2015 COUNTDOWN TO A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS WEEK EIGHT

Well it is Christmas day. Early rising for Adolph to call his cousins in Italy, His cousin Carolina loved the photo book we sent her of our family events the last year!  I spoke to my sister in Leduc Alberta this week. We sent her the same photo book- she loved it too! Well I sent one to my Dad in the Nursing Home in West Kelowna-Westbank, BC. as well! Last Friday there was the hospital Holiday Breakfast for all the staff. Well attended by all! It was busy at work as many patients were prepared to be discharged home for Christmas. The staff a little happier as there are so many goodies everywhere- chocolates, cookies and other stuff as thank yous from families and often our doctors and each other! Those that have to stay will be treated to a nice Christmas meal. The staff that are working today have a free lunch provided in honour of their hard work. The malls were packed with last minute shoppers. Apparently a lot of them were men buying those last minute gifts.There is a warm Christmas on record in the GTA while other parts of Canada have had their share of snow. North of Toronto in the Barrie area there is snow which is good for those ski and snow board operators. In Toronto, the skating rink at City Hall is closed as it is a pool right now. In a few days the temperature should drop freezing it again.
Our usual Christmas Eve seafood dinner which is an Italian tradition was just the two of us as our girls had plans with their in-laws. So instead of the 7 dishes, we had 3. Lobster was the main stay, shrimps and dip,  a crab mixture with some salad and a fresh bun. Rounded out with white wine for me and Italian chocolate torone for dessert. We watched another Christmas movie on TV and the concert from Italy with David Foster and Andre Bocceli. Very casual as the big meal is today.
Of course the traditional Canadian dinner with turkey and all the trimmings- fresh bread stuffing
( bread, onions, celery, fresh parsley, garlic, sage, a pinch of ginger, some butter cubes all mixed with the bread-white and brown) in the turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, 2 squashes, mushrooms and to have an Italian flavour to the meal for Adolph- some Italian sausages and roasted red peppers, some crunchy Italian bread.. Dessert will be a Yule log, Tuxedo cake and some apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. I miss the plum pudding and rum sauce but no one eats it but me so I do not include it anymore with the meal. It was a standard growing up as my Mom would put real rum in the sauce!! Of course the house is full of candy canes, chocolate santas, cookies- my girls make them with their children and many other goodies placed in dishes. Drinks will include white and red wine, milk-white or chocolate for the kids, pop, tea, coffee and bottled water. So a feast for all will be had. For little children and many adults opening those stockings and Christmas presents left by Santa will be happening right now across the country. Last night NORAND tracked Santa's travels across the world- makes us all a believer again. The Elf on the shelf gets put away for another year! Just hoping the grandchildren enjoy all the presents given to them. One little guy looked at his bag of stuff saying is it clothes?? Well some has to be clothes as it is for the Mom!
So what does it mean to have the big day here. A blessing. Memories of Christmas past! The fun that was provided by the adults in my life and now providing it for my family too. A day at home to putter and prepare for the meal later in the day. Listen to more music. Christmas- a time for connecting, going to church, singing carols, loving the children- well it is the biggest blessing to have them in my life. Knowing that some of the efforts went to support those in need in the community and to keep them in mind throughout the year! Remembering those we lost and keep their memories alive in small ways. So a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day!