getting ready for the New Year

Christmas has come and gone and we had a nice restful few days,plenty of sleep and as you can see in the picture above I was on my Bike Christmas morning and boxing day morning. What wonderful weather we had and are having. Snow will be here, all too soon.Some of you out there, have questioned ,teasing us regarding the Gym and the fact we are there and doing it...here is proof.Loving every minute of it, I for one have gotten my life back by being able to walk better ,what I am doing has been helping my arthritis ,I now am a big believer and would like to tell the World...do it.. this exercise stuff works!!! who knew??not me.Chuck has started his program given to him by Liz who is so understanding and good at what she does. I will start my program soon. By working with this program we as well as the cardio will work on the whole body, look out "Arnold"step aside make room for two buff old guy's ,that would be us...hahahaha but we are working on staying alive,OK ,I believe.

Along with a quiet Christmas a few tunes were enjoyed ,drumming is like exercise ,at least to me,I love my drums. I have not picked up a paint brush since just before Christmas,so will get back into my latest project very soon and I have a couple if not a few commissions to start soon and on top of all this I want to paint our living room, this house is small so it should not take long to do that.This morning we were remembering the days when we went cross country skiing in Mill Village ,skiing from Charleston ,Mill Village and back again, my skis today are being used as a Christmas decorations, I am thinking maybe it would be fun to get back at it,that's when and if we get some snow instead of rain.We will see.

Well I just got off the phone with a wonderful old friend Mary C...Love ya Mary, great talking with you . Oh the old days in Lunenburg..and the farm when we first moved in I remember Mary came to visit one Spring , I was soaking in the tub and out the window I saw Mary headed to the river for a swim, back then there wasn't even a path to the river ,only a deer path and the wood ticks were thick,but nothing would stop Mary from a swim in the Medway. Then one Christmas early years on the Medway Mary and her oldest daughter came for Christmas and New Years , what a wonderful time we all had, skating New Years Day on our little pond and Chuck working on a stain Glass lamp for me with the help of all in the house that Christmas, I still have that lamp and think about that year many times, homemade donuts made on the Kitchen wood stove and homemade root beer, homemade gifts ,tons of food and fun, remember that year Mary? So Mary and her younger daughter will hopefully get to visit us here, nice to reminisce and wonderful to make new memories.

Email me Mary. I look forward to staying intouch easily via the internet.

another day closer and deeper in dept...

Santa's looking for a home...still here..

Merry Christmas to all out there in Internet World ...pass on the blessings to all you meet.

First off with this installment ,I have been holding back regarding information on a little project I am working on and it will come to be ,but my hopes are that it is a success. I have been working on a Children's book , my story board is done and I am working on the first draft of illustrations these past days while silent here from my blog. It is a book about love and happiness and it's star character happens to be this lively puppy "Baby Belle" who we puppy sit days while her Mom and Dad work. Along with her Dear Friend Laura who stays with us on a regular basis while her busy Mom is away. Belle is a Border Collie with much energy and I am, her main character when she is here,she never leaves me alone because Aunt deb is the one who always plays with her .When I am done playing I try and sit and paint or whatever I am always busy with while she sits and stares at me with her ball in her mouth, actually I can't even look at her and smile or laugh because she takes that as a lets go...wheeeeeeee...playyyyyyyyyyplayyyyyy..so I have been making up all kinds of stuff in my head regarding this Puppy,singing little songs ,poetry and one day the light came on and it is coming to be...with oh so much more work ahead of me, I am thinking that the actual writing and illustrating of this book may be the easy part. OK, we will talk more about that later after all the excitement of Christmas is over. As we all know anything, everything will happen when one least wants it too..."Murphy's Law " anyone? That Murf is always close by around some corner ready to pop out at any moment, one must always be aware and never step too quickly in fear of tripping over him, we tripped this AM. We headed for the gym same time while wearing our Santa hats this morning, working on making work fun, had a few laughs as always with the rest of the gang there. We left all sweaty and being such a drab ,dreary ,wet rainy day here in the Maritime's, I suggested to Chuck that we should stop by the post office first before heading home to then hopefully stay in the rest of the day. So we did just that. He jumps out ,very busy there, gets the mail and we are ready to back out, yes you can see where I am going ,but, don't ruin it for me?do let me tell...long story short, there is a truck with a large dent in the back in the shape of our broken tail light. Now the fun begins, remember, we had just come from the gym and we only literally live if two blocks away so Chuck did not have his wallet ,only the car keys, we will never leave home without such things ever again, I promise. Now to our luck, the Mountie car which was coming from down the road and only maybe two cars back from the truck we hit ,kept on going and didn't even bother or noticed what had happened, the truck driver who we later found out knew of us, Oh ,can that be good? Anyway the truck driver did not freak and stop right there but peacefully drove into another empty parking space and business was taken care of then. But gee, no business card or license to be had from us. Thank you ,out there Mr. Truck Driver for being so nice . Off we drove after picking up the pieces of our tail light ,realizing that we were going to end up at the end of the day with a bit of a bill...but lucky to have hit someone with a big ,kind ,heart. By the time we got home ,I was feeling oh ,so sorry for us ,considering I had an other little personal issue going on in my life at the moment the past few days,I was about to spill with sorry ..sorry, poor ,poor me tears when the phone rang, I looked at Chuck and said you answer ,it must be to do with our fender bender, I can only wish it were a fender bender. But no ,it was a call from Labrador ,from a lovely lady who received a gift of one of my smaller paintings . She told me that this scene was of her family homestead ,now abandoned on the coast of Labrador, she looks across the way to the open sea daily at this old house and buildings where sometimes families raised well up to fourteen children. Smoke rising from the kitchen wood stove chimney and wool long johns hung frozen on the line ,OK another painting I am seeing for in the future . So back to my story, she has commissioned me to do six paintings of this ole place for relatives of hers in the New Year. Amazing how things happen, this commission may not pay for all the damage but will put a dent in it..so to speak...my little pun.....Thank you ...

