Life's Simple Pleasures

Catching up!

2012-01-29T22:13:00.000-05:00

Ha! As I typed the title I noticed I've used it before...which just proves one thing to me. I spend my life catching up with stuff! Ok so I was going to tell you about my perfect lazy weekend with Lovely Man, and then my plans to get started with some projects, but first I just have to share this little gem. Now I know I shouldn't tease but I just can't help myself. You see I happened to need something from the bathroom whilst Lovely Man getting ready for work tonight. So I wondered in and there he was with the bathroom cabinet open and I couldn't help but notice this...

Now the question is should I be worried? I mean, I have seen programs on the TV recently about hoarding! Now I know that with our big shops some 4 and a half hours away it pays to stock up occasionally but really? Ten bottles of deodorant? I inquired as to whether we were expecting some sort of siege or something, were we going to be confined to the house, was there going to be a world shortage of deodorant anytime soon. Lovely Man just gave me one of those looks and said "well if there is at least I won't be a smelly little oik" So enough already, I just thought it was funny!

Now back to my perfect weekend. Yesterday we went skiing for the first time this year and I managed to complete the whole trail without any mishaps, unlike Lovely Man who took a couple of tumbles. I avoided the slopes but he did them all with success, can you believe he fell on the flat part of the trail? How does that work? Actually I can tell you exactly how that works cos if I cast my mind back to last year I did a perfect face plant on a flat and straight bit of the trail. It's when you lose that concentration for just a split second and you get sloppy with your technique usually causing your to trip yourself over with your own ski pole! But it was a lovely morning and we had a ball, and then the next best bit was coming home to a nice mug of hot chocolate and a snooze on the couch! Bliss.

I do count myself extremely lucky to have this right on our doorstep, and to have the time to make the most of it. Do you know the snow on my back deck comes up to my butt? I simply LOVE it!

Now plans for projects, there are a few! First of all I confess I purchased a pink Christmas tree whilst in the UK (it was only £5!) and I hauled it all the way back here. My plan was to have a pink tree next Christmas with gingerbread men, lolliepops and candy canes to decorate. That was until my friend introduced me to the joys of Pinterest (Yes I know where have I been lately!) and I found this neat lady blogger (can't remember for the life of me who) but she got this pink tree and decorated it with hearts and cherubs and stuff for Valentines! Priceless! Now I can justify my purchase by using not just once a year but twice...talk about value for money. And the bonus is I get to wind up Lovely Man once more which is always fun *he actually thinks I'm cute and is really just pretending he doesn't like it*. I just love it when he pretends to be irritated but really he can't help but laugh, I love it when he laughs. I also bought this gorgeous shaggy fluffy fabric to make pillow covers but he doesn't know that yet!

After that I have so many plans for the house, like paint the kitchen cabinet doors, make a roman blind for the bedroom and put wood floor down. I want to make some pretty purses and aprons and refinish some of those bits of old furniture I collected last summer. I have a camper van to refit inside, not to mention a garden swing to make cushions for. But one step at a time...now where's that pink tree?

I Was Featured!

2011-12-12T22:04:00.000-05:00

Oh My Goodness! The last two projects I did I linked to a few sites on these Linky Party thingamajigs! And guess what? My Lace & Burlap stocking were featured on Brag Monday over at the Graphics Fairy! Woohoo how cool is that? Thanks for featuring me Karen!

Burlap & Lace

2011-12-01T22:05:00.008-05:00

Having finished all my orders for Christmas and with just one day off left before packing up for our trip to the UK I decided to make some pretties for myself and, inspired by Sugar Lump Studio's and Lost Bird Studio's beautiful vintage Christmas stockings I thought I would have a go myself.
First I printed off the cute snow girl and the vintage Santa from The Graphics Fairy onto some calico that I had ironed on to freezer paper. Remember how I was so afraid to try this technique until a few weeks ago? Well now I can't seem to stop! Next I cut out two stocking shapes from a piece of burlap and two from calico. I ironed on some wonderunder to the back of the burlap which made it much easier to handle. Then I had lots of fun sewing on vintage lace, beads and ribbons. I made a cuff from some lovely damask fabric from the thrift store. Then I simply sewed the calico backs on and hemmed the top.
A little while later I decided to tear two strips of the damask and have a go at making some fabric roses. Like the freezer paper technique I have been putting this little experiment off for a while too. BUT how easy was it? and how pretty?? So now I will be making these darn cute little flowers and sticking them just about everywhere I think!

So anyhow enough of the waffling already, here they are, and I am just so pleased with the way they turned out!

Oooh and did you notice the loverly Christmassy pillow too? Another image from the Graphics Fairy, Joy to the World, some great red and white Christmas print fabric and Bob's your uncle! Oh and I also made three little hanging cushion ornaments too...well was I busy or what?

This week I am linking up with:

The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday
Feckled Laundry
Shabby Art Boutique
ShabbyNest - Frugal Friday
Creation Corner Linky party

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker!

2011-12-01T16:40:00.001-05:00

Oh. My. Goodness! I just made Candles! I got the idea for making candles in a tea cup from a fellow blogger although now I cannot remember who so sadly I cannot give full credit but rest assured it wasn't my own idea. I did find this very good tutorial tho for anyone who wants to have a go. That was a few months ago and I set out on a quest to find pretty teacups and saucers in the thrift stores. I already had a small bag of wax pellets and some wicks (can you believe for another project years ago that never got done? AND I shipped the darn things over here!). Anyhow I found a lovely on-line supplier, Niagara Candle Supplies, they are super efficient and very reasonably priced (I'm sorry but Michael's just doesn't have the range nor can they compete pricewise) and I just ordered a pink dye block and a 2oz bottle of rose fragrance. It all arrived about two weeks ago and I finally got around to doing it today.

I didn't have a double boiler or the recommended thermometer but I did burn the ass out of the bottom of my milk pan the other day and now it won't sit on the ceramic hob (see photo LOL!), so that and my wok, with a preserve jar lid as a stand, became my double boiler! I kept a careful eye on the whole thing and had a wet tea towel at the ready in lieu of missing thermometer!

My wicks were a little short for wrapping around a stick to keep upright so again, improvisation here, I sewed a piece of thread through the tip of the wick and tied that to the bamboo stick! I used a dab of hot glue to keep the metal 'keeper' on the bottom of the cup!

Et voila! Some of the more seasoned Candlestick Makers may well be clutching their pearls and muttering at my various 'improvisations' however what the heck...it worked for me!

Now I am off to make a pillow or two and some Christmas Stockings, inspired by another favorite blogger (and this time I remember who it was!) Laters Taters!

Fabulous Craft Barn Giveaway

2011-11-19T13:52:00.000-05:00

In amongst all my orders for aprons and bags and working at the wine store I happened to grab five minutes to visit all my favorite blogs and just look what I found! A new crafty shop and blog to follow and the chance of winning some reall yummy craft supplies. Check out the link for the Craft Barn Giveaway for your chance to win!

Well, what are you waiting for? Stop mooching around here I gotta get back to work!

My Faux Statue...

2011-11-12T18:48:00.000-05:00

whom Lovely Man has christened Titty Ha Ha!

When I saw Carol's tutorial for altering dress forms (check out The Polka Dot Closet) I just knew I had to do one and I knew just where I wanted to put it. Recently my lovely boss ordered some stock for our shop (Superior Wine) from a company in California who just happened to sell dress forms for around $10! AND he kindly ordered one for me!
So this weekend, armed with Mod Podge, Walnut Ink Crystals, a stash of sheet music and some images from The Graphics Fairy I got her done. No sooner was she finished and the Mod Podge nice and dry I installed her on top of my lamp table in the dining room. I am just so pleased with the way she turned out...totally love her! Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial Carol xx

When You Just KNOW!

2011-11-08T19:52:00.000-05:00

Well remember I couldn't find the link for my latest project? I just absolutely KNEW it was a blog called CampbellsStoop! But when I was searching I was looking for Photo's onto Canvas and, of course they didn't! Silly me they put theirs on wood and titled it accordingly! So I found it, and can now give credit where it is due, you can check out the instructions to make one yourself AND... BONUS....you can be safe in the knowledge that the instructions work equally well for both wood and canvas so the choice is yours! I don't know why I shy away from wood, but I do...I really need to step out of my comfort zone sometime soon don't you think? Anyhow here is my finished piece. The canvas has it's own little easel, it cost me $2 total in Dollerama (Canvas & Easel!), but I can't decide whether to use it or not and if I do should I paint it white and distress it a little, or maybe a subtle creamy vanilla? What do you think?

Switching On The Love

2011-11-08T18:52:00.000-05:00

Remember a while ago I covered the light switch covers in the bedroom with some lovely images courtesy of The Graphics Fairy? Well I have been at it again! This time the Kitchen, The Bathroom and the Hallway have come in for a little TLC! I am totally smitten with these covers and how easy they are to do. Of course, several people have said to me, "Oh we used to do that years ago"...and there was me thinking I'd learned something new...but then fashions do that don't they? They come and the go. Only the other day Carole, from The Polka Dot Closet, remarked how anything with a shabby chic graphic transfer or water decal on it is highly sought after and in a few years we'll all be sanding them off! Shame cos I think it's all rather pretty!

Anyhow here are my latest switch covers...loving them SOOOO much!

I also played with putting a photograph onto canvas with much loved Mod Podge this morning after seeing a post on a blog that I follow, however hard as I looked I couldn't find the blog let alone the particular post to link back! So I will investigate further, and I will take a picture of the finished piece when the second coat of Mod Podge (which I added just before writing this) is dry. Ciao!

Oooh More Pillows!

2011-11-06T22:21:00.002-05:00

Oh my goodness I'm hooked on pillows. Everyone these days seems to be making pillow covers from cable knit sweaters and I just simply had to have a go! I only had a pink sweater handy and didn't think it would go with everything but I figured as I got it for free if it didn't go in the lounge it could go somewhere and would be good practice. I have also been keen to have a go at making ruffles having seen so many beautiful creations with those on too. I checked out online how to make a ruffle and it was amazingly easy! I just hemmed both edges in the normal way and then set the machine to the longest stitch length and sewed down the centre! Then very carefully I pulled the thread and gathered the fabric up!

Et voila!

And best of all it actually goes pretty nicely with the butterfly cushions I made...all I need now is a nice new couch! I am in the process of crocheting a flower to go on it as well but I can't read my own shorthand so will have to watch the video tutorial again cos I got halfway through and then things started to look very strange indeed!

So far this week I have managed to get two more aprons finished for one customer and have two more almost finished for other orders. Then all I need to do is make up some bags for another customer who has been oh so very patient, a few card orders and then it's time to make some stuff for me.

Catching Up And A Request

2011-10-21T23:45:00.001-04:00

So, I am catching up steadily! Four aprons done for one order, safely shipped and three more to do! Then a bag order and I'm just about caught up with myself!
Tonight I also made some cards for our local Red Hat Ladies!

And suddenly all my get up and go has got up and gone!

My Lovely Man bought me a Mastercraft multi crafting tool today, with circulars saws and all sort of gismos including a sander for all that furniture I bought to refurb! I am now looking forward to some days off so I can get down, dirty and dusty and then throw a little paint around! Well, that's it... I'm so pooped I can't even string two thoughts together so I'll say nite nite for now, but I will be back soon, hopefully with some fab refurb pics. Have a great weekend everyone ciao!

Ooops almost forgot... the request! A fellow blogger is in need of some help, she needs as much info as possible on Lyme Disease and the Paleo Diet (I think I spelled that right) if anyone has any links/info/suggestions of places to look please message me so that I can pass on to her. It may be that we turn up nothing new for her but then again we might just find what she needs if we all pitch in. *Smooches*

An Anniversary And A Love Affair

2011-10-16T21:32:00.000-04:00

Today Lovely Man and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary! Well I say celebrated... poor man arrived home from a 12 hour night shift, we exchanged gifts had tea and toast and then he slept (or tried to) and I kept quiet (at least I tried to!). Anyway he bought me the perfect card and gift and we have made a date to go spend some time together just as soon as we get a day off together!! Now I did mention a love affair too didn't I? You see I have developed this crush on.....Modge Podge! Yes it stinks and yes it's messy but by 'eck you can do some real cool stuff with it!

Around 2 a.m. this morning (I forget to go to bed when L.M. isn't here) I was browsing Etsy like you do and I found some beautiful decorated light switch covers. Now it's not that I'm cheap, the lady who makes them wasn't exactly charging a lot ( $10 each) but I am rather impatient and generally stuff takes around three weeks to get here from the U.S. Added to that I wanted them to 'go' with stuff I had already done for the bedroom (Remember the Bird pics I did?). So this morning I made this.....

Ta daaaaa.....

The pictures don't do them justice, the light is awful and I couldn't find my tripod but you get the idea! So now I want to do all the light switches in the house! But for tonight I have stopped as it seems I have gotten past myself, not exactly sure what that means but it's an expression my mother used to pull out whenever my brother or I got overtired and started making a mess of things. So far this evening I have up ended a whole cup of water over my entire stock of red mulberry paper (the last I have) AND a set of prints that I so carefully prepared on good paper to make toppers for cards! To try and save the day (and hasten the drying in the hope I could actually get the cards made) I tried to iron each sheet only to have it curl up. So now it is all sandwiched between two heavy books in the hope that it will flatten out over night. I also have a muslin 'sack' of cooked grapes for grape jelly hanging from the cupboard door draining into a pan, but for tonight I think I'm gonna leave it just in case I mess that up too!

A Quick Little Project!

2011-10-13T21:57:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness! I hopped over to Rosemary's blog earlier and saw her tutorial to make a beautiful ethereal dreamcatcher...and I fell in love! in love with both the dreamcatcher and the beautiful music Rosemary has playing there (Adam Hurst she kindly told me). So with Adam playing in the background I set about finding all the necessary items required and set to work. Well! Would you just look what I made! So pretty!

Ooops I Did It Again!

2011-10-12T09:14:00.000-04:00

Made another cushion that is! I just love The Graphics Fairy!

AND... I made these! Fabric pumpkins! Super easy to do and fun and really quite cute. I found them on the Martha Stewart website so all credit to her but they also seem very popular in blogland too!

I'm addicted!

We Have Created A Monster!

2011-10-10T20:34:00.000-04:00

Almost a month since my last post and you could all be forgiven for thinking I haven't been doing much at all, and you would be that far from the truth as far as my personal creativity is concerned. Life has a habit of doing a U-turn every now and then. Last year, our first year in Canada, we had very little work between us. Lovely Man struggled with the bureaucracy of the College of Nurses Ontario to get his registration done, I took odd jobs and tried to make a living from my art and craft. Now suddenly I have two jobs, working six days per week and Lovely Man is getting hospital work. To top it all suddenly everyone wants my Aprons and they want them now! Not that I am complaining, I am so happy people like my stuff but I was starting to get very twitchy. I wasn't getting anything done for me. All the fall decorations I had planned didn't happen and I haven't put paintbrush to canvas for at least 3 months.
So today I did a deal with myself. If I got one apron finished this morning then I could have the rest of the day doing stuff for me!

I have been keenly following The Graphics Fairy, especially Brag Monday, and many others all of whom seem to be a dab hand with fabric, freezer paper and an ink jet printer! Now I bought some freezer paper nearly three years ago and I dragged it all the way over here with me but I never got around to using it! I suddenly realised I was actually nervous to do it in case I wrecked my printer! Ha! So after giving myself a good talking to, along the lines of "for heavens sake the world and their Uncle have been doing this successfully get on with it", I got on with it! And just look what I made! I took a pumpkin print from the Graphic Fairy, I made a background in Photoshop and overlaid said pumpkin, printed it on calico and with a bit of beige wool fabric made this lovely cushion.

