More December rain. Dec 11 - 21

Here is a picture of the Christmas lights at Kristi and Jason's. My Dad's old net lights certainly came in handy.

Friday morning we headed up to Kristi and Jason's. This weekends project is Ray helping with some of Kristi's gardening she was unable to finish this fall, including harvesting her potatoes and carrots. He also used the blower and got rid of lots of fallen leaves off their sidewalks over the two days.

Jason spent his time in his workshop making the crib for the new baby.

While Ray was busy working in the yard, I was emptying the bedroom that will be the new nursery, washing 4 loads of baby clothes and putting them away in the dresser and closet. The kids had bags of stuff that needed to be put away in the nursery as well.

I made a big dinner on Friday with Kristi supervising as it was her recipe from the rolling chair. Our next dinner was Jaeger schnitzel on Saturday, as it was Kristi's birthday and her choice of what I should make. Lots of left overs so no one will have to cook for a couple of days. :)

It was good we were there as Kristi had some cramping again ... this baby better stay put for a few more weeks. By Saturday night she was feeling better again thankfully. She spent the weekend on the couch receiving lots of phone calls and a porch visit from close friends wishing her a Happy Birthday from a distance.

Glad we were there to get this stuff done so Kristi can do what she needs to do ... lay on the couch. Sunday morning Jason made us all Eggs Benedict "ala Debbie" lol Grasshopper has learned well from Master. :) Thanks a bunch Jason.

Picture of Garrett, Kat and Stella enjoying some sun sending Auntie Kristi some birthday wishes.

Monday morning Ray headed into Duncan running some errands and I baked shortbread and made up the dough for sugar cookies that I will bake tomorrow. I delivered cookie tins filled with shortbread to my neighbours as a treat for Christmas. Another batch will be needed for us. :) (Ray here.... mmmmm me want cookie!) By the afternoon we were back to rain. Other than watching some Christmas movies, that was our day. 

The news was full of pictures of people getting their first Covid vaccinations. Definitely a light at the end of this dark time coming, we just have to be patient.

Today was sugar cookie day.  I made these in our downstairs kitchen as my housecleaner was here and we stay way out of the way while she cleans wearing a mask and gloves. Would have been a whole lot more fun if the family was here to participate. Looking forward to next year. First time using the oven down there. The little gas oven did a good job, timing was a few minutes longer though.

The rest of the day it just poured all day so Ray and I pretty much hunkered down.

Wednesday, another wet day. Ray played in his shop and I watched Christmas movies. Did make nachos for lunch though with my own Queso sauce. We only managed to eat half of it. :)

Stella is now 7 months old. Here is a picture Kat sent us. Such a happy baby.

Friday we popped up to Nanaimo to drop some Christmas presents off at Kristi and Jason's and his parents. Dale is doing a "drive by" on Tuesday to exchange presents as our previously planned Christmas is off. Ray had a little shopping to do and then we came back home. A very wet, miserable day. Once back home we turned on a Christmas movie and had hot chocolate. Glad we have a place to be this year.

Saturday morning, not rainy at least when we woke up but that soon changed and it poured for the rest of the day, especially heavy in the afternoon. Ray went to Duncan for some "Christmas shopping" and I puttered around here and then watch Christmas movies. lol

Sunday ... not much different. Just more puttering and Christmas movies. Jason has the rest of the nursery together in preparation for our new granddaughter.

Monday, December 21st the first day of winter and Mother Nature sure showed us! SNOW, lots of power outages and accidents on the highways. Yikes. Here are a few pictures Ray took while taking Freya for a walk.

We ended up with a total of about 5 inches and at around 3 it started to drizzle. Supposed to get clear and cold tonight though so I imagine roads will be terrible in the morning. It seems that highway crews expected the rain sooner and didn't plow the roads. 

I spent the day preparing some stuff ahead for the Christmas Feast. Some of the Facebook people got some great sunset shots tonight. Our house faces north so we miss most of the colour in the skies. The pink colour amazing for the shortest day of the year. Here are some of the pictures posted.

Here are my pictures. lol

Tuesday morning saw this poem on our one of our Lake Cowichan Facebook pages. Thought it was well done.

T'was 5 sleeps before Christmas, and all through the town, people wore masks, that covered their frown. The frown had begun way back in the spring when a global pandemic changed everything. They called it corona, but unlike the beer, It didn’t bring good times, it didn’t bring cheer. Airplanes were grounded, travel was banned. Borders were closed across air, sea, and land. As the world entered lockdown to flatten the curve, the economy halted, and folks lost their nerve. From March to July we rode the first wave, people stayed home, they tried to behave. When summer emerged the lockdown was lifted, but away from caution, many folks drifted. Now it’s December and cases are spiking, wave two has arrived, much to our disliking. It’s true that this year has had sadness a-plenty, we’ll never forget the year 2020. And just ‘round the corner - The holiday season, but why be merry? Is there even one reason? To decorate the house and put up the tree, who will see it, no one but me. But outside my window, the snow gently falls, and I think to myself, let’s deck the halls! So, I gather the ribbon, The garland, and bows, as I play those old carols, my happiness grows. Christmas is not canceled and neither is hope. If we lean on each other, I know we can cope...Keep it going!

Merry Christmas family and friends!!!!

Well that's about it for the last 10 days lol