" J-Angels Creations " by Judy

2012-01-12T18:26:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year! It is time to try to get back to blogging and sharing ideas. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations. We had a quiet one this year.

Ooops I got lost again...

2011-07-06T15:59:00.004-05:00

I always have good intentions of keeping my blog up to date but then life gets in the way. Since I posted last, I have worked at a Federal elections for almost 7 weeks so that kept me busy with som 12-14 hour days.

I have gotten a few cards stamped so will share a couple.

I made both of these cards for swaps.

Another week has gone by....

2011-02-27T15:47:00.010-06:00

and I am just getting on here to do an update. Life has been busy with working on Gala stuff, getting my Challenge for Life page up and running as I will have to start fundraising for that as well (check it out, just click the link on the left) and I have also been fighting a headache all week, I think it is just a sinus cold. Hopefully it will be short lived as there is not much time until our "Pearls of Wisdom" Palliative Care Gala on March 12. It is getting exciting!

Hope you enjoy some of the cards I made in the last few weeks.

I will try this again...

2011-02-20T18:13:00.003-06:00

I tried to post the other night and it did not save it so I gave up and went to bed...

We have had some crazy weather since my last post, storming one day and a couple days later it is just like spring and now we are back to very cold again...not much fun!

The last two days I have been playing in my craft room working on some canvas items and also a couple large clothes pegs. Once I am finished them, I will post them. It is fun to be playing with paints, paper and stamps. I even pulled out some chipboard letters and painted them up, now it is time to haul out some ribbon, brads and some other hardware to finish it off. You will have to wait to see what this creative old mind comes up with.....lol.

I have also been doing some laundry and was totally ticked when I came to put the load in the dryer as somewhere there had to be a kleenex in a pocket as it was through out the wash and what makes this worse is that I checked the pockets. someone had to have one stuck up a sleeve or something and there are only two people living in this house, me and hubby so guess who is blamed....ME! Oh well I will see if the dryer gets most of it, otherwise they will have to be rewashed. Life of a wife is grand, isn't it??? Not always.

Well I am back to the craft room...have a great family day tomorrow Manitoba people....

How was your Valentine's Day?

2011-02-15T23:14:00.003-06:00

Sorry I got busy with life again....Valentine's Day was a great day for me....I got busy and put a few decorations up in the early morning hours and placed some goodies on the table for hubby. I handmade cards for him and our three sons and made up little goodie bags for each of them. I really like doing this.

I went out for coffee in the afternoon to meet up with some of the gang that normally goes for coffee at the Chef. Then around 5pm hubby and I went to the Russell Inn for supper. It was decorated with pink & red balloons and looked quite romantic with little heart candies on the table. I ordered arasta pasta and hubby had a chicken finger dinner, nothing too fancy but meals we both enjoy. Shortly after we sat down, it got very busy so we were glad we went early.

We spent the evening watching TV and reading.

Today I have been busy sending out faxes and contacting businesses for prizes for our upcoming fundraising Gala on March 12, 2011. I am really looking forward to the Gala.....

Chemo Caps!

2011-02-13T12:05:00.006-06:00

I got involved with a group of women that are knitting chemo caps for our local chemo departments so I got one going here in my hometown and I am so impressed by the volunteers that are taking part and the beautiful work they are doing. I will enclose a few examples:

Let's start this blog up again....I have been so tardy!

2011-02-13T11:32:00.003-06:00

For whatever reasons, it seems almost impossible some days to get on my blog and keep it updated and it is totally my fault. I have made a promise to myself to try again and see if I can at least once a week post something creative.

Today it is just like spring outside and seems a shame to be indoors so in a little while I am taking myself on a little trip an hour away to go shopping and to just get out with people. Hubby is busy with work and has been called in lots so it is just me trying to entertain myself and it is just too nice a day to be shut in my craft room. I will let you know what finds I purchase on my shopping trip. I will look for things that I can distress, decorate and use in my silent auction when I have my Golf Tournament Fundraiser on June 4, 2011. This will be my main fundraiser for my 20km Challenge for Life Walk that I do every year in honor of my sister, Janice and my friend, Joan and all funds go to CancerCare Manitoba for research.

I am not sure where this little smile message came from but I thought seeing it is Valentine's Day tomorrow, it fit. Remember everyone could use a smile and it is very contagious......try it and you will see.

It is hard to believe it is October 1 already......

2010-10-01T13:29:00.005-05:00

I am going to try to be better at updating my blog as so far I have not been doing a good job. This is going to be a busy month for me as I have concert plans as well as planning my Mom's 80th birthday party. I know it will be fun when the time comes, it is just all the preparation that takes the time and energy.

This is a photo of our beautiful hedge out back and it was lovely until a terribly windy day a couple days back, now there are very little leaves left on it.

I love all the fall colors. We are experiencing some beautiful weather right now so I hope the farmers will be able to get their crops harvested.

Our little town will be hosting the annual Beef & Barley Festival here next weekend. I am hoping some of my family comes to have Thanksgiving with us and I am excited as my oldest son and the band he belongs to "Three Mile Tough" are playing at the dance on Saturday night along with another local group "The Accelerators" I am so looking forward to hearing them both.

more pages yet....

2010-09-09T16:12:00.003-05:00

???? why does it change the direction of my photos????

2010-09-09T16:08:00.001-05:00

More Photos...

2010-09-09T16:04:00.002-05:00

Trying to load more photos....

2010-09-09T15:32:00.003-05:00

Time to start new

2010-09-09T15:20:00.004-05:00

so there will be a new look, a new hope of keeping my blog up to date with new ideas in stamping and in my life.

I will start my sharing a lovely little photo album I made for my 60th birthday that just took place on August 24. I used a small plastic file folder as the album itself and have yet to decorate it but the pages are done so will show them. Enjoy!

2010-09-08T23:10:00.001-05:00

Still waiting right....

2010-05-20T11:19:00.002-05:00

I know I still have not got on here to update my blog and start posting regularly. Life keeps throwing curve balls and i keep trying to catch up. Stick with me as I hope to get it done.

I am working on my fundraising for my 20 km Challenge for Life Walk on June 12, 2010 in Winnipeg. I have a golf tournament and steak supper coming up on may 23 at the Russell Golf Course. Cost is $25.00 which includes golf fee and a steak supper. Golfing starts at 1pm I will also have a cancer item sale table, 50/50, silent auction and a putting green challenge. Supper will be at 5pm.
Come on out and have some fun and support me in a great cause. All money raised will go to CancerCare Manitoba. Call the clubhouse if interested at 204-773-2969 so they know how many steaks to order.

I will be upgrading my blog soon...

2010-04-26T18:20:00.002-05:00

due to illness, surgery and recovery time, I have not been able to keep my blog up to date but I want to get back at it so I will be upgrading and udating my blog soon.

I am feeling much better and think i am well on my way to better health so I will try my best to get things updated. I plan on being more active in my craft room as well and I will share all the treasures I make.

I am also busy with fundraising for my cancer walk as well. I am taking part in the 20km Challenge for Life Walk held in Winnipeg on June 12 and i walk in memory of my sister, janice, my friend, Joan and everyone who is fighting or has survived any form of cancer. One day we will see a cure, I for one will continue to do my part in helping make that happen.

Judy

Half way through January..unbelievable!

2010-01-16T19:55:00.007-06:00

It is hard to believe that we are half way through January. OMGosh. I have not done too much lately other than a few card swaps due to illness and then taking a nasty fall coming out of the school the other night. Sprained my left wrist and fractured a rib so hoping they heal fast before I head off to CHA in Anaheim on the 21st.

A fall card I made a couple months ago. All supplies are copyright Stampin' Up.

A winter wonderland card I made for a swap.

For some reason the photos won't load correctly for me tonight so I will leave it and add more another night.

A New Year and I am slow to post!

2010-01-14T09:45:00.002-06:00

My New Year did not start off well as I was extremely ill with diverticulitis and even though my doctor wanted to admit me to hospital, I stuck it out at home. I took two bunches of antibiotics, quit eating except for soup and water and almost 3 weeks later I am feeling better.

Although I did take a fall on a very slippery sidewalk coming out of the school, I thought I had fractured my wrist. There does not appear to be a fracture on the x-ray so it is sprained badly, very swollen, etc. The rest of my body feels like it has been run over by a truck today though. I did not need this before my trip to CHA as I am registered for a bunch of classes.

The weather has been very mild here this last week so the snow is melting and making everything slippery.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and their families. There is such devastation and loss of life, I hope we each will help whatever way we can.

Lest We Forget...We Will Remember

2009-11-10T22:35:00.002-06:00

I will remember and will pay my respects tomorrow at the Remembrance Day Service. I will remember my dad, Riley Erwin Prieston; my uncles, William Albert Prieston & Felix Alfred Prieston and great uncle, Edwin David Eggie. Riley, William and Edwin were all Winnipeg Grenadiers who were sent to the Battle of Hong Kong, a fight that Churchill knew they could not win. They had World War 1 weapons, very little training and were very out numbered. Uncle William died shortly after landing and my dad and Uncle Ed were taken prisoners of war. They spent 4 1/2 years in prison camp where they were beaten, starved, worked like slaves and they considered those that died the lucky ones. Both Daddy & Uncle Ed returned from Hong Kong but just 10 years later my Dad was killed in a tractor accident on our farm. I was 5 years old. My Mom was 25 yrs old with six kids under 8 years old and I was born with a heart condition and required trips to Winnipeg Children's Hospital every three months until I was able to get surgery 12 yrs later. Mom had $1.36 and an unpaid for farm. We survived by her courage and desire to support her family.
My Uncle Ed lived a tortured life and died in his later years of cancer.
Uncle Felix was killed on D-Day in France, he was a member of the Regina Rifles. It is sad that I never got to meet these two uncles but am impressed by their bravery as alot of these young men lied about their age to join the army in those days.
I will remember all the brave men and women from the past wars and most certainly remember and pray for the young men and women who are presently in Afghanistan and other parts of the world doing peace keeping work.
Through the Chosen Soldier program and the Pocket Posties campaign I have been in touch with many soldiers who are presently serving and I know how much they appreciate thoughts and notes from home. I am not a supporter of war but I do SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!
Thank you to each and every one of them for the job you are doing and giving hope to those who have so little. I am so proud of you all.

Check out the web pages on the right hand side for Chosen Soldier and Pocket Posties, both are awesome support for our troops.

Also if you have a chance to read "The Many Faces of War" by Dorothy Krusky, it is well worth the read and you will also be supporting the Wounded Warrior program.

In memory of Janice Carol Foster (Prieston)

2009-11-09T11:00:00.011-06:00

Five years ago today we lost a wife, mom, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. My sister, Janice was an amazing personand she died way too soon at the age of 56 yrs. She was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer which quickly spread throughout her body. She was diagnosed September 4, 2003 and died November 9, 2004. She taught us so many lessons in that short time, mostly courage and how to die with dignity. She had such a strength that amazed us all. Even though 5 years have passed she is always in our thoughts and prayers. I miss her so much.

We will always remember you Janice. Love you forever!

I am a terrible blogger as I go missing for days on end....

2009-11-01T21:08:00.002-06:00

I am still around but the days seem to slip by and I do not get on here to update. My life has been busy with volunteering. I am very busy with the Palliative Care Committee as we are trying to fundraise enough to build a four season sunroom off the palliative care room. We want to make our patients final days a happy, peaceful one and the sunroom would provide them space with their families and also windows that open to let in fresh air. We hope to have a garden area as well to be enjoyed by all. It is a huge undertaking but I think within two years we will have it completed.

