Monday, January 5, 2015

January Begins With New Beginnings ;)

January has begun & I love the feeling that a 'New Year' gives you, one of hope & the ability to do & be what ever your heart desires.
For me it began when I carried my 44lb suitcase up the front staircase...OMGosh was that heavy, so heavy I never thought I'd make it to the top! After the struggle it hit me!! That's about the number of pounds that I'm over weight! What am I trying to do with myself, create a heart attack?! My grandfather died at the age of 42 of a heart attack & I watch my cholesterol levels annually but the weight that I've gained over the last 25 years...a heart attack waiting to happen carrying all that weight! No wonder my activity levels fall so much at the end of the day, I carry that suit case on my body!!
So what am I going to do about it? Well in 1992 I quit smoking after my 3 year old asked me 'Why do you want to die?' as I would inhale on my cigarette. After 22 years of smoking I awoke one morning & quit...I didn't want to die, as the innocence of that child spoke the truth.
So with that said I'm going through a bit of withdrawal as I dropped 'sugar' out of my diet. I know that I'm addicted to sugar, I love the taste & the good feeling it brings. On January 1st I started day one...then day two...day three, yes just one day at a time. I know I can do it but it will be hard. Some days harder than others but it can be done. No sugar as my life turns the corner, for the better.
Enough!!

How sweet is this photo!

                                                                      Boris & Rexton

                                                           These two are such buddies!

                                              Tommy is glad that Boris has a buddy & maybe he'll stop mounting him but it hasn't made any difference. Oh Boris your quite the character!




Remember Mibsie's wallhanging?

                                                                Mibsie's Wallhanging

 
                                               
                                                     Only two blocks needed!


                                              Patterned Block -  Eight blocks sewn together

 Well, I wanted to do it & I did with my stash of homespun.



 First & foremost here's some hindsight... work your sewing from left to right or you'll be 'unsewing' your mistakes! I did with several of my 2 1/2 X 4 1/2 pieces!!

 I would look & remember - postage stamp to the right, sew to the left. I also make another line to sew 1/2" from the original line to make a miniature block. With 64 light blocks & 64 dark blocks, I'll have 128 mini blocks to play with & no waste of fabric!


                                                   Here's the pile of blocks

 And voila! The finished piece! I'm going to add a couple of borders & use it as a table cloth at the cottage. It was really fun to put together & thank you Nick for helping me do the colour placement.


I also finished hand sewing my wee squirrel & once I had him together he needed something on him....

So I crocheted a tam & scarf.


                                                  This is Boris auditioning it...

                                                        Now it's on the squirrel

And the squirrels now join the trio of mice!


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Home reno's begin in 2015

The reno's this year has begun with the upstairs laundry room.

That room was originally the upstairs apartment kitchen so it was only fitting to have it as a laundry room, with the water connection & 220 wattage for the dryer, from the stove that was once there.
Prior to the laundry room it was part of our eldest son's bedroom & the laundry room was in the basement at that time! After having the laundry upstairs after all the kids move out! If I knew then what I know now...it would've been there in the first place!!


                                   The floor is being replaced to a water proof laminate  floor.

                                             Nick & Bill working...Handsome & Handy!


So well your mudding & sanding....

Would you? Could you? Mud the back staircase, so it can be painted?





                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Thank You!

After, 1st coat has been painted.



 It looks so much better. The colour is Canadian Tire's ORIGINS Benjamin Moore's Serene  OR488
This paint is excellent & goes on sale often. I've painted with many paints over the years & really endorse this brand.
We used it last year on the lounge & covered a very dark green with this same colour! In two coats it was such a pure light colour.


  
                                 The morning sun is what your seeing on the left wall.
   It's so much lighter & airy, with just one coat.  I really like it, thank you Bill. XO


This is the first week into 2015 & it's been a product & positive one. I look forward to this year as it unfolds itself to me.

Thank you for stopping by & I hope you too have a year that's to your liking!

Thought for the week...
Would have, could have...just do it! One day at a time!


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Alberta Bound For Christmas

What a week!

