Don't Feel Like Writing

The problem with making a commitment to do something on a daily basis is that some days, you just... don't... feeeeeel like doing that particular thing.  For me, today, I just don't feel like writing. When this happens, it can be due to a variety of reasons - I'm tired, I don't know what to write about, I have procrastinated, it's getting late, I should be doing something else.

Today, however, I have a very good reason for not feeling in the mood to write - it's because I spent all of yesterday afternoon writing.  I wrote 18 cards and letters to my National Letter Writing Month penpals.  Eighteen!

On the plus side, I am now caught up for National Letter Writing Month. I agreed to respond to everyone who sends me something in the mail this month and my mailbox has been overflowing for about three weeks now.  But once I take these envelopes to the post office tomorrow, I will have written back to everyone.  Okay, okay, maybe not quite caught up.  Maybe there are one or two that I still need to get done.  But I'm almost there.  Lucky for me, there hasn't been any mail delivery for the past two business days, so no new mail has arrived either! ;)

I have been alternating between making cards and using postcards and notecards that I have in my stash.  I've enjoyed letter writing since I was a teenager, so I've been collecting stationery since way back then.

I'm not the only one making cards.  Here are a couple of pretty cards I have received from two very talented ladies.  This one was made by the other Cyn in the group. I love the texture of the woven piece she added to this card.  It really makes the finished piece a work of art, in my opinion.

This fantastic card was made by Gail.  How did she know I like hot air balloons?

Okay, I gotta go.  I've got at least one more envelope I've got to fill before bed tonight!

Day 14/100 - #100dayproject

Happy Easter 2017

Here is a vintage Easter card for all of you who are celebrating today.

The message inside is worth sharing:

"This brings a very special wish
To hope that Easter Day
Will be a more than happy one
For you in every way,
And with it comes a wish for joy
In days to follow, too,
And both are most sincerely meant
Because they meant for you!"

(this is a Coutts Canada/Hallmark card)

Day 13/100 = #100dayproject

Bunnies for Easter

Just in time for Easter, I received these adorable bunny stamps from Suzanne, who can be found on Instagram as @artstamped.  You will find her website here.  (Be sure to click on that link, as you won't believe what she can create using postage stamps!!)

She also sent a cute little card, decorated with a princess and butterfly sticker as well as another postage stamp with two martini glasses on it - so simple and so cute!

Speaking of postage stamps, these were the ones that came on the envelope she sent from London (UK).  Just as cool as the ones I ordered!

Not sure what I'll do with the bunny stamps (there are 10 in total).  I think I shall give away a few and hoard the others! ;)

Day 12/100 - #100dayproject

NLWM 2017

If you have been following my blog for a long time, you will already know that April is "National Letter Writing Month".  This is my 5th year taking part in a letter writing group.  Here are some of my previous posts from earlier years:

2015
2014
2013

There are various groups and challenges out there celebrating this month.  One group suggests its members write 30 letters, one each day of the month.  In the group I belong to, we are each assigned one penpal and we commit to write at least 4 letters to that penpal during the month.  You can choose to be either a "one on one" player, in which you only have to write to your penpal, or you can be a "madness" player.  A madness player doesn't have to write to all of the other 69 group members but they do promise to respond to everyone who writes to them (so technically, you might end up sending out 69 letters if you receive one from everyone else but it doesn't usually work out that way).

The group I take part in is organized by Lindsay Ostrom.  She calls herself the "Creator of Cuteness" and if you look at this drawing on the envelope of the letter she sent me, you can see she more than deserves that title.  I love her lettering style and I am waiting patiently for the day when she offers an online class so I can learn more about how to do it myself.

By my count, there are 70 participants in our group this year.  Most of the others are located in the United States, there are 2 of us in Toronto, one in Italy and one in Germany.  The month is only half over and already I have received 25 cards and letters from other players (some of whom have written to me twice, which is unusual but very kind!).

This cool envelope was made by Rhonda using an atlas page and shows the path from her home in California to mine in Toronto.

Jackie sent me this handmade postcard.

Alli made me this lovely bookmark (it says "Life is about using the whole box of crayons!" on the other side). Plus check out the fabulous stamps on the envelope!

This beautiful card was made by Irma.

It is such a treat to go to the mailbox every day this month.  Some days, the box is empty but most days, there is one or more cards and letters tucked in with the junk mail and grocery flyers. A big thank you goes out to all who are taking the time to write to me, it is much appreciated and I will definitely be responding as soon as I can!

Stay tuned for later posts in which I will share more pictures of the gorgeous cards and letters I am receiving.

Day 11/100 - #100dayproject

An Exchange in the Elevator

I had a great conversation in the elevator today.  I stepped inside and said hello to the man carrying a small lunch-sized cooler, a six pack of Labatt's Blue beer and a lamp base.

Thinking myself rather clever, I said, "Taking your lamp for a walk?"

Without missing a beat, he responded: "Yeah, he's been peeing on the carpet a lot, I decided I needed to take him out more."

How hilarious is that? Well played, dude, well played!



Day 10/100 - #100dayproject

Blue Jays Home Opener 2017

I hate to admit it but last night's home opener was one of the longest, dullest ball games I have ever attended.  Hard to believe it was the home opener, the start of a brand new season, as we the fans weren't able to sustain a high level of excitement for very long.  The Jays were behind from the first inning and never quite caught up, losing to the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 after an overall lackluster performance.  As of the end of the first week of the 2017 season, their record is 1 win-6 losses, the worst start the club has ever had in the past 40 years of franchise history.  Hopefully, they can only get better from here!

That said, here are some visual highlights from the game:

Our seats were in right field, right over Jose Bautista's territory.

Before the game, third baseman Josh Donaldson was presented with a Silver Slugger award by head coach John Gibbons.

Next up, former Montreal Expos player Tim Raines, recently inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame, was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  The ball was caught by former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar, also a Hall of Famer.

The giant Canadian flag was unfurled as we sang the National Anthem. I've seen this a couple of times now and it's always an emotional experience.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces hold the flag in place.

At the same time, in the stands behind 3rd base, this flag appeared with the team's 2017 slogan on it: #LetsRise.  I'm not entirely sure what that means but maybe it will catch on.  (Last year's motto was #OurMoment.)


Our mascot, Ace, took time to sit with some fans behind the dugout.


Here are some of the players (mostly pitchers) in the dugout during the game.

Some lucky fan took home a whole lot of money from the 50/50 draw.

Unfortunately, it wasn't my sister and I, even though we had both bought tickets from our friend Stephanie (rocking the blue eyeshadow and nails looks in honour of Opening Day).  We had lots of ideas about how we would each spend our share of the money but alas, it was not to be.

Here's my sister and I, smiling for the camera. (Hi Mom!)

And last but not least, Joey's butt. A rather fine one, don't you think?  :)

Day 9/100 - #100dayproject

The Boys of Summer

Never mind the warmer temperatures, the return of the robins and redwing blackbirds or the appearance of the crocuses.  If you want to know when spring really begins in Toronto, the answer is: "When the Blue Jays start playing baseball in the Skydome!".

If you're looking for me tonight, I'll be here:

Cheering on my team. Hoping they do better than their first week on the road would suggest. But hey, it's a long season and they're probably just working out a few kinks. Nothing to worry about, nothing 50,000 screaming home town fans can't fix.

Okay, Blue Jays, let's play ball!

Day 8/100 - #100dayproject