It's Still Cold Outside!!!!!!!

Reality bites - this cold weather in addition to the slippery roads makes for treacherous driving conditions.......and of course people are out doing their last minute shopping......so most roads are like parking lots in rush hour. Waited until eight o'clock last night to go and get some presents my husband wanted for coworkers - things had calmed down by that hour, so was able to get what he wanted. Have three more days of work - Mon, Tues and Wed - then am done until after nest week - thank goodness!

It's beginning to look like Christmas

Finally got some cards made - have a lot more to do but have started and sometimes that is the hard part!

Home for the Holidays

My Mom loved Christmas and she loved the color pink, so when she found this pink Christmas tree, she had to have it. Every year around the beginning of December, she would invite the family over for dinner and we would help her decorate the house and the tree.
She also loved white Christmas bears and started to collect them when she had a house with a big staircase. I inherited not only the tree but the bears so........ up they go every Christmas. It reminds us of all the fun we had during the Christmas season.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Okay - knew it was going to be a shock coming back to Calgary but really.....this minus 20+ degree weather can leave anytime!!!! Think we were temporarily fooled as it was quite mild when we returned and now this cold weather seems unbearable.
Well going to get the tree up today and the house decorated a bit I hope...maybe then we'll be able to get into the Christmas spirit!

Back on Mountain Time

It has taken awhile to get back to Canada time - but back we are and not a moment too soon. Sunday, we had fairly significant snowfall, so it is starting to feel like Christmas. Getting back into the swing of things - is proving to be a little difficult - you know that let down feeling after you have had a wonderful holiday.....only worked one day last week but think once I am back to my normal schedule things will start falling into place.
It was good to get home after being away so long but also hard to leave our girl so far away. Never mind, we know she is with a wonderful man who loves her very much so that made it easier to leave.
Getting to help her buy her wedding gown my last day in Brisbane was a real bonus for both her and I. Now she can concentrate on finding a venue here in town.
Took lots of pictures - am sorting through them now - here are a few of the best!

Finally sleeping

After two sleepless nights and days, finally managed to get some shuteye last night - thank goodness - was beginning to think I wasn't ever going to be able to get more than an hour here or there.
Have many, many pictures to edit - will post some of the best shortly.

HOME!!!!!

We arrived back Friday evening - less eventful trip back. Am quite discombobulated as far as time goes - did sleep a little last night but hubby and I are still up and it is past midnight - we are usually in bed by nine, ten at the latest so we are really out of sync!
Had a wonderful time in that wonderful country - kind, polite people. Very civilized place to live. And of course we had a lovely time visiting with our daughter and future son-in-law - he proposed to her while we were in Sydney. So we have a wedding to arrange and look forward to.
How good does life get?

Greetings from from Brisbane

We have just returned from a week in Fiji with our daughter and her partner. Life there is very slow and laid back - exactly how it should be - the people are kind and so friendly - a lovely, lovely place. So today will be spent loafing followed by going out for curry dinner - don't know how Morris will manage but we'll order something mild and guess he will be okay.

Today overcast and a bit dull - okay as it was hot, hot, hot in Fiji. Yesterday just before we left it rained like I have never seen it rain before. Goodness knows where all that rainwater goes because it came down heavier than I have ever seen.

Will update when we return from a short visit to Noosa.
Go....day from Brisbane mate - no worries!

a great weekend

Had a great weekend creating cards and daytimers - decided the ladies I met at the scrap retreat needed daytimers - so made Valerie a Mickey Mouse themed one as I remember her having about a thousand Mickey Mouse stickers and embellishments on her table. The other two daytimers were for Diane and Holly. Did I remember to take pictures of the ones I made for Valerie and Diane? NOT!!! But I did remember to take a picture of the one I made for Holly.
CanadianCuttlebugCrew has a weekly sketch challenge so have made some cards based on this week's sketch.
One of the ladies who works at Scrapbooker's Paradise is from Brisbane and will be there for the month of November too. She has offered to take me around Brisbane and show me the local stamp and scrap stores there - how wonderful will that be????? Have made her some cards to show my appreciation. Will post some pics of them.
Sandy was over Saturday and we made quite a few cards between the two of us. Some days we just end up looking for "stuff" - and don't get much done, however other days are very productive indeed.

More daytimers and cards

My sister in law was good enough to let me know the cards were a hit at her silent auction - the total raised was $750 - which they donated to the autistic group in the community. How great is that. The lady who runs the tea house just outside of Brandon wants more daytimers so have made another ten along with 6 cards satchels with five cards in each. So yes I have been busy but that was the goal for last weekend - make the cards to go in the card satchels and I was able to reach that goal. A nephew is coming west for Thanksgiving and will stop by to pick them up and take them back to her. Here are a sampling of some cards and the daytimers.

Another wonderful weekend

This is getting to be a habit - lucky me - was off to a scrap retreat this past weekend just outside of Drayton Valley. They have the best scrap store there called From My Heart. The ladies who own the store are simply the best. The weekend was held at a small community hall - called Easyford about 5 miles west of DV - lots of the ladies stayed in 5th wheels but Colleen and I decided a hotel was the best way to go. So about 11:00 each night (Friday and Saturday) we took off and drove back to DV and slept in the best, most comfortable beds. We had to be back for breakfast which was at 9 each morning. The first night was a pizza PJ party with donations going for Breast Cancer - they collected over $150 which will go to buying a TV for those having Chemo. Food was great - catered by some local amazing cooks - am sure I gained weight with all the wonderful food they served. There were lots of unbelievable door prizes and prizes from the scrap fairy....so I got to spend a weekend with a bunch of very creative women who love to scrap, chat and have lots of fun sharing their skills, supplies and knowledge. The very best part was we each had a whole table to ourselves - no bumping into each other - lots and lots of room to spread out and create - wonderful, just wonderful. I believe a good time was had by all. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

My Wonderful Weekend

I am just back from a girls away weekend - spent with three of the nicest women in my life. We went to Kananaskis - and had spa treatments, wine beside a fire in our suite and more laughs than you could count in a wonderful card store in Canmore. The drive both ways was wonderful in Carol's "new" car - the autumn colors were absolutely breathtaking. Here is one of the pictures showing the wonderful range of fall colors - along with my three wonderful friends.

Happy with Daytimers and Card Satchels

Just heard from my sister in law - the card satchels and daytimers arrived safe and sound. She and Joann liked them. How nice of her to take the time to call - we are not only sisters in law but good friends!

Daytimers

About two years ago I was at a retreat and learned how to cover these daytimers. Have made several for friends and work colleagues. Have made some more and thought I would share them with you.