I found my kitchen again. I spend the better part of this day finally knocking hell out of the mess I had created in there. For most of this month I have just come in the back door and dumped my stuff in the kitchen. Christmas gifts, shopping, things to be put away, things to be sorted, washed, fixed and even things to be disposed of. I would dump and then disappear. Hence my kitchen quickly turned into a disaster of the highest degree. I promised myself this week that if I did nothing else this weekend I would at least get my kitchen back. SO today after the morning grocery run, I did exactly that. It took the better part of the day but I did it. You can tell there is a table, a counter and a sink once more. Many pats on the back to me. I was going to take pictures and share them with you but I decided to keep my dirty little secrets private this time. Well that and I could not find the dang camera.
In-between fits of cleaning, I took time and sat in my favourite chair, knitting on a scarf. A friend of mine told me about this thing that is going around, 27 acts of kindness. I memory of the Conneticut school shooting. I think its a lovely idea and I have decided that this year I will make 27 scarves and then donate them to our local Christmas Cheer board. That will be my little contribution to their memory.
What else did I do? I watched marathons on the tv about English real estate and did my level best to make sure any chocolate in this house was hunted down and devoured. The new year is coming and I need to get back on track again. My holiday slide off the wagon is fast coming to an end. (It better before I slap back all the weight I lost before Christmas.) I have found homes for all of my Christmas gifts and put away all the bags, tissue paper and boxes. It feels good to have it all done. Next weekend I will deal with putting away the Christmas decorations
Tomorrow I will tackle laundry and make soup for lunch the coming week. The Hostess and I are going to go for sushi and that is it for my big Sunday plans. Not a lot happening here at the old homestead. The holiday fun is winding down, normal routines are creeping back and its all good. I was amazed at how quiet the parking lots and the stores were when I went out this morning. No where near a fraction of the people that were out and about before Christmas. I have to admit I liked it. Shopping this morning did not make me want to do harm to my fellow man. That is a good thing.
Toodles,
Linda
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Done and Dusted
Christmas is finished. I have to admit I am a little sad. I would like the celebrating to go on a little longer. I felt a little put out today that I had to leave my family and head home today. Busy's family always do their Christmas on Boxing Day and I am always welcome to join them. We toddled over there this morning for breakfast and then I hit the road home. Pouting all the way, I would have much rather stayed and partied and celebrated with them but I have to work tomorrow so the sensible part of me decided that getting home in the better part of the day was the best idea.
So now I am home, more stuff has been dumped into the kitchen, which still has dumped stuff from several weekends in it, and had a nap on the couch. I chatted with the Hostess for a bit. I really must remember to tell her how much I enjoy our phone chats. It makes my day to have a little chat with her. I made some supper (thank goodness for scrambled eggs!!) and now I am blogging. I have the Christmas lights on, the trees and the little village are all lit up. I will eventually have to start thinking about cleaning away all the decorations but for now I am going to enjoy them. I may even make some more hot chocolate to sip while I gaze at the festive decor. I will enjoy the last few moments of the holiday loveliness.
I made these this year which I could not show until I had given them away as gifts but I really like them. I still have one to make for myself which I will try to do tonight or tomorrow night.
Hand knit mini sweaters. Aren't they just the cutest things??? The top four were a gift for my friend S. and the bottom three were the family ornament I gave this year. I make something each year as a family ornament and I thought these were perfect. The little blue tags have our family name and the year on them if you flip them over. I had time to make some for everyone but me before it was time to give them as gifts, hence I have to make one for myself before I take down my family tree this year. These rank right up there as among my most favourite ones I have ever made. I have made some clunkers but I have made some cute things.
So its back to work tomorrow, back to normal maybe. Its sad to see it end but on the other hand its almost a whole new year full of endless possibilities. I want this year to be the year I finally get a lot of lingering house projects done. I have a list to get started on once the New Year has begun. Endless possibilities!! Who knows what wonderful things will happen.
I so hope that each and every one of you had a lovely Christmas, whatever you were doing!!
Off to make hot chocolate and go snuggle in my favourite comfy chair
Toodles,
Linda
So now I am home, more stuff has been dumped into the kitchen, which still has dumped stuff from several weekends in it, and had a nap on the couch. I chatted with the Hostess for a bit. I really must remember to tell her how much I enjoy our phone chats. It makes my day to have a little chat with her. I made some supper (thank goodness for scrambled eggs!!) and now I am blogging. I have the Christmas lights on, the trees and the little village are all lit up. I will eventually have to start thinking about cleaning away all the decorations but for now I am going to enjoy them. I may even make some more hot chocolate to sip while I gaze at the festive decor. I will enjoy the last few moments of the holiday loveliness.
I made these this year which I could not show until I had given them away as gifts but I really like them. I still have one to make for myself which I will try to do tonight or tomorrow night.
So its back to work tomorrow, back to normal maybe. Its sad to see it end but on the other hand its almost a whole new year full of endless possibilities. I want this year to be the year I finally get a lot of lingering house projects done. I have a list to get started on once the New Year has begun. Endless possibilities!! Who knows what wonderful things will happen.
I so hope that each and every one of you had a lovely Christmas, whatever you were doing!!
Off to make hot chocolate and go snuggle in my favourite comfy chair
Toodles,
Linda
Monday, 24 December 2012
Merry Christmas from Minou............and me too!!
Why does she put this thing on me every year.......WHY??????
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Twas the Night before the Night Before Christmas
One of the lovely things about being completely ready for Christmas had having all the preparations done is that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labours. Today I have been doing just that. I have been puttering about, making plans to leave tomorrow for Christmas. I have to admit that I have had another good weekend.
Friday night it was out for supper with the No Cook Gals then to the Banker's house for some fun and games. We had a little Christmas party there. We drank sangria and snacked and laughed and had a wonderful time. We always do!! Then it was home to bed and a blissful sleep in. No barking neighbours dog, no alarm clock and no need to be doing anything until 1:00 pm when E and I went out for lunch. We went to our usual Cafe/shop which can put anyone into the mood for Christmas. I love this place.
While we were finishing up an old friend of a friend that I have not seen for years stopped by our table. It was so nice to see him again, He had been lunching with friends and was finished os he joined us for a good long chat. It was wonderful to see him again and share Lady Di stories. (Lady Di was our mutual friend and she sadly passed away 5 years ago this month). E and I worked with her so we all got to wander down memory lane and of course catch up on what is going on in his life now.It was so funny because I had driven by his old house the other day and thought of him for the first time in many years. I was remembering the Christmas parties he used to throw and how I missed them. Funny how things like that can happen. DM owned a big old three story brick house that I drooled over. Beautiful wood work, lovely antiques, and he is so entertaining. His son still lives in Brandon so he is back here rather often.
Once we parted ways, E and I did some more shopping and then I stopped and stayed for some rum and eggnog at her house before I bezzled off home. My lunch turned into an entire afternoon affair but it was all good. Seeing DM and having lunch out at one of my favourite places, shopping and good friends, well who could ask for anything more??
Today I remodeled an mantle scarf I had made for Busy many years ago. They have no fireplace now and she still liked the mantle scarf but could not use it in its current incarnation. So I remodeled it into a table runner.
not the best picture and I should have moved the red afghan from behind it but you get the idea. I hope she likes it still. I could not figure out what else to do with it. I can deliver it to her tomorrow. I was glad to get it figured out and finished before I headed to their place.
Tonight I am enjoying the holiday feeling of the house. I have made myself a nice big cup of White Hot Chocolate, some cookies and a few chocolates as a treat.
I sipped and nibbled and gazed at my Christmas decorations, watched old Christmas movies and did some knitting. A cozy, comfortable, evening in my cozy comfortable house. I loved every minute of it. This is my favourite season, I love to soak up all of it that I can. Time spent with my friends and family, the decorations, the music, the movies, the sights, sounds and smells that are Christmas, I love them all. I do have to admit that I dearly miss the big family Christmas's when both of my brother's families and I got together but I think those days are long gone. So I do not dwell on that, it makes me sad and I cannot change it. it is what it is. So I look to other things and find the joy in the season in other places. I am content that I am here in my house, the laundry is chugging away and the cat is snoozing on one of the beds upstairs. All is well with the world.
Tonight I will finish packing and head for my brother's home tomorrow. Sounds like the roads will be good and the drive is not terribly long. I look foreward to it.
So I wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas!! I hope you to can fine the joy in the Season and share it with the ones you love.
Toodles
Linda
Friday night it was out for supper with the No Cook Gals then to the Banker's house for some fun and games. We had a little Christmas party there. We drank sangria and snacked and laughed and had a wonderful time. We always do!! Then it was home to bed and a blissful sleep in. No barking neighbours dog, no alarm clock and no need to be doing anything until 1:00 pm when E and I went out for lunch. We went to our usual Cafe/shop which can put anyone into the mood for Christmas. I love this place.
While we were finishing up an old friend of a friend that I have not seen for years stopped by our table. It was so nice to see him again, He had been lunching with friends and was finished os he joined us for a good long chat. It was wonderful to see him again and share Lady Di stories. (Lady Di was our mutual friend and she sadly passed away 5 years ago this month). E and I worked with her so we all got to wander down memory lane and of course catch up on what is going on in his life now.It was so funny because I had driven by his old house the other day and thought of him for the first time in many years. I was remembering the Christmas parties he used to throw and how I missed them. Funny how things like that can happen. DM owned a big old three story brick house that I drooled over. Beautiful wood work, lovely antiques, and he is so entertaining. His son still lives in Brandon so he is back here rather often.
Once we parted ways, E and I did some more shopping and then I stopped and stayed for some rum and eggnog at her house before I bezzled off home. My lunch turned into an entire afternoon affair but it was all good. Seeing DM and having lunch out at one of my favourite places, shopping and good friends, well who could ask for anything more??
Today I remodeled an mantle scarf I had made for Busy many years ago. They have no fireplace now and she still liked the mantle scarf but could not use it in its current incarnation. So I remodeled it into a table runner.
not the best picture and I should have moved the red afghan from behind it but you get the idea. I hope she likes it still. I could not figure out what else to do with it. I can deliver it to her tomorrow. I was glad to get it figured out and finished before I headed to their place.
Tonight I am enjoying the holiday feeling of the house. I have made myself a nice big cup of White Hot Chocolate, some cookies and a few chocolates as a treat.
I sipped and nibbled and gazed at my Christmas decorations, watched old Christmas movies and did some knitting. A cozy, comfortable, evening in my cozy comfortable house. I loved every minute of it. This is my favourite season, I love to soak up all of it that I can. Time spent with my friends and family, the decorations, the music, the movies, the sights, sounds and smells that are Christmas, I love them all. I do have to admit that I dearly miss the big family Christmas's when both of my brother's families and I got together but I think those days are long gone. So I do not dwell on that, it makes me sad and I cannot change it. it is what it is. So I look to other things and find the joy in the season in other places. I am content that I am here in my house, the laundry is chugging away and the cat is snoozing on one of the beds upstairs. All is well with the world.
Tonight I will finish packing and head for my brother's home tomorrow. Sounds like the roads will be good and the drive is not terribly long. I look foreward to it.
