Girls' Safari Trip

This past week, the girls (Oma, Jen, Mo, and I) took a trip to Lake Tobias in Halifax. If you've never been there, and you live in the area, you must go! I had been there once before on a field trip, but this was much better. We had a nice cool day and there weren't many people there. It was great!


We had so much fun on the Safari Ride! We were lucky enough to get seats in the front of the truck, so when the animals came up onto the steps, we were right there to pet them! Although, Mo wasn't too sure about the petting part... The driver gave her a corn cob to feed to an elk and we really had to coax her into it!



These animals were a cross between a donkey and a zebra! They called them Z-Donks, or Zonkeys. Jen decided she'd like to take a Zonkey home.





This particular elk was quite sociable.






Here I am speaking with a bison. He was a nice conversationalist.

Here is one of the baby bison -- 2 weeks old!

Some woolly beasts.




It was a wonderful day because...

+I was with my favorite people
+I didn't get sunburned
+I got to pet and talk to lots of animals
+Everyone had a good time
+There were goats
+The safari driver was cute ;)

Mystery Project

This is what I'm working on today.

I can't reveal much more since it's for a secret swap, but I wanted to give a sneak peek! :)

It makes me thirst for a nice cold orange-ade....

Swap Goodies!!

YAY for swaps!

Yesterday's mail brought my coaster swap. Of course I didn't think to take pictures until after I tore into it, but it was all packaged up nicely and tied with string. Here are my coasters, along with a handmade card and a yummy recipe for tea, which I plan to try today!


As if this wasn't cool enough, my swap partner Amie also included some old quilt blocks! Now, if you know me at all, you know that I love quilts, I love old stuff, and my most favorite quilt pattern is Dresden Plate....
So, how perfect!

Dog Day

Smile! God Loves You!

Smile! God Loves You!

I always used to think this was such a corny 'Sunday School' phrase! I mean, of course God loves me... I know that. But, it doesn't mean I'm going to smile all my days. And, unfortunately, when in the depths of sadness or anger, a giant yellow blob cannot brighten my spirits.

But, today I had a random everyday experience that led to a tiny seedling of a thought that turned into a bit of a burden on my heart. Thus, the blog post.

While delivering some parts for work today, I passed Central Market downtown. I had some extra time, so I stopped and got a coffee and some doughnuts to take back for my co-workers. I parked along Philadelphia Street and when I went to leave, the traffic was pretty heavy. While I was in the market, a car had parked behind me and was quite close. I did a 37-point maneuver to get out of the parking space and was finally clear to pull out. I was watching in my mirrors for a break in the traffic. Finally!

Right as I start to go, a car pulls up RIGHT next to me and stops. They park there to let someone out. My first reaction is to yell, "Hello!? Can't you see I'm trying to pull out here?!" But, of course I do not. Then I realized that, in the grand scheme of my day, week, month, year, life... it didn't matter if I sat there for two more minutes.

It occurred to me that most people would honk or yell obscenities at the double-parker. They would get annoyed and angry. They would let it ruin their mood, their coffee, their morning commute. I could do this too, but what good would it do. Sure, it was inconsiderate of the person to stop right there, but chances are, they didn't even notice I was trying to pull out.

As the woman struggled to get out of the passenger seat quickly with all of her bags and a drink in her hand, I noticed she looked sad. She came around the car and was looking toward me.

I smiled. And she smiled. It was the most beautiful smile, lighting up her tired, harried face. And my seedling thought was born...

I should not smile at others because God loves me, but because God loves them. I should not smile because God's love is something I keep in my own heart (although I have it there), but because I want others to know and have His love as well. I have always been a strong believer (although, unfortunately not always a strong practitioner) of the concept of sharing God's love through demonstration rather than words. My hope for my life is that others will see God's love through me and the way I treat them. Even if it's only a smile through a car window in downtown traffic...

From now on, I will smile because God loves me.

And, I will smile to let His love out!!

This is a pouch that I made over the weekend. I used a purse pattern that I had and modified it a bit. I appliqued a vintage hankie and some rickrack onto the outside. It holds A LOT of stuff and I'm pretty happy with it, but I wish I would have thought to put a handle or something on it. Oh well, it was just a fun project... now I know for next time. :)

It's Love

I love fall....

I love everything about it. The smells. The crisp, cool air. The sights and colors. All of it.

I think that the leaves in fall are one of the most beautiful things in creation. The idea that a leaf can change from lush, live green to vibrant yellows and reds, and then slowly dry and become a crisp curled brown and fall to the ground... And so few people ever stop to notice it happen.