Snowed In!

    Lots of fun yesterday when the family (daughter and hubby, and three grandkids) were over for the Christmas meal. Everything went smoothly with only a couple of mis-steps, and lots of leftovers for me to eat in the coming days. I did send half of the plum pudding and some custard home with them as it was a big one. Gifts were exchanged although we had agreed to keep it simple this year, and quite a bit of wine consumed by the adults. Oldest grandson has reached drinking age but declined to indulge as he hasn't acquired a taste for it yet. Plus he was the "designated driver"!

   It started snowing and blowing a hooley early this morning so I haven't ventured outside. The snow is piling up on doorsteps and around windows, making any excursion outside pretty near impossible. It should stop soon and I will try to go outside tomorrow and view the damage, and see if I will be able to clear it with my little snowblower. It will depend on how deep the drifts are. Luckily I don't have to go anywhere until Monday. By that time the roads should be cleared. Meanwhile I have a new puzzle on the go and some books to read.

    It looked like we were going to have a green Christmas but it snowed overnight, very wet and heavy but, luckily, only a couple of inches, so not too much of a struggle to clear the driveway to get the car out. It should hang around for at least a couple of days. 
I had a couple of last minute errands to run today but I think (and hope) I have everything for the Christmas guests. 

   

     Had to post today so that I could include my favourite Christmas song which no one else seems to favour - Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas".

Snow And More Snow

    It started yesterday so I shoveled that. Then more overnight and I was out at 8:30 as I had somewhere to go and needed a path for my car, but it was still snowing. Got home around 1:00 p.m. and after lunch and a nap I was out again to clear off enough room on my driveway to park the car. I will finish the rest of the driveway after I post this. Snow is forecast several times over the next few days so this is far from the last of the shoveling for December. Some years we hardly get any snow until after New Year! And then there are still three more months of the darn stuff. The only positive aspect was that it wasn't very cold, around the freezing mark, but it is forecast to be -12C overnight tonight which is why I want to get it done now.

  I had some help, one of the neighbour's kids, which made a big difference but she (yes, it was a girl) has her own driveway to keep clear, so I can't count on her always showing up. Now I am in a quandary whether to pay her as she is still in High School so is probably saving for further education. I will wait and see how often she helps me then give her something although she very well might refuse it.

    Friends from the Seniors' Centre had planned a meal out today but, sensibly, we cancelled as the roads were really quite slippery. We'll reschedule at a later date although it's always hard to find a day when everyone is available. In any case we all had a huge feast last Friday at the Mandarin buffet so can do with skipping the overeating for a few more days!

The RODEO Ladies Eat Spanish

    After a quiet week of eating at home I have two meals out this week. Today the ladies who lunch ate at Tapagria Restaurant in Markham, just a short drive from our base. It was a very quiet room, not particularly Spanish in decor but charming nonetheless. We ordered Tapas to share - our group of four chose Jambon Croquets, beef empinadas and Scallops Rothschild. It wasn't a great amount of food but very tasty. The other group had similar but also battered squid rings. They looked delicious and we wished we had ordered them too! The most interesting event was the table of 8 next to us ordered a paella which arrived at the table in a huge pan into which they all delved with gusto. Next time that will be our choice!

    Tomorrow (doesn't that always happen, two in a row) the Seniors will be at The Mandarin buffet for the Christmas lunch. I must be careful not to overdo it so I will wear a snug pair of pants to remind me to watch the portions. There will be much jollity, loads of prizes and a sing-a-long, so it will be a fun afternoon.

   It has been really cold this week (I believe tonight it may go down to -12C) with a bitter wind and some snow but not too much. We will soldier on regardless and just keep well wrapped up.