Hello from Harrison...

It is that time again - our long weekend away at the RV in Harrison. I did not think we would make it up this year as we leave for Italy in a few days... I REALLY should be at home this weekend cleaning and packing and making sure we have everything we need... But Marc convinced me that it would be a good thing for us to come up here and just relax and get some sun = colour before we leave. He is the smart one. I am glad I listened to him! It is really gorgeous up here. I always forget how peaceful it is... So I am going to spend the next three days laying on the beach and reading and doing a whole lotta nothing.

Ciao all.

Bella-isms...

To her brother last night in the car:
"Ethan, I know you are trying to get my goat...but I don't know where my goat is..."

This girl seriously kills me!!

Ciao all

Despicable Me...

The kids and I saw this movie tonight. Wonderful! Amusing. Touching. I recommend it.

Ciao all.

When life gives you soggy watermelon...

Make watermelon slushies! Or, watermelon/lemonade ice blocks. The kids went away to Harrison last week, so I had a watermelon cut up in the fridge that went "bad". You know how all the water leaks out of the cut pieces - they become limp and soggy. Gross. I LOVE watermelon, but when it turns like that, I hate it and usually throw it out. Well, not this time! I was flipping through Chatelaine magazine and saw a recipe for fruit slushies. So I got to thinking - what if I threw the soggy pieces of watermelon in the food processor and added juice to them... I had fresh lemonade made in the fridge. I blitzed the melon pieces and added lemonade to thin it out. Then I poured the concoction in ice cube trays and put it in the freezer. Voila!! Watermelon lemonade ice blocks/slushies. They don't freeze perfectly solid, so you can take a few out and mush them up with a spoon and enjoy! I am impressed. Thanks Chatelaine magazine. Now I am off to have a few cubes and keep cool.

Ciao all.

Another week gone...

I am really losing track of the days! WHERE has the week gone?? I swear I just packed the kids off to Harrison to spend the week with their grandparents and they are back now and the weekend is almost over again! Ack. I can't keep up...

I don't have much to say these days. I am obsessing about our trip and trying to get ready for it. But the more I get organized, the more that seems to me needs doing. Understand? I really just want to relax and let this be. I really want that. But so far that is not happening. I have gotten all my little gifts ready for my various and assorted family members. That is a load off my mind. Not that they are expecting anything, but they are hosting us for a long time, and I did not want to arrive empty handed. Plus it is always fun to bring "Canadian" gear abroad and share it. They are as proud to wear that stuff as we are to wear Italian stuff. And it is fun to share things from here that they don't have there - like Jade (they LOVE it); and stuffed killer whales and black bears (very West Coast!); and maple syrup! So I will not bore you further with my obsessive behaviour and just get my act organized and relax about this trip. ha haaaa

In other news, I am learning how to make freezer jam. Don't laugh. This is BIG for me. I have never made preserves of any kind. My grandmother used to make jam when I was a child. All those years ago... Mmmm... But my mother never made jam. My mother in law ALWAYS made jam when Marc was a child, but not so much anymore. So I am very excited about this. And needless to say Marc and kids are excited. I will let y'all know how I made out when I am done! Wish me luck.

I am off to bake now - feel like brownies. Maybe peanut butter chip brownies...

Ciao all.

Not feeling well...

Ethan was sick Thursday and Friday and most of yesterday. I fear he has inflicted me now, and I can't stray too far from the washroom... Sigh. I HATE being sick. Any kind of sick. Even a runny nose just annoys me to no end. So when I get stomach/digestive problems, I am fit to be tied. So my family has gone to church without me. And this afternoon they will be heading out to Harrison without me. The kids will be staying up there for this week with their grandparents. Did I mention I HATE being sick??

I have so many plans for this week - lists of things I need to accomplish for our upcoming trip. I can't be at home - tied to the toilet!! Do you hear me?? I am grateful that yesterday I had the sense enough to get out early in the morning (because I could feel the sickness coming on) and get many errands done. Bella is ready to go to Italy. All ready. I have everything she needs. I also got Ethan's toiletries all ready and I got a totally cool retro pair of Adidas runners for me (and an awesome pair of gladiator sandals! Had to. Sorry...). I have all the suitcases in the den and I will just leave them open and as the days go by, I will throw things into the suitcases. By the time we are ready to leave, I should be okay. This way I won't forget anything. If I see it in front of me, then I know for sure I have what we need. It is all part of the OCD. Can't help it.

So I am off to drink ginger ale and lay on the couch. Have a good week all. Hopefully I will too...

Ciao

Scrappin' machine...

 

I am on a role now! Whoo! Pic of Ethan and Bella I had taken last month. LOVE it.

I think I will stay in my basement for the rest of the night and see what else I can scrap. It is 20 degrees cooler down here!! Now, don't go getting all nasty on me - I HATE the heat. Absolutely hate it. I think it is 35 degrees outside right now - at 6:24 pm... That is disgusting because by 10 pm when I need to go to bed, it will still be 28-29 degrees... I would rather it SNOW than this heat. I don't like being hot/sticky/wet/sweaty/gross. I don't like how it makes me feel lazy = nothing gets done to my standards (right now the hardwood floors need to be washed and the entire third floor needs a GOOD vacuum job!!). Drives me crazy. I don't like how this heat makes my flowers wilt. I hate being outside at 8pm watering the flowers (not to mention the grass!!) and trying the ensure they live... Makes me wonder WHY I agreed to go to Italy in August. How stupid am I?? Think it is hot here - you ain't seen nothing yet...

Ciao all.

Been busy creating...

 

 

 

 

I am behind in my scrapping. So I have been busy the past few days creating. It has felt good to just be alone and think (or not think) and scrap.

I made gift tags for my aunts in Italy.

I got around to scrapping a page for Bella turning 7 (only one month late...).

More to come.

But not now.

Ciao all.

I am back

My uncles left Friday morning. Life is quiet without them here - a bit boring, i must say! Things are back to "normal" - for now. We leave for Italy in less than 6 weeks. I am grateful for this - I already miss my uncles but I know I will see them again shortly, so it helps ease the sad feelings. My dad, on the other hand, won't be seeing his brothers any time in the near future. I really don't know how he manages to do it - to say goodbye to his family like that... I would not be able to. I think that is what keeps me living here - 5 minutes away from my mom and dad and my sister. I really don't think I would be able to be away from them - so far away. I could not imagine seeing my sister and my niece and nephew for a week or two only every few years! Or my parents for that matter. It has already been two years since my dad last saw his dad. I am not cut out for long distance relationships! I am thankful for family - near and far. I love them all so dearly.

Have a good week all. I am going to bbq ribs for dinner.