Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ G

Gabaldon, Diana ~ The Outlander Series


Gnomes

My youngest brother is seven years older than my son, they are very close and getting closer now that they are older.  My brother would do special things for my son when we went to visit.  One of my son's fondest memories are the stories of the gnomes that my brother would tell him.  You see there were gnomes living in my parents garden and everytime we visited my parents, there was a note from the gnomes, usually setting my son on a trail for a small treasure,  my brother would make little foot prints in the garden dirt.  It was so believable for a young child.  I'm so grateful for my brother and the wonderful memories my son will have to tell his children one day.

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ F

Favourite Author
Flagg, Fannie ~ Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe


Flowers

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ E

Favourite Author

Erskine, Barbara ~ Lady of Hay


Don't run on EMPTY, EAT clean.

I have to admit for many years I did not eat right.  Working full time and more helping run a business, small child to take care of, a home to run and suffering from depression, taking care of me was kind of a back burner thing.  I'd get the afternoon slump at work (running on empty) and my quick go to fix was a huge cup of coffee and donuts or anything else that had sugar.  By the time we got home a healthy home cooked meal was the last thing I wanted to deal with, so easy pre-made frozen crap was usually our quick fix and I kept the guilt off by always having salad or fresh cut veggies as a side dish.  Of course you can't eat like this and not gain weight and in doing so makes the whole situation harder to deal with. 
I finally put my foot down last year when I read Tosca Reno's books about clean eating and decided that things just had to change.  I cannot say that I'm perfect at it and loosing weight has to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do (even quiting smoking was easier). 
Now when I run on empty I'm armed with healthier things to get through the day.  I start the day off with a healthy breakfast, I drink my water and I eat more frequently, four to five smaller meals, each meal contains protein and a source of fibre, like fruit or vegetables.
Since I changed the way I eat, I find that running on EMPTY is a thing of the past.

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ D

Today's favourite Authors

Donaldson, Stephen ~ The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through
Donoghue, Emma ~ Room

DUCKS

I've mentioned in previous blogs that our house backs onto an open hydro field.  A few years ago it was a rainy spring, leaving huge puddles in the field.  The puddles made a great haven for a family of ducks.  They were frequent visitors to our back yard.   

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge Aprill 2011 ~ C

It's Monday, the beginning of the work week and the day for the letter "C".

Favourite Authors
Chadwick, Elizabeth ~ Lords of the White Castle
Collins, Suzanne ~ The Hunger Games Trilogy

CRAFTING

I cannot tell you when I started crafting exactly, my mother is a crafter and I learned everything from her.  I'm not talking about scrap booking, don't get me wrong I love scrap booking....well at least looking at other peoples creations.  I have a great friend who does wonderful work with scrap booking, but it just isn't for me.  For my followers who like scrap booking please have a look at Angie's Blog.
My earliest memory of a craft was a wool needle point of Raggedy Ann and Andy that my mother and I worked on together, she was probably the one that did the most work.  There was the hickory dickory dock rug hook project, I remember helping her with that.  The rug hung in the upstairs hallway.  I loved how the cat at the bottom of the picture watched the clock mouse.
After I mastered these two techniques my mother taught me how to cross stitch.  Many pictures and projects I have made.
My favourite crafting today is crocheting, again another craft I learned from my mother. I remember as a little girl listening to my Nana knit, the sound of her knitting needles was so soothing and I couldn't believe that she could watch TV and not look at her work, I was mesmerized.  Unfortunately no matter how much I tried I could not master the art of knitting. 

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ B

 

Sorry my post is so late.  Happy April 2nd everybody today is letter B.

"B" is for BACCHANALIAN, characterized by or given to drunken revelry; riotously drunken.

Bebris, Carrie ~ Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries. Please visit her website here.

"B" is for BonaVista.  We recently travelled to Newfoundland, for a well deserved family vacation.

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse

Fog rolling in off the ocean

My Son, Inukshuks and a beautiful sunset

Signing off till next time.

Blogging Challenge April 2011 ~ A

Should you wish to join in the fun please visit Tossing It Out.

Today is the first day of April , happy April Fool's Day and the day that I post something with "A".  I think most posts I write for this challenge will follow a theme.  First I'm going to find a word that I don't know and give the definition.  I will post a book that I have read or wish to read, the name of the author will be what starts with the letter of the day.  Then if I have something else I wish to blog about I will.

"A" is for AVERRUNCATOR, an instrument for pruning trees, having two blades, or a blade and a hook, fixed on a long rod and operated by a string or wire.

Austen, Jane ~ My favourites are Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility

A is for Angry.  We have lived in our current house for over 20 years, we back onto crown owned land which is a hydro corridor.  There is a hydro tower very close to our home. Over the years vegetation had grown under that tower providing a nice haven for wildlife.  We have enjoyed, for over ten years, the song of the mocking birds that live in that vegetation.  Yesterday workers for hydro came and cut down all that vegetation.  Where did those poor birds go?  The temperature last night was -5.  I know that they have to maintain the hydro towers, but why wasn't that done yearly so no animals would find refuge?  I will miss the mocking birds tremendously. My only hope is that they were able to survive the cold without a nest and that they will nest in our back yard tree or in a tree in one of our neighbours back yards.

Signing off till next time.