Nocember~:)

Wow..it's beginning to look like Christmas  is earlier and earlier these days..I mean..the stores..Instagram..now me;)

We see it in Costco simultaneously w/ Halloween it seems..a bit too early for stores..not for personal preparations because ...if you like crafting..you can't start in December:)

I made lots of felt ornaments this year..2 sets of 3 each I can only share after Christmas once the recipients have received them..
Some are tucked into envelopes ready to go..
That's a lesson I learned last year..if I send something to Europe..it can be there in one week..if I send it in North America..say Canada..it can take one month..so I will mail all by Dec 5th this year.
Hopefully snail mail will be prompt and not procrastinate.


The red pick ups are felt ornaments I made thanks to Downeastthunderfarm.
I made some birds etc..
It's a great site for beginners..easy patterns..  you just need felt and floss and a needle and scissors..go see:)So many delightful patterns..you just need to know a few basic stitches..and they can be found on Youtube..

I started  years ago by making Alicia Paulsen's patterns which are more detailed and intricate..
Below..the beginnings of the set of 3 for my daughters Christmas 2018 set.And a different bird as a gift for this yr w/ matching little watecolor tag.

I love felts on trees..nothing matches..nothing breaks..and they live happily with all different kinds of ornaments.I love hand made ones and bought ones!Urban Barn often has such dear ones!
And I know US stores carry them because I have received some as gifts♥

And below..lol  (not at the time) one of my daughter's sets that got thrown in the garbage Christmas morning a few yrs back..  image from Alicia's site.
That year I had made an extra set for me..I gave her mine..I added their names on the Christmas lights above the beds..I love to add all kinds of beads:) I had found tiny initial beads:)

I invite you to give a few ornaments a try:)
I've always loved embroidery..even embroidered J a jean shirt in the 70's..so much cowboy embroidery lol..
Must have been true love..he wore it:):)
Long gone..
The shirt:)

I keep certain books..books I love..art books..cookbooks..sweet charming books..poetry books..
I'm glad I kept my Lifes Little Instruction Books.. Author..H.Jackson Brown..
I think I have 5..you can pick them up very reasonably now..so many yrs later..:)

I've had mine for 20 yrs plus I think.

I re-read a few a little while ago and although some thoughts are no longer de ce jour..most still ring so true.
♥
So I thought..

I' d like to leave a list for my girls..of my little thoughts as they hit me from time to time..
We don't want to hear much in our 40's..I can't remember having anyone to tell me things..I wish I had ..had someone..

Things we don't really know younger..but things I really know are true..:)And important..and maybe if they know these things were true for me..they might be true for them:)

The first thing would be..my biggest..

1. Listen to your INTUITION..that voice only you can hear..and even if it's whispering..listen.
And abide by it.Don't even question it.

Everything that voice warned me about? She was right.
Had I listened..oh..had I listened.

I bet it rings true for many of you.

So I might just add these Nana's Words Of Insight;)
..This coming year.

I leave you w/ more felt:)♥And snow..we've had snow!

Courtesy of the web~

So~ Book 2~

Yes..do come in..things aren't the same anymore..but I have been lifted up by you..to try and continue.

We can't all be savvy tecchies:)
And we can't all be so caring as all of you.
So to all my kind readers..and my tecchie kind readers thank you for making me reconsider ending my book.

Linda reinstated my header and sidebar almost immediately which ..made looking at the first page more bearable for me.Then added pictures..and has not stopped working on my humble blog.
She is a blogger's Fairy Godmother I was told.
:)
And sure enough..:)She is♥

Val has sent me numerous emails..all helpful with tips and tricks and sent me Noah that has now reappeared on my sidebar:)A kinder little soul would be hard to find~

Little personal notes here and there..even my daughters..
and one of my daughter's friends..Amanda..who is so very convincing..she's a writer extraordinaire..and suggested Nana should continue♥
So..I had made this little Ikea lantern before all this happened..and feel it's like a welcome mat for you to stay if you wish..
Looks like all photos from 2015 to now are going to have to be painstakingly added one by one and I need to get my head around it all.
It's not like I can pray to St-Anthony....the patron saint of lost things..to magically make them reappear.

I urge you all to BACK up..
Go to Blogger..go to settings..go to other..and back up.
Right now if you can.
Put your Google albums on Drive..so that if you delete them..they will at least be in Trash for 60 days.Mine were not.

I am going to make a pinkie promise and try not to harp and dwell on the past.Move on..


I am one of those people..What if?If Only..

All in my head of course:)

I used to be the girl that said:"Everything happens for a reason"~
Until I didn't..because some things you just cannot believe  they happened for a reason.
In no way do I think that this is one of those life altering moments..
It's a blog.Period.
And I learned a valuable lesson.
And I am so thankful for this blog.
The reasons are exponential.

So ..let's try and not look at all those ugly blacked out pics..and move forward.

And again..know how much I appreciate everyone.
It's not just a cyber world ..it's a small small world after all~.