And it didn't stop there! I also found some sheet music and these pretty birds and flowers, also courtesy of the Graphics Fairy, layered them in Photoshop, printed them and put them in very cheap (but nice) frames from Dollarama. Total cost per picture? Around $1.50... Suzanne would be so proud of me! Excuse the bad lighting it was late but I was excited to share!

Ok so now I am off to make some fabric pumpkins....Happy Thanksgiving!

Thrift Store Finds And Other Shopping Venues!

2011-09-12T06:19:00.000-04:00

Last week I had yet another medical appointment in Thunder Bay. It seems that once you hit the big 50 you become fair game for all manner of tests which seems to lead on to further prodding and poking! So I duly trundled off for said appointment and just happened to end up in Michaels, Dollerama, Walmart and of course the Thrift Stores. It's funny because I always take a little list of the things I could really use as often I get so overwhelmed with all the excitement of being in 'big' shops I miss stuff that I forget I "need"! So anyhow the last twice I have been I noticed that I managed to find everything on my list and it crossed my mind that because I had written it down and had become conscious of it I had actually invoked the help of my shopping angels. This time I was proved right. Not only did I get everything on my list when we were in one thrift store I said to Lovely Man, "Oooh we must keep our eyes open for that card game, There's a Moose in the Hoose". Immediately he walked over to the shelf of puzzles and games and retrieved that very thing! What's more it was complete save for 1 card (which is easy to fix), and in great condition! I have been scanning the shelves for months for this game to no avail, but as soon as I say it out loud The Universe kicks in and guides us to it, of course Lovely Man felt he really should take all the credit saying it was his innate thrifting skills that found it!
Also on my list an ornamental bird cage which I could paint white. Well would you just look what I found! Not only a birdcage, which I decided not to paint after all, but a pretty little white bird cage clock.

All for the princely sum of $6! What's more I purchased some AA batteries in the dollar store for a dollar and found that the clock actually works and keeps perfect time! One of the finials was missing but a $1.50 in Micheals and a little gold spray paint and glue from my studio soon fixed that. Result!
So later on in the day I went for the appointment and was in and out in record time, with 15 minutes to kill waiting for Lovely Man to come back for me I wandered into the Hospital Gift Shoppe and found this perfect little china egg with a humming bird on which would sit very nicely on some Spanish Moss in the new cage! Et voila! Lovely Man is still shimphing about how I can even manage to spend money in a hospital when left alone for too long! Oh and the little white bird? Another find in Michaels clearance section for $1.99!

And Another One!

2011-08-26T16:30:00.001-04:00

When I first mentioned aprons to my friend Jocelyn she became very animated and told me how she would love the 'perfect' apron. It had to have a tie neck so that she could wear it higher when frying as fat always seemed to splatter up toward the neck and aprons never go that high! The bib part needed to be quilted with a layer of batting... what good is it if fat splashes you and soaks straight through to your clothes she asked. Ideally it needed to be black so as not to show every little mark and it had to be smart, not frumpy... good enough to wear when you had guests for supper. OK not many boxes to tick then! So today I put my creative thinking head on and set to work.

In my experience solid black will show as many marks as plain white, but usually a small irregular pattern is pretty good at hiding little marks. I had a this black and white patterned fabric in my stash. I also had some cotton batting and found in surprisingly easy to quilt the bodice.

I wasn't too keen on the idea of hoiking the bodice up around the neck as it is semi fitted so not only would she have to hoik her bust up as well, but the waistband would be up around her midriff. So... another little bit of fabric and a little more quilting... et voila! A small quilted, detatchable neck bib which only need be worn when frying and then taken off to greet guests and serve supper!

This time I made the waist ties extra long so they can be worn in a bow at the back or crossed over and bought forward to tie at the front. Two looks for the price of one, for the skinny mini's at least!

Now I am off to make a quilted case for my Kindle! Ciao!

An Apron and a Confession!

2011-08-25T19:11:00.000-04:00

Well my lovelies I have had a very pleasant and productive day... the first one in ages! Lovely Man will be over the moon when he gets home because I have, at last, 'done' his trousers! I confess that these have been lying in wait...waiting to be 'done' that is. Poor man has reminded me at EVERY given opportunity about them...how they have been waiting to 'be done' for over a year, how I have TWO sewing machines and yet his trousers are still waiting 'to be done'. So today, despite feeling a little under the weather I 'did' them! It took me all of 30 minutes (they needed taking up and a button sewing on!). Yes people I know, shame on me, such little tasks! But they were just that. Little tasks, boring tasks, not creative or interesting or fun! So there we are... I confess... I have been a B.A.D. woman for sooooo long... but today I repented and took my punishment...they are done, and so I am good again and Lovely Man is a very happy chappy indeed!

I also managed to make a pattern from an old favorite dress for an apron! I have recently started work in a wine store and have so far ruined three tee shirts by splashing myself with red wine either at the filtering stage or when helping customers to bottle their wine. For those of you who know me well enough you will know that I am often technically challenged and it is not uncommon for me to have a little altercation with one machine or another and get sprayed with a good dose of red vino...never happens with the white...always red! So anyhow I figured if I could find a patterned fabric that was basically the same color as red wine I would be well covered! Et voila!

Last but not least I also managed to make 4 greetings cards using some of my artwork printed onto good quality watercolor paper and mounted onto pretty pearlescent card! Wow! Think I deserve a glass of wine and a little relaxation now...ciao my lovelies!

Quick Update Post!

2011-08-09T09:19:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Peeps. As of late I seem to have little time to blog or craft come to that :( It's this work thing that gets in the way really. However, I am glad to be back at work, just need to adjust the work/life balance a bit. In short I need to get my sorry butt organised! Anyhow a very quick update on what's going on over here and so on.

First let me tell you my dear friend Lorrie Whittington is holding an auction in aid of the Famine In Africa Appeal, please do click on the link and take a look, even if you're broke and can't bid please help by spreading the word.

Well I've found ANOTHER little hobby thanks to Ron & Jackie...Fishing. Yes folks I am well and truly hooked! And yes to those of you who have known me forever it will come as no surprise that I have the WHOLE fishing ensemble (Pink Shirt and Pink Hat with "FisherGirl" motif!).

I have also made a start on making greetings cards and already got an order for two baby shower cards which unfortunately I can't show yet in case mum to be just happens to see, but I can share these which I have made and will be in my Etsy shop once I get organised! (Unless someone in town snaps them up beforehand LOL!) They are hand drawn/painted in watercolor, on heavy weight watercolor paper and mounted on pastel card stock or Mulberry paper. Cards are blank inside. Of course I am always happy to make up custom orders, please message me if you are interested.

So that's it for today folks! Now I have to go make my packed lunch and dry my hair then it's off to work I go! Tatta For Now!

A.W.O.L.

2011-07-24T18:53:00.000-04:00

Hi all! I'm back! My apologies for having been gone so long, a few of you have been giving me a gentle prod now and then! Some of you will know that I have been struggling a little with life in general and I have never felt comfortable disclosing my woes and worries here, always feeling that the last thing people want to read about is how crap you feel! So anyhow suffice to say that the stresses of the last year took their toll and I lost the ability for a while to stay positive and I don't write well, or do anything well for that matter, when I feel like that so I took leave of blogland for a while. But I am back now and hope you all forgive me.

Now where shall I start? Projects. Haven't really got any further with those. However I did have my mum and Aunt over for a month and we had a ball! Life here in Manitouwadge? Looking much better! Lovely Man heard this week that he passed his exam and can continue working! I cannot tell you what a relief that is. Now we can relax and feel like this is REALLY home, no more worrying about what we will do if he can't work, no more worrying if we'll have to go back to the UK. We can start to fix the house how we want it, we can think about buying a boat or an ATV without worrying that we'll run out of money for essentials. As you can see I've already got my first fishing rod (thank you Jackie & Ron!).

So what's next you ask? Well I have some full time work for a few weeks covering holiday leave, so projects will be a little slower than usual. My first job is to make some cushions for a friends garden swing, then I plan to work my way through the renovations of a dresser and chest of drawers, two garden tables and my own garden slider! In amongst all that I hope to find time to get creative again with maybe a little painting and I fancy some card making, watch this space! For now though I am off for a much needed bloghop to catch up with all the things you guys have been getting up to! Ciao!

New Blogs, New Projects!

2011-05-29T10:30:00.000-04:00

Before I start my usual ramblings I must show you my new shelves! And thanks to Carol of The Polkadot Closet it is all organised so I can see all my fabrics and they don't get crumpled up! Not quite so professionally done, Carol used Comic boards all pre-cut to a uniform size, me? I cut my own from the packaging from the two bookcases! Nevertheless quite tidy... for me! I love looking at my fellow creators' studios, they are usually very pretty and calming, lots of white and frills and neat drawers. Well I do my best but somehow I don't quite get there... one day... but for now this works for me!

Over the recent weeks I have stumbled across some very inspiring, creative, thrifty people here in blogland! I have to tell you my son thinks that this blogland thing is hilarious... when I say "Oh I met this lovely person in blogland today" he does that silly voice mimicking thing! But anyhow I have, so there! Thing is these lovely people have helped to create a monster! I have now taken to rescuing roadkill, by that I mean freebie, unwanted throw-outs don't worry I haven't turned into Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, buying copious amounts of sandpaper and spray paint and hoarding all manner of things that are well past their sell by date with the intention of making something useful and beautiful from them!

If you get chance hop over and visit some of them, well worth it! Try Better After, Liz Marie, The Birdhouse Family, A Pumpkin & A Princess to name but a few. So anyhow, so far I have three new projects, courtesy of a very dear gentleman locally who gave me first pickings at his yard sale knowing what I wanted to do. First a dresser, which is actually in very good shape and Lovely Man has the notion that it really should be left well alone... I however have other plans but I shall have to be cunning and work on that one. Any suggestions... how to persuade him I mean, I'm not too confident on my usual faite a compli tactics on this one? He seems quite taken with it as it is... Hmmmmm!

Anyhow my second score is a garden slider!

My friend across the street has one that I have secretly coveted for a while now! Well, now I have one and it just so happens that I have a can of spray paint and a trip to Fabricland planned within the next week! Oh yes I also got two matching, solid wood small tables which will look just so fab on the deck alongside said slider!

Again Lovely Man wants me to leave them as they are... he's got this thing about bare wood! I just want to paint, paint, paint! I must admit I have also considered doing a tiled mosaic on the tops of these too, what do you think?

When the Cat's Away...

2011-05-24T22:37:00.000-04:00

the mice come out to play! Remember how I told you I found these lovely chair bows on Etsy (they are vintage and were purchased at an estate sale)

and how I said Lovely Man would hate them? Well tonight he's on a night shift and I had a hot date with my sewing machine... and will you just look what I got done! Not only did I get the chair thingies done but I also got another laundry bag done for the other bedroom!

By the time I finished it was getting dark and so this was taken under electric light so not the best photos in the world but I was just so chuffed (that's thrilled to my Canadian buddies) I had to post! I will take some more tomorrow in good light and draw up some sort of tutorial. These four came from just one cream double sheet and some 6" wide tulle, but you could use pretty lace panels, printed fabric, or maybe plain with perhaps a Graphic Fairy print in the center back, the possibilities are endless! What's more the Lace ones would have set me back around $60, these four cost me just $9!

One laundry bag finished. I edged the top with a little victorian style crochet lace, and added a rose again courtesy of the Graphic Fairy. I'm happier with this one although I'm still not sure I quite have the opening right, perhaps I need to stiffen the fabric or use and interfacing. Back to the drawing board I guess. Again when I get it just right I will post a tutorial!

So I just wonder how long it will take Lovely Man to spot the 'new' chairs when he comes home! haha! So, time for a nice cup of peppermint tea and a little bloghopping! Ciao!

Work In Progress

2011-05-23T21:55:00.000-04:00

Finally this afternoon I was able to at least clear my work table and get to my sewing machine! The rest of the studio is still in disarray but....

So this evening I set to making a laundry hamper to hang on the back of the bedroom door. I loathe having laundry baskets in the bedroom so mine is in the laundry which is in the basement. Of course this presents a problem in the evening when we're tired and don't feel like trotting off to the basement with our dirty clothes and equally I hate clothes dumped on the floor, so a little hamper on the back of the door seemed the perfect answer and in the morning I can simply empty it into the one downstairs! I have been buying 100% cotton sheets in the goodwill for 99c and most times there is absolutely no wear at all in them, they are like new! I also bought some plastic hangers in The Bargain Store, 6 for $2.50! I had some transfer paper in my stash and found the perfect label courtesy of The Graphics Fairy which I put in to Photoshop and added the word "Laundry", before printing and ironing onto the fabric.

It needs some adjusting and a little embellishment, lace, maybe a little rose and so on, but for now I am tired so will go back to it tomorrow! I also plan to make another for the guest room... can't decide whether to stick with this label or look for another... maybe I'll sleep on that!

I am fairly pleased that I will have made both for less that $5! Although I do have a confession. On the transfer package it clearly said an ironing board is not suitable but you should use a sturdy table with a pillow case laid on it. It also said 'apply light pressure'. So I put a piece of wood... on the ironing board applied light pressure THREE times and the darned thing wouldn't stick properly. So, I pressed just a little bit harder... must have been quite a lot harder because the ironing board sort of sunk! Yes I pressed SO hard I bent the legs of the ironing board!!! Note to self: When instructions say "do not use an ironing board' don't! When it says 'light pressure' it actually means 'push hard'!

Week 21 - The 52 Week Project

2011-05-23T10:47:00.000-04:00

This morning I looked sadly at my blogs feeling somewhat guilty that I have been so lax in posting recently. In my head Marvin Gaye was crooning softly "Has anybody seen my old friend Abraham", and I realised I've lost my friend mojo! Can anybody tell me where he's gone? Gripped with panic I wondered why he'd gone and, more importantly, was he coming back soon? And then I looked at my blog reading list and also realised that there were a lot of my favorite bloggers, who like me would post at least once a week (sometimes more) who were also not so prolific these days! Are they all away looking for their mojo's too I wondered?

To be fair, I have plenty of little ideas floating around in this old brain of mine, but my studio is a mess on account of some alterations and renovations so I think maybe my mojo has just hidden away in a closet somewhere, afraid to come out lest he get moved, organised or worse!

So here is my attempt at a come back, an entry for the 52 week project headed by Lorrie Whittington, week 21. It sums up my week perfectly - Fiddleheads! No, not just an expletive that I might feel like yelling when I throw my hands in the air in despair at losing my mojo, vegetables! These are a spring delicacy around here! They are an unfurled fern which can be cooked and eaten cold in salad or you can saute them in a little butter and garlic. I actually quite liked them although Lovely Man told me exactly where I could put them... but I won't share that little gem with you!

Welcome!

2011-05-19T16:35:00.001-04:00

A year ago when we arrived in Canada my cousin gave me a Christmas decoration which needed a little TLC. Well, it's taken me a while to get around to it but finally I now have a "Welcome" wall hanging for the hall! First I took off all the holly and spruce, I also removed the top layer of the wooden bow which had, at some point, come adrift and had been nailed back on not altogether successfully! Then I rubbed it down and filled the nail holes.

Next I gave it a coat of acrylic paint, in two shades of blue.

I purchased some wooden letters from Michael's at around $1.60 each and some wooden flowers and butterflies for $1 each pack of ten from Dollerama! I had some little wooden hearts in my stash already and painted them in blues and pinks. Finally I hot glued the letters and shapes onto some pretty pink ribbon and hung them from the 'bow'. I'm really rather pleased!

So, next project is...... chair backs! I saw these on Etsy

And Fell In Love!

