HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It’s New Year’s Eve – just another hour to go before we’ll be in 2017. I’ve been alone with my doggies since late afternoon. The kids are out and about at different parties. I was invited to at least 3 of them, but refused. Pyjamas, a glass of eggnog and rum, the hockey game, then listening to music I used to enjoy with my mom and brother and sister once upon a time. This is exactly what I wanted.

I’m amazed at how well all of us have been able to adjust to the recent changes in our lives. The Rugrats are quite calm in spite of the separation, and the more I watch their dad (my youngest son), the more I admire him as a father; my oldest son and wife and little Miko deal very well with the noise created by so many in one house (there are 8 of us, 4 being children), the doggies are enjoying the extra attention, and Mémère? Well, she grins and repeats what she seems to have been saying forever: “The more, the merrier!”

Blessed – that is what we are. A close and loving family facing together whatever comes our way, which, thankfully, has been mostly all good. We’ll greet 2017 with SMILES!!

Sending lots of them out to you all, with the best wishes for a great NEW YEAR!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

I noticed that Eli stares at our youngest Rug rat whenever they are in the same room, and that she lowers her head when she hears his voice from anywhere in the house. It is not a good sign. For some reason she has a total aversion to him.  I stayed close by on Friday morning as the boys prepared for school. Six year old T was coming down the stairs and she raced toward him, barking and growling. The child backed up in fright, but Eli kept closing in. I grabbed her collar and it took all my strength to quiet her enough to shut her away in another room.  

Eli is short for Elizabeth, and she was one of the five puppies who spent her first couple of months here with her mommy before being picked up by the rescue group for adoption. She was my favorite, and I cried a little more for her than for the others when she was gone. From the litter she had been the brightest, the most curious, the first to try anything, confident and a bit bossy, but oh so loving!!  Still, I had convinced myself that I only wanted ONE dog, so let her go in spite of my desire to keep her. I should have heeded that desire. I kept checking on the Rescue site and little Eli was the only one of all the puppies still up for adoption. I couldn’t understand it, and inquired often, but it seemed each potential taker didn’t work out.

I don’t know what happened to this poor little girl while she was gone; I just know she was not the same playful, sweetheart when she came back to spend time here while her present fosters were on vacation. She was skinny and extremely hyper...and so fearful, lashing out at Mommy and Sam, shaking and defensive when anyone approached her. It took a least a week before I could even let her interact with the other dogs. I only released her to play when Sam and Mommy were outside, and each night I dragged her cage into my bedroom so that she could sleep beside the bed, while Sam and Mommy would cuddle up with me. One evening I put her in Sam’s crate with HIS cushion and HIS blankets instead of her own. After spending the night surrounded by his smell, she decided that he was a friend after all, and they were soon playing together.

 It was maybe 2 days before they were to come and pick her up. The three doggies were romping around me, and she looked much calmer. At one point she broke away from the game and came to sit beside me, much as she did in her puppy days, gazing up at me with such a happy face. It was 11 PM but, my decision made, I texted the rescue group immediately. This baby was going nowhere; she would stay right here where I am sure she was meant to be from the get-go. I had already been investigated, so her adoption went through without a hitch.

Eli has come a long way from the behaviour she exhibited on her arrival. She has learned to trust again, and to do doggie things without always looking around to see who is near her. She prances, much like Bud used to do, and is high energy but very sweet and listens well.  The reaction she has to T makes me suspect that one of her many foster homes had young children, probably boys, who were not kind to her at all. She is afraid of him, and a frightened dog will bite. There doesn’t seem to be a problem with the other children – her gaze centers on young T. Immediate steps need to be taken. I had already looked into behaviour modification sessions awhile back, but they are very expensive, she was doing really well, so I had decided to wait and see.  There will be no more waiting; tomorrow I’ll call and book her evaluation, stressing the urgency.

Sorry – I know my post is long, and with the family all returning today I have no time to edit. I’ll try to do better next time. Hoping my sending out a HUGE SMILE with it will make the reading easier!!! Here’s to y’all!!

 

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

UPDATING....

Things have been so crazy around here lately that I’m wondering if I’m coming or going. From the way the doggies are stuck to me right now, I believe they are wondering the same thing.

