HOME ALONE

Well this was not the Christmas I had planned let me tell you that. I got a chest infection, then I got cellulitis in my leg and I have been knocked on my keister for the duration. IV antibiotics and now some heavy duty oral ones are working on my leg. |Its slow but there is improvement. This thing is really painful so this is not going to be a long post, my leg feels best up rather than down.

So I am at home not with Busy and the Carpenter having a family Christmas. I just was not up to the trip. They have been sending me little videos as the day goes on so I still feel part of things.I miss being with them and watching the Tater Tot rip into Christmas. Ah well another year.

My wonderful friends have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep me looked after, I have been spoiled beyond all possibilities. I am blessed blessed blessed to know such caring people.

Well my leg is protesting so I need to go put it up

Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year

Linda

SICK SICK SICK

I am sick, I have been since Wednesday last week, well actually before then but I gave in and admitted it on Wednesday. I was hoping it would go away but its not. I have an ugly dry cough, I croak when I speak and all I want to do is sleep. Eating holds no charm but I am making myself. I am going to the doctor tomorrow.

I hate going to the doctor when I am sick and think I should be at home. Doctors seem to think I am good to work no matter what. I have never been one of those people who gets time off. I get "Oh no there is no reason you can't be at work". I am prepared to fight if I have too. I seriously feel crappy. So much so that all I want is my Mommy. ( I know its childish but she is what I want. Not gonna happen but I can  pout about it if I want to, being sick means you can be cranky and unreasonable)

My wonderful friends are looking after me. bringing me food and calling and texting with offers to get me anything I need. So I am being monitored and very well looked after. I am just not much good at being sick. Feeling like a dish rag lost its charm three days ago. I missed making curtains at KitKat's house. I missed No Cook Friday, I miss going out.

I had plans to do some Christmas shopping on Saturday, I had 4 places to go, I made it to one and then came home and slept. oh well it is what it is. I will survive, I just am not a happy patient.

sniffles
Linda

Mutterings of a Mad Woman

That is mad as in angry not crazy, although there may be some who would argue that point. I am cranky because I am trying to get the house decorated for the holidays and my knee is slowing me down, my house is a complete mess and there is no power to my outside lights. Hrummphhh. I think I need a nap.

Ah well slow and steady, this too shall pass. I am thinking that I maybe have hit that stage where I question my sanity as to why I have all this stuff and why I think its a good idea to do this every year. I have lots and lots and lots of projects to do and I think I have a cold coming on. Oh my this has turned into a pity party. Its also the reason I am blogging and not decorating. I am taking a wee break.

Ok so before I completely go down sorry for me road, I will change directions. I will bore you with what I did this weekend.  Yesterday I went and actually got some Christmas shopping done, some gifts purchased and then I got this, before my knee gave out and I had to come home.

Its the next to the last segment of my Nativity scene. I have one more piece to get and then the whole thing is complete.

I am running out of room anyway so once I get the guy playing the horn thing I am done.

I also got the front of the house decked out even if the lights don't work. I redid the wreath last year but I did not change the ribbon, that got updated this year.

before and after. I loved the old ribbon but the colour did not go with the pretty red of the poinsettias
I am much happier with it now.

I found this Gothic window box at a yard sale quiet some time ago and I love it. I like that I can change it up each season. I love the look of my house when its all done up for the Christmas season.

This is an old picture but you get the drift. We have more snow but it generally looks this way. I want to find a light up Snowman to have at the side of the steps but my search is not proving fruitful. I really wish I had kept the one Mom had. Oh will I shall press on. I don't like a lot of the new ones they have out there but I will find somethng. No rush until the power problem is sorted. (it means a trip to the basement and I am not up for that today)

Last night Teddybear and I went to a play and then our for coffee and a chat after. I was thinking of going shopping again to day but I could not work up the enthusiasm to do that. I can get it done over the next week. Tomorrow night The Banker, KitKat, Teddybear and I are having supper at the Bankers. We have been invited to see her newly painted living room, new drapes and she will; have her house perfect for Christmas. Right now I need to keep on plugging away at my own  decorating and working at the super secret Christmas projects. Updates to some.!!

Toodles,
Linda

Later the same day!!

P.S.  things have gone on a lot better than they were earlier this fine day. Santa has exploded all over the house and while I am not done with the decorating, I am farther along than I thought I would get. this makes me happy. I have not set out everything but I have not skimped either. My knee is tolerating the stomping about and that is a relief

I am Linda and I have a thing for Santa's!!

The Dickens village needs to come out and the kitchen needs to get its Christmas on but that will happen this week. The house is still a mess its just more of a festive mess this time. I am going for a little nap then I am going to make the yearly family ornament.

Toodles again,
Linda

Random Saturday Ponderings

Winter is here, We got a dump of snow last night and the world looks like it has be sprinkled liberally with layers and layers of powdered sugar. My new neighours,whom I had my doubts about but now think wonderful,  shoveled my sidewalks for me, both front and back. I was totally shocked and grateful;. They are the quiet, keep to themselves sort, not even really saying hello when we pass. So the fact that he did all that shoveling for me was totally not expected. I think I see a Tim's gift card in someone's future. I have to say thank you somehow. He built a rink in their back yard and the two kids are having the best fun on it.

I have more to be grateful for. The Banker popped in this afternoon and helped me haul the Christmas things up from the basement. She saved me and my poor sore knee a multitude of trips. Now I can get the front of the house decked out for Christmas and I can take this week and get the rest of the house decorated.( I should be able to buy the last of the Nativity set this year, squeeee!!!) I am looking forward to getting the stuff out. I love Christmas. I may have mentioned that once or twice

Not sure what I will do now, if I finish the Nativity this year and I got the last of the Santas for the stairway last year, what the heck am I going to collect now?? I have looked high and low for a pig ornament but cannot find one anywhere. I may have to resort to making something. I thought Pier One would have some but no joy. My Pig tree still needs decorations!!

