I found my kitchen again. I spend the better part of this day finally knocking hell out of the mess I had created in there. For most of this month I have just come in the back door and dumped my stuff in the kitchen. Christmas gifts, shopping, things to be put away, things to be sorted, washed, fixed and even things to be disposed of. I would dump and then disappear. Hence my kitchen quickly turned into a disaster of the highest degree. I promised myself this week that if I did nothing else this weekend I would at least get my kitchen back. SO today after the morning grocery run, I did exactly that. It took the better part of the day but I did it. You can tell there is a table, a counter and a sink once more. Many pats on the back to me. I was going to take pictures and share them with you but I decided to keep my dirty little secrets private this time. Well that and I could not find the dang camera.
In-between fits of cleaning, I took time and sat in my favourite chair, knitting on a scarf. A friend of mine told me about this thing that is going around, 27 acts of kindness. I memory of the Conneticut school shooting. I think its a lovely idea and I have decided that this year I will make 27 scarves and then donate them to our local Christmas Cheer board. That will be my little contribution to their memory.
What else did I do? I watched marathons on the tv about English real estate and did my level best to make sure any chocolate in this house was hunted down and devoured. The new year is coming and I need to get back on track again. My holiday slide off the wagon is fast coming to an end. (It better before I slap back all the weight I lost before Christmas.) I have found homes for all of my Christmas gifts and put away all the bags, tissue paper and boxes. It feels good to have it all done. Next weekend I will deal with putting away the Christmas decorations
Tomorrow I will tackle laundry and make soup for lunch the coming week. The Hostess and I are going to go for sushi and that is it for my big Sunday plans. Not a lot happening here at the old homestead. The holiday fun is winding down, normal routines are creeping back and its all good. I was amazed at how quiet the parking lots and the stores were when I went out this morning. No where near a fraction of the people that were out and about before Christmas. I have to admit I liked it. Shopping this morning did not make me want to do harm to my fellow man. That is a good thing.
Toodles,
Linda
Saturday 29 December 2012
Wednesday 26 December 2012
Done and Dusted
Christmas is finished. I have to admit I am a little sad. I would like the celebrating to go on a little longer. I felt a little put out today that I had to leave my family and head home today. Busy's family always do their Christmas on Boxing Day and I am always welcome to join them. We toddled over there this morning for breakfast and then I hit the road home. Pouting all the way, I would have much rather stayed and partied and celebrated with them but I have to work tomorrow so the sensible part of me decided that getting home in the better part of the day was the best idea.
So now I am home, more stuff has been dumped into the kitchen, which still has dumped stuff from several weekends in it, and had a nap on the couch. I chatted with the Hostess for a bit. I really must remember to tell her how much I enjoy our phone chats. It makes my day to have a little chat with her. I made some supper (thank goodness for scrambled eggs!!) and now I am blogging. I have the Christmas lights on, the trees and the little village are all lit up. I will eventually have to start thinking about cleaning away all the decorations but for now I am going to enjoy them. I may even make some more hot chocolate to sip while I gaze at the festive decor. I will enjoy the last few moments of the holiday loveliness.
I made these this year which I could not show until I had given them away as gifts but I really like them. I still have one to make for myself which I will try to do tonight or tomorrow night.
Hand knit mini sweaters. Aren't they just the cutest things??? The top four were a gift for my friend S. and the bottom three were the family ornament I gave this year. I make something each year as a family ornament and I thought these were perfect. The little blue tags have our family name and the year on them if you flip them over. I had time to make some for everyone but me before it was time to give them as gifts, hence I have to make one for myself before I take down my family tree this year. These rank right up there as among my most favourite ones I have ever made. I have made some clunkers but I have made some cute things.
So its back to work tomorrow, back to normal maybe. Its sad to see it end but on the other hand its almost a whole new year full of endless possibilities. I want this year to be the year I finally get a lot of lingering house projects done. I have a list to get started on once the New Year has begun. Endless possibilities!! Who knows what wonderful things will happen.
I so hope that each and every one of you had a lovely Christmas, whatever you were doing!!
Off to make hot chocolate and go snuggle in my favourite comfy chair
Toodles,
Linda
So now I am home, more stuff has been dumped into the kitchen, which still has dumped stuff from several weekends in it, and had a nap on the couch. I chatted with the Hostess for a bit. I really must remember to tell her how much I enjoy our phone chats. It makes my day to have a little chat with her. I made some supper (thank goodness for scrambled eggs!!) and now I am blogging. I have the Christmas lights on, the trees and the little village are all lit up. I will eventually have to start thinking about cleaning away all the decorations but for now I am going to enjoy them. I may even make some more hot chocolate to sip while I gaze at the festive decor. I will enjoy the last few moments of the holiday loveliness.
I made these this year which I could not show until I had given them away as gifts but I really like them. I still have one to make for myself which I will try to do tonight or tomorrow night.
