Sometimes it’s the little things in life

 I hate putting fitted sheets on the bed. I always seem to pick the wrong corners and try to put it on the bed sideways. Today, as I was once again putting clean sheets on the bed, I noticed something. The pattern on the sheets is linear. All I have to do is look at the pattern and know which way the sheets go. And this is after how many years?  Of course it’s not that long ago that I would have been embarrassed to confess that but we all need some humour in our lives. Even if it is at my own expense. At least now I’ll giggle every time I crawl into bed. Keeps a person from going to bed angry I guess. Could be a good solution to problems. I could sell the idea!  Meanwhile I am once  again on the couch with a cat keeping my feet warm. We went for a walk earlier. It’s not cold out, but once again there is just enough wind to keep it chilly. I helped Rrain yesterday, but by the time I got home, Jim had been snacking all afternoon and wasn’t hungry, so I had a sandwich. But by lunch today we were both really looking forward to eating the pickeral and fries we didn’t have last night. And for desert a chocolate!  Yum. I am taking a friend to Brandon tomorrow for an eye appointment. I’m a bit nervous about going out of my comfort zone, but I promised her weeks ago, and you don’t let friends down. And beyond that I think my future holds more and more masks. The orders are really picking up again. I don’t want to wish her business bad luck, but I really want this all to be over. 

Good for you both!

 Very sharp and looks great in your driveway. How does it ride - are you comfortable -  a bit higher up than you were with the old car I expect. Have you both had a chance to drive it? And does it slip nicely into the garage, or more important does it slip nicely OUT of the garage haha! Happy for you and now you can relax and enjoy your new purchase after having spent more than a few moments of worry. Did it come with the winter tires installed - hope so.

And thanks for the picture and update. Take care 

Done!

 It's taken almost 4 days, but we just got home with our new car.  We finally settled on a Jeep Cherokee Sport.  there were a few tense moments, but David got his red car, probably the last one we'll ever own.

Grocery Shopping

 This morning we went grocery shopping.  Unlike our usual trips, this time, we took a good look through a special Black Friday flyer, marked the items we wanted to take a good look at the flyer, and took it with us to the store. Everything in the flyer was only on sale today, and some of the prices were unbelievable.  It was just like a scavenger hunt.  But, everyone, was unbelievably polite.  People were joking with one another, there were lots of conversations in the long lines waiting, and people were wishing stranger a happy holiday.  Everyone seemed to be relaxed and having a bit of fun.  I have to wonder if we were each seeking out a bit of companionship, even subconsciously.  Maybe there are some good things are coming out of the Covid crap after all.  However, for some reason two women (customers) in the meat department got into a fist fight, and it took two butchers to pull them apart and usher them out of the store.  Never seen that in a grocery store before, although I have seen nasty words at volume a couple of times. Regardless, it was a "feel good" day.

Going for it

 It looks like we're going for a Jeep Compass SUV.  They tried to find one in red for David, and it seems that there is only one available in Canada and it happens to be in The Pas.  He is going to let us know asap if it will be possible to get it.  Other than that, the only other colour available at the dealership is black, and neither of us want that.  I'll let you know how it goes.

A bit of a surprise

 Unexpectedly, I got the information about the "back pay', on my approval for the Disability Tax Credit.  I will only say that it was a bit more than I had expected.  If there is any chance either of you could consider going for it, I would say it might be well worth your while.  

For the last couple of days, David has been out looking for a new(to us) car.  Our old one is really on it's last legs. If you remember, Beth we bought it when you were here to visit, almost 10 years ago,  when we made our last trip to the States.  But we took a look at how we are using a car now, and realized that it was mainly for city driving, not the lengthy highway trips we used to enjoy, and maybe used would be the way to go. We even had a test drive scheduled for yesterday morning, until I read the Carfax sheet on it, and we decided that we wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.  Now, knowing that I would be getting some money, and expecting that David will also be getting about the same, we decided to wait and see what the bottom line is, when all is said and done, and maybe see if we could look at new cars instead of used.  We might still have to dip into the Line of Credit, but it wouldn't be nearly as much.

So that is what is consuming out time right now, although today is bill paying day.  Guess we'll have to look into doing that, if nothing else.

A new Kindle, you say?

 Pati I will be anxious to hear all about your Kindle. it prompted me to pull out my KOBO and charge it and have another go at using it. I have the instructions from my local Library to go online and use that method so when I get a chance i will check it out. let us know how you do. My KOBO came with instructions and yesterday i read through it again as a reminder for myself so I think you shall be OK although the Kindle may be slightly different, I think all these E readers function  basically the same way, and I like the ability to change the font size. My KOBO came with some free books, so maybe your Kindle will offer the same. Cathy, have you used your Ereader lately?