I will get a snow globe this year, Started that a few Christmas' ago and can carry on for a few yet. I  like to add to them. I also need to short through things and weed out some of the Christmas stuff I am really ready to get rid of. I have a lot of Christmas things. It is my favourite season after all. I did a purge last year and need to keep doing it.

Tonight I am supposed to be going to the show with Teddy Bear and a couple of ladies from my book club. I will go, but my heart wants to just stay home where its warm and I don't have to worry about slippery streets. My knee has been giving me the business this last week. I thought my knee cap was out of place. A trip to the local walk in, the doctor yanked, bent and twisted it for me and generally made it very sore, ex-rays taken and they decided I have osteoarthritis in it. Well my regular doctor told me that several years ago and gave me pills for the pain. The up side is the yanking and bending must have moved whatever was out of place back to where it belongs so I can walk about without feeling like I am being stabbed in the knee cap with every step. Legs are feeling rather stiff, which I blame on the weather and the knee is still tender but its well on it way top getting back to its normal pain level.

Groceries were purchased this morning and I made a quick tour around two charity shops. I found some buttons to make into flowers because I think I am going to make some to sell. I found an egg cup and two lovely Christmas plates. I also found a Partylite candle ring that will work to go with the bisque church and singers I found last year. The candle ring is a group of angels flying in a circle. I love finding things in charity shops, I am thinking now I have the right plates for my Christmas tree plate stand. A yard sale find a few years ago.

I need to go have a nap before the show, otherwise I will be snoring through the better part of it. Tomorrow I am going to sew quilt tops and knit away all the hours God sends. Maybe I will be back and I will have some pictures to share!!.

Toodles.
Linda

Scraptastic Weekend

It amazes me that for three days this last weekend I vaulted out of bed before 8:30 and worked until midnight, with no complaint, no resentment and no heaving of heavy heartfelt I'm so hard done by sighs. This is the difference between doing something you have to do and doing something you find really fun. The weekend was fun fun fun and I accomplished so much.

The Banker, Kitkat and I went to a scrapbooking weekend crop. I guess you could call it a convention but that is not really what it was. It was a group of us, scrapbook enthusiasts, getting together is a room and spending the weekend working on projects. No company sponsored event, just time and space to do your thing. I was making my Maritime vacation scrap books, The Banker was scrapbooking 2013 as she does all her pictures for the year in one album, and KitKat was working on an album of her Dad's 80th birthday. KitKat is a newbie but she is hooked now.

"follow me Grasshopper, I will teach you"

I have no idea how much money was in this room in the form of equipment, embellishments, paper, computer related printers, cutters. it was amazing. 

Twenty Six women, crafting their little hearts out for an entire weekend. We had a lovely time.

We can do whatever we please, the organizer of our little event does mosaic tile work for the weekend. She happily bashes tiles all weekend while we cut and paste. Last year I brought crocheting for a change of pace but not this year. There were a couple of crocheters in the group. I showed of my flower buttons and have a couple of potential customers. 

This was one hobby I was not going to get into, Oh no not me. I was happy to make greeting cards here and there but I was not buying any supplies and I was certainly not going to scrapbook. Its too expensive!! I am not going to fall victim, oh no not me!!! FAMOUS LAST WORDS. While I do attend these things with my two IKEA bags of stuff and make do without all the fancy schmancy equipment and storage items. I do not own enough stuff to stock a small craft store but I am in it hook line and sinker. I have a health stash of  materials to work with. I also love my scrapbooks. I love working on them and so its worth it.

When you go to something like this you learn new things, get new ideas and share with others. You borrow, you lend and you help. I have always loved the energy that is is a room when women gather to create. 

We started at noon on Friday and went until 3:00 pm on Sunday. KitKat and I went over to the Bankers for coffee. We all went out for supper then we headed home. 

I got two and a half albums made.New Brunswick and PEI have been scrapped and Nova Scotia is almost done. Go me. The only thing is I need some seagull stickers or as seagull stamp or something. Seagulls are freakin' hard to find. I am slow looking for lighthouses, and anchors. I have seashells a plenty. 

Fun weekend over and we are back to the normal grind. Winter has finally descended, with frigid temperatures and thankfully not too much snow so far. The light has sifted from the warm rich glow of autumn to the brittle chilly grey of winter. Scrape the car windows, shiver as the frozen fingers of wind sneak down your collar and up your sleeves. Curse the elements as your dress pants slap against your legs like sheets of ice. Burrrrrrrrr. All I want to do is curl up in my little house, stay warm and make stuff. Now is the time for making quilts, knitting wooly things and weaving. (Oh I am going to weave this winter, I have been too long from the loom) and spinning. (Another thing I am going to get at this winter) 

Not happening at the moment so I just need to get on with it. I have started to create the puppet stock that I will need for next years craft sale. I am zooming along on the flower buttons, and I am getting the quilt tops made. I am hoping my most current customer will like a top I have made but have never quilted. I made it for myself but now I am rethinking it. If she would be happy with it I would be miles ahead of the game. One quick picture and an email and I will have my answer. 

Tonight I need to get at the puppets again. I have some things to take care of and then I can make turtles, turtle puppets that is. 

I am off to create turtles!!

Toodles,

Linda

Day Late

I swear to goodness I have no idea where Sunday went. I got up, had breakfast, ran a couple of errands, did some sewing and the day was GONE!! I still had a ton of things on my "To Do" list to be done. WTF!!! I was not happy. I treasure my days off and when one of them slips through my fingers like water through a sieve I am not amused. Amazingly enough I pouted to no end and time did not reverse itself. The bastard!!

