Happy Birthday, Alida!

 Happy 33rd Birthday, Alida! 

Alida at about six months

Alida and Jeff yesterday

It was Alida's birthday last Tuesday, November 18th  She invited the whole family over for birthday cake - which Jeff baked and iced from scratch! No instant cake mix for him. Way to go, Jeff! 

Charlie having fun with Uncle Jeff

 Opa and Hannah sharing a piece of birthday cake

Opa and Oscar checking out one of the new rummage sale books

Hannah walking around hanging on to the furniture.

Won't be long before she takes off all by herself! 

Charlie on his cell phone

Look What I Found!

Look what I found in the garden today!!!

Christmas Preparations

We have lots of fun things going on these days!  On Thursday we went to Stratford for the day to visit with my dad and to help my brother, Jeff, put up his Christmas decorations. We already knew from previous experience that we needed some new supplies like light bulbs, an extension cord and a power bar to make the job easier. So off to Canadian Tire, where we were greeted at the entrance by this huge colourful display of Christmas baubles...

                                   

and this amusing sign...

After a safe trip through snow-covered country, we enjoyed coffee and lunch with my dad and then we went to help Jeff put up his wreath, garland, Christmas tree, and this Montreal Canadiens Christmas village.  Jeff has collected eight buildings over the years. This year the whole set-up went so smoothly! We got everything lit up for the first time in recent memory, thanks to our shopping trip for new supplies.  

Part of Jeff's Montreal Canadiens Christmas Village

Imagine the main lights off, and a tree, garlands, two wreaths and this little village all lit up!

Jeff loves Christmas decorations!  His room looked transformed.

So cozy!

This morning we went to the Christmas Bazaar at the Christian School.  We came home with quite a haul! Gerard bought baking and cheese and his own snacks and lunch.  I had a great time in the rummage room and found lots of great books and toys for the grandkids. Then over to the Dutch table for salted licorice, pepernootjes, windmill cookies,Dutch raisin buns and a poinsettia plant, and finally socializing in the gym over lunch.  It was fun morning!

 What a great haul!  We really supported our school today!

We've never bought so much stuff before, but now we have grandchildren to spoil!

Then this afternoon we celebrated Alida's 33rd birthday with the whole family. More about that some other time.  We feel so blessed!

Look What I Found!

Look what I found behind a window blind down in the basement! Two new shoots on a dormant amaryllis bulb!  So it got promoted to the bay window in the living room where we can enjoy watching its progress.

amaryllis bulb sprouting

And here is a new sign to add to my collection of unique traffic signs: 1. geese crossing, 2. turtles crossing, and now chickens crossing.  I'm wondering whether this one is an official sign or whether it was home made.  We discovered it on a drive at our women's retreat in October, but I forgot to post it.

chickens crossing sign

Today's Visit with Charlie and Oscar

Oscar and Charlie are growing up so fast!  The first thing we heard this morning when we came through their front door for our weekly visit was, "Big news! Charlie is walking! He took his first five independent steps yesterday!" Today  I saw him take three steps by himself and after that he'd had enough of the show, so he walked holding onto the walker or the furniture. He's also starting to say "Ozzie", "Poppa" (grandpa Ken), and "Mamma".

Charlie up on his feet by himself

Charlie checking to see what Oma brought for him to play with today.

Oscar already found one of his favourite books in the bag:
"Old McDonald Had a Farm"

At every weekly visit we notice that Oscar's language skills are developing by leaps and bounds.

He can carry on conversations using long complete sentences and a broad vocabulary. We are amazed again and again!

Charlie and Henry watching and listening to Opa and Oscar.

This is the first thing Opa and Oscar do together at every visit.

Heading to the playground.

Three seasons: beach bucket and shovel for leaves and snow.

Last season Oscar will fit in the baby swings wearing his snow suit.

Charlie fits a little better.  He likes to swing and sing.

So that's a little update on these two lovable little guys.

Thank you, Lord, for these amazing blessings!

It's Starting to Look Like Winter!

Not counting a few scattered flurries over the last two weeks,
this morning we woke up to our first real snow fall of the season.

 view out of the living room window

view out of the kitchen window

It's starting to look like winter!

Have you Ever Seen?

Found this on one of the doors in the fitting room while shopping at Reitman's yesterday,

Yup, that would be me!

