Mail post!

Hey all!  Here is a mail post!  I haven't received much mail in the past weeks because I haven't sent much.  I haven't had much time for writing lately which really annoys me.  I'll have two weeks off during the Christmas holidays and I plan on doing A LOT of things including, writing, writing, writing.  I have already received some Christmas cards and presents.  The cards I always open whereas the presents I put under the tree until Christmas morning.

I'm not sure why some of my photos are coming out dark.  I bought a new camera some weeks ago and I need to fiddle with it more but I just haven't had the time.

I always hang my cards on a garland my mother knitted and decorated with knitted mittens.  Noah loves seeing new cards on the garland.

I received this wonderful swap of winter craft supplies and a pair of cozy socks within the last couple of weeks.

I received a great letter, vintage Christmas images and address labels, stickers, ink stamps, FBs and cards from my wonderful and dear friend Rosita from Finland.

I received this lovely card and FBs from my bestest friend Molly from USA.

This sweet girl Mona from one of my swap groups was offering stickers and I was lucky enough to answer her e-mail first so she sent them to me.  They are really cute!

A swap of FBs from a group partner.

I received these beautiful Christmas ATCs and Christmas card from another group swap partner.

I love this Christmas vintage ATC and card I received from another swap partner.

I received this wonderful letter and photos from my great friend Reiko from Japan.

I also received this wonderful swap of beautiful "Tilda" and "Anything Asian" decos from another swap partner.  She included some pretty ribbons and a postcard of New York City.  How sweet of her!

I received this great private swap from my friend Johanna from Finland.  She sent decos, FBs, papers, note papers and vintage images.

And, finally, I received this lovely postcard from my friend Susi while she was visiting Vietnam.

It's always nice to receive such wonderful mail.  I hope to be back soon with a crafting post.  Stay tuned my friends!

A fabulous weekend!

I just came back from a fabulous weekend visiting my friend Molly in New Hampshire.  This time I went on my own and Noah stayed home with Jeffrey.  I always feel a little nudge of sadness when I don't bring Noah with me whenever I'm away for a few days.  However, I need the peace and relaxation sometimes.  I left Sherbrooke on Friday afternoon and drove for 3 1/2 hours before meeting Molly and her children at "Michael's" craft store.  Of course I bought a few things and then we headed to "Olive Garden" for dinner.  I love having their soup, salad and breadsticks meal.  I absolutely love soups, salads and breads so it's the perfect meal for me.  :)  On Saturday we had quite the busy day.  We went to a church bazaar where the ladies sell crafts, baked goods and there is a type of yard sale.  I bought a few things for really cheap.

A "Paddington Bear" game for 50 cents, a nice shelf (not pictured) for $3,00, cute Christmas ornaments for 25 cents each and a pair of mittens for $3,00.  I also bought a green pair for Noah (not pictured).
Next we went to Molly's house to drop off the kids since we were meeting our mutual pal and friend Nicole for lunch at our favourite restaurant "Pickity Place".  Molly's parents' home is beautiful with a nice solarium.  I would love a solarium, maybe someday.

Here are (from left to right); Diego, Jadira (Molly's children), Molly and her mother.

It was such a gorgeous sunny day.  Here you can see one of the gift shops/greenhouse at "Pickity Place".  It's very rustic.

Here I am waiting to be seated for our delicious lunch.

Our first course was a vegetable corn chowder soup which was absolutely delicious.

Next we were served a cranberry bean and spaghetti squash salad which was okay but nothing too special.  I must admit I was a little disappointed  with this salad.

As the main course we had two choices and I chose the pork roast with port, pears, apricots and rosemary (love rosemary) served with honey and soy glazed carrots.  It was quite good although I'm not a big fan of pork.

And, finally for dessert we had the most delicious pumpkin spice roll.  So, it was another great meal at "Pickity Place" among friends.  I bought some spice packs, Christmas cards and a nice sachet with black cat design on it.

Next Molly and I were off to do some shopping.  I bought a few Christmas presents and also some things for myself which I couldn't resist.

And, the book "Inspiration" by Jo Packman who also puts together the magazine "Where Women Create."  I've been wanting this book for a while.

Once shopping was done we went back to Molly's and I went to sleep.  I was exhausted.  I left early Sunday morning.  I was so happy to be home again and I had promised Noah we'd put up the Christmas tree upon my arrival.

