Yesterday we got to see almost all of our Grandbabies! Terra hosted a family get together at their large country house. Luna and Janus and Imp and Elf and Tink were in Quebec City for Christmas, a work related situation, and stopped for a day and night at Terra’s house. They arrived at Terra and Lares’ home yesterday morning, minutes before we did. Terra cooked a delicious turkey dinner, I brought pumpkin pie squares, mincemeat squares (homemade mincemeat), Attila’s chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream. We enjoyed a wonderful day together, saying our goodbyes late in the evening, as Attila and I left to head home. Luna and family left this morning to make another stop before carrying on to their home.
What wonderful little creatures grandchildren are. Their personalities, their innocences, each unique and fascinating. It always, always, surprises me that they remember me, that they love me even thought so little our lives are shared, and how much I love them. I think they can tell that they delight me, to the very core of my being. My highlights were Sunny and Sky strutting around in their new foot blankets, tottering a bit now and then in their toddlery ways.
Another activity I enjoy with the Grandkids is back massages. Elf and I exchanged back rubbing and hand rubbing, taking turns. Elf has always enjoyed physical affection, as do I. I have been rubbing his back, his feet, his head, ever since he was a baby. This visit he gave me a hand massage while I rubbed his back, then I gave him a hand massage while he rubbed my back… could there be any greater joy in life! And the back rubbing continued, as Imp took her turn having her back rubbed, and then Tink took her turn. I love touching these wondrous living creatures, feeling the warmth and softness of their skin. It is life affirming, this contact with healthy blooming lives, that are a continuation of the love passed down by my Mom, my Granny, my Grandpa, and those loved ones who came before them and shaped our lives in untold ways.
It is very cold right now, a true cold snap. We are very grateful to be tucked up here, safe and warm, in Mist Cottage. I worship our thermostat, which I still do not take for granted. Attila is spending his time off work happily in the kitchen, preparing all his favourite foods, taking his time, enjoying the leisurely pace. Attila loves to eat, and thankfully he prefers his own cooking!
My days are floating gently by, filled with a bit of crochet work, a bit of writing, a bit of baking, a very difficult crossword puzzle (Van Gogh’s Starry Night), a bit of dithering about on the computer, and the hard work of resisting the urge to overindulge in all the wonderful holiday food we have in the house. The extreme cold is enforcing inactivity at the moment, the elliptical machine calls to me from the corner of the living room, I’ve ignored it for days… but not tonight.
Worldly Distractions
Weather
DATE: Wednesday 27 December 2917
A few clouds
-28°C
FEELS LIKE -38
Wind 14km/h NE
Wind gust 21km/h
Humidity 78%
Sunrise 7:43 AM
Sunset 4:33 PM
Pressure 103.3kPa
Visibility 24km
Ceiling 30000ft
EXTREME COLD WARNING IN EFFECT
-26°C
Date: 6:00 AM EST Thursday 28 December 2017
Condition: Clear
Pressure: 103.8 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: -25.8°C
Dew point: -30.1°C
Humidity: 68%
Wind: W 16 km/h
Wind Chill: -37
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape…”
Pablo Picasso
1881 – 1973
It is SO cold! I’m so thankful for our year + windows. It no longer feels cold or drafty in the livingroom when this amazing kind of cold shows up.
Glad to hear you got some time in with your traveling family members.
Maggie, do you have the link to the page where you first got the elliptical? I tried following the link on your recent post but only that post was listed under the link.
Good windows make a real difference to the comfort of a room, or even a home, when the temperature dips this low. Our new windows in the kitchen and dining areas, and in our bedroom, make such a difference. The single pane glass in the living room is covered with ice, on the inside, despite the storm windows, and there is quite a draft in that corner of the house.
It was great to see all the Grandbabies, and my daughters and their husbands. Imp and Elf and Tink had grown so much since we saw them last April, but their facial features haven’t changed at all, as they do sometimes as people journey through childhood.
The page where I first mentioned the elliptical machine, and purchased it was on the 21st of April, 2017… http://www.maggieturner.net/walking-on-air/
WE are in the deep freeze here too. The worse of it for us is that Belle gets that horrid street salt/sand on her feet and needs a foot bath whenever she comes in from her walkies. She loves being out in the cold air, though, and now that we have to keep the inside front door shut, she feels cooped up! I sure wish doggies could speak our language sometimes so I could explain why her door is shut!
Happy New Year year Maggie. xox
Bex, north east North America seems to be in the grips of this cold!
The first thing I thought of when you desribed Belle’s feet after a walk was doggy booties, lol! I don’t know if there is such a thing, or if there is that they would be a good idea. Too bad about the shut door!
When it gets this cold the outdoors is a force to be dealt with. My arthritic knee objects strongly to such weather.
Happy New Year Bex! xoxoxo