well, here we are, Christmas Eve…

I spent a fair part of the day preparing for tomorrow`s dinner… turnips are in one pot, potatoes in another… stuffing is made – only needed one type this year as Ron won`t be here… homemade cranberry jelly prepared and cooling in the fridge…

now there`s an example of a change… George really only liked Ocean Spray Cranberry Jelly, so I didn`t usually make the homemade version… it came out very well, and I blended it with the purple immersion blender – thinking of my friend Ted, and an experience we had a number of years ago with an immersion blender… ham was cooked and in the fridge, and spinach dip was ready to take…

a friend stopped by just when I was feeling a bit down… she said it will be different but good as well…  I had just been thinking that I hadn`t been away from the house for Christmas eve in over 30 years…

Jeff and the boys came to get me and I almost couldn`t leave, but I put on those darn big girl pants and got into the car along with various bags of goodies and the final gifts… as we drove tears were falling from my eyes, and my dear son-in-law held my hand for a good part of the trip…

as soon as we arrived, the boys insisted that my stocking be added to theirs… they were very excited that I was sleeping over…

stockings were hung by the fire with care…

Crystal gave each of the boys a small ornament to hang on the tree… one said Isabella, for George`s mom; one said Ellen, for our dear friend and neighbour; and one for George…

George, added to the tree…

we had appetizers for our dinner, and I talked with Cyndi on the phone…  the boys got into their new Christmas jammies and put out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa…

cookies and chocolate milk for Santa…

two of the three are in bed, and possibly, asleep…  we`ve been watching Santa`s progress on an app on my phone and he was last seen heading for Newfoundland…

I am thinking of some of my friends, who have recently lost loved ones, and hope that they too are finding some joy amongst the sadness…

there are many presents under the tree… we will see how the morning goes…