Resolution Solution

I RESOLVE

TO KEEP

MY

RESOLVE

TURKEY SOUP

Today I brought the frozen mush of simmered turkey bones and leftovers in from outside on the front porch.
It was frozen solid and I had to thaw it over the kitchen stove in order to separate the stock.
Now it's back out in the cold on the deck to gel to separate the fat from the stock.
I've made a two-step process into a more complicated three-step operation simply because I had to go skiing the other day!
This evening, after I skim off the top layer of fat, I'll add the vegetables and seasonings to complete the soup.

Over the Holidays we took my sister, Lesley, on an adventure from the bottom of the mountain up the three lifts to the Summit Hut for hot chocolate.
After warming up, we then skied back down the mountain to the base lodge for a total of approximately 7,600 vertical feet round trip.
Way to go, Girl - rubber legs and all!

Christmas Day was fun with the kids waking us up at 7:00 a.m., then rushing upstairs to see what Santa had left.
To their delight, there were more gifts than would fit under our little decorated tree.
We had such a great time watching them unwrap the gifts accompanied by exclamations of oohs and ahhs.
I stuffed the twenty-pound turkey and put it in the oven at 11:00 a.m. to let it roast slowly until done.
Dinner was delicious (if I do say so myself) and everyone ate until stuffed - of course!

The kids have spent quite some time, as well, down at the beach skating on the frozen lake.
It's only a two-block walk to the lakeshore and an industrious soul was out there keeping the ice clear with a snow blade on his ATV - I don't know who was having more fun, he or the kids!

There are only two more days of the year 2006.
It has been an eventful year and a bit of a rollercoaster ride from my perspective.

I am hoping that 2007 will be a good one for my loved ones and friends and I wish everyone a year of prosperity - but most of all a year of happiness and contentment!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Rush

Like most people out there, I am doing a bit of last minute running about looking for "that ideal gift for that special person"... and hoping I have enough money to do it.

We have had to tighten our belts this year, so the season will not be as extravagant as past ones.
But who says we have to have lots of things?
I really believe that spending time with family and doing the things that make us happy are what it's all about.
It's not the receiving, nor is it the giving - it's the simply being there and sharing.

I am looking forward to our holidays!
This evening Bobby and Jenny have their school Christmas concert at the town hall which we shall be attending, of course.
Tomorrow evening is George's Christmas party at the shop - always good for some (crazy) fun and laughter.
On Friday evening we are looking forward to my sister Lesley's arrival from Toronto, as she will be spending a few days with us.
On Saturday no skiing... WHAT?
We will be preparing for our annual neighbourhood cocktail party to be held during "happy hour" on Saturday evening.
On the day of Christmas Eve we WILL be going skiing...
Then the next day is the Big One for the kids - large and small!

So, if I don't get back to post another line...

I wish all my special blogging buddies a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

* Photo: Sunset over the Purcell Range - December 16, 2006.

Today in the Sun

"Why?"... you ask

It's the controlled reckless abandon!

The scent of cold, snow and pine.

The feel of the wind on my face and the sound of it whistling by my ears.

To float effortlessly (well, mostly) over the snow.

The adrenaline.

The breathlessness and the laughter.

The challenge to myself through every new turn.

To conquer the mountain!

...and then do it all over again.

WHO

ME

?

you can only get the true feeling by enlarging this photo...

View of 1000 Peaks - 9th December, 2006.

Woo Hoo !

Day One!

The real View of 1000 Peaks...

You better you better you bet!

Never Never Land

1. I will never be able to lick my elbow... and not for lack of trying.

2. I will never give up drinking wine... it is such a nice smooth drink. I can sip lightly upon a glass in a social setting or simply at home while I am making dinner.

3. I will never miss a ski season on purpose... I will beg or borrow, but a season will not go by without me gracing the slopes!

4. I will never take illicit/recreational drugs... I have experimented in my youth, but my lifestyle has no room nor time for that. I also have to set an example for my children - how could I tell them to not do drugs as I puff on a reefer or snort a line?

5. I will never cut my hair short... I look too much like a boy. I think my hair looks better longer and I can do more with it when it has length.

6. I will never eat liver... I could never figure out how my Mum could go to a restaurant and order liver and onions - when at a restaurant I order something I really like.

7. I will never leave the mountains... they are such a part of me that it would be like ripping out a vital organ. I belong here.

8. I will never leave my toenails unpainted... my finger nails are not the sort to grow and varnish, so I leave it up to my toes.

9. I will never be without a vehicle... the rural area where I live has no public transit and the one taxi service is undependable. Having a vehicle is vital to our survival.

10. I will never stop loving and learning how to live life and doing it all to the fullest... take it from there.

11. I will ALWAYS love my children more than life itself!


* Never say never...

ONE...

Pooped

I woke up at 3:00 a.m.
I got up at 4:00 a.m.
I did books until 7:00 a.m.
I got the kids off to school.
I worked all day.
We drove up to the ski hill after work and school.
We got our photos taken and our ski passes secured.
We stopped in the pub for a beer and snacks.
I drove back down the mountain.
On the way we picked up a ski hill employee - fresh from Sydney, Australia - on his way home.
We also dodged two vehicles in the ditch and another couple of vehicles stopped to look after an injured deer in different ditch.
We picked up pizza on our way through town.
I am now home, cosy in front of the fire, full of pizza and an ice cold glass of milk.
I'm ready for bed...

SIX !

This is right there and right now at the top of the second chairlift at the ski hill!

It looks as though there's a bit of an inversion.
That's where the cloud sits low over the valley, but it's clear at higher altitudes - and often warmer.
As I am in the valley right now, it is cloudy with a few snow flakes floating down.
It's hard to imagine it's bright sunlight at the summit!

After work yesterday I went for tea at our local coffee shop/health food store.
(The shop is owned by a local girl who is now in a wheelchair following a tragic mountain biking accident just over a year ago - see my post "Spring and Infinity".)
As we sat there while sipping upon our hot beverages, our eyes focused upwards towards the peaks and all talk turned towards skiing.

There is most definitely a certain excitement in the air!