gosh--it's been a week!

I can't even say we've been that busy!  I'm getting used to my cute little splint, but I have a hunch the surgeon won't let me keep it. Wehad it off today, and there is potential for a pressure area over the last  joint of my finger.  They really want to force the end joint back as far as it'll go, but I don't want to compromise the use of my hand any more than we have to.  They had wanted to put a splint on the front of the finger, but I talked them into letting me keep the ones I got at Urgent Care, that fit on the back. 

I've been working on the piece for the next exhibition, which has a deadline of June 30th.  It's almost finished, and not quite what I had envisioned.  It's probably quite fine, but I've just been too close to it for too long.

Today we are sure that we are in the "big melt".  The temperature has been up and down like a yo-yo lately, and I'm getting quite tired of taking the lining in and out of my parka.  I had planned to attend an event celebrating International Women's Day today, but it was quite a mob scene, and I didn't last long. They were set up in a relatively small area.  There were lots of refreshments, and several immigrant women in their national dress, demonstrating and teaching their traditional crafts ( and being well paid for it, I know).  A very worthwhile concept, from the viewpoint of awareness and acceptance by WASP women, a demonstration of  respect and interest in the crafts, and in getting these women out into the community, even to the point of generating income.  But a quiet spoken, gentle mannered woman will always have difficulty teaching a craft to a group of 16 other women 9and men) in a crowded, noisy room.  Especially when it is a very fine craft that must been demonstrated and seen for understanding.

The one craft that I actually tried to do, failing miserably, was a method of basket making, using the very fine dried, hair-like, roots of hemp.  While I was struggling with the terribly fine work, that need 3 hands to work, not 1 1/2, my mind was wondering why anyone would put themselves through the agony involved. But the more I thought about it, I came to realize that, for many of these women, survival has depended on making use of every single resource available to them. And finding or creating beauty while doing so is very important to their state of mind.

So, for today, I'm very grateful for the lifestyle I enjoy.  Recently, I read an article that said that people who are able to verbalize those things that make them happy or grateful are generally happier than others, and that training yourself to develop a habit of doing so, can elevate your mood.

Busy time for all

It was a nice warm and fuzzy feeling for me to hear about your being in Neepawa together and having the day turn out to be perfect (my impression, that is!) Albeit Patty had her hands full teaching a class full of eager beaders, and Dave apparently had his hands full driving out in the ice and snow, but it all went well according to the blog comments from Patty and with my call to Cathy this afternoon. This was her Birthday call and I choose today so you would be home (not at work) and likely be more receptive to the call. I am busy fighting the snow shovelling and keeping the green house warm at –22 degrees. But I managed to multitask today cleaning the turtle tank totally – that is, emptying it and cleaning everything, and then filling it again. The turtle stayed in a big plastic container while I did the dirty work! As well cooked a pork tenderloin, a blueberry cobbler, and baked potatoes for supper, and panicked about the greenhouse by drying all the blankets and replacing them onto the outside. Three nights forecast for –20 something temps and then it is supposed to get warmer. On Tuesday we are taking Aunt Evelyn out for lunch at Swiss Chalet (her choice) since it was her idea, and also her birthday on Wednesday. We have yet to go to Sprucedale to check the house but the real estate lady stated that the price is too high and so negotiated a reduction with Harry and he must go tomorrow to sign the papers to make it so. I am beat tonight and I think it is an accumulation of the intense physical work activities that have consumed my life lately. Five days of constant snow and shovelling starts to insult the poor old body, although I keep telling myself that it is good exercise and should help me with the weight control haha  So with that happy thought I shall get ready for bed and hope the coming week shall bring forth good things for us all! You have some fun on your Birthday tomorrow Cathy and I will be thinking of you all day! Take care

today's adventure

is baking Almond Cholate biscotti from scratch.  We had a terrible time getting the batter mixed, David ended up doing it by hand--literally.  They baked for the first time,a nd my recipe said to let them cool for an hour, before cutting them again and re-baking them.  David thought this was too long, so I hit the internet and researched Biscotti recipes, ending up on the Kraft site.  Sure enough, their recipes said to let them cool for 10 minutes, so we did.  It worked very well and the second baking went well.  They tasteso good!  So I melted chocolate,  dipped them, and now they're in the fridge to cool.

We slept in this morning, and had a lazy breakfast.  then sorted out everything from yesterday and got it put away.  Nothing more scheduled until thursday, when I see the OT.  Maybe I can relax and get some stitching done.

