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/

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.

Halloween with Rhys

Just a quickie to say that I had a fun time in the neighbourhood surrounding Dave, Niki and Rhys' home.  They have so many great friends, most of them with children, some with furry children and they are all so very friendly.  Rhys (my 2 year old grandson) dressed up as a lion and, after a rough start because he didn't want to wear the lion headress, it turned out to be a fun evening.  Some of the homes were very scarey but most were just toned down with pumpkins on the porch.  Kim and Kyle, I hear were serving champagne on their porch.  I bet they even had canapes and hors d'oeuvres, LOL  I found out today that Kim, an ex-Saultite, has written and had published a very interesting book.  I will wait until I get home before I talk about it more (mainly because I have to read it first).  I have also purchased a copy for our Library because it is written by someone who was born and raised in the Sault.  Congratulations Kim.  Back to this evening and Rhys in his Halloween costume, here are a couple of photos which were taken by his daddy Dave.

I took a few myself this evening but will have to wait until I get home to be able to download them onto my "big" computer.  Talking about going home, I have one more day (Tuesday) to spend with my precious grandson and his not too shabby mum and dad.  Dave thinks that I tolerate him just so that I can spend time with Rhys.....  Could that be true?  I'll never tell, LOL

As usual, it has been a most enjoyable visit, but it flies by and as soon as I arrive home I will be wishing that I was back here.  I probably won't come back down until they have their new baby, expected at the end of March, beginning of April 2012.

Well my friends, behave yourselves and I will talk to you again soon.

Naughty me - been shopping again!!

Actually, I had intended to stay put today and continue with cleaning up my craft room, but after lunch I had a visitor who bought the rest of my "ugly" halloween earrings (all sold now), and she said it was lovely outside, so of course I couldn't waste the rest of the day couped up inside.  Gosh, we probably won't have too many more days of gorgeous weather left before the snow hits us.   (Thanks to all the beautiful people who bought my ugly earrings.)

So, where was I to go?  Well, downtown shopping of course.  I love to visit the local stores and support them with my business whenever I can and have made many a new friend that way.  My first stop was The Queen's Cupboard a delightful emporium of old and new items, owned and run by Pat (she's a character and a half) and this is what I bought there - looks perfect on my new trunks that I bought yesterday at My Marie's.........



I'm referring to the metal creamy/brown bird.  Isn't he cute?  From there I headed down to Bruce Street and in the store where Cheryl and Co. used to be there is now an antique store (it used to be next door but moved to get more space).  I must say, he had a lot of interesting items in there and my eye fell on...... are you waiting for this MYRIC? a  figurine of what I imagine to be "Anne of Green Gables".  I cannot swear to it, but it sure does look like someone's rendition of her.  What do you think Myric?  I have to explain, I had just been reading Myric's blog  http://myricandreasen.blogspot.com/2011/10/anne-of-green-gables-room.html where she was talking about a special room dedicated to Anne of Green Gables, very touching, you must go there and read about it yourself.  Anyway, when I saw this figurine I just couldn't resist it and now here it sits on my refinished microwave stand................

I had to give you all views Myric.  I hope you like them.  Just for you my new buddy.

Then I came home with my new-found treasures but there was still shopping time left and as it was such a beautiful day I just had to go out again.  In the mail this week I had received a special invitation to attend a sale at another beautiful boutique here downtown, "The Ideal" a gift store, but I would be away when they had their Christmas sale next week.  I thought it would be a good idea if I just went and had a look around, not really expecting to see anything that I needed at that moment but I fell in love with this little kitty, especially as it was in "my colours".  Isn't he cute?..................

And here he/she is keeping company with the rooster and metal bird.................

Everything will stay where it is for today 'cos I'm worn out from all that shopping and I need to have some supper.  Food gets forgotten when I'm out and about.  I have some nice curried noodles just waiting for me to warm up, nice and spicey.

Just a few more days and I will be taking off south to go and visit my grandson, his mum and dad and his uncle.  I hope I get lots of kisses and cuddles.  I think I'm taking enough bribes with me, LOL  Talk to you all again soon.  Stay happy, healthy and warm.  Big hugs,