An adventure

And Manitoba Highway construction made it so!  We drove for two hours out to Morden to hang a fibre show in the community art centre there. Hwy 75 is all chewed up with two complete lanes gone in places, one strip being almost 20 k. Six people and two hours and the show was up. So we all went to a local B&B restaurant called Bella's Castle.  A lovely lunch that we waited almost 40 minutes to have prepared (?)  Then it was across the street to the quilt store.  This is the same store from whom I bought the Kaffe Fassett fabric by mail just over a month ago.  I went in to see if I could get a stripe to match and I did, as well as a bit more of a couple of the colours.  ( I had only bought a 1/2 yd before)  Then David went looking for some corn, which he finally found, to bring home for supper.  It was back through the same construction  and home.  We stopped to buy me a small salad and him some butter for his corn, then home.  I hope he enjoyed his corn more than I did my salad.  That was one of the worst salads I've ever had!

While we were at the Gallery, I found a new "special" coffee mug.  I broke my last one a few months ago and haven't found anything the equal to it yet. I asked David to buy it for me, while I found out what my job was going to be, and he did, as well as a new wine goblet for himself.  My mug is redder than the picture hows, and his goblet is a warm brown.

So now we're both exhausted and ready for bed.

Casino Buffets

Your account of your trip made me think of the food we've had on such trips.  Any bus trip that included an overnight (or two) would stop at roadside cafes for a lunch on the trip there and back.  The leader and bus driver might get free food, but no-one else.  An overnight bus trip to Shooting Star would include a food voucher of $5-10, with two or three options for using it.  The "Red Eye" trips we took to Warroad would give us a food voucher for soup, sandwich and a one portion bag of chips.  The sandwich was usually two slices of white bread and a slice of cheese, but the soup was homemade and often wild rice and turkey--wonderful.  The best one we ever had was a Sand Hills.  We still talk about it.  We drove there and paid about $11-14, and weren't expecting much.  But there was a bus tour in that included the buffet and we stumbled onto  a full seafood buffet, including fried clams and salmon and all sorts of fancy rice and veggie dishes.  We even had the chef come through offering us lobster tails.  If I remember the desserts were excellent as well.

Club Regent no longer has a buffet, just a restaurant/sports bar (you've eaten there Beth) and a small selection of bar food, in a different location.  There is an ice cream bar (best cheapest ice cream anywhere in town)and a McDonald's as well.  We've had some digestive issues after eating anywhere but the ice cream bar, so rarely eat there any more.

Not much going on here today.  I even found time for a nap this afternoon.  We have a trip to Morden tomorrow to hang a show, and will be having lunch at a B&B restaurant with the other people helping with the hanging.  We should be home well in time for supper, though.

Quite a mix in the kitchen???

Ribs and Eco printing for dinner you say..... Must have been quite a mix for you both - I know I have to exit our kitchen frequently when our two minds begin their own thing and want to create...not enough space to work together anyway haha!  I assume the ribs tasted just fine.......
Another pleasant day for us on the bus trip yesterday. I mentioned that the contracts (between bus lines and the Casino) were being negotiated and so we found out the results. There will no longer be a free Luncheon Buffet offered. Instead the casino will load $10.00 onto your card to play the slots. As well, the current 1% offering of points accrued for money spent on the machines, will increase to 5%. This all takes effect in September. Many folks go for the Luncheon offer although I do not see that attraction. So it is expected many will now not sign up to go. The organizer of our Bus trip says that she needs at least 40 people to sign up and actually come, and if numbers dwindle she will choose to discontinue the Bus trips completely. (Maybe someone else might step up to coordinate but she will be out she says - she is also struggling with cancer and treatments, so maybe that is playing heavy on her mind) There were only 30 people on this particular bus and that was with first pickup in Sundridge, and then stopping in three other towns going South. So we signed up to go on the trip the end of September, but may find it cancelled. We'll take a chance. 
A wee bit of rain last night but not enough to even wet things down. Harry has started to cull the tomato plants already which may help to pace out the work required in the Fall to clean things up, I hope it will not be a real chore again as it falls on me mostly and I am getting a bit tired of it all, I have to prepare for winter and snow removal and roof clearing etc so know the plants and pots have to be moved but to where? I have to trim back all the plants in the flower gardens as well so that I will be able to move the snow back off the driveway easily. Even talking about winter now sends a chill up my spine haha!  My first job though starting today perhaps is to clear in the sun room at the back of the house to have room to place the indoor plants that will have to be brought back in soon - the nights will start to get colder so they will have to find refuge once again inside. One night last week it went down to 5 degrees overnight so that is telling me to prepare now!
So it is the last hooray as they say with the long weekend upon us, bringing s close to summer, and the schools back in business and yes, Pati, the leaves are changing colour here as well and falling. 
Enjoy and take care folks. 

If it weren't for bad luck----

A crazy day.  Fall is fast approaching, and leaves are falling more and more all the time.  I really wanted to try my eco-printing once ore, so decided that if it weren't done today, it would be too late.  A quick breakfast and I was out gathering leaves from all over the neighbourhood, with my white wicker basket over my arm and and my clippers at hand. ( wonder what the neighbours think--don't care) Got two bundles tied up--a little looser than the last time--and set up my "cauldron" ( canner) on the stove with the timer set for two hours.  Turned around and there was David cutting up the ribs we bought to make Daddy's rib recipe.  Now, I believe that it isn't a good idea to mix utensils used in my crazy stuff with cooking utensils, but this time I was really caught between a  rock and a hard place.  Then we discovered that we had no onions, so David headed off to the store and suddenly I was making B-B-Q ribs.  A bit of a juggling act until I could get the ribs into the oven, to brown off, then to  in the sauce, that had been cooked on top of the stove (along with the cauldron of eco-printing), and then into the slow cooker. Unfortunately, despite my best effort, this printing didn't turn out much better than the one last week.  Out of 5 bundles of printing I got one really good print and a lot of marginal prints.  The special fabric I use isn't cheap, and I don't think I want to pursue this again.  I have enough coloured fabric, if not printed fabric,  to make a hanging, and that's what I was aiming for, so that's it.

Later, when I was finally able to get down into the studio, I discovered that one of the fluorescent lights was out.  Unfortunately, when we tried to fix it, the actual fixture broke.  This means getting an electrician in to replace it, and we both have a hunch that it isn't replaceable in the same size.  Ka-a-aching!

I don't know if I mentioned that the squirrel(s) have found that earth in the flower gardens that has been dug up and weeded is really good for digging very deep holes in. Anytime David sees this, he patiently goes out and fills them in, but we mentioned to each other, in passing, that it is the nature of squirrels to dig holes in the fall to bury seeds.  We've had a lot ( a lot!) of rain lately and haven't been out in the garden, but this morning when I was searching for leaves I noticed what I thought were sunflowers sprouting in the garden with the Lady Slippers.  Yep!  A whole bunch of Sunflowers almost 8 inches high.  So, David has patiently weeded those out as well.

Last evening, just before bed, I watched Lat Homely House, and heard her refer to a series of videos where she described the process of making a journal, so I searched them out.  I was quite interested, but her description of the process was so painfully detailed repetitive and slow, that I couldn't finish any one of the four.  I do plan to go back, and find my way directly to the description of the stitching of the thing together, but I don't think I'm going to be making any journals her way.

And now we're both exhausted after a busy day, so I wish you well, and look forward to hearing form you both again.

Nice...

