We Interrupt This Program -

to go to some greenhouses with my Mom and my sister -



and to go hang out with Helayna, Heather and Jonathan!




See you later!

Lessons I've Learned While Blogging

Blogiversary - part 3

1. I look at the world, especially my little corner of it, more carefully and think about the story or memories in each day much more closely now.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when it involves grand-daughters!

3. The internet can seriously consume a large portion of my time, if I let it!

4. There are good people - smart, kind, caring, humourous, honouring God - everywhere.

5. Writing a blog is seriously good practice for developing vocabulary and writing skills. Oh, and proofreading skills too!

6. Technology has a mind of it's own!

7. For the first time in my life, I've been able to keep a journal (which is what a blog is) for more than a few months.

8. There are amazing opportunities to serve and help others via the blogosphere. (I've sponsored a child, sent skirts, sandals and school supplies to AFrica, and prayed for many friends over the time I've been a blogger.)

9. Words of encouragement, admiration and suggestions warm my heart.

10. Writing about a vacation is a wonderful way to relive the adventure - and to preserve the memories for scrapbooking.

I didn't realize how much I would enjoy blogging. I must say that I love being able to share and write on a daily basis. Thank you for encouraging me, all of you!

And nowI have a care package to send to one of you faithful readers this week. I'm sad to say it will not be a new camera or printer - or even a gift card like Pioneer Woman shares but I think you will like it nonetheless. So - tell me why you blog and I'll do a random drawing on Saturday after 6 p.m. and share some treats with the lucky winner. (Remember to leave me a link or contact so I can find you - thanks.)

Thanksliving Blog Style

Blogiversary - part 2

My list of things that I am grateful for today is connected to the blogsphere and I'm going to link you to some amazingly wonderful bloggers. All of them could be placed in many categories but I've chosen just one so that I can show you several different people. I've found these links over the past 2 years and I love to periodically return and see what these friends are up to. Be sure to go and visit them - I know you will love them too.

I am grateful for:

1. online photos and photographers - such inspiration, such talent, such willingness to share and educate others. Check out Donna aka Miz Booshay, Audrey Woolard and Karen Russell. I would love to take a workshop from these women!

2. creative inspiration - projects, tips, challenges and so much goodness from Ali Edwards, Amanda Soule and Christi Snow.

3. a worldwide community, linked by this thing we call the internet - Linds in England, Nic in New Zealand and Heidi Swapp in China. It's probably my love of travel that makes this something I like so much.

4. knowledge about people and needs in other places and ways I can help. Compassion International -today's news is about the Silent Tsunami - the world food shortage and what it means for developing countries. I urge you to consider sponsoring a child today. The difference just a little money each month can make is amazing. In some places for some kids, the only meal they receive each day is from Compassion - kids shouldn't have to grow up worrying about how the rest of their family will find food. (And on my to do list today is write a letter to Thayane, the little girl we are sponsoring in Brazil.)

5. strong women who encourage me in faithfulness, living a full life and being a positive force in my world. Stacy, Becky (who always has a nice playlist!) and Kelly are models for me.

6. humour and a way with words that encourages me in my own thinking, writing, and peacefulness with life. You will laugh with Pioneer Woman (especially if you know anything about farming!) and BooMama too!

7. friends who take time to comment and share their thoughts with me. Vanessa, Rhonda and Jill brighten my days.

If you saw my bookmarks, you would know that I have many, many more links I could have shared. Each blog brings its own smiles, ideas and joy to my days. These are just a few that I've chosen to share today. There are many more of you who deserve to be mentioned but I'm afraid I need to leave it at this. My, it's taken a long time to do this today! I have made such an amazing network of friends through this blog. I am blessed and so grateful!

Because -

of these 2 blogs I entered this online community 2 years ago.



Melinda and Tyler at A Year Without Peanut Butter were the first people I knew that had a blog. It all started 3 years ago when they went to Taiwan to teach for a year and started their blog to keep everyone updated on their experience.




Heather at Running the Race is my inspiration for scrapbooking and photography.

These daughters of ours made it seem so easy to share their adventures and pictures via a blog so I decided to give it a whirl. It was also a way for me to share what was going on in my life without making many, many phone calls! Thanks, M and H for encouraging me and for being faithful readers - love you!

