'Tis the Season!

We arrived home yesterday safe and sound, if not a little chilly, from attending our first local Christmas (slash birthday) party. We left here Friday just after lunch and went to pick up mail first and have a nice visit at the store and some delicious hot apple cider. We then made our way up the road to friends who had kindly offered to let us all sleep in their guest cabin for the night so we could attend the party and not have to worry about snowmobiling the hour and a half home late at night. I have said this before, and I'll probably say it again many times - when we leave here - it will be the people who are the hardest to let go of. We have been made to feel so welcome - like we've been here for years and not just a few months. We had a great time at the party, having delicious food and getting to know better all our far-away neighbors. The kids had fun too - there was lots of room for them to spread out and run around. When we were ready to leave - we just had to walk through a short trail in the bush to where we were staying! How convenient! We had never before seen the "cabin" where we would be staying, we pulled into the yard on our snowmobiles to a large log house and I thought for sure we would be staying somewhere around back. Not so - this was our accommodations for the night. It is a beautiful, big cabin that the couple also rents out to snowmobilers and others in the summer who come up this way to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The next day we shared a big breakfast with these friends at their own, beautiful, hand-built-by-themselves log house - just another quick little trail through the trees. After that we were to meet friends who were visiting at another friends' home on the way back south. Confused yet? Sorry, it is out of respect for them, I just want to keep everyone else's anonymity here... We arrived in the middle of their cutting beef so were able to help wrap and label some of it while we were there. I don't know how well I did though, let's just say you'll know the packages I wrapped...

We may head out for a Christmas Eve get together as well - potluck appy's and a Chinese Auction. Everyone out here has a good sense of humour so it should be a fun event. The forecast looks like it may be a little chilly that day so hopefully things look up in the next few days. We also don't want to stay too late so we can be home in time to get the kids settled for their long winter naps before Santa comes.