Anticipation & Promises

There seems to be so much to look forward to at this time of year, and yet I am finding the time is just slipping away - leaving me feeling as though I am not appreciating it properly. I keep promising myself I will slow down, but I keep going - it seems, at an alarming rate. So, I am making myself some early promises right now. You see - I need to plan, so I can actually keep them.

We are now 28 weeks pregnant, and our new little girl is feisty and already claiming her space between her brother and I with not so gentle love kicks when we are cuddling... so I vow to cuddle him even more and take time to spend with him alone, knowing how much our lives
will change in February. I have no idea what it will be like for us - will be special, scary, beautiful and challenging... all at once.

Over the holidays I will finish cleaning out the space for another double bed so the little one and I can cuddle and she can nurse to her hearts content, while her brother spoons with me or dad... and I am going to try not to be too stressed out about it. With all the renovations going on, and the holidays, I want to do it and just be done so I can enjoy this time of seeming quietude with our small family.

I am going to finish all my outstanding freelance illustration work before the holidays, get all assignments marked and marks into banner the week before christmas - and will not take on any more big jobs until March. I will however dedicate some time to my dummy that has been sitting idle for far too long due to actual paying work pouring in.

I will appreciate what we have and try very hard to not be too envious of my friends larger, fully renovated homes that are beautifully decorated for christmas and think more about those who have nothing or who have lost so much.

I will keep my spending in check and the focus of the season - being friends and family at the forefront.

I will say thank you and smile at grumpy people in the mall, even though I feel like a mac truck, I am infinitely grateful to be carrying the child I am. I will not shop at the mall, but may pop in
for sushi.

I will hug my husband, and thank him for the small things. Sometimes I forget to do that.

I will be kinder to myself.

I will sleep more.

I will prepare for my baby to make her entrance as she sees fit.

I will give as much as I can, and show our son that it feels even better than receiving.

I am sure there is more...

It is Card Season again!

I have lots and lots of cards for sale through etsy (or in person if
you prefer), complete with matching seals and envelopes... drop me a
line or visit my etsy store (see link on side panel - and get ready
for the snowy season ; ) If you are interested in having something
else on a card - let me know, I am always open to new options.

Felted Characters from In The Snow

So, I like to craft. I especially like to needlefelt. I find it relaxing, and it is something I can do that is creative that for me does not involve a lot of thinking once I know what I am doing... And, I also love to create things to take with me to book readings. The idea is to get the children to interact with my books in a tactile and fun way. For the young children this really seems to work. So, I give you Mowat and his GINORMOUS snowman...

missing pics

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The Avid Reader in Coburg

We launched In the Snow yesterday at the Avid Reader in Coburg... great store! Lovely location, very nice people - and we had a nice group of kids come out. I was actually surprised, as it was an absolutely gorgeous day and if I could have been outside I would have been!

Once again I have to say how much I love indie bookstores... the feel is so very different from the big boxed stores, intimate and warm. So I say - go to an indie bookstore for your  Christmas shopping, you will be glad you did. Otherwise these places will disappear, and that would be a real tragedy.

The felted snowman was fun, when the kids worked together it worked well, I always forget about that element - the not sharing part, and my son - MO, was the worst! Seems sharing mom at these things is not too much fun. The book was received well and then we went down to the fantastic coburg beach and got silly again. A much needed dose of fresh air after traveling and  reading before we got in the car again. Now, we just wait for the snow...

I will post pics of felty the snowman tonight as well.

Book reading this weekend in Coburg

This Sunday, November 15th - at the Avid Reader in Downtown Coburg. I
will be reading my books, we'll build some GINORMOUS snowmen (inside),
and get into the winter season with the kids. Bring your friends and
family.

Also, on December 12 at 1:30pm at Baby, Bump and Beyond in downtown
Napanee, I will be doing the same...

More dates and details to come. I really hope to see you there.

Happy Halloween

Well, we did it - here is the white-wall tire costume requested of us
by our son. He is an original for sure, and we pulled it together, at
about 1230am on friday evening. Hope everyone had a safe and happy
halloween. We had lovely visits with our neighbours, a gorgeous moon
and sadly only 3 kids to our house.