Sorting Out....So Many Things

I have been absent from my blog for awhile. Mostly because the last few weeks have been a period of time where I had neither the energy nor the inclination to do much of anything. I am not sure what is up but I have some ideas. Nothing major, just need to get on top of things again. Get my self organized and combine that overwhelmed feeling with the normal after holiday let down and it makes for some glum times. Mourning the loss of a brother, mourning the loss of so much more that has gone with him.Enough of that, Time to get onto the tasks at hand.

I am slowly getting back to where I want to be. I am tackling the house, working ( no matter how slowly) on getting it back to being presentable. Oh my, the kitchen, my never ending nemesis has been conquered once again. It has been a disaster for most of its life. My next move with be the dining room. Lots of trips to the recycle and trash bins, not to mention a couple of trips to the local charity shop to donate purged items in my future.

I plan to get working on a quilt top today. I finished one quilt for a cousin. She wanted it for her grandchild and once she sees it, I will post pictures here. I have volunteered to do another donation quilt so I want to get at that today. I have a new pattern in mind and am looking foreward to getting started on it. I also want to work along with Birthday Twin, she is making her first sampler quilt and I want to make one too, just for fun. I have so much material and if I don;t use it I can donate it to the Safe and Warm shelter fundraiser.

I have been picking away at emptying boxes, containers and baskets of accumulated detritus. Little spots where I seem to accumulate junk. It needs to stop and I need to get these cleaned out, puttimng the stuff put where it belongs. I have another project on the go, I am making granny squares with my leftover bits of wool. I am doing this with the thought that I am going to get rid of my accumulated yarn bits. Too much to throw out but not enough to make any one project but perfect for granny squares. This is not the puppet yarn, its other stuff. The granny squares will go to Blankets for Canada and that means the yarn will have a purpose and not be wasted.

I have no plans to go anywhere this weekend. A rather large car repair bill which is looming over my head next week has determined that I keep myself at home and not spend a penny. My Scotland vacation fund is going to take a major hit but that is how life goes. One thing after another.

The upside is I have lots of projects to fill my time, lots of stuff taped on the TV and the new Downton Abbey DVD set to give me lots to watch. I have quilts to make, granny squares to crochet, a knitting project I want to start and that should be enough to keep me busy.

I may seem to repeat myself alot on this blog but its my way of keeping my plans in the forefront of my mind. It keeps me on track which is no mean feat. I am easily distracted...........SQUIRREL,,, and I need lots of tricks to keep me on track. My own worst enemy that is me.

Well back at it. My break is over. I have quilting as a reward this afternoon, I need to get my chores done so I can play with a reasonably clear conscience.

Toodles,
Linda

Weekend Stuff

No Cook was fun as always. The Banker was back from her Christmas with her Sweet Baboo's family. Teddy Bear was wiped out with some sort of bug and so she was not in attendance. The Sailer, KitKat and I made up the rest of the party. The Collector and the Baker had prior commitments. It really is a good way to end a week. A very long week.

My work buddy is back and so for the first time in almost two months I do not have to carry two case loads. (Insert Drunken Monkey Dance of Joy). Maybe  I can get my self back to where I should be. Filing done and my desk clear of files. That would be a fine thing. If I get the office in ship shape maybe I will manage the rest of my life.

Its freeze your nose hairs cold here this weekend. The best of time to stay indoors. I did venture out because my delicate little snowflakes needed cat food and litter so I hiked myself off to the store to stock them up and get a few things for myself. I could have made do but the babies must not be put out. Yes I have be come one of those people. The cats are the rulers of this castle.

Back from a one stop shop at Walmart, a zip to Tim's to treat myself to a breakfast and then home to the warm.  My nose did not poke itself outside for the rest of the weekend. Not that I did much but I did manage to get a quilt top finished. I made soup, a weeks worth of oatmeal and finally got the laundry caught up. Do I have you hanging on the edge of your seat with all my wild shenanigans yet??? No??well I am afraid this is the best I can do.

I seem to be lacking any sort of anything that resembles energy these days. All I want to do is sleep. I did manage to start riding the stationary bike this week but I have managed to avoid it over the weekend. Monday is a fresh start again.

That is all the news that is not news from me. I am going to make a hot chocolate and curl up on the couch. Downton Abbey is calling my name.

Toodles,
Linda

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Weekend Round Up

Thought I would make a stab at a blog post while supper is simmering on the stove. Yes that is true, I am actually cooking. Trying to make an attempt to cook more and eat better. I did manage to make my lunch four days out of five last week and that is major. I have gotten very slack at this meal stuff. For a chubby woman I have a lot of meal planning/cooking issues. I like to think I could be a wonderful cook but often my attempts turn out like tonight's meal. Its a stew or maybe a soup or I could call it a a stoup. Its me, scramble frying some hamburger, then rummaging through the fridge and the pantry for things to throw in the pot, all the while silently praying it will turn out edible. BUT I have made it, it will feed me for awhile and that is my goal. I will work on the technique and the recipes as time goes on but for now, I just am focusing on making it myself rather than buying something. I hate paying for food that is not all that great when I can make my own, and control what goes into it. It may not be gourmet but its healthier for me than what they serve at my office building.

