Monday Monday So Good To Me

Yet another up side to this retirement gig is that Mondays are no longer dreaded. They are just another day and who would have thought that? In fact now Monday has become laundry day for me. I love it. So right now I am finishing my breakfast, enjoying my daily cup of coffee, the laundry is sorted and waiting to be done, and I am blogging. Its all good. The jury is still out on the financing of this endevour but I have every faith that it will all work out.

I actually washed the kitchen floor last week. I will not tell you how long it has been since I did that. (My mother would be so disappointed in me). However its done, I cleaned all the crap out from under the table and life is good.

I even moved all the stuff that was piled in front of the hutch. Its a gathering space for things that don't want to be out away right away.

I finished the Easter table runner. I may have mentioned that before but I can't remember

I got my material order so I could finish my Orla Keily quilt top and I could get the Nurse's quilt back  under construction. I am actually nearly finished it. /I decided that I could spend Saturday and Sunday mostly quilting. So I worked on that and binge watched tv.

The best best best thing of all........We had a No Cook Friday forbidden coffee party on Friday night. Well its not really forbidden we did the social distancing thing. We all went to the Banker's place, armed with lawn chairs and our own coffee. Seated 6 feet apart we had the best evening. It was beyond wonderful to get to see everyone. To talk, to laugh to just be together. It was excellent. We will do it again, weather permitting. We were together as long as our bladders would allow.

So that is what is happening around here this morning. Its quiet, its calm, its lovely. I am going to linger over my coffee and then get at the business of the day. I am hoping that we are starting to ease up on this covid confinement. NOT that I want it to happen too fast so we don't end up back in the same situation. Just slowly get back to a more interactive life.

One thing I have discovered is that I need to find a system to keep me on track in regards to what day it is, what payments are coming out of the bank on what day, appointments and grocery pick ups etc. Not having that by weekly pay day to keep me on track, its hard. So I don't know, a white board, a big calendar, the reminder thing on my phone? I have to see what I think will work best for me. While I have not had any catastrophes yet I have had some near misses. I will get on that.

Toodles
Linda

Like a Comfy Old Slipper

Its how I feel about this being retired lifestyle I have found myself living. I have slipped into it like a comfy old pair of slippers. I cannot express how much I enjoy being at home. Its been wonderful so far, inspite of the social distancing covid19 pandemic we are living with.

I have been hurling myself whole heartedly into cleaning my house. Not a down and dirty spring clean but definitely a good freshening up. I am currently in the craft room making a real effort to find the counter tops and the sewing table once again. Just putting things back where they belong makes a big difference. (Hear that noise, that's my Mom shouting "I told you so" from heaven)

I do have one before and after picture for you

And an after

The rest you have to trust me. It was a mess, piled high with just stuff, stuff everywhere but now its starting to look not too bad

This makes me so happy. Not only is my house getting tidy, I feel like doing it. I have the time to work at it and it does not have to all be done on a Saturday. If I get tired I can stop, go back to it as I wish, there is no pressure. I do think its good to have a routine, goals and things to do. I could quite happily sit and craft non stop but that is not the best idea.

The Banker stopped over for a veranda visit the first nice day we had. We were  careful to keep the proper distance apart. It was so nice to see her and have a chance to really have a visit. She was in BC for 53 days and then when they got home they had to self quarantine for two weeks. Its just this week she can be out to do her own getting of essentials.  We sat and chatted for the entire afternoon.

Another thing that is happening is I have been reminding myself I do know how to cook. Since I can't be out with friends eating and I had already decided that going to a drive thru myself was not going to be the same habit  it always was when I was working, I have gone back to the stove and am actually making meals

And then there was Saturday night. I was so hungry and nothing I could think of appealed to me for supper so I did this. You win some, you loose some.

My big struggle in this whole social isolating thing is CHOCOLATE. It drives me mad. If I have it in the house I cannot stay out of it and if its not in the house I am obsessed with it. Why I do not know because I do not have it in the house all the time normally. Once in a while but its not a staple. Snacking has taken on a whole new life in this strange time. Its a fight I will continue to wage as running to the store for a treat is not easy at all these days.