So I wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas!! I hope you to can fine the joy in the Season and share it with the ones you love.
Toodles
Linda
Thursday, 20 December 2012
I Am Officially Ready for Christmas
Which is not bad considering my family Christmas was celebrated last weekend. Good thing I am ready!!
Seriously I was ready for that one, and today I delivered all the "Friend/Co-worker" presents. Tonight I made the last batch of candied pecans so I can do up the No Cook Friday Group's gifts and I am done. We are having our No Cook Christmas party tomorrow night. Real Christmas day is going to be spent with the Carpenter and Busy, the Pilot will be home too so I am going there to hang out with them.
The family whoop-de-do was celebrated at the home of Miss Mouse and the Farmer this year. The Farmer and the Carpenter had the same weekend off so we choose that weekend to get together. I could not get there until the Saturday because I had tickets to go see Frank Mills in concert with E and I did not want to back out on her. Tickets were purchased long before the Christmas plans were made. Friday was busy, I went to a Wine and Cheese come and go thing right after work, then to Frank Mills and then home to bed. I loaded the car that night so all I had to do in the wee hours was get up and hit the road. Which I did at the butt crack of dawn. 3:45 am I was on the road, large Tim's coffee in hand. (even at that time of the morning the drive through is busy Geesh!!) Only 8 hours later and I was at Miss Mouse's house in time for breakfast.
Thankfully the roads were good and I made good time to get there. It was lovely to see everyone. The Pilot was home with his new girlfriend, The Teacher. She is lovely,I quite like her and seems to fit in with our crowd very nicely. We did breakfast, then stockings, then presents.
So here are some pictures of the fun
First of all the lovely tree:
Yes that is a Rough Rider hat on the tree top, its Saskatchewan what else would you expect?? Under the tree was the usual plunder, and the loot bags we use instead of stockings:
Pinky, Miss Mouse's cat had to check out the goodies before we tore into it. We were busy with stocking so he was free to snoop. Yes its a male cat named Pinky. It has something to do with the colour of his nose I believe.
As we have no little people yet, who cannot wait to open gifts, we do it one at a time. This way we get to see what everyone got and it gives us more time to enjoy the process. Loot bags are a free for all, presents are more sedate. Busy is opening one of her many gifts while the Carpenter waits his turn:
Santa brought Rough Rider shirts for some people, the Pilot and the Teacher were sporting their new attire on this special occasion:
Just because we go at this present opening thing slowly does not mean that we are well behaved and sedate, there is much silliness going, on rest assured. I have no idea what the Carpenter and the Farmer are laughing at because it could have been any one of a million goofy things said and done that day. We do have lots of fun!!
Not to mention that even though we try to go at this one gift at a time. SOME people try to jump the queue and receive many harsh verbal threats to their well being unless they behave.
Miss Mouse, loved, loved, loved the cowl scarf I knit for her. (She found it on Pinterest and I did the rest.)
In no time at all that beautiful pile of lovingly wrapped gifts was reduced to a pile of rubble!
Oh yea, we made the new kid clean up. Aren't we nice???
Miss Mouse got a sewing machine for Christmas and later on that day she got it out so her Mom and her Grandma could help her learn how to thread it and give her some basics. Both Busy and Grandma D are seriously good sewers. The fun part of this is that this scenerio has in it: two Mother's, two Daughters and a Grandma all teaching and learning. It was a merry-go-round of one bossing the other and much chirping back and forth as Mother's and Daughter's do when they try to work together. It was so funny to watch but so lovely as well. Three generations of women sharing a common interest and passing on of knowledge. Even if they did get all up in each other's bidness at times.
Typical to our family Christmas's there was dancing!!
There was napping: (Miss Mouse and Pinky taking a turn on the couch).
It was a wonderful, fun Christmas. I am so grateful that I get to be included in the fun each year. Everyone else left on Sunday but I stayed over until Monday, I was just not all that interested in jumping back in the car and heading home so soon after I got there. On Monday Miss Mouse and I took a little trip to a near by town to see the little gift shop she works in part time. Oh it is my kind of store, I could spend a lot of money in there,they have such lovely things. We had a bit of a shop and then headed back home to the Farm for a bite of breakfast. Bella the St Bernard watched me take my leave right after breakfast. Isn't she just the cutest thing?? She is a lovely big old baby girl, I am not a real dog person but I do like this breed. She is especially nice because she does not slobber.
I got home in time to dump the loot in the kitchen and do nothing for the rest of the evening. Back to reality and work the next day.
Toodles,
Linda
Seriously I was ready for that one, and today I delivered all the "Friend/Co-worker" presents. Tonight I made the last batch of candied pecans so I can do up the No Cook Friday Group's gifts and I am done. We are having our No Cook Christmas party tomorrow night. Real Christmas day is going to be spent with the Carpenter and Busy, the Pilot will be home too so I am going there to hang out with them.
The family whoop-de-do was celebrated at the home of Miss Mouse and the Farmer this year. The Farmer and the Carpenter had the same weekend off so we choose that weekend to get together. I could not get there until the Saturday because I had tickets to go see Frank Mills in concert with E and I did not want to back out on her. Tickets were purchased long before the Christmas plans were made. Friday was busy, I went to a Wine and Cheese come and go thing right after work, then to Frank Mills and then home to bed. I loaded the car that night so all I had to do in the wee hours was get up and hit the road. Which I did at the butt crack of dawn. 3:45 am I was on the road, large Tim's coffee in hand. (even at that time of the morning the drive through is busy Geesh!!) Only 8 hours later and I was at Miss Mouse's house in time for breakfast.
Thankfully the roads were good and I made good time to get there. It was lovely to see everyone. The Pilot was home with his new girlfriend, The Teacher. She is lovely,I quite like her and seems to fit in with our crowd very nicely. We did breakfast, then stockings, then presents.
So here are some pictures of the fun
First of all the lovely tree:
Yes that is a Rough Rider hat on the tree top, its Saskatchewan what else would you expect?? Under the tree was the usual plunder, and the loot bags we use instead of stockings:
Pinky, Miss Mouse's cat had to check out the goodies before we tore into it. We were busy with stocking so he was free to snoop. Yes its a male cat named Pinky. It has something to do with the colour of his nose I believe.
As we have no little people yet, who cannot wait to open gifts, we do it one at a time. This way we get to see what everyone got and it gives us more time to enjoy the process. Loot bags are a free for all, presents are more sedate. Busy is opening one of her many gifts while the Carpenter waits his turn:
Santa brought Rough Rider shirts for some people, the Pilot and the Teacher were sporting their new attire on this special occasion:
Just because we go at this present opening thing slowly does not mean that we are well behaved and sedate, there is much silliness going, on rest assured. I have no idea what the Carpenter and the Farmer are laughing at because it could have been any one of a million goofy things said and done that day. We do have lots of fun!!
Not to mention that even though we try to go at this one gift at a time. SOME people try to jump the queue and receive many harsh verbal threats to their well being unless they behave.
Miss Mouse, loved, loved, loved the cowl scarf I knit for her. (She found it on Pinterest and I did the rest.)
In no time at all that beautiful pile of lovingly wrapped gifts was reduced to a pile of rubble!
Oh yea, we made the new kid clean up. Aren't we nice???
Miss Mouse got a sewing machine for Christmas and later on that day she got it out so her Mom and her Grandma could help her learn how to thread it and give her some basics. Both Busy and Grandma D are seriously good sewers. The fun part of this is that this scenerio has in it: two Mother's, two Daughters and a Grandma all teaching and learning. It was a merry-go-round of one bossing the other and much chirping back and forth as Mother's and Daughter's do when they try to work together. It was so funny to watch but so lovely as well. Three generations of women sharing a common interest and passing on of knowledge. Even if they did get all up in each other's bidness at times.
Typical to our family Christmas's there was dancing!!
There was napping: (Miss Mouse and Pinky taking a turn on the couch).
It was a wonderful, fun Christmas. I am so grateful that I get to be included in the fun each year. Everyone else left on Sunday but I stayed over until Monday, I was just not all that interested in jumping back in the car and heading home so soon after I got there. On Monday Miss Mouse and I took a little trip to a near by town to see the little gift shop she works in part time. Oh it is my kind of store, I could spend a lot of money in there,they have such lovely things. We had a bit of a shop and then headed back home to the Farm for a bite of breakfast. Bella the St Bernard watched me take my leave right after breakfast. Isn't she just the cutest thing?? She is a lovely big old baby girl, I am not a real dog person but I do like this breed. She is especially nice because she does not slobber.
I got home in time to dump the loot in the kitchen and do nothing for the rest of the evening. Back to reality and work the next day.
Toodles,
Linda
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Christmas Crazies are Here Again
I have not been blogging a lot for the plain and simple reason I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off doing an impersonation of the Flight of the Bumblebees and today it caught up with me. I stayed home from work today and gave myself the gift of time, time to regroup, time to step back and time to gather myself together. That, and the fact I had a killer headache when I got up this morning got me to slow down and rest before I went off the deep end. Its my own fault, I screwed myself up this year. I tried to find another weekend between November and December. That through me and my timing totally off but its all worked out, I am feeling better, things got done, and I am thinking that I can hit the road in the wee hours this weekend with things under control and ready for my family Christmas.
Christmas cards are in the mail complete with actual Christmas stamps this year, my presents are wrapped and ready for nestling under Miss Mouse's tree:
Loot bags are stuffed with stocking stuffers. (We don't do stockings in our family we have loot bags!!) Baking is ready for scarfing down with nary a care for the caloric count of a single piece of yumminess:
Butter tarts made with currents (that bubbled over in the stupid oven which has a mind of its own and needs to be replaced, dang it), cherry refrigerator cookies, snackens, and candied pecans. Opps I forgot to include the lemon crunch:
See that dark brown edge around the otherwise golden lemon crunch, another reason why I need a new stove!! I cannot get the temp to behave, its either too hot or too cool. My three legged stove has got to go and I need to get one that works that way it should. Oh well, it still will taste just fine inspite of it being a little too brown.
Worked myself into a frazzle last night and now the only thing I have left to do is pack my clothes, pack the car, get gas, go to the bank, and I am ready to hit the road. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. We are haveing a breakfast brunch thing at work, I have a wine and cheese to go to right after work, then off to a Frank Mills concert, home to bed. Yank my butt out of bed at dark O'clock and hit the road because this weekend its family Christmas time at Miss Mouse and the Farmer's place. I am sooooo looking forward to this.
Right now I need to go check on my breakfast cassarole I am making for the work breakfast thing I have tomorrow, found a slow cooker recipe on Pinterest that is rather good. I also need to dig out a bottle of wine to take to the wine and cheese thing, then I am going to curl up on the couch and nap for a bit. I will watch Christmas movies and stare at my decorations for the rest of the night and feel smug that I have things under control after all. I want to take it easy tonight as I want to be on top of my game for tomorrow not the draggy lump I was today.
I hope your Christmas is going swimmingly!!
