The most exciting thing this week

 just happens to be a new plunger.  Yep, A recalcitrant toilet and two very old plungers, neither of which was working. So off to the store.  David dropped me off to start the grocery shopping and headed to Lowe's, where he found not one, but two new plungers.  One was the old style that we're all familiar with, while the other was a very sleek machine with a pump action rather than a plunge action. The biggest event since Monday.

The weekly meal planning appears to be working.  We're both eating better, but I'm taking cues from my time with Dr. Phil, when planning menus, so my weight has remained stable.  We appear to be spending a bit more on fresh food, but I'm waiting until the end of month when I total up my expenses, to find out for sure.  And I'm wondering if it really matters.  Most of our meat is coming out of the freezer, which is getting bare--not a bad thing.  Some of the meat has been there far to long.

For the past couple of days, I've been wearing the jeans I bought last week. They were a bit too small, but for $5 I figured I would wear them even if I had to tie the waist together with a rope.  But I got them on, and done up properly, and have been quite comfortable wearing them.  Bonus!

Best get busy. It's after noon and I'm still in my nightie.  Work to be done.  Stay safe, ladies.

Who needs a clean house😇

 The other day I looked from the landing into the basement and saw what a disaster it was. The next morning, first thing, I attacked it…. And it made a difference. The next day I was going to do some more but got distracted by Jim’s beer fridge.  Yes, it was thrown away by some one else, but he has been promising me for months that he would clean it. It is done now and I must admit that I have actually gone downstairs and opened it, just to admire the difference. Today I tackled “his” rec room. I moved all the furniture, vacuumed every where and washed all the floors. All the “stuff” piled on different surfaces I put in one place and told Jim to deal with it. And now, it is 9:23pm and I cannot move a muscle. I optimistically told everyone that I would do the sink and bar tomorrow but I think I will be lucky if I can get out of bed☹️.  But I did accomplish something. And the snow I need to shovel will melt by spring. I have boots if I have to get out of the house😜. Love you guys. 

Let it snow....

 Hi to you both,

An early morning note before I get going for the day. We really got hit with a lot of snow yesterday and last night and it is still snowing. You know what I'll be doing shortly. Outside I go and into the snow with shovel in hand. I think back to Nov and Dec when we were so smug enjoying the fact that it was still green out there haha! Now we pay for it.  Today i must go to the Library to return my books and hopefully take out another. Now that I am getting back into the swing of it again, I think I shall enjoy it.  Also this morning I have to move the cord and heater from the big greenhouse and put it into the little greenhouse to make two heaters working in there. This is where Harry has already planted some pots with seeds and the coming cold weather ( polar votex is it?) will cause some concern if the greenhouse cannot maintain its warmth. So we will leave the big greenhouse unheated until things settle down.

So I better get some breakfast and get on with it. Hope all is going OK with you both. Thinking of you... 👀❤

A special coffee break

 Had "coffee" with Loren and Amber Friday night.  Coffee is a misnomer, as I was  the only one drinking coffee, both Loren and Amber enjoyed chai latte, and David had nothing.

The big news is that Loren is going to Thailand in a couple of weeks.  He decided it was time for a break, did a bit of research, and organized a tour for himself, making reservations in B&B's.  He laughs and says that he had to make a choice between some home renovations and a trip to Thailand--tough choice--not! He did the same thing a few years back when he went to Spain and France.  Amber talked about what it was like when your child turns 18, and becomes a legal adult, especially when the child owns a car and has a job.  Yes, Jess has found herself a good job as a Nanny.  Amber, herself, has been told that her office will be going to in office work two days a week.  The other members of her team, including the Team Leader, live in B.C, and Alberta. This is also despite the fact that she has been working at home for several years--before Covid.  Purely as a means of getting workers into the downtown again.

Yesterday's horoscope spoke to me a bit.

    "This is an excellent day to think about your spiritual, mystical          and inner values.  It's perfectly appropriate to withdraw from the       busyness of things around you so you have a quiet time to think          about your world."

I've been doing this, to a certain extent, but my efforts have dwelt far more in the area of physical health than mental health.  Sounds like it's time to switch gears.

David visited the gerontologist for a re-assessment on Wednesday.  We now know that he has improved significantly since his initial assessment, 3 months ago, probably because of the stimulation from the whole Day Hospital experience.  After hearing how we've been managing everything, she told us that we were doing everything exactly right and to carry on.

Also last Wednesday, I made it to the group in Lorette.  There were only 5 of us, and we had a good discussion on politics, only to realize that we were all speaking to the same side of the discussion.  We also agreed not to have that sort of discussion when the group is larger.

That's it for today.  later I have to plan some menus for the next week, and a shopping list based on those menus.  Then some desperately need studio time devoted to my work.  I've been working on something for Gail that just didn't work.  I'll be glad to get back to donation quilts.

