Feathering My Nest...

We've Adopted...

2012-03-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Since losing our sweet little fur baby we've all been in a funk... even Milo has been out of sorts... My moping was out of control... and my heart was missing love from a sweet little one... After Chris's suggestion that we just go "take a look" we ended up adopting a sweet little rescue... the hole left when we lost Cleo will never be filled... but the love coming from this little thing is helping with the healing...

The first couple of days were a little rough... she came with an eye infection... and had to wear a cone for a little bit... and Milo wasn't too impressed about the situation... but now her eye has healed up... they've been both checked over by the vet and Milo is warming up... and he's even beginning to play a little more...

This sweet little creature has come from Whisker Rescue... all of the ladies that we've met and I've talked with since have been so nice and helpful... they are very lovely and caring... This little fur monkey's name is Tinny... she's quite the little miss... and quite a crazy little kitten... we got her name from Republic of Doyle... she came with the name Skittles... but she just didn't look like a skittles...

If you're thinking about bringing home a pet please go check out your local rescue centre...

Lacey

A Little Bit Of Progress...

2012-02-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

Didn't get to the basement or our office this weekend... those areas are still total disasters... and working out... not back at it yet... but am feeling motivated... just need a few more days of rest...

I did get this completed this evening... just a quick iPhone shot...

I felt the need to make something when I got home from work today... actually got home before it was dark outside!.. it's amazing what you can get done when you get home at a decent time in the day!.. anywhoot I finished painting the crown on the tea trolly tray!.. It just needs a light sanding and a waxing!.. maybe tomorrow evening?.. more than likely it'll get done this weekend... Then painting on the label on the top of the tea trolly... I was nervous about it before but now completing this one I'm feeling good about it!..

Stay tuned!..

Lacey

Getting Back At It...

2012-02-25T20:26:00.001-07:00

One of my New Year's Reso's was to get fit... and I had been working out using NTC every second night since about a week or so before Christmas... The past couple of weeks I've been a couch potato... really missing my little miss... moping a lot...

I have to get back at it... and I've picked tomorrow to be the day I pickup my workouts... when I was working out I slept better... felt better... had more energy...

A few projects that I had been working on had gone on hold the past couple of weeks as well... I have to get them back on track... the Vintage Chicks 2012 Sale is coming up fast... yeah it's in June... but February is already just a few days from being over!.. time is disappearing...

This beauty I found a few weeks back...

...around the same time I discovered Annie Sloan Chalk Paint here in town at Lauren Lane Decor... BEST... PAINT... EVER...

I even painted over the black kitchen stools... you can see them up above... I've not gotten around to the waxing yet...

...so that the tea trolly isn't just painted cream and distressed I'm painting the pull out tray...

...just a little something to make it stand out...

...then on the top of the trolly I'm thinking a french label that I found online and have blown up... we'll see how it transfers...

Before getting back on track with the refinishing Furs and I are going to sort out the basement so that we have some workout space... and some refinishing space... painting in the kitchen/dining room makes the house too cluttered...

Tomorrow... clearing some space in the basement... perhaps this could be a jump on Spring cleaning!?. What is your Sunday plan?..

Lacey

Lately... it's been rough...

2012-02-11T07:54:00.001-07:00

I started to write a post January 31... got tired and stopped partway through... I had started a post about some current projects... I've got a few in the works... Then last weekend we tragically lost our little furbaby Cleo... It was a completely unexpected illness and she was in a lot of pain... my heart is broken and I don't feel it will ever fully heal... She was such a part of our lives...

She wouldn't go to bed at night without me... She'd sit up staring at us... then start swaying and falling asleep... but she always waited until we went upstairs before she would hop in bed... Most mornings when I would get out of bed she'd run into the bathroom with me in the dark and we would both stand there squinting when I flicked the light on...

You can't break out the camera without the cats hopping into the shot... I have a pile of photos of them both but it still doesn't feel like enough photos of her...

She was always into everything... You couldn't do anything without her head butts and requests for snuggles... such a mewer... so vocal...

Snuggles and naps... she couldn't get enough...

She was such a skinny minnie... after she got fixed she got a little wider but she was alway a tiny kitty...

We loved her to bits... still do...

Holidays...

2011-12-28T20:46:00.002-07:00

I hope that your holidays have been the most excellent!.. They've come and gone so fast!.. like my paperwhites... and this weekend we'll be ringing in the New Year!.. Do you have any plans?.. We're doing our favourite... low key... chilled out... quiet night in... pulled pork sammiches and movies... LOVE...

How was your Christmas!?. We got up at about 5am on Chirsmtas morning... well I woke up... and then I woke Chris up... I couldn't get back to sleep... there were presents waiting downstairs! hehe...

We've been eating lots... good and bad... Christmas eve we had a little of both... for breakfast...

...but for supper... prime rib roast...

Christmas Day breakfast... after presents of course... toutons!..

...and toast... eggs... bacon... back bacon... and tea!..

...We cooked a 15lb turkey for Christmas... along with the traditional Newfoundland Jiggs dinner... not to toot my own horn or anything... but it was my best one yet... it was to die for... and we almost died because we ate so much!.. can you say turkey coma!?.

...and of course every turkey cooked must become Turkey Soup...

I love the holidays!.. lots of friends around... lots of food to eat!..

We've been having some beautiful weather as well... when we got home from some boxing day shopping I noticed the sun beaming in the front room... onto the birds nests!..

...of course no camera can come out without a fur baby appearance!..

...I was back to work today... thinking I should have taken these three work days off... oooohhh to be off for just a couple of more days... my head is buzzing with ideas of things I want to make... and refinish... for the Vintage Chicks Sale this coming June!..

I've been thinking about New Years resolutions too... not usually my thing at all... but I've started a list this year!.. more to come!..

Lacey

Christmas Bulbs...

2011-12-18T16:05:00.001-07:00

My Christmas bulbs are well on their way... the paperwhites are in full bloom... I love how they look... but they're stinky... not a great smelling flower...

...they're so pretty...

The three amaryllis bulbs... one is super tall... about to bloom... then there is one that is just starting to grow... then the third one is just getting underway... I can't wait until these bloom... hopefully before this coming week is over at least one of them opens up!..

This weekend has just been go go go... Friday night we got home a little later than I was hoping from work... we had lots of little things to do because Friday night was our Christmas drinkie and nibblie night!.. everyone was arriving just as we were finishing setting up all of the nibblies so I didn't get a chance to take any photos...

Yesterday Furs and I braved the Chinook Mall... it was beyond intense there... next year I'm finishing my Christmas shopping during the summer!.. today... laundry and finishing the VERY last bit of shopping that I had to do!..

It's time to chill out and watch some Christmas movies with my Furbear... when he gets home from his last bit of Christmas shopping!..

Are you finished with your shopping now!?. I hope so!.. It's time to rest... chill out from a busy 2011!..

Lacey

Week Off...

2011-12-05T21:08:00.001-07:00

Some exciting things coming in the future... some Vintage Chicks news... while that is in the works I've got the week off to spend with my parents while they visit us!..

We've gotten the tree up and Christmas decorating done...

Last year I had all different coloured balls on the mantle... this year I stuck with red and white and silver... a jar of bows and two jars of candy canes thrown into the mix...

All but one paper white bulb are doing great!.. and they're not getting direct sunlight this year so they're not getting out of hand tall... the Amaryllis... two of the three are doing okay... the biggest doesn't seem to be doing anything... pictures of those to come as they get bigger...

I've got a few containers of balls around the house... front room... kitchen... upstairs bed... and bathrooms...

AND found this awesome tree skirt idea on Pinterest... it was all hot glued together there... I hand sewed this one all down over the past two days... have run out of fabric for the ruffles though... have to dig around upstairs to see if I can find a few mores strips... more information on the tree skirt to come... ruffles... so easy... so many ideas floating around my noggin right now for ruffled items...

How goes your holiday decorating?

Lacey

Getting Ready For Christmas...

2011-11-26T19:40:00.001-07:00

Last night Furs and I made a quick trip to the Spruce Meadows Christmas Market... we started out with a feed of perogies... and sausages... with sour cream and fried onions and bacon... The main reason for the trip to Spruce was for the greenery for my outdoor arrangements... I got enough for two planters!.. and we also picked up a garland...

I was pooped when we got home so left the greens on the step for the night...

