Friday Potpourri

Wow ~ 2 weeks

I know it is not a stretch for me to go this long between posts

but I feel like I lost a week

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in a way I did ~ slept it away

living on tea and toast

knocked me on my butt in a big bad way

I don't think I have missed more than 3 days of work

in a row

but I was out all week long

Wednesday I cried ~ Trev hugged me tight

I was feeling so bad ~ fever would not break

it was horrible

I started to feel human again last weekend

slowly building up strength so I could go back to work

and make it through an entire day without a nap

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I went back on Monday

and it has taken every ounce of strength 

each and every day to just get up ~ put in my 8 hours

and get back home

I know ~ sounds wimpy but it was bad

and I am not a wimpy sick person

just sayin...

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I had the cutest little nurse though

it is amazing how they can sense when you are not well 

and stick by you all day long

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this weekend will be laying low again

taking it easy as I need to get better ~ feel better

and drinking lots of tea with honey.

Happy Weekend.

Friday Potpourri

Hello friends ~ Happy Friday

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here I am again in my regularly scheduled spot

you know I was going to discontinue my potpourri post this year

but then I was missing it

I love looking through Pinterest ~ gathering photos

and writing my words

even if it was just a little recap of my week

and plans for the weekend

what can I say ~ I love to share

my words ~ my thoughts and these beautiful pictures

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although we have been in a January thaw with beautiful weather

I am in a soupy kind of mood

pouring over recipes and planning make ahead meals

it is after all still winter although it is not very pretty looking right now

which is fine ~ we have a good 2 months of snow and cold left

then I can start dreaming of spring

tomorrow I am heading out on a little road trip

it's wedding planning time and invitations are on the agenda

I am tickled pink I have been asked to help out

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I saws this quilt on a blog posting last week

and I had to find a tutorial for it as I thought it would be the perfect pattern

for my memory quilt

the jury is still out but I think it is going to work ~ we will see

cathedral window quilt

slowly getting around to visit everyone

Trev is sick as a dog so he will be down for the count most of the weekend

tonight my butt is placed firmly on the couch

I have a little black and white snuggled in beside me

and I have some shows recorded and I am about to press play

hope you had a great week

and that this weekend brings smiles.

Scraps of Memories

I have wanted a weekend with no plans

no expectations 

well this one was close ~ but there are plenty of weekends left in 

January and February for that!

since I packed up Christmas last weekend

but did not get around to anything else ~ I cleaned on Saturday

and put things back out where they belong

changing some things and leaving others

I have been having fun with my chalkboard

looking up different quotes and then trying to replicate them

and yes ~ I am doing it all freehand

probably did not need to point that out!

Before Christmas when I bought the mini lights to make these

and the ones I got originally had the green wire instead of white

I set them aside with all intentions of returning them

but they never got back to the store

meanwhile on Pinterest I found pictures/tutorials for 

ribbon or fabric garland

and my mind immediately went to a tote full of fabric

I have in the closet from days gone by when I used to make

fabric covered photo albums and address books

think late 80's / early 90's

 basically fabric I knew that I more than likely would never use again

but was holding onto it because that is how I roll!

so I spent the afternoon measuring and cutting

strip after strip ~ smiling at the memories some of these fabrics hold

and I knew I was on the right track

so I have started knotting them on the lights and I really like how everything is coming together

I will add in some ribbon as well then string them up

easy peasy!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Have a Little Faith

I am feeling a little like a kite in a strong wind

at the end of the string

snapping and pulling and out of control

lots of things rattling around in this mind of mine tonight

not anything I want to pour out here right now

maybe in time I can share

but not right now....

I decided on my word tonight though

I was going back and forth between 2

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Faith & Hope

I think they go hand in hand

to have faith in something with hope that it will get better

you have to have faith in yourself

in your family

your friendships that you nurture

faith in your spouse and the love that you share

in your beliefs

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so Faith is it

I have my eye on this necklace

but I think this year I am going to support local business

and there is a girl here in town making hand stamped jewellery

I ordered some Christmas gifts from her

and I won a certificate from her last month

of course I already bought 1 necklace

but I think another is in order

she has an Etsy shop ~ just click on the link above

I love that she is willing to try new and different things

and up for pretty much anything!

Here is to having a little faith in 2014.

A Blessed Year

Happy New Year!