Toodles
Linda
Christmas cards are in the mail complete with actual Christmas stamps this year, my presents are wrapped and ready for nestling under Miss Mouse's tree:
Loot bags are stuffed with stocking stuffers. (We don't do stockings in our family we have loot bags!!) Baking is ready for scarfing down with nary a care for the caloric count of a single piece of yumminess:
Butter tarts made with currents (that bubbled over in the stupid oven which has a mind of its own and needs to be replaced, dang it), cherry refrigerator cookies, snackens, and candied pecans. Opps I forgot to include the lemon crunch:
See that dark brown edge around the otherwise golden lemon crunch, another reason why I need a new stove!! I cannot get the temp to behave, its either too hot or too cool. My three legged stove has got to go and I need to get one that works that way it should. Oh well, it still will taste just fine inspite of it being a little too brown.
Worked myself into a frazzle last night and now the only thing I have left to do is pack my clothes, pack the car, get gas, go to the bank, and I am ready to hit the road. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. We are haveing a breakfast brunch thing at work, I have a wine and cheese to go to right after work, then off to a Frank Mills concert, home to bed. Yank my butt out of bed at dark O'clock and hit the road because this weekend its family Christmas time at Miss Mouse and the Farmer's place. I am sooooo looking forward to this.
Right now I need to go check on my breakfast cassarole I am making for the work breakfast thing I have tomorrow, found a slow cooker recipe on Pinterest that is rather good. I also need to dig out a bottle of wine to take to the wine and cheese thing, then I am going to curl up on the couch and nap for a bit. I will watch Christmas movies and stare at my decorations for the rest of the night and feel smug that I have things under control after all. I want to take it easy tonight as I want to be on top of my game for tomorrow not the draggy lump I was today.
I hope your Christmas is going swimmingly!!
Toodles
Linda
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Saturday Stuff
It has been a busy week here. I cannot believe its Saturday already, and that the day is nearly done. As soon as I have finished this post I am headed to bed and Shadow of Night. It has been a long day, I am tired but its the good kind of tired not the Oh Crap kind.
Wednesday I had book club and they came to my house. I have the place all Christmased up as much as I could. Mulled Cider simmering in the kitchen, making the house smell deliciously of cinnamon and cloves. We had a lovely evening. An evening full of good talk, good food and good friends. Some of our members were missing but we managed to chatter the evening away without them. Not only do I enjoy the company of my book club, I like that they push me to read books that I would never even give a second glance to if left to my own devises. Forces me out of my box and that is a good thing.
Thursday night E and I took in The Life of Pi. A book I have never read, but I am now putting on my "want to read" list. The movie was good. Visually stunning and definitely something you should see on the big screen. The effects are incredible. E enjoyed it and she has read the book. One of these days I will get to it.
Then I did a stupid thing, I got home Thursday night, and decided to make a little list of the things I still needed to do before Christmas. I was feeling on top of things, not totally finished but in could shape. What harm could a little list do??? Well it can make you bat shit crazy that's what it can do. I went from confident to complete panic in one sheet of paper. ARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday night was spent with the No Cook Group as usual. We went out for supper then to a Christmas concert at Teddy Bear's church. Don Amero performed as did a band called Red Moon Road. It was fantastic. I bought a CD of Red Moon Road. I loved the lead singers voice, so clear, true and haunting. They were such nice kids. Talented, humorous and relaxed. They are coming back next year and we all want to go again. We went for coffee after and J joined us. I was so glad she came. She is started out on a new life and it was wonderful to have her come out for some fun.
This morning I hit the stores at 8:30 am, grimly determined to finish my Christmas shopping. It went very well. Things clicked along very well and I did not want to kill anyone. An improvement over my last shopping outing. I have one gift left to buy and I should have gone for it but I was just done. Another hi-light for me was that I dropped of a trunk load of donations to the local charity shop which have been taking up space in my kitchen for far too long. Wonderful to get that done However buy the time I got to the last gift on my list, even though I knew what I wanted and where to go to get it, I was done, I was tired so I called it a day and headed to see the reno's the Hostess is having done at her place before I went home for lunch.
Her already lovely home is going to look even more lovely. She is getting her fireplace boxed in and finished off, crown molding installed, the cupboards lowered in the kitchen and some additional new ones installed. Its going to be gorgeous. We had tea and a talk and then I headed home to tackle the craft projects I need to look after. When I finished my lunch, I strapped myself to the sewing machine. I have 5 sewing projects, 5 knitting projects, one crocheting project and one painting project to complete before Christmas. (Have I mentioned that this Christmas I am talking about is not on the 25th but is being celebrated on the 15th. Hence the complete and total panic. Have I also mentioned that I have done no baking, no Christmas cards and not a present has been wrapped?? And I work full time?????????Excuse me moment I feel faint. I need to lie down for a moment.)
I am back. Now I have 2 sewing projects, 3 knitting projects, 1 crocheting project and 1 painting project left for tomorrow. I am feeling better about things. I plan to finish up all the projects tomorrow. Baking, cards and wrapping can be done over the week as I have until Thursday to complete things. Thank goodness for coffee breaks and lunch hours to work on stuff. Why I thought I was on top of things I have no idea. Complete and total delusion to say the least. Well that and the fact that I misplaced a weekend somewhere. I was so sure I had an extra weekend somewhere between November ending and December beginning. I lied to myself and now I am paying the price.
One thing I know for sure, everything will get done. Even though I am grumping about being in a panic, I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays. I love making presents and baking and decorating. Right now I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I want to be well rested to face it.
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday I had book club and they came to my house. I have the place all Christmased up as much as I could. Mulled Cider simmering in the kitchen, making the house smell deliciously of cinnamon and cloves. We had a lovely evening. An evening full of good talk, good food and good friends. Some of our members were missing but we managed to chatter the evening away without them. Not only do I enjoy the company of my book club, I like that they push me to read books that I would never even give a second glance to if left to my own devises. Forces me out of my box and that is a good thing.
Thursday night E and I took in The Life of Pi. A book I have never read, but I am now putting on my "want to read" list. The movie was good. Visually stunning and definitely something you should see on the big screen. The effects are incredible. E enjoyed it and she has read the book. One of these days I will get to it.
Then I did a stupid thing, I got home Thursday night, and decided to make a little list of the things I still needed to do before Christmas. I was feeling on top of things, not totally finished but in could shape. What harm could a little list do??? Well it can make you bat shit crazy that's what it can do. I went from confident to complete panic in one sheet of paper. ARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday night was spent with the No Cook Group as usual. We went out for supper then to a Christmas concert at Teddy Bear's church. Don Amero performed as did a band called Red Moon Road. It was fantastic. I bought a CD of Red Moon Road. I loved the lead singers voice, so clear, true and haunting. They were such nice kids. Talented, humorous and relaxed. They are coming back next year and we all want to go again. We went for coffee after and J joined us. I was so glad she came. She is started out on a new life and it was wonderful to have her come out for some fun.
This morning I hit the stores at 8:30 am, grimly determined to finish my Christmas shopping. It went very well. Things clicked along very well and I did not want to kill anyone. An improvement over my last shopping outing. I have one gift left to buy and I should have gone for it but I was just done. Another hi-light for me was that I dropped of a trunk load of donations to the local charity shop which have been taking up space in my kitchen for far too long. Wonderful to get that done However buy the time I got to the last gift on my list, even though I knew what I wanted and where to go to get it, I was done, I was tired so I called it a day and headed to see the reno's the Hostess is having done at her place before I went home for lunch.
Her already lovely home is going to look even more lovely. She is getting her fireplace boxed in and finished off, crown molding installed, the cupboards lowered in the kitchen and some additional new ones installed. Its going to be gorgeous. We had tea and a talk and then I headed home to tackle the craft projects I need to look after. When I finished my lunch, I strapped myself to the sewing machine. I have 5 sewing projects, 5 knitting projects, one crocheting project and one painting project to complete before Christmas. (Have I mentioned that this Christmas I am talking about is not on the 25th but is being celebrated on the 15th. Hence the complete and total panic. Have I also mentioned that I have done no baking, no Christmas cards and not a present has been wrapped?? And I work full time?????????Excuse me moment I feel faint. I need to lie down for a moment.)
I am back. Now I have 2 sewing projects, 3 knitting projects, 1 crocheting project and 1 painting project left for tomorrow. I am feeling better about things. I plan to finish up all the projects tomorrow. Baking, cards and wrapping can be done over the week as I have until Thursday to complete things. Thank goodness for coffee breaks and lunch hours to work on stuff. Why I thought I was on top of things I have no idea. Complete and total delusion to say the least. Well that and the fact that I misplaced a weekend somewhere. I was so sure I had an extra weekend somewhere between November ending and December beginning. I lied to myself and now I am paying the price.
One thing I know for sure, everything will get done. Even though I am grumping about being in a panic, I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays. I love making presents and baking and decorating. Right now I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I want to be well rested to face it.
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Short and Sweet
Well after a flurry of decorating, cleaning and general running about like a chicken with my head cut off, I do believe I have the house ready for Christmas. The decorations are out, two trees are up, lights are on the veranda along with garland and bows. The garbage is out and the dishes are done. I am finished with that portion of the Christmas prep. I am content.
Of course I still have a few gifts to buy, presents to wrap, Christmas cards to write and goodies to bake. I have some crafting to do but I am not feeling as panicky as I was two days ago. This makes me happy. I am having my book club here tonight so I really wanted to have the house as festive as I could for them. I think I have managed it. My belief with decorating for the Season is more is more.
So now I am killing time until its time to go to work. Making lists in my head and trying to remember all the stuff I need to do. Tonight is book club, tomorrow night E and I are going to see The Life of Pi and then Friday night its out for supper, then a Christmas concert at a local church and coffee afterward. Saturday and Sunday I will be sewing and knitting and crocheting until I drop!! Oh yes and doing Christmas cards.
Have a lovely day!! I hope your Christmas is all under control
Toodles,
Linda
Of course I still have a few gifts to buy, presents to wrap, Christmas cards to write and goodies to bake. I have some crafting to do but I am not feeling as panicky as I was two days ago. This makes me happy. I am having my book club here tonight so I really wanted to have the house as festive as I could for them. I think I have managed it. My belief with decorating for the Season is more is more.
So now I am killing time until its time to go to work. Making lists in my head and trying to remember all the stuff I need to do. Tonight is book club, tomorrow night E and I are going to see The Life of Pi and then Friday night its out for supper, then a Christmas concert at a local church and coffee afterward. Saturday and Sunday I will be sewing and knitting and crocheting until I drop!! Oh yes and doing Christmas cards.
Have a lovely day!! I hope your Christmas is all under control
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Christmas Time is Here
Not sure how I could have worked and worked and worked on decorating and cleaning my house this weekend and the kitchen and sewing room still look like drunken monkeys have been partying up a storm in them. Humph. Oh well many parts of the rest of the house look very Christmasy and clean if I do say so myself. Thank goodness, I would hate to be this tired and have nothing to show for it.
The only decorating I have left to do is the lights and garlands outside. Only put up two trees this year. I did not do the one in the kitchen as I broke a leg off it this year. I will need to fix that for next year. I left the big main tree down as well. I did indulge and bought a new nativity this year. I had a small raise at work and got some back pay so I splurged and got it. I still need some more pieces to add to it but I can do that over time. That is the nice thing about Willow Tree stuff.
