And another special day....

Happy birthday Dave!!  And less important Happy New Year to all. 

Just puttering as well...

Although I am not producing gorgeous pieces of art such as you shared Pati on your Mouse Factory Blog.  My "studio" work yesterday consisted of basting five hexis - sounds sort of minimal but not when you think that the project actually made its way out of oblivion and into my room haha! That is progress!
It was a pleasant surprise to read that your latest improvisational quilt was graciously gifted to Gail. I think that was a very nice gesture since she was obviously in love with it. There are just some items or pieces of art that one does fall in love with, isn't there?
There have been severe weather warnings for last few days about a storm with winds and freezing rain to hit us last night and into today. So far this morning the outside is quiet except for a bit of cold wind blowing about, so I have my fingers crossed that things will not be as terrible as predicted.
I reorganized the open shelf on the kitchen wall to accommodate some new items I received for Christmas. Two new Tim Horton 2019 mugs, and a new DavidsTea mug, and a DavidsTea clear glass tea pot. It meant moving some of the Tim Hortons empty coffee tins to a box but that is OK for now.
Harry is almost finished printing and laminating his pictures from the old computer so I may be able to do a switch in the new year and then get our Server to connect us to the internet and then Geek Squad to troubleshoot issues. Apparently the Geek Squad are not able to touch anything with the Internet server (I had taken all the internet info into the store when I had them set up the new laptop before Christmas, but they could not do that for me - too bad!)
I am upset that I am on a dry spell with Lottery tickets as well. Pati you mentioned you scratched yours and got nothing for your trouble! I will sometimes get a free play or last number of the Encore ( Extra for you folks) but even those small wins are eluding me. I hope my luck will change as we are still booked to return to Casino Rama on Jan 30 with the reorganized seniors bus trip. When we drive past North Bay I spot the construction sight of the new Cascades Casino being built there - the structure is visible from the highway, and so far only the metal girders are erect but I can start to see the basic look of the place. They still say is should be open in July 2020.
So now to make a toasted bagel for breakfast and another coffee and I should then be 'good to go" for another day. Take care folks. Any special plans for New Years Eve?  I shall likely just go to bed like I always do....

a finish

Basically a quiet day on the home front.  I worked in the studio, and David watched a marathon of all the Indiana Jones movies.  His sister dropped in for tea, as she sometimes does.  A nice visit and, as usual, I did most of the talking, as we seldom have visitors, and I over-react.  I finished another weird quilt top.(See other blog) Now I will give the studio a good clean-up, before starting anything else.  Thinking of you both.  (I let Gail drink out of a Duchess mug today, as she is family, even if from the other side of the family)

Now that you mention it----

I do have a vague memory of eating Christmas dinner at our house, and even of seeing a picture, a few years back, of Uncle Mernie and Kenny, and some one else sitting around a table in what had been the front main floor bedroom of the house. I don't ever remember eating a meal in the dining room that Dad created out of the Living room/ bedroom next to the kitchen. But, I was probably out of the house by the time he built that, although I remember using it for the buffet we had at your wedding reception, Cathy. Before he had a dining room, the basement would really have been the only viable option in that tiny house.  I even remember people square dancing in the basement!

We have nothing huge planned for our anniversary.  Rather, we plan to go to see the movie "Cats", tonight.  It's at our local theatre.  I can't remember the last time we went to a movie that wasn't on "half price Tuesday".  Maybe, when the original Star Wars came out?  Or maybe a few years ago when Loren, Amber and the children went with us to a movie at the theatre in Grant Park Shopping Center to celebrate someone's birthday- probably for Amber's girls.

David bought me a couple of "quick pick" lottery tickets for Christmas.  We checked them yesterday and took away nothing.  Oh well, at least no wrapping paper to dispose of.

The next few days are almost like "the lull before the storm".  Nothing planned, no urgent errands.  Since we didn't win the lottery, I can't even head out to buy fabric.  Beth now has the Kidd novels to read, and I started the Monkeewrench novels, but not before reading the most recent one-"Ice Cold Heart".  A tease Beth-Roadrunner has met a lady, and it looks promising.  She, too, has a past.  Having started back at the beginning, I realize that the author(s) has been very clever in setting up everything for a lengthy series.  Of the 6 main characters, after 7 books, only three of them are set up for "happily ever after", although to be fair, two secondary characters who disappeared after 4-5 books, found happiness in each other.  This means that we have something to look forward to  in future books.

Cathy, you've always been the one in the family who truly loves and collects books.  Do you have a favourite series to recommend? I believe you've been through a few genres; -which are you favouring right now?  Have you read the "Red Sister", "Grey Sister", and "Holy Sister" series?  I thought of you while reading it. I heard about it from Loren, who often reads similar books to what you read.

In the studio, there is a piece in progress, that I expect to post, on the other blog, sometime this weekend.  This is another modern, improv piece that has been inspiring and challenging  enough to put me in a bit of a creative frenzy.  Something to keep me busy over the next few days.

