Weekend Activity

Another Saturday morning...Yay! Today I will be heading to my daughter's new house (they just moved in on Wednesday) and I will assist her in getting organized and making her new house homey. It's quite lovely and her backyard is already naturally pretty. I just love all of the big windows they have at the back of house where the view is lovely. Noah is settling in quite nicely and he even has a buddy next door, named Harley. Well, I say buddies but yesterday all they did was bark at each other but I'm sure it's just because they are both excited to have a new neighbour. AND there's this cat in the neighbourhood who, other than she is slightly lighter in colour, looks exactly like our beloved cat we had years ago, named Bates. I miss Bates!

I forgot to tell you that I am on vacation! I am hopeful that after the weekend I will be able to concentrate on my  own plans for the remainder of the week.  I won't share any of my projects yet but keep in touch and you will see what I've been up to.  It's Father's Day weekend so we will be planning something special for Paul and Joel who are both amazing dads.  I've mailed my dad's gift and my mom confirmed that he received it yesterday so I am delighted he will have it for Sunday.  I read every Hallmark and Carlton card out there and could not find one that said what I wanted to say so I created my own greeting in a letter stating all the "I remember when(s)" as far back as I could remember.  I hope he enjoys the letter and I'm sure he will remember many of  them as well.  I should have done something like this years ago; after all, who can tell my dad how I feel about him better than me.

I'm scooting over to the TSC website now to order some of my favourite fashions from the Joan Rivers collection. I viewed her segment earlier this morning and eyed a couple of amazing pieces I just have to have...see you later!

Thanks for stopping by...Gale

Saturday Mornings

Ahhhhhhhhh...Saturday mornings...I love them!  My get-on-the-go coffee was delicious this morning and the pancakes; well, scrumptiously yummy...loaded with fresh (well previously frozen) cranberries, blueberries, pineapple, coconut and some crunchy granola...mmmmmm!  I sneaked a small dollop of whipped cream and just a drizzle of caramel sauce on them...honestly!  I only ate one and would have resisted altogether but before my feet even landed on the floor this morning, my hubby requested my berry-loaded pancakes - so what's a girl to do, right? 

As I sit here typing, I'm eyeing my packages which were courier-delivered earlier this week from TSC...the boxes contain a new healthy meal plan and exercise bar.  I think the reason I am procrastinating about opening the box is because I know I have to at least attempt to make some changes in my current lifestyle.  I really do  plan to open them  sometime today and I am going to give it a try...no more pancakes in my near future...sigh.  Anyway, remember my rant about my unproductive weekend?  This weekend WILL be different.  I'm already energized and ready to go...I will update this post throughout the day and publish it tonight so you will be convinced that I followed through with my plan.  Enjoy your Saturday wherever you are!



This is the before shot of one of the 6 chairs I will be painting and recovering.  My hubby has already removed the chair seat and I'm ready to get started with the sanding and painting.  I will post an after shot once I have the first chair refurbished.  I'm excited to see the transformation and can't wait to use my new electric stapler which Paul bought me for this project.  Wish me success!

Well, just to let you know that we finally hung our new abstract canvas.   I purchased this canvas quite awhile ago at HomeSense.  It has been leaning against the opposite wall on my  mirrored accent table until I decided where I wanted to hang it.  I'm proud to say that it's now properly displayed and looks quite lovely...do you like it?  I wanted to bring in another bit of sunny yellow without overdoing it.  Yellow is such a cheerful color, isn't it?



Our new canvas...really liking the soft creams, greys, greens and, of course, the pop of yellow!



Love...

I actually got down on my hands and knees and cleaned my hardwood floors today, then I shuffled around a few things in the living room...just slight changes but it does look much nicer. I  now have to get focused again since I decided to take a break and accompany Paul to Canadian Tire and the supermarket.  Although at Canadian Tire I did find some lovely white wicker  square baskets to replace the black ones I now have.  The baskets just slide into the openings in my front entrance table. They will brighten up the area quite nicely, I think.  I also purchased 2 cans of Rustodeum spray paint to change the base of my now bronzed buffet lamps.  These will go on our sofa table in the living room.  I can't wait for them to dry!

Here it is folkes...the results of my first attempt at distressing and recovering a chair; I am quite pleased with the outcome...just 5 more to go!

