It's the weekend and i'm...

resting in bed after having a knee scope done yesterday.  Everything went well, and i've been able to get around more than I thought I would be.  I'm only putting a limited amount of weight on that leg and they had me start exercises today as well.  I've done those only 1 time today but will do them again shortly.  I know they want me to start with 3 times a day but I tell you they take a lot out of me to do them.  I'm icing it lots too to help with the inflammation and taking tylenol 3 and ibuprofen as well.  I'm trying to stay on top of the pain so it doesn't get out of hand but today I ended up sleeping for a couple of hours and when I woke I knew I had missed a dose. 

I will be working on my knitting this weekend hoping to get this project done as it is a Christmas gift.  It seems to be taking me a while but I've never done something like this and therefore I'm still learning.  It seems to be turning out pretty nicely and I know if I continue to work on items like this I will get better at them.

I'm almost done our Christmas shopping although there are a few things yet to get.  I had hoped to be done before my surgery but it didn't work out that way.  I'm more worried though about my husbands family christmas get together at my daughters house next Sat.  I feel bad that everything got switched to her place due to not knowing how I would be feeling and how much I will be getting around by then.  I will have to try to get out with her this week sometime if possible so we can get the groceries we will be needing and help her with as much as I can.  Thank you Kandi for doing this on such short notice, I really appreciate it!

Well, just wanted to stop in and do a quick post!  Have a good weekend and great week!

It's almost Christmas

Here we are already the 4th of December.  Where did this year go?  Where did the last month go?  Seems like we were just giving out candy at the door on Halloween and now we are headed towards Christmas.

The little ones are getting so excited with each passing day.  The decorations have been placed, the trees are decorated and the gifts are being bought.  With all this happening they can't help but get excited.  Today we did our annual Family Christmas Tree decorating here at our house.  It is so fun to get together and enjoy each others company and talk and joke around and just have a lot of fun.  Everett is only 13 months old and taking it all in.  He helped to decorate the tree today even though he took a few decorations off the tree too! LOL...what a cutie.  Hannah and Keira love to place the ornaments in just the "right" spot and sometimes forget that the top of the tree also needs some ornaments as well....talk about sweethearts.  These are all precious moments that we will look back on in years to come.

I wonder sometimes if it is time to set this tradition aside being the family is growing and it becomes harder to arrange time with so much else on the go but then, I stop and think of the girls and how excited they are when they ask nana "when are we going to your house to decorate your tree?" 

I got some pictures of the tree decorating that I want to post here

Grandpa, Kandice, Everett, Adrian, Keira and Krystal

Chris and Hannah

Grandpa and Everett placing the angel!

I've  been busy working on a couple of knitting projects for Christmas gifts and babysitting the kiddos each day.  Having fun with them but realizing I'm not 20 anymore.  They sure do keep me busy.  I am almost done babysitting until the new year as Kandice managed to get some time off with vacation time that added up for her while off on mat leave.  I am having minor knee surgery on Friday (9th) to help repair a tear and hopefully relieve some of the knee pain.  We are having our Family Christmas on Boxing Day this year and the Veltkamp Family Christmas on the 17th.  Looking forward to both of those days but Christmas morning is what is exciting when grandpa and I head over to the kids house to spend the day there while we celebrate our Christmas.

I think today it is time for me to change my blog background to a nice Christmas one as well.

I am still around...

Wow, where does time go?  It has been ages since I last posted here.  I've just been busy with life and even though I stopped in many times to write a post I just didn't do it.  Call it lazy, busy, bored, not that into it I"m not really sure.  I think mainly because I just don't have a lot to write about that when I do get in here it's like "what do I post?" 

I am starting to babysit for my daughter next week.  Everett has turned 1 today (Happy Birthday Ev) and that means it is time for mommy to head back to work.  Actually, she took a weeks holidays already so she extended her mat leave.  So I will be spending most of my days over there and not so sure how much computer time I will have after that, coming home and getting dinner ready and doing anything that needs to be done here at home before heading to bed.  It will be fun spending time with Ev though and on monday, wednesday and friday I will also have Hannah too.  Not sure if I will be watching Keira after school or not but really when you think of it her daddy will be home anyways by the time we get home from school most likely.

Krystal has started working at a new job which for the most part I think she enjoys it!  Seems like a good place to work and she has gotten lots of perks with the job which is GREAT too.  Good luck Krystal!  You will do awesome!

As for my knitting, I"m working on a pair of Thigh High Socks for my daughter (shhhh dont' tell her...lol) yep she picked them out so she knows!!!  They are going well, although I question whether I will get them done being I'm slow and not always knitting when I should be. There are other things I wanted to knit as well but unlike Kandice I can't seem to be working on more than one project at a time. 

Our trip to Tennessee was the best!  We had such a great time and absolutely loved every part of it!  The cabin was unbelievable, beautiful and large.  The kids loved it and the first time Keira spotted a bear lurking around our cabin she reacted as a little girl would....she went running into the cabin screaming that there was a bear outside, which of course got everyone out on the deck checking it out and sure enough there it was looking up at us!  At the time mommy, nana and grandpa were just getting back to the cabin from the grocery store so we missed her initial response but got to enjoy the bear anyways. 

