From My Home to Yours

This past 7, or maybe 8, years we've been celebrating our Christmas

on the Eve, this year was no different... family, food, laughter and tons

of love was shared. 

From my home to yours, wishing you 

all a safe and Happy Holiday Season! 

As Burton Hillis said "The best of all gifts around any 

Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all

wrapped up in each other."  And this is by far the 

absolute best gift this mother could ask for! 

Me, skate?

I haven't been on skates for about 16 years, 

or let me rephrase this...

I hadn't been on skates for this length of 

time until today! 

I went skating with a friend I hadn't seen since

we were teenagers, it was a blast acting like

time stood still, funny thing though I don't

ever remember it being this difficult

to stand on skates in my youth! 

Cheers and wishing each of you 

a blessed and very Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas

Once I was done my course yesterday, camera

in hand, I headed down to a family Christmas 

party hosted by the Native Friendship

Centre. Santa showed up to give each of the

children a gift and spend time with the children.

 This Santa I've worked with before, he's phenomenal!

 Due to respecting others privacy I won't post any of 

the children's photos but did I ever get some 

amazing shots. Once I was done shooting it was

play time...

From Santa and I, wishing you and your loved

ones a very Merry Christmas! 

Another Course

Again time is just whizzing on by. This week I'm staying outside of the city, 

back at a place where I completed my second practicum. I'm taking a 

week long course in an area which I'm extremely interested in and 

passionate about. The course is on historical and intergenerational trauma;

the effects the Residential Schools had/have on those who survived harsh and
 cruel treatment while in these despicable schools, as well as the effects
 on their children. When one takes a look back in history, the true history,
 of Canada and the assimilation processes, which included genocide, 
inflicted upon Indigenous peoples, Canada should be ashamed of 
what they have been attempting to cover up for all these years. 
There is so much suffering and a huge gap in services offered
 to help those who continue to suffer that it's time more
 people stood up and helped those who have lost their voice 
find it again. It is my hopes to be one of these people. 

Even though I have been absent from my blog, I still am thinking of those of you

whom I have contact with, you are in my thoughts and I shall return... first things

first though and right now what I am doing is priority. For now I'll leave you with a few Christmas shots, out of respect I will not post shots from inside this place but

maybe if it's warm out later this week I'll venture out with my camera in hand and take some outdoor photos. 

I hope you are all doing well and are ready for your Christmas, I like to think I am

but I'm sure I'll be doing last minute things next week, no worries though, I thrive

under pressure!   Cheers. 

These photos are from Saturday night, Elyssa spent the night with

me and we were busy! :-)

The annual Christmas photos...

Decorating...

Snowmen cookies...

and a wee bit of singing!

Tantalizing Tastebuds

Finally, a book which I'm sure will be worthy of reading 

from front to back! 

I'll be reading this after my baking is done though...

yup, it's that time of year to tantalize your

taste-buds once again...

Cream cheese cookies...

Sugar cookies to decorate with Elyssa...

And these whipped shortbread cookies are by far

the absolute BEST shortbread cookies I've ever tasted, 

and only four ingredients in them... go figure!

I've also made 4 loaves of banana bread, 

date squares, butter-tart squares,

other cookies, and raspberry meringue

squares, I still have a few items I'd like 

to bake but still have a few days to get to it,

so no worries! 

Darn Cold

It's been so cold here lately, so cold that when I have to

go out I start the car with my remote starter (so thankful to 

have this feature when it's this cold!), I RUN from the house

to a warm vehicle and off I go. Yesterday I attended a board 

meeting which lasted the better part of the day, we met at the

River Cree Hotel and the buffet there was amazing!  I snapped

a quick shot as I pulled in, the teepees which welcome guests

had me thinking... I wonder how people ever survived harsh 

weather such as this back in the day. I can't even imagine! 

The temperature yesterday averaged -30c, 

way too cold for my liking! 

Where is the time slipping away?

I can't believe how fast time is passing me by, I keep thinking I'll blog later... 

this is so not like me. I'm done my course, just got my tree up today, 

but now I'm asking myself what have I been doing that time is just whizzing

on by.  I guess I've just taken a bit of a break, I've been busy, but a different

sort of busy.  However I'm still taking photos, each day this month I'm posting

a new header with a Christmas theme on facebook... just because. So tonight

I'll post all 5 days of December...

This first one I shot out at Sherwood Park when I was out there with the kids

at the festival of trees...

The second photo I was playing with the gift I came

home from the family party with...I had to do some

bartering to bring this home, I LOVE Snoopy! 

Another shot from the Festival of trees...

Yesterday Abbie helped me with the tree...

And tonight, now that my tree is finished, this is a shot of 

one of my decorations on the tree...

I figure I'll have to cut a deal with Santa, otherwise

there'll be nothing for me this year!