We Are Not Amused.

 This pandemic and the people that refuse to get vaccinated are getting right up my nose, on my nerves and are riding the ragged edge of disaster. Tater Tot's school has had an outbreak and he has been exposed of course. So far he has tested negative but still it scares the bejeebus out of me and everyone else. SO in order to protect everyone and do whats best, Miss Mouse, The Farmer and Tater Tot will not be venturing out here for Thanksgiving, Crap Crap Crappity Crap. I totally understand and I would never want them to do anything that would put them in jeopardy but that does not mean I can't be miffed about the situation.

Busy and The Carpenter called and we had a long chat. We realized that we were all on the same page. As much as we would love to get together, we decided its best to cancel this year and look foreward to another year. While I have no doubt that we made the correct decision, it doesn't mean that I cannot be having a childish pout about it all. I am so tired  of all this danger and the idiots that refuse to get vaccinated. I am over it. For all that will get me. There we go, Thanksgiving is up the spout for this year. I will continue to pray for the safety of all and set my hopes on the day we can get together again.

I have been making pumpkins because I have a few bare stair steps. I plan to make one more and that should have the pumpkin parade complete. I'm such a child but this sort of thing thrills me. I'm telling you my eyes lit up and my heart skipped a beat when the Banker mentioned the idea. I have no idea why I never thought of it myself.

Tomorrow we get the next Christmas quilt block pattern. Last week we got to make four cute little star blocks.

They were so fun to make. Some of the group are doing it all in shades of blue. I love that. Blue Christmas!! I half way wish I had thought of it but maybe another time. I'm using stash material to make this quilt so its going to be mostly red and green with a little blue included. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Do you ever have days where you question your sanity, I have them more and more. Last week the Nurse asked me to hem some drapes for her, No problem, It just that my sewing thread stock is running low. I needed to get grey thread. I placed an order to Michaels for said thread. At some point in that simple action, I just lost the plot, My first order (notice I said FIRST)

Do you see any gray thread? Well neither do I, One might as well make the trip worth while if you are going to do a curbside pick up so I ordered some other thread I needed, and some yarn, Well at some point I manged to either delete the gray or not order it at all because I did not get it and its no where on my order form. Crap

Why make one trip when you can make two?? I had to redo the order and go back again the very next day to get what I originally needed. I got some scrapbooking paper I really did not need but it was on sale. That will show me what is what.

I have moved upstairs in my continued "find it a home" project. I have actually discovered the floor in my bedroom once again. I would have taken a before and after picture but I honestly forgot. There is still a lot to do but it looks a zillion times better. So I have one guest room done, my bedroom about half done and the last quest room is a total disaster. Sounds like all things are normal here at my house.

I think now that my company is not going to be able to come, I will start some of the painting projects I have in the queue. I have had the supplies for a long time and now I may actually get going on it. Should  I burst into activity I shall be sure to  share the pictures here.

The Banker and I got our raffle basket ready to go this weekend. I think we did a great job. I want to win it.

We have named it S'Mores and more. Its full of treats, edible and inedible. We have just opened up the raffle this day. All the proceeds go to our local Safe and Warm Shelter. I hope the sales go as well this year as they did last. We managed to raise $400.00 last year.

Well I cannot think of much else to talk about and .I do think I need a nap. 

Toodles 

Linda

Tuesday Stuff

 Another week has come and gone and I'm not sure what I did but I managed to pass the time one way or the other. I still revel in the fact that I am not having to go to work. I can spend the days doing much as I please and I don't miss work, I have not found anything to dislike about retirement. The money could be better but in time it will be. So no complaints here, just a happy bunny bouncing around doing things that make her happy.

Speaking of making me happy, another block for the Christmas quilt has been completed. We got this weeks emailed today and I am itching to get going on that as well. This was last weeks pattern:

Two sweet candy canes to add to the growing pile. Apparently we are nearly to the half way mark on this quilt-a-long.

