Random Thoughts on a Snowy Sunday

|* Why is it when I am at work I can thing of a million things to do if I was at home but once I do get home all I want to do is knit, nap and watch tv.

*I miss the big window displays the big department stores used to do at Christmas time. I loved getting to go and look at them, so magical

* On the first of December I took a few decorations to the office and it made such a big difference to my little cubicle. Warmed it up to no end.

* I finally have ideas for everyone for Christmas and I have finally got my shopping started. I am usually finished by now. I need to get myself together!!

* I have a lot of crafting to do before Christmas. This season always makes want to craft even more. Every year I think I will do some things in January and February so I am not cramming it all into the last of the year, but it never happens. Maybe this year????

* Speaking of after Christmas that is when the big craft room purge and inventory is going to take place. The room is almost beyond hope.

* I have decided to stop donating quilts to the Blarney night. Not that I want to but its just so hard to get it delivered on time and to get the quilt made on time. I have done this donation for years but I think the time has come for it  to end. Makes me a little sad.

* I was very proud to have a hand in raising $1945.00 for the safe and warm shelter here. Its such a good cause and I had lots of good help. I was just a tiny part of it but it warms my heart.

* I want to do a calendar this year with things that need to be done each month on it, like puppets to make for the big craft sale, quilts to do. etc. Maybe I could stay on top of things then. How very Martha Stewart of me.

* My multiple yarn baskets are getting out of control. They need a good tidy up, Maybe this weekend I will beat them into submission

* Some days I think I should get the Banker to come in here and organize for me but I really like her and I don't want to finish her off. The shocking truth would do her in. So I shall attempt to accomplish this on my own, More fool me.

* Feeling like putting up the big tree this year but since that is not a practical idea this year. Just a couple of the little trees will have to do. Yes I said a couple. I usually put up four trees, don't judge me, I like Christmas!!

*Craft stores and their 50 % off coupons are just enablers to people like me.

* Been  making sock monkey hats like crazy this year. Am on my 7th one already. They do come out pretty darn cute!!

* Feeling pretty smug to day,  the front of the house is all decorated for Christmas. The lights are up, the garlands strung and the big bows are hung. Much as I hate hauling that stuff up from the basement, its lovely to have it done.

(This is not a current picture but the same stuff is up this year so you get the idea)

* I got a lot of sewing done yesterday so the Wee Girl's Christmas gift is 99% finished. It was all Santa's work shop here as I got busy on several gifts. Love spending snowy days crafting away.

Thats all folks

Toodles

Linda

Where Does the Time Go

EEK its Tuesday already, I usually post on the weekends but for some reason things just got away on me. I got lots done and then Sunday just zipped by. Monday I was so tired and now its Tuesday and I am finally getting around to my weekend post. WTF???"

The big deal last week was I finally bit the bullet and got Desi shaved. He is such a lovely furry long hair and he looks gorgeous but there is a down side. His gorgeous looking fur is the worst I have ever seen to mat up. Plus its so long it drags in everything and he cannot reach his nether regions so he cannot keep himself minty fresh. Long story short his fur gets soaked in urine and then he smells. I cannot seem to do enough to keep him clean so shaving was the best solution. The big boy got a lion cut and he looks as cute as can be

He was not at all happy with the whole deal but he smells so much better and I am sure he feels better with all those hard lumpy mats gone.

I love love love the little poof on the end of his tail.

We were very very sad for a while but that has passed. He is feeling the cold, so I turned up the furnace for him and even wrapped him in my ratty old sweater for a bit the first day he was back home.

He has forgiven me and Lucy is back to knowing who he is. I think it was because she does not see overly well and he smelled like the vet's office, she hissed and spit and swatted at him like a wild woman, for the first day and a half after he got home. Poor Desi. 

I got lots done, I finally hauled stuff out to the shed, brought stuff in from the shed. hauled all the rest of the wine bottles out there. I never did get them put in around the flower bed. I got started and then never got finished. The remaining wine bottles are out in the shed now instead of me having to look at them and step around them all winter. I was so happy with myself. I even did it on the very last day of nice weather. So unlike me but I did it.

I finally found these oars and dug them out of the shed. I have promised them to a friend for her cabin. That was a year ago. She has been patient with me.

