Sunday, Rainy Sunday

The Hostess just left.  She popped in and brought me breakfast.Sweet thing that she is.  We had a natter, ate breakfast, drank coffee and I hemmed a pair of jeans for her. Lovely way to start a rainy Sunday. I don't get to see her often so it was very nice to catch up on all the news that is the news. She is now off running errands and I am putting off getting the laundry started.

I had a week of work under my belt and I can say that the weekend was a welcome reward. It gets harder and harder to get back at it every time I have time away. I really am getting to the end of my shelf life as far as working goes. I am ready to be put out to pasture. I just need to be able to afford to stay in the pasture!!

I have no idea why I am going to share this picture but since next to no one reads this blog, I am not really embarrassing myself on the world wide web. My kitchen and I have had a battle royal going on for some time now. I cannot seem to keep it clean. Well yesterday we went another round. It was a blood bath but I won!! It started out looking like this:

OMG I really am a mystery to myself. I hate it looking like this but the table is just a dumping ground for any and all as I come in the back door. The wine bottle project contributes to the mess and the containers are a whole 'nother battle in itself. So I rolled up my sleeves and got stuck in. I had a deadline. Teddy Bear and I were off to the show to see Snowdon so I had to get it done, I could not put it off. I am happy to say that it know looks like this:

Will it stay this way? That is
doubtful but for the moment it is the way I like it best. Dishes done, garbage out, recycle out. All is well with my world. I now have room to start purging the containers and the serving platters. I can put things on the table as I sort them and decide what stays and what goes. So much to do and the list never ends. I have cleaned it up with an eye to making in a mess again right shortly. The never ending cycle of this poor kitchen I am afraid. (One of these days I want to replace that table with a lovely wooden one, maybe reclaimed wood, just sayin')

Yesterday Teddy Bear around noon and asked if I wanted to go to the show. Well twist my rubber arm. We went and saw Snowdon, then we went for supper, then for coffee so my Saturday changed from a day of cleaning and purging into a day of some of that but fun times with a friend as well. I love when that happens. My friends are very dear to me so getting to spend time with them is right at the top of my favourite things to do.

Today it going to be laundry and some mending for friends. Working on quilts and finishing the knitted baby blanket. I have two sets of hats and scarves to do for the Hostess's grandson. I went and got the supplies yesterday so I will get them going today. Rain outside, tv watching and crocheting sounds just perfect to me. I need to make soup for lunches next week. The Sailor, Teddy Bear and I are going to a movie at the local university tonight and that should round out my weekend.

I still have not found the shed key. Its in this house somewhere and I will find it. I just hope its before I have to get someone to come a cut the lock off the shed. I am so annoyed with myself because I am better with my keys than this usually.

Off to throw the laundry down so I can at least get that on the go before the pull of my chair and the tv win the fight and I take that day of rest thing to heart.

Toodles
Linda

Saturday Snipets

So here I sit, wrapped in my ratty old black sweater, with a big mug of tea, trying not to be too sad that its the second last day of my staycation. I am also thinking I may need to root up something more for supper, a dish of watermelon just may not cut it. Work resumes on Monday and I am not best pleased. I am trying desperately to change my attitude, but I still have that Sunday night and its school tomorrow feeling.

So lets not dwell on that for now, lets move on to projects that have been worked on, some finished, some started. That will take my mind off things for a bit. Ok? now where to start??? Well lets start with the Wee Girl. She is a favourite of mine. I first made this sweater for my oldest great niece and nephew many moons ago. I love it. I thought it would be just the thing for the Wee Girl's first birthday gift.

I found this nice burnt orange yarn and thought it was perfect for this Halloween sweater. There is a cute little matching hat as well.

I made it in the biggest size so she can get a few years of wearing it under her belt. I think it looks as cute on her as it did on her cousins all that time ago.

A little big but she will grow into it.

Today I finally felt like tackling the wine bottle project. It was a lovely warm day so after groceries were purchased and I had spent a bit of time knitting I hauled 45 wine bottles out of my kitchen to the back yard and I planted them with my trusty rubber hammer.

