The Holiday Season

I always tell myself that I am going to do better

and maybe throw a post in at least once or twice a month

then I don't and I used to feel bad

but then I don't ~ how is that for honesty

I love having this place to come to ~ it is like a little journal

so here I am back again and sharing 

Christmas seemed to sneak up on me this year

I had the last week of Nov off and I had planned to get

everything done and get ahead of the game

then I got sick ~ not the flu but a nasty cold that kept me sidelined

most of the week

I did get some decorating, baking and shopping done

but not everything that landed on my ever growing list

oh well ~ we know everything will come together and it did

after church on Christmas Eve we all came back here for some finger foods

and drinks ~ we were a small group this year with both Moms along with 

my brother and his girlfriend

after a busy week both at home and at work ~ I fell into bed and did not open

my eyes again until 8:30!  

with no dinner to cook this year I did not have the added stress and responsibility 

of getting the turkey prepped and in the oven so it was a nice break

Our mantle

Sam, Gord, Mom & Kat

we picked up my MIL and went to Mom's for dinner

the girls arrived and they truly make the day

even though they are older now and way past the believing stage

they truly make things more fun!

Sam, Lori, Trevor & Kat

Sam, Lori, Kat

of course we needed to take some group shots and be a little silly

home for a bit and then off to Trev's Moms for a late supper of more appetizers

and gift opening.  Barb usually goes overboard and this year was no exception

she teased me the first of the month that she knew what she was getting my SIL and me

and that was it ~ yes I have heard that song and dance before

when I opened the above and heard the story behind it ~ my eyes welled up with tears

you see she took her Mother's diamond and also her Mother in Law's diamond

and had them set in pendants for my SIL and myself

well you know how I love things with a history ~ well family history is the best

something that I will cherish forever

Boo

Barb's tree

Boxing Day was back to her place for seafood casserole

which is oh so good then we stopped in to visit my Uncle on the way home

we ended up staying there for over 2 hours ~ told stories and laughed

love my peeps

our tree

last night the best neighbours ever came over and we exchanged

gifts and I made Pad Thai

we are getting together for New Years Eve and having fondue ~ so we are 

looking forward to that along with Cards Against Humanity

so wrong but so much fun!

Hope that your Christmas was merry and wishing you 

nothing but the best for 2016.

xo

Friday Potpourri

Thankful for Friday

and for a long weekend

that will be full of family, friends and food!

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the leaves are slowly changing

seems later this year ~ but everything is about a month late

around these parts

a late spring into a summer that we thought would never arrive

then when the calendar said it was fall

it was still feeling like summer ~ warm days and evenings

windows still open

but things change quickly

we have had our first frost ~ cool foggy mornings

but oh so nice days

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I have been trying to stop and pay attention

all week long

looking around at what I take for granted

it is the little things that mean so much

and make a difference in our lives

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grateful for an evening filled with flowers, 

friends and fun when we took a centerpiece class

I don't think Martha will see it and say "we need her on staff"

but there were lots of laughs

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still panning and looking for inspiration for the living room

was hoping to paint this weekend but that is not going to happen

so wait I will and then get out looking for furniture

as I want to love it and not settle because I have some sort of deadline

because I don't

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also in the midst of menu planning ~ list making

as I am hosting dinner on Sunday

I will do some of the work tomorrow to cut down on prep

it's so much easier to just throw things in the oven the day of

looking so forward to it!

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends

and Happy Week-end to the rest!

Friday Potpourri

It's Friday and I am back

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my favourite part of my Friday posts is gathering the photos

and hopefully telling a story to go along with them

so I want to thank those that reached out to me

letting me know how much you enjoy them

and that they were missed

right now I am in the midst of redoing the living room
I am on the hunt for a sofa ~ something neutral
then I can bring in my colours with curtains and cushions
and accessories

talking about mounting the tv over the fireplace
more seating ~ think comfy cozy and inviting

I painted my coffee table and end table last weekend with Fat paint
it was great to work with and the lazy in me loved the no prep
now all I have to figure out whether I am going to distress them
and then it will be wax on ~ wax off

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I would love this chair/chaise

but not practical for my needs ~ in a bedroom though

sign me up as I could curl up here with a book

and be rather content

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with October here ~ I feel like nesting

fluffing pillows ~ hiding under throws

making soup and putting away the flip flops!

