Sleeping any better?

 Hi to all, 

It is common for me not to sleep so I know the feeling so hope Pati that you are back into the groove once more. Drinking tea at 5 am - sound like me haha! Except my first drink is a coffee.

Milder today with rain coming and possible thunderstorm - hard to believe with all this snow but so hope that this "melt" will be fast and without too much issues with water.  Both greenhouses are fired up and growing fast. But looking outside at the mounds of snow do not add up right for any planting for awhile. This means trying to keep the ever growing plants alive and well inside the greenhouses. Lots of watering and repositioning ahead.

Question: Have you looked at the new The Quilt Show site and if so...what do you think. I am totally lost and it is so unfamiliar that it is turning me off. I guess i will have to take my time and slowly get used to it?  Or, just consider it another of my purged sites except I am paid up until Jan 2022.

I am going to make a big pot of beef stew today - I bought the beef yesterday and am most anxious to try to duplicate what I remember as a good hardy stew with beef and lots of veg, I even had an idea to make dumplings with it. Yummy and I hope it works out. Cathy, you make good stew and wonder what your secret is?

Now to get on with this day. More wash, and I have to shovel the end of the driveway as the plough went down late yesterday after another day of snow. Will it ever end?  Take care....

Can't sleep

 So here I am.  Not yet even 5:00 am, and I'm sitting here with a cup of tea.  I have been frantically on the go since Sunday, and today may not be much better.  I haven't done anything in the studio since Sunday either, but I have done some shopping.  The workshop I'm taking has left me with many, many ideas.  I've written some of them down, but, as always, one idea leads to another one.  I now have so much on my plate that I don't know where to start. Today I plan to make a plan.  (snort!)

Yesterday, after David's early doctors appointment, we picked up my sewing machine.  It is downstairs, but I haven't had a chance to even look at it yet.  I have some word processing work to do,  for Selkirk, that should take about 2 hours. All of the fabric that I bought in the thrift stores has been washed-twice. There was some suspicious dirt found in it, during the first washing, so a second was called for.  I suspect mouse droppings.  Two of the tablecloths I brought home turned out to be banquet size, so I should never run out of cotton Damask to dye.  That'll be on the "to do" list.  I expect that I'll want to do a lot of that. On my thrift store excursions, I also found a few hankies and other embroidered things that will be perfect for the "Little Gir1s" patterns that I ordered from The  Quilt Show.  These arrived this week, and have been carefully put away, until I have time to actually start work on them.  I hated to do this, but I just can't deal with everything that is down there calling my name.  Right now, the internet workshop, and all of its homework, gets priority.

Yesterday we also, finally, got the grocery shopping done.  After the very, very busy week I've had, once everything was put away, I went to bed and slept like the dead for almost two hours, but was still on my way to bed at 10:00, which might go a long way to explaining why I'm up now, and drinking my tea so early.  I have not had a busy week such as this since my time working across the city, with the family at home. I'm just not up to it any  longer, and know that it will take several days recover. But as of today, it will be carry on, yet again, but will a gentler time frame for completing the work--such as the laundry, which is on today's list.  Guess I have to get all those tablecloths out of the dryer, and sorted out, and put away--somewhere.  But on the other hand, maybe I'll just finish my tea and try to get back to sleep again.  I like that idea much better.

Just waiting for the snow to dump on us again

 Supposed to be lots today so I shall wait and see. I was really hoping for a reprieve. Yesterday i cleared all the roofs from the outbuildings, cleared all the paths around the house, cleaned off the little greenhouse and set up a heater in there ( so now have two greenhouses heating) and moved some plants from the big house to the little house. Oh, and I also cleaned off some of the house roof as best i could - still have one area at the back that eluded me yesterday, but apparently that will soon be covered with snow as will the rest of the roof I cleared. Cannot win!! In spite of my efforts though i have some leaking at the front door already. But I have a system and now have set up prepared for more/continued leaking in the future as temps warm up and melting begins. The sun is strong when it comes out so I can assume that these next few weeks well be interesting for me.

