Wrapping up 2020

Happy last Sunday of 2020! What a beautiful sunny day we're having. Not too cold and the ground is now covered with a tiny dusting of snow. A nice change from our very green and mucky Christmas day. 

We went for a nice walk today and took some photos of the waterfront. So pretty with the icicles on the branches.  Lots of people were out and about walking, some sitting on the park benches taking in the sunshine. 

Christmas came and went as it always does. This year's celebrations were more subdued but nice just the same. It was just the four of us. My sister spent the day with her two sons. My brother, who lives alone, well, was alone for Christmas. I did however drive to his place on Christmas morning to deliver a care package of homemade holiday nibbles. We met in the parking lot, with a mask, safely distanced, in the rain. I was glad to be able to see him even under those weird circumstances. We later video chatted with my sister. All in all, it was a good day.

Our pooches are doing good. We finished the Advent exercise program on a high note...doing the Limbo! Both Cooper & Spicy enjoyed the exercise and they are getting very good at walking backwards. 

Boxing Day was an ordinary day for us, as always. We have never set foot in a store on that day so the fact that we are now in a lockdown makes no difference to us. Funny enough though, Russell finally sold his Canada Goose Parka on Boxing Day, which had been listed on Facebook Marketplace for a few weeks. A nice young man, who works for the Starlight Foundation, bought it and picked it up Saturday morning. A whole new meaning to Boxing Day shopping! 

So, here we are, just about to wrap up 2020. When I think back to the first few months of the pandemic, Russell and I were anxious, nervous, frustrated about not being able to do the things we wanted to do. We felt all kinds of emotions. As time went on though, we became calmer and less anxious. Somehow, the things that we couldn't do became less important, things such as travelling, going to a gym and eating out. We decided to focus on the present, one day at a time. We stayed in touch with family and friends through the magic of the internet, be it emails or video chats. The one thing that I learned to do really well is to set some quality time aside for myself, daily. I read a lot of books, watched some good Netflix series, enjoyed spending quiet times with Russell and had fun relearning to play the piano. I also enjoyed training and exercising Cooper & Spicy, something that I didn't do as much before the pandemic. Having said all this, the one thing that we have missed, and still miss terribly, is to be able to see our family and friends up close and give out hugs. That will come.

This week will be quiet for the most part. On Tuesday, Cooper has another consultation with the internal medicine specialist as well as blood work to check his triglycerides and pancreas function. He will have to fast again. Poor thing, no food until lunch time. Thursday is New Year's Eve, I will make a special dinner. We don't always stay up until Midnight....but this year we may, just to usher in a brand new and better year.

We're thinking of Russell's Dad today who left us 19 years ago. He is always in our thoughts. That's my last blog for the year. We wish every one of you a Happy and Healthy 2021! We know deep in our hearts that it will be a much better year, filled with renewed optimism. Love and hugs from the four of us!

Russell, Spicy and Cooper took time to sit
and relax while taking in Lake St. Louis.

The ice has formed again on the lake, looking
Eastward toward Montreal.

Just a light dusting of snow to keep things
clean and bright.

A forest of sails in dry dock at the Pointe
Claire Yacht Club.