Merry Christmas , Joyeux Noel

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas everyone! We hope your day is filled with joy, happiness and love. 

Russell and I count our blessings as we are celebrating this holiday. We have each other, our adorable pooches and our house is filled with happiness and love. Later today, we will have a small family gathering. It will be nice to get together.

We have a few friends who are currently facing serious health issues or have lost someone this year. Our thoughts are with them. We also are thinking of those who will not be able to visit families due to what mother nature brought some of us last week. 

Christmas time is often an opportunity to reconnect with some people that we haven't seen or heard from in a while. So, let me tell you about how we reconnected with someone last week through the magic of a Christmas card. You might remember me mentioning that we often met a nice man who would sit on a bench at the park where we walk. We saw him throughout the Summer and into early Fall. Then the weather started to turn and we stopped seeing him. Through our conversations with him, we knew where he lived so we sent him a Christmas Card. Last Monday, this nice man dropped by our house with a card of his own. I was out when he came but Russell had a nice chat with him. It was a very special moment. He is doing well and will resume his walks to the park in the Spring. Until then, we are now connected with him on Facebook so we can keep in touch. 

Cooper & Spicy are doing well and they had a fun morning. We got them a new snuffle mat, big enough for both of them to share. I set up a little Christmas station last night, very quietly. This morning, we took them downstairs and they were as happy as can be, which brought a big smile to our faces.  I took a few videos which I will post on my Facebook page tomorrow. 

That's my last blog of the year. I wish you all a wonderful day! 

Spicy and Cooper want to wish everyone a 
very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!

The new snuffle mat and lots of toys
under the watchful eye of Santa....waiting
on the arrival of Spicy and Cooper.

It did not take them long to enjoy all the goodies!

They truly do share and this mat was 
challenging.

They both make certain not a crumb is left
behind!

Our Christmas table decoration, full of 
bright festive colour!

The dream of a white Christmas has arrived

Happy Sunday everyone! Here we are,  one week away from Christmas and four months away from our trip to Italy. Time is just flying by folks! Very soon, the days will start getting longer and brighter. 

The four of us had a good week. Russell and I both had a Christmas pedicure, I chose Orly's Purple Crush polish. Very pretty and festive. Russell had a hot paraffin wax treatment. He has such beautiful feet and toes! On Friday, we got our first real snow of the season and a good chunk of the accumulation came during the night and into Saturday morning. This is probably the heaviest snow I've ever had to shovel....it was actually so heavy that I had to use our sleigh shovel to push it. There was no lifting it...this is what I call heart attack snow and I took my time....all for the love of our pooches 💗 Thank goodness we have a snow service for our driveway. 

I have to say it is very scenic with the snow on all the trees and shrubs. Russell took a few photos. For a very brief moment this morning, we had a pink sky and Russell was quick to capture it with his camera. It was simply beautiful! So, a white Christmas it will be 🎄

This coming week will be busy with appointments and errands. We both have our dental cleaning on Tuesday morning then a haircut for me in the afternoon. On Wednesday, Cooper & Spicy have an appointment with their cardiologist for their annual echocardiogram. We are hoping that their Mitral Valve Disease is stable and that their meds are working as they should. Fingers crossed.  On Friday, Russell will give the pooches a Christmas bath...they have to smell good for Santa!

I have to get my act together and make a list of "things to do" for our Christmas weekend. First thing on the list will be to thaw the turkey on Friday, to be cooked on Sunday.  Russell is already salivating just thinking about it 😋Our Christmas Eve dinner will consist of French Onion Soup, with some nice bread and cheese. I will also be baking a Guinness gingerbread cake for Christmas dinner.  Last but not least, I am planning a Christmas morning surprise for the Coop & the Spice girl. Always have to make time for the important things in life 😍

That's my blog for today. In a few minutes, I will go outside and clean up the snow paths for the doggies. The snow is lighter so it will be easier. This afternoon, while Russell watches football, I will watch the movie The Holiday. It's a chick flick that always brings a smile to my face. It's been a yearly tradition for me for three years now, I never get tired of it. 

Have a great week everyone! 

For a very brief moment, the sky was radiant with
colour against snow covered Tamaracks in
the backyard!

The crabapple draped in snow.

Spicy and Cooper look like they are in 
slow motion as they romp through the new
snow.

Spicy looks back at me as if to say, thanks
for clearing the snow paths so I can do
my business!

The picture of complete relaxation and security
by the Christmas tree.

Cooper enjoys his favorite spots...
here, he is keeping an eye on
Santa Claus.

