January Brings A New Year 2026

 I love the start of a new year, it's like a fresh start full of possibilities for all the procrastination that has gone on in your head. This year I'm going to get organized in my sewing areas.

Bill has been so helpful in suggestions & making me these holders for my rulers, I'll show you the process and hello and thank you for popping in!

This was my design wall that was taken over with unfinished projects and ideas that I had for the future. This board was from our trade shows that we did in North America in the 1990s.

The goal was to get all my rulers organized & the ones that were used washed & dried. I used 2 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and my Face Off cloth(soft makeup removal cloth) to wash them and dried them with a linen tea towel. I was pleased with the effect that this simple solution had cleaning the rulers!

It was a long process but one that was over due & I was able to organized them by size as I dried & placed them. Like things together has been my motto for the past few years.

Bill asked what would work best & we measured the size that would fit on the design wall. He made me boxes & ruler ledges.

I was amazed at how many quilt things that I've accumulated over the past 22 years of quilting. I had my sewing & decor decorating before I dove into quilting and I lived & breathed it for a good decade.

This area is also my ironing area, file storage, zipper storage & my stool for reaching areas that my 5'2" frame will not reach. Last year Bill installed a light above & it gives such beautiful light, it's like being outside on a sunny day, I love it!

At the shore side window I unearthed a toy bench that my father had made for my older sister & brother in 1949. Then it was in my childhood bedroom & was given to me in the 70s. I moved out east it came with me and all the memories of all the places that box has been over the years. My children used it for a toy box too. The seat is a heavy metal with the original strap to lift it open & the wood is a solid 1" x 2" pieces. Dad told me he made built in bunk beds to go with this box. By the time I was born in 1957, he was a certified welder and I grew up with everything welded, my sandbox, swing set, kitchen chairs, & anything else that was metal & needed repair. Dad passed this welding passion on & taught Mitch to weld at the age of 7. He would spend weekends with Grandpa Skip & come home with holes in his t-shirts, that was the telltale sign of his welding lessons.

The antique fireplace from St. John is once more visible in my sewing room. It was such a beautiful piece with it's original mirror & cast iron insert.

I grew up in London Ontario and the oldest house called Eldon House from the 1834 & this is so like the fireplace in the library area. I live in a modern house but love antiques and have them scattered around our home. The wood adds warmth to the areas and somethings are just timeless.

 The Eel River Townhouses

I'm so pleased at how the kitchens are coming together, these are all custom cabinets above the counter top area and below are all drawers. The appliances are now in place adding to the beauty of these units.

All the double kitchen sinks are below a pencil grid window that looks overlooks the woods.

The two units without the garage have the stack able washer/drier in the kitchen, that's popular in Europe. Around the corner is the linen closet and the door beside it houses the hot water tank & Hvac.

I found the Boston terrier's I made years back, Bill installed them on their crate doors.

Bridget Loree in her crate.

Baxter Loree in his crate.
 

Such a clever idea placing them under the stairs, before their crates stood out in the hallway. These dogs are known for their smelly farting so Bill installed an elevator fan/vent that goes into the garage, it's on a timer so they too can have good air once the curtain is down for the night.

I was delighted to receive this framed canvas photo taken by Nicholas of the Beaver Moon last November 2025. He had taken it & when I saw it said it would be a great photo as I named the property Beaver Moon. It was the Beaver Moon of 2012 that we purchased this beautiful property, so I thought it was quite fitting that it had it's name. I love handmade items from the heart.

I wanted to make a winter wreath to hang on our door & when I saw this wreath that we purchased from an auction, I knew it was right. Look at how real the faux pines look!

So I took pine cones & wrap 18 gauge florist wire around them & secured them around the wreath!

I was pleased with the outcome & it can now hang outside to greet those that come, on the front porch.

I added the dried thyme flower shoots that were in a vase in the kitchen to add aroma therapy, I loved the soft texture that this natural herb added!

At the bottom I put in two stems of lambs ear adding a velvety texture. All in all it was everything I already had, it was just a case of bringing it all together & voila a large natural winter wreath!

