Bidding Farewell To 2014

"And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been."

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Today we wrap up another year, and what can I say about it that I haven’t said about every other year coming to an end? That the world has seen its fair share of tragedies and ugliness? That humanity still has a long way to go before we all live in peace? That my faith in humanity is shattered again and again?

Always keep Christmas alive inside you.

Yes, our planet certainly needs healing. And yes, we have a long way to go as a species. But despite everything, the world is also filled with beauty and compassion and decency and generosity. There are unsung heroes around the globe working hard to make this world a better place for all living beings. They are the reason my faith in humanity is restored. Again. And again.

My younger daughter is growing up way too fast.

I feel an abundance of gratitude for having been given another 365 days of life in 2014. 365 days of sunrises and sunsets. 365 days of adventure and harmony and love and joy and - most important of all - good health. 365 days of more memories with the people I love. More time with them. It’s been a good year. A happy year. A year of contemplation and inner growth. I am thankful for all these blessings.

My older daughter sharing a joyful Christmas with all of us.

I am also thankful for all of you, my blogging friends. For taking the time to visit my blog. For making me think and smile and laugh out loud. For all the lovely, fun and thoughtful comments you leave. For the kind words and encouragement you offer about my photography. And more than anything else, for sharing this amazing journey with me. Year after year.

It's a blessing and a privilege to be married to this amazing man.

I wish each and every one of you peace, love, joy, prosperity and good health for 2015. May it be your best year yet.

Happy New Year, my friends! I look forward to the adventures we'll share together in the upcoming months.

What Really Happens With New Year’s Resolutions

Poor kitty. Just can’t stick with it.

Well, I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. I just take it one day at a time. How about you?

Chuckles and Chortles

Happy Monday, everyone. How was your Christmas last week? Wonderful, I hope. We spent ours in our hometown of Montreal visiting family. Most of the day was spent at my brother and sister-in-law’s, but we did pop in to visit my mother and father-in-law, as well. It was a day filled with love and joy and laughter and lots of good food. Here are a couple of photos where you can also see my new (very short) hairstyle.

My younger daughter and I taking a shot with my father-in-law who is 88 years old!

Posing with my older daughter and her boyfriend. Both great kids that I don't see as often as I'd like!

I took a gazillion photos, so the memories of the day have been captured, and I can visit them again and again. That’s what Christmas is truly all about, isn’t it? The precious memories.

Now let’s get to the humour, shall we?

Wishing you all a beautiful day!

Twas The Day After Christmas

(I wish I could be there, too, Santa, but I didn't find airline tickets in my stocking like I had requested.)

I hope all my blogging pals had a great time yesterday. Today is a day to relax and unwind. And digest all the food we stuffed ourselves with!

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

From Our Home To Yours

Sending warm wishes to all of you on this magical and blessed day.

May your day be filled with peace, love and happiness.

Christmas Lives Inside All Of Us

“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush,
the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there
is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”

- Joan Winmill Brown -

And so here we are, dear friends; just one more sleep until the most delightful and blessed day of the year arrives. The day we’ve been counting down to. This blogging month has brought me so much joy. The festive posts, your lovely remarks, the magic of the holiday...all of it has been gratifying.

Christmas has always been my favourite holiday of the year. Not because of the gifts, which many years from now will all be forgotten, but because of the memories and heartfelt emotions it evokes. The special moments we share with loved ones are the true gifts of the season, and those gifts cannot be found in a store or in a stocking or under a tree.

This holiday, whether you celebrate it from a religious standpoint or not, is the same for all of us. It is about joy and love and generosity and kindness. It is about all of us coming together, no matter our differences, to shed warmth and hope into a world that is often plagued by fear and sorrow and loneliness.

Christmas lives inside all of us throughout the year. Every time we open our hearts, every time we give, every time we do a good deed or promote peace or show compassion...it is Christmas.

I wish each and every one of you a beautiful day tomorrow. May it be the best Christmas ever. 

Hugs to you all! Enjoy. Be happy. And remember to count your blessings.


Here is Stevie Nicks singing one of my favourite carols...

Animals of YouTube Sing Up On The Housetop

Here is a fun video to kick start the day with that will make you all smile!



One more sleep until Christmas!

I have one more post scheduled for later today, so check back again!

Accidents Will Happen

This time it wasn’t Santa that took the wrong turn, although I hope he wasn’t hitting the ‘nog before he got on that sleigh.

