This past Valentine's Day my husband David and I were musing about the best gift he has ever given me, and it had nothing to do with Valentine or a birthday or even Christmas.

There has also been a lot more snow than usual. Our big storm a couple of weeks ago dumped 55 centimetres over a 15-hour period. Here is how I weathered the storm.

I have fine tightly coiled hair which makes it dry and fragile. Add to this the abuse my hair has sustained over the years with every new type of chemical and heat straightener that came on the market – I’m sure you can understand my frustrations.

By now we are used to the onslaught of bad news - health challenges, economic challenges, lifestyle restrictions, etc., etc. Many of these trials will continue into 2022 but, I choose to believe that we will triumph and be stronger in the end.

“Supply Chain Shortages." This phrase is everywhere lately. What does it mean?

I bought a new pair of shoes this week, and after bringing them home from the store, I decided to walk around in the house with them on for a while to see if they still felt comfortable. Having outside shoes on in the house felt strange as we are a 'no outside shoes on in the house' family.

As summer turns to fall, I look forward to the spectacular colors of the trees. There is one majestic maple tree that stands above the rest and is in full view from my bedroom window. It is the first to start changing colors in the fall and is my gentle reminder that winter is fast approaching.

I learned a new phrase this week. Mainly used by millennials and Gen Z’s, '4lifers’ means those people – friends or family - who will always be in your heart as long as you both live.

For those of you who had a chance to read my August 21st newsletter, you will remember my air-fryer saga and as promised you will find the rest of the story here.

My mother-in-law loves to cook, and she is particularly good at it. She also loves to try the latest and greatest in countertop appliances. The problem is that she doesn’t use them, and she often ends up 'donating' them to us.

Watching the summer Olympic games taking place in Tokyo brought back some wonderful memories of our Japanese guests over the years. Our guests gave us a unique cultural perspective that not even a two or three-week holiday to Japan could offer.

I was never a cat person, then John-Lewis came into our lives.

Everything in my coffee-making world changed when I asked my guest from Brazil how she made coffee at home. After all, Brazil is the top coffee-producing country in the world.

My soon-to-be guest came to my house for a get-to-know-you chat before making the move. She was obviously being incredibly careful this time around and I almost felt as if I was being interviewed. Conversely, I was curious to know why she was so desperate to leave her current homestay.

As Mother’s Day approaches here in Canada, I find myself reflecting on my time as a homestay mom to so many guests from around the world.

It’s been raining a lot lately and as someone who loves gardening, I’m hoping that April showers will indeed bring May flowers!

I’m so happy to be writing to you on the first day of spring 2021. We’re on daylight savings time here, in Canada and it’s time to spring forward!

Conversations with friends and acquaintances over the last year seem to have one recurring topic: a discussion about working from home. The consensus is that working from home is great, and the hope is that it will continue after the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

My homestay journey began with a phone call in the summer of 2014 when I was asked if I would consider being a homestay host. I said yes, and the rest is history.