I do not usually go out on Sunday but I needed to get some things so I made myself go. I braved the frigid wind and hit Michael's. I am now totally prepared for scrapbooking next weekend. Not only that I have all the stuff in one place, ready to go. No scurrying around the house at the last minute like a demented squirrel. I have all my pictures printed and picked up. This is a first for me. Its great to be organized for once. I pre-bought some embellishments but not too many. I will have a better idea of what I need when I get working on the albums. I have enough to work with.

I stopped at Fabricland on my way home and had to deal with a clerk who simply did not listen to what I was asking for. I wanted cord that is plain, the type you cover with your own material The  woman kept asking me what colour I needed.  After the third go round of her asking me about the colour and me explaining that I did not need a certain colour, I was covering it with my own material,  I crumbled and said the red would do. She then wanted to know if I was sure because she thought it did not match my material. OMG!!!!

I made these yesterday,

I had some scraps from making Tater Tot's crib set and I found some material that was a close enough match to make the backs and the cord covers  at Fabricland, 40% off sale!!!! These are a surprise for KitKat. I want to have them on hand when we go to her place to check out what to do with the curtains. I want her to see what some hits of teal will do for the overall look. She can't quite visualize it finished so I thought these would help. I had the pillow forms on hand from my last garage sale coup. I hope she likes them. If not I can redo them.

I started to work on a new quilt yesterday too.

I found the pattern on Pinerest and I think its a good way to use scraps. It will be one of the two that I have orders for. The lady wants them by the end of January so I need to hustle since I have two others to make which if you are adding means 4 queen sized quilts need to be made before March.

10 more flower buttons made and that was my day. Short, sweet and done before I was ready for it to be over.

Off to work on the quilt.........well maybe a little nap first

Toodles
Linda

And So it Begins and a Halloween Party

I actually got started on the promises I made to myself, to start to get things done. I have numerous projects to be working on and I need to get the house spit spot and, well the "to do" list just goes on and on and on. So I got at it today!! I want to have the Banker, KitKat, and Teddy Bear over to binge watch The Outlander on of these days, I need the house fit for prime time.

Today I worked on the kitchen. The kitchen seems to be a recurring theme on this blog but that is because its a recurring mess. I got it beat back into submission, filled some boxes with donation stuff, reorganized a cupboard, all while doing some laundry. Not bad. The fridge still needs a good going over but I will save that for another day. I made up my Christmas list and hope to get some ordered tomorrow on the internet. I am going to take a crack at this on line shopping malarkey. I want some things that you just cannot get at the stores.

I hemmed two pairs of jeans and started on another quilt. I have an order for two queen sized ones and the lady would like them by the end of January. Needless to say they will be simple and as pretty as I can make them. She has no colour preference so they will be scrap happy little numbers. I made twenty more flower buttons and found a knitting pattern I need for a Christmas gift.

I have some errands to run tomorrow. Pick up the last of the Maritime picture reprints because next weekend is the scrapbooking retreat. I have to make a Michael's run for some last minute supplies and a quick stop at the fabric store for some crafty supplies of another nature. I will share pictures later. The Dining room with get the next on the cleaning hit list.

Tonight E and I went a saw "Oh What A Night". A tribute band performing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons hits. It was amazing. I loved it from the start to finish and as always I had a horrible time to not be singing. I did sing but I tried to keep it quiet enough that only I know I am doing it. No one paid good money to hear me sing. I will have these songs stuck in my head for some time now. I really need to get a Four Season's Greatest Hits CD.

Friday night the No Cook Friday Group had a belated Halloween party at The Banker's house. Talking of Oh What a Night!! We had the best time. She had written up menu's in RUSSIAN no less and we had to pick certain things off the menu for our supper. Without knowing what you were picking until it arrived in front of you I got this

Meatballs and carrots in a big old casserole dish, salad, and a cupcake. I got a knife to eat with. I was lucky poor KitKat got a toothpick. Hard to eat mashed potatoes with a toothpick but she did her best.  Oh yes some got pot lids and one actually got a plate. It was so much fun. We were allowed forks after awhile but I manages very nicely with my butter knife.

We snarfed down more cupcakes and then ended the evening by playing Dutch Blitz. A fast paced card game that got us giggling so hard we were exhausted at the end of the evening. Oh and did I mention that instead of wearing costumes, we wore mustaches? The Banker made us up each a treat bags with her left over Halloween candy. It was all so much fun. For being supposedly grown mature women we can dissolve into 10 year old giggly squealy tweens in short order.

Our treat bags also had those silly little plastic maze games that got our full attention for some time.  I swear mine is defective. Those stupid little metal balls did nothing but race around the edge of the plastic case and stubbornly refused to go into the maze.

This is Halloween town. Its a collection of little Halloween houses from dollar stores that is her version of a Dickon's village for Halloween. The big black house is one made by one of her grandchildren, out of Popsicle sticks.  There are haunted trees and all manner of goulish little people out and about in the town.  Its so cute and I had visions of doing this myself but I have not been able to find any little houses cheap. I refuse to pay an arm and a leg for them. So I have given up on that idea.

That is my weekend in a nutshell so far. I hope tomorrow is a productive as today. Now I am off to bed, Well actually to make the bed so I can go to bed. I washed sheets today.

Toodles
Linda

Remembering

Watched the Remembrance Day Ceremonies from Ottawa today, like I usually do. I could go to the services here but I prefer to stay home, watch and remember. So many people turned out today which is wonderful. We should not take for granted all the freedoms we have and the sacrifices of others that have been made so we can enjoy them.

The rest of the day was spend puttering about doing a little of this and a little of that. I did manage to get two pots of soup made.

