merry christmas baby...

...you sure do treat me nice!!!

Another season has come and gone and we're finally coming up for air on the other side of it all. All in all it was a great holiday with both friends, family and pets. As I mentioned last week, this year all past traditions went out the window which resulted in a much quieter Christmas for Marc and I. In the past, Christmas day saw us go to my parents, then to my mother-in-law's for dinner #1 then out the valley for my aunt's dinner #2. It was exhausting and super hard to do when you have a dog waiting alone at home

for almost the entire day. Marc and I usually have our own Christmas on Christmas Eve and exchange our gifts then as it was pretty much the only time we had alone. This year, Marc's family celebration was moved to Christmas Eve thus nixing our "alone" Christmas. But the celebration out at my aunt's on Christmas Day didn't hap

pen this year leaving us with only one thing to do on the 25th. Which is strange because that has never happened before. Ever. We almost didn't know what to do with ourselves. A whole day just in one place?? You can do that?? Yes you can! And it's brilliant!! It was like a whole new world! And it allowed Marc and I do have Christmas morning at our house before going to my folks' place. Here's a pic of Bailey enjoying his new big sheep Santa brought him.

And Bailey wasn't the only one who got to play with new toys, Tara didn't make out too badly herself. Some fave items of the day included the unexpected injection of more cashmere into my closet (lord knows that's never a bad thing), a Slow-Cooker (yes I actually really wanted one of them!), a Panini press (can you say panini party??), gift certificates to my 2 favourite coffee places downtown, my Willie Nelson official fan-club Christmas ornament (yes, we're members before you ask), this adorable crystal button cardigan and this citron coloured boatneck sweater from J Crew (which, by the way, is having a CRAZY sale right now), a fantastic peacock platter from Pottery Barn (which helps dull the pain of the matching dishes being too small for me to justify buying), the Emile Henry pasta bowls that we registered for when we got married, and a pile of other great stuff plus more chocolate than a girl really needs to have within arm's reach.

The nieces are getting older now and really starting to love clothes so it was super fun to watch them open things and hold them up and ooh and ahhh over them. We got a family portrait done for my folks this year and that, of course, was the big tears gift of the year. Every year my brother and I compete to see who will be the one to get the "crying" gift for my mom. Awful I know but if you know my mom at all you can see why that can be a bit fun. You never know what it's going to be. Some years it's the little 4 inch Santa ornament that pushes her over the edge, other years even the biggest most sentimental offering gets you nothing. It can be a real crapshoot and it's sick fun for my brother and I. Call us awful if you like.

Boxing Day was function #3 with a pile o'family over at my parents' place. Unfortunately, in the middle of having a great time with the extended family I got a killer headache, my temperature went though the roof, I broke into a cold sweat and literally had to run out on the party without so much as a goodbye to anyone other than my mother. My brother drove me home and I spent the rest of the night on my sofa with the blankets up over my head cuz I couldn't make it up to my room. I spent the 27th pretty much the same way. And then it was gone. Who knows what it was but I'm happy it's gone.

Overall, Christmas 07 was piles of fun and I hope everyone else's was the same. I look forward to catching up on my blog reading and seeing everyone soon!!

canine couture

Fewer things in life are funnier to me than putting hats on Bailey. Bailey in my winter toque is no exception.

Weekend round-up

What a weekend it was! So much to talk about, so many pics to post best get started.

Friday Marc and I babysitted for some friends and I am a complete convert to highly regulated sleep-trained babies. First I mocked then saw it for my own eyes. This baby who doesn't know us from a hole in the ground went down like a lead balloon. In all of my years babysitting, I have never seen a baby go to sleep so easily -- especially with a stranger!! Kudos to Shannon cuz clearly her months of hard work have paid off. Yay sleep training!

Saturday was a trip to the theatre with my 2 nieces and their little friend for "Cinderella" and a fun time was had by all. There was laughing and giggling and borderline delirium when they got to meet Cinderella and get everyone's autograph. Sometimes you forget how cool it was to see live theatre when you were a little kid. The scene changes, fancy lights and all the stage trickery and costumes -- through the eyes of a 6 year old is pretty darn cool. It was nice to be reminded of that. And then the buckets of questions that followed went something like this: "Are you guys really sisters? (to the ugly stepsisters)," "Does that guy really have a tail? (about the guy who played Maurice the cat)," "Were there really horses backstage? (about the big pumpkin carriage)," "Is the fairy godmother really magic like for real?" Etc, etc, etc....