I did a bit of decorating for fall. I have a thing for pumpkins, I love them. We were chatting about pumpkins at No Cook one night and the Banker made a remark to the effect of "what you don't have enough pumpkins to go all the way up the stairs?". A light bulb went off, I never thought to put them on the stairs. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!

I am about four short to have some on every step. What a surprise! Not to mention that only two of them are not handmade by me. These are the soft pumpkins. If they get kicked down the stairs they will not break. I have a shit ton  several breakable pumpkins that are not going to live on the stairs. I also have the materials to make the four that are lacking. ( another shocker)

I  decided to just concentrate on the entryway this year. I think this is enough. Oh my I do love the fall.

I have started again to knit on my donation hats and scarves. I started on or before I retired  but then Covid hit and the shelter was not taking donations. I hope they will be able to this year. I find this is a good way to use up left over scraps of yarn.

I nearly have a garbage bag filled and I still have tons of yarn sitting about waiting to be used. Its great to sit an knit on these and watch tv. They are easy knitting.

I have discovered Pod Casts. Once again I am well behind the rest of the world but I am enjoying watching pod casts. So far I only watch the Crafty Toads and have started from the beginning, I try to get in one a day and they are all about knitting,  they make project bags and they are in two book clubs. I feel like they are my people. I know there are millions of pod casts out there but I am dipping my toe in slowly so far its been very enjoyable.

I made a Pokemon hat for a friend. As usual, no pattern, just a picture  so I gave it my best shot. It was a gift for a newborn.

The purchaser was very pleased and from the picture he shared of the newborn wearing it along with  Dad in his matching hat, I gathered they were pleased as well. That always makes me happy. I got a hug from the young man that commissioned it and he gives the best hugs of anyone I have every met. I have had several from him in the years I have known him and they are all memorable.

The house cleaning is coming along. Slow and steady. I have a long way to go but I have come a long way. Its what it always is. 

Toodles.

Linda

Bit of this, Bit of that.

For the last two weeks, Facebook has been serving me up memories of my trip to Ireland. Today I got the memory that it was our last day there and we were flying home. I am so grateful I got to go. It was a dream for so many years and then it became a reality. I treasure each and every memory, I love to pour over my albums of pictures and my scrapbooks,  I would go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance. Ireland holds a piece of my heart without a doubt. 

Aw memories! How blessed I am to have good ones,

The No Cooks did a road trip on Friday. We took a run out to a small town close to ours, just a half hour drive. The Banker had arranged for us to have a tour of a store there that showcases local artists. What a lovely place. Its the sort of store I love. In an older building, all the things displayed so nicely. Art and antiques, fabulous smells and wonderful colour to fill your senses. The owner was so gracious to open her doors for us after hours and let us meander about.

Personally I could have spent a ton of money in there. Sometimes its good to be on a fixed income. I did get a couple of things, a Christmas ornament and some of the most delicious candy ever. Lots of pottery and some beautiful wooden biscuit barrels that I wanted so bad but they will have to keep for another day. We then had supper at the wood fired pizza place and dessert at the new ice cream stand. That being done, we headed home. Well some of us did. Half of us had to wait on the CAA guy to come and give us a boost as we killed the battery. No harm done, we managed to chatter away until he showed up and gave the battery a boost. Poor guy, a half hour drive for two minutes of work. There was no one around or we could have gotten someone else to do it, we had  cables.  Small town, no traffic. Thank Goodness for CAA.

So I am up to date again on my Christmas Quilt blocks. These last ones were very cute, a little more challenging and yet not too bad. We needed to make four this time.

Mine are a little wonky but in the big picture they will be fine. Some day I should post the picture of what it will look like when its all finished. I have another top ready for a donation quilt. Finished sewing it on Sunday. I also have a top ready for a quilt for me. Its not that I need it but I spent more on the material than I normally would and have decided to keep it as a treat for me. I need to get some quilt batts before I can go any further. Again that fixed income business is rearing its annoying head.

