Merry Christmas from our house to yours!!!

I've been so busy over the past weeks, just after our move and with working---but it's an awesome kind of happy busy!!

Hope you all find peace and love in your hearts this Christmas and are fortunate enough to be with someone you love..........................................

The Christmas Countdown Tea Report

I have been enjoying my "David's Tea" varieties so much, I've kept track of each one, for future reference---te he!!

 The Christmas Countdown Tea Report

Week One

Day                      Flavour                                   Rating 1-10 (10 being highest)

December 1                    Green & Fruity                                                              7

December 2                    Redberry Tonic                                                               8

December 3                    Organic Cinnamon Rooibos Chai                                  7

December 4                    Organic Sweet Dreams                                                  6

December 5                    Bravissimo                                                                     3

December 6                    Forever Nuts                                                                 7.5

December 7                    Organic Peppermint Amour                                          8.5

  

******************************************************

It's minus 10 degrees Celsius here today, so hot tea it is!!!

Cheers

:)

Handmade "Countdown to Christmas" Wall Hanging

A big surprise came my way on the weekend.....our daughter made me a beautiful "Countdown to Christmas" wall hanging,  It has 24 little pockets, each holding a different type tea....yummy---a different tea for each day of December, leading up to Christmas Day!!

To make it even more special, she made the wall hanging using fabrics from my mom's fabric collection.  My mom passed away two years ago on December 27, and boy, did she love Christmas!!!  She would have thought that this was the cutest idea!!

My first tea.......

 This is what I would class as a gift that keeps on giving!

Cheers

:)

Wreath Making in Torbay 2014

The town of Torbay offers a wreath making session every year just in time for Christmas decorating.  My niece lives in Torbay, and this is the second year that we all took part in this fabulous event.  They say you can buy anything these days.  Well, if that is so..this is where you would go to buy your Christmas Spirit!!  The smell of fresh cut boughs, Christmas music playing, squeals of laughter and excited chatter does wonders for the soul.

It is so much fun, and such a bargain!!!!!  For just $7.00 per person, you get a wire wreath form, wire, an endless supply of fresh-cut boughs and a beautiful big handmade ribbon bow.  To top that, there's a fabulous facilitator/instructor helping anyone who needs his assistance, plus fresh coffee, tea, fruit infused ice water & sweets!!!  Did I mention that it's just $7.00 ??!!???  I think this is Torbay's best-kept secret!!!!!

Click here to check out the Torbay's beautiful "Magical Forest" from 2013.  That event didn't happen this year, really a shame because those trees were truly "magical"!!  Hopefully it'll be back next year, and what a place to bring groups of seniors and the sick little kids from the Janeway.  I am not a kid, but those trees from the Magical Forest had something for everyone.

Here are a few snaps of the wreath making session.............

 a couple of ladies next to us had the prettiest accessories for their wreaths....

 here's Rana's.......  we both finish our wreaths at home.......

 The two ladies making the bows for everyone are "The Magical Forest" tree 

decorators......awesome job ladies!!!!

Here's mine, on my front door...I think I may add a little something else to it yet though.....

     Have a great week, everyone!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....in Flatrock!!!

Look at what we woke up to this morning......

Sure can put one in the Christmas spirit....even though it's still not quite December yet!!! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Cheers

:)

Candy Cane Whoopie Pies

Well, I've been away from blogging for far too long.  I do have a good reason though.  Hubby retired on September 30, and we sold our house in Gambo and moved to the beautiful little town of Flatrock.  It is just outside of St. John's, where my job is.  We bought a gorgeous little house with lots of land and and a dandy greenhouse, and we both love it.  It's been hectic but we are finally all settled in and I am starting to go into Christmas mode...ha ha!

Christmas mode for me means lots of baking, chocolate making and putting up loads of lights and decorations.  I just happened upon this recipe on one of my favorite blogs.....Brown Eyed Baker, and thought I would give it a try.

Here's how mine turned out......................................

Yummy...these little pies scream "Christmas"!!!  Click here to go to Brown Eyed Baker for the recipe.  NOTE---I used cream cream frosting for my filling.

Cheers:)

Pumpkin Carving at Flatrock

It is so good to be finally settled in.  Phew, we have had a very busy three weeks since we packed up and moved to our new house.  I start back at work next Monday, and am so looking forward to it.  I will not miss making the three hour drive to the city for my work!  It is so awesome to be living only ten minutes from our daughter and her husband. 

For the first time since our daughter went off to university (over 12 years ago), we carved the Halloween pumpkins together------that was awesome!!!  Well, actually her and hubby did all the carving.  I took some pictures and salvaged the pumpkin that I wanted to cook for pumpkin loaves.

Here is Rana's .............................

Here's the design that I chose.........

Almost done...............

I think they did an awesome job. 

Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!!!!

Cheers

:)

Burning Bush and Dog Berries

I have been quite busy lately, as hubby has just retired and we are moving to be closer to my work location---actual move date will be September 30!!!  This decision did not come easy, but now that we have made the big decision, we can't wait to get settled in our new home.  We have bought a lovely (much smaller) home on an acre of beautiful land in Flatrock!!  Flatrock is a bedroom community to St. John's, the capital city.  I will less than 20 minutes drive from my office and only 10 minutes from our daughter and her husband!!!  It is going to be marvelous to not have to make the weekend commute of 3 hours each way for my work.  I am hoping to be back on my blog in full swing by the end of October or early November.

Here is a shot of my favorite shrub in my garden at this time of year......the burning bush..........

and my dog-berry tree.......... 

Cheers all!!!

:)

St. Paul's Anglican Church, Trinity, Newfoundland

We had a fabulous relaxing weekend on the Bonavista Peninsula, but we didn't stop much!!!  On Sunday afternoon, on our way back up from the Cape, we detoured down to Trinity, as this is my mom's birthplace.  I remember going there as a child, but I didn't remember it being quite so beautiful. 

As we drove around the beautiful, historic community of Trinity, we came upon this gem....St. Paul's Anglican Church.  The building is about 120 years old,and its architecture is fascinating and mesmerizing.  It is hard to believe what could be accomplished with the tools of the day. 

I love old churches and I took the opportunity to stroll around the grounds of this church and go inside. Take a look and step back in time...................

There were numerous large framed photographs in the side foyer at the back of the church, showing all the architect's drawings for the building.....absolutely fascinating!!!!!

I took a shot of an old framed photo of the church, the quality isn't great but I have to share.....................

We had a beautiful weekend, saw lots of fascinating sights and took lots 

of photos........we'll be back!!

Cheers

:)

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

This past weekend, we enjoyed visiting a spectacular area of our province........the Bonavista peninsula!  We rented  a beautiful ocean-view cottage in Bonavista for Saturday night, and hiked the area of the famous Cape Bonavista lighthouse on Sunday.  Take a look at the lighthouse from where we hiked.............

I was fascinated by the fence around the small outbuilding just down the hill from the lighthouse--here's a closer look..........

 A little research revealed that this type of fence is a traditional Newfoundland windbreak made of vertically woven whips or saplings, aka 'Riddled' Fence or 'Rigglin' Fence. The Dictionary of Newfoundland gives a good description--click here to read it.  Isn't it fabulous!!??

  
This is a provincial historic site, with a very nice interpretive area and a statue of John Cabot......

As we continued on our hike,we were totally drawn to this hilltop where visitors have left literally thousands of Inukshuks.  What a beautiful feeling to stand among them----Have a look...................

 

 This is hubby's contribution.........

Hope you all had a great weekend, and have an even greater week!!

Cheers

:)