A bit if sunshine

A bit ago I noticed the sun shining so I headed out and put that shelf out of the car and set it up. It appears that it may be too tall for the new shed but I'll wait until Harry sees it to decide.  I was also able to water all three greenhouses at the same time. Now it is overcast again and likely to rain. I only have to heat the houses once it comes to night time. So much to and so little time...haha!
So I just poured a goblet of wine...so Cheers to you both....

Power outages

The silence does tend to feel weird for sure, but when I hear the silence of our frequent power outages, it generally means a call to action as "things" have to be done especially when we have the greenhouse heaters. And with no water because of the well and pump system that we have, it gets even more worrisome. If we are warned about an outage, I plan ahead and fill water buckets etc. but when it is sudden and prolonged I have had to drive down to the artisian well at the Town office and fill some containers - usually in line with many others waiting their turn.
Right now it is pouring rain and I see all that precious water running down to the road, or pooling in the yard.We got a new three shelf metal stand on wheels for the greenhouse and have it in the trunk of the car ready to set up today but we were also expecting the rain to stop. Apparently our day may just be filled with more rain but I am sure i shall be out there regardless. haha!
Yesterday my daily social activity took me to the LCBO ( I see a pattern emerging here ?) for a bottle of wine. Perhaps you folks are wise to be making your own. And Harry on his route from the Post office stopped at the local burger joint which is open for take out, and got us a hamburger and fries for lunch. It was the same as it always has been ie too expensive and not really good but I ate it anyway.
Today I plan to drive to the Accountant in Burk's Falls to pick up our completed Tax Forms and get that job over with - I shall have to go onto the online banking to pay what Harry owes. I had to go right into the Bank the other day to exchange coins for paper money for Harry, and the new restrictions are even worse in there being stopped at the door to explain in detail what I expected to do if allowed inside and once in, the teller ( a young whipper snipper of a girl) did not even look at me and was rather abrupt so when i said with a smile on my face " no smiles today" i got an ugly look and that was that . As i drove off i could see her chatting with the door attendant so I guess i was in her bad books. I do not like to enter the bank any more and I think they would rather people just use the machine and not bother them - no more personal client services! It has forced me to start to use the online banking which I am getting more used to but hate every minute of it!
Time for another coffee and on with a wet dreary day i guess. Hope all is well with you folks.... thinking of you... Take care

A weird feeling

The power went off today,and was off for almost an hour.  I had been on the phone when it happened, and was immediately cut off, so went to call her back on the cell.  No power, and a need to re-charge, which we couldn't do without power.  We were cut off from everything.  No computer, no phone, and nowhere to go. We didn't know what to do with ourselves.  It was a strange spooky feeling, and not one I want to repeat.

But later we did get a phone call form the young man who had agreed to do the necessary spring clean-up in the yard.  David has bee puttering with it, but it's really too much for him now, and I was glad to see the work scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Since I have to stay home for him, maybe it's time to get back to housework.  Just 3 days of neglect, and the result is obvious.  Darn!

I took a looked at Pickled Gizzards today, and found that she is back with a vengeance.  I don't think she has posted so much in all the time she's been posting, in total.  But I left it, for a quiet moment and a cup of team and the sense of anticipation waiting will give me.  That meant that I had time for a two hour zoom meeting of Textile and Fibre Artists of Manitoba. A little confusion at first as the password we had been given was wrong, but finally about 15 women, for a bit of show'n'tell and conversation.  There is an amazing amount of knowledge and productivity among these women, and I felt both envious, and out of touch. I feel as though I'm aging out of some of these groups, as the younger women are leaping ahead of me in knowledge and energy.  But I plan to persevere for the pleasure I have viewing their work and the social contact membership in the group provides.

There was a lot of confusion and many, many trips up and downstairs, for a variety of reason this afternoon.  My knees are telling me that it's time to sit down.  So maybe a minute on the other blog, and then on to Poker.

This is a test

Just connected the lap top because I have had trouble last few days and have had to deal with the Geek Squad but have been using the old desktop exclusively for last few months. So I brought out the new lap top and connected it to ensure the Bitdefender was active in it since they reconfigured it for me (remotely) on the old desktop. 
My how I love this lap top - I wish I could use it all the time. perhaps i shall leave it handy and try to connect and disconnect as I need for my purposes. Harry only uses the old desktop so i cannot disrupt that process. 
I know I can do it now but I had to refresh my memory by reading my notes in order to use this.
Take care

Early morning musings...

Sitting at the computer with coffee in hand and gazing out the window to see an overcast sky. Calling for mixed precipitation - does that mean snow, perhaps???
I wonder about my state of mind sometimes although I think I am doing tremendously well. I just watched the latest LHH video and started to cry. What....why would I do that? She was sitting in a boat in the middle of her lake and having a picnic and reading a book. But somehow that stirred some weird emotions in me though, and I shed a few tears haha! Oh I am better now - maybe I had to clear out my head a bit before the day begins? Cathartic , perhaps?
Lots of work yesterday in the yard including cleaning out the pond which is a terrible job to do each Spring. Rubber gloves on and away I went. The new shoots of the water iris are growing already and the pond looks really nice now. Last Fall we did not pick all the apples off the tree that overhangs the pond so it was full of rotten apples that did not help - but a bit of rain will help to fill the pond and clear the water a bit though.
We have groceries again as Harry made a trip to Huntsville yesterday afternoon - He was going to start at WalMart but there was a line up outside the store stretching all around so he quickly moved on from there. But he did a nice shopping at Freshco and included lettuce - iceberg lettuce at $2.00 each so we have two heads to enjoy - I have been loving the salads lately - perhaps better for me than the batches of cookies I was making??? I am trying not to bake so much now. So Pati I guess I will travel along you as you buckle down and start back to your nutritional regieme. I shall be sending good vibes your way haha!
Take care folks, and as the new greeting repeats itself over and over again....Be Safe.

Still here

Slept a solid 11.5 hours last night.  Was a little groggy this morning, but forced myself to get up and down stairs and work on something--anything!  It seemed to work, as I kept myself busy all day.  Got two pieces put together.  The quality of the work isn't the best but they are what they are, which probably isn't anything to write home about.  I really have no creative thoughts these days.  Otherwise, quiet around here all day.  David took his bike out to the end of the block and back.  Said that his balance wasn't great, but he made it back, and that's all that counts.  Then I read on Facebook that Loren was out on his bike as well.  I wonder how far he got?

I had just settled down to playing poker, after the site being down all day, when a nasty thunder storm rolled in.  Lost the power, and then had a terrible time getting back into the tournament.  It took 5 tournaments, but I finally made a little money.  Playing last night was terrible and no money was made.  This is all play money, of course.

Tomorrow is "payday", for us pensioners, but for the very first time, I really have no urgent items on the shopping list.  My weight is such that I am, again, planning to go back to my regular eating regime, so the "goodies" in the house went out with the garbage today.  I'm very upset with how my eating has become out of control with this social isolation.  I know that I'm not alone, but this means that I must find something to interest me in the studio, as that's my only other outlet.

Anyway, I'm enjoying my last "drink" for awhile, and then off to bed. Maybe tonight I can sleep as well as I did last night.

Let's make Saturday a Happy Day then....

I wonder, Pati, if your lack of energy is still the residual from your symptoms of Covid19 , and whether you should not think that your recovery should be completed by now. Perhaps you should let your body recover at its own pace, and if not, then perhaps seek a medical opinion? I am just supposing this personal opinion in response to your message about feeling a bit blah. Regardless i still worry about you and thinking of you. Cathy, have you still some symptoms from your encounter with what seemed also to be Covid19 ?
I am just taking a short break in my morning to have a coffee , do dishes and then get back to work. Last night i was up and inside  the new shed/greenhouse fussing with the heaters as it did not seem to be working and the inside meter temp was dropping down to 40 F inspite of the outside night temp only about minus 2 C. In the end it was OK but caused a bit of concern and I was up for awhile to monitor, and made myself a hot milk which I find settles me usually. But my sleep was interrupted anyway so I was up early and outside to do some work. I was able to fill another box full of sand from the street - they had come a few days ago to sweep around the corners and carry it away but for some reason they left a big pile on our side of the road. i was watching it for a day or so to see if they were returning to recover but seeing no action I assumed it was mine to do as I wished - so another box of sand is safely stored away for the winter to come. I should be OK now as I have five boxes to see me through.(and Mike as i always take him one) I have some more leaves raked to fill a brown paper garden bag, and more to do. There is a sign up at the Post office to indicate that the town will not be doing the regular Monday morning hauling of branches and leaves from the side of the roads, until further notice , but that will not stop me from filling bags and hauling them to the dump myself ( perhaps I should say Harry as he sometimes goes to the dump with other garbage bags)
Well, break over. Hope you folks are managing and filling your days with something. My friend Cheryl from Winnipeg called me the other day ( her Birthday call to me haha!) She was telling me how they were doing and said her husband and her had created a "date night" on Friday evenings - they get beer, and chips or nibbles and watch a Netflix movie. OK then, that would be nice....I expect you folks also do something similar with movies /netflix or whatever???   Take care now, enjoy another weekend at home. I read and hear that some provinces including Manitoba intend to soften the restrictions and allow for more activities and openings. I think they may be too early, but time will tell. 