Two Years Ago Today

I started up this blog and what a journey it's been!! I've been reminiscing for a few days, wondering what I could do in way of a celebration or honouring of this journey and I think it's going to be a whole week of special posts. Most of my ideas are spin-offs from other bloggers and their brilliance. But we are a kind community and I feel sure that adapting and lifting these ideas will be accepted and encouraged even.

Blogiversary Part 1

One of the things I've enjoyed reading is the question and answer post that several people have done lately. So - ask away! Ask any questions that you might have for me and I'll do a seperate post later this week and give you the inside story on your wonderings. This will of course, require that you make yourself known by actually writing these questions into my comments! I know there are a few of you out there who have remained lurkers and this is your chance to join in on this amazing adventure called blogging.

And now I must depart for the doctor's office as it feels like I have developed pink eye! I so do not have time or a desire for this but apparently I have no choice in the matter. See you all later!

Visiting

Naomi, Jerry and Meadow had us over for lunch today. They take such care to remember to celebrate special days with us.




Her and "my gammpa" - in her own words!


Meadow loves this bike! She can actually reach the pedals but needs Dad's help for balancing yet.






And stay tuned for my second Blogiversary party beginning tomorrow!! There might even be some giveaways :)) Make sure you let me know that you stopped by.

Day 4 of 28

Assignment: a picture of something you use every day.



This cute little stainless steel teapot was a gift from Bob and it's the best one I've ever had. There's a little basket inside to hold loose tea, the spout is non-drip and it holds 6 large mugs full of tea.

Happy Mother's Day!

They say that we learn to parent by the way we have been parented and now when I look back, I know that my Mom was a great example for me. Her generosity, caring, strong faith, respect for family, volunteerism and homemaking talents gave me such a strong foundation. I grew up with morals, values and the expectation that everything we did was to be done to the very best of our ability (that would explain the perfectionist side of me). I've become my own person now and I have the highest regard and love for both of my parents. But today is about Moms and here are some treasured pictures of mine. (Thanks to my sister, E, for taking so many of these over the years and for sharing them!)



The only picture I have that has my Mom and my two Grandmas in it. Taken in 1954 at my parents' wedding, it's a treasured piece of history for me. And I love how proud her Dad, on the left hand side, looks!




When she came with us to Nova Scotia for Mel's convocation, we went to Pier 21, the place where her parents landed when they first emigrated to Canada. It was so emotional for her as she saw the displays and recalled the stories her Mom had told her. This is one of the best things we've ever done together.



She still loves to have us all come home to their house for Christmas.


She has been a big part of the farm where we grew up.



I need to ask her how many quarts of cream she's seperated over the years - it's probably in the hundreds of thousands!





No one can bake delicious pies like she does!




She has always loved gardening - she certainly didn't pass that on to me!






And my other mother has a special place in my heart too. Her son is my life's partner and friend and I see glimpses of her in him. She taught me everything I know about raising chickens and calves and how to be a great mother-in-law! I have just a couple of pictures of her, because I don't have as big a collection of photos of her (something I need to gather from her one of these winters).




Bob's mom with Darrin on his 1st birthday (30 years ago!).




Bob's mom and her mother, Granny S, with our 3 girls a long, long time ago!

Happy Mother's Day to each of you Mom's!

Day 3 of 28

Assignment: Take a picture of your fridge.



You've seen the inside - now here's the outside!

Day 2 of 28

Today's photography assignment: take a picture of your mailbox.



Our's is the top left one and the sign at the top is the farm name Bob used when he farmed with his brother and parents. That company has been out of business for 15 years so I guess we should remodel this post but it's pretty sentimental.

Weekend Creative

The very wise, very creative life artist, Ali Edwards, spent this week talking about photos + words and how that drives her scrapbooking. Her weekend challenge was to create a layout focusing only on photos + words. Her words really struck me and I've had this beautiful picture on my table for months now that I didn't know how to use. As soon as I read the challenge, I knew what I wanted to create using it! Voila!!!

Something New

I'm taking an online creative challenge course with Gretchen Schmidt over at Big Picture Scrapbooking called 28 Days and it's a great way to commit to doing something creative every day. I am definitely having fun playing with paper, which is always a happy thing for me! I re-covered a little 4X6 photo album to hold some photos and covered a journal last night. Today's assignment is a layout about "YOU - Today, Doing What You Do" so I better get doing something!



