A Valentine's gift...

I participated in a Valentine swap exchange for the first time in a Facebook group I belong to. Today (Feb 16) I received my gift from Louise White, a new friend. She lives in the USA, so the package was held up at customs, I suspect. I sent her a gift too. I forgot to take pictures of it.

Louise's gift was packaged in a red box with red polka dot tissue paper. It was so pretty when I opened it! And very well packaged. Inside there was a delightful array of lovely gifts, including chai tea, chocolates, serviettes, a lacy doily, Valentine decorations, a pretty card, a beautiful beaded stuffed heart ornament, and stickers for my dolls.

I just love it all.

I think I love the stuffed heart the best, and the darling doll stickers. What a sweet gift!

By Loretta Houben

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday I was in a crafting mood!

I love to browse Pinterest, and I get really inspired by the crafts I see there.

Someone had designed an Altoid tin box, so I used what I had on hand and copied it.

I found the images on Pinterest and printed them on paper.

I used dimensional sticky tape underneath them.

I used fabric and lace and ribbon and shamrock embellishments I already had on hand.

I think it turned out cute!

My box is a vintage Sucrets cough candy box made in the USA from my parent's collection.

The other week I created shamrock "candy" using the shamrock bead embellishments.

I cut lollipop sticks in half, and lined them up under the shamrock, layered on top of packing tape. Then I carefully placed another layer of tape on top, and I used a bit of the cardboard stapled to the end, which had been on the bead bag. Cool, eh?

Here is a closeup of the candy. I saw an idea online using heart beads for Valentine's so I decided to try it with the shamrock beads, which I found at Dollarama.

I put these photos on my doll blog too, but thought I'd also add them here.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

By Loretta Houben

Mother's Day 2016

This is my beautiful mother, Susan Williams, known as Susie. She was 29 in the above photo. She had a little son, Martin James in Dec 1957 but he only lived for 2 days. Then we came along!

Leona on the left, myself on the right.

Here we are 54 years later!

Leona on the left, myself on the right.

Two more daughters joined us; Marlene in 1965, and Marie in 1970 but they couldn't be with us yesterday when we got together for lunch with Mom.

Leona brought the lovely roses. I gave Mom a pretty nightie and a book about prairie girls in the 1880's and the quilts they made. Tee hee...the book has quilt patterns and I'd love to make a quilt with my Mom. She's always wished to sew one.

My dear Mom and I...I love these blurred photos!

I used my cell phone and a selfie stick. The light was bad, so the photos have an odd old-fashioned look.

Happy Mother's Day, dear Mom.

I'm so thankful for my godly Christian mother who with the help of her Christian husband raised 4 daughters. I'm grateful for a happy childhood filled with laughter and love, and glad I was taken to church where I learned about Christ and His love for us. I never take these precious gifts for granted. Thank you, Mom, for all your sacrifice and love for me.

By Loretta Williams Houben

Family Day 2016

Today is Family Day here in British Columbia; 

a holiday for us.

I've been really ill for 12 days, ever since Thursday, 

January 28.

Ack!!!! It went straight into my chest. I visited the Dr on Monday February 1st, and he said I had bronchitis. He prescribed erythromicin, but it doesn't seem to have helped like it used to in the past. So either I had The Thing which is going around, or antibiotics don't work on me

like they used to.

Either way, after lounging 11 days on the couch, Robert took me out for a drive, as my cough is 80% better than it was. It was glorious to get out in the sunshine and see blue sky. It's rained most of January here, 

with snow on the mountains.

We went to Granville Island and had lunch

at Tony's Fish and Chips.

Matthew was working, so we saw him, 

but he couldn't join us for lunch.

We saw snowdrops and crocus blooming. I bought 5 primula plants, all colours, to put in the front porch planter.

Yesterday I was looking through photos from 2010 and came across the video clip above. I'd never thought to look at my video clips. This one is so lovely; very short, but so sweet.

I really miss my FIL so much. He died in 2012.

By Loretta Houben

Valentine's Day, 2015

Aren't they cute?

My parents, Susie and Jack Williams.

Leona picked out the pink rose for Dad to give to his "Juliet" from "Romeo".

True love lasting 60 years!

Me and my parents at their home.

Me and my Romeo, Robert.

After eating out at Boston Pizza, a tradition of ours.

