I was NOT the winner....

Someone took home the $40 M last night but it was not us. Alas, back to the drawing board.
And we all sound as if we are fed up with this weather so lets focus on Summer rather than Spring and maybe things will change? I am using a new keyboard and cordless mouse that was purchased yesterday and it is surprising how even a slight change in keyboard can set you off a bit. I know keyboards are supposed to be essentially the same, but still feels different and therefore a few mistakes are made. I was amazed with viewing your Mouse Factory blog Patty and sat looking at the closeups with my jaw dropping. By coincidence, the other day in Value Village I purchased two small books Decorative Beading and Beading For The First Time. There is a sample of a bookmark using peyote stitch with instructions and I think I could tackle this to start. I have all sorts of beads and I did do this stitch at Quilt Canada in Ottawa years ago. I will never challenge your expertise with beading, but I can pretend I can do some little things to appease my desires.haha We got to the Sewing Centre yesterday and I had the machine done. The needle threader was off and he fixed that ( I knew this and told him before he started so he was willing to have a look and straighten it if he could) He also said there was a lot of red fluff deep inside - this would be from the nine square quilt I did with red thread. I was able to clean out a bit inside the bobbin area at the time but I guess it had accumulated inside as well. Overall very pleased with process even if my machine was in very good condition without too much use. Maybe I should change that, and try to get back at it??? It got especially cold last night so I will have to check inside the greenhouses sooner than later today - the electric heaters keep them above freezing but not much higher - early this morning both were reading around 40 degrees F on the thermometers I have hanging inside the window but that doesn't always tell the real story for all the shelves and condition of some plants not directly in line for heat from the heaters. When I look at the yard with piles of snow and ice I wonder if we will ever get the ground ready to plant these things. Anyway, I have a coffe beside me and a toasted tomato sandwich for my breakfast and will get ready to start another day. Have a nice weekend, Take care

snow & freezing rain.....

hmmm.  In the words of Gomer Pyle "surprise surprise surprise"  What else could we expect.  Actually it isn't as bad as they forecast (so far)  I think most of it must have stayed south of us. Busy day at work and then to top it off once again we won nothing at meat draw.  I have a meeting Sunday so I have to get everything done tomorrow.  It wouldn't be bad if I hadn't thought the meeting was next week and saved up all sorts of house stuff for this weekend.  Good excuse to do nothing.  I really have to go shopping tomorrow.  We have some dried and canned stuff but I am right out of fresh things.  I want to convince Jim to make a big batch of spagetti sauce for Sunday.  That way I won't have to get anything ready when I get home from my meeting   Next Saturday, besides being Beth's birthday, is the beer tasting.  They have ordered some really wild brands.  Nothing national... all smaller brewerys.    Next week I have to move into Mallorie's office.  My area is large with 3 windows.  Hers is very cramped with 1/2 a window.  I talked to the facilities manager and he put in a work order to remove the window air conditioner and replace the opening window.  That may make the room seem less like a cell.  The furniture is large and fills the space.  there is also a lot a garbage in it to be sorted.  As if I will have time.  I had hoped by acting status would be reflected on my pay cheque this week but it wasn't.  I guess the longer it takes the more back pay I get. (I hope!!!)  It is early, (9:38) but I was up at 5am, so I am getting kind of tired.  Jim is asleep on the couch beside me.  He has taken to sleeping for a couple of hours every evening and then being up until 2am!  It is my bedtime by 10pm.  And speaking of that.... I am off (with my book) 

Getting old......

is boring!  Quiet times. David has been sleeping a lot, but less and less as time passes.  Our doctor agreed with the diagnosis of food poisoning, but darned if we can figure out what it might have been.  David is proceeding very, very carefully with any foods, and all quite, quite bland. Can't say I blame him.

The fellow did pick up his wall hanging yesterday, and the cheque is in the bank.  Now I have room to hang one of the new ones. Tomorrow I plan to take some pictures of them for the other blog.  For some reason, I seem to have bit more energy these days. Could the black stockings do that?  Or maybe it is anticipation of spring.  I, too, was out fighting the wind today, in my parka.  I've also been looking around and thinking that the house is looking a bit "dated".  Not that we can afford much.  Maybe it would look better if I just washed the walls?  Like that's going to happen!!  But I do know that it's time to re-paper the bathroom, so maybe I can deal with my unnatural urges by looking through wallpaper books?  And my towels are getting ratty. I would have done something about that,but I can't seem to find the colours I want, and having the "wrong" colours would make me crazy.  We are also talking about new bedding, maybe deep burgundy, this time.  It's always nice to have dreams, even if they never quite come true.  And yes, I have lottery tickets for the weekend.

 I have been reading books by Peter James about a British detective named Roy Grace. There is quite a series of them, with some interesting twists. But nothing planned for the next few days.  Maybe I'll manage to get into the studio.  If that happens, I will be grateful

Thursday already?