One chicken vegetable and the other a hamburger soup. I will freeze some for lunches. It felt good to actually get it made since I have been thinking about it for some time. I am the master of thinking on things but never quiet doing them. I am going to try to be better about having lunch stuff on hand. Its so much better all the way around, financially and healthy wise.

I also worked on laundry. My goal is to have all the piles of laundry that have been on the dining room floor for longer than I care to admit, finished today. I made 20 more button flowers and I got the dishes done at last. A nice long nap rounded out the day. Back to work tomorrow.

Woke to a skiff of snow today. The wind was cold but thankfully it did not continue to snow. Time to move up to the warmer coat and get the gloves out. I did not go out today, I stayed, snug in my house, thinking thoughts of the past, missing my Dad and trying not to think about work tomorrow.

Best go ladle the soup into containers and get it into the freezer.

Toodles,
Linda

A Little Cardboard and Material

I took today off as tomorrow is a stat holiday and I did not feel like going to work for a day then having a day off. I have been slowly puttering around at projects and things that need to be done. I have finally started to touch up the paint on the stairs. Its needed doing for some time now. I am working on cleaning the kitchen and the dining room. I finally got to Walmart and Dollarama today. I have been just doing a little of this and a little of that. Nothing earth shattering but getting things done. Got some stocking stuffers today which was not on the list but the opportunity presented itself. I purged some stuff off the top of the hutch in the kitchen. This that and the other. All needs to be done but nothing that someone would walk in here and say WOW, look at what you did.

One thing I did do today that may be WOW worthy, at least it is to me, was give my DVD cabinet an update. I had originally wanted to get something built that would blend in with the wall unit that holds the tv and I bought this cheap little shelf as a stop gap. Well not sure when or if the custom made job will appear so this may be the way we go for a long time. I never liked the fact that you could see the folds in the back. It just shrieked, cheap, flat pack, fake fake fake. With a little Pinerest inspiration, some cardboard and a material, the whole thing has a new look now. It only took minutes. Pictures are a little blurry but you get the idea.

(Before) I have a black curtain on the front of it to hide the DVD's. 

(After). I like it. It hides all the folds and gives the whole thing a little interest.

I got the quilt finished and ready to go to Busy's niece for Christmas. I have had it done for a week now but I had not taken its picture until today. I just love the pink and black colour combo. Its girly without being too precious. The flannelette on the back is a pretty pink and white floral. All in all I am pleased with the result, I hope its what they wanted. Now I can start on the next quilt on the list. I never get tired of having quilts to make.

Next project on the horizon, Crocheted button flowers. 

Ok I have to admit, I am a little OCD and these little flower buttons have brought it out in me full force, they are so fun to make. I am making them for a work friend. She wants them for a scrapbooking event as embellishments to add to gift bags. She needs a big bunch but I can tell you its going to be no problem to make them. I am aiming for 450 and they don't have to be done until April next year.

Can we say obsessed??

There are 100 here in this pile and I am not sick of them yet. I plan to make some for myself to use for scrap booking. Its a fantastic way to use a bit of the crochet cotton I have stashed in the house. They make up so quick and they are so cute. They could be used in a lot more ways than scrapbooking. Endless possibilities.

No soup made yet, no laundry done but other things have been accomplished. This having days off is awesome. I could get used to having my days to myself. Right now I need to make some supper, and then churn out some more button flowers!! Its a good way to spend a cold gloomy evening.

Toodles
Linda

Retail Therapy

Yesterday was a lovely day. The Banker, Teddy Bear, KitKat and I headed to the big City of a spot of shopping, fabulous lunch and some girl time. We hit a fabulous fabric store where I got some quilt fixin's , the Banker got new material for drapes for her living room and KitKat (Choir of Angels SING) got some drapery material for her house. More on that later. We lunched at Olive Garden and cracked a bottle of wine. A rare treat for a special occasion. We then hit Pier One Imports and ended the day at Costco. Costco on a Saturday is a madhouse, a night mare but we braved the crowds and snagged some deals. I have pecans enough for Christmas baking and a good start on the Christmas gift list. We headed back home and had supper here before we headed back to home and hearth. It was a lovely, lovely day. So many laughs and good times.

Today has been upside down. I have neither crust nor crumb in the house so I had to get up, get out of bed and go get breakfast this morning. I did not even have coffee in the house. The need for coffee will do amazing things to a person. So much for my usual lazy Sunday morning. I am up, been out and now I am just waiting for the time to pass so I can deliver some stuff to the Banker, go for groceries then come home to start to clean house. Not the ordinary crafty Sunday on the old homestead. Ah well, Its been a grand weekend so far.

Today I also hope to make a couple of pots of soup. I will freeze it up and have it on hand for lunches. I promised myself that after this weekend, I will need to start on a strict budget. I had a look at the old finances the other day and I need to start putting back, paying up for the trip to the Maritimes if I plan to get to Scotland next year. The lottery people are not cooperating with my financial planning. I will have to take matters into my own hands until they kick in their bit.

I was going to go on a bit about KitKat's drapes. She owns a lovely trailer but the decor is well and truly 1980's. She wants to update but has little to no money. The carpet in the living room is blue, a dark blue and a major expense to replace. KitKat has us, the No Cook Ladies, who love to decorate and have a million opinions. We consulted and we think she should paint the walls a neutral colour, add orange drapes, and work with the blue carpet. accent with hits of teal and other colours we can pull from the drapes material.  KitKat does not make decisions quickly, she can dither better than the best of them. Yesterday we found material that she loves, a textured  orange and an orange print  for drape panels. I am so excited. Its a step foreward. With the Banker and I to sew for her, Teddy Bear and the others help with painting and other bits, the cost is being kept down to a dull roar. I have a plan. I have some pillow forms and some straps from Miss Mouse's crib quilt set. If I can find enough material, I want to cover the forms in teal and surprise her with them when we go to plan out how we will do the drapes. KitKat needs to see the results, she has a hard time to imagine the finished results. I am so looking forward to  getting her place fixed up. Its going to look amazing.

