My kind of beauty

Yesterday morning we got up to not a speck of snow on the ground. It started snowing (huge fluffy flakes) at around 11 a.m. and in four hours this is what it looked like outside... BEAUTIFUL !!!

Winterlude

Finally, it looks like the season we are suppose to be in. Today was a picture perfect day outside. After I cleaned the chicken coop I walked around in the backyard and here is what I saw :

Three curious ladies - Anysie, Aimée and Antoinette

We've had cold temps the past couple of weeks and with the windchill factor it always feels a little more crisp doesn't it. I love snow ! A nice covering of snow makes everything so quiet and peaceful. The chickens were happy to have a clean coop and especially happy to spend some time outside taking in fresh air. They must be happy because they are still laying each an egg per day.

It's been pretty quiet around here since Christmas. Seems this time of year is slower for us; we go into a sort of hibernation.

Christmas traditions

Like a lot of you out there we have our own family traditions such as lobster for supper Christmas Eve, watching a movie together after the opening of the gifts Christmas Eve, traditional wild rabbit meat pie the eve of Christmas Eve, etc. One tradition I have for myself is to get one new album of Christmas music each year. I got this one this year and man is it ever good. Thank you Ginette ! Usually the Christmas music is stored away in its usual spot the day after Christmas but this one I'm still listening to.

Birds

I've mentioned countless times how much I love nature and pretty much every creature you find out there. Birds being right up there with dragonflies and lady bugs. I haven't posted frenchy's finds lately (actually in a very long time) so here are a few of my latest finds at Frenchy's...

Last summer we bought straw from a local market to put between our potatoe rows and there must have been hay in there somewheres because we got plenty of wheat. It was a pest in the garden but sure looks pretty in this antique pitcher I found about a month ago at Frenchy's.

A mama bird with her baby; love, love. And my favorite color... how lucky am I.

There are two candle holders in this picture. The double-one in the background I found last year at Frenchy's but the one in front I found last weekend. It holds my beeswax candle perfectly.

Week leading to Christmas...

Sorry if you think there are way too many photos in this post but I think the best way to show you what we did the week leading to Christmas is with pictures plus I love reading other blog posts with a lot of pictures so here we go...

Christmas Eve 2011 - Dave and I with the two loves of our lives.

And here are those two lovelies again.

Mr. Puss chillaxin while we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve.

Our traditional Christmas Eve lobster supper.

This year the kids and Dave had a family game night on Christmas Eve eve. But before getting out the board games we had....

... a deep fried turkey and homemade curly fries supper. Luc and I watching over the frying turkey.

We ended up having a white christmas after all.

Tree with unopened gifts.

Antique balls hanging in the window. This is a neat idea I got from this fabulous blogger friend.

Another antique... how cute is this nut cracker.

Of course there was lots and lots of baking during the week.

And coffee drinking. I've collected 6 of these cute mugs. Luc mentioned that we'll need a sippy cup for next year. We are all so excited and looking forward to Noël 2012 with Ginette and André's baby.

And to end the holidays Dave and I spent Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the day after in hospitals. Dave fell and broke his left wrist for the second time in 8 weeks. Yes, same bone, same wrist. He needed surgery. He has 6 fixation pins in his wrist.

I hope 2012 will start better than 2011 ended but heck, it could be worst.

Rural Christmas Parade

Our tiny (and pretty) little village sits in the woods. The trail (former railroad track) is right in front of our house. Even though it's very rural we still get a christmas parade. Last night was the night to watch for it. Everything is on all terrain vehicles. Amazing the work these village folks put into this display of awesomeness.

It was a cold night but Dave and I only had to wait for about 20 minutes before the parade went by. They stop to chat with the on-lookers.

From where I'm sitting...

... things are looking mighty fine. I put up the Christmas village over the weekend. It's getting bigger and bigger every year. It is so beautiful and peaceful to look at.

Thanks to Dave, the tree is up five days before it was scheduled to go up. He assembled it and put the lights on so all I had to do was put the ornaments and voilà... our beautiful tree.

Just a few more decorations to bring down from the attic and we'll be done for this year. Dave and I are looking forward to another lovely Christmas spent with the ones we love doing our little family traditions that were started years ago.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party 2011

I know this picture has nothing to do with sweater parties but I just had to share this beautiful picture with you guys. Dave and I hit the road early this morning to go pick-up another amazing stained glass window from this artist in Bridgewater. Sorry, can't post a picture of the window because it's a christmas gift and she reads my blog. Early morning is my favorite part of the day !

OK, rewind to last night. We had another wonderful ''Ugly Christmas Sweater'' party. I think it's our third year. Below, Dave and I getting ready at home.

Front view of my party jacket...

... the back.

Comfy toe socks.

My sweater this year...

... and Dave's.

T'is the season...

... to start the Christmas preparations. I've said it a million times before ''my favorite part of Christmas is the weeks leading up to the big day''. The kids, Dave and I have always celebrated Christmas on the 24th. For me, everything is blaaahhhh on the 25th. We jam-pack a whole lot of goodness on Christmas Eve day.

Yesterday Dave and I headed deeper in the woods to fetch the necessities for the outside decorations. We keep things plain and simple outside... inside, well that's another story. Now that outside has been taken care of, let's start inside.

I am putting up stuff one bit at a time.

I was in New Brunswick over the weekend and picked-up this beauty. I can't remember the german name for it; I call it the wooden german merry-go-round. (Note to self - yes, you have to keep an eye on it when it's lit. Two of the propeller thingy almost caught on fire).

I am starting to prefer roasted pumpkin to boiled for making purée for baking.

This week I am also getting ready for our annual ugly christmas sweater party taking place this Saturday. Pictures to follow I'm sure.

Wild Things

I've mentioned here before - I have a niece that's only 7 years older than I am. She's also my best friend. It is unfortunate that we live 4 provinces apart, we can't visit in person like we'd like but there's always the telephone, emails and skype. She's the one that started me (gave me a little push in the back kinda thing) on this simple living journey that we are living around these parts. Did I tell you she's smart and knows a lot about healthy eating and Mother Earth and so much more.

Yesterday this came in the mail for me with a beautiful message in the card. And yes, it's from Colleen. She and her daughter went into the woods to collect the items for that Christmas tree ornament she made for me... an early birthday gift.

There are three books that show you how to make projects with natural found items. She made the ornament from that first book you see over there.

Thank you so much Colleen. You know how much I love handmade gifts, especially those made by you and that it's made from nature is a double bonus.

Unrelated, but I wanted to let everyone know that I participated in my first drumming circle Friday evening. WOW !!!!! it sure won't be my last. The energy in that room was uplifting to say the least. Friday afternoon I sewed-up that linen bag for my drum.