This and That and a Little of the Other

The week has zoomed by, I have no idea where it has gone. I want it to stop that. I am fine with the work days doing the warp speed thing by but the weekends need to put on the brakes. Those two days off are gone in a heartbeat and the next thing you know its Sunday night and Monday morning is looming like a specter

KitKat had cataract surgery this week so she could not come to No Cook. On Friday, The Banker took her a lovely roast beef supper to share with her Dad while we went our for our usual meal. Instead of going out for coffee afterwards we took coffee to KitKat's place and spent the rest of the evening chatting and sharing together like we always do. Dad had headed home by the time we got there. This really is a good circle of women to have as friends. We tend to look after each other.

Saturday, I was out and about with my usual list of errands that needed to be tended to. I had whittled it down to just the groceries when it was close to noon. The thought of lunch gave me a good Samaritan  inspiration so after groceries were purchased, I ran lunch up to KitKat. I did not cook it like the Banker did but I delivered the hell out of that food. We had lunch together and the Banker stopped in with coffee. We did our best to break up her day. She can't see to do anything not even watch tv really. I left her fed but tired and headed back home to get at my chores. It feels good to be able to pay back the good deeds that were done for me when I was in hospital.

At home I cleaned sme, ran the dishwasher and then settled in to quilt for the afternoon. In-between cats crawling all over the quilt I did manage to get some actual stitching done. I want to have it totally finished by the end of this coming week. Its being donated to a raffle so it needs to get finished ASAP. Its kind of hard to go when you are under constant scrutiny but I do the best I could:

Snoopervisor Number 1

Teddy Bear, her daughter and I went out to see The Girl On the Train. It was ok. The book was much better but the movie was fine. Maybe more suited to television rather than a Big Screen number but we all were not sorry that we went. I have never decided which is best, read the book then see the movie or do it the other way around.

Three little boys knocked on my door on Saturday and offered to rake my leaves. They did the best job. They were polite. got right to it and I doubled their pay just because I was so pleased with them. I paid them early, they were nearly done when I gave them their money. Still they knocked on my door and made sure I was pleased with the job when they really finished. That impressed me to no end. I like to encourage that work ethic!! One little boy is my neighbour and we have agreed to have a talk,when the snow comes, about him shoveling my sidewalk for me. Since it poured rain all day today I was thrilled to have the leaves gone.

It was a very wet, cold, autumn day but we did not let that stop us. Today the Banker, KitKat and I went to the big craft sale. Its the one I was in last year and I did pick up a registration for next years show. I think doing it every two years is enough if I want to sell puppets but not have the making of them turn into a job. We had a lovely day. I always like to go as I get lots of ideas. I also managed to buy a couple of things.

Little square pumpkins that will go well with the little square black cat I bought last year.

Plus a tall skinny barn board tree that I have some plans for but I have to get a few things for it yet. Some additional items to make a display out of it. I love the barn board and the rusty metal.

There was a lot of things that I could have bought but I don't have the money or the room so I limited myself to these two. I got some good ideas about things I could make, that I may or may not make, one never knows.

KitKat was tired out by the time we were done so we ran her home. The Banker and I went out for some really late lunch or an early supper. Her Sweet Baboo would have come with us but he was waiting for his daughter to stop by with a job for him to do. We went for Chinese then she dropped me off. and headed home her self.  I finished my evening quilting as best I could  around the cats.

Snoopervisor Number 2

I like this sort of weekend. Time spent with friends, you are out and about doing things, going here and there, You also are getting somethings done in the house. Its fun, its productive and you get to spend time with people you enjoy. Good times!! Even wrestling a quilt away from two furry knuckleheads is fun.

Toodles,
Linda

Giving Thanks

My house is smelling like a house should on Thanksgiving. Turkey, roast potatoes, broccoli kale salad, pumpkin cheesecake made the kitchen smell very festive and holiday like. The only thing missing was people, its just me and the cats but that's ok too. At least I can celebrate and that is a blessing. I am comfortably stuffed with a seriously good meal and am deliciously sleepy.

Actually it is good to say goodbye to the last two weeks. Not the best weeks of my life but not the worst either. Monsters and demons out of the closet, monsters and demons beat back into the closet. Its time to carry on, No time to feel sorry for myself, time to strap on one's big girl panties and get on with things. Do the best you can, keep trying, what more can one do?? Onward and upward.

I am putting this all behind me and I am focusing on what I have to be thankful for and to doing the best I can.  I am thankful that I have a job, I wake up each day, I have a roof over my head and food on my table. I have clothes to wear, a car to drive, my very good friends and my family. This all makes me rather rich. When you are rich you are lucky so just put the bumps in the road behind you and move on, learning life lessons as you can.

