Happy New Year's Eve...

The measure of a year for me is determined by love, health, happiness, family and friends,

and it has been a wonderful year!!

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.

Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential.

~Ellen Goodman

The Raven in Me!!!

Those of you that know me well understand that shiny things attract me.

I think it was Cindy that first said that I must of been a Raven in my former life, because I am attracted to shiny, glittery and over the top things....and she is right.

I have decided to start collecting some brooches like these ones and use them in my next year's Christmas/Advent Calendar...Look out,I am on the hunt for 23 brooches that glitter!!!
I already have one, so I am in good shape.

Happy travels to my Ya Ya Shannon and her husband Del who today will be flying to Thailand for a month long holiday with other friends....

Sue and I will miss you.
We will be celebrating New Years Eve with Sue and Dave, having dinner together and then watching a movie...we are all wondering if we can stay awake until midnight...I will let you know!!

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I really think that Canadian gentlemen are the best after all, because kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and a sapphire bracelet lasts forever.

~Anita Loos

Dust if you must!!

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter.
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?
Dust if you must, but there’s not much time
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must, but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself will make more dust.

Thanks to my good friend, Ya Ya Shannon for sending this on.

Happy Birthday, Heinz..

Around the house today..

I took these pictures today to show you what I have around the house for Christmas time. Alot of these things I have made.

I am currently on the hunt for all things that glittery, especially silver. Also looking for vintage Christmas tablecloths.

I know, Cindy, you will be so surprised to read this.

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On a special note:

Happy Birthday to my dear sister-in-law, Marlene,

who celebrates today, and I think we are staying at 40!!!

Safe travels to you and Heinz on your way down here.

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Also to my Westbank buddy, Andrea, who celebrates her birthday today as well.

Many many happy returns.

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Ev and Richard headed out today in their 5th wheel for a week or so in Tuscon and are planning to meet up with Heinz and Marlene in Casa Grande around January 4th...more fun times for them. We had a great time with them and are looking to joining up with them over the next couple of months having dinners and just hanging our when the rest of the group gets down here.

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Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.

~Martin Buxbaum

Come for a Visit...

What a Hoot!!! As you can see we have lots of room.

This vintage sign was found in Tuscon, and Jimmy did a quick stop so I could take this photo.

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Ev and I went shopping today and I showed great restraint and she had a ball finding all kinds of things that fit her. You go girl!!!

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One more sleep before Heinz and Marlene leave Williams Lake and

start their 2 month holiday here in AZ.

Our Christmas Day Adventure...

A walk down by the Salt River...

Rocks


Rock Formations

We packed up some Christmas Turkey sandwiches with all the trimming and headed out at 9:30 this morning. We had a plan in mind to show Ev and Richard some of the beautiful regional parks..Off to Usery Regional park, then on to the Salt River, (which was filled with water), down to Saguaro Lake, and down the Bush Hwy to Fountain Hills. Had lunch when the fountain did it's 500 foot spray..We then left in the pouring rain and went up to McDowell Mountain Regional Park to check out more camp sites in the rain. We continued on Dynamite Blvd up to Cave Creek which led past more golf courses and large Equestrian Estates. Toured the Town of Carefree and Cave Creek, and back home by 4:00 while the car was washed by buckets of RAIN!!!!

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Sue came over to feed the girlies so our whole day was fun and no stress.

Yummy left overs tonight...

Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas Eve...

The group for dinner, what a great time and wonderful food.!!!

Thanks to Ev and the Ya Ya's Sue and Shannon for all their help..you made it happen girls.

Ev and I in the kitchen.

What a lovely time, we had dinner, and great company.

Photos to follow. ( here they are)

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a healthly and Happy New Year!!

Christmas Tags...

Christmas Tags waiting to be put on the packages!!!

Holiday Red....

Christmas is just a few days away.

Today we go to the airport and pick up Evelyne and Richard arriving back from 3 weeks in Cabo.

Heinz and Marlene leave BC. to come to AZ. on 27th and everyone else up in Canada is snowed in and in most places very cold.

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We on the other hand are enjoying sunshine, but just so you know, it is cool!!

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The above photos were found in British Country Living and Country Home Magazines

How fun does this look!!!

Found this Vintage RVing book.

This 1959 addition was signed by Rex Thompson, the author.

The cover was illustrated by Paul Gladone...

What a find at the Sally Ann for 50 cents.

The colorful cover just makes me smile!!

It has always been a dream of mine to find a small vintage trailer and restore it. Stay tuned!!

Ya Ya Supper Club..

Mary, Shannon, Sue and I @ Shannon's home.

Same girls, different pose!!

The napkin rings I made and given as a party favor.

Everyone got their own mitten name tag..that way no one forgot who they were at the end of the evening.

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Here we are, the newly formed Ya Ya Supper Club.

We plan to meet once a month and make dinner together, try new recipes and have fun.

We started off at Shannon's for a German dinner and it turned out really well...

Who knows, maybe a recipe of our favourite will follow.

We invited Mary Mooney to join us, our new American friend...It was great fun.

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The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.

Pierre Corneille

Snow in Vancouver

Frosso sent me these photos of the snow that has been falling in Vancouver.

Her little dog Sasha loves it, and it sure makes everything look fabulous...

Keep on shovelling dear Fro, while we bask under just slightly over-cast skies!!

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Additional news:

Cindy got her wrist/arm cast off yesterday so she is one happy CHICK. Can't wait until she has all the range of motion back so she can get back to crafting!!

My new banner today was made with Cindy in mind!!!

Alanna's quilts for Orphans..

Check out Alanna's blog

Alanna's Orphans : http://alannaorphans.blogspot.com/

Alanna and I met in Nelson where we both had a B&B...She was crafty and so was I..that lead to a friendship over the past 10 years or so.

She now divides here time in Kuwait and here in AZ...She is trying to get 95 quilts made to deliver one to each of the orphans that she has met...check out her blog and if any one wants to help or contribute a quilt, please get in touch with her.

She sent me a photos of these quilts this morning while we were chatting on line..