Goodbye 2010!

Yet another year has past....amazing isn't it that 365 days have passed before our very eyes. I hope everyone has made their New Year's Resolutions for 2011. I for one will not do any such thing! Can you imagine the pressure? No I am not one for making resolutions, I see no point. It would just lead to disaster or disappointment. No, I believe if you want to do something, just do it!  It doesn't need to be the beginning of a New Year, no sirree! Just get'ter done I say.

So I have been perusing some of my favourite blogs and see that most of them are talking about favourite projects of the past year. My favourite and most successful projects were my ensuite reno and my bedroom suite remake. Other little projects were good but the most work and gratifying were those two. All my crafting and running days are what I love to do, so I just grateful to be able to enjoy each idea and each kilometer one day at a time.

I hope you have a wonderful 2011 and best wishes to all. Keep smiling and keep on running! See you next year!

Desperate Measures

I had to resort to some desperate measures today, and it was not a small feat let me tell you!!! My daughter Jane gave me a Starbucks gift card for Christmas and I thought I would put it in my car right away so that I wouldn't leave it at home next time I happen to be around a shop and want to indulge in a latte..........well as the saying goes "stupid is, as stupid does"! And this chick pulled a stupid. In my car I have this little compartment that will hold spare change, small keys etc. Well........I put the Starbucks card on top of the slidey thingy that keeps the change cup a secret.

 I stopped to get the mail the other day and slid the top back so I could get the mail keys and you know that moment when you do something and think dang it! ( Not the words I used but this is a family show) Well I danged it! The little card slid under the slidey lid and disappeared~~~~~~:((((((  woe is me.........stupid is me.....there it went.....gone.....Well not one to be beaten.  I thought  there must be away to get into that area under the gear shift. Do I look like a German mechanic? Not so much. Well the little Silver bullet is well put together let me tell you......but I was a Girl on a mission. German engineering was not going to have one over on me. No sirree! So after much ado............and a few choice words until I found the right tool to take out the screw holding the panel together.........Ta da! Success! I retrieved the card out, scraping a knuckle or two but I got it back. Phew! Now I will just have to fight with the panel to get it back in or maybe I will just drive over and see Karl and let him put it back together. Oh my goodness what desperate measures a girl has to endure. Certainly glad this year is just about over. Ciao!

And a hush came over the house.....

Well the house went from being "crazy" to very, very quiet. This morning Jane and my mom left and Kait had left Tuesday morning with Ayla, so now just the son is left at home for a week of relaxing before he heads back out. I think this past week has been a lot of fun.Way to much food, sweets and drink but overall a good time was had by all. Who knows when we will all be together again............so as I slowly start to put the house back to "normal" whatever that is......I will ponder moments of craziness and know that I will miss the noise and ruckus in the following weeks when peace resumes over the house.

 I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with family and friends.



relaxing.....

  




Christmas Dinner







 




Our pride and joys













 



Our Family









Mom and her chicks and rooster



Now to get back out on the road and loose some of this turkey, chocolate, and goodies. Have a great day!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope your day was as wonderful as ours. It was so grand having all my children home and my mom was here for Christmas. We laughed, we ate, we laughed and we ate some more. It was a great day! It's all very quiet now....and I sense my bed calling me. I can't wait to share with you some of the photos. Please be patient I will get it together in the next day or so. Best wishes to all, and to all a good night! May all your wishes and dreams come true.

Two more sleeps.....

I think if I am not ready for the big day then it didn't need to be done. And I'm okay with that. Gifts are wrapped, treats are baked, cookies are in abundance. Groceries are bought. I feel a major sugar rush coming on!!! The weather has finally turned quite balmy, it was +2C today, compared to this time last week when it was -22C. I don't think it is healthy but so far so good. Jane and my mom arrived yesterday both sneezing and carrying on, but I think they are better today. Must havae been the change in altitude. Kait will arrive tomorrow and the family will be just about complete. Her boyfriend couldn't make it so there will be one less at the table.

Trish and I will run tomorrow as she doesn't think she will be able to make the Boxing Day annual run. So tomorrow we will ward off a few calories and head out. I think I will go meet up with the rest of the group for the White Spot annual Christmas breakfast.

I hope you are organized and relaxing this evening. Now off to my chair, my knitting, a cup tea and to put up my feet. Cheers.......

Ode to the Christmas Pudding....

Now I fancy myself a good cook and the recipes I attempt in good faith usually turn out quite well. Until this one. OMG! I really try and when things go array I really begin to wonder about my abilities. I mean really. How hard can it be to throw a bunch of fruit into a bowl, mix it up and dump it in a pan. Ah! Let me tell you...it may very well be "THE LAST CHRISTMAS PUDDING" I ever make.

