Lights in the dark

That was fun. I did the sidewalk and the driveway Thursday.  

I haven't been down to the trailcam in a bit. Saturday's Critters may be a challenge! In the meantime, there is much action indoors. After Monday's stressful morning (Virtual Doctor's appointment), we decided to make our own entertainment.

First thing I did was to bring the Charlie Brown Christmas tree up from the basement.

Then, to create the 'hearth' I had a supervisor. 

I found and promptly lost the 'fireplace' we used last year. It was a senior's moment... It was in my hands, as I was bringing up some other things. *Gone day care! 

Anyway, we kinda make it up as we go. There were inspections during the process. 

Cinnamon had to inspect. 

 

That's better!

We've had various reaction to Frosty over the years. Some cats were fascinated with the lights. Others weren't amused. I think Cinnamon might come around.

We often let Cinnamon out into the garage. Sometimes Nutmeg. We were roaming the house looking for her. I'd moved our heated cat house (long story that one when Hooper cat was afraid of Daisy cat) from where it sat under the table, now they like cuddling up in it during winter. I just sorta threw it there. It was crooked, but it is her sanctuary.

What a hoot she is. Cinnamon took it over the next day!

 

This morning is a cold one. 

*"Gone day care." When Caitlin was young,  and in day care, we had a saying. Every time something was lost, we'd say, 'gone day care.'  

Disdecorating & memories

You'll have to forgive my header. We lost all our snow, although we had a skiff Wednesday night and this morning. It looks so much better with snow.  It fits the season. We've a Polar Vortex here. It is a tad chilly. 

We are in the process of what my Mom called 'disdecorating!' We're putting away our indoor holiday stuff. Outdoors we'll keep our bears up, though. It's such a nice light in the dark days of January. 

I've cleaned out our Christmas trunk. My late mother had 5 trunks. I packed it all up and donated it to her church summer bazaar in 2006. I wish I wasn't in such a position of grief, and kept some. 😒 

I told JB that 59 years ago last December I took a bus to Sudbury, to attend the pre-Christmas wedding of my dear choir friends. When I returned home, my parents had bought some wee ornaments, and decorated a 2' tree, which sat on my dresser. I've kept the ornaments, and added to them. We've been trying to clean some things out, and I was going to pass them on, but I am not ready. Sending Joseph into the post-Christmas sales, he was to try find me a new wee tree.

These, my mom made from a kit, sold at a church bazaar. I bought them. She complained bitterly about how long it took her to make them, and how little they asked for them. We happened to be there in Bala, and here was mom working the sale. 

Daisy really enjoyed the ornaments, back in the day! Daisy chewed on the old one, and burned her tongue. Since she has been rehomed a few years ago, we may be able to put one up.

Nutmeg likes to sit on the satin tree skirt, beside our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I think it has had its day, though. Soon, Father Christmas will go back downstairs. She likes to 'turtle' as we call it. Head down, relaxed.

I've two blooms on the Amaryllis, the third, which I broke off, is in a mug. There is a 4th bud on the way. It is such a wonderful spot of colour in the winter.

The cats have enjoyed the toy train set. JB had enough of it, and put it away. It needs repairs, although JL, our SIL, worked on it on Christmas Day. The lights remain. Cinnamon was quite keen on it. 

Nutmeg likes to sit on the table, too. JB took this with his wee camera.

We have eased ourselves into the new year. Wednesday night, we finished off all 6 seasons of Unforgotten. It was amazing, and kept us on the edge of our seats. 

Normally, we begin our evenings watching an episode of Escape to the Country! We have learned so much about the UK. The scenery is amazing and we've learned lots. We learned about the Tolpuddle Martyrs the other day. The beginnings of the union movement. Fair wages for good work. The news is full of the fact that CEO salaries are in 

Canada's top 100 CEOs are averaging $14.9 million in 2022 and they make 246x the average worker. Then there are sports stars, but I digress! Have a great weekend!

Lake Effect Snow

 Yes, it is the season for it. The Great Lakes are quite warm, as water has temperature inertia. The winds blow across the lakes and pick up the moisture. I learned a new term Monday. The 'fetch' is the width of the lakes, where the wind fetches up water to dump on people as it moves across the land. 

