Everyday Ordinary Miracles

 Well first of all the temperatures have shifted from the -50 Celsius mark to + 3 today. That a miracle if anything is. Thwe great change has happened in the space of a week and I, for one, am glad, glad glad! So glad I actually took the garbage out this morning and brought some things in that have been rattling around in the trunk of the car for some months now. Yes I said months, shut up, I know what I'm like. I have no illusions about myself/

I actually think the biggest miracle in my life at the moment besides the trip to the car today in sleeping. I have no idea what is happening but I am eternally grateful at the direction this is going. Let me explain. 

For my entire life sleep and I have had an uneasy relationship, I always said I had to fight to get to sleep and fight to wake up. If I got to sleep an hour after I turned off the light I felt I had really done something. In my older, more mature years, having to pee made it so I could sleep for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a stretch before I would have to get up. Thankfully I could fall back to sleep in between but never a deep restful sleep, more little naps. HOWEVER, recently I have had a miracle occur. I am managing to get 4 to 5 to sometimes even 6 hours in a stretch. Can you hear the choir of angels singing?? I actually have dreams again. I missed them so much, I have amazing Technicolor dreams that are weird and entertaining at the same time. I have no idea what is happening but I am so glad that it is. Someone said maybe I am just now getting completely relaxed from no longer having to deal with work. I do not care what it is, just keep it coming!!

I completed my puzzle. What a lovely little rabbit hole that was. I could not make myself work on anything else until it was finished. I have a couple more in the house that I acquired some time ago but never put together. I will do them but I am not going to start them for a few days. I need to get some things done around here first before I loose myself in another puzzle.

Today I need to start to deal with the flat tire on the car. Its warmed up enough that I do not feel bad calling to have the tire changed. They will also not be swamped with calls in this weather. I need to  get this fixed because I have a grocery order due on Wednesday and I need to be able to go and get it. I do not like to have my car out of commission. 

That is about it I think, not much going on. The odd visit from friends, the odd trip out to the dumpster, I have neither been or done much. I got hog tied by a puzzle so options were really limited. 25 days since I have been anywhere. This pandemic and the cold winter weather have a lot to answer for/

Toodles

Linda

Not Since January 28th

 Except for the odd trip out to the dumpsters I have not left the house since January 28th when I went for groceries. I was going to go again but my car has a flat tire, I am not a happy bunny! So its sitting in the back on its flat foot thinking about what it has done. Actually its there waiting on the weather to warm, (so CAA is not so busy) so I can get it fixed. I had to get someone else to pick up my last grocery order. Once again, thank God for my super good friends.  I have not gone anywhere because without my own wheels I am grounded. It really has not been that bad, I am getting by quite nicely. Doing all sorts of things to pass the time. All things but actual housework.

My material arrived in the mail the other day so I am back to working on the latest quilt top. I have all the blocks done now I just have to add the sashing and get the flimsy finished, 

I also got enough flannelette to back a quilt top that I sewed last year, I think I will be able to get at that at some point this week. I am going to keep it for myself, unless I find a proper home for it,

My scrapbooks are finished for 2020 and I have already started to collect pictures for the 2021 albums. I have found a couple of old albums that I started years ago that I never finished, They are now on the "to do" list. I shall get them done at long last.

I finally scrubbed the stairs!! This may not come across as a big deal to the normal individual but its been on the list for so long. As always with me, its not a hard job but man I can turn it into one,

Lets see what else have I done? I made a double batch of bread this weekend, I actually like making bread, I just needed to remind myself how much.

Homemade bread is so yummy. I now need to branch out and try some new things in the bread line, like soda bread, English Muffins, Things like that

I was placing an order for yarn and while thumbing through the catalogue I spotted this jigsaw puzzle and it reminded me so much of a beloved, very missed friend

I could not resist it and without a second thought added it to my order. I have not done a puzzle in years. I'm baking bread and doing jigsaw's. There is no end to the Covid shenanigans at this house? Next thing I'll be making TikToc videos!