I didn't want lace, however, because I thought it would be too O.T.T. with a crochet table cloth. So I purchased a cream cotton sheet from the bargain shop (too impatient to wait till I go thrifting next week), I have some cream satin and cream tuille netting and I have a certain little design of my own floating around in my tiny brain. Of course Lovely Man knows NOTHING... he will hate them because they are too 'poofy'! So we're not going to tell him till they are finished and in situ... what's known as a fait a compli... one of those "Oh don't you like them? But I've finished them now..." moments! OK? Mum's the word!

Speechless Saturday!

2011-04-23T10:06:00.000-04:00

Some of my Blogging Friends take part in Wordless Wednesday where, every Wednesday (funny enough) they post a picture of something in their lives which need no explanation. Well my friends I am starting a new feature all of my very own haha! Speechless Saturday, hopefully running for one week only!

Digging out on Friday

Speechless on Saturday!

Not Waxing Quite So Lyrical!

2011-04-21T20:17:00.000-04:00

Oh My Goodness! What a performance! I finally have to admit that I am getting just too old and a little too round to do this anymore. Waxing my own legs that is! I have never been one to pay someone to do something I am more than capable of doing myself, and so for the last three decades I have been waxing my own body thank you very much. However tonight, when Lovely Man disappeared yet again to study muzzle loaders and firearms, I decided that it was high time I got to it. It's been a long winter and I was horrified when I actually looked at my lower legs this morning with my glasses on. If I didn't do something soon I was surely going to be in the casting for the next Star Wars movie as Chewbacca! So, as I was alone I decided it was a good time to switch on the wax heater. Lovely Man is always keen to lend a hand when he's at home but last time he took the fur off the cat, and stuck everything to the laminate floor. He just doesn't get the idea of wiping the underneath of the stick and twirling it until it stops dripping BEFORE you move from pot to person. Hence he trailed waxy stickiness just about everywhere. The poor cat just happened to come in and decide that daddy was doing something dreadful to mummy and had to be stopped, ran across under said dripping stick and got well and truly drizzled on! So, as I said, being alone in the house was a good time... or was it? An hour or so later I have an aching back, cramp in my hip and two little patches that I just couldn't reach! I am also huffing and puffing like an old train. Suppose then I better find a good beautician... either that or go for the two toned effect... smooth at the front and furry at the back! what do you suggest?

Week 15 - 52 week project

2011-04-18T08:37:00.000-04:00

first up this morning I decided to check in and catch up with blog posts, e-mails and so on. My dear friend Lorrie had just posted her submission for week 15 - the 52 Week Project 2011 and I simply couldn't resist following suit...

Do hop over and have a read ! This is my entry dear Lorrie! Now it isn't a true indication of the amount of snow we had because I am on the edge of my deck underneath the porch. Had I waded out any further you would not be able to see my boots as the snow would be up to my knees!

Oh yes my lovelies read on do, for a true picture of life in the Great North!

This whole little exercise turned into something a little bigger this morning as I got snap happy with the camera! I then raided my photo library for some shots of the back yard and so on taken from a similar position. So here are some June 2010 shots alongside April 2011!

You get the picture?

Only this Friday I sat outside on my deck at the picnic table watching several birds on the lawn, yes there is a lawn under there, basking in the warm sun. I felt I more than deserved this little break, after all I had just written my column in record time AND submitted it to my Editor way before the 'close of play Friday deadline'. "Articles should be relevant to Manitouwadge and written in a timely fashion" was my brief. The Ed. doesn't want old news and neither do my readers, so I duly twittered on about the Spring, the garden, the imminent Big Spring Clean Up (an annual event here in the Wadge). Low and behold look what happened next: 7 a.m. Saturday morning it started to snow, by lunchtime they had the snow plows out. Around 4.30 p.m. said snow plow left a bank of snow some two and half feet high across my drive. I was actually out so Lovely Man, who had been working since 7 a.m. had to clear said drive entrance so that I could get in on my return! 7 p.m. Saturday Evening, went out to supper. Darned snow plow did the street where our friends live. Lovely Man and New Best Friend shoveled another 2 foot bank of snow from another driveway so that all visitors could go home after supper! 8 p.m. Sunday evening, finally stopped snowing!

Oh and I just heard... forecast for this Wednesday... MORE SNOW! Well color me silly! Out of Sync Lorrie? I should coco!

New Page!

2011-04-15T08:34:00.001-04:00

There's nothing I like more than finding something in a thrift store or a yard sale that isn't quite what I'm looking for but has potential! You see I'm cheap! Not only that I get a great deal of pleasure from giving something that has been thrown out a new lease of life, it also means that I end up with something quite unique! So I've added a new page, dedicated to those finds and what you can do with them, where they can easily be found. I will also post things as I do them on the home page. I hope you will be inspired to try some Thrifty Revamps too and I would love to see what you do. If you would like to share your creations send me an e-mail with a photo and a link to your blog post. On the first Thursday of each month I will post a round up of the months Thrifty Revamps!

Cupboard Love

Ok so the first project isn't strictly yard sale or thrift shop, it is a cupboard in my kitchen. However it had been put up as something of an afterthought I think in that it doesn't match the others! It was one of those cheap white melamine covered chipboard ones and had become home to various cookery books, telephone books, drawing pins, pens, string and a whole host of junk! So first I emptied it, dejunked it and took off the doors. I hid these in the basement and quickly filled all the holes with white wood filler to prevent Lovely Man from putting said doors back on! (He doesn't always like my inspired DIY). Next I bought a roll of sticky back vinyl from the Bargain Store for $3 (think Blue Peter here!) and covered the back wall of the cupboard and replaced the shelf. Lastly, after washing everything down, I glued some vintage style lace that did actually come from a thrift store for the grand sum of 50c, to the edges of the shelves. I placed one of those battery operated LED lights that you hang in closets behind the letter rack. Et Voila! Cook books neatly lined up, a few pretties and I have and brand new look bookshelf, AND it looks real pretty all lit up at night!

Today Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life - Charles Dederich

2011-04-11T07:59:00.000-04:00

That just about sums up how I feel this morning! Day One of Big Dreams Small Wonders and I'm feeling really fired up! Isn't it a great feeling, when you give yourself permission to do something, make the time and then actually do it? As you are all probably tired of hearing I have this craft fair coming up and I set myself the goal of producing two bags per day until Easter. As usual there are days when I procrastinate and I don't meet this target, then I give myself a hard time, which usually results in getting even less done the next day because I decide the answer is to give myself a break (literally) and not be so hard on myself! Good technique eh? Tried and Tested!
However I won a place on this course, and that to me is a HUGE opportunity and not one to be wasted. so this morning I got up at 6 am with Lovely Man (he went off to work at 6.30) and allowed myself until 8 am to check in with BDSW, do the coursework and blog. I now have fifteen minutes left and I have completed what I set out to do. Oh and how good does that feel? Blimmin' Great!
So here are my notes for Week One, Day One. Setting the scene as it were and my overall intentions.

Four years ago I had a dream to emigrate from the UK to Canada. I wanted to live in a small community way out of the city and most importantly I wanted to write that book I’d always wanted to write, to follow my passion for art and craft and to be able to make enough money that I wouldn’t have to work for someone else five days a week. I’m half way there in that I got to Canada, to the small community way up in Northern Ontario. Now it is time to bring the second half of the dream to fruition and that is where I am struggling. Partly due to lack of confidence and fear, I find that I am putting things off, being half hearted and generally being ‘fluffy’!

By joining this course I hope to be able to share my fears, gain insight and support from others and also to offer support and encouragement to others based on my experiences thus far. By the end of the six weeks I would like to feel as determined, confident and focused as I did when it all started four years ago.

I expect from myself commitment first and foremost, to schedule in time everyday to check in and work through the course, and to banish any avoidance ‘techniques’ that I am so skilled at practicing! From myself and from everyone, kindness and honesty.

My overall intention throughout the course is to believe in myself again and to at least give my dream my very best shot whilst I have this chance.

So there we are! I have put it out there! It is in the Universe, and in Blogland, so no going back now!
And so now I have ten minutes left to hop over to Facebook and check in with my FB friends before showering and then it's off to my trusty sewing machine. When the allotted two bags are complete I will pamper myself with the treat of preparing the front and back cover of my journal for this course and set up a little corner where I can sit quietly and meditate each day, a practice that I used to uphold but has sadly fallen by the wayside of late! Have a great day everyone... and follow your dreams wherever they take you today!

Week 15 - 52 Week Project

2011-04-09T15:25:00.001-04:00

Oh my gosh what a week! I seem to have leapt from week 9 to week 15 already (sorry Lorrie!). I remember my mum, just after she took retirement, commented how busy she found herself these days and that she simply didn't know how she managed to go to work and do everything else. Well you know what? I'm right there with you on that one mum! Since giving up full time work I feel the same! But anyhow this week. This week has been a week of good fortune, a week of abundance and I feel very blessed. It all started with my friend, Jeanette, who when I asked how to add pages to my blog for tutorials, recipes and such proceeded not only to add pages but to tweak. Actually it was more of a totally refurb than a tweak and I was totally a very happy bunny! Then my lovely new business cards arrived in the mail from Zazzle.ca along with an order of all my postcards. Next came a big win, yes I won a giveaway courtesy of Louise, a place on her Big Dream, Small Wonders course! Again I was one very happy girl. Another parcel, this time art supplies, lino cutters, rubber block, acrylic inks... so exciting. Last, but not least, my best friend Jan in the UK sent me a copy of my favorite cookery magazine, some Cadburys dairy milk buttons and some sachets of hot chocolate. There were also two bars of Dairy Milk, sadly they couldn't make the photo shoot this morning having been abducted late last night by the grumbling tummy monsters!

On top of all of that good fortune the sun is shining, the temperature here has risen to plus 12, Spring is here at last! Lovely Man is fixing the car ready for our first big shopping trip of the year. I have cleaned the house, tidied the basement and my studio and done all the laundry! Tonight we are out to supper. So although it's been a busy week, it's been a totally great one and I feel very, very blessed. How has your week been?

Have a lovely weekend all. xoxoxo

Fly-By Post Just To Let You Know

2011-04-07T09:05:00.000-04:00

It has just come to my attention that some of you who have been following this blog weren't aware I had another blog, Rona Gregory Art:New Challenges. As I am running my first giveaway I thought I better post on here so no-one misses out! Sorry Peeps, but s'ok still got six days to enter!

Oh My Goodness

2011-04-06T15:22:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? I just found out today that I won a place on this e-course on Louise's First Friday Giveaway! I had so wanted to do this earlier in the year, but I also wanted to do Tam's M3 course and with Lovely Man still going through the trials and tribulations with the College of Nurses Ontario I couldn't do both and had to choose one or the other. I planned to sign up for this course later when we were both more financially better off and then looksee what happened!
So here I was madly typing up two articles for the paper and an e-mail popped up to say I had won! So I have just about completed one article but I'm so super excited now I'll have to do the other one later because I can't concentrate! I feel very blessed right now. Our future looks more secure, the sun is shining (between the snowflakes ha ha!) and it just feels so good. Thank you Louise! xoxo

A Day Indoors

2011-04-04T22:12:00.000-04:00

Well who'd believe it? 4th April and it snowed ALL DAY! nothing for it than to put the fire on, and the radio and get down to some creating. It all started fairly well. I made a video tutorial making paper flowers for a book sculpture...but then it all started to go to rats :( Try as I might i could not work out how to upload to my laptop. I have a MAC and whenever I connect my camera it automatically opens in IPhoto. Fine for very short videos, done those before, however 600MB didn't want to play at all. I tried closing IPhoto and looking for my camera as a device but no matter where I looked on the hard drive I couldn't find it. So in the end I gave up and took stills and sequenced them in Photoshop! Then I turned my attention to the making of the wedding ring cushion that had been floating around in my head for days, the one to match the bridal purse I made on Saturday. This, thankfully, went well and ta da! Here it is

I also managed to almost complete a sweet midnight blue devore velvet evening purse which will be on my bag page soon!

Busy week!

2011-04-03T09:32:00.000-04:00

Spring is definitely in the air. The sun is shining, the snow banks are receding fairly quickly now, although for the locals who are used to it, probably not fast enough! Lovely Man has found work to keep him busy until he takes his exam on 1st June, or he's granted temporary registration allowing him to nurse until that date, whichever comes quicker. Life at last looks like things are beginning to settle and we can start to enjoy our new life without the overhanging shadow of uncertainty of whether or not we could stay.

So this week we have both been 'doing bizzies' as Lovely Man likes to call it! For my part I have been keeping house, writing for the paper, working at the library and making purses and bags for the upcoming craft fair in Wawa at the end of the month. With the help of my friend, Jeanette, I now have two very professional looking, and pretty, blogs. I even managed to make a nice banner for myself - given that I struggle to understand/remember how photoshop works this is especially gratifying!

Today we have friends for supper - hop over to the recipe page for scrummy dessert - I am going to work at the ski club for a couple of hours and then maybe later when all the washing up is done I'll get another purse cut out (if I don't then it's going to float around in my head all night!).

O the five bags this week, I think this is my favorite...and I have plans for a matching ring cushion!

Noooo Bag number 2!

2011-03-29T21:31:00.001-04:00

Ok bag number 2...from the sleeves of that Denim Jacket!

New Bag!

2011-03-28T17:20:00.000-04:00

Today I thought it was about time I made a start on some bags for the forthcoming spring fairs. The first, The By Hand Festival in Wawa, is just 4 weeks away! Whilst browsing around our local stores I came across a denim jacket with this beautiful embroidery on. As a jacket I guess it wasn't that appealing to anyone as it sat on the bargain rail, or maybe nobody noticed it tucked between the tee shirts and jog pants. Anyway I spotted it and fell in love even tho it was far too small for me! Not to be one who turns down a bargain I whisked it off to the checkout and this morning hid myself away in the studio for a few hours. I found the perfect fabric in my stash to line the bag, white silky fabric with pretty pink and purple dots! Hey presto, one tote finished! So now I have 8 bags for the fair so far! This one will be on sale for $35 CAD and is a 'one of a kind'!

Wk 12 - The 52 week project

2011-03-25T22:37:00.000-04:00

You remember our friends took us to camp? Well they sent me some photo's this week. So here is me on the back of a snow mobile! Poor Kurtis got stuck with the nervous passenger... and what a gent! He took it real easy and slowed down for bumps so I didn't bounce all over the place. Ooh dear I hope he didn't take me seriously when I mentioned the rather large supper I'd just scoffed down my neck!! poor lad! Now I've had time to reflect I'm sorta getting around to the idea that I might like to drive one....you know...just to see! At least there's not too much traffic on the lake ha ha! I had a motorcycle once, but I only went out at certain times...like when it wasn't rush hour, wasn't a Saturday when the world and his wife was out doing their shopping, wasn't raining, wasn't too windy.... you get the picture?!

Week 11 - 52 week project

2011-03-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

How cool eh? Knee deep in snow on a frozen lake...boys and their toys! We had a fab weekend at camp with our friends Jackie, Ron and Kurtis. A proper camp on a lake in the bush...miles from anywhere. Jackie is a fabulous cook and we just ate so well. In the evenings we were treated to a sauna after supper followed by a game or two of Farkle and a wee drop of Panama Jacks...just to warm us up after a hard day on a snowmobile!

