Creating - In A New Way!

When I checked my email inbox this morning, I found a digital scrapbooking tutorial and free template from Jessica Sprague.  I've been wondering about how to do this stuff and Jessica is an amazing tutor so after watching her video, I started.  I had to watch the video about 10 more times as I was trying to do things but eventually I was successful and created this!!

I kind of wish I could change the title but that's not an option on this template.  Now I know to find that out before I begin - I might have chosen different pictures for the LO.   I am quite pleased with my results.  The real test will be if I can do it again all by myself!!

Christmas Giveaway

Today Randi at I Have to Say directed her readers over to the 12 Days of Christmas giveaways that Portobello Pixie  is sponsoring on her site.  You should race right over there and see the beautiful artists and their work that's being given away.  The ornaments, aprons and scarves featured so far are absolutely gorgeous!!  And it's only day 2 so there's lots more to come :))

Home Again

My camera has been away this week, safe in a bag but not at our house - and I've felt a little lost.  There have been countless times when I've reached for it, only to remember it's not here.  Now that I know it's back home, I have a sense of peace and eagerness.  It's almost like a long lost child has found his/her way home and I'm rejoicing.  Silly, isn't it?!  It's only a camera but it's like one of us - a part of who I am, an extension of family, a dear and real part of our life.

Welcome Home, Little Camera!  I've missed you this week.  I'm eager to play with you tomorrow!
Love, Me

(the last picture I took with my Canon 350)

Ten on Thursday

1.  Today at school, the former maintenance worker stopped by and told us that his grandson has been chosen as one of 11 McDonald's Kid Champions from across Canada!!  There's one from each province and they will all go to the Olympics, stay in the Athlete's Village, go to some events and hang out with athletes.  What a cool way to recognize young people I (he's 12) for their athletic achievements and leadership skills!  He is going to have an absolutely amazing time - and his Grampa is really proud of him :))

2.  The geese are still flying around, trying to decide if cold weather is actually coming or not, I guess.

3.  I don't think you ever saw her in her Halloween costume, did you?!  She was one sweet elephant.

4.  Don't you just love when you go to buy something on sale - and it's even cheaper than the sale ticket says?!!  I scored on a new top today - bottom line was $18 instead of $54.

5.  Thrift store find + sandpaper + elbow grease + paint = cool Christmas present :))

6.  I bought some supplies to make poppycock and almond cranberry bark today.  That's one of my plans for the weekend.

7.  I wish I / we could go to New York to visit Samuel (and his parents) again.  He's 6 months old and started eating cereal this week, rolling over and is growing up so quickly.  You can read all about it on Melinda and Tyler's blog .

8.  This plum croissant was a wonderful breakfast treat in Zurich.  I wish we could find them around here.

9.  If you feel like baking something this weekend, go to Rhonda's blog and find the recipe for Banana Caramel Cake.  And then invite me over to have a piece with you, okay?!!  It looks delish!!  Rhonda's decided on a little goal of baking everything in the Martha Steward baking cookbook - and she is rocking it!

10.  Somehow I got assigned bus supervision tomorrow morning - at 8:10 a.m., no less!!  It's going to be a long, long day - I supervise before school, at morning recess, at noon hour, at Healthy Hearts in the afternoon, and at the busses again at the end of the day.  Can you tell that I'm the sub??!!  I am looking forward to Saturday morning :))

My Favourite Color

Some words of wisdom from a devotional I read today:

"Do all the good you can,

 by all the means you can,

 in all the ways you can,

 in all the places you can,

 at all the times you can,

 to all the people you can, 

as long as you ever can."    

John Wesley

Earlier this fall, a photo assignment from Shutter Sisters was to pick a favourite color and photograph it wherever you found it one day.   I found orange in a few places :))

Gratitude Gifts Today

Last night I was worrying about some stuff and trying to figure out how to solve things - and then it hit me.  These were not my things to worry about - these were not my responsibilities - these thoughts were taking me away from God.  And I was reminded again that in giving thanks for all that I have, my thoughts still and my heart gives it up to God and I breathe easier and my heart my mind are at peace.

It was then that I found the slip of paper tucked inside my pocket this week.  My scripture memory verse, written in code, just a few letters to help me memorize easier.  Why do I worry and fret when He is my Rock and He has good  things planned for me when I share what I have with others and put my complete trust in Him?  I am so childish sometimes, when I know better.  I need to do better now so I count my blessings, whisper my verse and trust in His abiding love.  He has never failed me and He won't start now!!

