Reporting from the cottage

Another beautiful day at the cottage. It was even actually quite warm out today. It actually felt like summer :).

Remember the robin's eggs from last weekend?

I am happy to report that they have all hatched.

You can see which ones are the most dominant :)

I have never got a photo like this before, but the nest is pretty low. Only a few feet off the ground actually. 

Today was a day for swimming (not me) going on many quad rides (all me) with lots of chatting, reading and chilaxin'.

Now you may look at this and wonder "what the heck, how are the birds suppose to get in the bird house".

Well, a family of wasps moved in here are started to build a hive.

We noticed a few wasps going in and put of here last weekend. But this weekend we were sure of it.

Those suckers are duct taped in there for life ;)

Enjoyed a camp fire again tonight with s'mores, banana boats and toasty toasty marshmallows. 

I was also talk I'm a perfectionist with the campfire as I need the wood to make a teepee. This is before I got control of it. 

 I hope you all are enjoying you weekend :)

Tracy

Let the planting begin

Was a beautiful day at the cottage.

All of our girls came up as well as their boyfriends.

So we put the boys to work by helping up put the dock extension in ;)

Heather and I spend most of the day planting my flowers. I think I have over 7 different flower planters.

Bugs were bad again. And I was unlucky emough to get bit right under my eye. So not only do I have a red mark, it also is a bit swollen and looks like its bruised. Lets hope that goes away soon. 

It is a long weekend for us as we celebrate Canada Day this Monday :)

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and hope you had a creative Saturday 

Tracy :)

Design Team Day for LBBS..Miss Lily with Net

Today is my Design Team day for Little Blue Button Stamps (LBBS)
Well I used that image from the other day.
I was so excited to use one of Olga's awesome images for July (we could have shared them today), but I ran out of time, with running my sister around town, and then Kristy with her Prom.
So I used the image I coloured up the other day.
Miss Lily with hoop net.

Here is a closer look at this cutie :)
I coloured her up with my Copics, but forgot to put the markers aside...and here I was doing so good at that.

I used the paper pack from Graphic 45's Song Bird.
Honestly this wasn't one of my favourite paper packs of theirs, but I really do like how the papers worked with this card.
I was planning on using the dark paper with the butterfly background as the main focus on this card, and Miss Lily popped so nicely on it as well.
Funny how things change as you create ;)

I also used this sketch from MFT Wednesday's Stamp club.

Again here is the card so you can see how I used the sketch :)

I hope you all had a creative Friday :)

Tracy :)

Prom Night

Tonight is Kristy's prom :)

Here she is with her boyfriend Blake.
Doesn't she look beautiful in her dress....remember the dress dilemma?
Well this is the dress that she ordered on-line....good choice Kristy...even though you looked beautiful in the soft yellow dress.
But I think red is a gorgeous colour on her.

Kristy's friends all met at Hillcrest park for some group shots.
These were only taken with my point and shoot camera. Ashley brought her big boy camera, so I am excited to see how those turned out.
Here are Kristy's closest friends :)

Here are some of her other friends.
Ashley and I just loved to see all the girls dressed up in their pretty dresses.
They are all so beautiful.
But that girl in the red dress....stunning ;)
The photo shoot was short lived as it started to thunder and rain.

I hope they are all having a wonderful time at their prom :)

Tracy :0

Colouring cause I want to.

I felt like colouring tonight.
I was busy most of the day, but tonight as we sat down to watch some telley I really wanted to get out my Copics.
This is a Little Blue Button Stamps image.
It isn't my DT day, but I just wanted to colour up this cutie.

I have no idea what I am going to do with her.
I was thinking of putting her in my planner, as I printed her off pretty tiny, about 2.5".
I may put a card stock mat behind her and punch holes to put her in the rings of my planner.
Here is a closer look at her.
Why is it when I take a close up photo and not until I upload it do I find the flaws in my colouring?























Look what greeted me this morning when I went to check the mail.
A lunar moth.
This one looks like he just nearly escaped being breakfast as his tail has been chomped on.























Onto My Day:
I did a bit more cleaning today.
Had to take Kristy for a follow up about the headaches she has been getting.
I think the doctor was correct in saying it was her sinuses as she has only had 3 headaches since she was there after taking the medicine he prescribed.
I also got him to take a look at Kristy's hand. When she was at her friends house last night, their dog bit her. I was not impressed. Even though Kristy made light of it. The doctor said it looks fine and should heal up nicely.

