Oh Cathy...

How very, very nice that she was able to take you with her.  And what a wonderful tribute to her!  Mothers are allowed to take some of the credit for this sort of thing, so rest on your laurels for awhile.  You deserve it.
I have several large projects looming on the horizon, so have been trying to clean up the small ones.  Or maybe I'm just procrastinating out of fear of leaving my comfort zone. Regardless,  I'm puttering in the studio.  Part of this is gathering supplies and getting ready to tackle the big projects.  I need to dye fabric, so have been washing and rinsing lots of cloth.  I've also been preparing shopping lists of supplies--which turned out to be nothing, as I discovered that I had a lot of the supplies that I had thought I needed to buy.  I did most of the prep work for a huge hand stitching project that I anticipate will never be finished in this lifetime, but I can sit during my one hour of tv per day and slowly work at it.  And "no", it doesn't involve "hexies".
We've done some shopping the last couple of days, and have to go out again this afternoon to pick up some pills that David needs.  Supper is in hand, the laundry almost finished, and I hope to be able to do some work on my most recent "reliquary" this afternoon.  It's been on the back burner too long, and should only take a couple of days to finish.  There is a show coming up that may be appropriate for it.
Since my diet allows one cup of coffee a day, I've been making the most of it, and stopping by Starbucks, when we're out.  This takes the place of the French Vanilla Cappuccino that I've had from Tim Horton's at 3:00 every day--for years.  In the psychological parts of the diet book, it talks about seeking satisfaction from strong flavours, as one means of combating boredom and dealing with cravings, so this is my strategy.  This week, I've been dropping 0.2 or 0.4 of a pound almost every day, and while this doesn't sound like much, when you do the math it is a very acceptable rate for loosing.
David just came to get me, so I guess it's time to head out.

How eciting

So often I am reminded that "life is family", and here is the perfect example of how we are a part of it all. Congratulations to Rrain for her accomplishments, and how proud you must be Cathy!
Yesterday I was in North Bay and visited with both my children - maybe not for awards and recognition ceremonies, but still and all, they are my kids.
Today we exchange our vehicle for another. I was just out to do a final clean out before we go for 11 am appointment.
Today also is major greenhouse work - things are getting out of control haha! So big and strong are most of the tomatoes now - we have to harden them and leave them outside for a few hours each day. So by time you take them out, its almost time to bring them in........lots of fun!
So almost weekend time....enjoy your road trip to Killarney, Cathy. What are you up to Pati?
Take care

Banquets and Pride

Last night I attended the local Rotary Club Paul Harris Banquet.  I went as my daughter's guest. It was very interesting.  Rrain was MC, so we sat at the "head table"  I was beside the District Governor, Ken Krebs.  Rrain was the recipient of the Tony Otten Award.  Besides a certificate and a medalian, $1000 is donated in Rrain's name to the Rotary International Foundation.  She was introduced by another Rotarian and as he listed all her accomplishments in our community I was overwhelmed to hear someone else recognise her for all her involvement.  She is a very busy woman.  She is also, in the history of Neepawa Rotary the first female recipient.  She has set a lot of precedents for this Rotary.  I wonder if they will ever recover from her :) .  Tomorrow we are all off to Killarney to see the other source of pride in my children.

Puttering can be good...

Sometimes I just love having the time to putter. Whether its in the house, or outside. Lately there have been clearly defined tasks to complete so not really much puttering per say. But up until now it has also been coldish outside and not really pleasant.  Starting tomorrow we are to see an improvement with higher temps and warmer sunny days. We set up the table and umbrella and chairs outside on the back patio where we sit often. Mind you I had on my coat and hat and mitts and a nice warm cup of tea in hand- but it was a start. Half the patio area is still covered in ice and snow but Harry gave it a go and shoveled a lot of it scattered around, so it will not take long to melt away. Right now the street cleaner machine is going up and down sweeping and watering down the road.  I'm glad I beat it to some of the sand/gravel to store for winter before it came along.
So the bird bath is no more - funny we should have mentioned it in your Anniversary Poem haha! But actually, if the pieces have been scattered amongst the gravel in your yard, then you still have it, right?  So where will Mr Lion be placed?
Time to get busy. I have a list of chores for outside.  I am expecting the GM dealership to call this week saying our new car is in - had to lease again but got some deals for doing it early. Still juggling numbers and payments and $$$ in my head so hopefully it will turn out OK. Have to pay GM for excess kilometers but knew that coming into the deal.
Take care all.

