being erica

Camera Wrist Strap How-To

2012-02-12T16:36:00.002-08:00

I spent the afternoon creating a wrist strap for my camera. I had spied some online that I liked, but I didn't want to spend $25 to buy one, especially when I figured I could probably make my own for free.

Source: etsy.com via Erica on Pinterest

This was my inspiration.

Luckily, I had everything on hand for my project!

You will need:
- ugly old or new camera strap
- fabric scraps in your choice of colours (I used a cotton print for the outside, and flannel for the inside)
- metal or nylon strap slide, or 2 D-rings, or 2 chain links (I took my slide off of a bag I never use - see below, and I also dug around in our garage and found some chain, which I used for the second strap)
- interfacing (optional. I had some stiff fusible webbing, so I just used that)
- sewing machine, thread, iron, seam ripper, scissors, etc

(Like this)

Step 1: Using the seam ripper, take the leather & nylon ends of the camera strap off of the strap part.

Step 2: Cut fabric strips. I made mine about 14" long x 2.5" wide. I used the old strap as a guide for width; I knew I wanted my wrist strap to finish at 1.5" wide so that the edges would line up perfectly with the nylon ends. Adding in 1" for a seam allowance (0.5" each side), you end up with 2.5". As for length, I wanted it to be slightly adjustable, but not too long, so just wrapped the fabric around my wrist for a comfortable fit, and added a bit. If you are using interfacing, cut out a piece the same size or slightly smaller than your fabric. Fuse webbing to the wrong side of one of the fabric pieces.

Step 3: Sew the strap. (See my photos below!) (1) With right sides together, using a 0.5" seam allowance, stitch down one long side of the fabric strip. If you have sew-in interfacing, now would be the time to sew that in as well. Stitch down the other long side. (2) Now you have a tube. (3) Turn so fabric is right side out. Yeah, it's gonna be tough since it's so narrow! It will go eventually! (4) Press the strap flat. (5) Top stitch down the long sides of the strap.

Step 4: Now it's time to attach the slide. You could skip this if you wanted, and just sew both raw (short) ends of the fabric strap between the leather ends. If you are using a slide, thread one end of the strap around the middle bar. Turn over the raw end and sew to the strap, encasing the middle bar. (Slides usually come with directions on how to install them!) Here's how I used two rings to make it adjustable:

1. Thread the strap through both rings. Fold fabric over to hide raw edge.

2. Stitch folded section to strap.

3. Making a loop, thread the strap again through both rings.

4. Going over the first ring, thread strap back through the second ring.

Step 5: Make the strap loop small so you have some room to sew. Insert the raw end of fabric strap into the leather/nylon end. Sew through all layers, following the old stitch lines.

Step 6: Attached to camera!

I actually made two wrist straps, since after the first one I thought I should write a tutorial on how to make your own! Since I only need one, I am going to give the other one away! If you'd like to have one of these, just tell me in the comments which one one you like better, and I'll randomly pick a winner and send it on!! Attached easily to any SLR camera - I don't think it would work for a point & shoot - sorry!

New Art, Part 3

2012-02-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

All this sunshine we've been having makes me want to DO THINGS!! There is nothing like a beautiful day to motivate me. With all that Vitamin D & optimism, I finally got my rear in gear and set about getting this little project started (and finished!). I was largely inspired by this blog post I read several months ago, and knew exactly which photo I wanted to use, and where it was going to go. Luckily, my mom had an original of this photo of my Gran on the beach at English Bay, so I brought it home with me after Christmas.

Original

I love this photo! I love the bathing suit, the striped shoes, the fact that Gran is on English Bay in Vancouver. (At least I think that's where she is. Seems plausible since as a young woman she did live in Vancouver, and in her memoirs wrote that English Bay was where she learned to swim.) I like to imagine that Gran was with a group of friends, maybe her sisters & cousins, and that they were having a beautiful afternoon on a sunny beach. I can just imagine that there was laughter & playing, a picnic lunch, jokes told, water splashed. Unfortunately, the photo was a bit worse for wear. Not quite enlargement quality. Well, that didn't stop me! I scanned the photo, and with the help of some free photo editing software (Photoscape), was able to touch up the colour a bit, and mostly fix the creases. I straightened it a bit too. I still wanted it to look like an old black & white photo, so I didn't worry too much about getting everything perfect.

After my fake photo shopping job

So, great. I had my photo ready. Next, I put it on a jump drive and went to Staples. Oh wait, first I got a frame. And before that I measured my wall space. Yesterday I took a little trip to Ikea with a friend (you have to make that trip worth it, so bring a friend!) and purchased a Ribba frame. I tried to keep in mind that with large format printing, the widest you can get (for relatively inexpensive) is 36". Drafting school coming in handy right there! I opted for this one. The price was right at $20, so I was sold.

At Staples, I just asked to get my photo enlarged to 20" wide & 30" tall (just over the dimensions of my frame), and got it printed on the cheap(er) black & white large format printer. You could also get a glossy poster made, but I wasn't sure how the quality would be since the original photo was only 3" x 4.5". My poster size print only cost $5.56, and it looks great!

Next, I had to trim it down a bit. (Because Ikea doesn't make normal sized frames for standard North American photo sizes. Metric!) I got out my self-healing cutting mat, exact-o knife and metal ruler and got to work. I used the paper insert thing from the frame as a template to know how much to cut down my print.

Now time to hang it up. I use a handy trick to hang frames: I make a paper template of the frame, marking the location of the wire or hanging ring on the paper. Then, tape the paper up where you want, make any adjustments to location, and use a nail to poke through the hanging mark to make a small mark on the wall behind. Pull the paper off and hammer in your hook/nail, and your picture hangs in the perfect spot! (I think that makes sense...I took no photos of this process.)

Anyway, here's what it looks like done:

And to give you some context as to where I hung it up:

I quite like it. I realize that Dan might not want to see a photo of my Gran on the beach everyday, but come on, she was a babe!! And I did talk about this project for a few months, so I'm sure he's used to the idea by now! I thought the frame I bought was quite large - guess I could have gone bigger. Oh well, I think once my plan/dream of one day having a stairwell photo gallery takes more shape, the seemingly wonky scale won't be so obvious. So that brings the frame count in this area to 6. Only another 2 1/2 walls left to fill. Small steps, people, small steps.

P.S. For any cousins/aunts of mine reading this, if you'd like a copy of the touched up photo, let me know and I'll email it over!

Odds & Ends in the Ottoman Empire

2012-02-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we finally had a baby shower for Henry & Owen. At the last minute the shower location was changed to our house, but that was fine with me. It was fun - family, friends, food, babies!

We also got our lovely brown leather ottoman a while back! Love it! With this addition, we now have 5 in our living room. It's a bit overkill, we know.

1 - holds all the toys required to be the most fun Auntie & Uncle on the block

2 - this was a wedding gift. I have a plan in the back of my mind to recover this sucker and one day move it into a kid's room. (that isn't an announcement)

3 - our brand new one!

4 - goes with an old Ikea chair that we have since moved from the living room. But it's nice to put your feet up, you know?

5 - I built this one for Dan last year

The pieces are coming together! I have a plan to change up the furniture layout in here at some point. Big plans! Also, our new one opens up for storage! Yay!

A Quick & Fun Valentine Craft

2012-01-26T19:36:00.002-08:00

Valentine's Day still feels so far away, but it's really not too far - next Wednesday is February 1st after all! I don't usually decorate, or really do anything for Valentine's, but I saw this idea a few weeks ago on Pinterest and thought it was cute!

First, I cut some felt rectangles. 2 from each colour. I didn't measure, just made the biggest pieces possible from the felt I had. Next, sew a seam down one long end of each pair of rectangles. Turn the felt so the other 2 long sides are matched up, but the shape of the tube is a heart. Make sense?

Once you have all your heart tubes sewn up, cut them into about 1" pieces, so you end up with this:

Then I strung them all together with thread, like so:

(yes, I probably should have changed the thread in my sewing machine, but I was too lazy, so it stayed black!)

Viola! Hang up your cute little Valentine garland!!

Our Weekend + A First World Problem

2012-01-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

First, my first world problem: all my library requests came in at the same time! Better get reading!

Second, our weekend. We met up with some friends on Friday night for dinner. Enjoyable. On Saturday, we babysat this little round-headed cutie pie!!:

Henry (his bro went to Grandma's house)

And has some other friends over. I made this Moroccan Vegetable Pie with Chickpea Crust from Canadian Living. Delicious! Make it! (My crust was a bit tough, but it tasted good. You could make it with store bought crust and it would still be good!)

Source: cbc.ca via Erica on Pinterest

Next, this little dinosaur had his 1st Birthday!

This is part of Johnny's birthday present from us. (I made it. Dan helped.) A dinosaur on a trolley!

Helen liked it :)

John liked the boxes.

And his new sweater.

Getting strapped in for cake! It takes the whole family. John smelled more delicious than usual after he got wiped down from eating his banana pudding chocolate birthday cake. Kid smelled like chocolate!

How was your weekend?

Taking Stock

2012-01-19T18:29:00.003-08:00

Luckily, Dan & I were able to make it to a grocery store before Snowmagedon 2012 hit too hard. Still, this got me thinking about my pantry staples and what meals I could really make if we were housebound for a week (which, basically, was this past week), and then I got thinking about pantry staples, and how I never consistently have all the ingredients I need for something!! Can you help me out? What do your pantries always contain? I know it really depends on what kind of food you cook, so this may be an exercise in futility, but I am curious!

I do love my pantry!

Things I always have:

- eggs (This is kind of cheating. Eggs are a fridge item, but since there are a kajillion eggs pretty much out my front door at any given time, I thought I would include them.)