Heather has been watching Hannibal and wanted Wayne and I to check it out.
The girls are always getting Wayne and I to watch the shows they enjoy.
I like it, not sure if I love the characters yet, but I think its worth the watch so far.

I hope you all had a creative Wednesday :)
Do you create just for the fact/fun of creating?
Or do you need a purpose in order to create?

Tracy :)

Find Your Voice

Someone had directed me to this on line class.
It is called Find Your Voice.
It is an eight week "free" summer storytelling course. It is brought to you by Rukristin paper crafts.
They have the first lesson up on their blog, so if you are interested go and check it out.

Now that I have shared with you all about this class, I am not sure how many of the lessons I will get to complete.
For one thing when I first heard about this class, I thought it was going to be more geared to helping me come up with prompts to put into my "Book about Me".
Who knows it may just do that.

I hope you all had a creative Tuesday :)
Me I ended up cleaning again on this gorgeous day....I know there is something seriously wrong with me. I can't wait until summer and now that our weather is finally turning nice, I stay inside and clean...whats up with that ?!

Tracy :)

They put protective seals on everything

Do you find something odd with this photo?
Like, do they really need to put a protective seal on our dishwasher agent?!?
I can totally understand protective seals on our food and on medicines.
But what is the logic in putting it on our dishwasher agent?
Is the company trying to protect the product from being tampered with...do they think someone is going to look at this and say, "well good thing it isn't tampered with, at least I know its safe to drink now"
No, I think they do this so they can get a laugh at us, as we try to pry this open.
Thank goodness this wasn't tampered with when I had to pry it open with my teeth.

Onto My Day:
I am in the cleaning mode...like spring cleaning, from the top of the house to the bottom of the house, room by room.
I should be done some time next year...or the year after.
Just in time to start all over again ;)
Today I cleaned the dining room from top to bottom. I started on that room as it is the easiest to do, lol.
I didn't get to the windows and screens though.

I also tackled the tops of our cupboards.
I am embarrassed to say that I had to actually use a scrapper to get that gross grease and dust off.
I took everything off of the tops of the cupboards and am not putting them back up. I am donating the stuff that was up there..except my crock pot, that I will keep.
I then gave them a good wash down, and then cut flyers to fit on the top. You can't see them at all, but it will be so much easier to just take the papers off next time its cleaning day.
I also washed down the fronts of the cupboards.
Next house will have cupboards that go right up to the ceiling ;)

Tomorrow the top of the fridge, wish me luck ;)

I have so many crafty things I want to work on like...Tim's tag for June, my DT project, my smash book, my journals.......and a lot more.
But my home keeps crying out for me to clean, organize and get rid of crap.

I hope you all had a creative Monday :)

Tracy :)

Completed Planner pages from Week #25

Thought I would share my completed pages for Week #25.
I went for a black/pink look :)
Honestly I forgot to write a lot of what happened during this week.
I have noticed that this is becoming more of a short form diary of our daily lives then a traditional planner.
I did like that one week I added my appointments or "to do's" n the left hand side of the vertical line.
I do have a few appointments in that section. It is still a work in progress :)

Do you do this as well?
When I am working with washi tape or anything that sticks to my fingers, I keep an area on my work space to stick it to until I have completed my project.
When I am working on my projects in the living room I use one of these lap desks. As I cut a strip off tape or tiny little slivers that hang over the edge of the paper, I just keep adhering them to my corner of my work desk :)
Just one of my little quirks that I know you were dying to know about me, lol.


















I hope you all had a creative Sunday :)

If you missed my post on my Travel Tote/kit for my much used supplies, clink on the link...
Storage Tote

Tracy :)

A weeding kinda day

Today was an overcast day. Perfect for weeding, but also perfect for every single type of bug that bites to come along and enjoy a little piece of me.

This is a memorial garden my girls and I made in honour of  my MIL, many years ago.

It desperately needed weeding... Since this is the first time I was able to get to it this year.

All nice and weeded :)

I have inherited my moms brown thumb and I don't know to much about plants. To prove this I almost pulled out some plants from last year.

Luckily I was smart enough to leave the plant sticks in the ground from last year to remind me :) 

I bought these markers for my girls it put in the memory garden. They have lasted 11 yrs. I just have to rewrite their names on them every few years.

Later on I decided to tackle this flower bed as well. Every year they all start out like this....so full of weeds, grass and pine needles.

Again, luckily, I left the plant markers in with the plants. 