I have been doing some crafting for myself as you may know. Here is what my outside wreath looked like for the last five or six years, not bad but a little tired and I thought it was time for a change.
One trip to Dollarama later and it looks like this now:
I am pleased with the outcome. The bow maybe should be red but I don't have the right ribbon to redo it so its gonna stay this way for now. At least its out on the front of the house now looking Christmasy.
Remember those red socks I was knitting, well they have been added to the stairway and are just how I wanted them to look
And the new kitchen table runner, well here it is in its place:
And last but not least, the one I made for the living room:
I have other Christmas projects on the go but I will not be able to share them until they have been presented to their new owners as they are gifts.
I am having book club here this week and I need to get the house is ship shape for that. Having guests is a great motivator for getting the work done. Hense the decorating frenzy that took place this weekend. I want the place to look festive for my company. I also am 90% finished my Christmas shopping. I am doing a happy dance about that!! I hauled myself out of the house early on Saturday and got lots done quick smart before the crowds got out and started to make me homicidal.
My two little knitting students stopped in yesterday for some more instruction. I am so pleased with how well they are getting on. Makes me feel all Grandmothery and wise to be passing on this skill. It's so cute to see them both so still and concentrating so hard on what they are doing. Their Grandma is getting some lovingly made knitted items for Christmas this year.
Toodles
Linda
The only decorating I have left to do is the lights and garlands outside. Only put up two trees this year. I did not do the one in the kitchen as I broke a leg off it this year. I will need to fix that for next year. I left the big main tree down as well. I did indulge and bought a new nativity this year. I had a small raise at work and got some back pay so I splurged and got it. I still need some more pieces to add to it but I can do that over time. That is the nice thing about Willow Tree stuff.
I have been doing some crafting for myself as you may know. Here is what my outside wreath looked like for the last five or six years, not bad but a little tired and I thought it was time for a change.
One trip to Dollarama later and it looks like this now:
Remember those red socks I was knitting, well they have been added to the stairway and are just how I wanted them to look
And the new kitchen table runner, well here it is in its place:
And last but not least, the one I made for the living room:
I have other Christmas projects on the go but I will not be able to share them until they have been presented to their new owners as they are gifts.
I am having book club here this week and I need to get the house is ship shape for that. Having guests is a great motivator for getting the work done. Hense the decorating frenzy that took place this weekend. I want the place to look festive for my company. I also am 90% finished my Christmas shopping. I am doing a happy dance about that!! I hauled myself out of the house early on Saturday and got lots done quick smart before the crowds got out and started to make me homicidal.
My two little knitting students stopped in yesterday for some more instruction. I am so pleased with how well they are getting on. Makes me feel all Grandmothery and wise to be passing on this skill. It's so cute to see them both so still and concentrating so hard on what they are doing. Their Grandma is getting some lovingly made knitted items for Christmas this year.
Toodles
Linda
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Bye Bye Precious Tiny Angel
I haven't even started this post and already the tears have come. They slide down my cheeks and plop on my desk and I am not going to make any attempt to stop them. They are sad tears, because today is a sad day. Sad tears need to be shed, holding them in is not good, they are meant to cleanse and heal.
So why the sad tears, well right now my heart is aching for Mama Bug, Daddy Bug and my sweet little Ladybug even though she is too young to know what is going on around her. He little brother was born last Monday. 19 weeks is not long enough, Doodlebug came into this world too early and even though everything was done that could be to keep him safe, and all the love in the world surrounded him, nature does what it needs to do and we have no control over these things. So today this little family had a funeral and said good bye to their precious baby boy. My heart aches for them, I wish I had words to say that would help to ease the pain but there is nothing. All we can do is send love, support and understanding.
I have been too two funerals for tiny angels who arrived to early and left too early. They are heart breaking. I a not sure why this happens, why to people who so desperately want a child. I know things happen for a reason, I get that but I don't get this One of my deepest wishes is the someday I will get to know the reasons. Right now I don't understand it and quite frankly it makes me rather angry, and sad, and frustrated.
So while the day to day details of life go on for the rest of us, for this family today will be hard but it will also begin a healing that will take time. All my love, my deepest sympathy and my thoughts are with them all today and the days to come.
Linda
So why the sad tears, well right now my heart is aching for Mama Bug, Daddy Bug and my sweet little Ladybug even though she is too young to know what is going on around her. He little brother was born last Monday. 19 weeks is not long enough, Doodlebug came into this world too early and even though everything was done that could be to keep him safe, and all the love in the world surrounded him, nature does what it needs to do and we have no control over these things. So today this little family had a funeral and said good bye to their precious baby boy. My heart aches for them, I wish I had words to say that would help to ease the pain but there is nothing. All we can do is send love, support and understanding.
I have been too two funerals for tiny angels who arrived to early and left too early. They are heart breaking. I a not sure why this happens, why to people who so desperately want a child. I know things happen for a reason, I get that but I don't get this One of my deepest wishes is the someday I will get to know the reasons. Right now I don't understand it and quite frankly it makes me rather angry, and sad, and frustrated.
So while the day to day details of life go on for the rest of us, for this family today will be hard but it will also begin a healing that will take time. All my love, my deepest sympathy and my thoughts are with them all today and the days to come.
Linda
Monday, 26 November 2012
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Sunday, 25 November 2012
Sunday Stuff
I have had a reasonably busy and productive weekend which is always good. Its nice to be able to tootle around. doing what needs to be done and getting somethings accomplished. Relaxing and yet being productive. Mine all started on Friday night of course with the No Cook group. We had a lovely supper and then the Banker joined us for coffee and regaled us with tales of her trip to Cancun, Miami and New York. It was a fun evening as always. We really should call ourselves the Giggling No Cook Friday group. Not to mention the funniest thing happened. I had made the Banker a porcupine puppet and she did not even have it out of the bag all the way before the lady at the next table over was demanding to see it, where did she get it, did I make them and sell them. Next thing I new I had money in my purse, her information on a piece of paper and an order for a porcupine and a turtle. I am so aware that I have something here in these little critters that I make but I do not know what to do with it, more than I am doing.
Then it was up EARLY on Saturday to hit Canadian Tire when it first opened. I did not want to get sucked into the crazy crowds of people out pretending they were in the States snapping up Black Friday deals. I did snap up a deal and all I can say is Merry Christmas to me rather early:
New TV and DVD player for my bedroom. Its small and will not take up a quarter of the space that my old one does. I have been wanting to replace the old TV for awhile and this one was on a really good sale. I do not have cable in my bedroom (yet) but I do like to watch the odd movie in bed upon occation.
The J and I went to a craft sale at a local school and I snapped up some Christmas gifts and a cute little snowman pin for myself. We braved Walmart and got some toys purchased for donation to our local Christmas Cheer Board and then we got out of there. I just have no patience for crowds of people anymore. I also do not have the ability that so many people do to be oblivious to the people around you. I cannot ignore the fact that people around me need to get by, continue on their way while other shoppers seem to shop in a self contained bubble. Since you get in trouble for ramming people deliberately with your cart, the judicious thing to do was for us to finish up and get the heck outta there.
After coffee and cookies with J in her new apartment I scooted home to make myself lunch and then get at the butterfly quilt. Well lunch was made but I finished my tree skirt and knit dish cloths instead of working on the quilt. I did get the quilt material organized and decided what colour went where but that was it. I did finish this though:
This is the second thing I have found on Pinterest that I actually did something with. Its a smallish tree skirt and will work wonderfully well on the little tree I set up in the dining room. I need to add ribbon ties to it but other than that its all done.
Last night was the office Christmas party which was fun. Lots of people made it out for the event and the food was lovely. I have not been for a few years so I kicked my hermit prone butt into gear and actually went. I had a good time and made it home again in one piece.
Today I actually got the butterfly quilt on the go and I made very good progress. Its a quilt that is actually shaped like a butterfly. I got the body and the two upper wings done today. I just need to do the lower wings, sew the wings onto the body then wash it as its one of those rag time quilts that has frayed seams.
Here is a sneak peek:
The bottom part of the wings will be a purple colour and the body needs eyes yet but you get the idea Its hard to see in the picture but there is a pink and white strip piece and a pale pink section to the wings, it blends together in the picture.. I will of course post finished pics when it happens. I am hoping to finish tomorrow night. Tonight I need to make laundry soap. I am totally out and I want to spend the rest of the evening knitting. Somewhere in there supper needs to be decided up on produced.
I hope your weekend went well.
Toodles,
Linda
Then it was up EARLY on Saturday to hit Canadian Tire when it first opened. I did not want to get sucked into the crazy crowds of people out pretending they were in the States snapping up Black Friday deals. I did snap up a deal and all I can say is Merry Christmas to me rather early:
The J and I went to a craft sale at a local school and I snapped up some Christmas gifts and a cute little snowman pin for myself. We braved Walmart and got some toys purchased for donation to our local Christmas Cheer Board and then we got out of there. I just have no patience for crowds of people anymore. I also do not have the ability that so many people do to be oblivious to the people around you. I cannot ignore the fact that people around me need to get by, continue on their way while other shoppers seem to shop in a self contained bubble. Since you get in trouble for ramming people deliberately with your cart, the judicious thing to do was for us to finish up and get the heck outta there.
After coffee and cookies with J in her new apartment I scooted home to make myself lunch and then get at the butterfly quilt. Well lunch was made but I finished my tree skirt and knit dish cloths instead of working on the quilt. I did get the quilt material organized and decided what colour went where but that was it. I did finish this though:
Last night was the office Christmas party which was fun. Lots of people made it out for the event and the food was lovely. I have not been for a few years so I kicked my hermit prone butt into gear and actually went. I had a good time and made it home again in one piece.
Today I actually got the butterfly quilt on the go and I made very good progress. Its a quilt that is actually shaped like a butterfly. I got the body and the two upper wings done today. I just need to do the lower wings, sew the wings onto the body then wash it as its one of those rag time quilts that has frayed seams.
Here is a sneak peek:
I hope your weekend went well.
Toodles,
Linda
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Mystery Vapor Rub
Yes I am still getting over my cold but it is much better and the infection in my chest is going away so I am getting to be a happy bunny once again. It is my cold that drew my attention to a mystery in my house. Its a simple unassuming jar of good old Vick's Vapor Rub.
What is so mysterious about that you may ask, well I will tell you. It has been in my house forever. I have no memory of ever buying it. It has just always been in the medicine chest. I have no memory of ever looking in the cabinet and it not being there, sitting quietly on the shelf in every home I have lived in since leaving my parents home. I have lots of memories of being out on my own for the first time and going to get something that was always in my Mother's house but strangely was not in mine. Being frustrated or amused as I discovered something else that had to be purchased. A loaf pan for making meat loaf the first time, cookie sheets and a can opener are a few that spring to mind with a chuckle at my then shock that the normal things were not in my cupboards. Kresge's Five and Dime was my favourite shop to get these everyday essentials back in the day. I have no memory of getting this jar of Vicks. Which I suppose is not that strange but this would be a purchase made when sick, it may just cling to the memory portion of the brain but maybe not. My mystery does not end here though.