I surprised myself today thinking about money/pensions/bills but I was focusing on Friday when Harry's provincial pension is deposited but was struck with an epiphany in the night that since it is a short month, the Federal pensions should be deposited and sure enough I checked this morning and they they are. Always seems to be a bit of a crunch at end month so i am relieved and can now budget accordingly. Apparently my lottery tickets wins are not fulfilling my desires  - as a matter of fact, they are winning nothing. i just checked my lotto Max ticket and won nothing...again!!

So on with some breakfast and another day of snow watching. Hope all is well with everyone...Take care 

An interruption to isolation

 Yesterday there was a meeting out in Selkirk-the first since Aug of last year.  I found myself annoyed at the interruption to my isolation.  This annoyance isn't healthy thinking.  I was quite comfortable in my slide toward being a depressed, isolated old woman--not even an old lady--an old woman. My whole brain has become more active since starting to make plans for the following morning on Saturday evening--setting alarms, getting papers and pens ready, and deciding what to wear.  What a wake up call!  We actually met without masks, except when we were up and moving around, and at widely separated positions, using several more tables than usual. It was a good meeting, and I have several chores to complete as a result, but I'm still in somewhat of a state of resentment this morning. But--my brain is waking up.  I have already solved two studio problems, and re-considered one significant decision.  I woke up with more energy this morning.  I obviously have become quite complacent in my isolation.  

At the same time, I have to look at the positive aspects of isolation.  David and I learned get along, and in a slightly different way, during our time together and I treasure a slightly new and different relationship, even after all these years.  I don't want to lose that, and will have to consciously work at maintaining it.

Those are my thoughts for today. I'm going to have to give this whole thing a whole lot more thinking. I was worried about facing a somewhat negative future, but maybe there is hope for some sort of change.

Great post Cathy.

 I just logged on to check after another day of lots of work etc here, and there was the most wonderful heart lifting message to greet me. It made my day! Hope you are all feeling the positive energy and happiness. Be happy !!😁

Finally!

 It was a nice day!  We are going to have a couple of nicer days coming up but at -2 we couldn’t wait to get outside. And we played. No work. I started a fire at around 11:45 and then fed the fire and played with Lucky while Jim watched the last end of curling and then went to town to buy buns for smokies. (He won’t use bread, spoiled brat) He was only able to get hot dog buns, but he got bakery buns instead of the questionable, mass produced, things?!?  We then had a wiener roast. I had a smokie, Jim had a smokie and a hot dog, and lucky Lucky got 3 weiners!  We played with Lucky and I had a drink at (gasp!) 1:30!! By 2:30 ( when curling started) we were all worn out. I had a shower and changed (smoke smell),  Jim turned on the curling and Lucky fell asleep on the mat. All in all an enjoyable day

Saturday morning quickie

Just read the blogs and so excited to see your messages. We went to Huntsville in the late afternoon for Harry to have a CT Scan at the Hospital at 6;45 pm so once home I did not get onto the blog before bed.  Great to hear about Lucky and getting out and then read about Asemic work and seeing pictures. Pati i think you are onto something great and I love it. And Cathy it seems that Lucky just might be assimilating beautifully under your guidance ( and patience haha)

We were informed yesterday that we, in this area as well as Toronto and Peel area have had the lockdown extended at least until March 8. Other areas in Ontario have had some restrictions lifted. It seems the outbreaks in North Bay (Nipissing) and Parry Sound have resulted in continued caution been taken. I am glad of it but still, I do not think my current day to day activities will change any as we still take care best we can. I could use a hair cut though..

So I shall make my morning coffee and sit for a moment until it is time to get a move on here. Apparently Harry has plans to work in the greenhouse today doing more planting. I have a wash and as always, the animals to care for. Sometimes it feels like "Groundhog Day" for me haha! Take care 

ps I would love to have a coffe from your new machine Pati - it sounds delightful

Making Coffee

 This week David surprised me one day by bringing home a tiny, filter drip coffee maker, to try out. We tried it out using the coarse ground coffee I use for my French Press, and it was better than actually making coffee in the French press.  Yesterday was double stamp day at Starbuck's so we bought some espresso coffee ground for the filter drip.  Oh my!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  So the French press is now stored away and my little red coffee maker spend its time sitting beside the sink.  An extra bonus is that the filter and grounds can go in the compost rather than down the toilet.

