Walking

 Lucky and I followed a sled trail today on our walk. Since hunting season is over I didn’t worry about getting into the field. We followed it through a trail in the bush, but when we came out the trail suddenly turned straight towards the highway. Instead of doing the intelligent thing and following the trail back, I figured there had to be another trail close by. Nope!  We ploughed (i ploughed, he loved it) through the snow and didn’t find another trail until we hit our road. I was sooo worn out. Lucky was in heaven!  We finally got home and he refused to go in the house so I left him outside for over an hour. It snowed today. It is supposed to be 6c tomorrow so the snow will melt, but I better shovel off the patio to keep the ice under control (sigh). Jim went to the Legion today since it was music day, but there were only 5 musicians (as opposed to 9-12) and only 9 listening. I guess everyone is getting busy. We are going to a Killarney on Sunday. Rrain has to work so we won’t have to wait for her and will be getting there earlier than usual. (Chloe will be disappointed that Auntie Kik can’t be there). Chloe has a friend coming over at 2pm so we will get our visiting and game playing in early. She is a real game player and loves new games. I gave her SkipBo for her birthday so I told her she has to teach me. (I’ve played it, and enjoyed it, but cannot remember the rules). Tomorrow I have no reason to go to town, so I might finally get all the floors washed. (Unless I get distracted by a book😜). 

short update

 Finally Gail and I were able to get together for coffee today.  Over the past couple of weeks she has been participating in craft show after craft show.  But this is her livelihood, so this is the time of year for her to make money.  It will be this way until Christmas, now.  But today she remarked about how good it was to be able to sit and relax over a cup of coffee.  We were talking about what we had both been doing over the past week or so.  I had told her how both of us were experiencing a crippling fatigue towards the end of the week.  But today I feel full of energy and ready to party, after more of less sleeping over the past  couple of days.  She related it to a reaction to the flu vaccine, and when I thought about it, many people are  having a fairly severe reaction, and the timing was certainly right.  So it was very, very reassuring to actually have an explanation for physical issues that were frightening to me.

Snow and cold

 Just knew that the mild rainy weather would not last and that the colder snowy weather would force it's way in, which it did. Our daily walks with the dogs to South River and along the park paths has come to an end. They so loved to go in the car and then walk there and it was a nice relief for me close to home not to have to fight my way along the road's edge and often into the ditch to avoid the cars and trucks and even other people with dogs... ugh!

Had a very disturbed night last night and i am so tired now. The smaller dog was out of sorts and I had her out twice - once on her own and then both dogs in the middle of the night in the cold. I still do not know know what her problem was but i held her and even tried to cuddle her to get her to go to sleep, then fed her and then changed her bed, until finally I told her gruffly to go to sleep. She finally curled up and did as i told her. Then I lay most of the night waiting for the right time to get out of bed.

More cookies were made yesterday and now in tins ready to tray closer to Christmas. I even made a batch of my beloved Refridgerator Cookies and rolled and wrapped them and put into the freezer for the time when i shall be "in need' and then pull out a roll and bake it and eat it. Nice to know that I have it there, ready haha!

I go to the Eye Surgeon on Thursday to check my left eye before the scheduled surgery on my right eye the following week. Hope all is well as i have been over vigilant in giving drops and looking after it. The vision has improved without a doubt, but I still have floaters though and wonder if this is just a holdover from my pre operative state as result of the previous experience with retinal tears. I want to ask her to get a clear picture of my eye.

Harry wants to go to Costco in Orillia on Wed. It may not be a bad idea although not a favourite wish of mine. We have ordered from Amazon for animal items and up to now have been successful with deliveries but this last week has been horrendous. No deliveries although promised and one package came yesterday and the delivery man was very upset saying "everything was a mess" and i should call Amazon. So I went onto the site to get a clear picture of our orders and what was missing, then called. The result was that we are getting a refund on one order and a reorder (without paying) on two other orders and the other two outstanding orders are still pending. So back to my idea of going to Costco - maybe they might have the items I want there and maybe cheaper?? I am not a fan of Costco by the way haha!

