It's beginning to look a lot like....

View from my front door

Winter!!!

I'm afraid this is it, winter is here to stay as the temperatures are quite cold.  Currently it is -10C (14F) and feels like -20C (-4F) because of the wind. The forecast does indicate a few days with temps above freezing, but for the most part it's definitely winter.  Sigh...if I had my way, the snow wouldn't arrive until the week prior to Christmas and leave a week or two later.  

Speaking of Christmas, I'm feeling a bit rushed (already) because of my trip.  NOT that I'd give up my cruise but suddenly it seems like Christmas preparations are more pressing.  The other day I made a list of gifts for each of my children, Eli, my brother and his family and a couple of friends and was pleased to discover I'm nearly done shopping and most of that is gift cards.  Hooray I won't have to spend time in crazy shopping malls.  Though I must admit I made a trip to our new Costco on Friday to buy pj's for my children.  What a bad idea!  The store opened last weekend and was a total zoo.  I ought to have turned around and left immediately but I stayed.  It took over an hour to wander a bit, pick up the pj's and make my way through the tills.  They really ought to have an express lane!

I got started on baking yesterday - though it will be gone well before Christmas.  We're having a potluck next Thursday at work, and I signed up to bring dessert.  I made a new-to-me recipe for orange cranberry cookies.  Oh my goodness are they good!  There is always that last cookie made from the last bit of dough that looks less than appealing...it always ends up my tasting cookie.  I also made a batch of M&M cookies - basically a chocolate chip cookie with candy.  Also very yummy!

Years ago, I would make a variety of cookies and cakes for Christmas.  Most of it would be shared with my co-workers.  I stopped doing this about 5 or 6 years ago, as no one seemed to appreciate my efforts, though they certainly had no difficulty eating it.  I have continued to bake a few things for us and to share with friends.  This year, though I'm planning to bake a large batch of cupcakes to take into the office on my last day.  That's a project for next weekend.

I haven't decided what we'll have for dinner, that can wait until after I return on December 20th.  Decorating will likely also wait until then as my social calendar has suddenly become much busier.  Former co-workers are taking me for breakfast on my first day of freedom 59, while others have booked me for lunch the following week.  Plus Eli and D will be here for the weekend.  I'll also be packing for my trip, wrapping gifts, and doing a final clean of the house before I leave.  K and I spent some time firming up plans for each port last week, and she purchased tickets for the Creole Christmas at Preservation Hall (Dec 16) and a graveyard tour (Dec 19).  She has also arranged for a rental car as we plan to visit a couple of plantations (Dec 18).  Her partner J found a river tour which we likely do on the 17th, along with Cafe du Monde (for beignets and coffee), as well as some shopping.  We've left lots of free time too to allow for wandering and simply marvelling at being in New Orleans.  I'm so excited!  

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On a totally different note, I got one of those scam e-mails the other day.  It appeared to come from my own e-mail address, and read that I had been hacked (I hadn't), and they had my password (a partial password that I haven't used in years).  The message went on to say that they had video of me watching porn (as if), and if I didn't pay up in bitcoin (sorry I don't have any) they would release the video.  There was more but by this point I simply deleted the e-mail.  Even so, there was a moment of concern - had they really gotten information that would allow them access to my accounts or was the e-mail a spoof of my e-mail address?  Norton said everything was up-to-date.  A friend  provided a site where one can check to see when/how one's information might have been breached. If you are interested, check it out here.  I learned that, yes, my e-mail address and password had been included in massive data breaches in 2016 and 2017.  It brings me relief to know that no other information was breached.  In the meantime I've changed passwords on pretty much every account I have.  Only one site made it difficult to do so, a local utility company, and I've yet to try again.  It certainly was a good reminder how important it is to change passwords on a regular basis and to ensure that one uses different passwords for different sites.  I'm going to write them down and keep them in a safe place; although I'm of sites that will keep track of them for me, I'd probably forget the password!

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The rest of the weekend has been spent doing chores, watching curling and football, and knitting. I'm sad to report that our beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders came up short in the first playoff game so our season is done. :(  It ended on a sour note when our second string quarterback was hit high, likely causing a concussion.  Just last week our starting quarterback suffered a similar, and season ending hit.  Neither hit was called by the referees so there will be lots of discussion.  Oh well, maybe next year.

The little hat on the penguin is meant for Eli.  This was my third attempt as Saku managed to snag the first two and drop too many stitches to salvage them.  I'm not entirely happy with this effort, it seems a bit short but perhaps that's because I put it on the stuffed toy that I thought might approximate the size of my grandson's head.  I've got another on the needles, perhaps for Eli or perhaps for his little friend Knox.  It all depends on whose head it fits, though I'll to make another if neither fits the little guy (Knox).  

Speaking of Knox, there was a bit/lot of excitement on Saturday as A went into labor.  For reasons unknown to me, she planned to give birth in Regina.  Her on-again, off-again boyfriend (and father of Knox and his sibling) dropped Knox with D mid-afternoon, to drive her to the city.  D had insisted that they take some blankets with them and that turned out to be a very good thing.  About 20 minutes outside the city, they had to pull over as A had an urge to push and with the assistance of the 911 operator she gave birth to their son, J.P.  Then they drove the rest of the way into the hospital.  They were released from the hospital on Sunday, spent the night in the city at her brother's home, and headed back to Melville today.  D said Knox seemed to know something was up, but was quite happy to hang out with her and Eli. 

D sent me this photo, taken just after they got up from their nap.  Eli was obviously still a little tired, while Knox was pretty happy.  Later they spent time playing in the playroom, before they showed up downstairs ready for supper.  It amazes me how well they play together, and it is clear they communicate with one another.  I'm sure they'll get lots of time together as A will need a break with two children under the age of 2.  Yikes!

Well, enough blather from me for this weekend.  I'm off to do the chores I didn't get done because I was glued to the television.  

Have a great week everyone!