20 Things Brittany Wants To Do This Summer

Since summer vacation has officially started I had Brittany make a list of things she wants to do this summer(within reason of course).

Here's her list:

[ ] Have lunch out with Mom.
[x] Go to Starbucks for a frappucino.Done!
[ ] Go camping with Dad.
[ ] Go to Grand Bend.
[ ] Go shopping in Buffalo.
[ ] Go to Toronto.
[ ] Go to the movies.
[ ] Go fishing.
[ ] Make homemade pizza.
[x] Go to Chapters. Done! Brittany bought herself 4 great books to read.
[ ] Make applesauce.
[ ] Go to Wonderland.
[ ] Play board games.
[ ] Go to a baseball game.
[x] Make rhubarb/strawberry dessert . Done, we made a crisp!
[ ] Visit Gramma.
[ ] Go to the zoo.
[x] Pick strawberries. Done, on Canada day!
[ ] Go shopping.
[ ] Go to a play in Stratford.

We'll have to continue to track how we do on this list throughout the summer!

Garden Blooms

Blooming in our garden right now.

Lilies



More Lilies



Roses


Lilies



Roses



Grasses



Grasses



More Roses



Lilies



Peonies



Roses



Daisies



Nasturiams



More roses



Hmmm, think I like roses and lilies?

Show and Tell Friday

I've been meaning to participate in Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli for a little while now.

I finally had a chance to hang some plates my Mom gave me and I love them. Thanks so much Mom



They are bone china by Royal Albert and called Shakespeare's Flowers. Each has a different name with a Shakespearian quote on the back.

This one is called Meadows with Delight. "This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,may prove a beauteous flower when we next meet." Romeo and Juliet

Next is Primose Beds. "To his music plants and flowers, Ever sprung: as sun and showers.They had made a lasting spring." Henry VIII

Here's Glorious Morning. " Full many a glorious morning I have seen. Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye. Kissing with golden face the meadows green. Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." Sonnet

And finally, here is Russet Mantle. " Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turned. In process of the season I have seen." Sonnet

I hope you enjoyed this little trip in Shakespeare's garden!

Red, White and Blue

Yea!!! Cuttlebug Be Inspired is back! This week the challenge is to use red, white and blue as well as buttons and the swiss dot embossing folder.

And while these colours may inspire many of us to create something around the American flag and July 4th, I decided to use my favourite colour of blue, when combined with red, turquoise.




I layered white embossed cardstock on white then added turquoise and red cardstock that I also embossed and to which I used a border punch. I kicked it up a notch by using my new favourite technique of handstitching. Then finished it up with ribbon, flowers and a button!

I do have to say that I'm pretty impressed with how this one turned out! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it was inspired by Hanneke, one of the designers on CC.

Brittany's Trip to Quebec City

A couple of weeks ago Brittany travelled to Quebec City with her grade 8 class.
Here's a few photos from this trip that Brittany selected to share. The description of each photo is based on Brittany's perspective.

These are spires of Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a catholic church. Brittany says it scares her, the bells sound like a death knell to her.

This is the shoreline across from Quebec City and is the city of Levis.

There is ferry service between both cities across the St.Lawrence.

A guard at the excavation site of Samuel De Champlain's manor.

Brittany doesn't remember what this is but thinks it looks cool!

Finally a view of Quebec City from the ferry near Levis.

Brittany truly enjoyed this trip and the freedom in doing something like this on her own!

Thinking of You

I decided to create a card based on Laura's Sketch 29 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. Its been awhile since I've made a card based on Laura or Kazan's sketches but as usual the sketches are so easy to adapt and their designers are so inspiring.

Here's my card:



I used scraps of Shabby Princess by Bo Bunny then added some bling and ribbon. The sentiment is of course popped up on foam dots. And I still have a few scraps of this paper left so more cards may be on the way!

Yes, I Still Scrapbook Layouts

I created this layout last Friday night. I think it is the last of my Costa Rica pics from our trip last year.

