Some changes and something mushy

Check out the new banner at the top. Made it myself, using just my wits. And my computer and this program.

I also made this



These are our favourite mugs -- Aaron's has Popeye on it (he covets Popeye's forearms)and mine I found abandoned in an empty suite at work.

And this for my mom:



That's Miss Kittee sitting beside her -- she's also in the banner at the top. I don't have any pictures of her and Jack (our other cat) together because, frankly, they don't like each other. They are each content to pretend the other doesn't exist. The shaggy haired child in the inserted picture is Liam, wearing what I have now declared my sweater. Hey, it fits me and green isn't his colour . . .

End of a long and miserific week -- hope your weekend is fabulous!

Things I have made

Lookee at me! I made some stuff. Pretty darn impressed with myself now . .




This is a necklace I made at my sister's in Toronto. It's a glass tile with decorative paper glued to the back, then a brad (or whatever they are called) glued on. The kit we bought had enough materials to make 5 -- perfect for my mom, sister, two neices and me!

10 things about me

1. I don't homeschool but I have. My eldest son was having trouble in grade 9 -- we had him tested and it turned out he was functioning at a grade 3 level and had been pushed through. And he was smoking pot on school grounds. So we pulled him out of school for the rest of grade 9 and homeschooled him. While working full-time. Brought him up to grade level but the damage was done to his feelings around school and after spending 3 years trying different schools and programs he dropped out. Hopefully he will at least get his GED someday.

2. I spent 20 years attending church in a big way. And I mean BIG. Totally committed, served on every committee, attended every function, had private devotion and Bible study, fasted, prayed, you name it, I did it. I don't do any of that anymore and I'm much happier, calmer, and am an all round better person and so are my kids. Not saying that church and religion is bad, just giving my experience.

3. I hate my job. It's boring but I'm only 10 years from retirement (with 22 years in) so I don't think it's a good plan to leave now!

4. I had a pony as a child. Every little girl's dream, except mine was evil. Kicked and bit and bucked.

5. I have limp and lifeless hair. Seriously, no hair product can give it life or volume. It is my burden.

6. I have a crappy camera. It's about 10 years old, which is ancient for a digital camera. No zoom, no NOTHING. Hence the crappy pictures. I am hoping someone (Mom, Aaron?) will take pity on me and buy me one for .

7. I love to read. Love, love, LOVE to read. At a recent high school reunion everyone asked me "So, do you still read so much?". I have my library card number memorized. I sleep with my books.

8. I hate noise. I love silence but seldom get to hear it. I am wearing earplugs RIGHT NOW to try to drown some out. The later it is at night, the less I can stand noise.

9. I would like to be a stay at home mom but fear that if I spent that much time around my kids blood would be shed.

10. I am not a particularly good mother. I don't do crafts with them, I let them watch too much TV, I yell too much, and I'm not above pouring syrup on their heads (but only when they pour it on mine first).

There, that's more than you ever hoped to know I'm sure.

Returning from a break

A looongggg break. I cite computer problems (the darlings broke my keyboard) and general laziness. Plus Christmas -- can't do anything over Christmas. But now I'm starting fresh. i have a new keyboard for my laptop and some pictures of cards I've made and of children I've made so I'm aiming low at one post a week.

Wish me luck!

made another thing

Ha ha -- look at me, turning into a crafty person. I made this to hang in my kitchen as a reminder. I used the Cricut to cut everything out. It took about 10 minutes altogether. I'm looking for a frame now (note to self: making a picture to fit a frame is far easier than finding a frame to fit a picture!).



These are the steps in my new house. And my slippered feet.

Here is a picture of Aaron on the couch in our new place. We still don't have a curtain in that window. Soon!





Here is Sam and his cousin Erica colouring. Those two get along so great.

I made something!

Two somethings! Two greeting cards for the Autumn card swap I'm participating in through Swap-bot. I figured this would be a good way to force myself to do something creative. I had lost of fun and plan to do more. I prefer a simpler card without a lot of embellishments but I'm willing to branch out. Here are the cards I made:

Card # 1



I used the Cricut to cut out the word "explore" and the tree picture is a detail element from a page of a vintage children's book I saw on Flickr.


Card # 2




I don't know the names of the papers I used -- I got them from the Dollar Store (LOVE the Dollar Store!).

I'm going to be working on my next swap -- Holiday gift tags. I got some excellent books out the library that have really got my creative juices flowing. Just need to pick up some Christmas-y paper.

As for the wilderness i.e. my house, we are doing pretty good. All moved in and almost all unpacked. I'll be posting pictures soon. The room colours in the house are -- strong. These people were not afraid of colour! And I need to come up with some more curtain. But I LOVE the house!

Back at it

well, I'm back from Ireland and, after recovering from a little illlness I brought with me (note to self: do not cross the Atlantic without going to the bathroom again!), i'm putting in a quick blog post. Pictures will follow once Mother Dearest downloads them from her camera. I didn't take mine because it is as old as the hills.