I finished the puppets for the Teacher, I finished the puppets for the Hummingbird and I made a sock monkey hat for Teddy Bear to give to her granddaughter. I worked on stocking stuffers and did a ton of laundry. The weekend seems to go along fine and the after 3:00 pm on Sunday it just seemed to disappear down the rabbit hole.

Winter has finally made an appearance and its ugly. I know we should not complain but we will. I was listening to the weather this morning and they made it sound like it was a blizzard out there. I got up and got going because I thought: blowing snow, freezing slippery roads, etc. I was going to have to chisel the car open. Well crap none of that. It was wet and sloppy but the wipers cleaned the windows. I ended up at work a whole half hour before I needed to be. I was not happy. 

The Banker came for lunch today with Teddy Bear and I. She even brought lunch with her, It was lovely. Made up for the stupid start to the day. I even cooked tonight, made a proper supper for the first time in ages. Baked potatoes, mild Italian sausage and green beans. So yummy and enough for lunch tomorrow. I baked lots of potatoes so I can have fried potatoes for the rest of the week.

I am now starting to work on Christmas gifts and am thinking about decorating for the season. Nothing will happen until this weekend. I am not big on decorating before December 1, 2016.

Toodles,

Linda

Tea and Cookies and Sunday Thoughts

I love little frozen cookies. The ones that are preformed, frozen and ready to pop into the toaster oven for tea and fresh baked cookies whenever you want. I am indulging myself even as we speak. Hot milky tea and fresh baked cookies. Makes me almost forget that I have yet to have supper. Proper supper but I will be for too much longer. As much as I would like to I cannot live on cookies alone.

This has been a good week. Not much going on during the week. It was quiet and I was extra tired for some reason but that happens now and then. So most evenings are spent at home, cat naps and very little housework done.

We tried out a brand new restaurant for No Cook Friday. Wonderful, delicious food but rather expensive. Its definitely one of those places that we will save for the special occasions. $30.00 for pasta and chicken with no booze is a bit much in my world. I may not be super thrifty but I have my limits.

Saturday I was up and out early, ran a couple of errands, came home a did a few things to finish up a Christmas gift I am making, then I headed to a trade show with The Banker and KitKat. It was to raise funds for the local Safe and Warm shelter. My quilt and Princess Diva's mosaic star plus her Mom's rag time quilt were part of a raffle. We had raised $1045.00 before the ticket sales at the trade show. I was so pleased. That total  also included funds from the bucket raffle at our scrapbooking weekend. I am rather proud of how well we did. I don.t know the final total yet but I was really glad I could help out.

We three went for a quick bite to eat then scattered to the winds. I started crocheting on my recent orders and did the odd bit of housework until I went out for supper with TeddyBear and then on to see Hacksaw Ridge. Very good movie, and I am not a big war movie fan. This one was very good and based on a true story. Coffee afterward then home and to bed.

I made these for the Banker to give her Great Granddaughters for Christmas:

I cannot make this picture rotate but you get the idea. Sock monkey hats for her little monkeys. I think they turned out cute. I like sock monkeys.

Today was the usual late breakfast eaten while watching Coronation Street. Then it was laundry, some house work and more crocheting. I finally got started on this project:

I have to make one more character for The Hummingbird to go with this book but I at least got it started. I need to get some yellow yarn. All the yarn in this house and I still have to go buy more. Sigh.  I have been very slow at getting this under construction. I have more puppets to make for the Teacher, two more sock monkey hats to make and then I have some stuff to go for myself.

Ok I am going to say good night. I have written a final paragraph three times and its just not something to be shared here. So I will say, I hope you had a lovely weekend and go scramble some eggs. That way I can say I did have supper.
.

Toodles,
Linda

Been Scrappin'

This is one of my favourite weekends in the year. Its the Scrapbooking weekend, where The Banker, KitKat, KitKat's sister, and I  join a bunch of other ladies and we scrapbook our selves silly. This weekend we got an extra day because of Remembrance Day. Its fun. Pure and simple as that. Its fun. There is a special energy in a room when women gather to create. I was also so proud that we took the time at the 11th hour on the 11th day to honour those who fought for our freedom. Leonard Cohen reciting In Flanders Field will bring tears to your eyes.