I used My Mind's Eye Bloom and Grow paper line along with Prima letters and flowers. Then I dug into my stitching templates and stitched the flourishes. I really do need to stitch on my layouts and cards more, love the effect!

Peonies!

Our peonies are on the east side of the house and in the shade so they bloom later than usual.





Last week, because of the heat they all bloomed! So I cut a bunch for the house, love them!

Hello!

Since I still had scraps of paper from My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow line left I decided to create another card based on CPS Sketch 122.

I used one of my Cuttlebug embossing flower borders then blinged it up. Hello was created with Prima stickers and is popped up over the ribbon. Couldn't resist adding a Prima flower to the ribbon too!

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

For dinner before her graduation, Brittany requested Fettucine Alfredo. Later she said she was kidding but I took her seriously and went browsing the internet until I found a recipe I liked. I first looked for light recipes, but while I'm sure they were good, the ones I found didn't really result in a true Alfredo sauce. So I decided if you're going to make Alfredo it would have to contain the butter and cream!

I found the recipe I made at MealsMatter.org. The recipe says it tastes the same as what you can get at Olive Garden........I'm not sure not having had it there, but this version is very good.

In place of the heavy cream, I used 5% cream which I think still provided the creaminess needed for Alfredo sauce. Then I added a bit of nutmeg too. I served the fettucine with caesar salad, another of Brittany's favourites, and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.



Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

1/2 c. Butter

1-2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 pint Heavy cream

Pinch ground black pepper

3/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1 box Fettuccine pasta

1/2 lb Chicken, cooked, chunked

1. Melt butter in lg skillet over medium-low heat.

2. Add the garlic, cream, and pepper and bring mixture to a simmer. Turn heat down if it reaches a rapid boil. Add cheese and continue to simmer for 8 minutes or until thick and cheese melted, stirring constantly.

3. While sauce cooks, cook fettuccine per package instructions.

4. Cook chicken chunks marinated in your favorite spices/sauces on a grill or in skillet.

5. Pour alfredo sauce onto noodles to absorb sauce. Top with chicken and fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Use It Challenge # 16

I started my card for this Use It challenge on Friday night and finally finished it today.

This week the challenge was set by Kay as follows:

1. Use something inspired by nature.
(flowers, trees, animals, etc.)

2. Use polka dots.

3. Use your favorite embellishment.

4. Mail your creation to someone special.

And here's my card:



The Prima flowers and flowered paper by My Mind's Eye, their Bloom & Grow line, are my bow to nature. I added a strip of dotted(and striped paper) from the same paper line. One of my favourite embellishments, bling, along with the swirls embossing completed the card.

Now who shall I mail it too?

Prom!

The evening after graduation, Brianne went to her prom with her boyfriend Jesse.

Here's a few pics:

A couple of close-ups to show off her hair.







Brianne and Jesse.

Graduations!

This has been a busy week for us, both of our daughters had graduations. Talk about a time of transition!

First was Brittany.



She graduated from Grade 8 and received a class award for her accomplishments in history.

Way to go Brittany, we are sooooo proud of you and the young lady you are becoming.


And second was Brianne's high school graduation.




Brianne graduated with honours, received an Award of Excellence in french, the Edna Haviland Chemistry Award for highest grade in a university level chemistry course and finally received the Governor General's Award for highest average in all grade 11 and 12 courses. During presentation of these awards Brianne was described as a brilliant, bright student with a natural ability who remains modest and considerate of others.

Again we are sooooo proud of Brianne and her accomplishments! She worked very hard on her studies while in high school and it was very gratifying to see her work recognized. Congratulations Brianne!

Ian and Nicole's Wedding

Our friends, Dave and Kathryn's son got married this past weekend.

Although Steve wasn't the official photographer, I think he was dubbed the official paparazzi! He did take well over 300 photos!

Here's a small sampling of them: