HAPPY NEW YEAR

December 31st 2017

As we head into the New Year I want to wish everyone a Happy,Healthy, Peaceful New Year.

I haven't posted on my blog for quite a few weeks. And so I am going to endeavour to try to get back into a routine of posting not every week but as lot more than of late.

After the Christmas in Paris Show I was really bogged down with getting my stock back into some shape and order and having a heavy cold that turned into a chest infection and seemed to linger up until about two weeks ago.

Because of Paul's health issues our trip to Hong Kong for Christmas and also Australia never got off the ground. We can't get out of country health insurance until his operation is behind him 3 months. And so the date January 15th   is creeping up on us after waiting a year with various procedures which didn't work. So 2017 was a year we would rather put behind us. So we are looking forward to brighter days head and hopefully planning some trips. One in particular to celebrate our 50th in September. 

We had a lovely surprise when Duncan Leigh Ann and boys came for an early Christmas and then headed out to Shallop Cove to spend Christmas with her family. But it was lovely to have them and with some of the pre Christmas preparations and was able to go out for a meal all together which is not always easy with distances and flying schedules, to get people all in one place.

Here Rory, Rhys and Rian are helping us decorate the Christmas Tree. Rory was very good at making suggestions where things went while Rian sorted the boxes of packed ornaments. Papa helped where they couldn't reach on the tree and Rhys very inventive remembered the folding stool in the bathroom and quickly went off to get it so he could reach higher.

Then we had a time of cookie making with Nana Ally and they loved popping on the cherries and sprinkles.

After our family supper we came home to open their parcels from Auntie,Uncle,Nana and Papa.

The other day before the snow came we were out and about for a walk and I took my camera and went Mohawk Park a place we went to quite often when we had the dog but haven't been for a while. Though the kids went to the park and went on the swings and slides but it was a bitterly cold day.

As one year closes we look forward to new beginnings and new adventures. And sometimes a fresh start. I am also looking forward to spending some time in my sewing studio on those wintry blowing days. And wish those that are able to get some warmer days in new places to enjoy their time.

And remember we are so blessed and take each day as it comes and enjoy.  

A little verse to contemplate on as we all start a new year.

Proverbs. 3. 5& 6.

Hoping in the New Year Pictures of my sewing studio and some of my art and maybe a recipe.

So watch these pages!!

Correction of last Blog.

October 5th 2018


Correction of recipe of Red Pepper Jelly.
On last blog.


It should read 1 1/2 Cups of White Vinegar, NOT sugar.

So thought while I was on here I would mention my Thread Painting is on show for the month of October at A Swiss in Paris so if you are in the area take a peek and sample some of Dwayne's speciality cheeses.

Fall Weather.

October 3rd 2017.

Beautiful Fall Weather and Activities.

In Southern Ontario, Canada we are into Fall weather, warm days and cool nights. We even had a bit of frost on the roofs across the road from us but no ground frost.

The leaves are changing rapidly and it is so nice to see the fall colours.

Even the flowers are still blooming and the fall flowers are giving us a pretty show. Here are a few pictures from around the campground near the office where we have the trailer parked.

Along with fall flowers comes the time we start to make jams and jellies. And put things in our freezer for the winter months. I don't make as much as I used to when the kids were at home living but I still do like to make some jams and my Red Pepper Jelly. Which my friends from my Sew What group like to get around Christmas time.

Here is the recipe which I promised to share with you.

RED PEPPER JELLY.

5 Cups granulated sugar
2 Cups finely chopped sweet Red Peppers or Green Peppers. About 3 Med.
1 1/2 Cups White Sugar.
1 Bottle of Liquid Pectin (170mls) = 2 pouches.

Combine Sugar, Red Peppers and Vinegar, stir and bring to full boil. Boil over med heat for 15 mins. Skim foam. Remove from heat, blend in pectin and stir for 2 mins. Pour into sterilized
jars, I always put wax on top to seal.
Never tried but you could put in a hot pepper maybe one to give it more kick.

BLONDIE SQUARES.

This is a favorite of Paul's to bake. And of course to eat!!!! Paul is the baker in our house and I am the meal chef.

Chocolate Chip Blondie Squares.

