goodbye, november

What a crazy month of weather...rain storms, wind storms, snow storms...oh my!

I wonder what December holds in store? Guess we won't have to wait long to find out.

more snow...

This picture was taken early this AM. The light was poor, but I kind of like the blue hues.

The snow that started on Saturday continued through Sunday and was still coming down this morning. To those of you who have snow most of the winter, you probably think, "What's the big deal about a few inches of snow?" But trust me...this isn't the norm around these parts. We might get one or two dumps of snow over the course of the winter, but it doesn't usually snow non-stop for over 24 hours. And when it does fall, it's usually washed away by rain within a couple of days. Might not be the case this time...more snow is expected later this week. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

I do love how quiet everything is when snow is on the ground. Very peaceful...and beautiful.

Kind of ironic that the old Bing Crosby movie White Christmas just happened to be on TV yesterday afternoon as well.

Enough babbling...

...and then winter arrived

This was the view out of our bedroom window this morning. The snow had started falling earlier in the evening. We were on our way back from a daytrip to Bellingham (thought we would take advantage of some of those Thanksgiving weekend deals). We didn't have any trouble getting home, but we did pass two car accidents after crossing the border. Hope everyone was alright.

I don't mind snow, as long as we don't have to drive in it. I would much sooner stay home where it is warm and dry. Glad it snowed on the weekend. That way everyone can prepare for alternate ways to get to work tomorrow, if necessary. Doesn't take much snow around here before driving becomes quite treacherous. People driving on improper tires, driving too fast, etc. They are calling for an additional 10-30cm (4-12in) today, depending on the area. I might just take the skytrain into work instead.

So, I think today would be a good day to make some art, maybe watch a movie and have a hot chocolate. Guess I better go and shovel the driveway first...

time for a change...

Decided I should switch over to blogger beta and check out the new and improved functionality. I do like the new editing and 'drag and drop' features. While I was at it, I thought it might be a good time for a wee overhaul to the blog. A friend recently mentioned that she has a hard time reading blogs with black backgrounds, so hopefully this helps.

latest from the fibre feast

I was so jazzed when I found out that the veggie portion of the TV dinner was available. Once again, the felting needle came out and voila...garden fresh peas and carrots. What frozen dinner would be complete without them.

I have to confess, there is a little of me in a few of those peas...those little suckers are hard to hold on to and I managed to poke my fingers more than a few times during the process. Oh the things we do in the name of art [picture the "woe-is-me" back of the hand on the forehead, head raised, looking to the sky]. Don't mind me...silly moment.

Hard to believe there is only one more plate to pass through in this wonderful swap. It has really been a blast.

weekend adventure

We had a wild rain/wind storm last week. Because of the high turbidity in the water, we have had to boil water or use bottled water for the past several days. Luckily, we have a water cooler and a good supply of water on hand, so it hasn't been too bad. The stores were all out of water within a day of the boil water notice. It's quite scary to think how bad it could be if we ever have the "big one" (earthquake). I think we can all benefit from Mother Nature's subtle and not so subtle nudges to help us become more aware and to be prepared for the time she decides to really let us have it.

My mom came over from Vancouver Island for the weekend. On Saturday we headed out to 'Be Creative', a fabulous little family-owned rubber stamp business run out of their home in Pitt Meadows (about a half hour east of our place). Haroldine, hubby Bob, kids Kari and Kyle and, last but not least, Iris (they are all wonderful) were busy demo'ing the new Adirondack Dabbers. I thought, I don't need those, as I have lots of acrylic paints already. Well...let me tell you, they are some kinda fun! I picked up a couple and Mom bought a bunch of stuff, but didn't pick up any of the Dabbers. We got back to our house and started to play with all the new goodies. Within about an hour, Mom decided she should have picked up some of the Dabbers and would I mind... Yep, in the car and back out to Haroldine's we went.

samples of Adirondack Dabbers and a new Stampers Anonymous 'Tim' stamp

We were greeted with a "Wow, it's been a while!" from Bob. Mom got her Dabbers and some paper and some more of this and that. Well, heck if I'm going to go home empty handed. I picked up a few more Dabbers and Mom bought me Tim Holtz's new book, "Distressables 2".

Most who know me, know how much I love Tim's art (I spent a weekend at a local scrapbook store in the summer of '05 taking a bunch of his classes...he is a doll!!). My fabulous art friends have been giving me a hard time about it ever since (okay, maybe I was a tad enthusiastic when I discussed how much fun I had and how much I liked him...okay...I admit it...I gushed...and gushed...but I had such a GREAT TIME!) Heck, we had practically the same hair style at the time!
Sunday, Stephen made his scrumpy pancakes with bacon for breakfast and then we played and watched our BC Lions win the Grey Cup, hooray! (Cdn equivalent to the Super Bowl for all my American friends) And it didn't end there. Next we got to watch my beloved Vancouver Canucks beat Chicago. It was a great weekend for my teams (Canucks also won on Friday night). Mom even made her famous pork chow mein for dinner. We had a lovely visit.

this fibre food keeps getting better and better

You must check out Laurie's pasta salad and romaine lettuce on the salad plate and Lori's pancakes for my breakfast plate. You gals rock!

I am currently working on my contribution for the TV dinner. I'll post a picture as soon as I am done.

lest we forget

summer's end

All the gulls become crows
And the trails become roads

The time you have to play each day
Goes with the sun to far away.
For half a year it there will stay
And reappear just after May

There are far fewer rays of sunlight which we must evade
We have less opportunity to sit in the cool shade

The solar orb which almost used to be as white as bleach
Has darkened to the colour of an over-ripened peach

The people we were free from as we ran across the beach
Return again and now we have to listen to them teach
It's time once more to work our way through yet another grade

The end of summer leaves us with a lack of lemonade

And the green becomes gold
And the warm becomes cold.

- Wesley May 2006

Wesley presented this poem to me as part of my birthday present. What a special gift.

yet more fibre food delights...

Here's a peek at Lori's quiche and Jen's chocolate dipped strawberries that have been added to Laurie's appetizer plate.