Wildflowers

Make Me Smile

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

It is Monday again

vacation time has ended

and it is back to work time

I did have a good week for the most part

and I thought I would share some of the things

that made me smile

being able to clean at my own pace

instead of trying to get it all done in one fell swoop

I did some organizing and ironed the new

dresser scarf my MIL got me for Christmas

it is perfect

while out running errands on Wednesday

I cam across this at Home Sense

I love it and it is going in the living room

once I get it repainted

these little babies made me squeal with delight

they are my very favorite biscuit from overseas

and I found a spot to buy them here

I was a happy girl!

one day I put everything on the back burner

and decided to curl up and watch a movie

I read this book a couple of years ago

for book club

and although I did not enjoy the book

I was interested to see the movie

it was on the movie network so I went for it

and I did enjoy the movie more than the book

it is not often that I say that.

now for an update on Mom...

it has not been the best week-end
hoping for an improvement when I went in on Saturday
and they was not one

then on Sunday I went in to learn
that she has a fever and an elevated heart rate
plus they are keeping a close eye on her kidneys
as they are not working very well right now

I know improvements will take time
but on Saturday I really needed a big hug
and a good cry

the hug came from Trev ~ I do love this man of mine
then I sat down and read all the comments on Facebook
and that started the tears
they were needed and theraputic

prayers are still welcome
and I want to thank you for your comments
emails and tweets

hugs & love

Friday Potpourri

2012-01-27T21:22:00.001-04:00

Hello sweets

it's Friday again

and I am a little late on the draw today

thank you for all the wonderful comments on my sheepish post

you guys sure know how to lift a girl up

I will be honest with you

while perusing Pinterest this week

I have been drawn to white

but I have also discovered that I am the beige girl

beige like burlap beige

too funny

I had these photos all chosen in my file

for today ~ then almost changed them

after today's events

but decided to go with it

don't you just love this little window seat

it has been a dream of mine for a

long long time

someday....

back to today...

I rushed Mom to the hospital at 6am this morning

with severe abdominal pain

I have never ever ever seen her in that much pain

as her threshold is quite high

compared to wimpy me of course

so we get to Emerg and they scooped her up

and took the best care of her

tests for this and that

then rushed her into emergency surgery

she had an aneurysm on her aorta

that they have been watching for the last couple of years

and were waiting for it to get to a certain size

before they operated

well wait no more as it had ruptured

and now in danger

she made it through the surgery

and now we wait ~ she is not out of the woods yet

and we are hoping and praying

I spent some time this morning in the hospital chapel

and came out feeling a bit better

but more prayers will help

they always help,

Feeling Sheepish....

2012-01-25T06:00:00.004-04:00

I love a thought provoking post

and while taking a break yesterday (one of many I may add)

I caught up on some blog reading

and this one from Simone

made me stop and think.

One of the things she talked about was being herself

and not necessarily caring what others thought

I was nodding in agreement then realized

that even though I once thought of myself as a leader

I think lately I have become a little sheepish

a follower

and although that is not always a bad thing

I have to start marching to the beat

of my own drum and not someone elses...

I also loved Kim's post here

and in my comments to her I talked about

not taking pictures inside my home

because they did not fit into the "bloggy world"

plus some areas I have neglected here

and they are not a true reflection of me and my style

so although I do adore the white slipcovered couches

you will not find one in my living room

because that is not me either

this year I am going to pay attention

and start doing some things in this house

to make it a truer reflection of my taste

I will work in those things that I truly love

my treasures and pictures

and an old window or two

I won't buy something just because I saw it on a blog

but I will buy something I fall in love with

and will fit into my home

and don't get me started about Pinterest

I spend way too much time on that

but oh the possibilities

~*~*~*~*~*~

and is 2 sided tape on my mantle a new trend

because I have some on mine

so please tell me it's trending

bahhhhh

Happy Wednesday!

Little Things

2012-01-23T10:22:00.001-04:00

Hello Monday

so nice to see you

this week ~ so don't get used to it!

while getting supper ready last night

I thought about the week-end

and how it was the little things that made me happy

things like being able to help out family

when they needed fresh eyes

to look at some stuff that they have been dealing with

then sharing a great meal around the table

yes ~ the little things

like poached eggs on toast

in a cold Sunday morning

fuzzy socks to keep my feet warm

while we were snuggled up and did not leave the house

even once yesterday

and trying a new recipe for supper

slowcooker saucy baked beans and ham

topped off with a good cuppa coffee

and cheesecake.

This week is booking up with appointments

and dates although I do hope to get a bit done

around the house.

Thanks to all my new visitors ~ it is so nice to
see those comments and then go visit a new blog!

Hope you had a wonderful week-end

and that this week puts a smile on your face.

Friday Potpourri

2012-01-20T14:15:00.000-04:00

It's Friday

the snow is gently falling outside my window

and I am cozied up on the couch

in front of the tv ~ enjoying my day of nothing

last night we had date night

got off work early

jumped in the car and traveled to see

Jeff Dunham

I have not laughed that hard in a long time

deep belly laughs

pee your pants a little laughs

and we had so much fun

we clapped a lot last night!

So instead of making a list of things I want to get accomplished

while I am off next week

I have been making plans

lunch with Mom and dinner with some girlfriends

although this would never have been my first pick

of a vacation week

I have embraced it ~ after the hustle and bustle

of December

then fighting off fever and a head cold

I am feeling good and ready to roll!

now for some pretty...

yummy!

I totally want one of these

perfect with a plate of cookies right out of the oven

Wishing you a wonderful week-end

full of laughter and smiles.