I have been crafting as well. I did not have enough heat and bond in the house to make bunny appliques for an Easter runner so I had to change gears. I found a nice tulip pattern through the Missouri Star Quilt Company tutorials and this weekend I gave it a go. I had some scraps from Sweet Peas quilt and I went to work

The top got sewn together yesterday and I got it quilted today. I will get it bound tomorrow and then I can figure out a table square to match.

I have been watching lots of Netflix, taped tv and YouTube. I got an iPad from my work as my parting gift. I am in love with it. It makes it so much easier to watch stuff than watching things on my phone. I ordered a case for it and cannot wait for it to get here. Then I can prop it up and be hands free. I have wanted one for a long time and now its mine. Happy Dance of Joy!!

Well I think that is all for now. I may even start to blog more often that once a week now that my life has moved into a new chapter. Who knows, stranger things have happened.

Stay safe!!

Toddles,
Linda

Captive Log Day Unknown

So this social distancing, staying home, only go out for essentials because of Covid19 still holds us in its icy grip. I have not found it terrible but I do resent the fact that I could not be with my family at this time. Ususally the Easter weekend means family, being together, good food and lots of good times. Well that was not meant to be. So I am a tad bitter but I know this will not be forever, we will get together again. The Pilot, the Teacher, Wee Girl and Sweet Pea face timed me this morning which was so nice. The girls all dresse up in their new Easter frocks. So pretty. I got pictures of Tater Tot and  his lovely coloured Easter eggs. Its the next best thing to being with them. Texts and messages have been flying around, its all good.

So I am one week into this retirement gig and its going well. I have been cleaning the house and crafting, making myself be on a sort of routine, not just lounging around and doing nothing. The best of all was I took a round out of my arch nemesis, the kitchen. It has been a long time since it was this clean

The counters and surfaces are all disinfected and all that is left is to wash the floor. It so clean I am reluctant to cook because it will mess the place up again.

I have cleaned the living room, the dining room and the downstairs bathroom. It feels so good to have it done and back to once again being clean. I do not mind my house being cluttered but I do not like it not to be clean. Clean is where we are headed once again. Yahoo. Next week I am goind to start in on the  upstairs. One room a day until its done and then its just maintenance.

Finally the ice has melted on my back sidewalk so once again I can walk out there without fearing for my life. The extra plus is that I can once again take out the garbage and recycle without having to drive it around the block. 

Yesterday I went out to pick up a few things and when I got home, I retreived my spade from the neighbours yard. They liberated two shovels and a leaf rake from me over the course of time that they lived there. A snow shovel and a spade. The snow shovel has never been seen again but the spade made its way home. The leaf rake was never seen again as well. They always managed to break every rake they had so I imaging mine met a violent end. The spade is little worse for wear but still useable.

I have been making squares for an afghan with my left over yarn. Its a change from the scarves and toques. Its coming along nicely. I figure 80 squares should do just fine. It will be a donation as well I also plan to start making scrap quilts for the women's shelter/ Safe and Warm shelter as well. I have lots of material and now lots of time.

The one and only Easter decoration I put out this year. I still plan to make a table square and runner that are Easter themed. I was going to do that all last year but I think,if I have enough Heat and bond on hand, I will get it done shortly. I have a pattern in mind and I know I have the material.

I have been sewing on this new quilt top. I have gone as far as I can because I ran out of black broadcloth. Rats!! I thought I had plenty but not so. SO I placed an order on line for some. I ordered some broadcloth and some black flannelette.I need that for a quilt I am fixing for the Nurse.

I am getting to be a dab hand at this on line ordering. I ordered material, I have ordered clothes, I ordered thread. Its quite fun. Since so many stores are closed or have reduced the amount of people that can be inside at one time, this is a good alternative for me. I have ordered groceries on line for some time now. I miss actual shopping but this works for me. I cannot stand in a line waiting to get into a store so I have to adjust myself to the changing times. My dear friends still bring me the odd thing but I hate to ask them to do that. In ordinary times it a different matter but now it has health risks to it so I try not to do that. They are good to me and I value them more than I can say. I only ask when I know they are going to the store for things for themselves.

I cannot think of anything else to share. Its always been a bit of a quiet life around here and now it its even more so. So I think a nap is in order and then I will get to cooking the Easter ham.

