Carried Away

Let's play dress up your pooch

2011-08-04T12:15:00.005-04:00

The other week i was sorting out my scarves seeing which ones i want to keep and give the rest to the Goodwill. Yes, i have too many. My Lulu beagle basset girl happened to be on the bed while i sorted and i decided to play a little dress-up. Usually she will not comply with having any kind of clothing on her, but i think she was so sleepy she didn't care. When she was around 6 months old i bought her a pink and brown hounds-tooth patterned sweater but when i attempted to put it on it was a real struggle. I tried numerous times and finally managed to get in on but she began to bite at the rear area and looked quite uncomfortable and not at all into sporting a fall sweater. I had thoughts of parading her down the street and have people oooh and ahhh at how cute she looked. Well, i found out that Lulu was not a dress-up pooch. Chihuahua's, Malties, toy poodles and other small breeds tend to tolerate being made to wear clothing. I contemplated a t-shirt that said 'Drama Queen', which Lulu happens to be, but my husband would be mortified to walk her with that on her backside. He insisted we have no pink, or rhinestones at all on her. I settled for a dark brown collar with little flowers in different colors. Steve was okay to walk her with that one though. So we both got what we wanted. Lulu couldn't' care less of course.

But anyhoo, i did have a little photo session fashion show with scarves ... luckily she didn't mind this time.

Pretty polka dots

Red and White bandana

This is an old tshirt of mine. She had it on for a full minute before she demanded me to take it off.

How cute is this??

Archie was spared the fashion show. He doesn't even wear a collar anymore because he kept losing them, most likely trying to get under fences in the backyard. I love this photo of him, albeit a bit blurry. He perfectly matches the Van Gogh chair.

Cottage trip

2011-06-29T19:15:00.002-04:00

My husband and i went to his Uncle's cottage on Lake Rideau ...it's on the way to Ottawa, about an hour and a bit from the capitol city. It's only a 40 minute drive to St. Lawrence river.

This is the view from the dock. Nice huh?

We were delighted to see this hummingbird getting his sweet water from the feeder.

More shots of the hummingbird.

Alvin chipmunk was very sociable and ran around the deck as quick as a wink, and even jumped on Steven's leg for a moment. Cute.

We took the afternoon to explore the town of Brockville, it is on the St. Lawrence river. Land of the Thousand Lakes.

This is Canada's first train tunnel.

A lovely apt in downtown Brockville. I loved the Parisian-like balconies. Click on the photo to view the first floor balcony, it is just lovely!

So, we had a nice cottage stay for two nights, and were happy that the mosquitoes and bugs were not too bad. The lake was freezing, but Steven jumped in a few times. I was to chicken, but i did put my feet in and after 5 minutes i took them out ...it was too cold for moi.

Contest Giveaway!

2011-05-24T21:10:00.008-04:00

Want to win a fabulous necklace? Go to the ETSY Beagles Team blog to enter..it's so easy! Just vote for your fave item in our challenge. Our challenge is called 'Spring into Summer'.

ETSY BEAGLES CONTEST!

Here's what you could win:

2 RavenChicks 'Bunny in the Garden' necklace

Enter now!!

One entry per person. Sorry, only those in the U.S. are eligible to win. Contest begins Wed., May 25th, and ends on Sat., May 28th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen randomly from all entries on Sunday, May 29th.

We'll announce the winner here on our blog, so make sure you check back to claim your prize! The winner will receive a "Garden Gate" necklace from team member 2RavenChicks.

If you're the winner, contact Lorraine of 2RavenChicks via her Etsy shop. NOTE: the necklace pictured sold, but you will receive one very similar to this necklace! Winner will have until Wed., June 1st to contact Lorraine to claim your prize. If winner doesn't claim prize before that date, we'll select an alternate winner, who will then have until Sun., June 5th to claim their prize.

Clover Love

2011-05-04T16:59:00.005-04:00

“Sex and the City” has launched scores of fashion trends, from nameplate necklaces to ginormous flower pins, and the second movie will likely cause the same frenzy among women who want to be like Carrie Bradshaw. The movie’s costume designer, Patricia Field, told MarieClaire.com she thinks clover leaf necklaces, which Carrie wears in the new film, could become the next SATC-inspired craze.

I just ordered my own from Etsy and just got it in the mail. I love it!!

Mac n Cheese

2011-03-22T17:37:00.001-04:00

One of my fave comfort foods...good ol' homemade mac n cheese. I make it at least once every couple of weeks. I steam broccoli to go with, and save some of the cheese sauce to drizzle over the broccoli..deelish!
Time to chow down.

Meet Mr. Mango. Steve drew a face on a mango to humor me. It made me laugh out loud, especially with his tongue sticking out. It was getting too shriveled to eat. We left it in the fruit bowl and he got more wrinkled with each day. Silliness is a big part of our lives, if you have'nt noticed.

This is Archie kitteh's fave place to snooze, next to the computer desk.

Lulu waiting patiently for me to walk her. Yes, i spend too much time on the computer at times.

Archie also naps at the foot of the computer chair, where he also enjoys tummy rubs.

Finally, nap time is over. Time to play with his catnip toy.

It's My Life..

2011-03-06T23:36:00.004-05:00

I saw Eric Burdon and The Animals last night. They were amazing! We had to drive through a terrifying blizzard to see him...so travel time that night was about four hours of white knuckling and praying to get home safe. Glad we saw the concert and got home okay.

Check out the video clips i got on my Facebook Wall:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000243562653

Dublin!

2011-01-08T20:20:00.006-05:00

My sister and i were in Dublin for the first leg of our trip. It was like being home with all the snow and slush, ice and cold. It was much colder than we anticipated and we were told that it was unusual weather for late November. The snow was a problem for the city and the airport, where we got stranded for a nightmarish 25 hours! We met a very sweet lady from London who made our time at the airport pass much quicker, with her bubbly personality and sweet nature. People such as her really do make the world a better place! This women, with the rose-colored glasses showed me how to make the most out of a poor situation. Great that we met our friend, whom we will write to now!

I am or may not add a note with each photo, oh, and i do recommend you click on each photo for best viewing.

Finn's Hotel

Trinity College

The Haf' Penny Bridge

The Temple Bar

Molly McGuire and leprechaun

Trinity College, where we saw the amazing illuminated manuscripts 'Book of Kells'.

I didn't get that many good shots of Dublin i'm afraid. I had to delete many a shaky shot.

But...i have more great photos of Scandinavia...coming soon!

Scandinavia trip photos

2010-12-27T17:47:00.011-05:00

( i highly recommend clicking on photos to enhance ...much more details to be seen.)

I am showing some more photos of my recent trip to Scandinavia. I will briefly describe each photo. I have so many photos that i'm breaking it down category wise. Here's some culinary ones. Typically they love fish of course, and meat, including reindeer. The also love pickled fish.