I went to Daisy's yesterday afternoon for a "Birthday Party" for her daughter in law Rhona. There was just Daisy, granddaughter Michelle , Rhona and I. The next door neighbour was to attend but could not at last minute. The son, Mike , had gone back to Toronto to do the accounts for Rhona's Hair Salon which she had to close again due to the Covid Lockdown in Toronto. He takes care of all the paper stuff and now they have to request funding for employee pay and rent subsidy from the government. Apparently they will get 95% rent paid which will allow her to keep the Salon and pay her one full time employee. Tough times for small business owners. I enjoyed the time there and it was good to get out for awhile. She served some hot Cranberry spiced drink (Cranberry juice, lemons, cloves heated in pot) which was good - I think I will make some here. Also some Swedish meat balls which i may also try. Presidents Choice frozen Swedish meatballs in a box, and mix with some plum sauce and heat in oven or slow cooker. She also had Carrot Cake as a treat. All good! Daisy had a "spell" while I was there so for a bit I helped them out, but the family are very well in tune with her episodes so manage very well in her care. I applaud their efforts in caring for her so diligently.

Today I am starting to clean up around the front room for Christmas. I put up my little laser tree and happy to see if flashing in the corner. Harry did some gift shopping on his own the other day , has wrapped gifts so now I must make some room for them under the tree. I plan to go down to the storage unit to bring back my box of Christmas movies and this year plan to watch them like I have done in past years but not the last two or three. I will have to set up the little TV and movie machine that has sat idle for a few years but I can do it! Yeah, I have a plan haha! One day I shall have to go out on my own and see about shopping for a few gifts for Harry so the tree isn't just there for the ones he bought. I am trying to put some joy into this Christmas and be damned, I will do it in spite of myself, and how I am feeling. haha! Let's all think the same way and so this together...OK? 

Well... on with the day. Take care. 

Arg-g-g-g-h!

 Well, it's 6:06 am, I've read the paper, and finished my first cup of tea, as well, as completing my Morning Pages for today.  I've been awaked since about 3:30, being just too uncomfortable to sleep, despite taking my regular dose of Tylenol about  4:00.  Not a good start to the day, but at the same time, I know I have the freedom to nap a little later.  Writing my Morning Pages, I realized that I have at least two major pieces planned, as well as a vague idea of two or three smaller ones, as well as the supplies to make them.  The order from Artists" Emporium arrived in my mail box about 7:30 last night, and Post Office tracking tells me that my order from G&S in Toronto should be here Thursday.  The other big news is that yesterday I ordered a Kindle off Amazon.ca.  Do you think my credit card might be smoking a bit? Life today requires a credit card, but at some point you really have to "pay the piper".  I have no idea how to use the Kindle, and hope it comes with some sort of instructions. Besides which, at this point, I have no books to read that way, but once the library opens, I should be able to get quite a few.  I'm hoping that David might be able to use it as well, as there is one book on Amazon.ca that he very much wants, but refuses to pay the price for ( I agree, highway robbery).

For reading, I just finished the Pulitzer Prize winning "Caste The Origins of our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson (from the library). This explores the relationships between racism in America, the Caste system in India, and the use of a developed caste system in Nazi Germany.  Are you turned off yet?  I almost couldn't put it down. Toward the end I got to the point that I knew I needed a bit of a break, so I started reading "Return" by Nicholas Sparks.  I had bought this just before lockdown, knowing that at some point I might need a bit of an uplifting break, as I had bought so many gritty books.  I read the introduction, and then went back to the other book, which I finished last night.  So, the first book was excellent and gave me many, many insights into how a "caste" system was created and imposed on America, just as it was created and imposed on Germany, and why it developed in India. You'll notice my very careful use of the words "imposed" and "developed".  Fascinating, and oh so, true!  But very, very gritty, and horrifying.  Hard to read at one go.  The Sparks book, however much we ridicule his writing, now has me very interested.  It was just what I needed for gentle, thoughtful relationship reading.  I may not read another one for years, but this was just what I needed now.

Well, talk about a "brain dump".  I think I may take a minute to read a bit of "The Artists Way", as I'm trying to get through that, a little bit every day, tracking everything in my BuJo.  Yes, that system is still keeping me in line, and helping me get things done.  It's now going up 7:00, so maybe I can get some breakfast without interfering with my meal schedule  too much.  Have a good day, ladies.

Fun read..

It was nice to log on and read notes from you both and have some fun..it seems from my perspective that your lives are a bit more exciting than mine. So I shall write a few words this morning while sitting here enjoying some toast with butter and bovril. Always a fall back for me when I want something I like.

