an altered clipboard....

At one of the last scrapbooking retreats I attended, I had the chance to make an altered clipboard for the kitchen. I wanted a way to display the kids school photos that was fun instead of in a boring frame.

This is made with a 'mini' clipboard that can be found at the dollar store for $1. I know it sounds funny to say that it cost $1.00 at a dollar store, but some so-called dollar stores sell things for $1.50 or other prices that are not exactly a $1.00!  I used scrapbook paper along with 'mod podge' to cover the clipboard. Then a bunch of ribbons are tied on the clip part of the board to get it that special touch of texture & colour.

The clipboard rests on a shelf next to the family calendar. I love having my sweeties faces to look at when I write on the calendar. I made one of these for the grandparents as well and mailed them off wrapped in bubble wrap.


This project has been linked to

Mod Podge Mayhem at:

a three hour tour...

Our family recently acquired a boat.Yup. A boat.

For tours. Fishing. Knee-boarding. Water-skiing. All the fun stuff.

Whenever I think of boat tours, the theme song from this little show from my childhood pops into my head.

This got me thinking.  If I had to describe our family in terms of Gilligan's Island, who would we be?

Ron. For sure, he would be the Skipper. He is fatherly, of course, being a father to our children and all. He is also brave, determined and sensible. He keeps us on course and he takes care of us.  He will be the one to float our boat. (But we will skip the part where he gets us marooned on an unchartered isle. Luckily, we are not the ocean-going sort, and live in the middle of the Prairies and the Rockies.)

Me. I hate to say this...but honestly...I am Mrs. Thirston Howell. The Third. No doubt about it. I like to be pampered. I don't like the wind in my hair or strong sun on my face. If I could be pampered on our boat tours with a martini and a little 'lovey' calling...I would be a super happy chic.

Hunter. Well.....she is Mary Ann. Funny and bubbly. Strong and athletic. She looks so cute in her little bikini, and she would be the most likely female on board to help out the Skipper. She is the all-canadian girl....sweet as can be.

I bet you think that Tyler will be Gilligan. That dumb-witted, but lovable numbskull.

Nope.

Tyler is our Professor.

He loves knowledge and learning and he likes to collect scientific facts. He also likes to share his scientific facts. For instance, the other day he asked me if the dogs could 'see' colours. When I said I wasn't sure, he went to the computer to google it. He reported back to me that 'dogs could only see primary colors'. Good to know.

So there you have it. Our own little family of Gilligan's Island people going on boat tours.

Another song that pops into my head when I think of boats is Robert Plant's song, "Crazy Ship of Fools."

I'm sure I'll be able to talk about that one at the end of the summer.

Here is the Skipper and the Professor with the S. S. Minnow.

Summer can't come fast enough for these two.

my family wall....

Awhile ago, I gathered up some frames not in use from around the house and spray-painted them heirloom white.

I had an an inspiration....I wanted to create a "family wall"....a collection of photos of our family roots....our parents and grandparents. It is also important to me that my children recongnize those they come from.

The hardest part was locating pictures. I was able to find pics of all the grandparents except for Ron's paternal grandparents. I am not sure if even a picture exists of these two people in their younger days. Once I found the pictures, the rest was easy. Arrange. Hang.

I absolutely love this wall.

The picture in the centre is of Ron and I on our wedding day in 1995. The picture to the top right of us is of my maternal grandparents Josephine and Frederick circa 1950's. To the lower right are Ron's maternal grandparents Evangline & Antonio on their wedding day in 1945. Just below Ron and I are my paternal grandparents Ada & Clifford with my Uncle Phillip circa 1941. And to our lower left are Ron's parents with Ron and his brother when they are little. That handsome couple to our upper left is my parents in 1965 at a high school dance.

I loved my grandparents dearly and it is a nice to have their pictures on the living room wall  to remind me of happier times. And of who I am and where I come from.

This post is linked to these great parties:

Hello Mrs. Bunny Cake...

My mom always made a version of this cake for us at Easter. It's a simple homemade cake cut into a bunny shape. Decorated with jelly beans, coconut, licorice and whatever other yummy things we had on hand.When she happens to be visiting us at Easter, she makes it for my kids.

Such a simple little tradition. But it makes the kids feel so special.

This is our project for today...to make a Mrs. Bunny Cake. We have icing, jelly beans, licorice....it can't be a holiday unless there's a mess in the kitchen.

Sarah's House Season 3: The Farmhouse Kitchen

It always amazes me how I can watch each episode of Sarah's House faithfully each week,

and how there are still beautiful details that the 30 minute show doesn't capture.

Like this staircase.

We never saw it in the show.

But here it is.

I have seen numbered staircases before, but it looks like there is a painted runner

in addition to flea market style numbers on each riser.

It really adds some great character to what could be a lacklustre staircase.

But there is never lacklustre with Sarah.

Another little corner of the kitchen that we didn't get to see in detail on the show.

Here appears a beverage centre and a baking centre.

Sarah has tackled the use of space around low hung windows with practicality.

I love this view of the kitchen.

It shows how Sarah has made every square inch of the kitchen functional.

Love the farmhouse sink.

The big stove to put out the big meals you expect at a farm.

The island that can serve as a buffet for entertaining.

Another beautiful vignette.

I would love to cook in this kitchen.

It is so bright, functional & cheery.

I think this kitchen would reform this late sleeper into a morning person.

Skinny Legs & Cowgirls...

Intriguing isn't it?

Skinny Legs & Cowgirls.
Such an interesting and fun phrase.

It's a resturant...themed after some old giddy up Cowgirl inspirations taken from a novel.

Super fun. Super chic.

A great watering hole, so to speak.

Some girlfriends & I finally ventured to this place for lunch.

It did not dissapoint.

Except on one point....I did not leave with skinny legs.

Dang it.

This place features mostly organic meat & produce.

And a few fish dishes to round out the menu.

We started with 2lbs. of PEI mussels.

And 2 of us being from the Maritimes, we know our mussels.

They were truly delicious...cooked just right in a wine & tomato broth,

With bread for sopping up that broth left in the dish.

And on one's chin.

Next came chicken in a mushroom cream sauce..with risotto.

And a salad.

It was so very juicy & tasty.

No ladies' lunch would be complete without chocolate.

We shared a delightful chocolate mousse pie.

We can't wait to whoop it up again at this place.

It was totally a 'happy trails' experience.

some 'Grammie' LOVE in the kitchen...

Whenever my mother comes to visit,

she & Hunter like to cook up adventures in the kitchen.

One of the ways my mother shows her love for people is to cook for them and with them.

Hunter has learned so much from her.

And one of things I love about my mother is that she is always game for whatever you want to try.

She's such  a FUN girl!

Hunter always wants to make crepe desserts with Grammie.

This time it was crepes with sauteed pears, candied walnuts with vanilla ice cream.

Topped off with maple syrup.

Delicious.

Hunter feels that crepes taste better when they are flipped.

But they must be flipped by her.

The sauteed pears in all their butter, cinnamon and syrupy glory.

Candied walnuts ready for garnish.

The yummy finished dessert.