Bit of This, Bit of That, Bit of the Other

Its been awhile, no excuses, just life getting in the way of me doing stuff. That and the fact that I have not had a whole lot happening that is blog worthy. Since next to no one actually reads this blog I don't know why I worry.

Ok the big big news is that for the first time in probably 43 or 44 years I bought myself new bedroom lamps. I bought this one ever so long ago at an auction., I fell in love with it and I still love it. But the one that matches it has not worked for years and this one needs to be rewired so I gave it a good long think and decided to get something new

I bought these. They match nicely with the head board and are a new fresh look. I don't know what to do with the old ones. I hate to throw them out, I may try to sell them and see if someone is interested in some vintage lamps. I can't be the only one out there that is.

Bad lighting in the photo, the shade is white or whitish. I really like them and it was time to get something new. I will miss the others. Thanks to my tire rebate and a gift card, the most of the cost of these was covered.

Puppet production is stalled at the moment until payday and I can get to Michael's for some more yarn. I found some granny squares I had crocheted some time ago and decided to sew them together, just for something to do. I don't have enough made to make a usable afghan but I will get some more yarn at some point and finish it. I will put it in my room for those days a nap is in order. Its old fashioned and kitchy but it will do and its making use of what is on hand. Plus it gave me something t do, used up some old yarn, waste not, want not.

Lets see what else??? I have had the CT scan to see if they can figure out what is wrong with my good leg. I have not heard the results yet, my Doctor is notorious for being slow at getting at stuff. I feel I am going have to phone him not wait for him to phone me. The Brat. I just want them to have seen something clear and defined, that can be fixed with no surgery. I am so over this not being able to walk.

Today I went and had coffee in the morning (for the third week in a row) with The Banker. Its a nice little habit we have started. I do enjoy our morning chats. KitKat joined us today because Sweet Baboo was over detaching the two decks from her trailer. Apparently you should not attach a deck to a trailer because trailers shift and move and become unlevel. I did not know that. So we chatted up a storm while he worked and then we broke up the party around noon.

I came home, had some lunch and then found myself parked in front of the tv with little to no ambition. This is not good. SO in an effort to appease both the lazy and the ambitious side of my self I finally dragged four boxes of quilt scraps out of the craft room . While I binge watched Expedition Unknown, I sorted through the boxes and reduced that portion of my stash down to three boxes. I have some to throw out, some to pass on and I sorted out the material for the donation quilt for the office. I also put the little bits, that no quilter worth their salt would throw out, into one box. I see a string quilt in my future. The next phase will be to colour sort the stash but not today. Lets not get crazy people.

Desi kept me company but he was less than enthused with the process.

I used the last box to fill these two up to the top but at least they are not so stuffed that the lids won't stay on them, like they were when I started. Not a job that anyone will see the results of but I am so pleased its been started. I have a few more boxes to go through that I hope to get down to one box. Now I have gone this far, at some point, I will think about the colour sort.

I have been working on my new quilt. I have the center section completed: I am pleased with it. It shows up bluer in real life but this gives you an idea;

I have added boarders around this center piece and that is as far as I have gotten.

This bit will be the center diamond and I will use white triangles to square it out. White triangles that I will quilt the beejeebus out of when the time comes. I am stuck as to what my next bit will be. I have no real pattern, just making it up as I go along. I need to leave it for now and get the two donation quilts done. I can come back to it once they are finished and maybe by then I will know what I want to do on the sashing. Stars? 9-patches? different patterns?? I have some time to think about it.

I did some mending on The Nurses quilt but it needs a  whole new backing. I will do that for her and re-quilt it for her. Another project that  will have to wait until I am done the donation quilts.

I put my school desk on two Facebook sites in the hopes it will sell. I hate to give it up but there just is no room for it in this house. It needs to go and I would like to get something for it. I was going to refinish it but I thought I would give it a try selling it as is.

Tomorrow will be laundry, starting the office donation quilt and then whatever the fates have in store for me.

Toodles,
Linda

In My Happy Place

This weekend I finally decided that I was going to work on a quilt. I have not worked on a quilt
for some time, It was time to get back at it. I was going to spend sometime in my happy place. Quilting makes me very happy indeed.

