The days of Tundra~

Cold in QC..tea.coffee..French Onion Soup..and ..

Stitched the week away..A Winter Cabin series by Alicia Paulsen

Fun fun book..Draw Your Day..you can see a review here..Samantha Dion Baker.

A lovely little book to get lost in.And be inspired by.

The Canadian price was ap $20.00

The only time I keep something that can loosely be called a journal..is on trips..I have a huge one from2009..but mostly writing..We went to Italy and France.

I have had an ongoing one for 9 yrs..all writing..I plan on burning that one one day..

Most of the time my journals are really just paintings in journals/books or loose leaf that I glue into that BIG one ..You can see my fullest book to my tiniest book.

I admire artists that have all the same books lined up..and filled..I never thought of doing that when I started painting..

So my books are all different except for 2 small Moleskins..I love finding old paintings..like 3 boys on a swing♥

Lucas..is taller than I am now..Max will be soon..Oli will be the tallest of all 4..

Noah ..I am not sure yet..I think he will have a growth spurt!

I like books and paper and colors and pencils and erasers..:)

Lots of memories in them there books y'all;)

 Terrible Ipad photo above

Oli comes over when he can on Wednesdays..such a light..a bright light..He does mathématiques with Jacques..and then  francais with me..he had a particularly good day this Wednesday..All perfect en maths and all perfect en francais.

He had forgotten his snow pants at home so at recess had to stay on le premier palier(first level outdoors)..I said:" Oh Oli what did your friends do?" He said :"They all stayed with me."
Now does that warm a heart or what?
So after he has his grilled cheese and chocolate milk after school and does some homework..we watch the beginning of a movie to be continued next time..this busy busy boy..reclines on the couch facing me and covers himself up..I snapped an Ipad pic and this happened♥A quick brisk pencil sketch,and watercolor even quicker.He's a sight to behold.5 minutes...yet Jacques made it hiss screensaver.

That's nice..

Look what happens when you convert..

So obvi(new word)..it's pretty darn cold here and I am organizing and painting..
Christmas is nestled..tucked away.
Sometimes I find a new something after Christmas..but you know what? Everything is on sale before Christmas so it's all gone.
All gone.

I do have to show you a little homekeeping thing I never knew..
When I married Jacques 45 years ago..he had Dansk turquoise pots..I loved them..but w/ wear and tear the only usable one was a small saucepot I gave to my daughter..oh...smaller than a saucepot..like to melt 4 tbsps of butter..
She gave it back to me:):)
I would love to have our whole Turquoise Dansk set back..but no..I have pots and pans..

I did however fall upon this beauty..new..resale on Varage sale..and a very very reasonable price.
When I picked it up the lady said:"Do you know why the covers are made this way?"No I said"..

Look everyone..if you have these..

Genius is all I can say..

Bon weekend!!

PS anyone watching The Kominsky Method?
2 in and I like it.

~2019~ So be it♥

2019~

So many make resolutions!
I just wish~


So nothing is put away yet..re Christmas..I even hate those words..Putting Christmas away..LOL
Does Christmas really get put away?
I hope not.

I will start to gather and reminisce and box up and store away  until next year..
Soon..probably after Epiphany like every year.

On the subject of resolutions..the deepest ,meditative friend I have ever had sent me a link to this..

Raptitude

I read it with intent as she is so wise..

and I found it so interesting.

I do finish what I start.

OHMGEE do I finish what I start..even a crappy book.

I'll even keep baking something I know an ingredient went missing;)

However..I do get extra paints..a new cookie cutter..a new art book..always thinking.."this paint set will make me a better painter":)
I will reread this link a few times this year:)

Maybe some of you will get inspiration..in one area or another.

Also..
can you believe I have never listened to a whole Audiobook?

I could not get a print copy of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman..
so I took the audiobook.
♥
While stitching in my warm craft room on these freakin' blustery days.
I am loving it.The narrator's voice is pleasant..  and the book is so interesting. My daughter had told me she loved it..
Same daughter who made the seed girl w/ Noah:)

Not done..I haven't been 9 hrs since this AM  in my craft room..but ..so good:)
I love Fredrik Backman books.

Another thing I fell in love w/..Les Misérables..on a UK you tube..thanks to Carol at Paris Breakfasts.