I am still here ~ just soaking it all in

coming down from the hustle and bustle

I cannot believe that it has been almost a week since my last post

we partied on new years eve like it was 1999

not really ~ but we did go to a party and had lots of fun

will share some pics on that later....

my word for 2013 was Blessed

so I thought I would share some of my blessings

from the year that was

I love looking back at some of my posts

some months I was on fire

then others ~ not so much

one of my posts that generated the most traffic was 

Circle of Life

which was a tribute post for my Dad ~ using only my pictures

I can sing the songs and look at the photos and smile

so many good memories

he is forever in my heart

the cooking challenge in February was just that

a challenge

I said this year I will not take on anything that big

but will try and cook one new thing a week

it was so much fun and we did find some new favourites

in March I started my 

The Women Who Made Me series

I loved putting these posts together ~ blessed to have these women in my life

I blogged every day in May except for maybe 2

I loved loved loved this challenge

I loved the writing and deciding what stories to share

like the cooking challenge it did take preparation

but once I got everything planned out I really enjoyed it

the warm weather arrived and brought us a junior prom

time at the cottage and at the camp

spending time with family and friends

making new memories

I loved creating my summer wrap up post here

as autumn descended on us we were treated to a colour show

the fall fair

closing up the cottage for another season

and gave thanks with not one but 2 family dinners

it has not all been sunshine and rainbows

there have been bumps in the road

harsh words said ~ fractured relationships

but with a little faith and work ~ things will get better

I look back at 2013 I do feel blessed

surrounded by loved ones

and friends that feel like family

living in a home and having a car to take me to my job

not having to choose between heat and food

see ~ it's all good.

Looking forward to sharing my word for 2014

until then ~ have a wonderful weekend.

xo

With Grateful Hearts

Light the candle on a holy night

singing loud and proud

grateful hearts ~ both Mom's to my right

cherish this moment

snow is gently falling

it is a perfect Christmas Eve

back to the house ~ gather around the table

a little "nip" or two

and listen to stories of days gone by

laugh and smile

exchanging of cards with my boy

it's late and I am tired ~ fill the stockings

then up to bed

we awoke Christmas morning to a layer of fresh fallen snow

when the sun came out around 11 it truly made it 

a magical Christmas Day

coffee in hand ~ loved ones around the table

we shared a fabulous meal

then spent time just talking and being

and sharing the love around the tree

waving goodbye ~ a couple hours "free"

before round 2

so a nap was had

ding ding

in the car ~ surrounded by our other clan

stockings were dug into and presents were opened

lots of oohs and ahs

eating cookies and sweet breads

crunching on candy and nuts

then everyone grabs a bowl of seafood casserole

and more sharing of the day so far

coming together ~ being together

another gathering on Boxing Day

around the table ~ good eats

sweet treats ~ raise your glass

toast the season

blessed to be part of two wonderful families

blessed to have power as so many around us do not

blessed with the ability to love and be loved

xo

Christmas Wishes

Happy Sunday!

Everything is done ~ I have just completed my wrapping and I am going to 

curl up with my fur baby and watch a movie

it has been a hectic week at work so overtime was in the cards

3 out of 5 days so that makes for a time crunch at home

thankfully I was organized so other than not getting enough sleep

we coasted through it without too many problems

last Sunday we decorated the tree

can someone love and hate something both at the same time?

I love picking it out and bringing it in ~ the smell is heaven

on the flip side putting the lights on it

because I am type A and need 10 million or so

it took me a couple of hours ~ not my favourite job

then unwrapping each ornament and smiling at the memory

and finding the perfect spot on the tree

I am so traditional ~ no themes here

Christmas is a celebration of family and memories of days gone by

and making new memories ~ right

Cathy aka the best neighbour ever made this for us this year

she is so talented and I love it!

my wrap station and chalkboard

love this little room of mine

we had Secret Santa at work last week

and these are a couple of my gifts ~ are they not the cutest!

this is outside right now ~ 3 storms in 7 days

we dug out from 27 cm last Sunday only to receive 27 more on Wednesday

last night started with freezing rain ~ turned to snow and then more freezing rain

this was the car Wednesday night but I loved how our outdoor lights looked under the snow

yesterday we stopped at the in-laws as we do a cookie swap every year

and I had to get some shots of the icicles on their house ~ so pretty

I remember as a kid breaking them off and eating them like popsicles

did anyone else do that?

home we came and I put together a few cookie and sweet trays

some to keep ~ some to give

I have chicken stock simmering on the stove to make chicken fricot for

Christmas eve supper

Lists are made for last minute prep

after church on Christmas eve we will host Trev's family

for drinks and some munchies

I am also hosting Christmas dinner this year for my side

so turkey dinner for 6 and possibly 9

then that night we will go up the road to our inlaws and have 

seafood casserole and open gifts

Boxing day is a lazy day and we have our big dinner with Trev's family

so we will be surrounded by those that we love

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas

thank you for your friendship

xo