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10 FUN Butterfly Crafts for Toddlers (2023)
Looking for butterfly crafts for toddlers?
I have 10+ beautiful and fun butterfly crafts that your kids will LOVE!
Let's get started!
Craft #1: Paper Plate Butterfly Craft
I love using tissue paper for crafts. It's an easy supply for the kids to use and it always turns out so pretty.
This butterfly craft is perfect for toddlers!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- paper plates
- tissue paper squares
- popsicle sticks
- Mod Podge
- pipe cleaners
- tape
- hot glue
B. Set-up
Create a paper plate in half. Then, use a pencil to draw lines on the plate for the butterfly. Cut on those lines you created to make the wings.
C. Activity
The kids will spread Mod Podge on the paper plates using a popsicle stick. They should spread it all around the plate.
Then, they will stick tissue paper squares on! We tried to cover as much as we could with the colored squares.
The adult will do this next part! You could use school glue, it'll just take longer to dry.
Lastly, hot glue a popsicle stick in the middle of the two plates to make your butterfly. You can have the kids use tape to tape on the pipe cleaners for the antenna on the back of the popsicle stick.
RELATED: Easy Toddler Activities
Craft #2: Coffee Filter Butterfly
Have you ever tried coffee filter art activities? It's one of my favorite things to do because you literally can't mess it up!
This is the perfect butterfly craft for toddlers because they just have to scribble on it and it comes out beautiful!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- coffee filters
- markers
- squirt bottles/ droppers
- water
- art trays
- clothespins
- Sharpie
- pipe cleaners
B. Set-up
Flatten out a coffee filter on an art tray. Create a design using a marker on the filter. You can even scribble on it! Once done, spray it with water and let dry.
On a clothespin, draw on a face with Sharpie or even put googly eyes on them!
C. Activity
Fold front and back like an accordion. Then, place the clothespin in the middle and stretch out the sides to look like a butterfly!
Each one is unique!
Craft #3: Pasta Butterfly Craft
Making sensory crafts is fun and the kids love exploring different objects to make art with!
Isn't it so cool that bow-tie pasta looks exactly like butterflies? It's a must-try butterfly craft for toddlers.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- bow tie pasta
- acrylic paint
- rice
- paintbrush
- ziplock bag
- parchment paper
- art tray
- poms
- markers
- glue
- hot glue (optional)
B. Set-up
Use a paintbrush to paint the bow tie pasta individually. This is a fun process and doesn't take long since there are a few noodles for this project.
But, since there are more grains of rice, you'll do this process differently.
Add 1/4 cup of rice into a plastic bag. Then, add acrylic paint inside and shake it up. Dump it out on an art tray that's covered with parchment paper to dry. It'll take about 20 minutes to completely dry.
C. Activity
While you are waiting for the sensory items to dry, have the kids paint the background of the paper blue using pom-poms!
We used hot glue to glue on the bow-tie pasta. This is optional, but it dries faster so we could do the rest of the project quicker.
You can use school glue to add a thin layer at the bottom of the paper and sprinkle the rice on that.
Draw in antenna for the butterflies using markers! Check out and feel your awesome sensory butterfly craft.
RELATED: Sensory Activities for Kids
Craft #4: Symmetrical Butterfly Craft
Kids will love the process of this simple craft. They will love seeing their creations show up on both sides of the paper!
This butterfly craft for toddlers is fun and easy.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- washable paint
- popsicle sticks
- glue
- pipe cleaners
B. Set-up
On white cardstock paper, have the kids paint their designs on the paper. Then, fold it in half and press it down to it'll show up completely on the other side.
Take a look to make sure it is on the entire paper, then fold it back up.
C. Activity
Draw a butterfly shape on the blank side of the paper. Use scissors to cut it ou to see your butterfly!
Then, you can either use hot glue or school glue to attach a popsicle stick to the middle of the butterfly. Lastly, cut a pipe cleaner and curl them up to make two antenna. Glue those to the top!
Craft #6: Toilet Paper Roll Butterflies
Have you ever used toilet paper rolls to craft? I love using them because we always have them on hand and they are FREE!
This butterfly craft for toddlers is such a fun way for your kids to show their creativity.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- toilet paper rolls
- acrylic paint
- googly eyes
- glue
- hot glue
- cardstock paper
- Q-tips
- pipe cleaners
- scissors
- foam paint brushes
B. Set-up
The kids will paint the toilet paper rolls the colors they want their butterflies to be! Then, wait for it to dry; takes only about 10-15 minutes.
While you are waiting for it to dry, create the wings using cardstock paper.
C. Activity
The kids can design their wings for the butterfly! Have them use Q-tips and paint to make dots, lines, or designs. This is a great fine motor activity for kids too!
Cut pipe cleaners and curl them at the top to make the antenna.
The adult will do this next step.
Use a hot glue gun to glue the wings on the sides of the toilet paper roll, and the antenna on the inside of the roll.
The kids can use school glue to attach the eyes and they can make a cute smile.
The kids can play with their butterfly crafts when they are all done! I love crafts that can be played with after.
RELATED: Spring Crafts for Kids
Craft #7: Salt Painted Butterflies
Salt painting is one of our favorite ways to craft! The end result turns out amazing. The way the colors look when they blend together is amazing!
This butterfly craft for toddlers is a must-try activity for the spring!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardboard/cardstock paper
- pencil
- glue
- salt
- watercolors
- paintbrush
B. Set-up
Draw your butterfly shape onto cardstock paper! We did some different wing shapes and made a few designs in the center as well.
Then, outline them in glue. Finally, shake a bunch of salt all over the glue, then dump the access in the trash. This activity can be done right away, or you can wait. If you are waiting, I suggest you use cardboard!
Have the kids use watercolors to paint on the salt! They can use one color or choose to use several.
They should try to paint on the salt and not get the paint on the paper as much as possible. This butterfly craft for kids turns out SO pretty!
Craft #8: Sponge Butterfly Craft
This sponge butterfly craft for toddlers turned out so cool and it's such an easy and fun process.
I use a hair tye to get the sponges to look like butterflies! It's that simple.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- sponges
- hair tyes
- paint
- paintbrush
B. Set-up
Take the sponge and wrap a hair tye around it two times to squeeze together like a butterfly.
C. Activity
Have the kids paint their designs on the sponges! You can use one color or multiple colors.
They can even make some fun designs like dots or stripes.
Once they are done creating, have them flip the sponge upside down and make a print on paper. Make sure to press the sponge down completely so it shows up.
Lastly, paint a line for the body and create an antenna for each butterfly!
Craft #9: Snack Butterfly Craft
These butterflies couldn't be easier to do, and the kids loved putting them together! I've never used snack bags for an activity, but let me tell you, there couldn't be an easier setup.
I love the different supplies that we were putting the bags too. It's cool to see how each of them looks different with their textures.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- plastic sandwich bags
- clothespins
- paintbrush
- googly eyes
- marker
- snacks (goldfish, Cheerios, grapes, jellybeans, etc.)
B. Set-up
Stuff a plastic snack bag with items like Fruit Loops, poms, jellybeans, and shredded paper.
C. Activity
On a clothespin, hot glue googly eyes and 2 pipe cleaners on for the antenna. Draw in a mouth! Have the kids clip on the clothespin in the middle of the snack bag. You may have to move the objects around in the bag a little for it to stay!
You can also glue some colored gems on the clothespin for some extra color!
RELATED: Spring Activities for Kids
Craft #10: Q-tip Butterflies
Here's another fun Q-tip activity for you! You can actually create crafts using Q-tips!
This is a great butterfly craft for toddlers to improve those fine motor skills!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
B. Set-up
Paint the entire Q-tip using paint, wait for it to dry then glue the ends down to a piece of paper. Then, draw butterfly wings using markers on each of the butterflies for the kids to trace.
Dump some paint into a paint tray and grab some more Q-tips.
C. Activity
The kids will trace the butterfly wings using the Q-tips and the paint! They will try their best to stay on the lines, which works on fine motor skills!
After they are done with each butterfly, they can create some dots in each of the wings!
RELATED: Fine Motor Activities for Kids
Craft #11: Butterfly Card
So this is Valentine's Day craft that we created, but it really can be created as a card for someone anytime!
I seem to have plenty of coffee filters around the house, because well I just love coffee :).
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- coffee filters
- dot markers
- clothespins
- paper
B. Set-up
Flatten a coffee filter on an art tray. Use dot markers to create spots for each of the butterflies!
C. Activity
Scrunch up the coffee filters, especially in the middle so they can fit in a clothespin. Put the clothespin in the middle of the coffee filter and spread it out on both sides, to make it look like butterfly wings.
Glue the clothespins down to a piece of paper and write a cute Valentine's Day message!
RELATED: Valentine's Day Crafts
Craft #12: Spring Color by Code
This color-by-code butterfly craft for toddlers is a fun way for kids to work on numbers.
My son LOVES these the most out of all the printables I make. They are so fun for the kids to do.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- Spring Color by Code
- crayons
- markers
Spring Color by Code Printables-There are 8 Spring themed color by code printables available in this product
B. Set-up
Print off the sheets that you want to use!
C. Activity
Make sure your child understands how to read the key at the top of the page. Then, they will color each number in the picture based on what the key says.
These are my kid's favorite out of all the printables I create. They love revealing the picture at the end!
RELATED: Holiday Printables
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Butterfly crafts for toddlers are so much fun to do, especially for a springtime craft.
I hope you could find some butterfly crafts for kids that you'll try! I'd love to hear about what craft you tried with your kids at home or in the classroom.
Happy Crafting!


