The Last of 2011......

I know...... I've been off the grid for 10 days but they have been a busy 10 days but I'm hoping that things will slow down here in a week. The revolving door started last week, and Christmas, it has been a very busy week. Our daughter Kait arrived on the 23rd to spend Christmas with us and my brother and sister-in-law and mother. We had seven for Christmas dinner and I'm amazed we all fit in the dining room. But you know it was alright and I know if we had all been home, 8 would have been great! But when Kait left on the 27th, Jane arrived and we got to have Christmas all over again, albeit the food. Sooooo done with food! There was a total array of baking, thanks Mom! Because I certainly didn't get very much done. The gluten free shortbread turned out very good! And the gluten free Gingerbread Biscotti is very yummy......so those recipes will stick around for a while.

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Rockstart meets Jane, pink, pink!

Kait checking out the pizza order form, mmmmmm no Gluten free!

Christmas Eve Dinner



My Momma and Me.
 Sooooo, when I'm 85, I hope I'm in as good of shape as she is.



My brother Glen, and Me!
 I don't remember when I have seen him so much!

Kait and myself on Christmas Eve

Jane and Daniel at Pender Harbour for brunch

It hasn't been much fun for the son, I am afraid .......with no friends in this area, he is a little isolated. And a tad bored. But he will be well rested when he goes back to base, and with hope a few pounds heavier......eating is not a problem. So I am sure he will be glad to go back to his routines and buds. Things change when you in a different direction than all your friends from high school, some friends you keep and some are left behind

I got a new laptop from the Hubs, so I've been learning how it works and trying a new photo shop program and well.........it takes me a while to get the hang of things but now I think I can keep this ball rolling. So onwards, Happy New Year to everyone and all the Best for 2012! I miss you my friends, I miss my running buddies, I wish you could all be here with me but with the new age keeping in touch has never been easier......but it's not the same as dropping in for a coffee, or running around town and then having coffee at Tim's .........so in the meantime it's just adjusting.....too many things.....but I do love my new house and it's smallness. It's very cleansing getting rid of "stuff". I cannot wait to get started on my studio. With all that's gone on in the last two months some down time is going to be heaven. So for the last post of 2011, may you all have a wonderful weekend with family and friends, be happy, be safe and see you next year!

Tis' the Season..............

To be run off your feet! I've been trying to get a handle on Christmas but with boxes looming in the background and trips to the dump and here and there....it's time I got my act together and started wrapping.....I managed to get some baking done......Yea for me! I even pulled off a rather delicious "Gluten free Shortbread". Doesn't the word "gluten free" scare you? Does me but all in the name of love so that Kait can have some regular cookies.....I might try some gluten free biscotti later today. It's a beautiful frosty sunny morning here, skies are blue but is it chilly! I had good intentions of going for a run this morning but I was waiting for the Salvation Army truck to come and do a pick up and they have just come and gone and well.......now I think I will just get some bloggin done. so today is the first day of winter and the days will start to get longer....Oh Yea! because down here there are no street lights, which makes it really dangerous to run until it's daylight and by that time I am losing interest. I think I need to start a committee to install some lights.....how weird is that! I went on on Sunday and met a large group of runners and we did a Santa run around town. Good thing I am not the embarassed type, we ran through the drive thrus, yes we do a have a few.....and we ran through the IGA grocery store.......that brought a smile to many of the workers! Afterward.....about 8km we went to a place called Wheatberries, an awesome bakery and coffee bistro.....yummy! I met so many people I can hardly recall who was who! But my neighbor that lives out behind me is getting back into running so we are going to start going out monday mornings together.....we did the killer beach run and climb back up run, my but thats a good workout, you feel it for days!




