Month: November 2019

Today we went over to Lowes to pick up a Christmas tree. Usually we get two, but this year, because Christmas dinner is being hosted in Toronto, we decided to get just one.

They had only Balsam fir but we wanted a Fraser fir. We were disappointed to learn that there was a bad crop in Nova Scotia this year and they didn’t get any. So we went to Home Depot where we picked up this one. Strange that they had Fraser fir, hmmm.

We’ll let it open up and then we’ll decorate it tomorrow.

MY Jane, during one of her genealogy sessions, came across this Christmas postcard written to a relative of hers over a century ago. It was amongst some personal records that Ted had kept over the years. Note that the top left says, “Somewhere in France” because in war time, exact location details were not permitted.

The front of the postcard was woven with fabric, showing the flags of the allies; tucked inside a little flap she found a tiny note with the actual location of Jimmie Collins. It doesn’t look as though anyone ever saw this note, but us.

A fascinating piece of history which depicts an example of the continuing security concern for troop locations during the First World War.

Yesterday afternoon Jenny and Allan dropped over for a visit after their recent return from a month long vacation in Mexico. Both looked tanned and happy.

We had been cat-sitting their pet, Toffee, and to show their appreciation, they brought us back a beautiful butterfly wind sculpture.

It turns with the breeze and just fits in with our garden flavour.

I have it temporarily suspended from the arbour.

Yesterday we travelled to Toronto, the plan being to go to Sara and Steve’s so they could tell us the gender results of yesterday’s sonogram. Our excitement was mounting and the drive seem to take forever.

Ironically, because we were a bit early, we went to Eglinton Square to look around and who did we run into? Yup – Steven and Sara. We had quite a laugh about that.

Later, at their place, they gave us the prettiest card. The inside of the envelope was PINK!!

A girl! A grandaughter! We are thrilled beyond measure!!

We even got to watch a video of the full ultrasound procedure that Steve surreptitiously filmed. What a day, what a celebration!!

Today we head down to Sara and Steven’s place to find out the gender of their baby. Oh and dinner, too. Sara is having a full ultra sound scan today.

To be ready, whether boy or girl, I am wearing a pink flamingo sock on my left foot and a blue sock on my right. My Jane is hoping that we don’t get pulled over on the way!

Last night Sara and Steve phoned us, both very excited. They finally felt the baby start kicking. This was the first time Sara was sure about the kicks and it was a big relief for her.

She quickly told Steve and he, too, felt the baby kick. Then he put his ear to Sara’s tummy and the baby kicked Steve’s ear.

How nice is that.

This morning, MY Jane and I went up to Walmart to pick up a few grocery items and do some browsing.

We ended up getting a few clothing things for Max as well as something for Steven and Sara’s baby.

Tomorrow we head down to their place for dinner and to hear the results of the latest ultra sound scan. Will the baby be a boy or a girl?

For the past while MY Jane and I have been doing some work on preparing our annual Christmas Newsletter.

I use this blog to pick out highlights of the past year and we send it out with our Christmas cards.

We try to pick out something from each month and that seems to work quite well.

There is one more month to do and that’s November. We are holding off until after the 26th because that’s when we will find out the gender of Sara’s and Steven’s baby.

The US House of Representatives has wrapped up its public hearings into impeaching the President, Donald J Trump, the most vile and despicable creature ever to walk the face of the earth.

Before Christmas they will probably send articles of impeachment to the Senate, which has a Constitutional obligation to act as judge.

Because the Republicans control the Senate and it takes a two thirds majority to determine a finding if guilty, he will likely remain in office.

Too bad, because he really deserves to be kicked out and the majority of American people deserve better.

MY Jane and I have fallen into kind of a routine when it comes to cat sitting the Casey’s cat.

She goes over in the morning after our daily Yahtzee tournament and I go over after supper for about an hour.

This cat, Toffee, is very lethargic and likes to spend most of her time laying on the bed.

I have taken to carrying her downstairs. It’s only then that she will go out for much needed fresh air.

With some trepidation, I sat down at the computer and attempted to merge my previous blog titled Life Unfolding with the current one called Life Goes on With Gary and Jane.

It turned out to be a lot easier than I imagined and I managed to do it without a hitch.

So from now on, I will be making my daily blog posts on this site.

Today I hooked up the Christmas village miniatures which have been arranged on the downstairs buffet and I hung stockings with care, from the fireplace mantle. See what I did there?

On the main floor, I have connected the curio cabinet and nearby Christmas lights to be activated through Alexa.

We will get a Christmas tree for downstairs in a couple of weeks.

This morning I started taking down bins of Christmas decorations to begin preparing for Christmas.

While Jane worked on the main floor, I arranged the Nativity scene in the sitting room niche.

Because we are not hosting Christmas day this year, we have decided to put only one tree up instead of our usual two.

We will do more tomorrow.

Ah yes, the chair, I guess I can’t forget!

We had quite the laugh and Chris was a good sport to sit in it, giving me the adult chair.