Well, time for another coffee and then plan my day. Hope all is well there inspite of another Covid variant fast approaching our country. So take care and take no chances. I have a little Christmas ornament hanging in the kitchen that tells me we now have 28 days until Christmas. I change the numbers every morning when i get up. Gives me something to do haha! So long for now.... 😃

Busy but Friday again, and the Laundry

 Wednesday was spent wrestling, first with my EPP quilt, and then the sewing machine. The hand stitching on the quilt is finished.  Then Geesje asked me to cut off any knots on the back of it, so they wouldn't harm her long arm machine.  There was one knot for every single elongated hexie in the quilt which was 62 by 72 at that point.  Then I had to prepare a 3" border strip to attach, for a lot of technical reasons.  This meant that I had to stitch 3 parallel lines along the edge of the strip where I felt the quilting should stop and a binding attached.  But first I had to take the basting out of all the pieces along every edge and straighten the very edge flat, so the strips could be sewn on.  The actual hand stitched part actually finished as an octagon, so eight edges to prepare and eight strips to stitch in.  Then I have to cut the backing, and batting, to size, before packing it all up for Geesje to pick up sometime when she is in the city

I hit the wall about 5:00, when I realized that the machine needed to be cleaned and packed before taking it in Thursday morning for a 2 hour basic machine class.  Got'er done before supper.  There had been four classes included when I purchased the machine, only 2 of which relate to  the type of sewing I do, and this was the first.  There were five of us, and we all had similar, but not the same, machines. This help a lot during class.  The classes I will not take are on garment sewing and computerized machines.  Mine has a computer but not nearly complicated enough to take the class.  Or so I understand at this point.  Things may change, but that class isn't offered until the new year, so lots of time to register.  I'll know more following the next class in December,  the 23rd, I think.

Yesterday afternoon, David and I were out and decided to have supper out, then it was home, shower, and relax before bed.  Unfortunately neither of us slept well, breathing problems and headaches, and now David is downstairs checking out the furnace humidifier, for potential problems.  (p.s. He is now trying to change the filter)

Today is pretty well devoted to laundry, but that will also give me time to spend getting the sewing machine back set up, and even working on the quilt.

Beth, I've been watching Midsomer Murders for years, off and on, even before we moved to this house, I'm sure.  This year we have seen episodes from 2016, as well as episodes from much earlier.      (?1996?) If you have access to the actual season and episode you might be able to search for year one, but that may not even be available, now.  Good luck!  I may try the same search, but then, I'm quite comfortable with my Saturday evening rituals.  I have seen two Inspectors and about 7 sergeants, as well as watching their families grow up.  I also read the books.  There aren't many, and they are quite old, but I got them through the library.  Caroline something, but with a very special spelling of "Caroline".  It is mentioned in the credits following the actual episode.

So, now quiet downstairs, and I need to go and take water meter reading, as well as change the wash.  That means a water bill next month.  Wonderful--not!

Quickie

 Just watched Season 7 Episode 1 of Midsomer Murders on Amazon. First for me. I think I am hooked? I was surfing on  Amazon for a movie? or something different, and there it was. Thank you Pati. I wonder if I can watch more now that I have found it? How many seasons are there? This particular episode just popped up so I turned it on. Perhaps i could find the beginning  of the series if I looked. Take care 

TGIS?

 I know people speak of TGIF, thanking God it's Friday, but this week we're doing something a little different.  Actually I should be looking forward to a TGIT as we have a 6:15am doctor's appointment tomorrow. Yesterday was a day I was looking forward to with both apprehension and fear. It was winter festival celebration in Selkirk.  Other years it has been very busy, in the Gallery, with all sorts of activities on both the street and in businesses along the street.  The first year it took $600, and a professional floor company to clean up the gallery floor following the event. This year it is being held on two consecutive Saturdays with all events taking place indoors, rather than closing the block for a full weekend.

So, the gallery was a bit of craziness.  They were hosting an event in which four easels are set up, along with the necessary water soluble  paint, and brushes and a plastic apron.  Every hour four people paid $5 each to paint a picture, on  a topic to be given at the time.  Such topics as a cat in a tutu, and a snake in pants. They had 30 minutes to paint and then the finished pictures were posted on-line.  Those present could select their favourite, at a cost of $1 per vote.  The winner from each session came back at 3:00 for a paint off.