This is how the pets spend their evenings when the firebox is burning, it keeps us all warm & cozy through the winter storm's that blow our way off Miramichi Bay. Today it's coming up the south coast keeping the temperatures -2C, really easy for shovelling with no wind.

Thank you for visiting this snowy day on the north east coastline of New Brunswick, we're bracing for 25cm of snow over the next 24 hours. 

I'm hoping you are enjoying the beginning of this year.

Wishing you health & happiness!

Hugs,

Cynthia
 

 

New Year's Eve 2025

 Well it's been a long time since I've made a post and I've no excuses other than life got in the way and of course my own procrastination!

This year has been one of moving forward to the future for ourselves and others in our community with the construction of the four town-homes. They're on track with the move in date for February 2026 and wow did we ever go over budget with this one, creating a very  happy outcome. 

Come on, I'll take you for a tour but remember it's still one month before completion! 

The front view upon driving in, the asphalting will take place in the spring and the outdoor sheds behind will also be built in the spring, winter is upon us now.

From right to left it goes...2 bedroom with garage, 2 bedroom no garage, 2 bedroom with garage, 2 bedroom no garage.

The mudroom with garage entry.

The front foyer closet, you'll notice the colour scheme is light, bright, & neutral, making the tenants colour scheme the dominate one.

The mudroom/laundry room, the side by side washer/dryer will be installed after the second coat of painting is done.

The kitchen's custom cabinets have the framework done & cupboard doors are in the making. The hardware that is installed here is excellent quality, making me jealous but happy for the tenants daily use with their kitchens.

This is the granite we chose for the counter top, back splash, and island. Once installed I'll show you how that turned out. Fingers crossed, this will start in early January!
 

The front bedroom off the foyer, the one's with garage have an small bathroom with toilet & sink behind a pocket door.

The four piece bathroom is the same in all four units with a one piece tub installation.

These are the photos for now & I will take more this week and we'll have another visit in the town-homes.

Bill had his surgery done on our youngest son Nick's birthday, a day we'll all remember as Nick was the one to drive him to the Fredericton Everett Chambers Hospital and home all in the same day!

The surgery took longer than expected as the Dr said to Nick 'Ratty and torn to hell.'

What was to be three pins, turned into eight pins and the rebuilding of his bicep muscle.

Bill after is surgery & on strong drugs!

The bandages were & did stay on for three weeks until his return to Fredericton. Surprisingly those bandages stayed on even after his daily showering!

His smile is on on drugs & the next day would let him know how involved the surgery was as the bruising  & drugs came out of his system. He slept in that chair for three nights as instructed.

He healed well and is starting his physiotherapy in the new year. He's also put on the list to have the other shoulder done in the new year or early 2027.

Prior to the surgery day we picked up a Dairy Queen log cake for Nick's 36th birthday to celebrate!

The following week we had a visit from Bill's stepbrother Mike & his wife Deb, Bill was still on the mend but we all had a relaxing, much needed weekend.

Bill and Mike, Bill's right arm should've been in a sling!

Deb, Mike, me, & Bill, we had a great visit and I'd not seen Mike since our wedding July 4th 1987 & the first time meeting his lovely wife Deb. They drove from Ontario, a 18 hour trip to spend a long weekend with us, a special visit as Mike brought memorable belongs of their dad Ernie, who passed away this year.

Christmas has come & gone.

Here's some photos of that special time of year. I fell ill with my stomach pills & very strong iron pills as my leaves are low and not rising much on the pills so Bill said 'stop' you're going down hill fast with them. So I did an starting feeling better when I threw my back out! I was in bed motionless for three days. I'm well now and taking food with iron, like my cream of rice, its 39% daily intake with just one cup and Shreddies cereal is 39% but I think too much wheat/barley in that but good.lol

So we did three little trees this year.

Remember the lite trees Jocelyn & I found on the side of the highway? Bill cemented them into their pots to make them sturdy & not tipping(could be why the owners didn't want another year of them falling over).

