with love, from mom

My mom sends me some of the best emails.

She is a pastor and church humour runs high in her circles
(along with many other types of humour, eh mom?)

My mom is a particularly "punny",
oh, I mean funny, person herself.

here's her latest email:

4 Worms Church Sermon!

For those of you who missed church on Sunday, here is a recap!
Four worms and a lesson to be learned!!!!

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to
his Sunday sermon.

Four worms were placed into four separate jars.

The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.
The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.
The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.
The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following
results:

The first worm in alcohol- Dead

The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead

Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead

Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.

So the Minister asked the congregation -
What did you learn from this demonstration???

Maxine was sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said,
'As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!'

That pretty much ended the service

ha ha!

Every story has its moral!

thanks for the laugh, Mom!

Marking every occasion with a card...

With family in the U.S.

and little me over here living my own life

I forget sometimes to get packages or cards in the mail on time...

especially when I need to send them at least 2 weeks in advance

of when they need to get there!

I normally remember an event 3 or 4 days before it is to take place

and I hate to have a card be there late...

I'd like you to meet Diane.

She's my card angel.

yes. angel.

She makes me look good.

This is the card that I ...

ahem...

I mean to say,

Diane, sent to my mom this year for her birthday.

Isn't it stunning?

My mom is going to frame it!

Or this one?

How cute for anyone's birthday

young or old!

Need to remember your dad but didn't get to Hallmark for that special card?

Let Diane take care of it.

She designs and creates these fabulous cards.

She's even won awards!

she's THAT good!

and she types in a message of your choice just like you'd find at the store.

Then she signs your name and any little extra details

you want hand written.

Then she puts the card in a special envelope,

seals it,

puts a stamp on it and mails it!

Yes!!

Now you see why I love her!

She lives in the States so when I order a card through her Etsy shop for my mom

it only takes a couple of days to cross a few States

verses the 2 plus weeks to cross a border!!

She has cards for all occassions

After my dad passed away I realized I didn't really have many cards from him...

No heartfelt statements...

No memories left on paper...

Now I'm marking EVERY occassion with a card!

So that I can leave a lasting impression on those around me...

and how could I not when these cards are so brilliant?!

I love this Christmas card...

But these?

They have my name written all over them!

Look at the glitter!
So visit Diane and say hi from me!

She'll even remind you year after year to send a card.
Yes she's THAT good!

p.s this is not a paid advertisement...
I just happen to think Diane and her business ROCK!

Let me preface this post by saying I love my mother.
I am devoted to her more now than I ever have been

and couldn't imagine my life without her.

She and my father worked hard to teach us (my bro and I ) the value of money

and never to waste.

Anything.

That being said,

I've always thought of my mom as a bit of a pack rat.

She's always had trouble parting with things,

letting go,

or throwing out.

In a lot of ways she's right.

You may have a use for it in the future.

or

you just like it.

What proof?

Why do I stereotype my own mother?

Well...

it could be because up until they moved 6 years ago

she had every Christmas issue of

Chatelaine and Canadian Living

printed since 1979!

Canadian Living Holiday Edition circa 1978

Which I actually now wish I could get my hands on them!

I digress....

I have a similar problem.

And this is my confession.

My weakness is none other than strawberries.

Yes I am perfectly aware that they sell them in the grocery store year round

however I can't bring myself to pay a high price for fruit picked before it ripens

and has more air miles than I do!

This problem is inherited

Because, as I mentioned the move 6 years ago--

while clearing out their freezer to move across international waters,

I inherited my mother's strawberries...

dated 1998!

But Hey mom--no one can call you cheap!

Those freezer bags must have cost a pretty penny when I finally got around to eating them in 2004,

they tasted just like the day you froze them!

Proof of my own obsession?

Here in my freezer lay my very last bag of frozen sliced strawberries

packaged 1 year and 4 months ago.

Sitting on a bed of stewing beef

and nestled cozily in between english muffins and shredded zuchini.

It sits in limbo.Waiting to be used.

I have a lovely recipe I'd like to use them in.

mmmm....

yummy.

but alas,

if I use them,

they will be gone.

This is inevitable and I struggle.

They'll be gone.

and it's winter soon.

I won't be able to restash my freezer for another 9 months!!

I have trouble parting with the last bag every year.

To the point that we've eaten all the one's from this year

and I was saving this bag from last year as my back up.

I've been frivolous with my strawberries and

now I'm down to the back up bag.

What's a girl to do?

Am I the only one that hoards and agonizes over things?

Strawberries oh so sweet,

How much longer...

shall I wait to eat?!

While visiting my mom in Pennsylvania,

we travelled to Lancaster

So much to see and do.

I now NEED to go back

for the shopping alone!

(my budget on this visit was miniscule--so sad)

I would call it Ahmish Country

and while there,

I fell in love with this quilt

I love how it's made up of just log cabins but creates the most perfect star

I love stars.

I must try this for a Christmas quilt or something!

I wish I could have seen it all laid out

but the gentleman that made it was

sewing a quilt while I was there and I didn't want to

disturb him more than I already had.

So beautiful!

Tanya had picked me to play in a photo game a while back.

I didn't do it because personal photos

are kind of not going to happen around here for the time being.

But it got me looking at my photos again

and remembering the good times at the beginning of my digital camera days.

---------------------------------------------------

I'm off to visit my mom this week.

I'm feeling quite sad about it.

