Happy Birthday Sonshine...

Yip you got it another Birthday. This is my sonshine Daniel, he was the subject of the letter "D". (you can tell I'm a Sesame Street Viewer). My Sonshine is 23yrs. old today. It was a snowy day when he was born, cold and icy and then he warmed us all up. (Corny eh!) I use to bake 3 or 4 cakes on his birthday, because there was the school gang, the friends out of school gang and then inevitably my husbands family and my family (they are so large I could never fit them into my home at once. Now it will be just the pub gang, no cake, just beer. I was a little distressed at this, but when I met with my friend Doris (who's B day was yesterday) she said they come back, don't worry, this is a short term celebration. I'm sure he'll pop by for his gift. And then he's MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Ralphy.



This Birthday Cake is the "Bananna Split Cake" now there's a cholesterol creation if ever I made one. Check the Cooking Blog for recipe.

Happy Birthday Kaz

This handsome young man is our nephew Kazmir. It's Kazmir's Birthday today. Over the years I KNOW I have neglected our nieces and nephews, on my to do list this year. Hope I remember them all. We are doing a family tree internationally and I hope that helps me remember the dates that are important. Well let me tell you about Kazmir. He's very sweet, polite, a real athlete and he's growing up way too fast. We wish him a great day and a greater year. We're very proud of him.

January is almost over...

Well January is almost over. I'm sure I have not lost an ounce. And this is a weekend of Birthdays. So I think my goal for the weekend is to get out and get that scale, and eat cake and begin on Monday. Wish me luck, you know I'm a cake addict. I think Blueberry Cheese Cake is on tap.

I've been tagged...

Ive been tagged by Annette. So I'm to go to my fifth folder, and the fifth picture. So here it is...
This is a photo of my friend Janice, my new grand niece, and me. We've been friends for forty years. Yes high school! We've been through a great many things, and grown closer because of it. My children call her Auntie Janice. When Daniel was little he always wondered why Auntie Janice wasn't with us on Christmas, why did we always wait till boxing day to see her. Finally I had to tell him she was not the black sheep or anything, she had her own family we were just her extended family. So the tag goes back to my readers. Have some fun. Post the fifth photo in your fifth folder. Tell us about the picture.

Well I'm out in that garage again...

It's -20degrees today in Mississauga, or at least in my yard. I'm in the garage again with those car parts. My son came home late last night, and quite silently I might add, if it were not for his cat making a fuss we would not have notice until I went to trip on his shoes. Anyway, more car parts are arriving today, and it seems they need that space where I have my chair (ones I've started to strip) so I'm out here again. It's so cold. God is good. My husband has a real problem with these car parts coming, he's been off work for a month or so, and underfoot, so today his friend asked him to come over to work on some computer stuff, and he will never know that more car parts came in. So for anyone who doesn't believe, this should be enough evidence. Peace in the family. No yelling, Oh did I tell you my husband is OLD YELLER. It seems the car is getting it's engine today. It will be on the road one day! Wouldn't he die if he knew I sweetened the mechanic with a nice bottle of Christmas cheer just so we could arrange such a day. I came in to defrost my feet and out I go again to hide the chain saw. I'm getting pretty good at this. Check out today"s soup,later I'm sure I'll be needing a warm up.

Clean freak 2

O.K. it's been so cold here that I am reluctant to step outside. So what do you do. I've been trying desperately to clean up. Ha! You know me I start with my studio, and get easily distracted. So now I've found a few more projects that are must dos this winter. I must say for such a mess, I'm really not that unorganized. But then there are the books, and you know that you can't just toss out everything. So I read somewhere that(probably in my own new years resolution list) that if you don't like more than one thing in a magazine or cookbook, you should donate it. I'm not doing well. I haven't even been able to part with my old macrame books. I wish I had kept my macrame kitchen curtains, they are back IN. I'm sure I'd find my cat hanging from them at some point. But in all this clean up I can't help thinking I need to design something for my niece's first baby. Any ideas. I don't think she has a "theme" yet, or at least I'm not aware of one. Her sister liked the idea of Noah's Ark, but I don't want to do that again. I'm thinking Humpty Dumpty. Just because she's such a good egg. This Video is Leslie and I on our adventures, it seems that it is always SO Much snow. We are collecting hearts for our gallery picture book, for Valentine's Day.

Play along

My sisters sent me this play along, I had read it on Nancy's blog as well and just didn't get to doing it, I just feel like I have some explaining to do with each entry. So here it is...