A very hearty beef and potato stew at Tivoli Gardens ..the restaurant's setting is in a market/amusement park area located downtown Copenhagen. It's quite large, with about 40 restaurants where the world's oldest Ferris wheel is...which i posted in my recent post on my trip.

Lobster bisque with scallop and cheese pastry with french fries...in Copenhagen.

baby shrimps with breaded white fish and cavier.

My sis enjoying some halibut in Oslo.

And me enjoying seafood soup at the same restaurant.

Shrimp salad...a chef's salad...the baby shrimps were so fresh.

Potato pancake with fish i think, in Stockholm.

Beautiful bakery with the most charming window in Copenhagen.

At Christmas markets and sometimes busy shopping areas, we found lots of vendors making roasted candied almonds....the smell was just heavenly. They come in a pretty red and white striped cone paper bag.

I have taken so many photos in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen and i sometimes forget which city the shots were taken...i believe this candy shop was in Stockholm..they love candy there...lots of candy canes and salted licorice.

This woman is enjoying her breakfst in a very pretty Copenhagen cafe/bakery. I love the woven heart decorations on the blue wall. This cafe was across from our hotel, on Hans Christan Anderson Blvd.

We had hot chocolate and coffee, plus some lovely Danish pastries. The Danish love their baked goods like you wouldn't believe...so many bakeries throughout Copenhagen.

MORE PASTRIES!!

While on a canal boat excursion my sis and i got some chicken soup and pumpkin seed bread while taking in the marvels of the city from the boat.

The best brownie i have ever eaten and song bird herbal tea...bakery in Copenhagen.

More delectable baked goods at the bakery mentioned above.

A selection of yummy cookies at the Stockholm airport.

Rich hot chocolate and apple tarte with real fresh whipped cream..not that awful canned stuff!

The bakery windows were so enticing, and beautiful!

It was incredibly difficult to decide what to get...but whatever we chose it was all amazing!

Have yourselves a Merry lil Christmas!

2010-12-16T15:20:00.006-05:00

I'm posting some Christmas-y photos of my recent trip to Scandinavia. I will post more sometime during the holiday season. This one above is a Christmas market called 'Skansen' in Stockholm, Sweden. The little girl in pink made this shot.

A shop in Copenhagen. Note the fish in the window.

This little Christmas gnome in a shop window in Stockholm is so cute.

A department store in Stockholm.

May your days be merry and bright, like this beautiful tree in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. I was most fortunate to see the world's oldest ferris wheel from the 1800's. See below.

Nice shop in Copenhagen in the Nyhaven area, the harbour with a bunch of cafes and shops along each side of the canal.

Cute dollhouse Santa.

and this Santa in a bakery caught my eye. Note the piggys!

This is my sis Cathy and i at our Dublin hotel.

AHA in Oslo

2010-12-14T15:03:00.005-05:00

My sister and I recently saw the pop band AHa play in Oslo, Norway...it was their final tour. I took a video of their big hit from the 80's.

Happy HallOween!!

2010-10-29T15:16:00.001-04:00

Be careful of the vampires, werewolves and telemarketers!! Wooooooooo!!

What's the story....?

2010-10-03T16:42:00.005-04:00

.......Morning glory!!

(Archie is always sneaking into my frame)

yes, that is an Oasis song and it's also the flowers i have growing up the side of my back deck. I planted them in the spring and they are so pretty i had to show them off.

Wanna see what i had for lunch the other day??

Yes...you're right! Poutine!!!

I made my poutine with sweet potato fries....

and gravy from a package...and made sure it was super hot then sprinkled the cheese curds over the hot fries and poured over the hot gravy and...

ate it all up!! It was delicious!!

Lulu loves Papa

2010-09-20T21:30:00.005-04:00

I recently took these photos of Lulu and Steven.

But i couldn't decide which ones to put here.

And so i think I'll just use them all here.
Which is your fave?
I can't decide.
Lulu sure is Papa's lil' girl.

Cottage weekend

2010-09-07T23:28:00.014-04:00

Me and Steve spent a few days at his Aunt and Uncles' cottage on Lake Rideau, just an hour outside of Ottawa. Steve was able to have a few days to relax before his last semester at nurses college.

I got a nice shot of this acorn wedged in the deck.

Cardinal

the area has a lot of dairy farms...

and lake country...

Rules of the john.

Click on the photo to see Woody the woodpecker having his snack.

more country kitsch.

Steve enjoying a dip in the cool lake. The water was warmer than the air.

View of the other side of the lake.

I love this clock...the bird and the worm move up and down.

Steve can't stop studying!!!

The dock at Westport.

Steve and Uncle Walter headed to the docks.

\\

We found a really good pizza joint in Port Hope...Jimmy's pizzeria. Definitely going back again!

Uncle Walter eating chocolate mint ice cream..Aunt Doris and me eating black cherry ice cream...it was so good! And Steve had tiger tail.

2010-08-30T13:53:00.004-04:00

CURRENTLY ON HIATUS FROM THE BLOG SCENE. BACK IN SEPTEMBER!

Maggie's Birthday Party

2010-08-16T23:05:00.003-04:00

Ecard generated with Smilebox

Lulu was invited to a birthday party for her bestest friend...click and see!

Prince Edward County trip

2010-07-28T12:25:00.010-04:00

Spent a week in Prince Edward County, a gorgeous area located an hour and a half east of Toronto, and is home to Sandbanks Provincial Park, a great beach and dunes, plus it is a lovely vicinity to explore the area which is full of wineries, picturesque country and little towns that boast great restaurants, shops and antiques. We has a cottage rental for one week in which to relax, and enjoy the country.
I got a nice shot of some horses backsides, tails swishing.

The storm clouds make for a dramatic lake and sky photo.

The storm bypassed, and we ventured country roads viewing farm fields on one side, lake shores on the other, in search of a goats cheese farm and Cider house.
This playground contraption, sometimes called The Witch's hat, was bolted so we could't move it. I remember playing on them as a kid in the sixties and seventies. Most of them are long gone, so i was amazed to find one.

Photos taken from a ferry. The area is known as lake-on-the-mountain.

other ferry view.

Quaint town hall.

Prince Edward County boasts 26 wineries. The soil is comparable to many European vineyards, making for some great wines!

Apple Orchard.
View from the cottage/house we stayed at. The area beyond belongs to an Ostrich farm. I kept looking for some, but disappointingly, never did see not a one!

This is Birdhouse City, home to a bunch of condos for the area bird population. There must have been at least 50 or more of them!
Wonder how high the rent is?

This view is of Steve driving us past a giant apple. I wanted to stop for apple pie.

