Journaling April

“April showers bring May flowers”. 

 Well, maybe if we get some really warm weather because right now as I write this, it’s raining, actually pouring.  I love the rain . . .  if it’s Saturday and I can be inside cleaning or baking or re-doing some décor in the house.
My journal for April is a mish-mash of things.  The month went so fast that I don't really know what I did.  But there are some very important things that happened so keep reading.

 

I found this photo of me and my sisters.  More importantly in this post is the sofa.  Take a look at the pattern.  Doesn’t that look like something you’d see today. Oh if only they had color cameras back then.  I wonder what color it was.  And that lamp beside the sofa is so in right now. 

 

 

Do you still cook using recipes from a cookbook or magazine?  If everything is online for you then this idea won’t excite you.  But if you still use books or magazines, CityLine  had this great idea for holding your recipes using a hangar with clamps.  I thought it was such a great idea so I tried it.  The trick is to place the magazine backwards in the clamps.  You’ll know what I mean if you don’t.  Placing the magazine like I have, makes sure the magazine hangs a bit more ‘straight’.  Now you don’t have to keep looking down at your counter and sometimes getting a glare from lights.

 

 

April is kind of a yucky month.  Lots of cleaning outside.  We placed our snowmobiles inside the fence.  Now they’re not a sight on the front parking pad. 

 

 

I spotted some new growth the other day.  That’s exciting.  Sure hoping the hot weather gets here soon in May.  The buds on the trees are just there waiting for the sun.

 

 

 

This is my Spring wreath, just waiting to be on the front door.  I think it looks silly to put such color up so soon.  Don’t want to be the neighbour that stands out. Ha!

 

 

 

This picture was taken just this morning.  It was a little chilly but I sat on the chair there with my coffee, while the dog ran around sniffing for squirrels.  He did the pointing spaniel pose this morning with one paw up.  I was so wishing I had my camera.  I love the mornings when it’s quiet.  I really need some help decorating our deck.  This summer I have to transform this drab deck into something cozy for cheap.

 

 

 

While I was outside this morning, I was actually putting some final touches on some beautiful clay bowls.  I think I’ll do a post in the next few days on them but for now, that’s all you can see.  These were pretty much all I got done this month for projects.  Such a shame but life is just crazy busy sometimes.

We had lots of dentist appointments this month and hair appointments.  I love hair appointments though, just not paying for them.  I think that when I become a grandmother, I will stop adding the blond hi-lights to cover the grey.  I think it would be an awesome transitioning for me. 

 

 

April was a hard time for our daughter and her husband because it said 1 year had passed since they went thru such joy and then heartache going thru adoption.  If you want to read their latest blog post, you can read it here.  After I read their post I thought about the day Crystal called and said they were off to the hospital.  I thought about us driving to Calgary.  I thought about when they called us with news as we were driving.  I thought about the heartache later and where we were and what we were doing.  I thought about it all but couldn't quit take out my diary and read it - not yet.

I think you'll enjoy there blog and their journey.  They do an awesome job writing about their feelings.

 

So MUCH is going on right now and so MUCH of it I cannot write about right now.  Hopefully I can fill in the gaps soon.  Who knows what May will bring.

Til May . . .

 

A fresh look at Framing Memories

 

 

This photo of my parents wedding might be my favourite.

Favourite for being my first try at decoupage that is.

 

So easy.

All I did was print the photo onto cardstock, spread a thin thin layer of Mod Podge on the frame – just enough to get the picture to stay attached.  Gently rub the picture so that you know the edges will not curl up.  Let it dry.  Take a damp rag and gently begin to rub the areas you want to look distressed.  Don’t get too carried away.  After you’ve achieved the look you want, apply as many coats of Mod Podge as you want.

 

Another look at painting a pretty frame.  This frame was black with a bit of shiny cherry colored edges.  It was too dark and too dated for me.

 

Just a little chalk paint and it’s bright and fresh.

Don’t be afraid to mix up your modern frames with the contemporary.  You might just like the look of your memories the way YOU like to see them.  There are no rules to making your home feel comfortable and reflect YOU.

Real Antlers - I don't do faux

 

These are the real thing! 

Not faux. 

 

 

All I did was embellish them a bit.

Now they look great on my coffee table

and

they are a conversation piece.

 

They are from my dad’s collection of horns and antlers way back in the day

when he was an avid hunter and fisherman. 

I wish I had pictures to show you,

but they are all stashed away in a safe place for now.

 

I can’t just show you pictures before I tell you

a short behind these antlers. 

(Unless you'd rather skip to the pictures, that's ok too)

As a big hunter and fisherman, there are a lot of photos in boxes, on reels and slides that someday need to be stored better so that they keep.  I remember dad going hunting with his dad and coming home with something crazy like 7 deer and 3 moose.  Mom and grandma would bake and prepare food for them to take for that time.  Probably a week or so they’d be gone.  Back then we butchered the meat ourselves.  It was great times.  I grew up eating wild meat and lots of fish.  We all had to help on butcher day.  Depending our age, my sisters and I either were taught how to cut up meat, grind hamburger, package hamburger or write on the packages.  You had to write neat we were told.  Nobody ever lost a finger to knives or the grinder.  The dinner meal was always prepared by my grandma.  She’d be cooking upstairs and we’d be in the basement cutting up meat.  In grandpa’s garage, there hung all the moose horns and deer antlers from all the hunting trips.  There were a lot of them!  I’ve been lucky in being the one to take them home with me.  And yes there are a few moose horns in my basement.  They're a little too big for the coffee table.  While a lot of them are beautiful just as they are, a lot of them look best with a little glam.

 

Have a look at what I’ve done with a few antlers. 

Notice the natural bone color still shows thru in places.

I used Old White and Graphite 'chalk paint'.

Hope you weren’t to ‘wierded’ out with this post.

Do you think this would add a little something to your

mantle or coffee table,

or how about the hubby’s den?