AFTERNOON TEA

I had my friend over for afternoon tea and crumpets last week and we planned another date today to have lunch and discuss things we wanted to get involved in. We both want to start a quilting and learn how to reupholster old chairs. Hopefully we can commit to at least one of these things and have a finished project in the next few months.

Jenn was telling me last week how she was inspired by my blog and wished she had started one when she moved to France. I suggested why not start one now, so today I spent some time helping her get set up on blogger and gave her some ideas about what she might blog about. When it's all sorted I'll share it with you if she gives the OK.

It's nice to inspire each other....

Jenn showed me her star quilt today that she started before moving to France; I was amazed it wasn't what I expected at all, it was an advanced star of David quilt. I asked her if we could start off with something a little easier. Something I can see myself doing on my own and finishing.  After all look how long it took me to finish my bunting!  A single blanket for Euan's big boy bed is the perfect project- that will give me plenty of time.

I found this reupholstering u tube video online they make it looks so easy. If this video was filmed in just over 3 minutes by a professional surely we could figure it out in a few months. I think we might need to find a class for this one if we want our chairs to survive!

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE

Monopoly cat passes go as Iron looses steam...

The Scottie dog has a new nemesis in Monopoly...

Monopoly fans ditch iron for Purr-fect playing pieces..


These were just a few of the Headlines while reading about Hasbro's change in Monopoly piece this morning. The cat beat out robot diamond ring, helicopter and guitar. The Scottie Dog was the most popular of the tokens. Looks like animal lovers out there were the ones voicing their opinions. This isn't the first time Monopoly has changed their playing pieces. In the middle of the last century, it's original rocking horse, lantern and purse were retired.


My thoughts.... For me the cat won't make much difference in playing, I usually go for the shoe or the thimble but I do wonder - how are the bankers and business men on Park Place and Boardwalk going to iron their shirts now?

 I know the introduction of the cat will bring many laughs to our family. It's started first thing this morning when I woke up to this picture in my email with the joke headline attached from Husband. Steve grew up in a cat family, I in a dog. The cat/dog jokes seem to be never ending around here. How I ended up marrying a cat person... I'll never know it definitely was not in the fine print! *wink*

xoxo

EXPLOSIONS

DATE NIGHT

Metamorphoses, a Greek word, meaning Transformations.

 Last nights performance took 10 classical Myths of Ovid and transformed them for modern day. Those of us who have never studied Greek Mythology and  novice theater goers left thoroughly entertained.

The  set is built around two big pools and if you are sitting in the front row prepare for a sprinkle of water or two! 

It was my first time at the NAC -it's great!

ICE BEAR TRACKER

I'm now an official WWF polar bear tracker! I've been trying to get pictures of the WWF polar bears around Winterlude to take part in THIS contest.

I found 1 while in the city the other night. This morning I woke up and found this little American bear in my email. 

Husband took the visiting Scottish contractors out for dinner and must have found  him in the Byward Market-very sweet of him to remember about my bear search while out with the lads. 

Tonight, we will have a chance to find the other three when we meet in town for our big date night to see Metamorphoses at the NAC. 

EYE LOVE YOU

WE MUST

WINTERLUDE GLOW

A busy winterlude weekend comes to an end and I leave it with a little more glow.

I have said this before- I have some really amazing friendships. I'm not sure, how I've been this lucky. With all the moving around we do it can be hard to maintain the connetion you have with friends when you factor in so much time and distance. This weekend I was once again surprised by the ease in which a relationship came back as though it hadn't withstood four years apart and as Kelly Jo said "so many missed milestones" 

I'm  not saying I've not had my share of difficulties with friends because when you open yourself up to so many people you are bound to have some; what am am saying is that I am super blessed to have some beautiful friendships in my life that really make me shine. I'm shinning because they except and love me for exactly who I am which in most cases is a lot like them.  Maybe it was so easy because neither of us held resentment to the things we missed and just were happy to be able to spend time together again. 

Getting older, moving to a new city and being a new Mom has changed me. I am not as social and find it difficult to meet new people. Having Kelly- Jo here this weekend reminded me of who I was before marriage and children- a confident social bug who would effortlessly create new friendships. I came out of the Fairmont glowing because I got to spend time with a good friend  who reminded me that I've not lost that part of me.

Kelly-Jo is one of those people who shines so brightly- Thanks for the reminder KJ! xo 

Here are a few pic's from our Winterlude weekend! 

GROUNDHOG DAY

WELCOME WINTERLUDE

Winterlude starts this weekend! I have downloaded the Ottawa Winterlude app on my iPhone to keep track of all the events happening over the next few weeks. Here is the link if you don't have the app.

 Kelly-Jo is in Ottawa for the weekend for a conference. We met at running club. When I moved away to England she moved to Thunder Bay. We have a few years to catch up on, can't wait!

ENGLISH BUNTING

After locking myself in the basement for a few hours the last few evenings I have finished the bunting that Tamarin and I started in Bristol. It's atrocious work, but if I hang it high enough no one will know how bad it really is.

I thought that it would be an easy project. It ended up being 25 feet long and taking hours of work. Most of those hours were spent drinking tea, tasting Waitrose bakery items (all of them) and sharing the good and the complex moments of our lives. With it came lots of laughter and some tears and most importantly a special bond that I'm sure will last the test of distance and time. I had just had Euan, Tamarin had just found out she was pregnant and we were both getting ready to move across the Oceans, in separate directions. (They moved to South Africa)

It is made from some sentimental material: the shirt Steve wore on our first date - funny that Tamarin has this material too.  Most of the bunting is made of Cath Kidston materials, a designer I fell in love with while living in the UK. Some of the Cath fabric was a birthday present from L and the other was from her KIDS collection.  Like many items I spend a little too much on, I told Steve it would last the generations of our family and I believe it will. *smile*

 I would never take back this time I had sharing with my friend, but I have learned a valuable lesson and I know Tamarin knows it too- I am easily distracted. As I'm still learning the basics, I should take more time focusing on the sewing on my next project.  I've set up a little sewing space in the basement spare room; it works well and has few distractions.

PINCH AND PUNCH

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month!

Hello February, I've been waiting patiently for you to come- we have some exciting things planned this month, My husband turns 39 and  my little bug turns 1! On February 21 last year I was having a baby for Steve's birthday so I'm not sure how I'm going to top that present this year. *wink*

 Next week we are going to the NAC to see Metamorphoses based on the Myths of Ovid and of course one of my favourite holidays is this month... Valentines Day.

Happy February!