Musings on a Small Life

"There's no people like snow [show] people..." (a take-off of Irving Berlin's, "There no business like show business") Kiki over at Brian's Home ~ Forever has a snow family to show you today, and I couldn't resist adding to the theme, as I was passing by this house on my way home before work this morning (coffee run).     As long as I've lived in this area, they've been putting out their snow family.   I've posted pics over the years, but I'd swear this family (families?) breed during the year. They seem to increase in numbers annually!   They line the front of the house and the westerly side.   I know it's kind of cheesy, but I love it and it always puts a smile on my face. I hope it does yours too! 

Santa's Village at our mall. They've moved the display to the upper level for the first time ever, and have a new display downstairs (last pic). Keep in mind it's a small city with only one indoor mall. LOL. So it's not big-city slick and professional. The fellow who plays Santa is great. I believe it's the same man who has done it for years, and he looks the part, complete with real beard. It's been very busy in there, the times I've been in! Most of the kids are good, but some poor little ones have complete meltdowns. It would take endless patience to deal with them all, IMO.🎅 The last pic is where Santa's Village used to be. Moving the village upstairs gives everyone more room, doesn't block traffic flow anymore. I know it's kind of silly/cheesy, but every time I see that village (and Santa!) it puts a smile on my face. 

For a "short week" (I'd taken Monday as a vacation day, with another amazing Value Village shopping trip), Friday sure has taken its sweet time rolling around. I haven't snapped even one pic of the cats, mostly because it's pitch black when I'm leaving for work and almost pitch black now by the time I get home. However, this has the advantage of being able to see some of the Christmas lights that people are decking their halls with. Snapped this morning as I was walking part way to work. I don't care if some think it's overkill and tacky, I like to look at an abundance of lights. No, I'm not fond of the old plastic decorations (though one house in my greater neighbourhood has a plastic snowperson family that keeps growing every year and is fun to see). But let's face it, Christmas really is the only time you can go all "Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation" and get away with it. As for our office, a couple of weekend...

I had gift wrapping and Christmas cards on my agenda this weekend, but at 2:45PM on Sunday, I've run out of steam. I have this hazy memory of being more on the ball when I was younger, but that could be a convenient, and false, memory. I want a nap. Actually, I want a back massage and a nap. Neither of which is in the offing! However, I did manage to put up my outdoor decorations this morning. I was out on my stepladder at 6AM, working by the light from the street lamp directly opposite my unit. I think the most time-consuming thing was screwing in all those little hooks for the garland across the top of my garage door and around my door frame for the lights. It all took only an hour and a half, and I was out there without a jacket (thermal layers under my clothes, though). No way was I putting it off any longer, with today and tomorrow our mild days before we're back to winter temps. (Bonus, our snow has melted!) Then I went out for an inexpensive breakfast (I...

So I took the curtains back to Target yesterday morning, then made the "mistake" of going downstairs to look at their Christmas section. They had all their trees on for half price, most sold out. All reasonably priced and all, IMO, lovely. Actually, they have the nicest trees, for the best prices, that I've seen anywhere around town. And I've been looking. They had a 4.5 foot Virginia pine for $32.50 and I couldn't resist. THIS is what a small tree should look like, and it was worth it to me, I feel happy looking at it.  :-)     The other little tree is now upstairs on my landing, looking cute with all its old-fashioned ornaments (pics on another camera, not yet downloaded). And that's it for my holiday decor. I had "help" from the boys putting this up.  :-)   Back to work now...I woke a few times in the night, thought it was still Sunday. Alas, the "break" is over.  :-) Wishing everyone a good day...Purrs fr...

I guess it's progress. It's certainly not fast enough for me. At least the living room is mostly back together. Some day I hope to have a new couch, ditch this old hide-a-bed. My stylist's handyman father stopped by after work yesterday and I'll have him do the trim, though he said it should be painted before it goes on--which I'll do to save costs. So I'm not sure how long that will take, as I need to buy enough trim to replace what I had taken off. I had wanted to have someone redo the entire lower area, but that's not going to happen at this time. Nicki asleep on the couch this afternoon. Apparently he doesn't want to look at the mess or contemplate the remaining work. I was home today, feeling lousy with a head cold, chest cough and a serious lack of sleep (I've not slept much for the past few weeks). Nothing serious. It was wonderful to crawl back into bed around 5AM and sleep for a few hours. I didn't let the day go to ...

