The beginning of Christmas .... Dec 5 - 15th

The start of a wonderful Christmas season ...

Thursday afternoon we were invited across the lake to Warren and Deb's for a Christmas drink. These are people that our friends from our RV life, Gerry and Fran who we met at Peace Arch RV Park in Surrey 7 years ago. They met Warren and Deb down at Rocky Point in Mexico, south of Arizona and told us to contact them, which we did last summer. Incredibly we look straight across at their house in the new subdivision. 

They have a beautiful house and looks like it was professionally decorated. (All done by Deb) They have a 20' tree in their livingroom. She makes beautiful Christmas Displays, some of them she sells. I bought two of them lol

Warren and Deb ... Cheers!

A great visit. Back home we relaxed for the evening.

Saturday morning, bright and early, we're off to Nanaimo for breakfast at Jason and Kristi's. It is Kristi's birthday later this week, but they will be in Squamish for the weekend so we took her present up to her today. Jason made delicious Eggs Benedict. As usual, Amelia's all over Papa playing her favourite game .... sitting in his chair before he can.

Kristi and Jason had things to do, as Kristi's actually not working for once on the weekend. We were out the door shortly after 11 am. On the way home, we stopped at the Ladysmith Antique store.... Ray managed to get a few more pieces for his village. Once home we needed to rearrange a little bit to fit them in. Best new piece is the windmill that lights up and moves. I think there is no more room!

Saturday night we were treated to some fireworks from the clan next door.

Sunday morning I made scones and invited Pat, Darryl and the their grandson Sevie, over for coffee so Sevie could see Ray's villages. Later that afternoon, Mike and Deb's kids (other neighbours) and partners came over to see the villages, all 11 of them. Mike and Deb are hosting their Christmas early with their 5 kids and partners and a few others .... 14 people for meals for 3 days! Wow. Having them come over for 20 minutes allowed her to get her sides together for their big Christmas dinner.

Ray's really happy to show off all his hard work.

Ray finished off Christmas Puzzle #2

Wednesday, we went to the Chemainus Theatre for dinner and the play "Miss Bennett, Christmas at Pemberly". Darryl and Pat came with us. It's a great play and of course I forgot to take a picture of us for dinner. You are not allowed to take any photos in the theatre. Pat managed to get one of her and Darryl.

Thursday, Ray finally had his villages "readjusted" with moving a set of train tracks and houses. One of the trains derailed behind the village on the buffet and is very difficult to reach. I spent the morning baking for our Appetizer Party Saturday. Pat popped over for a quick cup of coffee to sample my wears lol.

Today is Kristi's actual birthday. Happy Birthday dear daughter! Her happy little family.

Friday and it's miserable outside with another rain/wind storm. Oh well, it's an inside day with cooking and baking, and still getting ready for our Appetizer Party tomorrow. 

Saturday, up and atem early, getting final stuff bought or thought out for the party. We're now having 5 extra people .... Debra from next door's  mom and stepdad are staying there so are also coming. Saturday morning, the kids ferry was cancelled to the mainland for them to visit Garrett in Squamish, so they have decided to come here for the party too. 

The kids arrived about 1:30 so there's time to play and we fed Amelia dinner early.

Wasn't that a Party! Everyone arrived a 6 pm and it went to 9:45. A great time had by all considering all the empties. lol.

Amelia dressed up in her party dress and handed out everyone's Christmas Cards.

Olaf was "jailed" upstairs in the loft, so he could see everyone but couldn't become a "tripping" hazard.

Although the house is packed, everyone found a place to eat and chat. Everyone brought such delicious trays of food. Amelia amused herself rocking in Papa's chair as it was her bed time soon.

Look at that spread! By 9:30 it was mostly eaten.

Sunday, Ray and Amelia made us all French Toast. The kids were all packed up and left at 11 am. Time for us to finish the cleanup and relax for the afternoon. Enough left overs so no dinner cooking for me for 2 nights!

And poof.... the first two weeks of December gone!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially at Butchart Gardens Nov 28 - Dec 4th

Thursday, I'm busy doing laundry and Ray's busy with his Village # 3. My living/dining room getting smaller lol.

Friday, Jason, Amelia and his friend Krystal arrived at 5 pm for a quick dinner, spaghetti. I 'd bought tickets to see a show in Duncan called "God is a Scottish Drag Queen". Kristi was supposed to come but had to be on call on Friday. Amelia stayed overnight with Papa. They had a blast apparently. The one man show was hilarious. He kept us laughing for 2 solid hours.

I drove myself as Jason and Krystal went straight back to Nanaimo. We were to have Amelia until Sunday as Kristi's Maternity Ward Christmas Party is Saturday night.

Saturday morning we were all up by 6:30 am. Amelia had a reasonably good night's sleep, only waking me up with the monitor 5 times lol. She gets nightmares frequently, so I hear her cry out and listen to see if she goes back to sleep, which she did.

After morning TV, breakfast etc. Amelia and I headed out to Duncan to do some Christmas Shopping for her to buy her Mommy and Daddy something. After an hour of that, we went to MacDonalds for lunch and she spent about an hour in the play area wtih a couple of other little girls.

Magna tiles with Papa

While shopping at Walmart. we came across this "Fa la la la Lama", I couldn't resist buying it for her. Of course we sent it home with her on Sunday lol. I heard it all the way home from Duncan in the car. 

