Does size matter?

Well...if you like chocolate it does. :-)
Have you ever seen anything so amazing? Me neither. I didn't know there even was such a thing as a chocolate bar this big. Thankfully I have a friend who is very smart about such things. Dark chocolate with almonds and local cherries. It's so pretty I can hardly bear to open it. (wha ha ha ha) Thank you lovely friend. ;-)

Beautiful hand-crafted bags

Women have always amazed me. I find it fascinating to watch just how capable women are. Amongst our many, many talents we give birth to new beings - how much more amazing can we get? ;-)

I am blessed to be surrounded by the most amazing group of women. Last week while visiting my friend, Jacqueline, I had the opportunity to see several of the items that she has been creating for a sale she is in this weekend. I was prepared to be amazed by her things...I've seen some of her quilts and some clothing she has made for her oldest daughter so I knew she was a talented seamstress and designer but Oh My!! I had no idea just how talented. I was floored...and all this while mothering a lovely little girl and twin toddlers. Truly an amazing woman. I'm so excited to see her show this weekend. I took some pictures of just a few of her items so that I could share them here.

Fun skirts for little girls.

Funky bags for girls too. These bags are fully lined and I just love the fun fabrics and the way that Jacqueline combines the colours and patterns. And the aprons...Oh, how I love the aprons! They are all reversible. I've only pictured two aprons below - this one reverses to look like this.And this one

reverses to this.

Aren't they stunning? Definitely Not! your gramma's apron. ;-) I love the fabrics that Jacqueline combines. But my favourite (I think, it really is too hard to decide what my most favourite item is because truly, they are all so gorgeous) are the bags that she makes.These are also fully lined and each and every one is unique. Jacqueline makes each one different - either by style, fabric combinations or added details.She even makes her own covered buttons to match (or contrast) the fabrics.
These are just a few of the items that she has created. For any locals who would like to see more you can check it out in person this weekend. Here are the details of the show - it sounds like a great way to get some holiday shopping done too. ;-)

Event: Winter Cache - an art and craft show and sale

Date: Friday, Dec. 5th, 5pm - 9pm
Saturday, Dec. 6th, 10 am - 5pm

Where: The Kelowna Art Gallery, 1315 Water Street

What: The first of an annual art and craft show and sale, featuring local talent in a variety of creative disciplines - jewelry, textiles (that's her!) art, clothing, accessories, pottery and ceramics, baking, t-shirts, furniture, home accessories.... all new and fresh from local young creators.

Snow day and first snowman of the year

Many of you know that our friend Katherine moved away from us this past Summer. She moved to a somewhat colder climate and so a few weeks ago when it snowed there I, being the kind of friend that I am, thought that I should send her this little clip to tease her a bit about the snow. (Us Okanaganites like to brag relentlessly about our weather, doncha know)


And Katherine, being the much nicer person that she is, wrote back to thank me for a little treat of Elvis. ;-) My teasing didn't phase her one bit. It snowed here on Friday - gorgeous flakes of soft snow that my boys loved. I took some photos to share with Katherine and wondered if she would be sending me a dose of my own back now that we had snow too. I'm not sure that my roses will recover as we have colder temperatures forecasted for this week. All of a sudden it really feels like winter.

A fun experiment

Amanda, this is your three pounds of chocolate. How well do you trust me with it?

(I expect to see her knocking on my door within the hour) ;-)

Painting

One of the mums in our homeschool support group organised a painting session this week. We painted with tempera paints on canvases. We had to mix our own colours from red, blue, yellow and white. I think that just having the primaries available made us more creative at mixing our own shades.

When I looked at my blank canvas, I wasn't sure what I was going to paint. My ability with a paintbrush is about at a 3 year old level! I started with some pale blue, thinking sky or ocean, and waited to see what developed. I was rather pleased with how this turned out. Youngest son wants this for his wall...



Middle son was obviously on a similar wavelength...



I love that his picture (he says it's a lava dolphin) is so fiery compared to the coolness of mine.

And youngest son's painting is of a Viking longboat, complete with Vikings and a speech bubble that says, "On to shore."



We all enjoyed this quiet, meditative session and I intend to "strew" the art supplies on the dining room table a little more often so that we can paint more.

Interruption in service!

Well, that's not like us! Three whole days of no posting. I guess we were all too busy with other things over the weekend.