At the same time, the current Gallery show was being taken down at 3:00.  The next show is being taken in and hung today. This meant that various artists were arriving with all sorts of packing materials in hand to pack and take home their work.  Gail is off in Lloydminster at a big craft market, and had asked David to pick and pack up her stuff, and then take it home with us for her to pick up on her way home later in the week.  So he drove me out and stayed for the whole day.  We bought lunch at Tim Horton's out there before going in to the Gallery.  The restaurant told us that they didn't start lunch service until 11:00 and couldn't give us the sandwiches we wanted.  A discussion with the shift leader meant we could get lunch items but nothing involving chicken. So we both settled for less than first choice.  David's sausage wrap was awful and he couldn't finish it, while I had a turkey sandwich, but in the fuss forgot to order it without tomato.  Tomato gets every thing soggy when it sits in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Early in the day, I spilled coffee all down the front of the white t-shirt I was wearing.  I went to the washroom and washed it out, and put it on wet, under my sweater.  It looked acceptable, but by the time I got home, it was still damp under the shoulders and down to the waist.  I was very glad that I had worn "the coat", and didn't get too cold and damp.

There were people in for the "Easel Wars", but not much traffic otherwise, although several people came in purposefully to buy from the Gift Shop.  One of the other volunteer had the app on his phone to test the vaccine status of visitors, as everyone had to be checked coming in the door.  My job was to man the Gift Shop, as I know how to use the computer for credit cards and Interac.  That little machine does everything but walk to dog!

About 3:40 I found out that we were to have been there an hour earlier than we were, and to stay until 5:00, rather than the 4:00 that I had told David.  Well, he had Gail's stuff and in the car, and was ready to go at 4:00, and I was afraid he would leave without me.

So dinner out to the casino, where I can get a very nice tossed salad with grilled chicken, which fits my diet very nicely.  Then a relaxing evening.  Today will be a slow relaxing day.  I would very much like to get down to the studio. According to my BuJo I haven't been there for a week.  Everyday household management seems to be taking all of my energy, and even then, things aren't getting done.  This isn't really how I would like to live my life, but can't see anything changing in the near future.  I think David would like to see me doing less for the Gallery, and I confess there were several hours this week devoted to Gallery work. But I do find it challenging and rewarding, especially when so much of it can be done electronically, at home.

No further snow here.  Here's hoping!

No snow....yet

 Good morning,

It seems odd to be near the end of November and to be snow free. Oh, the small flakes have come but then went as quickly, and the rain comes, but no storms such as you folks have received. I just made a batch of cranberry muffins with cream cheese icing to take a tray over for tea at Daisy's this afternoon. The granddaughter Michelle, called yesterday to say it was her mother's Birthday and would we come for tea and cake? Harry does not attend these invitations but i always try to oblige best I can even when i would rather not. I have a card and I'll buy a Lottery ticket as I know Rhona likes that. Actually she would probably prefer a bottle of wine better, but that will not happen from me.......today....haha!

I continue to care for my eye and although i can see much better there is still blurriness and I have a headache off and on. Not something I am used to...headaches, that is. 

My Keurig would not work this morning..it has been giving me messages for awhile now that I should clean it, but I have ignored them. I switched over to my Tassimo and it too would not accept the discs...at which point I felt desperate - I needed my fix and what could I do??? After some troubleshooting the Tassimo produced a cup of coffee. So I have just spent some time cleaning the Keurig. I just tried it and without moaning and groaning and spluttering, it gave me a nice hot full cup of the stuff. So far so good.

I have being enjoying my Christmas music playing, and have the player going almost all the time as I putter about doing odds and sods. I refuse to do any vacuuming as I was ordered NOT to do by the post op directives, and believe me, i am following those orders to the tee!  However, I needed to wash my hair in order to go visiting this afternoon and I devised a neat way to cover my eye and stick my head under the tap in the sink - not the greatest wash but a little curling iron before i go ,and all should be well.

Starting to gather up items for Christmas, and hopefully i shall get at that this week. Harry wants to do his annual Cookie Bake so that will also take some time and effort. We still prepare trays to take to both the kids. I take the car in on Wed for snow tires and hope that the snows do not decide to arrive before then. Not that snow tires solve all the winter driving issues, but they do help.

So now I shall finish my coffee, and get on with things. Hope all is well there. Chloe Birthday tomorrow, Mon and then Samantha's on Thurs. Many family birthdays in Nov. Take care....be safe!

Internet

 I have been without internet for a week and wonder how I ever lived without it. You cannot even get a phone number anymore without searching on line!  But my internet is back.   thanks to a very helpful repair person ( who loved our dog) and went above and beyond to tell us we needed a new internet deal and helped us get it.  We now have more for less!  I have been stressed with the fridge dying, and the internet dying, but all is well now.  On Sunday I am spending the afternoon with Rrain and just visiting and unpacking slowly. I am really looking forward to the time with her. Chloe turns 7 on Monday!  Where did time go?!  So now Jim is at meat draw and I am using my new found internet and , at the same time, reading a book( of course I have a book😜)

A quickie early mornng message...

