Christmas is over

Sigh, the big day has come and gone. I am back home safe and sound with lots if new memories. Lots happy, some sad and now I am wrestling with that sinking feeling that its work tomorrow and reality will come back with a horrible thump. Blah

Tater Tot made our Christmas. Wrapping paper flew, little squeals and giggles and pronouncements of "WOW" made it all the better. The Wee Girl arrived later on and dazzled us with sweet smiles and baby squeaks. Little ones do make the holiday.

Its so nice to be with family at Christmas, and I am ever and always grateful to the Carpenter and Busy that they include me in the festivities. My heart was also with the Historian's family, their Christmas' will never be the same again. He is gone and things have changed. Firsts are so hard.

I will post again later and maybe share a photo or two of the holidays. Right now I am tired, a little hungry and a little sad that the fun is over. I am back on my own and work will not wait. Sigh.

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as they possibly could.

Toodles,
Linda

Today I Cry

Tears are running down my cheeks and my heart is hurting. I have just finished reading the obituary for my beloved oldest brother. No fair, its too soon, it should not have happened. I cannot believe that he is gone. Its just does not seem right.

We have no say in these things, we do not get to decide and as much as I hate it sometimes I have come to believe that things in life happen as they are supposed to and there is a reason for it. This does not mean I don't take some time to rage at the situation. I do, I hate the fact that so many people who were dear to me are gone but I also try to accept and move on. Nothing to be gained by being bitter, just be thankful you had them for the time that you did.

The Historian and me 

I will miss him terribly. Another much loved member of my family gone but I want to celebrate the fact that I got to have my good brother for the time that I did.  There is a poem in his obituary that encourages those who are left to mourn his passing, to not be bitter and sad but celebrate him and be glad he was a part of our lives. Its lovely.

You can shed tears that he is gone, 
or you can smile because he has lived. 
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back, 
or you can open your eyes and see all he's left. 
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him, 
or you can be full of the love you shared. 
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, 
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. 
You can remember him only that he is gone, 
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. 
You can cry and close your mind, 
or you can do what he'd want: 
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on. 
-David Harkins 

There is 13 years difference in our ages, the Historian and I. He graduated from high school in June and I started to grade one the same year. We really did not grow up together but he was always an important piece of my life.

The Historian off to his grad ,

 I got to stay home with the Carpenter and Grandma.

 I will miss our weekly phone calls. I will miss hearing the pride in his voice as he passed on stories about his grandchildren. One very fond memory of him is watching him do a happy shuffle dance in my dining room the day he found out he was going to be a Grandpa for the first time.  I will miss hearing the family history discoveries and I will even miss the "I got no news but just wanted to touch base". I resent the deafness that stole the last few conversations we may have had but I treasure the text messages that took their place.

He was a good man, loving and supportive to his family and friends. crusty and stubborn at times but that is a family trait.  On the whole one of the better ones. He was a good brother to me. Always concerned that I was ok. He showed this in a hundred little ways and I loved him for it. Making sure I called when I got home from a visit with him. Reprimanding me when I failed to text frequently enough while on holiday out of the province or out of the country.  So many other little ways, I could never name them all. He gave me my first Barbie doll and my first nephew and niece. Now he is gone and all these memories are all the more precious.

The Carpenter, the Historian and Me. 

Now we are two.  

He will be missed but oh I am all the richer for having him in my life.

Love much Big Bro!!
Sis

Christmas Time's A Comin"

So I have the house looking rather festive, Santa's are parading up and down the stairs, snowmen have popped up all over and there is a cute little village, newly sprung up on the buffet.

I still have one more piece to complete the nativity. It may wait until next year when there is more cash for such things. This year, not so much.

I will share more pictures when I am finished with the decorating.

The trees came out of the basement and will get decorated tomorrow, as will the veranda.  I am only doing two trees this year, and all the Santas did not get out this year. I don't always put everything out every year. I also plan to do a purge on the Christmas decorations this year, when I put stuff away. I will have more time then. The dining room tree is on the dining room table. I have a feeling that Lucy and Desi will find a tree just a big toy and I am not home all day. On the table it stands a better chance of survival. I will not need the table for meals over the Christmas season.

I miss the big family Christmas's we used to have, aunts, uncles. grandparents. Times change and those things don't happen anymore. I get a little nostalgic at this time of year. I miss the smell of my Mom's kitchen as she prepared for the big day. I miss smells, sights and feelings of my childhood. Cold linoleum floors, real Christmas trees, tons of silver tinsel and nuts in the shell. Christmas specials on tv with Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Perry Como. The local general store staying open one night late and getting to go with Mom. So different and decadent. Going to the big city to see the store window displays. So many warm and wonderful memories. School Christmas concerts and the agony of waiting for Santa.

Its different now, It will be a joy to watch the littles at Christmas time. New memories and new rituals to make and enjoy. With two new little ones in the family the whole thing will change. They will bring new life to the event. I am happy beyond measure that I am getting to be a part of it. To watch them and be there as they experience Christmas.

