Baby Update

Just a quick little update on my cousin's new baby.  Brendan Robert Wesley arrived in the afternoon of January 26th weighing in at 8 lbs 6 oz.  Oh he is so adorable......I can't wait to meet him. I had told my cousin that I would wait till she got home and settled back in with the little one before coming over to see them.....but I don't think I can wait that long.  Going to head off the florist and see what arrangements they have that I can pick up and take to the hospital.  That's it I will use the floral delivery as an excuse to meet this little bundle of joy.....Oh I can just smell that new baby scent.  Oh and he has hair, a fair amount of black hair!  Something that my kids were born without. 

Corinne~

New Baby Boy!

This afternoon my cousin gave birth to her second child -- a bouncing baby boy.  Don't have very many details yet other than a healthy baby boy was born this afternoon and his name is Brendan Robert, didn't even think to ask how much he weight or how long.  My aunt called me this evening to let me know that both mom and baby are doing fine.   I can't wait to meet this little guy.  We will go over next weekend to see Mom, Dad, Baby and big brother, we want to give them some time to adjust to a new baby in the house and get settled back in after being in the hospital.  Have to remember to take my camera with me to get pictures of this little guy.


Corinne~

Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop - January 2011

Welcome to the first Magnolia-licious Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop for 2011.  You can read all about the blog hop HERE.  This is my very first time participating in a blog hop and my first Christmas card for 2011.  If you've come here from Carissa's Blog, you're right on track.  If you just happened to arrive here on your own just click HERE to go back to the start of the blog hop, you don't want to miss any of the fab projects.

Back in December I decided to sign up for the Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop in the hopes that I would have at least 12 Christmas cards made for this year and hopefully some gift tags as well.  You could say it was one of my early New Years Resolutions.  I just love hand made gifts, don't you!  Now on to my card!

My card features two stamps from Magnolia-licious, the adorable Santa Edwin and the Winter Bench stamps.  Looks like Diana has the Santa Edwin stamp in stock and the Winter Bench stamp is on re-order.  If you don't see what you are looking for just drop Diana an email, she will help you the best she can.  If you are interested in the MAGNOLIA-licious Yahoo group click HERE for more information.

I got the idea to make this card using a paper bag from Claudia Rose's Magnolia Blog back in December, click HERE to go to her posting.  What a nice way to send a card and small gift all in one.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN 

I used the following Copics to color my image:

     Skin:  E000, E00, E02, E11, R20
     Hair:  E35, E25, E27
     Santa Suit:  R35, R37, R39
     Mittens:  G85, G94
     Boots: C1, C3, C5,C7
     Bench: E25, E27, E29, E35
     Bench cover: W1, W3, W5

    The paper is from my stash as are the poinsettia's, cherry blossoms and stickers.  The fur on Santa's suit is Twinkling Clouds Flocking (I love this stuff).  I also used some Crystal Stickles on my card to add some extra sparkle.

    The Sentiment is form the Christmas Carole, "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town".

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Your next stop on the Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop is the very talented Danielle's Blog, who has something fabulous to show you.  I am sure you will love it!

Corinne~

Simply Adorable - "Joy"

Today I finished up my card using Sugar Nellie's new stamp "Joy".  Joy is one of the new digital stamps found at Funky Kits in the Simply Adorable Collection. 

Joy is colored in Copics
    Skin:  E000, E00, E01 & R20
    Hair:  E50, YR31 & Y26
    Sweater:  BV000, BV02 & BV04
    Blouse:  C00, C1 & C3
    Eyes:  BG01

The design paper is from Magnolia, sorry I don't recall which collection it is from.  The card stock is from my stash in purple and grey.  I lightly distressed the edges of my paper.

I added flowers are from my stash and used MS Pine Branch Punch for the greenery.  I took some white floral wire, wrapped it around a skewer then painted Stary Night Stickles on the coils before attaching to the floral arrangement.  The ribbon is from my stash, unfortunately the shimmer in the ribbon isn't picked up very well in my picture.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Winter Wonderland: Pink & Purple
Simon Says......BINGO! for this challenge I used Gems (Self adhesive Pearls), Ribbon and Glitter/Glimmer (Crystal stickles)

Thanks for stopping by.....


Corinne~

Baby It's Cold Outside

....that is this morning here in Saskatchewan. Temperature on the radio was telling me -35 Celsius but feels like -41 Celsius with the wind chill....ya right.....the temperature at our house was a balmy -39 Celsius so with the wind it would feel even colder than -41 guessing around -45 Celsius.  Guess I shouldn't complain too much we have had a fairly mild winter so far...haven't reached the -50 Celsius point yet...hoping we don't reach it either.   Guess it is time to dig out the heavy artillery of winter wear....I am going to need it the last week of February when I venture off to once again follow the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race from Prince Albert to LaRonge to Grandmothers Bay to Stanley Mission and back to LaRonge.  For more on the Canadian Challenge click HERE. 



Corinne~

On Wings Like Eagles.

Yesterday a friend sent me an email with a story and some absolutely beautiful pictures of eagles.  Eagles are such a majestic bird, a pleasure to watch in flight or just sitting in the trees.  It was the message at the end of the email that I found an amazingly powerful.  I wanted to share this with you all today...at the end you will find my favorite verse from the Holy Bible. Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but, by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and out comes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. When it rains, most birds head for shelter;  the eagle is the only bird, in order to avoid, starts to fly above the clouds.    but those who hope in the Lord    will renew their strength.    They will soar on wings like eagles;    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint.           Isaiah 40:31

    

Corinne~

Winter Sunset in Saskatchewan

Thursday night as I was driving down our grid road home I noticed the snow in the trees and the beautiful sunset that was taking place.  My dear grandmother came to mind,  I miss her every day!  She always said "Red Sky at night, Sailor's Delight" and "Red Sky at morning, Sailor's Warning".  Well it was a beautiful red sky, and the next day we had milder temperatures.  So as soon as I got to the house I ran in and grabbed my camera to snap off a couple of shots.