I have been busy doing stuff. I finished the baby blanket I was knitting:

I made hat and scarf sets for the Hostess to give to her grandson:

Star Wars

Minions

And I made her an owl puppet because her little guy likes owls at the moment:

The pictures are dark I know, one of these days I will learn how to take a really good picture.

I got my box of Canada tulips at last. I need to get them planted soon so I have lovely red and white tulips blooming next year.

I just need to figure out where I am going to put them. I have limited yard space but I am determined to have them come up next year. I think they are so pretty. I had planted yellow tulips when I first moved into the house. That tulip bed has morphed into the front hosta bed now. I will think of something. Where there is a will there is a place to plant the tulips.

I got brave and finally turned the heat on it then house. I am scared silly of turning it on for the first time each year. I am always scared it will not come on, the gas will continue to run, the house will blow up. All those mature things, but it got so cold in here I had to. I put it off for as long as I can, in part because I am cheap but mostly because I am a chicken. It started like a charm and the house is no longer painfully cold.

I have been enjoying my three day weekend. I have a "to do" list, which may or may not get done. I had planned to quilt today but I didn't. I dyed the flannelette for the backing, and got it all dried. I finished the sashing on the Safe and Warm raffle quilt so I should be able to get the actual quilting started tomorrow. Yesterday was errands and housework, The Hostess stopped in and got her stuff AND she bought some puppets as well. Later in the day Teddy Bear and I went and saw the movie Captain Fantastic. Today was the usual slow start that I do most Sundays. I did manage to get the laundry done, I emptied and refilled the dishwasher, had a nap and knit inbetween bouts of sewing. Somehow the hours slip by and the day is over as soon as its begun.

OMG I nearly forgot the most important thing. I FINALLY found the stinking shed key. It was hidden in plain sight one might say.

Now I can get in there again before the snow flies. My friend may get her oars yet!! I hope I have now learned my lesson and I will take better care in future.

Princess Diva stopped by today and gave me some red tiles. I have a star to make for my co-worker, Pixie. She saw the ones on the shed and wants one for her back yard. I needed red tile and Princess Diva came through. She is so good that way.

I am, as always, trying to get myself organized. I have been making lists. I do not know how people manage without lists. I am starting to prepare for the craft sale next year. Next weekend I will book my table for the following year. Yarn has been on sale so I am starting to purchase a supply to turn into puppets which I will then turn into cold hard cash!! I am also getting the stuff together for the scrapbooking weekend. This makes me happy. I purchased my first stocking stuffers this weekend so The Christmas shopping is underway. 

One of the good things that happened this last week is that I have found a home for one of my spinning wheels. I have two and I do not have need nor do I have room for two. One of the women on my floor at the office is learning to spin. She has no wheel. Its a match made in heaven. I need to fish it up from the basement and get it to her. I remember how happy I was when I got my first wheel. I am glad to help someone else to feel that way. 

I hope that your Thanksgiving was wonderful.

Toodles,

Linda

Sunday, Rainy Sunday

The Hostess just left.  She popped in and brought me breakfast.Sweet thing that she is.  We had a natter, ate breakfast, drank coffee and I hemmed a pair of jeans for her. Lovely way to start a rainy Sunday. I don't get to see her often so it was very nice to catch up on all the news that is the news. She is now off running errands and I am putting off getting the laundry started.

I had a week of work under my belt and I can say that the weekend was a welcome reward. It gets harder and harder to get back at it every time I have time away. I really am getting to the end of my shelf life as far as working goes. I am ready to be put out to pasture. I just need to be able to afford to stay in the pasture!!

I have no idea why I am going to share this picture but since next to no one reads this blog, I am not really embarrassing myself on the world wide web. My kitchen and I have had a battle royal going on for some time now. I cannot seem to keep it clean. Well yesterday we went another round. It was a blood bath but I won!! It started out looking like this:

OMG I really am a mystery to myself. I hate it looking like this but the table is just a dumping ground for any and all as I come in the back door. The wine bottle project contributes to the mess and the containers are a whole 'nother battle in itself. So I rolled up my sleeves and got stuck in. I had a deadline. Teddy Bear and I were off to the show to see Snowdon so I had to get it done, I could not put it off. I am happy to say that it know looks like this:

Will it stay this way? That is
doubtful but for the moment it is the way I like it best. Dishes done, garbage out, recycle out. All is well with my world. I now have room to start purging the containers and the serving platters. I can put things on the table as I sort them and decide what stays and what goes. So much to do and the list never ends. I have cleaned it up with an eye to making in a mess again right shortly. The never ending cycle of this poor kitchen I am afraid. (One of these days I want to replace that table with a lovely wooden one, maybe reclaimed wood, just sayin')

Yesterday Teddy Bear around noon and asked if I wanted to go to the show. Well twist my rubber arm. We went and saw Snowdon, then we went for supper, then for coffee so my Saturday changed from a day of cleaning and purging into a day of some of that but fun times with a friend as well. I love when that happens. My friends are very dear to me so getting to spend time with them is right at the top of my favourite things to do.

