Gratitude Gifts Today

#4091 - #4141

- dark brown leather couches

- sun streaming in the bow window

- little blue table with embroidered cloth

- vases for fresh flowers

- fresh flowers for vases :)

- hot and cold running water

- our appliances

- clean pants

- summer sweaters

- scarves

- amber earrings, a gift from Mel & Tyler when they were in Poland

- fancy dresses hanging in the back of the closet

- sweet potato - bean burgers

- "waiting for baby" updates

- pictures books and helpful librarians

- plants rooting and settling in to grow

- still firm and crisp potatoes from last year's crop

- uninterrupted sleep

- swings and trampolines

- 'let's pretend' games

- wrestling

- how strong little people are!

- lemon squares

- meals in the crockpot

- paycheques

- Mother's Day gifts to give

- my parents and their strong and deep faith

- the open door that my parents have on their home

- that my parents are still so very independent

- pepper transplants

- good books to read

- my camera

- homemade flaxseed wraps

- fresh mushrooms chopped for stroganoff

- my Bible

- my Mom's generous heart

- her desire to stay active and alert

- her example of volunteering

- her pie-making expertise

- her love of God

- a $5 sawhorse rescued from goodwill

- sweaters packed away, capris pulled out

- empty canning jars

- a great deal on fabric

- new, oh-so-comfortable shoes

- God's provision for each and every day

- that the law is covered over by His love

- that He made all things beautiful

- the rest that only He can give at the end of the day!

Hello, Monday

Hello, warm weather - I'm so glad you have finally arrived!

Hello capris and sandals.

Hello kids' wading pool - you are going to be well-loved.

Hello day and a half of subbing back in elementary school.

Hello favourite greenhouse.

Hello plants - I hope you will enjoy your new home in my pots.

Hello buds and blooms on apples and maydays and saskatoons.

Hello shovel - time to dig some flower beds.

Hello garden soil and seeds.

Hello seed drills - you are going to be kept busy in the field this week.

Hello lawn mower - your winter rest is over!

Hello phone - I'm keeping you close in case you bring a much-anticipated call.

Hello tomato plants - it's time to transplant you again.

Hello bigger pots - where are you hiding?  I desperately need more of you.

Hello first long weekend of the summer!

Happy Birthday, Samuel!

Our sweet grandson turns 3 today!  Happy Birthday, Little Man - we love you and miss you very much.

playing baseball with Grampa Green

(who only lives 5 hours away!)

from Melinda's blog

Thoughts On Being A Mother

As I worked around the house and yard mostly by myself today,  I had time to reflect on Mother's Day.
Thirty-five years ago, I never knew that:

- our four would grow up so quickly!

- they would find such amazing and caring people to become their life partners.

- my life would really and truly be changed forever.

- I would forget so much about their growing up years.

- I would regret every. single. picture that I didn't take.

- hearing about their every days would bring me so much pleasure.

- their homes would be so open and welcoming to me.

- God would take such amazing care of them, in every situation.

- I would be so blessed to be able to stay home when they were growing up.

- I would appreciate and be so thankful for my own Mom.

- the example of my own grandmother would be uppermost in my mind so often.

- I would really and truly feel like a piece of my heart was walking around outside of my body with each of them.

Being a mom has been a central part of my life all these years and especially since the arrival of our grandchildren, I have been blessed to recognize that mothering was what God wanted me to be doing.  I am so thankful for the privilege that He gave me and these four gifts (and their families!) who have made me so very happy!

Five on Friday

1.  Based on Ann's link earlier this week, I found this wonderful 5 part series, "A Praying Mom" by Courtney at Lil Light of Mine.   Oh, it's good reading and full of wonderful ideas.  You must check it out!

2.  So clever - 7 Motherhood Ideas that I Love - for inspiration and ideas to try, even if your kids are bigger.

3.  Three days of babysitting and seven days of teaching junior and senior high students has been a long stretch of busy days!  I think I need a rest :)

4.  My sister and I have a long tradition of spending time with my Mom around Mother's Day so we are taking her to see a play about mothers tonight.  I hear the play is hilarious and I know we will enjoy each other's company.

