Another First...

Our little boys are growing up so quickly!  Here is a really cute picture of....

... Little Smiley!  As usual he is smiling cutely for the camera.  Are you wondering where he is????  I'll tell you in a few lines, but first I have to show you....

.... the wonderful snow fort Daddy made for the little boys.  This is little Smiley on his way inside to check it out.... and.....

.... here are both of them.... there is just enough room.  And - just look at the snow!  I showed this picture to the bears and next thing I knew.....

.... they were both looking at Florida real estate magazines to see if they could find a house here!  They were so disappointed when I explained that we couldn't afford one and even if we could we can't stay here all year.  I think I convinced them that we should just come to Florida for the winter months - and they wouldn't see too much snow that way.  They are quite spoiled and don't like the cold.  Imagine a bear with fur thinking it needs a coat and hat and mittens in the winter!  Yep - they are way too domesticated!  Anyway, I digress..........

.......it wasn't too long before Daddy climbed into the snow fort too, and by the look on Munchie's face it was a little crowded in there.  Little Smiley....

....climbed out covered with snow!  Oh yes - I was telling you about...

......... where he was in that picture!  Look at the little fellow - he looks slightly nervous - don't you think??  Once he got used to it........

....... he started to look more relaxed.  But I can still see his little hand gripping the chair anxiously!  I also am noticing the palm tree on his protective cape...hmmm.... reminds me of Florida!  Hee!  Anyway......

....... when the haircut was finished he was quite pleased with his new look, and I think he looks absolutely adorable!  He was such a good little boy getting his first haircut!

Gosh!

It doesn't seem like such a long time since I posted here.  Things in Florida have settled into our usual routine.  Once a week (or so), we ....

.... travel to this Post Office to send off a parcel (or two) to Canada.  If the weather isn't too hot......

.... Poppa uses his new gate key and we head out........

......... for a walk around the neighbourhood.........

........ to see if anything has changed since last April.  If the weather is too hot for walking.......

...... we head into the pool and.......

...... toss the ball around.  If we are bored (say what??!!) we head to....

........ the outlet mall (or the local Wal-Mart - there are four within easy driving distance!) to do some shopping or just stroll around and see what's new.  Later....

... Taffy helps me make supper, and after we eat....

.... Squeegie helps Poppa do the dishes.  Then, while we relax and watch TV for a while.........

....... I work on socks for the latest sock give-away!

Last Week

Last Friday - rather unexpectedly - Denis got a phone call to say that his van had been repaired and he could pick it up.  The repair shop had told him Tuesday - so it was a nice surprise.  However, it meant that they decided to head back to Canada on Saturday.  Liz prepared one last meal.....

........ one of my favourite things.... her breaded meat.....

....... Denis opened the wine and mashed the potatoes........

....... while Poppa read the paper (and I ran around taking pictures!)....

....... the bears had one last visit........

.... we had one last swim........ and.........

........ shortly after lunch time on Saturday they got dressed in chilly weather clothes and we wished them a "Bon Voyage" on their trip to Canada.  We got a phone call on Tuesday to let us know that they had arrived without mishap - we were happy to get that call!  They also said it is very cold up there, making us very happy that we were still in sunny Florida.

Also, last week I sent these socks to Auntie Colleen.  She bought a couple of new shirts and one of them was a plum colour.  She was disappointed to discover that she had no socks to match that shirt and really thought she needed a pair, so.....

...... the third pair of socks I made in Florida looked like this.

Plant LIfe

On Jan. 11th my beautiful amaryllis.....

.... had two blooms!  And as you can see, our wine is still there!  In the meantime, I set up.....

... my office, cookbook and mailing centre.  It looks messy, but I can find everything quickly - as well as watch TV while I'm at the computer - very efficient!  Poppa is still busily.........

...brushing the pool everyday.  See how lovely it looks all re-surfaced!  He has also been over at his cousin's house.........

.......... helping them with their annual maintenance chores.  As you can see, Squee and Taffy joined them for dinner one evening.  Here is a picture of......

...... that pool garden that Poppa worked on last year.  As you can see, the plants are flourishing and it looks lovely!  Denis has taken quite a liking to Squeegie and Taffy...........