text:
Venice Consulting
|Welcome to the web
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Although I have now largely retired from consultancy I still undertake the occasional assignment and offer training in process design and modelling based on my book Business Process Management, a Rigorous Approach, which I am now making publicly available - see below. However, I leave the materials below for open use. I am also willing - without any guarantees! - to answer questions on Riva by e-mail.

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An ebook published by
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Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms:
Marjorie Bowen:
eBook No.: 2300721h.html
Language: English
Date first posted: May 2023
Most recent update: May 2023
This eBook was produced by Colin Choat and Roy Glasham
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AMBROSE MORNAY cautiously crept between the bare vine poles which had just been planted in the soft newly-turned ground, jumped a low wall of red brick which separated the vineyard and the fruit garden from the flower garden, and so stood at the bottom of the lawn and terraces of the Château Mornay, looking up at that building that had been his home and, by inheritance, was his property, but which he had not seen since he had fled from the château and the country, fled for his life in the Revolution, the first of those terrible days of blood and desolation, the first fury of that storm which had afterwards swept away king, queen, princes, nobility, as a scythe sweeps off the heads of the flowers among the corn, and had levelled with the dust the old order of things in France as a sea wave will level a sand castle built by the hands of a child.
So he had fled, he and his family, with no more than they could carry with them, and had escaped in the boat of a fisher from the neighbouring fishing village, whose father had been one of their peasants, and so had tossed into Calais roads and finally on to the friendly coast of England. There they had lived, in exile and in poverty, but in peace.
The father had a few securities in England which brought them in a modest income, the two daughters taught the French language and the fine French embroidery learnt at the Ursuline convent. He (Ambrose) had taught fencing, and tried hard to forget the past and his bitter yearning for the old life and his own land.
Then one day he had found his elder sister in bitter, silent tears. She had only a sad mystery to offer to his eager questions, but presently he drew the truth from his mother.
Hélène was in love. What would you? She was twenty-five and beautiful. If misfortune had not happened, she would have been wedded long ago. It was another emigré, a young count, who made his living by his fine handwriting, copying for a great London bank. Between them they had not enough to buy a wedding-ring, and there was the tragedy. Again, what would you?
And Ambrose had suddenly revolted against exile and misfortune and poverty. Here was one woman's life blighted, and another fair girl growing up uselessly, hopelessly.
So it came that he took the price of his last series of fencing lessons, travelled to Dover in the boot of the public stage, grimly enduring discomfort, crossed the Channel in one of the English fishing fleet, and made his way along the coast to his old home.
At the tiny village near by he found the man who had rescued them three years before, and with him made a compact that he was again to be taken to England in the little fishing barque.
From this man Ambrose also gathered details of the château. It had been confiscated, of course, but who was the present owner the fisher did not know. Several deputies, members of the Committee of Public Safety and great ones of the Revolution, had stayed there for a day or two when coming down to terrorise the countryside or hunt for aristocrats or emigrés. The place was well kept, the fellow had added, and now Ambrose stood at the foot of the château he saw for himself that this was true.
He passed slowly behind the thick hedge of shrubs which bordered the lawn that swept in smooth green grass up to an ancient cypress, black and spreading, which stood below the terraces. It seemed to Ambrose that this was another of his exile's dreams, and that presently the scene would vanish, and the dreary houses of Bed Lion Square close round him again.
The château stood on ground slightly rising, four walls and four rounded tourelles ending in delicate spires. The wide door, the green-shuttered windows, the bridge over what had once been the moat, the two formal stone terraces with the stone seats and the great vases of flowers at the top of the steps, the outbuildings, the stables, the farms beyond, with the gilded weathercock, the meadows sloping to the woods, the woods darkening into the distance—all was unchanged as it had been unchanged since the days when the château was built in the reign of King Francis I.
Ambrose had satisfied himself that the château was empty and that no one was about, but he still moved cautiously, keeping himself within the shadows of the laurels.
It was early April and intensely still. When he turned and looked behind him, he could see the ocean blue between the bare trees, low and still, melting into the paler sky, but the murmur of it was faintly in his ears and filled the air persistently as a perfume.
No trees were green save the olives which sloped down to the sea, but all had a look of life, of vitality, as if they were but waiting to break into bloom. Here and there the violets and primroses still lingered, and in the meadows blew the purple wind-flowers and the white-and-yellow clusters of the narcissi.
Ambrose drew in the air in great breaths, it was so sweet, so sweet! And it was his—his father's and his. Here his life had been spent, here he had meant to die. And now he was creeping back, an outcast, an exile, creeping back, like a thief, to his own!
The angry tears rushed to his eyes, his shoulders heaved. He set his teeth and hastened on towards the château. White pigeons were wheeling before it, but there was no other sign of life—no horse, no dog, no open window, no smoke from any chimney.
Ambrose came boldly out on to the terrace, and the sun met him and enclosed him in warmth like a generous embrace of welcome. He noticed that grass grew on the terrace and before the door, that the windows were all shuttered and bolted across, and that the bolts were rusty from the sea air, as if they had been in that position for some time.
Ambrose quickly and lightly crossed the terrace and gained the right side of the château, which was in shadow. There he paused, listening. There were only two sounds—that universal murmur of the sea and the cooing of the strutting pigeons.
Through the bare trees he could see a long way to right and left, before and behind, and his eyes searched keenly. There was no one. Looking before him, a line of peach trees bordered the vine poles; the deep pink of the blossoms against the blue sea and the bare trees awakened a sudden memory that was like a pain in his heart.
A memory of such another day of peace, of stillness, of clear sunshine, a memory of a girl, bare-headed, bare-footed, in a white cotton frock, creeping in among the peach trees and breaking off branches of the blossom.
So he had found her, a daring peasant child, robbing the trees of the flowers which would become his father's fruit. If it had been a boy, Ambrose would have used the whip he carried. Even though it was a girl, his anger had flared, and he had ordered her off in angry tones.
But she had shown defiance; she had grasped the peach boughs tight against the bosom of her ragged gown and faced him. And then, because he had seen that she was more than pretty, he fell to laughing at her spirit, and, barring her way, asked her name.
"Jacqueline," she had answered hotly, staring at him, lowering and fierce, a fair thing, brown and gold, flushed and panting, with dishevelled strands of auburn hair blowing about her face, and for her background the blue sea and the dark pink masses of the peach blossoms. "Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms," he had named her in mockery, and, taking her arm, had offered to let her go with her plunder for a kiss.
She had fiercely refused, wounding his pride, and he had taken his kiss by force with a laugh that was not gentle.
How clearly he remembered now the feel of her warm, sunburnt cheek, the gesture of wrath with which she had flung down the disputed blossoms at his feet, broken away and beaten through the bushes like an angry, hunted animal.
Afterwards he had met her many times on the sea-shore, among the olive slopes in the white street of the village, or in the meadows.
She had had no curtsey for him, though he was the heir of Mornay, and he had always had his jest of her, greeting her laughingly as "Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms."
How long ago it all seemed now, how remote, how foolish! And yet with what painful distinctness the little incident came back as he stared at the same peach trees rosy against the same sea!
With an effort he shook the memories from him and turned to his business. Following the side of the château, he came to the window of the room he wanted—the long window of the library, which opened like a door on to the terrace.
The beating of his heart increased as, taking from their case the tools he had brought with him, he proceeded to unfasten the bolts and lift the bars which held the faded green shutter in place. The fastenings were not very elaborate nor very difficult, and he soon had the shutters swinging loose in his hands.
The tall glass windows were bolted again from the inside, but Ambrose shivered the glass, put his hand through the aperture, and slipped back the fastenings. Creaking from rust, they gave way, and Ambrose stepped into the library, behind him a stream of sunlight that showed the motes in the close atmosphere of the room.
Ambrose moved stealthily, saw that the room was empty, saw that it was much as he had left it, and leant against the wall, suddenly weak with a sense of homesickness. Evidently there had been nothing in the library that had attracted the cupidity of the mob, nothing that roused their lust of destruction. The smooth waxed walls, the colour of dark amber, were undefaced, the portraits of dead Mornays, in ruff or wimple, armour or periwig, had been respected; they still hung in a level row above the low bookcases, and looked out, calmly smiling or calmly grave, from the dimmed gold of their frames. The very books were untouched, the Greeks and Latins, the ancient French, stood erect and well ordered. There were the desks, dark and yet shining, with their drooping handles shaped like fuchsia blossoms, the leather chairs with brass nails, the shining floor—all was well kept. Ambrose thought the place looked exactly as it had looked when he left it three years ago.
Hope sprang up brilliant in his heart. If all was untouched, then what he had come for must be untouched, too. Above the wide open hearth and beneath the antique stone mantelpiece was a long, low panel of wood deeply and finely carved with the arms of Mornay. Ambrose went to this and gently touched it with his forefinger. He had reached the end of his quest.
The scene when he had last stood on this spot was very vividly before his mind. His two sisters, clinging together and trying not to weep; from without his father's voice urging them to haste, rising out of the turmoil of fierce noises which came from the peasantry, who were attacking the château in front; his mother trying with nervous fingers to wrench back this panel behind which all the family treasures were hidden; then the bursting open of the doors, the entrance of the red-capped sans culotte who had discharged his pistol at the lady—there was the lead still deep-embedded in the wall behind where Madame Mornay had stood—the wild flight of all through the window into the merciful half dark which had protected them.
And now Ambrose Mornay stood again before that panel which hid, he believed, what would for ever relieve their poverty, that which would dower his sisters and give comfort to his parents and himself.
If only it had not been tampered with! On which side were the gods to-day? It was some time before he could sufficiently steady himself to touch the secret spring which was concealed in a rose of the foliated border. At last he nerved himself and put his finger on the button.
