HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

It's a cool, chilly day here, but the sun is shining, and it's supposed to warm up a bit for the trick or treaters tonight!


My oldest was late leaving for school this morning...this is why!! Her and her friend that has been staying with us got dressed up. My daughter (the bunny) went to the Dollar Store and bought ears and a boa....used her white clothes and dressed as a bunny. She has to work after school and then to a Halloween party! Her friend, (who is moving out to a new place tomorrow) dressed as a gangster of sorts....origional.....and made use of what she had....they made a cute couple....LOL...now picture these two driving down the road to school dressed like this. They wanted me to take some photos before they left.

I tried to post this a bit earlier in the day, but couldn't get my photos to upload...anyway, now I have youngest and friend home here and in a bit we will have some pizza and head out.

Have a great evening everyone!!
Hugs
Marion

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVE!

It's sunny, but cold here today....and forecast for Halloween is a bit chilly and sun!! I am taking youngest and her friend out trick or treating tomorrow night.....her friend is coming here after school, and I will pick up a pizza to have to eat before we go out.

Today I want to say a big thank you to my husband. This isn't in my nature to be gushy, but I feel like he deserves a thank you. We have been together for 22 years, and we have been through alot financially and otherwise. He is always the one that carries the burden of being positive...I am the "what if" person. My husband has been working as a salesman for a company for 9 years...and for the last couple of years, on the side is also working on his own business. He has had setbacks...but now, seems to be moving ahead some. I do not tell him how much I appreciate him....nor do I tell him to follow his dreams...but life is too short and I am proud of him for following his dreams!

My cousin's husband passed away suddenly in July. They had been together since their late teens (she is now 60)....and this week she bought a new house! Her and her husband had this large (7 bedroom home) that they bought about 25 years ago. It isn't what you would call a cozy home, and their two kids have grown and left....not to mention the fact that her husband had been somewhat of a "hoarder"....she has so much junk in that house!! Anyway, about 3 weeks ago, we were at her sister's house, as we are each week, working on our swedish weaving and she noticed the house across the steet had gone up for sale! Long story short, she bought the house!! It is a really cozy, sweet bungalow. And what is most important is that it is only 4 minutes from her daughter! And, ofcourse across the street from her sister and brother-in-law! I am so happy for her! It also has a gorgeous view of water! (something that is important to her). I am proud of her, it wasn't easy to make this decision so soon, but she will be so happy there.

Life throws you curve balls every now and then...you have to deal with them, make the best of the situation and move on. This has been a random post...I realize that....but I am so thankful for what I do have in life....and will not be taking it for granted anymore.

Have a beautiful day everyone!

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS...

I'd like to do a random post today about a few of my favourite things (besides my family) around my home......this is my mom's china and glassware.....she loved her china.....it's called "Blossom Time" and is very delicate. She had quite a collection of glassware, which is "Cornflower" pattern. When mom passed away, I inherited these....this particular china will some day belong to my oldest daughter.










See this bride and groom? This was on the top of my parents wedding cake...they also had 4 others, (it was a two tier cake) and I was able to find 3, which are randomly placed in the cabinet. I found them in various places of my parents home, when I was cleaning it out. Funny, I had never thought about what they were from until I looked at their wedding photos.


I also want to show you a few of her pieces that I have placed on top of the china cabinet. (Ignore the dust!!). The china cup and saucer with the lady on the front is over 100 years old. I always liked this when it was in mom's house.





Hope you enjoyed my little post today.


Marion

IT'S BEEN A WHILE....

Gosh, I didn't realize it has been this many days since I posted! Where has the time gone???

On Friday my DH and youngest DD and I went to another province for a drive....it was an inservice day at school, so we took her with us. I visited the LNS (needlework store) and had hoped to get a few patterns....I did order a couple they didn't have, and I bought one...I'll show you the progress on that in a minute.

I put the quarter there to show you the size of the FOB. It is 32 count over one. I can only do it when the light is bright!! The other fabric is for the needlebook, which is 32 count over 2.

On Saturday night, my youngest had a party to go to. A fellow classmate was having a Halloween party. DD dressed as a fairy...not sure what the eye makeup was for..LOL, but she wanted it on......and this is the result.

Have a great day everyone! It's rainy and dark here, but at least it's mild out.

Hugs

Marion

Whatcha working on Wednesday?

This is actually a plea for help as well....LOL. I bought this "thing" at the Thrift Store yesterday for $1.00. It's really very sturdy and I thought with some paint (new colour) and all, I could fix it up.....the thing is, what can I do with it? What can I put in it? I thought of painting it for the ledge on my big window in the kitchen, but then I also thought I'd paint it and put it in my sewing room to hold some things....any ideas? It was just something I couldn't leave there!

