Our 1990s Christmas Backyard, Endless Snow, Baking & Crafting

      Hello Everyone! I have a really odd collection of things to share with you today. Remember how in my last post I mentioned buying only some new outdoor decor items? Well, here they are - a couple strings of nostalgic, colourful, 1990s vibes Christmas lights! 

Raccoon strung them up along the fence, and I also acquire a small wreath to hang on the one entrance. 

It started snowing a day or two later, and I went out to capture the beauty while the flakes were coming down. Little did we know, this was about to be the beginning of a very long, hard winter. 

As you can see, just after our first initial snowfalls, we were already getting quite buried. That rug draped over the table completely disappeared at this point. Honestly, it may appear in April. Or it might not show up until May, who knows! 

And then, the big snowstorm arrived. Barely past the middle of November, and we were BURIED. I mean look at our living room window! And this was only snowstorm one. 

Plus it got a lot worse. The city really doesn't care much, and really underfunds the department needed to actually be able to deal with the snow. I say they don't care, but I mean, the government here, REALLY DOES NOT CARE.

So. It was a lot warmer than normal. And all that snow started melting. And since it had just been packed down, it created massively deep ruts, which for all the small car drivers like me, has created a wild situation. 

Just look at this mess - photos do not do it justice. 

We have also gotten a LOT MORE SNOW since and RAIN and radically changing temperatures. 

Oh, and my car slide on ice, got thrown into a frozen snowbank, and now I have to replace a bumper come spring. 

My stress levels and over all anxiety has been wildly high this winter, so not going to lie, really struggling. And we still have a couple months to go. I really want to be transparent that my life is definitely not what you mostly see on media platforms. Of course, I highlight the good and don't talk about the challenges much, but I try to still "keep it real" now and again. 

On a totally different note, I love Bob Snail Fruit Snacks and have started collecting the little toy snails that are all wearing different costumes. So far, I have 5 of these cuties and they are such a boost of serotonin. 

I have also perfected my Banana Bread and have made several loaves of it. What a delicious snack! Plus, I get free bananas from my work all the time. 

My first Christmas as an herbalist in training and I decided to make a good portion of my gifts. 

I made Lavender Sugar Scrubs and Lemon Cuticle Oils. Both of these I have had to adjust a few times to get them to where I want them and I still think I could make subtle little improvements, but it's been so fun to create and use these, and now, gift them to others. 

Also how cute are these little jars and roll on bottles I bought?! Giving all the apothecary vibes. 

I thrifted the little bowls holding my gifts - I love vintage china! 

Tomorrow I am going to have a GIANT post for you and if you like Christmas Trees, you won't want to miss this one! 

Decorating For Christmas & The Great Canada Post Strike (Again)

      Good Morning! How is your week going so far? I am returning to work after holidays, and I am also going back to 5 days a week, so guessing it is being quite an adjustment for me, as, per usual, I am posting all these way in advance. Who knows how I will keep up with everything after this! 

Y'all know that Remembrance Day hits, and your girl is full on into Christmas mode. Which is exactly what I did this year. I am nothing if not predictable. LOL 

Now, the lovely Canada Post union decided to make questionable decisions and go on strike late November, so despite me having all my Christmas cards ready to go early, they won't be going out until January sometimes. 

Which in some ways, is alright, because it does make Christmas last longer. 

It's become a sort of tradition for me I watch the animated Grinch movie while writing cards, as it is one of my favorite movies. 

This year I decided to not buy any new Christmas cards, but use ones I already owned, and just include a little note about how someone may be receiving the same card 2 years in a row. I really want to make a push towards using up what I have, less consumerism, and just living a little more simply. It feels really good to do these sorts of little things. 

Here is our lovely, little living room space, all cozy and bright for the festive season. 

And yes, same tree theme as always. I didn't add any new ornaments to it this year, and I didn't buy any indoor decor at all. The only decor I got this year was a few new outdoor pieces, which you will see in another post! 

“Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud, making you wish it could last forever.” ~Richelle E. Goodrich

I really love this soft, fleece blanket I got last year, and was so excited to pull it back out for another holiday season. I really do end up using a blanket every day and sometimes more than 1. We try to use as little heat as possible, to keep our power bill a bit lower, since the type of heaters we have in our basement suite really spike up that bill! Plus, one can always dress warmer! 

“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.” ~Fred Rogers

“Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp! Christmas Day will always be, just as long, as we have we! Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand!” ~Dr. Seuss

Looking forward to sharing more cozy, holiday moments with you before long! 

A Collection of Autumn Memories

      Good afternoon, lovely peeps! Today I have a whole collection of little moments that happened in early fall, that I absolutely had to memorialize here.... So, let's get started! 

I did 6 weeks of yoga with one of my coworkers. The house she teaches in is in a stunning neighborhood, and it was a create start to my autumn season. I definitely think I want to do more yoga in the future, but of the restorative, relaxing variety. I want to focus on presence and calm, over sweating and fitness. 

The low lights, heated floors, and cozy environment were perfect for my starting point. 

Love the little card S gave me on my first class. 

Despite going through all kinds of hormonal craziness and body image challenges that came along with it all, I have been trying to wear new outfits and push myself again to not just wear my favorites every day.... to actually make use of the wardrobe I have... 

Y'all know September 1st hit and I went ham on the decorating. Hehe It brings me a lot of joy and I always want to get the most amount of time possible out of each season. 

It remains imperfect with plenty of ugly spots that get dirty quickly, but it is still welcoming and feels like home. I didn't end up getting a new fall outdoor rug, but I love the bumblebee one we had from summertime. It feels fallish too! 

Guess what? I made another wreath! I continue to be unable to stomach spending $80-$120 CAD for something I can make for under $30. Personally, I think it's beautiful, and the smaller size fits our door beautifully. I actually might take up wreath making as a hobby at some point, and sell them for a fair price. Side Hustle Idea?? 

Here I am in the making process. I wish I had a crafting room, but honestly, it is probably for the best that I don't, because I would collect entirely too much stuff. Haha! 

I got super creative with the glue and wire, and I am pleased to report, it held up for 2 months in the wild prairie outdoors! Go me! 

So. I told Raccoon I wanted to get a pumpkin to cook up and put in the freezer for future baking. He agreed to it, but only 1 pumpkin.

"Sure," I said, "One pumpkin, I promise!" 

I just casually decided to not disclose the size of the 1 pumpkin I was going to pick out.

And y'all know I picked out a ginormous pumpkin I couldn't even pick up. I needed Raccoon to pick it up and haul it in the wheelbarrow. You will see it in my next post! 

Needless to say, we spent an entire evening cutting, peeling, cooking, pureeing, and bagging up 30 bags of pumpkin! Some may say I overdid it. I disagree. And I am sure by 2027 I will use it up. 

Yes, we saved the seeds to dry for future planting. 

Thank goodness for Raccoons food processor - it blitzed up the pumpkin beautifully! 

My workplace did something new this year and held an outdoor fall market one weekend. The original owners/founders brought their old truck, which is featured on the store's logo, and a photo booth was set up beside it. 

There were a variety of pumpkins and squashes to purchase. 

And a large number of local vendors that sell through us, set up special booths and offered tastings and samples throughout the day, plus there was a BBQ! 

The autumn wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea with a rollicking song he sweeps along swaggering boisterously. His face is weather beaten; he wears a hooded sash with a silver hat about his head... The autumn wind is a Raider, pillaging just for fun. ~S. Sabol

Figured I would include a few more snaps from other Sunday afternoons going to yoga. 

What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet, Long live the weeds and the wildness yet. ~ G. M. Hopkins

"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." ~Unknown

Well, I will leave you for today and bring you a trip to my favorite pumpkin patch tomorrow!