We toured Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cade's Cove and saw lots of bears.  The guys got out fishing with no luck unfortunately but enjoyed it just the same.  We shopped at the outlet mall or should I say the girls did and the guys shopped at Pro Bass and of course enjoyed that.  They took the kiddos so that the mommies could enjoy relaxing shopping time.  Then Kandi, hubby and I all bought new cowboy boots.  Love that store...Stages West!!! Awesome array of boots for every member of the family and the lady that waited on all of us was great!  We also did the Ripleys Aquarium in Gatlinburg, which was really cool.  Everyone loved it as well.

We are planning a very large family vacation in Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg area for August 2013!  So looking forward to that trip.

I have a few pics I will try to add here later from our trip.  Have to see if I can do it right this time!

where did the summer go?

So, it's Sept 1st and the last long weekend of the summer is upon us.  Wow, where did the summer months go?  Seems like we just got started and here it is almost over.  The kids are getting ready to head back to school on Tues and moms and dads getting ready to change back into the daily routine that will keep them on their toes for the next 10 months. I know my granddaughter who is heading to grade 2 this year is looking forward to getting back to school.  My other granddaughter has been attending pre-school all summer long and will continue on starting Tues.  I can only imagine the excitement in that household (they all live in the same house) when Tues morning rolls around and both of them are getting ready for school at the same time and possibly heading out the door together as well.  Won't that just be the cutest?

So we had a beautiful summer although it took a while to get it started.  We had heat like you wouldn't believe for the month of July and several storms that ravished areas around us.  Of course the biggest one hitting Goderich (previous post).  The girls experienced their first bigger storm at the trailer that managed to send them running to the concrete building that is the public washroom for our area of the park.  The lightening from this storm had to be the worst I have ever seen.  It was scary.   Part of Cambridge got hit that night with an F1 tornado which of course isn't as severe as Goderich but still it affected a lot of people.

We are all looking forward to our trip to Pigeon Forge, TN to the mountians.  We have rented a cabin for a week and are so excited to hit the road and start our adventure. 

Hope you enjoy your long weekend, stay safe and have lots of fun. 

A week of destruction, sadness and loss for Canada

	Why is Goderich called Canada's Prettiest Town? Legend has it that a relative of Queen Victoria once visited Goderich and told her what a beautiful town it was, whereupon Queen Victoria stated, "Surely that must be the prettiest town in Canada!"

A very sad day on Sunday for the town of Goderich.  A tornado ripped through the downtown core and obliterated almost the whole town square.  I'm not sure if you are aware of what the town square looked like before the tornado but to see it after the fact you would wonder if it is the same town.  Here are some pics of before and after.

Look at all the beautiful trees surrounding the court house

and after the tornado ripped through!

It is hard to believe when you see the damage is destruction throughout the town that only one person, a man working at the salt mines was killed.  I worked in Goderich for 6 months and visited there often when we lived in Kincardine.  A favourite place for us to go was The Bedford Hotel and eat at Paddy O'Neils.  Looks like it has been very badly damaged as well.

A look here will give you an idea through photos what damage has been done. 

Truly a very sad time for the Town of Goderich.

On another sad note we lost a truly great Canadian this week.  Jack Layton, leader of the NDP party in Canada.  I've never much been into politics but Jack Layton had a way of talking to Canadians and getting their attention.  In 2011 Layton became leader of the largest Official Opposition in 31 years—and the first formed by New Democrats. With 59 Quebec MPs, Layton’s team emerged not only as a credible government-in-waiting, but as a force for Canadian unity.

He had hopes and dreams of one day becoming Prime Minister aof Canada and I believe he could have done it!  Two days before Jack Layton passed away he wrote a letter to Canada, not just any letter but a very strong letter of love and encouragement for us to become better people and work towards a better Canada.  If you haven't already read the letter you can find it here.  Even during his last days he was thinking of Canada and her people.  We should find encouragement in his strength and work to make Canada a better place for all.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

Great Back to School Giveaway at my daughters blog...

What a great giveaway just in time for school.  It is open to Canada and US.  Check it out and enter, you may win this great prize!

http://gethealthymomma.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways

Click on the comments link to take you to the entry section.

Almost the long weekend!

Do you have any plans for the long weekend?  I know it is only a civil holiday so not all get it off but just wondered if you do, do you have plans?

Of course my favourite place to spend any weekend is at our trailer.  So to have a long weekend at the trailer just makes it that much better.  They are doing helicopter rides which should be fun.  I'll be watching from the ground. Not sure a helicopter ride is something I would want to do...call me a scaredy cat but it's enough to just get me on an airplane without feeling sick and scared.  LOL!!

As far as I know i'll be heading up tomorrow.  Just have to stop and get some food and other items that we will need up there.

Today I babysat my grandson Everett.  What a handsome little dude he is...here is a picture of him while he is sleeping and then a picture when he woke up from his 10 minute nap.

I swear he wakes up from his cat naps like he has just had a 2 hour nap. 

We had fun playing with the toys, singing, playing patta cake and just spending time together.  He is such a mommy's boy that he doesn't let his mommy out of his sight for long and after about 40 minutes realized mommy hadn't been around.  Silly boy!  Sure is a handsome little man don't you think?



Knitting

Knitting is one of my favourite past-times as is crocheting.  I've worked on many things over the years as I posted in a previous post.  Sweaters, socks, blankets, wraps, barbie doll clothes, hats, cocoons for babies, christmas items, dishcloths and much more.  Right now both Kandice and I have been working on items to put into a craft sale at the trailer next summer.  We have both been making dishcloths but have other ideas to work on as well. 