Long Day

We on the road by 8:00, arriving in Neepawa 4 hours later, but having stopped in Plumas to pick up my parcel from the quilt store there.  The North perimeter was a sheet of ice.  There was no need to slow down to 80km  at intersections, as most people weren't going that fast to start with.  But every once in awhle there was some joker who believed that since the sign said we could drive at 100km, he was then obligated to drive that fast.  Even the semi's were crawling along.  But the roads had cleared up by the time we got to Portage.  Once we were set up, David went off to run a couple of errands, including going to the pottery to see if we could order any casserole dishes, ( Yep, broke another one!)  No luck there, ( other than being very lucky to get the car out of the snow after having become stuck in the pottery driveway) but we found one in the gift shop at Viscount and bought that.  The class went well, and the show came down while the class was going on.  Everything packed up and out of the building by 4:45.  We then spent just over 1/2 hour with Cathy and Jim at the legion.  Then all of the people from a curling bonspiel arrived, so we left.  The roads were much better by the time we headed home, so we got home just before 8:00, having stopped in Portage, and again for gas.

We are both exhausted.  The drive out there was a challenge for David, and I had experimented with a different method of teaching.  It worked very well, but since I was actively teaching for the whole 3 hours, I was pretty wiped by the end of class.

So, all in all a successful day, but I'm grateful that everything went well, and I'm grateful that it's over.

OMG day

I took the dog out this morning and noticed water leaking from above the front door in the ceiling – alerted Harry who even with his impairment ( right shoulder still immobile and painful) came out and we began the days "adventure" – clearing off the roof of snow and trying to get a handle on the build up of ice – really build up – more than any other year. Harry on roof in pain, and I on the ground shovelling the run off of snow and ice. I had to make a special trip to the next town ( approx 15 min drive) to purchase those pucks called roof melt – I'm sure you have seen them advertised on the TV. It was truly a day to remember ( NOT!) and I had the honours of watering in the greenhouse besides. That was the day! I finally came in and made supper and had two glasses of wine. Then I remembered that I had not bought a ticket for the draw tonight so off I went with dog in tow to the lottery store – a little bit feeling the wine haha. But its all good – now to bed and dream of the millions $$$$$$ I am about to win! Take care

Snow gods

I swear they know when I'm planning to travel!!

Everything is ready.  All packed, and was out to get a manicure this morning.  I rarely get to drive, but the car was mine today!  And so was the snow!  David says we should be okay tomorrow if we leave early enough. Fingers crossed!

Thinking of you and your finger

What I love is your very interesting "adventures" Patty – now, I know that we all have adventures, but you seem to be able to find yourself in some real dilemmas and describe them so well. I'm sorry for your compromised situation especially to teach a course on Saturday. Good luck to you, and please keep us informed. My days seem to be the same old, same old stuff – greenhouses, and covering at night, and taking off in the morning and for the last week shovelling piles of snow. Again this morning after a night of wind and storm. My worst fear was that the power would go out and then what would I do with the greenhouse but luck was with me. Today, after shovelling the driveway and cleaning off the cars, I decided to have a day of fun. I planned in my head to make a small article and in order to do this I needed to find my fabric and notions, and clean up the sewing machine area (ie find the sewing machine under the junk!) I was able to cut the fabric pieces and got everything ready to sew but haven't actually started that yet – hopefully tomorrow will be more productive. But it is amazing how doing a small activity such as this, changes one's mood so dramatically. I can really see how you get so much satisfaction Patty in working in your studio. Harry got a call from the real estate lady this morning to say that the house in Sprucedale was being shown today so I am keeping my fingers crossed – wouldn't it be nice if it would sell fast – hope he will hear back from her with positive results? I ordered more cheques from the bank for one of the accounts and they arrived in mail today but were for the other account and I was charged almost 45.00. So I walked over to the bank to try to rectify expecting a hard time (it is a bank afterall!)  Much to my surprise, I was received well, and the whole situation managed nicely with result of me keeping the wrong cheques (which I can use), having the charges reversed, and cheques for the account I wanted ordered without charge. Sometimes, things working out well make you feel really good! Harry won tickets on the radio for us to attend the Tommy Hunter show live in North Bay on March 13 – OK you might say, but this will be an outing and I am looking forward to going. It is his last tour before retiring – I think he is in his eighties? We saw him live in Sundridge many years ago and watched the TV show regularly. I finished another novel last night and think I'll take a break for now – I start a book and can't seem to leave it until finished although I only read a bit each night before lights out. I went into the Coles book store the other day while in North Bay and saw that Clive Cussler has a new novel out but I am being very good and not buying new books anymore – library or used cheap books are what I depend on now. speaking of lights out – I better sign off and head to bed. Have a good weekend everyone, and I wish you well on Sat Patty! Take care