Waking In A Place Of Safety

2011-03-18T10:21:00.000-04:00

Most mornings follow the same pattern with me, I get up, make tea and then spend just half an hour or so checking e-mails and catching up with Facebook friends and blogs. This morning was no different in that respect. What I read, however, was. I stumbled upon a blog post by Tammy Vitale, mainly to catch her interview with Effy, of Wild Precious Studios but it was here that I also found yet more evidence of the resilience and dignity of the people of Japan in the face of the devastation caused by the recent Tsunami. Tammy provided two links to other web posts, A Letter From Sundai and Human Spirit Rises to Meet Japan's Tsunami. These posts made me really think. I thought how sad it is that whilst these people react with calm, with love and resilience people in other parts of the world continue to fight, kill and run amok in the name of religion, or for a piece of land, or because they don't like their government. It made me think how much we take for granted simple things like flicking a switch for instant light or heat; like turning a tap for a hot shower or to get a cool drink; like jumping in our car to pop to the shop for a loaf of bread. It made me think about how much we moan when we have to go without these for even just one day. It made me think quite a lot this morning which isn't something I normally do so early!
Tammy also mentioned that her daughter, a teacher, had started a fab project with her kids to raise money for Japan. An ancient Japanese legend says that if someone folds a 1,000 origami cranes they will be granted one wish by a crane, such as a recovery from a long illness. The children are making origami cranes and selling them for just $1 each, all the money going to the Japanese Tsunami relief fund. I, for one, am printing off a PDF file of instructions and forwarding it with a print of Tammy's post to my local High School. We are a very tiny community and may not make a thousand cranes alone but I figure by posting this if we all did something similar, no matter how small a scale, we could indeed make 1,000 collectively and make a united wish for the recovery of Japan.
Today I feel especially mindful, and grateful too. On a personal level, I am thankful for the support of all our friends and people in our community who collectively flicked a switch that shone a light at the end of our personal dark tunnel. I am thankful for the place where we live and the life we have and mindful that perhaps, even for just one day, we should try 100% to not waste anything nor take anything for granted.

Week 9 - The 52 Week Project

2011-03-05T14:29:00.001-05:00

Little things in life, little gestures, can make such a difference. I cannot lie, this has been a tough week. Having succumbed to some bug or another it feels like I have had a permanent headache for almost a week, been totally off my food and felt generally under par. Add to this the continued stress caused by the College of Nurses of Ontario who after over nine months still sit upon Lovely Man's nursing registration and will give no indication of when they will actually deal with it. Without this he cannot nurse in this country. Having moved to a tiny northern Ontario town where they need nurses but have no other work available that he is qualified for, it seems our future here, in this lovely place, now hangs in the balance with our life savings almost gone. Despite the College being informed of the urgency and the fact that the original time scale for the process being 15 weeks, which is long overdue, they have little sympathy and refuse to do anything about it. To say I have been stressed would be an understatement, despite having wonderful friends here cheering us on there have been a number of moments where I have dearly wanted to go home to the safety of my family and all things familiar, so yes add severe homesickness to the list of symptoms too! However, upon collecting the mail yesterday I found a parcel from the online art store I use over here. I had recently e-mailed them to say how impressed I was with their quick turnaround and general good service. I also gave them a shout out on Willowing for the benefit of my Canadian arty colleagues. For this they sent to me these lovely brushes by way of a thank you. So thanks again to the lovely folk at Wallacks in Ottawa!

Wk 8 The 52 Week Project

2011-02-25T17:46:00.000-05:00

This week Canada Post was kind to me for they bought forth many of the parcels giving me much pleasures! Also my faithful assistant Sergei (aka Lovely Man) did return from big city with a bottle of white wine along the same theme...cats. I am currently pondering the possibility of making a cravat and jacket to pass off as Meerkat statue in honor of my entrepreneur friend here. I am sure he will treasure almost as much had his great-granddaddies Honor of Purple Claw medal which he was awarded after the Battle of Fearlessness.

I seem to be a little over catted this week because not three days after receiving these gifts, (book from luvly little Bruv in UK) and wine (from much loved significant other), than a third cat arrived in the form of Mustard a ginger Tom from the Humane Society who needed four week convalescence after a severe UTI. So I flit between the bottle, the book and charts recording fluid intake and outage for this week!

Make living a simple pleasure

2011-02-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

I won't tell you a lie. I've had a crap week. In fact I've had some crap weeks on and off over the last few months...haven't we all? But, and I'm ashamed to say, I let this crap weeks get to me. I didn't share it with you, perhaps I should have and then it might not have seemed as crap as it did! But I didn't because I vowed when I started this blog that it was never to be a platform for moaning or self pity, so I stayed away and allowed myself to be miserable in private. Today I felt a little better, more positive and returned to blogland and facebook and was suddenly aware of just how many people I now know who post such wonderful, upbeat positive stuff everyday, and yet I'm sure in the real world they have crap going on just like me. So what to do? Shall I beat myself up for being such a bad person and wallowing in a little self pity for the last few days? Where will that get me? Nowhere. Instead how about I share with you just some of the blogs that made me feel better today? They are written by some lovely people whom I have never actually met. They make me feel like I want to be just like them, they inspire me, they make me think about how I want to live my life, they make me ask myself questions, they make me want to get off my butt and enjoy each moment. So thanks to all of them for that.

So from now on I am going to join the ranks of the positive people and please, if you catch me slipping give me a gentle kick up the butt and remind me of this post!

Check out these lovely people too:

Kassie's Korner

Bonita Rose

Kelly Berkey Designs

Cathy Bueti

Louise Gale

Of course there are many more people in my life, and in blogland, that are far too many to mention, but these ladies in particular for one reason or another have inspired me and helped me over the last few months to keep smiling even if I haven't always felt like it. For that I thank them all, along with my mum, Jan, Lorrie & Jackie & Jocelyn who listened, and hugged.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

This blog originated as a place to to share the simple pleasures in my life. Now I'm not saying Lovely Man is simple, I need to get that in right away because when he reads this that is exactly what he would pick up on LOL! However, today on Valentine's Day I thought it appropriate to dedicate a post to him just because. Because, quite simply, he makes every day worthwhile just by being here by my side. You see, without going into too much detail, he came along at a time when I had given up. I had two failed marriages, the latter being 15 years of being told I was 'odd', that I was 'stupid', everything was 'my fault'. I was bullied, alienated from my friends and family but I stayed because I believed I was not worthy, that I deserved to be where I was and that I should be grateful for that.

Somewhere something happened, something changed and I left. I didn't want another relationship. I wasn't going to even look for one, having decided that there were no good men left out there and even if there was I wouldn't find him, I gave up.

Not long after I gave up this man walked into my life. He was no stranger, we had been friends for years. Just friends, in truth we were probably more like acquaintances. He bought with him humour, kindness and unconditional love. He gave me courage to be who I really am, he taught me to believe in myself and encouraged me to follow my dreams. He makes me laugh when I feel like crying. He holds me close when I feel like it's all too much. He only knows one joke and that's a bad one but he'll delight in telling it anyway!

So today, this Valentine's Day, is dedicated to my Lovely Man, AKA David Green, I love you and thank you for just being you!

Week 6 - The 52 Week Project

2011-02-13T14:19:00.001-05:00

This weekend we celebrated our Frosty Days Carnival Weekend here in Manitouwadge! An entire weekend of fun events which involves almost everyone in town. We had an opening ceremony complete with youngsters skiing downhill by torchlight! There was an ice fishing derby and BBQ on the beach/lake on Saturday. A Poker Run x country ski event, cardboard box races down the ski hill, arm wrestling competition, 80's night and an open mic/kareoke at the bar not too mention Polkeroo's birthday at the library, apparently Polkeroo is a large talking kangaroo from TV who, incidentally, is a very messy popcorn eater it appears (I had the job of vacuuming the library after he went home!)

I have chosen the above photo to record week 6 of the 52 week project, and my life this week. It is my friend, Jackie, and myself skiing in the Poker Run event! Below is a photo of the wonderful ice stage built for the opening ceremony by Dave and Brian, two very talented guys from the Ski Hill!

Finally a short video clip of our young torch bearing skiers!

Week 5 - The 52 Week Project

2011-02-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

Sadly I missed week four, mainly because I have either been painting or out in the snow, both of which I have written on more than one occasion here and elsewhere. I had wanted to post something different for a change and this resulted in nothing at all! How sad is that? Have I become so boring that I can talk about nothing other than paint and snow? Or perhaps I am not the creative soul I thought if I can't come up with a simply photograph reflecting SOMETHING about my week! So, enough already. I consider myself well and truly chastised and before another week passes without a peep from me here is my picture for week 5. My friend in the UK has just had her second baby recently, a little boy. This is something I am working on in my M3 class with Tam, which I intend to make a print of as a gift for Liz and baby Jake, and Scott and Alix of course! And hopefully there will be some thing different for week six, a little idea I have provided who ever I give the camera to this week can actually manage to take a picture with it!

An Advertiser's Dream

2011-02-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

That's what a work colleague once called me. I was once a glossy magaholic and a side effect of that was that I bought a lot of 'stuff' based on the sometimes outrageous, but very persuasive, advertisers schpeel! I am happy to say I am now a 'recovering magaholic" which basically means I limit myself to one magazine per month! And this has completely cured the above side effect! Now I am able to look an advert in the eye and walk away. Take today for instance. It has been snowing all day and we didn't need to go out at all so we treated it as a PJ day! Yesterday our weekly free papers and flyers arrived so, with coffee in hand, or mug, we glanced through them. Suddenly Lovely Man exclaimed "This can't be right!" There in one of the supplements, Weddings 2011 promoting the forthcoming Wedding Fair, was an advert for The Canadian Lakehead Eshibition. The advert read "Weddings, Shags and Showers - we can accommodate you"! It must be a spelling mistake surely. Further into same supplement an advert for Pizza Hut "Shag Hotline - leave your shag catering to us". I mean I have noticed that over here they are extremely honest and candid in their advertising. Indeed the ad for Buckley's cough syrup has the tag line "Tastes awful, but it works". But to offer to accommodate the couple for the wedding and the shag, not to mention the shower, which I understand is short for baby shower! And they'll bring you a pizza too just, presumably, to keep your strength up! Well the mind just boggled. Upon investigation I found that over here a 'Shag party" is in fact a party held prior to the wedding by the happy couple. Guests buy tickets to attend in order to help the couple raise money to help pay for the wedding. Thank goodness we got that one cleared up.

All this got me super sensitive to adverts today. This afternoon I saw one on TV for a product to cure Acne, Proactive. The advert featured Katy Perry, singer of I Kissed A Girl, who declared, amongst other things, "I just rubbed it in and all my little bumps flattened out". I had one of those Eureka moments! Supposing I just got some of that. It's on special right now and quite frankly if it makes bumps flatten out then I'm in! Two Gallons should do the trick...goodbye bumpy thighs, big belly and boobies! Gotta be cheaper than surgery!

Oh and the Wedding Fair thing...the back page featured an advert with the headline "An Affair to Remember". Well that's ok then, they covered all the bases!

Wk 3 - The 52 Week Project

2011-01-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

Ok so I'm a wee bit late, three days to be exact, but I have been a little pre-occupied. You see I have been painting and sticking and all sorts and having a ball! So much so that the days passed and suddenly 'oh my goodness I forgot!' I wracked my brain, what can I post for the 52 week project? I mean I have been curling, but I don't take my camera, I've been skiing but again, no camera! Then this afternoon I was putting up my finished canvas in the lounge and Lovely Man caught me on camera. As the painting has been an all consuming passion this last week it seemed fitting to record it for my Week Three of the 52 Week Project.

This is the first canvas I have ever painted that is bigger than A4 which at first was a bit daunting! However, I had an absolute ball. I loved working on a bigger piece, in fact next time I go to Thunder Bay I am going to buy an even bigger one! I am just loving doing this online art course with Tam, and I can't wait for next weeks tutorial! In the meantime I need to work on the course journal which I am not so good at!

Manitouwadge Echo ~ News and Views from In and Around Manitouwadge:

2011-01-20T12:15:00.000-05:00

Manitouwadge Echo ~ News and Views from In and Around Manitouwadge:

52 Weeks Project 2011 - Wk 2

2011-01-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

Well I think the high light of the week has to be x country skiing! We have been no less than 4 times this week! This picture was the top spot, the season kick off with roasted wieners and roasted marshmallows cooked on stick over a fire pit dug in the ice by the lake! Cool eh?!

Sunday Evening Threesome

2011-01-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

Hey there that got your attention eh? This is a short post. A fly=by! I really don't know what's to do with me tonight. I feel restless and I seem to have the attention span of a goldfish with ADHD! Add to that my fingers keep typing letters in the wrong order. Does anyone else suffer with that? It seems to be happening more and more. I have been typing for years and know exactly where the keys are without looking. My brain spells the word but my fingers type the letters in the wrong order! However I will post my treasured three things everyday, even if you can't read them!!!

I am thankful today for:

That old fashioned piece of technology - The Telephone! Sunday is the day I usually manage to catch up with my mum, my best friend, my brother, my boy.
Slow cooked lamb in red wine - an absolute treasure since lamb is so difficult to get here!
My own personal superhero who sits beside me on the couch. Thermal Man! Yes Lovely Man has decided to re-invent himself. As he says Kylie did so why can't he?

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Thank you

2011-01-08T20:31:00.001-05:00

Ok I'm here! I'm thankful for that! Number one ha! Seriously though here's my list of three for today

For the snow and the sunshine again today
For the fun we had at the x country ski club season kick off. Roasted Wieners and marshmallows
for the hot croissant and fresh coffee this morning, with homemade raspberry jam
for the hour or two in the studio this morning, painting

Until tomorrow....

Trail to Gog Lake

2011-01-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Trail to Gog Lake
Originally uploaded by Rona Gregory

My first submission to the "52 weeks 2011" project. This was taken on a walk earlier this week. The trail goes from our back yard, up the mountain to a lake. We didn't get to the lake but I am just SO in love with this place and the snow.

52 Weeks 2011

Did You Notice?

2011-01-07T20:09:00.000-05:00

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Who fell at the first hurdle then? Who? Me, that's who! On Sunday I gushingly posted my intention to post at least three things I am thankful for that day, EVERY night for the WHOLE month of January. Well today my good friend Lorrie invited us all to join her on a 52 week project, check out the link for details, and this prompted me to click onto my own blog to check for comments etc. and to see what I posted last. That's when I remembered! On Sunday I had set my own project, invited all you good souls to join in and then forgot all about it! Would you swallow it if I said I was thankful for being uber busy for the last four nights and therefore not able to get on my laptop? No? Thought not :(

So anyhow what am I thankful for today? Well first of all I am thankful for new shoes! Every girl likes new shoes doesn't she? Actually, to be more precise they are new slippers but new shoes sorta sounded better! My Studio is in the basement and it has a concrete floor which is great when you're playing with paints and wood and stuff but not so great for your tootsies when it's cold. So Lovely Man bought me these...

They are very toastie warm and comfy!

Ok number two. I am thankful for the Canadian postie for delivering my art stuff today.

3. The nice people in town who stop me to tell me they love reading my column, that means so much to me to be able to give people something they enjoy. It also does amazing things for the confidence, not only to carry on with the column but to get on and write that book I keep wittering on about!

4. Our lovely little house here in Manitouwadge which could so easily have been a disaster given that we bought it 'unseen' (we chose it on the internet!).

5. My guardian angel who, I'm sure, has watched over us for the last few years smoothing the way with this whole immigration thing.

6. For my wonderful partner, AKA Lovely Man, who always makes me laugh, panders to my every whim and most of all loves me just as I am.

7. for my Mum who continues to encourage me in everything I do - love you Mum, miss you too.

8. for my huge network of friends, old and new, here in blogland and in 'the real world' !

9. The snow. I know I go on about it but I really do love it!

Ok, so I got nine! Am I forgiven? Ha ha!

New Listing on Etsy!

2011-01-07T16:31:00.000-05:00

Check out my new listing on Etsy. So L.O.V.E. this fabric! Was tempted to keep this one but I really have no need for a purse in the bush so here it is!