I was up at 7am this morning... had a nice cuppa tea... paid the bills... then headed outside when the sun came up... it was freezing out... I worked away for a couple of hours and above is the result!.. I even washed down the railings... swept the steps... washed the stoop ceiling because it was really dusty... and gross looking... and pulled grass up from between the walkway blocks... it warmed up later in the morning when the sun made its way around to the front of the house...

The rest of the day was spent working on giving the house a great big cleanup... getting ready for Christmas... and for the parents visit!.. worked away until about 7pm... made it through the entrance area... front room and a good half of the kitchen... tomorrow the rest of the kitchen and living room... then onto upstairs... that should go quick... and if the weather is nice we can get the last of the bushes wrapped up outside... and fingers crossed I can get an indoor holly arrangement put together... I have a bag full of holly in the fridge from Spruce Meadows!..

Have you started getting your house ready for Christmas?..

Lacey

See!.. I'm Still Here!.. And I've Been Productive!..

2011-11-20T19:19:00.001-07:00

Hey!.. What have you been up to!?. This past weekend... ugh... it's Sunday night... why can't today be Saturday still!?. anyway this past weekend Fur's and I finished up... almost... our Christmas shopping for our families!.. Well the stuff we have to send in the mail anyway!.. YESS!.. no need for super expedited get it there tomorrow panic rush shipments this year!..

Today... Furs and I and a few coworkers went to the Pacific Place mall up in the NE for Dim Sum... it was YUM!..

Om nom nom...

On our way home we picked up a string of warm white lights for the front eve of the house... the lower eve...

Chris put up the lights and I wrapped the bushes in burlap... should have done that back in October... ran out of burlap though... will have to finish up two bushes out front... and the gardens in the backyard next weekend...

It's the first year we've had lights on the house!.. we've put them inside in the windows the past couple of years... but thats just not the same as lights outside... Next weekend I'll get greenery at the Spruce Meadows Christmas Market to do the two planters out front...

Check out the perfect string of lights!.. Oooo... Ahhhh!..

I mentioned it in a few previous posts... my September and October were out of hand busy... I worked and slept... wasn't capable of much else... well most of the houseplants have perished... apparently I didn't water the house plants for two months... the big fern was just a raggy mess... so I tossed it... and the planter was in quite the state...

Galvanized my ass!.. I sanded the rust off... and there were small holes in it!.. I primed it... painted it cream... and was hoping to be done there... BUT it looked terrible still... it had gone to far... THEN I had a thought!..

Cover it with sheet music!.. now it's new and refreshed... and the inside lined with plastic to prevent further corrosion!.. I've planted 6 paperwhite bulbs in it!... I didn't have any sand so had to use these rocks... actually... come to think of it... I think I have a ziplock of decorative sand in the entertainment unit... I'll have to run and check after... The rocks just aren't dainty enough for the sweet paperwhites...

...six planted in the trough... then four in these four little buckets that I've dropped into an old looking tool box...

...again the not so nice rocks...

We also picked up three amaryllis... a big read one... a white one... and one that is red and white... planted in various containers whose plants had perished...

I can't wait for them all to bloom...

This last one... I'm wondering if this little container is too small... someone with amaryllis experience let me know!..

Are you getting excited for Christmas!?. I've begun to listen to Christmas music... :)

Lacey

Linky Love: C.R.A.F.T

Ya... I'm Lame...

2011-11-15T19:48:00.001-07:00

work... sleep... work... sleep... I've been totally lame... hardly cooking... let alone baking!.. Gardens have gone to pot and winter is setting in... getting gardens cleaned up this coming weekend... and Furs and I are putting up Christmas lights on the house!..

what have you been up to for the past month!?

Lacey

ps... I'll be back!.. sooner this time!..

Good Bye October...

2011-10-18T10:20:00.000-06:00

Like September, October is just whizzing by!.. My biggie finished installing the first week of October... then a little more work last week and it was completed!..

Just realized I'm sticking my tongue out in their photo... ha...

Luckily the sun was out for most of the final part hanging... it had gotten rather cold and rainy for the last few days of the installation...

Here are a few iPhone shots of this beauty all done...

Check out Heavy's blog post on the piece... HERE!..

This past weekend I crashed... again... on Friday... and was asleep by 9:30... I'm still catching up on sleep... took yesterday and today off to chill out... I actually slept in...

Saturday we went to the Tattoo Convention to see Alicia from home... she works at Trouble Bound in St. John's...

...and we got tattoos!..

...as tiny as my tattoo is I was afraid to watch!.. hehe... it went really quickly... Chris and I both got anchors... and he got his nickname in script on his forearm... it's turned out awesome!..

...Sunday brought some sleeping in... combined with lunch and some shopping with coworkers... bought a few shirts and some skinny grey cords... check out the bunny shirt...

AND my anchor tattoo!.. a little bit of east coast connection... and Chris and I are each other's anchors... :)

Sunday Furs and I went out for suppa... I gave wine another try... it was okay... if you have any wine suggestions for a terribly un-informed wine drinker let me know!..

Last night work peeps and I went out to celebrate the finishing of the big install... to CRAFT... I've never been a fan of beer... at least I wasn't... they have 120 beers on tap... Wish I had gotten a few iPhone shots of the place... its pretty awesome... and they know what to bring you... they mixed a couple for me... were great... and their food was excellent...

Oh hi anchor!..

...curled my hair... hmmm... sorta makes me want to get a perm... ya perm... but not like 80s poodle perm... some texture... getting bored of straight hair... and its growing out so it's currently awkward... won't all go up in a pony... I look like a catfish because piece of hair from the sides just aren't long enough and they stick out...

...and curly is just so much more fun!..

What have you been up to so far this fine October?..

The Rest Of My September...

2011-10-03T19:33:00.002-06:00

So... I dropped off the map there for awhile... work has been INSANE!.. had two installations start on the same day two weeks ago... so was getting ready for and maintaining those... one is now finished (check it out here)... and the other... my biggie should finish up this Friday!..

Coworker sent me flowers!.. came on a rough (meltdown) day... couple days before my two installs began...

I've done a little bit of fall shopping... found a couple of sweaters... and a sweet pair of boots...

A couple meals out... not much cooking has been going on... too tired... lazy?..

Muku!.. Cheshu rice!.. Mmm...

Oh yeah... before my two biggie installs kicked off this guy finally got installed in the Town of Edson!.. Eddie!.. sitting on a gfrc log... holding onto a bronze spruce cone...

The weather has been really nice... the mornings freezing... but the days have been getting nice and warm...

Two Friday's ago I celebrated the installation one of my installs that was completed (the one at the link above)... with some beverages with the neighbours...

...hopefully this coming Friday comes with more celebratory beverages for my biggie install!.. It's happening in downtown Calgary... so I've gotten to go work on it a little bit...

...three week long install... I'm so anxious for the piece to be completed now!..

On my way to check out the installation on this past Saturday we went with neibs A&B to the Italian Superstore on Edmonton Trail... OMFG... awesome pizza... yum!..

Then after we went to Chintz & Co. we checked out Jelly Modern Donuts... Their donuts look really pretty... the space is a bit too large for what they've got in there for seating...

...they have large and small donuts in each flavour...

...in a pile of flavours...

...om nom nom...

...donuts... the new cupcake?.. have you been to Jelly?.. what do you think!?.

...I had a small coconut one... t'was tasty!..

...decor was sweet... just the space way too large...

Sunday... with FIVE layers of clothing on I headed to my biggie install site to lend a hand... it was FREEZING... hardhat hair is the worst!.. oh... and I drove the whole way from our house to downtown... working on getting my license... I know... totally lame that I don't have it... but I'm working on it...

This is how the install looked first thing Sunday morning...

...this picture... ya... I took it while 40ft up in a scissor lift... ugh!.. so high up!.. eek!..

...today on the way home... we picked up this roaster... wicked sale... it can hold a 24lb turkey... got about a 12lb'r for Turkey Day... Can't wait for turkey dins... turkey soup... hot turkey sammiches... What do you make with your left over turkey!?. c'mon hit me with your recipes!..

This evening while sitting on the couch... I left work at a reasonable time today... I received this picture from my biggie install site... half of the steel flappers are up!.. My install team is working so hard!.. It's looking so beautiful!.. I'm so proud!.. I started meetings for this project last November... lots of worry... and dreams about steel... and a ton of learning... and now it's almost done!..

What have you been up to lately!?.

Lacey

Golf and Breakfast Sammiches...

2011-09-11T13:17:00.000-06:00

Chris's company golf tournament was this past Friday... I'm not a golfer... we'll I'd never golfed before... Do you golf?.. is it possible to actually improve?.. The way I played it doesn't seem so to me!..