Post your opinions as to what I should do with it, and how I can paint it......greatly appreciated!!

And check out Leslie's "Whatcha working on Wednesdays", over at "My Country Home" http://sweets-mycountryhome.blogspot.com/

Hugs

Marion

Second Post for Monday....!!

First of all, if you haven't read my first entry...have a look. I decided that since tomorrow is a jam-packed day...I'd do another post today! It's starting to look a bit like Halloween around here! Although I'll be the first to admit...I do not have alot of my favourites out yet.....I will in the next day or two......

These are a couple of cross-stitches I did a few years ago. They were fun to do!

Each year we hang "Frankie" and "Pumpkin"...the windsocks..from the swingset. I (and the kids) love to see them blowing in the wind. I got my youngest to take these photos just a few minutes ago....she wanted a closeup of each...LOL

Here is a small display on the ledge in our family room.

And, a few years ago the kids and I saw these TY's at the second hand shop...aren't they cute??

Stay tuned for another day...as I get more of my Halloween decorations out...

Marion

ANOTHER FINISH AND FRAME!!

Good Monday morning everyone! Brrrr it's chilly here...and the forecast says possibly flurries on Wednesday!!! What's with that!!!

I finished framing this earlier this morning...sorry for any glare or marks on the glass or frame...there aren't any, I promise...it's just the reflection. I'm going to hang this in my sewing room.

Also, my son missed getting his school photos taken at the school this year, and he's SO hard to get a photo taken of, so I got him to promise that since he missed the ones at school, I would not drag him to Wal-mart, but I wanted to try myself, and I'd take them into Wal-mart, edit and print up a 5 x 7 and some wallets....so on the weekend, while we were burning some things in the firepit in the back yard, I grabbed my camera and got these shots. I think they turned out okay. I'll edit some more before I print, but I'm happy...this is smiling for him by the way...LOL

Have a great day everyone!!

Hugs ,Marion

It's Friday!

So what is everyone up to for the weekend? I had origionally thought that DH and I would go back to the other city and the LNS that I wanted to visit again, but decided against going today. It's rainy, and I prefer sunny days for travelling, and also, next Friday is an inservice for the kids, so we can take youngest with us. So, I am hoping for sun for next Friday!

I don't really have alot planned for today...ususal things around the house and perhaps some cross-stitching later today. Tomorrow youngest and I are up bright and early and off to do errands and hit the second hand stores. She's looking things for her Halloween costume....as the school dance is this coming week.

This is another little cross-stitch project I have on the go. I want to finish these and hang them in the stairway to the family room. I may work on this one this afternoon, since I'm just about finished the one I showed you earlier this week.

TRACK AND FIELD MEET...and EDITED TO ADD A MEMORY

My youngest is on the track and field team at school. Basically what it consists of is that each fall they do four meets.....and meet at 4 different schools...they range in ages from grade 3 to grade 6 and race according to grades and sexes. Yesterday was her second meet of the season. There are many kids that attend these meets....and yesterday was a gorgeous fall day, so comfortable for running and also for the parents waiting!

Here is a photo of a lake not far from our house. We took this photo on the way to the track meet! Daughter getting her finish number.




And the victory smile...LOL

And now, I want to add something I thought of yesterday. When S and I were arriving at the track meet....we found a parking spot on a cul de sac almost next to the school....we had to walk on a paved pathway to get to the school.....on the pathway were all kinds of beautiful fall leaves crunching under our feet...and they had such a wonderful "smell"...is that even possible?? It reminded me of many years ago when I was in school and walking home...there were several areas that had lots of leaves in the fall because of the beautiful old trees that lost them...and I remember the wonderful feeling of walking or running through them with my friends....and the cool crisp air that was perfect for walking or playing on the way home. My mom and grandmother would be home waiting for me....and always something good to eat. Back then, we didn't buy snacks, everything was homemade. We rarely ate out...mom and my grandmother cooked all the meals.....I didn't even try pizza until I was in grade 7!! Anyway, I just wanted to say that the feeling I got from walking through those leaves yesterday just brought back a wave of memories...wonderful ones...that I had forgotten about.....and it was great.

Have a great day!
Marion

ANOTHER WEDNESDAY POST!!

This is Nala (or Nallie as we call her)...she is 10, been through alot this year medically, but still going strong. I had to show this....I just missed where she had all her paws in the air! She is napping in my stitching chair. That's her dog bed in the corner of the photo (zepra print)...but she squeezes into this chair!! It can't be comfortable! LOL

She is my shadow each and every day. Once in a while I will say "Wanna take a nap?" She's gone.....zoom......down the hall, with a toy in her mouth and jumps on my bed. Sometimes we take a "catnap" before the kids get home...while the house is still quiet...LOL

My how pets enrich our lives, don't they?