So its back to work tomorrow, back to normal maybe. Its sad to see it end but on the other hand its almost a whole new year full of endless possibilities. I want this year to be the year I finally get a lot of lingering house projects done. I have a list to get started on once the New Year has begun. Endless possibilities!! Who knows what wonderful things will happen.
I so hope that each and every one of you had a lovely Christmas, whatever you were doing!!
Off to make hot chocolate and go snuggle in my favourite comfy chair
Toodles,
Linda
Monday 24 December 2012
Merry Christmas from Minou............and me too!!
Why does she put this thing on me every year.......WHY??????
Sunday 23 December 2012
Twas the Night before the Night Before Christmas
One of the lovely things about being completely ready for Christmas had having all the preparations done is that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labours. Today I have been doing just that. I have been puttering about, making plans to leave tomorrow for Christmas. I have to admit that I have had another good weekend.
Friday night it was out for supper with the No Cook Gals then to the Banker's house for some fun and games. We had a little Christmas party there. We drank sangria and snacked and laughed and had a wonderful time. We always do!! Then it was home to bed and a blissful sleep in. No barking neighbours dog, no alarm clock and no need to be doing anything until 1:00 pm when E and I went out for lunch. We went to our usual Cafe/shop which can put anyone into the mood for Christmas. I love this place.
While we were finishing up an old friend of a friend that I have not seen for years stopped by our table. It was so nice to see him again, He had been lunching with friends and was finished os he joined us for a good long chat. It was wonderful to see him again and share Lady Di stories. (Lady Di was our mutual friend and she sadly passed away 5 years ago this month). E and I worked with her so we all got to wander down memory lane and of course catch up on what is going on in his life now.It was so funny because I had driven by his old house the other day and thought of him for the first time in many years. I was remembering the Christmas parties he used to throw and how I missed them. Funny how things like that can happen. DM owned a big old three story brick house that I drooled over. Beautiful wood work, lovely antiques, and he is so entertaining. His son still lives in Brandon so he is back here rather often.
Once we parted ways, E and I did some more shopping and then I stopped and stayed for some rum and eggnog at her house before I bezzled off home. My lunch turned into an entire afternoon affair but it was all good. Seeing DM and having lunch out at one of my favourite places, shopping and good friends, well who could ask for anything more??
Today I remodeled an mantle scarf I had made for Busy many years ago. They have no fireplace now and she still liked the mantle scarf but could not use it in its current incarnation. So I remodeled it into a table runner.
not the best picture and I should have moved the red afghan from behind it but you get the idea. I hope she likes it still. I could not figure out what else to do with it. I can deliver it to her tomorrow. I was glad to get it figured out and finished before I headed to their place.
Tonight I am enjoying the holiday feeling of the house. I have made myself a nice big cup of White Hot Chocolate, some cookies and a few chocolates as a treat.
I sipped and nibbled and gazed at my Christmas decorations, watched old Christmas movies and did some knitting. A cozy, comfortable, evening in my cozy comfortable house. I loved every minute of it. This is my favourite season, I love to soak up all of it that I can. Time spent with my friends and family, the decorations, the music, the movies, the sights, sounds and smells that are Christmas, I love them all. I do have to admit that I dearly miss the big family Christmas's when both of my brother's families and I got together but I think those days are long gone. So I do not dwell on that, it makes me sad and I cannot change it. it is what it is. So I look to other things and find the joy in the season in other places. I am content that I am here in my house, the laundry is chugging away and the cat is snoozing on one of the beds upstairs. All is well with the world.
Tonight I will finish packing and head for my brother's home tomorrow. Sounds like the roads will be good and the drive is not terribly long. I look foreward to it.
So I wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas!! I hope you to can fine the joy in the Season and share it with the ones you love.
Toodles
Linda
Friday night it was out for supper with the No Cook Gals then to the Banker's house for some fun and games. We had a little Christmas party there. We drank sangria and snacked and laughed and had a wonderful time. We always do!! Then it was home to bed and a blissful sleep in. No barking neighbours dog, no alarm clock and no need to be doing anything until 1:00 pm when E and I went out for lunch. We went to our usual Cafe/shop which can put anyone into the mood for Christmas. I love this place.
While we were finishing up an old friend of a friend that I have not seen for years stopped by our table. It was so nice to see him again, He had been lunching with friends and was finished os he joined us for a good long chat. It was wonderful to see him again and share Lady Di stories. (Lady Di was our mutual friend and she sadly passed away 5 years ago this month). E and I worked with her so we all got to wander down memory lane and of course catch up on what is going on in his life now.It was so funny because I had driven by his old house the other day and thought of him for the first time in many years. I was remembering the Christmas parties he used to throw and how I missed them. Funny how things like that can happen. DM owned a big old three story brick house that I drooled over. Beautiful wood work, lovely antiques, and he is so entertaining. His son still lives in Brandon so he is back here rather often.
