(You might want to arm yourself with a cup of tea and a treat first. It's gonna be a long one!)
Crystal and mom organized a card making party led by Val that was held at my house and all I had to do was dress up a bit and craft my heart out. . .
Of course we can't forget the bazaar. . .
I had a table, sold some things, visited with tons people, had good food and. . .
if my drain tube hadn't developed a hole in it just before bed that night, resulting in a middle of the night trip to emergency to fix it, (after waiting a couple of hours, they cut out a long piece of the tube to get rid of the section with the hole and put a new bulb on what was left) . . .
it would have been a fabulous day altogether.
Exhausting. . . but fabulous. . .
There was a long planned trip to Fort Edmonton for their Christmas Reflections, something I try to go to most years.
It involves a wagon ride behind two draft horses around the park in the chilly dark, warm gingersnaps baked in a wood stove, old fashioned decorations and crafts, along with free hot chocolate and cider. One of my favorites though, is the sing along Christmas carols in one of the little churches.
Tickets usually sell out fast and I had a large group wanting to go so I bought tickets a week after I got home from the hospital.
Online.
About an hour before we we to leave I went to retrieve my tickets and print them out. Eleven tickets.
I cold only find one.
$200 worth of tickets had vanished, never to be seen again,
Morgan looked.
Crystal tried to phone Fort Edmonton.
And I. . . organized, in control, Rosa. . . I cried my heart out, convinced that I had ruined this special outing for 11 people, one of whom was a young boy.
I was pretty sure that the alternate plans suggested by a few of my very sweet friends would not fly with him. . .
Going out for wine and dessert instead . . .
We got to the park, explained what had happened to the man at the desk and showed him my visa statement. He had my name, said "you've paid your money so go on in." and all was well. (Although I didn't really calm down until we finished the wagon ride and sat down for hot chocolate.)
I'd love to show you pictures but shockingly, I forgot my camera. . .
Holly and I had a marathon, late night, baking session, with Holly doing most of the actual baking and I mostly supervising (and taking pictures) . . .
Holly also made up a gift basket for the family of a co worker who's dad had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was going in for surgery the next day. . .
There was a quick trip to Wellington with my camera because I just couldn't miss out on the Christmas decor. . .
Of course I had to bring a little something home. . .
I love amaryllis . .
Then there were all the Christmas gatherings. . .
Christmas dinner at home, cooked in large part by Holly and cleaned up by everyone but me.
Christmas appetizer evening with the Veldkamps. . .
Christmas day at home. . .
Smoking by the fire is how things roll at our house!
Jesse and Henry made a delicious brunch of dutch pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and a whole lot of bacon. . .
Ummmm. . .
As I come to the end of this unbelievably long post (and that's not all we did), it occurs to me that there might be a simple explanation for the length of time my drain has been in. . .
Ahem.
I'm going to sit down in my big chair and put my leg up.
Right now.
See you tomorrow!
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