Easter With the Cormiers

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….celebrating a day early makes for a nice restful Easter Sunday

On Saturday I got up early to put the turkey in the oven. I made the stuffing the night before so that saved me some time and I hid a few eggs before I retired for the evening. Despite all the advanced prep work I still found myself working right up till the moment the first of my kids arrived but I must admit that it was considerably less stressful than other years. I did manage to get the table set and hide all the Easter eggs.

My daughter and daughter-in-law took over the egg decorating job and my husband started up the BBQ where he cooked all the vegetables.

Our granddaughter and her parents and other grandmother were the last to arrive and little Winnie didn’t waste any time looking for the treats that the Easter Bunny hid around the house.

After dinner most of us decided we needed to get some fresh air and walk off some of the calories that we had consumed. Our son-in-law made us some wonderful cocktails to start the meal, Gaelan prepared a delicious cheesy cauliflower bake and Andrea and Josie made a decadent chocolate panna cotta for dessert. On top of the turkey and the rice stuffing I also made gluten free spring pasta salad. Luckily the rain had stopped so we headed to the park and continued to the playground a few blocks over.

I hope all of you had as wonderful day as I did. Happy Easter everyone!

Fun Family Day

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….last weekend was a long weekend here in Ontario to celebrate Family Day

Family Day has become a tradition in our family where food takes centre stage. This year my husband and youngest daughter thought it would be fun to have a soup exchange. So in three households three different soups were prepared and ladled into containers for sharing.

Four of us drove to Hamilton where Gaelan had a lovely lunch of roast chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli ready to serve. Andrea and Josie brought a yummy salad and my husband volunteered to pick up the gourmet donuts from San Remo.

Winnie and I were the only two that won a prize in the Tim Horton’s Roll up the Rim contest. We both won a cup of coffee which we handed over to our hostess.

When I’m Not Drawing

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….I’m knitting

I’m loving my collage class but sometimes I just need a change of pace. A while back I started a hat for my daughter and I had wool left over so I decided to knit a matching hat for her daughter (my granddaughter). I wasn’t sure there would be enough wool and it did look a tad small when I finished. I opted not to attach the pompom until I made sure it was going to fit.

Yesterday we drove to Hamilton to celebrate our Family Day. I presented Winnie with her hat and it just fit. Of course she wanted the pompom so I got out my sewing needle and promptly attached it.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…homemade cards are the best

I have to admit that I purchased a card for my husband but for my Dad I made one. I took some of the transparency film that I printed and cut it into heart shapes and arranged them onto a folded piece of card stock. I added extra detail with white ink.

I gave it to my father this morning with a jar of hand and body cream that he likes and a small chocolate heart that I purchased at the farmers’ market yesterday. He was delighted and surprised. For one thing he was under the assumption that only men gave Valentine’s gifts to women so this gift was completely unexpected. Aren’t those the best kind? I think so.

A Day Early

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…my husband’s Valentine’s Day wish to Winnie

Last night my husband told me that he sent off Winnie’s Valentine’s Day wish for today. When I told him that he had done it a day too soon he shrugged his shoulders and said that it didn’t matter because she was already prepping for Easter.

Here she is singing ‘Let it Be’. What a ham!

An Early Valentine Bouquet

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….thank you Dad

My Dad was hinting at buying me chocolates for Valentine’s Day and I asked him not to. I also warned him that flowers are very expensive as well and it would be better to wait. On Sunday I took him to Costco with me because he loves to shop and there are things that he only likes to buy there. We usually split up and meet at the checkout. He was just ahead of me and I noticed that he had a bouquet of flowers in his basket. Thanks Dad.

In the Cubby?

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….had to ask where the cubby was

When our granddaughter saw today’s drawing she said it had to go in the cubby. We know that at preschool she has a cubby to store her personal items. Maybe all Valentine related things need to stay there until the big day.

What Special Day is Coming Up?

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….it’s Valentine’s Day, Papa

In honour of Valentine’s Day, you’ll see a heart theme for the next few days. The first is a Valentine’s Day Bear.

Gong Hei Fat Choy

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….two days late but celebrations are taking place all week

It’s the Year of the Pig on the Chinese calendar and celebrations are in full swing all over the world where Chinese communities exist. To honour the Earth Pig I decided to create a collage over a quick sketch of a pig I had done last year. I actually love drawing pigs and this one was one of my practice pigs. There are actually other ‘pig parts’ on this page as well but I chose to cover them with some printed transparency film.

Gong Hei Fat Choy to all my colleagues and friends who celebrate Chinese New Year.

One More Christmas Celebration

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….just when I thought I was done

I mentioned in one of my recent posts about Christmas that a very good friend of ours who almost always spends Christmas Eve with us couldn’t come over this past year. My daughter arranged for the three of us to get together last week for lunch.

I packed up all the gifts that I had for her, put them in my car and then headed out for Montgomery’s Inn where I volunteered to help put up an art show. I’ve never done a professional exhibit before and I found it exciting helping the artist decide where and how to hang her work. The artist’s name is Sharon McManus and I will probably share more about her work after the official opening this Saturday.

When we finished hanging all the pieces I made my way to Arlene’s place. We met in her condo where she still had up all her Christmas decorations, including her white tree that she’s had since the 60s.

Andrea arrived soon after and we all went down the street to the local Sushi restaurant. We toasted in the New Year with a little saki and warmed our tummies with a bowl of ramen.

When we went back to the condo and Arlene opened her gifts. She loves Henkel Trocken and it’s become a tradition to place a bottle in her Christmas stocking.

Before we left she made us coffee and we shared a muffin and some cookies. Andrea also taught her how to use her camera on her phone so we played around posing for pictures.

I think this is pretty much the end of our Christmas season, although my niece and her husband celebrated Orthodox Christmas a couple of days ago.

There are still a few remnants of Christmas around the neighbourhoods and some of the lights will stay up well past Valentine’s Day but for the most part the decorations are starting to come down and the greenery is starting to whither. Some people are sad that the holiday season is now over. As for me I’m looking forward to some rest and returning to a more normal routine of eating. How about you?