Hope this works, my favorite !  How could you not love Bing Crosby's voice matched with David Bowie?  Ahhh perfection!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocj87hWJq8Q

Well here it is December the first!   I could go on about the excitement that is building knowing the family will all be home.  I tend to do that!  Yes I do!!!!  But I thought I'd write about my puppy.

Avro is an odd dog, my Hubby's dog as I have said before.  Sun rises and sets on Hubby for this animal and he gives me the odd concern and time of acknowledgment.  Should, I feed him!  The animals have always been mine!  Not that I am greedy, I share, but this guy is all Hubby's.  Sometimes we get so busy that dog actually gets down.  Sad eyes, sad head on the carpet and I can not cheer him.  It upsets me cause even at 6 he is my puppy!  Although I got ripped off!   Avro was my birthday gift from the family ..  things are so off if there is not a dog to interact with.  So by rights he should be my dog!   But dogs go where the heart is and his heart is with Hubby.

So finding a way to interact with this beast is tough.  He is not really food based, could care less, and therefore the fact I feed him means nothing.   He came to us almost a year old with no social skills at all !  But work skills, you should see this guy, very impressive and he takes his job seriously.    When up north he patrols!   Does here at the house too on a much smaller scale!  LOL!  He would protect against anything but he doesn't get that I have no worries on that front.  If anyone wants our belongings well then fine!   He had no play in his life.  Can't have that!

But finding something Avro proof is hard!   Dear Janice bought her buddy a cricket ball, beautiful and red and hard!   He had a great time with that until it was chewed apart.  I got him a very thick and heavy water dish that is stainless steal...well that is chewed up too! How?  I don't know but teeth marks and bent all to heck, he chews only that which he knows is his  ..thank heavens!

So I found a toy!  A thick plastic ball with slots holding an inner ball that has a bell.   It is slightly bigger than a soft ball and the walls are almost a half inch thick!   Avro watched it roll up to his nose as he lay on the floor.  No reaction, then i realized he might think it a Grandkiddie toy.  I said  "New Ball? ".   It was like a switch turned on!  Up he sprang and the delight was every where!  He pranced about and was so happy!  I was so thrilled and we played for the longest time.  He chased and swatted the ball, caught it and did his victory laps with the ball in his jaws.   Every thing needs play, we as Mother's need it most!  Dog was so happy and that delighted me, he broke into play all evening long.  It was great to interact with him in play and see him relaxed and happy.   Never underestimate play,   we all need more!

Come on Ladies!!!!  The challenge has been set!  I dare you to enter a photo of you at Christmas!  Or your given holiday... as long as we are having fun, family and fantastic times!  The three F's !!! LOL!!!

We needed bubble wrap....yes we did !  So we traveled across that crazy 401, pass the airport (sad place that airport, only happy when Janice appears!  Oh, and coming to think of it my daughter  weeeeheeee!  Only 22 days now! O.K. airport mostly good place! ) and up north quite a ways to a new industrial plaza.  We got our order and poor Hubby brought it over to the car.  Well.... huge it was and it would not go through the door, or even slightly into the trunk !   I hopped out ready to unroll the monster that looked like it was consuming my Hubby and pack the interior of the car with it.   We have done crazier things by far!   Like driving stupid car in that was smoking and giving me fears of being stranded yet again!  The shop owner was watching us and came over.  The merciful man offered to change our order to two smaller rolls.  Why, oh why did I not bring a camera???  This stunt of ours was way too funny to not be caught on film!   So laaa,laaa laaa, home we rode in smoking car with it packed to the rafters....laaaa,laa,laaaa!  You know,  you get to a point in your life when you figure you are mature.  Haaa,haaaa ...no!  Never! 

Since I have been totally deserted by my kiddies I have put up my Christmas lights with mixed feelings.  I feel the lights might work to call them home, and I love the colours, specially through the snow.  I have been getting later and later in hanging them but now I have found a renewed reason!    As Sean's Daddy scooped him up to carry him out to the car after a visit he spotted the neighbours lights!   That's what I needed, to see that look of amazement in the face and eyes of the little guy!  Now I have to get mine up and wait for snow!

We have been so busy and I soooo loved it.  Daughter and sil with Lucas came to spend some time!  Them, the baby and all the gear!    I love having the house full!  Wasn't quite to capacity so we had a dinner!  That did it, house full!  Ahhhhhhhhh!