Happy Friday

This hasn't been a particularly good day.   My general lack of activity has significantly reduced my exercise tolerance, to the extent that I get out of breath just climbing the basement stairs, and my recovery time is longer. Add to that the fact that everything I touch seems to go wrong.  

But I did get most of the laundry done, cleaned the kitchen and cooked supper--as  much as cooking was required.  But then I went down to the studio and managed to stitch one 12" seam, but that took over 45 minutes and required that the seam be picked out at least 4 times.  I can't help but wish myself better luck tomorrow.

So a little poker, a shower and bed.  Sounds good to me.

Clive Cussler

That long trip I took through all of Clive Cussler books was thanks to Cathy and Jim. Remember the August long weekend we all spent at the Lake - Cathy and Jim, and me tenting for heavens sake haha! Jim was reading Clive Cussler books - the first I had seen Cussler novels and so when i got back home I started my trek to the Library and think I read every one they had.  He just died not long ago so I guess there will be no more except... for a long time he was writing with other authors. And his name is mentioned as a character in each (maybe not all) of the books as well. I think my favourite were the Omega Files. Have you ventured into all the different books and heros Pati? Cathy you could tell us all about them as well ....or, was it just Jim who devoured them? 
Today should mark a return to nice weather and sunny warm days and i am sure another big push into the gardening. Harry wants me to set up the garden hose today so that will be first on my TO DO list. . As well, the Vet called and the case of dog food has come in that i ordered so I shall pick that up as well. I also ordered a huge order of budgie bird feed and millet from a Pet Store in North Bay since the local pet store has now closed and I have no more access to ordering there. But the owner of the Global Pet Store in North Bay lives in Sundridge so he will bring the order down when it comes in and we only need to drive to his house. It is a big order ( mortgage the house kind of order ) because he stated he did not know just how long the trucks and drivers would be able to deliver goods to him from suppliers in light of the Covid 19 issues ( but that also might have been a ploy???)
I know how you feel about making messes with baking because I too, have had my issues on occasion. I sometimes I think I am losing my touch but then also can easily blame the ingredients I use for example when I used the golden Crisco and the large grained brown sugar and they did not turn out ( good enough for me to eat them all though haha!) Keep baking folks...makes me feel better!
Take care - be tough.

I'm embarrassed to call myself a McGrath

I tried to make chocolate chip cookies today and screwed up the recipe--the first time.  The second attempt was marginally better.  They just didn't taste right.  The only thing I can think of was that I used a darker brown sugar than the golden brown sugar that I prefer.  I may have added just a tiny bit too much flour, and corrected this in the second batch that was a better texture.  And that pretty much tells the tale of my day today.  I did go for a walk, and made it to the first fire hydrant before having to turn back.  Not sure what the evening holds.  Poker Stars has been down off and on for quite awhile now.  It was off last night and here's hoping tonight will be better.  Haven't made it into the studio yet today, but that's always an option if Poker Stars lets me down.

Beth, you'll be glad to know that I'm trying to read a Clive Cussler book.  I'm not yet convinced that they may be something to look at in the future, but there is a second one in the house, in case the books ordered off Amazon don't arrive soon.

I ate too many cookies this afternoon and can't work up any enthusiasm for supper.  Lunch was a purchased salad that was badly mis-represented as being baby Kale.  That Kale was  a baby several generations ago.  Absolutely awful.

Grasping onto happy thoughts...

Just put a modified recipe for Seven in One Dinner casserole into the oven for today's meal. Always loved this meal and I am sure even my modified meal will bring me happiness! 
Today is sunny and moderately warmer after another cold night. I have just opened the greenhouses and they are now waiting for Harry to do some work, or so he tells me. I want to complete the sewing of the second face mask that I fashioned - I revised the tapes to cut bias strips from the same fabric and now wonder if this will turn out. I just need a bit of time to sit at the machine so maybe will not be able to do today as planned.
I have contacted our Income Tax Accountant in the next town south ( Burk's Falls) about process for submitting papers - She has a secure box set up at the office although she is working from home. I am to put the envelope there and she will notify me when to pick up. I will be glad to have that done. Then after Mike is all done with his exams and research papers, I will pressure him to get his paperwork together and I will arrange to get them to the Accountant as well. Thank goodness we have until June 1 to submit this year. All I need to do is drive to the next town and submit. 
Soon time to listen to the prime Ministers Talk scheduled every day at 11 :15. Wonder what new initiatives he has to announce. 
Hope you folks are able to get out for some fresh air...take care.

Sad time for you

I can only echo Beth's comments, Cathy.  We miss them, no matter what the circumstances of their passing.  Take pleasure in your memories, and know that he is in a better place.

Thinking of you

Always a tough time when we are dealing with our "companions" and caring for their ills and trying to determine what might be best , in their best interests. Sounds as if Chase had his good life and decided it was time to leave and thank goodness you were able to also see that and took timely action. Take care Cathy, and Jim as you mourn his death and you will for a time as you see him not being in your home anymore.  Thinking of you both and the two remaining pets who will also miss his. Take care XX

Today we said goodbye to Chase

When we were at the vet's on Monday she did more tests and discovered that he was full of cancer.   In his abdomen and it had spread to his lungs.  We could have kept him alive a bit longer but he would have just gotten sicker and suffered.  He hadn't even seemed sick 3 weeks ago, but she said that dogs often keep functioning until they can't anymore so it seems that they get sick quickly.  We were going to go in tomorrow but he got a lot worse Monday afternoon and into Tuesday.  Rrain came over Tuesday to say goodbye. He didn't eat and was refusing even water.  It was very peaceful and quick.  The room we were in had a picture of a hummingbird on the wall that Rrain had painted.  It made it a family goodbye

I need a Club beer right now.........

.....Terrible weather. Almost a foot of snow and it is still sending down little flakes as I write but hoping for some sun. The temp on the weather forecast on the net shows minus 19 C with the wind chill and my outside thermometer reads almost minus 11 C. And the new shed/greenhouse inside temp reads about 35 F - too close for comfort to the freezing mark -  so I have no idea how things will be when we open up to check for status of plants. We have one more night of frigid temps and then it should be OK for awhile. Very unfortunate that this bizarre system moved in to spoil a rather pleasant experience outside with no snow and nice sunny days where we have worked in the greenhouses and not worry about temp and freezing, and where we have already sat at the table with a drink. Not a happy situation right now.
There ...the sun is now out so I shall prepare for a "great " day. Hope all is well with you folks. Happy Pati that your supplies finally arrived and now you can really jump into your on line workshop. Let us know how you are doing if you can. Take care

Club beer again

The other story about the Club beer was the one told at my wedding.  I don't remember the details, but I do remember that the neighbours on the street used to laugh at Uncle Mernie out walking me so often in the carriage.  Only a few of them knew that he would walk up to the beer store, and bring a case home in the bottom of the carriage.  Probably a good idea as no-one owned a car in those days, and it would have been a long walk with a heavy load, without the carriage.

Today we tried to make bread using the dough hook on the big mixer.  A bit of a disaster.  The recipe turned out to be too large for the bowl. In fact it was larger than any other time we made the recipe.  I have a vague memory of it being very large, when I made it years ago, and that was behind the notation to make three loaves instead of the two listed in the recipe.  Two worked well when David made it last week, but not today.  We may have enough yeast for one more recipe of bread.  Sure hope we can find some.

The early morning routine?