Unfortunately the batteries in our little camera were dead... and I didn't want to drag out the big slr... for fear of misplacing it... golfing with alcoholic beverages equals greater potential for losing important items...

iPhone took a few shots before it's battery died... I've noticed that I have quite a few looking down at my feet shots... from my whole photo library... not just golfing... I'll have to make a post of those shots... just don't want to attract foot creeps!..

Being a non golfer I was unsure of what to wear golfing... I went for the sailor look... can't go wrong with that...

The weather was beautiful... I chased some geese... caught a lady bug... had a nap in a sand pit...

...got sand in my chucks...

Near the end I gave up the kicks... and socks... it got too hot... our team kicked ass and had a ton of fun!

Yesterday the neibs and I had a yard sale... Not a big turnout of people though... it was sorta weird... maybe yardsaling is more of a spring/summer thing?.. it's sorta Fallish out... well not sorta... it is!.. it's cold in the mornings now... but its still getting quite hot out during the day...

Today?.. super lazy laundry day... we did groceries with tea early this morning... picked up a few paint chips at Home Depot... I think I wanna paint both of the upstairs bathrooms...

Then... from Pinterest I also found this wicked recipe... it's something sort of obvious... but I didn't realize that these could be frozen... so I've a doz. made for breakfasts this week...

One of us just has to toss two in the oven when we get up... it can cook while we're getting ready for work... then we'll grab them on the way out the door!..

I sorta feel like making something... not sure what... finishing a project that is almost complete?.. hmm... I've also been feeling super tired the past two days... I somehow managed to tweak my neck... my knee... and my ankle golfing... maybe a nap is in order... yes... a nap...

What have you gotten up to this weekend?

Lacey

Just Made These...

2011-09-05T20:46:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Neib A I'm addicted to Pinterest... IT'S AWESOME... go check it out... Usually when I find ideas that I like online I'll drop the web address on my desktop... then it'll get dropped into a folder and forgotten about... well Pinterest is an online pin board of ideas... endless...

Found this neat-o recipe there this morning... it's what I call a cheater recipe... like the Christopher's Pound Cake that I make using cake mix... this uses cookie mix... and you add some things too it... super easy... and effin tasty!..

It mixes up really easy... I think next time I'll use real butter... just threw in Lactancia this time...

Didn't have Cream de Menthe chocolate chips... just used regular old semisweet chips and chunks...

...sorta ended up eating cookie dough for supper... eating a super healthy salad now... hopefully it'll counteract the cookie dough...

...plop... drop them on... and bake away... I found 10 minutes worked best...

The first batch was sorta lame and flat... just look at the last picture... flat city... I was making potato roasters... on the rack underneath... I think that hindered the baking of this first batch...

The following batches came out looking great!.. bringing these to work in the morning... do not want these left in the house... we'd eat them all!..

Finished the big fall clean this morning... the kitchen and front room... walls and floors washed... carpet steamed... living room snuggle blankets all washed... all that is left is to wash the window blinds... and windows... then go through a few things like under the kitchen sink... spare bathroom closet... just little stuff... AHHH... it's so nice to have the house scrubbed down... next weekend YARD SALE!.. time to get rid of some things that have not been used for awhile... What did you get up to this long weekend?

Lacey

Getting a Jump on Fall Cleaning...

2011-09-04T09:26:00.000-06:00

...I think it was late September last year when I Fall cleaned... yesterday Furs and I began the big Fall clean... and we're almost done... we washed walls... steamed carpets... washed all sheets and blankets... made it down and through the living room... kitchen and front room are all that are left... those are coming later today... I want to get cleaning finished today so that we can get the furnace cleaners in next weekend... I can't turn on the furnace until I get it cleaned... too effin dusty in there... and its starting to be rather chilly in the mornings!..

...time for a shopping break!.. Ikea has an insane sale on their duvet's... $14.99 for any size... sale ends today... and then onto Homesense... *purrrr*...

Oh yeah!..got a BissellProHeat2x yesterday morning... you should see the dirt that thing takes up out of the carpet!.. AND COUCH!.. gonna have a super squeaky clean house after this Fall clean... I can't wait... the cold weather is making me nesty... need to bake and cook... and make things... just don't feel like doing all of that in a house thats not been given a good scrub down in awhile... clean up a mess before making a new one!.. we may put in the faucets that we bought this spring today too... for the bathrooms... I'll be sure to take photos and post...

...gotta get ready to go out with Neib Amy for a shopping adventure...

Oh... supper Friday night... Muku... deadly as ever... cheshu rice... JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH!.. OMFG... really... it's that good...

Om nom nom... and they have awesome mags to look at while you're waiting for food...

...these have fuelled my fire to shop...

What are you getting up to this lovely looong weekend!?.

Lacey

Chilly Rainy Day...

2011-08-30T18:56:00.001-06:00

What makes a cold... rainy... stooped busy day better?..

PRESENTS IN THE MAIL!.. Presents in the mail from JIRRIAN!..

What can it be!?. It's handmade... and beautiful...

OMG.. TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL... they look like starfish...

...its a tea for two coaster set!.. OMFG... I LOVE IT!..

Funny thing... I had a dream last night that I was packing up my things to go to England to visit Jill... she's not in England... but she does live far away :(

I wish she were here now so we could have a cuppa together...

I almost don't ever want to use these... but I will because when I do I'll think of Jillian even more...

Terrible fast food also helps to make a crappy day better...

I'm not sure what's worse about it though... the food itself or Cleo's poopie paw... reaching out and grabbing my big mac... probably the food!.. ha... she does love big mac bun...

AND my present from Jill!..

Lacey

...this is too good not to link party!..

My Romantic Home

Fall Fridge Clean...

2011-08-28T10:22:00.000-06:00

The Fall cleanup has begun... I started with the fridge... having that out of the way will make the big house scrub down... next weekend... will go much quicker...

Check out the mess... that just organizational... under that food you'll find spills and onion skins... you know.. it doesn't take long to get messy in there...

I concentrated on just the fridge last night... Pull EVERYTHING out... I work kinda quick so I just had everything on the kitchen counters... if you're a slowpoke have a cooler handy for the foods that you don't want getting warm... maybe throw some ice in the bottom... thats a lot of fussing around though... maybe enough to inspire you slowpokes to work quick on this one...

As you pull out bottles and cartons wipe them down with a warm lightly soapy cloth... get any stickies off... then packing it all back in will go quicker...

Then start pulling parts out of the fridge... clean the bottom... and wipe down the walls... I have one of the sinks ready with warm soapy water and wash... so rinse... dry... replace all of the fridge parts...

The Brita seems to have a slow leak at the spout... so there was some hard water stains on the top shelf... pick up a couple of these... best scubbies ever... most kitchen stores seem to carry them... glass cleaned in no time...

Crumbs and spills be gone!.. nothing left under the glass edge... sounds kinda lame but I was stoked when I discovered that the glass shelf came out separate of the piece that it sits into... so easy to clean!..

Ta-Da!.. clean fridge!.. Be sure as you are putting your food back into the fridge that you consolidate any duplicate containers... if possible... I had three bottles of home made salsa... now I have two... then check for any items that may have gone past date... like salad dressings... if any of the fruit and veggies isn't looking so hot then toss it into your composter...

...and order is restored to the refrigerator... freezer is easy... again work quick with the freezer... luckily its smaller!..

New Hair Did...

2011-08-27T14:31:00.000-06:00

Ooo... def still getting used to this... have been brunette again now for about 2.5 hours... so far so good!.. haha...

Gone back to dark for the Fall!.. its quite summery outside today but I know Fall is in the air... I can feel it... If you need an awesome person to did your hair then check out Shag that will be opening up on 323 17 Ave SW around the 6th of September... and ask for Candice!.. She's wonderful!..

What shenanigans are you getting up to this weekend!?. Furs and I went to the Crossroads Market... had some wicked indian for lunch... then chimney cakes from Twisted Cafe... OMG... NOM NOM NOM... on the way out we got some wicked granola... ITS NOT TOOTH BREAKING CRUNCHY... its nice and fresh... and a coconut curry soup mix... AND some fresh made this morning sooo-saaage!.. Soup and sausage for supper tonight!..

Now I think I'ma gut the fridge... wash it out and then put it all back together... tomorrow we're tackling the bedroom closet... I've begun to amass things from various cupboards and closets around the house for a yard sale that I want to have the weekend after next weekend!.. lots of clothes too... need to find/make a rack to hang the clothes on... hmm... any ideas?..

over and out...

