3rd and last instalment of the Card avanlanche

Please go to the last 2 posts to see the rest.

 

 

 

 

Again, thanks for looking and sorry for the fuzzy pics!
xxxLoulou

Continuation of Card avalanche

This is a continuation of the avalanche! I am so technically challenged that I can post only 4 pics per post. Please bear with me!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

Card Avalanche

I am really alive : 2 posts in 2 days....
As I mentioned in the previous post, I made about 200 Xmas cards this Fall because my sister-in-law and I wanted to participate to various Christmas Bazaars. Sales are so-so this year since people are afraid to go out because of H1N1 (it reminds me of the "One of a Kind Show" in Toronto, where Dave and I went to help my aunt, that year there was a strike of Toronto municipal employees and ...SARS - no crowds, unfortunately.....)
So here is a sample of my cards :

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

Kitchen - Before and after

 

 

Don't get a heart attack, I am still alive. I guess we were too busy with the move and scrapbooking, and making cards and trying to solve our house related problems. It was not easy, you have to hound those people, but we are slowly getting things done. We also started to like the house. At first, we were not too sure. The kitchen is getting there. The molding has to be repainted and 4 cupboard doors have a mind of their own and are warping... they will be replaced.
So this is the kitchen before and after. The before version had one advantage, my husband got used to where things were put away!I really like my after kitchen.
I won't make promises about posting, so I won't break them. To come : some of the 200Christmas cards I made for different Xmas sales (that's not going too well because there very little attendance on account of H1N1 - oh well), my December daily, etc.

The move was totally HORRIBLE

The last few months during contruction were trying, but it was nothing compared to the first three days of last week. So much went wrong, it was unbelievable... I know it's normal for a new house, but I think we were cursed.
We are coping, but I am still frazzled and there is still some work to be redone on the house.

What went wrong?
These are just a few of the things that were discouraging:
Getting defective hardwood floors.
Getting the wrong color cupboards (when you paid thousands of dollars extra for the color) and when the company came to take them back to the shop they did not take the ones in the bathroom that were the same...
Getting yelled at by the builder just for mentioning said bathroom cupboards .
Getting the wrong outside French door that you paid for, and on top of that it’s crooked.
Getting the wrong keys to the house and realizing it around 7:00PM when everybody is gone home.
Getting a garden door that doesn’t stay locked.
Getting a garage door that doesn’t lock.
Getting a scratched front door.
Being obliged to deal with the builders’ notary who is late giving you an appointment, even if you called him a few times, (he finally called at 7:30 AM the day of the move!) And then, he has the wrong number but blames the bank
Having to pay a penalty because of that.
Having the bank blame the notary.
Having the notary ask you for $24 000 more than expected because he made a mistake.
Having to sign some preoccupation papers urgently when the moving van is waiting at the door of the new house otherwise they will not let us in (all this because of said notary).
Getting the movers to bring a couch from Toronto that can’t fit in the stairs and that has to be stored in the garage.
Having a heirloom piece of furniture that can’t fit in the stairs and having to store it in said garage.
Getting a flood on the hardwood flors in the former home on the last day it was legally ours....

I was so overwhelmed, frazzled and it was such a major change of scenery that the first time I watched TV, I was surprised we had the news from the Ottawa area at the new house (which is still in Gatineau...) I guess that, mentally, I was travelling abroad!
NEVER AGAIN
Now if I can get a few good nights of sleep I will be able to turn the page and look ahead to enjoy the place

Blog problems, help me Stechie!

Hi Lovelies! (as our Diva Loca would say - I like that!)
I have been trying to upload pictures and nothing seems to work tonight. I even knew which ones I wanted to post, but I can't find the new pics... I am sure we uploaded them from the card last night. I guess I am computer challenged tonight or something...

Well, we had a lovely time in Maine : 2 weeks by the ocean... so relaxing. This place is my little piece of paradise, my source of energy. The ocean, the waves, the sun glittering and my wonderful family and friends. I love it all.