Once we parted ways, E and I did some more shopping and then I stopped and stayed for some rum and eggnog at her house before I bezzled off home. My lunch turned into an entire afternoon affair but it was all good. Seeing DM and having lunch out at one of my favourite places, shopping and good friends, well who could ask for anything more??
Today I remodeled an mantle scarf I had made for Busy many years ago. They have no fireplace now and she still liked the mantle scarf but could not use it in its current incarnation. So I remodeled it into a table runner.
not the best picture and I should have moved the red afghan from behind it but you get the idea. I hope she likes it still. I could not figure out what else to do with it. I can deliver it to her tomorrow. I was glad to get it figured out and finished before I headed to their place.
Tonight I am enjoying the holiday feeling of the house. I have made myself a nice big cup of White Hot Chocolate, some cookies and a few chocolates as a treat.
I sipped and nibbled and gazed at my Christmas decorations, watched old Christmas movies and did some knitting. A cozy, comfortable, evening in my cozy comfortable house. I loved every minute of it. This is my favourite season, I love to soak up all of it that I can. Time spent with my friends and family, the decorations, the music, the movies, the sights, sounds and smells that are Christmas, I love them all. I do have to admit that I dearly miss the big family Christmas's when both of my brother's families and I got together but I think those days are long gone. So I do not dwell on that, it makes me sad and I cannot change it. it is what it is. So I look to other things and find the joy in the season in other places. I am content that I am here in my house, the laundry is chugging away and the cat is snoozing on one of the beds upstairs. All is well with the world.
Tonight I will finish packing and head for my brother's home tomorrow. Sounds like the roads will be good and the drive is not terribly long. I look foreward to it.
So I wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas!! I hope you to can fine the joy in the Season and share it with the ones you love.
Toodles
Linda
Thursday 20 December 2012
I Am Officially Ready for Christmas
Which is not bad considering my family Christmas was celebrated last weekend. Good thing I am ready!!
Seriously I was ready for that one, and today I delivered all the "Friend/Co-worker" presents. Tonight I made the last batch of candied pecans so I can do up the No Cook Friday Group's gifts and I am done. We are having our No Cook Christmas party tomorrow night. Real Christmas day is going to be spent with the Carpenter and Busy, the Pilot will be home too so I am going there to hang out with them.
The family whoop-de-do was celebrated at the home of Miss Mouse and the Farmer this year. The Farmer and the Carpenter had the same weekend off so we choose that weekend to get together. I could not get there until the Saturday because I had tickets to go see Frank Mills in concert with E and I did not want to back out on her. Tickets were purchased long before the Christmas plans were made. Friday was busy, I went to a Wine and Cheese come and go thing right after work, then to Frank Mills and then home to bed. I loaded the car that night so all I had to do in the wee hours was get up and hit the road. Which I did at the butt crack of dawn. 3:45 am I was on the road, large Tim's coffee in hand. (even at that time of the morning the drive through is busy Geesh!!) Only 8 hours later and I was at Miss Mouse's house in time for breakfast.
Thankfully the roads were good and I made good time to get there. It was lovely to see everyone. The Pilot was home with his new girlfriend, The Teacher. She is lovely,I quite like her and seems to fit in with our crowd very nicely. We did breakfast, then stockings, then presents.
So here are some pictures of the fun
First of all the lovely tree:
Yes that is a Rough Rider hat on the tree top, its Saskatchewan what else would you expect?? Under the tree was the usual plunder, and the loot bags we use instead of stockings:
Pinky, Miss Mouse's cat had to check out the goodies before we tore into it. We were busy with stocking so he was free to snoop. Yes its a male cat named Pinky. It has something to do with the colour of his nose I believe.
As we have no little people yet, who cannot wait to open gifts, we do it one at a time. This way we get to see what everyone got and it gives us more time to enjoy the process. Loot bags are a free for all, presents are more sedate. Busy is opening one of her many gifts while the Carpenter waits his turn:
Santa brought Rough Rider shirts for some people, the Pilot and the Teacher were sporting their new attire on this special occasion:
Just because we go at this present opening thing slowly does not mean that we are well behaved and sedate, there is much silliness going, on rest assured. I have no idea what the Carpenter and the Farmer are laughing at because it could have been any one of a million goofy things said and done that day. We do have lots of fun!!
Not to mention that even though we try to go at this one gift at a time. SOME people try to jump the queue and receive many harsh verbal threats to their well being unless they behave.
Miss Mouse, loved, loved, loved the cowl scarf I knit for her. (She found it on Pinterest and I did the rest.)
In no time at all that beautiful pile of lovingly wrapped gifts was reduced to a pile of rubble!
Oh yea, we made the new kid clean up. Aren't we nice???
Miss Mouse got a sewing machine for Christmas and later on that day she got it out so her Mom and her Grandma could help her learn how to thread it and give her some basics. Both Busy and Grandma D are seriously good sewers. The fun part of this is that this scenerio has in it: two Mother's, two Daughters and a Grandma all teaching and learning. It was a merry-go-round of one bossing the other and much chirping back and forth as Mother's and Daughter's do when they try to work together. It was so funny to watch but so lovely as well. Three generations of women sharing a common interest and passing on of knowledge. Even if they did get all up in each other's bidness at times.
