Wishes for the New Year

Lynda with me at a New Year's Celebration two years ago

This has been a year of mixed emotions. I watched my best friend willow away from cancer and die in May. Only ten days later my Daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The roller coaster of emotion has played out all the way through as I've thought of my friend Lynda's vivacious smile so many times in the recent days - and I've enjoyed the fresh beauty and million watt grin of my Granddaughter.

Life is full of unexpected journeys and they all touch our hearts in different ways.

To my beautiful friend Lynda :: I miss you so much. My life and heart is richer because of you. I love you.

To my incredible Daughter :: I can never thank you enough for sharing with me your experiences as you became a Mother, the absolute joy of watching the birth of your Daughter and the bond that we have shared grow stronger every day. You are an incredible woman. I love you beautiful.

To my baby Granddaughter :: I love being a Grandma because of you. I'm looking forward to watching you grow and explore. You make my heart sing. I love you baby Kya.

To my Son :: you are awesome. A gentleman - smart, noble, sensitive and kind. The world is yours to grab by the horns and you are going to rock the world at your new business venture. I love you sweetie.

To my Honey - Richard :: YOU are everything I ever dreamed of and I'm so excited about sharing a brand new year with you. I love you Honey.

Being a Grandparent has been the highlight of the year.

 Wishes to everyone for a joyous New Year filled with love, happiness and good health. Happy 2011.

Warmly,
Katherine

Christmas Past

What is it about Christmas that makes us think of the celebrations we had as children? Every year when I start unpacking the lights and decorations I remember when I was a little girl and the magic that was our Christmas tradition.
My Mother was a Girl Guide Leader, so we made many craft ornaments and gifts for give away at the local seniors home.

We made snow shakers like this from old jars.

Crackers made from empty paper towel holders and wrap.

The traditions and crafts continued with my own children. My Daughter earned her bakers badge at Brownies making 'Chocolate Thumbprints'; and they are still her favourite cookies to make.

  

We had an aluminum silver Christmas tree - we were up with the trends (ok, so maybe we had a cool tree). My Mother decorated it with red and blue balls. I love a traditional old fashioned style to Christmas, but truly this aluminum tree for me evokes a special time when I was a little girl. 

The Aluminum tree was a big trend in the 60's.

Now of course I'd decorate it with a different influence ...... maybe a bit of turquoise to bring a hint of Tiffany in to the room.

Christmas Wreath

I'm trying to find among the thousand of pictures I've taken, a photo of last year's Christmas wreath. For now I've submitted the image from Martha Stewart.

I fell in love with this soft, cedar draped design and thought 'I can do that'. I was so proud that the wreath turned out like the picture. I used an over-sized soft draped B.C. cedar wreath (from Terra Nursery) to add more of a lacy effect. I bought several sizes of silver balls and wired them on to the cedar wreath, then tucked eucalyptus in among the branches and silver ornaments.

The wreath was so robust that it filled the door of the historical house we lived in last winter. People constantly stopped at the front of the house to tell me how much they loved the wreath. I could have sold it a dozen times over.

Martha Stewart Christmas Wreath