Happy Hallowe'en!!!

Outdoor Sled Project

I've been wanting an old sled to use outside with our Christmas decorations.  My favourite haunt in Summerside just happens to have a couple....see the smaller one on the right?  That's going to be mine.  Since son-in-law works close by...he's picking it up for me!

Depending on it's condition...I may give it a coat of paint to freshen it up...or decorate it and leave as is.

Mr. Seventies and I had a low key anniversary...I'm coming down with a cold.  More annoying than anything.  I will share this beauty he gifted me...an anniversary ring.  And a huge bouquet of white roses.  He spoils me!

While I receive bling...he enjoys gift cards to his favourite craft beer establishment!

As well as cards to Ray's Barber Shop...

We didn't go out to dinner...chose to have fresh veggies from the garden and a barbecue at home.  It was a beautiful fall day...Mr. Seventies completed a number of outside tasks...readying gardens for winter.

Our next milestone is Mr. Seventies birthday next week!!  Keeping with the gardening theme...this cake is being made by Candies Creations...great bakery and lunch counter...(he doesn't read the blog...so feel safe sharing photo)...he is going to love the theme!

Then...on November 9th...grandbaby gender reveal!!  So excited to know if we are keeping in the pink tradition or buying blue for the first time!!  Either way...will be thrilled!

I dropped into Home Sense...and scored a few more pieces of Christmas decor.  I'll get some photos and share in another post.  Just a few small pieces...I probably should see what I have already...I forget from year to year. 

I'm going to nurse this cold today...and see if I can't get clear of it.  I know the rule of thumb is three days to get the cold...three days to have it...and three days to run it's course.  I'm not sure what stage I'm at...but hope this is as bad as it will get!

Have an awesome day!!

Scoping Out Christmas Goodies

As a little pick me up, my daughter and I did a little browsing and shopping for Christmas decor and baby items for our new arrival due in March.  Only a few more days until the gender reveal!  We are so excited to find out....although Mr. Seventies is convinced baby is a boy.  Hmmm...

Many years ago, when ceramic trees were all the rage...I had painted a few green ones in ceramics class...and bucked the trend and painted a pink one as well!  Instead of lights on the tree...I made & attached with glue small bows.  One year in particular....I noticed the tree had been broken...and a very poor attempt to glue it back together!   Daughter fessed up she had knocked it over and hoped that I would not "notice" her failed glue repair!  Fast forward all these years...and look what was old is new again....and I purchased the last one available at Inspired Living....

We made a quick trip around Michael's...and did you know you can order online and pick up your order in the store?  A-w-e-s-o-m-e!!   I did just that...as their BOGO sale was just too good to pass up...and remember my cushion obsession?  I couldn't say no to this jolly fellow...

For my free item, I chose an 18" tree made with ball ornaments.  I didn't get a photo...but will once I pick up my order.

I really wanted this cushion...but it was not available on line...so many need to pick it up in store...

Look at this gorgeous display at Michael's....just had to get a photo....

A couple of other cute items...

I am obsessed with these peppermint trees...they come in two sizes....I think I may have to get a couple...

We've been keeping our eyes open for an area rug for grand baby's nursery...a friend has a FB page where she posted a photo of this gorgeous rug!  The minute I showed it to daughter...she knew it was exactly what she was looking for!

So the search began...and Wayfair did not disappoint!  The rug was ordered and is due to be delivered today!  The description states the rug is Boucle...it should be soft under the feet!  And will be a beautiful addition to the nursery!

It was our grand daughter Charly's birthday celebration over the weekend...and she wanted a "Zombie" party!  She and her little friends were all dressed as zombies as well!  Just. my freaky family folks!!

I am very sad to report my friend Chris passed away early Saturday morning.  Our lives will be forever changed...it all seems surreal.  Knowing her as the loving person she was...she would not want people to stop living and celebrating the joys in their lives.  

Mr. Seventies and I share a very special day tomorrow...and he has an upcoming birthday as well.  Wait ti you see the cake on order for his day!!

Hope you make this an awesome day...and come back tomorrow and we'll catch up again!!

A Dedicated Post

I have found it hard to come to the blog the last few days....my heart is broken for my best friend of 35 years...her name is Christine.  On Friday evening she was taken by EMS to the hospital..with suspect of having a stroke.   A CAT Scan revealed she has massive bleeding in her brain...and is on a ventilator to breathe for her.  The prognosis is not good....

Christine and I met all those years ago...when we both worked at a local newspaper office.  She was a single, fun loving gal...and I was married with three children!  But something clicked between us...and we formed a bond more of sisters...than friends.  I celebrated when she married...was present when her first daughter came into the world....and mourned with her during the death of her infant son.  

