catching up ????

So its been a week, not the best but its been a week. Ok the water heater has been replaced. The old one is out and the new one is in and that is a blessing. There were other blessing as well as the odd " What now!!" thrown in for fun.

Monday the plumber came, gave the situation a look and said he would come back Tuesday and replace it. He turned the main water on so I had cold water. I got over excited and shut everything off when I figured out the leak. The Banker and her Sweet Baboo came over and moved my washing machine so that the plumbers had easy access to getting things up and down the stairs.

Tuesday, they arrived in time and the whole process went without a hitch. It was my birthday and I was getting a new water heater. I know how to spoil myself. That was not all I was getting. I was getting the flu!! or some sort of tummy bug. I started feeling ill while the plumber was here. I went to work and it just got worse and worse and by noon I was back home and on the couch. I could not even keep water down. I threw up so much my ribs hurt. I was sick all the next day but at least by Wednesday afternoon I could keep water down and dry toast.

While the basement was wide open I decided to get that old dryer out of there. It takes up some prime real estate in the basement. The Banker and her Sweet Baboo to the rescue again and they hauled it away. They also took the last of the old landscape timbers and some other assorted bits of junk. He then put the washer back but I got him to put a board under it so its a bit more stable. Part of my washer sits on the trap door to the basement. It has made a world of difference. I can wash a small load now and the washer does not go off balance. I was rather ecstatic to be able to wash clothes again.

I am still working on my quilt but I am oh so close to being finished. I have the kitchen in reasonable shape at long last. I am looking foreward to this long weekend and maybe I will get some more things done. Time will tell.

Good thing is I will have plenty of hot water to do whatever it is I am going to do.

Toodles
Linda

Life Has a Twisted Sense of Humor or Water Free Weekend

Best words one ever wants to hear............"did you know your water heater is leaking?" That will tick you off in no time at all. Thank goodness Teddy Bear came over to borrow some power tools or I would have had wasted far more water than I did.

I don't really have a basement, its a cellar so the water did not do a lot of damage. It will seep away and I don't have to be down there mopping it up. I do need to open the window and get a fan going to dry it up. I filled some containers with water so I could wash,flush and keep hydrated and then I shut the water off. This was late on Friday. No way I am calling a plumber on the weekend to come and have a look. It can all wait until Monday. I have been in the house for ten years now and the water heater was there for a few years before me so it was inevitable that it was going to go to pieces at some time or another. It just makes me so tired. I tend to want things to work forever.

So up side, I gave the laundry room a good scrub while I have moved stuff out to get to the basement. Its a trap door in the floor and living in a small house with no storage, things get piled onto the door. Then with the thought that a plumber had to get down there, I moved more stuff and while the room was as empty as it could be, it got a scrub. I also gave Desi's litter box a good scrubbing. It was long past due. That's a job best done outside. Nothing like doing a lot of scrubbing while the water is shut off. I do like to make things easy for myself.

A bit  of housework and then spent the rest of the day quilting. I will need to go out at some point today to get some drinking water. I thought I had run plenty but I do drink a lot in a day and the cats have to have their fair share. 

The rest of my day today will be quilting and maybe do some tidying about the house. No dishes can be done and no laundry will be done. I also need to get a quilt batt. I have used up all my scraps and sadly I do not have enough scraps to finish my quilt. Talking myself into going to the store on a Sunday will be the biggest accomplishment. 

I am off to quilt.

Toodles,

Linda

Can You Call it a Sucker Punch When You Do Know its Coming?

So another week is coming to an end. Its been good, its been bad but that is just life isn't it?? We just have to deal.

The Banker, God bless her heart, gave me some more minion time and she took a round out of my front yard hosta bed. It now looks lovely. This is a little before shot. I would have taken more pictures has I known when she was coming but this gives you an idea. See all that green around the wash tub..........yep, weeds every one.

But thanks to her and her magic garden fork and shovel it now looks like this:

Out went the weeds!! She even started to dig in the landscape timbers that I want to put around the flower beds. I am thrilled to no end. I just need to get some shrubs  for across the front fence, about three more timbers and I am finished the front lawn make over. 

It was parade day here on Saturday so this was my view as I had coffee on my veranda.

Lots of loud music, some dancers further down the street and lots of people out and about. It makes a fun morning whilst indulging in your daily caffeine fix.

The rest of the day was put to more practical use. Groceries, some yard work, and another go round with the craft room. I did the top half of the closet and got that sorted, purged and rearranged. Now I actually have a space to store some of my older scrapbooks. I, also, sat down and worked on the book. This book tells me what is in each box and where the box is located in the craft room. My goal is to be able to go to the book when I am looking for something and not have to rip the room apart.

I found more things to send to the charity shops and more stuff to send to the garbage. I still have a ways to go but things are coming along nicely. 

I have cleaned out the ottoman in the living room so the current scrapbooks have a nice place to live. The older ones are now in the closet in the sewing room. I have pondered the "where to store the scrapbooks" question for a long time. At last and for now its been answered. Hallelujah!!

