We're back

Hi there! We're back after an epic journey to Ottawa, land of ice and snow and polar bears. The trip up was long and United lost our luggage, but we got there, eventually, and our luggage did, too. It just stayed a bit longer (24 hours) in Chicago than we did and we stayed for six hours, which was five hours longer than United promised us. Don't you love those unexpected pleasures of travel? Like the cold I got somewhere along the way that's keeping me home today. I blame Chicago and O'Hare because it was stuffy and crowded and just the place where a cold would lurk. Canada is too polite to ever give a visitor a cold. It may freeze you to death, but it won't make you sick.

I did freeze and this was one of the milder Christmases that I've spent in Canada. Nonetheless, I got the full course: freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow! I like the snow the best. I fell down twice and am surprised that it was only twice as I've not had years to perfect the mincing walk necessary to remain upright on ice. Thankfully, I am prepared for this as I'm thickly padded around the hips and I also love beyond reason my flannel-lined, blue jeans. They keep the cold (mostly) out and they add more padding, too. Really, I am a swampflower of the highest order. Despite the proper clothing and a sunny attitude, the cold just seeps into my bones. I was made for the South. Or maybe I've just spent too many years here to adjust, but whatever the reason, I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold and ice and snow.

Picture of the Artist with her two aunts

Christmas gift from my niece. Her momma got her fabric paint and told her to draw us pictures on shirts. Niece was instructed that I like horses. You can't see mine well, but there's a horse and person below a trio of winter sports: sledding, skiing, and tobaggoning. (Heck if I know how to spell tobaggoning; I'm from the deep South, y'all. We don't have such down here.) The other shirt has a wonderful cat and a person and a bumblebee on it. The aunties love their shirts. I'm wearing mine right now.


Peter adores his two uncles and spent a lot of the time while we were eating dim sum climbing all over them. Who needs monkey bars when there are uncles?

Hope y'all had a great holiday, whatever one you celebrate. I certainly did. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch House. John gave me seasons 1 and 2 for my Christmas present. I'll take a fresh box of tissues and go lay on the energy-sucking sofa and veg out, as befits a person with a nasty cold. No talking, for I will cough. Stay well, peeps. Don't forget to take your vitamin C.