Christmas Prep

 Its been cold, windy, snowy, damp and grey for much of December and I have been tending towards hibernation. I have to make myself leave the house and use the excuse of "bad roads" way too often. I am hibernating/nesting/preparing for Christmas.

The Seniors Centre has cancelled classes a couple of times due to the weather so I made myself an exercise program to do when that happens and when it is closed for 2 weeks over Christmas. I tell google to set 10 min alarms for each set and get about a one hour workout.

 

I have also continued to paint every Friday since the watercolour class is now over. Christmas cards

and painting from photos. This one taken at White Lake when visiting Mark and Emma.

I have been making Christmas cookies - lemon cranberry shortbread and maple shortbread.

Adapting the basic recipe.

Chocolate/Oatmeal Nest cookies. George's mum made these every Easter

but I thought the green and red jelly beans made then suitable for Christmas.

Packaged up for friends and neighbours with some extra to have here over Christmas. (Problem is I have a hard time resisting them in the mean time!)

The Saturday walk at Silver Lake is getting a bit more challenging.

No-one is sitting on the benches any more

Any wind and it brings the damp, cold across the lake. Mallards are all huddled on the ice.

Just a couple of female Buffleheads 

and one lonely duck that I wasn't able to identify (maybe female, maybe winter plumage making it difficult). I have been informed it is a Gadwall.

Minimal Christmas decorations; the ceramic tree surrounded by the wreath we made last year at Pam's.

Rick helped me put up the Christmas tree and then I spent a few days decorating it gradually with ornaments the kids had made,

ones that used to adorn George's parents tree (these probably classify as antique),

ones made by George's mum,

some are gifts from friends,

a few remaining from packages we bought

some commemorate holidays,

and the ones that Sears issued every year.

I still have half a rubber made tub with Christmas tree decorations but it is looking busy enough and every one I put on now, I will have to take off in January!

I have a turkey in the freezer and will buy what I need for stuffing and vegetables early this week. Daniele and Nicola are bringing their contributions. Most of the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. I'm feeling like the Christmas prep is going pretty well.