The Gibsons Coffee Chase Running Club

We meet Sunday mornings at 8:30 from the Rec centre and do about 8km,  then go for coffee..... definitely a fun group. But if I plan on running the Half in Vancouver, I will need to get out more than 2 days a week. Seriously looking for some regular runners......good thing I have my MP3 player to keep me company.
Well I must run and start some wrapping......numero uno son has arrived, and middle child arrives Friday and oldest daughter arrives next week. Busy little house..........wouldn't have it any other way.

So let the wrapping begin and finish the wee little baking there is...........Have a wonderful day!               ~~~~~~~~ Happy Winter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies!



Some beautifully wrapped Gifts



Oh dear.......Christmas is approaching fast

I just checked the calendar and I cannot believe how the time is blowing past! Have you done your Christmas baking? Really? I don't think there is going to be a whole lotta that going around this year. I am totally amazed that I even have three trees up! Granted two of them were still decorated from last year but they are up! There are a few touches around but not nearly over the top that I am accustomed too. I just don't see the point when in two weeks, I would be taking it all down. I will make up for it next year and do it up grand! In the meantime.................this is it!



Cranberry, Gold, Silver and White




The Skinny Tree, I need more of these......



This tree I made last year with all the silver spoons and forks
I have collected......now I have even more to add......



I'm thinking next year, I will make cards with this photo




Simple Mantle




I love this Old World Santa, I think he is my favourite

 Well tomorrow I think I will try getting some baking done. Our son comes home on Saturday so I'll go pick him up and do some shopping in the Big City......hit the big box stores, my mom will come to escape the rock for the day. Tomorrow I am thinking biscotti..............gingerbread........cranberry almond.......some sugar cookies.......and maybe some Nanaimo bars..........oh dear.......good thing I unpacked a few boxes today and..................ran a fast 9km if I do say so myself! I shocked myself and I didn't have Annie or Susan yelling in my ear, just Rhianna and a few of her friends! Well gotta run, sleep tight!

A beautiful day for a walk.....

The Hubs and I went for a walk around the Gibsons on Sunday afternoon but the wind was a little chilly and we weren't quite prepared for the cold.....funny but when there is no snow, you think it's warm but there is quite a "bite" to the air, especially down by the water. But we had our coffees and watched a few ducks and toured around the neighborhoods and saw some pretty amazing houses perched on cliffs with awesome "to die for" views.....a couple were for sale but Lotto Max has called my numbers yet! So today I made a run downtown as I was looking for a piece of art work to go on a wall but instead I ended up at the marina eyeing up house boats. Could you imagine the downsizing that would entail? I think I have problems now! Not even going there. How people live in a minimalist house is beyond my comprehension!



This is an amazing photo!
Does it not look like lightening coming through the water?
I'm impressed........quack!




Absolutely stunning.................will someone please pinch me!



Now if Lotto Max would draw the right numbers,
storage would not be an issue!



Storage would definitely be an "issue"!




Sitting in the dock at the Bay.....................





I'm not seeing many people...............where do they go?



Pampas Grass.................
apparently I don't want to grow this..
But they are pretty! Invasive!!!!! That is!




Someone has a really good sense of Ha Ha!

Well that's it that's all for this girl, I've put in a call to the Gibsons Coffee Chase Running Club, I need to find some running buddies......and coffee friends......BMO Vancouver Half Marathon sign up for early bird is tomorrow. I will be on the list. I have a date with many friends in Vancouver......ciao for now and sweet dreams........................

New home.....new surroundings....new adventures.....

Well the move is complete and we are in our new home. I can't say things are all in there rightful place because there is a shortage of places......so the thrift store has taken a hit a few times.....and maybe a few more times yet.......my goodness it has been just a tad frightening wondering what to do? I like my "things" and I love my Christmas "things" but I am afraid I am going to either cull out the collection or build some storage. Because there is a HUGE lack of storage, and I'm all about everything in it's place.....but so far I have to say we are really happy with the house, and the layout is perfect for us. It's going to be a little crowded with extra bodies at Christmas but for a few days throughout the year, I'm thinking we will make out just fine. The weather has been beautiful since arriving on the Sunshine Coast......I would venture to say that it is "app lee" named. The mornings have been very frosty, with all the moisture in the air, the past few mornings have made my car totally frozen looking. That would be because it is outside and unable to park in the garage.......hmmmm....wonder why that might be?????


