Well my poor old abused knee is slowly getting better. I managed to stand and wash a sink full of dishes the other day and last night and this morning I can sit at the computer with my knee bent a little for a longer period of time. Its all good, its slow but its good. I can hobble about the house with out the cane today so I am definitely on the road to recovery. I detest being anything less than capable of doing for myself. It makes me cranky. I plan to go back to work tomorrow. I think I can get around enough and sit at the desk comfortably enough that I can do it. Besides if I stay home much longer I will need a doctor's note and I don't want to go to the doctor. He will tell me I'm fat, (like I don't know that) and he will then tell me to stay off it as much as possible and take Advil. I can and am doing that already.
So I am staying home today, babying my poor abused appendage and watching way too much daytime television. I will be so glad when this knee heals and I can get around again without having to think of every step.
Toodles,
Linda
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
Snap, Crackle, Pop goes the Knee
Short post to day because I cannot sit at the computer very long. Why is that? Well I am at home right now, but sadly I am not happy about it. I snapped a tendon in my knee today going up the stairs to work and it hurts like hell and I am cranky and I want it fixed this instant. There is no instant fix. Crap Crap Crapity Crap.
So I am staying off it as much as I can and it will get better eventually. Patience is not my strong suit. I am not good at being out of commission.
Toodles,
Linda
So I am staying off it as much as I can and it will get better eventually. Patience is not my strong suit. I am not good at being out of commission.
Toodles,
Linda
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Another Week Slipped By
It has been a while since I sat down to do a blog post. This last week was the funniest of weeks, it dragged on and on with leaden feet in some aspects and in others it was gone in a blink. I am blaming the fact that New Year was on Tuesday and got everything into a muddle.
So the work week lasted about a million days but the free time zipped by with lightening speed. Whatever was happening I did not do any blogging. Go Me!! I need to get myself back on schedule. New Year, new start and all that.
My Christmas decorations are still out and about. They will be put back into their summer homes starting this week. While I hate to see them go away, it will be nice to have the place back to normal. More room, less clutter, and as with most everyone else the urge to clean, purge, tidy and organize comes along with the putting away of Christmas. The cleaning, purging,etc will start this week as well.
At work this has been a week of goodbyes. Two of our staff are retiring so there where hugs, tears and farewells. We had a little coffee do for one of our men who is leaving, we are taking him out for a proper farewell this coming week at a pub, so there will be booze but the coffee party in the office was a bonus. Snacks are welcomed on these occasions and in that aspect, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I am an passable cook/baker but I am not usually confidant enough to try a new recipe and take it out in public without having done a taste test at home. This week I stepped outside my comfort zone. I had read on another blog, mockingbirdhillcottage.com, about a coffee cake the author makes each Christmas. It sounded and looked so yummy I decided to give it a try. (Having all the ingredients on hand was another plus). I will confess I used pecans instead of walnuts but is came out looking pretty good I thought.
I mean something that looks this tasty could not possibly be bad, off to work it went with me. I am very happy to say it was a hit. I came home with a couple of crumbs on a plate, a head full of compliments and several recipe requests. That to me is a hit. I am definitely moving this recipe into my "make it again" file. Thank you Claudia, even though you have no idea who I am.
The Nurse was here for part of the weekend. The Entertainer did not come with her, she opted to stay home with Grandma and Grandpa so Mommy got some alone time. The Nurse spent her time of Friday visiting with other friends and caught up to me for coffee with the No Cook Friday group. Saturday we spent the most of it shopping, just one small break to take in Les Miserables. After supper she scooted off home to her girl and I retired to my knitting and the television. I am always glad to see her, I have known her since she was 3 or 4 years old, so I am tickled she makes a point of visiting with me.
Today was a super lazy day for me. I did not even get to breakfast until close to noon. I finally got dressed around 1:00 and then did some sewing. I finally made a cover for my beloved Kitchen Aid Mixer. In my small house space is at a premium and the only place I can keep my baby is beside the stove.
Isn't she pretty???? I love this mixer, it tickles me to no end that I finally got one and I want to look after it as best I can. Sitting by the stove gets it all mucky. Today I made this:
This will keep the greasy splats off of my baby and I can throw it in the wash when it needs it. I have had the material for ages and finally, today. got my self round to sewing it up.
I also purchased for myself this jolly little fellow when I was out and about this weekend. I saw him when the Christmas season first came about and I liked him, but I did not like him for $12.99. I like him even better now he was only $4.99. He makes me smile when I look at him. He has a little chip on his nose but that just adds to his charm as far as I am concerned. I think I will call him Dudley. Yes I am one of those people that names inanimate objects. Deal with it.
Season 3 of Downton Abbey starts tonight, Happy Dance of Joy!! I enjoy this series to no end. I like those Upstairs/Downstairs sorts of shows. I had best get off and watch it.
Toodles,
Linda
So the work week lasted about a million days but the free time zipped by with lightening speed. Whatever was happening I did not do any blogging. Go Me!! I need to get myself back on schedule. New Year, new start and all that.