So today I got my things together and prepared to work on the new quilt for my bed. The walls have been painted, the trim has been painted, the night tables are painted and its finally time to have a bed spread that fits the bed AND matches the curtains. So here I go, gonna spend a wonderful afternoon sewing.

Can you feel something coming?? Something is not going to go right?? Well if you did you would be right. My sewing machine which quit zig zagging, then started again, then quit AGAIN, decided that now its over doing a straight stitch. Oh for goodness sake, how many more things are going to fall apart, that require money to fix, repair or replace. I was not happy but FOR ONCE, I did not let this overwhelm me. I have a back up plan. I dug this out!!

My lovely little featherweight, which was a gift from a friend, and which I have been meaning to try out for a long time. She sews like a dream and she and I have been happily sewing up a storm this afternoon. I feel like a true quilter sewing with this lovely little lady. So fun. It tiny like a child's machine but stitches along like nobodies business.

I will have to take my other machine in and see if they can fix it. I am thinking they might just tell me its worn out. Time will tell but for now I can get along with my quilt top. Which made me a very happy bunny this afternoon. I have three quilts to make before the end of the year and its high time that I got at it.

That does not mean that all went smoothly. I managed to make a boo boo. The center of the quilt is going to be four squares made up of different sized stars.

I have two of the squares done and have two more to do. I was taking pictures to show Birthday Twin what I was up to when I saw my error. Sigh. Once you see it you can't unsee it

That nice darker blue star patch, now looks like this, as it was meant to look

I did that twice and had to fix both of them. So annoying but as I said once I saw it, I could not unsee it and it would have bothered me forever. Better to fix it now instead of when its all done and living on the bed.

So the house is a mess. Things on the to do list were completely ignored but I spent a wonderful afternoon, doing what I love to do best. And there is nothing wrong with that at all.

Toodles,
Linda

Finally finished

So I am finally done with the little oak cabinet. All except some varnish on the top. The stain has to set for 8 hours before that can happen, but its done and its upstairs in the bedroom and I am rather pleased with it,

So here is the before:

And here is the after.

The top is darker in real life than it shows in the picture and I may add another coat of stain on it just to get it as dark as I can. I am rather proud of the legs that I cut and added myself. Free wood and a but of paint and we have legs!!! It worked perfectly and was free!! It will be a perfect place for the tv.

One more project done!! Now to get at that darn quilt!!

Toodles,
Linda

Short Sunday Report

No rhyme or reason to my posting, but I'm back again. Not because I have anything astounding to say I just feel like posting. Its been another lovely day. A typical Sunday for me. I slept in, indulged in the big breakfast that I like to make on Sundays. I worked on the laundry, tidied the kitchen, made puppets and texted with friends. I was going to hang pictures and put the ornaments back in the bedroom but that didn't happen.

One of my co-workers who is a lovely kind hearted soul stopped by with her three girls and in the blink of an eye my yard work was done. The flower beds weeded and the big maple tree in the back yard was all trimmed up round the base. They did in a flash what would have taken me ages. She is teaching her girls to give as well as receive. I was so pleased. I will of course do something for them. A treat of some sort as a reward for all the hard work. It was so very good of them and the yard looks like someone cares once again.

I did get the legs cut for the little cabinet. I bought the wrong sized screws and I hope to rectify that tomorrow. I have to go out for cat food so I can kill two birds with one stone. I hope to paint the legs tomorrow and stain the top, then it will be finished and can be moved up stairs

I was going to use 2 x 4's but that did not work out. I did not want to spend a lot of money on the legs. Luckily I found a piece of hand rail in the shed that I used instead. I think it will be fine. I will be happy to have this project finished and then I can get my tv set up again in my room. Typically the minute you cannot do something that is the only thing you want to do.

I did not work on my quilt today. For some reason I am not getting at that. Not sure what is stopping me but I need to get over it and get on the ball.

Toodles.
Linda

Remember Me??