Toodles
Linda

Happy Retirement to ME

Friday was my last day of work. I have been employed my entire adult life and now I am retired. It is a consept that I cannot wrap my head around just yet but I am totally confident that I will rise to the challenge.

My lovely wonderful crazy friends banged on my door on Friday night with whistles, bells, noise makers and signs

Ths signs say Happy Retirement Linda, and on the back its says celebration to be had at a later date. I got through the entire day at work without a tear, I welled up a few times but no actual crying but THESE buggers made me cry!! Oh my I do know the most wonderful people. I never expected a thing due to these crazy times we live in.

It was a lovely day on Friday. I had so many nice things said to me and about me, I got treats, balloons, gorgeous flowers from the Bug family. They always spoil me

I had my total surprise visit from the No Cooks and their signs, I got to have Chinese food which would have been the meal if we were still able to go out. They tell me there will be a party at work when the social distancing is lifted. So inspite of not being able to get and give hugs on Friday it was a wonderful day.

I have been waiting for this day since the second day of grade one. Being at home makes me happy and I can say with confidence, it was time for me to be done. When I got up on Friday I shut the alarm clock right off, gave it a loving pat, and said, " you have done a good job over the years but now SHUT UP". Its a joy to me to know that I never have to hear that thing go off again unless I want it to.

I have already decided that I am not going to just do nothing and laze around all day. I have already made lists and plans for what needs to be done each day. I need to have a routine and while I will be doing more crafting than usual, I am also going to dedicate myself to housework, to being engaged with the outside world and keeping my mind and body as active as I can. I have a whole lot of housework that is waiting to be done. I have lots of material scraps, yarn leftovers and crochet cotton that is begging to be made into something

Tomorrow morning I will do laundry, give the living room a good clean and then pick something from the "When I'm Retired do this" list. Actually the first thing is going to have to be to find a home for all the things that used to live in my office. Stuff that had to come home. This could be a big adventure. I have been hauling stuff home for some time now. What?? You didn't think I would treat my office any different than I do my house? It was full of mini quilts, baskets and pig ornaments, with the odd bit of pottery. Yes I am me wherever I am.

Today I am going to work on the Orla Kiely quilt. I may start to make an easter table square and an easter runner for the buffet. I have meant to make them all year and here it is Easter time again.

I have discovered I have almost run out of white thread and in general my sewing thread stash is getting low. I will have to give some thought to this as the fabric stores are closed. Busy had a great idea that I should put it on the local swap and shop and see if anyone has spare that they want to get rid of. I can always order on line if I need to. Where there is a will there is a way

See this is why I say I have wonderful friends, this package arrived on my veranda . A gift from one lovely caring friend

Well I am to sew. I guess I am in I-Sew-Lation at the time. Stay safe and stay home!!

Toodles 

Linda

Strange Times and Silver Linings

I had a entire blog post written last night, nearly finished and the screen flashed and poof it was gone, the whole pea picken thing, I was furious. So much so that I refused to redo it, I went to bed instead. Well it did not magically reappear so I guess I had best get over myself.

So I am not sure what I had written but it was lovely, I can tell you that. I will try and recreate it but its going to pale in comparisson

Video chatted with the family over the weekend. The Pilot set it up and it was awesome,. the Pilot, the Teacher, the Wee Girl and Sweet Pea, The Carpenter and Busy, Miss Mouse and Tater Tot along with me had a visit. It was so good to see everyone and catch up. Technology can be fantastic at times. I was tickled to be included.

My friends have been looking after me during these strange days. I have had small parcels and necesseties delivered to my veranda off and on, KitKat and I have had coffee together with her on one end of the veranda and me on the other. lots of texts and phone calls.  I am blessed blessed blessed with family that loves me and friends that are worth their weight in gold. Makes my life super easy.

I have been keeping busy but then I usually manage to keep myself entertained  on any given day. I fixed a table runner for a coworker, she could not figure out the binding. She gave it to me and it looked like this

I gave it back to her and it looked like this, I am glad I can use my years of quilting practice to help out someone else.

I got the bee put on the baby blanket that I made for a coworker although I have no idea when I will get it delivered

I think its cute.

The really big news around here is the roof is shingled. My neighbour took charge of the arrangements and it happened so fast I hardly knew what was going on but I am so pleased its done and paid for.

