Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... We just returned from the grocery store and no matter who we talked to, everyone asks about each other's children.  When you live in the country as we do, we see our neighbours often in one of the two grocery stores.  One of my favourite decorations to put out each Christmas is this framed print from another time and another little town.  Imagine our surprise when we saw our children in the front page picture of the Christmas newspaper.   It's twenty five years later but we're still waiting eagerly for them to come home.

               

Just two more days filled with anticipation...  families will gather to share a wonderful meal. The doorbell will ring and relatives will bustle in as they have so many Christmases before.
  
Best wishes to you and your family for a day that is  filled with special moments and memories of Christmases past.  Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
 

A West Coast Visit

Our recent trip to Vancouver Island was a trip back home for me.  A week spent visiting family and good friends was good for the soul.  After arriving early in the morning a month before Christmas, we were welcomed with a "Christmas Morning Wifesaver" brunch followed by a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings and delicious apple pie for dessert.  It was wonderful to be with my family.  We loved the fact that the first three days of our stay were sunny and bright and as a result the rainy days that followed didn't dampen our spirits at all.   Since arriving home the cold days of winter have meant I've had time to decorate the house, to wrap presents and start baking.  We went to a lovely family gathering in the city last weekend and will be looking forward to seeing most of our Alberta family here at the farm on Christmas day or over the holidays.  I'll be visiting you again soon and will look forward to catching up on everything that's been happening to you.  My first priority is to get my Christmas cards in the mail.  See you soon and hope that all you are accomplishing all the things you want to as the countdown to Christmas continues.  

Sewing's My Hobby

This month has been quiet so I've been quilting.  I've found myself thinking about how thankful I am that I've always loved making things for friends and family for Christmas. My grandmother taught me to embroider when I was 8 or 9.  My mom taught me to sew on her Singer Featherweight when I was 12 and that was such a gift.  Mom showed me to use a pattern and later a friend who was taking a home economics class taught me how to make tailor tacks-what an important lesson that was.  We gave each other sewing kits that year and I had mine for years and years.  At the age of 12 my grandmother let me choose fabric and a pattern for an Easter dress.  The next person to encourage me was my tiny Irish godmother.  She usually had a seamstress make her clothes but trusted me with a length of pink mohair fabric and I sewed a suit that made her seem as elegant as Jaqueline Kennedy. She paid me for my work. Imagine trusting a fourteen year old with mohair!

my high school graduation dress

worn in Hawaii

a dress for my daughter

"Mom - I'd like a pink lace dress..." so she wore it for her grandparent's Golden Anniversary

There was a period of time in high school where my sister and our friends all wanted white duck squall jackets so I worked hard to complete their orders. I started going to dances and in those days brocade and crepe were the fabrics of choice.  I sewed graduation dresses and several ball gowns for my sister and myself.  As the years passed I always enjoyed making many of my clothes, including bridesmaid dresses and my own wedding dress.   I took a course on making stretch t shirts and made several for the farmer and my father. When our son and daughter were young children I enjoyed sewing for them.  I made nighties, overalls, dresses, short sets, Hallowe'en costumes, dance costumes and doll clothes.  Quilts were made for each new niece, nephew and for my friends babies. Pillows, curtains, placemats, table runners, Christmas ornaments and carry alls were favourite gifts to sew. I've enjoyed sewing for over 50 years and I guess you could say that some of my favourite things are my sewing machine, fabric, needles and thread.  My lifelong hobby is just the thing to keep me occupied through this cold month of November - what are you doing to keep busy this month?

November 11th

Today Canadians remember those who gave up their lives to ensure our freedom.  At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we remember them.

In this electronic age there is an interesting project hosted by the Ottawa Citizen that
honours those Canadians who have lost their lives while serving as active members of our Canada's Armed Forces.  Names are randomly generated and posted 11 minutes after every hour on every day of every year.  It is estimated that the list of veterans who lost their lives while serving as active members of the military will continue to be posted until the year 2025.

We Are The Dead

@WeAreTheDead

Remembering the names of Canadian Forces members killed in the line of duty, every hour at 11 minutes past the hour. Presented by the Ottawa Citizen.