Tuesday Ramblings

2012-01-17T20:54:00.000-04:00

Two down ~ two to go

it is a short week for me

and although it was freezing here yesterday

it warmed up a bit today and was a nice winter day

the week-end was non eventful

and that is ok

I cleaned and cooked

and spent some time playing on the computer

and watched a movie

finished my book in the tub

loving tubby time

trading in mascara and high heels on a Saturday night

for a book and bubble bath

I am old ~ yes!

I think after all the go go go

in December

it is nice just to kick back and relax

so we have a date night planned for Thursday

then I am off on Friday

and all next week ~ vacation

yeah ~ I know

I can vent about that if you want to hear

but I am really looking forward to it

hope your week is going well.

I have been around ~ reading and commenting when I can

as Blogger will not allow me to comment on some

I am out there ~ I am!

This post spoke to me when I read it tonight

click and read ~ would love to hear your thoughts....

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Friday Potpourri

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

3 cheers for Friday

what took you so long??

this picture speaks to me ~ I love it

I can see me here

with a cuppa tea and a good book

after this week I needed some pretty

some ruffles and lace

and flowers

these socks are so cute ~ I can see me in these too!

as I write this there is snow falling outside

and it makes me smile

I think I need a little white ~ a little clean

after being under the weather all week

it really gives me an excuse to stay in this week-end and putter

organize ~ dust ~ relax ~ cook

maybe I will make some soup

or maybe I won't

I know that whatever I do ~ I will do it well

and not feel a bit of guilt about doing nothing if that is the case

come Sunday night.

Wishing you a wonderful week-end

and enjoy whatever you do

smile!

Brrrrr

2012-01-11T20:29:00.000-04:00

Whoever wrote the song

Baby it's Cold Outside

must have been here

on a day like today

we have no snow to speak of

so when there is a windchill

you tend to feel it more

so while I will not harp on the cold

and winter and how much I dislike it

I will tell you that I am living in my new sleep pants

at night when I come home from work

they are fleecy pink and grey plaid love I tell you

and my picture will not load the right way!

unpainted toes for the winter ~ check

still not feeling 100% but the fever broke on Monday

and the swelling is down in my glands ~ check

have not yet started my new years exercise routine ~ check

have not picked a word for this year ~ check

hoping to feel better by the week-end and do everything I want to do....

here's hoping!

Happy Wednesday!

A Bubble Bath & A Book

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning sunshine

did you have a good week-end?

I was a tad bit under the weather

but I did not let it get me down

my good friend Tylenol

helped me along

I did get my decorations

all put away ~ except for a little pile of things

sitting on the kitchen counter...

good thing I got hubby to do that final sweep

with fresh eyes ~ yeah

right

mind you the house looks super bare

as I did not have the energy to clean and put

my stuff back out ~ in time ~ it will all get done

after supper I got in the tub

just me and my book

it was bliss

a glass of wine would have been perfect

but not on this trip

I have started reading Janet Evanovich

her Stephanie Plum series

and although I just finished #4

yup ~ I am way behind

I love them ~ along with the mystery

there are moments of belly laughs

love her writing!

Good thing I had no big plans for Sunday

I was foggy most of the day

so Trev came with me to the grocery store

and then I became one with the couch

had some tea with honey

and watched 50 First Dates

all in all ~ I will take another week-end like this

minus the fog please.

Thank you for all your comments on Friday's post

they made me smile

hope you all had a good week-end

and that the sun shines upon your face today

wherever you may be.

Friday Potpourri

2012-01-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's Friday

and I made it...

I am slowly getting Christmas all packed up

and my house back to normal

why oh why is it so much harder to take down

than it was to put out??

Molly is back to normal

with no ill effects that we can see

little bugger ~ back in her crate while we are out

I would much rather her be cooped up all day

than worry and stew wondering what kind of trouble

she is getting into at home!

today marks 11 years

but I am trying not to dwell on it this year

I will take some time to reflect

and remember

and smile

maybe I will even sing one of his favorite songs

little smiling faces

after all of the decorations

are banished from the house

I will cozy up with a blanket

and a cup of tea

and enjoy the rest of the week-end

missing you Dad ~ maybe today a little more than usual

I keep the memories in my heart

and love you still...

Have a wonderful week-end.

L, M, N, O & P

2012-01-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

You would think for the start of the year

I would start at the letter A

not for this...

L is for Love

Anyone that has been here before knows how much

love I have for my little 4 legged kids

and I tend to say I do not just love them

I am in love with them

M is for Molly

A 4 1/2 year old Boston Terrier

smart as a whip

full of spunk and fun and makes us laugh so hard

N is for Never

she has never been a chewer

not a dog to get into things

until the week before Christmas

she scored the week before Christmas

3 cupcakes and a sugar donut

bad gas pains ~ bland diet for over a week

then she was feeling better

she also had another issue ~ kind of like a pinched nerve

in her back so she was on anti-inflammatory

along with some pain meds

finally back on her regular food on NYE day

then came Sunday

O is for OMG

We walked into the house after having dinner at Mom's

and she had gotten into chocolate

keeping in mind that I had put all of it up ~ out of reach

but there was one box left on the coffee table

so she did not have one

but an entire box of Werther's mixed

caramel, milk & dark

P is for Panic, Prayers & Patience

First we panicked

for sure this would be the end of her

she is a little dog ~ 21 pounds of solid love

I grabbed the phone book looking for the number

for the emergency vet

then thought about a friend of mine that works at a local clinic

thank goodness he was home

he gave us some things we could do

peroxide to induce vomiting

so hard to see my baby girl ~ those big brown eyes

looking up at me

my heart broke in two

but I knew deep down if I lost her

I would blame myself forever

the peroxide worked

Trev went out to get some charcoal capsules

and got one into her

watched her close all night

Patience ~ having to wait 24 hours to ensure there were no ill effects

and Prayers ~ I prayed so hard ~ tears in my eyes

we are still watching her

back on rice and chicken she is

no ill effects and it's 48 hours later

this was all happening when I wrote my crossroads post
which I want to thank you all for all your wonderful comments

tonight as she is snuggled up under her blanket beside me
I am thankful she is alive
and seems to be doing just fine.