I was Alberta bound with Bill to spend Christmas with middleson Mitchell. Our flight left Pearson Airport on a morning flight, so Bill saw this as an opportunity to take me to his condo for an overnight stay & his place is only a 15 minute car ride to the Toronto airport. ;)

 The view from his balcony onto the Rose Theater is beautiful & was all done up for the Christmas season.

 This tree really caught my eye & stayed on till daylight!

The next day we arrived in Elnora Alberta...

 And were greeted with open arm from our son Mitchell!


 The grandpuppy Diesel was happy to see us too!

                                                         
                                                           He's so gorgeous
                                                       Looking more mature at the age of 5!

                          We took a road trip to Canmore & the sights were magnificent!






                                    To see such sights & you never leave your country!

 These multi million dollar cottages have just been built & the views that these place have are breathtaking!

 Several of the cottages had elevators installed in them & Bill & Mitchell were finishing up one that Mitchell was working on.

                                        Diesel got a walk too, see the background?!!

 These mountains are called 'The Three Sisters'


                                           Diesel travels so well in the truck.

 Then it was lunch time & we were taken to the Iron Goat. This place had a railroad theme to it, I'm not too sure of the story but was solid with the stone, iron , & wood structure.

                                                       Mitchell & I at the front door.

                                                  These were the views  from the restaurant.






 I took the Daytripper paper with me & will submit it to see if it gets in the next issue. lol

                                             This is my favourite picture...Daytripping!
I saved some of my lamb dinner for Diesel, he was happy!

And the day being on the road for hours was tiring too. lol


Then it was time for visiting.


Myself with Bill, Mitch,  Mel & Coral. These are the people that I stayed with just 6 months ago on my last visit.

 Coral was excited to see what was in the bag...



                                                            Her look was priceless!
 This was a quilt that was well accepted & does the heart good with a big embrace!
 Coral just kept repeating  "You made me a quilt!".    I love pleasant surprises!

                                                      She loved the flannel backing too! :)
                                                          A Merry Christmas my friend!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A real tree!

This is the tree that Mitch cut down for our Christmas together...

 Here it is all decorated for Christmas, I stung a bag of cranberries for some garland.
I took out his first Christmas baby blanket to re-purpose it for the tree skirt. I was making quilts 27 years ago & never knew that I was 'quilting'! To me I was making the baby's 1st Christmas blanket, I was sewing, something I've been doing since the age of seven!


 Mitchell's livingroom, look to the right, that is not a picture...

 That's a window & with his backyard view. I think a pair of garden doors would look great there!


 Bill really enjoyed sleeping in on Alberta time!

 Now our Christmas morning was on getting ready for outdoor target practice after breakfast.
                                                    Mitch was happy that we were there!

                                  And that his dad was going shooting with him & the guys...

 We were off to Deb & Frank's for Christmas breakfast...

 Two tables were joined together as their family has been growing yearly! Their first grand-baby will arrive in February!

 The night before Deb & Frank had a get together with finger food & drinks...

And we were to return for the Christmas dinner later that day!!

Myself with Deb...does this women ever sleep?!! lol And she looks great, I'm starting to look tiered!
A great homemade feast, the turkey weighed 23lbs! & the ham was great too!

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Then Mitchell took us to the Fire  Department, he's a volunteer firefighter in training right now.
He really fits into the west & loves being there, I enjoy visiting him there!

It was a great Christmas this year,   Over a decade ago, we had Christmas in Florida & it was so different having palm trees instead of evergreens! I'm staying in Canada for Christmas' these days & enjoying the variety of experiences in different provinces with family & friends.
Christmas has always been my most favourite time of the year...that  time & in September when all the kids go back to school & the days are again filled with routine again. lol

We had a great time Mitch & thank you for everything you planned & arranged for us...even if you said that 'your just playing it by ear'. It was well played!

Thank you for stopping by & I hope you too had a wonderful Christmas & I'm wishing you the very best in the New Year 2015!

Though for the week...

Success is getting what you want
and happiness is wanting what you get.