If I get done a few projects that I have planned for today, I will be back on here with some pictures.

Have a lovely day!!

Toodles,
Linda

Busy Week

Well I like to tell myself it was a busy week but I am really not too sure where the time went. Somehow or other the week slipped by. Month end at the office, which usually sucks the life out of me. Teddy Bear and I were out to supper one night. Cheep pasta Tuesday at a local pizza place, Huge servings which means leftover for lunch the next day. Since Friday was Halloween, the No Cook Friday group did not meet for supper. We waited until all the little hob goblins had been and gone, then we gathered at Teddy Bear's house for nachos and coffee. We did not call  it a night until well after midnight.

I got ambitious late Thursday night and whipped up a double batch of these: Its my one chance each year to give my co-workers the finger, and they like it!!

These witch finger cookies are rather easy to make and they are really tasty. I have never brought any home after they make a trip to the office. So quick and easy to mix up in my wonderful Kitchenaid mixer. Not to mention a dream to bake in my new oven. No guessing the temperature, heaven!!

I had 26 little/big ones come to my door. I give them credit for braving the cold wind to gather treats. The cold weather and the fact that so few people on my street put on their lights and hand out candy does not make for loads of trick or treaters. I used to have doubts about the bigger kids but now I feel they have so short a time to be kids anymore, and those older ones could be doing worse things.

I did not bring out all the decorations but I got a few out to let them know this house had treats to give

I was so excited when the new people to the south of me put ghosts and bats in their tree. I thought I had like minded folk. The pot smokers to the north would participate but they have moved. My elation was for naught. While the new people decorated , they chose to keep their house dark.  Aw well. I had fun and 26 brave little souls made out like bandits at my house.

I did not dig out the tombstones, the big black cat and the huge jack o'lantern but I will next year. Now I have the skeletons to hang up I think I have my Halloween decorations complete. I put a knitted pumpkin in the window. I have a fake one but the light is burned out so I made do

After I made sure there was no chocolate left in the house, that I had given it all away,  I zipped off to pick up the Banker and head to Teddy Bear's. The Banker was back from a trip to the States, KitKat was just back from a trip to Ottawa, the Sailor went with her but she was not feeling well so only KitKat was there to tell trip tails. The Collector did not join us but Cupcake,and I rounded out the group. We had wine, (not coffee) and shared our weeks news, punctuated with  a lot of laughs. Its a wonderful way to end the week, puts me back on track again.

Today I took the car to get some gas for it and then some breakfast for me. I was going to go get groceries but I just did not feel like it. I came home and sorted out the monster pile of laundry, and then got started on this

Its a commission job for Busy's niece. Pink is a favourite colour and so this number is perfectly perfectly pink. I am at the half way mark on the quilting. Once I sit down I get lost in the job and time flies by.  So no grocery shopping, no soup making, not much of anything but quilting. My kind of day!!

I wanted to get working on it as  I have some, no lets correct that, lots of craft project coming up. I got my official confirmation that I have a table at the big craft sale next year. Since I have no puppets on hand I need to create an inventory for the sale. Yes I have a year but I will need all that time.  I have a commission job for two queen sized quilts and I have two queen sized donation quilts to make. I have some organizers and crocheted flower buttons to make for a fund raiser scrap booking weekend. Then I have my usual Christmas crafty stuff to do. I am tingly with the prospect of all this fun stuff to do.

This week I made this for a co-workers son. He wanted to go as a really big baby complete with bonnet. I was really pleased with how it turned out, considering I did not have a pattern and this sort of sewing is not my strong suit.

I also knit a toque and mitts for another co-workers son who was going as Cartman from Southpark. I forgot to take pictures of them but they turned out fine. Both boys were pleased with the results and that is all that really matters.

So that's the highlights of my week. I am still doing laundry and I really need to find something for supper. I am in no mood to cook and sadly SOMEBODY did not get groceries to day so pickin's are thin in the fridge. Hmmm can we all say scrambled eggs on toast??

Toodles
Linda

Moody on a Monday

Best Friend was here for the weekend. We did a lot of talking, but then we always do. She and I can talk. We have known each other for years and we have yet to run out of stuff to chat about. We had a lazy weekend, stayed around the house mostly, watched tv and dvd's and talked. Its always good to see her. As usual the house is empty and quiet now she is gone. She left just before I headed out to work this morning.

So she left and I went to work and thereby another week started. I will be so happy when I am able to retire, and not have to face anther month end at my office. I am getting too old and tired to be playing this game anymore.

I spent most of today being cranky and out of sorts. I don't know if I need a vacation or a slap upside the head but I do need something. I cannot keep being this miserable and not doing anything about it. I think I need a miracle.

Right now I need to go and do some mending for some work friends. I sat down here to  blog and now I feel I have nothing to say. So I will go and sew, At least that will accomplish something.

I will be back when I am in a better mood.

Toodles
Linda

A Whole Lot of Shoulding Going on Around Here

Best Friend is coming for the weekend. I should be tidying the house, I should be doing dishes and vacuuming, I should be doing a whole lot of things, and I should not be time wasting on the computer. Guess what I am doing??? Yep, getting way too up close and personal with a certain canine. I just do not feel like doing all the things I should be.

One big plus is the spare room she uses is pristine. Well, not pristine, but the sheets are fresh, the room is tidy and ready for company. The rest of the house, not so much, but her room is ready. I will scrub down the upstairs bathroom tonight before I go to bed, that is a promise to myself. I am also bagging up the garbage, so its not been a total waste of time. This blog post is going to be just random things though. because I am in that sort of a mood.