The followup to my Amazon message came the next day while I was sitting on the front steps speaking with Daisy's son who dropped by unexpected ( Harry had gone to the dump) when that same van from the night before drove into the driveway and out popped the young man with another parcel ( the order actually had two parcels that should have come together and I wondered at the time why I only got one) He said he had the second box but no one told him it was the same order etc etc.etc  He picks up parcels in Bracebridge ( about 1 1/2 hours south) and drives all over our immediate area to deliver. He can only deliver up to 8 pm by the rules, but said he is as busy as ever. Nice that someone can get some work by virtue of Amazon being so busy and backlogged with deliveries.

On another note, Friday night just before closing at 9 pm the Walmart SuperStore in North Bay had a fire starting in the men's department and quickly spread up into the walls and roof. (my info about it is from the local North Bay net news) Three Fire units responded and the fire was contained. All people shopping in the store and staff were evacuated safely. Apparently millions of dollars damage. We saw pictures on the net news of water and burned goods and it was a real mess. The Fire Marshall's office and the police are investigating the cause. What a loss especially just before Christmas and especially in this time of restrictions with Covid 19.

We had to order another keyboard and it arrived yesterday ( yes, by delivery to the door from Amazon) Harry connected it and then asked me to check behind the tower. Something was wrong as i juggled cords and found out we had no speakers working. He left to go to the dump and left me to do some troubleshooting. I was near panic trying to sort it out but kept my cool and used my brain to think - how would the geek squad figure this out? So I went into programs, and control panels etc and got lost in "never never land" BUT, I got it fixed and our speakers worked again (just as Harry returned) Yeah!!

Well my toast is done, and I am satisfied for now so will get on with my day. Take care folks and stay safe please. There is a forecast of lots of snow coming so I shall prepare for the worst.

A bit of a giggle, when----

 I read about your experiences with Amazon, Beth.  David discovered how easy it is to order last night, and to even discover that my credit card is registered with them, and one just clicks on the right button to take care of everything.  We did have a discussion about taking care when one orders, and selecting an outlet that one trusts.  I've learned about that through experience. 

Today it was my turn to go grocery shopping, so as soon as David got up, I was out the door. (Didn't want to leave the house and take the car without letting him know)  I bought a couple of things not on the list, such as sweet'n'sour cut ribs and chicken thighs, both of which were at a very good price.  Then when David unpacked them, he asked what I expected to do with them.  Unfortunately, I had stopped at Starbucks drive-through on the way home, and was getting well caffeinated, so told him-- and started working.  We ended up with 3 good meals of a bastardized Coq-au-vin, and another 3 of Daddy's B-B-Q'd ribs.  Then I made a batch of Sourdough Blueberry Muffins. Then we had to clean-up. Great fun. Then a meal of ribs. It's now 6:00 and we just finished dividing everything up into meals for Zip Loc bags, and into the freezer.  It's times like this that I treasure my dishwasher. We tried the small Crock Pot that I bought ages ago off the clearance shelf at Walmart.  I had thought that it didn't work well, but it worked fine today.  Good to know when we are a household of 2.

I've been re-reading The Artists' Way, and trying to do my Morning Pages every day.  Over the last week, my musings have been very much related to my efforts to fight the ghoul of depression, something we  all know well.  This morning my horoscope told me that things would not necessarily go well for me.  So, my plan for today was to forget about the things I "need" to do, especially in the studio, and to find something silly and fun for a change, even if it has to be done at home, rather than out in society. This is also part of one of the recommendations in the book.  I had decided last night to spend the whole day in the studio today, playing with scrap fabric.  Haven't been down there yet today, and know I won't make it this evening. In terms of things not going well, I do remember a package of blueberries jumping out of my cart and smashing itself on the floor, to send blueberries rolling all over the whole floor of one aisle in the grocery store.  I got away with that one, but once home, another package of blueberries tried to jump out of my hands while I was putting it in the fridge.  I caught about half of the berries, awhile the rest rolled all over the kitchen floor, especially under the fridge.  David and I got them, even though neither of us is really comfortable bending down.  Then David surprised me when he brought one of the Christmas trees into the house.  We set it up, and made sure the lights worked, but decoration will wait for tomorrow.

Time to sit down with my regular Saturday evening tv shows.  Stay safe ladies.

Fluffy snow

 It started last night and is still coming down. Not heavy....just fluffy and light. I know I will shortly hate it, but right now it makes everything look so bright and clean. On the other hand I have already been out to shovel off the patio and decks and clear a path to the garage. When Manitoba announced its first “minor” shut down I only had a few hours to get to the library before it closed on Nov. 10. I grabbed 8 books, all sort of mystery/adventure. I took J.A. Jance, Iris Johansen, Tess Gerritsen, Linda Fairstein, James Patterson, Glenn Cooper(I’ve not read him, but the book looked interesting) and I finished off with a Stuart Woods (for when I didn’t really want to concentrate). The hard part is rationing them. The library is offering curb side pick up, but they have so many requests they are falling behind. I will worry about it when I run out of books to read. I am going to help Rrain again today. Since she lives alone she can designate one person who can come to her home, and in this case her studio. She is getting a lot of orders again. Meanwhile we can live out of our freezer and cupboard for a long time. I’ll just have to ration the paper products. At least neepawa is small enough that we don’t feel overwhelmed by people when we do have to go to town. 2020 can’t end soon enough. Take care and stay safe

Warm and pleasant

 What a treat to step out the door early this morning with the dog and be greeted with calm skies ( no wicked wind) and warmish temperatures. The snow is essentially gone but for how long? I'll enjoy it while I can.