I think I may have come up with a great idea to identify my plants. 

I took a water bottle, cut it in strips and then wrap it around the plant and stick the edges in the dirt..

I know this plant doesn't look to healthy. 

Told you... Grime Reaper of plants.

After all the weeding was done Heather and I went for a nice quad ride:)

I checked on our baby robins and they have left the nest.

See what happens when we miss a weekend.

But I checked over at my FILs and he has a mama robin over there.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

Tracy :)

Travel Tote/kit for my Smash book, Day Planner and Journals complete

I have finally got it completed.
My Travel tote/kit for my Smash book, day planner and journal supplies!!
I should have got a better photo of those plastic photo boxes.
They house my:
Journal pads, Photos, Smash pads, Stamps, Sticky Notes, Tabs and Washi tape.
And yes they are in alphabetical order ;)
I have an extra one that is empty. I do have room for one more, but the colours wouldn't be even, and not sure if I can handle that, I may start to twitch, lol.
I have my tiny trimmer and T-squared in the velcro holder.

On this side I have my inks, then my date stamps.
My Journals and Smash books. I also have a clear pouch with memorabilia in it, but you can't see it from this photo.
Then I have a ton of coloured pens, white out and pencils.
On the left side I have 6x6 paper pads, die cuts, twine.
On the right side I have the different types of adhesive and my scissors, extra blades and ruler.

I also made a video of my process and more detail on what I keep in here.
It is still uploading as we are walking out the door to go to the cottage, so I am hoping Kristy can figure it out when she comes home from Blakes tonight.

I hope you all have had a creative Friday, and a wonderful weekend.
I hear it suppose to rain all weekend, but I would rather stare out at the lake in the rain :)

Tracy :)

Kristy's tattoo

Today was Kristy's tattoo day!
She was excited, yet a bit nervous.

Here she is chilaxin'
If she wasn't listening to music she was on her phone texting or playing Candy Crush, lol.
There were a few times we thought she was napping.
Here is her tattoo artist, Daryl :)

Her tattoo took 5 hours to do, but she is so happy with how it turned out.
The other artists from High Tide Tattoo Parlour would come in to check the progress.
They were surprised that it was her first tattoo, as she sat for that long and didn't flinch or ask for a break.
I always knew Kristy was a toughy.
Look at the detail. I am so impressed.
Being an artist (crafter) myself I can appreciate the talent they have.
You can see the passion he has in his art.

Here is Daryl and Kristy....look at the smile on her face, and this is after the pain ;)

I know I said I was going to share my travel tote today, but I spent the whole day with Kristy.
I did get a good chunk of my book read though ;)

I hope you all had a creative Thursday :)

Tracy :)

WOYWW, Working on my Traveling Tote

Today I am working on something I have been planning on doing for the last month or so.
I have my Day Planner, Smash book and journals... and a whole lot of mess ;)
I usually work on my books while Wayne and I watch television. He likes for me to be with him, so encourages me to bring my supplies up from my craft room.
So instead of running up and down the stairs, and getting Wayne to pause the movie we are watching...I decided to put together a supply kit I can keep in the living room so I don't have to leave all the time and so it doesn't look like I trashed my living room, lol.
Plus we go to the cottage almost every weekend, so with this all put together it will be so much easier for me to grab my travel kit and head out the door.
Wish me luck in condensing 3 project supplies into one tote :)

I just realized that it is Wednesday, so I can share my desk on Julia's blog for her "What's on Your Workdesk" post :)
Mind you this is my dining room table and not my actual craft desk.

Onto My Day:
I did my hour long walk.
Then Ashley came home for lunch.
Kristy took her college class exam, as yesterday when I brought her there, the teacher wasn't there. He phoned me today to tell me it was his error as he forgot...no sh1t sherlock. She was there on time, waited for 45 minutes and phoned him and emailed her other teacher as she waited for him.
So the teacher set up the exam, at her high school. she took her exam and figures she did very well on it :)
After school I took Kristy and her friend Allison for ice-cream.
It has been a tradition with me to take my daughters out for ice-cream at the end of the school year. Since my other daughters have been out of school for a few years, that  just leaves Kristy left, so we have taken her friend Allison with us for the last few years :)
Spent a good part of the day putting a video together for my Traveling tote. Hopefully I can share that tomorrow :)

I hope you all have had a creative Wednesday :)

Tracy :)

My completed week in my day planner for week #24

I told you yesterday that I was going to share something creative with you today.
So I thought I would share with you my planner pages from last week.
Everyday I plan on doing something creative, and everyday either something happens, or I don't have the oomph to make it happen.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better creative day for me.