- flour

- sugar

- baking supplies (baking soda, powder, cornstarch, cocoa, oats, etc)

- pasta

- rice

- canned soup (tomato & mushroom)

- frozen veggies (corn, peas, broccoli & cauliflower)

- frozen fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries)

- crackers

Things I always need/want and never have:
- chicken stock (I really do buy this, but then I use it up and never have it on hand. I should learn to buy 2 at a time)
- ginger (not ground as a spice. Is there even a way to have this "fresh" without it going gross?)
- canned pineapple
- pasta sauce (as a dry mix or a jar)
- potatoes that aren't baby potatoes
- chickpeas
- beans (again, something I do buy semi-regularly, but then use up and don't replace as I should)

And what about your freezers? Like I wrote above, I keep some frozen fruits & veg, but I would much prefer to buy fresh meat, so I tend not to stock up on proteins very often, unless there is something good on sale. And don't get me started on frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts. Ugh. I don't want to eat that!

So tell me, what am I missing? What are your go-to meals when the fridge is bare?

Reasons I Love my Family

2012-01-17T20:18:00.002-08:00

This afternoon Dan called home and wondered if I could possibly bring his ski boots down the road to the farm. You know, the regular footwear choice for doing farm work in 7" of snow.

When I arrived at the farm, Matt & Kori had the quad out, Helen was perched on the GT racer, ready to the pulled by the quad, and Dan, Tom and Christine were building up the snow jump, and adjusting the bindings on an old pair of skis.

It was totally delightful to see them fly through the air (and land...or not!). To hear Helen try to convince us all that she knew how to ski already and could go over the jump. To go inside to drink tea & visit with my sisters-in-law. To kiss and snuggle a cute ~~baby~~ one year old.

The most perfectly enjoyable snowy afternoon.

Snow Day & Tables

2012-01-14T14:25:00.004-08:00

We woke up to a snow covered world this morning. Since I am house bound today, I finally finished our night tables! I posted them on my very neglected Ugly to Awesome blog, so you can click here to see them! I've been doing a few other projects around the house today too, like hanging up pictures and baking muffins and finishing sewing projects! Now I'm thinking about taking a nap!

The Year So Far

2012-01-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

The first week of the new year has been great so far! It's always comforting to get back into our routines.

On Friday night we went over to Doug & Elissa's house to celebrate both their birthdays, and had a great time visiting with friends, old & new.

Yesterday Dan & I went ottoman shopping (that Christmas money is burning holes in our pockets!!) and although we haven't yet purchased, it was fun to look around and go out for lunch together. Then last night we went to an Abbotsford Heat game, again with Doug & Elissa. I think Dan & Doug enjoyed the game, and Elissa & I hardly watched but had a great visit while eating mini donuts!

Today after church Dan & I had to make a quick trip to Langley to pick up something else that we spotted while ottoman shopping! We didn't really mean to buy any other furniture, but we saw this and knew it would be perfect for our room! Love it!

This afternoon I have been working on the night stands (mentioned earlier this week), and they are looking great. I'll post some photos when it's all said & done! It feels good to have some progress on our neglected bedroom decor. Nice when a plan starts coming together!

(And no, we haven't forgotten about the ottoman - we're giving ourselves until the end of next week to make up our minds!!)

Scenes from Christmas - Lethbridge Edition

2012-01-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

So This Is the New Year...

2012-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012!! I rang in the New Year by sleeping and then getting woken up from a wrong number text on Dan's phone at 1:18 AM!! Good times! (For the record, we were in a hotel room...I don't make a habit of sleeping next to Dan's phone...)

Anyway! I thought I would take a look at my little Not New Years Resolutions List that I posted about a year ago.

NOT NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS (2011)

Uh, yeah, kind of dropped the ball on this one. Sorry care group! We'll keep trying!

3. ~~see at least one friend from college that doesn't now live in BC~~ (February - Dave & Jenelle; March - Dave & Jenelle again; Steve & Lowana; April - Shannon, Christen, Dave & Jenelle AGAIN!!; August - Shannon; September - Jennifer; October - {High School friend who lives in BC, but come on, HS friend - still counts!!} Alisha; November - Jennifer & Eddie;)

By far the most fun on my to-do list!! I posted about this a few weeks ago, and I hope I am able to see friends again this year!

4. clean up our apple tree (started Sept. 24!!)

It's been started!

5. ~~plant a tree in our yard~~ (2! October 2011)

Scenes from Christmas

2011-12-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

Company Christmas Party

How many Aunties & Uncles does it take to set up Playmobil?

The Uniform: Company Christmas Party Edition

2011-12-23T18:57:00.001-08:00

Here we are all ready for the D&R Wall Ltd. company Christmas Party. You heard me: company party!! (we may all be family, but tonight we are co-workers and their spouses!)

On me:

red sparkle shrug, Papaya (Palm Spring '11);

white button up with black lace, Guess (Palm Springs '10);

black pencil skirt, Smart Set;

silver holiday heels, Nine West (Palm Springs '11)

(these ones! click here!)

And, just for fun, on Dan:

white button up shirt, who knows (from a wedding he was in in 2009);

pink tie (same wedding);

black v-neck sweater, Banana Republic (Palm Springs, March '11);

black dress pants, who knows!!;

black dress shoes, the mystery continues!

Elf Yourself!

2011-12-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

I can't stop cracking up over these Elf Yourself videos! So I made one of me & Dan!!

Here's the link! Enjoy!!!

Glow Worm

2011-12-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

Last night Dan & I ventured out to the NICU to see Owen.

Look how cute he is! And all wrapped up like a little wormie in a cocoon!

Love, love, love him!!

Thanks for the visit S&K! We can't wait for more snuggles with both your babies!

Christmas Party Redux

2011-12-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

full fridge, table of food, drink table, check!!

Last night Dan & I hosted a Christmas party of all our friends & family. I took zero photos while the actual party took place, but I was too busy being a hostess and visiting with our guests and baking appetizers!

Our numbers totaled 23 adults (plus me & Dan), two kids, and 3 babies. It was a full house in here!

We had a great time!

Finally got the camera out just before these two were about to leave!!

*******

Johnny is over to nap this afternoon. Man that kid is cute. I snapped a few photos of him before he turned into a grumpy-and-needs-a-nap baby.

I can't wait until he wakes up so I can play with him some more!!

Head Above Water

2011-12-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

In this season of Hope, Peace, Joy & Love, it can be extremely difficult for me to know and have hope, peace, joy & love. I don't know if its the shorter days, the overcast skies, the stress & unease that sometimes comes with navigating a family business through the holidays, or some combination of all of the above. All I know is that as much as I love Christmas, and even more, I love that Christ came, a sadness gets me every year around this time.

I try to carry on and still do the regular things I would do, but sometimes even those things are daunting. Laundry. Supper. Work. Read. Eat. Sleep. Host a Christmas party (which I actually am looking forward to). Although I know that people are in my corner, that Hope & Peace, Joy & Love abound at this time of year, sometimes it's hard not to despair.

Chippy Goes to the Dentist

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Day 9: What was your favorite children's book?

Oh man. Oh man!! I love this topic! When I read today's prompt, my first thoughts went to my earliest reading days. Days when I was probably only 4 years old and sat with my Boppa in his big chair and brought books to him and asked him to read them to me and my cousin.

Our go-to books were Go Dog Go and Chippy goes to the Dentist. Loved both of those!

When my grandparents died, I got a hold of Chippy in the giant house clean-out. The last page is missing, but I don't mind. I love having this book! (Thanks again, Leah!)

Other childhood favorites include Dr. Cat, which I am pretty sure is the first book I read by myself (you can imagine the challenge that would have been!!) and All in One Piece. My sister & I always wanted mom to get All in One Piece from the library, and for me, it was because of the picture on the last page. I just loved it! (Still do!)

(Come to think of it, I also really liked the page in Richard Scary's book where all the paint colours get mixed together! I liked paint and colours as a child!)

How about you? What was your favorite childhood book?

I'm taking part in a blogging group called Reverb Broads that will be suggesting daily blogging prompts this December. If you want to join in, feel free! Go here to learn more.

Why?

2011-12-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Day 8: Why do you or why do you like to blog?

Good question!! I have been thinking a little bit about this lately, and I don't think I have one great answer, but I do have some reasons!

I blog because I like to take note of the little things in my life. I know there are days/weeks/months that have gone by with nary a peep from me on this blog. And that's ok. Those times are usually just quiet times in my life, or when I don't feel like I have anything important/entertaining/interesting to say. I used to write in a journal everyday, and while this blog does not resemble a journal in the slightest, it is kind of like that, but easier and quicker and more fun.

I blog to show photos of stuff I make/do/think to people who may or may not care. Showing my family & friends things that happen around here makes me feel like they can, in a small way, be part of this BC life of mine. A pseudo community sort of! Does that make sense?

I blog to entertain myself sometimes. Or to entertain my dad, who will inevitable call me if I post something that makes him laugh!! I know I read blogs for entertainment, (I view the blogs I read similar to newspaper columns) or for inspiration, so I hope that people (whoever you are!) read my blog for entertainment or inspiration too!

I'm taking part in a blogging group called Reverb Broads that will be suggesting daily blogging prompts this December. If you want to join in, feel free! Go here to learn more.

Just do it.

2011-12-05T07:48:00.001-08:00

I have been reading some blogs by women who are participating in a blogging group called Reverb Broads, where there is a daily writing prompt for what to write about. I follow this group on facebook and thought when there was a prompt that I thought I had something to say about, I would try to do it. So, today's prompt:

Day 5: What is the one thing you finally did this year that you always wanted or said you were going to do, but in your heart of hearts never thought you would actually do?