I love her so...

Crossroads

2012-01-02T00:13:00.000-04:00

I feel like I am at a crossroads

not knowing which way to go

there are so many things I would like to change

I just commented to a friend

if I write things down ~ I am accountable for them

tonight I am not feeling very accountable...

I have to choose

I am the captain of my own ship

I need to lead a better life

a cleaner life

a healthier life

I have not yet picked a word for the year

although Move and Breathe

are both contenders!

As we rang in the new year last night

I got tears in my eyes

emotional ~ surrounded by some of my best friends

thankful for all I have

I hope I have the strength to make good changes

in my life

with my husband beside me

encouraging me on

like only he can do

I think I can do it

I shall take this month to make my list

and start to make things happen

then

I will hopefully be able to share that list

with you...

I welcome 2012 with open arms

Champagne Wishes

2011-12-30T06:00:00.003-04:00

As we wind down the week

we also wind down the year

I always get emotional this time of year

maybe I like hanging onto to the past a little too much

but I am getting better ~ I am

I have my memories and that's all good

tomorrow night is New Years Eve

we usually go out to dinner ~ then back to someone's house

for drinks and fun

this year we are doing something different

meeting for an appetizer supper

"grazing food"

then we are going to a party

at the casino here in town

a couple of bands and a dj

fancy smacy

there are 5 couples and I am looking forward to it

although the crowds and cold would not thrill me

spending one year in NYC would be amazing

so as I say goodbye to 2011

I look back at the year it was

lots of new memories were made

laughter and tears

reconnecting with old friends

and making new ones

wishing you all a

Happy New Year

and I thank you for your comments

your friendship and support.

Hugs & Love

all photos found on Pinterest

It's All About Family...

2011-12-28T19:33:00.000-04:00

What a great week-end we had!

spoiled ~ spoiled ~ spoiled

dinner for 9 gathered round the table

my girls

Sam & Kat

This year we welcomed 3 more into the family

with my brother's girlfriend and her 2 daughters

this is Alayna with Mom

and cute as a button Ceara

my brother Gord and his girlfriend Tammy.

Christmas eve was a productive day

getting a few things done ~ running some last minute errands

then back home to eat ~ then off to church

I love our service on Christmas eve

then everyone came back here for some food and drink

and some laughs too

Christmas Day was incredible

everyone pinched in to help with dinner and the dishes

then it was off to the inlaws for more gifts and food

we are blessed to have these wonderful people

in our lives.

Boxing Day was relaxing ~ got dressed in time to go

back to Trev's parents for turkey dinner ~ round 2

ding ding!

Yesterday we did a little shopping

and a little visiting

then came home to veg on the couch

Back to work today

hot turkey sandwiches for supper tonight

and the turkey stock is simmering on the stove

as I am going to try my hand at making fricot tonight

wish me luck!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

My Wish For You...

2011-12-23T06:00:00.005-04:00

This has definitely been a week

of ups and downs

but I am ready to move forward

and look towards the week-end

work was crazy busy

exhausting really

and I am happy to be off for 4 whole days

a dear friend of mine lost her Dad on Tuesday

gone too soon as he was only 64

the funeral is this morning and I am an honorary pallbarer

I cried when she asked me

RIP Jack

Molly has not been well all week

and yesterday Trev took her to the vet

she is on medication and a bland diet now for a

couple of weeks and I hope that my little monkey

will be better soon ~ very soon

so onward we go

remembering the reason for the season

and it is not all about Santa!

Tomorrow night we will head to church

then back here for some nibblies and drinks

the turkey will be prepped and ready to pop in the oven

on Christmas morn

as dinner will be served at 1

we will have Christmas crackers with funny hats

and cookies frosted and plain

the paper and ribbon and bows will fly

and I will look around the room and be thankful

for all my loved ones

being together on this glorious holiday

Merry Christmas to all of my faithful readers

and to those of you who pop in when you have the time

my wish for you this week-end

is to have joy in your hearts

and a loved one by your side

much love xo

Wordless Wednesday ~ I'm Dreaming

2011-12-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

we have a 67% chance of having a
white Christmas

we have had flurries off and on all week
but no big amounts

I would love to have big fluffy flakes
falling outside my window on Christmas eve
that would be perfect.

xo

all photos found on Pinterest

Things I Learned.....

2011-12-19T06:00:00.002-04:00

Things I learned this week-end...

It is always when you are in a rush that you run into

someone that you have not seen forever

note to self ~ slow down

when they say to not to fill the cupcake liners

they are telling the truth

still delish ~ but not very pretty!

wrapping paper ~ ribbons & bows

plus a dog and a cat

= kaos

some cookie dough can be refrigerated and baked later

my Grandmother's shortbread recipe

is not one of those ~ butter 1 Lori 0

making a grocery list for 2 weeks is challenging

when you are used to going every week

I am very very fortunate and blessed

a couple bottles of wine and good friends

= lots of laughter and good times

real trees need water and if you neglect them

the needles will drop = big mess

slivered almonds + your favorite cheeseball recipe

= cutest party food ever!

my to do list is dwindling
I actually took some time yesterday just to sit

the week-end was productive and fun
all rolled up into one

this week is just little things
I see a trip to the book store and an eggnog latte
in my future.

My wish for you on this countdown week
(6 more sleeps)
is a stress free time
lots of eggnog
and that you have joy in your heart.

xo

Friday Potpourri

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Let's hear it for Friday

and 9 more sleeps

not that I am counting or anything...