Typical to our family Christmas's there was dancing!!
There was napping: (Miss Mouse and Pinky taking a turn on the couch).
It was a wonderful, fun Christmas. I am so grateful that I get to be included in the fun each year. Everyone else left on Sunday but I stayed over until Monday, I was just not all that interested in jumping back in the car and heading home so soon after I got there. On Monday Miss Mouse and I took a little trip to a near by town to see the little gift shop she works in part time. Oh it is my kind of store, I could spend a lot of money in there,they have such lovely things. We had a bit of a shop and then headed back home to the Farm for a bite of breakfast. Bella the St Bernard watched me take my leave right after breakfast. Isn't she just the cutest thing?? She is a lovely big old baby girl, I am not a real dog person but I do like this breed. She is especially nice because she does not slobber.
I got home in time to dump the loot in the kitchen and do nothing for the rest of the evening. Back to reality and work the next day.
Toodles,
Linda
Seriously I was ready for that one, and today I delivered all the "Friend/Co-worker" presents. Tonight I made the last batch of candied pecans so I can do up the No Cook Friday Group's gifts and I am done. We are having our No Cook Christmas party tomorrow night. Real Christmas day is going to be spent with the Carpenter and Busy, the Pilot will be home too so I am going there to hang out with them.
The family whoop-de-do was celebrated at the home of Miss Mouse and the Farmer this year. The Farmer and the Carpenter had the same weekend off so we choose that weekend to get together. I could not get there until the Saturday because I had tickets to go see Frank Mills in concert with E and I did not want to back out on her. Tickets were purchased long before the Christmas plans were made. Friday was busy, I went to a Wine and Cheese come and go thing right after work, then to Frank Mills and then home to bed. I loaded the car that night so all I had to do in the wee hours was get up and hit the road. Which I did at the butt crack of dawn. 3:45 am I was on the road, large Tim's coffee in hand. (even at that time of the morning the drive through is busy Geesh!!) Only 8 hours later and I was at Miss Mouse's house in time for breakfast.
Thankfully the roads were good and I made good time to get there. It was lovely to see everyone. The Pilot was home with his new girlfriend, The Teacher. She is lovely,I quite like her and seems to fit in with our crowd very nicely. We did breakfast, then stockings, then presents.
So here are some pictures of the fun
First of all the lovely tree:
Yes that is a Rough Rider hat on the tree top, its Saskatchewan what else would you expect?? Under the tree was the usual plunder, and the loot bags we use instead of stockings:
Pinky, Miss Mouse's cat had to check out the goodies before we tore into it. We were busy with stocking so he was free to snoop. Yes its a male cat named Pinky. It has something to do with the colour of his nose I believe.
As we have no little people yet, who cannot wait to open gifts, we do it one at a time. This way we get to see what everyone got and it gives us more time to enjoy the process. Loot bags are a free for all, presents are more sedate. Busy is opening one of her many gifts while the Carpenter waits his turn:
Santa brought Rough Rider shirts for some people, the Pilot and the Teacher were sporting their new attire on this special occasion:
Just because we go at this present opening thing slowly does not mean that we are well behaved and sedate, there is much silliness going, on rest assured. I have no idea what the Carpenter and the Farmer are laughing at because it could have been any one of a million goofy things said and done that day. We do have lots of fun!!
Not to mention that even though we try to go at this one gift at a time. SOME people try to jump the queue and receive many harsh verbal threats to their well being unless they behave.
Miss Mouse, loved, loved, loved the cowl scarf I knit for her. (She found it on Pinterest and I did the rest.)
In no time at all that beautiful pile of lovingly wrapped gifts was reduced to a pile of rubble!
Oh yea, we made the new kid clean up. Aren't we nice???
Miss Mouse got a sewing machine for Christmas and later on that day she got it out so her Mom and her Grandma could help her learn how to thread it and give her some basics. Both Busy and Grandma D are seriously good sewers. The fun part of this is that this scenerio has in it: two Mother's, two Daughters and a Grandma all teaching and learning. It was a merry-go-round of one bossing the other and much chirping back and forth as Mother's and Daughter's do when they try to work together. It was so funny to watch but so lovely as well. Three generations of women sharing a common interest and passing on of knowledge. Even if they did get all up in each other's bidness at times.
Typical to our family Christmas's there was dancing!!
There was napping: (Miss Mouse and Pinky taking a turn on the couch).
It was a wonderful, fun Christmas. I am so grateful that I get to be included in the fun each year. Everyone else left on Sunday but I stayed over until Monday, I was just not all that interested in jumping back in the car and heading home so soon after I got there. On Monday Miss Mouse and I took a little trip to a near by town to see the little gift shop she works in part time. Oh it is my kind of store, I could spend a lot of money in there,they have such lovely things. We had a bit of a shop and then headed back home to the Farm for a bite of breakfast. Bella the St Bernard watched me take my leave right after breakfast. Isn't she just the cutest thing?? She is a lovely big old baby girl, I am not a real dog person but I do like this breed. She is especially nice because she does not slobber.