Today it going to be laundry and some mending for friends. Working on quilts and finishing the knitted baby blanket. I have two sets of hats and scarves to do for the Hostess's grandson. I went and got the supplies yesterday so I will get them going today. Rain outside, tv watching and crocheting sounds just perfect to me. I need to make soup for lunches next week. The Sailor, Teddy Bear and I are going to a movie at the local university tonight and that should round out my weekend.

I still have not found the shed key. Its in this house somewhere and I will find it. I just hope its before I have to get someone to come a cut the lock off the shed. I am so annoyed with myself because I am better with my keys than this usually.

Off to throw the laundry down so I can at least get that on the go before the pull of my chair and the tv win the fight and I take that day of rest thing to heart.

Toodles
Linda

Saturday Snipets

So here I sit, wrapped in my ratty old black sweater, with a big mug of tea, trying not to be too sad that its the second last day of my staycation. I am also thinking I may need to root up something more for supper, a dish of watermelon just may not cut it. Work resumes on Monday and I am not best pleased. I am trying desperately to change my attitude, but I still have that Sunday night and its school tomorrow feeling.

So lets not dwell on that for now, lets move on to projects that have been worked on, some finished, some started. That will take my mind off things for a bit. Ok? now where to start??? Well lets start with the Wee Girl. She is a favourite of mine. I first made this sweater for my oldest great niece and nephew many moons ago. I love it. I thought it would be just the thing for the Wee Girl's first birthday gift.

I found this nice burnt orange yarn and thought it was perfect for this Halloween sweater. There is a cute little matching hat as well.

I made it in the biggest size so she can get a few years of wearing it under her belt. I think it looks as cute on her as it did on her cousins all that time ago.

A little big but she will grow into it.

Today I finally felt like tackling the wine bottle project. It was a lovely warm day so after groceries were purchased and I had spent a bit of time knitting I hauled 45 wine bottles out of my kitchen to the back yard and I planted them with my trusty rubber hammer.

It was very sunny so getting a reasonable picture was not easy. This is the short side of the flowerbed. Yes I know the line is not straight and I did curve the corners on purpose. I have finally come to grips with the fact that I do not do perfect, its not in my wheelhouse. You can still see the landscaping timber at the edge. I will remove it in time. At the end where the dumpster is sitting, I have a plan for something there. I just need to find it again. Another case of I should have snapped it up when I saw it the first time. When will I learn?

I think I need about 30 more wine bottles to finish across the front of the bed. I have about that many more still in the kitchen but I need to remove the labels from them. I am happy with the results. Cheap and cheerful. It makes a nice little edge for the flower bed and it did not cost me a penny. I have had ever so many people donate their empty bottles to my cause. I was so grateful to get this done today. I finally have no wine bottles on my kitchen table at the moment. I have some in boxes on the floor but they are not all over the table. They are out in the flower bed where they belong and I say hallelujah!!

I have been knitting, getting my scrapbooking supplies organized for my weekend in November when the Banker, KitKat and I scrapbook ourselves silly for three days. I have been doing laundry, stocking the pantry and trying to mark off more things on my "to do" list. My days have been filled with puttering and pottering about, doing this and that, resting and relaxing.  Its been a lovely staycation. It was not the trip to Scotland that I had originally planned but it was still days where I was on my own schedule. I rather like that in case I have not mentioned it before.

I left a cushion form on the dining room table in all innocence. I thought it would be safe there until I decided how I wanted to cover it. Well someone is keeping it warm for me.

But its so nice and soft Mama.

Tomorrow I have promised myself I can start the new quilt for my bedroom. I will finish the Safe and Warm donation quilt top. I will work on the next Blarney Night donation quilt but I will finally start the one for me. I have finally settled on a pattern that suits me. Oh yes tomorrow will be a good day.

Toodles,
Linda

And the Pinteresting Goes On

Wow I do post more when I am not working. So next week this should grind back to a halt and I will be showing up once a week. Sigh, I can't think about that. I get all panicky when I realize how fast the days are going and how quickly I will be back at work. Oh well. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that I have a good job that pays the bills but I cannot deny the fact that I am ready to be at home. Full time, not just a few days here and there.

So what have I been up?? Well let me tell you. No yard work. Still have not found the shed key. I have been filling the days with other things. The Banker and I did another of our road trip days. We toodled around the country. stopping here and there to check out second hand stores, collectibles shops, crafty stores and anything else we could find. The new store that we most especially wanted to check out, was closed. Oh well, live and learn, next time phone first to see if they are open.

I found some egg cups:

I managed to get them onto the shelf. I think I have room for two more and then I have to stop collecting them.

