I spent the last few days getting used to walking around again after my injury on October 30th. Still a bit "hoppy" with swelling on the ankle by bed-time but getting weight ,movement and stride again on my right leg.
Weather has been incredibility warm. The horses are enjoying the mild weather with temperatures over 60 F most days. The grass is still growing and my neighbor was out mowing his lawn yesterday in a T-shirt. The garden is blooming with calendulas amongst the still growing cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lemon balm and other herb plants. I'll be picking fresh greens for a while yet, it seems! My road is busy with a company from Halifax called 'Lucas', as they are trimming the trees away from the power lines. The upper hill section was blocked today with large branches they had cut away so traffic had to wait for them to clear the way. I must compliment them as they trying hard to save the young apple and rowan trees along the ditches. Fruit for the next generation! Also, a few times this week, I could hear the ocean rumbling in the distance after the huge winds we have experienced, reminding me there's a fresh batch of crystal washed ashore..And I still lame...darn...
I did get out attending a Secret Sister Christmas party/Yankee Swap on November 9th at the Local Rodd's Colony Inn Restaurant. The waitress told us this facility, which as served our community for over 45 years, will be permanently closing its doors on December 24th unless someone buys the building, which also hosts a hotel unit with about 100 rooms for guests...another business lost because of the ferry service is still not there for USA/Canadian travelers : (
There were several 'Secret Sisters' there despite a few who couldn't attend because of illness and the World Champion Junior Hockey tournament that in town for the next 2 weeks. There was lots of talk from those who have attended the games which feature Junior teams from all over the globe! Personally, I had enough of hockey as a child. My Grand-Mother never missed a season of Hockey Night in Canada. I remember many times lying on the couch, trying to stay awake to see if Bobby Orr would score another goal for Boston Bruins. None of my children wanted to play hockey and my ex-husband 'wasn't into it'. My oldest Daughter did go many times to the local arena as a teenager to play with school friends and I was sometimes there to watch or pick her up. After a incident where one fellow player got bashed in the mouth, leaving the arena soaked in his own blood, crying with his Mother, who took him to the hospital, I decided NOT to go any more...
Anyway, our party dining room was festively decorated for the Christmas holidays. Our group meal was off the menu, with dishes like creamed lobster, baked/pan-fried haddock, rappie pie and bacon wrapped scallops plus the usual quinines. I decided on a hot hamburger sandwich. When it arrived, it was served on a small platter, and big enough to feed for two people! I was glad I had skipped lunch or I would have never been able to finish eating it.
We had been asked to bring a gift with our invitation to the event. The restaurant had added a large table in the corner of the room for the gifts as we participated in a Yankee Swap.
This was not my first experience with a 'swap'. Now I don't know if anyone here knows what a Yankee Swap is...What happens are those taking part in this brings a gift. Everyone draws a number. If you pick number one, then at the end when everyone has chosen a gift, you are able to take what-ever gift you want! AND of course, when I reached into the basket, I got number 1! Lucky me!
There were many nice gifts there. My first choose off the table was a nicely decorated bag with hand towels, chocolates and a glass lotus shaped candle holder. The next person who chose immediately changed gifts with me, giving me a bag with 2 tubs of skin moisturizer and an Elvis Christmas CD! I sat quietly watching as the games progressed, trying to decide who I was going to change gifts with. MEAN as it was! When the last person had chosen the last gift, I was invited by the host to take my final choice of the gifts. I got up and limped slowly around the table...looking at everyone's choice, pretending I might take it. My Secret Sister's thought this was very funny and I tried to torment as long as possible! There were many nice things to choose from. A Hound-tooth scarves set, festive costume jewelry, Christmas decor decorations, designer chocolates, act. My heart, of course, was set on
a small child's porcelain/gold trimmed tea set. It reminded me of one I had as a small girl. Mine was a complete, with white porcelain setting for four, decorated with roses. I spend many hours pouring water-mixed juice tea for my Great-Grand Mother and dollies. My tea set got smaller and smaller as I grew older and older till finally my sibling, Gina, stole the last piece, smashing it to smith-er-ines with jealousy. A final poo-ie to her! ; P
The poor woman who had it tucked close to her on the table screamed as I took it from her possession, leaving the Elvis CD/skin products in its place. I felt horrible guilty as I rushed back to my chair at the table, my friend beside me huddling in close as we took it from its box to look at the violets and gold trim on the tiny cups & saucers complete with serving tray. Lovely...
All in all it was a wonderful time, and no one is mad now at me...I hope... : )
On November 11, we celebrated Remembrance Day here in Canada. I attended a service at our Church with Veteran’s in attendance, dressed in their uniforms with metals of honor. I watched as they laid a wreath for us to see that was to be presented at the War Memorial here in Yarmouth later that morning. We were reminded at this time, that if not for those brave person's who fought plus those who still serve for us, with-out question of their own safety, that we would not be a free country. We wouldn't have a voice to speak our opinions. We could be trapped by government to a life we hated and couldn't change if we wanted. I've decided that even though I hate war, its destruction of life, land and honor, that those that give their life so I can be free to pray for peace are indeed worthy of my praise. I honor those remembering...
John 15:13- "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
