Christmas Memories

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

This post may not be about my favourite Christmas. Or even my most memorable Christmas.

But it's a Christmas that I remember.

I was still in elementary school, and my sister and I had asked Santa for new games for Christmas.  We were a farming family without loads of money so a major form of entertainment was board games and such.

I asked for Don't Break The Ice. I have no idea what my sister asked for - I should ask her some day.

Christmas morning came and we eagerly opened our gifts from Santa.  As luck would have it, I was kneeling beside my sister when we grabbed the boxes from under the tree with our name on it.  I quickly ripped mine open, and so did she.

Then we both kind of froze.

Just looking at our gifts.

My mom, who had been watching from the doorway, asked what was wrong.

I looked at my sister's gift and said "that's the one  I wanted", and my sister looked at mine and said "and that's the one I wanted".

My mom quickly stepped in and grabbed the games from both of us, giving mine to my sister and hers to me, and said "Santa made a mistake".

LOL

I guess it happens from time to time.

So yes, I got Don't Break the Ice.  And yes, I loved that game!!

SALE! Crochet Club of London

The Crochet Club of London

Hand-made items for sale!

Masonville Mall:

 

Friday, December 14

and

Saturday, December 15

 

 

Turkeys Incognito

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the US celebrating today.

Thanks to Lion Brand for the funny!

Sale! The Crochet Club of London

The Crochet Club of London

Hand-made items for sale!

Masonville Mall:

Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15

and

Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15

Remember . . .

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Time to Turn Back the Clock!

Time to Turn Back the Clock!

This weekend! 

Turn your clocks back an hour!

Girl Guide Scarves for Guiders

Here are a few of the Girl Guide scarves for Guiders (leaders) in Canada.

This first one is the International scarf, worn when travelling outside Canada, though I think we should wear it much more often because it really is a nice scarf.

I like to tie it so that its folded diagonally to make a strip, then make a knot at the centre of the scarf that will be front and centre, and then the ends are tied behind the neck.  Some day I'll get a photo of that.

I also have this one - I bought it off ebay and I love the maple leaves and the Trefoil.

I love this one and I think I'll wear it with my uniform!

I have no idea when it was created or worn - or by which members of Girl Guides of Canada.  I'd like to know though. I did see a similar one on ebay once - and even grabbed the photo (I'd give credit to whoever was selling it but that was many years ago). I've never seen another one like these.

There is a new Girl Guide scarf for leaders in Canada this year - a tad on the pricey side, but since the quantity they'll sell is miniscule compared to the number of girls' scarves sold, I can see that producing them probably cost more.

It is quite similar to the one I bought on ebay and I think I like my ebay one better - with the Trefoils throughout the scarf.

What are your thoughts? Do you have a scarf for Guiders that isn't here? Leave a comment.
Maybe you know about those maple leaf and Trefoil scarves! I'd love to hear from you.

Pop Can Tabs Make a Difference

Here in Southwestern Ontario, we DO collect pop can tabs!

If you search, you can find reports on the web that say that collecting pop can tabs is a hoax. That may be true elsewhere in the world, but in Ontario, children get wheelchairs with pop can tabs.

The most recent wheelchair provided was to Cristian Picard in Chatham.

And next, pop can tabs will go for a wheelchair for Julia Gower of Ilderton (see photo below).

So save your pop can tabs!

Article from the Dorchester SignPost

Girl Guide Cookies, Scouts Apples - and more!

Girl Guides with Cookies!

Shout out to the 55th London Rangers and the 82nd London Guides!

Scouts with Apples!

Many thanks to Sears, Wal-mart, No Frills and every other business allowing Girl Guides to sell cookies and Scouts Canada to sell apples!



And more from my morning ... 

I noticed the back of this van open in the mall parking lot ... um, no one is going to go near it I bet!

And this cool mustang in my side view mirror (yes, we were stopped at the time!)

Yarn Bombing at Victoria Park

Yarn Bombing at Victoria Park

I was pleasantly surprised to see Yarn Bombing at Victoria Park in downtown London a week or so ago!

I didn't have my camera, but my friend did - and you can see yarn on the trees in the background!  look carefully!  She has more photos here on her blog.

I'd heard so much about yarn bombing in other countries around the world, so it was neat to see it close to home!

Here is all that is remaining in one of the trees! 

I LOVE YARN DAY!

  

International Day of the GIRL

International Day of the Girl

Following campaigns by organizations including WAGGGS, its Member Organizations, Plan and Save the Children, the United Nations declared 11 October as International Day of the Girl from the year 2012 onward.

