Ambition and organization

Two attributes that I seem to be lacking these days.  I get up before 7am, but before I know it, it is 9:30 am and I haven't done a thing.  I don't have animals to care for, or a studio to work in, so I putter. Pati, I was telling Beth that talking to you yesterday brought back so many feelings of being the "baby sister".  A strange way to feel when you are 66 years old.  (I am denying that March is only a month away).  But it did start a flood of memories of growing up that I had mostly forgotten.  I really was a bit of a brat, wasn't I? 😈  I think we all view our childhood with different perceptions.  But now we are all adults and view each other from another level.  I guess that is part of growing up.  So today I have supper planned and on the go; planning another "hot date" to take garbage and recycling to the drop off yard; and checking the flyers for bargains.  The post office is so far behind we don't get the flyers until the sales are almost over, so I have downloaded Flipp to my computer so I can check the sales. And, everyday I check the calendar to see what day it is, and every Friday I say "is it Friday already?" I am nothing if not predictable.  For our big outing, the car needs gas.  Interaction with another human!  But everyday I can also go outside and safely wander  the area, play with the dog and this year I am doing "Poop Patrol" before everything melts to mush in the spring, which is not that far away! I keep busy with my puttering and when I want to relax I have tons of books on my Kobo, and a blog to keep in touch with my sisters.

Exciting....

 Just read the last post and could not help but write a few encouraging words for us all.  Pati, it sounds as if you are on the right track and good for you. I love the paintings and agree about the black and white - it just flew out at me from the screen. Can hardly wait to see the finished product. We all need to look at things from time to time and adjust accordingly. I have a fairly structured schedule by virtue of necessity and need, but what i look for is something for ME. I find that in the blog with the three of us, I also watch some of the mundane items in my bookmarked blogs and shows, I have pulled out my hexi quilt, and my prayer shawl and my violin and my silly wordscape game on the tablet. I find happiness in the animals, and in my daily choice for coffee or tea, or in some reading (which is not often lately). Just thought I would write a few words before the day begins. Always thinking of you and hope all is well. Take care XX

Lost days

Yeah, keeping track of what day it is, is getting more difficulty and I fear I may have missed a couple of  them, but how are we to know, when that happens, if we've really lost track of them?  And when I think about it, who cares?  I've noticed that just about anybody we have appointments with, usually calls the day before to remind us.  I wonder if they have always done that, for older people, or if it is happening more since Covid.

Wednesday, while working on my Morning Pages, I came to the realization that we have drifted in to habits and routines that reflect how inactive, and how we have drifted into sloth, since being confined to the house for days at a time. I was complaining about not getting into my studio for more than a few minutes every day and then not accomplishing anything when I do.  I also realized that I need to have more original work for my exhibition in May and I need to finish stuff pretty darn soon. So I spent some time documenting those habits I felt I needed to change, as well as creating a rough document of some detailed goals for achieving the goals I need to, in preparing for the exhibit. Then I worked out action plans for the goals.  This was done very roughly, and certainly I expect what I've written will evolve over the next while. Since doing this, I'm up and dressed before 9:00, the kitchen is clean by noon( but no dishes or other routine kitchen task done, other than food prep), and between 11:00 and noon, any other household task can be taken care of ( I have a list of those as well).  I can watch The View in the studio, while  routinely setting up the work area and getting ready for the day.  Then I can work until taking 30-45 minutes for lunch, before heading to the studio again, until 3:30.  Then I take a coffee break and wait for Gail's daily phone call about 4:00.  I'm doing everything I did before, but spending a heck of a lot more time actually working in the studio.  So far, (two days), I've finished 8 postcards, and painted two wall pieces, as well as just about finishing the FMQ'g on a piece that has been hanging around the sewing machine for a couple of weeks.  Here are the two painted pieces. The larger one with the blue didn't quite work as planned as the paint was too fluid and spread badly, but I figure I can cut it into pieces and produce a presentable hanging piece.  The smaller off-white and black piece I absolutely love, have designed a way of finishing it, and selected the other fabric to be used.  I'm thrilled with the way things have worked so far, am hoping to keep going on the same track, and have set up my schedule and my goals in my BuJo, so as to keep me honest.  I'm feeling better about myself than I have for a few weeks, so no matter how this ends, I've accomplished that.

Weekends here but then who really knows the difference?

 The days all seem the same so this is why I diligently stroke off the date on the calendar on my fridge every morning, and review my Daily Calendar book to get my head on straight for the day. Sometimes it actually works haha!

Anyway I look forward to some of your warmer temps there and apparently into next week should be warmer. It is good weather to be able to store frozen food outside though and since I shopped and had an overflow in my freezer I have taken advantage of this option. I wrap it up and then box it closed to protect it from any stray that might be hungry - we have bobcats in the area although I have never seen one. When I take Bailey out early I carry a broom with me to the corner and back just in case....