So my gratitude gifts, with thanks and a peaceful heart -

 - brilliant sunrises

- chai tea in my travel mug

- talk radio to hear new points of view and in depth stories

- juicy sweet oranges

- days of subbing and a job that allows me flexibility

- fresh new paint in a color I like

- nice tasting toothpaste

- hugs from my sister

- strategies for memorizing Scripture verses

- watching my nieces develop into amazing teachers

- Pumpkin Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganauche

- reading the name of a friend on a list of winners

- fresh carrot sticks

- helping students finish assignments

- time with Helayna and Silas to play and cuddle

- online research with an eager learner

- warm temperatures - +15.9 C today

- playing games in the gym

- photo albums packed with pictures and memories

- clean dishes (thanks, Mom K)

- new trim put around freshly painted doors

- messages from Meadow

- colorful, flowing scarves from Egypt

- a fluffy pillow

- visits with my aunt and uncle - and a chance for Helayna and Silas to play at their house

- food in our fridge

- making plans with friends

I am blessed and so thankful for God's goodness in my life!  I trust Him to continue to provide all that we need, and more besides.

Simple Woman #63

For Today . . . November 16, 2009

Outside my window. . . a record setting warm day, +13 C with a warm breeze, and lots of sunshine.

I am thankful . . . to be healthy!

And I am also thankful . . . that my Dad is doing better after a bout of kidney stone trouble.

I am praying . . .  for a family dear to us as they make important decisions and trust God for everything.  

I am thinking . . . about Christmas gifts - I really need to get working on some things.

I am celebrating . . . African music - so energetic and rhythmic!

From the kitchen . . . Creamy Steak from the slow cooker, buttered beets, tomato slices and applesauce.

I am wearing . . . brown long sleeved tshirt, brown cords, and my favourite orange down-filled vest that I bought in Austria 3  years ago!

I am reading . . . The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly, a mystery set in Burma.

I am hoping . . . to get over to see Naomi's newly painted living room and to mail a parcel to Samuel this week.  Oh, and maybe make the first batch of this season's poppycock!

I am hearing . . . Christmas music on TV ads - I need to play some CDs to get the real music instead!

I am creating . . . a birthday card for a dear friend.

Around the house and yard . . . hallway painted, door frames painted, doors painted and now Bob's working on the trim.  I'm thinking this might be a good week to put some Christmas tree lights up outside - before it's freezing and blowing!

One of my favourite things . . . spending time in my scrapbook studio - it's been such a long time since I really worked / played in there.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . 3 more days of subbing, a visit with my sister and brother, an outing to the city and hopefully putting some parts of our house back together.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . a beautiful tree-lined canal leading to the river in Zurich.  We could have walked for hours in this lovely city!

(rosebud nosegays on a table, 

 in front of a flower shop in Zurich, Switzerland)

“Beauty is an experience, nothing else. 

It is not a fixed pattern or an arrangement of features. 

It is something felt, a glow 

or a communicated sense of fineness.”

—D. H. Lawrence

Ten on Friday - A Day Late

1.  Compassion has sent a team of bloggers to El Salvador this week and the stories they have to tell are so poignant.  Kelly has such a great heart for kids and I guarantee that reading her thoughts will make you cry.  Please, please, please consider sponsoring a child - it will change their world - and yours!!

2.  At long last, the suitcases are emptied and put away!  This is always a mammoth task for me.  I do okay with getting the laundry out and the basics put away but then there's all the other stuff.

3.  Do you remember the old truck that I found last year during my walks at the lake?  It's still there - and it still makes a great photo op :))

4.  Lazy cabbage rolls + carrot cake = comfort food!

5.  The school division here had an extra long weekend of 5 days in a row this week.  No subbing as a result but it gave lots of people, staff and students families,  a chance to go away.

6.  Even though the great colors and all the growing things are gone outside, there are still great things to see and great photos to be taken.  I think this might be a new favourite picture.

7.   Bob's mom and dad celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this week.   That's a very long time to be married - twice as long as us, to be exact!  And another really cool thing is that all of their 6 original attendants are still alive!

8.  If you are looking for a way to help provide clean drinking water to people who desperately need it, check out charity: water - they are helping to drill water wells in many communities around the world.  The stories from people they've helped are so, so amazing!

9.  There is a layer of dust on everything in my living room and kitchen - see #10 below!

10.  The home renovations continue at our house!  The floor project looks great - thanks to Naomi, Jerry and Darrin who worked on it while we were away.  Of course one thing led to another and now we are painting walls, doors and trim.  I'm kind of enjoying painting - which I've never done before!  But the chaos - not so much :(

Three Years Ago Today

Over at Shutter Sisters , the assignment today is to take a look back in the archives and see where you were one year ago.  So I plugged in my external hard drive, merrily went into the 2008 archives - and discovered that there are no pictures archived after September, 2008!  Ummmm- - - - - - wonder where they are??!!  My gut feeling about this is not good!  But carrying on with the assignment I went back a little further - and to my absolute delight, found these precious gems!!

November, 2006

Nearly 5 months old - just about the same age her baby brother is now!

And to think - she enjoyed her first day at playschool today!!

It's absolutely incredible how much she's grownup in these 3 years -

and how much she still makes me smile!!!