Lacey

Seafood Chowda!..

2011-08-25T19:33:00.001-06:00

Not to toot my own horn... but... I've been told that I make a good Seafood Chowda!..

Originally I planned to post this on Tuesday night... but work has been sucking the life force out of me the past few days... But like Cynthia says: "It's Friday Eve!" so here we go!..

Ingredients:

1/2 package cold bacon chopped

olive oil (maybe)

1 medium size white onion

4 medium red potatoes

4 cups boiling water

1 500ml bottle of lobster and its brine

1 cup shrimp with tails removed

2 cups scallops cut in half

3 cups white fish cut into bite sized pieces (whatever you have on hand)

1 can of clams drained

salt

pepper

2 Tbsp butter

1 tsp dry parsley

1/2 tsp curry powder

1 cup skim milk

Directions:

Chop up cold bacon... if it is very fatty trim the fat but be sure to leave some for flavour...

Cook on low... very low...

Cook the bacon on low to render down the fat before the meat begins to crisp up...

I like to be efficient when I cook... so while the bacon is cooking chop up the onion...

I like to chop my onion small..

...just don't mince them or cut them too large...

Once the bacon is cooked remove it from the pot...

Leave some "bacon juice" in the pot...

If you removed too much fat from the bacon before cooking and there is no "bacon juice" in the pot then toss in a bit of olive oil...

Oh yes... I cook my bacon really slowly... so I had time to peel the potatoes while the bacon was cooking...

Toss the onions in the pot with with bacon juice... and bacon flavour that has cooked onto the bottom of the pot... don't worry!.. that flavour will release when the onions start to sweat...

Cook the onions on low too...

While the onions are sweating it out you have time to cut up the potatoes...

I'm not sure what the facts are behind it but red potatoes make better chowda potatoes...

I like to cut my pieces fairly small... then you don't get too much potato and not enough seafood!..

Once the onions have soaked up the bacon flavour and are transparent toss in the potatoes and stir it all up...

Oh yes... boil the kettle... four cups of water... and throw that into the pot...

Cook over medium heat...

Start prepping your seafood...

This is where you have a chance to mix and match... your seafood...

I was actually out of shrimp when I made this... no worries... throw in more of something else...

Really its up to you the combination and amounts... just see how it looks and remember that you'll be tossing in one cup of skim milk too...

Furs and I are very lucky... My momma bottles lobster every now and then... and she always has a few bottles for us... the most recent ones she brought to CB earlier this month when her and dad came over to see us while we were on the West coast of Newfoundland... they live on the other side of the island...

I cut the scallops in half... and the fish into bite sized chunks...

I forgot to say... all of the seafood... with the exception of the canned and bottled items came out of the freezer!.. you don't have to have fresh fish for a deadly chowda!..

Bring the pot of water with potatoes and onions to a boil...

Boil for 10 minutes...

THROW all of that seafood goodness into the pot... I throw in the liquid that the lobster is in... its too tasty to throw out!.. but the clam water... too salty!..

Then toss the parsley, curry powder, pepper, salt and butter in...

Be sure to save all your veggie peels and cut offs to compost...

If you don't compost check with your neibs... maybe one of them compost!.. you could add to their pile... then maybe next year they'll give you some good compost for your gardens!?.

Now put that lid on the pot and... boil!.. boil!.. boil!.. give it 10 minutes... it really doesn't take long to cook the seafood... check the fish... it should flake easily... and the scallops should be solid in colour...

After 10 mins turn the temperature down low... and remove the lid... we want this chowda to cool a little bit... we don't want the milk to go gross... ew...

Once the chowda isn't boiling put in the cup of skim milk... and turn it back to medium... make it nice and hot... on the way there give it a taste... does it need more salt or pepper!?. Then add it!..

Have you're bowl and buttered bread on standby... fill the bowl... drop a pile of the bacon you cooked earlier on top... yep... its gonna be good!

That's it!.. The pot usually doesn't last long... a couple bowls for supper and then for lunch the next day... and if I'm feeling good I might share a few bowls with some friends... Consider yourself lucky if I share this liquid gold with you!.. and remember if you want you can add more or less of anything in this recipe... make it your own... spice it up differently... let me know how it turns out!..

Lacey

I Wonder If You Know How They Live In Tokyo...

2011-08-22T18:04:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we slept in... I actually managed to sleep in!.. after getting up and throwing some laundry in the washer that is... BUT I hopped back into bed and fell back asleep!.. When we got up and on the go we headed out with neibs A&B... for some smackle dackles... I took B's advice and made a major cheeseburger adjustment...

It was great...

Then onto Race City...

It was HOT out... +30... not a cloud in the sky... the sun was blistering hot...

This promo guy had to be cooking in his NOS onesie...

These guys were down in the middle of the track... I need some event hookups!..

These shots are looking a litte fuzzy... I exported them from Aperture... I have to choose another option for exporting next time I think...

I jumped back the first time a pair of cars drifted around the corner... It was unreal!..

...smoke and tire bits flying at us...

...I'd say at times we were no further than 10-15ft away from the cars as they drifted by...

Not much else to say... other than if you ever get a chance to check out a drift competition DO IT!..

...Awesome!..

...drift... drift... drift...

Lacey

Summer's Almost Over...

2011-08-21T22:11:00.001-06:00

The weather has been super beautiful all weekend... BUT the mornings and evenings are getting cooler every day...

This summer I'm not feeling the most motivated to create... or refinish pieces for the Vintage Chicks sale next June!.. I'm trying to soak up as much sunshine as possible before another long cold winter sets in!.. I know it'll be a few months before that but I feel like I'm going to get busy once the days cool down... I get really nesty in the fall... lots of home food cooking... baking... canning... more talk about that in a few weeks when the weather cools down!..

Yesterday Cranberry Place went to X Fest!.. Three sets of neighbours headed down to Fort Calgary for the day...

Lots of beverages early on...

...and MINI DONUTS!.. OM NOM NOM NOM...

...the weather was beyond fantastic...

...yikes!.. I need a bang trim... hmm... maybe I'll start growing them out?.. I'm thinking of going back to my natural hair colour next weekend...

Everyone down there was in a good mood... dispute the super long food and port-a-pottie lineups... and the beer tents running out of some beverages...

Music festivals are definitely an awesome place to be if you like to people watch!.. ...unfortunately both my point and shoot and iPhone batteries died early in the day :(

I couldn't bring my dslr... they were doing bag searches and that was on the list of things not allowed in...

I bet this girl has the craziest tan today...

Weezer and Jane's Addiction were awesome!.. I didn't expect them to be that good live but they were wicked!..

When we got food in the evening we had a huge stockpile... we ended up giving some away because we were all stuffed...

The food was what you expect of "street meat"... the lemonade!?. TASTY!.. it's the same lemonade that you get at the Saddledome...

Once the sun went down it got chilly... we got home late and I fell asleep quickly... this morning I woke up at 8... threw some laundry in the washer and then hopped back into bed... AND SLEPT TILL 10:30!.. whoot!.. I'm getting better at sleeping in!.. haha

Today neibs A&B, Furs and I went to Race City to check out the Drift Competition... lots of pictures to come tomorrow... We would have stayed right to the end but it was 30 degrees out... hot hot hot... we needed to get out of the sun!..

I've also got a recipe coming in the next couple of days... I made seafood chowder for supper this evening and made sure to document the process for you!..

What did you get up to this weekend!?. I hope you had a good one!..

Lacey

Bottle Cove...

2011-08-17T09:29:00.000-06:00

The drive down the bay out to Lark Harbour and onto Bottle Cove was so pretty I have a few more shots... the weather was so nice on Monday... apparently yesterday it rained all day again... we returned to beautiful blue skies and sunshine in Calgary...

Lark Harbour is full of lobster traps... Mmm... tasty lobsters...

...all of the dories in this area are orange with green bottoms...

The ocean was cool... I could have stayed out there all day long... It was definitely swimmable... Furs snapped some awesome photos...

I found a beautiful specimen of seaweed... and I've brought it home with me... I'm going to try to dry and then frame it... I document that and if it works out I'll blog it!..

...the beach was littered with Jellyfish blobs... this one was crazy purple!.. I scooped it up and tossed it back into the sea...

...Furs and I and his parents picked up fish and chips at a small restaurant and brought it back to the beach to eat before heading back to pack up our bags for the trip back to Calgary...

The evening sun was gorgeous on the drive back into Corner Brook...