I'd like to borrow another blogger's phrase, stealth knitting! That's what I've been doing the last few days. Last week I started knitting a gift for my youngest son - partly on the machine, partly by hand - and while the machine knitting part was done in one evening, it took me two more evenings and one whole day to do the finishing. Yesterday the housework and just about everything else was neglected while I spent about 6 hours locked in my bedroom so I could get the gift wrapped and placed under the tree. (Photos will have to wait until Friday when the gift will be opened and modelled!)

It's just as well the boys are quite happy to keep themselves busy. Supper was really easy and I made sure they helped to make it.

Sunday night was our ritual watching of Love Actually. Nothing like a girls night to recharge the batteries, enjoy some good food and good company, and compare the merits of Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson and Hugh Grant. And hiss at the nasty secretary while crying with Emma Thompson. Thanks, friends, for a wonderful evening.

Today it's snowing again and I have to drive into town to get the wheels on the car aligned. Fun stuff! Thankfully there's a yarn store within walking distance so you know where I'll be while the work is being done.

Looking forward to tomorrow when our homeschool group, Learners Unlimited, gathers at someone's home to make wool angels, gingerbread cookies and sun tree toppers. That promises to be a fun warm way to spend an afternoon so close to winter solstice.

I'll take this opportunity now to wish everyone warmth and light and love this Solstice.

Pumpkins and Samhain

I love fall foods. I have been enjoying hot porridge for breakfast some days with cinnamon, raisins, flax oil and a little turbinado sugar. I made an apple pie for dessert the other night. And last night, I made caramel popcorn for the first time, using a recipe from The Garden of Vegan but substituting agave for the corn syrup. We don't go trick or treating so that was the equivalent of the kids' Halloween candy. This was a tasty stew that I made a couple of nights ago that seemed very autumnal. I soaked and pressure-cooked a packet of dried chestnuts. I mixed them in with sauteed onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower and pumpkin, a little stock and tamari, and a splash of vegan Worcestershire sauce.
The boys have been carving pumpkins of course.
Last week, we had a lovely time at J's house. We were celebrating her daughter's birthday. The kids dressed up in crazy costumes, they made masks, carved pumpkins and decorated cupcakes with lots of frosting and sprinkles. Unfortunately, we had to leave early but we would have been quite happy spending the whole day there. Thanks J, it was a great party.
We had a quiet evening at home for Samhain. Some of our friends have colds and a joint celebration didn't come together, so I put together a simple "altar" in the centre of the dining table at dinner time. The tall centre candle I lit for my Uncle John. I had a call yesterday to say he's dying. The prostate cancer that was in remission had returned and spread to his liver and lungs. We don't know how long he expects to live, but it will be measured in days or weeks. He lives in England so I won't get to see him before he dies, or even attend the funeral. My father has never been especially close to his brother, and I haven't spent a lot of time with John over the years, but he's family and we have kept in touch since I came to Canada.
The other candles we lit for family members who have already passed "through the veil" - all four of my grandparents, all four of R's grandparents, my aunt Chris (Uncle John's wife), and the last candle for all those unnamed ancestors.
Now it's November, a month which can be rather blah, but I have that feeling of drawing inward, cutting back on the commitments, and burrowing in for the winter.

My Vegan Pal parcel has arrived!

Thanks to Christel, my secret vegan pal, my parcel arrived today. Don't you just love receiving fun stuff in the mail?!

Here are the goodies as they came out of the box. A crocheted scarf (which I think is made from Lion Brand Homespun - nice and soft), a magic ball made from brown cotton yarn, a recipe for fruit salad with ginger-lime sauce, a jar of pumpkin butter, a packet of dried shiitake mushrooms, a sachet of Indonesian spices, Hawaiian coconut pudding.



Here is the treasure from inside the yarn ball which was actually three balls of yarn. Two teabags, two Bug Bites chocolates (quickly consumed), a magnet which I believe was made by Christel herself, two buttons (one says I love animals, and the other says Kiss me, I'm Vegan!), hemp lip balm (very useful for dry Okanagan winters), a pen, a wooden leaf pendant and an acorn cookie cutter (which is almost invisible on my carpet).

Thanks Christel, you made my day!