The beautiful mechanism instantly responded, the panel slid noiselessly back, and a deep cavity in the wall was visible—a deep cavity filled with boxes, cases, bundles of papers and rolls of documents all kept fresh, dry and free from moth or rat by the steel-lined walls.
Ambrose put his hand over his heart and blessed God with tears in his eyes. First he took out all the family papers and put them carefully into his pockets. Over the rolls of bank bills he hesitated; they were, he feared, of little use now, though amounting in face value to many thousands of livres, but there were contracts, bills of purchase, receipts, title-deeds relating to property in Spain and the East, which he eagerly seized.
Then, having disposed of these matters, he took out the caskets and boxes one at a time and placed them on the floor beside him.
The largest, a casket of dull grey satin embroidered with seed pearls stretched over a frame of cedar-wood, he quickly opened—as all the others, it was not locked. Within, enclosed in a bag of mauve velvet, he found what he sought. The famous Mornay diamonds, the homage of a former King of France to a long-dead mistress of the château—they were all intact, strings of flashing brilliancy for neck and wrist, a star for the bosom, long pendants for the ears, all like frozen crystal with liquid gold and molten fire, the tumultuous blue of the sea, the passionate red of live blood, the vivid green of imprisoned water flashing in their hearts and striving to be free of their white prison, all beautiful with the beauty of things eternal and unchangeable.
Ambrose put them back softly into the casket and opened the others. In one was a parure of pearls and emeralds fitting each piece into its own piece in the velvet-lined tray, old-fashioned in design and exquisite in the quality of the stones; in another was a gentleman's solitaire diamond and waistcoat buttons of jasper and topaz, together with shoe buckles of gold and brilliants; in another more women's ornaments of rubies sapphires, and fine silver, while a tall box of sandalwood contained all manner of rings, cameos, intaglios, cut gem and seal rings and ladies' rings of precious and sparkling stones.
There still remained in the back of the recess several valuable sword hilts and pistols, together with some parcels of gold plate and a few articles of rock crystal. These were, however, too heavy for Ambrose to contemplate taking them with him; nor did he even dare to waste time in regrets.
Spreading his silk handkerchief on the polished floor, he emptied one casket after the other on to it, the diamonds on top of all, so that the whole gleamed like a cluster of fallen stars in the broad beam that fell from the open window.
Then, suddenly, as he was preparing to knot the handkerchief together and conceal his treasure about his person, this sunlight was obscured, and the jewels flashed more dimly in shadow.
Ambrose looked up instantly, then rose to his feet and stood erect. A woman stood in the long window. She had come so softly that only her shadow had betrayed her. She stood now with an air of softness and lightness, her hands hanging at her side, her eyes very observant.
She was dressed in a full gown the colour of sea-lavender, a hue between sharp blue and misty grey; she wore a cap of fine muslin—through which her autumn hair gleamed as sunlight behind a cloud—and an apron of silvered silk.
She was beautiful and brown and rosy, her face was thoughtful and yet gay. In her ears hung the large gold hoops loved by the peasantry. Her black latchet shoes were low enough to show a white silk stocking encasing a slender ankle.
Ambrose saw all these details as clearly as he had once seen the details of a flower through a magnifying glass. He stood bewildered, dumb, then suddenly his voice and his memory served him.
"Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms!" he exclaimed.
She flushed deeper and her eyes darkened into a sombre brilliancy. But she said nothing. Perhaps she was trying to recall in this quiet young man, in the rather worn olive-coloured travelling suit, with the plain turned back hair and the simple neckcloth, the gorgeous young gentleman who had kissed her under the peach trees.
"What do you mean to do?" he challenged her silence.
"Ah," she answered, "what do I mean to do? This time it is I who catch the great seigneur stealing—and stealing what is more valuable than peach blossoms!"
"I take what is my own!" he flashed back.
"Nothing here is your own," she said calmly and with force. "The château belongs now to a certain Monsieur Fabre."
"And you?"
"I am his housekeeper," she replied serenely.
"He is here now?"
"Yes. He is an old gentleman, and uses a few rooms only. He never comes here; that is why I knew, when I saw the window open, that there was some thief here, Monsieur Mornay."
She still spoke with level quietness and still retained her post in the window, blocking out the sun from him. He, too, was calm, in desperation and despair.
"M. Fabre's son is in the house, too, to-day," she continued with an air of triumph, "or soon will be, and if I clap my hands or ring this"—she stepped suddenly into the room and under the long bell-rope—"he will come and deal with you."
"Are you not afraid," breathed Ambrose, "that I might wring your pretty neck, Jacqueline, first?"
"Oh, no," she mocked. "You are a great seigneur, Monsieur Mornay!"
"So you trade on that," he smiled with pallid lips, "These—these Fabres"—his tone was bitter as he spoke the name of the usurpers—"are of the people?"
She smiled with a pride equal to his own.
"Yes, monsieur. The son is a great soldier—he has done much in La Vendée."
Ambrose folded his arms and leant back against the wall. "The Revolution has changed you," he remarked, glancing at her from head to foot; "you have flourished in these years of liberty."
She gave him look for look. "You, too, have changed."
"I know. Does it please you? You have a pretty face, but a vulgar little heart, I doubt not." So said he in his wrath and bitterness.
Her blush deepened again, but she answered quietly: "Oh, I have my revenge! You humiliated me when I was a silly child, and now I humiliate you."
Ambrose answered gravely: "Nay, you do not humiliate me. You find me taking what is my own, what I have great and pressing need of."
Her eyes flickered to the bell-rope.
"Oh, ring!" said Ambrose. "Ring, my child, and let us end this foolish conversation. What will your master do with me, eh?"
"Shoot you in the ditch," she replied. "Oh, yes, and bury you like a dog, of course. Oh, yes! Say your prayers, Monsieur Mornay!" And she stamped her foot in some kind of fury. "Why do you think me so hateful?" she suddenly demanded. "Once you thought I was too mean to refuse your kiss, and now you think I am too mean to be anything but your executioner."
He thought, perhaps, she might want his entreaties, his flatteries, but it was not in him to give her those. "I think you will serve your own kind," he replied coldly. "Why do you not ring?"
For reply, she picked up the handkerchief full of jewels. Casting it on the desk beside her she picked up the ornaments one at a time and, gazing at them, she gave a mocking laugh.
"So you had your secret treasures there all the time. Who is the lady whose charms have driven you to this dangerous enterprise, Monsieur Mornay?"
"Oh, Jacqueline, little Jacqueline," he answered, "because I once kissed you against your will——"
"You are bold to remind me of it!" cried she, flaming.
"—Must you insult me when I am at your mercy, you poor, silly child? I wanted the jewels to redeem us from poverty and, most of all, to dower my dear sister. Now they will adorn the neck of this upstart's wife, and I had rather that they had been flung into the sea. As for the papers they will find on me afterwards, I pray you, for charity, ask them to burn them or fling them with me in the ditch, for I know it is useless to ask you to send them to my parents."
She did not reply; she bent her head and, crossing the room, stooped and picked up all the empty caskets, flung them into the secret recess, and drew the sliding panel into place. Then she returned to the handkerchief of jewels and knotted the four corners of the silk together crossways, like a peasant's bundle.
"Those are her spoils," he thought; "she will not share them."
Jacqueline had hardly drawn the last knot tight before the door was rather violently opened and a tall man stepped into the apartment.
The girl seemed more surprised than Ambrose; she with difficulty suppressed a scream, and leant back against the wall, her face suddenly frightened. Ambrose stood quite still, quite colourless, quite fearless.
The newcomer was handsome in a dark, heavy fashion, and richly, though plainly, dressed. Ambrose at once guessed him to be the son of the present owner of the château.
"What is this?" he cried, glancing from one to the other. "I heard voices. I know there should be no one here. What is it, eh, Jacqueline?"
She came forward. "Chut!" she cried. "You frightened me! I thought you were out."
"Nay, I am here, as you see," he answered keenly.
"Well," said Jacqueline, "I suppose you will be angry."
She looked straightly at the man who was waiting to hear his death sentence from her lips. Not the least sign of dread nor terror, agitation nor fear, did Ambrose Mornay show. He stood completely at his ease, a man in his own house. He glanced once sideways out of the broken window at the peach trees, and he smiled a little ironically at a memory. The other man waited.
"Oh, how grim you look!" cried Jacqueline. "What do you think I have to tell you? This fellow is one of those strolling pedlars who are always coming, and whom you forbade me to see. These are his samples"—she calmly held up the handkerchief of jewels—"and—oh, what is a girl to do who never sees Paris? I let him in here, thinking you would not find us."
Ambrose felt suddenly sick and giddy, the branches of the distant peach blossoms danced madly before his eyes. Now she had given him his life, or a chance of life, he knew how terrible had been the near approach of death.
"And the broken window?" asked the other man.
"Why, the shutter was rusty and I was in a hurry, and so it broke, Monsieur Fabre." Jacqueline shrugged her shoulders. She turned to Ambrose. "And now you had better go, fellow; your goods are too dear, and you are getting me into trouble with my master."
Ambrose rallied. "Although you have purchased nothing," he said, with a very low bow, "I shall never forget my kind reception here. I pray for our future meeting."
"Perhaps we shall," she said carelessly. "But do not come here again, friend, for we are strictly kept."
"Let me see the samples," demanded M. Fabre quietly.
"No," answered Jacqueline. "If we once untie his bundles, we must buy."
"Perhaps I might buy you a fairing, Jacqueline."
