Luíseach’s Neighborhood

You never know what you will find here:) From me begging you to donate to worthy causes to what I'm reading. This afternoon, I finally have settled in to read Tales from a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms by my pal, AliceGriffin. I've been following Alice's adventures for a while now through her blog. It is a delightful read written by a delightful person. Great for armchair travelers, families with a dream and those actually starting their planning:)

Also, remember that amaryllis I saved? Look how it has grown and not only that, a twin shoot grew from the same bulb alongside it and now is ready to burst into bloom also!

Monty approves....... I'm learning how to use my new lens:)

Because I am team leader... I feel a bit of responsibility towards the rest of my group and am posting this here because there are only two days left to participate in this opportunity to help purchase a new digital mammogram machine for our local hospital.
For a $10 donation you will be entered in a draw on December 30th to win ALL of this! So far, only 60 tickets have been sold.

2 tickets to Mooseheads game on January 8th vs Montreal Juniors

$30 gift certificate to THE ARMVIEW

Boxing Day sales start. I'm not much of a shopper but I have a Lululemon certificate that I am hoping to stretch to twice it's size today:) I also want to pick up an armband for my new nano.

I am also hoping to try out a new lens I got for my camera:)) Better get out there!

Only 3 days until this is drawn!!Only 58 tickets sold!!
Dec 30th. The BustaMove BIG PRIZE DRAW , hoping that you might be interested in donating $10 to help purchase a digital mammogram machine & be entered in our fabulous draw. Help make the boobs of Nova Scotian women merry! Thanks to all of you who have done so already:)) Winner gets it all. Great odds at this point!

December Views

Well, here we are on the other side! Another Christmas dusted off and filed on the memory shelves.  One of my presents was an iPod nano!!! Yay! I'm late coming into the mp3 business. This one is great because I can also listen to my beloved CBC radio if I want, something I enjoy doing as I walk. Walking is what I plan on doing more of as Jan 30th looms closer. Cross training:) I have to take off all those extra chocolate, cheese, wine, dip, crackers,trifle, gravy pounds I put on over the last week. Yikes, really, I am not kidding, but they sure were tasty:)

My brother's house last night. A winter wonderland! We were there for his father in law's 80th birthday party. As beautiful as it was outside, the drive home was very slow and took every ounce of concentration. Snow falling steadily, road covered with fresh snow and in that area they don't salt because of people's wells. It was the kind of falling snow that hypnotizes you as it drive through it, creating constant 3D effect  as if you are driving through a vortex. Wierd and wonderful.

Nevertheless, it was still absolutely magical out there.

Hope you have a contented and peaceful few days ahead of you:) Happy Christmas!

I wrote this in August this year:

Much has happened in my little life.  Lots of loss but the Lord has been faithful and I'm anchored and closer to Him than ever.  I have good friends and a loving family that have been supportive throughout.

My Dad died a year ago August 4th....

My Mom died just a few weeks ago, July 12th.  Her first symptom was in March and now she's gone.  A measure of comfort I have is that Mom and Dad are together.  Mom smiled at something/someone/s when she died.  As if she was smiling at us by her bedside and beyond at something very, very wonderful.  I think she may have been greeted by my Dad.  I'll have to ask when I see them again.  I KNOW my Mom is more than fine.  That gives me the strength to carry on here 

I've lost both my parents in less than a years time.  Wow, never would I have thought I'd be in this position.  You just never know in this life.  They were both in their mid-60's. 

Life is a gift.  Thank you, Lord, for the loving relationship I had with both my parents.  The grief I feel is a result of the love we shared.  I'm thankful.  Yet, I cry not for them, but for me.

Just lost a good friend this week to a motorcycle accident.  She was so supportive to both me and my Mom these last several months.  She brought goodies when she visited Mom and enough to feed visitors and staff too.  She prayed with and for me and my family.  That is valuable and cherished.  The last text message I got from her was the evening before her accident.  She simply texted 'Praying for you'.  She had a big heart and was an encouraging sister in Christ.  I will miss the connection we shared of her being there for me concerning Mom.  That was a comfort to me.  She started out a Vox neighbor and became an offline friend.

In the midst of this incredible loss I feel peace.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring but thankful for the peace I have today.

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Today, December 23rd, I just want to let you know that my sweet Grandmother joined my Mom, Dad, Glenda, and many loved ones when she died to this life on October 16th.  I miss them all so much.  Many here used to pray for the situation with my Grandmother and with my Dad.  That's why I'm posting here in the off chance some may see this.  If any of you are on Facebook, let me know and I'd love to stay connected with you over there.   

I wish those who read this a very blessed Christmas and a new year filled with love and joy.

Mom Dad Me Grandma - Mother's Day a few yrs ago

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! How did it get here so quickly?
Lots to do still as always. Heading off to the gym shortly.
37 days until we BustaMove. Yikes! Did I mention that my daughter has signed on?
The prize list is growing:) Yay. Wooden Monkey has donated a gift certificate:) Thanks. $10 donation gets you in on a draw for all this! Only 57 tickets sold to date.