And now the build up to 2020

But before that comes Happy Anniversary to Pati and Dave. Do you have anything special planned?  Christmas was quiet here. All the fuss and worry and supper is done before you know it. Jean brought triffle for dessert so it really was a Christmas dinner. I remember alternating Christmas with auntie Lorrain. I have a very vague memory of eating upstairs but I remember lots of meals downstairs after they put in the rec room and Kenny’s bedroom. Our turn was always in the basement and I would get so excited when daddy lit the pudding on fire. And Kenny and I always got raw carrots as a treat and didn’t have to eat the cooked ones. How my tastes have changed. We had Brussels sprouts and we ate them all. (Of course frying them with mushrooms, onions and bacon helped).  Jean is selling her Jeep in Brandon today so Jim is meeting her there to bring her home. I offered to go and keep him company but he knew I really wanted to stay home. Since he is letting me I guess I should do something while is is gone. My new oven needs cleaning and I am almost afraid to do it, but it is set. It would only let me do 5 hours. I wanted to try something shorter. Oh well. I’ll see what happens

Floating Trees....

There are green Christmas trees floating around the outside of the front room window - beautiful display. You guessed it...Mike gave us an outdoor laser light to set up and create a colourful display of green trees and red speckles across out front window. He bought one for himself and had it set up when we visited Wed - I loved it. That would make him happy as there was another wrapped up for us to open there. I set it up yesterday and have enjoyed the colour ever since. We did not have any colour outside this year so this makes up for it. Mind you it is close to 40 degrees F and the snow is melting and creating puddles all over and the need to shovel at the front, and icy underfoot. Calling for freezing rain and ice pellets over next few days..... Not nice!
The Kidd books were a request from me - Mike knows I like books and always gets me something different from sources he reads, But also asks prior if there are any that I would like. Out of the blue I wondered if he could get the Kidd series so asked him,. Obviously he did a lot of research as the series is four books, but he tells me they are ordered from all different places because they did not come as a "set" anywhere. His hard work, but my fortune I guess..
The freezer is now full of little soup dishes and I have two more in the fridge for eating now. I had to do some fancy switching in the freezer to get all the dishes in which resulted in having to take out some things ..one of which is a store bought chocolate cake that I had hidden in there. I wonder if I now have to eat it??????
So on to today..still lots of work to do inside but I also have to keep my eye on the outdoors and the accumulated water and ice all around. Hope all is well with you folks...thinking about you both Take care.

The Kidd Series

Oh, what a treat!  It's quite dated now, as it was written in the late 1990's, and involves computer "hacking", but easily read , regardless.  Had you asked for it, or did he come up with the idea on his own?  And where on earth did he find it?  Probably on Amazon.  You can find absolutely anything on Amazon.  And remember, this is the "Kidd" that is a minor character in John Sandford's Lucas Davenport  series.  

We had dinner at the local Aalto's restaurant.  This isn't a big restaurant, so I had made reservations early.  What a surprise when we got there and the hostess took us in, then made a right hand turn where we had never seen a right hand turn before.  A section of the wall had been opened into an adjacent banquet room, which was set up full of dinner tables.  We were taken in to a far corner, right beside the washrooms. But, lots of room, and a quiet corner.  We had to walk all the way back and into the main section for the buffet.  Moving into that main section made us realize just how busy and noisy it was.  We all agreed that there were advantages to sitting in the "boonies".  At least we could converse and all could hear what was said.

Then it was home to play Joker Rummy.  David and I often play it together, and we both discovered what a different game it can be with more than 2 players.  Loren had had to cook dinner at home as both his kids were under the weather.  But they phoned and had a chat with both David and I.  The party finally broke up when David fell asleep at the table.

Today we're back to reality with laundry, and the need to plan meals.  But--no left overs.  To bad one can't order in a bunch of left over Turkey dinners.

Early Boxing Day

Here I am up very early on Boxing Day - could not sleep and the dog Bailey was out of sorts - he got up around three thirty and had to go out - so I took him out in the dark and cold. He settled in after that but I could not so I stayed up. Checked for messages and played my favourite Christmas song on the computer - Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea.  It was the perfect song to listen to in the background as I read the Blog. So many memories revisited and many happy thoughts to go along with those memories and with Family. We certainly are scattered now so it makes get togethers not so convenient anymore - especially since my "bus" no longer exists to carry me away to Family in Manitoba haha!  But this Blog takes its place for me now and, I so love it to keep me connected.
A very wonderful visit to Mike yesterday to celebrate Christmas and a phone call with Willie while there made the day complete. Driving was fine but today brings a freezing rain warning - so I plan to stay at home to ruminate about the day before and start to straighten up a bit. Harry has plans to make onion soup with the boney remains of the Prime Rib Roast so I expect I shall have to round up the little dishes for that - they will be frozen individually once filled - makes for a quick meal down the road. 
Mike treated me with a special gift - the set of four books by John Sandford - the Kidd Series. I am so excited to now "own" this series - I can read them anytime... again and again.  Same as you Pati with your Monkeewrench Series.  Cathy I am sure you also covet some special books/series - what???
So greetings on this special day my sisters....Take care 

Quiet peaceful time

I, too, look forward to a quiet time on Christmas Eve.  Maybe a little time to reflect on the passing years, and to remember family Christmases at home.  Maybe one with 24 people sitting around the table at Auntie Lorraine's?  that table started in the kitchen and ran right through the living room.  Sometimes there was even a "children's table' in the front foyer.  I have a very strong memory of walking home alone after dinner, one year.  it was bitterly cold out, and not much snow on  the ground.  I had to walk carefully along a slippery sidewalk, in new shoes-despite the cold.  I don't remember any of those big family dinners at our house, but I do remember Christmas at Uncle Burt's house.  Can't remember if we ate there, but I know we spent the evening there.