I have been up for sometime already and already it has been full of the undesirable... I feel the urge to write a few words so here goes...
I remember many a trip with Daddy to the beer Store just off Osborne Street near the underpass. He did drink Club and Cathy I believe you have mentioned this and recounted this before - a coincidence especially with you Pati expressing your interest in Club as well? Also Cathy, when you bid on that bar light for Jim - the Coors light - you were very happy about that, right? On one of my many trips west years ago ( oh how I wish i could still be doing that) I tried to buy some Club beer to bring but it is found nowhere around here so must really be a Manitoba specialty.
I just got settled at the computer with my coffee earlier amidst a scene outside from A Winter Wonderland - I had the dog out around 2 am and it was just starting to snow then but by the time I got up in earnest, the ground and everything around was covered with the stuff. But anyway i was saying I just sat down when the lights flickered on and off and on and off and then on again. For me this means time to act. So I gathered the remotes for the heaters and out I went with flashlight in hand to turn the damn things back on as any disruption in power will trigger them off. As it was i decided I had to actually open the greenhouses up as i could not get a good line of sight from outside for the remote and besides i could not even see the buttons on the remote. The new shed heater is also new and never used until the weekend when we erected this shed,  and I was surprised that it was still functioning - so now I know this one will not trigger off. The big greenhouse had to be reset as did the little greenhouse but I was thrilled that this new one did not require me to open up but could peek in and see it working still. I will still have to monitor the temps closely to be sure they are all functioning because these next few days are threatening to be miserable and cold especially overnight. Yuck! And Harry did a shopping yesterday (in Huntsville) and bought bags of soil for transplanting more plants which he intends to do today? We will have to see about that....
He did get some flour (two small bags of all purpose and a larger bag of whole wheat) and some Maria cookies for me which I love and tend to nibble on a lot. He brought home a large bottle of Downey Fabric Softener instead of the requested Laundry detergent - I do not use Downey so do not know what i shall do with it? But he went over to the local store then and was able to buy two small bottles of Arm & Hammer which he said were the last two on the shelf. So I can keep on doing laundry for the short while anyway haha! Great fun this new way of life isn't it?
Now back to my coffee and then on with my day - my to do list includes trying to get some medications for Bailey at the local pharmacy - the pharmacist called me twice yesterday becuase he could not get ahold of the Vet to verify the Rx so he will try again today - I am now out of that particular pill so worrying about this.
Cathy i am sorry to hear about Chase and would love an update. I have been fussing about Bailey since January so I have an idea of the worry and concern you folks are having. Hope your trip to the Vet was productive?
Take care to you both, and think happy thoughts as we watch that damn snow all around us  haha!

What!!! No Club beer!?

Sounds like the end of life as we know it.  Oh wait!  What we're experiencing now could well be the end of life as we know it! Funny how a family passes its preferences down through the generations.  I like Club beer and would probably buy it, if I ever bought beer to bring home.  Didn't Daddy prefer Club? Or was it because the brewery was so close to home?

My concern today was wine kits.  After the kurfuffle on Friday, the agreement was that they would take back the kits I had ordered and paid for, and I would take the two kits I had received. ( I didn't receive the third kit that had been paid for)  They could not refund my money back to my credit card, and they would have to issue a cheque, which wouldn't be available to me until this morning.  However, David told me last evening that he had opened one of the kits to read the instructions. Knowing that this would probably mean that we had to keep and pay for that kit, I wasn't looking forward to my trip today.  Spent half the night worrying about it.

I took enough cash to pay for the opened kit, but David wanted to drive me.  We have been dealing with this store for years.  When we first started there, we dealt with an older woman, but she retired and her son took over.  He has now pretty well retired and the fellow I dealt with Friday is his son.  But today the father was the  one there and he was not in the least pleasant or welcoming.  He obviously didn't want to deal with the open kit and just took it back, but then challenged us on the third kit, that we had never received. When I said that we had never received it, he just stalked away, flicking his wrist in dismissal.  Well, good riddance.

Getting home, there was the sketchbook kit that I've been waiting for for almost 6 weeks, in the mail box.  At last!  And a very petty kit it is.  Now I have no excuse to carry on procrastinating about the course.  Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone.  I got on the internet and searched for a cheaper source for one of the pieces, than what it would cost to order more from them.  I found one, in Australia, and ordered it.  I actually ordered two of them and the total as $12Au,plus $20Au shipping.  Sounded pretty good.  I paid with PayPal, and when I got the PayPal statement, it said $122.00Au for shipping.  No bloody way!  I immediately went back to the website, e-mailed the woman asking that the order be cancelled, and advised her that I was also going to PayPal to initiate a dispute.  Later I got an e-mail from the woman saying that she could find no record of the purchase and was quite bewildered at what might have happened.  So I suggested that we just pretend that it never happened and if there was any further issue that I would dispute it via PayPal.

But now it is almost supper time, and we are gifted with a heavy snow storm, ( heavy snow fall for over 45 minutes, at this point)with accompanying winds.  It's April 20th.  Maybe life as we know it really has ended.

It's April........why is it snowing?

Staying at home would be a lot easier if we could work outside. It got to 12c yesterday but the wind was also blowing at 62k.  Jim spent 2 days working in the bar room.  It looks much better now, but there are still a couple of things to do.  I would have helped him more but everytime I went near the dust was too much for me to handle.  I wonder if I had dusted it in the last 20 years there would have been less.  It is supposed to make it to double digits this week, but today's forecast is 4c with snow and rain.  If it ever does warm up and the wind die down we will be able to do some outside work.  I want to do a complete cleanup of the quonset this year.  Not sure what I will do with John's jeep truck but I will try to work around it.  I am hoping for a garden.  The greenhouse in Minnedosa is taking orders and offering curb pick up, but I am not even sure the Neepawa greenhouse is still open.  I can buy seeds anywhere, but I wanted some bedding plants.  Sure wish I lived closer to you, Beth.  I could come and browse in your greenhouse and share a cup of tea in the yard (to hell with the tea....I will bring wine).  Still no Club beer available in Neepawa but Jim bought some lab lite.... he says it is going to warm up and we are going to want to sit outside and have a beer after doing our gardening.  Sure hope he is right.  We have to go back to the vet's this afternoon.  Chase is really not doing well.  I didn't give him his medicine this morning.  Neither one of us was up to fighting with Chase to force it down his throat and I figured we could always give it to him later, but if he was having a reaction to the drugs I might as well stop now.  As for housework, why bother. It is just going to get dirty again.  Which explains why there was 20 years of dust in the bar. 

Here we go....

...on another Monday morning and another week. Cold last night but it appears that the greenhouses survived - at least this new one which is new to us and untested for now and I put a new heater in yesterday just to mix things up. The monitor says 42 F but that might not be perfectly accurate. When it gets warmer and lighter I'll go out to check. Tue and Wed the temp will go down again but after that we may be clear for awhile. OH, and it is also supposed to snow these next few days so that will certainly make a difference in the progress outside.
But back to housework... I do not particularly enjoy it either but it will never improve unless we do something about it. Around here, it is usually just bit by bit can approach and turn a blind eye to the rest.I do the kitchen and dishes, and bathroom, and cloths wash as routine and when i do the birds I have to vacuum around the area to pick up the little seeds etc. What gets done otherwise is an extra and I shout yeah! with happiness. The dog and cats keep me busy on a daily basis with their needs and then there is meals to think about. Not much time left for frivolity. My time for the computer is early morning and this is the time I enjoy most through out the day.
I check for email, and all the blogs I have bookmarked and of course our blogs, and the Free Press and that takes up most of the early morning idle time for me.  There it is in a nutshell - my usual days accomplishments haha!
So how about you folks.. at this time with all the sheltering at home in place, perhaps your days are similar? Tell me your story to make my day brighter...haha!
Time to rise from the computer and get on with the day. Hope all is well with everyone and please take care of yourselves - thinking of you.

I hate housework

Every one who knows me knows that house work is a long way down on my list of favourite activities.  But these days I find myself seeing dirt every where I look.  Yesterday, on my list of things that must be done, there was polishing the top of the stove  (a polite way of saying that it was filthy and needed a good scrub).  I bought three bottles of ceramic stove top cleaner from Sears before it closed.  I'm now on bottle two, and I think it might be a little too old to be effective.  Either that, or I'm letting the stove get dirtier than ever before taking steps to clean it.  Two people using it doesn't help either. Anyway, working on the stove top, I notice that the dials, at the back of the stove need a good cleaning too.  Then, working on those, I notice that the ceramic tiles on the wall behind to stove are in need of cleaning as well.  Gosh, if those need cleaning, I bet the ones on the wall beside the stove are dirty.  Working on those I take a look at the wall leading to the basement stairs, especially the chair rail along that wall.  OMG! When was that last cleaned?  As I work around the corner and toward the stairs, David is coming up, and gives me a look that brings me back to reality. The same sort of thing happened as I was scrubbing the bathroom sink.  I don't think that the toilet, and surrounding ceramic tile has ever looked better.  It was a good thing that I had drawn up a list of tasks to do, and had made myself a promise to finish the list and go no further.  I was able to stop myself.  I don't have a list for today--maybe a good thing.

The rest of the day was relatively peaceful.  I spent some time on my sketchbook workshop and made some good progress there.  Not having yet received the course kit,  I had been worried about not having a graphite pencil, but yesterday found a package of three graphite blocks that might serve the same purpose, while looking for something else.  They don't have points, but that should be an easy fix.

