Ok so now I have come to the end of my second week of walking. I have worked up to almost a kilometer and a half. (By the end of next week I hope to be doing 2 kilometers). I am pleased with myself that I have managed to keep on schedule and hit my goals but I am struggling to find a new rhythm to my days. Right now when I get home from walking I am so tired and so hungry that I could eat anything and everything. I am almost too tired to prepare even scrambled eggs. Thankfully I have talked myself out of picking up any fast food on the way home and undoing any or all the good I have done. I have to get used to this new addition to my daily routine. I know the solution...........
Hire a cook, no wait, that is way to expensive........ I know.......Meal planning!!! I need to get back at it. I also need to start doing some cooking on the weekends so I can have pre prepared meals for the week. I need to have things that are healthy and ready to just heat up. I can see myself sliding into the easy route of unhealthy choices which will totally stomp the bejebus out of my get healthy pursuit if I don't get a handle on this right quick. I hope to get started this weekend. I am banking on the possibility that as I build up my stamina I will want to do more in the evening than flop on the couch or park myself in front of the computer and stare at Pinterest until I am overwhelmed with new ideas. I have puppets to make, quilts to finish, a house to clean and books to read. Dag-nabbit!!!
I have to get quilting on a quilt this weekend. I have four that need to be done and I have two of the tops finished, begging for batting, backing and the quilting to commence. I have committed myself to another donation quilt to the church at home so the clock is ticking. Now I have the bed skirt on my bed, I want to get my own made, all beautifully blue and big enough. So many ideas and so little time. Work does get in the way of my doing all the crafty things that I want to do.
Speaking of work, I am hoping to take the week after Easter off and do some home renos. I need to replace the flooring in my main floor bathroom, the trim in there has been waiting to be painted for years, so time permitting it will get done as well. The laundry room wall paper is going to get finished, and the carpet in my room has got to go. The biggest project is the painting of the entry way. The Banker has looked at my stairwell and declared that she can paint it. I am jumping all over that offer. I know that I cannot and will not be doing it. I had a ladder break out underneath me once, may years ago and I had a nasty fall. To this day I am scared of getting more than two rungs off the ground. She is willing and I am more than willing to have her to it. The painting of the entry way will be the end to the very last of the shinny silvery wallpaper that came with the house.(Insert Drunken Monkey Happy Dance of Joy!!) The only thing that will ruin my plans is if I cannot get the time off and/or she cannot come and do the painting at that time. I am giving it to the universe and what will be will be.
I am tired. I am not going to give in and crash on the couch. I am going to go work on my 27 scarves project and watch some tv. I may even try to wash another load of dishes, which reminds me I need to call the plumber. The dishwasher being out of commission is no longer funny, time to get it back in working order ASAP.
Toodles,
Linda
Thursday 28 February 2013
Tuesday 26 February 2013
Random Bullets for a Tuesday Night
I have no idea where this is gonna go but I know I don't have a "real" blog post in me tonight so I thought I would do some random bullety thoughts on this Tuesday night
- I hit the kilometer mark to day when I was walking. I am proud and sad. I was walking three miles not that long ago but I am on the journey back so GO ME!!
- I like rewards so now I have walked a kilometer my inner child wants chocolate but I am getting an MP3 player instead. My inner child wants to know if it will taste like chocolate.
- I still think if you are going to feel up my boobs you should at least buy me dinner. Had my first mammogram today and it was not as bad as I had heard. No dinner invite though but she was a woman so I was not that excited or disappointed.
- In spite of my best intentions my house still ends up looking like a mess
- I have three projects 99% finished and I can't seem to make myself finish them.
- I think I have some of the best friends in the world. They are my best cheering section ever!!
- I have had more medical related appointments in this one month than I have had in the entire last year. This pursuit of health is exhausting and requires a lot of appointments.
- In spite of their siren call I have not had one Cadbury Easter Creme egg yet. I usually have at least one each year. (sometimes more but at least one) I am saving it for closer to Easter.
- Does anyone really enjoy all those "Real Housewives" shows???? I don't get the appeal but then I don't get Honey Boo Boo either.
- I am growing a dozy of a cold sore on my lip. I am prone to them and I hate them but I get them anyway.
Time for bed.
Toodles
Linda
Sunday 24 February 2013
Workin' on the Weekend
Finally got the last of the purged stuff hauled off to a local charity shop and am rejoicing that it is all out of my house and out of my car. That was my first errand yesterday. Next came groceries, checking out the new Dollar Tree store and then home for breakfast/lunch. I prefer to do my errands early in Saturday mornings before the weekend shopping crowd gets out and gets going. I like to be home, safe in my little house by then. I have less and less tolerance for crowds the older I get.
Once I was home and fed, I decided to finally get the head board attached to the bed. I was, at last, in the mood to wrestle with the mattress and box spring. This is what the bed looks like before I got it updated:
I like this bedspread but its not wide enough for a queen sized bed. I thought of making it wider but its years old and now I have decided that I want to make a new one. That is next on my list of things to do. Actually the entire bedroom is going to get done, paint, new carpet, maybe strip and repaint the end tables. They only have a million layers of stuff on them. I have not really ever stripped a piece of furniture myself but others do it and I am pretty sure I should be able to. The end tables are not very fussy so it should not be very hard job. All this will take place in time, for now its baby steps. so here we go, naked box spring:
It took longer than I planned but finally I got the headboard out of the box, onto the bed frame, I had a great time dropping nuts, bolts and wrenches but it got done. I decided to get the bed skirt made, since the bed was all pulled apart anyway. I have had the material since I moved in and made the new curtains and pillow shams. I like to make a bed skirt with a fitted sheet so it does not slide around. It sounds simple and it is simple but it takes a lot of time. All that cutting, hemming, and pinning. Finally got it all done and put back on.