Saturday night we used a gift certificate for The Keg that we got as a wedding gift. Now Marc and I aren't Keg people. We really aren't chain restaurant type people at all. But this card has been gathering dust in my purse since the summer and after a day at the theatre cooking was out of the question. So off we go. Now in addition to not being Key types let's also remember that I only started eating red meat again this past year and even saying that I've "started" is a stretch. So this restaurant is a big step for me. I order a filet mignon because when in Rome right? I haven't had filet mignon in easily ten years. I almost died. It was buttery and delicious and the baked potato was probably the best restaurant potato I've ever had not to mention the exquisitely cooked asparagus. Colour me surprised. Yes I felt like cattle the whole time I was there, the volume of noise was deafening, my waitress acted like my best friend when in actuality I prefer my waiters to be borderline icy and when our table was ready, instead of being fetched like civilized people we were summonded by something that beeped and flashed. But the food was, in fact, delicious. So I suppose it was everything I hate about chain restaurants but with a pleasant surprise.

Sunday was breakfast with the folks and our 2nd annual foray into the bush for the gathering of fallen boughs to decorate my windowbox. Off we went down old logging roads and finally found a glorious fallen down tree with boughs a plenty. Bailey even found a big pile of old deer bones to roll around in. Fun for him, kinda gross for me. It was good to get out into the almost eery quiet of the bush and it was a beautiful day for it. It was snowing that kind of snow that feels like it's coming down in slow motion and being released one snowflake at a time.


As a result of this weekend I think we are almost completely decorated for the holidays. Tree is up, lights are up (except for one wayward strand awaiting an extension cord) and festive spirit is in place. Here are some pics of my favourite corner in the house.

it's really all about...

...pomegranates. They're in season and therefore dirt cheap right now. Every night this week we've been diving into a glorious bowl of pomegranate seeds after dinner and they're just perfect in every way. Tart and sweet and juicy and lovely. I'll be sad when they come to an end. I think Bailey thinks they're popcorn seeds cuz he's been losing his mind everytime he sees us eating them. It's pretty funny to watch a dog eat a pomegranate seed actually. Especially Bailey cuz he insists on biting them in half. He's so dainty.

good dog good karma

for your socially conscious pooch check these out. SOCOCO (Socially Conscious Companion) has these super cute collars and leashes that not only make them look cute and fun but also tell their doggie friends they're more than just a pretty face. 10% of the profits from these collars go directly to help children in South Africa's Baphumelele Orphanage and Education Centre, a charity that gives permanent shelter and schooling to children orphaned or abandoned because of AIDS. The colours are great -- way better than standard pet store tartan (which we were forced to subject Bailey to due to lack of choice). And they come with a cute charm that says "I heart SOCOCO." Dogs with jewelery = fun.

bailey status...

As mentioned earlier, Bailey the dog is having some issues. Mainly getting us up insanely early to go outside repeatedly and he's had a couple of accidents during the day while we're at work. But god love him, at least he's making the effort and peeing in the unfinished basement and not on the rugs. The vet yesterday said all his tests came back clean. Good news is no diabetes, kidney failure or any other ugly things. Bad news is that without anything physically wrong with him, this just may be his new routine. After all, he is 10 years old. I'll probably have to go to the bathroom a lot too when I get to be his age. As for accidents during the day, he just might have to start going to Gramma daycare. And something tells me he'll be more than okay with that....

Weekend round-up

One more weekend down on the way to Christmas and I am happy to report the holiday shopping is in full swing at Casa Tara. I did SO much online shopping over the last 3 days that I'm feeling pretty darn confident about the holidays so far. My goal is to have all shopping done by December 1st so I can take my time this year and maybe get the house closer to the holiday image in my head.

As mentioned last week, this weekend was The Lost Weekend at the Townehouse here in the big city of Sudbury. Proud to report, I toughed it out for all 3 nights and had a great time with zero hangovers to boot! Friday started with The Sadies who are always awfully fun to see. This horribly boring band called Young Rival opened up for them (formerly called The Ride Theory) who had the unfortunate luck of opening for a band that is better than they will ever be. Such is the bad side of opening for a big band -- play with smaller bands more in your league and you have the chance of besting them and maybe getting noticed, play with a band like The Sadies and they just make you look like kids playing with their dads' instruments. Sorry guys, you tried though. Happy to report my merch buying problem carried on as I walked home with a fun new Sadies hoodie and their new disc. Yay merch!

