Subway, Proud and Good

Despite not being too thrilled to be working three days a week at the moment (as I would much rather be at home pottering), I am loving going to work on the subway. It always makes me feel part of the city when I ride the TTC, even though almost everyone around me is slightly miserable or asleep, it always feels very real. I'm appreciating the walk to the station, the special little tokens and even the little bit of annoyance when the driver announces a 'slight delay' at Davisville... I wonder how long this will last!

Just after I waved the girls off into school this morning I was approached by another mum on the yard. She had helped in Tess' class last week for Scientists in School. I was very, very proud to hear that Tess had found this mum on the yard after school and thanked her for spending time in the classroom. Isn't that nice?

Sometimes it's lovely to be surprised by her behaviour in a good way.

Talking of good. Our curent book club pick is a good one.

Really looking forward to discussing this one at book club tomorrow night.

Inches, Macro and Time

This was the beautiful scene that greeted us this morning. The first real snowfall of this winter. The girls couldn't wait to get out in it and by 8 o'clock we were outside with snowthings over our pyjamas.

We used the tape measure to show how much. Around 6 inches (about 15 centimetres) - lots and lots of lovely fluffy snow!

I wanted to try the macro setting on my camera to take some close up shots in the garden. I think these photos are quite good. 

Anyway, not much else to say tonight.

Today I appreciate time to myself (Olly has been in Las Vegas) and the feeling of looking forward to him coming home.

Happy, New and Year

Just have to share some Christmas videos with you.

These clips show two very happy girls, make me feel very happy and hopefully will make you happy too.

So the new year has begun and I have deliberately not made any new year's resolutions (though in my head I've made the usual ones about losing weight, being better at keeping in touch, you know the sort of thing...) because already I would feel let down with myself.

Instead I've decided to go with Ali Edwards and opt for a word of the year. Her One Little Word project over at Big Picture Scrapbooking seems a great way of making some changes without it being too obvious. Plus it's a creative project which I need ('cos another one of my secret, I'm-not-telling-anyone-else resolutions is to do more scrapping...!).

Anyway, for the record, my word is going to be appreciate.

Tonight I appreciate listening to the girls playing contentedly in the basement while I cook dinner (and the cold glass of rose wine that is helping...)

And the new year has already brought change to the Horton household. I started work this week (a little part-time job at a little insurance office while I wait until I can apply for teaching jobs for this September).

I was supposed to start on Tuesday but in true style Tess was sick Monday night so I had to phone my new boss and tell her that I wouldn't be in work on my first day.... Ha! Not a great phone call to have to make.

Ho hum - onward and upward!

Apples, Raspberries and Pie

What a busy weekend!

Friday: Cosmic Bowling (bowling in the dark with neon lights and loud music!) with the girls and Enrico.

Saturday: Football for the girls and dinner with friends in the evening.

Sunday: Chudleigh's Apple Farm....

This has now become a tradition (Right Jill - if you've done something more than once....?) with the Hortons and Klugsbergers. [And we've managed to get ourselves lost both time...!) It's a great day out. Playing among the apples.

Playing among the hay bales.

And generally enjoying fall fun with our friends!

Tess had a need to create in the kitchen on Sunday and brought plans for a delicious dessert to me first thing in the morning.

The concoction included raspberries, raspberry coulis, vanilla ice-cream and some yummy pastries made with vanilla, butter and brown sugar. She was very proud of herself and the results were fantastic.

And finally....

I've just finished my book club's choice for September; 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie' by Alan Bradley.

A very easy and entertaining read and a very likeable main character. It's basically a murder/mystery which we don't usually choose for book club, but it was great fun and didn't take me long to read. I will definitely be reading his next one which will also 'star' Flavia de Luce, the 12 year old heroine...

Shoes, Spinning and Sunshine

Every now and then I become completely obsessed with scrapbooking.... This is one of those times. (Probably because the girls are at school all day, I'm not working [yet!], and I'm in no routine with school commitments / home etc.

The result is that I'm able to create.

Here is Mission to Create #26:


I only managed to use 4 of the 5 concepts but I love the layout.

1) at least 3 bright cardstocks

2) decorative edge scissors (Raided the girls' craft box and cut around the black cardstock.)

3) Use sheet music (which I printed off the internet and is, rather sadly of me, the actual music from the Paolo Nutini song...My sister-in-law will be laughing at me for this... 'Too much time on my hands...')




4) something shiny (the label holder at the bottom)

5) And just didn't have the right rub-on alphas for this... Oh well!

Anyway, loved completing this one as I loved, loved, loved those shoes of Tess' and wish that her feet hadn't grown so quickly...



So, to the rest of today. As it's proving very difficult to find work I'm using my time to get a little fitter and have discovered 'spinning' classes at the YMCA. Let's just say I hope it's doing me good. I sweated so much today it was actually dripping off me but not as much as the guy in front of me... I think his pool of sweat (great subject, huh?) had me so mesmerised that I managed to complete the majority of the class. Yuk, but yeh!

When I pick the girls up from school, ready for the weekend, we're off Cosmic Bowling. It's a shame we organised an indoor activity as it is such a beautiful day here. Hot, hot, hot and the sunshine is streaming through the backdoor... I do love autumn here in Toronto. Hope your weather is as nice.

Back, Background and Back To School

Ok - so it's been a while but we're back to carry on with the blog because it seemed to be working out so well.

I've also been neglecting the old scrapbooking lately so I've been very determined to sort the basement out so I could get to my stuff. I created this layout for Mission to Create #25.

We had to use:

1) beige or cream (I used a cream background)

2) a doilie (which I didn't have, so I used doilie-like trim)

3) an envelope (which contains a letter to the girls I wrote on their second day of school)

4) something clear (I added a clear heart)

5) polka dots and stripes (self explanatory)

I loved doing this one and am feeling very creative again, which is great.

And finally, because I haven't yet done it, here a picture of the girls on the first day back to school.

Meg has finally started Grade 1 and Tess is now in Grade 3. The start was a little lukewarm, but I'm very pleased to report that they are both now settled right in and enjoying school.

Hurrah!

Artwork, Earthquake and Humid

Today I've begun taking down some of the artwork dotted around the house; the kitchen, dining room, my wardrobe door, the girls' bedroom walls. I will, of course, be filing these very carefully but just in case they should get lost I've taken some photos.

So here's a selection:

This is just a very, very small selection...

And now for some news.

Yes, it's true. There actually was an earthquake here this afternoon. I just thought it was a truck going by. but there are reports that it was a 5.5 on the Richter Scale....

The girls are fascinated, but terrified by the reports that there may be tornadoes tonight...!

The weather is funky here. Very, very hot and very, very humid. The girls are desperate for a sprinkler in the garden and we've prmoised it will be the first thing we buy for the new house.

And Jill, glad to hear you're home - can't wait to see you!