I have also been volunteering at the H1N1 & Seasonal Flu Clinics. I spent 9 hours helping out last Friday and we hope to do two more unless they get cancelled due to no vaccine. I got mine last week, I got both the seasonal and H1N1 shots because of the asthma and how I catch things so easily.

Today I worked on making more of the pocket posties that I get signed for the troops. I got over 2,000 to cut out and then stamp. I received a wonderful letter from one of the soldiers that made every single minute of making these little posties and getting them signed all worthwhile. He gave me permission t use his email so I will include it here....

Hello everyone,
Not sure who I am sending this e-mail to, but found a box containing quite a few Canada Flag cards with a note written on the back of each one to a Canadian Soldier. I took a few that had e-mail address on them and well, thought I would drop you a line.
My name is Warrant Officer Dan Jessome, a member of the Canadian Forces currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force. My career has provided me with many adventures from fighting fires in BC, floods in Manitoba, Ice Storm in Quebec, overseas to Kosovo with NATO, Israel and Bosnia Peace Keeping with the United Nations and now here I am in Afghanistan.
This is my first tour to Afghanistan and from the moment I stepped off the plane, it has been one experience after another. We are doing lots of good for the people who live in this unstable Country from building schools for children, drilling wells for villagers who normally get their water out of the contaminated streams and rivers to clearing fields of unexploded ordnance so that they can plant crops to eat.
As a Canadian Soldier I hadn't a true appreciation as to how well respect we actually were as a Military until arriving here. Our Soldiers are among some of the best trained, best equipped and above all else, strongly supported by the people back home. I stand out among the 30+ Countries here in support of this mission because I wear our flag on my right shoulder. That fact alone, each and every Canadian can take great pride in. As Remembrance Day draws closer, I can't help but remember back as a child, my Dad taking my brother, sister and me to the local Ceremony in my home town of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. I recall standing there watching all these men and women who paraded by and wondering what stories they could tell. Here I am so many years later thinking I am now one of those people that I once stood and watched. This past Summer I was in Germany attending a course on some specific equipment here in Theatre. While there, I was fortunate to have visited two of the Canadian War Memorials, one in Vimy, France (WWI), and the other in Nijmegen, Holland (WWII). As I walked the Canadian War Cemeteries in both those locations, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Learning about the history of these places going through school, I hadn't put a whole lot of thought to what they actually stood for. To physically be there and experience the ambiance of that environment, I quickly realized why I do what I do. We are and always have been a Country who has stood up for what was right and did everything we could to assist others to experience the freedoms that we have as Canadians. Although there are many dangers here in Afghanistan, I am honoured to carry the torch as those who have gone before me.
So to close, thank you for the support. I looked for an e-mail address for the Major Pratt School in Russell, MB but came up empty handed. If any of you live close, could you please pass this along to the Principal? on my behalf.
I was that which others did not want to be
I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness, should I fail
I have seen the face of terror
Felt the stinging cold of fear and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love
I have cried, pained and hoped .....
But most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten
At least some day I will be able to say
That I was proud of what I was ......
A SOLDIER

Sincerely, thank you for the support and encouragement. Although it is just a short note and I was the one to be fortunate enough to read it, when you wrote it, you has us all in mind.
Daniel Jessome
Warrant Officer / Adjudant
Ancil Pl Comd, Maint Coy / Cmdt Pon Aux, Cie Maint
Joint Task Force Afghanistan Force opérationnelle interarmées
National Defence / Défense Nationale

　

Where did our summer go????

2009-09-14T15:12:00.013-05:00

Summer has slipped away too fast again and although it was a busy one, it was also a sad one.

Our summer started out with my great nephew coming for the holidays, we are always happy to have him here with us. Well it has turned out to be that he will be spending the year with us, maybe more. I was happy about this but at first I think he was sad because it meant he had to start Grade 9 in a new school, leave old friends and have to make new friends but he has adjusted. he has found an after school job and he really likes it as well as the money he makes. I like that it will teach him responsibility as well as give him the freedom to plan and save for items he really wants. He is a good kid so I think we will have a great year.

July I spent alot of time with a good friend of mine who was fighting cancer. She did have some good days but did spend some time in hospital as her cancer was spreading. I am so thankful I stopped to visit her the morning before I left for Salt lake City to the SU Convention because it turned out to be the last time I saw her. She passed away on August 9. I came home from convention to find out that she had passed and that she had requested that I do her eulogy.

Rest in Peace Joan - I miss you every single day. I miss your phone calls, our coffee times and of course our Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance talks.

The SU Convention was very good as always, the numbers were down but I had alot of fun with the girls I traveled with (Michelle, Elaine & Peggy). We drove from Selkirk, MB to Salt Lake City, which was almost two days but we had many laughs and lots of fun along the way. Coming home we had a flat tire in Billings so had to spend the night there. Michelle is an awesome driver so we were safe at all times.

Dennis and I were not together on our 38th anniversary - he being at home and me in Salt Lake City but we did pass another milestone.

We celebrated Jordan's 14th birthday on Aug. 30 and we had a BBQ for him complete with games of bocce ball and playing catch. Everyone had a great time.

Everyone had alot of fun, even the cat got involved. I will catch up on September in the next post.

Oh My Gosh - I am so bad at keeping up....

2009-07-19T12:30:00.007-05:00

they seems to be not enough hours in a day. Over the last couple of months life has been busy with many things: sometimes my health is not up to par (most of the time only my doc and I know about it); busy with my friends and supporting them; my great nephew is here for the summer; my eldest son moved home when the house he was renting sold and with him also came his cat (I am allergic to cats); many trips to Winnipeg for appointments and then soon will be heading to Swan River for a memorial service for my cousin and also the rodeo. Family from BC will be here so will get to visit with them. I will also be making a trip to Salt lake City for the Stampin Up Convention and then I am taking Jordan to Edmonton for a visit. I still have a couple more trips to Winnipwg, one being a pacer check to make sure it is working well enough for me to travel to the states for a week. No insurance anymore b/c of age...bugger getting older. I had to have splints put on my thumbs for trigger thumbs and supposedly I am supposed to be resting them (like how do you do that right), anyways I devised a way to stamp so am getting my swaps made and mailed out. Still have a bunch to do for convention.

I hope to keep up more regularly with my blog but who knows what life holds so just know that I am around and still kicking so will catch up when I can....hugs!

I did got to one day of Dauphin Countryfest or I should say evening...we saw Tara Oram..pic to the left. She was on Canadian Idol last year and placed 3rd I think. She was quite good.

We also saw Doc Walker, another Manitoba group from Portage la Prairie and these guys are awesome. Loved them.

Last but not least we saw Tim McGraw, who was totally awesome.....

Challenge for Life 20km Walk

2009-06-25T16:10:00.010-05:00

I finally have a few photos of me crossing the finish line so thought I would share them....This little guy wanted to high five me as I was doing the last 500 metres. My hubby met me here and walked the last little bit with me and took a few photos.

There were all kinds of these wonderful signs made by school children that kept us inspired to finish the walk.

This clown was fun....
Over for another year, I am signed up for 2010, June 12. Fundraising will start again after the summer holidays.

I took a leave from my blog for awhile as you can see...

2009-06-22T18:37:00.002-05:00

but I hope I am back at it.

Since I have been gone I have once again completed my 20km Challenge for Life Walk and we had an amazing day. It was sunny and warm and 731 walkers took part in the 20km walk and we raised over $1.13 million dollars for CancerCare Manitoba. I managed to complete it with no problem, no blisters, a few sore muscles for a couple days but other than that I felt great. I have to upload my photos on this computer yet so will share some of them when I get that done.

We have been having some extremely hot temperatures these last couple weeks and we need rain so bad. The storms seem to go around us so everything has been getting very dry.

I joined the Ladies Golf Club and have been enjoying my Tuesday night golf outings. I even went to Yorkton with the ladies for their Spring outing and we had a blast.

This week I will pick up my great nephew to spend the summer here so I am looking forward to that. He likes to come and visit us.

Can you say COLD!!!!!

2009-05-13T18:51:00.003-05:00

We are getting a terrible COLD wind and below normal temperatures....I hate it.

Tonight I hope to get some stamping done as I have not had a chance this past week. I have a few swaps to get caught up on so hope to get them done.

Not too much other news to type about so bye for now.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T11:50:00.002-05:00

I have had a wonderful start to my day. My hubby and eldest son took me to the Inn for the Mother's Day brunch. Oh my goodness, there was so much to choose from and everything was so delicious. Ryan and Scott had to work so could not be there with us this morning.

Ryan picked me up yesterday morning and we went out to the golf course for breakfast. I really enjoyed that too. It was too cold for golfing but we did have a nice visit.

Last evening Chad had me over for a BBQ, he did all the cooking (BBQ chicken, salad and cheddar cheesy potatoes). It too was delicious. He also gave me a beautiful floral arrangement.

Dennis was away in Brandon but a couple days ago he gave me 6 red roses which I was thrilled about. It smells beautiful in the house with the flowers.

Yesterday i had lunch with my friend and her friend from Thunder Bay and we had a nice visit.

We went to a bake sale and I won a little marigold plant that the Brownies had fixed up. Too cute.

I hope every mother has a wonderful day today!

The lost is back again....

2009-04-19T11:54:00.003-05:00

I am showing signs of being a terrible blogger as I never seem to get on here. I always have good intentions but lately I have not been feeling the greatest again so it just seems to be the last thing on my mind to blog. I once again will try to be better.

Well I have watched my Twilight DVD several times and everytime I wath it the more I love it and see something new in it. I have read all the books including the Midnight Sun pdf version, the Director's Handbook and the Movie book and really enjoyed reading about how they made this movie. Everytime they mentioned something in the book, I would rewatch the movie to see it. I absolutely love the story, oh to be 17 again. Actually I would love to relive that period in my life as I spent most of my 16th and 17th year in hospital waiting for heart surgery and when I finally got my pacemaker, I rejected it so most of my 18th year was in hospital too with many ambulance rush trips to Winnipeg. So it would be good to relive that time and have a more normal teenage adventure. Stephenie Meyer has a wonderful imagination in Twilight and I love how she wrote this love story which shows that regardless who you fall in love with, LOVE will prevail, even if he happens to be a vampire. Gotta love Edward Cullen!

I absolutely love this song, it is not the movie version but I love this version. I will see if I can make it work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQME-ChSwNM Hope this link works, it is the first one.

I am also watching the Band of Brothers DVD set and am enjoying this series. This is the Americans that land in Normandy but I had an uncle that fought there in the Second World War so I am putting him there and it helps give me some perspective.

I have taken some photos of some cards I made, some I received from swaps and some scrapbooking that I have done so I will upload that sometime today to share.

Have a great day!

It is wednesday already..

2009-04-08T09:39:00.002-05:00

and I have company coming to scrapbook with me today so I need to get my act together.

Yesterday it was so awesome to have my friends Andree and Rene come by for a visit. I have not seen them in so many years as they live up north. Andree has decided to walk in the Challenge for Life 20km walk this June in Winnipeg with me. I am so excited.

We all went out for lunch, Chad came along with us and then while Rene went off to visit, Andree and I went to the Banner office and was interviewed for an article in the paper about our walk and then we came back to my house and had some photos taken for the paper.

It was like old times when we got down to the craft room, what a riot. I can not wait until they are back in Shoal lake full time so we can get together more often.

Today I need to get caught up on swaps so while Tracie scrapbooks, I will be making some cards.

Happy Monday everyone!