5.  I think this Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub from Under the Table and Dreaming would make a wonderful little Mother's Day gift.  I'm sure it smells divine!

Lists of 2012 - #19

Listography 2012 - #19 - Things To Do When It's Raining Outside

1.  Read books

2.  Sew

3.  Scrapbook

4.  Sleep :)

5.  Go out and take photographs of raindrops on leaves

6.  Skype with the grandchildren

7.  Read blogs and check our Pinterest

8.  Play cards and board games

9.  Write letters

10.  Bake bread

11.  Cook something new and complicated

12.  Nothing!

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4061 - #4091

- sweeping out the tree house with a little helper

- planning a picnic when sister gets home

- Maëlle's excitement when she gets ready to go outside

- Helayna telling me that she's painting a gift

- giggling as we played ball together

- after school snacks

- fresh blueberries

- lunch packed the night before

- stretching to teach in junior and senior high school

- apple - cranberry chutney

- lesson plans laid out

- assignments photcopied and waiting

- Smartboard successes

- cards in the mail

- colored file folders and feeling organized

- cooperation

- figuring out what makes high school boys tick

- negotiating new relationships

- leaving early

- good hair days

- 30% sales 

- laughs while they swing

- watching them ride in the tractor with Grampa

- finding almond bark in the fridge

- teaching Sunday School

- that He is my connection to abundant life

- communion reminders of His body and His blood 

- "we are the branches and He is the vine" children's lesson

- discussing the Bible story verse by verse

- messages in Sunday morning music

Dearest Favourite Food of Mine

Dearest Pizza, the fairest of the foods -

I am writing this letter to tell you just how much I adore you!  And to show the grade 5 and 6 students that teachers write when students write.

The sight of you emerging hot and steaming from the oven is one of the best parts of any day that I get to enjoy you.  Your rustic thin crust pokes out around the edges of the pan, baked to just the right shade  of toasty gold.   A thin coating of bright red tomato sauce peeks out from under layers and layers of meat and veggies and then bubbling mozzarella cheese melts smoothly over your toppings, trapping them forever.

Your smell is so enticing, wafting through the house and calling me to come to the kitchen.  The basil and oregano mixed in with summer's tomatoes makes my mouth water.  There is no fooling me about what's in the oven when my nose catches those drifting notes.

But the moment of deepest enjoyment comes when my teeth sink into you and pull away a chunk of all your goodness.  Of course the cheese strings out and a few wayward toppings drop off on the way to my mouth but it doesn't matter.  I capture enough to confirm that you haven't changed a bit since the last time I had a friend of yours and that I still love you best of all.   I indulge in several pieces and then tuck away any leftovers for tomorrow.  For it doesn't matter to me if you are leftover and chilled, you will still taste wonderfully delicious for breakfast or lunch or a snack.

So thank you, my friend, for all the enjoyable meals you have provided for me over the years.  I have cherished every mouthful!

Until our next rendezvous,
Devotedly yours,
Crystal

P.S.  Just to let you know, I've been experimenting with a few of your cousins and I think I have a new favourite crust recipe.  It just makes you even better, my dear!

Hello, Monday

Hello, merry month of May!

Hello green grass and buds opening on trees.

Hello black soil and tractors moving across fields.

Hello long days and short nights.

Hello Super Moon!

Hello high school drama practices.

Hello grade 9 writing samples.

Hello English 20 essay writers.

Hello grandchildren - I'll be over at the end of the week.

Hello Health Advisory Council meeting.

Hello, Mom - Happy Mother's Day!

Hello lettuce and spinach seeds.

Hello little chive plant - I see you survived the winter.

Hello Spring Time!!

Five on Friday

1.  From May 7th to 20th, 4 X 6 photo prints at Costco are 8 cents each!  Time to print a whole bunch of photos.

2.  I am covering a medical leave at the high school for 7 days - and it's challenging but rewarding too.  The grade 9's are getting ready to do the writing component of their provincial achievement testing in 11 days so we are very busy!

