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This past Sunday, Adam and I knew we needed to get away from the farm for a day and planned for a roadtrip to my childhood summer getaway, the lake! Adam worked all day and then around 7:30 that night we loaded up the truck, dropped Jake off at my inlaws and took off to surprise my family for a sleepover

We ended up on their doorstep around 10:15 pm and they were definitely surprised!! We stayed up til midnight visiting before crashing into a deep, heavy, much needed rest. In the morning we got up, sat on their deck drinking coffee and visiting before we got ready and headed out for breakfast at a beautiful club house on the golf course

Then it was time to part ways with my folks and head to the lake. Our trip there from the city only takes 45 mins, but let me tell you, it was full of reminscing! My thoughts turned back to my childhood and my family and my summer drives on this very road..it was actually more emotional than I thought it would be! Once we arrived at the lake, our first stop was to drive by my old family cabin. The “new” owners were in the driveway {I was really disappointed} so we couldn’t stop to take it in and kept going til we hit the beach, where we stopped for a good idea to lay in the sand and enjoy the sun!
Once we had our fill of the beach, we went for a drive through out all the campgrounds {I pointed out all the stalls that I camped in with my grandparents’ trailer as a child, I even pointed out the camping stall where I first fed a wild deer by hand!} and then returned to my old family cabin to find the owners had left and I quickly took my opportunity to snap a few quick photos before they had returned. I had seen a project online where people take old family photos, return to where the photos were taken and take a photo of both of them, bringing the past in to the here and now..I couldn’t resist trying this with a photo of my late grandpa
Now, I was rushed {worried the new owners would come back} so I am a bit disappointed that it wasn’t better lined up with the door and window, but hey..it makes the statement I wanted it to!! From there we headed to The Landing, a local restaurant that has been there for ages and hasn’t changed a bit..and I love that it hasn’t!
my lovely dinner guest..

We enjoyed a great supper before heading back on the road and making our way thru the Cypress Hills before heading home to the farm. Typically, when leaving the lake we turn left and take the 45 minute road back home to the city. But this time? This time we took a right and meandered thru some gorgeous country..
I mean, really?

I LOVE that this is so close to us. It feels as though its worlds away, but that is the beauty of Canada..its so diverse!!

This, by far, was the most refreshing road trips in history! 24 hours, 400 miles and it was something we desperately needed and didn’t even realize it! We love our life on the farm but the truth is, living and working so closely with family can be hard and trying on any relationship, especially newlyweds! Not too often do we get a chance to do things, just the two of us. And when it was just us, we felt inspired, happy and kind of like we could breathe again…we needed it badly! We came back to the farm, refreshed and ready to go again. It was all we needed!!!
I plan on scrapbooking these photos in to a mini album of some sort, not sure yet but will post the album when it is completed. I took an assortment of IPhone photos, big girl camera photos as well as instant photos with my Instax that will be combined together in this album alongside wildflowers that I picked along our drive and dried them to place in the album! Can’t wait to get this going!! Have a great weekend everyone!!
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I’m back again with my next Unscripted Sketches submission! 2 weeks ago was my first time participating in this challenge, and I had a blast! They are celebrating Christmas in July and, because Christmas is my obsession, I couldn’t resist! The challenge does not have to be completed in Christmas fashion but hey, why not? I didn’t compete last week but I am very proud to say that my October Afternoon creation from 2 weeks ago made their Top 3! Thank you so much ladies!! I truly appreciate the honor!

And now I am back with this weeks challenge

and here is what I made with the sketch, I followed it pretty precisely
for my project this week, I used all MME Lost & Found Christmas line from 2011 – its a beautiful collection that I hoarded collected last year, and still love it to this day!
Pretty simple, nothing too extravagant this week (the glittered papers/embellishments are really all the “extras” you need!)
the only extra I added was a couple of stamped snowflakes from Papertrey Inks In the Meadow stamp set, just to add a pop of red to the Santa image
and that is my submission for this weeks Unscripted Sketches Challenge # 168! Thank you so much for stopping by today..Happy Crafting everyone!!
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  • Michele Cunningham - What a fab christmas card I love all the fun details. So glad you could join us At Unscripted Sketches.ReplyCancel

    • Dawn Cosgrove - Thank you so much Michele for stopping by my blog and for leaving this sweet comment! I appreciate it!! Have a great day!ReplyCancel

  • SmilynStef - What an awesome holiday card … love the glittery sparkle … so glad you joined us at Unscripted Sketches.ReplyCancel

    • Dawn Cosgrove - Thank you Stef for stopping by!! And thank you for your comment :) I love anything that sparkles on holiday cards, glad you do too!! Take care!ReplyCancel

  • Geri - I absolutely love visiting your blog – your posts are so entertaining (especially the potato hilling episode)! Your talent at mixing & matching paper, embellishments & images is amazing. Everything ALWAYS works together perfectly! Thanks for sharing your interpretation of our Unscripted Sketch!ReplyCancel

    • Dawn Cosgrove - Wow!! I’m blown away by your sweet comment Geri, I’m actually kind of speechless! What can I say but thank you so much for your support and for checking in around here, I truly appreciate it! So glad I could give you a laugh, especially with those dang potatoes (I still laugh at myself for that one!)
      You are too sweet, thank you again!ReplyCancel

  • CherylAnn Robinson - Love the vintage look to this card! Thank you for playing at unscripted Sketches.ReplyCancel

    • Dawn Cosgrove - Hi CherylAnn!
      Thank you so much for stopping by here!! I love a good vintage feel on any card, especially during the holidays :) thank you for taking the time to comment, I always appreciate it!!ReplyCancel

  • Stephanie - this is a stunning card…love the vintage look! Thanks for joining us at Unscripted Sketches!ReplyCancel

    • Dawn Cosgrove - Thank you so much Stephanie!! I have always had a “thing” for a more vintage feel on cards and I am so happy you like it! Your sweet comment just made my morning, I appreciate it! Have a great weekend!!ReplyCancel

I had full intentions of posting all week (even wrote down specific posts for each day!) but time slipped away from me and before I knew it..its already Friday {late} afternoon!! We have been crazy busy around the farm and the last few days we have been working steady on our well to get our water system back up to par. For the last few years the pump hadn’t been working properly and would have to be manually turned on every couple of days to ensure we had enough water for showering, laundry etc {we use a distiller for our drinking/cooking water}. This shouldn’t have to happen as the pump should be filling automatically, so, fingers crossed we get this work done!!

