CHESTNUTS ROASTING BY AN OPEN FIRE...

Some of you will be thrilled to know that Old Man Winter decided to pay us a visit after all. Since last night, we've had 20 cm of snow dumped on us. As a result, two big branches of our lovely already-in-blossom magnolia tree came down under the weight of the snow, which is real heavy stuff and really gross. Hard to believe we were outside in T-shirts last week. However, it's supposed to rain tomorrow and by Sunday it's supposed to be 12°. Freaky weather by all accounts.

Quick addition to the Kolina Chronicles: she came home from school yesterday and told us her bag with her gym clothes in it had been stolen. I was so pissed off! There go a pair of sweat pants (her favourites of course), a T-shirt and a pair of running shoes. Like I'm made of money? I tell you, I was THIS close to taking a sawed-off shot gun to the school and commiting a Columbine-type shooting.

Sometimes I feel like taking Andy and the kids and going to a deserted island where I can eat coconuts, weave fishing nets out of palm fronds and make seashell necklaces for the rest of my life.