The lesson this week on my internet workshop was on Asemic or unreadable writing.  One of the best and most useful lesson since I started taking these workshops last March.  I've posted a couple of pictures on the other blog.

Friday again already

 And, yes, that’s what I say every Friday. Since all the days are exactly the same it is one way to know that a week has gone by. We talked about actually going out for supper, but I think only two restaurants in Neepawa opened for dine in when the restrictions relaxed. One was Boston Pizza, which neither of us are that thrilled with. The other was Brews Brothers. If I had realized it was open we might have gone. Now that we know we just might leave the house for a meal. Jean stopped by for eggs today and Lucky barked at first but he really wanted to meet her. That is four people in a row that he has sucked up to after only a minute or so.  Really encouraging. I also let go of his leash today and let him run around dragging it. It took him a while to realize he was free and didn’t have to stay close. Then he ran in circles, faster and faster, and when he got too far away from me I called him to come and he did!  Of course the treat I had in my hand might have had something to do with that.😜. Now that it has warmed up it will be so much easier to spend some time outside with him.

I gave in and brought the cat’s tower upstairs for her (the one Bonar was taking to the dump but asked if we wanted it)  I wanted to leave it downstairs but the cat still doesn’t trust the dog. Anyway, she was so happy to see it  she was on both ledges and into the little house and attacking the scratching legs right away.   

Today we went to town. Mostly to get me out of the house. I find I am getting very depressed knowing that tomorrow is going to be exactly the same as today. (Hence my weekly “is it Friday again already?) We used the excuse of looking for a “kitchen caddy” to browse a couple of stores. I have one that holds paper towels and dish detergent etc. But it is very old. I have been looking for a couple of years but no luck. I did see something similar on line but it was $30!  One day.  And now on to the rest of my day

Water issues in Winter time...

My worst issue is to have water problems and believe me I have had a few but to have it occur on such a large scale and in winter must be terrible. But Winnipeg is also very prone to such problems. I cannot imagine semis going down your street Pati as you have problems just to navigate into your driveway and out with the snow and often cars parked. But then, it may provide some diversion to sit and watch out the window?

It is the snow that is a bother for me here and it seems to want to keep coming. The banks are so high you cannot see very well for traffic at intersections. The Village is responsible for local snow removal and clearance and have been doing a good job from my perspective over the last 5 or 6 years since they took over from third party contractors. The Highway going through the centre of the Village is still provincial responsibility so sometimes it is less than adequate shortly after a snow fall. I have hired a fellow to do our roof but so far he has not come with the daily dumps of snow. I have cleared the roofs off the outbuildings ( 2 greenhouses, three storage sheds, and the gazebo) but with accumulation of ice and so much snow I cannot manage the house roof. I have done it three times now with the rake but can only clear about 8 feet up from the eaves doing it that way. Oh how I wish good weather will come and it will all melt BUT, as I mentioned up above, perhaps i wish for more water problems haha! it is a vicious circle.

I am eating a toasted pork sandwich as i type this morning as Harry bought a pork roast the other day at the local Foodland. i enjoy pork and this roast was most delicious. but a lot to deal with so i am inventing different ways to use it up. I made a nice veg and pork stir fry for meal yesterday with rice and today i plan to make hot pork sandwich because there is gravy left..Maybe not too healthy for the body, but at this stage, I will take delicious and easy/handy over healthy haha!

So almost the end of Feb and we are still in lockdown here although other parts on Ontario had some restrictions lifted on Monday, There is an outbreak in North Bay and that scares me a bit to be so close. Not that we travel around anywhere often,but people have still been coming up to these parts from the "south" for wintersports. They closed the sled trails which had been a magnet for outsiders but still many come this way and utilize our stores etc.

