Size Does Matter

Today is cleaning day.I have to do the weekly deep clean, not the daily wipe down.

Two bathrooms, two bedroom, stove fridge, dishwasher, pellet stove, vacuum sweep, polish not just dust,
Porch, doors, counter and cupboards, and if I have any life in me, tackle the draws in the kitchen, office, library, craft room, and walk in closet. |It  didn't used to be this difficult did it?

I ran across a blog that made me think.   http://camperrevamper.wordpress.com/

Ewans Truck and 5th wheel

Think about our summer days, where we can hook up the 5th wheel I sold to my son, to the Ford truck I sold to my truck and take off with Chelsea and become summer Gypsy's.

I think of the maintenance, There is limited washing to do, the morning cleanup is a green disinfectant wipe of the bathroom, dumped the lavatory, wipe counters and mop the floor.

The dishes are few and done by us both after each meal and put away, not in the dishwasher

Fresh Roast ready to cook overnight

.
We buy fresh and local to the area so no freezing, canning, cooking ahead.

Both Ewan and I like to cook so we share the job, enjoying how creative we can be on four burners and an oven.

Our evenings are spent exploring, visiting, taking pictures, playing a game of cards, or my personal favorites knitting or reading.

Sifton Spin-well wheel

I have a spinning wheel which rides nicely bungied to the leg of the table. It is a Spin-well so it is made to travel.
I have a tablet now so my 400 books and knitting patterns can travel in my purse. Strangely. I only need one purse and 2 pair of shoes.

Then I think of the homes I knew when I was growing up.

We had a bedroom that was kept clean because we treasured our few possessions, we looked after our clothes because it might be a long time till we got new ones. And it was a place we could entertain out same sex friends.
Comic books were  kept mint so they could be shared and pictures of loved ones or the odd film star were on the walls.

We sat at the table in the kitchen on chairs around a table and talked of our day.
 We knew if our parents were facing difficulties and we tried to help in any way we could. Mom was sick, do the laundry, pop was off colour, play quietly.
They knew what we were up to as well.Quizzes would see how far we were in school.

General conversation would let the parents know that we were feeling rejected because only 2 valentines were in our letterbox at school and one was from me.
So mom would bake a batch of sugar cookies for me to take the next day. My letterbox was overflowing from hopefuls of scoring a sugar cookie.

My brother. Grade 7 Class at Thomas Hodson in Nanaimo

When my brother was being bullied at school and picked on because of his British accent. He and dad took a walk and dad explained and demonstrated the rules of boxing according to the age old fashion of the the Marquess of Queensberry When defending ones self  and the weaker ones was a gentlemanly thing to do, not street bawls.

We had a living room where we would gather after supper if we didn't have a public speaking meeting or a 4H meeting.

These activities were enough to keep us occupied for the month. There was not the opportunity to go out every night of the week to **expand ourselves**.

My brother would lay on the floor with his text books around him and do his homework. Often asking a question that led to a story from the folks. Or asking how to spell a word, led to a discussion on were the word originated and we would use the word in past present and future tense, should it be a verb.

I would be learning the art of knitting and sewing . My brother was 6 years older than I so  when he battled the books. in Grade seven. I was in grade one and was under tutelage of Mother for the arts that were considered female n those days.

I learned to measure cut and sew, and with out a pattern. I knitted in the same way, doing a rough drawing based on my tension swatch.

Sweater I designed and knitted

I was responsible for the baking powder biscuits, though not allowed to tackle the pies.

And I would lie on my piece of floor by the stove and explored foreign lands, not on Google, but through my stamp album.

Sometimes my Dad would call me and say "Come here you, you may as well learn this."

And with black tape, a pen knife and some knowledge, I learned to safely change a plug on a lamp.
By changing fuses I learned why you didn't put a 30 amp fuse in a 15amp socket.

Even when television invaded our living room, my parents knew what we were watching, because they were with us. And they got first pick.

Dad loved the outdoors. The Gypsy in him hated the four walls. Getting dinner from the land was always an adventure, and another opportunity for stories when he exposed his Romany roots.

I found out what mushrooms could be eaten and which ones would spell your doom. We carried home baskets of  greens from the undergrowth to add to the stew pot or a salad.

But in this strange division of  responsibility it was moms job to take me berry picking.

Dinner of the hoof

I would hurry home and tell Dad, I saw sign today by Arbutus Hill.

Early next morning, we would arise before dawn and creep through the forest to Arbutus Hill where dad would hide us both near the creek. Soon a buck would appear, and for those not into blood survival, suffice to say we had fresh and salted meat for awhile.

