Happy New Year! First Day of 2021

Paisley, On

So, I didn’t make it to midnight last night. It was 11, after first my book and then my phone kept falling out of my hands, that I toasted Bill with the last mouthful of Disaronno and closed my eyes. They were already halfway closed throughout the preceding hour. I was done for. Now, I did roll over at 12:10 to face Bill and got my first 2021 kiss. He was still reading his book and managed to stay awake until after 1 am.

Driving to Durham, the sun was just hanging in there
behind the clouds

Today, Friday, Jan. 1^st we were up by 8. We went down for our tea and coffee, read blogs and sent out multiple wishes on social media upstairs. It’s hard to reach everyone but we all try and then I’m glad when that part is over. Aren’t you? The day is fairly mild and no precipitation for the morning, at least. Good news so far on this Ontario front. 

Leaving the clear highway, Bill chose the back roads
to bypass Walkerton and Hanover

Bill had his shower and then we had a bite to eat with our second hot brew of the day. Everything is new. Everything is fresh. First time for this, that and the other thing in 2021. The morning passed quietly and around 12:30 we headed over to Durham to clean. The Mat was busy and cleaning around people was a bit challenging as they were in many of the areas. 😊 Not unexpected. I’d texted Jamie to let him know of our later arrival.

It is going to be hard for you to tell how deep
this is but trust me, I'm glad I wore my knee high boots

We weren’t there long when Jamie and his pretty daughter, Emma, showed up. He paid me for the month of December and surprised me by giving us a couple of Tim Hortons gift cards. Not necessary but very much appreciated. From there, we drove to the Ridge with the intention of dropping off the Christmas tree box, a stuffed full box of ornaments and a couple of other boxes of ‘stuff’. Boy oh boy, we didn’t quite expect it to be such a challenge.

It was pretty wild and windy up on the Ridge
so I didn't hang around taking pictures
The wind keeps the snow off the shed roofs

We had to park on North Line, no way were we able to turn into our lane, and walk through 15”of heavy snow all the way up the drive. You know the walk I enjoy all summer? Well, not today! By the time we got up there, after multiple rests, we were huffing and puffing. In shape? Not by a long shot. That was very difficult. 

I tried following in Bill's footholes on the way up and down
but they were too far apart and twice I lost my balance and went
down on my knees
It was better for me to create my own holes 😄

I remembered what my little sister, Wendy, said about feeding the birds on New Years Day so I grabbed a dish full of bird seed from the Bunky and spread it out. It means good luck and can’t we all use some of that right now? For example, we needed it to get back down the laneway! 😓

I made this photo a bit darker so you could see our tracks better

It took us 45 minutes to an hour to get things up to the Bunky and get us back down to Ptooties again. On the way through Hanover, we made a stop to wish Donna and Gerry 'Happy New Year' before trudging on home. We'd had to borrow his keys. For supper we had cottage roll, carrots, peas and scalloped potatoes with a delicious blueberry buckle dessert. It was delicious.

Baptist Church Road heading home

In our room, around 7:30, outside our window was white again. The snow was heavy but someone must have missed the message that Christmas was over and we didn't want any more of the white stuff. Bill and Wes had discussed repositioning our vehicles for the weekend to make it easier to get the truck out for driveway clearing so Bill got Black Beauty and Ptooties moved around before settling upstairs.

Supper was good!

It was a good day, nothing untoward for our first day other than forgetting some keys for the Bunky. LOL Thank goodness we could use Gerry’s set or it would have been a wasted trip. I hope your first day of 2021 was a good one. May you only experience joy, happiness and good health in the days to come.

Good night!

Thank you for stopping by!

Cloudy Day, Bocce Ball, New Year’s Eve Celebration with Friends, Reflections Not Resolutions for 2019

When I woke up on Monday, Dec. 31^st, I couldn’t fathom that we were on the last day of 2018. Where has the time gone? It has been a great year with many more ups than downs and that is wonderful! Maybe I have just gotten better at seeing the good in more things and not dwelling on the alternate. Life is pretty darn good, I have to admit. If something seemingly goes sour, I can’t help but think of all the others around who are less fortunate and experience more downs than ups and my attitude changes.

A pretty start to the day

It isn't until you look at the plain clubhouse in the semi-dark that it
depicts a western setting

Interesting, first time I've ever seen a sign like this
displayed in the ladies washroom
This was a topic of one of our happy hour discussions

Last day for the half mast
for President George W. Bush

I checked the temperature and at 48F bundled with a one less layer than yesterday. There was a 6-mph wind when I headed out at 7 (in the mostly dark) and within 3 minutes, dawn cleared the way. By the time I was half way around the park, the wind had died right off. Inside, our station said 0 mph. Cool! The sky was cloudy earlier but as I write this at 9, blue is controlling overhead. Yay!