I think my whole "Not New Years Resolution" list came about because of this very reason; do things already!! I know I am one to talk about projects I want to take on, and about places I want to go, and I definitely imagine "one day".

The one item on my list that I really did not ever think would happen (and I know there are some that aren't crossed off yet, and it's December!) was to see one College friend that doesn't live close by. There were too many factors that depended on other people for this one; someone would have to travel, travel isn't always affordable or accessible, there are only so many long weekends in a year...the list goes on. I never thought it would happen.

But at the beginning of this year, I threw out a little invitation to two of my closest friends from my college days, just to see what would happen, if they were at all interested. I mean, we all have lives that we live separately from one another, we no longer share a dorm or a room or classes on a daily basis, and we hadn't seen each other in at least 6 years. If this worked, we would be coming from 3 different directions to meet in the middle. I felt the odds were slim. I suggested that we meet in Edmonton at Easter, thinking "Well, if nothing happens, that's ok, maybe some other time."

But it did happen. And it was spectacular! It was like no time had really passed at all. We pretty much picked up where we left off, and you really don't come by friendships like that in life too often. The best part for me was, I think it kind of opened the door to seeing a lot of other long-distance friends this year too. Or re-connecting with old friends who do live close by - I went for lunch with an old friend, and we talked for 3 hours (and could have kept talking)! In fact, today I am heading state side to meet with a high school friend. I can't wait to see her and catch up on the last few years of her life. I think I (finally) realized "You know what, this is awesome, and it's not that hard to just make the effort and go do it!" And it's been so rewarding keeping up those relationships. Much more rewarding than anything else on that list of mine!

(So, Shan & Chris, get ready for May, because it's happening!)

Splashy!!

2011-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's finished! We got our last sheet of tile on Wednesday and I love it! I believe my exact words were "It's like we have a kitchen now!" I am truly amazed at how finished everything feels now. Like we live in a real house!

We went with the white glass and stone, if you can't tell from the photos, with French Vanilla grout.

And now for a wide shot:

Oh, I just realized I have yet to hang our photo collage frame (it goes to the left of the sink). Well, nothing like the present for getting things done! (Uh, never mind the fact that it took us 2 years to get around to getting this project done....)

The Uniform - Friday

2011-12-02T19:48:00.001-08:00

Pink Belted Sweater - Wet Seal (PS '11), Cream ruffle tee - New York & Company (PS '11)

Skinny "Jeggings" - Reitmans, Leather Boots - Designer Shoe Warehouse, B.O.C (PS '10)

I hope you enjoyed my little fashion week! I just thought it would be something fun for me to blog about - a departure from the usual around here.

Dan was my willing assistant, even though I made him take several photos each day and he mercilessly made fun of me for doing this. Unlike him, however, I actually know how to put photos on the internet, so here's a little gem for you in retaliation to his teasing!

Dan wants you to know where he got his clothes too!! (By the way, this really is his work uniform...it seriously doesn't vary much or at all from day to day!!)

Green Plaid Pearl Snap shirt - Value Village, Blue tee - free from when he volunteered at a Bible camp

Jeans - Kirkland, Slippers - Christmas present!

Haha!

The Uniform - Thursday

2011-12-01T21:50:00.001-08:00

The Uniform

2011-11-30T21:54:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to show off some of my Palm Springs finds from this year (& last)! I think it's safe to say that nothing in this outfit was over $40.00. Unfortunately, that means it was all likely discontinued and you will never find it again, so tough luck if you like something I'm wearing!

Hope

2011-11-27T16:47:00.001-08:00

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:10-14

Fun with Fabric

2011-11-22T17:26:00.001-08:00

I've been playing fabric for the last few weeks, cutting strips from a large collection of scraps, and sewing them together. I don't know what I'm making....probably a cozy (for those not in the know, a cozy is a tv watching/magazine reading/everything blanket!) Gran would be so proud of me!!

SHEET!

2011-11-22T14:03:00.001-08:00

Today our back splash is being installed. Guess who just had to order one more sheet of tile?

I even measured! Twice! Sheet!

(But what's done looks fantastic and I can't wait to show you!)

New ARt, PaRt 2

2011-11-17T17:41:00.001-08:00

I have more art to share with you! I really did NOT mean to leave it this long (believe it or not, that last art post was the end of August!).

More pretty stuff to hang on my walls!

First up, this awesome rendering of our house!! Back in the summer, through a friend of a friend, we were lucky enough to get a yard & garden consultation from Andrea Gibb, who is just starting up her business, Robben Landscape Design. Anyway, in addition to the incredible garden plan and plant list that Andrea provided, she also did two renderings of our house! I got the front house rendering framed at Michaels, because how could I not? I love this little treasure. It's hanging at the top of our stairs, and I smile every time I see it!

I found this whole set up at MCC, I think for around 8 bucks. I spray painted the existing frame black, and viola! A cute little winter water colour scene!

This last idea came from another blog I read. It's super simple - dollar store shadow box, fabric scrap and a fortune cookie fortune from this past summer. Oh, and a thumbtack! My fortune says: "You have artistic talent, do something creative." So I did!!

Just Checkin' In

2011-11-10T15:58:00.001-08:00

Welp. We haven't been up to TOO much lately. Last weekend we went to Seattle and saw our friends Jennifer & Eddie. We had a great time! Walked around and ate and talked and looked at stuff. Hmm....sounds a lot like what we did in Toronto!! Super fun relaxing time, minus the part where the check engine light in our car came on. Boo. Dan got it all fixed up though, and it's all good now.

This is my sneaky photo that I took in a store. They always frown upon that! We stopped at the Seattle outlets on the way home, and Dan got a vest - can you guess which colour he picked?? I didn't do any browsing for myself, since I have a girls shopping trip to Palm Springs coming up soon! Can't wait to see the sun and feel some warmth on my skin!

In other news, I have started my Christmas list! (Michael, this is an indicator that you too should start compiling a list. NOW!) If you want to see it (it's short so far!), follow the link below! Parents/family, I'll try to keep updating as I think of things....not that I NEED a present, but it's just fun!

Erica's Christmas List

It's over there on the side too! To the right!

Over & Out!

Candy Creatures!

2011-10-31T19:41:00.003-07:00

Check out her haul! We were only the 3rd house they'd hit up!

Cutest. Dinosaur. Ever.

Halloween Treats!

2011-10-31T14:09:00.003-07:00

Saturday night found us at a Halloween Party hosted by our lovely friends Brandon & Cayley.

Since it was not just a Halloween Party, but a Halloween ANIMATION THEME Party, Dan & I dressed up as Inspector Gadget & Sidekick Penny.

(photo borrowed from Brandon)

Nailed it!

It was actually pretty fun to put those costumes together! And, I think Penny was WAY ahead of the times with her computer book. I wished I had an iPad I could have carried around, but my plastic container with taped on pictures worked just fine! Also, please note that Inspector's magnifying glass doubles as a bottle opener! Thanks for having us B&C, we had fun!

Sunday night we had a Wall family supper, partly in celebration that Corn Harvest is complete! Yay! But the absolute highlight was that we got to meet Henry!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Owie is still in the hospital, but Henry was sprung free this past weekend, and I think he adapted quite well to his giant family by pretty much sleeping the whole time (which I would imagine is what you'd expect from a 1 month old!!). Henry is a tiny bundle of a boy at around 5 pounds. Dan & I were trying to imagine the size of Owen given his bro is the bigger one! Yikes! I didn't have my camera with me, so no picture of Henry today, but hopefully soon. I can't wait to snuggle him! (Among the two new parents and 3 grandparents, there were plenty of arms for Henry to rest in, so I can wait :) )

In other news, Helen & Johnnie will be trick or treating tonight! Dan & I dressed up last year just for Helen. I'm not sure if we will this year...I mean, sure, we have awesome costumes, but what 3 and 1 year olds know who Inspector Gadget is? Might have to pull out my "Big Cay-ons" costume once more!

Go With the Flow (to Toronto!)

2011-10-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Dan & I went to Toronto last week. We had a great time visiting with Hill & Mike!

(clockwise from top left: Dan in front of Sanagans, us 4 walking around, lunch!, with Hillary)

(more walking around, inside the AGO)

(Toronto Skyline from U of T)

(U of T campus....yeah, that's Hillary!)

(me with Dan, cute babushka Hillary!, sisters, is that a giant chair or is Michael tiny?)

(lunch with Nikki at El Trompo!* Mmmm, tacos!)

*Thanks, Hill!**

** Twice!

Problem Solved: Stoneware Storage

2011-10-24T14:26:00.002-07:00

In my kitchen I have a corner cabinet. It can be annoying. Also, kind of ironic because now that I work at a kitchen place I NEVER put corner cabinets into kitchen plans if I can help it. Void corner and drawers all the way!! But, that is not the case in my kitchen. I have a corner cabinet, so I'll work with it. Make the best of what you've got, etc.

Anyway, my problem was that I was doing a lot of stacking and moving around of stoneware that I have. And it was starting to bother me.

So I built this rack and stuck it on the bottom shelf:

Ta da!

Now I can put my stoneware and some lids like this:

Problem solved!

This project cost me nothing but time since I had all the materials on hand. Oh wait, I actually did have to buy some screws because I didn't have any of the appropriate length (1"). So I guess this project cost me around $5. (I bought fancy screws.) It's not the prettiest thing ever, and I am 100% sure that if any of the guys in the shop at work saw it, they would laugh, but I think it'll work just fine for me!