You cannot tell from this picture but this material is almost like a toile. I love the soft colour of it which is more smokey than it comes across in the pictures. The curtains and shams are made of the same stuff and I have enough leftovers to add into the new quilt. Here is how the bed looks now I have it all together again. You can see how the quilt is not quite long enough and trust me its on the bed off center. If you could see the far side you would see how its too narrow.
It crack me up completely that I spend an entire Saturday afternoon, working on two things that you can hardly see with the end result. I am going to have to give some serious thought on how I can raise the headboard a bit. I like it and I wish more of it could be seen. For now I will look foreward to getting the new quilt made.
I finished all of this, was chatting on facebook with H.C. telling her I needed to some supper organized when my phone rang. Heart stopping words, "Aren't you coming to pick me up?". I had plans to go to the movies last night with friends, to pick up one of them and I like to get there early. I TOTALLY FORGOT!! I felt like a complete fool. Panic, frantic, crazed few minutes ensued but I made it to the theater and got to see the movie with my friends. Thankfully the one I was to pick up got there on her own and bought her ticket and mine. The theater was nearly full but we had excellent seats thanks to the two who got there first. I never got supper until after 9:00 but that was ok. We stopped at a coffee shop after and I got a sandwich and a donut which made my night complete.
Today I was going to go to Walmart but I think I will do that tomorrow. I am just going to stay in, do some housework, laundry and finish up some craft projects. Maybe have a nap since the short blissfully silent break from the neighbours barking dog has ended. Little Sweetums that he is, was howling his head off at 7:45 am. WHY? WHY? WHY??? Its the weekend for goodness sake!!
Toodles,
Linda
Once I was home and fed, I decided to finally get the head board attached to the bed. I was, at last, in the mood to wrestle with the mattress and box spring. This is what the bed looks like before I got it updated:
I like this bedspread but its not wide enough for a queen sized bed. I thought of making it wider but its years old and now I have decided that I want to make a new one. That is next on my list of things to do. Actually the entire bedroom is going to get done, paint, new carpet, maybe strip and repaint the end tables. They only have a million layers of stuff on them. I have not really ever stripped a piece of furniture myself but others do it and I am pretty sure I should be able to. The end tables are not very fussy so it should not be very hard job. All this will take place in time, for now its baby steps. so here we go, naked box spring:
It took longer than I planned but finally I got the headboard out of the box, onto the bed frame, I had a great time dropping nuts, bolts and wrenches but it got done. I decided to get the bed skirt made, since the bed was all pulled apart anyway. I have had the material since I moved in and made the new curtains and pillow shams. I like to make a bed skirt with a fitted sheet so it does not slide around. It sounds simple and it is simple but it takes a lot of time. All that cutting, hemming, and pinning. Finally got it all done and put back on.
You cannot tell from this picture but this material is almost like a toile. I love the soft colour of it which is more smokey than it comes across in the pictures. The curtains and shams are made of the same stuff and I have enough leftovers to add into the new quilt. Here is how the bed looks now I have it all together again. You can see how the quilt is not quite long enough and trust me its on the bed off center. If you could see the far side you would see how its too narrow.
It crack me up completely that I spend an entire Saturday afternoon, working on two things that you can hardly see with the end result. I am going to have to give some serious thought on how I can raise the headboard a bit. I like it and I wish more of it could be seen. For now I will look foreward to getting the new quilt made.
I finished all of this, was chatting on facebook with H.C. telling her I needed to some supper organized when my phone rang. Heart stopping words, "Aren't you coming to pick me up?". I had plans to go to the movies last night with friends, to pick up one of them and I like to get there early. I TOTALLY FORGOT!! I felt like a complete fool. Panic, frantic, crazed few minutes ensued but I made it to the theater and got to see the movie with my friends. Thankfully the one I was to pick up got there on her own and bought her ticket and mine. The theater was nearly full but we had excellent seats thanks to the two who got there first. I never got supper until after 9:00 but that was ok. We stopped at a coffee shop after and I got a sandwich and a donut which made my night complete.
Today I was going to go to Walmart but I think I will do that tomorrow. I am just going to stay in, do some housework, laundry and finish up some craft projects. Maybe have a nap since the short blissfully silent break from the neighbours barking dog has ended. Little Sweetums that he is, was howling his head off at 7:45 am. WHY? WHY? WHY??? Its the weekend for goodness sake!!
Toodles,
Linda
Tuesday 19 February 2013
Rather Pleased With Me Little Self
Finally after having the membership for two weeks I talked myself into actually going to the Get Off Your Butt and Do Something Centre and took my first turn at walking about on the indoor walking track. I had told myself that even if all I did was walk once around it would be better than the nothing I have been doing. So I was very pleased when I made it three times around and probably could have done more but I did not want to push my knee to hard on the first go round. Its a lovely facility, big windows, new, clean, and the music was playing. I had a pleasant first trip. Which means I will head back there tomorrow. My goal is to go four times a week and to get back up to where I was when E and I used to walk.
I am starting my training for my Ireland trip. I want to be able to stomp all over where ever I want to when I get there and right now the way I am, it would be a very painful thing to do. So slow and steady and I will get back up there. Its a nice track to walk on and there was b big mix of people there so I did not feel like I was out of place. I even remembered the combination to my lock on my locker so that made me even happier.
