A Canadian Tradition

It's a Canadian tradition.

However, it's a rare treat in this part of Canada.

It has to be cold enough (which it often isn't),

and the conditions have to be perfect (which they often aren't).

Fraser, Howie, and Calvin ~ on a local pond.

The boys took advantage of the great conditions and
played a total of about nine hours over three days last week.
Howie, on the other hand, had to work and was feeling his age.
He spent about an hour on the ice.

Today, it is raining and the ice is melting.
By all accounts, they had fun, and great memories were made.
Which is a good thing, because it may be a few years 
before it happens again.

Happy Monday!
With Love, Camille

Flashback Friday ~ Our Little Men

Our three little men...pre-Emma days.

The year was 2001 and life was full.

I captured the photo below of my Sweetie reading to

our boys at about the same time as the photo above was taken.

How quickly the days and months and years fly by.
Before we realise what is happening, our little ones grow up.

Happy Friday!

With Love, Camille

Two Raggy Quilts

In recent days, I put together two raggy quilts

for two precious little people. It was so much fun!
  One side is made up with squares of flannel...

...and the other side is made up of cotton prints.

I used 7 inch squares of fabric for these two quilts.
And, they are both 8 squares by 8 squares in size.

I feel like a kid in a candy shop when I am choosing fabric.
Piecing that fabric together, however, can be a bit more of a challenge.
My sister helped with that process via texting.
Technology can be an amazing tool, can't it?  Thanks again, Janine.  XO

For step-by-step instructions on how to put
a raggy quilt together, click here.  So easy and so forgiving.

The main difference between these quilts and my first one is this ~
the edges of the jean quilt haven't been snipped.  But, I am planning to change that soon.
The quilts in this post have been washed up and are all ready to be given away.

What projects do you have on the go?  Tell me everything!  :)

Have you ever made a raggy quilt?  If not, why not?  Ready...Set...Go!

Happy sewing/crafting!

With Love, Camille

The Hills are Alive....

"The hills are alive, with the sound of music..."

It's what plays in my mind each time I look at this photo.

Calvin took it with his phone on a hike he was on last Monday.

Fraser and Emma, along with extended family, made up the hiking party.

Howie and I opted to stay home for the day.

After seeing this shot, I am not so sure we made the wisest choice.
God's creation truly is glorious, wouldn't you agree?

Happy Monday!

With Love, Camille

Flashback Friday ~ The Boys' Bears

Our three boys each had a special bear when they were little.

Security blankets, if you will.  They went with them everywhere.

The bears were brought along to church in the hopes of getting the boys to sit quietly

during the preaching part of the service.  Those bears were snuggled with at bedtime.

  

Periodically, they required a washing and were subsequently hung out to dry.

On one such occasion, I snapped a photo.  I didn't fully realise at the time 

how precious it would become.  But, precious it most certainly is!

L to R: Fraser's "Bear", Austin's "Teddy", 
and Calvin's "Pooky" ~ Spring 2000.

Calvin, Fraser, and Austin ~ Summer 2000.

As the years passed, each of the boys gave up their bears.

One by one, they were tucked away for safe keeping.

Before we were really ready for it, our little men grew up.

These days, we are treasuring up the old memories
as we seek to treasure up the new.
And, God is good.  All the time.

Happy Friday!

With Love, Camille

Whirlwind Week

It's been a teeny little bit crazy around here.  In a good sort of way.

Back in the spring, when this time of year seemed so far off,

I concocted a plan with two long-time blogging friends.
We met via our blogs shortly after I began my online journal in 2009.
 

Jackie and Stacie thought it a grand idea to make the journey 
via a road trip to stay with us in our home for a few nights.
It was incredible to think that they would take me up on it, but, they did!

 Meeting up in person began heading in the direction of becoming a reality.

Our mutual blogging friend, Jennifer, agreed to join us.  We were thrilled.

She booked her flight in anticipation of our face-to-face blog party.
And, we all looked forward to the dates circled on our calendars.

In thinking and planning ahead, it occurred to me that it

might be nice for Emma to have a cousin thrown into the mix...

just for good measure.  I was right...it was wonderful to have her.

Before long, my brother-in-law and nephew were added to the roster.
And, that's when the serious planning began.

And, the laundry and re-arranging.  And, the meal planning.
In the end, it all came together beautifully.  What a sweet blessing from the Lord!

Jennifer arrived on Saturday.

My brother-in-law and the two cousins arrived on Monday.

Wednesday afternoon, my brother-in-law and nephew flew home.

The girl cousin stayed on.  Wednesday afternoon, the twins arrived.

Saturday morning, bright and early, Jennifer flew home.

Jackie and Stacie crossed the border and began their homeward journey
shortly afterward.  We had a couple of hours turn-around before

attending a family wedding on Saturday afternoon.

