wine bottling

• Katie, I picked you up from a sleep over this morning to head over to Uncle Rick and Auntie Maria’s to bottle the latest batch of wine. What would I do without your expertise in the bottle filling department. You fill the bottles and I cork and label them. We’re pretty much experts at this point.

• Auntie Georgia and her sister Janice joined us for a bit. We had a taste of the wine, ate fresh hot corn cake and samosas, and had a lovely visit. These people feel like family to me. So comforting to be with them.

• Jane, you made a huge pot of beef stew for dinner. Uncle Rick gave us a couple loaves of freshly baked sourdough bread, which we sliced thick and slathered with butter. It was comfort food for a cold rainy day at it’s best.

• Lila, you’ve already made and wrapped my birthday present. You’re pretty pleased with yourself.

• George, you are obsessed with playing NHL on the xBox. I had no idea you were able to sit and focus for such extended periods of time.

• Lila, you built a shelter for George’s teddy. He had brought it out to watch him play hockey, but it was raining, so you rigged up an umbrella shelter using the patio lights and a bunch of clips. You’re such a good little builder/maker.