I have found someone who can make use of my flannelette scraps. I need to go through my stash and make up a bag of the bits to give to this lady. She makes sanitary pads for third world girls so they can attend school on the days they have their period. She is getting a bag of material from me. I have had so many hands up and help outs through my life time that I can never pay back, I now look for ways I can pay it forward. I need to give back for all I have been given in my life, things like this make me happy. I can help. Its a win win, I have found a good use for my scraps and those scrap can benefit someone. I like it when it works like that. I could be sorting material right now and yet I am blogging. Some days you just have to goof off.

I also have to face a sad sad fact in my life, I think I have to replace my ratty old black sweater. I love this old sweater. Its totally out of shape, its snagged, pilled, worn through in places, holey and ready to be retired. Sigh. I wear it an awful lot, as I keep the heat in my house rather low and it keeps me snuggly warm. I need to make a replacement. Its like having to part with a beloved friend. But my oh my its time. I think this sweater is over 20 years old. Its done its job, its time to say goodbye. I will get myself so yarn and make a new one. I wonder if I should make another black one or should I have a blue one, maybe red?? I will have to give it some thought. I only wear it around the house so it could be a rainbow for that matter. We will see what I come up with.

Well I  really should go do something.  Maybe I will sort that box of material as its sitting not three feet away from me and then I could free up some storage space for some of that Christmas material I just bought. God forbid I should have a bit of space in my house. Or maybe I will type up the book club email. Tomato Tomahto.

Toodles,
Linda

Dipping into the Craft Sale Circuit Again

The Banker, KitKat and I went to THE BIG ONE, today. Its a local craft sale that happens every fall and displays lots of lovely things made by local crafters. I managed to walk around without falling on my face which I was very grateful for. Thankfully they have chairs here and there that one can rest ones sore legs and knees. I picked up an application for a table for next year. I think the puppets and I will make another run at this craft sale thing. I was up most of last night thinking and rethinking the whole deal and I decided what the heck. I did well the one year I did do it and I know better what to make and how many this time.I have all this nice stuff to set up a booth with so I might as well make use of it. I think I will get my application in asap and give it a go for another year.

This is a picture from my first year doing the craft sale

We had a lovely time. We wandered about, bought a few things. I got something to give to the Teacher for Christmas (but I will need to add something to it), I got a stocking stuffer for the Tater Tot and I bought a fall door decoration for me. I SAW tons of things I would have loved to have, and tons of things I could make myself but I was happy with my purchases. KitKat stocked up on homemade soap and the Banker bought herself a really cool bracelet. I always come home from a craft sale full of inspiration and gung ho to get crafting!!

We left the sale and had lunch at the Banker's house, scarfing down leftovers from her family scrapbooking day on Saturday. Instead of heading home as we should have, we drank coffee and chatted until it was almost 6 o'clock. We decided that if we had any hope of doing anything today, we had better each had best scatter. The Banker needed to get up to her Sweet Baboo's place as they had a supper date. KitKat wanted to clean her house and I was noncommittal as to what I was going to be doing. I have many many things I could be doing but what I actually start doing is something else

So I am home, with no ambition to do much of anything. I need to make a pot of soup for next weeks lunch before the day is over. I have the quilt I was sewing last week ready to get started on the actual quilting. The backing is all washed and sewn up, ready to go. I would imagine that I will get that started tonight at some point. I don't have to make supper as we nibbled all afternoon. I really want to just have a nice little nap on the couch. I slept like crap last night. Too busy setting up the craft sale table next year. Between my overactive imagination and Mother Nature chucking hot flashes at me every hour on the hour, I got no sleep for any decent length of time. More like a series of cat naps. BLAH!!!!

Back to work tomorrow, crappity crap crap. I want to stay home and make stuff. I want to quilt and paint and create. Aw well some day. Right now I need to go get a pot of soup simmering.......... maybe just a little nap first.

Toodles,
Linda

Love a Good Garage Sale Bargain

So I was puttering around my house the other night, minding my business and not doing much of anything when Princess Diva called me. All I heard was "you have to get over here, lots of stuff, dirt cheap". Well somebody knows the way to my heart!! I booted it out the door and head out to where she was.

Apparently Princess Diva's sister is partners in a new business where if you are moving, they will pack up your stuff and organize a garage sale for what you don't want. This business gets them in on the ground floor of the good stuff. Princess Divas thought of me when she saw the material, stuffing and quilting magazines.

This is my haul:

This PILE of material, mostly Christmasy but some plain, and that entire rubbermaid container of seam binding and rickrack. The container came with the purchase and looks like new, most of the binding is still in the wrapper.

This entire bolt of polished cotton or some sort of light weight linen. Its good quality material and I see lots of future projects with it.

Three bags of stuffing (perfect for Puppets) two pillow forms and a crib sized quilt batt.

Ten like new quilt magazines, a pattern book for knitted children's sweaters, a punch bowl ladle ( I have lost mine and yes I do use the punch bowl, I loaned it out just this week in fact) a vintage picture frame, 6 balls of crochet cotton, 2 egg cups and some vintage baby cards. All this loot for $25.00. I am a happy happy bunny!! There was lots more there but I restrained myself. Oh id I had my cabin at the lake I would have snapped up a couple of lamps, some chairs and some cool melamine dishes. I would have taken the dishes regardless but someone got them before me. Pretty bright orange things they were.