When my children were small, we would try to make it home at Christmas, from where ever we were living, at the time.  And then there was Christmas 1980, at Beth's house in Victoria, and that terrible drive through the Fraser Canyon trying to make the last ferry--which we did by the skin of our teeth.  That was a crazy Christmas, all of us together in that house with cats and baby Will.  I don't think I'll ever for get that one.  It was a little more special in that Dad and Phyllis were in Victoria as well, and he was happy.

When David's father lived with us, I tried to make a ritual of serving a Stollen on Christmas Eve.  They sold them at work--as part of a Christmas Fundraiser I think.  I don't think they were made there, but they could have been.  I've certainly never found them since.  This year, I saw Stollen in local stores, but at quite a price, and then we found them at Natural Bakery, when we were there last week, for less than half, I bought two.  Only when we got home did I read the small print and discover that they were a "product of Germany".  No way of finding out how old they really were, but I'm sure there were lots of preservatives in them.  Only one had Marzipan in it, and we tried that one today.  It was quite nice.  Purely a raisin bread, rather than the fruit bread we might find here, but quite tasty. Made me think of the loaf of bread that David's sister found in her motor home one spring.  It had been there all winter, but was as fresh and tasty as when she bought it.

I'm reading a book that contains an element of wonder and spirituality that is just what I appear to need, right now.  It's "Two if my Sea", by Jacquelyn Mitchard, an American with an impressive resume.  This is a pleasantly crazy book that starts with a horrendous natural disaster, and jumps to training Olympic-quality equestrians, and at the point I'm at, introducing menacing "bad guys", with the hint of Angels in the back ground.  Sounds insane, and I can't put it down.  Since it's the last library book I have, and they don't re-open until Friday, once it's finished, I'll be forced to start the re-read of the Monkeewrench books, that I've been planning for a couple of months.  Unfortunately, since half of the writing duo recently died, I notice the books are a lot less about Monkeewrench and far more about the two detectives and the maverick FBI agent.  Still a good read, but not nearly as "quirky" as they started out to be.

I hope everybody's Christmas is what they hope it will be.  Relax, eat, drink and have dessert.  That's what our family has always been about.

Merry Christmas greetings

As Christmas Eve day comes to a close, and the car is packed with the food, and with parcels, ready to visit Mike tomorrow, I send my message to you both....many good thoughts of family, and of happy times together,  and as we look ahead to another hopeful new year.
All is in readiness, and now I shall spend a bit of quiet time reflecting - a little drink in my hand, and the movie The Polar Express ready to start.  
Take care, and Merry Christmas. XX

Fun pictures....

It looks as if Chloe is totally involved with her new assets, Cathy. It is neat that she is so interested in most everything - Kris and Sandi's influence no doubt ?  I'll bet Grandma was also on the floor at some point in the visit?
Yesterday we made an unplanned and quick trip to Huntsville to Staples to buy more laminating paper for pictures, and another colour ink cartridge so Harry could complete his task of printing all his pictures from the old computer. We also filled the car with gas as most stations along the route to Sudbury and back will be closed tomorrow - not wanting to be stuck without gas...
As you know the Starbucks new Store was built on the same property as the new Canadian Tire Gas station so guess what... I jumped out of the car and across to the Coffee Shop. I was anticipating purchasing a 'special" holiday drink and I did not disappoint myself. Caramel Brule Latte - delicious and covered with whipping cream and sprinkles. And just for me!!
Today will be the big day of prep and packing for our trip to see Mike tomorrow - Christmas day. it will be busy i am sure so i better have my morning coffee and get on with it.  Yesterday it was 40 F and more melting and water to shovel at the front of the house - I will be happy to see the temp drop slightly which is in the forecast. Take care

Quick note

We had a great time in Killarney yesterday. Sandi has been sick all week so we left soon after supper but we had a fantastic visit. Chloe loved her presents and spent most of the day excavating the archeological dig that auntie Kik gave her. There was the skeleton of a dinosaur in it.  She also made me feel very old and decrepit

Kris BBQ’d steak  for supper so we were very full by the end of the day.    

I was pretty tired by the time we got home, but very happy and content. 

What a tease you are.....

