This weekend was not totally what I hoped it would be. It turned into a time to reflect, re-evaluate, admit, confront and take ownership. Every now and then we need to clean house, look at the parts of our lives where things are not going as we would like them, admit mistakes and pull our little selves up by the boot straps, put on your big girl panties and figure out what changes you need to make. Move on, improve, try harder and generally get out of the disillusional little bubble you live in and face the facts Jack!! You need to change your game.
So on went the thinking cap and I spent a lot of time mulling over a multitude of things that needed to be looked at. I spent a lot of time quilting. I think best when I am doing one of my crafts. The sawtooth star quilt is coming along nicely . I finally got started on Babybug's quilt. I should have it finished soon as it it a rather easy quilt to make. Lots of fuzzy lint from it while cutting the material but its lovely when its sewn up. Very squishable.
I finally took my little water colour paintings to the framers and they will be done in a couple of weeks or less. I cannot wait to see them framed and ready to hang in the living room. I hope they look as good as I think they are going to. That is about all I was out of the house over the weekend. A brief trip to the framers and home again to quilt and think.
My "to do" list has many things left on it that did not get done. Oh well there is always another day. The Nurse and the Entertainer are coming for the weekend but I imagine that I will get some work done while they are out and about shopping or visiting. Time will tell.
Toodles,
Linda
Monday, 17 March 2014
Friday, 14 March 2014
The New Stove is HERE!!!
Thanks to an unexpected cheque from my companies health plan, (honestly, I thought I had used up all my benefits for this year but I hadn't, WHOOT!!) I had money on my hands that had not been anticipated nor was it earmarked for other things. What to do with this wonderful bonus???? A NEW STOVE!! Four times I have saved up for a stove only to have other, more urgent financial catastrophes, suck up that money. GRRRR.
The stove that came with the house was fine, it looked ok, but it was starting to slide into old age. Two of the burners only worked on high, the oven temp was a total crap shoot, which makes cooking a meal, baking anything an adventure. Least of all it had this:
Can you see those little dark marks on the back?? Those are lumps/globs of glue residue. The former owner glued tea figurines across the back of the stove. Good way to keep them from falling off but it really makes a mess. I could not get the residue off. This may not be a reason to totally ditch a stove in and of itself, but it contributed to my wishes for a new one.
I was also never a fan of the big black door, it shows every mark and streak. Anyway after a couple of delays in the delivery time this little beauty arrived yesterday. It is really almost sad at how happy I am over an appliance.
I had hoped to get a grey top but they do not make those anymore and they do not have lights on the top of the stoves anymore. Apparently everyone is supposed to have a range hood with a light in it. Now I am going to try and find a lamp to use as a night light in the kitchen. I have no range hood and no cabinets over the stove to attach a light to. Anyway, inspite of the black top and no light I am deliriously happy with it.
I like the two big burners at the front and the warming burner in the center back. I have pulled off the stickers , but have yet to set the clock and turn it on. I googled up how to keep it clean. Something I think I will be more prone to do with a flat top rather than a traditional burner top. I HATE cleaning burners and pans and ovens. This self cleaning, flat top baby has me having high hopes. I may prove myself wrong but I have high hopes.
Today I am off from work. Using up the very last of my vacation days before the new ones kick in. I plan to quilt and watch tv. Maybe fit the stuff back into the stove drawer that came out of the old one. I have some stuff to purge out of it, which is always a good thing. I may even do the dishes from my book club meeting last Wednesday. What I do know is I am relaxing today. That's what days off are for. Maybe I will even try out the new stove!!
Toodles,
Linda
The stove that came with the house was fine, it looked ok, but it was starting to slide into old age. Two of the burners only worked on high, the oven temp was a total crap shoot, which makes cooking a meal, baking anything an adventure. Least of all it had this:
Can you see those little dark marks on the back?? Those are lumps/globs of glue residue. The former owner glued tea figurines across the back of the stove. Good way to keep them from falling off but it really makes a mess. I could not get the residue off. This may not be a reason to totally ditch a stove in and of itself, but it contributed to my wishes for a new one.