Of course as this is all new half the evening is gone and I just finished supper but that will change. I stopped at the Hostess' for a cup of tea and a chat, AND a container of home made borscht. YUMMY!! I will get better at this timing thing. I am tired and happy and as I said, pleased with my little self. Onward and upward!!
Yesterday I got invited out to tea with my favourite Ladybug, Mamabug and one of the other Grandmabugs. Grandpabug made an appearance but did not hang with us ladies too long. The Bugs are having an addition built on the Bug house so Mama and Ladybug are in town while the drywallers muck up the place. I went over and had tea with the ladies, oh we had a lovely time. Ladybug is so cute and funny and was such a well behaved little one while we chatted away the afternoon. I was so happy to get to visit with them and only just now thought that I should have taken my camera with me. Crap!! Maybe I will remember to bring it the next time. I need to make more effort to visit with them more often. Just because they are out of town is no excuse.
We spent the afternoon sipping tea, munching cookies and watch the little one act delighted everytime her favourite cartoon came on the television. So funny to see her get so excited for the same cartoon characters each and everytime they showed there silly little faces on the tv. She is a lovely little girl, a bit of a goof but precious none the less.
Well I should go and work on the puppet order. I am down to the last two. I would like to get them into the mail this week. Oh the best laid plans!!
Toodles,
Linda
I am starting my training for my Ireland trip. I want to be able to stomp all over where ever I want to when I get there and right now the way I am, it would be a very painful thing to do. So slow and steady and I will get back up there. Its a nice track to walk on and there was b big mix of people there so I did not feel like I was out of place. I even remembered the combination to my lock on my locker so that made me even happier.
Of course as this is all new half the evening is gone and I just finished supper but that will change. I stopped at the Hostess' for a cup of tea and a chat, AND a container of home made borscht. YUMMY!! I will get better at this timing thing. I am tired and happy and as I said, pleased with my little self. Onward and upward!!
Yesterday I got invited out to tea with my favourite Ladybug, Mamabug and one of the other Grandmabugs. Grandpabug made an appearance but did not hang with us ladies too long. The Bugs are having an addition built on the Bug house so Mama and Ladybug are in town while the drywallers muck up the place. I went over and had tea with the ladies, oh we had a lovely time. Ladybug is so cute and funny and was such a well behaved little one while we chatted away the afternoon. I was so happy to get to visit with them and only just now thought that I should have taken my camera with me. Crap!! Maybe I will remember to bring it the next time. I need to make more effort to visit with them more often. Just because they are out of town is no excuse.
We spent the afternoon sipping tea, munching cookies and watch the little one act delighted everytime her favourite cartoon came on the television. So funny to see her get so excited for the same cartoon characters each and everytime they showed there silly little faces on the tv. She is a lovely little girl, a bit of a goof but precious none the less.
Well I should go and work on the puppet order. I am down to the last two. I would like to get them into the mail this week. Oh the best laid plans!!
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday 17 February 2013
Sunday Snippets
How inexplicably wonderful to sleep in on a Sunday morning until you body alarm wakes you up, not Sir Barks-alot howling his unhappiness to all and sundry. It was so wonderfully quiet on the street this morning. I cannot tell you how lovely it was. I woke when I was ready, lazed in bed, read for a bit and then got up to face the day. I am eternally grateful for the blessed silence. Sunday is a day of rest and I like to take that idea to heart.
At the moment the first load of laundry is chugging away in the machine, God is drying the dishes in the kitchen and I finally finally finally finished the latest scarf I was knitting on. It seemed to go on forever and I was heartily sick of knitting on it. I am glad to see the back of it. Time to start another one. I think I have 5 of the planned 27 made so far.
I did think I would work on the bedroom today but I am finding myself completely lacking in ambition at the moment. The thought of hurling a queen sized mattress and box spring around on my own is quickly losing its luster. Maybe I will get more energy before the day is over. I really would like to get that headboard out of its box after all this time and the dust ruffle made and onto the bed. I am hoping that a quilt pattern will jump out at me and I will finally decide what I want for the bed. I love the one that is on there but its ages old and too small for the queen. A new one would be nice and I am always up for making a quilt. I just need to find the right pattern. I still tussle with the idea of making the old one wider and just keeping it. Its a Grandmother's fan and still in reasonable shape for the age that it is.
So the afternoon beckons with not much to fill it. I may just spend some time knitting until I get a surge of energy to work on the bedroom. There are some good movies on TCM againt today. All the more reason to snuggle into my comfy chair and spend a lazy afternoon.
I hope you day is wonderful
Toodles,
Linda
At the moment the first load of laundry is chugging away in the machine, God is drying the dishes in the kitchen and I finally finally finally finished the latest scarf I was knitting on. It seemed to go on forever and I was heartily sick of knitting on it. I am glad to see the back of it. Time to start another one. I think I have 5 of the planned 27 made so far.
I did think I would work on the bedroom today but I am finding myself completely lacking in ambition at the moment. The thought of hurling a queen sized mattress and box spring around on my own is quickly losing its luster. Maybe I will get more energy before the day is over. I really would like to get that headboard out of its box after all this time and the dust ruffle made and onto the bed. I am hoping that a quilt pattern will jump out at me and I will finally decide what I want for the bed. I love the one that is on there but its ages old and too small for the queen. A new one would be nice and I am always up for making a quilt. I just need to find the right pattern. I still tussle with the idea of making the old one wider and just keeping it. Its a Grandmother's fan and still in reasonable shape for the age that it is.