So I am making lists and cookie dough. Decorating, crafting and soon wrapping presents. Even though for the last two days I have felt that everything I touched I screwed up. So frustrating! I pitched a temper tantrum which accomplished and changed nothing, so I am forging on. This black cloud of bad luck will take itself off somewhere soon and things will get back to normal.

I am also doing a reverse advent calendar for myself this year. From December 1st to the 25th I will find something each day to give away. That will be 25 things (or more) gone from my house. I got the idea from another blog ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.ca and I thought the idea was marvelous. The Banker, Teddy Bear and KitKat and I are all in on it. That will be 100 items off the the charity shop come the new year. Its a baby step but its a start.

More purging to come in the new year!!

Toodles
Linda

For the Love of All Things FINALLY

I have never really put much stock in the validity of astrological signs. I like to read my horoscope occasionally and I find it all sort of amusing but once in a while I think that maybe there is more to this than I am giving it credit for. I am, a Gemini by birth. and I will admit in my head there is always a conversation going on between two beings sometimes more but there is never just one in my inner conversation. Gemini's are twins so I will admit to having a bit of a split personality.

My other thing, is how I can feel one way and act another. Point of fact my hair. I am vain about my hair but know one but me would ever know that. I do not fuss with it, I do not pay it much attention but I am vain about it. I am vain about the fact that it is thick, fine and silky to the touch. In the 70's when I needed it to be. it was as straight as straight could be. It hurts me to no end that as I age its thinning and I do not have near the hair that I used to have. Oh well, its is what it is.  Now that I have confessed to my vanity, you would never know it because this is what it looks like most of the time

Yes really I do go out in public like this. What can I say its how I am. Well even I get to the point where this is not acceptable and something must be done.

A tidy trim and I am fit for public consumption once again. I was finally smart enough to make my next hair appointment before I left the shop this time. Hair appointments are something that I can easily put off and then I end up scaring small children. Just another small step in my hope to become a better person.

This weekend was sort of a busy one. I finally finished knitting a pair of mitts that I had been asked to knit a year ago. I am happy to be done with them. I did that sort of thing this weekend. I finished up some jobs that have been hanging about. I finished the mitts, crocheted a fix on a top for a work friend. The thing looks like a tablecloth so it snags very easy. I stitched a knitted collar back on a little knitted dress for Teddy Bear's granddaughter. The mitts and dress are both black so I needed sunshine to work on them. Old eyes find black hard to work with at night.

I got started Christmas, I did a little shopping, made lists decided what I wanted to craft and what I needed to buy and sorted through my "gift box". I do not have much to purchase this year as I do have some things left over from last year. Instead of doing it all at once I am doing it bit by bit. This saves my energy level and my blood pressure. I was out for a bit on Saturday and it was so crowded I turned tail and headed for home just as quick as I could. I used to love the crowds but now I just get irritated.

These two have the right idea. Stay home and snuggle up on the couch. I took their advice,  after my short shopping trip I mostly stayed home and did my odd jobs. Today I made a pair of puppets that were ordered from a lady who saw my work at a friend's place. A possum and a girlie owl are now ready for their new owners

I made finger puppets last weekend, They were my first try at them. I tried to crochet them but I did not have the right yarn. Felt was the next option. The lady I made them for was very pleased with them which made me happy

Next weekend I hope to start putting out the Christmas things. I want to purge out some stuff this year if I can. I am terribly fond of Christmas things and as a result I have far too many. The herd needs to be thinned.

This week I have something to do or make earmarked for each night of the week. I hope I can stay on track. Christmas is coming at breakneck speed and time seems to slip through my fingers like sand these day. So much to do and so little time. I was going to bake butter tarts this weekend but only just now managed to get the lard for the pastry out of the freezer. Next week it is then, Two dozen tarts are another thing I owe from last year

Toodles,
Linda

P.S. I do know there are spelling mistakes and punctuation errors. Does not seem to matter how many times I proof read they manage to escape me. I hope they amuse if nothing else.

Crafty Weekend with a Little Ballet Thrown In

So I guess it really was more than a weekend. I had two days off, a stat holiday and a weekend which means five days of not being at work. We all know how I like that!! I watched the Remembrance Day service from Ottawa from the comfort of my chair. I am not energetic enough to go to the big service here. Its at a sports place and the seats are made for people without hips and I don't need to have to have the jaws of life to  get me out of a chair, I have my own, comfortable, hip friendly chair in my house,  thank you. Staying home means I could also knit mitts that day. I have been putting off doing this one pair of mitts that should have been done before Christmas last year. Winter is coming, so I designated Wednesday as mitt knitting day. I just have the thumbs left to do.

Thursday KitKat and I did some last minute shopping for our scrapbooking weekend. We did lunch and basically goofed off for more of the day than we originally intended to. Imagine that!! Once I got home again I packed up all my supplies for a weekend of scraptastic fun. Friday morning, I made a snack run because a lot of the fun of the weekend with friends being crafty is connected to the snacks.  I cannot purchase them too early or I will be sneaking tastes and end up with no snacks for the weekend. We arranged do lunch first before we got down to business. The Banker, KitKat, KitKat's Sister and me. Teddy Bear was also on days off and thanks to the magic of texting, we discovered she was at a loose end, so we invited her to come along for Chinese food and giggles. We had a great time.

