Saturday Stuff and the Odd Rant

Once again the week got away from me and its Saturday already and I haven't blogged since Monday. I have no excuse that most of you have not heard before. Its the same old same old. Busy, lazy, blah blah blah. Whatever, it is what it is and here we are at Saturday once again.

Highlight of the week for me personally was that I got to the 2 km mark walking. I had to have a couple of small breaks the day I did it but I managed the twelve rounds that was required. I am going to stay there for a while, let my body adjust and then start to increase the distance again. My ultimate goal is to get back to the 3 miles I was walking before so I am aiming for 30 round. Me poor old knees ache at the thought but I am not paying any attention to them. They can howl all they want, I have Ireland on my mind. Another highlight was I was presented with my 25 years of service plaque at work. Its 7 years late but I was happy to get it. Why is it late, well we got reshuffled a while back and somethings got lost in the details. I will be up for a 30 year one fairly soon. We are a dying breed we long term employees. No one seems to stay at the same job for years anymore. I got a lovely letter from the Minister thanking me for my loyal service to the people of this province. Made me smile.

Today the sun is shining, its freakin' cold but the sun is out. Tomorrow we are supposed to get a bucket load of snow but for now, right this moment, its sunny and I am happy. I did my running around this morning, errands, groceries and here is where a rant comes in. What is with people who are in line behind you at the check out and just keep inching closer and closer, crowding you, almost but not quite pushing you out of the way???? Honestly people what is your deal?? Are ya scared some insanely skinny person is suddenly going to appear in that 6 inch space between us and kick you out of line??? Do you think pushing your way into my arm pit will magically make everything happen faster so you can get to your turn that millisecond faster???  That I will step out of the way and let you go instead of me?? Well I got news for you darlin', I am not moving until I am finished. Nope, not gonna budge until I havemy cart emptied and still not until my money or cards are back into my purse and am totally ready to move onY you can inch all you want, I AM NOT BUDGING!! In fact the closer you get,the pushier you are, the less likely I am to fo any faster than I have to. Stay  out of my personal space, unless you are prepared to buy me dinner and a movie, don't get all up in my bidness!! Just sayin. OHHHHH that irks me!!

I treated myself to a coffee out and then I came home. Quick breakfast and I have been cleaning, organizing and putting away ever since. I have a big "to do" list this weekend, nothing that is going to take ages but they all need to be done. Today I have been puttering away at it. The recycling and garbage are out in the dumpsters. Whoot!!, the dishes are done and my poor fingers are still pruney. I made these:

12 handmade thank you cards that I was supposed to make last weekend but I didn't. I just need to find the envelopes for them. I swear I bought some but I will be danged if I can find them. Such is my life in this house. The constant pursuit of the unlocated item that I know is in here somewhere.

I got some pictures hung. When I asked my co-workers daughter to paint these I was hoping for green trees in both pictures, not identical but those colours and those lovely round trees. Not overly taken with the southwest colours of the second painting but I hung it up anyway. I may change it some time but for now it will do. I also hung up the smoke detector which has been off the wall for some time but for some reason I did not think that little feat was picture worthy. I don't know about you but it amuses me to no end the the green trees have sky on the bottom and green on the top. Its like they are is some strange upside down land. I think my young artist made a mistake but I love it.

This is what pulled at me all day though. I caved and spent most of the evening happily working away on this and watching DIY tv. I am closing in on finishing it. This quilt is overdue and I am so very glad to be on the downhill slide with it.

Chanel quilting is one of my favourites quilting patterns. Its easy, unfussy and gives you bang for your buck. (Oh lovely I forgot to take the cat blankets off the couch and chair before I took the picture. Oh well too late now and anyone who reads this blog know about her Majesty). I could sit and quilt for hours. Its my joy. My Grandmothers both quilted and I think I got it from them. It appeals to me on so many levels, it recycles, its creative, its individual (every pattern is a little different looking depending on who is making it), its practical, its decorative and well I could go on and on and on. My Mom was the one who actually helped me learn to quilt and the last big project we did together the year she died was work on a double wedding ring quilt for my oldest niece's wedding gift.

I can't sit here any longer, I can hear it calling my name from the living room. I will bid you good night and I am headed back to hoop and thread.

Toodles,
Linda

When Did it Get to be Monday??

