Or Berry Kisses
Or as the world generally calls it - Port Wine Stains.
Which is an awful name - you'd think with all the politically correct nonsense out there someonewould call that one out.
I've probably never uttered the word in my life - now I simply call it Cranberry Kisses which I kind of - sort of stole from my daughter Ashley who calls them berry kisses.
This post took awhile.
First because Ashley wasn't ready to share..............and then because I didn't quite know how to write it up.
It's a sensitive subject and slightly awkward because the last thing I want to do is give the wrong impression here.........or insult anyone else who was born with this and perhaps still has it.
It's a birthmark............nothing more - nothing less - just a birthmark.
But's a birthmark that can have serious repercussions such as Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Upon first seeing Evan's little face I fell apart - to my eternal shame - I fell apart and started sobbing.
I had no idea what it was and was terrified that it meant something serious..
Ashley was still in the recovery room ( she had an emergency c-section ) and my heart ached because she hadn't even seen this beautiful little creature yet and I didn't want her to be upset or scared.
Is he the cutest little thing or what?
I look at him now and I don't even see those " kisses "
Or rather I DO see them but I see them through different eyes.
All I see is this uniquely beautiful little face -
This uniquely little body of perfection..................
with a birth mark.
I'm writing this post up because Ashley and Chris have opted for laser treatment to have it removed and the best results come when you start it as early as possible.
They didn't want him to start school with anything that could cause ridicule from other children and cause self esteem issues.............and because these " stains " can change over the years - become a purplish color with an actual " texture " to them - the pediatrician highly recommended they take this route.
He's already had 2 treatments - with the third one scheduled for next week.
We are so blessed in that one of the most highly renowned doctors in this field is right here in Montreal.
We are doubly blessed in that it's covered by Medicare.
And so I wanted to start some kind of journal on the progress..........
Ashley's been taking as many pics as she possibly can because as she says - " this is Evan's beautiful face - the one he was born with "
And there's some guilt involved with changing that.
Evan's is considered a " stubborn " one............in that it's on the darker side so we have no idea how many treatments it will take.
Some take a year - some take several years and some take many years
But the end results are quite amazing.
In a lot of cases it disappears completely or at the very least so faded that you wouldn't know it was there unless you looked very very closely. There's some examples here LASER AND SKIN SURGERY CENTER OF NEW YORK
My little hunk - a hunk.........of burning love
He has an army standing behind him who feel so thankful and grateful for him -
Every Thanksgiving should have cranberry kisses ......................
And pumpkin pie.
I'll keep you all updated on the progress -
Ok Evan - now you've met a lot of Lolly's friends - say bye-bye sweetheart !
Could you just about melt to pieces?
Ashley and Evan - 1st Christmas !
Papa's taking the picture :)
Whenever John walks into the house he bellows out " HELLO ? "
Sometimes I'm expecting it and I simply say hello back
But sometimes I'm concentrating on something and don't even hear the door open - so that booming
" HELLO ? " can almost give me a heart attack.
Seriously - I just about jump out of my skin !
Now you have to keep in mind that this could mean just going outside to rake - it's every time he walks in whether it's because he's been on a business trip ( which is perfectly understandable)
or whether he just ran out to the store.
So I thought he'd LOVE this sign !
I ran outside while he went to Home Depot and promptly put it on..............and waited
and it worked !
this time he didn't belt out HELLO !
instead
John says - WHY DOES IT SAY HELLO ON THE FRONT DOOR????
Suzan says - I find it welcoming - and now you don't have to worry about saying it every time you come in !
John says - The mat say " WELCOME " - the door says " HELLO " what's next - are the windows going to say " HOW ARE YOU " ?
He's dead serious when he says these things.
I - on the other hand - am doubled over - he has no idea how hilarious he is.
Later on when we were watching t.v. - out of the blue
John says - Maybe you should put " GOOD - BYE " on the inside of the door.
Suzan says - Maybe I should put " DON'T LET IT HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT "
John says - Nah - that would just be rude.............I'm not rude
Suzan says - HELLO?
Have a great day everyone !