We had the heart shaped pizza of course!

We shared a chocolate explosion cake.

I love you more, dear Robert!

Loretta Houben

Happy New Year 2015!

A very happy New Year to all of you!

Many times no one comments on these blog pages, but I know many of you are so busy you just don't have time. I've been blogging since 2007 and it has been one of my favourite hobbies to date.

In 2014 I did very little blogging as other things consumed my time, but I hope to remedy that in 2015.

We had a quiet evening last night. Robert went to the 7 pm watch night service at Willingdon Church. I don't go as on New Year's Eve I like to stay home and reflect. Leona joined me for 3 hours and we watched a few taped shows on TV, and one episode of "Rosemary and Thyme", a great detective series about two gardening sleuths in England. The gardens shown are simply marvelous. I recently purchased the DVD set, so we will go through all the episodes.

We had frozen entrees for dinner; nothing fancy. Last week the whole family came for Christmas Eve, except Paul who was working, and Matthew who had a bad cold. It's the first time Matthew hasn't been here for Christmas, so it felt very strange. He always spends the night, and we open stockings in the morning. I really missed him. Christmas Day I cooked a fresh turkey dinner with all the trimmings. My Mom made the delicious gravy from scratch. My parents, plus Leona and her son Colin were here. Paul was working.

In 2015 I plan to blog more often than I did last year.

I love the instant publishing gratification.

In 2014 I wrote 12 Family Tree Tip articles for the Renfrew Collingwood Community newspaper so I truly feel accomplished and also quite pleased and proud of myself. I had to come up with all the ideas, and I met all the deadlines. It was a fulfilling experience, but I have come to the end of genealogy tip ideas, so I plan to work on my own writing, and continue to work on the Senior's Connection page for the RCC. 

My goals for 2015 also include working in my pink room which now has all my sewing stuff, plus a lot of the doll collection stuff. I love this room, which looks out onto our back yard. I mostly see a large fir tree in the lane, and in the winter I can see the Boundary Road traffic racing past. There is also a mountain range to the left on clear days which look so pretty. The rooms pink walls are inspiring and much better than tan walls.

I need to cut down on my fabric stash, and earn money to save for a new sewing machine. My old Pfaff Tiptronic 1029 machine is 34 years old this year. I think I need a new one!

I hope you each have a fulfilling New Year filled with God's blessings as you live for Him.

Happy New Year!

By Loretta Houben

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I haven't "played dolls" in quite a while.

It's time consuming but really fun once I get started.

I belong to a cute Facebook group called "Chatty Cathy Connection" and one of the leaders organizes events. She makes things fun! Today being March 17th, we posted photos of the Wearing of the Green. Here are 3 of my dolls wearing their green.

The doll on the left is a Canadian blonde pig tail Chatty Cathy doll with glassine eyes from the 1960's.

She was made in Canada by the Dee & Cee doll company. Mattel toy company purchased them in 1964 I believe it was. The Chatty Cathy dolls made here are much sought after, as the vinyl used was superior and doesn't fade like the American counterparts. The face painting is also lovely as are the eyes that were used. The doll on the right is also Canadian, with auburn pigtails and glassine eyes.

She is holding a repro Ginny doll.

I made the dress on the left. The dark green dress was made by Gloria's Goodies on eBay and was a gift from a friend a few years ago. 

The dolls are so happy they are doing an Irish jig.

I made a picture strip using Picmonkey picture program.

I'm not Irish that I know of, however I have paternal grandparents both born in Wales, so you never know....

By Loretta Houben

Happy New Year 2014!

I'm truly amazed it's a New Year already, and 2014 at that!

I was looking at my album from 2000. A lot of people believed the world would end on January 1, 2000. I did not believe it at all, and neither did my hubby.

Here we are, 14 years later. 

2013 was a difficult year for our family, as my dear Dad lost most of his vision due to the disease of glaucoma. The eye drops, laser operations, etc. just didn't work for him. He is in the 1% range of people for which these things have no effect. Since July, the vision in his right eye has really failed. He still has a small range of sight in that eye, but he had to give up driving in July, and he said that was the most difficult thing he's ever had to do, as he drove since the age of 15. My Dad is very independent so this has been a grueling ordeal for him.

We had a wonderful Christmas together, though, with the whole family here at our house for Christmas dinner. Here is the whole clan, except for Paul P who arrived later.