Yesterday I broke down and took some Advil for my pain. What a relief, it made a world of difference. I could move around normally (which means it still hurts but I can stand it) and I actually got stuff done. I washed the bedding, got the quilt put together and started to quilt. Bliss!!

Lovely breakfast, laundry started and then I spent the afternoon quilting. I watched "My Week with Marilyn" and "Snowwhite and the Huntsman". It was a perfect "Linda" afternoon. I finished the puppets and they are ready to be mailed. I was going to go find some mini gloves but once a quilt get me in its clutches, I tend to stay put. Quilting is my favourite thing to do. I would stay home and quilt all day if I could, everyday, but I cannot figure out how to get my wages AND quilt, so for now, I quilt when I can.

Right now I am watching Duck Dynasty. I am really starting to like this show. It makes me laugh. I love Si, some of the things he says, cracks me up. He has such a dead pan delivery, hysterical. I have only just started to watch this show, after listening to others rave about it.

Not a very long post tonight. I am tired, I missed walking all last week so I have started again today, sore legs, knees or whatever, be damned. Its time change weekend and I think I need to get bed in a reasonable time. What I am really saying is I am  reading a good book and I want to get back at it. Its called the Weird Sisters and I am really enjoying it. Its our book club choice this month.

So I am for bed, book and relaxation. (Like quilting all evening hadn't already got me all relaxed).

Toodles,
Linda

Moaning and Groaning and Feeling a Little Sorry for Myself

Well we got more snow today not enough to bury us again but enough to be a pain. I did not go out and shovel. The reason for that is the moaning and groaning portion of our blog post today. I don't know what did it or why, but my legs and knees are so sore today I would happily chop them off. Every step is a chore and a pain. I know this will get better and it is probably just the damp weather but oiy it has me feeling sorry for my little self. I was out and about this morning and ran errands for two or so hours, by the time I got home I was worn out. The last doctor I saw suggested I cut down on the pain killers, so I am trying not to take anything.  I have to say I am feeling it. I need to go get some natural remedies that will not be so hard on my system and hopefully help ease the pain. When I get to see my own Doctor in April I will see if he can give me something. I have osteoarthritis in one knee and I think its spreading. I could rattle on for days about my aches and pains but I am not completely ready to become that sort of person. Just having a little pity party, I will get over it, in time, I think...............

Moving on for today. I did get the groceries and I got them put away. I did the dishes and some laundry. I got to Walmart for cat food and litter. I snooped around Michaels for Cuttlebug stuff and I got to the Dollarstore, finally, to get some odds and ends I needed that are cheap there. I FINALLY got the flannelette for the quilt. Ouch that stuff is expensive now, but I did get some on sale. Its washed up and tonight before bed I will get the back all sewn together and ready to quilt. I am so looking forward to a day of quilting. Winter days are perfect for quilting. I have three movies taped so its gonna be a lovely day!! Oh yes and I got a new printer WITH a scanner. Its going to be lovely to be able to scan stuff again. I did not know how much I missed it until I could not do it.

I had thought I might clean out the freezer today or make some soup but that did not happen. I may be able to do that tomorrow. I have the stuff to through together two soups and I am sick of running out of lunch stuff before the week is over. Like I said, I have great intentions but my body does not always get the memo. I napped on the couch this afternoon, played on the computer and knit some.

I have vowed to make the Hummingbird puppet tonight and get that order into the mail on Monday. I do have to go out tomorrow and try and find the gloved to finish those mitts I knit. I looked today but could not find any and I know they are out there. I am hoping that walking will be much easier tomorrow.

I have to share this picture from my back yard with you. It makes me smile.

Poor little flamingo, he looks so pissed off at being buried in the snow, I smile every time I walk by. His partner is totally buried. Looks like he should have got a better GPS.

Hummingbird is calling my name. I will be back later.

Toodles
Linda

Jammie Day

So I was tucked up in bed last night at 9:00 pm, tired, chilled and just all round blah. I blamed it on my delicate nature and the fact that I had done more heavy snow shoveling than I had to do in a long time. So I drifted off to sleep. I woke this morning and I felt crappy. I probably could have forced myself to go to work but I didn't. I turned of the alarm, made a quick call and then snuggled back down and slept until 9:30. I would say sleeping for the better part of 12 hours means more than just being tired from shoveling. I am not the delicate flower I have been pretending to be, I am more the boiled owl sort of tough!! I think I needed a day off.