I have my kitten Pooh out in the open area now after her Surgery - she is doing very well. I took down the cage I had for her for the last few days - glad to get rid of it for space and I am sure Pooh if very glad not to be caged up. But just in case I felt I was relieving my self of one job, I have four growing baby budgie birds and I cannot believe how quickly they do grow. Two of them already have feathers growing in and close observation on my part indicates that the mother and father are pulling their weight in feeding and caring for them so far - good as i did not really want to take over feeds 24/7. That may come but for now I am OK.

So here's to the weekend and a big lottery win for us all. Life is crazy when your excitement mounts on Lottery night in anticipation of checking your ticket the next morning. Hope all is well with you folks and that your tales of fun and excitement will surpass mine haha!  Take care ...ps are you still wearing your cloth masks from Rrain in light of the current suggestions that perhaps, medical masks may be expected as required soon?

For what it's worth...

 The computer is again allowing us to log into the net. It appears that our problem has not been solved as the same situation occurred again this morning - would not recognize our usernames or password. I was on the phone with the server technician at 4:30 am this morning - that is one way to get an immediate response when you phone in instead of waiting haha! There may be more of these interruptions in our future but for now all i can do is trouble shoot when it occurs. The system did not even recognize out telephone number which is usually the first thing asked when you call in to identify yourself. Maybe I am really "nobody" anymore. Another early morning appt in North Bay for Harry and his eyes but all is well after his second surgery yesterday. 

Take care folk - I am eating cold french fries as I type. Yuck! 

Take it as it Comes

 Words to live by this week.  Here it is late Tuesday afternoon, and David is still bringing food into the house from the garage.  I watched the latest video in my on-line workshop, and thought bad words.  She did some very interesting demos, but her studio appears to be huge, and she was spreading yardages of cotton and canvas on the walls and floor and throwing paint at them.  Aside from not having the wall space and open floor space to do either, neither do I have the yardages of fabric that she was tossing around.  Then she showed a very large board balanced on two saw-horses, where she spread more fabric to paint with a type of paint I haven't been able to find anywhere.  Well, I can try to simulate things, but it won't be easy.  I did have one success in my efforts, and that was when I dug out a box from the very back of a shelf under the bar and found exactly the colour and type of paint she recommended using for a slightly different task than mentioned above.  I had a thought that maybe I had the brand, but didn't realize that I had the colour and certainly didn't have any idea where it might be, but got lucky on my third guess. So I will carry on, carrying on, but maybe not today.

This afternoon I worked on the most recent challenge in a group I follow that has people working on improving their sketching.  I have been enjoying being part of this group but have really fallen down on doing any of the work I should have been doing on these twice weekly challenges.  I've tried a bit of catch-up, and was going to call it done with this weeks challenge.  The challenge involved adding words to our pieces, and it wasn't until I tried to photograph the finished piece that I realized I had mis-spelled the most important word. "Nuff said.

David has been washing bottles so that we can bottle wine Thursday afternoon.  We have an appointment, at the wine store, that can't be missed.  David was washing the bottles yesterday, and broke one in the kitchen.  I heard him cleaning up and thought no more about it, until I came into the kitchen in bare feet, this morning.  Missed it by t-h-i-i-s much.  And then found 7 more pieces, a couple of them fairly large. What will be, will be.  Not a really satisfying day, and we still have supper and the evening to go.

I did have one satisfying moment last evening, when I made myself a big mug of hot chocolate and Kahlua.  Oh My!  Can't do it often, but when I do, it is a marvelous way to end the day.

Family

 With the minor relaxation of rules in Manitoba, yesterday we went to Killarney.  It was a wonderful visit after a long drought.  We missed Chloe's sixth birthday, and the  loss of her first two teeth.  Although it seems that one was loose, but not ready, when she got kicked in the head by a friend on a swing! I was pretty tired last night and was in bed by nine.  That girl has a lot of energy!  We left Lucky in the house when we went and when we got home there were no messes and nothing was destroyed  Now if we could only get him to let other people in the yard.   I get my hair cut on Feb.2, 3 months after my last haircut.  I am pretty desperate.  I haven't left the house yet today.  Laundry and puttering and already it is 12:30.  There are a few things I could pick up at the store, but nothing I really need.  I should try to get to co-op before Wednesday.  Kris had a really good ham for lunch yesterday and he says they are $10 off with the coupon. i wouldn't mind getting one.  I enjoy real ham occasionally and this one was excellent.  I really wish we had a good pizza place in town though (I do NOT consider Boston Pizza a good pizza place!) ;I have heard the bakeries make good pizza but I am really craving a Chicken Delight Beef and Mushroom  pizza.  We're having fish for supper, so no pizza😢.  Hmmmm... I seem to be obsessed with pizza right now!  Time to concentrate on something other than food.  

Thank Goodness it's winter!.

