Merry Christmas xoxo

Well here I am. In the thick of it. The shopping, the wrapping and everything else that goes along with the season. I am making a promise to myself...my little gift to me. 2010 will be better. We will slow it down a bit and take more time for fun. More time for family. More time to be creative. I won't be working again for a while and those lost hours are going to be put to good use...like training puppers. He is 5 months and over 10 pounds. That is big enough buddy!

Merry Christmas to you!

snow snow snow

no doubt about it. we live in the north and winter has arrived...

i really do love december...

red and green comes easy to me...

new entry finished just in time for a holiday look.

you will not believe how much snow we have already. i'll sneak outdoors tomorrow and take some photos...

snowed in=time to blog

i have no great reason for my 3 month blog holiday...work, puppy, sick kids...life.

oliver has doubled in size. we ate a turkey. there was a beautiful lion and a scary little red riding hood. the weather turned cool. the paint cans returned. stuff happened....

all of a sudden it is time to put up some lights and hang the stockings...i think we're on the right track. i have a little shopping to do. today the girls and i are just staying cozy. school was cancelled. the snow just keeps swirling around out there. feels like a soup day....anyhoooo...i am really going to try harder to write and share. i have missed it terribly. xo

okey dokey..... here's oliver

our newest family member. oliver starr. he is charming, adorable, smart. he is now 9 weeks old and about 4 pounds. we love him!

it makes me giggle every time he runs and his little ears are flapping away...he is so small. it's almost weird to be honest. weird but terribly cute.

a furry little bundle of love. 

catching up to now...

Strasbourg France. The Cathedral. Amazing.

A little notions shop. So many buttons and ribbons, I was unable to chose anything!

Can't you just tell what a wonderful day it was?

Ok...still more to come.

fresh memories

taking a moment today to remember my adventure. isn't this the prettiest beer? the weather in germany was great the whole week...perfect for enjoying a refreshment before dinner each night.

eye candy. everywhere.

liz playing in the blowing leaves. i captured a moment here didn't i? i love it.

i am home again

a week in germany...still trying to figure out if it was real. after 17 years apart, two friends together again...that was the best part of it all. just being there with liz. it felt so comfortable to be with her family. they made my trip so wonderful. sharing the sights and flavors of their country.

oh the twins...what little monkeys, what a pair. i'm glad i got to meet them while they were still young. 

everywhere was another sight. beautiful and different.

i have many photos still to share. thanks lizzy. it was perfect.

a little visit...

Mike's sister and her girls were here lately. The weather was great the first day...not so great the next, but it all worked out fine. Swimming, playing, crafting, fishing and hanging out. Blueberry waffles for breakfast...

Lots of chatting, laughing and goofing around. Mostly 6 girls and occasionally one daddy/unky monkey.

The last night was a birthday party. It was all good except for the tornado warnings on the radio. Caused us all a little anxiety. Dinner was a bit rushed...."ok, so if I say go downstairs now...remember to walk not run...hurry and eat!" It ended up landing south of us. We ate cake as a full double rainbow was brightly glowing above us...the storm had passed. Sad looking little cake...but it was delicious!

a muskoka summer day...yay!

a hot and still day. perfect for swimming.

we were sticky and feeling the need to cool down. our watering hole was calling.

today elsie shared it with a new friend. they searched the river for critters and swam with the ducks. the girls, aged 3 years apart, were kindred spirits. they caught a little mouse first thing this morning and named it cheese. how cute.

if you click on this last photo, you'll have a better look at the girls exploring...

08/08

it was time again for another birthday celebration at our house. Emma turned 15.....

a sleepover with friends. snacky foods and a late movie. waffles for brunch. a lazy afternoon and dinner out.

it's what she wanted. she's that kind of girl. hoping that the year ahead brings lots of fun and happiness...xo 

the lake

as chatty as i can be about the silliest of things...i am at a loss for words.....but i will try. being at the lake with my girls is just about my favorite thing to do. ever. it is a very special place, built by two very special people. they worked extremely hard, but it was a labour of love. now going there brings up the highest and the lowest feelings i know. the deep feeling of loss is somehow temporarily replaced by her forever endless love. love of children, love of family, love of friends....love of the lake, the pines...hummingbirds and blueberries. this place is where her heart is. it is much more than a house to me. it is where i can go to be surrounded by her and i am so grateful for that...........dad, go get a tissue xoxo

a bit more...

i had a couple more photos and thought i might as well share! i love flower frogs. i have a bunch of my own, but if i was someone wanting a collection this would have been a great start. only a couple duplicates here...

chandelier glass pendants...kicking myself because i should have brought the red ones home. 

wonderful hollyhocks. i will have some in my garden eventually.

this little bird had flown into a window. it seemed fine, only stunned. the girl was kind of doing a show and tell for whoever was passing by. the bird didn't mind at all that we gave its feathery head a gentle petting. made the day extra special...

bargains...continued

So like I was saying...more treasures! This little round box with coasters in it. $2.00

A lovely old framed print...

$3.00...cute sheep included.

A corner shelf in perfect condition. I couldn't just leave it there with it's $2.00 tag on it!

Not at the Walkabout, but Walmart later today. I love this necklace $4.oo. Dollarstore butterfly ring.

Grand total.......$12.oo plus hot dogs and ice cream cones=a fun day! Oh and it didn't rain while we were walking around all morning. BONUS

walkabout...good bargains found...part one

The Baysville Walkabout...an annual tradition in cottage country. Many vendors...new stuff, crafty stuff, food stuff and..old stuff. We got there early enough that I snagged a couple sweet finds. (next post!)

This whole set was $15...but I didn't get it. I really, really don't need it.

This pretty little kitchen set would have been great for my last two houses...but not this one. Someone else is probably very pleased with themselves right now.

I forgot to mention flowers...and a petting zoo. These lilies were way over my head. I have never seen such a thing. Beautiful.

Cousins hanging out with the critters...more in the next post!