I am sharing with you again pictures of my Felted Santa's who are still looking for a new home for Christmas. Reasonably priced at $60. per in hopes of selling ,give you one guess where the money will go?...you guessed right, I love smart on the ball folk's. Call me:-)

So my Dears, may the sugar plums dance in your heads and in your bellies ,may your hearts fill with joy , and may you all be blessed with happiness and Health for 2011.

And may you have no excitement such as ours in any way shape or form over the holidays.

Thank you all who bought from me this Christmas , I pray your choices are a great success and I look forward to hearing from you in the New Year.

Beauty all around us...

I have been beating my brain trying to remember the day I saw this "Fire in the sky" just a week or so ago.Wow!!!I see a painting in the near future. Actually I have so many wonderful sunset and sunrise photos ,many from back when living in Charleston and so many from Summerville Beach that I am considering doing a whole series of paintings from these dramatic shots.We have such beauty around us all the time here on the South Shore,everyday ,always something to photograph. Today after biking to the gym ,I came home, changed and went out again on my bike . I did my usual run to Fort Point where I saw the most incredible ocean roll as the tide was coming in and the waves were huge . I stopped for a bit to watch and was so disappointed that I did again forget to ride with my camera. Or if one could have filmed the ocean as it slammed unto the shore over the smooth beach rocks to then roll back with the sound of the rocks as they rolled back over each other , such a sound ,so powerful. It has been awhile since I have heard that sound.

Last night here on the South Shore we had rain and wild wind, but woke this AM with no loss of power ,unlike many in other neighboring Communities. When we lived in Charleston the power was out whenever we had a bad storm, here in town,knock on wood ,we have never been without power in the four years we have been here. That is a good thing ,for we no longer burn wood and it just might be a bit more of a challenge without the kitchen wood stove to cook on . But we are survivors and I am sure would live through any loss we had.Plus we have nice people around us who burn wood...knock...knock....:-)

I have been seeing many flocks of birds this last few days, whether they were down because of the storm or headed elsewhere and the Ducks are circling mornings for a treat from one of our neighbor's ,so many I wish I could paint the sound of their quacks as they fly over our house.There is one pure white one amongst God knows how many others .I had a few more felties leave for new homes this past while and also have picked up a few neat props for new future felties. Last night I finished a dog commission. I have one more t0 start today as a gift and am putting the last minute touches on a gift or two but besides those I can say I am pretty well ready for the old guy in the red suit. I am sorry to say that those of you out there who in the past received my Bites and Bites, not this year, I refuse to do that to myself again this season...because of taste testing, quality control I always gain so much weight that this year I will take control and help you all as well by not sharing this oh so nice treat, one of my favs..oh well I will survive and hopefully you all will too. Back in Charleston when we fostered we made homemade root beer, chocs...everything that was delicious, we would make gifts from all this and then we all ,kid's and adults would divide up what was left and Chuck would be sitting evenings in the New Year with one of his Chocolates cute in two pieces with a piece of Old Cheddar cheese while myself and the Kid's would be watching him enjoy his treat because we all had eaten all of ours. We worked hard on the farm back then so we could indulge once in awhile with these types of treats and not really gain any weight, not so today. One more thing before I head off to start my needle felted dog , since joining the gym I have been feeling so good and I find my Arthritis in my feet has been better, maybe with the lose of weight, or the fact i am using the treadmill and exercising my feet, one thing I do know ,it is thankfully helping. I just may walk again...not really so bad ,but has been bad enough..wish me luck:-)

Santa business everywhere

Well I have been up to my ears in Yes Santa business as I am sure you all out there are doing your part as well, for the Jolly Ole guy is right around the corner.Liverpool is in hopes of getting a Farmers Market up and running for next Summer. So we are all brain storming at the moment. Anyone out there can hop onboard with this project ,if you are close enough to come and sell,super!!! or visit once it starts in May.Get in contact with me ,I will give you the info.

