weekend adventures

Ellie and her castle

My father-in-law and sister-in-law came down from Maine to visit us this weekend. It was fun. They hadn't seen the baby since last summer! Now she's a big kid. We went to a local "castle" in town next to the ocean. Hammond Castle was created by a man who holds records for the most patents. It's a beautiful, mid-evil home next to the harbor...

my favorite part of the castle

Daddy pointing out something to his girl

Thinking gargoyle - had fun editing this one.

view of the harbor

Later that day we went to the zoo in Boston and had so much fun...

Playing with the budgies - this is Ellie's favorite part! She tries to catch them. No fear!

Feeding the budgies with me. She's thinking..."Come a little closer little birdie!"

Swinging joy!

Sliding joy!

Hanging out with the gorilla.

Worn out from the day!

She got to have time bonding with family we rarely see and she had a lot of fun. But less sleep than usual! It was a battle trying to get her to fall asleep for a nap yesterday after they left. I lost the battle! So today we are aiming for a "normal" day at home!

Happy Monday!

disney on ice

me and my girl at disney on ice. she was a blur in every picture...constantly moving!

Over the weekend we took sweetpea to her first ice show in the big city. I used to love going to these shows because I grew up figure skating. She did good for being so little...ants in her pants throughout the show! Spent much of the time moving around so she is a blur in almost every picture. Here are a few!

daddy & ellie

home of the boston bruins & celtics

she loves to clap!

seeing ariel

never too young to start asking for $20 toys

brave - my favorite

wow!

beauty & the beast

Thanks for looking!

10-stitch blanket

10 Stitch Blanket

So...I couldn't get it together this week to participate in either Scavenger Hunt Sunday or the Shoot & Edit challenges for the week. I have been trying to get back into a routine with Cary home, work has been overwhelming, and I just couldn't get into it this week. But I hope to next week. I have been working on a baby blanket for friends of ours. It is a fun pattern where you only ever have 10 stitches on the needle at time. Originally when I bought the yarn I thought it might be neutral enough but am now realizing it is more approriate for a girl. Since our friends don't know what they are having yet, I bought more yarn to do a second blanket if I need too. I know I will be able to give away each of them at some point anyhow.

Yesterday we spent some time cleaning up brush out of my parent's yard. This winter wreaked havoc on the trees and my parent's have an acre and a half. Since my dad doesn't have the energy, we offerred to do the work. It was kind of fun. Today I am doing some spring cleaning. We only have a 1-bedroom apartment so space is at a premium. I have two grocery bags to donate and a large trash bag to toss. Still have more to do but for now that is pretty good.

Happy Sunday!

beautiful weekend

my cousin's wedding reception

This weekend was spent racing to get to a wedding on friday night after work. What a beautiful evening! My cousin and I were insperable as children...only a year apart. Countless sleepovers, bike rides, days playing outside, and hours watching "The Neverending Story."

The rest of my weekend was equally wonderful. Spent time having dinner with a friend's family and she taught me how to sew a bit. She even gave me her old sewing machine that she had gotten at a yard sale for $1....

...I feel a new crafting addiction coming on...

weekend nesting

Since it rained yesterday and a beach day was out of the question I did some errands and shopping. I could wander around HomeGoods for hours. And I did. I have really been wanting a white pitcher for flowers for a long time. I like how simple they look. Very pretty. So I found this one for $10 and a set of four quilted placemats for $10. My guy isn't a fan of placemats on the table...he likes the plain wood but he might like it when he sees them. We'll see!

I also got this very cute red ceramic pie dish and wire "caddy" for $10. I got home and made myself a blueberry pie. One of my favorites. I tried a Trader Joes crust and wasn't as happy with it as I thought I'd be. It didn't come out flaky...a little soft. Almost like it needed to be baked longer but that didn't help either. Not sure why. I think it's the first thing from there I haven't been 100% satisfied with...
At HomeGoods I also found these adorable little cards I plan to use as invites when I host Girl's Night in July...

They are vintage-like images of Barbie. I love them! Today I get to see my girls for lunch and the movies. We were supposed to go to the beach originally...but

alas...

today isn't a beach day either! Oh well.

Happy Sunday!

yarn shops, days off and other stuff

feather & fan dishcloth I finished this weekend

This was a great few days off from work. I went to a crop at my LSS on Wednesday night. It was ok. I got a few pages done and earned my way to a $20 coupon. On Friday and Saturday I visited a few yarn shops for the Yarn Crawl. Picked up.....

Just made purchases at two of the three stores I visited. The dark blue yarn is for a small, circular afghan I am going to make. The yarn in the front...the fuzzy red yarn was an impulse buy. Have no idea what I'll do with it but it is SO soft and yummy. I have small plans for the other two skeins. It was fun to check out two new shops. And most of my purchase was done at a store I frequent occassionally. I entered a raffle to win $500 in yarn from that store. That would be nice!