I should not have to step into another store

unless it is to get groceries

most of the baking is completed

and the gifts are boxed ~ the wrapping will commence tonight

tomorrow night we are attending a party

good friends ~ good food

and drinks

plus an added bonus

we are close enough that we can walk home

we had a little scattering of snow yesterday

then it got mild and changed to rain

oh well ~ I am happy with the weather

for a change

so tomorrow I will fill the candy dishes

make some cupcakes

put the presents under the tree

and prepare for the party

Sunday is some cleaning ~ menu planning

food buying and relaxing

I have a date with the tv for the Survivor finale

have you been watching this year?

I am also going to take the time

to get around to everyone ~ read & comment

Hope you all had a wonderful week

and that your week-end is stress free

and full of fun!

Remember....

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

As we run around finishing our shopping

and trimming

and wrapping

and baking

and cleaning

and and and

take a moment and remember

loved this one!

Happy Wednesday.

Busy ~ Busy

2011-12-12T20:44:00.000-04:00

Wow ~ what a week-end

I woke up this morning hoping that it was not Monday

but alas ~ it was....

Friday night I stopped by one of my favorite shops

and picked up a couple of little things for me

after all ~ it IS the season for giving

and receiving ~ right??!!

these were taken with my phone and I think they turned out

pretty good

you can see why I love this store and this was just a little corner of it.

after supper we brought in the tree ~ looking good!

I spent the better part of Saturday putting on the lights

until I ran out ~ so off we went to the store for more

and 3 stops later ~ we were back home in time

to get ready for my department party

which we had a blast

good food and some drinks

and a designated driver made the night complete.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sunday was baking day

getting everything ready

I made 4 kinds of cookies ~ yummy!

love my old recipe cards

this one is my Aunt's handwriting

little things like this I cherish

my 30 day cake is almost ready to go

the fruit has been fermenting since the 15th of November

and they are best tasting cakes ever

we also got a knock on the door while we were having brunch

and this Christmas neckerchief was delivered for Miss Molly

by the best next door neighbor ever

she is going to look some spiffy Christmas Day!

last night we decorated the tree

drank eggnog and ate cookies

it was a busy but productive week-end

so the tree is trimmed

I am setting up my wrap center this week

so I hope to have everything wrapped by the week-end

a few little things left to do

but my goal of having nothing to do next week

is looking good

wish me luck!

How was your week-end??

Project Generator

2011-12-10T11:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Saturday peeps!

I am so excited to tell you about a couple of things

that warm this little ole heart of mine

my dear dear friend Simone

over at The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

has done something for another friend

and after all ~ it is the season for giving....right?!

Project Generator

is an appeal for

Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels

I will not go on about it here, but please visit Simone's

blog here and read about what she is doing

she is a doll ~ she really is.

I also have an exciting giveaway to tell you about

another dear friend ~ who just happens to be Jaja Barb's daughter

and someone that some of you know and love

is having a giveaway

Kim of the beautiful Kimberly Taylor Images

has one of these babies

I want I want I want

plus a couple of other things

so if you head on over there and show her some love

this could be yours...

plus if you make a donation to Project Generator

you will receive an extra entry

that's a win ~ win in my book of love today!

I am off to put a million little lights on my tree

and take my butter out of the fridge ~ I see cookies in my future!

Happy Week-end everyone

and show some love.

Friday Potpourri & A Winner!

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

Hello there

Happy Friday!

what a great week it has been

productive and just a little stressful

Mom and I had a shopping outing and I am pleased to say

that my shopping is complete

well there may be a few little odds and ends to pick up

but nothing major

I dropped my cards in the mail last night

the decorations are all up

and the tree will make it's grand entrance tonight

so this week-end we will trim the tree

do some baking

set up my wrapping center

and attend party #1

looking forward to it all.

Now for the winner of my giveaway is

Becky from

Farmgirl Paints!!

Congratulations girlie

I will package it up over the week-end and get it out to you.

Wishing you all a wonderful week-end

and all the season has to offer.

Wordless Wednesday ~ A touch of Red

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

I cannot imagine my Christmas

without my favorite color

there is just something about red that pops

and says ~ it's Christmastime!!

There is still chance to win my giveaway here

I will announce the winner on Friday

Happy Wednesday.

Hello Monday

2011-12-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

Good morning

well ~ it is morning here!

it was the kind of week-end

that I wish had at least 3 days

instead of 2...

I look back at all the things I got accomplished

and at my list of things left to do

the house is trimmed though

for the most part

it took most of the day Saturday

and after supper I ran a hot bath

put on a face mask ~ grabbed my book

and disappeared for an hour

it was bliss!

my Christmas cards are all written up

just have to pop those in the mail

as I sat down Sunday afternoon

I wondered how many people still go old school

and write out Christmas cards

I still do it because I love receiving them

although the cost of mailing them is crazy expensive

but I can do it ~ so I do

Sunday we also went to the local nursery

and picked out our tree

they get them locally ~ fresh cut

smells like heaven

so we will bring it in on Friday

set it up so I can put the lights on it Sat

and decorate it on Sunday

I like a million or so lights

give or take

so it takes me a couple of hours

in and out each branch.

Lots planned for this week

a shopping trip with Mom on Tuesday night

then little things sprinkled throughout the week

to help alleviate the stress on the week-end

as it will be a busy one.

Hope you had a wonderful week-end.

Don't forget about my giveaway ~ I will be closing comments on

Thursday night and announcing the winner on Friday

just click here!

Have a great week!

Hello December & a Giveaway!

2011-12-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

It's December

and you know what that means...

I can deck my halls

turn on my Christmas lights

start my baking

finish my shopping

write up and mail my Christmas cards

plan my menus

and get my party shoes out

"swoon"

it is going to be a crazy busy time

but oh so much fun

please remind me that I said this in a couple of weeks!