Today we're getting the laundry all sorted before heading back to work... I think we're going to take a trip up to Sylvan Lake this afternoon to get in a little more relaxing before we get back to work tomorrow... I got a lasagna baked this morning... for supper when we get home this evening...

Two day work week and then a busy weekend ahead... We're going to head to the Millarville Farmer's Market this Saturday morning... then to Xfest... Sunday there is a Drift Competition at Race City!..

What are you getting up to this weekend?..

Lacey

Newfoundland Trip Recap...

2011-08-17T09:13:00.000-06:00

We got into Deer Lake Saturday afternoon at 130pm... left Calgary at midnight Calgary time... Saturday night was Chris's Sisters's stagette... so I went to bed Sunday Morning at 4am... Chris brought all of the stagette goers home... after a trip to Louis Gees pizza at 330am... so we were awake for about 28 hours... Sunday was major sleep in day...

Monday... Furs and I road tripped with Jon...

...we went to Big Stop for lunch... but it was packed... so we got some road sammiches... Nom Nom... haha... yep... bologna sammich...

...we headed on up to Norris Point... I had been stoked to go to this restaurant on the wharf... but was quite disappointed... they have such an opportunity to showcase some amazing food... but instead they offer very little... and nothing really "home cooked"... LAME...

...I had cod nuggets...

I really wanted to go sea kayaking... but there was a large group out by the time we go there... and they had rented all the rain coats... of course it was raining...

...so we found these beauties... EMERGENCY PONCHOS!..

...these are beyond stylin... so instead of sea kayaking we went canoeing on a small pond...

...hahaha... I wouldn't bring my camera out in the canoe... or phone... for fear of going overboard with it... Chris and Jon almost bailed a couple of times... I had my own canoe... made out okay!..

...it was grey and chilly though... we would have frozen to death if we had gone sea kayaking...

These hand carved beauties are in a gift shop in Rocky Harbour... The lady at the shop couldn't tell us who made them... other than that it was someone out on the East Coast... brutal!.. I want to know who makes these... I didn't buy one but am wishing that I had... check out the mummers at the bottom left!..

There were pre wedding things... and lots of wedding things happening during the week and the weather was rainy a lot so we didn't get out and about a lot... went to Aromas a few times with my parents... for some good home cooked grub... hot turkey dins... turkey soup and rolls...

...and wicked pie!..

I think we were out just about every night as well... of course lots of Blue Star was ingested...

And more Aromas... breakfast!..

...fried bologna... Mmm...

I went out with the Momma a few times as well... we hit up the Mall... and the flower shop out in Little Rapids... dad golfed a bunch... rain and shine!..

...waiting for the Momma to try on a dress...

...the day of and the day after the wedding were beautiful weather days... here's an iPhone shot looking out the bay...

...it was beautiful and warm... so Furs and I headed out to Pasadena beach for supper at the Oasis Bar and Grill...

...as soon as we sat down it started to pour... we didn't even get a chance to set foot on the beach!..

...apparently they had been off the hook busy all day there...

...I couldn't resist one more hot turkey sammich!..

Monday In Bottle Cove...

2011-08-16T22:53:00.002-06:00

Spent yesterday afternoon driving down to Bottle Cove... what a pretty drive...

I saved the jelly fish that I found washed up on the beach... well I suppose I saved them... I'm not entirely sure how they work... and if they croak once they are on land... or if they are fine once they're put back in the ocean... must go google that now...

Found this empty crab shell... left it where I found it on the beach...

This wrinkle shell had little coral bits growing out off the back end of it... I found it washed up on the beach... I left it on the fence post...

I wish we had less rainy days when we were back in Newfoundland so we could have spent more days out and about... it was so good to splash around in the salty water yesterday... Ooo... and the salt water smell... so good...

Time to catch some Zzz's... we've got some sleep to catch up on!..

Lacey

Back In Newfoundland...

2011-08-15T09:14:00.003-06:00

Hi... Been a bad blogger the past little bit... Haven't taken a lot of photos since we've been back on the West Coast of Newfoundland... It's been quite rainy... Mostly have been taking iPhone shots!..

Of course we've been eating lots...

...pies...

...turkey soup...

...garlic fingers... with honey...

...hot turkey sammiches galore!..

...mussels...

...coooookies...

...Donair Eggrolls... Yep... Donair Eggrolls...

Lacey

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Check it out!..

2011-08-02T21:40:00.000-06:00

A pile of shots from the Vintage Chicks sale this past June!..

Find 'em here

...enjoy lovelies!..

I'm trying to power through this insanely busy week at work... trying to get everything sorted for my projects before Furs and I head home to NL for 10 DAYS!.. ugh!.. puke!.. so much to do in the next three days!..

How's you're week going so far!?

Lacey

Lazy Long Weekend...

2011-07-31T07:37:00.000-06:00

I don't know what it is... why I can't sleep in... its wasn't the sunshine this morning... I had my sleeping eye patch thing on... perhaps it was because I sensed that it was bight and beautiful outside... not that I'm outside... but if the sun is up so am I!..

Yesterday morning I harvested some lavender from the garden... last year's tiny lavender are this years large lavender... I can't wait to see them next summer!..

The plan is to dry them out... but first I thought I'd get a few days of them in some water... Oh yeah... check out the sweet jar... picked it up at winners for... um... something like $3... saw them yesterday... exact ones for $10 a piece!.. yikes!.. how do placed so drastically differ in price!?.

The Orchid in the kitchen has sprouted a new stalk off to the side... its reaching towards the sunlight that comes in the back door...

And I've got some potted mossed now in the front room... in an old tool carry box thing... I picked up some picket fence slats at the Vintage Chicks sale with the intention of making some old tool carrying boxes...

This all started today with snapping a couple iPhone shots of the lavender and orchid... and they were crap quality... so I pulled out the dslr with the big lens and I retook those shots and then a few extras... like these two... can't pull out the came without these two fur babies making an appearance...

Cleo was up in a couple orchid shots... then she sat in the bright morning sun...

Milo is the ultimate pose machine... he sits and looks one way... then holds... then turns... then holds... such a little man!..

Then I looked over next to the kitchen island and this is what is sitting there right this moment... gave me an idea... each day... or post... it might be neat to have a "self portrait" of sorts... so today this is it:

I know I said that its a lazy long weekend... I still feel the need to go clean the house!.. I just can't sit on the couch all weekend!.. and the more we get done in the house this weekend the less we have to do this coming week... this week will be busy enough with getting ready to go back to NL for a visit on FRIDAY!.. maybe tomorrow I'll get back to finishing the cushion covers on my wing backs... that I started last summer... yeah... still not done... gonna get on that!..

Dear Sugar...

2011-07-25T10:17:00.001-06:00

...I'm resisting you!.. Okay I did eat some Too Tall Oranges and Cream Cake last night in bed... but that's it!..

Today I'm drinking Jasmine Green Tea... no sugar... no honey... Not tea with milk and honey...

I'm not saying it's over completely... just unnecessary sugar... of course we'll meet again on special occasions... and out at restaurants...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lamest Blogger Ever...

2011-07-24T17:57:00.001-06:00

I've turned into a lame ass blogger... one blog posting a week... that's lame... maybe its because it's summer... or that I've been feeling blue lately... I haven't been working on any projects... well except for the paper stars that I started before my birthday in hopes of having a sweet star string of lights up that evening... I got three out of ten stars completed...

Last week I fell asleep early most nights... nothing major going on... This weekend was pretty low key... that was nice... restful... yesterday we woke up bright and early because I think we were both asleep before 8 Friday night... I was just pooped... bright and early yesterday we headed up to the hobby shop for Furs to pick up some RC car parts... and then to the mall... Southcentre... I picked up some more Clinique and some Birkenstock Giza's...

I've been lovin' the Clinique skin care line... I was starting to run low on the facial soap and clarifying lotion so I picked up more of that and then added the pore refining serum to my repertoire... today is only day two using it but it seems to be working already!..

...we ran into KIX in the mall... and I asked about the slim chucks... they're supposed to be getting some in for the fall!.. Whoot!.. While I was there I saw this Chuck monster... size 17! the striped Toms next to the Chuck are a mens size 9... GIANT CHUCK... should have got a shot of my size 6 foot next to it...

Our Kitteh's have been soo snuggly lately... you can't sit down without them sitting onto of you... and they've both been getting on the bed at the same time... which is not normal for these two!.. works for us though... LOVES some kitteh snuggs...