So the afternoon beckons with not much to fill it. I may just spend some time knitting until I get a surge of energy to work on the bedroom. There are some good movies on TCM againt today. All the more reason to snuggle into my comfy chair and spend a lazy afternoon.
I hope you day is wonderful
Toodles,
Linda
Saturday 16 February 2013
Saturday Stuff
The weekend started with the No Cook Friday Group going to a trivia night. We went last year and had a blast even though we came in dead last. This year we kicked butt and came in third from last. We had so much fun. The Hostess came along too as she likes trivia. Instead of four of us like last year we had 7 players but we still need to find someone who knows sports, damn it. This year we had costumes, some lovely aprons, whipped up by T, the Banker and me.
Don't we look cute? I hid most of our faces because I have not asked for permission to be putting my friends faces on my blog, so better safe than sorry. A is missing, she ditched us for a hockey game. The Hostess kindly took the picture of us.
Last night after I got home I was not quite ready to settle down to sleep even though I had been out later than I usually am. I decided to curl up in bed and watch a DVD. The fun part of doing this is that you spend most of the movie with this for view
Yes that is the tv directly behind her head. The death stare is because I am trying to ignore her and watch the television. 99% of the time she could care less what I am doing but try and watch something in bed and she is all up in your biddness!! Demanding ear rubs, back scratches and all the general lovey attention she can get. Silly kitty. She will lay down for a while, lull you into a false sense that you can actually watch the full screen, then she will pop back up and start the whole performance all over again. Eventually she gets tired of this and leaves. Up until then she is just darn annoying.
This morning started slow. I slept in which was lovely, I had no real need to be up and going so I took advantage and had a little lie in. Once I was up and had some breakfast, I filled the trunk of the car with half the donation stuff and hauled it off. The faster it gets out of my house the better for me. Less likely to root through it and change my mind this way. I have one more car full to go tomorrow. I spent the rest of the afternoon sewing on the quilt of the red bedroom.
The top is done now and I just need to quilt it. Right now I have three quilt tops sitting in the wings waiting to get quilted. Turner Classic movies had some old MGM musicals on this afternoon so it was the perfect back drop to my sewing. Outside the snow has been falling ever so gently. Not lots of flakes, just a very few at a time. Sort of like a snow globe when things have almost settled down after a good shake. A pot of tea on the sewing table within easy reach and it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon, in my world anyway.
Now I am headed for a nap, then supper, then maybe I will work on the last of the puppets. I have only got two left to do. Tomorrow I will rid myself of the last of the purged items, and maybe I will finally make the new bed skirt for my bed. Laundry will be done and maybe the dishes will finally get finished. I want to make a big pot of soup and anything else my little heart desires, Three day weekends are wonderful.
For now the couch is calling my name.
Toodles,
Linda
Don't we look cute? I hid most of our faces because I have not asked for permission to be putting my friends faces on my blog, so better safe than sorry. A is missing, she ditched us for a hockey game. The Hostess kindly took the picture of us.
Last night after I got home I was not quite ready to settle down to sleep even though I had been out later than I usually am. I decided to curl up in bed and watch a DVD. The fun part of doing this is that you spend most of the movie with this for view
Yes that is the tv directly behind her head. The death stare is because I am trying to ignore her and watch the television. 99% of the time she could care less what I am doing but try and watch something in bed and she is all up in your biddness!! Demanding ear rubs, back scratches and all the general lovey attention she can get. Silly kitty. She will lay down for a while, lull you into a false sense that you can actually watch the full screen, then she will pop back up and start the whole performance all over again. Eventually she gets tired of this and leaves. Up until then she is just darn annoying.
This morning started slow. I slept in which was lovely, I had no real need to be up and going so I took advantage and had a little lie in. Once I was up and had some breakfast, I filled the trunk of the car with half the donation stuff and hauled it off. The faster it gets out of my house the better for me. Less likely to root through it and change my mind this way. I have one more car full to go tomorrow. I spent the rest of the afternoon sewing on the quilt of the red bedroom.
The top is done now and I just need to quilt it. Right now I have three quilt tops sitting in the wings waiting to get quilted. Turner Classic movies had some old MGM musicals on this afternoon so it was the perfect back drop to my sewing. Outside the snow has been falling ever so gently. Not lots of flakes, just a very few at a time. Sort of like a snow globe when things have almost settled down after a good shake. A pot of tea on the sewing table within easy reach and it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon, in my world anyway.
Now I am headed for a nap, then supper, then maybe I will work on the last of the puppets. I have only got two left to do. Tomorrow I will rid myself of the last of the purged items, and maybe I will finally make the new bed skirt for my bed. Laundry will be done and maybe the dishes will finally get finished. I want to make a big pot of soup and anything else my little heart desires, Three day weekends are wonderful.
For now the couch is calling my name.
Toodles,
Linda
Thursday 14 February 2013
Psst Wanna Know a Secret??
I don't like Valentine's Day. At one time I did but the older I get and year after year, I find myself alone yet again on this annoying day that celebrates love and couples and all that sort of thing, the less I am thrilled with it. I wish it would go away, I don't need my aloneness taken out, paraded infront of me and then having my nose rubbed in it, thank you very much. Don't get me wrong, for those of you with Valentines, I am happy for you, go enjoy, relish, celebrate, indulge. Buy each other flowers, chocolates, champagne, fancy meals and jewelry I am happy for you and wish you nothing but the best. I am truly glad for you that you have what you do, that you have love in your life and would never in a million years wish that away from anyone. It is just personally, looking at it from my state of being, I am not a fan.I will be happy when this day is done.