We have stood by each others through the loss of our parents, our siblings, our children and pets.  We celebrated Christmases and birthdays together...enjoyed going to movies, basketball games and craft classes.  My life will never be the same when she is gone.  We texted each other good night on Saturday evening...little did I know it would be the last time.  Liesel knows how much you love her and she will miss your couch snuggles. We are saddened you won't be here to celebrate the joy of our new grand baby...but you will be in our hearts forever.  

Please keep her husband and two precious girls in your prayers...the next few weeks are going to be extremely tough.

And Chris...when you read this in heaven...(cause that is right where you're gonna be)...please find a comfy spot and wait for me...so we can once again share a  cup of tea.

I love you and will miss you my dear friend.  

A Few More Christmas Goodies

Before we travelled to St. Andrews last week, I took advantage of the awesome sale Michael's was having before we left.  The sale was only a few days....and would be over by the time we returned...so I popped in after an appointment on Friday.

This stand was not on sale...but I used a 55% off coupon and picked it up...I can see it being used on the kitchen counter....maybe to hold glass containers of Christmas candy....

Purchased a couple of these smaller picks...great to tuck into a wreath or in my mantle garland...

I couldn't resist the larger tree picks..it was difficult choosing only a few...

There are a few more things I want to pick up...and Michael's will have continued sales...my problem is trying to remember what decorations I currently have!!

Believe it or not...but these two little items are really sought after...and Bath and Body Works sometimes sell out.  We stopped at the store in Saint John...and I was able to pick up both items I've been looking for.  Yup...that's a dachshund...and I picked up a few scent refills.  The scented vials click into place...then you plug it in...and it gives up really amazing scents!  

And why not have a cute visor clip?  Mr. Seventies detailed our SUV yesterday...the clip unscrews and you drop a scent filled disc in ...screw it tight...and clip it to your vehicle visor!    I also picked up some great little candles on sale...even though tarts are my thing.

We have a "weather bomb" in the forecast for later today....lots of rain and wind!  A real Nor'easter it is being called!  Typical fall weather here in the Maritimes!  

Liesel thankfully has a raincoat...as dachshund do not like rain....or wind...or snow...lol.  Hope it's dry and sunny where you are!!  

St. Andrews By The Sea

I hope everyone has recovered from too much turkey and pumpkin pie!!  We had a very busy, but fun weekend with my cousins in St. Andrews....a lovely sea side resort town!  Growing up, most summers found me spending time there, swimming, riding bikes, playing softball games....all those things kids do...and I loved spending my summers there with my seven cousins!!

We decided a get together was long overdue...(why is it family usually come together for funerals and weddings?). Well...we had neither this weekend...another cousin motored from Augusta, Maine and joined us in the fun.

We had accommodations at an amazing inn.....Windsor House!  Very old...and full of antiques and our host, Jay was the sweetest inn owner...cooking us breakfast each morning!!

See that window on the left way up on the third floor...that was our room!  It was huge...and extremely comfortable.  Except for the three flights of stairs required to get there!!  Oh, my aching knees!!

Very soft comfortable queen size bed...

Liesel checking things out...Windsor House is very dog friendly....at no extra charge.  There were two beagle pups checked in for a day or two as well!

And I was in in love with  our bath!   

Check out the claw foot tub and sink!!  A-w-e-s-o-m-e!!

And check out that floor tile!! 

Beautiful home away from home!  I highly recommend Windsor House if you plan to visit St, Andrews!   

A beautiful little town with great shops...Scrooge & Marley's is one of my favourite places!  Mr Seventies was given a huge piece of chocolate peanut butter fudge while I browsed. I have two pieces of clothing from the shop...waffle weave top and jacket...

This shop was a first for me...and it did not disappoint carrying gorgeous sweaters knit in Scotland!  I purchased an oatmeal colour cardigan...long zipper closure with pockets and a hood!!  Gorgeous...great for this time of year...I can wear it under a puffer vest or light jacket!

We had to stop and check out the mural on the water tower....

On the outskirts of town is a legendary seafood take out...known as Clamdiggers!!  I promised Mr. Seventies we could enjoy a seafood platter...(so huge...we split one order into two).  I'm usually not a fan of sea food....nor battered deep fried food....but even I couldn't resist the most tender battered clams, scallops and haddock!!  My arteries didn't know what hit them...lol....but it was so worth it!!  It's nothing fancy...but worth every bite!!  (that's Mr. Seventies chatting up a fellow in front of the white vehicle...).  The parking lot was full when we arrived...but they are were able to complete orders pretty quickly...there was an outside eating area set up....most were locals taking orders on the go!

Oh my gosh....and the deer!! Huge problem with deer roaming the town...eating everyone's flowers and vegetation!   Lovely to see....but a huge nuisance!   I think they are pretty smart though....hunting season starts in a couple of weeks...and they cannot be killed in town limits...they aren't stupid!  These are two of about a herd of six that sauntered across the road in front of us...