I was also never a fan of the big black door, it shows every mark and streak. Anyway after a couple of delays in the delivery time this little beauty arrived yesterday. It is really almost sad at how happy I am over an appliance.
I had hoped to get a grey top but they do not make those anymore and they do not have lights on the top of the stoves anymore. Apparently everyone is supposed to have a range hood with a light in it. Now I am going to try and find a lamp to use as a night light in the kitchen. I have no range hood and no cabinets over the stove to attach a light to. Anyway, inspite of the black top and no light I am deliriously happy with it.
I like the two big burners at the front and the warming burner in the center back. I have pulled off the stickers , but have yet to set the clock and turn it on. I googled up how to keep it clean. Something I think I will be more prone to do with a flat top rather than a traditional burner top. I HATE cleaning burners and pans and ovens. This self cleaning, flat top baby has me having high hopes. I may prove myself wrong but I have high hopes.
Today I am off from work. Using up the very last of my vacation days before the new ones kick in. I plan to quilt and watch tv. Maybe fit the stuff back into the stove drawer that came out of the old one. I have some stuff to purge out of it, which is always a good thing. I may even do the dishes from my book club meeting last Wednesday. What I do know is I am relaxing today. That's what days off are for. Maybe I will even try out the new stove!!
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday, 9 March 2014
The Times They Are a Changin'
While that is true in the grand scheme of things the time change that concerns me the most is the one that happens today. I have lived here for more years than I lived in my home province and I still cannot say I am used to the time changing. I am especially not fond of this one, we loose an hour and while it is only an hour, it makes a big difference. Plus I shot myself in the foot today. I usually change the clocks on Saturday night so when I wake on Sunday I am in the proper time zone. I forgot and when I woke this morning thinking "oh, its 10 am thats nice" in reality it was 11:00 and I was not happy. Oh well, nothing I can do about it, must relax and accept the things I cannot change.
This week has been strange. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sleeping. I have not spent that much time sleeping since I was a teenager. I figure if you sleep until noon, lay down in the afternoon and sleep for two hours then hit for bed at 9:00 or 9:30 you are needing some rest. I was not sick, just really tired. Maybe getting some rest prevented something else happening. Who know??
Busy and The Carpenter blew through on their way to the airport and a vaca in Mexico. We had a nice visit and that dear brother of mine changed a light bulb for me that I have managed to ignore for two years. He is a good brother. They mentioned now that they are going to have some more free time, they may come for aa extended visit and do some jobs for me that I cannot do myself. I am starting a list even as we speak.
I went nuts on Saturday and bought a new stove. I need one. The one that came with the house is fine but its starting to go. Two of the burners only really work on high. The temp in the oven is a total crap shoot. Its got three legs and a peg that if you bump the stove it falls out. Across the top at the back of the stove there are lumps of glue. The former owner glued Red Rose Tea figurines on it. My new one is a flat top, self cleaning, brand new baby.I got it from the local Maytag place. I may have been able to get a cheaper one from a big box store but these guys will deliver it, install it, take the old one away and if it breaks down they come and fix it. You do not get all that from a big box store. It will arrive on Wednesday and in anticipation of that great event I did this
Now you can see all the leaves I did not get taken care of last fall, I feel now they can deliver the stove without falling on their faces. There was a good 8 inches of packed, humpy, bumpy snow that I should have taken care of when winter first arrived but I didn't and it just got packed and hard to walk on. Its not much to shovel so one really would think I could take care of it better than I do but I am me, what can I say.
Since my house is finally clean and tidy, I did not have to spend a lot of time this weekend doing house work. So I was able to get started on this:
This is the hand pieced saw tooth star quilt top that I bartered the quilting of it in exchange for another quilt top that this person's aunt made. I started it yesterday and its a joy to be working on it. It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon, I watched To Kill a Mockingbird while I stitched away. I have not seen that movie for a long time. I plan to work on it again today. I did a bit before I had to go out and get cat food and litter, then I did the shoveling, now I am ready to get quilting again. I still have the litter box to deal with but other than that there is nothing inbetween me and some stitch time. I may even get to squeeze a nap in there someplace. I have some shows PVR'd so I can watch and stitch and enjoy. I am thinking nap first though. Shoveling snow kicks it out of me.