On with the day. Hope all is well there. I enjoy reading about your workshops and projects Pati and the odd picture. And I cannot image your issue with your computer and gmail and how you must have had to bite your tongue working through that ( or not haha). And I am wondering Cathy how you are making out with Lucky during these frigid days - is he being a good doggy?

Take care and stay safe folks...

Just a note I forgot in yesterday's post

 Remember me talking about having a broken watermain close by?  Well, yesterday we woke up to find that Munroe is now closed at our street while there is major work being done at the intersection of the back lane behind the other side of our street and Munroe itself.  East bound traffic, including buses, is being re-routed to the North, and West bound traffic is being re-routed right up our street, including huge semi's.  I don't know how long this is to be, but the whole street is dug up.  I know that there have been problems in this spot before.  Two or three times a year, we get brown-ish water and that usually coincides with city crews working at that location.  Maybe they've decided to get the work down once and for all.

It took 4 days but I got'er done.

 Late last week, Microsoft decided to suspend my hot mail account, telling me that I had broken their terms of service agreement.  This is not something that the Geek Squad can help with, as I found out last time I got into a Microsoft problem, a couple of years ago. Trying to get any help or information through Microsoft is usually a disasterous journey through loop after loop, until one is driven mad, or decides to say "to heck with it".  I went through 6 unsuccessful  password changes, before getting into a "how can we help" screen, which pretends to be helpful, but is just a series of prepared answers in response to specific per-programmed questions.  There is no talk to a person option, until one stumbles onto a different screen by accident.  Then they say they will have someone get back to you via e-mail within 8 hours.  Sure glad I had an e-mail account other than the one they froze.  Of course it was almost 24 hours before I had a response which channeled me into another couple of e-mail password changes before telling me that I was doing well and I would receive another e-mail with further instructions within 24 hours.  This response arrived about 6 hours later, and had me work through a couple of more password changes, before telling me that they would text me the way to get into my account.  There was no other option given me, including there not being any way of me letting them know that I didn't own a Smart phone, and couldn't receive a text message.  Finally I got yet another e-mail asking for yet another password change. Once that was done, suddenly I was told that my account was set up .  Not believing a word of it, I tried to sign in to my hot mail account, and damned if it didn't open for me, with no problem.  That was about 3:40 this afternoon.  I think I must have spent about 4-6 hours, on and off, over the weekend trying to get this sorted out.  I sure hope this is the end of it.

Today we went shopping.  I think every other person in Winnipeg went shopping as well.  The streets were busier than we've seen in months. We started with dropping off  my sewing machine over on route 90.  The store was very busy, and had reached their occupancy limit, so we had to wait out on the street until someone left.  Ladies do not rush when buying fabric.  It can take a long time to serve one customer. When I got to the service dept there were two technicians working at benches surrounded with machines.  I had been told that there was a long waiting list for servicing, and that it would take at least two weeks before the machine was fixed.  When I had phoned about 25 minutes after they opened, I had been told that they had already taken in 6 machines this morning.  We managed to get out of their parking lot, despite the heavy traffic, and then it was back to our side of town, where we stopped at a thrift store, so that I could look for cotton Damask tablecloths.  There were none but, I did find a very heavy cotton tablecloth in white, with machine embroidery, that appeared to be only in the corners.  I figured there would be enough fabric free of embroidery in the center that I could cut it up and use it to make the books  for my internet workshop. Bought that and it was off to Tim Horton's for lunch.  We actually got to sit at a table inside for the first time in 5 1/2 months.  Then to Michael's.  Unfortunately David slipped and fell while he was crossing the parking lot into the store.  He says he's okay, but I'm going to keep an eye on him, anyway.  We found some stuff to buy, some of what I wanted and some that might work out with a bit of ingenuity. At the checkout, the fellow told me that the 20% off coupon I had taken off the internet was American and couldn't be used, but he could give me 30% off.  Okay with me!  Then he asked if I was a senior, and gave me another 10% off. I had picked up a small, very expensive bottle of special gesso that the instructor on my internet workshop had told us we needed.  When I had checked it out last week it was $34.95  of 250ml, but after my discounts I paid $19.00 for it.

