Winter Has Come To PEI!

We woke to the sound of a howling wind and tinkling on the window.  When we looked outside we saw horizontal snow blowing at 56 kms!  The wind was so loud that at times it shook the windows.  Every once in a while the wind would die down and it would just be snowing outside.

I decided that today was the day that I would build a snowman.  I was going to do it a couple of days ago, but the snow was mixed with ice and it just wasn’t good snowman material.  When I told Ron that I wanted to go outside to build a snowman he just looked at me and started laughing.  He didn’t think I was serious.  When he realized I WAS serious, he looked for some good water proof clothing for me to wear.  He found some pants that were miles to big for me along with a fleeced lined water proof coat of his.  We got some gloves and a toque as well.  Ron had to dress me to get me into all of it.  I felt like a kid with my parents getting me ready to go out for winter.  Once he bundled me all up and zipped up the coat I said “I have to go to the bathroom”.  We both burst out laughing.  I didn’t have to go, but I thought … isn’t that what kids usually say once they get zipped up?   It was a funny moment.

Out I went into the blizzard to build a snowman.  I could barely walk with all the clothing I had on, let alone try and bend over to roll up snow, but I did my best.  The snow was blowing sideways so I kept my back to it so it wouldn’t blow into my face.  I was a bit surprised at how I could sit in the snow and it wasn’t cold.  I thought to myself, “boy, Ron has good clothing! I should get me some of this!” 

As I rolled up the snow to make the top part of the snowman, Ron came out and decided to do a little snow blowing.  The snow drifts had gotten quite high in front of the garage.  He just loves snow blowing.  Every time he looks over at me, he puts on this big grin like he’s having the best time ever. 

Ron pointed out some black rocks beside the garage that I could use for eyes.  He motioned for me to come and get them.  As I went across the yard I had forgotten that it sloped downward toward the edge.  All of a sudden my foot went down about 2 feet and I was up to my knees in snow!  I fell over laughing because now my boots were stuck in the snow and I couldn’t move!  Ron had to come over and help pull me out.  We both were laughing so hard.  He told me to step into his foot prints so I wouldn’t fall again … I told him to take smaller steps!  Finally I made it to the driveway safely to get the rocks and took the paved walkway back to the snowman.

As I looked at the creation I had made, I thought to myself, why am I making a snowman?  I am a woman. I should be making a snowWOMAN!  So I made a few alterations to make it a snowwoman.  I think since Ron is the man, he should make the snowman.  I’m still waiting for him to do that.  J  In the mean time, I dressed her up with a scarf, a carrot for a nose, and some twigs for her arms.  I guess I should name her but at the moment she doesn’t have a name.  Do you have any suggestions for a name?

After coming in from the cold, I put a pot of soup on that the next door neighbor had brought by earlier today.  It’s just what we needed after being out in the cold.  It was really good home made chicken soup.  I washed out the container and thought to myself, instead of returning an empty container, I should fill it back up with something.  So I made some chocolate chip cookies.  I put a dozen cookies back in the container and sent Ron over to the neighbors to deliver them.  That was over an hour ago and he hasn’t come back yet!  I guess he is having a good chat with them and will come home when he gets hungry.  I hope he doesn’t eat all THEIR cookies!!

It was a good day.  The wind howled, we got a ton of snow and now I’m going to sit by the fire and maybe watch a movie.  If this is what an East Coast winter is all about then I’ll be fine.  So long as I don’t have to drive anywhere!!

Figuring out how to make a snowman

Digging a path through to the garage

Rolling Rolling Rolling

Hard to move with all the clothing I have on

My first SnowWOMAN

Lots of snow for Ron to blow!

Ron having fun ... AGAIN!!

Looks like she's a flasher!!

Definately a SnowWOMAN



Snowy day in PEI



Merry Christmas!

This was our first Christmas here living on PEI.  I knew it was going to be different not having the kids for Christmas this year but it didn’t really feel like Christmas at all.  I have always gone big at Christmas with lots of decorations, plenty of baking, tons of shopping and doing lots of wrapping of presents.  I love it all.  But this year, although there were decorations up, there was no baking done, very little shopping done in the stores (most things were bought on line and delivered straight to their addresses) and virtually no wrapping of presents done.  It felt really weird not to be doing those things.  I really missed that.

