Hello there! I’m currently in that lovely post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s haze, still sipping coffee from my Christmas mugs, still surrounded by Christmas decorations and cards but with added Christmas CHOCOLATES everywhere, but without the busyness that comes pre-Christmas. It’s nice. There’s not much on my to-do list this week, other than the regular and never-ending household things, like the two giant loads of laundry I did yesterday after returning home from two nights at my parents’, not that I’m complaining, I will never complain again about the laundry, I have learned my lesson.
As a side note, I am currently reading an incredibly well-researched book about day-to-day life in the Victorian age, and there is a note about how the invention of the washing machine is considered to be up there with contraception and the vote in improvement of the lives of women. Reading about what was entailed in Washing Day certainly shows that. He worked really hard, Grandpa. So do washing machines.
Anyway! The big news around here, apart from the constant, never-ending, increasingly grim and worrisome Pandemic Updates, is the Weather. This was the ambient temperature at my parents’ house yesterday morning:
FEELS LIKE MINUS 42 YOU GUYS. There is cold, there is Cold, and then there is COLD.
One of my Christmas gifts from my husband – and this was a really lovely surprise – was a pair of battery-operated heated mittens. I feel this will be a life-changing item for this Reynaud-y girl.
Friluftsliv! Could I BE wearing any more clothes? There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes, I’m half Norwegian, etc.
I have never posted a photo of my husband on the blog before, and I probably never will again, but get ready because here he is:
If you recognize him on the street, be sure to say hi.
Despite our frosted heads, I was actually really warm, which goes to show that layers do work, and heated mittens are an incredible invention; maybe not quite as incredible as the automatic washing machine, but they are up there, Steve.
We spent Christmas Eve at home, watching Elf and wearing our WWE Christmas sweaters; the guys did their annual gingerbread house and you know what, there are no obscene markings with frosting or dead Santas, things have really changed in the Boyhouse:
We opened our gifts and stockings at home, and then drove up to my parents’ place to eat, drink, and be merry. I think I am now actually about fifty percent snack mix, and the other fifty percent is wine and Christmas sweets. We also played some heated rounds of Rummoli and rediscovered the sadistic joys of Sorry. Remember that game? It was really fun.
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you, because it happened six days ago and, you know what that’s like in Pandemic World, it feels like six months. My husband booked a night away for the two of us in Banff, and it was just so wonderful. Two things of note: this was the first time that we have left the boys alone for a night, and this was the first night away for the two of us since 2017. Per the first part, the boys are very responsible and all was just fine, of course, and per the second: 2017! I am going to go out on a limb and say that five years between having a night away is probably too many years. We hadn’t been to the Banff Springs since the boys were very small; I think perhaps my oldest was in kindergarten the last time, and the experience was even more magical than I remembered.
We walked downtown for dinner, and on the way back we walked through the town’s special light show, The Spirit of Christmas, which was gorgeous.
Our timing could not have been better; we were there the one day that temperatures were relatively mild – just below freezing – and when we got home the snow and wind started, and the temperatures plummeted, and I focused on hygge feelings and friluftsliv, as per my Northern European heritage.
So that was a wonderful way to kick off the holidays! The next day was Festivus and I did not even feel like I had any grievances to air, so floaty and relaxed was I. We did, however, play this game with the boys:
If you see this in the store and feel tempted to buy it, I am going to warn you that it’s actually not very fun. It was surprisingly dull and I think that Sorry would have been much better.
Pandemic Reading
Between Two Kingdoms. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time to come; what an incredible memoir. Imagine being 22 and diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. The author goes through years of debilitating treatment, and comes through to wonder what’s next. She realized her whole life was centred on survival, but not living, and went on a road trip across the States. This book got me really thinking about the nature of illness, but also the role of the caregiver in such a relationship. The author’s boyfriend of only a few months essentially took on this role, and honestly, I don’t think I could have done a tenth of what he did. Anyway, it’s an incredible story, the author is a brilliant writer, and what she survived is actually breathtakingly horrific.
Where The Grass Is Green And The Girls Are Pretty. This was a good read about college admission scandals, which is something I don’t actually know much about. It’s just so different in Canada, I guess. The thing about this book is the characters are very complex – all at once sympathetic and also unlikeable. I have read a few books by this author and I think her writing has really gotten better with time, although the title? It’s not great. But, it’s just a title.
I hope you are all getting some well-deserved rest and relaxation! How have your holidays been so far? Tell me everything. xo
Wow, that is cold! It was about -15 here with windchill on Christmas Eve, but you are next level.
Gotta love all the heated things – mittens sound glorious. I got some polypro gloves, but only have heated socks at this point. Might have to add heated gloves to my wish list for next year.
We’ve played loads of Sorry the last few weeks. Such a classic game. The current obsession is Crokinole, since my parents gifted us a board for Christmas.
My boys play Crokinole with my parents every Christmas too!
I love your gingerbread houses and that resort looks beautiful. We’re still at the cabin in WV and it’s been rainy all week, which wouldn’t be unusual for December at home, but for here, it is. There’s usually snow. Beth is managing her disappointment.
Oh, too bad, I was hoping for snow for you! Rain just isn’t festive.