The other weird thing about this jar is it has always been half full. For as long as I can remember it has been half full, and I have used it. I use it when I have a cold and yet after all these years its still here and its still half full. It makes me wonder..........WTH is up with the jar of Vick's??? I get a cold at least once year and I have maintained my own home for a lot of years. The jar should be dry by now and yet when I went for it this time, it was half full. Its mysterious and I find it entertaining in a way. One of the little mysteries in my life that make me think and puzzle and smile all at the same time.
Yes I know I'm weird but my family and friends love me anyway!!
Toodles.
Linda
What is so mysterious about that you may ask, well I will tell you. It has been in my house forever. I have no memory of ever buying it. It has just always been in the medicine chest. I have no memory of ever looking in the cabinet and it not being there, sitting quietly on the shelf in every home I have lived in since leaving my parents home. I have lots of memories of being out on my own for the first time and going to get something that was always in my Mother's house but strangely was not in mine. Being frustrated or amused as I discovered something else that had to be purchased. A loaf pan for making meat loaf the first time, cookie sheets and a can opener are a few that spring to mind with a chuckle at my then shock that the normal things were not in my cupboards. Kresge's Five and Dime was my favourite shop to get these everyday essentials back in the day. I have no memory of getting this jar of Vicks. Which I suppose is not that strange but this would be a purchase made when sick, it may just cling to the memory portion of the brain but maybe not. My mystery does not end here though.
The other weird thing about this jar is it has always been half full. For as long as I can remember it has been half full, and I have used it. I use it when I have a cold and yet after all these years its still here and its still half full. It makes me wonder..........WTH is up with the jar of Vick's??? I get a cold at least once year and I have maintained my own home for a lot of years. The jar should be dry by now and yet when I went for it this time, it was half full. Its mysterious and I find it entertaining in a way. One of the little mysteries in my life that make me think and puzzle and smile all at the same time.
Yes I know I'm weird but my family and friends love me anyway!!
Toodles.
Linda
Monday, 19 November 2012
Monday Moment without Minou
I don't have a new picture of the baby girl let alone anything clever to say so Minou will not be joining us this fine day or maybe she will.
I think I am feeling better. My nose is not running as much and the coughing has slackened some. I totally forgot to get some NyQuil today so I am hoping that I sleep tonight. I really do not make a very good sick person. I annoy myself so I can only imagine what I do to the people around me.
I did get the material for the butterfly quilt so I have that started at least. It has been a long time on the "to do" list. I also started a tree skirt for one of my little trees and that was my evening. To be truthful this has been one of those evenings when I could not really settle at doing any one thing.A little like a flea in a fit, is what I feel like tonight. I annoy myself when I get this way. I got the tree skirt sewn up but now it needs to be put with the batting and backing then quilted. Pictures to come when its finished of course.
Even now as I sit here trying to blog, my mind is running in a million directions and I cannot settle. Maybe I should just give up and go to bed. I really don't accomplish anything when I am in a mood like I am tonight.
Leaving now before I annoy everyone else like I am annoying myself.
Toodles,
Linda
Stop buggin me, I am not in the mood to be in your stupid blog Mama!! Not today!!
I did get the material for the butterfly quilt so I have that started at least. It has been a long time on the "to do" list. I also started a tree skirt for one of my little trees and that was my evening. To be truthful this has been one of those evenings when I could not really settle at doing any one thing.A little like a flea in a fit, is what I feel like tonight. I annoy myself when I get this way. I got the tree skirt sewn up but now it needs to be put with the batting and backing then quilted. Pictures to come when its finished of course.
Even now as I sit here trying to blog, my mind is running in a million directions and I cannot settle. Maybe I should just give up and go to bed. I really don't accomplish anything when I am in a mood like I am tonight.
Leaving now before I annoy everyone else like I am annoying myself.
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Oh Yeah, I Rocked the Socks
Three hand knitted socks, each one not like the other, mismatched and flawed but I love each one. I now have my three socks that I want to hang on my banister. They make me smile!!
Its Sunday and I'm Sick.......How Fun!!
So the sore throat I woke up with on Friday had lessened. However in its lessening, stuffy head, runny nose and general achy nastiness has moved in to fill the space. I felt not bad yesterday but today all I want to do is curl up in a corner, close my eyes and put a bucket under my nose to catch the drops. Aren't you glad I decided to share??
Well let's not turn this into a complete pity party, no one has any patience for that least of all me. I have managed to get some things done. The laundry is sloshing away in the machine, the kitchen has been cleansed of all breakfast making damage and I have three puppet orders ready for delivery. I framed a picture of my Dad and hung it in my bedroom. I bought the frame from a friend's mom and I think its perfect for this old picture.
I was going to make a trip to the fabric store and get the material for the butterfly quilt but to be honest I am not up to it. I think I will stay in, make some chicken soup (if you can make chicken soup without celery), and do little to nothing or the rest of the day. I will stop at the store tomorrow after work for the material.
I think I need to find my ratty old sweater and curl up on the couch to see if I can sleep for a bit. I totally feel like a big baby!! Nap first, the soup making, then finish knitting my last sock. I got the cuff and the heel done last night before I went to bed. Mirror Mirror was on tv and so I worked on the sock until the movie was done.
Hope all is well in your world,
Toodles
Linda
Well let's not turn this into a complete pity party, no one has any patience for that least of all me. I have managed to get some things done. The laundry is sloshing away in the machine, the kitchen has been cleansed of all breakfast making damage and I have three puppet orders ready for delivery. I framed a picture of my Dad and hung it in my bedroom. I bought the frame from a friend's mom and I think its perfect for this old picture.
I was going to make a trip to the fabric store and get the material for the butterfly quilt but to be honest I am not up to it. I think I will stay in, make some chicken soup (if you can make chicken soup without celery), and do little to nothing or the rest of the day. I will stop at the store tomorrow after work for the material.
I think I need to find my ratty old sweater and curl up on the couch to see if I can sleep for a bit. I totally feel like a big baby!! Nap first, the soup making, then finish knitting my last sock. I got the cuff and the heel done last night before I went to bed. Mirror Mirror was on tv and so I worked on the sock until the movie was done.
Hope all is well in your world,
Toodles
Linda
Saturday, 17 November 2012
Saturday Stuff
I had a good day today. I have to admit these last few weekends have been great. This morning was just a picture perfect winter day. The trees were dusted with hoarfrost and looked like a postcard. It was cold but not bitter, just cool. E and I went out shopping today and then to a little tea room just outside of town for lunch then more shopping, then home by mid afternoon. Sadly she started feeling none too well so we cut our outing short so she could go home and rest. Once I got home I plopped myself down in my favourite chair, watched some taped stuff on the DVR and did this: I made another sock, now I have a matched pair, well sort of.
Yes, I know the one is two different colours but I don't care. I ran out of the one red and the one I had on hand was close enough. They are only for decoration. I am going to knit one more and it will match the foot of the second one. I really did not want to go and buy new wool before I figured out it I could knit socks or not. The foot on the second one is a better shape too. Practice makes perfect as we all know. The sock knitting took the best part of the afternoon, I had the cuff mostly knit last night but it does take some time. Its a relaxing way to spend a lovely winter afternoon.
Then I got busy and did this:
Well I did not make this, I bought it a while ago for 40% off and I thought it had potential. I liked the colours and the old worn look of it. When I spied it at the gift shop, I could just see some Christmas greenery in it. Now I am not a flower arranger. I suck at it for the most part but that does not stop me from trying. While E and I were out we hit the local dollar store and I got some stuff. Now my little tool box looks like this:
It may not be the most professional job but I like the results. Now I just have to figure out where the heck I am going to put it for display. I have a small house and its cram packed with stuff so space is limited but I am sure I will figure out where to put my newest creation.
Right now I am going to say good night as I am off to start my last sock. Tomorrow I am getting at the butterfly quilt and then mitts for my Ladybug. Oh I love these weekends. Busy, busy, getting out and about and getting stuff done. Love it.
Toodles,
Linda
Then I got busy and did this:
Well I did not make this, I bought it a while ago for 40% off and I thought it had potential. I liked the colours and the old worn look of it. When I spied it at the gift shop, I could just see some Christmas greenery in it. Now I am not a flower arranger. I suck at it for the most part but that does not stop me from trying. While E and I were out we hit the local dollar store and I got some stuff. Now my little tool box looks like this:
It may not be the most professional job but I like the results. Now I just have to figure out where the heck I am going to put it for display. I have a small house and its cram packed with stuff so space is limited but I am sure I will figure out where to put my newest creation.
Right now I am going to say good night as I am off to start my last sock. Tomorrow I am getting at the butterfly quilt and then mitts for my Ladybug. Oh I love these weekends. Busy, busy, getting out and about and getting stuff done. Love it.
Toodles,
Linda
Friday, 16 November 2012
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Cleaning, Purging and Socks.....Oh My
Day one of my long weekend of hanging out at home and cleaning. How did it go you ask, well let me tell you. It started off wonderfully lazy and slow with not a lot of cleaning in sight. My office was having a farewell for a coworker at my favourite local gift shop/cafe and I had promised a ride to another former co-worker. She and I decided we would go a little early so we could shop the shop and ogle the lovely things for sale. So I arose late, enjoying the fact that I woke to my own natural clock not the radio blaring in my ear or the neighbours dog barking and howling. Pure Bliss!!! I lingered abed for awhile, then rose to break my fast and shower. I got onto the computer as I like to do as I have my first meal of the day and chatted with Miss Miles for a while. To my chagrin, I then realized I had to dress and go get my friend. Off we went for shopping and the most delicious lunch. Their Hungarian Mushroom Soup is heavenly. The quiche is super yummy as well. They make mouth watering biscuits, yes I had all three but I refrained from any and all desserts. Go me!!
Once I deposited G back at her house, I scooted home and turned into a cleaning maniac. My living room, dining room and main floor bath are clean, clean, clean. Tomorrow, after a morning of shopping and running errands I will tackle the kitchen and the entryway. Even though I had a slow start I am very happy with the things I managed to accomplish today. Lots of crossing off of the "To Do" list which warms the cockles of my heart. So what is this you say????
Can't you tell I started to knit a sock?? I have been knitting since before I could go to school and I have never tried socks. Time I did, not to mention I want some for Christmas decorations (yet another thing I planned to do right after Christmas last year) Sigh.
How about now?? Does it look like a sock now?? Not so much.......... I agree. At least now that it hit this stage I can wrestle the four needles easily, those first few rows are very humbling. Makes me feel like I have a zillion thumbs and no coordination at all.
Ok now you have to admit it is starting to look like a sock. That is my very first turned heel you are looking at and I am rather proud of myself. I cannot finish it tonight as much as I would love to keep going. Its late and I am started to get really rather tired, that is usually a recipe for mistakes. I will be posting pictures of the finished project because I will be ridiculously proud of myself. So far I am thinking this not the last sock I will be making.
It's good to learn something new once in a while. Once again GO ME!!!