Stay safe, but enjoy life.

New Start

 Any time is a really good time to take a look at your life and make changes.  I have just sent off a formal resignation letter to the gallery Board in Selkirk.  It feels wonderful.  I don't want to go into details, but to just say I attributed it to failing health.  And there is more coming up.  David has a review appointment with the Gerontologist on Wednesday, and we both see our doctor on the 26th. In the meantime, I am thankful everyday for the Diclofanac ointment we have for joint pain--really, really grateful.

My "play day" went well.  Evidently the curry soup didn't go so well, so we had baked farmers' sausage and au gratin scalloped potatoes from a mix, with a very nice and plentiful salad.  Gail and Laurie-from-Lorette were trying to figure out how to make a bracelet they had seen.  Gail had tried to explain what it was they were trying to make prior to the meeting, and I just couldn't figure it out until I saw it.  Their attempts didn't work out well, and I spent most of the day just watching and talking, but by the end of afternoon my Boho beads had been turned into key rings. By magic, I guess, as I didn't do it.

Wednesday afternoon we took David to the optometrist, and I trailed along to drive him home.  A pleasant surprise--the coffee shop across the hall from the optometrist was open, and opening into the hall.  It has been closed since before Covid.  To facilitate social distancing, the Optometrist's office has opened their waiting room into the hall, as well.  So I sat at a table, drank coffee and read my book, while David went back and forth into the office while they did a series of mystical things to him.  They quickly learned that if they wanted him, they had to come and get him.  Having missed lunch, after, we went to Smitty's for an early supper.  Oh, What a supper it was!

Friday, we had to change our laundry routine, so as to conserve energy, as we had coffee scheduled, with the children, at Starbucks, in the evening.  Or so we thought.  Turned out it is scheduled for next Friday.  But we enjoyed our coffee.

Given the life we lead, the library is our lifeline.  So glad that you're back to it, Beth.  And cleaning your studio!  May I suggest that you don't send any of it here, even if you could send it on the bus?  I'm still at it, almost a year later.  Still making charity quilts, although I have been working on two art-y pieces.  One is now just a "doodle" cloth for trying things out.  The other I have hopes for, but need to think a bit more before doing any more actual work on it.  Truth be told, I'd  rather work on charity quilts.

My two finished quilt tops are now at the longarmer in Lockport.  Took them in Thursday morning, and they are promised back in "about a week and a half".  Wonderful, and unexpected.

So, our social life is diminishing, but we are still getting out and about.  The group in Lorette, and the "Fibre Art Divas, will be more important for me in the future, for socialization.  I just have to give both groups a bit of priority.

Time to write...

Hi there,  It appears that I have not written for awhile but instead enjoying the messages and news from both of you. Perhaps I am here feeling sorry for myself after having Physio Treatments that are getting more rigorous and extreme. Who knew? Yesterday I went through what I told him was "hell" at which point he looked at me and laughed. Then I had to pay him for his kindness haha! But.... I am improving from his perspective even if at times I feel otherwise. In the last two weeks though, I have had two nasty falls which do not help my sense of well being. So I must pick myself up, brush myself off, and get on with it. 

I have been thinking about my stash, and all the fabrics and supplies I have. Perhaps Pati you have encouraged me to go through this exercise from your positive move to do the same. I have been gradually cleaning up in my "studio" which in itself is a big laugh to even call it that. And I have bins of fabric downstairs which I have been looking through as well. Harry would bring home much of this on his garage sale trips in years past - some just scraps but some with great potential including some already started projects of others. What to do???  I have a few good ideas. And towards that end I have been gathering, organizing, thinking and planning. I also have a few of my own projects started from many years ago and since it appealed to me then, why not have another look at them as well. Time will tell....

Another good endeavour I have just undertaken, is going back to the Library after years of absence. Not since Covid came have I been there until the other day. The Librarian greeted and welcomed me with enthusiasm. And she remembers all the books and authors I used to read with her first comment "Have you read the new Louise Penny book yet". I took out two books to get started - two that Cathy, you suggested as you helped me take that first step to return to the Library....thanks.

So as you see I am not idle (even with all the chores around the house with the animals haha!) and I'm trying to put a new spin on life. To keep active inspite of my current mobility issues. 

