The Island of Sri Lanka

"The Pearl in the Indian Ocean"

As some of you know, we are planning on going to Sri Lanka for the month of November to be with Shane, Laurie and to see Alexander for the first time.
 We have been reading as many books as we can and getting some amazing photos from Shane as he travels the country.

We are open minded as we just want to enjoy seeing this history filled country.
We will also go to visit our young Sri Lankan World Vision Child that we have sponsored for 10 years. We want to see firsthand what our monthly donation has done for her and her village.

Summer things

Just a few things that remind
me that summer is finally here.

I hope you can enjoy all the
lovely things that give each
one of you joy and happiness.

These are a few of mine.

Kelowna's Farmers Market -Street Food

Having lunch at the Farmer's Market. 
This is the best pulled pork burrito I have ever tasted. It is so flavorful, melts in your mouth.
Jim is very partial to the Bakery Truck.

Carmen and Brad's Visit

Had a lovely visit with Carmen and Brad over the weekend. We looked at some amazing properties on the water.

Here we are at The Outback in Vernon..It was a great weekend.

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Happy Birthday,Cindy

The world became a much better place on July 10 when you were born. I am so happy to call you my friend.

Keyes and Locks

Love is the Master Key which opens the Gates to Happiness.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

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1. Pearl Skeleton Key Necklace, 2. Skeleton Key Pearl Brooch, 3. key to my heart, 4. She found the rusty key today!, 5. Door to my heart is closed, 6. Rusty..., 7. doorDirty, 8. Who got that rusty key..?, 9. who has the key?, 10. M ?, 11. rotRusty brutal, 12. unlocked, 13. Locked in Time, 14. Punto y seguido, 15. cash drawer, 16. When we first met,

Baby News....

You have already met our 6 month old Alexander attending his first Sri Lankan wedding with his Dad Shane and Mom Laurie.

We are also so happy to announce that my Jeremy and his wife Julie will be expecting their first long awaited baby in December. We are thrilled for them.

As well, my sister Caroline will become a grandmother as well a month before me, when her son Troy and his fiancee, Danelle have their baby in November.. How thrilling is this?

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Nature, Jewelery and Technology...

Found this lovely piece of birch bark and 2 oak leaves. I took off the new necklace I made, added it to the bark and set down my Ipod/touch.

The composition came together in a flash.

At Harvey and Annmarie's in Nelson.

Kicking back and relaxing at the beach.

We had a wonderful couple of days in the company of Harvey and Annmaire. Wonderful food, good friendship and a great place to enjoy the summer and relax.

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The Fabulous Log Home

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Rusting away..

1. International R-160, 2. Teal & Rust, 3. They Left Me Here To Die..., 4. Biscayne, 5. Bernard's Machinery, 6. OLD TRACTOR STUFF, 7. VACANCY - an understatement, 8. Some Trains Go Nowhere, 9. Luna Park Anchor, 10. Wheat, 11. A, 12. demotion, 13. controls out, 14. Oil Barrels, 15. Coffee Shop Motel, 16. rusty old thing

Happy July 1st...

On the drive over to Nelson last Sunday, we rounded the corner and this was what we saw. How delightful to see a moose with twins, not a sight I have seen very often. I was able to stand up in the convertible while I got several different shots, but even this one she had already turned away to get her babies out of harms way.

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Farmers Market Re-Visited

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Weekend Pleasures...

Before we left on our weekend to Nelson, I harvested some lavender for Annmarie and made up a few new bags to tote my stuff in. Here is one of the before and after Martha Stewart Bags that I re-did.

I will finish the other one off next week.

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Delicious....

1. Stacked, 2. Stormy Glass, 3. macaroons!, 4. Target Tuesday: Pink Glasses, 5. More Laduree Macaroons, 6. My First Macarons!!, 7. March 28 b, 8. French Macaroons, 9. Erin's Adorable Soap Macarons!, 10. Per Se Macarons, 11. Macaron à la framboise, 12. Sorbet gerbets, 13. pistachio and grapefruit macarons with lemon thyme pot de creme, 14. pistachio and grapefruit macarons, 15. * Macaroons., 16. Strawberry & vanilla macarons
Made with Big Huge Labs
check it out!

Flowers from The Farmers Market..

There is nothing like fresh cut flowers to brighten any day.