We have been going back to the same place for about 16 years, like old horses going back to the same stable. But it works for us, we relax, we forget about work and we reconnect with our inner kid... Ok, ok - I know, mine is never very far. We also eat lobster a lot, really. We go on a lobster diet or bender. I never get enough. We discovered last year that buying the lobster already chucked, picked, unshelled (what's the word - anyway, all fixed up and ready to eat) was less expensive than in the shell! Go figure! Since I hurt my arm, almost 10 years ago, Dave has been fixing it for me, so he is delighted -less work for him and more lobster in my tummy.
Apart from eating, we play in the waves, body surf or with a boogie board, read on the beach, build sandcastles, play with the kids on the beach and just relax and have a good time. The air is so pure and fresh. We fall asleep listening to the waves. We spend a lot of time on the beach, it's huge and wonderful.

And we came back to the craziness of building a house. Especially when it's in the first batch of a brand-new development and we bought on plans only, it is quite daunting at times, and frustrating and exciting too. It's coming along, today, the tiles were laid in the front hallway and bathroom (and probably in the master bath-we did not see, we could not go in because of the freshly laid tiles), the walls were painted and the kitchen was installed (less the counter top). Yeah! The kitchen seems to looks like I had imagined - that's so great - well, we sneaked a look through the back French doors and had to go up some kind of scaffolding - I am being very careful - klutzy me wants to be able to move.)

We are supposed to move next Tuesday. The packing is coming along, mostly thanks to the Tasmanian devil of packing (or the Pacmanian devil as I started to say - it's quicker!!!!) I have done my share, but he is the KING of packing. That's very nice.

I will try to figure out what I am doing wrong about the pictures, Stechie please help!
Good night

Sorry, I have been MIA!

So so sorry... I have been MIA. Just too busy with the move and the construction of the new house. Also, we went on holidays for 2 weeks in Maine. Will try to post pics tomorrow. Have a good week my friends...

I have been “TWILIGHTED”!

What is it about those books and that movie?
Being curious, I rented the movie and I liked it. Then Bella (aka Stepahnie) told me she was reading the books and that it was WAY better than the movie and that’s why she was MIA. But she wanted to read them again in English... Mmmmm... When I visited Kathy in New York State April, I noticed the entire collection in her daughter’s bedroom that we were using. So we called Kelly at college to ask if I could borrow them. "Yes as long as you don’t leave any boogers in them!". Don’t worry Kelly, I have no plans to do that! And the rest is history. I am hooked. I am now an addict. I read the 4 books within a month (only at night before falling asleep). When I closed the last one, I just started reading the series again. OK What is the matter with me? I don’t read romance novels. I don’t read vampire novels. It takes me years to re-read a book. Isn’t 52 a bit old for teenager literature? Well, I don’t have to wonder about my immaturity level anymore!
And I am not the only one. I spoke to friends who were as or more addicted than me : watching the movie three times in a row, buying the kind of magazine you guiltily read from the corner of your eye while waiting at the cash at the grocery store, roaming the Internet to catch a glimpse of the trailer of the next instalment, or find out if the author is planning a fifth book.... What has happened to us? It is quite a phenomenom....
I can’t wait for the new movie : November 20th. Normally, I never know when a new movie is coming out. I guess I have simply been "Twilighted"!
I am thinking of getting a bunch of addicts together to go see the new movie... Would be fun... What do you think Stechie?
Anyone else has been Twilighted?

Shhhh! Don't tell Suzan! It's a surprise!

Multi Media from Stéphanie's Class for my friend Suzan

My dear friend Suzan was operated for a tumour in her head last Thursday. Fortunately, it was attached to her bone, rather than her brain. Everything went well, but it was very serious. She is recuperating well and we are waiting for the results of the tests to confirm it is benign. She has been my friend since we were 6 and she is more than a sister to me. She lives in Quebec city. I have been extremerly worried. I try to phone her everyday to cheer her up.