Looking forward to speaking with you both on our Three Sisters call. In meantime, take care and be safe.  Thinking of you....💜❤

New year…new challenges

 For some reason my access to the blog has changed since the new year. I think I have figured out how to work it but “golly gosh darn gee whiz!” Why does it have to change😤. My cold might be gone, but it is hard to tell since my nose is running and I have (yech) phlegm in my throat, but I am currently on antibiotics for a (maybe) sinus infection. Life!!!  I’ve been to town every day this week, but for only one thing at a time. I might stay home tomorrow and get a shopping list ready for Saturday. I don’t need much since my freezer is full of food, but what goes in must come out and I need to stock up on some “paper products😜). I also need some oatmeal. The bag I have is stale dated (and fairly new) and rancid☹️.  I made Calzones a couple of weeks ago and I am going to make them again. I will alter the fillings, but they make a really quick lunch. Next one will be meatball, cheese , mushroom and tomato. Experiments make life exciting.   I took a cake to the legion this morning for a funeral and they must be expecting a lot of people. All the tables were set up and there were at least 10 women in the kitchen making sandwiches and setting up dessert trays. She was 90 years old. Jim knew her, but I only knew her husband to see him. Chicken casserole for supper tonight, and probably tomorrow and Saturday!  I had made some chicken pot pies (for a biscuit topping) but we both found it dry and tasteless. So I pulled three pie plates from the freezer and put them in a casserole with a can of mushroom soup. It made waaay more than I anticipated.  I made some French bread a couple of weeks ago so we will have some of that with the casserole. Good thing we have a big dog in case we hate it😜. The snowmobile trail groomer went through the field next to us so Lucky and I have been able to continue our walks through the field ( except when sled riders come by and we have to step off the trail). Chloe now has a pet snake. “Sunny” is a corn snake and will grow to about 4 feet. They have a terrarium for her and everything!  So, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 horses, 3 goats, 2 ponies and a donkey. And Kris says he’s not a farmer. Love you guys

Things are quieter now,

 but I don't seem any more productive.  Most of the time I just want to sleep, which, of course. interferes with my sleeping at night.  It amazes me how we so quickly adjust to a slower pace of life.  That being said, tomorrow I'm driving out to Gail's house in Landmark for a "play day".  We will be doing something I've not done before, so I have no idea what to take with me.  Gail has tried to explain it to me, but I'm just not getting it.  So I've packed a medium suitcase full of stuff. Her friend, Laurie from Lorette, will be joining us, and will be bringing some sort of curry soup.  Because of David's sensitivities, I don't think that I've had curry more than once or twice in my life.

Tuesday, we plan to take my two quilts out to the longarmer in Lockport.  It will give us an outing.  Then Wednesday, David has an appointment with the Optometrist, in the middle of the afternoon, so I must drive him, rather than attending the group out in Lorette.  So, a relatively busy week, but at least, we're not sitting at home staring at one another.

Colds

 I am so fortunate that my cold is  a head cold and not a chest cold.  Things are very dull around here. I have been very lazy with this cold ( don’t you hate it when you have a sneeze and it goes away!!). My cat has been very possessive lately, leading to typos since she is clawing me!! So, basically I have nothing to say. Just wanted to let everyonevknow I was here😊

A New Year full of opportunities

 There are problems with all of the opportunities that face us--such as a lack of will toward follow-up?  

I definitely want to loose weight, but have heard of so  many deep dives into self denial that peter-out quickly, as the change is just too dramatic, and is treated as a temporary thing, rather than as a serious life-style change.  So for January, I want to eradicate the my snacking habit.  This is a strong, long term habit that has defeated my dieting attempts more often that I want to think about it.  However my Dr. Phil diet was successful, but in the end it was snacking that ended my successful results there.  So working on this one habit has the potential to achieve some positive results.  The emotional humiliation of having to buy larger pants is also a potential form of creating habit change.  I'll say no more now, but if I report getting into smaller, older pants, you'll know that I have achieved something.

Don't ever under-estimate the power of smaller special interest groups.  Textile and Fibre Artists of Manitoba, which has a much larger and more varied members since voting to accept members from anywhere from whence they can participate via Zoom, has created some of this type of group.  In the fall, they started an on-line group for hand stitchers.  I've only attended three of the monthly meetings, but quite enjoy it and look forward to it.  We just sit and talk and stitch, but all of us have an interest in fibre arts.  Yesterday, I spoke about my efforts to make scroll books and my challenge of finding some way of turning the result of my stitching into a scroll with some sort of core.  Today, a very nice lady delivered two wooden thread spindles perfect for such a use.  She had been gifted about half a dozen of them by a thrift store owner who didn't know what to do with them.

One is about 5 inches high at the inner core and the other 7 inches--perfect for what I'm doing.  And all because of a casual remark at a meeting.

Stay safe ladies, and try to recognize opportunity when it knocks.

A New Year and a new post

 ... to start the new year off to a wonderful beginning to our ongoing  communication adventures.

Happy New Year to all and hoping this year will bring us all that we desire. If not, let's make what we get the best we can.... haha! 😍

I expect from previous messages you are busy right now with Family events and for that I am very happy. Have fun, enjoy the company and forge new relationships into the year that begins now.

Take care all, and be safe in travelling and in sharing space with others  (wear your masks) Best wishes... XX 💑