Toodles
Linda
This week has been strange. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sleeping. I have not spent that much time sleeping since I was a teenager. I figure if you sleep until noon, lay down in the afternoon and sleep for two hours then hit for bed at 9:00 or 9:30 you are needing some rest. I was not sick, just really tired. Maybe getting some rest prevented something else happening. Who know??
Busy and The Carpenter blew through on their way to the airport and a vaca in Mexico. We had a nice visit and that dear brother of mine changed a light bulb for me that I have managed to ignore for two years. He is a good brother. They mentioned now that they are going to have some more free time, they may come for aa extended visit and do some jobs for me that I cannot do myself. I am starting a list even as we speak.
I went nuts on Saturday and bought a new stove. I need one. The one that came with the house is fine but its starting to go. Two of the burners only really work on high. The temp in the oven is a total crap shoot. Its got three legs and a peg that if you bump the stove it falls out. Across the top at the back of the stove there are lumps of glue. The former owner glued Red Rose Tea figurines on it. My new one is a flat top, self cleaning, brand new baby.I got it from the local Maytag place. I may have been able to get a cheaper one from a big box store but these guys will deliver it, install it, take the old one away and if it breaks down they come and fix it. You do not get all that from a big box store. It will arrive on Wednesday and in anticipation of that great event I did this
Now you can see all the leaves I did not get taken care of last fall, I feel now they can deliver the stove without falling on their faces. There was a good 8 inches of packed, humpy, bumpy snow that I should have taken care of when winter first arrived but I didn't and it just got packed and hard to walk on. Its not much to shovel so one really would think I could take care of it better than I do but I am me, what can I say.
Since my house is finally clean and tidy, I did not have to spend a lot of time this weekend doing house work. So I was able to get started on this:
This is the hand pieced saw tooth star quilt top that I bartered the quilting of it in exchange for another quilt top that this person's aunt made. I started it yesterday and its a joy to be working on it. It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon, I watched To Kill a Mockingbird while I stitched away. I have not seen that movie for a long time. I plan to work on it again today. I did a bit before I had to go out and get cat food and litter, then I did the shoveling, now I am ready to get quilting again. I still have the litter box to deal with but other than that there is nothing inbetween me and some stitch time. I may even get to squeeze a nap in there someplace. I have some shows PVR'd so I can watch and stitch and enjoy. I am thinking nap first though. Shoveling snow kicks it out of me.
Toodles
Linda
Monday, 3 March 2014
Pinterest Inspired
I have been quilting again, which makes my little heart go pitter patter with delight. This one I made for my office's social committee to raffle off as a fund raiser. They buy the material, I donate my time and they do the raffle. I wanted to make one a little more modern, more up to date not a traditional quilt. When you need an idea I did what many of us do, I searched Pinterest for inspiration. The end result is this little beauty.
I rather like it. Its bright, pretty and not too old fashioned. I think most people would be ok with it. So it goes to the office tomorrow and tickets can go on sale. Now I can move onto the next quilt. I have a top that is ready to go I just need to get a batt. One stop at the local fabric store and I am on my way.
I have been itching to get at this quilt, its hand sewn squares, tiny little patches made by a friends Aunt years ago. It feels like flour sack material and I cannot wait to bring it to life. It sat unfinished for years and I am going to turn it into the quilt it was always meant to be. I am doing this it in return for an appliqued butterfly quilt top made by the same lady. You know me, I love a good barter. I cannot wait to get at it. I also have two baby quilts to make. One for Babybug and one for the Tater Tot. I can work on them while I quilt the other top.
