Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas Greetings


I needed a touch of red 
and since my camera is collecting dust
it was Pinterest to the rescue

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the tree is trimmed ~ finally!  
better late than never this year I say

the halls are decked ~ cookies made
menus planned and I wrapped the final gift last night

the house is clean and ready for company
thanks to hubby for the help with that one

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tomorrow night we will gather around the table
both mom's and one brother
then we head to church

everyone is spending the night
not sure if that was a good idea but we will make the best of it

then we will have 7 on Christmas Day
as the girls will join us

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that night we will go to my mil's
for munchies and gifts

I am sure I will reflect on past years
and miss Lee just a little more than usual

I purchased little pewter frame ornaments this year
and put a pic of him in each
ours in on the tree and I gave my mil hers on Sunday night
she cried ~ she loved it
I am so glad that she did

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tonight I did some food prep
and checked my list

I am cozied on the couch with my family
and watching the tail end of Polar Express again
love that movie

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Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
and the happiest of holidays
the magic of Santa
and blessings as we celebrate the real reason for the season
Happy Birthday Jesus

xoxo


Friday, December 5, 2014

Comparison


I have been on the blog trail this week
looking through all the beautiful homes on a
holiday house walk



it can inspire you or deflate you
a little green with envy at some
then I went on instagram and read these words

Comparison is the thief of joy...during this time of year when you see so many gorgeous homes decorated beautifully from top to bottom, it's easy to fall into the comparison trap and feel 'less' or not 'as good' etc. It just happened to me...But it's so important for us to keep the focus on why it is we adorn our homes in the first place. It's something that during the chaos of boxes and lights and pine needles and gift wrap and good store deals gets too easily lost. We have been given Christmas to spread the good news and to sprinkle love, kindness and compassion to those around us...it is my hope for you and me to keep this front and center as we enter the holiday season. xoxo

Wow ~ she nailed it ~ she really did

the person that said it was Lucy from Craftberry Bush
she touched on it again in her blog post as she was part of the holiday house walk

I have not been following her feed for a long time
but that night I was so glad I did



you see I decorated the house last weekend
all but the mantle and centerpieces are done

and we will only go out on Sunday for the tree

my house will never be one to participate in a house walk
but it is home ~ the little trinkets I placed out on Saturday
spark a memory and bring me joy
and you know ~ that is what Christmas is all about


so year after year
I will put basically the same things in the same spots

I will put my tree up 2 weeks before Christmas

I will bake cookies ~ the ones we love
and only seem to make this time of year

I will buy my Mom cherry chocolates
because my Dad used to buy her one every year
and I love carrying on that tradition for her

I will wrap the gifts and curl the ribbon
listening to Elvis Christmas music
because I love it so


when I take these ornaments out of the box
and place them in this big vase I will remember that they hung
on the big tree at the farm
and be grateful that my Aunt gave them to me

this year we will make new memories
there will be an empty chair
we will miss my father in law like crazy

but we will be blessed because we will be together

Happy weekend.




Sunday, November 16, 2014

Sunday Thoughts


The sun is shining and I am getting ready to head out the door
list in hand to run some errands

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it has been crazy busy at work
and as we head into the holiday season
evenings are filling up as well

so much fun!

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Tuesday we celebrated Remembrance Day
as part of my Instagram feed ~ I saw the most beautiful sight from London
I had to find out more and the images were amazing

The memorial, which was created by artist Paul Cummins, includes 888,246 ceramic poppies which have been progressively filling the Tower's moat. At the peak of the installation on November 11, there will be one poppy for each British fatality in the First World War.
Up to four million people are estimated to have visited the installation, called 



Wednesday night was a retirement gathering
and it was so nice to catch up with some people I have not seen
since the beginning of the summer

then Friday night ~ supper with a group of girls from work
we used to go to a beach cottage for a weekend in July
but have not done it in a few years

stories were told and many laughs had


we also had our first major snowfall ~ it was so pretty and although
it is still a tad early for my liking ~ it helped kick my butt
and later today I just may pull out my Christmas cards

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last night I got together with more friends
Kim, Lori, Andrea & I
met when we all worked together

and went out dancing together, traveled together
these are the girls that have seen you at your best
and your worst
they know secrets, habits and still love you
they are numbers I can call in the middle of the night
in a crisis and they would be there

I love that our husbands all get along as well
it just makes things fun

so the 8 of us have not been all together for about 3 years
we have seen each other ~ but there always seemed to be
a couple missing

so last month I picked a date and we all made it work

besides the company and the beverages
we all make food and eat like kings

I made one of our favs and although the picture and recipe link above 
is not the one I made ~ these are delish

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1 pound bacon
water chestnuts
honey garlic sauce
toothpicks

wrap half slice of bacon around each chestnut ~ soak in garlic sauce for up to 8 hours
bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until bacon is cooked
I like to finish mine off under the broiler just to crisp up the bacon