BonnieBrook Beach......
this is where my first run took me since moving down here.

The sun was just rising when I came out of the trail down at the beach, a beautiful morning for sure, off in the distance I am sure it is Vancouver Island.



The walkway to the front door




Welcome into our new home!




I know I wanted cream leather furniture, but sometimes you gotta give.
....and I am happy with it, it looks gorgeous......and Cranberry does suit my personality more than cream if I do say so myself I do say



This is the diningroom.....I wondered if I would get everything in here, as it is quite a bit smaller
 but it seems to works and it's very pretty, I love the bayed windows!

The only thing I see changing in here is the monstrosity hanging over the table! OMG~what were they thinking!


This will be my studio in the Spring but at the moment it is the "Catch-all" shed
OMG~~~~it is a mess in there!




One of the patios, lots of trimming and pruning to be done.......
in the Spring



The Backyard



Walkway into the backyard




The Master/Mistresse's room

When I can find the kitchen I will show you the results......I love the room and the layout, if only there were a few more cupboards.......storage......I'm thinking the garage and cupboards on the walls.......So my mind has been a little busy and at times it is a little overwhelming.......okay..... the last month has been alotta overwhelming but I have to remember one day at a time and I do not have control over the Universe or the shopping! But I am very happy to be here and I shall adjust. Have a wonderful weekend! And I hope the sun is shining, and the sunsets are beautiful........

Moving Day coming soon......

The house has sold.........thank you for small mercies! When you are waiting for things to happen it seems to take forever but in reality it all happened fairly fast in the whole scheme of things. Being on my own at this point with the Hubs busy working and me here it has been a trying time. Thank goodness I am not the one packing up this house. Although I have done a pretty good job of  "downsizing". When you go from a 3300 sq. ft. house to just under 1400 sq. ft. there's going to be a lot of purging! And purge I have. There is probably a truck load that could still go but I want to go through some things on my own time.

It has been crazy weather of late. This time last week we were shoveling out after a foot and a half of snow and this week we have had warm temperatures and plenty of wind. I'm not complaining because it will just make it easier for the move and for me driving 500 miles.

My girl Trish has been terrible, terrible sick......I have missed her.......so I've been running with a few others, but I think they are punishing me........distances that burn, hills that kill, and speeds that would surely get me injured......but so far so good. Tonight it is very windy and I can imagine what a crappy run that will be tomorrow. But it's the coffee afterwards that's the bonus. Get better soon Trish!

I've been shopping for furniture.......and I've found a few things. I never thought I would want to go for ivory leather but Rene has gotten the most beautiful ivory leather couch and loveseat.....and I love it. So I was thinking since our new house is soooooo much smaller I want to go lighter in color and try to keep it cleaner looking. Well I can hope......... can't I. Well I have many things on my plate for the next week so if I am MIA........ I promise that I will return it just could take a bit.



Ivory Leather Sofa



Regular chair




Recliner Chair

 Well that's my thoughts of late, much to do this weekend, a trip to the dump, cleaning the garden shed.......condensing, purging, packing personal things......oh dear I think I need to go to bed.......
Beam me up Scotty!

Happy Thanksgiving my American blogging friends.

Winter has arrived.........................