Rise of the Machines

2011-10-22T08:07:00.001-07:00

I can not get enough robots lately. Everywhere I look (which is really just on Pinterest) I find & fall in love with robots!! Here are two of my favorite finds from the last while:

Robot Nesting Dolls from Urban Baby Runway. So awesome! These are pretty affordable at only $14, but it would also be fun to thrift some nesting dolls and paint them up your self. You know I am on the lookout!

This little robot girl is just adorable!

Her family members can be found at the etsy shop, Little Brown Byrd, but it doesn't look like she has any sisters at the moment. Might be a fun rainy day project to attempt if you have some sewing skills!

In other, robot related news, the dairy is officially going automated! We are super excited about that!! It's going to mean huge changes around here, but those changes will be good for everyone, we think, cows included. I think the most exciting prospect (for now) is that the days of Dan getting up at 4am to milk cows are numbered!! 365 & counting (down)! Yay!

(not our cow or machine)

Scenes from Thanksgiving

2011-10-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

(My favorite moment of the evening: Helen lay down next to John (after some prompting) to drink her juice. John looked over and just giggled! So happy his sister was near him! Too adorable!)

The Internet is Never Wrong!

2011-10-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

You guys, I have a problem. Do you know what's missing from the photo below?

If you said "back splash!" then you are right. It's loooooonnnng over due, especially since we've lived here for almost 2 years.

The problem is I don't know what to pick. I went to a tile store today and looked and looked and looked at samples. I've also been looking in magazines and online and I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to back splash ideas. And I am not sure if I love any of them.

I like the idea of tile, but I also like the idea of something a little different. Like hexagonal tile, or penny tile, or stainless steel. For a while I was lobbying for red glass subway tile. Also, our cabinets are off-white, so I don't think a plain white should be in the running. Internet, tell me what to do!

Here are the samples I brought home today.

Option 1 - Stainless Steel. I like this a lot, but I don't know if I like the price tag at almost $40/sq. ft. Ouch. Also, if we end up installing this ourselves, cutting the stainless steel part of the tile makes me nervous. Has anyone done this with success? Would the small size of the tiles make the splash too busy?

Option 2 - White Glass & Stone Mosaic. I am leaning toward this one right this second. It's hard to tell in this photo, but some of the tiles are opaque and some are clear, and then of course, some are stone. I like that the white is not so pure that it would make our cabinets look dirty, and I also like that the stone pieces break it up a bit, but it's not too busy.

Option 3 - Greeny/Brown Glass & Stone Mosaic. Maybe this is the obvious choice given how we've done the rest of our house? Should we branch out and NOT put something green on the walls? You tell me.

Option 4 - Grey Glass & Stone Mosaic. I've held this up in different spots on the kitchen walls, and I like it in some places and not in others. It doesn't work great with the cabinet colour, but I do like it with our paint colour.

From the top down, options 1-4.

What's the verdict?

Bounty

2011-10-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about living in the Fraser Valley is the fresh, local produce that I can get pretty much year round. Today I stopped at Hamilton's on my way home from work, and loved seeing all these Okanagan apples! And the Hamilton's prices are so awesome. I got two bags of apples (one bag is in a pie that is baking as I ~~speak~~ type), a huge zucchini, bell peppers, yams, carrots, celery, garlic and a lemon all for 9 bucks.

Can't beat that.

Nephews!

2011-09-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Wall fam grew by 2 on Monday.

Owen Andrew

Henry Morison

Welcome to the world, babies! I can't wait to meet you! You guys are going to get Auntie'd so good!

(A huge congrats to S&K!!!!)

(photos shamelessly borrowed from Kylie via facebook)

WEENIE!

2011-09-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Weenie Roast 2011 was a great success!

Ready for guests & food!

Yup, ready.

6 month olds can eat corn!

Fire, friends & food.

Helen. Listening to music & enjoying the fire.

Here is where it got too dark to take photos. I just realized I should have stood on the other side so as to not take a wide shot of the barn...oh well!

Thanks for coming everyone! We had a great time!

See you next year, summer.

Eat. Play. Love.

2011-09-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember when I made some play food for Helen last year. I guess my friend Anj also remembered, because she asked me to make some for her sweetheart of a daughter, who is getting a play kitchen for her 2nd birthday!! Awesome! I love play kitchens! I think for me, the play kitchen and Barbies are tied for favorite childhood toy. Endless hours in the basement playing with both of those! So of course I said yes to making the food, because what childhood is complete without play food? I couldn't deprive my little friend!

Now for the goods:

Looks like a good time if I do say so myself!!

I'd be happy to craft some play food for you too! Just email me or leave a comment below if you are interested!

What was your favorite childhood toy? Did anyone else love their play kitchen as much as I did? Did anyone else make menus and guest cheques emblazoned with the name of your "restaurant"? (Ours was Apple Tree Cafe!) (And yes, we did!)

Shut Paint The Front Door!

2011-09-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I tackled a little painting project that had been bugging me since June. Do you know how difficult it is it get fingerprint dusting powder off of anything? Almost impossible. So impossible that the only real solution was to paint!

Before. See that dirty place above the deadbolt? Yeah, that wouldn't come clean.

After! (yep, totally staged that shot)

Two Benches

2011-09-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

As promised, there have been some updates in the front entrance since the last time I showed it here. I really do have good intentions to do a photo house tour of the whole house someday, but for some reason I can't get past the front entrance! And anyway, since we got robbed in June, I am not sure I want to post our whole house on the internet! But today, entry ways!

A few weeks ago I took down that shelf that was on the wall next to the front door, repaired the drywall and painted some chevron stripes on the wall, making sure to place my stripes over the area that I repaired.

Love it!

Then I built a bench from these plans (I shortened mine by quite a bit) and now the front entrance is "done". I use quotes because who knows...I may change something else in that area yet!

Months ago, I saw this bench on The Brick House:

And I wanted it. Bad. For the mudroom.

So I went about collecting the things I would need to make my own version of this baby. Maybe about two days after seeing this project, I was at MCC and saw some stacking stools that had that tubular metal look - not quite the same as the bench above (I would be waiting a lot of years if I was going to hold out to find Eames bases in Abbotsford!) but I thought the stools I found would provide the same sort of feel. And I took a picture of those ugly stools with their green vinyl tops. And then our house was robbed and I don't have that picture anymore. But that's ok, check out what I was able to make with my $7 stacking stools and big piece of reclaimed wood (which I got at Western Reclaimed Timber):

Just so you know, by "I was able to make", I mean "my dad did all the work"!

Here's how my smart Dad attached the legs to the top! I had no plan and was just going to wing it!

Thanks Dad!

Love those old saw marks!

Visitors welcome at our house through either entrance! Feel free to sit down & enjoy the benches!

Happy Anniversary!

2011-09-09T07:47:00.001-07:00

Happy 33rd Anniversary Mom & Dad!

(I just could not resist posting this pic. Sorry mom!)

What I was making...

2011-09-05T08:58:00.001-07:00

Remember when I said I was making something totally awesome and made you guess what it was? Well, none of you were remotely close to guessing right! (Actually, I guess Elissa was the closest, so good work Elissa!)

I made a car playmat for Helen (who else??), who will be turning 3 this week! I have to say, this is one of the coolest things I have ever made! (Helen doesn't read my blog, so she'll still be surprised by this on her birthday!!)

here is a stitched together view of the playmat! It's a bit wonky, but you get the idea!

Here's how I went about this project of mine!

First, I had seen on another blog two different painted rugs/mats. So that was sort of the inspiration behind this project. Also, Helen was about to have a birthday, so she needed a gift, and I have always made her something (so far...I need to lower the bar because I just can't keep up this pace for all the little children that are going to be in our family. And Dan is one of 5 kids, so you know that there will be a lot of little children eventually!!). So thanks for the idea and the how-to Sarah's blog!

You guys already saw my supplies:

- a piece of canvas (I just got half a meter from the fabric store)

- primer (had about 1/2 of that gallon left)

- exterior latex paint (you probably don't need exterior paint, but I happened to have leftover in green)

- acrylic paint (had a bunch, but also picked some up at the dollar store)

- white glue

- water-based wood sealer

- paint brushes & drop clothes

First step is to prime baby prime!

I only did one coat, and it was fine. The point is to soak it into the canvas so that your other paints don't.

Next, I painted the whole thing green (for grass!) And used chalk to layout my little town. I just did basic stuff with chalk - roads and a river.

Then I painted again! I used regular acrylic craft paint mixed with a bit of white glue. I was just following suggestions from the above mentioned blog, and also an e-how article on painting a canvas rug, and both recommended mixing the paint with glue to give it a bit more elasticity. Toward the end though I just used paint and I think it'll be ok. (Also, check out my completed screen porch in this pic! I did finish that project and it's fantastic! Come over anytime for drinks on the porch - bug free since July!)

After I had my basic layout, I started adding buildings and other details!

Here are some close up shots of the buildings.

I just realized that I didn't take a picture of the courthouse, or the school. Whoops! Oh well,you get the idea. For my buildings, I did collect some clip art pictures off of he internet just to get ideas for different building shapes, but some of them I just made up. I added parking lots, driveways and trees & shrubs as I went. I also tried to include stuff that Helen knows about (school, gas station, church, pizza place, pool, farm, river etc).

When it was all painted and looked how I wanted it to, I sealed it with three coats of water based sealer. I used Varathane brand Outdoor Diamond Wood Finish in a satin finish. The canvas was pretty rough before I sealed it - this really helped to smooth it out, and I hope it'll make this thing durable enough for years of play (after the sheer amount of time that went into this project, I have deemed it to be a gift for all current & future Wall children!)

