All Is Calm

Well Christmas is over for another year, just have to get through my birthday on Sunday and New Years Eve. I find it amazing that this year has passed in what seems like the blink of an eye.

Yesterday we had our extended family get together at my brother in law's place just north of the city. There were supposed to be 22 of us gathering (really quite a small gathering now) but one brother in law was sick and Kris was ill as well. So we were down to 20 including children.

Overall the experience was not as grueling as some years, but I think next year we will give it a miss and just do a family get together.

Here are a few photos of our gathering.

This is a picture of Sharri (sitting with  her back to the camera), Bradley (the baby of the family) is next, Kurt scratching his head, and then Sharri's husband James. Coming down the stairs is Diane along with Blake, Easton, and Juaquin.

Here is James once again, Harvey and Diane's husband Phil.

Here is a picture of all the men (minus Bryce, Blake and Easton they had already left by this time).

Here are the women (minus Andrea and the youngest Kate left as well).

When I first saw this picture I thought my lord I have a huge rear end. Then I realized my sweater was bunched up which makes the picture a bit easier to take. Have I ever told you that I hate getting my picture taken!!!

Tomorrow I will share a few more pictures with you all. What Harvey has been up to in the workroom and how well the men in my life know me and what I like.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Wishing You All....

 Wishing all of my blogging friends a holiday season full of the joy and love you all deserve.

God bless.

Menu Monday

The beginning of a new week and the menus magically appear (not really, but since I do them a month at a time posting them weekly is easy when I remember).

Monday

Hot dogs, pasta and beans.

Tuesday

I was going to make pork chops but I will make Lasagna instead. Served with some cole slaw.

Wednesday

Out for pot luck supper for Christmas with the extended family. My contribution is ham (hmmm, better check and make sure I still have the ham).

Thursday

This was going to be clean out the fridge night, but I don't think there will be much of anything in there. So I will make a turkey. (Kurt and Kris will actually have some leftovers to take home). The usual fixings with the turkey will also appear on the table.

Friday

Lazy Perogies served here.

Saturday

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and carrots.

Sunday

Leftover turkey made into something absolutely delish.

So there they are my menus for this week.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Today was the fourth Sunday of Advent, bringing with it the lighting of all the candles in our Advent wreath at church.

Today the candle represents peace.... Something that can be difficult to find in our hectic world at this time of year.

Right now I feel at peace because one of our sons is home and under our roof once again. It may only be for a week, but once he is joined by his brother my home will feel much like it did back when they were growing up and I could see them each and every day. I can see that they are healthy and growing to either love their chosen professions or willing to work at those chosen professions.

I also feel peace because the weather is so cold that I am getting to stay in and putz around the house doing all those little things that make a house a home.

Today we (meaning Harvey, Kurt and I) went and helped decorate the church for Christmas. As I hung decorations on the two large trees in the sanctuary I reflected on how peaceful the church was and how everyone there seemed to know exactly what they were doing. It was also wonderful having those of my family that were home there helping as well. Isn't that what peace is, a group of people working together for the good of their community. Now if only we could take that out to the rest of the world.

I was going to make this top out of the stretch velvet I had left.

It seemed that no matter which way I laid the pattern or which way I folded it there was just not enough.

So I decided to make the vest instead.

 Hopefully it turns out. I just don't know if stretch velvet is the right fabric for this.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Departures and Arrivals

Yesterday we said our good byes to Sister Adelaide (or as she would often remind some of us that were close to her Sister Lemonade, cause you know it rhymes with Adelaide).

This picture was taken for her 75th anniversary as a Sister of Loretto just two years ago. We had a joyous celebration and the memories of working on it will be with me forever.

Today, Kurt arrived home from Alberta. The bad boy teased me and said the roads were so bad he had decided to stay in Moose Jaw tonight and travel home tomorrow. Of course gullible me thought nothing of it. About five minutes later I got another call from him saying he had decided to try to come home after all. I, tried to convince him that if the roads were that bad he should wait until tomorrow and travel while it was still light. Kurt started to laugh and then said "Look out the front window Ma." There he was, getting out of his car and laughing at me. Boy has he ever learned to pick on his poor mother from his dad. Got to get both of them back somehow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

Boy can you ever tell that the longest night of winter will soon be upon us. The sun is coming up later and later while setting earlier and earlier. Soon however the reverse will begin and I can hardly wait.

Tomorrow we lay Sister Adelaide to rest. The emptiness that her passing will leave behind in our parish will take a long time to replace.

Just a bit on what has been happening around the old Phillips homestead.

I managed to finish all the mitts for the men in my family.

 Each of the men in my life will be receiving 2 pairs of mittens just like those pictured. They are bagged and ready to go under the tree. A pair of grey and a pair of navy blue, after all you can never have too many pairs of mittens in the house.

I also managed to get my Christmas skirt sewn.

I have about a meter left of this stretch velvet and so will try making a top to go along with it. I had thought about making a vest, but just do not think the material is suitable for such a project. I do have a lovely pattern that I have used over and over again that I plan on using. I may even do a bit of metallic embroidery on it just to give it a bit of glitz. I will try and remember to post a picture of it once it is done.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Posting this very early (for me) today as I have a long list to accomplish and I don't want to forget.

Monday

Smoked Sausages, rice and green beans.

Tuesday

Leftover pork roast made into a casserole. Salad on the side.

Wednesday

Turkey Soup from the freezer and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches made from home made bread.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge smorg.

Friday

Glace and eggs

Saturday

Leftover Ham made into Pasties.

Sunday

Sweet and Sour ribs served over rice and a salad.

So those are my menus for the upcoming week. Kurt should be home by Saturday so I am not sure how much in the way of leftovers there will be for the rest of the week........

Everybody have a wonderful day

God bless.