - Nothing & Mom's Birthday!

Posted by Jill Marie

I asked Jaco what we did today. 'Nothing' was the reply. I would beg to differ, but I don't have much to stand on.

Woke up late. Again. Got ready for what was left of the day & then went downtown to the bank. They are very friendly at the bank. I sat on the couch, waiting for Jaco & there must have been about 5 different people come & ask me if I needed help with anything. One of the Supervisors came & chatted with me for a bit. It was nice to see!

The downtown core has changed a lot since I was last here. There is a new hotel & the souvenir stalls that once lined the parking lot have been given official & permanent stalls. The parking lot has changed & been redone in bricks vs. pavement. There is also a giant whale sculpture on the edge of the parking lot. One of Mom's favourite shops is no longer there. She had ordered a belt, well, just asked me to get one for her, but I'm afraid the lady is no longer there! Jaco & I were discussing how businesses survive in Hermanus, as it never appears to be busy, but then again, I'm only ever here in the winter, so who knows what high season is like!

We looked at wedding bands for Jaco, as his has disappeared. We've inquired about the cost of a new one & they are going to get back to us. We delivered a few baked goods for his Mom & then settled in for the night. We were making a big salad when the brine from the feta accidentally spilled all over the floor, counter & myself. Grr. I am grossed out by most cheeses at the best of times, so this wasn't a favourite moment of the day. Thankfully everything could be cleaned up & it didn't ruin the salad!

I spent the rest of the evening cleaning up the room & reorganizing the space that we have. I was moving one of Jaco's envelope's when I noticed some letters inside. They were the Christmas cards for his family I had sent him home with last November. JACO! ARGH! That was the end of the tidying. I had seen enough.

Okay. Enough is enough. I'm off to bed 'early' with the hopes that I will get up earlier tomorrow!

And... today is Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! I'm far away, but I hope your day was nothing short of extraordinary! I love you & miss you dearly!

xxxxMaria

The Hermanus Whale

Cute lil' cottage

Shutters & vines

I'm going back to take a photo of this place from the front. Straight outta Tuscany.

Sunset from the Fisherman's Wharf

Fishermen

Just the two of us

Jaco post-tidy

The roses on the table were in the room on the night of the 7th when we arrived. I've taken only 2 out that were wilted. Impressive! Thanks Petro!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Day 432 - Merry Christmas! Finally!

Posted by Jill Marie

Today was the big turkey day at Mom2's. Oceana woke me up. She heard Nonna's voice & started to whimper & whine & dance around. There was no turning back. I took the girls downstairs to go outside & then greet Mom2 & Ricky.

As we were cooking a turkey today, Mom2 had taken it out to thaw yesterday. When we unwrapped the bird, there was a tumour down the back of the turkey. Gross. The skin was missing, as was a wing & the giblets. Not cool. Thankfully the shop she bought it at, Co-op, swiftly solved the problem & replaced the sick bird with a healthy one that was already thawed. It came from Lilydale, an investigation is being launched, and if you haven't watched FOOD, INC. --> DO IT NOW! (With emphasis on NOW!)

Mom2's first trip out was for bread & an onion for stuffing. She had just returned when we discovered the sick bird. The next trip out was for the turkey. After that we left for Chinook, via CNF for more groceries & to meet up with Ricky's Aunty. I managed to open my business account at the TD bank. If you don't bank there, you should! They are always so pleasant & helpful & down-to-earth every time I go there. I love my bank!

The mall was crazy busy, we didn't want to wait in line, so I skipped Lulu & the Mac Store. Another day. Maybe next year! (I love being able to say that around this time of year!) We went home, only to realize that we were still missing some groceries. Mom2 headed back out for a few more things. She just walked in the door when Greg got home & realized we were still missing a few things (egg nog & Turtles are important!), so the last & final trip out was made!

