We managed to get out on Sunday. Husband hasn't been feeling well, so he sat in the car while I got out and had a walk on the beach. Although it wasn't as cold as it has been, it was still rather chilly, so it was good he stayed in the car.
We're still deciding what we'll do for Christmas. I think husband is cooking something and his dad is coming over to eat. We invited his half-sister, who usually spends Christmas at mother-in-law's house, but as husband is battling something and son seems to be catching it too she sounds as though she's decided to stay home.
It feels really strange not having mother-in-law around. Usually, we are chatting with one another, making plans, deciding who is making what, the time we'll get together and such. It just seems lonelier without her here. I feel a little lost. I don't have Mum any longer and I don't have her in my life.
I know I'm cutting it close, but some sort of Christmas preparation is coming along. Although I haven't done as much as I usually do, I have managed to get a few bits for people. I keep reminding myself that it is just one day. AND I keep reminding myself that we will be going to see Baby A New Year's Day!! Daughter sent us a really funny video of her. They were all on the sofa and they were telling her that she was going to see her nana soon and she says Yes and S says Grandpa too and she says yes, I see my grandpa. Then she climbs over S (as daughter R has the phone) and says I see my Nana and wanted to talk to us on the phone! It's moments like this that make me smile.
Tomorrow, I have the last of any shopping to do. I've made a list and that's going to be it! Then it's come back home and wrap.
How are things in your part of the world?
Apologies to the blogs I posted on and left Anonymous comments! Apparently, I was logged out of my account when I made them. Sigh.
We did finally put up the tree today. We have just decorated it with ornaments that mother-in-law made. I'll be sharing a few photos over the next couple posts. She was such a talented woman. She once said that the only thing (like it was insignificant) that she was good at was cooking. She WAS a wonderful cook, but we reminded her that it wasn't only that which she was good at. She was such a talented crafter - she could sew, knit, crochet, cross stitch, bead, the list was endless! We're missing her, but putting up the tree with her creations is a way of honouring her.
I did go for a walk this morning. It was pretty cold out and I didn't go for long, but a little walk is better than no walk! Husband and I then went out for a bit to do some shopping. Nobody feels much like baking for Christmas, so we splurged at the Amish shop and bought some pies, cookies and lots of cheese to have with crackers. A couple of doughnuts landed in the basket too!
When I got home, I did a little random cleaning up, bits and pieces that should have been in other places. It felt good to clean up. A long way to go and lots of sorting in the new year, but I'm pleased with what I did today.
How was your Saturday?
We did go out on Sunday, but it snowed. Sigh. I really, really wanted to go further up the lakeshore, but there had been a bit of snow and the weather that way wasn't looking good, so we decided to cut it shorter. I really think we should have headed south as there was sunshine! We saw a little of it as we travelled along but then we went into the snow which wasn't good. The roads were pretty horrible. Sigh. Maybe next weekend I'll get to go where I wanted to lol.
Sunshine and Snow
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Pancake ice beginning to form on the lake. It's quite early for this.
Bench buried by snow
We got out for a bit and did take a little walk when we got back into town. It's nice to go out together for a bit even if we don't see much or go far.
It's been a cold week so far but temps are supposed to at least get above freezing for the next couple days!
How has the weather been in your part of the world?
It was quite cold this morning and the wind was blowing so it wasn't a fun walk this morning. I actually wish I'd stayed in bed! Even though the temp said differently, I honestly thought it was the coldest day this week! It didn't help that it was snowing a bit too. I spent the rest of the day trying to warm up! Not good. Nothing I did seemed to help. I think it's what's known as cold to the bone! It certainly felt like it.
I was supposed to go to a couple of places after the walk, but the snow on the roads made me feel a bit uncomfortable so I asked husband to drive me. He was happy to do so. He and son had been out for a bit but when they saw the roads they knew I probably wouldn't drive on them, so they headed back. I'm so thankful that none of my children have a fear (like I do) of driving in winter. I suppose it's because they've grown up with it.
I was glad when I got back home, but like I said, I did spend the rest of the day trying to warm up. I took a bath (which usually works), drank some cup a soup, bundled up with a blanket and finally got out my oversized snuggie. I'm not overly hot now, but I'm finally comfortable. Needless to say, I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped to today. Some days, I suppose, are just like that!
I used a bird mug for my cup. It's pretty and though not classically Christmas-y, the colours remind me of the season.
Husband and son went out for a while and picked me up some lunch where they went. It was a vegan wrap with spicy cauliflower and chickpeas. It definitely was a little spicy (at least for me) and not something I'd usually pick, but it was pretty tasty.
Tomorrow we might, or might not, go on a Sunday Adventure. There might, or might not, be snow tonight. We're under a Winter Advisory but who knows what will actually happen!
Hope you're having a good weekend!
This week has gone quite quickly. I have been getting out for walks, but they haven't been that enjoyable lately. The trails have thick packed snow and ice. It's not easy to walk on them. I think it should count as double distance lol. There haven't been that many people around walking, only the regulars who walk in any weather. Hey, I think I might be one of those!
I haven't got any extra done around the house this week. I've been slacking on the lists, and it shows! I am determined to get back on the list wagon next week so I can be more productive. I feel as though I have to work errands around the weather right now, so I'll allow a little bit of leeway.
This weekend looks to be quite cold. Our highs are going to be 22F/-5C and 21F /-6C and the lows 6F/-14C and 5F /-15C. That doesn't include wind chills that make things feel even colder. It could be worse though. Daughter in Minnesota is having a lot colder temps. Hopefully we'll get a break next week mid-week when temps should be above freezing! Sadly, on the trails that means more of a mess. Being British that does mean I have to at least mention the weather a bit lol.
