This and That

 I am currently hanging out in the craft room while my home care lady is doing some cleaning for me. It makes me feel very decedent to have a stranger cleaning my house. I am ignoring the fact that I am not sure I am very happy with the fact that I can no longer do it myself but this is my new reality. I can no longer go all the things I used to and I have to adjust to it. So there. It is wonderful to have a clean and tidy house again so I certainly cannot complain about that. 

I finished the flamingo puzzle this week so its back in its box and I am now free to start on getting some of the quilt tops that are sitting in the UFO box done. I am looking forward to getting quilting once again.

I have started a new quilt along on Facebook. Its a fall themed quilt and two blocks have already come out. I have not started it yet but I have printed off the patterns for when I burst into activity. I still need to get the boarder on the Christmas one I finished last year. Its wonderful to be surrounded by projects. 

So my plan is do a quilt, do a puzzle, do a quilt, lather rinse repeat for the foreseeable. I have a few other sewing projects that I need to get at which may happen today. I'm sort of in the mood to get going on them so I may as well strike while the iron is hot. 

I go all crazy last week and made a pot of hamburger soup. I have not done that in ages. I wish I did it more. Its so nice to just heat and eat without thinking.

Of course its all gone already. I need to make some more. I seem to make hamburger soup or chicken noodle. I need to expand my repertoire and try some different ones.

I finally have all the photos, printed for 2021 so I can finish my scrapbooks and start to gather pictures for next year. The scrapbooking may happen this afternoon as well. It will be grand to get these things done and off the list.

Not much else happening around here that is note worthy. They are forecasting freezing rain for today and again that makes me so happy that I do not have to go anywhere. I do need to get my car mobile again soon, I need to get out and about and start doing more for myself. My own groceries, my own foot appointments etc. Give my poor overburdened friends a break.

That's it for me

Toodles Linda 

Rabbit Holes!

The Banker just left, she stopped in for coffee and a natter which is always very welcome. I do enjoy her company. It was nice that for the first time in a while she just came to visit not felt she had to be doing stuff for me. She is as obsessed as much as I am with my current rabbit hole. I got this for Christmas from Miss Mouse and finally got it out to work on it.

 

I love, love, love puzzles and this one is a definite challenge. The pieces will look like they fit a certain way but they don't so unless you really keep an eye on the tiny details you can be putting it together incorrectly. Its coming along and I am determined to get it put together. The Banker worked on it for a bit today as she likes puzzles as much as I do. I know when I get sitting at it nothing else is going to get accomplished until I can't see the colours properly. Its wonderful fun. Needless to say I make sure I get my household duties done first thing in the morning before I hit the living room because I fall down the hole and am stuck there until dark.

Just wanting to share a life lesson. This is the downside of curbside pick up. One must learn to read the flyer details and know exactly what you are purchasing otherwise you end up with far more than you wanted. I have pinesol for life now. Lets hope this is a lesson learned.

Not much else has been happening. My home care lady came last week and will pop in every two weeks to do some cleaning for me. The City has approved me for the set back service so I no longer have to worry about getting the dumpsters set out when its garbage day. They will look after that for me which is wonderful. One less thing to worry about or bug my poor friends to do for me.

Look what arrived at my house recent;y  and I am beyond thrilled with it. Its so lovely and new and makes the living room look so nice and bright.

I loved my red couch but this makes a nice fresh change to the place. I need to change out some of the knick knacks as the red does not go with the new blue but  not too much has to go.

Not much else to tell. I have signed up for another Facebook quilt along but I'm not sure why. I like doing them but I'm not sure I needed to do another. Oh well, what is the harm? I have knit Busy's mitts AND she has them already. Now I can be dedicated to the puzzle then move onto finishing some of the quilt flimsy's in the project box. Current;y there are three tops waiting to be quilted.

There is always something to do if you want to do it. I have started to go out again for No Cook Friday night suppers. Its lovely to be with my friends on a Friday night once again. Does this old girl some good. I am looking forward to spring and getting my car running again. I can get out of the house and be a bit more independent. Get my own groceries etc. All in due time.

Toodles

Linda

Getting back to normal? One step at a time

 This last week has been a busy one and wonderfully fun but super tiring as well. I did so much gadding around and doing stuff I wore my self out but in a very good way. It was so nice to be able to go and do a few of the things that used to be everyday routine, it was like a breath of fresh air.

It started on Thursday, I had an appointment with my podiatrist for my regular hoof trimming. The Banker kindly took me and then when we got home, she stayed and we cleaned my laundry room. That would be the royal "we", where I sit and mostly direct the keep, donate, toss operation and she does the lion's share of the work. Its so wonderful to have that little room beaten into shape.

Friday I went to No Cook for the first time in months. What a treat!! Out in the real world with my friends and seeing other people. Don\t get me wrong I like being at home and I have by no means been pining away feeling sorry for myself because I have not really gone anywhere that was not medical related since the first of December. I am most happy at home, especially when it is this deeply bone chillingly cold. Plus even though they say its no trouble, I realize that dealing with me and my walker is a pain.