With great worry I listen to the radio news and hear all about Manitoba and Winnipeg and the lockdowns and wish you all safety and security from this virus. Ontario is no better but I fear is slow in addressing the issues and also fear those people who rise above it all and do as they like without regard to others. And so much hope is being given to the new vaccines that are presenting themselves as the panacea to the pandemic.  I am still on the wait list at the Pharmacy to get a flu vaccine let alone any Covid 19 vaccines that are pending. The Government is issuing the flu vaccines to the Pharmacies slowly and in limited quantities and yet their ads are strongly encouraging everyone to get the flu shot. I usually get mine at my Drs every Fall but that office is not open right now. I can get Rx renewals only by having Pharmacy call the office. Life certainly has changed for all of us right now. I do not mind the stay at home aspect as I am perfectly happy to do so, but at some point actually "need" to go out to the store for essentials.

Well enough about that. Hope you folks are well and amusing yourselves appropriately. I tend to do clean up and fuss over things Harry wants eg fresh baked bread, pickled eggs haha! We have been ordering from Amazon and it really is too easy! The last two evenings I have watched a movie on the computer from Amazon prime.(decided I needed to do something for myself that might please me) Last evening at 7:30 pm there was a tap on the door to which Bailey responded with barking. I saw head lights out the window so went to the door , turned on the light, and said Hello through the closed door. No response so I opened it to see a box at the door and someone getting into their car in the driveway. I hollered Thank you but do not know if they heard me. Here was a box with something we ordered yesterday!! How do they do this so quickly?  At least it was not a drone hovering over my house haha! Any wonder stores are going under because of online shopping. I know you shop online Pati...do you Cathy?

Time to start my day. Thinking of you...have a nice, quiet weekend at home!

Miracle of modern dentistry

 I got a tooth pulled this morning. I have been really dreading it since the last time I had a tooth pulled it took over two hours.  This was supposed to only take about 40 minutes, but was going to cost $440.00. Well, I was in and out in 30 minutes. He reduced the cost to $248 since it was a simple extraction and they also processed a blue cross claim for me and I should be getting $198 back. All in all a much better day than anticipated. But now the freezing is coming out. I had intended to make a stew when I got home. I think that will wait until tomorrow cause I am currently curled up on the couch waiting for my next Tylenol☹️

Stupid Horoscope!

 My horoscope said I would be coming into money today.  Bring it on, says I.  Maybe we'll hear from the tax department.  We did and to our delight we have both been approved for the Disability Tax Credit.  What's more, it is back to 2009 for both of us- the maximum of 10 years that are ever allowed.  David's approval was primarily because of his Sleep Apnea, and I expect that mine was because of the Total Knee Replacements. The back payment may not be as much as one might expect as it is based on the amount of income tax one actually paid in each year.  It would still be nice if we could work things out toward  buying the new car we need. Still, I have to wonder if any of you might not be eligible.  It might be worth looking into.  We asked our doctor if we might be eligible and only when he agreed that it could well be possible, did we start the process.  When I think about it, it almost seems too easy.

Today when I picked up my prescription from the pharmacy in the little mall across the street, they gave me a calendar, and then when David picked up his bird food, they gave him one too. I had known that they had  a special on them last week, but thought the special was over on Saturday.  I have really been slack with my actual sketching lately, as I can't seem to find anything to actually sketch, but I think the  bird pictures in that calendar will be perfect.  Of course, the issue with the pharmacy calendar turned out to be getting it home.  I had my cane in one hand, my purse in the other and was trying to walk with the slippery calendar under my arm.  I dropped it a couple of times, and then had to pick it up. While I was doing that , David was off doing some grocery shopping and banking, so when I got home, the issue was trying to unlock the door.  One thing about being old is that your life becomes a slapstick  comedy act.

Terrible storm here...

