COVID Statistics

    Things are getting pretty bad in T.O. (in fact in the whole of Ontario, over 2,000 new cases each day and many more deaths). So we are just hunkered down hoping things will improve. The weather is quite cold so I have had to do without my walks. At least today was sunny so I managed to the drug store. Only allowed out for essential shopping and not many places open. Needing a haircut - luckily I got one just before lockdown was announced but that isn't going to end any time soon. We have all said "goodbye" to Christmas!

   Would it be better for our mental health to ignore the data with which we are bombarded each day? I think I would rather not know the number of new infections  but at the very least it serves to keep us on our toes and follow the necessary steps to stay safe. This, too, shall pass!

Getting the Christmas Spirit

    Felt a bit of the Christmas spirit to day so brought out my Snowman pitcher and my small, already decorated tree. Also got my first batch of Christmas cards on their way overseas. I have friends or relatives in the U.K., South Africa and Australia. 

Since the grandkids can't come over to help me decorate the big tree, this will have to suffice!

Of course, as soon as it was up, the cats had to come and check it out!

A festive decoration in my front hall. Too bad I won't have any visitors this year.

A Productive Day

     Another major snowfall overnight and into the morning. Once it stopped we were out shoveling (Steve worked hard, me not so much). The snow had turned to rain so the stuff on the ground quickly got wet and heavy, not fun to shovel. At least it wasn't cold.

   I got going on the Christmas mincemeat tarts this afternoon but had a terrible time with the pastry! It wouldn't come together despite following the directions carefully. Any advice would be gladly received. They are edible but not my best effort, unfortunately. I may try another batch later on. One of the cats almost got into them, knocked the tin to the floor before I got it in the freezer. We can't leave anything out on the counter as he is curious about anything that smells interesting.

   Finished my overseas Christmas cards this afternoon, too, and will get them in the mail tomorrow. One less job to do.

Give Me a Break!

The last few days we have had sunny skies (good for the gloomy blues) but below zero temperatures. Today was also sunny and actually managed to get into positive numbers, 2C! Nothing on the go today but did get started on writing Christmas cards - I received another one in the mail today. I did visit one store (my bread maker has given up) but I had forgotten that only essental services are open at the moment. So, no luck on getting a replacement. We will have to rely on store-bought bread until the lockdown is over. At the moment the numbers are indicating that it will be extended until the New Year.