This was in the days when our little house put us with close contact with each other. Manners were learned every day at the kitchen table. Conversation became an art on the living room floor.

Our friends were known to my parents, and  visited by the front door, or I was delivered to a friends house, possibly once a month.

We went shopping on Saturday and walked with our parents unless we had 15 cents for the matinee.

Yes there was a lot more to do, but it seemed easier, We knew how to behave and how to make do. I think the most we learned from living in a small house was that homes with Rumpus rooms, Media rooms, Recreation Rooms, Man Caves , en suite bathrooms, were not always homes. They were houses.

The bond we forged with our parents was worth all the times we got smacked in the face with wet socks and undies drying for the next day.

So their we have come from house work to home..work.

What a journey life is.

How I became a HAM and I don't mean Pork.

I was widowed in 2002. The days dragged on for hours, only to be taken over by the nights that were even longer.
 I would try and stay awake at night so I would sleep in in the morning and shorten the empty time.

One day a friend said," Hey want to go to Burnaby for a swap meet.?"
 My first instinct was to say no. Then the thought struck me that there was no reason not to go.

Patty at the Swap Meet in Nanaimo

I live on an Island on the West Coast of Canada. If you go much farther west, you go swimming.

So at 6:30 in the AM we boarded a ferry boat for the 2 hour trip to Burnaby, which is very near Vancouver.

A Swap Meet in HAM terms is a big flea market of radio equipment of every kind.
 Stuff that is good for Boat Anchors all the way to sophisticated radio and electronic equipment.

We wandered  around for about 4 hours, looking at some things that resembled my CB days when we called out ** breaker, breaker good buddy, You got your ears on 10/9 ** to things I had absolutely no idea what they were.

 Then we decided it was time to eat. As we walked out and got in my friends truck, My friend handed me a bag and said,"You get your licence in 3 months of this comes back to me."

I opened the bag and saw a very compact little 2 meter radio.

I had 3 months to get my HAM certificate of proficiency or I had to give up the little Alinco.

Lincolnshire

Of course this was second hand and came without a manual, so we had to sort our way through programming  about 40 frequencies in this radio.

A frequency is not as straight forward as it sounds.  If all were simplex, that is call on one frequency and receive on the same one.

We had to program in repeater frequencies. This is where you call on one frequency, it hits a repeater is sent forward on a frequency that is either 600 mhz below or above the frequency.

This is a long range system. ( I won't get into IRLP)  Then there is a thing called a tone. This will make two frequencies that are close, ignore each other. Utilizing more of the band.

I joined a class of recruits in Duncan and duly passed my course and obtained the beginners licence.

Ride for the Disabled

This allowed my to talk to people on 2 meter.

I had my teeth into this communications thing now I wanted to go big time with HF. Some where along the bought an HF rig. This is the one you see in all the movies that you see the around the world conversations or CUSO's.

I could listen, but I couldn't talk, till I met one small requirement.. I had to pass my test for CW. That is continuous wave, or Morse Code.

Kenwood HF3000S

I had the radio and appropriate antenna hooked up beside my bed and would listen to my friends from all over BC and Alberta.

Of course they knew I was listening so were happily making snide  remarks.  AND I HAD to listen... I wanted that CW qualification so badly, I got it in 6 weeks, which is somewhat of a record.

Shortly after, they change the rules so you didn't have to use CW. But I am glad I got it the old way and joined the purists.

It changed my whole life. Instead of looking at the clock and thinking, it is too late to phone someone at 10PM. I could turn on my Kenwood 3000S and there was always someone to talk to.

A group of us always seemed to end up on a certain frequency and we known as the "44 crew.
Sometimes the conversations were technical in  nature and I learned a lot. Sometimes the nightly subjects would be light hearted and a lot of kidding and telling tales on each other in good fun.

After a few years, I moved to Victoria from Ladysmith and brought my HAM shack with me.

I used my skills to help in an Emergency Communications Centre, I volunteered to  help with The Royal Victoria Marathon for 7 years, I worked with the Victoria 10 K, bike aces, Ride for the disable, Mind over Mountain, CARHA hockey tournament and anywhere that communication is needed.

In an emergency, we can't always depend on phones and cells. The electricity may not be there to power the phones, cell towers may burn down as they did in our forest fires tat burned up large parts of our province.

My job in that was family reunification. If families were in different emergency shelters, the radio operator would radio me on the Island and I could phone an out of province relative and pass on messages of where different family members were safe and  well.

 We also passed messages to emergency response workers who had no other means of communication. people like forestry, medical aid, fire crews and community planners.

