Family Dinner

I know we are missing some people we would like to have here to join us in the family dinner but this picture shows how lucky we are to have family and even if we are not all together at all times it doesn't mean we don't love each other. Soon more family will come to see us and it will be as it was before. We will live our lives with family nearby. Here is to more family dinners to come.

Bordertown

We're now living in a Bordertown. We're about to find out what exactly what that means.

For one thing we can see USA from our window. 

Maine is just a hop and a skip away.

We hope to get to know our neighbors here and over there.

I hear they are pretty friendly with each other,

often helping out at time of trouble and

celebrating the good times.

Hope to see this in real life.

Snowed In

This was an early snowfall where we're trying to figure out how to clean the driveway that is so long. In the back we tried to get the snow blower working. One didn't work and one worked a little. It seemed useless, there was just too much snow to clear off but really we were not going anywhere. We just got snowed in and we were fine with that. School was closed as it often is during bad weather. Snow was deep but not as deep as it is in the more Northern part of New Brunswick. Another time when we went by Moncton, there was  more snow out in that area. So we were lucky in that respect.

Love this packaging we found at the grocery store.

Canadian Moose Droppings.

And after all the snow clearing and the cold the all the stresses of a move to a new location

a nice dinner to end the day, thanksJohn.

The House in Spring

Found this blow up photo of the house in the summer in the office at the house. Obviously it was taken during the spring because there are tulips and other spring flowers. Although snow is fun at times an I know that winter is a part of the four seasons and we must get through it somehow, I am looking forward to spring and all the trees and flowers to awaken. Cannot wait to see the green that will surround us and just the warmth outside will make everything perfect.  There is also a small ceramic replica of the Blair House found on the fireplace mantle. It is so cute and a treasure to have to see the outside of the house inside as well.

This ceramic miniature of the Blair House was created by artist Catherine Karnes Munn. 

Getting Acquainted

Trying to get used to and acquainted with our new home is not an easy feat when there is so much to see and explore. There are many large rooms on the main floor that are very attractive to us after the cramped houses in the city. So much room here, we're loving it. Also lots and lots of light comes inside which is also new for us. Houses in the city are so close together that they block the sun for each other. Our old house only had one window per room and not very big ones either so to have three windows in the living room or what we call the Parlor is wonderful. It makes for a long day especially since there is usually sun from morning until night. We're not used to this much sun so to have sun everyday is a treat for us. The plants here are loving it, I'm sure we will too.

Maya is 14

It's Maya's birthday today. She turns 14 and looks quite grown up from the time she turned 9 in 2014. She was still in China at the time. She came to us in July of that year and has grown so much since then not only physically but also personally and emotionally. She didn't trust anyone at the time and wanted to be very self sufficient in one way and a baby in another. She has worked hard on that and has come a long way. Maya is a smart girl who does well in school and works hard to get good grades and make goals for herself. She is still finding her footing in the family, because of her background that is not easy to do. There are many good days and many different days but most of all Maya knows that she has a family now who is here to stay and that will never change. Keep growing Maya, we love you.

Moving In

Next day after we moved in the tractor trailer came along to try and deliver our belongings but could not make it up the icy drive. Moving in middle of winter is no fun and it was not exactly the way we planned it but here we were trying to get into our new house at the beginning of the year and so we tried to make the best of it. The truck pulled in between two houses at the side of ours and eventually our belongings were unloaded and so began weeks of putting away, finding room for it all in bedrooms without closets and shelves that we're use to. It was a challenge and it is still because we're use to so much, so many things that we truly don't need. I can see this now just in personal care products like shampoo and hair products, creams etc. Do we really need all that? Probably not. In 1800s people lived before more simply and yet they survived. They didn't have the half of it and life moved on so let's see if we can try something along the same lines. As I use up the many soaps and creams I have I will try to replace one maybe two and see if I can indeed live without the extras I'm use to.

The stunning dining room that is one of the highlights of this wonderful home.

The Yellow Blair House dishes that came with the house.

Beautiful.

Tea Anyone

We have a little cubby that was set up for tea long before us. We won't be moving it any time soon. It's conveniently located in the dining room and I love just looking at it. This is actually the second tea cart in the house. We do like tea and coffee but don't usually drink it every day but now it's becoming a habit to sit down for tea or coffee and just enjoy the day a little bit more.
Tea anyone??