Oh Pati how I wish I were there at your home right now and enjoying the fruits of your labour. They look wonderful and I so love mincemeat tarts. And I wouldn't say no to a wee nip either, haha! I just made myself a hot milk to sip before bed time but I guess I could pretend?  And today I made a shepherds pie for my meal as I love it and I needed some soul food, of which shepherds pie is one. 
Very mild with temp around 35 F today so I did the roof again - shoveled off the snow so that with melting and then freezing again the snow would not create the ice buildup I am so dreading. I have made a pledge to myself to shovel the roof frequently this winter, so that I will not face the terror of the spring thaw and leaking as I did last year - so far I am keeping to my promise and doing it according to my plan. Good for me....
Three more sleeps and Christmas Day will be upon us - I am still trying to get things organized so as to keep the panic to a minimum and ward off the stress that invariably follows suit. Time will tell. Except Harry found another recipe on the Net for Christmas Peppermint Patties.yesterday so off to the store for ingredients (cream cheese, peppermint extract etc.) and then I made them. Very, very fiddly but even I was amazed with my results even though they are very sweet and extremely flavoured ( perhaps too much extract even following the recipe exactly) I had some small paper cupcake holders which they fit into individually once hardened and are now layered in a container in the fridge. So now what do I do with them???  If only there was a darn bus heading to Winnipeg haha!
Well, off to read a bit. I am into the previously read Gamache novel How the Light Gets In because I was looking for a good read and this book is on my KoBo.  And because I have always wanted to read Elliot's Middle March, I have planned to start it early in 2020 and see if I can get through it with the understanding and knowledge it requires. I own the book actually. And today on the CBC radio show they had an hours discussion about MiddleMarch  and a companion novel written about an authors life lived through her reading of the book. I own that book also. I consider this to be an exciting challenge for myself.
Take care.  ps still on the old computer. Harry is trying to print off all his pictures so as not to lose them.

Done!

Here they are.  We found everything we needed at the Sobey's store near by.  I had forgotten that there was a Liquor Mart in the store, with a very helpful clerk who pointed David in the right direction for the brandy we needed.  We bought 2 bottles of E.D. Smith Mincemeat.  No trouble finding it as the fellow was unloading a carton of it just as we were there!  We only used one bottle, but now have an extra for next year.  We got 23 tarts out of two boxes of tart shells. ( don't count some are already gone)

 And, there is enough brandy left for Cafe Royale this evening.  David picked up a bottle of White Rum and a carton of Egg Nog while we were there, so he has a treat as well.

Christmas will get you one way or another.

Here we are looking forward to a quiet Christmas, where we don't have to kill ourselves with a lot of fuss and work getting the house etc ready.  But David wants mincemeat tarts.  He's been trying to find a good one by buying them the last few years, without any luck.  Yesterday we bought two very nice looking ones at Natural Bakery on Logan, only to find out they were all pastry and not much filling.  So today, we're off to try to find the necessary supplies ( Cross and Blackwell Mincemeat with Brandy--not likely!) and we will be baking them ourselves.  I'm not even sure I have the right tins for baking them.  He won't like my tiny tart tins I bought for the Cheese and Lemon tarts.  Besides, those appear to have rusted after using them once and washing them.  

Anyway, after a shopping trip 3 days before Christmas, possibly trying to shop at Walmart-- the rest of the day will be spent baking.  Pray for me--OMG!! I will even have to visit the liquor store!!

Christmas

We've decided on a restaurant Christmas dinner this year.  Our reservation is for 5:30, and I'm not sure how that will interfere with our yearly toast to "Family."  Can't you just see me taking my "family " wine glass in with me and asking them to "fill'er up".

Cathy's gettogether

Thinking about you and everyone for your celebration on Dec 22 Cathy. Safe trip and happy times. XX

post script...

I forgot to mention related to Christmas.....this is for you David, I have my fancy decorated red Christmas hat out of the cupboard and ready to wear on Christmas Day - do you have your hat ready????
Also at the Thrift Store I spotted a gorgeous pair of red wool slacks on the rack - good fit and perfect colour to coordinate with the red over blouse I had bought a few weeks ago.  So I shall be a vision in red to celebrate this special day.  I am getting excited - how about you folks??  I am hoping for some pictures of your events after the fact - do you suppose?

Questions about the weather...

Yes, Cathy I agree about your question related to temperatures. Right now it is minus 29 C and feels like minus 35 C outside.  I just had the dog out for his morning outing, and too cold for his little feet - he sniffed about for awhile and then made a beeline for the door.  Me too, haha! And then made a hot coffee.....
It is sort of countdown until Christmas here - I am trying to wrap some gifts to take to Mike's and some for Harry and I to open here at home. We usually come back from the trip to Mike's and settle into our unwrapping before bed on Christmas night.  And as is my custom now, at 7 pm my time, I shall raise a glass in honour of you folks Pati and Cathy, my sisters, and wish you well, and wish for a wonderful year ahead in 2020 for us all. 
Come the weekend we shall be getting into the "prep' for the Christmas meal - Prime Rib Roast for us this year. But there is all the gathering, and finding dishes, and planning how to store and pack and take etc that goes along with any trip away for a meal. 
But here is something exciting I did for myself...... on Tuesday at the Thrift Store they had 50% off all Christmas items. I had a look and could not believe that there was a set of gorgeous Christmas dishes. Now Pati, I have always envied you for having your dishes and the fact that you bring them out for Christmas and always wanted to do that for myself ( do you still or did you sell them - I cannot remember what you did?) There are four large plates, four small plates and two bowls ( like cereal dishes I guess) There were some cups and saucers but i did not buy those as have no need for them. I washed them up and packed them and intend to take to Mike's to set our Christmas table. I shall feel great. And afterall, it is all about us isn't it? haha!
Well, morning has broken and I shall get on with the day. Hoping you folks are doing fine, and thinking of you ...