Toodles
Linda
Once I deposited G back at her house, I scooted home and turned into a cleaning maniac. My living room, dining room and main floor bath are clean, clean, clean. Tomorrow, after a morning of shopping and running errands I will tackle the kitchen and the entryway. Even though I had a slow start I am very happy with the things I managed to accomplish today. Lots of crossing off of the "To Do" list which warms the cockles of my heart. So what is this you say????
Ok now you have to admit it is starting to look like a sock. That is my very first turned heel you are looking at and I am rather proud of myself. I cannot finish it tonight as much as I would love to keep going. Its late and I am started to get really rather tired, that is usually a recipe for mistakes. I will be posting pictures of the finished project because I will be ridiculously proud of myself. So far I am thinking this not the last sock I will be making.
It's good to learn something new once in a while. Once again GO ME!!!
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Purging, Purging, Purging
I replaced the banner at the top of my blog but now its too long, the last one was too short and I have no idea how to fix it. Hmmph. I need a computer savvy teenager to be on call 25/7 for moments like this when I have no clue but I really want to do something.
I did actually do something tonight. That I know how to do but do not do nearly enough of. For a solid hour and 3/4 I purged, sorted, filed, and put away in my craft room until I could see the counter tops. I have a garbage bag of recycle and another of garbage. My household accounts are filed away and the material I hauled out has all been put away. The bill basket that hangs just above my head is no longer a potential decapitation waiting to happen, it has been purged of the hundred weight of filing that spilled over its sides for months. I have not yet got the courage to get into the containers and storage baskets to sort and purge but for now I am well pleased with the results. I did not take pictures because I have done that several times and I am sure the few that look at this blog are done with seeing the same old same old over and over again. Trust me it looks lovely in here.
I have the next two days off. I took them off with the soul purpose of continuing to do what I did this evening. I plan to spend the time purging, cleaning and reclaiming my home. I want a tidy house for when I decide to start to decorate for Christmas. I cannot tell you how good it feels to sit in the craft room and not be surrounded by clutter and piles of stuff. I have projects that need to be done!! I have to do the cleaning first and then I can settle to the fun stuff once again.
I even got through the magazines!!! Magazines and I have a love hate relationship. I swear they breed in the dark when I am not looking. No matter how many I get rid of , there are always more lurking somewhere. I love magazines, I love to look at them and drool over them and apparently hang onto them. I am getting so much better at the not hanging onto thing. I look and I get rid, I just do not do it often enough ( oh look another recurring theme in my life) I have a lovely stack to go to the office, some to pass on to friends and the really old ones went into the recycle. I am so proud.
So tomorrow I have a farewell luncheon to go to for one of my co-workers. They are moving on so that will cut into my day but its at my favourite cafe so I think I can force myself to go. :-) I plan to send the afternoon and evening cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!! This house will not know what hit it!! I am woman hear me ROAR!!!!
Toodles
Linda
I did actually do something tonight. That I know how to do but do not do nearly enough of. For a solid hour and 3/4 I purged, sorted, filed, and put away in my craft room until I could see the counter tops. I have a garbage bag of recycle and another of garbage. My household accounts are filed away and the material I hauled out has all been put away. The bill basket that hangs just above my head is no longer a potential decapitation waiting to happen, it has been purged of the hundred weight of filing that spilled over its sides for months. I have not yet got the courage to get into the containers and storage baskets to sort and purge but for now I am well pleased with the results. I did not take pictures because I have done that several times and I am sure the few that look at this blog are done with seeing the same old same old over and over again. Trust me it looks lovely in here.
I have the next two days off. I took them off with the soul purpose of continuing to do what I did this evening. I plan to spend the time purging, cleaning and reclaiming my home. I want a tidy house for when I decide to start to decorate for Christmas. I cannot tell you how good it feels to sit in the craft room and not be surrounded by clutter and piles of stuff. I have projects that need to be done!! I have to do the cleaning first and then I can settle to the fun stuff once again.
I even got through the magazines!!! Magazines and I have a love hate relationship. I swear they breed in the dark when I am not looking. No matter how many I get rid of , there are always more lurking somewhere. I love magazines, I love to look at them and drool over them and apparently hang onto them. I am getting so much better at the not hanging onto thing. I look and I get rid, I just do not do it often enough ( oh look another recurring theme in my life) I have a lovely stack to go to the office, some to pass on to friends and the really old ones went into the recycle. I am so proud.
So tomorrow I have a farewell luncheon to go to for one of my co-workers. They are moving on so that will cut into my day but its at my favourite cafe so I think I can force myself to go. :-) I plan to send the afternoon and evening cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!! This house will not know what hit it!! I am woman hear me ROAR!!!!
Minou says:"Just don't touch my chair, I have it just the way I like it, all nice and furry!!"
Toodles
Linda
Monday, 12 November 2012
Three Day Weekends are the Bestest
I have had such a good long weekend, I LOVE IT. Card making on Saturday with the Hostess, the Symphony on Sunday with E, then this morning, when I found that plans are always subject to change, change that is sometimes a really good thing.
I lay in bed this morning plotting out my day. Get up, breakfast, shovel the front sidewalk, put away the autumn decorations, then craft until time to go demo the closet for Teddy Bear. I plotted for an entire hour after I woke up because one does not want to rush into these things. Eventually I hauled my butt out of bed, made breakfast, got my gear on and then headed out to shovel. Upon opening my front door I discovered that my neighbour shoveled my sidewalk sometime yesterday. How sweet is that?? A lovely start to the day let me tell you. They did right up to my door!!! I was thrilled. I may have to bake them some cookies or something. So that was the end of that, I did get the decorations down though. FINALLY!! I zipped back into the house to get crafting.
Teddy Bear called a little later and said her future son-in-law had demoed the closet for her so I did not need to come over for that but I was more than welcome to still come for supper. SCORE!! No work and I still get a free meal out of the deal. A turkey dinner no less. So I had the whole day to do as I pleased and that was just what I did. I made myself another quilted runner for Christmas. It will go in the living room on the long ottoman I have in there. I did not plan to do this today, but its an idea that popped into my head and wanted to be made so I went with it. Sometimes the muse will not be ignored.
I left the housework where it lay and quilted the day away until it was time to scoot out for supper. All in all this has been a really great weekend. I love weekends like this, busy, creative, full of friends and fun times. Now I have two days of work then I am off for a four day weekend.
This upcoming weekend will be more industrious as I have ear marked it for house cleaning and doing some shopping at Superstore. Saturday will be spent with E, we are planning a lunch at a local tea room then shopping at the specialty shops. I am looking foreward to that. I am hoping that by then, I have a handle on the gifts that I still need to get and I can focus on finishing my Christmas shopping.
Well I need to get organized for work tomorrow. I have some emails that need answering and I want to see if Miss Miles is on facebook so we can chat a bit.
Toodles
One very happy and contented Linda!!
I lay in bed this morning plotting out my day. Get up, breakfast, shovel the front sidewalk, put away the autumn decorations, then craft until time to go demo the closet for Teddy Bear. I plotted for an entire hour after I woke up because one does not want to rush into these things. Eventually I hauled my butt out of bed, made breakfast, got my gear on and then headed out to shovel. Upon opening my front door I discovered that my neighbour shoveled my sidewalk sometime yesterday. How sweet is that?? A lovely start to the day let me tell you. They did right up to my door!!! I was thrilled. I may have to bake them some cookies or something. So that was the end of that, I did get the decorations down though. FINALLY!! I zipped back into the house to get crafting.
Teddy Bear called a little later and said her future son-in-law had demoed the closet for her so I did not need to come over for that but I was more than welcome to still come for supper. SCORE!! No work and I still get a free meal out of the deal. A turkey dinner no less. So I had the whole day to do as I pleased and that was just what I did. I made myself another quilted runner for Christmas. It will go in the living room on the long ottoman I have in there. I did not plan to do this today, but its an idea that popped into my head and wanted to be made so I went with it. Sometimes the muse will not be ignored.
This upcoming weekend will be more industrious as I have ear marked it for house cleaning and doing some shopping at Superstore. Saturday will be spent with E, we are planning a lunch at a local tea room then shopping at the specialty shops. I am looking foreward to that. I am hoping that by then, I have a handle on the gifts that I still need to get and I can focus on finishing my Christmas shopping.
Well I need to get organized for work tomorrow. I have some emails that need answering and I want to see if Miss Miles is on facebook so we can chat a bit.
Toodles
One very happy and contented Linda!!
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Sunday And It's Still Snowing
I am seriously hoping that this snow stops eventually. I manages to shovel out the back so I could get my car out today. If it keeps up this silliness I may have to shovel it all over again. I plan to get the front done tomorrow. Winter is well and truly here me thinks.
I did my usual thing today, I slept late and then watched the Remembrance Day Service from Ottawa on television. Each year I think I will go to the local one but I have never managed to get to it. So I sit and get all weepy when they play the Last Post, the Lament and For Those in Peril on the Sea. Yep, me, my box of kleenex and my coffee, a normal November 11th day.
Inspite of the snow, bad roads and chilly weather, E and I did manage to make it to the symphony this afternoon. We both agreed that it was not the best one we have ever been to but getting to listen to world class musicians for an afternoon is not a bad way to spend some time. My grade 7 and 8 teacher firmly believed that you learned better if there was classical music playing in the background. I do not know it this theory is correct or not but after two years of listening I acquired a taste for this wonderful music. E likes to go and so its something we can do together.
I should get off the computer and get at the laundry that I did not do yesterday. I should decide what to have for supper, I should do a lot of things but so far all I have managed to do is play on the computer and blog a bit. Maybe I will get a burst of energy and get at the laundry once I actually have some supper.
Tomorrow is yard work and then off to Teddy Bears to demo her closet. That should keep me out of trouble for a while. I have also been invited to stay for supper so I think its a great deal for me. I am hoping the snow stops tomorrow. We have enough thank you. I have decided, today as well, that I have put off getting new snow boots just a tad too long. When will I learn??
Toodles,
Linda
I did my usual thing today, I slept late and then watched the Remembrance Day Service from Ottawa on television. Each year I think I will go to the local one but I have never managed to get to it. So I sit and get all weepy when they play the Last Post, the Lament and For Those in Peril on the Sea. Yep, me, my box of kleenex and my coffee, a normal November 11th day.
Inspite of the snow, bad roads and chilly weather, E and I did manage to make it to the symphony this afternoon. We both agreed that it was not the best one we have ever been to but getting to listen to world class musicians for an afternoon is not a bad way to spend some time. My grade 7 and 8 teacher firmly believed that you learned better if there was classical music playing in the background. I do not know it this theory is correct or not but after two years of listening I acquired a taste for this wonderful music. E likes to go and so its something we can do together.
I should get off the computer and get at the laundry that I did not do yesterday. I should decide what to have for supper, I should do a lot of things but so far all I have managed to do is play on the computer and blog a bit. Maybe I will get a burst of energy and get at the laundry once I actually have some supper.
Tomorrow is yard work and then off to Teddy Bears to demo her closet. That should keep me out of trouble for a while. I have also been invited to stay for supper so I think its a great deal for me. I am hoping the snow stops tomorrow. We have enough thank you. I have decided, today as well, that I have put off getting new snow boots just a tad too long. When will I learn??