Today was a day of ordinary miracles. I finally got myself to the bank. I have had a money order to deposit for literally weeks and I just could not convince myself to go. I also did not want to ask anyone else to do it for me. Its one of those things that I can do for myself. After the miracle trip to the bank I went and picked up my prints from the photographers. I also took the garbage and the compost out. I am so happy with myself that I am keeping on top of that.

To be fair I am totally aware that any or all of these things are no big deal, the rest of the world does them without thinking of it. HOWEVER in my world these are noteworthy accomplishments. I can with little to no effort overthink things and turn something simple into an overwhelming task. Sad but all too true. 

Our trip to the store on Friday night confirmed for me something I have been ignoring/denying for some time now. Thanks to Covid restrictions and my own natural laziness I have seriously lost mobility this last while. SERIOUSLY. It scares the bejeebus out of me. I am trying to get some of it back. I have been using my stationary pedals but again working with my laziness and the fact that it hurts does not make me eager to do it.. I also have to mention the fact that its like all things, so much easier to go in the wrong direction that it is to go in the right. Its like gaining weight, can gain in a blink of an eye but to loose takes serious work, and a serious amount of time. Sigh. I want instant results and I'm just not going to get them. Hense it being a big deal to make it to the bank and the photographer. I keep telling myself as long as I don't totally give up I am winning the game. My goal is to get back to where I was when I retired. If I can walk and stand that much I will be triumphant. Wish me luck.

Oh the trials and tribulations of my life. I don't want to moan and complain on and on about it. It is what it is and I just need to get on with it and deal with it as best I can. Its the cards I have been dealt.

Toodles

Linda

The Last Days of Summer

 I was going to do this post earlier in the day but I was busy this morning, The Banker stopped in for coffee this afternoon and I just now finished having my supper. Lots to do and lots to distract me from my schedule. I love when that happens,

Facebook has been presenting me with memories of my Ireland trip, EIGHT years ago!! I shared one or two with the Banker, because she shared that fabulous trip with me. Today she popped over for coffee and brought her Ireland scrapbooks. I snooped through hers and she did the same with mine. We reminisced and shared and had a great time. Ireland was the absolute best trip of my life. We had no bad days, just good days and better days. I could not have asked for better and its a very treasured memory. I still hang onto the vain hope that we can get to Scotland, it may be silly to do so but I am not giving up on that miracle. 

We had a lovely afternoon, reliving the best vacation ever, catching up on each other's lives, giggling, chatting and just spending time together. My goodness I cherish my friends!! I cannot imagine life without them.

This morning I was working on Operation Find a Home. Doesn't that sound fancy? Its really not. Its not some grand charity, its just me and my cluttered house. I am determined to find a home for all the things in this house that have no where to be but in the way. Things that have a home need to be put away in their proper place. New things need to be homed or they need to move on, WHAT A JOB !! 

I am making headway, its a slow and steady grind, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Dim and distant though it may be. So far I have found table tops

I have found the hutch!!

The kitchen actually has a floor, especially under the hutch and under the kitchen table. I have seen none of these spaces for ages. It feels fantastic to be winning this particular fight. I still have a long way to go but I am winning the battles with an eye to winning the war. The dining room is finished and the kitchen is ever so close to being done. The next in the sights is the living room, Go ME

As you could see by the dining room table I have started to bring out a few of the fall decor items. I hope to have this finished by the end of the week, Not sure I will haul it all out but enough to make the place look festive.

Today I got the new Christmas quilt block and its going to be a fun one, The last week's one was not all that much of a challenge but cute none the less.

This one is a candy stick and we only had to make one, The new block requires four to be made. I shall try to get at it tomorrow.

Tomorrow is grocery day, errands to be run and more work on the homing project. No rest for the wicked. If I get all the chores done, I can take some time to work on quilts.