Ron and I had decided not to buy presents for one another because we just bought a house and had a garage built.  We were in agreement that those things were our gift to one another.  However, when we in a store and if Ron saw something he thought he might like, I told him to get it and I would wrap it up and put it under the tree for him.  They were just little things under $10.00 but at least he would have something to open for Christmas, even if he did know what it was.  Then Ron was feeling guilty that he would be opening up a present and I wouldn’t so he started talking that he should get something for me.  I said no but he kept bringing it up.  When we were in Mark’s Warehouse buying something for my son, I saw a shirt on sale for under $10.00 and told him to wrap this up and put it under the tree for me.  We laughed but said “that’s it! No more!”

Christmas morning came and we sat around the tree and looked at the few little things that were put under the tree.  When the kids were with us, we were used to seeing the tree loaded up with presents that would take hours to unwrap.  Now there were 4 little parcels under the tree.  It felt weird.  I handed Ron a gift and he opened it with such glee.  He ooohed and aaahhhed like it was the best gift ever … even though he knew before opening what it was.  It was pretty funny.  Then we let Bailey open his present.  He tore a little piece of the wrapping paper off then looked at me as if to say “are you going to help me?”.  I helped tear the paper off, then Bailey got a whiff of what it was and went crazy!  He got all excited with his new bag of soft treats!  I opened the bag and let him put his face in to take one, but he was so excited that he pulled his face out of the bag with more treats than he could handle and they spilled onto the floor.  It was a mad dash as to who was going to get them first, us or Bailey!  It was hilarious!!

Then I got to open up my present.  I was looking forward to seeing the shirt I picked out earlier, as I couldn’t remember what color it was, but I was really surprised as to what Ron had added to the gift.  He had added his own touch to the gift, without spending any money.  Best gift ever!  He had sandwiched my shirt between two pieces of cardboard.  On the cardboard he wrote: 

“Sweetheart Shirley

Santa told me not to get you a present this year.  So, what else could I give you without spending our money? 

I will give you all my love … forever.

I will look after you … forever.

I will understand you when you ask me to do things, no matter how silly I think they are J

You have made me very happy.

I will do my very best to love, respect and support you … FOREVER!

Love you

Ron”

I ask you … is that not the best gift ever!!  What more could I ask for.  I am truly grateful that I have married a man who loves me so much.  AND … I have it in writing!  J

After we opened our gifts, I made a big breakfast with orange juice, bacon, hash browns, eggs over easy and toast.  Then I put the turkey in.  We had an early dinner around 4:30 p.m.  It sure felt different not having to cook for a lot of people this year.  I tried to make it the same as previous years by putting out all the trimmings ie. Pickles, olives, sweet onions etc. but it just didn’t feel the same.  Once we finished eating we just looked at each other and said “well … so much for Christmas.” 

Boxing Day I woke up, feeling a little depressed.  Without the kids and family around it just didn’t feel like we had a Christmas.  So we did something that I never ever do.  We took down all the Christmas decorations, dismantled the tree and stored everything Christmas away.  Usually I don’t take things down until January.  Maybe next year we will be more adjusted to being by ourselves for the holiday season and can celebrate Christmas longer.

The one thing I did appreciate this year was the Christmas cards that we received from people back home.  It may seem like a small thing, but I always looked forward to receiving cards at Christmas time.  It means that people are thinking of you, and with moving out to PEI this year, it’s nice to know that people are still thinking of us.  So thank you to everyone who sent us a Christmas card this year.  It meant a lot to us and we really appreciated it.

Can I open my present?

Our Christmas tree

Here Bailey ... you can open this one.

I know there is something in here

Oh I found it!!  I want it NOW!!

Ron looking surprised at his non-surprise gift

Opening up my present from Ron

Love what I found inside.

Surprise message from Ron.  I love it!!



My non-surprise shirt from Ron



When I saw it I had to get it for him!   Every man needs one!

A gift from his mother in-law.  He loves it!

A gift from my mom.  The coat is good for -35C weather!

Christmas Party

As Christmas approaches, I find myself missing the party atmosphere that usually comes with the holiday festivities.  Since we don’t have any family here on the island and we don’t know very many people (hardly any), I decided in order to get to know people I should have a party.

The only people we actually know are the people we bought the house from, Carolyn and Gordie.  After selling us their house, they moved into the house right next door.  They have been amazing neighbors and very helpful when it comes to finding out information on the island.  We hadn’t met the neighbors on the other side of us, so I thought what better way of meeting them than to have a party.  I made up special invitations and put them in both the neighbors mail box.  That night I received a phone call from the neighbor I hadn’t met yet, Kim.  She called to say they would love to come to the party.  They have a 4 year old daughter that would be coming as well.  She sounded really nice on the phone.