Glad to hear Pati ...peace of mind is what I am paying for monthly for the Geek Squad - protects the computer and helps by phone when there is a problem. It is worth it for me as we always seem to have some issue that I have had rectified by phone - they "take control" of the computer (scary). The only problem is that the Geek Squad has no jurisdiction for our third party Service Provider ( Ontera) so I have to deal with them separately if it is a modem issue which has happened several times.
A wee bit of rain all day yesterday but it really did not amount to that much precipitation overall. I'll see today if it made a difference in the garden.
I get my hair cut this morning - always a reason to celebrate haha! And then to Casino Rama tomorrow on the bus. I am looking forward to the trip - it makes for some excitement. Now I must check to see if the dear old pensions have been posted and then pay some bills. Always a treat at the end of the month.
Hope you get on to the blog soon Pati and that this unfortunate experience will be rectified to your ongoing satisfaction. 
Take care

Just a quick note

I'm in the Gallery this afternoon, and have discovered that I can access the Internet.  Having made the decision to spend money on our internet problem, we have bought a one year plan with the Geek Squad that will have someone come out on
Wednesday to set our two machines up, and then unlimited access by phone for the rest of a year.  We really can't afford it but then our peace of mind is priceless. So, by Wednesday evening, we should be back in business.  Thinking of your both.

Quiet here right now...

...but Harry is intimating that he wants to cut down the crabapple tree tree in our yard that died this year. It is one of the very first original trees we planted and produced beautiful apples for most of it's years. it is by the fence between our yard and the Dutch neighbours which mean I am sure I'll have to go into their yard to be the "assistant" cutter downer. I need to get an electric cord out from the house to the tree so I plan to put it out the back door - it will reach because it is the one I use in winter from the house to the greenhouse. Hope it goes well???
You and I are both cleaning up by the sounds of it Cathy. In my case I tackled the kitchen yesterday. Started with my shelf of Tim Horton mugs which I like to switch around occasionally just for variety. But then my ambition extended to the little pantry cupboard and then to the cupboards under the counter and by then the day was done except for a little time I call "happy hour" for myself. I bought a bottle of white wine some time ago and have a little glass most every day ( not every day) and celebrate "happy hour" .
I received an email from my friend Sue who is again organizing a Luncheon with some of 'the old girls" for late October.  I always look forward to these get togethers just to see them and enjoy some wonderful talk and laughs. Each has her own life style - all completely different from mine by the way, and I often just like to sit and listen to their stories to appreciate 'the other side of life" so to speak - do you know what I'm trying to say? I come home refreshed and alive and ready to jump into my "life style" again so it really is a positive experience for me.
Tomorrow I go for my hair cut ( not too soon either haha! ) and then to the bank to turn in our rolled coins for paper money to take to the Casino Rama on Thursday. I have not save too much this onth in coins but I may supplement my takings and top it off a bit but I will never spend more than I take so I have some control. I am looking forward to that trip as well - it is like an 'escape" isn't it??
Well, some breakfast, then on with the day.   Take care

All is quiet here

We did get about 1 1/2 inches of rain overall.  Much less than they forecast, but still it was rain. I took advantage of being inside and cleaned out under the basement stairs. Interesting, the stuff you tuck away and forget about.  I found an unopened gallon of paint with the |Sears delivery label still attached.  I bought it in 1994!  I wonder if it is still good?  There were 3 part tins of deck stain. ( We bought 2 new ones this year)  Two big storage bins of blankets. And two empty bins that belong to Pati.  I keep forgetting about them when I see you.  Sam dropped off some vegetables yesterday. I blanched the purple cabbage, and did you know it dyes the water the most beautiful shade of blue?  The beans were getting a bit old, but I cut them into small pieces and marked them for making soup.  Sam also notified us that a bear had been behind the garage eating the chokecherries!  The ground was all trampled and the bushes there had been stripped.  I guess now I know what the dogs have been barking at.  There have been bear sightings both east and west of us, and we think it is the same bear just marking out his territory. It could be a pretty lean winter for the wildlife this year with the crops and pasture being so poor. I can hear Jim outside cutting pieces of wood.  I wonder what he is up too? I shall have to investigate 😈

Out of action??

Pati seems to be without internet right now. Amazing how we come to depend on the internet for our ongoing conversations and communications. But never fear Pati, we shall carry on and you can catch up when you can. Hope that will be soon - real soon! Take care

Life IS funny....

Your tale of woe strikes so many cords with me Pati and I think it is because we all go through similar times /days/events that get us worked up tighter than a fist. But then as with everything else, it somehow dissipates and we look back on it with some enlightenment ( hopefully) and a pledge to our self not to let it happen again. HA! The only sad part of it all for me is that I feel I am all alone on these particular journeys. Perhaps I should now think of my "sisterhood" and realize we have support out there. It is times when I would like a big hug and smiles all around. I shall have to try to visualize that with you folks during my many like episodes. I am happy that you are able to express your feelings so well - thank you.
Another day begins. No rain so we water. I spoke with the neighbour over the fence yesterday - he said he did not want to insult us but our tomatoes are not producing this year. I agreed with him mentioning that we had flowers but no fruit came along. So he said to me "why do you water then? " Gave me pause......
The dehydrator is still going full tilt in the kitchen. More onion powder. Yesterday Harry went to the Agricultural Market and brought home lots of goodies including a big container of succulent blueberries. Yummy. I just had some on my cereal.
Better go and get at it. Will be thinking of you both today. Pati at the changeover in Selkirk and Cathy at home. Sorry to hear that Jim's friend is so ill. I met him at the Legion once - and I know Jim's deep friendship with him goes way back. Take care

Life is funny

I'm exhausted.  I didn't even have the urge to go to my studio--the place and work that usually grounds me.  Instead I'm reading a book by Debbie Macomber ( I know, I know---) She often deals with life and the things that cause disturbance in life.  this time we are dealing with a woman and her daughter who is away at college for the first time, and living in dormitories.  the daughter has had an embarrassing experience and rushed home to Mom,  declaring that she can never go back.  All of the cliches and comments Mom makes are so appropriate to my experiences over the past few days.  I guess we see these things all the time in our reading, but only when something is appropriate to an instant in your life do you really understand what is being said.  So here I am relaxed and drinking wine ( I knew better than to head for the hard stuff tonight--I would have finished the bottle and I have an early morning tomorrow)  and all of this advice is so-o-o right in the context of my life.  OMG!

The best of times and the worst of times

We all go through them. Sometimes I find it easiest to step back and observe my own reaction to such things. I observe that physical decline does not occur in a gradual slope, but rather in a stair step manner.  Or is it that we aren't aware of the decline until something happens that makes us aware.  Both David and I had appointments with the prothetist for fittings of our leg braces Thursday morning. I also took the opportunity to replace a couple of the new fabrics I've been working my way through, since we were in the area.  There were a few physical issues, and a few contentious decisions to be made. By the time we got home, I didn't want to see or talk to anyone.  I was in a stinky mood for the rest of the day, and that turned into a bad case of the blues.  So Friday was spent in a lot of negative soul searching.  Do you know how exhausting something like that is?  At the same time, getting to sleep once you're in bed becomes an issue all of it's own.

A whole separate issue, but adding to the blue mood, was that tomorrow (Sunday) is turnover day at the both the Gallery and the Gift shop in Selkirk.  My friend Gail is a vendor at The Morden Corn and Apple Festival all weekend, so I agreed to pick up and then delivery her gift shop items--and she has a lot of them! She sent an e-mail say that she would deliver them to me at 7:00 this morning on her way out to Morden.  I didn't get to bed until almost 1:00 but set my alarm for 6:15 by mistake instead of 6:30, and was up, dressed and sitting in the kitchen waiting for her by 6:30.  The door was open and the outside light was on, and I sat by the door reading the paper.  Come 7:30, I was getting a little po'd with her, and opened my computer to send an e-mail (knowing she would receive it on her phone)asking what was going on.  There was an incoming e-mail from her saying that she hadn't wanted to wake me, so had left her stuff outside the back door. It had been sent at 5:58.  I sent a reply and got a response with great apologies.  She had meant that she had to be out in Morden at 7:00.  I will forgive her, as her Mother has been very ill, and I know what a strain it has been on her, but I must confess to really being annoyed.  I undressed and went back to bed just before 8, and slept until noon. After getting back from coffee and Staples, I spent the rest of the afternoon getting all of my stuff ready to go to Selkirk tomorrow.  Turned out to be a lot more work than I had thought, but it's done.

