I'm on course in Vancouver Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. I take the WestCoast Express in - although I missed the first train this morning - and it's a nice trip. No fighting traffic, stressing out about finding a parking spot and so on. The course is good, the instructor interesting and entertaining, although the subject matter is a bit dry. My only issue is that I'm having a hard time sitting in those chairs all day.

Anyway end of day comes today and I walk out onto the sidewalk on Seymour Street for the 3 block walk back down to the train and I jar my bad knee. OUUUUUCCHHH! I thought I was going to go down on my ass right there in the middle of the sidewalk. I don't know what happened. The only thing I can think of is that the pavement was sloped and a little uneven. Iwas in serious pain and I limped my way back to the train and finally made it home. Not fun!

This is really not a big thing, however, my knee was just starting to get back to normal and now I've injured it again. Frustrating as hell! And I have the 3 block walk - uphill - to look forward to tomorrow morning. I think I might break down and wear my brace tomorrow altough I'm not entirely sure that it helps. Oh, well, such is life!

Must run to change and then put my leg up and ice my knee. Isn't that special?

Looking back over the last 20 months, I acknowledge that I've experienced a lot of change in my life. I've grown and evolved and my perspective on life has changed. Recently, I had an epiphany of sorts in both my professional and my personal life. It finally dawned on me that I am the master of my very own universe. I run my own show! I don't need to justify my actions or explain myself to anyone. It's glorious to realize that, acknowledge it and revel in it.

My life is good! I'm happy with it in spite of the loss I suffered. How ironic is that? I'm working at my dream job and I'm challenged and I'm learning daily. I'm invested in things that are important to me and I'm rebuilding my life. It feels good!

I'm a hopeless romantic and "Gone With The Wind" is one of my all-time favourite movies. Scarlett is the epitome of "southern gentility", albeit a scheming little minx, but southern gentility nonetheless. And Rhett? What can one say about Rhett? He's the symbol of chivalry and rogue, all wrapped up in one! The perfect hero for the perfect heroine. So for all the southern belles and southern gentlemen of whom I am so very fond, here's my tribute.

Can you believe that we're coming to the end of another year and the beginning of a new decade? Where has the time gone?

Christmas was lovely and New Years Eve will be quiet and spent at home. That works just fine for me as I'm getting too old to go out and party like a rock star! We'll watch the hockey game - Canucks vs St. Louis - GO CANUCKS! My daughter and I will have assorted appies, some liquid refreshments and a very quiet and comfortable evening.

Tomorrow friends are coming to share New Years Day dinner with us. I'm making my speciality which is Prime Rib of Beef, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and caesar salad. This is one of my all time favourite meals and it usually gets rave reviews. We'll drink some wine and kill a few brain cells and a good time will be had by all.

It has been an interesting year. We've had lots of challenges and learned to deal with things that my husband always dealt with but which now fall to us since his death. At one point I thought I might actually need to keep a plumber on retainer! Luckily we have friends who help us and I'm comfortable enough that I can pay someone when I need work done, so it's all good. However, it sure would be much better if I actually were to learn some routine maintenance skills. This may be something that I need to pursue in the new year!

Well must run . Best wishes to all of you for a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

I had a lovely Christmas Day and have been lying around ever since. It's been a real treat to be able to just be lazy for a couple of days. I managed to get my studio cleaned up again and have been able to play a little. I actually did some work in my art journal and thought I'd share it with you.

Today was a very productive day! I finished up my christmas shopping a full 4 days before the big day. That means I'm done early. Now just need to do the wrapping and I can relax.

We don't have any big plans for this holiday. We're going to an open house on Christmas Eve but it should be an early night. Then home to open the gifts and have a wee drop of Christmas cheer. Christmas day will be just the two of us. We discussed it and felt that we wanted to relax and spend a quiet day - sleep in, whatever - so that's what we'll do.