Since Staples was in the same area, we stopped there, and then headed for the grocery store.  Finally we were off home. Both of us more of less collapsed after putting the groceries away.  Supper was a very casual affair.  Then I headed downstairs to wash the tablecloth, as everything coming in from the thrift store is washed before anything further is done with it.  Discovered that the center of the tablecloth is covered with embroidery as well.  It will take some creative cutting to get enough fabric free of the embroidery to work with, but I feel up to the challenge.  We haven't had a shopping trip like that for awhile and I don look forward to doing it again.  

But now it's time to relax and maybe time for the bar to be open. I know I'm ready.

Happy St Valentine's Day to you folks

If it were only a bit warmer one might actually feel the love haha! So here is a kiss for you from me 💋

You folks are much colder than we are here but still it is not nice and i feel a chill right through my body. And heaven forbid I have to take the dogs outside...they run and lift their little paws and want back in the house real quick. me too!

I made pancakes for breakfast ( at Harry's request) but it was reciprocal in a way because the other day he brought home a bottle of Kahlua for me for Valentine's Day. I have yet to open it - it seems a shame to have to open it and spoil a brand new, full bottle. So I guess I shall look at it for a while until I break down. But once it is opened , it is basically gone. 

The two heaters in the big greenhouse are just holding the inside temperature to an acceptable level so as not to freeze the seedlings in there. I doubt that these little seeds will start to show signs of growth for awhile but I may be mistaken. 

I have been struggling with these budgies and through no fault of my own ( I think and hope), I am down to only one chick left and feeding it in its own cage q 4 hours. The mother was starting to attack the chicks so we had to remove them from the nesting cage in the big cage and segregate them. Nature has a mind of it's own and you sometimes have to wonder how any of us actually have got as far as we have against great adversity. Poor chicks - it breaks my heart to see them succumb. And in some silly way I feel a bit guilty in that I have not been able to keep them alive. So, I keep carrying on which is a good mantra to live by these days.

Still lots of medical appointments and treatments related to Harry's ongoing care but we are soon coming to the end of the eye drop regieme. Only a week left of two drops twice a day in the right eye as we have finished with the left eye already. Yeah!! Great improvement with the surgery for which I am grateful - I tried to claim the out of pocket costs that our OHIP would not cover through Harry's benefits but they were having nothing to do with it. Too bad.

Well, some wash is in and I have lots more to do so better go...perhaps I'll treat myself to another coffee and sit and think about you folks for a bit. That always makes me feel better. Take care...XX

Something to watch play out and talk about

 Woke up to some excitement this morning. Finally something to talk about, after 5 months of lockdown, we needed something new to talk about. Our street is about  foot deep in water, as is a portion of Munroe. David says that the sound of the city equipment moving in woke him some time in the night, but he doesn't remember when. Originally, we thought the watermain break was at the South end of the street, but are now seeing workmen and equipment very busy on Munroe. Even the "temporary water supply" truck is out on Munroe.  But we have water, and we have no reason to want to go out today, so all is well in the Findlay household.

Well, not really, but nothing earth shattering to anyone but me. Yesterday, my sewing machine stopped behaving the way I expect, and as a punishment, I'm going to have to pay for a "Spa Treatment", as they call it at the repair business.  We discussed whether such a thing would be a priority, and require heading out into the water-filled street, but figured that no-one would look at it until, at least, Tuesday, given the holiday Monday, so we might as well relax and take the day as it comes.  I now have a bare minimum of pieces for the gallery show in May.  I would very much like two more, but, they aren't absolutely necessary.  So I will try to re-learn how to FMQ on my Pfaff, and get things done that way, if I can.

