Gollum trying out his new camera.

The day's take.

Snow starts.  Still playing around with ISO, I discover that I need it at 3200 or 6400.  But why does it say ISO 100 on the photo details?

Sleep.  Playing around with ISO.  800 ISO on this one.

Unnamed 16 year old boy takes the puck off of the other team.

Wow, I really need to work on my arena photography!

Lily greets the winter sun.

It was at least -13 celsius out there!

Big brother and little brother footsteps in the snow

Kitchen design by Pinterest

I didn't exactly get Pinterest at first.  But then it grew on me, now I can't get enough of it.  I don't think it is addictive for most people, but I think that it is addictive for people who are visual thinkers.  Especially if we are looking for inspiration.

Aside from being a huge time-waster, good things come from Pinterest addictions.  For example, I have become inspired to decorate our kitchen.  Images of chalkboard paint, concrete countertops, and organization ideas literally fill my dreams.  We started to fix up our small and tired kitchen when we first moved in 4 years ago, but then we realized just how inefficient and small it was and decided to focus on other areas of the house. Then 2 years ago, as a result of the great flood, we had to replace the vinyl flooring, and chose a natural stone tile, installed it, started to look at changing the hardware, didn't find a handle we liked and then did nothing more to the kitchen.  We gave up on it in hopes that someday soon we will be able to afford "the addition" of a great room that will entail turning our current lower level family room into a kitchen.  There wasn't really much of a point in spending money on a kitchen that could possibly be torn out in a year or two.  Well realistically, "the addition" is not happening this year, or likely next, and in the meantime, redecorating and reorganizing in our kitchen could greatly enhance it's function.  So here is what we are starting with:

Fridge, pantry, dog and entryway to front hall.

Cabinet doors that do not close properly.

Poor kitchen design, dishwashers should not be next to ovens!  And ovens should not be next to dining rooms.  

I  would like to have the tops of the cabinets clear, or at least have streamlined decorative items only, but  I need every bit of shelf space I can get.

We lost a kitchen table for this old school trophy case, but it adds cabinetry, and I just love it.

Something else I love, Grandbert's artwork.

So here's my to-do list: 

• Finish stripping wallpaper - cost 0 dollars
• Remove ugly backsplash tiles - cost 0 dollars
• Plaster and sand the walls - cost 0 dollars (because I already have the supplies)
• Paint walls and trim - cost $19.97 plus tax 
• Paint backsplash with chalkboard paint - cost $21.49 (add another $23.67 if I decide to go with magnetic primer, all other supplies we already have.)
• Install pot lights in ceiling - cost 0 dollars (since we already bought the lights.)
• Sweet talk my husband into making me a polished concrete countertop - cost of materials unknown to me but keep in mind that this is one of the things he does in his job so he will only need materials, not rental of tools required.
• Change cabinet hardware (hinges and handles) - cost I don't know, but I am shopping for deals or do it yourself ideas!
• Declutter and reorganize - cost 0 dollars
• Consider installing a spice shelf - cost 0-$16.99 
• Considering sanding and staining the cabinets to match the other furniture.

I'll be sure to post the after photos, here and of course on Pinterest.

Finally some snow for the kids!

Icy morning.

Charlie at almost 20 years old.

A boy and his dog.

Happy 8th Birthday Kira!

8 years ago today, Kira Jane came tearing into this world.  Labour was fast and furious and she came out red and screaming!  And in 8 years she's barely stopped screaming enough to catch her breath!  She screams for joy, pain and anything in between.  Kira is an amazing girl, absolutely full of life and opinions.  Exactly what we needed after 3 busy boys!  Here's how she celebrated her special day:

Kira's menu choices, broccoli casserole, baked ham, scalloped potatoes and black forest cake.

Birthday girl in action

Two brothers and an iPod.

A sunny day looking the Bay Bridge.

The Christmas Pickle

Years ago, just for fun, my mother-in-law introduced the tradition of the Christmas Pickle.  The first few years we had a pickle that she had fashioned out of floral tape, but then I bought her a proper glass pickle that she could hang on the tree.  (In fact, I bought her and 10 other people Christmas Pickles that year, as they were cheaper by the dozen.)  She continued to hide the pickle and gave the child who found it a small present.   Sadly, she passed away in 2006, and I found that I kept forgetting to hide the pickle on Christmas morning.  So for the past 3 or 4 years, I have waited until Epiphany,or the Twelfth day of Christmas to hide the pickle.  This year, it was quickly and unceremoniously found by Patrick.  I have to get smarter about hiding it, I need decoy pickles, and ornaments with hiding spots in them.  Even though he shared his treat with his siblings, Griffin was left feeling quite unsatisfied. 

Minutes later, Griffin says,  "Look, I found the pickle."  He had a sly grin on his face as he took me by the hand and pointed at the tree.  (One could follow the trail of pickle juice back to the kitchen counter.)

After he "found" it, he picked the needles off of it and ate it!  I hope he has luck for the rest of the year!

Making a very special birthday card for a very special big sister.

A quick photo of the tree before it comes down tonight.  Can you see the pickle? 

I was testing settings using the gilded pears and apples on the chandelier.  This is what I ended up with.