Lastly, after the sealer had dried and sat for a few days (mostly because that's how I roll with projects around here!) I flipped it over and hot glue the edges to the back. They were still pretty rough from all the paint, and I had used pinking shears to stop the canvas from fraying on the sides, so it was sharp. My mat is by no means a perfect rectangle (which I think you can tell from the first photo!), but that was fine, I just glued about 6" of the edge at a time to make nice edges on the front.

There you have it! Can't wait to gift this and also show the family. I'm pretty proud of it! If anyone out there ever makes one of these, please let me know because I would love to see it!

New ARt, PaRt 1

2011-08-29T14:49:00.004-07:00

It's no secret that I like art. Making it or buying it, doesn't matter to me! I just don't like bare walls! (Except for Dan) (HAHA! Weren't expecting that, were you?)

My mom & dad always had (and still have) something hanging on pretty much every wall in their house, and though their tastes have changed over the years, there is still an abundance of framed prints, posters, maps, and even some original art hanging around (I'm punny). Over the years, friends have made passing comments to me along the lines of "That's what I remember about your parent's house - there was so much art on the walls!" So I guess it's not normal for some people to hang stuff up. But it's normal for me!

When we travel, I usually like to come home with at least one thing I can frame and hang on a wall. Our front entrance gallery wall is a fine example of that - prints from London and Halifax and coasters from Berlin. (There have been some exciting developments in the front entrance department, so stay tuned!!)

Today though, is not about something awesome I brought home from an exotic locale, but about art on the cheap!!

click to biggify

Three new things to hang on my walls! (You know, open concept living is fantastic, except for the severe lack of walls! I don't have a clue where these things are gonna end up!)

1. Top Left - Pen & Ink Line drawing

I guess I started collecting pen & ink drawings a few summers ago when I bough three at a garage sale for $5. This one I found in a too-big frame at a local thrift store for two bucks. New matting & frame = awesome!

11x14 Mat (5x7 opening): ~~$8.49~~ (there were actually two mats in the pack but the smaller opening was was too small, so I opted to just use one and keep the other for something else.) so actually: $4.25
Black Plastic 11x14 frame: $9.99 for a two pack, so: $4.99
Pen & Ink Drawing: $2.00
TOTAL: $11.24 (plus tax, as usual!!)

2. Top Right - Kandinsky Print

I have had this print for years, and just found it again tucked among photo albums on our office bookshelf! I think I bought it when I went to SAIT, and had it in an IKEA frame for a very long time and even had it hanging in this house, and then when we traded that piece for a huge stretched canvas silk screen print (that we found at a thrift store for $5.00!) I guess I put it away and forgot about it until now!

Kandinsky Print (It's the Concentric Circles one): $0 (already had it)
Frame: second one from two-pack above: $4.99
TOTAL: $4.99

3. "I Love Us" print

This is by far my favorite of the three in this collection! I was browsing on Pinterest and came across a website that has this huge list of free prints. This one was probably the fifth one I randomly clicked on and it was available in 4 colours. So I clicked, and I choose this orangey-red one, and I printed it off here at home! If you want to print your own, I found mine here! (Number 19 is this particular print!)

print: $0 (although I am sure I will pay later when I try to print something in colour and can't!)
Frame: ~~$29.99~~ I got this frame at Michaels and they had a "buy one, the next one is 1 cent" promotion on pretty much all of their wall frames, so I got two for one, hence actual cost was more like: $15.00
TOTAL: $15.00

That makes these three art pieces come in at $31.23, which I think is pretty darn good!! I have some more art in the works (spray paint drying, mats need cutting etc!!) and will show you those two when they are done! Now to go figure out where to hang these puppies!

Yahtzee + Corn dogs = Just an (above) Average Monday Night!

2011-08-26T21:30:00.001-07:00

On Monday we had our second annual Kehler-Wall Corndog night! Nah, it wasn't really called that, but we did go over to Dave & Rachel's for an evening of food & fun! I think the corn dog thing started last year because Rachel had seen this recipe in a Martha Stewart mag and wanted to see if a) it actually worked, and b) if it was good! Dave & Dan & I happily played guinea pigs for that experiment, and thus, a tradition was born!

We always have fun with Dave & Rachel. The four of us (and sorry if this sounds lame!) had one of those magical evenings where the conversation was easy and we laughed often and just really enjoyed each other's company. I think we were all reminded of why we like each other so much and how great it is to have wonderful friends. I love them!

You guys are great! We hope you know how awesome we think you are!

And then, I got a Yahtzee! Wahoo! Best Monday night EVER!!

------

(And unrelated, here is a cute picture of Johnny!!)

Get on Your Bikes & Ride

2011-08-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

We haven't been up to much around here, (aside from my little painting project, of course!) just enjoying the last of the summer, lamenting that the days are getting shorter, and getting as much Vitamin D as possible before we settle into the perpetual dampness of fall & winter.

We are looking forward to some fun things to round out our summer fun in the next few weeks though.

My dad will be here for some of Labour Day weekend.

The annual weenie roast is scheduled. (Are YOU coming?) (Maybe if you don't know me in real life the answer to that question should be "No")

Looks like a (short) trip to Seattle is in the works.

Tickets booked for Toronto.

But in the meantime...

...we'll make the most of the remaining sunny days!

One Hint

2011-08-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Today when I got home from work, it felt like there was a never ending stretch of day ahead of me, but in a totally good, soak-up-every-moment, completely motivated, I-can-do-EVERYTHING, kind of way. No doubt the dollar drink days Coke and the gorgeous sunshine contributed, but still, I love that feeling!! So, the question is, what have I been doing with my afternoon? Here's one hint:

Any guesses? I'll be back to share the end result, of course, good or bad!

Now, off to get a baby for the evening!!

Camping at Coldspring

2011-08-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went camping with our lovely friends Dave & Rachel. (As we did last year, at Lightning Lakes!) This time 'round we stayed at Coldspring campground in Manning Park, and although there were pit toilets and we had to boil our water, it was sunny & warm (unlike last year!) so that more than made up for it! Dan & I took advantage of our farm benefits and took the communal camper to sleep in. Thanks farm!

our home away from home (for the weekend)

We had a great time with our friends and just did normal camping stuff: hiking and too much eating and reading and sitting around. Thankfully we could have campfires this year (again, unlike last year!) and we did some river wading and napping and all the things you are supposed to do when you go away for the weekend!

D&R, hiking, me & Dan

Similkameen River, hiking route!

So Dave & Rachel, same time (different place) next year?

The Results Are In!

2011-08-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

And I picked "C"!

The votes also favoured this fabric, although A was a close second! I went for the more gender neutral one, just because!

To make the cushion cover, I basically just made a fitted sheet, but on a smaller scale. I also added velcro straps to go around each chair leg to hold the cushion in place.

Helen approves too!

Thanks for voting everyone!!

5 years (and 6 days) ago

2011-08-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

Still so glad I said yes.

(if you so wish, you can read my original engagement post on my old blog, here!)

(Another) Somebody Cute!

2011-08-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Johnny came for a visit last night. I am completely smitten with this little boy! I love being an Auntie!

Stride!

2011-08-05T20:48:00.001-07:00

Everything this kid does makes me laugh!

Happy Weekend!

Quick Poll!

2011-08-03T22:45:00.002-07:00

I built a restaurant style high chair for my favorite little girl to use when she comes over. I painted it a bright green (Limerick Trick from Cloverdale Paint) and now need to sew a cushion cover. I ordered 4 fabric swatches from Fabric.com and need your opinion as to which one I should go with! I really like two of the options, but what do you say??

Here is the green chair, with a cushion but no cover: (please forgive the poor quality cell phone photo!)

And here are the fabric options: (I only picked laminated samples since I figure this will need to be wipe-able!)

A B C D

Summer Vacation!

2011-08-02T17:51:00.003-07:00

Today is the last of my two-week summer holiday fun time. I am trying to enjoy every moment of it, as I know that alarm clock will ring tomorrow morning WAY before I am ready to go back to work!!

The past two weeks have been pretty fantastic! First I had some days at home and did a few little projects around home (I'll show you those in another post!) and then Hill & Mike were here for a few days, and then the four of us drove to Lethbridge to spend the weekend with mom & dad. Dan had to come home and work (somebody had to!) but I stayed the rest of the week and then last Thursday all 5 of us (H&M, mom & dad & me) got in a car and drove to Manitoba for JSD 2011!

Here are some photos from the family reunion! I had a great time family, it was fun to see you all!

Little girls & sidewalk chalk

cute baby cousin & Hillary

Time for a tube ride...

with Mike!

unhinged

2011-06-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

So. That happened, and by that, I mean June 2011 Suckfest. (you all know what I am talking about I assume! If not, time to out yourself as a reader of this blog!!) I am hoping & praying that it's over, and am also hoping and praying for some sunshine, because man, my state of mind depends on it!

We still feel a little overwhelmed around here, and probably will feel that way until we can start getting our life back in order and feel a little more in control of...everything.

On top of that the sun just won't shine, and I have never felt this "down" in June before. I have diagnosed myself with SAD (jury is still out on whether or not that's true), and man, every task before me just feels gargantuan and impossible to finish, so why bother even starting? And it's summer! Sure, it's ok to be lazy and carefree in summer, but listless and just not caring? Not so much.

Well, Happy Canada Day tomorrow! Sorry this post is such a downer....the last couple weeks have just been that way!!

The Reveal!

2011-06-13T09:56:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Dan's 27th birthday. Remember when I mentioned that I had a super awesome project on the go for his birthday gift? Well, here it is!

I built him a leather & oak bench/side table!

I found basic plans for this project on Design Sponge and built it on my days off. Dan thought I bought him a line trimmer! I was scrambling around for leather to make the top, and was scouring craiglist, the rest of the internet and local shops to no avail. Then Dan's mom did a big cleanout of her sewing closet, and much to my delight, put in the giveaway pile some cutouts for a leather vest! I can only imagine who wanted a leather vest (cough Dave cough), but I think this leather looks much better as a table than as a vest!