She faced him straightly. "There is nothing there I care for," she said, and handed the handkerchief to Ambrose. He was still giddy, still dazed as he took it from her. He picked up his hat and cloak, gave her one look as he uttered his conventional farewells, and was gone through the broken window.
Man and girl stood silent, watching his figure disappear across the terraces. It was the man who spoke first.
"That was young Mornay. Why did you let him go?"
She paled but smiled. "For honour's sake."
"Why did you lie to me? Did you think I believed that foolish story?"
"At least it served."
"Why was he here?"
"He had some family treasures hidden here," answered Jacqueline. "He needed them—they are poor."
"So am I," said M. Fabre grimly.
"Ah, you do not need money!" she flashed.
"I might want jewels."
"For the wife I may marry."
"Your wife," said Jacqueline, "will only want the jewels you can earn for her yourself, monsieur."
He stepped forward suddenly and caught her by the shoulders. "Do you know that I love you?" he asked.
"Yes," said Jacqueline, bravely holding up her face.
"Why did you let him go?" he asked passionately.
"Listen! In the old days he caught me stealing peach blossoms. Before he let me go he kissed me against my will. I hated him. Then he named me 'Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms.' People took that name for me. When you took the château you heard it and liked it, and sought me out for your servant, and it was under the peach trees we met, the first time a year ago—do you remember?—when I was coming up to the château, with my bundle, to be your servant. And after a little I no longer hated the man who had given me the name you liked. Do you understand? I owed him something—I paid that debt to-day."
At the end of her breathless recital she drooped her flushed face, and to kiss left only the muslin cap that veiled the gleaming hair.
"Oh, sweet," he said, "I love you so!" And after a little he added: "But if I had not loved you, I should never have let you fool me!"
"Ah, Charles," she answered shyly, looking up and lifting her face, "had I not known that you loved me, I should never have tried!"
IN after-times the château returned to the possession of the Mornay family, and Ambrose Mornay lived there with an English bride who wore his mother's jewels; but the finest of the Mornay diamonds sparkled on the throat of Madame Fabre, a wedding gift from him who had named her "Jacqueline of the Peach Blossoms." And when her husband was one of the famous generals of the First Empire, he often brought her to the Château Mornay to visit her friends, the lord and chatelaine, and his two sisters happily wed, and to see the little fruit trees that every year renewed youth and beauty and memories as deep as love.
Project Gutenberg Australia


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Kelly Littleton has been hesitant about joining Facebook, but after a (big) nudge from her best friend, she decides to bite the bullet and simply do it. Kelly has a hearing impairment. Her childhood wasn't easy - as someone different in a public school she was constantly teased by the mean girls. The only bright spot was Brandon and his friendship. So, the first person she looks up is Brandon.
News & reviews for the fiction lover in us all!


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A Late December Visit
Petunia Dursley hurried along the corridor of her home, dusting vases and framed photographs that did not need to be dusted, because she had cleaned them all in the morning, and yesterday morning, and the morning before that. Of course, Petunia did not truly need to impress her guests this late December afternoon- it was only her son, daughter-in-law and their children- but she enjoyed keeping her home looking orderly at all times, as she firmly believed it should be.
Her husband sat nearby at the kitchen table, flipping through the newspaper and occasionally barking out comments disparaging this politician or that celebrity, whomever happened to be written about that day. Petunia would duly agree with Vernon and criticize the MP or socialite as well.
The doorbell rang, and Petunia placed the duster down on the hallway table, making her way over to open the door for her family.
"Hello, Mum," her son Dudley greeted. She pulled him into a tight embrace and immediately began to ask how his job was, and how surely he must be missing working alongside his father at the drill company.
"No, Mum, I'm actually quite enjoying my new job. It's nice making my own name, without people associating me with Dad."
"Well, you know that Dad can always pull some strings to get you back at your old position! He has quite a bit of influence there, you know," Petunia babbled on. She moved to greet her daughter-in-law.
"Margaret, how are you, dear?" Petunia began, taking the plate of custard tarts the other woman had brought with a bit of surprise, as Margaret usually did not bring a dessert over. "Oh, you didn't have to bring anything."
"It was my pleasure," Margaret replied. She flashed what she intended as a courteous smile, but her mother-in-law interpreted it as a nervous grimace. Petunia noticed that Dudley and his wife exchanged a brief glance, an uncomfortable one at that. Still wondering what their glance could mean, Petunia set down the tray and moved to hug her grandchildren.
"Hi, Gran," her grandson Dennis replied with his normal cheerfulness, returning the hug. Petunia reached out towards his older sister, Martha, who looked down and hesitated before letting her grandmother embrace her. Again, Petunia noticed the furtive looks Dudley and Margaret exchanged.
"Well, haven't you two grown?" Petunia tried to act as if her granddaughter was acting normally. "Dennis, you must have grown an inch and a half since I saw you last! And Martha, you look like you've grown too, and I haven't seen you since before you started school."
Martha's face froze for a moment when the word "school" was uttered by her grandmother, but then nodded. "Yes, Mum and Dad said that they noticed it too."
Petunia ushered her family inside, calling out to her husband that their guests were here. After a hearty pat on the back to his son and a kiss on the cheek to his daughter-in-law (who did not seem to entirely pleased with his gesture), Vernon offered his family drinks while telling his grandchildren to run off to the living room to watch telly.
"So tell me," Vernon Dursley asked loudly as they all sat at the kitchen table."How are things with you? What about the children?"
"They're doing great," his daughter-in-law answered as Vernon poured Dudley a glass of Scotch. "Dennis received top marks in his class for poetry-writing."
"Well let's hope that one day he lets go of that namby-pamby writing! That's girl stuff, I say!" Vernon guffawed to himself, not noticing the unamused look on Dudley and Margaret's faces.
"What about Martha?" Petunia asked while busying herself with preparing dinner. Though her eyes were away from them, she could have sworn that she noticed an uncomfortable silence between the two younger people in the room.
"She's wonderful," Dudley finally said. "Quite happy right now."
"What did you say was the name of her new school?" Vernon questioned.
Again, Petunia noticed the pause before her son answered, "Milford Academy for Exceptionally Talented Youth. It's a good school, we're quite pleased that they accepted her."
"Huh," Vernon grunted. "Never heard of it before."
"Yes, well, it's a bit of a smaller school. Not on most people's radars." Margaret answered in a voice that seemed slightly uneasy. She quickly changed the subject, asking her father-in-law about work. He was more than happy to oblige her and drone on and on about the inner workings of his negotiations with investors.
Petunia excused herself from the kitchen to use the toilet. As she walked down the hallway, she heard a children's program on the television, but also her grandchildren's hushed voices.
"Just tell them!" she heard Dennis tell his sister. "It's not a big deal."
"You don't understand!" Petunia, now leaning against the hallway wall to hear better, heard Martha say in a somewhat scared voice. "Dad forbid us to say a word. And after he told us about how he and Gran and Grandpa treated him growing up, I don't blame him."
"But if you just tell them-"
"I can't!" Martha shrieked. "They'll hate me!"
Petunia decided that this was a good time to walk into the room. Stepping out from behind the wall, she entered and cleared her throat. The children nearly tumbled off the couch when they saw her.
"Hello," Petunia pleasantly greeted the two. She tried to smile as if she hadn't been listening in on their conversation. "Dinner's almost ready, if you want to wash up."
Martha and Dennis nodded, and scurried out of the room, avoiding meeting their grandmother's eyes.
Petunia was concerned about what Martha seemed to be hiding. What could possibly be so horrible that she was forbidden to mention to her own grandparents? Did this tie into Dudley and Margaret's strange behavior?
She heard her husband's thunderous footsteps as he walked down the hallway.
"Going to find some of the quarterly reports to show Dudders," Vernon explained, poking his head into the living room. "That should get him back on board with the company!"
Vernon slowly climbed the stairs, and Petunia crept back into the hallway. She heard whispers once more, but this time from the kitchen. Dudley and Margaret were hurriedly going back and forth.
Silently stepping towards the door, Petunia approached the room without her son or daughter-in-law noticing. Leaning in to eavesdrop, she could make out their hushed words.
"-there's no bloody way I'm letting my parents know!" Dudley whispered loudly to his wife.
"But if we tell them-"
"Maggie, they won't ever come to terms with it," Dudley cut her off. "They'll never want to see her again. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about."
"Come on, we can't hide this forever," Margaret tried to reason with her husband. "They can't be that bad. She's their granddaughter."
"Yes, and Harry was their nephew, and that didn't stop them from locking him in a broom cupboard under the stairs for something he was born with. For God's sake, my mother cut off ties with her only sister after she was accepted to Martha's school."
Petunia's head was spinning. She could not believe what she was hearing, though suddenly all of the details made sense: her family's secrecy and strange behavior, Martha's fear, and the fact that Martha had been quietly sent to a far off boarding school that Petunia had never heard of before in her life.
The realization made her weak, and Petunia grabbed onto the hallway's table, sliding down against the wall. She heard the kitchen chairs being pushed back quickly, and Dudley and Margaret standing up.
"She didn't hear, did she?" Margaret asked Dudley in a frightened voice.
The two raced out of the kitchen and found Petunia Dursley on the floor, speechless.
"Mum," Dudley began slowly. "You didn't happen to hear our conver-"
"Magic," Petunia breathed, still in a state of shock. "Martha's magic."
"I'm sorry, Mum," Dudley began. "We found out on her birthday in August and a few weeks later she went off to Hogw- her school. We didn't want to tell you because we knew it'd upset you."
"She's magic," Petunia repeated. "My granddaughter's magic."
"We were shocked at first, too," Margaret tried to explain. "Harry helped us with it, though."
