The Ultimate Playhouse

Jeff and I are excitedly anticipating the birth of our new niece any day. Last week, I was searching for some small sewing project ideas for her and happened on this fabric playhouse:

Photos from Made By Jill

It's made to fit over a dining room table like a giant table cloth. The front door flaps open and all the fruit and vegetables are attached with velcro so they can be "harvested". I think this is the most adorable playhouse I've ever seen. Now back to my search for that small sewing project...

Strong To Save

I'm not partial to patriotic or militaristic hymns (you'll never catch me humming Onward Christian Soldiers!). American composer Dan Forrest has reset "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (the Naval Hymn) so beautifully that I have been listening to this over and over and over. The orchestral accompaniment is particularly lush and wonderful. If you listen closely, you'll notice that this version slowly builds to the most amazing apex but ends quietly, with the characteristic Forrest restraint that I love so much. This video was taken at the dress rehearsal of this piece's first performance. You can read the lyrics here. 

Dilbert and Customer Service

Jeff here. I think Wally's approach might curb all the interruptions I get each day.

 Have a good weekend!

Proud

Our cousin-nephew Spencer made a short film for a competition within the local school board. This is what "success for all" means to him.

Terrible Child

When I talked to my mom yesterday, she said that nights in central Saskatchewan are still around -10 C and there is at least a foot of snow covering their entire front lawn (no green to be seen yet). Because I am a terrible child, I'm going to show my sympathy with this photo. It's the lilacs in our garden. They're blooming.

I really like Saskatchewan but today I'm preferring BC.

Birthday Gift

What birthday gift do you give a good friend who is the self-proclaimed King of Carbohydrates? A crown (presented on a velvet pillow) of course. 

Good Idea or Just Good Marketing?

One of my friends sent me this picture with the question, "Do you think this would really work?". It's allegedly a regular old planter spray painted with glow-in-the-dark paint.  Jeff's not convinced and I'll admit, the photo does look a little enhanced.  I'm still intrigued and think if it works, it could be an interesting way to light up our otherwise dark front walk. Maybe it's worth a can of spray paint to experiment?

Photo from Rugged-Life.com

I Sing Because I'm Happy

This video is thirty years old but features one of my favourite gospel hymns sung by one of the best lyric soprano voices of this generation. I'm not usually a fan of opera singers trying their hand at gospel but this particular piece lends itself to the lightness that was the voice of a young Kathleen Battle.