I spent today quietly, running errands this morning and getting the permanent crown attached to my tooth, then I came home and spent the better part of the day sewing on the quilt for the red room.
It is coming along nicely. I have more than half of the top done. You may not be able to see it well in this picture but there is pale grey sashing around each block. Since I took this picture I have added one more row of blocks. I am torn if I should add strips of red, grey and black around the edge or if I should make it one more row of blocks on the side and bottom to make it bid enough. It will be the spread on the bed and the more I think about it I am thinking I should go with the blocks. The bed skirt is black, the walls of the room are gray with white trim. the accents are red. Its going to make a big difference in the room. I will keep working on it and let the quilt tell me how it wants to be finished.
There you have it my Valentine's day. I am going to finish off my evening with a round of dishes, litter box cleaning and then more quilt sewing. See on any other day that would sound maybe a little boring but on this stupid holiday, it just sounds pathetic. Blargh!!!
Toodles,
Linda
I spent today quietly, running errands this morning and getting the permanent crown attached to my tooth, then I came home and spent the better part of the day sewing on the quilt for the red room.
It is coming along nicely. I have more than half of the top done. You may not be able to see it well in this picture but there is pale grey sashing around each block. Since I took this picture I have added one more row of blocks. I am torn if I should add strips of red, grey and black around the edge or if I should make it one more row of blocks on the side and bottom to make it bid enough. It will be the spread on the bed and the more I think about it I am thinking I should go with the blocks. The bed skirt is black, the walls of the room are gray with white trim. the accents are red. Its going to make a big difference in the room. I will keep working on it and let the quilt tell me how it wants to be finished.
There you have it my Valentine's day. I am going to finish off my evening with a round of dishes, litter box cleaning and then more quilt sewing. See on any other day that would sound maybe a little boring but on this stupid holiday, it just sounds pathetic. Blargh!!!
Toodles,
Linda
Wednesday 13 February 2013
Purging, Purging, Purging
I finally got with the plan and dove head first into the bedroom and started to evict things. The initial attack on the room yesterday yielded this pile of evictees:
Three bags of clothes, three laundry baskets full of odds and ends, two boxes of old VCR tapes (you can see them at the top of the picture) and one piece of exercise equipment that has lived in my closet for probably the last 10 years and has been used twice. (I think I can let it go). So now all I have to do is haul all this downstairs, repack the laundry baskets into boxes then haul them to to car and donate them. I already have three boxes of stuff in the kitchen that is ready to go. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. Next I can start to rip out that super ugly carpet that still graces my bedroom floor. Fun times.
Speaking of my bedroom, this is my Mother's cedar chest:
She wanted one for years and it took her years to finally get one. After she passed away I got it and have treasured it ever since. Currently it lives at the foot of my bed and the cat has been using it as a launch pad for either getting onto the bed or down onto the floor. I happened to notice yesterday while cleaning, that this is causing some scratches to appear on the top. HORROR!! PANIC!!! CAT-ASTROPHE!! I cannot let this continue, my darling Mama will come back and haunt me for sure. So out came some leftover ticking, some quilt batt and the sewing machine. Now the cedar chest looks like this:
Minou has a landing pad now that is soft and the top of the chest is protected from her destructive hind feet. The material is held on there with elastic so its easy to remove and wash. Crisis averted. I am safe from spectures in the night however beloved they may be.
Today I don't know what I am up to. I could keep working in the bedroom, get the bed skirt made, move the boxes out from under the bed, go through the book cases. I could start the new quilt for the red bedroom. I could lay on the couch and nap, I could read a book, I could do the dishes. Trouble is I don't feel like doing much of anything. Slightly out of sorts today and I have no idea why. Maybe I should go make myself something to eat and that may perk me up. I hate it when I get into one of these moods. Oh well, I think I will just make myself do something after lunch and that may snap me back into shape.
Toodles,
Linda
PS: I decided to start on the new quild for the red bedroom.
Three bags of clothes, three laundry baskets full of odds and ends, two boxes of old VCR tapes (you can see them at the top of the picture) and one piece of exercise equipment that has lived in my closet for probably the last 10 years and has been used twice. (I think I can let it go). So now all I have to do is haul all this downstairs, repack the laundry baskets into boxes then haul them to to car and donate them. I already have three boxes of stuff in the kitchen that is ready to go. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. Next I can start to rip out that super ugly carpet that still graces my bedroom floor. Fun times.
Speaking of my bedroom, this is my Mother's cedar chest:
She wanted one for years and it took her years to finally get one. After she passed away I got it and have treasured it ever since. Currently it lives at the foot of my bed and the cat has been using it as a launch pad for either getting onto the bed or down onto the floor. I happened to notice yesterday while cleaning, that this is causing some scratches to appear on the top. HORROR!! PANIC!!! CAT-ASTROPHE!! I cannot let this continue, my darling Mama will come back and haunt me for sure. So out came some leftover ticking, some quilt batt and the sewing machine. Now the cedar chest looks like this:
Minou has a landing pad now that is soft and the top of the chest is protected from her destructive hind feet. The material is held on there with elastic so its easy to remove and wash. Crisis averted. I am safe from spectures in the night however beloved they may be.