Playing "dime hockey" while we wait for our meal.

She was up and down this slide for an hour lol

Back home she helped Papa put the people in the third village as Papa had it done while we were out.

Next year she will help with the houses I bet.

Since it's not raining, I took her out to ride her scooter for awhile to burn more energy. I got her to go outside first to see how cold it is as to whether she needed her coat or sweater. She came back in and said "Burrrrr", coat Grandma. 

Papa's knees were pretty sore from all the standing with the village so I gave him a rest lol.

She really flies on that scooter.

A very busy day for Amelia and me :) Loved every minute of it.

Sunday morning it's time to make her favourite, blueberry pancakes, before her dad came to pick her up and take her Christmas shopping. It was a busy couple of days.

Monday morning at 6 am, Ray said to me "Deb the weather is going to be nice for the next couple of days, what do you think about going to Butchart Gardens?" Well that got me busy securing reservations for a hotel, and our time slot for Butchart. We were dressed and all packed up and on the road at 9:15 am. Talk about spontaneous. We'd planned to see the lights this year, but didn't want to book too far in advance as we didn't want it raining on us. We cancelled last year due to rain before heading back to Arizona.

We arrived in Victoria and first stopped at the Hillside Mall, where Ray went to the hobby store for some "train supplies". We came out with a new locomotive as his CP one isn't working properly (it's 25 years old). He bought a CN locomotive as that's "where the family worked". Found out while there that they repair stuff so I can see us bringing that locomotive and some cars that are not working properly the next time we are in Victoria.

We were able to check into the Grand Hotel in the inner harbour early. So we ate brunch at their restaurant Fathom, then headed to our room . We're all dressed in our Christmas shirts.

Tirimasu Pancakes

Here is the view from our room on the 4th floor.

Ray took a walk outside for the next shots.

The Empress Hotel on the right.

Ray also popped downstairs to take some pictures of the Gingerbread Competition displayed in the hotel lobby. Here is just a sample.

We took it easy for a couple of hours, then headed out to Butchart Gardens. Their Christmas Light Display is based on the "Twelve Days of Christmas". 

I was able to make dinner reservations in their dining room for 5. Here are some pictures as it's just getting dark on the walk to the dining room.

After a wonderful dinner it was time to bundle up and go walk the gardens. It was a brisk 4C outside. First up a "Partridge in a Pear Tree".

Two Turtle Doves

Three French Hens

Four Calling Birds.

Now the walk took you to the Sunken Gardens. What a view from the top.

Once you are at the bottom of the stairs you're surrounded by lights.

They have several locations for photo stops for families.

Five Golden Rings

The fountain changes colours

You start back up the hill from the sunken garden.

6 Geese a-Laying

Back at the top of the hill.

Seven Swans A Swimming

First time in 3 times we've gone to Butchart for Christmas lights and we see the carosel actually working.

You clap and the tree changes colours.

8 Maids a-Milking

The path to the left towards the Japanese Garden has large globes that change colour.

The path to the right takes you to the rose garden. 

Leaving the Rose Garden you come upon 9 Ladies Dancing.

Down into the Italian Gardens.

10 Lords a-Leaping

Next is 11 Pipers Piping. Pretty spooky marionettes!

Our last look before leaving. Carolers in the square.

Back in the car and the last thing you see as you drive out is 12 Drummers Drumming.

Back at the hotel for 8:30. We had a great day.

Tuesday morning, Ray headed out for some "Inner Harbour light shots". There's no way he was doing it last night.

We decided to tour Minature World, which is located beside the Empress Hotel. It's only a short distance from the hotel. After breakfast at Fathom, we headed out. Ray's getting compliments on his new Christmas shirt I bought him, featuring Red Trucks and Morris Minors, both with trees.

Minature World's sure interesting, such detail. It starts out with the history of cities going across Canada in the early 1900's with the railway.

Native history. Skedans in Haida Gwaii would've looked like this.

Next up is the Fairytale section.

Gullivers Travels

Old Lady who Lived in a Shoe

Tatiana, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

London late 1800's

Old London Bridge

New London

Famous Castles in Europe.

A look at the mansions, late 1800's

The detail amazing right down to the dishes.

The Barnum and Baily Circus

Sir Arthur and the Round Table Exhibit.

Camelot

After walking the exhibit for an hour we headed further down Douglas St to the shops. Of course this included a stop at Murchies for tea and a snack. At 11:30 we were done with the walking so headed back to the hotel to drop off our packages and pick up the car to go for lunch. 

We chose J&J's Noodle House, which has a 4.6 on the google scale. We'd tried to go there a couple of times when staying in Victoria, but it was closed. We were not disappointed, their food is delicious. We ordered enough for leftovers for dinner tonight in our room. With two days of walking we were both done, Ray in particular, his new knees were both sore, especially his left one that he had replacement surgery at the end of August. Time for ice.

Wednesday morning, we packed up and checked out. We have breakfast plans with Malcom and Kathy, RV friends, at the Spoons Diner for 9am. It was great catching up with them. 

Look at the size of Ray's waffle! We all got good portions for $17 a plate. Wow.

We hit the road and headed to Duncan for Superstore. It's time to get our Covid shots. We were back home at noon. What a great mini vacation on the spur of the moment. Today is another beautiful sunny day. We sure have not seen very many of those in the last 2 months.