Week has gone quickly but certainly not because one is having fun as the expression goes? I pretty much have given up on spring and nice weather - no sense in fighting it - winter will be here for a few more months I guess.... haha. Apparently the weekend promises to bring more snow. I walked downtown to check the mail this afternoon and the wind was so strong I feared of being blown away. Can you imagine bundled up with winter jacket and scarf and hood closed tight around the face and still being cold and miserable? But we did receive a DVD of Daniel O'Donnell that we ordered  so I had a chance to sit this afternoon and watch a bit of it. Of course I was marking coins for Harry while viewing the musical! Tomorrow we head for North Bay early as I have the first appointment for servicing my sewing machine Friday morning at 9 am. The Home/Shop is on the other side of the Airport east of North Bay so hope I can find the place. I contacted the business on Tuesday - she had been leaving messages at someone's place for a few weeks and had not heard back from me - wonder why? I also wonder who was receivng her phone messages and getting a bit annoyed? She had a wrong phone number to contact me apparently. I don't expect any problems with the machine but a good cleaning and servicing will be most welcome. I looked at the receipt and it was bought on April 9, 2005 - that's exactly 8 years ago. Patty will be having a fit hearing this but there aren't really that many miles on my machine either. I do thank you Patty for encouraging me to proceed with this servicing though as I know I will be glad I did. Hope all is OK with you both, and thinking of you as we approach another weekend Also hoping that Lotto Max will come our way tomorrow - I got two numbers on the Encore for last nights 649 draw - that's five dollars !! Things are looking good........ Take care

What a weekend

Sorry to hear about Dave.  Puts everything into perspective doesn't it?  Our dog Nika was sick this weekend.  We thought she might have had a stroke on Saturday night.  We took her to the vets today and she says Nika had a seizure and not a stroke.  She says that she has a brain tumor.  They could do an MRI and biopsy but at her age is would be mean to do it to her.  Nika is on prednisone now, which may reduce the size of the tumor, but will most likely just help her deal with the seizures.  It could be days or months, but the vet did tell me what to look for for signs that she is getting worse or is in pain.  Meanwhile she is happy, but has poor balance, poor eyesight, tilted head, confusion, yada yada yada, but she knows us now.  (on saturday she was so confused she didn't know who we were or where she was).  Why do we have pets?!?   It is really cold here now. Hard to believe they were in the fields by mid-march last year.  There is soooo much snow and there is more forecast this week.   We have a beer tasting here in a couple of weeks.  I think it will be fun to try some different beers without having to buy a whole bottle.  I have to be one of the servers but hopefully we will have enough that I will only have to work one shift.  IF not, oh well.  That will teach me to get my servers permit. I think I am busy every weekend this month.  Keeps me out of trouble.  (oh darn)     Hope the snow stops for you, Beth and that Dave feels better real soon.  It's April.  The weather has to warm up soon!

Always the unexpected creeps us on us

and I am sorry that Dave is unwell, with just cause to head for help in emergency by the sounds of it. I am wishing you both good health very soon. As the one standing around in the Emerg ( I know as I've been there recently).it is especially unsettling as we really have no role or influence on outcome. On a happier note, I am pleased that the man from Pinawa has resurfaced after such a long time, and that you will sell the piece and have him take it away. All of Sunday I was thinking of you and Diane having a few good laughs in the studio, and little did I know what you were really doing.
I cannot describe to you how I felt today as the snow fell and the temperatuires dropped.I thought it was maybe an April Fools joke when I could not see out the front window because the snow was falling so heavily with brisk winds whipping it all around. Still a bit of snow falling as I write this but nothing like today. I did get a bit of housework done though, and sorted through the paperwork and bills piling up and got that sorted for tomorrow.s trip to North Bay and the bank. I even organized our Income Tax paperwork and will probably take them into the Accountant this week - usually no hurry as |I always have to pay so wait until towards end of April. So perhaps it was a productive day afterall. Take care

Best laid plans etc

David wasn't feeling well Saturday afternoon and by bed time was very sick, throwing up etc ( all of the etc's).  He declined help and decided to sleeping the spare room, but I had barely got into bed when he came out and suggested that he needed help.  So off to emergency, where we were resigned to a long wait. (Saturday night of a long weekend, in emergency--what a zoo!!)  But, for future reference, passing out in the waiting room moves you up the triage list quickly.  He was a pretty sick boy.  No firm diagnosis, but suspected food poisoning and severe dehydration.  The doctor didn't want him left alone, and I was allowed into keep an eye on him.  So we were both there all night. He dozed a bit, while they were pumping fluid into him through both arms, but I didn't.   I called Dianne at 7:30 Sunday morning, from the parking lot and we agreed to re-schedule--don't know when, but probably next Monday, when she will be coming to town anyway.  We got home and slept for most of the day.  He's still not doing that well, still sleeping a lot, but has a doctor's appointment for tomorrow.

Had an unexpected phone call today from the fellow who bought my big piece, "Inua: Spirit in the Wind", in Pinawa last July.  He asked if he could come by on Wednesday, to pay for it, and pick it up.  Surprise!  I had totally given up on that.  Mind you, I had envisioned all sorts of cruel fates for him, for not following up and causing me to lose two other valid sales.  And I was darn sure that it wouldn't appear at the sale this year.  So a pleasant event, and I'm very grateful that I didn't say anything that I might have now regretted.  Now let's hope he actually shows up.