3.  Take this little quiz to find out more about the kind of container gardens you might enjoy planting!

4.  We've had some showers this week, the sun has shone and now things are starting to grow!  Buds popping out, grass turning green, fruit tree blossoms growing - yeah!

5.  My favourite little local greenhouse, Sprouts, just re-opened this week and I think a visit over there will be just the right therapy for this weekend :)  I hope you find something fun to do too!

Lists of 2012 - #18

Listography 2012 - #18 - Things I Love About Being A Mom

1.  I get to be friends with my children and their partners.

2.  Sleepovers are even more exciting when they are at the kids' homes!

3.  Sharing hugs

4.  Watching them become parents.

5.  Now I have grandchildren :))

6.  I can be the one to ask for advice.

7.  Going on vacation with my family.

8.  The memories of when they were little

9.  Photographs to go with the memories

10.  The support and encouragement with which my children bless me.

11.  I can help with whatever project(s) they are currently working on.

12.  Knowing that this is how my heavenly Father loves, cares for and supports me.

Creating

Here are some more pages from my 30 Days of Lists project.  Already I love looking back at these even though it's only been a few weeks since I created them!

Day #5 (which I forgot to photograph earlier) - Words to Live By

- I'm sorry.

- Please forgive me.

- I love you.

- Let's talk.

- Can you help me?

- I'm proud of you.

- Good night / Good bye - I love you.

- What would you like to do?

- Gramma, can you come over?

- Where should we go next?

- Let's take the scenic route.

- It's all in God's hands.

Day #10 - Today Was Awesome Because

- the sun shone

- we worked in the greenhouse

- it was Saturday!

- Fabricland had 50% off all fabric in the store

- Costco let me in at 5:53 p.m.

- I had a Chapters gift card to use

- I travelled to Edmonton and back safely

- Kelsey texted me

- I went to bed early - daylight savings time started

Day #11 - Right Now

- I am easing back into babysitting

- enjoying Blake's affection and the way he calls me "Gram"

- enjoying Helayna and Meadow's kindergarten year

- praying for new soon-to-arrive babes

- looking at booking a trip to NB in June

- staying up way too late!

- figuring out photo displays for a 90th birthday party

- reading Deb's pick for April's book club

- doing 4 days of subbing at CSS - and surviving!

Day #12 - Super Powers I'd Like to Have

- photographic memory so I remember where I put things

- grow money trees

- mad baking skills, especially with a rolling pin

- green thumb so plans and seeds grow

- wiggle my nose and have housework done

- pastry making chef

- aerobic breathing for hiking

- fly anywhere in the world

- ability to power nap to gain hours

- super-hostess for entertaining and being prepared

- super human strength to lift things

Day #13 - 10 Years Ago I Was

- 47 years old

- had 1 married daughter

- was teaching third grade

- hadn't travelled outside of North America

- had 3 kids in university

- not blogging

- didn't have a garden

- yearning for a camper and a quad

- only 1 year into not milking cows anymore

- helping with new baby calves from our beef cows

- staying home in spring break

- a scrapbooker, not a sewer

- consumed by my work

So much has changed!

Day #14 - Tools and Toys to Try

- flatiron for hair

- iPad

- scooter

- iPod

- iPhone

- Kitchen Aid food processor

Day #15 - Overheard Today

- "You're our sub?!?!" on day 1

- "Are you coming again tomorrow?" on day 3

- "I wish you could be our teacher everyday." (loved that one!)

- "Why can't I sit here?!?!  That seating plan is for the other room."

- "Can you come back again tomorrow?  I want to work with you again."

- "Let's have her come in to cover those classes."

- "I want to talk to Gramma too."