After lunch Teddy Bear headed home, and we headed to the scrapbooking event. Its a great weekend. Its not a sponsored event, its just a bunch of friends getting together to spend a weekend crafting. |No company is there pushing product and we can do as we please, You are not packed in like a bunch of sardines. We each get a table and the lighting is really good.

In no time at all we had the tables set up and we were up to our elbows in pictures, paper, stickers and embellishments. Not everyone does scrapbooking.The first year I worked on a crocheted baby blanket off and on. Princess Diva, who organizes the event but does not scrapbook funnily enough,  does mosaic tiling

some of the ladies work on family history on their laptops and some make greeting cards. The majority of us are scrapbooking though. One lady who is a demonstrator for Stampin' up takes a good part of the weekend to organize her supplies. Whatever blows your hair back, we have fun doing it.

some are old pros and some are just learning, some check pinterest for inspiration and some of us wing it or borrow page layout ideas from others.

Its great fun to check on what others are doing and get some inspiration, exchange ideas and share supplies. I gave out some of my crocheted flowers and one of the gals made this with three of my little babies:

I had to leave Friday night because E and I had tickets to the Ballet. I did not want to leave but I also wanted to see the ballet. So I went and now I can finally say I have seen the Nutcracker. The Moscow Ballet performed here and it was amazing. Oh to be able to move like that. So fantastic. Sold out crowd. I have seen bits and pieces of the ballet over time but never have seen the whole thing. "Nother thing off the bucket list. I must say the Nutcracker guy had on the tightest white tights I have ever seen, they left NOTHING to the imagination. A little obscene in my mind but that was my own opinion. E and I had a lovely time, I dropped her home after it was all done and headed back to the scrapbooking fun.

We go to midnight the first two nights and then just until 4:00 pm on Sunday. It works out to something like 30 hours of crafting time.  I got 52 pages done. My Maritime trip is finished except for a few embellishments and my No Cook Friday book is almost complete except for three events. I am well pleased with my efforts. KitKat's sister has never scrapbooked before and she did really well. She was making a book of her favorite band the Scorpions. The Banker scrapbooks each year which is what I may start to do. She got 2014 finished.  Kitkat worked on her 50 things for my 50th year book.  We are already looking foreward to next year.

I need to get going on the Christmas crafts now.

Toodles,

Linda

In My Happy Place

I had a funny thought about how things are perceived on Friday. I stopped at the pharmacy/corner store to pick up some cat food. While I walked by the novels I spotted the latest Nora Roberts, book one of a trilogy so I snapped it up at it was 25% off. Then came the cat food and two bags of my favourite potato chips as they too were on sale. I took them to the checkout and got the saddest look from the cashier. Well I mean , she just had to be thinking "oh you poor sad thing" There I was gray haired. over weight, buying cat food, a romance novel and chips. She must have been convinced I was preparing for  a sad weekend at the end of my sad week. It made me chuckle as I headed to the car. Nothing could be further from the truth. A quiet weekend but far from sad. I needed a quiet weekend, after another week of having something on every night the previous week. This old girl needed a break from the social upbub. So just remember its not always what it seems. For two weeks now I have had something on every night. Far from sad if you ask me.

I spent the weekend in my happy place. I ignored the dishes, the house work, the yard work, and the errands that needed to be run. I did not do the book club email and I did not wrap the parcels to be mailed. The quilt hoops called my name and I happily lost myself in their siren song.

So I sat down on Saturday morning and indulged my quilting habit for most of the weekend. The end result is this:

I, personally, think its the cutest quilt I have ever made. The Teacher found it on Pinterest and we gave it a go. I am very pleased with the result. Grandma Busy has made the crib skirt an once I get some Owls applied to the Roman blind she will finish making that. I will do bumper pads and hey presto Wee Girl's room will be decorated. My house is a mess but I could care less. I so love quilting and when I get the chance I loose myself in it and don't come up for air until forced.

I am only working two days next week then I have some days off. I have the Nutcracker ballet to attend and a scrapbooking weekend which will be great fun!! I am trying to get organized for that. The Banker, KitKat and KitKat's sister are joining me for a scraptastic weekend. I want to finish my Maritime holiday scrapbook and do a No Cook Friday scrapbook as well. Then next year I think I am going to do a yearly scrapbook like the Banker does. It makes more sense.

I have some time to do all the routine chores and get the place fit again. Housework happens all the time, Little girls only come round every so often. Its not a hard decision to make in my opinion.

Toodles
Linda

Almost

Just sitting about nibbling on cheese toast and drinking some iced tea. Its the first day of November and its grey, cloudy and mild outside. I know that because I did venture out to take down the Halloween decorations. I have not got the kitchen tidied but I do have the decorations down. That's me in a nutshell these days, Almost done all the things I need to do. Sigh Only 19 little hobgobblins last night. I never get a lot of children, I wish there were more. Very few people put their lights on for them on my block so I am glad we get what we do. The time changed to day and I have to say I love that extra hour we get. Its only an hour but its like a present.