Watched a pbs thing yesterday afternoon while I was couch potatoing... a dr. fur-something guy was on there talking about eating healthy and micronutirents and how if you truly eat what your body needs it can help prevent and reverse heart disease and other health issues...

His big things to eat were... GOMBS... Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries/Beans and Seeds... and then he was also saying that a salad should be your MAIN dish!... sounds good-ish to me... Last night I had a giant spinach salad with tomato, apple, mushroom, blueberries, poppy seeds and pine nuts... This evening my salad... pictured above... consists of spinach, lettuce, watermelon, finely chopped white onion, blue berries, half an orange squeezed all over and the half orange cut up and thrown in, a mushroom and pine nuts... and surprisingly its is TASTY... yeah... even the raw onion... raw onion and watermelon together are good!..

Oh I did do a little gardening yesterday... I made the back garden a little larger and moved over the silver mound and lavender that were overgrown and taking over some other plants... the silver mound looks like it's dying now... think it needs some water... its been hot all weekend...

Got a few shots of the garden on my dslr... too lazy to upload them... all photos above are iPhone shots...

Oh... back to the healthy salads thing... its an easy way to get a pile of super healthy foods... all at the same time... and shit if the salad is big enough it is super filling... I'm going to try to eat at least one large ass salad a day AND I'ma try to cut out unnecessary sugars... should probably warn my coworkers that I might sugar rage out... I've got a sugar addiction... gotta kick it... that shits bad for you!..

We're heading to the West Coast of Newfoundland in just 12 days... Stay tuned for some bloggy goodness from Newfoundland... and lets see if I can unlame my blogging in the meantime...

Birthday Week!..

2011-07-17T21:54:00.000-06:00

Do you milk the birthday week!?. Chris and I both do... he cooked supper all week for me!..

Saturday I got my hair did... regrowth was out of hand... My hair dresser is the bees knees... if you're looking for a good salon in Calgary go check out The Ginger Group... Ask for Candice!..

I wish I could have her at my house in the mornings to curl my hair!.. We had people in for drinks last night to celebrate!.. my birthday eve!.. so I got her to curl my freshly coloured locks...

The weather outside yesterday AND today was fantastic... it was windy as usual but the sun was just splitting rocks... It's about 24 degrees in the house right now... thank eff for the air conditioner in our bedroom!..

My Furs stuffed a salmon and BBQ'd it late yesterday afternoon!.. it was tasty... we couldn't find an Atlantic Salmon so we had to get a Sockeye... it wasn't as moist as the last Salmon we BBQ'd... I think the Sockeye is a slightly less oily fish...

Om nom nom nom...

Check out the cake my Furs got for me!.. yeah... that says 28...

My beverage for the evening... Summer Slush... Ingredients: two containers of pink lemonade concentrare, one cup of hot water, three quarters of a cup of sugar, a bag of frozen strawberries, six cups of warm water and a bottle of peach vodka... put all of that together and puree with a stick blender... then throw it in the freezer... it freezes into a slushy mixture... mix it half and half with sprite and you're good to go!.. Neib Amy brought Aperol... mixed it with lemonade... A fabulous drink!.. super tasty summer beverage!..

Until it rained we celebrated outdoors on the patio... and had a fire... roasted a few mallows...

Onto the presents!..

My brother and girlfriend sent me a beauty shirt and the cutest metal bow bracelet...

Neibs A&B gave me a gift card for Aritzia!.. which came in handy this afternoon!..

Yesterday A&B and a coworker brought me fleurs!..

This morning for my birthday Furs brought me out to breakfast... we went to Vendome... a super sweet restaurant that Candice told me about yesterday!..

...the Chai Lattes were good...

...the food was great...

...and the decor was simple and pretty... check us out in the giant mirror... good ol' blurry zoomed in iphoto shot!..

They had the sweetest looking pastries in their display!.. While we waited for our breakfast we shared a Cape Breton Cheese Biscuit... Om nom nom...

Then my Furs and I went out to do some birthday shopping!..

I was looking for some slim chucks but couldn't find any at the mall... I ended up with these cream canvas Toms... and then the sweetest sailor shorts... black blazer with striped cuffs... running shorts... a couple tanks... and a military looking shirt... and some distressed jeans... I love birthday shopping!.. Thanks Furbaby!..

After we got home and had a little rest we went out with A&B to Booker's Crab Shack... all you can eat crab!.. OM NOM NOM... only because it's the last day of Stampede they're still running on their "Stampede Menu"... super lame... I was looking forward to their Jalapeno Mac and Cheese... AND to their Key Lime Pie... neither were available... they have a tasty brownie dessert we've discovered... but it's no Key Lime Pie...

We stuffed ourselves with crab...

...bucket after bucket...

...lots of garlic butter...

...lots of shells...

... annnnd finished off with a wicked cuppa tea... er well three cups of wicked tea!..

Just a couple of hours and the birthday is officially over... I'll be spending the last few birthday hours counting Zzz's...

How was your weekend!?.

Lacey

Stampede Parade 2011...

2011-07-09T13:14:00.000-06:00

Headed dt yesterday at 5:45... AM... got up at 4... AM!.. Work peep Cass and I headed down together... it was my first Stampede Parade...

...my iphone self portraiture is severely lacking... sorry Cass!..

We went to get shots of the float that our company designed... and fabricated... and that I PM'd...

We got there early an got a second row sidewalk seat... some people had stayed downtown all night to get a front row... the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were going to be opening the parade...

...for the fist two hours we were dt we just watched morning commuters heading to work... ...we were close to a street corner so I got to get a few shots as people were stopped at the lights... ...click on the shot above and check out the bling on that chicks phone... amazing...

Then there was this cowboy... total mountain man cowboy... his truck look like it had been sprayed with something... some sort of dirt film... see the scraper marks and writing on his window... thats not frost!..

...of course cowboy boots everywhere!..

...and hats...

...unfortunately for the people who had spent the night on the sidewalk waiting to see the Royals they drove by faster than the fighter jets flew overhead to open the parade!..

...AND you could hardly see them!.. probably for safety reasons... I think everyone expected to see them in a horse drawn carriage... or chuck wagon... they could have at least used a pope mobile!..

...I got a few shots of the bands and parade participants... lots of horses... those photos all seem to start to look the same after the first few shots...

...this old guy who squeezed his little stool into the front row of the sidewalk was very impatient for the start of the parade... he would get up every few minutes and peer down the street!.. we were very close to the beginning of the parade route...

...this WOWED the crowd... it stopped and let out a big MOO!.. its horns were huge... he did a dainty circle and then continued on!.. The rider must have had to use a 10ft ladder to get up on top of that thing!..

...cowboys like vintage cars...

...and Locs!?.

Here she is!.. what a little beauty! She won second place in the municipality entry category...

...side view...

After we took our shots we hightailed it up and out of downtown... the C Train back to Chinook Station where we had parked was PACKED... it's a good thing that we left early or I wound't have made it back to work...

A BIG thank you to Diane... who we met at the Parade... she gave us her seats so that we could get shots of the float!.. and she also took this shot of us!.. Thanks Diane!..

Yikes... thank eff I have an appointment to get my hair did next Saturday!.. look at them bangs!.. yikes!..

Now for some chill out weekend time... I can't believe its 1pm now and I'm still in my comfy clothes... I've been editing photos... emailing... chatting with friends... started the towels in the wash... packed up and turned on the dishwasher... ate some toast and had two cups of peppermint tea with honey... and mixed up a batch of that and tossed it in the fridge for iced tea later... fingers crossed that works out!..

What are you getting up to this weekend!?.

Lacey

Weekend Recap...

2011-07-03T19:37:00.001-06:00

Meant to blog all weekend... but I was out in the sunshine... and I know that the weekend isn't officially over but I'm about to change over the laundry and go hop in the tub... get my head ready for Monday!..

The weather was beauty all weekend... Friday... neib Amy and I ran out and she picked up a pair of rollerblades... too bad someone didn't ask us if we needed assistance earlier... we were trying on the wrist guards backwards!.. Baaahahha... I have a few iphone photos of that adventure...

We went to a trail that you get to from 52 Street SW and the train tracks below 90th Ave... We went west... it was sorta sketchy... a few people were living on the side of the trail in the trees in a pile of sleeping bags... And on the way back!?. a guy was stood up on the side of the trail taking a leak... AKWARD!.. Its an okay trail but I think next rollerblading trip we'll be checking out parts of Fish Creek Park... do you know anywhere that's good for rollerblading in the SE?..