Happy Birthday Dan!

(Also, see that chair that Dan is sitting on? I found it on craigslist, and have been thinking about painting the wood part a dark grey/charcoal colour, and replacing the lime green fabric with a red tone. I like the chair as it is, but I don't feel it really goes with the rest of our furniture. What say you?)

Trunk Full O' Plants!

2011-06-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I even got them all in the ground today!! Yay for me!

(I hope they all live...)

Report Card

2011-06-01T19:25:00.001-07:00

- We went with some friends to Loon Lake cabin on May long weekend. Games, food, movies, rain, campfire, fooseball, canoeing, puzzling (!), sleeping in...a great weekend! Thanks D&R for coming with us - we had a blast!

games & snacks!

Rachel making us lunch.

The rapture didn't happen.

Celebrating Dave's 26th birthday!!

yummy!

- I bought two new chairs off of craigslist (it's an addiction). One is a wingback that really needs some TLC...I've been perusing fabic.com to find some inspiration! Suggestions?

- Progress has been slow on the screen porch front. When it hasn't been raining, the Canucks have been playing, so my helper is preoccupied. (You'd be surprised at how time consuming it is to get a screen panel up there, measure one small part, take it down, pin it, sew it etc, then put it back up to check!) I am mostly done one side (of three), so am anticipating that the next two will go much faster, since I've now "made up" the pattern. Now we just need some sunny weather to enjoy our soon-to-be new outdoor room!

- We had the Wall fam over for a weenie roast on Sunday night. It was beautiful out, and we cooked up some tasty dogs on the fire. Helen & Johnnie were cute too! (Helen made up a new game called Steamroller. Here's how to play: Continuously ask "Unca Dan, you wanna steamroller?" and when he relents, make him lay on the grass at the top of the hill, and then push on him until he rolls down the hill. Endless ~~hours~~ minutes of fun!!)

- I can't wait to show you Dan's Secret Birthday Present!! Though I'd love to share it here now, I'll have to wait another 11 days to do so!

- Our 4th anniversary is next week. Where has the time gone?? We are thinking of doing a little overnight getaway, maybe to Harrison Hot Springs since Dan & I both have next weekend off (fingers crossed he still will next Friday).

oh look, an awkward photo of us!

- Go Canucks!!

just because she's cute!

Following Through....

2011-05-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I just need one step to be successful in order to be motivated to try the next one. More screen porch victories to come! (hopefully).

Bazinga!

2011-05-07T13:58:00.001-07:00

So. Remember when we were shopping for new couches and we LOVED this one from Urban Barn, (in a different colour) but the price tag was just too high??

And remember when we actually did buy couches?

Today Dan & I went to an Urban Barn warehouse sale, and this is the first thing we see:

Yup, a virtual SEA of our beloved couch....all maked down to only four hundred bucks each.

Boo.

(we walked away empty handed from the warehouse sale, because tempted though we were, we couldn't justify buying ANOTHER couch, even though it's awesome, since we only got our current ones in October.)

a little help from my friends....

2011-04-30T18:23:00.001-07:00

A few projects around the house, that could not have been done without Doug & Elissa!

First up, cutlery organization! We ordered this wooden cutlery tray from Lee Valley, but did not have an adequate saw to make it fit in our drawer. Remedy? Make friends with someone who owns a table saw! Thanks Doug!

Second project: "Operation: Fancy up the Mudroom." I followed directions that Elissa posted and made myself some (five!) fixed Roman shades for the windows. I ordered my fabric online from Fabric.com and whipped up these puppies in no time. (Actual time was more like two weeks from start of first blind to hanging of last blind). My dad actually helped with this project too (when he was here earlier in the month) by doing some sawing and drilling for me, so thanks Dad!

Love that green chevron!

Easter in Edmonton

2011-04-27T19:13:00.004-07:00

This past weekend I flew to Edmonton to meet up with two friends of mine from college. Christen made the journey all the way from Fort Smith NWT, and Shannon came from Winnipeg. We hadn't seen each other in YEARS (6, we decided!) and were definitely due for a get together. We had a great weekend catching up, shopping, eating, and of course reminiscing & laughing! Here's a few snapshots of our weekend!

Tickets in hand, waiting to go in to Boygroove (verdict: hilarious!)

In West Edmonton mall...

had to make a trip to Ikea!

Thanks for a fun weekend ladies! We should do it again sometime! (Hopefully before another 6 years goes by!)

Also, while in Edmonton, I spotted (and purchased) a print by Jason Blower. (I bought the Rossdale one). Love the colours and the style of his work! Just thought I would highlight his website here, and encourage you to visit it!

Timeline: Thirteen through Sixteen

2011-04-15T08:08:00.001-07:00

(Zero through Five can be found here, Six through Twelve here.)

1998, age 13: Two of my closest friends from elementary school have gone to different junior highs. One of the girls I never see or hear from again. The other girl and I will resume our friendship in high school. Heidi and I are in the same class pattern. In Language Arts, we trade book reviews to hand in, cutting the required amount of reading and homework in half. I am the only girl in Mr. Sanduski's shop class.

1999, age 14: I have found a great group of girls to hang out with. We all go to the same church and school. The 4 of us start a small group that we call SPAM - support, prayer, accountability & mentoring. I don't know where we got mentoring from. Later, 3 other girls join our group. Breaks in the choir room at school often find us trying to convert our Mormon friends. After the summer, we stop our SPAM meetings. I start working in the school canteen at lunch the following year.

2000, age 15: I finish grade 9 with a terrible haircut. That summer, I am on LITE Force at camp. This experience changes me. At the end of the summer, I am left wondering if I will ever experience community like that again. I will. In September I join the student leadership team at youth. In October I am baptized.

2001, age 16: I get braces in January. I fail my drivers test twice, both times because of unsafe left turns. That summer, I go on a mission trip to build a house in Tijuana, Mexico. Our team drives in two 15 passenger vans. At the training week in LA, a guy from another youth group eats a red ant on a dare and has to go to the emergency room. Our group is the best at doing dishes cleanup at the training facility; we all know how to operate a commercial dishwasher thanks to the summer camp we've all worked at. I find community again in the girls on the mission team. When school starts, I get a job at IGA. I am among the first of my friends to work. I love the independance that a paycheck and a license affords me.

Helenator

2011-04-13T18:13:00.003-07:00

This little pumpkin came over to lunch & play yesterday!

Love her to pieces!!

Another One Bites the Dust

2011-04-11T10:50:00.003-07:00

I have been wearing Covergirl TruBlend Whipped foundation for the last several years, and now, it's like Natural Ice all over again!

(you have no idea how long it took me to find that natural ice blog post!!)

Hockey Night In Abbotsford

2011-04-04T17:19:00.002-07:00

Dan & I scored some free tickets to the second-to-last home game of the Abbotsford Heat 2010-11 Season. Although we arrived late (maybe on purpose???), it was a lot of fun, and even I would go again!! A fun and cheap ($7 total - had to buy pop & pocorn!) night out!

Pretty good cell phone camera portairt!!

Come On In

2011-03-29T14:54:00.001-07:00

Dan & I moved into our house on Christmas Eve, 2009. I can never remember that though, because Christmas and moving can be stressfull and busy enough on their own, let alone one day apart! All that to say, our house still feels new to us! While it is truly awesome to move into a brand new house where we've been lucky enough to pick the paint colours and flooring and fixtures, decorating a new house (for me) has been a bit of a challenge, because, a new house = new stuff, right?? Wrong! Well, kind of! We did buy some new couches, and a new dining table & chairs, and an area rug and...well yes, ok, we have purchased quite a few new things for our home since moving in. But I like to think I've taken my time with those purchased (they didn't all happen in at once!), and I also like to think that we're making our way to a collected, comfortable, elegant, design scheme.

So here is our front entry (a place to make "better" on my not new year's resolutions list):

(start of) Gallery wall & Mirror

Still need/want a different rug!

Since we come through the garage into our house, I don't have to function in this space everyday, but I still want it to be functional for guests and I want it to look pretty (since I do look at it everyday). I think it's coming along!!

Go Time

2011-03-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I am struck with needing to DO stuff - clean, cook, catch up on projects, do everything all at once! It's pretty awesome - the energy just keeps coming (from I don't know where!) so I just keep on going!

In the last three days, I have:
- spray painted stacking stools for use in a later project (you'll see that, eventually!)
- done a big grocery shop
- baked Kentucky Butter Cake
- played with Helen and John (& visited with their parents)
- had company over (hi Brandon & Cayl!! You're on my blog!)
- cleaned the oven
- cut out fabric for 5 Roman Shades (you'll see those too eventually!)
- hung up photos & a mirror in our front entry
- done about 6 loads of laundry
- tried a new supper recipe
- cleaned (really cleaned, shower & all) the bathroom
- vacuumed the upstairs
- clipped waterspouts off the maple tree (truthfully Dan did this, but I was out there with him!)
- unpacked from our North American tour
- cleaned out the closet (had to make room for new clothes from Palm Springs!)
- cleaned out the pantry & kitchen

I still have a few things on my TO DO list:
- do some mending on clothes that aren't leaving my closet
- take a load to MCC
- sew & install Roman Shades
- take old paint to the place where old paint goes
- file our taxes (hello refund!)
- go price out a new kitchen sink (long story)
- put doors back on that armoir thing I bought 2 months ago and then blog about it

I have no illusions of getting this ALL done today, but I think I can make a good dent! I better not sit down for too long or else I'll loose some steam! I love productive days off, so, off I go!