Yesterday, Cary and I went to see Alice in Wonderland. I LOVED it! Great movie. When I got home I made a few more cards. I'm preparing for the craft fair I'm doing next Saturday. I think I'm ready. Just need to make up a few signs and get my tote of stuff out of storage. But today it is absolutely pouring rain and windy so that might have to wait.

I'm not looking forward to a full work week next week. Just not ready. But for today I hope to do some knitting and relaxing. I feel pulled between my three hobbies...knitting, cardmaking and scrapping. There just isn't enough time!
Happy Sunday!

vacation project and other stuff

Our tree. There is a story as to why we have a pumpkin under the tree. It is just the longest-lasting-Halloween-pumpkin-ever! We bought that in early October and it is still solid! So we feel badly throwing it away. I don't know how to make pumpkin pie that doesn't come out of a can...

This Christmas was another different one but so nice. Last year was the first year I wasn't living in my parent's garage apartment so I didn't get up at the crack of dawn and open gifts with everyone. Cary and I went over later in the morning. It was nice...but different. This year he had to leave for work at 6:30am unfortunately. So another different Christmas. He and I celebrated and opened gifts on Christmas Eve day. On Christmas morning I went over to my families house after he left for work. So it was almost like it was as a kid. It was nice to feel like Christmas stretched out over a few days instead.

I'm on vacation this week and loving it! 9 more days...
Yesterday I went to my LSS and picked up a few things for a project with some Christmas gift money...and received a $20 coupon in return! Good deal...I'll be back there this week :)

Anyhow I was eyeing this...

and saw a store sample where it was turned into a calendar. Perfect! I just took down the one I made at a class there last year. So I bought some basic neutral supplies....

And I plan on doing each months's square differently while all using the basic neutral base. Adding colorful, meaningful details. Probably using some of the papers and embellishments I have been getting in my Cocoa Daisy kits. I am looking forward to working on this during the week. And it is the sort of project that while it is hanging up in my kitchen I can add to it during the year if I find something that fits it.

Today I am looking forward to spending some much needed time with Cary. He has been working 12+ hour shifts for the past few days. We plan on going to the movies and maybe dinner. And the mall to pick out a new Wii game or two. Last night I met some old high school friends and a local bar and had so much fun chatting. Two of the girls live out-of-state and I hadn't seen them in years.

Happy Sunday!

a little art therapy

Prescribed myself a little art therapy this week. Just a few hours after work one night. Worked on two canvases. The other is unfinished and is just collaged with patterned paper so far. This one is hand painted with a little nest image I like to draw sometimes. The coloring is a little off in the picture. In real life it isn't quite so yellow. I like how it came out!

Today I'm off to go ice skating. Haven't gone in years. I used to figure skate as a kid...for about 10 years +. So I pulled my old skates out of the closet and I'm meeting an old friend and her little girl for about an hour. Then to the movies with Cary and maybe my brother. It is a rainy, windy day here so that will be perfect.

I'm off...

Happy Saturday!

saturday and a card

My sister asked me if I could make her a Halloween card to send to her friend who is in England. This was the first card I've made in awhile. I used a variety of stamps, rhinestones, inked paper, and pp squares. It was fun to put together. I had good intentions to make a bunch for friends this year but I haven't been up to it.

Tonight I have an odd costume party/Girl's Night. I have to come up with a recipe that involves pasta...that includes desserts. One of my friend's sister has this Pasta Party every year and we are going this year. I am not motivated to make something. I might end up at the grocery store buying plain old pasta salad! It should be interesting!

Happy Saturday!

layouts and weekend hopes

me at 32

tourist for a day

Finally scrapbooked this past weekend! I just haven't been motivated and have been overwhelmed by things in my life and didn't know where to start. So I challenged myself to only use stuff from my September Cocoa Daisy kit (along with a few basics like adhesive, scissors, etc.). It was so fun! The kits are awesome and they challenge me to use colors, patterns and techniques that I wouldn't go to first if I picked out all the materials at the store. Fun!

And when I got home today...

I got my October kit in the mail.

Yeah! Can't wait to get into that this weekend. Also plan on making a few Halloween cards and finish up a hat I'm knitting for my Dad for Christmas. Then I have another fun knitting project for me up my sleeve...

I am hoping for a calm, relaxing, health-filled weekend!

Off to cook dinner and spend some time with Cary. Happy Thursday!

fall weekend

a memory of Fall 2008

So glad it's the weekend. Feeling pretty good today. Optimistic. So good in fact I cleaned my kitchen and put in two loads of laundery. Feels good to do that. Looking forward to my Girl's Night tonight at a friend's house. Lit my Pumpkin Spice candle today...reminds me of all I love about fall. Now to enjoy another cup of coffee and wait to switch over the laundrey. Still haven't done a layout with my new kit stuff...hoping this weekend? But it's looking like a busier one tonight and then gonna try and make it to Knitting Circle tomorrow night...so it might not be in the cards! We'll see...



Happy Saturday!

fall day

Hello.

I have not been a good bloger in the last few months. Few posts. No layouts. Really very few projects. Blah! That is not good. I guess I have been focused on other things aside from my art stuff. That isn't entirely terrible but I do want to try and do some this weekend. I have been spending time with Cary which is wonderful but also being a worrier about things I don't need to allow to consume my mind and time.