I am nearly finished the quilt for the shelter. I have three more blocks to quilt, then its bind it, wash it, pictures taken and gt it delivered. I did get some coveralls mended for The Hummingbirds partner. they have lived on the floor in the entry for some time before I managed to get knees and bums patched. I always think of my Mom and her sister when I am mending. I am sure it would amuse them to no end to know that some of their considerable skill wormed its way into my brain. I am not anywhere close to their talents but I can patch a knee when put to the test. Apparently I was paying attention as I hovered around watching them make do and mend. As he has managed to put a hole into a third pair, I am sure he will be glad to have these two back, wearable once again.

Something I did not do this weekend was I did not make a much needed trip to the basement. There is a lot of things to be taken down there and I keep putting it off. It hurts my knee to shimmy up and down the basement stairs. I am being a big baby by putting it off. As a result the kitchen is once again a dump, filled with things that need to be put away. Its the song that never ends. I am having friends for supper and a movie on Tuesday night so I need to pull my finger out and get at it.

I have got quite a lot of quilting done this weekend. Once this one is finished, The Wee Girl's quilt goes into the frames. I will do the bumper pads, my part if  the roman shade and then they will be done. I will be happy to get them given to her. Grandma Busy is going to complete the shade.

I have composed many lists and have my plans and schedules in place and once again I endeavor to improve how I do things. I am a work in progress and sometimes the progress feels like its more work that its worth.

Toodles
Linda

Quiet Sunday

Its been a quiet weekend but that is ok. It gave me lots of time to work on the quilt for the Shelter. Our local shelter is always  looking for ways to fund raise. I decided to donate a quilt for them to raffle off. I should have had it ready for this weekend instead of just starting to get at the quilting. To be honest, It was to have been done earlier in this year but I was confined to the hospital and did not have access to my quilting stuff.  Oh well, its on the go now and this way they have a bit more time to sell tickets. I got it half quilted this weekend. My hands will give me the business tomorrow but I don't care, I so enjoy quilting. I watched tv, stitched and was in my happy place.

I did have a break from the hoop and needle, Saturday morning The Banker, KitKat and I popped over to a trade show that (lets call her Care Bear because she is the most tender hearted person) Care Bear hosted at her house. It was to raise funds for the Shelter. The three of us went and checked things out, I got some Norwex stuff because I like the product, bought couple of Sunset Creek Gourmet mixes, one for scones and one for cheesecake and some earrings that I may keep for myself. We snooped, shopped and had a great time. We all went for lunch and then hit for home. I love spending time, bumming around with my friends. However when I got home I got stuck into quilting and I did not come up for air again until now.

I got to have my usual lovely Sunday morning, sleep in, read, snooze, make breakfast, eat breakfast while binge watching Coronation Street and then shower and dress. Then Quilting and texting and wishing for someone to go for supper with.

Every once in a while I regret the fact that I am single. Well its more than once in a while but I am not miserable.  I have a very good life. It could be better but I have a good life. Lots of friends and lots to do. Every now an then I really miss not having someone. There are times when my friends are busy with their families and there stuff and I am on my own. Tonight I just wanted to go out for supper, sit and chat and have a lovely evening. Doing it on my own was not in my wheel house. Puts a bit of a pout on my lip when this happens but I will live through it. It is how it is and no pouting in the world will change what is this moment in time.

/Now it is time for bed. Another month end is looming and I need my strength to get through it.

Toodles,
Linda

Rounding Third and Heading for Normal

Or as normal as it gets around here. Now the craft sale is behind me I feel like I can focus on getting back to the normal routine. I can work on my quilts and I can get on with some Christmas crafts. I may even get some leaves raked and the yard cleaned up and ready for winter.

Went as saw the doctor today with fear in my heart that he was not going to be happy with me. I felt I had slide a little. After all it was Thanksgiving not so long ago and I had ice cream for supper last night because I am all mature and stuff, and that's how I roll when I am stressed (sometimes, not always, thank goodness). Pleasant surprise, he was pleased with me. Numbers are good and another 10 pounds are gone, gone, gone!! Sweet. I swear if my knees could stand it I would dance a jig.
He also worked his magic and I now don't have to pay as much for my meds as I was. Some were not covered and frankly the cost was making my knees buckle but its all good now. I am a happy, healthier bunny. So now the plan is I need to get doing some exercise. I need to get my stamina back. I have talked about it long enough, time to pitter patter.

This weekend I will be a quilting machine!! I have two quilts that need to be done asap.  Two new puppets have been ordered and I have Christmas stuff I want to make. I have scrapbooks to finish and scrapbooks to start. I am spinning with all the things I want to do. Which is how I like to be.

I meant to mention this in my post about Thanksgiving but somehow I missed it. I wanted to say how happy it makes me to see the Pilot with his Wee Girl. He is totally and completely enchanted with his baby girl and its a joy to see it. Makes my heart ache with happy when I see him holding his dream come true in his arms. She is as cute as they come, that is for sure.

Well I have flyers to look at and lists to make.

Toodles,
Linda

OHHHH Those are SOOOO CUTE!!!

