Autism Dog Services Grad

So I volunteered to make and fill bags for the Graduating teams of Autism Dog Services for 2016. The Ceremony was held at the Parade of People and Pets that took place last Sat at Confederation Park in Hamilton and although the weather didn't cooperate, we had a nice large pavilion to take shelter in. More on the actual event later.

I made up cards with help from my friend Keri for the 10 families that would have their lives changed by welcoming a Service dog into their family. For such a small organization, this is a great accomplishment to match so many teams up.

And inside the card...

I also made a bunch of Chocolate covered Oreos for the bags and for the Silent Auction.

For the bags, I found a design on my Silhouette for both the dog name and the child's name and used my Lawn Fawn alphabet dies to cut out the actual names. I was happy to finally use the Silhouette again. I should be using it more often.

The bag was stuffed and topped off with tissue...

It was a fun day and making the bags was right up my alley. Although I'm very glad that this Event is wrapped up and I can move on to some other things, like CLEANING!

Optimists Fundraiser

I went to a great Fundraiser Crop yesterday put on by the Kitchener West Optimists. Krista did a great job with many games and prizes and vendors. I was too busy working on my cards to take many pictures but I did remember to take a couple of the cute goodie bags that we got when I got home.
I hope they raised a lot of money for children in our community. It was a fun day. Perfect place to be with the dreary, rainy weather.

This was the cute little make and take that the Stampin' Up vendor did for the entire group...

and her take away treat bag..

Where have I been?

I will cite the usual excuses; work, spring cold, dog knee rehabilitation (lots of walking), spring clean-up and various other commitments but mostly I've been in high gear taking registrations and getting ready for the Loonies for Lindor Fundraiser in June. I've had a really good response with attendance, prize donations and help from friends and family.

It will be all hands-on deck from here on in. Here's a little sneak peak..

OH wait! Let me add computer issues to that list.... just trying to get around them and get some things posted. Ahh! computers, when they work they are really helpful.

It hasn't been too spring-like around here but I did enjoy this beautiful spring arrangement that was a gift. 

So I don't want to give away too many surprises so I'll keep my "cards" close to my chest. (a little play on words there) Off to do some organizing.

Kismutt Rescue

I have been busy picking up various donation items and checking out some of the  Rescues in the area. I was really pleased to have a couple of visits to Kismutt Rescue near St. Mary's. Kim rescues the majority of dogs from local Puppy Mills where the animals are subject to horrendous conditions.

On the first visit, I was able to drop off the towels and blankets that were donated at the Fundraiser and also bleach, laundry soap, moist canned food and doggie treats.

At a second visit, I met Tinkie a Puppy Mill Survivor...

Here's a little bit about Tinkie and her life until now. Tinkie is a Bichon-Poo approximately 6-7 years old. She has never known a home or had a soft bed to sleep in. She has never known love or even had a name until she was rescued from a Puppy Mill. Her fur was a matted mess and had to be shaved down and she had to have 7 rotten teeth removed. Tinkie has come a long way, she is still a little shy but you can see from the photo how adorable she is now. Tinkie is available for adoption and will hopefully find a loving forever home soon.

This friendly guy is a stray with no real name or background and he is also up for adoption. He was so friendly, I could hardly get a photo. He kept edging his way towards me to get petted. What a sweet, gentle boy. He would make someone a great friend.
I had no idea that so many dogs and cats were dumped in rural settings. Many of them needing medical care and attention. I'm happy I was also able to donate some of the funds raised at the Crop to this cause. I'm sure it will be put to good use.

On another note, my chocolate girl turned 6 yesterday. Happy birthday Lindor! You will be getting a special treat later today.

Lindor Crop Centerpieces

The mini-theme for this year's Crop was the mason jar. I'm lucky I had the extremely talented designer, Noel, offer to help with the centerpieces.She came up with the cutest idea, darling tissue paper flowers in our colours of turquoise and red with a burlap and pawprint wrap around the jars.

She hand-coloured 20 different images all with a doggie included and placed them on red and white bakery twine so they could be easily removed and converted to a card or used in a layout.

Several lucky ladies were able to take home these works of art if they found a special tag under their chair at the Crop.

Thank you, Noel for all your hours of hardwork. These centerpieces were gorgeous!

Loonies for Lindor Work Bee

There are many jobs to do before the big charity scrapbooking event on June 21 and although I'm a bit of a control freak, I know I have many talented and hard-working friends that are more then willing and capable of helping out. We spent a pleasant afternoon not that long ago getting another job crossed off the list.

Look at all the cute bones lined up in a row.

Many hands make light work!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

If it seems like I've been doing a lot of baking lately, it's probably because I have. I do a lot of fundraising and it always seems to involve some kind of baking because that's what I enjoy doing. Even after a long day at work and busy times walking the dogs etc, I enjoy relaxing with my mixmaster running and the oven pre-heating.

I quite often get requests to bring my carrot cake to functions. It's a family recipe that I have made for years but I think it's a pretty basic recipe. This time, I made single layers (excellent frosting to cake ratio) and stenciled a cute heart for Valentine's Day. I made 36 of these beauties and I didn't have any leftover so I guess they went pretty well. I think I'm baked out for awhile. Time to get back to my challenges and start prepping for my major fundraiser in June.