I got home in time to dump the loot in the kitchen and do nothing for the rest of the evening. Back to reality and work the next day.
Toodles,
Linda
Thursday 13 December 2012
Christmas Crazies are Here Again
I have not been blogging a lot for the plain and simple reason I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off doing an impersonation of the Flight of the Bumblebees and today it caught up with me. I stayed home from work today and gave myself the gift of time, time to regroup, time to step back and time to gather myself together. That, and the fact I had a killer headache when I got up this morning got me to slow down and rest before I went off the deep end. Its my own fault, I screwed myself up this year. I tried to find another weekend between November and December. That through me and my timing totally off but its all worked out, I am feeling better, things got done, and I am thinking that I can hit the road in the wee hours this weekend with things under control and ready for my family Christmas.
Christmas cards are in the mail complete with actual Christmas stamps this year, my presents are wrapped and ready for nestling under Miss Mouse's tree:
Loot bags are stuffed with stocking stuffers. (We don't do stockings in our family we have loot bags!!) Baking is ready for scarfing down with nary a care for the caloric count of a single piece of yumminess:
Butter tarts made with currents (that bubbled over in the stupid oven which has a mind of its own and needs to be replaced, dang it), cherry refrigerator cookies, snackens, and candied pecans. Opps I forgot to include the lemon crunch:
See that dark brown edge around the otherwise golden lemon crunch, another reason why I need a new stove!! I cannot get the temp to behave, its either too hot or too cool. My three legged stove has got to go and I need to get one that works that way it should. Oh well, it still will taste just fine inspite of it being a little too brown.
Worked myself into a frazzle last night and now the only thing I have left to do is pack my clothes, pack the car, get gas, go to the bank, and I am ready to hit the road. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. We are haveing a breakfast brunch thing at work, I have a wine and cheese to go to right after work, then off to a Frank Mills concert, home to bed. Yank my butt out of bed at dark O'clock and hit the road because this weekend its family Christmas time at Miss Mouse and the Farmer's place. I am sooooo looking forward to this.
Right now I need to go check on my breakfast cassarole I am making for the work breakfast thing I have tomorrow, found a slow cooker recipe on Pinterest that is rather good. I also need to dig out a bottle of wine to take to the wine and cheese thing, then I am going to curl up on the couch and nap for a bit. I will watch Christmas movies and stare at my decorations for the rest of the night and feel smug that I have things under control after all. I want to take it easy tonight as I want to be on top of my game for tomorrow not the draggy lump I was today.
I hope your Christmas is going swimmingly!!
Toodles
Linda
Christmas cards are in the mail complete with actual Christmas stamps this year, my presents are wrapped and ready for nestling under Miss Mouse's tree:
Loot bags are stuffed with stocking stuffers. (We don't do stockings in our family we have loot bags!!) Baking is ready for scarfing down with nary a care for the caloric count of a single piece of yumminess:
Butter tarts made with currents (that bubbled over in the stupid oven which has a mind of its own and needs to be replaced, dang it), cherry refrigerator cookies, snackens, and candied pecans. Opps I forgot to include the lemon crunch:
See that dark brown edge around the otherwise golden lemon crunch, another reason why I need a new stove!! I cannot get the temp to behave, its either too hot or too cool. My three legged stove has got to go and I need to get one that works that way it should. Oh well, it still will taste just fine inspite of it being a little too brown.
Worked myself into a frazzle last night and now the only thing I have left to do is pack my clothes, pack the car, get gas, go to the bank, and I am ready to hit the road. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. We are haveing a breakfast brunch thing at work, I have a wine and cheese to go to right after work, then off to a Frank Mills concert, home to bed. Yank my butt out of bed at dark O'clock and hit the road because this weekend its family Christmas time at Miss Mouse and the Farmer's place. I am sooooo looking forward to this.
Right now I need to go check on my breakfast cassarole I am making for the work breakfast thing I have tomorrow, found a slow cooker recipe on Pinterest that is rather good. I also need to dig out a bottle of wine to take to the wine and cheese thing, then I am going to curl up on the couch and nap for a bit. I will watch Christmas movies and stare at my decorations for the rest of the night and feel smug that I have things under control after all. I want to take it easy tonight as I want to be on top of my game for tomorrow not the draggy lump I was today.
I hope your Christmas is going swimmingly!!
Toodles
Linda
Saturday 8 December 2012
Saturday Stuff
It has been a busy week here. I cannot believe its Saturday already, and that the day is nearly done. As soon as I have finished this post I am headed to bed and Shadow of Night. It has been a long day, I am tired but its the good kind of tired not the Oh Crap kind.
