Christmas Day

   Food is cleared away, dishes are done (mostly) and I am so stuffed I don't think I'll be eating again until tomorrow. Everything went well - nothing over- or undercooked and no catastrophes. Even the flaming plum pudding was well received.

    I have a ton of food left so will just be reheating meals for the rest of the week. The family (four adults, three kids and a dog) stayed until 5:30 and we had games and a movie after the meal. Everyone pitched in, even the kids, and the cleanup was done lickety split. Dave even finished shovelling my driveway as I had to stop half way down to get started in the kitchen. We had about 5cms. of snow overnight and I was out at the crack of dawn (literally, I saw the sun come up) with the shovel.

   Now I am whacked and ready for bed but it's only 6:30 so I will try to keep my eyes open for another hour or two.

Oh So Busy

   Barely put my nose out of doors today but the capon is cooked, dissected and ready for reheating tomorrow, the gravy and stuffing are made and in the fridge, and one side dish (sweet potato and carrot mash) is done too. So all I need to do tomorrow is prepare snacks (Steve and Alison will bring them), cook shrimp for our first course and make up a platter with them, smoked mackeral and smoked salmon, roast potatoes, and reheat everything I made today. Doesn't sound like too much, does it? But I will be in a tizzy nevertheless, especially as I will have a glass (or two) of sherry on the go! Judy and Alison are bringing another side dish each so, hopefully, there will be room in the oven to reheat them too.  All this effort to feed 8 of us. How do people manage who have big families to feed and entertain. I would go bananas!

   I had a surprise visitor yesterday - one of the kids from the house across the street with a gift for me. We don't usually exchange gifts on the street but this particular family have done so in the past. It was a big box of chocolate truffles and they are delicious! I will have to ration myself.

   I forgot a couple of other things on my "to-do" list for tomorrow - heat cranberry sauce (from a can), heat the plum pudding (the one I let boil dry last month, hope it tastes OK), heat custard and make a pot of coffee. And I definitely must remember to clean the downstairs bathroom before anyone arrives, as I'm sure it will be well used!

Two More Sleeps

    I was "up and at 'em" this morning as I wanted to beat the crowds on the roads and at the grocery store. I had a load of laundry in by 7:15, breakfast and dressed by 8:00 and out of the house by 10 after. It was still snowing and the roads were a bit slippery but I took my time.

   The parking lot and store were quite empty so I got around lickety split. Unfortunately, I had left my list at home but managed to remember most of it. Next stop was the butchers for the capon I had ordered. It was a bit bigger than I wanted and came in at $50! But we will eat most of it on Monday and leftovers for me for the rest of the week. Nothing will be wasted including the carcass!

   After a quick coffee at home I was out again for the few things I had forgotten and a quick stop at the Pharmacy (my blood pressure was only a bit elevated which is a wonder with all the rushing around). It was still snowing so I left the shovelling until after lunch and my nap. Keeping fingers crossed that we don't get any more snow until later in the week as I could do without any more shovelling for a few days!

Heavy Weather and Other Problems

   The problems weren't mine but the weather did affect me. I was up and out by 8:30 to clear the driveway of about 5 cms. of snow. It was quite light and fluffy so no big effort required. In again at 9:00 for coffee and breakfast, then off to my tennis game.

   The roads were only partially cleared as it was still snowing and blowing but I made it safely. I had allowed myself a little extra time just in case of problems. However, we had barely got started on the court when one of our number had to leave (sick family member). We played with three for a while but eventually picked up a fourth (thank goodness for cell phones!) and played until nearly noon. 

   A bit more shovelling when I got home and I will safely be able to get in and out of my driveway tomorrow, unless there is more of the white stuff. I had a long nap - all the fresh air and exercise, I guess - and pottered around doing a bit of housework. The house is now presentable enough and most of the cobwebs are gone but I will continue tomorrow and Sunday if the notion takes me. Hope I manage to sleep tonight!