Canada and I

Today is the day! Twenty years ago for the first time I put my foot on the Canadian soil and since then I've never left Canada. When I'm looking back I see a young woman, a little scared, a little disappointed but with the open mind and heart for the new adventure. So far I have seen most of this beautiful land (except Maritimes - that's my project for the next year), have learned about many cultures and got cured from feeling sorry for the natives. It wasn't always easy, there were times when I was looking for a job, when I just 'survived' between the first and last day of the month but somehow always the next day was better than the previous one. And there were fun times like driving across the country, watching boxing with Jamaicans, buying my first car, being on the 'top of the world', having maple syrup for the first time, and so on. I love Canada, I love the freedom and stability I have here and I am so very proud to be Canadian. Happy 20 anniversary to me!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Happy name day to me!

The weather is awesome, snow all gone, snow tires in the storage, temperatures in 70s.  What a gorgeous day to celebrate. Yep, today I'm celebrating my name day. If you want to know more about name day click here.

And I have a little stitchy progress to show you. Last week I was working on M. Quertier 1799 and I was able to finish another motif:

All together there is 26 motifs and I have done 11. I'm almost half done!

I was also working on Miss Mary Mack and the more I stitch the more I like her :)

And look what snail mail brought to me:

A beautiful pair of earrings made by Rachel from Blue Finch. Thank you so much my dear, the timing is perfect! If you like to see more of her awesome creation follow this link: Blue Finch store. I spotted there 'must have' pearls and some more...

Now I'm back to celebrations!

So long my friends,
Evalina

IHSW

Last night was snowing here. Can you imagine? Its May 20 for god's sake! I was hoping that the white stuff will be gone by the morning, but I was just dreaming...

Doggies did not mind at all but I would like to do some gardening! Believe me or not - The Maritimes look closer and closer to me...

Frosty Girl is growing nicely and I can't hold her anymore the way Freddy does. My little puppy is too big and too heavy already.

I've made some progress on M. Quertier 1799 last weekend. Can you see? I've done two motifs!

Unfortunately the 'M' had to go. It was too big and in the wrong spot. Now I need your advice. Look on the picture below - I think it is a little too crowded where the writing is. I think I would like to move the motif above the writing a little lower, place the writing in the marked area on the bottom right and move the motif above the area a little higher. What do you think?

So long my friends,
Evalina

IHSW nad May two-four

It's a long weekend and I have so many plans. It's also a third weekend of the month, famously knows as IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend), time when a whole bunch of stitchers go to their corners and do their stitching marathons. Today I was working very little on M. Quertier 1799 and I started Miss Mary Mack

and I'm planning to work on these two pieces this weekend. Will see how much I can have done...

Are you wonder what May two-four stand for? I wrote about last year, here is the link.

So long my friends,
Evalina

May Monster Madness - Monster inside me

The May Monster Madness challenge is coming to the end and I would love to finish it with a real monsters, those inside of us. Have a look:

All of them are rare cases, but how we can be sure that we are not attacked by some parasite...

So long my friends,
Evalina

May Monster Madness - Miss Mary Mac

Who was Miss Mary Mac? Was she a monster who brain washed little kids to clap and sing her name? Or was she a lost soul looking for answers? Why are so many kids playing this game and why the song is stuck in my head? We all know the popular lyrics, recently I came across this and I like it!

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
She had a knife, knife, knife
Stuck in her back, back, back
She could not scream, scream, scream
She could not cry, cry, cry
So she begs, begs, begs
She begs to die, die, die.

And I have a stitching chart of Miss Mary Mac. With small alternations it will be my project for tonight. I will stitch Miss Mary Mac, think of her and maybe the answer will come to me by the dawn of the morning...

So long my friends,
Evalina

May Monster Madness - The Munsters

I've never seen The Munsters - I guess that's the price I have to pay for growing up in Poland. John, thank you so much for mentioning the series. I searched the net, watched couple of episodes and really liked it.