Otherwise, I'm still taking the workshop on working with text and fibre.  I lasts until the end of March.  I've barely kept up with the homework, as I've been obsessed with getting more done for the show, but will now maybe try a little harder to work along with the videos.  I have access to the videos, until the end of the year, so felt no need to rush, but now I maybe have the time.  We are currently making scroll books out of fibre. This is one of the main reasons I had to take the course, but have run into the roadblock of not having any access to whatever can been used at each end of the scroll.  Many of the ladies are using what can roughly be described as two pieces of dowel with flat round finials.  Most of the ladies doing this have husbands who are glad to make such things, but, I notice that the instructor doesn't use any such supports, and just ties the scrolls that she uses as samples.  That will have to suit me just fine--much easier to store.

Best to get on with the day.  With our new, physically less demanding, routine there is still laundry to do, and sewing machines to re-organize.  And tonight I have tv shows to look forward to.  Best get on with the day.  Stay safe and stay warm, ladies.

I envy your discussion

 I have tried to talk with Jim about the future but he just shuts down and sits there letting me talk. Which really pisses me off, so rather than lose my temper and say things I don’t mean, I drop the subject.  With all this cold weather I have been feeling cold in the house. The thermostat was set at 20, so I brought in another thermometer.  It said it was only 16 in the living room.  Kinda explains why the furnace hasn’t been able to heat the house properly! I’m scared to install a new thermostat in case we discover more problems. My house is falling apart around me 😤.  I’m staying inside again today, puttering and reading. I need to wash the floors but I need either a new mop or some more swiffer  wet wipes. (Good excuse!).  I was vacuuming and discovered the cat has been sharpening her claws on the kitchen chair stored in the spare room. Shredded vinyl all over the floor. I really need some new kitchen chairs. We’re cleaning out all the leftovers in the fridge today so I don’t have to plan anything, but once it’s emptier I am going to wash it down. I had a couple of things leak so it is time to give it a full cleaning. And having started that I really need to defrost the freezers. I’ve sorted them a few times so I pretty much know what’s in them, but the frost is building up. At least I have the wet vac to suck up all the water as the ice melts. I think all these plans are exhausting me. I should sit and rest for a while😜

Forbidden topic?

 Yesterday David and I had a long talk about our future, and what  that might look like if one of us were alone. It was maybe a long time coming, and I felt much relieved afterward.  Part of the impetus for this was my promise to Amber that I would write up some sort of plan for disposing of my studio.  I did this over the weekend, and wanted to send both Loren and Amber a copy.  I know it has no legally binding effect on anything, but was more suggestions of what resources might be available to either donate or sell, all of my "stuff".  I didn't want to send something like this "blind" so phoned Amber, to warn her that it was coming.  We talked for over an hour. The best conversation we've had in years. We shared quite a lot of our lives over the past few years--our worries and concerns as well as joys.  As a result of both of these conversations, I was emotionally exhausted for the rest of the day, and finished the day with a good shot of brandy.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get in touch with Loren by phone, so I'm not sure what sort of reaction might come from that direction.  I can't tell you how relieved, and pleased I am that all of this happened.  Of course, now David and I have to set up some sort of action plan for our future.  That might turn out to be a more challenging task.

Every day the almost the same

It's getting harder to tell the days apart.  Every morning I have to check the calendar for the date, when writing  my Morning Pages.  Thank Goodness I have my BuJo to keep me on track with my life. I had to start a new weekly section this morning.  Usually I have it all prepared by Sunday afternoon, for the following week, but not today. Since I start a new one every week, it's easy to make changes as I smooth out the rough bits, and find out what is really important enough to be given its own line, in the gridded section. This week's major adjustment was to accept the reality that I need two facing pages per week to get everything in.

We haven't left the house since  Friday morning, when we made a quick trip to the library, only stopping at Starbuck's on our way home.  Today, or maybe tomorrow, I have a prescription to pick up at Walmart.  I'll wait to see if there is a book waiting for me at the library before deciding which day, as I don't want to make any more trips outside than necessary.   Really though, we spend far too  much time just watching the bunnies at the bird feeder.