So so happy this is done. So happy my neighbour found someone willing to do the roof. Its a steep roof and a very cramped space, not the first choice of any roofer.

I had my first coffee on the veranda this weekend. It was cool but pleasant and I do love to sit out there in the morning and sip on a cup of coffee

I took in the pointsettias and put out the tulips and daisies. I am embracing this spring is coming thing with my whole heart

I have been knitting and I started a new quilt. I am playing with my new template. I am going to make Miss Mouse a quilt but I am doing a practice one first, So I am taking my inspiration from this
Orla Kiely print.

I am going to do something along that line and I got a good start on it yesterday

Nothing is pressed yet but I have a good start.

I have been knitting and poking away at the house work. The Banker and her Sweet Baboo are home at last and self isolating for 14 days but at least she is home again.

Thats it, trust me its not nearly as good as the first psot was but thats how things roll. Take care and stay safe.

Toodles
Linda

Social Distancing .... Nailed it

In this strange time where this virus has us all under its thumb, I think I have social distancing perfected. I usually go to the odd movie with a friend, KitKat and I go or supper once per week and of course the No Cooks observe our traditional weekly supper/coffee date on Friday. That is what I do and the rest of the time I mostly spend at home, I get groceries, I nip out to the odd secondhand store, a craft/fabric store now and then and to Shoppers Drug mart. In these days of being isolated, I have given up the going out, I still go shopping for necessities but not for fun. I stay home and do my thing and pray that people stay safe, that this strange situation passes and we can resume normal activities. I sort of live this life most of the time normally.

My work is considered an essential service so we will not close. Social assistance needs to be administered and we need to keep people looked after. We have made changes and taken steps for everyone's safety. We have limited public access. We have changed shifts and have moved to a call center format.

That is fun I can tell you. I have done two shifts on the phone and it is non stop. The minute the handset hits the cradle it rings again. Concerned questions, not necessary questions, demands, inquiries, questions about extra funding, inquiries over what we are doing and what is happening. People are scared and concerned and want to know there is someone there to listen, to help and to hear them no matter what they are asking about. We do three shifts, two of which are to man the phones and one to try to keep the assistance moving. Its wild because we are flying by the seat of our pants with solutions still being worked out. Its just taken our normal month end business and magnified it a great big bunch. We are now dealing with most of the province not just our little area. Fun times!!

So that is the new norm for these days and I have two more weeks of it. Then I will slip quietly into retirement. Its seems surreal

So this weekend I did not go out and get breakfast, I made my own at home. I could use some fruit, some eggs and bread but I am not to the point where I have nothing. I would just normally replace this stuff if things were normal but they are not.  I decided not to bother going out. I am good and its was child tax credit day of Friday so I figured families that depend on that money for groceries would need to be shopping far more than I. I can go another day.

I worked on the never ending cleaning of the kitchen. That kitchen is my arch enemy. It wins the battle far more than I do. I bagged garbage, loaded up the recycle bin, collected the compost and did the dishes as much as I could. I now have to get all of this hauled to the dumpsters. At this time of the year my back sidewalk becomes a skating rink. I park at the front because I am petrified of slipping and hurting myself. SO I have been known to put the stuff in the car and driving it round to the back. Its all such a big deal. Walking that many times back and forth to the car because I cannot carry much at one time, its just frustrating. It takes so long to get anything done. By the time you have the old mess out a new one has blossomed. Deep sigh of frustration.

Enough about my first world problems. I did get the next row sewn for my Row by Row Quilt as You Go sewn up. I have three rows done now and I think once I can get some backing for the quilt I will start the "quilt as you go method". I YouTubed it and I think it will be fun.

Its much bluer in person, and what looks cram in the photo is more pale yellow. I have not been able to get a good picture. I am very pleased with this quilt so far.

I finally took pictures of the two other completed quilts,

.

I made chili, a big pot of it. Well I tried to make chili, it turned into more of a soup but whatever you want to call it, it made a big pot full. I did not have all the ingredients on hand for chili but I had enough to improvise. This little project cleaned up the veggies that were in the fridge on the verge of turning on me. Wasting food is even more of a sin and shame during these times. I let that happen way too much in this house. 