Sprung!

2011-03-25T17:46:00.001-07:00

Some People* Call This a Milestone

2011-03-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

I call it driving** home from work.

*Dan.
** I was clearly stopped. And already in our driveway!

Round 2

2011-03-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

I remembered the sugar :)

A tip from me to you

2011-03-08T07:58:00.002-08:00

When making farmer brownie, do not forget to add sugar - all 2 cups of it.

(luckily, I have enough time & ingredients to go for round 2...hopefully I don't mess it up again!)

New Places on Sunday Night

2011-02-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

Well, not much has been going on around here lately, although I do have a little project in the works that's going to go up on my Ugly to Awesome blog (hopefully) in the next few days!! Did I tell you about this little side project I've started? I don't think I did, unless it was in person!

After I fixed up my chair, I thought it would be great to have a place to show off my projects, and really anyone else's projects too! You may have already clicked over there, but if not, there is a link over there on the right called (you guessed it!) Ugly to Awesome! The posting has been sorely lacking at that sight as of late (but I think that's mostly because a) I am lazy, and b) I have to finish some projects first so I can share them! and, c) nobody else knows about that blog!) So there you have it. If you've got something to show off, let me know! (Just as a disclaimer, I am well aware that there are many blogs & websites that do this sort of thing already, and probably do it better than I do, but that's ok, because this is for us regular people who take about 3 weeks to get around to actually completing projects!! Ha!)

Now to tell you about a great recipe that I think you will like! I made it tonight (which is amazing, since it's Sunday and I don't usually make food on Sunday) and it was easy and delicious! From the current (March) issue of Canadian Living, Cosy Chicken & Rice Soup! You won't regret that click!

John William

2011-01-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

He's here! John William was born January 22, 2011, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. It goes without saying that the whole family is in love with him!

Johnny Bill

Fresh laundry straight from the dryer!

I love being an Auntie!!!

Helen big sistering John

Goofball!

New Things

2011-01-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

I have a few new and exciting things to tell you about!

The first (and least exciting of the bunch) is that I have started wearing Jeggings. While in Palm Springs in November, I bought some great boots and also bought some skinny jeans (which for $25 I thought I couldn't go wrong). But I was wrong. Though the jeans looked good, they were SO uncomfortable; the waistband was stiff and near the button cut into my stomach. Not good. Cut to this past Thursday night where on a whim I decided to ask about some skinny pants in the store I was in. What I discovered were The Original Comfort Legging from Reitmans. They are so great - comfortable and soft and awesome! I highly recommend!

Next, (and better!!) Dan & I have a new nephew as of yesterday afternoon!! Helen was with me all day (I had a blast...she kept asking where her mommy was). We played of course, and even went to the mall to buy a present for the new baby. Last night we met our new family member - he's very cute and small (so, a baby), and is healthy. Helen kept pointing to him and saying "Want to hold that." I think she likes him!
We are thrilled for M&K and can't wait to get to know this little guy! Yay for babies!! (photos to come sometime, I am sure!)

Ugly to Awesome

2011-01-11T16:18:00.002-08:00

Last spring, I was clicking around on craigslist and found this great retro looking chair, for only $20!! And, even better, it was in Abbotsford! Well, since I picked it up all those months ago, it's been sitting near our front entry as-is. As in ugly. I had found some very subtle grey & green fabric a few months after that, and had it slung over the back of this sucker for the last 6 or 8 months. Later in the summer, I discovered Tonic Living and ordered some great swatches. Not really knowing what I would do with the fabric, I ordered a couple meters of two patterns I just could not resist!

It only dawned on me this past weekend that one of those fabrics would look great on this chair, much better than my original choice!

Original ugly but cool chair!

Happy newly covered chair!

This 'new' addition is my first step in making our front entry better. (As vaugely described on the list over there on the left). Still to come: mirror, new rug, and a few accessories to pretty it all up!

Somebody Cute

2011-01-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

I just can't get enough of this kid!

A New Family Tradition??

2010-12-28T11:15:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, for the first time ever, our family of 6 went....BOWLING!!

Artsy shot by Michael

Check out those scores!! (Not good)

Hillary showing off her skills!

We have also been enjoying boy-girl dominos as our evening game. Last night the girls finally won!

Christmas, so far

2010-12-25T12:13:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas all! So far today: breakfast, presents opened, second breakfast, now play and visit and enjoy. And now some photos from December for your viewing pleasure (must take advantage of free wi-fi at mom & dad's place!!):

Unca Dan & Helen

Cat-Nap-Sack I made for Helen for Christmas!

H&M on Christmas Eve

Shrimp flambe!

love

2010-12-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

It doesn't feel too long ago that we put up our Christmas tree (now significantly drier, and with fewer needles!) and had a Christmas party (fun people, good food!) and now suddenly it's the December 19, with only 6 more days (5.5, really) until Christmas!

I don't have too much to say today...just that we have been busy with December happenings, and are excited to celebrate Christmas with our families later this week! Can't wait to see you guys! (Wall family, I will see you on Tuesday at the company party, and then again on Thursday for Christmas, but I am still excited for both of those things!)

Problem Solved: How to Water a Christmas Tree (also, check out our new couches!)

2010-11-29T14:05:00.001-08:00

Tis the season for Christmas decorating! Dan & I ventured out to Dogwood Christmas Tree Farm on Saturday to pick out this year's tree. Since Saturday was the opening day of Christmas tree hunting season, we were pleasantly shocked to see only a few other vehicles parked at the gates. When the man handed us the bucksaw to cut our own, we confidently told him "We won't be needing that!" and wandered about 10 feet over to the pre-cut trees. We figure, why do the work that is already done for you? After about 5 minutes of looking around, we picked out our 7' Douglas Fir, paid for it and loaded it onto the hay truck that we borrowed for this adventure! (Admittedly, we didn't need a whole hay truck...we did get some strange looks from passersby while we placed a 7' Christmas tree on a 15' long flatbed truck!)
Here it is nicely decorated! It smells great too!

Also, a while ago we bought some new couches, as you can see from the above photo. We are quite happy with our olive green sofa and chair and a half!

Back to the Christmas tree:

Every year I struggle with watering the dead-but-still-green tree. My usual way was to just use a pitcher from the kitchen and clean up the inevitable spills and falling needles as I wormed my way under the tree to get to the tree stand. This year I had a moment of brilliance that would alleviate the mess, and the crawling.

Behold, our newest Christmas tree ornament:

This simplest of all kitchen tools, the funnel, is shoved into a piece of plastic hose that we found at the farm, which runs down the tree trunk, right into the tree stand!

Brilliant! I am quite proud of my idea! Feel free to steal it. All you need is a funnel, some plastic hose and a twist tie (to secure the top of the contraption to a nearby branch). Dan tested it all out and it works great. Can't wait until it's my turn to water the tree!

Time for an Update!

2010-11-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

Just thought I should stop in the old blog and say something!

November has been whipping by. Us Wall girls had our annual shopping trip to Palm Springs, which was delightful, warm, lazy, spendy, and overall a great time! I came home with all kinds of new work clothes, two pairs of boots, a pair of flats and even some Christmas surprises for Dan (shh, don't tell him)! We also enjoyed some great food and of course were kept entertained by Helen every moment of the day.

Our weather has been news worthy as of late, as in, it's been snowing! I took a snow day from work today, and it's been snowing all day. We probably have about 10 cm's out there! I even shovelled my sidewalk Dad! Without a snow shovel! Rain is supposed to overtake, and it's supposed to warm up, but if it's bad to drive tomorrow I may very well be taking another snow day. I am so thankful that I have a job that is flexible for me, and that Dan can always go to his work (although he may not want to, I suppose, on days like this!)

I haven't done any Christmas decorating yet, but I have been preparing to do so - hopefully this weekend! The tree farm down the road opens on Saturday, so we plan on joining in the hoardes of people that will be there and getting our tree with the rest of them. I've also found some Christmas decoration treasures at 10,000 Villages - a tree skirt and some red garlands. Dan & I are having a Christmas party the following weekend, so we're trying to prepare for that in bite sized pieces and not all at once!

Well, that wraps it up for now. Bye!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

We just had to dress up for our little trick-or-treater!

Two Oceans, One Week

2010-10-19T10:54:00.002-07:00

The last few weeks around here have been both delightfully full of family and friends, and somewhat crazy with activity! It all started when my lovely friend Becky come to Vancouver. I met her and her cousin Laura downtown and we had a great day playing tourist!

We rented some awesome pink bikes and rode around Stanley Park, went to the Olympic Cauldron where we were interviewed for Global News, got some lunch, walked around Gastown and then up Granville. It was a beautiful day and I was so happy I got to see my friend!

I also touched the ocean, because the following week I would be looking at Atlantic salt water...more to come on that!

Dan also had a weekend off in there somewhere, so on another beautiful day, we decided to go to White Rock for lunch. Our original plan was to go to the states, but after hearing border line ups were about 2 hours, we opted for somewhere a little closer to home! So off it was to Uli's for lunch - we had crab cakes and baked brie....mmm, SO yummy!!

Later that afternoon, our friends Evan & Jen invited us to go on a corn maze adventure with them. Here's Dan telling us all where we should be going! (Actually, he's explaining something about dairy farming I think).

Can't have a blog post without a photo of Helen....

Now off to Halifax! I flew to Toronto first and spent a day with Hillary & Mike before us girls and Nikki took off to Josh & Leah's place. Despite having only one full day with H&M, we did manage to get in a shopping trip to Eaton's centre, some baking (a delicious pumpkin cheesecake!) and going out to eat twice!