Peek-a- boo!

Russell trying on new hair or is it
Cooper giving him a head massage.

Will it be a white Christmas?

Happy Sunday to all! It's kind of a dull day, cloudy, a little on the cool side although lots of sunshine on the way this week. Not sure if we will have a white Christmas or not....I read somewhere that we might get some wet snow next weekend. Will it stay until the big day? Time will tell. Either way, Christmas will happen on schedule, two weeks from today folks!

This past week was good. I got all my baking done.  Russell was kind enough to taste each batch. Some are on the counter top in a cookie tin, some are in the freezer. I've had a few myself and they are delicious. On Thursday, I also made a batch of Speculoos cookies. Since I wanted to follow the recipe to the letter, I ordered the Belgium Candi Sugar on Amazon as well as a ravioli cutter to make perfect thin square cookies. They turned out so good, crisp, not too sweet and nicely spiced. A repeat next year! Yesterday, I made a batch of my mom's Cheddar Cookies, made with the good old McLaren's Imperial Cold Pack Cheese. The dough is in the freezer and I will bake them on Christmas morning. They will make for a nice little nibble when our family arrives. 

Cooper & Spicy are doing well. They are getting quite proficient with their puzzles. Both now truly expect to either snuffle or puzzle in the morning. I usually indulge them but I've been varying the timing just to throw them off a little bit 😂They also enjoy the Christmas tree, especially when it is lit up. We often find Spicy napping near it. 

On Thursday, Russell was out in the backyard with his drone. He's been practicing lift offs and landings and getting very good at it. He is looking forward to launching the drone in a larger area, probably somewhere in Baie-D'urfe, further away from the airport, where it's allowed. The weather has to be mild though as the battery drains too fast in cold weather. 

Not much on the go this week other than both of us are getting a Christmas pedicure. It's always nice to pamper those little feet.

That's my blog for today. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Cooper and Spicy inspected the 
tree and it met with their approval!

Chilling on a lazy Sunday...waiting for whatever
comes their way!

Spicy loves to nap under the tree,
she truly is a gift!

The Christmas stockings have been hung
with care....

Cooper on Christmas cookie 
baking patrol...hoping for a few
crumbs, such a cutie pie!

Aerial view of our house from about 50 feet up,
our roof is looking good.

Looking South toward Lake St. Louis.

Coming in for a landing! 

Christmas is in the air

Good Sunday morning everyone! Another early blog for me while sipping on coffee. It's 6:50 am. Russell is catching up on the news.  Our pooches are patiently waiting for their breakfast, one hour after their meds. Cooper will eat at around 7:30, always eager and ready to chow down. Miss Spicy likes to take her time, she doesn't like to be rushed so she will eat around 8 am. Then their day will truly start. 

This past week was good. Our weather was a mix of sun, clouds and some rain. On Monday, I went to Bulk Barn to buy 20 cups of coconut for the coconut macaroons that I plan on baking today. Those macaroons are Russell's favorites. I make them every year and they freeze well. A nice little treat at this time of year.

The Coop and the Spice girl got to try their new puzzles. They got to sniff them first then the fun started. They need more practice but they both go at it the way we thought they would....Spicy is gentle, more precise in her movements. Cooper is a tad more aggressive. It's a fun way to work their brains and sense of smell. They enjoy it and it's a nice change from snuffling. 

On Friday, I met up with my friend Lillian. We had coffee at Le Marche de l'Ouest. It was nice to catch up on things. We always have lots to talk about. I got Blu-Belle a little Christmas decoration. Lillian sent me the photo of the ornament, so lovely how she displays it. 

Christmas is truly in the air in our house. Yesterday, I got everything done...the tree, the stockings are up (not filled) and our most precious "doggie tree" is on display on the countertop in the kitchen. For the past six years, we've been getting Cooper & Spicy a special ornament which is added to the tree. It makes for a wonderful display and a keepsake that we will always cherish.

That's my blog for today. Time to get breakfast ready for Cooper....he's now moved from the TV room to the kitchen...he knows it's soon time to eat. Spicy is still having a nap. Pics of our Christmas tree in next week's blog. Have a great week everyone!

Two new additions to the 'doggie tree' for 2022.

The Cooper and Spicy doggie tree all
set for another Christmas.

Blu-Belle's Christmas ornament proudly
displayed at Lillian's.

Spicy and Cooper are up to the challenge
of the new puzzles.

Three puzzles should keep the duo
busy for quite some time.

Nothing better than teamwork to solve a tricky
puzzle.