spring thaw just around the corner

It was so warm out today that it is easy to believe that Spring
will soon be here. I know they are forcasting snow tonight but
I have faith that it will not stay around too long.

Retreat News!!

Our scrapbooking retreat is over half full at this point. All the plans are going along well. It looks like we will be full again this year.

Croptopia Retreat May 22nd-24th 2009

We are working on plans for our 9th annual Retreat this spring. It is held at Camp IAWAH, just outside of Westport in Ontario Canada. This fun filled three day retreat brings together about 100 woman each year to indulge in their passion for scrapbooking. Registration includes half an eight foot table of scrapbooking space, all meals from Friday supper to Sunday lunch with Friday lunch available for those who come early, at least 5 make and takes, lots of contests and door prizes, a goodie bag and many surprises. 12 -15 classes are also offered but tuition for these is extra. Several vendors together to set up a store on the premises. We have always have a wonderful time. This years these is “out of this world”. We encourage everyone to think up a costume that reflects the theme to be worn to the Saturday evening crop. We have had a lot of fun with this over the years.
Another component of the weekend is fund raising. Everyone looks for gently used items that they are no longer in need of and we have a p penny auction. The money raised is donated to the camp to be used to send children to summer camp who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go.

My Paper Dolls

Ihave been trying to learn how to put a slide show on my blog.

My Paper Doll Collection

http://s524.photobucket.com/albums/cc326/seirvine/?action=view&current=e4a17c5f.pbw

Happy Canada Day!!

I can’t believe it has been a whole month since I have written.  It has been a busy time for me.  It started with a call back on  my mammogram.  I tried to keep busy as I waited a week to go back for the retest and then Ihad to wait another week to get the results.  A lot went through my mind as I considered how much my life could change if the results were negative.  In the end I was given a positive result.  I need to retest in 6 months but everything seems to be OK.

I got over that hurtle and started to get ready to list our house for sale.  Lots of sorting out to do.  We finally decided to rent a storage unit for all my extra scrapbooking albums and some of the furniture just to give the rooms an airier look.  Then out of nowhere I was in excrutiating pain in my foot.  Not again.  I seem to get recurring gout about once a year.  This was the worst because I had so much I wanted to do but I could hardly walk.  Even my socks hurt my big toe.  Finally after two nights of no sleep I went to the doctor and got some meds.  It is really slow getting better this time because I can’t stay off it.

We listed our house on Saturday afternoon.  The first call came for a showing for Monday night.  It isn’t even on MLS yet.  I didn’t want any showings until Wednsesday because I didn’t think I could get the house ready but you never know what you can do until you have to.  We got our first offer tonight but it was too low and they wanted us to move out a month early.  No can do.

The nice thing is that my house is cleaner than usual.  Today we are off to pancake breakfast, parade and BBQ to celebrate Canada’s birthday.

Unbelievable

After preparing for our scrapbooking retreat since January, it is hard to believe that the weekend has now come and gone.  We had a fabulous time.  WIth 88 participants, it wasn’t our biggest crop weekend but it was certainly one of the easiest to run.  My daughter Lisa is taking over much of the onsite administration of the event.  With Matthew running the onsite store I was free to supervise and visit with people.

I am now beginning to bring things together for our CropTopia PInk in the fall.  This will be held on September 13th in Ottawa and will be a fund raising crop in support of the CIBC Run for the Cure.

 

Mother’s Day

I am so thankful for all the things that my mother taught me as I was growing up and she continued to teach me as I raised my own family.  She has been gone for over a year now and I still want to go to the phone to share some new experience with her.  We were often apart as I lived in various parts of Canada but I always knew she was waiting to hear from me.  In the early years we kept in touch through letter writing and as long distance phoning became more affordable to keep in touch with phone calls.  I really miss that contact. She had an opinion on everything and I miss that input.  It’s hard to let go of someone who is so special.   Thanks mom.

On the road again.

I love to travel and we are on the road again.  This morning we packed up the car and set out for Ottawa.  I slept the whole way so didn’t see much of New Brunswick.  We got as far a Edmonston and after a supper at Boston Pizza we settled into our room at the Quality Inn.  I have spent the evening so far making mirror and felt embellishments for a scrapbooking swap that I am in.  It is nice to be away from home and have time to do crafts, without feeling there is housework that needs to be done.  I look forward to traveling through  Quebec tomorrow.

National Scrapbook Day Celebration!!

Well here it is Friday and I still haven’t found anywhere to go tomorrow for National Scrapbook Day.  I did find two very interesting online challenges though.  I think I will join them.

One is a mystery challenge on CK.  Each day this week, they have been giving out lists of products to get together and what photos to print etc.  I just about have everything together for that one.

Today I found on online crop that will be going on at the Creative Crafts and Stickers blog.  It looks like Jen has a great time planned.