Come on in for a cup of coffee or tea. I even have hot chocolate if you’d prefer or any number of cold drinks. I hope you had a lovely day yesterday.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you that my Christmas Day was quiet, relaxed and enjoyable. We walked the dogs as normal then at 10 am I picked up my Mum and we came home to open presents before heading off to Café le Monde for lunch. We had vowed not to eat to much but the delicious three course meal saw us rolling home full as googs. When you are that full all you feel like doing is curling up with a book you received for Christmas knowing you’ll go to sleep pretty quickly but I managed to overcome that urge and stay up and chat to Mum. When we took the dogs for their afternoon walk Mum succumbed and we arrived home to find her sound asleep in the chair. After a bit more chat Muffin and I took her home, driving back home via the lake. We had a lovely quiet evening, with the beautiful sounds of homespun music wafting over the fence.
© irene waters 2015
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you my husband, Roger, has finally admitted he has fallen under Muffin’s spell. It has probably helped that she is pretty well house-trained. She has learnt to use the latest dog toilet which Roger bought for her and we have had no accidents in the house since that time. It probably helps that she is older and is holding on longer as well so a lot is done on our dog walks and other outings. She also is getting better at not biting (although not totally stopped.) She loves learning new things and I am now teaching her to target which ever hand gives the signal for her to come. You can see her soaking it up. I am also trying to teach her to go to bed on command. So far we have mastered sit, drop, puppy push-ups (multiples in a row), stay, off, take-it and best of all come.
© irene waters 2015
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you I am going a host a new prompt (challenge) to do with Times Past, once a month. I will give the topic on the first of the month. Giving your Generation (silent, baby boomer, gen x or y etc) and the country you live we can look at the similarities and the differences that being born in a different age and part of the world make on how we do, did various celebrations, transport and a whole range of different activities. So keep an eye out on the 1st January for the next prompt. Post any time in January, add a link to my post and a twitter hash tag #times past so we can easily find them.
If we “were having coffee” I’d be asking you what you are planning on doing New Years Eve? Ours will be quiet. We have booked to eat out but the restaurant closes at 9.30 so we will be back home way before midnight. I doubt that we will even stay up to see it in — but who knows? I hope you have a great night doing whatever you choose to do. There will be two lots of fireworks here – one at 9pm (which we should see) and the other at midnight.
During the week I plan on catching up on some reading – Geoff LePard’s Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, Noelle Granger’s Death in a red canvas Chair and The Dressmaker (I missed the film but was given the book for Christmas). I’ll also do some of my thesis work and start preparing for our visitors from Germany. Hope you all have a nice relaxed week.
Thanks to Diana for hosting our coffee mornings
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
A beautiful..memorable way to spend the day, that’s what holidays is all about 🙂
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Yes it is indeed. Hope you had a lovely one also Andy.
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🙂 thank you
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I’m jealous that you have taught muffin so many commands! Penny is just too much energy rolled into one dog to stay in one spot long. I’m working with her though! 🙏
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You have to take into account that I’m at home with her all day as well or if I’m not Roger is. It makes a huge difference as things are being reinforced throughout the day apart from the short training sessions I try and do for 10minutes three times a day. Your Penny will get there. She has already progressed from her early days.
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Now there’s a perfect Christmas present. Thank you Irene for the shout out and I hope you enjoy it. PS You’ll love Noelle’s.
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Looking forward to it.
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Sounds like a lovely Christmas, Irene. How wonderful that your Mum could enjoy it with you and Roger. Muffin is pretty darn smart and getting cuter and cuter, and I meant to tell you earlier how much I like Bundy’s fur – he seems to be wearing a sweater, though I know it’s just his own fur, and maybe due to his aging.
I ate so much over the past 3 days that I felt glutted yesterday, but had wonderful times with family and friends.
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Yes we are lucky to still have her and although her physical health slows her down nothing else holds her back.
Bundy has a gorgeous coat – I think Roger likes his women and dog both to be curly and a bit off the planet. Muffin is turning out to be a worm. She seems to wriggle her way into everyone’s heart.
Glad to hear you had a lovely time also. The overeating is worth it at the time…. I think.
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And a tip of the coffee mug to you, Irene! Have a Happy New Year…see you on the other side of 2015!
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Have a Happy New Year Diane. See you in 2016
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Sounds like a great way to spend a few days, Irene. Coffee, books, and that cute little dog to entertain you. We will ring in the New Year at our lake house – but will probably do what we usually do: wish each other a Happy New Year at 10 PM and go to bed!
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You sound like us. Enjoy your holiday.
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I just knew Muffin was there to stay! She’s a beautiful girl, and you’re doing an amazing job to teach her so many commands so soon. Your Christmas visit with your Mum sounded lovely. Mr. M usually takes me out for a fancy dinner for New Year’s Eve, then we finish midnight at home watching a movie. Our years of going out for New Year’s parties or dancing are behind us now. I’m intrigued with your #TimesPast prompt challenge, and will try to remember to check in. Happy New Year to you!
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I’m relieved I have to admit that finally Roger succumbed to her charms. She is a clever little thing and picks up what you want quickly then it is just repetition. I look forward to our training sessions as much as I think she does.
Would love to have you join in the Times Past. Hope you have a very Happy New Year.
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The “Tradition Share” sounds interesting. Are you going to get together with Solveig and maybe go back and forth with hosting? I know she’s doing something similar, though I don’t know if it’s exactly the same.
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I didn’t know about Solveig’s tradition Share until I visited her for coffee. Although my first times past in December was Christmas (it did seem to be the obvious challenge for the month) I won’t be concentrating on traditions so much as day to day happenings. Although back and forth could be a possibility if it turns out that our prompts are similar in nature.