My next blog post will showcase some more highlights of the trip. Stay tuned!

Like a bird in the sky

2010-07-14T14:45:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder what it's like to fly? Then watch this amazing video from BBC of a falcon equipped with a camera. There are two settings...an ocean/cliff and then a forest. The forest scene reminds me of 'The Return of the Jedi' when they are zipping through the giant redwoods on land speeders.

This video is also accompanied with a great song by The Shocking Blue, the band from the late 60's/early 70's. They are best known for the song 'Venus'.

Enjoy! I certainly did, and have watched it many times. I recommend watching in full screen...click on You Tube icon in lower right hand corner.

Paws

2010-07-05T14:48:00.007-04:00

It is a heat wave right now. We will now paws...uhm..pause for awhile ...this week at least....and take it easy, while we crank up the air con and sip many cool drinks.

We have had major computer problems of late, and i won't bore you with the technical details....plus i have no idea how to explain it...i'm completely technically challenged...but suffice to say, all is now well, after nearly $600 and 8 days without being connected to the outside world. I now realize how much i adore having email, participating in a much-loved Etsy forum, youtube, and my mixpod! I missed them but i got along just fine, after my hands stopped shaking and trying to type while i was preparing dinner. I didn't much miss FaceBook or Twitter mind you...i find them quite a bore lately especially Twitter, although nice occasionally to check on friends with FaceBook.

Lulu is one hot doggie with this heat...no walksy palksy until after 6 or 7 pm!!

I had fun with picnik lately as you can see. Lulu is now a very cool happenin' doggie with her punky shades!

pilllow tawk!

2010-06-26T20:18:00.004-04:00

I made this new pillow for my bed, but Lulu had claimed it as her pillow. exclusively hers.

It seems to be the perfect pillow for her. She loves the height of it...

....and the length suits her too!

As you can see, i have one happy customer!

A Spring Day

2010-06-14T23:17:00.007-04:00

I love this tulip...it is special because we only get one each year and it's located at the very end of our backyard behind a shed we built....there is a few feet of space behind there and i always cut it and put it in the house, because you can't really enjoy it since the shed is in the way. I think i'll try and find this tulip bulb at the garden center and grow more. I just love the elongated delicate form and just a hint of pink.

After the tulip wasted away, i replaced it with this pretty daisy and stuck a petunia with a tiny red flower in the mermaid bottle opener.

This Dove nested on the other side of the column on our porch. We saw two of her babies in the nest.

If you click on this photo you will notice that her eye has a beautiful ring of blue around it.

Our neighbor has a loverly perennial garden in their front yard with a lot of peonies! Their scent is so nice!
I love the light in this photo...so dreamy!

The bleeding hearts in the back are surrounded by this perennial i planted a few summers ago, which has spread nicely.

These are a gorgeous shade of yellow!

I'm looking forward to the blooming of our summer flowers now....which have just started. Will post soon with photos of them.

May BBQ

2010-06-05T19:07:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, Steve and I had a bbq for some family members....we had a great day with my sister from Saskatchewan and her daughter who now lives in Toronto, my brother and his wife from Baltimore and then my brother and a friend from Toronto.

Lulu was the welcome wagon! It sure was a hot day!

Group photo of some of us.

Lulu gets some lovin' from my niece and my sister.

Lulu is trying to get a cup of coffee.

The whole gang minus me!

Noshing on bbq food!

Lulu store some ears of already nbbled corn!

Everyone loved my potato salad...yay!

Homemade burgers with jarlsberg cheese.

Lulu and friend having a little rest.

After dinner we just relaxed and talked awhile.

Steve and Lulu on the swing.

Dove's Nest

2010-05-31T21:43:00.004-04:00

These doves are nesting on top of our porch's column! Awwww....new life!

(click on photo to enhance)

Look's like Mama bird is the middle one...with her two babies.

My bad kitteh Archie boy tried to climb the ivy vines on the porch column to get at the nest!

He has been eye-ing that nest for awhile now.

Bad Kitteh!!!

Cute, ain't he?

Sorry Arch!
I barricaded the column with cardboard so he can't climb up and get the birdies. Now i can rest easy, knowing i might have saved them! Pheew!

Yum yum

2010-05-06T20:56:00.004-04:00

That's exactly what these cookies were...Yum yum! I made peanut butter cookies with Hersey's kisses...the coconut ones. They tasted like a chocolate peanut butter macaroon. My waistline continues to grow though since i prefer making and eating cookies to exercising.

Lazy Lulu takes after her Mama....loves sloth activities....munching good food and lounging around.

(This photo is up close and pawsonal. Ha ha....pun intended!)

As you can see from this set of photos Lulu and I like to lie around a lot. Sigh. Must be the pillow top mattress. It's just too comfortable to move.

This is just too cute for words. Yeah, i take waaaay to many photos of my dog.

What's new you ask?

2010-04-19T18:44:00.004-04:00

Not a whole lot these days. But i'm enjoying the spring flora which i sometimes keep by my kitchen windowsill.

and speaking of flora...this plant in my living room has sprouted a new bloom...and there hasn't been one in years!

Lots of tree and bushes are budding...

and Archie is enjoying the sunroom...he likes to rock and roll!

And Lulu is still waiting for your vote here:

Canadian Living 'Most Adorable Pet' Contest.

Voting is for the rest of April and you can vote and comment every day! Every little bit helps and we sure appreciate your Lulu love!

Crocuses and BFF's

2010-04-08T15:18:00.006-04:00

are everywhere! I'm seeing a lot of crocuses lately on my walks with Lulu....the hood is full of them, and those sweet little white flowers as well as tiny grape hyacinths.

Such a pretty purple, no?

Lulu and Archie are hanging out together a lot lately. They sure have come a long way since Lulu first joined our household... He hated her with a passion!

Now they are like best buds! Archie doesn't even mind if Lulu uses him as a pillow!

Steve took this photo the other day ....so darn sweet!

BFF'S!!

Contest for

2010-04-01T12:10:00.002-04:00

Most Lovable Pet!

I have entered my Lulu in a contest for Canadian Living Magazine. We sure would appreciate any votes cast for her! Go Lulu! The prize is $800 smackers so that should keep her stocked up with treats and toys for quite some time!

Pedigree Dogs ad shot 1000 FPS using the Phantom camera

2010-03-24T12:54:00.009-04:00

Catching treats in slow motion. Click on lower right hand corner to go to YouTube, to view better.

And speaking of dogs, The Etsy Beagles Street Team, which i am a dedicated member, is having another Giveaway Contest!! Go here to enter: Beagles Blog.

AB: Strike a pose

2010-03-10T19:52:00.011-05:00

One fine sunny morn....i snapped a few of my little red-haired Archie Boy:

Your IT!

