Cheeky things!!!

We finished painting the guest room this morning, then completed the main bathroom and 2 walls in the living room and kitchen. It was a full on painting day.

Since paint chips are boring to show, I thought you might like these cheeky looking sheep and cows...much cuter than paint.

They can be seen at www.napastyle.com
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Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

~Winnie the Pooh

Ralph Lauren...

From the pages of Ralph Lauren....worth a look

www.ralphlauren.com

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To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

John Burroughs

Happiness @ work...

Magazines that came in the mail this week!! They continue to feed my imagination and creativy.

New Valentine Tags

Valentine Button Tag
I sat with Marlene and stitched all the buttons on during our visit in the sunshine. Added bonus, got a little sun (Vit. D), how good is that.
Finished it off later on in the evening at home


My favorite one so far...stay tuned!!

Lunch at Casa Grande..

Cookie and Gussy watching the Roadrunner.

He wasn't worried as you can tell.

Marlene enjoying the sunshine outside their Motorhome.

Heinz and Jim talking golf and the good scores they will have.

We have lovely lunch with Ev and Richard and my brother Heinz and his wife Marlene down from Williams Lake for a couple of months. It was great to catch up with them, and of course we plan to see them quite a few more times before they have to head back in 2 months.

Inspiration today..

It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts.

~K.T. Jong

My reading list at present...

Happiness is to have enough time to sit, read, be inspired and then to have time to come inside and create..oh, what a perfect day.

If you haven't read any of these Somerset Magazines, try to get ahold of one and be prepared to be truly inspired....they always give you the blog of the artist so you can follow their works..wonderful!!

Caroline's newest paintings...

Caroline sent me these photos of some of her newest work. This is Kayla, an old dog up at the Bull River Guest Ranch.

Oreo, and Paint horse at the Bull River Guest ranch as well.
Thanks Caroline, you continue to inspire me!!!

Today was the 15th Anniversary of our Dad's passing away. Rest assured Dad, that you were remembered by all of us.

Happy Birthday to our friend Bob McLure of "Sidney by the Sea". More like "Snow by the Sea"

Backyard Patio...

Some of the pots planted with Cacti.

Frost this morning...

Some of the patio and fountain area done in pavers.

Herringbone pattern in 3 colors. It looks really good with all the furniture back on the patio.

Happy reminders..

A happy moment with Pebbles this spring!

Cookie keeping me company right now on the bed in the guest room

This is a photo of Cindy's Studio which she sent yesterday to remind me how much snow I am missing.
She wanted to know if I was missing all this snow? In lots of ways I do miss snow at Christmas, but when I get up in the morning and feel the warmth and see all that sunshine, no, I don't miss it!!
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It was a great day yesterday and today hanging out with Shannon.
We went to a new plant nursery and found some treasures which will be planted in our gardens over the next few days.
When I got home, most of the patio was finished and the new pavers that were laid look wonderful.
We moved all the furniture back on it, but it was too dark to take photos...more tomorrow.

All things soft and snuggly....

From the pages of British Country Living Magazine...

I am off for an overnight stay with my friend Shannon...and hopefully go tour a garden centre.

Overcast and cooler here, but who can begrudge the desert her rain.

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We all had a much better night. Cookie seemed to settle down. She only got up once to try to find where Pebbles was.

Where ever you are reading this, I hope you have a wonderful day.

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I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.
Neil Gaiman

Thank you all.

Flowers for Pebbles from Rick and Sharyn.

Photos of them hanging out!!

Thank you to all our family and friends that called, e-mailed and dropped by to see how we are doing.
Cookie had a rough night last night, spending alot of the evening looking for Pebbles. She and I are a little tired today.
Jim and I kept busy all day, took the bedrooom apart and painted it.
Jim finished making the shelf above the bed similiar to the one we have in Westbank. Cookie feels she is back in Westbank as our bedroom back there has the same feel.
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Thanks to everyone that had pets at home that gave them each an extra hug and kiss.
It is true, the only fault pets have is that their lives are far too short!!

Goodbye Pebbles...

June 29, 1996 - Jan2, 2009

In Memory of our beloved Pebbles.

We had the good fortune to rescue her from the SPCA in Trail, BC when she was 6 years old.

She was given away 3 times until she found a forever home with Jim, Cookie and I. For those of you who knew her, you know that she was a devoted to us, loved to eat anything in sight, and followed me everywhere.

She had a great life with us, and she will always be with us in our hearts.

She got lymphatic cancer just before we left BC to come down to AZ, but with medication was able to enjoy nearly 3 months of sunshine and greet her buddies down here.

She was really only sick for a few hours, and we were able to be with her when the Vet was there to help her quietly slip away.

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Last Night
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said " it's me."
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me.
Author Unknown

French Blue...

Hotelware for Cindy

This is a new website I found and thought I would share with you...See what you think, definately worth a peek.

http://www.frenchblueandco.com/

January 1, 2009

We shared a lovely dinner with Sue and Dave last night, then came over to our home for dessert and a movie...I stayed up until midnight, but Jimmy didn't quite make it that late.There were fireworks in the distance and all the dogs started barking...Cookie gets so afraid and tries to hid deeper into her closet. Pebbles handles that kind of noise better.

We are going to have a wonderful sunny day here, will be heading out for my walk later and increasing the distance a little more each week. We still have a patch or two of frost but the day turns warm quickly.

Where ever you are reading this,

I hope your 2009 is filled with alot of hope and promise!

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Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.

~Hal Borland

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