Waiting for our Holiday Special at Swiss Chalet. It's a tradition with us now, every year after the Christmas Pantomime, we head here for our quarter chicken meal and Lindor chocolate truffle dessert treat! Simple pleasures.

* I got my Food For Boobs cookbook today in the mail! I love it. Great job Melanie! Lovely wee gift and the money goes towards BustaMove too. Bonus! Chockfull of yummy recipes. I am looking forward to trying Mexican tabouli, Fried feta & marinated pear salad, Chicken with Thai noodles and Peanut sauce, Tognetti's Bolognese, Maple curry pasta, English toffee.....nom, nom, nom, I think I had better stop now. You can order it from the sidebar on the right if you are interested.

* Here's a fun thing to do. My friend Mary, decided to collect pennies last year. She made a  decision last December and kept a lookout for pennies all year. She rolled $129 dollars worth this month! She did it in half hour increments while watching Coronation Street! I'm thinking it might be fun to do the same thing. I'm going to keep a big pot and write today's date on it and start from right now. See how much I can collect by Dec 21, 2010. Mad money!!

* I got a Christmas card in the mail last week from a pal whom I've only met once. We met in Greece at a place called Claire's House where everybody sits together for breakfast. I was a young thing on my way to the Islands and he was on his way back to the US or it might have been the other way round can't remember now. We had a really great chat and exchanged addresses as travellers do. Well, over 25 years later, we are STILL exchanging Christmas cards!  That's all, just a card and hello each December  but it is another tradition I look forward too:) He is a poet named George Ellenbogen. I have yet to get my cards out this year (I know, I know) but I will manage a few.

* Just made a loan this morning via Kiva to the Pure Joy Group in Ghana. Don't you love their name?? 62 other Kiva lenders and I made the $1,775.00 loan and it will be used to buy goods in bulk to expand business. This is my 11th loan and I must say it is an easy way to make a difference and learn about the world. It is interesting choosing who to help. I tend to pick women to help. You can do it in $25. increments which is great. It gives me a lot of joy.

* Hooray! Daylight will start to reclaim it's territory starting tomorrow. Winter has officially started. Longest night of the year tonight. Light a candle and enjoy.

I am keeping this here on my blog until Dec 30th. The BustaMove BIG PRIZE DRAW , hoping that you might be interested in donating $10 to help purchase a digital mammogram machine & be entered in our fabulous draw. Help make the boobs of Nova Scotian women merry! Thanks to all of you who have done so already:)) Prizes are continuing to be added:) Latest is a CD by Shannon Quinn! Winner takes all. Great odds!

December Views

Don't adjust your computer. This ia a picture of my Christmas tree! I had a happy accident with the camera and was really chuffed when I saw what it looked like so of course I fooled around a bit more. Basically I moved the camera around as the shutter was going off. Not rocket science but fun to do.The room was too dark for anything but the lights to register.

This one is a picture of our tree topping. I snapped and quickly tilted the camera down as I was taking the pic:)

We have a gigantic storm bearing down on us. I was looking at the radar and it appears as if we are going to get a LOT of snow. Click on the wee arrow above the radar picture to see it animate.
I've been to the store and stocked up on goodies, filled up the car and now am firmly ensconced awaiting the big blow:)

I am keeping this here on my blog until Dec 30th. The BustaMove BIG PRIZE DRAW , hoping that you might be interested in donating $10 to help purchase a digital mammogram machine & be entered in our fabulous draw. Help make the boobs of Nova Scotian women merry! Thanks to all of you who have done so already:)) Prizes are continuing to be added:) Latest is a CD by Shannon Quinn! Winner takes all. Great odds!

December Views

Love this picture! It is a print in my shop called Winter Bunnies. Notice the snowman:)

I am weary right now, late night, early morning and lots of good stuff in between! Our pancake breakfast was another success:) I just wanted to log on and thank everybody who came! It is always a fun event but..... smiling, talking, cooking, tidying and enjoying everybody makes one sleepy by the time 3pm rolls around. Dare I take a nap? After all it is Saturday. I am not a napper by nature but I might just pop into bed with The Scarpetta Factor, P. Cornwell's latest book and a cup of Tazo Chai. mmmm.

Finally got our tree up and it looks warm and festive with it's twinkly lights and decoration. Now if I could only get to my Christmas cards! Maybe I'll do them tomorrow as the snow falls.

Now that the Pancake Breakfast is over, I am focusing on this wee draw. Please think about donating:) I will keep this here on my blog until Dec 30th. BustaMove BIG PRIZE DRAW For $10 you can help purchase a digital mammogram machine & be entered in our fabulous draw. Help make the boobs of Nova Scotian women merry! Prizes are continuing to be added:) Latest is a CD by Shannon Quinn! Winner takes all. Great odds! Thanks to those who have purchased:)

December Views