Today I don't know what I am up to. I could keep working in the bedroom, get the bed skirt made, move the boxes out from under the bed, go through the book cases. I could start the new quilt for the red bedroom. I could lay on the couch and nap, I could read a book, I could do the dishes. Trouble is I don't feel like doing much of anything. Slightly out of sorts today and I have no idea why. Maybe I should go make myself something to eat and that may perk me up. I hate it when I get into one of these moods. Oh well, I think I will just make myself do something after lunch and that may snap me back into shape.
Toodles,
Linda
PS: I decided to start on the new quild for the red bedroom.
Monday 11 February 2013
Monday Musings
Technically if I was working according to plan I should be deep in the bedroom closet at this moment, pitching and purging to my hearts content. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans. I did have an eye appointment this morning so I started my day with that instead of purging. Good news is my eyes have changed so little in the last three years that I can get new glasses if I wish but these are fine, that news made me very happy. I like that my eyes are not getting worse, that they are standing strong and steady as they are. Very important to me.
Once I got done at the doctor's I headed off to Walmart for cat food and litter, some yarn for puppets and some Advil for my knee which is giving me grief today. Having made my purchases at that store, which I have to say is not my favourite place to shop, I did not feel like going home just yet. I am on holidays, I am foot loose and fancy free, so I decided to hit up a couple of thrift stores before I headed home for the day.
I found nothing at the first store I went to. Nothing, NADA, Zippity Do Dah. This made me happy in a strange way because it is proof that I am getting more discerning in my thrift shopping. The second store yielded one item which I will give to my niece for Christmas. Not a single purchase for myself. I am so proud. The best thing yet was what I did buy was on half price so it really was win win win. I did not go to any more stores, I will save them for another day, I am off until Friday. Armed with my one purchase, I headed home.
Yesterday I got the quilt top finished that I had been working on: Its called a Disappearing Nine Patch, Queen sized: Black, gray, cream and burgundy cotton.
Not the best picture I know but it shows you roughly a quarter of the quilt top. I will show a better picture once I have it all quilted and ready to send off to its owner. Over the weekend I also made a canvas bag. A large canvas bag that I made out of an old feed sack: Plain simple and serviceable.
It has been made to carry a stack of 24" by 24' plastic sheets that will be used as a life sized game board. I made one before this but it just was a smidge too small so I am going to keep that one for myself and use it for all sorts of toting related activities.
Keeping this does not break my heart because I love it. I love that you can see the faded printing on the feed sack. The other one does not have this. I like the rustic look of this one so adding it to my shopping bag collection is fine by me.
This afternoon I am going to work on my puppet order, It needs to be finished and since I am not in the cleaning mood I might as well work on them and catch up on some taped tv shows. Tomorrow will be time enough to get at the bedroom. My brother hauled my headboard upstairs for me yesterday. God Bless him, I have left it sitting in the kitchen for 2 years now, I got it on sale and thought I would take it up once I got going on the bedroom reno. The bedroom purge is the first step in the reno. It will be purge, wall paper, paint, remove carpet, install carpet, new quilt and bed skirt. Not all in that order but that is what needs to be done. I may even get the bedskirt meassured out and get started on that.
Well I am off for my comfy chair, my crochet hook and the DVR and a happy afternoon of working at my second job. Its gonna be a CRAFTASTIC afternoon!!
Toodles, Linda
Once I got done at the doctor's I headed off to Walmart for cat food and litter, some yarn for puppets and some Advil for my knee which is giving me grief today. Having made my purchases at that store, which I have to say is not my favourite place to shop, I did not feel like going home just yet. I am on holidays, I am foot loose and fancy free, so I decided to hit up a couple of thrift stores before I headed home for the day.
I found nothing at the first store I went to. Nothing, NADA, Zippity Do Dah. This made me happy in a strange way because it is proof that I am getting more discerning in my thrift shopping. The second store yielded one item which I will give to my niece for Christmas. Not a single purchase for myself. I am so proud. The best thing yet was what I did buy was on half price so it really was win win win. I did not go to any more stores, I will save them for another day, I am off until Friday. Armed with my one purchase, I headed home.
Yesterday I got the quilt top finished that I had been working on: Its called a Disappearing Nine Patch, Queen sized: Black, gray, cream and burgundy cotton.
Not the best picture I know but it shows you roughly a quarter of the quilt top. I will show a better picture once I have it all quilted and ready to send off to its owner. Over the weekend I also made a canvas bag. A large canvas bag that I made out of an old feed sack: Plain simple and serviceable.
It has been made to carry a stack of 24" by 24' plastic sheets that will be used as a life sized game board. I made one before this but it just was a smidge too small so I am going to keep that one for myself and use it for all sorts of toting related activities.
Keeping this does not break my heart because I love it. I love that you can see the faded printing on the feed sack. The other one does not have this. I like the rustic look of this one so adding it to my shopping bag collection is fine by me.
This afternoon I am going to work on my puppet order, It needs to be finished and since I am not in the cleaning mood I might as well work on them and catch up on some taped tv shows. Tomorrow will be time enough to get at the bedroom. My brother hauled my headboard upstairs for me yesterday. God Bless him, I have left it sitting in the kitchen for 2 years now, I got it on sale and thought I would take it up once I got going on the bedroom reno. The bedroom purge is the first step in the reno. It will be purge, wall paper, paint, remove carpet, install carpet, new quilt and bed skirt. Not all in that order but that is what needs to be done. I may even get the bedskirt meassured out and get started on that.
Well I am off for my comfy chair, my crochet hook and the DVR and a happy afternoon of working at my second job. Its gonna be a CRAFTASTIC afternoon!!