Dudley turned towards his wife and shook his head, as a warning not to mention that name again around his mother. But Petunia had already heard the name she had long since tried to forget.
"Harry?" Petunia hoarsely responded. "You've talked to that boy?"
"He's grown now, Mum," Dudley explained. "Has a wife and kids and is high up in their government. His daughter's Martha's age, and he told her to look out for Martha at their school."
Vernon was now climbing down the stairs, but paused when he saw his wife trembling against the wall while Dudley and his wife stood next to her in fear.
"Petunia, are you alright? Petunia, what's going on?"
She still was speechless, so her husband began questioning their son.
"What have you done with her?" he bellowed, descending the stairs as fast as his frame allowed him.
"Just given her a fright, that's all," Margaret attempted to lie. "We, er, bumped into each other in the hall while she wasn't looking-"
"Magic," Petunia finally managed to say.
Vernon's eyes widened. "What has that boy done?" he roared. "Hasn't he put this family through enough trouble?"
"It's not Harry!" Dudley yelled back. "In fact, Harry's been helping us process this all."
"Process what?" Vernon shouted, his face reddening quickly.
Petunia was still shaking when she repeated, "Martha's magic."
There was a shocked silence as Vernon processed those words. "Your daughter," he said slowly, understanding and anger building with each syllable. "Magic?"
Dudley picked up on the fact that his father had not referred to Martha as "my granddaughter" or even by name. His mind raced, thinking of how Harry was treated growing up, and how that would affect his own daughter. Would Martha only be disdainfully referred to as "the girl" from now on? Had she completely fallen from favor in her grandparents's eyes?
"Yes," he answered forcefully. "And we're not bothered by that." Dudley turned towards his wife. "Maggie, we're leaving. Grab the kids."
Petunia was still too shocked to form coherent thoughts as her family began running through the house, Vernon shouting about how Martha would not be welcomed back unless she left her "freak" school, Margaret angrily standing up for her child while Dudley found the children hiding under the front bushes, hastily pushing them along to the car.
Margaret slammed the door behind her, and a moment later Petunia heard their car starting and quickly backing out of the driveway.
Vernon was still shaking with rage. "We aren't to speak of the girl again," he said, his face still reddened and his fists balled. He marched up the stairs, if only to be able to stomp on them. He didn't seem to notice that his wife was still slumped against the corridor wall, unable to fully process the last few minute's events yet.
Eventually, Petunia shakily stood up, leaning heavily on the corridor's table. She could still hear her husband upstairs, throwing and knocking things over, the noise sounding suspiciously like it was coming from her son's old bedroom.
Her eyes fell upon the duster still on the table, where she had left it when the doorbell had first rung. Perhaps attempting to spruce the house up a bit would get her mind off of the horrible matter that just transpired in her home, she thought.
She picked up the duster, and again began to clean the items on the table: the vase with artificial flowers, the plaque from Vernon's work, the mementos from family holidays. However, she paused when she was dusting the photographs. There was a picture from her wedding, a family portrait from when her son was perhaps eight years old, and two recent school photographs each of her grandchildren; Dennis and Martha each wearing near-identical gap-tooth smiles.
Petunia picked up the frame showcasing Martha. She turned her head, looking for an easy place hide the photo. Slowly, she opened the door to the cupboard under the stairs. It had made a good place to shut away one magical relative, hadn't it? She placed the frame high up on a shelf, face down, and quickly shut the cupboard door, resolving to do her best to forget about the incident. After all, she saw no reason to upset the balance in her perfectly normal life. She and Vernon had done just fine with one son in life, Petunia reasoned, why should only having one grandchild be any different?
Did you enjoy my story? Please let me know what you think by leaving a review! Thanks, lindsayleewellsWrite a Review


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I've noticed that, whenever I post anything about hair removal, I get a ton of questions! It makes me happy and a little intimidated at the same time because the truth is: I'm far from the right person to consult on the topic!
So why even write this article, you might ask?
Well, this is the point.
If you have any of my concerns or obstacles, you will probably relate. First of all: I've got medium dark skin and dark(er) but still fine hair. My body-hair grows rapidly and with living in an "all-year-around-sunny-climate" it means a constant battle with the blade. Sometimes it feels like I don't do anything other than shaving my legs.
Secondly: I'm super sensitive to superficial pain. For some reason I can undergo surgery and handle the pain perfectly, but I don't respond well to plucking my eyebrows or (the horror) upper lip! I have a very sensitive nervous system which makes my pain threshold ridiculously low. The thought of waxing scares the living sh*t out of me.
Finally; with my colouring I'm not the best candidate for hair laser removal to begin with. The more melanin (pigment) you've got, the higher the risk of burning the skin and hair follicle. When we bought the Tria 4X Hair laser removal machine last year, it was mainly for my husband to use. His skin is lighter and hair darker, thus making him the perfect candidate.
A short introduction to the Tria 4X: this is the first hair laser removal machine on the market that is actually FDA approved. There are many other machines out there, but I would personally only recommend this one. When undergoing laser treatment at your Dermatologist, you usually need about 4 sessions every 6 weeks to efficiently remove and stop re-growth. Although Tria 4X uses the same laser as you'll get in the salon or clinic, it is still not as sharp (you shall use it every 14 days over 2 months to see results).
People often tend to confuse laser treatment with IPL (Intense Pulse light). While IPL uses different wavelengths and shades, the Tria 4X only uses a single spectrum of light to target the hair follicle in order to gain "permanent" hair removal. I say it like this, because there will always be resting follicles in different depths of your skin that might start to activate. No laser treatment will give you a 100% lifelong hair removal. Still, both at home treatment of (more expensive) professional treatments have this in common: they are not suitable for all parts of the body and they are not safe if you have a darker skintone. If you visit the Tria website, there is a test for you to take to see if your are eligible for treatment. This is good! I have visited stores that, sadly, claim the device to be safe for everyone and everywhere. This is simply untrue. Please do your research in order to avoid any damages!
However, if you decide to invest in the Tria 4X it's good to know about its core features: first of all, there is a sensor in the bottom of the machine. You need to scan the part of your body that you wish to treat and the machine simply won't unlock if it detects white hair, grey hair, red hair, medium or dark skin! The display on the top is very easy to follow and let you adjust the intensity level. If you aim and press the button and the laser tip is not perfectly aligned with the targeted skin, it won't shoot. I love that the device comes with these built-in precautionary steps.
Ahead of treatment you must shave the entire area and make sure that the skin is clean and dry. We started using the machine during spring 2017 (and I shall be perfectly honest: we really missed the 14-day cycle) and the first impression was this:
My husband immediately saw results and started off on intensity level 2 but easily went up to a full 4 without feeling any pain. He could detect a small, quick discomfort where skin was thin but that's all. No irritation or redness pre-treatment.
For me, I decided to try it on my legs and I won't lie to you: I could only master intensity 2 and yes, I thought it hurt! We knew this would probably happen with my sensitivity, but I felt embarrassed not to be able to cope. The device is kind of pricey and I felt compelled to continue my treatments. Safe to say, I needed a coping mechanism and I found it – courtesy of the same company! Let me introduce my secret 'weapon": Tria Smoothstart Calming Gel.
This cream is meant to be applied after you've shaved and dried off your skin. No rinse off but I suggest you give it a good 15 minutes to work its magic. Infused with the glorious Indian plant extract of Boerhavia Diffusa the cream promise you to reduce any inflammation, calm redness and irritation while adding antioxidants to protect your skin. It shall maximize the the effect of each treatment while at the same time prevent you from experience any tingling, warm (hurting) sensation.
At first, I was a bit sceptical of this cream and wanted to use a numbing cream like EMLA, but the fact is that Boerhavia Diffusa is well known and recommended for its calming effect on skin. When even the (always) so pessimistic Paula's Choice site rates it as 'BEST' you kind of have to give it a try. The cream also contains both AHA and BHA to prevent any pores or follicles to clog. I have used it in the corner of my upper lips as well, before grabbing the tweezers! Score.
I'm thankful that I decided to toughen up and try the calming gel because with a little help from this cream, I don't experience the treatment as hurtful anymore. I can still detect the sting and it is most probably because my skintone is borderline-too-dark; hence it has nothing do to with the device itself!
While I still need to plan my treatments better to achieve the promised results, I can't claim it to work perfectly for me. I haven't used it the way it is supposed to be used. I can definitely see some early results and feel hopeful that I will be able to reduce my hair-growth to an acceptable amount over time.
I'd love to hear about your experiences with laser hair removal. My husband has now done a course at our Dermatologist's clinic for professional result but will still continue to use the Tria4X for any new hair that might pop up. We still consider it to be worth the splurge but recommend you to keep an eye out as you might be lucky and find it on sale! ♥


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The Detroit Lions hosted free-agent wide receiver Josh Cribbs for a visit on Monday. This was Cribbs' fourth visit in a week, as he met with the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and New York Giants last week. Those three teams, along with the Lions, are believed to be the finalists for Cribbs' services, and he is planning to make a decision after taking a couple days to think things over.
I just talked to Josh Cribbs. Said he had good visit. He's going to take a couple days to make a decision but Detroit is "high" on his list.— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) May 13, 2013
Just because the Lions are high on Cribbs' list doesn't mean he is going to sign with them. It's rare for players to say anything that isn't positive right after a visit, and considering there are three other teams in the mix, Cribbs could easily end up signing elsewhere.
What is working in the Lions' favor is that they have Matthew Stafford. Cribbs told Tim Twentyman that he wants to play for a team with a "solid" quarterback, and Stafford certainly fits that description. The Giants' Eli Manning also fits that description, but the quarterback situations for the Jets and Raiders (even though they did add Matt Flynn) are far from settled.
