The table is set to go

When we first decided to look into moving to NZ, we knew that there would be a lot of stuff that, not only could we not take with us, we didn't WANT to take with us.  Stuff that sweet people had given to us and we did not feel comfortable in tossing out.  Stuff that was wonderful and amazing and is now tired and/or well, tacky. (Orange fondue pot, anyone?) and Stuff that is simply no longer needed on the current part of the voyage.
These are the things that are going out, no matter what, in the April Petrolia Town Wide Garage Sale. Some of them are already in the garage, with more to move in as mid April draws near. (Thankfully, the opening day tournament at Sawmill is not on the same day as the town garage sale--can you hire someone to do your sale for you? We have also begun the shredding of 22 years of tax files (yes, yes, we've kept the last seven), paycheques and the triplicate pictures, or hair different shot of that incredibly cute child.

There are also the things we want to take with us but, before going with us, they need a face lift.  In fact, even if they go nowhere they need a little cosmetic work.  And that has begun. It was with great trepidation  I sent off my parents rock maple Vilas  table and chairs (with two panels).  Not to be stripped and re finished, but to be stripped and (shudder) repainted.  The two women who did this assured me that someday should somebody want to 'take it back' and varnish it; it is entirely possible (be still, my siblings).  But for now, I am enjoying it.
I still have the table and all the wonderful memories that go with it.  The meals under which it groaned.  The bun fights that the Collins girls inevitably instigated when sitting too long.  The elbows that rested upon it (not, I repeat not, during a meal) with the owner listening to the stories of the family past and present, engaging in political discussion, or howling at my Daddy's 'shoemaker' jokes that he brought home from Polymer.  We did everything at that table -- ate, laughed, fought, and cried -- I remember all of us sitting around it the night Dad died back in 1969.  I remember coming home from the hospice after Mum died in 2001 and telling Mike, Yvan and PoPo, the story of her passing.  The table holds much more than plates for me.

That table will never change; it was never about the colour or the finish, but the memories that are so ingrained in the wood as to give it a spirit of its own. It is ready for the adventure.

OOPS

Last night I mentioned to Michael that he "never reads my blog".  He frequently asks if I have read other blogs (All right, I admit they are more interesting), points out some fascinating detail about them, but is sadly lacking in knowledge regarding my offerings.  At any rate, last night he brought his computer upstairs to show me a photo from my spot.  I looked at it and said yeah, that's the bridal swan.  He then asked me to look at the background of the picture-- and there he was, sitting on a chair near the bed in a state of, shall we say, undress.  If one were to blow up the picture, then one would see how very undressed.
The photo has been changed.  Apologies to Mike.  If anyone of you should have noticed this, I hope that you were not scarred for life.

Hockey Night in Canada and New Zealand

First of all we have to set the stage in Canada.  No crummy rain or dull setting for the first major playoff of the new decade.  Nope, the kids in Ontario were all happy to see this come down the tubes the day before.  It was the first snowy day that we'd had all winter; Mike was getting anxious, because it is simply not winter if a dump of snow has not been dropped on the town by a squall.  So, Monday the 4th it finally came down--not at all up to Mike's Fort Erie standards, but enough to put a smile on his face as he headed out to clear the driveway, and visit with the neighbours  reminiscing about the snowfalls of their childhoods. In celebration of the snow, we left the outside Christmas lights on that night.  Next day, not quite Epiphany, we took down the tree early as the household Goddess, A. was coming today in order to make everything beautiful.  She did.
On the Monday night, we had spoken with our friend Es in NZ, and had cooked (or kooked) up the plan to put my lap top in front of our TV, turn on Skype and send the show to NZ where she would be waiting to watch the Canadian Juniors play the US for the gold.  Sadly, the Canadians have to be satisfied with five golds in a row, followed by a year with the other, unmentionable, metal medal.  There was no joy in P-town, or M-town last night.  However, the Olympics are on in a month -- give or take-- and the Big Girls can show the world what Canada has....

It was a night for pictures, however.  I am uploading a couple and for the sake of anonymity, I will show only the ones with the figure of Miss Es blurred.  However you will see the two buddies as they watch the battle.  This seemed pretty tame to me so, after watching my obligatory "good wife 1 period of a sports event'  I toddled upstairs to read my book.  I did discover in the morning and found out that for the last period they had been sitting side by side.  Thank goodness the team lost, or who knows where this could have ended?

Not used to the camera yet....

I am not used to my new camera yet.  It is just great, I love it and used it today to take a movie of the cat.  So much fun.  However, I have yet to read the directions and scan the manual, so still have a lot to do.  Last night En and a girl friend D came over for an evening of Dominoes (Mexican Train) along with our friend Sammy.  Mike had to finish the Juniors game before coming up to play with us (Juniors won, have their berth).  We played until just past midnight, missing the New Year by several minutes, but still drank our champagne and wished each one the best of the new year.  We played another game, the guests left, and we went to bed. 
I played with my camera this morning, hence the video of the cat, then Mike and I walked (tramped) to the Anglican clergy's home in town for her levee.  It was a great event and we walked home, deciding that after the last few days of indulgence, we could eschew dinner.  It is bloody cold here today but my friend outside of Calgary assures me that it is even colder by about 25 degrees.
Happy New Year to you all.  I feel it in my bones that we are in for a great year.