I saw the New Year in quietly as I almost always do. Teddy Bear, KitKat and I went out for Chinese food at the last minute. It was nice and it felt proper as Chinese food is almost mandatory for New Years Eve. We went our separate ways after the meal.  I did manage to stay up until midnight. I let the new year in the front door, shooed the old year out the back door and then went to bed. Party animal that's me!!

I did not a lot of anything on New Years Day. I knit, I watched TV, I had several cups of tea with one or two white chocolate cranberry scones on the side. So yummy!! I really do need to try baking scones again myself. I love them. It was a quiet, lazy day and I loved every minute of it. I gave myself permission to have a do nothing day. The only thing missing was I did not spend the day in my jammies, I got dressed but other than that I just had a restful day, which stretched into a restful weekend. It was good. I needed it.

This weekend was a bit busier. Best Friend came for a flying visit. It was short and sweet and as always we talked and talked and talked. She and I can always find things to say. She arrived Friday in time for No Cook and she left early this morning as she had plans with her husband and girls tonight.Supper together and then a walk through the beautiful Christmas lights on the last day they will be turned on. They do this every year so its a tradition for them. My hope is that this year I will get up to her house for a visit. Last year I did not go very many places, I hope to correct that a bit this year. Its been a while since I made it up there. I need to make the effort and get up there.

My Christmas decorations are still up but they will come down this week. As they get put away, I will do a purge and see if I cannot thin out the multitude a bit. I have my reverse advent donations to deliver and lots of quilts to get going on. The Wee Girl's bumper pads and roman blind to do. Today, in my lazy do nothing state of mind, I have been making granny squares with my odds and ends of wool that have accumulated about the place. I hope to whittle down the stash of yarn and material in this house this year. The granny squares will go to Blankets for Canada or I will put them together myself and donate them to the shelter.

For now that is all I can think of to rattle on and on about. I hope your New Year is going well.

Toodles
Linda

Another Year Over

2016 already, and inspite of the fact its a total cliche, where has the time gone?? I cannot say the 2015 was one of the better years in my life but it had the odd good moment. I sincerely hope that 2016 is much. much, much better.

Christmas was lovely. Lots of fun because how can you not have fun with an energetic, excited two year old? Tater Tot had a hoot at Christmas. There was lots of this. First the Loot Bags had to be pilfered. (We have loot bags in our family instead of Stockings).

Then more of this. He is a talented gift unwrapper. Paper flew!! It was a sight to behold.

All done to the tune of "Oh Wow!"

So many things to play with, so much to see and of course everyone needed help to open their presents because they could not be trusted to do it right. It was so much fun to watch him. The undiluted joy of a child is an awesome thing to see.

It is even better when you can watch him pat the floor in a happy invitation to his Daddy and his beloved "Papa" join him in play. Makes my heart happy to be able to be a witness to this. I do have to say that even little energizer bunnies have to recharge at some point. This did not last for very long but he did chill out for a bit. Looks comfy doesn't it??

The Pilot, the Teacher and the Wee Girl came later on in the weekend and it was so nice to have a chance to see them as well.

Tater Tot is enchanted with the Wee Girl. He does really well with her and is learning that gentle, gentle is the way to go with Wee Girls, even though they have big soft eyes that, man oh man, you would really like to poke just once, if anyone would let you. For being two he does really well.

He was even ok with sharing his Mom with the Wee Girl. Sometimes its hard to share your Mom but he was ok with it.

All in all there was lots of good fun, good food, good beverages, good company and good times. All tinged with a bit of sadness that the Historian was not with his family. Firsts are always hard. Only time will bring a new normal but for now it is still raw and sad.

All too soon it was time to head back to our respective homes. Christmas had come and gone and regular routines called. I think the look on this precious little face says it all

My thoughts exactly on having to go back to work. 

I hope your Christmas was as good as could be.

Toodles,

Linda

Christmas is over

Sigh, the big day has come and gone. I am back home safe and sound with lots if new memories. Lots happy, some sad and now I am wrestling with that sinking feeling that its work tomorrow and reality will come back with a horrible thump. Blah

Tater Tot made our Christmas. Wrapping paper flew, little squeals and giggles and pronouncements of "WOW" made it all the better. The Wee Girl arrived later on and dazzled us with sweet smiles and baby squeaks. Little ones do make the holiday.

Its so nice to be with family at Christmas, and I am ever and always grateful to the Carpenter and Busy that they include me in the festivities. My heart was also with the Historian's family, their Christmas' will never be the same again. He is gone and things have changed. Firsts are so hard.

I will post again later and maybe share a photo or two of the holidays. Right now I am tired, a little hungry and a little sad that the fun is over. I am back on my own and work will not wait. Sigh.