Not sure if you can see what that little blue tear drop sticky note says, but it says "My Week to Drive"
Actually that was my last week to drive, as Kristy's last day of school is this Thursday.
Then exams.

I hope you all  have a creative Tuesday :)

No glasses...yet

Today, was a day I was regretting.
The reason.....
I finally went for my eye exam.
My friends kept telling me to get my eyes checked as I was using my cheaters all the time, and it was time for glasses.
Glasses...I don't want glasses. As much as I like to believe I am still young, my body keeps proving me wrong, lol.
Glasses would only prove to me that yes Tracy, age has caught up to you.
I know you may be thinking...but you wear cheaters, so whats the difference.
Well besides about $400.00, its just the principal of the whole thing.

I am happy to announce that my optometrist said I am good with the cheaters, I don't need reading glasses.
I can not tell you how happy this makes me.
My body may be falling apart, but at least my eyes are good for a bit longer anyway ;)

Hope you all had a creative Monday.
I had to register for "Crop and Create" that is coming to our town this October :)
Hopefully tomorrow I will share something creative with you :)

Tracy :)

Happy Fathers Day

I just want to wish all the wonderful father's out there a happy Father's Day :)
Here are the men in my life that I am thankful for.

My husband, Wayne.
It must be a challenge for him to be surrounded by all the women in this house, but I have to give him credit, he sure fits in here ;)
He is a wonderful father, provider and love of my life.
He really is a big kid at heart. He makes me laugh every day.
He loves his girls and would do anything for them.
He has been through everything with me and nothing phases this man.
Love you Wayne.

My Dad, Tom.
He may not have been in my daily life growing up as distance was an issue.
But I always knew I was loved by him and when ever I visited, I felt like Daddy's little girl.
We have so much in common. We both are creative and resourceful.
We have many of the same favourites in what we eat.
I love to listen to his stories of the past.
Love you dad.

My dad, James
Even though society called you my step-dad, you were my dad, and I your daughter.
I felt safe with you in my life. You made me feel like no one could ever hurt me, and if they did, they would have you to deal with...which in itself was frightening enough ;)
We had so much to talk about. We enjoyed so many of the same books, movies and television shows and could talk about them for hours.
You taught me many lessons in life, that I have installed in my girls.
You were proud of me and always made sure I knew that.
I enjoyed hearing about your travels around the world and miss you everyday.
Love you dad.

My Father In Law, Rainer.
You accepted me as family since day one.
When I was living on my own, you would welcome me for supper and always wanted to know if I made 100 lbs yet, lol.
I enjoy seeing you every weekend at our cottages and enjoy sharing our week with each other.
I love that every year you try to find me the best blue berry patch to pick at.
No matter what I think up to try to do at the cottage, you are willing to help me out. When you shake your head at what I plan to do with my next found object, you are one of the first, to tell me how great it looks.
Love you Ray

So Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there, Whether you have children of your own, or had a part in raising a child. I hope you all had a great day today.

Tracy :)

Ashley's new home

Today was the day that the home inspection was done on Ashley's new home.
Everything went well. Of course a few things were found but nothing that would break the deal.
Here is a peek at her new house...isn't it so cute. I can just imagine how even more cute she will make it.
She has a great sense of style.
She doesn't get the keys until the middle of August, so she has plenty of time to map out her plans.
Actually she has already done a lot of this and has recruited me in many (if not all) of her projects.
I am not sure if I am flattered that she has so much faith in my creative abilities, or that she is just stroking my ego to get me to do them, lol.

I have to say Wayne and I are so proud of her.
I can't tell her that enough.
How many 23 yr old girls can say that they purchased their first home. And purchased it on their own. Not only that, but with no financial help. We had offered to help her many times, but she wanted to do this on her own.
She had set a goal to buy a house before her birthday. She saved and was thrifty and made her dream/goal a reality.
It just goes to show, if you work hard and keep your goals in focus, you can accomplish them.
I think I need to remember that for my healthy living ;)
So Ashley if you are reading this post tonight, your dad and I love you so very much and are more proud of you then we can put into words.