Thankful For Simple Pleasures

2011-01-02T16:34:00.001-05:00

I've got that New year feeling! You know, the one that feels all happy and optimistic, the feeling that this year is going to be a good year. All the little 'hiccups' of 2010 are going to sort themselves out. There have been times when I thought I had lost my faith, times when it felt just too difficult to remain positive in the face of all the little things that seemed to go wrong one after another. This blog was always intended to share life's pleasures and I have always tried to steer well clear of anything negative or sad here even though sometimes that was hard, sometimes I just felt like saying this is crap and I need a hug! A friend of mine recently told me that she started to keep a little book in which she wrote down all the things she was grateful for that day, every night. This, she said, kept her on track and positive and she firmly believes that this is what turned her life around. Mindfulness and positive thinking.

So anyhow I really want to get back to the essence of Life's Simple Pleasures and to that end here's what I intend to do: from today I am going to post at least three things that I am grateful for each day, every night for the whole month of January, just to see how it feels! If you would like to join in simply do a daily post on your blog or, if you prefer, add them to the comments on here! So here goes:

Last night there was a snow storm and we woke up to lots of lovely fresh white snow!
We took the trail to Gog Lake.
The sun shone and the sky was bright blue
The air was crisp and clean and sparkled like glitter
My son was on facebook and he looks and sounds so happy. That makes me just SO happy too!
Living with Lovely Man, without him I just wouldn't be where I am today.
Receiving an e-mail from the Editor of The Echo saying my new column is "Great"!

Wow! It was hard to stop at three!!!!

Well that's that then!

2010-12-25T21:42:00.001-05:00

Christmas Day! As usual we spent ages working up to it and there it was...gone! I admit I approached it with some trepidation this year, although to the outside world I presented a confident, positive attitude, inside I was secretly scared and succumbed to the odd bout of closet tears. Our first Christmas away from everyone we love so dearly. Could I telephone/skype everyone without falling into a sobbing heap? What on earth was I going to do without all the cooking and entertaining? As so often happens the thought of doing/coping with something was far worse than actually doing it! So it was that I enjoyed several phone conversations and video links with everyone. I cooked a full three course lunch, just for 3 of us, which went SO smoothly I was convinced I had forgotten something! Our friend Jim came from across the street and joined us and we spent a leisurely afternoon with a late lunch followed by afternoon tea and sweet treats, good conversation not to mention a good bottle of wine and a little Christmas spirit if you get my drift! Lovely Man and I agreed no presents as neither of us are working yet but my wonderful little brother and my best friend decided that they would not adhere to this particular stipulation and sent us parcels anyway! So Lovely Man and I are now sitting with our evening cuppa sporting lovely new PJ's. He has a new book to read "Man v's Wild", I have a "How-To" book for Adobe in-Design (much needed as I really struggle and bug hell out of both my brother and son on this one!), a lovely Moleskine Cahier note book (so I'll look real professional when I cover an event for the Echo!), and a gorgeous shawl cardigan, matching beret and necklace! Thank you Jan, Derek and Ellie, Jay, Nik, Dan & Jack!

So, I survived after all! Lovely Man I know will always survive no matter what...I just sneaked a peek at his book. He will learn how to make a meal from maggots, skin a snake and eat it, build a shelter in the snow, cool himself using his own urine and live without his cell phone....Mmmmm Nice!

So what now? Well already that New Year feeling is seeping in. That feeling of anticipation, of new beginnings, good intentions and optimism. I am looking forward to some spring cleaning, knocking a hole in the wall (the new dining room worked perfectly and I think the hole may appear sooner than I thought!), a new art class with Tam starting on 17th January and hopefully some visitors from the UK. So much to look forward to!

So, here's wishing everyone a very happy, positive New Year where dreams come true and peace and love are in abundance. Happy New Year everyone.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-24T23:11:00.000-05:00

Well it is Christmas Eve at last! It feels like I haven't posted for months, let alone a week! Where does the time go to? But at last I am sitting on the couch with my red christmas PJ's on, with a glass of my new favorite Christmas Drink (Smirnoff Cranberry & Lime if anyone's buying!). The baking is all done, my hazelnut meringue for dessert came out perfectly this year, meat is ready for the oven. We also fixed the car, yes it broke AGAIN! This time a bearing on the water pump ceased. A friend suggested we just buy a new car, but why bother? With all the new parts we've had to buy and put on the darn thing we almost HAVE a new car! Oh and remember that Family room downstairs? You know how we laid laminate flooring and bought a couch etc. etc. etc.?? Well....we sorta decided we wanted the dining area upstairs on the same level as the kitchen and the lounge. So....after Lovely Man finished fixing the car, took me shopping, stocked up on my new favorite drink at the Liquor Store he then patiently took all the dining furniture up to the smallest bedroom and took all the bedroom stuff down to the basement! He is the most wonderful, patient man I know! Now what it really needs is an arch way from the lounge to the new dining area, but I figured I was maybe pushing the season of goodwill a wee bit too far. So I'll wait a while, although I did see a half price fireplace in the Home Hardware Boxing Day Sale flyer which would look Oh SO nice in the lounge...perhaps if I'm a REALLY good girl....

Christmas has been a little hard this year, being so far from our family and old friends, I confess I've had more tears than usual, a little homesickness, past hurts have crept up and bitten my butt, it's funny how you think you've gotten over being cast out of someone's life without knowing why, then something happens and it smarts a little, like salt in a wound. But then I got to thinking about all the good stuff too, like being able to follow a dream, like being able to share some of that dream with those same friends and family when they come to visit and I decided that I am very lucky. My New Years resolutions will certainly include being a little more mindful and thankful for all the good things in our life, and to show gratitude I will being taking every opportunity that comes our way and giving it my best shot!

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone and I wish you everything you wish for yourself in 2011.

2010-12-18T17:37:00.002-05:00

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

New Etsy Shop Now Open!

2010-12-11T22:14:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post tonight! My new Etsy shop is now open and currently has three listings. Three more to be added tomorrow! Please drop in to take a look around MistieBlue and let me know what you think!

Well it's been another day of x country skiing! Tomorrow Lovely Man and I are looking after the clubhouse for two hours before heading off for another scoot around the trail! Mind you there is going to be a wind chill factor of -30 apparently so I may change my mind! Then it's back to catch up with my loved ones via Skype and then maybe a spot of baking...oh and home-made chicken Korma tomorrow, Mmmm!

Sooo thrilled

2010-12-07T17:56:00.000-05:00

Oh My Goodness! How excited am I! You remember last week I did a post about Breastless in The City? Well I received an e-mail today from Cathy! I am the lucky winner of her book! I can't tell you how thrilled I am, firstly because I actually won a giveaway and secondly because I have been wanting to read her book for a while now. So thank you Cathy! xx Ok. Calm down now, gotta get back to work - deadlines to meet!

A bit of fun!

2010-12-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

This morning I did my usual nosey around facebook with my morning cuppa. I've never been one for 'social networks' until fairly recently but I find it a good way to keep up with everyone since we moved across the pond. Mostly I steer well clear of all the gimmicks. Things like the recent 'change your profile pic' thing which, this weekend, someone pounced on and spread the ugly rumour, again via facebook, that it had been set up by paedophiles to entice children to join the group, are not something I join in with. For two reasons. Firstly I cannot see how changing my profile picture or status 'raises awareness' about something that is a fact of life. Any of us who truly care about anything are more than aware that child abuse, violence and paedophiles exist, and I think that covers the majority. We don't need to 'raise awareness' we need to stamp it out, by being vigilant, reporting anything suspicious and, more importantly, the police and other professionals need to act upon that in a timely and effective manner. Secondly, you never really know for sure whether the thing is genuine, unless of course you wish to trawl the websites like Hoax-slayer and Snopes to check it out first every single time. Personally I'd rather spend that time actually communicating, in a meaningful way, with my friends!

HOWEVER, I did find a thing called status shuffle which, I confess, has given me some amusement! Apart from the irritating bad spelling like "...making ends meat" and "...doesn't know weather to.." I did find a lovely one this morning, it read..."This morning I opened my mouth and my mother came out". Oh how true! Have you ever noticed that, as we get older, this seems to happen? When we were younger we often fought this urge with all our being, determined not to say those irritating things our mother said. Like when you can't find something, mine would say "Well where did you see it last?" And I would roll my eyes to the heavens and get quite exasperated, "Mother! If I knew that then I would know where it was and I would be able to find it wouldn't I?" But now, at the grand old age of 49, I often hear my mother talking and I suddenly realise it's me! And just for the record, I don't really mind anymore!

First online sale!

2010-12-01T17:23:00.000-05:00

I have just three of these little bags ready to go! They are made from soft cream fleece fabric, the tree design is felt applique. The tree is home to a little removable toy, a handmade robin (cotton & felt) or a tree sprite keyring. I usually make the whole thing but these two sprites were the last in the shop and so cute I just had to have them! The bag is lined with cotton fabric and has a MistieBlue Logo (That's my Etsy shop name) label sewn into the side seam. At $30 plus shipping they make an ideal gift for a child. If you would like to purchase one (or more) please contact me via e-mail so that I can advise shipping costs (I would need your post code to give you an accurate quote and delivery time). Please note the cute Teddy in the red jumper is not included.

I also make these cute custom made silk books. The photo's (which you would supply via e-mail) are printed on to habotai silk and made into pages for the book. I will edge them with lace and embellish with beads and embroidery. The cover can be made from various fabrics according to your requirements. These make ideal gifts for all sorts of occasions: anniversary, new baby, christening, birthday or friendship. These will retail at $50 plus shipping. Again please e-mail for full details

Breastless in The City

2010-11-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

Hi, one quick second post today. Here on blogger I have made some lovely 'blogging' friends. One of them, Cathy Bueti, is one very talented and brave person. Not only has she survived breast cancer she has written a very frank and positive account of her journey to recovery. This week she is hosting a blog giveaway, the prize a copy of her book, Breastless In The City. Do pay her a visit. She also has another blog, Artsy Buttterfly, which is also well worth stopping by. Cathy is a self taught artist and photographer and trust me, she's good!

Smile....you're on camera!

2010-11-29T17:22:00.002-05:00

This morning I got up real early. Lovely Man had to go for blood tests, I thought at 8.30, so when I woke at six I got up so that we wouldn't oversleep. As it was he didn't have to be there till after nine and at seven when I woke him he just turned over and went back to sleep! So there I was wide awake and there was nothing for it. I turned on the laptop. One of my new friends in town was up too, she had taken some of our skiing photos and uploaded them to a thing called "SmileBox" which she e-mailed to me. Impressed with this little application I eagerly clicked on the "Get your own SmileBox". A new window opened. More good news. This clever little application is FREE! Wow! Neat! So I followed the instructions, click this button, click that button, wait a few seconds...there done. " We have installed SmileBox and put it in your application folder" it said. So I opened up the folder and double clicked the SmileBox icon. The program opened, so far so good. The application, upon first opening, will automatically upload the last six pictures downloaded to you computer it said. Great! I can get started straight away on my Christmas news letter for back home with some of the pictures I took yesterday.

You can only imagine, my friends, how I felt when, before my very eyes it uploaded the first six photos in my i-photo library. I watched in horror as, one by one, photos of me riding my bicycle around the naturist camp uploaded! Now another horror! The program did this all by itself. Oh Please God...Nooooo. Supposing it had automatically posted to Facebook, or to my friend who sent me the link? Panic stricken I closed the program. Then I opened it again. What I thought this would achieve I'll never know, but I was panicking! Nope, still there. I went to my I-Photo library and deleted them from there, hoping that the computer may forget they were ever there and they might disappear from the SmileBox. Like that was gonna work? I'll uninstall it thought I. Trouble is until now I have always relied on my son or my little brother to do anything like that. I didn't know HOW to uninstall a program. I dragged it to the trash can and it disappeared. I tried to empty the trash can but it said it couldn't because I had put an application in there! "I know it's there. I don't want it, please take it away. Get rid!" I pleaded.

In sheer desperation I mailed my friend who started all this and tried to explain what had happened. Did she know how to delete them? This caused her to panic too thinking she had somehow been responsible for my demise! A few seconds later she mailed back "No it's ok, I still have just your skiing pics". Feeling a little hot and sick I returned to the dreaded program. Then I saw it. A tiny button at the bottom of the window with the word 'delete' on it. Thank goodness for that! So, in the words of corporal Jones, in future..."Don't panic Mr Manwaring" just look for a delete button. Or maybe just don't keep anything you don't want published anywhere on your computer!!

Needless to say there are NO pictures for this post!!!!

Snow...a pleasure...Simples!

2010-11-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

Oh how I love this wonderful white stuff! Like the post title? Snappy eh? As I typed it I suddenly remembered there's a new book on Amazon by Aleksandr Orlov which I am desperate to get my hands on! So anyhow, I took more pics of our back yard today, you can hardly see the deck and the stuff hanging off the roof looks a little precarious!

So this week I have made no bags at all...shame on me! We spent the entire week playing in the snow! And after all why not? Soon enough Lovely Man will be back to work at the hospital, once that pesky Ontario College of Nursing sort themselves out! And then there'll be none of this pleasing ourselves everyday! I have to smile sometimes...friends said "what will you do up there? no shops, nothing for miles?" LOL! All I can say is...don't knock it till you try it! I don't miss shopping at all...yes Jan, Deborah, Vicky et al...you all heard me correctly. I DO NOT MISS SHOPPING! Of course I like it when we do go to Thunder Bay, but generally I don't miss it! Bored? Hell No! How can you get bored with a bush out back, wild life everywhere, lakes, snow....great neighbors. Not to mention curling and ballroom dancing! I do miss the kids, my mum, my brother and my friends, somedays that makes me real sad and I'd give anything to get on a plane and go visit, but only VISIT, but most days I just look forward to them coming here so they can share a little bit of this place.

I read an article by a friend of mine, Kassie, yesterday and it made me think. Yes I miss my family, but I talk to them all the time, then I look forward to the days we'll be together. But this is my opportunity to experience many things that I only ever dreamed of. I remembered my dad, always saying what he would do when he retired. Sadly he never saw his retirement, not in a healthy state at any rate, he suffered many strokes and needed 24 hr nursing care before he was old enough 'to retire'. So here we are taking life by the horns and living each day as if it's our last. I wear my best perfume even if I'm not going out, I light my best candles even though it's only us two here watching TV, and I wear my best undies even just to go skiing!!

The U.S. have just celebrated Thanksgiving, we celebrated it last month, and so I am thankful for my health and my life and my Lovely Man, my family and my friends. And I say to all of you don't dwell on the things you don't have, or the things that you think you should have. Focus on what you want and then be brave and go for it, things always have a habit of working out if you do, and then when you get there be thankful and live it!

Sold out!

2010-11-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

Well almost! Yesterday I did my first ever craft fair. I sold 8 of my twelve bags and had four enquiries for my silk keepsake books! For some reason my red velvet xmas stockings and gift bags didn't tempt anyone at all. I made these last minute to make things look a bit christmassy as it was a christmas craft fair, perhaps people are not so keen on this sort of stuff anymore? Never mind!

Earlier in the week we did Thunder Bay one last time before the winter really set in. The road was really pretty this time! Last time we passed through Schreiber I was intrigued by a number of trees bent over, almost in a perfect arc, at the side of the road. Our friends, who have lived here for years, explained that there was an ice storm a few years ago and this was the result! Fascinating! The frozen 'waterfalls' on the rocks at the side of the road are pretty impressive too!

So this week really saw the arrival of winter with our first real snow of the season, although I guess by local standards this still isn't anything to get too excited about! It dropped to about -18 yesterday then rose back up to about -10! After the craft fair Lovely Man and I decided to take a walk in the snow. Having been shut indoors for two days sewing I was eager to get out there. So eager I did the usual 'grab your boots and coat and out the door' thing. Note to self - choose something you think will be warm enough and add another layer underneath! Although I am told we will acclimatize eventually. It was a strange experience. Wearing only thin brushed cotton jeans my thighs got real cold even though I was walking quite quickly. Within minutes of being back indoors they were suddenly on fire! At one point they were SO hot I considered taking a cold shower! I did, however, manage to get some nice shots of the beach and lake - all frozen of course!