A fall weekend! At least today will be. Hoping for some apple picking and apple pie. And tomorrow I want to make a roast beef dinner. My mom always did that growing up for Sunday Dinner. I love the smell cooking for hours.

I came home from work tired last night. Cary had cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed, mopped the floors and took out the trash. What a guy! I am lucky.

Here's to hoping I have some cards or a layout to post later this weekend. I am dying to use my Cocoa Daisy kit goodies!

Happy Saturday!

weekend laziness

Bald Eagle at the Zoo

Just having a lazy Sunday morning at home. Had so much fun outlet shopping with my mom, brother and sister yesterday. Got some nice work clothes and a great Nine West bag. So great when you have a "vision" in mind and you find it in your price range!

Figuring out what to do with this day...having a beautiful sunny, cool late summer day here. Sat outside this morning for a bit with my book and coffee. Last night Cary and I were able to see the Labor Day fireworks from our apartment's balcony! Front row seats. Later today I'm hoping to finish up a shawl I knitted...need to weave in the ends and block it out. I'm excited about it. Need to get working on the rest of the baby sweater for my cousin too.

So much I want to do with my weekend off but also wanting to just be lazy!

Happy Sunday!

saturday

Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester, MA - April 2009

This has been an up & down week. I have been so busy with pre-graduation/end-of-the-semester stuff. Haven't been home many nights this week. Cary got bad news this week that we are trying to figure out. He is being laid-off as of next week. Fortunately he has some good pay coming this summer while he is at OCS for National Guard but that also makes it hard to be looking for a job. I hope something works out for him. He works so hard.

As for other news...I spend the day with friends for a yard sale to benefit the Relay-for-Life here in town. It was a good day outside. Got some knitting done on a baby sweater for a co-worker. After I had lunch after with friends...a good ole' Gloucester Haddock sandwich...hmmm. After I went shopping because I needed to find something inexpensive to wear to the college graduation and my sister's upcoming graduation. Found a few things and splurged on two pairs of shoes. I feel guilty about those. But they are very cute and really weren't that expensive. Picked up a few groceries at Trader Joe's and now I'm relaxing and taking a break.

Exhausted.

Happy Saturday!

full, fun weekend

Fun weekend so far!

Much needed...

• Ate lots of crap (McD's and Wendy's in one day and a Grande Java Chip Iced Frappuccino..mmmm)
• Shopped with my sister, bought over-priced makeup at Sephora, and an outfit, etc. Spent too much money but had so much fun.
• Knitted (photo is of a lace dishcloth I started & finished this weekend!)
• Saw "Love you Man" with Cary. Very funny!
• and now I'm getting some chores done...laundry, etc.
• Now I'm cooking some ribs and potato salad for sunday dinner before Cary goes off to work..and I'll be off for a visit to my parent's and a knitting group at the yarn store. I'm off!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

good will come

a reminder in my kitchen

I have been hibernating for the last 24 hours. Both because of the cold and more worries. I must sound like a basket case. Lately for every good thing that happens {like paying off my car Thursday} one irritating/worrysome thing occurrs. It is a long story that I won't get into. It really isn't the end of the world or earth shattering - just irritating, time consuming and plain aggrivating.

Anyhow...I did stay in from the cold {for the most part} yesterday. Had all intentions of going over to the gym but I slept terribly on Thursday night {see above - worries - my mind has no shut-off button} so felt groggy all day yesterday. Did a little work for my classes, rested on the couch and watched Season I - Heroes but couldn't fall asleep for a nap, played a game on the computer with Cary and later on we went out to pick-up Chinese. So good!

I got some pictures I ordered from Scrapbookpictures.com in the mail. November and December. So I can finish up my December Daily and my 2008 In Review Album. I also finished up my Week #2 for the 52 Q challenge. Actually finished it just now. I had been working on it a little at time all week but wrapped it up this am.





Feeling like I want to catch up with my world today. Clean up this apartment a little. Print out syllabii for my classes that start over the next week. Take some photos. Bake some cookies. Just have a fun day and enjoy the sun, my health, my relationship and all that is GOOD. My cousin from California who I never get to see but love - sent me a message on facebook in relation to my mind and worries. She said she tells herself "out of this good will come."

I will hold on to that.

Out of this GOOD will come.

Also realized I was tagged on Miss. M'sblog to share 5 addictions. Fun idea! I'm going to try and post that later.

Happy Saturday!

scenes from the weekend...so far

The Topsfield Fair...a yearly favorite for me...

A beautiful clysdale getting a bath.
A peice of art in sand....sand castle.
Cows. Cows. Cows.
Riding the rides. Not an attractive picture but so much fun!
Girl's Night at my house last night. A costume party!

Off to visit my parent's, hopefully unpack winter sweaters and pack up summer clothes, maybe stop at AC Moore and make some cards to prep for the craft fair next Saturday.

Happy Sunday!