Amazed and Feeling very Loved

I'm amazed. Yesterday just proves how much my girlfriends listen to me and know me and shower me with thoughtfulness, generosity and love. Left me breathless. Really. So I have to thank them again and also show you what I mean. Knowing that my birthday is tomorrow and that they would get to see me at the weekly park day, they arrived laden with gifts.

The first surprise of the day was from Dianne. Dianne has known me long before we started homeschooling. We actually met at the public school where my oldest son started Kindergarten and the children she was caring for attended. Dianne has been the one positive out of the whole experience we had with public schooling. Anyways, my dear friend dyed and handknit this beautiful tea cozy for me. Oh, how I will be using this and it means so much that she made this just for me!

The wonders continue with Nicola's gift containing 3 of my favourite things.... chocolate (really yummy dark organic chocolate....), a book (a knitting book, no less!) and some lovely fabric. Oh yeah, this woman knows me!

The goodness goes on with Samantha's gift. Oh, happy day! Chocolate, a beeswax candle (oh, how I loooooove candles) and a gift certificate to Michaels'. Oh, yeah! Doing a happy dance.... To make this extra special, I'm going to plan the Michaels' shopping adventure with her ( it's called maximizing the gift ;o) Get your coupon ready and wear some comfy shoes, Samantha! We're going shopping!

Now, Heather's gift is pictured below with everyone else's as I was trying to give you the scope of the bounty I received. Heather is our Queen of Thrifting and her gift leaves no doubt as to why she wears the crown. Whoa! She spent months gathering thrifted goodies for me. All things dear to my avid interest in sewing and creating.... fabric, notions, patterns, handles for a bag (I'm dreaming up the design I will make...) then she even gives me a coveted jar of her delish Dill Pickles and yes, she includes chocolate as well ( because well, um.... Queen of Chocolate is one of the other crowns she wears).
You really need to click on this photo to see everything enlarged for easier viewing. When I got home from the park last evening after a wonderful afternoon of being spoiled... I had my presents spread out all over the floor ( yes, I am rather childish ;o) so I could bask in the amazing knowledge of how much my girlfriends love me. There's no way they could have given me such thoughtful gifts without really knowing me so well and that means that they have been listening and learning who I am and what I like. I feel very, very loved and oh-so continually amazed by the wonderful women in my life. Thanking just doesn't seem enough.

Snowbirds

This is what we saw today...teenage son took lots of photos and here are some of them.


We had a good vantage point from halfway up a mountain that overlooks the city.


It's been years since the Snowbirds last put on an air display here.


The traffic was terrible but it was worth the drive.


Even the lake was crowded with boats whose occupants were watching the show too.


The weather was perfect.


And afterwards we went to the beach and spent the whole afternoon and most of the evening there with our friends.

Vegan Pal questionnaire

I am participating in the Vegan Pal Magic Ball swap, so here are my answers to the questions so my secret pal has an idea of what to send me.

1. What is/are your craft(s), & how long have you been doing it/them?

Knitting. I learned as a child and have picked up the needles at various times in my life. The last couple of years I have been knitting pretty intensively.

2. Are you a vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, veg-friendly or other?

Vegan (no honey, minimal gluten and soy)

3. Is this your first swap, or have you done previous swaps before? What makes a swap enjoyable for you?

First time. I am very excited about participating and am looking forward to putting together a parcel and receiving goodies in the mail.

4. What is/are your favorite color(s)? Do you particularly dislike any color(s)?

Depends. Whenever I play a board game, I always choose the yellow piece, but I usually wear warm colours, muted reds, rust, cinnamon, chocolate. When it comes to yarn, I prefer subtle tones rather than brights. I dislike army camouflage and baby pastels.

5. Do you have any allergies (such as pets, foods, fibers or cigarette smoke)?

Obviously I avoid animal fibres. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke.

6. Do you have any companion animals? If so, name(s) and type(s)?

No

7. Do you collect anything?

No, I try to keep clutter out...unless it’s something I really need for my knitting.

8. Do you have a favorite vegan food, snack or dish? If no fav that's vegan (for those who aren't vegan), what's your favorite food? (Hopefully your pal can find a vegan version!)

I love chocolate (dark and organic preferably). Indian and Oriental cooking.