2009-04-06T10:25:00.003-05:00

Another quiet weekend passed for me. I spent a good part of it reading "Midnight Sun" pdf file by Stephenie Meyer. I sure hope she finishes this book as I could not put the manuscript down. Shame on that person that broke her trust and distributed the manuscript to the internet without her permission, how shameful of them. Thank you Stephenie for posting this on your website for us to read. Check out her website at http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/ and click on Twilight series to find the Midnight Sun book. Also love her playlists to each book, although I would not listen to all the songs I did like a few. I guess that has to do with the age difference. I do love her books and also enjoyed the DVD "Twilight"

I am now reading her newest book "The Host" and although it took a wee while to get into the book I am starting to enjoy it more.

It is so nice that the weather has finally warmed up abit and I can get outside for my walks. I find the outdoors is so much better than walking on the treadmill or riding the stationary bike.

Sounds like coffee is in store for this afternoon as my friend just gave me a call and asked me if I was going for our regular coffee time. I said sure so now I have to get my butt in gear and get some housework done. I do need to find time to do some stamping as I have some swaps to prepare.

Have a great Monday everyone. Enjoy whatever you have planned.

I can not believe I do not

2009-04-03T18:37:00.005-05:00

get on my blog more often...darn! I am still fighting this cold so that does not help.

Nothing too exciting happening here but I have been busy planning my fundraising event which is as follows:

Challenge for Life fundraiser party to support Judy Preston in her 20 KM walk. All proceeds goes to CancerCare Manitoba.

Friday, May 1, 2009
RUSSELL CURLING RINK
310 Westbourne St W
Russell, MB
8pm – 1 am
Admission: $10.00

Music by: 3 MILE TOUGH

There will be a silent auction, 50/50 draws, cancer & challenge for life items for sale, music, dancing, food and lots of fun.
For info contact: Judy Preston at 773-2961 or email prestons@mts.net

Now how many of you have read the Twilight Saga???

2009-03-31T21:47:00.002-05:00

I read all four books so quickly, loved them. I also watched the DVD which I also loved.

I am very impressed with Stephanie Meyer's writing and I am presently reading The Host by her. It is a totally different book than the Twilight series. I did not want the Twilight series to end.

What a great love story, if you have not read these books yet, you should run to the book store or library and get them immediately!!!

OK Sickness had claimed me again.....

2009-03-30T13:11:00.003-05:00

but I think I am back among the living again. Terrible cold and with me it seems to hit my lungs first thing therefore very hard to get rid of. I am still coughing but feel better than I did.

I have a date change for my Challenge for Life Fundraiser Party. It will now be held on Friday, May 1/09 at the Russell Curling Rink from 7pm - 1 am. The band 3 Mile Tough will be playing a couple of sets for us so I know it will be an awesome event. There will be a silent auction, 50/50 draws, challenge for life and cancer items for sale, food and lots of fun. Come out an join us. Check out http://www.challengeforlife.ca/ and type in my name for more info or if you would like to donate to this great cause. All money raised goes to CancerCare Manitoba.

I have been touched by cancer and have lost a sister to small cell lung cancer. I promised my sister I would try to make a difference so for the last three years I have done that. I have completed two 60 km walks in the Weekend to End breast Cancer, I have participated in two Relay for Life walks in Russell and last year I completed 20km in the Challenge for Life Walk in Winnipeg. I will be participating in this walk again this year. Along with walking, I am fundraising to meet the $1,000.00 minimum.

I am enclosing a poem that I shared with my sister before she passed and we both believe this with all our hearts.

I have a YUCKY cold!!!!

2009-03-18T21:46:00.003-05:00

I woke up feeling yucky today...a cold and it is already in my chest. I hate spring colds for sure.

My Challenge for Life Fundraiser Party is finally scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Russell Curling Rink from 8pm - 1am

The band 3 Mile Tough will be playing. We will also have a silent auction, 50/50 draws, sale item table, dancing, food and FUN!!!

I am so excited.

Not much other news so I am off to bed to read Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer.

I was totally MIA again...so sorry!

2009-03-17T21:18:00.004-05:00

Wow sometimes life gets in the way....I did go to my Mom's for a week to help her sort through a million photos which took a whole two days (14-16 hours a day). We got them all sorted into photo boxes for family, it was a big job done.

We also spent a good portion of another day sitting at a fundraiser table with cancer items. I raised $350.00 towards my Challenge for Life 20 km walk and CancerCare Manitoba.

The following day I spent another 15 hours shredded old bills, etc from mother's filing cabinet. She kept everything from the past 15 years in there so it took forever to get it cleaned out.

My nephew, Jordan came and spent the weekend with us so it was fun having him around. Saturday I took him to buy a hockey stick so he could play some hockey on the outdoor rink across from Mom's, he enjoyed that. We also all went to the movies on Saturday evening. We saw Gran Turino and everyone enjoyed it. Sunday we went to Karter's hockey game and cheered him on. After supper we took Jordan home and had a visit with Garry.

I drove home Monday. This past weekend I went to Brandon to meet up with the PrairieInker girls and we had a fun day of stamping and visiting. We shared alot of ideas and made some awesome shoebox swaps.

Today I helped deliver daffodils which our Hospital Auxiliary sold to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. I also had lunch and coffee with some friends.

I need to finalize my Challenge for Life party fundraiser for April 17th. My son's band mates have agreed to play for a few sets that evening so that will be awesome. I just have to contact the venue and make sure I have the location I want. I am so excited as the music will be an awesome addition to the silent auction, 50/50 draws and dancing. I will post more about it tomorrow.

Check out the link to the right for more info on the Challenge for Life walk.

HaHaHaHa Didn't I tell you....

2009-02-26T11:59:00.001-06:00

that I had a very bad memory...look at the photos and you will se why I said that. Oh well enjoy anyways!

I am so bad at blogging!!!

2009-02-26T11:50:00.005-06:00

I was away for a few days as I took my Mom and sister-in-law to Winnipeg to attend a wedding which was awesome! Since I got home I have been busy cleaning, reading Twilight (that I can't put down) and doing some knitting. I also have been to a few meetings, coffee with friends so it seems that my blog was the last thing to get to.

I am finally online to do an update so hopefully I can keep it going. I will be going to my Mom's for a week to help her do some cleaning so if I get my laptop back from Scott I will be able to log in and keep my blog up and if not , well then you won't hear from me for another week....lol

We have had more snow the last couple of days so I am ready to see the sun. The photo above is out my front window, the snow is piling up. We got another 20 cm or so since this photo was taken.

My memory is short so I am not sure if I shared these cards I made a couple weeks ago. This is a pop up card using SU Bareback set. Love this set.

Restful Sunday!

2009-02-15T15:17:00.014-06:00

Today is totally a day of rest, I have been reading mostly. I am reading "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young and it is quite thought provoking. I think it is a book that I will reread as not all the info sinks in the first time...not in my old brain anyways.

Dennis has spent most of the day at the hospital in on calls so i am on my own so I think I will head to the craft room and try to create a few things. I have a wedding to go to this next weekend so I should make a card and possibly an album for them.

Some of the snowfall we got recently just outside our front window.

I made this card for a "Wild & Free" swap

This card is for a designer paper card swap.

I made this card for a friend of mine. She can have a cup of tea on me.

This card is for a pink card swap.

I made this card for my hubby on Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-14T09:32:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to send a quick note to wish you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day! I hope Cupid shoots a little arrow into each of our hearts so that we can look around us and share a little love to everyone we see. It could be a smile, a touch or a kind word, everyone needs kindness. I challenge all of you to do a kindness and then ask that person to pay it forward.

JudyP

Happy Friday the 13th...

2009-02-13T21:21:00.006-06:00

I hope you are wearing RED in support of our troops...I AM!

Today I got my housecleaning done, had hubby home sick and took a friend of mine on some errands she needed to do but had no car and then we went for coffee. It ended up being an enjoyable day. Our eldest son showed up for lunch and for supper so it was nice to visit with him as well.

Last Saturday night their band (3 Mile Tough) played at the hotel in Inglis and raised $600.00 for the day care there and while they were preforming I videotaped some of their sets and of course my son thought I was nuts but it seems this week they are all thankful I did because they have all been after me for DVD of their music. They sounded pretty good. Here they are while playing a set:

My son does not suit a cowboy hat for sure...lol. He wore it for the first set as they played country music. The second and third set they played more classic rock music. They sounded great and I was very happy that I had went out to see them perform for the first time in public.

Great job Arlis, Sara, Mike, Scott and Chad.

I woke up to snow/rain...not nice weather.

2009-02-10T10:14:00.025-06:00

When the weather is yucky, it gives me good reason to stay in my PJ's and go down to the craft room to stamp/scrapbook. I am going to share a few more things I made in the last week....enjoy!

This board book is filled with photos of some of my girlfriends and some of the fun we have had together. Each of them has made an imprint on my life and I appreciate and love them all. I have many more books to make to be able to show case all of my amazing girlfriends.

I made this frame for my hubby for Valentine's Day....never know what to get him, he does like handmade items so that is what he will get this year.

In August we will be married 38 years.

I made this ATC album in memory of my nephew, Wade who passed away December 1, 2000 during heart surgery. I miss him so much. He loved eagles so that is why I chose the eagle tin.

I did journaling on the back of some of the ATC's.

A few closeups of the ATC's

Sunday was a rest day somewhat...I did do up a baby scrapbook!

2009-02-09T18:44:00.019-06:00

Saturday night I did go to the Red Rooster pub in Inglis to hear 3 Mile Tough band that my son plays bass for. They were awesome! Here are a couple of photos of the band:

Chad wearing a cowboy hat for the country set, not his thing...lol

3 Mile Tough band members L-R:

Arlis, Sara, Scott, Mike & Chad (my son)

I made up a baby album for my friend's daughter who had a baby boy last week.

Hello All, it is Saturday!

2009-02-07T09:16:00.016-06:00

I do not know here the days go to, they seem to fly by so fast. I always have good intentions on getting on the computer everyday to update my blog but to be honest hubby is being a bit of a computer hog lately so I do not spend as much time on it as usual.

I have made several small gift albums lately and I posted one on Wednesday so I will post one today as well.

I did it again!!!!!

2009-02-04T16:11:00.016-06:00

missed updating my blog, I am so bad at that. I do not even have a great excuse.

I have been busy in my craft room though, making albums, photo frames, etc and having fun. I will share a few things I am working on.

I made this album to have as a gift so therefore did not add photos to it yet.

I made this card for my friend, Mina for her birthday.

I made a few other items that I will share another day. Enjoy your day!

January is almost over, where did the days go?

2009-01-28T13:01:00.003-06:00

I don't know why I keep disappearing for a few days at a time, although this week I did have to go to the city for a pacemaker check up and another appointment. I did a little shopping before heading home. I was home a day and then left for the north to do a workshop. I had alot of fun with the gals and they were able to do some cutting using the Big Shot and also made a Valentine box. I need to take photos and then upload them, I am too lazy right now...lol
The weather has warmed up but I am told it will be short lived as a cold front is on the way, oh well it gives me more reason to stamp.
Hubby and I were invited over to our friends for supper on Monday so we had a lovely evening there.
Other than that, nothing else too exciting.

So tired of being SICK!!

2009-01-19T11:08:00.007-06:00

Same old story..I seem to always be sick with something.

I was just starting to make a come back after a bout of diverticulitis when I came down with the flu and gastroenteritis. All the itis's means inflammation in the abdomen and along with that comes pain and nausea. Dh works in the lab at the hospital and he just got over gastroenteritis and thought he should pass it along to me. I said no thanks but obviously that did not work.

I have tried to get a little stamping done in the mean time when I felt I could sit for a bit. I need to upload those photos yet to this computer so will share some when I do.

I made this cute Valentine's Day tin for an upcoming workshop...

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and hope to get back to blogging on a more regular basis soon.