 Yesterday around noon, I discovered that the freezer door was not quite closed and there had been quite a bit of food thawed. We've been keeping that freezer full since last fall when we decided to self-isolate about a month before the Government told us that it was required.  We left anything that was still obviously half frozen or better in there and shut the door, but took other stuff out to the garage to re-freeze it quickly.  Any prepared food, such as tv dinners or chicken fingers, that had thawed was quickly put in the garbage.  this took David quite a while, and occurred after he had vacuumed the whole house and washed the kitchen floor.  Needless to say, he fell asleep in front of the tv later.  What a waste!  That'll teach us not to take advantage of sales.  It isn't even an opportunity to prepare a feast and invite all our friends, when we can only have two designated people over to the house.

The laundry is done for another week.  It is much easier on me to spread it over two days, than to try to get it all done in one.  I would get involved in a different task while waiting for it to finish a cycle, and then forget about it for an hour or more.  Not very efficient.  But  did get my homework done for my workshop and I'm very happy with it.  Painting fabric is much more my comfort level.  But somehow, what I was painting kept trying to make itself into a landscape, and we had been told very specifically to keep to abstract, as it would be much better to add more, once we got into our projects.  I'm hoping to post a few pictures sometime in the next couple of days.  I'll just have to put aside two hours to work with Geek Squad to sort out my computer's ability to download pictures from my camera card.

Back on the internet

 

A morning quickie to let you know the internet is now accessible to us:

A slight interruption for us but again a real pain to try to rectify and of course, a bit more stress to manage haha! It would seem that our server would not recognize our usernames nor passwords and they had to have the technicians try to sort it out from their end. They said to me on the phone it may take up to 48 hours so at that point I gave a big sigh and said under my breathe my mantra Keep calm and carry on.

So sometime last evening we were able to get on for which I was very happy. The use of the internet is very important in this house!

We have a baby chick hatched yesterday so now I add to my duties  - this may be interesting. There are five eggs in the one cage ( including this hatched one) and now two in the other. 

Time for a coffee and then get at it! Hope all is well with everyone. Take care and be safe. 

Seeing old pictures...

 You must have had a real day of it as looking at old pictures or any memorabilia can take us far away and pry at our memories ...so a little weepy is understandable. By coincidence yesterday Daisy's granddaughter Michelle ( the whole family from Toronto is now living with Daisy at her house in Sundridge until this lockdown is lifted) emailed me a few pictures she found sorting through some of Daisy's albums. She thought one of the little boys with her might have been one of mine. Sure enough it was Willie - the two of them must have been between 2 or 3 years old and we were down at Uncle Walter and Aunt Evelyn's cottages on Eagle Lake with all their family one Thanksgiving weekend. There also was a picture of us all at the table eating and i was in the forefront - looking very young and happy at that time. So pictures can have a real impact on your feelings whether positive or less positive. I have a big job sometime in my future to sort through my boxes of pictures and decide what to keep , who to give others too, or to turf. You are right though that the younger generation have no interest in pictures in the form of paper photos but will spend much time scrolling through countless screens full of pictures on their hand held devices.

It is a bit colder now so most of the outside water dripping has stopped for now. Busy week with appointments and eye drops and the time seems to go by fairly fast without accomplishing mush else. So I too, just keep carrying on...Take care all. Stay at home !!!! 

Another emotional day

 But the reason was quite different.  Because of space problems in the office, (we've bought far to many books since this whole Covid stuff started), we've been faced with having to consider looking through all of the family photos that we've been saving for years, and purge.  There had been a small laundry basket full of them, along with several small loose leaf books that I've accumulated over the years. So the afternoon was spent on that task, and it resulted in a 5 gallon pail just about full, as well as a huge pile of shredding for David to attend to over the next few days.  I was rather ruthless, but still saved a small pile of special events and people in my life.  My strategy was to ask myself if any of the younger generation would remember  the events or people, or would care about any of the photos.  There was even one in the basket of Ivy Jenner, with Beth and I as very young children.  I wonder if Cathy had ever met her or even heard anything about her, as she and Uncle Tim moved to BC years ago.  I wonder if they ever did get married.  I remember being told, as a child, that they weren't marrying because she wanted to keep working, and, at that time, would have had to resign her job had they done so.  I found one of Grandpa Hughes and Mom as a tiny baby. There were a few of Mom and I, when I was a baby, or toddler, but none of the later ones of the three of us ever had Mom in the picture.  I have to guess that she took the picture, but can only remember Dad with a camera. She was so young in those pictures and always looked so happy.  How sad that things ended as they did.  In any case the whole process left me a little weepy and somewhat sad, but the job needed to be done.

