Today was 'one of those mornings' when I felt like having my morning coffee in this special mug made by 'Gary Merkel'... I won it at an Art Show in Metchosin last year. This work of his is done in porcelain.......aw... made the coffee taste so much better!

Happy FIRST Birthday, Jackson Ryder!!

Our Jackson turned ONE today....

Lunch at Rosie's in Cook St. Village

Met up with Scott for lunch today....great visit...
We HAD to have our picture taken as we both showed up in limegreen coloured outfits!

Jackson's sweater fit!!!!

The combined birthday party for Jackson's lst, Christopher's 6th and Uncle Warren's 50th went very well.. Jackson, in spite of a high fever, enjoyed his gifts and cake!!

A favourite flower of mine.

The snowdrop is, without a doubt, a tough little flower on the outside...with such a frail, gentle inside to it....
I was given that nickname once by someone who loved me alot....and knew me very well.

Jackson's lst Birthday Present is DONE!!!!!

I did it!!!! Got it finished in time for his lst birthday...
So cute..won't he love the pockets!!

YAY....a parade!!! It's May Long Weekend in Canada

This is me in 1982...downtown Victoria,BC,Canada, sitting on a clown's knee..why not!!!
I have always loved clowns and maybe one day I will take lessons to 'be a clown'...
Janis is watching us!!
I should go downtown this morning and watch the parade but have decided to sit in front of my TV and watch it in the comfort of my livingroom.....knitting (of course)!

The bird nest that I knit...

I knit this birdnest at one of my first meetings with the Knitter's Guild.
The class was put on by Karen S.
We added pieces of twigs and pieces of long wet grass etc. into the yarn
as we were making the nests...then I tied on a piece of sponge from the ocean!
Wrapped the finished nest to a perfect piece of driftwood...adding lint from my
dryer inside the nest for the birds to use!
Was suppose to hang it outside for the little birds to use but just could not
part with my 'masterpiece'...so it hangs in my front entrance...sorry little birds!

Babysitting while dental appointments were being dealt with

Jackson just figured out how to make the floor pedal work on the old Singer Sewing Machine (which was my Mom's!)..kept him busy for a very long time!

He yelled and screamed at the cars as they went by...he was beside himself when a big delivery truck came into the driveway of our condo complex!!!

Enjoying the view of the gardens of our complex. This garden is on the roof of the British Fish&Chips!! 29 businesses below our 105 condos...

You have to kiss many dolphins (no, toads!) to find your Prince, Right?

My youngest brother having a fabulous holiday 'south of the border'

My Mom making Spaetzle

The MOST delicious meal my Mom used to make for us was fried chicken, Spaetzle and a lettuce salad with oil,vinegar and sugar...my mouth is watering just remembering this meal.
For her 80th birthday in 1990 ALOT of us gathered at her home in Kelowna for a surprise birthday party and we asked her if she would cook us this meal for HER party!!! She was honoured. ALL her siblings and her 5 children were there...even her sister Esther(from Switzerland) was there. We had such a good visit. My Mom died in 1996...sure do miss her.
Today is a rainy dull day in Victoria...thought this was a good blog for such a day.

My Family..taken Feb. 17, 2008

Janis' (front) 39th birthday (her 3 children..Charlotte 7 ..Christopher 5..Jackson 7mo)

Karyn (rear)

Love these pictures!

Colin (never around for picture taking!!) gave the kids these Dr. Seuss t-shirts..

got them in Disneyland, Florida on one of his business trips.

two painters looking at exactly the same site!!

1. Marilyn's photo of AlbertHead beach..her favourite spot

2. Her sister Julie painted picture #3

3. Julie's friend Erin painted picture #2

both women were looking at exactly the same site/view....

Erin convinced Julie to take up painting in Sept. 2007 and she hasn't stopped since.

Her paintings are selling 'big time' now...(She did NOT ever paint before this time)..

I love stories like this and just wanted to share this one with you.

Happy Birthday May 12th

Happy Birthday Darlene....it's great to be a senior isn't it!

Mother's Day in Duncan,BC.

Brunch at Duncan with Janis and family, Karyn, Mrs. Gaw and myself.
Too busy to take the family picture...not like me...I'm slipping!!

Jackson 11 months old

Jackson is very happy to see Grammer with the camera AGAIN!!
My first attempt at sharing a video...someone let me know if you can view it!!

knitting sweater for Jackson's lst birthday

Am using different colours...it's coming along great. Will post picture of finished sweater when done..

Anne Murray Concert was EXCELLENT

A great evening, with my daughter Karyn, at the Anne Murray concert...(Mother's Day gift from my daughters!! thanks Karyn and Janis!)
Anne Murray was/is an excellent entertainer...so 'down to earth'....would recommend everyone go to see her concert if given the chance.
Her daughter sang a few songs with her and then one on her own...what a voice!

Remember that today the Oosterdam cruise ship arrives at Ogden Point at 18:00 it's 951'..one of the bigger ones to grace our harbour... 211 cruise ships coming in this year.

May 17th will be the 'biggest show'..with FIVE cruise ships coming in; THREE will be docked at the same time in the evening..... WOW.

My angels

INDIVIDUALLY sculpted...using fabric mache'...

They are either holding a song book (which I make with sheet music!),a harp, a mandolin and a special order of one holding a ladybug... I have sold them thru Mattick Art Gallery in Victoria.

latest afghan..completed on May 4th, 2008

On Thursday afternoons a group of us get together and crochet together 'knit squares' to make blankets for people in need of them.

This is the one I finished on my own...I have just learned to crochet so am thinking I am 'darn good'!!!

Everyone knows about the 8" knit cotton dishclothes!!...these squares are knit with that pattern but using acrylic yarn. By using this pattern ALL squares are the same size...We have no idea what colours will arrive for us to put together...

My stay at Janis' April 8 - 11, 2008

Jackson had tubes put in both his ears on the 9th.

His hearing is perfect now...poor little guy wasn't hearing very clearly before this.

He is such a happy camper now!

May 8, 2008 I found my blog site!!!

The new windows and sliding doors are finally installed in my condo on the west side.

Note arrow in bottom picture...the left arrow indicates the windows replaced plus one going around that corner to the fireplace. These gardens are on the second level of this huge complex.

There are 104 condos and 27 businesses within 3 city blocks.. Six of us are built on the drivethru section... This drivethru is for cars and small trucks...NOT delivery trucks.

On occasion a big truck CRASHES into the drivethru and one of these accidents (2005)caused a crack in the windowframe of my condo...etc etc... Soon I will have my balcony and home back to normal...

Patience is a virtue and I have definitely been tested on this one. BUT now I see the light at the end of this tunnel...yay...

Tonight Karyn and I are going to see Anne Murray.... Looking forward to this very much.