Oh ...I watched the whole first episode on my mini Ipad while stitchin' an Orla K blanket..(not done by far)..It's so good!!

Did you all watch Call The Midwife Christmas special?
Bawling firtst 5 minutes.

I received such sweet snail mail between Christmas and New Year..

That card,see that first pic?

UK cards are the bomb for 3 D..
Marie:)
And Marie sent me the adorable stitched tree ornament.
Her new cookbook...number 2 I might add..comes out soon!


I received the most gorgeous Santa photo on a handmade card by Linda~ It is pitch black now to take a pic..:(

A beautiful 3 D vintage card from  Linda too..:)

I am saying these things because..well not os say..LOOK!

But to say..  How Sweet.How Grateful.


I am a firm believer in snail mail. Even if Canada Post is making me doubt.

I sent Linda a card the Monday I came back from Florida.Over 1 month.All within Canada:(

I'll fill you in on my Paris Maps..my wall is getting fuller.I think it is time for a new pic;)

I can't believe the cute add-ins- Carol puts in her subscription letters..it's not only an aquarelle map..you get goodies.

I made a cranberry orange cake thanks to Diane Morrisey..

and I was thrilled at the bit of COLOR that accompanied it:)
Thank you..DIANA.
The stamps..and history and story accompanying this sweet colorful dshtowel were a treat..and still are.

You can find her recipe on IG..Diane Morrisey's:)

What do I do during..well..whenever..
I stitch..

you can see the beginnings up there..

I love all of Alicia Paulsen's Christmas Kits..
And I found some lovely free downloads here.
Thank you to everyone who inspires me day in day out..

To occupy my hands and mind..

Like my son-in-law..
See that paper..brushes ..and paints?
Fred.For Christmas♥

My mom would have been 100 today.My lovely Capricorn of a mom.

I wonder if she sees me ..still♥

And so..just like that 2019 is at our door~♥

The last preps were made for Christmas~Look how cute..

Look how not cute..

I purposely did not Photoshop the birch bark for this cake.
I could have made it look flawless..
But that would have been..false.

I made The North Pole Cake..found here..
In small pans:)  I added espresson powder to the buttercream for color..a BIT..
Because I knew how I was GOING TO DECORATE MY CAKE.
Like this beauty!
Think again before making this..
I was so disappointed.
I did everything they said..almost..but when I started breaking the bark..exactly..it broke..
Plus the chocolate cools too quickly to get it thin ..if you live in the Northern hemisphere...QC ..Canada.
Anyway all this to say.
Fail the bark.
Fail the cake for me.

My Bonne Maman Advent Calendar? Thumbs up..Look what was in number 24~

I did make empty Bonne Maman  jam jar ornaments but this one takes the cake..better than the above cake;)

Meri Meri NEVER disappoints..I made these cupcakes for sleepovers..
I used an idea from Terry..who was responsible for that adorb truck and tea towel and silicone choco mold:) She makes these cupcakes too..and used a Red Velvet cake mix~
I used a container of premade frosting because it pipes beautifully:)

The boys loved them and left w/ the rest..Poor Noah was sick..(he is never sick..so did not make it the next night..
still hope for the 28th;)

 Noah and his mom made birdseed feeders and bought me some:)

Guess who got a stocking?:)

♥

Our boys..Oli..Noah ..Max and Lucas in his new hoodie..Thay are all going to see The Harlem Globetrotters:)Cell phone pic!!

So our sweet neighbour Vanessa..with her son and mom(Oma..who taught 2 of my Littles in pre~school)....built a skating rink ...the kids skated Christmas eve and after the fireworks~There is something about a skating rink and Christmas lights that excite me .

Boxing day today....it snowed late afternoon..This is the real deal..no Photoshop snow.Vanessa 's rink~♥

One of my daughters got a new cell phone.Unbelievable clics!!

I indulge my Girlie fantasies with Meri Meri:)

So..for 2019..

I don't make resolutions..

I never made GOAL lists even when I worked.

I just wanted to do the best I could.

But I do get ideas and go through clean up days..lol..

I tidied up some recipes and moved my faves of 2018 into regular folders..
I'll start 2019.


I threw lost of odds and ends away and should do more..and I will..


I will stop and say..:"Yes let's do drive- though because I do want a skinny moka latte"~!I do want a Starbucks.

Forget Miss Polite that says..you're right..so $$..lol..Who cares!!!?
I want one.