My Christmas decorations are still out and about. They will be put back into their summer homes starting this week. While I hate to see them go away, it will be nice to have the place back to normal. More room, less clutter, and as with most everyone else the urge to clean, purge, tidy and organize comes along with the putting away of Christmas. The cleaning, purging,etc will start this week as well.
At work this has been a week of goodbyes. Two of our staff are retiring so there where hugs, tears and farewells. We had a little coffee do for one of our men who is leaving, we are taking him out for a proper farewell this coming week at a pub, so there will be booze but the coffee party in the office was a bonus. Snacks are welcomed on these occasions and in that aspect, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I am an passable cook/baker but I am not usually confidant enough to try a new recipe and take it out in public without having done a taste test at home. This week I stepped outside my comfort zone. I had read on another blog, mockingbirdhillcottage.com, about a coffee cake the author makes each Christmas. It sounded and looked so yummy I decided to give it a try. (Having all the ingredients on hand was another plus). I will confess I used pecans instead of walnuts but is came out looking pretty good I thought.
I mean something that looks this tasty could not possibly be bad, off to work it went with me. I am very happy to say it was a hit. I came home with a couple of crumbs on a plate, a head full of compliments and several recipe requests. That to me is a hit. I am definitely moving this recipe into my "make it again" file. Thank you Claudia, even though you have no idea who I am.
The Nurse was here for part of the weekend. The Entertainer did not come with her, she opted to stay home with Grandma and Grandpa so Mommy got some alone time. The Nurse spent her time of Friday visiting with other friends and caught up to me for coffee with the No Cook Friday group. Saturday we spent the most of it shopping, just one small break to take in Les Miserables. After supper she scooted off home to her girl and I retired to my knitting and the television. I am always glad to see her, I have known her since she was 3 or 4 years old, so I am tickled she makes a point of visiting with me.
Today was a super lazy day for me. I did not even get to breakfast until close to noon. I finally got dressed around 1:00 and then did some sewing. I finally made a cover for my beloved Kitchen Aid Mixer. In my small house space is at a premium and the only place I can keep my baby is beside the stove.
Isn't she pretty???? I love this mixer, it tickles me to no end that I finally got one and I want to look after it as best I can. Sitting by the stove gets it all mucky. Today I made this:
This will keep the greasy splats off of my baby and I can throw it in the wash when it needs it. I have had the material for ages and finally, today. got my self round to sewing it up.
I also purchased for myself this jolly little fellow when I was out and about this weekend. I saw him when the Christmas season first came about and I liked him, but I did not like him for $12.99. I like him even better now he was only $4.99. He makes me smile when I look at him. He has a little chip on his nose but that just adds to his charm as far as I am concerned. I think I will call him Dudley. Yes I am one of those people that names inanimate objects. Deal with it.
Season 3 of Downton Abbey starts tonight, Happy Dance of Joy!! I enjoy this series to no end. I like those Upstairs/Downstairs sorts of shows. I had best get off and watch it.
Toodles,
Linda
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Its a New Year!! Wow!!
2013, I cannot believe its 2013 already. Seems like just yesterday it was 2000. I really am starting to sound like an old fart. (Soon I will be yelling at kids to get off my lawn). So before I take a complete slide into geezerdom I have to say I have high hopes for this year. 13 is my favourite number so I am thinking this is gonna be a good year. A new chapter, a blank page and full of endless possibilities.
I did not do much last night, watched the Hatfields and the McCoys on tv and nibbled appetizers, drank a little wine, stayed up til midnight. I let the New Year in the front door, shooed the old year out the back door and then I went to bed. I slept in this morning, got up and was just done breakfast when Teddy Bear phoned and twisted (teehee) my arm to go out for coffee. I laugh because all she had to say was coffee and I jumped on the chance. Coffeee/laundry ........ the choice was pretty easy I have to admit. I love days like this. I thought it would go one way and it took unexpected turns. Wonderful unexpected turns.
T-Bear and I coffeed for an hour or more, discussed all the things we want to do to get our houses in order this year, then we parted company. I headed home and dove head first into my to do list. Finally today I dealt with all the cat blankets and towels. I use these to cover the furniture so her Majesty can lounge without covering the actual furniture in a carpet of kitty fur. Sadly, I take them off, stuff them in a corner and put fresh on. Well I had to deal with them. Honestly I gathered up bales, yes, I tell you, BALES of cat hair. I rubbed, combed, vacuumed, picked and pulled until it was all gone. Then I washed them all, fresh and clean with a promise to myself to keep on top of them in future. This last year I have gotten so good at ignoring the day to day things that need to be done. Need to stop that.
I finally washed the ceiling fan in the kitchen, HAPPY DANCE OF JOY!! It no longer looks like its coated in ostrich feathers. Now I know I have to do the rest of them in the house. Believe me if a chunk lets loose on one of them, it would knock someone out. I will not go on and on about what I did but I got all but one thing done on my list. This makes me happy. I like to start the year out by at least keeping some of the promises I make to myself. Its to early to break the resolutions!!
