Giveaway!

I had intended to celebrate a blogiversary at my one year mark which was also around the 100th post. But I got busy....and was a slacker! Now I am too impatient to wait for the 150th post, so I will be random and just go for it. I was lucky enough to win a gift certificate awhile back for an etsy shop that carries japanese fabric. So today I combined my love of japanese fabric, sewing, photography, blogging and soon to be giving!

Don't these little piggies put a smile on your face?

How about these adorable coffee cups?

Here is the finished product! A coffee cozy and a purse tissue holder.

So for many it's back to school or homeschooling as my Sister does with 5 hooligans. You can impress your barrista with your new stylin' and eco friendly cozy while getting your java, hot cocoa or tea on!

I'm sure there will be lots of noses needing wiped in the near future! Mostly I just want to put a smile on your face and spread some happiness. So here's the deal just leave me a comment. If you don't have a blog be sure to include your e-mail so I can contact you to send the prize. I will end this Wed. 9/2/09 at noon EDT. That way I can get it in the mail by the end of the week. By the way do you remember your kindergarten teacher's name? Mine was Ms. Schneider!

Peggy's Cove

We got the chance to go see Peggy's Cove and lighthouse while in Nova Scotia and I have to admit it was one of my favorite destinations. The beautiful quaint fishing villages just took my breath away. I had alot of fun with the camera just capturing beautiful scenery!

We interrupt this scenic view to bring you some necessary rock throwing. A very important past time if you are four years old!

Okay, my heart was mush when I saw the two of them together and I am so glad this moment was caught on film!

Now back to the scenery.

This gal playing the bagpipes had a sign on her case for donations it said "College or Bust"!

It was neat to hear the bagpipes while taking in the views.

It's hard to believe that we took this trip just 3 weeks ago. In some ways it feels longer. I cannot wait to go back. Of all the places we've traveled I absolutley loved being here and could picture myself living by the sea. Maybe not in the winter though! We plan to go back and see PEI and Newfoundland someday.

Public Gardens, Halifax

Public Gardens in Halifax is a beautiful Victorian Garden that is tranquil and refreshing. I took more pictures than this but am sharing some that I like.

One of my girlfriends here has a series of flower close ups she took at Public Gardens framed in black mat and gold gel pen under the phots marking the date and location. It is framed in her formal dining space. I'm so borrowing the idea for a beautiful decoration and nice memory of someplace lovely we've been!

Historic Nova Scotia

Sorry to have been MIA but I have been the little hamster running round the wheel and the faster I run the less I get done... could have something to do with two tiny people who keep me hopping. One of which gave herself her own spa treatment this evening. She opened a jar of vaseline and gave herself a hand and foot massage, oh and the jar got a massage too! I should have laughed and got the camera but was in too big of a hurry to stop the mess and clean her up. Thankfully her brother reported it in time before it got any messier. The last couple days I have been trying to clean and not just clean but deep clean, yuck! However with little ones I go 1 step forward and 2 steps back it seems.

Disclaimer: More of "What I did on my Summer Vacation." This is a potentially boring read but for the sake of my record keeping here it is.

We did alot of history related site seeing while in Nova Scotia and we got to go to Fortress of Louisborg the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America.

The Fortress was built to protect France's interest in the New World.

The weather was drizzly and added to the realism of the experience.

One last parting shot from the Fortress. I'll add that they have a tavern there you can dine at. We bought bread from the bakery which you can tour and see how it was made in the 18th century. We bought a small serving for a toonie. You could buy upper class which was all white, middle class was 50/50 white and wheat and soldier's ration was all wheat. We let Master choose and he selected all white. Guess we would have been upper class!

In Halifax we did a tour at Alexander Keith's Brewery. They do some re-enacting and it was neat to see the history of how the brewery came to be. Did you know that they paid the soldiers with a gallon of beer as their daily wage? Everyone had to be pretty tipsy! Young Master is raising his glass of lemonade high!

Also in Halifax we did a Harbour Hopper tour on land and water. It was a good way to get around and see everything and learn about the city.

View from Citadel Hill in Halifax.

We also visited the Titanic grave site since it was nearby in Halifax. When the kids get older and start learning about history it will be neat to show them these photos.

Give and Receive!

For all you sewing crafty types who would like to participate in a sewing/fabric swap head over to My Mama Made It and enter. There is a US or an International option. Personally I'm thinking of cute vintage fabric or kawaii... sighing dreamily. Heck I have way too much of my own fabric but this sounds like such a fun idea and I just love getting fun stuff in the mail. It's way better than junk mail or bills! And the best part about this giveaway is that everyone wins by participating. Deadline is the 24th. I just happened to stumble into this...I was looking on another crafty blog and she had a linky. Wowee her sewing refashions are amazing, I'll be going back to get more ideas!

Refashion

It rained really hard here this evening... but we got a lovely rainbow afterwards!

I still intend to post about more of Nova Scotia, maybe tomorrow....
But last night I found some energy to sew and decided to try my hand at refashioning some boring tops from old navy that I've had for four years. Guess I am more in the mood to write about this today so here goes.

So here you see the tools I used my cutting mat, ruler and my rotary cutter. All I did was use another top with 3/4 length sleeves as a guide. I left a little more length for my seam though.

I don't own a serger and wasn't sure about stitching on the knit so I made a zig zag stitch to keep the fabric from fraying then folded over and pinned down and started stitching.

