Exciting news! Application sent Jan 25th!!!!

This came from the from the Sept. 2009 issue of the Canine Courier: Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Newsletter...

We are excited and proud to announce the introduction of
our fifth program: Autism Assistance Dog Guides.
Spearheading this new initiative is Chris Fowler, who has
worked with over 300 families that have children with autism.
In 1996, he co-founded the first autism service dog program
and for several years has helped other schools worldwide
train dogs to assist families living with autism. “His guidance
and expertise will make a tremendous difference in the
advancement of this program, and will allow us to help even
more Canadians each year” says Sandy Turney, Executive
Director.
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country and is estimated
to affect more than 1 in 150 people. This new program will provide Autism Assistance
Dog Guides to children 4-12 years of age, providing calming relief in high anxiety
situations and reducing the stress commonly experienced in public places.

This is the programme we have applied to for an "Autism Assistance Guide Dog" for Noah. It was quite an involved and extensive application with documentation and support from our physician, Noah's Occupational Therapist and his Resource Teacher in addition to written statements from us and descriptions of Noah's needs. We also had to include 3 character references including our veterinarian. We are very excited to let you know that we sent it on its' way to Oakville, ON via registered mail on January 25th.

So now we wait for an assessment of our application.

Noah is the sweetest little guy, we just adore him and want the best for him.... for him to be able to enjoy life & be safe....

See article here: Info about Autism Assistance Dog Guides of Canada

Too many more details to add right now... let's just get past this first hurdle! So exciting!

Please pray that Noah will be seen as a good candidate for a special friend- an Autism Assistance Dog Guide to help him. Thank you...

Noah Adam Scott age 7 1/2, December 2009
Photo by Tammy Pyette

More information you'll enjoy reading...very encouraging:

1] Siblings with ASD and their Autism Service Dog

2] Article about an Autism Service Dog and a little girl

Much love and THANKS,

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New cards...

Here is a sample of some of the cards I created to fill some card orders.

I had 2 orders for 20 birthday cards each! These were such fun to do!

And... as the icing on the cake, on Jan 27th, I was so thrilled to be given Kudos of the Day over at Sisterhood of Scrap for these "guy birthday cards!" Made my day let me tell you!

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Carrot-pineapple Muffins

"Cooking with Carla" (Carla is my friend from Sisterhood of Scrap) is having a Make it Monday Blog Carnival again today!

Share a recipe on today's theme....and link it on Carla's Blog... she will visit, and I bet others will too!

The theme Carla has chosen today is BREAKFAST!

Here is a recipe for some delicious carrot-pineapple muffins that the kids, Peter and I all just LOVE. My mom used to make these all the time! I am going to make some this week as Kate, my dear daughter in Grade 10, is writing exams. This will be good energy food!

CARROT-PINEAPPLE MUFFINS

Source: A lady from our Church in Riverview, NB- 1985

Ali's NOTES: These muffins make a delicious breakfast food, and a nice healthy dessert or sweet snack, and are an easy way to tempt kids into eating more fruit and vegetables! Substituting Whole-Wheat flour for white flour also helps increase the nutrient content.

These muffins are not low fat but the fat can be reduced if you like by substituting unsweetened Apple Sauce for part of the oil called for. Weight Watchers gives instructions on how to do this, I believe (amounts to use, etc... I always go look it up when making these, LOL!) Buy canned pineapple when it is on sale and save it for when you want to make these muffins!

Often, I substitute equal amounts of freshly grated Zucchini in place of the carrot. Do not peel the zucchini! Be sure to add the nutmeg if using Zucchini- more flavor this way!

Makes about 18 muffins- recipe doubles well.

These freeze well.

Oven at 350 F

INGREDIENTS~

2/3 cup white sugar

2/3 cup oil (I use canola oil for baking)

2 eggs

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp mace (optional) OR allspice (opt), OR Nutmeg (opt) OR ground cloves (opt)

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup coarsely grated fresh carrot OR freshly grated Zucchini (unpeeled)

½ cup crushed pineapple in its’ own juice (spoon into the measuring cup right out of the can, do not drain the can first)

METHOD:

Mix as usual for muffins. Do not over mix.

Bake 18-21 minutes til top springs back when a muffin is lightly touched with fingertip..

Oven at 350 degrees F in muffin cups sprayed with Pam.