My grand daughter Keira is waiting for some barbie clothes which I have just started working on again.  I have really slacked with these things while knitting dishcloths but I have decided I need a change from the dishcloths.  So now Keira will get some new barbie doll clothes very soon.

I enjoy reading blogs and tweets from other knitters which provide hints and tips as well as free patterns.  Kandice got me started with a subscription from Knit Simple for Christmas and along with that the company also sent me a Vogue Knitting subscription as well (to make up for all the trouble we had with the subscription).  I've really enjoyed the magazines so far and they have even sent extra once in a while so I'm able to share with Kandice too. 

I find knitting to be very relaxing although there are times when I question why I bother...especially when I just can't make any sense of the pattern for whatever reason.  Kandi has just started knitting less than a year ago but I tell you she has a great knowledge of knitting and patterns.  She has taught me some new things and tries (lol) to encourage me to take challenges with my knitting.

Today, I plan on sitting with my knitting after I get some housework done.  Enjoy your day no matter what you may be doing....

summer is here

It's hard to believe that summer is here and the kids are out of school as well.  Where did that school year go?  We have been spending some time up at the trailer but have had some other commitments as well on some weekends that we have been doing as well.  This weekend coming we have a family pool party at my sisters.  Guess what I forgot to do though?  LOL...I forgot to bring my bathing suit home from the trailer last weekend.  Not sure yet but maybe tomorrow the girls and I will all go up for the day, spending some time at the beach while up there.

I've  been following the Casey Anthony case over the few years (on Nancy Grace) and recently catching up on it since the verdict was brought down.  I CAN'T believe that she is going to be free on July 13th.  NOT GUILTY?  What were they thinking?  The jurors say that the prosecution didn't prove without a doubt?  OMG, I would say that there was lots of proof.  They got this one dead wrong that is for sure.  The jurors believe she lied to the police throughout the search for her daughter and found her guilty of that but what did they think she was lying about?  I believe she knew all along where her daughter was so yes she was lying.  I just don't get it at all.

Are you going to watch Big Brother this season?  I've never gotten into the show but I know my daughters watch it (at least one daughter does for sure but I think they both do???they can correct me here if I'm wrong)  I was thinking that maybe I would try to catch it tonight and see if it is something I would want to watch for the season.

I'm looking forward to the new season of Biggest Loser which doesn't start until Sept...and Greys Anatomy!  I guess that time will go fast enough without thinking about it...lol!

June 18th is WWKIP day!

This is the first time I've actually heard of this and when I read about it I was so excited.  Unfortunately, we are at the trailer on the weekends and therefore I can't go to the one close to us at Shall We Knit  I always do some knitting at the trailer whenever I can so even though I can't be at the get together I will be Knitting In Public at the trailer.  I'm sure if my daughter is up at their trailer she will be too!

Here is a little history of WWKIP day which is actually a week long celebration. Here you can find out if there is a KIP event in your area, find out about hosting a KIP and promoting your KIP with fliers. 

Will you be attending a Knitting In Public get together in the city where you live? 

summer is here

and the weather is hot, hot, hot!  Way too much humidity too.  I love summer and wish that we could just have the heat without the humidity.  With the humidity comes thunderstorms of course and we have had many of them lately.  Wild and crazy weather systems causing havoc all around.  Power outages, wind tossing things around and rain that just keeps on coming and flooding streets and rivers all around. 

We have been going to the trailer on the weekends again and there has been a lot of rain up there as well.  Last wednesday there was quite a storm go through doing some damage to the awning of a trailer right behind us.  We always get so nervous about the wind picking up while we are there that we always keep an eye on the awning.  It is such an expensive loss and therefore we are vigilant on bringing it in if we think the winds are picking up.  We never, ever leave it up when we leave the trailer for the week.  Besides I'd be a nervous wreck worrying the whole time.  We see that some people just lower the awning down to the deck but still the wind can grab it even when it is like that.  I just wouldn't want to have to deal with lossing the awning.  When I got up there last thursday the patio furniture was upended and all over the deck so I know if the awning had been down or out we likely would have had some issues too.

It was a quiet weekend at the trailer being out of the 3 families (our daughter and her family, and her in-laws and us) we were the only ones up in our little triangle.  LOL!  In fact right around us there were 9 families that weren't up which made it even quieter.  I sat outside on friday and worked on my knitting project.  I'm working on some blocks for my great-nephew who is due in July!  The baby shower is this saturday and I'm hoping to have them ready for that....good luck Lynda!  I better get moving so I have time to work on them again today!  It took me some time to figure out the pattern but now that I have it figured out it is coming along much better. 

I just finished reading a great book as well.  A Nicholas Sparks book.  A Safe Haven.  It was great!  I love reading any of his books but this one really kept me reading and not wanting to put it down.  If you enjoy his books then don't pass the opportunity to read this one!  I'm now reading a Kristen Hannah book called On Mystic Lake.  It has been a great read so far as well but it is taking me a bit longer to read it.  Not because it isn't good because it is. I just haven't gotten to the point where it is hard to put it down.  I've never read any of her books before and when I found it at a garage sale the lady had many of her books and she said they are great books to read.  I probably should have grabbed a few of them at that time!

Well, hope you are having a great week and enjoying the weather!  Leave a comment and your site and I will drop by and check out your site as well.