Each year we have something called a Field Day. This is where HAM from all over set up temporary sites and make contacts all over the world. In fact, I will let a friend tell you about it. he does a better job than I.

VE7ALB  at Field Day

ICOM T70A

Kenwood D700

I have a Kenwood D700 in my car hooked to a GPS, so friends can find out where I am at any given time.

I had a kenwood D7, that unfortunately got stolen, and for my birthday a few days ago, my friend John presented my with a brand new Icon T70A

73's  and 88's VA7PTY

Repeater site on My Brenton owned by CVARS

Snow Days is it an Emergency Day?

These are day where I do not want to trust other with my safety. By others, I mean drivers who are too thoughtless to get their vehicle or their skills in order to make commuting anything other than a shooting gallery.

When we got up this morning, we had about 11 inches. It was still fluffy and hadn't settled yet.


This caused a problem for Chelsea. She is only 10 inches.high. Her usual habit when we have snow or rain, is to pop under the rhodo bushes and do her dainty duties.

There was a fair amount of wind last night and drifts filled in her latrines. She sure was not impressed with the turn of events.
She finally gritted her teeth and lowered her bottom to take care of business.

After breakfast, Ewan went and did battle with the snow with the shovel.

It has been odd. We have had reports of any where from 2 inches in View Royal to out 10 inches.

We have this situation before. We live next to a mountain so get a lot more than downtown.
Several times, I have worn my Cerell boots to town and found everyone else in sandals.

My ambulance driving friend worked an extra hour on her 12 hour shift. The highways department were down to one working truck at one time. A downed tree trapped the grader on a road where he couldn't turn, hydro was out full force with over 12000 homes out of power.
Which brings me to my emergency supplies. And I recommend you look at this.

Start off as you may need the products, shoes and flashlights are the first things you may need. So beside the bed, by the door. If you have pets, add a leash.
Light and heat. Do you have candles, and safe holders for them? lanterns with fuel?

You should have already set your snow shovel by the door, and the bag of salt. And a saw and clippers,  if you need to clear dropped branches. However: LOOK OUT FOR FALLEN POWER LINES

Do you have plans for heat if the power goes off? This could be going to a neighbour with a wood stove, or piling on clothes and blankets. Remember the temperatures dropped to -7 at least.

 Remember you pets in the keep warm program also. Don't assume that because they are animals, they have survival instincts. We have bred and loved those instincts away.

For dogs and cat dry warm blankets will work as will cuddling them.

For fish, reptiles and house birds, you may be refilling hot water bottles, or plastic bags, securely fastened. These can be put in a fish tank or bottom of a bird cage.
 You can heat the water on your BBQ. DO NOT BRING THE BBQ INDOORS. the fumes are deadly.

Now how can you feed yourself and your family for the magic week, before help may arrive.
Do you have the required food, water, medications, first aid, and sundries? Do you have pet food?

Have a contact list with you and your family and pets pictures with an out of province contact number, all members of the family can phone to make family reunification easier.

 I think I may have a bit more than you are prepared to have.I have a catalytic heater, propane lights,stove,  a power saw
I have a wind up radio, a generator, a 5th wheel with propane, that will run heat and stove and the most important, the coffee pot. I have extra fuel, and a winch. I have a HAM radio for communication.

Plants can be rescued by putting them in a box or even the bath and add a plastic bag or fairly warm water and cover with a blanket.
I have writing material, reading material, and duct tape, large garbage bags and duct tape.

I also have heavy gloves, mittens and heavy plastic that could, with the use of duct tape could make boots for my dog.  Remember if you dog or cat walks through salt or chemicals, wash their paws. The chemicals are not good stuff for licking and cause cracks and dryness.

Two really handy items are large plastic bags and newspaper.
They can wrap waste, contain water, become rain gear,wind protection, emergency seating, fire starter, draft control. Even if you were a boy scout, matches are easier than rubbing sticks together.

In the comment area after this post, please tell me some of the ways you have used duck tape, newspaper, and plastic bags.
The guide lines for your safety include, but not limited to:

