HOME ALONE

Well this was not the Christmas I had planned let me tell you that. I got a chest infection, then I got cellulitis in my leg and I have been knocked on my keister for the duration. IV antibiotics and now some heavy duty oral ones are working on my leg. |Its slow but there is improvement. This thing is really painful so this is not going to be a long post, my leg feels best up rather than down.

So I am at home not with Busy and the Carpenter having a family Christmas. I just was not up to the trip. They have been sending me little videos as the day goes on so I still feel part of things.I miss being with them and watching the Tater Tot rip into Christmas. Ah well another year.

My wonderful friends have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep me looked after, I have been spoiled beyond all possibilities. I am blessed blessed blessed to know such caring people.

Well my leg is protesting so I need to go put it up

Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year

Linda

SICK SICK SICK

I am sick, I have been since Wednesday last week, well actually before then but I gave in and admitted it on Wednesday. I was hoping it would go away but its not. I have an ugly dry cough, I croak when I speak and all I want to do is sleep. Eating holds no charm but I am making myself. I am going to the doctor tomorrow.

I hate going to the doctor when I am sick and think I should be at home. Doctors seem to think I am good to work no matter what. I have never been one of those people who gets time off. I get "Oh no there is no reason you can't be at work". I am prepared to fight if I have too. I seriously feel crappy. So much so that all I want is my Mommy. ( I know its childish but she is what I want. Not gonna happen but I can  pout about it if I want to, being sick means you can be cranky and unreasonable)

My wonderful friends are looking after me. bringing me food and calling and texting with offers to get me anything I need. So I am being monitored and very well looked after. I am just not much good at being sick. Feeling like a dish rag lost its charm three days ago. I missed making curtains at KitKat's house. I missed No Cook Friday, I miss going out.

I had plans to do some Christmas shopping on Saturday, I had 4 places to go, I made it to one and then came home and slept. oh well it is what it is. I will survive, I just am not a happy patient.

sniffles
Linda

Mutterings of a Mad Woman

That is mad as in angry not crazy, although there may be some who would argue that point. I am cranky because I am trying to get the house decorated for the holidays and my knee is slowing me down, my house is a complete mess and there is no power to my outside lights. Hrummphhh. I think I need a nap.

Ah well slow and steady, this too shall pass. I am thinking that I maybe have hit that stage where I question my sanity as to why I have all this stuff and why I think its a good idea to do this every year. I have lots and lots and lots of projects to do and I think I have a cold coming on. Oh my this has turned into a pity party. Its also the reason I am blogging and not decorating. I am taking a wee break.

Ok so before I completely go down sorry for me road, I will change directions. I will bore you with what I did this weekend.  Yesterday I went and actually got some Christmas shopping done, some gifts purchased and then I got this, before my knee gave out and I had to come home.

Its the next to the last segment of my Nativity scene. I have one more piece to get and then the whole thing is complete.

I am running out of room anyway so once I get the guy playing the horn thing I am done.

I also got the front of the house decked out even if the lights don't work. I redid the wreath last year but I did not change the ribbon, that got updated this year.

before and after. I loved the old ribbon but the colour did not go with the pretty red of the poinsettias
I am much happier with it now.

I found this Gothic window box at a yard sale quiet some time ago and I love it. I like that I can change it up each season. I love the look of my house when its all done up for the Christmas season.

This is an old picture but you get the drift. We have more snow but it generally looks this way. I want to find a light up Snowman to have at the side of the steps but my search is not proving fruitful. I really wish I had kept the one Mom had. Oh will I shall press on. I don't like a lot of the new ones they have out there but I will find somethng. No rush until the power problem is sorted. (it means a trip to the basement and I am not up for that today)

Last night Teddybear and I went to a play and then our for coffee and a chat after. I was thinking of going shopping again to day but I could not work up the enthusiasm to do that. I can get it done over the next week. Tomorrow night The Banker, KitKat, Teddybear and I are having supper at the Bankers. We have been invited to see her newly painted living room, new drapes and she will; have her house perfect for Christmas. Right now I need to keep on plugging away at my own  decorating and working at the super secret Christmas projects. Updates to some.!!

Toodles,
Linda

Later the same day!!