Gone on a blind date? YES (had a great time*)

Skipped School? Never too nerdy

Watched someone die? Yes

Been to Canada? Yes, live here and love it.

Been to Mexico? No, have no interest.

Been to Florida? Yes, could I tell you some stories.

Been on a Plane? Yes

Been Lost? Yes, wish I had stayed that way, had a great time, finding myself.

Been on the Opposite side of the Country? Yes, got lost there.

Gone to Washington, D.C.? Yes had a wonderful time there with my boys.

Swam/waded in the ocean? Yes in more than one ocean/sea

Cried yourself to sleep? Too many times.

Played cops and robbers? Absolutely, I'm married to a cop, I rob him everyday.

Recently coloured with crayons? Yes, how do you like it? It's the photo insert.

Sang Karaoke? Yes, in a classroom of all places.

Paid for a meal with coins only? Yes, we have the tooneys you know.

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't do? I'm sure I have but I can't remember what.

Made prank phone calls? Yes.

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Yes, A&W Root Beer.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes.

Danced in the rain? Yes on my honeymoon in Barbados.

Written a letter to Santa Claus? Yes every year, he always writes back too.

Been kissed under the mistletoe? No

Watched the sunrise with someone you care about? YES

Blown bubbles? Yes, just the other day, I'm trying to learn how to swim, it's not happening.

Gone ice-skating? Yes, but I don't skate, I "just look".

Been skinny dipping outdoors? NO

Gone to the movies ... huh (I'm going to add) and cried? Yes almost always.

Been in love? YES* AND still am, and I'm not married to him.


Mothers name? Stefania

Favorite drink? White rum and coke (real coke not no name cola)

Any tattoos? No too chicken.

Body piercings? Yes, just my ears.

How much do you love your job? I'm a mom, I love my job.

Favorite Vacation? Washington trip

Ever been to Africa? No, wish list.

Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Yes, just the other day.

Been on T.V.? No

Ever steal any traffic sign? No

Ever been in a car accident? No

Drive a two door or a four door? I don't drive.

Favorite salad dressing? Blue cheese, as made by Dinah(watch for it in my kitchen blog).

Favorite Pie? My own, lemon meringue.

Favorite Number? 7

Favorite Movie? Fried Green Tomatoes.

Favorite Holy Day? Christmas

Favorite dessert? Blueberry Cheesecake (my own)

Favorite Food? Crepes Cocquille St.Jacques.

Favorite Day of the week? Anyday I get out of bed without pain.

Favorite Brand of shampoo? still looking.

Favorite toothpaste? Crest

What do you to relax? Paint/blog/read/

Ever been to Ottawa? Yes many times, with some adventures.

How many siblings do you have? Four living, four deceased.

What is your favorite flower? too many to mention.

Furthest place you will send this message? Sweden

Who will respond the fastest? Leslie.

O.K. Artsy friends, this is my canvas, my charming niece did take a picture. So you can see in the lower corner where there should have been sentiment I just got smudges. I understand that I could have used geso, and what else could I do to keep my sentiment from sliding. Geso seems too messy to use after a transfer medium.

You're Driving me Crazy

I don't drive. I learned to drive at the appropriate time, when I was 16yrs old. My brother in law took me out for a practice session and said we'd come home when I hit something.(He had a lot of confidence in me eh!) Well we did o.k. until we pulled into the driveway and I rear ended my sisters car. Even though I got my license I have not driven for too many years. I'm 55 yrs. old and now I really feel like I need to drive. After walking (probably around the world) and knowing every bus route in more than my own town, I'm tired of waiting for buses in the cold. It's not the time I'm wasting, (because I have no where to go in a hurry). It's just so damn cold. What's stopping me you say, I'm very nervous about this whole traffic thing. I live in the city center a bustling city center and everywhere I want to go is on busy streets. But then again I look at the many women I know who drive and most of them are not eager, confident drivers, they have never killed anyone, or themselves. So why not I say? Certainly one of the Big THINGS on my list of to do this year. For years I argued with my husband about this and then decided I was not going to live in a marriage where driving was the only argument always, now there are many other things we argue about, so driving is not an issue anymore. Quietfire Design does a weekly journal prompt and I suggested this topic I'd love to hear what others have to say about it. And I'd certainly love to hear from you. I don't particularity like being in a car so that is something I will have to overcome. But I hate having to ask for a ride even more. So Driving is driving me crazy.

Just a little history...