Day #16 - Pet Peeves

- bad manners, especially at meals

- discussing bodily functions in public

- bath towels not hung up straight to dry

- wild children in public spaces

- not acknowledging colleagues when passing in the hallway

- empty containers put back in the fridge or cupboard

- dirty dishes piled helter-skelter in the sink

- vehicles driven home with the gas tank on empty

- eating from the crockpot before it's finished cooking

- wearing dirty clothes when visiting

- messes on the coffee table

- water splashed from the shower or tub and not wiped up

Day #17 - Favourite Dayz(s) of the Year

- Christmas - any of the days we have our family home to celebrate

- our grandchildren's birthdays

- first day of summer vacation or spring break

- when daylight saving time "falls back"

- vacation days away from home

- camping and quadding days

- paydays

- sleepovers, including going to my sister's

- wedding days

- lazy, weekend days

- sunny days

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4026 - #4061

- reflecting on the democratic process
- a new haircut
- building trust with students
- mechanic-husband
- new shoes

- robins strutting on the lawn
- ducks floating on the pond
- geese wandering in the field
- buds ready to burst open
- green on the mayday tree

- old hockey jerseys hanging in the closet
- memories of years of hockey camps
- the barbecue
- scarred and battered but still useful kitchen table
- video conference class

- phys ed games for the grade fives
- building, testing, creating in science class
- "A Week In My Life" project
- book club
- packing a suitcase

- road trip
- driving safely on snowy roads
- orange notepad
- gift card (thank you, D & K)
- time in the swimming pool

- delicious waffles
- pansies
- box of seeds
- purple irises
- beautiful baby belly

- supper from the crockpot
- praying for growing babies and their safe arrivals
- that God loves so much He gave His only son to take it all away
- resting in His truths as recorded in scripture
- leaning, still leaning, on Him

Five on Friday

1.  I haven't taken a ton of pictures but I still think I'll be able to document our week for my "Week In My Life" album.   I definitely have taken more self-portraits this week!

2.  It looks like spring has headed south!  Tomorrow's high is predicted to be a whopping +3 degrees C!

3.  I absolutely love this card by Leigh Penner!  She always creates pretty things!

4.  Our Mayday tree is breaking into leaf after the rain we've had this week.  I'm sure it will be blooming very soon - insert great big smile!

5.  I love the light in this photo!  The 500PX site is so inspiring!

Gratitude Gifts Today

#3991 - #4026

- new teatowels in favourite colors
- bits and pieces of fabric for a special quilt
- soft and cuddly minkie fabric
- new jeans
- help with transplanting

- steadfast faith by my grandparents and parents
- special teacup and saucer from my grandfather in 1967
- grapes + cheese
- phone conversations
- purple and white pansies, like my Gramma loved

- new games in phys ed classes
- watching the grade fives have fun
- voting
- cutting strips of fabric
- creative colleagues

- reading conference
- new ideas and strategies
- buying books
- visiting with colleagues
- afternoon caffeine break

- praline cheesecake
- knowing He is with us when (not if, but when) trials come
- care and love in our small  Bible study group
- finding the perfect gift
- Sunday dinner shared

- growing things in the greenhouse
- watching "Amazing Race" in India
- packing lunch with good things to eat
- democracy and election days
- photos printed

- good hair day
- rescues
- an unexpected hour for reading
- "A Week In My Life" project
- knowing that I am always forgiven and always loved by Him

Lists of 2012 - #17

Listography 2012 - #17 - Things To Do This Spring

1.  Welcome two new grandchildren :))

2.  Sew baby things.

3.  Plant the garden.

4.  Transplant tomatoes again.

5.  Visit favourite greenhouses and then plant pots full of flowers.

6.  Revamp flower beds along north side of the house.

7.  Paint garage door.

8.  Celebrate Mother's Day with my Mom.

9.  Spend time with all of our grandchildren, including a visit to Fredericton.

10.  Create an album for "A Week In My Life" project.

11.  Use tomatoes in the freezer to make some salsa.

12.  Clean out old raspberry canes.

13.  Take pictures of growing things again :)

Hello, Monday

Hello April 23 - 29.

Hello provincial election.

Hello working as a deputy returning officer.

Hello a whole new experience.

Hello counting ballots for 13 senate nominations!

Hello packing food and drinks for two people for 14+ hours.

Hello 3 days of subbing.

Hello video conference class on growing vegetables in our short, cool summer.