Chuckles and Chortles

Happy last Monday before Christmas day, everyone! How was the weekend? Good, I hope. Mine included a change in hairstyle. Can you believe I hadn’t cut my hair since March? It’s true. So I finally got to that on Saturday, and decided to be bold and adventurous. I cut my neglected hair short. Very short. The most amazing man in the world says it makes me look sassy. Like he needed more of that. *snort* Anyhow, I’ll try to post a photo before it all grows back.

And hey, I completely forgot to tell you about the first Christmas gift I received early last week from my 17-year-old daughter. She saw it when she was out shopping and just “had to buy it” for me. Check it out:

Don’t I have the best kids?

Grumpy cat is now part of our Christmas traditions. Hmm...I’m not sure what that says about us.

Anyhow, enough blabbing. Let’s get to the funny stuff!

A beautiful day to all of you! We’re almost there...

A Cat’s Guide On How To Catch Santa

You’re doing it wrong, kitty!

What Ponies Ask Santa For Christmas

Well, what did you expect?

(Holiday) Sunny Side Up

Below is a video that I have to share with my bloggy pals. In it, some dogs and a cat sit down for a holiday feast. You heard right: a cat, as in singular. Because guess who's got to be at the head of the table?

Even the cat is amused.

If this isn't the funniest thing you see today, it'll surely be the most unique.

Don’t I take good care of you all?



Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Last weekend before Christmas! *squee*

When Christmas Treats Go Wrong

What would the holidays be without baking fails? It wouldn’t be as much fun, that’s for sure. And like many people, I’ve had my fair share. Everything looks so darn easy in the recipe. In reality, it’s a whole different ball game.

Here are some hilariously tragic Christmas treat outcomes...

If you make these in the spring, it'll explain the meltdown.

The cookies below look like they were prepared by a professional baker. How the heck is an ordinary person going to do that?

This has actually happened to me!

You can't go wrong with snowmen and strawberries. Or can you?

Well, as long as they taste good.

What about a Christmas tree cake?

This donut hole Christmas tree didn't quite make it to the finishing line.

Another attempt at beautiful cookies gone wrong...

The snowman with the marshmallow eyes is hilarious!
So is the one with the marshmallow boobs!

As for gingerbread houses, they can be salvaged because...

And that makes all the difference!

Have a great day, everyone.
(Oh my gosh...only one week until Christmas!)

(Holiday) Question Of The Day

Where does one begin with such a question? I like so many that it’s almost impossible to pick one.

But.

There is one that rises to the top because it takes me back to my early childhood and brings to mind so many wonderful memories. I first discovered this song in a Christmas television special that was produced in 1968 and continues to be aired so many years later. The song, which is also the title of this television classic, is “The Little Drummer Boy”

“The Little Drummer Boy” has been performed by many very talented individuals over the years but my all-time favourite version is by Bob Seger. Here’s a video of him singing with scenes from the beloved television special.


I fell completely in love with this tune the first time I heard it, and it continues to be a top choice.

What’s your favourite Christmas song?

Hometown Memories: Christmas Caroling

One of the most nerve-racking interesting things I’ve ever done as a child is go door-to-door Christmas caroling. And of course, my brother, Steve, went right along with me because we were completely inseparable as children and did everything together.

Performing for others wasn’t the easiest thing in the world for me to do because not only was I an introverted child that avoided the spotlight, I was also a painfully shy one, too. But my brother wasn’t bashful by any means, and he was quite the ham, so that made it easier. All I had to do was follow his lead.

Many, many Christmases ago. Steve is all the way to the left and I'm all the way to the right.
My brother may not be with us anymore but I have a lifetime of wonderful memories of him.

We only visited families that we knew, which certainly put me more at ease, and I must admit that it got easier as we went from one home to another.

One of the buildings we dropped in to sing Christmas carols to some family friends.

In fact, I was disappointed when we ran out of homes to visit; I wanted to keep going. Not that being tipped after each visit and amassing a small fortune by the end of that day had anything to do with it. Not at all.

Honest.
(fingers crossed behind back)

Have you ever gone caroling?

Chuckles and Chortles

Happy Monday, folks. How are you all doing after the weekend? And how goes all the Christmas stuff? I hope to be done with all my shopping this week. It’s pretty late for me. When my kids were very young, I used to prepare all year long, but I guess that makes sense since I had to shop for over 20 kids back then. Now it’s down to just some family.

I hope you’ve been enjoying all the holiday posts that I’ve been bombarding you with. Ready for more? As if you have a choice! 'Tis the season, you know. The season for Christmas madness!

Here’s another round of holiday humour for you. Whether you like it or not...

Wishing you all a great day ahead!