So the sucker punch. I knew they were  coming but it still hurt and knocked me on my butt when I got it. The PROPERTY TAX bill. The City assessed my property a while ago and I knew the taxes would be going up. Plus I was warned they could claw back two years. 2018 has not been my year for having my finances go my way so not much, hardly any ok fine....NO saving has been done. So basically its sell your kidney and pay the bill by the end of June (yes this June) or they start to charge interest. Crapstastic. Now what do I do??

Then the second sucker punch that I knew was coming but hoped would hold off decided to step up the pressure. My fridge, which for the longest time tended to freeze everything now barely keeps things cool. Its on its way out and I fear that death is going to happen sooner than later so I need to get it replaced. Crap, crap, crappity crap.

What to do, what to do. I HATE having to borrow money. So after many sleepless nights I remembered something from years ago when I purchased a small life insurance policy. I was told after a certain point in time you could take money out of it. Worth a try so  a few emails later and I have managed a small loan on my life insurance. Its enough to pay the taxes and get a fridge. Thank goodness. I am just waiting to get the cheque. I can safely say there will be no shingling at my house this year for sure. One as to put out the fires in order of priority. Everything is super important but one can only do so much.

On wards and up wards!!

Toodles Linda

I Don't Know What to Say or The Hits Just Keep on Coming

Blogger tells us that we need to let the European readers know that this sight uses cookies. They say that they have put a notification on my blog about it but I can' check it. So if someone reading this blog sees it and it is working, could you leave me a comment to let me know, thank you. Or let me know its not working. Thank you.


I don't know what to say or what to share, there are so many things but its hard to know what to share here. I use writing to work things out for myself and this is one of the main places I write. So I will babble on and try to figure out what to say and what to keep to myself.

I went to a wedding this weekend, it was lovely. I did the usual thing of being excited to go, to thinking its way to much work to go, to being glad that I went. This was the son of a work mate. I have known this family for more than 30 years and I am so pleased they still think of me even though my work mate has passed away. It was so much fun to see Miss Miles again. I have missed her since she moved to New Brunswick with her husband. I had forgotten the joy and the fun she brings. She talked me into singing karaoke without being drunk for goodness sake. I will say we were a lot better than the majority of participants but it was all fun. Its been awhile since I put on the good clothes, slapped on the makeup and made an effort. Thankfully I had a pair of flats I could wear. Would have felt a bit stupid going in my running shoes. The knees say no to even a kitten heel these days. They also say no to dancing, which makes me super sad because I loved to dance.

I am still quilting on the quilt for myself. I need to get it done because I have a couple of more quilts to get made soon. I also have a lot of other things to make. I also have somethings I want to make for a certain new little girl on this planet. I cannot tell you how happy I am for that little family. I know its the life the Pilot always wanted and I am thrilled he had gotten it. I am also thrilled that the Carpenter and Buzy have gotten to be grandparents. Its so wonderful. If Miss Mouse and The Farmer have more that will just be icing on the cake and if not and this is is, its all good.

That's it for now. I know this post is short and boring but its the best I have.  This is not the place to visit the shit show my life is at the moment. Rest assured I will get through this, things will get better. I just need to figure out a solution or six. My life, my problems, my responsibility to fix it.

Yahoo for being a grown up

Toodles
Linda

Great News, Good News

Ok now that they have announced the news to the world, I can share the wonderful news too. Sweet Pea is here!! She arrived just a little over a week ago and she is lovely

She looks so much like her big sister The Wee Girl. They certainly used the same cookie cutter. She has a lovely name. It will suit her for her entire life and she is named after her grandmother. All round its wonderful. The Wee Girl loves her so far, wants to hold her, feed her and give her loads of kisses. It makes me beyond happy to see this little family complete. We are blessed to have these babies.
I can't wait to get to meet her.

So in between ogling baby pictures I have been working in the yard. I never planted anything last year and this year I was determined not to do that again. The yard looks horrible with no plants. So I emptied the piggy banks, rolled the change and got myself some flowers. This weekend I got busy and did some planting. It was slow going as the bending gives my legs grief but I did a little, sat a little and did a little more. It worked

marigolds down the sidewalk.

petunias in Mom's wash tub

a few pots on the steps. 

At least it looks like someone in this house cares. The bushes for the flowerbed across the front fence will have to wait but for now it looks good. I have enough petunias left to do the two pots at the back. I need to get some more hostas, but like the bushes, those can wait for now. I am pleased with the look of the place at the moment.

So there you have it , the best news ever as we rejoice with The Pilot, the Teacher and the Wee Girl as they adjust to the newest addition in the family. The good news is that I have actually managed to get some yard work done and I did it for myself. A long time coming but done by my own fair hand.

Time for bed

Toodles

Linda

At Least the House did not Burn Down

I meant to post last week but time got away on me and before I knew it the week was gone and I decided to wait until today. It was a busy week full of something and nothing. Like most of my weeks actually. It was full of  No Cook Friday, puttering about the house and getting nothing accomplished. Ignoring the yard work and knitting.

