Oct 17, 2008 Happy Birthday, Laurie

Happy Birthday Laurie.

We hope that Shane took you out for dinner somewhere lovely!!

Day 2 Ely, Neveda

We drove 400 miles from Caldwell, Idaho, to Ely, Nevada today.

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Here are the blades that we saw driving by. Wow, where they ever long.

Pebbles having a nap after a hard night of coughing and panting...She seems to be better today on the drive. Cookie just slept nearly all the way, just opened her eyes to eat and go for a quick walk.

Lunch on the run near a green space at Jackpot, Nevada.

Today it was really warm nearly all the way, here at Ely today it is 70 degress at 6300 feet at 4:00.

Tomorrow we will be in Queen Creek, AZ.

Probably another 600 miles tomorrow.

Photos from Day 1.

Leaving Westbank early yesterday. It stayed dark until Penticton.

Doughnuts at Tim Horton's. None were harmed by taking this photo.

Muffins and Bagels were bought!

Jimmy heading to the car with our coffee.

Caldwell, Idaho...

Arrived here in Caldwell, Idaho, just north of Boise at 4:30 PDT but it was 5:30 here as we are now on MDT...Great drive, left at 5:45 am, went thru the border with out a glitch, then a wonderful sunny 559 miles of driving. It was a fun to share the driving and then Jim's hip didn't bother him so much.

The dogs were great, we took about an extra 1 1/2 to eat and walk the dogs...hopefully I will be able to download a few pictures I took.
Gas prices ranged from $3.53 per gallon to $2.99...

We saw about 12 fantastic wind turbine blades being transported on these massive trucks, it was really impressive. As well, we saw potatoes, corn and a ton of onions being trucked all over.

More later, heading out to have a bite to eat.

We are Off!!

Thanks to all of you that called, e-mailed and wished us a safe trip!!! Heading out the door..

It is really cool here this morning. We had a clear night, a full moom and frost. Time to head south to warmer temps.

Caroline's Art Work...

This is my sister Caroline's newest art that she is working on. The Owl and the Blue Jay are painted on rocks while the Border Collie (not finished yet) is on canvas..What a talent she is.

We leave at 5:30 tomorrow....can hardly believe that it has come so quickly.

I am hoping that we will have Internet at the hotels where we are staying while we travel, so I will try to keep up these post in the evening.!!

Thanks for everyone's good wishes for a safe journey!!!

Saying good-bye...

The hardest part about heading south is leaving our family and friends.

However, with the invention of the telephone, cell phone, Internet and plain old fashioned letter writing...it is possible to stay in touch.

One of my 2 favourite sisters...Caroline...to0k this photo of Bull Mountain.

We looked out at this peak everyday where we grew up in Bull River.

This was sent as a good bye card...on her computer, no less.

Thanks Caroline, love this photo that you took from

The Bull River Guest Ranch.

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On an other special note:

Happy Birthday Carman!!!

We hope that you are enjoying the sunshine in Palm Springs!!

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At the Farmer's Market.

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October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Our Anniversary...

Celebrating 19 years!!!!!

Let's hope we have many more happy anniversaries to share!!!

Enjoying a glass of Pinot Gris at Mission Hill this summer!!!

Sharing this special day with our friends Bob and Sue McLure who celebrate 41 years today as well.

Infatuation is when you think he's as sexy as Robert Redford, as smart as Henry Kissinger, as noble as Ralph Nader, as funny as Woody Allen, and as athletic as Jimmy Conners. Love is when you realize that he's as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic as Henry Kissinger and nothing like Robert Redford - but you'll take him anyway.

~Judith Viorst, Redbook, 1975

Happy Birthday, Shane

Our Aussie son-in-law, Shane

Happy Birthday Shane, what a great guy you are and we are so happy that you are our son-in-law!!!!

Hope you have had a great day!!!

Safe travels to you over the next few weeks.

Colourful Crafting

Just a few of my newest craft books to keep the energy flowing and have a reason to go the Thrift Store and look for more sweaters to felt!!!! Love it, these crafts are so much fun to make and give me pleasure to see what you can make from nearly nothing at all...

Have a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

Queen Creek, AZ

Our back yard....It will look changed again when we get there next week.

Where the heck is Queen Creek, AZ anyways?

Queen Creek is located at 33°15′47″N, 111°38′05″W (33.263101, -111.634685).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.8 square miles (66.8 km²), all of it land. We live in Pinal County & we are about 45 minutes SE of the Phoenix airport...and about 1 1/4 hours north of Tuscon.

Brad & Laurie....

Jim's 2 kids, Brad and Laurie meeting up with each other in Nova Scotia at the Bay of Fundy.
This is such a great photo of them together.
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Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
~Anthony Brandt

The Student & the Teacher

Here I am, the Student, and my very skilled Teacher, 13 year old Bre. She was amazing in the patience and skill she had to help me out. Her Mother, Andrea, home schools her 3 children and all of them are so delightful!!!

I took over my Laptop I played and learnt about Adobe Photoshop!!

Some of the things that I am able to do now to enhance my blog banner.

Keep posted......changes are coming!!!

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Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.

~Author Unknown

Cindy's addition to the Copa Cabin

The Ultimate Camping Experience

The new updated look to Cindy's Copa Cabin on the beach.

Love the red sofa table.

A new place to store all the important overnight things for guests in a fantastic setting.

You did good, gal!!!! It looks so cosy and inviting.

Wait till the Ya Ya's see this!!!