Oooops

2008-12-31T15:31:00.004-06:00

the video is off of the ctv web page, they have updated to today's news so if you missed seeing the video yesterday, it is too late now. Thanks for all the interest and great emails. My purpose of the interview was to make people aware of the Pocket Postie program which Dorothy Krusky started and I joined her to carry it on from Manitoba. I have received a number of email asking for posties to sign and that is what my purpose was so all is good.

These are what our posties look like. They are made using packing tape (from the post office), cardstock and some time. When completed, you write a positive message, joke or quote on the back and send it to me and I package them all up and send them to Afghanistan. The troops love them. There is a link to the website that shows a video and message from Dorothy on the right hand of my blog. Check it out.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-12-31T15:09:00.002-06:00

Tonight is the big night of the year, last one. It will be a quiet night in our house as there will only be Dennis, Jordan and I. I have ribs cooking in the slow cooker and rice to make but we decided we will get dressed up and celebrate anyways. After supper we will have time for a bit of a rest then we will play some board games with Jordan and watch a movie "The Dark Knight" (I got it for Christmas) and we will be lucky if Dennis makes it until midnight as he was up all night on call at the hospital. He got called in a 3am for a cardiac workup. I told Jordan we would make some popcorn, etc later to bring in the new year.

I have been busy all afternoon making pocket posties to sign for our troops. You can see the interview at http://www.winnipeg.ctv.ca/ and click on the video or the posties link below it.

I need to get some of my photos uploaded so I can share a few.

My family and I wish you a happy, healthy New Year and ask that you all celebrate safely tonight. If you are drinking, please don't drive. Have a designated driver available or call a taxi or Operation Rednose.

The Christmas Rush is over and now it is time to reflect...

2008-12-29T10:22:00.002-06:00

it seems like I have good intentions every day to write on my blog but seem to get waylaid and not get it done. I have been tired out from a trip to the city which makes for a very long day. it takes 3 1/2 - 4 hours each way to the city and hubby always wants to do it in a day.

We did some running around looking at golf clubs, etc and I did have the opportunity to go to Michaels. They did have the Cricut dies on for $39.99 plus taxes but I bought a duplicate "Opposites Attract" and I was so excited I opened it before checking. If anyone wants it, let me know.

I have been playing with my FLIP that my son Ryan got me for Christmas so will need to learn how to upload the videos.

I best run as my son and his GF have arrived so I will go visit with them. Will chat later.

New life, sorrow and Christmas Joy!

2008-12-26T12:07:00.003-06:00

How funny life can be sometimes. First we have a new life born into the family, congratulations to cousin Sean and his wife, Brandi on the birth of their little son, Easton. We pray that he continues to mature and get better in hospital and that you will have him home soon.

Sorrow in finding out that my cousin, Maurice was tragically lost in a trailer fire in B.C. Very sad for the family that it happens just days before Christmas. We will miss you Maurice.

On a good note, we were able to travel to share Christmas dinner with my Mom yesterday. She was happy to host this year and had quite a spread on for us all. She had turkey, beef, pyrogies, potatoes, peas, dressing, turnips, pie, dainties and lots of treats, fun and laughter. Everyone shared in the clean up duties and then we had time to sit and visit before the drive home. Our good friends Pan & Greig came with us to share the fun. On our return home we stopped and shared a drink and visit with Pam & Greig before heading home. Chad, Kristina, Jordan and Scott opened gifts and then took Jordan to their house to watch a movie "The Dark Knight". I hope to watch it today later.

I will be cooking turkey today for supper as Ryan had to work yesterday and missed out. Scoot took the leftovers so I think he is hoping for more leftovers tonight as he has to work. I am sure there will be.

I hope all those that headed to the shopping malls have good luck finding bargains. We decided not to go this year.

Happy Boxing Day to all, enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. We must enjoy each day because sometimes those we love slip away without warning.

A freezing Monday!

2008-12-15T23:39:00.002-06:00

It is still bitterly cold out but I had to go do some running around today picking up some last minute things and then I went for coffee with a friend. As we were visiting, we had two other ladies join us. We had a nice chat and lots of laughs.

My friend, Mina gave me a beautiful crocheted angel (I still need to take a photo of it), a friend verse on a magnet and a bag of homemade cookies, yummy they are delicious.

I gave her a someone special candle holder and ornament with a musical card. We both enjoyed our gifts.

I also had two beautiful poinsettias delivered to my house this afternoon as well. They are gorgeous.

Tonight I played in my craft room for awhile and spent the rest of the time on the phone as my brother and sister-in-law called and so did my Mom.

Not much other news to share so I will close for tonight, I hope to share the photos with you tomorrow.

Brrrrr!!!! It is darn cold out!

2008-12-14T18:21:00.003-06:00

It is so cold out, they say -56 C with windchill, and without winchill - 33 to -36C. Bitterly cold and not good for an asthmatic so I am just staying indoors tonight. The Survivor finale is supposed to be on so I will curl up in a blanket and watch that. I am also thinking about going down to my craft room and stamping, I could watch Survivor down there too. I will maybe have to flip a coin...lol.

I need a gift for my Mom yet and then I am finished. She needs a new winter coat so I think I will phone my brother and get him to chip in on it and we can get her that for Christmas. Other than a couple of gifts to wrap I am done. Thank goodness, I hate crowds when shopping. You can't push your cart anywhere, everyone else probably feels the same way.

I am so disappointed I was not able to get Eagles tickets in Winnipeg, I really wanted to see them. They were sold out for two concerts in Saskatoon in 10 minutes I heard on the news.

Please keep the families of the three Canadian soldiers killed yesterday in your thoughts and prayers. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. My thoughts and prayers are with their friends and families as well as their units in Afghanistan. Rest in peace!

Saturday morning and all is quiet in my house!

2008-12-13T09:18:00.019-06:00

Hahaha!!! Just me here as Denis is off to shop in Brandon today and I chose to stay home so I can re-organize my closet and also do some more stamping and play with my new bigshot that finally arrived yesterday. I ordered one way back at the end of September and somewhere along the way got lost by UPS so SU sent me a new one out and I got it. I did get my dies for it in October so I do have some to play with. I will share whatever I finally get made.

Last night I was playing with my cameras and took some photos of my Christmas tree so I wanted to share them with you all so here goes:

These photos were taken with a different setting on the camera where you could zoom in on a specific location, they look better blown up bigger but it was fun to play with my camera. I love my star as you can see the angel in it...some of my friends were talking about what we put on top of our tree and I told them I had both, now they will be able to see what I meant.

I also received more beautiful handmade cards in the mail yesterday:

This beautiful card was made by Bettiann Nielson from Logan Lake, BC

This lovely card was made by Norma Nelson from Logan Lake, BC

This embossed card was made by Dianne Urquhart from Winnipeg, MB.

This fun "The Village Toymaker" card was made by Carole Mork from Turtleford, Sk.

I will share some more cards tomorrow. Have a great day everyone! Enjoy whatever you choose today. If you can do one thing, bring a smile to someone you meet today!

Happy Birthday Ryan!!!!

2008-12-12T13:54:00.004-06:00

My second son, Ryan turns 32 years old today. Now going back 32 years, I spent 8 weeks in hospital waiting for this fellow to make an appearance. He was such a big baby for me that he put too much pressure on my abdominal aorta and my blood pressure was 60/40 and because I was high risk (because I had a pacemaker) I had to go to Winnipeg and be admitted until he was born. This was very hard for me because it also meant I had to leave 18 month old Chad with Grandma and Grandpa at Shoal Lake. So I ended up in Winnipeg all by myself as Dennis had to work and everyday the doctors would do ultrasounds telling me that the baby was due in the middle of January. I told them they were nuts as my due date was December 24. No way I was going to the middle of January. They would not do a c-section because of the pacemaker and back in the 70's they did not know enough about them so I had to deliver naturally. Anyways after a few false labors and a good push from the doctor the baby finally dropped and a couple of contractions later, Ryan Dennis Preston was born at 1:50am at the Women's Centre in Winnipeg weighing 8lbs 12 oz and 22 inches long. He was very blue and on the apgar scale he was a 3, the doctors had to work on Ryan with oxygen and compressions and he was whisked away very quickly from me. Dennis missed his birth due to the snow storm on the drive in from Russell. I was on my own.

Ryan was supposed to be named "Riley" after my dad but Dennis did not like that name so he became Ryan, I was very disappointed. Dennis and I had made a deal that I name the boys and he name the girls so I lost out there again. Dennis went back to Russell the next day without picking a middle name so I just added Dennis on the certificate.

Ryan had alot of issues with allergies as a child and had no immunity to anything but he outgrew that and other than his scoliosis he has grown into a handsome man whom I love dearly. Dennis and I are so fortunate to have three awesome sons whom we love.

Ryan is the one in the middle in the photo above. Scott is on his left and Chad on his right. Top row is Judy (me), hubby Dennis and Chad's finance, Kristina. This photo was taken Thanksgiving 2007.

Ryan loves to fish, winter, spring, summer or fall.

I hope you have an awesome day Ryan, love you lots.

Thursday already!!!

2008-12-11T09:42:00.012-06:00

Yesterday hubby and I spent the morning driving to Dauphin for a medical test and the roads were terrible, lots of drifting snow and snow on the roads. We had to follow a snowplow for several kms and you could not see a thing so no way we were passing.

My test went ok and it was cool as I met a gal I worked with in Dauphin back in 1970-71 and she recognized me and as soon as she started talking I knew who she was. We talked non-stop when we could.

When we left Dauphin, we drove straight through to Yorkton and finished up our Christmas shopping. We thought being the middle of the week, there would be less people but it actually was quite busy.

Anyways I thought I would share one of the Christmas cards I made this year (the idea for the card came out of the PaperCrafts Magazine). I forgot to take a photo of the first one I made before I sent them all out.

It would be nice to have a smaller snowman stamp but of course I could not find one in my messy craft room until I was finished the card. I have to make several more so will probably try a new idea. My card looks different than the magazine but I loved the look of the card and it did not have a ton of embellishments so made it easier to send. I used olive green cardstock with a whisper white for the base of the card and for the spotlight. I stamped snowflakes with olive green and then used white craft and olive green craft ink with crystal clear embossing powder. I think I would have preferred white embossing powder on the white craft but of course I had none of that left. I was still happy with how it turned out. I colored the snowman scarf and hat and stamped Merry Christmas inside using basic brown. All cardstock, ink and stamps are copyright Stampin' Up.

I received a few cards in the mail yesterday as well and will share them with you.

This card was made by Fran Nelson. Thanks Fran, we were in a swap together.

Blogger makes me so mad sometimes, this photo is in the right direction when I choose to put it on here and then blogger switches it to the side....grrrr! Anyways it is a beautiful card I received from Sue Ropin in a swap. I wanted to do this card justice but of course blogger won't let me. Thanks Sue!

My friend Kathy Lambert sent me this great card. I love handmade cards so thank you to all the gals that took time to make their cards.

I also did some gift wrap stamping this year too. This one is for my nephew, Jordan who comes and spends Christmas holidays with us each year. It is fun to spruce up plain paper with some stamps.

My evening finished off beautifully too as I got a phone call from my first landlady from Winnipeg. When I finished high school, I got a job at the Winnipeg General Hospital training as an EKG technician and I lived at Evelyn's house. She seen a photo on CTV News that I had sent in and she decided to call me and get back in touch. It was so nice to talk to her.

Have an awesome day everyone, I am having lunch with my girlfriends so I know I will be having an enjoyable day!

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

2008-12-09T21:41:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Dennis

Happy Birthday to you!

He will be so glad I did not sing that out loud to him as I can not carry a tune. Well he has finally caught up to me, lucky guy.

