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.

 

The Five and Under Club

This past week we've had the privilege to have all of our pre-schoolers over at one time or another, while our Saskatoon family came for the celebration of life service of their Oma (Great Grandmother  to Lacey and Teddy) on their mom's side. While the family took time to plan, reminisce and say their farewell, we were able to help care for two little girls who will have to get a little older to understand the amazing life story of their Super Oma.

Landon and Koen arrived one morning before their two cousins were even up.
 They often have a snack first thing when they come in.



Later, while us girls lingered over the end of our lunch,
the boys and Lacey found their spot on the couch

and, by the looks of it, the show was good!

Makenna came the next morning and was happy to be a big helper to Teddy . . .

who loved the idea of a lawnmower to help her feel like she could walk.
She's just about there!

 

One of the highlights was that the swings got hung . . . 

Makenna

and Teddy spent some time swinging and dreaming under the maple tree.

Inside, we noticed that someone had tried their best at stacking the rings

and soon Papa was busy giving free lessons.



Lacey tried hard to smile for the camera

 

especially because Papa promised to take her to Tim Hortons.

These are precious times . . .
early morning cuddles in bed, eating cereal at the counter,
folding little shirts and leggings, playing hide and seek, reading stories,
bath times and sweet tuck-ins . . .
for a season to seize right now.
 

Macrina Bakery

A surprise awaited me on the Sunday morning after the concert.

 

My H had made a breakfast appointment with a business friend and, kind of reluctantly, I went along. It was, after all, a bakery that we were meeting at!

The interior, boasting a high ceiling with painted murals, was quite impressive!

As were the shelves behind the counter, laden with freshly baked breads!

But what put the icing on the cake for me . . . was this huge window view into the kitchen.

Our friend, who had chosen the venue, had no idea how this would intrigue me! While I was gawking at the fun in that kitchen, he asked me what side of the table we'd want to sit at in reference to one he had picked a bit farther away. Smiling, I said, I want to sit right here in front of this window!

This kitchen is equipped with several machines that shape the buns.

On one side of the large table, large amounts of yeast dough get weighed out and shaped into,
what look like, large thick pizza shells.

On the other side of the table someone puts the tray into the machine.
It closes and jiggles for a few seconds

and the tray of buns are quickly removed.

It was amazing to see how this could be done! Having shaped buns by hand almost all my life =)
I've wondered how a machine would do it. The tray went back to the table, where another cook spread them out on large baking sheets, to rise and bake.

And back to what we came for . . . the coffee was great!

 

As was the French toast! 

Driving away we talked about how we'd be coming back one day!