Healer of Our Every Ill

Remembrance Day a few days ago made me feel really sad. Attending our civic memorial service started me off; the power of evil in this world is frightening! As the result of conflict between nations, so many people lost their lives in many different countries. Because it was the 100th anniversary of the start of "The Great War" - The radio, the TV, and newspapers have been filled with stories about heroic efforts in the First World War which was intended to be the war to end all wars. We watched the documentary, "Canadian Soldier" narrated by Peter Mansbridge on CBC. I saw things I had never seen or heard of before.

And then to give us "a break" from the war stories, we get to hear about allegations and investigations into politicians and other prominent public figures, daily murders in our city, pollution of the environment, ebola outbreaks and other horrific happenings around the world... It feels overwhelming at times.

I find it hard to find God in this mess that the world is in. On the one hand I believe that God is the Almighty Creator, the Healer, the Redeemer, the Lord and Saviour of this world and all that is in it. And on the other hand...I wonder where is God in all of this mess?  Is He crying over the mess that we have made of His beautiful creation?  When is God going to step in and put an end to all the violence and suffering?  I just don't get it sometimes.How should we live in this world?  This prayer hymn that we sang last Sunday comes to mind.

Healer of Our Every Ill

Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow,

give us peace beyond our fear and hope beyond our sorrow.

You know our fear and sadness,

grace us with your peace and gladness,
spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.  

Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow,

give us peace beyond our fear and hope beyond our sorrow.

In the pain and joy, beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,

give us all your vision, God of love.

Give us strength to love each other,
every sister, every brother.

Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.

You who know each thought and feeling,

teach us all your way of healing.

Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.

Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow.

give us peace beyond our fear and hope beyond our sorrow.

Words: Marty Haugen (c) 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.

Remembering and Giving Thanks

This morning we walked to North York's Remembrance Day Service held at Toronto Centre for the Arts. It left me with such mixed emotions; sadness that so many young promising lives were lost and thankfulness that we enjoy a life of freedom and peace in this beautiful safe country.

Along with God Save the Queen, O Canada, and Faith of Our Fathers, we sang:

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come;

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is thine arm alone,

And our defence is sure.

It felt kind of wonderful and odd at the same time to sing this Christian hymn while the prayers were so neutral and politically correct - addressed to a deity that could be anybody's god. I love the pomp and circumstance of these kinds of occasions and of being part of a big community event like this. It is good to stop and remember and give thanks together.  

Exploring Hannah's Neighbourhood

While I'm still trying to limit my time at the computer I'll show you some pictures instead of doing a lot of writing. Last week we took Hannah for a walk while Rosemary was writing report cards and Mark was out of town. It gave us a chance to explore their community (Upper Beach) a little.  And with a new neighbourhood come new surprises. Here are some of the interesting things we saw along the way

Colourful mural on a dreary day - at Victoria Park and Kingston Road

Unique activity centres in the playground at Blantyre Public School.

And we discovered our second 'Little Library"!

The "M & B Book Exchange"on Swanwick near Victoria Park

It was wonderful spending time with Hannah again.  I think she's starting to warm up to us now that we're seeing her more regularly lately. She takes a few minutes to check us out from a distance. But it never takes long for her to end up snuggling up to Gerard and looking at picture books with him. And she gives us lots of smiles. What a blessing to have this quality time on a regular basis with our grandchildren!

Off to the Eco-Friendly Cleaners

This has been on my mind for a few years now: How do I get my winter coat cleaned without bringing it to a dry cleaner that uses all kinds of toxic chemicals? Recently I found this sign at a local dry cleaner and so we took my coat to be cleaned there.  It really needed it, especially the sleeves! It's actually never been cleaned before. 

In fact, it needed it so badly that the shop operator said they would have to put it through a special or extra cycle in an effort to get it all clean.  She reassured me it would not require extra chemicals; only water - so it won't exactly be dry cleaning. She also, very tactfully I must say, suggested that I consider bringing it in more often so that the cleaning will be easier:) Looking forward to my clean, environmentally-friendly-cleaned coat!

P.S. Gerard just reminded me that I had the same see-through plastic patch on my left eye in April. I guess why I thought I had a gauze patch was that it was my good eye that was covered and so I couldn't see much.

Good Night!

Heading for bed with my plastic patch on for the second night. Way better than the gauze patch the first time in April; with which I couldn't see a thing - especially because it was covering my good eye. One more night to go. Good night!

