And Then it was Done

Christmas is over.... I am pouting. It goes by way to fast. Its so wonderful to get together with family and share the festive season. We lucked out this year because we had not one but two little ones for the day. Crap weather but good times with family and friends.

The Carpenter and Busy hosted this year. Miss Mouse, The Farmer and Tater Tot came. The Pilot, The Teacher and The Wee Girl came as well, I swear those little ones made a million trips around the island chasing each other.

 They did so good with each other, 3 years old and 1 year old could have had some problems but they did very well. of course no matter how many toys there are the old cardboard box is still the winner.

I will have more pictures another time. I need to find my camera and download the ones I  took.

We ate well as always. The traditional turkey dinner was saved for Boxing Day when Busy's family has their Christmas. We dined on Prime Rib. Busy can COOK. They give me the business because rare is not my favourite. I like mine cooked a bit more or ruined, depends who you talk to.

The babes got new Christmas jammies and Tater Tot had the hardest time to go to sleep. So many questions. "why does Santa come?" "when does he come?" "how long does he stay?" "I can't see him" " What kind of reindeers does he have??" and on and on and on. He was so excited.

Waking the next morning continued the fun. Santa had eaten his cookies, drunk up his milk and left a thank you note to boot!! Tater Tot worked hard, handing out each gift  and helping to open it should you need some assistance. "Who's next Mommy, Who's next?" was the chant of the day. The Wee Girl was just interested in watching, ripping paper and just generally being very cute.

We all did well in the gifts department as always. It was so nice to see everyone, Time and work and living in different provinces, mean I don't get to see the kids as much as I would like. The little and the big ones. It means a lot to me that I get included. Having Christmas is a lot of work and I don't think I am much help but I am always grateful to be invited.

We had the mother of all blizzards while Christmas was happening and I have to say that we were insulated in our little bubble. No one went out of the house so we did not know what was happening. Lots and lots of snow!! I headed home before it hit and stayed there an extra day so it was mostly cleaned up before I headed home.

Those No Cook gals looked after my house and the cats very well. My side walk was shoveled and so much more was done. I am grateful that the shoveling was done, I would have had a heck of a time to get from the street to the house if it had not been done.

So now its back to the normal routine, back to regular life which really is not terrible, its just a bit blah after looking foreward to spending time with family, seeing the babes and well just being together. Ah well.

Now its time to look foreward to a new year, new possibilities and new things to accomplish. Right now I am going to accomplish sitting in my chair and watching TV.

Toodles
Linda

And then the toaster oven died

Well its been busy around here and I still have a lot to do before the big day but I see light at the end of the tunnel. I am going slow but steady,  knocking things off the list one by one. I did not decorate like I usually do. I did not feel like it this year. I had wanted to put up the big tree and if I had done that I would have done the entire winder wonderland/santa palooza that I usually do. It was not going to work out this year so I decided against it.  Once that idea was knocked on the head, the momentum was done.

One tree is up, the nativity is out and there are a few bits here and there. The outside looks festive and I have found the big red outside ornaments that I will need for next year. Some of mine a broken and need to be replaced. I need to find new outside lights for next year too. I am still on the lookout for a light up plastic snowman for the front. I have a candle but I want a snowman.

Crafty things are still happening.What a surprize that is in this house!!New things are happening. One of them is I made a bottle sweater for a friend at work. I did not have a pattern but I had a description of what she wanted. I am rather pleased with the results but I would make a few changes on the next one.

I will be making more as a co-worker was shown this and wondered if I could a snowman themed one. The little brain cells started snapping and I have a great idea for the next one.

We were chatting at work one day about childhood memories and someone mentioned ribbon candy. Or "old lady" candy as the youngen's in our office refer to it. I went and got myself some. I loved this stuff as a child and turns out I still like it

This stuff, nuts in the shell, Spanish peanuts and Japanese oranges where the big treats in our house at Christmas time and usually were what we got in our stockings. I did not buy a lot but just enough to bring the memories back.

I had forgotten the cookie exchange at work until supper time the night before. I have no idea how I did it but I did. Thank goodness I remembered in time to get these made:

eight dozen for the exchange and a roll of the frozen dough to bake off for my family. Where my head is some days I have no idea.

It has not just been baking around here. I have been crafty as well. I made some more Christmas cards

I made some camera critters for the Hummingbird. What are they you ask, Well they are little animals you slip over the lens of your camera to get some little ones attention. She found them on the internet and wondered again if I could make some.

She was pleased and that is all that I am aiming for. Happy customers!!

