A few Christmas photos

Me, wearing my Christmas crown, in the perfect colour!

We always do Christmas crackers which is a British tradition from
my husband's family. More info here.

My cuties and their present from Daddy. Or was it Daddy's present? :)
Snap Circuits.

C and his big present - the police headquarters


A and his big present - his first electric train set.
My surprise gift from my hubby was a laptop. Here's a roaring fire (thanks to Netflix!)

Our kid-decorated tree. This was a big step for me (letting go).
I think next year we'll have two trees so I can have a "decor" tree. ;)
Christmas Dinner. Part of our table was empty.
We missed you Grandma & Grandpa!

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Books Read in 2011 with some mini reviews

"Woman Reading" by Mary Cassatt

image source

I read a total of 42 books in 2011. Twice as many as the year before! I use GoodReads to keep track of my reading. If you're wondering, I'm a die hard paper and ink reader. No Kindle for me, thanks. This was the year of the super long book for me. I read three books with than 400 pages!

My #1 read for the year was
Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. 592 pages.

My favourite book to read and re-read (and recommend to others) was
One Thousand Gifts:A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.

My favourite novels were Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. The character of Katey Kontent (from The Rules of Civility) was someone you really wanted to have as a friend. I kept wishing a movie would be made about Major Pettigrew, maybe played by James Cromwell?

My favourite memoir wasUnPlanned by Abby Johnson.

My favourite book of classic fiction was The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. This book has a whopping 672 pages but it kept my attention throughout. This book is one of the first detective mysteries ever written.

This past year, I read quite a few books set during WWII, both fiction and non-fiction:

- Unbroken:A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand- an amazing book. 473 pages. I highly recommend it! Louis Zamperini is a true hero. I don't want to spoil this book so I won't write any more.

- The Paris Wife by Paula McClain - this book was such a letdown. I actually wish I hadn't bothered with it. It tells the story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife and their life in Paris during the Jazz Age. There was no-one likeable in the book.

- Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of The Berlin Airlift by Richard Reeves

- The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
- Nella Last's War: The Second World War Diaries....- This was a diary of a real woman. It has been made into a movie but I haven't seen it. I en-joyed this look into the day to day life of an average woman in London, dealing with rations, air raids, and a very nonsupportive husband.

- Henrietta's War:News from the Home Front 1939-1942 (fiction) The problem with this book is that I read it AFTER I had read many serious books about this time frame. This book had a cheerful comic tone which seemed almost sacreligious after reading a non-fictional book about a woman's sacrifices during the war (Nella Last's War) and after reading about someone in prison and eventually killed by Hitler (Bonhoeffer).

- Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of WW II by Mitchell Zuchoff. A disappointing book. Yes, it told a unique story in an exotic locale but I thought the book could have used some editing. There was way too much focus on the one female character and the last half of the book dragged.

Memoirs and biographies were another popular genre, although I seemed to read quite a few that disappointed me.

- Bossypants by Tina Fey. It was funny but not side-splitting as I expected. I've been told that listening to the audiobook is better than reading it. I love seeing her book next to the Dick Cheney one on my list of books recently read. Quite the juxtaposition, don't you think? :)

- Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews. This book was a disappointment. Too much name dropping and fawning over other actors/singers.

- Confessions by St. Augustine - I didn't finish this. It was a tough read. Maybe I need a better translation? I just picked up the cheap one at Barnes & Noble.

- In My Time by Dick Cheney
- Decision Points by George W. Bush

- Shattered Dream: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer. This is the second book I've read about women escaping Morman fundamentalism (polygamy). Escape by Carolyn Jessup was more dramatic but this book revealed more about day to day life in that world.

- An Education by Lynn Barber. I liked the movie (especially the soundtrack) but the book wasn't great. She wasn't a sympathetic character.

- Saved by Her Enemy: An Iraqi woman's journey from the heart of war to the heartland of America by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak. Recommended. This book left me wanting to read more accounts from the point of view of journalists or soldiers in Iraq. If anyone has a suggestion of a book that isn't profanity laced or too grim, I'm interested.

- Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhonda Janzen. Funny.

- Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I preferred her first book Infidel. In Nomad she wrote about her atheism quite a bit.

- A Sixpence in Her Shoe by Phyllis McGinley. A fun look at housekeeping in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

Fiction:

- I read several books from the Chronicles of Fairacre series by Miss Read (Village School, Village Diary, Storm in the Village). These are "cosy" reads about a small English village and focus on the school.

- Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner. Chick lit but the subject matter (surrogacy) is one that could be discussed at a book club due to its moral and ethical implications
- Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

- The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party - another installment in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series

- Mr. Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

- Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Ivy league admissions.

- Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - a depressing book.

- The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford. I saw the mini-series and decided to pick up the book. It was just OK.
- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. I just read this gem a few days ago and it is still mulling around in my head.

Some other books that doesn't fit well into the other categories:

- Ten Big Lies about America by Michael Medved.

- Righteous Indignation: Excuse Me While I Save the World! by Andrew Breitbart
- Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis.

In another post, I'll tell you about some of the books I want to read in 2012.

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Family Photo & Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas cards are going out super late this year. If you haven't received it yet, it is coming, I promise. :) If you want to be surprised, then avert your eyes.

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photo location: Molbak's

photo credit: Christopher Lorton

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{this moment}

They love their Daddy!

Downtown Seattle.

J had gone to pay for more parking time and when he returned
this was the reaction. :)

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Handel's Messiah

On Sunday, my husband and I went to hear Handel's Messiah performed by the Seattle Symphony. I have done several sing-along Messiahs. We hadn't been to a professional performance since before we were married!

Some interesting facts about Messiah:

- Upon hearing the "Hallelujah Chorus" movement of "Messiah", King George II of England was reputedly so overcome with emotion that he spontaneously rose to his feet. When the king stands, everyone stands, so the audience immediately rose also. The tradition of standing for the chorus is still observed today in most live performances of "Messiah."

- In 1741, Handel set to work composing on August 22 in his little house in London. He grew absorbed in the work that he rarely left his room, hardly stopping to eat. Within six days part one was complete. In nine days more he had finished part two, and in another six, part three. The orchestration was completed in another two days. In all 260 pages of manuscript were filled in the remarkable short time of 24 days.

Check out the new tie and jacket. :)

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One Thousand Gifts - #103 - #120

hearing the story of the Crippled Lamb for the first time
my 6 year old's school Christmas concert
our babysitter Erika
free peppermint mocha
jeans on sale
beautiful Molbaks at Christmas time
sunshine in December
yummy treats at a Christmas open house at our pastor's house
my hubby got a bonus from work!
my 8 year old's school Christmas concert
the news that a Christian family with 4 kids is moving into our street
tired feet after helping with a teacher appreciation lunch
singing with the worship team
a generous PT (physical therapist) who doesn't mind me bringing my coughing son along
cuddling up with my coughing son and watching a movie together
finding a parking spot at a popular mall, quickly, in December!
going to hear Handel's Messiah at Benaroya Hall with my handsome hubby
my boys tangoing in the kitchen

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{this moment}

my son and his teacher, after the Christmas musical

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White and Silver Paper Doily Wreath

I finally finished this wreath. It's been sitting on my counter, unfinished, for a few weeks making my husband nervous in all its whiteness. It was right near where my kids pour their drinks. Talk about living on the edge!

My inspiration came from this wreath at Diamond in the Stuff's blog. Where did I find it? Pinterest, of course!!

Instructions and sources:
1. Using a styrofoam wreath, wrap with wide satin ribbon.
2. Attach a wide ribbon for hanging before gluing the cones down. I did this at the end (after the cones were glued down) and it was tricky. :)
3. Make lots of cones out of doilies. Instructions here. Secure them with hot glue. Don't burn yourself! You will need approximately 60 doilies if you want to replicate my wreath.
3. Glue the cones to the wreath using hot glue. I did 2 layers of cones.
4. Select something for the centre. I used a doily die cut from Martha Stewart's craft line. This is very similar. I glittered the edges. On top of that I glued a small silver doily. On top of that I glued a snowflake sticker (Jolee's boutique). Glue your centre into the middle of the wreath.
6. Hang and admire. :)

I'm linking up with A Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Chic and Crafty at Frugal Girls and Sew-Crafty Tuesday at Ruby Jean and Pin It

{this moment}

So proud of my son at his Christmas concert "Baby Jesus We Love You."