WHATCHA WORKIN ON WEDNESDAY...

I am participating this week! I got my act together early enough to do this..LOL

Leslie over at http://sweets-mycountryhome.blogspot.com/ hosts this each Wednesday.

This week I am working on a new cross-stitch...and what an easy and fun stitch! I didn't have any Sampler Thread that would work with what colour I wanted, so I am using DMC 930. I love how it is turning out and plan on framing it when I finish.

Have a great day everyone!

Hugs

Marion

THIS AND THAT...

An update from my post yesterday.....daughter and boyfriend are still together. They talked and seemingly worked things out. We'll see. We will support her in any decision she makes concerning this. Thanks for all your comments...I truly appreciate them.

This morning is a bit chilly, but a beautiful fall morning. I took a couple of photos out my back door....the photos do not do justice to what I see.

I also wanted to show you what I am taking to Blanket Club meeting today. Colleen over at http://andbabymakesfive-colleen.blogspot.com/ posted this Pumpkin Gingerbread recipe and I tried it yesterday...YUM! A big hit! Thank you Colleen.

I do hope everyone has a great Tuesday!!

Marion

TOUGH DECISIONS...

So far we are having a nice weekend here in Eastern Canada....until the rain came today (it's a long weekend for us)....but that won't stop us from doing what we have to.
I have chicken and stuffing going in the crockpot for supper. I would love to have turkey, being as it is thanksgiving, but my kids do not like turkey!!! I figured, what's the point, and settle for chicken and stuffing, mashed potatoes and veggies, and some kind of pumpkin dessert (haven't decided which to make yet)

This weekend has been tough on our oldest. I hesitated to post about it, but decided I would. She is almost 18, an excellent student, in French Immersion, works part-time, will graduate early from high school..etc....she has been dating a wonderful boy for 2 1/2 years. Up until they started dating, she wasn't all that interested in a boyfriend, and when she mentioned the idea of dating this guy, who at the time was 16 (almost 17) to her just 15, I said no. She asked if I would agree to meet him...I said okay, and that was it. They have been dating ever since...much to our surprise at first. Now he seems a part of the family. He is in his second year of university, taking business, and living at home, working part-time. Well, on the weekend, our daughter seemed sad. I asked her what was wrong, and she said she isn't sure what she wants anymore. She wants D to be a part of her life, but she doesn't know if she wants to be so serious at the moment...etc. We (DH and I) completely understand and told her to talk to D, and to explain how she feels. We know she is very young, has a wonderful future ahead of her, etc....it's hard to see her sad like this, and I knew from the beginning this would most likely happen at some point, as they are just too young, but on the inside I am very sad (not telling daughter this). I really do think of D as part of the family, and will miss him greatly if they break up. I am not looking for negative comments by posting this, I am just a little sad for all involved today. I do not like change in our lives. Having someone drop in for 2 1/2 years and then probably will not...is a change. I am glad that our daughter is mature enough to want to discuss her feelings with him, and I hope they at least end on some kind of good terms, should they do end their relationship.
Some of you may think it's shocking for a girl her age to have been dating someone so long, and had someone asked me 3 years ago if this would be the case with our daughter, I would has said definately no!! But one just never knows.
Thanks for listening, if you have read this far.
Have a great day!
Marion

A NEW LITTLE PROJECT AND A LONG WEEKEND

Good morning everyone!

It is another gorgeous, sunny day here in Nova Scotia. Yesterday was the same. After doing errands in the morning, DS, DH and I worked on our garage and organizing the inside....more to do on that today.

I started a new little cross-stitch project last night. Little House Needleworks...School girl Lessons. It's a quick stitch and I see it framed with a dark red mat and an antique looking frame.....

I'm also going to show you my backyard as off about 5 minutes ago..LOL

And Nancy, if you are reading this....I did mail your Little House Chart you won from my blog...it sat in my car for a week!! I apologize for that!!!! You will get it one of these days...it's on it's way to you now.

Something else I wanted to show you and tell you about today:...on Saturday mornings, if we are up, dressed and ready to go out the door early, my youngest and I go to "Frenchies". It is a store that imports it's merchandise from the US. It isn't all new, alot is second hand actually, but alot is brand name, etc...you just never know what you will find. Saturday morning is a very good time to go. They also bring new things out on the hour. Yesterday I got a few things, but I wanted to show you a couple. I got a Vera Bradley purse, which is in all aspects "new". I checked online and this pattern has been discontinued for a couple of years, so this may have been on display somewhere, but it is definately not used. I have found a few Vera Bradley purses there like this over the years. This one was $1.75!! I really like it.




