I won!

Thank you, Kelly from Ensemble Paper Arts!
I love my blog candy so much, I didn't even put make-up on my coughing-aching-fever-didn't-bother-to-get-properly-dressed-today face before I took this photo!

My new Distress crackle paint has probably been infected, y'all. I'd stay away.

This is my brother,


Jeff has profound mental and physical disabilities and lives at home with my mom. He's one of my best friends, and one reason it's hard to live so far from home.

Today, Jeffrey turns 37. So of course, I sent him a birthday card.

A star for a star.

Tomorrow, Jeffrey's going to wheel in the Terry Fox Run, a national run for cancer research. I am so very, very proud of him.

So today,

And tomorrow, good luck in the Run, Jeff!

(If you are able, and you feel so inclined, please consider pledging TEAM JEFF or another participant in the Terry Fox Run!)

No-bake Haystack Cookies

Ok, so the title isn't catchy, but it does the trick.

I had a request from Frances to share my recipe. So I thought to myself, "Self, these little pieces of heaven certainly are too good to keep to yourself."Seriously. Drool.

(Speaking of drool, you should go and check out Frances' unbelievable scrappyness. Don't worry. I'll wait.)

...


...


Oh good, you're back.

Here's the recipe:

In a medium-sized pot, combine 1 1/2c white sugar, 1/2c butter, 1/2c milk, and 1/2c of cocoa powder. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. (Seriously. Constantly. This would just as soon burn as look at you, as my mother would say.) Remove from heat and stir in 3 1/2c quick oats, 1 c coconut, and (optionally) 1/2c slivered almonds. Drop rounded tablesoonfuls onto wax paper and cool to harden.

If you're us, then you throw them in the freezer so you can eat them sooner.

Enjoy. Maybe while you're reading Frances' blog.

Linkin' up at Tuesdays at the Table and Tasty Tuesdays!

Could this be a new blog thing?

Wordless Monday. What do you think?

Ok, so I know it's supposed to be "Wordless Wednesday", but it was worth a try.

Seriously. I got nothin'.

Except this card!


Yay!

Ok, so this was for a baby shower.

But I can pretend it's a "Yay, you finally have a scrappy project to post on this 'scrappyness' blog of yours!" card.

Yay!

Suddenly I'm all domesticated.

Wait a minute. That makes me sound like a wild horse or something.

Anyway, it's true. This weekend, I've made:

haystack cookiesfocaccia breadand a pumpkin harvest loaf.

Mmmmmmm.

Plus also?

Behold!
I have discovered that I love fall. Like, freaking L-O-V-E it. Who knew? The smells, the colours, the new-ness. Around here, that's not a necessarily a common sentiment, because fall means that winter is coming, and winter = -40 degrees Celcius. But there's just something so comforting about it.

See? Sooo pretty.So I really wanted to put that love on my front door. To proclaim to the world, "I love fall and you naysayers can kiss my autumnal wreath."
Except that an "autumnal wreath" sounds all hoity-toity-Martha-Stewartish. Normally I'm not about that, but if it's paired with a phrase a little more bad-ass, I guess it's not so bad.

***Editor's Note: Since this is my first-ever floral wreath, I was really lucky to be at Michael's with Adrienne who helped me figure out how to put this together! I basically just cut the smaller stems from the main stem, arranged them on the grapevine wreath ($4.99 at Value Village!) and wove in the ends of the flowers since I didn't have a glue gun.

One bonus of using those long stems and cutting them apart is that you get to put the "branches" in the garbage. So not only do I look all domestic with my door all decorated and my house all warm-smelling, but it looks like I still had time to take care of a little light pruning in the yard.And with the leftovers, I made a little baby wreath. But where to put it?
Maybe the back door. Wow, a wreath where no one but us will see it. I really am domesticated.

And maybe a little hoity-toity-Martha-Stewartish.

Linkin' up here:

Things I've learned this summer, in no particular order:

1. If you promise your sister the gift of a wedding album, you'll scrapbook day and night to make sure it's perfect in time to be hand-delivered. Even if you can't blog pictures because she's private like that. And you have nothing else to blog about. But, you'll be totally ok with that. :)
2. She'll be ok with the album being three years late if you make it worth it. And it was so worth it. Seriously? If I had made this book when I promised it to her? It would have contained gems like these:

1. There's nothing that can replace time with family.
   
2. A flatulent dog is a poor bedfellow.
3. Eating the tasty morsels your niece and nephew drop from their high chairs will make a dog flatulent.
4. If anyone ever asks you if you want to go to a restaurant-slash-pub and the only way to get there is by boat? The answer is a resounding yes.
5. Likewise with an offer to see Doc Walker or George Canyon at a music festival.
   
6. You'll develop a serious case of blog-envy as you read other people's blogs and dream about all of the fun projects they're doing. Your comments on said projects will become less and less creative with each new post you read.
   
7. Summer vacation will always feel like it flew by.
   

It's not you, it's me.

Hey...so....yeah...we need to talk.

Look, I know that we haven't seen each other in a month. It's just that I've been so busy! Things were really hectic at work, and I've just got so much to do.

I mean, really, between the end of the school year and working on all of the projects at home that I've neglected, I just don't have the time or the energy for this kind of commitment right now.

So, could we, like, take a break?

No, no no! It's not permanent! I mean, it would just be for the summer. And maybe the beginning of September, until school gets going.

No, no, of course I still think you're pretty! Wait, no, slow down...it's not because you were experiencing technical difficulties that one time when I actually had a chance to post. No, it's not. It's not.

It's just that there is so much else out there in the world calling my name right now. The birds are shining, and the sun is singing, and- err, well something like that. And anyway, it wouldn't hurt you to get some sun too, you know.

Oh, don't be like that. I know that blogs can't get any sun. You have to admit though, you are getting a little bit of sun right now since I'm typing on the deck.

I am not cheeky!

Ok, ok, wait, come back. I was just teasing.

It's not like we'll have much to discuss, though. I mean, I lost the camera, and these are the best pictures I can take with my iPhone:See what I mean?

Ok, so maybe they're not so bad. But not good enough for thrice-weekly blog updates, either.

No, "thrice" is not pretentious. Now you're just being mean.

Ok, how about a compromise? If you'll agree to be civil about this, I'll promise to hit you up for a 2am bloggy-call from time to time? Deal?

No, I don't think you're "that kind" of blog. It was just an idea. How about a few afternoon-sit-down-with-a-cup-of-coffee chats, instead?

Ok...really? You're sure you're cool with this?

Phew.