A 'Joyful' heart is good medicine

Rain, Drizzle and Fog

I am determined to remain positive in spite of the weather we are experiencing in our neck of the woods; I mean, how much rain, drizzle and fog can we take?  My inner voice says "Count your blessings, Gale, it's not all about the weather, right?"  Right!  Okay, I'm alright again...we have to count our blessings, folks...and remember all the wonderful things we have going for us in our beautiful province.  The weekend promises sunshine and warmer temperatures...get out and enjoy it!

Summer Mantel

All good things must come to an end...

As the weekend winds down I reflect on what I have accomplished over the last two days and, really, I haven't done much of anything. I did manage to get a Saturday morning doctor's appointment which kinda interfered with my laid back morning routine. I came home after spending 30 minutes in the waiting room, so by the time I returned home I had lost all motivation to do much. I actually spent a lot of my day with my laptop on my lap...I fear addiction! This blog thing is more challenging and time-consuming than I anticipated.

I did participate in our annual walk-a-thon with my co-workers on Sunday morning and cooked a turkey supper but I now feel the urge to nap...not good! I guess we all have weekends like this when Sunday evening rolls around and you wish you could start over. I'm already planning what I will do next weekend. Oh, I almost forgot, I did rearrange my mantel for summer and after three attempts I ended up with a look I liked. The focal point is a vase filled with bright yellow flowers which is reflected in the mirror behind. I tied a huge burlap bow around the neck of the vase with the ribbon tails landing on the mantle top where a fat pretty-coloured bird has landed. I hope he stays around for a while! Another smaller yellow bird is captured and sitting beneath a glass cloche...poor birdie! I finished it off with a weathered-look lantern, some mercury glass candle holders and I then placed a large willow deco ball atop a stack of seasonal books on birds and gardening....loving the large and small willow deco balls I found at HomeSense!

Here is the little birdie who has perched on my mantel.

The wicker deco balls atop a small stack of seasonal books adds texture and interest to the mantel.

I'm not sure if I will keep the little birdie refined to the glass cloche...he's peering through the glass longing for freedom so I think I will let him go.

I love the bright yellow flowers with a few pussy willows added which, with a flick of a switch , give off a soft glow.

I decided to release the little yellow bird from his glassed-in cage and, "Look...he decided to stay!"

A few seashells, starfish and a piece of faux coral bring the beach inside.

Wonderful Wednesday

Well...Good Morning to you all! I'm off today thus I have the luxury of sitting down in my favourite chair and relaxing rather than rushing out the door and heading to my place of work. Don't get me wrong, I love my job but having a day to relax in the middle of the week is quite nice. As you can tell, I've made some progress...I have actually managed to upload a photo from my personal files to my blog header...good for me; I think I deserve a star! I'm not sure what I will accomplish today. I know for sure that my daughter will be dropping by for a visit and will pick up our... oops! I mean her puppy (75 pound 2-year old Lab/collie) who we have been doggy-sitting while her and Joel have been away. We will miss Noah around here...constantly at our feet, the dog hair EVERYWHERE, putting him outside, taking him back in, walking him, feeding him...oh dear, he's a lot of work BUT we love him! I am very anxious to see our girl after almost 3 weeks. We will have lots to talk about and I'm looking forward to hearing all about her trip to Rome.

Here is a picture of dear ole Noah...isn't he adorable?

I'm not sure what I will do for the remainder of the day...I may decide to take a trip to HomeSense which is normally my Saturday morning adventure but it will be a nice change to head out on a week day.  I may just stay at home and relax or take on one of those tasks I have been putting off.  Right now, I think I will have my second cup of coffee and browse through my newest Style at Home magazine before I start my day or do anything.  Enjoy your Wednesday...I plan to!

This is the day that the Lord has made...REJOICE and be glad in it!

Pure Joy

Yippee...Lookie what I accomplished - 2 photos successfully uploaded

 

Here is a vignette I arranged last year on the hall table in my front entrance. I just love the branch twigs with a small nest of robin's eggs...can you guess the season?

 

SPRING!

 

Here is a Winter mantle vignette where I added an apothecary jar filled with  bright lemons for a pop of color..nothing like a punch of yellow to bring the sunshine into a room during the shorter and darker days of Winter.

