Sunday 27 October 2013

Its Sunday Already

My oh my how quickly these weekends go by. Today was wonderful, I did not wake to the sound of the alarm clock going off. It does not matter if I am getting up to do something I REALLY want to do or if I am getting up for work, I do not like to wake to the sound of the alarm. I did find it seriously amusing when I woke for the first time this morning it was exactly at the time the clock would have gone off. I had a chuckle, rolled over and went back to sleep.

After breakfast, I trotted my self and my Canadian Tire money to the store and finally got another vacuum for the downstairs. I can take the other one back upstairs again and no longer have to step over it in the dining room. Getting the new one for $20.00 made it all the sweeter. I love Canadian Tire money. I heard a rumor they may do away with it. Sigh, I like to collect it and then get stuff for the house for cheap or for free.

Its cold, overcast and just a typical fall day today. It was a perfect day to be in the sewing room, a spicy scented candle burning, (making the house smell like fall), working at the sewing machine. I had the best day. Nothing I like better than creating something and today I spent the entire afternoon and most of the evening, creating. Fun, fun, fun. I cannot post pictures just yet, these creations need to be seen by their owner first before the rest of the world gets to. I am pleased with the outcome and I am hoping the recipient will be equally pleased.

I also made a quick trip to Michael's to get some of the stuff for my Ireland scrap book. I have to get back at ordering pictures so I have the ones I need for my scrap booking retreat in November. I cannot wait to get it done. I just have to get the stuff to make it. Lots of stuff on 50% off at the store today I got some stickers, paper and an album. Its a start. I have done one scrap booking weekend before and it was ok. I have high hopes for this one. Its going to be less formal and more fun. Fewer people and I know most of them. Not that would make a differenc, but I know these ladies are fun!! The Banker is coming with me so it will be a super fun weekend. We will both be working on our Ireland books, it will be like reliving it all again.

Now I am going to start on the church quilts. I have the time to get at them and would love to have them done before Christmas time so I can get them delivered. The tops for these are made so I just need to quilt them. I need to do one for myself as well but I still cannot decide if I should widen the quilt on my bed because I love it but its a double and my bed is now queen, or if I should make an entire new quilt. I have not found a pattern that grabs me and I do like my old one but its 10 years old and really could be replaced. I think I will have to give this decision some more thought. Perhaps the universe will show me the answer.

Well its time to go check the dryer and see if that load of laundry is finished. I was amazed today at something that I never used to give a thought to.  I make my own laundry soap and today doing the last load I ran out of my own stuff. I have some commercial soap on hand for just this situation but it has been a long time since I have used it. Oiy the smell!! It was so perfumed I nearly gagged!! It was so weird to see the tub fill up with suds. It looked so wrong!! I will get another batch of my own made asap, needless to say. Turns out I perfer it to the bought stuff. Who knew????

Toodles,
Linda

Saturday 26 October 2013

Puppets on Parade

So this morning I boxed up all the puppets I had on hand and hauled them out to a neighbouring small town for a trade show. I started out being a little concerned because most of the people there are trades, you know Tupperware, Scentsy, Sun Set Creek etc and my guys are crafty things. The day started slow and then I really got concerned because I was thinking that I had done all this, hauled them out for naught. Not to mention I am was not feeling the greatest. I am thinking a touch of food poisoning but more about that later.
I need not have worried. I did a decent day of sales. Lots of compliments on the cuteness and I can never hear enough of that. I was also invited to partake in a couple of other sales if I was interested. If I had the stock I might think about it but I don't. I have quilts to make, the puppets need to take a back seat for the moment.

 I am inching closer to the long awaited goal of a new oven for me. I have container of puppets left over but I am not concerned, I will get rid of them. It will take time but I will get them sold. I totally forgot to take my camera but I have a pic from another craft sale that sort of gives the impression of what my stall looks like.I had some different puppets and the kids clothes were not there. Just my puppets. Aunty Linda's Critters.


Its work but it was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday. I came home and had a hour nap before I counted out my loot!! The Banker, Kit Kat and the Sailor drove out to the sale and give me some moral support. The Banker bought me lunch, I will say it again, I have lovely friends.

So I am not feeling great. On Friday I had hamburger at two different places, at lunch and at supper and by 9:00 pm I was seriously queasy. I will spare you the details but it was around 5:00 am before I felt I could function. I still am not 100% but I am ok if I don't eat a lot. I had lunch which was fine but it took ages to eat it and tonight supper is not holding any appeal what so ever. I am hoping its food poisoning and not flu, I am due to visit the Little Farmer Boy this weekend and I will be some sad if I cannot go. I do not want to give him anything. 