Friday evening one of my work peeps popped over for a BBQ... a huge pile of food got cooked... I was too busy cooking to get photos... only this shot of the Apple, Peach, Strawberry Crisp in progress...

I'm so glad I bottled as much as I did the past couple of Falls!.. Makes for and easy and delicious dessert...

Most of the neibs were out for some fireworks... except for the contrary ones that came out to complain and threatened to call the police!.. there were some neighbourhood kids out with their parents just to watch the fireworks!..

Check out my running outfit... Saturday AM... of course I was up at the crack of dawn... Neib Amy and I headed out for another run... It was great!.. I always jump up on top of the toilet seat in the morning before heading out to work to check out my shoes with my outfit... We ran for almost an hour... there was a bit of walking and a super steep hill climb...

...Today I'm a little achy from the lollerblading one day and then running the next... I planned to take it pretty easy today... and did... other than standing up for a couple of hours to bottle these beauties...

Ranier Cherries...

One sink full of cherries... the other filled with lemon water...

...my weapon of choice... oxo cherry pitter... after a few cherries I found that it seems best to pit from the bottom... so that they shoot out from where the stem connects...

These cherries are pretty... but not as sweet as Bing Cherries... I'll bottle a batch of those in August... once we're back here from our trip home...

10lbs of cherries ='s about 460 cherries... yeah... I counted...

Last year bottling was much easier because the Momma was here to help... once pitting was complete it was bottle washing and boiling time...

...made a light syrup for these...

...oh... if you bottle things... GET AN OVE GLOVE!.. it's the bees knees!.. I know... NERD!.. but it is so useful... you can get a good grip on the hot bottles... and not burn your hands off...

They turned out beautifully... the syrup has turned light pink and the cherries have all lightened up a little...

...and because I'm a sucker for punishment... I just can't sit down and chill out at all... I tried this "healthy" recipe that I found on the BodyRock website...

If you look at the Portobello's to the far right I scooped out the brown part of the mushroom too... those ones were better than the ones with that brown left in after they were cooked...

I followed the recipe exactly... they were not bad at all... though I still prefer some form of bread crust...

...oh... instead of using spray on the pan I used parchment...

...next time... I'll leave off the fresh parsley... turns out I'm not a big fan...

...THEN... I made this pizza with a crust that Furs and I picked up at Superstore yesterday...

I'm not the biggest fan of tomato sauce... so I used pesto...

...then some garlic... diced tomatoes... and leeks...

...a few cut up chicken breasts... that had been BBQ'd... some pine nuts... I'll toast those in a frying pan next time before putting them on the pizza... and some parmesan cheese... then I threw the thing on the BBQ for about 8 minutes... really it was on there just until the bottom was done... I turned it once...

...OM NOM NOM... it was gooood!..

...now tub... then movies in bed!.. How was your long weekend!?

Oh... I almost forgot... BRING IT ON MONDAY!..

Yay... Short Week!..

2011-06-28T20:26:00.000-06:00

Check out this shot from the roof of a building that a work peep and I were checking the plumb of last Friday... for my big project at work... I could have puked looking down from the top of this building... not a fan of heights!.. makes my knees wobbly...

...grabbed a few shots of the back garden this evening... it is just exploding... Furs and I are planning to make this back garden large this coming weekend...

...the blue corn flowers have taken over the bottom end of the garden completely...

...and the top end of the garden is being taken over... by the dusty miller... and the silver mound... thats a lavender squashed between the two...

The potted strawberries are doing okay-ish... they're so YUM! when they're warmed from the sun... I think they'd fair out better if they were planted in the ground... not sure if the rabbits would be more inclined to eat them if they were in the ground...

...the two front planters are in full bloom... lavender and lobelia...

...clematis is growing like crazy...

...gnome is buried behind lavender...

...moss is flowering...

AAANNNND check out these super fun treasures from Daiso!.. Neibs A&B were in BC... Amy picked me up some awesome things at Daiso...

...little brown paper muffin cups... BAAGGGHHHH... a whale shower puff with ears... so cut it just kills me!..

...brought this notebook to work today... super profesh for meeting with clients!.. Ha.. I brought it to the meeting anyhow... because its so effen cute...

Then there are these tasty treats... Japanese Flower Candy... if you ever get the chance to try these DO IT!.. OM NOM NOM NOM...

...the packaging of this stuff is also pretty awesome...

...a sea cow eating a crying whale with ears!?. WTF!?.

BATHTUB WHALE!!.

...just watched three days worth of Coronation Street... I know... NERD CITY!.. I was sitting out on the front steps... its weird out this evening... its 28 degrees out but it doesn't feel super hot at all... now its chillin on the couch time... just ate an ice cream sandwich and a bowl of chippies... for supper... perhaps I should go and ingest some fruit... so don't feel like cooking...

...tomorrow... squats... lunges... jogging...

Oh Hai!... I've gone missing again...

2011-06-26T11:07:00.000-06:00

...but I'm back now... didn't go far... didn't really go anywhere... well again... I'm starting to sound like a broken record... was stupid busy at work... That's the last time I'm gonna say that... it must be irritating to read that over and over... for the most part just about everyone is stupid busy at work... so thats it... no more complaining from me about it...

Furs and I went camping with some of my work crew this past Friday night... ...the first annual Heavy camping trip...so I did kinda go somehwere... and it was kinda far... far being relative... and me not being a camper... but still it was like 2.5 - 3 hours away from our house... I think thats far if you're not a camper...

Map... check!..

...a quick stop in Longview along the way to visit Pam at her shop... and to get some road snacks from the Longview Jerky Shop... check!..

...back on the road with the convoy of campers...

...camping!...

Like I said I'm not much of a camper... say if we had a big motor home... and a quad I'd be up for camping all the time... I don't have patience for putting up a tent and then taking down a tent... though it was nice to get out of the city... nothing to hear but the river... birds... and crackling fire... well and hootin' and hollering of the work crew... myself included... no traffic noise though... that was nice...

Luckily today its raining... perhaps a bizarre thing to say... but when its raining out I don't feel bad that I'm indoors because I'm not missing out on any sunshine... I can get some work done in the house!.. and I can just laze around on the couch... when its sunny out I have to be outside...

What do you use your rainy weekend days to do?..

Happy First Day of Summer...

2011-06-21T21:52:00.000-06:00

Dressed sorta like a sailor for the first day of summer... anchor t... navy shorts... striped socks... Okay I'm not sure of how many sailors dressed like that... whatever... it was a beauty of a day outside... inside not so much... supa busy at work...

...tomorrow is supposed to be an even nicer day outside... keep it coming summer!..

...this evening... did some squats and lunges... AND then!?.. went for a run with some of the neibs... well a slow jog is more like it... feel like I could eat a couple McD's Cheeseburgs right now though... Mmmm... cheeseburgers... not going to be able to walk tomorrow... TAKE THAT wobbly bits!.. no cheeseburgers for you!..

What to call this post?..

2011-06-19T21:25:00.000-06:00

Can't really think of a title... much to tired this evening... maybe Super BBQ Sunday?.. How about HAPPY FATHER'S DAY POPPA!.. How about I Went Shopping This Weekend and Spent Too Much!.. Spent Most of the Weekend in Bed Because I was Feeling Like Crap...

How about all of that!?.

Yesterday I went shopping with Neib Amy... Spent much too much... gotta stop that... found some awesome treasures thought... at Homesense... that place is dangerou!.. and then some clothes at the mall... shirts... belt... knee socks... a dress for Chris's sissa's weddin... it's coming up in August... then also found some killer shoes... on an awesome sale... $125 reg on for $50... SOLD!..

Spent yesterday afternoon/evening/night in bed... feeling out of it... aches... pains... tired... fuzzy head... plugged ears... my system is fighting something off...

Today was low key... tidied house... laundry... picked up a few grocery things... and BBQ fun times with a few Neibs...

Look at what we ate...

Roasted Veggies... parsnips... turnips... squash... carrot... sweet potatoes... tossed in olive oil and herbs de provence...

BBQ'd Chicken breasts and legs...

Tasty Salads... this is just one of two...

BBQ'd potatoes... and BBQ'd Pigs in Ponchos...

Finished off with some Apple/Pear/Strawberry/Blueberry Crisp with Vanilla Ice cream... not even room for a cuppa tea after...

What did you get up to this weekend!?

Oh Hi!..

2011-06-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say... if you've found my blog because you had purchased and item of mine from the Vintage Chicks Sale drop me a note!.. leave a comment!.. say Hi!.. And... I want to know what you thought about the sale!.. Hope you had a great time there!.. see you again next year!..

