How I've been Spending my Time

Oh have I ever been having fun! My DIL introduced me to a progam she used to make a book out of their European holiday pictures. I downloaded the program, and went to work, and I got the results in the mail last week.

I am so excited with the finished product. Isn't it gorgeous? It's a coffee table quality, hard covered book with MY photos in it, with the story of OUR motorcycle trip to San Fancisco last summer.

The program is called "My Publisher" and if you want to give it a try, email me or leave a comment and I'll forward the link to you.

There's a reason for my request - if I refer you and you decide to put a book together like I did, I get $20.00 off my next order. The program is free to download and so easy to use. My book cost me about $60.00 (including shipping) which I feel is well worth it. After all, making a scrapbook costs alot more in photo finishing, supplies, and time.

You can drag and drop your photos into the program, choose how many pictures you want on a page, choose from a number of templates and styles, type in captions or have a page or two with only text.

A basic book with 20 pages is $34.95 (US) and it's only .99 /page to add extra pages and $4.95 if you want the snazzy book jacket. To top it all off, I took advantage of their introductory offer of a second copy for free. So I sent one as a gift to our friends who did the trip with us and they were as thrilled as we were with the book.

If you're like me, you've got wonderful photos cooped up in your computer where no one can see them. And as much as I love making those wonderful scrapbooks, they take me alot more time than this does. I'll still do special albums but this is an option for some of those photos that realistically won't make it into a scrapbook type album.

Just think of the possibilities. My DIL is working on her second book - "2008 in Review". You could make a book for yourself or for a gift; one on your garden flowers, a book of your grandchildren's photos, a wedding album or maybe a Christmas book. I 've already started on my second travel album.

Can you tell I'm excited about this? Look it up - you'll be amazed how easy it is and you'll be so happy to have those great photos out where they can be shared and enjoyed.

Trying something new

My daughter just introduced me to Windows Live Writer. It’s a new program designed to use in blogging. I’m giving it a try . Here I’ve posted a picture taken this week of the eagles that perch in the tree above our house.

Here I’m using one of the many fonts available. Hmm… very nice.

Here’s another font – whoa – very widely spaced!

This one is called Tunga – seems pretty nice.

I can insert a map- oh- even a picture of my house – COOL! Our house is the one at the bottom left along the long driveway. Very cool.

Hmm.. what else can I do? It says I can insert a tag ?? or a video – not sure I have one of those or even a photo album I may need a little time to do this but isn’t it cool? Takes a lot less time and bother to download pictures too.

(Harv took this picture of Mt. Cheam which towers above our place to the east.

Here’s a picture taken from our roof (I did not know he’d gone up there but doesn’t it make a great photo?)

Well – there is a lot to learn here but so far I like it. If you haven’t already tried it (I am way behind most of you bloggers out there) check it out at http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/

Bits of This and That

It's snowing again today. The field is white and the air has that hush that

only comes when it is snowing.

My DH and youngest son are doing the final adjustments on a big filtration unit before loading it up on the truck and taking it to Campbell River. They will be gone for several days as they supervise the installation at a power generation plant. It's a new configuration that Harv has devised which is meant to clean up all the varnish in the oil in one pass. There is alot of interest in this project and it could mean a number of sales if it works as anticipated.

I am constantly amazed at Harv's innovative and problem solving talents. His Dad was constantly coming up with new ideas and inventions and it is evident that these ablilities have been passed down once more to our children. Isn't it amazing how that adage is so often true "like father, like son.

On another note, I got my hair cut yesterday. My hairdresser persuaded me to try something different so she cut it short - Harv thought too short at first but says it's okay now and Rick seems to think it looks okay too.

Maybe once I've lived with it a bit I'll get used to it. What do you think?

Celebrating 60 years.

My wonderful Husband turned 60 last week. I can hardly believe that the years have passed so quickly. I threw an open house for him today and 55 of our friends and family blessed us with their presence. Here is Harv as a young boy (we're guessing he is around 12) posing with his good friend Timber.
(They bear a striking resemblance to our youngest son and his dog, Doug.)
This party was fun - everyone came and stayed - the house was full and it was so nice to visit with everyone.

I got teased when I said I was keeping it simple this time.

But truly this was one of the easiest parties I've put together. I'd baked and frozen 2 batches of small buns last week as well as a batch of ham and cheese pinwheels (see the recipe on http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/).


On Friday I cooked a chicken and 1 dozen eggs. My wonderful DIL offered to bake a Chocolate cake with Caramel topping (coming soon to Mennonite Girls Can Cook) and I ordered a cake from "Cakes on Demand" in Sardis. My sister and sister in law came early today to help put the toppings on the buns (chicken salad, egg salad and cream cheese/cucumber) and with a couple of veggie trays from Costco, we had quite the spread.

Our friends from Signature Signs graciously donated a wonderful banner for the wall and I made centerpieces out of dollar store boxes and some of Harv's tools. Harv did his part by building a funky candlelabra out of hydraulic fittings.

I love entertaining. Providing an opportunity for friends and family to meet, enjoy good food and fellowship gives me alot of pleasure. And when it's to celebrate my amazing husband and best friend it's even better.

Harv you are the best - what fun we have together,

how special it is to know that you believe in me,

how grateful I am for your encouragement.

You constantly amaze me with you innovative solutions to problems,

be they mechanical or relational.

You are famous for your generousity to family and friends,

even to strangers.

And I love all the amazing experiences we have shared.

Thank you for choosing me to share your life.
Happy Birthday Honey -

You are truly a classic -

one of a kind and my best friend.