I hope you all are having a wonderful creative Saturday :)

Tracy :)

Sabotage

Why do I do this to myself.
I am doing pretty good on the eating healthy part, then I go and eat this.
I am not even a big fan of ice-cream...pastries yes.
Mind you I did get a kiddie cone size, and I did really enjoy it ;)

Kristy went with some friends to the cascades after school.
But she forgot to use sunscreen.
She is very upset and nervous as she is getting her tattoo on Thursday and they won't do it if she  has a sunburn or her skin is peeling from one.
So we have been plastering vitamin E on her and hoping for the best.

Onto My Day:
I had so many things on my ToDo list today, but I ended up talking with Heather for most of the afternoon and then with Ashley on her lunch.
And sat on the computer the rest of the day. I'm pathetic, lol.
I did get my walk in though :)

I hope you all had a creative Friday :)

Tracy :)

Busy Day and a great book "Perks of being a Wallflower"

Today was another busy crazy day for me. So before I bore you with my day.....

I will share with you a book I read last weekend....well actually last Friday.
I love to read, but haven't been reading lately, except on the internet and that isn't actual books.

Another odd perk I have, is if there is a book that is made into a movie, I have to read the book before I see the movie.
Kristy has been bugging me to read this book, as she really enjoyed it.
So on our way to the cottage last Friday, I read this book. Yes I am one of those odd people that can read while in a moving vehicle. This is weird as I get car sick if I sit in the back seat, but most of the time I can read while Wayne drives.
Kristy was right, this is a great book. It is an easy read, you get attached to the characters and it is a touching story.
Now I get to see the movie ;)

My day started with driving Kristy and her friend to school.
When I got back home I did my 45 minutes on the treadmill. When I was done that, Ashley phoned me if I wanted to come with her to sign the final papers to her home. She knew I wanted to get some photos ;)
The thing was I only had 35 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, make up and do my hair.
But I did it and met her there.
When we were done with that, I went for a quick visit to see my friend at work.
While I was there, Kristy phones me to tell me she got let out of school early, so I could pick her up to take her to her college course.
As I leave my friends work, I get a text that Heather forgot her key, she was finished work and couldn't get in. But she was at my friends house having lunch with her, lol.
So I run to pick up Kristy from high school and bring her to the college. Then ran to pick up Heather and take her back home.
After all that I came home had lunch and unloaded the dishwasher, just gave me enough time to go and pick Kristy up from college.
Then came back home and took a nap, lol.
 Lastly after supper I went to a seminar on Ulcerative Colistis and Crohns. Not only do I have this, but my one friends daughter was just diagnosed and asked if I could to go with them.

I hope you all had a creative Thursday and your day was a bit more relaxing then mine :)

Tracy :)

Some Office Goodies :)

Today was another day checking out a few houses with Ashley and her realtor.
Because I had make up on, and was dressed nicely I figured I would do a bit of shopping...you know, since I was presentable ;)
I had to pick up some ink for our printer, as Kristy had an assignment due. So I just happen to wander in the office supply department....funny how that happens ;)
I found this fun 4 barrel pen. Remember having these as a kid :)
Well this one is fun as it has pastel colours.
I also wanted some different colour pens and found these Paper Mate pens. Haven't tried them yet.
And lastly some fun shaped post it notes :)
I just love office supplies ;)

Ashley put an offer on a house tonight.
Please send some good luck vibes her way :)

Update: The buyer accepted Ashley's offer :) :) :)
She is going to get a home inspection to make sure the home is up to standards and then its good to go. I am so proud and happy for her.
She is a young single girl and has done this all on her own. We offered to help her financially, but nope she wanted to do it all on her own.
So proud of you Ashley :)

I hope you all have had a creative Wednesday :)

Tracy :)

Decorated planner pages for week #24 and a Pure Innocence

I wanted to try some new colours (not my favourite) to decorate my pages for this week.
These pages look so plain until the end of the week :)

If you look closely, you can see my writing from the previous week has bled through a bit. I used my Stampin' Up markers last week as I really like the reds of those markers and the fine tip. But don't like that they bled through.
Even though these are not my favourite colours, I still like how they turned out.
But just to make them even cuter, I adhered a Pure Innocence image that I coloured to match the colours I used on the page.

Of course I coloured the image in withe my Copic markers.
Look I remembered to put aside the markers I used, so I could share them with you :)

Onto My Day:
I had so many plans today, mostly consisting of cleaning and organizing.
But guess what I did, nothing.
Well thats not totally true. I chatted on the phone with a friend for an hour or so
I did get in a nap as well ;)

Hope you all have a creative Tuesday :)

Tracy :)