Thinking of you at sale tomorrow

 Lots of preparation for you and now the sale. Shall be thinking of you and at same time remembering being with you and Dave in Pinawa at a sale. It can be stressful. But it can also be fun!  Take care and may the sales be with you. ( Give me some leaway - afterall the 4 May is soon upon us haha)  Be safe...😇

Latest wooden scroll cut picture puzzle

 Hi to you,

I finished another of those fabulous wooden puzzles and this time it is the Mysterious Lion.

Now I am amazed that i was able to figure out how to insert it. it took me about 10 minutes to insert this one picture but I call this a great success on my part. Maybe I am on to something new and exciting for things to come???

Take care 💗

Grieving, but not for long!

 Yesterday, David announced that, since he had some new light-weight sweatpants, he would be getting rid of the older, heavier ones.  My conscience kicked in and I decided to do a deep purge of my wardrobe, as there have been new clothes lately. I got rid of everything that doesn't fit me today.  It also allowed me to get out my summer wardrobe of tops, although I haven't yet put away my heavier sweaters.  David also purged our collection of tuques, gloves, and scarves.  Then he loaded up the car with three very heavy full green garbage bags, and took them to the thrift store.  No changing of one's mind.

While he was out, he visited the local library which opened last Friday.  The renovations are finished, only two months later than projected.  I'm sure glad to see at, as that trip to Transcona, was a bit of a chore.

I do so love spring.....

 ... if only it would come.  our highway has opened up, but the #1 is still closed west of  Brandon.  Needless to say, we once again cancelled our trip to Killarney.  It is still blowing and snowing here, but the snow has eased up a bit.  The weather forecast is good for next weekend so we are planning to finally get to Killarney.  Our new internet and TV provider seems to be working out, except I opted for pre-authorized withdrawals from the bank but they never took the money out so I was getting overdue notices.  I finally was able to reach someone and it seems I have to make the first payment myself  and then they will start the regular withdrawals.  Wish someone had mentioned that!  Lucky broke his lead again and took off in the middle of the blowing snow.  I guess he discovered freedom wasn't all that great in the middle of a storm cause he came back pretty quickly.  I was trying to follow his paw prints in the snow but they were filling in pretty fast.  Last year at this time we had potatoes in the garden.  |This year I can't even see the garden yet cause the snow is so deep.  We are supposed to have some above zero days in the next two weeks so I am hoping that it will disappear eventually.  The best news is that I am getting my hair cut on Tuesday!  Finally!  Other than that we have been no where and done nothing lately.  Even our grocery shopping has been minimal.  We were puppy sitting for a couple of days last week.  They are PomChis and the little one could sit in my hands.  The older one was a smidge bigger than the cat.  Lucky was not impressed.   Rrain's power went out last night for about 11 hours.  She says she has never enjoyed a sound as much as her furnace coming on this morning.  It was wicked and cold our there last night.  As for me, I am binge watching the first season of Star Trek: Voyager.  I don't remember any of them so it is like the first time.  I am still collecting 20 or 30 Asian Beetles every day.  I don't know where they are all coming from.  Last fall I vacuumed up hundreds and yet there are more now.  So hope you have a great week ahead, without too many problems.

Late night for a Saturday.

 Enjoyed the British shows on PBS, as usual and then took a shower.  During the evening we had been watching the growing pool of water  in the backyard, with mild concern.  Then, while David was thinking about his shower, I noticed the fellow across the back out in his yard with a flashlight checking the water level, and mentioned it to David.  He expressed concern about getting the frozen hose off the roller-bin, but planned to give it a try this morning.  I suggested that he might want to sort it out right away, so that it would be ready to go in the morning.  Next thing I know, he has the whole system up and running.  It pumped steadily, and we monitored, until about mid-night, when he shut it down for the night.  David was up before me this morning, and had the system going again, and it's still running.  He had a chance to speak with the neighbour across the back, who told him that they had been pumping all day yesterday, and were still at it.  While this is temporary for us, I know you have to be constantly vigilant, Beth.  It takes a tole on one's health, with both the worry and the lack of sleep.