The next thing I am going to show you is in reality not cute...LOL. BUT I did know what they were! These are salt and pepper shakers. They are "Friar Tuck"...in mint condition, made in the late 50's by Goebel in West Germany, who also makes Hummels. I knew what they were because of my mom. I could not just leave them there! I asked how much they were (no price on them for some reason) the lady said .25cents!!!!! These are by every count antiques! I scooped them up and will put them in my curio cabinet with my mom's Hummels!! The more I look at them, the more I am growing attached to them...LOL After seeing some of the things that are in this store, I think they also get "estates". This guy has several of these stores in Atlantic Canada, so the merchandise is spread throughout. To all you stitchers, yes, I have found some stash on occasion in here. I found a baby afghan kit still in the package (and it's still in that package! LOL) several cross-stitch charts.....I love going there...but not when it's crowded!!

Have a great day everyone!!
Marion

CHALLENGES AND LITTLE LIFE CHOICES...

This has been an interesting week. First of all, I received a phone call on Monday night from my youngest DD's teacher. He apologized for the phone call, and said it was a hard one, but the schoolboard were looking at the class numbers and some grade 6's (girls actually) had to move to the other class, my daughter was chosen to be one. I told her this news (she is in a 5/6 split and loves it, from day one). She usually takes things in stride, but she was so upset and crying. I emailed the teacher and the principal saying how upset she was, and could she please stay in his class. End result...only she and one other girl in grade 6 will be in his class. There are several grade 6 boys....and all in all, she is very happy. Her teacher is also acting vice principal, and had her in his office asking if she was sure she wanted to stay in his class, etc....and she said yes. I am proud of her, it probably would not have been my choice, although he is the better teacher.

Another choice this week, we have an additional person living with us, for the time being. She is a friend of my oldest DD. She is 18, in grade 12 and trying desperately to get her grade 12 and stay in the school she is in. Problem being....she has very unsupportive parents. Her dad did not want her living with him, she is 18, he found her a place to live, however, it wasn't ideal and she was basically homeless last weekend. Her mom isn't in this area, she has a wonderful grandmother who is trying desperately to find her accomodations that are affordable and still enables her to go to her high school, as her grandmother is about an hour away from here. In the meantime we are letting her stay here. She is basically just here for the night, and for breakfast. Her grandmother picks her up alot after school, has supper with her, etc. This girl also works in a grocery store part time, so is definately trying to get somewhere in life. I just don't understand how parents can be so terrible. The grandmother said to me that she is so disappointed in her son, she did not raise him to be a parent like this. Really this girl is no trouble at all, it just breaks my heart that someone this young, while trying to get their education, is thrust into this situation. It may be that she will have to move in with her grandparents and finish school in that school district, but we'll see.

I have been cross-stitching alot...it is good therapy for me at the moment.

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, but really we don't have any plans. Our houseguest will be gone for the weekend, my oldest is working all weekend, youngest has a Birthday party to go to, DS will probably be around with his friends, dirt biking, etc....so we will just hang out here most of the weekend I guess.

When Sara got home from school yesterday, she iced a cake for me, which was dessert for supper last night.

Take care and have a great day everyone!

Marion

WHY DO I STITCH?

Why do I cross-stitch? I can do other crafts that will produce faster results, but I always seem to come back to cross-stitch. Why? It's my therapy....it's calming, relaxing, and I can get very involved with the chart and floss and fabric.....it "takes me away from every day life" for a while. I feel very accomplished when I finish a project and it is framed. I hope some day, my children and any future grandchildren will look at my stitching as part of a legacy. I don't stitch for just anyone...many people (including family) do not have any idea the amount of time involved in a cross-stitch project. I will stitch a project for friends or family that I know will appreciate the work involved.

I will show you a few (most I have shown before).....of what is hanging in my home.

100,000 Welcomes. This hangs in the stairway going down to the family room. There is a unique story about this particular chart. About 4 years ago, a stitcher posted on a messageboard that she had this kit, started it and no longer wanted it...did anyone want it? I posted that I would love to have it and finish it. (She had about 1/3 done) The reason I wanted it, is that it is the welcome that was hanging over the bridge in the town I grew up in! I really enjoyed this piece and it means alot to me.

A few years ago, my mom gave me the floss, chart and fabric for this Lavender and Lace angel. She gave it to me for Christmas. I did this cross-stitch the year after she gave it to me, and the following Christmas, one year after she gave it to ME, I gave it to her! She loved it and cried when she opened the present. I now have this in my family room.

Nova Scotia chart by Victoria Sampler. Self explanitory. This was a quick little stitch, but I really like it.

Have a great day everyone!

Marion