Simple Woman #70

For Today . . . January 4, 2010 (my first entry for this year!)

Outside my window . . . the weather has moderated a bit,  -15 degrees C today - still chilly but the kids at school had fun playing outside, the snow is deep - yesterday I sank in over the tops of my snowmobile boots while putting some compost into the garden area.  The forecast is for moderating and -5 by the weekend.  

I am thankful . . . for a new year - full of new possibilities and opportunities, full of God's goodness and gifts.

And I also am thankful . . .  for an early morning phone call to sub today!  And by the end of the day, 3 more days of subbing were booked :)) 

I am praying . . .  for my nephew as he begins his last semester of mechanical engineering at university.  I know the workload will be heavy and I pray he will have stamina and energy, the knowledge he needs and the confidence to tackle each day and the tasks that need to be completed that day.  

I am thinking . . .  about doing a monthly layout for January.  I am really excited to be doing Project 12 with Heather, Roslyn and other talented scrapbookers.  

I am creating . . . still have the January 1st entry to do in my December Daily album and then I can show it to you!  Hopefully that will happen later this week :)

I am celebrating . . . Bob's birthday on the 7th - it's a big one ending in 9!

From the kitchen . . . Turkey Vegetable Stirfry over Brown Rice, Rhubarb Fluff and Lemon-Ginger Tea.

I am wearing . . . brown cords, white long sleeved tshirt and a brown vest - a typical winter work outfit for me.

I am reading . . . Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman, still - trying to finish it to return to the library later this week.  I sure wouldn't have picked this book on my own!

I am hoping . . .  to host a little birthday gathering some time this week.

I am hearing . . . Highly Favoured by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and the Watoto Children's Choir (from the Compassion Art album).  This is an amazing song!  Go here to preview the album - and then go and find one to add to your collection.  

Around the house and yard . . .we still have the Christmas tree up - it never comes down before Bob's birthday (which is also Ukrainian Christmas - a big celebration in our community).    And there are some snow drifts on the driveway - there was a big windstorm here on New Year's Day and Bob had to shovel a path open so we could get out.

One of my favourite things . . . going to the deep freeze and getting out fruit and vegetables that I put away last summer.  Today it was rhubarb - and I also found a container of chili from a few months ago so Wednesday's supper is on deck.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  2 more days of subbing, a birthday to celebrate, 2 birthday cards to make and send, small group Bible study and some pyjamas to sew.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing . .  . Silas helped me open a gift on New Year's Day and Jonathan captured this moment.  I love his surprise!  He is so into opening gifts and loves to rip the paper off - it's so cute!  By the time he was done here, there were shreds of brown packing paper all over.  He took handfuls of the stuff and let it drift down all around him.  What good times we have had with our grandchildren in the past year!!

Poetry for a Sunday

Earlier this fall, after I posted a gratitude entry, Margaret emailed me and asked if she could use my thoughts in a poem.  I was very surprised at the request and honoured that she would ask to write with my ideas.  We've chatted online several times and once again I realize how blessed I am by the people I have met in blogland.  I love the poem she wrote!

How He Loves Me Still

by 

Margaret Brown

Oh, how He loves me, He knows my every prayer,

Lavishing gifts of beauty that surround me everywhere.

Clouds tinted pink from a glowing sunrise,

The sheer intensity of the purple evening skies.

Like a billowing breeze blowing countless falling leaves,

Countless are His thoughts that He thinks about me!

Gently invading daybreak with a regally creeping sun

‘Til a burst of fire lights my day, crowning the horizon.

Trees with leafless branches reaching toward the sky,

Remind me to praise Him with my own hands held high.

Sometimes I stumble and fall from His will,

Ah, though He knows me, He loves me still.

Family Olympics

It was family gathering time on New Year's Day and if you know anything about my family, you know that it's very likely we did more than just eat, visit and sit around!  Yes - my sister, the event planner and her husband, the 'rig everything up for the event' guy, planned a winter Olympics day for us.    Unfortunately, the weather was freezing cold and windy so they had to modify things but we still had alot of fun!

We did eat dinner all together and then we headed outside.

Everyone was dressed for the weather!  I love this picture of Esther and Larry,  our hosts.

First event up was biathalon - two people skiing together on 2 X 4 plank skis - this required some coordination - alot like a three legged race!  "Left, right, left, right!"  Luckily there were no broken bones!

I really like this picture of the spectators watching from inside the warm shop!

More ski competitors.

