Lifetime!!!!

A year and a half later, and I have finally achieved Lifetime status at Weight Watchers! Tonight I completed my sixth and final week of maintenance, of course my weight moved up and down a wee bit... but just a wee bit. What a relief to have this over... now I'm not done remember this is a lifestyle change not a diet. I'll never, ever, ever, ever, let myself get over 200 lbs ever again!!!!

Besides being healthy, and active what's been the biggest perk? For the first time in my life I REALLY enjoy clothes shopping! If you are or ever have been short and overweight, believe me it is awful, nothing fits properly and nothing looks good.

So far I have managed to survive the first two days of school... can I survive the rest of the week? I hope so, I'm just looking forward to Kathy's stitchy weekend!

Another Lovely Weekend With Friends

This past Saturday Todd and I received an invite to spend the day with Rebbecca and her family at her grandparents cottage in the Ganenoque Lake area. It was a dreary rainy day but we all went anyhow. The boys put on their rain gear and went fishing, us girls pulled out our stitching. Rebbecca was a good girl and worked on her wolves, while I worked on Todd stocking. LOL we were both working on gifts for our significant others!

Despite the poor weather, the scenery was still spectacular! Once again, I'll let the pictures do the talking....

Todd

Caleb and Cameron Rebecca's boys

This creepy-crawlie was pretty big!

The wonderful scenery!

My fundraising for Run For the Cure is going well! Thank you to all who have donated so far! Every dollar is really appreciated! As of this blog entry my fundraising efforts stand at $175.00, this means I no longer have to pay the entry fee however I still have a ways to go to my $650.00 goal. If you would like to donate you can do so online HERE.

Fundraising For Breast Cancer Research

Some of my long -time readers may remember the breast cancer scare I had back in April of 2007.

I am one of the lucky people the lump in my breast turned out not to be cancer. Since then I've wanted to be able to do something to help.

For my second year in a row I'll be participating in CIBC's Run for the Cure on Sunday October 4th. I would like to raise a minimum of $150.00Please feel free to sponsor me and make a donation. Click HERE to go to my personal fundraising page and make a donation online. Please let me know if the link doesn't work.

Thank you for your support and best wishes!

Creative Invite, The Stocking, and Stash... oh my!

This evening when I got home (from an extra long day at work) I had the most creative invite EVER to a stitching weekend! This is from Kathy (now all the beds are full!)...

Come one, come all

to a stitcher's free for all.

Come early, stay late

I will meet you by the lake

Bring your stitching, needle and thread.

Out of town, I'll provide the bed.

Saturday, we'll have pot luck

And please, we don't want duck.

Sunday, I'll do brunch

Believe me, you won't need lunch.

So, write it down, don't delay

Mark your calendar for the day.

September 5, 6 and 7

What can I say - Stitcher's Heaven.

Doesn't that just sound so inviting???? I can assure you, I'll be there... will you?

Fingers crossed, I'll have Todd's stocking all finished (well stitched that is) and ready to show off at Kathy's stitching weekend. All the cross stitching is done, I'm currently adding blending filament to all the blues. The it'll be the finishing touches, backstitching (and lots of it) and a few charms. After I show it off, I'll have to find just the right fishing fabric to back it with, then talk my Mum into doing the finishing for me!

From this past weekend, I never shared with you my sash purchases from Knowledge and Needles.

Cross Eyed Cricket - Sleepy Hollow

Ink Circles - Celtic Ice Kit

Gorgeous Victorian Red Lugana

Piecemaker Needles

The August Retreat Report 2009

This past weekend was Ann's Annual August Day Retreat, she's been holding it for more years than I can remember, I think this is my 8th year attending and I know it started before that! Its a great day of stitching, friends, shopping and food! Way too much food!

We had about 30 stitchers in attendance throughout the day. Ladies from the area, and ladies from as far as Ottawa, Hamilton and London, Ontario.

Back row L-R : Sharon, Laura, Rebbecca, Trista, Bonnie, Wendy, Barb, Sheila

Middle row L-R : Isolde, Kathy, Beatrice, Carmen, Marj, Christin, Angie, Adriana, Bernie, Ann, Judie, Colleen, Beth

Front Row L-R : Claire, Anita, Marg, Paddie, Me, Paula, Mollie

Well I'm not going to do a lot of talking here, I'll let most of the pictures speak for me!

Ann, our hostess getting a chance to stitch before the masses arrived!

Adriana, the 93 year-old stitcher's amazing work!

My favourite girls! Christin (back left), Judie (front left), Kathy (back right), Adriana (front right)

The aftermath from lunch!

Bonnie, new to our retreat. We hope to see her at our next function in September at Kathy's!

Trista, Rebecca's stitching friend, the retreat is a first for her too!

One of Marie-Paule's amazing creations! She comes up with the neatest ways to finish her projects! Unfortunately she couldn't be in attendance this year. But dropped off her cool clocks!

Carmen, one of the regulars ... probably since the first retreat!

Colleen, she always comes with Carmen, they are stitching/shopping partners in crime!

Christin, one of the regular cast members of this blog we came down together.

The Gallery!

Shopping!!!!

Chef Dan, who made us this yummy breakfast Sunday morning of French Toast and bacon!

Stitching & Chili, I'm Good To Go!

The Chili has been made (4lbs of it!)

Here's Todd's stocking as of this morning...

I'm almost all packed...

Its Brighton/Knowledge & Needles retreat time! (well on Saturday it is but I'm hitting the road shortly!). Can't wait to see everyone, its a great day of stitching, eating... and admission is a dish for the pot luck!

Photo Hunt "Hands"

I am SOOOOO tired! For the last three days I have spent seven hours a day moving books. Yup, I'm shifting my entire library... what a job! At the end of today, day three I can finally feel the toll on my body. Sore and tired that's me! I took an off day from exercise today, I need my energy for tomorrow night I'm teaching two classes at Taekwon-Do.

Here are Todd's hands, he loves to keep busy and work with his hands, making things.