This Week

This week I was slammed with a nasty cold. I still feel yucky. Despite the fact that I feel under the weather, the weather this week has been gorgeous, perfect in fact. Finally the rain stopped and the sun came out. Time to address the deck.

After spending all day Monday on the couch, I decided that when the sun came out on Tuesday, that it was time to get outside, whether I felt like it or not. I mean how many warm, sunny days are left this year? While I was waiting for the sun to dry up all the rain, I began to tackle the mess that is the front garden.

This is in progress. Still. Lots of work left to do. Maybe next week?

I've spent the last several days painting the deck. Wow. It's taking a long time. I knew it would. It's totally worth it.

Well, back out to the deck I go.

Making Progress.

Several months ago, I came across these.

I've used some of them here and here. But, the rest have been sitting in a box in the tv room closet. Until now.

Primed and ready go. Stay tuned!

A Bed for Puppy

One cute little puppy in need of a bed.

One old sleeping bag all tattered and torn.

One sharp pair of scissors that snip, snip, snip.

One sewing machine that can stitch, stitch, stitch.

One comfy bed all folded and neat.


Placed in a crate for puppy to sleep.

Another little bed all tattered and torn. Too much plaid on the dining room floor.

Come cute little flannel and sewing machine too. Work your magic in five minutes times two.

A new little bed for puppy. And now that makes two!

Vintagey Goodness

On my way home from work, I stopped at a thrift shop. Hidden amongst all the tacky items were these gems.

I love that most of the items were made in Canada.

And I know just what I'll make with them. Stay tuned!

Soapy Mess

An old house is a wonderful thing. But, tiny bathrooms, not so much.

A tiny bathroom means a pedestal sink and no room for a soap dish.

Several soap dishes later, but still nothing fit, and without a soap dish, the soap slides of the side into the sink.

What to do? What to do? Why, make your own soap dish of course! It's quite simple. Find some wire. Mine was left over from some long forgotten project.  I think it's gavalvanized, but I'm not sure and I don't know what guage it is. It was thick enough to do the job, but still easy enough to bend by hand.  And find a piece of pipe, left over from, well, a plumbing project. The pipe is 1.5 inches. To start, simply wind the wire around the pipe a couple of times.

Remove the pipe and continue winding the wire around and around to create a nest.

Success! A soap dish that fits.

Linking up here:

http://www.houseofhempworths.com/

http://whipperberry.com/

http://todayscreativeblog.net/

http://theinspiredroom.net/

When $50 Becomes $100

I'm sure by now you've all heard of the famine in the Horn of Africa. So sad. So huge. But we can help. The kids decided to do their part and to fight the famine the best way they could, by holding a lemonade stand!

Signs were made.

Lemons squeezed.

Cookies made and watermelon cut. Change found and sorted. Product tested.

Toys priced and marketed by the cutest saleman. How could anyone resist?

Then the people came. Young and old stopped by all afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by! With your help the kids raised $50. Right now, until September 16, the Canadian government will match donations. That's how $50 became $100 to fight the famine in the Horn of Africa. You can help too. Visit http://www.worldvision.ca/ to make a difference.

Baby Max

We welcomed baby Max into our family this summer. He is adorable.

Even when he's not so happy.

He belongs to my brother and his wife.

But we like to snuggle him as much as we can.

Congratulations Cassandra and Glen! He is wonderful.