Toodles,
Linda
Saturday, 10 November 2012
What to do on a Snowy Saturday..........Stuff of Course.
We may not have received the big dumping of show that was promised but we definitely got snow!! I take personal credit for our not getting the tonnage of the white stuff as threatened for the simple reason that I dug my shovel out of the shed BEFORE it snowed. Yes, you are welcome, anything I can do for the team.
The Hostess had kindly invited me over to spend the impending snow day with her in her cozy house last week to make hand made greeting cards. Which we did and it was a wonderful day. I plowed my way over there at 9:00 am this morning with my supplies pared down to the bare minimum, only four bags this time!! Scrapbooking is not the most portable of crafts. We are hearty souls, we scrapbookers. We spent a good part of the day making cards, chatting, drinking coffee and tea and enjoying the fact that we did not have to be out and about in the snow. Wanna see what I made?
I need to add some more embellishments to a couple of them. I could not bring all of my stuff with me, I would have had to rent a truck, the final do-dads will have to added in the seclusion of my own craft room. On the whole I am happy with my days work. The four little cards at the bottom of the picture are ones I am going to start including with my puppet orders or other craft commission work. When you open them my business card is inside (easily removable with a THANK YOU. I plan to make more but by the time I got to doing them I was running out of steam.
Once I got home I dumped my bags in the kitchen and returned a phone call to Best Friend. We chatted for more than an hour. At which time all thoughts of doing the laundry lost what little appeal they held. Instead I had supper and then I finished the binding on this:
You may not be able to tell because I have such stellar photography skillz, but there are little Christmas trees all over the background material and the pale green has snowflakes on it. I made this for my kitchen table and I am glad its finished.I am usually a traditional red and green girl when it comes to Christmas but the snowmen are regulated to the kitchen at Christmas time for the most part. The kitchen is blue and blue lends it self to snowmen and now I just sound silly and justifying for no need, so I shall stop, dammit. I had planned to make this runner right after Christmas last year. Best laid plans and all that. No matter that it arrived 10 months late, it is here, it is completed and I like it. I will share a picture once I decorate the house and its on the kitchen table where its going to live for the season. Snowmen shall be included.
Now I will turn my focus on knitting little mitts for my sweet Ladybug and knitting three red socks to hang on the banister The socks are another project that was to be done in January last year. Oh my, I am sensing a trend here. I have decided now as I type this that I would like to make another runner for the livingroom. I can already see it. Can't wait to start.
Another thing I need to focus some thoughts on is the ornament that I will inflict on my family this year. I make one every year and I need to make a decision about the one for 2012. I started this in 1999. Hmmm, must get my thinking cap on. Tick tock tick tock.
I have had a lovely day, I expect to have an equally lovely one tomorrow. Right now I am off to rootle around and see what yarn I have on hand for either knitting project. A snowy evening, sitting in my comfortable arm chair knitting socks or mittens, sounds like a lovely end to a lovely day for me.
Toodles,
Linda
The Hostess had kindly invited me over to spend the impending snow day with her in her cozy house last week to make hand made greeting cards. Which we did and it was a wonderful day. I plowed my way over there at 9:00 am this morning with my supplies pared down to the bare minimum, only four bags this time!! Scrapbooking is not the most portable of crafts. We are hearty souls, we scrapbookers. We spent a good part of the day making cards, chatting, drinking coffee and tea and enjoying the fact that we did not have to be out and about in the snow. Wanna see what I made?
Once I got home I dumped my bags in the kitchen and returned a phone call to Best Friend. We chatted for more than an hour. At which time all thoughts of doing the laundry lost what little appeal they held. Instead I had supper and then I finished the binding on this:
Now I will turn my focus on knitting little mitts for my sweet Ladybug and knitting three red socks to hang on the banister The socks are another project that was to be done in January last year. Oh my, I am sensing a trend here. I have decided now as I type this that I would like to make another runner for the livingroom. I can already see it. Can't wait to start.
Another thing I need to focus some thoughts on is the ornament that I will inflict on my family this year. I make one every year and I need to make a decision about the one for 2012. I started this in 1999. Hmmm, must get my thinking cap on. Tick tock tick tock.
I have had a lovely day, I expect to have an equally lovely one tomorrow. Right now I am off to rootle around and see what yarn I have on hand for either knitting project. A snowy evening, sitting in my comfortable arm chair knitting socks or mittens, sounds like a lovely end to a lovely day for me.
Toodles,
Linda
Friday, 9 November 2012
Week's End
Ah, my favourite day of the week, Friday. Its the end of the work week, its No Cook night, I am glad to see it arrive each and every week. I know it seem like I am wishing my life away but I really really really like the weekends. This is a long weekend too which makes it even better.
Tomorrow I am going to go card making with the Hostess. Its going to be a great, stay in out of the storm activity. We are supposed to be getting a large dumping of snow this weekend so the Hostess and I are going to hunker down at her place and make greeting cards until we are tired of doing it. I need to get my stock built up again. Mostly for the kids and the guys. I have enough for the girls. I also want to make some cards to attach to my hand crafts. Just a little thank you note for buying something hand made by me with my business card attached somehow. So I am rather looking foreward to that. Its fun to spend time being creative with someone else like minded.
Then on Sunday afternoon I am going to the Symphony with E. I am hoping the storm does not interfere with our plans. Then on Monday I am going over to Teddy Bear's place and we are going to demolish a small closet in her basement that is no longer used and is in the way. I get to use my pry bar and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. I love demo!!
Yes, the garden ornaments are still out in the yard. Yes, the autumn decorations are still out and Yes, I will probably be frolicking in the snow banks trying to find everything so I can put it away but that is what you get when you procrastinate. I have had ample time to get it done and I have not done it so I have no one to blame but myself.
I have taken two days off next week so I plan to use them to stay home, get my house in order, purge my closet and just generally get things back on track. Not to mention I have some crafty stuff I really want to work on. I have a butterfly quilt that I need to get at. (I am hoping that some time this weekend I will be able to go get the material to get it started). I have mitts to knit for Ladybug and socks to learn to knit for me and a bunch of Christmas projects that I want to get moving on. Oh my.
I am so proud of me, I actually have Christmas gifts for three of my hardest to buy for people!! All this running around town shopping is paying off. What I do need to do is get my storage box out where I hide all my presents and check out what I have and what I don't have, then make a list and get it finished. It should be a walk in the park after those three have been taken care of. Only on really hard one left to go. Whoot!!
I hope you have a lovely fun, exciting weekend!!
Toodles,
Linda
Tomorrow I am going to go card making with the Hostess. Its going to be a great, stay in out of the storm activity. We are supposed to be getting a large dumping of snow this weekend so the Hostess and I are going to hunker down at her place and make greeting cards until we are tired of doing it. I need to get my stock built up again. Mostly for the kids and the guys. I have enough for the girls. I also want to make some cards to attach to my hand crafts. Just a little thank you note for buying something hand made by me with my business card attached somehow. So I am rather looking foreward to that. Its fun to spend time being creative with someone else like minded.
Then on Sunday afternoon I am going to the Symphony with E. I am hoping the storm does not interfere with our plans. Then on Monday I am going over to Teddy Bear's place and we are going to demolish a small closet in her basement that is no longer used and is in the way. I get to use my pry bar and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. I love demo!!
Yes, the garden ornaments are still out in the yard. Yes, the autumn decorations are still out and Yes, I will probably be frolicking in the snow banks trying to find everything so I can put it away but that is what you get when you procrastinate. I have had ample time to get it done and I have not done it so I have no one to blame but myself.
I have taken two days off next week so I plan to use them to stay home, get my house in order, purge my closet and just generally get things back on track. Not to mention I have some crafty stuff I really want to work on. I have a butterfly quilt that I need to get at. (I am hoping that some time this weekend I will be able to go get the material to get it started). I have mitts to knit for Ladybug and socks to learn to knit for me and a bunch of Christmas projects that I want to get moving on. Oh my.
I am so proud of me, I actually have Christmas gifts for three of my hardest to buy for people!! All this running around town shopping is paying off. What I do need to do is get my storage box out where I hide all my presents and check out what I have and what I don't have, then make a list and get it finished. It should be a walk in the park after those three have been taken care of. Only on really hard one left to go. Whoot!!
I hope you have a lovely fun, exciting weekend!!
Toodles,
Linda
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Quiet Night In
I spent the evening quilting. I have not done that for a while and it was so peaceful and comforting. I need that every now and then. I have my puppet orders finished and am actually making a puppet for myself. Well I do have one puppet to make but I have to find the proper wool for it and I have not found it yet. So I decided that tonight I could work on the Christmas table runner I am making to use on the kitchen table. I have had the top sewn together for a while and now it is 3/4 quilted. I love it and can't wait to see how it looks on the table.
I snuggled up in my ratty old black sweater, settled into the sewing/craft room and quilted my little heart out tonight. Watched Nashville, Modern Family and Suburgatory. All in all a very good evening. I cannot quite tell you how I feel about quilting, it is not just a hobby, it helps keep me centered and balanced. I love the quiet repetitive work of the needle. I love taking scraps of material and making something beautiful out of them. It just feeds into so many parts of me. It connects me to my history and allows me to leave a bit of myself for the future. It is a creative outlet and a practical result. Ok I know I am going on and on but too bad, its my blog!! I will post pictures of course once the runner is completed.
I am going to try my hand an knitting sock. I want some to hang in the entry way at Christmas time and they were one of the things I was going to make right after Christmas last year. Well its November and I still have not started. I need to get a wiggle on. Of all the things I have knit, I have never tried my hands at socks. Time to learn something new!! WooHoo!!
I decided to take a couple of days off next week. I need to get my house ready for Christmas, I have a butterfly quilt I need to get done and I just want to have some time to get my house in order. Tomorrow night I am going out shopping with E. A local gift shop/cafe is all decked out for Christmas and we want to go check out what they have. Its one of my favourite places to go. A lovely blend of new and old, antiques and brand new. The Cafe has lovely meals which is a plus as well.
Now I need to go to bed, snuggle in and spend some time with my latest Nora Roberts. I like to have a nice light easy read at times and Nora fills the bill.
I hope all of you had a lovely day!!
Toodles Linda
I snuggled up in my ratty old black sweater, settled into the sewing/craft room and quilted my little heart out tonight. Watched Nashville, Modern Family and Suburgatory. All in all a very good evening. I cannot quite tell you how I feel about quilting, it is not just a hobby, it helps keep me centered and balanced. I love the quiet repetitive work of the needle. I love taking scraps of material and making something beautiful out of them. It just feeds into so many parts of me. It connects me to my history and allows me to leave a bit of myself for the future. It is a creative outlet and a practical result. Ok I know I am going on and on but too bad, its my blog!! I will post pictures of course once the runner is completed.
I am going to try my hand an knitting sock. I want some to hang in the entry way at Christmas time and they were one of the things I was going to make right after Christmas last year. Well its November and I still have not started. I need to get a wiggle on. Of all the things I have knit, I have never tried my hands at socks. Time to learn something new!! WooHoo!!