I took Thursday off so I had the morning to do those last minute errands, finish packing and then go for lunch. We could get in the building at 2:00 pm so we wanted to be there and lay claim to our spot. Its a tradition now that we have a lovely lunch first and then get to our scrapbooking.

We hauled in out stuff and staked our claim in the same spot we have always been in. There were over 40 of us this year, we put in full days and have a blast. We trade ideas, offer suggestions, tease, giggle, share and make some lovely scrapbooks. We eat too. We are fed super well by the lovely ladies that cater the event and we have snacks. One would think the we were never going to have access to a grocery for the whole weekend. The buffet table has expanded this year to two chairs. we did have carrot sticks and snow peas this year along with the chips and chocolate.

I am so pleased with what I got done. 59 pages of ,memories made. I have now decided that I will do an album each year from now on. I like doing it so this seems a good plan. Doing event albums is fun but doing a year each time is good too. It works better for me.

I cannot imagine the value of all the stuff in this room. Thousands of dollars in paper alone, not to mention the embellishments, equipment and computers. Wow. My three Ikea bags look a little sad but I don't do enough to justify the fancy stuff. I think I spend a lot as it is. Not to mention I usually come home with a list of things I would like to get and a few more ideas about how to organize it and transport what I need each year.

I have my 2016 album done as far as I can AND I got a Christmas gift done. All in all a wonderful weekend. The Banker, KitKat and I went out for Chinese food after we helped clean up, packup and hauled our stuff home again. we had some auction items at the event and the quilts/mosaic star raffle tickets were on sale. So far this has raised over $400.00 for the local safe and warm shelter. So grateful for that.

Now its time to get back to work. I hope to get things back on an even playing field this week. I have much to do and Christmas is a comin'. Getting crafty and organized are an important thing!!

Toodles.
Linda
                                          

On the Mend

So since Thursday last week I have been wanting desperately to throw up. Cause if I could have thrown up I would have felt much better much faster. Alas, inspite of my very best efforts this did not happen. Hmmph!! I am happy to say that as of today I am feeling better. Not much of an appetite but at least I do not feel sick to my stomach with every breath. Actually I am hoping this lack of appetite hangs around for twenty or thirty pounds but I doubt that it will.

I did go to work today. I would rather have been home but that happens on a good day not just a sick day. I managed to go to No Cook. I thought the worst was over and I really hate to miss out on a night with the coven. I started out with high hopes but realized in short order that while I may have thought I was better that was not the case. So I stayed home from the Bud Spud and Steak night fundraiser on Saturday night. In fact I think I slept 90% of Saturday.  Teddy Bear brought me ginger ale and bananas. The Banker offered soup and KitKat checked in at regular intervals to see if I needed anything. It means a lot when you are along to know you are not alone.

Well enough about me and my upset tum. Although that did take up the most of the week and for the life of me I cannot remember what I did in the days before the plague. Knitting, some house cleaning, book club and not much else.

I may come up with a more interesting post at another time this week. Who knows what will happen in the next few days, Endless possibilities!!

Toodles
Linda,

Busy Week

This has been a busy week. I have been out and about more that normal, and that is a good thing. Time spent with good friends is never wasted!! Housework will wait forever for you but good times to be had with good company will not.

Teddy Bear, KitKat and I went to see The Accountant on Tuesday night. We turned it into supper and a movie out as KitKat is still getting over her eye surgery and cannot drive at the moment. So we thought she might like to get out of the house for a bit.  Thursday night was supper out again with three of my work mates, then we went to a local production of Billy Elliott. What a wonderful night. The play was super great. Lots of very talented people in this community. Friday night was No Cook of course. Lots of silliness and giggles for us old broads. Honestly you would think we were ten years old. On Saturday, KitKat and I went out shopping for scrapbooking supplies for the big weekend coming up. We did a few second hand stores as well and by the time I got home, any housework that was on the plan was not happening. Saturday night Teddy Bear and I went to see Jack Reacher, then for coffee. A full busy week. Whoot!!