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How hard to realize that every camp of men or beast has this glorious starry firmament for a roof! In such places standing alone on the mountain-top it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make - leaves and moss like the marmots and birds, or tents or piled stone - we all dwell in a house of one room - the world with the firmament for its roof - and are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track.

John Muir

Happy Birthday Jimmy!!!

Today, October 6, 2008, Jimmy celebrated his birthday!!!!

It was a good day, even though we both worked, and we decided to celebrate his birthday in a more surprising fashion when we get to AZ next week.

It is our Ya Ya friend Sue's birthday as well and when they arrrive in AZ as well, we will have 2 reasons to celebrate.

So here is a cupcake birthday surpise for you both!!!

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.

~Author Unknown

Laurie and Shane...

Laurie called to wish her Dad a happy birthday today, because she lives in Australia, it was his birthday, even though it isn't until tomorrow here in BC.

It totally made his day.

Jim and I were so happy to get these great photos of Laurie and Shane on their trip from Australia to the US and Eastern Canada...It was too bad that the timing didn't work out for Jim to be able to see her for a few days.

Last of the Summer Flowers....

The last nice days of summer and now it is raining here!! Time to start packing as we are heading out to Arizona a week Wednesday. It seems a shame to have to clean up the last of the summer flowers when they are still blooming so beautifully!!

Welcome KODY!!!

My brother Werner, who now lives in the Baja, Mexico, came home to Penticton last week to settle up some of his stuff, and did a good thing. He went to the SPCA and rescued Kody, this lovely Chow.

Here he is in Werner's place looking totally at home. We hope you and Kody have many happy years together.

September 30, 2008

Yesterday is always such a sad day for all of us Leuenberger kids...It is the day our Mom died 8 years ago on Sept 30, 2000. She was only 76 and much to young to succumb to Mesothelioma cancer. She was loving, kind, funny, stern, a great cook, and a wonderful Mother. She loved to bake, was a great neighbour, played cribbage as often as she could and dealt out love and discipline in equal measures!

Our Dad passed away@ 70 on Jan 8, 1994 and together they created a wonderful life for all of us 7 kids.

Both of them are always misssed.

All of us kids are really close to each other and I know that Mom and Dad be proud of us for keeping the family together after the strong bond that they formed to help keep us together.

So here is to you, Heinz and Karolina Leuenberger, we love you and miss you every day!!!

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The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.

~Erma Bombeck

Thanks, Bre....

My friend Andrea Weibe and her daughter Bre came over today for coffee. We did a little crafting and Bre (who is young), taught me how to use Photoshop to make a new banner.

It was fun, and a very creative process...Thank you so much Bre.

You can check out their blogs at and see how creative they are.

www.andreawiebe.com/

www.brewiebe.com/

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law Jill, who celebrates her birthday today!!!!

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To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving. ~Max Beerbohm

Today's Finds...

The book and it looks great!!!

Another one about sweaters.

The wool sweaters, ready at be washed, shrunk and then felted!!! Yipee.

They are already in the washer and soon shrunk to 1/2 there original size. Still looking for sweaters in bright pink, Orange and purple.

No wonder Cindy said I must of been a Raven in my former life because if it isn`t bright and colourful, it`s not for me!

Cupcakes to be pictured here SOON!!!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!!!

Jeremy Allan Brown

Born @ Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver, BC on Sept 28, 1973 @ 7lbs 14 oz

Just look at you now!!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful son, Have a fantastic day and I hope you have a great year ahead for you and Julie...

Much love,

0x0x0

Mom

More felted cupcakes from the book "Warm Fuzzies" by Betz White,. How cool are these?

I am buying the book and getting more woolsweaters to felt...

Watch for up my work in the near future!!!

Christa's New "Cruise"

This is Christa's new 2008 Buick Enclave. complete with On Star, a nav screen, DVD player and enough frills to have to read the owners manual,

Now Christa, you can call me fron anywhere....

Enjoy your new ride!!!

Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.

~Bo Derek

Cindy's Stuff...

Raspberries from Cindy's garden, and I know that there will be a jar of raspberry jam with my name on it!!!!!

She found 2 more Vintage Tablecloths for me in Nelson to add to my collection.

This one is very unusual as it is a small child's one....Thanks so much Cindy!!!
You are a treasure that finds great treasures!!!!.

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We do not remember days; we remember moments.

~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand

Fruit Crumb Bars..

Take your pick between cranberry or apple for your fruit fix with these easy oat-topped bars.

Ingredients
Makes about 5 dozen
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Apple Filling

Ingredients
Makes 5 cups
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
10 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons brown sugar in a large skillet over high heat. When butter is melted and bubbling, add half the apples. Sprinkle apples with 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and slightly golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons sugar in skillet. Add remaining apples and cinnamon. Cook according to step 1. Transfer cooked apples to same large bowl. Stir in lemon juice. Cool completely before using for cookies.

Cranberry Filling

Ingredients
Makes 3 3/4 cups
6 cups cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup golden raisins
Directions
Place cranberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and cook until cranberries burst and the liquid they have released has become slightly thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in golden raisins. Transfer to a large bowl. Cool completely before using for cookies.

Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in oats and brown sugar. Using your fingers, work butter into mixture until combined; mixture should be crumbly but hold together.
Line an 11-by-17-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press 5 cups oat mixture into bottom of pan. Spread desired filling over oat mixture. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over filling. Bake until golden, about 40 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Cut into 1 1/4-by-2 1/2-inch pieces; makes about 60. Serve.

From Martha Stewart's Newletter