Ottawa Canada · http://bit.ly/uQ2hrx

You can connect to it here.

Last year I posted about a visit my daughter and I made to the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Rome, Italy.  I will never forget how peaceful and beautiful that cemetery was.  You can read about our visit here.

Harvest's Done!

This month hasn't gone as predicted but all is well now.  We had our third snowfall this weekend and it looks like it's here to stay.  Harvest is finished...actually it's been 10 days of a much easier pace for the farmer but there are still things to be done.  This harvest was the most difficult ever because of mechanical breakdowns on the swather and combine but finally when there was a short window of time between snowstorms - after the grain had dried somewhat- two neighbours brought their combines and other equipment to help the farmer get his crop off before winter.  It was amazing to see 3 combines working until late at night racing to get the crop off but luck held out and it worked. It looks like this will be the last big harvest for the farmer.  he's waiting for a hip replacement next spring and everything was so much harder for him to do this year.  At this point he's reluctantly resigned himself to the fact that he needs to rent the land out so arrangements will be made and he hopes to keep active when the opportunity presents itself.  Perhaps the farmer he's renting to will need someone to help....in the meantime there's plenty to be done on the farm.  Grain needs to be hauled and the equipment will be serviced before being put to bed for the winter.  Here's a glimpse of harvest on the farm this fall....

When the ketchup can is empty he knows the nuts and bolts are back on the combine...

The endgate is closer than the workbench - less painful steps...

 
Finally enough wind to dry the wet fields -combining for just a few hours...

 Five days and a snowstorm later it was dry enough again but only for a day... so 4 men, 3 combines,
2 grain trucks, a grain hopper and 10 hours of combining into the night resulted in 120 acres of barley in the bin.

 Big Red is filled to the brim waiting to be unloaded...

It's not like the old days now...

 Since time was at a premium a new contraption augured the barley into a plastic tube which will keep the grain from spoiling until it's time to ship it to market.

 Harvest's almost over - thank goodness!

And then it snowed - no photos yet - I'm not at all happy about being surrounded by white.  I've got at least six months to get used to it so I'm in no rush!

Two For One

Today I thought I would share some of the photos that were created by superimposing pictures over others.  Sometimes I feel like experimenting and I was pleased with these results.  There are always lovely notecards to be seen at A Haven For Vee.  You might enjoy a visit there today.  Great inspiration and beautiful photography is always a treat!

Thanksgiving Week

Early Thanksgiving wishes to all my Canadian friends! My sister and her husband will arrive today and although they will leave before next weekend, harvest is underway and we will be bringing in the rest of the garden as the combine is picking up the barley and canola in the fields.  We'll have a harvest dinner tonight to celebrate and then another on Sunday.  Our son, daughter and two nephews will be here to enjoy the weekend.  One nephew has just moved to Alberta and another is on a road trip.  They're both from Vancouver Island so haven't experienced harvest.  We're really looking forward to having them here with us.  I'm so grateful for family, both near and far so this morning I'm counting my blessings. All the best to you and yours - Happy Thanksgiving!

Through My Windows

September has really been an amazing month - lots of sunshine and lovely warm days - harvest is continuing after a series of breakdowns on the swather.  The farmer is servicing the combine and with any luck harvest will continue as it should...tomorrow. The autumn leaves are as pretty as they can be and we haven't had enough wind to shake them loose. Our wall is not black - maybe the flash painted it  - or maybe I'd turned the flash off.

  The other day I took a series of pictures looking through our windows and thought about using them for a post.  The following morning I missed an amazing opportunity because as I walked out to the kitchen to put the coffee on I couldn't believe my eyes - there was a massive bull moose just 8 or 10 feet from our deck.  Of course I turned around - walking quickly down the hall because I knew my camera was beside the computer.  Seconds later it was turned on, the flash was off and I was ready to capture the moose and the moment - but the moose had disappeared.  Anyone who has seen a moose cross a field knows how fast they can travel.

  From now on I'll be leaving my camera handy for early morning wildlife sightings.  It was a missed opportunity and in hindsight I wish I'd just stood still and watched the ghost moose disappear.