This weekend we did a scrapbooking weekend. Three days of scrapbooking fun with some good friends was just what I needed. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this and how grateful I am that these wonderful ladies include me. The Banker especially because she does the majority of the lifting and the hauling. Scrapbooking is not a light portable hobby. Its all really heavy and you need so much stuff to work with. 

We did the usual Chinese food supper when the weekend was over then I came home. I sat in my recliner and promptly fell asleep. Best Friend called and I nodded off in the middle of the conversation. Rude!  She kindly ended the conversation and I thought I really should go upstairs as I was so tired. I would just sit there for a couple of moments and then I would go. Next thing I knew it was 4:00 in the morning and I had not moved. I just stayed there for the rest of the night. Too weary to make the climb but very happy for having had such a good weekend.

Now its back to the normal routine. I have Busy's mitts to finish and a list of other crafts that are waiting my attention. Life is good.

Toodles, Linda

Its Been a Minute

 Well it has been some time since I sat down to do a blog post. This last month has been a bit of a gong show with all sorts happening, good and better and some not so good but that is life. I would say its been a pivotal time in my life. Time to face cold hard truths and face facts and be a grown up. Can't say I'm a fan but needs must and even though I'm not happy about it all but I will do what I must and get on with things.Its the grown up thing to do. 

So I will hit the highlights. I'm not sure I can remember all that things that have happened this last month but I will do my best. Plus I'm not sharing it all, this in the internet after all.  Busy and the Carpenter were here and they turned my shower from this

Into this: Isn't it just the most beautiful thing??? I could not be happier with it. Its awesome and just exactly what I had dreamed of since moving into the house.

Its so nice to have a shower and have room to actually move around. I am in love and not ashamed to admit it.

Busy helped me to do some purging, organizing and cleaning while they were here. My house did not know what hit it but man oh man was it nice to have it done. The Carpenter helped too, in-between his jobs. I was more decorative, a sort of decision maker, observer if you will.

Formulating a battle plan.

I will never ever be able to thank them for all that they have done for me. Its overwhelming.

Lots of changes happening. Lots of new things to learn and deal with. I am taking it one day at a time and doing my best to get myself back on track and headed in the right direction. All I will say on this subject is thank God for my family and friends, they are the very best and I could not manage without them.

I did not sit on my arse the entire time. I did stuff, for example I purged and cleaned my two little china cabinets

I am also working on the craft room. My one upstairs spare room is waiting in the wings for its turn. It has become a catchall for things and needs a good straightening. So much to do but the place is really looking great.

I have mitts to knit for Busy and I have started to make hats and scarves for the safe and warm shelter. I am also very pleased to say I sent 7 quilts to the women's shelter. I have a top made for another donation quilt already, just need to get it quilted.

I am thinking my goal is to get some of my crafting supplies used up before I go gathering anything else. I have way too much stuff packed into my little craft room and it needs to be used. 

Another thing to look forward to is we have a scrapbooking weekend coming up and that is always a super fun time. 

I am hoping to get back into a routine of blogging each week again. I am seriously hoping that all the upheaval of the last two months will settle down and I can get back into a more normal routine. We can always hope.

Toodles, Linda

What to Say for Myself

I got this from Amazon and could not wait to dive into it. Its been so long since the last book. I love this series.

I am not sure what I am going to blog about today, I am really scrambling to find something to write about. I have not been out of the house since I came home from the hospital on Christmas eve and the three weeks before that I was sick. End result its been a minute. When you stay at home the scope for blogging fodder narrows. I just want to assure you I am not complaining, I have had no desire to go anywhere. I am perfectly content to stay in my house and stay out of the cold.

My car is not in running order at the moment and I will need to deal with that at some point. Its just a couple of phone calls, one to the garage and one to get it towed to the garage but I have to arrange to get it back home. I have not taken a look at the back sidewalk to see if my walker will go down it. I am hoping that it will. Another thing I need to look into. Its not a huge problem just needs to be dealt with. 

Did I mention I can't find my shoe? I have one pair of runners and I can only find one of them so far. Now to be fair I have only give a very half hearted search for it. Without it I would not be able to go out even if I wanted to. I imagine it had gotten kicked under the couch or a chair in the living room and if I actually gave it some sort of effort I would find it. My life is full of first world problems at the moment.

So just so you don't get the impression that I have been lounging about doing nothing I have been making a bit of an effort. I have an appointment for the home care lady to come and look over the house to assess my need for help. I have found a commissioner of oaths to sign some of the legal documents that I need to deal with. I did my own laundry for the first time in weeks. Three loads and it was an effort learning to maneuver around with the walker and laundry baskets full of clothes but I did it. Its all fresh and clean and hanging in the dining room drying. The house is still tidy and I have a little list of things that I want to take care of before Busy and the Carpenter arrive back next week to work on the shower. I submitted my claim for the last of the equipment I needed to Blue Cross, now its fingers crossed that they cough up some money. They have been good so far.