It was very sunny so getting a reasonable picture was not easy. This is the short side of the flowerbed. Yes I know the line is not straight and I did curve the corners on purpose. I have finally come to grips with the fact that I do not do perfect, its not in my wheelhouse. You can still see the landscaping timber at the edge. I will remove it in time. At the end where the dumpster is sitting, I have a plan for something there. I just need to find it again. Another case of I should have snapped it up when I saw it the first time. When will I learn?

I think I need about 30 more wine bottles to finish across the front of the bed. I have about that many more still in the kitchen but I need to remove the labels from them. I am happy with the results. Cheap and cheerful. It makes a nice little edge for the flower bed and it did not cost me a penny. I have had ever so many people donate their empty bottles to my cause. I was so grateful to get this done today. I finally have no wine bottles on my kitchen table at the moment. I have some in boxes on the floor but they are not all over the table. They are out in the flower bed where they belong and I say hallelujah!!

I have been knitting, getting my scrapbooking supplies organized for my weekend in November when the Banker, KitKat and I scrapbook ourselves silly for three days. I have been doing laundry, stocking the pantry and trying to mark off more things on my "to do" list. My days have been filled with puttering and pottering about, doing this and that, resting and relaxing.  Its been a lovely staycation. It was not the trip to Scotland that I had originally planned but it was still days where I was on my own schedule. I rather like that in case I have not mentioned it before.

I left a cushion form on the dining room table in all innocence. I thought it would be safe there until I decided how I wanted to cover it. Well someone is keeping it warm for me.

But its so nice and soft Mama.

Tomorrow I have promised myself I can start the new quilt for my bedroom. I will finish the Safe and Warm donation quilt top. I will work on the next Blarney Night donation quilt but I will finally start the one for me. I have finally settled on a pattern that suits me. Oh yes tomorrow will be a good day.

Toodles,
Linda

And the Pinteresting Goes On

Wow I do post more when I am not working. So next week this should grind back to a halt and I will be showing up once a week. Sigh, I can't think about that. I get all panicky when I realize how fast the days are going and how quickly I will be back at work. Oh well. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that I have a good job that pays the bills but I cannot deny the fact that I am ready to be at home. Full time, not just a few days here and there.

So what have I been up?? Well let me tell you. No yard work. Still have not found the shed key. I have been filling the days with other things. The Banker and I did another of our road trip days. We toodled around the country. stopping here and there to check out second hand stores, collectibles shops, crafty stores and anything else we could find. The new store that we most especially wanted to check out, was closed. Oh well, live and learn, next time phone first to see if they are open.

I found some egg cups:

I managed to get them onto the shelf. I think I have room for two more and then I have to stop collecting them.

I found this cute pumpkin to hang on my front door. I have a weakness for metal things. This inspired me to get some fall decor stuff out at change up the veranda. I have to redo the wreath for next year. The decorations and ribbon are showing their age. Another trip to Michaels is in my future!!

I started to knit a baby blanket. I got the yarn on sale a while ago at Michaels then found an easy pattern on Pinterest.

I like to have the odd baby thing on hand just in case. I think I will make this again and do it white or cream next time.

Here is a before picture. This is the night stand that I would have had to get rid of if I had bought the sweet wash stand at the sale a couple of weekends ago. I didn't, so I thought it need to be changed up a bit. Trust me this poor thing was stenciled within an inch of its life before I painted it white. I changed it to plain white when I painted this spare room gray.

Pinterest to the rescue once again. Scrapbook paper on sale, three for a dollar at Michaels and the last of the glue I used on the other project and I got this as a result.

I am tickled with the result. If you look to hard the circles are not perfect and the cutting is not exact but I don't do perfect. No matter how hard I try, it never works so I only hope for pretty good. I mean for a dollar!! who could ask for a better result?? Cheap and cheerful.

I have to share some of my exceptional gardening skills!!, Remember this lovely little bush I bought?