An evening out

This evening we went to a movie--"Knives Out".  Really a "take-off" on the Hurcule Poirot books, with lots of suspects, and few clues, followed at the end by the detective facing everyone for  a big reveal.  Except it sort of wasn't.  Lots of twists in the plot, right up until the end.  This type of thing is often confusing at first, and this was no exception, but with a lot more humor that one might expect in this type of film.  A few big names, but mostly unknown actors-- to me, anyway.  A couple of older names, such as Don Johnson.  I haven't seen much of him in years, although he was in the Jane Fonda film that came out last year.  He has slipped into character roles quite nicely, and a treat to see Jamie Lee Curtis playing her age.  We went to the 5:40 show at the mall, and then to the food court for a very late supper.  A pleasant evening.

How does the weather change so fast?

The high was -6 yesterday.  The forecast high for today is -23.  We had the repairman out to look at our dryer yesterday.  He said all that is wrong is a switch and that our dryer is in exceptionally good shape.  They have to order the switch and hopefully it will not be expensive.  Meanwhile he bypassed the switch and direct wired the dryer on.  All that means is that when we open the dryer door it keeps on spinning.  We thought we might make a game of it and try to catch our own underwear as it is flung out.  Yesterday was the opening of the new appliance store in Neepawa (same person.... he has moved from his home into a store front in town)  Beds, couches, tables and appliances.  His prices are quite good too. He deals in GE appliances and Ashley Furniture.  Jim fell in love with a couch and I picked a bed.  (fantasy lives).  I went to the Cantata in Neepawa at the beginning of December.  It was performed by the Community Choir.  (Rrain is a member)  Loved it.  So much talent.  Today we are going to the legion early as Mary Murray is celebrating 50 years in Canada and is throwing a lunch party for her friends.  After that we have to come home because we are dog sitting tonight  |Could be interesting with 3 big dogs in the house.  Tonight I have a rehearsal for a Murder Mystery were are doing for the Touchwood Christmas Party.  Sunday we head to Killarney and before you know it it will be Christmas day. I have been doing only stocking stuffers for gifts for years, but I had to change this year as Chloe "knows" that only Santa fills stockings. 😉 I am glad pension cheques come a bit early this month.  All the money is spent on monthly bills, but it will cover the overdraft that comes with Christmas.  Then I figure out how to cover the monthly bills.  "Too much month at the end of the money"

Inspired...

Yes, I attended the Christmas Cantata at 3 pm this afternoon. Once again I was inspired and filled with peaceful thoughts as the Local Church Choir and Narrators did a wonderful presentation of the Birth of Christ in music and readings. The beauty of the Church inside with gorgeous stained glass windows and seasonal decorations also contributed to the scene and atmosphere. So all is well right now.
Tomorrow I am off to North Bay for the day as I have a full agenda including taking the new laptop to Best Buy. I'll be wishing the day will go well and all my desires will be fulfilled.... so here's hoping!
Take care

A good chuckle for me....

Not depressing or anything of the sort Pati - just a good laugh because it all sounds so familiar - from this house, that is... haha! Now I do not speak for Cathy mind you, but I have heard some similar remarks lately from that house as well... Did I????
Snowing lightly and it is rather delightful! Sort of rhymes doesn't it? Bailey just loves it out in the snow so I try to take him frequently - or he will come up to me and just sit at my feet and stare at me. He sure knows how to get my attention, little darling.
There is a Christmas Cantata tomorrow afternoon at the Presbyterian Church. I went last year just out of the blue and was so happy to go. I will try to go again tomorrow - as a matter of fact, I shall plan on it.  So I better have a bath and wash my hair tonight before bed. And that means changing the linen, and that means doing a wash.....don't you just love it!! 
It will soon be time for my Happy Hour and this time of year I like to view some Classic Christmas movies - today I think it will be Miracle on 34th Street.
Have fun you folks....and keep laughing.....XX

Time passes--( more nonsense)

We're moving toward the Winter Solstice--now a week away.  This time of year, for about 4 weeks, driving becomes as issue as the sun doesn't get very much above the horizon.  This means that sunglasses aren't enough and visors become necessary all the time.  I've been aware of this for a few years now--ever since I figured out what was wrong .  That took awhile.

With this, the effects of aging are also becoming more obvious.  Every morning, we make a joke of congratulating each other for making it through the night.  Behind that is the very real fear of one of us having to deal with the other not waking.  We don't joke about that, or even talk about it.  This time of year with snow drifts and icy streets the physical effects of aging are also emphasized.