2010-03-01T19:45:00.005-05:00

Christie from The Blooming Wildflowers Project tagged me! Here's the deal:

The rules of this tag are:
1. open your first photo folder
2. scroll to the tenth photo
3. post the photo and the story behind it
4. tag five or more people

So this is my picture:

(wearing my cool Adidas runners and a thumps up!)

This photo is around mid 70's and i was maybe 12 or 13 years old. I was really into skateboarding...I was a tomboyish girl. Very Kristy McNichol. I think my skateboard was dark pink...and here i am showing off my skills, with my brother Dan next to me, on our walkway to the front of our house on Greenview St. in Guelph, Ontario. In the winter i skateboarded in our basement ...perfect because it had a long cement floor where i practiced. I was never that athletic except i did love skateboarding. I never did excel at any other sports, except a bit of track and field at school.

So, i have to tag some of you peeps in blogland. I choose:

tattytiara
soulinchains
The RedHeadsHome
FiberPuppy
LaughingFridge

Happy Birthday to ...

2010-02-23T18:56:00.007-05:00

Miss Lulu Belle, who is 3 years old!

On Monday we celebrated Lulu's 3rd birthday.

I wanted a pretty table for my pretty girl..

There were treats for dogs...i made those doggie muffins, peanut butter and carrots...Lulu's fave!
I made some crustless tea sandwiches with cream cheese and cucumber and salmon salad with gherkin pickles, served with ginger ale/raspberry punch.

...devilled eggs

I made this carrot cake (the adult version) with cream cheese icing...it was pink on the sides.

I even blew up 3 metallic pink balloons!

We had Lulu's best-est friends over for a little party...Maggie the Dachshund and Marki the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel made Lulu very happy on her day!

3 excited pooch's were prancin' around and playing, having tons of fun....

Maggie (lower left corner) was fascinated with Archie who was chilling on top of the chair.

awww....kissses!

Lulu received some cute cards and some thoughtful gifts....a pretty pink knitted washcloth hand knitted, and other nice prezzies.

This is after the party. Lulu was a bit down....

but she had a great time and she even got a new toy to play with.

Big thanks to Audrey and Maggie, Pat and Marki for making Lulu's birthay special and fun!

My trip ..

2010-02-16T18:48:00.006-05:00

...to Mexico, on Isla Mujeres ...was muy bueno!

I have made a slideshow here, instead of posting to my blog...since it takes too long to upload the pictures here.

Enjoy muchachos! Plus there's music with the slideshow!

Sweet things....

2010-02-03T23:03:00.005-05:00

My cat Archie Boy!

My sweet Lulu Belle! She spends half the day lying on our bed and checking out the hood..

watching squirrels and birdies........and the mailman. She lets us know when the mail comes!

This sweet little pouch is a challenge entry for the Etsy Beagle Street Team. It is also the prize for our challenge give-away here: Etsy Beagles. The theme this month is 'Hearts & Hounds'. So go on over to enter! You have until: Sat., 2/06 at 11:59 PM, EST.

Unfortunately, it is only open to residents of the US. (It has to do with blogging rules, so i apologize to any Canadians and others.)

My heart is full!

2010-01-29T16:27:00.001-05:00

puffy heart pouch
Originally uploaded by kooky2.

My latest design - a 'puffy' heart pouch. I stuffed the heart with polyfil before i embroidered it on the pouch. I also added two glass hearts on the zipper pull. I love the pink textured upholstery fabric. I was wondering what to make with it, and decided on some pouches.

new and improved

2010-01-21T15:56:00.009-05:00

I just received this wonderful painting from an amazing artist in the Toronto area. I can't stop admiring it. Click on photo to see the textures and designs up close.

It hangs at the top of the 2nd floor. I can look at it as i walk up the stairs. It is kind of Paul Klee-ish. Its' called 'Sky'. It's so great to own original artworks...and since we can't afford big pieces I've become fond of smaller ones, and I hope to own more from this artist someday! Click here for her shop.
I'm drinking my water with pomegranates. I found them in the frozen fruit section at the grocery store. After a few hours the pomegranates turn white, leaving the water with a touch of pink.

Maybe the antioxidants are released into the water.

I am making new items for my shop...laptop sleeves.

This is my first attempt. It was a lot of figuring out, and i spent almost a whole weekend working to perfect it. It has a handle on one end and a protection cushion between the layers. I hope i can make more to add to my shop this year.

I'm dreaming of spring, so i bought a few Gerber daisies to treat myself. I have some hanging vases, so i put one in the bathroom. Every time you sit down...ahem...you're head is just a few inches from a pretty flower.

...makes for a pleasant experience while going potty.

Lulu Belle's 15 minutes

2010-01-12T13:41:00.004-05:00

My baby girl is enjoying her 15 min. of proverbial fame on the Etsy Beagle Team blog!
She is the new header for the blog. She sure would appreciate a comment from you on how pretty she looks. She is such a little diva!! She even has her pink Betsey Johnson shopping bag in the photo.

Yawwwwwwwwn!

2010-01-10T14:24:00.004-05:00

I think I'll just lie here in couch potato mode until spring.

Yes........good idea! Yawww.........

......wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnn!

Damn I'm cute!

Is it spring yet?

Baby it's Cooooold outside!!

2010-01-04T21:26:00.003-05:00

The temperature here in Ontario is dipping quite low. It is so cold that.....

some of us are having trouble getting out from underneath a cosy duvet!

Have a..

2010-01-01T17:02:00.004-05:00

*******

happy

new

year!!!!

********

Archie boy and Lulu Belle wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

and Lulu needs to catch up on her beauty sleep...ditto for me!

The Eve of a New Year!

2009-12-31T14:32:00.005-05:00

Houses are still glowing with holiday lights...

as people are ready to usher in a new year...

as soon as a big ball drops in Times Square.

I hope 2010 is a great year for us all...enjoying good health, happiness and personal sucesses!

I would also like to wish a Happy 2nd and Happy 4th Birthday to my nephews in Boston! Happy Birthday boys!

random Christmas pics

2009-12-28T15:43:00.008-05:00

houses decked out in lights...and grinches on sleds...

some houses are subtle like this one...

and this one...

nice nieces with a new purse....

old friends catching up over coffee...

Opening gifts...

prettily decorated houses...

'Herbie doesn't like to make toys'

Christmas is exhausting...this is exactly how i'm feeling after all this holiday stuff!

Peace out on Christmas Day with my niece and brother-in-law...

My favorite thing on Christmas morning next to holiday music....Pannetone!

'O Christmas tree, O' Christmas tree....'

Wii ....Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Archie and Allister

yess......tis the season to be sleepy!

Christmas morning.........is it time to open prezzies?

and here is a video clip of driving around looking at christmas lights...one of my fave things to do at the holidays.

