Other Pictures From the Holidays

A few other great pictures that sort of summarize the 2014 holiday season....  Lack of commentary, however insert your own as you see them.

Christmas 2014

It has came and went with a bit more excitement and zest than other years.  Being in the new house was a definite present, Molly having a bit more where-with-all an spontaneity was good, the weather has been terrific, and being with Shelly and the impending arrival of number two in another few weeks was also something to be happy about.

On Christmas Eve we hit up my dad's for a quick hello and drink, then we went over to the Coup's house which has been a bit of a holiday tradition for the past few years.  It was a busy place with extra guest and kids, but the food and drink was great.  We just sort of had the guys hang out in one room of the house, the girls were in another, and the kids seemed to tear recklessly all throughout.  That seems like a pretty regular recipe in regards to how people roll.  It wasn't a long, late evening.  We walked home just after 8 or 8:30.  Molly was pretty tired so after a quick rinse and soaping, she was fast asleep which left us to a bit of wrapping and last minute touches.  It was raining, and quite warm at 5 degrees centigrade or so.  No snow.  Nothing but green dirty grass for this Christmas.

Very simple items satisfied our tastes this Christmas.  I stuck with a gardening and chicken theme for Shelly so I got her a Garden Claw, rubber boots, garden shed implements and such....  Molly got the standard socks, soap, toothbrush, pajamas, clothes and such.  But we also got her a one of those Runner Bikes.  Our house is big enough to scoot around in it and get a bit of steam going.  Molly has a plastic vanity that we got off the street a few months ago while it was being discarded.  It lacked a mirror, and Shelly's vanity has a mirror, so we got her a mirror to put in it....  I just a-fixed it in with a hot glue gun.  We were all quite pleased with our allowances.  I got some stuff for the garage to organize some tools and clutter - stuff I just needed.  I did score a nice decorative porcelain hen for the kitchen table though, as well as this old brass sign from my dad's cottage that was attached to a bedroom which says "Reserved For Master".  It will go on our bedroom door.

Went for a great run on Christmas morning with Jeff:

Molly liking Shelly's gifts more than her own:

We made it out to uncle Larry's for a get together of 30 plus aunts, uncles, cousins, kids of cousins, and friends.  It was busy with people and kids...  We did spy a sleigh and have been promised a ride.  But with little to no snow, we might as well just take the buggy.

We saw the Wright's for a bit of action and conversation...

Last but not least, on Boxing Day we were all back over at my dad's for a fantastic lasagna, caesar salad, few beer, good deserts scoff.  A few more gifts were exchanged and a few more calories gained.  Everyone is great in that direction and again, we headed home fairly earlier.

It is almost goodbye to 2014.  I know we are all looking forward to moving on and seeing what 2015 will bring; well, we know mostly what it will bring, but there are always surprises and unexpected events that make each year unique and special.

Shelly's Glass'n

This is where Shelly holes up and works away at her glass.  The basement provides a great spot to fire up the propane and oxygen torch, and then the kiln to finish off her samples.  She has been as busy as an elf up in the North Pole turning and spinning her samples into a sundry of decorative beads.

And of course she doesn't always cue herself up in a mask, purple safety glasses, her pajama pants, a hooded sweatshirt, and her barn jacket...  She is usually strutting around the house looking a pretty as a picture and being a super terrific mom.

Snow White

I got myself backstage and helping during the 8 show run of a Snow White Pantomime at The Livery over the past two weeks.  It turned out to be a great show with incredible singing, great great laughs, and really good acting too.  I didn't have to do too much; just some twists and turns of set changes and a few effects and such.  Just basically be there for backstage help and support.

It was directed and stage managed by the ever capable Kevin and Stephanie, as seen, so I really didn't have too much too worry about.  The set was already constructed and painted, the props were already organized and in place, and the show was well on its way.  They didn't really need my help, but the extra set of hands came in handy, so to speak, during the show dates.  And just one extra picture with Molly and King Garry!

I would hangout backstage.  I worked with a few folks who I know or have been in other shows with.  And of course I got to meet a number of really nice folks for the first time.  All in all it was really fun to be involved and help out.

Just a Quick Summary

Just out and about and keeping busy.  We are all very well. 

Got out sporadically for 2 different deer hunts; the first of November up in Lucknow, and the first of December in Bayfield.  Totally skunked.  I zeroed out both weeks.  Although, I didn't or couldn't commit too much time because of work.  At any rate, up in Lucknow I had a fawn and doe run within 20 or 30 feet of me through a wooded area.  I rifled up and took a few cracks - hit nothing but trees and they scattered off.  They were pretty close...  Oh well.  And this past week I saw nothing.  Nothing with four long legs and brown fur.  Nothing....

The weather was nice and I enjoyed a few nice walks and sits in the bush.  Saw lots of squirrels.  Not hundreds, but so many.  I startled out a coyote, and saw a weasel and a rabbit chasing each other.  I got to hunt with my good friend from Windsor and his father.  i also got out with a few guys from Goderich.  All in all it was nice to be out and enjoy nature.

I am helping out backstage at The Livery.  There is an 8 show run of a Snow White Pantomine.  It is quite funny, and the actors have worked very hard perfecting the songs, dance routines, and farcical dialogue.  The audience has quite enjoyed booing the evil queen, and cheering on snow white and the 7 dwarfs.  It doesn't take a genius to predict the outcome of the play, but the journey along the way is what makes it so entertaining.

I got Molly backstage after Sunday's show for a few pictures.  She really thinks The Livery is quite a place and loves to find out the names of the actors and what they are doing.

Who says you have to go to Florida just to get a picture of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.

I will try to get more content up over the next month to really pad my year end stats.