So its been a bit since I managed to get a blog post organized. Lets just put paid to the last few weeks and move on into the light. Least said soonest mended!! So moving on, here it is the long weekend and I could not be happier to have three days off. So many possibilities of maybe getting one or two things scratched off the list.

The Banker and her broken ankle are home again and she was at No Cook last night. It was so nice to have all of us together again. We had a lovely evening.

Yes I am still going to go on and on about my leg. Its still hooped!! I did get to see my own doctor. It was my usual appointment but I got to talk to  him about my leg. He gave me some different pain killers and got my back x-rayed. He has also requested a CT scan which I have no idea how fast that will happen. The pain killers make me really sleepy and a bit sick to my stomach but I am taking them come what may. They are not covered by my plan so at that price I am taking them even if they kill me. To be fair I think things are better. Its slow but I see some improvement. I am determined to keep a positive hopeful attitude. Its going to get better, it just has to, end of story.

Today I got groceries, I cannot tell you how much I love Superstore Click and Collect!!, then had a coffee date with the Banker. Its her birthday today,  so I got her card delivered. Once I left her place I made it to one hardware store to get a number of bits and bobs that I have needed for awhile. That all went smoothly and I did not feel like I was not going to make it back to the car before my leg gave out. Feeling brave I hit another hardware store in search of some 2 x 4 boards to make legs for my little cabinet. This place usually has end cuts super cheap. My luck ran out, no end cuts left so I did  not get them. Its ok, I can look around for something else to work as legs.

Remeber the little cabinet when I first bought it. 

It is by no means finished but this is it so far

Yes I painted the wood. I added new hardware and now I am going to sand and stain the top dark. I want to add legs so its high enough for the tv . Legs and stain and it will be all done. Its a little plain but I like it and really its going in the bedroom. It will be fine and provide some extra storage.

Other than that not much going on that is worth talking about. I spent the entire day last Saturday getting the kitchen cleaned up and I managed it. So frustrating when it should take half the time. Today I have not done much this afternoon but its ok. Teddy Bear picked me up a little hand/stick vacuum for upstairs. I wanted it to have in my bedroom to keep the floor clean now I have my fancy new floor. They were on a super good sale but I did not think I could wander the store to get it so she went for me. I truly do have good friends who are willing to run errands for me until I am back to having only one bad leg.

Tomorrow I want to get the last of the stuff back into the bedroom. Its been long enough.  I want to get the top of the cabinet stained and varnished and I want to move the spirea bush. Work on my quilt is also on the agenda. We will see how things go. 

So I am still here, things are moving along slowly and hopefully I will blog a little more faithfully in the future.

Toodles,

Linda

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

This past weekend was much like the one before, Work on the bedroom is moving slowly forward and more painting was accomplished. Go me!!

I have finally finished the second night table. Its all painted and has been hauled upstairs to cure. Paint has to cure for days before you can set stuff on it. 30 days to be safe so they are painted but not ready for having the lamps etc put back on them. They look nice. I am so pleased with the brown and white look. I did not paint the inside of the shelves so I can load them with books and stuff which is nice.

Speaking of books I finally got the last of the books back into my bedroom. Four bookcases worth of books.  I have sorted all of them at long last. I have a pile to go to Miss Mouse and another small pile to go to the Rotary Book Club sale. I even went wild had hung the blinds back up in the room. I have a laundry basket full of recycle and a half a garbage bag of trash gone out of the room. All the remains are to hang the pictures and return the ornaments to their proper places I need to think about the hanging the pictures. They are plaster walls so nails are not the best option. I have some googling to do, although I am leaning toward 3m hooks.

I also painted the window box that hangs on the veranda. I love this Gothic window box but you cannot see it that well against the white walls.

It looks lost and from the street its even harder to see, so I decided to give it a lick of paint. I went with the paint I had on hand so I could keep the reno costs down. And the results were mighty pleasing even if I so say so myself.

I think the blue will go with each season's fabulous floral display. I have great hopes that once I can afford to paint the house, its going to be blue. Plus this blue matches some other do-dads that live on the veranda.

I spent some time cleaning and organizing in the rest of the house, although  you would not know it. I have a box of donation stuff packed up and the diabetes association will come and pick it up tomorrow. So things are slowly getting there.

