Sewing Pocketed Sheet Protectors

I'm making my own 6x8" divided sheet protectors. I have some old binders (surplus from the office) that they happen to fit in.

Get Fit - Stay Fit

One of my sporadic fitness pursuits is running. I did a few triathalons way back in the early 90s. I've participated in a few Running Room clinics over the years and have run a few 5k and 10k races. My most recent 10k race (a New Year's Eve Resolution Run) was 31 December 2009 followed on 24 January 2010 by my first (and only) half marathan - aptly called the Hypothermic Half. With my 50th birthday coming up in next summer, time is running out (no pun intended) to get my ass in gear - to get fit - and (this time) - to stay fit! Today a Big Idea Festival prompt challenged me to document a dream: one is to complete a marathon before I turn 50. My 20 minute run today is a step in that direction. (September 6, 2012)

Created using a bonus template from Jenn Lindsay that was available in the September 2012 Digi Files (at the Daily Digi) and paper from the August 2012 Digi Files Malihini Kit by Wishing Well Creations whose products are available at The Digi Chicks. The Big Idea Festival is a free 14 day workshop available at Big Picture Classes.

Cooked with Love by Oma

Oma is always cooking up a storm - at home and, most certainly, at the cottage when we're up for a visit. There is a good reason the children coined the name 'Castle Oma' for Kurt and Poldi's cottage on the Pickerel River. Oma lovingly spoiles us all, but mostly Heidi and Stefan. When they were young, she used to serve them breakfast in front of the television. I think she misses those days now that Heidi and Stefan sleep in and get themselves breakfsat. There aren't many 'eggie dogs' served these days. Homemade jam on toast still remains a favourite as do her homemade muffins. Whether Oma is cooking up Austrian specialities like rouladen, goulassh or snitzel, dinners disappear in a flash. Fish, sometimes caught by Stefan (or by their neighbour, Ron) is a recent addition to the menu. Desserts, featuring handpicked blueberries are always enjoyed. It's too bad that there have been so few berries to be found in her favourite picking spots over the past several years. Much of what Heidi and Stefan know about cooking and baking they have learned while up here at Castle Oma. (Photos 2003, 2004 and 2005. Journalling summer 2012)

Created using the Kitchen Tales kit (in June 2012 Digi Files) by Sherwood Studio whose products are available at Digi Chicks.

Live the Life You Love

There is so much to love about our life: trips to Killarney are one of favourites ways that we live our life.

We had a great 2 night trip this year. We opted to take the inflatable instead of the kayaks this year which let us explore lots of the area. We camped on Hen Island (in the Chickens) instead of our usual Hawk Island. We went to the mouth of the French River, around Philip Edward Island, and into the town of Killarney for fish and chips followed by ice cream cones. The Georgian Bay water was incredibly warm this year; even I went swimming a few times. We did our usual Chikenishing hike (and a swim at the end) once we got everything back loaded into the van. Then it was back to Castle Oma after a schnitzel dinner at the Cedar Village.

Creating using the Live Your Life kit by Meta Wulandari Designs from the June 2012 Digi Files. Her products are available at Memory Scraps.

Warm Summer Nights

There is nothing more beautiful than a warm summer night in Georgian Bay. We had such a wonderful 3 day outing in Killarney this year. The weather was gorgeous - so clear and warm. The water temperature was amazing. Heidi and Stefan swam both nights before bed; Roland joined them the second evening. The sunsets both nights were absolutely amazing. There is something so magical about the warm evening light; we just couldn't take enough photos. Using the inflatable instead of kayaks let us get further along the coast; we camped on Hen Island this year. As the darkness fell, there were frogs everywhere, likely ready to feast on the mosquitoes we avoided by heading into our tents. (July 2012)

Created using O'Scraps Firefly Nights kit that was in the June 2012 issue of the Digi Files.

Better Than Ever

I created this layout using the Better Than Ever kit by Queen of Quirk which I got as part of the April Digi Files, http://thedailydigi.com/queen-of-quirk-tragically-been-missing/

On This Day

I'm trying out the Digi Dare http://www.digidares.com/?p=3513 for the first time.

