Happy New Year

Happy New Year

From Marystown, Newfoundland

As 2020 comes to a close I just wanted to take the time to wish one and all a happy, safe, heathly and prosperous New Year in 2021.  Hopefully things will get back to some semblance of normal by the end of the summer.

Thank you to everyone for sending along photos of your tree, decorations, family, pets, et al for my little Christmas tree project. 60 entries - WOW!! I loved all the photos and I am not sure if you have seen them all but I picked out a few that for one reason or another struck a chord with me. Gladys & I both looked forward to seeing your photos. I'm sure Cheryl would have loved it too.

This one for obvious reasons!

This one where Rachel & her mom decorated a tree on the Garnish trail in Cheryl's memory.

This is a photo of my brother Kevin's backyard display in Moncton. On the left is his Gazebo made in the likeness of the Allan's Island Lighthouse where our father worked for a time while we were growing up. He also has a life sized cutout of a man which represents dad. All the ornaments were made by Kevin.

This one is from our friends Clayton & Cassie in Lindsay, ON and it brings me memories of growing up in Lamaline where there aren't any trees to cut down. Someone in town would drive 45 minutes to cut some trees and you would take one along with some spare limbs to fill in any holes. As you can see here they used one of the dog's squirrel toys to fill in a hole. :-)

Those 2 trees I had to include as they were done by 2 university students to get themselves into the Christmas spirit - on the left is UVIC first year student Chelesa in Victoria while on the right is MUN 3rd year engineering student Kevin's tree.

This lovely set of mummers comes from Jocelyn in North Vancouver. They were made by her parents and a couple of friends a few years ago. Awesome detail there.

This lovely ornament which kind of defines 2020 comes from Mark & Amelie in Port Moody, BC. I love it.

It seems that we have gotten further & further away from this during Christmas in later years but I still have many fond memories of the stable, animals & wise men. This great set belongs to Lorraine & Gibby in the Beaches in Toronto.

Not sure how Derek & Patti in Torbay managed to do it but to get 4 dogs to stay still long enough for such a photo had to be a bit of a chore. Well done!

Love this photo of the Dildo sign from Tish & Darren. Nice to see the sign lit up for the Christmas season.

Cora Lee, Gary, Kyle & Riley

This tree belongs to Gladys's niece Cora Lee, her husband Gary and children Kyle & Riley in Massey Drive, NL.

Paddy, Allison, Liam, Jack & Cheyanne

This tree belongs to Gladys's nephew Paddy, his wife Allison and children Liam, Jack & Cheyenne in Burin, NL. The first is their tree at home while the second is the tree at the Monkey's Fist at Smuggler's Cove.

Lisa, Franz, Ella & Luke

These photos are from Cheryl's high school friend Lisa, her husband Franz as well as children Ella & Luke of Toronto who are spending Christmas at their cottage on Woods Bay Lake near the town of Mactier in Northern Ontario where they cut down in Lisa's words their "Charlie Brown" tree. Lisa has childhood memories of cutting down a Christmas tree with her dad. Unlike NL they woke up this morning with the ground covered in snow so they managed to get their White Christmas. As well there is a photo of their "mummers" ornaments along with a photo of their feeder for the birds and squirrels the area of their cottage.

Joan & Tyler

This tree belongs to my sister Joan and her son Tyler in Marystown, NL.

Tory, Karen, Jack & Katie

This tree comes compliments of Cheryl's good awesome friend Tory, her partner Karen and their children Jack & Katie. Katie who is thawing out the turkey and Jack had better get the finishing touches on this lovely tree soon as Santa in just arriving in NL and will be in Toronto to visit you guys soon. :-) And oh yes, pull the top a little to the left!!!!

 

Aaron, Sonja & Ophelia

This photo comes from my nephew Aaron, his wife Sonja and their little girl Ophelia who live in Calgary, Alberta.

Scott, Nikki, Maizie & Isobel

This tree is comes from Cheryl's good friend Scott and his wife Nikki along with their girls Maizie and Isobel who live in Burlington, Ontario. Maizie is shown in the photo with their dog Atticus.

Mike & Lois

These next photos come from Gladys's brother Mike and his wife Lois who live in Marystown, NL. There is one of their tree along with some photos of Santa this afternoon making an appearance at their home. As you can see we will be having a green Christmas in Marystown.

Maria, Ben, Matteo & Naia

This lovely tree belongs to Cheryl's high school friend Maria, her husband Ben and children Matteo & Naia who live in Toronto, ON.

 

Pat & Evelyn

My brother Pat and his wife Evelyn from Tottenham, Ontario sends along this photo of their Christmas tree.

Rachel & her mom Kelli

These two photos come from the 2019 winner of the Cheryl Stacey-Barlow Scholarship at Marystown Central High School (Cheryl's high school) Rachel and her mom Kelli. Last Christmas they decorated a tree on the walking trail through Garnish, a little town 20 km from Marystown. Garnish was Cheryl's favourite town in Newfoundland and she would always go there for a drive every time she came home to visit. Many times if the weather was nice she would walk the hiking trail through Garnish. Last year Rachel & her mom decorated a tree on the trail in Cheryl's memory and this year they did the same thing. 

Thank you both for being so kind and considerate. We both love it and I'm sure all the rest of Cheryl's family and friends will too. God Bless you both and your whole family. Have a great Christmas as well as a safe, healthy & Happy New Year in 2021.

Glenda & Scott

The following photos come compliments of Cheryl's friend from high school, Glenda and her husband Scott who live in Atlanta, Georgia, USA but are spending Christmas with Scott's parents Donald & Joyce in New Kent, Virginia - a town just outside Richmond. The first shows their tree while the second photo is of the "Mummers Ornament" which is a little tasted of Newfoundland for Glenda. Enjoy your Christmas.

Clayton, Cassie, Janessa, Megan & Brent

These great photos come from ours and Cheryl's good friends Clayton and Cassie along with their daughter Janessa as well as daughter Megan (our godchild) & husband Brent in Lindsay, Ontario.

There is a story behind this tree. It's an Alberta fir which was grown by them from a seedling they brought with them to Lindsay from Marathon, Ontario 11 years ago. There was a bald spot in the tree which they filled in with one of the dog's toy squirrels. You gotta love it.

Ryan, Jeseka, Al & Corri

This lovely tree comes from my nephew Ryan, his wife Jeseka and her parents Al & Corri in Victoria, BC.

Mike & Nancy

These lovely photos are compliments of Cheryl's former colleague and great friend Mike along with his wife Nancy & with their boys in Toronto.

The ornaments on their tree reflect the boys achievements over the years along with momentos of some special trips they have taken including the Puffin ornament from their trip to Newfoundland for Cheryl's wedding in 2106. Part of that trip included an excursion from Bay Bulls to visit the puffins.

As well there is a photo of their lovely backyard tree.

Terry, Gayanne, Matthew & Robert

This tree belongs to my nephew Terry, his wife Gayanne and their boys Matthew & Robert in Marystown.

Tyler

My latest tree photo to add to my collection comes from my nephew Tyler who lives in Kilbride, NL a suburb of St. John's.

Andrea

This lovely tree photo comes from Gladys's sister-n-law Andrea. We know that it will a difficult Christmas for you having lost your partner and Gladys's brother Terry in July. I'm sure he is looking down on you as he loved the Christmas season. We want you to know that the family is always here for you and wish you the best. 

Below is a photo of Andrea's two cats Simon on top, Garfunkel on the middle shelf and the latest addition to her family Brennan, a Havanese puppy, on the bottom.