Adult Grab & Go Bag Have a Grab & Go Bag for each person in the house. Keep it by your bed or near a door. If you need to evacuate, grab your bag and go.
1. Flashlight, batteries, and light sticks
2. Portable radio and batteries
3. Keys (house and car)
4. Money (coins and bills)
5. Glasses, contacts lenses and solutions
6. Medications (at least one-week supply)
7. Comfortable shoes, two pairs of socks
8. Comfortable clothing (sweats, extra underwear)
9. Warm Jacket or sweatshirt
10. Whistle (call for help if trapped)
11. Pocket knife
12. Paper and pencil
13. Emergency phone list, out-of-state contact #
14. Lists of people to notify if you are injured
15. Copies of important documents: insurance, identification, social security, etc.
16. Small first aid kit
17. Toilet articles: comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, face towel, shampoo, lotion, razor, lip balm, emery board, nail clipper, sanitary products, tissue, sunscreen, etc.
18. Toilet paper
19. Zip-lock bags, plastic grocery bags
20. Good book, playing cards, crossword puzzles
21. Work gloves, several pairs of latex gloves
22. Blanket
23. Dust mask
24. Crow bar (may need to remove debris)
25. Drinking water – store in a separate place (minimum one gallon per person)
26. Food Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter)
In Addition to these Adult Bags there are the following bags:
Seniors or People With Disability

Seniors or Disabled Grab & Go Bag
These items are in addition to the Adult Grab & Go Bag. Have a Grab & Go Bag for each person in the house. Keep it by your bed or near a door. If you need to evacuate, grab your bag and go.
1. Food for special diet needs
2. Batteries for hearing aids, wheelchair, etc.
3. List of style and serial # of medical devices
4. Special supplies: oxygen, catheters, etc.
5. Prescriptions for eyeglasses (not older than one year)
6. Personal sanitary items (Depends, disposable bags, ties, wipes)


Infant or Toddler Bags

Infant and Toddler Grab & Go Bag
These items are in addition to the Adult Grab ‘n Go Bag.
1. Formula, disposable bottles, nipples
2. Diapers and wipes
3. Instant baby cereal
4. Bowl and spoon
5. Sunscreen
6. At least two changes of clothes
7. Light jacket
8. Thermometer
9. Medicine dropper
10. Pedialite, electrolyte replacement solution
11. Tylenol, Triaminic and other medications
12. Firm soled slippers or shoes
13. Toys, books, stuffed animals
14. Authorization to Consent to Treatment of Minor Form


Pet Bags

Pet Grab & Go Bag
Keep your Pet Grab ‘n Go Bag in an easily accessible location near your own emergency supplies.
1. Food, water – 7-day supply for each pet
2. Bowls - non-spillable
3. Collar and leash -for dogs and cats
4. Muzzle
5. Poop scooper, bags
6. Treats, toy
7. Blanket, towel, or newspaper for warmth
8. ID tag should always be on pet
9. Extra name tag
10. License number
11. Pet carrier or crate for each pet labeled with pet and owner’s information (keep near your bag).
12. Name, address and phone number of veterinarian, animal control agency and shelters.
13. People to contact to take care of the animal
14. Vaccination and medical records. Keep inoculations current. In an emergency, pets may come in contact with diseased animals.
15. Allergy or other special instructions
16.Pictures of your pet

Hostage

Honestly, you just survive one crisis and another starts.

I am being help hostage by 4 raccoon. They have decided their night time 

residence is a tree 4 feet from my door.

I cannot let my dog out in the yard I have 

fenced for her. I have to take her on a

walk to another area and let her do her 

thing, many times a night.

 Then these bandits pillage all the garbage cans  in the  park, no matter how secure we make them.

I phoned the wildlife experts and they say

they are not on the dangerous animals list 
( they should meet my 4 hissing growling bunch)

I have to hire a trapper. The cost is $75 for the trap and $125 for each trapped

animal. So now we are up to $575.
 and he keeps the pelts

Wildlife say I can trap and but not relocate , they have to be destroyed. Sure I will

 put my gardening gloves on an wring it's neck.

So I have given up the simple pleasures of  feeding my birds, and my son is being a

 pain in the butt, as a creature lover, he wants them around and see's no problem

 with me and the dog in the snow 6 or 7 times a night in the darn, frozen road.
 I am  scared of falling after last years problems of falling and three broken ribs.

Maybe I should put them on ebay.... folks will buy anything there.

If anyone has a live trap, please let me know.

I LOVE COUNTRY LIFE

Dear Grandfather

A letter to my Grandfather

James Handley Fearn 1891- 1980

Dear Granddad.

Did your heart break that day on the 1^st of April 1947?

 I remember the day so clearly as if It was yesterday.  I never saw you or spoke to you again, Granddad.
My mom never saw her family again. Never, spoke to them and shared only milestone in out lives by letter.

I loved you so much, Granddad. My only excuse is I was so very young and didn’t understand. Canada was just a name, not a destination.

I know you were trying to be brave and strong for us all. Brave for my parents, my grandmother, my uncle, my brother, and me. 

You had seen people head for the new worlds of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You knew that there was most often only a one way ticket. There were even more that  made the journey after  the Second  Great War.