No more bought calendars..
Maybe next year.
I want to skip a year..
I want to look at my Shutterfly ones ONLY.
Our family..what matters..

My desktop will be sleeker..and honestly ..I need more space less stuff.

I so want to leave great reviews on Google and I do.
I do on Amazon too.It literally kills Jacques when I rave about an Intelcom delivery person..

Or that DEAR Suraj/Adobe CC/that spent 2 hours on the phone with me fixing my Photoshop subscription.♥I was having glitches..Unglitched.Thanks to him.
Could not wait for Adobe to send me a survey.Yes.5 plus stars.

But in my heart..there's this dark cave that wants to leave terrible reviews..not products..
professionals..because I want people to be aware.
But I don't.
Because every time I have actually spoken my mind.I was the one that ended up feeling bad.

Yrs ago..I had to be interviewed ..sort of.. by someone..and that so called professional..said:"Tell me..how come you often say Thank you..etc..I said.."Well that's the way I was brought up".
If I had to be in her presence again..I would say:"(*(*&^*())and leave.
And I would.
My husband cracked up when I said this..he knew I was going to;)
So yes..I want to leave some bad reviews.
One day I might.
I might.
Can they find us?
;)

Food wise..it was indulgence..Fred made a Turducken and it was ...

soo good..we had sweet potato mash..delish..brussel sprouts..lots of appetizers..we love to sit around her kitchen munching before dinner..fires going.so lovely..
I made this..

From Recipe Tins:)

Let me tell you it feeds a crowd..we were 12..and I thik we ate 1/3..as there were other apps..It's good..so much in it..not your usual cheeseball;)Loaf..Nope..filled w/ goodies.

I served it on a huge wood tray Fred made us one yr..look at the little house I found to put on the presentation platter..
It means..Fred's Butcher Shop:)

But one of my daughters made this..

Ricotta Jam Jar from Nordstrom's

I give it 5 stars.

My daughter left the ricotta as it was and used store bought pesto.That tomato jam..is the MONEY:) All together BRAVA!

Lots of treats for desserts..the fireworks are really the icing on the cake..hope to set up a stand next yr..w/ hot choco.

Breakfast.the next day..I had quiche and muffins(Marie's Nutmeg muffins),Hot Bean Pot..Jacques' AMAZIN Pecan Praline Bacon..he bakes it all the ay before takes him 3 hrs..It's the highlight.
You just reheat Christmas morn.Divine.
I made a new breakfast casserole and I should have listened to my instinct and bake it way longer:(I did and it still was runny..can't eat a runny egg.I am like one of my daughters..The idea and recipe were both stellar..it's me and my timing:(

Mylène's family....Adamo 19 is to the right..and Giu 17 to the left.We could not ask for nicer sweeter additions to our family♥Mylène..and Alain..( my chicken guy;);))and Noah in the middle:)Both Adamo and Giu had had 4 wisdom teeth pulled out not 48 hrs before..Their little cheeks were puffy..

Caroline's family Frédérick,Max in front,Oli and Caro to the right and Lucas on top:)

Look at Little Katie:)I hope we always live close all the ones that are here.

I love her outfit:)♥

And all our boys looked handsome too.Noah even had

a tie;)

I've said I hate having my photo taken and I do.But her new cell takes great pics..hides flaws etc..I just can't even look at a camera;) 

Healthy healthy peaceful sweet New Year,for all~

Until next year~

Time for reflection~♥The fairy lights do that to me..and the tree~

It's the little things ...you know..



Things..precious things you had as a child..

Things bought on trips that then reminded you of someone..

Things you have had forever that remind you of a newly found Instagrammer that inspires you

A quirky funny ornament..that make you think..maybe you were born to be wild

Ornaments from my darling daughters

Ornaments from clients you had

Many ornaments from long time pen pals...  two peas in a pot

Ornaments I made to make my girls happy and to make  $$  at craft sales..
LOL times have changed

Ornaments that represent passions..

Ornaments commemorating the best of the best years

To remember yrs gone by.. 45..with Jacques..started in -73

Yes my favorite people call me by this name

More passions..stitching..

Bloggers near and far..some lost some found

Laughter

It's the little things..you know.♥ 

Keep them all so close to you~The THOUGHTS that go with the things..

Monique,xx