Not a Red Cardinal, but Australia's answer, the Red and Green King Parrot, greeting me in the morning.
Perfect herald of Christmas...
Perfect herald of Christmas...
December has arrived, and the last page of my Canadian 2018 calendar.
In a few days it will be a year since we last flew across to visit our daughter and her family in Ottawa. How we wish we could go more frequently!
The snow came early this year - here is a rare sighting of our youngest grandson and his October snowman, mixed in with still-falling Autumn leaves.
Bless.
Little Aussie has been visiting, riding the dolphin (best inflatable toy we have ever had, has lasted about six years)....
and working on the Christmas Village, as is his wont..
This year he asked for the books to remain on the coffee table, and they became hills and valleys. Our village now boasts two Town Squares...
and a variety of illuminations...
He then installed all the old Santas (age 20-40 years) on the fireplace..
Little Aussie has quite a flair for the arts, so it was with great excitement we attended his first stage play with his new Children's Drama Group..
He is the one in the dark blue shirt, a tourist in the hilarious farce 'Jet Lag Tours'. His several lines were loud and clear, and we were naturally totally smitten with it all...
It is entirely possible that I had a birthday last week..
Mr C said it with roses, so beautifully pastel and fragrant..
Dear Daughter sent a sweet textured purse from Canada, with a representation of 'Lake and Mountain' by 'Group of Seven' Canadian painter Lawren Harris:
The original is held at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
The Sewing Sisters came over for a Christmas/Birthday lunch..
D gave me an adorable little butter dish - it will have a festive time at Christmas.
and J made the Best melt-in-the-mouth Cupcakes...
ever...
A few gifts have begun to assemble by The Tree..
How is your Christmas shopping coming along?
I have been singing at a few Christmas concerts with the Choir for Ladies of a Certain Age, and always find it a great lead-up to the Festive Season.
And that about brings us up to date with the Red Cardinal Nest..
Enjoy the Season
XXXX
The snow came early this year - here is a rare sighting of our youngest grandson and his October snowman, mixed in with still-falling Autumn leaves.
Bless.
Little Aussie has been visiting, riding the dolphin (best inflatable toy we have ever had, has lasted about six years)....
and working on the Christmas Village, as is his wont..
This year he asked for the books to remain on the coffee table, and they became hills and valleys. Our village now boasts two Town Squares...
and a variety of illuminations...
He then installed all the old Santas (age 20-40 years) on the fireplace..
Little Aussie has quite a flair for the arts, so it was with great excitement we attended his first stage play with his new Children's Drama Group..
He is the one in the dark blue shirt, a tourist in the hilarious farce 'Jet Lag Tours'. His several lines were loud and clear, and we were naturally totally smitten with it all...
It is entirely possible that I had a birthday last week..
Mr C said it with roses, so beautifully pastel and fragrant..
Dear Daughter sent a sweet textured purse from Canada, with a representation of 'Lake and Mountain' by 'Group of Seven' Canadian painter Lawren Harris:
The original is held at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
The Sewing Sisters came over for a Christmas/Birthday lunch..
D gave me an adorable little butter dish - it will have a festive time at Christmas.
and J made the Best melt-in-the-mouth Cupcakes...
ever...
A few gifts have begun to assemble by The Tree..
How is your Christmas shopping coming along?
I have been singing at a few Christmas concerts with the Choir for Ladies of a Certain Age, and always find it a great lead-up to the Festive Season.
And that about brings us up to date with the Red Cardinal Nest..
Enjoy the Season
XXXX
Hi Patricia what a lovely post ,you have handsome grandsons there,and what a great help little Aussie was with the decorations.
ReplyDeleteThat dolphin floaty looks like fun.
Happy birthday my friend looks like you had a lovely celebration,love your gifts,hope you have a lovely weekend.
Hi Sheryl, yes we do have gorgeous handsome grandsons :) Little Aussie has helped with the decor since the time he could walk - seriously! He has an innate sense of the artistic, and I wonder what he will do with it when he grows up. Thank you for the birthday wishes, it was a good day.
DeleteHappy birthday Patricia! What lovely gifts and that painting is gorgeous. I'm sure you are enjoying the cooler weather. I can't remember a Nov/Dec so cool in our parts! That dolphin has certainly paid his way and he still looks good as new. Would love a pool. I hope you have a great festive season.
ReplyDeleteIt is rare to have a few cool days near a Christmas isn’t it. I love it after all the heat waves. The pool is great for kids, but work for Mr Cardinal who rather hates it :). Merry Christmas S xx
DeleteHappy birthday Trish. Beautiful roses indeed. I love your decorating and it looks like you're enjoying festive activities already. How gorgeous are your grandboys and such different seasonal pursuits xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle, glad you enjoyed. I focus on what appeals to the boy these days. It is interesting to see the difference in lifestyles of boys the same age. It is all snow sports and heavy clothes over there! Xx
DeleteHappy birthday! I love your Christmas village. Very pretty. And the books make for excellent terrain. I'm glad this season is finding you well. It's chilly here in Ontario but there are some cardinals around to add life to a very stark looking garden. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Ontarian, and welcome to my blog. Glad you like our Christmas village, which reminds me of happy times in Ottawa. How beautiful to have the cardinals flying around against the snow. We spoke to our daughter today and she reported -10 deg, so yes, certainly is chilly already. xx
DeleteHappy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteEverything is looking so festive in your home...happy holidays to you all!