Funny how houses come alive with loved ones in it !  And babies and wee ones!  Heaven!   Lucas has changed so much.  The wee babe in pain and distress is gone and a happy relaxed delightful little lad is there!  He had a very tough start but his Mom is excellent!  She is a natural care giver, nuturer, calm, gentle!  She is a beautiful Mother.  Lucas at 5 months is a joy!  I held him for about 20 minutes one day, on my shoulder and looked out the slider.  As the house was busy and bustling we were quiet.  He listened as I told him of all the birds and i watched the big blue eyes take it all in.  He was so intent, our breathing matched and he was so peaceful.   We were peaceful.  We were enjoying that which is so very special, love.  Love flowed.  I always will look out for you wee dear one and you will always be tied to me.  Always.

The meal was huge and loud and crazy and we all laughed and caught up and ate!  I made this meal, basic with two large roasted chickens and gravy and vegetables.  However I did make a apple pie and big chocolate cake.  I wrote on the cake, Happy Day with Sean and Lucas!  And it was!  Crazy destruction from one end to the other but who cares?  We all were together and we all enjoyed ourselves.  I had the best week, I was gone from here and my dear friends and I felt the loss but I so wanted to cram every moment I could in with the kiddies.   I was asked if i would mind holding Lucas while this and that was done.  Mind????  Heavens!  Those beautiful eyes crinkled up while he smiled at me, that warm little wiggling ready to go body to entertain, that connection to him!!!  The wee hands grabbing and waiting to hold something interesting, those wee teeth that tried everything to see if it was biteable!   I had the best time.   Going back.  Back when you think you can't make it on so little sleep, when you think you can do any more but do! Those were wonderful times when you were so busy and needed.  They pass in a blink of an eye.  Doesn't seem it when you are struggling to get everything done but it does!  Passes way too quickly.  I even had a great time putting through all the extra laundry!   Wee baby things are so cute!  Still amazing that a small babe makes that much laundry!  Some things never change.

I love watching people, you can see things by the way they walk or approach other people.  It is just endlessly interesting!  People are!   All different and all interesting in their own way.  The definition of curious is also meddlesome... errrr, and inquisitive, and prying!!!  So lets go with inquisitive!

The low slung Honda roared up to the curb and I took note of it because of the noise in the quiet Sunday afternoon.  I looked up from my raking and thought that the car, obviously in mid restoration did not suit the driver.  The man pulled himself out of the vehicle as though it did not fit.  There beside the dark purple car stood a tall, heavy built,  black man.  Well, then I did look, how did he fit in that small car?  As my interest was forming the question a red suv pulled up behind.  It is at the base of the park across from us so i thought, gee it rarely sees new visitors.  So raking was boring and i needed a break.  And I was in mid inquisitive thought (prying?) when the lady stepped out of her vehicle.  Small, very petite,  blonde , almost white hair and well dressed.  The man was well dress but casual and he was handsome,  well groomed and very sure of himself I thought.  She seemed nervous and glanced at the man but did not actually acknowledge him.  They both walked up the hill into the park not looking at each other or talking.  Hummm thought the bored prying woman,  and returned to raking. 

A while later the man and woman walked down to the curb.  Gone was the yards between them when they walked up the park.  They stood together facing each other and he raised his hand and stroked her cheek.  She leaned into the touch and seemed calmed and relaxed by it.  She welcomed the touch but you could see he wanted to step closer to her but she glanced my way and stiffened.  He moved a wisp of hair from her face and turned to place himself down into the car.   Bored,  meddlesome woman kept raking.  She watched him turn the car around and go.  I wondered what she was thinking but almost afraid to be in the open she hurried to her car and turned and followed.

So i watched a small event, a drama and the questions of circumstance and why are still with me.  Unhappy married woman reaching out for company?  Married man playing about?  Love?  Infatuation?  Daring to do what they shouldn't be???  She seemed sad.   She seemed to send out vibes of sadness.  I over saw a part of two peoples lives and wonder and hope that no one is hurting.

Waves wash over us.  We feel them, joy when you see sparkling eyes eager to greet you, sadness when coping is such a chore, eagerness at something new coming or the old revisited.  Our emotions drive us and lift us or lower us. But through it all we are still us, still wonderful unique persons that are in need,  or able to help. Strength comes and goes.  The ability to cope comes and goes.  That is human, up and downs, highs and lows and that is when friends come in.  We are here.  We want to be here to listen, to care and to help if we can.  So don't think you can only come here when you are "up" , nooooo, not a reality!  You have to trust.  Trust that the care will be there if you are in need.  That is what friends are for.

