Happy New Year!

Last night we were invited to Donna's for a wonderful dinner.  She sets an awesome table.  I was too busy visiting and enjoying the great food and company to take more pictures.  It was great to see Donna's brother Ken, his wife Libby, Sam, Janice and Jim!   Thanks Donna for your gracious hospitality!

This pretty well sums up the festive season:

Service and working dogs

Service Dogs are trained to do tasks such as: open and close doors, turn lights on and off, retrieve a telephone or other objects, pick up dropped objects (like a bank card or keys), pull manual wheelchairs, carry items like groceries, retrieve medication and provide balance and stability to clients with mobility issues.Service Dogs usually need to be of a larger, solid build, and are often Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers.  Service dogs serve as assistance to those with visual, hearing and many other disorders. Cec's cousin trains legitimate registered service dogs.  She gets a puppy at eight weeks and it takes about 18 months to train. The dog trainers are special people! When the puppies are trained they give them to a needy person who has gone through a long vetting process.

However, anyone can register their pet as a service dog and get a service dog certificate on the internet for $49!

My hope is the government will start regulating service animals, making sure those who need a service animal are allowed them and those who use their pet as a "service dog" and buy a cheap coat and certificate on the internet to get the animals in restaurants, stores and airplanes are stopped!

Below are service and working dogs.  I've not had a dog in years, but I am astonished at how amazing they are.  Some of these are funny, but some give a great message!

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

I've Got Mail

I sent Prince Charles a funny 70th birthday card and today I received a thank you note from Buckingham Palace!

Governor General Announces 103 Recipients of The Order of Canada

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, yesterday announced 103 new appointments to the Order of Canada. The new member list includes 2 Companions (C.C.), 15 Officers (O.C.) and 86 Members (C.M.), including 2 Honorary Members. Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

About the Order of Canada

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest honours. Presented by the governor general, the Order honours people whose service shapes our society; whose innovations ignite our imaginations; and whose compassion unites our communities.

Close to 7 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order of Canada. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and have taken to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“They desire a better country”). The striking six-point white enamel insignia they wear symbolizes our northern heritage and our diversity, because no two snowflakes are alike.

Appointments are made by the governor general on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.

Here is a list of the latest recipients:

COMPANIONS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA

James Arthur, C.C.  Toronto, Ont.

Geoffrey E. Hinton, C.C. Toronto, Ont.

OFFICERS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA

Jo-ann Archibald Q'um Q'um Xiiem, O.C. Chilliwack, B.C.

Vernon Burrows, O.C. This is a promotion within the Order.  Ottawa, Ont.

Leonard Joseph Cariou, O.C. Winnipeg, Man. and New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

Levente László Diosady, O.C. Toronto, Ont.

Digvir Jayas, O.C. Winnipeg, Man.

Suzanne Lacasse, O.C. Rouyn-Noranda, Que. and Oslo, Norway

Robert Lacroix, O.C., O.Q.  This is a promotion within the Order.  Montréal, Que.

Daniel Lamarre, O.C. Montréal, Que.

Leroy Little Bear, O.C., A.O.E. Lethbridge, Alta.

Ann-Marie MacDonald, O.C. Toronto, Ont.

Christopher Newton, O.C. This is a promotion within the Order.   Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

Jean Pelletier, O.C.  Rosemère, Que.

Rebecca Scott, O.C., M.S.M.  Canmore, Alta.

Robert Tessier, O.C. Saint-Lambert, Que.

Richard Ernest Tremblay, O.C., O.Q. Montréal, Que.

HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA

Kathleen Reichs, C.M. This is an honorary appointment. Montréal, Que. and Charlotte, N.C., U.S.A.

Richard J. Schmeelk, C.M., C.Q.  This is an honorary appointment. Montréal, Que. and New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA

Eva Aariak, C.M.  Iqaluit, Nvt.

Brent Belzberg, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Hélène Boisjoly, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Barbara M. Bowlby, C.M Toronto, Ont.

Doneta A. P. Brotchie, C.M. Winnipeg, Man.

Shelley Ann Marie Brown, C.M.  Saskatoon, Sask.

John M. Brunton, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Shirley Cheechoo, C.M. M'Chigeeng First Nation, Ont.

Robert Crosbie, C.M. St. John’s, N.L.

Joanne Cuthbertson, C.M. Calgary, Alta.

Kevin J. Dancey, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Michel de la Chenelière, C.M., C.Q. Montréal, Que.

Raymond L. Desjardins, C.M. Luskville, Que.

Thomas Dignan, C.M., O.Ont. Thunder Bay, Ont.

Ian Robert Dohoo, C.M. Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Lyse Doucet, C.M., O.B.E. Bathurst, N.B. and London, U.K.

Micheline Dumont, C.M. Sherbrooke, Que.

Jean André Élie, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Darren Entwistle, C.M. Vancouver, B.C.

Ann McCain Evans, C.M. Florenceville-Bristol, N.B.

Roxanne Fairweather, C.M., O.N.B.  Saint John, N.B.

Ross D. Feldman, C.M. Winnipeg, Man.

Charles Edgar Fipke, C.M. Kelowna, B.C.

Charles Fischer, C.M. Calgary, Alta.

Léopold L. Foulem, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Ron Foxcroft, C.M. Hamilton, Ont.