P.S.  things have gone on a lot better than they were earlier this fine day. Santa has exploded all over the house and while I am not done with the decorating, I am farther along than I thought I would get. this makes me happy. I have not set out everything but I have not skimped either. My knee is tolerating the stomping about and that is a relief

I am Linda and I have a thing for Santa's!!

The Dickens village needs to come out and the kitchen needs to get its Christmas on but that will happen this week. The house is still a mess its just more of a festive mess this time. I am going for a little nap then I am going to make the yearly family ornament.

Toodles again,
Linda

Random Saturday Ponderings

Winter is here, We got a dump of snow last night and the world looks like it has be sprinkled liberally with layers and layers of powdered sugar. My new neighours,whom I had my doubts about but now think wonderful,  shoveled my sidewalks for me, both front and back. I was totally shocked and grateful;. They are the quiet, keep to themselves sort, not even really saying hello when we pass. So the fact that he did all that shoveling for me was totally not expected. I think I see a Tim's gift card in someone's future. I have to say thank you somehow. He built a rink in their back yard and the two kids are having the best fun on it.

I have more to be grateful for. The Banker popped in this afternoon and helped me haul the Christmas things up from the basement. She saved me and my poor sore knee a multitude of trips. Now I can get the front of the house decked out for Christmas and I can take this week and get the rest of the house decorated.( I should be able to buy the last of the Nativity set this year, squeeee!!!) I am looking forward to getting the stuff out. I love Christmas. I may have mentioned that once or twice

Not sure what I will do now, if I finish the Nativity this year and I got the last of the Santas for the stairway last year, what the heck am I going to collect now?? I have looked high and low for a pig ornament but cannot find one anywhere. I may have to resort to making something. I thought Pier One would have some but no joy. My Pig tree still needs decorations!!

I will get a snow globe this year, Started that a few Christmas' ago and can carry on for a few yet. I  like to add to them. I also need to short through things and weed out some of the Christmas stuff I am really ready to get rid of. I have a lot of Christmas things. It is my favourite season after all. I did a purge last year and need to keep doing it.

Tonight I am supposed to be going to the show with Teddy Bear and a couple of ladies from my book club. I will go, but my heart wants to just stay home where its warm and I don't have to worry about slippery streets. My knee has been giving me the business this last week. I thought my knee cap was out of place. A trip to the local walk in, the doctor yanked, bent and twisted it for me and generally made it very sore, ex-rays taken and they decided I have osteoarthritis in it. Well my regular doctor told me that several years ago and gave me pills for the pain. The up side is the yanking and bending must have moved whatever was out of place back to where it belongs so I can walk about without feeling like I am being stabbed in the knee cap with every step. Legs are feeling rather stiff, which I blame on the weather and the knee is still tender but its well on it way top getting back to its normal pain level.

Groceries were purchased this morning and I made a quick tour around two charity shops. I found some buttons to make into flowers because I think I am going to make some to sell. I found an egg cup and two lovely Christmas plates. I also found a Partylite candle ring that will work to go with the bisque church and singers I found last year. The candle ring is a group of angels flying in a circle. I love finding things in charity shops, I am thinking now I have the right plates for my Christmas tree plate stand. A yard sale find a few years ago.

I need to go have a nap before the show, otherwise I will be snoring through the better part of it. Tomorrow I am going to sew quilt tops and knit away all the hours God sends. Maybe I will be back and I will have some pictures to share!!.

Toodles.
Linda

Scraptastic Weekend

It amazes me that for three days this last weekend I vaulted out of bed before 8:30 and worked until midnight, with no complaint, no resentment and no heaving of heavy heartfelt I'm so hard done by sighs. This is the difference between doing something you have to do and doing something you find really fun. The weekend was fun fun fun and I accomplished so much.

The Banker, Kitkat and I went to a scrapbooking weekend crop. I guess you could call it a convention but that is not really what it was. It was a group of us, scrapbook enthusiasts, getting together is a room and spending the weekend working on projects. No company sponsored event, just time and space to do your thing. I was making my Maritime vacation scrap books, The Banker was scrapbooking 2013 as she does all her pictures for the year in one album, and KitKat was working on an album of her Dad's 80th birthday. KitKat is a newbie but she is hooked now.

