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.

Friday Potpourri

Can you believe that it is the end of June already...

where has the time gone!

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and officially summertime

which means so many good things!

and speaking of good ~ we have been enjoying

cherries as snacks

peonies bursting open 

warmish nights = evenings on the deck

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so many blooms and fresh cut grass

planting and weeding ~ enjoying all the green

time with my "big girl" camera  ~ I put it down too long

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 first week of hubby's new job and so far ~ so good

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tomorrow I will be putting out my red & white

as Canada Day is next week

so looking forward to it

it's a birthday weekend as we celebrate my MIL & SIL

with a brunch on Sunday

then my Sweet Pea turns 16 on the 2nd

I can't believe it ~ my Samantha is growing up

way too fast ~ I am a proud Auntie

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and I always have room for a new potato salad recipe

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Hope you had a great week

and that the weekend puts a smile on your face!

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 

Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red.

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

Sunshine & Fresh Air

It's Sunday night and I am getting ready to snuggle in on the couch

and watch The Good Wife

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meals have been prepared

errands all run

chores are completed

and we also took some time to just kick back too

it was a gorgeous weekend

can I say finally ~ I think I can

the windows were open yesterday

the sun was shining

birds were singing ~ snow was melting

the house smelled like heaven

oh how I love Spring

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the first week back to work after vacation is always a long one

it was busy and I made it through the other side

now I am gearing up for a short week

and it is an exciting week as my birthday is coming up

and on my birthday I turn into a 10 year old

and go all diva and princess like it's my day or something

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I am sure it will not go by unnoticed 

because I won't let it ~ ha!

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as you can see I am in Easter mode

as on Friday ~ Good Friday that is ~ and also my day

we are getting together with family ~ 22 of us

will gather around and celebrate family

and just maybe there will be a birthday cake there for me

because I am 10

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the gathering isn't for my birthday though 

it is Easter dinner that because of people having to travel and such

is being done on Friday instead of Sunday

and that's ok

love getting together with this group

there is always new memories made and this time

will not be any different

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wishing you a wonderful week

I hope it has warmed up and the sun is shining

the flowers have poked their little heads out of the ground

or they are blooming in beautiful colours

face the sun and let it shine upon you

and smile.

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.

Sometimes....

Yesterday I almost had a mini panic attack

thinking that I was lagging behind

things that should be done weren't

will I be ready?

then I looked at the calendar

it was the 23rd of November

so no ~ I am not running behind schedule

as a matter of fact I am ahead of the game

it seems everywhere I turn in blog land 

people are all decked out for Christmas

I loved this post last week from Jeanne

I know people are getting ready for home tours

and Thanksgiving 

they have their trees up ~ the halls are decked

but I will sit here sipping my hot chocolate

and finish writing up my Christmas cards

and come the 1st I will be ready

no panic attacks necessary

xo