( as promised this is the second of three posts I wanted to get up on the blog)

The blog post says it all, it was a phrase I heard time and again this weekend. 'Bout made my head puff up to twice its size. The reason was my puppets and I had them up for sale. On Friday night I packed up all my little critters, my dishcloths and some lovely hand knits from Birthday Twin and I set up a booth at the biggest craft sale my city has each year. When I say I packed them up I mean I had a butt load of help from a couple of those good No Cook Friday gals.

KitKat and Teddy Bear lent me some muscle and after our usual fright night supper we loaded down cars and schlepped the stuff to the venue. With lots of hard work we had the booth looking like this in short order.

I think it looks good. I love the little bushel baskets, I think the colours are nice and bright. It looks happy to me. I have done this craft sale thing several times now and I still have things I would tweak.

A garage sale baby bed and baby doll worked nicely to display the snuggle cocoons Birthday Twin knit. Sadly only one sold and one pair of mitts. I felt bad for her, she did a lot of work. I think these will be in big demand in a couple of years when people here figure out what they are for.

Whilst trapped in the hospital I managed to knit rather a lot of dishcloths. They were easy to do and I could do them in my sleep I swear. Ending up with way more than I needed, I took 54 of them with me and brought 14 home. Made me happy

This little puppet theater is another yard sale find and the "jumping off point" for my booth's colour palette. One of my future tweaks involves this theater, what I need is  to have a block of wood with some dowels in it to tuck behind the theater. That way the puppets would sit up higher and be seen better. I also want to add Aunty Linda's Critters to the front of it. So many people asked if I sold the theaters as well.

Something that made me supper happy was hearing people say they had purchased puppets from the first time I was at the sale, (several years ago) and the puppets were still good. That they were still being played with and were hanging in there. I am so happy to know they are durable, washable and stand up to kids.

What better way to announce my name but with a quilt!! It just seemed fitting for some reason.

Yes I took a selfie!! I am the Aunty Linda after all. I was so totally pleased with how well I did. I sold the most of my puppets and dishcloths. I had a lovely day. No Cook gals stopped by now and then to make sure I got to go the the washroom and to see if I needed anything. Teddy Bear helped me dismantle the booth and KitKat cooked us supper. I say people I have not seen for years, ran into some family and chatted up a storm.

I am thinking I may do more of this when I retire. I enjoy it, I like watching the people and it makes me happy that people love my little critters. I was invited to two more craft sales this year but I just don't have the stock. No time to make more either. I am ok with that. I do not want making puppets to become a job, I want to enjoy it. So I have made note of what I would do different next time and I will think about other craft sales, next year.

For now I have Christmas crafting to get at and quilts that still need quilting. Always something to do around here. Don't you just love it!!

Toodles,
Linda

Many Things to be Thankful for

Miss Mouse sent me a text and invited me to have thanksgiving with them. I practically snapped her arm off!! An absolutely perfect reason to get out of the city, go somewhere and see some of my favourite faces after a year of not seeing them. PLUS it was a chance to see the Tater Tot as he is two years old now and the last time I saw him he was not walking yet, Grandma Busy likes to say he is still not walking, he is running!! Not to mention the real pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in this trip was the Wee Girl. She was bringing her parents to the homestead. I needed no more incentive to throw my clothes in a bag and hit the road.

Before I go on and on about the babies, just let me say it felt wonderful to just go. I have been tied to the city for some time not and the freedom to jump into the car and go was sorely missed.

I headed to the Carpenter and Busy's house and then we traveled together to The Farmer and Miss Mouse's house. These two have moved and I no longer knew how to get to their farm. Now I do (insert evil laugh!!) We arrived in good time and it was so nice to see them. Since I was sick most of this year I did not get to visit much and while videos are wonderful they are not the real thing. The Teacher and the Pilot arrived rather late, having endured the dreaded "first trip home with the baby". Lets not dwell on it but the trip took twice as long as it normally would have and we may never get them to travel anywhere again until she is 18. (thankfully the trip home for them was not as bad)

But I know we were all ever so grateful to get a chance to love all over this pretty little personage;

She is beyond adorable and such a tiny little bundle. Perfectly made to snuggle and just dote your little heart out over.

We got acquainted, and I got to do the thing I like to do. rock a baby. The Wee Girl and I took a selfie to commemorate the event.

We speculated how Tater Tot would react to her, especially being held by his Mommy, Grandma and the most beloved "Papa". This little man is a real grandpa's boy and always wants to know where Papa is . We imagined some jealousy rearing its ugly head. Some tears, some tantrums ............What do we know???

Not one bit of it Tater Tot really likes the Wee Girl. He is enchanted with her. "nice nice baby" was the chant of the day. He did try to turn her on like the Ipad with a little poke in the belly and was interested in touching her eyes or finding out what was up her nose but he soon understood he should not touch her face unless he was wanting to give her a kiss. For being two he was very gentle with her.

Not a bit of jealousy when Papa held her, or Grandma or even Mommy. No tears no tantrums.

Papa, Tater Tot and the Wee Girl

 He wanted to see her,, touch her hair and give her a kiss or two. He seems to think she is quite ok

H liked to be near her and loved to get to hold her and lay beside her but when he was done he was off like a shot. Dude is a busy man and has lots to get done in a day.