MerrY CHristMas!

2009-12-25T16:32:00.005-05:00

****

*******

***********

IT'S....

***********

THE DAY!

**********

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!!!!

************

this ends our 2009 Christmas countdown....

until next year!

*************

A Happy New Year too!

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-24T22:28:00.006-05:00

*************

and a partridge in a pear tree.....................!

1 DAY

UNTIL

CHRISTMAS!!!!

************

until tomorrow.... everyone have a joyous Christmas Eve!

********************************************************************

Countdown to the big day!!

2009-12-23T14:54:00.001-05:00

2 turtle doves
***************
2 days until Christmas!!!!
***************
that's 2 days!
2 days!
2!
*

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

*****************

3 french hens!

days

until

Christmas!!!!

***********

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-21T13:15:00.007-05:00

*************

4 calling birds!

*************

************

************
************

4 days until

C h r i s t m a s ! ! ! !

************

R U READY?

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-20T14:55:00.006-05:00

5 GOLDEN RINGS!!!!

5 days until Christmas!!!!

**********************

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-19T14:19:00.006-05:00

****

********

************

***************

6 geese a laying!

*************

days

until

Christmas!!!!

***************

***********

**************

****************

Care for one of my Merry Cherry Cookies?

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-18T15:31:00.002-05:00

7 swans a swimming!

******************

7 days

until

CHRISTMAS!!!!

***************

**(ONE WEEK to go!)**

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-16T12:10:00.004-05:00

*********
9 ladies dancing!

********************

****************

***********

*****************

****************

9 DAYS UNTIL

CHRISTMAS!!!!

*****************

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-15T21:30:00.004-05:00

***************

10 lords a leaping!

***************

******

**********

days

until

Christmas!!!!

**********

******
****

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-14T12:58:00.006-05:00

11 pipers piping!

*************

11 DAYS UNTIL
C H R I S T M A S !!

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-13T20:25:00.002-05:00

twelve drummers drumming

it's the..................

12 days until Christmas!!!!

*********************************

(photo of my mama adding prezzies to the tree)

*********************

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-12T14:30:00.006-05:00

13 days

(Click on photo to enhance photo. Santa no. 1: not very jolly!)

left until Christmas Day!

Photos of Steven with Santa....when he was a young lad.

Countdown to the big day!

2009-12-11T18:58:00.002-05:00

Countdown to Christmas Day

2009-12-10T17:41:00.004-05:00

******* 15 Days to Christmas! *******

These photos are of my first Christmas with Steve in the house we bought in 2006.

This Santa is quite old from my father's family i believe...one of my fave decorations.

Countdown to Christmas

2009-12-08T22:08:00.006-05:00

****17 days until Christmas!!!!****

me and Santa from 1999

Every day I will post a photo from a past Christmas until Christmas Day. After that I will post photos of this present Christmas.

The countdown graphics are courtesy of my sister Carol...is'nt that the perfect Christmas name?

The Winner is:

2009-12-06T20:25:00.006-05:00

laughingfridge! She is the winner of the lovely bracelet by beaglebeads for the Happy Howlidays Challenge! Congrats laughingfridge!

I snapped this cute photo of Archie recently..

he loves to sit here and watch cat television.

He also likes to walk on fence posts...

He's my little orange tiger!

Etsy Beagle Team 'Happy Howliday' Challenge

2009-12-03T19:37:00.004-05:00

The ladies of the Etsy Beagle Team, myself included, have about 4 -6 Challenges every year, where we all design an item for a specific theme. This Christmas we submitted our entries for 'Happy Howlidays'. If you want to check it out and enter our contest to win a fabulous bracelet go visit and vote for your favorite item!

It's fun and you get a chance to win a great Etsy item! One of these bracelets by Etsy team member beaglebeads!

So hurry and go over now, contest ends this Saturday, December 5th!

Beagle in a Winter Wonderland

2009-11-28T19:40:00.005-05:00

My latest bag which is actually a pouch/case...great for holding your stuff in your purse like cosmetics or pencils and pens or anything else.

I was inspired by 'Charlie Brown Christmas' for the trees, and Lulu of course, for the dog. I used sequins and lace for snow, and buttons for tree ornaments. It is in my shop and I am also having a 'Holiday Sale'. My other shop 'talkofthetown' has a free shipping sale too.

I'll leave you with a funny Lulu photo. Those beagles...comical dogs!

Lulu

2009-11-21T11:52:00.004-05:00

This is a movie of Lulu and Steve...she is a feisty one!

5 + photos a day

2009-11-16T12:53:00.008-05:00

My finale of the Seattle trip! These are various photos that i thought you might like:

stone sculptures on Bainbridge Island

Giant octopuss at Pike Place Mk.

yet another coffee shop, with a nice lookin' fella enoying his book and a coffee.

The Hole in the Wall - a great place for a bowl of award winning chili....the corn bread was terrific too!

Dahlia pastry and bread shop

See's Candies - yummy chocolate shop!

The Nut house in Pikes Place Mk.

two nutty ladies in front of the nut house!

cute little espresso bar

near the ferry to Bainbridge Island

Sculpture park next to the Space Needle

v gross yet cool v

Can you guess what is on this wall?

If you said gum you are correct! It is in the Pike Place Mk. and it is a wall covered in gum!! The germmiest wall in Seattle!

And so ends the photos of Seattle...hope you enjoyed the show!

5 photos a day

2009-11-15T13:36:00.010-05:00

Next photos of Seattle trip: Bainbridge Island.

Just a 30 min. ferry ride from downtown Seattle lies a gorgeous island community with a lovely downtown with cute shops, and restaurants. We were lucky to have a simply perfect sunny day to enjoy our day trip....and it was very enjoyable!

This gull hitched a ride with us to Bainbridge Island.

The marina, only a 5 minute walk from the downtown.

Walking from downtown toward the marina.

lots of whimsical murals along a fence.

So, i know i said only 5 photos a day, but i adding more today. Here's some more:

cool rock sculptures at the marina.

mosaic sidewalk.

They love mosaics on Bainbridge.

sidewalk fish stencils.
a beautiful sun face next to a trash can.

squid/octo glass art

pretty houses.

nice clapboard church.

a fishy bench.

So what photos do i have for tomorrow you ask? I thought for my finale i would just have a mish mash of miscellaneous photos that don't follow any particular theme.

5 photos a day

2009-11-14T12:42:00.014-05:00

For this next series of photos of my trip to Seattle, I will show the downtown, parts of Bell town and Pioneer Square.

SAM - Seattle Art Museum. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit.

Large Sculpture in front of the Seattle Art Museum.

The library downtown is quite an impressive glass building.