I follow a Gentle ..Man ..a wonderful artist on Instagram..
I recently bought his book.
It's a keeper.
Charlie Mackesy
and
 His IG account
The following 3 photos are the cover of his book..and 2 pages in it.

♥

~The End~La Fin~

Oh lala.

I inadvertently deleted many Google albums..

and most of the pics have disappeared from my 1200 posts plus... humble blog.

12 years~

I am sad for me..

Because I loved my trips down memory lane..

I would scroll back and watch my alphabet boys grow up..

look at our celebrations..my gardens..the little trips we took..

I would re-read your thoughtful kind comments.

I can't leave my blog looking less than it was..

So I will be deleting it.

I guess in about 1 week~

My photos are not in the Trash bin of Google Photos as I never backed them up..

Never envisoned this happening:(

I'll keep IG for now..

I guess the universe made a decision for me.

I loved meeting:)

So many of you through my blog these past 10 yrs.

Some of you have become friends.♥

We will keep in touch for certain..

Thank you to everyone who kept commenting even in busy times..

Your companionship meant soooo much to me.

You have no idea.

Je vous remercie du fond de mon coeur.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Monique

♥Fall on your knees gorgeous fall 2019.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup~

Seasons And Suppers Cranberry Almond Cake~
 

The She~ Shed's flower boxes and pots are emptied..The crabapples is void of leaves..little crabapples hang like cranberries..

Fine Cooking's Chocolate Cheesecake

Finished Max's blanket so now the 3 brothers have their own blanket:)♥

School and football team colors:)

Oli's Face..makes me happy..he is one happy sweet sunshiney Little.Everything becomes a football in his hands..even Spongebob;)

Fall is wrapping up so beautifully..I could only get started here on you know what?
The stores are mixed up they have Halloween and Christmas out.I only have eyes for Christmas..and have started a few things..
My excitement last year at finding this vintage skating pond w/ music on Varage Sale..was palpable♥
It's ready:)And it works..The Happy Winter Village Skalting Pond~I'll add things from our Christmas Village:) Of course..;)

Somewhere deep inside..you can be 65 and have a corner that can be a child at heart.
♥

In the entertainment world..

I needed a quick show to watch every morning and picked Queer Eye.
Let me just say when I will be finished all the episodes..I will miss the show.
I cry at almost every show.
Some get to me more than others.

And have you started Modern Love ? I am undecided..and then the episode ends and I am still thinking about it..a good sign..I like it more than J does.
Anne Hathaway's episode..she's very good in it..the beginning is so far fetched it seems and musical..and then the plot deepens and you see how very good an actress she is:)
We're not talking rocket science..

But it's good enough for me.

When Oli was over we watched Nanny McPhee 1..and Nanny McPhee2..is in progress..Maggie Gyllehhall is in it..wow..compared to The Deuce..what a character change..The Deuce is not for everyone..at all at all at all.

This Is Us is back..is it as good as before? Not sure..yet..
The Affair is getting crazier..
We stopped Succession..OMG good acting but so boring...all that boring business talk and same expressions over and over again.
Do I watch tv all day? NEVER.
40 mins in the morning for a reason..and 1.5 hrs before bed at night.
Unbelievable was very good..
Mindhunters too!
Just in case winter makes you crave TV..
;)
Have a good end of fall:)

It's winding down here w/ rain and wet and I HAVE to garden in this today because I caved and a young man is coming over to help me at noon..we'll see.
I just can't rip out old..and chop old..when I can feel old some days..
making Xmas things and baking and painting is so much easier;)

Glory Days~

Glorious apples~

Warm skillet bread and artichoke dip ..glorious~

Glorious boys~

Glorious views~

Glorious men~

Glorious pans~

Glorious comfort meal days~

Glorious Pink Diamond Hydrangeas~

This is us..  :) Pic by Caroline..at football♥

Glory Days~

Every season..albeit late late winter..
I tell you how much I love where I live.
I do.
My street is ver special.
Family..neighbours..♥


My mom's fave season was fall..the artist in her..Nat King Cole ..Perry Como..Nana Mouskouri..Bing Crosby..etc..
How I remember I have no clue..
I have forgotten so much.
Anyway..

Days of Glory..

The above dish is just so good you need to try it..prep is minutes..bake it longer..I had to..and I loved it even more served on pasta:)

You can find the recipe here..Make it and keep it forever~
I made it 3 times lol:)

The first dish ..is an amazing app for a group..From Seasons And Suppers..I made the bread in the bread machine and it was FABULOUS.
The Recipe is  here..

Happy Thanksgiving Canada:)♥You are so pretty dressed in October~

Caroline took a few pics of us at football and from the back..I don't mind posting;)

♥

~Craft..a~holic~ All my life~

 Lucas and Max at one of their games..

Lucas' blanket... school colors..Max is next..

 Noah and his dad went to Hogan..Alain's hunting cottage( ok shack..w/ an outhouse) the setting is out of this world..Noah had a great time..so many beautiful videos and pics his dad took..
like the one below.I love that Noah did this..he drove an ATV..w/ Alain..but he drove..this tiny camera Alain has is MARVELOUS.

