Christmas Preparations!

It's getting closer and closer!

I've been trying really hard this year to decorate in a simple, but very festive way.

We don't have a lot of space in our apartment, so Jeremie and I chose only a few Christmas items to display this year.

I love my wreath, it's so pretty and natural - my Father actually pulled off a bunch of wild grape vine and wound this for me.

(Don't feel too bad for the grapes, we have so much of it, it chokes out the trees!)

I absolutely love it.

Somehow, and I'm still not quite sure how; I was talked into getting a fake tree.
Jeremie likes how easy a fake tree it, there's little mess, no watering, it fits in small spaces, so I suppose it's a wise decision. 

If only they smelled as nice as a real tree. 

However, when all was said and done, I still like our little fake tree.

I was given for a few years running, parts of the WillowTree Nativity set.

Some people can't get past the fact that the figures have no faces, but that's what I find so endearing.

The body language is so lovely, that all the expression you need is right there.

I have it in my entertainment unit, and is visible as soon as you walk through the door; a good reminder of the reason for the season. 

Apart from that, just a few candles, some Christmas cards is all that is displayed.

This is very 'toned down' for me, as usually I decorate everything to the nines with Christmas stuff.

All in all though, I really am enjoying  my simple little Christmas. 

Merry Christmas friends!

Peace,

Happy Fall

Happy Fall My Friends!

The leaves have all turned here.

They are either bright yellow, red or brown and crunching underfoot. The air is fresh and cool, and I find myself throwing open windows to try and perfume our apartment with the crisp fall scent.

Our little Eloise is getting so large! Here she is in one of her last "warm weather" outfits. She's been living in those fuzzy sleepers mostly and I feel better knowing she is warm and comfortable.

In other Eloise-related news; she has officially moved into the nursery. I shall try to post pictures of it soon, but I admit it presently is quite a disorganized mess.

She is sleeping well in her crib, and I found my eyes a little misty as I packed up her small cradle that has been sitting by my bedside since before her birth.

We have reached another stage in her 'babyhood' and I'm in constant amazement how quickly its flying by.

My darling Husband has hung these hooks for me by the front door.

We didn't really have closet space in our entryway/living area of the house, so these hooks have been wonderfully handy.

I think they look quite pretty!

I've been re-reading through Beatrix Potter's books.

Eloise was gifted the first 11 from Grandma and Grandpa. She loves the illustrations and will happily stare at them and coo. A love we both share; here are some of my sketches of her wonderful characters.

We have also been very much enjoying: "A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson.

She lays on the couch, and I prop up the book so she can see the pictures while I read his poems to her.

The rise and fall of my voice and the repetition of verse keep her very entertained.

I've also been working on some embroidery.
I'm making up the pattern as I go along, and just doing it for my own enjoyment.

I have an interest in crewel work, but am having trouble finding crewel thread, as it's thicker than embroidery (which itself is becoming scarce.)  

I'm afraid that these skills, cross-stitch, embroidery, crewelwork and rug hooking are fading away.

It's becoming more and more difficult and expensive to get supplies, and I don't know anyone else that does embroidery.

I am determined to do my part in keeping some of these traditional crafts alive.



I hope you all are having a lovely week, and have a happy weekend!

Peace,

How Time Has Flown!

It's amazing to think that in just 9ish weeks, our little one will be here.


Time has flown so quickly that I am hardly able to keep up.

The move went very well and we are settled into our lovely new home. We did have a few surprises; namely the fact that our adjoining neighbours are in a heavy-metal band that like to practise in their basement, and the horrible smell that keeps omitting from ours.

Though we are beginning to believe it isn't a basement smell anymore - the previous owners had a dog that they kept crated down there.
Needless to say it wasn't kept very clean - we assumed the smell was old dog urine; and while some of it was, that wasn't the whole issue.

The basement is beginning to just smell like basement, but the obnoxious order still persists!
My mother thinks we have tom cats around, spraying the outside of the house.

Mothballs is our next form of attack, though Jeremie and I have decided to call a house-inspector to do a quick sniff-check, and perhaps tell us for sure what our issue is.

I don't want our little one living in a stinky house; the sooner we fix this the better!
Don't get me wrong though, I do love our new home. I love the extra space, the huge backyard and almost most of all; the clothesline! I have only used the dryer once since moving in, everything else has been hung on the line to dry, and I adore that smell!

I'm just starting to get the nursery ready, I have the crib, though it's yet to be put together, the wardrobe and a change table.

I've decided to re-paint the wardrobe as its this ugly dark wood - and it certainly doesn't match my white crib!
So I'm re-painting it white with robin's egg blue detailing. My colours are white, blue and a very light blush.

I think I'm starting my "nesting" stage because all I want to do is organize, clean and decorate!
I'm also trying not to drive Jeremie nuts with all my projects, he's such a good sport and always helpful; but I don't think he gets the whole hormonal "I can't help it" thing, though he is appreciating all the cleaning and cooking!

Peace,
Jenny

Spring isn't the only thing that's sprung!

So, this is me at 21 weeks. Baby is roughly the length of a large Banana. I'm feeling little fluttery movements, but mostly just feeling my heart-beat very strongly in my belly.

Other news is that Jeremie and I are moving! Yes, again.
This will be the 5th time we will have moved since 2008, the year we were married. However, we'll be moving to the same small town where both my Sister and her husband, as well as my Brother and his wife are living! I love that I'll have so much support and help with the new baby.



We don't move for a few months yet - but already we're starting to pack and organize. I'm realizing I better get going soon, before I get too big to be much help. At least I'm an expert by now, all those moves come with experience!

I have no idea if I'm having a boy or girl yet - but not for lack of trying! Baby decided to be modest and have knees together and ankles crossed, and could NOT be convinced otherwise.
I have another ultrasound coming up, so I'm hoping the baby will be more compliant! I have started this embroidery piece, and am really enjoying it.
I used to do counted-cross stitch, but boy - I don't think I ever finished a piece! It's so time consuming and after awhile my interest starts to wane. With embroidery, I find that I can finish pieces quickly and have more artistic freedom.

This is Alice, from "Alice in Wonderland." I didn't draw it, but rather found artwork I liked online and simplified it into an embroidery pattern.



I'm looking forward to seeing it all finished.

Spring is almost here - the snow is more or less gone, and the Canadian Geese are honking noisily in the river beside the house. I hear them all the time, honking at each other and driving my cat insane. It's pretty funny.

I've been reading "Home Comforts: The art and science of keeping house" - It's an amazing book and I highly recommend reading it. I'll be posting soon about it.

Peace,
Jenny