I was very apprehensive about the two hour Zoom meeting of my sketching group, yesterday.  Sketching remains my biggest challenge, and I'm still trying to decide if I want to accept the challenge or just give it up for ever. They had a lady posing for us, just head shots.  They set a specific time for each pose, starting with one minute, then another minute, a three minute and finally a 5 minute pose.  I gave up after the third pose, as I just couldn't sketch fast enough to accomplish anything.  Before the meeting, they had given us 5 pictures to use as prompts, if we needed them, and I spent the rest of the meeting working on one of those pictures.  I like it, even if they were disappointed that I didn't go further.

Last night we waited until after the Super Bowl, to watch a new drama that had been advertised. It is called "The Equalizer", and is loosely based on the same premise as that old tv show with the same name, that I watched religiously.  This old show involved a man who would even the score against bad guys who were adversely affecting an innocent "little" guy,  He often used a detailed and complex "con game' to accomplish the task.  This one does away with the con game and uses guns.  I'll watch it a few more times, just to see if it remains interesting.  More of this type of show, these days, is a 'soap opera', making it so complex that, if you don't see the first show, and then others in the right order, you loose track completely of what's going on and may as well just watch the news.

Well, David is now up, we've both had breakfast, the dishwasher is on, and it's time to watch The View, although with Trump still around that's a bit of a "soap opera" too.

Snow and more snow...

 This is our weather picture right now and I gladly take the snow and NOT your cold, burrrr temps. I just checked my 14 day forecast and if I read it right it appears we may miss those low low temps you are experiencing - I shall cross my fingers.  Besides Pati, it is too late for your suggestion to hold off on the heating of the greenhouse - it was done that day I mentioned it, and it is holding a temp of around 52 F right now and the snow and ice is melting from the roof and down the door. It is one sheet of solid ice so I may have to chip away at it to get in today. Harry has some parsley planted here in the house that has sprouted already and that I have to move into the greenhouse.  I hear the snow plough going past our place now so I'll have to get out in a bit to clear the driveway. yesterday i was at Foodland and the snow squalls came up with a vengeance while in the store. everyone was pointing outside with astonishment as you could not see at all and it looked like a white sheet had been placed over the windows. Once out it was very hard to manoever so i was inching my way home down the back road ( away from the highway) until I finally reached our street and at that time for some reason it cleared and i was able to pull into the driveway without trouble. The whole day was the same - alternating with squalls and then clear and then sometime a bit of sun.

Not doing too much around here besides the usual daily chores and a few trips to Pharmacy, Post office and Foodland. I wore a double mask yesterday to try it. A blue surgical mask with one of my fabric masks over top of it, and it felt OK. They are suggesting now that the single fabric masks may not be enough. What are you folks doing?

We ordered some things from Amazon quite awhile back that never arrived. I called Amazon and they were only too happy to refund the money with  a response that "things get lost". I know that shipments are being delayed so I expect perhaps these items really did get lost in the shuffle. maybe they will appear yet?  We have two more orders still pending so hope they might come but if not I guess i call Amazon again.

Hope all is well with you folks. I like to read your messages and see what you are up to. Driving to the parking lot to have a face to face visit in your car with Gail is quite a neat way to do it Pati - you must see others doing the same thing? 

Take care and be safe and keep warm.

Out--but not for long. B-r-r-r-r-!

 As I mentioned last time, just keeping on carrying on. Our only excitement was a trip to the library this morning, and home again with a cup of coffee in hand.  Thank Goodness for the drive-thru.  It's cold and going to get colder, night time temps of -40, and even -57 with wind chills.  (Maybe wait a couple of weeks for the green house.)  Another afternoon spent on line with the Geek Squad.  I think the mysterious "BMustafa" name on our account is finally gone for good, and I'm hoping that my problems with downloading pictures is fixed.  I'll be checking that out after I finish this.  Then he did another virus scan for us, just in case.  Mine took 2 hours 40 minutes and David's is now at 3 hours 51 minutes and still going strong.  I don't know if I mentioned getting a small cut on my right index finger-very close to the end, on the pulp.  That has got to be the most annoying thing.  I try to favour it, but it still gets used and still hurts as a result.  No hand sewing since Monday, although I did try a bit this morning, and was forced to stop.  In my complaining to Gail, I had to try to explain EPP to her.  I ended up sending her a link to one of the Tula Pink videos on how to do the work.  I gave her a minute mark to a very short section so she could get the idea.  Well, she is watching it from the beginning, and expressing both amazement and amusement about how a person so could get so deeply involved in something like that.  She is quite fascinated with both the process and the woman.  Whatever makes her laugh.

