Celebrating the Land Up North

My Canadian pennant banner made that Sunday afternoon - thanks to my awesome Silhouette,
staples and ribbon.

A couple Sundays ago we decided to Celebrate the Land Up North in honor of Canadian Thanksgiving the following day. So pretty last minute we thought it would be fun to invite some friends over.

Each family brought a dessert (extra points if it was Canadian-related) and we had a good time. We uncovered some myths about the Land up North, and collectively (no help from me) named the 10 provinces and 3 territories.

I didn't think to pull the camera out until the evening was over so I didn't get a chance to catch the lovely desserts and goodies which included, crepes, maple leaf cookies - cut by hand!, mini Hawaiian pizzas with what Americans would call "Canadian bacon", cupcakes with the nation's flag on top (made by yours truly) and the dessert that really made the evening festive:

Nanaimo Bars!
A personal victory for me making them and them tasting awesome! (Recipe here)

It was a great evening and we hope to carry the tradition on for many more years.

. . . and maybe next year we'll have more space to invite more people!

From a Prophet

"If you sometimes get discouraged, consider this fellow. He dropped out of grade school. Ran a country store. Went broke. Took 15 years to pay off his bills. Took a wife. Unhappy marriage. Ran for House. Lost twice. Ran for Senate. Lost twice. Delivered speech that became a classic. Audience indifferent. Attacked daily by the press and despised by half the country. Despite all this, imagine how many people all over the world have been inspired by this awkward, rumpled, brooding man who signed his name simply, A. Lincoln." (Wall Street Journal.)

'It is important to know, when you feel down, that many others do also and that their circumstances are generally much worse than yours. And it's important to know that when one of us is down, it becomes the obligation of his friends to give him a lift. I hope that each of us will cultivate a sensitivity toward the feelings of others, and when encouragement is needed, make an effort to extend it. Be a friend, and you will have a friend. God be thanked for wonderful friends.'
--Gordon B. Hinckley, "Strengthening Each Other," Ensign, Feb. 1985, 3