Well usually you can find spelling errors in my stuff but today I is soooooo clever, pat, pat, pat on back!!!  LOL!!  It was my son's day yesterday and today is Sunday.  Woooo, guess if you have to explain your "cleverness" it no longer counts as clever.

However...  we went to Guelph to the university there.  It is a grand cluster of stone buildings that stood in the sun with the autumn tree colours sparkling  against their soft yellow taupe.  They date from the 18 hundreds and are just marvels in them selves  Being built so long ago they are spaced out in stunning fields of trees and open spaces from when settings were valued over the cost of space. . We entered the hall up great stone steps and I sat wondering at the heavy beams and railings all in deep darkened oak.  The windows of old, old glass sat several feet in the thick old walls.  I was so taken with the thought of what it took way back then to produce such beautiful buildings.  The piper brought the crowd to their feet and the procession of those beautiful young faces, working so hard for a better future passed by.

There in the first row was my son.  Tall at well over 6 feet, dark short hair and that sparkle in those dark brown eyes.  He has his fathers eyes and my Dad's handsome features but his heart is his own, full of valour.   There is a word you do not hear often.  But that suits my son.  He is honourable, actually honour first.  Funny as little kiddies that was my eldest's sons cry!  When playing you would hear," Honour above all! " and then the flurry of childhood activity!  My son never went to his high school grad, only high school Mom you kinda have to do that, no big deal.  He never went to his Bachelor grad... Mom, it is nothing.  But he was in heavy chemo and didn't really look like himself.  He also wouldn't go to his Masters ceremony because he thought others had accomplished more than him.   Well he was still in chemo and very ill so we didn't push. 

He married a wonderful girl and by geeesss she is powerful!  She is the one that calls me Mom and I love her to bits!  She said...oh boy you are going to this grad!  And what more??? You are going to let us take your picture!  Yah Sweety, you lay down the law! LOL!!! How can you not love this Girl????

So my beautiful son accepted his Doctorate.  He was presented by his professor and the vision is still with me.  My gentle, loving, beautiful baby, the one with the sparkling brown eyes that loved to get into everything and still has those lovely dimples when he smiles is now a Doctor of Science.  The actual title is very impressive, but guess who can't remember it all?  He showed us his labs and understanding what he is doing is rather mind boggling! Boggled this mind!  LOL!!!

So to you dear Son, I wish you the love that you give, the sun to shine on your health and that you receive back a fraction of what you give, then you will be so very happy, healthy and have a beautiful life.  Love you!

There was a terrible act of violence in the night in Toronto.  A young man, minding his own business was brutally murdered.  I have left condolences on pages for the young man, I can not imagine what his family is going through.  A sadness has over come me every time this enters my mind, and it does often. 

This boy, all of 25 years was out celebrating his sisters birthday.  He was reported to be a great guy, easy going, there if you needed him , just an all around nice guy.  He was beaten by 4 young men and then purposely run over to kill him.  The police feel he had slowed the 4 by crossing the street in front of their vehicle and they felt that they should beat him down and end his life.  Brutal, less than human in their act.  Police are looking for the suv they were driving.

My son had posted on his face book page and seeing he is very vocal in pointing out what he feels I left a note there,  Condolences for the family and how could these men live with themselves knowing they had done this terrible thing.  But just now my daughter reminded me, Chris,  ... Mom you remember him?  Oh my Lord, not that this should happen to anyone but he was my son's friend and still was, they hung about together.  Chris, the gentle, curly haired,  sweet boy?  His life ended in such a cruel way, so needlessly???  My heart goes out to his family, my heart is broken.