I have spent the day quietly, resting, reading, knitting, and playing with the Banker's Cuttlebug. (I so want one of those machines!!) She is very generous and says we can share her's. I ran off about 9 pieces of paper for future card making. I think I will do to Michaels on the weekend and see if they have some embossing cards I like and maybe I will get one or two so she can share my stuff. On the whole I have done not much of anything and I feel like I need  nap.

Whatever is up with me I wish it would get gone. I want to feel normal again, I am not good at this stuff whatever it is. Maybe its just plain old spring fever.

Toodles,
Linda

Winter's Last Tantrum

If I remember rightly Sunday the snow started to fall. Then on Monday it picked up speed and wind and became a proper blizzard . By the time work was done on Monday I could not get my car anywhere near my house to park it. I had to leave it a block away and hope for the best. Slowly and carefully I waded my way through knee high snow drifts, managing to plant myself, face first into a snow bank, only once on the journey. I am amazed I managed to get up again. Getting up off the floor/ground at the best of times is not an east task for me. Having nothing to lean on was an experience but I managed to raise myself back up onto my feet. So I go home and got out the shovel. That night I managed to shovel the front walk and the sidewalk infront of my house. I have a tiny lot and once again I was grateful, I was pooped by the time this was done.

Where the walk way is, the snow was level with what is in the yard. Same with the front side walk. It does not really look like it in the picture but we have more snow on our side of the street. It would easily be over the wheel wells of the car. There is one rut down the center of the road and you could not get off it, the snow is too thick and heavy. Once I was done with the front, I opted to stop shoveling and stay in the house, moaning and groaning about how tired I was, seriously lamenting the fact that there is not one snowblower on our block!! I was scared to look at the back yard, so I ignored it for a bit.

After a rest, some hot supper and a cup of tea, I got brave and looked out back. Crap, crap, crappity crap. This is as far as I could get the door open.

This is the back step which is two steps up from ground level. The snow beyond the door is so nice and level and pristine looking isn't it. I got brave,  looked up and out and saw this: This lovely, flat, level shelf of snow.

That line you see is closer to the fence than it looks. It totally covers the sidewalk and as I was to find out at 6:00 am this morning, is waist deep. Four shovel fulls , starting at waist level, to get down to the ground. Last night I shut the door and went and had another cup of tea.

Off to bed early and then up with the chickens to do a spot of shoveling. Using brute force I managed to get out the back door and got stuck in. In short order (hah!!) with a decent amount of elbow grease, (ugh!!) the back door and path looked like this:

I wanted to go back to bed. I went to work but I really wanted to go back to my soft warm bed. I am not good on the long haul shoveling  I get tired, my  back hurts, I get sweaty, then my glasses fog up and I can't see. I am a delicate flower. I was glad that I did what I did this morning, as I had to shovel my parking spot after work. My car is parked there but I have my doubts if I will get out in the morning. Lots and lots of ruts in the alley. The thing is, in this section of town, the alleys are narrow, the yards small and there simply is no place to put the snow. I did not take pictures of the parking spot but it took the best part of an hour to shovel it out. I am glad to say that at least my car is parked on my own patch again.

I am going to bed early today again. I am tired, and chilly. That chill you get when you have been out in the cold too long and you feel like your very innards are frosted up. Tea is not taking it away so I think I need to snuggle down under the flannel sheets and the quilts and wait to get toasty again.

Yep I am a delicate flower!!

Toodles,
Linda

LAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZY Sunday

I watched the Twilight DVD last night and I am thinking if I was terribly interested I would re read the last book. I was not sure how true to the book they stayed. I am not thinking I am that interested but there was things in the movie that I did not remember from the book. I have now seen all the series and I can put it to bed, move onto something else. They previewed The Host which looks interesting. I liked the book so I am looking forward to the movie. I liked the Twilight series too, I may be of a more mature age to be a Twihard but I liked the books and enjoyed the movies, all five of them. They were what they were, not high art but entertaining.