Thank you Hostess, and happy holidays to you too. I am thinking of trying to make a Canadian Tourtiere pie for Christmas Eve. You are an accomplished cook, so I am wondering do you have any tips on how to make it? Enjoy the festive season.
DeleteYou look to have made the most of the beginning of December. How can it be December already? Happy belated birthday from me as well!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you Amalia, the year has flown by indeed. Tree is up, and planning the Christmas feast is well away. Happy times to you too :)
DeleteHow the time flies by - it doesn't seem any time at all since you flew off to Canada with all of your new warm clothing. I didn't realise that snow had already fallen in Canada. It snowed here last 10th December which was very early for us, but I am hoping that it stays away whilst we take a little seaside break away from the Christmas shopping.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday, it looks as if it was an enjoyable one - roses, the beautiful bag from Canada, and delicious melt in the mouth cupcakes.
So true Rosemary, it all goes in a flash, right down to buying the snow boots when we arrived. They now languish in a box here while we endure many a heat wave this Summer. I do hope you avoid the snow while having a seaside break - snow and sand do not mix very well. Thank you for your wishes, it was a sweet birthday, and every one is precious as one gets older :)
Deletedelicious cookies...
ReplyDeleteand thank you for sharing of beautiful series of photos.
have a great day
Thank you and Happy Christmas.
DeleteHappy belated Birthday and wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas
ReplyDeleteThank you, and Merry Christmas
DeleteOh you do have fun with that little Aussie❤️
ReplyDeleteHappiest Birthday greetings Patricia...
Enjoy the rest of your weekend...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
He is so precious Linda. We see less of him as he gets older, so make the most of it when he is here. Thank you for your greetings, always nice to have a birthday :)
DeleteI will decorate this week. You and Little Aussie have inspired me with your lovely Christmas village. Your youngest is looking very cute in his winter wear. How much he has grown!
ReplyDeleteThe Red and Green King Parrot is as pretty as a Red Cardinal, so he will do nicely! Hopeufully he will return and bring his colorful friends.
Happy Advent (2nd week), Trish!
Debbie
Happy decorating - I have seen pictures of two sweet villages from North America! I hope you have one too :)
DeleteThe King Parrots usually come in pairs, and I was surprised to see this one alone. I wonder if it was widowed? They are shy, quite the opposite of the crazy lorikeets. Happy Advent Debra
Belated happy birthday! ☺ lovely post! Please tell your daughter she has great taste! 👍 love that purse. xx
ReplyDeleteI will tell her! It is a really sweet and special purse. xx
DeleteBelated Happy Birthday! Goodness, if I'd waited much longer you'd have had another one, LOL! So enjoyed everything about this post. I've watched (online) those grandson's grow up. Have a wonderful Christmas. I'll try to get back around before the year is up.
ReplyDeleteHi Darla, great to see you, and thank you for the birthday wishes. Those boys sure are growing fast, they will be taller than me soon. Have a wonderful Christmas too and take care.
DeleteThanks Val, indeed it does. Busy times! Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many goodies in your post; I like your Christmas village collection and that dolphin for the pool.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't snow where I live so I think of snow as fun, remembering the snow of my childhood. Happy birthday.
It never snows here either Terra, we are very much tropical and using the pool at Christmas. Having a daughter in Canada allows us to see pretty snow scenes from time to time, and I love the effect of snow + Christmas!
DeleteAt first I thought that was the red cardinal, but then you mentioned it was another pretty bird. And it's red, how special for the season. You have such wonderful birds in your area, Patricia. This is a sweet picture of your grandson and the snowman. I love the picture of little Aussie working on the Christmas village. It looks magical. You know, I've always wanted a Christmas village. Oh my, you have a BIG collection of Santa's.
ReplyDeleteYou had a Birthday!! Those cupcakes look Yummy. I wish I had one to go with my coffee right now. Wishing my dear friend a very Merry Christmas.
love, ~Sheri
Alas, no red cardinals in Australia, but the King Parrot is an excellent bird, red plus dark green, so looks like Christmas to me. Grandchildren make Christmas so special, whether in snow or in the swimming pool. You will have a lovely Christmas this year Sheri. The Santa collection is very old, from 20-40 years, and I no longer add to it. However it was fun to get it out after a few years hiding in a box in the basement! Wishing you a joyful and peaceful family Christmas dear friend.
DeleteGreat photos. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Thank you Sandi, and Merry Christmas.
DeleteIt should always a wise idea to keep it up-to-date and eye-catching.
ReplyDeletesatta king The resume alone will not decide your eligibility for the intended position. Employers are seeking confident and dedicated people that can help their positions.