Look What Came In The Mail

I meant to post this on Friday evening, but got caught up in the daily give and take of life. Meaning I spent part of the evening going over the Circle journal from the previous year and reaquainting myself with everyone.

Then yesterday afternoon, upon returning from my visit with a friend, I started to read the second journal. Today will be my first day of recording my experiences. So many of you lead much more exciting lives than I do, but I hope to leave with all of you a glimpse of what living on the prairies of Canada is like.

The other wonderful gift that arrived in the mail at the same time is this.... my book swap partner sent me these. Thank you Mary

I was partnered with Mama Bear from Bears In Exile/Return Home

Thank you Mama Bear for the lovely recipe book and the Heather Grahame novel. I really like to read her novels and this looks to be a great one.

Now I need to go and get a little done before we leave for Mass this morning. Hope to share some more surprises with you over the days leading up to Christmas. I will be visiting off and on all day. Kurt is home and I will have to wrestle the computer away from him at some point.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Winter is Here

Today I woke up to this and while the temperatures weren't too bad at first they have now fallen and with the wind chill the temperature has dropped to -34 C with the wind chill factored in. I guess winter has arrived with a vengence.

I stayed in and worked most of today. The good news is our carpet has been installed in the downstairs room. I think it looks very good. The colour goes with the wall colour and still keeps the room bright. Harvey spent the day hanging the door and putting the baseboards up. Now we will begin to move a little of the furniture back in, mainly the bed so Kurt has a place to sleep when he comes home. Later the bed will be moved out and a futon placed in the room as well as lots of bookcases and a nice comfy chair. I plan on making this into a library/sleeping room. It may take awhile but I am looking forward to having all my books in one place. Right now they are scattered throughout various rooms in my house.

Yesterday I was greated by two surprises in my mailbox. The first I opened was my PIF from Maggie. Thank you so much for the lovely brooch and the Snowman Soup. I love my gift!!!

The second parcel I opened was from Pea. Two beautiful books to curl up with this Christmas. I love them. This was the book swap I entered at Mary's Writing Nook. If any of you ever get a chance to take part in a swap I urge you to take it. You meet the nicest people. Thanks so much Pea, I will really enjoy these books, excellent choices.

Some of you asked how I made the icicles for my tree. Well it was very easy. I made a template out of some heavy stiff plastic in the shape I wanted. Then taped the plastic onto the glass. Harvey had bought a glass cutter years ago when he was cutting glass to make some new windows. I scored the glass and while wearing gardening gloves broke off the unwanted pieces. I next used some wire rings I had and placed them behind the glass pieces and using Harvey's soldering gun and the silver leading my friend gave me, melted the leading around the glass making sure the ring was covered by the melted leading. When the leading was cool I removed the icicles from the board I was using to keep from wreaking my table and added the ribbon. I surprised myself on how well they actually turned out.

I am off to visit all of you. Then I will watch my favorite Christmas movie "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. I need a good cry tonight.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.

Finally

It has been a long time since I have had time to sit and do some blogging. I am so glad to be back, don't know for how long, but until our new carpet arrives I have a few spare days to visit and let everyone know what has been happening.

We have finally finished dry walling, taping and mudding the spare room. It is a job that both Harvey and I really dislike.....but we did save quite a bit doing it our selves.

Here is a picture of the first part of the mudding and sanding. Now imagine doing this three times and the dust flying all over the place. Such a big mess!!!

Next we had to pick out a paint colour. Almost more of a job then the one we had finished. We finally decided on a colour called Candle Wax.

It is kind of a creamy yellow and does brighten up the rooms. However because of the light blue that was on the walls first, we ended up putting 3 coats of primer/sealer on and then three coats of colour. Whew....it is finally done.

I went to the carpet store and picked out a Berber for the floor. It is cream, brown, and yellow tweed. Should keep the room nice and bright, just what I want.

Now we have to pick out the trim colour. Any ideas out there? I am leaning towards a white trim to match the window, but I am open for suggestions.

The last two days have seen the mail person dropping a couple of parcels off at my home. The first was from my swap partnerBrenda filled with loveliness for the holiday season. This time I ate the chocolates before Harvey arrived home from work. Her parcel contained so many lovely things....a silver angel for my tree, ribbon, a candle that smells heavenly, a bell door ring, a stuffed heart in Christmas colours, a lovely mesh metal basket, a wreath and berries, and of course the chocolates and fruit slice candies. (Harvey says thank you for those, he has been nibbling on them....had to have one of each just to test them of course). I will so cherish everything you have sent me as well as the friendship that we have formed.

Today another parcel was waiting on my front porch. This one was from my good friend Ginger at Enchanting Cottage. A pretty mug to drink the coffee or the Spiced Tea mix she sent, a book to keep track of all the important dates in my life (I really needed this as I forgot my Dad's and sister's birthdays this year), and enough yarn to knit myself a scarf or even a shawl!!! Thank you so very much Ginger you are a wonderful friend and I am so glad to have met you.

Well I think that is all I have to say for now. I am off to spend some time visiting each of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. God bless.