"Strawberry Fields Forever"

... needing to get back to "doing Art" ... so joined several ATC / LTC swaps!
The first 'grown up' ATC I've done in a long time is one for the "Beatles" swap with Atlas Quest. I created 28 of these!!

I love Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe" and was inspired with this.

My Butterfly Pumpkin!

I never was keen on 'Jack-o-Lanterns' myself - although the ones kids do themselves are always very cute. I love the more recent ideas of carving other images ... and since I love Butterflies, the choice this year was a no-brainer ... and it wasn't even all that hard!

Autumn arrives ...

If I must let summer go ...

Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC

Westminster Abbey Grounds ...

LOVE!

The best days are those when you have your camera and smile as you catch the best picture of the day/week/month!

James & Tamara catching a snuggle along life's trail.

My first LETTERBOXING adventure!

Up until this summer, I'd never heard of 'letterboxing' ... but once I did, it was intriguing and on Sunday, Sept 13 I met James, Tamara, Miranda and Ethan at Green Timbers Park to see what it was all about! For more information on Letterboxing check out here or here!

... we head off for a lovely walk
on a beautiful late summer day

... a fork in the road ...
better check the clues ... left or right?

Miranda found the first letterbox!

Exploring the great outdoors
in our own backyard is one of the
awesome benefits of this pastime!

The family takes a rest break
part way through our hike near the
lovely little lake in the park.

Back on the trail, we follow the signs!

Ethan finds the next letterbox,
with a little help from Miranda!

I found the last letterbox and
stamped our notebook
... I was hooked!

We stopped for a final rest and to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, the lovely day and each others company! With all that AND a great excuse for a 'hike in the woods' I have decided that Letterboxing is my new favorite pastime!

How it turned into a BLUE day ...

What a wonderful end-of-summer day! I had Mr. Z and The Twins for the day and we spent most of it outside!

Emma absolutely loves it when the kids come over to play … they run and run and run in a big circle around the back yard until they all collapse … rest, then run, run run again!!





The girls brought their first ‘make-up’ and I found them making application!! I guess a mirror might have been in good order!

Natassja checking out the make-up

Raven too ...

Zavier’s new blue mohawk and the girls punk make-up!
... and that's how it turned into a BLUE day!

Christina Lake

This summer I was SO looking forward to going out to Christina Lake with Tamara, James, Miranda & Ethan at the end of August. The day finally arrived and we drove out together - with Ethan traveling most of the way with me. The drive was lovely and we got to our campsite, setting up the tents in time to fall fast asleep. The week was a little challenging given that the kids were really into DOING stuff, whereas, us adults were more into just BEING (doing nothing!). However we had the best times just hanging out at the beach - and in the water ... which we did as much as possible.

Miranda and I slept in this little tent together ... cozy!

James made sure the coffee was on every morning! Cheers!

Christina Lake has all the benefits of Skaha & Okanagan Lakes - but warmer and also with far less crowds ... beautiful sandy beaches and great swimming areas.

This butterfly rested on my capri's for a long time before flying off!

Ethan and Miranda enjoyed playing in the sand when they weren't in the water!

I've LOVED swimming all my life and this was one of the highlights of my summer!

On the morning I left (after staying an extra day on my own), I caught these deer right down town Grand Forks!

Sorry Tamara ... I know we took pictures with you in them ... they must be in your camera :)

Playing in the rain!

Last Saturday, - the first day of the long heat-wave we are having here on the west coast - I had Miranda and Ethan over for a sleepover. We BBQ’d and had supper on the lovely covered back deck … just as the HUGE thunder and lightening storm came along to entertain us! What a show … it was definitely a memory making time for the three of us as. Recalling the fable that “when it thunders, the angels are bowling” every time a shot of thunder happened, Ethan. hollered STRIKE ... and if it was weaker, Miranda would say SPARE!!!


And the RAIN!! Wow … it POURED – coming down in buckets. At one point Miranda asked if they could go out into the rain and get wet. She promised that when they were finished, they would dry off and put on their PJ’s … so I said, “SURE!” At first they looked at me rather surprised that I would agree, then grinned, finished off their supper and ran out into the back yard … and got soaked. Good fun … great memories!

Absolute JOY!

"Is this how I "dance in the rain?" !!

"OK ... it's really coming down now ...
... I think we are done!
Can we go in an have some hot chocolate?!"

Dance as though you are 5!

A few Saturdays ago, I attended Zavier’s first year-end guitar recital. He was first on the schedule - doing a great job with one of our favorite Beatles tunes, "Let It Be"

When he was done, we did the right thing and stayed on to listen to the rest of the young people who take lessons from the same studio. It was a warm June afternoon as everyone was relaxed and enjoying the youthful exuberance of music. During one of the songs, our little ‘Tasha broke into random dance … bringing even more joy to those around! Bridge to Better Days Enjoy!

Peek-a-Boo!

One of the delights of living where I do, is that when my son calls and says ... "are you busy, mom? come on over - the kids and I are going to the park and we want to see you" ... if I'm not doing anything, it's only a short 10 minute drive. This time, I grabbed my camera because I realized I didn't have any recent pictures of these darlings. I have a new camera - well new to me - and I'm still trying to figure out the settings. I also have a daughter-in-law who is a budding professional photographer with a high end camera and takes beautiful photos! But I have decided not be be intimated and the following are part of this delightful short-and-sweet visit!

Grandma: "hey kids, go over by that tree so I can get a picture of you all together"
Mackenna, Kennedy & Kaidan: "how's this, grandma?!"

Mackenna: ".. or we could play peek-a-boo ..."


I decided that getting any kind of group photo-shoot just wasn't going to happen today. As I looked over to my right, Kaidan had fallen onto his daddy ... and well ... if a picture is worth a thousand words ... I LOVE pictures of kids with their daddy's!

And then there is the usually elusive Kennedy ... who only stood still long enough when I asked if she has a belly-button!

My belly-button?

I know it's in here somewhere!

There it is!