Seasons of Creativity

  Grand kiddo, Jolina is out for her visit with us.  She is learning to speak up in the morning planning meetings.      First thing on the agenda was to make her a journal from an old composition notebook cover.  She is not afraid to get messy!   Coming up on my agenda is Art 101 for the coming year.  A challenge for sure as I suspect we will be connecting through our private Facebook group.  I have appreciated her thoughts as I mull things over.  We will want to Make Magical Messes! Jolina has an artistic bent but also a strong domestic leaning.  She surprised her Grand Dad with a request for a doll bed at a morning planning meeting. Ha!  His daughters are gonna be so jealous as I don't recall him making them one!    We drew up a plan and laid out the fabric strips so she could have an idea of how it would come together. This old Singer is an AK 99.  She is affectionately called Agent 99 and will ...

For a pretty spontaneous gal, I am surprised by the fact that routines have become more important the more vintage I get. As the new year (2020) got underway my dearie and I began to embrace a better morning routine and with a good half of the year gone I can certainly see the benefits. We try to give each other a bit of personal space first thing but we meet for the morning planning meeting which doesn't take too long if we don't get side tracked with just good old conversation.  LOL  We can save that for after exercises and breakfast!  He is the solid and practical planner.  I am his opposite- think spacey and impractical.  His happy place is the grocery store or surrounded by his cookbook collection, pantry and freezers.  Mine is Home Sense or Michael's, or surrounded by hobby books, my stash and my art supplies.  oh, and books but NOT cookbooks!   But together we get there! It is all about balance. The Mr. is like a baby and likes bei...

My Best Man has several gifts that he brought to the marriage table.  Some I knew about and were the reason why.....  Some became more evident to me as time passed. Some have 'intensified' over time.  He is a natural supervisor, one step ahead of the workers and has the long range goal squarely in his sights.  The summer projects are planned the season before and sometimes the year before. And, vbsigh, he has only one less than perfect worker (sometimes two) to supervise now instead of 35 so I sometimes look a little haggard!  Mind you, when all the grand kiddies are here he feels like he is herding cats!  lol This month's schedule is My Projects.  And he has even brought in that other worker! We start the morning planning session after his walk about which is a lot longer and more detailed than my saunter around the main path.  We review the previous day's progress and itemize the current day's goals.  Some warm up exercises ...

There was a few years between the ages of about five and ten, my parents rented a cottage on a shady yard at Winnipeg Beach for a week. We would take the train, an old steam engine that was sure to send a cinder into your eye if you stuck your head out the window!  It was pretty basic with electricity, cold running water (maybe by running to the tap at the corner), an ice box that kept things cool, and an outhouse that was serviced by a horse and honey wagon.  We'd walk to the white sand beach or over to the Boardwalk that had games and rides.  Relatives visited and I have wonderful memories of those summer vacations.  I want my summer decor to reflect those sunny, happy, days at the cottage.  I recall simplicity and faded florals. Entrance sets the theme which is summertime cottage!   I have made pillows.  moved pillows, rearranged pillows and finally just draped fabric over the pillows until I finally hit on a happy combo. ...

  Last post we entered the circle from the more formal front.  Lets show were the deliveries take place at the back entrance. Definitely not formal and hopefully Funky!  This is the utility area,  grocery unloading dock, main path to hubby's shop and pet feeding centre.  A wood trellis and gate is on this month's to-do list which  gives a bit of privacy/mystery to this side of the house and should also help with snow dispersal. New building protocols put sheets of styrofoam around foundations which messes up root development.  Another priority is yard maintenance and my maintenance guy does not like trimming.  So... We have installed boardwalks. First the one to the future clothesline and next the second boardwalk will be along the long side of the garage/shop.  We will add a few more pavers at the shop door to fill in that ninety degree corner. I am all about subtle, greenery and low contrast.  Hence the inner cir...