Puttering again

A putter-y day here yesterday, as well.  After the busy-ness of the weekend, I wanted a few minutes to myself to sort out where my studio work will go next. I did fairly well at the sale this weekend, but still have stock to take to the next sale which is in June.

Loren and Sheila were over for a bit on Sunday, and we talked about the kitchen.She helped me wort out the rationale behind decisions and then guided me a bit in making those decisions. She also pointed out things that we hadn't even thought about.  One was the probable need to add a sub-floor under the area of the present counter, as it appears that there has been more than one layer added tot he kitchen itself.  Both she and Loren recommended one contractor, but emphasized the need to get several quotes, and check out possible references carefully

Did I mention that, when sorting through the photos recently I found an envelope with a lock of Mom's hair from when she was three years old?  Anyone interested?

No snow here, so yesterday we had a fellow come over to clean up the yard.  Hi did this for us last year, and we had been pleased.  The price was certainly right.  Well, this year, for the same price, he showed up with an assistant, ( we think it was his father)in two trucks with three machines.  Took  six big yard waste paper bags off of the lawn.

Also, David finally got rid of the bird bath.  We've had it for between 25 and 30 years, but it was still sad to see it go, especially when he had to take a sledge hammer to it to break the pieces down far enough that they could be added to the gravel we have between the garage and the fence.  So he's spent today cleaning out the spot the bird bath had been in. There was quite a hole as we had made a deep and secure base for it. 

I'm spending the day doing prep work for the four projects I hope to start in the near future.  I had thought I was going to have to buy dye and even maybe some paint, but did an inventory yesterday, and only need one colour of dye. So will probably just pick up a smaller bottle at the art store here, instead of ordering it from Toronto and paying for UPS courier delivery.

It's snowing

Up early as usual, took the dog out, as usual, and it is snowing!
Yesterday I was outside and did raking, and cleaning up, and put little fences around rhubarb patch etc. I even shoveled up five boxes of sand from the street to store for next winter. 
Maybe I shouldn't have done that? Maybe the gods thought it was winter again?
Time for a coffee. Have a good day.

Memories take two

I think a lot my memories  re-surface recently because of a conversation with Debbie.  It was to her house that i sought refuge after school. I know that daddy went down and spoke to Debbies parents about "something"  I know that after that conversation I always went to Debbie's after school until someone else was home.  Debbie is very frustrated with her Mother.  In our conversation she actually spoke about how much she now hates her.  I guess her mom has become a very bitter and vindictive alcoholic. (she is mid 80's now)  I remember that she always welcomed me and never said a thing when I came over every day.  (I also remember her coming down the street in her housecoat when Debbie was staying with me (Daddy and Beth went to Bissett).  She wanted to make sure we were home (Hello!Telephone!)  I know there were a lot of things that Debbie didn't  tell her daughter about her early years ( Elisabeth had a very serious heart condition at birth and at one point her father got Debbie arrested for some reason or another.. he is a QC lawyer.)  The police told Debbie they were led to believe that Elisabeth was a toddler and Debbie was keeping her from her father despite a court order...meanwhile she was a sick baby that Debbie was still nursing and no court order!  Debbie never told Elsabeth any of this because she wanted her to have a relationship with her father.  It seems Debbie's mom told Elisabeth everything. She is also making a lot of mean comments about being abandoned etc etc.  Debbie has P of Atty for her Mom so I told her to check into the terms and see if it contains the "continuing despite mental instability" clause.  That might make it easier to get medical help for her mom.  .  Her daughter is getting married in July and Debbie really likes the guy.  He helps Debbie a lot around the house with "man" things.  i guess we all view life in different ways and have different memories.  I remember Debbie\s  Mom letting me stay there..(despite the housecoat incident.). she remembers the mean comments that have been made over the years. You cannot know someone until you have walked in their shoes.