It may have an identity crisis but the stuff in this bowl is pretty darn tasty. Plus it kicks that "what will I have for lunch? supper?" out of the ball park for a while anyway. 

Today I have been doing laundry, knitting for the donation bag and watching tv. I have lots of stuff taped and there is always Netflix and YouTube. That will keep me entertained.  Book Club is on hold, No Cook Friday is on hold and for the most part we are staying home and doing as we should to help end the spread of this virus. 

So far I have been feeling fine, which I am beyond grateful for. My immune system is still crap and I seem to catch anything that is going around but so far so good. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this keeps up. 

Wash your hands, take care and stay safe. This too shall pass.

Toodles

Linda

Time Keeps On Slipping into My Future

This has been an odd month, one full of big decisions,  impending life changes, a change of season in my life. A chapter is closing and I am moving into a new phase. AT MY AGE!!  I have been excited, thrilled, scared and numb all at the same time. BUT like most major things in my life, I have made my decision, its gonna happen and I am just hanging on with all my faith placed in the fact that it will all work out. I will be fine. In short, in 18 days I will be retired. EEK and HALLELUJAH. Mentally I will be fine, financially ................. remains to be seen but time will tell. Time will tell.

Yesterday I was determined I was going to get lots done, and in one way for me I did. I went and got groceries, thanks to this stupid  virus panic I did not get all that I ordered but I got enough. I went to the drug store and got a few more things, eggs, bread, Kleenex, a bag of chips but NO TOILET PAPER. Everyone is in a mad hoarding frenzy on the toilet paper. I am fine, (not that you need to know but what the heck?), I am just at the point where I would normally add it to the grocery list. I have faith that I will find some at some point and if I don't I have a back up plan.  I am not going to share that tidbit just yet so let's get back to my day. I did my errands and then got my breakfast as per usual and then I headed home. 

The first thing I did was I did manage to finally get the numerous bags out of my trunk. It may not look like lots but the picture does not show them all. They have been in my trunk for  2 weeks or more!!

Well I needed my trunk for groceries. On my way to pick them up I stopped here

At long last my trunk looked, once more, like this, littered with my grocery bags.

It feels so good to get that done and to have made myself do it for myself. Very freeing. I need to do so much more. Work in progress that's me.

I got home and the plan was I was going to eat breakfast, put away groceries, quilt for a bit and then get some housework done. Quilts suck me into a black hole, maybe that is not the right way to express the situation. I go someplace where time is suspended and I am  totally in my happy place. I did do some dishes and hauled the recycling out to the dumpster but other than that, the day was gone and I had the quilt almost finished. (It got finished today)

The flimsy was passed onto me by Busy. Her mom made it and never got it finished. I have finally gotten around to taking care of the quilting of it. Today, I can happily let you know,  its all finished and just needs a bath to get the chalk marks off of it. 

I love the old fashioned scrappy look of it. What about the 52 blocks quilt?? Glad you asked, its all done too. It needs a bath as well and then I will take some better pictures of the entire quilts, both of them..

I even got the label sewn on. I am hoping she does a label for the new quilt project. Row by Row Quilt as You Go.

These are the first two rows of that project. The next row comes out on this Tuesday. I so enjoy these quilt projects. Its fun to be part of a group and see what everyone else it doing.

I have discovered the Missouri Star Quilt Company on YouTube. I LOVE THEM!!!  They have marvelous tutorials and they have stuff to help you quilt better. I treated myself to these:

Templates to make marvelous quilt blocks. They have a couple of tutorials on how to use them. I have a few plans already, using these, so stay tuned, you never know what may show up here. I cannot wait to get going on them. Oh the possibilities!!!

I have been busy getting all the details organized for my retirement. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I am not going to have to work. I have waited for this my entire adult life, (ok to be honest since the second day of grade one) and now its gonna happen in a few days. I already have been making plans and thinking of schedules and routines, and on the other hand I cannot totally let myself enjoy this because I am still not 100 % sure that I have gotten here, to this point in my life.  So much change but I am, as I said earlier, I am hanging on and moving foreward inspite of all my fears and second thoughts. I have a goal and I am going for it come hell or high water.

Tally HO!!!!

Toodles,
Linda