Yesterday I baked a loaf of brown bread again, using a slightly different recipe. I discovered that the recipe I used last time, came in both an American and Canadian version.  Slightly different amounts of things like honey and molasses, but still in Imperial measure.  Go figure!  This time I used the Canadian recipe, but forgot to push the "start" button, and the start was delayed for about 2 1/2 hours.  The bread was overcooked, and not very nice, but it did come out of the oiled pan quite nicely.  I'll try the American version today.

Between bread making and watching the rain come down, run through our pump, and out the driveway, I have a full day ahead.

Life is a merry go round for sure...

 And it seems we are all on the merry go round together with our lives. But Pati I love to read your sharing of your adventures so much. Thank you for continuing to blog as I have been a bit remiss lately. Maybe too much on my plate right now with the awful weather and trying to manage the greenhouses. It has truly been an interesting "Spring" with weather variances on a day to day basis all over. Now I read again in the WFP about an intensive rain storm to bring increase amounts to your area and threaten the flooding issue once again.

However I really enjoyed my morning read because there were some very interesting developments about which I had had no idea. For example, The renovations and overhaul of The BAY. This is exciting news if it will come to be as i assume it will. I was very upset when it closed and seemed to be destined to the same fate as the (late) EATONs ie demolition.  Now to be revitalized. But the best part was to read that The PADDLEWHEEL would be returning. Now I really must try to come back home at some time soon haha! But, of course the BAY revitalization will take some time I am sure.

The second piece of news was about the renovations to the The St Vital bridge. So many memories of our past area pops up to read of the plans and revisit in my mind the streets it mentions. I know you folks probably drive over there and think nothing of it now, but it plays on my mind when I am reminded with such articles.

Anyway, it was a bit of nostalgia this morning. There is much discussion related to the difference in definition between memories and nostalgia and I do not really understand but whatever I have, it pops up frequently to remind me of life.... what it was, and what it is now. 

So on with my day. Sundridge is really booming now...we have a Cannabis store, and a new pizza / Sub restaurant and there is a new franchise Chicken Wing place renovating a previous restaurant that may open soon. And in North Bay I have told you previously, there is a new Casino and when we drive by it the parking lot is always full...go figure haha!

Take care and be safe out there. 😉 

Life on a merry-go-round

 At least that's how it feels.  Yesterday started out when I woke up at 8:45, and realized that I had a Zoom meeting at 9:00, and didn't want to attend in my nightie.  After, it was rush, rush to get ready to leave for the craft group meeting in Lorette starting at 1:00.  I was wanting  to take a few things that I thought the ladies might be interested in, from my "purge".  They took about 1/2 the yarn, a crochet hook, and the best part of a 1lb package of fibre fill.  There was business to take care of relating to the craft show they are planning for the end of the month, but there was also a lot of friendly joking and more camaraderie.  There is one lady, just a few months younger than I, with whom I feel the beginning of a friendship.  We have run into each other a couple of times at other events, and both sew, so there is lots to talk about.

Today, we met with David's sister for lunch, but found the restaurant had changed its menu somewhat, and our lunch turned into a late brunch.  It's always a pleasure talking with Gail.  She had pictures of her new great-grand baby--now 6 months old, and expressed concern about her daughter's health ( the baby's aunt).

Thank Goodness we have nothing on tonight, as tomorrow is laundry day, but no underlays this week.  The forecast for the weekend is pretty well constant rain, meaning a lot of studio time, which means a lot of purge time.  Just have to be sure to take my camera.

Today and a new adventure--sort of

 Knowing that Gail would be coming to help with the car, allowed me to have a leisurely morning.  This ended when David shouted at me that there was a strange woman coming to the door, carrying an armful of shovels. Turned out to be Gail's friend Laurie H. who had come to help.  She got started, and Gail showed up about 20 minutes later.  These two women shoveled the whole driveway, out to the street.  It took them 2 hours of almost constant work.  I stood by "supervising" except for a period during which they told me to get a chair and sit in the garage where it was a bit warmer.  After the job was finished I took them to Starbucks, where I bought them lunch, and Gail phoned her friend Laurie from Transcona to invite her to join us.

It was a wonderful 2 hours of female joking, and laughing and camaraderie.  I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

While I often read trash, recently I read "Sufferance" by Thomas King.  While it was a wonderful novel on the surface, in  a deeper sense it proved a very profound document about the process of reconciliation.  I recommend it.

Yesterday

 Firstly, I want to wish each of you a happy Easter Sunday.  I hope you spend it with someone you love, especially if that someone is family.