I used the products that I have recently acquired through becoming a Digi File member http://thedailydigi.com/category/the-digi-files/.

Products that I used in this were primarily from Christine Chodil's This Day kit, but the arrow came from Dunia's She kit, the flowers came from One Little Bird Design's Narrative kit and from Kristen Aarardt and Kristen Rice's collaborative kit Sunshine Though the Rain and the butterflies came from Krystal Hartley's A New Chapter in my Life kit.

So Lucky

I recently subscribed to the Digi Files at The Daily Digi http://thedailydigi.com/. I haven't even had time to unzip, let alone scrapbook with, most of the March digital products. But, I was very inspired by the bonus So Lucky products and decided to create a layout on St. Patrick's Day featuring some of the many things in my life for which I'm So Lucky.

Journalling reads:

I downloaded a free digital scrapbooking kit, So Lucky, which is inspiring me to make a layout by the same title, capturing at least 17 reasons why we are So Lucky:

- A Saturday morning to sleep in. - Real maple syrup on Stefan's Eggos and my french toast.

- The clean, well-stocked little store in Perkins where we stopped to pick up groceries on the way to the cottage.

- A warm, sunny walk on the lake; and having rubber boots to keep our feet dry.

- The fun that the girls had 'swimming' on the lake.

- The beautiful marvels of nature that the ice holds, like occasional leaves in a melt-hole or sparking shards of ice revealed when we dug out old holes in the ice.

- BBQ hotdog and beans for lunch, with a bright green spinach salad too.

- A fun game of Clue in the cottage loft.

- Our short (50 minute) drive home from the cottage, passing so many beautiful parts of this lovely city we call home (the museum of Civilization, the Art Gallery, the Parliament buildings, the Ottawa and Carleton University campuses, the Rideau Canal, Dows Lake, Hogs Back Falls, vincent Massey Park, Mooney's Bay and the Rideau Canoe Club to name just a few)

- A stop at the Hogs Back Falls to marvel at the powerful, frothing spring run-off as it flooded the lower part of the river.

- BBQ hamburgers for dinner, complete with pickles, tomato, avocado and cheese for fixings. - Apple pie and ice cream for dessert.

- Popcorn for a bed time snack.

- Watching Crashed Ice on our new-this-year high definition TV; recalling our summer visit to beautiful Quebec City where the competition was held. It looks even more amazing in winter under all those bright lights.

- That Heidi and Alexandra finished their homework so they'll have all day tomorrow to themselves.

- My wonderful craft room, packed to the brim with supplies, inspiration ideas and photos. And for the finished scrapbook layout of Heidi learning to ride her bike without training wheels.

- Having such convenient technology like our Backberries, iPhone and Android phone to take photos, talk with and text friends, check the weather, play video games and even post to my blog.

But most importantly; we're So Lucky to have such wonderful family and friends to share in this all.

things i love

I'm making rather slow progress on my 144 scrapbook layout goal for this year. This is the second in my TWELVE seriers. This one falls into the 'all about me' category. This one was inspired by a post by Rebecca Cooper on her Simple Things blog: http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2012/02/simple-things-roundup-weekly-photo-tip_14.html

Shadow Shot - 2012 01 20

A night-time shadow shot taken on the hill by Dulce's place. I walked over there tonight on my daily walk to lend her my needle-felting supplies.

Shadow Shot - 2012 01 21

I was so happy that Roland and Heidi took a few photos of their brief visit to the cottage (since they were sort of in the vicinity) after Heidi's ringette game in Buckingham. I would have loved to be with them, the snow-covered forest looks so magical against the brilliant blue sky.

Shadow Shot - 2012 01 08

I went for a run wthrough the neighbourhood near Orleans Recreation Centre while Stefan was practicing. The blue sky and sunshine made it so great to be outside.

Shadow Shot - 2012 01 15

Another beautiful day for a walk - clear and crisp. I fit my walk in the neighbourhood by Jim Durrell before Stefan's hockey game.

Shadow Shot - 2012 01 29

It was absolutely magical snowshoeing in the forest beside the slopes at Camp Fortune while Stefan was downhill skiing with his friends. The freshly fallen, sparking snow was just beautiful - on the branches and on the ground.