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After seeing Solveig’s and your responses I’m sure they’ll be different. It might be interesting to see what the two of you come up with. In fact, having you each go your own direction will most likely be more fun than if you combined forces.
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Above all I hope it is fun.
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I am glad Muffin is doing better. All our dog had home obedience training. Kato has some but my health does not allow me to continue clicker training. He still reacts to the icker. You pictures are lovely. Your generation challenge will help people understand different times. When I was born we had electricity, but radio was just coming. Ice man came at least twi e a week. It was a different world. I have seen so many changes.
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I hope you’ll join in Betty Louise. We’d love to hear some of those changes that you have seen. It is hard to comprehend a world without refrigeration and for some a world without a television would be unbelievable. Hope you have a Happy New Year.
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Almost all ot biological sciences have changed. Woman’s place in society has changed.
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So true.
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Sounds like a lovely holiday! We spent ours relaxing at home, and in the evening we ordered Chinese takeout and visited with my husband’s family. We’re going out to a Great Gatsby themed show for NYE, but it’s the first time we’ll have been out for the holiday in a while.
So glad to hear that husband and Muffin are getting along better. What an adorable pup!
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A Gatsby theme party sounds like a lot of fun. Hope you have a Happy New Year and hopefully we’ll see some photographs.
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Thanks! I hope we’ll get some good photos this time, too–we’ll all be dressed up and out on the town, which doesn’t actually happen all that often these days. lol
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Sounds like you had a lovely holiday. I’m glad the pup is getting better. That is a lot of commands that she has learned and when you look at these sweet eyes, who could help but fall for her!! I am looking forward to your January prompts. What an interesting idea.
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It will be great to have you join in Nancy and look forward to seeing you in the New Year. Muffin loves to learn and I enjoy the challenge so we are both having fun. I was surprised it took such a long time for Roger to come under her spell but finally. Have a Happy New Year.
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I’s so glad you’ve had such a good holiday. Ours was good, too. I got to focus on the grand sons for a couple of days and they loved having me there. They didn’t want me to leave!
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How lovely Corina. The joys of grandchildren – children make Christmas very special and fill our hearts with love. Lovely that you are that special to them as well.
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Thanks for the coffee, Irene. I love the photo of your mum with her book. I have seen that one in the shops. I’m sure it will be an interesting read.
I’m pleased to hear Roger has finally accepted Muffin. Well done.
Your #Times Past challenge sounds interesting. It would be good to receive responses from different generations and locations.
Enjoy your New Year’s celebration – no more dragon fireworks!
Best wishes for 2016!
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Believe it or not we are definitely avoiding fireworks. Mum is looking forward to reading the Peter Garrett book. He was a member of the church where my Father often took the services so they both knew him in a minor way.
I am looking forward to reading the differences that being born in different times and places might make to what was a normal thing we did in the past.Mind you I will not be as creative as Charli in coming up with a preamble to explain the prompt (she has set a high standard to follow) but I hope I get a few responses and that it is fun.
How are you celebrating the New Year. Hope that it is a very Happy one for you and your website and other plans go well. Happy 2016 Norah.
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I’m not at all surprised you are avoiding fireworks!
Peter Garrett’s book will be all the more interesting because of the connection. I am reading two memoirs at the moment, one by someone I have met and one by someone who had a connection with a family member. I think memoirs of people you know something about , are maybe not more interesting but, provide an incentive to read. Like yours and Sherri’s will! 🙂
I’m sure you will do fine with the prompt, and I’m certain you’ll get some interesting responses.
I will be seeing the New Year in with friends. It will be fun night.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, Irene. I wish you all the best for 2016.
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Yes reading books generally where there is a connection I enjoy. Glad to know I will have one reader.
Hope you had a Happy New Year celebration. Now for a wonderful 2016
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Thanks, Irene.
I’m sure there’ll be more than one reader! 🙂
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I hope so.
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What a lovely way to spend the holiday. Family is so very important at this time of year – I don’t know why it seems more so, really!
That Muffin is simply adorable!
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Thanks Dale. Yes Christmas is a family time but can also be a sad time as I’m sure you also know. Thinking of you. Yes Muffin is adorable. Hope you have a happy New Year.
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I choose to look for the happy – while acknowleding, for a moment, the sad!
Happy New Year to you too!
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Well done, Muffin. You’re one smart little puppy dog learning so much so quickly, Who could ever doubt you? Mind you, you’re not the only one who’s learned quickly under pressure!
I feel for you with a quieter Christmas and a restaurant is a great solution. Our Christmas was huge with all my aunts, uncles etc on my Dad’s side but Mum and my husband didn’t see their sides of the family on the day.
We’ve been doing a bit of sorting out over the break but the place is still a mess. We hung up about 10 frames yesterday and sorted something like 300 photos into an album today. Seems to be endless!
Our son goes off to Scout Jamboree on 2nd January so there will be the mad panic packing ahead as well as taking his new robot for test runs. We gave him Ollie, which seems to be boy proof as long as he stays away from water.
Take care & best wishes,
Ro
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Your Christmas sounds wonderful. How it should be and your children will have lovely memories of Christmas as they get older.
Photos are a time consuming past time. I am doing the reverse to you (not much lately but in my spare time) getting photos out of albums and onto the computer. From there I pick 60 + photos that I think are the best of the trip or event and then publish via 123 Cheese a 300 x300 photo book with text.
Scout jamboree should be fun. I always enjoyed going to guide musters and I attended one scout jamboree as nursing staff. The house will feel quite with your son away and Ollie in the cupboard.
Hope you have a very happy New Year Ro and that the children settle into their new schools easily. Look forward to hearing how your projects are going in the New Year, especially your memoir one.
Cheers Irene
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I’m glad you made Christmas a god day! Cheers to you, Irene!
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And cheers back to you Charli.
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