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#WeekendCoffeeShare – Christmas Holidays

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My thanks to Diana from Part-Time Monster for hosting this weekly gig.  I’m so happy to have been introduced to it as it replaced my “Gratitude” posts because essentially, when I invite you in for coffee, I am sharing the things I love and am grateful for!  Should you want to read more stories, just click on the picture above and you will be brought to Diana’s post, below it, will be a little blue frog that you can click on to get more stories and, maybe, add your own!

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If we were having coffee, I would have forewarned you that today is a perfect Sunday to be a pyjama (or pajama, if you prefer) day.  So please, feel free to arrive in yours! We are having our first snowfall (no, I do not consider that pretend dusting we had way back in November as the first).  Not that much has fallen but there is enough to coat the rooftops and leave paw prints visible!

First Real Snow
Looking Pretty
Happy Zeke

If we were comfortably settled on the sofa, coffee mug in hand, I would tell you that this past week has been a fun-filled one.  It all started when my friend Leonard invited me to the Comedy Nest in Montreal as Joey Elias was holding a #SupportLocal evening of comedy being held on Sunday evening.  The show started at 8:00 and Leonard’s best bud, Steve (also my comedy date twice now!) would arrive around 7:30.  I got there sometime around 7:45-ish and settled in for an hour and a half of laughter.  They delivered.  The host for the evening was Christ Venditto and he did a fine job.  First up was Leonard Yelle, a good friend of Mick’s and now one of mine!  He thought he was lacking, I thought he did fine (I may be biased), next up was Guido Durante – ohmygosh he was hilarious!  Without taking away anything from the other comics, he was hilarious!  He was followed by a funny Scot, Darren Henwood, then Emma Wilkie, the one brave woman comic (but don’t call her that!  She is a comic, no need to distinguish – hats off to her for that) and finally the headliner was Joey Elias himself.  I love how he just picks on the audience and builds his act upon that.  It is a quick wit he has to do so.  I can definitely see why he is one of Canada’s best and a regular at Montreal’s Just for Laughs!

Chris Venditto
Guido Durante
Darren Henwood
Emma Wilkie
Joey Elias

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I was truly touched by all the sweet, heartfelt comments I got for my letter to Mick on the first anniversary of his death.  As the boys had no exams on that day, thus no school, I ensured I would not work and be there for them.  We went Christmas shopping together, splitting up at the mall, then for dinner at one of his favourite restaurants, Le Barbù.  Turned into a nice mother and sons kind of day.

On Wednesday, Sophie and Charles came by to pick up their last meals for 2015 and gave me a lovely bottle of champagne!  How sweet are they?  So nice to have friends/clients who are so generous.

By the 24th, the boys and I finally finished decorating the house – as much as it was going to be this year.  I cannot believe how working just a few hours per week put me into a total disorganised state.  Oh well, all’s well, that ends well!  Mom and Yvon arrived, arms full of pies, meat pies and bread,  just in time to join Lisa and family for dinner at Del Frisco’s.  No one was in the mood to cook as as we all had no where to go, really, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner made by someone else!  Delicious!

Christmas morning came and we had our little gift exchange then prepared for the onslaught!  You see, since, um, geez, I don’t know how long ago, Mick made Christmas brunch for family and friends.  Whoever felt like dropping by for eggs, bacon, sausages, waffles, “Momosis” (Mick never called them Mimosas) and coffee, were welcome.  A tradition that we have continued.  Last year was obviously bust, but this year, Iain took up his father’s mantle at the stove.  He did a fabulous job and all left with very full bellies!  One of the fun things about this brunch is some arrive in their PJs, some dressed up, there is a rotating group at the couch and another at the dining table and the whole thing is quite cacophonous – there is nothing neat about it and that’s what I love!