After I got up, I mentioned that I would like to go to Staples today as I need to do a little printing, just a couple of pages. Well David really questioned me about that  and I reminded him that I hadn't been able to print  off our computers since he bought and installed the new printer, as it wouldn't communicate with either of our computers.  Prior to that I had to send everything to his computer by e-mail, so that I could print from there, as the printer had never communicated with mine.  A bit of an annoyance, as I do most of my computer work in the kitchen.  So he has spent most of today at Best Buy trying to get his computer set up with our printer so that we can print here.  Turned out that we needed a new printer, that the previous "new" one was totally the wrong one for our set-up.    But they refunded the money, and sold him a less expensive model that they assured him was compatible.  The difference in price was put toward paying the Geek Squad guy to install it.  Turns out we needed an upgraded internet modem from Shaw, and David didn't make it to the store in time, so will have to do that tomorrow.  But both of our computers should be good to go, once that is set up.

So now it's after 7:00, and David is just getting his supper.  He has two football games to watch this evening, but my regular tv programs are not on, because of a PBS Pledge break.  I wonder if I can work off some of the blues cutting fabric?  At this point both of us are too tired to argue!  A Good Thing!

Garden and produce

It seems to be a less than ideal year for us here as well - oh, we have lots of plants and much work, including watering, but few to no cucumbers, a few nice green peppers, and the tomatoes are slowly developing. I made another batch of juice last evening to get rid of a bowl of little ripe ones sitting on the counter. There are some nice big green tomatoes on some of the plants - maybe I should make green fried tomatoes??
We went to North Bay yesterday - Harry needed a pair of dress shoes to go to this wedding on Sept 7 (his nephew from sister Donna) We got a pair at Rebuilt Resources - new and black and they fit and they were $5.00 so what more does he need haha! I pulled out two suits and a white shirt but have yet to have him try either on - it has been years since he even wore a suit. But he is not really keen on even going although we have to, so why should I worry about it? I have my outfit ready and I am having my hair cut next Wednesday so I shall be presentable (from my perspective anyway) 
The hardware store on Osborne. I think we all have great memories of that store. Now Pati, I clearly remember your jacket. And as you mentioned it, I had a big smile on my face realizing that there is a picture of you wearing it. I do not know where this picture is??? Either I have it in a box here or else one of you had it and it was seen in the recent past at one of my visits. I intend to check some of my boxes of pictures soon to see if I can spot it unless one of you knows you have it ....? anyone?
My cleaning up in my "studio" has been tough as I come across a box or two or three with projects and sit and fondle the work and wish I could jump right in and complete. And boxes of notions - ribbons, laces, handkerchiefs/linens, rubber stamps, hexies, and more yo yo's than could ever be used in a lifetime haha!  I really got carried away with yo yo making at the time - I think it was because it was a project one could sit and do off and on, and it took little space. So it fit my life perfectly. But what now ?  And boxes of knitting needles, and crochet needles and notions, and it stirred up a great urge to create.  Pati, you must have been feeling all these same emotions recently as you went through your treasures, right? And cathy I know how you tresure your books so it is the same here. I have boxes of books that i want to keep and no where to store them. I keep thinking that sometime in the future I'll be able to enjoy them - but not now. And I wonder now when that "sometime" will be haha!  Anyway, it is a nice escape while while I am in the zone. 
Now back to reality. Weekend is here and the wash needs to be done and the housework piles up and Harry just bought another 10 lb bag of onions to dehydrate and on and on and on....Take care

It’s raining!

It was in the forecast but the forecast has been wrong for months!  It is supposed to rain all weekend. I know it is too late for this year’s pasture and crops but it might be a start on creating a moisture base for next year. I remember that store too. There were clothes on the south side and more stuff (hardware?) on the north. I used to love wandering around whenever we went in there. Daddy bought me a camel hair skirt and jacket there. I loved it soooo much. Even after I grew out of the skirt I wore the jacket until I just couldn’t fit it anymore.  We had our once per year hotdogs for supper. I know I will regret it by tomorrow but you have to do it at least once a year. I dug the last of my potatoes yesterday. It was like digging through concrete. The ground was so hard. Some of the plants didn’t even have one potato. Another year with a garbage garden. I did find one 2 inch cucumber today. Not bad from 24 plants ☹️  Jim went to visit his friend Stefbin Brandon hospital yesterday. He broke his hip on June 26, and then got blisters on his feet from his diabetes and then last Friday he had a stroke. The nurses warned him that he was having trouble communicating but Jim says he didn’t even seem to realize Jim was there. Not a good visit. We have finished pet sitting for Rodney, but I will miss that kitten. All she did was cuddle and purr. And now I sit with a full grown cat sleeping on my lap. Some things just make you feel good. 

The store

I think we used to buy it in a hardware store that was on the west side of Osborne in the block South of Morley.  I remember the family that owned it--was their name Afflek? Did they not live on our block on the other side in the house next to the older DeWolfs, towards our house?  She had terrible Rheumatoid Arthritis and was badly crippled up.  They ended up selling out, and the store was turned into what would be a discount department store now, like Giant Tiger.  I remember working a full wee in the canteen at Riverview Community Club to make enough money to buy myself a black jacket with white vinyl sleeves, and bought it at that store.

Zipper pulls

Hundreds of them.  Zipper pulls on everything.  They worked pretty well, too.  David remembers as well, but we don't remember the term boondoggle.  I'm sure we called it something else.  Maybe you can revive the zipper pull idea and make a little "pin money", Beth.

Boondoggle keychains????

Do you remember when we were young buying the plastic tape and making the braided keychains and necklaces etc.  Over the past few years I have saved this tape ( called Rextape) that has come into the house from various places (garage sales, dump) and last week a whole bag full of spools appeared which prompted me to look it up on the net. There they refer to it as boondoggle although I do not remember calling it that?? - and I found some simple easy to follow instructions on how to start a piece and then braid it. I may just try this out when I get a moment. I clearly recall running up to Osborne St to a store that sold it in different coloured pieces and then trading pieces with friends. It was the rage at that time - I wonder that it is still around, or maybe making a comeback??? Just thinking out loud to myself as I was watering outside, and thought I would share it, and perhaps you folks might know more than i about it especially since you have young ones in your families.
Back to watering!!!!!

Poor you....

The 'contentment" came with "sitting" by the fire pit - not jumping into the firepit. But what a terrible, scary scenario you describe Cathy.  How are you managing now? And to think of your mind jumping back so long to Caddy Lake. That event must have really had an impact in your life - even if it remained dormant for so long. Funny that I too, have memories from Caddy Lake that are not all happy - many events I remember that I think now probably played heavy on Mom and Dad at the time ( as result of my actions while so young).
Today is clean the bird cages day and I am now half way through - thought I would take a break and have a coffee and check for messages. Last few days ( since last Thursday actually) I have had back issues - really bad this time enough for me to sneak into Harry's T 3 supplies to try to alleviate some of the spasms and pain and mobility issues. Not so bad today so I am hoping the worse is perhaps past.  I must do some watering as well since the promised rain has not come - seems to be a regular event Chance of showers and thunderstorms  turns into nothing!!
Harry has a dehydrator full of fruit leathers right now - we bought tons of fruit yesterday and blended it all and there it is drying now.
Leaves little room/ space in the kitchen to do much else so other chores may actually get done today - for example watering haha!
Best to go and finish up the little birdies. Look after yourselves - both of you - hope your day will bring something nice to celebrate.

