Getting ready to “move” to Wolfville tomorrow for Christmas festivities there. It will be strange not to be hosting…but that part could also be the best part..you never know…

sometimes it’s fun to break the rules..

My birthday continues..day 19! Sharing it belatedly with Ria, who celebrated her upcoming birthday…note the numbers. fun. Our ages will be the exact reverse numbers.

In the evening it was yet another birthday event, hosted by Val and her pets, shared with Elaine.

..and more cake for me!  I think it’s all over now.

We’re tiny but mighty in the excellent luncheons department…Art group Christmas lunch was great…made for a “large day” as Richard tells me they say in Newfoundland…and we did grow larger, but….

…we dined to this view, and there was absolutely no rain! …a “large day” indeed.

Out to dinner at Melissa’s. I find her after dinner “mess” so painterly…In fact, this could be the basis for a still life painting  Actually mean this. oh, lovely evening too..

The inclusion of “sun” in today’s forecast was overstated…

Being the “crow” that I am, I’m a sucker for the Christmas lights…outside…and

..inside the house. When it’s light outside and inside in the summer months, I don’t crave this, but I think it truly helps soften this winter season…

A really wet day for an indoor/outdoor party, but Dee Dee and Jer know how to pull this off. Judy braved the rain to be on long term duty at the marshmallow station. S’Mores were an option too..chilli in the greenhouse, along with hot cider, and a chance to take a breath before going back inside the house….Once there, over the top decadence in the food department, and absolutely packed at all times, with toddlers and up running about between the standing adults. It felt like a rave but instead of dancing and drugs, it was mulled wine and the world’s best food! Not that I’ve gone to a rave, but just saying…I felt the love that the hosts have for their community..

The chicken coop looked like a Christmas card. White rooster, black hens..blue eggs. I’m quite fascinated by chicken coops since seeing Tish and Wes’s…this one had its own Christmas lights. There’s something special about all the properties that we’ve been to along this east coast. The rustic-ness, the country charm, the views, the unexpected layouts, the warmth. This one was all of that, and then the chickens!

Just walking along with Noah as though he was a “big boy”…in fact, he’s such a sweet toddler, only 16 months, yet I know he’ll seem huge when his aunt Jen has her new baby. Frank and I enjoyed a no hand holding walk up our road, to the trail head, and back..hills and all, with this marathon walker. Noah had to pause sometimes though, for rocks, dogs, smiling ladies, water, ducks. He would so often just stop, look up and raise both arms skyward. Life is so fascinating when you’re this close to the earth.

Noah could also multi task..walking and sipping on applesauce in a pouch, which he held with thumbless mitts. Impressive.

Jen was busy cooking dinner, but it’s more difficult these days…

…compared to Will cooking. I don’t think men can ever really appreciate what pregnant women go through…Will was invested in this meal prep, as it was for his birthday dinner. Great dinner, in fact.

Meanwhile, the boys, Kai, a visiting dog, and I are stayed out of the kitchen…

..as did Frank, though he hates to admit that he enjoyed hanging out with the dogs that Jen was dog sitting. If you were a dog, this would be a great house to be “sat” in…You get the best seat in the house, in fact. Note Kai on the floor.