So today is lazy Sunday. Cooked breakfast, a little tidying up and then a whole day just painting and maybe another little walk in the bush! Have a great week all!

Nearly There!

2010-11-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

Ok, so today has been VERY productive after all! Not only did I manage to get next week's column written I also managed to get two childrens bags, one evening purse and a christmas stocking finished! Off to bed now!!!

First Snow

2010-11-14T17:03:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to our first real snow. Umm actually I'm not really sure that statement is correct! You see, so far, we've had four separate days this month where it has snowed ALL day...but it didn't settle. Therefore it wasn't, in my book anyhow, real snow. Last night it snowed whilst I was asleep and it settled just to show me when I woke up this morning that it had done it's best. So I declare it to be 'real' snow although I guess the locals here won't even notice it! If it doesn't come up to the windows around here it doesn't count! Apparently it's only a lot if you can walk from roof top to roof top.

So. How has my week been? For the most part I have been working like a girl possessed on my two sewing machines having decided, at the eleventh hour, to have a table at the craft fair next Saturday. Notice i said two sewing machines? I bought one, when I arrived, in Walmart. The other one I purchased from a lovely guy, Ron, when he moved out of town. It is a Singer Denim Deluxe machine which will sew denim and even leather. I tried it out for the first time when I was trying to stitch some thick handles on one of my bags. What a dream, it sews beautifully, and it's the first sewing machine I've ever had that simple hums along instead of making that awful clattering! So far ten bags complete and ready for sale, one silk keepsake book, one red velvet Christmas gift bag, one red velvet Christmas stocking ready as examples for custom orders. So today I aim to get two evening bags ready for sale and a childs novelty bag.

Thursday night I did take some time out to pursue a new sport. Lovely Man wanted to try curling. Stick curling to be precise. So at 7pm we arrived at the curling club. I should point out at this point I have NEVER been anywhere near an ice-skating rink, nor have I ever had any inclination to. In-fact I absolutely hate that feeling of sliding along. I tried roller skating, skateboarding and even snow boarding and I'm sorry to say I hated it! So it didn't do anything to inspire me when we arrived to watch the first games from the viewing gallery only to witness two people slip up on the ice, one of them having to be taken to the local hospital to have stitches in the back of her head! By the time it was our turn to have a go I was unable to speak to anyone, and feeling somewhat sick! At the last minute every inch of me wanted to turn and run, however with the help of a lovely local lady, Priscilla, I actually managed not only to walk on the ice but to push a few rocks down the lane! AND, excuse me, I got two of them in the target zone, very close to the centre! So we joined! Watch this space!

New Items

2010-11-07T23:49:00.000-05:00

As most of you guys know it has been my intention to work from home, making bags and other pretty things to sell locally and online. So far I have finished 5 bags and a silk keepsake 'book'. They are all handmade by me. Each bag has a small logo label, individually hand embroidered. They are fully lined, the tote bags have extra stitching on the handles for strength and also a hidden vinyl panel to re-inforce the bottom. The Fabric Tote bags will retail at $30 CAD, the bambo effect handled purses at $40CAD (+ shipping).

Chocolate Burlap Tote with Rose Embellishment

Floral Tote

Cream Rose Tote

Lime & Blue Purse

Cream Rose Purse

The keepsake books are custom made to order, the one shown was made for a dear friend. The pictures, 8 or 12 of your choice, are printed onto Habotai Silk, and are permanent. The photos supplied by you will be suitably cropped and sized by me. I can include other materials, such as a poem or message but nothing that is copyright protected. The 'pages' will be embellished with beads, lace and ribbons and then sewn into a book. The cover can be made from various fabrics, with or without embellishments. Apart from the top stitching around the cover which is machine stitched, everything else is stitched by hand. Each one has a sewn in ribbon and bead bookmark. The books can be made to suit many occasions: Anniversary, new baby, friendship. These will retail at $50 CAD (8 pics) $65 CAD (12 pics) + shipping.

Keepsake Friendship Book

Inside Pages

Close-up Book Page

I will be setting up a shop on Etsy.com in the very near future, but in the meantime please feel free to contact me via e-mail if you would like to place an order.

Walking with Coyotes

2010-11-06T16:05:00.000-04:00

This morning we walked up to the Ski Club, which turned out to be much nearer the back yard than we realised! Only about the length of a football pitch away from our place! It was really sunny and crisp and we found a walking trail! Having checked out the skis and stuff in the clubhouse we decided to take a walk and found a lake almost straight away which we didn't know was so near either! Where have we been for the last four months? Anyhow the lake is partially frozen already and looked really pretty in the sunshine. A little further along the trail we found another!

After this we carried on around the other side of town and explored the road to the old mine. We were feeling brave assuming that the bears were all hibernating. We didn't see any, but to be honest we weren't really looking. Our neighbor passed us in the car, she stopped to ask if we saw any bears! apparently they are still about! And there was us tromping through the bush without so much as a whistle let alone a bear banger! Oh well! To top it all we came along the old bush road which leads to the back of our house only to see a coyote run out from our yard and into the bush! I was so surprised I didn't even get chance to switch the camera on! They are SO pretty!

Just one mixed up crazy kid?

2010-10-30T07:56:00.000-04:00

Well I kinda couldn't sleep - again! So after about an hour of trying to lie still and not wake Lovely Man I got up in the dark, fumbled for my fetching pink velour lounge suit and slippers, and crept off to the kitchen to put the kettle on! It wasn't till I got to the lounge and started to actually put on what I'd grabbed off the bedroom floor that I realised I had actually picked up odd slippers (I have 3 pairs). so picture if you will a slighty over weight, forty something (nearly 50!) woman, with bed hair, wearing a ghastly pink velour 'lounge' suit (it keeps me warm ok?!) one white furry boot and one grey and white stripe slipper with a zebra's head on it! You notice this post doesn't have a picture right? That's because this morning I want you to use your imagination!

So anyhow I sat here thinking about life, like I do from time to time. I started to write my book the other day. The one I want to write about Angels and the Laws of the Universe. And well, I got to thinking about stuff. Roughly 10 years ago I was at a very dark time in my life and although it often felt like nothing was ever going to change there was a part of me that used to dream. Daydream that is. I used to imagine being with someone who I REALLY loved and who loved me back. I used to imagine living a life in the country, painting and crafting and generally being happy. And then that's all it was. Daydreaming. Or was it?

Almost out of nowhere I seemed to get myself by the bootstraps and haul myself out of the bad time. I had lots of help along the way. Some of the help didn't seem kindly at the time, but looking back everything that happened had to happen to get me where I am now. Where I needed to be. Where I dreamed about being.

So here I am in a new country living on the edge of the wilderness, painting and crafting. Writing and getting paid for it - still can't believe that one! I have a man who makes me just SO happy - Lovely Man- and it's a million times better than I ever dreamed of! I dreamed of an English country cottage with roses in the garden, that evolved to living near a lake in Canada. I dreamed of not having to go out to work but instead work at home. We both dreamed of living in a small community, and playing a part in it, being able to do stuff we didn't seem to have time for before. And OH BOY just look what we got! A house, on the edge of the bush - literally - in a small, close community, with three lakes! A town where everyone knows everyone, where people like to stop and chat. A place where we can get involved because we have the time. As for there being 'nothing to do' in a small northern town, nothing could be further from the truth! We have had more invitations to functions and events in one week than we'd have in a year back home! The whole community has more going on in a small place than we seemed to hear about in the larger towns we came from! There's even a dog pound and a cat rescue in town where I have been able to volunteer to help out - that was in my plan too!

And as I started to write this post I wondered. Is it just because I was brave enough, or mad enough, to try? Did I just get carried along? Or was it just meant to be? Did I just attract it into my life because I used to focus on it so hard? See? Just one mixed up crazy kid!

And then I remembered. One night, about six years ago, at church I got a message from my uncle, who is in spirit, he said that I should be patient and trust, and that one day things would be better than I had ever dared dream of. At the time I just accepted it and hoped he was right, and then as time went on I held on to that message, trusting it to be true.

So to all my blogging friends, and non blogging friends too, I say don't be afraid to dream. In fact dream a little harder and more often. You may be surprised one day. As one of my new friends, Kassie, would say "Always expect miracles".

De Ja Vu

2010-10-27T10:23:00.001-04:00

This morning I woke up to yet more rain! It feels like I'm back in the UK! I'm in a pondering mood today. All week I have gradually been slipping into the abyss of chiding myself for not getting things done as fast as I'd like. I set targets, I changed them. I made lists, I added to them. Little wonder I started to feel at odds with everything. So this morning I pondered the meaning of my life and decided that actually I have achieved what I originally set out to to do this week. So unlike Lovely Man who announced he's off down to the basement to 'do bizzies' I am going to have a day of indulgence. Blogging, painting, baking and a little ballroom dancing at lunch time!

I have made my target of five bags over the last few days. I am now waiting for some good daylight to take better photos ready to list them on Etsy, but here's a sneak preview:

I am still a little undecided on how to sell these. We have a craft fair coming up at the end of November and the locals are keen for me to have a table, but I'm not sure I can get enough stuff made in time to do it justice. I can get a good amount of bags done but I want to have other stuff too which is going to take a little longer to make (all a bit top secret right now cos the first one will be a gift for a very special friend, now that's got your attention eh?!). So right now I am pondering. Craft Fair or Etsy? But for today....

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work" Anon

I'm going to indulge my inner child and show her the rainbow!

Oh What a night...

2010-10-19T12:19:00.001-04:00

Cantabile - The London Quartet - Manitouwadge

late September back in 63.... Actually it was mid October 2010 but I couldn't find a song about that! Yes I am feeling musical, lyrical even, this morning. Last night saw the second show of the "Night on the Town" series and well, things just keep getting better. In September we saw the wonderful Louise Pitre, last night The London Quartet. Four VERY talented guys from... you never guess? London, England! Oh yes having moved half way across the world I go to see a show performed by an act from the UK! They were, however, excellent and I would thoroughly recommend going to see them should you get the chance. Currently touring Canada they will be performing in Belgium, Switzerland and Austria before returning to the UK. You can catch them in December 2010 in Clacton-on-Sea, Grantham and Salisbury. I think the hi-lite of the evening had to be when the guys came down to the audience, first serenading me and then Lovely Man with a comical rendition of "Are you Lonesome Tonight?"

This morning we awoke to our first smattering of snow! Lovely Man has put the heating on and made coffee in our new Hamilton beach Brewstation, which he is particularly fond of mostly because it only cost him $9.99 in a thrift store! I have decided that I will work on my writing and painting whilst listening to the CD, kindly awarded to us by Cantabile - The London Quartet, firstly for being good sports and secondly because they found out we were fellow Brits! Thanks Guys!

Early one morning..

2010-10-15T21:11:00.000-04:00

just as the sun was rising...nope, sorry, no maidens singing just us two setting off for Thunder Bay! We needed to drop off the garbage at the bear proof dumpster before heading off and it just happens to be right near the beach. I simply couldn't resist taking this these photos of the lake. It looked so peaceful and serene. I feel SO lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Lion Beach, Manitouwadge

So we set off for our two day shopping trip some 5 hours away! The views just got better and better

And better!

We found a lovely little B&B, called Kaylees, the rooms were spotless and the food was very good and at $65 per night for both of us all included, excellent value. We shopped, and shopped some more. We had our first chinese meal since we arrived! We had our favorite ribs and wings at Swiss Chalet and generally had a jolly good time! I have a hilarious story about our adventures in the latter diner which I will share...one day!

My only regret? Well, they always say you regret what you don't do, not what you do. I planned to have a go at some night photography. I packed spare batteries, camera, tripod and my trusty 'how to' books by Scott Kelby. But...the first night it drizzled and I really didn't want to get my camera wet and the second night I was just SO shopped out I ate dinner, shopped some more and went back to the B&B where I fell asleep! Never mind, another day - or night - as the case may be! However, upon my return home I decided to catch up with my blogger pals. Can you believe it?! The lovely Cathy, who by the way, has got this night photography lark down to perfection, is only going to give away two of her wonderful photo's for free in a draw. All you have to do is visit Cathy's Blog and leave a comment! So. What are you waiting for? Get on over there and check out her lovely blog! Not only is Cathy a fab photographer she is also a great artist and has written a book. One talented lady.

Where, oh where....

2010-10-10T21:14:00.000-04:00

has this week gone? We have been blessed for the last eight or more days with glorious sunshine and blue skies! For that reason I have achieved very little in the grand scheme of things! After all who can bear to stay inside when the universe is being so kind to us? Actually, to be fair, we have not been resting on our laurels. No indeed, the garden is tidy ready for winter. The clothes post now stands erect in a place where I can actually reach it without hurting my back or falling headfirst down into next door's garden! The decking has been repaired and we have a trailer full of rubbish to take to the landfill! No. when I say I haven't achieved much, I actually mean I haven't made a single bag, keepsake book or painted a single canvas!

In the evenings I have sketched. A new pastime for me, sketching people, namely Kelly who is a lovely blogger I 'met' recently and she does this weekly sketching challenge. I have also been writing my column pieces and saving them, just in case I get writers block one week! I think this week though I am especially proud of my first attempt at drawing a caricature, so much so that I couldn't resist popping it in here (just in-case your not familiar with my arty blog!!!). So I suppose, upon reflection, I have achieved quite a lot, in the grand scheme of things, just not the things on my list!! Have a great week guys!

A Beautiful Fall

2010-10-03T07:36:00.004-04:00

Today I was awake real early. I had the fidgets. Do you ever wake up and it's like someone turns a switch on in your brain? Then all these little ideas and thoughts start to whizz around making it totally impossible to get back to sleep? Yup! Nothing for it than to get up and make a pot of tea. I peeked outside, just after 6 a.m. Still Dark. What looks like a smattering of snow outside. So the neighbors weren't pulling my leg then! I put the little lights on in the kitchen window, I like my lights they give the kitchen a nice warm glow. Yes people I have fairy lights in my kitchen window! I bought them in Walmart, they are little bunches of grapes that light up. Lovely Man would have them down in an instant given half a chance! I glanced at the thermometer - zero degrees. So here I am blogging, browsing through my photo gallery, all wrapped up in my pj's, woolly socks and a fake fur throw!

Last night I did my second sketch of Kelly. In-fact I did two on account of not quite being able to get her arm right the first time! So I'm feeling all artsy-fartsy and I can sense another 'creative day' coming on! Anyway I'm sat here, now witnessing the most beautiful sunrise, browsing through my piccies and I find these two of Chippie taken a couple of days ago when I very quietly followed him to his home! Turns out he lives in a burrow just outside my back fence! I guess the days of seeing him preening in the sunshine will be a little less soon. Although I am assured that even tho it gets real cold we do get some bright sunny days up here! I like these pictures. Makes me feel warm just looking at them. The locals cannot believe we don't have our heating on yet, they think we're mad or something. I do picture myself as Renee Zellweger in "New in Town" very soon! Do you think Lovely Man will turn into Harry Connick Jnr? Ooh just the thought......

So yes umm....Chippie second picture....here it is.....I'm off to make tapioca pudding!

I don't usually do this.....

2010-09-30T20:05:00.004-04:00

Post twice in one afternoon that is! But I just happened to look out the window this evening and I thought I saw chippie in the yard. I haven't seen him for two days so excitedly I grabbed my shoes and a handful of nuts and headed outside. I sat and called to him but, unusually, he didn't come down from the steps he just sat there very still. Then I noticed that he didn't have little black stripes down his side and his tail was a little bushier than usually. I then realised that it was infact a little red squirrel! SO sweet. He scrambled up the tree and I dived indoors to retrieve my camera! Lovely Man was sitting expectantly waiting for his supper and I disappeared out the door saying "Can't stop...new visitor!" I also swore a little on account of cracking my knee on the corner of the coffee table in my haste to get back outside. Anyway this dear little chap sat quietly watching me as I crawled about under the tree, letting me get real close, methodically chewing on the small pine nuts!