Trailer time again!

It was a terrible weekend for many people in the States with the tornados that went through especially In Joplin, Missouri.  So devastating!  This has been a spring of so much devastation throughout the US and in Slave Lake Alberta where the major wildfire destroyed 40% of the town.  I can't even imagine what these people must have gone through and what they are going through now.  So sad!

Well, we enjoyed a beautiful sunny Victoria Day weekend at the trailer.  Early in the week they were calling for rain and terrible weather but thankfully for us things changed and it was wonderful.  Krystal, Adrian and Keira came up on Friday evening but unfortunately, Keira got sick and they ended up having to leave Saturday right after dinner.  Poor girl was running a fever, coughing, stuffed up and just not feeling well at all.  I wondered if it was an allergy but it seemed to continue on for a few days with the cough.  Now Hannah has it but along with it she has been throwing up as well.  Let's hope it makes it stay short and doesn't affect everyone in the household. 

I'm hoping to go back up to the trailer again tomorrow after I am done work but I will wait and see. We want to scrub the outside of the trailer this weekend as well as the awning weather permitting.  When I got home on sunday afternoon I was ready to get the lawnmower out and cut the grass knowing it was going to be quite long after all the rain we had had last week.  Well, you talk about long!  Wow!  Adding a spring fertilizer and all the rain we have had through April and May  sure made it grow and quickly too.  In fact we have had to cut it many times already and it seems like every 3 or so days it needs to get done again. The nice thing is that it looks really nice for the most part (except the side where it grows weird stuff) but overall it looks great!  Come the hot dry weather and it doesn't look so great then so we enjoy it while we can.

Today is National Fibromyalgia Day

Objective:
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day aims to increase awareness of FM and provide support to those coping with the illness.

May 12 is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, a time to increase awareness of this chronic and life-altering disorder by educating the general public, healthcare professionals, government officials, and legislative bodies.

About Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia syndrome affects the muscles and soft tissue. Fibromyalgia symptoms include chronic pain in the muscles, fatigue, sleep problems, and painful tender points or trigger points at certain parts of the body. Fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms can be sometimes be relieved or eased through medications, lifestyle changes, stress management, and other fibromyalgia treatment.

For me, I absolutely dread mornings.  The pain is horrible.  The headache, muscle aches and stiffness that makes me just want to roll over and go back to sleep to avoid having to deal with the pain.  Most mornings I lay in bed and wonder why?  Why do I have to be in so much pain?  Why can't I just have 1 morning where there is no pain? Then I roll out of bed and start my day one step at a time. 

It would be easy to say "forget it, I'm not getting up" but what would that do to help me?  I get up and start my day whether it be going to work or doing some housework. I take it slower then I used to and take breaks throughout the day just to sit and let my body rest.  I've been finding my left knee and hips are feeling the brunt of things right now and the pain in those 2 areas by the end of the day leave me exhausted and non-motivated.  I usually end up back in bed by 7pm resting and knitting or on the laptop.

Do you know anyone who has Fibromyalgia?  Are you supportive and try to learn as much about Fibro so you can support them?  There are some great websites out there explaining Fibro and how you can help support those who do have it.  Here are just a few!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001463/

http://www.medicinenet.com/fibromyalgia/article.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079

supporting your friend or loved one

http://www.everydayhealth.com/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-emotional-support/helping-a-friend-with-fibromyalgia.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3P7m3Xly2U

Do what you can to learn more about Fibromyalgia. 

What a beautiful wedding indeed!

What a beautiful wedding and a beautiful bride.  I absolutely loved Kates dress.  Very simple, elegant and perfect for her! 

Look at that look of love as they leave Westminster Abbey!

I decided to only get up a little bit early this morning.  So at 4:15 I went to the other room to see what was going on.  Guests were arriving at Westminster Abbey and people were lining the streets to watch.  Of course the most anticipated moment was to see what Kate had chosen to wear.  Kates sister looked absolutely beautiful as well.

I wish the couple love and happiness and may they live a long and prosperous life!

Diana would have been so proud!!!

Royal Wedding

I'm looking forward to catching the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate tomorrow morning.  I know that so many people wonder why I want to get up and watch the wedding and to that I guess I would say it's just to see the pomp and pagentry. 

In 1981 when Princess Diana was getting married to Prince Charles I woke up to watch it and stayed glued to the TV to catch it all.  Diana was such a beautiful person inside and out and to see her in her beautiful wedding gown was just a wonderful thing to take in.  I followed as much of Diana as I could without going to the extreme but I loved looking at her in magazines and reading about her. It was so sad that the paparazzi would chase her down and not leave her alone but then again if they had we wouldn't have been able to follow her and what was going on in her life.  It was such a tragic day when I woke up to the news that Princess Di had been killed in an accident in Paris.  How could a Princess have died so tragically?

I truly hope that with Prince William and Kate that the paparazzi has learned from the past and that they let them have some private time....not chasing Kate all over the place, looking for her to make mistakes.  Let them be!  I know, if they do we won't see much about them.  This is true but then again I think they should be given the chance to make this marriage work and give her the time she needs to learn everything she needs to.

Will you be watching?  Have you watched any of the specials that have been airing on TV this past week on the Royals and Kate?

it's been quite a week!