Today I started to move the garden ornaments into the shed, for the first time in two years. I really have hope for myself, after yapping about doing it for so long I have finally got at it. I also managed to take two bags of knitted/crocheted squares to the local craft store. They take the squares, sew them together and donated them to a project called Blankets for Canada. I love this. I can use up my left over yarn and it goes to a really good cause. I have had these bags hanging around for a long time and finally they got donated. I also took a bag of clothes to the  donation bins. I have two new purge boxes in my kitchen to start to fill for donation to a charity shop. I need to keep working on the clear out. I have so much stuff in this house, some of it can go.

The rest of today will be laundry. I have quilt material to wash not to mention tea towels, cleaning rags, bath and hand towels that need to be done. I have a tea cozy to finish knitting and some Christmas projects to start on. I have three donation quilts to get working on. one other quilt ready to go into the quilting frames.  I want to make a fall table runner for myself and a couple more to make as Christmas gifts. Lots of fun things to do.

Tomorrow, The Banker, KitKat and I are going to the big local Craft sale. I am going to give it some serious thought if I will book a table for next years sale for the puppets. I have tonight to think about it. They book most of next years tables at the current sale. Busy has offered to help me and so has the Banker. Its not something you can really do on your own. I will give it some thought. The Banker and I did it one year and while it did not go so well for her, I did very well. Those little puppets of mine are a good seller. Lots of work but good little earners

"We aim to please Mama!"

Mostly I just hope I can walk around at the sale. I thought the magnesium was helping with the pain in my legs and it is but I am just so crippled up these days. I do not like this. I like to be able to get around and its really not at all easy to do lately. I don't know if its the weather, my arthritis or the fact that I am so out of shape. More than likely its a combo of it all added to it far to much of me to haul about. Wish me luck tomorrow, the Big Craft sale covers a lot of ground. I would hate to become a speed bump in the middle of the hall way.

Well I need to change out the laundry and get finishing that tea cozy so I can start something else. Hope you are having a good weekend!!

Toodles,
Linda

Thankful for So Many Things

A person really does not need a special day to be thankful for all the wonderful things in their lives. We should be conscience of it each and every day. I try to be. It is nice to have a reminder once in a while that we should be thankful,

While I may moan and groan and carry on sometimes, I am very aware of how blessed I am. I am blessed with good friends, a good life and well too many things to list here. This weekend is a prime example of the blessing in my life. I have the No Cook Friday Group, whose company. laughter and support mean the world to me. They always start me out for the weekend on a good note. I spent Saturday working on a quilt top for someone else. This makes me feel good because it means I can help someone else.Helping out boosts how you feel about yourself.  Mommybug brought me a coat she found for me and its lovely. It tickles me that she thought of me. The coat is like new!! I had breakfast out with Teddy Bear this morning. When I came home after breakfast I found  the garden fairies had came back. They raked, mowed and tidied my yard for me. I appreciate that more than those three young girls and their Mama can ever know!!  Its just been a really good weekend. Blessings all round.

I got through 75% of my to do list this weekend, Some weekends I don't even hit the 50% mark on that list. Oh yes,  I finished my hot water bottle cozy. I had no pattern for this so I winged it and while I would make changes to another one but I am pleased with the results.

Made with yarn that was given to me it cost me nothing but a little bit of time. Now if I need to use the hot water bottle there will be no more wrapping it in a towel and then having the towel slip off, leaving that icky hot rubber stuck on you. BLECK!! Rubber may make some people happy but I don't like it!! 

I did not make it to the fabric store to get the last of the quilt supplies I need but I can do that sometime this week. I finished sorting, deleting and fussing with the pictures on my computer. Tomorrow I will pick up the first of the reprints that  I will be scrapbooking for my Maritime trip. I am making headway on the magazine,/paper purge that I started this weekend. I have a pile of magazines to donate, a pile to take to the office and some have hit the recycle bin. You can see the top of the dining table now and same goes for the kitchen table. Laundry is done, which is what was all over the kitchen table. I have a bag of clothes to donate and the dishes are done. Naps have been had and television has been watched.  I still have to make a pot of soup before the day is done but I will get at that later.

I am going to endeavor to cut down on my eating at the cafeteria at work. Time to stop talking about it and actually do it. Its crap food that is not at all good for you. Fats, fillers, processed, deep fried etc. Its a lazy habit to be eating there, time to stop it and make my self a decent lunch each day. I also need to stop picking up breakfast,. It getting out of control and I have to stop it. Financially and health wise its not a good plan. Maybe I'll make a pot of porridge along with that soup tonight.

I am so glad I got some jobs done this weekend, Its nice to see things improving around here. I have lots more to do but for now I am happy with what has taken place. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Toodles,

Linda

Thanksgiving Sunday

Who does not love a long weekend? An extra day of blissful freedom,  where you can putter and do and be as you please. Things did not work out this weekend so the family thing is not happening. Its ok. I am ok with staying home and fending for myself. Since I have managed to partake of turkey and all the fixin's twice this week, I have a lovely little pork roast roasting in the oven, veg and potatoes soon to get cooking and a nice piece of caramel pecan cheesecake for dessert. I am not being hard done by. I had invitations but I am fine this way. Not to mention that by staying home,  I can be in my comfy weekend clothes this way. I manage to look after my self, never fear, I take good care of me.

Its been a good weekend so far. I went for a few groceries yesterday morning, then came home, snarfed down breakfast and got working on this

Busy's sister has asked me to make a quilt for her daughter for Christmas. The favourite colour being pink, this is the result. I just need to add the black sashing to the edges and it will be ready to quilt. I love the way it looks. Pink and black are a dramatic colour combination. This pinterest pattern is a nice one. Its very easy to put together and give a lot of bang for the buck. I had the patches cut out and sewed the top in one sitting.