For a bunch of reasons, really...

but I think mainly it's because we're going to visit my mom.

just my mom.

--no dad.

This is not new.

We've visited a couple of times since his passing

but it's hard this time.

So I leave you with this old photo of pumpkin and my dad.

Her Papa.

From a time when he was still warm and his hugs were sure.

He took in the cool air with pleasure and basked in his family.

Mainly,

he was here.

Now he's not.

It seems simple but death can be so complicated.

Oooh La La!

Pink polka dotted toesies!
Compliments of Nana.

What a week!

In a way,

I sure am glad it's Monday and we can start fresh!

So here it is,

my week in a nutshell....

The Mother Ship landed and brought with her the

MOTHERLOAD!!!

(more on this later)

We went to visit the new baby in the family

--BABY "S"

Did a little shopping at the Sally Ann

(got board games for the kids 50 cents!)

Went to a funeral

--very sad for everyone involved

(more on that later)

Had a family baby shower at my house!!

FABULOUS!!

(will share more soon)

Had fish n' chips and ice cream sundaes

Nana's treat!!

painted our nails and drank cherry limeades,

sat on the porch and read.

Celebrated Bubby's soon to be Birthday!

(thanks mom--and Fisher-Price!)

Fun family bike rides.

Watched "Amazing Grace"

seriously recommend it!

Mom left this morning to go see my bro and sil

and of course BABY "S"

Of course we're all sad,

but all good things must come to an end.:(

And we'll see her again in August.

This time on HER turf!

Can't wait!

Drive safe mom!

p.s.

I did a little sewing too....

THE MOTHER SHIP HAS LANDED

Excuse my absence but...

SHE'S HERE!!!

My mom arrived on Sunday and here it is Wednesday.

I know you haven't heard from me--but...

do you know my mom?

Oh you don't?

Trust me--poor you.

She's been playing with the kids

and we've been gabbing and

she's even helping me with my quilt along!

Well more tomorrow.

Have a great day!

We're off to see my sweet new nephew---

and no..

the fabric blocks are NOT done :(

a little something...

I've started something and now

I can't seem to stop...

Actually
Vanessa from

V and Co.

started something when she sent me this

I had been nervous to attempt it
based on the fact that I've never

cross stitched.

embroidered.

needle worked.

before.

never.

ever.

To be honest,

the only floss I've ever worked with

is for teeth....

yes--I do floss my teeth

you should too!

It promotes healthy gums and

fights bad breath.

(I'm a certified Dental Assistant and a little passionate about teeth. Um. yeah.)

hmmmm

it doesn't look like this stuff though.

YUMMY!

Well now I'm hooked!

Here's a sneak peak of the applique

Just waiting for my mom

to arrive in Canada with my

$5.99 a yard

batting!!!

Yes.
It truly pays to have a mom living in the United States

The exact same batting in Canada is $16 a metre!!!!

and it NEVER goes on sale!

and NEVER for $5.99!

so yes,

I bought 10 yards.

hey--I've got plans

*giggle*

and yes,

my mother is already bringing lots of fabric goodies with her

and yes,

she is already wondering where the dog is going to sit

but that's what we do for our children,
isn't it?

sacrifice.

going out of our way for them.

make the dog sit in the back seat.

you know,

stuff like that.

that and
allowing your daughter to use your American address

so that she can save $$$ on shipping.

and then drive it all down to her.

oh
and of course,

have a visit too!

Thanks MOM!

and thank you Vanessa for your kindness!

You've created a monster!

Mom would be proud....

Yeah, my mom would be proud--in fact I hope she's reading this!

My dad--well, he would have been annoyed and dismayed, but then when I got home he would have been secretly thrilled.

My hubby? He was moderately pleased but very annoyed when I wanted to do it again at 6:30 the next morning.... :)
What is IT you ask? Junk hunting.

Yes. I called my friend Jenn from down the street and we prowled the neighbourhoods of our town looking for all the treasures hidden in other people's junk.

Saturday was large item pickup in our town--for the dump.

Everyone was just putting all their junk to the curb.

Well not ALL of it was junk--not to Jenn and I!

What a time we had Friday night.

I used to do this with my mom when I was a little girl...Now don't look so disapprovingly--it's like a FREE garage sale! You'd have done it too!

We left at 7:30pm and didn't get home until 10:45pm!

Jenn's hubby just couldn't believe his eyes when we called him out of the house to see all our treasures--but I dare say that he was pleasantly surprised.
This is what my van looked like before the unload.

I don't know if you can tell but I couldn't see out my back window for the junk piled so high.

In this pic you see a toy lawnmower, a toddler mattress (yes a clean one), a ride on toy in the back, a practically brand new bouncy chair and an exersaucer...

Another view--here you can see the blow up pool...
And there was so much more!
Jenn found a great clock (which we found out doesn't work -I guess some junk really was junk) and a coleman stove. A blow up pool for her babe this summer. And toys.

Me? Well, my kids are older so I got all the ride on toys.

We found a bag FULL of girls toys like a mom just emptied the entire contents of her bedroom into it. So instead of rummaging and wasting time, we just took the whole bag! Barbies and My Little Pony's!

I also found a huge TONKA truck for my dear boy--oh he's ecstatic! I just have to wash it all up.

My best snag? Well actually it wasn't mine...

My disapproving hubby couldn't help himself when he saw a man putting THIS on his front lawn.

LOL!

I think I'm rubbing off on him :)