Our daily routine, if one could call it routine, has changed. My son and Japanese DIL and little Miko are here more often than not, and will be moving in completely by the end of next week. They have not yet sold their house in the city, but with my son’s job transfer and the hours required for commuting back and forth, they will stay with me temporarily until being able to purchase their own place in town. The Rug Rats’ parents are separated again, so my youngest son has also moved in. We’re still waiting to see what the final arrangements will be for the Rug Rats, but more likely than not they will be here 2 weeks out of every three.  How temporary this proves to be remains to be seen.

The doggies, for the moment, no longer have total free access to the house. Little Miko is not solid on her feet yet, and one swipe of any of their tails will send her flying. That involves much opening and closing of doors here and there, and when I am working they are restricted to one room. They are adapting quite well, I dare say better than their mistress. I have a massive guilt trip each time I need to shut them away. It doesn’t help that the hours at the office, instead of being reduced in this low season, have been increased due to staff shortage, which means I am away more often than I care to be or, even when home, spend many hours in my office playing catch-up.

Yesterday morning I left the house at 4 AM. We needed to be at the city hospital for 6:15, and the heavy traffic requires an early start. I was expecting to be back at the house for noon, not realizing that a biopsy in the day clinic would take so-o-o-o-o long!  Of course it would be a day when no-one else was here at home, so my poor dogs were completely alone. I finally reached my neighbour around 3 PM, and she came in to feed them and let them out for a bit, then they were back into the room until I arrived at 8:30 PM. I was pretty exhausted, so lots of hugging was as much exercise as I could give them. Sweethearts that they are, they cuddled up quietly when we hit the bed. When I got up in the wee hours, Sam wasn’t the only one to follow me; both ladies, contrary to their usual antics, were right behind me too.  It is the first time their behaviour indicates any reaction to the change in our habits.

Well, there you go. I’ve managed a few months’ update in 4 short paragraphs! Right now it is snowing softly outside, the fire is crackling, and there is just me and my beasts spending some quiet time. After a couple of hours playing outside, we’re heading back to snooze. There hasn’t been a lot of that lately – so it will be welcome. Tonight the house will fill up again, family enjoying each other, and that makes me SMILE!

Sharing it with you folks!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

THE BESTEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER!

I was sitting there chatting with Helen (my ex-tenant and great freund), enjoying every minute of being surrounded by family and friends for our annual birthday party. Because the storms had come and gone, it was finally held in my youngest son’s backyard. It was a lovely, late afternoon. The smells from his home-made smoker where supper was cooking made our mouths water. A man came over and introduced himself; he was a co-worker of Miko’s daddy, and he was telling me how he appreciated the good humor and empathy of my boy. Momma preened, lol!

Suddenly he just stepped back and moved on. Odd, but oh well, his business, so I turned to continue conversation with Helen. My sweet Miko was sitting on my knee; she had headed for me as soon as I walked into the party and I selfishly ignored any attempt to lure her away. Then her daddy was in front of me with a birthday bag.

“Here, Mom. Open your present.” He said. He took Miko from my knee and handed her to the same man who had walked away from me just a few minutes ago. I reached for the gift, at the same time noticing that his wife, Yoshiko, moved in beside him with her cell phone camera. She is Japanese, after all (grin). In the bag was a beautiful framed portrait of his family, all of them dressed in Hab sweaters.

“Aw, so wonderful! Thank you!!” I exclaimed in delight.

“And your card,” he insisted. “Open your card.” I did as requested. I love my kids’ cards! On the outside it read ‘A long, long, long, long time ago...’ – then I opened it to the music of the Star Wars theme, and the message continued, ‘You were born. May the force be with you. Happy Birthday!’ I looked up at him and laughed.

“Thanks a lot!” The little bugger! I’m not THAT old!!

“Did you read it all?” he asked. I looked down – there was handwriting on the inside cover.  I read it once, then again, and then again. I’ll translate what was written in French:

‘For my Mémère! Dear Mémère – I know that your desire is to see us as often as possible, so we thought that a nice portrait of us could satisfy you for the moment. Because my Daddy can only start his new job on August 29^th, and that new job is at Mirabel! You can take down the sheet you have on your fridge with your wish that we’d move closer, Mémère. We’re coming!!!”