We'll have all the traditional stuff, except for a turkey. We couldn't find one that was the right size and saw no need to purchase one of those monster turkeys that will feel a third world country. So instead we'll have a roasting chicken with all the trimmings. It will be quiet but it will be fine - we're together and we're healthy and that's really all that matters.

Still scrambling to get the last of my christmas cards out. The last few that are going out tomorrow for back east will probably not get there before Christmas - hence the greeting I've used is "Happy Holidays". Those cards been sent to local people should make it before Christmas so it's all good.

It's been just over a month since my last post. Who knew time would fly so quickly?

Life has been extremely busy. The new job is going well and I'm learning so much. I come home at night and my brain is exhausted! I've also assumed the duties of my payables clerk as she's deploying out of the unit at the end of the week. This is a huge job and sometimes I think I have got to be crazy to take this on! However, I've decided that this is how I want to handle this and I've received the support of the boss so it's all good. I feel that the decision I've made has been somewhat strategic and it's appropriate. I'm trying to make a statement here and to take control. I'm not sure that some among us will get that but it is what it is!

Christmas is just around the corner and I'm not even close to being ready. I have taken care of the relatives back east but have not even started to shop for DD. Luckily she's easy to buy for, I have a few ideas that might surprise her and I should be able to get it all done in an afternoon or an afternoon and an evening. DD is off on sick leave, recuperating from her carpel tunnel surgery, so she will be able to help me with some of the odds and sods.

Thought I'd share a new Christmas design with you. I'm very happy with how these turned out.

Caio!

I was going through my old messages and came across one a friend sent me about a year ago. Since I consider myself a force to be reckoned with (not sure if that's a good thing or not!) and a powerful woman, I thought this completely appropriate. I hope you get a chuckle out of it too!

Powerful Women's Motto:

Live your life in such a way that
when your feet hit the floor in the morning,
Satan shudders & says...
"Oh shit....she's awake!!"

Caio!

I've finally completed my tags for the Christmas Alphabet Tag swap being hosted on CST. I was pleased with the end result and the hostess is happy with what I sent so it's all good! Since I haven't posted any art for awhile, I thought I'd post the tags today but for some reason that's completely beyond me, the "upload" function doesn't seem to be working right now. I'll try back later. Frustrating!

I'm busily immersed in preparations for the second open house for Little Cricket in Langley BC. While I am prepared in that I've already come up with the designs, I'm still down to the wire with the production. It's always the same thing; I seem to function better under the pressure of having a tight deadline, or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

I like making Christmas cards, I really do. Getting ready for the open house always gets me in the mood for the upcoming Christmas season. I like to try out variations of the designs I've come up with and will finally decide which one I will make up for my family and friends. Once the production is complete for the open house, I can breathe a sigh of relief because then I can focus on creating stock and making my own little treasures.

I'm feeling a little out of sorts right now though. I have so much I want and need to do but just do not seem to have enough hours in the day to do them. I've procrastinated on making art which is really silly considering that I keep purchasing art supplies for these special projects. I now have enough to open a small store and still I keep buying! What's that all about?

I feel like I'm frozen in place and that I'm not able to do the creative work that I want to do. I have so many thoughts and ideas buzzing around in my head - unwritten poetry, planned but not initiated art journal pages, so many things I want to do. My house, on the other hand, seems to be getting fuller and fuller - stuff seems to be growing everywhere and I can't get motivated to do the tasks that need to be done. I keep telling myself that I'll do those things - eventually - but eventually doesn't ever seem to come.

Frustration reigns supreme ! I often feel overwhelmed and out of control. I'm very much a list girl so I think that may be the root of my issues. When I don't make a list and identify what I need to do, nothing get done. Hmmmm....

It's been more than a month since my last post - where does the time go?

The new job is keeping me extremely busy and when I come home at night I'm really, really tired. Many nights I'm in bed right after supper. I guess the old grey mare ain't what she used to be.