Well I think an evening of knitting and tv watching is in store for me. Don't feel up to doing much else.

Toodles,
Linda.

Sunday 20 October 2013

Sunday Stuff or You Know its Cold When

Ok you know its cold when you walk into your house and the furnace is running. What is significant about that you may wonder? Well my furnace was turned down to 10 C. (I have not turned in on this year yet). It got cold enough in here that the furnace came on all by its self. I was going to turn  it on this weekend but Mother Nature beat me to the punch. The flannel sheets go on the bed tonight. I have been meaning to do it for a while now but today is the day. I don't want to walk into my bedroom and see Mother Nature remaking the bed because my own dumb self has not gotten around to it.  Icy sheets have lost their appeal. Hot flashes be darned, I need some snugly soft sheets.

I have been a busy bunny, No time for much of anything this week and I LIKE IT. I have had something on the agenda every night and its been wonderful!! Started out with an evening spent attached to my sewing machine doing all my mending jobs, then Book Club, then local theater production of Shrek, then No Cook Friday, Saturday trip to the big city to shop out Ikea and Costco, then off today to another city to have my cards read with friends. I am at last at home and trying to do somethings about the house before Monday then I am back to work and  off to the ballet in the evening.

For someone who still has not dealt with all the things that she brought back from Ireland, the Ikea and Costco booty don't stand much of a chance. My house could star on Hoarders at the moment. This afternoon  I did manage laundry, dishes and soup making. I have moved half the Costco stuff to my kitchen and out of the entry way. I have sorted out the Christmas gifts from what is mine in the Ikea bags and that is it so far. Oh yes and I am washing and re-blocking a piece of cross stitch for a friend.

I have to finish my puppets for the sale on this coming Saturday. I have one mouse and a turtle to create then I will have all I am taking with me. I have to do the neck inserts, a neck insert is a small pocket sewn into the neck of each puppet to keep the stuffing in their little heads and allow your finger to slide into the head with ease. Sounds painful but I assure you the puppet feels nothing. I have not done one of them yet and I have over 60 puppets. I see nothing but little neck inserts in my coming week. I should have done them as I went along but I didn't because for some reason I don't like making them. Its strange I know but I just don't like doing them. Perhaps I will develop a fondness for them after 60 all at once.

So speaking of puppets I need to get at the last two. I hope you all have had a lovely weekend.

Toodles
Linda

Monday 14 October 2013

Giving Thanks

Just home from a lovely weekend with family. The Carpenter and Busy invited me to come and share the weekend, turkey dinner and some family time with them. We had such a good weekend. The Carpenter was working, that man is always working but we did get to see him in between jobs. Busy and I get along very well and as a result we managed to put in the time very nicely. It was a weekend spent catching up on all the family news and baby talk.

I helped her finish canning her tomatoes, I subjected them to my Ireland pictures and I finally got to see her pictures from Peru. We had lunch with her Mother, went for a walk on a perfect Autumn day and we ate. Lordy we ate well. One never goes away hungry from their house. None of the kids were home but there were lot of photos of the little Farmer Boy to be oggled and I even got to see him on skype. Squeee!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the little man. I hear from very reliable sources that he is a snuggle bug who loves to cuddle up with you. We had a full turkey dinner, and their boarder, a handsome young man who comes from Poland, joined us for the feast.

As always, Thanksgiving makes me look back and think over all that I have to be thankful for and trust me the list is miles long. I am blessed with a good family, good home, extremely good friends and  a very good life. Its a lot be grateful for and I cherish each and every one of my blessings. I got to go to Ireland (a life long dream come true) I am going to finally get to go to the Huron Carole, and my No Cook Friday Group is still going strong after three years of getting together. I could go on and on and on, but I will say there is one bright and shinning moment in the year that out does all the rest.

It is captured in this one picture. This fills my heart, and leaks out my eyes with happiness. Seeing this happiest of smiles on this most beloved face, put there by  the precious bundle snuggled safely in his Mommy's arms is almost more happy than I can stand.

Words fail to convey the feeling but know that this grateful feeling  is big and grand and heartfelt. If this feeling makes me puddle up when I think about it, I think I am entitled. Sweet baby boy, you have been wanted, expected, loved, prayed and hoped for, you are a wish come true.

Welcome, welcome Little Farmer Boy, I loved you before I met you and I am so glad you are part of our family. 


Toodles
Great Aunty Linda


Sunday 6 October 2013

Weekend Windup

Why is it the weekends just fly by? There is never enough time to get everything done and its Sunday night the second after its Friday 4:30. I certainly enjoy my weekends I just wish they were longer.More time, more energy and more things crossed off the old "to do" list.