9. What are some of your favorite/least favorite tastes/flavors? (e.g. sweet, salty, chocolate, crunchy, smooth, tart, sour, spicy, thai, whatever - Help your pal get a feel for what kind of recipes you might like and/or never ever make.)

I like most flavours - sweet desserts, salty dips like olive tapenade, salt and pepper potato chips, chocolate, spicy curries, stir fries, chickpeas, rice, fresh fruit and salads.

I feel better when I avoid soy and wheat. I definitely don't want to eat artificial colours and flavours or hydrogenated fats. And I don't like licorice.

10. What tools/supplies/accessories for your craft(s) are you wishing you had but don't? Also, what do you have TOO many of? (basically a wish and anti-wish list)

I have many many knitting needles - a Denise set, a straight set, lots of circulars and double pointeds. I also have plenty of stitch markers, both beaded ones that I made myself and plastic ring ones. What I DON’T have is much yarn. I don’t have a stash, usually buying what I need as I go, so I’d be happy to receive yarn.

11. Are you on Ravelry? What's your handle?

No

12. Is there anything else you would like your pal to know about you?

I’m 45, married, mum of three boys who learn at home. When I’m not busy with the kids, I’m knitting, reading, meeting up with my homeschool support group friends or kicking butt at Taekwondo.

13. What scents do you like/dislike?

I have an aversion to any scent that is too overpowering. I don’t wear perfume or use any scented products in my laundry. I prefer things to smell natural.

14. Do you prefer fall or Halloween or some other Autumn theme?

Fall

15. Just for fun - tell your favorite Halloween or Autumn related memory.

The last couple of years, some friends, my family and I have celebrated Samhain instead of Halloween. We have enjoyed good food, a fire and various rituals celebrating this pagan tradition.

Summertime, and the living is easy

First, the socks I finished at the beach today - and gave to my neighbour for her 2 year old daughter this evening.

Sand sculpture

Beautiful park

Mums enjoying the shade

Kids enjoying the dock (no, that boat isn't ours)

Cowabunga!

Little fish

Boys + water + sand + fishing nets = fun

And a playground too

And home for a late supper with flapjacks for dessert. As my Canadian friends thought that flapjacks were pancakes, I thought I'd put the recipe here for these simple treats that youngest son loves to make.

FLAPJACKS (recipe adapted from Rose Elliot's Cheap and Easy cookbook)

three quarters of a cup of sugar
three quarters of a cup of margarine or butter
one eighth of a cup of liquid sweetener (maple syrup or agave)
4 cups rolled oats

Melt the first three ingredients over low heat in a saucepan. When combined, add the oats, mix until they are all coated, pour into a 9 X 13 pan (you might want to line it with baking parchment). Flatten out (we use a potato masher) and bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees (190 Celsius). Cut into pieces while still warm, leave to cool. Eat!

Vegan Pal

Heard about a Vegan Pal swap today. You can go here to check it out. You have until the end of August to sign up. You don't have to be vegan to participate but you do have to follow the rules about sending vegan stuff.

When you find out who your Pal is, you send them a couple of balls of yarn (at least one of which has to be a Magic Ball) and some other goodies and you will receive back a mystery package from your Pal.

You need to sign up for Swap-Bot - it's all on that first page I linked to.

It'll be fun - go do it!

Beach day

Yesterday marked the two weeks "anniversary" of my hospital visit and I was determined to get out and meet my homelearning friends! Lots of people showed up (the picture shows just some of them), some husbands came too for supper and a swim, we had live musical entertainment laid on by the city, twin babies to hold and a good time was had by all.

Thinking back to two weeks ago, I am pleased that I have made such progress since then. Last Saturday, I walked the short distance to the Post Office. On Sunday, I did one sit-up, just to see how it felt (hurt a bit)! I took a 25 minute walk around the neighbourhood, which felt fine. Yesterday I managed five sit-ups and a sun salutation, but I think that the stretching involved in that made it difficult to do and I felt a bit shaky afterwards. What a comedown! Anyway, the drive to the beach was fine and I made sure the boys carried most of the stuff that we brought.

I stayed up late last night reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and all I'm going to say is that I'm mostly pleased with how things turned out!

This morning, my tummy hurts and I'm not going to do much of anything. I cancelled a dentist appointment because I didn't want to drive again today so it's easy to guess how the day will be spent - reading Harry Potter to the two younger boys.