Dec 21 - what a job !

Sandy took a couple of pictures of me working on the ladder to get to the top of the tree, but they're not downloaded yet.  I did take about 18" off the top because it was thin and spindly and I needed a stronger attachment point for the star.  After getting the very top done, and the lights, Sandy did most of the rest.  She's particular about the final result; me not so much.

As in all years prior, our bag of tinsel is the final coating on the tree.  As in all years prior, I'll remove the tinsel and save it for another year.  I don't even know if you can buy tinsel anymore.

The iPhone picture certainly makes it look like blue or rather violet is the dominant colour, but it's not.  The camera must be more sensitive to that part of the spectrum because when I look at the tree right now, green and red dominate -- or is that simply my Christmas Spirit ??

Meanwhile, Cassie is relegated to the kitchen ...

I temporarily joined two of these gates together to make the span.  It's interesting; in Canada these are sold in the baby section.  In the U.S. they're not legal baby gates any more; they're sold in the pet section.   Sandy picked up another to use at the stairs once Matthew gets here.  Gates 'R Us.

Don't worry though; Cassie is having a blast...

She's growing like a weed.  20 pounds when we left Florida; I expect that she's 22-23 now.  She's been putting on 2 pounds per week.  In two weeks we'll be heading back to Florida and by the time she gets an official weigh-in again, I expect that she'll be around 27.

How tall is she, or rather how long ?  Well, to give you an idea, she stood on her hind legs yesterday and put her front paws on the counter !  No No No !  That was when I was putting her food in the bowl.  She gets so excited by the prospect of food !

It rained all day yesterday.  The dusting of snow is long gone.  We'll be lucky if we see another dusting before we leave, looking at the forecast.  And yet, and yet, a friend posted a picture on Facebook of skiing in North Carolina and it's cold and white in Thunder Bay -- our niece Meghan posted that picture. 

I did get Cassie out for a couple of walks around the property yesterday and played fetch on the deck; she needed the exercise.  I'll try and get her tired out (impossible !) this morning before we head to Oakville.

Yes, back in the car today.  She loves the car though.  We'll stop at Sherway on the way; Sandy wants new boots.  We will likely stop at HD and MEC in Barrie as well.  We'll hit Costco on the way back tomorrow.

It's going to be a busy two days.  Oakville dentist to finish up those crowns (I should be a King by now !) and then the Quality Inn at Walkers Line.  Dinner will be with Joyce; either Middle Eastern or Indian; I forget which.   Early tomorrow we'll head to Barrie, swapping Cassie for Lauren and Kylie then back to Toronto for lunch and The Nutcracker at 1pm.  Back to Barrie, swapping girls for dog again; I'm sure that Cassie and Stef will both be worn out !  Then we head back home.

Somewhere in there Sandy has a humidifier to return to Canadian Tire, but that can actually be left until Sudbury.  She bought a humidifier that won't work consistently.  It's got a little pump, like an aquarium pump, that keeps losing its prime.

That's about it.  That's enough. 

Onward !