Wednesday I had book club and they came to my house. I have the place all Christmased up as much as I could. Mulled Cider simmering in the kitchen, making the house smell deliciously of cinnamon and cloves. We had a lovely evening. An evening full of good talk, good food and good friends. Some of our members were missing but we managed to chatter the evening away without them. Not only do I enjoy the company of my book club, I like that they push me to read books that I would never even give a second glance to if left to my own devises. Forces me out of my box and that is a good thing.
Thursday night E and I took in The Life of Pi. A book I have never read, but I am now putting on my "want to read" list. The movie was good. Visually stunning and definitely something you should see on the big screen. The effects are incredible. E enjoyed it and she has read the book. One of these days I will get to it.
Then I did a stupid thing, I got home Thursday night, and decided to make a little list of the things I still needed to do before Christmas. I was feeling on top of things, not totally finished but in could shape. What harm could a little list do??? Well it can make you bat shit crazy that's what it can do. I went from confident to complete panic in one sheet of paper. ARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday night was spent with the No Cook Group as usual. We went out for supper then to a Christmas concert at Teddy Bear's church. Don Amero performed as did a band called Red Moon Road. It was fantastic. I bought a CD of Red Moon Road. I loved the lead singers voice, so clear, true and haunting. They were such nice kids. Talented, humorous and relaxed. They are coming back next year and we all want to go again. We went for coffee after and J joined us. I was so glad she came. She is started out on a new life and it was wonderful to have her come out for some fun.
This morning I hit the stores at 8:30 am, grimly determined to finish my Christmas shopping. It went very well. Things clicked along very well and I did not want to kill anyone. An improvement over my last shopping outing. I have one gift left to buy and I should have gone for it but I was just done. Another hi-light for me was that I dropped of a trunk load of donations to the local charity shop which have been taking up space in my kitchen for far too long. Wonderful to get that done However buy the time I got to the last gift on my list, even though I knew what I wanted and where to go to get it, I was done, I was tired so I called it a day and headed to see the reno's the Hostess is having done at her place before I went home for lunch.
Her already lovely home is going to look even more lovely. She is getting her fireplace boxed in and finished off, crown molding installed, the cupboards lowered in the kitchen and some additional new ones installed. Its going to be gorgeous. We had tea and a talk and then I headed home to tackle the craft projects I need to look after. When I finished my lunch, I strapped myself to the sewing machine. I have 5 sewing projects, 5 knitting projects, one crocheting project and one painting project to complete before Christmas. (Have I mentioned that this Christmas I am talking about is not on the 25th but is being celebrated on the 15th. Hence the complete and total panic. Have I also mentioned that I have done no baking, no Christmas cards and not a present has been wrapped?? And I work full time?????????Excuse me moment I feel faint. I need to lie down for a moment.)
I am back. Now I have 2 sewing projects, 3 knitting projects, 1 crocheting project and 1 painting project left for tomorrow. I am feeling better about things. I plan to finish up all the projects tomorrow. Baking, cards and wrapping can be done over the week as I have until Thursday to complete things. Thank goodness for coffee breaks and lunch hours to work on stuff. Why I thought I was on top of things I have no idea. Complete and total delusion to say the least. Well that and the fact that I misplaced a weekend somewhere. I was so sure I had an extra weekend somewhere between November ending and December beginning. I lied to myself and now I am paying the price.
One thing I know for sure, everything will get done. Even though I am grumping about being in a panic, I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays. I love making presents and baking and decorating. Right now I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I want to be well rested to face it.
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday I had book club and they came to my house. I have the place all Christmased up as much as I could. Mulled Cider simmering in the kitchen, making the house smell deliciously of cinnamon and cloves. We had a lovely evening. An evening full of good talk, good food and good friends. Some of our members were missing but we managed to chatter the evening away without them. Not only do I enjoy the company of my book club, I like that they push me to read books that I would never even give a second glance to if left to my own devises. Forces me out of my box and that is a good thing.
Thursday night E and I took in The Life of Pi. A book I have never read, but I am now putting on my "want to read" list. The movie was good. Visually stunning and definitely something you should see on the big screen. The effects are incredible. E enjoyed it and she has read the book. One of these days I will get to it.
Then I did a stupid thing, I got home Thursday night, and decided to make a little list of the things I still needed to do before Christmas. I was feeling on top of things, not totally finished but in could shape. What harm could a little list do??? Well it can make you bat shit crazy that's what it can do. I went from confident to complete panic in one sheet of paper. ARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday night was spent with the No Cook Group as usual. We went out for supper then to a Christmas concert at Teddy Bear's church. Don Amero performed as did a band called Red Moon Road. It was fantastic. I bought a CD of Red Moon Road. I loved the lead singers voice, so clear, true and haunting. They were such nice kids. Talented, humorous and relaxed. They are coming back next year and we all want to go again. We went for coffee after and J joined us. I was so glad she came. She is started out on a new life and it was wonderful to have her come out for some fun.