I guess I don’t have to describe my reaction when the words finally sank in. I screamed, I jumped up and hugged my son and Yoshiko and my little Miko so hard, over and over again!! I think they began fighting to get away from me!! I do believe I had many around me sharing my tears of tremendous joy. They’re coming home!!! Not only will Miko be raised surrounded by family and friends, just as her daddy was, but I’ll be able to see her every day! Talk about a birthday present!!! I’m still tearing up as I write this – I’ve been waiting for it for so long, not only for Miko, but for her parents too. I know how much family and friends mean to my son, as it does to each of my children, and I’m just so darned happy!!

He had known since Tuesday, but had sworn everyone to secrecy. He wanted it to be a birthday surprise. His co-worker who suddenly walked away? He admitted that he had nearly let the cat out of the bag by saying that he was going to miss working with my son now that he was transferred. He was playing it safe, LOL!

My SMILE is HUGE, and there is more than enough for everyone, so I’m sending it out to y’all. Blowing kisses with that!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

THE PUPPIES or MY FOSTER-FAIL

Anyone who has been reading my posts will know the story of my applying to adopt a young female pit-bull, called Mommy, then ending up coming home with her and five of her 2 week old puppies.  It was the best of times and the worst of times. In spite of the extra work (and lots of that!), I can honestly say it was one of the most enjoyable and sweet experiences I have ever lived...until it was time to give them up for adoption.

Animal lovers will already know that each of those doggies had a unique character. Before I get into how much of a foster-fail I turned out to be, and because finally I can talk about it without a huge lump forming in my heart, I want to tell you about these wonderful, loving little creatures who joyfully invaded my life for too short a time.

There were nine squirming tiny ones in Mommy’s litter (her third one, poor baby), and the rescue group called them the ‘Alphabet’ puppies. The first name began with ‘A’, and the last with with ‘I’. The five I had were:

B – Bruno

C – Caroline

D – Dean

E – Elizabeth

G – George

It was hilarious – it took me at least a week to get their names straight. I called them all ‘Little poops’ and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the reasoning behind my spontaneous dubbing.  I finally got it straight: Bruno and Caroline were one set like twins, both light brown with white and a little black. George and Elizabeth were the other set of twins, both black and white, like their Mommy. Dean was different. He was the biggest of the litter, a darker chocolate brown, with white stockings to his knees. He had a white chest and a white line on his forehead, with a large white ‘L’ on the back of his head and neck; a handsome fellow altogether!

My semi-basement apartment was empty, so the puppies were installed there in the kitchen/living room area, with gates on both doors to keep them contained. Blankets and toys and water bowls in place, I made sure Mommy could join them when they needed her. Each morning on rising, I would bring them upstairs to play in my kitchen/dining room while I washed the floors in their sleeping quarters. I would put them back in the apartment before leaving for work – AFTER washing the floor upstairs in turn. Coming home at night was the same routine. Up you come, puppies – wash the floor downstairs – let the puppies play and socialize – then downstairs again for the night. Before turning in I washed the floor upstairs again. Honestly, I felt like my mop had become a permanent fixture in my hands, LOL.

I was captivated. My next posts will be boring for those who don’t feel an affinity with animals, because, more for my own sake than to give the information, I need to describe and relish in the doing so, the how and why I became attached to each of those little blessings, and why it took me so long to get over letting them go.

For right now – our annual birthday party is tomorrow. It was to be held in my youngest son’s yard but, because they are predicting rain and his house is much smaller, it may very easily happen here. UGH – cleaning to do!! That’s okay. I’ll be rewarded with the presence of all my kids, grandkids, great-grandbabies and dozens of friends – a wonderful fun day in the making!!

Leaving you with a SMILE, folks!! This old lady has to get a move on!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

 2 AM this morning. Comfy as I was lying there cuddled by my beasts, I knew I might as well get out of bed and do something – there would be no more sleeping for the moment. The two ladies watch as I pull on slippers in the semi-darkness, but they don’t budge. They always wait. Experience tells them it could be just a bathroom trip, and I’d be crawling back under the blankets in a minute. Sam, as usual, sprawls down off the bed and plods along behind me. Whenever I move, he moves. Bandit was nowhere to be seen. He often disappears into another part of the house during the night, or goes off outside. He’ll greet us in the morning then snooze all day in my home office.