England had so little to offer it seemed.  The new worlds were very tempting to ones who had lost everything in the air raids,. The war had  taken so much and taken so many.

I remember my mother’s brother holding my mother so tight and his shoulders shaking. I thought he was laughing. With the wisdom of the years, I know he was sobbing on her shoulder and hiding his tears from us. I held his ankles. As he had often held mine as he help me tight and dangled me over a brook to pick a wild flower, or a pretty rock.

My grand dad spoke in the old tongues of the Friends and said to my dad “It is nay too late lad, thou canst change thy mind thou’st knows .”

I remember wondering why they were not as excited as I was.  I saw the busy airport and the large planes taking people to new countries and new adventures.

I was more interested in the Nabisco Shredded Wheat box that was packed with games and books to entertain us on our long flight.
It didn’t seem long from Manchester England to Toronto Canada.when you say it quickly.

My brother was enchanted with the pocket knife my granddad had given him. A mark he was a man now and would carve a place for himself in Canada.

This was no nine hour trip in modern jets. It took us a total of four days in a turbo prop, to get to Toronto.

By the time we landed in Labrador, there was a gale that grounded us for three more days. Then the long trek to British Columbia.

Now I stand in my Grandfather’s shoes.

I am watching my son; his wife and children leave me.

 They too are going impossible distances, to a land I will never see and it is likely I will never see them again.

They are immigrating to Australia.

This is the son I offered my own life to deliver when we found I was not only pregnant, but I had cancer.

We manage to both make it through. We both gave a lot for his survival. The cost was very dear, but I never regretted it.

He was a son to be proud of.

I will always be proud of him.

 I tried to raise him with wings in his heart so he can fly as far as his dreams can take him.

And I tried to raise him with his feet on the ground so he would grow from childhood to a good and decent man.

Now, as he unfoils those wings to fly to foreign lands, I wish him a safe journey,a  happy landing, and the strength and peace to  create a good and fulfilling  life for those whose lives he shares the responsibility for.

As he spread those wings, in the age old migration of man, I, like my Grandfather before me, will hear a sound deep within my soul as my heart breaks.

I am sorry Grandfather. I didn’t understand. Forgive me.

The Waiting Season

This time of the year is a time of quiet reflection, thoughts of the past and hopes for the future.
But until that future gets here, we are in the waiting season.

I have friends in the sun zone waiting to come home, people in the cold North, waiting for a warm holiday.
Some of my friends are waiting for Dr's results.

My son is waiting for snow so he can go skiing. Another son is waiting for a visa, so he can travel.
Someone else is waiting for a jog, others waiting to retire.

My dog is waiting for a walk, and my neighbour with a bad knee is waiting for a bed in the hospital.

I guess the trick is using this time constructively.

Make a list of all your UFO ( un-finished objects) time line them to finish them. Don't make it a marathon, just pick at them while you wait.

Write those letters to people you didn't get around to at Christmas, print the pictures that you would like to show off, don't just wait...do..

Time passes when you are busy.

While you are at it, look for a few new hobbies you might like to embrace.  Check out online catalogues, read blogs from others who are doing what you are thinking about.

And if all else fails read. Books can open up doors. Adventure, travel, science fiction, history. I think one of the greatest gifts I have is the ability to read. For this gift, I thank all he teachers who gave me this gateway of adventure and escape.

There are so many books, so many adventures.
If you got a reader for Christmas there are thousands of free books on the internet.

Many new authors will allow their first book for free, hoping you will purchase the sequels or books by the same author.

The classics are one line from the Gutenberg press project.

Waiting is a stall, a time of nothing. Being suspended in time. Turn the waiting game into Production, Enjoyment, rest and renewal.

Me? I am waiting for Spring to go in the garden.

The end of 2011

It seems like yesterday everyone stressing about the Y2 panic. Sure that all computerized activity would cease.
2011 has been a year of highs and lows.

It was a very dismal and sober Christmas last year.
My two old dogs died within 2 weeks of each other. Gypsy, my little pal died at 16 years, and Rover at 14. He just gave up the will to live. The Vet said there was nothing the matter with him except he was depressed.
After that, the whole house was depressed and so quiet. We had to borrow Johns Elk hound to make us feel normal.
January was exceptionally cold. I really think I should be a hot
house flower.
Things did take a turn for the better when Chris sent my
birthday present. 
A little Chi-Chan girl.
It wasn't long until she had us all
trained and the house arranger
the way she liked it. She is quick and smart and very funny.
The best times come when she visits from her family. They are very alike and incredibly different.
Her best friend is John’s Elk Hound.
You would not think two dogs of such different size could have so much fun.
Then in February, Ewan crashed his truck going to Mt Washington Skiing. He was unhurt, but it was a bit of a toss whether they would write the truck off or
fix it as the damage was over $8000. They ended up fixing it but the lender he had was not a Mountain car so he could not finish the ski season. He hopes for better this time around.