I am not a happy camper today. I thought my leg was getting better but its acting up again. |I have had a hard time all day today getting from one point to another. I wish it would just correct itself. Oh well, I see my Dr on this coming Monday so I hope he can offer some solutions. I am about at the end of my rope with this not being able to walk any distance and stand for any length of time.

I have the oak cupboard hauled in from the car. Dang that thing is heavy. Fun carrying it from the car into the house with two gamey legs. Ok enough with the complaining about the legs.  Its my next painting project. I hope to get it started this weekend. I need to figure out if I really need to add legs or not. It would be a simple fix I think. It will be great for the tv I think and with the drawer and the cupboard it will mean more storage. I can always use more storage.

So there it is. A repeat of the last weekend. Slow progress but progress none the less. I have not been myself for a long time. I am not sure whats up, I just can't seem to make myself do things that should just be second nature. I don't seem to care and I have to fight with myself to make myself care. I don't like my house to be a mess but it seems to be one constantly. All I want to do is nothing. So I am forcing myself. I am working on making myself do the routine, normal things. Some days I win the fight, some days I don't. BUT I think the thing in my favour is that I am trying. As long as I keep trying I can feel better about the situation.

Onward and upward!!

Toodles
Linda

Finally

Making progress!! Inspite of the fact my leg is still giving me grief, things are moving along. Slowly but they are moving foreward.

Ok lets get down to the bragging. Here are the tie backs I made for the bedroom curtains. Nothing really special but they do the job. I am also using this material in the new quilt. They let you see a bit more of the trim around the windows.

The night stands are well under way. Here we have a before picture. These poor things have had multiple reincarnations and therefore have a million layers of paint on them. This is the last one, a lovely french vanilla colour that sadly looks a dirty yellow now the trim in the bedroom is all a nice crisp white.

I had originally wanted to stain the top and the drawer front but the wood was not cooperating. Its times like this I miss The Historian, I miss him for more than this but this is one reason. I could have asked him for advise as he was awesome at furniture refinishing. It really did not hurt to strip the paint off the top and the drawer front. You could almost hear them take a deep breath of relief,

I decided to use some dark chocolate coloured paint I have left from doing the stairs and I am very pleased with the results.

The drawer pulls were in my stash, left over from the sewing room. So nothing was purchased for the renovation of these tables. All supplies were on hand and I am always tickled when that happens. So I have this one finished and the second one has its top and drawer stripped, not to mention the first coat of white paint on the main body. 

I found this on the local swap and shop web site for $25.00. Its oak and very solid, plus its narrow and I think its going to work a treat to put the TV on in my bedroom. I know there are people out there that would pass out if they read this but I am going to paint it ..............

Yes I am going to paint it and it will still be oak. Oh the anarchy !!!  I will go with white and then maybe see if I can sand and stain the top dark dark. The hardware will be changed as well and I am going to add legs as its a little short. Its my next project after the night stands.

I rewarded myself this weekend with some super expensive strawberries. They were pre-picked but oh my, they were worth it. So scrumptious!!

I bought some new potatoes as well, another treat for tonight's supper. Since I found a pound of real butter in the freezer it will be an extra treat. New potatoes are just the best!!

Another nice little surprise this weekend was I got my hands on this, thanks to KitKat:

Its from Partylite. There are three pieces to this set, I have the other two and have been in search of this one, for the longest time. KitKat was chatting about decluttering and she mentioned getting rid of two Partylite items. Well. hey presto. one of them was the one I have been looking for. Now I have all three, the church and the two sets of carolers. I am so happy.

I woke up to this this morning, Lucy having a stare down with Pooh. I cannot tell you who won, as they were still at it when I left the bedroom in search of breakfast.

I am pleased with whats been done this weekend. I feel like I have moved foreward finally.  I have moved more things back into the bedroom and sorted the last of the books. I have a small pile to donate and a few to pass onto Miss Mouse. The puppets have been worked on and while the kitchen is still a disaster, the dishwasher is empty and the garbage has been bagged. Far more productive than last weekend. Lets hope I can keep it up.

Toodles

Linda