Toodles

Linda

Got some things done

 Well I am happy to say that I have actually got a few things done this last week. I still have not been anywhere because Covid..... but at least I have been accomplishing some things. The "to do" list has received a few strikes this week and I am pleased

I finally baked bread!! I am late to the Covid bread baking bandwagon but I did get it done. As always I made mountains out of molehills but the bread got made.

I turned this

Into this:

And in the end got this:

They are all gone, I could not help it. I love love love homemade bread and could not help but indulge in the bread. Slice by slice until it was crumbs.  I will make more again soon, I have all the ingredients and its really not a hard thing to do. Yes Busy it was not that bad! I had forgotten.

So bread making got crossed off the list, next came chair upholstery. I bought a 1950's chrome kitchen set some time ago and the chair vinyl was in rough shape. I bought material shortly after I retired to recover them and just now am getting at getting it done.

Still had the original vinyl on them. That came off and on went this: 

I did not get the back as tight and as flat as I wanted but I had good luck with all the other parts. A friend suggested using a hair dryer to heat the plastic backing on the material. 

Not sad to see the last of the duct tape but I would have liked to keep the yellow on the chairs. Oh well. I did get the back better on this one, practice makes progress.

My hair dryer died!! I had almost got this one finished and the dryer stopped dead and would not turn on. THE NERVE. I mean I have had it since high school, how dare it die on me!! So the chair recovering ground to a halt,.I have ordered a new dryer and should be able to get it tomorrow. It was only after I looked at this picture that I realized I had the seat on the chair the wrong way around. It has since been turned the correct way.

So starting to recover the chairs has been ticked off the list. Go ME

I got up on Saturday morning with pretty stiff and sore hands. Its understandable as you have to really pull when you are recovering curvy things. I have been hard on my hands over my life span so I need to be mindful when they tell me they need a break.  I decided not to crochet as that can bother them as well and turned to scrapbooking to give my hands a break. 

I am happy to say that I am finished (all but 2 pages) my 2020 albums. I did 23 pages over the weekend. Its so nice to have it completed. Normally this would have been done at a weekend with The Banker, KitKat and the Sailor but again Covid. I worked alone and got the job done. Alone is not nearly as much fun.

Scrapbooks off the list as well.

It feels good to be getting things ticked off the list. In the midst of the scrapbooking I finally sorted my stamp pad collection. Miss Mouse got me this rack and ink pads from one of her friends for a steal of a deal. I would not have this many otherwise. Some of them had dried up but most are still good. I have had it for a while and when I want a certain colour I just root until I find it. Well yesterday I wanted to do some stamping in my scrapbooks so I took this down.

I got out a stamp, the cleaner, some blank paper and went to town. I checked each pad, threw out the dried up ones and kept the rest. I then put them back in the rack according to colour now all the reds are together, the greens together, etc.

That was not on the list but it did need to be done. Next I have to do a bit of rearranging in the craft room to have it more accessible. Its so nice to have it all in order. 

I may just finish the last few scrapbook pages today and then that will be done and dusted until next year. I have to go for groceries tomorrow so I need to go out and plug the car in at some point today. This means that some of the garbage bags in the kitchen will finally get out of the house. We are having that bitter cold winter weather that we have avoided so far and I don't want to go outside anymore than I absolutely have to.

After that I have no idea what I will do. I should make a big pot of soup. I'm not all that keen as the kitchen is rather frigid due to the wind and the cold temps outside. Its not the best insulated place in the house and I really need to get myself some slippers, That floor is cold on bare toes. 

While it may not be interesting to anyone but me but I did get some things accomplished this week. So proud of myself!!

Toodles

Linda

What Can I say?

Well another week is done and here we are in a new week and a new month. Where did January go? I had a list of things I was going to start working in January. Somehow the month went by and only one of the list has been started. How can a person ignore so much, do so little and still have the time fly by? Its a mystery to me.