And, just like that, the whirlwind week came to an end.
The days just flew by, and I was sorry to see everyone leave.

Thank you, Jackie, Stacie, and Jennifer for making the effort to gather in our home.
(Kevin, Alex, and Chelsie...we were so glad you were part of the week as well.
Janine...we missed you!  Maybe next time?) 
We are so thankful that it worked out for all of you to come!

   How good and gracious our Great God is to give these precious moments to us.
Truly, He does all things well.  His ways are always best.  His gifts are always good.

Happy Thursday!
With Love, Camille 

Weekly Recap

I've been feeling a little out of words.

But, I'm quite confident this condition won't last forever.

In spite of the lack of words, there are some that want out.

This last week was full of good things.

Here's a list of some of the happenings.  A weekly recap of sorts.

There are things missing, I am sure.  An incomplete list is probably best.

Taught Emma some things in school and took her to music lessons
with Fraser, my chauffeur.  Had an insurance claim inspection. 

Our dishwasher quit and subsequently leaked.

Decided with Howie that we would do the repairs ourselves.

 Went with Emma all the way out to Chilliwack for a delivery,

and, while we were gone, Fraser got braces on his top teeth.

Stopped in to see Howie's Mum, and took Emma to an afternoon Science class.

While Emma was doing experiments, I worked on catching up on my daily Bible reading.

After we left, Emma and I shopped for a Sunday outfit for her.

(Do you know how difficult that is these days??)

We bought two dresses, but, one is going back to the store.

Decided that I am going to sew a dress instead.  And a slip.

Went with Howie to Whistler for the day.

I drove there and he drove back.

While he was working (3.5 hours), I worked in the library.

(A fight broke out directly behind me in said library 

and my heart raced a little.  But, help came and all was well.)

 Then, I sorted all of 2011's photos and got caught up on my Bible reading.

We went for dinner with a coupon.  Amazing!

When we arrived home, the house was in order and so were the kids.

Had friends over for dinner on Friday night. 

Washed all the beds except ours.  Cut three heads of hair.

Cooked, and cooked some more.  Did laundry and some ironing.

 Spent nearly five hours in emergency for a non-emergency.

Travelled to church and visited with Howie's parents. 

Drank coffee and ate chocolate and ice cream.

 We had popcorn and apples and shared two grilled cheese sandwiches

with sliced jalapeno peppers melted into the middle for Sunday evening snack.

I don't think I picked up my camera once.  So, last week, and the beginning of this
is documented in words alone.  Photos pulled from the archives.

Happy Monday!

With Love, Camille

**Images in this post courtesy of Calvin and Emma 2011 ~
Thank you, my loves XOXO

 UPDATE:  This post was up and running a few hours before
we learned of our friends' daughter's entrance into Heaven.
I thought about deleting it in honour of this sacred time for their family.
However, I decided to add another post to the day's roster instead.
Click here to read, and, please pray.  Thank you so much!

Flashback Friday ~ Nearly Eight Years Ago

Nearly eight years ago, the Lord graciously gave our family

a road trip that landed us in Desert Canyon, USA.

We really had no idea how precious the memories

we were making would become.

It was the first week of September, and while our children played on the shore

of this lake, other children were just beginning another school year.

Austin and Fraser enjoyed a little impromptu fencing session.

Howie captured us all on a bench enjoying some sort of treat.
L to R: Calvin, Austin, Camille, Emma, and Fraser.

All my men on the mini golf green.

Emma and I opted out and took pictures.  :)

Since it was September, everything was greatly reduced in price.

So, we rented two jet-skis and took the kids out on the lake.

The Lord is so very good to us, isn't He?

May we all remember that every single moment is a gift from Him.
And, may we be found praising Him throughout all of our days.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning."  James 1:17

Happy Friday!
With Love, Camille

Critter Number Two

We've been down this road before.

Last time, however, it didn't end very well.

"Mischievious" was the best hamster ever.  At least, we thought so.
He won his way into our hearts with his lovable ways.
Unfortunately, he was only with us for a few short months.

It all took a turn for the worse when we took him to
the vet to get his nails clipped.  What a mistake!

Within 24 hours, he was afflicted with wet-tail.  Stress induced.
He lingered on for eight days.  Eight long and excruciating days.

Then, he died as we fussed and cuddled him.  Tears were shed.

We buried him in the back yard under the trees,
all wrapped up in his little blanket with a daisy tucked in.
We had a little service and sang a hymn.

By all accounts, it was a painful experience.
It's taken three years to summon up the courage to begin again.

Emma has been asking to get another hamster and

would not give up on the idea as I had hoped she would.

I found myself softening to the prospect...slowly.

Last Saturday, Emma and I were out doing errands together.

And, she requested that we stop in at the pet store 

where we had purchased "Mischievious"...