Update on Today's Cataract Surgery

Here's a quick update on today's cataract surgery. I'm copying it directly from an e-mail I sent to some friends.  Just trying to cut down my time at the computer.  My eye needs a rest.

Everything went very smoothly. We got helped almost as soon as we came in the door because people earlier on the schedule were stuck in traffic.  Lucky for us.  In by 9, out by 11:15! Since this was our second time, it felt more relaxed because we knew what to expect.  I have a see-through plastic patch to cover my eye at night so I won't scratch it in my sleep.  During the day I wear my glasses so I won't be tempted to inadvertently wipe my eye.  I have to take two kinds of eye drops four times a day for a week. And it will take about 6 -8 weeks to completely heal up.  We have a follow-up check-up in one month. 

Right now my eye feels a little bruised, but no pain.  And I feel tired. I've been wiping out on the couch ever since we got home.  Well, that's all for now.   

Cataract Surgery - Round Two

Almost every day we go for a 50-minute walk in our neighbourhood and you know that we often run across interesting things. Recently I told you about the Chinese burial plot under construction in our local cemetery. On my way home from swimming the other day I (Gerard stayed home with an ear infection) stopped by the cemetery office to find out more about this latest development.  Apparently the plot belongs to a wealthy Chinese family. They have sent over their own construction crew for the past two summers. and have now gone home for the winter. It will take another two summers to completely finish the whole project. And then the barriers will come down and we'll be allowed to walk through it on a walkway that goes right down the middle.The granite sculptures are brought all the way over from China! This must be costing them millions! I look forward to seeing it up close when it's all completed.. 

These signs (below) have been popping up all over the city this fall as part of a campaign to urge drivers in Toronto to SLOW DOWN! This was a mother's response to the death of a little girl who got hit by a car in a school zone.

And then on our walk yesterday we saw this sign tied to the fencing around a property where the house had been demolished to make way for a brand new home.

(Your house gets demolished!) 

"Signed, Neighbourhood Trick or Treat Association"

So that's what's new in our neighbourhood.  News from our own house is that I'm going in for cataract surgery on my right eye tomorrow morning at around 9 o'clock. Even though my vision in that eye is largely blocked by scar tissue left by cancer, the surgeon feels that removing the cataract will clear up my peripheral vision in that eye, and so improve my vision overall.

It feels very different going for the second time.  At least this time we know what to expect.  Please pray that there will be no complications. It's really a very common simple procedure, but I always have the cancer hanging over me and wonder whether something that normally is routine could be more complicated in my case. We'll have to trust this matter to the Lord.  He is the great physician and watches over us, so we will be OK, no matter what.

I knew I should have saved a few of yesterday's colourful flower pictures for other posts! Today's looks a bit dreary compared to yesterday's.  Oh well, I enjoyed yesterday's big colourful splash. I hope you did too.  

Still Hanging On

Here's a feast for your eyes! Caught pictures of these last flowers of summer still hanging on, just before our first snow and sub-zero temperatures arrived early Saturday morning. I checked on them this afternoon and all of the flowers are still there except for the nasturtiums. I considered spreading them over a number of posts, but couldn't resist giving you this full splash of colour and beauty all at once. Might as well celebrate them all together one more time before they go to sleep for the winter. 

nasturtiums

Fall colours hanging on in our garden!  Yes, these pictures were taken only four days ago! 

From Jack-O-Lantern to Muffins

From jack-o-lantern to pumpkin muffins in a few hours! I just can't throw away our Hallowe'en pumpkin the morning after. On the first garbage day after October 31st there are usually pumpkins at the curb all over the place. I just cringe at all that perfectly good food being thrown out.  So my tradition is to cut and cook up the pumpkin and freezing it to use for baking pumpkin muffins and making squash soup throughout the year.

pumpkin muffins just in time for small group tonight

Remember my two rather unsuccessful attempts at preparing noodles from spaghetti squash?  Well, this morning I warmed up our pumpkin, cut it open, started scraping out the flesh and "tada!" - crunchy pumpkin noodles!  I've never seen this in a pumpkin before. We're wondering whether we had a new variety? 

Scraping out the pumpkin noodles.

 I'm going to steam these noodles just before this evening's potluck dinner and let our small group members be the judges. I've already tasted them raw and crunchy and they even taste good that way!

So, 1 pumpkin = 18 muffins + a bowl of "noodles" + 7 containers of puree for the freezer.
Definitely worth saving from the curb or compost heap!