I used the bottled garlic sauce ~ the thicker the better
but you can make your own as well.



and with that ~ I am off 
enjoy every moment of today

xo


Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday Potpourri


So ~ I was suppose to be on vacation this week
and decided to work 3 days of it

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we had been on the go most of the weekend
and Monday I ran errands
got home late and made the best dinner
it was just a roast chicken but man it was good

and after attending Barb's school of gravy
the last 15 years
I made the best gravy of my life ~ I wish I had a bucketload of it

seriously ~ my mother cannot make gravy
and she will tell you that
she buys the packages and adds it to the roast or turkey drippings

my mother in law Barb makes the best gravy
every dinner we attend ~ I stand beside her and watch
and take direction and after all these years
I finally have it mastered and I am a happy girl

all that for gravy ~ imagine that!

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so I worked on Tuesday and I joked to my boss that I had workers remorse
so she asked me if I wanted to take more of my vacation
and I said ~ yes please!

3 weeks ago when they offered the extra shifts
I thought it was a good idea
some extra money for Christmas
and we have been slammed at work ~ working overtime
and the such

so I only worked 2 days and took yesterday and today off
bliss I say ~ bliss

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yesterday I did little things
you know the stuff you have been putting off
they have been on the back burner ~ yeah that stuff
and pretty much stayed in my pj's most of the day
which is really a shame since it was a nice day
and today they are calling for rain ~ blah


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I am finally getting a chance to go to this shop
and then there is a craft fair on Saturday

starting to get into the planning stages for Christmas
although I know out in blog land some people are already 
full force into it and decorating
sorry ~ too early for me

I shall sit over the next couple of days
and make gift lists and think about what I am going to bake

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speaking of gifts ~ Becky's shop is open until the 14th
and along with some beautiful cuffs ~ she also has ornaments this year!

click here for her shop and here for a discount code

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perusing Pinterest and some of my favourite food blogs for recipes
for Christmas and everyday

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so this weekend will be low key
no big plans other than checking a couple more things off my list

Happy weekend!



Friday, October 31, 2014

Friday Potpourri ~ Boo!


Truth be told I am really not into Halloween
I love the treats
and the pumpkins

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but I have never been one for dressing up
or doing a lot of decorating

I do love seeing the kids ~ especially the little ones
so I cannot wait to answer the door tonight

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tomorrow we head to the cape
and close up the cottage for the season
so sad ~ we hardly used it this year

rain is in the forecast so I will make a big pot of soup
to have when we come home
with some home made biscuits


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brownies are in the forecast as well
a little craving going on here

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it has been a long hard week
a very busy time ~ stressful

I have a couple of friends going through some difficult times
so I think about them and worry
and pray

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maybe cake will make everything better
no?  ok then

I originally had vacation planned for next week
but decided to work a few days of it so I made 2 long weekends
I will take a day for me and a day for errands and getting things done

as November comes the calendar begins to fill up
plans are made ~ we start the lists

so I will take this weekend to do some pre-planning
to help ease the hustle and bustle of what is just around the corner.

happy weekend


Friday, October 24, 2014

Friday Potpourri ~ Life Lately

Rain ~ rain ~ rain
taking away all our wonderful fall foliage 

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I feel like it has been so long since I just did a 
random what I have been up to lately post

well today is the day


last month the weekend before I flew to Toronto
I got together with my Eaton's girls
we talked ~ we danced ~ we sang
and we may have consumed a few beverages

I laughed so hard ~ my voice was horse the next day from signing
and I my knees may have been a tad sore from busting a move or two

I love my times with these girls ~ they are forever friends

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trying this cake soon ~ looking for an excuse to make it

tomorrow night is game night with
#thebestneighboursever
trying to figure out which dip to make to take

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 Thanksgiving weekend we had 2 full days
and one relaxing one

Saturday we headed to the camp ~ it was fall clean up
so while the boys were outside cleaning out the shed and putting
away the summer stuff ~ the girls were inside sorting through
things in the loft and purging what we could

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before we had supper the 5 of us walked down to the river
I read a poem ~ we sprinkled some ashes in the river
then each threw a yellow carnation in 

the photographer in me wanted a shot of the 5 flowers 
floating along with the current
but it was a sacred time ~ not a kodak moment
it is burned in my memory though ~ it was beautiful


#prayingforOttawa #Ottawastrong

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I have never made apple butter but this recipe is the best excuse to try it

catching up on my shows ~ loving Nashville
and Thursday nights are my favourite

also caught up on my blog reading ~ feels good

currently reading James Patterson ~ 12th of Never
cannot put it down

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Thanksgiving Sunday I hosted dinner
there were 7 of us around the table ~ it was a stress free day
I had everything done up early and a lot of the dishes went into the oven
hoping to pull it off again at Christmas!

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the flannel sheets and quilt are back on the bed

the summer clothes are put away

now to do the same for the outdoor stuff
praying for a nice day on Sunday


Hoping you have a great weekend!