Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. We just got back from an epic trip to Gabriola in which we ended up needing to bring friends home with us. The oven stopped working and the water ran out but even still the time with friends was one of the best holidays we’ve had in years.
We don’t usually have a tree and we open gifts if they are sent when they come rather than wait until a specific morning. The amount of gifts has thankfully lessened over the years. Cam’s mom sent some gifts that that all the kids opened together. Included was her famous English Toffee:
One of my favourite times happened to be xmas morning where instead of a load of gifts to unwrap, we all played with “screaming balloons” graciously shared by Matt!
This was our xmas morning. I believe this was the only gift that was given and it made the best morning!! Screaming balloons from Japan:
We ate the most amazing meals! Spring rolls, salad rolls, peanut sauce, chilli sauce, cucumber salads, walnut mushroom rolls, cashew and red pepper loaf, roasted veggies, stuffing…. just to name a few. All this with an oven that wouldn’t work! Ha!
Unfortunately, the oven wasn’t the only thing that made this trip truly epic. The water ran out. There was 1200 extra liters and yet we couldn’t access a drop! It wasn’t in any way connected to the water “system”. We resorted to melting the snow for water and thankfully the bath tub had been filled before the water stopped and we could use that water to prime the toilet.
Oscar did his part by tidying the dishes before we washed them with the melted snow water, making the water go a lot further.
All in all it was an awesome trip. I have a lot more I want to share but it’s taking some time to catch up. Hopefully as the snow melts here my friend’s water supply with fill and she won’t be marooned here forever! I’m selfishly enjoying her being marooned though for now… Can’t wait to see what the rest of you have been up to.
Sounds amazing!!
I wish I was there to share with you all !!!!
looks like fun, no water and all! happy holidays to you! xo sarah
I am extremely excited and inspired reading about how simply you spent your celebrations – yet how successfully it all seemed to turn out. See? Simple is best. Maybe some wouldn’t agree so much, but I’m with you. The food looks amazing. You’re all such a resourceful bunch utilizing the dog to do the dishes and melting the snow for water. Way to go :) I love your idea about not emphasizing gifts and that whole shebang every year and instead emphasizing fun and togetherness (and food!). Slowly but surely we’re making our way that direction and it feels great. Unfamiliar, but great. I was so pleased to see the massive decrease in plastic, junk, and wrapping under our tree Christmas morning (I had put the word out to family members about my values earlier in the year), but didn’t come away totally unscathed. A few noisy plastic toys still made it to us from New Zealand and a lot of cheap icky chocolate. Anyway…
I love your spontaneous paper box for the birds and hope they’ll be convinced to use it. It sounds like it would be perfect and warm for the poor little things. Although, the temps are rising, so they should find it easier to cope out there this week. We’ve had so much fun feeding and watching them this winter, I’d say they were a highlight of our holidays. I even managed to find a build it yourself bird feeder house down at the Green Store for Kale for Christmas. He was excited to get it. I think we’ll build it today.
Did your husband tell you we had a chat at the roadside the other day while shoveling the driveway at our place? Glad he stopped and said hi :) I had no idea you guys lived THAT close to us, we could go for walks, easily! I guess this should have been an email, but oh well. Will you go back to the island for New Year celebrations? Not sure what we’re doing yet.
Take care!
K
Wow, that looks like an amazing time! Even without the water ;)
I’m loving your recipes…I haven’t been online much this month, but I have been peeking in from time to time! I just love your blog :)
Looks like so much fun! We did the same with our presents this year. The highlight of Christmas for us is the ferry trip over to Langley and seeing all our relatives there, not the gifts. That said, not sure if we’d do it the same in the future. I haven’t really decided yet.
Glad you had a great holiday despite what some people might consider setbacks and enjoy having your friend stay!
You’re all so right, it was so much fun even without all the usual amenities! Ha!
Penelope- I’m so glad you like the recipes! I love food and I’m so grateful to all who have shared recipes and inspired me to love cooking as much as I do. Muah!
It looks like it was fun, even with (maybe because of?) all of the hardships.
Have a wonderful new year!