Speaking if which I have started a new donation quilt. I worked on the top over the weekend and so far I am liking it,

It does not show up that well in the picture but its all in blues and has black sashing. Oh my its hard to work on at night but then I need to replace some burnt out light bulbs in the craft room. Regardless I have hit that age where black is not easy to work with without sunshine,

I think that is it for my news today. I hear my chair and a nap calling my name. I think I shall answer the call

Toodles

Linda

Quilting Frenzy

Ok before I get into the  quilting frenzy that was August I want to state that my new compression socks lied!! I bought those ones that they claim are super easy to put on. No more struggles to get your socks on!! Lies, Lies, all lies. As a dear friend pointed out to me, if they were easy to get on they would  not do their job. I had high hopes because oh my goodness I hate that fight with a total passion.  I now have new socks (which I did really need) and its back to the fight.  I am not happy.

Enough about that, on to the fun stuff. August was the month that I went into a complete quilting frenzy. I have started on the donation quilts,

this one is a queen sized 

and a crib quilt

This runner will be in the raffle basket for the yearly Safe and Warm Raffle

This one will be for me, I have to add boarders and buy some backing for it, then I can quilt it.  I bought a layer cake awhile ago and found this pattern that used every ounce of the fabric.

I liked the buffalo check runner so much I am currently making one for myself. I think it is super cute. My piecing is not perfect but that is ok. If you don;t look to hard it looks fine.

Its going to be narrower and longer and I am toying with the idea of binding the edges with red. I think that will look sharp.

This is last weeks Christmas quilt block. I am really having fun doing this quilt along, (I may have mentioned that before but it still stands.)

Today we next the next pattern for the week. I will be sewing that up as soon as I get finished with the blog. Its a fun way to get to use my stash of Christmas themed fabric.

The last year I worked I had a hard time to man handle file folders and my cane and all the other things I needed to transport around the office. I had a brain wave and bought myself one of those three tier rolling carts that they sell in craft stores ( and almost everywhere now)  it worked a treat. I tied a rope on it and dragged it all over full of files. It made my life easier. 

Then I retired and it came home with me. One more thing to find a place for. I was not sure that I even needed it now I was home but I like it. I did not want to get rid of it. For a year and a half  (or more) it has been in the dining room. Yesterday I decided to either find a proper home for it or it had to go. I don't think I need to tell you I found a home for it. Its in the craft room holding some scrapbooking and other supplies. 

I have things to put on that bottom tray, I just have not gotten them out yet. The other plus side of this new arrangement is I have an empty tote box, I have made some room in a cupboard for scrapbooks. Its really win win all around. Its such a handy little cart, it moves so easily I am glad that I could keep it.

This little rearrangement of the cart has inspired me to get going on working at putting things away. I have a horrible bad habit of just putting things down and not actually putting them away. I have been working on it but its something that I really need to improve. So now I am going to work on finding homes for things and actually getting stuff to the spot it should be. Not one the floor, not on a table, not behind my chair in the living room. I also need to get rid of  whatever it is, if there is no room for it. Its a big project and may take years but I am working on it.

The donation boxes went at last, they are gone from the dining room floor. Birthday Twin's quilt has been mailed and she should have it soon. The donation quilts will go in the near future. Its all good and its all progress. I figure when I give up working on all this I will really have a problem. As long as I keep chipping away at it I stand a chance. Lets be realistic, I will always have clutter and things. Its how I roll. A minimalist I will never be!! It needs to be managed and not let to slide over into hoarder territory. 

Toodles

Linda

Who Flipped The Fall Switch

 You can feel it, Fall is on its way. Its like we don't get the gentle season changes anymore. Nowadays its like there is a switch, someone hits it and bang the season has changed. I am not complaining, I love fall. Its my favourite season. I love the change in the light, the cool in the air, the colours and the list goes on and on. Pumpkin Spice, just pumpkins in general, I love it all. My plan is that at some point in the next week I am going to get my fall decor out and pumpkin up this place.

See these two jars. They have the gems in them that I was so desperate for when I was doing my mosaic stars. I knew I had some but could not find them,, or at least I thought I had some. I caved in and bought  some more because I really wanted to add them to the stars. WELL as it goes in this house, I bought some more, finished the stars and then found the original jar of gems. Now I have double the amount. Sigh. I work on getting organized and it seems to be that I will be working on that particular skill for a long time to come. Yeesh

Birthday Twin's quilt is all done, washed and today is getting packaged up to go in the mail tomorrow. I am pleased with the result and so is she. I sent her a picture because she could not wait to see it. The shirts blend well together and make a dark moody quilt.