John Ferguson Godfrey, P.C., C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Georges Henri Goguen, C.M. Moncton, N.B.

Blake Charles Goldring, C.M., M.S.M., C.D. Toronto, Ont.

Serge Gouin, C.M. Outremont, Que.

Jean Grand-Maître, C.M. Calgary, Alta.

Daniel Granger, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Gordon Cecil Gray, C.M., O. Ont. Toronto, Ont.

Alfred Halasa, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Linda Hasenfratz, C.M. Guelph, Ont.

Jay Hennick, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Michael Higgins, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Paul John Higgins, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Robert Hindmarch, C.M., O.B.C. Vancouver, B.C.

Robert Hung-Ngai Ho, C.M., O.B.C. Vancouver, B.C.

John Kirk Howard, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Austin Hillard Hunt, C.M. Kagawong, Ont.

Barbara Jackman, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Christina Jennings, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Alexandra F. Johnston, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Bengt Jörgen, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Roger Philip Kerans, C.M. Calgary, Alta.

Robert Korneluk, C.M. Ottawa, Ont.

Mary R. L'Abbé, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Gilbert Laporte, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Donald Gordon Lawson, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Daniel Lessard, C.M. Saint-Benjamin, Que. and Ottawa, Ont.

H. Frank Lewis, C.M., O.P.E.I. Charlottetown, P.E.I.

James Lockyer, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Gloria Macarenko, C.M. Vancouver, B.C.

John McEwen, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Jefferson Mooney, C.M. Vancouver, B.C.

Raymond Alexander Muzyka, C.M. Edmonton, Alta.

Maxine Noel, C.M. Stratford, Ont.

Francis Pang, C.M. Fredericton, N.B. and Toronto, Ont.

Kathleen Pearson, C.M. Victoria, B.C.

Isabelle Peretz, C.M., O.Q. Montréal, Que.

Andrew Petter, C.M. Burnaby, B.C.

Marshall S. Pynkoski, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Imant Karlis Raminsh, C.M. Coldstream, B.C.

Dominique Rankin, C.M., C.Q. La Conception, Que.

John Rea, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Michèle Rivet, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Henri-Paul Rousseau, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Claudine Roy, C.M., C.Q. Gaspé, Que.

Louis Sabourin, C.M. Montréal, Que.

André Simard, C.M. Saint-Agathe-des-Monts, Que.

Peter D. Simons, C.M., C.Q. Québec, Que.

Pekka Sinervo, C.M. Toronto, Ont.

Arthur Slutsky, O.C. Toronto, Ont.

Heather Stuart, C.M. Kingston, Ont.

Camille Henri Thériault, C.M. Moncton, N.B.

Charles Maral Tisseyre, C.M. Montréal, Que.

Denis Vaugeois, C.M., O.Q. Québec, Que.

Elisabeth Walker-Young, C.M. Vancouver, B.C.

Rhoda Wurtele Eaves, C.M. Westmount, Que.

Rhona Wurtele Gillis, C.M. Westmount, Que.

Gregory Zeschuk, C.M. Edmonton, Alta.

Jeannette Regula Lajeunesse Zingg, C.M.  Toronto, Ont.

My cousin and her son on their Christmas/New Years cruise

My UK cousin Jean took her son on a cruise.  Darren has never cruised before.  He is sharing a room with his mom.  Jean bought him the alcohol package which I'm sure he's enjoying.  They left last Sunday and return January 3rd.  They spent Christmas Day in Casablanca!  Fortunately their flight from London to Barcelona was out of Heathrow!

I've been loving his Facebook posts.  He's posted lots of pictures, but took a video of the room.  His British sense of humour is awesome.  The video will show second on my Facebook page.  If you haven't seen the first video, I took it Christmas Day.  My 50 year old nephew Brad, helped in the kitchen!  I NEVER remember him holding a dish towel.  We all had a good laugh and videoed him.  Today Brad and Maria celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary.  I think he was trying to impress her!  Enjoy the videos!

Facebook videos!

Christmas Dinner!

This year was one of the quietest Christmas's in a long time.  Cheryl and Dave invited Brad, Maria, Sharon and Nancy.  Nancy is my cousin whose been in and out of hospital and Sharon is her sister.  Sharon has come to stay with Nancy for a few days!  Nancy is MUCH better.  On her last visit to the hospital she was diagnosed with pancreatitis and put on fluids for four days.  She was recovering from emergency gall bladder surgery and one of the stones left the gall bladder and has been working it's way out.  She was discharged on Christmas Eve.  Between the fluid diet and the medications she's doing great!  She was able to eat a small amount of dinner tonight which was awesome!

Nine of us for dinner

I took this picture before the vegetables were put out.
Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, peas, carrots, brussels sprouts. gravy and Sharon's incredible home made rolls!   

MIRACLE ON 62A AVENUE
Brad helping with the dishes! 

Before dinner we went for a drive on Marine Drive in White Rock.
So sad to see the damaged pier!

Lexie's cat in his Christmas sweater.

Sharon brought this for me.  In 1953, my mom mailed this picture to Sharon!
Louise is in the first row, second one on the left.

This house is two blocks from Cheryl's.
It's gorgeous and there was a huge traffic jam of people enjoying the lights.

To end our night Environment Canada has forecast snow for Boxing Day!  Let's hope they are wrong.