Christmas Baking 2021

•  Last year, I didn't bake a single cookie. This year seemed more promising with some small gatherings planned but now with another variant circulating, maybe there will be some more cancellations. On the plus side, I was able to have my neighbours over for a short Open House and I think they all enjoyed getting together as we are a very diverse neighbourhood. Anyway, I digress. 

 

Here is the list of cookies that I made this year (almost all of them tried and true favourites and most of the recipes can be found on this blog....

• Nainamo bars
• Pink ladies
• Butterscotch Marshmallow squares
• Chipit Cherry Jewel bars
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Traditional Shortbread
• Peanut Butter Balls 
• Mennonite Shortbread (iced)
  
• Almond Tree cookies (a rare fail, they were too thick for the Cookie press)
• Mini Chip Shortbread
• Whipped Shortbread 
• Caramilk cookies
  

I exchanged some shortbread for some date balls with a friend of mine to round out the lineup.

I might still roll out some sugar cookies to use up my leftover buttercream frosting. Merry Christmas everyone!
 

July? Card swap

 Hello, anybody out there? It's been awhile. Finally getting back to the monthly cards. Not sure if we will try to catch up or just start from here. It's been a busy few months and the summer is not as conducive to sitting indoors and crafting. Hopefully with Covid on the decline, there will be more regular get togethers and days dedicated to card making and planners. 

I used this sweet stamp set from the Colorado Craft company.  I kept going back to it in the store and didn't know what was drawing me to these bunnies until I looked up the artist. She illustrated Guess How Much I Love YOU? One of my favourite children's books of all time.So I had to have it and made this simple card...... I was thinking of an Anniversary sentiment but decided to leave it blank as it could work for friendship etc.

Keri made this cute card with techniques that she learned from Crop and Create. The stamp set is from Photo Play...

Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going now that we are back to crafting and fall weather.

June Card Swap

 We are going to catch up, I swear, maybe once the cold weather hits but for right now it's too nice to sit inside and scrap. 

We did manage to whip up a couple cards and here they are:

Keri used the new Giant Sentiments: Happy Birthday to you from Lawn Fawn to create this card...

 

What a coincidence! I chose a Lawn image as well...

Here's the stamp set I chose...

It's called Birthday Before and Afters. There you have it, a quick post. Now I'm off to cut the lawn (again)

May Card Swap

 Trying to get back into the swing of card making. Keri and I are going to attempt our Monthly swap. I started with a super easy copy card to get my mojo going....

Keri gave me a couple cards from her Paper Pumpkin collection. We are both trying to get back in the game. I loved these sweet cards...

Wish us luck for JUNE!

The Rosie Project

 I feel like I'm getting back in my reading mode.  It was helped along by finally reading a novel that was INTERESTING! I have read 3 books in 2021 so far. 

"Wife Wanted: Must be punctual, logical and enjoy travelling by bicycle. No smokers, drinkers, or horoscope readers need apply.

Don Tillman, has a brilliant scientific mind, but social situations confound him. He's never had a second date. And so in the evidence based manner in which he approaches all things, he embarks upon the Wife Project: a 16 page questionnaire to find the perfect partner. Then in walks Rosie Jarman."

You grow to love this quirky character and the science thrown into the mix is interesting as well. I definitely enjoyed this book and I hear that there is a 2nd one called The Rosie Effect. This was a first novel as well for the Author. Well done! 

Reading Goals and summary from 2021

 I spend so much time on the computer these days, that when work is done for the day, I don't want to spend another minute sitting down. Plus not much going on in Covid Lockdown world, Eat, Work, Sleep, Walk, Repeat. I haven't had much reading mojo either and of course, I had to get through Brigerton first! 😋

But now I feel like reading a little bit again, my first book was a young Adult dud! Do not recommend. And I'm currently reading The Apple Orchard (which needs to pick up SOON or its going to be a DNF)

Last year, I read 21 books. I think my favourite of all of them was Educated. And I also really liked The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. I'll try to keep better track this year, I read them so long ago, I can barely remember the plots. And did I mention I have 40 books at home in my To Be Read pile and what do I do, I ordered 5 books from the library. 

My Goal for this year is 40 books again. Here's to a big snowy blizzard and a day off to just read.

Happy New Year and new Kitchen

 It's taken me awhile to get back on the Blog. I've been working quite a bit and started a huge renovation on Oct 5th. As any of you know, that have gone through this, there is so much prep work to be done both before and after and so much cleaning. I finally got the final piece installed on Thursday(microwave) so now I can show off the final project. (I'm still waiting on a new door for the Dishwasher-there was a small dent)

Of course, the reno just continued growing. I ended up doing the whole main floor, then I switched all the electrical outlets in the house to white (my house is circa 1966) so it needs a lot of updating. Then I redid the flooring in the Main bath, then I needed a new toilet. I was only going to carpet the stairs and then the hallway, then I decided to do the whole upstairs (pending), then I decided to paint the Master bedroom before carpet. Then I wanted new windows and door in garage and laundry room. Well you can see how things have gone but I have put my foot down and no more renos for awhile. I'm blaming Covid for being trapped in my house. 

So lets start with the befores:

And now for my dream kitchen:

So many decisions, take the wall out? Yes, vinyl plank vs hardwood? Vinyl, Dark cabinets? Goudy black, Countertop: Quartz, Layout? Light fixtures, Hardware, Appliances, Cabinet style?

I could go on forever. But I had an amazing Kitchen designer; Randy Kraemer of Kraemer Kitchens and a terrific Contractor J&H Contracting, Waterloo.

I just LOVE every aspect especially the open concept but I still got my pantry and privacy from the street by maintaining a small wall separating the living room.

I will show you the details in another post. Maybe! 😊