Well I planted it and now it looks like this:

Could it be more dead?? A combination of no sun and being poorly watered, signed and sealed the fate of this poor little thing. I feel bad. In future I will wait until the neighbour actually cuts down the trees, not just says he is going to . Then I will water the next one regularly and not depend on Mother Nature to do it for me. Yeesh.

I am off to knit for a bit.

Toodles
Linda

I Have Been Pinteresting

I always like to have a project, something to do, to keep me busy. I like home improvement and decorating but my bank account does not keep up with my wish list. So I love to find a cheap and cheerful project that makes a big change for very little cash. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration.

Today I did this: I wanted to update my spare room a little. I had done it to death when stenciled furniture was trendy. I loved it and for a long time it looked just fine but lately its been showing its age and I wanted to give it a face lift. 

Before:

My Mom bought me this little chest of drawers when I first moved away from home. Its had many reincarnations, It was the first victim of my stencil madness. 

After:

Eight Sheets of scrapbooking paper (purchased when it was on sale), a bottle of dollar store white glue watered down to homemade mod podge and the little chest got an up date. Cheap and cheerful. I am pleased with the results.

Before:

I bought this years ago at a second hand store. Solid wood and just a nice size, it fell victim to my paint brush and stencils. 

After:

The third paper looks beige in the photos but it has green in it. If I find a better paper I may replace it but for now its fine. 

One more thing off the "To Do" list!! I am a happy bunny!!

Toodles,

Linda

Saturday Snipits

It is slow and steady progress around here. Accent heavy on the slow but at least its progress.

I got my bedroom cleaned. That in itself was a major feat. As its half demoed for decorating (and has been for years) I tend to ignore the mess as its under construction. Well even I have my limits so it got a going over the other day. Made a heck of a difference in the place. In honor of Autumn, I popped an extra quilt on the bed. A bed that had its bedding washed and dried in the sun from the mattress cover to the top spread.  I even got an idea to redo two of the decorative pillows that live on the bed. They need a bit of an update.

Double batch of laundry soap had been cooked up, I will be happily washing clothes for some time with 10 gallons of laundry soap ready and waiting. I have three inches left to knit on the Wee Girl's project. I need to get it ready to mail for Monday as I have several things to mail and with my postal issues, one trip is probably gonna be it. I have misplaced the shed key so instead of any yard work being accomplished a lot of fruitless searching has been happening.

Today I popped up to The Bankers house and her Sweet Baboo cut some boards for me. I have all my family pictures on top of  book cases in my bedroom but they are currently propped up on magazines because the case tops are not level. These boards will level them and I will no longer have to look at the frames staggering about like drunken sailors. Not to mention I can add more frames as I wish because the whole top will be solid.

I hung this little home sign up. I love it.

I also did this. I bought this little tray last weekend, half price. dull and drab but full of potential. Some paint. some wrapping paper from Ikea and it has a new lease of life.

Before:

dark, dull and dreary.

After:

I was so pleased with the end product, I mailed pictures to my friends, I posted it on the internet. I was tickled, then later on I noticed this:

The paper had folded itself over and the seriously sad thing is that I checked it before I sealed it all up again. Apparently I checked it with half an eye. Many swear words later. I pulled it all apart, fixed the corner and now the 1960's fake wood panel board is totally hidden forever.

I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY painted the shed door. A year ago it looked like this:

I did get the primer on it but never seemed to get it painted. Today I finally painted it. Nothing fancy just plain white.

Fresh and clean, bright and white. The little last mosaic tile project has been installed. One more job ticked off the list.

So like I said, slow and steady progress.The wine bottle project may just be next on the list!!

Toodles.
Linda

Loving My Days Off

|Wow, the second post in less than a week. How can you tell I am not at work

So far, so good on the staycation. Yesterday was spent in the Big City. The Banker and I took off to go shopping, We only went to Ikea and Costco. I managed to get some stuff at Ikea even though I really did not NEED anything.  There is lots of stuff there I would like to have but since space is at a premium in my house I have to behave.