Mar 3 was a day I remember well, I was going to Salt
Spring Island with some ladies from the guild when I

slipped down my front step at 6 AM. I couldn't seem to wake any one, so crawled on my hands and knees to my car and drove to Monike’s . After due course I was in the hospital for a few days with 3 broken ribs and a lung hemorrhage. Things sure don’t heal like they did when I was 20. Especially with hospital food  
I got out of hospital in time to help with the Make up with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, doing the Mikado. I was on big time pain killers and the cast was super doing what they could of their own make-up.
March and April are my busy time for tax preparations but this year, I had to cut back because of my injuries. I am raring to go and save taxpayers more money this year.
May was really terrific. Duncan 
and his wife Corine and their two
children Gabby and Caitlin came down from Fort St John for a week. Gabbie was competing in an Irish dance competition and I was

there when she took her gold.
We crammed a lot into a week. It
was the first time the
children had seen the pacific coast. Gabby had seen
Atlantic Canada.
For Earth Day, Ewan built me a garden bed. Raised and
with a small fence so the dogs don’t destroy it. I have planted Raspberries and it yielded a few things this year and hopefully, as we build up the soil it will yield
more.
The squirrels and the birds started coming in the spring and we added gold fish to our outdoor pond.
June and I was busy getting back into spinning. We had a demonstration, on flax making.

Spring was late and with Spring came rain. We had the wettest summer in history.

In June, my friend June came from Edmonton. Her granddaughter was making wedding plans, and her father in law had moved to a new care home so we had a good visit. She is a snow birds and goes south in the winter. A lot of my friends do now. It makes it a bit lonely in the winter.

Saanich Historical Artifacts had its usual Fathers day weekend and some of our Spinners and Weavers Guild put on displays of some of the old time skills. Skills that are being revived.

In July, they had a promotion at a local casino and I was one of the one selected to have my picture taken with Gene Simmons and family of “KISS” fame. The kids were quite amused that mom was a rocker.

We had a two week visit from Chris. It seemed so long since we had seen him. It was a really good visit. Sad to see him go and little did we know it would be soon we would see him again.

In August, our old friend and mentor to all the boys, Dr. Benny Lowe passed away. He had been like a surrogate dad to Chris. It was very sad indeed. Chris flew down for the funeral and we said goodbye to our old friend.

September is the three day Threshing weekend At Saanich Historical Artifacts.

All systems are go. Lots of demonstrations, hands on events and of course threshing with steam power. |This included our Sawyer Massey that is 104 years young. It was well attended, not quite breaking old records, but trying.

October was a wonderful month. Middle son Duncan and family have sold up the trucking business and moved to Smithers. A lovely small community in the Buckley Valley, where his Great grandmother came as a war brined after the First World War.

They had decided that it may be a long time till so many of the family are together again in one place. So they flew Ewan, Chelsea, our little dog, and myself up for thanks giving.

Chris was already up there and Chelsea was able to see her mom, brother and sister.

We stayed in Duncan trailer first at Cameron and De-anna’s and family then at Duncan’s and family. What a great time we had. And such an easy flight except that Chelsea is getting to big for the flight cage.

November gave a bit of a scare. I had a minor transient ischemic attack.

Most of the symptoms left within 3 days, but there is a bit of paralysis on the right side of my face.  Nothing that really bothers me. Just one more pill in the handful I take a day.

Now we are into Christmas. Soon I will be taking pictures for 6 nights at Christmas in the Village and hope to get all my presents finished. Mostly hand made this year.

From my house to yours, I wish you a wonderful  the New Year.

The night before Christmas.

Well the time has evaporated as usual. The clock seems to work double time around this time of the year.

Not all my plans came to fruition.

John will get a couple of stocking stuffers and an IOU for the rest of his sweater.

Chelsea's new coat  may be finished for tomorrow to go under the tree.

Ewan's presents are wrapped and all John's grand kids have a parcel.

The girls got a blank page book with a hand felted cover. This is intended as a recipe book. I included a recipe box and printed out all our favorite family recipes.

Sadly Chris will not get a present under the free. I sent him 2 parcels  with Canada Post. I checked the tracking number and find one has been routed by error of Canada Post to White Horse. And it has been there for 4 days.

The second one has been sitting in Dawson Creek for 3 days due to a routing error. All were sent to Fort St. John.

