Memorandum Monday - Nov 28th

Linking in with the other delightful Monday Memo writers through our lovely hostess, Sian at:From High In The Sky

What is new from the patio?  A fair amount of focus looking forward & in particular, to December Stories scrapping. My new resolve to not purchase anything new was tested on Friday, when I was in Waterloo, which is very close to the only local scrap store left.  Of course I had to visit.  

I did sign up with Get It Scrapped, Debbie Hodge's free December Stories mini workshop.  I really like the new to me idea of recording stories of December in a new way.  First lesson - The Herald's of Christmas.  Yes, yes, yes, a new perspective to the telling of the stories & remembering.  Sing it Taylor - shake shake shake it up.

I cannot decide which album to use this year, in the past all my Christmas albums have been red, but like so many other things, I am feeling the need for a little shaking up. (I can hear Taylor Swift singing) I have two to choose from; the standard & classic deep ruby red (photo shows a bright red, it's not) or the green herringbone.  Both are 12X12 & from the stash.

I also have to make a choice about a title page.  Both "joy" pages would require a little more bling & I do have some red, green & clear bling rhinestones.  I will add the year to the bottom of the page.  The Simple Stories sheet of page is complete on its own - umm what's a girl to do?

oops - how did this new sheet get in there?!?!

I have started some of my foundation pages & from my stash, I have some pocket pages that were suppose to be 12X12 but the manufacturer missed the mark; almost, but not quite.  I think I will use them for the stash of quote cards.

I am using these tags as my day markers - I have right through to the 31st of December. Each one has a little pocket so I can add some journaling thoughts.

My calendar so far just has the numbers on - that package only went to the 25th, so I have some other little squares that fit for the 6 days following.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead.  My thought for the week is:  Tea is wealth itself, because there is nothing that cannot be lost, no problem that will not disappear, no burden that will not float away, between the first sip and the last.  

My Gran said this all the time, but it is from The Minister of Leaves, The Republic of Tea.

PS - I do apologize if anyone now has that T.S song stuck in their head.

One Photo, 6 Words: Narrow - Nov 25th

The idea is to take one photo & write six words which include the word of the week.  Linking in with Miriam & the other short story tellers at:  Miriam.   This week's word is: Narrow. 

Narrow rows, but choice is big

SNAP: Nov 23rd - Reflecting Reflections

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my SNAP collection are some of my photos which reflect my  learning curve in taking water reflection shots.  I have found that you really need a combination of good daylight, calm waters & the remembrance of taking your camera with you all the time, which then allows you to take advantage when all the elements come together.

From Last Autumn - not enough sunlight BUT oh those colours

 

Spring in the conservation park

 

Summer - Good light, calm waters

 

My Personal Favourite & I think my best so far

Memorandom Monday - Nov 21st

Linking in & saying good morning to all the Monday Memo writers through our hostess, Sian at:From High In The Sky

New from the patio:

Winter has sent a calling card of her impending arrival.  I shall try to greet Her with new warm boots, freshly laundered mittens, hats, scarf & coat.  I will try not to fight with Her too often, but only if She promises more sunny days than not.

Friday afternoon the 3 cedar sisters had their not new winter hoods put on which was just in time for the icy wintry winds blasting through all Saturday & Sunday. 

Saturday was one of my new activities planned; the Joy House Tour. My friend & I snooped around visited 8 truly unique & amazing homes. We drove from house to house in almost ever type of weather, but mostly heavy rain & wet snow.  Thankfully we had our umbrellas so during the wait times outside each house, we could keep some parts of us dry.  Having naturally curly hair the wet did not impact it negativity.  Very strict about no photography in the house & to take photos of the homes, I had to be on public sidewalks or roadways - security staff were every where to ensure!

Our first visit was first on everyone's list - the Victoria Mansion, who's owners are a prominent family in Guelph that own a very large auto parts manufacturing business. One highlight of this house was a charming calico cat rubbing in between all the visitors.  The owners have kept the inside & outside of the house true to the period that the house was built in.  Victorians it seems liked a lot of stuff!

The rest of the Joy House Tour homes ranged from a moderately sized renovated home; a century home; a converted home which had once being a estate home, converted to 5 apartments & now back to ground floor single dwelling with 2 apartments above; a very large estate home on acreage (their pool house was as big as most homes), a recent custom designed build; a retirement bungaloft & a home within an adults only community.  All the homes featured basements with family living spaces; the acreage estate home had a small room with simulated ice for hockey slap shot practice, which was right next to the 14 seat home theatre room!  

 

I am glad I participated but not sure this would be on my pre-Christmas activity list again & for me there was no clear "my favourite" home.  I did come away with a few simple decorating ideas for Christmas.








 AND the Tim Hortons new Christmas cups are out!!  For those that don't know - Tim Hortons in Canada is like Starbucks in the US of A.

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So that is my Monday memo for this blustery Monday ... happy week to all. I leave you with a poem about November.

"November comes And November goes, With the last red berries And the first white snows.

With night coming early, And dawn coming late, And ice in the bucket And frost by the gate.

The fires burn And the kettles sing, And earth sinks to rest Until next spring."
-  Elizabeth Coatsworth

One Photo, 6 Words: Read - Nov 18th

The idea is to take one photo & write six words which include the word of the week.  Linking in with Miriam & the other short story tellers at:  Miriam.   This week's word is: Read. 


 

 To read is a great skill

SNAP: November 16th - A Bridge Too Far

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my SNAP collection are some of the little foot bridges I have seen during some walks.  

 The  bridge photo above is one that had a rich history of being THE bridge that brides chose to have their wedding party photos taken on but in the last few years it has been un-cared for.  I was told that there is no money in the city budget to care for the bridge or surrounding park.

Above photo is a foot bridge which connects two family members yards together & at Christmas it is very well lit up in holiday festive lighting. Note to self - go SNAP this at Christmas.

 The above photo is the bridge at the farm where I ride - it connects the stable area to the family home area.

 

Bridge photo above is in a park surrounding a local waterfall area.





Continue in Snapping Happy.

Memorandum Monday - November 14th

Connecting with other memo writers through our lovely hostess, Sian at:  From High In The Sky

New from the patio - nature's wild destruction.  A wandering raccoon too heavy in be in my bird bath has toppled & broken my bird bath.  GRRRR - I do not like raccoons.  Mr Man does think we can repair the bird bath with all weather Gorilla Glue.  New bottle of said glue purchased.

New activity inside which included the use of a new home carpet cleaner. I refuse to publicly show photos of the spent water!  Yikes, I guess it proves that vacuuming doesn't always get the ground in dirt!

I was surprised to see Robins in our garden.  The little I know about birds indicate that Canadian Robins fly south for the winter.  Seems there are a few very hardy ones about & were feasting on the berries from my Burning Bush (Winged Euonymous).

New activities being planned for the holiday season; tickets for The Barra MacNeils East Coast Celtic Christmas.  Their version of Carol of the Bells is wonderful and can be found on UTube.  Also purchased, is a ticket for the Joy Christmas Home Tour, a fund raiser for the out reach house for street people in Guelph. I have never been on this type of tour before.  Excited for both new activities.
 

The Barra MacNeills - from the Internet

 And a note from my Wednesday SNAP posting, several of you commented that a Remembrance Day door wreath was new to you.  For some strange reason, it seems to be quite common in this part of the world - there are several lawn displays also set up for Remermbrance Day.  This one is from new neighbour.

Kathy S.'s tribute

My thought for the week is: The best cure for a dry period is simply to keep at it.  Good things are happening, soon to be revealed.    ... Eleanor Blair

Wishing everyone good things to be revealed!