Ahhhh, slow around here isn't it?  So I was sitting trying to wake and thoughts came to mind... haaa,haaa such a rarity!  I was thinking of stages and what you have to take out of them.   Then my mind drifted to chipmunks, yes,  really it did!   I love the little creatures, the only really acceptable rodent i think.  They are so cute, and quick, flashing here and there, stuffing their cheeks with acorns and nuts to go store.  If the activity is any indication we are in for a long harsh winter.  The chipmunks up at the cottage and here in the yard are in a flurry of activity stashing every thing they can find.  Best of all was Janice's reaction to the chipmunks!    She had to travel stocked with peanuts in her pockets to hand out to the small darters!   As if they didn't have enough food already!  When we got to the cottage walking was like riding massive amounts of ball bearings!  The ground was covered!  The beauty of the fall mornings up at the cottage is something dear to my heart.  To grab a coffee and go out into the crisp morning air is such a treat.  The quiet becomes broken very fast as life starts up at the breaking of light.  The first sun rays reveal the colours, sending beams to cut through the heavy mist to light the reds and oranges and yellows.  My eye follows the sun to watch the mist break way.  It lies heavy and thick covering all the treasures of Mother Nature in a protective grey wrap until the sun warms the air.  The water takes the beams and releases it's blanket and you watch it float above the water to disappear into the heating air.  The water then becomes alive with fish taking the breath of air on the surface and starting the hunt for food.  The herons step from the small earth mounds in the marsh and tip their heads looking for the waking fish. So stately they lift their long legs with feet curled down and place them just so to move ahead unnoticed, not even moving the water as they stalk and watch for food.  A quick stab of the head into the water and they toss their heads back in a shake.  I have sat and had the pleasure of listening to the loons speak.  Takes your breath away to hear the vocalizations of these truly amazing birds.   I think the native peoples understood very well what we as a culture in homes,cities and cement have lost.  True beauty and wonders at our feet and all we have to do is look and see.

Accidents happen so I am told but I always feel so responsible.  Dog was goofing about and he spun and caught his nose of all things on a shelving unit we had just picked up and where going to assemble.  I had left it where I was going to put it together, careless.  When things happened with the kiddies I would feel the same, if only, could have avoided it all if I had done this.  You do that, hope this doesn't mean I have replaced my missing brood with the dog!!!!!  Hummmm, could be!

Well the nose had lost it's skin in a even strip down the side so I decided first aid was in order.   I used the paint on bandaid  that we had and it worked fairly well if dog did not lick it.  The big tongue flicked out over the nose and off came the skin. So I stayed up until the dare thing stayed and he had healed fairly well by the morning.  All that you could see of the wound was a slight line!  He was playing right after he did it and it didn't affect him or Hubby. Hubby thought I was too.... well too!  He always figures oh well with these types of things....men.

So yesterday all had recovered and I felt better knowing that he was mended. Until.  Until the evening.  Good Lord!   I was writing my daughter and the noise that started would have scared anyone.  The screaming, growling and banging!  I got up in terror and ran to the back!  Dog had opened the slider and attacked a huge raccoon.  I was terrified but not as terrified as the huge raccoon who was now in the pool!  Yup.  There he was, a huge, furious, scared raccoon flattened on the bubble blanket in the middle of the pool.

What to do?  Called dog and he of course ignored me, he was trying to figure out why his prey was floating out there.  He wasn't aggressive now, just interested in the whole scene. He had secured his food and that was that.   I stepped out to get him to have raccoon raise and hiss at me. He flattened down again as his action towards me started him sinking on the bubble blanket, he was smart enough to flatten himself out to stay afloat!  So....dog, raccoon and now what?   I step out and calm down,  I gently call dog and try moving towards the dog way around the side of the pool.  I am sure the whole neighbourhood heard me screaming when I was first on the scene.   The flying bodies and the thought of injury to the dog or raccoon was too much for me to remain calm.  But the calmness now seemed to be working.  I think the raccoon saw me as the only way out of his odd position.  So off around the pool and I kept talking to the raccoon and dog.  Got dog and he came in and we both watched the raccoon from the closed slider.  Poor thing gathered itself after a few moments and started to move towards the edge of the pool.   They are beautiful creatures and this big one, about 30 pounds I think, soaking wet, seemed fine.   He figured out to shimmy along flat and as he started to sink the blanket near the edge he was close enough to reach the deck.  I figure that basic raccoon training would probably not cover this situation that this guy found himself in so I was impressed with his learning curve, very smart!  But they are known to be clever, using their hands quite well to get into everything!  They have a bandit black face mask on the most beautiful grey fur, a rather slim muzzle and lots of sharp canine like teeth!  Bright brown eyes and a beautiful striped black and grey tail, big and fluffy when they are not wet!  They don't like to get wet although they often wash their food before eating it.  The hands and feet are black, beautiful, stunningly clever animals. 

I watched him get out and then checked the deck.  No signs of blood and he was walking off with no sign of injury.  I turned and looked at the dog, he was all spunky and happy .... with a strip missing off his nose.  Arrgggg, don't mess with raccoons!