I'll be spending a good part of it untangling lights because I never learn to put them away properly.
Hugs,
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Come in - grab yourself a coffee and some cookies - I've been basically baking for a week now.
Shopping.
For food in particular.
Does anyone else get embarrassed by what's on the roller thingamajig ( conveyor belt ? ) when you load up your groceries?
Say if it's filled with a lot of sweets or junk?
I try to load up all that garbage first so it's gone and then all the healthy food choices are left for the person behind me to study.
I do that you know.
I watch the person in front of me unload theirs and I make all types of assumptions.
Try to figure out their lives from their tell-tell food shopping.
Oh this one lives alone................
Wow - they give their children a lot of crap
Tsk Tsk - too much soda pop
Sometimes I see something I want and have to weigh the odds of stepping out of line and sprinting around the store trying to find it AND make it back in time for my turn.
Like I'm on a game show.
I don't go often - I'm actually forbidden to go because I have no control - but when I do................
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When I was a kid my mother would scrape food off my plate if I didn't finish it............and finish it herself.
Makes sense I suppose.............it's family after all.
But I can't do that.
Even with my kids ( although I was one of those tyrants that made them eat every drop off their plates - I look back sometimes and just cringe at how controlling I was ) but I could never have shared a drop of food even with my own offspring.
One of those quirks I suppose.
Saliva can not be shared.
Unless YOUR willing to share it FIRST..............as in let me have the first bite -
I have no qualms about my saliva being shared - I just can't handle the thought of some of yours in my mouth.
My friends all knew to give me my own little bowl of dip at parties - all of them - or I couldn't have any at all.
I was aware of double dipping long before Jerry Seinfeld brought it to everyone's attention.
So.................
Last weekend I baked.
A lot.
And before freezing I put out a container of mixed cookies for us.
I opened it up a couple of days later to find 2 cookies that had been bitten into !!!
Now keep in mind that John and I are empty nesters. So it's only him and I that could have taken a bite and it wasn't me.
Suzan says - DID YOU TAKE BITES OUT OF THE COOKIES AND PUT THEM BACK?
John says - No - as he chuckles
Suzan says - I can't believe you would do that - now I can't have any of them
John says - Don't be ridiculous - I might have taken a sample of a couple of them
Suzan says - Don't you realize your saliva stays on the cookies - omg - I'm going to be sick
John says - You sound like a CSI agent for Christ Sakes -
John says - Should I put gloves on before taking a cookie?
Suzan says - It's not your fingerprints I'm concerned about.....................
John says - Why did you put chocolate mint in so many of them ?
AHA - there's the proof !
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The Politcally Correct Police are at it again - this time their focus is the " Ugly Christmas Sweater "
OCD - of which I am one of the lucky recipients to have - in this case stands for Obsessive Christmas Disorder ( of which I also have )
Target has been accused of making light of mental illness................
How ridiculous are we all getting at this point?
I think it's a fun play on words personally - I may just buy two of them ( because I can't buy 1 of anything - part of the disorder ) Hey ! Maybe that's what they were aiming for - double the sales !!!
And then just because................
There's the Jewish version............
Chai means Life...........and is pronounced High ( with a bit of phlegm involved and I can say that because my Grandfather was Jewish and I toast " L'chaim " to his memory every year )
Chai Maintenance - High Maintenance
I think it's brilliant - really I do ( of which I'm one of the lucky ones to be high maintenance )
and the J.A.P. ? - Jewish American Princess?
I've been called that since I was 10 years old - that's the truth - especially by my Jewish friends.
I was baptized a Roman Catholic and I'm not offended when I'm called it.
Who are these people that sit and pounce on anything they feel isn't " kosher " ? Pun intended !
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Sharon from AT RIVERCREST COTTAGE asked if John had an accent - like James Bond.
John does in fact have an accent ( he swears he doesn't ) but it's a Yorkshire accent - not as posh as a London one.
