BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR?

Well, there you go, folks! If you want something, just stand beside me and wish aloud – you may get it in spades – umm – I mean shovels, because that’s what it will take to clean my gallery of this huge snowfall! Maybe I wished too often and too sincerely? I suspect that all except the avid skiers and snowmobilers are thinking of running me out of the area. Don’t let anyone know that I say this, especially little Miko’s daddy who is a courier for Fed Ex and obliged to drive in it all day, but I AM LOVING it!!! That I was allowed to work from home has no bearing on my joy whatsoever.....

It was a productive time; even Bandit and Mommy did not bother me to open the doors after their first venture out this morning. Bandit is the lucky one – he has an indoor toilet – but I insisted that Mommy brave the elements. She gave me ‘the look’, but of course had no choice but to obey. When I let Mommy back in, Bandit was sitting, calmly paw-washing his face. He pretended to ignore her entrance, but it didn’t fool either Mommy or me. That cat was a picture of pure gloating! Mommy’s sidelong glance implied volumes, but I was standing right there, so she wisely made her way to her cushion. Knowing a pit’s penchant for revenge, I expect Bandit will be doing some fast running in the near future!

In one of his comments, CCT asked me about the puppies. I haven’t written about them – I just couldn’t. As I’m sure I mentioned, I was a huge foster-fail. I fell in love with each and every one of those little critters, crying my eyes out when it was time to give them up. Those who were adopting came close to walking away; they feared they were breaking my heart.

I still miss them terribly, but I’m looking forward to telling you all about them now, although I won’t do it in this post. The Habs game is going to begin shortly, and they have been on a losing streak. They need all the encouragement they can get, so I’ve got my jersey on, my face painted, and am ready to couch-coach, or to referee, and surely give them as much energy as I’ve got! Maybe I can pull a trick for them like I did for snow.....

Leaving you with a huge, warm SMILE – it will ride a snowflake near wherever you be!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS

Last year at this exact time I was sitting on the floor in the vet’s office, holding and stroking his head on my knee, saying a final goodbye to my beloved Grump. I had spent Christmas Day much the same way – lying beside him on his cushion at home, trying to prepare both of us for what was to come. My son was at the hospital, beside his wife’s bed, worried that they lose the baby, even worried that he would lose his little Japanese spouse to the influenza and the infection the doctors were now saying had invaded her body. It was not a good time.

What a difference this year!! The whole family gathered at my home, and it was a most wonderful day! We had seven children, all under 11 years old – some just walking, others crawling...and when you looked around the babies were changing arms from one moment to the next, aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents each getting a share of cuddling. The food was plentiful and delicious, the trees were beautiful, and the house was filled with love and humor and warmth. My kind of Christmas!!

To top it off, my son and Yoshiko stayed over with little Miko, and Mémère and Mommy (my adopted female pit bull) played with our miracle baby all the next morning while her mom and dad got some much needed sleep. Later that evening my Cuban friends and my niece arrived to share a meal of leftovers, accompanied by plenty of wine. We laughed so hard my stomach hurt – one can’t get much better than that!

Yesterday I spent separating food for the freezer, cleaning up, taking phone calls of season greetings – just an easy going day. Today until Thursday it’s back to work, before the action starts over again for New Year’s weekend. There is the Eve’s party at the Sugar Shack organized by the boys who spent most of their growing years at my home, then on Saturday the family and friends gather again to celebrate both my daughter’s birthday (Dec 26th) and our little Miko’s first birthday (Dec 29th). It is a spur of the moment plan, and I love it all!

Mommy and Bandit and I sat quietly under the tree last evening, gazing out at my snow-covered (finally!) mountain, and I let memories of the pain and sorrow that had been present last Christmas run through me. I thought of those we had lost, of terrible moments filled with anxiety and sadness and frustration... and then I put it firmly behind me. Life does go on, and there is so much to appreciate and reasons to be thankful as we pick up the pieces and continue.

And on that note I will leave you with a huge SMILE and a wish that your old year end well, making room for all the wonderful things that can happen in the new one!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!

I wanted to write more, but our electricity went off yesterday afternoon after a strong wind storm, and all the cooking and cleaning planned for that day was put on hold, so this morning I am running!! At least the power came back on this morning at 6:30, so I had an early start. Both ovens are going right now - yes!

My neighbour and his girlfriend, a lovely new acquaintance, came over and gave me a hand decorating the trees, cleaning up around outside, doing other little things until it got too dark. Then we made a nice fire, sipped wine, and enjoyed the bright, full moon while we chatted; the beautiful Louka and Mommy and Litte Pint (his tiny Yorkshire) also joined the fun. We ordered pizza - there was still power in the village - then they went home, with promises to drop in on my family supper tonight. We will be 20 - and that's JUST family - opening gifts and filling our faces with Christmas turkey and tortieres (Meat pies) among other goodies.

I love this time of the year, even if there is no snow.

Sending warm Christmas smiles and hugs to you all!!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.