sounds like we're all having our ups and downs

I've hesitated over saying this, but my ups and downs have been more emotional that physical.  I can't deny that this lockdown makes much more susceptible to depression, and I've been having a few bad days. Discussing it with Gail, I realized that I've been feeling poorly, off and on, since I was sick in March. I had also expressed my fear that my recent memory problems, and apparent loss of my creativity might be the early signs of a dementia issue.  I really do turn into a silly, fearful person, when depressed.  Gail has been re-assuring me that she doesn't see any dementia issues in me, but she does see depression.  And does it really matter?  Even if worse comes to worst, there isn't much I can do about it, so I might just as well  carry on, carrying on.  To that end, I'm implementing the "tricks of the trade" that I might have helped a patient with, in the day.  What a great day for Bullet Journals to come into my life! Yesterday, Gail had to come into town, and she asked if there was any way we could meet face-to-face.  We met in the parking lot of the local Michael's store, after going through the Tim Horton's drive thru in the same lot.  Parked so that the driver's window of each of our cars were level, opened them up and chatted for almost an hour.  It was great after all these months to have the type of chat we would have had at Starbucks, pre-Covid, but still maintaining physical distance. But we had to cut it short as we both needed a washroom, after all that coffee.

Falls are not a good thing for ladies of our age. I know that I would have great trouble getting up if I were to fall. I'm using my cane out doors now, and when I speak of my "walks", which are just a little way down the block and back, the cane is there in my hand all the way. But, isn't it great to be having these mild days that allow me to take that walk? And government funded sidewalk ploughs that make it safe for me to walk.

My workshop isn't going well, which makes me glad that I bought so many of those expensive supplies. (I suffered from buyers remorse for the first week of the workshop) I'm going through them quickly, especially when I have to re-do something 2-3 times. But, I'm reconciled to doing whatever is necessary to get'er done. This has left me with lots of leftover scraps, and now I'm trying to figure out if I can re-purpose any of these into postcards, to put out for sale during my exhibition at the gallery in May.  I'm still optimistic that this will happen. I'm also going to use any leftover water colour paper to try to make more post cards and even greeting cards, for the same purpose.  Not bookmarks though, as I already have more than I will ever use in my lifetime.  Anyone need a bookmark, or three--free of charge?  Serious question!

So, now is past 1:00, and, while I'm dressed, I haven't done a darn thing, except eaten a simple breakfast and lunch. Best get my act together and start moving.

We could all tell a few tales like this..right?

 Sorry about the physical injuries Cathy as I know that can really hurt and last for awhile. The embarrassment may be another thing but we've all being there. About a month ago I fell at the corner of the street taking Bailey for a walk. it was day time and I just had to lay there for a minute to get my bearings but a man from a house a few doors down saw me and ran over to help. Thanked him for his concern as I got up on my own and reassessed my body and then my shattered dignity but all was well. I was thankful he was there in case i could not have gotten up or if Bailey was loose. I have had a few spills in the house and those I would be concerned about more as who would help me??? I finally threw out an old pair of slippers that I have been wearing and that were causing me issues with mobility and now have on a pair of lace shoes i will call my "house shoes". Pati you have lead the way with this strategy as you have a house pair and an outdoors pair and always switch when you come in or out, right? Having to go out side frequently with the dogs gives me some issue to take them off to put boots on, and put them on again when i come in but I think it is worth it for my own state of being.

More snow again and I think the temps are going to fall from the daily 32 or 33 F that has been the norm for the last week. Good on it as we had dripping off the roof and a bit of leaking again and this just makes me shutter. I did a bit of roof clearing at the front but there are ice dams that just will not budge. I was able to chip away at the ice on the stairs and from sidewalk a few times to keep it safe so now maybe things can settle down. The plough just went down the street and i guess my morning will be spent shoveling and clearing it away as I have not done any clearing for a few days.

Surprise of surprises ....I pulled out my violin the other day - it has been 10 years since I stored it away. I was thinking of what would please me if i could do something for myself while hidden away in the house. it may take awhile to get back in the swing of things but even a few minutes a day will fill me with some sort of pleasure? I just have to find those few minutes a day haha!

Take care all...stay safe and stay home??? How are you all managing with shopping etc. I have gone to the Pharmacy, the Foodland and the Lottery store - mostly walking which i can because of the closeness of them all here. And we have many trips to North Bay in the next few weeks for Harry's eyes which are allowed as they are for medical purposes, and I fill the car with gas while there.

Time for breakfast...

If bad things come in threes....

 Tomorrow could be a doozy!  Yesterday I wiped out on the ice at the post office. Besides my pride I bruised my knees, ankle and shin. As well as straining my back and neck. Today, as I was cleaning up cat poop from under the stairs (grrrr...snarl) I stood up not once, but twice, smacking my head on the stairs. Now I have a headache inside my head and outside my head and the rest of my body just aches from yesterday!  I think tonight will be a hot shower and early to bed. Beyond that, today was the last day we could give Lucky back and get our money refunded. We decided last week to give him a fair chance and forfeit our money if necessary. We know he is just protecting his own home since he took off a few days ago and found his way to the neighbours. When we picked him up he was happy as could be playing with Al. No sign of aggression at all. We just have to convince him that this is his forever home and no one is going to make him leave. Other than that nothing changes. We stay home and just leave when necessary. I keep checking the specials at Chicken Corral but nothing appeals to me. And Chinese and pizza don’t work either. So I guess we sit around trying to think of something we might want for supper. 