After a Thursday that I am sure we would all like to forget spent in airports and planes, Hill, Nic & I were finally in the maritimes and ready to play and have fun with Josh & Leah. We had a great time together enjoying some sightseeing, eating delicious food, and freezing on the rocky coastline of Nova Scotia. I tried to touch the Atlantic ocean as well, but there just wasn't a good place to try to attempt it!

Theodore!

Waiting for our "truck boat" tour to start!

Peggy's Cove

Lobster supper at Hubbards!

Now cooking Thankgiving at Leah's

Josh made a pie!

I came home from Halifax (12 hours of travelling from Leah's door to mine) to an equally busy week. I started a new job on Wednesday at Nova Kitchens. (It's going good so far!) Then among Wall family get togethers and Thanksgiving celebrations, our house was used to host a rehearsal dinner for friends Jenn & Eddie (Jenn was one of my Briercrest roommates!) on Friday night. Saturday night was the wedding! Congrats guys!

I wonder if the next three weeks will be as fun filled as the last three??? I kind of hope so!

(All the Halifax photos can be found here!)

Weekend Plans?

2010-09-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something to do this weekend (and live in the Fraser Valley), here are two options:

1. Come to the Mt. Lehman Fall Fair. And more importantly, come and say hello to me at my craft sale table! Rachel & I will be there selling our wares. We'd love to see you! (And we would like you even more if you bought something....preferably from one of us!!) The fair is free and has entertainment, kids activities and more.

2. Before I knew that I would be at a craft sale on Saturday, Dan & I had planned to try to attend EAT! Fraser Valley. It's at the Tradex and is on all weekend!

Crafty

2010-09-09T20:15:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share what I made for Helen's 2nd Birthday. Felt play food groceries: mik, eggs, cheese, bread & fish, complete with reusable grocery bag and a reversable apron. (I found the pattern for the groceries in this Etsy shop). I'm pleased to report that Helen loved it!

Lightning Lakes is as Adventurous as it Sounds!

2010-09-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago we found ourselves camping with good friends Dave & Rachel at Manning Park. I guess I shouldn't say we "found ourselves camping" we actually planned it way ahead of time and Dan booked the sight and we bought food and brought beds and warm clothes! So it was preconceived! Anyway, we had a great time (for camping) and enjoyed our weekend at Lightning Lakes Campground even though it rained on Saturday night and Sunday morning. (That's when we left for McDonalds breakfast in Hope...a good call I think!) Here are the only photos I took, but they sum up what we did, which was: sit around and read, eat & drink & enjoy ourselves! Oh! We also went canoeing on Lightning Lake, but I don't have any hard evidence of that!

Our mini tent

Dan drinking his 'home brew'

Dave & Dan reading

Steak supper!

Meal Plan Monday

2010-08-30T08:46:00.002-07:00

For supper this week:

Monday: Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry w/ rice

Tuesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches & coleslaw

Wednesday: White Turkey Chili

Thursday: Sausage
Friday: TBA

Saturday: Pizza

Getaway & Garden Party

2010-08-09T11:46:00.005-07:00

Well it's been sort of busy around here - but I don't know with what! Just life I guess! Dan & I went to Lethbridge on August long weekend, which was fun and relaxing and we were both very glad Dan was able to get away from work at this time of year. We didn't do too much in Lethbridge - mostly just ate and were around, but we did go to Waterton and ate food there too, and saw 3 bears!

Supper on the porch!

Cameron Lake at Waterton

Also, you may recall the Garden Party me and two other girls had a while back. It was moderately successful and we had a fun afternoon together. We are trying to find out more information about the Mt. Lehman Fall Fair and might share a table there too....that idea is pretty undeveloped though, but I'll post it here if we are going to be there!

If anyone is interested in any of my products - handmade fabric banners, coasters, tote/diaper bags, 4" blocks, bibs or ISpy bags, please let me know! (I have some surplus!) I'd love to show you what I have, or make something just for you!

(More photos of our sale over at Rachel's Blog!)

I love my niece!!

2010-06-18T21:40:00.002-07:00

Helen & I have a playdate about once a week. Today I took her to a playground (with a slide – as per the little one’s request). She loved every minute of it! Helen took off running and played hard for probably 30 minutes or so. Climbing up the slides, sliding down, run across the bridge, play with the steering wheel, down a bigger slide, over to the swings, back to the tunnel slide to climb up and through. What a kid. At one point she patted another little girl on the head (who was probably the same age) and said “Nice baby.” She loved watching the big kids play and fearlessly did (or tried to do) what they did on the playground. It’s been so neat and wonderful to see her grow and learn so much. It’s hard to believe she has only been in our lives for 22 months.

Helen last June....

Helen this past April...

Garden Party

2010-06-18T19:23:00.004-07:00

I know posting has been light here for a LOOOONNNNNG time, but I wanted to inform anyone who reads this site about a Garden Party Clothing & Accessories Sale that Rachel Kehler, Jessica Heward and I are hosting/putting together.

We three are textile and crafting/creating lovers and want to share our stuff with the world! The Garden Party will be in Rachel's Garden, on Thursday, July 22, from 3:30pm to around 10:30pm (or until we are tired and no more people are there!). Click here or contact me for more details! Please spread the word to anyone you may know in the Abbotsford area!

Europe Adventure 2010

2010-04-14T05:50:00.005-07:00

Dan & I arrived home Monday night from a 2 week vacation in Europe. We went to Berlin, London & Barcelona and had so much fun!

Here is some of what we did & saw (for posterity!):

BERLIN
-Bike Tour
-Checkpoint Charlie
-Berlin Wall section
-DDR Museum
-Memorial to the Murdered Jews of the Holocaust
-Reichstag
-The Story of Berlin
-got lost in the in an unpopulated area late at night in the rain
-Berlin Dom
-Market at Alexanderplatz
-KaDeWe department store
-Oranienburg & Sachenhousen Concentration Camp
-Brandenburg Gate
-Potsdammer Platz

LONDON
-Bike Tour
-Buckingham Palace & The Changing of the Guard
-Kensington Palace
-The Museum of London
-St. Paul's Cathedral & The Whispering Dome
-Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour
-The British Museum
-Ghost Walk
-Les Miserables on the London Stage
-Trafalgar Square
-The Tube!
-Picadilly Circus
-Oxford Street
-The National Gallery
-Breakfast in Regents Park
-Princess Dianna Memorial Fountain
-Westminster Abbey & The Houses of Parliament

BARCELONA
-Bike Tour
-Spanish steps where Columbus told the King & Queen about the new world
-Antoni Guadi walking tour
-Sagrada Familia
-Park Guell
-La Rambla & the market
-sunshine at the beach

I think there is probably more to say, and definitely there are stories to go with the list above, but I just wanted to write down what we did so I don't forget!

Dan's New Toy

2010-03-18T08:53:00.007-07:00

Last night Dan spent his Christmas money! He found a great deal on a Saeco Giro Automatic Espresso Maker at Sears of all places. Around 10 pm was the first cup of coffee, and he says it was delicious!

Oooh! Look how fancy!

Prime the water circuit

Here goes the first try

Coffee!

Vancouver 2010 Adventure!!

2010-02-20T19:49:00.006-08:00

Today Dan & I went into Vancouver to take in the olympic atmosphere. We won gold in walking & standing endurance! Also for buying the world's most expensive Coke - $4.00!

Crowds on Granville Street

Us holding a torch in front of a bobsled in a jewellery store

Olympic Cauldron!

Fence blocking cauldron

Molson Hockey House Entrance (cheapest ticket: $99)

WINTER olympic crowd on the sea wall (Sochi House is the big dome)

Inukshuks on the shore

Check this out

2010-02-11T09:05:00.002-08:00

I don't know if you know, but my brother in law Steve is a cartoonist AND a farmer, and he has a blog showing his comics. His comic strip is called Trees of the Field and - you guessed it - they are (very funny) Bible comics.

Here is the link! Check it out!

look over there ---->

2010-01-28T11:32:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to point out that I've updated the links list on the right and now there is a photo album you can look at that shows all our old furniture in our new house. (Julie, no photo of the spice cupboard yet, but it's on the to-do list!)

items of no importance (to you)

2009-10-21T15:17:00.002-07:00

Well, I know it's been a LONG while since the last post on this here blog, but I have some news to post, so why not!!

1. I just saw Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek, and Charlie from Mighty Ducks 1, 2 & 3) in Fort Langley! I was driving through and there he was, standing in front of a camera, probably doing his job. This is my first celebrity sighting ever!

2. Probably of more significance, I passed my LEED test! I took it on Monday after studying for what felt like eons. I am glad that is off my plate and now I can do more important things making muffins and doing crafts. (For those who don't know - LEED is a sustainable/green building rating system. I did it mainly to see if I could, for one, and also people who hire other people in my field like to see those letters behind a name....)

3. The house is going good. Drywalling is apparently happening - we haven't been over there since Thanksgiving weekend. I am trying to decide what colours the inside should be painted. Haven't a clue, fyi.

4. We are off to Seattle next weekend (uh, I think) for a little fun time of walking around and looking around. Planning on doing this with our friends Dave & Rachel for a while, so we are all hoping that next Friday is departure day!

Happy Wednesday!

an update elsewhere

2009-08-26T21:02:00.003-07:00

A few things:

-snapshots from our summer can be found here

-new photos in the house album

-Helen photos here

-trip to ontario photos here

Enjoy!

hot hot heat

2009-07-30T18:07:00.002-07:00

The Bad: Yes, that says that it's 43 degrees Celsius. This was, of course, taken after my car had sat in the sun for about an hour.

The Good:

My office has air conditioning.
Sometimes my husband brings me DQ Blizzards at work.