Happy Mother’s Day to the mother, step mothers, grandma’s god-mommies, great grandmas…. to all the women who are instrumental teachers in our children’s lives. I don’t think I can ever truly show the appreciation I have for ALL the people who are significant in our lives here and abroad. I could not ask for a better network for loving, true and vital women to show my sons and daughters the possibilities there are in life, the potential for love and the joy that can be felt in relationship with women (and men) of all walks of life. But I am going to try… 

We had a wedding the day before so Ken’s planning time was cut down to little or no (he does like to do his Saturday before prep for Mother’s Day) but between him and the kids they managed a terrific day. We started off at church where the kids sang in the choir and I was given a flower. Then over to Caribou for a fancy coffee for mom…

Zander and Ken made me lunch – a Kale salad kit I picked up at Sam’s club… yum! And then came the centerpiece of the day… KEN took them to the park and I got a NAP! An uninterrupted, silent house nap! BLISS

Our evening was spent at the YMCA where I wore my swim cap and enjoyed some quality time with Echo and her friend from down the road Sophie. After swimming I had a wonderful chat with her parents. 

With photos and quiet time, just me and my personal crochet project and another flower gifted from the YMCA I had a day to remember.

My family means the world to me, I have been privileged to have found a man who truly understands me, children who love so honestly… I may not be where I expected to be but I am definitely where I NEED to be. I wish the same joy to you… that we can all be surrounded by love and affection, truth and acceptance… Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Gavin

Zander

I am sure everyone has seen this on the news, on social media, maybe are living through it right now, but I just wanted to bring it to everyone’s attention! We are originally from Alberta (born and raised this girl), Not as far north as Fort McMurray (though Ken did go up there for work a few times). We are VERY lucky that our friends and family are all situated further south… however what is going on up in Alberta is devastating. An entire city has been evacuated due to out of control forest fires in a province that is basically a tinder box. Alberta has been declared to be in a state of emergency and people from nearby and far afield are running to the rescue. 

I am very grateful to all the people who have talked to me about this, checked in to see if I knew where everyone was and if they were ok. They are! And are already mobilizing to help out. 88’000 people are displaced, land and property destroyed… but there have been no fire related injuries beyond a sprained ankle… I would link tons and tons here but what I feel is really said well by Rex Murphy on the National and the video below.

If home is where the heart is mine is firmly in Wild Rose Country right now. If you want to help donations of money are best. You can read all about that HERE thanks to a multiple time shared post from Edward Mcintyre. If you want to donate financially I am linking the Canadian Red Cross link HERE. Just click on ALBERTA FIRES APPEAL when you do so. They are already doing so much for everyone up there. 

It is times like these that I feel the furthest away from my loved ones. So hug each other close for me. I love you all and am with you in spirit. Please keep us up to date on how you are doing and know we are here as best we can be. 

Right off the bat I have to say – I thoroughly enjoyed A Ghost for Christmas by J.D. Winters. This is the first book in the Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries. It was a one afternoon read for me, but I honestly had a hard time putting it down. As seems to be a trend with a lot of these cozy mysteries, this one also includes a recipe – a Hawaiian one, for Chicken Hekka… and for once I may just be tempted to try it! (without the mushrooms as I seem to be semi allergic)

But, enough of that… back to the story itself. The main character – Mele Keahi is half Hawaiian, half Caucasian. Her father has passed away and her mother disappeared when she was quite young. This left her with her grandmother (who was Hawaiian) and her Aunt Bebe (the same). Having recently lost her job and had her relationship suddenly end, Mele has traveled to Destiny Bay to sort herself out and enjoy a vacation with her aunt. Cue body in the front yard and the mystery begins.

Mele has more issues than just a murder to cope with. As we learn in the early portion of the book she has also (at least as a teenager) been haunted, or at least seen the ghost of a man who she calls Dante. Why, she doesn’t know, but he is back.

Add into the mix a bit of Hawaiian flavour, a detective who seems to be both suspicious of Mele and flirtatious, neighbours and workers who have dubious motives and even more dubious alibis and that ever present hint of the paranormal and A Ghost for Christmas is a wonderful contemporary cozy read.

The Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries series has great potential. I especially love that the main character, while “damaged” is still confident, she is who she is and is shaped by her past, but the future is an open book! One which I look forward to reading further!