My wonderful Aunt Ev said "don't worry honey, you can't screw up Christmas Pudding....well she got a call today and I think I made her day. She certainly had a good laugh about the saga of the Christmas Pudding. I had this wonderful idea to bake it in a bundt pan......first mistake, forgot about physics, hole in centre should not be blocked.....second mistake, steam is not water......oh dear......well after three hours of "steaming the frigging pudding or is that "figgy pudding? I like mine name better......anyway, I took it out and thought well maybe it will set overnight. Third mistake....... didn't set, a mucky mess, well okay I'll bake it......300' for 3 hours......wrong!!!  Lets try 6 hours........oh my goodness.....well it did cook finally, and I did manage to get it out of the pan in relatively one piece...........and it doesn't taste bad...........and it does resemble a wreath...............but lets just say there will be alternatives to Christmas dinner for dessert! Maybe if I smother it in a creamy custard.....I try to be a good daughter. I thought I would make this because my mom will be here, and Christmas pudding with hard sauce was always her favourite and mine. Well, it will be good for a chuckle.


Ah..... it is what it is!



The cure for the pudding gone array



Hahaha! I was sorely tempted believe me!

 So that is my tale of the Christmas Pudding. I have my friend Pam to thank for this little diddy. I'm sure her puddings do not share the same tale of woe. Enough to drive one to imbide!!! Have a nice night. Five more sleeps till the man in red arrives!

Yippee! School Vacation!

Okay so I'm a little excited about having a few weeks off work. I think most teachers look forward to Christmas break, I for one have wanted this for a few weeks. I guess you shouldn't wish your time away but I love this time of year and this year is particularly special as all my children will be here and my mom as well. One day I hope my brother will brave the winter and make the trek north again. It's been many years since we spent Christmas together......... This past week was a near miss for me, after an allergic reaction to a test I had done, I was extremely ill. But I survived and will not go through that again! Yikes!

Well onward towards the holidays. My son came home yesterday and will be home for three weeks. We thought he would not be here this Christmas but we have been blessed that he is still in our own country. Please say a prayer for another of our fallen young soldiers, Steve Martin .Thank you and may you rest in peace......... The girls will be coming in later this week and Jane will be bringing my mom with her. So I have a busy week ahead finishing up details and getting the grocery lists ready. I am dreading the wrapping, I really wish I would wrap it when I get them........when will I ever learn?

I ran yesterday morning, it was a mere -17C' and I think it dropped the last km to -20 C cause Baby! It was cold outside! We resembled Mrs. Claus when we returned, but we are a hardy bunch and it was actually quite enjoyable. At least your muscles don't get inflammed!  Call us crazy but if you wait for warmer days they may not come. So I will try to post more regularly this week before the crazy takes over. Have a wonderful day!


Our Livingroom tree




This sweet little angel was made by my Aunt Eileen. She is very delicate and I just love her.






To Simplify or Not?

Well to simplify or not? I think not! I mean I am really, really trying hard to make things easier and simpler but I am beginning to realize I'm a little more complicated and it takes a lot to get uncomplicated! Does that make sense? Probably not, but I am trying to do more with less. So yesterday, instead of going "gung ho" decorating our big livingroom tree, I decided to take on a much smaller table top tree and to only use my collection of silver spoons, baby spoons and forks. I saw one done on over at The Inspired Room and thought I could do this, because I had everything already! See I can simplify! So instead of laundry or focusing on the main house tree, I made up the Silver Spoon Tree for my kitchen......I really like it and after polishing all the silver and finding some silver ribbon in my craft room this is what is turned out like. I am so pleased.

Too Cute for words.......

These are fake snowballs, simply Styrofoam balls, fake snow, and glue. Too cute!

I had this vase and of course the colour was all wrong so I made it a sweater. Easily done with a sleeve from a sweater and some ribbon. Couldn't be any simpler!

So you see, I can simplify, I just don't think that's what they mean. But I'm working on it. Maybe by the New Year......Have a nice Sunday afternoon.....

The week in review....oh my gosh

Last week flew by before I even knew it. We had a party at our house on Saturday, so the lead into the weekend I was very busy preparing food and trying to get the house in order. I had the menu figured out for a few weeks, so it was just a matter of picking up the last minute things. On the Saturday morning my good, good friend rescued me and came down for a few hours and helped make up a few dishes while I fussed around cleaning and setting the table. Thank you so much for your help! I owe you big time Pam! Well the party came and went and it was a success, lots of fun and the food was great. Needless to say on Sunday, I was tired as I didn't sleep well and so I pretty much watched curling for a few hours and did laundry and knit! Monday was a day at the pool as it was -13 and Trish wanted to avoid the cold but Tuesday wasn't much better and we ran our 10km to the bridge and back.....we are a hardly pair ( or crazy) because I am sure if we were used to only running in summer like weather, we would have just stayed in bed. Wednesday we were at the pool, and it was much more enjoyable. I think we are in  need of a break from running but that will mean disaster I am quite sure. It's party time again this week with a dinner tomorrow night, a luncheon Saturday, and party Saturday night. But the main thing now is finishing up the shopping and wrapping and getting the main tree decorated in the living room! I think I am running up against some opposition to moving furniture but I am confident I will win!

I've come across a new project I would like to start in the new year. I know, I am my own worst enemy. First I need to finish up the ones that I have started. But here is a peak and maybe you can guess what it will entail.

Today is the 30th Anniversary of the death of John Lennon. I can't believe that it has been that long. They were playing some of his songs this morning and I think his "So This is Christmas" song is my favourite, what's yours? Have a good day!