Happy 2010 - year of the house

It's long overdue, but thanks to everyone who sent us Christmas cards, photos, and newsletters--and in some cases, all three!

For the third year in a row, I did not send traditional holiday cards, nor did I send e-cards, as Gillian Deacon suggests in Green for Life (204). You'll just have to be content with a recap of our Christmas activities instead.

After a very physically and mentally challenging Fall term at UO, and given that my "flight" instinct is overdeveloped compared to my "fight" instinct, I was ready for AC110? on Dec 16th. James's manager drove us to the airport. I had a few anxious moments at security when I thought I wouldn't be allowed to bring two gifts as carry-on (they had electronic and metal parts). I was beginning to think I'd have to taxi over to the FedEx headquarters (at least it's close to Macdonald-Cartier), but bless the supervisor, she scanned the items separately and all was well.

My parents picked us up in Winnipeg, took us to brunch at Smitty's, followed by Christmas shopping at St. Vital. We spent the next few days in Rosenort. We celebrated Christmas with Mom & Dad and Perry, as well as with the larger P.S. Friesen family. Took in the REMC Sunday School Christmas program: so many kids I didn't recognize. Only a few more years before it will be the grandkids of my friends' children up there, I guess.

Our next destination was Dauphin. James's parents' newly renovated home (formerly Baba's house) was truly impressive. Their dining room is something out of "Style at Home." We made a trip to Brandon one day via Riding Mountain National Park. There was hoarfrost on the trees, and big, fluffy flakes were dropping from the sky as though we were inside a snow globe. In addition to Christmas dinner on the 25th when the whole family got together, we made visits to Brian & Michelle, Glenn & Kim, and to Baba in the care home. Thanks to the generosity of his big brother, James snowmobiled and ice-fished during his vacation (two must-do's on his list of winter activities in Manitoba).

We spent the better part of the day with Duane & Celina on the 28th. They took us to the buffet lunch at McPhillips Street Station--we actually had to take a shuttle between the parking lot and the casino entrance!--then we caught Avatar at Polo Park.

Spent a couple more days at my parents' home, and then it was time to fly back on the 30th and get motivated to work on our townhouse. We'd ordered a built-in unit for my office towards the beginning of December, which was scheduled to arrive January 4. We'd bought paint Dec 15th, knowing that we'd return late on the 30th, and that our favored paint store was closed Dec 31st. James did all the taping and other prep work; I painted. We did take time out for a potluck supper and a movie with Dave & Ci and Nicole on New Year's Eve. I'm pleased to say the paint was dry in time for the guys to install the shelves Jan 4th.

Bob the Builder started his handiwork Jan 5th. We had asked friends of ours if they could recommend a carpenter for a couple of small projects we had in mind: that's how we got to know Bob. He cut an arch into our kitchen wall and also a recessed audio equipment cupboard downstairs. We're very pleased with the results. Now it's a matter of obtaining window treatments for my office, more painting, and a bit of organizing/decluttering. For the latter, I need to figure out how to operate the new camera (we were perfectly happy with our old camera, but James hasn't been able to locate it since his business trip to Denver), then post photos of two IKEA bookcases and perhaps a few other items on UsedOttawa.

Will try to post photos once the dust has cleared. (It has already settled, believe me--numerous times, in fact. Mostly on the hardwood. Thank goodness for Bona!)