Here's more of what Cribbs told Twentyman after his visit:
Cribbs: "I want to be on a team that's missing me. That's missing one piece of the puzzle to be great."— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) May 13, 2013
Cribbs: "I feel like (Detroit) is one of those teams that's just missing a piece." He also said he wanted to go to team with solid QB.— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) May 13, 2013
The Lions are certainly missing a piece of the puzzle on special teams, and Cribbs would be a nice upgrade on the return units. I suppose he would also be a nice puzzle piece to have on offense to go along with Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush and some of the other weapons surrounding Stafford.


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Nearly 70 new affordable homes open in Quesnel
QUESNEL – People with low to moderate incomes, including Indigenous peoples, seniors and families, now have access to 68 new rental homes with the opening of two affordable housing projects in Quesnel.
On July 25, 2019, community partners celebrated the official opening of both projects, which began welcoming tenants earlier this year.
Located at 424 McLean St., Dakelh & Quesnel Community Housing Society's new development provides 38 units, including 11 accessible units for Indigenous Elders, as well as seniors and families. The four-storey building is comprised of studios and one- and two-bedroom units. Monthly rents range from $375 for a studio unit to $950 for a two-bedroom unit.
Seniors in the community are also benefiting from new affordable rental homes at 255 McNaughton Ave. Quesnel Lions Housing Society is operating the four-storey building, which features 30 one-bedroom units designed and built to adaptable and accessible standards. Monthly rent is $575.
Jean-Yves Duclos, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) –
"Our government is investing in affordable housing in Quesnel to help create jobs and improve the quality of life for those who need it most. I'd like to recognize Dakelh and Quesnel Community Housing Society and the Quesnel Lions Housing Society, which rose to the challenge to tackle housing affordability. Because of their combined efforts, 68 new affordable rental homes are now available. This is a big boost to hard-working families, seniors and Elders from this tight-knit community."
Selina Robinson, B.C.'s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing –
"These much-needed homes will offer more people in Quesnel the peace of mind that comes from having a good place to call home. Our government is proud to be working in partnership with local organizations to make sure people have access to truly affordable and secure housing in the community they call home."
Bob Simpson, mayor, City of Quesnel –
"These brand new affordable rental units are a welcome addition to Quesnel's rental market. Families, young adults and people on fixed incomes now have more choices when it comes to finding a long-term home."
Luanne Ruotsalainen, executive director, Dakelh & Quesnel Community Housing Society –
"We are honoured to bring 38 new affordable homes to Quesnel offering a variety of options including accessible housing for the people we serve. The project is the result of partnerships with the province, the city, and other stakeholders and it's a true demonstration of what can be built when we work together."
Margaret Pfoh, chief executive officer, Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) –
"Dakelh and Quesnel Community Housing Society are strong and diverse members of AHMA and they have worked relentlessly to bring Kikihnaw to life, and it's a remarkable achievement. These 38 new homes will improve a major gap in housing needs within the area and are an important contribution to empowering our Indigenous communities. Luanne Ruotsalainen and her team have successfully created a safe, inclusive and welcome place for Elders and families to call home and AHMA is honoured to welcome all residents to the community. We'd also like to thank the City of Quesnel, our community partners and the provincial government for not only their commitment to housing, but for their efforts to continue to honour reconciliation."
Mitch Vik, president, Quesnel Lions Housing Society –
"The Quesnel Lions Hosing Society is so very proud to officially open Silver Manor. It has truly been a grass roots endeavour eight years in the making. The Quesnel Lions had a dream of taking on a major project that would benefit our community. We'd like to thank all the Lions Club members who put in thousands of volunteer hours to help realize this dream. We would also like to offer special and heartfelt thanks to the federal and provincial governments, the City of Quesnel and our community partners. Thank you for believing in this project and seeing its potential."
Quick Facts:
- Funding for 424 McLean St.:
- The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of British Columbia, through BC Housing, jointly contributed approximately $1.6 million under the Social Infrastructure Fund. CMHC also provided $25,000 in seeding fundung.
- The Province also provided a $5.5 million grant.
- The City of Quesnel provided municipal waivers in the amount of approximately $47,000.
- The society provided $540,000 and the land valued at approximately $165,000.
- Funding for 255 McNaughton Ave.:
- The Government of Canada, through CMHC, and the Government of British Columbia, through BC Housing, jointly contributed approximately $307,000 under the Social Infrastructure Fund.
- The Province also provided a $4.8 million grant, as well as interim construction financing of $1.6 million.
- The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy, a 10- year, $55-billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50%.
- To address the issue of housing affordability for British Columbians, the Government of B.C. is curbing speculation in the province's housing market and building 114,000 affordable market rental, non-profit, supported social housing and owner-purchase housing through partnerships.
Learn More:
As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, visit: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/
To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca
To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges
A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC
Valérie Glazer
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819 654-5546
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Media Relations
778 698-9176
Leonard Catling
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
604 787-1787
Tracy Wells
BC Housing
604 456-8841


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Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the United States. According to statistics, an estimated 20 percent of Americans abuse prescription drugs. Misuse and long-term use of prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Ritalin and Adderall can quickly spiral into dependency and addiction. Once dependency occurs, a person's best hope of recovery is to enter a detox and rehab for prescription drug abuse.
Detox for Prescription Drug Abuse
Long-term use or abuse of prescription drugs can lead to physical dependence. The safest way to come off prescription drugs if you're dependent is to undergo detox at a prescription drug rehab. Detoxification will flush out all of the painkiller's toxic residue and purify body so the unwanted effects of the drug are no longer present.
During the initial stages of prescription drug detox, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms will appear. The nature and severity of these withdrawal symptoms vary greatly depending on the type of prescription drug used and the frequency of use, but a good detoxification program will provide medical and supervised care to help alleviate and even eliminate the uncomfortable symptoms of drug withdrawal.
Withdrawal from prescription drugs can cause anxiety, depression and intense psychological pain that causes the person to falsely believe that they have to take painkillers in order to survive. Physical withdrawal symptoms from prescription drugs include:
- Nausea
- Cramping
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Hot/cold sweats
- Joint and muscle pain
Rehab for Prescription Drug Abuse
The second step of prescription drug addiction treatment is treating the mental addiction to the drugs. Even when the addict wants to be sober, the mind will tell the addict it needs more pills in order to function. Undergoing addiction treatment at a prescription drug rehab will provide a safe, supportive environment free of temptation and access to pills so that the mental addiction can be broken.
There are many different types of drug rehabs, but the best type of drug rehab for prescription drug abuse is residential treatment. Residential treatment for prescription drug abuse provides a structured environment that's free of temptations and distractions, and provides round-the-clock care and support to help the individual focus on recovery. Residential treatment programs will provide supervised detoxification from the prescription drug's harmful toxins, individual and group therapy to learn new behavior skills, and holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation and equine therapies to heal the spirit and mind as well as the body.
Prescription drug abuse can lead to serious health consequences and addiction if left untreated. If you or someone you love is misusing prescription drugs, a prescription drug rehab can help you break your addiction and regain control over your life.
Don't let prescription drug abuse define who you are any longer. Get the help you need and deserve at a quality prescription drug rehab.
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This afternoon, I looked over Archive.org's Wayback Machine for the first time ever and was delighted to find cached copies (e.g. snapshots) of my first, personal website at editors.com, which I registered in August 1995. Foolishly, when needing some extra money, I accepted a $3K offer to sell my first domain in May 2004. I have lots more to say about that decision—in the future. For now, let's look at the past.
At the time of the site's snapshot, Dec. 27, 1996, my family prepared to leave my hometown of Caribou, Maine—where we had been for about 18 months—and return to the Washington, D.C. area. There I would take the editor's position at Government Computer News responsible for the newly created State and Local section.
I launched the site at least a year earlier, hand-coding HTML tags. During most of my Maine stay, I spent the majority of my paying work hours building websites for other small businesses or writing about technology products and using them effectively. Perhaps that explains title "Blue Sky, Business, and the Maine Outback", which I don't recall. By the end of 1996, I mixed hand-coding with FrontPage, a pioneering WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) visual editor that Microsoft purchased from Vermeer Technologies about 11 months earlier.
I intentionally offered telecommuting and technology advice, based on personal experience, with the hopes of assisting small business owners and people working from home—a burgeoning but contained business lifestyle 21 years ago. Personal computers and the Internet were enablers, but they were often misunderstood in practice. I wanted to help, and informational resources were fairly scant in 1996.
On the page above, when discussing the Internet's benefits, I briefly mention my first Internet purchase, an office chair, ordered on a Sunday and received in the far reaches of Northern Maine on Tuesday. Free shipping! For 2-day delivery. In 1996! Kind of makes Amazon Prime seem lots less e-commerce innovating, eh?
Content types taken for granted today were fairly foreign during the early days of personal websites—like the About page.
And what nutcase puts up an About page for the place where he lives? But Aroostook—"The County"—is unique even for independent Maine. I believed that the area could add mystique to my home-based self-proprietorship and positive perceptions about small business consulting. FYI: I registered Aroostook.org in October 1996 and still possess the domain, which is not hosted. That may change, though.
The main browser of the day, Netscape Navigator, and up-and-comer Microsoft Internet Explorer, mostly supported static content—and for good reasons. Dial-up connections were slow and couldn't handle files of any meaningful size. It was the Wild Wild Web.