 Started yesterday and lasted the entire day and night - very strong winds and rain blowing wide ways down the street. The lights kept flickering for an hour or two around supper time and sure enough out they went just before 7 pm. The hydro came back on about 3:30 this morning so thankfully it was not out for long. You can never tell in this area how long it may take for it to be fixed. I just had Bailey out and it is drizzling now but with the cold they say it may turn to snow flurries. The interesting part of this is how fast and drastic the barometer fell. I have one in the kitchen that I monitor on a regular basis and was shocked to see it fall quickly as this storm took hold. I actually watch weather patterns and changes by observing my barometer. Do you folks have one that you monitor regularly? I can remember Dad always had one in the hall and always checked it.

The little dog has been under the weather these last two days and I do not know the problem but has diarrhea and not eating and listless. So I watch and care for her carefully hoping whatever it is, will pass quickly. It is so hard with animals to diagnose.

I received a picture from my friend Sue with her table covered with 23 loaf pans of baked Christmas cake. It looks so delicious. This is an annual celebration with her and her two adult daughters. They have a weekend of baking and apparently drinking wine etc and the girls come from their homes and spend the weekend at Sues. Sounds nice. They all take a share of the spoils and give to friends. And Sue always decorates her home elaborately inside and out for the season. Although I have never attended her home, she has an old fashioned  Victorian Tea for all her women friends and old workmates. This year she has had to cancel r/t Covid and I think she will miss the preparations and event herself. Over the years I have been happy with our relationship of communicating by email and the yearly (sometimes semiyearly) luncheon in Huntsville with her. Of course that was also cancelled this year for us as well.

Well Harry thinks we should go shopping today rather than tomorrow with the pending snow call, so I guess it is off we go again. I just as soon get it over with as well. I only go into the grocery store and today that likely will be both WalMart, and then Freshco, as there are things in WalMart I like to buy that I do not get in the other store eg the animal foods etc. 

Take care folks and stay home and safe. Thinking of you. Just heard on the news that Sudbury has gone into the code orange state because of an increase in cases - that is a little too close to home. Of course Toronto remains very high with cases and restrictions.

Lazy, lazy days

David just came by and reminded me that I should be blogging instead of wasting time on Facebook.  Yes, he's right, but what have we done lately?  Not much.  We play on our computers, we read, and we watch silly tv.  Yep, sounds right to me.  About the only "have to" item on our schedule is to plan something for supper.  Somehow this just doesn't seem right, but we are fast slipping into this pattern, none-the-less.  Today we have to re-fill our dosettes, and put out the garbage, but otherwise there is absolutely nothing that demands our attention.  Well, maybe we both need to bathe, and I'm sure that will get done.

Yesterday, I broke the pattern and walked over to the little mall across the way.  I went to the pharmacy there to renew a prescription I had left there when our usual Pharmacy was closed because of  a fire.  It was a fairly warm day-too warm for the way I had dressed- and a pleasant walk.  I thought of trying it again today, but the wind is really howling this morning. We'll see what the afternoon brings.

So, am I happy with this lifestyle? I seem to be just accepting it as being the way things are.  Is this a symptom of depression?  I have to wonder, but that would mean finding a way to address the situation.

In any case, I have developed a plan for today.  First, I'm going to get dressed.  Then I will refill my dosette. Then I should wash the few dishes that are sitting on the counter.  One of the cuts on my finger is a little too serious to just forget and carry on.  I've been keeping it clean and dressed, and David has been washing dishes.  It appears to be healing quite nicely, but I still think there is a way to go before I can declare it fully healed.  This has been interfering with both housework and studio work, but maybe I can take a chance and try to do some work in the studio today.

Gail and I spoke by phone yesterday, as we always do, and we had a bit of a disagreement, that left me concerned enough to call her back, in the evening, to make sure things were still okay between us.  She says that we're "good", but I'm still uncomfortable at the way things were left.  She's working today, but we'll see how things go with this evening's regular phone call.

I've now been sitting in front of this computer, in my housecoat, for 4 hours.  Just this moment, David's large "torchiere" tri-light has packed it in.  Not a surprise as it is lit for about 10 hours/day.  This will create a "major' crisis in our house and will be impetus enough to get me up and moving.  Those things are no longer made, and have been condemned by Hydro.  Damn!

Wow!

 What a shelf full of books...I took a magnify glass to try to read the titles but really could not see except a few that were very clear and big and recognizable. That should give you both some good reading opportunities in these times of togetherness haha! The neighbour across the street Gerd (husband of my late friend Ruth) gave me a shopping bag of books yesterday on my walk with the dogs. he still reads a lot and is given books by other friends and then passes them onto me. There are some that i would not even open but others that might interest me. I think I will keep this bag handy just in case. I am now half way through Troubles in Paradise and will soon get through it. The Library is still open here but who knows what restrictions may be coming soon.

Today I have arranged to visit with Daisy and family (son and grandaughter) who are up from Toronto for a while. They feel more safe up here than in Toronto although the wife still is running her hair salon in Toronto and drives back and forth on the weekend. I baked a date square for a change - matrimonial cake recipe and it turned out OK - enough that i will cut up and take a plate over. Harry bought a big container of dates the other day and then found he could not eat them -so like so many other foods he tries and then cannot eat, i was left to do something with them. 