A few of my Felt Folk are on their way to Ontario to be given as gifts. Great to know they will be given to someone who will enjoy something different. The New Year will find me making a few new Characters as well I have some thoughts regarding paintings, I guess Christmas of course makes me think of the New Year and new creations to bring forward from my mind into the light. Liverpool has also been given an opportunity to possibly be chosen for a 10 week documentary "A Village on a diet" gosh!!!and Chuck and I just had to get on a fitness routine ourselves these past Months and both are going to the Gym and see a tremendous difference in our strength and weight, we may not be big enough for their show..we laughed and did consider it..but believe maybe we might be just under the wire...plus I do really find I do my weight/strength moments most times better by myself, not being one to follow along with the crowd but to waver off course on my own. But this may be an opportunity for those who find it hard to get fit and healthy on their own. Some just can't get started without a buddy system. Actually I enjoy challenging myself, the Gym is wonderful, such a variety of equipment and you can joke and have a few laughs to help the time fly or focus and work alone . Happily I have lost weight ,which makes my problem with walking ,oh ,so much better..I am a new girl..almost.I am even thinking of getting my cross country skies up and running after their hiatus for the past 4 or 5 years. When living in Charleston it was nothing for me do do miles by myself on the old highway along the 103 in Mill village as well ski during a snow storm around the Medway River from Charleston to Mill Village ,back around to Charleston and ski to work when I worked at the Village Store, back then ,it was different , not much going on down there, I would wear a headlamp and had no problems at all except the times it would start to rain and the snow would disappear and I had to get a ride.During snow storms we would drive our tractor up the back road ,me sitting in a large fish tub strapped to the back of the tractor, one night, there was so much snow our tractor couldn't go through it so we all walked back to our house to play a few tunes . What wonderful days ,old time music Kitchen parties, Kid's sitting on parents laps ,eyes closing while listening to some good time sing alongs.

A reminder that any of my cushion floor mats are still at a very reasonable price till Christmas.anyone interested ,give me a call. Here is a photo of "Mona"and my "Gauguin "and yes you can walk on any of these I have more check past blogs for photos,or email me I will send along any info .

I still have a few felties at reasonable prices as well as paintings and some gifts still under $8. for anyone interested ,just call ahead. We are out more these days running around the Gym with the rest of the Kid's. I did get out on my bike yesterday after the Gym, I had to ,she was calling me, but I will be removing the air from her tires soon and hang her up after I give her a bath so to speak, she has a bit of salt on her from these Winter rides.

Check back here again soon and I will share a photo of one of the only or very few ever store bought Christmas Trees we have ever had, we like a natural tree, but this year because of dog sitting ,we had to do a table top..I like it and it fits in rather well, indeed.

something old,something so new

This sign is as you can see from the United Church in Mill Village... the story on this is as follows. We moved to Charleston Mill Village in 1985 as I have mentioned here in my blog many times before and when our son Clay became old enough to go to Sunday school ,the only local Sunday school class was at the United Church in Mill Village, several combined denominations.

I taught Sunday School there back then and of course I was known by the locals and was asked if I would refurbish their Church sign by updating the new Clergy .So over the years while living there I would happily to this for them. The last time I changed the name was just before moving to town from Charleston about four years ago. Never really thinking about the sign these past years while here in town. Well,the other day the phone rang and it was a member of the congregation asking me if I would update their sign again. I was surprised to hear from them, I thought they would have forgot about me by now or maybe find someone else nearer to them to do it. But, I was tickled pink and pleased that they did remember me and I was only too happy to help them out, my hoping there might as the old saying goes, be " a Star someday in the sky with my name on it??" So the sign was brought to me and as always I get them to give me the new Clergy's name written down by them so I get it just right and to my delight, knowing this but not realizing it was this Church? our Dear friend Peter Anthony's name was on that piece of paper . We knew he had been studying hard for sometime to get his own Church. I have known Peter for many years and he taught our son back in the lower grades. Peter decided to change his career and do what he dreamt of doing. Congratulations!!! Peter, we are very happy for you . So I have been working on the sign the last couple days , redoing it front and back and re lettering in honor of Peter's new posting . I removed all the old cracked paint and gave it a new face lift. It will be bright and cheerful for it's new Boss Man, Peter. Now this is what I meant in my title by,something old...now to the new...which is a "GYM" amazing I can even spell the word Gym..for ,since I was a child , I have Kayaked and Cross Country skied , but never was one for shamefully exercising in such places as Gyms. I have worked very hard on the farm , in the hay fields, woodpile and chasing cattle through the woods as well as swim everyday ,Spring,Summer and Fall in the Medway river, but the inside of a Gym was very new to me. I went up awhile ago to get a quick feel as to whether or not I could do this and to my surprise today was my second day with my new found exercise,not so bad ...seems to be working for me the Gym experience.I am focusing and careful not to over do it in the beginning. I only stayed on everything I tried for no longer then ten minutes each and not ready yet to try all that is offered there . I am feeling good for this new adventure and must be on the look out for exercise type clothing, gotta love Frenchies for that. So ,wish me luck, I may be putting my bike away for the Winter,then again if we have a nice day, she may call me from her shed and me being the caring person I am ,may have to take her to town for a run, we don't want her to gain weight over the Winter sitting idol.I Love my bike, walking has been a challenge with my bad feet and legs but getting some weight off has made a great difference and just maybe I will again be walking up a storm someday.