Hello book club.

Hello discussion on The Virgin Cure (it should be good).

Hello (possible) road trip.

Hello tomato transplants - how lovely you are looking!

Hello A Week In The Life project with Ali Edwards!

Quote of the Day

"Autumn marks the end and a beginning.  The summer peach harvests are complete, the leaves in their final month of work before they begin to yellow and fall and the tree takes its rest.  Some leaves have been busy since March, laboring through three seasons to produce a fat harvest.  In October they turn bright yellow, orange and scarlet.  They complete the valley's canvas, vivid against distant gray mountains and browning fields and still-green vineyards.  As they begin to drift to the ground, both the branches and the earth share their colors for a few weeks."

from Wisdom of the Last Farmer (2009) by David Mas Masumoto

Five on Friday

1.  There is a provincial election in Alberta on Monday and I'm working as a deputy returning officer for the first time.  I hope I remember to do everything I'm supposed to - in the right order!

2.  I love pre-shrinking new fabric - and then folding it all neat and smooth, ready to be cut into.  A friend at work inspired me to visit a quilt store - I am planning to sew tomorrow :)

3.  Cutting into brand new fabric and stacking up quilt pieces also makes me very happy!

4.  Big Huge Labs has this very cool map feature.  I still have a lot of the world to visit!

Crystal's Travels

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

5.  I found this sign on Pinterest - it speaks directly to me!

And with that, I'm off to bed - because I have a reading conference to attend early in the morning :)

Lists of 2012 - #16

Listography 2012 - #16 - Places I've Lived

1.  on my parent's dairy farm - both of them (we moved when I was 10 years old)

2.  in room 222 at Camrose Lutheran College (now Augustana campus of the University of Alberta)

3.  with family friends while working at a summer job at Woolworth's

4.  in an apartment with 4 friends while going to university

5.  in a tiny 2 room house that was Bob's grandfather's, right after we got married, until our house was built

6.  in our current home - for the past 34 years!

Gratitude Gifts

#3966  - #3991

- pushing Maëlle in the swing

- dividing a chocolate bar to study fractions

- eating the 'extra' pieces

- new dessert plates

- sisters

- bouquets of pink and white tulips

- Easter landscape with grass growing now

- morning coffee at recess

- watching Amazing Race with friends

- turquoise and brown glass bead necklace from Tanzania

- Tazo sweet orange tea

- new bracelet (thanks, E!)

- pink rubber boots

- wrapping Maëlle's birthday gift

- sweet birthday cake made by her Mama

- fresh, crisp, colorful vegetables in the fridge

- visiting around the table at my parents' house

- safely driving through snow and sleet

- robins trying to stay warm

- icicles dripping off the patio roof

- a changed perspective

- cousins gathered for her birthday

- Maëlle's steps on her own

- God's forgiveness, constant, when I need it most

- leaning on Him for everything

Hello, Monday

It started as rain late on Thursday night and by 8 a.m. on Friday morning, it was snowing - great big fluffly white flakes that piled up through the whole weekend!  The sun didn't really make it out on Saturday and the temperature hovered just a few degrees below zero, not freezing but definitely looking a whole lot like winter.

So, Hello Monday!

Hello tulips blooming on the table.

Hello two days of babysitting.

Hello two days of subbing.

Hello election polling station training.

Hello accountant - it's tax time again.

Hello International Reading Association conference - my favourite!

Hello Bible study group.

Hello more transplanting.

Hello and welcome to year two, Maëlle!

Quote of the Day

"Mothers have multiple hearts -
one that beats inside them,
rhythmically pumping blood up and down, in and out -
and one for every child she welcomes. "

Kelle Hampton in Bloom

I . . .