I have been sorting magazines, which I swear to God breed in the dark when I am not looking. I seem to have perpetual piles of them all over the house. I am sorting paper work AND magazines and trying to find the tops of the table in the dining room, the sewing room and part of the kitchen table. There is so much paper in this house. If I keep going at it I will conquer it in time. In between bouts of paper purging, I have done a spot of knitting

Not finished yet but its going to be a cozy for my hot water bottle if all goes well. Its being made from gifted yarn. I think I have mentioned before that I have tons of yarn in this house that has been given to me and I an determined to make use of it. I will post a finished picture. I have no pattern so I am making it up as I go along. And no I am not doing more crafts than purging......well yes I am but shut up!!

On my way to work the other day I found this little spot of colour in my garden and saw this little shot of pink. Its one determined little hollyhock bloom that is hanging  in in-spite of the frosts and cold and general death of all things green and colourful. GO little hollyhock, hang in there and have your moment to bloom!!!

She stands out like a little pink beacon of determination in a sea of dying green. I love it.

Laundry is chugging away. I have been working on moving the Pilot's wedding pictures from my phone to the computer. I am getting faster at all the clicking. Will this stop me from taking so many pictures? No. I will just be more prudent. I also ordered the first bundle of my vacation pictures in prep of the scrapbooking weekend.

So while  have not worked my self senseless this weekend, I am getting some things done. I am also relaxing and going some fun things too. I see a nap in my future on this day as well.

Mommybug brought me a coat last night. Its a lovely suede coat she found for $5.00 and she gave it to me. Do I not have the very best friends. It a nice jacket, just like new, I am rather excited about it.
I do have the most lovely, caring generous friends.

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, however you choose to spend it.

Toodles Linda

Surprize I Am Posting Mid Week

Who knew I could actually post mid week. Actually its been a rather busy day and I can't seem to settle myself to do anything, so I thought what the heck.......... try a blog post.

I am still plowing my way through sorting the pictures on my computer. I have a plan, I have accomplished the majority of my sorting, I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I am grateful. I have the cutest little storage container to keep the USB sticks in. A little suitcase looking box, inside are the spare USB sticks and the ones that are starting to contain pictures. Soon it will have a label!!

USB Sticks that are being used are each in their own little brown bag and labeled accordingly. You can't see the labels because its none of your business but trust me they are labeled!!

One stick is labeled "a complete mess"  and needs to be worked on at a later date. I need to sort the pictures on it and put them into individual files. I will do this so  I have a hope of finding what I want in the future without pulling my hair out. This picture debacle  has been quite the adventure. Debacle it may have been but it has been a valuable lesson in keeping up with the picture organization.

Enough about pictures, I have started to work on the quilt top for Busy's niece. Its a Christmas gift and I will post a picture later when I have more of it put together. Right now I have all the blocks cut out and about a dozen of them sewn together. Its all kinds of pink with black trim. Its going to be nice.

I finally finally FINALLY finished my Ireland scrap books.

 I am going to put them away for a while because right now every time I look in them, I want to add and change things. Enough is enough. I canna do no more!!! Besides I need to get ordering pictures for the Maritime Malarkey. I had such a good time in the Maritimes. Going back is definitely on my bucket list. Preferably in the Autumn. I cannot imagine how beautiful it would be, with all those trees in their best and brightest party dresses.

On the home front I finally caved tonight and turned on the heat. I bought new slippers on Monday night as my toes were starting to turn blue in this house. I have been putting off turning on the heat for as long as I could and I may not have done so tonight but I had company for a while so I did not want him to freeze. ( disclaimer: this is the son of a friends so everyone close your mouths and move on. If the other thing is to be announce it will happen with much more fan fare than a blog post). I was helping him with some stuff on the computer.

So it was pot luck Thanksgiving lunch at work, I contributed a cheesecake, Then tonight it was supper out with Teddy Bear and Kit Kat.  Home to do computer tutor and now I have the rest of the evening to try and make myself do something. I think I should go and sew on the quilt for a bit.

Toodles!!
Linda

Snap Happy Once Again

So I charged up the camera battery with the long lost charger and the camera is working a treat. I think I may have been putting the battery in backwards before but WHATEVER, the camera turns on and works!! Little drunken monkey dance of joy done and then I downloaded the pictures on my camera to the computer. Complete joy for me, I can tell you. Now I can focus on getting the pictures sorted from the Maritime trip and get them printed off in anticipation of my scrap-booking weekend in November.

I am getting near the end of the incredible picture recovery. What a lot of work but the silver lining is I have a better system now. Things are sorted and being saved properly. I will stay on top of this from now on and hopefully never get myself into this mess again . My pictures are important to me and I hate the fact that I have lost some. Ah well live and learn the hard lessons.

The red cliffs and grey ocean of PEI

I can add pictures to my blog once again. Its all good.

Today is Sunday. I have a pot of beef stew simmering on the stove. I finally actually cooked something. I have been craving a beef stew for sometime. My Mama made the best. I found this recipe on the internet and am hoping it will turn out tasty. It smells yummy. I have been in such a slump lately, in my mind I want to do so much and in reality I do so little. Today, actually making a simple stew was a big step foreward, a step into getting me back into the land of the living, and doing.

Yesterday I did the usual Saturday stuff but I did more and walked further than I have been, My legs are much improved. I think now I need to get back to the walking track and build up some stamina. Been a bit of a lump since coming back from Ireland and its time to do something about it. Magnesium is my new wonder drug!!

Fall has taken a good hold on the world outside. The trees are nearly completely stripped of their leaves. The air is cold and damp and the world is getting grayer. Gone is that warm lovely light from the beginning of fall, winter is nipping at its heels. So I am inside and I am making stew and about to start an new quilt.

Not much else going on today or in my life. Its calm, normal and everyday. I am busy thinking of Busy's mom who is sick in hospital at the moment. Sending prayers her way that she gets better soon.

Toodles,

Linda