Actually right now I feel pretty good

organization is my friend

because I feel like I am on my "A" game right now

I thought I would have a little giveaway!

I am pleased to present a little something

that I love and use on a daily basis

Epicure Spices!

this is a proud Canadian company

started back in 1991 in Victoria, BC

the spices include:

Lemon Dilly ~ Cheese, Chive & Bacon

and 3 Onion

with this little trio you can make

Epicure's Extraordinary Cheese Dip

and it is to-die-for!

the spices can also be used in many other recipes

as well as a veggie dip ~ each on their own.

I gave away this trio this summer but it was only

available to my Canadian readers

I am happy to say that this time it is open to everyone

all you have to do to enter is:

be a follower and leave me a comment

it's that simple!

Blog or Tweet about it ~ let me know

and you will get another chance to win

I will announce the winner next Friday

December 9th

Good luck and spread the word!

Quote of the Day

2011-11-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

words to live by...

Traditions

2011-11-26T15:16:00.001-04:00

One of our yearly holiday traditons

is I take a Friday off

near the end of November

grab Kat & Sam after school

and we go shopping for their Christmas presents

from Trevor & I

I used to get off pretty easy

a trip to Wal-Mart

a painful 2 hours in the toy department

then a quick pick of an outfit

and we were done

my how times have changed!

Although yesterday was Black Friday

in the states

Canada has not quite reached the pandemonium

of our neighbors in the south

and thank heavens for that

off to the mall we went and after 4 hours

and a food court supper

I dropped them off ~ a little poorer

but my ~ what a great time we had

we did go to Wal-Mart

and goofed around a bit with the Santa hats

as you can see

they make my heart sing ~ these 2 girls of mine.

Today the Christmas music is on

and I am in the midst of getting the decorations out

in an attempt this year to simplify

I am once again failing miserably

I guess I am much too attached to some of my material things

but you know what ~ that's ok

I will be fa la la la laing!

I am throwing around the idea of going out to the

local craft fair tonight ~ still up in the air on it

I may just have a nice long bath

and snuggle in with a movie.

Hope you are having a wonderful week-end

and that your heart is full of joy.

~Thankful~

2011-11-24T06:00:00.004-04:00

Taking a moment today to wish

all my US friends

a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugs!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Forever Friends

2011-11-23T06:00:00.002-04:00

this last quote says it all...

can't wait to meet up with my forever girlfriends tommorrow

night for supper ~ it has been too long.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Monday!

2011-11-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

While out driving yesterday

I was disappointed to see

the trees are almost totally bare ~ naked

ready for old man winter

although I am not

the weather has been incredible

so warm that we are just bracing ourselves

for that first blast of cold air

which we all know is coming

game night was a success

good friends ~ good food and fun

what a great way to spend a Saturday night

Sunday afternoon was coffee with my cousin

planning ~ what cookies to make for Christmas this year

we came up with 3 kinds ~ shortbread, almond fingers and birdsnests

yummy yummy yummy!

I will also make gumdrop and date cookies

I need those!

this week is going to be a busy one

although I have no big holiday meal to plan

I am meeting with my book club girls tonight

then with my forever girlfriends on Thursday night

figure I will call them that since we have been together

since we were 5 years old

so it's almost forever....

I have Friday off ~ my last vacation day of the year

and I have plans ~ I do have plans for that.

Hope you all had the kind of week-end

that put a spring in your step

and a smile on your face.

Happy Monday!

Friday Potpourri

2011-11-18T06:00:00.003-04:00

Hello friends

it's Friday

as the leaves crunch beneath our feet

the sun shines down on our faces

it has been a gorgeous week

sitting on the bench reading my book at lunch

kind of gorgeous

it has been a good week

a not do a whole lot of anything week

which is a good thing because next week the fun starts

getting together with girlfriends for a pre-Christmas catch up session

lattes on Monday night with some

then dinner on Thursday with others

but that's next week

this is the week-end baby

game night tomorrow with the neighbors

and their 4 legged kids ~ it's been too long

some shopping tonight

checking things off my list

my goal is to get the bulk of my shopping by the end of November

and by golly ~ I am off to a good start

thanking you for taking the time to comment this week

they lift my day ~ they really do

Wishing you a wonderful week-end!

You Had Me At Woof

2011-11-16T06:00:00.003-04:00

You know I have gone on and on and on

about my little baby girl

this is one of my favorite baby pictures of her

while I was away I picked up this book

and although I am not even half way into it

it makes me smile and laugh

for someone that once thought this breed was ugly

I love them now!

too cute for words!

all these except for the 1st and last were found on Pinterest

so if you want a chuckle ~ laugh out loud belly laugh

whether you are a Boston Terrier lover

or just a dog lover

I think you will like this book

Miss Molly ~ asleep on Papa's knee

pure Boston love

Happy Wednesday!

Sunshine & Crunchy Leaves

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Having a week-end with no plans

is precious ~ especially this time of year

as we ramp up for the holiday season

being able to do as much or as little as we want

in a solitary week-end was much needed in my little world

after my whirlwind shopping trip last week

I needed some me time

some home time

some laying on the couch ~ watching too much tv

and playing on the net time

what I learned this week-end was:

it's ok not to get all the cleaning done in one fell sweep

staying in your jammies til 1 pm is comfy

coloring your hair on a Saturday night is completely acceptable

spending Sunday afternoon with your Mom & Niece is fun

even if you only went to the grocery store together

being able to go out on said Sunday with no coat is unheard of

in these parts in November ~ loving the sunshine and warm temps

making Monday night's supper on Sunday afternoon

is not only smart but eases the stress of the dreaded first day of the week

catching up on blog posts that I have missed made me smile

one giant crash at 1:30am means Cooper has knocked something

off the mantle again = broken mirror

Cooper 2 ~ Mantle 0 (red wine and now a mirror)

Googling how to keep said cat off the mantle gives you

over 2 million hits but I found some ideas to try

Pear crisp and French vanilla ice cream and tea

covers at least 3 food groups

Trev and Molly headed to the cottage on Sunday to check out

our new gate. We are along a piece of beach protected by the

Wildlife Society and they have been having issues keeping people off

the old road so they offered gates to all the cottage owners along

the stretch of road ~ I think it looks pretty spiffy plus

it saved us a bunch of moola!