We used the convection oven to roast the turkey & it worked perfect! It saved us the time we'd lost in the morning & the bird was cooked to perfection! The mashed potatoes & gravy were so good, I think I'll have some for breakfast! We had a nice greens salad with candied pecans & feta cheese, roasted root vegetables & of course, stuffing! I wanted homemade cranberry sauce, so I bought some agave nectar & frozen organic cranberries. I googled for a recipe & this is what I got. There wasn't a lot left in the bowl, so I guess everyone liked it! I sure did!

We had organic pumpkin pie for dessert topped with organic whipped cream - oh so healthy, but funnily enough, I still feel like a gorged piglet.

We opened presents after dinner & was I ever spoiled! I wasn't expecting so many gifts! A Lulu jacket, a stuffie kitty cat (that Valentina wants to desperately eat!), sweets, a necklace, a ring, crystal bracelets, a snow brush (I was really excited about this one! Mom2 has the same one & it works really good! Mine sucks - 'til now!), Kinder Surprise - I felt like a kid again! I gave Mom2 her gifts yesterday, but for one she opened tonight. Dad2 got a beautiful framed photo from his son & daughter for his 'Sports Den' - a traditional gift for the past 7 years! I gave Mom2 & Dad2 a Christmas card expressing my gratitude for all they have done & continue to do for me. I didn't expect their reactions, I just wrote from the heart, but they couldn't even read it through! Mom2 started, teared up, passed it to Dad2. Dad2 picked up where she left off, teared up & passed it to Jordan. Jordan got through it. I told them I'll just put $5 in the card next year & spare us the tears!

It was a very Merry Christmas & I feel so blessed to be able to spend it with such a wonderful family that I feel part of. We shared a lot of laughter & smiles & that alone is a beautiful gift. Thank you & I love you all!

xxxxMaria, Valentina & Oceana

Ricky & Mom2

Shanel & Jordan

Justine & Tyler

Dad2 & Mom2 - Sorry Dad2 - my bad - I thought the eyes were good!

The gang & the spread!

Who's that digging in the turkey?

Present time!

Whadja get? Whadja get?

Oooh the suspense!

Whoo hoo! Let's hang it up!

Tears of joy!

Trying to get through the card!

Jordan does it!

Tweet Pea wants the stuffie!

Tyler's pretty excited about his History of Soccer collection!

I'm just excited about it all!!!

Jordan's Lindt collection!

Who doesn't love Christmas!?

Dad2 hams it up for the camera!

It runs in the family!

It's new home on the wall!

The Sports Den!

Kitty gets her wings!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Day 431 - Hitmen Game!

Posted by Jill Marie

Today I packed up some stuff & headed into the city. I am spending the next few days at Mom2's - we're having a late Christmas, as her stepson's girlfriend was in Mexico & they wanted to wait until the family was here to have Christmas. Lucky for me, I'll finally feel like eating some mashed potatoes & gravy! Even luckier to be getting some!

I felt pretty rough this morning & not much of an appetite. In fact, I thought I was going to spill over several times through out the day! Thankfully I didn't!

Mom2's neighbours gave them some Hitmen tickets, so Mom2, Dad2, Justine, Tyler, Ricky & myself all went to the game. It was a lot of fun! After the game, the kids were able to skate with the Hitmen & get autographs. It was a pretty memorable experience for a lot of kids. I was amazed at how young some of the kids were! Could they even walk without skates? Crazy!

I think the healthiest thing I ate was the bottle of water. Otherwise, there were pocket dawgs, pretzels, twizzlers, burgers, fries, onion rings, ice cream, cotton candy & sno-cones floating about... Yeesh. I tried some cotton candy. It's really quite amazing they can sell sugary fuzz. I pick the fuzzies out of my food, people eat fuzzies like they are going out of style! The aftertaste was atrocious! Yuck! I guess that's why the target market is under 12!

When we left the Saddledome, it had started snowing. Big, fluffy flakes! Tomorrow will look like Christmas - Yay! Oh & speaking of that, I gave Mom2 one of her gifts. I made her a necklace last night. It's pretty crude, but I'm still happy with it! I think she is too!

Okay, the little dogs are softly snoring by my side... I best join them! Lekker slaap & Merry Christmas! Again!
xxxx Maria, Valentina, & Oceana