The only time he is still it seems is when he has Grandma's Ipad and listening to the animal sounds or playing some games. This little smarty pants is better on my phone than I am. It took no time at all for him to cruise through my videos and find his favourites.

The Teacher and the Pilot have a pug/Boston cross and she came for the weekend too. Tater Tot loves her too.

Pup had some reservations about this new friendship although once again Tater Tot did really well for being two. Two is full of energy and sometimes does not know the limits but he gets it. He knows to be nice and tries hard to be gentle.

Finding a safe spot at my feet

We had a lovely long weekend. Lots of catching up. baby snuggles, toddler playing, eating, planning and just general family stuff. I am always and ever grateful that I am included.

Oh yes she is a keeper for sure.

Thanks to my fancy phone I have lots more pictures and videos to look back on. Precious memories. Happy times with family.

It was so nice on Sunday night we even had a bonfire: This was a first for me for a Thanksgiving weekend.

The time slipped by all too fast and before you knew it, it was time to head home. Sigh. back to reality but lots of happy times to look back on.

Toodles

Linda

Be Patient

I have about three posts to get up here but at the moment I am tired. When I get my feet back under me, I will post my little heart out and catch you up on all the carryings on in my life.

Toodles!!
Linda

Time Crunch

You know when you are sort of bopping along feeling that yes you have some things to do but you have time and  then BAM you have not time left and the few things have turned into a  zillion things to get finished. Welcome to my world. I am in a time crunch, I am getting over a cold and I know I am not going to get everything done that I had hoped to but I am giving it my best shot.

So I have prioritized, put my nose to the grindstone and am working my fingers to the bone to get as much taken care of as I can. I think I will make it. I have the donation quilt (one of them) quilted, bound and in the wash even as we speak. I have the neck inserts made for the last of the puppets and will get them installed in the next couple of days, all 46 of them. I have the second table skirt made for the craft show. I have most of the craft sale stuff organized and will have that done in the next two days. I cannot leave it to the last minute, I have other things to deal with so the sale stuff all needs to be packed and ready to take to the venue in the next two day. I have the little baby doll bed kitted out with a mattress and pillow to showcase Birthday Twins baby snuggle cocoons. When I take pictures of the sale booth you will understand that if you don't now.

I will share pictures of all that I have been up to  at a later date when I have some more time. For now this is going to be a very short post. I have the Wee Girl's gift basket ready to be gifted. Made a couple of last minute things to put in there this weekend. Her quit is not quilted but thankfully she is still a Wee Girl and does not need it just yet. Makes her Aunty heave a sigh of relief.

So I need to get back at the insert sewing. I will post later. Its the flight of the bumble bees around here and I am really just wanting to have a nap!!

Toodles,
Linda

Getting Things Done

I have a lot of projects on the go and I have to admit that time is running out on me. I need to knuckle down and make good on my promises.  Best news ever is that today I made the last of the puppets for the Craft Sale in October. I finished right on schedule and have been patting myself on the back most of the afternoon.

I sewed up the top for another donation quilt yesterday. I ran errands in the morning and then got at the quilt top. The local fabric store was have a 50% off sale so I bolted over there and got four quilt batts and enough white material to finish the top. Today I washed up the backing material and now its ready to quilt.

Right after I finish the first donation quilt. A quilt for which I sewed the backing yesterday. There was a lot of sewing going on yesterday, my machine got a work out and a half for the first time in a long time!!. I got going on it while the backing for the second quilt had its bath and blow dry. I figure one weeks quilting and this one will be finished then a week to do the second one and they will be ready to be delivered to the people they were promised to.

So things are perking along quite nicely if you ignore the fact that a whole lot of yard work that should have been done was not. Shed doors were not finished and the last shed wall was not painted but hey at least something was getting done. There is a big to do list and I only seem to be chipping away at it. Not enough hours in the day for me.

So its gonna be a short post today. I have quilting to do and that gets first priority at the moment.

Toodles
Linda

Busy Week and now Back to Work

So my two weeks of vacation time zipped by in the blink of an eye. Funny how work hours move so slowly and vacation time zips by like the Road Runner on Speed. Yeesh. I had 23 things on my list to accomplish whist on vacation and I got to 11 of them. I should have stepped up my game but it didn't happen. My physical energy does not come anywhere near my mental energy.

I FINALLY got out to visit with Mommybug, Ladybug and Babybug. Daddybug was in the field so I missed seeing him.  I have been trying to get out there for ages!! So long that I am ashamed to admit to it. Anyhoo I got there, and got to see the new addition they built onto the house, got to spend some time with the kids. I know my opinion may be suspect but they are the cutest pretend grandbabies a gal could want. Ladybug is friendly, chatty and so cute. Babybug is a bit shy but not to the point where he makes strange. He just is cautious but we got along just fine. I spent the best part of the day out there. We visited, I inspected the house, looked over the pinterest inspired projects and all in all had a lovely day. I must do it again sometime and not leave so long in between visits.

Me and the Bugs, just hanging out. I told you they are cuties!!