I made a couple of other things for her from the shirts but I cannot show them just yet. She does not know about one of them and I want it to stay that way for the moment.

Today is the day we get the next block for the Christmas Quilt. Last weeks was candles and I managed to get them done right away. This week's is already waiting in my mail box. I can't wait.

One of my plans for today is to get today's blocks made. All the blocks so far have been cute and these next ones are living up to expectations.

Speaking of quilts, I have started on a crib quilt. It will most likely be a donation quilt. I did it in a pattern I have wanted to try for ages.

Its called tumbling blocks and thanks to the Missouri Star quilt templates and tutorials I found an easy method of making it. No Y seams. 

It just needs the binding and its done. A crib quilt does not take a long time to make. I am tickled with it and will for sure do another one at some point. 

I am so happy I had this idea to donate quilts. Its a great chance for me to try out patterns I have always wanted to do, use up my stash and give myself something to do. I need to get some more batting soon but that is about all. Thanks to generous friends I have lots of backing material. I have Ladybugs quilt squares to make and a couple of runners to do for fundraising baskets then I can get on with another donation quilt. I shall be stalking Pinterest looking for the next pattern to try out.

Well I should get myself off the computer and get at the chore list for today. Such fun!!

Toodles

Linda

Hello Monday!

 Right now I am in the craft room finding things to do so I can avoid my messy kitchen. It will get cleaned up today but right now I am procrastinating. We are back into the horrible heat and I am feeling sticky, icky and cranky, How fun is that? I do have say that I am in a much better frame of mind than last week and this heat is suppose to be gone soon. I can hang in until then,  I have chronic pain, that is a fact of life. I live with it and deal with it, every day of my life. Sometimes it gets to me and I start to feel sorry for myself and I need to vent. So far I can yank myself up by the bra straps and get on with it. So bra straps yanked and I am back on track for the moment. Just have to wait out this latest heat wave. 

Are these not the cutest little things?

These are the next set of blocks for the Christmas Quilt. I just love these little candy cuties. We get a new block via email every Tuesday so I'm looking foreward to tomorrow to see what is next. I imagine I will keep this quilt for me because I really need another quilt. (I nearly got that typed out before I started to giggle).

On the weekend I got ambitious and mixed up the grout for my mosaic stars. It is such a messy job, or at least it is for me. I need to do it outside from now on. The black stuff seems to get everywhere and my fingernails look like I have been gardening for days. Yes I usually wear gloves to do this but I could not find any on the weekend and used a bread bag to smooch out the grout. It was ok but not the best.  I do like the look of them now they are grouted, they turned out just as I wanted them to

The pictures are a little dark but its my talent for picture taking, (We have spoken of it before). Now I just need to paint the edges, add the hangers and they are good to go. My next mosaic project to to fix the sad little table I have outside the back door. That's a tale for another day.

More sad news for our family this last week, My oldest cousin passed away. Such a sweet, quiet, gentle being. He never said much but he did have a great sense of humor. He had a terrific record collection that you could listen to while your mom and aunt gossiped in the kitchen. I like Neil Sedaka because of him.  I still have the stuffed Santa Claus he won curling and gave to me so many years ago I do not remember not having this jolly old elf,

That's him, sitting on his chair in the entry. He has had a full body refresh because the original material rotted and I could not stand to throw him out. My cousin was truly a nice man and he will be missed but his pain and his battle have ended. Rest in Peace.

I am oh so close to having the donation quilt finished. KitKat was at a yard sale on the weekend and snagged me three sheets to use as backing on future quilts. I was thrilled. I can just feel my fingers itching to get stitching. 

Not a great big to do list today. Clean the kitchen, quilt and bag up the textile recycling and the garbage. needs to be taken out. Not a lot but enough that it has me hiding in the craft room and blogging instead of cleaning. I really am my own roadblock.

Toodles

Linda