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as they possibly could.

Toodles,
Linda

Today I Cry

Tears are running down my cheeks and my heart is hurting. I have just finished reading the obituary for my beloved oldest brother. No fair, its too soon, it should not have happened. I cannot believe that he is gone. Its just does not seem right.

We have no say in these things, we do not get to decide and as much as I hate it sometimes I have come to believe that things in life happen as they are supposed to and there is a reason for it. This does not mean I don't take some time to rage at the situation. I do, I hate the fact that so many people who were dear to me are gone but I also try to accept and move on. Nothing to be gained by being bitter, just be thankful you had them for the time that you did.

The Historian and me 

I will miss him terribly. Another much loved member of my family gone but I want to celebrate the fact that I got to have my good brother for the time that I did.  There is a poem in his obituary that encourages those who are left to mourn his passing, to not be bitter and sad but celebrate him and be glad he was a part of our lives. Its lovely.

You can shed tears that he is gone, 
or you can smile because he has lived. 
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back, 
or you can open your eyes and see all he's left. 
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him, 
or you can be full of the love you shared. 
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, 
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. 
You can remember him only that he is gone, 
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. 
You can cry and close your mind, 
or you can do what he'd want: 
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on. 
-David Harkins 

There is 13 years difference in our ages, the Historian and I. He graduated from high school in June and I started to grade one the same year. We really did not grow up together but he was always an important piece of my life.

The Historian off to his grad ,

 I got to stay home with the Carpenter and Grandma.

 I will miss our weekly phone calls. I will miss hearing the pride in his voice as he passed on stories about his grandchildren. One very fond memory of him is watching him do a happy shuffle dance in my dining room the day he found out he was going to be a Grandpa for the first time.  I will miss hearing the family history discoveries and I will even miss the "I got no news but just wanted to touch base". I resent the deafness that stole the last few conversations we may have had but I treasure the text messages that took their place.

He was a good man, loving and supportive to his family and friends. crusty and stubborn at times but that is a family trait.  On the whole one of the better ones. He was a good brother to me. Always concerned that I was ok. He showed this in a hundred little ways and I loved him for it. Making sure I called when I got home from a visit with him. Reprimanding me when I failed to text frequently enough while on holiday out of the province or out of the country.  So many other little ways, I could never name them all. He gave me my first Barbie doll and my first nephew and niece. Now he is gone and all these memories are all the more precious.

The Carpenter, the Historian and Me. 

Now we are two.  

He will be missed but oh I am all the richer for having him in my life.

Love much Big Bro!!
Sis

Christmas Time's A Comin"

So I have the house looking rather festive, Santa's are parading up and down the stairs, snowmen have popped up all over and there is a cute little village, newly sprung up on the buffet.

I still have one more piece to complete the nativity. It may wait until next year when there is more cash for such things. This year, not so much.

I will share more pictures when I am finished with the decorating.

The trees came out of the basement and will get decorated tomorrow, as will the veranda.  I am only doing two trees this year, and all the Santas did not get out this year. I don't always put everything out every year. I also plan to do a purge on the Christmas decorations this year, when I put stuff away. I will have more time then. The dining room tree is on the dining room table. I have a feeling that Lucy and Desi will find a tree just a big toy and I am not home all day. On the table it stands a better chance of survival. I will not need the table for meals over the Christmas season.

I miss the big family Christmas's we used to have, aunts, uncles. grandparents. Times change and those things don't happen anymore. I get a little nostalgic at this time of year. I miss the smell of my Mom's kitchen as she prepared for the big day. I miss smells, sights and feelings of my childhood. Cold linoleum floors, real Christmas trees, tons of silver tinsel and nuts in the shell. Christmas specials on tv with Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Perry Como. The local general store staying open one night late and getting to go with Mom. So different and decadent. Going to the big city to see the store window displays. So many warm and wonderful memories. School Christmas concerts and the agony of waiting for Santa.

Its different now, It will be a joy to watch the littles at Christmas time. New memories and new rituals to make and enjoy. With two new little ones in the family the whole thing will change. They will bring new life to the event. I am happy beyond measure that I am getting to be a part of it. To watch them and be there as they experience Christmas.

So I am making lists and cookie dough. Decorating, crafting and soon wrapping presents. Even though for the last two days I have felt that everything I touched I screwed up. So frustrating! I pitched a temper tantrum which accomplished and changed nothing, so I am forging on. This black cloud of bad luck will take itself off somewhere soon and things will get back to normal.

I am also doing a reverse advent calendar for myself this year. From December 1st to the 25th I will find something each day to give away. That will be 25 things (or more) gone from my house. I got the idea from another blog ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.ca and I thought the idea was marvelous. The Banker, Teddy Bear and KitKat and I are all in on it. That will be 100 items off the the charity shop come the new year. Its a baby step but its a start.

More purging to come in the new year!!

Toodles
Linda