Since the winds blow right across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the fetch area is much wider. This is why Muskoka and Central Ontario gets such snowfall.

 

All we had was graupel and dark skies.

Indoors, we've been having fun puttout out lights. Cinnamon is amused. We started small. Joseph Brian got us a little fake fire background! I brought the Charlie Brown Christmas tree up from the basement.

An accidentally artsy photo!

Somebody has been working on his train set. New batteries all around for the houses. 

This was his process. I watched carefully. It began a week ago. It required all sorts of tweaks.

Christmas Train from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

By the way, Isabelle and Papa are continuing on their archery classes at the RA. She is pretty good! Three shots quite close together. What a kid!

It's crazy times out there

Horrid news from out west in the flooding. Lots of people are coming to the aid of those trapped, homeless, without heat or water.

I keep trying to look for the positives in the disaster in British Columbia. They are sending in the military, and neighbours are helping neighbours, if possible. One dude was transporting 76 dogs and cats for adoption, and he posted on Facebook for help since he was stranded in the floods. They were headed to the lower mainland to new owners. People have stepped up and the animals have been fostered until they can get to their destination in Vancouver.

They've partially opened a few of the highways, but others will be weeks or months. 

B.C. bridge

We took a big drive to Carleton Place to fetch some more supplements for JB. OK, not such a big drive, 40 minutes. This dude I watched in the rear view mirror. He passed us on the highway into town and the truck that was tailgating me, at the same time. There was oncoming traffic approaching. Only to be stuck at the red light in front of us. I must admit I wished him some harm as he sped up and away. I just don't need the stress. 

We stopped at the library, thank goodness for murder mysteries to take my mind off things. I just finished Tumbled Graves, by Brenda Chapman. It's in a series and is A Stonechild and Rouleau mystery #3. We picked up #4.

We made it to our destination, and while Joseph Brian was picking up his stuff I spotted a huge build beside the RA centre where our naturopath works: Stoneridge Manor Long-term Care. I haven't been here in ages, often JB drives in on his own.

It must be cold up there on the roof. We were to have flurries yesterday, and a cold front has moved in. Thankfully, we didn't have to cope with that. The snow has melted, for now. JB popped into the store and bought us a lasagna and chili for our respective dinners. 

I have to switch up the bears, since I couldn't see the bird feeders for the bear's head. 

While I was arguing with CRA in my head at 4 a.m., I missed seeing the partial lunar eclipse. That could have been fun, if it wasn't so cold out. 

Let us see what today brings. I hope it will be more good news about people getting rescued, and getting water and hydro back. In the meantime, I put up our Christmas tree. I hope it gives you a giggle.

Wind and weather, the home front

It's wonderful getting up in the morning. Three hungry cats love to lobby for breakfast. I feel so needed! The house is a mess, although I managed to vacuum yesterday. The kittens are getting accustomed to the noise. My priority isn't there. The kids were to come over for the weekend (we haven't celebrated Josee's 12th birthday yet), but we cancelled. We're just too sick.

This morning, Annabelle came into the bathroom with me. She played under the door with the kittens who park themselves outside, waiting patiently. In this photo, Annabelle is at Nutmeg's bowl, Nutmeg (right) is at Annabelle's diet food, and only Cinnamon is at the right spot, eating the rich kitten food.

This is our Christmas tree. The white lights were broken by the cats.

 I bought some $4.99 coloured lights, but the batteries died. I'm so disappointed. What did I expect from the drug store??!! They were fun.

tree lights from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's been a bit chilly.



Wednesday was quite windy. I went in for physio, then a quick grocery shop. I was exhausted afterwards. Poor JB has a huge cough, still. Mine is lessening. The poor man had to sit up in the chair for a couple of hours overnight, just as I did a couple of weeks ago. This bug is really awful. He's run through his antibiotics, so it's difficult to tell if it's still pneumonia or if it's just viral. He has another appointment with our GP for Monday.

Last time JB was out shopping, Nov. 20, he bought tissues. We're going through them like mad. Normally, I use handkerchiefs, but tough times call for tough measures!

We had a skiff of snow. The wind just whipped it across the road. This is the dashcam.

windy day from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Today I drive to Carleton Place to pick up some more of JB's supplements. It's a lovely, sunny day. Good thing.