Busy times, 2 concerts and Christmas decorating. Nov 24 - 30

Christmas decorating is done. Good thing we started early, as it took 2 weeks. lol Here are a few pictures. lol

A long range view from the loft. Yes,we have a lot of villages. lol

 

Here is a short video of the train villages.

Village #1

Village #2 and #3

We have had a busy week and weekend.

Thursday we picked up Warren and Deb from across the lake, for our lunch at the Cook and Butcher in Cowichan Bay. At least it wasn't raining. A great visit and we stayed for a beverage at their house on the return. Neat to have a view of our house from a different perspective, as they live directly across from us.

Friday, for Kristi's BD present, we took her to dinner and then to the Paul Brandt and Terri Clark concert at the Cowichan Performing Arts. Terri is the only Canadian Female to be inducted in the Grand Ole Opry. Paul is the most downloaded Canadian Male artist. It was fabulous.

Kristi drove herself home and we went back to the lake. Tomorrow is another big day.

Saturday we had an unexpected message to meetup with our long-time friends, Janice and Gary, for lunch in Nanaimo before Christmas. We were going up there anyways today, but managed to get out of the house early for a lunch at the Driftwood Chinese Buffet. It's great seeing them and catching up. It's been a couple of years.

Next up, a quick run up to Parksville to the Railyard Game Stop. Just in case they have the new track Ray wants. Nope, oh well. Back to Jason and Kristi's for 3:30 pm. They wwere busy all day getting a tree for Kristi's office from Gogo's tree farm. Amelia is a big help apparently! 

Here is a picture of the "finished" product that she helped mommy with on Sunday.

Amelia also has been busy helping Daddy in his shop.

Tonight, we all went out for dinner at the MGM Diner before Kristi, Jason and I attend the Celtic Tenors with the Vancouver Island Symphony. Wow what a great performance. Ray stayed home to put Amelia to bed. If he had realized the symphony was also playing he would have attended too.

Kristi and Jason go to the MGM fairly frequently. The owner Helen, loves when the kids come in. Here she is, getting Amelia to help make her strawberry milkshake. They are awesome there, and great food, her daughter Trisha is the chef.

Of course she has to sit next to her Papa so she can get "tickled" lol.

Ray took Amelia home and the three of us carried onto the concert. 

Jason booked the tickets and we ended 3 rows up from the stage. With his bright blazer he got picked out by one of the tenors lol. They had him stand up and face the crowd with his "Christmas Spirit". The funny thing is Jason only does this for Kristi, as he is more "bah humbug!" When that came out, everyone laughed. Later on near the end of the performance, Jason was caught actually singing a carol lol, also pointed out to the audience. 

Sunday morning we were all up early, but first morning cuddles. Olaf trying for the "Papa Cookies".

We were out the door by 9:15. Both families having a busy day. We headed towards Duncan and went to Walmart first for baking supplies before turning around and heading back to the Cowichan Exhibition grounds to see their craft fair. Came home empty handed again. :) Quite a few things I already purchased over the past 7 years. I did however pick up a couple things at the concert last night as there was a pop up Celtic ceramics studio display.

Back on Highway 18 to the VI Motorsport Circuit. They are having an open house today and we were curious as we have driven by the place for 8 years lol. Liam, our salesman who sold us our current car, got his dream job there so we wanted to support him.  They were driving people around the track, but very slowly in one of the 34 cars they run. We didn't bother. They are more of an event place now. They cater functions by the Villa Eyrie Resort, owned by the same people.

Back home by 12:30. What a busy 24 hours!

Ray's first Winter Puzzle.