As simple seems "The Maine Outback", the design was fairly colorful and lively for the day. I purchased several sets of graphics, $99 each, from Image Club, which was acquired by Aldus, which Adobe absorbed. Hehe. The graphics files shipped on 3.5 disks; I long ago copied the contents to hard drive. Lest I am mistaken, the art is no longer legally sold. My first website is long gone, but its art remains.
But not all is lost. I will use the Wayback Machine to recover and repost with original date some of the content from "The Maine Outback" and also early versions of joewilcox.com. Stay tuned!


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Rameshwor Bohara in Himal Khabarpatrika (24-30 May)
Chandra Shrestha had sold his house to Bishnu Khatiwada for Rs 22.5 million three weeks previously, and had organised a going-away celebration for relatives on 25 April at noon.
When a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck, the house started swaying violently and collapsed. Seven people, including Shrestha and his wife Bijaya, were crushed to death. A house built just eight years ago went down, when all others in the neighbourhood were standing. It turns out an Indian named Abbas Hussain had built the five-storey house even though his wife Mina Maya Budathoki only had approval for a two-storey house from KMC. Hussain added floors illegally and sold the house to Shrestha by forging documents.
A building in KMC-6 was called 'Saat Talle' because it was the only seven-storey house in the neighbourhood when built in 1997. It housed a church on its top floor, and killed 30 people when it collapsed on 25 April. Owner Radheshyam Shrestha had obtained KMC approval to build just a five-storey house but he added two floors and sold it to Nabin Rajbhandary. Engineer Rajan Suwal says: "No professional engineer would have designed such a tall house on a weak foundation on a floodplain."
The nine-storey building in Gongabu housed a supermarket, a store and mobile shop on its ground floor and four hotels on its upper floors. It fell like a house of cards in the earthquake, killing 17 people. Two people were rescued alive. Ram Krishna Phuyal, a contractor from Goldhunga of Kathmandu had built this house and later transferred its ownership to his son Pawan. When the house was built 10 years ago, Gongabu was a VDC and allowed Phuyal to build a six-storey house. But he built a nine-storey structure with 9×9 inch pillars using 16 mm rods. Engineer Suwal says: "There is no way such a weak pillar could hold up a nine-storey building. It was a death trap."
There is a pattern to all these houses that went down in the quake: they are all high-rises built in narrow spaces, low-quality construction materials with weak designs that flouted regulations. Most tall apartments that violated building codes suffered structure damage, and now have red stickers. Most were built on the city's outskirts which were VDCs till recently.
Janak Raj Joshi, former secretary of Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, says: "Even municipalities lack the capacity to check the implementation of the building code, how can we expect VDCs to do it?"
Benefitting from weak regulation, unscrupulous people have built weak houses and then sold or rented them out.
Bhuwan Man Shakya of KMC-15 built three four-storey houses that collapsed and killed 38 people. But the house that he built for his own family is intact. Shakya is at large.
Most of the buildings that collapsed in Gongabu were built to be rented out, and the landlords never lived in them. So they took shortcuts in construction to save cost. Madhu Mishra, former secretary of Gongabu VDC, says, "Most owners live abroad, others rent it out to hotels which add floors when they want, no one cares if it is safe."
It has been two decades since the building code was passed, but it was never properly enforced. Ram Prakash Poudel at the KMC, says 80 per cent of houses have violated the building code in the capital. He says, "We already have a strong law, what we need is its effective implementation."
Engineer Suwal says the death and destruction caused by the earthquake is also an opportunity to right these wrongs. "If we cannot take action against the guilty even after so many deaths, how can we curb impunity in future?"
Centre for Investigative Journalism
Morgan college
An amateur video of a seven-storey building shaking violently and then falling to the ground went viral on social networking sites soon after the 25 April earthquake. It was the Morgan College building collapsing. It was luckily a Saturday and none of the 400 students enrolled were in the building. Bina Shrestha KC owned the building, had obtained the approval of Tokha VDC office, which is now a municipality, to build a five-storey building. But she ended up adding two extra floors on a weak foundation and silty soil.
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The word comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Today they are made in many countries including Spain and the Americas.
Pronounced em-pah-nah-th ah, they can be sweet or savory and filled with meat, vegetables, and a variety of additions such as raisins or nuts. This particular recipe includes fresh pumpkin and chopped walnuts for a tasty combination, but feel free to experiment and add your favorite ingredients, the options are endless!
Flour sack towels can have multiple uses but are great for covering bread dough while it's rising. The weave is slightly looser compared to a typical tea or dish towel. Because they aren't dyed, they're safe to use around foods. A good quality flour sack towel is low lint, low pill, and lightweight enough to allow dough to rise, while maintaining enough coverage to prevent drying out and crusting. They should have finished, clean fabric edges that won't unravel with repeated use so they don't end up in your recipe.
Pumpkin & Walnut Empanadas | Erica Robbin
Originating in Galicia, Spain, empanadas are a delicious filled pastry that can be baked or fried.
Credit: ericarobbin.com
- 4 cups white all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons buttered flavored shortening (Crisco)
- 2 teaspoons table salt
- Warm water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar (to taste depending on sweetness of pumpkin)
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 can (15 oz) canned pumpkin or use 2 cups fresh baked pumpkin (fresh baked adds to prep time)
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Mix dry ingredients together.
- Add warm water gradually until dough is soft to knead but not sticky.
- Roll dough into 3″ balls and let rest in a bowl covered with warm flour sack towels (see below for more about flour sack towels) for 1 hour.
- Melt butter over stove and add brown sugar until sugar is dissolved and begins to caramelize. Stir in white sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and salt. Then add pumpkin and walnuts, heat through.
- There are many variations to try and you're welcome to add raisins, shredded chicken, diced apples (with caramel 😊), or anything you like as they can be savory or sweet.
- Fold and flute. Click here or see below for my How To: Fold and Flute an Empanada video.
- Fry in vegetable oil at medium heat or 350 degrees F (177 C) until golden brown and cooked through.


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The compartment was sent then to the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center to eliminate flaws. In April, a source at Baikonur cosmodrome told Sputnik that the launch was scheduled for August 2019.
Meanwhile, the launch of Russia's MLM Nauka to the ISS may be postponed until 2020 from 2019, a source at the Baikonur cosmodrome told Sputnik.
"As of early June, the schedule of launches has been revised. Now the launch of MLM is shifted to November 2019. Such a significant shift of the launch — by 3-4 months at once — indicates that the manufacturer of the module Khrunichev Center and RSC Energia are not yet ready to submit the final schedule for the assembly and launch of the module and we can expect further shift of the launch date to the right, and it may even be set for 2020," the source said.
MLM construction started in 1995. Initially, it was a ground backup of Zarya, the first ISS module. In 2004, it was decided to cut costs for the Russian segment of the ISS and to convert the backup into a full-fledged flight module. Its launch was scheduled for 2007, but was repeatedly delayed.


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September 12, 2016
September Release Day 1 - Santa Paws
Hey there Krafty Friends - Did you know that it's the most wonderful time of the year for us at Kraftin' Kimmie!!! Why you ask....well because it's Day ONE of the Christmas Release!!!!
We're thrilled to be sharing this super sized release featuring NINE joyful new clear stamp sets and you'll be seeing new designs all week long with the release going live on Saturday night!
We're kicking things off with this cutie patootie stamp set by artist, Emilie Goulet for all you animal lovers! We certainly can't forget them at Christmastime!
This set features two ADORABLE images plus three coordinating stamp sets at it's called SANTA PAWS!
I know you'll agree that this set is just perfect for the HOWL-idays!!
I used paper by Kaisercraft (Twig & Berry); Doodlebug doilies; flowers; twine; pearl sprigs; liquid applique and glitter.
Be sure to join us at the LIVE Online Release Party on Saturday night at 6pm EST! We'll be checking out ALL the NINE new clear stamp sets, sharing fabulous creations, giving away prizes and having tons of merry fun!
All the Krafty Girls and Guests listed below have lots of cheerful designs to share with you today featuring the SANTA PAWS stamp set!
Be sure to hop around and leave lots of love at each and every stop because one lucky commenter will WIN a gift voucher to the krafty shop! The winner will be announced at the shop so don't miss it!
11 comments:
- Patti Okerstrom said...
Wow!!! Love the antiquing!!! Such a cool traditional christmas card! -Patti
- September 12, 2016 at 9:40 AM
- Jammie said...
Are you for real? I don't think you're even human.... this is out of this world!!!!! Gasp! What???? How???? HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER!!!!!!! This is incredible!
- September 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM
- Dee Earnshaw said...
Oh wow, this card is so stylish with the distressed look. Thanks for the inspiration:)
- September 12, 2016 at 1:16 PM
- Unknown said...
Alexis this is stunning! I love your colours! What a great imagination you have!
- September 12, 2016 at 1:42 PM
- E said...
LOVE your card!!! Love the vintage look!!
- September 12, 2016 at 4:00 PM
- luvmycards.blogspot.com said...
Stunning card-the vintage feel is so perfect. Shows that Kims' stamps can work with either genre!
- September 12, 2016 at 7:31 PM
- Distinctively Diana said...
Love the antique feel and the way you decorated the inside.
- September 12, 2016 at 10:50 PM
- Kate 'Rijacki' Ledum said...
Such a pretty vintage look. Gorgeous card.
- September 13, 2016 at 12:58 AM
- Arianna Barbara said...
Absolutely cute!!!!
- September 13, 2016 at 11:49 AM
- Fikreta said...
love it!
super pretty!
- September 13, 2016 at 7:31 PM
- belaspaperinspirations.blogspot.com said...
Your card is unique and stunning
- September 13, 2016 at 11:03 PM
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Can Sears Cross-Channel Experience Restore Profitability?