This photo was taken from my front step looking down our driveway with a glimpse of the beautiful sunset on the edge.

I love how you can see a hint of the sky in the snow!  This is looking to the south west corner of our property.

I couldn't resist getting some shots of the snow formations on the spruce trees in our back yard.

 and of course I couldn't leave Lucy out of the photos.....after all she stopped to have her photo taken

Corinne~

Goings On

This last week has found my hubby very ill.  In the 24 years that I have known him I have never seen him this sick....he has barely moved off the couch.  The trip to the doctors on Thursday was nearly enough to do him in.  I wish I could wave a magic wand  and make him all better.  I am pretty much staying away from him the best I can...don't get me wrong I am helping him out as well but don't stay in the same room any longer than I need to but I am only a few steps away.  Our kids are even staying away...our son has been gone all week and the girls are staying away too.......I did get the chance to do some clean up on my computer today...deleted a lot of unneeded files and moved others around...now to remember where I filed everything. 


Corinne~

Strength

Today a friend gave me a card.....well actually she let me pick the card out of the deck....she shuffled them then fanned them out for me to pick one.....I couldn't read the cards so I had no idea what I was going to pick.

Face your fear.

Every challenge is

a blessing in disguise, a gift

that makes us stronger,

more conscious, and 

ultimately, more alive.

 Wow! I could not have picked a better card....this describes everything that I am working on in my personal life at this time......she told me that my choice did not surprise her at all.


Corinne~

Holidays Are Over

Well my Christmas Holidays are2 over for another year.  Where did the time go....seems like I only left the office the other day.  Now it is time to step back into reality and move forward. 

Christmas Eve we were invited to supper at our friends place which was a good evening of friends and family gathering together and sharing in the celebrations of the season.  Christmas Day we invited 2 families of friends for dinner.  We fit 12 people around the dining room table comfortably.  It was a wonderful day filled with fun, laughter, visiting with family and friends...more celebrations of the season.

Dec 27 & 28th two of our nephews were here for a visit, it was wonderful to see them.  Keith brought the new lady in his life, what a wonderful girl.  I really like her.....she makes my nephew very happy.  We went through some old photos early in the evening with Keith and Kevin picking out ones they would like copies of.....so I will be scanning these photos on my lunch hours to make the boys a disk of photos.   It wasn't until we were going through the photos that we all realized how much Kevin looks like his grandfather......WOW it is uncanny, none of us ever noticed/realized until we looked at pictures of Gido in his younger days...around Kevin's age now.  Kevin said it was like looking in a mirror.  We are looking forward to more visits with the boys.  Hoping one day to meet Keith's boys again....the last time we seen them he only had 2 boys and now has 3. 

New Years Eve, Al and I went in to Brittany's place for a supper of Lobster, Crab and Muscles.  Brittany finished doing my nails as Al put plastic on her living room window and fixed the latch on her gate.  Supper was amazing.....definitely will be cooking fresh muscles again - had forgotten how yummy they are.  Don't think I would do fresh crab again...far too much waste.  Next time I will buy King Crab Legs instead.  Brittany and I want to try fresh Oysters next time.  That is something I have never cooked, I am sure they will be much better than canned smoked oysters.  With Brittany being the manager of the seafood department at SuperStore it is good for her to try the different foods so she can answer the questions asked by her customers. 

 Brittany snapped this photo as I was checking on the crab

Today finds my darling hubby home sick with a wicked chest cold......and me on my EDO (earned day off).  Back to work tomorrow, I am actually looking forward to going back to the office and seeing everyone.


Corinne~

Kitchen Photos

We started our reno's back in May and now I have pictures of the finished kitchen for you.  Why so long to post the photos well I waited until my OTR Microwave was installed so you didn't see them with a hole in them.  I am very happy with  my new kitchen.  How did I manage all those years with so little cupboard space.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

A few more after photos

 

One day in the future I hope to build stained glass inserts for the cupboard doors, for now we have glue chip glass inserts which looks like ice formations.

  

 Taken from our entrance from the porch.  This area used to be fully enclosed with a door to the basement.

It is definitely a different looking house than it used to be.  We took an old house and made it new without having to build the entire house.



Corinne~

Re-Connecting

Thanks to Face Book I have connected with a few old friends from school and days gone by.  Friends that I haven't seen or talked to since graduation.  Today I reconnected with my best friend from grade 2...yes you read correctly Grade 2.  Patty and her family rented my dad's house from us....it was grade 4 when they moved to Crutwell.  Not far away but far enough that we didn't see each other until her son was born and I was invited to her baby shower and then we didn't see each other until her wedding and she called to ask me to be her bridesmaid at her wedding and again we didn't see each other until Al and I were getting married and I asked patty to be my bridesmaid.  Regardless of how many years have passed where we haven't had contact with each other I have always held Patty as a very dear friend.  The last time I seen Patty was at the gift opening at my wedding back in 1988.  Today I have a private message on Face Book and it is from Patty.  Wow what an awesome way to start 2011 but connecting with an old friend.  Definitely want to reconnect with Patty and her hubby one of these days soon.



Corinne~

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Corinne~