Fire

The fire evening started good but ended bad. Jim had brought out a blanket to block the breeze.  As I stood up my foot caught on the blanket and I fell towards the fire pit. I contorted my body wildly and flung myself away from the fire. It vividly brought back the memory of tripping on the fireplace at Caddy lake. It’s funny that that is went through my mind as I avoided the fire. I remembered the feeling as I fell and that was 60 years ago! I ended up with just my leg hitting the rim of the fire pit and getting about a three inch burn on my leg. The bruises and muscle strains from flinging myself backwards are what hurt! You should see my butt! ( or maybe you would prefer not to😊). On a brighter note Jim had his scope yesterday and got the stents out. His stomach hasn’t hurt him since and it was pretty sore for the last couple of weeks. And on an ever brighter note I got my hair cut today. I was beyond desperate and don’t know why I waited so long. My bad ☹️

Sitting around a fire....

,,,,and relaxing beside a lit fire pit equals contentment. Fire ban here so no fires to light, but I did sit by my fireplace and I pretended. That brings some contentment as well.
Just came in from watering (sounds like an old song repeated often haha!) The weather mentions a "chance of showers and thunderstorm" but one never counts on the forecasts any more. But I set up the drain pipes just in case.
Yesterday we did have some rain so I called it a 'rain day" and pulled out my hexi topper to do some work. By chance, my supplies are all in my owl bag so with your message in mind Pati, I checked all my seams around the zipper etc and so far mine seems to be intact. But with your warning I shall keep checking. I have found it to be a durable bag so far - I plan to check the Dollarama when we go shopping this week to see if they still sell the bags.
Made some tomato juice this morning - first batch for this year and I am sure many more batches yet to come. Harry started to pull apart some of the deadish/non productive plants today particularly in the small greenhouse where usually they are prolific but not this year. It just seems like a bad year all around.
Will be thinking of you and Jim tomorrow Cathy as you travel to Brandon. You mentioned it was a two hour drive - somewhere along the way I had it figured for just a little over 1 hour, so now I feel even worse for all that travelling back and forth you did alone during his crisis. I'll pretend to be by your side at Tim Hortons and we can enjoy a tea together! 
I better go now and put the birds to bed. I may have time to read but these last few nights I have been so tired from outside work that reading just had to be put aside.  My Library book is due Sept 12 so I better get at it.   Take care   
ps Re: last Homely House postcards - the stamped borders were a nice addition to the back side - is that what you were thinking Pati when you mentioned wanting to have the stamps - you would use them to decorate your cards?

Contentment

Cathy, it sounds as though you're experiencing a moment of contentment.  When one is working there often isn't enough time to experience this, but after retirement, you can often just take a moment to look around and relax a little.  Not necessarily happy, but content within that moment.

On another note....

The neighbours gave us a mouse trap they built from the internet. They built themselves three for their sheds. So far we have caught 6 mice and they have caught none. I would be gloating but that means we have way more mice than them. And now I sit outside by by the fire watching the humming birds fight. It doesn’t take much to amuse me

Saturday

i am sitting outside by the fire right now but the temperature is dropping so fast the fire isn’t keeping up!  I am not giving up though. I will stay outside until I can’t read anymore.

Watched a video from Kate today

She was making postcards, to send to patrons for her Last Homely House East of the Sea videos.  I like her rubber stamps very much and would love to have some, but she put the cards in an envelope to mail.  Maybe she made that choice so that she could include her rather lengthy message, and not have put put an address on the card. Or maybe she was aware that, at a least in Canada, maybe not Great Britain, you can't mail a card with glitter on it, as it "gunks" up the machinery.

Well, another week slips by

I did absolutely nothing this week. We got our new stove delivered. Did you know they no longer have plugins in a stove and there are no longer user manuals for GE appliances. The quick reference guide keeps telling us to refer to the user guide on the website, but there is nothing there. We had Aaron over today to level our stove and he told us there are no longer user guides, no matter what our quick reference says. So, as he tried to level on our uneven floors he tried to answer my questions.  I now have a convection oven (which I did not realize). With the help of a shim it is now leveled (the fault of the floors, not the stove). Jim went to meat draw. He did not win the chase the ace. (Someone else did). He did not win meat or a table draw, but he did win the 50/50 ($184.00!). Our garden is useless, but Jim says people at the meat draw had the same complaint. (Lots of flowers, no fruit). We did get a tomato from Sam. Toasted tomato sandwich for breakfast today. I did get a few Roma tomatoes from our garden. Jim goes to get his stents out on Monday. I guess I will just sit around the hospital until he is done. (At least 4 hours). I have no where to go and it is not worth going home (driving two hours for an hour at home) but I did go to the library today and I have two kobos so I am good. I will hit Tim’s for a bagel and tea and read the rest of the time. Hopefully this is the last of the worries. Keri got her voter registration card today... “Rain Lorrain Prior”. We are not   This cat sure where that came from but she will correct it before the election. They didn’t even spell Rrain right!  I got a text this evening from a former co-worker. She thinks the neighbours cat was hit by a car. I sent her the neighbours name and she called and left a message. This cat came into the office every chance she got. We even had pictures posted of her as “Honey. Protector of land titles everywhere”. It is sad if she is gone, but she was very old. Still a significant passing. 

Oh NO! My owl bag ripped

The lining frayed right along the zipper seam.  Of course we immediately went to Dollarama to get another one, and were excited when we saw our familiar owls.  But--they have redesigned the bag without a zipper, and with some form of convoluted rope drawstring.   Quite incomprehensible.  Now I have to pend time trying to repair the old one.  Boo hoo.

Week? What Week? Must have missed it! (long)

And that is my feeling about things this morning.  I have experienced three late nights in a row, and am fairly "punch-y" today.  Wednesday evening was my Fibre Art Divas meeting.  It was held at a newly built house very close to the West Perimeter and Wilkes Ave.  Never having been there, I "Googled" the address for directions--big mistake!  Google always gives the directions for the shortest route, not always the fastest or simplest.  What's more the directions were given for Metro route numbers and compass readings in hours, minutes and seconds, not streets.  So I messaged other group members and asked for help.  Finally I got something that made sense from the hostess. It was still 45 minutes around the Perimeter, in the dark coming home when I was tired.  Bonus, coming home, I made it into Starbucks 10 minutes before closing to make my second purchase of the day.  More about that below.

Then yesterday was a comedy of mis-communication.  Maybe I should have titled this post as "Starbucks and Gail's mother".  We had agreed that Gail would pick me up and we would travel together.  She even cleared space in her van to accommodate my little suitcase of goods.  Gail's Mother is 98 years old and in a personal care home.  A few of weeks ago she drove her electric wheelchair into the elevator wall and broke her leg. Wednesday, Gail let me know that they believed she had developed a pressure sore under the cast and that Thursday the doctor and a specialist would be visiting to perhaps remove the cast, modify the treatment plan, and that family should be in attendance.  Family in this case usually means Gail, as she is the only daughter.  No time frame for this.  Gail might not make it in time for the sale that started at 5:00, with set up at 4:00.  Contingency plans made for David to travel with me. Gail and I  had a very short, confused phone conversation Thursday morning, while she was with her Mother, but confirming that she would be here on time--3:15.