........ and escorted them to the door when we were ready to leave for home.  Some things never change....

.......... Squeegie, Poppa and Taffy still sit in the same place for their morning coffee.  But I do have a few other things to share with you.....

.... these are the gorgeous cards Auntie Colleen made for Little Smiley and Munchie for me to give them at Christmas time.  She did such a great job (as always) and the little boys were quite fond of them.... so much that they remained in one piece!  Speaking of the little boys.........

... they spent New Year' Eve at Aunt Melissa's house - and had a great time playing with Cousin Reese (in the santa jammies).  The shortest one is Little Smiley (in red) and that silver alien is Munchie!  Imagine!  At bedtime Taylor let them sleep in her bed.........

........ so they could stay together.  Left to right: Little Smiley, Cousin Reese and Munchie.

One more photo.........

........ some of Granny's family went to visit Gramma Grace last week, and she sent me this wonderful picture!  Left to right:  Granny, Trinity, Tristin, Gramma Grace, Daddy Sean and Trent.  I don't get to see Sean and his little family nearly often enough and was sooooo pleased to get this photo!  Thank you Granny!

On the 14th of January my amaryllis...........

........was in full bloom........and the day I took this photo I moved the wine to the fridge since Denis & Liz were coming to our house for dinner that evening.  Magnificent!  Thank you to David and Alison!

Progression

Poppa has been.........

........ carefully brushing the pool each and every day because our friend David had it re-surfaced while he was here, and it must be tended to carefully until it has had time to totally cure - which takes a while since it is also under water!  We haven't been in it yet........

...... since Poppa has been over at Denis' house helping him with some work over there.  While he is there, he is dipping in their pool in the evening after they have finished for the day.  We arrived there one day to find.......

....... a note on the table............

..... and fortunately Squeegie and Taffy had come with us, so they joined Pooh for a Teddy Bear's Picnic around the honey jar.  In between visits to Denis & Liz, Poppa took a few moments each day.........

......... to water our new hedge.  Yes - there is a new hedge growing between our villa and the one next door.  It seems to be doing quite well.  Usually Poppa waters it just about sun-down, but this day he did it a little earlier because we were going out for dinner - which made it a great time to get a photo while it was nice and bright outside.  And..........

.......... on the 9th of January our amaryllis plant burst into bloom!  Isn't it beautiful!

Welcome!

When we arrived at the villa there was a lovely surprise awaiting us....

.......... this plant and two bottles of wine.  We are saving the wine for an appropriate dinner.  I am tracking the plant and will keep you up-to-date on its progress.  The picture above was taken on Jan. 6th.  Squeegie and Taffy.....

...... have settled in nicely and are already watching the Disney Junior channel.  I have established ......

 ...knitting central in the Pooh room.... and......

... Poppa is already doing little tasks around the villa.... but that can be a long story... so more on it later.  And what have I been doing?  Well, last year on the way home from Florida I started a pair of socks for Kev-Inn.  My intentions were to have them finished in October for hunting season - but alas, I just didn't seem to have enough time.  Guess what!  I finally....

.... finished them.  Blue is his favourite colour and he loves hand-knit socks, so I hope it brings him a smile.  Speaking of folks who love hand-knit socks..... Auntie Colleen was telling me a rather funny story about socks.  Back home in Canada winter has arrived and the weather is chilly.  As you probably know, she always participates in the sock give-away each year and she must have lots of my hand-knit socks by now.  However, in the fall - when the weather was cool she thought wool socks might be a tad too warm, so she chose a nice pair of store-boughts and put them on.  At the end of the day she had developed a blister where that toe seam had rubbed on her foot and then subsequently developed an in-grown toenail!  Oh Dear!  Due to diabetes, she must take very good care of her feet so........she threw away all her store-bought socks and kept all her hand-knit socks.  Okay - I think - she will need socks for sure now!  I should mention that during the summer Auntie Colleen and I had visited the local yarn shop and she had chosen some yarn for a pair of socks - which, I never had time to make before we left for Florida.  And.....

......this demonstrates the difference in my life when I am in Florida....here are her new socks.  I love the colours - she did a great job of choosing yarn.  It is Patons Kroy sock yarn and I love it!