I decided to take a couple of days off next week. I need to get my house ready for Christmas, I have a butterfly quilt I need to get done and I just want to have some time to get my house in order. Tomorrow night I am going out shopping with E. A local gift shop/cafe is all decked out for Christmas and we want to go check out what they have. Its one of my favourite places to go. A lovely blend of new and old, antiques and brand new. The Cafe has lovely meals which is a plus as well.
Now I need to go to bed, snuggle in and spend some time with my latest Nora Roberts. I like to have a nice light easy read at times and Nora fills the bill.
I hope all of you had a lovely day!!
Toodles Linda
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Family Phone Calls
I had a lovely chat with the Carpenter tonight. We don't talk a lot on the phone. He is a quiet soul, not given to talking a lot, not like his sister who thinks nothing of clocking up a three hour phone call. I chat it up on the phone so much I had to invest in a mobile, hands free phone so I could move around during my marathon phone calls. The Carpenter is not of that bent.
But sometimes, upon occasion, he will call and we have wonderful talks. Tonight was such a night. Busy was out being busy at a special Olympics meeting so my dear brother called me. In makes me so happy when we have these chats. I talk to my oldest brother every week almost, The Historian is more of a talker, we started this when Mom died and have carried on ever since. Both my brothers love me, of this I have no doubts as I love them both to the bone but they are totally different and yet the same in some ways. Calls from the Carpenter are fewer than from the Historian but no less precious to me.
There is a big time span between my brothers and I . The Historian graduated from high school the same year I started grade one. I barely remember him living at home. I have memories of watching him trying to make his curly hair slick back into a ducktail. Brilcreme to the rescue!!! And playing air guitar around the living room, that sort of thing. The Carpenter is only 5 years older than I. He is the one I grew up with. He suffered me tagging about behind him, wanting to be doing all that things he did. As I look back on it now, he was pretty tolerant but at the time I could not understand why he was not totally and completely thrilled to have me around. ALL THE TIME!!
He is the one who taught me to ride a bike and tie my shoes. How to make a snow fort and burn wood with a magnifying glass. He was bigger, smarter and at times frustrated the crap out of me. Thankfully over time I came to appreciate him and quite frankly I would not trade him for anything.
Brothers, who knew they would turn out so nice??
Toodles,
Linda
But sometimes, upon occasion, he will call and we have wonderful talks. Tonight was such a night. Busy was out being busy at a special Olympics meeting so my dear brother called me. In makes me so happy when we have these chats. I talk to my oldest brother every week almost, The Historian is more of a talker, we started this when Mom died and have carried on ever since. Both my brothers love me, of this I have no doubts as I love them both to the bone but they are totally different and yet the same in some ways. Calls from the Carpenter are fewer than from the Historian but no less precious to me.
There is a big time span between my brothers and I . The Historian graduated from high school the same year I started grade one. I barely remember him living at home. I have memories of watching him trying to make his curly hair slick back into a ducktail. Brilcreme to the rescue!!! And playing air guitar around the living room, that sort of thing. The Carpenter is only 5 years older than I. He is the one I grew up with. He suffered me tagging about behind him, wanting to be doing all that things he did. As I look back on it now, he was pretty tolerant but at the time I could not understand why he was not totally and completely thrilled to have me around. ALL THE TIME!!
He is the one who taught me to ride a bike and tie my shoes. How to make a snow fort and burn wood with a magnifying glass. He was bigger, smarter and at times frustrated the crap out of me. Thankfully over time I came to appreciate him and quite frankly I would not trade him for anything.
Brothers, who knew they would turn out so nice??
Toodles,
Linda
Monday, 5 November 2012
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Sunday Stuff
Somedays (or Sundays if you will) do not turn out the way you think they are going to. Mine didn't. I did not do my usual sleeping in, get up, laze around, eat breakfast, shower, get dressed and then do something. I was up long before I intended, so I started the laundry, got some groceries, ran an errand and then spent the day working on the last of a puppet order. I even made soup:
Nothing better on a cold wintery day than a pot of homemade chicken soup. Yummy yum yum!! I will be indulging in this for lunches for this coming week. I did have a taste test bowl today and its so good.
Things that did not happen this weekend were the lawn stuff is still outside and the plant pots have yet to be emptied. Poor pink flamingos are buried in the snow. So are the garden gnomes and the cement mushrooms. Sigh, I just did not get at it. I also totally forgot about the craft sale I intended to go to today. I remembered it at about 4:30 which made it too late to attend.
I have the puppets made, I just need to sew the little insert into their little necks to keep the stuffing in their little heads. I can then wrap them up and get them into the mail. I am so pleased with that plan.
That has been my Sunday in a nut shell. I now need to have a brief nap then fold the last of the laundry, remake my bed and get ready for work tomorrow.
Toodles
Linda
Nothing better on a cold wintery day than a pot of homemade chicken soup. Yummy yum yum!! I will be indulging in this for lunches for this coming week. I did have a taste test bowl today and its so good.
Things that did not happen this weekend were the lawn stuff is still outside and the plant pots have yet to be emptied. Poor pink flamingos are buried in the snow. So are the garden gnomes and the cement mushrooms. Sigh, I just did not get at it. I also totally forgot about the craft sale I intended to go to today. I remembered it at about 4:30 which made it too late to attend.
I have the puppets made, I just need to sew the little insert into their little necks to keep the stuffing in their little heads. I can then wrap them up and get them into the mail. I am so pleased with that plan.
That has been my Sunday in a nut shell. I now need to have a brief nap then fold the last of the laundry, remake my bed and get ready for work tomorrow.
Toodles
Linda
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Lovely Linda Weekend
So far its been a lovely weekend and it started on Thursday. Movie night at the Hostess's place. Teddy Bear, the Hostess, Jan and I gathered for an evening of watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Hot buttery popcorn, fresh toasted pumpkin seeds and cold drinks were on the menu. It had forgotten how good popcorn is when its made with real butter and salt at home. The movie was great, the company equally so and the snacks yummy. We lingered on long after the movie was over, chatting over tea in the Hostess's cozy living room.
The Friday night was No Cook of course. We went to one of the better restaurants in town to celebrate the Banker's retirement. I love this place, the food looks and tastes like it came right off one of the better shows on the food network. I mean mint leaves and blackberries on the butter pats. Its awesome. I had pecan crusted salmon, baby red steamed potatoes, with a vegetable medley topped with pea sprouts. Yum. After supper we went not to Tim Horton's as we usually do but to the Banker's house for fancy cookies, wine, and coffee and then we laughed it up like we always do. I have yet to end a No Cook night without my sides aching from laughing so hard. It was 10:30 before I arrived home.
The Banker, S and I had planned to head to the big city today for a Costco run and other shopping but Mother Nature pitched a hissy yesterday and we got a liberal coating of heavy wet snow. Roads were crap so after a brief consultation this morning we switched to plan B and had a shopping day around our town. So much fun. Instead of leaving at 8:30 we switched to 10:00 am. I managed to get my dishes done while I waited to hit the stores.
Running the dishwasher is a hoot right now as I have a leaky hose. Running the thing requires removing the kitchen drawers, a basin to catch the drips, turning on the water to the dishwasher and then watching to make sure the basin does not overflow. All of this is preferable to actually doing the dishes by hand. I need to get the thing fixed. I have looked at it and I know I can't do it. I need a plumber.
Anyway I am moving off topic. We hit the specialty stores at 10:00 am and had the best day. I picked up a few things for Christmas and a few things for myself. (of course). I will not share everything I bought because some of it is slotted to be presents this forthcoming Yuletide. I will however share some:
What pig lover could leave these precious babies in the store. I had to take both, they would have cried if they were separated and I could not have lived with that. (that is my story and I am sticking to it........shut up)
This little picture is fabric applique and I did think I could have made it but for the price I got it for, I could not, so it came home with me. So did the lovely little owl tree ornament. Owls seem to be my thing this year. I like them.
I also bought this little wrought iron Owl hook for my craft room. (Sorry for the blurry pictures but I am not a photographer.)
I also bought this new clock for my craft room, cheap as chips at Winners. I love the old fashioned look of it I just hope this one keeps time better than the old clock did. It lost ten minutes no matter what you did. Made for some interesting mornings.
I also finally found two skeletons that will look super cool hanging on the veranda next year. 70% off at Michael's and I am a happy bunny. I have wants skeletons for years but could never find the right ones on sale. I was not about to pay full price thank you very much!!
All in all I had a lovely Linda weekend. I enjoy these bumming around days with the Banker. S fits in with us very well and we all seem to shop along nicely together. Fun. fun, fun. Tomorrow I have some chores that really need to be done. The lawn ornaments are still out and the plant pots have not been dumped. The fall decorations look sad in the snow and they need to be tucked into the shed for the winter. I have a puppet order to finish off and the time changes tomorrow. I love it.
Oh yes this has been a very good weekend indeed.
Toodles,
Linda
The Friday night was No Cook of course. We went to one of the better restaurants in town to celebrate the Banker's retirement. I love this place, the food looks and tastes like it came right off one of the better shows on the food network. I mean mint leaves and blackberries on the butter pats. Its awesome. I had pecan crusted salmon, baby red steamed potatoes, with a vegetable medley topped with pea sprouts. Yum. After supper we went not to Tim Horton's as we usually do but to the Banker's house for fancy cookies, wine, and coffee and then we laughed it up like we always do. I have yet to end a No Cook night without my sides aching from laughing so hard. It was 10:30 before I arrived home.
The Banker, S and I had planned to head to the big city today for a Costco run and other shopping but Mother Nature pitched a hissy yesterday and we got a liberal coating of heavy wet snow. Roads were crap so after a brief consultation this morning we switched to plan B and had a shopping day around our town. So much fun. Instead of leaving at 8:30 we switched to 10:00 am. I managed to get my dishes done while I waited to hit the stores.
Running the dishwasher is a hoot right now as I have a leaky hose. Running the thing requires removing the kitchen drawers, a basin to catch the drips, turning on the water to the dishwasher and then watching to make sure the basin does not overflow. All of this is preferable to actually doing the dishes by hand. I need to get the thing fixed. I have looked at it and I know I can't do it. I need a plumber.
Anyway I am moving off topic. We hit the specialty stores at 10:00 am and had the best day. I picked up a few things for Christmas and a few things for myself. (of course). I will not share everything I bought because some of it is slotted to be presents this forthcoming Yuletide. I will however share some:
I also finally found two skeletons that will look super cool hanging on the veranda next year. 70% off at Michael's and I am a happy bunny. I have wants skeletons for years but could never find the right ones on sale. I was not about to pay full price thank you very much!!
All in all I had a lovely Linda weekend. I enjoy these bumming around days with the Banker. S fits in with us very well and we all seem to shop along nicely together. Fun. fun, fun. Tomorrow I have some chores that really need to be done. The lawn ornaments are still out and the plant pots have not been dumped. The fall decorations look sad in the snow and they need to be tucked into the shed for the winter. I have a puppet order to finish off and the time changes tomorrow. I love it.
Oh yes this has been a very good weekend indeed.
Toodles,
Linda
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