'Twas the month before Christmas

'Twas the month before Christmas...filled with so many good things. Let me give you just a few snapshots of life as it happened in my corner of the world this December.

We are a little reluctant to give up the 'light tours' with the grands of by-gone years...and so we found a few who were willing to do the annual drive-by with us. (The promise of having dinner out afterward is a bit of a drawing card!) We even found one close to home that we had never seen before...lights dancing to music. 

On the coldest, wettest Saturday of December (present, past and future, I'm sure!) we took in the Christmas parade in downtown Chilliwack. I'm not sure how I landed up there, but hubby was on duty that night, since the Rotary club (of which is he a part) sponsored the parade.  I had two umbrellas turn inside-out in the wind, before resigning myself to getting soaked!  Next year can only be better.  The parade itself was great!

The tree went up...and the grands came to inspect...and were disappointed that there were no gifts under the tree. Yet.

We took in school concerts...as many as we could fit in.  I went to Maggie and Lucy's school production...while hubby went to Ryder's.

We went together to see Micah and Ranen perform with their classes...where Ranen played a violin solo.

On another occasion, we heard her play with her teacher at a Christmas Market.  I have listened to it several times since that day...and I'll share it with you. :)

Early December brought snow to the local mountain tops...

...and Mt. Cheam peak was in 'her glory' again.

It wasn't long before the snow covered the entire valley...and lingers still at our place.

We were thankful for a little help from John Deere in keeping the driveway open...

...and to the city who did an excellent job of keeping our road open as the drifts piled up.

December is always a good time to get together with friends...

...and we started the month off with a MGCC Christmas party at Kathy's new home.  It has become a highlight of the Christmas season for us, and our husbands as well.  From the food and decor to a great time with friends, it was a fun and memorable evening.

We have enjoyed 'Christmas dinners' at other tables this month, had a party with our 'life group' (where we always give and receive the gift of laughter, it seems) and attended several concerts. I saw The Nutcracker ballet for the first time...with my granddaughters and their moms.  December was a good kind of busy.

We have prepared our hearts and our home for the Christmas...and now it is here!

Silent night, holy night...

Merry Christmas!

November remembered...

November...the month that ushers in winter. 

It began with beautiful foliage.  On occasion we even had a little sunshine...and I quickly pulled out the camera.  We have had rain over here most every day for the last two months.

Some of our fields look like lakes; it is hard to imagine that there was corn growing here not long ago.

Whenever the sun came out...so did my camera.

Can one ever have too many pictures of autumn leaves?

Somehow I appreciate them more when they are attached to the boughs...than when they are on the ground and need to be cleaned up.  By now the limbs are all bare!

Emme and Spencer turned 15...and invited us over for a birthday dinner.  Since they are both DQ girls...they had an ice-cream cake for dessert. Of course!  One can never have too much ice-cream...so they say.

Chester was really excited about celebrating with them!

Micah also has a November birthday...

so we had a cousin celebration on another night.

Good memories!

Where did November go?  Gone like the trains that roll through our neighbourhood!

Gone like the leaves that are blown in the wind.  The snow is building up on the local mountains...and winter is just around the corner.  And so is Christmas!

The three grands  from next door are sleeping over here for a few nights while their parents are in the big city for a conference.  Ryder had hockey right over the supper hour...so some of us ate before. One ate by himself.  And we all had Christmas ice-cream while we watched Polar Express tonight.  They thought it quite a shame that I had never seen that movie...and so that all changed this evening.  I'll see if I can handle a few days of getting everyone to the right place at the right time!  I'd almost forgotten what that was like...and admire the parents who do this all the time.

Wishing you all a wonderful 'month before Christmas'...as you prepare your heart and home.
  

a desert get-away

We began this month in one of our favorite warm spots...the desert near Palm Springs.  By the end of the month I will be immersed in all things Christmas and have long forgotten about our time in the sun...so I'll share a few pic's now.

We have stayed at this same resort many times...often meeting up with family or friends while we are there.

We had a ground floor suite this time...

...and watched the birds on the lagoon from our patio.

It was mostly a lazy time all around!  Though we started every morning off with a nice long walk...

...in the desert behind the resort

...around the adjacent golf course



...or through one of the many new sub-divisions sprouting up nearby.

We also hiked the Ladder Canyon Trail at Painted Canyon near Mecca for the first time. This trail has about seven ladders to help hikers make their way through the slot canyon. The trail-head was a little hard to find...but we met up with a boyscout leader that pointed us in the right direction.  The loop trail took us about three hours. 

Much of the scenery reminded us of that in Death Valley...several hundred miles away. The temperature was just perfect for hiking. 

If you are ever in the Palm Springs area and looking for a good hike...check out Mecca Hills Painted Canyon.

We spent a few days with family at the resort, met up with friends for dinner and church, and also drove to Quartzsite, Arizona to spend a evening with two of my sisters and their hubbies. But for the most part, we read books and floated on the lazy river.

I quite liked our desert get-away!  It was just what I needed.

October ~ a few memories

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.  

~ Anne of Green Gables

Is there anything quite like the colours of October? 

I'm with Anne!

It was a lovely month!

We were a few days late in celebrating Maggie's birthday this year...

so her September birthday had an October party.

On a lovely Sunday afternoon we took a walk along the Vedder River trail with the kids...

...the grands

...and their dog.

Ryder spent the first month of the school year with his arm in a cast...

and was happy to have it come off shortly after this outing.

Some come to walk.

Others to fish.

So thankful to the Rotary Club of Chilliwack for the trail that runs along the river.

We had beautiful weather on the Thanksgiving weekend...

and went for a walk at the Cheam Wetlands Park on the Sunday.

It's another jewel in our neighbourhood!

A quiet one.

Our fifth and final cut of grass for the year happened on October 11th.

It's always a good feeling to be done the harvesting for the year.

Just down the road from our place...

the cranberry harvest for the year was happening.

There's nothing like a splash of red to brighten a grey day in October!

There were plenty of grey days this month.

And lots of rain.

But when the sun came out...

...the colours were amazing!

It's hard not to take pictures!

As the sun sets on October...

...I am spending some time far from the 'green grass of home'.

It's a time for reading, relaxing, spending time with family and friends...

and enjoying the sunshine.

Every single day.

It rarely rains in the desert!

I'll be home soon.