Pioneer Square can lay claim to being the city’s “first neighborhood, and has one of the nation's best preserved examples of the Victorian era . This is the Smith building, built in 1914, and was the tallest building west of the Mississippi for quite some time.

and here's a few more photos of downtown:

I was very interested to learn that Seattle was built up after a terrible fire back in the 1880s's. Much of the city was destroyed and they built the city up on top of the old city. There is an underground tour, that i would have like to have taken. Here is some info about it:

The Great Seattle Fire of 1889, a town founded on mostly soggy tide flats whose streets would, whenever the rains came, bloat deep enough with mud to consume dogs and small children.

After the fire, which destroyed some 25 square blocks of mostly wooden buildings in the heart of Seattle, it was unanimously decided that all new construction must be of stone or brick masonry. The city also decided to rise up from the muck in which its original streets lay.
It was this decision that created the Underground: The city built retaining walls, eight feet or higher, on either side of the old streets, filled in the space between the walls, and paved over the fill to effectively raise the streets, making them one story higher than the old sidewalks that still ran alongside them.

Building owners, eager to capitalize on an 1890s economic boom, quickly rebuilt on the old, low, muddy ground where they had been before, unmindful of the fact that their first floor display windows and lobbies soon would become basements. Eventually, sidewalks bridged the gap between the new streets and the second story of buildings, leaving hollow tunnels (as high as 35 feet in some places) between the old and new sidewalks, and creating the passageways of today’s Underground.

Tomorrow's photos: Bainbridge Island. It was a 30 minute ferry from Seattle, a lovely island community.

Seattle Trip: 5 photos a day

2009-11-13T10:58:00.005-05:00

This next series of photos are of the Space Needle. It is the American version of Toronto, Canada's CN tower, which is somewhat similiar, in shape and form. I always think of the tv show 'Fraser' when i see it.

A few facts:

The Space Needle is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle.

Views from the Observation Deck. This is facing a mountain range...i'm not sure if it's Mt. Helen or Rainier.

The Space Needle was built to withstand severe earthquakes by doubling the building code of 1962. But an earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter Scale jolted the Needle enough in 2001 for water to slosh out of the toilets in the restrooms. The Space Needle can escape serious structural damage during earthquakes of magnitudes below 9.

Here is a video i shot from the Observation Deck:

5 + photos a day

2009-11-12T12:33:00.008-05:00

This next series of photos are of the wonderful coffee in Seattle! I originally was just going to show 5 photos a day of my trip....but i added some more today since i had many shots of coffee...um, no pun intended!

Some of the coffee places are nameless, and i apologize since i forgot to get a card or remember the names of places.

This coffee shop had a french flair...oui oui! It had amazing sweet buns and every day they feature a bun of a certain flavour.

This was a great afternoon pick-me-up....a delicious bun and a mochachino made with a homemade dark chocolate syrup...it was gooooood!

How do you spell coffee? Does it start with an 'S'?

This is the original Starbucks coffee shop, started in 1971 i was told. They started out just selling just the beans back then. I went inside but didn't order anything, as i had just finished a mochachino at Stella's on 1st Ave.

Across from Pike Place Market.

Inside the original Starbucks. i was going to buy a mug for a souvenir..but didn't want to carry it around all day, so i didn't get one...darn darn darn!

One morning we walked to Pike Place Mk. and had a latte and some french pastries for a decadent breakie! Tarts, croissants and neapolitan.

Stella coffee house was my fave! It was on 1st Ave on the way to Pike Place Mk and it was the perfect coffee place...great music, nice baristas, and a cool vibe. Brick walls, hardwood floors, a fabulous chandelier, marble tables and red walls. Plus i got to chat with the owner, who witnessed me snapping photos and asked me if i was working for Starbucks..hehe.

2 mochachino's for pick-up

We asked the barrista why there were so many coffee houses in Seattle. She said the rainy weather was a definite factor. We were lucky, since we had two full days of sun though, but our last day was rainy, blustery and destroyed my favorite umbrella.

Tomorrow's photos: The Space Needle!

5 photos a day

2009-11-11T13:08:00.009-05:00

Here are the food photos of my Seattle trip. I wish i had taken more food photos, but once the food was in front of me, i noshed immediately, and forgot to take the photo. Ah well! My sister and I also went on a 3-hour culinary nosh with the Seattle Savour Food Tour. We sampled food and beverage from lots of interesting restaurants which included a tour of the Pike brewery, Frans chocolate shop and Gelatiamo.

(*Tip: I highly recommend clicking on each image to get a better view.)

Fran's Chocolates.
We loved the grey salt caramel the best!
Glad i got some to bring home. The caramel doesn't stick to your teeth, it is a softer kind.

The gelato at Gelatiamo was great...so many flavors.... we tried the Raspberry and the Chocolate chip...they were tres scrumptous!

Dungeness crab sandwich...tons of crabmeat with organic tomatoes and lots of cheddar on a homemade bun...wow! So filling and delicious!

This was a very decadent version of mac and cheese with lots of crabmeat on top. It was also very good! At a nice cafe on Bainbridge Island.

If you are familiar with local chef Tom Douglas, he owns about 6 restaurants in Seattle...his latest resto is 'Serious Pie' and folks, this pizza pie was seriously one of the best pies i have ever had the pleasure of eating. The dough was unlike anything i had ever had, light enough to float off the plate. This was some amazing pie!!!

*Other food worthy of mention, the risotto with clams at II Bistro right in Pikes Place Market.
*The best chili in the city at The Hole in the Wall, located just near the Smith Building.

Tommorrow's photos: Coffee!!! You probably know that Seattle is the coffee mecca of the USA. There certainly was no shortage of coffee shops there!

5 photos a day

2009-11-10T14:44:00.007-05:00

This is the next series of photos of my recent trip to Seattle.

On this next batch of photos is more of The Pike Place Market:

pretty peppers

yummy fruit candy

chocolate pasta!!!!
(we tasted it raw..you could really taste the cocoa)

Truffles (tres expensivo!)

Dungeness Crab...i had a delicous hot sandwich on Bainbridge Island.
Tomorrow will be food photos!!!

and here is a video of the fish throwers at the fish part of the market...a fun experience!

5 photos a day

2009-11-09T18:40:00.009-05:00

Of my trip to:

SEAttLE

view from the back of the market.

piggy bank...money donated to ...um.. sorry forgot.

dinner plate clock

Our first day started at The Pike Place Market. It was huge! The market includes 4 or 5 levels below the open air street level marketplace.

Stay tuned for tomorrow where i showcase some delicious food!

2009-10-30T12:52:00.010-04:00

h A p P y H a l l O w E E n ! !

So, it's almost that time again....

This was me as MorTricia two years ago.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween this year! Eat lots of sweets and roasted pumpkin seeds and watch some scary movies.