A day

 I’m not sure how it happened but another day has quickly passed without me doing anything! We had snow and freezing rain last night and today, so we weren’t interested in going anywhere. Fortunately we were on the edge of the storm and got off pretty easy.  Lucky was fascinated by the snow. He was leaping up trying to catch the snow as it fell. He looked so excited! I will have to shovel again tomorrow ☹️. I cooked ribs in the oven for supper. Not Daddy’s recipe. Just slow cooked the ribs, wrapped in tinfoil, for about 3 hours at 200F. I used a bbq sauce on them but it didn’t add flavour like plum sauce does. They were very tender anyway. Unfortunately, as I went to stir the rice and turn down the temperature, it boiled up and got my finger. Made doing the dishes a bit painful! Tomorrow will be a trip to town for the mail and some mushrooms for fried rice ( I prefer fresh over canned unless it is soup or something that cooks for a while). And then we veg again for a while. Already took the garbage and recycling out so there is no hot date in my near future. 

One eye done...

 And so it begins and I have my fingers crossed the cataract surgery for Harry will go smoothly without incident. Of course i could not go into the Hospital with him and had to leave him at the door of the Hospital in North Bay under the direction of the "door monitor" dressed in full PPE  So I sat in the car in the parking lot and waited. i got a call to drive up to pick him up at the door about an hour and half later. Of course first, I had to go into the hospital to pay the parking charge. That was a whole new experience in itself just to get out of the parking lot to pull up to the hospital doors requiring me and a few other folks to get the help of the security officer stationed at the door to figure out how to use the machine. So much to trying to maintain social distancing etc etc.. "Nuf said" as Pati so nicely puts it.

Anyway we are on our way now and i expect the next 8 weeks of daily drops for this first eye and then the second eye  to be full of joy and laughter!!!! We have to be at the Dr office tomorrow morning at 8 am in North Bay for his checkup. I am doing the driving!

I called my friend Sue on the telephone this afternoon and had a wonderful talk with her - i needed to hear a friendly voice and since I had trouble responding to her last two emails ( procrastination or lack of incentive or something I guess) I thought a phone call was just the answer - and it was!

Now time to feed the animals and think about settling down for the night - have one more set of three drops to give Harry before bed and then maybe some reading for me?  Hope all is well. Ontario is now in state of emergency with more intense lockdowns and closures for another month. This may never end - what do you think?  Take care

Food

 I don’t seem to have the memories of “bubble and squeak” that you have, but I remember fried mashed potatoes with onions, cheese and bread cubes. I think the bread was meant to extent the potatoes. I still love this, even without the bread. I also remember the “hash” but I always call it goulash. We would have it on Thursday night, and on Friday, when my friends came over to play cards, we would put the leftovers on pizza. I think back now on how accepting we all were to have peas on our pizza!  When I make goulash I brown the ground beef with onions.  I use lean, so there is little if any grease to take off. I add mushroom soup,  peas, mushrooms and whatever spices sound good and heat it all up. I love it on mashed potatoes, but Jim likes it with rice.

Our neighbour dropped by today with a bag of homemade mini apple fritters. I’ve already had four!  Lucky was outside on his chain and wasn’t nearly aggressive as he was when Rrain came in the house. Hopefully we can work on this and teach him to be calm. I spent the morning sorting through stuff again. I went on a spree when COVID first shut us down and now I am going again. Maybe that means it’s going to end!  Jim is watching football so I am upstairs with a cat on my lap and a book in my hand. Life is good. 

Can you indulge me a little bit more?

 Thank you for the feedback as I really wanted to get your opinions. I too, thought that one of our regular, if I remember right, home meals of hamburger "hash" and ever since over the years I, too, have made "hash" for my family. Your mentioned a variation from the Findlay household and as I remember it, because I watched Mrs Findlay make and then ate her "mince", she actually boiled the meat and onions in water to cook it? 

So, if you both were to make this "hash" for supper tonight, exactly how would you make it? What process would you use, and what ingredients etc. And does this vary from what we ate at home as I think we all have changed our family recipes from time to time as needed.

I am familiar with "Bangers and Mash" as this was something Mike likes and I have made it on occasion. I also have an Irish Cookbook that I covet for no real apparent reason (haha!) which has absolutely great recipes which includes Champ (Potatoes and onions) and what you mentioned Pati - Colcannon (potatoes, kale or green leaf cabbage, and onions) and also the most delicious looking Meat Stew with dumplings. To me these are all comfort foods. 