Saturday started on a low point as Marc had me in the yard raking leaves. Boo to nature and her untidy ways. But he made up for it by after taking me for a surprise snack at Ti Amo, a new-ish little cafe/bakery that opened up with amazing pastries, espresso and yummy panini sandwiches. He even bought me a little travel bag of pastries for the road. Raking forgotten! Onwards to window shop for a new treadmill (separate post to follow on the joys of that) and then home to prep for another night out. The night brought a housewarming party for Marc's cousin Kristina,the arrival of Big City Kelly (yay B.C.K!)and the always unforgetable White Cowbell Oklahoma. I first saw them in 2001 and they have never failed to both rock my world, gross me out, and generally make me wary of being too close to the stage. On the WCO menu for that night was a metal grinder, chainsawing a pile of toilet paper, a guy in a clown mask and underpants, a stage full of dancing ladies, a massive inflatable mummy that literally took up the entire stage and of course, hardcore ass-kicking southern rock at its finest. If you ever get the chance to see these guys, please do not miss it. It's the most fun you'll ever have at a bar show.

Sunday was pretty low-key but started poorly with yet more shenanigans from our old man Bailey. Thank god he has his vet appointment on Monday cuz something is clearly not right with our poochie face. Lately he likes to wake us up as early as humanly possible demanding to be let out about 5 times and barking incessantly every time you try and go back to bed. We are perplexed. And tired as a result of his new routine. Sunday night we managed to haul our sleepy butts out one last time for the Bionic show. Unfortunately, the promise of an early show was broken and to put salt in the wound, we then had to sit through the opening band which was so not my thing it was almost painful. Trigger Effect, I'm sure you're great at what you do but I'm far too old for whatever that thing is. So loud on my tiny ears. Bionic (finally) was great though and played a short set thus getting me home before 1am.

Lost Weekend 2007 + Tara + no Rememberance Day holiday + bladder-challenged dog = one sleepy little lady.

Starsky and Hutch

So with the generous wedding gifts we received from everyone Marc and I were able to finally get a hutch for our dining room. I can't tell you how happy we were when we found this at Vested Interest in North Bay. It's completely huge and takes up almost the whole side wall in our dining room which is exactly what we wanted. It's an antique with lovely metal pulls and skeleton keys and fits all our things both practical and pretty. Also in these pictures, a quick look at some of the trim that Marc has tirelessly been restoring by hand and Bailey, recovering nicely from his fall down the stairs.

Weekend round-up etc

Weekend round up time. Friday started out with a retirement party not really worth writing about so we'll skip it. Saturday started with a much needed trip to see Paula to cut my insanely puffy hair. Mission accomplished thank god. Then we headed out to the awesome family camp of Miss Gomm for Gommfest 2007. The weather was a bit chilly and we had to skip the annual golf drive championship due to the unfortunate parking of a mystery winnebago but all in all, good times indeed. Bailey got in what is probably his last swim of the season and spent much of the afternoon repeatedly checking on the status of Alison's dad's duck decoys floating out in the bay. Here are some pics of his patrol...




As per usual, there was the requisite news roundup thanks to Jocelyne's well-stocked portable library. I feel smarter already. Here is a picture of Joc schooling us on the sillyness of Brad Pitt on a bicycle. Oh Brad, nobody's buying it...

So we hung out and chatted it up and ate ourselves silly. This pic is blurry but I had to include it based soley on the fact that Miss Gomm's insane artichoke/whitebean/cheese/bacon dip is in the photo. All I can say is wow and some more wow's.

Then she busted out some more bacon-themed appetizers that were equally yummy. Camping and an all bacon-themed appetizer menu? Fantastic.
Thinking food doesn't get any better? Here's a pic of Joc manning the oven-toasted sandwich station fully stocked with insane cheese, Italian coldcuts, fresh basil leaves and a complete array of gourmet mustards thanks to Mike, the ultimate mustand connoisseur.

Miss Gomm also made up this crazy yummy salad of fresh tomatoes from the garden of Mike and Joc, pearl bocconcinis, onions, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. AND there was pie. Sweet jesus...
Here is a pic of Joc and Sylvia warming up for their evening campfire rendition of "I'm Miss World" by the one and only Miss Love. What you can't see in this picture is Bailey napping nearby staring obsessively at Sylvia. Can you say "groupie?"

We couldn't stay the night due to a house that is so dirty we could no longer ignore it and it truly warranted an early start. Gommfest 2007 = awesome.
We spent Sunday cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning, Marc moved the woodpile in preparation for many cozy fires this winter, and Bailey limped around the house recuperating from his repeated icy swims at Gommfest. Then we headed over to Dennis's for dinner and an almost unbearable viewing of the CBC's "St.Urbain's Horseman" on his PVR. Ah Canadian MOW's - more often than not you are truly terrible. Dinner was yummy, movie was an insult to the book. What a surprise. Luckily we saved the evening by eating delicious apple crisp that Dennis made from the apples in our front yard and a repeated viewing of "The Office" premiere. Thank god for Michael Scott.
This week hopefully brings a visit with my nieces cuz I had an awful dream involving them and I need to be reassured (I hate those dreams) and maybe even new vaccuum shopping with Ma and Pa. I'm such a grown up.