'T Was Another Wonderful Christmas

Our Christmas Party with the Grandchildren was a success, it consisted of games,lots of food, a craft (they all love to do crafts when they come to my house) This year we made Great Grandma's Christmas gift. The day ended with a sleepover.- all in all we had lots of fun.

This is the craft, we made fragrance sachet covers for Great Grandma's Christmas gift, the secret - they are quick, easy to make. The older kids helped the younger ones - it was great fun making them and she loved all 6.

The supplies and instructions are as follows:

Supplies needed:

• one face cloth for each cover
• one packaged fragrance sachet for each cover
• glue gun and glue sticks
• small items for decoration (flowers, insects, animals, etc.)

Instructions:

fold a face cloth in half as shown

the orange stripes and dot indicate areas to be glued; place glue along bottom and approximately 1/2 way up the open side; place a dot of glue on the top right corner of the face cloth then bring that corner over to the left side about half way down. The glued areas should be pressed with your fingers to ensure the glue has penetrated the material allowing it to stick. The children must be made aware of the glue's temperature, if it is hot an adult should do this part to prevent them from getting burned.

Place the sachet in the cover and fold the top half down toward the bottom, now attach your cover decorations - see how easy! I added a card on each with the photo of the Great Grandchild who made the cover and on the other side is written "Made By The Hands Of An Angel"

Dessert for dinner was "Cookie Pizza" the kids had great fun making this - if you haven't tasted one you don't know what you are missing. Nancy came up with this idea and it was a winner.

I have great respect for the "Pillsbury Dough Boy" - We used his chocolate chip cookie dough, flattened it out on a round pizza pan then covered the dough with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, smarties, jelly beans, M & M's and mini marshmallows which are added last. You can go crazy with imagination on this one . The kids all took part in adding the toppings - and sampling of course. Follow cooking temp and time as you would if your cooking the dough in cookies - do not overcook; the only thing that needs to be cooked is the dough. The marshmallows melt and brown nicely while helping to hold the toppings in place.

It was served cold but the next time I will try serving it warm with ice cream.

Christmas celebrations continued with Santa arriving at the Christmas Tree downtown on Christmas Eve. The children were excited to see him arrive on the Fire Truck accompanied by 5 Firefighters. He passed out bags of candy to all then he was quickly whisked away. The children were then treated to hot chocolate as they stood round the tree eating their candy and telling each other of their dreams for Christmas morning. Santa was taken back to the open field beside the Fire Hall where he untethered the reindeer and hurried on his way.

Allan and I spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day with family and friends - by the end we were as stuffed as the Christmas turkey!

" 'T Was A Wonderful Christmas!"

THE RETIREMENT HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED!

This is the Desk Top Photo at some of my the ambulance stations this week - The paramedics have all wished me the best in my retirement following 22 years of service, the last 9 of those years being their "Paramedic Manager". This photo was taken at a recent retirement party held for one of our Medics who retired after 28 years .

Today is a very special day for me:

• 2 days until a Staff Christmas Party
• 3 days until my 6 Grandchildren are here for our "Annual Christmas Party" - sounds like it is going to include a sleep over!
• 4 more work days before retirement, and I'm ready! I am looking forward to living the life of a "kept woman"after 33 years of full time work.

Sunday past 2 of the Grandchildren came by and decorated the Christmas Tree and several rooms in the house after church. Man, I have decorations in places I never had decorations before and lots of ornaments at the bottom of the tree. The kids were happy, they had lots of fun being in charge of decorating. Our visitors over the Christmas Season will be family and close firends who will share in our joy and celebration of the Christmas Season. Many will be envious of our status of "Grandparents" and look forward to the day when they can have their decorating done by "The Hands Of Angels"

Monday this week was the start of training my temporary replacement; John is a full time paramedic with our serive who has recently accepted the newly formed position of "Service Area Lead" for one of my 2 service areas. He later took the temporary position of "Acting Field Manager" until a permanent replacement is found which they hope to be in place by mid January. John is doing a great job - he is taking lots of notes and asking lots of questions. I am convinced he will adequately fill the position in the interim he also has great medics and administration staff to rely on for advise and support when needed.