So I must go and do the birds and rabbits so I can go to bed and read hopefully. Take care folks, and hope you are staying safe.

another thought

 I thought of something else.  Remember Mom's infamous hamburger hash?  David's family called this Mince and added a bit of fluid to make gravy.  I was always glad to know that, as I ran into clients at work who used the term, and was very grateful to now what they were talking about.  I can't say that we ever called sausages "bangers", but I think that perhaps wasn't a term used in Mom's family.

Worked my butt off yesterday, in the studio.  No pictures, as the latest update robbed my computer of the ability to post pictures.  Have one more piece to trim and form, for my homework, but from pictures on the workshop group, have half a mind to make a coupe more of certain shapes.  I know we were told to make several of one type but perhaps we were also told to make several of others.  Will have to deal with that today.  I was very frustrated yesterday at problems, that were probably my fault for working too fast.  But if I'm doing something because I want to and not because I have to, I think I can calm down and work at a more sensible pace.

Beats me!

 Not really.  Carrots and turnips ( rutabagas) cooked and mashed.  Then served with lots of butter and black pepper, was always called Pip and Squeak by Mom.  I have since heard of potatoes and turnips (rutabagas) mashed together as Bubble and Squeak, but I'm not sure if that is very common.  More recently I've been hearing about an Irish dish, Colcannon, which I believe is potatoes and cabbage and something else (?bacon) all cooked together.  Gail makes it and quite likes it, but she is from a Mennonite background, although I believe she found the recipe on the Internet.

Pop Quiz......

 Here's one for a Saturday morning ladies,

Please clarify the following meal items - in detail if possible.

1. Pip and Squeak

2. Bubble and Squeak

3. carrots and turnips mashed ...?name?

4. whatever else has a name that we would have eaten in our life....?

Thanks and hope to hear from you.

A mixed bag

 Sort of a funny day.  Early this morning David and I watched a group of young children and their caregivers on a walk around the block.  They come from a satellite site for St. Amant Centre in the mall across the street.  Everyday weekday they take a walk around the block, part of which is in our block. They are quite young, which makes me think that the site is a sort of day care center.  All you can really see of them is their eyes as they are well bundled up.  There is at least one staff member for every child, and sometimes more.  Today the little one at the front of the line had obviously had enough of this nonsense, and was asking to be picked up and carried.  They are so cute in their "caterpillar", or "crocodile" line, as I've heard such lines called.

Then it was off to the library, grocery store, and Starbucks.  Almost the same trip as yesterday, except yesterday, David stopped at the Wild Birds Unlimited store to buy a few peanuts.  You have to phone ahead of time, but they are tolerant of phone calls from the parking lot.  I called, they found our account, and offered us a $10 discount, that was on file and then told me the total amount.  Shock!  Say what?  Turned out she was trying to sell us a 20 pound bag rather then the 2 lb. bag we've bought in the past.  We compromised on 5lbs.  Still got the discount though.  We need them to feed the two large grey squirrels that live in the yard.  They are shy and only come out early in the morning or at dusk. Still, David put out a few peanuts today, and the next thing I see is that damn red squirrel stealing them.  Well, we've got lots of peanuts.  Snort!

Then it was home and  working full out on the homework for  my current internet workshop, while trying to attend to the laundry at the same time.  I've been confused lately ( just ask David!) and have missed both the first lesson and the first Zoom meeting for questions  and student exchange and general chatter.  I watched videos of both last night, and today was ready to get to work.  Accomplished a lot, and then decided to relax for the rest of the day.  I don't need to have the homework finished until next week, and made enough progress today to feel like something had been accomplished.

The first half of my order from the art store was delivered, this evening.  My class requires artists' markers, and I only had acrylic pens in black and white.  So I ordered the type the instructor recommended. Ka-c-c-c-hing!  Very expensive!  But they were on back order, so I also ordered a small set of much cheaper ones to use until the right ones arrived. Received the small set today, and I think they will be just fine for the workshop ( based on the first lesson and the discussion on Zoom) so tomorrow I think I'll cancel the order for the much more expensive set.

I started the Phaedra Patrick book "The Secrets of Love Story Bridge", after finally receiving it from the library this week.  I had ordered it when you first mentioned it Beth, and that seems like months ago! I started it last evening and am about half way through.  A similar format as her other books, but still a joy to read, and it leaves one with a sense of all being right with the world. I'm also reading the --hold your breath--Thump Dreadfulwater detective series by Canadian author, Thomas King.  Very unusual and I suggest that you both read at least one of them, just to get the gist of the atmosphere.  Almost amusing, but, I think, very realistic.  That's just a teaser, so "nuf said.

So, next, I think an hour of Poker, if i last that long.  It hasn't been that much of a pleasure lately, with crazy people making crazy bets.  But we'll give it a try.  I need to relax after working my butt off today.

