Mainly, the Grandkids

It's been over a year since I retired and began writing this blog.  The purpose of doing so was to be able to keep my friends, colleagues and family abreast of my activities and in doing so I have made a whole new, wonderful, interesting, talented group of friends out there in Blogland.  I still hope that my older connections are interested in what I am up to and read my blog along with the "Followers" who often write to me and leave delightful comments.  That being said, you will remember from my last post that I was leaving on a nine day trip (out of town) to visit my family and my two darling grandchildren.

I would love to load up this page with oodles of photographs of my darling Grandson Rhys and even more darling Grand-daughter Katherine but I will refrain and only post a few.  Grandmas will appreciate how difficult this is going to be for me to restrain myself, LOL, but here goes.............

Here's Katherine....

And Katherine with ME........

And now for my favourite Grandson, Rhys.......

Getting a haircut.....

After the haircut.....

As Superman for halloween.....

In his raincoat............

No more photos Grandma......

I could keep going on and on, but I think I had better stop before I start losing friends, LOL  It's hard to believe that I have been and come back from visiting them.  When you arrive you think that you have so much time but it quickly passes and before you know it, you are back home.  The weather was awful, rained and I mean RAINED, most every day.  It seems that "Sandy" affected many areas.

Another VERY important occasion whilst I was visiting my family was that I attended another son's graduation.  He just received his MBA (this was his third degree).  Am I proud? you bet I am.  Getting a photo was very difficult considering the size of the auditorium but this was better than not getting one.........



Now to get back into the swing of things.  I managed to finish a small picture yesterday, it's a combination of painting and crafting.  I think it turned out okay.......

And this is a piece of pottery which I purchased from The Potters' Guild on Saturday.  Wawa, a small town situated north of here was hit by terrible rainstorms which resulted in quite a bit of damage.  A fellow potter who lived there had lost his entire livelihood, home and all his pottery equipment when his studio/home began sliding into the river.  Our Potters' Guild had a table set up at their Open House with items for sale (made by them) and all the proceeds were going to this gentleman and his family.   This is the item I purchased...........



Well, it's getting late and I am running out of things to say.  I'm meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow (Dawn) - that will be nice - I have been looking forward to doing this for a few weeks but we couldn't seem to pick a suitable time, so tomorrow it is!!

I hope you all have a great week.  Thanks to all those who said prayers for my brother and sent good thoughts.  You are the best.  Big hugs, Chris

When I did this post last night I forgot to mention that any friends of my friend Laurie who followed her blog "In my dreams I see" can now find her new blog at....   http://iloveacloudyday.blogspot.ca/

3 more sleeps

Can you tell, I am so excited to be going to see my darling grandchildren.  If they only knew how much I miss them - miss their parents also, but I won't tell them that, LOL  Seriously though, I really do miss my kids, but then you mothers (and fathers) know exactly what I am talking about, once your children leave the nest.  We may not keep telling them, but deep down in our hearts it is never the same.  I would love to go back in time to when the kidlets were five and under.  So much work but so much love (hugs and cuddles and wet kisses) and satisfaction.  They have just moved into a new home and I'm looking forward to seeing that too.  So much excitement.  I hope I can be a blessing to them and help out a little.

I will be travelling by Greyhound bus (13 hours there and then the same on the return).  It used to be that you would purchase your ticket and then just hop on the bus after you packed your suitcase, but not anymore.  I have to make sure that my cell phone is fully charged, my Avista notebook's battery is okay, my Canon camera is charged and ready to use and last, but not least, my Sony e-reader is all set to go with a few books downloaded.  So much to do, LOL  On top of that, I have to make sure that I gather up all the cords needed to operate the above.

My trip is a dual purpose one.  The twin brother of the son with the kidlets is receiving his MBA whilst I am there visiting and I will be attending his Graduation Ceremony.  Proud mum or what?  This will be his third degree.  He will be catching me up, as I am always giving the kids the third degree or pleading the fifth degree, LOL

As always, I have been keeping busy.  This retirement business takes up more time than when I was working........  I must have St. Vitus Dance or something (no offense to anyone) because I cannot just sit and do nothing.  You would think that with all my health issues I would be pleased to just suit quietly and relax, but no... in fact, I think that my busyness keeps me going.

Our Boutique is coming along slowly.  We just need people to learn of us and come and visit.  This past Saturday was deado, between all three of us we didn't even hit $50.

My brother in Stockport, Cheshire has been quite ill - he fell and broke his hip a couple of weeks ago and was recovering quite well then fell again and broke his femur under the new hip.  He was not expected to survive the anesthetic, but Praise the Lord he did.  I beseech you to pray for him that he will recover.  He also has sclerosis of the liver which really complicates things.

As I won't be blogging whilst I am away, here are some of the new things I have done...............

Altered Art

Candle Holders

Some Plaques

This idea for the Hot Baths I stole from Laurie.  She doesn't mind, she's always giving me ideas, what a friend.  There isn't a jealous or selfish bone in her body - she is always giving and then giving more.

I turned this little shelf from this...

Into this.......

My effort at painting a Fall acrylic painting....

And a few other paintings I did, the last one only the frame I repainted.............

This one of the ladies was given to me by my lovely friend Carol (my partner in crime in the Boutique).  It was very old and ugly but now I think is adorable!!!  Thanks Carol.  Unfortunately, the pictures didn't come out very well, the light reflected off the glass.

I found this Rooster plaque at one of the thrift stores, so cute....

 This delightful lantern for candles was given to me by my sweet friend Laurie (who is a wonderful artist) - she also found it at a local thrift store, lucky me.



And this adorable handmade pottery flower holder was given to me by the ladies from the Potter's Guild to thank me for marble bags I had sewn up for the children who come into their Studio for pottery lessons.  The school programme is connected with the Old Stone House here in the Sault.

I'm sure you have had enough of my shenanigans for now, so I will leave you with two more photos, my fantastic Christmas cactus.  I have never seen so many blooms on it..... and to think I was considering tossing it because it is so large.  Not for a while now anyway..........

Be happy and healthy and I will be in touch when I return.  Hugs, Chris

Always lots to do

Went to see this movie today with Dawn.  It was better than I had expected but I wasn't too impressed with the swearing, and I mean "real" swearing - taking the Lord's name in vain.  It's bad enough when you have to listen to all the cussing that goes on in today's films, but I really have a hard time with the former.  If you can get passed that, then this is a movie that both you and your hubby might enjoy.



Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus, who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat, refuses to be benched for what could be the final innings of his career.

He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Mickey has never been close to her father, who was ill-equipped to be a single parent after the death of his wife. Even now, in the rare moments they share, he is too easily distracted by what Mickey assumes is his first love: the game.

Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries-revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future.

The film also stars Justin Timberlake as Johnny Flanagan, a rival scout who has his sights on a career in the announcer's booth...and has eyes for Mickey. Rounding out the main cast are John Goodman as Gus's old friend and boss, Pete Klein; Robert Patrick as the Atlanta Braves General Manager Vince Freeman; Matthew Lillard as Phillip Snyder, the Braves' associate director of scouting; Scott Eastwood as Billy Clark, one of Gus's discoveries, who's now in a slump; and newcomer Joe Massingill as young batting phenom Bo Gentry, who's emerged as the Major League's hottest young prospect. Also in the cast are Ed Lauter, Chelcie Ross, Ray Anthony Thomas, George Wyner, James Patrick Freetly, Bob Gunton and Jack Gilpin.

Now that I have got that out of the way, let's see what I have been up to lately.  Needless to say that I have been keeping myself busy with the Boutique.  It's getting to look really nice in there and Carol and Gary seem to be enjoying it as much as I am.  Here are a few up-to-date photos of it...................

I have made a few new things to put in the Boutique.  As always, I have fun making them, but.... will they sell?  I don't ask much for anything I make, afterall, it's just a hobby.

This stool I shabby chic'd and added some water-slide decals which I purchased from the Polka Dot Closet  http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.ca/  It sold the day after I took it in............

Here are a few acrylic paintings I did, kind of funky don't you think?

What else did I do this past week?  I repainted a small child's stepping stool and added some French decals and a metal embellishment, along with a black button.  I think it is adorable.  Sometimes it's hard parting with things but one cannot keep them all, right?

                                                      

                                 BEFORE

                                  AFTER



I also found these adorable items at one of the local Churches' weekly bargain basement sales.  You just never know what you will find.  The pram came with the two primitive animals and the chair I found separately..................

I had better stop or I won't have anything left for next time.  Just one last thing, I made a few of these and placed them around the Boutique in time for the October holidays and they are for sale if anyone wants to buy one.

Well folks, I guess I had better give it a rest.  I hope all my fellow Canadians are enjoying their Thanksgiving weekend.  We will probably have a small roast of beef tomorrow with all the fixings and today, this was what was on the menu, not too shabby methinks.

Have a great week.  Blessings, Chris

Oh, before I go, I am thankful that my brother Alun in Stockport, England is recovering nicely.  He is not very well and recently had taken a fall and broke his hip.  It was operated on a couple of weeks ago once they had stabilized him and now he is home.  His wonderful wife Jean is taking great care of him (he is blessed) and hopefully he will continue to improve in health as well as his hip healing.  Prayers are always welcome, thanks.