About Me

February 17, 2013

Sunday Night Chit Chat!


A graphic of what it looked like outside our windows today! So excited for spring ....
 
Reading:
 
My favorite blogs! And the seed catalogue that arrived in the mail this week. As a new gardener, I am trying to get ahead of the game and figure out what to plant this year in our garden. Drooling over pictures of fresh carrots and peas!
 
Listening to:
 
Oldest daughter mumble away while she figures out her banking online. The pups nails click on the wood floors. Youngest daughter making her own dinner because apparently the scrumptious dinner dh made was NOT good enough. I beg to differ. Even had a second helping!
 
Watching:
 
The Amazing Race. I do NOT enjoy watching reality shows, which is why I am reading blogs and writing while everyone else watches. Makes me nervous and I feel sorry for the guy who loses.
 
Cooking:
 
Dinner was cooked by dh and I devoured my portion plus some extra! Roasted pork rib with creamed corn and risotto. Yummy!
 
Accomplished this week:
 
I created the spreadsheet to make the T4 slips for my staff (all three of them!), gathered the items needed to do our review for the organization, gathered our personal items needed to do our taxes (waiting for our T4 slips), bought Turbo Tax and did mock returns to see if we need to buy RRSP products. So far, we do not have to but we still might. Need to make that decision this week.
 
Looking forward to this week:
 
1.) Writing my 100th blog post this week. And doing my first giveaway to celebrate the event! 2.) Getting my dining room table back. All the papers are in neat piles, files lined up, scraps shredded and empty files waiting for this years returns to be placed inside. But still, I like an empty table vs. a crowded one. 3.) Looking forward to seeing our granddaughter again. We last saw her a few days ago but thankfully have been getting regular Instagram pictures so we can see how her little body has begun to uncurl and stretch out. I am quite sure she is really missing gramma and grampa, so we need to drive into the city for a little visit!

Thankful for today:
 
Despite the cool, rainy, snowy, gloomy weather, we had a warm, relaxing day. Groceries and laundry were our only tasks that needed attention. Enjoying an evening to just write and then take some time to put my quilt blocks together so I can start the next step for our second quilt.
 
Bonus Question: Have you ever received a gift you were less than thrilled with? Did you feel like you had to keep/use it in order to spare feelings from getting hurt?
 
 My in-laws once gave me a red scarf, knowing full well that I will not and cannot wear the color red. I did not even dress my kids in red (long story for another day). They made a big fuss that they had hoped I had gotten over it and it was to be the first of many red items they planned to add to my wardrobe. I was livid inside but tried so hard to hide it. I think their intentions were good but it still made me upset. Thankfully my dh told them not to try to get me to change my ideas and that was the end of it, though I did notice for the longest time after that they wore red clothes in our presence. Almost like they were making a point silently. I asked their permission to donate the scarf so someone else could enjoy it and they were agreeable to that. The topic was never brought up again!

Head over to http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/2013/02/sunday-night-chit-chat-2.html to join in!

February 15, 2013

Tiny Glow Lamp.

Here's my contribution to
Mockingbird Hill Cottage's
"A Favorite Thing".
 

A tiny lamp that we found
at the charity shop. I think
we paid $1.00 for it. Bonus!
It lights the upper hallway,
sitting on an old radio, with
a lace doily & tiny
vintage pictures hanging
on the wall above.

I love the colors, the
tiny details & the
soft ambient light
that glows.
 
We have an unspoken rule
in our house. Whoever is upstairs
at the end of our busy day,
whoever happens to be there
as the sun begins to set,
turns this tiny lamp on.
 
It warms the hall &
our hearts as we climb the
stairs each night. It makes
our home feel even
more like a comfy
place to be.
 
Do you have
"A Favorite Thing"
this week to share? Hop
over to Claudia's to add
your link in:

February 14, 2013

Fertlizer Friday!

 
I'm joining in for
Fertilizer Friday at
Tootsie's blog.
 
My contribution?
This beautiful Campanula plant
from my dear husband for
Valentine's Day.
 
 
I am thrilled with this gift.
Like most women, I
love a bouquet of flowers
here & there. But plants
last longer & I love
to watch the changes as
they bloom & grow.
 
Thank you B for brightening
my day today! As a new
gardener, I'm thrilled
he is just as excited as I am
to create new garden spaces
in our yard.
 
Hop over to Tootsie's to see
what other gardeners are
posting. Here's the link:

February 13, 2013

Cousins!

 Our two grandbabies met each
other for the first time
on the weekend.
 
 
 
For big cousin B,
it was almost like visiting
Santa Claus at Christmas. 
 
 
The build up to that special
event was so exciting.
It is all he talked about
for days. But
when he was placed
on the lap of the
 jolly man, he screamed
until he was put back down.
He loves the pictures of
himself screaming, while
Santa is chuckling. And
chatters about this experience
still, two months later.
 
 
Visiting cousin L on Saturday
was much like this event,
minus the screaming!
 
L arrived, safe, sound & small
on Friday. And then it was
finally time.
 

B was coy at first,
keeping a safe distance
& clearly unsure of the
small mewing noises
she was making.
 

He would start to get closer.
 

Feel brave.
 

Then change his mind!
 

Eventually he sat on the bed.
It was safe, as mama held
her brand new niece.
 

Suddenly, the phone was more
fascinating. He would peek over
at her every few minutes but
truly, being the cool older
cousin was an image he needed
to project & protect!
 

Finally, it was time to leave.
He never did touch her or
get too close. But he said
good night & chatted about
her all the way home!
 
I am sure one day, they will
be the best of friends.
 
For now, he is keeping a safe
distance from the action
until he figures out his new
role & his new place in our
growing family!

February 10, 2013

Tiny Toes!

For this week's
"A Favorite Thing"
I chose the tiniest toes
I could find:
 

First "recorded" footprints!
 

Baby L goes home today.
Can't wait to visit once
everyone is settled!
 
Head over to Mockingbird Cottage
to see what everyone else has
submitted this week:

February 8, 2013

Sweet Baby!

 After an adventurous week,
(don't you love my
witty sarcasm?)
our sweet baby granddaughter
arrived today,
three weeks early
but safe and sound.
 
 
Six pounds of pure bliss.
Lots of dark hair.
And a tiny cry that I'm
sure will grow in time.
 

More pictures to follow
as we visit with
sweet baby L!

February 3, 2013

A Favorite Thing!

Linking over to Claudia's blog,
Mockingbird Cottage,
with "A Favorite Thing!"
 

I received this incredible
bouquet of flowers
for my "big" birthday
in November.


The one that starts with
a "5" and ends
with a "0."
 
 
It was a fun birthday,
made even nicer by the
arrival of this surprise.
They lasted almost 3 weeks
and filled our home with
spring scents, in
the dead of winter.
 
 
Gone now but the
pictures remind me of
how special I felt
and how loved that
my aunties and cousins
took time out of busy lives
to brighten my day!
 
What is your Favorite Thing
this week? Hop over to Claudia's
to see what everyone else
has captured to share!
 

February 1, 2013

A Walk In The Woods!

We had a photo shoot
last weekend.
 
 
The photographer took us for
a walk in the woods.

 
Warm day, bright sun,
crisp snow.
 
 
This week has been
bitterly cold.
 
 
But the weekend promises to
be uncharacteristically warm.
 
 
Like t-shirt warm.
Maybe even bikini warm!
 
 
We might just have to go back
for another walk in the woods
in such a beautiful setting.
 
Happy Friday!