One tree went by Baxter & Bridget's crates with all things Boston Terrier's, mostly made & gifted to me over the years. With the white lights Bill installed coloured lights that would glow on a timer at night, bringing back memories for us of our Christmas's past with coloured lights. 

 

The other tree was placed in an old crock & had Jim Shore Santa's that Nick & Leslie have gifted me over the years & hand made ornaments that I made this year.

Bill gifted me fabric for my birthday last September, it was Tilda's Merry Little Christmas & I cut out figures & made them into ornaments for me and a couple of girlfriends for Christmas.

 

 And the flocked white tree that I placed the ornaments with red/white ornaments.

 

We had picked up Butterball's turkey breast for our Christmas dinner but when I saw how cheap the turkey was this year I wanted the traditional Christmas bird with stuffing and Bill put a turkey bacon jacket on it as my diet doesn't allow pork anymore.
 

I made cranberry sauce to go with the dinner, as well as potatoes, gravy, turnip with apples(cousin Ann's recipe), carrots. Finished with tea/coffee & the chocolate log cake.

The night before, Christmas Eve, Nick & Leslie hosted us for our fish dinner and of course, Nick's favourite, the Dairy Queen ice cream cake.

A festive cake it was too, and very delicious!!

 

Liam on Santa's lap, I love the look of Santa! LOL Next year may bring a smile to both of them...or not.

 

Santa's not as scary on mom's lap. Nicole, Liam, Santa, & Mitch. The Alberta kid's enjoying their Christmas.

Nicole, Liam, and Mitch, Liam is growing so fast. Bill & I enjoy the face-time watching him play and now running around being a busy boy. Mitch sure was a busy boy...

 

I saw this Mary Maxim knitted pattern for Mrs Claus clothesline and it made me laugh out loud, so I had to entertain the idea & make it!

There was also Santa's clothesline so I made it and they both fit beautifully on the pantry window. 

I also made the elf's clothesline & put it in the laundry room at the apartment to amuse the tenants. lol

I've been trying to get more organized and this room is high on my list since the Christmas season is over and the thoughts will turn to spring soon.

This is my 'organized chaos' aka sewing room but I do so much more than sewing, with different types of sewing from clothes, to decor, and everything in-between. It is my happy place, my kyrotime, a place when I create for myself or for others, time is suspended and my mind is clear for creating. 

Winter is a lovely season but the cold & ice are not comforting to me, the firebox in the great-room is my happy place in the winter. There i hand sew, knit, crotchet,  or work on a puzzle.

Thank you Stefani and Leslie for completing the Ugly Sweater puzzle the other night. Well done!

I saw this tote & loved the pattern, it's a free download!

I modified it to a granny square pattern with the use of my Dollar store cotton yarns, I made this colour version with spring/summer in mind.

I lined it with a William Morris fabric design and will make a zippy bag for the inside as I didn't do pockets with the stress it could do on the yarns. I'll post the zippy when I get the idea out of my head and make it. lol

Well, the bay is frozen the the smelt fishing has begun, it's such a tradition here to have your feed of smelt dinners. The rain has brought a lot of frozen puddles as the ground cannot absorb it right now so there's ice rinks everywhere. Scary.

I asked Bill for a hand railing for the basement & he has installed it. I can go down stairs but I cannot come up them easily, the railing is going to really help! I go up the stairs like a two year old with one step at a time as my right hip is not good to support my weight. The x-ray showed it is my spin not my hip that is weak, the L3,4,5, are deteriorating.

Many things are stored in the basement & during Christmas the stair travel is frequent, now to put all Christmas away has been made easier!
 

 Oh the joys of senior life. I think of what I can do these days not what I use to do. It's frustrating when your mind does not match your body.

I want to wish you a very happy New Year, filled with health and happiness.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by for a visit & I hope to see you sooner than later in 2026.

I've a good feeling about 2026 and I am look forward to it!

Hugs,

Cynthia xXx