Hoping that you all had a wonderful week-end

and have a great week.

We Went ~ We Shopped ~ We Survived!

2011-11-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

I feel like I have been gone forever

even though it's only been a week

but I am back ~ feeling refreshed

and ready to catch up with everyone!

Last Saturday morning came early

alarm going off at 4am early

after tossing and turning and not getting much sleep

on Friday night

it was all good though as I was at the end of the driveway

at 5 ~ ready for pick up

we made the rounds and picked up the crew

then coffee and hit the road

we all wore our tiaras ~ gave the border guards a laugh

then hit the ground running

we shopped ~ we laughed ~ we shopped

we got carded at Wal-Mart when we stopped for beverages

before going back to the room for the night

I was like "seriously"

we laughed so hard

this was day 2 ~ you can imagine

5 girls ~ 1 room ~ 2 double beds and a cot

and enough bags to sink a boat

after breakfast on Monday we packed up

and set out to pack the truck ~ it was challenging to say the least

we did it though and made a pact that whatever we bought

on the way out of town ~ you had to hold on your knee!

we did it though ~ tiara's still in tact

we made a lot of memories

and had a blast while doing it

we also talked about doing it all again next year

which makes me smile

this week-end I have to do more fun things like

cleaning & grocery shopping

I also have some reading to do as there are

blogs to catch up on.

Hope you all have a wonderful week-end!

Lest We Forget

2011-11-11T08:07:00.000-04:00

Friday Potpourri

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-03:00

Sweet sweet Friday

and this is one I have been looking forward to

for a few weeks...

loving this time of year

although I have to scrape the frost off the windshield in the morning

it is warm enough to sit on the bench outside at work

to read on my afternoon break

don't you love this ring

I just love it

my favorite nail polish right now ~ chinchilly

so why am I excited about the week-end??

I will be setting the alarm early tomorrow

as I am headed out of town

it's a girls shopping week-end

and we are headed to New England

Bangor, Maine to be exact!

so just drop me off at Target or Kohl's

and let's not forget Burlington Coat Factory

there are 5 of us ~ hammer down

we will drive for 5 hours to reach our destination

then we will shop til we drop

literally

we come home on Monday

loaded down I am sure

as my lists are made and cash in hand

I promise to do my best to help boost the US economy.

Hope you all have a fabulous week-end!

Words to Live By...

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-03:00

source

saw this over at Jackie's yesterday

and knew I had to have it

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:00:00.002-03:00

Boo!

did I scare you...

I know ~ not likely

what a busy week-end!

it started out with having no plans and then at noon on Saturday

took off at a sprint and did not stop

I ended up outside cleaning up the flowerbeds out back

then ran errands, got groceries

made a big batch of spaghetti sauce, stuffed manicotti

then made dinner!

we were invited to a party and I was pooped out

I felt like a zombie so the costume would have been easy

it's too bad too because I really wanted to go

just to see all the decorations as I was over on Thursday night

and it looked incredible then ~ and they were not even finished

oh well ~ I hope they got lots and lots of pictures

Sunday it was miserable ~ rainy and cold

but we bundled up anyway and headed to the cottage

to close it up

it was cold ~ see your breath inside cold

this is a picture from inside looking out

it was pouring ~ I called it slushing as it was a rain snow mix

we lit the stove and got down to business

by this time the slush had turned to full on snow

I went back outside and braved our first snowfall of the year

and you know what

I really don't like snow

everything was covered and to quote Trev

it was slippery as snot

nice image ~ right!

by the time we left it was pretty much a winter wonderland.

As we were driving home it turned to slush

then rain again but the ground is covered

I am hoping this will all melt off as it is suppose to warm up

a bit ~ hope so as I hate to see the little ones out in this

tonight.

More news ~ good news actually

Donny is home

skinny but home

his weight dropped to 107 lbs

this is a man ~ 6 ft tall

has always been slim but not skin hanging on bones slim

he has gained about 7 lbs so far

so he is on the road to recovery

and a happy boy

and that makes me a happy girl

thank you again for all the prayers

xoxox

So today I am dressed in my finery

I am headed south ~ if only in my mind

as I will have on my hula skirt

and flip flops

and a lei ~ and a hat

and funky glasses

I will get a picture ~ I promise!

Hope you have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

Saturday Ramblings

2011-10-29T10:51:00.000-03:00

Good morning ~ missed you yesterday!

not sure what happened ~ not like it was a crazy busy week

but it got away from me

so as I sit here on Saturday morning

drinking coffee ~ catching up on some recorded tv

and planning my day

I wanted to say "hi"

saw this one and thought of Becky!

lots on my to do list

some cooking ~ cleaning ~ planning

you know ~ the normal stuff

heading to the cottage this afternoon

to close it up for the season

hard to believe that it is that time again

we are also watching a Nor'easter coming up

the eastern seaboard

that's snow people

they are only calling for a trace here

but still the same ~ it IS still October!

so I hope you all have a wonderful week-end

full of more treats than tricks!