Yesterday I took advantage of a non rainy day to do more outside and I think I am finally getting a grip on things. But the nice mild temps dropped quickly and a vicious wind came up so it really was a bit miserable. I had hoped to get a tarp over the newer greenhouse that we set up this spring but with the wind I knew it would be a losing battle. My original plan was to remove the outer shell over the frame to store for the winter but since that never materialized i thought maybe a tarp over the top and sides might be the next best thing, but I really feel now that it may be left untouched and have to see in the spring what a winters worth of snow will do to its integrity. Too bad as it was expensive and it took me a long time struggling to get it up in the first place. Oh woe is me, haha!

Time for a coffee and get on with day. Be safe...stay in place... take care.

Not really a Surprise

 To be closed down for a minimum of four weeks.  That brings us right up to Christmas, so I expect that stores etc will be a zoo, if we even open up that early.  We are well stocked up on every thing except books.  Reading is such a part of life for both of us, and I worry  about our mental health if we're unable to read for awhile.  So after supper last night we headed for the book store.  Between us we bought 26 books, and spent a fair bit of money.  But with the libraries closing, without notice, a couple of weeks ago, we both felt it would be money well spent.  Here is the result.  We may have to ration them.  Several of them are the "dusters" that David loves, and are of little interest to me, although I know that I'll read anything if I'm desperate enough.  I bought the Louise Penny.  I'm not sure where I am on the library waiting list, but who knows when the libraries will open again?

Of course, after the library we stopped at the grocery store for a package of spinach for me, and spent over $100.00.  Gotta stay away from that grocery store.  While we were there David hit the liquor mart, so when I say we're all stocked up on everything, I mean it.

When the lockdown hit England. The art blog I follow there announced a short term, quick and dirty sketchbook course featuring the younger woman, and I've signed up ( it was quite inexpensive)as I knew that her approach would be quite different from her Mother's approach. I'm struggling along with that for four weeks.  Last night I saw an announcement on Facebook that another fibre artist, that I follow, was hosting a one hour live interview with the instructor from the course.  I was too late to see the live interview but it was filmed and posted, so I watched it before I went to bed. They talked  about their lives, which was interesting, and we had a short tour of the actual studio the lady in England works in.  Just the thing to help me slowly relax and get ready to sleep.  The glass of wine I had while watching didn't hurt.

And so we now settle in, to wait for sanity, both relative to the virus and as well as relative to American politics.

I knew the blog was just being moody

 Jim and I ran around town yesterday picking up some things we needed. I usually check the flyers for things on my list but yesterday I just gritted my teeth and paid full price. I am getting so tired of cooking that I even have a couple of store bought pizzas in the freezer and Jim has some hungry man dinners. Code red doesn’t change our lives much. ArtsForward is closed to the public, but Kik has enough office work to carry her for a while. But with no income, how long can they carry her? More time for mask making I guess. Her Etsy sales are going all over the world!  Tomorrow is our flu shot. The time was originally picked so we could stop at the legion after and listen to the music for a while. Not now I guess. I’m not sure what will happen with my appointment with the oral surgeon in Brandon. Just wait and see I guess. I went to the library yesterday and stocked up on books. They are offering curb side pickup starting next week so I am covered if I finish my 8 books before the province opens up a bit. They said this would be for 28 days and they would re-access then. Maybe we can just cancel the rest of this year and start fresh

Customer service

What a strange thing to have happened Beth.  I have to say that for almost any appointment I have these days, we get a phone call the day before to remind us, and that includes the dealer that services our car.  Usually it sounds like a fairly minor employee on the phone, such as a receptionist, and the call can come any time, which makes me believe that it is something the person does during slow times at work.  Maybe you could suggest this to your dealership. 

ps

 Just received a telephone call from the Service Manager at the dealership. He was upset at what happened yesterday and was sort of calling to apologize? We had a good frank talk about the state of the world and in particular the state of the work world these days and I had to laugh at his comments about "work ethic" and his own early introduction to same. He echoed Daddy's words exactly ...if you start at 8 am you get to work early and you are at your desk at 8 am ready to start work.... 

Anyway all is well from my perspective and I shall make another appt for the oil but as I told him, I shall call a day or two ahead to confirm. I had a few other suggestions and he wanted me to speak to the owners but i choose not to. He concurred with my observations but he is in an awkward position to do much about it. I thanked him for his concern.

Onward with my day here...too bad no one will be calling me to apologize about the state of affairs here.....haha!

A quickie note for Tuesday morning

 Enjoyed your message about your BoHo Beads day Pati as I was wondering how you made out. So a day relaxing and socializing would not be too bad a day after all. Glad you and Gail could team up.