I got some storage jars, some silicone ice cube trays that I will use as molds for other stuff. I bought a utility knife, a pillow form, some napkins, wrapping paper,cookies, candles and a water carafe. Like I said I didn't need much. The Banker wanted at three tiered trolley, which is why we went really. I saw a laundry hamper I would have loved but I have two perfectly good hampers already. I will save it for another day. I also saw some nice shelving units that I would love to have in my laundry room but there is literally no room for anything more in that space.

Costco was better. I stocked the freezer a bit and got several big bags of different kinds of nuts. (Christmas baking will be here before you know it.) I could spent a lot of money in that store. I think when I go back next time I will get more meat. Its such a good deal!! Between the two of us we managed to fill the car. Lovely lunch at Swiss Chalet with the cutest waiter ever. A full fun day for the two of us. Best of all I managed to walk much more than I thought I would AND I can move around today with no more trouble than normal. Win Win I say.

We have another road trip day planned for next week. Whoot!!

Yesterday I made this:

Just a little sign, an old board and some Michael's letters. I saw one in a magazine and I liked it. The very special part of this little sign is the board I used. The board came from the house my mom was born in. Makes it so much more meaningful.

Well I think I will go an knit on a little project for the Wee Girl. Then I hope to get some yard work done today!! Miracles may happen!!

Toodles
Linda

Staycation

My two weeks off has started off nicely. I have been thwarted on my plans to sleep in, thanks to Mother Nature and two hungry cats.

"Oh now that you are awake Mama, You can get up and feed me."

This little black face, two inches away from mine has been the standard visual I have for the last couple of mornings. I get beat into getting up, then the two furry terrors go back bed and sleep the day away. Cats!!

The No Cook group went for dessert here on Friday? The Batchery, Homemade ice cream,  gelato and sorbetto. So delicious. I will try and get back again.

I decided that on Saturday I would do only what I pleased. First day of my two weeks off, I would have no "To Do: list, nothing but what I wanted to do. I did this:

After three years I got my Irish wool tea cozy made. I bought the yarn in Gallway with this pattern in mind. The pattern was lost in the quagmire that is my craft room and was only recently found. Its a brighter and prettier green in real life. It looks rather muddy here but its not, its a very Irish green. 

I brought three balls of this lovely stuff back with me and I still have one left to do something with. I am not sure what but I am beyond tickled to have my cozy made. Its so deliciously squishy and soft. 

Yesterday, The Banker, Teddy Bear, and I headed to a antique and collectibles sale. Kit Kat and her Dad met us there. We had a lovely day but once again I was reminded that I really have to get doing something to increase my stamina. Walking about is so hard and I want to be able to go and do and see. In spite of my limited mobility I did get around and I did manage to bring some things home. Not as much as I would have liked but I got some.

Three pieces of candlewick glass: a divided dish, a small bowl and a saucer. A cookie tin was thrown in for good measure

Teddy Bear bought this. It will live at my house and if she wants to wear it, She will borrow it. I have the best friends, I cannot say it enough.

This little serving tray was half price and just begged for someone to take it home and make it pretty. I fully intend to do just that. It has that horrible fake wood panel board  in it. I have never ever liked that stuff. I will be more that happy to hide it with wall paper or scrap booking paper. Something bright and pretty. There was the cutest little wash stand there for a really reasonable price that I would have snapped up in a heartbeat but I just had no place to put it. I could have gotten rid of something and used it instead but how smart is that? So someone else is enjoying it . Lots if other things I would have purchased but money and space are lacking so I was content just to look.

Today I am spending the day doing a few things that need to be done but mostly working on the next quilt on the list. I got half of the top sewn last time I tackled it so maybe I can do the other half today.

I also finally got some shelves put in the egg cup cupboard. I had painted them some time ago but now the paint has cured I could put them away.

Here it the before:

Kind of hard to see them all like this. So here is the after:

Not much room left to expand the collection. I only saw two egg cups yesterday at the sale but I already had them. I have a few duplicates and I don't want to have too many. 

So I am off to sew on the quilt and do the dishes.

Toodles,

Linda