For supper we had planned to get take out from the Chinese restaurant in the mall across the street, but found that it has closed, a casualty of the virus.  Very unfortunate.  It was a small restaurant, family run, even the children in their early teens, waited table.  We ended up getting take out from A&W, and I had a card that gave me free coffee, one with every order, up to 10 times.  It ran out today, but the fellow said to keep it as they expect that the promotion will run well into summer.  Good, because I have a second card, just the same.

Today, I hope to do more work on the sketchbook.  What was done yesterday, was done on cheap drawing paper that I found in the storeroom.  It doesn't work well at all if water is involved.  I have an idea how to transfer what was accomplished yesterday into a smaller scale, sot that I can use the small sketchbook I have.  Worth a try anyway.  And then there is supper.  The Chinese food usually lasts for two meals, but alas, not food from A&W.  Even the box of Timbits, that were picked up on the way to A&W, didn't last the evening.

Light rain ... more like drizzle

This is what greeted me this morning as i took the dog out early. I do not mind really as I was so tired of the white stuff.
Yesterday was a marathon of sorts around here. The ordered new greenhouse / shed kit was delivered Friday ( now this is interesting because Harry only ordered it on Thursday - cannot beat the turnaround time with Amazon lately) It was then my job to put it together - when i do these sorts of jobs I have to be totally prepared ie read instructions, take out pieces by number and count and then lay in order, prepare the surface where it is to be erected, get all the necessary tools one might need, and then start the job. The frame was steel poles which needed to be screwed together and the top was a huge tarp like pvc like plastic with windows at the side and  zippered doors at each end. The instructions stated that it would take two hours as a two person job. I was out by 8 am and doing really well on my own, until it came to the part where I really needed that second person. So Harry joined the task and by noon the shed was erected and plants started to be moved from one or the other of the other two greenhouses, I had to manoevre electric cords again to set up one of the three electric heaters so we had one of them for this new shed. The night time temp was around 2 degrees C so I was not worried about how this new shed would react but tonight and for two nights it is to be around 10 below the zero mark so now I guess i can worry. There is NO way another heater can be set up and I would rather die than face the thoughts of the propane heaters being set up. So here we go again......
Today I have wash to do, and other household chores to amuse me. I still do not know what I can do with my hair as it is getting longer - so far setting it in curlers is working even if that is a task I do not particularly like to do haha! Otherwise it just hangs all over my face usually. Right now I can get away with wearing a hat outside because of the wind and weather but that will not last long...I found my old fashioned wig I used in the early 70's - maybe that would work?
So take care folks, and think of each other fondly.  

Taking it all in....

...reading your messages and listening attentively to everything you have shared, Pati. I guess the best thing is that you have identified the issues and have a game plan. Better than wallowing in misery? There comes a time when "me" becomes just as important as "them"? It is just a case of finding the middle road because after all, we still have to be the "managers" haha! For example, today on my agenda is to erect a newly ordered and delivered 7 foot by 10 foot shed in which to place plants once I get it in place. Today in the morning it is to be sunny but then clouding over by afternoon and then rain overnight and tomorrow. Wish me luck to get this darn thing erected before the rain comes. And forgive me if my language does not befit the lady I am... as you say, we carry on, right?
Take care my sisters - always thinking of you both and so wishing we could be together, on the patio, ....drinking that wine haha! XX

I've figured out what I want.

I want all this to go away, so I can sit in my basement and fondle fabric.  I want to eat chocolate.  I want to drink B&B on Saturday nights.  I want to win once in awhile at Poker.  Knowing my wants have to be realistic, I won't mention the size 8 hips, but I've thought about them and they aren't compatible with the chocolate and B&B.  Too bad.  I choose chocolate.

Anyway, I've had 5 hours of peace and chilled out somewhat.  Actually I was so upset that I sat for two of those hours and shivered, and kept looking over my shoulder.  I can remember having days like this when I was working ( not often) and surviving them quite nicely, but then there were also those who referred to me as a "stone cold Bitch" in those days.  I like the me now much better. I need to find her again.

Life has caught up to me.

Today ended up being the most stressful of our social isolation to date. I dared go out to try to pick up a couple of things, that could be accessed easily from the car, and wearing my mask. Well, what could go wrong did go wrong, and the whole day ended up with me in a lively argument  over the phone, with a young man, with whom I had had a serious mis-understanding.  Neither of us at fault, as it was all because of us having two different interpretations of a technical term. But the cumulative effect of all of my day's adventures left me sitting alone in the basement for over an hour trying to figure out how to re-gain my equilibrium, and carry on.

I've yet to figure out a new plan for survival during this social isolation, but, in the long run, I have no alternative than to figure it out.  There's no escape clause in society right now.  On the good side, we have enough food to last for months.  We have enough money to buy more food if we need to.  We have shelter, and warming weather.  We're temporarily short of wine--a major problem--but can probably figure out how to live with less.  Buying it is probably not an option.

For tonight, I plan to sit in the kitchen and play poker for most of the evening.  I may even explore potential options to that wine.

A better day

But then I was firm in making my needs known to myself, so that I was frequently reminded of my objectives.  Does that make any sense? I found myself vacuuming, and had to then firmly tell myself that I really needed that studio time that has been missed most days this week.  Didn't help when I realized that the vacuum bag was absolutely full and needed changing, and I didn't know how to do it, because vacuuming has been David's job since I fell and broke my shoulder.  Then I tore a brand new bag trying to get it in, and ended up throwing it away.  A-r-r-r-g-h!

Still and all, I did get a couple of hours in the studio.  I hope to get some pictures on the other blog over the weekend.  I've also been communicating with the lady in England who had sent me that starter kit, that hasn't arrived, for the Creative Sketchbook Workshop I'm taking on the Internet.  We are going to monitor until the end of the month, and have agreed on a course of action should it not appear by then. It sounds as though the British Postal system is as screwed up as the Canadian one. Until then, and perhaps even then, it looks like I'll be using the little sketchbooks you sent me, Beth, a few years ago, with the pretty gold page edges.  They are really too small, but are better than anything else I have.  The ladies who are presenting the course appear to have no problem using smaller books, so maybe I just have to consider it a learning experience.

David appears to have overdone it yesterday, and is not doing well today. It was his turn to cook supper, but it got done with a group effort.  Then we discovered the original movie of "Jumanji', with Robin Williams.  Ever since we saw the first "Jumanji" with Dwayne Johnson, I have wished that I had seen this first one, and thoroughly enjoyed it tonight. I find that we are watching a little more tv together than we have in the past, and I count this as a good thing. I also try to see The View every day, as I find it an excellent way to get an idea of what is going on within the USA politics.  Our two countries are so very much interwoven that I believe it pays to have some notion of what is happening there. That is a scary thought, no matter what country you come from.

But now it's bedtime, and the two glasses of white wine I've had are telling me to lay down and get some sleep.  Best I obey.  Stay safe ladies!

Sounds just like our weather

....it snows then melts and then snows and then melts and this morning more snow on the ground -one step forward and two steps back? But I know it is not fair to compare our weather with how things are with you Pati. Each day will bring you another step forward ...but just keep moving forward ....I'll be pushing you from behind haha!
We just carry on here and sometimes I feel I do not get much done. I attempted to give Bailey his subq fluids yesterday and he objected to the point that I quit. He has never done this before so I wonder if I am losing my touch , or he is getting so much better that he is reacting differently, or what? Regardless I am to give him fluids twice a week so I shall prevail if he lets me. I try to push water at him and food soaked with water or chicken stock, but apparently he needs more right now to keep flushing his kidneys and bladder. 
Harry did a shopping yesterday at Foodland here in town so we are stocked for now. We have toilet paper now in good supply and two kleenex (6 packs) on hand as he has bought some each time he has gone. But no baking supplies just like you mentioned Pati. I have enough flour for now, but it now goes on the "list" for Harry to check each time he goes just as I did with the kleenex and toilet paper. 
No work in the greenhouses yesterday - it is cold and windy still but we will have to open them up today to at least water even if this day is also not ideal. Where is that hot sun which I desire to warm me up and make the gardening a bit more pleasant? Even walking the dog I have my winter jacket, and scarf and hat and will put my hood up to ward off the bitter wind. But Bailey loves to go to the lake and the wind is always worse down there.
Speaking of Bailey I see that he is up now and so my day begins - I steamed some green beans which he loves and is good for him to eat so I will sign off for now and get started with another day. Hope you are managing OK and take care.