I enjoyed doing the mixed media so much and I realized I kept thinking of Suzan throughout the class. So I decided to stay during the afternoon at the Scrapbox to make her another piece with a picture from the wonderful cruise we took together in February, to remind her that we still have a lot of cruises and trips to take together. I hope she enjoys it and it helps keeping her positive while she recuperates.
I will take it to Purolator at noon tomorrow so that she receives it as soon as possible.
Suzan, I love you.

Calendar for my Girls - December

Ok, I guess I still have a lot to learn. I don't seem to be able to put those pictures in order. Sorry about that. So that was the calendar...

August, Sept., Oct. November

April, May, June, July

We laughed so much that we almost peed in our pants in my brand-new van!

Good thing we stopped by the washroom before leaving, otherwise my 10 day’s old van would have been baptized... When we left the Scrapbook Centrale crop on Sunday night, we laughed so hard, we had to stop in a parking lot, where it took us at least 15 minutes calm down and stop laughing! My glasses were fogged up! We were both crying from laughing so hard! No make-up left (we probably had raccoon eyes)! Why? Maybe you had to be there.... because we got up at six, I filled my van with half of my scrapbooking stash (I have the room, why not? And I want to do a lot today!), we drove for 2 hours to get there, paid $75 for the day... and all we have to show for it is that we put pictures and embellishments on the 12 tiny pages (about 4X4 inches) of an exploding box (that was already built)... That’s it! Nothing else! Where did the day go? We had been waiting all year for this special day, like little kids at Christmas. And all we did was 12 tiny pages!

OK, it’s true that when we arrived we spent time looking through our goodie bag (filled with lots of cool stuff), we ate some snacks that were provided and examined the prize tables, and the material from Scrapbook Centrale that we could use. Then we looked at fishing papers and embellishments we brought, because we wanted to do a lot of pages of our husbands’ fishing trips. After that, we drove to the store (a mere 3 minutes from the crop), where we spent at least an hour and a lot of money. When we came back, it was time for lunch. And then, they gave us coupons for 2 for 1 at Second Cup, and since we can't pass a deal, we got back in the van to go there. On the way, we kind of got lost in a dollar store, where there wasn’t that much scrapbooking stuff. When we came back to the crop, there was a make and take, then snacks and games and draws. We walked around, looking at the beautiful things the other ladies were working on (because the others seemed to be scrapbooking - one lady even made 6 pages) and learning from them. We did a bit of scrapbooking.... Then, it was dinner, and more draws, and snacks and prizes... and suddenly it was 9PM. WHAT? It’s over already! But we had just found our groove and our mojo! Oh no! Time to go home!

And then we remembered that I had been very surprised that Linda brought so little to the crop, but in the end, she did not use most of it! So, let’s not talk about my truck load of stuff that I had to cart back home! This is why we laughed so much! It is so silly!

Oh yes, also Linda was VERY busy winning prizes : she won 7 times, no major prizes, but a lot of fun stuff. No sucky face for me, I won a respectable 4 times (small prizes).

Are we happy we went? Oh yes! Are we going back next year? Oh yes! Did we have fun? OH YES!

But now, I would like to find some time to scrap a bit, when I am finally done putting all my stuff away!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

Yay! I soooo love my new blog. It is so pretty. Thank you again and again WILNA! You rock!

Tomorrow I am celebrating NSD with my SIL (sister-in-law) Linda and we are going to the annual crop at Scrapbook Centrale in Montreal. Yay! I can't wait! We went last year and loved it. However, I hope we are luckier than last year and come back with some goodies! They have lots and lots of draws... but we were really not lucky. I will try not to have a sucky face tomorrow! Last year around 7 PM, I started making a sucky face because I swear everybody but Linda and I had won at least a couple of things! We eventually won little things at the end of the day. I would be happy with just a chocolate bar (at least it would keep me quiet for a little while)!
Celebrate NSD and keep smiling!
LoveXXXX

Thanks for the wonderful week-end!