It was so freakin cold here this weekend, I stayed in the house, quilted, cleaned and just generally stayed warm. -50 with the windchill was reason enough to keep to the indoors. I did venture out on Saturday morning, I needed some breakfast fixin's and the fact that I had no eggs drove me out into the cold. I warmed the car really well and got my errands run in jig time. While I was out, inbetween the grocery store and drive thru coffee/breakfast biscuit, I treated myself to a slightly bigger tv for my room. I got a 24inch flat screen with DVD for $138.00 from Superstore. I can now move the 19 inch down to the sewing room and say goodbye to my little 10 colour TV that I bought when I bought the house. Its slowly dying anyway and having a DVD player in here will be nice. I can also finally get rid of the last VCR. It doesn't work but its still hooked up to the TV because I am lazy and really did not want to start removing things until I was ready to replace the TV.
I can get along with out a lot of things but my car and my TV are very important to my happy. While I may not just sit and watch TV, its on all the time for company. Like now, I am blogging and the DIY network is showing me how to fix up an income property. Yes I watch a lot of tv and I like it.
Toodles
Linda
I rather like it. Its bright, pretty and not too old fashioned. I think most people would be ok with it. So it goes to the office tomorrow and tickets can go on sale. Now I can move onto the next quilt. I have a top that is ready to go I just need to get a batt. One stop at the local fabric store and I am on my way.
I have been itching to get at this quilt, its hand sewn squares, tiny little patches made by a friends Aunt years ago. It feels like flour sack material and I cannot wait to bring it to life. It sat unfinished for years and I am going to turn it into the quilt it was always meant to be. I am doing this it in return for an appliqued butterfly quilt top made by the same lady. You know me, I love a good barter. I cannot wait to get at it. I also have two baby quilts to make. One for Babybug and one for the Tater Tot. I can work on them while I quilt the other top.
It was so freakin cold here this weekend, I stayed in the house, quilted, cleaned and just generally stayed warm. -50 with the windchill was reason enough to keep to the indoors. I did venture out on Saturday morning, I needed some breakfast fixin's and the fact that I had no eggs drove me out into the cold. I warmed the car really well and got my errands run in jig time. While I was out, inbetween the grocery store and drive thru coffee/breakfast biscuit, I treated myself to a slightly bigger tv for my room. I got a 24inch flat screen with DVD for $138.00 from Superstore. I can now move the 19 inch down to the sewing room and say goodbye to my little 10 colour TV that I bought when I bought the house. Its slowly dying anyway and having a DVD player in here will be nice. I can also finally get rid of the last VCR. It doesn't work but its still hooked up to the TV because I am lazy and really did not want to start removing things until I was ready to replace the TV.
I can get along with out a lot of things but my car and my TV are very important to my happy. While I may not just sit and watch TV, its on all the time for company. Like now, I am blogging and the DIY network is showing me how to fix up an income property. Yes I watch a lot of tv and I like it.
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
This and That
I am a better blogger when I am on days off than I am when I am working. There is not enough time in the day to get all things done. Most nights I am so tired when I get home I just want to sleep and after I have a nap there is not much time to get everything else done. When I was off last week I blogged nearly every day and now it looks like its sliding back to being a weekend thing.
Speaking of weekend things, had a wonderful one last week. The Carpenter turned 60 and his loving family gave him a big birthday party. It was a great gathering of friends, family and other folk. The Historian and his wife Grandma L came as did cousins we have not seen for a while. Our one and only surviving Aunt was in attendance. New babies, old friends and all sorts gathered to wish my brother a Happy Birthday and a Happy Retirement. It was so nice to be together. It makes me very happy to spend time with my family and its been a long time since I have had both my brothers in the same room and got to spend time with them.
The Carpenter is a little shy and he does not like to be the center of attention but I think he had a good evening. He did not have to make a speech, he got to dance with his wife, visit with friends and family, it was all good. Miss Mouse made him a wonderful video that certainly brought a tear to my eye. Ghosts of days gone by smiling at us from a video screen. Breaks your heart a little to see all who have gone. Time passes, loved ones drift away, new people move into your life. Its how things are supposed to be.
The Tater Tot was one of the hits of the party. Dressed to impress he enchanted everyone that came into his line of fire.