I spend some time working on the puppets for the craft sale. Right now, as it sits, I have four little ducks left  to make and I have enough for the show. I have, in the meantime, received an order from a school for 17 puppets. They use my little critters to help children to learn to love reading. This tickles me pinker than pink. I love to read and to think I have helped inspire that in a child is just so gratifying. This order is a boost to the "new carpet for my bedroom" fund.

Brown cow puppet, there are black and white cows too!!

Thursday I spend a good portion of the day with Teddy Bear putting down flooring in her grandchildren's room. We did her bedroom a while ago and so we knew what we were doing with this one. It actually only took us three hours to do the flooring once you minused out the one break we took.

I think it came out just fantastic. I wish I had taken a before picture. 

She treated me to lunch and then I headed home to get ready for The Banker, KitKat and Teddy Bear to come over for dinner and movie night. Not really a movie, we are watching the second half of season one of Outlander. We ordered pizza, The Banker brought popcorn and I supplied coffee and dessert. We had a great evening.

The weekend was No Cook Friday as usual, then the rest of the time was spent on errands. I was so proud of myself because for the first time in ages I brought the groceries in and did this:

Not only did I clean and chop the vegetables, I portioned out the meat into serving sizes before I froze it. Past history tells me that when I do this, I will use the stuff and not let it go bad as it my habit. Prep work done before hand  makes cooking easier after work when I am tired and not in the mood to make like a chef.

 Saturday night Teddy Bear and I went to see Mr Holmes (another movie) at the university theater. Sunday I did nothing but work on puppets and sleep. I found myself a cold somewhere along the way and its knocked the stuffing out of me. No immune system after the shenanigans with my leg this year so I think I will be up for getting every bug that goes around for a bit. 

Back to work on Monday and then I was off again today !! The Banker and I went to an art show. One of my friends, well lets call her the Artist, had a showing at a local art gallery. Local, as it was in another town. I missed going last year and did not want to miss it again. As we do, we made a day of it. We went early enough for lunch, then soaked in the art. She is one talented lady. Oil painting, photography, mixed medium stuff.  It was fabulous. I was so glad we went and she seemed very pleased we made the trip. We had a good day. Lunch out, a little shopping then the art show. Home before supper and I got to check out all she has done to her new place. (The Banker and her Sweet Baboo have moved in together so they are combining households.)

She is so super organized she nearly has the place all set up where the rest of us would still be living with boxes. She makes my head spin.

Back to work tomorrow. Oh the Joy!!!

Toodles,

Linda

Its a Whole New Shed

If you tolerate me talking on and on about something I do eventually get around to it and it gets done. This is true of my wishing the shed to get painted. In truth its not a new shed but with a slap of new paint it looks like a whole new building.  It started out looking something like this. When I bought the house it was all the ugly brown colour until two years ago when I started to paint it. I got two sides done in a sort of cream colour. New doors were added when my leaf blower was liberated in the middle of the night and I wanted them painted before the snow and ice came.

I got two walls done and then for ages could not find anymore of the cream paint. I was spraying it and it took far more spray cans than I had intended. It sat in all its two toned glory for two years until this week. I finally got at it and made use of some of my days off to make it look like this.

A fresh coat of pale gray paint and it looks so much better than it did. I am not sure what I was thinking with the cream. It matched nothing, the house is white with green trim. The gray is more neutral and if I manage to afford to get the house painted the warm white and slate blue I would like it to be, the shed will be alright with that. The roof need a coat of paint as well but I have no idea how I will manage that. It needs a good power wash. Maybe in the spring I will sort something out. The new door only as a coat of primer on it but since the end result will be white paint you get the idea. I have the north wall to do as I thought two cans of paint would suffice but I fear I shall run short. 

Now I have an idea of how to hang the mosaic stars and moon on the shed, I need to get them finished as well. Not to mention the house number plaque. I need grout and silicone for this and like the usual way of it about this house, both on hold until pay day. I will reveal my star hanging method once I know it works.

Now I can turn my attention to my bedroom. Its project number 2 on my list. Another one that has languished incomplete for two years. It costs nothing to hunt for carpet tiles that will suit. I have started the search but have some more places to check out. The ones I really want are not available here and are $20.00 per tile. I do tend to pick the expensive things. I now need to find something that will work in place of.

Next week is a visit to Mommybug if it is still convenient for them. Then the last two days of the week are penciled in to help Teddy Bear lay a floor in her grandson's room. I will fill in the other days with looking for carpet. making the last of the puppets and quilts. I might even try to get the wall paper back up onto the wall of the bedroom since it fell off the first time.

I think I have found two colours of paint that will work for my room.  I shall consult the No Cook ladies before I make a final decision. I am looking foreward to having my blue bedroom back. It currently could not be more blah if it tried. The carpet needs to be removed, half has been done already. The night stands are going to be repainted and I think the chest of drawers will get painted as well. Its finish is badly battered from years of abuse. 

I need another 6 or 7 months off.