Please don't think I'm in another "blue funk", because I'm not.  I'm a little down and aware of it, but have found the best way to deal with it is to talk about it.  Sometimes saying these things out loud, or typing them into a post makes me realize how silly they are.  Yes, we are aging.  I'm having trouble with my right knee and am now forced to use my cane, even in the house.  But--I slept like a log last night, and feel much better than I did yesterday.

The sale in Landmark is on again today.  There are a couple more vendors, but my prices are marked, and Gail assures me that there is no problem with me not getting there early.  ( Since it's now 11:30, there is no danger of us getting there early)  I know that once I do get there there will be people and food and laughs.

Oh no!   David has just come in to ask me what we want to do for supper tonight, and what we want to plan for our anniversary.  That makes me think of 54 years together, and the whole aging thing pops up again!  Maybe I should just close this down and go and get dressed.  I've probably depressed both of you with all of this nonsense.  Sorry.  Go eat cookies and feel better .  That always worked when we all lived at home--those many years ago.

Finally, a quiet day!

Last evening was my presentation to the quilters' Guild.  The last three weeks have been busy coordinating the slide show with the lady who was putting it in PowerPoint for me, as well as me rehearsing the actual words, while coordinating them with the slide show.  My friend Susan came to help hold up the actual quilts, while the slide showed a close-up of the embellishment.

Well, the lady showed up early with the slides on her computer and the equipment to put the image on the screen was already in place, but they couldn't find a connector to run from the computer to the other equipment.  I was told quietly that the equipment itself is so old and out of date, that there is now way the two things could have been connected, no matter how many connectors they could find.  They were in such a tizzy, that they weren't listening to anyone else, until Susan and I actually broke into their conversation suggesting that if the could find 3-4 ladies who could walk around the hall, the audience would be able to see the actual quilt up close.  That worked quilt well.  I even sold one of my pieces.  Lady came to me while I was packing up and offered cash money, and I took it.

Susan was there as my guest, as she had let her membership lapse.  At the end of the evening we just looked at each other and said "never again!"  I have no intention of ever going back for a full meeting.  I'm in a monthly challenge, and am thinking of simply dropping in before things start, and picking up my challenge design for the month.  The meeting itself was that awful.

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Gail's again.  Her craft sale is on again, and my stuff was left there last week.  I plan to go in the early afternoon, rather than early morning.  I  moved the wrong way during last night's meeting, and barely slept last night because of a very painful right knee.  Today it didn't want to bare any weight, and I ended up putting on the dreaded knee brace that has been sitting on the floor of my closet for the past few months.  I was surprised at how much it helped, and am hoping for a better sleep tonight.  But I told Gail that there was no way I planned to be getting up to an alarm, tomorrow.

Why?

Jim finally got the water in the utility sink working again. He called me over to show me and as we were looking the drier died. Totally gone. Fortunately it was almost done so I was able to spread everything out in the living room. We will see if it can be fixed but I think we are looking at a new drier. The washer is having problems too. Should we replace it now or wait for it to die?  The dishwasher leaks. We have to set our timers so we can go up and dry the floor as soon as it is done. I can live without the dishwasher but I use it as counter top. I can’t loose that counter space! The stove is new but our fridge is one that Jim’s sister got rid of when she got her new one.  Why does everything go at once?! And merry Christmas to me!  Jim was asking what I wanted. I said a big box of Twinings Earl Grey Tea. I might change my request. Sometimes you just wonder why ☹️

Our Blogging History

Browsing through our Blog data and realized with some surprise that we have been Blogging since 2009 according to the list of number of Blogs published. It seemed to surprise me anyway - time flies by when having fun??
So I think we should congratulate ourselves on 10 wonderful years of togetherness.And perhaps look forward to the next ten  - OK?
Take care

My" go to "as well...

In the midst of a whole bunch of c... yesterday, in the afternoon Harry asked for a coffee and as I poured the milk into the cup - you guessed it... curdles! I got my coat on and flew out the door to the grocery store for new milk (I'll have to do something now with the two quarts of sour milk ) On way home I passed the LCBO and quick turn in and bought a bottle of wine. Home I came with my milk, finished making a new coffee for Harry and then in the midst of more c... forgot my bottle sitting nicely on the counter still in the little brown LCBO paper bag. There it was early this morning - should I have a goblet now??? No, a nice coffee will do the job.
So now I must make something with sour milk - I'll get out my recipes and think about it. 
Snow squall warnings for today, and it is cold again here as well folks. Do not like to take the dog out but since I have to, he gets dressed in his little sweater and out we go. There is no way I can attempt to put boots on him, so he goes "bare foot".
Well, on with the day. Thinking of you Pati for tomorrow but most of all, hope you have fun!  Take care.

Stream of ideas

It's cold.  had to go out and wore a heavy pullover sweater, a very heavy cardigan, my big scarf/shawl, tuque, and finally, my parka.  Put all that on and try to drive a car!