Two steps forward, and then another step back

but that appears to be part of the "game".  Neither of us slept well last night and we're wondering about the Elderberry wine. With a minimum of sleep, today was pretty well a washout.  Did very little this morning, and then went down for a nap just after lunch. When I got up it was hurry hurry and get a shopping list to Loren.  While he was shopping I tried to return a phone call that came in while I was sleeping ,and make my daily call to Gail.  No sooner did she answer the phone than Loren was back with the groceries.  A few of the things we needed weren't available, one being yeast for the bread baking that's going on almost every day.  Not sure what we're going to do about that, but then he wasn't able to get any white flour in any case, so baking may not be on the agenda for a few days.

Now that you mention it, I do remember you taking part in that fund raiser.  It was to help with very much needed renovations to Little Britain United Church Hall.  A large quilting group has met there for years and through fund raisers like this contributed quite a bit to the building fund.  I haven't attended any meetings of the larger Local Quilt Guild this year, and may not do so for awhile, once meetings start again that is.  I have a life membership so will still get newsletters etc.

Tried to go for a short walk this evening, but didn't get very far before finding it just too much.  So will head for a bath, and then maybe try one poker tournament, before bed.  Hope tomorrow works out a bit better for me.

Going to the Vet...

Cathy, I sure know how you must be feeling with the issues with Chase - I have been sharing my woes about my Bailey with you folks for so long and I thank you for at least listening to me - I know I have your ears even if there is little you can do to help the situation tangibly. So keep your hopes and keep giving the meds - my Bailey is coming back and for that I am so grateful. I, too, was at the Vets today and confirmed his improvement and have my "marching orders" for the next little while - not really what I wanted but I am "totally in". I have to continue with his subq fluids twice a week and all the three pills for the foreseeable future, and the mineral water every two to three nights. Poor little guy is such a trooper i cannot help but to give him all I have.
We had some of the tomatoes in the little greenhouse "fry" with too much heat from the propane burner last night - Harry thinks he'll see if they come back but if not, we certainly have enough to make up for their lose. We did some more transplanting and moving plants from shelf to shelf this afternoon. I still have to go out to turn up the heat and cover for the night = the night time temps are in the low minus numbers for next few nights. I sure hope that things will change around real soon.....
So time to close up - I am so tired from no sleep last night and all I have done today. Take care .....be safe.

A Monday trip to the Vet's

We took Chase in to the Vet's yesterday. (with an appointment and only one person to come in with him)  He started getting sick last week.  Yelping in pain.  Didn't want to lie down....... walked in circles for hours.  Finally lay down and then didn't want to get up.  Wouldn't eat.... started peeing whenever the urge hit and no longer lifted his leg.... urine down his legs and onto his feet.  $360 later we left with antibiotics for an infection and pain killers for arthritis.  He still doesn't want to eat, which makes getting the pills into him difficult.  He did eat some food last night about 2 or 3 hours after the pills.  No food this morning but i managed to force the pills into him so maybe he will eat when the pills start to work.  We also found out that we can no longer get the tick pills for our dog unless they have had a check up in the last year.  We put JJ on a waiting list for when things are back to normal with the Vet's and they do check ups again.  Hopefully before the ticks come out.  We got Chase his pills since Dr. Liz had seen him.  Kids and pets!  Jim is getting an oil change on the car today.  He has one free oil change left and it expires this month, and they will not extend it.  Still only a few cases in Manitoba compared to other provinces, but still not a lot of people being checked.  It's way too cold out to work outside and I have reached a point where I need some help with stuff on the inside so I putter.  And even if I have a lot of stuff to get rid of, there is no place to take it, and I have no more room to store it.  I sympathy with the dog and feel like I am walking in circles.  Kris got his invoices at his store and warned us that prices are going up.  We can live out of our freezer for a while, but I can guarantee I am going to get sick of pork!

Turning out the way you wanted/planned

Perhaps it is the planning part that sets things astray? But I did like where your day headed Pati - sit and drink sound OK with me haha!  I wonder how you made out Cathy - any exciting stories such as Pati just wrote? 
Here is my twist of my special day planned but not quite materialized. That Manitoba Spring weather you mentioned rushed in here as well with a vengeance. They predicted some rough weather and sure enough it came. Temperatures dropped and the wind came roaring in and the snow/sleet pelted down and then....as it always does....the hydro went off. And with two greenhouses to heat, I can imagine you know what action was required next. Just picture my activity: flashlights made handy, propane heaters out, heater attachments out, get the matches and other devices out, organize the lighting of the heaters, set up the heaters in the greenhouses, monitor the greenhouses, worry, and monitor and worry some more. Perfect end to a perfect day....NOT!
So today as soon as it gets lighter out, I shall have to go out and see what the damage has been? Oh, I was up again in the night and out to the greeenhouses once the hydro came back on, to turn the propane off, and turn the electric heaters on, So it did not last the entire night, But there was a funny part to it all. Remember I spoke of sweeping up sand/gravel into boxes before the "sweepers" appeared to clean the streets. During this hydro outage all I could see was flashing lights going up and down outside on the road. You guessed it...the sweepers were out there in the dark doing their thing. They are hired to come in and do it so I guess this was their time to come to Sundridge, and they had to get the job done? Crazy!
So I hear on the news that the Ontario Premier shall be announcing another 28 days of isolation precautions to be implemented.. really does not matter to me - I shall try to stay home and continue doing what I am doing.
Take care folks and always thinking about you.. love to see the messages and pictures. That quilt Pati is gorgeous - if you remember I was also part of that Block of the Month fund raiser - I got as far as sewing the blocks with all the little paths but no farther. I still have my box of supplies and patterns so maybe one day I might haul it out and have a look. Thanks for the reminder.

Busier day than I planned

When I got up there was really nothing on my agenda.  That changed.  With having changed the duvet for a couple of quilts, I decided to go for the gusto, and changed out my winter wardrobe for my summer wardrobe.  This really only consists of moving stuff from one closet to the other, but it sounds better put the other way.  I found one of my favourite tops that I had thought had been sent to the thrift store last fall, by accident. The duvet covers were washed, folded and put away. Then during lunch we sat and watched the news and heard the weather report that says the temperatures are going to be well below normal for at least the next week. It snowed for most of the afternoon and early evening. I went for a walk this afternoon with a sweater under my fur coat, a touque, and big wrap-around scarf.  Made it to the end of the block, turned around and struggled to walk home against a really nasty north wind.  Gotta love spring in Manitoba!

I've been messaging a fellow from the wine store where we usually shop, and will probably be ordering a couple of kits.  I suggested that we check for any other supplies we might need before I order.  this lead us to three bottles of Elderberry wine, made so long ago that neither of us can remember when.  We opened a bottle, but being red, there was a lot of residue.  What to do? What to do?  Well, we got out my old filter drip coffee maker. ( I received it for Christmas in 1980, when we visited you, Beth, in Victoria.) Took the top of it, added a coffee filter, and poured the wine through into a measuring cup.  It was very dry, so I made a bit of simple syrup, and we are sweetening it teaspoon by teaspoon, but I'm betting the alcohol content is much higher than the white we usually drink.  Oh my!

The reason to drink the wine is that I've been in a funky mood all day.  Gail phoned about 6:30, as we've been in contact every day, to support each other, since this nonsense started.  She spends a lot of time on Facebook arguing with conspiracy theorists, among others.  She often tells me about these "discussions", and usually makes me laugh, but not today.  I came away from our conversation very unsettled.  So into my nightie and with a glass in hand, ( I finally got out one of the crystal wine glasses Beth gave us when she was living in Germany.  Finally!)I sat down to finish my blog from earlier. Since I can't remember what it was that I wanted to talk about so urgently, maybe I should quit while I'm ahead.  Have a good night .

A "Do Nothing" day

And that just about describes it.  My main accomplishment, other than a batch of Mom's Raisin cookies, was the change the bedding to "Summer" quilts. While looking at things on the upper shelf in the closet, I found a quilt that I had almost forgotten about--one that has never before been used on a bed.  The colours just about match the new sheets we got over the winter.  The deal is that the white/blue summer weight quilt goes on, followed by one of the hand made colourful quilts for spring and fall.

This was the result of a "Mystery Quilt" fundraiser that the local Guild had 20-30 years ago.  One member designed the pattern, and donated it, and then everyone bought the instructions for one square or border every month. No-one knew how the piece was going to turn out, so we were working blind.  In this case we were also told to change it any way we wanted: that the pattern was just a suggestion. So every quilt turned out differently.  I was very pleased with mine, and even paid to have it machine quilted in what would now be described as "custom" quilting.  Even then that wasn't cheap.  It's really too small for the bed, but I used it last night and it worked just fine.

Amber came for her masks yesterday, and it appeared the whole family was in the car.  I had put a bag of Raisin Cookies in the bag holding the masks, and just hung it on the door knob outside.  so she just grabbed it and ran.  Later I got an  e-Mil thanking me for the masks and cookies but telling me that she thought Darren had eaten them as the girls claimed not to have had any.  That recipe makes big cookies, and I had given them a dozen. Oh well, I tried.