 Just to share news about my eye surgery on Tuesday. All is well so far and at my post-op check appt yesterday the Dr said is looks great and that she tested my vision and was surprised that I have improved so much with that left eye ( from the pre-op tests they did) Now to continue with drops and prepare for the right eye on Dec 7. 

We have no snow yet and I wonder if this is a good sign or what? haha We did have to drive in freezing rain to North Bay yesterday morning but we made it ok and back home safe again ( of course Harry was driving).

I made another batch of Nuts and Bolts increasing the worchestershire sauce and it made a nice improvement in the flavour. So now I am happy. Perhaps i was a bit too hesitant with the first batch.

I have found my box of Christmas CDs so now will have some fun listening to my favourites while puttering around the house. I could not wait so put up my beautiful laser Christmas Tree so now each morning when I get up I turn it on, and enjoy the peace and comfort i get from it. Silly eh? 

Time for my coffee and then start my eye drops ( three different meds given four times a day) Take care and hope the weather will cooperate with your plans for outings. 😂

Sounds like winter is here for all of us.

 But it also sounds like we each greeted it in a different way. For now we stay at home, and just put in time, until something happens.  When we signed up for the snow clearing, we were told that they would be around today, to clear whatever was necessary.  Well, about noon, one guy showed up with a shovel.  I can't believe how quickly he cleared it all up.  David went out to chat with him, but that didn't slow him down.  He told us that he's been doing this for 20 years. In all fairness I have to admit that we knew they used shovels, rather than snow equipment.  As he was leaving he said "See you in  a couple of days".  Sure enough, watching the news tonight, the weather lady was talking about another storm rolling in, starting tonight.  It sounds like they will be providing good service, and we made a good decision.

But it also looks like we won't be going anywhere for a few days.  I had thought that Covid had left me with a willingness to amuse myself, for days, without going out anywhere, but I'm restless tonight.  If the weather is going to be as bad as predicted, I sure won't be heading out to Lorette, for the craft group, tomorrow.

Having missed an appointment Sunday, for delivering my Christmas items to the gift shop in Selkirk, I will have nothing in the Christmas sale, but still expect to have a couple of items in the gallery show for December.  They will be setting that up next week end, and both David and I will  be working for the full shift on Saturday.  This will also be in conjunction with a winter type festival in town, in which the gallery has an active presence.  I think it will be a zoo, and we'll both come home exhausted, if we even make it for the whole day.  David is going to assist one of the ladies take down and pack up Gail's items that have been in the November sale.  Since she won't be there, we'll have to bring her stuff home with us.  She left today for a full weekend sale in Lloydminster-driving through the storm that's on its way here.  She will be spending the night at a cousin's place in Saskatchewan, and then driving the rest of the way to Lloydminster tomorrow, for booth set-up on Thursday.  She's planning to sleep in her van while there, and then take two days afterwards to come home.  I worry about her.  She's not a young woman, and she'll be on her own.

David attempted to make his shortbread with the mixer again, and greatly slowed down the process.  The result wasn't bad.  It's not like the shortbread made the old way, but still tasty, and easy on the mouth.  That's all of the Christmas baking we have planned, as we're hoping to be able to go out for Christmas dinner again, although I've heard nothing about the place we usually go to.

That's it for news from Winnipeg.  How goes it with you two?

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow........

 It's a good thing that we shoveled all that snow yesterday.  It made room for all the snow falling today.  It has been coming down since about 8 am.  We shoveled once about an hour or so ago, but it is all filled in again.  I can get the doors open still so I am not going to shovel again until this stops.  I am getting a bit stir crazy since we haven't left the house ( except to shovel) since Tuesday morning.  If things ease up this afternoon we may make it to town to go shopping.  We can live a long time with the things we have, but there are still a few things we need (or at least think  we need).  The highway is open, but as of noon it was partially snow covered, with blowing snow and fair visibility.  There is always tomorrow.  Our fridge is once again acting up,  I thought we had it fixed, but I guess we were a bit optimistic.  I'll see how things are on Monday.  I just looked out the window and the snow is still falling, but is much lighter than earlier.  There is hope!!  For now, I will curl up with a book and hope the world still exists outside the yard.  