Pure Joy

I can do it

Just when I bragged about our warmer weather we get cold temperatures and a forecast warning of ice pellets and possible snow - our weather is so unpredictable! It could be worse and I'm truly thankful for the amazing spring we've experienced this year - April and May have been lovely thus far. I am getting the urge, BIG TIME, to start painting and distressing some of my darker furniture pieces. Becca at 'Adventures in Decorating' has even painted new furniture pieces...I want her confidence and nerve. I visit her site and view her photos so often it's almost ridiculous. I think she is pretty amazing and makes everything she does look so simple. Seriously, I love her style and she was even kind enough to send along an email with some tips and encouraging comments. So off to the Paint Shop I go and purchase BM (Dove White) paint, gel stain (Minwax), clear coat, latex gloves, brushes, sponge roller, sandpaper, stir sticks - everything I need to get me started. Yep, it's all neatly packed in a box in my front entrance closet until I get the confidence to take the big plunge. I remember taking on a huge project a number of years ago in our last house where I painted my kitchen cabinets which were a natural birch.  After lots of sanding and priming I painted them a soft grey, added new hardware, and was so proud of the end results.  My kitchen was transformed!  So, I know I CAN do it!  Once I get started, I fear I will become obsessed and will attack many more paint projects around the house.  And, when I  master the whole uploading photos thing, I will post before and after pictures.  Until then please be patient with me as I am determined to get this blog up and rolling.  Have a terrific day!

My New Adventure

Blogging is new to me...I fumbled through on my own attempting to set up my blog and I think I've come up against a brick wall...it is clear I need assistance. I hope that maybe some other bloggers will come to my rescue and provide me with some tips that will help me finish creating and personalizing my blog home page. As the weather starts to warm up here in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) we are starting to enjoy lots of blue sky and sunshine. I feel the urge to lighten up my surroundings and bring out anything that connects me to the beach and the ocean. Unlike some of the blogs I visit regularly, our ocean still has lots of ice bergs which can be viewed from our shorelines - this has a lot to do with the cooler temperatures we experience here on the east coast of our province. The view is spectacular; however, I crave warm ocean breezes and white sand where driftwood, starfish and tons of seashells adorn the beaches. I dream of open windows with sea breezes softly blowing the scent of the salt water and the sound of the ocean waves inside. In this beautiful province of ours we learn to make hay when the sun shines...we get out and enjoy the weather and put off for another day whatever inside plans we may have had. I am optimistic that we are in for a great summer this year which will be 'Pure Joy'.


Beachy...dreamy... the diffuser scent is 'Ocean Breeze'...

April Birthdays

I love to celebrate birthdays...I think they are the perfect time to focus on the birthday person to make them feel special and loved.  After all it's their day, the day they were born. and it should be all about them.  I hope my friend, Elizabeth, will enjoy her evening with us!

Here I have the table set for my dear friend's birthday.  I thought the yellow combined with blue and white was bright and fresh for an April birthday.  The tablecloth is new...I saw it at Bowering's and immediately fell in love with the hand-stamped design.  I love the versatility with so many wonderful colours that can be used with the bright navy blue and crisp white.

Here you get a little better view of the bunch of blue flowers which I've added to the pristine white elephant vase...so pretty!

I love using pedestals for height...oops! forgot to add my tea light.  I have miniature salt  pepper sets at the front of each place setting and little paper doilies to catch any drips from the water glasses.

The little yellow lantern I found at our local supermarket...they came in a variety of bright colours (turquoise, orange, black & white).  They're great to use for adding that pop of colour to any table setting.

AND...here is the the guest of honour, the birthday girl herself, Elizabeth.  I hope she enjoys the homemade cake I made for her.  It has a thick cream cheese and Cool Whip filling with oodles of milk chocolate over top.  Note the rainbow coloured flames from the candles?  I always use just three candles, one represents the Past, one the Present and the third, the Future.  Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Wishing you another year of health and happiness!

*****

Below, we're celebrating Joel's birthday. Joel is our amazing 'son'-in-law'.  I think he really loved the new reel and will enjoy many fishing trips in the future. 

 

Happy Birthday, Joel!

Presents!

This adorable doggy gift bag I found at Dollarama.  He looks so much like Noah when he was  a puppy...I just couldn't wait to use it to hide a birthday surprise!

 

You just can't celebrate a birthday without balloons...I love the masculine colors, do you?

Each year everyone gets to choose their choice of cake...this year Joel decided on a 'cup' cake...so I purchased a cupcake display stand and chose a variety of yummy treats...popped a candle in the center of each one and voila! A decandent delight!