Just because you buy a set of indoor lights, the exact style as your existing ones, and supposedly the same "warm white" colour, does not mean they will be the same colour when, after three tries, you get them arranged on the tree and plug them in. In fact, the new "warm white" colour can be quite different from the older "warm white" colour. And one more note: Just don't even attempt this without copious quantities of alcohol or chocolate--neither of which I have on hand. *Headdesk* Okay, this is turning into an all-day process.... ****** BTW, last night the doorbell rang--twice--around 7PM. I thought I'd have a heart attack, my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest, because I couldn't think who else it would be except the unstable neighbour coming to rant about something else. I didn't answer the door. As it turned out, it was another neighbour who wanted to borrow my driveway for a few hours. I know this bec...

If those who post on the CB can't already figure out I'm in a funk, then yep, I'm in a funk. Not wanting to post on the boys' blog or comment, blah blah. I always retreat, feel like quitting blogging altogether, when I get like this. Whatever. This too shall pass and all. And by "funk" I don't mean suicidal. I mean a funk . Anyway. So, Friday at work, we were debating the merits of angry mushrooms, not to be confused with any other type of mushroom. One of the department heads (we share space with two other units) recently had gone to Japan on a business trip and brought back some treats: Someone thought the mushroom (above, on the box cover, at the right) looked angry. And who'd want to eat an angry mushroom? But upon closer inspection it was decided that the poor mushroom was just straining under the weight of the double layer of chocolate it was holding up. Or perhaps it was constipated. Note below that the actual treats have o...

I popped into the office this morning to water my plants, then walked down along the waterfront for a bit. On the way down, through campus, I came across this little tree, decorated with these cute ornaments. A bit of whimsy, I thought. BTW, I seem to have a real knack for choosing the coldest days to take a few snapshots. It was -17C this morning, with a windchill into the -20s Celcius. Even with thick layers, I was cold! P.S. I miss my TV! Even though CBC Radio 1 does some really interesting stories. Thankfully, I can knit and listen to the radio at the same time. LOL. Universal Blessings, Light and Mercy to All Beings.

I think the boys are hoping for a bigger boot or stocking than this:   It's one of the tiny ornaments hanging on a cute little tree at the other end of our office suite, part of another department's decorations. I'm sure "Santa" will oblige the boys. Meanwhile, I'm just looking forward to the break, as I do every year. Of course, I always find myself very eager to get back into a daily routine by the end of our holiday, but I'm not thinking that far ahead at the moment. Maybe, just maybe , if the weather holds and we remain snow-free or without significant accumulation, I'll feel motivated to go for a walk or two with my camera. Something I've not done in a long time, though I always have the little Elph with me. So my countdown is on: Seven days till Derry's "Gotcha Day," eight days till the Solstice, nine days till I'm on holiday (I'm taking the 22nd off and the half-day on the 23rd), and a mere eleven days till Chri...

Just shy of two hours to do my paltry outdoor holiday decorating: lights on the fat shrub, garland and bows around the garage door and on my little step railing. No wreath on the door yet, though. It is early, but our +13C weather will be coming to an end soon. Like today. And I didn't want to be out there in a coat and gloves later this month, trying to get it all done.   Too bad I didn't have quite enough garland to go to the bottom, but I did the best I could with what I had, and it still looks festive. I did walk up to Rona (big home and garden box store) this morning (missed their 15% off sale yesterday), and saw lots of lovely trees and holiday decorations, but didn't buy anything other than the bows you see. They had a couple of gorgeous artificial pine trees I coveted, maybe I'll see if anything is left over after Christmas, on the Boxing Day sales. Right now I have a good cup of tea beside me and Perry Como (yes!) singing about tidings of comfort and joy. Ano...

1. Being paid this weekend (monthly) meant a lot of exhausting weekend errands on bus, by foot and yes, taxi for the huge stock-up of goods. I am getting too old for this. Unlike that 100-year old man who ran the Toronto marathon the other weekend, I'm not in great shape. Snapped on campus on Friday while waiting for the bus. 2. Don't buy a cheap mattress topper from the Evil Empire (Wal-Mart) because though it might claim to be queen-sized, and thus 56 inches wide, it probably will turn out to be only 51 inches and have to be returned the next day. 3. Apparently no one in this city carries decorative litter box covers. The manager-on-duty at PetSmart wasn't even aware anything like that existed. The store did have a few types of very cool litter boxes, but nothing suitable for my main living area. Certainly Wal-Mart and Zellers have nothing. I can't wait till Zellers becomes a Target. I hope the selection of pet merchandise improves greatly. (Our Wal-Mart is worse...