The second of three books that I ordered arrived today.  I had ordered these thinking that they were "Monkeewrench" books that were missing from my collection.  Turns out that they aren't, but are by the same author.  Why, when one orders books from Amazon.ca, do the books come from England and Ireland?  And why do I calmly pay the shipping charges? well, at least I have something to read.

Why do the cookies David has hidden in the computer room taste so good.  Why can't they taste awful?

I have two large quilts going into a travelling show within the next month.  Over the past few days I've painfully changed the hanging sleeves to what I had thought we decided at our last meeting.  Each sleeve has to be sewn on by hand after the piece itself is finished.  Today I found out that the size has been changed again, to just slightly bigger than the ones I put on.  Now I have to start all over again.

I hate winter.  It's very pretty, and there are parties and places to go, but why does the cold make my arthritic bones hurt so much.

Well, that is off my chest.  Now, how do I get myself in a better mood.  Turns out there is a special episode of "The Masked Singer" on tonight.  Maybe a glass of wine will get rid of the Whine?

Cute little snowmen....

...and to think that some like minded individual spent time to put them all together for the sale - just for you Pati to love them and buy them haha!  And special that they will be useful for you as well?
Nothing new here. I was on phone again with Geek Squad today to ask more questions about this need to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.  Yesterday at Mike's I introduced the issue and received great feedback and explanations with Harry and I asking questions and then Mike opened his laptop to Windows 10 and we got a bit of a tour. I thought that finally there was consensus, but then today it all fell apart again so I am back to wonder and worry. I have some time until January 14 but you know how fast time goes when there is a need to do something drastic!
Mild outside and. threat of rain - just what we want right? NOT.
I go to the Dentist in the morning - it is a regular scheduled appointment but two weeks ago I had a tooth start to act up and have had pain etc since then - hoping it may just be a filling, but fear it may be another root canal issue by the way it is acting. Regardless I will need to have it attended to. And Thursday I have a long overdue hair cut appointment. 
So Pati as you give your presentation also on Thursday, my thoughts will be with you. You are well prepared and have lots to show by the sounds of your previous messages - so as the saying goes, eh Cathy?  Break a leg.
Take care  ps I packaged the second batch of saurerkraut today and froze it. The first batch was bottled.  Nice to get that done and the big crock cleaned and back downstairs. 

Sale Day

The sale at Gail's house is over for this week.  I did better than I ever have before, but none of my new items sold.   And by saying "better", it doesn't mean I did well, only that I did better than ever before.  None of the previous sales were good.  I've left my stuff out there, as they plan to open again next Saturday.  My Cheese dip went over very, very well.  Very rich and great with pretzels.  Now, I'm exhausted and ready for a quiet evening.

A busy week ahead of me, and I've decided to take it one day at a time.  Worrying about Thursday, won't help me deal with Wednesday.  but that doesn't mean I can ignore Thursday.

So tomorrow, I'll sort out the studio, and rehearse my presentation for Thursday, but confine my worrying to installing the three new magnets I bought today to use on the uprights of the big storage racks.  They are made out of clothes pins and look like snowmen.

Well, it appears that there has been some sort of update that means I can no longer add a photo from my photo albums.  I will try to e-mail the photo to both of you.  If that fails I will try to add it to a this posting from my old computer.  Pissed off, I am.

sounds like quite an evening...

...and not one I would like to have.  I think I am finally over my cold.  A few coughs and sniffles left but that is all.  It hung on for a long time  I have a new vacuum (small things excite me) I am now the proud owner of a Dyson Big Ball Animal.  My vacuum was a very old Kenmore that had reached the dangerous point with the electric cord.  The Dyson was $200 off so it was comparable to other vacuums that we had looked at.  I think I will like it. It even has an attachment for grooming long hair pets (hence the animal in the name |I guess).  It also has one for vacuuming up pet hair so it will be welcome around here.  Tomorrow Rrain and I are going shopping.  Probably won't buy anything but we are going to wander the streets of beautiful downtown Neepawa.  It is supposed to be -1 tomorrow before plunging to -20 on Sunday so this could be our last chance to enjoy the walk.  We are going to Killarney on the 22nd for Christmas and then Jean and Rrain will be here on the 25th.  Jim has promised Jean turkey so I guess I better get one.  I was going to use a chicken! Jean has offered to bring dessert. We don't have our tree up yet but maybe on Sunday.  Unless Jim gets bored while Rrain and I are out tomorrow.  

And now it's Thursday

As it was when I finally got to bed at 3:00 this morning, after a visit to the local Urgent Care Centre.  I had used an exfoliant on my face Monday evening during my shower and had been plagued by something in my eye all day Tuesday, and yesterday.  By evening I was ready to get help, so headed to Urgent Care, which is the same place a few blocks away as had previously been an Emergency dept forever.  I got there at 7:30 and waited until 12:30 when a person called my name and took me in, saying nothing except "in there" while pointing to a treatment room.  There I sat until 1:55, speaking to no-one and seeing no-one but cleaning staff, moving in the hall.  Then a doctor rushed in.  Examined me thoroughly, but quickly, and pronounced that there was nothing in the eye but a sty (sp).  He recommended warm compresses, and I was out of there in less than 10 minutes.  Only once he mentioned it did I remember that this had happened once before.  Felt a little like a fool, but I sure didn't tell him.