And down it came...

 ..although there is nothing on the ground now as it melted immediately ....but it was there. I actually stood at the window and enjoyed the emotional lift of seeing the soft white fluffy stuff falling from above. And we all know that emotion will be soon spent haha!

Nuts and Bolts were made this morning. Harry volunteered to go to the store to buy ingredients from my list as i prepared for the actual putting it all together. Harry always has a great story to tell from his shopping experiences and he did go from the Sundridge Foodland to the next town South River Freshmart and then back to the Foodland before coming home with Pizza and liver for me. But all kidding aside, he was finally able to get cheese sticks, and cereal. So it is made, but i am afraid that as i nibble on it, it lacks flavour. So maybe not enough worchestershire?? or garlic powder or what?? Or maybe as it sits it will evolve??

Glad to read that your snow shovelling has been done Pati, and that for future reference you have a few ideas to draw from. Keep your list of phone numbers handy. How are you making out with all the snow Cathy at your place?

And on another positive note from our absolutely wonderful Luncheon together yesterday, early this morning I logged onto TQS and watched the latest show with Lee Chappelle Munroe and her colour wheels quilts and sewing hints etc. I realized that even if i am not able to sew myself right now, I was totally involved with her work and what she had to share. I even found myself laughing a bit - good for the soul. So maybe, just maybe, i shall reconsider my previous mentioned indecision about continuing with my interest and participation. Thank you to you both for letting me look at it from a totally different perspective.  

Now back to work. I have decided to sort through all the Christmas boxes full of used bows and ribbon etc and try to get that under control somewhat and i even considered bringing up my gorgeous three foot laser Christmas tree ....but will wait for a bit on that probably after my first Surgery. And of course, as we discussed, I have the Christmas cards to make out - oh joy and rapture!!

Time to continue with my work...take care all and stay safe. ❤😅 

Maybe some good news?

 We found someone on Kijiji who is supposed to be coming this morning to plow the driveway.  I'll let everyone know how that works out.  If not, I have a couple of other leads including a handyman group recommended by the local Senior's Centre.  Loren and Amber both suggested that I find a Facebook local community group and try posting an appeal on there.

p.s. The fellow didn't show up, and has no way of contacting us.

David is going to see if he can clear a path from the front door to the street, even if it's done is several stages. If that works, I will use a cab to make a grocery run.

p.p.s.  After agreeing to the above, David went out and cleared the driveway enough to get the car out--at one fell swoop.  "Nuff said, and bite my tongue.

It snows

 And has been since noon yesterday.  Sometimes it is light feathery snow, sometimes it appears to be rain, and sometimes it is hard wind-driven snow, but it never stops.  Yes, there is snow on the ground and we're confident that it will stay there, unless we get a bit of luck.  David put my chair in the garage on Tuesday, just in case, but my sitting outside in a jacket and my fingerless gloves is over. But we are also told that it should stop late tomorrow.

I didn't go to the craft group in Lorette yesterday.  There was no way I wanted to be driving a new car during the first snow storm of the year, when everyone goes nuts.  Gail went, and told me that about 5 of them showed up but the woman, from the municipality, never showed with the key.  Then she told me that they all went across the street to Chicken Chef for coffee.  One woman had brought fresh-baked cinnamon buns for the group and those were shared with the staff at Chicken Chef, including the cook.  I guess this sort of thing happens in a small town where everybody knows everybody else.

In the evening, there was a Zoom meeting with my fibre art support group.  When this was planned, over the weekend, several of ladies said they would attend in person, but some of us preferred the Zoom, so it was set up to work both ways. Funny thing, everyone ended up attending via Zoom.  Not a surprise as a couple of them live in Manitou, and one in Holland MB.  I had worked several hours in the studio during the day, so by the time the Zoom ended I was beyond exhausted.  So much so that I had trouble sleeping.  But this doesn't matter as there is no where to go and nothing to do today.  David is watching war movies on tv, as he often does on Remembrance day, and I just finished reading a 629 page book, with small print.

Today and tomorrow, I plan to slowly tidy up the basement.  My studio has spread to pretty well fill the whole area, and a lot of things are out of  control.  I plan to take this slowly, and do a lot of decision making as I go along.  While tomorrow is laundry day, we will have to go out at some time for a few groceries.  I have just about finished my 5 days on phase one.  The meals in phase two don't appeal to me in the least, and require minimal amounts of weird groceries. My intent usually falters at some point during the 5 phase two days.  I am determined to follow the meal plan, and have already told David that we will need the groceries, even if they are weird.