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After a supposed rest, I made cranberry sauce and my infamous, already-full-of-booze eggnog and off we went to Lisa and Chris’ for Christmas dinner!  We had our fun gift exchange – where presents are not supposed to cost more than $25 each, we play a game where our names (twice) are put into a hat and we draw.  You have the choice between taking a new present or stealing.  Always fun when your name gets picked last!  There was a highly popular popcorn machine and my 64 oz flask did a couple of rounds too.  Laughs galore then more eats.  Lisa also made her annual Greek butter almond cookies “Kourabiedes” and we all went home with a tin!  Yeah!!  I forgot my camera and am extremely disappointed in my new cellphone’s camera (or, maybe I have simply not mastered it yet as it is supposedly a fabulous camera…) so apologies for the crappola pictures!

Waitin for the game to start
Cousins clowning around
Goodies!

If we were still having coffee, and I hope I haven’t bored you to tears by now, I’d tell you that I worked my first ever Boxing Day yesterday.  Truth be told, it was a lot less insane than I thought it would be.  And on top of it I sold a rug and a papasan!  Last night, Gabriella came by to wish us a Merry Christmas as she didn’t come with her family for brunch.  She ended up staying for a bottle of wine, some Parmigiano Reggiano and we watched From Here to Eternity.  Not a bad end to a lovely week, I say!

I wish for you all a most Happy New Year, keep safe, surround yourselves with loved ones and take the time to just enjoy life!

xoxo

 

 

37 thoughts on “#WeekendCoffeeShare – Christmas Holidays”

  4. Gee, next year I might find a way to end up at your brunch on Christmas morning! It sounds so fun! Sometimes noisy and busy is so much fun! We are always quiet here, at least for the past ten years!

    I think the Mother-Son day should be a tradition for you guys. It’s a good time to get together before the onslaught of the holidays hits!

    I always enjoy your blog posts. Thank you for that!

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    • Gee! Thank you Corina! So glad you enjoyed. The brunch is anything but quiet!
      I think I shall definitely try to make the mother-son thing a tradition

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  6. Your Christmas Brunch sure sounds like a jolly tradition. I’m so glad you were able to do it again this year. Good for your son that he took over the job as cook! Your Christmas dinner sounded fun too. I have to tell you, I have so much admiration for you and for the incredible grace you exhibit in everything you write and do. Here’s to a Happy New Year for you and your boys.

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  8. Dale the comedy night sounds as though it was full of laughs. Glad your son has taken over Mick’s role and your traditions continue. It is a sad time of year for you and I’m sure that Mick would be happy that you and the boys are making strides forward. A big hug and hope you have a very Happy New Year.

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    • Thanks Irene! It’s wonderful to see the boys step up to the plate. Yes there is sadness but thankfully there is a lot of love and happiness to balance it out! Happy happy to you too!

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  9. Good to see that all is well because I was a bit worried. Snow looks cold, but Zeke looks content! Good love good comedians! Cheers to Iain for stepping forward. I assume he got a good feeling from doing it, and of course you were a proud mama! … and Cheers to you for another step forward.

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  11. Dale, I really enjoyed reading about your Christmas and I will followup your letter. I really love the sound of your casual brunches with people turning up in their PJs and just being themselves and you all having a laugh and a cry together and treasuring Mick. It is how I would like my family to carry on. One of the kids making the pancakes…or even both.
    I was interested to see the photo of the dog lying in the snow. I know it;s got a thick coat but doesn’t it feel cold? Was that perhaps a moment? We’ve had dogs airlifted to safety in the Northern Territory as crocodiles in floodwaters have been taking dogs. I posted about it here: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/when-dogs-fly/
    Take care and best wihes to you and your boys for the New Year!
    xx Rowena

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    • Thank you, Rowena! It is a great tradition that I felt had to go on!
      Zeke is a long-haired German Shepherd who absolutely adores the snow. When we go for a walk, I send him out while I get dressed and he just plops down immediately in the snow. He never gets cold – even in -30°C!

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      • Traditions are a great way to honour and remember those we have lost.
        Zeke sounds like such a character who loves to live life to the fullest. We don’t have snow here and while we do go skiing, that’s in a National Park and dog free so I’ve never seen a dog or other animals respond to snow. Not surprising the dog would find it fun as we sure do although his paws must get cold. My dog really tries not to stick his paws in water but will stand out in the rain and get soaked. Even though I’ve made little progress trying to understand the dog mind, I still keep trying.
        xx Rowena

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