On sunday my hubby, myself, the girls and their families and Krystals in-laws all went to the Vaughan Mills Mall.  The guys were wanting to go to the Pro Bass Store and the girls we wanted to go and just walk around and check everything out.  Well, just as we were about to leave I was bent down in the front entrance and something happened to my back.  Just like that, wasn't doing anything that would have brought it on it just happened!  I figured it would go away as fast as it came on but WRONG!  So off we went.  I drove there and back, walked around for hours looking through stores and having fun with the family.  The guys doing the Pro Bass thing and shopping for their fishing needs.  We all met up for lunch and then walked around again for a bit.  The little girls got pics taken with the Easter Bunny which were so cute and then we decided it was time to leave. 

We all came back here for dinner which we ordered in (chinese) and then off to bed I went.  It was an awful night trying to get comfy and free of pain.  Nothing worked.  By morning I was worse than I had been.  My parents came over for a bit trying to convince me to let them take me to the hospital but I had called the orthopedic surgeon I am seeing for my back and was waiting to hear back from them to see what I should do.  Little did I know that the doc wouldn't see me again until I had another MRI done.  WHAT??? Are you serious?  So needless to say I haven't seen a doctor yet except for the doctor that does my back injections and thank goodness for him.  I had an app't to see him yesterday (thurs) and he was able to give me an epidural to hopefully relieve the pain.  The epidural was the worst but today I am feeling the slightest bit better.  The injecion site is tender and the back is still sore around the lower back/hip area but today I was able to get up and have a shower, wash and do my hair and do a little around the house.  Hubby is doing the laundry which is a huge help being the laundry room is way downstairs so looks like everything is under control for now.  I even managed to wash the hall and kitchen floors.  Also, through the week the girls came over and they helped me out with changing the sheets on the bed, and doing some laundry.  Poor Hannah and Ev didn't get much time with Nana but I just wasn't able to hold Ev for long and I couldn't get down on the floor with Hannah and play with her like I do other times.  She kept asking me to but in the end she helped Nana make lunch which she was quite happy to do. 

So now I'm up in bed resting and taking it easy.  Going to do a bit of knitting now and put some heat on my back and see how that makes it feel.

I hope that this situation is almost over with my back and that I'll be back to normal in no time.

what is your favourite TV show right now?

I am a big fan of The Biggest Loser (have been for many seasons).  I enjoy watching and cheering on the people on this show.  I generally have my favourite that I really want to go all the way.  This year it was Arthur, mainly because he really needed to be at the ranch.  He was 510 lbs when he started on the show and when he was sent home he weighed in at 393.  I know when they do the "what do they look like now" at the end of the show Arthur was doing well with continuing his weight loss.  I hope he has been able to keep it up and when the finale comes along maybe he will win the at home contest.

Another show that I am really into right now is Parenthood. I really enjoy this show.  At first I wasn't sure but then my daughters would talk about it and how they found it more like real life than a lot of shows.  I would watch it once in a while but then started to see it every tues night right after The Biggest Loser.  Sometimes the talking over each other really gets to much for me but overall the show is excellent.

I can't think of any other shows off hand that I love to watch other than my NASCAR on Sundays.  If we can't be here to watch it we like to PVR it.  Go Dale Go!  88 all the way!!!

What are your favourite shows or do you watch TV?

If you could go anywhere in the world...

all expenses paid, where would you pick to go?  NO, i'm not offering any great giveaway!  Sorry!  I'm just curious to see where you would choose.

I've been asked this question before and I've always had major trouble deciding if that is at all possible.  There are so many places that I would want to experience which would include: Australia, Holland, Peru, Argentina, Ireland, England, Turkey, Italy, Bora Bora, Bali, Norway just to name a few.  I look at pictures of these different places and cities. beaches, buildings etc. that are located there and I am in awe of the beauty and the tranquility! 

I've been on a few cruises and thoroughly enjoy boarding the ship and being pampered to the max while on board so that is another option that I would look into.  30, 40 even 60 day cruises would be high on my list for sure. 

So, I still have no idea which one of these places would be my choice or if I would choose somewhere else altogether or do the cruise option.  I mean, if it were all expense paid how could a decision like that be an easy one?

Would you want sunny beaches, busy cities, bed and breakfast, resorts?

What are you thoughts?  Where would you go?  What is your list of "would love to travel there" places?

Knitting

Knitting has become a favourite pastime of mine over the years but lately having one of my daughter Kandice knitting as well has made it more fun.   (we have tried to get my youngest daughter Krystal to knit with us but she is an avid reader and has a book blog that is her passion) Please check out her blog and let her know I sent you!  Anyways, for me knitting is a way to take a break during the day even if it is only a few rows done and it is a relaxing way to wind down from a busy day.  The only time I find it stressful is when I can't make hide nor hare out of the instructions and I sit there reading it over and over and over and working it the way i'm reading it until finally it sinks in.

My MIL was a knitter as well.   She actually knit socks for extra income for Philosophers Wool, Inverhuron ON.  She did some amazing work with colours and she could knit socks like no one I've seen before.  Some of her socks were featured in the book Sock Hop.  (half way down page)

I inherited a whole lot of wool from her stash when she passed away which Kandice has since used some of it to make a hat.  One day I will attempt to make socks like my MIL with all the different colours but until then I'll just make the ones that have only a couple colours. 