That makes three of us here

 I agree that the weather is crazy!  I don't really want the cold, but I'm wondering if Mother Nature is softening us up for something. Above zero in January??  We have had some real aggression issues with Lucky. I thought he was going to kill Rrain.  I cried when I thought we would have to send him back, since he is a sweet heart with us.  (except maybe when he wants to play and thinks that snapping at my hands is the right way to do it)  We talked to a dog trainer and she gave us hope.  She gave us an idea of what is going on in Lucky's brain (or lack thereof) and ways we can deal with him.  She said to not even try to introduce a new person for at least a week and then do it very gradually. She said it would be at least a month before we might see some improvement in him.  He is confused and scared and is trying to protect where he feels safe.  We have until January 16 to return him for a full refund, but we have decided to give him a fair try.  If we have to return him later, and forfeit our adoption fee, at least we will have tried our best.  He really is so loving with us. He loves the snow, and going for a walk, but he hates it when I turn around to come home. How he knows? As soon as I turn around he grabs his leash and pulls on it and tries to toss it in the air.  But again, the trainer had some good suggestions on that.  I had been taking him on longer walks, but she said do a short walk twice so he gets used to the process.  And carry dog cookies in your pocked and when he rebels, toss one in front of him in the snow and "lead" him home.  He will learn to associate a treat with good behaviour.  It is going to be a long month. Rrain is hoping that she may be back at work after they review our lockdown on Friday, but they are also citing an increase in cases because of Christmas, and still don't have numbers from New Years.  It doesn't matter what they decide.....we live with it.  I'm looking forward to a family Christmas in July 😊.  Keep safe

I'm still here as well...

 Where else could we go - maybe a Caribbean holiday, or maybe to Hawaii? Certainly not down to the States - that would be a very poor decision in the midst of what we hear on the news!

The weather is also a bit crazy and will be over the next few weeks apparently. Mild for a January and I see dripping off the eaves and worry again about the roof and what might be instore. At this point there is not much I can do so I just observe and as i said, worry.

Most of my days are caught up with looking after the animals - especially the little kittens that are not so little any more and who give me a laugh most of the time, but also annoy me when they want to jump up onto the bird cages. I have the cages mostly cordoned off but the cats can still work around that. There is another bird couple breeding and so far two eggs so I am watching them closely to observe their behaviour and if they are sitting on the eggs. In the other cage the one egg left after that catastrophe with the cats has now been destroyed by the birds but yet the Mother still stays in the nesting cage - this bothers me. I have to call the VET today to schedule the last of the cats to be fixed - a female so the surgery is different and also more expensive.  But January is full of the obligations related to Harry's cataract Surgeries Jan 12 and Jan 26 with need to give the many prescribed drops and the need to drive him to Hospital in North Bay and to the office in North Bay the next day both times. I so hope this will be successful as his vision is very poor. And then i so hope that my referral appointment will be set and then i can go through the same procedures. So far we have not heard from Surgeon office that anything postponed related to the lockdown but that, too, may come.

My time is over early in the morning so I must get on with the day. First thing is to cage in the birds and then let the roaring lions out to wonder the halls (haha!) And make another coffee for me! 

Hope all is well. Not liking your messages about feeling low Pati, so hope you are bouncing back??? And hoping Cathy that that little four legged bundle of white of yours is behaving! Take care 

Back again

 Sorry to be absent over the weekend, but I'm afraid I've been under the weather. Not a good feeling, and I have a hunch I've been fighting it for the last week.  I'm still not feeling too good and just wander around like the ghost at the wedding. I have to wonder if I'm accepting my limitations or if there is nothing going on that is worth my energy to sit up and take notice.  I have been napping, and it sure does help.

Today we had to take David in to have his hearing aids checked.  The appointment was for 9:15, and that is just too early for human beings to be up and around.  We just got up and left, and then stopped at Tim Horton's, for breakfast, on our way home.  I've been having the oatmeal there for the past few months and feeling very righteous about it, but if I tell the truth th3e Maple Sugar flakes that come with it, are too much for Dr. Phil's diet.  Still, I think it's better than anything else on the menu. David then dropped me off at home, and headed back out to see if he can find the little gadget that they recommended to help keep his hearing aid in his ear, so I have a few minutes to myself.  Feels strange to be alone in the house, after 3 months of quarantine.

I have zoom meetings the next two mornings, 9:00 tomorrow for my regular, sketching group meeting and 8:00 Thursday.  I don't know how I'm going to deal with this, but I guess we're going to have to figure out how our alarms work in our clocks.  That's been a puzzle ever since we bought the darn things, but I have to admit that they work better than the old ones, so I just count my blessings.  David must have had quite a time turning his off this morning, as when I checked it, I found that he had set it to ring at midnight and again at 8:00 tomorrow.  Thursday's zoom is the first formal meeting of the workshop group I signed up for, that started operating yesterday.  She posted a short video of welcome, and we have had our supply lists for some time.  (I think I have everything, but one item has yet to be delivered.)  There is a closed group on Facebook where we have all signed in and posted a short introduction for ourselves, and where we can chat.  I'm almost intimidated with the talent I'm seeing, and the well-known names I recognize.  I now know that it is basically a book making class, but with an emphasis on using fabric in the books we make.  O-k-a-a-a-y.  I can live with that, but maybe I'm also going to find a challenge in the class, which would be nice for a change.