The house was all decorated for Christmas.  The tree was spinning and Christmas carols were playing in the background.  It was going to be a casual evening with drinks and appetizers.  It was only going to be the 7 of us but as usual I made enough food for about 30 people.  We had a Spinach dip, deviled eggs, veggy tray with cucumber dill dip, Boursin cheese & Brie Cheese with crackers, seafood wraps (cut bite size), stuffed cherry tomatoes, special meatballs, sausage rolls and mini quiche.  I always say, it’s better to have too much than not enough.  There were plenty of leftovers after the party, but it made for snacking for the next 2 days … no cooking!

The new neighbors, Mark, Kim and Katie, arrived, and as predicted, were very nice.  They arrived with a lovely card that said “Welcome to Burlington” and a bottle of wine.  We instantly became friends!  Their little girl Katie was cute as a button and very charming.  She settled in very quickly, playing with Bailey and feeding him dog treats. 

Gordie and Carolyn arrived bearing a gift for us as well.  I scolded them a little saying you weren’t supposed to bring anything!  They just laughed and said “oh it’s nothing much”.   They have been so good to us.  We couldn’t have asked for nicer neighbors.

We all spent the evening sitting around, chatting, laughing, eating and drinking.  It was a great evening and a great way to meet the new neighbors.  It was a very relaxed and joyful night.  I’m sure we are all going to be great neighbors for years to come.

Preparing food for the party

Organizing the dishes

Making sure there is enough room for the dishes

Our living room from the kitchen

Everyone enjoying the food

I want more food!

Having a conversation with Katie

Gordie checking out Katie's gift

Carolyn can't wait to see what Katie got!

Kim, Carolyn and Mark waiting for Katie to open her present

Bailey saying hello to Katie

Christmas in North Rustico

Best House of the Night

When we were looking to purchase a home, we saw some houses in North Rustico.  We really liked the area because it was so close to the water but found that the taxes in that area were extremely high.  Our realtor told us that at Christmas time this place really lights up!  She said if you want to see Christmas lights we HAD to come to North Rustico.  They really put on a good show.

Tonight we decided to see if our realtor was right.  So we headed out to North Rustico to see some Christmas lights.  It was a perfect night to go. It wasn’t too cold and it wasn’t raining or snowing.  We took the Cavandish Parkway on our way to North Rustico.  We like that drive because it is so quiet.  We only saw one car the whole way from Cavendish to North Rustico.  When the tourists are gone so is everyone else.  Cavandish becomes a ghost town … literally!

We arrived in North Rustico through the back door and headed down toward Main Street.  Before we got there, we passed a side street and I told Ron to back up … I saw lights … and lots of them too!!  He backed up and we headed down to the first house.  We were amazed at the amount of decorations and lights that filled up the front of the yard.  We had to sit there for a few moments just to take it all in.  We continued up the street and when we made the bend in the road we saw another huge display!  It was massive!!  We thought it couldn’t get any better than that.  We were wrong!

We made it to Main Street and all we could see was glowing sections of the town.  There were homes that were totally decked out with Santa’s climbing onto the roofs, reindeer nibbling on the lawns, elves playing and not to mention the thousands and thousands of twinkling lights that adorned the homes and yards.  We even saw a home that you had to tune your car radio to a certain radio station to follow the musical techno show of lights.  It was amazing!

But the best home we saw was done up in a spectacular fashion!  The home was set back quite a ways from the street but the lights and decorations started at the street and went all the way back to the house.  If you could think of it, it was there.  There was music playing, flood lights accenting figure displays and lighted candy canes lining the long driveway to the house.  It was a house you just had to stop, get out of your car and just take it all in.  It was amazing!!  I can only imagine the electric bill this owner will have after Christmas!

This drive tonight really put me in the mood for Christmas!  You can’t help but feel good when you drive through the town of North Rustico at Christmas time.  If you ever find yourself in PEI during the month of December, I highly recommend that you take a drive through North Rustico.  You won’t be disappointed!

First house we saw ... it only got better!

House just around the corner from the first house

Same house, different angle

Mr. & Mrs. Santa





The whole block gets into decorating!

Well lit house

Merry Christmas house

The driveway of our favorite display

Santa's Sleigh

There is so much to look at here

Love the carolers

Wooden Reindeer

Nicely lit house

Lots of icicles

Giant Ornament Ball

Nice house

I like the property lined in peppermint sticks

Santa

Another wonderful display

A side panorama view of our favorite display.