Published!

2010-09-30T17:48:00.004-04:00

Well people! My first column piece has been published in the Manitouwadge Echo! I am, officially, a freelance writer! Check it out by clicking the link in my blog sidebar! My very special thanks must go to, in the main instance; Lovely Man who always encourages me to follow my dreams, to my best and longest ever friend Jan who told me years ago "you need to write and get published", and to Lorrie who is officially my mentor in all things creative (and technical!). I should also thank all my Blogger friends and everyone else for their gentle nudges too! Thanks guys! And Kassie if you read this thank you for all your valuable advice, I am approaching other sources as we blog!!!

Oh and you'll never guess? I have a veritable feast of lamb stashed away in the freezer! Oh yes my lovelies. Why am I SO excited you ask? Well because, it seems, Canadians just don't eat lamb! I am amazed that I have had at least 5 woman today tell me a) they have NEVER eaten it and b) they wouldn't know how to cook it. One man even said "I'd never eat lamb that's dog food" I traveled to Marathon earlier in the week, absolutely convinced that the "big' shops there would have some. But NO! The guy in the meat shop told me I needed to go Thunder Bay or the Soo ("there's more ethnic minorities there" he said "so the shops will have it there"). Anyhow the long and the short of the story is that Mel, my neighbor happened to be in Thunder Bay this week ( a mere 5 hours away by car!). Dear George, her hubby, phoned her on her cell phone and told her to bring me as much lamb as she could get in the car!!!

Last night at about seven o'clock there was a knock on the door. There stood my new best friend (I'm easily bought) with a shopping bag full of half legs of lamb and lamb chops apologising because she couldn't find any neck of lamb and she knew that was my favorite! What a STAR! so Thank you Mel. Mwah!

Oh and talking of my lifelong friend, congratulations also to Jan (and Mandy) who just ran the Great North Run in just over 3 hours and raised over £3,000 for the Autistic Society! Great stuff mate, I am just SO proud of you!

Oh and just in-case you're having trouble finding the link in the sidebar here it is!!!
The Echo not that I'm desperate for you to read it of course.......

This is a lake??

2010-09-27T21:08:00.005-04:00

Today we went to Marathon, a town on the north shore of Lake Superior. Originally we went to get some supplies that are difficult to get around here but we happened to find the beach. Oh WOW! I just spent absolutely ages here just sitting listening to the waves on the shore. The sun was bright and there was a strong breeze...well ok a strong wind! I have never seen so much driftwood on one beach, and the pebbles. They were the size of small rocks, perfectly round and smooth. Pink, grey, white pebbles with stripes and circles and small speckles. Each one called to me, inviting me to take them home. I just sat there picking them up, stroking them each one in turn. They were just SO tactile. Anyway eventually Lovely Man started to fidget and I knew I probably stretched this moment as far as I could. So, reluctantly I got up and we headed back to the car. I struggled a bit up the hill. Probably on account of the half a dozen large pebbles that stowed away in my pockets!

Lovely Man checking out the biggest piece of driftwood you've ever seen!

My Mama told me..

2010-09-26T11:20:00.002-04:00

never to speak with my mouth full!

Space to work

2010-09-24T19:34:00.003-04:00

Friday it rained ALL day! Although in truth I didn't really notice. I spent a productive morning downstairs typing up several reports for Lovely Man's nursing registration. Also I had a very long conversation on the telephone with the lovely Kassie and made a yummy steak and kidney pudding for supper. But..... Lovely Man excelled himself and put up the shelves I needed to hold my craft stuff, sewing machines, books and so on. Ooooh I was just SO pleased! So...supper was late. I spent ages faffing about moving stuff here and there, dusting and sweeping and generally 'moving in to my space'. It's not finished by a long stretch. It needs some things on the wall, pictures, a notice board and maybe a few more shelves, but at least it's fairly organised and I have a space to do some work!

Hold on to my bumper baby...

2010-09-23T22:34:00.001-04:00

Our troubles of a vehicular nature were not over it seemed. You may recall that during our recent trip down south our Dodge Durango broke down twice...in two days. Well we got home and a week or two passed when suddenly we had another strange noise. A sort of grinding rattle that came and went from time to time. So on Saturday morning Lovely Man set about giving the car an inch by inch inspection in the hope that he could find, and cure, all it's little problems once and for all. He started with the wheels. Almost immediately he discovered that the passenger side wheel bearing was seized. This wasn't causing the grinding noise. No that, he discovered, was a plate holding the rear end of the exhaust which had come loose and simply needed a screw. So! There we were, noise cured, but now needing a new wheel bearing.

Today the new part arrived. Lovely Man disappeared out into the car port with trusty toolbox and shiny new part. I was summoned from my cleaning, typing and phoning from time to time to put my foot on the brake, or supply glasses of coke. Chippie came to observe the proceedings. Actually I don't think he was really interested in the mechanical expertise but rather he hoped that there might be some peanuts available. Apparently he ran circles around the tools and sat looking expectantly whilst Lovely Man struggled with wheel nuts and rusty metal. Well at least they kept each other company.

And so around 3 o'clock a cheerful announcement from the back door "It's fixed!" Great. Then "Ro...QUICK". Then again "RO! QUICK" this time with just a tinge of panic. As I looked out the back door all I could see was a Large Black Dodge trying it's best to get away down the slope with a rather red faced man in blue overalls holding on to the front bumper! And get this....in my panic I ran to get to the driver side....behind the car...it was going backwards down the hill?! Doh! Anyhow I managed to do a La Mans start style leap into the car and put the brake on! So, all's well that ends well. The Dodge, for the time being, lives to see another journey!

I know I shouldn't, but.......

2010-09-22T11:17:00.000-04:00

get distracted that is. This morning I had a plan. Shower, breakfast, finish the basement, do the housework, do the shopping...in that order. So what happened? I tell you what happened. Lovely Man, a bag of peanuts and a chipmunk is what happened! It is beautiful and sunny....again...and so Lovely Man took some nuts and went out on to the deck because Chippie had arrived. Half an hour or so later I am still out on the deck, with my camera, playing with Chippie and Stumpy!


Chippie meets Buddha!

Chipmunks are very territorial and will not often tolerate another chipmunk feeding at the same table as it were. At first their visits were quite well timed with one leaving just as the other arrived. This, however, did not last. At one point they both arrived together. I should point out that one has a nest somewhere on the back hill (Chippie), the other has a nest in the garden across the street from us out front (Stumpy). So I was sitting there camera in hand when Chippie came up from behind and Stumpy arrived on my lap with a plop. For a second or two there was a sort of Mexican Stand off, each trying to stare the other one into submission. Then there was a flurry of tails and squeeks which resulted in Stumpy taking refuge down the front of my tee shirt. This did concern me a little. I have no objection to one of them down there but I certainly didn't fancy the two of them sorting out their differences down my cleavage! Stumpy, however, jumped out (probably in need of oxygen) and climbed up onto my head. There he sat watching Chippie with utter contempt until he took his share of the booty and set off along the path. Stumpy then took a couple of nuts, allowed me to stroke him for a few minutes before disappearing off across the street. Unfortunately in all the commotion one of them sat on top of the camera and altered the settings which meant none of this escapade was caught on film! Never mind. I got some nice pics of my favorite boys once I reset the camera.

Chippie takes a nut whilst Stumpy watches with contempt!

Stumpy stays awhile!

Law of Attraction

2010-09-21T20:00:00.001-04:00

I have been reading lots about the Law of Attraction. It's one of the seven Laws of the Universe. It's all about vibrations. Put very simply, when you want something you have to think and behave as if you already have it. The energy and vibrations working within the universe then cause a manifestation of the desired outcome. Hey I thought it would be simple to explain! And you guys are thinking it's all jiggery hokey pokey! It's nothing new. It's been around for years apparently. Maybe it's simply believing in yourself so much that you actually get past the fear of failing, get off you butt and actually do it! Either way I believe it works. One day I'll explain why. For now though let me just say that I have met some very nice people, both here on blogger and the new town where I live. They have been bought to me, by the universe, and they have all, in one way or another, given me help and support to realise my dream.

For years I have wanted to write, I also wanted to paint and craft and earn a living from it. It started with my good friend Lorrie who encouraged me to start painting, sketching and blogging! Then I got to know about a lovely lady Kassie who is an inspirational writer. Her column in the Manitouwadge Echo reminded me to believe in myself and to behave and think more positively. Then came Lisa, her blog inspired me. It felt like I was listening to myself, the me that thought I wasn't good enough to call myself a writer or an artist. But Lisa decided to invoke some positive thinking. Instead of saying "I want to be" she now says "I am". This was the kick up the ass I needed. It's so empowering. I am. I am a writer. I write everyday. I am an artist. I create every day. When you say "I want to be" it simply implies that you might be one day if you ever get around to doing something about it!

Lastly, Lisa put me on to a super duper person, Jamie Ridler, who was giving away these fab buttons for people to use on their blogs. I love them! Thank you Jamie. Also thanks to Lorrie for helping me, once again, with the technical stuff!

So from now on guys I am officially referring to myself thus....I am a writer....I am an artist...I REALLY AM!

Sunday Stroll

2010-09-19T22:35:00.002-04:00

Thankfully another sunny day! Hydro One scheduled a power outage from 8 am till gone 3 pm so there was nothing for it but to take to the streets!! Well actually we had to walk to the Friends Cafe for a hot drink! So we went via the Perry Lake Walking Trail. Some lovely views although I have to confess I was a little nervous as this end of town has had numerous sightings of bears! We didn't come across any, thankfully! I love the bears I just don't fancy meeting one face to face right now while they are trying to stock up for the big sleep!


Perry Lake Walking Trail

After coffee and a lovely Butter Tart we walked back through town and decided to take a hike along Wilroy Road, a bush road which runs from the beach up along the edge of the bush behind our garden and on down to Caramat Road which is the road to the landfill and beyond! On the way up we stopped to see the two horses at the local stable. I haven't got to know them or their owner yet but already have a plan to take the winter sleigh ride which they offer.

Wilroy Road

About 3.30 the power finally came back on and I finally got out my new sewing machine. We now have net curtains in the kitchen! And I am working on the lounge ones. Yesterday we triple glazed our windows with this neat stuff. You stick up this sheet of plastic with double sided tape to the window frame and then...you heat it up with a hairdryer!! It sort of stretches and becomes invisible and more to the point it's supposed to make quite a difference to your heating bill! Sounds good to me!

The colors of Fall

2010-09-16T18:28:00.002-04:00

This morning we ditched the morning run in favor of a light breakfast followed by a three hour walk around the lakes, the town and beyond. I needed to take some photo's of local landmarks for a project I'm doing and we needed shopping so it seemed an all round sensible idea! It has been an absolutely glorious day here, the sun has shone and there hasn't been one cloud in the sky! Although we started out in sweatshirts it wasn't long before they came off and we were in our vest tops! The colors around us right now are becoming quite spectacular. The leaves on the shrubs outside the post office are the color of a good claret, and some of the other leaves have turned the color of cinder toffee.

And the lake is a beautiful bright blue.

Lunch, again, was taken on the deck. With rain forecast for tomorrow we thought we just needed to make the very most of this wonderful sunshine. Looking out over the gardens it just confirmed how lucky we are to have this opportunity to live in such a beautiful setting.

Hopefully on Saturday, if the forecast is correct, the sun will shine again and we will go on an adventure into the bush at the back....there is a trail leading to yet another lake which is just begging to be found!

A great day...in more ways than one!

2010-09-15T20:38:00.001-04:00

Well! Firstly we went for a jog again this morning! Can you believe it? Third day running (pardon the pun). After breakfast I settled to put the finishing touches to a draft column piece for the local paper, printed it off along with a list of proposed ideas for future pieces and a photograph. Lovely Man, in the meantime, disappeared to his 'office' (a desk in the basement) to work on his application for registration with the College of Nursing in Ontario. By about 11.30 we were both done. The sun was shining and there was no wind so we decided to take a coffee and sit in the yard. Just in case, Lovely Man took a bucket of peanuts with him. After a few minutes a little chipmunk appeared at our feet, obviously bought out by the warm sunshine for one last foraging expedition. As if this wasn't exciting enough as we sat and watched him hop across the yard toward the back fence something scrambled up on the other side of the deck. Looking down we were overjoyed to see Stumpy. Immediately he jumped up onto our lap and then the table, gently taking nuts from us and allowing us to stroke him. It was as if he'd never been away! What's more we were pleased to see that his tail was looking much healthier and seemed to have grown back a little. He was a little nervous when the first chipmunk came back and quickly scampered off, coming back only when the first disappeared again with his hoard.

Later today I had a meeting with the Editor and owner of the local paper and they took me on as a freelance writer. I get my own little 'column', think we're going to call it "Brits Abroad" or " Life Across the Pond" it's undecided yet! I also get the opportunity to report on local events when one of the other reporters can't do it. It doesn't pay big bucks but it's a start and will build up my confidence as a writer. So all in all a very good day....in more ways than one!

Oh and finally a newsflash...Lovely Man is becoming a true Canadian and growing a 'goatie'! And do you know... it's actually kinda cute...I like it!

Well!...Would you believe it.....

2010-09-14T19:40:00.002-04:00

This morning Lovely Man and I were up at 8.30 - AGAIN! And what's more we went out and did the jogging/power walking thing - AGAIN! Well how about that? It was distinctly chillier this morning but still pleasant and this time we didn't collapse in a heap on the bed when we got back!

We actually got a bit more done today. A work bench was constructed for the workshop. More pictures, in fact all the pictures, were hung. Malcolm the moose has found his spot in the family room flanked on either side by a wood carved portrait of one of his relatives and a photograph of our local black bear! I have made my own little art gallery on the stairway and displayed all Lovely Man's Army & Naval momentos in the family room and dining area.

The Fall is certainly well underway. The trees at the back are turning quite golden now. The chipmunks are rarely seen, I quite miss them but they'll be back in Spring.

Yesterday evening we had a double rainbow arched over the street. It was the biggest, brightest rainbow I have ever seen. It seemed so close too I felt that I could almost reach out and touch it!

And just to round off a perfect day our neighbour, Jim, came across with some homemade cabbage rolls for us. They were absolutely yummy, and saved me from having to cook too. I have already searched out a recipe and will be experimenting in the very near future. Once tried and tested I will post the recipe on here. Talking of cooking, you remember I made strawberry and raspberry jam? Well recently I had a bash at grape jelly which was really good too. My next project has to be Christmas Chutney though or Lovely Man will go into a sulk.

Oh My Oh My...where do the days go?

2010-09-13T16:43:00.000-04:00

Yes where indeed! Six days later and we are still sorting and putting up pictures! There are still bookcases to be built, walls to paint, curtains to sew. This morning we got up at 8.30 a.m. Lovely Man decided we are getting very fat and unfit so suggested a jog before breakfast. It was a beautiful sunny morning so we donned our sweat pants and rugby shirts, grabbed a water bottle each and set off. We did the Power Walk for 3 minutes, jog for 1 minute thing. Did a whole two blocks! Phew! Had a healthy breakfast of grapefruit and two small slices of wholemeal toast. Then it all fell apart. David went back to bed proclaiming he was 'exhausted', I had a leisurely shower! Next thing I know it's nearly noon and we have done absolutely nothing! How on earth I ever found time to go to work, cook, clean, paint, sew AND go to a yoga class and a dance class is totally beyond me. Oh well time to start supper, guess those jobs will still be there tomorrow!