Once more, I couldn't choose just one or two
Beautiful sky

I’m watching Don, the retired airman behind us, packing things up. He came over last night and said goodbye and Happy New Year as they are driving to visit kids in Phoenix for a few days. He is a really nice guy, full of you know what and vigor. We all like him a lot. They will be back on Wednesday. We couldn’t have a better neighbor – well, Rob and Pat make pretty good ones too. Ha ha

When I returned, our flag shows that the wind had dropped considerably

We had a bite to eat, nothing substantial just toast, peanut butter, an orange and banana bread. I know it isn’t as good for us as our eggs and bacon nor is it as sustainable but we had a game to be ready for at 9:30. I nipped out at 9 to empty the gray tank and chatted with Ron who returned our plate with 4 chocolates on it. I wasn’t expecting the plastic plate back, nor the treats but thank you to Loree all the same.

Walking back from bocce ball, these yappy little  bow wows were going
crazy
Shutup, already!

Ron returned our plate with 4 chocolates on it for us
.we quickly consumed 3

We walked up to bocce ball with Rob and Ron and Bill brought his drone along to get some pictures of the action. I don’t know if I’m getting better or worse but even though I wasn’t on a winning team today again, I at least got some points. The players varied with a couple of last years regulars and a few people were missing from last week but there were still at least 12 of us in attendance. That is a very good turnout!

Coupons for todays shopping

At 11:30 we finished our 5^th game and we walked home. Bill and Rob have a couple of things they want to pick up at Harbor Freight and have coupons good for today and tomorrow. Us girls will go along and utilize the 2nd coupon for their alternate item. Nice to be allowed into the ‘guys store’ for something! So, I warmed up a bowl of chicken soup and Bill made himself a sandwich with our coffees. The spattering of rain on the windows and patio indicated that it was a good day to go shopping since we’d be inside anyway.

Clemson went along for the ride today

                                                                                                                           
It was mild at 56F and the winds were marginally insignificant. At 1 we rode along to Yuma so we could be back in decent time. We drove to H.F. and were stunned but not surprised at the busy place. There were 4 cashiers and at least 10 customers in each line. We found the goodies that the boys wanted and stood in line. The nice thing is that along with their great sale prices, they always offer an $8 item free with purchase.

Harbor Freight was crazy busy but worth the wait

We waited patiently until it was our turn to check out and then drove to Fry’s. We weren’t purchasing any groceries today but Rob and Pat nipped into the store while we got in line (yes, another line) for fuel. We had 290 points to use up today or we’d lose them. The wait again was worth it as we got diesel for $2.65/gal. Too bad the fuel tank wasn’t much below ¾ but we still got the benefit of our points. From there, we drove home with occasional rain spatters on the windshield. The temperature was dropping off as the afternoon progressed.

The guys got a haul today
The batteries were our freebies

I turned the fireplace up to warm the Suite and brewed a pot of wild strawberry and blueberry tea. With a cup at my side, I delved into my book and Bill turned Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 on for our entertainment. These movies are so well done and we’d only seen the first one. I started getting supper ready, chicken and dumplings. We were invited over to Rob and Pat’s for a 6:30 Happy Hour and then we are staying for a game of Wizard after that.

Remember Toy Story?

Everyone is invited so it will be fun to spend as much of the evening together as possible. Supper turned out quite good and I always surprise myself when I make things from ‘scratch’ and they are not only edible, but agreeably so. We had dishes cleaned up by 6:15 and headed next door soon after. The regular banter goes on among the 8 of us and we all have a good time. We discuss many things from alcohol, Mexico and Canadian/U.S. border crossings and friend memories.

and Woody, the Cowboy

While all together, I set up my tripod and camera and got a couple of group photos. Cheese! Happy New Year! I don’t remember the time when Ron and Loree left but they had planned a quiet movie night alone together. George and Suzie stayed and we all played one game of Wizard. It was fun with Bill and Suzie being the top scorers. After they said goodnight around 9:30, the four of us started another game. The wine was flowing and with a shot of George and Suzie’s Macadamia/Tequila earlier, we were all feeling no pain.

I don’t know if I can credit the drinks or if this is just the way my 2019 is going to go (one can only hope) but I was the top winner tonight. And, I need to add (because Rob destroyed the evidence) by a long margin. Starting at -10 on the first hand (my typical starting point) I ended with a beautiful 400. It may be the only game I win so I basked in my own good fortune for a while.

We all had a great time and after bringing in the New Year watching the ball drop in New York and hugs all around, Bill and I gathered our things and walked the short distance to the Suite. We are so blessed to have the friends that we have, near and far, and humbled to move forward into 2019 knowing they are all literally and figuratively within arm’s reach if we ever need them. Best of all, I am grateful for Bill, by my side through thick and thin and each year just keeps getting better and better together.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for stopping by! All the best in 2019 to you and yours.