I have no pictures to share this time. Maybe I will next post. Right now I am thinking I need to get going on something crafty. I have been thinking about it for some time but have not actually done it. I did get a mitt pattern printed out but have yet to actually get knitting. I have several quilt tops that are ready to be sandwiched and quilted but they will have to wait until after the shower reno. 

I ordered the last of the photos for 2021. If it works out that we can do a scrap booking weekend I will be ready to go to scrapbook July to December. I hope we can but with this omicron variant one never knows what is going to happen. I will be prepared in any case.

Well that is it. I got nothin else. Til next time

Toodles Linda

 

One Step at a Time

 Ok I am on the mend, of that there is no doubt. Its not going as fast as I would like it to and I get impatient with how tired I feel all the time but I am making myself focus on the fact that I am soooo much better than I was at this time last month. I hate that I am always in pain but that is not going away so I accept it.

I am continuing to putter away at getting the house to where it should be and to where I like it. I have to admit having the house tidy has made a world of difference to my mood and state of well being. I now need to find a project to work on, Crafting is a big part of me and I have not done anything for a very long time. I may just start to knit some mitts for Busy. She would like some red ones and I have a pattern that I want to try out.

I had one of my best ideas ever the other day. As I am trying to get the craft room organized, I came across a perennial problem, scraps of quilt batting. They are too big to throw away and I do use them but they take up a lot of space.

This is not even all of it, I have another bag stuffed full of the stuff. I have no place to store it. This is when I had my brain wave. I saw on YouTube that Dollartree sells large vacuum sealed storage bags. They DO!! $1.25 and they work rather well. I got some and stuffed all my stash into two of them.

On the left is the one after being vacuumed and the one on the right is prevacuum. I was thrilled

I now have it all in two reasonably small packages, Its easy to store and it will stay clean and I can reseal them when I need to. I think this is one of my better ideas I have ever had. Plus I actually have a spot to store them in a closet in the craft room. No longer stuffed behind the chairs in the living room BONUS!!

The craft room is coming along. There still is too much stuff piled into too small of a room but it looks far better than it did awhile ago.

I don't know if you can see the difference but I can and it feels easier to think in this room now things are getting put into their proper places.

I went to sew myself a new cover for my kitchen aid mixer. Mice had eaten most of the old one. Well I discovered that my sewing machine was not functioning. A teeny tiny piece had come detached in the bobbin area and needs to be fixed. Dang it! Thank goodness I have this little beauty. My Featherweight. I just love this little machine, I found out that she was made in October 1952 and still works wonderfully.

                                                  

Thanks to having her as back up, I got a new cover sewn up in no time at all. 

                                                            

I got my bath chair yesterday, thanks to Amazon. My house is really starting to look like an old lady house these days, walkers, grab bars and bath chairs but hey it is what it is. I am entering a new phase of my life and these are the tools that I need to function. No point in fighting it, lets just roll with it all.

Well I need to find my mitt pattern and get it printed out. I am not sure what else I am going to do today. I have ordered pictures, dealt with some paper work and done some cleaning in my bedroom. Its good to be productive.

Toodles Linda

Its Been a Minute

 In theory I am in my sewing room cleaning and purging as it has yet again gotten out of hand and needs to be beaten into submission. In reality I am taking some time to do a blog post because its been a minute since I last posted anything, I have had an interesting December, one in which I scared the beejeebus out of everyone I know and myself most of all.

I got sick, really sick, the don't mess around get to the hospital sick and I did not realize it. I'm not going to go into deep detail as I am sure I have told everyone and his dog the story, suffice it to say I am more grateful than I can ever say to my wonderful friends who watch over me. They came, they saw, they called the ambulance and I was in the hospital before I knew it. I stayed there for two weeks while I got back on my feet. I am home again and while I have come a long way, I am still weak and tired and I play out very easily. 

The Carpenter and Busy came to stay with me after I got home and worked like rented mules cleaning my house. All I can say is it was a filthy mess but its not that way anymore. The last three years have been harder on my that I realized and I let things get on top of me. I knew it was happening but it was just so much easier to ignore the day to day things one should do. Skim the surface and keep the black hole I had fallen into a secret than to face it all.  

I am so very blessed with my family and my friends. I have no idea what I did to deserve them but I am grateful beyond measure that they are part of my life. So many thing happened here, the house has been cleaned, grab bars have been installed, a recliner now lives in my living room and a new higher toilet is in situ. They are coming back at month end to enlarge the shower for me. They are far more generous to me than I deserve.

This has all been done without and criticism or blame, just help and support. I am so grateful for that. I learned a long time ago one cannot die of embarrassment no matter how hard you try. I know how bad things got and I know I let it happen. This whole incident scared me to the core and I need to pull myself up by the boot straps and take better care of myself and my house. So things are in motion and I am starting on a new path. One that will be a better plan than the last one I had.

So now I am taking things one day at a time, doing what I can to keep on with the getting the house under control again. To that end I should get going on this craft room,. Looking at it all makes me want to run ten miles but I just need to do a little at a time and before I know it, it will be done,

Hopefully I get back to blogging regularly again.

Toodles, Linda