The first snows are here.

Well, it was inevitable... it's not like it was never going to happen... but, I still don't like it.  What am I talking about?  Snow, of course.  I just don't care for it, never have and never will.  It affects my life so much, it cramps my style.  As I don't drive, I cannot get around as easily as I would be able to in the other Seasons.  I guess I had better get used to it, because it probably will be here for the next six or seven months!!  It's not like this yet, but it soon will be....

So, I had better find myself lots of projects to keep me busy during these coming cold months.  Not much to show you this posting.  I guess I have been rather lazy.

This little magazine rack I repainted and this is now it turned out.

 It's now for sale in my Boutique.

Here are a couple of sconces I refinished.  I think they turned out quite nicely, just waiting for someone with great taste to buy them.....

I picked up this little footstool, considered leaving it as a retro piece but then decided that it would look so much better with a "redo".

I love the finished look.  It's already sold - yesterday.

And that's about it - I have a few other items that I must get cracking and finish and will probably feature them in my next posting.

As usual, I shall finish with a couple of photos of my darling grandkids.  It never ceases to amaze me how blessed I am to have them in my life and as usual, am looking forward to my next trip to see them.

My son Dave was playing around with his camera...

And here are the darlings all ready to go out for Hallowe'en.

This is Katherine at Day Care with her adorable friends, Savannah and Cameron.

 And, last but not least, Katherine looking studious.

That's it for me this time my friends, I know, not much of interest - I will try and make up for it with my next one.  In the meantime, please take care and look after yourselves.  'Til we meet again.

Hugs, 

Touching Base

Just stopping by today to touch base with all of you.  I had a wonderful vacation with my son, his lovely wife and my two adorable grandchildren.  Ten days went by so quickly and I think that this was one of the best visits to date.  I managed to treat my sons (twins) to a birthday supper whilst I was there and was able to take part in my grandson's fifth birthday.

Unfortunately, when I returned home I indulged myself in a really fine dose of 'flu', or something resembling it..... fever, chest and nasal infection, sore throat, general malaise, no appetite and nausea.  So, for a week or more, I really did nothing and hardly even left my apartment.  I'm pleased to report that I am greatly improved and hoping for more strength every day.

This last month I haven't made anything exciting for my Boutique but I do have a couple of items on the go so I will show them next posting.  So, that's it - pretty uneventful really so I will leave you with a couple of photos of my little darlings.  I can't wait to go and visit them again.  I figure in about another month-six weeks.

So my lovely blogging buddies, sorry for the lack of projects but I make up for it with delightful photos, LOL  I hope you all will be well and happy - until we meet again......

Hugs, 

Sorry, I misled you!!

I guess I was hoping that the next time I posted the weather would be well on the way to warming up.  I'm waiting for the snow to disappear so that I can hop on the Greyhound bus and go and visit my darling grandchildren, and their parents of course.

I haven't had too many projects on the go since my last visit with you - I actually I can't remember exactly what I have been doing, LOL.  This is the desk and chair that I mentioned that I was going to refinish - I ended up painting it in an off-white.  I'm not sure if I am going to be taking this over to my Boutique or not and for the time being, it is in my apartment with my television sitting on it.  I rather like my tv up higher than it was.

It looks a little messy in that corner at the moment and one of these days I will tidy it up, especially if I decide to keep the desk.  I have to admit that if I could get the desk to my Boutique without any trouble, then it would be there by now, but it really is a little too large for me to carry it on top of my shopping cart, which I usually use to transport the larger items I work on, too much snow on the sidewalks for me to lug it over there!!

Now, the chair is a different matter....

I upholstered the chair with a lovely deep turquoise vinyl, easy to keep clean especially if children are going to be using it.  Since taking these photos, I decided to shabby up the chair but I didn't take a photo of it.

I did another magazine rack, shabby chic of course, LOL

My sweet son Phil did something very special for me, he ordered and had mailed to me a coffee mug with a photo of my sweet grandchildren.  What a delightful surprise that was..

He has a really kind and generous heart.  Thank you so much Phil.  I will treasure it.

I picked up an armful of vintage, musical dolls to put into my 

Boutique for sale.  So far I haven't sold one, just waiting for the right person to come along...