Half the time I didn't know what he was saying when we first started dating -
As in :
Tatties - HATE that word - I absolutely hate it - it sounds too much like Titties to me - and I hate that word too. Anyway it means potatoes,
But the first time John said it to me we were still in the dating stage - and I had made him dinner - he told me something to the effect that he LOVED my tatties..............and I thought - wow - he can't even wait to finish dinner?
Anyway - I flashed him - very quickly - showing him my tatties and he almost choked on his POTATOES.
We still laugh at that.
Here's some other Yorkshire ( isms ) I've indicated the words John uses..............although he says he grew up hearing all of them
Allus - always ( still says from time to time )
Band - rope
Beck - stream
Bray - to hit
Chuffed - very excited - or proud ( says often )
Faffin' - messing around - " quit faffin' around " ( says often )
Flit - moving out of your home ( still says from time to time )
Flummox - confused ( still says from time to time )
Frame - move it !
Fratch - fight ( still says from time to time )
Gaffer - Boss
Ginnel - narrow alley - only enough for 2 people to get through ( heard him say it once or twice )
Lig - lazy or laying down
Lug oil - ear hole
Mashin - brewing tea ( still says often ) NOT mashing tatties - or God forbid titties
Maungy - spoiled - acting like a baby ( still says from time to time )
Midden - out house ( John says it's the outhouse shithole - see ? NOT posh at all )
Mind - watch out ! ( says constantly )
Nobbut - nothing - " nobbut to do "
Nowt - nothing ( still says from time to time )
Owt - anything
Parky - cold outside ( still says - often - hey he moved to Canada ! )
Peff - cough
Playin' Pop - getting into trouble ( John's Mother said it often apparently )
Silin' - heavy downpour " it's silin' it down " ( still says from time to time )
Sneck - Nose ( John's favorite expression - " keep your sneck out of it "
Spell - a splinter - OR - a time frame
Spanish - Licorice
Spice - Candies
Stalled - fed up ( still says from time to time )
Suited - pleased
Sup up - drink up ! ( still says from time to time )
Think on - remember ( still says often )
John swears he moved to Montreal to teach us colonists how to speak English properly...............I think he came here to learn it myself.
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Yesterday in my shower I shaved all my lady parts - under my arms - legs - bikini line - you know.
The shaver was blunt - really blunt but it was the last one I had so I just continued shaving away hoping at least some of the hair would be removed.
Got out of the shower and while I was moisturizing myself ( I can actually hear it getting sucked into my skin that's how dry it is ) I noticed it was like I hadn't shaved.
At. All.
So I turned around to grab the razor and throw it out when I noticed the plastic protector cap was still on it.
I shaved my entire body with the cap covering the blade.
Very methodically I might add.
Dear God - I'm becoming my grandmother............really I am.
Ok - I'm off - I'm going to attempt to shave my armpits............again.
And on one last note.
My thoughts this weekend will be in California................
Sometimes I wish there was a time machine I could buy a one way ticket for.
I'm not over Paris yet and now this - the world feels broken in thousands of pieces.
So does my heart.
Prayers for all.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day.
I put a few logs on a grate and covered them in lights
Now the reason I was hesitant to give a full picture is because we don't have a huge room ................so it's almost impossible to get a photo face on of the " faux " fireplace.
I moved the bed over as much as I could before it hit the other wall...........laid down on the bed as flat as I could get - but my legs were in the way - so I laid there spread eagled with my legs splayed up in the air and John walked in...........
Why I was embarrassed I have no idea - but I was - completely embarrassed to be in such a vulnerable position!
John says - WHAT IN GOD'S NAME ARE YOU DOING?
Suzan says - Trying to get a shot of the fireplace
John says - You need to take photography classes - I don't think that's a normal pose
John says - WHY IS THE BED PUSHED AGAINST THE WALL???
Suzan says - Because it's in the way
John says - Did you see you snapped off a piece of the trim ?
Suzan says - Is that what it was? I heard a crack !
John says - Well I'm glad I didn't do it - I'd never hear the end of it - but if it's for the blog.........
That entire conversation happened with me in that position by the way - waiting for him to get out so I could continue .................
