Thirteen for Dinner

Jill and I set the table for Christmas dinner ...I know, odd,unlucky number but since my birthday falls on the thirteenth, I don't consider it unlucky. The Christmas house elves brought us an additional custom made leaf for our antique table (now identified as grey elm and maple) but even with that, we decided to add our old make shift leaf anyway to give us all more room. We'd almost finished...still had to add those unloved but traditional Christmas crackers.

My Belated Post: Olympic Moment

I had the thrill of carrying the Olympic Flame on Nov.22/09 in Bridgewater NS. I was so excited when I received word mid August that I had been selected after applying through the RBC website in late spring. The next step was to sign the legal documents including agreeing to a security check by the RCMP. Obviously they don't want someone to try to make some sort of statement or scene. I finally was confirmed in September but was asked not to tell anyone until early October. I had not even told my family that I had applied - well, I did tell our son that I had applied but he promptly filed it under "forgotten".
The actual experience is difficult to describe; I had watched the flame being carried in Halifax in '88 with my kids, then six and eight and thought at the time "how cool is that?" It is emotional, an honour and a thrill as all who carry it say.
The organization of the event was outstanding. They give you a bit of history and a pep talk about an hour beforehand, you meet all the other torchbearers and hear their stories. I was really edgy at this point and didn't want to share my "my cancer story" but at Jill's (our daughter who flew home from Calgary for the event) urging I did so. The whole room was in tears by then but I felt that a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders and I was finally relaxed and enjoyed every moment from then on. They gave us our torches, loaded us on the bus where watched the torch video, got some last minute advice to enjoy the moment. When I was dropped off on King Street Jill and Sandy and Bruce were there and loads of friends and family. I was not prepared for all the people who wanted to have their picture taken with me(well, actually the torch). It was such a magical experience lighting your torch, and carrying that flame. I saw all my friends and family along the route, and thought about how this was the flame that originated in Greece and that we would see lit in Vancouver. I was becoming short of breath towards the end, and was relieved to spot the glowing RBC Bank sign up ahead which marked the end of my 300 meter segment. Once the RCMP officer extinguished my flame I was back on the bus in less than 5 minutes- not even time for a breath of oxygen. Afterwords, we had everyone back to the the house for finger food and drinks...a perfect end to a perfect evening. Ceilidh and Meg presented me with my torch which was a gift from all of their family, and my bee girls presented me with a banner in the shape of the torch that everyone could sign. Two very special mementos: how lucky I am!

A New Year...Maybe More Posts?

Took down the Christmas decorations today; packed up all the stuff from my "wrapping table". Now I just have to get the male family member to remove the AFX race car track from the floor of my sewing room; the twenty something cousins pooled three sets and with the engineer in charge set up the course. They spent Christmas evening being the eleven year olds they were when Santa first delivered the track sets. Only this time it was with beer, smoked salmon and was much more organized. There was much cheering but discovered that the new acoustic ceiling tile really works well.

Not Totally Idle

I spent a couple of afternoons last week and completed this Miranda Day Bag. I had ordered the kit from Dakota Cabin Quilts a couple of months ago and decided it was time to do some fun sewing rather than "I've got to get this finished" sewing. It has great pockets all around the inside in an additional print. I've got more fabric..from the same order in a turquoise/tan/gold combination so maybe I'll be inspired to do another one. One of the best set of instructions I have ever used. I have managed to complete two wall hanging sized quilt tops - they just need to be quilted and I am contemplating having them done by by a longarm quilter. Sitting hunched over doing machine quilting isn't all that appealing to me and some projects you just want to finish and move on.

Garden Bounty

Our heritage tomatoes are starting to ripen; we just have to beat the birds to them. The plastic owl didn't discourage them last season. Maybe a scarecrow next year.

Hurricane Bill Is Arrving

Following a busy two days getting deck furniture, planters, window boxes and boats all in hopefully secure places (Bruce did a fantastic job fitting so much into the garage), the leading edge of Bill arrived just before 9am. I was hoping to have a bit of a snooze in before I had to take our dog Ollie out, but when I heard the first patter of rain, I was up and out in my foul weather gear. We rescued the morning paper from the foot of the driveway before it was thoroughly soaked. We've got all the necessary precautions made: jugs of drinking water, one full bathtub, a full lantern as well as the old trusty solar/crank radio on hand. People around here really took the warnings seriously and shelves of the essentials at the grocery stores were looking pretty picked over by Friday. Don't think Sandy will make it in to Hfx International this evening. Looking forward to a day of reading a good mystery and working on the NY Times weekend crossword. Maybe a cup of tea of two if the power holds.