I immediately put heated mittens on my Amazon list! Perfect! (Although it is nowhere near that cold here, I still have to go outside multiple times a day to walk the dog and while I love her dearly, I do not love watching her sniff trees when it’s below zero.)
I got a heated vest for a Christmas present and I’ve been wearing it everywhere, including in the house. I fear that my husband may regret purchasing it for me!
The mittens are so great for dog walking – I find the leash kind of freezes my hands even when I have two layers of mittens on, but not with these new ones!
“Feels like -43.” I am having a hard time getting passed this part! And cheers for heated gloves! That’s something I would not have been able to wrap my head around, until I lived a year in Minnesota. It was -20 when I fell in love with the idea of heated car seats! Well, it certainly all looks beautiful! Stay warm, and enjoy all you can!
Heated car seats are the best, and I hope my next vehicle has heated steering wheel as well!
Oh I am so happy that you were able to get away. That resort and town look amazing.
The no obscenity in the gingerbread making made me laugh. Also I’m very interested in that memoir.
We are spending this week racing off daily to watch both high school kids play basketball in their holiday tournaments. Reg played yesterday. And Mini was done quarantining today so she’s back. Both played today. Opposite directions. I wouldn’t mind if a few kids decided to collect their new gifts from the 1st floor and put them away in their rooms. I’ve ‘invited’ my offspring to plan and prepare meals this week, since my birthday is Thursday and I need a break. Not sure anyone is taking me seriously, so we might be very hungry the rest of break. 😉
Losing my longtime friend last week has me a bit preoccupied. I wonder how his family is holding up and I’m trying to grasp life without him in it. Still waiting for funeral plans to be finalized as his first grandbaby is due any day.
Such a sad thing, I’m so sorry Ernie.
“If you recognize him on the street, be sure to say hi.” this slayed me!
Ha! It’s the one and only photo of him I’ll post!
OOH Banff! How close are you? I’ve always wanted to go there. Maybe I’ll just bring the popcorn to you. KIDDING. I’m glad you were able to get away. My husband and I did the same thing over break. We got a night away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nothing like Banff. But it was lovely nonetheless.
I have Between Two Kingdoms on my TBR list.
I think it would be funny if someone did recognize your husband at the grocery store after this post.
We are an hour drive from Banff – so lucky to be so close! Bring the popcorn – road trip!!
It sounds like you had a a lovely relaxing, family centred Christmas; perfect. I laughed aloud as I scrolled down to the pic of your husband.
Having a couple of kids in Calgary, I always watch the weather and am, well, horrified by the temperatures you guys are enduring. I think I may send them some of those battery operated gloves; what a great idea for your climate. (it’s +2 today in my part of Ontario).
I read Between Two Kingdoms & also loved it. My goodness what that girl endured.
As we leave on Jan 1 for 2 months (Panama, then Mexico) we have been laying low for now; only saw our kids and they all tested first. We negative test Friday night to be able to fly out Saturday so we are absolutely not taking any chances. This has equaled a very quiet Christmas.
Enjoy your trip, Pat! That sounds really great.
Well this was just so lovely to read. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your family! I love the bundled up photos and your Banff surprise sounds so fun and wonderful!
It was just so lovely!
First off, I feel like there should be a name for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. It does have a very distinct feel unlike any other week of the year.
Bummer about the Festivus game. I have a vague memory that I got something like that for my sister years ago and she also said it wasn’t that fun.
I had to laugh at your comment about the gingerbread houses. My kids also decorate them every year, and this year my son’s included a “Christmas Murder Scene,” ahem.
I’m glad you reminded me about Between Two Kingdoms. I wanted to read that but had forgotten about it. It sounds incredible, and I’m going to read it after I finish my Christmas books.
Enjoy In-Betweek! Stay warm (brrrrr.)
It’s a really good book, and I hope you enjoy it too! I thought the Festivus game would be so fun, and it really wasn’t.
I can’t even fathom -43 degrees! Today, I had to decide if I wanted to wear long yoga pants or shorts, and ultimately went with shorts because the pants might make me too hot. Florida is broken in so many ways, most especially when it comes to “winter weather.” The high today was 81F!
The Banff hotel looks like a postcard! So pretty!
I have Between Two Kingdoms on my TBR and I’ve been debating about the Weisberger book. I love that we’re getting books about the college admissions scandal, though. I think that’s the second or third book I’ve seen about it! Ha.
I really enjoyed both of those books; I didn’t know much about college admissions since the process is really different in Canada. Also, the universities aren’t all that different.
I’m a bit jealous of your 81F!! Minus 43 is PRETTY COLD.
Can you imagine not having a washing machine? I believe that we would all wear less clothes, or just wear dirty clothes because WINTER in Canada looks like you need lots of clothes.
I had a giggle at the pic of your husband. Just as handsome as I’d imagined!
Love the gingerbread houses; no dead Santas! What is the world coming to?
Banff is on my bucket list. Of course, Banff in the SUMMER.
You should book another trip for yourselves now before another four years pass.
Banff in the summer is amazing too! But yes, imagine not having running water…oh wait, that was your Christmas!! It makes you grateful for all the things we have, doesn’t it!
“If you recognize him on the street, make sure to say hi”… hahaha. I had to LOL at that. Looks like you had a great time away in Banff. The hotel looks so fancy! I agree, five years is too long to get away… but I am glad you finally did!