Today I have been puttering about. The tulips are finally in the ground. I just hope they grow. The veranda is cleaned off (sort of). Leaves are in the compost bin and I have made another trip to the basement for the Halloween decorations. I have even decorated for Halloween. Not a lot but at least the kids will know that I am open for business.I have been known to pull out the decorations and then leave them sit. I am weird that way.  I bought my treats and they are safe in the trunk of the car. I cannot be trusted if they are in the house.

Why I did not bring this stuff up when I was down there last week to  get the spinning wheel I have no idea. Going into my basement/cellar is not an easy feat. It requires furniture moving, acrobatics, nerves of steel and you need to be about 5 foot tall. I regularly bash my head on the joists. NO matter how many times I go down there. Its painful.

I love those skeletons, they are gracing each side of the steps this year. I got them 70% off at Michaels a couple of years ago. Those Christmas light hooks are handy for this sort of thing. I have misplaced a tote box full of Halloween stuff. Its not in the spare bedroom closet. It has my candy kettle and some little ghosty do dads in it. In this house you would not think this possible. There is very little place for this stuff to go.

The big black cat is perched on the railing ready to hiss and howl at anyone who happens by. The big pumpkin does not light up anymore, burnt out bulb but I have an IKEA desk lamp that I can McGyver up a light for tomorrow night and then in future I will use glow sticks. Then I can set it anywhere. Or I will find another light bulb that will work. I have grave stones but I did not get them out this year. I also have witches legs that I have not put out either. I want to get a little black pot to set them into. I can see it, a black cauldron with legs sticking out of it!!

So I am ready for the hobgoblins tomorrow night. My house work is still waiting for me to do it but that's ok. I needed this to get done first. I have high hopes for more kids this year as there are a few other houses on the street with things out. In the past my neighbourhood is mostly lights out and no candy for the kids. I enjoy seeing the little ones, big ones too.

Toodles,
Linda

Working the Second Job

I really should not call it a second job. Being creative and making things in not what I would call a "job" its more of a joy. I am happiest making something and I would do it full time if I could figure out a way to make some serious money out of it. Anyway, big dreams aside, I made up my mind to devote most of the weekend to creative industry, as I have some deadlines looming and I needed to get cracking. Household chores and errands aside I was putting my nose to the grindstone and getting somethings accomplished

Saturday I devoted myself to finishing this: Its the quilt I call Pigeon Holes. I found the pattern on Pinterest and I have no idea what name it should have. Pigeon Holes is what I have called it.

I will take a better picture of it later on. Its been washed and is still a bit damp so it needs to go back into the dryer. This quilt is my donation item to the fund raiser for the local Safe and Warm Shelter. It will be raffled off at a trade show early next month. Last time I did not have the quilt finished before the raffle so I was determined to get it done this time.

The Sailor asked me if I would make her either some slippers or a single sized afghan to go along with some cute pillows she made. Another fund raiser, this time for her Dragon Boat team. She needs it by November 2 so she knew it was a challenge for the making of a blanket. Well CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!! One red and white afghan on its way. I could finish it today as I found that 6 hour afghan pattern and got to it.

The local yarn store had a sale and then a coupon for yarn, (one day only) so I got what I needed at a snip of a price. Its delightfully soft and squishy. I starting it this afternoon and am about 2/3 finished. I managed to do the laundry and have a nap while working at it. I hope she likes it.

I also at long last made the trip to the basement and brought up the spinning wheel. The one I am passing on to a fellow spinner who wants to learn but has no wheel.

I have two wheels so I can happily share the wealth. I hope it works for her. I just never liked the look of this one. It was not what I thought of when I thought of learning to spin.

Its small but it takes of space, space that is precious in this house. I am happy to pass it on and for it to be used again, rather than moldering away in my basement. I am also pleased that at long last I made the trip to the basement to get it up. Trips to the basement at my house are an adventure. Its more complicated than anyone could think. I call it a basement but it really is more of a cellar.

Teddy Bear, KitKat, the Banker and I went to see a cute little movie last night. Oddball and the Penguins. It was a sweet, feel good movie. We did coffee after and found loads to talk and laugh about even though we had been together the night before for No Cook. Good friends those women!! They are just the best.

Well I best get back to my crochet hook!!

Toodles,
Linda