We just came back yesterday from a most wonderful week-end visiting with our great friends Kath and Tom in New York State. We had an amazing time. Everything we ate, everyone we saw, everything we did was perfect (even the flea market in the desert at noon, with not a cloud in the sky in 200 degres temperature!)

I am so thankful that Kath's sister and brother-in-law came to see us. I hope you feel better soon Brennie, you have such courage, you are in my thoughts. And thank you also to Sheri and Joe, the newlyweds who spent a good part of their Sunday with us. We are fortunate to know people who are so generous, real and so easy to talk to. Sheri, we found Lucy the travelling pinata! Beware! Lucy is a boomerang, she will come back to you.

Let me tell you Lucy's story : Lucy was a pinata who took quite a beating at Kelly's sweet 16 party. We felt sorry for her. She became a sort of mascot who finds her way everywhere! She reminds me of the garden gnome of the movie Amelie. She has driven a car, hidden in numerous beds, in a wheel well, she has been on a cruise in the Carribbean, been to Florida, Maine, New York State... and Gatineau. Her foot was covered with money and presented as a weedding gift to Sheri and Joe. She is a sorry looking paper pinata, but we sure get good laughs out of her.

Follow up from Saturday

I did it!
The information I had was perfect, I found the grave right away. It was nice to have flowers for him. It was very emotional.... I talked to my dad for a while. I also decided to get him a tombstone. It is never too late to do it right.

Later in the day, I realized that after the initial shock or upheaval, I felt very at peace and serene. I went to the funeral and focussed on the people there, instead of remembering my dad's funeral and being very upset. I may be done grieving... after 37 years. Time will tell...

Now I have to decide if I will tell my siblings about the tombstone, I may be opening a huge can of worms (no pun intended). They have mixed feelings. I guess if I were in their shoes, I would like to be informed and consulted. I think I will give them the opportunity to participate, while at the same time, I will entertain no expectations and will be prepared to do it on my own...

A Special Saturday...

Tomorrow, I will attend the funeral of the father of a friend. It’s in the city where I was born. And I added 2 cemetery visits, because I guess it wasn't enough... I will visit the grave of my grand-father, my grand-mother and my aunt. And...

I will do something I have always wanted to do : visit my dad's grave. It is in another cemetery in that city. He passed away when I was 15. My mom was very angry with him and she never took us to visit his grave, at the time we lived 2 hours away. He doesn't even have a tombstone. I have been meaning to go for ever, but I very rarely visit that city, and when I do it's very rushed.

Well, I have decided to go this week-end. So I found the cemetery and phoned to find out where the grave is and got directions. I will bring him flowers, because I think he never got any, except on the day of his funeral 37 years ago... It will be very emotional, but I think it will be a good thing. When he passed away my heart broke and that part never mended. I loved him so much and still do. The rest of the family did not care much because he was an alcoholic and was very sick. But I always saw the dad I knew and loved as a little kid, not the sick man.

I know he lives on in my heart through my love, and I talk to him often.

So I guess, it’s no use to put on any make-up tommorrow and a big box of kleenex is in order.

I don’t dread this, I feel happy and serene about it.

Daddy, here I come.

Blog under construction

This blog will be under construction for a few days. It will be redone and improved by (gasp!) the one and only Wilna Furstenberg!!!!!!!! I am so EXCITED. I can't wait to see what she will do! Isn't that cool? I promise I will post a lot more and layouts also. YAY! Back in a few days with a new and improved blog! YAY! YAY!

Were we had? Only God knows...

Yes, two posts on the same day. Don't ask!
The other day, my sister-and-law Linda and I went to Les Galeries de Hull (in Gatineau) to have a Shawarma dinner (they have the most scrumptious Shawarmas there - I am totally addicted - OK I admit, I am also addicted to chocolate and scrapbooking stuff, but I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!)