Boo!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Pink Ribbons

2011-10-26T06:00:00.001-03:00

I am late in doing this post
and even though it is almost the end of October
it is something that is in the forefronts
of our minds
all year long.....

all the pink ribbons of course are for

breast cancer awareness

a couple of weeks ago a local radio station
did their part for the cause
they asked people from our area to gather
at a local sports field one Saturday
and they formed the world's largest bra

a local photographer took the shot

and I think it is pretty cool

I think that cancer has touched each and every one of us

it's the dreaded "C" word

that scares us to death

of course early detection is the key

so ladies ~ check your boobies!

this is called a Thingamaboob

you can get your own here

Happy Wednesday lovelies!

Sunday Afternoon

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-03:00

Happy Monday

did you have a good week-end?

mine was good ~ got lots done

cleaned ~ read and did not cook a thing

other than brunch on Sunday

we had our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday at the camp

and it was delish

nothing better than getting the family together

our leaves are almost all on the ground

rain and wind have seen to that

I truly love this time of year

the smells ~ the textures

they really make me smile

I stumbled across this old piece of farm equipment

can you imagine the stories this could tell

this is after dinner

the clean up ~ we all pitched in to help

another great meal

and another great week-end

Hope you all had a good one!

Friday Potpourri

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-03:00

Is this week over yet

really ....really

just make it go away!

Mom is doing great

feels better all ready ~ so the procedure was a success

between working late and everything that has been going on

I did not accomplish anything this week

and the new recipe ~ nope ~ didn't happen

worked late instead

this week-end I want to nest

and clean

and do everything that I have not done

the last 2 weeks

loving the color of this sweater ~ I think I could pull it off

last night I made my Grammy Brown's apple pudding

with caramel sauce

it was the perfect treat

Sunday we are heading to the camp

to have our Thanksgiving dinner that was postponed from

2 weeks ago ~ I will finally get my pumpkin pie!

I also hope to play catch up with my blog reading over the week-end

as I have been around to some but not all

thank you for all the comments ~ well wishes

and prayers for my Mom

they mean the world to me

hope that you all had a great week

and that this week-end is full of crunchy leaves

and sunshine!

Wednesday Thoughts

2011-10-19T06:00:00.006-03:00

my Mama is home

everything went well ~ they kept her overnight for observation

so I worked yesterday morning ~ picked her up in the afternoon

drove her home ~ got her settled

and went back to work

I am tired and it's only mid week

poor me

(insert pity party here)

work is crazy busy ~ but that means job security

right....

I have a new manicure

it's called chimchilly and I love it!

I have not got any of my fall decor out yet

what on earth am I waiting for??

when did I become such a procrastinator?

our fall show of colors are almost gone

wind begone ~ let them stay on the trees a little bit longer please

trying a new recipe tonight

I usually save this for week-ends

wish me luck!

Happy Wednesday

Heart to Heart

2011-10-17T06:00:00.003-03:00

It's Monday again

beeeederrrrr....

this morning Mom goes in for her dye test

she has a blockage

so we are keeping our fingers crossed

that everything will go smoothly

that they can get through with the balloon

and insert a stint if neccessary

her appointment on Friday went well

scared her a bit ~ but I told her to stay

optimistic...

that's the key!

I also got to see Donny

he is thin thin thin but feeling a bit better

he is on the mend

and they are focusing on getting him well

and some meat on his bones

it was good to see him.

Saturday I was exhausted and did absolutely nothing

all day ~ it really was a wasted day

but I finished my book so all was not lost.

Sam came to spend the night and we curled up on the couch

watched The Notebook and munched on popcorn

Sunday morning after a brunch of chocolate chip pancakes

she came with me as I ran some errands

then we went to see Dolphin Tale

two thumbs up ~ highly recommend it

especially for preteens

Elysa & Sierra came with us

and you will more than likely hear more about these two

as they are new additions to my brother's family

thru his new girlfriend.

so today I await a phone call

our good friends are with Mom as I type

she stayed with them all week-end

and will take her in this morning

I hope to be on the road around noon

to zip back down to get her

and bring her home

here's hoping...

Matters of the Heart

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-03:00

Hello pretties

it's Friday and you know what that means

I am doing the happy dance

this week is a little bit different though

as I did the happy dance last night

as I am off today

I am taking Mom for tests today

tests on her heart

so up early

as this day calls for a little road trip

she has been having some little "episodes"

which at first they thought was angina

but it's not

so we will travel to the hospital that has the best cardiac department

in our region

it is the same one Uncle Bobby was taken to this summer

so we know they are fantastic

so today is about matters of the heart

I am not nervous ~ I am optimistic

and know that whatever they find ~ they can fix

fingers crossed...

Hope you had a great week

and that you have the most wonderful week-end!

Hugs

Quote of the day

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-03:00

found on Pinterest

makes me smile

Donny doing really well

may be home by the end of the week!

Happy Wednesday!

Giving Thanks

2011-10-10T13:34:00.000-03:00

What a gorgeous week-end we had!!

The temps broke records ~ it was that warm

and that makes me smile

Saturday morning we headed to the market

can you say wall to wall people

it was so much fun

gingerbread latte in hand and buying fresh veggies

and of course some cupcakes

it was a great morning

that night I picked up my girlfriend and headed to the

Travis Tritt concert

it was just him and his guitar

and we really enjoyed it

the black leather pants helped!

Sunday I was feeling a bit like an orphan

as my mother in law decided to have her turkey dinner

in a couple of weeks due to conflicting schedules & events

then my brother's girlfriend was having her family over

and included Mom with that crew

so not wanting to cook turkey for just the two of us

I was kind of feeling left out

(insert whoaisme here)

so while I was out cleaning out the flowerbeds

my neighbor came over and invited us for turkey dinner

today!! They were in the same boat ~ she is not close

with her brothers and her Mom & Dad have passed

then his parents are only having their dinner in a couple of weeks

so although we loved them before ~ they are now known as

#thebestneighborsever!!

so today I am doing nothing

well ~ you know I will end up doing something

but a girl can dream...