Photo above courtesy of Alain~ Noah's dad~

Crafts....I guess from Crayolas to Prismacolor as a child..then a very very long hiatus..

But once married..I took up stitching with a passion..making soo many crewel pictures for our home..while the girls slept..I stitched..:)
I made them matching dresses..:) With Velcro bacause I didnt know how to do buttonholes..all my cute little patterns♥
Fabric and patterns were way cheaper than clothes..not anymore..clothes are cheaper.
We had a super tight budget.I did not work outside our home until both girls were in school..
There wasn't any type of social media..I was 21 w/ a baby and no friends of mine had any..they were traveling and going to clubs etc:)
I never missed that.I had a few yrs of those empty years..not for me.

I am eternally grateful to every mentor that came into my life..ya'll (;) ) know who you are..
I did give craft classes in our basement to nice nice women.
And wallpapered a few homes..and did Mary Kay:)
But that was it really..
Then I worked and fit in crafts when and where I could..ceramics..tole painting..etc..a watercolor class or two..

Made gifts..
Tried calligraphy.
Paid for my real estate course by attending a huge craft fair..
It went well.
Today people are so TALENTED and creative..perhaps they were back then too but I never saw it until blogs and then the internet blew up with so much to see.
I'm a jack of all trades master of none..
But how I LOVE to play ..
w/ pens and pencils and paints and stickers and felt and needles and thread..yarn and hooks and watercolors and pastels..cameras..and seeds and dirt.Spatulas and ingredients and cake pans lol..Cookie cutters and more than an Easy Bake Oven;)

And I am so very very grateful to have this love.
I encourage you to try..anything.
You never know when being able to create on your own..can become a life raft..

A companion..a friend..
Zen moments.

Books can do that too.

There's nothing wrong w/ your own company.:)
A loyal friend;)

Press some flowers..Mod Podge them on a pumpkin..cheap and cheerful.
Learn a stitch or two..That crochet? OMG I spent hours watching Youtube after being inspired by many..
If someone can sit beside you and show you..ask:)
Same w/ needlepoint or crewel..

You can..everyone can make a blanket.I promise.
If I can you can.

Color..paint..draw..
And if you have a chance..

Go see..

Bon Weekend:)

Sunshine is all around me! Yet here are moody shots;)

Food for thought~

When I saw Linda's IG post about this Apple Fritter Bread on IG..I knew I had to..make it:)So I went to where she sent me:) Here.

When I saw Suzie's IG post ..I knew I had to go to her blog and get the recipe!

Being INSPIRED..
my fave learning curve♥

And these were delicious too!

From Diane Morrisey on IG again.
This flat bread from Adonis..toasted w/ roasted tomatoes..garlic ..honey..and a baked goat cheese round..I love Nonna's balsamic Glaze Drizzle to bits.

Below..my new FAVE date squares..for now;)
I have been making date squares for 45 yrs..so many versions..
this one w/ coconut..in the crumble..and butter in the filling..caught my eye.
You can find the recipe ..here..

Below..
This chintz loving light loving yellow loving girl has a hidden secret:)
We have a Game..of Thrones..ish dining room.
perfect for darker moody looks..lol
Lots of windows..gratefully..

Chair backs and drawer pulls..that green paint..my mom was an artist..is it hers?

I am so INSPIRED lol by all the dark and moody shots on IG..

So the only area that can be dark and moody here ..really..is our dining room.

It has followed me ..all the days of my life..

It followed my dad..all the days of his life..

His dad..would be maybe 130 yrs old?

As my dad would be..107..so his dad would be more.

I never met him..my grandfather..

But I do know he was well known..well loved..accomplished.
A judge.

The dining room set we have had for 46 yrs..belonged to my mom and dad..

He had inherited it from his dad..the judge..

M.Le Juge ..used this table..chairs..buffet and an ornate beveled glass curio/china cabinet for his..chambers.
16 chairs ..many panels.

I use 4 chairs and keep 2 to the side..

One of my daughters ..may use many panels and make way better use of it.
But everywhere we moved to....
I made sure the table ..in it's square form..no leaves....sat 4..fit.
Mahogany..Jacobean..
It won't matter once I am gone..I won't know..but I would hope it stays in the family.

Lucas loved hiding under  all the beautiful ornate legs..he loved jumping on our bed and furniture too..LOL and we laughed..

Only Oli..has been a bit like Lucas and jumped on sofas:)

When our whole family is here..it is not at it's best this dining room style wise;)

Cramped..mismatched chairs..

But..
I have my favorite people in the world around me♥

It looks fab..in it's present state..antique wise..I could get a toothbrush in all those nooks and crannies..but no..

Family wise..tablesetting..it's more a cartoon..and I need to laugh.Less now w/out high chairs and I MISS those days..

Like I will miss these.

It all ends in a few days but we are in forr a last hurrah summer weekend..This weather has been nothing short of stellar with crisp mornings and evenings and blue skies..with still lots of blooms around.
Russian Sage..zinnias..hydrangeas..roses..not many but still some roses..and sedum.
Have a nice weekend~