The weather has finally changed and it looks like we finally have fall here. It's cold and crisp in the mornings and evenings and still nice during the day. My impatience have finally gotten some frost and are looking a little the worse for wear but I guess that's to be expected considering it's almost the middle of October.

Thanksgiving was very quiet this year. DD is away in Ottawa and I've been working on cards for the store. Cooking for one person is the pits, so no turkey for me. Tonight I had pizza - not fancy but it works. DD is flying back home tomorrow so I'll be picking her up at the airport. She has had a lovely time visiting the relatives, but I'm sure she'll be happy to come back home to her own bed and her cats.

Well must run as I'm in the middle of a christmas card blitz and I can't afford to get side-tracked.

Caio!

Well, it looks like the summer is over and fall has arrived on the Coast. Today was an overcast day with a little wind and lots of cloud. It rained a little today, something we haven't had lately. It looked like a typical fall day and I expect that the heat will come on soon. It's nice for sleepy though as it gets cool enough that you actually need a blanket.

I'm preparing for the annual Christmas Open House at Little Cricket. This is a huge event and the numbers keep growing every year. I'm working on several new designs for this event and will be delivering them for approval next weekend. It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than 16 weeks away - where does the time go?

This is a busy time of year for me. I have the Christmas rush to prepare for and then it seems Christmas is hardly over and then the Valentine's rush is here. I must admit though that I do enjoy making Christmas cards. I make cards for re-sale as well as for my own use and this whole process gets me in the mood for Christmas.

We're having some really wonderful weather here on the coast. Today it was in the high 20's - it's hard to believe that September is right around the corner. I've not done a lot of art over the last several months, despite my plans to accomplish more. I'm not sure if it's the nice weather or if I just needed a little break. I hope to be able to get back to my journal - lots of stuff percolating in the old brain that must get put in a journal.

Life has been busy, busy, busy lately! I'm not sure where the time goes but it certainly does fly by. I've been working on some new designs for the store and I simply cannot believe that the Open House is only about 8 weeks away!

Work has been a challenge - lots to learn and do. I'm in the process of hiring some new people so hopefully once that's done, things will start to fall into place. It's a long process and one must just be patient until all the paperwork is done.

On Tuesday my daughter and I drove down to Seattle to see John Edward. I didn't get a reading, which was disappointing, but I did enjoy the session. He's quite a remarkable young man! We stayed at the Sheraton Seattle right downtown - very swanky! We would have liked to do a bit of sightseeing but we were only in town for one night so weren't able to get out and walk around. Perhaps next time!

I applied for a new job - same office but a step up for me. New challenges, more opportunities to learn and more money. I was told mid-week last and started with the new duties right away. I've been really busy ever since - big surprise there!

I'm afraid my art has fallen by the wayside - at least temporarily. I'm soooo tired when I come home that I don't really have a lot of desire to do art. I have managed to do some stuff for the store but not as much as I would like. Just no time ! I have a couple of ideas for my art journal so hope to do something in it this weekend. Seems to be another thing that has been put on the back burner for the time being.

Here are a couple of new designs - I'm pleased with the way they turned out.

Work has been crazy busy and it doesn't look like it will change anytime soon. Lots being accomplished but still lots to do. I come home at night and I'm mentally exhausted and just want to go to bed and sleep. Not very exciting and certainly does not allow a lot of time for art.

I did manage to make a few cards - some for the shop and then the large butterfly card for a friend for her birthday. I plan to do another production run of some new stuff on the weekend. Some days I wish I was an octopus and had 8 hands or perhaps I could clone myself!

The weather here on the Coast has been fabulous! It's still warm but not as hot as the 36 degrees last week. With it cooling down at night, it's much nicer to sleep so that's a good thing.