I was just browsing my usual morning Bookmarks and happy to see new postings from Margaret Blank and also Pickled Gizzards. I enjoy those two...and wanted something interesting to read this early in my day. This is my time on the computer so I really enjoy sipping my coffee and browsing around.

Yesterday I took the car to local GM dealer for my scheduled 2:30 pm appt for winter tires. Again, I was greeted with "we had you in for tomorrow at 3 pm" This is the second time my appt was NOT as I had written it down here at home after telephoning and making it. I became very annoyed but kept my cool saying I would come back tomorrow but they insisted i be "fit in". The implication for them is that I am the one confused! But I can tell you with a doubt that is NOT the case. I have to organize our lives so specifically that I take great care to write down, repeat to confirm and then fill my fridge calendar and also my day book wit said dates and times. I have always been like this and KNOW it is not me. And up until recently, it has never been a concern as the days and times were always congruent. So what can I do???The next appt I make, I have planned to call the Dealer the day or two before to confirm what they have written in. This will be an extra step for me but will satisfy my concern about others thinking I am losing it! What do you two think about this. Am I fussing about nothing.

Time to get on with it. A busy day ahead with lots of assigned chores on my list! Hope all is well there. Take care and be safe. 

Boho Bead Workshop

 Well, as expected, there were no students. Gail and I sat and made two beads each.  One of the volunteers from the Gallery came ( we were in a smaller classroom downstairs to comply with Covid restrictions) down about 10 minutes before we were finished, but there just wasn't enough time to show her, besides which we were all packed up ready to leave. We then spent about half an hour talking with the volunteers in the Gallery, and as a result, I've ended up with a bit of a job, which will take some time at the computer, but has a short deadline.  Oh well, I won't be bored over the next week.  But neither will I be spending much time in the studio, unless I choose to work down there. It wouldn't be the first time.  Then, after me anticipating being able to watch my regular Saturday night shows, often the highlight of my week, everything was pre-empted with more American politics. 

For today, I have a list  of household chores that I'm not looking forward to, but then, there things must get done somehow and I think David has been carrying a bit more than his share of the burden over the past little while.

We're weird

 For some reason, since 7:00 last evening, David and I have been glued to the tv watching American election results. There is no explanation. It just is what it is, and we are even eating in front of the tv.  I won't be doing so tomorrow though, as I still plan to teach my Boho Bead workshop to anyone who will listen, out at the Gallery in Selkirk.  Gail is going with me, and if now-one shows up we will gladly amuse ourselves by making beads to keep.  I have arranged to use a room separate from the actual gallery, so that there will be no chance of us having more than 5 people in the room, even by accident.  The Gallery will be open, as, given that there is a Gift Shop attached, it can be classed as "retail", and therefore can stay open, provided all guidelines are followed.

Today I accidently broke my French Press coffee maker. David, that wonderful man, got his keys and headed out to buy a new one.  He ended up having to go to Superstore and walk the length of the store to find one, but he did, and bought it home to me.  During rush hour on a Friday. The other thing I did was go for a massage.  Recently, I think I must have been under a fair bit of stress, as the muscles in my neck have been very, very tight, to the extent that I've even had trouble moving my head.  She even found time to do a bit of work on my right forearm.  With sitting in front  of the tv for so many hours, I've been dong far more hand stitching than usual and my hand has been quite painful. It worked beautifully, and I'm back to stitching again this evening.

Just a short note to let you know that we're still here and what we've been doing, which, I guess really doesn't amount to much.

Snow all gone...

 ..but I know it will be short lived. How nice it is to walk outside again and feel the freshness. It almost had that smell of Spring early in the morning when I took the dogs for their first outing but I deceive myself haha! 

I have been mostly "puttering" about the house these last few days and in spite of wanting to tidy things up, i do not seem to have made a difference. The one contributing factor is the new cats we have and when we take them out of their smaller confined room to roam about in the greater population i have to keep an eagle eye on them. They still try to jump onto the bird cages in the front room and although I have now tied them down so they cannot tip over, i still have to protect them.  I think that if they were allowed more free space that they will settle down. Time will tell.

I made an appointment for winter tires and will go on Monday at 2:30 pm  it is time as I am sure the snows will appear again but I guess that last snow fall last week made everyone call for an appt as they are really booked up.

Harry finally heard from the new Eye Surgeon in North Bay and has an appointment Dec 9 for his first consultation before hopefully getting cataract Surgery. Of course, I have not heard anything for me yet but expect I am way down the wait list.