The ladies hear the coffee machine and come out to join Sam and me in the kitchen, yawning, stretching, and all three beasts head for the door. No matter what time I get up, it’s their first stop. They were slightly hesitant this morning. It was raining out there. They stop, look up at me. Do we have to? Yes, you do, so off you go. It wasn’t long before they were back, watching me through the window, willing me to look up and let them in. Eli heads for the couch with her chew toy, Mommy gets her ear rub then goes back to bed, and Sam follows me into the office, plunking himself down beside my feet. He’ll stay there until I move again, then will be right behind me. Maybe I should have called him Shadow, LOL.

I hear Eli bark once from the kitchen, then again. I get up and, Sam in tow, we go to check it out. Just as I thought, Bandit is in the window demanding entry. The doggies always let me know when he is there, either by a short bark or by hunting me up and bothering me until I go with them. We get each others’ signals.

I drop into Facebook, send thanks off to those I didn’t see last night, then my daughter hails me on private message. She starts work each day at 3 AM, and it’s rare we don’t have an early morning chat this way. Another reason to like the site; it’s ideal for very busy people who like to keep in touch during unusual hours.

SO... now Bandit is on my desk, strolling around in front of my screen, making this writing difficult. He’s purring out his night hunt, butting his head under my hands and along my chin. Sam, wanting a share of the attention, has just shoved his huge head onto my knee and is nudging from the other side. Back to bed, Mistress. We can all cuddle into one big, happy family!

Eli just came in, pushing her way to be closest to me – a female Bud, she is – so that’s it for this post. I’ll see if we can’t snooze for an hour or two before joining the chain gang. Sending out SMILES to y’all – probably full of pet hair, but certainly full of care!!

Luv from the bush in Quebec

JUST A POST

Great Scott! Three whole months to the day (night) since I have posted anything on my personal blog or in Blogit! I’m missing writing, and lately more and more, but I’m just so darned tired by the time I get home from the office...then I have the 3 doggies... and the King Bandit kitty...each very determined to show me what they think about spending the whole day alone and could we have some attention, please?

The ‘high season’ for moving in Quebec hasn’t helped matters; it meant working at least one of the two weekend days for the past three months. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy my job. I also like my colleagues. I don’t even mind the commute, seeing that most of it is through winding country roads and quite pleasant even if long. I’m terribly spoiled too, because my daughter comes into my house every couple of days and does housecleaning (3 dogs and a cat means washing the floors often) and she lets the beasts out to run around in their fenced yard while she does that, so it’s double whammy. Plus I am catching up on all those bills that accumulated during my ‘off’ years. Just the peace of mind is worth it.

I didn’t come in to complain. Compared to what others around the world are enduring, I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. I’m sitting here safe in my bush, loving the green of the trees, the yellows of the brown-eyed Susan’s and dandelions; the white of lily of the valley; pure, cold water flowing from my well; sharing space with gentle creatures who think I’m a goddess (I especially like that part!); with friends and family calling each day to see if all is well.... So many would give up years to have what I have, and I wish that every person on this planet could have it! I’m not gloating; I’m just extremely grateful.

And now it is past midnight up here in my mountain, so I’ll practice a little wisdom and hit the sack or all those numbers I deal with will be just a jumble tomorrow. Wanted to say hi to y’all and to send you a HUGE SMILE, because no matter what is happening out there, I believe there is still hope, there is still love, and a SMILE is like a hug your face gives to someone else’s eyes.

From my face for your eyes!!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

SAM - the dog who nearly wasn't

This is Sam. He's the 5 month old pup who had been left in an empty apartment for 3 days, found by the landlord, and was on his way to being euthanized until a kind soul stepped in and contacted me. It was too late for his little brother, but Sam is now a part of our family.

Sam is huge. The vet thinks he has a mix of pit-bull terrier and mastiff, and he seems to have characteristics of both breeds; energy to burn from the pit side, but the easy-going, gentle nature of the mastiff.
I was planning on putting him up for adoption. I already had Mommy living at home and didn't really want to take on the responsability of more doggies. Because it is a responsability...similar to that of caring for children. Sam's intelligent and loving nature may have changed my mind anyway, but it was the reaction of my resident pets that determined his fate.

