Welcome, Sophia!

I teach sewing, have I mentioned that here? Well, I have one student, the lovely Miss Sophia. I was thinking about how if you take dance or music, you have a year end recital. That is not so practical for a sewing student, so I decided that as Sophia's "recital" I would have her blog about her experience so far and her latest project. So, please welcome Sophia!

Hi my name is Sophia Nolan and I'm 11 years old I'm in grade six and I’d like to tell you about my project! I started my project in about May and finished at the end of August. But I started sewing classes in April and maybe a little bit before that I got my first sewing machine! 

What I started the project off with going to fabric land. There I picked out my fabrics and threads and I actually had lots of fun doing that. The colors I picked really suits my personality the bag does also!

And then we had to do all the cutting and sewing but really you might think that my project would be easy to make it was hard but I had lot's of fun with it. 

And one of the things I learned was that the seam ripper is your best friend in sewing. because I had to use that thing quite a few times on my project:) I also learned how to thread a machine and how to thread a bobbin and some times I even fix my mom or dad’s cloths. As I was making my purse I leaned how to sew so many different things like how to sew ruffles and buttons and how to sew Velcro. When I started my project I thought that the very end would be the easiest but really It was the hardest.

 and I had to get my teacher to help me on some of the parts at the end. My experience sewing was very interesting I got to learn so many things and I think I will cherish my first year of sewing a lot. I think that as  Mrs. Gingras and I were sewing I got to know her really well. and I just can't wait till next year!

I'd like to tell you the reason I wanted to learn how to sew. One of the reasons is because when I grow I want to be a fashion designer and I want to sew my designs not just design them! And the other reason I wanted to because of  my Grandma Woods she also gave some inspiration and I’m so glad she's in my life. And my project turned out really nice and I was very happy with it. 

 (Sophia shared some of her designs for me to show you - I would totally wear these!)

Now to finish this of I’d really like to thank my teacher Mrs. Gingras for showing me so many things about sewing and helping me come closer to my dream! I'd also like to thank my mom and dad for giving me the chance to do this! ~ thank you for reading :)

Isn't Sophia the sweetest? She's done a great job on her first big project! It's been my pleasure, for sure. Now readers, you know what to do, please leave some comment love for Sophia.

                                            

Round and round we GO!

Hi, I am David.  This year, the Gingras Clan is planning a series of adventures.  They are about our home – Winnipeg.  We love it here, and we are not going anywhere.

This year, we are taking a look at our hometown.  We are planning adventures far and wide (within parameter) of the wondrous and disastrous Winnipeg has to offer.  We want to know more of our heritage here, and what it means to be a pegger.

This week, we surveyed the oldest tree in Winnipeg.  After much research and deliberation, we googled what we believed to be the oldest tree in Winnipeg.  With hats and toques on, we traveled out in search of the illustrious large tree – boasted to be 17 feet around.  We traveled far and wide to Point Douglas, and after making a quick left after Louise Bridge, we entered the Twilight Zone.  We crossed a downed traffic barrier; we headed down an icy and fun filled path to the river.  I knew the tree was to be massive, and as we made our way down to the river, wondering if I was going to be able to drive backwards up the rutted path in our Little ‘93 Trecel, we seen the tree.  It was massive.  I was blown away.  Now, Coralee says that it is nothing like the Giant Redwood trees she grew up with, but to my Alberta boy eyes, used to spruce and birch, this was massive.  I hugged the tree.  Abby hugged the tree.  I held her, she laughed.  

It was beautiful, till I fell and hurt my sternum (the picture above is in the midst of falling).  Then, getting up and laughing, we started our victorious picture memorabilia.  We thought this was a conquered beast.  It wasn’t.  As I contemplated later, I looked at the pictures of us standing proudly beside the beast, and wondered, “That tree is not 17 feet around”.  Shoot – missed the mark. Well, in disappointment, I tried to get the adventure going again. 

