Forging our own trails

We did some urban, guerilla skiing. Little bit risky in retrospect...

 

What is ours is his

 

We got a new to us couch but because it was grey, plush and positioned by a window to see all passing dogs/squirrels/CATS!!!, Darwin claimed it. Sigh...

Starting a new year

It wasn't an easy return home for dear Seb. But they got stuck in with online - pandemic-style - gymnastics coaching of the young ones at TDot. Sophie and I had many giggles about the students' behaviour and attention spans!

Tried some pierogie making

 

A visitor!! We had a real, live visitor from out of town

Virtually everything was shut but we did a big walk by the lake and in High Park; we explored the Distillery district and splurged on some Thai food; we watched a movie and made a trip to Eataly for loads of yummies.

 

Snow days!!

 Literally - SNOW days. After 2 weeks of holidays + 2 weeks of lock-down, Mother Nature gave us two snow days....

New Year's prep and Open House - 2022 style

After umming & ahhing, we decided to do a drive-by New Year's Open House, spending more time with less people. But just as much yummy food!

This dish needed a trial - champagne and camembert soup (prosecco & brie) but given that it was like a cheese fondu soup - it made the cut!

Sophie made a sour cream & chocolate bundt cake (she loves that word), as well as festive kale salad, dipped candy canes, and curried carrot & apple soup. And those are Jo's delicious molasses spiiced cookies with rum glaze.

The in/famous artichoke & goat cheese dish (Seb's debut)

Seb made French onion soup - caramelising the onions

Bagged up and ready to deliver - we served 15 families!!

Wishing you all rich & rewarding ideas, the means to follow-through on them and rejuvenation.

Year end delights

We have fun sharing the annual round-up of what we each played on Spotify. Any guesses for who this was?

Baxters' Corner (sketch) with cardinals

Sophie showing how to lounge on her dad's new couch

 

and her flowers

All things Nutcracker

December 1-19 truly turned into all things Nutcracker! But what a glorious show it was, bringing joy to so many people. 

Mum was on ironing and mouse/lotus supervision. Dad was heading up the front of house volunteers. And Sophie rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed (all in a mask)!

Between watching in the performance space to a virtual watch party to people watching other performances online, we had almost 30 audience members: Gramps & Nana, Grandma, Mum, Dad, Bro, Auntie R, Dorothy & Peter, the Eardleys, Kevin & Arthur, Jane, Sydney & Deb, Mark & Mary, Wendy, Mona & David, Jeannie, Diana, neighbours Christina & Christine. I may have missed some but thank you all! You will no doubt agree that it's not a standard community production and the camera work this year was fantastic.

The all important foam roller for backs and legs

A supportive cast

Teens!

Ballet makes you strong



She had 6 roles and thus 6 multi-piece costumes and two sets of shoes (plus dancing barefoot)
Can you name her roles??
Young adult girl in party scene
Wind up toy soldier (solo and trio)
Battle soldier (same costume)
Snow
Amira, desert princess
Flower (one of the blue duo)
-- and back to Amira for the finale --

Ms Bouman and her leads

The glam squad

Pre-show warm up

always led by some of the senior dancers

Notes from the ballet mistress

Not very glamourous backstage...

Amira, princess of the desert

Battle soldier

The mice transfixed by the party scene (Sophie is far right)

The gorgeous and gregarious lotuses

And the beautiful, beautiful costumes

Waterloo lad

Late breakfast one day that Dad drove through

Before you knew it,

first term was over

and it was time to head home.

 

And the final celebration of the month!

LOL Grandma Sylvia

Enjoying her new cardinal PJs

Keeping her well-fed on the last visit with our family favourite of chili

And leaving her with 8 monthly gifts!