Then we moved on to hockey with everyone having a chance to shoot 4 balls and trying to hit the targets on the corners of the net.  We had to have a shoot-off because each team tied in points!  I think Will, Jen's husband, had the fastest shot.  This is my aunt who is a really good sport!

Next event was bobsled racing where 1 person from each team rode on the GT snow racer and 2 other team members pulled the rider -

on the sled around the loop on the driveway.  That's Melinda (Kelsey's sister) riding with Silas and Meadow on the other sled.  It was a good idea to pull the lightest team member!

Going downhill was pretty fast but coming up the hill on the other side took abit more effort!

Larry even carved the Olympic rings in the snow in front of their house!

After those events, we went back up to the house where the awards ceremony, complete with gold medal canning jar lid rings were presented to the winners and Esther played O Canada on the piano!!!  It was a great way to celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year!!

Happy New Year!

(blue moon rising on New Year's Eve)

May 2010 be filled with light and  beauty for you!

Best of 2009

Back to Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 blog questions - 

December 18 - Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

There are a lot of places that I like to shop!  But I think my mad money can very nicely be spent at the scrapbook store.  Paper, cardstock, ink, transparencies, diecuts, metal pieces, journal blocks, adhesive, pens, cutting blades, albums, ribbon, punches - so much to choose from and so much to smile about!  Yes - my extra nickels and dimes (and maybe a few toonies) are nicely spent on scrapbooking supplies.

And a close second would be Chapters or any bookstore :))

More Sewing

I love the idea of new pyjamas for Christmas so I made bottoms and combined them with tshirts for our 4 girls (that includes our daughter-in-law too).  Fitting adult women is a bit more of a challenge than doing toddlers :)  So there are a few improvements to make for next time but for an attempt without any fitting at all, the results turned out okay.

And in true "Crystal form", I had more ideas and ambition than time so Helayna and Meadow's are still under construction!  Maybe for Ukrainian Christmas!

These will go with the Jillian Jiggs pig that Heather made for Helayna and Miss M will have a monkey pair (that will match her brother's blanket - she will think that's pretty cool, I'm guessing).  And I should get right to work on some other ideas I had that would be great for next year.  What do you think the chances are of that happening?!!

Gratitude Gifts Today

During this Christmas time I am blessed with these gifts:

- hours spent with family

- quiet mornings

- quilts

- the lights on the Christmas tree which bring warmth and cheer to the whole house

- packages under the tree

- choices that are appreciated

- helping to put a smile on a face

- dark chocolate almond bark

- Christmas carols still playing through the house

- the laughter that comes from playing together

- Grampas and Uncles that play and toss little ones high

- cabbage rolls (thanks, D!)

- opening food and drink gifts from friends

- books

- canned apple pie fillings (thanks, N!)

- pictures on canvas frames

- the curiousity of a little man

- swimming with our grandchildren

- admiring how comfortable they are in the water

- holding Blake as he kicked and enjoyed his first experience in the pool

- having a brand new recreation facility within driving distance

- the happiness these two radiate as they share life now

- family pictures taken in front of the tree

- leftovers :)

- traditional foods prepared with love and enjoyed by all

- hoarfrost covering the trees and making the whole world beautiful

- patterned papers

- photobooks (my very first one!)

- the creativity of our family members as they created and repurposed gifts this year

- cameras

- watching our children become families of their own

- phone calls to loved ones who are far away (miss you, M!)

- Skype and watching Samuel on Christmas morning

- cats who keep the mice away (I hope!)

- safe travels and clear roads

- unexpected meetings while shopping

- time for reflecting and thanking the One who has blessed us so abundantly

Simple Woman #69

For Today . . . December 28, 2009 (last entry for this year!)

Outside my window . . . the weather has cooled off - it was -12 degrees C during the day today.  After yesterday's fog, the trees were covered with fluffy, white hoarfrost.  It was a winter white day - sky, trees, ground - everything was white!

I am thankful . . . so thankful for the gift of His son that God gave to us, as we remembered his birth over Christmas.

And I also am thankful . . .  that Melinda, Tyler and Samuel are not traveling this Christmas, especially with all the  security commotion and delays that have been happening the last few days.  

I am praying . . . for my Dad as he had another bout with kidney stones and the pain is always excruciating for him.  

I am thinking . . .  about my word for 2010.  Read Ali Edwards' post to learn more about choosing your own word.

I am creating . . . December Daily album layouts to record the things that happened through this month.  I got a little behind so have some catching up to do now.

I am celebrating . . . Merry Christmas all this week!

From the kitchen . . . Turkey Barley Vegetable Soup, Biscuits, Eggnog Ice Cream and White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies.