Its been a lovely weekend, cool and crisp. I love Autumn. I love the colours and the coolness to the air. I have decided that its time to get out the flannel sheets and shut the windows at night. Sigh. Time just keeps moving on.

I actually made a big pot of vegetable soup tonight. Its delicious, if I do say so myself. A big bowl of soup and herbed biscuits with sweet butter were a perfect supper for this fall day. I finally have something to take for lunch next week. I have to get back on track again, take off all the pounds that have snuck back onto me again. Dang things never seem to go too far before they are back again. So its got to be back to healthy eating and back to walking again. I am soooo tired of dragging this around with me.

This weekend I did precious little in my house, no yard work but I did do some knitting and worked on some puppets. The Banker and I went over to Teddy Bear's house and we tiled some trim around her bath tub. It looks really good. It took all after noon Saturday because we spend more time chatting, drinking coffee and giggling than actually working.

Today I was at Hummingbird's house, helping her get her head wrapped around making slip covers for her couch and chairs. I did precious little but offer the odd suggestion and guide her along. She has the right idea but she needs a little courage to make the start. I cannot wait to see the finished project. I think she is going to do a fabulous job.

I came home from there, did laundry, made soup and knit. Oh yes and I continued to order prints of my Ireland pictures. This is proving to be a lengthy process. I do not care, it gives me a chance to look them over again and again and again. I will eventually have a photo album to take to show people and lots more prints to keep to myself. No one will want to be subjected to having to look at all of the pictures. I have a lot of them :-)

Miss Mouse called this afternoon with emails and pictures of the quilt set she wants for the Farmer Boy's nursery. I am as happy as a wiggly puppy over this. I have waited for years to be able to do this for her. She has picked her own pattern and material, I shall simply do that assembling. I am looking foreward to it. I love to make baby things. With Mamabug expecting again and the Farmer Boy showing up I have the potential to get to do more than one or two baby things. Happy! Happy! Happy!

Toodles,

Linda

Thursday 3 October 2013

I Am Still Here

Poor sad, neglected little blog. I have been ignoring you of late. Seems there are not enough hours in the day for me to be day dreaming, ignoring housework and not doing what I should be doing. Well actually I have been busy, purging, recovering pillows and working on my Ireland pictures. I am in the process of ordering prints and its taking an age. That's what you get when you run amok with the camera. I do not care, I have had my wonderful trip and I am determined to have the pictures to remember it by. So slowly and steadily I am sending them off to be printed out and I will have a delightful time sorting them out, making albums and scrap-booking some.

I purged out two big boxes and a garbage bag of stuff out of the dining room and kitchen, sadly without really trying too hard. It all went off to the Canadian Diabetes Association today. Sadly, as always with my efforts to purge, the results are not visible to any eye but my own. Ah well, I have started now I need to continue on. There is a gold mine of purging to be done in this house. I think one room at a time and I shall start upstairs. I should pick one night a week and make that my goal. My weekends are not long enough.

I have puppets to finish for the craft sale in October, quilts to be done and delivered before Christmas, knitting and painting to be done. So much on the list and yet I opt to spend my weekends out and about instead of being at home. It will all get done, it will all work out and I will be all the happier for it. I love to have lots of things to do and lots of plans with friends.

This weekend I hope to get some yard work done. I plan to change the bed of day lilies  into a hosta bed. This means I need to make a date with my shovel. I also have a dead dogwood bush that needs to be dug out so it can be replaced next spring. Sunday is earmarked for these jobs. I am going to help do some tiling in Teddy Bear's bathroom on Saturday. What time is left over from that will be spent on groceries, errands and house cleaning. The shed needs to be finished painting, mosaic stars to be created, and the list goes on and on. AND yes I know I have nattered on about this before but if I do not keep repeating it now and then I will not keep all the projects first and foremost in my mind. I shall see something shiny and be off on another tangent.

I have plans for the creation of some little things for the new little farmer boy in the family. I am making a trip in early November to make his acquaintance and I cannot wait. This special little man, I have been waiting and praying for for a long time. I am tickled pink to know he is part of the family and I cannot wait to get my hands on him. I have several things in mind and I have also realized that I need to make his loot bag for Christmas. Little Man needs to have a place to put his stocking stuffers.

So as you can see I am alive, spinning in circles as I usually do, thousands of plans and projects to be done and not enough time or ambition to do them all. In other words situation normal.

I shall be back soon. I will keep you posted as to the progress. I trust all is well with you.

Toodles,
Linda