I've finished my Tim's coffee and can feel the caffeine affecting my balance, so may it's time to lay down awhile.  Be safe ladies.

What a cutie Cathy.

 He might get lost in the snow - maybe put a red neckscarf on him haha! Just how big do you anticipate him growing?

Now you can get lots of exercise taking him around the yard. How does Alley take to him?

Just in from shopping in Huntsville and have a pile of groceries to put away and clear the floor. I sat in the car expect for Freshco and Harry did the rest of the stores.

Take care all...

New year...new dog

 Meet Lucky. He is a pyranees/lab cross born February 25, 2020.  He loves the snow and lunges and buries his nose in the drifts. We’re keeping him on a leash for a couple of days and then we’ll try without. So far he has been really good about coming when he is called.  We could be in for a few exciting days.

We've been bad

 We've been enjoying the slot machines on-line a bit too much.  fortunately we've also been winning a  bit, so haven't had to add any money to the original amount we put in.  But it is taking too much of our time, and I'm going to have to put the brakes on.  By unfortunate coincidence, David's birthday fell on laundry day. so I was pulled in many directions yesterday.  This was not necessarily a good thing.  We had planned to play on-line Thursday evening and ended up playing until about 1:30am.  This means that it was 2:30 before I got to bed, and awhile after that before I got to sleep.  I was pretty much a zombie during on Friday, while working on the laundry, and trying to get a bit of machine sewing done(the type of work I'm doing usually goes well in zombie state)  Then David wanted to gamble a bit in the later afternoon, so we just put a Shepherd's pie in the oven for supper.  We pulled it out and served it quickly.  I took my first bite and burned the roof of my mouth quite badly.  A huge blister formed, heavy with fluid, and then broke.  We had bought a huge bottle of caramel corn as a goodie over the celebration days, and I tried to eat that last evening.  Needless to say, my mouth is quite sore today, and I'm reluctant to even try my morning tea. I guess that when we go "off the rails", in some way, Mother Nature gets involved. Through all this the laundry didn't get finished, and I have more of that to look forward to today.

Even with the laundry, which pretty well does itself, as long as someone tends the machines, I, too, plan an outing, for today.  I have signed up for a "challenge" at Starbucks.  This means that I have to buy something 3-4 times over 5 days.  These happen fairly regularly, but this time they have specified that I must buy "any Americano".  This is not a stretch, as I've been buying Americano instead of my usual pour over, as we are using the drive through, and the wait for a pour over is just too long for a drive through.

I think I'm babbling a bit, maybe because I appear to have little to say.  Like everyone else, we stay at home and look at each other or watch tv. I best go.  I have work to do, and usually, the second day after a short night is much worse to me than the first day.

Into the New Year we go....

 Funny, though, it sort of feels the same??? I loved the messages you sent Cathy, and the list of 12 Covid remarks struck a chord, and I laughed out loud especially the one about ..does anyone know if we can shower yet or should we still just be washing our hands.

I treated myself to a real nice meal yesterday. I made a delicious Shepherds pie with the last of the prime rib roast, and baked some mincemeat tarts with the last of the jar of mincemeat i used at Christmas. Then, I purposely took two of the cooked tarts, heated them on a plate and then put ice cream on and devoured them. I remembered this fondly from days past. Oh, and I had a goblet of wine to wash it all down. Wonderful!

I am in process of putting away all the Christmas decorations I had up including my little laser light three foot tree - I shall miss my ritual of getting up early and turning on these lights during the holidays but I am sure I can find other interesting rituals to continue on with the days and weeks to come.  I must also try to get out and shovel around the yard, and must try to clean off a bit of the roof. it is melting a bit with days temps just below freezing and we have water dripping off the eaves and creating ice patches on the sidewalk. i had to put sand down for fear Harry would not see the ice and fall. ( me as well as with the two dogs they pull me quickly out of the house). We may be going shopping this coming week and I think i will stay in the car if Harry can manage but expect that I will also have to go into the stores. I do not know what the setup will be in Huntsville at Walmart or Freshco since the lockdown came into effect as we have not being there since before Christmas.

Well, here starts the day as everyone is now up so i better get at it!! Take care and be safe....

Nicely said Cathy.

 A very Happy New Year to all of us. It would be a wonder if I could actually travel to see you all this year. I shall put a word in up above to "make it so". Be safe and take care.