FOR TODAY

Outside my window...warm temperatures, darkness, wind blowing...
I am thinking...that I should go to sleep.  that today was such a rollercoaster day with some lows but several highs - and despite a lack of sleep, we all got through the day.
I am thankful...for wonderful friends who support each other, children who make me proud - and make me laugh!  Good health for us all.

In the kitchen...today we made jacket potatoes and cheese salad for dinner.  Susie has been baking cookies, Abigail made a cheesecake and a chocolate cake.

I am wearing...my black/ polkadot nighty

I am creating...two art pieces to be auctioned off for YESS.  

I am going...to Whyte Ave to shop for vintage clothing - with a Meerkat :)

I am wondering...what tomorrow will bring.

I am hoping...for some good news tomorrow.

I am looking forward to...date night with S on Wednesday :)

I am learning...to switch off.

Around the house...getting all decorated up for Valentines Day :)  

I am pondering...this poem:

How to Make a Beautiful Life"

Love yourself.
Make peace with who you are
And where you areAt this moment in time.
Listen to your heart.
If you can’t hear what it’s saying
In this noisy world,
Make time for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let you mind wander among the stars.
Try.
Take chances.
Make mistakes.
Life can be messy
And confusing at times,
But it’s also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
Might be a stepping stone.
Be happy.
When you don’t have what you want,
Want what you have.
Make do
That’s a well-kept secret of contentment.
There aren’t any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to make your own way.
To know where you are going
Is only part of it.
You need to know where you’ve been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don’t worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.
Life isn’t days and years.
It’s what you do with time
And with all the goodness and grace
That’s inside you.
Make a Beautiful life…
The kind of life you deserve.

~Unknown

A favorite quote for today...   'It's because of people like you that we have a middle finger'
One of my favorite things...the photo album folder on my phone - filled with my favourite pictures from the last two years or so :)  

A few plans for the rest of the week:  babysitting a little cutie, get together at friends, dinner date with S, swimming, Shania staying over, pub quiz, Whyte Ave, birthday party.....

A peek into my life...the kind of text I get from friends:

Log cabin in the snow :)

Abigail made this little 'log cabin' for her doll, and as the weather was warm yesterday she put it on the deck and sat her doll in a cozy sleeping bag with hot chocolate :)  

I think she did a great job - she did this all by herself yet again :)  

Painting chairs :)

I am currently working on a project that will hopefully benefit  YESS - Along with several other Edmonton artists, I am painting two chairs that will be auctioned off in March with funds going to YESS.  The chairs are little Adirondack style chairs.  I am doing both of mine in quite different styles to each other, but I'm really enjoying this project!!

I gave one a pale blue/ grey wash.....

I will add more pictures as I work on them :)  

A walk in the park

Snapshots from a walk around the lake with Rosie yesterday:

arts and crafts time.....

decorations and art on a Valentines theme, and another face as part of the 29 Faces challenge :)

The Flying Canoes/ City of Light festival!!

Last night we went to the Flying Canoes Adventure Walk and City of Lights in Old Strathcona.

This Winter Festival is my new favourite I think!  It was fabulous!  We were there before 6pm and didn't leave until 9pm - but the time flew by!  

The woodland trails and paths in Mill Creek ravine were filled with lamps and lanterns, as well as people dressed up in flying canoes or wolf costumes.  They were re-enacting an old French and Native folk tale.  There was a Metis camp with bannock to make, French live music and storytelling.

Then we walked on through the woods and had a sleigh ride to La Cite Francophone where there was a big snow slide and free hot chocolate...more fire pits and a big snow table and benches, sofas, armchairs etc...

Then a sleigh ride back to the park before walking through the ravine to the parking lot!

It was a gorgeous warm evening at +2c and the lights and atmosphere were incredible :)  

can't wait to go next year!!!

Some of the lanterns threw pretty mosaic style lights all over the snow on the trails:

The sleigh ride to the Cite Francophone was VERY bumpy, so although I tried to get a great picture of K and her two boys, it was a bit of a blur:

Such pretty lanterns:

Pretty trees around the snow slide:

Two wolves coming after Abby: 

The lights in the snow were beautiful:

Deep in conversation:

Sam found a lump of snow shaped like a heart and gave it to me - he wanted a picture with it:

Making bannock:

Lovely French music while we made bannock 

People in their flying canoes in searching for the City of Light:

Lanterns made from hockey sticks:  

I love this city and how amazing it is - such a great place to live <3 p="">

a few random shots from Friday at Fort Edmonton

29 Faces in February...

I am again taking part in the 29 Faces in February challenge...here are a few of the faces I have done so far - I am not doing one a day but on quieter days I will do a few - because I know there will be some days this month when I don't have a chance to do even one!

This is the third or fourth time I have taken part in this challenge 

and I really enjoy it every time!

Friday Fill-ins...

And...here we go!

1. Sniff, sniff...what is this? a cold?  NO NOOOO I will not let it be! 

2. hockey sports fan, I am not.

3. What in the world is she doing - or rather NOT doing? 

4. I never seem to get any peace and quiet but I really don't mind - they are little for such a short time. 

5. One of my dreams is to have another child. 

6. Quiet days at home are so few. 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to changing my plans and now relaxing and watching a movie, tomorrow my plans include going to the City of Light festival and to YESS to pick up my chairs and Sunday, I want to spend the day with a cute little one year old and hopefully go and watch the fire and Ice closing ceremony with Meerkat!

Bobble toes....

We came home this afternoon and had just enough time before the school run to shovel the driveway and back deck.  Rosie spent a while outside playing and ended up looking like this - Abby and I washed her down with warm water to melt the snow and ice lumps and she warmed up inside.  Poor girl - she could barely walk :(  

The Nature Centre...

After a morning at Fort Edmonton Park, we headed over to the 

John Janzen Nature Centre.  Sam and Abby had a blast playing with friends in the indoor playground, and we had a brief look around the centre - we also had coffee and lunch in the car - had taken a flask of coffee with us :)  It was fun!