A while ago disaster struck at this house. I ran out of coffee. This is not good, infact it was panic inducing, I did have tea in the house so I managed but tea is just not the same as coffee. As a result I took steps to insure that this would not happen again in the near future. I bought 100 pods. I was not going to buy this many again as I am not thrilled with the fact that the pods are individually wrapped in plastic but needs must. This brand is very tasty and reasonably priced with compostable pods. That balanced out the packaging  as far as I am concerned, I need a cup of coffee first thing in the morning to get me feeling even remotely normal.

I cooked again last week. A miracle of astronomical proportions!! I found this quick and simple recipe for Celebration Chicken or Chicken in a Hurry., gave it a try and found it ok. Its not fabulous but I will make it again,

I am, as always, working on this meal making business. I really really am my own worst enemy. Why I cannot make myself do certain things I will never know. Its most annoying.

Not much else happening around here. I am still waiting on mail delivery to be able to continue working on my new quilt, or quilting an old quilt. The table cloth continues to grow, I have a sewing project to get going on, and a cupcake hat to make for a friend 

Other than that not much going on. The Banker and her Sweet Baboo have gone off to deal with things as his Mother passed away just recently and I have no idea when they will get back home. I do muss her weekly visits. Covid restrictions have loosened a little but it does not make much difference in my day to day existence. Teddy Bear came for Supper on Saturday night which was so nice,. Its good to have a live person to talk to now and then,

Well I cannot thing of another thing to either excite or bore you with, so I shall say good bye for the moment,

Toodles

Linda

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Just Another Day

My Tablecloth (because I have no pictures to share this time)

 Its cold and crisp and clear here again today. The temperature is in the -30's but the sun is shining. I do have to admit that knowing it is that cold outside and knowing I don't have to go out is as wonderful as I always dreamed it would be in all my working years. Retirement is awesome. My heart goes out to those who have to go out in the cold. Those who spend their days outside working and women going to work in Ladies dress pants ( those suckers are the coldest things going!!) especially. I feel so blessed to be able to snuggle into my house and stay warm.

As always not much going on around here. I did finish a book last night. Only the third I have read since the pandemic but my interest in reading is starting to pick back up again. I am working my way through the Cardinal Series by Giles Blunt. I just finished the second book. I am going to take a break and read one of my Christmas books before I start the third in the series. I watched the TV series and really liked it. So far the books are not disappointing. 

I have run out of white material so work on the current quilt has ground to a halt. I have 30 of the 48 clocks made.  I will order some material today. I also need to order some yarn for a project for my niece Miss Mouse. I am also going to get groceries tomorrow. I am really looking foreward to that as I will once again have coffee. I ran out a few days ago and I have been using tea. I love tea but it fails to give me the kick I need first thing in the morning, Coffee does that for me and I am looking foreward to having some in the house again.

Laundry is chugging away in the machine, the kitchen has been bossed back into order and I am still working on my tablecloth now and then. I have decided to spend part of my day, each day, putting things back in their proper place. One of my big downfalls is that I don't seem to put things away when I am done with them. It was the bain of my Mother's existence for all of my childhood. She did her best folks, but I failed to learn. Now at this ripe old age I am finally figuring it out.

I don't even have any pictures to share this week. Aw well, it is what it is

Take Care

Toodles,

Linda

Very Late or Very Early

I know, I usually post on Sunday or Monday but its Friday and I am just getting to it. Its because I am not overrun with blog material. Its like when people ask me "what are you doing?" I cringe. I am doing the same things day after day. A little housework, some crafting, some tv watching and the odd visit from a friend. Nothing earth shattering and nothing surprising and nothing out of the ordinary. I leave the house to get groceries and for the odd appointment and that is it. I am not complaining, its just that its not great for making an interesting post.

Finally all the stuff made it to the basement. The Banker stopped in and I put her to work. I could have done it but it would have taken me a month. She did it in a matter of minutes and its SO GOOD to have it put away. My house is a constant work in progress but it is getting done.