Toodles, Linda
Sunday 10 February 2013
Sunday Snippets
Seems to me that these days there is not enough hours in the day. I am not complaining, I like this but I just need to get myself organized so I can get more done in the time that I have. Ah well, I am off this week until Friday so I am hoping to get my bedroom purged. Its starting to look like a hoarders room so it needs to be beat back into submission.
If I am brave enough I will, maybe, post some pictures. Its become a catch all room for things that I have not put in the proper place because the place need purging. I have a very decent sized closet in my room for the age of this house and I have crammed it full of things to the point where I really cannot get into it. There are things in there that need to go. Two boxes of high heels come to mind. My knees will not let me wear high heels anymore and even if I could they are past their time. They need to go. The plan is out with the no longer needed and in with the stuff I want to keep.
I do go on and on about this a lot. I know it, I admit it. I ramble on and on about all this getting organized, purge out the old, get on top of things. I think I do that so I keep it front and center in my mind and then I don't slide into my old ways of happily ignoring the mess and the piles of stuff. Even I have to admit, its getting a tad repetitive. I will try to do less of the talking and more of the doing.
Friday night was wonderful fun. The No Cook group did a Bud Spud and Steak night. I won a door prize!! Me, who never wins anything. I got two lovely pottery coffee mugs, a travel coffee mug, a tiger lily print that I cannot wait to frame and hang, and a calender. After the delicious supper, we all trucked over to the Hostess' place for her Reno Reveal party. Oh my what a lovely evening. She had such lovely food, the stuff you see on pinterest or the cooking network but the difference is she actually made it. So we ate, drank, talked and laughed the evening away. Her home is lovely, cozy and welcoming. She has made incredible changes in the place, it looks nothing like the place she bought.
Then last night, the Carpenter and Busy arrived for a sleep over on their way home from Jamaica. They spent the night, I fed them breakfast then they headed home to get settled before they start back to work again. They looked tanned, relaxed and happy. It was sad to see them leave but I totally get why they wanted to get home in good time.
Once they left, I worked on the quilt I started a while ago, took a nap and chatted on the phone. I almost have the quilt top sewn together. I just need to sew the boarder strips on to finish it off. I may do that yet tonight. I would like to get it ready to quilt as soon as I can because I am already itching to start another one.
Gotta go sew
Toodles,
Linda
If I am brave enough I will, maybe, post some pictures. Its become a catch all room for things that I have not put in the proper place because the place need purging. I have a very decent sized closet in my room for the age of this house and I have crammed it full of things to the point where I really cannot get into it. There are things in there that need to go. Two boxes of high heels come to mind. My knees will not let me wear high heels anymore and even if I could they are past their time. They need to go. The plan is out with the no longer needed and in with the stuff I want to keep.
I do go on and on about this a lot. I know it, I admit it. I ramble on and on about all this getting organized, purge out the old, get on top of things. I think I do that so I keep it front and center in my mind and then I don't slide into my old ways of happily ignoring the mess and the piles of stuff. Even I have to admit, its getting a tad repetitive. I will try to do less of the talking and more of the doing.
Friday night was wonderful fun. The No Cook group did a Bud Spud and Steak night. I won a door prize!! Me, who never wins anything. I got two lovely pottery coffee mugs, a travel coffee mug, a tiger lily print that I cannot wait to frame and hang, and a calender. After the delicious supper, we all trucked over to the Hostess' place for her Reno Reveal party. Oh my what a lovely evening. She had such lovely food, the stuff you see on pinterest or the cooking network but the difference is she actually made it. So we ate, drank, talked and laughed the evening away. Her home is lovely, cozy and welcoming. She has made incredible changes in the place, it looks nothing like the place she bought.
Then last night, the Carpenter and Busy arrived for a sleep over on their way home from Jamaica. They spent the night, I fed them breakfast then they headed home to get settled before they start back to work again. They looked tanned, relaxed and happy. It was sad to see them leave but I totally get why they wanted to get home in good time.
Once they left, I worked on the quilt I started a while ago, took a nap and chatted on the phone. I almost have the quilt top sewn together. I just need to sew the boarder strips on to finish it off. I may do that yet tonight. I would like to get it ready to quilt as soon as I can because I am already itching to start another one.
Gotta go sew
Toodles,
Linda
Tuesday 5 February 2013
I Am Still Here
I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I have just been busy and strangely lacking in anything pithy to say so therefore the blog has been silent. I will try to figure out something of interest to impart as I go along but I would not be holding your breath if I were you. Its not that I am not doing anything, its just it takes some time for it all to come back to me. My memory is pudding these days.
Best Friend was here for the weekend. She arrived on Thursday, one day earlier than planned due to weather then slipped off again on Monday morning to complete her rounds of work and business. RRSP season brings her out at this time of year and it makes a nice little break for me. We had a lovely time. We really did not do much, visit, eat, sleep, tiny bit of shopping then visit and sleep, and visit and talk and talk and talk. We never seem to be at a loss for things to talk about.