This year I believe marks 100 years of Anne of Green Gables. While I was at the EX this year I spotted this cute little girl in the Anne dress-up and immediately had to find out WHY? I proceeded to the booth and purchased this cute little hat for my grandniece. I then gathered the info and you know if my kids were younger it would be a field trip. But maybe you can join me. Don't you just love it.
http://bala.net/museum/

No matter...

This is the photo I tried desperately to put on canvas.I used my Creative Memories tearing tool for the edges.The transfer was successful, however, my sentiment stamp slid. I threw the first one out and thought o.k., I'll use Stazon and wait till the canvas is completely dry. Well it happened again, so the result was some mushed up vintage looking background o.k. for now, but I'm still trying to get the words just so. My idea was to have the sentiment "No matter how busy I seem to be, you always mean the world to me." and it didn't work. I'll be emailing Suzanne Cannon for help on this one. Anyway, My mothers 89th birthday celebration was quite lovely. My little canvas pieces, (one for each flower arrangement was o.k., just o.k.) No photos, not worth photoing try again for Valentine's Day.


I'm putting in a video clip with the Spice Girls, I don't know if she remembers them, they were quite a controversial subject at my mothers house, but that's another blog.

Creative day...

I thought I would do something creative today, as I cleaned all week and you know what happens, you find a project and think "Oh I meant to do that". So today I tried a little piece that was designed by the designers of Quietfire. I had a little trouble stamping at the end but. I chose to do my mothers pictures on a 6 x 6 gallery canvas, I enlarge the photos, they were very small and then I went at it. Quite fun. I'll post my table decoration and include them with. I hope to develop this into a "Caught on Canvas" book for each of my siblings and nieces and nephews, with a little something as a treat. Stay tuned for the result.

Clean freaks...

I have spent most of my adult life in the pursuit of a tidy home. I'm not going to say clean, because I think the two are vastly different. Clean means clean and tidy means organized and orderly. I wash everything so I know things are clean, they are not always organized and orderly, oh excuse me, rarely organized and orderly. Stopped by Julies' blog today. Big mistake. I'm just getting to my yarns. I've decided to take up knitting again, because I've hauled my mother's knitting machine home and realized she had the Cadillac and I have the foreign economy model. The economy model was shared. But for the life of me I can't remember how to cast on... So I'm taking knitting lessons and then I may venture out to Julies shop. I love that she is young and loving knitting. I'm so inspired stop by her blog and see. My cat will love me and I'll have something to do when I visit my mother. I'm sure there will be a number of ladies there with a load of advice. I may start a knitters corner and round up some business. Ha Ha ave no idea why this is so small. A sweater I knit for Mary way way back. I'm scanning on a new program and OH SASHA!

Something New

I stopped by Just Joni's site and saw Brenda's photo challenge and just had to participate. WE'RE HAVING A BABY! My lovely niece Andrea and her hubby Patrick are expecting their first baby. HOW EXCITING. That is definetly something new. And I think this is so naive about Ricky, things don't happen like this too often do they?

The last three years

The last three years have been a blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr for me, my kids have grown up, my mother has gotten reallllllly old, my husband retired and just when I think I'm going to get a life, it rains. I will not say it's been fun. It has been a very bumpy ride. While I'm enjoying the freedom from night time feedings they seem not so long ago. Yet I know that most night times I'm thinking what's Daniel doing, is he home o.k. or has he been near that shooting site, and heaven forbid they say "the name of the victim is not be disclosed pending notification of next of kin" I would prefer a night time feeding. Now that my mom is in a full care facility I'm not thinking is she hungry, or fallen, because I know someone would have picked her up, I do know that she's been crying. And that's not pleasant. I know my husband is doing O.K. most times, but I do think he's forgetting he's not a Police Officer anymore he's a Private Dick, not quite the same. And then there's me. Well I use to get up with my boys, walk them to school and then do my own thing for at least the two hours before they came home for lunch. Like paint everyday. I always thought when they grow up I'll have all kinds of time. WHEN. It seems to me just when I think o.k. I'll be able to finish that project or start that painting there is always something that becomes more important. Thank goodness for computers at least my journalling still gets done. I don't fall asleep infront of a computer as easily as writing in a book. But, since it's the new year and we set new rules, I really NEED to do that. WEDNESDAY has to be painting, no alternate plans will be made. THURSDAY must be scrapping, otherwise my photo's will be all over the place with great intentions and not done. Anyone with good ideas please send them on. I need a plan.

You Look Ma vellous

Well Well, Today is a special day. My sister Alice celebrates another year. She looks marvelous doesn't she? She's a good friend, a great sister, a loving mother/grandmother and a very caring daughter and then in her spare time she's a great professor. Way to go lady!