I just looked at the tv listings for Halloween movies.....I will probably be watching these while munching on my pumpkin seeds, popcorn and leftover mini chocolate bars:

Young Frankenstein....my fave! Love the scene with 'Puttin' on the Ritz'!

Halloween...the first one of course...all the others are just scary bad!

Sleepy Hollow ....Chris Walken's teeth are frightening...He's the scariest headless horseman ever!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So fun, so campy! I love singing along!

and Go here to hear a great variety of Halloween tunes!

What are your fave movies for halloween?

which Witch is which?

2009-10-17T14:40:00.007-04:00

I have been busy in Picnik.com making Halloween stuff. I took this image of Lulu (below) and spruced it up.

She only wore this witch's hat for about 2 seconds after i took the photo...she thinks it's a toy and tries to bite it.
Lulu's best friend Maggie the weiner dog, with a cute little witch's hat...

This is my new shop banner! Isn't it cute?

And this is my latest bag. I didn't sew the bag, it was a plain black bag that i appliqued with Halloween images.
Anyone remember this Witch? She was pretty funny!

Featured Designer

2009-10-02T18:25:00.012-04:00

Gemma Rodrigues

Amor and Stitch

I interviewed this fellow Etsy designer after i fell head over heels with her wonderful designs. Here is the interview:

Gemma, When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?

I opened my store mid June 2009, I began selling straight away (could not wait! Still loving it!)

How did you select your shop’s name?

I moved from UK to Spain 7 months ago, so I decided to have a change of career from Art Psychotherapist to artist so that is when I started this journey on Etsy I chose my name which linked the two things that were important at the time Love (Amor) of my family and stitching my art so Amorandstitch was born!

What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?

Hand Embroidery art pieces in locket's, pillow's, in frames and canvas's. I use vintage material, threads, beads to make my pieces just a bit extra special.

How did you become involved in your craft?

I have been creating art since I was a child, my mother taught me to sew and knit I went to college then university where I trained as a illustrator. I then worked as an art psychotherapist for 8 years. In that time I discovered the magically link between emotions and art on a much deeper level. I am now enjoying being a mum of two little people and creating my art.
Explain your favorite part of the creative process.

I love researching vintage images, them creating my own designs from them but I think my favourite part is seeing it come to life when I start to embroider the design.

Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?

Gosh! One is enough for the moment but I would like to start approaching local shop's and other online store's to sell my work in.

So far, what project are you most proud of?

I am not sure I could choose just one, I am proud of all my designs but the feet pillow is very special as I designed this piece for my husband and used our youngest child's to model the feet. Great idea for storing a memory of your newborn.

Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?

Yes, can be found on Flickr, facebook, twitter and my own website:

www.amorandstitch.com

Besides making the Sterling Silver pendants and pillows, Gemma also makes candle cuffs, art pieces in frames, Russian dolls, Elephants and Hearts.

Here is her Etsy shop: AmorandStitch

So go have a look at her other beautiful embroidered creations!

Sapphire Blue

2009-09-27T17:55:00.008-04:00

My favorite color right now is Sapphire Blue. I bought a sweater in this color and I love it paired with a plaid scarf.

Here is a cuff bracelet from my shop that hasn't sold yet...I may have to keep it for myself.

I also have this cute little pendant in my shop:

And if you want to see more Etsy items in this stunning color, check out the Etsy mini in my side bar or click here.

Brunch por deux!

2009-09-24T13:05:00.010-04:00

Last Saturday, I took the train from Whitby to Toronto for brunch with my friend Nathalie, who came from Oakville. We try to meet for a girl's day out every year, although we missed last year, since she had a baby....little Claire Bear. Two years ago we had this get-together back in the fall of 2007, so we were past due for an outing.

The train goes by some spectacular scenery...

We had intended to try 'Bonjour Brioche' but instead went to 'Table 17' which I had found out about online. We were not to be disappointed...

Not only were we impressed with the atmosphere, which was very beautiful, but the food was quite lovely. Nathalie had a salad with a cheese toasts and I had French toast with cinnamon anglaise and berries, and we split the potato rosti...delicous! We also had wine with our brunch...it was all sensory perfection...the food and wine, the bistro setting.

Yes, i have a very difficult time gettin non-blurry shots...

A satified lady...see, she is smiling and laughing...well, laughing at me, for taking too many photos of the bistro! haha.

Afterwards, we strolled through Leslieville on Queen St. E. enoying the fabulous shop window displays.
This display looked a bit fishy to me!

After looking and walking around, we decided to stop at a cafe for a latte and treat. This espresso bar was just what we needed to rest our heels and have a pick-me-up.

A lovely cafe with great atmosphere and coffee. To me a great cafe is a wonderful thing. I wish I could go more often!

This is what it's all about...great coffee with a great friend!

**********I HEART COFFEE!!*********

This lady was in the window of the cafe. She was wearing a pretty frock as you can see. Poor thing, she lost her arm which she now carries with her in her pocket.

Time to go back on the train. Nat and I said good-bye at the train station, and I headed east, her westward bound. (See any famous landmarks in this photo?)

Can't wait for next fall, so Nathalie and I go out again!

*********2 friends*********

Feel Good Friday!

2009-09-18T13:44:00.003-04:00

Just My Imagination by the Cranberries.

This video and song makes me feel good...plus Dolores O'Riordan" has such a charming way about her.

Trying...

2009-09-14T20:38:00.008-04:00

to soak up the last of summers' rays.

Lulu is always on the porch enjoying the warmth of the sun.

new foods...we are eating less meat. These are veggie burgers....not bad, and especially tasty with the tomatoes and guacamole.

a different bed. Lulu's new beddie boo is equivalent to a king size bed for us. Plus it has cedar shavings which give off a lovely forest-y scent in our living room, and on Lulu. We have successfully managed to get her to sleep here instead of hogging our bed all night. I miss her at night, but I think it's best for all of us.

Not to walk into all the spider webs on the porch and deck. Those darn spider's are always weaving their beautiful webs as quick as you can blink... gawd, how i wish i could be half that productive! (Anyone know...is this a wolf spider?)

To share my lap with two very affectionate critters. Lulu and Archie are always vying for my attention!
To finish the staircase ...It is still being stained as I write. The drying process is taking it's precious time. Then once that is done, the painting of the risers of the stairs then the varnishing...so many steps....no pun intended!!
Hopefully the stairs will be finished their Reno this month! Then photos will be posted.

September is almost half over...and I still need to finish my sewing projects and home projects. I want to recover my dining chairs, and paint the front hallway.

Projects, being what they are...time-consuming and usually having delays for various reasons....I always get so anxious about finishing them on a certain time table. I realize I need to let that go...and I am TRYING.

The waning days of summer..

2009-09-04T13:30:00.007-04:00

are upon us now. We can almost count the days on our hands now.

