My, how time flies!

I can't believe my last blog post was September 2013!  It's not like the little love of my life and I haven't been busy!  I have no excuse other than I've been one very busy nana!  So, time to play a little 'catch up'...

Aidan's 'Halloween' Tree

Before we knew it, summer was just a memory, and October had arrived.  Out came the 'Christmas' tree, now transformed into the 'Halloween' tree, with orange lights, pumpkin garland, and thirty one little treat bags, one for each day of the month.

Aidan and the Scary Pumpkin

The pumpkin's carved and one excited little boy has an afternoon snack on his very own Halloween placemat, (made by nana, of course!)...

Aidan's Scary Halloween Place Setting

Well, at least I didn't have to make a new costume.  Aidan so loves his 'Toothless the Night Fury Dragon' costume I had made for him earlier in the year, he decided he had to wear it on Halloween night...

Aidan the Scary Dragon

We had a little time to enjoy the beautiful fall leaves...

 

 

And spend some time in the garden feeding the birds...

 

 

 

Before the 'Ice Storm of 2013' arrived just one week before Christmas...

 

 

Luckily, a lot of the ice melted before Christmas Day arrived.  Aidan was very excited to receive some games and an air hockey table from his nana and papa, as well as a stocking full of treats from Santa.  All dressed for the festivities...

 

Santa Nana & Rudolph Aidan

Aidan got to sing...'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth (well, sort of)...

Our very own 'Toothless'

It was a long, icy cold winter.  Once the snow arrived in early December, it stayed until early April.  We tried as best we could to feed the birds as they huddled for shelter from the snow and wind  in the branches of the pine and cedar trees.  Much to our surprise and delight, on one of the coldest days of the winter, we were blessed with a visit from five robins perched in one of the cedar trees.  They had come to eat what berries were still on the tree...

Beautiful Robin!

Before we knew it, it was February, and time to think about St. Valentine's Day, and all that yummy chocolate.  Out came the 'Christmas tree' transformed once again with white lights, garlands of hearts, and fourteen treat bags, one for each day, until Valentine's day arrived...

Where's the chocolate, Nana?

Aidan's great-nana came to stay for a few weeks before moving into a retirement home nearby.  They enjoyed spending time together playing tiddly-winks...

The 'Tiddly-wink' Champs!



Aidan and great-Nana



The next celebration to come along was St. Patrick's Day!  Of course, the little love of my life had to come to nana's house for a special St. Patrick's day supper!  We all donned our fancy socks, and enjoyed a dinner of green potatoes and peas, washed down with green water and followed with shamrock cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. (Of course, nana got to have a wee dram of Jameson Irish Whisky, to help her sleep, of course!)...

 

An Irish Leprechaun!

Yummy Green Potatoes!



And so here we are.  The snow finally melted (almost!) and the warmth of the sun returning once again.  The spring-like weather becons us outdoors, and so what better place to spend a sunny afternoon than the nearby wildlife sanctuary...

   Aidan loves to feed the birds that swoop down from the trees and take the birdseed out of his hand...

What a joy to be alive, to feel the warmth of the sun, breath the fresh air, see the world come alive all around us...

 As we await the warm, sunny days of summer, we make plans for all the things we hope to do together.  Days at the beach throwing rocks into the lake will likely take up most of our days, but plans are in the works for time at Nana Carol's (my sister) cottage, as well as taking in the production of 'The Lion King' (both with cousin Emmet) Nana can't wait! And maybe a trip to Niagara Falls.  A busy summer is in the forecast!

And a promise from nana...I'll be back here soon with lots more 'ramblings'!

! 



 



My Little Leprechaun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  My own little Leprechaun arrived on my doorstep today...

...complete with cute little 'shamrock' socks...



Nana got busy in the kitchen making Irish Stew and Aidan helped prepare the Irish Soda Bread for supper.  For dessert we had Jameson Irish Whisky Chocolate cake with shamrock sprinkles.  Nana just HAD to have a Guinness...or two!

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post!  It's not that we haven't been busy with crafts and activities...I just don't know where the days have gone!

When February arrived I decorated the house for Valentine's Day.  Aidan wanted to know "Where's the Valentine Tree, Nana?"  Hmmm...out came his little Christmas tree, and on went the Valentine decorations.  I made fourteen felt heart 'pockets' each filled with a treat...chocolate of course!

We have had no winter to speak of her in Canada! A few days of snow here and there, followed by sunny weather warm enough to melt it all away.  The toboggan hasn't had much use this year, but we have spent many afternoons at the park...

...and some days were even warm enough for a trip to the beach, or just to fly a plane...

...or maybe make some peanut butter and bird seed rolls, and feed the birds...

...or just hang out in the sunshine and let Nana take some photos...

It really doesn't matter what we do...so long as we're together and having fun!

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

The little love of my life and I spent some time yesterday making heart-shaped 'birdie cookies'.  I found the recipe on a friend's blog.  It's origin was from a book called Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison.

Aidan and I made a few little changes.  We used the peanut butter (1 cup - organic, of course!) and the birdseed (2 cups - premium!) but added a 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil too!  After mixing it all together...Aidan's job...we put it in the fridge for an hour to harden up a little.  then we rolled it into balls; flattened them with a glass bottom into circles (about 1" thick) and shaped them into hearts - Nana's job.

Aidan making 'birdie' cookies!

Into the freezer with them for an hour, then they were hard enough to make holes through the centres for the ribbon (or yarn, about 10" long) to hang them up with.  After leaving them in the freezer overnight, they are now ready!

Valentine 'birdie cookies'!

On with our boots, winter coats, hats and mittens...we head outside to hang our little seed hearts/'birdie cookies' in the trees.

A yummy treat for our feathered friends!

Just spreading a little love around to our feathered (and probably furry!) friends...
Happy St. Valentine's Day!