There's also a photography challenge so our assignment for day 1 was to take a picture of our pantry. I called this my "cold pantry" since I don't really have 1 big cupboard or pantry. Interesting to see what's in there! What's in your pantry and fridge today? Go take a picture of it :))

Photography Practice

Meadow and I had some fun with the camera yesterday! She was in such a playful mood and I think these pictures show it.



After her bath, her hair was all soft and fluffy - she looked like she had a halo!




"Running, running!" she says.




This is a reflection in the window - pretty cool, I thought!

And playing peek-a-boo!

Creating

It was National Scrapbooking Day on Saturday and we were away having fun outside but I worked on these 2 layouts over the past few days. It's so good to create things!



A sweet picture taken by Melinda last summer. Inspired by Jen's sketch and layout for April 15 in the 2008 Designing With Calendar - and in response to Christi's challenge to lift someone's idea.




This is one of my favourite pictures of our adventure in Beijing. The Summer Palace is so, so beautiful - I would go back again in a heartbeat and spend a whole day there!

South American Highlights #10

Golmur Cotton Gin

Join me for a tour of a cotton gin - a totally new experience for us!



This cotton gin produces only a small amount of cotton on their own land. Their work is processing the cotton of other farmers in Bahia state.




Our group, ready to see something new in Brazil.




At the Case IH dealership in town, we saw the cotton pickers being overhauled for the new season. The cage on the back would be filled/stuffed/packed with cotton to create the big bales that are packed into modules and hauled to the gin for processing. There were a few modules left at the gin so they could test all the machinery before harvest begins again.




The cotton modules come to the gin weighing 10,000 - 12,000 pounds and then begin the process of cleaning, seperating and combing that yields cotton lint. The lint looks and feels like a giant cotton ball. You can see that there are seeds and debris in this field cotton.




The plant was being retrofitted and prepared for this season's work while we were there. It would be quite the busy place once the cotton is harvested. It's in operation for about 6 months of the year in order to process all the cotton that's been harvested and contracted to them. In the plant, long air-filled tubes move the cotton from one machine to the next.




The big machinery is above ground but under the floor are just as many intricate parts and machines used in processing. Cleanliness and dust control are a big part of this operation - you can imagine the dust and how flammable it would be.




This machine has hundreds of little teeth on rotating saws that cut the seeds from the lint. It spins at a high speed and the seeds drop down under the floor and are later used to make oil or cottonseed meal for animals.




This is one of the owners who spent the morning with us, explaining details and touring us around the gin.




Bales are wrapped up in these bags. Taking pictures of personalized bags really helps me to remember where we were for sets of pictures!!




Once the cotton is cleaned and combed, it's baled up and ready to be shipped to textile factories. These bales are tightly compressed so they take up minimal room during shipping.




Baled cotton is carefully tarped and then stored in the yard until a farmer can ship it to the port and export it. The yard was nearly empty.

I didn't take very good notes so my knowledge of details about this process are lacking, I now realize. I need to buy some notes from a few people who actually wrote things down in a book as we visited these places!! And I should have probably showed you how cotton grows first but I'll do that in the next post.

2008 Quad Trips - #2

What do you do when the sun is shining and spring is finally breaking through? Well, you load up your machines and head for the trails! We had a perfect day enjoying the weather, the scenery and good company.




This was a very big hill that led straight down to a tiny creek. Bob went down one way but came back up and we tried another, gentler slope instead.




There was lots of mud on the trails today! These are Bob's wheels after we'd been out less than 2 hours. Luckily driving down the gravel road quickly got rid of it - it was flying off in all directions!




My quad nearly fell off this bridge (I got started on the wrong side of the first log) so the guys had to walk it across, very slowly and very carefully. And then they did some bridge repairs!



Audrey and Aime' are game for quadding anytime. I missed the leaves but the bright green evergreen trees and the smell of spruce were just perfect after a long winter.




We found a mini-glacier on the flats down by the river. There were little ice bridges, crevasses and down under the icebanks you could see water dripping as they melted in the warm sun today.




We ate our lunch on a sandbar down at the North Saskatchewan River. Have you noticed that everything tastes better when you eat outside, especially when it's the first picnic of the year?




Seeing this little pond with the gorgeous reflection on it was the perfect end to a great day!