Happy Holidays

Well, managed to get through another Christmas reasonably unscathed! Went to Jim’s folks on Christmas Day and then to my Mom’s on Boxing Day. Both of us come from such small families that this season tends to be a fairly subdued one. Jim only has one sister while I just have one brother and a daughter of course. Jim’s sister just got married for the first time in the summer so her husband also joins us for the holidays. Jim and I and Sara and her boyfriend, Andre, spend all of Boxing Day with Mom especially as she has now been on her own since my Dad passed away in 2003. My brother and his wife now live in Halifax which is about 1424 km or 885 miles from me, and as they are expecting baby number five, they certainly can not afford to come home for the holidays. He has now been gone over a year and a half but it wasn’t until now that it has really hit me just how much I miss him. Hopefully, Jim and I will be flying out to Halifax in June of next year after the birth of the baby – due date is the first of May so this will give them a bit of time to get settled.

The JW Marriott Rosseau Resort & Spa

I can easily say that this is some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in Ontario. Took my breath away that's for sure. We were fortunate enough to recently spend what was a truly luxurious and decadent four days here at this resort and spa which is located on Lake Rousseau in the Muskokas - a few hour drive north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for any that don't recognize any of these names! Jim's sister had her recent wedding here - July 30, 2011 - and it was simply magnificent. Words can not even begin to do it justice. I will post very, very soon with all of the wedding details as this was one massively extravagant affair! Shudder to think what the final tab was - their Dad picked up the entire weekend! I mean, the entire wedding, a nice, cozy, intimate affair with 82 of her closest and dearest. Yikes. Gulp.

If you're interested in seeing more of what they have to offer, check out their web site.