As he walked out of the room he casually mentioned the MIRROR I have placed right over the Christmas lights
I never thought to even look in the mirror - but it was horrifying - once again he saved the day or this would have looked like an entirely different type of blog !
At the very least it wouldn't have looked very wholesome - trust me
Create your own DIY Faux Fireplace for dummies HERE
Have a wonderful day everyone - the week's half over !
Hugs,
Me
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I ordered this online from Target ( we no longer have Target in Canada but we can order online )
John says - What exactly is that thing you have hanging on the ladder?
Suzan says - Well if you need me to tell you................
Suzan says - It's a stag head
John says - I know what it is but it's horrible ! It's bad enough we have an outdoor ladder in the living room now you want to dangle animal heads off it?
Suzan says - It's fun - the little ones will love it !
John says - It's going to give the little one's nightmares
He obviously did NOT pay attention to Mary Poppins............I took her very seriously
In every job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap !
The job's a game
And every task you undertake
becomes a piece of cake
A lark ! A spree !
It's very clear to me
Just some leftover ribbon and a broken ornament
A broken ornament
A broken ornament
Justt some leftover ribbon and a broken ornament
Creates the most delightful deer !
John says - Well now it looks even more ridiculous
But it's staying - because I don't know any little ones that think Rudolph is ridiculous - he's the most famous reindeer of all :)
The Grinch will get used to it ................he always does !
Have a great one everybody
Hugs,
Me
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
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I won't turn the t.v. on or listen to the radio because I simply can't absorb anymore of the grief the media keeps pounding into our brains.
I'll have my shower and head downstairs
I'll get out all my supplies and put my apron on
And I'll bake............
I'll bake for Ashley and Chris who have taken on the role of parents with such love and I'll just about burst for the little creation they brought into the world in September.
I'll bake for Gordie and Vanessa - and Vanessa's 2 little girls who have stolen my son's ( and ours ) heart away.
I'll bake for Lindsay and Tony - shaking my head and smiling because I can't use any animal products on those particular cookies - I tease her but I'm oh so proud of the stand she's taken. She walks the walk.
I'll bake for Annie and Mathew who fell in love as very young teenagers and have shown us the art of parenting with such grace that it can literally take our breath away.
I'll bake for James and Su who have been through so much and have come through it all on top of the heap
King ( and Queen ) of their world.
I'll bake for all the little ones...............and let them sneak one or two before Christmas dinner because that's what Lollys and Pops do. And if their parents walk into the kitchen I'll hide them under the table or behind my back while they giggle out loud and I'll say loudly " get out ! they're NOT in here ! "
I'll bake for Soda who always got little nibbles of the " throw aways " this is the first Christmas she's not with us in 16 years - it's been 2 weeks and nothing feels quite right yet.
I'll bake for all the in - laws of the above - because without them - our children's happiness could not be complete.
I'll bake for John who has never - not once - given up.
On anything.
But mostly me.
Because he loves me - as difficult as that can sometimes be - he loves me.
And my cookies.
I'll bake for all of the reasons above..........as I do every year.
And as I blend all the ingredients in I'll think of us - our big blended family.
But the truth is this year I have to put extra heart into it
This year what happened in Paris has totally devastated me and so I have to force myself into the kitchen.
Life does go on.
It doesn't stand still even when it's filled with those that seek to harm us.
And the only way I know to honor those whose lives were lost is to go on.
To keep my traditions.
To tell them your life was not in vain.............
And to assure their families that life will continue - our values will stay intact - they will not win.
They can create unspeakable sadness but they cannot destroy who we are.
I'll bake
And I'll bake
And then I'll bake some more
Until I feel nothing but comfort and joy
And then I'll wait for my favorite Christmas movie to come on - because despite it all - no - in spite of it all
It's a wonderful life.
It's also a precious and fragile one.
So for some reason it feels right that I be in my kitchen - working with my hands because that's where love begins for me.
As soon as I sign off on this post - I'll go downstairs - put some Christmas music on and preheat the oven.
And than I'll mix - beat - roll - sift my way clear into this next season.
We can talk about the world tomorrow..................
Today I'll bake.
Hugs,
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