Friday, January 31, 2014

Half a century on...

Guess what happened to me yesterday?


Oh yes! I am now half a century old. It is not entirely clear to me how that happened.


Birthday smoothie! Love that wrinkle-erasing computer camera.


My friends, who know me well, posted some interesting things on my Facebook timeline yesterday...


Well, that's good to know!!



Couldn't agree more!


Gordon had a big birthday surprise cooked up for me. After breakfast, we took off for points north.


I had no clue where we were off to!


That's my clueless look!


Gordon was dropping no hints. He told me to bring warm clothes!

By the time we got to Hawkesbury, I knew we were going to head over the bridge to Quebec.


But I still didn't know our final destination. I did eventually discover that we were going to have lunch at ChocoMotive in Montebello.


I had a great cup of chocolat chaud, aka hot chocolate! Chocomotive is a chocolaterie and a bistro. We had a super lunch there, then I loaded up on some handmade chocolates to take with me! It is my right to buy lots of chocolate on my birthday.


This is the main street in Montebello.



Here's Chocomotive, which is housed in the old train station. Beautiful!


Then Gordon wanted me to get a move on, because we had somewhere to be at 1 pm!

But where?

Well, this was my first hint!


We went dogsledding at La Meute Tanwen

It was FANTASTIQUE!!!!


We had the option of driving the sleds or not. We both wanted to! But I started out as a passenger.


Which was just a HUGE amount of fun!


HUGE !


And such a beautiful day! After more than a week of bitter cold and wind, yesterday turned out to be perfect. Sunny, no wind, and a high of about -4C, which was plenty warm for us!

Soon enough, I got to drive the dogs myself. My four were very zippy. I had to keep touching the brakes on the sled to make sure we didn't run into the team ahead of us.


We were having a little break here! Most of the dogs were crossbreeds of Husky, Malamute, Greyhound and I forget what else. I know from all the Iditarod and Yukon Quest books I've read that a team of Huskies looks nice but is damn slow. 



The view of the Laurentians around Ripon was magnifique!

And there's Gordon, already breaking the rule of always keeping two hands on the sled! If not, you are supposed to loop your arm through the handle while you do whatever it is you need to do with your free hand.


I wiped out once yesterday, but I held onto my sled and waited for help to get it upright. Gordon wiped out twice. He was completely thrown off, and his team ended up pretty much right up my behind. :) It was hilarious. He is not good at holding on tight in a crisis.


Here is a much more experience musher. He was leading the way. We stopped here to look at the gorgeous view!

After two hours, it was over, sigh!! 


That little blond fellow in the middle is an adorable pup.



And I was very fond of this odd-eyed cutie.



Lovely, healthy, happy dogs. Éric takes good care of them.



I could have gone for another two hours. But man, my triceps are killing me today!


After our hard day of mushing, we had a lovely birthday supper at Le café du bistrot in Saint-André Avelin. While we were there, a couple and their young child arrived via snowmobile...



... don't you love the little trailer? Everybody was properly attired in snowsuits and helmets! If I were a kid, I'd love zipping around in that thing.

And my friend Ronna sent a pic of me preparing to attack our birthday cake last weekend...



Gordon looking perfectly oblivious to the madness beside him, as always!

My BEST birthday EVER!! Thank you dear Gordon!

And here's a video, so you can feel like you were there. Sorry about my finger. It was tough to keep a grip on the iPhone!

















53 comments:

  1. Happy birthday Knatolee! I salute Gordon for giving you a birthday to remember.

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  2. Happy Birthday! :) Fantastic birthday outing too!

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  3. Anonymous8:50 pm

    Happy birthday! And what fun! Is it true what they say about the sled dog team? (Unless you're the lead dog, the view is pretty much the same...) :)

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  4. It really looks like you had the perfect day :) Happy Birthday!!!!

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  5. Happy birthday! Time goes by quickly when you're having fun.

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    Replies
    1. Boy, it sure does. Thanks Red.

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  6. Happy Birthday! What a great way to start the next 50. And, welcome to Old-Farthood! It's FUN.

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    1. Eh? WHat's that you say? I need to get out my ear trumpet!

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  7. I don't want to receive threatening letters from Gordon, but you do look pretty darned good. Happy Birthday.

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    1. Oh go right ahead! Don't stop! ;))

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  8. I told you so, Gordon will spoil you rotten. And the Malamute reminds me of Max. Great gift, Gordon. To bad we are living in Germany, otherwise we would love to have our birthday organized by you.:-)

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    1. Aww, I loved Max! A great dog.

