Spelling Bee

Today Connor was in the Barrie Literacy Council Spelling Bee. Last year when he was in grade 6 he was 5th out of about 95 kids. The word he couldn't spell last year was menial. This year he did not practice very much but there was also less competition - only 51 kids. He made it to the last 20 so he gets to go to the finals again. This year he correctly spelled poisonous, antonym and hospitable.

My life

My life has a fairly predictable rhythm to it (now that the kids are more independent). In April I start back to work as a gardener. Things are pretty hectic through the spring, summer and fall. I am laid off just in time to do the Christmas shopping, baking and to catch up on neglected housework before the kids are home for the holidays. After that I am pretty much free to amuse myself. During the cold winter days I walk the dogs, do the day to day housecleaning and then I get to do what I want. I cross-stitch, knit (not nearly as much as I used to) and get together with a friend to play scrabble and do puzzles. This is our latest accomplishment.

This was one of the hardest puzzles I have ever done. There was no symmetry to the pieces. It actually came with a diagram of the puzzle shapes to use as a guideline. We couldn't have done it without the "cheat sheet". The pieces don't stay together very well and because the border is not straight there was a lot of shifting involved as we added the centre pieces. I wonder if it would be easier to start in the middle and work out? Anyway, it was a rewarding experience!

This puzzle reminds me of when we lived in New Brunswick. There was an old wooden covered bridge about a mile down the road. Just past it, on the top of the hill was an old white church. It was very picturesque.

Wooden Christmas Gifts

I got these neat Christmas gifts that I wanted everyone to see. One of them came in my stocking and I knew right away what it was. The other two came together in a gift bag and had me and the rest of the room (except for the giver) absolutely stumped. They are not sex toys. A musical instrument? No. The egg is flat on the side it is resting on - Was it part of an antique mortar and pestle? No. I was given the hint it was something I had talked to my dad about last year and that didn't help at all. Any brave souls out there want to guess? I will tell you in a day or two and end the suspense.

Christmas Lights

We just returned from walking our dogs. It struck me again how dark our streets are. Each year there are less and less Christmas lights displayed. Our town even has a decorating contest. Usually there are 8 - 10 homes entered and we drive around and enjoy them while voting for the winner. This year only 4 homes were nominated. In our neighbourhood less than half of the houses have lights. There are stretches where 10 houses (on both sides) will be undecorated. I find this very depressing. At a time when we don't have enough sunlight, the Christmas lights are so welcome. A few days ago one of Connor's friends commented his favorite season is winter because he loves the lights. This child does not celebrate Christmas - yet even he realized it was important. At the same time as Christmas lights have decreased, Hallowe'en decorations have increased dramatically. I would love to know if this is the case everywhere or just in our town. I do not have the time to drive around and check out the whole country though. Has anyone else noticed this trend?

I love reading everyone else's blog and have said for a while that I was going to get my own. Here it is Christmas day and my husband says sit down at the computer - open internet explorer and type Angel Laura.... He set up a blog for me! I really have very little to say most of the time so you will all be pretty bored. For anyone who is wondering, the Angel part has nothing to do with my sweet disposition. It comes from my job. Most of the year I work for Gardening Angels, doing maintenance, planning and planting. I got a digital camera recently for work but it will take me a long time to figure out how to download pictures so it will mostly be text!

There is a mountain of potatoes waiting to be peeled and the turkey is calling for basting so this is the end of my first blog. Merry Christmas to all.