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One Thousand Gifts #86 to #102

tree farms
a sunny day for picking out a Christmas tree
free hot chocolate at the tree farm
modern dentistry
kind dental hygienists
Ann's blog with so many great resources and links
the beauty of fog
O Holy Night playing at Starbucks - what a message for those truly listening!
a lost and then found leather glove
a headlight that was out but when I took it in for service, it came back on!
scarves
Christmas carols
my children enthusiastically singing Christmas carols in the car - a cappella and a little off tune
my latte was free at the drive-thru Starbucks today - for no apparent reason!

last week we had the chance to see hundreds of salmon spawning up close at Goldstream Park
the smiles on my boys' faces as they ran from the incoming tide in Victoria

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{this moment}

wave chasing in Victoria

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One Thousand Gifts - #69 to #85

godly teachers at my children's school
parent teacher conferences
a week off from school
no snow (last year snow prevented us from travelling at Thanksgiving)
unbelievably beautiful cloud formations that I saw last week
safe travel to visit my parents

parents that are healthy in mind and body despite their age (hi Mom!)
visiting a fantastic bookstore, again.
a date night with my hubby
my children didn't use any electronic devices on both 3 hour ferry rides
a hotel with a fitness room and pool
a very quick interaction with border officials now that we have our green cards
the return of gingerbread lattes at Starbucks
our guinea pigs survived in our absence even without "pet sitting"
returning to regular routines, even laundry and dishes and grocery shopping
a quiet WalMart on a Monday morning

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Happy Thanksgiving

Over the river and through the woods to Grandfather's house we go! My family and I are headed out to visit family up north. :)Pin It

Paper flowers & a blue wall

Hubby and I painted one wall of the living room a robin's egg blue. That was a few months ago. I've had a blank wall ever since. I don't want to put anything up until we finally have a mantle. (we have a fireplace and no mantle on this wall). I saw these paper flowers and decided they would be the perfect thing to liven up the empty wall.Isn't it interesting how the blue looks different in the 2 photos taken at the same time? Anyway, Destiny's blog has great instructions on making the paper bag flowers. I added a book page flower in the centre. Here's a close up. I used a paper punch to cut out the flower from a book. Then I folded it up to give it more of a 3-D effect. I glued a flat-backed pearl in the centre (found at Michael's). This is a VERY frugal craft. The only cost was the pearls since I already had a lot of brown lunch bags.

I'm linking up with Chic & Crafty at The Frugal Girls and A Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday.Pin It

Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day

image source: Canadian War Museum

I wrote a post about Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day last year and it was pretty good. :) Since I'm lazy, I'm reposting it.
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One Thousand Gifts - #57 to 68

57. listening to my 8 year old read animal stories to his brother and me, making the drive to school more fun!
58. the beautiful and numerous colours that hydrangeas turn in the fall.59. dahlias from my garden on my windowsill in November!
60. Trunk or Treat at a nearby church
61. being Mary Poppins for a day (see my Halloween post)
62. after long last, finding a toothpick holder for my kitchen, yes it is the little things that bring a smile!
63. finally reading One Thousand Gifts - the book!
64. pumpkin bread/muffins made from Trader Joe's mix
65. flannel sheets
66. the gift of an extra hour due to time change
67. clothes - even though washing, sorting, ironing (occasionally), hanging, and purging is a lot of work.
68. a cloudy, overcast, dreary day that turns sunny in the afternoon.Pin It

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
My son taking on various identities.Pin It

Fall decor

I know that some people (especially stores) are getting ready for Christmas (now that Halloween is over) but I still want to enjoy fall and Thanksgiving, OK? I realized that I haven't posted about a fall sign that I made last year! I have a little shelf by the front door and I change the things on it for each season or holiday.

The letters came from JoAnn's and are paper mache. They are about $2 each and sometimes go on sale. I painted the letters brown first then I glued scrapbook paper on the fronts and then I put a coat of Mod Podge on top. I added some ribbons to a few, a faux sunflower, some silk leaves, and a few buttons.The wheat bouquet I found at Goodwill. I added the satin ribbon.
I found the Thanksgiving couple at local craft fair.

