Happy New Year From the Abel Family

Our Backyard in Winter	You may recall from last year that 2025 started with Sam and Mumtaz seriously under the weather which affected our New Year traditions. Sam and Trevor catch up with their 2025 Holiday Season photos and other celebrations in early January. No photos but we travel to Arlington Virginia to visit Felicia and Bob.
	Mumtaz’s Birthday Groundhog General Beauregard Lee’s Home	Usually, the first story of the year is Mumtaz’s birthday, this year we delayed the celebration and created a unified Birthday/Groundhog Day celebration weekend. It is an odd numbered year so no trip to Wiarton but we were excitedly up at 6:30am to watch various Groundhogs report. Wiarton Willie predicted an early Spring.
	This year’s pie for Pi Day comes from the fabulous Wanda’s Pie in the Sky located in Kensington Market in Toronto.
In April: Yasmin, Rehana, Naeem and kids visit Toronto for a week. Sam and Trevor host a craft party. It was also Sam’s birthday which was marred by the cupcake scandal.		No photos this year from my ferry flight to Niagara District Airport from Daytona Beach
	Here I am carefully preparing the menu for Halfoween Eve on April 30.
	In May, we make a short trip to Montreal and Ottawa. Here is a photo of me closely supervising the children’s leisure activities.	No Photos from Mothers’ Day this year, we had a great time on the Danforth in Toronto
Sam and Trevor travel to Montreal in June.
Niagara District Airport	It has been quite a while since Mumtaz has been on a light airplane flight. In June we travel to Brantford for lunch.
	After many changes of plan, we settle on Fathers’ Day in Toronto including a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum	My Fathers’ Day Present; A Groundhog
		We travel to Orangeville in July, this photo is from the Island Lake Conservation Area.
Outside the Montreal City Hall	It’s another trip to Montreal. This time, I was due in for just the evening to see one of my favourite comediennes, Nina Conti. We ended up driving and staying for a couple of extra days.	Summer Flying Over Niagara Falls
Most of the time, our wedding anniversary happens while we are travelling in August. This year we broke with tradition and celebrated our 44^th anniversary at Peller Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
After the IMC concert at Manitou-Wabing	Duchesnay Falls, North Bay	Laurentian Ski Hill
Ottawa	McKellar, North Bay, Pembroke, Ottawa	Railfanning
Pembroke	North Bay Waterfront	Laurier Woods
		Mumtaz’s Aunt Nubanu, passes away at 101 years old.
Wye Marsh Autumn Colours in Midland	Trip to Midland Ste. Marie Among the Hurons Martyrs’ Church Penetanguishene	Cruising in Georgian Bay
Believe it or not, there was yet another trip to Montreal, sorry no photos.	We travel to Waterloo to ride the Waterloo Central Tourist Railway and visit Canada’s largest Farmers’ Market
Lucy	J.B.	This year’s official Halloween portraits
	And yes, I turned 70 in November, check the blog out for many stories surrounding my birthday celebrations.
	Here are Sam, Trevor with J.B. and Lucy on the left and Patti and Selma on the right. It is their traditional Holiday Season photo. As you can clearly see, Lucy was a trifle grumpy about posing this year; not unusual but she seemed so comfortable about it at Holloween.

Visit https://www.abelfamily.ca/wordpress for more on our year

To All Our Family, Friends and Colleagues:

All the Best for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2026