I regret that his Great Grandmother is not here to see him. She would just adore him. He is a chubby, healthy little man, solid, alert, strong and such a good baby. His Mommy keeps him squeaky clean and dressed like a proper little boy. Great Grandma would heartily approve of this. I know she sees him, but I wish I could see her with him. I can imagine it and it makes my heart smile.
I will puddle up in a second if I keep this up so quick change of subject. Tonight I did some mending for some of my co-workers. Patched knees, zippers, torn seams. Simple jobs but not everyone wants to do them. I should be doing some house work but I just can't work up any enthusiasm for it. I did a load of laundry and that is enough for me. I didn't even work on the quilt tonight. Its a little hard to do, its black thread on black material and its a tad hard to see for me. I can manage but tonight was not the time. Tomorrow I will spend the evening at it.
Toodles
Linda
Speaking of weekend things, had a wonderful one last week. The Carpenter turned 60 and his loving family gave him a big birthday party. It was a great gathering of friends, family and other folk. The Historian and his wife Grandma L came as did cousins we have not seen for a while. Our one and only surviving Aunt was in attendance. New babies, old friends and all sorts gathered to wish my brother a Happy Birthday and a Happy Retirement. It was so nice to be together. It makes me very happy to spend time with my family and its been a long time since I have had both my brothers in the same room and got to spend time with them.
The Carpenter is a little shy and he does not like to be the center of attention but I think he had a good evening. He did not have to make a speech, he got to dance with his wife, visit with friends and family, it was all good. Miss Mouse made him a wonderful video that certainly brought a tear to my eye. Ghosts of days gone by smiling at us from a video screen. Breaks your heart a little to see all who have gone. Time passes, loved ones drift away, new people move into your life. Its how things are supposed to be.
The Tater Tot was one of the hits of the party. Dressed to impress he enchanted everyone that came into his line of fire.
I regret that his Great Grandmother is not here to see him. She would just adore him. He is a chubby, healthy little man, solid, alert, strong and such a good baby. His Mommy keeps him squeaky clean and dressed like a proper little boy. Great Grandma would heartily approve of this. I know she sees him, but I wish I could see her with him. I can imagine it and it makes my heart smile.
I will puddle up in a second if I keep this up so quick change of subject. Tonight I did some mending for some of my co-workers. Patched knees, zippers, torn seams. Simple jobs but not everyone wants to do them. I should be doing some house work but I just can't work up any enthusiasm for it. I did a load of laundry and that is enough for me. I didn't even work on the quilt tonight. Its a little hard to do, its black thread on black material and its a tad hard to see for me. I can manage but tonight was not the time. Tomorrow I will spend the evening at it.
Toodles
Linda
Thursday, 20 February 2014
The Magic of Ordinary Days
Just having a little coffee break, coffee, cranberry lemon cookies and I am happy. Soup is simmering on the stove and all is well with my world. Today started off with an incredibly kind and wonderful surprise. I opened the blinds, looked out and wondered where the chunks of snow had come from that were on the lawn. Looks like it should when the sidewalk has been shoveled. I flew out the back door and sure as death and taxes, the side was was done, down to the sidewalk all way out to the back alley and the dumpster bins were set free too!! My jaw hit the ground, that is a ton of work. But who could have done it??? I came in and then on a whim headed to the front door. There she was, The Banker, bundled up against the cold, shoveling her little heart out. I can almost cry I am so grateful. This is such a kindness to me and kick starts a chain reaction of events that I hoped to get done this week. Oh the bags of garbage, recycle and donation boxes that now can be removed from this house, with ease. No more penguin walk to the back. I am just speechless. I have such good, kind, giving, helpful friends. My circle is strong and wonderful and I would not trade one of them for anything. They are treasures.
Today I got the stairs touched up. the other painting project started and as I mentioned soup made. I have been knitting and watching television inbetween things. The backing for the next quilt is drying even as I work on this blog post. I have my shopping and errand list written up for tomorrow. While I have not accomplished all that was on my To Do list for this week, I am pleased with what I have gotten done so far.