"follow me Grasshopper, I will teach you"

I have no idea how much money was in this room in the form of equipment, embellishments, paper, computer related printers, cutters. it was amazing. 

Twenty Six women, crafting their little hearts out for an entire weekend. We had a lovely time.

We can do whatever we please, the organizer of our little event does mosaic tile work for the weekend. She happily bashes tiles all weekend while we cut and paste. Last year I brought crocheting for a change of pace but not this year. There were a couple of crocheters in the group. I showed of my flower buttons and have a couple of potential customers. 

This was one hobby I was not going to get into, Oh no not me. I was happy to make greeting cards here and there but I was not buying any supplies and I was certainly not going to scrapbook. Its too expensive!! I am not going to fall victim, oh no not me!!! FAMOUS LAST WORDS. While I do attend these things with my two IKEA bags of stuff and make do without all the fancy schmancy equipment and storage items. I do not own enough stuff to stock a small craft store but I am in it hook line and sinker. I have a health stash of  materials to work with. I also love my scrapbooks. I love working on them and so its worth it.

When you go to something like this you learn new things, get new ideas and share with others. You borrow, you lend and you help. I have always loved the energy that is is a room when women gather to create. 

We started at noon on Friday and went until 3:00 pm on Sunday. KitKat and I went over to the Bankers for coffee. We all went out for supper then we headed home. 

I got two and a half albums made.New Brunswick and PEI have been scrapped and Nova Scotia is almost done. Go me. The only thing is I need some seagull stickers or as seagull stamp or something. Seagulls are freakin' hard to find. I am slow looking for lighthouses, and anchors. I have seashells a plenty. 

Fun weekend over and we are back to the normal grind. Winter has finally descended, with frigid temperatures and thankfully not too much snow so far. The light has sifted from the warm rich glow of autumn to the brittle chilly grey of winter. Scrape the car windows, shiver as the frozen fingers of wind sneak down your collar and up your sleeves. Curse the elements as your dress pants slap against your legs like sheets of ice. Burrrrrrrrr. All I want to do is curl up in my little house, stay warm and make stuff. Now is the time for making quilts, knitting wooly things and weaving. (Oh I am going to weave this winter, I have been too long from the loom) and spinning. (Another thing I am going to get at this winter) 

Not happening at the moment so I just need to get on with it. I have started to create the puppet stock that I will need for next years craft sale. I am zooming along on the flower buttons, and I am getting the quilt tops made. I am hoping my most current customer will like a top I have made but have never quilted. I made it for myself but now I am rethinking it. If she would be happy with it I would be miles ahead of the game. One quick picture and an email and I will have my answer. 

Tonight I need to get at the puppets again. I have some things to take care of and then I can make turtles, turtle puppets that is. 

I am off to create turtles!!

Toodles,

Linda

Day Late

I swear to goodness I have no idea where Sunday went. I got up, had breakfast, ran a couple of errands, did some sewing and the day was GONE!! I still had a ton of things on my "To Do" list to be done. WTF!!! I was not happy. I treasure my days off and when one of them slips through my fingers like water through a sieve I am not amused. Amazingly enough I pouted to no end and time did not reverse itself. The bastard!!

I do not usually go out on Sunday but I needed to get some things so I made myself go. I braved the frigid wind and hit Michael's. I am now totally prepared for scrapbooking next weekend. Not only that I have all the stuff in one place, ready to go. No scurrying around the house at the last minute like a demented squirrel. I have all my pictures printed and picked up. This is a first for me. Its great to be organized for once. I pre-bought some embellishments but not too many. I will have a better idea of what I need when I get working on the albums. I have enough to work with.

I stopped at Fabricland on my way home and had to deal with a clerk who simply did not listen to what I was asking for. I wanted cord that is plain, the type you cover with your own material The  woman kept asking me what colour I needed.  After the third go round of her asking me about the colour and me explaining that I did not need a certain colour, I was covering it with my own material,  I crumbled and said the red would do. She then wanted to know if I was sure because she thought it did not match my material. OMG!!!!