And see that white one?  That is not an albino deer...but a pie bald deer (tricolour).  There are two to be rumoured in town....this is the smaller of the two we were told...we couldn't get too close...as they would scatter away....

Sunday evening we enjoyed a nice meal at Rossmount Inn....a gorgeous spot just out side of St. Andrews in Chamcook!  Fine dining at it's best....(not that I am a fan of fine dining in the least)...you are paying more for the ambiance and setting...most of the food...we never heard of!  Basically fancy names given to chicken and large hash brown.  It was a lovely evening nonetheless!

This is the New Brunswick Community College...St. Andrews campus!  I graduated years ago...many trips made up and down those hallowed hallways!  The campus hasn't changed much since then!

My cousins are on my Mom's side...children from her two sisters!  All three Mom's have passed on...and one precious cousin, Cindy...gifted each lady with a beautiful cardinal ornament in remembrance of our beloved mothers....it is believed when you are visited by a cardinal it is a reminder of a loved one who has passed on.  

We've never seen cardinals where we live....but I am hoping one will come and I will know for sure one of my loved ones has come to visit.  Such a loving and sentimental gift...I will cherish it for ever. 

It was a wonderful weekend...a great chance to reconnect and catch up...cry a little and laugh a lot!  We drove home yesterday....in a bit of a fog...real fog...

The farther we drove from the Fundy shore...the fog cleared up and the sun came out!

The absolute best part of being away....is coming home!  

It's Thanksgiving Weekend!!

Wishing everyone a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!  We are spending time with extended family this weekend!

It's been a fun week...shared an enjoyable evening painting a "Hello Fall" pumpkin wreath!  So easy and fun to do!  Inspired Living awesome owner, Kirby demonstrated and was a huge help...and I cannot wait to take a few more up coming classes!!

I knew exactly where I was going to display it...using a suction cup hanger on the mirror section in the front entry!!  (Remember in the summer when the mirror with shutters was brought from Lily Hill Hideaway shop in NB?  I'm going to have the opportunity to visit them this weekend!!)

And I am thoroughly obsessed with gnomes this year!!  And....will be attending another class where participants will make three Christmas gnomes!  I happened to come across this adorable guy...you can bet he made it into my cart pretty fast!!  Adorbs!!  Love his squishy body...and that nose!!

And nutcrackers seem to be really hot this year too!!  And this guy will fit right in with his buffalo plaid attire...yup...he's propped up in my purse in the cart...on the way to the checkout!!  

The Christmas decor that is overtaking Michael's store is almost overwhelming...(in a good way).  I was like a kid in a toy store....so much goodness to look at.  And....they are having an awesome sale starting today!!  I've scoped out a couple of things I'm going to snatch up before they sell out!!

Christmas tree picks....just wow...these are on my must have list!  Donuts...ice cream cones...cup cakes!!!

Always purchase these when they are BOGO or 50% off!   Going to check them out today!!

I'm crushing hard on this door wreath hanger....I mean...that red truck!!

And local interior designer Damien Morris is hosting an evening of Christmas Home Decor again this year...an awesome evening I'll spend with my friend Judy and our amazing daughters!  Before the show, we'll enjoy a delicious supper at a local restaurant...then take in the show!  We have our tickets purchased...they sell out really fast!  Last year Damien put on a second evening for those who couldn't get tickets!

And we missed out on the Christmas House Tours last year sponsored by his design company...we are patiently waiting for those tickets to go on sale!  It sounds like such an amazing evening...a chartered bus shuttles participants to all the beautifully decorated homes...there's lots of snacks and Christmas music!  Really excited to take in that evening too!!  I'm not sure if photos are allowed...due to privacy and all (completely understandable)...but if the homeowners are okay with photos...you can be assured I will share those here!

Phew!!  So much goodness going on!!  Again....have a very Happy Thanksgiving...hope to see you back here next week!!!

Wednesday Catch Up

There is definitely frost on the pumpkin here and there this morning!  Another chilly one overnight!

I picked up a new tin tart warmer...I seem to be extremely hard on the ceramic ones...I had a graveyard of old parts of warmers...tops with no bottoms...bottoms with no tops...so thought it was time to toss them out.

When I saw this one...and it being tin...it should be safe from my clumsiness.  And a good time to pick up some additional tarts...Pumpkin Spice is the one currently simmering...

Really happy my t-shirt arrived....and it fits perfectly...I wouldn't be opposed to having a second one in a different colour.  Its from a shop on Etsy.

This evening is the craft class to make a pumpkin wreath hanger I posted about a few days ago.  All supplies are included...should be a fun evening!

Gotta pitter....hoping you have an awesome day!!