I found this cute pumpkin to hang on my front door. I have a weakness for metal things. This inspired me to get some fall decor stuff out at change up the veranda. I have to redo the wreath for next year. The decorations and ribbon are showing their age. Another trip to Michaels is in my future!!

I started to knit a baby blanket. I got the yarn on sale a while ago at Michaels then found an easy pattern on Pinterest.

I like to have the odd baby thing on hand just in case. I think I will make this again and do it white or cream next time.

Here is a before picture. This is the night stand that I would have had to get rid of if I had bought the sweet wash stand at the sale a couple of weekends ago. I didn't, so I thought it need to be changed up a bit. Trust me this poor thing was stenciled within an inch of its life before I painted it white. I changed it to plain white when I painted this spare room gray.

Pinterest to the rescue once again. Scrapbook paper on sale, three for a dollar at Michaels and the last of the glue I used on the other project and I got this as a result.

I am tickled with the result. If you look to hard the circles are not perfect and the cutting is not exact but I don't do perfect. No matter how hard I try, it never works so I only hope for pretty good. I mean for a dollar!! who could ask for a better result?? Cheap and cheerful.

I have to share some of my exceptional gardening skills!!, Remember this lovely little bush I bought?

Well I planted it and now it looks like this:

Could it be more dead?? A combination of no sun and being poorly watered, signed and sealed the fate of this poor little thing. I feel bad. In future I will wait until the neighbour actually cuts down the trees, not just says he is going to . Then I will water the next one regularly and not depend on Mother Nature to do it for me. Yeesh.

I am off to knit for a bit.

Toodles
Linda

I Have Been Pinteresting

I always like to have a project, something to do, to keep me busy. I like home improvement and decorating but my bank account does not keep up with my wish list. So I love to find a cheap and cheerful project that makes a big change for very little cash. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration.

Today I did this: I wanted to update my spare room a little. I had done it to death when stenciled furniture was trendy. I loved it and for a long time it looked just fine but lately its been showing its age and I wanted to give it a face lift. 

Before:

My Mom bought me this little chest of drawers when I first moved away from home. Its had many reincarnations, It was the first victim of my stencil madness. 

After:

Eight Sheets of scrapbooking paper (purchased when it was on sale), a bottle of dollar store white glue watered down to homemade mod podge and the little chest got an up date. Cheap and cheerful. I am pleased with the results.

Before:

I bought this years ago at a second hand store. Solid wood and just a nice size, it fell victim to my paint brush and stencils. 

After:

The third paper looks beige in the photos but it has green in it. If I find a better paper I may replace it but for now its fine. 

One more thing off the "To Do" list!! I am a happy bunny!!

Toodles,

Linda

Saturday Snipits

It is slow and steady progress around here. Accent heavy on the slow but at least its progress.

I got my bedroom cleaned. That in itself was a major feat. As its half demoed for decorating (and has been for years) I tend to ignore the mess as its under construction. Well even I have my limits so it got a going over the other day. Made a heck of a difference in the place. In honor of Autumn, I popped an extra quilt on the bed. A bed that had its bedding washed and dried in the sun from the mattress cover to the top spread.  I even got an idea to redo two of the decorative pillows that live on the bed. They need a bit of an update.

Double batch of laundry soap had been cooked up, I will be happily washing clothes for some time with 10 gallons of laundry soap ready and waiting. I have three inches left to knit on the Wee Girl's project. I need to get it ready to mail for Monday as I have several things to mail and with my postal issues, one trip is probably gonna be it. I have misplaced the shed key so instead of any yard work being accomplished a lot of fruitless searching has been happening.

Today I popped up to The Bankers house and her Sweet Baboo cut some boards for me. I have all my family pictures on top of  book cases in my bedroom but they are currently propped up on magazines because the case tops are not level. These boards will level them and I will no longer have to look at the frames staggering about like drunken sailors. Not to mention I can add more frames as I wish because the whole top will be solid.

I hung this little home sign up. I love it.

I also did this. I bought this little tray last weekend, half price. dull and drab but full of potential. Some paint. some wrapping paper from Ikea and it has a new lease of life.

Before:

dark, dull and dreary.

After:

I was so pleased with the end product, I mailed pictures to my friends, I posted it on the internet. I was tickled, then later on I noticed this:

The paper had folded itself over and the seriously sad thing is that I checked it before I sealed it all up again. Apparently I checked it with half an eye. Many swear words later. I pulled it all apart, fixed the corner and now the 1960's fake wood panel board is totally hidden forever.

I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY painted the shed door. A year ago it looked like this:

I did get the primer on it but never seemed to get it painted. Today I finally painted it. Nothing fancy just plain white.

Fresh and clean, bright and white. The little last mosaic tile project has been installed. One more job ticked off the list.

So like I said, slow and steady progress.The wine bottle project may just be next on the list!!

Toodles.
Linda