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  9. Happy 50th! That looks so much fun.
    Brilliant cake too, Ronna is very clever.

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    1. Isn't she just? THanks so much!

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  10. What an adventurous trip! I'm not sure I would have thought dog sledding to be at the top of my list, but you all sure make it look fun! Happy Birthday, dear friend, XOXO

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    1. Oh we'll bundle you up and you'll have a BLAST!

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  11. So glad that you had a happy birthday. Shame Gordon didn't arrange for the pup to be part of your gift.
    We went dog sledding for my 40th.....it was a blast!
    Jane x
    PS Love the trailer.

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    1. I want to do it every year!! Glad you've gotten to try it too!

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  12. Gordon is a genius. And thank you for the action video. It gave a real sense of what it must have been like - without the cold!
    Happy birthday! And just think, you can do the whole thing all over again in ten years, since you only look to be 40!

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  13. 50 eh? I have been examining that first photo and my guess is about 30. I think you have been lying about your age.

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    1. Have I mentioned lately what a wonderful man you are?

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  14. Happy Birthday! 50 should look this good on everyone! What a romantic day. Gordon is a sweetheart. (Being oblivious to the madness must help.) You make a cold Canadian winter look like a trip to paradise.

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    1. Aw, thank you Mitchell, you are so sweet! ANd you know I"m a huge fan of winter, so it sort of is paradise to me. :)

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  15. Happy Birthday! You really show how winter can be a lot of fun!

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    1. Thanks Alain! If I stayed indoors all winter, I'd lose my mind! I just wear lots of layers of warm clothing.

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  16. Happy birthday! 50 is sure just a number to you, when a day dog sledding is your idea of fun!

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    1. I am trying to remind myself that it's just number!! :)

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  17. :Happy Birthday!"
    What a wonderful birthday!
    Gordon is ah keeper.
    Love the video.

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    1. Thank you Nancy! yes, Gordon's not half bad. ;)))

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  18. Awesome birthday - too bad you couldn't bring a puppy home!

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    1. Oh that little gold puppy was adorable!!

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  19. Well, there's – obviously – no need to wish you love and inspiration.
    Thus, I do wish you – and Gordon – 'but' (lots of) health for the second half of your century, dear Knatolee.
    Happy birthday!

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    1. THank you Sean, Health is so important. Neither of my parents lived into retirement age, so I'm trying hard to look after myself!

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  20. Oh Dear One...thank you for that. I had no idea I would even want to do it. But after watching the clip I do. You are blessed to have such a day all devoted to you.

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    1. It was SO MUCH FUN! And if you don't feel like driving, you can always just sit in the sled, all cozy and warm. Yes, I felt very blessed indeed. :)

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  21. PS Does Gordon have any more good ideas like this for my 70th which is coming up in the fall. I would pass some hints on to Old Man Watching.

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  22. Anonymous10:45 pm

    Congratulations on your first half-century! Hope the second is full of many more adventures like your birthday outing! Loved the little video. Sheri

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    1. Thank Sheri! Winter can be so much fun.

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  23. Happy Birthday :-)

    Your Birthday adventures sounds and looks so much fun ;-)

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    1. Thanks so much. It really was a great day!

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  24. Wow, what a birthday! Happy 50th!

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    1. He'll have trouble topping that next year!

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  25. Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  26. Hey Natalie, Im so cross with myself for being a bad blogger and missing your birthday.......but it looks like you had the best day and Gordon......what a wonderfully, thoughtful hubby he is.
    Loved the video and interesting reading about the breed of dogs used to pull sleds.
    I gotta say you're looking fab at fifty, (turns slightly green with envy, hehe). When I turned fifty I had to find something good about it, so figured once you hit fifty you now have the right to say 'no' and not feel guilty. No I can't work an extra shift, no, you can't borrow that....., no I'm too busy.......it works, so that's my little tip for dealing with getting older and just keep on doing what you're doing 'cos it's working big time.

    Lots of birthday wishes (albeit a little late) and love from a warm Oz,

    Claire XXX

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  27. What a fantastic birthday! And you look much younger than 50. Happy Birthday Natalie!

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  28. Indeed, you SOOO do not look anywhere near 50! Happy belated wishes!

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  29. Happy Belated Birthday! Your hubby certainly gave you a 50th to remember!! SUPER!

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!