I think I'm a bit behind - that's being generous, as in reality I've not got a lot done - in the Christmas shopping area. We haven't decided what we're doing. In all honesty, I don't feel like doing a lot of anything. I know we should celebrate a little family get-together, but we're missing a huge part of the celebration and it's still so new. An ideal situation would be everybody jetting away to spend time with Baby A who brings us all such joy but it's not a reality. Hopefully, we'll get to see her on video calls to cheer us all up!
How are your Christmas preparations coming?
Things that made me smile today:
* Messaging with sister. It always brings me joy and lots of memories from home
* A burst of sunrise this morning. It only lasted, at most, three minutes, but it was beautiful. Sadly, it was the only bit of sun I saw all day!
*Being able to drive myself without much trouble as the main roads at least are clear of snow!
The week is plodding along and so am I. I was going to post yesterday (my goal is to post every other day) but come about seven o'clock I was already dozing while sitting in my chair. At 9pm I decided to just go to bed. I've been waking up at silly o'clock, thinking about things and then I can't get back to sleep again. Sigh. I suppose it's because I have a lot on my mind. At times like that, I just try to go with the flow.
Monday was a busy day. I had a dentist appointment (yuck) and then an Asylum Lake meeting. The dentist appointment went just as I thought it would and there are more appointments to follow, but not until well into the new year. I told them I just couldn't do it right now. The Asylum Lake meeting went on for over two hours! It was productive, but long. Husband drove me to it as the side streets are still dodgy and, thankfully, one of the other board members offered me a lift home (she lives pretty close) so husband didn't have to stay awake to come and get me!
It's been quite cold, so cold that Asylum Lake is beginning to freeze over. I have been out and I'm glad I did! Despite being several degrees below zero I'm glad I went as the beavers were out trying to keep a channel of water unfrozen. I find it fascinating to watch them as they try to break the ice. They use their paws and their body weight to break it.
They certainly make me smile!
Today was a mess outside. The temps got a little bit above freezing - yeah a heatwave! - so the precipitation was rain (at least to start with). The ice on the trails melted a bit (quite thick) so it was a squishy, sticky, slushing mess, not to mention the rain. Sigh. Temps will drop back down tomorrow so everything will freeze again. Our next above freezing temps aren't going to be until next Wednesday.
I think winter has arrived.
I video chatted with Baby A yesterday for over an hour. She was very chatty and showing me her dolls and reading me her books. Cheered me up no end. I miss her.
Something else that made me smile, was the sunrise on Monday morning. It was cold and beautiful and there was barely another crazy soul in sight.
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Overnight snow changed our Sunday Adventure plans for today. When we went to bed last night the forecast was for less than an inch of snow. When we woke on Sunday morning, we had three inches of snow, and it was still snowing quite heavily! The roads were looking pretty bleak, so we decided to not go as far as planned. Husband is a really confident, good driver in the snow, so we did decide to go to the nearest lakeshore point. We were thinking of even just sitting in the car in the car park and looking out at the lighthouse. I wouldn't have driven on the roads at all, but I'm just a scaredy cat. Husband was quite comfortable so although the roads were pretty horrible the journey wasn't too bad.
It obviously took us longer than normal, but by the time we had got to the lakeshore the snow had stopped, and the sun was even shining! I did tell husband that was the plan lol. I had looked at the forecast for Sunday, and the snow was supposed to stop, and the sun would shine for a bit. Luckily, this time they were right.
There are a few little shops by the lakeshore that I wouldn't have minded stopping in and looking around, but they weren't open for a while, and the pavements hadn't been plowed yet. Husband didn't want to get back too late as he would have to rake the snow off the roof and clear the driveway of snow before relaxing. Perhaps another time! As we passed by, I could see some Christmasy displays in the windows.
As it was, we did get out at the lighthouse, but we didn't walk far. There were a couple of fishermen on the pier, but we didn't walk along it. Two fishermen who were sitting at the start of the pier called out to warn us that there was sheer ice under the snow. They were right! We could feel it beneath our feet. I didn't fancy falling over! I took a few photos and then we popped over to the other side of the channel where I couldn't walk at all as the snow was too deep!
A couple of phone photos
Some ice was beginning to form in the channel!
We ended up with about 11 inches of snow in all so it was a good thing son-in-law managed to get here before the snow. Baby A was so excited to see him!
On Monday we said goodbye to mother-in-law. It was quite emotional. It still doesn't seem real that she is gone. Daughter, Baby A and son-in-law left on Tuesday and that made things seem a little lonelier. I hadn't realised quite how much having them here was making me not think of the reality of losing mother-in-law quite so much. The world seems a little less bright without her in it. So hard especially at this time of year when she was such a big part of the celebrations.
Father-in-law is still struggling getting to know about bills and routines and such. Theirs was such a traditional marriage. Husband is trying to help as much as he can and is trying to make sure to get father-in-law out doing some things. Father-in-law is realising how important it is to have things in place and has already taken steps to make sure things are in place if something should happen to him.
I have been getting out for walks, but it's still so cold and snowy. Yesterday morning was 6F/-14C and the windchill was even colder! I was glad I went out though as the beavers were out being busy, an eagle stopped by (don't see many of them in my area) and there were some trumpeter swans (another rare visitor) sleeping over at the lake. It was so quiet and peaceful too. Of course, by the time I was done I was frozen, but it was worth it!
I'm going to get back into regular blogging again and hopefully post some photos of things that make me smile, because well, the alternative to smiling is crying and well...
This view makes me smile. This was the really cold morning. So peaceful.
The little tree in the garden covered in snow
Hope everyone has a good weekend and are staying warm!