Mommy, after showing him who was boss, accepted him happily, but Bandit, my cat, was the one who clinched our decision. When Sam first approached Bandit it was with all the enthusiasm of a big, rambunctious puppy. Instead of trying to escape, Bandit crouched and stayed put. There was no hissing while the pup nosed him; it was more a bored attitude of 'Ok, get on with it then lay off!'. Cats do that attitude so well! The point is, he knew better than any of us that there was no danger, just plenty of curiousity. When Sam looked up at me, did that little puppy wiggle of joy, then proceeded to lick Bandit's ears, he scored his points. My brain was saying no, but my heart had already said yes.

There is not a day that this pup doesn't make me laugh. His absolute 'joie-de-vivre' is contagious. He knows to step back if the ladies of the house are out of sorts, puzzled though he may be, and is quite willing to give way when they get bossy. He follows my every move in the house. Going to the bathroom alone is a thing of the past, and he even joined me in the jacuzzi one night, slipping of the edge and into the jets. His expression when he landed in the water still makes me giggle! He decided he liked it, so I stood up and gave him a bath, and now I have to warn him to stay out each time I'm in there.

In my mind there are FEW good reasons to end such an animal's life prematurely. I am thankful that more and more humans seem to be realizing this; anti-cruelty laws, mandatory sterilization, multiple rescues, the acceptance that these are intelligent, living beings with feelings - all helping to pave the way for sharing our world as nature intended - and this makes me SMILE.

Sharing it with you on this beautiful Sunday!

Luv from the Bush in QUebec.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE!

I sure am missing you guys and ladies! I come in and read, but so often I am just too darned tired to comment. My job is tougher than I want to admit – things are processed slower in this brain of mine and I have to pedal to keep up. Then there is the doggies (3 now) and the kitty each vying for attention when I get home, and those clients I still kept on because I’m too dumb to say no, and last but not least, my every growing family. One thing for sure, there’s never a dull moment, and I find myself looking for just that sometimes. Who would have thought? Ha-ha!

I haven’t been writing, and I miss that too. Maybe now with the warmer temperatures it will be easier. I love the winter, as we all know, but it does require much more work; shoveling, carrying wood, cleaning the fireplaces, washing floors from many snowy paw prints, slower commutes to and from the office, longer hours to pay off the enormous electricity bills...and the list goes on. Fortunately my daughter lives near and comes by a couple of days a week to give me a hand. She also lets the dogs out for a run, so it eases the pressure to get home from the office – that place where something always seems to happen to keep me there past quitting time.

Still, when I lie in bed at night with Mommy stretched out along my back, the warm weight of Elizabeth’s head on my feet, Sam with his big, cuddly head against my shoulder, and Bandit curled around the back of my neck, purring me to sleep, I give thanks for being so blessed. I am surrounded by a wonderful family (with and without fur), great understanding friends, have enough money to pay my bills, and trees...lots and lots of trees. Life is good, and I greet Morpheus with a SMILE.

Sharing it with you, folks. It’s a whopper – it had plenty time to grow since I last sent it floating off to y’all!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec

WHAT IS QUIET?

It can only be quiet around my house for so long, although just 3 days is maybe pushing it a bit....

The parties were over and I was back to work, and Mommy and Bandit and I were resting up in the evenings. Then the call came in. A friend of mine contacted me with an SOS – a five month old puppy was going to be put down. His ‘owners’ had skipped out on their rent and left behind the pup in the empty apartment, knowing, I imagine...I hope, that the landlord would find him when he came to collect. The landlord wasn’t into dogs, and when my friend contacted me she told me his days were numbered. She messaged me a picture – a cute pit bull pup who looked so much like Smooch it hit me right there! To be honest, even if the doggy was the ugliest thing on earth, I’d have picked him up anyway.

I called the vet. Yes, they could see him on the way back to my house. I would have kept my pets separate from him if there was a problem, but there was none. One of the technicians fell in love with him, and seemed very interested when I said I would have him adopted. She would ask her partner and get back to me in a few days. It has been five days now, so I expect to get word from her the beginning of this week. If not, the agency where I got Mommy is excellent, and I have no qualms about it taking charge and finding him a good home. In the meantime, he is playing with Mommy, learning to get along with the cat, and was so very gentle with Miko when she and her daddy stopped in for the afternoon.