So another weekend folks. And i guess it is still "stay at home" mode still. Not great news on the radio about all the Covid 19 second wave numbers nor the new restrictions being put in place. Just hope people will comply.  Take care  

I ventured out yesterday

 Yesterday i went up to North Bay on my own - visited Willie for a bit as I had some items to take to him. Then I went to the Northgate Mall - first time since the early March lockdown for me to go into this Mall but I was after some specific items. First of all there are very many stores closed - Davids Tea Store is even shuttered up! Not finding what i wanted i drove over to the North Bay Mall on the other side of the city. This Mall was in even more dire straits. The only department like stores open were Hart and Treasure Hunt. A Barber Shop was open and two employees sitting in the chairs - no customers  Also a little custom craft like store again with no customers. No Frills is in this Mall and a Dollarama - both of which were busy. It is such a shame to see a deserted Mall. So I did do a grocery shop and then went into Dollarama for wrapping paper and a little dog coat for Lily as the days are colder now and she just shivers when I take her out. Bailey already had a couple of coats. Not too productive for me. I like the idea of shopping by ordering and then picking up Pati so i will be interested in your experience, as I saw this in No Frills occurring - they actually have a section cordoned off expressly for the workers doing the shopping orders.. I know they do this in our local Foodland as well. There is the issue of getting what you want, and when i go into Freshco in Huntsville I like to look for specials and chose certain items off the shelf. I guess we just have to decide how best to manage ourselves and our safety, in this current crazy world. But I sure love the masks I am wearing - thanks again Keri and Cathy. By the way, Willie loves his two masks that I finally took him yesterday. He likes the style with the metal at the nose and the ear elastics.

So now for some breakfast and on with things around the house. Take care folks. 

Not much to report

 We're still here.  It seems like we're just putting in time, waiting for something, not sure what.  David reads with the tv on, and I either spend time at the computer, probably on Facebook, or I work in the studio. There is one piece that I'm working on, where there was a lot of Donkey work to do before I could get at the more challenging parts. Started the FMQ'g today and it looks like it's going to turn out exactly the way I had hoped. Yay!

We looked into grocery shopping on line today.  Our favourite grocery store doesn't provide this, but we did register with our second favourite store.  We are thinking that, depending on the actual cost of pick-up service, the convenience just might be worthwhile.  We are both finding that the actual shopping itself to be very physically stressful.  The loading and unloading is a challenge as well, and there is also a way to get delivery to the house, but I have a hunch that just might be more than we might want to spend.  the other aspect is that I haven't yet found out how to take advantage of specials, although I know there is a way to shop of the flyers.

So quiet ( too quiet, we're both getting bored, already) on the home front, but we are at home, and trying to stay there.  Stay safe ladies.

Let it snow...

 Snow storm and blowing wind all night and what greeted me this morning was some nice snow covering everything. Oh ,I knew it was coming from the forecast but still it is always a bit of a shocker to see it and walk through it and shovel it. The end of the week promises nice weather so I expect this will disappear soon.  Oh oh, I hear the snow plough going down our road. I guess more shoveling will be in my future.

Fortunately we went shopping yesterday to Huntsville instead of today. Harry was on the lookout for Hallowe'en candy on sale and was disappointed that none of the stores had any. But I was pleased to stock up again with one of each (limits in place) of toilet paper, paper towel and kleenex. If I can grab these each time I should be OK and feel as if I am doing what I should... ie not hoarding??

I am reading the Louise Penny newest novel with dear old Gamache. Just got it from the Library and just started it but it will be a nice read. And to add to that, I received the third book in the "Paradise" series by Erin Hildebrand which I am also anxious to read. Good to get back reading at night.

Time for a coffee and get on with the day even though it is still early.  Take care folks...be safe.

Plans change

 My afternoon of cleaning the Whitemud room is cancelled as no one else can be there now, and there is a lot of moving that requires more than one person. So maybe I will try to do something around here.  I still have branches to trim and burn, but with the next four days having double digit highs I am sort of delaying outside work until then.  I did try to rearrange my livingroom this morning, but it is such a small space that there is very little I can do unless I get rid of a chair, and if I do that it leaves very little sitting in there.  My own personal catch-22. I have a pot roast in the crock pot for supper. I think it is a holdover from growing up.  Sunday was roast and Monday was shepherds pie made from the leftover roast.  Though my roast is only 2 pounds so there won't be much left over.   With the newest restrictions in Manitoba, and Neepawa having its first confirmed case of covid, I am inclined to stay home a lot more.  Of course this month I have my flu shot, get my tooth pulled (in Brandon) and a doctor's appointment, so I will have to go out. Not looking forward to having the tooth pulled, but if it's gotta go, it's gotta go.  I told Rrain that I am going to turn into a "toothless wonder" at this rate😟.  Beth, you need to send us some details about Mike's upcoming wedding.  It is exciting to have something good happening in the family.  So now I am going to head off and find something else to putter with. Take care and stay safe.