Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!

We finally returned to blistery Blue Rocks, NS

after a wonderful visit in Ottawa with

my brother Rick.  We had to pry Alec 

of Rick's couch, fearful that the remote 

was permanently glued to his hand.

"What's not to like about being at Uncle Rick's?  

Tim Bits and Twinkies, it doesn't get much better!"

Google maps tell us that the drive is 14 hours

and 45 minutes.  This must be in the summer

with sunshine and bare roads.

17 hours later, trying to beat 

one of many winter storms hitting

New Brunswick-Montreal-Ottawa,

we arrived in Ottawa just in time

to welcome  our Christmas gift....snow.

Jude with Piper and Murphy in Ottawa

Heaven is the woods, snow and no leash,
oh and especially a friend.

Rick's only concern was not,

 how was the drive or

you must be exhausted

or were the roads dangerous

or wow you drove all this way

just to see me.  No, his anguish

was "WHAT, YOU DIDN'T BRING LOBSTER?"

No Rick, Alec was already whining about

sharing the back seat with "Piper You Stink."

He did not want to share his limited

space with live lobsters.

Alas, instead of walking down to the wharf

here in Blue Rocks to pick up our $5 a lb bsters, 

we splurged and bought Rick

his live Christmas gift in Ottawa.  

They probably came from Nova Scotia!   

Jeff, Rick and The Lobsters

Rick took us on our tour of his office

and showed us where he usually

eats his lunch.  Nice view of parliament.

Christmas was snow,  and The Hobbit,

and making a fort and playing Crokinole 

and cousin Bekkah and Murphy and

a wonderful brother.

Christmas morning cinnamon buns.
"Can we have a reading breakfast?" asks Alec.

Murphy helping Bekkah open presents.

Crokinole, the new game for 2013

How long can tea and scones take?

Contraband Twinkies
(Alec says you can't buy these in the States)

Our neighbour here emailed  a welcome home

with this photo of our house saying, 

"We got snow!"  The dusting of snow was

gone by the next day.

Thank you Rick for a great visit.

We and the lobsters await

 you in Blue Rocks in April.