Now, I'm in a "Dash" with Starbucks, which requires me to make 9 purchases over 7 consecutive days, for a big reward of free food and drink.  But I have to do this after 2:00 pm.  And there has to be a reasonable time gap between two purchases in one day.  So I had given up any expectation of making a second purchase yesterday, knowing that the sale ended at 9:00, and we would still have to pack up and drive back to Winnipeg.  Anyway, at about 2:01, as I was ordering my coffee--quick to go coffee, my phone rings.  For the very first time in my life, I am carrying the phone in my pant pocket.  Never have I done that before!!  It was Gail, at our house, wondering if we had mis-communicated, and if David and I were heading for Selkirk, thinking she couldn't make it.  She had seen us turning onto Monroe as we left for Starbucks. I just asked her to relax and wait there, and that I would get my coffee and be home asap.  In my surprise and confusion, I didn't mention that David had headed to Lowe's to pick up soil, and I would have to wait for him to come back to get me.  Got my coffee, sat down, and no sign of David.  so I called her and told her what was going on, and she decided to join me at Starbucks.  We still had to wait a bit for David, but finally headed back to the house.  Since she was almost an hour early, thinking she had said 2:15, we had a bit of time, and he was willing to let her help him move two very heavy bags of soil out of the car trunk.  She of course is in her good clothes in preparation for the sale.

Anyway, we made it to the sale.  I hadn't wanted to bother with my very heavy purse, so had moved the essential cards and ID etc to the smaller one.  Once we were set up, and there were a few minutes before the sale, I decided to go over to Safeway and buy a bottle of water to see me through the evening.  I'm paying for my water and looked just beyond the till, and there was an in-store Starbucks kiosk.  Hurray!  I can make a second purchase and help fulfill my commitment.  But wait.  No Starbucks card.  It was the one card that I hadn't moved over the the small purse.  And the evening more or less went downhill from there.  Not a good sale.  Neither of us even made gas money.  So poor that they refunded our table cost.  But I got an excellent response to my little beaded silk tree ornaments, from people who count.

Yesterday morning I got an e-mail announcing a surprise "tent" sale at Penningtons, with an additional 30% off merchandise already marked down 70%.  Almost sounds like free to me, but evidently not so.  However I did  find a very nice pair of dusty green jeans, regular price $69.98, marked down price $13.99.  They fit well, but will need shortening.  At that price, bought two pair.  Once home I discovered two green t-shirts that match.  I also got a pair of black dress pants with a white design.  They are meant to be ankle length but the length is perfect for  short little me.  As well there is a very nice white denim jacket, a light weight blue, white and black jacket, a good quality long sleeved white t-shirt, and 6 pair of panties.  The total bill including tax was $150.04.  That was plastic money, of course.

Now I can relax for a few days.  I think it might take most of the day to unpack and sort out my sale stock and then clean up the studio, which is a disaster.  The kitchen isn't much better, and today is the day we change the bed linen-not an easy job with my sore hands.  Have a relaxing weekend ladies.  There aren't many summer weekends left.

Garlic factory?

This place is like a garlic factory lately with all hands on deck to do the pulling and cleaning and chopping and dehydrating and grinding into powder and bagging and labeling - lots of fun. And the aroma is unmistakably that of garlic! And this weekend Harry is likely to purchase more garlic bulbs from the market in order to plant for next year. One must purchase bulbs from another source and not use ones own each year to replant. One plot is almost planted and the required straw covering in place. There are two more plots to do so more garlic is required. We bought two bales of straw in Huntsville on Tuesday. On Wednesday I could not stand the looks of our vehicle so I spent the afternoon cleaning and vacuuming and otherwise making it presentable again. That will not last too long but at least I made the effort and was duly satisfied with my said efforts. The tomatoes are starting to ripen and the kitchen is starting to fill up - I had a toasted tomato sandwich for breakfast yesterday and the taste of the tomato was wonderful. Perhaps another this morning ???
So Friday has arrived and another week gone. Too fast for my way of thinking. The moon is spectacular right now - I take Bailey out early and the last two mornings have been awe inspiring to see that huge glowing sphere above us and brightening the dawn skies to brilliance. One must appreciate the small pleasures, right?
Anxious to hear about your day yesterday Pati and hope that you were pleased with whatever happened to occur - whether people enjoying your wares, or just you enjoying people haha!
Take care folks. What is on your agendas for this weekend??? 

Silly craft sale

This upcoming craft sale is a little different than the usual art sale I've been participating in.  The gallery in Selkirk is putting on an "Artisans Market", using both the gallery space and the parking lot.  The participants can include anyone from the community who's willing to pay for a table.  I'm hoping the two tables Gail and I have rented are inside the building.  The whole thing is a bit "iffy" in the first place because the street is all torn up in front of the gallery, which will really cut down on foot traffic.  There has been a market in the gallery for the last few months, on the third Thursday, but organized by an outside group.  We're hoping to benefit from their momentum.  I think it is a less up market event than Gail is used to, and less than I would like to be used to.  But I will be able to take my coffee cuffs and bookmarks, which I don't normally sell in the gallery gift shop.  I've even made more of each in anticipation. (ho ho ho)

I was somewhat blown away by the latest from The Last Homely House, and not in a good way.  The earlier ones I saw were entertaining, and told us a lot about how she lives and manages her small acreage.  But now I think she's been reading too much of her own publicity.  I felt a little like I was watching her roll around on her bedroom floor in her underwear.

I got a little more done on my journey through the book today.  I just about had it beat when nothing went right.  So I put it down and went out for coffee. When I got back and took a look the solution was right in front of my eyes, so after that it went together quite nicely.

Art Sale

This Thursday I think is your Art Sale Pati so I am thinking of you and hope you at least have fun and socialization as part of the gathering.  Tell us more about the event if you can.  Of interest this morning I logged onto Last Homely House and didn't she show us her first quilt ever and wasn't it improvisational in nature from Gees Bend.  I thought of your recent interest and wondered if you caught the show yet?
To Huntsville this morning - had to pick up yet more paper work related to my hearing aid purchase - the benefits coverage of Harry required a doc related to it being a Physician requisition before assessing if I shall get any money. Always some roadblocks but have my fingers crossed this will go through.
The next week indicates sunny days with no rain so i have just done the first of many more waterings. Now cooking beans which we bought from a local farmer.I like them and Bailey likes them too haha!
So long for now.... Take care

My routine...

I check the  blogs - the one's I love to follow -  every day. If nothing. then so be it. But sometimes I am surprised as I was with Pickled Gizzards. She does not write for a long time and then her mind goes into gear and away we go.... I liked the table manners one. Lots to think about there.  I also check Last Homely House every day and she is a bit behind but then says she is very busy. The last was about her new pottery studio so we may be hearing more about that? 
Have a lazy Sunday both of you......I have wash on, and dishes to do but then, I may, just may go back out and sit for another bit. Who is to know what i do?.  The neighbour caught me weeding in the back this morning - there was no reason for him to be at the back corner fence other than to speak with me so there you are... he was given the name of the pilot from another man at the Seniors  Wed luncheons and he made contact with him This man gives sightseeing flights out of the Sundridge airport ( i think I might like that) for $40.00 which is a really good price. Apparently the neighbours wife was in the back of the plane and vomited on the way back. Too bad to ruin a nice flight like that haha! (schadenfreude be damned)  Take care

Pickled Gizzards

I just found two posts on Pickled Gizzards that I have missed.

Appliances and self respect

Not that they have any relationship to each other, just happen to be percolating in my mind today.  I'm a little concerned about my toaster oven. That's a lie.  I hate the damn thing, it 's filthy and can't be cleaned any more, and the timer hasn't worked in years.  But we both know how to get around its tricks. So it will probably be sitting on my counter until I die.  My washer is fairly new but the dryer is getting on and will probably be the next to go.  The internal light has never worked since we bought it.  My stove appears to be doing well.  I had though t that your stove and mine were just about the same age, Cathy.  Didn't we both buy them at Sears when we received the money from Dad's state?  I constantly have issues with my iron.  I guess I just wear them out.  But I also regularly hear women complaining about problems with their more expensive irons, so I'll just keep buying cheap ones at Walmart or Canadian tire and replace them when they die. And--we need a new bathroom scale.