After leaving Chris and Tonya’s, MY Jane and I went to visit Jane’s former neighbour, Kate Pilling, mother of David and Cameron Pearce.

We had a short visit then headed home.

On the way, we were delayed by a serious accident on Highway 11, but we finally arrived, still basking in the glow of seeing our grandson, Max.

Chris and I were up bright and early to get lined up outside the Disney store in order to get the collectibles which Tonya and Maria are collecting.

Tonya had told me to bring a folding chair but I forgot to put one in the car so we stopped at Canadian Tire to buy a cheap one. My Jane waited in the car and I ran in; spotting a nice red for $13 which was the cheapest, I grabbed it and we continued on.

This morning, when we got there and I opened up the chair, we laughed when we saw it was a child’s chair!!

Chris is a good sport though, so he sat in it while we waited. Really, he was quite comfortable. Really.

Tonya is a big Disney fan and has been collecting Disney collectibles for years.

They are offered for sale only at Disney stores and there is a limited number.

To make sure to get one, it is necessary to line up very early in the morning in front of the store. Tomorrow I will graciously be accompanying Chris, while MY Jane and Tonya relax at home with Max. I wonder what kind of trouble Chris and I can get into, early in the morning, in a very long lineup, where apparently many customers have come to know each others’ quirks? Stay tuned!

Yesterday morning, MY Jane went down to babysit Max while Tonya went out to an appointment.

Grandma was thrilled that Max recognized her after a couple of minutes and then reached for her, with a very big smile!

She attached a new wrist rattle on him which he quite enjoyed.

She was there most of the day and upon her return, it was easy to see how much she enjoyed herself with our adorable grandson.

Tomorrow we both go back, to line up with Chris at the Disney store for a collectible to add to Tonya’s collection.

This morning, after breakfast, Jane is driving to Toronto to babysit Max for Tonya. Someone is excited!

Yesterday we had received quite a snow fall but the roads have been plowed and the car has snow tires, so I hope that the drive is an uneventful one.

She will return home later today and in the meantime, it’s just Minnie and me.

Woke up to this, the first real snowfall of the Winter.

Colter, our neighbour with whom we have a snow removal arrangement, was right on the job at 7:30 AM and cleared off the driveway.

After breakfast, MY Jane and I did our across the street neighbours’ driveway while they are away in Mexico.

This morning, just as the snowing began, MY Jane and I did one more raking of the leaves on the front and back lawns. We used the last of our yard waste bags and got all the summertime tools put away in the garden shed, there to remain until Spring.

All the while, we were watching the time so that we could be inside by 11 am, to watch the Remembrance Day commemoration in Ottawa. Time to reflect on the courageous soldiers who gave their lives for our freedoms in this wonderful country of ours. On a personal level, both My Jane and I find our thoughts casting back to our fathers, who fought in World War II. So proud of them and grateful that they returned safely.

I spray painted Max’s Christmas ornamemt with gold paint but I didn’t like the look. So today I picked up some red sparkly glitter glue from Michaels and added it.

I think it improves the look somewhat. It’s more festive I think. Hope Max likes it.

This morning I finished my very first scroll saw project with the saw that MY Jane presented to me for my birthday.

It’s a Christmas tree ornament made from 1/4 inch oak plywood, made for my grandson Max, hence the slight customization of the word Christmas.

Today I went up to Busy Bee Tools to pick up some scroll saw blades for the saw that MY Jane gave me for my birthday.

I plan on making a few things including a tree ornament for our grandson, Max.

This will be his very first Christmas so I think he should have his own ornament.

Have you ever wondered what a child is thinking when he sees his very first snowfall?

Here’s my grandson, Max being held up to the window by his Dad so he can do just that.

In the meantime, a little bit of snow stayed on the ground here in Barrie.

Today I finished putting up Christmas lights in both the front and back yards.

With the snow falling lightly, it’s beginning to look quite festive around here.

This morning I got started on hanging outdoor Christmas lights. First thing I did was check to make sure they’re working.

The hardest part is fastening them to the eaves trough, especially at the peak over the garage.

But the rest of the job just takes time.

After a bit, I went to check on Toffee our across the street neighbour’s cat.

Its a rainy day here in Barrie. I am hoping for a few clear days soon as I have a a couple of outdoor chores to do yet.

I would like to rake up the remaining leaves on the front lawn and get the outdoor Christmas lights strung up before the winter snow comes.

I don’t actually turn them on until after Remembrance Day, though.

MY Jane and I have decided that if the next grandchild is a girl we think a good name would be Rebecca or Sara.

These are names that Jane had in mind when she was pregnant with Steven and then Chris.

It’s coincidental that Steven would marry someone named Sara who has a sister named Rebecca!

This morning I did a little more leaf raking in the back yard until it began raining a bit.

This afternoon we are going to see a movie starring Ed Norton, one of our favourite actors.

After the movie, we’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant.

About a month ago I made an appointment to get my snow tires installed today at my nearby tire store.

Last night we had our first snowfall of the season. And we also had a power outage around midnight due to extremely high winds.

In past years, our first snowfall has been around this date as well. I think my timing was perfect!