Slipper Thief

Well no sign of that diamond and I have to say it's not without effort. My sweet dance instructor (who was recovering from surgery) plus several students and other instructors turned the dance studio upside down and even combed though the vacuum bag. I was so touched by the number of people who helped me look for it.

I  too stood outside for about twenty minutes feeling my way through all the dirt from my vacuum and numerous people have offered prayers and hopeful stories reminding me not to give up; stories about finding missing stones years later in the lining of jackets or pockets or other tough to find places. But still, nothing yet.

I will keep looking of course, but my hope is fading. For now I will have to get used to seeing only my wedding ring on my left hand (first world problems eh??  I know, I know)

And speaking of things lost, today I was outside for a bit and when I came back  into the house  I couldn't see my slippers. What the heck? I know I had them on before I went outside! I had only taken them off about 20 minutes earlier. Then I realized what had happened.....

Thanks Eco.... Does your dog do this too? Mine frequently lies on cast off articles of clothing... it's like she aims for it. Silly pooch. Too bad she hasn't found my diamond yet.

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

Around 2am last night (this morning) I suddenly awoke and my right hand was drawn to my engagement ring. My eyes still closed and in the dark I felt the ring which was strangely different. I knew instantly that the diamond was gone. I took my ring off and put it in a box and then laid awake for at least 30 minutes thinking about all the places I could have lost it and when I saw it last.

Although I am usually a home body, on Monday nights I go to dance and so I could have lost the diamond anywhere in that studio as my arms were swing around for two and a half hours.... and sparkly things on the floor is a pretty common occurrence.

Oh, and when I came home from dance last night, I had hand watered the front garden. Of course I did. Hand waving all over dirt and leaves and whatever else...

We still tried to look around the house this morning, but I've pretty much accepted the fact that it is gone. After sharing my story with some friend it seems somewhat common for many of them to have lost the whole ring, so just losing a diamond I guess isn't as bad? Still I won't be able to replace the stone anytime soon and a wedding ring without an engagement ring looks a little lonely doesn't it?

And I still think it's really weird how I snapped awake to realize it was gone. The whole thing has kinda put me in a downer mood all day.

The Seven Year Itch?

We recently celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. Some people says 'time flies" or "it feels like yesterday'. I'm not saying our marriage has dragged on in agony but our wedding day does feel like it was a long time ago. Maybe because we have been together for many, many more years before we got married? That's what I'm thinking.

Our day started out with an exchanged of cards and presents. I don't get to buy for Jp because he likes to buy his own presents, but he bought me this folding workbench/table:

And then we went out for breakfast. For the past couple of years we've been going to White Spot  which has now become a bit of a tradition. The first year we went they messed up our order and because it was our anniversary, the manager gave us our meal for free. We gave a big tip to our server and Jp wrote a letter to the company about how good she was. When we returned the following year, she was still at the restaurant and remembered us because of the letter. Apparently she made it to the front page of the  company newsletter and received all sorts of corporate recognition and I believe even a cash bonus. We returned each year because of this experience. Sadly when we returned this year, it was her day off but she does still work there, so I hope we'll see her next year!!!

Interestingly, when we went out for dinner - we received bonus food items because the restaurant is closing for a two week vacation and couldn't keep some of the food. It seems like our anniversary has become 'bonus food day'!!! LOL.

One quick note, getting back to the title - do you think this belief still happens? Maybe if you meet and get married a short time later, but since we've been together for 13 years, I don't think it still applies. Any long term marriage advice?

BC's First Family Day

Today is a statutory holiday in BC - for many years workers in this province asked for a day off between New Years and Easter, especially when other provinces in Canada had a holiday. This year is our first one. Somewhere along the way there was a vote on when it should be (no one I know knew anything about this vote) and it was decided that since we are unique people we should have it the week before the rest of the country. For many this probably doesn't make much difference, but if you're a national business you have potentially lost two business days in the shortest month of the year   - one for our holiday and one the rest of the country. As well, my family is in another province. Perhaps if we had the holiday on the same weekend one of us would have travelled to see family? Nope, not gonna happen. 

Today is also a special day here at Way Out Wear headquarters because it's the 7th Blogaversary. Yes, I have been writing to you for seven years. Reflecting on that time  one of the biggest things that has changed is my readers - not one person who was with me in the beginning is here with me now - except family. That's just part of being a grown-up isn't it? As the saying goes "people come into your life for reason, a season or a lifetime". I hope you are with me for a long time as I really do enjoy your comments and your company. 