Inspired by Becky Higgins today -

i was … reading Kelle Hampton's book, Bloom, this morning - and crying and laughing my way through every chapter. 

i am … wrapping a gift (or two!) and making a veggie tray for a special someone's first birthday party tomorrow.

i think … I am blessed to live in this place in this time.

i wonder … what our new grandchildren will look like - only about a month to wait for the first one to arrive now!

i wish … I had taken many more pictures when our children were little - one of my biggest regrets in life.

i save … pop can tabs for Helayna to give to her school.

i always … wish the day had more hours.

i can’t imagine … living far away from all of my children - it's bad enough having one way across the country and 2 more that are a 3 hour drive away.

i believe … every child needs to know unconditional love, especially from their Gramma.

i promise … to live in the moment and allow space for God to work in my life.

i love … reading and creating.

i scrap … less than I want to but I love every layout and project that I do finish.

Five on Friday

1.  This post about "Can you help the honey bees?"  by Kevin at A Garden for the House, should be read by everyone, especially gardeners!

2.  Now here is one for mothers, especially For The Mamas of Preschoolers.  Even if your kids are older, or you have grandchildren now, you will still relate to it.  And if you know someone who needs to hear those words, pass the link on!

3.  And it's snowing  here again!!  Maybe I shouldn't have thrown out my winter boots, even if they were falling apart!

4.  Tomato transplanting continues on.  We are at 140 so far!  Perhaps I should open a mail order business and share them around.  I know our friends in NS are wondering if I've lost my mind :) - there may be something to that!!

5.  Via Ann's blog A Holy Experience, read this article "22 Things You Can Do to Change Your  Photography Forever".  There will definitely be one or two things that you will want to do  - guaranteed!   I'm going to work on #4 and #12.   Let me know which ones you decide to tackle :)  And on that note, I must end with a photograph!!

Easter Egg Hunt 2012

Lists of 2012 - #15

Listography 2012 - #15 - 10 Children's Books I Love

1.  On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

2.  The New Baby Calf by Margaret Wise Brown

3.  The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown - Check out this version on Youtube!

4.  The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

5.  The Party by Barbara Reid

6.  Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

7.  I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal

8.  You Read To Me, I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman

9.  The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

10.  Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

I seriously could make this list much, much longer!  For today, I picked only a few of my very favourite books for the littlest ones. 

Gratitude Gifts

Easter is such an amazing time - so much for which to be really and truly grateful!

#3935 - #3966

- that God would rescue me

- the gift of His only Son

- His words of wisdom

- His reminder through bread and wine

- glorious music for Easter morning

- attending both sunrise and regular service

- sharing Easter breakfast

- smiles and greetings "He is Risen!"

- watching Bob assist at services

- Pastor washing my feet

- somber moments of reflection

- walking The Way of the Cross

- our faith community taking the message out to the streets

- strong men taking turns carrying the cross 

- the shadow of the cross

- letting the events of Holy Week guide our activities

- Resurrection buns

- treasures in the mail

- live theatre shared with our small group

- amazing cast that brought the story to life

- safely driving on the worst roads ever

- naps

- birdsong

- hiding eggs

- Easter egg hunts

- birthday gifts

- cards and messages

- phone calls

- birthday dinner

- new furniture!

- a new book

Right Now

Right now, I am...

:: waiting for a great supper idea to materialize!

:: guessing that the grandchildren will have enough chocolate eggs to last for a few days :)

:: wondering how I am going to find time to do all the sewing that I want to before spring forces me outside.

:: loving the memories of Easters and birthdays past.

:: anticipating  having a new element in my oven after baking 3 batches of buns on the weekend at 275 degrees!

:: reeling with the thought of transplanting more tomatoes - I've already done more than a hundred!

:: listening to Easter praise music including Casting Crowns.

:: downloading Facetime so we can chat with Samuel and Melinda.

:: counting 6 days until Maelle's first birthday!

:: hoping that there are no more days of terrible driving in wet, heavy snow.

:: believing that I am truly blessed by my family and friends.

:: confirming that nights are still well below zero around these parts.

:: making plans to get our taxes prepared.

:: thinking that I've been very blessed to get more days of subbing this week.

:: doing some letter writing this week.

:: deciding when it would be best to book a visit to New Brunswick.

:: getting excited about seeing leaves on trees again.

:: wanting to sew!

:: hearing the Easter songs that the grade ones and twos sang and danced to today.  They are still echoing in my head!