My parents are in front, with their 4 daughters:

Marlene on the left with her hubby Dan behind; myself next to her in the blue top with Robert my hubby behind on the left, and Matthew our son on the right. Leona is next to me with one of her sons, Colin, behind her, and Marie is next in the red plaid with Robert her hubby behind her, and her son James in front, and daughter Ashley in front on the left.

Here is the same picture with Paul added in! 

(Leona's other son)

It was such fun to have Marlene and Dan here. They stayed in a hotel near the airport. They drove up from St. Louis MO, leaving on Wed Dec 18 in the evening, and arriving in Vancouver on Sat Dec 21 at 1:30 pm! 

I don't know how they did it. 

Here we are, about to plunge in. We didn't all fit around the 2 tables so some had to eat in the living room. But it was still a lot of fun.

My parents enjoying Christmas dinner. They provided the turkey, which I cooked and basted; I made the potatoes and Dan Morgan made the delicious gravy. I also made lemon zest brussels sprouts, corn, and a 7th heaven layered salad, plus a whipped cream and raspberry salad. Marlene made the dressing from scratch and baked it in casserole dishes. Dan also made a superbly delicious sweet potato casserole. It was so yummy.

And here are some of the luscious desserts! My Mom made the Jam Jams in the lower right, and Marlene made the painted cookies and all of the cookies on the tray next to them, and also the gingerbread snowflake cookies. I made the sugar cookies and the Santa bars.

So, here's to wishing all my friends and family who follow this little blog, a wonderful happy healthy prosperous New Year in 2014, filled to the brim with God's richest blessings, which He gives us to enjoy.

By Loretta Houben

Thanksgiving Day 2013

Me and Robert, having Thanksgiving dinner at Swiss Chalet.

My parents didn't wish to come with us. My Dad finds it very difficult to eat out now.

However, my parents came over for Thanksgiving tea!

Just look at our lovely new fence and gate, installed by K & K Aluminum, and designed with my help by Fil Pepa. He did the cement footing too and he also did our patio, and the new side fence. We just love it!

Skyping with Matthew in St. Louis!

Skyping with Marlene; she's basting her turkey for 11 people. She celebrates Canadian Thanksgiving.

A happy thankful time together.

A smaller gathering than most years. My Dad, Leona, my Mom and Robert.

I used my peach luster set, and had two pies; pumpkin and marionberry. Yummy.

Leona brought the dainties on the left from St. Germain bakery.

Num...num...

Our Thanksgiving weekend 2013...Part Two

We were all up bright and early on Sat Oct 12, eating breakfast at 7:15 am if you can believe it! We stayed at the Comfort Inn and they provided a delicious breakfast with the price of our room. The rooms were nice and only $89 each; Linda paid lower as she booked without the advantage of cancellation if she couldn't make it down. I just can't do that! I'm too nervous that something will go wrong at the last minute. The Comfort Inn is very clean. The only thing which was not good this time is that we were in room 117 on the side where the Denny's restaurant is located. Gangs assemble in the Denny's parking lot at 1:30 am and put their stereos full blast and zoom around the parking lot. It's very scary. So if you go to this Inn, don't stay on the Denny's side!

Valnora, a member of the BSC, spotted me at the doll show and called my name! I was pleased to meet her. She takes cute photos of her dolls. She is from Oregon. Do you see the funny vendor in the back, photo bombing my picture? That is just so funny. We arrived at the Puyallup fair grounds at 8:30 am for early admission which was wonderful as it wasn't crowded.

I loved this Jackie Chimpky Bleuette, but she was $200.

There were so many cute dolls to see! I always get exhausted quickly. It's a sensory overload!

This is a Kestner beauty. She was my favourite.

Another antique beauty of some kind.

This was a doll and teddy bear show, but there weren't too many teddy bears!

Hmm...this is what I bought. Everything was from the doll show, except for Caroline and her mini Caroline doll.

I love the artist Dutch doll. She is by John Nissen. Linda spotted Bitty Baby; she was only $30. I wanted one to sew for.

Linda and I treated ourselves to roast turkey dinner at Elmer's, close to our hotel. Robert had pot roast. The food was sooooo good! It was a tiring but wonderful day. I'm thankful for Robert's patience. After dinner we had a dip in the pool at 10 pm.