Happy Earth Day

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees.

Revelations 7:3

Original Art created by Barbara A. Palmer

on a card I saved from years ago..... 

Till next time ......... how are you celebrating Earth Day? 

Easter Gathering

My husband's family,

(my incredible in-laws)

have been gathering for Good Fridays for many years.

It started as a Spring Clean Up help day

for Mother - way back when

and we've continued to meet on that day ever since.

Somehow, Murray and Marilyn have taken on

the hosting of this yearly event

and they are the most gracious and hospitable hosts ever!

Marilyn prepares the feast of ham, sausage, scalloped potatoes,

buttered corn, veggie casserole and all the extras!

Not only that, she decorates the tables beautifully,

making us all feel so welcome and special.

Here she is carving the 

delicious, super tender, 

Easter Ham.

The table groaned with all the

wonderful salads and 

extras brought by

all who attended.

At least two trips to the table

were necessary

as our plates were not nearly

large enough for just one round!

It's always a blast with these two gorgeous ladies!


Following first course,
it's our tradition to travel to our hosts
beautiful home
for dessert.
We should have walked the 10 minute drive
after that meal
to make room for this deliciousness!

The desserts were amazing,
as usual
and this year there was a lot of
lemon flavoured goodness to 
taste!
There was banana cake with raspberry sauce,
lemon poppy seed cake,
lemon cupcakes,
graham wafer pie,
lemon cheesecake,
Judy's lemon magic custard cake
sugar cookies and more!!!

Check out these cute
"bacon and eggs" 
cookies made with pretzels,
white chocolate and 
yellow smarties.
Angela always brings these fun
and delicious treats.

My niece, Shannon, decorates
the sugar cookies to perfection.
Can you tell she's a wonderful artist?

The gathering is never complete
without a good game of Rook!!!
This usually lasts till midnight or some other
wee hour of the morning.

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED!

Till next time ...............  note to self - "get back to the gym" and "healthy eating" - eek!

Easter Check List

Butter Lamb made - check!

Homemade Mustard made - check!

Salad Dressing and Veggies Prepped - check!

Heart prepared ...... why is this one so difficult?

How is it possible that He died on the cross for my sins?

I stand in awe

and am humbled by this

Love so Pure.

I have been redeemed - check!

Till next time ........ have a wonderful Easter.

Mini-Art Quilts

Last week I took my sweet little

Janome DC3050 sewing machine

to a Mini-Art Quilt class...

It was so much fun and best of all

I learned new skills on how

to use the embroidery stitches

on my machine!

Our fearless instructor, Brigitte

gently guided us me, the rookie,

through the steps of how to

create a sweet mini quilt - fabric art piece.

Each "art piece" started

to take shape as the 

class progressed.

Our machines whirred and

hummed, and the creations

began to take shape.

All the while I relaxed and

enjoyed the "there are no

wrongs" way of sewing!

I learned about bobbin thread,

how to properly thread the machine,

about using and adjusting

the many embroidery options,

and so much more!

The final project - finished at home,

turned out delightful.

I can imagine that this may be VERY addictive!

Brigitte has made many, many of these

wonderful little quilts and some

of them will surely soon appear for sale on

her awesome ETSY shop!
That is, if she can bear to part with them!

Here is the link to her etsy shop:  

ClockworkRummage

Thanks to Brigitte and to 
Triangle Sewing Centre
for offering this class.
That was fun!!!!

Till next time ............... warning to family and friends - future gifts may be a mini-art quilt - it truly IS addictive!

Aprons, Hospitality, Biscuits and Borscht

What a great Day!

We travelled by bus to St. Catharines for the

Annual Spring Enrichment Day

for 

Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada

Creative and witty organizers,

Delicious food,

Outstanding music,

Reconnections with old friends,

Meeting new friends,

Sisters,

and best of all,

meeting Bev Klassen from

Mennonite Girls Can Cook!

Pretty much a perfect day!

Bev taught us the many uses of a good biscuit recipe!

We were served delicious Borscht for lunch!

Look who I met today!!!!  Such a thrill!

I am so thankful to have been

able to attend this day.

It was worth the drive and 

I have been truly enriched on so many levels!!!

Spring is Sprunging!

I stand amazed

at how wonderful Spring is....

It has finally reached our little

corner of the world it seems.

The fields are flooded,

but the drainage ditches have 

begun to "move" as the farmer says....

The puddles and bits of

corn in the neighbours field

have welcomed the migrating

Whistling/Trumpeter Swans

along with a few of their cousins....

What a difference a few

nice warm days makes!!

God is so good....

Till next time ................ watching for more signs of Spring.