This photo was taken on August 7, 2008 on our 37th anniversary. Of course, Dennis was not impressed with getting his photo taken but I insisted. Jordan took the photo for us. In the background you can see photos of our three sons: Chad on the left; Scott in the middle and Ryan on the right.

Friday, December 12 is Ryan's birthday and he will turn 32.

A Quick Shopping Trip with Ryan!

2008-12-08T16:08:00.007-06:00

Ryan called this morning to say he was going to Yorkton to do some Christmas shopping so I tagged along with him. What a nice time we had talking, shopping and then having lunch before we came home. He even treated.
On the way home we saw several white tailed deer that were all running across the field.
I have my shopping done except for my Mom and Dennis. I have a few ideas for them but will have to go on my own to finish up.

I found a few other pacemaker photos that my friend Debra sent, they show the size and thickness of the first pacers.

Happy Pacemaker Anniversary to me!!

2008-12-07T16:57:00.007-06:00

41 years ago today I got my first permanent pacemaker implanted for complete congenital heart block. I was 17 yrs old and weighed all ove 85 pounds. I was a very sick girl as my heart rate was only 20 beats per minute and I was blacking out very often. I lived 6 hours from Winnipeg so not easy to get back there quickly, there was no life flight back in 1967.

My first pacer was very big (the size of a hockey puck) and I was very small so the doctor made a pocket under my left arm to tuck it in the muscle.

This is one of my first pacemakers, my very first was covered in the expoxy type of stuff you see on the top right hand side. To insert this pacemaker, the doctors opened my chest and sewed the leads directly onto the ventricle of my heart. It was a huge surgery and when they completed it, I got the hiccups that would not stop so they had to go back in and shorten the leads as they were touching my diaphragm.

As much as I was happy to receive a pacer and that my life would be saved, my body had other ideas and I rejected the pacemaker for over a year. I had several bouts of pericarditis, ambulance rides, shots and PAIN!!! I prayed to die many times that year but GOD had other plans for me thankfully.

I have had many pacemakers over the years and thankfully they are getting much smaller and last alot longer. My first four or five lasted about a year, some less.

Some of my pacers over the 41 years, I think I am on number 14 or 15 now, maybe more as I have lost count over the years. The one I have now is similar to the one on the left on the bottom row. It is computerized and will last approx. 8 - 10 years. I have about a year left on it.

A comparison look from then and now.....I should have taken a photo to show the thickness.

Not my x-ray, mine has way more junk showing as old leads just get capped off and left there but this will give you an idea where it sits in the body. I think mine has dropped over the years as it is lower in the chest wall.

I thank GOD every day for this foreign piece of equipment as without it, I would not be alive to tell you about it. 41 years and counting......

Memory Tree Lighting Ceremony tonight...

2008-11-28T09:37:00.002-06:00

I am involved in our Palliative Care Program in my small town and tonight we are having our Memory Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7pm. For the last few weeks bulbs have been sold to people who buy them in memory of a loved one who has passed away, this is one of our fundraisers. Tonight the tree will be lit up and I will be giving the little speech to open the ceremonies. I hope it goes over ok. There will be music to follow as well as lunch and fellowship afterwards. The weather has been beautiful so I expect that to cooperate as well.

I feel honored to be a part of the Palliative Care Program and find it a valuable and rewarding experience.

I leave you with a poem called “I Wish For You” by Dr. James Robert Rowe

I Wish For You....
Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart,
Gentle hugs when spirits sag,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so that you can believe,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,
And love to complete your life.
----Dr. James Robert Rowe

Sometimes I do not like Blogger....

2008-11-26T09:00:00.007-06:00

Look at all that empty space and it won't let me delete it.....I am not very good at this stuff so sorry there is such a big gap in the posts, at least it did not eat all my photos this time.

I was a bad girl yesterday doing too much typing as my poor old hand is throbbing today and here I am again doing it. One handed typing just takes too long...

I made some more ATC cards to sign and send to the troops along with the pocket posties. If you are interested in signing any, let me know. I will send them to you, you sign them and return to me and I will mail them to the troops in Afghanistan. The troops love them......

Here is proof the posties make it to the troops and are appreciated by all that receive them. To date we have sent over 5,000 posties as well I have sent over 300 SU greeting cards of all occasions for the troops to use to send home to their loved ones. I have had a half dozen letters written to me from troops that I have sent packages to through the chosen soldier program.

Check out the photos and links to the right side of my blog and click on them for more information. What a great way to brighten someone's day......sending a little card with a message, who would have thought.

Another surgery done and I hope it is the last!!!!

2008-11-25T19:20:00.028-06:00

Yesterday I had my left hand done for carpal tunnel surgery and I hope that is the last surgery. It went quite well although the anaethesist did the freezing a little differently this time, not as effective as the guy that did my right hand 6 weeks ago. It is done and now I am on the road to healing. If it heals as well as my right hand and knee did then it will be awesome.

Before surgery I was able to finish my brother's photo album so I will share that with you. it was a quick job so not as great as I wanted but it needed to be done. Here goes, I hope he will enjoy it as he said he had no photos of us as kids or the family now:

The cover of Blaine's album

My younger brother, Blaine.

Mom & Daddy and the farm house

The Prieston kids - 1956

Blaine on our old horse, Tramp.

Blaine - 16 yrs old

Our family

Thanksgiving 2003

Christmas 2003 - Janice's last Christmas with us.

Skating & hockey scrimmage 2003

Remembering Janice - Funeral November 15, 2004

Blaine's trucks

Ashley marie

Ashley & the Preston brothers

Hockey Night in Russell

Fisherman Ryan

Ice fishing - Boxing Day 2007

Watching movies tonight!

2008-11-22T21:39:00.003-06:00

Tonight Dennis and I watched an old movie on TV called "My Cousin Vinny" with Joe Pesci and it was great to see it again, lots of laughs in it.

We went to do abit of Christmas shopping today but came home with not much other than groceries. I swear shopping with a husband is like taking a bunch of kids with you to shop. Everything we looked at he would say it was not right and then we would go elsewhere and then in the end go back to where we first saw it and usually then it would be gone.

I think I will need to go on a week day while he is at work and complete the shopping, would be way easier.

Tomorrow I need to start my cards and get them made and addressed. I have my left hand surgery on Monday so it will be out of commission for a while. I don't like to get behind so I will make cards for those special people and then send bought ones to everyone else...lol Oh come on you are all special to me you know that.

I also need to make hubby and the boys a list for Christmas gift ideas. let me see what do I want:
1. new camera as my little one got left behind in Vegas and the hotel told me they did not find it, yeah right!
2. laptop
3. I would love a Cricut Expression but doubt I would get that when I have the Cricut. I did see the software program and told hubby I would like that along with some vinyl to make own words.
4. thermal underwear as it is getting some cold here in Canada...Mark's Work Warehouse has some nice ones.
5. I would love a new kitchen sink and taps, heck I would love new cupboards too but I doubt that is happening.
6. a trip to Anaheim to CHA in January ( I might get that)
7. postage stamps ( as I send out a lot of mail to my Chemo buddies and soldiers)
8. I like surprises, they are always fun. Not all gifts have to be useful so something fun would be great.
9. I would like a gift I could give my Mom, a trip to Florida to spend time with her sister so I would like a plane ticket to Daytona Beach for her.
10. Would it not be nice to wish upon a star and receive peace in the world where everyone could enjoy one another.

Oh well I can dream can't I? It is sad to turn on the news and only hear about the war, how bad the economy is, etc.....we need more positive stuff coming over the airways and maybe more people would be inclined to help one another and share with each other.

Ok, I will change the subject and just wish my brother-in-law, Garry a happy birthday today!
Have a good weekend everyone.....

Friday already and I am behind again!

2008-11-21T22:31:00.003-06:00

I have actually been busy scrapbooking an album for my brother so therefore no updates. I almost have it done and it is a good thing as my left hand gets surgery on Monday so I will not get much more done.

I also got three parcels ready and sent off to my three chosen soldiers. Hope they arrive in time for Christmas for the guys.

This weekned I must work on making my Christmas cards befor surgery. I will be able to write them up after as I am right handed but need both hands to make them.

I think tomorrow will be a shopping day so we can get some of our christmas shopping done. I think it will be a Brandon trip.

It is supposed to warm up some so it will be good to travel.

I am praying for my friend, Paulette who has been rediagnosed with breast cancer. She fought hard the first time around so I know she will be a fighter and survivor this time too.

I also pray for my friend, Joan who has decided not to take treatment for uterine cancer. I wish for her a long and comfortable life. Enjoy each day to the fullest.

I leave you with a little joke and hope you all have a safe and fun filled weekend.

I am finally feeling better!!!!!

2008-11-18T11:08:00.003-06:00

It feels so good to finally feel better. Thank you Lord.

Today I am going to meet up with my girlfriend for lunch and then I will finish preparing my three packages I will mail to the troops. I adopted three soldiers through the Chosen Soldier program. You can click on the site to the right to check it out. It is so nice to bring cheer to our men and women in uniform when they are so far away from home. You would be surprised how good it feels to help someone else, it is very rewarding and if you have not tried it, you should.

Todays note will be short as I am running behind but I wanted to wish everyone a great day!

Craft Room Cleaning....YUCK!

2008-11-17T13:52:00.003-06:00

This weekend I decided I needed to clean the closet of my craft room as it was jam packed with items that I thought I might use sometime, well let's just say that I can actually walk into the closet now and actually see what I have in there. I threw out alot of stuff that I know I will never use and went through the filing cabinet and shredded any that was too old to be in there.

What alot of space I have now.

I am also planning on going through all my pattern paper and getting rid of some of that too as I have way too much so some organization is going to get a pile donated.

I will soon have some retired stamps online here to sell as I have a couple of bags full that I do not use so I will try to get photos taken today or tomorrow and then post them.

Today is a day of rest for me as I overdid it yesterday and my body is telling me it needs rest. My abdomen is giving me grief. My knee on the other hand is awesome and for the first time in about 6 - 7 years feels pain free. This last surgery did the trick, I am so happy.

Have a wonderful week everyone....

Judy

Rain, then snow, can you say YUCK!!!!

2008-11-13T18:17:00.007-06:00

I thought we were getting off lucky with no rain and then last night it had to rain, not much but rain none the less. It did not freeze like many other places which was good. This afternoon it started to snow and came down pretty good, the ground is white.

I have a sore throat and head and ear aches again so I am not a happy camper. I am tired of being sick.

I got busy a couple of days ago and made some Christmas tags for a swap and I have been contemplating making my Christmas cards so have been looking for ideas. I also want to make my brother, Blaine a photo album so must get busy at that too.

I found these cool Santa's made by Dawn Griffith that I thought would be awesome for all the kids..I will make some for sure. Love them!

I like this chocolate bar cover as well. This was made by Jess James.

I really liked this little booklet too and I am sorry I do not know who made it to give credit to them.

I really like these ornaments by Cheryl Miller as well and want to attempt to make some of these. I also have dominoes that I want to make some ornaments and pins out of them.

Ok, I best quit dreaming about doing these items and get busy and make some of them. I will be sure to share them when I get them done.

Remembrance Day!

2008-11-11T21:21:00.005-06:00

Today I remember my Dad, Riley Prieston who was a member of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and fought in Hong Kong during World War II along with his brother, William and my great uncle Ed Eggie. William was killed a few days after landing in Japan. My Dad and uncle were Prisoners of War for 4 1/2 years. They were starved, tortured and suffered many illnesses but survived and came home. My Dad was killed in a tractor accident 10 years later on the family farm. I was 5 years old. My Mom was 25 years old with six kids under 8 yrs.

