Refining the Crown

I grew up in a small town where dinner's at Nana's were common, where clergy member's joined you and your family for a meal, you brought a casserole to a new neighbour or left one on the steps of your neighbours home when a baby arrived. I have discovered over the years that I love on people through food... in fact someone once prayed "God is good, God is great, thank you Lord for Christine and her delicious cake" (if you know me that explains my email address!). Hosting is another joy I have. My mother was not much of a host... she likes to sit on her patio with a dog and a can of ginger ale in the evening.... alone. My Aunt on the other hand could easily be the master Hostess of all times. Her cupboards and fridge were always ready for a "drop in" guest, an extra bed was always waiting just in case and she was thrilled if you found a couch to snooze on after a good meal.  Although we share NO genes I joke that I got the hospitality bone from her. ...

For months we had been planning a "misfit" Christmas, a Christmas dinner for anyone who found themselves alone for Christmas. We had a plan... make a meal... invited people.... enjoy... It was simple. The plan worked well! We had people respond! People were coming! Other people wanted to provide food, desserts, anything else we needed. The response was incredible!  Local eateries on our Beloved Ottawa street asked us to pick up food, a lovely woman pulled up in our driveway with a HUGE box of squares and made me tear up with her generosity. We picked up chairs and a coffee urn from a local funeral home... really... amazing people live all over our city! It is now February and when people ask where we live or inquire info about us in conversation we have found it easier to just say "We are the people who had Christmas for anyone alone" they then know exactly who we are :) We plan to do this again and again. A tradition my husband grew up knowing as normal. ...

This is a story of a family living in a city in the GTA who found that they could not afford a home in their area. Hamilton was the answer that we, a family of five were looking for. The commute was less than an hour away, the housing market was affordable and heck... there are some real gems in Hamilton! After we found a great realtor who asked for a list of homes we wanted to see we were off to spend a day in the "Hammer". After a full day seeing 7 homes, visiting a splash pad and talking to locals we had our house in mind. Now I will say... buying a home unseen is terrifying! lol I  admit it... our kids were exhausted so I sat in  the car with the kids while my husband looked at it. I was doodling on the info sheet figuring out how i would make the board and baton look homey with the old windows it sported when he came out with a smile on his face and said "it needs paint" (that is do able.. cue mom who owns a paint store). We bought the house, did lots...