1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar
1/2  cups butter melted
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 teasp. baking powder
1/2 teasp.  salt
1 cup semi sweet choco chips.

1)  In a large bowl combine the br sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla just until blended.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt add to br sugar mixture. Stir in Choc chip
2) Spread into a greased 13x9in baking pan(not pyrex).
Bake at 350 F for aprox 22 mins
or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack. Cut into small bars.
Yields 3 doz.

Hope you will try these recipes and enjoy them.

Hoping to get some feed back how you liked them.
There is a place that you can make a comment at the end of blog or if you get yours as an email you can just reply there.

Leaving you with this thought.

Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people,
A heart that forgives the worst,
A mind that forgets the bad,
And a soul that never losses faith in God.


Ally.

Newfoundland Part 3

Newfoundland Holiday Part 3

Here is a few more pictures on the West Coast of Newfoundland. We went to Rocky Harbour and Norris Point.
At Norris Point we had a tour of the Sea Aquarium where there was a lot of things to touch and feel.

Then we took the view in looking down on Norris Point.

The day before we left we went to the beach at Shallop Cove. I have done a few thread paintings
of Shallop Cove. Shallop Cove has a little stream running into the ocean and the boys had fun building a bridge over the stream and damming up the water.
They roared with laughter when Papa Paul over balanced and topple on his backside into the water.

The end to a wonderful holiday with cousins and aunties and uncles. Not only building bridges
over the stream but building memories of happy holidays.


At the end of their time in Newfoundland and heading back to Hong Kong for school, we managed to get a much awaited family holiday time together as a family to celebrate Papa Paul's 70th birthday a bit late, it is hard to get everyone together when you have two busy pilots in the family.
We had three days at The Great Wolf Lodge near Niagara.

Here are two thread paintings I finished the other day.

And on closing we are thinking and praying for safety for all those that are caught in the Hurricane Irma.


Hoping next time to have a different blog with recipe's for you to try and a little look around my sewing studio, hmmm!! I better get down there and tidy up!!

Until next time
Bye.
Ally.

Our Trip to Newfoundland Part 2.

August 16th 2017.


Our trip Part 2.

Our trip to Newfoundland has many happy memories for us. The weather couldn't have been better, had only one day that rained and it rained just as we were leaving Newfoundland on the way to the airport.

We visited many places and it was good to see different areas. One place that we always go to is to see the Alpaca's which is not far from the Gravels on Port-Aux Port.

Canada 150 Birthday. July 1st 2017.


Canada Day Parade in St. Georges, Newfoundland.


Everybody loves a parade and we all enjoyed the parade and the sun shone and was quite warm for us.
Everyone entered and some rode decorated bikes, wagons and scooters. And of course the Fire Truck.
At the end of parade at the fire hall a big birthday cake for Canada's birthday along with hot dogs.

We had our own Canada party on the deck at Duncan and Leigh Ann's place.

End of a beautiful day.

Since coming back I have been working /playing in my sewing studio with some more thread paintings.

Here is some works in progress and finished one.

I'll be back with a Part 3 to finish up our trip to Newfoundland next time.
And also a reciepe I promised to print on here.

Here is a little quote I saw the other day and I thought it would be just right to put on my blog.

Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.

Bye until next time.

Ally.

OUR ADVENTURES IN NEWFOUNDLAND. PART 1.

JULY 15TH 2017.

Part one of our travels to Newfoundland..

We had a lovely time weather wise and family time in Newfoundland, as many of you know the ROCK can have cool weather at times but it seems while the rest of Ontario had a mixed bag of weather we lucked out on our trip to our family on the Rock.  We did have heavy rain on one Sunday and then again the morning we flew back home so we considered ourselves very fortunate and looking by family posts on FB they are still having nice weather.

Of course our excitement was having nearly all our grandsons together at one time. Our eldest grandson Lucas took a trip with his other grandparents for a surprise visit to visit his Aunt and Uncle that were unable to make the his graduation. So he travelled with them to the States.

One of my favourite places in Newfoundland is The Gravels, so we headed there for our first trip for a hike on the trails with the most beautiful views to be seen. BUT before we could do that the boys and of course the grownups all had a time of skipping rocks.