Over the weekend, we watched a lot of tv, yesterday in particular.  It was a "Dolly Parton Day" on A&E.  There were a couple of her lesser-known movies in the afternoon, and then a special celebrating her 50 Years on Grand Ole' Opr'y, followed by a 2 hour biography-first time shown. This was quite interesting, as went into quite a bit of depth, and discussed her impact on the feminist movement, interviewing people like Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, both of whom have been active in feminist circles then, and are somewhat prominent right now, as they have a hit show on an alternative network. That was then followed by 2 hours of Willie Nelson, Family and Friends concert.  I checked out half way through the Willie Nelson piece.  I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

But this all means that other than making the cookies, we spent most of the day sitting and, on my part, eating the cookies. Even my vision of a more formal Easter Sunday dinner were trumped by  the tv shows, and dinner turned out to be roast chicken--fend for yourself.

So today will be spent in the basement, away from food.  After I help David clean-up the kitchen.  Better get to it, as he's almost finished.

It's Beth's Birthday!

A very happy birthday to you, Beth.  Please find some time today to do something for yourself, no matter how small a thing it may be.  You deserve it!

Easter Sunday

Greetings to you on this Easter Sunday. I expect it will be a nice stay at home celebration for us all which will be just fine. Hope all is well as I send this greeting your way. Pati you mentioned Dave a bit under the weather so thinking of you both there. And Cathy and Jim - what are you planning for today.
I was happy to see the pictures of the masks and now wondering if you are wearing them - maybe not in the house although there was some comments heard on a report that said wearing masks in your house was a good idea as well. I, too, fashioned a mask on Friday in spite of not having or being able to access the wanted sewing items, and used what I could - it turned out ok but not really what I had imagined - I had cut two mask pieces so if I feel or have time, I may try out the second cut pieces but make it a bit different to fix what I saw as defects with the first? 
Our visit with Mike yesterday was a wonderful break for us all - we had a good time and a lovely meal - there and back without incident - gas was 78.6 at the Canadian Tire in North Bay. Some there at the pumps were filling up gas cans - why not at that price. I wished I had my lawnmower gas can with me to do the same as it is empty and I shall have to fill it somewhere before i can start the summer grass cutting chore. But that is way down the road at this point. 
Take care all, and have a Happy Easter today. 

I always wanted to be a fashion diva

Very much like yours, Pati, but with elastics over the ears. Thank you Rrain

I want to move to your house

Food sounds much better there.  And food has become a problem, in that, with feeling a bit better, I'm absolutely ravenous.  I want everything that I shouldn't eat, and am thinking about all of the really neat recipes that are in my recipe box, and Mom's.  The trousers I just bought are getting tight, but even wearing them doesn't stop me from prowling around the house looking for food.

The house is in better shape than ever, as I seem to be finding the dirt more often, during my prowling. My magic Pine-Sol bottle is almost empty.  But we have lots of toilet paper!

Unfortunately, David tells me that he's not feeling well today.  Just when I thought that our quarantine might be easing up a bit.  But, whatever, we will deal with it, and try to remain as safe as we can.

We had that crazy weather day  awhile back.  Heavy snow, rain, sun wind, and then another heavy snow fall, all within 24 hours.  But he snow melted within 3 days, and is now almost completely gone.  The neighbour across the back has been trapping the rabbits in our yard. We think he has at least two of them, and while we know there were at least 5 of them around, we mostly saw four in the yard.  We gave him permission, but he's being very discreet about it.   I don't care what he does with them, but also don't want to know, in case it makes me care.  He is a retired cooking instructor, so maybe they're eating rabbit stew.  Better them than the crows that are stalking them as well.

This is starting to sound like a pretty dismal post.  Maybe I should finish lunch and head back to the studio--where I can hear the washing machine and keep on top of the wash. Meanwhile, here is a picture of the face masks I made over the past couple of days.

Yesterdays snow, and last night's blizzard

Crazy weather but the snow from yesterday morning did melt during the day, but last night a blizzard and more snow came back in a flurry. Taking Bailey out in the middle of the night was just too much for us both - He ran for the door and me right behind him haha!  I had put my baked lemon pie on the front stairs to stay cool in a big tupperware box but the temperatures fell lower than expected so I have quickly shoved it into the fridge hoping there is no damage done. I say shoved because the fridge is absolutely full with food to be prepared and taken to Mikes for our meal.Today i make the scalloped potatoes but it will have to go into the car for overnight and since it will be cooked should be OK and cool enough to store there until we go Sat morning. This has always been an issue for me with so many trips with meals we have made - I have to ensure there is space to store in the fridge etc and then pack it all up to transport with regard to all its need to be secure and undamaged etc.
I am using a new keyboard we ordered on line and received yesterday and it is something else. They call it a gameboard keyboard which means nothing to me except it is lighted and goes from left to right in rainbow colours from lime green to white to pink to blue to purple and then reddish pink. All the colours are brilliant or flourescent in nature and I am struggling to find the letters to type. I may go crazy!
Good Friday it is today and supposedly everything is closed. I treated myself to a bottle of wine which I have not had for ages - I have been enjoying my specialty teas instead. But for a treat i decided to buy some wine which took me to the LCBO which is like a fortress to enter and buy anything. The line was five deep onto the parking lot when I walked up and so I took my turn (only two patrons in at one time) and finally entered to the direction of the door attendant garbed in PPE and i was directed to the hand sanitizer post where i was observed cleansing my hands appropriately and then I shopped and at the checkout again helped by a cashier all garbed ( they are wearing face shields now as well) I have to use a debit card only and have to manage the machine on my own. All in all it was an experience but i did come home with a bottle of wine and quickly got out my pottery goblet and poured a slug!
So here we are at the Easter weekend. Please enjoy yourselves and have a very safe and peaceful celebration. Take care and Happy Easter to you all. XX

Oh no....it's Snow

Just took the dog out for his morning thing and was greeted with a blanket of fluffy light snow on the ground and the sky full of the same coming down hard. I expect it will not last, but nevertheless, it is here now, and not without  a few words from me. Don't want it!
Will be a busy day i expect, as we prepare for our trip to Mikes on Saturday - i shall make lemon pie today and can hardly wait to see it turn out. i received some scratch and win tickets from our friends in Sprucedale in my card - scratched them all and won $5.00. I also received some from Harry in his card - scratched them all and won $0.00. It is disappointing for me but was especially disappointing for Harry. 
Take care folks - stay in and be safe ( we are still going to Mike's inspite of the precautions to do otherwise, so I pray for a safe and healthy trip for us) 

Two sides to every story

Jim spoke to someone at Provincial Command today and got an entirely different version of the story.  There was no threat of charging us intended.  According to them they spoke to someone who was very uncooperative and rude when asked about the money.  Jim says he apologized to the woman and told her that  we had been waiting to see if things were rescheduled and that the first we heard was on April 3.  He says she was very polite after that and said she would make sure that everyone was aware that we were quite concerned and cooperative.  I wonder what the truth really is..... somewhere in the middle I imagine. Other than that it is unpleasantly windy out today, and cool.  The snow has melted and yesterday we rode the quad around the trail.  We should be able to walk it soon.  I was going to go shopping on Friday but I just realized that it is Good Friday.  If I need anything I guess we should go tomorrow!  I am pretty good for food, but getting down on cleaners and detergent and (gasp) toothpaste.  Fortunately I don't have the ingredients to make cookies cause I have gained enough weight without adding in goodies.  By the time this isolation is over I will need new clothes!

How about today?