Cool on wire rack before packing in containers for freezer.

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Sharing a cookie recipe today!!!!! YUM: Cookies!

Today my friend Carla (who is also a founder of the wonderful Sisterhood of Scrap forum, ) is having a Cooking Blog Carnival!

The theme today is COOKIES! Here is a recipe I developed when Daniel (now 9) was little. He liked to help me bake, so I named this recipe after him!

Dan-Dan Houdini-Man Cookies

(A recipe by Ali & Daniel MacDonald)
Makes about 5-6 dozen cookies

These freeze really well. Can make ahead!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup softened margarine

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork

3 teaspoons vanilla flavouring

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 1/4 cups shredded or flaked coconut (I use no-name brand, but whatever’s on special is great.)

1 (300 g) bag butterscotch chips (Any kind, Smart Choice butterscotch chips work well. I get them at Foodland!)

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

METHOD:

Cream margarine & sugars together.

Add eggs & vanilla and mix.

Add flour, soda & salt. Mix again.

Add oatmeal & mix.

Stir in the coconut and the butterscotch chips by hand. ***This will make a pretty thick batter- don’t worry.*** It's OK!

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (we use Pam spray).

Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes.

Cool on cooling rack.

Store in airtight container once totally cooled.

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"Scruffy Posies"

Yep, I am back with the topic of recycling old jeans again!

I created this project as an "Altered Item" design team member for Create-it GREEN's January 15th Design Team Reveal.
Remember:

NEVER throw out an old pair of jeans... the denim is SO useful!

So... here are TWO ways I used denim to embellish a scrappy layout this week.

1. Make "Scuffy Posies" (c)

I made 6 different types of "Scruffy Posies." They're listed over at Create-it GREEN.

2. Make a Denim Border strip:

It's so easy to make this!! Go to Create-it Green and check out my explanation of how to do it!

Here is the layout I created with clusters of my "Scruffy Posies" and the denim border strip.This is my middle sister Mary and her spouse Gil way back in 1999.

The BasicGrey "Boxer" collection patterned paper asnd the cream grosgrain ribbon across the bottom portion of the layout is from Savvy'n Sassy.

Remember to check out ALL the projects at Create-it GREEN!

I must say, it was "quite" a wonderful reveal day- many fun and beautiful projects: well worth checkin' out!

Thanks for poppin' by Lovingly Created!

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Our First Design Team Reveal!!

The Create-it Green Design Team has revealed its first batch of projects! Mine was a layout incorporating my Scruffy Posies and some denim circle trim that I made! Curious?? Here is the link so you can go see too!

Enjoy!

Scruffy Posies and Denim Circle Trim

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January 2010 Guest Sketch Artist is up!!!!!!!!!

Our Guest Sketch Artist over at Sketches: Creatively Yours has been posted! I am sooo excited! Come see!

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Happy Sunday everyone!! Here is a Digital Scrapbook I just made of the kids playing in the snow... Play and enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

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RAK over at Sketches: Creatively Yours!

Check it out!!

All welcome!!!!!!

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Daniel is SO funny!

He is always up early, usually drawing, writing stories, creating comic books ("graphic novels") , or designing a new Board Game.

He is a HOOT. Never stops learning. Some of the things he comes out with make me giggle.

This AM, he was drawing and told his big sister Kate: "I am using news-leaf because I couldn't find any tracing paper! "

I think he meant "LOOSELEAF!!!!"

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My word for 2010....

Ali Edwards always encourages scrappers to choose one little word for the upcoming year that they will use symbolically as a touchstone-- to strive toward. Here is her post about this concept.

My word for 2010 will be HELP.

Help others, help causes like Autism Spectrum Disorder awareness and animal protection and welfare, help my kids and be a helpmate to Pete.

I did a few things re: HELP- ing over the past 72 hours

-I wrote a letter to all my friends explaining re: the situation for adult cats needing forever homes at the Animal Care Centre (shelter) here in Kings County. I encouraged them to consider adoption.

- We allowed Kate to adopt an adult cat from the shelter.

- I sent in a letter to Noah's school principal asking her to sign a form regarding getting an Autism Service Dog for Noah.

- I started filling out the forms for the Autism Service dog (16 pages!)

- I completed my volunteer form for the Shelter.
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