Right now i'm working on a really cute pattern from the Child's Play magazine (from Creative Knitting) that Kandice had found and thought I may enjoy.  There are so many adorable patterns just waiting to be knit in this magazine but the first one I have picked to do is the Nautical Stripes Onesie for my great nephew when he is born in July. 

This shouldn't take long now that I have it started and then I should have some time to make some cute little knit toys to go with it as a shower gift. 

Do you find knitting relaxing or is it just something you pick up and do just because?  What are you working on or do you have many WIPs?

some of my favourite pictures

These are just a few pictures I have on my laptop.  They are of our grandchildren at different ages.

  (no order)

Grandpa and his 2 girls at the trailer summer of 2010

Keira at our house

Hannah only a few months old

Hannah in 2010

Grandpa and his favourite kiddos just after Everett was born

(Oct 2010)

This was taken on our way back from London Childrens hospital after Hannah had her app't with the doc about her hips.  We had to stop so Kandi could feed her...she was hungry!

Everett just a couple months old

Soap nuts!

A while back I posted that I had won some a Yore Laundry Trio package from Yoreganics which included the Soap Nuts, Stain Remover and Whiten and Brightens powder.  I have used all 3 products and I have to say the clothes have come out clean and stain free (we don't have many stains usually)! My husband works for a Home Builder and gets quite dirty (esp. this time of year with all the mud) and he says his clothes are as clean as they were with the detergent that we had been using.  I didn't think he really noticed the laundry but when I decided to try a cheaper brand of detergent on time he was quick to tell me that his clothes just didn't appear to be washed well.  Yep, he noticed!

Anyways, when i first opened the package I thought "what the heck, with a smell like that it can't possibly get the clothes clean and fresh smelling"!  But it did clean the clothes and has continued to keep them clean and fresh.  I just recently refilled the bag with a new round of the soap nuts.  You use approx. 5 nuts in the mini bag that comes with the nuts and depending on the water temp and the softness/hardness of the water will determine how often you change them.  Usually 4-6 loads is what you would expect to get.  To check and see if the nuts are still good to use put them in a bottle with some water and shake.  If you still get some suds then they can still be used if not it is time to change them.  They can be put in the composter which is another plus.  I have really enjoyed using them and will likely order some when I am getting low.  The soap nuts are actually berries that come from the Chinese Soapberry Tree, or Sapindus Mukorossi, in India.  So for anyone with nut allergies these are safe because they are berries!

For more information be sure to check out Yoreganics website! 

Your knitting and crocheting time - 2KCBWDay7

Your knitting and crochet time.

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks to hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

Most of my knitting is done in the comfort of my bed in the evening while watching my favourite shows on TV. Most times I have my laptop open and ready in case I need to pull up a video from KnittingHelp.com which has been a godsend to me. I try to take my knitting with me if I am heading to the hospital for my back injections so I can work on it while waiting my turn but to be honest I'm not sure how comfy I am knitting in front of strangers especially if they are knitters. I always worry that they will look at me and wonder what on earth I'm doing...who taught her how to knit?, why is she doing that? and so on. So for the most part my knitting is done at home.

When I'm knitting I have my coffee and of course I get the urge to snack as well. Chips, ice-cream, yogurt, muffins, rice cakes...yummy! I can't imagine not having my snacks while knitting or crocheting.

Something to aspire to – 2KCBWDAY6

Something to aspire to – 2KCBWDAY6Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? Is there a skill or project that makes your mind boggle at the sheer time, dedication and mastery of the craft? Maybe the skill or pattern is one that you don’t even personally want to make but can stand back and admire those that do. Maybe it is something you think you will never be bothered to actually make bu can admire the result of those that have.

The one thing I would love to attempt is Fair Isle.  I'm not sure if it is something I would want to use often but I would really love to attempt to give it a try.  Why haven't I you ask?  FEAR of not being able to do it!  To much going on all at once, holding more than 1 strand of yarn, making sure the yarn isn't pulled too tight, carrying the yarn and so on....

Entelac is something else I aspire to do one day!

And now for something completely different– 2KCBWDAY5

And now for something completely differen? – 2KCBWDAY5

experimental blogging day to try and push your creativity in blogging to the same level that you perhaps push your creativity in the items you create.

There are no rules of a topic to blog about but this post should look at a different way to present content on your blog. This can take one of many forms, but here a few suggestions: Wordless, photographic post Video blog post Podcast Cartoon/sketch of an idea Write about a subject from a different perspective (for example, you could write about a day in the life of a knitted sock from the point of view of the sock). Interpretive modern dance (why does someone always suggest this? A poem or piece of rhyming verse Stop motion animation .

So being this is experimental blogging day I thought I would post this video I came across one day. I enjoyed it in a strange way and watched it right to the end. Had a good laugh and really never gave it another thought until I read what day 5 was about. So I set out searching for this video without knowing the name of it, the author of it in fact nothing more about it other than it was a "funny knitting video". Hope you enjoy it.

Where are they now? 2KCBWDAY4

Where are they now? – 2KCBWDAY4

Whatever happened to your __________?
Write about the fate of a past knitting project. Whether it be something that you crocheted or knitted for yourself or to give to another person. An item that lives with you or something which you sent off to charity.