The box of ornaments came out and we got busy.  We always put up our tree in November.  We love the preparations leading up to the holiday.  The tree is done but we still need to decorate the rest of the house and set up our village. 

Be back again soon with a mail post. :)

A little shopping, a little mail and a birthday boy!

Hi all!  I can't believe it is already Sunday night.  My goodness how time just seems to fly right by these days.  This past week was so hectic at work since I replaced my co-worker, Veronique in the classroom a couple of afternoons.  This coming week will be back to normal except I start a new student tomorrow evening.  I'm really happy my teaching English business is growing.  
This past weekend I went to my painting teacher's Christmas art sale.  Wow!  What amazing art work done by three different artists.  A fourth artist was also present and her medium is papercrafts so she decorated jars of various chutneys (second photo) and relishes that she had made.  I couldn't help buying a pretty jar of her delicious chutney.  Hopefully I can bring myself to opening it since it is so pretty.  Take a look (below) at this beautiful skate one of the artists painted and then decorated.  Isn't it GORGEOUS?

The Christmas balls I will most probably give as presents and the bag above I will keep for myself.
Of course I also bought a few craft supplies this past week too.  I also received my "Stampin 'Up" order of supplies.

I also received some nice mail this week.  A letter and belated birthday surprises from my friend Kimie from Canada.  She also sent decos and FBs, and included some recipes for me to try.

Some ATCs Kimie made.

And, a letter and FBs from my friend Vanessa from USA.

I had wanted to post this photo of Noah with his parrot birthday cake this past week but...time just got away from me.  Last weekend for his birthday we also met with Miss Barbara for breakfast.  She had worked with him at school for the past four years but has now moved to Australia.  She actually left this past Tuesday.  She is like part of the family so it was sad to see her go.  Fortunately we'll still keep in touch!

And, that's it for tonight.  I need to get more letters written and prepare my English classes for the week.  See you soon!

Halloween Crafts and Shopping !!!!!

Hello all! :) I hate to put so much into one post but I just haven't had much time in recent months to do more than one post a week. I have been so incredibly busy with work and then dealing with Noah's school as there have been some issues. I keep getting new students to teach in evenings as well so my spare time is limited. I am enjoying being busy again and it has given me a new energy. The only down side is I'm lacking in "ME" time which I don't like at all. Anyone have any advice on how to balance it all?! This past Monday was Halloween so we went "Trick or Treating" and Noah came back with a bag full of loot. It was such a gorgeous evening for walking.

Noah dressed up as a cowboy.

Some decorations we saw while "Trick or Treating."

I have finished quite a few swaps in the past couple of weeks but I only remembered to take a photo of this "Vintage Halloween" deco I made. The others I hurried and got them ready to mail.

I finally finished painting this flower design on a tea box. I thought I could take painting classes in the evenings, but soon realized with such a busy schedule I was too tired.  Instead, I decided to take private painting classes with my teacher on Friday afternoons.  
And now, onto some mail news. I received the most GORGEOUS envelope in the mail last week sent to me by my friend Jessica from California. We did a Halloween Mail Art swap.

Take a look at the goodies she sent

I received a few swaps this week as well.

Some Christmas cards and decos from a swap partner.

A "Anything 1920's" deco, "Tilda Magnolia" deco and "Sites of France" deco, from the same swap partner.

More decos and FBs from another swap partner.

"Cute Characters at Halloween" FBs and stickers in a Halloween bag from another swap partner.

Two gorgeous "Vintage Halloween" ATCs from another swap partner

"Vintage Halloween" deco from another swap partner

A "All for Manu" deco from another swap partner.

More FBs from another swap partner.

A fantastic letter and postcard from my friend Helen from Finland.

Another great letter and FBs from my friend Saara from Finland.

Another wonderful letter, photo and card from my friend Renata from Germany.

Another fantastic letter from my friend Lone from Germany. She also sent a fabulous travel report and postcards, decos and FBs

Isn't this Christmas ball gorgeous? My painting teacher made it and I loved it so I bought it for only $10. She's having her annual Christmas art sale next weekend. I can't wait to see all of her treasures.

Here a few things I bought recently. I always seem to find something. I love finding craft supplies and now it's Christmas, one of my favourite holidays. :)

More craft supplies I purchased recently.

Phew! This has really been a long post. I hope to be back in a couple of days to post about the weekend. It was Noah's 10th birthday. :) Catch you later friends!