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this weekend I will be packing away summer

we will batten down the hatches in preparation for a

hurricane that hopefully will lose its punch before it arrives

the first of the week

soup will be made ~ furniture will be waxed

couches will be cuddled upon and maybe a nap will be had

and although everything is pumpkin right now

maybe one more blueberry lemon cake will be made

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Happy weekend.

Memory Makers

Test test ~ anyone still out there

or have you given up hope that I would ever be back?

Although fall is one of my favourite times of the year

I hold onto summer for as long as I can because I know that

winter ~ the longest season ever in these parts

just goes on forever and is not on my list of things I look forward to 

so with that being said ~ August was fantastic

we spent the long weekend at the cottage and along with some pretty

spectacular sunsets ~ I did a lot of reading ~ relaxing

and walking.  This is the old road and I cannot get over how the alders

have grown up 

we celebrated our anniversary at a yummy new Italian restaurant

so good ~ everything was excellent

I also found a new shop that I love ~ doesn't hurt that she is from the Maritimes

and you know how I love to shop local

check out Rhubarb Paper Co here

weekends were busy with company in from out of town ~ a family gathering ~

time at the flea with my hubby ~ and then my best girl arrived for a few days

we had some deck time ~ some girl time

a trip to the shore for fried clams and lots of together time

which was the best part of all

Labour day weekend took us back to the cottage

it really is the best place to unwind ~ do as much or as little as you want

this summer there were not many projects completed

but we enjoyed the time we had

as we locked up to head home I was overcome with emotion

I thought I was going to cry ~ it was like I was walking away and never coming back

I tried not to read anything into it but it felt weird and yes ~ I have been back since!

I took a weeks vacation in September

did not do a whole lot but I did have a date with this one

we went out to the shore ~ had some supper

walked and talked on the beach ~ laughed and took pictures

it was a great afternoon and evening

back to school and back to work

some projects on the agenda

hoping to get back to my Friday posts

hope everyone had a great weekend

xo

1965

This post is way overdue but I wanted to share it anyway

since it was so great and brought a huge smile to my face

In April I turned the big 5-0

we had a party and I was surrounded by family and friends

I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life

there are those of course that wished they could be here

but were too far away to come

namely my best girl ever ~ aka my cousin Gina.

About a month or so after my birthday I came home to a delivery

the box was huge and I was scratching my head wondering what was inside

So ripping open the big box I pull out this beautiful memory box

you know that I am a word girl so when I saw this I had tears in my eyes

but I sure wasn't prepared for what was inside

it was FULL of goodies under layers of tissue paper ~ all wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon

and this note:

these were right on top along with instructions

the time, thought and effort behind this gift blew me away

every time I pulled another thing from the box I wondered what the little tag would say

who knew I shared my birthday with the Pillsbury Dough Boy!

I did know this one

this one made me snort laugh ~ Green Acres debuted on tv!

Diet Pepsi, Nutrasweet, Cool Whip, Apple Jacks, Shake n Bake,

Gatorade, Cranapple Juice & Pop Tarts all debuted in 1965

I checked the box for a key to the Mustang in the box but it was not there

maybe she will drive it here?  no?  Oh well ~ can't blame a girl for trying!

of course she knows I am all about the music and along with a list of the top 100 songs

of 1965, there was a flash drive with some videos and a key chain

I opened the tweezers and went ???  couldn't wait to read the tag on that one!

I still watch ~ of course she knows this so seeing the hourglass made me smile

and chocolate ~ yum!

There were more items ~ all with their little tags and ribbons

I texted her this pic when I was all done just to prove I did read and follow 

the instructions!

When I was talking to her next we talked about the gift and I asked her 

where she came up with the idea...  Pinterest of course!

For the end of the school year they did "Orange you glad it's Summer" 

and had a buffet of everything orange

she was working on a "Box Full of Sunshine" for her besties birthday

which was coming up at that time.

I love this idea and will be using it in the future

and luckily I have 2 years to plan before she turns 50!

Happy Sunday.