Friday night the No Cook Gang thought that the Banker and I should go to the Irish Pavilion since it is Winterfest and all. We will be travelling to the real place in September of this year, so all things Irish are very important. Best Friend was here to join in on the fun and we had a blast. The food was good, the music and dancers excellent and I toasted it all with a pint of Guinness. Yum. We took in three more pavilions before the night was over. I have never ventured out to Winterfest, it was all new to me. I, have apparently, been missing out. I need to get out of the house more
Busy and the Carpenter were here last weekend, well not quite the whole weekend, they arrived late on Thursday night and then had to head to the big city and their plane to Jamaica on Friday afternoon. Our visit was short but sweet. They are going to stop in again this weekend on their way back home again. I like that they take the time to stop in and spend the night with me when they are passing through. I have not had an email since they have been gone but I am hoping that they are having a very good time. I mean, its Jamaica Man!!
Monday night, T, the Banker and I made aprons for the No Cook Friday ladies to wear to a trivia night that we will be at in a couple of weeks. We will be very stylish!! Aprons for a no cook group seemed a little silly but appropriate at the same time. So what else is going on in my life, oh yes, Wednesday night is Book Club and for the second time since I joined I will not have actually read the book. Then on Thursday night the Banker and I are off the the movies, Friday night is a Bud, Spud and Steak night for the No Cook crowd and then after that we are off to the Hostess' house for her Reno Reveal party. Saturday night is Busy and the Carpenter then the week is done.
Tonight I am catching up on the laundry and making a tote bag for a friend. I have a puppet order to finish, (9 of the little critters), a pair of mitts to knit, a puppy puppet to complete and a quilt to work on. I knit a couple of baby hats while Best Friend and I were chatting the weekend away and got one of the mitts finished. The second one will go faster because I have a idea of what I am making this time. These are not just plain old ordinary mitts.
These mitts are a challenge. The have a glove inside and the finger end of the mitt is open, with a little flap over the end so you can pull it down and expose the glove portion. I have no pattern so its been fun figuring out how to make them. A co-worker loves the original pair but they are too long for her little hands. She approached me and asked so now I am trying to recreate them only shorter. I like a challenge.
Next week I am off for four days, then back to work for Friday then off for the long weekend. I am only working Friday because we are short staffed and my vacation buddy wants to go away that weekend. I am just going to be at home so I told her to take the day and I would work it so she could be away. This leaves me one day of vacation to use up next month. Win win!!
I am hoping to get some projects finished and purge my closet while I am off. As usual I have a mile long to do list. Oh my. It is good to keep busy. So there you go, that is me updated. I need to go and work on something before I have to go to bed.
I will try to blog a little more often in the future. I may have only a handful of readers but I do this mostly because I really do like to write. It is good for me.
Toodles,
Linda
Best Friend was here for the weekend. She arrived on Thursday, one day earlier than planned due to weather then slipped off again on Monday morning to complete her rounds of work and business. RRSP season brings her out at this time of year and it makes a nice little break for me. We had a lovely time. We really did not do much, visit, eat, sleep, tiny bit of shopping then visit and sleep, and visit and talk and talk and talk. We never seem to be at a loss for things to talk about.
Friday night the No Cook Gang thought that the Banker and I should go to the Irish Pavilion since it is Winterfest and all. We will be travelling to the real place in September of this year, so all things Irish are very important. Best Friend was here to join in on the fun and we had a blast. The food was good, the music and dancers excellent and I toasted it all with a pint of Guinness. Yum. We took in three more pavilions before the night was over. I have never ventured out to Winterfest, it was all new to me. I, have apparently, been missing out. I need to get out of the house more
Busy and the Carpenter were here last weekend, well not quite the whole weekend, they arrived late on Thursday night and then had to head to the big city and their plane to Jamaica on Friday afternoon. Our visit was short but sweet. They are going to stop in again this weekend on their way back home again. I like that they take the time to stop in and spend the night with me when they are passing through. I have not had an email since they have been gone but I am hoping that they are having a very good time. I mean, its Jamaica Man!!
Monday night, T, the Banker and I made aprons for the No Cook Friday ladies to wear to a trivia night that we will be at in a couple of weeks. We will be very stylish!! Aprons for a no cook group seemed a little silly but appropriate at the same time. So what else is going on in my life, oh yes, Wednesday night is Book Club and for the second time since I joined I will not have actually read the book. Then on Thursday night the Banker and I are off the the movies, Friday night is a Bud, Spud and Steak night for the No Cook crowd and then after that we are off to the Hostess' house for her Reno Reveal party. Saturday night is Busy and the Carpenter then the week is done.
Tonight I am catching up on the laundry and making a tote bag for a friend. I have a puppet order to finish, (9 of the little critters), a pair of mitts to knit, a puppy puppet to complete and a quilt to work on. I knit a couple of baby hats while Best Friend and I were chatting the weekend away and got one of the mitts finished. The second one will go faster because I have a idea of what I am making this time. These are not just plain old ordinary mitts.
These mitts are a challenge. The have a glove inside and the finger end of the mitt is open, with a little flap over the end so you can pull it down and expose the glove portion. I have no pattern so its been fun figuring out how to make them. A co-worker loves the original pair but they are too long for her little hands. She approached me and asked so now I am trying to recreate them only shorter. I like a challenge.
Next week I am off for four days, then back to work for Friday then off for the long weekend. I am only working Friday because we are short staffed and my vacation buddy wants to go away that weekend. I am just going to be at home so I told her to take the day and I would work it so she could be away. This leaves me one day of vacation to use up next month. Win win!!
I am hoping to get some projects finished and purge my closet while I am off. As usual I have a mile long to do list. Oh my. It is good to keep busy. So there you go, that is me updated. I need to go and work on something before I have to go to bed.
I will try to blog a little more often in the future. I may have only a handful of readers but I do this mostly because I really do like to write. It is good for me.
Toodles,
Linda
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