Yesterday, I ate like a little pig, and then David made a remark about the way my T-shirt was fitting that made me realize that the weight I've gained is all going on my tummy.  I guess it had to go somewhere.  Then I spent a couple of hours lying in bed, late at night, and hating myself.  Not a good thing.  Adding to that, I have been trying to do Morning Pages again, and have found a problem.  All that writing has made me realize how very little cursive writing I am doing these days--probably the same with most people. With me, the experience forced me to realize how much my arthritis has changed my writing, and how much pain the act of writing, more than 5 words, hurts.  David has complained that he can't read my writing, and now I'm starting the think he has a point.  ( He often has a valid point when I don't want him to be right. Refer to above in the discussion about my tummy.)  However, I have 17 notebooks sitting on a shelf waiting to be used.  (Bad words!)

Yesterday was a fairly pleasant day working in the Gallery.  David says we had about two hours of rain while I was gone, and I think there was maybe that much where I was, as well.  Certainly the street was wet anytime I looked out.  I was able to watch my Saturday night tv shows, while working on book marks, in the studio.  David had his football games upstairs.  Now I see today as an exercise in functioning with very little sleep.  Maybe not a day to be attempting to do anything productive in the studio, although my next craft show is Thursday evening.  Everything needs to be priced, so there's that to do.  Tomorrow afternoon is my little craft group in Lorette, and  I could work on pricing there, although that would mean taking everything out there.  Today I think might be better spent catching up with housework and going through the fridge and pantry to make sure I have some good stuff to eat, and no temptations.  Again, I have become lazy about planning meals in advance, and then find myself scrambling to find something suitable to eat, at the last minute.  This is often my downfall.

So time to think about moving.  Breakfast is finished.  No writing for me today.  My doctor has given me Voltaren by prescription that is about 8X stronger than the otc stuff. I have that rubbed well into my hands, and had spent the night trying to sleep with my hand in a wrist brace.  While I hope to be wrong, it's not looking like today will be one of my better days.  And so we age.

Right about "Those days"

Appliances have always been an issue - they are not made these days to last and when they go, you cannot get them fixed - they are all computerized. Pati you have had your share lately as well. My dryer has been struggling for awhile now but if I ignore the loud banging noise, it will actually dry the clothes (for now), and I have no big burner at the front of my stove to use. However, my dishwasher is perfect. She gets the dishes done whenever I ask her haha!
We have had rain so i cannot complain about that right now. The rain has only allowed a bit of a reprieve from having to water every day. The Sunflower Festival in "Sunny Sundridge" yesterday started out a bit "under the weather" but sure to form, the skies cleared mid morning just in time for the formal speeches and welcoming. The evening was also clear and the planned activities ran smoothly as evidenced by the loud music coming from the Main street as the street dance was enjoyed by those attending. I lay in bed and could hear the music. Same as when there is a concert at the band stand on the waterfront, we can hear the music here at home. I did not go to the festival as I planned not to, but in the afternoon had to slip up to the Pharmacy to pick up Harry's pills so actually saw some of it even if i did not participate. Harry went to the festival and bought some new garlic from the Mennonites, so he will be able to plant the garlic patch soon for next year. Never stops haha!
What was more of a thrill for me was that Harry logged onto Facebook (he follows the adventures of the next door neighbours who are great Facebook people) and somehow they had gone to the airport here and wrangled a flight overhead. They took pictures of their house which of course showed our house and the street and I was just beside myself - remembering when i had actually flown overhead once (by myself) and viewed the surrounds below.  They had the flights for Young Eagles at the airport as part of the Festival, but that is restricted to children up to age 17 I think, so the neighbours must has either 'sweet talked" one of the pilots or actually paid for a flight. Good for them.....
So on with the day. Lots to do, but first breakfast with cereal, and fresh blueberries and raspberries Harry bought at the market stand here in town on Friday.  I also had to cut up a pineapple yesterday ( one of two) he bought at Walmart the other day. I like pineapple just to nibble at but when there is so much that one must consume, it then feels like I have to stuff my face just to get rid of it. Not a good thing....Take care

Some days

Today was one of those days. Our stove has had some problems lately, as well as our dishwasher and dryer. The last two still work, as does our stove, but only two burners. We went and checked out our local(and only) dealer. $1000.00 later we have a stove delivered and installed, or at least we will when he delivers it. To our dismay they no longer make stoves with plug ins. Where the heck am I going to plug in my kettle?!  The really scary part is that all our appliances are about the same age. What will be next?  We can use the dryer and dishwasher for now but what if something else goes wrong!?  Oh well. Rain was in the forecast for us today. If we had got a little more we might have had a millimeter. Not exactly what was forecast. Two days ago there was a 100% chance of 35 to 45 millimeters on Monday. Now there is 10% chance of anything. The pastures are dead and there is very little hay for the winter. Not a good year for farmers. Tomorrow Jim is doing a rotisserie chicken and his sister is coming over. Rrain is going to meet Nancy and her family (including Kris & co.) at lilac lake so she won’t be here. More food for me. Jim made it to meat draw on Friday. First one since mid-May. Nothing changed. He still didn’t win anything. 

Odds and ends

As so many of my posts are--little bits of my mind hopping from subject to subject.

I believe what you are thinking of is fey.  Don't know how it's pronounced but I think that's how they spell it.  Mother always said that Grannie McGrath had it, and that she sometimes thought we  had inherited it.

After reading your last post Beth, I went back and took a better look at the instructions on Not Afraid of Colour.  I had just glanced at them before, but taking a slightly better look, I think that they're about as good as you can get for the technique--especially the pictures.  By coincidence I watched the free show on The Quilt show, yesterday.  I had seen it when it was first shown, but this time it meant something to me.  At one point she is talking about a quilt hanging behind her that has a pattern very similar to the one you tried out.  It is made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics, and I have been trying so had to come up with something I can do with my fabrics.  

Speaking of fabric (I guess I really am into word association this morning) yesterday we took the last of my money and went shopping.  One stop was at the shop I was in a week ago buying fabric, and yesterday I bought some more.  But this time, I took a sample card of all the fabric I had either bought from them, or hand dyed for the internet class, and then just filled in a couple of spaces in the colour wheel.  An extra bonus--David liked the Olfa cutter the clerk was using.  She let him try it out, and a brand new one was slipped into my bag. We had experienced one falling apart, and bought a cheap one to replace it at Fabric land. ( for almost what we paid at the quilt shop) But as one says, you get what you pay for--"nuff said.  Anyway, my extra money is now gone, and we seem to have a lot to show for it, including a well stocked pantry and freezer.

Part of the shopping we did yesterday was looking for a new sweat jacket for David.  He has a firm idea of what he wants, but, unfortunately, it seems that no-one is selling that style this season.  I wonder if Amber ever buys off the internet for Darren?  Maybe she can help me find men's clothing sources.  Maybe wishful thinking--another of Mom's favourite expressions.

While yesterday was a busy one, and maybe too much for both of us, I hope today will be more restful ( silly me!)  There is laundry, and today we change the bed linen.  Later this afternoon, David has to go back to the hearing aid people to check out his new in ear devices.  The appointment is for 3:15, across the city, near Ikea.  this means driving home during rush hour on a Friday.  OMG! 

I finished a bizarre, stupid book this morning, "As You Wish" by Jude Deveraux.  Three women come together, in contrived circumstances, and discuss how  troublesome and unhappy their lives have been.  They are then given the opportunity to go back and change something in the lives, and they do.  Really a stupid concept, but there are some very profound thoughts expressed, especially about the realities of life and love.  This resulted in somewhat of an epiphany within my thinking about myself, my life, and my obsession with weight.

David has just shown his face.  Time to get on with the day.

