It's a wet, warm day for the end of December. Supposed to get to 9C today, and the mountains of snow are now molehills.
The recent celebrations were stellar, as usual. Rob and I went to the Thorntons for a Christmas Eve feast.
The weather co-operated, since we had a good dump of snow on the 23rd, so everything was white, but the roads were plowed by the time we made our way over.
Here's the gang just finishing up the meal. From left, Tyler, Erin, Rob, Brian, Rachel, Zach and Sandy. I'm the shooter, of course.
We had a scrumptious meal of prime rib, roasted potatoes, baked beans (home-made by me), Yorkshire pudding (Brian's specialty) and all the trimmings.
After an early dinner, we opened prezzies, and the girls received the knitted bits that I had completed waaaaay early this year.
Here's Rachel, fully decked out in her festive finery, wearing the cowl I made for her.
For Christmas itself, Rob and I spent a nice, quiet day tending cats, reading the books we gave one another and eating a wee cornish hen - which turned out deliciously.
Yesterday, Sandy and Brian hosted a skating party. They rented a sheet of ice at the Osprey Recreation Centre, which happens to be only a seven-minute drive from their home.
Twenty-plus family, friends and neighbours showed up for an hour of chilly fun. I laced up for the first time since the last party - a few years ago. I was a bit wobbly, and the brakes didn't work very well, but I managed to get in a few rounds without falling or crashing anyone else out. I also played cubby photographer. Here are a few pics of the day.
After the skating, we reconvened back at the Thorntons for chili and way too much other food. Yum. All in all, it was an absolute blast, and I'm so grateful for this bunch of weird, wonderful, fun and loving family and friends.
Gratuitous dog photo, this time, of these very good four-legged girls. Marley (golden), Sadie (springer) and Callie (Heinz 57). They're wearing our Christmas crowns as necklaces.
Comments