This week is flying by quickly so 'till next time..Bye for now,

Anne

"BOO" The Hallowe'en Cat

This is what "Boo" looked like when we first met her on October 31st, Hallowe'en Night 2007

Two of my Grandchildren were out for trick or treat (accompanied by their parents), when they came across this beautiful stray kitten. A child had seen a man let 2 kittens out of his car earlier in the evening, one was soon picked up and taken away by another child, - this one found a residence close by and every time the door opened to another trick or treator she ran inside only to be put back out when that trick or treator left. Our Grandchildren felt sorry for this little creature and asked if they could take her home, their parents agreed that she would be a great addition to their already 2 cat family. Little did they all know how she would weave herself into their hearts.

When they got Boo home (what other name would you choose for a cat found and rescued on Hallowe'en Night?)they realized there was something wrong with her ears, an appointment was soon made with a veterinarian in a neighbouring community who told them her ears had been frozen. How could that be? The weather hasn't been more that -1, maybe -2! The Vet informed them that the kitten was so malnourished and dehydrated she could not keep her whole body warm during the colder temperatures. When the temperature dropped her existing blood and body fluids went to her body's core keeping vital organs alive - therefore not leaving enough in her outer body to keep her ears warm - thus causing them to freeze.

Six weeks have passed and BOO's frozen ear tips have finally fallen off. The process was very painful for her, she wanted to play with the kids and be a kitten - do the things a normal kitten does but her ears hurt too much. She would lay on her blanket in the garage away from everyone so no one or anything would accidently touch her sore ears.

This is a picture taken of "Boo" December 9th, she is so much happier now. She chases a ball around the house and plays as any normal kitten does. The kids love her - what Boo wants Boo gets.

This is a story of mixed emotions but one with a happy ending thus far, Boo has settled in and gets along well with the other 2 cats - Misty and Minew - one big happy family! The kids have learned about cruelty to animals and how important it is to love and properly care for them.

Christmas Comedy

Sunday December 2, 2007

This is one of my most favourite spots along Highway 6, for years I have thought the fire tower hill was higher - an optical illusion no doubt. Yesterday was one of our nicer days in the week, we have had lots of snow squalls which have been isolated with some areas getting more that others.

The snow machiners are out and about, hopefully we have snow throughout the winter this year and not loose it after Christmas like we have in most recent years.

Allan had a birthday yesterday, we met with the kids and Grandkids for lunch and had pizza! Everyone's favourite - most kids like pepperoni pizza ,and all of our grandkids do except for one - the 3 1/2 year old, she loved the Kitchen Sink Pizza as much as the adults do. We had a good time together, it was only a short time but in today's busy world we are like everyone else - it is quality time and not quantity time.

This year for the first ever I have all of my Christmas shopping done and presents wrapped! I was able to complete the task yesterday and what a nice feeling. Gawd, don't ya love Canadian Tire! Their Christmas motto of "Shop Like Santa; Save Like Scrooge" is true. The next job will be getting the house decorations up, I think I will call in some Grandkids to help with the tree, then I have to plan games and food for the annual Christmas Party with all of the Grandkids.

I have added a short video which I know you will enjoy, it will put a smile on your faces for the Christmas Season.

'Til next week, bye for now,

Anne

November 27, 2007

Here we are standing on the threshold of another Christmas Season, Saturday was spent shopping for gifts and Sunday we put up the outdoor lights. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of the Advent, I don't usually get into the swing of the Christmas Season until then but this year I am a little bit ahead of the rush.

December 1 is Allan's birthday, the Fire Dept Christmas dinner/party and more shopping! The indoor decorating comes next with the planning of my annual Christmas Party with the Grandkids which will be held on the 15th. We all have a great time with games, prizes, crafts, laughter, and lots of food. The craft project is making a Christmas gift for their Great Grandma.


This motivator is my gift to you today:

Joy of being you

To get where you wish to go, you must take an active role in the journey. Though many good and valuable things are constantly flowing into your life, it is up to you to make something meaningful out of them.

No one else can live your life for you. That is your biggest responsibility and your greatest opportunity.

Your dreams and desires, passions, opinions, preferences and interests are yours for a reason. The more sincerely and completely you give life to them, the more genuine fulfillment you will know.

Beauty is what you know it to be. Joy is what you experience it as being.

The meaning of life is the meaning you give to it. Deep down, you know what to do.

Dive into the pure joy of being you. For there is so very much you are able to be and to give.

-Ralph Marston