Over the years most everything I have knit or crocheted has been given away as gifts or just made to give to someone out of my home.  So to be honest I really don't know where things end up over the years.  I guess I hope that they will be passed on and on until of course they are wore out.  I've made baby sweaters, afghans, baby blankets, scrunch socks (always a favourite of mine) that were given to nieces for gifts and of course I made them for my own daughters when they were much younger.  I would love to find a pattern for these again so I could make some for my grand daughters.

Anyways, I guess I'll never know where these items are now!  I am embarassed to say that a couple patterns I've attempted have been set aside for a long time only to be unravelled when I couldn't figure out where I was to try and pick up on it again but really that has only happened 2 times that I know of!

Wouldn't it be nice to know though if the items we make with love and anticipation for gifts to loved ones be handed down the line to others who will wear and enjoy or play with and enjoy?  I sure hope so!

Tidy Mind, Tidy Stashes2KCBWDay3

Day Three: 30th March. Tidy mind, tidy stitches.

How do you keep your yarn wrangling organised? It seems like an easy to answer question at first, but in fact organisation exists on many levels. Maybe you are truly not organised at all, in which case I am personally daring you to try and photograph your stash in whatever locations you can find the individual skeins. However, if you are organised, blog about an aspect of that organisation process, whether that be a particularly neat and tidy knitting bag, a decorative display of your crochet hooks, your organised stash or your project and stash pages on Ravelry.

I try to be organized with my knitting by using plastic containers/Rubbermaid bins for my stash of yarn.  Mind you I have bags of yarn in my closet, my spare closets beside my bed and in the office closet.  This sounds horrible as I type it (and makes me think I should think about collecting it all again and putting it back in the bins where it belongs).  My books are in a plastic bin as well again for the most part with some being in those bags I just told you about.  My needles and other tools are in a plastic bin in my living room waiting to be organized in a binder that I bought myself at the beginning of the new year.  My biggest problem is when I print a pattern off and I am finished with the pattern I tend to just fold the pattern and set it aside.  I bought this binder and a whole pile of page protectors to put my loose patterns into it so I would always have them but I haven't completed that task yet.

To be honest here it really doesn't sound like I'm all that organized after all.  I have 2 or 3 knitting bags on the go at times and sometimes still grab a plastic shopping bag to carry my knitting with me.  Why you may wonder?  Why grab a plastic bag rather than my knitting bag?  I really have no idea.

I will take some pics of my stash and post here later today then maybe when I see it here I will make that move to get MORE organized!

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?.

Over the past year I have worked on baby hats (for my daughter to use as props for photography), baby cocoons, baby sweater, baby blankets, a couple snuggies for my grand daughters, a vest (as shown in previous post), barbie clothes, afghans and I'm sure there were other items as well.  Each of the items I worked on were basic made with basic stitches or close to it.  I've always picked projects that I KNEW I could do without a huge challenge just because I was afraid of starting something only to have to give up because I just couldn't do it!  I have a fear of failure I guess!  I was afraid to work with Wool because of being allergic to it...I have found out that I can knit with it and be ok. So one fear knocked off the chart!  LOL...

As for new skills and more knowledge I haven't pushed myself to learn any new skills.  For example just this past week I had a pattern picked out to work on and it entailed "intarsia" I shyed away from it when I got to the store to buy the yarn because the lady there told me she hated doing intarsia and that it was difficult if I had never done it.  Therefore, I changed patterns just like that.  I told myself though that this particular pattern I would eventually try but not right now being this was going to be a baby gift.  So I need to keep that in my head so that I do go back to it and make the item.

My daughter who is also part of this Knitting & Crochet Blg week (this is her blog) has just started knitting this past Sept and she has learned new stitches, and gained such a talent for knitting since starting that she is working with me to help me get over the fears of new things and learn to push myself when it comes to my knitting.  So this time next year I hope if asked this question I will be able to proudly tell you all the new tecniques and skills I have learned.   The one thing I want to give a try is "Entrelac"!

Here are a few pictures of things I have worked on this year....yes the hats are crocheted ( i enjoy crocheting as well)

A Tale of Two Yarns

A Tale of two Yarns - 2KCBWDay1

Part of any fiber enthusiasts hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose 2 yarns that you have either used or have in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is that you love or loathe about them.

I've been knitting for several years and have used many varieties of yarn. I have a stash that consists of Patons, Lion Brand, Bernat, Red Heart, Caron, TLC, Cascade 220 Heathers, Baby Weight, Worsted Weight, Fingering, Sock you name it. Plus I also have many, many balls of wool that used to belong to my Mother-in-Law that is from Philosophers Wool (Inverhuron, ON). Without going down and checking I'm not sure what else may be there.

Only recently have I tried the Cascade 220 and to be honest I would have to say this to date is my Favourite! I loved the way it worked with me. It didn't ball and pill like some yarns that I have used (this is frustrating when you are making a gift). It is a wonderfully soft, 100% Wool and very nice to use. Although this was a gift to me from my daughter and her family for me to knit myself something for a change (which I have) the price is very economical and the colourways are perfect for choosing just the right one. I recommend this to anyone!

As for my least favourite? Wow, I'm not even sure if I have one. Now that my daughter has gotten me more into the luxury natual fibers I would tend to choose those over other yarns if at all possible. I have found that some of the cheaper acrylic yarns pill as previously mentioned so with that in mind I would say that those would be my least favourite. As for one particular make I couldn't really say.

I'll be blogging for the....