Just picture this - our deck is about 8 feet above the ground and the moose was behind that skinny elm tree - his nose came to about the 4th rail over and his rump almost touched the corner of the rails behind the lounger...Got the picture?  Have a good weekend!

September Note Cards

Once again it's time for Vee's Note Card Party so here are my September choices.

 I accompanied my mother in law to a beautiful farm 10 days ago and enjoyed the beauty of the lovely gardens that had been created there. These note card photos were taken on that farm...what a lovely day for an outdoor brunch.  All the seniors who attended were delighted with their scooter rides through "Lasagna" gardens created by their very ambitious hostess.  Later she entertained them with a dog show and visits to the horse pasture.

  September is such a busy time on the farm and I am trying to get the garden in.  Everything has grown so well.  We've picked 8 pails of green tomatoes, 10 large squash, the last of the rhubarb, the onions and we still have the corn, carrots, beets and potatoes to bring in.  The swiss chard keeps on growing and so I keep picking it and freezing it in baggies.  The canola has been swathed and after a two week delay while the swather broke down and was repaired time and again the barley is being swathed.  The weather has been wonderful with only two nights of light frost.  It may be awhile til I see you again but I'll be back - I promise.  Take care and I hope you have time to stop by Vee's and see the lovely note cards this week!  Thanks for visiting - sunshine always!  Sheila

Back to School

Every year on Labour Day I experience a touch of nostalgia. I remember looking forward to the beginning of each school year.  I started teaching in Vancouver, BC with a Grade 4/5 split class.  Today I had a great time sorting through my two remaining boxes of Kindergarten and Primary resources.  I have sorted and deleted several times over the years, but I've always been looking for a teacher who could make use of my really good teaching things.  When I switched to Kindergarten for the last couple of years of my career, I had a friend who was very artistic and offered to make me an alphabet.  It's an original in that she designed and illustrated it herself.  
So imagine my delight when I spoke to a friend a couple of days ago and her future daughter in law is going to teach Kindergarten this year.  I know her well and have no doubt that the children in her class will be most fortunate to have this young woman as their teacher.  My two boxes will be going to a beginning Kindergarten teacher and my one of a kind alphabet will be going back to school.  Best of luck to all the teachers and students who are going back to school tomorrow! Have a great year!

Summer's End

With the cooler nights I've heard a few friends mention that they are "over the moon" with the approach of fall.  Years ago I loved the cool crisp days and the crunch of oak and maple leaves underfoot but the reality of autumn in our corner of the world is that it's over and done with in a matter of weeks and then there are potentially 7 months (or more) of winter to face.

Every year at this time we hope to get the crop in before it freezes and to harvest the garden before we have to start dragging old blankets out to cover things when there's a risk of frost.  It hasn't happened yet - but could any day now.  This year we had no grasshoppers munching up the garden but there are bigger creatures around.  Just this morning I saw a big cow moose steps away from the garden but by the time I got my camera she had moved away a little farther.  I'll keep the camera closer to our east window with it's garden view from now on and not venture outside without a good look around first. Our corn will be terrific this year if we get a week or so of hot summer days and although the squash have been just sitting there, they have exploded in size in the past few days.  It would be wonderful to have another month of hot weather and I, for one, hope it stays warm until at least Thanksgiving.

Canola in bloom

Summer views

I love perennials!

Swathing the canola is about to begin. The farmer will need help moving equipment from field to field and he appreciates substantial meals as harvest progresses.  It's generally quiet here on the farm but thanks to visits this year from good friends and family we had a very busy and enjoyable summer.   Hope that you did too!

Island Note Cards

 

Today I'm thinking back three years to a wedding I attended on one of the Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver Island. It was a lovely day for a late afternoon wedding and the weather co-operated for the ceremony.  The bride and groom smiled in the sunshine and exchanged their vows on a lawn which had a magnificent view of the ocean.  Later that evening during the reception, the light began to change and there was a small exodus from the party.  Cameras in hand, several of us walked across the lawn to capture this beauty.  It was an evening to remember. I made a few choices of that spectacular sunset that I think would make beautiful notecards and I'll  direct you now to Vee's Note Card Party.  It's a good way to meet new blogging friends.  See you there!