It's time...

...to set the record straight. I have to say, it was fun reading all the comments my last post caused :). But I should let you all know that my impatience was more with all the legitimate things that prevent us from getting that coffee table made, than with Martin not doing his part. I have a list of projects too that are waiting to be worked on, and that's just life. Slowly but surely, we'll get things done... only to create another list of projects to work on!
This last week, Martin has been busy installing a laundry tub and fixing the dryer venting. I'm so glad for all the work he does around our place!

Next

Isn't this a lovely piece of pine?

I think so. Mostly, because I'm picturing the nice new coffee table it will some day be transformed into. Some day!!

We've got mail!

In our new mailbox on our new fence!

This fence is something we've been talking about for a while now... We've had trouble on occasion with the neighbors horses coming on our yard. Their heavy footprints leave some ugly marks, and so we wanted to find a way to prevent that. A split rail fence sounded like a great idea - I didn't want anything that made our cute little house look like a jail. And then when I was visiting a sweet older lady from our church, I found out that she had some split rail sitting in her barn that she wasn't planning on using. A free pre-aged split rail fence! How great is that? So, Martin & his dad spent a bit of time the last few weeks digging holes and putting in the fence. Our ugly, old, green, covered in moss mailbox was in the way, so it got pulled out - yay!!! Another thing we'd been talking about doing for a while. Our new mailbox is nothing really exciting (except for the red flag - something our old mailbox didn't have) - but it's a big improvement from the last one we had!!

The fun of wrapping

My dad is one of those "brown paper bag" gift-giving people. Makes sense... why spend an extra $5 or more on something that just ends up in the garbage? Might as well spend those few extra $$ on the gift and skip the wrapping, right? Right.
But how do I combine that thought with the fun of wrapping something up all pretty and fun? I have to say - I have as much fun now with the presentation of the gift as I do buying the gift.
There are tonnes (and I mean tonnes) of inexpensive ideas for gift wrapping on the internet. I admit, I sometimes spend too much time looking... but it's fun to see what I can find.
Last year some time, I was looking for a fun (but inexpensive :) way to wrap a little gift for some girls. I came across this idea - and pretty much copied. Here's mine:

A little while later, I took this idea a little step further. I just changed the measurements on the box part to make a bit bigger box, and then made a lid for it using the same concept. Then I "prettied" it up and added a matching card.
Having said all that... I have to admit, I still use brown paper bags on occasion. I bought a whole package of lunch bag size just for gift wrap. But I can't help adding a little ribbon or something to it. Still inexpensive... still fun!!

A bit of everything

I've managed to stay busy lately with a bunch of things. Of course, some of the more "routine" things of life have started up again - weekly youth meetings, violin lessons, Bible study, etc. Always welcomed after the summer, but it still somehow takes a bit of an adjustment to get back into the swing of it all.

I've done a bit of jam making again this year. My strawberry jam took me two tries. Martin and I really wanted to have sugar free jam - and since I'm stubborn enough, if it takes 2 times to get it right, then that's what I'll do. It tastes pretty good, although a bit different (more tangy) then all of that sugar loaded jam.

Yesterday a friend came over and we canned peaches. Also a sugar-free variety. Don't they look fantastic?!

Today I will attempt the peach jam. Again, sugar-free. Hopefully I can do it in one go this time :)

I have also been spending a bit of time working on the crib bedding for the little one we are waiting for. I had seen something with brown and white polka dots - and absolutely loved it - and I was determined to find a similar fabric to work with. It took a bit of hunting - but I found it... and I love it!

Figuring out what exactly to do with it was a different story... but thanks to some tips from others, and my mom's quilting expertise, this is what it's looking like so far. You'd never guess that I spent a very frustrating morning looking for the brown and green borders... and while they're different than what I had in mind at first (why would a store have every color of corderoy except for a nice chocolate brown??) I'm liking the result. I'm currently working on hand-stitching around a few of the dots to make them "pop" a bit (not my idea - but a suggestion that I absolutely loved!). I'll be making a roman shade to match it - I'll show you that when it's done.

Anyways, on to making jam, doing laundry, cleaning gutters, etc. I've got another full day ahead!

A day with my brother

It worked out well to be camping a bit more north in Ontario, because it meant we were only an hour and a half away from my brother & his fiance. So the day after we got to the campground, we took the day to go spend time with Thys. Leah was working that day, so she could only join us for supper. We had a beautiful and fun day - spent mostly on a lake near his house.

We spent a couple hours here - relaxing on this little spot on the beach
or playing frisbee in the water.

Then we cruised around in his little boat for a while. This

area is beautiful! We were trying to imagine how amazing

this place would look in the fall!

Thys had mentioned something about cliff jumping quite

a way down the lake - a spot we didn't have time to go

to anymore that day - but then we came across

this little spot - and the boys decided it was also a

great spot to jump from!

Checking it out...Taking the plunge!The view from the topWhen we got back, Thys and Leah made us a delicious dinner.

We finished off the day with a campfire and s'mores and pie - even though we were still stuffed from dinner! It was a good day.

Camping in Ontario

Part of the reason we picked these particular days for our trip to Ontario was to join in on the annual camping trip with a few of Martin's cousins and their families. We had a fantastic and relaxing time together at Arrowhead Provincial Park.

We were pretty proud of this setup! Martin & I had

our own site a little ways down - but we spent the

majority of our time at J&M's site... they had all the food!! :)

Since J&M did most of the planning and looked after us

so well - we figured it was only fair if we at least took

care of doing the dishes!

A little hike/walk we went on

Checking something out with Uncle Martin

Snack time after our walk

We spent most of the afternoons at the beach

And then came the rain...

They had a little interactive thing about logging, so

a bunch of us went there - a little change of scenery

from our tarps at the campsite. They had a couple

little games to play - so that's what me and Zach

are doing

All the mom's had been prepared - and so the

kids got to go from site to site to do a different

craft - coloring, painting rocks, etc. It kept the

kids entertained well. Martin & Joel took the chance

to play a game of chess.

Some one had this brilliant idea so we could still enjoy our

campfire that night! The rain actually let up for the whole

evening - so we didn't end up needing them - but

it looked kinda neat!

I guess that sums up the camping part of the trip! We considered going home on that really rainy day, but were glad we stuck it out. We had really looked forward to camping with everyone - and we weren't disappointed!