Thursday, we had a quiet New Year's Day topped off with a big dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots. We played cards and generally had a great day. The visit has been very easy and comfortable. Penny and I worked on her cruise album - she has so many flyers, itinerarys and pictures that my suggestion was for her to go through and sort everything first. That way, when she's ready to scrapbook, she'll be ready to dive right in.

Friday, Howard and Penny and Bern and I went over to Seaway Mall. Bern had to pick up the rest of his prescription so we decided to have breakfast out. As it happens, there are very few places in Welland that serve breakfast, so we had an early lunch at M T Bellies instead. The food was pretty good and Pen treated. Penny and I did a little shopping in Winners where she picked up some beautiful designer towels and a hand towel rack. Next, we went into the Butterfly Gallery store - a cute little shop that sells unique items mostly based on, you guessed it, butterflies! Penny found a gorgeous white porcelain figure of a woman, draped in black chiffon, wearing a broad brimmed black hat, sprouting black wire-mesh wings. The idea is that it is to be a jewelry holder - earrings hang on the wings, there are loops at the end of the wings to hang necklaces on and her pretty upturned hands hold rings. It's very beautiful and will look lovely on Penny's make-up table.

Now, speaking of rings - you ladies have to see Penny's engagement ring!! It's positively blinding!
Anyway, we came back home and played more cards. We let the boys win 3 out of 5 games, so they wouldn't get discouraged and not want to play anymore. Okay, okay - they won fair and square! Pen and Howard left this morning after breakfast. Bern grabbed up all the laundry and started tidying up while I zoomed out to the grocery store to stock up for our next lot of visitors who arrived around 1:30 today.

Kim (Bern's former secretary) and her husband, Terry are visiting until tomorrow. After an afternoon of catching up on families, etc., we had a nice dinner of prime rib, baked potatoes, carrots and green beans. We were planning to teach them how to play "hand and foot", but we were all so stuffed, nobody wanted to do anything after dinner, so we watched a little TV and then everyone went to bed, except for me. I wanted to update by blog and post some pictures before going to bed.

Bern's eye doesn't seem to be getting better very fast although the doctor said it would take between 10 and 14 days to clear up. He gets drops 3 times a day for one medication and 4 times a day for another one. The doctor wants Bern to call on Monday to make an appointment to go in and get it checked again, so that's what we'll do.