I appears that mine may be spent shoveling snow with a good friend.  Except it was so cold last night that yesterday's heavy wet snow is probably solid ice today.  David, and to a lesser extent me, got up close and personal trying to shovel the car out of the driveway yesterday. At least he was dressed for it.  When he got stuck, and had fought with it for awhile, I ran the phone out to him to try to convince him to call for Road Side Assistance. After some discussion, we called, and they sent out a tow truck.  The car was almost to the street, which is well snow packed, but there was a car parked right at the foot of the driveway, getting in the way of an easy tow.  But the job got done.  Then, the young fellow broke up and shoveled the snow on the part of the driveway where the car had been, but then declined a tip!  Needless to say, David was finished for the day after his adventure.  Got him inside and snuggled up in his chair, ready for a nap.  Then I had to venture out to the grocery store, where he had been headed, before getting stuck.  Thankfully, the car had been parked on the street after being towed out, and I got away safely.  The part of the driveway closest to the garage, is still impassable, so the car stayed on the driveway, beside the house, for the night.

Gail and I are going for coffee this afternoon, and she promised to drop by with a jug of Ice Melt, before we left.  She also said that she would shovel the impassable part of the driveway.  We'll see how that works.

Greetings from here to there

 Thinking of you all as we celebrate Easter. Hope you have a special day with whatever you have planned.

Happy Easter 😊 😊

Hanging in there?

 Just a quickie to say I have been following your blizzard journey closely via the forecast and news reports from your area and hope that you have "weathered" the storm and are coming out the other end unscathed.  By some reports it was not as bad as predicted but that the precautions put in place in preparation were surely justified.

Take care now as you carry on folks. Happy Easter as well.

Thinking of you all ❤

Weather Network

 Today, as I looked out at snow and wind, the weather network said we had sun with scattered clouds!  It also says the worst is yet to come. Oh well. The legion canceled Chase the Ace and the supper on Thursday. I guess they figured no one would be there. I know Jim and I had decided not to try going. I’m not even sure about Killarney on Sunday as it seems another storm is coming then. So now I sit and watch Netflix. Fortunately the power has not gone off. We are prepared with wood in the house, candles and buckets of water. I figured if we were over prepared it might not be as bad as they were forecasting. Jim is supposed to go to the lab for more blood work but that’s not going to be until next week now. I sure hope you are having a great day Beth, and that the weather is cooperating for you. Take care, both of you!

A blip in my plans

 This week the pants that David ordered from The Bay arrived.  All three pair are identical and all three pair needed shortening.  Not a problem, until I tried to sew the first pair.  My Janome was having no part of it.  After breaking the first needle, I tried changing the foot from a regular foot to a walking foot.  But, did I need a different needle-- ball point needle, and did I have one? Found them after a frantic search, but only three in the package. After breaking the the ball point needle, I changed my method.  By then I had realized that I wouldn't be able to zig-zag along the cut edge of the pants and would have to turn up the hem and stitch it down at the same time as preventing the knit fabric from running from the cut edge. Thank Goodness this strategy worked. Over 45 minutes getting started, and three pair finished in the next 20 minutes.

Had a very late start today ( very late) so really didn't accomplish much, but did spend some time on the Purge Challenge.  Then this evening got into the Elderberry wine.  David had needed some red wine for a marinade, and I benefitted from his need.  No plans for tomorrow, as yet, but I'm starting to look forward to a trip to Starbucks as it's been several days since we were there.  We have enough library books to last awhile, and there is food in the house.  We should be fine during any blizzard that might pass through this week--as predicted, and our snow shoveling contract isn't up until April 15th.  How's that for good planning? hehe

Have a good week ladies, and stay safe.

Weather for your parts ...

 If your like snow I guess you can look forward to it, but I , on the other hand am sick of it all. And I awoke to a layer of snow here this morning. Not nice, but worse for your areas as I read on the WFP and the potential for flooding with that storm coming in. Each morning as I read the news I appreciate the fact that I can keep in touch ( a bit) with you folks with the weather and the local issues, and things going on. I frequently need to reorient myself to the layout of Wpg as things have changed so much there, but still see Neepawa as the same although there too, Cathy, must have changed somewhat from my last visits.