I put two rows of seams to give it a more polished finish. I have three shirts like this and started with the brown it was my least favorite color and would have been the guinea pig but alas no brown thread. So black it was. I probably really need a serger but overall the end result ain't too shabby for zero loonies, Eh? I am considering actually redoing the side seam to make it more tapered or adding a ruffle at the sleeve base with the leftover fabric. But was kinda thrilled at the prospect of being able to modify clothing and for now am just sharing how it went!

Yikes disregard the clutter and the model without make-up on! And Mom, if you made it all the way through this post there is a new video on the video bar, Hugs and Grins!

Help!

Help, I'm being held hostage by two tiny terrorists. Their demands are raisin boxes, goldfish crackers, juice boxes and "Mommy, pay attention to me!" Which leaves little time to keep up on blogging what we are up to! I still have more of Nova Scotia I want to write about and last weekend we made it to the St. Lawrence Farmers Market downtown, it was fabulous... must share with you.

But for now a stinky diaper awaits followed by another demand for the park, for the second time today! Hope I can get back on track and find some time to get my thoughts and experiences journaled. Some day my hope is I can make a book with blurb.com (Oh, and if I ever win the lottery.... fat chance since I don't ever play.... I would like totally do a giveaway for this!)

You've come a long way baby!

Here is my Momma on the left. Don't you think Stuntwoman looks like her Grandma? Well today I want to wish my Mommy a very Happy 83rd Birthday!

I love this picture of you as a young adult. I think I see some of me in your face here!

So here goes my best attempt to say "Thanks Mom for all you are and do"! Thanks for sharing your womb with my siblings and me...especially since you were 45 when you had me! Mom, from you I learned about Love, serving and compassion. I love that you hosted an orphan Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve inviting those who were away from or without family into our house at the holidays. I think this is where my love of hostessing stems from.

~

I'm getting all emotional as I write this as it is hard to convey all my Love and admiration for you. I am so glad we get to talk on the phone every day even though we are miles apart. I wish we could be there to sing you Happy Birthday off key and celebrate! I am glad you get to go on your annual Birthday Motorcycle ride with your first born on his Goldwing. Please take pictures!

~

Thanks Mom for teaching me how to cook from scratch, sew, be artistic and crafty, to see the good in others and to have a can do attitude. After I became a Mother and learned what a rough bumpy ride it can be I remember calling you and my Mother in law and Thanking you both for keeping your offspring alive! Seriously it is tough thankless work, feeding, changing and developing little people and keeping them safe to boot. Thanks for your encouragement and stories of some of the less than perfect things you did as a young Mom... it helps me feel a little better about my shortcomings. And Thanks for not judging me when I shared my shortcomings with you!

~

Oh and the grief I put you through in my teenage years, "I'm Sorry!" I wish I could have behaved better. I am sure my children will give me my fair share of the Black Curse! For anyone else reading who has never heard this the Black Curse according to my Mother is to have children just like you, and the Black Black Curse is that you will turn into your Parents. Well the latter ain't such a bad thing. I hope someday to embody all your Grace, kindness, goodness, compassion and wisdom. Thanks for loving me unconditionally and being so supportive and a good listener. I love you so very much and hope you have had a wonderful day!

Sending you lots of Love and Hugs and kisses!

I Feel Pretty!

Today I was feeling kinda ho hum. But we went to the library, had a picnic and park time. The weather had other plans and was raining on my parade. I got home and discovered my necklace I won from Lemonade Makin' Mama was in the mail!

This is not a great shot but the best I can do with my automatic timer, me myself and I! Anyhoo it's all Sugar, Spice's fault for the Sound of Music theme going on in my head today and the title of this post. Have a great day all! Oh and I was just about to publish this when my daughter tried to grab my new necklace and said "I want bling bling!"

Bizzare Nova Scotia

While driving to Cape Breton this caught Hubby's eye and he actually went back to photograph it. I questioned his decision and he said "Come on, we're here and so is this. When you look back years from now at your pictures you can remember you saw this." Still I can't help but wonder who would put a yard full of the Simpsons up??? Dearest Hubby commented on how the yard really looks like the cartoon and then he said, "I bet you'll blog about it!" I said, "Nah." Guess he was right!

At another stop we found this display of statue mannequins thingys. What else do you call them? Bizzare!

The kids loved running around and stretching their legs and checking it all out.

Ring around the rosy! They all had names too. It was surreal.....

Here is a lovely parting shot from our venture off the beaten path and I hope it puts a smile on your face!!!

Blog Buddies!

I was given an award from Jana over at Sugar Spice for being a loyal vistor. Honestly Jana that was so sweet and unexpected and you have been visiting me just as much and leaving such nice comments. So I am to pay it forward and would have to give the award right back to you and another one of your recipients Sasha at Lemonade Makin Mama! Here are two more for the list Expatriate Buckeyes she's family...she has to leave comments! Also check out her Eternal Helpmates blog as well. Last but not least my dear friend who I miss at Trinity Tales.

Whale Watching

Another attempt at a family photo spoiled by sun and uncooperative toddlers!

We got the chance to go whale watching and it was awesome!

We got to see pilot whales which are smaller and in the dolphin family with a similar appearance to dolphins.

I was leery of the boat ride for 2 hours with 2 toddlers given our last train ride but this went very smoothly in comparison. Here is Stuntwoman with the main tour person hanging out having a soul sisterly bonding whale watching moment. The tour guide was so sweet and intentional and took the kids several times to walk around and look for the whales. She wanted to make sure I got to see them too.

This was probably the best shot dear hubby got all in all. He was manning the camera and video while I was manning the kids. A couple times he was in a different area and I wished so badly I had the camera because I could see the whales from my vantage point.

The kids really loved seeing the whales and it was a great experience for sure. I would highly recommend it if you ever get the chance!