Bailey Update...

To the VET this morning - I was not wrong to be worried, and glad not to second guess myself. Viral infection he called "kennel cough" - I have yet to look it up for myself. IM injection antibiotic given, SQ injection med for pain given, and oral antibiotics for 9 days (twice a day) given to me for home administration. He also told me that Bailey was too fat! He told me this about ten times during the visit. And for that piece of wisdom, I handed over $200 plus! So I guess Bailey really never improved since last weeks issues scared me - best to keep a close eye on one's beloveds.
Rain has come to our parts and very thankful for it all. Just had another heavy downpour as I was writing. It comes and goes in spurts, as I was just out with Bailey and although the sky was darkening, the sun was still shining - I hardly made it into the house in time. We are about to take to the highway to go and pick up our bales of hay Harry ordered for pickup at 6 pm. I found a large tarp to line the trunk best I can, but I know a car spa/vacuuming is in my immediate future haha!
In between all of this excitement, I actually managed to make a sample quilt block from some scraps I had. Pati/Cathy, if you read the Not Afraid of Colour latest offering, she made blocks with a centre piece of fabric and was about to sew them together, I challenged myself to try it even though I had no idea what / how she did it and could only follow her pictures as my guide. I was satisfied to have made four 5 inch squares and sew them into a block so that the centre strips made an X across the four. Looks not too bad but I doubt if i shall continue with that. I really only wanted to see if i could make it, and get to sew a bit. Hard when my attention was being drawn in so many other directions while doing it.  So must go now and get ready to hit the road. Oh boy ... going to buy some hay!!!  Take care

Biding my time...

Still here and getting through each day as usual....but funny, Pati,  you mention thinking of me especially. I think we three probably have a bit of the old Irish 'sense" in us?  It is called feah or something but I do not know how to spell it this early in the morning?? What is it called and how is it spelled?
Today we go to pick up three bales of hay in Powassan. This is for the rabbits...Harry ( and me of course) fashioned an outside enclosure for the two rabbits to go into. It is shaky at best and I sat there for four hours yesterday to watch and make sure they did not escape while Harry drove around trying to find hay and other things. I found a phone number ( given to me from the Trout Creek Feed Store) and after Harry made contact, he finally found what he was looking for. Harry also wanted something to eat so went to the local fast food places without luck but came home with two steaks and some potatoes from Foodland and he made a BBQ which was delicious. I would far rather make our own meals than spend money on fast food that usually ends up being awful. In the meantime, I sat and watched the rabbits. Crazy!
This morning Bailey the dog is showing signs again of something - I never took him to the Vet two weeks ago when he was acting funny, because he got better, but now he is acting strange again. It is a worry. 
This weekend is the annual Sundridge Sunflower Festival on Saturday. The street is closed and many vendors come to sell their wares. There is music, and food booths, and a street dance in the evening and usually an excellent turnout of people from all over Generally a good event but I am not in the mood this year although I know I shall have to go and walk up and down, and look interested.  It was last year that we entered Bailey in the Dog Show and won, but I do not think they are having that this year as I have not seen any info about it.
I encountered my first snake last evening in the yard. Usually I just think that they do not exist and go about my business. This little creature crossed my path in the front ditch while i was walking Bailey and then showed up on the front sidewalk again while i was putting things away for the night. So I figure it slithered into the front flower bed as I lost sight of him. Now I am aware and on guard haha! I am OK if I see them first and they do not surprise me.
So time for a coffee and breakfast and onto the day ahead. Hope all is well with you two. Cathy I love your new swing and can just picture you sitting with a book and relaxing. Apparently Jim has the same idea haha!  Take care.

Reading

I just finished the book "Allie and Bea" by Catherine Ryan Hyde.  A bit too cut and dried, and the ending is a little contrived, but the conversations between this elderly lady and teenage girl are somewhat profound, especially when comparing and discussing moral issues.  I wasn't sure I would get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.

Beth, I've been thinking of you a lot this evening, and hope everything is alright.  Probably.  Funny how one sometimes gets these feelings.

Lots of sewing today, and when it was all finished, nothing fit together.  Gotta give that some thought.  But not tonight.

Had my hair done yesterday, and ended up with a slightly different hair style. Even the colour was done differently, and I'm not sure about that, but the problem isn't serious enough to worry too much.

We're both getting worried about our tree.  It appears to be not doing well, so much so that even the neighbour has commented.  So David phoned the city forestry dept, and spoke to someone, who said they would be out to check it before snow fall.  Like that helps much!  But if it need to be cut down, better the city does it than us having to pay for it.  It would be a very expensive job.

 Since I've been fretting over things such as aging and wrinkles, I've decided to try doing Morning Pages again. While in Walmart today, I found 80 page ruled, spiral bound notebooks, for $0.10 each, so bought 10 of them.  Then found the 7 I have on the self from last year, when they were the same price.  One of those actually had writing in it--four pages of goal setting and action plans for 2018-2019.  On reading them, I realized that I've accomplished a great deal of what I set out to do.  I think I may do the same exercise for the next 12 months, and see how far I get.  Admittedly, the goals were mainly relative to studio work, but that's such a big part of my life that doing it again would be quite appropriate, even if one goal would be to find some other thing to help occupy my time.

Jim’s birthday.......

My present. 

Used, but in excellent condition. Mine died last year and I really missed it. I saw on Facebook that a friend had one for sale. Another person had already asked about it but when I told her I wanted it she contacted them and said it was gone. We got it home and I went into the house and grabbed a pocket book and went to tell Jim I would be outside for half an hour. Found him already on the swing with a beer. 

Game on...

It appears that we now all have Buffalos in common - on our minds- in our dreams- at the casinos.  I can hardly wait now until the last Thursday of August when Harry and I are booked for the bus trip to Casino Rama again. I shall be heading for the Buffalo machines... that is, as soon as we have our Buffet luncheon. I think it is my turn to get a bit of a win since both of you seemed to master that.  I am already saving my coins to exchange for paper money and that is my float for the casino.  I do not take any more than what change i have saved and exchanged. My own "control measures" I guess haha!  Nice to hear from you both. I just finished watering ( what else do I do??) Now a bath and then reading. Tomorrow is my hearing appt and I have a few questions written down to ask. So far I am pleased though.  Take care folks - another week is ahead of us so it's wide open to lots of opportunities - I will look forward to hearing from you both as to what good events take place for you. XX.

Buffalo

After both of you talking about them, I took a minute to figure out how many different buffalo machines there are.  Too many to count I think.  Off the top of my head, thinking only of Club Regent, I came up with 7, but I'm sure there might be one or two more.  I don't play the higher cost machines.

While we were purging, I was silently resenting the time that I wasn't working on my projects for the book  that I'm working through. Today I got to it, and finished a small piece just before lunch.  I had realized early in the process, that the colours were wrong, so I did just a little bit so as to learn the technique.  Now I have to give some thought as to how colours are selected. I've know for awhile that I have a problem in that area, so this isn't a new revelation.

Tomorrow I go to the hairdresser.  I usually know when that time comes, and that time is now.  For years I've gone to places that take walk-ins, but appointments are need for a colour.  Just highlights, but those take longer and cost more that a simple colour.

David has found a CFL game on tv to watch this afternoon, but I think I'm going to take a nap, before heading downstairs and trying to figure out where my lessons go next, and how to make improvements in my colour choices.