I named him Sam – because he looks like a Sam. He listens well, has never dirtied the pen where he sleeps at night and stays long hours while I go to work, but is NOT housebroken otherwise. He doesn’t squat or lift his leg...just stands and lets it go. Apparently the apartment needed extensive cleaning. However, he is intelligent, and today had an accident only 4 times. Not bad for a young pup that lived with people who did not think getting him out for potty was a training priority. He also ‘dogs’ my footsteps – I can’t walk anywhere without nearly tripping over his joyfully wriggling body!

So now we are four, and the mop has once again become a part of my arm, much as it was when I was fostering Mommy’s puppies. The truth? It has healed my heart some, needed ever since those puppies were adopted. So I’m not sure who is helping who more here. I do know that, just like Mommy’s offspring, he will make someone a wonderful friend one day, because I will do everything in my power to start him off on the right foot.

I watch him play as all babies do, with that gleeful exuberance where nothing else matters, and I SMILE. Sending it out to you, and if it has that puppy smell when it arrives on your doorstep, so much the better!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

WHAT'S GRATITUDE?

I so wish that everyone out there could have shared this holiday season with me; shared preparations, the smells of baking and the balsam spruces decorated with pretty colored lights; shared the playing and giggles of the children, the good-natured ragging of the adults, the food, the warmth, the cuddling of my doggy and kitty when it was time to rest up and start the busyness over again the next day. Oh – and the clean-up. Must not forget to include that, LOL!

There was plenty unpleasant going on in the outside world maybe, but for these few days my house was an oasis of love and smiles and fun. To top it off, Suzie came home yesterday. She was not expected this year, so it’s icing on the cake! She and I will be celebrating her birthday (today) and Bird’s birthday (Wednesday) together – another yearly tradition that I was resigned to missing for 2016.

It's back to work tomorrow, but that’s okay. I’m tired, but my SMILE could give the Cheshire cat a run for his money! Sharing it with y’all and hoping you’ll pass it on!

Have a great 2016!!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I worked all day Thursday. I wanted to finish early but, as usual, one knows when one goes into the office but never when one will get to leave. Even with everything supposed to be on holiday minor emergencies kept coming up, so I left later than planned. I was bushed, as I seem to be after any full day of work now. However I had promised the kids that I would attend the New Year’s Eve sugar shack party and I was determined to keep my promise. I figured that a couple of hours snoozing would put me right back on top, so I cuddled on the couch with Mommy. Ah...bliss!

I woke four hours later. Oops! There were a few texts on my cell phone, all wondering where I was, was I on my way? My neighbour had sent one too, asking me if I wanted to join him and a few others outside for a bonfire – they were going to ring in the New Year from there. It was very tempting, but no. I hurried, got dressed to the nines, and arrived at the kids’ party just before 2015 ended. I worked my way through the crowd, kisses and hugs...kisses and hugs...until I reached my son. Little Miko was sitting on the table, eyes wide, and smiled as soon as she saw me. Into my arms, sweetheart, and we watched the rest of the activities together. The place was packed, the music was good but loud, and it didn’t bother that baby in the least!

When the countdown to 2016 ended, I saw there was a line in front of me, all waiting to wish me a Happy New Year. Of course! These were the people I had watched grow from elementary school age to the adults they were now, so many times sharing our home, and rarely NOT celebrating the New Year together. By this time Miko was sleeping on my shoulder, and she never budged as the line went by, embracing us both, dropping little pecks on top of her head. We were surrounded by warm and genuine love, and I am so proud of all my now-forty something youngsters – my ‘extended families’!

It was in the vicinity of 5 AM when I got to bed this morning. The calls from well-wishers started at 10. Some visitors stopped by, and I greeted them in my pj’s. I have the whole crew coming tomorrow for the birthday party, so there was some cooking to do. Like Kabu, I cheered the Habs from my TV in the kitchen between chopping and stirring (and we WON that classic!!) and now I will wash up all those dishes I dirtied then into bed!! I doubt I’ll have to run after Morpheus tonight.

It was a glorious end of one year, and a glorious start of another. A good omen, I would think! Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and sending that with a SMILE...a very, very grateful SMILE!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.