Hoping that today proves to be a much better day for us all....it is cloudy and overcast and moist here - a little rain last night has dampened everything and so it is actually gloomy but not enough to "dampen" one's spirits. I had wanted to view the pink super full moon last night but with the overcast skies it did not happen. I am out with Bailey every night in the middle of the night so have the skies above to view most nights and see the stars and try to figure out some constellations. There was a time when i could look at the night skies and quickly name most of them but no more. The only one I can identify perfectly is Orion haha!
A good batch of choc chip cookies was made this morning so I have some to take to Mikes and some to eat. Actually I have done justice to the container of the "not so good" one's i made the other day - must not waste anything, right?  And I have the crumbs for the graham cracker crust lemon pie done and probably will make that tomorrow. And I have to make a casserole of scalloped potatoes yet but that will be on Friday. Then we will be off to Mik'es on Saturday.
The Ontario Premier just gave his daily speech and notified everyone that all stores will be closed on Friday and Sunday so to give the workers some well deserved time off. I wonder now if all will comply?  And the Prime Minister stated in his speech today that considerations are now being given for some relief for Seniors? I wonder what that might look like?
I hesitate to go outside to do any work as it looks cold and miserable but I got some raking and leaves put into bags yesterday. it feels good to do it but I must say that the old body just doesn't work as fast as it used to. I would still like to put in a hour or so and then things might get done - the To Do list is far too long but if i chip away at it...? who knows.
Yesterday I washed and set my hair in curlers - and when dry and brushed out it looked not too bad. Last week in a fit of despair i took the scissors to my hair and cut some quasi bangs to get the hair from falling all over my face. I did not do a nice job - far to short and now I have a row of hairs sticking up but fortunately with the curling the rest of the hair sort of falls nicely over this disaster. So what are you two doing about your hair?
Must go and think about going outside ...just think maybe and instead make a nice cup of tea haha! Take care

Rough day

I just couldn't get my act together when I first got up.  Looking back, I have to wonder if maybe I had two big mugs of caffeinated tea rather than one of green tea and one of half-caf tea.  I was almost in a stupor watching The View.  I then signed into Facebook, and have almost no memory of whatever it was that kept me there for almost an hour.  Finally, I had a bit of lunch, and went for a nap.  An hour and a half later I got up, just in time  for Loren getting here, to pick up the debit card for doing our shopping.  Just as he got here, Gail phoned for our daily check-in, and we talked for the best part of an hour and by that time, I was feeling much better.  While I was dozing through most of the day, David baked more Multi-grain bread.  It was cool enough to give Loren a loaf once we got the groceries unloaded.

So, overall, I have just wasted a whole day, and have a poor memory of it.  I was feeling a little guilty about this until I tried to watch a video of a conversation between two prominent textile artists, where both of them admitted that they haven't been accomplishing very much, art-wise-at all while sheltering at home.  So now I feel a little better about how little I can actually say I'm accomplishing these days.

Loren has said that, if I make masks he would like a few of them.  Guess I'm making masks tomorrow.

Now there is the evening ahead of me.  Maybe a little poker and then a bath, and then some reading.  I'm going through my books far too fast and am reduced to reading an auto-biography of Jeanne Cooper, who has played a main character on "The Young and The Restless", for over 30 years.She had a film career before that, which I didn't know.  But it is a book, and I'm hoping I can make it last until at least tomorrow.

Be safe-stay safe.

Calming down

I am much less upset today. Besides, it is Provincial Command that is going to charge us with theft. I can only hope there was a miscommunication somewhere cause I would hate to think that the legion would treat its members like that. Other than that I think I have enough garbage to take a drive to the dump today. I might even have recycling too.  Hot Date!! Rrain has made a couple of home made face masks. Better than nothing I guess. We will probably do our grocery run on Thursday or friday.  Jim’s sister Glenda called yesterday. She was up and dressed by 7am (very unusual for her). She went to the store for the 8am time set aside for seniors. 2 customers and 3 clerks while she was there. In and out and home in 30 minutes with everything she went for. Definitely worth losing the sleep. The snow is starting to melt again so today I get to go on another poop patrol. Oh joy

Your note Cathy

This morning as I logged on to read the messages, your note popped up Cathy and I must say how much I shared your disappointment with what occurred. It surprises me that the request was so immediate and definitive. I wonder also if there is a chance your letter with cheque would have been delayed for some reason ?There are times when I have had little faith in the postal service , and yet other times when they have come through brilliantly. It might be wise to follow up closely, but please do not fret. You and Jim have been faithful members locally and maybe continuing at the local  level will satisfy you going forward? and your feelings about the National level may wain? All organizations these days seem to be reacting in various ways (positive or negative) to the imposed restrictions of this Covid 19 and it appears National is demonstrating same. Chin up - you have healthier things to focus on.
So onto another day here - is to be sunny and I hope seeing the sun today will fill me with sunshine enough to carry me through some forecast snow at the end of the week. Yuck! I do not want to see any of that stuff. Yesterday i was able to fill three boxes with sand from the street and put them under cover waiting for next winter. I am slowing down as last year we used the five boxes I filled so unless I get more, we might be short. But it was all i could do yesterday just to fill and move these three to cover. Oh joy!
Take care my sisters...

Venting

This may seem so petty BUT.  We received a $75 per diem for our crib tournament. When it was cancelled we were hoping it would be rescheduled but not with a lot of hope. Last Thursday we were asked for a refund of the per diem so we immediately wrote the cheque. ( with disappointment since we were hoping for rescheduling) but we turned it in.   So last Thursday we sent a cheque but today,  (3 days.... no mail service) we were told that if we did not immediately refund the money we would be charged with theft.  I am soooo disgusted with the national command. We did everything we thought was proper and yet now we are thieves!! I am so disgusted with the legion national command!

Another day..... Another pound gained

Boredom really does consist of opening the fridge door and staring.  Yesterday I did my puttering.... wiped down the kitchen with a weak bleach solution.  Scrubbed the tub.... put duct tape on a crack in the tub surround.  Wouldn't you know that once we found a plumber and a guy to do some bathroom renovations this would happen.  Another load of laundry done.  Jim tried to harrow some ruts out of our lane, but wasn't totally successful, and then Jean drove in to pick up some eggs so we had big ruts again.  JJ and I went for a mile walk this morning.  She may choose not to go tomorrow now that she knows how far it is.  Chace is not feeling very good right now.  Jim is giving him an aspirin every morning and it seems to help.  He is 11 now and being a bigger dog he is getting up in years. JJ will be 10 at the end of October so she is getting up there too.  Rrain is going to make a couple of cloth masks for Jim and I when we go to town.  There are a couple of women in Neepawa making them.  (One is my friend Lynne) but I figured I would rather pay Rrain than someone else.  Tomorrow is her last day of work.  She will go in occasionally to pay bills and stuff but that is it.  They are applying for the 75% wage subsidy, but it has to be applied for by a director of the board and they have to include their own personal income information along with it (I think that is aimed at businesses rather than not for profits).  She has a friend that works at an accountants office who is going to help them.  Their own accountants office couldn't help as they were not familiar enough with any of the programs.  (Their accountant donates his services every year so they do not want to pressure the firm since they never pay him) I haven't heard from Kris since he phoned me.  It was probably pretty hard on him to actually talk on the phone.  I know Sandi's parents are going to Killarney to help take care of Chloe while they work. They both had last week off since it was Spring break and they had made plans to go to the fair and stuff.  They stayed at home instead.  Back to work for both of them now.  Tonights supper is going to be a clean out the freezer chicken casserole.  I even found a boxed pie crust to put on top.  And later, for something different, I will go for a walk. 

Breakfast with the blog

and leftover sour dough biscuits.  I used my Bramble Jelly on them for a very nice treat with my last orange and some yogurt.  My friend Gail and I have been phoning each other every day just to touch base, as she is at home not well too, and likely my source of the "plague".  Yesterday was grocery shopping day at her house and she had me laughing with her tale of trying to make a  face mask for her nephew, so that he could go shopping. She is not a sewer, but had her Mother's over 50 year old Bernina, an old pillow case, and some bungee cord ( for taking apart to get the elastic inside).  When the Bernina didn't work, she had to stitch it by hand.  She says that it took her about 3 hours, but he wore it and told her it wasn't the ugliest one there. The two of them share the house, with him renting the basement, but with kitchen privileges. They are both religious "outcasts" from a huge inter-woven, slightly crazy, rural family.  The stories she tells are endless and amusing, but never boring.

Both David and I are becoming disillusioned with Poker Stars.  About a year ago they moved their location to Malta from The Isle of Man, and the service has gone downhill ever since.  The whole site has been off-line every weekend for the last month. There are several different versions of the service and one never knows what version might be there when we sign on.  For awhile I was getting 20,000 free chips every hour, then it was 15,000 every 4 hours and now I get none.  I had the 15,000 for while a couple of years ago, and suddenly they took most of my chips away from me and told me I wasn't entitled to them.  David has been getting the 15,000 all along. He's starting to look around at other programs available.

Well, David has shown up with a bucket and sponge mop. Looks like the kitchen floor is about to get mopped.  Time to move along.

Here we go....

Nice upbeat message Pati to get our week off to a good start. And glad to read that you are feeling better. The walks are great - if it were not for my need to take Bailey out I wonder if i would actually venture out on my own right now, although I have always loved to in past times walk around town to go the Lottery, and the Pharmacy and the Bank and the grocery Store so I am not adverse to that at all. You will likely build up your energy gradually but do please take care while walking. Cathy you mentioned you went for walks as well around the yard and on the road - how are your trails drying up?
I made choc chop cookies yesterday with weird ingredients and of course they did not turn out although I ate several of them to "test".
Harry shopped and brought home the Golden Crisco shortening (instead of the regular) which i have used without success in the past but had to use for these cookies. Then I had some coarse brown sugar called turbinado that I tried instead of the regular but the dough was awful and the cookies when baked were even worse. So i will have to do another batch to take to Mike's but use different ingredients - back to the tried and true. I do not have Parkay but will use the margarine i use every day I guess. 
I guess it will be "work in the greenhouses" again today as yesterday was a bit of a reprieve with cloudy and coolish morning weather although the late afternoon proved nice with the sun finally shining.
Take care today and every day while we weather this storm......thinking of you 

Now almost supper time

No sense in starting anything as I'll have to start preparations very soon.  I had told David that he was in charge of supper.  That didn't work very well, although he made the marinade for the pork this morning, with a little bit of help.