The very next day we loaded up the car with potato skins, pickled wieners, crossword puzzles, Spiderman comics, and mama’s homemade rhubarb pie.  We were ready for our 3-minute journey.  Oh yeah, we remembered the kids too.  Then we had to unload the other stuff to make room for us all to fit.  Just kidding.  Point Douglas is where we headed off to again.  This time, Coralee my logistically masterful wife in all her blog wonder powers, found a place that showed the exact location.  I got out the Google maps,

View Larger Map

she prepared the kids.  I sighted my exact path, route of escape, and all landmarks for guides (after all it was 3 minutes from home).  We were off. 

As we lumbered up Stephens, heading north towards Rover Ave., there it was.  WOW!! I could not believe it.  Again to Coralee, this is not as big as the Redwoods she grew up with, but to this prairie boy, I was amazed.  This was stupendous.  As we approached, I couldn’t stop staring.  This was indeed a massive tree, equipped with it’s own park and bench.  We found a place to park, and took some pictures. 

This one is a good one of us celebrating. 

 This one is of Malachi to give spacial relation on the thinner side of the tree. 

Now, as I looked at this tree, I wondered – 200 years, what stories could this tree tell.  This tree would have seen the native traders coming down to worship the gods they served at the forks.  This tree would have been a sapling as the first settlers came into view and heard children playing and dressing it in its new Christmas garb.  This tree outlasted every flood.  The 1826 flood of entire southern Manitoba; the 1950 flood; the 1997 flood; and this year, it will survive our 2011 flood as well.  This tree was refuge to generations from the heat in the summer, and a spectacle of wonder as its branches were laden with frost in the winter.  Spring would see it dancing with the birds, and fall brightly lit for its gala performance as it danced with the other trees in their brightest fall colors.  It was wonderful to see, and a blessing as I looked up. 

There are 3 strong trunks; each could be their own tree in size, and as I looked up at the 70 foot ceiling of this giant cottonwood, and seen a representation of promise for Winnipeg.  Even though there are troubling times coming, and certainly ones that could spell ruin for many, this tree held a truth built right into it.  3 trunks came up, and there are 3 members of our blessed Trinitarian Lord.  There was a promise in this tree – Build your house on the rock, and nothing will topple you, but build your house on the sand, and you will have a might crash.  Indeed when the winds blow and the floodwaters rise and beat against the house, nothing built on the sand will survive.  This tree was a promise to me, because with its Trinitarian reminder, there was a tree rooted in deep foundation.  Deep and sure, and they never failed.  We have the promise to have our foundation rooted deep and sure as well, if we will trust in Jesus.  My prayer is that as the storms come in this year and years a head, we will root ourselves in Jesus.  When troubles come, we will stand firm with our Trinitarian God standing with us, reminding us that we have done well – my good and faithful servants.

We drove away, mission accomplished, and musing about what other amazing stories God is going to speak to us about as we adventure through the sights, sounds and mysteries of Winnipeg.

Our beautiful new CAR!

Please welcome with me today, our guest blogger - my David!


Well Dave, what do we have for our next prize?
Well Bob, we have A new to you car. Her name is Lady Blue.


Born in the vintage years of the car industry, 1993, lady blue is a wonderful 4 door deluxe sedan. She heralds from the prestigious lineage of Toyota, from the Tercel family name.


But don’t be fooled by the name Tercel, she has plenty of trunk space, and seating


One of the wonderful features you will notice when you first sit in her, is that she has a great voice, with her built in after market Sony stereo deck. 2 accompanying 5.5” speakers, this lady has a voice that belts out the praises to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords with style.


To make the deal sweeter, her engine is in amazing condition, with only a small amount of oil consumption in her weekly workout schedules, which is more than we can say for our own fast food grease and oil consumptions. * Insert laughter here *


But this automatic shifting girl is even easier to get going, with her 2000’ Viper remote starter. Yes, she has a built in Remote Starter, from the makers of Viper. This girl will start with no issues from the Gingras apartment, and also in the cold, winter Winnipeg weather, as her block heater is top notch.


With her recent face lift and Rocket Guard across the bottom corners, rust is rarely seen, and even less noticed.


This Blue Lady came from one family of owners, and is ready for use today. Extra parts included in the trunk including the Hanes Manuel for easy repair and maintenance.


This great Lady can be yours Gingras, if, The Price is Right. (Not actually selling it, just added for fun emphasis and dialogue humour)