Today I count my blessings

I am thankful for so much

I could not possibly start to list all the things

that overflow my heart

just know that you are on that list.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friday Potpourri

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-03:00

Yeah for Friday
and for long week-ends

the forecast is calling for sunshine

and warm weather

perfect for getting out and cleaning out the gardens

Saturday night I am going to a concert with one of my girlfriends

looking forward to a little bit of country

as we are seeing Travis Tritt

lots going on ~ planned a shopping week-end this week

with some girls from work ~ heading stateside in November

and looking forward to that

found

time for organization ~ cleaning out closets

making the switch from shorts and tanks

to sweaters and jeans

and of course some quality time with family

with good food ~ wine and laughter I am sure

wishing all my Canadian readers a

Happy Thanksgiving

and everyone else a wonderful week-end!

Taking some time out today to say Thank you
for being there through thick and thin
for your comments ~ suggestions
stories and friendship

it means the world to me.

xo

Wednesday Update

2011-10-05T06:00:00.001-03:00

First off ~ thank you for all the words of encouragment

and thoughts & prayers for my family

Donny's surgery was on Monday

and things went well ~ not the way we wanted

but good just the same

he had a blockage in his small intenstine

and we were hoping that they could just clear it

or remove it

they ended up performing a colostomy

which sounds bad I know

but this will give everything time to heal

from the chemo and radiation treatments

then hopefully it can be reversed

they also transferred him to a bigger and better hospital

sucks that he is not further away now

but at least he will get the care he needs

so with him all tucked in we look forward

and move forward

we have a long week-end coming up

as Monday is Thanksgiving

so we are making plans

and thankful for what we have

Happy Wednesday

both photos found on Pinterest

Nesting....

2011-10-03T06:00:00.001-03:00

Happy Monday!

using Friday's photo for inspiration

I threw my camera in the car with me when I headed out on Sunday

as I knew exactly where I was going to stop

it was a miserable day

and although the leaves have started to turn

they are no yet at their peak

I found these tracks while I was on vacation

and knew that I would be back

they were on the way to see my cousin

so I stopped on the way to the hospital

he is feeling a bit better ~ not so down

and they are operating tomorrow so please keep him

in your thoughts

my mums are blooming

and I think they look like a big snow cone

so pretty...

raindrops on hydrangea

they are such a pretty color right now

I changed up my frame and the background fabric

thanks to all the suggestions ~ loved all the feedback

I spray painted the frame white

then played around with some different colored fabric

I love it now

before

after

What do you think??

I did "nest" this week-end

baked cupcakes, made a big pot of chili,

organized my pantry cupboard

and did some puttering

all we had was rain rain and more rain

but you know what ~ that's ok

Hope you all had a great week-end!

Friday Potpourri

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-03:00

Well hello...

it has been quite a week

but things are looking better

and I truly believe that the prayers we have received

have made a difference

I thank you for all the comments

and kind words

he is feeling a bit better and in turn

I feel better ~ funny how that works

I feel like I need to nest this week-end

maybe it is the change in the weather

I want to bake and be creative

found

I want to sit down with a cup of tea and some of this bread

doesn't it look scrumptious!

of course we will be heading out for a hospital visit

and since he is out of town ~ we will make a day of it

the leaves are starting to change

so I will take my camera and hopefully get some shots

wishing everyone a wonderful week-end

and thanking you once again for all that you do.

Prayers Please...

2011-09-28T00:14:00.000-03:00

Just a quick note tonight before I go to bed

a note asking for prayers

see this shot ~ it is me, my cousin Donny,

my cousin Gina and Trevor

circa 1983

young things ~ funny isn't it!

Gina found it in a pile of old pictures

and brought it down to show me when she was here

I love it

so ~ Donny is my cousin

we are the same age ~ well 1 month apart

if you want to get all technical

he has had a rough year or so

last summer he was diagnosed with cancer

in his butt cheek

tumor in his butt ~ first time I had heard of it

but there it was

so last fall he went thru chemo and radiation

into Christmas and the new year

this spring he got the sign

all clear the doctor said

cancer free

but he was still having issues

taking Immodium constantly

I know ~ tmi...right

then this summer he was having extreme pains

in his stomach

he has been told so many different things

that he did not know which way to turn

he is alone

never married

just a man and his dog

going through stressful stuff

which was not helping his health

so he has been off work for 5 weeks now

and is now in the hospital

a small town hospital which is more like a clinic

I think he should be moved to a bigger one

preferably one of the 2 here

his sister is doing her best

being an advocate and working full time

plus the other things she has going on in her life right now

it can send someone right over the edge

but I am here for her

because I love them both

so I ask you to pray for Donny

he is scared

scared of losing his home

of who will look after his dog

about his job

and fears that this is the end

I am staying optimistic

trying ~ trying

so tonight I will pray

that they can find out exactly what is wrong

pray that the infection will leave his body

pray that he can heal

pray that the calls and questions I asked tonight

were the right ones

pray for the cousin that introduced me

to my future husband although we did not know it

at the time

pray pray pray

Friday Potpourri

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-03:00

Hello fall ~ we have been waiting for you...

it has been quite the week

the first one back after vacation is one of the longest

isn't it??

it was a week of getting back into a routine

a week of season premiere's on tv

and weather wise it was gorgeous

the week-end is a clean slate

no plans but hope to do something productive

or at least something fun!

it will be one for catching up on reading

my Folk magazine arrived in the mail yesterday

so I hope to curl up with that!

thank you for all your comments this week

and

no matter what your plans are this week-end

I hope it is the best!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fall is in the Air

2011-09-21T06:00:00.000-03:00

via

I know the first day of fall is Friday
but with cool mornings ~ warm days
and chilly nights I am ready to pack up summer
and welcome the next season
with open arms and a cozy sweater.

Happy Wednesday!