A lazy Sunday

Jim and I were going to just sit around in the rec room where it was cooler yesterday, but it really wasn't cool and Jim got bored and said we should go for a ride.  We ended up at Sandhills Casino.  It was very nicely air conditioned and sold beer (very expensive beer!)  We stayed just over an hour.  I found the buffalo game you were talking about.  I wasn't very impressed with it but just as I ran out of money it gave be a bunch of buffaloes.  Made up what I had put into it and $20 more!  There sure weren't many buffaloes in it though.  Most pushes were nothing.  It was a fun outing.  He chose to go for Chinese for supper and I still can't believe how much he ate from the buffet.  His plate must have been 3 layers deep and then he went for more!  I was a bit more picky and took the things that I really like.  They had butter chicken with a "spicy" warning on it but it was pretty bland to me.  Maybe others found it spicy, or I got the one piece that missed the seasoning.  It was much cooler when we got home so we sat outside for a while.  And it finally cooled down last night.  I had a much better sleep and didn't get out of bed until almost 8 am.  Usually by then I have been to the garden and frozen whatever beans I picked.  The garden is a failure once again.  I just don't know what is wrong.  We will try fertilizing again this fall and if it fails again that will be it.  Too much effort and too much disappointment.  15 tomato plants and 13 tomatoes 😞.  We didn't make it to the dump yesterday ( a birthday tradition) but Jim says since it is a long weekend going today counts. I dug some potatoes for supper.  I am glad we planted 4 rows cause there sure aren't many there.  Carrie Wayte came over yesterday to get some and she dug 5 plants and got 1/3 of an ice cream pail.  One of them had only the seed under it.  No potatoes.  Today will be another lazy day.  Jim is going to try and fix the pump again.  I think he will eventually have to pull it and try to find the leak.  It is too difficult to work in that tiny pump shed.  The last 2 weeks have been great as Jim seems to be better every day.  He saw the doctor on Friday and he was pleased with everything.  When Jim complained about getting tired and that his arms and legs were still weak the doctor just shook his head and said "Jim, that is going to take 3 to 6 months.  It will come".  But we can see the improvement now.  And next Friday he is going to try to go to meat draw at the Legion. He hasn't been since the middle of May.  I may or may not go with him depending on how he feels.  When I was still working he would go alone and I would go home and sit and read a book.  I kind of enjoyed it but now that I am home all the time I may enjoy an outing on a Friday night.

It's a good day when....

...you speak with both of your sisters - just not all three together haha! But I guess it can be done if one uses "3 way call" option which apparently we are paying for with our telephone plan.
Watering, watering, watering and more watering with this hot dry weather and no rain in site yet. Emptied all the rain barrels and even used the sprinkler which one must be careful to use when on a well. But it's done for today and tomorrow shall worry about it then.
I went over to friend Ruth's for coffee this morning and was greeted warmly as i was guided to the back patio at the big table under the umbrellas. Beautiful spot they have complete with a hot tub which they use frequently ( not for me! never could understand the use of a hot tub) Gerd, her husband made coffee and brought it to us and then all three of us sat and enjoyed a lively conversation. The gist of her concerns it turned out lay with her sister and brother in law next door to us. Apparently, they "befriend people" wherever they go... and yesterday they were visited by a couple from Ajax ( near Toronto) complete with their huge fancy motorcycle. They had met them somehow on a plane or something?? The sister and husband, entertained this couple over the afternoon and evening and they even stayed the night. It turned out that this couple just called them out of the blue and said they were coming ( without any prior invitation from the sister )  Ruth says this couple does this and "takes advantage" of people. (Not sure how she knows but I guess her sister has told her about them?) So I gathered, Ruth feels they took advantage of her sister and husband. I found this out only after the sister, husband and this couple came to the house to say goodbye - the motorcycle couple was resplendent in leather and tattoos.When we heard the roar and loud noise of the motorcycle taking off, the sister and husband then joined us for coffee so this part of the conversation stopped but i could sense that the sister and husband were none to pleased with the visit - she had videoed the take off of the couple and felt so obliged to show it to us with a happy smile on her face- such as to intimate "they are gone". Oh, dynamics abound and it is so interesting to listen to and observe people. And I was part of it all, but i think Ruth was pleased then to have had me visit and to listen, but I do not know what my part of this scenario was supposed to be.... C'est la vie. 
Well, so another day comes to a close haha! Time to read - always a favourite time for me. I have not worn my hearing aids for two days now and this is causing great concern with others in this household. I guess I will try to put them in tomorrow... just so "there will be peace in the Valley for me yes, indeed...."  Sing along if you wish....Take care folks.

Purging

Pati, will you have anything left once you are done?  It seems drastic to me but then I am not in your shoes. On the other hand, if you are seeking new directions and it seems you are headed that way, perhaps the purging of the old is necessary? I wish you well in your quest. And i wish i could be doing the same here but not to be....  I may go over to Ruth's for a coffee this morning - I met them (Ruth and husband Gerd) crossing the street to visit with her sister and husband while I was taking the dog for a walk. She wanted to talk but the timing was off so she said to "please" come over today for a coffee. Gerd was kicked by a cow two weeks ago on the farm they manage and his knee cap was dislocated and he is now walking with a huge brace and cane. And I think Ruth is at her wits end but who knows - I hope I can manage to slip over, as she seemed to need a friend?
In meantime our yard work continues - lots of watering as the rain eludes us and I have been attacking rock gardens long neglected. Harry has pulled the garlic and is dehydrating the stems and leaves into powder for use as spices. It is very good but I need to adjust some room in the kitchen to accommodate the fresh spice bags. And the kitchen is in constant "use" mode so manoeuvering about to do dishes or meals becomes somewhat tricky.
Cathy, how is your garden growing? Have you been able to harvest anything - you mentioned your potatoes but what else. I picked raspberries yesterday and I am about to have a bowl of cereal and topped with fresh tasty berries. My mouth is watering now at the thought so better sign off. I'm teasing you......Take care

More purging

Today we tackled the last two bins and then started on the storeroom off the studio He would either bring containers for me to sort through, or stand-by, putting rejects into either the donate or garbage bag.  We tackled both wardrobes, both the one in the studio and the one in the storeroom.

We got rid of a lot of finished pieces, and my heart is bent but not broken, it needed to be done.  But about 4:40 we both agree that we had done as much as we could do, and the job was done.  Both the studio and storeroom look tidier.  The biggest surprise was how much light there is in the storeroom, now that all of the junk has been taken off the windowsill.

Here's hoping for a quiet evening.

Barn Quilts

Have you tried just googling "history of Barn Quilts"?  Did you see the Barn Quilt coasters on sale in the shop of The Quilt Show?  My friend Gail is interested in barn quilt patterns, for a project she has in mind, but is not wanting to discuss it further than that.  I do know that the practice is 2-300 hundred years old, and involves a lot of superstition.

Today the purge continues.  As well as it being laundry day.  Retirement is so-o-o-o exciting.

Barn Quilts

The International Plowing Match (IPM) is being held this year in Sept in the little farming town of Verner which is located between North Bay and Sudbury - on the way for us to visit Mike so we pass by it every time. I have been following updates on its readiness for approximately 50.000 to 80.000 people "invading' the area to attend the Match. It is a massive affair. They create a village for all the RVs and campers that will come in, so have had the Hydro set up power in a huge field dedicated for the village. And toilets, and LCBO setting up a kiosk ( I thought this was interesting haha) And with other venues, scaregrows have been set up as decorations but the best is that specially constructed BARN QUILTS have been erected on the sides of the barns along the highway and I am sure along the side road leading to the village and site for the Match. There will be multi vendors there as well. But these Barn Quilts really add another dimension to the area. Each block was approved  by a committee when a family asked for a chosen pattern or for just any pattern, to be on their property and then these have been made on huge pieces of board, colourfully painted, and erected on the side or end of the barn for best visibility. It is nice to see. Is this something seen in Manitoba as well perhaps in farming and quilting areas. I would like to delve into the history connected to displaying Barn Quilts and farming/ plowing. Do either of you know more? Perhaps a site to view?
Take care - it is Friday of the August long weekend (where has the summer gone?)