I have started to work on a new quilt. Its a scrappy one that will hope to make a bit of a dent in the stash. I'm not sure what I will do with it but I saw the pattern on Instagram and thought I would like to try it. Thanks to the wonderful tutorials on the Missouri Star Quilt Company YouTube channel I am learning more and more quick tips. I have been making quilts since I was 13 years old. I am always thrilled to find out new stuff.

I will always make quilts, I will make them until my hands fall off so I need to find a way to make use of them once they are made. My family and friends can only use so many. I have some ideas but I need to give it all some more thought. Donations? Selling? Etsy Shop? Facebook Market Place? I will figure it out and until then they can just pile up in the spare room.

I am working away on my tablecloth. Its so pretty and I am loving making it. Its something I have not done for a very long time and its nice to get back to it

I used my Indigo gift card that The Pilot gave me for Christmas and the books arrived yesterday. My heart flutters at a bunch of new books. When this pandemic hit and I retired I moved away from reading. I have only read two books in all these many months. Its just recently that I have started to want to get back into reading. I now have eight books in my "to be read stack" and I am itching to get at them.

So its quiet days filled with ordinary miracles. I am loving the fact that I am retired (in case I had not made that clear) that I can do what I wish without having to be at work. I feel so very very blessed.

So today will be quilting, crocheting and this weekend will be scrapbooking. Oh my its a hard life!!

Toodles

Linda

Onward and Upward

 So except for the things that have to go to the basement and the lights on the veranda, I think I have all the Christmas stuff back in its Harry Potter rabbit hole under the stairs. I do have to say it went back into place a lot quicker than it came out.

I am sorry to see it all go away, I like all the knick knacks and Christmas themed things about the house. Naked Christmas trees look sad. 

All the stuff makes the house look cozy and festive. I guess if it was up all the time I would not appreciate it as much as I do when it does all come out. 

We are still in lock down. We will be until the end of the month. This really has been a long drawn out affair. I am so grateful for the visits I get from friends. One person at a time and we take care to not get within 6 feet of each other and I have disinfectant on hand for clean up before and after each visit. So far we have stayed safe. I know we are only supposed to have one person to visit but I could not choose. I am vigilant about the other rules and no one is ever here when someone else is. Call me a rebel but its how I choose to roll.

I tend to be a solitary person normally so being home alone is not the worst thing in the world. I do have to admit that after these many months I so enjoy having a visit from an actual live person. Texting, Facetimes and phone calls are wonderful as well.How would we manage without them??  I am so grateful for each and every one. My heart goes out to those social butterflies that love to have people around them all the time. This must just be such a struggle for them.

I think I have my sleep pattern sorted out and I have gotten back to more normal. I am grateful for that. I have also started to read a bit more lately. I almost stopped reading when I retired and Covid hit. I find this odd because I finally had lots of time to poke my nose into a book. I also should mention that I LOVE to read, always have.  However I seem to currently think that YouTube is the best thing ever and I have been watching a mess of videos. Lately I am getting back to the books and trying to limit my time with the videos. I have a series of good books to read so I am happy with this turn of events.

Its rather hard to blog these days. When your life consists of staying home and being on your own its hard to find fodder for a post. Especially if you want to make your posts even remotely interesting.  I have some mending jobs to do for other people, so I have not started any new craft projects. I have a list of them but nothing to report about at the moment.

I still struggle with this meal making thing. I have no idea what my problem is. Well part of it is I am a lazy cook and the other thing is I can be as hungry as can be but not be wanting any specific thing. Its so weird. Today I have it figured out for supper (ham and scalloped potatoes) breakfast is never an issue but lunch is a major problem today. Sigh. I need to make some bread and then that would help a little with the problem. I cannot tell you how much I annoy myself. Other people I talk to are always making interesting things and have plans for what to have for a meal and I flounder. I am a mystery unto myself. I cannot figure out how I managed to create lunch everyday when I was working. 

Well I suppose I should go and see what I can scare up for lunch. I will leave you with this picture for no other reason than I think these little guys are the cutest things and make me smile everytime I see them.

Toodles

Linda