Toodles 

Linda

The Wee Girl

I think, like everyone. I have a list of heart felt wishes that I carry about with me. Some are for me and some are for people I know and love and some are for beings I don't personally know. Earlier this week one of these wishes was granted and she looks like this

This is the Wee Girl. The Pilot and The Teacher presented her to us and I know I am not the only one who is over the moon. Part of that being "over the moon" is because my wish for The Pilot to get the chance to be a Dad has been granted. I know he will be a just the best Daddy a little girl could want and if he had never got the chance it would have just been a sin and a shame. Busy and The Carpenter are getting to dote on yet another grandbaby, so right now, all is well with our world. We have the Tater Tot and now the Wee Girl, out family tree is growing.  I cannot wait to meet her and have a bit of a cuddle. I also have to say I love her name, can't share it here but I really like it. Good choice you people, its the sort of name that works no matter what age she will be.

I was going to paint my shed yesterday but for some reason it just seemed more important that I work on the quilt for the Wee Girl. I have the top finished and will start quilting it really soon.  I am not going to do that until the painting is finished. I really want my ugly brown shed painted before the snow comes again. Its been waiting to be completely painted for a couple of years now, so I need to get it done. I have all the stuff , there is no reason, besides being lazy, to not get it done.I want the shed painted and my bedroom finished this year. Two projects that have been hanging around waiting for me to get a burst of energy. I am chugging back the B12 so I have no more excuses. Paint brushes ahoy!!!

Love being on days off, as we all know because I go on and on about it none stop. Been having the best of times. Maybe not doing all the things I had thought I would get done but I am going here and there, spending time with friends, making baby stuff and doing projects. My kind of days.

Well I need to get my painting duds on and get my arse out the door. That shed will not paint itself. Yep going to become a veritable whirling dervish, right after one more cup of coffee or two.

Toodles,
Linda

What's happenin"

I am on days off, yes I am, shut up I worked for two months I deserve a break......... I do to. I usually take time off in September and saw no reason to change my habits now. I actually can use a break. Just between you and me I am not quite back on my feet yet. I still tire so easily but its getting better. That and I like to be at home, not at work, but you knew that.

So Friday started my fortnight of vacation time. So far its been a wonderful few days. The Banker surprised us at No Cook. She was back from her month away with her Sweet Baboo. It was nice to have her back with the group. We had a fun night catching up on all the news. She scored me this old lard pail.I totally loved it and gave it a home on my new entry way chest of drawers. (The purple runner is only there until I weave something that actually matches.) It belonged to her daughter-in-law and she was getting rid of it. I love it, it ticks a lot of boxes for me.the colour, age, its a tin, it has a shamrock. tick tick tick......... LOVE IT.

Saturday I had planned to do nothing. First day of vacay and I like to just have no plans. I ran some errands in the morning and was crocheting on puppets when KitKat called and enticed me out of the house by waving second hand store shopping under my nose. With a twist of my rubber arm and was out the door. I managed to find a couple of things. We looked at flooring, she wants to do her kitchen and I want to do my bedroom. Then we hit a local greenhouse that I have never been to before. What a lovely place!! its definitely on my return to list for Christmas time and again next spring. I got a trowel owl. Its an owl face made from a trowel with gears for eyes etc . I love him,( I will post a picture later. Too lazy to do it now.) We finished off the day with picking up chicken and having supper at her place. Not a bad way to spend the day. I was home just after supper and managed to finish the puppet I started earlier in the day.

Sunday I hit the road and met up with a high school friend at a near by Flea Market. She messaged me awhile ago that she was going to be at their cottage this weekend and did I want to meet up. We have not seen each other for a long time (six years since the last time) so I was super thrilled she made the effort. We had a better than good day. I managed to walk around the market and only had to sit twice. We talked, found treasures, found out about each other and groaned over all things we did not have money for or the space to store them.

My egg cup collection grew by 5 new members:

The little chicken on the right side was already here, the other 5 just came home with me. I also bought two candlewick glass candle holders ( again too lazy to take pictures). I was so proud of me, I left two milk glass goblets there. I have three, I could have had two more but I did not get them. I will have to get them another time. They are easier to find than the figural egg cups and I was budgeting myself for once.

We went back to her cabin and I have to say I am seriously jealous. Lake front, four bedrooms, its lovely. I would love to have a cabin, I could go on for days about how much I want a cabin but I won't. Anyway, we had a cool drink, I got the royal tour, we talked some more and I headed home. It was a really nice way to spend a Sunday. I hope we don't leave it too long before the next visit. I have a set of oars that are perfect for her cabin.The people that owned this house left them and now I have an actual home for them I just have to get them to her. I will do my best to see that it does not take me years.

Today, Teddy Bear and I went out for breakfast, then I came home to clean the kitchen, do laundry and work on a quilt. Well I did most of that, some got ignored and some got done. I have the teddy bear and horse puppets finished now its time top start the ducks and the cows. I think I am going to reduce the number of ducks and add in some chickens.

Tomorrow is a road trip with The Banker. I am hoping to work in a visit to Mommybugs house during this vacation time. The Hostess is on the list for this coming weekend unless something changes. Long past time I should have been to visit them. All in all this vacation with no plans is working out rather well.

Toddles,

Linda