Wish Foundation Link

As promised, I have set up the web page for my son's Team for the Children's Wish Foundation Walk on October 16th at West Edmonton Mall. My page link is http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1008179 and all sponsorships go directly to the foundation. Please help us support this very worthy cause! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Children's Wish Foundation

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is holding its 6th Annual Wishmaker Walk for Wishes on October 16th. This event raises funds to grant wishes for children who are battling life threatening illnesses. I know first hand it is a wonderful cause, as my son has benefited from it. This year, he wants to give something back!

He is putting together a team of walkers...together we will raise money so other children can be granted their wishes as well. He will walk as much as he can, even though it is not easy for him. Being cancer free for over two years is great...the trauma caused by the surgery so he could keep his leg is not so great. As time goes on, it will get better I'm sure.

Donations can be made online directly to the foundation...I will be providing a direct link once I have him registered. Team members do not have to walk if they choose not to...they can join the virtual walk and collect pledges online. I will be walking with him, as will his sister and other family members and friends. One of his classmates has already said she will walk with him as well. The walk we are attending is in West Edmonton Mall...so no matter what the weather is like, we will be warm. Even if it were outside, it would not deter me from participating.

We would appreciate any pledges possible, as this is such a good cause. One never knows when a seemingly healthy child will be diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness...the Wish Foundation makes living with the illness a little more bearable. I will be posting the link this week. Thank you in advance for your support!

Cell Phone Mishap, etc.

Our morning seemed to start out okay...got up, my daughter got organized for work, and into town we went. I dropped her off and headed home. She called to find out if her cell phone was in the van or at home...it wasn't. I told her to check the parking lot, and sure enough...there it was! It had fallen when she got out of the van...and I ran it over!!! They tend not to work too well after that!

Needless to say, she was in need of a new one. I prefer her to have one, so off I went to a Walmart an hour away. I got her a texting phone, which is what she mainly uses hers for anyhow. I do hope this one stays out from under the tires!


We had another beautiful day today...the leaves are so pretty this time of year. The weather forecast is calling for sunny skies most of the week, which is a very good thing. We need some sun and heat so the harvesting can be finished.

I am slowly getting all of my bales moved...it is a lengthy process, as the twine breaks and I have to pitch it into the truck with the pitchfork. My son was a big help yesterday, as he drove the truck and my daughter and I tossed the bales in. He also unloaded a truck full of loose hay. I appreciate any help he is able to give me, as walking isn't the easiest for him.

I will be starting a sewing frenzy soon...I was just informed of a Trade Show coming up at the end of October that I very much want to be a part of. I will be making small projects, such as table runners, Christmas stockings, pot holders, quillows, fleece sets, fleece plankets (no, this is not a typo...pillow and blanket together), etc. I am very excited, as sales are usually very good this time of year. I am enlisting the help of a very good friend to make me a quilt rack for my display. It is so nice to have such a talented friend...the same one who will be making me my sewing table this winter.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I will be picking out my patterns and projects for the Trade Show. I am so excited...it has been awhile since I have attended one!

The Harvest Continues!

I am happy to report there were no falls off of the baler the other day, and no broken bones. I had no idea putting a belt back in a baler is much like threading a sewing machine...if it isn't done properly, it just won't work. It was nice to have the other belts as a guide.

I am waiting for the rain to stop once again so I can continue hauling bales. The fields are just too muddy today to be doing anything. If the sun comes out tomorrow like it is supposed to, I will be back in the field on Wednesday. I am hoping to see another deer, or perhaps a moose like I did last year. Coming across deer, moose or coyotes is not uncommon out in the fields, but still a neat thing for me.

I also need the rain to stop so I can dig my potatoes. We have had frost a couple nights already and the tops are frozen. I spent time in the rain picking all of my tomatoes and peppers before the heavy frost Thursday night. Today I pulled the onions. I have also rescued the pumpkins...at least the ones the wildlife didn't find. Next year I put my tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and watermelon under glass. I did learn something this year which I hadn't known before...do not plant watermelon and zucchini close together. I had watermelon that looked like watermelon on the outside...but looked and tasted like zucchini on the inside. The reason for this is they cross-pollinated...something I hadn't even considered. Live and learn!

I am hopeful the weather changes in our favor. With the wet summer we have had, there is still hay to be made along with the harvesting of the grain. We do need more than two days without rain...fields just get to the point of drying when it rains again. Don't get me wrong, the moisture is welcome after the dry summer we had last year...if only it would come at the right time. I must be a farmer at heart...never satisfied with the weather.

I will close for the moment...I must take advantage of the wet weather and finish tidying my house and come up with supper for my family. Have a great day...and may the sun shine so we can continue our harvest!

Harvest Time

Will the weather ever co-operate with us?