As we got out of the car we were accosted by an English-speaking young man. He was so happy because we spoke English. He proceeded to tell us that his wife was 8-months pregnant and that they did not have any food or money. He was supposed to receive a compensation cheque on the Monday. He had been to different charity organizations to get some food, but to no avail, apparently. He looked clean and drug-free. Since we did not want to give him money, we decided to take him to Market Fresh and get him some food. Linda had to give me the look, because I was on a roll and was going to fill that cart! So we loaded him with fruits, veggies, bread, juice, milk, etc., and gave him some money for meat. He was very thankful.

After, we wondered if we should tell our husbands, because they would say we were had. Those two brothers most often think alike!

We don’t know, one can never be sure. When we told the Shawarma guy what had just happened, he was full of wisdom: what counts is that we did something good for someone, and God knows about it - what the guy did with it is out of our hands and between himself and his conscience.

So we told our husbands and they both said we were had. I am still not sure. Maybe I want to believe we did something good. Were we had?

I WON! I WON!

I won I won! (Insert stupid little dance...)
I could not belive it. I won some Heidi Swapp products! She is my favoritest (I know it doesn’t exist-but it’s fun for a translator to trangress - and I know, I know, I need to get a life!) Everything she does appeals to me so much, that I could not believe my eyes when I saw I WON! I never win anything. And on top of that it’s products I wanted to buy! Yayyyyyyyy! (And yay for my wallet, since I am supposed to stop buying scrapbooking products to save for the new house!)
Thank you Stéphanie, you told me to keep trying. (Hasn’t she been winning a lot of stuff lately???) And you were RIGHT. (It's nice to be right once in a while!) Poor Steph, I e-mailed her mostly in capital letters when I saw I had won, I was quite excited!
Thanks also to Laurie (Diva Loca) for letting me know I won, that's really sweet.

Here is why I am spying on the mailman for :

2 of each of theFresh & Free papers
including the border sheet, which is my favorite! 1 of the blue/green alphabet chipboard books,1 of the Fresh and Free stickers, 1 of the black and white alphabet stickers and the purse clip.

I can't wait. I hope it's not mailed from China!

Crop and fun

I had a wonderful time a the Ultra Pamper Crop at the Scrapbox this week-end. However, I renamed it the "Ultra Depends Crop", because Jenn should provide the Depends, so we would not lose precious time going to the washroom!
I thought 12 hours would be long, but I stayed a lot longer than that! Time just flew by - I was having a blast. I was very happy to create next to our diva Stéphanie. It was challenging and intimidating at the same time. I finished the mirrored album I had started during Stéphanie's class, and I am very happy with the results. I will post it soon. (I used my beach wedding pictures). I also did a 2-page layout and worked on two more 2-pages layouts (which is exceptional for me as I am the slowest and pickiest scrapbooker ever!)

I had a great time sharing with the ladies. It is an environment that promotes creativity and inspiration. I am glad I went and I will go back.
Thanks Stéphanie, my dear friend, for a most wonderful day. XXX

Last ones!

We are so small in the big scheme of things.

Formal drinking before the formal night!

Eleuthera Island (Bahamas)

OK - That's enough! Now that the girl has learned how to do it, she can't stop!
That's not too bad since we have 355 pics, and I haven't received the pics from the others!

Some more

Gorgeous conch shells in Grand Cayman. We bought
a couple to decorate our future basement (beach theme).

This is the big "chaloupe" (row boat)!
The magnificient and brand new Ruby Princess.

The gang ready to party (again)!

More pics

Friendly iguana in jamaica!

My friends the dolphins, later we petted them and kissed them.
They took the pictures (I haven't figured out how to post them yet.)
It was one of my BD presents form my hubby!

This man is petting..... a shark!
Not me, no way! I was nervous just watching.

Suzan and Dave (the brave ones) went up the Dunn's river falls.
Not Loulou the wuss with a bum arm. I went up the stairs and took pictures.