Fun at The Nook!!

I'm having fun so far being the guest designer at The Scrapping Nook this month. I started up a month long Bingo (since I am The Nook Bingo Queen ;-) I have a tendency to win the late night challenges, what can I say, I have a fast finger and am a night owl!) Of course a prize for the winner at the end.
Also I have 3 other challenges going on..... one is a "Labour Day" layout challenge ~ to do a layout of your "labour/childbirth" or to do a layout of how you labour at your job, in the garden, at home etc. etc. I've had lots of great entries into the challenge and someone will be winning a RAK!
Another challenge I have is to dump your purse on the counter, take a picture and then journal about its contents etc. etc. in a layout. Another RAK for this challenge.
Last but not least..... Button, button, who's got the button? challenge..... using tons of buttons on a layout... not 5 or 10 but TONS. Another winner will be drawn out of the entries.
Here's one I did with lots of buttons of Morgan when she was little.......

Guest Designer at The Scrapping Nook

I was so thrilled (and yes a bit nervous) to be chosen to be the Guest Designer at
http://www.thescrappingnook.ca for the month of September. I get to come up with some fun challenges for all the girls and to play with and design some layouts with some fun goodies! Looking forward to it all and to get "designing"!!

Froggie Heaven....

Yep, I am in froggie heaven.... we have 2 garden ponds in our backyard and we love to have goldfish and tadpoles in them.... this year has been the BEST for both. We must have at least 40 goldfish and 30 frogs this year and they are so much fun to watch. I so enjoy looking for them amongst the water hyacinths. They love to jump out of the pond and go investigating and them you can see them hopping like crazy to get back to the water before you get too close to them. The sit all around the edges of the pond sunning themselves or on top of the leaves of the water plants. Some are huge, others are small. Allan caught them all as tadpoles at St. John's. I hate for winter to come because I know they will be going away to find somewhere to hibernate, but for now they give me so much pleasure. If you click on the photos below, you can see them up close and personal! :-)

Bath and Body Works.....

This is what happens when you go to the States and visit Bath and Body Works.... I LOVE Bath and Body Works and we don't have them in Canada. Sooooooo, I love to stock up on the handsoaps when we are there. I got a good stash today, just in time as I had just run out of my last stash. Now we will have happy good smelling hands again. ;-)

If You Go Down To The Woods Today........

You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today was our Family Church Picnic and the theme was A Teddy Bears Picnic. We had alot of fun and I was crowned "Queen Den Mother Bear"!! I received a crown and a honey bear as my bouquet! :-)
I had the tables all decorated up etc. in the theme and got all the prizes for the games etc. We had a bbq with salads and desserts that everyone brought. Then games, prizes and lots of fun!
Here's a few pics of the day.

Okay, who stole my son??

I have this kid named Taylor.... a thoughtful, deep thinker, quiet, talented, observer of life...... did I mention quiet? He moves away up to Toronto to attend University.... to the big bad city from a small town.... will it gobble up my son and spit him out in little pieces? Or will it swallow him whole? Well, let me tell you .... it has done none of this...... instead this kid has turned into an outgoing, enthusiastic man of the city!! He has conquered it from one end of the city to the other, has blossomed and turned into the 22 year old (almost 23) he is today. Taylor is a very very VERY talented artist. He already has graduated and earned a diploma from Sheridan College and is now involved in another 3 year university program at OCAD to get another degree. Of course he is majoring in art/illustration/painting.
He has even mentioned becoming a teacher! My son?? The quiet thinker?? And you know what else this kid has become?? An accomplished musician/singer/writer! He performs with his friend Dani singing in Pubs! Taylor plays the guitar, banjo, harmonica, glockenspiel (yes, I said glockenspiel) all which he has basically taught himself. And sing.... this kid can sing!! I never heard him sing in his entire life till this year!! I love this kid... and I love the man he is turning into! I am very proud of him and all that he does! Of course he will always be my baby. And he knows it too! LOL Yes, my kids still continue to amaze me.

Melancholy.....

I think that's the word that describes me right now.......... we just found out that our beautiful talented daughter is moving to Calgary, Alberta to further her career as a chef. Morgan is 26 years old now... a young, strong woman on her own - good of heart, talented and well loved. But in my heart she is still my baby. I so remember the day she was born... how I wanted a little girl so bad - that had her Daddy's dimples... I was so blessed to get just that and way more!!
Calgary, another province....... 40 hours of driving or 4 hours on the plane to see her........ not just so close that I can reach out and touch her, hug her, kiss her.
I am so very proud of the woman she has become. I love her with all my heart. I wish her all the best and pray that God protects her on her new adventure. I'll miss my baby girl, my friend, my love..... but I am soooooo very proud of her and know my love will never ever change - no matter how far away she is - she is always close to me in my heart. I love you Morgan Leigh!