Shake, shake, shake your bells now!

Hey there!  It sure has been a while!  Tonight was the FELC 10th annual Christmas concert and, I'm so sad to say, Ryan's last one there.  Where has the time gone?  The ladies always create such a wonderful night and the kids always create such great memories....

There will be a lot more Christmas going on this week-end.  Tomorrow is the Santa Clause parade and hopefully Sunday the outdoor decorations will go up.  Oh - and the holiday TV shows have started yippee!

Weather Lemonade.

The weather is not to my liking. I decided that I would spring for some new rubber boots (because I didn't have any and I really hate it when the bottom of my pants get all wet) and a mac daddy umbrella. I'm glad I did because they are going to get a lot of use from what I can see. Its not all bad - there are puddles to be jumped in and dandelions growing like mad. I'm sure that when the sun decides to shine the mosquitos will be out in full force. The joys of spring in NB. I just need to remember the wise words of Ryan. No matter what the weather she usually finds a reason to say, 'Its a great day!'.

I have been finding things to do in the rain. I put away the crochet hook for a bit and pulled out the knitting needles. I love the look of bonnets and cannot wait to see what they look like on a real person and not a ball of yarn.

On this particular day Ryan decided she wanted to jump in the puddles. "Sure" I said. It didn't take too long before the pants were wet and off they came. Ryan still loves her birthday suit. When I started called it her birthday suit she thought that was pretty funny. One day she told me she wanted to wear her party clothes to bed. Get it?

The Mac Daddy umbrella. I would buy one again. The company name is 'Cheeky' and they run out of BC somewhere. They all have cute little sayings inside.

Just today she picked me a boquet of dandelions. They're sitting in a teacup on my windowsill.

She decided to humor me and strike a pose - I can still be surprised!

Oh well, I guess the weather will be what it will be. I'm going to make it my purpose to make weather lemonade out of weather lemons

I Yarned It just for you.

Have you been wondering where I've been?  Tonight I was working on a sock monkey hat and Ryan asked if I could make her one.  I said sure, do you have any money?  Hee hee.  You see, I've become a bit of an entrepaneur.  I decided to put my knitting and crocheting skills to use and started a fan page on Facebook.  Its called I Yarned It Just For You.  I am open for business and am selling a wide variety of knit and crochet hats and photography props.  I have too say, I started off with a bang and was a little more successful than I thought I would be!  I recieved orders for 14 items  in the first week-end.  While that was by my peak period thus far, orders have been trickling in and I predict I will be busy enough until the end of April. 

It can be a little difficult to manage - the world of yarn is not always a static place.  However, I hope to soon find a niche and a regular clientel and that I will be as busy as I want to be.  I am already just one person with a full-time job and a daughter that now has too break her piggy bank to get a new hat!

Have a peek at my fanpage and tell me what you think and what you'd like to see more of.  I can't wait to hear from you!

Something new...

Last summer one of Jason's very best friends asked him to take pictures at his wedding.  A New Years Eve wedding.  He said he likes Jason's pictures and thought that he'd do a great job.  Jason said, 'Sure, Cathy and I would love to do it!'  And so there it was - set in stone.  I started to hyperventilate immediately, Jason waited until December 30th.

I have to say, wedding photographers are worth every penny they charge!  It was alot of work, although I'm sure that experience makes it a little easier.  I knew that I was working with some challenges.  It was an evening wedding in the dead of winter.  We have great equipment but not professional equipement.  I was scared out of my mind.  I even e-mailed the bride who I didn't know very well to inform her that we were not professionals and were working with some limitations.  As I explained to her, the groom expectation of his wedding pictures was maybe a little different than the brides.  She set my mind at ease a little.

So, I had to figure out a way to keep it together.  My philosophy became to capture the day.  I was no longer looking for the perfect professional shot but great memories of the entire day.  I really love the photo-journalistic style that a lot of photographers use today.  I tried to use this as my model.

We finally gave Allie and Erica their pics this past week-end.  They were very gracious and oooed and awwed approriately.  They are quite a couple and I have to say it really was an honour to have played such a large part in this day with them.  Thanks guys!

Erica had immaculate attention to detail.  You'll notice the 'wedding director' in the background.  Everyone involved in the wedding had a similar t-shirt with their role on it.  Hey wait a second.  Where was my photographer t-shirt?

I love this pic.  While Jason was getting some of the more obvious shots I was sneaking around.  This is through a french door during the ceremony itself.



