Kenosee, Saskatchewan

Last week, I spent some time away at Kenosee with some fabulous women. Just being plain old creative. Doing whatever it is I wanted to do. Tried some things I have wanted to try for quite awhile, with my scrapbooking pages. And managed, in the end, to get 30 pages done. Three of the mornings (full half-day each), I spent working on some genealogy for when I went a visitin' a relative on the Friday. I have taken to journalling on the "back" of my layouts! And yep, for all those who know me, big step - my own handwriting! For some reason, I have no problem doing this--on the back! I did some pictures from those I inherited from my Mom a few years ago when she passed. Fun time remembering days before ... layouts below. During the week, I discovered sewing on my layouts and love it! Mixing things up, like embossing powders, to get the look I wanted - felt like a chemist! Wine may have been involved ... good wine ... nough said. And O.M.G - inspiration forever from the fantastic ladies I spent the week with. Non-stop / e.v.e.r.y. day! Ohhhh, and I discovered Luke Bryan ... can someone say he's quite the entertainer ... and not bad on the eyes either!

Happy New Year - 2012

Another year, soon to pass by into 2012. This morning, when I went outside to run an errand, there was a glaze of ice everywhere. It rained -- on December 31st, in the early morning. Amazing. The temperatures have been unnaturally warm and so much so, that it actually rained. Today was spent with Gavin -- about an hour at the local scrapbook store creating a page (to teach), a visit to the butcher to get a roast for our supper today, a quiet lunch at Wendy's (salad), a light shop at Sobey's for some groceries, gas in the vehicle, and home. Home sweet home. The roast beef, potatoes, and carrots were yum for supper. I sit here typing, with a can of cold Coca Cola (last for a long time to come!) and wishing already to be asleep and itis only 10:15 p.m. It appears that I will not be awake with the clock chimes at midnight and brings in the New Year! Though, I'm certain my kidlets will call and wake us up. I spent time off and on all day and into the evening, indexing a book (The Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography). And I spent about a half-hour watching part of the Jets hockey game on the television (with Gavin)(I never watch television - so this was quite a feat!).

Just the quickest of sign-off then, to one and all -- wishing you a truly wonderful and Happy New Year in 2012. Here's to many new beginnings, genealogical discoveries, artistic whims, ... and come what may.

Christmas 2011

It was quiet! On Christmas Eve, when spent the time over at daughter Samantha and Jeff's place--watching the antics of one-year-old Jax (the dog) play with his new toys from Grandpa and Baba. Watching Samantha and Gavin and Jeff opening their gifts, but not like when they were little! When all the wrapping flew off in milla-seconda. No, now they take their time and check out the gifts as they are opened. We had (fourth year running now)home-made pizza and watched a couple of movies. We watched "How To Train A Dragon" (awesome, awesome movie) and "Hangover II". I know, from one extreme to another. I enjoyed the first movie better than the second. We indulged in home-made triffle! And came home after 9:00, as Samantha and Jeff had other places to be for the evening. And Christmas morning--oh my gosh--Christmas morning--first ever--sleep in! 9:30 we woke up. Even the cat let us sleep in. It was a quiet day for us and we basically did nothing of much. In the evening, Gavin took me for a drive through darkened city streets (will with street lights) and we admired all the Christmas lights that folks have decorated their home and yards with. Today, we were out driving--remember folks, it is December 26--and it was 6 above C. Barely any snow covers the ground, and at one point, we were stopped, waiting at a red light and I looked over at the building beside the street, the water was dripping from the eavesthrough. Way too mild for Christmas in Winnipeg. Let's hope it is not a calm before the storm.

And in going through my files, I found couple of a layouts that I hadn't posted, so this will be them for 2011. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and found time to spend with their family.

Little Notebooks

When I was in Brandon at a crop two weeks ago, I made these little altered notebooks. They all sold at a grand price of $5.00 ea. They were so much fun to make. And when this dreadful cold virus works its way away, I'll have some energy to make a bunch more!

Pink Wedding

They (Kendall and Kalyn) were married in July and the wedding colors were a bright pink and brown ... and so that became my primary colors for this keepsake wedding album ... to be gifted to her in another week.