I've been experimenting with a new technique and I'm very pleased with the results. I've altered several plain, glass ornaments. These make up very quickly and I'm having a lot of fun playing!

I participated in my first big craft sale this past weekend. I was so excited and had such high hopes. What a total waste the weekend was! I'm not so upset about not making money, I guess I'm more choked that I put so much time and effort into making new cards and it was a wasted effort. Needless to say I won't be doing that again.

I did receive some positve feedback and I tested a new product - little heart ornaments - and this was very well received. I'm hoping that the shop I work with will carry them for me. Guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

My Dad is a veteran. He, along with his older brother, my Uncle Vic, served in France, Holland and I think in Germany. My dad was born in 1925; he lied about his age and joined when he was 15; he was 20 years old when the war ended in 1945. Dad never talked about the war much. He hated war movies - my mother loved them and didn't figure she had gotten her money's worth unless she had a good cry. Dad would always get mad because he said the German army was always portrayed as being stupid. Clearly he knew better - he'd always say they were tough, battle hardened fighting men. He'd say too bad the enemy wasn't as stupid as the films made them out be - the war would have ended a lot sooner had that been the case!

Funny the things you remember. Growing up we never had lamb - Dad said he hated it and wouldn't allow it in the house. I never tasted lamb until I was in my 40's. Turns out, dad had had more than his fill of lamb when he was in England. He always said that the lamb he ate was mutton and that the animal had been slaughtered only moments before it would have expired from natural causes anyway - old, tough and fat - ooooooh, now doesn't that sound appetizing?

My dad celebrated his 8Oth birthday in 2004. My younger (and only) brother had his medals mounted and framed for him. My dad's funny about things like that so my brother gave them to him in private. I know dad, he would have been very gruff but would have gotten all choked up about it. He just celebrated his 82nd birthday in March. My brother always says "the old man's slowing down" - well, of course he is, he's 82 years old! He's old, bent and crusty but we love that old man more than you can imagine.

I am so enormously proud of my dad. Recently he took my 28 year old daughter on a tour of the new War Museum in Ottawa. A moment in time that can never be replaced! Vets get in free, so Dad brought his original discharge papers with him to prove he was a Vet. My daughter got a huge kick out of that. She said they were all creased and worn but he proudly pulled them out to show the lady. She was astounded at this. She couldn't believe, nor could my daughter, what a wealth of knowledge my dad had to share with her. It was a wonderful, special time for my daughter and something she will remember and treasure for the rest of her life.


On Remembrance Day - the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour - at the moment of silence, I'll be thinking of and eternally grateful to my dad. I'll also be thinking about all the other men and women who served and are now serving, fighting and dying, all over the world. Please kieep them in your thoughts and prayers.

We Canadians will be celebrating Remembrance Day on November 11th. As I get older, I realize what a special day it is and should be for all of us.

I guess the fact that this year we have Canadians fighting and dying, almost daily, in Afghanistan really brings it home to me. I'm not sure how I feel about the war but I can say this - I am so enormously proud of and grateful to our fighting men and women.

I always wear the poppy but this year I feel so very different about it. I wear it with so much pride - it's almost like it's some kind of badge. It reminds me that the freedom I enjoy does not come free.

I finally made it through the mad week - getting ready for an open house is always hectic for me so I can only imagine what it must be like for the shopkeeper. But, I guess all the hard work pays off because Ron said he had his best Open House so far in the Maple Ridge store. I'm so glad for him - he's such a nice man and an absolute joy to work with.

Now I'm into another phase - trying to get ready for the craft fair at the end of the month. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that it's successful for me but I'm feeling a little scattered - much like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.