Happy New Year!

Our Tree



Smile!

"Now, which gift is mine?"

"I can help wrap!"

Find the Cat

Happy New Year and All the Very Best for 2012!

A Very Merry Sheltie Christmas

Have a very Merry Sheltie Christmas!

Jogging Track

This is the jogging track on the cruise ship. Where is everybody?

I guess this isn't one of the big attractions on the ship.

They must be at the buffet!

Another Strange Coincidence

Another True Story: I finished reading Tina Fey’s autobiography Bossypants when I was on our cruise last week. She mentioned in her book that her husband doesn’t like to fly so they went on a cruise instead. She mentioned their cruise director, Dan, Dan the Party Man. Well, it just so happened that the cruise director on our ship (Navigator of the Seas) was Dan, Dan the Party Man. Same Dan? Maybe, who knows? That very night during the evening show Dan mentioned Tina Fey’s book and that she talks about him in the book. Another coincidence! I met Dan on the stairs the next day and had to tell him! We laughed and had a good chuckle!

Strange Coincidence

True Story: I am reading Pat Benatar's autobiography Between a Heart

and a Rock Place. I had to go out today so I grabbed her CD

to listen to in the car. When I started up the car one of her songs

 was playing on the radio! What a strange coincidence!

Navigator of the Seas

We spent last week on this cruise ship. Cruising is great! Everyone should try it at least once. You either love it or hate it, there's no in between. Your trip can be as relaxing or as busy as you want it to be. There is always something to do. The ship has EVERYTHING! Restaurants, bars, clubs, ice cream, a coffee bar, a casino, Bingo, a movie theatre, a spa, a gym, stores, several pools and hot tubs, mini golf, a rock wall, even ice skating, and you can even get a henna tattoo! Sail away! (It also has quiet spots to steal away to read a good book.)

Cruise Food

The food was amazing! Thanks again to our servers,

Gokhan and Simon! They were the best! This is just

one of the great meals that we had. TWO lobster tails,

not one! The wine and cocktails were pretty good too!







I'm Home!

I just got back from a Western Caribbean cruise! This was my seventh cruise and my husband's fifth. I was looking forward to this one in particular because I wanted to see the ship decorated for Christmas. It was beautiful! This is the ship's Promenade. It is lined with stores, a wine bar, a snack bar, and a pub. The tree was about three decks (floors) high. The golden ball ornaments were bigger than a basketball! The food was great as always. More on that later.

Navigator of the Seas - Promenade

Christmas Tree at Sea

Spoiled Cat

Here she is again! Truffles! She was a rescue cat.

Christmas is so much better when you have pets!

Cross Stitch Budgies

Budgies make great pets. I have owned a budgie for most

of my life. I had one that lived almost 16 years!

He talked, he danced, he was amazing!

He was very special.

Cross Stitch Map

Cross stitch makes the world go round!

Hen Party

Chicken and Rooster Hinged Boxes

Cross Stitch Mugs

I stitched several of these mugs for gifts. I have two of my own.

Naturally, I would have a Sheltie one!



You Talkin' to Me?

You talkin' to me?

Well, then, have a great weekend!

Paper Dolls

I love paper dolls. Always have. I collect them and I create them. I drew these many years ago. I have tons of them. I obviously had a lot of time on my hands back then. I used Betty and Veronica from the Archie comic books as some of my models.

Christmas Moose

I cross-stitched this for my daughter's friend.

I will make it into a Christmas ornament for her.

Anne of Green Gables

Vintage Spill and Spell

Need I say more?

Meow!

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Truffles

Craft Boxes

I don't know the name of the artist since I

bought this box years ago, but she certainly did a

lovely job. The details are amazing. She painted

designs on two sides! The inside is hunter green.

I saw this box at a craft show. It was made

of pine but I wanted it in a harder wood, so

I asked the vendor if he could make one with oak.

He said yes. It ended up that he had enough

scrap pieces so he gave me a really good

deal on this custom beauty!

They have served me well over the years.

Very Vintage Locket Kiddle

Here she is. She is very, very tiny.

Country Scene

I cross-stitched this picture to make into a heart-shaped pillow.

Mocha (a.k.a. Mocha Bear)

This is Mocha. We took care of her for six months. I miss her.

Miniature Bears

I love bears. I had a little teddy bear that I got

when I was two years old. I cherished that little bear. His name was Goldie.

 (How original.) I still have him. Isn't he adorable? He is still in very good condition.

He is a Steiff bear. The other three bears are Gunds and they are newer.

Three Little Mohair Bears

Group Shot

Buffalo

We are home from our shopping spree weekend (four friends)! We had a great time. Lots of laughs. (What happens in Buffalo, stays in Buffalo.) We bought a ton of stuff. Way too much to list here. We have "show and tell" in the hotel room at the end of each day. What fun it is to see everyone's purchases.

I was fine until the drive home on Sunday. I got food poisoning from lunch. I am fine now.

Back to crafting. I bought fabric, thread, embroidery hoops, glue, fine-tip pens, aida cloth, and more. If you would like to see my items for sale, please check out my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnneN

I'm Here

Sorry for not updating my blog for 8 days. We were in Huntsville, Ontario (Algonquin Park) to pick up our daughter. It was beautiful up there. We were also in Ottawa. Lots going on.

Early tomorrow I am going to Buffalo, NY, for our annual girls' pre-Christmas shopping weekend. We always have a great time. Lots of laughs, shopping ('til we drop), good meals, and wine of course! We hit all the stores (Marshalls, Macy's, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Burlington Coat Factory, even Tops Friendly Markets) and all the malls too. We literally shop ALL day, especially now that some of the stores are open until 11:00. We usually go to the Cheesecake Factory and the Olive Garden. So sad that we don't have the Olive Garden up here in Canada anymore. :o( I hope to buy lots of Christmas presents! I also plan to get a lot of craft goodies.

Enjoy your weekend!

Go Greek!

Greek Salad

Remezzo Italian Bistro

And speaking of food… If you live in or around the Toronto area, you have to try the Remezzo Italian Bistro. We affectionately refer to it as “Remezzos.” The food is amazing. I have enjoyed every dish that I have ordered there. Our friends and family love it too. We went there on the weekend to celebrate my husband’s birthday.

Their best appetizer (in my humble opinion) is the Coconut Shrimp. To die for! Give it a try.

My three all-time favourites are the Lasagna alla Bolognese, the Angel-Hair Surf & Turf, and the Chicken Kebob. But I have tried MANY other dishes that other people have ordered (little tastes and trades) and they are all delicious. You won’t be disappointed with this family-run business that has been around for 25 years. The servers are pleasant and professional. And they serve wine! What’s not to like.

And they have crème brûlée for dessert!

For more information, check out their website: www.remezzo.ca

Note: I am in no way affiliated or associated with this restaurant other than as a customer. I am recommending it because it’s great and I love it!

Butter Chicken

This is one of our favourite meals. This version is low fat too!

Rulers

Santa's Workshop

I don't do plastic canvas needlepoint anymore. I did it for awhile but I like the finer look of cross stitch much better. Back then I made this Santa's workshop. It took many hours to complete (first the stitching and then the assembly of all the tiny pieces). Where did THAT patience come from? I have included pictures of all four sides and a few close-up shots too.