The last thing I did was to make/assemble two pictures using some of the turquoise vinyl and two 3D plastic cutouts which I painted and put in a lovely painted black frame.  I think they are rather cute, but I would, wouldn't I?

Well that's it for my creative ability this time, not too impressive but the pickings have been slim on my thrifting expeditions.  As always, I will end with a couple of photos of my darling grandkids sent to me by the wonderful day care provider they have.  Her name is Anna and she has become my friend and I enjoy visiting with her also when I go to visit the family - thanks Anna....

Sweet little Kat and darling big brother Rhys...

Take good care of yourselves, hope it warms up soon.

Hugs, 

Dear Friend remembered, and more!!

Only a few months ago, my ex-colleagues and I lost a very good friend and co-worker to cancer.  She had struggled with this "devil" for over twenty years, always silently fighting and putting on a very brave face.  She had the most wonderful sense of humour and would have us in stitches, sometimes at the most inappropriate times, especially when the head honcho was close by and would almost catch us carrying on like silly teenagers.  Ah, those were the days.  I hope that she is now resting in the arms of her Creator and with those she loved.  The reason why I am mentioning her is because many years ago she gave me a beautiful angel as part of a Christmas present exchange, and every year since I have brought it out of its place of honour in my curio cabinet to top my tree.  This year, it felt so different as I placed it on top of my little Christmas tree, the memories and emotions came flooding back and I uttered a small prayer for the repose of her soul.  Rest in peace my friend.  Here are a couple of photos of the tree, graced with the angel.

Now on to other things.  As usual, I have been working on this and that and will be putting them in my Boutique in the hopes that someone will take pity on me and my hard work and buy them, LOL   I nearly always forget to take photos before I begin a project and this first one is no exception.  I found this in an almost abandoned shop a few weeks ago and got up the nerve to go inside and ask the owner if he was thinking of selling it.  The sweet young man gave it to me, so I dragged it home on my shopping cart and here it is..... oh, I did buy him an apple juice and muffin the next day from City Meat Market for his break.

Talking about City Meat Market, here is a wooden piece I did and they bought it to go along with a welcome sign that I sold them earlier in the year....

I just love those people, they are the kindest, sweetest people I know and all their produce is top quality.  There is nothing that they won't do to assist you in your shopping needs, even going out of their way to bring in special items for you.  In my case, they keep me stocked up in ice-cream, pralines and cream of course!!!!  Merry Christmas Rosina, John, Lori, Jamie, Christian and their families.

I found a really old, beaten up piano stool at one of my local thrift stores - it really was in a pitiful state, but not too far gone for me to attempt to revive it.  It still has a few more sonatas worth of life in it.  Here is the before picture, followed by the afters........

I even sawed about 1/2 inch off the legs so that I could fit them with little caps as the original feet had been removed.  I looked online for feet but the prices were just too high to justify me buying them as my prices in the Boutique are very reasonable.  Just have to give it a little more "protection" and it will be ready to sell.  Do you like it?  This is one of the things that I would love to hold on to but I can't keep everything I like - my apartment isn't small by any means, but enough is enough, LOL

Okay, the next two items are magazine racks.  I guess they don't have to be used as such.  I thought one of them would be ideal to use as a Library "holder".  Books and DVD's borrowed could be kept here, easy to see and easy to find when due.  Here they are......

From this....

To this.....

And, from this....

To this....

I made a dear friend a set of three cushion covers to go with a table runner that she had bought for her coffee table.  I wish I had taken a photo of a covered cushion to show just how pretty they looked.  This is the cover, freshly ironed.....

I painted two mirrors - they were white but I think they look so much more elegant painted black...

Re-finished a shelf, from this....

To this....

I chopped off the duck.

And my final projects for this month are wooden signs for that delightful man in your life who likes to have his own space.  Here I will show you the work in progress.....

Let's see if I can find a couple of photos of the little darlings (my grandkiddies, Katherine and Rhys) to end this post..............

Thanks to Anna their most loving day care provider for the photos.

If I don't get around to posting again before the New Year, I take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  May Christmas be everything you need it to be and the New Year bring you good health and happiness.

Hugs,