Mother's Day

Mother's Day 1983 - thirty years ago
Photo taken after church.
I know this because the girls are wearing
pink carnations to celebrate that they have a mom.
Things I love about this photo . . .
sisters holding hands,
 Julene's big sister smile and Kristal's best grin.
The upside down flower.
My baby boy relaxed in my arms . . .
and the smiling photographer (not shown)



"Being a mother is not about what you gave up to have a child,
but what you gained from having one."

~Unknown

 

Highlights of the Week

The view from our gate on Monday morning was awe inspiring!
We flew over the snow capped Rockies . . . then the prairies . . .
and the province flecked with icy lakes  . . . and finally over the
great lakes, landing in Toronto, a city sprouting forth in lush green and spring flowers.
The sun seemed to be shining across the country that day.

Tuesday morning at CTV was an experience we can giggle about now.
Rushing about preparing pie fillings in a warehouse on a roll away kitchen island
then rolling it into the studio and getting it camera ready.
Getting whisked away within the last few minutes to get make up touch ups . . .
there was no time to get nervous.
Now we laugh at what we said or did not say . . . but all in all . . .
we are grateful for the opportunity that was given to us.

Book signings at a couple of Ten Thousand Village stores were times to relax ant just enjoy
meeting people! I decided not to show photos because I did not take photos of everyone
that was special to me. We met some who feel like good friends through blogging, we met those
who are too shy to comment and also those who suddenly found out we are almost related.
I met two sisters, Esther and Sigrid, who were born in Uruguay and attended the same Sunday School I did as a little girl. I met  a lady who knew my uncle in Brazil. Boy, it's a small world!
A long time friend took an hour to drive out, only to find that the store had sold out of books . . .
but we were able to have a little visit.
 She will go back to pick up the book next week.

It was so much fun to see the goodies the staff at both places had made for their guests!
I have to say this is one of my greatest pleasures - to see the recipes at work.
Another pleasure is to know that each book will be providing clean water and better hygiene for children in Kenya.

It was almost ten in the evening, when we we got back to our room. We had not even had a chance to eat dinner but were given the liberty to just order to our room and enjoy going over the day's events.

Early the next morning we were taken to the Crossroads Communication Building where
100 Huntley Street gets taped.

Lovella was first to get her make-up done.

We were taken to the set where we were miked and able to watch the segment that came just before ours, which will be aired this morning.
 here is the link You may need to click on full screen mode to see it.

Meanwhile, let me add some words from Psalm 145: 1 - 7 which reflect our hopes and dreams
for the promotional work done for this book.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 

It was a Great Day!

Paola, our publicist, (does that not sound strange?) drove us through security at CTV at about 7:30 AM.
We took note of Lisa Laflamme's parking stall.

http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/recipes/mennonite-girls-can-cook-turn-mason-jars-into-a-whip-cream-and-fruit-haven-1.1270396

I'd love to say more about the background scences... but this is a late night posting. Maybe another time.

After the CTV clip Paola, representing Graff Martin,, took us to meet Ellen Graff.
They took us for a nice lunch at a local Mennonite restaurant. We had such a great time chatting that we were slmost late for a book signing in Waterloo.

After Waterloo, we were taken to Ten Thousand Villages on Niagara on the Lake . . .

A beautiful heritage town!

We entered the store, close to the clock tower, being met by unkown friends,
and unbelievable connections that I will share about another time!

It was getting dark by the time we left . . . our hearts full and our tummies ready
to settle and have some dinner. It was a long, full day
and I am filled with thanksgiving for the prayers and support
sent in so many ways.

For more details and photos of wonderful people we met
don't forget to visit
http://www.lovella.ca/
who obviously had more to give left after all was said and done.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Our bags are packed and this morning Lovella and I are off to Toronto
for an early morning interview with CTV Canada AM -
to be aired live on Tuesday at 8:45 Eastern time.
We are nervous, but excited, with a long flight ahead to prepare our thoughts and
to reflect on the past weekend.