Lulu is taking full advantage of summer's last days by getting her sun bathing in the backyard...
and Archie is also enjoying the patio...he is truly a sun worshipper!

Steven is currently doing some home Reno, he is refinishing the stairs...after much nagging from moi!! He has scraped and sanded about 5 coats of paint off the 90 year old stairs! When we moved in it was unfinished, previously painted and the stairs carpeted. After 3 years of nagging, I finally got my wish!

He has spent many hours this summer on the renovation. I can't wait to see the final results...I will post the before and after photos sometime in the next month. Let see...what shall i nag him about next?

Lulu is still lounging around in the backyard. I took this photo from my studio on the second floor of the house through a screen, which explains the fuzziness.

A close-up of my lazy dog! Don't ask me why she prefers lying on the dirt!

Poor Steven will be doing a lot more studying this fall. He is entering his second semester of Nursing school. He has studied a lot this summer though, he took a summer course and also studied a scary subject that he will find most challenging this fall: Pathology.

This is Steven's favorite spot on the porch where he has done most of his studying this summer. He only has a few more weeks to enjoy outdoor studying. His classes begin next week. (click on photo to see a cute face peeking through the posts.)

Well, I'm also gearing up for lots of work myself...with kookyhandbags and talkofthetown, my two shops. I am working on a line of market/book bags, perfect for carrying your books to school or your food from the market. I will post them soon! I also have a few other ideas up my sleeves! Always full of fresh ideas for the shops, what i do need is to get going and make them! And just to let you know, I have 'end of summer sales' going on in both shops! So go get something for yourself or start your Christmas shopping early! (shameless plug, i know!)

Ciao for now, my little bloggers!

Life is a Beach!

2009-08-23T20:41:00.003-04:00

I just returned from a week at a fabulous beachfront cottage on Lake Erie at Long Point Beach. I am still too lazy to chat about it so for now check these photos.

I frightened these rat birds by running into a bunch of them, and what do they do? Well, one of them gets it's revenge by pooping on my neck!!! Yuck!

The view from the our deck.

The view of the cottage from the beach.

Heaven on earth.

A beach scene.
Lots of walks along the water's edge.

Want to see more?

Go here: My vacation.

furry fairy tales and a recipe for hot days

2009-08-13T21:13:00.019-04:00

Would you care to hear a tail...ur....tale?

Once upon a time,

There was a girl dog named Princess Lulu, and a boy kitty named Prince Archiekins....

and they lived together in a magical white cottage in the kingdom of Whitby, beyond the forest of Torontario.

They weren't always this close you see.

Because in fact, at one time they were mortal enemies, since Prince Archie was banished to live in the tower when fair Princess Lulu first came to be in the cottage at the Queen's request.

At that time, and forever on, the Princess slept atop her 12 mattresses in the King and Queen's chamber...

while poor little Prince Archie had to sleep inside potato bins in the cottage's kitchen, and keep an eye out for the royal mice who sometimes had midnight parties there.

One day the Prince thought and thought, and decided he'd had a change of heart about the Princess....

and the Princess saw the Prince in a new light, and went to see where he was.

So they sat down to chat about how they could improve their relationship in the cottage...

and they decided to be best of friends for the sake of the Queen, because they both wanted to live happily ever after in the magical white cottage.

F I N

Later that day, the Queen was so hot and sweaty...urm...perspired, that she decided to make a refreshing beverage for herself.

She filled a glass with ice..

and added a bit of cream.

Then made a pot of coffee and let it cool down for 10 minutes.

She got some sweetened condensed milk....

and poured a big heaping tablespoon over the cream and ice.

and then stirred in the cooled down coffee, making a lot of noise with the ice cubes, and made a bit of a mess.

Voila! Iced Vietnamese Coffee for one. Fit for a sweaty Queen...urm....perspired.

And on a final note...

Princess Lulu is modeling her newest look.

The Bing Crosby/Woody Allen chapeau.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

(see you after my trip to the cottage on Lake Erie....

one solid week of sun surf and sand, but hopefully no sunburn. )

Cobourg Sandcastle Festival

2009-08-08T13:24:00.007-04:00

Last weekend Steve and I attended the 4th Annual Cobourg Sand Castle Festival (just an hour and half east of Toronto). We went on the second day, the Sunday, but on Saturday night a light rain had fallen and distorted some of the exhibits, but luckily most held up well.
Jet skier......
Giant sea turtle...
Mexican temple....
Cute froggie....
A castle...well, one of many!

People castles...

Click here to see more in my Flikr photo set.

Eddie's Garden

2009-08-02T17:59:00.016-04:00

This is Eddie, my beautiful grey cat, who died too young at 14 yrs this past Christmas.

Steve and I decided to make the back of the yard a little memorial garden dedicated to Eddie.

We hopped in the car, and went to the gardening centre...there was a great sale on perennials and annuals ($.70 cents to a $1!) so i picked out $10 worth of plants.

We marked out a circle on top of where he lies beneath the ground, and tilled the ground, adding some topsoil, and did some edging. In a year or two it will be fuller and more colorful.

We put the annuals, some red and white petunias in the foreground, and the perennials, some blue lungwort...a purpley blue flower, spotted hawkseed and leopards bane - yellow flowers and also apurple cone flower at the back. The cat garden sculpture is in background, gently licking a paw. Eddie was a very gentle cat, a gentleman you might say.

The memorial garden is located right behind our Koi fish pond.

Looks like some pruning is needed here. Our long large backyard still needs lots more work...but we've come a long way already. Here's a photo of a few years ago:

cue the song 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns n Roses.

Anyone know this flower?

This overgrown area needs a bit of cutting back. We are not the greatest gardeners but we still have another month or so to improve things.

We just scored this swing on Craigslist.....i made the cushion cover, but i still have to add another section and put cushions on the back. We left the canopy off, since this area gets shade.

This is my little herb garden with basil, sage, thyme, rosemary and parsley. We have tons of mint at the side of the driveway.

Our front yard....lavender, lambs ears, purple bell flowers, and dwarf thyme.

Hydrangeas, coleus..

We also have potted impatiens and geraniums on the porch. I have to say gardening is work, hard work and sometimes dirty and sweaty work, but it sure is a labor of love!

Happy gardening folks..

Feel Good Friday!!

2009-07-31T10:53:00.003-04:00

Get your toes ready for tapping to ......... B O N G O R O C K ! !

And enjoy the super cool cartoon! I am a bongo novice...I bought myself one years ago and I occasionally beat them when I feel the urge to rock out with a cool song like this one. I wish I had learned to play with a drum kit...someday I would like to buy a kit and take a few lessons, although Steve will not be happy if that happens..he thinks I have a poor sense of rhythm. Ah well!