 Mmmmm...Cookies & Cream

YUM!

 Rainbow-flamed candles...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOEL!

A little bit of Easter and Spring...

I added this album of Spring and Easter pictures after I started my blog.  My first actual post was in May but I decided to go back and view some of my photos from past occasions and post them to 'Pure Joy'.  I hope you enjoy them.

A bowl of everyone's favorite treats.

Our glowy Easter tree!

I just love this twig nest filled with eggs...it's been used to welcome Spring at our house for a number of years.

I found this rustic looking tray at Hallmark and bought it for my daughter, Kristen. I added some pink straw and sour gummy worms (one of her favorites) for an Eastery treat.

This is our glowy Easter tree top...inexpensive sprigs of eggs and butterflies from Dollarama.

I adore this pair of bunnies...another Dollar Store purchase from years ago.  I love their matching carrot sweaters!

Here is the bunny duo again...How cute is baby bunny who sits on the edge of the saucer.

Mother bird guarding her treasured eggs under the safety of the glass cloche.

Kristen's Easter Treats

I love the bunny trio, mama, papa and baby bunny.  A Pier One find where I originally bought just two but as soon as I put them on the mantel I knew I had to go back for the third.  They will be part of my Easter decor for years to come.

Joel's Easter treats...don't you just love the bunny balloon?

Our fireplace mantel all decked out for the Easter season.

A small cake dome for a sweet bunny couple.



An apothecary jar filled with robin's eggs, a little nest and a starfish make a lovely vignette next to the weather-worn and distressed frame  I'm famous for displaying a new frame before adding a photo...I will get around to it!

Easter Mantel

I love my mirrored accent table which my generous hubby gave me for my birthday.  I think the burlap ribbon bow will have to go...seeing it in this photo made me realize it's not the look I was going for...no biggie!

I found the organza runner which is the perfect additon to the mirrored table with the added silver vase and oversized white flower.  I love adding books and shells as accent pieces.

I often reach for my little book, 'One Minute Devotions for Women' when I'm in a rush to get out the door in the mornings.

A set of yellow chick salt & pepper shakers and an egg cup make for a whimsical family of chicks nestled beneath a glass cloche.

I spotted this gorgeous bag at Aldo and just had to buy it...I love the colors for Spring.

This little fluffy white bunny hopped onto our mantel and settled right beneath the jar of Cadbury mini eggs.  Sneaky little bunny!

Bunnies, eggs, and chicks are cute but this is the real reason we celebrate Easter Sunday!

A bunch of tulips purchased at Michael's brings the front entrace table to life...a sure sign of Spring.

Easter Tablescape

Another view of our Easter tree.

I layered the larger and smaller plates with different patterns and colors to add interest to this vignette.

I am in love with the antique silver teapot lamp sitting on top of some favorite cookbooks.  I purchased the lamp as a gift for my sister but when I got it home I just knew I had to keep it...I am hoping they have more in stock!

I marked my calendar at the beginning of April with this sweet little chick sticker.

Here's the lamp again before I added height by placing a few cookbooks beneath.

This rooster came home with me when I spotted him in a little local store where he was marked down to half off the original price.  He has a basket tucked in his wings behind his back for keeping extra sticks of chaulk and, of course, he is painted in black chaulk board paint which is great for writing little messages and inspirational comments.  I went back to buy one for my mom and an extra one for a lucky someone on my Christmas list.

This is Kristen's place setting.  She loves cherry-flavoured pops from Laura Secord so I placed a bunch in her tea cup.

I just love Mr. Roo...I folded a kitchen towel with an embroidered rooster on it over a pedestal so that Mr. Roo could rule the roost.

Pretty...especially when they are lit up and the 100 teeny-tiny lights twinkle.

Mr. Bunny

The burlap-wrapped vase was a HomeSense find which I filled with yellow blossoms as soon as I brought it home.  The white jug was also a HomeSense purchase.  I use it to display the bone handled butter knives I found at a garage sale a few years ago.  They were never taken out of their original box so were in mint condition.  The vintage silver serving spoon is stamped with 'God Bless us Everyone' and was a gift from my sweet daughter who found it on Ebay. 

I love the soft glow of light when the lamp is on at night.

A closer look at my vintage serving spoon.

My absolute favourite counter-top vignette.

All things work together for good...isn't that the truth!