New Year's Eve 2011

Happy New Years

Niu Niu and Fia drawing

Yesterday we were able to share lunch with our friends Chris and Marianne and their two daughters Niu Niu and Fia.  Before lunch the girls took a few moments to draw us their New Year's message.  We felt it was so beautiful that we just had to share it with everyone!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends, wherever you are! See you next year.

Christmas Day 2011

I never heard the reindeer!  Again.

We woke up early on Christmas morning this year, and we were pleasantly surprised that Santa had, yet again, managed to find time to drop by the Elkins' household.  He even figured out that Frank and Mary Jane would be dropping by after church for breakfast and left packages for them as well.

So we got busy and prepared our special big breakfast of eggs, bacon, home fries, blueberry/banana pancakes, freshly squeezed orange juice and famous Lavazza cappuccinos, timed just right for Frank and Mary Jane's arrival around 10 am.  While we were preparing this, we Skyped with the Snikles in AB to share in their morning opening of presents. It was almost like being there. Gotta love Skype.

Night Watchman Smoking

After breakfast we opened all the gifts under the tree and had a wonderful time.  Peter surprised me with a new Christmas decoration that he had been able to get his hands on while in Vancouver visiting with his long-time friend Andy.  It is a genuine Steinbach Night Watchman Smoker and here is a picture. I hope you can see the smoke coming out of his mouth.  This is just one of the many hand-crafted collectibles made by the Steinbach family in northern Germany.

Later in the day, Frank and Mary Jane came back to our place to share in Christmas dinner.  Instead of roasting a complete turkey this year, we decided to have a turkey roll. We made the roll with a boneless breast, a boneless leg and pork sausage sandwiched in the middle of the two.  I have to say it is much easier to prepare, carve, serve and clean up than a fully formed turkey.  Also, we were able to only cook a quantity that suited the four of us better.  I would happily do that again sometime.  Our Christmas dinner ended with Frank sharing the Christmas pudding (and hard sauce) that Santa had brought to him this Christmas.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and holiday time this year.

Christmas dinner 2011

Bonne année 2012

Christmas Eve

I think we have a new Christmas Eve tradition in our household - smoked tuna sashimi and scotch. Oh ya baby!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Skating at Lunchtime

The Downtown Victoria Business Association decided this year to put a small outdoor ice skating rink in Centennial Square.  So a few of us at work (2 blocks away) decided it would be fun to have a skate on our lunch hour.  We invited everyone but only 3 of us showed up, Linda brought her daughter and a colleague volunteered to take photos since he doesn't skate.  There was music, sunshine and skaters of all sizes, ages and skill levels.  All this fun for only $2!! 

It's Finally Decorated

Okay, it's a bit more of a Charlie Brown tree than anticipated ... but I like it!  It reminds me of Hornby Island. And, and it makes my decorations much easier to see :) 

Christmas Tree Hunting in Metchosin

Hunter and his weapon looking for prey!

First kill of the day!

Busy City Saturday Urban Hike

Empress Hotel Trees. This one was cool as it is a circuit board cut with a CNC machine.

DTVBA Outdoor Ice Rink is now open to public. Judith will spend her lunch hour skating till the New Year!

Peter enjoying ginger tea listening to the Tuba band at Market Square

Freeloading on the free Horse Drawn Shoppers Experience

I always enjoy getting these shots just right!

Never to late to Rock and Roll!

Crazy island thing. Industrial trucks drive around town celebrating the season.

Happy Days, Euro Bikes and Smiles

Judith riding towards the office after coming home for lunch. Yes, you heard it right. Judith comes home everyday for lunch. And yes that is a new bike she is modeling with an ear to ear grin. She sure does love her bicycles. Down right giddy I tell you!

Judith cruising the shops on her city bike adding to the local fashion scene.