Our time as a whole group at Winks on Saturday was a day to remember and cherish!
 It was a book signing, garden party.

My biggest (teary) surprise was when my girls showed up!
Kristal with her beautiful mini cupcakes and Julene with her violin.
Other family members also came by to the beautiful little gift shop for the first time.

On Sunday after church we enjoyed an outdoor brunch at Lepp Farm Market before our book signing.

Some special little visitors came by once more.

When a mutual friend to three of us MGCCs came by
I wanted a photo for the sake of old time memories.
Thirty years ago we were all in the same "Young Marrieds" class!
Good Times they were. Those were truly the years we learned to care for one another
when babies were born, when a husband was diagnosed with cancer
 or when someone needed an invitation.

By the end of the weekend we were filled up with wonderful memories once more!
We are ten women with a purpose driven blog to inspire hospitality
and feed hungry children . . .
but sometimes we still take the time to just be girls having fun!

Let the Celebrations Begin

Now that most of the really important people in our lives

have had a chance to take a look through

and given it their approval . . .
it's time to look at the week ahead.
Emails alerting us of out-of town arrivals, preparing bedrooms, planning meals and
sorting out our wardrobes are just some of the things going on around here.

On Wednesday I prepared a new dessert to me. True . . . I'd read it many times over when we were editing recipes, but I never actually made it . . . until I had a pressing reason this week.

If you'd been asked to prepare something in front of a TV camera,
 would you want it to be your first time doing it? Maybe not!

So . . . before the weekend I had to practice . . .
because as soon as the weekend is over, Lovella and I are flying to Toronto
to do a short early morning segment on CTV's Canada AM Show.
I'm sure you'll hear more about it and you will get a chance to see a clip (if you want to)
 after the fact, because you will not want to get up that early.

But before all of that happens, we have an exciting weekend planned
as everyone is coming to the Valley.
On Friday evening we will be at House of James in Abbotsford . . .



On Saturday afternoon we will be at Winks Gift Shop in Chilliwack
 

and on Sunday afternoon at Lepp Farm Market in Abbotsford.
Bring your book if you have one . . . or come and pick up a Mother's Day gift.
It will be so nice to meet those of you who can come . . .
we'll chat . . . maybe read some parts of the book and sign books, of course.

In the in-between times, we will be hosting guests and
enjoy being together!
We will try to keep you posted because you really are a big part of this story.

Playing with Curtains

A number of years ago I purchased four panels of grey/blue sheers for our bedroom and ensuite windows to change things up for the summer. When I got them out recently I thought I'd try another way to hang them. Basically, you can just play with them and find all kinds of ways. I'm hoping that the photos in the collage above describe the look in the photo below.

1. Drape the panel over the end of the rod, leaving a short end of about 12 inches
2. Tie a knot that has the short end going toward the window so that it gets covered once the drape is pulled over it.
3. Pull the rest of the curtain over the rod, so that it's straddling it, half of the length of the panel on each side of the rod.
4. Do the same on the other side
5. Take a hold of all four bottom corners meeting up in the center
6. Tie one knot and then another

 

 

7. Tuck in the ends to get the look you like

 

 

In the bedroom, I changed up the blanket to a grey/blue, mixing it with some of the same accessories I used with the cut-work cream colored duvet.

The bedroom curtains got the same treatment as the bath,

knotted on the ends of the rods and brought together toward the center.

 

Here is another treatment for which you will need some pins

1. Hang the lengths of the sheers over the ends of the rods on each side.
2. Bring one end of each toward the center, looping the ends over the rod.
3. Tie a double knot, fluffing out the ends to make a rose like shape.
4. Secure with pins as needed.
    

 

And for the traditional tie backs, simply slip the curtains onto the rods and let them hang or tie back loosely. In this photo they are knotted and held back with a pin. I like the flowy look of curtains hanging down to the floor, but I always have to be aware of the electric heaters under these windows.