You had asked for pictures.  I had started with a 6 inch hexie as called for in the video.  Six inches means 6 inches along each side, in any pattern I've ever used, but the result was far too large.  So I moved down to a 4 inch hexie.  This was okay, but I still wanted to see if a smaller size was feasible, so went down to a 3 inch hexie.  This was fussy, but worked out well with a little help from my stiletto.  I only ironed the straight edges after the first step, and nothing beyond that.  I made six of them to take to the craft sale Saturday.  Here they are with my beaded silk pouches.  They are priced much lower than the pouches, and I'm a little concerned about that, but we'll see.

 So today, I will get everything ready to take to Gail's on Saturday, and tomorrow is laundry--a much bigger job than it used to be.  Then Saturday the sale, another busy and tiring day.  I just don't have the energy I used to.  Makes me feel very old these days, although I know I'm not really, when I consider how very well my "cohort" is aging.  I was born a little to early to be considered a "Baby Boomer', although you two made it.

Well, hot damn.....

The video on the hexi fabric ornament from Not Afraid of Colour was watched twice by myself so that I could grasp the concept. Although I have not actually attempted it, I am very interested.  Any chance of some pictures of your creations Pati?  BTW I have also actually constructed two of the no sew fabric star ornaments highlighted on the Last Homely House blog recently and although mine turned out rather rough looking, I was pleased to have done them. I was so happy to read that you are making these Pati. Cathy these videos would be great fun for you to watch and so to see how Pati is working through the instructions.  Happy thoughts to you both.....

Puttering again

And that includes the type of shopping we did.  Off to the fabric store, where I renewed my membership which gives me at least 20% off anything I buy for the next year.  Since I'm having fun making smaller than bed sized quilts, I priced extra wide fabric for use as backings.  Once I get some money together, I'll also check the price of it at the quilt shop where I usually find things about 60% of the cost at Fabricland.  A bit of juggling, but I really don't want to pay inflated prices just because it will save me a trip across town.  Today I've been working on little tree ornaments based on a hexagon of fabric.  I saw the instructions on a blog I follow--"Not Afraid of Color", a couple of days ago, and have adjusted the size down to something more appropriate.  These aren't great art, but they might sell at the craft show next weekend.  If nothing else they will fill up my section of the table.  But they required tiny buttons to hide some hand stitching, so I bought pretty little buttons.  Lots of little buttons. Probably more than I will ever need, but I'm having fun.

Yesterday, we went to a craft show.  A lot of junk.  I saw one table which had some very nice bottles of "something", but nothing to indicate what was in the bottles.  I had to wonder if they thought they would bring people to their table to ask, but I just saw people walking right by.  What I did find was a package of seasoning for putting with soft cheese.  They were giving out samples and they were wonderful, so I bought a big bag.  I am expected to take some sort of food offering to the craft sale, and this might just fill the spot.  I had planned to make miniature blueberry muffins.  Tried the recipe yesterday morning--just to test them you understand--and they were awful.  So 40-some tiny little muffins went in the garbage.  Actually is was more like 34 since we both ate a few.

Today David's sister came over for tea, and was telling us about trying to sort out her step-daughter's estate.  Mary Lou died a few  days ago.  She was only 4 years younger than me. She had been in poor health for many years, even going through a liver transplant.  I had liked her.  She was fun, and we spent time together down at the lake.

Warm weather around here right now, but I understand it will be back to normal temperatures later in the week.  No more rain and sleet.  However, everything remains slippery, roads sidewalks and parking lots.  I've been taking my cane with its ice grippers when I'm out walking--not that I might choose to do much of that!

Another early morning

I will be so glad to have this Dr appointment over as I could not sleep again last night - I shall try going to the appt again this morning after that silly trial run I made on Friday!  But the weather has been on my mind with snow and freezing drizzle called for - I just looked out the window and it is still fairly calm right now. But in southern Ontario it really hit bad and who knows what will be coming here. After the appt we are going to shop a bit more - I have a list of ideas to look for gifts - yesterday Mike called and was asking for ideas as well, but in the conversation I was able to pick up a few ideas for him. There is so much talk on the radio lately of people downsizing their gift giving - I have always felt this way but being attached to a family of gift givers over the past many years I have not really been able to execute my ideas/thoughts on the matter. 
I was able to finish the sewing of all the little squares into a piece that measures about 21 X 25 - small for sure but I plan to put a wide border of red  (from that bolt of fabric I spoke of ages ago) and cover with red backing and try to machine quilt it. it keeps my mind going. I am not reading right now but on occasion pick up my little tablet with the games and play a bit of Candy Crush and Wordscape etc. It is fun and I hope will keep my mind active and 
thinking.
Heres to the coming week then. Lots to do and lots to look forward to as well as the countdown to Christmas starts. Yesterday I went to the storage shed and brought home my box of favourite Christmas music and DVD movies that I plan to watch over the next month.
Take care