Today I did this for my Secret Santa exchange at the office. I appliqued the top last night and I got all the trees sewn but when I went to do the trunks, the machine would not zigzag. Dang!! so I finished it by hand and quilted it today

I had promised myself that I would make a couple of Christmas runners last year to have as last minute gifts, but did I do it?? NO! I made this one at the last minute when I should have been making cookies and candied pecans, butter tarts and schnakens. Oh well. It will all get done one way or the other.

I decided to do one last final list. combine was was not done on the other lists with the new things I need to get dome. I had a little trouble or a little help which ever way you want to look at it.

Apparently pet the kitty is item one on the list.

I am going to wrap presents to night, finish the laundry and then this coming week finish off the baking that needs to be done. It will all get done one way or the other, it always does.

Michael's and their 50% off coupons got me again as I was in the store getting some yarn for a few project. They have such good yarn sales at this time of year and I have monkey hats and bottle cozy's to make that I can work on over the holidays. I also got these;

My round punch collection is complete. I have decided that that is my Christmas present to myself. I usually get myself something each year and this is something I wanted and I have used and will use. I bought the star punch for the same reason, I had a coupon and I will use it. I won't need every size like I did with the round, thank goodness.

This week the car goes back to the garage to get winter tires. I made myself afford them. I at last got the headlight fixed and got it winterized. I have never had winter tires but everyone says they make a big difference so as my car really needed tires I went for it. Did not have much of a choice.

SO the sewing machine is acting up, and the toaster oven is finished. the revenue office still has not sent me my tax refund  After Christmas I am going to have to remind them again they owe me money. The roof needs shingles and as I watch the frost build up inside on the windows I know those need to be replaced as well. Like the Christmas preparations this too will get done. all of it, one way or another.

I am off to wrap presents and no doubt have a wrestling match with the cats as I try to get that job finished.

Toodles
Linda

Snippets

I took Thursday and Friday off to have some time to get things done. I had hoped to do the baking but that has not happened yet. Do not despair!! not that you would anyway but I did get lots done otherwise

On Thursday I went shopping, got half the gifts that I needed to get purchased. I checked out the second hand stores and then came home. I made Christmas cards and made new name tags for my Christmas gifts. I got to play with my new circle punches (thank you Michael's 50% off coupons)

I will make more cards as I need to but these are a start. The new gift tags may not look overly impressive but they are cute little embossed hedgehogs giving gifts. I got to play with my embossing powder and the heat gun which was great fun. I love the magic of embossing powder.

I went out for supper with KitKat then came home a spent the evening knitting and crocheting on things that I cannot share on here. (Because they are for Christmas gifts, silly.)

Friday was the best of days. The Banker came and picked me up at ||||||9:30  on the dot. We started with breakfast at a snazzy trendy little coffee shop and had butter tarts for dessert. Breakfast dessert is something that should catch on, don't you think? Fortified with really good food and coffee we went out and went shopping. We hit all the little fancy shops and greenhouses we  could think of. We did a couple of antique stores and we had the best time. I managed to walk around more than I normally do which made the best day. I hate not being able to do as much as I want to so I was pleased I could keep up. We had yummy soup and biscuit for lunch at a local gift store/cafe then shopped more. We even hit Michaels again and I got a deal on ribbon to replace the bows on my veranda.

We then ended up at her place for a shot of Bailey's and a good natter, joined by her Sweet Baboo. Supper time rolled around and we went out with the No Cook girls. All of us were there so it was great fun, supper was delicious, then back to the Bankers place for a little Christmas get together. We played games, did a little gift exchange and ate dainties. Fun Fun Friday. I so enjoy days like that.

Saturday I was up and out inspite of the -31 degree weather. I finished purchasing my Christmas presents. I got groceries then one last trip to Michael's to exchange one of the round punches. I bought a scalloped one and it should have been plain. That accomplished I headed home. I hauled as much in from the car as I could that I thought would freeze then I quit. By today my poor legs were letting me know they were done with the walking about.

I made brunch for myself then finished a few of my crafty things..Desi and I manages a nap, Today, I have made one and a half monkey hats so far. I tied the bows for the veranda, I tied in a million ends on the knitting that I did. I finished some sewing and I chatted with Teddy Bear and her daughter as they came over to wrap the presents they had stored here away from prying little eyes.

Once again I have to admit I cannot be trusted with food stocking stuffers. I will have to replace one I got for my brother as I am currently snacking away on it even as we speak. I am such a child some times. Oh well it will be easy to replace it and its so yummy. One year I had to buy Lindor chocolates three times before they actually made it to the stockings.

So I did not get anything baked but that will happen this week. I can start to wrap gifts and finish decorating the house. It will all get done, it always does and I do have one more weekend before the big day.

I would love to have some more days off but its back to work tomorrow. Oh well these last four have been wonderful.

I hope your Christmas prep is going very well.

Toodles,
Linda

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