We seem to keep circling back to the retail icon, Sears. Sears has always interested me because I grew up with its "wish book" big color catalog which arrived every autumn. Like many American kids, I would pour over the toys pages and circle the ones I wanted Santa to bring me for Christmas.
Sears was noteworthy as a retailer in that it catered to rural America, as well as blue collar America, and black America (although many of the pictures in its catalogs depicted white families living the American Dream). Now its customers and its marketing reflect the true melting pot that is the current American landscape.
I was not a fan of the Lands' End acquisition by Sears, but I followed it closely and wrote about the "store within a store" concept.
I was not happy when hedge fund activist, Eddie Lampert, took over the company and merged it with K-Mart. I understood from the beginning that this was a financial engineering move to gain value from the two chains' massive real estate holdings across the US and Canada.
But, we have followed the efforts of Sears and K-Mart. Ronni Marshak has written a few times about Sears' customer experience efforts and challenges, finally "firing" Sears as a customer due to frequent customer experience snafus.
In 2014, Sue Aldrich took another look at Sears Holdings' digital marketing strategy at the behest of Adobe, whose suite of tools Sears had been using to deliver personalized, 1 to 1 marketing messages to its member/customers. So, this week, I did a bit more research and amplified Sue's analysis to paint a picture of the current state of the once top retailer in the U.S.
Sears' Holdings has been losing money for a number of years. But the retailer has embraced four relatively long-term turn around strategies, that may be about to return the company to profitability:
- Divesting retail assets (Sears Canada, Land's End)
- Restructuring real estate (Selling retail holdings to a separate REIT)
- Turning customers into members and using big data and 1-to-1 marketing to drive cross-channel sales and increase wallet share
- Aggressively embracing cross-channel retailing with a focus on customer convenience
What interests me is that it appears as if Sears' customer experience and technology strategy, led by Leena Munjal, SVP of Customer Experience and Integrated Retail, is very customer-centric and quite innovative. Yet, the majority of the company's stock is owned by hedge funds and institutional investors, most of whom care more about the company's real estate assets than they do its retail prowess (or lack thereof). What an odd mix of strategic intent!
Sears Holdings now offers curbside pick up, or returns and exchanges and pick up.
This week, Sears Holdings named Joelle Maher as its new President and Chief Member Officer "for the Sears format," according the press release, which goes on to say: "She will be responsible for developing the Shop Your Way® member-centric business strategy for the Sears format, managing the Sears P&L and aligning merchandising, marketing, pricing and selling with the needs of our members."
Her background: "Maher comes to Sears Holdings from Gymboree Corporation, where she served as chief operating officer and was responsible for leading all operational aspects of the company, including stores, planning and allocation, real estate and construction, international, distribution and logistics, operational process and strategy, and information technology. Prior to Gymboree, Maher spent seven years at Levi Strauss & Company in various senior leadership roles including serving as executive vice president and president, Global Multichannel Retail. She also worked at Lucky Brand Jeans for seven years, and began her career in merchandising and planning roles at Old Navy, Macy's East and Lord & Taylor."
This sounds like good news! The combination of Joelle Maher and Leena Munjal leading the CX charge sounds like a winning team.
Our Articles about Sears:
- Digital Transformation at Sears Holdings: Data-driven Personalization Fuels a Member-Centric Strategy -- July 2015 (This article is available for download for members of our Customers.com Strategies and Technologies Services)
The rest of the articles are available to ALL members:
- Why I am No longer a Sears Customer: Sears.com Fails to Deliver on Promises -- December 2013
- MySears Community Gets a Facelift: Community and Commerce Are Still Too Separate! -- October 2012
- Is Sears.com Strong Enough to Help Save Sears? Customer Experience Audit of Sears.com's Capabilities to Let Customers Find and Buy What They Want and Manage Their Relationships -- January 2012
- Making Progress in Cross-Channel Retail: Sears and Lands' End Take Great Strides in Their Merger, but They Still Have Opportunities to Grab -- September 2003
- Lands' End Brings the Softer Side to Sears: How the Lands' End/Sears Combo Stacks Up as a Multi-Channel Retailer -- December 2002
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Midnight Blue and Pink Lotus Print Indoor Slippers
Rs. 550.00
Use Code 'WELCOME10' to get 10% OFF on your first purchase.
Inspired by our national flower Lotus, we have designed this print in-house. The print is versatile and can brighten up any space.
Unisex quilted slippers for the perfect leisure at home. Available in two sizes.
Technique : Block Print
100% Cotton Sheeting
Washing Instructions: Hand wash separately in cold water with mild detergent.


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I've been spinning like a demon this week, partly to use some alpaca that has been in the stash for such a long time that it's a miracle that it hasn't become home to something nasty. And partly so that I can have a knitting project started in time for a trip.
Spinning alpaca fleece
Posted by peahen at 10:51 1 dropped stitches
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Speak Out! Save Lives.
Use these videos yourself or share with a friend.
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy River Assault Division 152
Thomas Kelley was about to graduate from Holy Cross College in Massachusetts in 1960 when his roommates announced that they'd enlisted in the Navy and urged him to do the same. Kelley couldn't think of any reasons not to, so he joined, too. His first assignment after Officer Candidate School was aboard an old World War II landing ship in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis; he liked the duty so much that he decided to make the Navy a career.
He served in the fleet off the coast of Vietnam in 1966, but he wanted to get closer to the action and in 1968 volunteered for the Navy's River Assault Division, part of the Mobile Riverine Force operating on the mazelike riverways of the Mekong Delta. It was a new kind of naval warfare. The boats used were modified World War II troop carriers refitted with guns and armor. The lighter ones were called tangos, and the more heavily armed ones were known as monitors because they resembled Civil War ironclads. Their job was to insert Army troops at freshwater beachheads throughout the delta, provide fire support during their operations, and extract them after their mission was completed. Because of their size and slowness, the boats were particularly vulnerable to enemy guns concealed in the jungle along the water's edge.
On June 15, 1969, Lieutenant Kelley was in charge of a group of eight boats in Kien Hoa Province that had been moving Army forces around for several hours. Late in the day, after taking the soldiers back on board, one of the boats experienced a mechanical failure when it tried to retract its loading ramp. Unable to move, it was immediately targeted by rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, and mortars from the Vietcong on the opposite side of the river. Kelley maneuvered his monitor between the disabled boat and the enemy and opened fire. When a Vietcong rocket hit a few feet away from him, penetrating the armor of the command area and spraying shrapnel in all directions, Kelley was thrown to the deck below, suffering serious head wounds. Another boat came up, and its corpsman courageously jumped onto the deck of the monitor to begin the first aid treatment that saved Kelley's life. Unable to stand and struggling to remain conscious, Kelley continued to command the battle until the damaged troop carrier was repaired and the squadron was able to get out of harm's way.
He was helicoptered to a field hospital, where he lay in a coma for several days. Having lost an eye and portions of his skull, he underwent reconstructive surgery for his head wounds and was fitted with a prosthetic eye. The Navy declared him unfit for duty and was about to release him when he appealed directly to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt to stay on active duty. His request was accepted.
President Richard Nixon awarded Thomas Kelley the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970. During some small talk after the ceremony, the president, noting that Kelley was from Boston, asked if this meant he ate baked beans every night. Kelley was momentarily taken aback by the question. "No, sir," he finally replied, "only on Saturdays." Kelley retired as a captain in 1990.


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Spooky Cat Halloween Masking Technique
Hey stampers! Today I have a fun Halloween card to show you. I'll be teaching you a masking technique that lets your Designer Series Paper do all the work.
On page 53 in the new Holiday Catalog going live on Friday, you'll find the Spooky Night Designer Series Paper. The sheet I used for this card has 16 3″ x 3″ squares with a tree branch and a circle that is perfect for a moon. All it needs is an owl perched on the branch. The Spooky Cat Stamp set, also on page 53, contains the perfect owl image.
In order to properly position the owl on the branch, the masking technique is used. I used my Paper Snips to cut out a portion of the tree that I could use to "mask" the branch where I would be stamping. This way, the owl really looks like he is sitting on the branch.
I chose the Layered Leaves Embossing Folder from our 2017-2018 Annual Catalog and used some Gold Metallic Thread. Finally, I added a small piece of Gold Edged Ribbon to jazz up my card just a bit.
If you'd like to see a short video of this technique, click here and you can see a Facebook Live post I did yesterday. If you don't already follow me on Facebook, please do! I jump on FB Live a lot to offer little tips and techniques as I'm creating in my stamp room.
Be sure to visit my blog tomorrow and I'll have my "official "12 Weeks of Halloween Week 2 Halloween project". Today's Spooky Cat Halloween Masking Technique Card was just a little Halloween extra! 🙂
If you are not already working with a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I'd love to mail you the new Holiday Catalog. There are so many fun new stamp sets, paper, die-cuts, embellishments, and more. Just give me a shout!


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Our History
For over 40 years, Abrasives of St. Paul has been distributing high quality sandpaper and abrasive products nationally. Currently, with five divisions, we serve the needs of thousands of customers monthly. Abrasives of St. Paul is the parent company of five successful divisions.
Abrasives of Saint Paul was founded in 1979, with an original sales staff of only a few people. Since then, we have grown to an impressive level of over 50 full time salespeople.
Featuring Norton brand products, Abrasives of Saint Paul offers a full line of sandpapers and abrasive accessories, as well as a complete line of safety products for use in applications from simple woodwork to heavier industrial applications.
If it sands, cuts, or grinds, Abrasives of Saint Paul has you covered.