I made these yesterday,

I had some scraps from making Tater Tot's crib set and I found some material that was a close enough match to make the backs and the cord covers  at Fabricland, 40% off sale!!!! These are a surprise for KitKat. I want to have them on hand when we go to her place to check out what to do with the curtains. I want her to see what some hits of teal will do for the overall look. She can't quite visualize it finished so I thought these would help. I had the pillow forms on hand from my last garage sale coup. I hope she likes them. If not I can redo them.

I started to work on a new quilt yesterday too.

I found the pattern on Pinerest and I think its a good way to use scraps. It will be one of the two that I have orders for. The lady wants them by the end of January so I need to hustle since I have two others to make which if you are adding means 4 queen sized quilts need to be made before March.

10 more flower buttons made and that was my day. Short, sweet and done before I was ready for it to be over.

Off to work on the quilt.........well maybe a little nap first

Toodles
Linda

And So it Begins and a Halloween Party

I actually got started on the promises I made to myself, to start to get things done. I have numerous projects to be working on and I need to get the house spit spot and, well the "to do" list just goes on and on and on. So I got at it today!! I want to have the Banker, KitKat, and Teddy Bear over to binge watch The Outlander on of these days, I need the house fit for prime time.

Today I worked on the kitchen. The kitchen seems to be a recurring theme on this blog but that is because its a recurring mess. I got it beat back into submission, filled some boxes with donation stuff, reorganized a cupboard, all while doing some laundry. Not bad. The fridge still needs a good going over but I will save that for another day. I made up my Christmas list and hope to get some ordered tomorrow on the internet. I am going to take a crack at this on line shopping malarkey. I want some things that you just cannot get at the stores.

I hemmed two pairs of jeans and started on another quilt. I have an order for two queen sized ones and the lady would like them by the end of January. Needless to say they will be simple and as pretty as I can make them. She has no colour preference so they will be scrap happy little numbers. I made twenty more flower buttons and found a knitting pattern I need for a Christmas gift.

I have some errands to run tomorrow. Pick up the last of the Maritime picture reprints because next weekend is the scrapbooking retreat. I have to make a Michael's run for some last minute supplies and a quick stop at the fabric store for some crafty supplies of another nature. I will share pictures later. The Dining room with get the next on the cleaning hit list.

Tonight E and I went a saw "Oh What A Night". A tribute band performing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons hits. It was amazing. I loved it from the start to finish and as always I had a horrible time to not be singing. I did sing but I tried to keep it quiet enough that only I know I am doing it. No one paid good money to hear me sing. I will have these songs stuck in my head for some time now. I really need to get a Four Season's Greatest Hits CD.

Friday night the No Cook Friday Group had a belated Halloween party at The Banker's house. Talking of Oh What a Night!! We had the best time. She had written up menu's in RUSSIAN no less and we had to pick certain things off the menu for our supper. Without knowing what you were picking until it arrived in front of you I got this

Meatballs and carrots in a big old casserole dish, salad, and a cupcake. I got a knife to eat with. I was lucky poor KitKat got a toothpick. Hard to eat mashed potatoes with a toothpick but she did her best.  Oh yes some got pot lids and one actually got a plate. It was so much fun. We were allowed forks after awhile but I manages very nicely with my butter knife.

We snarfed down more cupcakes and then ended the evening by playing Dutch Blitz. A fast paced card game that got us giggling so hard we were exhausted at the end of the evening. Oh and did I mention that instead of wearing costumes, we wore mustaches? The Banker made us up each a treat bags with her left over Halloween candy. It was all so much fun. For being supposedly grown mature women we can dissolve into 10 year old giggly squealy tweens in short order.

Our treat bags also had those silly little plastic maze games that got our full attention for some time.  I swear mine is defective. Those stupid little metal balls did nothing but race around the edge of the plastic case and stubbornly refused to go into the maze.

This is Halloween town. Its a collection of little Halloween houses from dollar stores that is her version of a Dickon's village for Halloween. The big black house is one made by one of her grandchildren, out of Popsicle sticks.  There are haunted trees and all manner of goulish little people out and about in the town.  Its so cute and I had visions of doing this myself but I have not been able to find any little houses cheap. I refuse to pay an arm and a leg for them. So I have given up on that idea.

That is my weekend in a nutshell so far. I hope tomorrow is a productive as today. Now I am off to bed, Well actually to make the bed so I can go to bed. I washed sheets today.

Toodles
Linda