Lacey

The Vintage Chicks 2011

2011-06-15T20:52:00.000-06:00

Prepare your eyeballs for some more Vintage Pretties...

...the second day of Vintage Chicks 2011 was a great success....

...lots of cowboy boots and frilly dresses and aprons... I now NEED a pair of cowboy boots... no jokes...

...although there was quite a bit of rain on Saturday the vendors stuck it out... as did the visitors!.. everyone had a fantastic time...

Lacey

Vintage Chicks Sale Day 1

2011-06-11T10:29:00.001-06:00

What a fabulous day out in Priddis!.. The weather was great for most all of the day... everyone got set up in time... there was a big lineup for people to get in... and people left happy with great treasures...

...check out some of the vendor's items...

The amount of vintage pretties is overwhelming!.. Today is the last day of the sale... from 9am until 5pm!..

Vintage Chicks Sale!..

2011-06-10T01:55:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited!.. Tomorrow at 4pm the Vintage Chicks Sale kicks off!..

I'll be there in the morning helping to set up... and to get photos of all of the vendors setting up!.. Furs and I popped down there this evening to bring down my few items and to lend a hand...

Here are a couple shots of a few of my things... I managed to get a couple of things together over the past few days... I still have the second Demilune Table that needs its final sanding... That'll be tomorrow night so that I can bring it down on Saturday!..

I have a couple small items to tag up before I head to bed... oh and I have to pull out the camera gear that I'm bringing... and make sure my laptop... camera... and phone are all charged up!..

...

...Okay... just finished my tags... it's just about 2am now... camera gear can get packed up in the AM!..

Here's a sneaky peak of what you're going to get at the Vintage Chicks Sale!..

Work In Progress...

2011-06-07T23:25:00.004-06:00

I'm making good progress on the second table now that the first one is completed...

...an all over light sanding tomorrow and it should be just about ready... maybe a coat of wax after?.. we'll see how it looks after it's been sanded...

Tonight I also got a few other odds and ends wrapped up... planted the pansies... polished the silver plant pot... replaced some pages on the book page wreath... the little cat decided that some should be removed... and I also got this assembled...

I'm not sure I can part with it... but I can always make another!.. should have photocopied the sheet music before mod podging it down... its from a book of music called Sea Idylls... all music about the sea... swoon...

Linking these up:

Coastal Charm House of Grace DIY by Design Savvy Southern Style

Weekend Finds... and Weekend Refinishing...

2011-06-05T07:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning was cold and grey... but we put on a couple layers and headed out to check out a couple of garage sales in a community nearby... they were having a parade of garage sales... okay... I checked out most of them... Furs isn't the biggest fan of "treasure hunting"...

I found a few things and have already begun their transformations... I've picked these up for the Vintage Chicks Sale next weekend!.. This sweet planter isn't 100% complete yet... I have to plant the pansies and to add a few ribbons...

I also found two of these demilune tables... I just found out... via google... that they're called demilune tables... I started working on one of them today... The plan is to finish this one today... and to start the second table...

I started the process of refinishing this table by giving the surface a scratch over with some fairly fine sandpaper... to give the surface some tooth... I used my Black and Decker Mouse Sander for the flat areas... so the sanding would go quicker!.. then two coats of Rust-Oleum Primer and a nice heavy coat of Rust-Oleum Painters Touch...

I'm now in the process of sanding the table by hand... all over to give the surface a distressed... weathered appearance... then onto the second table... can you guess what colour that one will be!?. I was thinking a bright red... or a baby blue... but it'll end up cream...

I also found these two items on the "treasure hunt"... I'll be keeping the cake stand... I think a pineapple upside down cake would look sweet on there...

And check out the decorative birdcage!.. I was like STOP THE CAR!..

I've got a sweet little fern to go inside of there!..

The weather today is supposed to be beauty... fingers crossed for no wind so that I can work outside... for now I'm head out onto the patio for a cuppa tea... I'ma have to head back in... later on to prep my tags for the Vintage Chicks next weekend!..

Home Again... Home Again... Jiggity Jig...

2011-05-31T21:05:00.001-06:00

Sunday's early AM flights back to Calgary were loooong... I slept most of Sunday afternoon and evening... then back to work yesterday...

The weather is just beautiful outside this evening... I was out and watered the front gardens... all of the plants are really coming to life... I can see a difference in everything just from being away for one week!..

I managed to get a few shots of my finds from back home this evening as well...

Found sea urchin shells...

The colours in these are so subtle and beautiful...

I was thinking of bringing this galvanized tray to the Vintage Chicks Sale as well... but I'm not sure if I could part with it...

These urchin pretties will be coming to the Vintage Chicks Sales next weekend... it starts on Friday June 10...

Back home in Newfoundland I also found two different faux birds nests... I was going to Vintage Chick one of them but they're both so pretty that I can't let either of them go!.. hehehe... they were only $4 a piece!..

In downtown St. Johns... on Water Street... there is an awesome little shop called Home... they don't have a website... or even a blog!.. but the store is absolutely amazing...

This large cast coral piece... was only $22... Similar corals at stores like Pottery Barn are selling for $60+!.. thats nuts!..

AAANNND... I also got this huge glass starfish for $22 as well!.. I carried it home in my carryon...

I also found this sweet vintage deviled egg plate... back in Newfoundland... not that I like deviled eggs... well maybe I do?.. I don't know... I don't think I've ever eaten one...

I just LOVE THe colour of this plate... I've googled and found similar plates to this... the two circles in the middle are supposed to hold salt and pepper shakers... but no salt and peppers came with it... JAPAN is stamped onto the back...

...and I've been looking for one of these for the longest time... for our Christmas Tree!.. a blown glass lighthouse ornament... Furs loves lighthouses... a reminder of home...

Yesterday I picked up a few supplies to make my item tags for the Vintage Chicks Sale... ...I'll get those made this weekend coming!..

xo

Link Parties: The Shabby Chic Cottage

The Last Couple Of Days Back In Newfoundland...

2011-05-28T20:05:00.000-06:00

On Friday the drive up the Burin Peninsula and out onto the Avalon Peninsula looked mostly like this:

...we had a bit of sunshine in a few spots but mostly it was pea soup thick fog...

...when we hit town it was over twenty degrees and the sun was out splitting the rocks... the Momma and I roasted as we walked up and down Water Street looking in quite a number of the shops... we dressed for the cold foggy weather... not expecting it to be as nice as it turned out weather wise... we did a bit of shopping downtown... I'd have some snaps of my purchases but everything has been jammed into my suitcases... pictures of some of my finds when I get home... after I get some sleep...

I was kicking myself for not having brought my telephoto... again... the houses in the Battery are just amazing... but I could only get so close with the lens that I had brought...

Yesterday evening and today it poured and was cold... but I got a few shots of the downtown houses while the sun was out yesterday afternoon...

I also got a shot of the street sign where Chris and I lived when we were in St. John's... ...before we moved to Calgary...

...I'm going to get this street sign shot printed large for the front living room wall...

Today involved much eating... and more shopping... popped into the mall today and into a couple shops downtown...

...we started with breakfast at Classic Cafe... we had about a 20 minute wait... but it was worth it...

Their toutons are YUM!..

Om nom nom... touton....

Then once suppertime rolled around we all headed to Velma's... at my request... I couldn't leave without a hot turkey sandwich...

...and pea soup...

...and a hunk of lemon meringue pie...

...and two cups of tea...

...I was stupid full when I stopped eating...

Now for some sleep before I head home to my Furbear and fur babies!..

Rainy Wednesday...

2011-05-25T18:37:00.000-06:00

Found two shots that I like on my camera from yesterday's trip out to Hare's Ears... these are from our stop at Shoal Cove Beach...

...I took this shell and stuffed it in my pocket...

Oooo... ocean... why can't Calgary be next to an ocean!?.

Today was a rainy day outside... so the Momma and I tackled rearranging her kitchen cupboards... and getting rid of old stuff she doesn't need cluttering up the kitchen...

This evening we took a break from the big kitchen rearranging to have a feed of lobsters!..

Check out the giant one underneath the pile!.. Om nom nom... I ate that one... well most of that one...

Peachy girl even had a little taste... of course...

What didn't get eaten will get bottled... to come home to Calgary with me... Mmm... bottled lobster makes such good chowder...

Here's hoping for no so much rain tomorrow... I'm hoping to get some pictures of the boats in the harbour...