:: leaving school still thinking (and worrying!) about the grade 3 - 4 music assembly that I have tomorrow morning.

He is Risen!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
Do you believe this?"           John 11: 25 - 26

Five on Friday

1.  I posted my 1800th entry on this blog this week!  In one month it will be 6 years since I started this writing journey and it's quite amazing to look back and see what I was doing back then!

2.  Over at (in)Courage this week, Heather wrote this poignant and amazing piece entitled  "When Love Hurts." that you really must read.

3.  I love this sign that I found on Pinterest!  It came via piccsy.com

4.  There are so many great colours and patterns everywhere for spring.  Look at this ad for bed linens!  It was the inspiration for a new set of digital papers over at Designer Digitals but I'd love a set for the bedroom.

5.  I'm really looking forward to hiding eggs for the grandchildren to find this weekend.  We have snow here but I think we'll still go outside, just in our boots!  I hope you have fun hiding and finding this weekend too.

Lists of 2012 - #14

Listography 2012 - #14 - Projects to Tackle

1.  Make 3 quilts in the next 4 months

2.  Transplant tomatoes, nearly 200 of them

3.  Spring cleaning, including washing some walls

4.  Finish painting walls, outside window trim and garage door

5.  Paint fascia board on the house

6.  Aerate the lawn

7.  Spend a day with my sister (a fun project)

8.  Work the provincial election

9.  Replenish my stock of cards

10.  Make Mother's Day treat for Moms

11.  Burn CDs for family of Bob's Dad's birthday

12.  Wash patio table, chairs and swings - and sit in them :)

Creating

 Prompted by Monika at i love it all, I signed up for the 30 Days of Lists project for the month of March.  I enjoyed the daily focus on a prompt and put them all together in a simple composition book (that I got when I took a class from Stacy Julian a few years back).   A stack of Basic Grey tags that were left over from other projects made interesting title plates on each page and I used up a whole bunch of stickers and rubons - which explains the creative spelling in some places.  It was awesome to think up the journaling and then use up some supplies on this very fun project!

Here are the first 9 pages that I created.

#1 - Challenges for this month:

- finish 30 Days of lists AND record in book with supplies

- take 12 B&W photos on the 12th

- sew tablecloth and ironing board cover for Naomi

- babysit 2 days

- sew 2 quilts

- start tomato seeds

(some of these are carrying over into April - yikes!)

#2 - Goals

- cook and eat grain-free, especially wheat

- sub half-time

- clean another section of the basement = bags to thrift store + bags to garbage

- sew Meadow's nightgown

- bring apple branches in for forcing

#3 - Perfect Weekend

- longer than two days

- sleeping in

- not much scheduled

- books to read

- time to create

- a road trip

- clean house before the weekend

- photo ops and a camera

- good food

- friends and family

- chocolate and dessert

- sunshine

#4 - I'll Put Off These Things Until Tomorrow

- farm accounting

- vacuuming

- washing windows and walls 

- exercising

- cleaning out the basement

- garden weeding

- throwing out pictures

I forgot to take a picture of #5!

#6 - Things to Collect

- fabric - in all colours and patterns

- scrapbook supplies, especially paper

- dishes and cups, serving platters and bowls

- earring and bracelets, on holiday too

- books and specialty notepads

#7 - I Am Inspired By

- nature and our world

- colours of all kinds and intensities

- my children and grandchildren

- PINTEREST  

- other bloggers

- my job and children

- the seasons

- my mother, sisters and grandmother

#8 - Say No To

- refined sugar

- sitting instead of exercising

- evening snacks

- wasting time online

- cleaning procrastination

- weeds in the garden

- messy floors

- a cluttered basement

#9 - Happy Places 

- wherever our grandchildren are

- talking to our children and grandchildren on the phone

- Vancouver Island in the springtime

- on a tropical beach like Zanzibar

- on a trip to see a new part of the world

- sleeping in

- where chai latte's are served

- on a golf course

- with friends, camping and quadding

- in bookstores and libraries

- in front of the fire, reading