I'm linking up with Chic & Crafty at The Thrifty Girls.Pin It

Halloween Recap

My 8 year old son declared that he is too old for "cute" costumes and thus, wanted to be a skeleton this year. The head that came with this costume is truly scary so I was glad he didn't want to wear it.My younger son didn't have anything specific in mind so when I found a giraffe costume at the thrift store for a steal, he said he would happily wear it. This year is probably the last year either of my children will be an animal for Halloween. Sniff, sniff!
Here is my costume:
I found a photo of someone dressed as Mary Poppins on Pinterest and I began my quest. The black jacket, black skirt, white blouse, "sensible" shoes, umbrella, magic purse, and hat were ALL found at thrift stores! The red bow was taken from a cheap headband.

We went to a "trunk or treat" this year at a large church close to our house. I was very impressed with all the decorated cars and trucks.They also had a bouncy house, mini golf, carnival games, and hot dogs and other food to purchase. A great outreach to the local community.

At one point in the evening, I was sitting down on a bench in a hallway and a lot of people went by. It was fun seeing people walk by, look at me, and then say "are you...." or "Mary Poppins?" Fun!Pin It

One Thousand Gifts - #44 - #56

(if you are new to One Thousand Gifts, please visit Ann Voskamp's blog)

44. having coffee with a new friend in the middle of the day!
45. reading a book at the beach in the sunshine in October
46. gorgeous fall colours
47. quick access to health care specialists (something we did NOT have when we lived in Canada)
48. a very fun morning spent at Ruffles and Rust with a friend.
49. I finally went shopping with my friend Andrea. :)
50. perfect weather for planting daffodil bulbs
51. participating in another Beth Moore bible study
52. my new favourite TV show - Pan Am
53. an increase in visitors to my blog and kind comments about my paper creations.
54. the thrill of seeing my crafts "pinned" to Pinterest!
55. starting to read through the New Testament in a year even if I stumble occasionally and have to "catch up."
56. my husband's improved health after a rough spot (minor)Pin It

Autumn banner

I love banners. Here's my latest, with instructions.
1. The base for the garland (a scalloped circle) is a die cut from a scrapbook store that is no longer in business. :(
I had a few of these chipboard pieces in my collection but not enough for a whole banner so..... I traced it onto CEREAL BOX CARDBOARD for the rest! How's that for thrifty???

2. the patterned paper (glued on top of the chipboard/cardboard) is from Basic Grey. The info on the paper is "mellow, cultured." Sounds like me. Ha ha!

3. using a Marvy Uchida scalloped oval punch, punch out book pages. I have to sneak in another book page since book page crafts is my theme this month. :) So far, I have made 2 wreaths using book pages.

4. using a smaller scalloped oval punch (also from Marvy), punch out cardstock. Glue the layers down. I like double-sided tape for this.

5. I used chipboard stickers for the letters.

6. punch 2 small holes in each shape, near the top.

7. set an eyelet on each hole - I used small copper ones that I found at Michael's.

8. thread some matching ribbon through the holes. The ribbon is probably from Ben Franklin.

9. Hang and enjoy!

I'm linking to Chic and Crafty at The Frugal Girls and A Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday.Pin It

Ruffles and Rust - Fall 2011

Sigh. What a feast for the eyes! I'm back from Ruffles & Rust - a vintage market held at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA. I'm regretting not inviting more friends (such as Anna H) but I am so happy that Andrea was able to join me this morning. She was a great shopping companion!! :) The show was MUCH bigger than the last one (in the Spring). I took a few photos but it was tough balancing shopping bags and a camera plus navigating the crowds. I literally could have spent all day there, drooling on all the beautiful "junk!" I kinda wish I bought the blue pillow (in the above photo) with the white background near the back. Booth: JohnBob Cool Junk

I like the lace trim wrapped votive candles (2nd shelf from top) in this photo.

This was one of the weirder sights at the show:I guess it could be a Halloween display?

Back to the pretty stuff.This tiny grand piano was so cute:
There were a lot of pumpkins. Decoupaged pumpkins:book page pumpkins:

and velvet pumpkins: Since I love to make banners, I had to take a photo of this one.Here is the loot I took home with me:Left to right: turquoise glass thingy, maps (Canada & World) on top of a silver cake plate (painted white), a little white chair, an embellished bottle, a vintage apron, and a silver platter. At the back is an ornate rectangular mirror. Here's a closer look:Of course, I'll be painting it Heirloom White. :)

Here's a close up of the embellished bottle:

A final note: Esther, you really should come to the Spring show! It will likely be in February.

Update: Here's a link to some photos MUCH better than mine taken by Isabel of Maison Douce who sells beautiful stuff!Pin It