With love, all things are possible.

If you want to learn about true love

If you want to learn about "for better or for worse"

If you want to learn about "in sickness and in health"

If you want to feel proud of what our soldiers are doing around the world

If you want to learn about the sheer determination of the human spirit

If you want to learn about the capacity to forgive

Read this book.

I just finished this last night. For the first half of the book I was on the brink of tears, just waiting for what I knew was coming, trying to put myself in Debbie's shoes, imagining that my husband and the father of my child was attacked, viciously, clinging to life, unable to move, or think. By the end of the book I was so, so proud of the Greene family, of all the hard  work that they have done to get to where they are today. I was also proud that they were, very well taken care of throughout their journey. Our country supported Trevor's recovery, honouring his sacrifice. 

Trevor and Debbie's next mission "To train women in conflict zones as teachers, to enlighten and empower future generations" 

To donate please go to www.vancouverfoundation.ca/GreeneFamily

<3 Kass

Well...they are about as cute as a knitted snake can be.

I recently finished a project that I have been working on for awhile. I made these two little snakes for T, who is going to be a big sister soon, you may remember the Hippo I made for her (soon to come out of mommy) brother. I asked T what she wanted and she looked through two books of knitted stuffy's and picked the snakes...Her mom and I were amused, and honestly tried to encourage her to pick something cuter...but she's a stubborn little bean and I started knitting these little beauty's. 

It was interesting seeing the lady's at work's reaction, one woman has a huge fear of snakes and asked that I cover the picture of the snakes in the pattern book...I am sure she will be delighted to see me working on a baby blanket tomorrow :) 

Here are some pictures. 

 So ugly they are cute?

 awe!! they are cuddling

I do love the colours...so pretty.

Hope your week is going well.

<3 Kass

Creating :)

Here is a quick set of pictures of my craftiness lately :) 

 My Owl wine glass. My amazingly brilliant boyfriend has named it "Hoooootchy"; this could possibly be why we are together!

My mug, it has my favorite Bible verse on it! I wish I was better at writing so it would look prettier. But it's huge and I love it. 

 All "Kilned" up and finished :) I love them.

 This is the preview of the body of the snake I am making like I promised :) I love the colors on this one (I am working on the body of the second snake now)

My dog, she's cute. This was on route to watch our friends play ball :)

What have you guys made lately?
<3 Kass

If eating Mini gluten free blueberry pies for lunch is wrong....I'm wrong and it's delicious!

Mike is away, he went camping, I stayed in Calgary to volunteer at church and see my Grandpa (who was also camping all weekend...sigh). I honestly surprised at how much I missed Mike. Normally I love my alone time....yearn for it actually. But I think I love my alone time if I am able to see Mike now...kinda different, and very cool, must mean that I love the man. 

Anyhoo, enough of that sappy crap. When I am alone all weekend I do many things...I shop, knit, do my nails, cook, bake, clean, walk the puppy, facebook, watch movies/tv, sleep, dream up quilting projects and in general just chill. 

This weekend was no different. Friday went shopping with Mike so he could get ready for camping and I could get ready for cooking. Saturday I baked Mike cookies for camping and then went for lunch with my Rebek, then dropped the cookies off to Mike, then grocery shopped and then went home and....brace yourself...relaxed. 

Sunday I volunteered at church and then made a huge pot of Chili, Meat Loaf and potatoes, and beef and veggie stew, then I cleaned up... (my Kitchen was a nightmare. I also did my nails and worked on the snake that I am knitting (I will show you a preview in my next post). 

TODAY I baked!! I love baking, and I love mini things, so I combined them into 

GLUTEN FREE MINI PIES!! 

I used Celimix Pastry blend (based in Winnipeg company, pretty darn tasty)

 Smushed the dough into a cupcake tin to make little bowls.

 Added the filling, I ran out of blueberry but I had some cherry in the fridge that I needed to use up so it worked out perfectly.

 Then I made little tops for some of them (ran out of dough...oops). I baked them for 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

 Just a tip, when taking them out of the tin, use a knife to start to life them up (run it along the side and gently push up until you can see the bottom of the pie on the other side) THEN gently slide it on to a big spoon (or something). I broke 2 before I learned this...which was sad.

LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS!!!!

I also made Kale chips... Surprisingly tasty...easy too. There is a recipe on Dr. Oz's website


So that is my weekend so far :)
Hope yours is amazing
<3 Kass

Book Review: Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs

Anyone who knows me knows that I love knitting, if I go a day without knitting I feel out of sorts, scattered. It's immensely therapeutic for me, the calm, repetitious movements and deeply satisfying when I finish a project. Given this information it is no surprise that I am also attracted to books that talk about knitting. So when I saw Kate Jacob's "Friday Night Knitting Club" at Chapters I had to read it!

Today I am home, sitting on the couch being sick, while it's 25 beautiful degree's outside..kinda sucky, but I was finally able to finish this book. Now, I have to be careful with this book review because I don't want to spoil it for my friend Andrea, who is still reading it...

I loved this book, I love the way Ms. Jacobs introduces us to all the very different characters, their stories and journey's...I loved the plot twists, the development of friendships, relationships and life lesson's that we are guided through. I love the fact that it was about knitting, and a knitting club, while not really being about that at all. It was brilliant and I am excited to start Knit Two (although I am going to read something else first). 

This book makes me want to start a knitting club, and own a yarn/knitting store and knit a sweater...I wonder which of those things I will accomplish. I will just have to channel my inner Georgia Walker and knit on :) 

<3 Kass

   

Book Review; Inside the Wall- Megan Bishop-Scott

I just finished reading Inside the Wall by Megan Bishop-Scott; Actually I wouldn't say I read this book, it was more like I devoured it. I started this morning at Chapter 5 and finished it around 6:30 this evening! I actually know Megan, in fact, my copy of this book is even autographed with a personal message from her. See, I met Megan at work, we share a passion for somehow, in our own ways touching the lives of foster children in a positive way. It's a true blessing to do the work we do.

Like I said I met Megan at work, she is lovely, a truly kind, creative spirit who I enjoy working with. I saw her before and after India, but didn't truly realize how life changing a journey that was for her until I read part 3 of this book. When Megan told me that she wrote this book I looked it up right away, I have a weakness for books, especially real life stories. As I read the write-up on the book that was posted on Amazon I was shocked, because it did not, in any way, match what I had conjured up in my head about Megan. The write up to me sounded like something out of a Hollywood movie, not a life journey that I could picture Megan having. Reading her story I was moved, I laughed, I gasped, and was in awe at her amazing capacity to be brave, grow, love, forgive and never give up. I know many people that have been crippled by journeys far less challenging then Megan's, and yet I see her frequently, smiling and laughing and doing her part to touch the lives of children in a positive way. Megan's story, to me illustrated the need to "Live your Bliss" whatever that may be, and to always, constantly work to better yourself, so that you in turn can help others and bless their lives in a positive way.

 I know that my journey probably won't be as epic as Megan's, it will probably have less twists and turns and adventure, but that's okay because it's my journey, and as long as I am being true to myself that's all that matters. Megan. Thank-you for writing such an inspiring story, it has truly touched my life.

<3 Kass

Book Review; The boy who was raised as a dog

Some people think I am crazy for reading such a work-related book in my spare time, however I am not a fan of  "mindless" reads usually and prefer to learn something or have to think about what I am reading. I loved this book! Even though it was full of concepts that I was already familiar with through work, I found Dr. Perry's explanations and examples allowed me to gain a greater depth to my knowledge of how trauma affects the developing brain.

Most importantly I found this book encouraging, to know that children who have suffered horrific abuse can make gains and progress with the right treatments and interventions, even if they don't start until they are older gives me hope for the little's that I have come across in my work. I honestly think that this book should be shared/given to every caregiver of a child who has experienced trauma, perhaps it will help them understand what is behind their child's behaviors in those moments when they are "lucky their cute".

I would recommend this book to anyone really, but specifically to caregivers, social workers, therapists, etc of children who have experienced trauma. Perhaps it will also encourage people to raise our children in the healthy communities that Dr. Perry describes...wouldn't that be amazing?!

<3 Kass