...just to look.

I think it's obvious how that turned out.

So, we have welcomed critter number two into our home.

And, he's quickly winning his way into our affections.
Everyone...meet "Reepicheep" (Cheepers for short).

We hope his life will be happy and long.
And, just for the record, we have no intention of getting his nails clipped.  Ever.
All things considered, it seems to be the most sensible thing to do. :)

With Love,
Camille

Sister Time!

I only have one sister.

And, as it happens, one brother as well.

Just the three of us.  And, since my sister lives in California,

we don't have much (in the flesh) sister time.

We chat on the phone and text, but, it's not the same thing
as an in-person visit.  Definitely not quite as good.

My brother lives only five minutes away.

Brother time is easier to orchestrate.  And, it is a good thing.

But, this post is not about that.  :)
The three of us together is an extremely rare treat.

My sister has hosted us multiple times in her home.

Click here and here and here and here and here for proof of that.

So, a little reciprocal hospitality was in order.

First, their girl arrived.  Ahead of her parents.  On a plane.  Alone.

The rest of her family followed behind a little over a week later by car.

They stayed with us for a total of nine nights.

The days and nights were full of activity.

Some of that activity involved us, and some didn't.

Since my sister and her hubby both grew up here,

they had many people to see.  Many people to catch up with.

A few nights, we were already in bed when they arrived home.
They didn't wake us up on their way in ~ so quiet and considerate.

They left exhausted.

But, happy.  I think?  ;-)

We are looking forward to another visit soon.

The house has gotten strangely quiet in their absence.

Family truly is a blessing from the Lord.

With Love,
Camille

**Photos in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you, my love  xoxo

Cousin Time!

My sister's girl came to see us.  All the way from California.

Last time she was here, happy memories were made.

We've been to her home a few times in the last year and a half.

So, it was high time she came here!

She fit right in and became of one of the gang.  :)

I even put her to work like one of my own.

The motto around here is, if you don't work, you don't eat.  ;-)

And, we did lots of eating....evidently, she earned her keep.

Emma loved having one on one girl time with her cousin.

They went swimming....

....and coloured....

...side by side.

This is such a gorgeous book ~ the girls each have one.

The requisite group shot was taken ~
but, not without some shenanigans first.  Here's proof.

Oh, well.  It is what it is.
We wouldn't trade any of them for the world!
But, perhaps we should make them work just a little bit harder.  ;-)

Happy Wednesday!
With Love, Camille

Summer Stack

Emma took an online English course this year in school.

It just so happens that it was written and administered by our very

own (one and only) homeschool support teacher (who is a treasure).
This very same teacher also happens to have taught Austin in the classroom 
when our boys attended the little local Christian school (Emma never went).

We have a history with this particular teacher, and it is a good one.

A summer reading list was required of the students who had taken her course.

Complete with reasons as to why the books had been chosen.
The assumption is that they will continue to read.  All summer long.
It goes without saying that this has always been Emma's plan.

After a quick survey of the shelves downstairs and up,

Emma produced her very own summer stack of books.

She'll likely be finished ahead of fall.  It is how it is.

I have fond memories of my own summer reading as a young girl.

Squirrelled away in our little tree house, I would read while the

summer breezes blew.  For hours on end.

Pollyanna was my chosen companion the summer I turned twelve.

The unabridged and original classic was read from my grandmother's copy.

Published in 1913.  A rare treasure.

It was a magical experience.  One that I'm not likely to forget.

What about you?  Do you have a favourite summer-time read?

A sweet memory (or two?) to share from a summer long ago or the most recent one?

Any particular books you might recommend for our girl?  Or her mama?

Please do share.  We're all ears.  Both of us.

Happy summer reading!

With Love, Camille

Fancy Date

Way back before Christmas, a great coupon deal for a local restaurant flashed

across my screen.  I snapped one up and wrapped it in a box

and put it under the tree for Howie.  It was one of his gifts from me.

(Of course, my intention was that we would use it together.)

We redeemed that coupon last week.

It was for Bridges Restaurant located on Granville Island.

The restaurant overlooks the water and is situated between two bridges...

hence, it's name.  :)  There are windows everywhere which reflect light, but,

these images still give a glimpse of the view.  Stunningly beautiful.

We stayed until the sun went down and the lights came up.

The food was amazing.  Just look at the dessert!  (We shared it.)

If you are in the area, Bridges is a wonderful spot for a fancy date.

But, make sure you have a coupon!  It's the only way to go.
Trust my advice on this...you'll be sorry if you don't.  :)

What's your favourite restaurant to go to on a date?
Or, do you prefer to go hiking or cycling or sightseeing with your Sweetie?
Please share your ideas in the comments...I'm all ears.  :)

Happy Wednesday Y'all!
With Love, Camille