This past week winter arrived with a vengence! Some say we got 30cm/12 inches I would beg to differ? I measured and it was a foot and a half or 45cm. Take your pick it was WAY too much!!!! Holy Hannah! Shovel, shovel shovel.........do you think I am going to miss living in the frozen North? I think not. And wouldn't you know the Hubs sells the snowblower before he leaves...........mmmmmmmm..... I believe there is going to be some payback! I'm thinking shopping? Maybe? Oh you can bet your bippy! I like shovelling but a few inches at a time. All right there is my rant.........onward.......I put my notice in at work this week, bitter sweet....cause I am going to miss my girls.........but the movers are arranged and its a count down for now. Still have been downsizing, eliminating "stuff".......years of magazines that I don't have the heart to cut up......have been given to adoring fans of Martha, and a school library, where the librarians I am sure will spend hours pouring through. and the rest will go to the thrift store.....just can't dumpster them! Soooo mean!



First Snowfall




Temperature a balmy -20 celsius




My Girls




This Handsome Fella was cruising through the back
.......going to miss them......



An Ivory Double Wrap Loop Cowl



A Victoria Beanie, scalloped shells

So this week has been pretty full, only a few days of running as I was knee deep in snow and I figured the muscles had a good workout just shovelling. Then of course I wimped out when it was -22 Celsius yesterday morning.......Oh! The shorts days will return soon.....I've decided this morning I need to go do a bit of Christmas shopping otherwise the children's stocking will be bare.....and that just won't do, but first there is a birthday next weekend for my first born........I think I need to get a hustle on......Have a great day! The flakes are falling.......................................oh dear!

In the meantime.................

Here I sit with just me and my imagination running wild about my new house and all the things I will get to create and make. I have come up with MANY ideas this past week on decor and little projects.....Our new house does not need any painting......Hallelujah!  Is all I can say! I don't think there has been a house I have moved into that one room or another that hasn't needed to be painted. So either I am mellowing about color or they did such a fantastic job of picking colors I am just totally taken with it. Many of my friends are into whites, greys, neutrals. Well I am not really a neutral girl but I am learning to like it. A few things on my to do list besides throwing out all my furniture (kidding Honey!) (well kinda) and going neutral in a lot of the rooms, just because the house is soooooo much smaller than we have now........I want that airy look. See how long that vision lasts! So in the meantime here are a few things I have in mind............



I absolutely j'adore this headboard, and I am pretty sure I can accomplish it without
too much trauma........



I love this bed but I didn't win the lottery!




This is a knock off from our favourite Barn people and "Crafting in the Rain" Girl Steph
did a fabulous job of re-creating it.........

Yup..... never a dull moment around here when I can let my brain just wonder........A bunch of us girls did a awesome run this morning. a 14km backsilding, slushy, icy, miserable excuse for November early morning......... but inspite of my complaints of yesterday (snow)they made me go!  I think that this sign is quite fitting for me to make and hanging perhaps over our bed, in our new house.

Hope you're having a great weekend.......I thinking of making a pair of slippers for my chilly toes......What's your plans?

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven.....................

Today is the 11th day of the 11th month, of the 11th year. Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, all over the World. This is a day to reflect upon and remember the price that has been paid for our freedom. Many fine men and women have lots theirs lives to protect our freedom to live. Not all countries are as blessed as Canada, and as I have only lived in Canada, I can only truly speak for myself. But I hope everyone whether you par-take in a ceremony in your town or city or if at the 11:11 hour you just take time to show your respect and say a little prayer for all those who have been lost and for the families and friends who are left to remember them.

When we were in school Remembrance Day was always given its time and of course back in the day, there were many veteran's from WWW2 still around but as the years have gone on there are less still alive. Now, unfortunately our veterans are the men and women of Afghanistan and other war torn countries that we see on the news fighting for freedom. I think it's important that our children learn of the sacrifices made to ensure their freedom.......my son will be partaking in his own bases ceremonies this morning with a heavy heart of the friends he has lost in his short career. But he will stand proud with his company and remember Daniel, Brayden, Darren, and Yannick. Sleep well boys.........you are not forgotten.......

So take this minute out of your day and say a prayer or two for those who have passed on to a world of peace......................and may they rest in peace..................God Bless You All..........Lest We Forget...........