Here's the recipe if you want to try it yourself:
Traditional Carrot Cake
 
Sift together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Then add:
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups oil

Mix above well, then blend in:
2 cups carrots, finely grated
1 can (14oz) crushed pineapple drained
3/4 cups pecans, chopped

Bake in 2 large 9 inch cake pans prepared for cakes at 350F for 40 min.

When cool frost with:
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 brick (250 mL) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla 
Mix together well.

Lion's Club Fundraising Crop

The Cambridge Lions Club is hosting a fund-raising crop to raise funds for the MRI machine at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. The crop will take place in Cambridge, Ontario on Sat. June 15th, 2013 from 9-5 at a cost of $40. Lunch and snacks are provided and there will be goodie bags for the participants.
Email chlions@hotmail.ca to register.

THANK YOU!!!!

Yesterday's Loonies for Lindor Fundraising Crop for NSD was a HUGE success thanks to many wonderful contributors and friends. We will be able to sponsor several puppies with the funds that were raised.
Thanks to the donors both corporate and personal. Every contribution was appreciated. Our raffle table and door prizes were very popular. Please support the businesses that show their generosity to our cause.
To everyone who helped set up and lug those dreadfully heavy tables back to their spots. It was a horrible job and I appreciate everyone who came and stayed to help with it. There were many of you that stepped up to help and you are appreciated SO MUCH!
To my official photographer, Lori. I'm sure you will see some of her work on my blog in the days to come.
Thanks to my friends; Kathy and Liz for manning the Registration table and for staying all day to help with the raffle set-up and ticket sales.
Thanks to my young helpers; Kate and Claire for assisting with the raffle and sales.
Thank you, Keri for making all the adorable dipped pretzel ladybugs and yummy Cadbury cookies. They were gone in a flash as usual.
Thank you, Tammie and friends for the adorable purses and goodie bag and for picking up some great prizes for our raffle.
Noel, your ladybug sticks were so cute and your strawberry cake a show-stopper.
Anne Marie, as always, stepped up to help wherever it was needed.
Robin and Kathryn, the doggie paint cans for raffle were so adorable.
Corrina, I still can't believe you made all those neck warmers for me. It was a huge job and I never doubted you would finish them for a second.
Jenn,  friend and fellow NSD Breeder Caretaker, thank you for all your hard work preparing food and getting that fabulous meal together. The comments on the food speak to all your efforts. It was great.
My brother, Bob for the yummy ice cream treats. Those Triple Chocolate Drumsticks are delish!
Thank you to my sister-in-law, Lisa, who worked for several days baking and worked tirelessly on food prep and set-up and anything that was needed including coffee runs.
I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. To be honest, I can't even find my planning book at this moment.
ALL of you have helped make this Event so successful.
I'm off to walk the dogs and then I think I'll  read a good book. There's always tomorrow to finish the clean-up.

Dianne

One More Day until Loonies for Lindor Crop

All the door prizes and raffle items are getting packed up.....

The snacks have been purchased...

And the last minute baking has begun...

It will be a long day but this is why I do it....

Catch you later!

Packing the Goodie Bags

Well, Lindor's big scrapbooking event is only one week away so there are lots of little (and big) details to take care of. Last night, my friend Kate came over to help me pack up the goodie bags. She's been working on them at home as well which has been a big help.

We also pulled out the adorable raffle cans made by friend Robin and her daughter Kathryn. Aren't they the cutest? I'm hoping we use them ALL again this year with our raffle items. It's looking promising.

Well, I'm off to make some buttercream frosting. It's going to be a busy weekend.

Friend of Lindor Spotlight

Lindor sure has a lot of supporters!  My friend Keri is a great person to have on board. She is not only preparing a special treat for each guest at the Crop but is also baking some of THESE....

Cadbury Caramilk cookies!!! When the Bake Sale opens at 3, there is practically a stampede to get these beauties off the bake table. And its no wonder, they are so delish and so painstaking to make yourself. I know because I just rolled a bunch myself. Don't worry though, Keri is making many dozens to bring to the Crop so we hope no one will be disappointed.

She also picked me up a bunch of these sweet ladybug bags and designed another card to be given away using this fab ladybug ribbon from Miss Lori. I'm going to make a few extras of this card because I KNOW it will be a popular one. Everyone will be getting a card in their goodie bag. Cross your fingers if you want Card #12. I'm going to keep you in suspense until the big day to see the cards but I'm sure you'll be happy with the selection.

A Look Back at Last Year's Crop

Some highlights from last year's fundraiser....

It was really interesting to hear first hand, the impact that having a Service Dog had on the family and what they can do for the kids.

Of course, having a chance to win these fabulous raffle prizes helped make the day even more fun.

The Show Must Go On....

Despite being extremely busy with work and the new pups, the preparations for Lindor's fundraiser in June must carry on. It will be here before you know it. My friend, Anne Marie, has been a big help getting things organized and working on some items for the goodie bag. There is a little bit of a theme this year. Can you guess what it is? 

Two Weeks Old today

Aren't they sweet?  And so is the special lady who left the parcel on my doorstep today.  Something for the fundraiser in June. Her initials just might be SB. So very thoughtful and appreciated.