I sent the by expedited post for $33 for a small box, and they get left in some wrong town and apparently  no one deals with them. Canada Post, I am not impressed.

I am finishing up some gifts for friends; a loaf of raisin bread, a jar of homemade peanut brittle and a set of dryer balls.

I got my wish for a fresh Christmas tree. My son got me an 8 inch high tree. So I got some coloured pompoms at the dollar store.hot glued some threads on them, and hung the miniatures balls on my miniature tree.

All the rest of the gifts are, much to my surprise, done.

I will look forward to hearing from my family members tomorrow.

Ewan will phone his Gram in New Zealand tonight ,and wish the family there Merry Christmas.

I have a gift list of over 20 people and I have spent less than $150.
 Having crafts and skills certainly pays off.

I like the home cooked food for seniors, it is not something they have to store.

My Daughter-in-law, sent packages and the usual very handy calender with family birthdays on the appropriate dates. I score double on this gift, because she put family pictures on the months pages.

It is nice to have a choice of what I want to do. I do not like deadlines. Each year I tell myself I will start sooner.

I wished you could smell my house right now. It is really yummy.

If I can keep out of the goodies, I may fit my clothes in 2012.

It is supper time now, then a quick clean up, a glass of something cheery, the fire going, my son in his chair and Chelsea snuggled up close to me on the couch.

So I guess there is only one thing to say;

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

The Final Night at Christmas in the Village

What a hectic 6 days. Two weekends, Friday, Saturday, Sunday! We did Santa pictures at Heritage Acres. Our mission was promoting family pictures. So many times a family has lots of pictures, but one member is behind the lenses.

We had some of the cutest kids. And most had a very definite idea of what the Man in Red should bring to their house.
 It was encouraging to hear that some were asking for things for grandma, or an uncle. One asked for her daddy to be home for Christmas, from Afghanistan.

Anyone who didn't get back in time to pick up their photo's can pick them up from the office on Monday.

The line ups to get in were right down the road, and at $10 a carload, it is a good family treat.
The miniature trains were a hit as usual, with over a mile of decorated track.

Even the weather has been cooperative. Tonight is the last night www.shas.ca

Thinking of family pictures makes me think that we should slow down and look around at those of us that have families. Give thanks for those people that we are related to, and while we are at it, make sure we spend some quality time with them, too.

Don't get so busy, that you don't have time to start or continue  family traditions. A popcorn night and watch the Christmas Carol together, or one of the new Christmas Specials.

Bring the tree home from a local tree lot where you can chose it as a family and not part of the groceries. Then  the tradition is started and includes the young ones, as well as supports local businesses.

I see more and more people caught up in a desperate frenzy of committing time, money and energy to what was supposed to be a time of renewing love, family, and friendships. They seem to have forgotten the simplicity and joy of that first Christmas.

Toy land windows courtesy of Santa's Toyland window display (detail), 1953

T. Eaton Co. fonds

Reference Code: F 229-308-0-719

Archives of Ontario

Cut down on the dizzy whirlwind. It isn't a competition. The most important thing to share is your time, and with those people who are important in your life.

 Make time to share preparation with your children or your mother and grandparent.
Have them pick pictures with you to make a collage of pictures to share with absent family members.
Share family recipes and make sure you start a recipe book for your children.Someday they may share those recipes and the stories with their grand children.

Lighten up on the gift wrap that will clog the land fill. Use  newspaper with coloured ribbon, or white paper and have the kids decorate the wrapping paper.
One year |I bought some cheap material and made reusable Santa Sacks with draw strings, or if you have a snooper, sew the end closed. My kids are still using theirs. It sure saves time on wrapping too.

 I do news letter instead of cards for people I won't be seeing complete with pictures, And those I will see will get a cheery Merry Christmas.

My daughter-in-law makes me a home made calender every year with the family birthday, anniversary and other important dates on the appropriate pages. I get a reminder and family pictures as well.

In this digital age, we take lots of pictures, but they live in our computer. I found a neat key ring this year. It contains a display for up to 100 pictures. The price? under $10.

You don't have to spend big bucks for meaningful gifts. Homemade baking, last minute slippers, a page of return address labels for a  senior to use, are not big stressful purchases, but will make life easier for a senior.. add a roll of stamps too.

Remember that some catalog sales outlets will deliver your catalog selections to an outlet in a town where your distant  family lives. This saves you postage and time,  and they were doing this before Online marketing was thought of.

I am getting a rag rug making course, that  I wanted to take, from my son. So not all gifts are under the tree.

And the best gift of all, a few minutes of your time, when you don't try and sneak a peak at your watch.

