A Misadventure

   A not so funny thing happened on Christmas Day. While I was dashing around getting lunch on the table for my guests I was stung by a wasp. I think it came out of some packaging we had just opened and was crawling on the floor - didn't realize what it was so bent to pick it up. Bad move! It didn't hurt for long and I had forgotten about it the next day, but on day three my finger was swollen, hot and throbbing so I guess it got infected. It's a lot better today, thank goodness. The wasp was a big sucker and met an untimely death at my hand after delivering the sting. 

   Still extremely cold - only got up to minus 13C today - and it will be the same all next week. Poor weather for all the New Years revellers. I will just stay indoors. Today I drove to the mall - too cold to walk and luckily my car started - and got a new library book and a haircut. My hairdresser will be away until the end of January so I thought I should see her before she goes. I have a jigsaw puzzle on the go, knitting to do and lots to read so no problem keeping busy!

The Cold Spell Continues

   Finished off the last bottle of wine and now am not fit for anything. Please excuse any typos!

   Still very cold but with sunshine it is bearable. I saw people out without hats today and jackets unzipped even though it was -10C. That's Canadians for you! I'm getting worried about the extent of my heating bill next month as it gets very cold overnight and the furnace seems to be running non stop.

   I went to the mall today for some bird seed bells and while I was there looked at Fitbits. I have a notion to buy one but there were no sales people available so gave up. That is one sale they have missed out on although I may buy one elsewhere.

   Still eating leftovers but have put a bit in the freezer to eat later. 

Boxing Day

   Beastly cold day today - in the minus double digits and the wind chill clocked in at minus 20-something Brrr!

   First job this morning was to get the capon carcass boiling down all its meaty goodness, then a handful of barley thrown in. I had forgotten to buy a turnip for the soup so a quick run to the store was required. More veg added and it was ready for lunch, delicious and warming on such a cold day. Meanwhile, here are some photos from yesterday's festivities.

My pretty Christmas mantel.

Grandkids busy with their presents

   I have made a serious dent in the chocolate reserves (Judy brought me another box yesterday), there's still some opened bottles of wine in the fridge and lots of tasty leftovers so I am a happy camper! I'll even have some plum pudding later tonight!

Ready to tuck in to the starters.

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.