This morning I hit the stores at 8:30 am, grimly determined to finish my Christmas shopping. It went very well. Things clicked along very well and I did not want to kill anyone. An improvement over my last shopping outing. I have one gift left to buy and I should have gone for it but I was just done. Another hi-light for me was that I dropped of a trunk load of donations to the local charity shop which have been taking up space in my kitchen for far too long. Wonderful to get that done However buy the time I got to the last gift on my list, even though I knew what I wanted and where to go to get it, I was done, I was tired so I called it a day and headed to see the reno's the Hostess is having done at her place before I went home for lunch.
Her already lovely home is going to look even more lovely. She is getting her fireplace boxed in and finished off, crown molding installed, the cupboards lowered in the kitchen and some additional new ones installed. Its going to be gorgeous. We had tea and a talk and then I headed home to tackle the craft projects I need to look after. When I finished my lunch, I strapped myself to the sewing machine. I have 5 sewing projects, 5 knitting projects, one crocheting project and one painting project to complete before Christmas. (Have I mentioned that this Christmas I am talking about is not on the 25th but is being celebrated on the 15th. Hence the complete and total panic. Have I also mentioned that I have done no baking, no Christmas cards and not a present has been wrapped?? And I work full time?????????Excuse me moment I feel faint. I need to lie down for a moment.)
I am back. Now I have 2 sewing projects, 3 knitting projects, 1 crocheting project and 1 painting project left for tomorrow. I am feeling better about things. I plan to finish up all the projects tomorrow. Baking, cards and wrapping can be done over the week as I have until Thursday to complete things. Thank goodness for coffee breaks and lunch hours to work on stuff. Why I thought I was on top of things I have no idea. Complete and total delusion to say the least. Well that and the fact that I misplaced a weekend somewhere. I was so sure I had an extra weekend somewhere between November ending and December beginning. I lied to myself and now I am paying the price.
One thing I know for sure, everything will get done. Even though I am grumping about being in a panic, I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays. I love making presents and baking and decorating. Right now I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I want to be well rested to face it.
Toodles
Linda
Wednesday 5 December 2012
Short and Sweet
Well after a flurry of decorating, cleaning and general running about like a chicken with my head cut off, I do believe I have the house ready for Christmas. The decorations are out, two trees are up, lights are on the veranda along with garland and bows. The garbage is out and the dishes are done. I am finished with that portion of the Christmas prep. I am content.
Of course I still have a few gifts to buy, presents to wrap, Christmas cards to write and goodies to bake. I have some crafting to do but I am not feeling as panicky as I was two days ago. This makes me happy. I am having my book club here tonight so I really wanted to have the house as festive as I could for them. I think I have managed it. My belief with decorating for the Season is more is more.
So now I am killing time until its time to go to work. Making lists in my head and trying to remember all the stuff I need to do. Tonight is book club, tomorrow night E and I are going to see The Life of Pi and then Friday night its out for supper, then a Christmas concert at a local church and coffee afterward. Saturday and Sunday I will be sewing and knitting and crocheting until I drop!! Oh yes and doing Christmas cards.
Have a lovely day!! I hope your Christmas is all under control
Toodles,
Linda
Of course I still have a few gifts to buy, presents to wrap, Christmas cards to write and goodies to bake. I have some crafting to do but I am not feeling as panicky as I was two days ago. This makes me happy. I am having my book club here tonight so I really wanted to have the house as festive as I could for them. I think I have managed it. My belief with decorating for the Season is more is more.
So now I am killing time until its time to go to work. Making lists in my head and trying to remember all the stuff I need to do. Tonight is book club, tomorrow night E and I are going to see The Life of Pi and then Friday night its out for supper, then a Christmas concert at a local church and coffee afterward. Saturday and Sunday I will be sewing and knitting and crocheting until I drop!! Oh yes and doing Christmas cards.
Have a lovely day!! I hope your Christmas is all under control
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday 2 December 2012
Christmas Time is Here
Not sure how I could have worked and worked and worked on decorating and cleaning my house this weekend and the kitchen and sewing room still look like drunken monkeys have been partying up a storm in them. Humph. Oh well many parts of the rest of the house look very Christmasy and clean if I do say so myself. Thank goodness, I would hate to be this tired and have nothing to show for it.
The only decorating I have left to do is the lights and garlands outside. Only put up two trees this year. I did not do the one in the kitchen as I broke a leg off it this year. I will need to fix that for next year. I left the big main tree down as well. I did indulge and bought a new nativity this year. I had a small raise at work and got some back pay so I splurged and got it. I still need some more pieces to add to it but I can do that over time. That is the nice thing about Willow Tree stuff.
I have been doing some crafting for myself as you may know. Here is what my outside wreath looked like for the last five or six years, not bad but a little tired and I thought it was time for a change.
One trip to Dollarama later and it looks like this now:
I am pleased with the outcome. The bow maybe should be red but I don't have the right ribbon to redo it so its gonna stay this way for now. At least its out on the front of the house now looking Christmasy.