Very little accomplished in the studio today, what with going out and then spending a couple of hours with Geek Squad.  Tomorrow I hope to do some more fabric painting.  I'm just about out of Prepared For Dyeing (PFD) fabric, and will have to think about getting more. I'm finding it so much better for both painting and dyeing, as well as being an excellent background for quilted pieces.  The thread is a little larger ( ?fluffier without sizing?) and denser.  I quite like working on it, and it's no more expensive than the regular Kona cotton I use.  I have to drive across town for it, but then I would have to go to the same place if I chose regular Kona cotton, anyway. I've been working on the action plan I developed and have pretty well decided on what pieces I will take, only two of which I have yet to make.  LOL  So best get busy.

Not out for coffee but....

 ....out of wine! So yesterday I went to the LCBO and bought another cardboard box haha! It suits my needs so no need to be extravagant right?

Time drags as you say but my time from morning to night is chock full of do this and do that whether it be for the animals or for the people occupying this house. There are three live little baby birds growing quickly in the one cage and will soon be big enough for the Mother to introduce to the bigger cage vs the nesting cage. I am watching closely every day for any signs that I may have to intervene, but so far all is well..

I am taking time to play my violin each day as much as possible but I have had to go back to the beginning and relearn what has been forgotten these last 10 years. It will all come back I am sure as even now I am noticing a big difference in my performance. However my fingers and limbs are not as subtle as once were and damn those violin strings when the fingers will not cooperate. Good thing I do not have a concert to give anytime soon. But Pati you have your Show to consider for May and I am hoping against hope that it will occur. Any word on that? In meantime you are preparing and doing some nice work in the Studio. That is nice to hear and see when the pictures come through.

 I thought we might be getting into Spring ( I hoped that is...) but just looking at the long range, and observing the forecast for you folks there in Wpg and surrounds, I realize that those horrible low cold temps are coming my way again.  Harry wants me to hook up the heaters for the greenhouse and I have been procrastinating but I expect I shall have to get off my butt and proceed sooner than later. Not a chore I prefer haha!

Hope all is well there. Take care for now...

Out for Coffee.

 Something I used to do often, and miss terribly.  Today Gail and I arranged to meet for coffee, again at Michael's, where we sit in the parking lot and talk from our cars. However, we were both a little early and met in the Michael's store, face to face ( as much as a face mask allows that to happen).  I went in to look at artists' mediums, but ended up finding the quality markers needed for my current workshop--the ones that I couldn't find before the workshop started.  After leaving the store we got our coffee and sat in our cars talking for almost an hour.  Then, it was home, where David helped me staple my latest piece to a wrapped canvas ( see other blog). Earlier today, I watched the latest instructional video from my workshop.  She releases one every Tuesday morning.  I found this one more interesting than the previous ones, and very much want to try out the ideas she gave me, and for this, those markers will come in handy. 

Even so, time is starting to drag, and we are getting on each others nerves a little more.  But we both seem to realize why this is happening.  Thank Goodness!  I think we've had enough of this.  At our age we don't have much time left and would very much prefer to spend it in other ways.  I'm so much looking forward to summer, and the opportunity to get outside, even if just into the yard.

But there is nothing to be gained from complaining, so I guess we just keep carrying on.  Than Goodness for wine. 

Remembering

 Cathy, I hope the memories are good ones.  So often, when I have a memory, it is of something stupid I did, or of having hurt someone else, is some way, unintentionally.  I know that this is very common in old age, and sometimes I wonder "why me?"  Why can't I have more memories of good times? But then that makes the good memories more valued when they do come. I hope most of your are good. Now, something to worry about is if you have the same memory over and over again, and keep telling people about it. That is truly a symptom of "old age" But you don't have to worry about that for 4 more years.