Today has been a lazy Sunday here. Slow start to the morning, out for a few errands and then home to my chair and my knitting needles. I did not make it to the fabric store. I was just not in the mood and I know myself well enough that if I am not in the mood there is no point. One need to be in the right frame of mind to deal with getting a queen sized quilt ready to quilt in a house this size. I did manage to do some things.  Laundry is done and right now my house smells deliciously of roasting sweet potato, apples and onions. I am going to fry up some pork chops and Sunday supper will be delicious. I spent the afternoon knitting and napping, a perfect way to spend a lazy day. I do believe that you need to have a day of rest, its good for you and if you feel like doing nothing, that is what you should do. Your inner battery needs a chance to recharge. I find crafting  relaxing, so I like to do that on Sunday afternoons. Today it was a marathon of Coronation Street and knitting on the scarf project. I chatted with the Hostess for a time this afternoon and had a good long talk with Best Friend last night. I love phone calls from friends.

Right now its snowing outside. Fat flakes coming down faster than I would like them but strangely enough I do not have any control over that. Nobody asks me. It is nice to think that at least the snow that falls now will not last. Spring is going to come. Right now,  there is snow outside, the house is cozy warm inside, yummy smells are drifting out from the kitchen, the cat is snoozing on the couch and I have knitting to be done. It has been a good day. A good day that is quickly ending and the work week will soon begin again.

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Toodles,
Linda

Saturday Stuff

No barking dog this morning, a sign that its going to be a good day. Sometimes when I post this sort of thing I think people are going to think I don't like dogs. I do. Personally, I do not have the time or energy to be a good dog owner, so I do not have one but I can certainly see the appeal of a dog  to other people. Dogs make noise and bark and need to be outside. They are living beings. They need to run and play and enjoy life. They need to be loved, cared for and treated with respect. I just do not want to have to be woken up early in the morning by a sad doggie, howling his displeasure to the world. He could be happily barking his head off right now, I would not mind nearly as much as I do at 7:00 or 8:00 am in the morning.

'Nuff said about the dog, moving on. Up and out the door in a decent time this morning, hit the drugstore, the grocery store, the hardware store and the coffee shop. Finally won a free donut on the roll-up the rim!! Go Me!!  I came home, stashed all the stuff in its proper place, then tackled the house cleaning. Getting the place back in shape took most of the afternoon but it was totally worth it. I like a tidy house. I am not always the best at keeping it that way but I like it to look nice. Things are back in order except for the sewing table. Its piled with papers that need sorting, purging and filing. I will tackle it after supper maybe.

I am sorry I did not get to the fabric store today but I have it on my list for tomorrow. I want to get the material for backing a quilt as they are having a big sale right now. If the quilt was for me I would be tempted to piece together a backing but its a donation quilt and I want to have it a solid colour. Flannelette, so it is snuggly and warm and will stay on the bed.

I need to do my income tax as well, but I also need to get a new printer and I may as well to that next weekend. I need to be able to print a copy out for myself and I like to do it all at one time. I paid so little for my current printer, the replacement ink cartridge costs almost the same. I miss having a scanner so I am going to change printers. I will donate this one someplace or recycle it. It is so sad to me that we live in such a disposable age. At least I can recycle this one.

I have one puppet left to make on my last order and I cannot seem to make myself even start it. The lady wants a hummingbird and I am stumped as to how to go about it. I feel I cannot make it the way I make the others, hummingbirds are tiny and it would be way too big. I cannot get the picture of it in my mind. Once I do that the pattern will come to me but for now I have crocheters block. I will, however, finish the mitts I have almost completed for DC, tonight. At least, I will have the knitting part done, then I just need to get the mini gloves to sew into the inside. I am hoping to get them to DC on Monday. While I am knitting I will be busy pondering my hummingbird dilemma and hoping that I get hit with a creative idea.

I treated myself to the final Twilight move DVD this morning. I have seen all the others and have them on DVD so it seemed silly to not complete the set. It was on sale at the drugstore so I will watch that tonight. I will watch what I can see of it around Minou's  head. You remember like this:

I will not be ignored

It has been a quiet day here but a very productive one. I have manged to do most of the things I had planned to do this weekend. Crossing things off my current "to do" list is something that always makes me happy. As I posted on Facebook this week, my intentions are always to do better but my willingness does not always get the memo. A true Gemini, me. I keep trying though, I think that is my saving grace.

Right now its time for lunch or a nap. I am favouring a nap and then I can hang out until supper.

Toodles,

Linda