Here is unaired test pilot for The Munsters TV show entitled "My Fair Munster". I hope you'll enjoy as much as I did!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Chasing the wind

It is a cold and windy day in Marsh Lake. Regardless the weather I had to take my puppy for a walk. Here is our first video taken on our back yard. With a little more practice I will get better, I promise.

Now puppy will take a nap and I will try to warm up with a cup of tea and maybe some stitching. Today I'm working on a piece for charity, a square for a quilt for a little boy who likes wild animals. I'm using Prairie Schooler ornament pattern but instead on linen I'm stitching it on 14 ct Aida. It's almost done, I just have to fill in lion's face and the lamb.

So long my friends,
Evalina

May Monster Madness

It looks like this May Monster Madness is shaping - I want to write about monsters I love. Can you believe that monster can be loveable? Well, here is something I loved thirty years ago and I love it today just the same...

So long my friends,
Evalina

May Monster Madness

This week Annie hosts May Monster Madness.

Who/what are the monsters? We all agree that they are some sort of creatures. Are all monsters are bad? Can we find some good ones? What about Cookie Monster? That's a creature that likes cookies, right? Can you think of any other 'pleasant monsters'?

A long, long time ago I watched a movie 'Gremlins', comedy with little very mischievous creatures. I loved that little Gizmo and wouldn't mind having it as a pet.

Isn't he adorable?

Please let me know if you know of any other sweet little monsters.

So long my friends,
Evalina

My Mother Taught Me About...

1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...

    "Just wait until your father gets home."

2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING....

    "You are going to get it when we get home!"

3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE...

    "What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't talk back to me!"

4. My Mother taught me LOGIC...

    "If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

5. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE...

   "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

6. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD...

    "If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

7. My Mother taught me HUMOR...

    "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

8. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...

    "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

9. My Mother taught me about GENETICS...

    "You're just like your father."

10. My Mother taught me about my ROOTS...

    "Do you think you were born in a barn?"

11. My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE...

    "When you get to be my age, you will understand."

And last but not least...

12. My Mother taught me about JUSTICE...

    "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you....Then you'll see what it's like!"

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z Challenge: Reflections

Another year and another challenge completed. This time I during these 26 days I'd travel the whole world. I hope my readers have as much fun as I did. It was easy to find destinations starting with every single letter in the alphabet.

I was not satisfied with some of my posts. I feel like I could have done better job if work on them a little longer, write earlier and schedule posting.

I did not visit as many blogs as I would like but I made a few more blogging friends. It was so nice to see bloggers from last year challenge and I hope to meet them again in the next one.

Since I did not visit all blogs participating in A to Z Challenge I will, cross my heart, read every reflection post.

So long my friends,
Evalina

My puppy is home!

It has been a long time since I went to Ontario. Well, I went there couple of years ago for a seminar but I do not count that visit. I was picked up at the airport, dropped off at the hotel, did not visit any friends or places. It was strictly business related. This time it was a whole different story. I went there to pick up a puppy! My Topaz (background picture) is 10 years old, she behaves very well and I thought that she could train the puppy.

Twenty years ago, after coming from the Bay Area, Toronto seemed a small city with small highways. It was dark and cold... This time I went there straight from Yukon and what a difference! The city seemed huge, the highways awful big, busy  and fast - for a moment I felt lost and a little overwhelmed... I rented a car right at the airport and my first stop was at Woodstock, next Huron Kennels in Goderich. And here she was, my little Frosty Girl ( in the background are mom and dad).

Theresa (Freddy's Mom) had fun with my little Frosty Girl.

Frosty Girl adopted Topaz's feeding dish without hesitation

found some wood to chew

 and the cat to play with (ZoomZoom wasn't a happy camper or a playful mate)

 and the small patch of snow

Frosty Girl absolutely loves that snow, too bad that it will be gone in a day or two...

I am amazed how quickly she learns, she is only nine weeks old. After a day of playing and training she is house broken, doesn't jump on the couch and people. I am so proud of her!

Frosty Girl and Topaz are Kuvaszok, click here if you would like to know more about this wonderful breed. 

During flights and while waiting for connecting flights I was able to finish May ornament by Prairie Schooler and start on another one! Here is the progress:

So long my friends,

Evalina