I am wearing . . . black cords, black vest, red sweater, and my favourite Lisa Leonard necklace ( a gift from Heather last Christmas).

I am reading . . . Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman, the January book club selection.  It's a story of smalltown North Dakota during an eight month period in the mid-80's and follows a high school football player, a brand new high school teacher and a retired widower.  And I'm still sloughing through the last 150 pages of The Lizard Cage :(

I am hoping . . .  to do some sewing, bake some cookies and entertain more this week.

I am hearing . . . the CTV news.

Around the house and yard . . . lots of snow outside and a lovely clean and tidy house inside :)

One of my favourite things . . . playing card and board games during the holidays.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  swimming with the grandkids tomorrow, having friends over, finishing my December Daily album, sending some thank you cards and letters, and a New Year's Day celebration with my family. 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing . . . a mosaic of some of the ornaments on our Christmas tree.

Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman for the original idea of these daybooks.

Sewing Projects

When we drew names for this year's Christmas gift exchange, the decision was that gifts had to be handmade or repurposed.   It quickly became evident to me that the person I was creating for would love a handmade quilt (having given away all 3 that she'd made herself!).  I already had a stack of cotton Christmas squares purchased a year ago in Pendleton, Oregon and so the decision to sew was  a very logical one.

I called a friend of a friend, spent a day with her -

came home with a stack of quilted squares -

and started sewing squares together -

and then rows of squares together -

and pretty soon I had a great big bunch of cloth on the side of machine -

and a beautiful Christmas rag quilt was sewn!!

(front)

(back)

Heather was absolutely surprised when she opened it on Christmas Day - and Silas cuddled right into it!

It was my very first quilt and it turned out just the way I hoped.  I called it "Wrapped In Love" and it really was inspired by Heather and her example of sewing for her sisters and brother.  And I agreed with her sentiment of "I really wanted to give it but I really wanted to keep it too!!"

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas

from our family to yours!

May you celebrate the birthday of our King

with joy in your heart,

love in your life,

His light in your soul

and the door of your life wide open to His guiding.

Alexis Cole

I recently received a copy of Alexis Cole's Christmas CD, The Greatest Gift,  in the mail and I am happy to tell you that it's wonderful!  If you like jazz and Christmas music, I'm sure it will become a favourite
of yours too.

Alexis has teemed with her Dad and a host of other musicians and technicians to produce this album.  It has a mix of familiar carols and some new, original songs as well.  I like the way they've redone
traditional songs and given them a very jazzy feeling.  Some instrumental pieces are also included - the sax, percussion and flutes are outstanding.   At times the music is reflective, at other times it's very upbeat and one piece has a distinct Asian feel (love track 5).  The instrumental work is outstanding - even to my relatively untrained ear :))  My very favourite song, and the one that I keep humming after it's done,  is the last track, "Jesus Is The Best Part of Christmas."

What I absolutely love about this project is that Alexis is donating 100% of the proceeds from
this album to World Bicycle Relief!    Their mission statement is "providing access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles".  Established in 2004 after the tsunami in Asia, 24,000 bicycles were shared in Sri Lanka and the project has now expanded to several African countries.    While visiting Kenya and Tanzania this fall, I saw firsthand how having a bicycle impacts lives and provides opportunities to people.  Instead of walking and having to carry everything, people are able to ride to work, to school, to medical care, and can haul food (even milk in cans!), water, building materials, charcoal and another person.  This project is really and truly making a difference in the lives of people!  Check it out and consider giving the fund your support.

And so I am happy to recommend this CD tell you that I will be purchasing some of them to share with music lovers that I know.  Please look for Alexis' album and try it for yourself.  Here's one song for you to enjoy!





Thanks to Adam at Two Sheps That Pass, a marketing and consultation company, who contacted me and sent the CD  to review.  This was a first for me!

Gratitude Gifts Today

In this week of reflection, calm and excited waiting, I am thankful for these gifts:

- waking up

- the quiet, inside and outside, as more snowflakes drift down

- our living room restored with furniture back in place

- bright red new slippers

- friends gathered in front of the fire

- wood from our spruce bluff to burn

- laughter, sweetly ringing

- libraries

- music playing softly

- fat, juicy oranges

- Christmas mugs and plates

- efficient clerks at the post office

- amazing, beautiful books arriving in the mail

- wrapped gifts under the tree

- Christmas Carol Charades

- yummy chicken wings

- a delicious chocolate at the motor vehicles registration place

- eggnog

- ornament reminders of people and places

- supper baked in the oven

- phone calls with our daughters

- tidy countertops

- Christmas napkins

- Jill's granola recipe

- filled jars to share with friends

- photo cards

- sharing Christmas greetings

- getting to an appointment early :)

- laughing at myself

- dusting finished

- winter wonderlands

(outside our living room window)

- choir singing

- cranberry juice + ginger ale

- eating Christmas cookies

- the first taste of summer's dill pickles

- mini mandarin oranges

- Christmas tea

- online instructions for photography

- creating small things to give to loved ones

(a CD calendar for my sister)

- free online templates

- our Christmas tree

- the star at the top of the tree

- taking time to remember

- lists

- only 3 more days!

