This year, I spent Christmas at home. It was a wonderful time spent with family and friends. It was very nice to see all my family especially all my nephews and nieces since they grow up soo quickly. Christmas Eve was spent at my sister’s house while Christmas day was spent at my parents/brother’s house.
Here is a short picture video of Christmas 2009
So back in February I planted some herbs, tomatoes and sunflowers. I have to say that my kitchen has turned into a garden; it's good that I have a big kitchen. My tomatoes have grown huge and they are now growing flowers. Soon there will be fruits. My sunflowers are massive! The tallest one is over 6 feet and growing everyday.
Here are some photos.
My Tomato plant.
About a month ago.. The Sunflowers are on the floor, and tomatoes are on the stand.
In the past I have never grown anything except house plants, and for most part I think I did a good job. Recently I have decided to start my own garden. In the spring I am hoping when the outside grass arrives, we can have a small section separated for growing vegetables. In the tray I have planted, Oregano, Basil, Chives, Rosemary, and two types of tomatoes. The only problem is that I have not marked which pellet contains which plant. I guess when more leafs start to grow they will be more distinguishable. I have planted those seeds 6 days ago, and already they have grown soo much. Soo Cute!
While visiting Toronto a week ago, I had the opportunity to go visit my cousin in Elliot Lake. The drive was about 5.5 hours, and both days were very sunny so there were no problems on the road. Elliot Lake is a small town of roughly 3000 people. It's a small and charming community. I am hoping to go back there in the summer to relax on the beaches and swim in the lakes. Very nice area.
Tomorrow at work we are having a potluck. All the ladies in the company are organizing it and we all decided to make a dish for our hard working men. I volunteered to make a Leek and Pineapple salad. I had it once at Andrew’s house and I loved it, so I got the recipe from Andrew’s mom. The recipe was quite simple, 2-3 leeks, half a pineapple, mayo, and salt and pepper. I made a try run on Saturday just to see if I can make it, and it turned out alright. Today when I begun making the salad, my precious mother suggested running the leeks over hot water to get rid of the sometimes overpowering onion smell. So that is just what I did. I ran the hot water over them, but soon after I realized that the leeks shrunk to half its size. What was supposed to be a salad for 20 people, the finished product looked like it could only feed maybe…4…. I didn’t know what to do, so my brother and my mom started adding anything they could find in the kitchen to make it look like there is more salad. First went the corn, then green beans, followed by red peppers, slices apples, and a handful of raisins. Needles to say it turned out to taste actually aright; to my surprise. We decorated it and here are some photos of my mystery salad.
It has been extremely busy over the last week. To start off last Saturday, June 14, Andrew and I drove to Tobermory where we rented a boat, and amongst the beautiful escarpment shores he proposed…and I said YES! I must say that I have never cried, laughed, and smiled at the same time. It was wonderful and I still giggle when I look down on my hand at the sight of the beautiful ring he got me. When we got home the next day, we were met by my family who all knew about the news; because I called my mom right after it happened from the boat. The week was also very eventful between telling everyone of the news at work and announcing it to Andrews’s family on Wednesday. His immediate family knew of the engagement, but not his aunts/uncles and cousins. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for the amount of attention engagement can generate… I’m not too big in having attention around me, so this was somewhat making me nervous, but I survived. Here are some photos from our engagement day.
On another note, this weekend Andrew is moving to Saskatoon to start his new job. We are driving up there with all his belongings this weekend. It’s a 3000km drive and we are planning to do it in three days. I’m excited to see the northern Ontario again, and to see the shores of Lake Superior, but I am sad because that means that we have to separate for some time. I’m planning to come back home July 1st, so this gives me some time away from work which is much needed. I will post after I come back.
I have not been posting for quite a bit now because I have been extremely busy with exams at the beginning of April, work which was simply put - insane, and all my little projects I’ve started for this summer. For starters SCHOOL IS OVER!!! Whoo Hoo! It actually came quicker than other semesters…This is in no way indication that I am complaining. It is over now for this year, another 7 courses to go.
On April 17th I’ve started my sawing classes. So far I’ve attended two classes and I am enjoying it a lot. The first week we learned everything there is to know about sawing machines, and how to take them apart, if we ever needed to…although it is not recommended, but useful. During the second class we learned how to saw a waist of a skirt with the top being skinnier than the bottom. I forgot the proper term for it, but I did quite well. Also we cut out our skirt patterns that we will be making during the remaining 8 weeks of the course. I have also started looking for a sewing machine because it would be nice to learn it while I was in class instead of learning the tricks of another machine. This past Friday I went to the Creative Festival at the International Center and I got exposed to all kinds of sawing machines and different brands, and finally I decided to go with an Emerald 183 Viking, designed in Switzerland. The lady at the booth had a used one in her store for $399.99, and the normal price of it is around the $700 range. I was lucky to find such a good deal. Now I’m waiting for the lady from Viking to call me so I can pick it up and bring it home. The good thing is that she also offers a course where she teaches you everything about the machine and all the possibilities of it. Needles to say I am extremely excited. I will post more when I’ll receive it.
Finally, I have been working on a somewhat interesting project. I decided to crochet a doll for my niece Dominika, because I think she is at an age right now where she might appreciate it. I found an awesome eBay store that sells plastic as well as glass eyes and I was able to pick up some neat eyes for my doll. Also this is the first time that I tried out new hair style. I am waiting for the eyes to arrive so I can saw the head together to the body and begin making the clothes. I am planning to make a dress for this doll and maybe some undergarments when my machine arrives. Here are some photos. The current eyes on those photos are the 10mm size and I think they are a bit too small so I have ordered a bigger size for her.
Finally, baby Veronika has arrived to this world. I should not say finally because her actually due date was April 5th, so it was a nice surprise to welcome her three days early; born on April 2nd at 7:26am weighing 8lbs. She is such a sweetie and is a very good girl. What a nice addition to our already huge family. She is openheartedly welcomed and will definitely be adored by all.
Easter arrived early this year, and
with all the snow still on the ground it looked more like Christmas
than early spring. This year we went over to Tomek and Nina's house
for dinner, where we ate way too much food and spend some time by the
fire place. The three day weekend went by way to quickly and before
I knew it I had to go back to work.
Ever since I started my new work I've
been very busy. My head is in a cloud most of the time because there
is so much work to do and there is only one of me. School is nearly
over; three weeks left till the end of the term. I have one
presentation to do next week, and two term papers due – one due ext
week and one in the following week. Because of my new job and all
this school work, I have not had too much time to crochet lately. I
have been gathering some good ideas of what to make next and I can't
wait to try it all. Ohh by the way, I've abandoned the idea of
making a sweater for myself, because after spending hours on one half
of the sweater, the yarn turned out to be too stiff and not practial,
so I gave up. Besides I prefer making charaters because I don't have
to worry about them looking funny because they are meant to be funny.
I am working on crocheting a doll this time. Nothing too big, but I
think this will defenately be a project that will be finished. I have
a head, body and arms already, so half way there. I can't wait for
this school semester to be over so I can devote my time to things I
actually like to do.
Also I have officially signed up for my
sewing class this spring. I begin my first lesson on April 17th
and it runs for 10 weeks, every Thursday. I will be making a skirt
pattern, so I have to go and buy some nice material, because I am
determined to wear it when it's all completed.
This is about it for now.