My garden is thriving. I had a last minute idea to plant some veggies but that didn't pan out, basically because I was too darn lazy! Hopefully I'll be better prepared next spring and can do it then. I finally put my hummingbird feeder out and the little buggers are eating me out of house and home. I make my feed really, really sweet and they just gobble that down. I swear it's crack for hummingbirds. I love watching them and half the time you only hear them as they buzz around, darting here and there. Then you'll hear the little chirping sound they make, usually when they feel their territory is being infringed upon by another hummer. Definitely one of God's little miracles.

I have been doing some art but not as much as I'd like. I really want to work in my visual journal on a more regular basis. I never seem to have enough time or perhaps more to the point, I don't use my time efficiently. Lately, I just seem to be tired all the time. Not sure if that is still part of the grieving process or what it is. I just find that after the 2 hours round trip commute and the 9 hour workday, I am usually dead tired by the time I get home at night. Not too energetic, that's for sure. I love the job and really don't mind the commute but man I could sure use more time off. However, there is so much good stuff happening with the job that I really do feel guilty even saying a peep about being tired.

Well must run. I do have some cards to post but will do that another time. I'd like my next post to be a photo or perhaps another page in my visual journal. We'll see.

Oh, Big Fat Woooohoooo. The new Golden Ears Bridge across the Fraser from Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge to Langley/Surrey is finally finished. It took about 3 1/2 years to complete and it opens at midnight tonight so I get to take it to work tomorrow. Those in "the know" say it will save 40 minutes off the commute. Is that round trip I wonder? Probably. It will save me a ton of time so I'm very excited about it! Let's just hope I don't get lost!

Must run. Caio!

We've had really hot weather here on the Coast. The weather was over 30 degrees celsius for several days last week - Wednesday was 36.5 degrees Celsius. I love the hot weather but I have to tell you that is too hot! I finally broke down and turned on the AC in my vehicle - I just could not take sitting in traffic in that heat for one more minute.

I've been in a swap recently so finally got around to completing some 4 X 4 pages. I was happy with the way they made up and I was able to use some of the extra pieces for cards so it all worked out well. I've never been a big fan of distress ink but used a green called "peeled paint" and I think I may be a convert. It was really nice and just took the project to another level.

My newest obsession(s) are nestabilities for die cuts and stickers and glitter. I haven't had a lot of time to play with the stickers yet but since I have a huge stack of Elizabeth Design stickers and Magenta stickers, I look forward to some experimentation.

Here's my latest journal page. It's still a work in progress - I've hit a bit of a wall - so it's untitled at this point. I'm not sure where to go next with it so will move on to a new page and come back to this one later. Hopefully, when I return to it, it'll tell me what I need to do.

My process was to go ahead and prepare all the pages in my journal but I'm not sure that I'll do it that way again. I find it limits me with my choice of image. Or maybe I just have no clue what I'm doing! In any case, next journal, I'll do a page or two at a time and sort of go with the flow. I like this one but find it very pink, not that that's a bad thing!

Mother's all over the world are celebrating this special day with their families and loved ones. In light of that is seems appropriate to wish one and all a very wonderous and happy day. For those who have loved ones serving their country in foreign lands, my thoughts and prayers are with you and with them.

We haven't done much here in our house to celebrate this day. My dear daughter spoilt me with a gorgeous bouquet of long stemmed red roses. Red roses are very special to me as my dear husband always bought me these. Since he's gone she's taken up the tradition and I'm very touched and grateful for her thoughtfulness.

Despite losing my husband, now almost 15 months ago, I am very grateful for many things. My daughter has been a blessing and an inspiration to me, I am so grateful for her presence in my home and in my life. I am equally grateful for the love and support I've received from my friends since Garry died. I have no words to adequately describe how thankful I am to them for all the things they have done for me and for being a part of my life. I'm grateful that I am healthy, that my daughter is healthy and that we have a roof over our heads. My husband provided for us financially and made sure that we would be well taken care of if something happened to him and, for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Despite our loss and the pain that's still so fresh, I have much to be thankful for . Life is good and I couldn't ask for more.