Other things that have changed over the past seven years, just to name a few: 

1) Both my dogs, Maxx and Jazz are no longer with me but now I share my life with my wonderful chocolate lab, Eco. There were lots of stories about Maxx's epilepsy and lots of stories about Jazz's noise phobia, and lots of puppy raising stories

2) I got married

3) I started a business

4) I've changed my page layout and background at least 20 times

5) We replaced our old cars with new ones

6) countless knitting, crochet and embroidery projects

7) multiple thrift store adventures

8) too many stories about the weather

9) lots of cooking/baking stories 

10) and funny things about the family. 

So thank you readers for sharing my journey with me, I'm glad you're part of my family. 

Wall graphics for you/Weekend Update

Since several of my readers have moved into new homes, I thought I'd share this site that has some very nice wall graphics - a nice way to freshen up your rooms: Loxii wall graphics.

~~~~~

The weekend was interesting for us. On Saturday Jp sneezed three times and then had a nose bleed that wouldn't stop. After an hour, we went to the hospital to have it checked out. We were very lucky that despite the full moon and it being a Saturday night, it was reasonably quiet in Emergency. We also had a fun RN that kept us entertained. All was well, his nose finally stopped and nothing further was needed.

Sunday was our two year anniversary but we decided to postpone our plans and lay low just in case his nose decided to act up again. It was a lazy, hot summer's day anyway. I played in the kiddie pool with Eco and we watched old episodes of Mad Men. Aren't we just a scream?

Bracelets at Tiffany's

On Sunday, JP said we had to go downtown. I didn't want to go because I was tired and we had gotten home so late the night before. I whined and complained and slept in the car, and then whined that I needed a drink so he pulled into the nearest drive-thru to get me some fries and a drink. I did quiet down after that and felt bad for being so bratty. He put the car in a parkade and told me to go to Chapters until he phoned me. He took off in another direction. So I browsed and found a couple of books and a couple of magazines and then he phoned me and told me to meet him at the lounge in the Fairmont Hotel. I had no idea why. So I paid for my books and hurried down the street to the hotel.

In the lounge he was sitting in at a corner table, with a G & T for each of us. I sat down, not knowing what this was all about. After a few minutes, the hostess pulled a Tiffany & Co bag from behind her station and delivered it to us. He gave it to me, his wedding present, and I opened it to find this gorgeous sterling silver bracelet.

There is a heart charm on it that says "Return to Tiffany's" and he promised that every year on our anniversary he will add a hatch mark to it.

Poor guy. If that had been the other way around, I would have turned the car around and not given him the present, if he was as whiny as I was. Extra bonus points for him. And I love my new bracelet!

I'm a married woman!

Hello. I am back. Married now. Everything went pretty smoothly and flowed pretty good - I guess that's the upside of a small event. The weather was 40 degrees and the guys were in black suits - that was probably the only downside of the day. The flower shop got by bouquet right and the flowers were good. The Cypress Club staff and food were excellent. We had a chance to tour around the city on Friday and found some cool things - I'll post photos a bit later.

We pulled in the driveway last night and found decorations and balloons and confetti all over the place put up by my neighbours - I so loved it. I've got photos of that as well!

Right now I'm still unpacking and cleaning up and catching up -- so we'll have to talk later. What did I miss?

Phew! Let me catch my breath. We fly out tomorrow for our wedding and so today, besides work, I am getting my dogs and birdie ready to be borded (thankfully my neighbour has volunteered) and I've got a multi-day feeder block for my fish. Even though JP and I have been together for years, we've never gone away together - it's always him or me! (Other than for day trips and the very rare over-nighter).

Anyway, I think I am ready. I had hoped to finish a cross-stitch and a pair of socks for my mom before I left and don't think I'll get either done - however, I should be able to finish at least one of them on the 3 hour drive from the airport to my mums.

I haven't started on my swap partner's "grasshopper/cricket/locust" craft yet. I don't have anything on hand or that can travel easily. So when I get back I will have to hustle, hustle, hustle.

On the weekend, we cruised through Fort Langley and found is purse from Cranberries Naturally

...and this necklace from Paper Moon (*edited, website found)

...and these - the one on the left holds contact solutions and contact lense cases and the one on the right is a mirror

A dozen days to go...

before our wedding and I'm on the track to becoming a runaway bride! Yup. I'm getting cold feet. I don't think I can do it. Oh just so many doubts. Not the part about marrying JP - I have absolutely no doubts about that - that is what I want/we want. I have doubts about the ceremony. I wish there was someone I could spill my guts to about it, but I don't know who that would be. Oh sure, JP has assured me that everything will be fine and that I'll look fabulous, and all that... but still. ..

It's odd for me because normally I'm pretty comfortable with my decisions and I'm fairly confident, but not for this. I guess it doesn't help to see all the magazines and TV shows making it into such an event - such an event that's just not ME! eek!

