We had an ice day today. Freezing rain began last night and we woke up to a blanket of thin ice on EVERYTHING. The car slid down the driveway as Meghan was backing it up. Almost hit the retaining wall! She had just arrived at her Teaching placement when she heard on the radio that all classes were cancelled! The main roads were well salted and sanded, but parking lots, sidewalks and side roads were treacherous. When Meg got back, she could only drive the car a few feet up the driveway. Trying to get herself out of the car was hillarious! She couldn't get a grip on the driveway and was holding herself up on the car door, giggling the whole time! She finally got her footing and hopped onto the grass. We enjoyed a morning of doing nothing! By afternoon, roads were in better condition and the temps are rising even now. Forecast for tomorrow is +11ºC!!! Crazy!!!

My Christmas Decor

I started decorating today! I was going to wait until December 2nd, when the MCTV Children's Telethon is on TV. It's tradition for us to decorate the house that day! But, after listening to some Christmas music on Pandora today, I couldn't wait!

I only put up a few garlands, lights and pictures, but it looks quite festive in here!
In one month from today, Christmas will be all over for another year!!!

Karma frames are ready!

I have been working for a few months now on designing some frames for use in Photoshop. It took me quite a while to figure out the HOW. Once I knew HOW to make the frames easy to use, the designing was FUN! You can find them on my website, from my Links.
Now I'm working on designing some everyday templates. I'd like to make some for Birthday, Thank You, Congrats, Graduation, Anniversary, Hello and more! I will even custom design templates for that special ocassion!
It's a good thing I don't have a "paying" job outside the home. I could spend hours and hours on my computer. I guess it's the artist in me. When I was a little girl, I was always doodling, painting, drawing, writing poems or making collages. Little has changed, except now I do most of it on my laptop or desktop PC.

First Snow

It snowed yesterday. It was magically beautiful. Thick, wet flakes fell overnight and most of the day. The tree boughs were heavy with the weight of it. Everything had a clean, white, beautiful snowy coat on it. But I had a hard time liking it. I hate snow.
I haven't always hated snow. When I was a kid, a teenager, a young mother - snow was wonderful! I used to slide down the schoolyard hill until the snow had worked it's way through my snowpants, jeans and underwear. Talk about cold butts! I was a downhill skier (very novice), a cross country skier and a snowmobiler.
We would take our girls on special outings to go sliding or skiing or sledding. We'd build snowmen and snow forts. I would make snow fudge and we'd eat it outside! Snow fudge is just like regular fudge, but when it's warm and gooey in the pan, you run outside and drizzle it on the clean snow to cool off! Chewy and delicious snow treats!
I think when I became a driver (I was 23 years old) I started hating snow. I was nervous driving in it. Still am. It's always so c-o-l-d in the car and I'm too much of a conservationist to let it warm up for very long! I don't want to pollute the air or waste the gas!! After so many years of living here in the north-east of Ontario with -30ºC temps and 4 feet of snow, I got tired of it. I hate snow.
But after seeing how gorgeous everything looked yesterday, I felt guilty. Maybe I need to seek snow-anger management classes.

DesideratA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Written by Max Ehrmann
My motto, my words to live by, my favourite poem - ever.