    

While others went looking for crabs or fossils in the rocks some found nice rocks to paint .

Then we left the beach and heading up on the trail which takes in the most beautiful views and vistas. The rock formations is very craggy and reminds me so much of my Father birthplace Scotland UK.

The rocks go back to previous ice age this being the reason one can sometime see fossils in the rocks.

Here are a few views to take in and maybe interest you to travel to this region.

After hiking over the trails and calling out to one another over the wide cliff and hearing  our echoing voices return to us, quite a eerie feeling. Then we tracked back, some of us taking a rest on our way.

Then we had a group picture with the four grandsons and that was a feat in a half!!!!

Along the side of the road in the ditches the beautiful wild lupins grow and also up Leigh and Duncan's back lane.

Well hope you have enjoyed coming along on our little trip I will post a few more pics next time.

As you can see I have captured some lovely views and the flowers will probably be great subjects for my thread painting.

One thing before closing I should mention that we were on the West Coast of Newfoundland.

And please feel free to ask questions or make comments.

We are all visitors to this time, this place. 

We are just passing through.

Our purpose here is to observe.

to learn,to grow, 

to love.... and then we return home.

Australian Aboriginal Proverb.

Ally.

Graduation Day and Summer Solstice Day.

June 27th 2017


Graduation Day for Eldest Grandson.

It was a beautiful day weather wise and a beautiful event so proud of Lucas what a fine young man he is growing into.

My latest thread painting just matted. Shallop Cove. Newfoundland.

This is just a short blog this time as we getting ready to take our grandson with us to visit the other grandsons and Auntie in Newfoundland. So I am sure there will be some photo's to share with you later.

We are looking forward to seeing our grandkids and spending time with them and enjoying the beautiful surroundings that Newfoundland has to offer. We are hoping and praying for good weather so we can get out and about this beautiful Province.

Ecclesiastes 4. 11

He has made everything beautiful in it's time.

Until next time

Ally.

Flowers all around us.

Hello everyone,
It has been a while since I last posted. And the weather has really changed for the better. We have had quite a wet Spring and now we have gone into summer it seems.  We notice on our way down to our trailer at Lake Erie that the farmers are now haying which seems early but as they say make hay while the sun shines!

Also the gardens have popped with colour with all the flowers coming out. I was in our friend Bill and Sylvia's garden taking some flowers and hope to use some of the good photos for my thread painting.

 

Can you just see the bee on this Allium?

And these beautiful Iris, I have the miniature ones that come out in the early spring and it is good to see a pop of colour.
On our travels I came across these beautiful poppies and as we whizzed by in the car I made Paul turn around as I happened to have my camera with me as they go over so quickly and as they say you snooze you lose. So more subjects to keep on hand for some future thread paintings.

I have been busy this week with my inktense pencils and blocks on some background pieces that I am hoping to thread paint. In fact today I have started sewing on them so thought I would show you in the rough so to speak and will post again when I have made a bit of progress with them. So here are three scenes of around Georgian Bay. And for those that like art a lot of painters have painted this area, Tom Thomson and his friends have lots of oil paintings of this area.

The three on the right are painted with inktense blocks and the one on the left is a photo printed on fabric. These are the four that I am working on right now. So as I progress I will show you some more of what I am doing.

On another note this week I have been arranging my sewing studio and have now got some of the swaps that I have received from some of my on line friends. I have yet to do my postcards hoping to make a wall hanging with pockets to place these postcards in so until I get that done they won't be on my wall.

Here is a close up of the swaps some of my friends on LOAQ will maybe recognise their pieces.

Wishing all the Dads a Happy Fathers Day. Think of my Father often and some of the advice he gave rings in my ears at times. 

Glad to say that my dear hubby has been a great Dad to our kids and just this weekend this lovely photo was taken of him he was unaware of it being taken and I think sometimes those photos are the most natural. So I would like to say thank you to him for being a great Dad and Papa.

As I write this our time for going to Newfoundland is fast approaching our family from Hong Kong have arrived at Shallop Cove and we hope to join them for ten days soon along with our Grandson from here.So hope to have some pictures of our travels to share with you at a later date.

So bye for now and I hope I can write another short blog before I we go.

Ally.