What's the best advice you have ever gotten?

This was a question from one of Carmi's beading friends I thought it was worth a post. By my mentioning my kids so often you must think I like them. I'm guilty. If I could choose between doing my house work and watching cartoons or other crap with my kids I would. So it stands to reason that advice in that regard would be something I would have heeded. When my first baby was born I was bombarded with advice from every woman who had ever had a baby and crossed my path. I think the one that sticks in my mind the most is "enjoy them now, because they grow up so fast." I did and do enjoy my kids. But, I always thought I would actually get to relax and enjoy them as well. Well they've grown up, and they don't really want to go to the movies with their mom. They'd rather have a date with them. They don't really want to go shopping with me, they'd rather go with their friends. They don't really want to go on vacation with me either, they want to do the white water rapid thing, instead. They always complained that I made them learn things even on vacation, limited as they were. So Aren't I glad I did what I could afford with them when they still wanted me.

How honest are you?

I received this award from Annette and it is a fun activity to share ten little HONEST tidbits about me...I didn't know how difficult it would be to come up with new stuff that I could just put out there... I am suppose to pass it on to seven others, but am more inclined to offer it as a challenge. It really is more difficult than you can imagine.

1. I love being a mom. Even though it's REALLY hard sometimes to let them grow up.

2. I have a very difficult time throwing away old things, even if everyone thinks it's just junk.

3. I'm glad that I can speak up for myself and others without being embarrassed.

4. I'm never ashamed or myself, my home(in any state, including the people living in it), my choices and most of all my faith.

5. I just need to know how to do things, like paint, make jewelry, knit, even if I never do it again or for profit, I love to know how it's done. And I'm so grateful when someone shares their secrets of "how to"with me. I hope I never make them feel like I'm stealing.

6. I feel very honored that my brother-in-law (M.S.) cares about me and mine the way he does, he sure doesn't have to, he goes way beyond his marital promises to my sister.

7. Even though my place of residence is often untidy, I have a terrible hang-up about Newspapers being all over the place, and the recycling not just so.

8. I think I'm honest, and caring about others feelings but I'm having a very hard time holding my tongue sometimes, Is that lying?

9. I try to be sensible about some cleanliness issues,and I'm not hung up on "Clean". However I cannot sleep in the same pajamas more than once without feeling icky and no one sleeps on MY pillow.

10. I know I'm weird and I'm o.k. with that.

11. I had to add a number. I absolutely hate when you're at a lovely dinner, at your own home or someone elses, and it's a major rush to clear the table and SCRAPE the dishes so you can stack them and take them all in one swoop. I believe the point of gathering for dinner intimate or extended family should be to spend time with each other, surely we all have enough to eat. Sharing a meal is a very intimate experience, as I see it. You don't sit down with strangers to eat. And then after spending many many hours planning and preparing the meal, we scrape it all off so it looks like garbage, just so we can clean up and get rid of our company faster. I even try not to do the dishes, I like to be with my company, the dishes will be there when they leave. Now that's just me, maybe I'm wrong. But if you come to my house for dinner or lunch or breakfast I'll be sitting with you and not doing dishes.

Now I'm supposed to link in 7 bloggers to do the same. I don't have the heart to do that. So please choose yourself and join the fun.

Will I live long enough?

Well last night I completed removing furniture/wood pieces from my mothers home, with help from my brother-in-law and my grumpy husband. I could see things painted on each piece and therefore could not just throw them out.(My husband is having a fit). Like the bookcase that we had as children(which we hated) I could see a fox hunt scene across the front of it. The wood bed frame, well that will have to be a continuation of Noah's Ark. And then there is that table that would be great as a chess table. I'm just thinking I'm not sure I'll live long enough to paint all these things. Oh well I'll be signing up for studio painting beginning Wednesday, hope I can accomplish some of these tasks. And then of course there is upholstery...oh yes, and the knitting machine, and all that silk embroidery.............................. I even have the fur to make this lovely muff for my cat. Imagine that!

I wish...

I'd like to wish everyone a great New Year. We did indeed going dancing on New Year's Eve. Although it was not the music we were expecting, we had a good time. The company was pleasant the food was excellent and we brushed up on our Polish grammar. (badly needed)I forgot my camera, and I can't figure out how to use the camera phone link to the computer so. Just imagine Us as in this video clip. LOL really. Of course I need a new hip, and heart and certainly new shoes.