Here I will add my little soap box.
 If you know someone on low income, and I am thinking senior here, could you find them a small tree or green homemade wreath.
Some times, they don;t have the funds to buy things for their loved ones, can you include them and help them get a gift for their love ones?
 I do this with one friend by having her untangle wool and I make an extra pair of slippers for her effort, that I suspect goes to her daughter.
We share time together, and she entertains my family with stories about Christmas pasts during the war.

Christmas is a time for warmth, and loved ones, and a sleepy baby on your knee. Listen to tales told from year to year. The smell of mince tarts and cinnamon scenting the air. Familiar tunes and Carols in the background.
These are the Christmas's I remember. Not hitting big box stores and being towed around while other people walked on my toes.

Make sure you have time to tell your family about their grandparents and great grand parents, and your own memories of this time of year. Not all the data they need to feel complete is on a data base.

I remember driving around and seeing the pretty houses. I can recall coming to Victoria and seeing Eatons and The Bay windows with their animated displays. At midnight, the curtains were closed on the windows.  

Santa's Toyland window display (detail), 1953
T. Eaton Co. fonds
Reference Code: F 229-308-0-703
Archives of Ontario

I can almost taste a malted milk at the Bay or going to the cafeteria and getting a Rum Babba. surrounded by cream.
Then we would go to the fish and chip shop on Cloverdale and eat hot fish and chips on the way home

Can you recall when we watched the TV specials and the cast would have their families on the programs and we would watch .
Do you take for granted that your children know the things you learned as you grew up? Do they know different customs in other countries? Like Black Peter and Father Christmas, kris Kringle, can they name the reindeer? Do they hang a stocking, or put out their shoes?
Do they know the origin of the Christmas tree?

In our house, Santa filled the stocking, but mom and dad bought the special big gifts.
 Thank you letters were a family task that was made fun not obligation by my mother inventing double meaning phrases and have us laughing like crazy as we worded our letter.

If there is a choice between a family dinner hosted by a loved one and a pot luck supper with strangers, choose the family. Who knows, it may be your last Christmas together. Changes happen, people move and sadly some chairs are empty when the big day comes.

I have heard of three of my friends who are fighting a battle with Cancer and may not be able to share another Christmas.

Try and keep in mind why you celebrate  and Who is the Reason for the Season.

And most of all, look after you... it is a season of joy, peace, warmth and good cheer.

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Sensible Christmas.

Well, I am referring to my Ms. Minimalist post about Christmas.

I am having a guest or two for Christmas dinner. one who will bring me the jolly bird.  I will do vegetable, stuffing, gravy, smashed neeps and mashed potatoes for the main meal. As will as buns and butter, fresh cranberry and orange sauce, and beverage.
For desert I always ask do you want a pud or a trifle? Every year it is the trifle, hands down.
I do mine in  the Derbyshire manner.
First the sponge cake. A hot milk sponge works well here. Line the bottom and sides with thinly sliced cake.
Next dribble the juice of canned fruit salad. Then spoon the fruit up the sides and let it slide to the bottom.

Birds is the only custard powder that my mom would consider using. This is cooked quit thick, and then poured gently over the cake, spooning it up the sides.
In the fridge it goes over night. It has a lemon jello and a raspberry jello setting to keep it company.
Next day, each jello is mashed up to broken glass texture and put over the set custard, one colour, followed by the other... Now we whip cream Only a pinch of sugar goes in the cream  to give contrast to the  sweetness already in the bowl. THAT IS A DERBY TRIFLE.
Any whipped cream left can be handled in two ways. Whipped cream freezes amazingly well and used up to 2 months later. Being as my birthday is January, it is timely to save it for a classy dessert for me.
The other purpose is to whip it to butter and using it for the base of your short bread.

I have almost finished my Christmas knitting, spinning, felting and baking. Peanut brittle is an easy and welcome gift as is homemade poppycock.

I make almond brittle because my husband had a peanut allergy.
My recipe is simple and almost fool proof.

Nut Brittle

My friend Kathy, used to make Almond Brittle for Jim, because he had a serious peanut 

allergy. When she heard he had never enjoyed brittle, she wrote this recipe.It is excellent

 1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbs.. corn syrup

1/2 cup nuts

Boil liquids and sugar until brown add nuts before this stage. Pour on greased foil .

I had hope to have a real Christmas tree this year. One in a pot I could bring in each year, but the price puts it in the no critical category list, so I think I will look for some windfall branches and bring these in for the smell of Christmas. The needles will be knitting needles, not pine needles.
So on to those needles to try and finish the sweater I am working on.