Ed Eggie - Winnipeg Grenadiers

In Memory of my sister, Janice!

2008-11-09T10:15:00.010-06:00

Janice was truly a fighter who fought small cell lung cancer valiantly. This day she started her chemo, quietly never saying that she was scared or worried or wanting to bother anyone else. I went just to keep her company. A few months before we were all happy celebrating another family reunion where you can tell by my flowered dress, we dress like the 60's or 70's. It was so hot that day that many did not dress up. Janice and I were having a moment here as Wade's favorite song was being played. Wade, Janice's eldest son, had passed away December 1, 2000.

This next photo shows the hair loss the chemo took. it was Easter 2004 and she had just received a bouquet of flowers from her chemo angel, Deanna.

She was so happy with them and you can tell Jordan was very proud of them too.

October 2004, Thanksgiving weekend, we could tell what a toll the cancer and chemo was having on Janice. It had started to spread to her liver and pancreas. We knew her time was limited but she was determined that we were having the family over for Thanksgiving dinner so we all gathered in her yard and celebrated.

So today November 9, 2008 I cherish the memory of my sister, Janice who died 4 years ago. I honor her memory, she taught me so much about life and how we should live it fully. She will never be forgotten!

Janice Carol Foster

Dec. 18, 1947 - Nov. 9, 2004

My heart has been so sad due to the deaths of my friends....

2008-11-07T19:54:00.011-06:00

that it required some quiet time in my craft room while I reflected on what the families of these two special people are going through. I lit a candle in memory of Scott Bell and Debbie Peixoto and pulled out my stamps and played.

I made several cards and a small mini book for my chemo buddy. I will share a few photos.

The mini book which is made from one 8 1/2 x 11 paper:

A few of the cards that I made for a swap:

Enjoy!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Today I helped out at the Wellness Clinic and tomorrow I will help out at the Craft Sale.

November 6 - In memory of my good friend Debbie Peixoto

2008-11-07T19:41:00.003-06:00

My dear friend, Debbie Peixoto (in the red) lost her life to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) November 6. Her and I belonged to a scrapbook list called TRAK (True Random Acts of Kindness) for many years. I met Debbie and her sister, Laurie in Rhode Island where they lived and several of the TRAK girls gathered together for a time of scrapbooking, visiting, touring and just getting to know one another. Who would have thought that shortly after that meeting, she would be diagnosed with ALS and in a few short years have succumbed to it.

You will be dearly missed Debbie. Your husband, Bert; son, Michael; sister, Laurie; Mom, Linda and nephew, Matt will be in my thoughts and prayers. I feel very blessed that you came into my life and I was able to spend time with you. Thank you my friend and Godspeed.

Please support the Bells (Tina, Kennedy & Kian)

2008-11-04T13:47:00.001-06:00

Just click on the photo to the right and it will take you directly to their webpage at http://www.the-bells.ca
Thanks so much for taking a look.

Sickness continues with me....

2008-11-04T13:25:00.002-06:00

This chest infection does not want to give up easily and I am very tired of coughing. This seems so trivial when I know so many of my friends are grieving the untimely death of Tina's husband Scott. How do you tell your friend how much you hurt for her and her children and how helpless we feel to know what best to do for her. I know many of us are battling with those questions. Tina's friends, courtney and Jaime have set up a fund for Tina to help her with expenses and I think this is one way we can really make a difference in her life and in the lives of her children. Check out the site http://www.the-bells.ca/ , you can donate there and also see some of the family photos.

My thoughts and prayers are with them all at this sad time. Hang in there Tina! We are here for you.

In Memory of Scott Bell!

2008-11-03T13:19:00.003-06:00

It is with so much sadness that I read the email Tina sent our list to tell us that Scott had passed away suddenly a couple of days ago. I do not know the circumstances but that does not matter. What I do know is what a good guy he was; a great friend, husband, father, cook and housecleaner (so Tina would tell us). I also know many times when Scott would take care of the kids so we girls could all get together to scrapbook. So my heart breaks for Tina and the kids as well as Scott's family. Listen to words in the song "The Dance" by Garth Brooks as it says it all. Rest in peace Scott. My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

I also remember Val Brown who passed away yesterday. My thoughts and prayers go out to Dale, Robin and Jay and families.

Made a trip to the hospital...

2008-11-02T17:06:00.008-06:00

for a chest x-ray today so will have to wait for the report. When I cough I feel like I am coughing up a lung...definitely no fun! I am tired of all the chest pain.

Actually this is not my x-ray but one I found online but it does show what my pacer would look like on the x-ray, mine would have quite a few extra pacer leads that are capped off, considering I have had a pacemaker for 41 years, I have alot of leftover wire garbage in my body.

While I have been ill and trying to keep sane, I have been looking at magazines, etc to decide on what my Christmas cards will look like. I also need to plan what I am going to do at the Ladies Fun Event I have been asked to bring my SU to display. I thought I would demonstrate my bigshot if it arrives on time. There is so much you can do with one of them.

I love the Peaceful Wishes set so will likely use it. I am not sure who made this card but I would like to card lift the design, love the simplicity of it. Beautiful card. Found it online somewhere as well.

Here some more Peaceful Wishes and Lovely As A Tree designs by Amy Rysavy. Love how these were done and the sets are two of my favorites.

I made these ornaments before which are very easy to do so will likely do them at a Christmas stamp camp. I would also like to try some of the ornaments from our Christmas kits in the new Fall/Winter catalogue. Check out my web page at http://judypreston.stampinup.net

You can browse through catalogue, place an order directly through me or contact me if you have any questions prestons@mts.net

Well that is about it for today. Tomorrow if I am up to it, I will share a few photos from Vegas with my girlfriends, I do not have a lot of photos as my camera was left in the hotel room and when I called to have them check, they said it was not left. I know for a fact that it was so someone on staff was dishonest.

Have a good night.

Still sick and not liking it one bit!!!!

2008-11-01T13:32:00.002-05:00

I know I sound like a whiner but I am tired of coughing, aching and feeling like crap. The doctor put me on these kick ass antibiotics (costing about $4.00 per pill) and so far other than sweating they have not done squat. I am being impatient I know but this has been going on over a week. Heck my knee surgery was not this bad, it has healed up nicely and it is not giving me any pain anymore.
Most of this weekend I am on my own as hubby is on call for Lab & X-Ray and spends way more time at the hospital than he does at home here with me but that has been going on for the 37 years we have been married so I should be used to that right, NOT!!!! I guess when I feel like crap everything bothers me.

I was disappointed last night as we only had 20 kids for treats but one young guy made my evening by saying "It sure smells good in here" so I thanked him. I knew he was smelling the pot roast I had in the slow cooker because it did smell really good. Dennis really enjoyed it.

Some of my sons and their friends showed up (as they do every year) looking for Halloween costumes and why I did not pull my camera out, I guess in my foggy sick brain I did not think of it so I will have to wait to see if their friends took photos.
Wes came over to borrow an old ladies mask,
Ryan (my son) came over and borrow a long blonde haired wig
Kristina (DIL) came over to use my gold pens and encore pad and embossing powder to make a sheriff's badge.
and then about 10pm Scott showed up and we put together a gypsy women's costume complete with makeup, gave us alot of laughs.

Well I off to head back to bed as this old body won't allow me to sit up too long. Have a good day everyone.

I hate being SICK!!!!

2008-10-31T10:58:00.003-05:00

This will be short and sweet, I am still feel horrible and if I am honest, I am actually feeling much worse. My throat is RAW right down into my chest where it is very painful to breath. I am going to see the doctor this afternoon and will go for a chest x-ray. I am going to also have a repeat throat swab done. If crying would help, I would cry all day and being that it will not help I will just have to grin and bear it.

It breaks my heart that I will not be able to go out trick or treating with my sons this year, it is always a favorite of mine. I will watch hubby hand out the candy as I do not want to get close to the kids as I would not wish whatever I have unto anyone else, not even an enemy if I had one.

It has been many years since I have felt this bad and I hope it will be many more before I feel this bad again.

I wish each of you a very happy and safe Hallowe'en.

YUCK!!!!

2008-10-29T15:16:00.004-05:00

I woke up at 5am this morning with the worst sore throat and chest cold. No fun at all. I had a throat swab done and do not have strep so it is likely a viral infection so I will have to rest, drink plenty of fluids and wait it out. I hate being sick.

This last couple days/weeks/months I have been very concerned for two of my friends who both could use our thoughts and definitely our prayers.
My friend, Debbie from Rhode Island is fighting a terrible disease, ALS and is presently getting hospice care because her breathing and mobility is not good. Debbie as well as her sister, Laurie are very special scrapbook friends I met on the internet and we have kept in touch for many years. It has been a few years since I was in Rhode Island when I got to meet them in person, what a fun time we had. My heart breaks for both of them having to go through this emotional ride of this devastating disease. Please pray also for Linda, Bert, Michael and Matt (Debbie's Mom, husband, son and nephew). Love you both very much Debbie & Laurie! Hang in there!
I also ask that you pray for my friend, Joan who was diagnosed with uterine cancer and underwent a hysterectomy a few weeks ago. She has now been called in to see an oncologist for chemo and radiation. Needless to say she is a bundle of nerves about all the uncertainty this disease brings.
My heart weighs heavy for both of them.

Happy Birthday to my Mom on her 78th birthday today!

2008-10-28T15:14:00.014-05:00

My Mom turns 78 today but you would not know it to see her.

This is my Mom and I at the finish line of my 20kn Challenge for Life Walk - September 27, 2008.

I talked to her this morning and wished her a Happy Birthday and she has a really bad cold.

Sorry I have been away for awhile again but I have been busy having surgery. I had carpal tunnel surgery October 3 on my right hand and it is doing quite well and then I got called to have knee surgery on October 23.

I was on crutches for four days and as soon as that rolled around I got rid of them quickly as well as the big heavy bandage. I had a couple days and nights of bad throbbing pain but today it is feeling much better. The doctor fixed four different problems so I hope that means there will be no more pain or surgeries on it. I got another 20km walk to prepare for next June....

I received some beautiful flowers from my friends....

My friend Paulette sent me these beautiful flowers. I had to take some close ups as I just loved them.

This next bouquet I got from my friend Angela and we also went out for lunch:

I am so blessed to have such good friends. Besides the flowers I have had so many phone calls inquiring how I was doing and I received many cards from friends at home here and from my internet friends. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.

Going back to work....

2008-10-09T13:34:00.011-05:00

They called to see if I would be interested in answering phones at Elections Canada today so I said sure. I will work from 3 - 9pm.

We are having a very cool fall day today and it is not supposed to warm up this weekend. Good thing most things planned for the beef & Barley Festival are inside. I will be busy at the Trade Show helping my Mom and also our Hospital Auxiliary booths.

The boys can all make Monday around 1ish for turkey dinner so that is when I will plan it. They have to work the other days. My son, Ryan picked me up and took me out for lunch today and we were able to have a nice visit.

A few fall photos for you, most of the leaves have been blown off now.

I forgot to mention yesterday was my brother, Blaine's birthday!

2008-10-08T10:50:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Blaine, hope your day was a great one.

My hand is healing nicely and on the most part, no pain. It lets me know if I reach for something or grip something I am not supposed to because a shot of pain goes through my hand like a electrical shock, not fun. So I try to behave myself for a wee while anyways..lol Seriously I am doind good.