I have to admit that today has been a fairly good day.The best since I got sick, almost two weeks ago.  We had to put the garbage out, and I went out while David hauled the bins out, and took a little walk down the street.  I made 3 1/2 houses before turning back for home.  A target to work toward over the next few days.  Then I hauled out a patio chair and sat in the sun with a book while I drank a big mug of coffee.  A good chance to use my finger less mitts. I've been making a point of wearing both my hearing aids, since I got the second one.  Boy are those birds at the feeder noisy.  They're hungry little buggers too.  David filled the feeder this morning, and had to re-fill it this afternoon.

Spoke to the Pharmacist and it turns out that the debit card option is the best.  Evidently, if I give him the card and PIN, it is implied consent to use it in any way he chooses. David is on board with this. Now to convince Loren.


So little to show for the day, but a pleasant day, none-the-less.

Getting by any way we can

Laughing about your sausages, Beth. Yesterday, two desperate people decided to make cookies. We only had makings for the Raisin cookies we used to eat at home, the recipe for which makes over 4 dozen, too many.  So we tried the Oatmeal Raisin cookies the recipe which is on the old Parkay margarine box.  I'm not sure that Parkay still makes hard margarine.  A few years back they said they weren't going to, and we stocked up the freezer with 4-5 boxes, because I don't believe that one can make Chocolate Chip cookies without it.  The boxes were still in the freezer since Dr. Phil and his diet came into my life on March 1, 2016.  Bonus! A chance to use some.  The cookies were made using my very old, barely working mixer, equal portions of frustration and compromise, and an agreement to use baking parchment so we didn't have to wash the pans.  They turned out to be very good--too good--but then we knew that would happen.

So we have two sisters in different areas of the country forcing themselves to eat something, just because it was there. And tonight I get to eat Cathy's Lean B-B-Q Pork, because it will be there.  Actually we're doing two tenderloins so as to make sure there are left overs.  We really like the stuff-hot or cold.

My plans for the rest of the day include trying to make some progress on the expensive on-line sketchbook course David gave me, for my birthday.  The issue is not having a decent sketchbook to use.  When doing a bit of sorting in my studio storeroom, I found a roll of drawing paper that I bought years ago when Gillian was young and loving to draw.  It was not expensive and close to 12" wide.  I cut five 18" lengths and folded the pieces into 9" by 12" then stitched them down the  fold to make a booklet of 20-9" by 12" pages.  I started on that yesterday, but when my felt markers went through the paper, realized that I would only be able to use one side.  Okay.  So, I have a little booklet, and will attempt the exercises.  When the good book arrives, I can repeat them or add extra pages, whatever works at the time.  When I order books through Amazon, that come from Britain, I expect them to arrive in 3-4 weeks.  We are almost at 3 weeks now, so I'll be patient for awhile longer, but I would sure like to get the kit they are sending me.  After all, I did pay for it.

On an encouraging note, I felt a little better yesterday, and didn't feel the need for a nap.  I slept very well last night ( David tells me I was snoring like a good thing), and felt optimistic about today.  I've mentioned before that my progress has been a bit erratic, but maybe  I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

Regardless, Loren is going grocery shopping for us either tomorrow or Tuesday.  I'm putting together a shopping list and it's turning out to have a lot of drugs and supplements, which means $$$.  Not sure how we can sort out the $$$.  I'm tempted to just give him my Debit card and PIN.  He does have our POA, so that's not too much of a stretch. Ah well, what will be will be.

Greeting a new day...

Sunday and so far ( at 6 am here) all is well. A bit drizzly but hoping for a bit of sun today. The weeks forecast shows possible snow/rain mixes so i am hoping that we will NOT get the snow you described there in Manitoba - keep it. I just made a plate of eggs and homemade sausage to eat while I type a few words. I had taken the sausage out for our meal yesterday but Harry did a shopping and came home with some schnitzles which in my mind euchred the sausage - so... i have to eat the sausage up somehow. His experience shopping is a whole other story but it is done for now at least. I have no Kleenex now - ran out - and none in the store. I have a good supply of paper towel, and can get by on what toilet paper we have - so i guess i cannot complain?
The greenhouses are overflowing with growth - tomatoes and peppers and basil and parsley are flourishing - but where to put them all now that they are growing bigger and bigger - Harry leaves the organizing inside the houses for me to do - and that is a bit of what I accomplished yesterday. Far to early to put anything out - the parsley will eventually be put out soon as it can manage the weather , but nothing else. I end end having to remove some shelves to accommodate the height of the tomatoes which leaves even less room for all the plants - and harry is still transplanting. This is a yearly occurrence so I do not know why I mention the issue, only that for some reason this year my mind and heart are definitely not in it.! C'est la vie!
So here's a happy thought - I decided to make a lemon meringue pie with graham cracker crust to take to Mike's for our Easter together next Saturday. Always a favourite for me and I remember having it at home especially if i asked for it for my Birthday.  And I know that we are not "sheltering at home" but driving to Mike's but we are going regardless. Just in the car to his place and home and a stop to buy gas  in North Bay so I guess we will be OK. And he needs a bit of a break from his research assignments he has been doing, and his Final exams, the first of which is tomorrow at 7 pm. He stays at home though, and goes on line for the exam which is a bit weird but the only way they are offering it. The next four exams are Apr 14, and then Apr 20, 21 ans 22. Spread right through the month. He shall be very glad to complete this entire year as it has been full of misadventure for him ( his rotator cuff problem, and now the Covid 19 issues, and the closure of the University.) And i guess his mother will be equally as happy to see a successful conclusion to his year as well haha!
So must get started with my day and send greeting to you folks. Stay safe and take care ( The radio just had a thing on the premier of NB or NS (?) when he told people to stay the blazes home. I guess this is a real downhomer expression which may have rude connitations but nevertheless he said it, and now they are playing a song of the same title as a battle cry of sorts.) 

I wonder what sort of Swiffer----

you could get on-line?  One of the books arrived today, despite an expected delivery date of April 3-16, which usually means April 20th.  Neither of the two parcels I'm waiting for from England have arrived, and I'm not sure how long delivery may take.  I'm procrastinating starting my expensive Sketchbook course until I get the supplies.  I really don't have an appropriate sketchbook, and can't order one on-line until I have a better idea of what it is they want.  They are sending one, so I wait to see.

Today started early.  I woke up about 7:10 thinking I had heard something--maybe someone knocking at the door? Then I realized that David was up and that made me wonder what it could have been that woke both of us at the same time.  Well, he was just up for the bathroom, and since I needed the same thing I went downstairs.  When I came up he had stripped the bed--for laundry.  I would have loved a coupe more hours sleep, but it was not to be.

I think we were both a little out of it, as making the bread we had started last evening turned out to be a sort of compromise event.  Very nice white sourdough bread though.  Finishing that and getting on with the laundry has been a bit of "the blind leading the blind".  It is not a "Good Thing" when we both are having a bit of a "stupid" day.  But maybe that's just part of getting old.

It's now 4:30 pm and the snow has finally stopped.  David says that we now have more snow in the yard than we had, at any one time, all winter.  He may be right.  And the neighbour is blowing snow again.  He blows it away from the walls all the way around his house, as he's worried that, if it melts, it will flood his basement.  This is the house that had been an unlicensed grow-op several years ago and the whole basement had to be re-built when it was destroyed by humidity.  This was before he bought it, but I think they had to tell him about the basement being flooded and re-built. (  That may have been the story that was given to the insurance company.  I don't know for sure, and maybe that was just a neighbourhood rumour.)  Gotta  love city life!

I posted a picture on Facebook today. I had never done that before, and am quite pleased with myself, especially in that it was done on a "stupid" day. The challenge that was mentioned on the other blog is finished and the picture posted.  I don't know how either of you could access the challenge as it's in a  group-- TextileArtists.org --but I'll post it on the other blog.  There are many very nice other entries being posted and I've spent too much time looking at them.  Looking forward to a new challenge next week.

Time to think about supper. Oh, oh.  We're having cabbage and that involves sharp knives.  Oh Dear.  Best get to it.