It is time for harvesting, and all it does is rain...just like it did all summer. With the harvest comes the crazy hours and break-downs. I am helping my Dad and Uncle, and so far they have had swather and baler trouble. I will be helping with the baler today, since I am the youngest and its easier for me to climb on top of it to put the fixed belt back in. Less damage done to my body if I fall than theirs too.

I love being out at the farm...wish I could live closer to it. I am still not very far away, but a mile or so down the road would be so much better. My acreage just isn't the same as the farm...no cows right now (although 4H will be starting up again soon, so we will have my daughter's beef project).

I have my eye on a place a mile and a half away from the farm...it has been for sale for awhile. I would love to buy it, but am unable to secure financing. I'm optimistic my writing will pay off soon...on Hubpages and on here. I have published 24 hubs on HubPages, have been blogging for several months now and have an Amazon store (see link on this page). If anyone has other surefire ways to earn an online income, please share. They must be legitimate ways though...no scams will be appreciated.

It is such a pretty time of year as well...the leaves are changing color and the crops are going from green to yellow. I have the option of taking different routes home, and the backroads are lined with trees. I love seeing the different colors of the leaves. We had our first hard frost last night, which means the leaves will be changing faster and falling faster. The country roads look so nice on a sunny day covered in leaves. I am not ready for winter yet...never am...but the leaves falling reminds me it is coming whether I am ready or not.

I am off to do my part with the harvest...my quilts, blankets and fleece sets will have to wait. Have a good day everyone, and don't be afraid to share your thoughts!

Fleece Projects, etc.

As the weather cools, I can't help but get back into sewing and crocheting mode. This is the year to go back into it full force.

I still have hundreds of meters of fabric and fleece to use up, so will be kept busy all winter long. I made my first-ever fleece hat last night! It turned out alright, but the second one I made is the one that will be sold. My daughter made a fleece mitten...not bad for a first attempt. It does need a little modification on the thumb though. I am quite excited, as I can make hat, mitt and scarf sets...and sell them easily through local shops.

Another item I will be making is a snuggle blanket. I have many different prints and solids on hand, so can have a lot of fun being very creative. The biggest challenge I think is going to be packaging them for sale.

Fleece jackets are also on my list of things to make...I have the first one ready for the sewing machine. I will make these in a variety of sizes, and with the holiday season fast approaching, they will sell quickly.

I attended our local Information Night on Tuesday, and spoke with the Further Education Co-ordinator. I recently decided now is a good time to start teaching classes on the things I enjoy doing. I think my first class will be on making a fleece set...it will be simple and can be done in an evening. I will get some teaching experience as well as earn a few extra much needed dollars.

I have my eye on an acreage just down the road, and it will be ideal...I will finally be able to have a sewing room again. Plus, it is equipped with two large shops, a garage, beautiful home, corrals and waterers. It will be ideal for all of our cats, two dogs, two horses and my daughter's 4H calf. The best part is, it has been well maintained and the roof doesn't leak. Our landlord isn't too keen on putting any money into our place, nor is he willing to sell. I personally cannot justify putting a lot of money into a rental home.

I will be setting up a website within the next month or so displaying my crafts and quilts. I enjoy being home for my teenage children, and prefer to make a living from my hobbies. I know it may not make me rich, but at least I'll enjoy what I do. The older I get, the more I realize life is too short to be miserable...be it relationships or career wise. That realization really set in when my son was undergoing cancer treatment. My world changed after that experience, as did his.

I will close for now, as I had best get busy with my day. Wishing everyone a great day! I will post my website link when I have set it up.

Back To School

Summer vacation is over and kids are back to school! I can't believe how quickly the last two months have flown by!
Our summer was spent close to home...no vacations for us this year. I have spent the better part of the summer helping a friend renovate my parent's house to make it more Senior friendly. Lower tub and main floor laundry will make their lives easier...as well as mine. I won't have to worry about them falling down the stairs as they go to do laundry. At their age, a fall could easily lead to disaster.
I have learned how many things need to be taken into account when renovating a house. I have also learned how to drywall, tape and mud the right way. Although I didn't go anywhere, it has still been a very educational summer.
Now that school is back in and renovations are coming to an end, I can once again start concentrating on getting back to my sewing. I have found a small store which will display my crafts for a small monthly fee, which is ideal for me. I can now have my items displayed on a daily basis, and not have to pack up everything and take it to Farmer's markets and craft shows.
With Christmas just around the corner, it is the perfect time to get out the sewing machine and crochet hook and get busy. And, since I have hundreds of meters of fabric at my disposal, there is no reason to not have a large variety of items available.
Time to get my nephews a snack...they are so much fun at this age. It has been awhile since my children were 4 and 5...I forgot how busy they can be at that age.
Have a great day!