TT 12th birthday in Calgary

We were in Calgary on the weekend to celebrate TT's 12th birthday!!!!  Richard made a cake and Stephany added decorations and candles.  We all made food - Richard made very delicious chicken wings and rice, Steph made radish and pork soup, Suzanne brought vegetables, Sal made guacamole - very yummy with chips and I brought broccolli salad which is a favorite of everyone.  Needless to say, everyone ate and we had lots of leftovers.   

TT made wishes and blew out his candles.  He cut up the cake and served everyone!!

He opened his gifts, a new set of winter boots and several $$ donations for badminton supplies, and as you can see below he was very blessed by all of us and his relatives in China who also sent along gifts for his birthday.

Stephany asked for fabric when they were here in early November so I sent along several bundles of cottons, poly cottons and felted wool.  She made an MT which is a character from a book that Selina really enjoys.  Very well done!!!  Steph has been doing her own mending by hand and was sewing bright patches to Selina's new backpack when we arrived!!!  Therese

Apples for the freezer

I put the apples I received from Mona in September into the freezer.  I sliced them with my food processor and got 15 cups.  I put them in three bags and folded them in half so I can remove only half at a time without having to break them apart.  They have been very good and I will certainly appreciate getting some next year if she has any to spare.  

Therese

 

The little benches are getting an upgrade

I have been wanting to redo the little benches for a while now but this week the stars aligned and I got started.  I took the seats off and sanded the frame and have put a first coat of black spray paint on them.  Brian set up a sort of cardboard space in the workshop and got the dust collector close so it would help with the overspray.  I will finish up the spraying of the frames this week and will be putting burgundy leather on the seats to finish them off.  They have been with us for 50 years and I expect will last for quite a few more but probably not all in our house.  So be it!!!  

I finished the painting of the frames and while I was covering the seats with leather Brian filled the screw holes with wooden plugs and then when the seats were finished screwed new holes for the screws and we put them all together!!!!  They look really good and it was a great project!!

Therese

 

No more snow!!

The weather has warmed and there was no snow to speak of left on Tuesday!!!    It will be good for the ground next spring.  Therese

 

Our first snow

It snowed about 3" on Friday.  It came down soft and gentle just like Christmas snow.  

Saturday morning it was bright and beautiful.  The temperatures were predicted to warm for the rest of the week.  It dawned sunny and beautiful on Saturday.   Therese

 

Whole family came for Kale's 14th birthday

Richard and his family and Suzanne's family came last weekend to celebrate Kale's birthday!!  We set up both of the new Ikea tables which worked really well  and gave us enough room for everyone to sit at the table.  

 

We brought pizza in for lunch from Busters  - it was pretty good!!!  Before pizza arrived TT decorated the cake I had made using icing and candles that Suzanne had brought.  He did a good job!!!

For me, there is nothing better than being together!!!  

Once we had eaten it was time to have cake!!  He blew out all his candles.  

After cake Kale opened his presents.  With a very specific birthday list he got $$ towards the items he was looking to buy.  

After cleaning up, the boys took the basketball to the court, Briand and Sal stayed at home to be there when the boys came back.  The rest of us took a short walk to the park.  Suzanne and Sylvia walked the perimeter while the rest of us supervised Selina on the play structure.  It is a new one since last time they were here and somewhat taller.    Therese