Last night I did a mini trial run - I put on my pantyhose, and shoes and dress and kinda fixed my hair how it would be - but I don't like it. I feel silly. But I don't know how to change it and haven't seen a dress that would be better/different/perfect.

(sigh) I guess in the end it doesn't really matter - what matters is that JP and I get married and live happily ever after. I just don't know where I'm going to put that white horse. Oh yes, in our white and pink castle - of course!

Beads Indeed

Made these 4 pairs of earrings last night:

Except I'll probably only wear two of the styles.

Also, yesterday afternoon I found a crinoline for my wedding dress. I did not find the hair piece I wanted at the bridal shop - I'm just not the sort to wear a tiara! So I went to Michael's craft store and found a bridal comb for my hair. But then when I talked to my mum later on, she had a comb from the 50's that would be better, so I'll return the one I bought. While I Michael's I bough the stuff for the earrings. My new rule is to only by craft stuff for a project - no more buying 'stock'. So I bought the beads and then made them last night!

Katch-up

We've had gorgeous weather here for the past few days and it's been as hot as 32 degrees, so I've tried to sit outside and enjoy it before the June rains come. However, see previous posts to understand that I have some inconsiderate neighbours. I've been using my iPod a whole lot more to block out their noises and I am trying to use the opportunity to practice tolerance. I'll let you know how successful I am.

Sitting in a lawn chair tanning my legs makes me feel more like crocheting than knitting. You too?
So, I started to crochet the Farmer's Market Bag from the June Knit.1 magazine, except I didn't use the yarn or the hook size they suggested. I used a spool of cotton I found at the thrift store, bought for 99 cents. I've found similar cones to be over $20! I figured this yarn that looks like kitchen twine and a 5mm and 6.5mm hook would make it bigger than the pattern, but it's smaller. (No I didn't make a test swatch - it's a bag! Who needs gauge?) He's the first day's progress:


This is what I see when I sit in the backyard - my neighbour's sweet dog, Sandy. He's so lanky but gentle and he's just the goofiest.. if they ever decided they didn't want him (which they won't) I'd take him in a heartbeat. But don't tell JP, he wants to ensure our next dog is smaller and doesn't shed. Sandy can spend an hour sitting like this, watching me and my two dogs. Occasionally he whimpers to let us know he's there I guess.

And this is the sky Thursday. The clouds look like a painter dragged her brush across the canvas. Isn't it interesting? The clouds look like jellyfish. Of course by the time I ran and got my camera, the clouds weren't in as good of formation as they were.

And here's the bag/purse today which I'll finish shortly - especially since JP had to leave for a work road trip. I've just got half a strap to complete and then I'll need to sew the strap to the bag.The bag/purse is not as big as I wanted it to be (see above) , so I think I'll make another one, I certainly have a big enough cone of cotton to do so. The fishnet part goes pretty fast. I will find some funky fabric to line this one and use it as a purse. The good thing with this natural colour is that I could make it and then dye it to suit my needs - maybe a bright blue? Or a soft green like in the magazine?
Yesterday, we picked up our wedding rings. His was custom made, but from an existing style. My wedding band was made to fit snugly next to my engagement ring. After the ceremony we'll return to have them soldered together. His is larger and heavier - but mine cost more. I know, I know... they had to make a mold for mine. But still.

Wedding plans are coming along smoothly I think. 32 more days to go! I do have a list of calls and things to do this week, but it's not going too badly. That's the good part with having a very small event I guess. And I've been watching some of those bride/wedding shows and am glad I'm not insane like the TV people!

JP is on his way to Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon for work this week. It's a gorgeous sunny day and because he has so much work stuff to carry, he rented a mini-van. He doesn't want to go. But I am envious that he is because I love the interior of BC. I suppose if we had put a little more thought and conversation into it, I would have put the dogs in a kennel and taken a week's vacation - of course, I could have kept working since I'm not that far away and his laptop has an Air Card. The van is a nice comfy way to go. Well, maybe next time. Maybe this summer we'll rent the van again and take the kid up there. That could be fun too.

Seaworld Sea Lions

When I was at Seaworld last week, I bought some fish to feed the Sea Lions and Seals. They made lots of noise and were my friend only as long as I had food. For two minutes and $4 I was wanted and needed.

Thank Goodness people aren't like that!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How come suddenly I have sooooo much to do? I need to clean up and clean out so much of my house, and it seems like practically everything in my yards needs to be redone!


JP and I should be going ring shopping this weekend, and I'd better hustle on finding/ordering a dress! I'm waiting to hear back from my brother who lives in Medicine Hat to see if he happens to know any of the marriage commissioners.

I'm getting married !

That's right, I finally am. It will be in early July, where my mom lives as she can't fly because of her heart attack. A very small affair with close family only.

It's one thing to plan a wedding, but out of province in a town I'm not all that familiar with will also be difficult. There is so much to learn, I sure hope I can do all the planning and arranging. More details to follow once we've made a few reservations.