And so the unpacking and sorting continues.....

2010-09-11T20:35:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that it has taken most of the day to put away the CD's, DVD's and hang a dozen or so pictures? No? Well it has! I am actually very proud of both of us. I'm proud of Lovely Man for his patience and expertise in the technical department and proud of myself for stepping back and letting him get on with it. As most of you will know I can be a bit 'gung ho' with these little DIY projects! I have to say for me to step back a wait patiently while he measured, scratched his head, re-measured and mumbled took ENORMOUS restraint! Now the lounge, at least, is fairly straight. Apart from the curtains that is. The basement, however, is still a bit of a disaster area. Never mind tomorrow is another day. It is very cold and damp here today, bit like being in the UK really! All being well we'll make a start on the basement tomorrow. I've got so many little things to do craftwise so I really need some space to work.

It's nice to be home

2010-09-10T21:53:00.000-04:00

Well what a lovely day! In more ways than one. Firstly the sun shone ALL day! Secondly I managed to get the house tidy at last...well nearly... the basement is still in need of a little work. We got up around 8 a.m. and, after a quick breakfast, set to. For the best part of the day it felt like we were just taking things from one room to another and nothing seemed to be getting straight at all. By three p.m. I was starting to flag a bit. But the sun was shining and we decided to take all the soggy boxes and paper that we no longer needed to the landfill. As we drove through town and out onto the road which leads into the bush, the landfill and beyond it felt so good to be here. To be home. We both commented that we felt so lucky to have such wilderness right on our doorstep. The picture below is that road and it goes on for some 100 km plus with no houses, no gas stations and no highway, just wilderness.

Upon arrival at the landfill the usual visitors were there...well actually just one visitor today. He just sat patiently in the sunshine waiting for us to go and the attendant with his big digger to leave so that he could have an afternoon snack in peace!

On the way back we stopped off at the local store and bought a CD rack, a DVD rack, some storage boxes for the closet and a shelf for the pantry. Once home we spent a leisurely 20 minutes or so with a much needed coffee out on the deck. After that we seemed to just whisk through the rest of the sorting out! So far the bathroom is finished. The main bedroom is finished apart from staining the chest of drawers and night stands to match the bed. The second bedroom which is also to be a chill out room is tidy and just needs some big cushions and maybe a large wooden dresser.

All in all, we are feeling quite pleased with ourselves today!

The bathroom

Our Room

Chill Out Room

Tomorrow I plan to put up all our pictures and hopefully the new curtains for the lounge window. Next on the list is the kitchen chairs which need to be re-upholstered with some lovely cream fabric I picked up a thrift shop for $1! I just LOVE thrift shops! I have accumulated two large boxes of brand new fabric remnants, all bought for a few $'s here. And I have plans for ALL of it! some for myself and some projects which I hope to sell.

Home at last!

2010-09-07T22:19:00.000-04:00

Well after a long 14 hour drive we are home! It's sort of like christmas eve. The parcels are piled high in the trailer on the drive (aka Santa's sleigh) and we are too sleepy to open them. So we will go to bed with that feeling of excitement and anticipation like when we were kids dying to open the presents under the tree in the morning!

The drive itself was pretty uneventful, we didn't take any wrong turns, the trailer didn't break again and neither did the car! I did make one fateful error tho. I made a comment that the weather was being kind to us, bright, dry and not too hot. Twenty minutes later we were driving at 40 kph, windscreen wipers at full tilt dodging great big thunder bolts! It dried up about half an hour later and I figured we were in the clear. No such luck. It started again in the Soo (Saulte St. Marie) and belted down for the next four hours. Finally as we turned on to the home stretch of highway 614 it stopped raining, infact it hadn't rained there at all the road was completely dry. 5 km on and the Ontario Highways Improvement scheme was forging ahead with it's latest improvement which left us less that impressed. The next 25 km resembled an old logging road complete with potholes. It was worse than when we left two weeks ago. Exasperated I grumbled to Lovely Man "If anything is going to finish off the Royal Doulton Tea set this will."

But for now I'm off to my bed. I did manage to locate the bag with our duvet and new bed covers so we're nice a snug, the temperature having dropped a little lately! Tomorrow is another day, and I just can't wait to get all our things out and make the house a little more like home.

It's been a while...

2010-09-04T19:28:00.000-04:00

since the last post. It seems like a lot has happened and yet nothing much at the same time! Well we traveled down south some 675 miles. We left at 4 a.m. well...actually we eventually left at about 4.20 a.m. on account of Lovely Man getting into a bit of a lather with the bear proof garbage dumpster! At this time of year we keep any waste food that is likely to attract bears in the freezer till garbage day. As we were going to be away for two whole weeks Lovely Man decided we should put all our garbage in the bear proof dumpster on the way out of town. The dumpsters are like skips, but covered, and are located on the outskirts of the town. They are bear proof and, as it turned out, Lovely Man proof too. He spent a good twenty minutes in the glare of the headlights from our car fiddling about with the wretched thing before returning to said car, with garbage, cursing under his breath!

Less than half way here the car started to sound and smell a little odd. We stopped several times but could find nothing wrong, the smell and noise would subside and so we concluded there wasn't much wrong. We arrived at 6.30 p.m. On Thursday we went to Mississauga to collect our things from the shipping warehouse. When we got back the trailer was sagging badly. The next day a new tow hitch needed to be fitted. The following Monday we went shopping. The serpentine belt on the car engine snapped due the fact a pully had seized. We were towed to our mechanic who diagnosed the problem, ordered parts and the next day returned the car to us. The following day a visit to the bank. On our return the same belt broke AGAIN. another trip to our friendly mechanic. It turns out the new pully was faulty which caused the belt to break again.

Just to add insult to injury we found some pretty battered boxes and indeed some broken items. I reported these to the shipping company immediately along with photos. I got a very apologetic email and a promise of an investigation. No surprises when I tell you we have heard nothing since!
Anyhow we have our much missed belongings now. We are currently trying to organise the boxes so that we can fit everything in. The car is fixed. All being well we will make the journey back up north on Tuesday.

Oh...and the garbage? Well that came all the way down with us in the trunk and was duly put out for the garbage men of Maryhill! We must have the most well traveled rubbish in the country!

Inner Turmoil

2010-08-17T15:18:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I had the misfortune to be confronted with a scene outside my own front door which I knew at some point was likely but nonetheless it upset me deeply. I had been for coffee at my new neighbor's house and was returning home just as the guys across the street returned from a hunting trip. In the back of their truck lay a black bear. My eyes were drawn to the pitiful corpse and instantly averted. I rushed indoors, and to be totally honest, I thought my heart would break. Now please, don't for one minute think I am going to be one of those 'townies' who move to the countryside and then complain about the noises and smells of the cattle, or the fox hunting or any other country pursuit and demand it be stopped. Neither am I in the business of passing judgement on the people who hunt.

What it did do was cause me to reflect and question many things, and at this point in time, I haven't been able to reach much of a conclusion. There are so many sides of the argument. In the past hunting was a way of life. Our First Nation peoples hunted to survive. No part of the animal was wasted. It provided food and the skins were traded to make a living or provided clothing. The people gave thanks to their God in the belief that the animal had sacrificed itself so that they might survive. Indeed, many hunters today still eat the meat and use the skin. But I have to question is that a good reason, given that they can go to a supermarket and buy their food? Is it really a sporting trophy justified by the fact that the meat is eaten? And therein lies another question. The meat in the supermarket roamed the earth as a living creature, just as the bear did. So is it any different? Have I chosen to forget that fact because it is convenient to do so?

I have to confess that I am a meat eater and generally I don't question where it comes from. Does that make me a hypocrite? If so, should I put my money where my mouth is and stop eating meat? The sight of that poor bear was so painful for me. Perhaps it was knowing that the bear had been deliberately enticed with food each day for a week prior to the hunt, taking his mind off the game. Or because it was actually quite a small bear, possibly a juvenile. I since learned that the bear in question was shot a few miles away from the trap but that hasn't made me feel differently. Perhaps it is that I associate them with childhood comfort and sentimentality? Although I feel the same when I see whales being culled and I certainly never had a cuddly whale. Is it just that they are such big magnificent creatures I am in awe of them?

Having spent the last evening and most of today deliberating I still cannot reconcile my feelings on this. My conclusion thus far is that whilst my spiritual beliefs lead me not to judge the hunters in anyway, there is a very powerful feeling deep within my soul that morns the death of these magnificent animals. A small voice screaming out for their salvation. In the meantime I can only try to have an attitude of of Live and Let Live toward those who hunt in the hope that someday they, in turn, may adopt the same attitude toward the bear and other animals in the forest.

For anyone who has read my previous post and seen this picture before, please be tolerant. I make no apology for posting the same photograph as I feel it is a fitting tribute and something I just had to do.

I have the nicest friends

2010-08-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

Today I went along to the post office to collect the mail as usual. I had been waiting for some much needed ink pens to arrive and they had come yesterday so I really wasn't expecting to find much in the box today. To my surprise there was a card in my box telling me there was a parcel behind the desk. Sure enough a brown package from the UK had arrived! I instantly recognised the handwriting as my best friend Jan's. I had a few groceries to pick up so I tucked it in my bag and decided to open it when I got home.

Well! As soon as I got in the door I just had to open it, thankfully there was nothing for the freezer because if there had been it certainly would have wasted! In the parcel was the September issue of Woman and Home, a tin of watercolor Pencils and a pad of watercolor paper with a little note that read "something to read and something to do until your stuff arrives". I really do have the best 'best friend'. Jan has this wonderful gift of knowing just what to get, or do, or say just when it's needed the most. So Jan 'Thank you'. For the surprise parcel and for being my best friend.

This evening I experimented with the goodies. I copied a sketch that I had done a few nights ago but gave it color using the pencils and my new ink pens. The design inspiration was a mixture of a memory of a mirror my mum had hanging at the bottom of the stairs when I was small. I don't know what bought that to mind but it just sort of popped into my head the other day and ended up on paper! The choice of color was inspired by a painting called Tropical Fun produced by my good friend Lorrie Whittington who has been, and will continue to be, my mentor in all things arty and techy!

If you go down to the woods today...

2010-08-11T18:49:00.000-04:00

or the good old Landfill!

Yes Lovely Man, as good as his word, was up with the sparrows this morning. By 8.30 he was out there, digging and weeding! By 2 p.m. we had a car full of garden waste just begging to be taken to the landfill. So off we went camera at the ready. As we approached the site we passed the Garbage Collection Vehicle on it's way back downtown. Lovely Man looked pleased with himself. "There" he said "I bet there'll be bears today. Guaranteed! Do I pick a good time or do I pick a good time?" And he wasn't wrong. As we turned into the site there were five bears that we could see, all having a fabulous time picking over the latest delivery of goodies. We parked up and dumped our rubbish and drove back down to the entrance, parking in a suitable place to get some pictures. By this time unfortunately most of them had disappeared all except for this one. Obviously had his fill and just needed a wee rest. He just looked so gorgeous sitting there!

A project completed...

2010-08-10T20:47:00.000-04:00

Well, almost! The last three days have been SO hot we have migrated to the basement! And that is not a bad thing because we have finished, all but the skirting, the family room! YAY!

Now all we need to do is paint the far end, put together the desks, fix the ceiling and we will have an office/workshop. This is where my TWO, yes I have TWO, sewing machines will live and hopefully when my things arrive I will be able to make lovely bags and hand-made photo albums/journals! We also have a small woodwork room down here too, and I have plans to make garden furniture if I can get the hang of this sawing business! I could, of course, get Lovely Man involved in a joint venture but I probably need to work on that one. I am determined to be my own boss and work from home!

I wish I could be more entertaining today but we haven't really had any exciting adventures this weekend, hard to believe I know. However it is garbage day tomorrow. Lovely Man has set the alarm for 6 a.m. He says if we get up early and do some gardening before it gets hot we can go to the landfill again and with it being garbage day there's sure to be a few bears about!

It's a different language!

2010-08-06T14:58:00.002-04:00

Just a short post today as we are busy gardening and laying laminate flooring (if Lovely Man ever gets back from across the street). He's gone to borrow a spanner which usually takes at least half an hour as it usually comes with a free bottle of beer! Anyway I've been meaning to share something that really did tickle my sense of humour. I've really been doing my best to speak the language over here. You know the sort of thing. You say "boot" we say "Trunk", you say "bonnet" we say "hood" and so on. Well the other day I bought a pork joint already marinated and ready to cook. When I checked the instructions I couldn't help but laugh. They read:- Set the oven at 425 F, place the pork in a roast pan, cook for 15 minutes and then reduce the oven to 375 F. Cook for a further 50 minutes or until cooked to the required doneness!

We're going on a bear hunt....

2010-08-05T18:50:00.000-04:00

We're going to catch a big one. We're Not scared! My nephew, Daniel, simply loves this book. I wonder what he would make of this!

After a relaxing morning making Strawberry Jam we decided to take some garden rubbish and the debris from Lovely Man's excavations in the basement to the landfill. Just as we emptied the last bucket of rubble and turned to get in the car we realised we had company! I'm not sure whether bears can climb 5ft high chain fencing but I know they climb trees. Anyhow he looked somewhat disappointed when he saw we only had old grass cuttings and lumps of cement. He gave us a rather disdainful look and plonked himself down for a rest. Thinking we'd got off quite lightly for having the nerve to turn up at the picnic site with such unappetizing contributions we thought it best to get in the car!

Sorry couldn't resist

2010-08-04T19:07:00.002-04:00

I know that you're probably all bored with Chipmunk pictures. Move onto something else for God's Sake! But I apologise I just had to post these two pics of Stumpy and I promise I'll try hard to find something else to waffle on about for a few days! So yes this is Stumpy. He has found a place in both our hearts. He comes every day and now is happy to climb all over us. His confidence in us means that he no longer feels the need to snatch our offerings sometime nipping our fingers by mistake. He also lets us stroke him. Just so cute. Chippie it seems may have, unfortunately, met his demise. He hasn't been around for at least 4-5 days and I'm told there was a hawk spotted in the vicinity preying on smaller birds and mammals. Having said that I am hopeful that this may not be the case as Stumpy did lie low for a couple of days and we started to worry but he's back now and boy do we know it. I'm sure he knows our voices because even if we visit a neighbour he appears and follows us patiently waiting for a peanut, which by the way I now have in my pocket ready.

Come to think of it how dumb! Of course I have something else to waffle on about! Last night, around 11pm, Jim from across the street hammered on our door to tell us he could see the Northern Lights in the sky! Now, I have always been fascinated by this and have wanted to see them for myself for so long. People told me we may see them from here but I was not convinced, I thought we'd have to go further North to the Yukon or somewhere. But no, there they were right above our back yard! Well that was it, no bed for me! We started out on the deck in the dark until Lovely Man said "Do you think this is wise? It's so dark we'd never see a bear coming" no sooner said than done. We were inside, lights out peering from the bedroom window! and there I stayed until well past 1 a.m. Every now and then I'd do the "OH WOW!" thing. Like you do at a firework display, which really upset Lovely Man who, by this time, had given up and was trying to go to sleep! But it was truly awesome! Remember there is nothing but forest for absolutely MILES out the back of our house and yet there was so much light coming from behind the mountain you'd swear there was a town full of street lamps there. And when the shafts of coloured light appeared and moved it was like all the animals in the forest had been given huge flashlights which they were pointing towards the heavens. The Cree call it Dance of the Spirits, they believe that when the aurora happens the spirits dance and light the way to the heavens. Apparently they are forecast again tonight. I just wish I was better at night photography so I could get some photos!

Below is a picture of Lovely Man, proud 'Dad" sharing a nut or two!

Proud Dad with Stumpy