Other than that, the main reason I wanted to come on here today is because my mom’s birthday was this past Tuesday and I never got her post up to wish her a big happy 29th Birthday!! She later pointed out to me that she has a 31 year old son so couldn’t possibly be 29 and was happy with 49…so, Happy 49th Birthday Memoo!!

We fought like cats & dogs when I was growing up but I always knew you were the most amazing mom a girl could ask for. You were and always will be there for me, my biggest advocate and most loving supporter. I am so grateful for everything you do for me {and Adam} and I know you will be an amazing grandma some day (no, this is not a hint!!) I am so happy I was able to be there on your birthday and to celebrate with our family this past weekend. I’ll love you forever and I miss you so much!!
 Happy Belated Birthday!!
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  • dawn - Hi Dawn,
    We have well water also and don’t get much pressure from our hose, so Rich stands out there each night over an hour watering the garden. I am amazed at his dedication and patience for this each day and every summer. Our garden is coming along wonderfully and we just had our first tomatos come in, YUMMY!!
    Enjoy your days and being busy is a good thing for you and the farm, be proud of yourself and Adam for all the hard work and love you put into it. How are the chicken’s doing? Would love to see a picture of them. Take care and see you again soon. HUGS!!ReplyCancel

I completed this layout a couple of weeks ago and am just now getting around to posting it! The photos on the layout were ones I had taken last June when my sweet niece, Jaelyn, was born. She was my 2nd newborn to photograph and much easier to capture {my 1st little guy did not want to sleep!}

I decided to used American Crafts, Dear Lizzy Neapolitan line for its pastel, sweet hues, which work perfectly for a baby page, no?

Everything on this page is from the same line..thats what I love so much about collections, you always know everything will go together perfectly, taking the guesswork out of it for you when you are scrappin on a time budget!!
This rosette & sentiment were the perfect touch for my page. Once I pulled it out and placed it on, it just kind of completed the page for me..just.like.that. Love it when that happens!!
I used a mixture of fonts/stickers on this layout, which is new for me but I always love seeing other people use it on their pages..it just adds so much more to the page {I should push down that “a” on the bottom..haha}
and finally, just a closer up of my beautiful, sweet angel..can’t believe she’s already one!
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So far, things are really coming along. Despite the heat and dry conditions, my little vegetable garden is surpassing all odds and really starting to come to life! {thank goodness for sprinkler systems!!} I still can’t believe that every time I go out to meander thru my pathways, something new is always popping up!! As this was initially a practice garden to see what grows well here and what doesn’t, I am steadily making notes for next year {make pumpkin patch bigger, grow more potatoes, etc} and also marking what new things I’d like to try under my “more experienced green thumb of the future” lol

Today I thought I’d take you on a little tour of my garden..

My peppers have been growing steadily and, to be honest, I have no idea how they are still standing after the hurricane-like winds we have been experiencing!! The label says they are orange sweet bell peppers, can’t wait to see them start to turn!!
I actually have tomatoes now. I never thought this day would come! After first planting them, the winds were so horrible {my garden is unprotected from North, East and Southern winds so I always pray for West winds!} I thought not a soul would survive…but they did, and they are thriving! Some of my plants are already 2 feet tall!! I go over them every single day to see which one has new fruits, love it!
My pumpkins are looking really healthy and starting to vine out..I can hardly wait for the first orbs to pop out..now that will be fun to watch! I lost about half of my pumpkin plants {again to wind} but they were so thick and in such a cramped space that I think it may have just worked out for the better!
My green and yellow pole beans have finally started vining out and growing up! {see the one behind growing up so vigorously?!} Pretty excited for these as we eat beans a LOT around here!
My green and yellow onions look awesome..they smell, well, like onions..but thats alright in the garden!!
I have more strawberries now too! Trust me, my one strawberry a year history has finally been trumped {not by much, but still} I am looking forward to these tasty beauties..you have no idea!!
Some of my sweet peas have started to open up..their smell is intoxicating..I have another 200 or so of these plants so this summer..is going to be beautiful!!
My pickling cukes! They are slow to start but they have really taken off now { I’m also growing dill..fingers crossed I actually make dill pickles this year!}
My head lettuce. I tore some off the other day for a salad..yummy!!
My popcorn!! CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS!!
Look how HUGE my sunflowers are already!!
and my peas..look how many there are! I ate 2 pods this morning and they are sweet and savory..gosh I love summer!!! Happy Gardening everyone!!
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  • dawn - Hi Dawn,

    Sounds like you are doing great and so is your garden. Thanks for sharing all the great photos. Our garden is doing great also. My hubby just worked in it and came in to say how proud and happy he is with it.

    I was just at Unscripted Sketches and hinting that you should go check it out, good news for you!! I’m not surprised at all!!

    We are doing good here, enjoying the weather and trying to slow down summer!!

    Sending you wishes for rain, we need it badly too. Take care and enjoy the yummy harvest when it’s ready.
    Love and hugs
    DawnReplyCancel