Enjoy these from the Farmers Market.

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Hello ladies,

Shane sent us several new photos of Alexander and I thought of all of them, this was the sweetest.

Jim and I love all the captions that Shane puts to each of the photos and this one is perfect!!

Imagine when he is 16, going out on a date and his parents drag out his baby album!!

I would give anything to be there for that moment!

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On my craft table...

These are a few of the things that are on my craft table.

Right now I am mostly making jewelery!

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However, yesterday I was inspired by a new neck strap I saw online for my Canon camera. $30.00

I knew I could make this myself. I used them hem of a pillowcase that I had and here is the result.

I did put some batting in the middle and was able to sew thru the layers right on to the existing strap. 

If it gets dirty, I will just throw the whole strap into the wash. $0.00

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Father's Day..

Father's and sons..Jim and Brad in Calgary, Shane and Alexander in Sri Lanka.

Wonderful, don't you think?

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Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.

Author Unknown

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I made this card for Shane from Alexander to celebrate his first father's day.

Also, Happy 40th Anniverdary to my brother Heinz and my sister in law,  Marlene.

Happiness to both of you.

Farm Chicks Finds..

These are a few of the things that made it home in my Green Picnic Basket that I bought at the Farm Chicks show. I will be spending time in my craft room thinking of ways to work them into my jewelry.

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Shopping..

Before Cindy and I went to the Farm Chicks Show, we had some time to shop in downtown Spokane.

They have a realy nice mall called Riverfront Square.

We really loved Pottery Barn and Restoration hardware.

Across the street was P.F. Changs, it was a great place to have happy hour, (twice) and dinner as well.

Remember to Dream...

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.
William Dement
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Vintage Grafitti....

In 1968 when Marlene and I graduated high school,

my brother Heinz, Marlene (his wife of 40 years on June 20-2010)

and I went up into the hills of Bull River.

We found this big old rock and painted Grads 68 on it. We used this blue paint from the fish hatchery and as you can see, it held up well after all these years.

Marlene and Heinz took a drive last week, found the rock and took a photo.

What a great memeory that was !.

Thanks  to Marlene for sending this on to me.

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Nelson Brewing Company

LIPLOCK,

PADDYWHACK ORGANIC INDIA PALE ALE,

WILD HONEY ORGANIC ALE

Meet a few of the Organic Beers that I will be offering for tastings at a few select Okanagan liquor stores.

 I start to work with Nelson Brewing Company. Ltd. in July for the summer.

Check them out at the above link. I will have an interesting summer with new products to learn and of course, I will have to taste some wonderful Organic beer.

Thanks to Cindy, Tim and Al for believing in me and knowing that I can do this and be successful!

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Picnic..

We finally had a great day to go on a picnic. We drove around Okanagan Lake, stopping to take some photos of all the flowers in bloom. It was a lovely way to spend a sunny day.

I will tell you about my new summer job tomorrow..What a fun job that will be.

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Farm Hen

As you can see, this is what this Farm Chick looked like. Next year I am dressing up.
This is the new/old picnic tin I found to add to my collection.

Farm Chicks Heaven...

Just a few of the 200 photos I took..It was so wonderful and so crowded the first day. When Cindy and I went back on Sunday morning, we could actually get into the booths and have a good look around..

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Farm Chicks Show..

Just arrived back in Westbank. What a fun time Cindy and I had at the "Farm Chicks"

Here are just a few of the first pictures that I took of Cindy having fun..More to follow tomorrow.

We met some great gals, like Carol and her friend Miranda as well as 3 gals from Vancouver, Caroline, Leann and Jackie.

We found lots of treasures that will find a new home with Cindy and I.

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Kaslo

I left Westbank on Tuesday morning and made it to Nelson in 4 1/2 hours. Rained nearly all the way but with my ITunes blaring, the trip sped right along. Cindy met me and treated for coffee and a muffin then I headed out to stay a couple of nights with Shannon. Today we drove up to Kaslo for lunch and to walk thur the little town.
Rained for most of the day as well. It is what it is and you can't change the weather.
We had a really fun day.

Lake glass, the ladies lounge of the stern wheeler the Kuskanook (which we owned at one time before donating it to the Kaslo Historical society)...paddle wheel of the Moyie, The Moyie and a boat in a garden.