 OK - so we did make them pose a little.  How could we not?  Noote the shoes - they were the dancing shoes.

 Awee....



Is she gorgeous or what?  I get the feeling that she is just as beautiful on the inside. Good job Allie!

The bride and groom.

I love this shot.  Allie and his mom are in the foreground and Erica and her dad in the background.  Little moments.  I think Jason might have been standing on a chair to get this one.

The new extended family.  These kinds of pics are a challenge.

And last but not least, I captured 5 or 6 shots of New Years Eve before I put my camera to bed.  They are my favourites.  They have such an old world feel to them.  They are super grainy but beautiful just as they are.

Neglectful?

I have been accused of neglecting my blog.  Harsh words really coming from someone who doesn't have a blog!  LOL - I take it as high praise that someone care enough to state the obvious.  Thanks for being a loyal reader my friend.

So where has the time gone.  February was a blur of SAD (seasonal affective disorder - not that I've

been diagnosed but man this time of the year really is no fun at all!), all of us being under the weather but not really sick enough to take us out of commission,  and really just trying to get through the rest of the winter.  By the way, there is no end in sight....  Nanny - stay in Florida as long as you can.  Coming back here will take the wind right out of your sails!

On a happier note.  Ryan has learned to skate.  Or should I say, is learning.  I am really proud of her.  When we were informed by her daycare that they were going to take them to the preschool skate every Tuesday for 2 months I was more than a little apprehensive.   Ryan approaches things with an all or nothing attitude.  In many cases if she cannot do it perfectly she doesn't want to do it at all.  (Like colouring - to hear the words 'I want to colour' make me cringe).  So with a few bumps along the way Ryan is really finding her comfort zone on her skates.  She keeps trying to do better and I am delighted that there is a physical activity that we all enjoy.  The rinks have skating until the end of April here so I think we'll be taking advantage.

Ryan has discovered a new game.  She calls it Chapters.  We set up her cash register on the coffee table and grocery bags on the back of her rocking chair.  The we all take turns being the nurse (cashier) and shopping.  We always finish of by putting the bags in the imaginary car and driving home.  When its Ryan's turn to shop her cart is always full of hot dogs, pizza, cookies etc.  We may have to do better in the meal preparation area!

I have been crocheting and kniting like a mad person as well.  I decided to start selling my pretty little creations via an Etsy store and perhaps some local marketing.  I have already sold several items and am pretty tickled.  My thinking is that I will have newborn samples of several different styles of hats that will be 'made to order'.  I'll also have a selection of ready to ship items.   Wish me well.  I'll post some of my projects soon...

Last night Jason raised the meal-preparation-bar.  Until now he has been an awesome sous-chef and the king of cheese and toast.  Yesterday he planned and executed an excellent green curry dish with chicken and served on a bed of rice.  It was YUMMY! It was the first time I ate green curry and will definitely be having it again (if he makes it).  Then this morning he made breakfast.  Wowsers!  Maybe he's feeling neglected by all of the crocheting and knitting....

Games, games and more games!  Ryan loves a good game!  Here she is playing war or 'Ore' with Daddy.

Giving Lucy some love.

 

Painting t-shirts with her friend Ella.



Birthday party sleigh ride with her friend Juliana.  It was Ryan's first sleigh ride and she kept asking where the horsies were going.  I told her they were looking for some apples! 

Anyhoo - that is a month in review.  Stay tuned, I  intend on having some of my projects to show soon!

XOXOXOX

Oh the day of love has almost arrived!  Smooch, smooch.  Around these parts, its mostly about the kiddo - not a lot of festivities going on.  Ryan and I made some Valentines for the family this yeat after I saw a neat idea on the Martha Stewart website.   I hope that all of the recipients have them in hand and love looking at them as much as I do :o)

In the newsletter we receive every month from Ryan's daycare we were told us that the kids would be going to the post office on a field trip.  I didn't really think much of it.  Friday, when we got home from work there was an envelope addressed to Mommy and Daddy.   What a great daycare, they are always trying to do fun little learning activities with the kids.  Ryan told me all about how she made the card and wrote her name twice (in the right direction - see signature above) and they brought it to the post office and the man was brought it to our house.

A little sticker project turned banner to add to the seasonal decor.   Its so funny how there weren't so many opportunities to decorate before there was a preschooler around.

I hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day!  XOXOXOXO

Hamburger Soup

I was getting ready to mail this recipe to a friend when I thought, why not just share it with everyone!  I'm a soup lover and love finding a great recipe.  I must confess that Jason asked me often enough to make hamburger soup and I found the idea a little repulsive for some reason...  Maybe I thought that hamburger should be reserved for things other than soup...  Who knows!  Anyway, one day I was motivated and came across this recipe on a fellow bloggers blog.  (Forgive me though, because I cannot remember where!) 

As it turns out, I love hamburger soup!  I make a batch and we usually have it for supper and then I freeze the rest in single serving containers for lunches.  Mmmmm... hamburger soup with cheese and crackers.....  If you like a thick, hearty soup this might be the one for you!

Hamburger Soup

1lb ground beef (lean)
16oz can of diced tomat0es witht the juices (I like Hunts Italian)
1 onion chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 can of tomato soup
1/3 cup of pearl barley
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 tsp dried basil (add oregano and thyme as well if you didn't use Hunts Italian tomatoes)
1 bay leaf (I don't bother...)

In a large pot sauté ground beef.  Drain off fat.  Add onion, celery and carrots and continue cooking until onions are soft.  Stir in remaining ingredients along with 5 cups of water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  If you used a bay leaf don't forget to remove it.

Bon appetit!

The Aviator

Coming soon to a too-cute-for-words brother and sister duo!  And a very tired mommy :o(  Thinking of you Christy!!!  Big hugs - I hope you like the happy mail!

I had to be creative for the pictures, especially for the little one.  Fortunately Hillary was willing to be a model.  Ryan didn't do too badly herself.  She was excited to have a gift to send to her friends Talon and Scarlett.

I didn't have a pattern for these ones - I kind of lifted the idea from my greatest new resource, Etsy.  If you haven't checked it out yet you really should.  There is a wonderful world of handmade goodies out there....

Ryans Art Work - A Shutterfly Album

Click here to view this photo book larger

Woof, woof!

Ryan has a new hat to add to her collection. Its getting kind of big (the collection that is)....  I might have to turn my focuses to other areas!  I still have a rather large knit crochet list so hopefully I remain motivate for awhile. 

I saw this hat on Etsy and thought it was the cutest ever.  I've figured I'd give it a try without a pattern (as I've been doing a lot lately)...  What I really like about this hat is that I used cotton yarn.  It makes for a pretty finished product.

If you're interested in trying it out I kind of have a pattern in my head that I'm sure I can put on paper.... 

Pillow Pets?

Here is another project that I wanted to do for Ryan for Christmas.  I stumbled upon it on a blog called Filth Wizardy where there are some great ideas for children's projects.  It seemed super simple and then, as chance had it, I stumbled upon the same unicorn head that she used (from the Dollarama none-the-less).  I also just happend to have the perfect piece of fleece left over.  Thankfully, the sewing portion was not overly challenging - I'm a lot rusty!

A little bit of sewing later and Ryan had her very own unicorn pillow pet!  I know she likes it because she gets a little preturbed when Lucy tries to share!  We're still working on sharing....

I used ribbon instead of velcro or snaps.  It seemed like the easiest at the time and I was facing a little bit of a Christmas time crunch!

Here it is in its pillow form.  I like it better tied - her nose points south a little too much in this format.

Thanks for looking!

Love, this way!

A Family Portrait.

 Ryan's multi-coloured heart.  She was pretty excited about using 2 pencil crayon at the same time.

 I asked what this one was, its a snowman!

You've got mail!

I discovered a blog before Christmas called Twelve Crafts Til Christmas which had an awesome tutorial to make your own play Pretend and Play Mail Carrier Kit.  I decided that this just had to under the tree for little Miss Ryan.  She had previously spent a lot of time hiding things and checking the mail.  I thought she might relate....  Well, a couple of late nights, and Christmas morning came.  Ryan opend her kit and exclaimed, 'Mail - this is just what I wanted for Christmas'.  You can't ask for a better reaction than that can you?

I grew up with dolls and toys that my mom made me.  I mostly loved them but I really love doing the same for Ryan.  This project was really fun to do and I would highly reccomend it.  I can't wait to try more from Elizabeth at Twelve Crafts.  She really does have some great ideas!

Here is the complete set;

And a personalized letter from Nana (as written by Mama);

 

The mailbox with a button top closure.  The flag goes up and down and is held in place by a jumbo brad;

 

You've got mail!

And the mail bag in case you want to deliver it yourself.  I just winged the dimensions on this one;