Sunday I have volunteered out in Selkirk, and immediately after will be attending the family get-together at David's sisters house.  We're hoping that the snow and ice will have moderated, and the drive on the highway won't be an issue.  But otherwise, both of us are enjoying our time alone in our house.  At the meeting last night a few of the ladies commented about seeing our time of enforced confinement, given the snow, as a welcome relief.  Many people are realizing that the months of lockdown, gave us a chance to enjoy a slower pace of life, and that it was a very positive experience.  Since the Dept. of Health has now announced that more restrictions are on the way, this is a Good Thing. At the same time, I'm hearing growing resentment amongst vaccinated people, against the idiots who refuse the vaccine.   I wonder if this is a good thing, but fear that it's not.

Very much looking forward to our conversation tomorrow, and even washed out my Duchess mug today.  Talk to you tomorrow!

About time I posted

 I tried earlier from my phone (I deleted two of the drafts from Friday and am using one of them)  I was convinced I could copy and paste on my phone but then I remembered that the last time I tried it I had to use my computer, so I gave up in frustration. And now the item I wanted to copy is gone so I guess I start over.  I got Chloe's Birthday present all wrapped and ready to mail.  I want to be sure she gets it by her birthday, since at present, no one knows what we will be doing then.  I have been doing at lot of at home puttering since we got Rrain moved.  She still won't let me help her unpack so I will pop over next week for a short visit and check it out.  She is probably determined to do it on her own, even though she admitted she needed help to move.  I was at the physio and she told me to try to minimize my trips up and down stairs for now.  Obviously she has never seen my house, or knows that I am far too disorganized to plan my trips downstairs!  I know I have been up and down at least ten times today alone. 

Hunting season starts tomorrow so Lucky and I will no longer be prowling the trails through the bushes.  It's kinda sad, since the road is so boring, but I have already seen a couple of hunter's blinds set up so we will avoid the bush for the next month.  If there is not a lot of snow we could explore a bit in December, but we really still need all the moisture we can get around here.  There are a lot of deer prints going through our garden so we know they are around.  The neighbour gave us a lot of Jumper sausage from last year and took two boxes to donate to the Salvation Army Food Drive.  They have three tickets and figure on getting a lot of fresh meat this fall.  I prefer to just sit and watch the deer.  

This time change is supposed to give us an extra hour of sleep, but I just get up an hour earlier! And now it is not yet 10am and I have 16 hamburger patties in the freezer for Jim's lunch when he gets a craving.  (he wanted something for lunches but said no to everything in the store so now he gets hotdogs and hamburgers)  To be honest, I like having a few hamburger patties made for when we just don't feel like a meal.  Macaroni, hamburger patties and stewed tomatoes.  Quick and easy.  Curling is on TV all afternoon so I guess I won't see Jim for a while.  Supper is my next question.  Jim mentioned steak but when I brought up the steak we have left he didn't want that one.  It's that one or none so I guess I will find something else.  Or not........ I am good with popcorn😜

Friday already and a wee bit of snow?

 Good early morning,

I could not sleep so up early. There was just a dusting of snow on the ground but i dug out my boots to wear to take Bailey out and surprising how warm and comfortable they felt. I better keep them handy as apparently the snow will be coming....very soon.

Had a real scare the beginning of the week with my Bailey dog. He stopped urinating and began to struggle - similar to what he went through almost two years ago when he had emergency surgery twice. At that time it was touch and go and a great stressful time. So, I braced myself with prayer and  renewed strength to get through this again. Long story short ( as it did get a bit complicated) he started to pass his urine and now back on a pill to assist with that ( to take for only one week) He is still passing urine but i watch him every time i take him out to reassure myself that he is OK. The VET was so stressed  because he tells me he had such a terrible time before when Bailey was sick, that he was afraid to have to do surgery again. He did not think Bailey could endure it. What a terrible experience to go through with your animal when you feel so helpless and love them so much. 

Today i get a haircut because i need it, but mostly in preparation for my eye Sx. One has to be careful in bending and not getting water in them at first so i am going to ask for a bit of a shorter cut. it may look stupid especially in winter (although one can safely wear a hat theses days haha!) but it will help me through my recovery or so I think. I am a bit anxious as the time approaches.