My hubby says to me yesterday "Hey Jude how are you going to use crutches afer your knee surgery on October 23?" My remark is "I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I get there!" Go figure getting called for both surgeries in the same month. I have only waited a year for the knee scope and they best fix whatever is wrong in there while they are there. You see I can not have a MRI because of my pacemaker so I waited a whole year for this scope so I told the doc he best allow enough time to fix whatever he finds. In total this knee has been a problem for over 4 years and everyone keeps putting it off because of my pacemaker (they don't like doing scopes) We shall see what happens this time.

I will at least have my Vegas trip over with before the surgery. My friend, Sandi and her friend Cathy and I are going to Vegas to celebrate their 50th birthdays. Yes I am going with the kids to Vegas...lol While there we are going to see Bette Midler which I am excited about and then we will lay around the pool drinking fancy drinks. I just have to figure out my points before hand.

I was so excited at WW last night as I lost another 2.6 lbs so a total of almost 10 lbs to date. Too bad my tummy was not shrinking as fast.

Thanksgiving is coming up this weekend here in Canada so I wish all my Canadian friends an awesome weekend with family and friends. Here is Russell it is our Beef & Barley Festival so there are a ton of things going on. My Mom & I will be selling angels for a good friend of hers from Swan River. He had a stroke a year ago and now is fighting cancer and this is his hobby and it helps him keep himself busy. I absolutely love his angels and have one I put on my house each Christmas.

Boredom sets in following Carpal Tunnel Surgery

2008-10-07T11:38:00.017-05:00

Because I can not use my dominant hand much, there is little I can do but watch TV, look at magazines or read. Well I am bored with all that...lol

I thought I would show you the last album I made for my girlfriend's birthday.

Here goes:

I also made a couple of cards:

I used my Cuttlebug embossing die on these cards as well.

Enjoy!

Challenge for Life Walk a huge success!

2008-10-06T11:36:00.014-05:00

I apologize for the delay in getting on here to update you about my wondeful walk but I have since had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand, which of course is my dominant hand. It makes most things difficult including typing. I will struggle along to give you an update.

Here is the registration tent.

We are doing some stretches here before heading out on our 20km.

That is me in the center and we are off on our trek. My son, Scott backed out so I was walking on my own but I met many friendly people along the way.

We passed through the beautiful bear park behind the Manitoba Parliament buildings and throughout the route their were musicians and artists sharing their talent with us. We had a lunch break at Memorial Park which is in front of the Manitoba Parliament buildings. My Mom and hubby, Dennis met up with me there. This was the halfway mark, it was a beautiful day for a walk.

One of the great signs made by the kids to cheer us on.

The entrance to Assiniboine Park and the finish line.

Crossing the FINISH LINE!!!!!!!

My mom and Dennis were there to cheer me on.

I am signed up for next year and already have a good start on my fundraising.

Thank you so much to everyone that supported me and CancerCare Manitoba!

Home from the conference!!!

2008-09-13T14:55:00.003-05:00

What a wonderful experience the Hospice and Palliative Care conference was. I learned so much about compassion and end of life that it inspires me to do more.

Thursday evening topped it off when I got to hear Tom Jackson speak and sing and then I got to meet him and he gives the best hugs. He even signed my name tag. Amazing.

A friend from Russell drove in with me and we had a very good visit while in Winnipeg and on the trip there and back.

The day I left for Winnipeg I took a terrible fall at lunch time and although I felt ok after the fall, the next day I awoke to a great deal of pain in my left shoulder and rib aea. I could not lift my arm. As the day progressed on Thursday it was even more painful. Friday brought more pain and I seriously think I probably have fractured a couple of ribs. It was difficult to get comforable to sleep.

Today is the same but the doctors do not do much for fractured ribs so I will rest at home and take some tylenol and hopefully each day will get better.

Tonight I am going for some training with Elections Canada and will be working with them till after the election so the aches and pains will have to go to the background for awhile.

Have a good weekend everyone. I hope God brings you a little miracle.

Hugs,

Judy :o)

Ooops I forgot to mention....

2008-09-09T11:14:00.003-05:00

that I will be away for a few days at a Palliative Care Conference in Winnipeg so will not be posting, sorry again.

I also wanted to thank Chad & Kristina for my birthday BBQ they had at their house for me on August 24. Thanks to Annette for making the cake. I really enjoyed the evening and my gift.

Tuesday already!

2008-09-09T10:58:00.010-05:00

Today Scott is supposed to come over so we can go geocaching. So far we are lucky because the sun is shining so it should be a good day for hiking through the bushes looking for treasures.

Check out the site http://www.geocaching.com/ if you have not tried this fun sport or if you just want to know more about it. I am including some photos of our last geocahing fun days before Jordan had to go home. The only bad thing was getting stung by a bee and that hurt like crazy.

This cache was found in Silverton and I actually was the first to find it which was rare when Jordan or Scott was along as I am a slower mover than they are...lol

I took a curling pin from this cache (I collect pins) and I placed a bird (no not a real one) in that Scott had found in a Saskatchewan cache.

Jordan, our little cache hog, he always finds them first. He sure did enjoy geocaching and can't wait till Aunt Judy goes to Swan River so we can check out the sites there.

Scott likes to find the caches too, it brings the kid out of us all.

Lots of treasures for all ages.

The Cache Finders........

Geocahing is a wonderful way to spend time with your family, get some exercise and find some treasures along the way. On every trek we see some wonderful scenery, animals and just have a blast. Give it a try, you too can have some fun.

Ouch!!!! Surgery on your 13th birthday is no fun!!!

2008-09-07T14:26:00.010-05:00

Poor Jordan took sick late Thursday evening and by Friday evening it got worse so I took him to hospital and then Saturday morning I picked him up from the Russell Hospital and drove him to Dauphin for emergency surgery to remove his appendix. It was his 13th birthday. He was so good, never complaining until it was time to take a bandage off....and then he said he was scared for life.....lol.

The appendix was removed by laproscopy, so three little holes in his abdomen and the abdomen is filled with air so the doctor can have a good look around. Besides removing the appendix, the surgeon also found a meckel diverticulum. This is very rare. It was not removed but if it poses a problem later on, it will require major surgery to remove as part of the bowel would have to be removed as well. A small drain was left in for a few days and was removed the day before he was discharged. Jordan did not like the removal at all and told the nurse he was scarred for life...lol.

He had his IV put in at the Russell Hospital so anitbiotics could be started. It lasted until the night before discharge when a male nurse who thought he was so macho ended up pulling it out because he was not paying attention. Jordan had to be stuck several times to have another put in for the last two antibiotics.

The drain has been removed, Jordan was happy when it was out. It was alot longer than I expected. I told Jordan he actually had his innards tickled....lol.

I am so happy he is feeling better. He spent another week with me as he could not attend school for a week and Grandpa picked him up yesterday and he will go to school on Monday.

I got him a couple of balloons (one for his birthday and one to get well) to help cheer him up.

They let him use a TV to entertain himself while he was a patient.

Ok I am finally back...

2008-09-07T14:04:00.014-05:00

WOW, what a busy time for me. My Pink Party was not well attended but those that were there had a great time and won some prizes. Thank you to Mina, Kristina and Jordan for all their help that evening. Kristina and Jordan helped me with the decorating as well as in the evening with tickets, prizes etc. Mina looked after the door for me, taking the admission and selling tickets.

This is our breast cancer and challenge for life items for sale table.

I knit each of these scarves and for every $20.00 donation, you can choose one scarf.

Kristina and Jordan did a great job decorating the room.

One of the silent auction tables. Thanks to all who donated prizes.

The other silent auction table.

Thank you Mina for taking care of the door for me.

Kristina and her family, along with Chad and Jordan.

Silent auction buzz....

We even made chad wear Pink!

Thank you to everyone that attended and supported me in my Challenge for Life 20km walk.

Somtimes I hate blogger......

2008-08-29T15:25:00.001-05:00

On top of feeling really YUCKY today, blogger just ate my long post I had for here so I do not have the energy to retype it all so when I am feeling better I will update you all on my Pink Party, my geocaching, my tests and everything else. Sorry about that.

Wish me LUCK..I hope for a good attendance tonight!

2008-08-23T14:02:00.008-05:00

It is my Challenge for Life Pink Party tonight and we are off to decorate the room. My son, Chad, his girlfriend, Kristina and my little nephew, Jordan are coming to help me this afternoon. We are all excited and I just hope for a good turn out. I have lots of prizes, craft table, silent auction table, 50/50 draws and music, oh yeah also food and beverages. I have some games up my sleeve and the Inn will provide a karoke machine if we want it so it should be alot of fun.

Here are a few of the items on the craft table:

If you would like to see more of the items or the prices, look below at my slideshow.

Well I am off to decorate and I will not likely get on till tomorrow or maybe not then as it is my birthday and I am not sure what the family has planned. Have a great weekend everyone.

Busy, busy, busy...that is me!

2008-08-22T17:56:00.008-05:00

Another week has flown by and I have not been on to update my blog. I hope once life settles down again and hubby is back to work and Jordan is gone home and back to school, maybe my life will settle down enough that I can get on here daily with an update. We have been busy running to Winnipeg, etc and I was able to meet Dianne for a short visit yesterday. The only bad part of the day was driving home in that terrible rain and wind. It has rained here all day today.

I have most of my things organized for the Pink Party tomorrow night and I think I have enough help to decorate a bit tomorrow afternoon. Now I just need to pray that people will come out and support me in this fundraiser. Time will tell.

Dorothy sent me a link to the new pocket posties blog she has set up so please take time to check that site out at http://www.pocketposties.blogspot.com/ or click on the pocket postie link on my page to the right. While I was picking up items for the Challenge for Life walk yesterday, one of the girls asked me what the red ribbon was on my purse and I told her it was in memory of the soldiers and so I told her about the pocket posties and I left 100 posties for them to sign. I sent out over 3,000 posties last month and I plan on continuing to do this until our troops come home from Afghanistan. I have received several letters from soldiers that I have been writing to in the Chosen Soldier project and they are so thankful for all the encouragement, cards and gifts from home. If you are interested to signing some posties, let me know and I will mail some to you to be signed. It does not take long and all you need to do is write something encouraging or stamp your postie and mail it back to me. You too can make a soldier smile.
Three more of the soldiers have died this week in road side bombs and even if we disagree with the war, we can show support to our troops. Think about it, they could be your son or daughter.

Time is flying by and I have been so busy...

2008-08-18T17:57:00.003-05:00

I apologize for not blogging much but I have been busy travelling around and entertaining my great nephew Jordan. Lately we have been having a blast geocaching. We have found 5 caches so far and have the supplies to hide two of our own. My son, Scott even came with us one night and we drove into Saskatchewan and did some geocaching. We only found one out of six and it was the hardest one to find and the one that we had to walk the farthest through long grass with tons of mosquitoes and wood ticks...YUCK. Needless to say I was taking chlorotripolon as I was swelling up bad from the bites. We were all excited to find the cache. After this find we toured around the back roads for a route across the river but all the fords were too high with water so we had to backtrack along the valley road back to the highway. We took Scott back to Russell and let him use the GPS to find the caches we had already found. He is hooked on it now too and is going to buy his own GPS unit. It definitely is good exercise. Tires this old girl out for sure.

This week is a blur of activity getting things ready for my Challenge for Life Pink Party that will be held on Saturday, August 23 at the Russell Inn Yellowhead Room 8pm-1am. I have all my silent auction items ready as well as my breast cancer items for sale and have my workers organized to help me out. I just pray for a good turnout to make this fundraising event successful. http://www.challengeforlife.ca/

I may not be on too regular for another week or so as Jordan will only be with us another week before his Grandpa picks him up. We will sure miss him.
Have a good week everyone.

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

2008-08-08T13:27:00.008-05:00

Yesterday August 7th was my hubby, Dennis and my 37th anniversary. Yup we were married on a very hot day August 7, 1971. My how the time flies over the years.

