the finished product

I suddenly remembered that I had not posted the pictures of the completed baby quilt that I was working on back in April. I made it into a blanket instead of a quilt because I remember having a blanket like this that someone had made for Bethany when she was a baby. It was so practical and easy to take along. Anyway, this little blanket went to a precious little baby named Eileen. She wasn't named after me but rather after her paternal great grandmother, but I like to pretend that she's my namesake too. :)

the loot

Howard returned from Germany exactly 2 weeks ago with his rather smallish suitcase over half full of items from my "shopping list". Fortunately my dear friend, Erna, had done the bulk of the shopping by the time Howard got there so he got off pretty easy! (Thank you, Cathy, for the delicious chocolate bar - one of my favs!)

at the village

I took a few pictures at the museum after we had lunch there with Katy last Saturday.

This is where Alfred sat...
Of course there's a quilt made by many skilled hands that is being raffled off at the museum.

the little mennonite

Here is Katy at work, dressed in her "uniform". She wears a black skirt and an apron every day when she is serving in the restaurant at the Steinbach Heritage Museum. She is enjoying her job but would like to work more. It's a bit slow at the museum at this time of the year but things will definitely pick up as the weather gets warmer. So, bring on the heat!

how precious

I found this at the thrift store today - you can still see the price on it if you look carefully. It caught my eye as I was leaving the store and I was instantly transported back to my childhood. It looks like something my grandma would have made which makes it absolutely perfect for me and for our house. It's old and that makes it perfect. Couldn't be better!

what i don't like about canada - part 1

Time for a reality check. There are actually things in Canada that I don't like. Sorry to say, it's true. Now that the weather is finally starting to shape up the grass is growing and of course needs mowing. Today was the first big mowing day in our neighbourhood and it just happened to be a Sunday. After living for 12 years in a country where grass cutting on Sunday is VERBOTEN! this lack of respect for the quiet and respite of a Sunday afternoon seems almost tragic to me. So there we sat in the warmth of the sun with the whirring of lawnmowers buzzing in our heads, trying not to moan but missing a quiet Sunday afternoon in our little town in Germany.

a good deal

Bethany had a bit of a fender bender way back in March which caused enough damage to have her car written off. She was given a very generous payout and the car shopping began in earnest. She said from the beginning that she wanted a Toyota Corolla but it seemed like a bit of a lofty notion. However, she kept at her search until she found the car that she wanted. And the price was exactly right.

happy mother's day

This is what I found on the table in the kitchen when I came down this morning. Katy had orchestrated the whole event and I was completely surprised! Howard left me the Azalea

before he left for Germany so he gets a bit of credit too. :) Katy also took me out to a movie last night and that was a secret until the movie started! She is an amazing young woman! Beth is 4 hours away working in a greenhouse for the summer. She so wanted to send me something right from her work but couldn't. It pained her to see all the Mother's Day stuff crossing her counter and not being able to do anything about it. She's such a dear girl. I feel loved and blessed. And Happy Mother's Day to my own wonderful mom who has always loved and encouraged me in everything I've done. You are a blessing to me!

dealing with change

Last Wednesday I got my little pots planted.

By Monday they already looked like this.
And this morning like this. I am starting to panic! They are ready to go into the ground but it's still too cold out there - I think. Yikes!

what a difference a day makes

Sunday morning.
Monday afternoon.

the great hallelujah!

Last night was the big concert that we've been looking forward to for months. It was fantastic! The concert started at 7:30 but by 7:00 the church was already packed to the rafters. The atmosphere was electric! http://www.steinbachonline.com/local_news/great_hallelujah_packs_church/itemid_232

Danny's band came from Germany and they were amazing as always.
An old picture of Danny and his sister, Pauline. They sang together a lot as young people...
...and they did again last night, singing a beautiful song that Danny wrote when he was fifteen.
There were over 250 people in the choir!
Danny gave a tribute to his mom which was lovely and moving.
A lovely presentation and thank-you was given to Danny and Sherri at the end of the concert. And then afterwards we met up with lots of former BFA people that we haven't seen for ages! It was such a great evening and I know that everyone in the audience (and choir!) was blessed to bits!