Remember those red socks I was knitting, well they have been added to the stairway and are just how I wanted them to look
And the new kitchen table runner, well here it is in its place:
And last but not least, the one I made for the living room:
I have other Christmas projects on the go but I will not be able to share them until they have been presented to their new owners as they are gifts.
I am having book club here this week and I need to get the house is ship shape for that. Having guests is a great motivator for getting the work done. Hense the decorating frenzy that took place this weekend. I want the place to look festive for my company. I also am 90% finished my Christmas shopping. I am doing a happy dance about that!! I hauled myself out of the house early on Saturday and got lots done quick smart before the crowds got out and started to make me homicidal.
My two little knitting students stopped in yesterday for some more instruction. I am so pleased with how well they are getting on. Makes me feel all Grandmothery and wise to be passing on this skill. It's so cute to see them both so still and concentrating so hard on what they are doing. Their Grandma is getting some lovingly made knitted items for Christmas this year.
Toodles
Linda
The only decorating I have left to do is the lights and garlands outside. Only put up two trees this year. I did not do the one in the kitchen as I broke a leg off it this year. I will need to fix that for next year. I left the big main tree down as well. I did indulge and bought a new nativity this year. I had a small raise at work and got some back pay so I splurged and got it. I still need some more pieces to add to it but I can do that over time. That is the nice thing about Willow Tree stuff.
I have been doing some crafting for myself as you may know. Here is what my outside wreath looked like for the last five or six years, not bad but a little tired and I thought it was time for a change.
One trip to Dollarama later and it looks like this now:
Remember those red socks I was knitting, well they have been added to the stairway and are just how I wanted them to look
And the new kitchen table runner, well here it is in its place:
And last but not least, the one I made for the living room:
I have other Christmas projects on the go but I will not be able to share them until they have been presented to their new owners as they are gifts.
I am having book club here this week and I need to get the house is ship shape for that. Having guests is a great motivator for getting the work done. Hense the decorating frenzy that took place this weekend. I want the place to look festive for my company. I also am 90% finished my Christmas shopping. I am doing a happy dance about that!! I hauled myself out of the house early on Saturday and got lots done quick smart before the crowds got out and started to make me homicidal.
My two little knitting students stopped in yesterday for some more instruction. I am so pleased with how well they are getting on. Makes me feel all Grandmothery and wise to be passing on this skill. It's so cute to see them both so still and concentrating so hard on what they are doing. Their Grandma is getting some lovingly made knitted items for Christmas this year.
Toodles
Linda
Saturday 1 December 2012
Bye Bye Precious Tiny Angel
I haven't even started this post and already the tears have come. They slide down my cheeks and plop on my desk and I am not going to make any attempt to stop them. They are sad tears, because today is a sad day. Sad tears need to be shed, holding them in is not good, they are meant to cleanse and heal.
So why the sad tears, well right now my heart is aching for Mama Bug, Daddy Bug and my sweet little Ladybug even though she is too young to know what is going on around her. He little brother was born last Monday. 19 weeks is not long enough, Doodlebug came into this world too early and even though everything was done that could be to keep him safe, and all the love in the world surrounded him, nature does what it needs to do and we have no control over these things. So today this little family had a funeral and said good bye to their precious baby boy. My heart aches for them, I wish I had words to say that would help to ease the pain but there is nothing. All we can do is send love, support and understanding.
I have been too two funerals for tiny angels who arrived to early and left too early. They are heart breaking. I a not sure why this happens, why to people who so desperately want a child. I know things happen for a reason, I get that but I don't get this One of my deepest wishes is the someday I will get to know the reasons. Right now I don't understand it and quite frankly it makes me rather angry, and sad, and frustrated.
So while the day to day details of life go on for the rest of us, for this family today will be hard but it will also begin a healing that will take time. All my love, my deepest sympathy and my thoughts are with them all today and the days to come.
Linda
So why the sad tears, well right now my heart is aching for Mama Bug, Daddy Bug and my sweet little Ladybug even though she is too young to know what is going on around her. He little brother was born last Monday. 19 weeks is not long enough, Doodlebug came into this world too early and even though everything was done that could be to keep him safe, and all the love in the world surrounded him, nature does what it needs to do and we have no control over these things. So today this little family had a funeral and said good bye to their precious baby boy. My heart aches for them, I wish I had words to say that would help to ease the pain but there is nothing. All we can do is send love, support and understanding.
I have been too two funerals for tiny angels who arrived to early and left too early. They are heart breaking. I a not sure why this happens, why to people who so desperately want a child. I know things happen for a reason, I get that but I don't get this One of my deepest wishes is the someday I will get to know the reasons. Right now I don't understand it and quite frankly it makes me rather angry, and sad, and frustrated.
So while the day to day details of life go on for the rest of us, for this family today will be hard but it will also begin a healing that will take time. All my love, my deepest sympathy and my thoughts are with them all today and the days to come.
Linda
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