I cannot believe its going to be Friday tomorrow, this week has flown by. I don't think I need to mention that I have enjoyed it. I love to putter around the house, I love my days off. I like to have my time at home, I like to spend time with my friends. I also like to be able to head out and do errands during the day instead of having to fit them in after work.
Kit Kat, the Banker and I had lunch yesterday, We pot lucked it at the Banker's house. We arrived at 12:30 never left until 4:00. We sat, ate, drank coffee, chatted, giggled and traded stories as the afternoon slipped away. It was so lovely. The Banker and I had coffee again this morning, it was the least I could do for her since she shoveled for me. I like that, I like having people here. I could get used to this life style with the greatest of ease.
Tomorrow I have errands to run, shopping to do and a hair cut appointment that is long long long overdue. Then Saturday will see me off to The Carpenter's home to celebrate his big birthday. Sunday brings me back here and then Monday its back to work.
Toodles,
Linda
Today I got the stairs touched up. the other painting project started and as I mentioned soup made. I have been knitting and watching television inbetween things. The backing for the next quilt is drying even as I work on this blog post. I have my shopping and errand list written up for tomorrow. While I have not accomplished all that was on my To Do list for this week, I am pleased with what I have gotten done so far.
I cannot believe its going to be Friday tomorrow, this week has flown by. I don't think I need to mention that I have enjoyed it. I love to putter around the house, I love my days off. I like to have my time at home, I like to spend time with my friends. I also like to be able to head out and do errands during the day instead of having to fit them in after work.
Kit Kat, the Banker and I had lunch yesterday, We pot lucked it at the Banker's house. We arrived at 12:30 never left until 4:00. We sat, ate, drank coffee, chatted, giggled and traded stories as the afternoon slipped away. It was so lovely. The Banker and I had coffee again this morning, it was the least I could do for her since she shoveled for me. I like that, I like having people here. I could get used to this life style with the greatest of ease.
Tomorrow I have errands to run, shopping to do and a hair cut appointment that is long long long overdue. Then Saturday will see me off to The Carpenter's home to celebrate his big birthday. Sunday brings me back here and then Monday its back to work.
Toodles,
Linda
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Very Pinteresting
Today I went and got some paint. I have lots of plans but as always, the things you plan to do take longer than you expect. The shopping took most of the morning and then the painting took the afternoon. I had three things I wanted to paint today and I managed to get two done. Its OK though, I had fun.
This is what my stair case looked like this morning:
Well I was wandering around Pinterest the other day and now my stairs look like this: Pinterest is a very inspiring place.
I need to do some finishing touch ups. My frog tap pulled up some paint and I did not always get the tap put down correctly and therefore have some white lines that should not be there. However I like it. Its a shot of whimsy and colour in my entry way. The rainbow theme worked out rather well because I have 14 stairs. I will do the patch work tomorrow but for now I am pleased. If I ever get tired of it it is only paint and can easily be changed back.
I finished this too, took its little picture and then washed it. Its almost ready for transport home this coming weekend. Its the hanging garden quilt I made for the Church auction. I am very pleased with the results.
I have 3/4 of the next top sewn and tonight should see it finished. I will post pictures of the second paint project when its finished. I really could get used to this not working. I like puttering about my house.
Toodles,
Linda
This is what my stair case looked like this morning:
Well I was wandering around Pinterest the other day and now my stairs look like this: Pinterest is a very inspiring place.
I need to do some finishing touch ups. My frog tap pulled up some paint and I did not always get the tap put down correctly and therefore have some white lines that should not be there. However I like it. Its a shot of whimsy and colour in my entry way. The rainbow theme worked out rather well because I have 14 stairs. I will do the patch work tomorrow but for now I am pleased. If I ever get tired of it it is only paint and can easily be changed back.
I finished this too, took its little picture and then washed it. Its almost ready for transport home this coming weekend. Its the hanging garden quilt I made for the Church auction. I am very pleased with the results.
I have 3/4 of the next top sewn and tonight should see it finished. I will post pictures of the second paint project when its finished. I really could get used to this not working. I like puttering about my house.
Toodles,
Linda
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