Now this was a marriage that was never supposed to last because hubby and I had only known each other several months before we tied the knot, in fact my Mom had not even met him before I asked her to book the church. I met Dennis in March 1971 as we both worked at the Daphin General Hospital back then. He was an x-ray tech and I was an EKG technologist, in fact I had to train him to do EKG's as Lab & X-Ray did the call backs in the evening. After training him in EKG, I asked him to go bowling with us as we were a member short and he agreed. Another time I asked him to a hockey game that a bunch of us were going to and again he agreed. Soon after we started dating on a regular basis and on June 10, 1971 we became engaged and were married August 7, 1971. My Mom met him once and here we are 37 years later still married with three grown sons: Chad, Ryan & Scott.

We had a great day yesterday. Dennis gave me a GPS unit for our anniversary so Jordan and I went geocaching while Dennis was at work. Jordan and I found two caches.

Jordan had fun finding the caches, signing the logbook and replacing the caches. We had lots of fun.

He also saw this canon at the Peace Park in Russell.

Later Dennis, Jordan, Ryan and I went out for chinese food for supper and later Chad & Kristina came out with us for an ice Cream cone at Connie's Drive Inn. It was a wonderful day.

I think today Jordan and I are going out to look for more geocaches so will let you know what we find.

Have an awsome weekend everyone doing something you love.

Smiles,

Judy :o)

My travelling is done for a little while, I think

2008-08-06T21:56:00.003-05:00

I am home from an amazing Swan River Homecoming weekend. I had such a wonderful time visiting with relatives and old school friends. There was so much to do: talent shows, 10km walk, parade, more entertainment, supper, two dances, pancake breakfast, picnic in the park, games, photos, 100 member marching school band, an amazing church service and fireworks, also a golf tournament that I did not attend because we had a mini family reunion.
I was just so excited to see friends from my childhood that I had not seen in over 40+ years. I had more hugs and smiled so much my face was sore. I even had a few dances at the dance but I had got up at 7am and did the 10km walk so I was a wee bit sore for that. The weather was fantastic and all the volunteers and organizers of this homecoming have to be commended on a job well done.
I did not take many photos but my cousin promised to send some to me.

I am now preparing for my Challenge for Life Pink Party
August 23, 2008 from 8pm – 1am
Russell Inn – Yellowhead Room (Highway 16 in Russell, MB).
Everyone may attend and the only requirement is you must wear something PINK. Judy celebrates her birthday on August 24 and has asked for no gifts with all donations to go towards the walk and to CancerCare Manitoba. Admission is $5.00 but all donations above that are greatly accepted. We will have music, dancing, singing, chinese auction, 50/50 draw, food and lots of fun.
Come help Judy celebrate and help her team “J-ANGELS” to meet their fundraising goals. Contact: JUDY PRESTON 773-2961 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

Even if you can't attend, you can still donate to my walk. Just click on the Challenge for Life site on the right hand side or go to www.challengeforlife.ca

It should be alot of fun.

Good Morning...the start of a new week!

2008-07-28T11:20:00.013-05:00

We had a great rain during the night and the sun is shining again. Dennis is back to work today so there is just Jordan and I. I got called into the doctor's office first thing this morning. The test results were back about the tests on my hands and it is recommended that surgery be done on my right hand ASAP so I will se a doctor on August 15. Of course my right hand is my writing/everything hand so it definitely does need fixing. It kind of screwed up my golfing, etc this summer, well that and me being away..lol.

I am busy planning my fundraising for the Challenge for Life Walk on September 27 in Winnipeg and am in the process of planning a PINK Party for my birthday with all proceeds going to my walk and CancerCare Manitoba. I am a colon cancer survivor and feel blessed to still be here, my sister, Janice was not so luck. She was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and died 14 months after being diagnosed. She gave cancer a good fight and on her dying bed I promised her I would try to make a difference so I walk and I fundraise. If you have any great ideas for fundraising I would love to hear them. Scott is walking with me and he is the only one so far to meet my challenge.

I have also took on the challenge of trying to live a healthier life, which includes diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Why don't you take up the challenge to live healthier too. Check out my website by clicking on the side bar or check out the website at http://www.challengeforlife.ca

I promised more photos from BC so here goes:

This is Colin and I had such fun watching him take forever to get all his gear on and then walk around the yard. He was just too darn cute.

We gals loaded up the wagon with kids, put the dogs on a leash and all went for along walk. This was the night before the birthday party and everyone was camped around Wanda & Leonard's house.

We saw some beautiful flowers near the beach.

I took some fun shots too. In another post I will add some of the birthday photos.

Have a great day.

Happy Sunday! Is it hot out???

2008-07-27T16:00:00.011-05:00

It is just too hot to do anything much today! I made breakfast for Dennis, Jordan and Chad this morning but other than that have not done too much. I did a wee bit of dusting in the bedroom after I had a nap.

Last night I took Jordan to the pool and we swam for about 2 1/2 hours and I think it played me out. It was the first time I was in our new renovated pool and it is awesome. Jordan swam four laps to get into the deep end and then we played catch with a ball and he dove for rings that I threw. He really enjoyed it and it cooled us off quickly last night.
He will go swimming again tonight and I think I will just read my book. I started to do a scrapbook for a baby gift last night but ran out of energy for that too.

I promised some BC photos so here goes with a few:

This one shows the tree that was down on the power lines after a wind storm. We had to sit 4 1/2 hours on the road until the shot cut was cleared of trees that were down too.

This is an old ore car at the mine where my cousin and her husband work.

This is the mine where my cousin and her husband work, Klondike Silver Corp.

Wanda explains to Jordan how the ore is separated for the earth.

A closer look at how it is washed and separated.

The road Wanda drove to show us the mine.

Some pretty flowers we saw on the way up.

The opening to the mine.

The view....we were at 4,625 ft.

I will send more photos in another post.

Happy Weekend everyone!

2008-07-26T11:41:00.006-05:00

Here I am at another weekend and still no stamping or scrapping done although I do plan on going to the craft room shortly and working on a baby boy album for my son's friend. They just had a baby boy Friday morning.

Last night we (Jordan, Dennis and I) spent an evening at Chad & Kristina's for a BBQ. I made up the hamburgers and Chad cooked the rest. It was a beautiful evening so perfect for being outdoors. Some of the Chad's friends dropped by so Jordan enjoyed playing Rockband with all the big guys. He did pretty darn good too.

...Kristina & Chad

Jordan....

This morning I woke up to Dennis playing around with his stereo, he bought a new woofer so of course the music was playing LOUD! Once he turned it down a bit, he does sound pretty good.

Dennis.......
Oh the boys and their toys....

I got busy and made some omelets for breakfast, Jordan helped some. He enjoyed eating them too.

Today is a day of rest and playing in the craft room so I hope to have something to share with you all soon. I also need to upload my photos from BC so should do that first so be prepared to see some birthday photos and the beautiful scenery of BC.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Well I have another trip under my belt......lol

2008-07-20T22:16:00.002-05:00

I am very thankful this BC trip is over and that I am back home safe and sound. I had this trip planned to attend my aunt's 80th birthday and had planned on taking my own vehicle so that I could take my little great nephew and show him around some of the sights. My mother decided to go and wanted us to take her van because two cousins wanted to come along as well as my aunt & uncle. Thankfully my aunt & uncle could not go in the end and by the time we reached new denver I had wished that I had not gone either. I drive my mother everywhere and she still constantly complains about my driving, either I am going too fast or not fast enough and once we were in the mountains you would swear that I planned to drive over the cliff (sometimes I felt like it). We travelled Number 1 highway to Brooks, AB where we spent the night and then off through Calgary towards Revelstoke. We crossed a ferry to get to the highway to Nakusp, this was fun for Jordan as it was a first for him. We arrived in New Denver at 9:30pm...abput 14 hours on the road with stops every couple hours for my cousin to have a smoke break. The next morning we had to be up early so we could drive mother to Nelson to surprise my aunt for her birthday (the actual day of her birthday but not the party date). We dropped them off at the mall and my cousins picked them up. My cousin Linda, Jordan and I shopped for abit and then headed back to New Denver. A huge wind had come up and on the way a tree fell over the power line and the road was closed, so was the shortcut so we waited, 4 1/2 hours to be exact. When we finally got to New Denver it was again after 9pm and there was no power there either. Out came the candles. We were out of power until 8pm the following night. My cousin Wanda drove us to Nakusp for lunch and grocery shopping the next day. We ate at an awesome place called "The Hut" which had the best mushroom chicken burger I have ever tasted....mmmm good.

Party day was Saturday so in the morning we were busy preparing food and setting up the decorations. About 100 family members attended and Aunt Marj was so surprised and had such a great time.

Sunday was a different story as Mother decided she wanted the car in Nelson but wanted me to drive them in as she doesn't like to drive in the mountains. This did not make me happy as it meant I was without a car so I could not meet up with my friend Sandi and her family. My cousin Wanda followed us in with her car and drove us back to New Denver.

Wanda took us to the mine to show us around. Her husband runs the mine and her sons work there too. She drove us up the mountain to the 4,625 level and what a sight to behold below.

We went to Castlegar and Trail to shop and look around the next day and then to Creston and Cranbrook to shop and to visit my cousin Linda's sister, June. It was a long drive, over 3 1/2 hours there and the same back over those mountain roads.

Wanda then had to drive us to Nelson to pick up Mom and Fay (the other cousin that came with us) and I found that they had not even used the car (I was some upset). Because we left from Nelson I came home through Cranbrook to Lethbridge where we stayed over night. We had stopped in Sparwood to take pictures of Jordan with the big truck Titan and to have supper. Again my plans were changed as I wanted to take Jordan to Edmonton to meet Deanna, my sister's ChemoAngel. I drove straight through from there to Russell and was happy to send them on their way to Swan River. Next trip I will be driving my own car and not changing my plans.....

I will put some photos up when I get them uploaded. This next week will be busy as I have doctor appointments in Brandon and a pacer check in Winnipeg. I may go missing for a few days again...sorry.

Tonight I will pray for my chemo patient, Betty who passed away yesterday morning and for the Manitoba soldier who died in Afghanistan this weekend. May God be with their families.

Restful Sunday!

2008-07-06T20:45:00.011-05:00

Today was a day of mostly rest as yesterday I went to Brandon with Dennis for the day. It was a fun day of shopping and enjoying the beautiful weather, it actually got very hot. at one point I waited in the car for Dennis and a quick rain shower went through with huge drops.

We had a nice supper out at Boston Pizza before heading home.

This morning we went out to the Russell Inn for breakfast, a very busy place this morning with many bikers there.

Ryan came over later in the morning and took me for a ride in his new car, a beautiful black Honda Civic. Nice car and it suits him. He is very proud of it. I took photos and will upload them at a later date.

Tomorrow I have a dental appointment in Roblin and then will be busy packing for my BC trip.

My Mom, cousins, great nephew and I will be leaving bright and early for New Denver/Nelson, BC and will be gone at least a week, maybe two. I won't be updating my blog until after my return so I will have more photos to share then.

Here are a few of my favorite lighthouse shots from PEI:

The lighthouse on the left is in the Cavendish area, sorry I forget the name of it. The lighthouse in the center that says lookout was in Summerside at Spinnaker's Landing.

On the right is the Baywatch Lighthouse Motel which can be rented, it is a beautiful place and the lady kindly let us have a tour.
To the left is the St. Peters Lighthouse and to the right is the Covehead lighthouse.

Lighthouses are one of my favorite things so I tried to see ad climb as many as I could while in Prince Edward Island. This is the East Point Lighthouse.