Girl Guides of Canada is thrilled to be part of the first ever International Day of the Girl on October 11.

Make sure you join in!

Ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts will join together to imagine the world we want for girls and to help make it a reality.

On Oct. 11, watch our Day of the Girl music playlist on our YouTube channel, with GGC girls serving as video hostesses and introducing their favourite songs that promote confidence, courage and resourcefulness in girls.



Tutorial - Girl Guide Brochure Holder

Tutorial - Girl Guide Brochure Holder

I wanted to display some Girl Guide brochures - but I didn't have a brochure holder, so I made one, using a cardboard display as a template and modifying it for Girl Guide brochures.

Step 1: the pattern. 

These two pattern pieces should be printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with no border. Part 1 should touch all the edges of the paper, and then Part 2 should match up to Part 1.  Print onto paper first. You need to tape Part 1 and Part 2 together.

If you cannot print it large enough, perhaps print and then enlarge on a photocopier to the correct size.

Once you have printed and taped the pattern together on paper, cut out along solid lines, and trace onto cardboard.  Add all the markings from the paper pattern to the cardboard.

Part 1

Part 2

Step 2: cardboard.

I used a legal-sized file folder because it was the right size. A letter-sized file folder was too small. It wasn't quite as strong as I would have liked, so I reinforced the back by gluing an extra piece of cardboard onto the back.  This is optional and is not shown in the tutorial.

Step 3: cut out the pattern.

Cut along solid lines only. Cut around the outside, then cut along all other solid lines.



Step 4



Step 4: first fold

With the widest part closest to you, fold along the first dotted line (see photo for Step 4)



Step 5

Step 5: more folds

Fold the next 2 fold lines in the opposite direction as Step 4 (see photo for Step 5)



Step 6



Step 6: wings

Well, I'll call them wings - they are the sides of the stand.  Fold them towards the centre (see photo for Step 6)



Step 7



Step 7: tabs

Fold the tabs in towards the centre (see photo for Step 7)



Step 8



Step 8: assemble

Insert the tabs into the slots. 
Admire your handiwork.  :) 

Step 9: Girl Guides!



Step 9



Using old catalogues, Canadian Guider magazines, old brochures and posters, etc. glue pictures and text to your brochure holder.  I made sure our GGC logo and 800# were visible on all sides so that even if all the brochures were taken, people would still be able to take down the information.



Step 10



Step 10: display

Fill with brochures and display!

Why Knit?

"In the same way that fishing is not just about getting something to eat, knitting is not just about making something to wear"

Debbie Stoller

New Hats now in Stock!

New hats have been added to my Etsy shop ennadoolf!

These quality hand knit hats are perfect for all ages!

Men, women, teens and children.

Shop now for best selection!

Etsy Finds - KNITTING!

Knitting was given a lovely profile in today's Etsy Finds daily newsletter email called Fall Fashion Preview .

Below is a crop showing just the knitting part (of course!).

For beautiful quality hand knits, visit my ennadoolf shop on etsy! 

Use Coupon Code SAVE20 this week only! to save 20% off your purchase.
[offer ends August 25, 2012]

Dishcloths!

Lots of dishcloths!

Recently added to my Etsy shop!

A RAK Afghan

A RAK Afghan

RAK = Random Act of Kindness

 I got this lovely pink 8 inch (20 cm) square in a box of yarn and things at either a yard sale or a thrift shop. I set it aside as I didn't really know what to do with it.

Then I thought of a RAK afghan - where each square could be knit or crochet by different people and so I thought I’d see if others wanted to send me squares, and I’d sew them together into an afghan that I will either donate to a charity or to a charity auction.

If you’d like to send me a square - knit or crochet accepted - it should be worsted weight acrylic so that all squares have similar wash/dry care instructions. You can contact me on ravelry (ennadoolf) or on my facebook page or by email.

This golden yellow square was made by me - I'm just learning to crochet so I actually started it and ripped it out about 4-5 times before I figured out what the pattern was saying. 

And this lemon yellow square is from my friend Deb.

2012 Olympics - Medals

2012 Olympics - Medals

Quilt Blocks on Barns

Quilt Blocks on Barns, Wardsville Ontario

Drive Hwy#2 west of London and you can't help but notices the quilt blocks on the barns!

We stopped at a golf course and saw a placque that told us these were created for the 200th anniversary celebrations for Wardsville.

I found this blog online, but cannot find anything that tells me exactly how many quilt blocks there are on the barns.

Can anyone tell me?

I'd love to know!

Here is a sampling ... we didn't slow down so these were all taken while driving by.