Happy Independence Day Armenia!!

To all my fellow Armenians, behold our flag being flown high next to the Canadian and Ontario flags in Markhams Civic Centre.  Thank you Markham, Thank you Ontario, and above all Thank you Canada for being a shelter for so many displaced Armenians.  I have called Canada home for the last 42 years, and couldnt imagine living anywhere else.  Thank you for letting me feel like this is my home.

An AHA moment!!

Did you ever have an item of furniture which you really liked, but it needed work?  I have this vintage lamp, which was no bargain, so I didnt want to spend more money on it, but the lampshade was almost tattered, and, unless I spent big $$$ at a specialty lighting store, I couldnt find a replacement shade for it.

Here is the before photo of the lamp, and tattered shade:

This is just the tatter on one side of the shade, the paper/plastic liner is really torn all around the shade.  YUCK!

Then as I was perusing my usual bloggy haunts last week...I came across a post on one of my regular sites:  http://beachvintage.blogspot.com/2010/05/project-day-2-minute-lamp-revamp.html 

The lovely Austrailian beachy Goddess which writes this blog had a simple, cheap, and gorgeous idea about just such an ugly lamp fix!!!  So, here are my 'AFTER' photos:

And here is my new lovely lamp illuminated:

WOW!!  What a difference, and it cost me a  whole $2 (Canadian, none the less!!!!)  Isnt it just lovely now? 

Thanks Simone from Beach Vintage!!!  You are one smart lady!

Not much, whats new with you?

Well, okay if you really want to know:

• I just started a baking theory class at our local downtown trade college.  I've taken a 'for fun' baking course there before, but this time I decided to take one from their certificate program.  Not that I would go for the whole certificate, as I have a university degree, and to be honest, although it looks good on paper, it hasnt done much for me.  I want to take a couple of courses from a few of their baking arts/hospitality programs.  Lets see where it leads...
• I'm doing something with the kids today, but I cant tell anyone cause I dont want to jinx it.  The kids dont get what I mean by 'jinxing', and I'm a bit embarressed at my double standards because I pretty much a realist...dont believe in horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc... but when it comes down to being jinxed...well, thats a whole other ballgame!
• I bought an incredible lot of war memorabilia (I live in Canada, where its legal to buy/sell US war medals) belonging to a Vietnam Veteran, who donated them to a church charity shop prior to his death.  He said his family didnt want them.  Can you believe it?  I'm not a pro war person, but I couldnt imagine a family not wanting something like this.  There is his purple heart, and the pin which accompanies it, a marksmanship medal, a vietnam medal, a brass lighter with 'Ask not what your country..." , and a sketch of a naked girl on it, his dog tags, and patches from his uniform.  It was a real history lesson for me and my family, looking at this mans very personal memorabilia.  Very grounding.


My iphone didnt take the best photos, but it gives you an idea.  I dont think I'd ever sell them, I just bought them really to preserve them. 

Heres a bit of nothin...Last summer we went to Disney World and stayed at the Grand Floridian, and look at the gorgeous chairs they had in their lobby!!  I wanted them so badly!!!  I'm might not want them in dusty pink velvet...love pink, dusty pink not so much.  Arent they adorable!!!  Wishing peace and prosperity to all.