I've been knitting and crocheting for many years and although I have enjoyed it I've never really taken any risks or challenges with my projects. My daughter has recently started knitting and has been doing projects that I have shyed away from due to the fear of difficulties in the patterns.

I'm here to be part of the 2nd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week to help me ease away from those fears and blog about something that I am passionate about even though I fear it at the same time. For the week of March 28th-April 3rd bloggers within the Fine Arts Community blog together about the same topic each day. Each day brings a new topic to blog about with a brief discripton as well there is a Wild Card if you opt to use it if the topic doesn't apply to you or you just aren't into it.

If you are interested in taking part check out the post at Eskimimi knits and watch for updates.

Thank you to my daughter who brought this to my attention and with my reservations she managed to convince me that I really should give it a try and be apart of this fantastic idea. I'm looking forward to blogging next week!

Amber Necklace

I just ordeed my amber necklace and bracelet today. I'm so excited to have done this. My daughters told me about them after they had bought for their kids. It has truly been a godsend for Kandi when it comes to Everett. He had been wearing it for quite a while and then one day for whatever reason he wasn't wearing it. This little guy cried and fussed and wouldn't sleep, wouldn't even lay down for much more than 20-30 minutes at a time. Night time was not easy either, they were up with him many times. Kandi was near exhaustion and found his necklace one day and put it back on him and wow, a totally different child from then on. Is it a coincidence? I dont' think so! I now believe there is healing benefits from the Amber for teething and any discomfort that our little man was going through and I tell you I'm looking forward to seeing if it helps me with my pain level and constant discomfort as well.

I'll update here when I get mine in the mail and how I find it is working for me! Check here for more info for yourself. There is also a link near the bottom of the page for where I purchased mine in case you are interested.

meeting with some Canadian Moms

(from left to right...Debbie, Michelle, Lynda(me) and Tonya)

Yesterday I got to meet some women from an MSN group that I had joined back in 2004. I know that MSN is no longer up and running but we moved our group over to Aimoo (a lot of moms never moved over with us unfortunately) which really isn't even similar to MSN but we really didn't have much choice in the move. Anyways, yesterday 4 other moms and myself were to meet at Williams Coffee Pub. Unfortunately, 1 of the ladies was not well and wasn't able to join us. We had a great time talking and meeting. Tonya joined the year before me and the other 2 ladies joined a couple years later. It is hard to believe that we can build friendships like we do over the internet and be in different parts of the country in our case but in other peoples cases across the world. It was so nice to get together but we have several other women that we haven't met yet. The one lady I am so looking forward to meeting one day is Angie. We have a really good friendship I believe and I look forward to that opportunity one day. Angie is in Nova Scotia.

Twitter Parties

Both of my daughters enjoy twitter parties so one night I decided to stop by one and see what all the fuss was about. I had fun!!!! I learned lots of things from it and even WON! Yippee me, I won some soap nuts (actually I won the Laundry Trio and a Lip balm to go with it!) which I am so looking forward to getting so I can give them a try. I've never heard of them before this twitter party and when I started seeing others talk about them I thought...wow, I wouldn't mind trying them out. So, the win was wonderful and now I will give them a try. Here is the link to check them out. This twitter party was through Holistic Moms Network, with Yoreganics. I'll let you know what I think of the soap nuts when I start using them.

Now, the other night my daughter and I were at an IKEA Twitter party. Wow, was it busy and hard to follow. So many people there. We tried to win one of the 6 $100 gift cards but no luck. Saw some pretty awesome kitchens renos done with Ikea cabinets, appliances etc. Beautiful kitchens that is for sure.

If you haven't checked out a Twitter party maybe you should. They are fun, informative (as long as they aren't too busy and fast moving) and you can meet new people as well.

Do you like to read?

If so check this out! My daughter has a giveaway going. Click here to go to Krystal's Stellar Book Blog! Great giveaway.

What a week!

I can't wait for this winter to be over. I've had a cold and flu bug again this week. It kicked my butt this time around like it did last month. This is what I get for not getting my flu shot. I've gotten it every year for 10 yrs and haven't got sick like this and definately not 2 times in 2 months. Now my hubby has it too. The worst thing is my little grandson (almost 4 months old) got quite sick too. In fact, his mom took him to the doctor who gave him an inhaler but told Kandi that if things got worse or he got a fever to take him to the ER with it being a holiday weekend. Well, on sunday he ended up at the hospital. Thankfully after a chest x-ray and a saline mask they sent him home with mommy. The doctor said it was a bad respiratory cold and to keep giving him his inhaler as needed. Poor little guy, there is nothing worse then a baby who is sick and there really isn't much you can do for them. He seems to be feeling better, but still has quite a rattle in his chest.

I got to see all three of the grand children this week which was great. I was feeling somewhat better yesterday so I was able to go to "Dancers for Smiles" to watch Hannah in her fundraiser dance. What a cutie she is. Keira, is so excited because she has her first lose tooth! She was there last night wiggling it and wiggling it trying to lossen it! The cutest thing is she had her mommy bring her tooth holder just in case it did come out. It will be so exciting when she does lose it.

Sunday was my husbands birthday, we went out for breakfast and spent a quiet day at home. (other than the couple hours I was at the hospital with Kandi and Everett)

We watched NASCAR-Daytona 500, which was just what he loves to do this weekend every year!

It's been a quiet week here at our home...how about yours? Leave me a comment and I'll be sure to stop by your site and do the same for you.