Then I finished off my day with a lovely, lovely, lovely, roast beef supper with the Hostess. Gawd that woman can cook!! Even when stuff does not turn out as nicely as she would like them they are still delicious. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, potatoes, turnip, peas, pickles, wine, brownies for dessert. Amaretto and coffee. Oiy. It was lovely. So much better than the scrambled eggs I thought I would have. All in all I had a great day, I got my list dealt with, and I got the bonus of the extra two nice things today, coffee with T-Bear and supper with the Hostess. A lovely change to a day I thought I would be spending on my own. Love those friends of mine!!
One thing on my resolution list, (one of a zillion) I want to get better at cooking. I have always wanted to learn to be a really good cook and I think this is the year I need to get on it. Every time I go to someone's place the food is so good, I resolve once again to practice and get better at this cooking malarkey. Thus far I have not put much effort into the actual practice. This year is the year. I do not know if this counts but I came home and threw together a pot of hamburger soup, now I have something to take to work for lunch this week. Hardly gourmet but it will be yummy. It took less that 30 minutes. Need to work on that mind set that food prep takes forever and is lots of work.
So in 2013 I want to get healthier, become a better cook, get more organized at home, purge my house, stay on top of the house cleaning, give back more, be more grateful for all of the blessings I have, let my friends know how much I care about them and how grateful I am that I have them in my life. Live a life of gratitude, stop dwelling on the past and things I cannot change. Learn to spin wool once and for all. Work on my looms more and I have a few zillion other things that I am not gonna put on here for the world to see. So there it is, some but not all of my high hopes for 2013.
Right now I need to go check my soup and get some knitting time in before I need to head for bed.
I hope each and everyone of you had a Happy New Year and that this year brings you all you need to be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise!!
Toodles,
Linda
I did not do much last night, watched the Hatfields and the McCoys on tv and nibbled appetizers, drank a little wine, stayed up til midnight. I let the New Year in the front door, shooed the old year out the back door and then I went to bed. I slept in this morning, got up and was just done breakfast when Teddy Bear phoned and twisted (teehee) my arm to go out for coffee. I laugh because all she had to say was coffee and I jumped on the chance. Coffeee/laundry ........ the choice was pretty easy I have to admit. I love days like this. I thought it would go one way and it took unexpected turns. Wonderful unexpected turns.
T-Bear and I coffeed for an hour or more, discussed all the things we want to do to get our houses in order this year, then we parted company. I headed home and dove head first into my to do list. Finally today I dealt with all the cat blankets and towels. I use these to cover the furniture so her Majesty can lounge without covering the actual furniture in a carpet of kitty fur. Sadly, I take them off, stuff them in a corner and put fresh on. Well I had to deal with them. Honestly I gathered up bales, yes, I tell you, BALES of cat hair. I rubbed, combed, vacuumed, picked and pulled until it was all gone. Then I washed them all, fresh and clean with a promise to myself to keep on top of them in future. This last year I have gotten so good at ignoring the day to day things that need to be done. Need to stop that.
I finally washed the ceiling fan in the kitchen, HAPPY DANCE OF JOY!! It no longer looks like its coated in ostrich feathers. Now I know I have to do the rest of them in the house. Believe me if a chunk lets loose on one of them, it would knock someone out. I will not go on and on about what I did but I got all but one thing done on my list. This makes me happy. I like to start the year out by at least keeping some of the promises I make to myself. Its to early to break the resolutions!!
Then I finished off my day with a lovely, lovely, lovely, roast beef supper with the Hostess. Gawd that woman can cook!! Even when stuff does not turn out as nicely as she would like them they are still delicious. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, gravy, potatoes, turnip, peas, pickles, wine, brownies for dessert. Amaretto and coffee. Oiy. It was lovely. So much better than the scrambled eggs I thought I would have. All in all I had a great day, I got my list dealt with, and I got the bonus of the extra two nice things today, coffee with T-Bear and supper with the Hostess. A lovely change to a day I thought I would be spending on my own. Love those friends of mine!!
One thing on my resolution list, (one of a zillion) I want to get better at cooking. I have always wanted to learn to be a really good cook and I think this is the year I need to get on it. Every time I go to someone's place the food is so good, I resolve once again to practice and get better at this cooking malarkey. Thus far I have not put much effort into the actual practice. This year is the year. I do not know if this counts but I came home and threw together a pot of hamburger soup, now I have something to take to work for lunch this week. Hardly gourmet but it will be yummy. It took less that 30 minutes. Need to work on that mind set that food prep takes forever and is lots of work.
So in 2013 I want to get healthier, become a better cook, get more organized at home, purge my house, stay on top of the house cleaning, give back more, be more grateful for all of the blessings I have, let my friends know how much I care about them and how grateful I am that I have them in my life. Live a life of gratitude, stop dwelling on the past and things I cannot change. Learn to spin wool once and for all. Work on my looms more and I have a few zillion other things that I am not gonna put on here for the world to see. So there it is, some but not all of my high hopes for 2013.
Right now I need to go check my soup and get some knitting time in before I need to head for bed.
I hope each and everyone of you had a Happy New Year and that this year brings you all you need to be happy, healthy, wealthy and wise!!
Toodles,
Linda
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Saturday Stuff
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
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
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??????
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