Simple Woman #68

For Today . . . December 21, 2009

Outside my window. . . more snow!  It was snowing early this morning and it's continued all day.  The roads were already heavy and this will bring the snowplows out again!  

The temperature is -12 degrees C so it's definitely winter here.

I hope the weather and roads will improve so travelers can get safely home this weekend.

I am thankful . . . that God sent His son, Jesus, to bring His light into our world.

This was the theme at the children's Christmas concert and a choir concert yesterday.  

It is true indeed!

And I am also thankful . . . for traditions that make the celebrations rich with memories and the lingering of those loved ones who are gone to Heaven.

I've thought of my grandparents so often over the course of this Advent.

I am praying . . .  that I will live in the light of Christ, even when Christmas is past.

And that my actions will be his hands and feet here, in this time and this place.

I am thinking . . . about some games to play when our small group meets at our house tonight.

And the charity I want to name for our giving tonight. 

I got the idea right here!

I am creating . . . more pages in my December Daily album.  

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share tomorrow :)

I am celebrating . . .  with songs in my heart.

From the kitchen . . . Hot 'N Spicy Wings, Shrimp with Seafood Sauce, Quiche Tarts,

Pinecone Spread with Crackers, Hummus and Tortilla Chips,

homemade Carrot and Cucumber Dill Pickles,

Vegetable Tray with Dip

Poppycock and Assorted Cookies.

(snacks for our little party tonight)

I am wearing . . . brown cords, brown long-sleeved tshirt, and a green fleece jacket.

I am reading . . . Star Bright by Andrew M. Greeley(a priest), 

a modern parable about an Irish American who falls in love with a Russian student

and takes her home for Christmas.  

I am hoping . . . to be ready for company in a few hours!

I am hearing . . .  Christmas carols.

Around the house and yard . . . still deeper snowdrifts!

Less dust as I've done some cleaning 

and our old furniture back into the living room.  

And the Christmas tree is gracing the living room :))

One of my favourite things . . . at night, turning all the lights off and sitting 

in the glow of  the Christmas tree.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .  company tonight, some sewing to finish up,

lots and lots of wrapping to do, stockings to stuff, food to prepare, 

Christmas Eve candlelight service, and our family home for Christmas Day!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . a little snippet of Christmas at our house.  There are even more cards now and I added a green tree and a green pillar candle.  

Santa's Anonymous

As I was growing up, my parents demonstrated a strong example of helping others and looking for ways that we could assist in the community.   For many Christmases, my extended family has chosen a charity and donated to them.  We've given blankets to firefighters, made baby kits to send overseas, collected things for teen moms, given money to drill wells and this year are making thermal mugs of joy.  It's a favourite part of our celebration!

Last year my sister and some of her family helped Santa's Anonymous deliver toys in the city.  The stories they shared made me want to participate so yesterday we met up and three of us spent a few hours  taking bags of toys to registered families.    

We signed in and stuffed 10 bags from the warehouse into our car.  What a huge amount of organization goes in to sorting, wrapping, labelling and bagging before the volunteer drivers appear!

Then we drove around the snowy streets looking for the addresses on the bag labels -

and carried the bags into each family.

Every single family was home so we could leave their gifts for the children to enjoy this year.  (If they aren't home, the bags go back to the depot and they try to deliver again the next day.)

Here the 3 of us are with the last bag!

It was a marvelous experience!  I think some of the families have moved here from other countries and they were all so, so appreciative of this bag of cheer for their children.  Some of the little ones came dancing down the hallway out of their apartments, so excited to see the delivery.  I asked little C if she thought they'd save the gifts until Christmas Day and we both agreed that we wouldn't be able to wait!  I'd want to rip right into that bag and see what was there!

When I saw all the volunteers at the warehouse, helping with parking, hauling bags to cars (lots of hockey teams helping as porters), recording the bags taken, preparing maps, driving around the city and making Christmas fun for more families, I know I saw Jesus yesterday.