Otherwise I have prepared the outside best i can for winter and let the snow fall where it may now. The heat has been turned on in the house and that is always a bit of a shock every fall when i have to do that. I can just see the dollar signs adding up but Harry likes it warm so the heat is now on. it is in the late winter when the greenhouses become active and the heaters go on in them that the real shock comes haha!

Time for my coffee and breakfast and then on with another day. Love to read about all your adventures. I love the new bird feeder you have up Pati and to see the birds from the kitchen window. i can visualize it and almost feel like I am standing there with you. 

Take care all... and have a nice weekend. Be safe. I plan to go online on Sat when the registration will open here in Ontario for the third booster vaccination for Covid 19 - I hope to book both Harry and i for that and hope the delay will not be too long. Are you folks planning for a booster as well?? 

Roundup

Isn't that what one calls a general "Waz up?" response?  The last couple of days has felt pretty frantic, but in reality we didn't accomplish much.  Monday I got a notice from the library that they wanted two books back that I had not yet read.  I've been working on two different short series, by the same author.  I was just starting the second last book of one series, and they were asking for books 1 &3 of the second series, and each book takes 2-3 days of heavy reading to finish.  So I go on-line to renew, and they aren't there. "What the heck?"  So, we have to go to the library itself to renew, or at least, find out why I can't renew on-line.  But we have a couple of hours before the library opens, a a couple of chores, one being to close the screen portion of our outside doors.  This is easier said than done, so David worked a bit, tried various solutions for releasing stops that would allow the screen to slide down into place.  Finally, he was bent over, using two sets of pliers, one in each hand, to release the actually stoppers, while I was leaning over him to push down from the top.  Suddenly, it releases, and slams down taking a portion of David's scalp with it.  Not a deep wound, but took the scalp off 3-4 square inches, leaving a big piece of skin scraped up along one side.  And there was blood.  Of course, nothing around that could be used to dress such a wound.  We managed to get most of the blood cleaned up, but just the act of trying to blot it with a damp tissue was painful to him.  So, on the way to the library, we stop at Walmart, and head in, him with  an obvious bloody head.  We finally find a Band-Aid that appears big enough, and take it to the cashier in the Pharmacy.  Turns out that it was the managing pharmacist, who knows us well.  We're told that we have the largest Band-aid they sell.  Then he strongly suggests that we put one on right away ( that was the plan, regardless) even helping by bringing us sanitizer etc.  Considering the looks we'd received walking in, that was probably a wise move.  I kept thinking of the videos that one sometimes sees featuring "Walmart Customers".  If you haven't seen one, they can be both scary and gross.

Otherwise, the birds quickly accepted the new feeder.  Yesterday, we watched while the grey squirrel ate well from the ground under the feeder, while the red squirrel sat at the corner of the roof of the shed about 2 feet away and 6 feet up, quietly oblivious.  Either that or they've reached a detente ( not likely).

A new feminine donation quilt has been started.  The basic shape is a 6" heart comprised of 46 individual pieces, all sewn together with 1/4" seam allowances, and involving precision piecing--not my strong point.  Each one takes about an hour to put together, but there are only 9 of them in the quilt, so I'm optimistic. Every donation quilt I've made in the past year has had a basic blue colour scheme, as most of my scraps are blue.

And we read, and play with our computers, and constantly look for errands to do while managing to justify a daily trip to Starbucks.  Household chores have been worked into my BuJo, and are getting done within a more reasonable time frame.  Shortbread was made on Monday.  I so love warm shortbread, and so rarely get to have it.  This year, as always, the shortbread was quickly packaged for storage until Christmas.  However, when getting out the tin box it is kept in, David discovered 4 shortbread left over from last year.  We ate them, of course, but the extra aging didn't improve the flavour, in my opinion.  Others may disagree.  I still prefer them fresh and warm.  But this year's efforts proved to both of us that we can no longer use the old Scottish method for making them, and from now on, it will via mixer, rather than by hand alone. (Yay!)

Today, it is the Lorette Craft Group.  There is a hand-stitching project ready to go.  I think I've mentioned before that this project was planned as a long-term project, specifically because of this group.  The bad news is that I've really got into it, and do some every evening while watching the news.  The area around my chair is covered with boxes of spools of thread and spools actually on two table tops. Still, the work brings me joy, and that's the whole idea.