I have a little something made for Sweat pea when ever she decided to arrive. I have another something started for her and at some point I will make her crib quilt.  I am almost finished a little sweater for a co-worker, this is it at its very beginning.

I have one sleeve left to knit and I ran out of yarn. I have not made it to the craft store yet but I will.

I finally got my quilt going. Its been a while in the making but its coming along nicely. Quilting is my favourite thing to do.

KitKat gave us all a fright and had to have her appendix removed on last Saturday. So on Monday when she was already home from her big adventure, we, The Banker, Teddy Bear and I took supper up to her and took her and her cats outside for some fresh air. Its what friends do for each other.

My fellow is more a watcher than a walker which suited me just fine. So he and I sat watched while the others took a stroll. KitKat is back on her feet and mending nicely.

Wednesday was book club and then I had two days off. Turned my long weekend into an even longer one which was wonderful in my eyes.

I had taken two days off to start the yard work. So typically it was cold and rainy for those two days and I was forced to spend them quilting. KitKat and the Banker took my car to get the winter tires swapped out so the three of us went for lunch first. Lovely tea room lunch then they took the car and I stayed home to quilt. I quilted and basked in the glow of sticky toffee pudding. So yummy. I need to try and make it some time.

Yard work did happen this weekend, thanks to The Banker. She and I traded  puppets for minion time and on Saturday I got my minion time. She tided up my front yard. Cleaned out the peonies and made it look wonderful' I had not asked for that but she did it anyway.

.
Then she cleaned out between the shed and the fence. Something I have wanted done for some time. This was what I had decided was to be done during the minion time.

Its a mess of weeds and raspberry canes. She tidied it up and then laid papers down and but the boards back. It looks great and now I can get at the wall to finally paint the last side of the shed. The papers should stop the wayward growth of all things weedy for a while at least.

She raked and trimmed and made a great start on the yard. I did my bit today. I managed to mow the front lawn and swept up the pathways. I am so horribly out of shape that what I learned from today is I have to do so much more of this sort of thing. Tomorrow I hope to get the back mowed and rake the front yard. On the up side this is the first time in more than a year I have mowed my own lawn. Not a stupendous feat to anyone else but it is to me.

Then to add some excitement to the weekend we had a horrible fire downtown. It started about six blocks from me and consumed some big old buildings. We noticed the smoke and the sirens while I watched The Banker do the yard. Later on in the day the power went out and next thing I knew the fire had moved to two blocks from my house. Not a comforting thought. No power, my cell phone almost out of charge and I was not a happy bunny. I was rather frightened to be honest.

It unnerving to know that you are limited and vulnerable in certain situations. I just prayed I could get the cats, get them into the carriers  and out to the car if the need came. The Banker ( have I mentioned I have wonderful friends) brought me her Sweet Baboo's phone and it was she that got the stuff into the car. I felt so much better after that. All I had to do was the cats if push came to shove and if the worst happened I decided to leave the back door open and then they could make a run for it. None of that happened thank goodness. I can see this funny looking little house on next street over when I am in my back yard. This was too close for my comfort is all I can say.

So I now know the answer to that age old question of what would I take with me at the last minute. Well I know that know. I packed the important stuff. Got the cat carriers out and was prepared to go if I had to. Its so funny, my house is packed with things that I love but in the end its all just stuff that can be replaced.

Power came back on but did flicker off a couple of times over the course of the evening. I slept on the couch because I was just a little nervous about have to make a bolt for safer climes. In the wee hours of the morning I gave up and decided that it was safe to creep up the stairs and crawl into my own bed. I did not get up at the crack of dawn I can tell you.

Today has been fine. No sirens, no smoke, no endless stream of traffic up and down the street. That's enough drama for a while thank you.

Toodles
Linda

Its Been a Year

So its an anniversary for me, one I have not been too thrilled with. So one year ago, I went to the Doctor because I had this horrible numb painful feeling in my leg. Three disks have bulged and are pushing on my spine. I cannot walk or stand for any great length of time. I can't grocery shop. or shop much period. I have to plan and watch and be mindful of the fact that I am seriously limited mobile wise The only cure is surgery unless these disks pop back into place on their own. After this long I am seriously thinking that will not happen. Surgery is not an option at this time due to my weight so I compensate.

Click and collect for groceries and smaller stores for other things. Friends fill in the rest and I manage. I cannot tell you how much I hate living like this, but its my reality for now and I make the best of it. The pain is not constant anymore. The feeling of millions of worms under the skin of my upper thigh is sporadic now. Was constant at one time. So I am grateful for that. I push myself now and then to see if I can go and do more than I can.

I miss poking around a store. I miss going and picking out my own fruit and veg. I miss getting things for myself and doing for myself. I pray that one day I will be able to again but for now, I poke along doing what I can and relying on others for the stuff I can't.

Toodles
Linda