We ventured to North Bay yesterday and went to the new PHU building for our fourth vaccine. It took me a bit to find the new Unit as it is tucked nicely on a street close to the Lake. But after one false move, and a rethink in my mind, I was able to drive the car right to the spot. I talk about reorienting myself to Wpg, but here I could not easily find a place in North Bay. Maybe I have been isolated for too long haha!

The greenhouse work was to take precedence today but with this change in weather I may just water, and leave transplanting for another day. Although, we bought more soil yesterday and I could carry it in from the car and it is warm inside those little houses, so maybe I could work there today after all. We will see.....

Loving your Mouse Factory blog Pati...I feel as if I am sitting there with you and sorting through your stash just like we did when I used to visit. Although your purposes now of sorting through is to "purge" as you mention. That takes on a whole new feeling as I agree it must be an emotional challenge for you. 

Well, time to move on as the day and the other people and animals in this house will soon awaken. Take care all... 

Emotional cost of a purge

 This is coming to light more often now, as we get into the things that I've hoarded over the years as opposed to things that I used and never thought of.  Yesterday I sorted through my perle cotton thread.  OMG!  I had so much more than I had realized.  These threads have come wrapped around a paper tube. I can see them in their big plastic barrel sitting on the shelf, and the colours give me joy. So when sorting them, I kept a few, probably a few more than necessary, just to provide that spark of joy.  But twice as many went to the thrift store this morning. I spoke of the feeling of relief I felt in purging many of the items that have been around much too long.  But there are a couple of things that I hesitate to even touch because I know that I'll experience a mix of emotions, and probably regret at getting rid of them--such as my Zentangle supplies and samples.  And the Zentangles will probably be in today's "To Do" list.

Today was to be the meeting out in Lorette.  I had a big bag of yarn to take to the ladies there, as they all seem to be knitting or crocheting.  The weather has taken a turn for the worse--snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain all mixed together and with a healthy wind pushing it around.  David did not really want me out on the highway, I was reluctant myself, and not feeling any need to prove a point.  So after dropping a full car load off at the thrift store, and breakfast at Starbucks, I'm home in my nice warm house, with a lovely cup of coffee. 

And I can't believe you are at your purging and doing so well

 Perhaps I am envious of your persistence in cleaning up Pati but I admire your dedication and have been following your progress with great interest. I was inspired to do a little bit each day as well, but I do not have the ability to bag up for a Thrift Store, nor bag up for the bin as you have with help as well. But I shall prevail.

Today I must go over to the Service Ontario office to renew both my drivers License and my Health Card as they expire next week...go figure!  To make it interesting i have been practicing smiling in the mirror so my mouth does not open and my eyes remain open. It is hard but I expect that the picture will turn out just as it always does - a stupid face on an old lady!

Lots of work in the greenhouses these days as it is now so much nicer outside and to see that snow disappear is marvelous. There is still patches of icy ice around the side and back of the house that always takes forever to melt so I have to watch my step very carefully. I have removed my cleats for walking now as they were heavy metal on pavement and hard going. 

We have started to take the dogs to the Park in South River again along the River. They had laid a path for winter walks at the higher level of the park which we did not know and apparently had ploughed them so these paths are totally clear of snow. The path that winds along the river is still covered but soon we shall have the entire walk clear for our enjoyment.

Time to check my Lotto Max ticket - always fun on Wed morning to get my coffee and check numbers. Always an optimist haha!  Take care

Now I've seen everything

 A paper knife---courtesy of Tim Horton's.  The 6" ruler is for size comparison.

Gott'a give them credit, though.

Bread

 You'll be glad to know that today we baked a lovely loaf of bread.  I sprayed the inside of the baking tub thoroughly with Pam, but we still had a rough time getting the bread out.  I have to wonder if we should be giving it a few more minutes to cool, before attempting to remove it.  Regardless, next time we'll grease it with margarine.

I am laughing so hard....

 Early morning with all the weather woes lately and with coffee in hand logged onto the blog. Made me laugh to hear your tale. I followed it every step of the way as we make bread in our machine as well. But I have never had as much fun as you both had. Maybe I am doing something wrong haha!  Please give it a try again. I have lots of recipes. And the containers can sometimes be a pain. But our machine has a little lever to push to release the lock to allow the container to come out. Does yours maybe? Nothing better than freshly baked bread with margarine and a good handful at that haha! Take care