Another day down!

The sale is over at the Hydro Building. This morning was quiet, and we figured that would be the whole day, but it picked up a little in the afternoon, and I came away with a little more than expenses--enough to do a small bit of Christmas shopping. We hope to get out for that on Monday. Tomorrow I'm helping out at the large art sale. I had originally signed up to sit at a raffle table, before finding out that there was a scheduling clash with the Hydro Building sale, so now have to work the cash desk. OMG!!

Some things are mixed blessings. David and I were a little concerned about Amber and the children coming over tomorrow, especially with me being away in the afternoon, and the unanticipated need to cook a turkey. ( Life is full of surprises) Amber phoned us this morning to tell us that both girls have measles, and maybe it would be best if they gave dinner a miss tomorrow. Oh Yeah! Too Bad! I hate not seeing them, as missing means that we don't see them for a month, but I have to confess that this time it suits me.

So a quiet evening. We aren't even going to try to unpack the stock until tomorrow. I sure hope there's somethng on t.v.

Have a great weekend.

Be - yes, life goes on..

and I have missed most of this week. On Tueday I got sick and have been not well since then. gastrointestinal in nature and I'm now well into my fourth day with diarrhea which is untoward. I normally do not get ill so this is uncommon for me - I'm thinking some sort of bug or food poisoning but cannot think what could be the culprit. Of course, life goes on including the regular trip to Mothers Thursday and my Eye appt Friday. As it turns out I had laser sx in both eyes again. He tells me that the vitrius in both eyes is still pulling badly and a high risk to tear anytime. Oh, good!! My pupils are still not back to normal size yet but much better than yesterday - I just gave up trying to function and went to bed were I stayed until this morning. Harry has gone to an auction and I'm trying to clean up a bit.
Thought I'd write a quick note to let you know I'm still here. Sounds as if Patty is having the most fun right now - good for you. Unless you are holding out on us Cathy???? Take care

Day one down--

Not a good day a the big new Hydro building. We are there again tomorrow and I certainly hope it's a better day. The sale ended at 6:00 today and then it was off to the quilters' guild meeting where it was "Member Vendors" night. I had some hand dyed fabric and took along my little purses. I ended up selling more there than I did all day at the other sale.

They are still putting the finishing touches on the Hydro building. The washroom that was made available to the vendors was still under construction. So either we had men in the ladies working on things or we had men walk into the ladies while there were people in the cubicles. Ask me how I know! One poor lady is from Thailand and would never dream of speaking to a strange man or asking him to give any consideration to her needs. She seemed to spend most of the day trying to get in there, when the men weren't around. However, by the end of the day it was nice to have a toilet paper dispenser rather than having to pick up the roll from the floor.

So for supper I've had two cookies, a piece of cake and Southern Comfort. Maybe life doesn't get any better than this. Since the building opens at 8:00 tomorrow, my Southern Comfort and I are now off to bed.

Just coasting

Friday and Saturday is the craft show--the last one I've signed up for at this point. This is very much on my mind, but at this point, there is nothing I can do to get ready for it. We'll get everything together Thursday evening, pack the car early Friday morning, and then hang on, sit tight, and enjoy the ride! As well, Friday evening is the quilt guild meeting, and I'm sharing a sales table with another lady. I don't have much to sell this year, but am taking a bunch of my hand dyed fabric--priced quite nicely, if I do say. Yesterday we were out to Beausejour to pick up sandwich boards from the artists' co-op to lend to the Crafts Museum for the sale.

Tomorrow is a painting class. I'm apprehensive about this one. She showed us an example of what we're doing and it scared the pants off me. IMHO far beyond my skill level. I know I should just just suck it up and do my best, but with what I saw, I wouldn't even know where to start. I can't believe that I'm thinking about not going. I picked up some books on plants and leaves from the library, and I've tried to plan some sort of picture using them as references, but generally, I'm not happy. That was an experience in itself. I asked the reference librarian for books with pictures of leaves. She found me gardening books, landscaping books, books on weeds.etc, even a couple of books out of the children's section on photosynthesis. In retrospect, I should have asked for books on identifying trees. She was off and running, and pulling books and muttering to herself. Finally I took the books she gave me just to stop her performance, or we might still be there.

On the other hand, today was our monthly Tuesday Night Stitchers that Used to Meet on Wednesday Afternoon meeting. We had a new lady join us today, and we had one of our better meetings, I think. Mind you, three out of the five of us were quilting.

So we wait to see what the weekend holds.

Be -Makes you wonder if you really should...

Sometimes the odds seemed stacked against one doing things they want eg violin - I have persevered with great determination to go to class every week and try to get in a bit of practice in between. I was doing great this week until Sat when I sliced the top of my ring finger on left hand -the one that needs to press the strings. I had a time to stop the bleeding and get a steristrip in place (a bandage that acts like a stitch) Try to play the strings with bandages on and pain with the slightest touch. And my lesson is tomorrow. Oh well, I am not a concert violinist so I guess it really isn't the end of the world! Today we were the entire day at Mothers - she had a Doctors appt for 2 pm for physical and flu vaccine and it was a challenge to get her ready and there in time. Creates some interesting verbal exchanges - enough said! On Saturday we went to the North Bay Annual Art and Craft Christmas Show. We have gone most every year and I enjoy it - however this year seemed to be less than exciting. I did buy two wooden tree ornaments - one saying Simplicity and the other saying Faith. Maybe speaks to my state of mind these days? I just returned from another evening of curling - I have a good time inspite of not really being very good but it is an outside activity balancing the other aspects of my life. Hope my eyes will behave! Time to watch the news and then to bed. Hope to write again this week Take care

Be - I was one of the Grosbeaks at Cathys

Well, maybe not really but my spirit was there with you all. Wouldn't it be a dream if we were all together walking Cathy's trail. I have always loved that walk. So it was a week from h--- for me. The only bright spot in an otherwise horrible week was to see Michael in his "Sunday going to meeting" dress uniform with white leather belt and white gloves leading the Volley team at the Remembrance Day Ceremonies - both at the North Bay Arena, and then again at the Algonquin Regiment Cenataph. Makes a poor old Mother very proud!
This computer is still functioning almost at a halt and requires me to take a second or two just to type one letter - perhaps one reason why you haven't had a note from me recently (among other reasons) But it always boosts my spirits to be able to log on and see all your news.
Believe it or not, I just walked up to the LCBO and bought a bottle of sherry and just mixed a drink 1/2 sherry and 1/2 ginger ale. Remember that was what we were given at home the odd time. And when done here I shall go and practice some violin. Perhaps I shall be a bit more chatty in the week to come - next Friday I go to the Eye Surgeon - good thing as I have lots of floaters and wouldn't be surprised if he does a bit of laser. If so, I plan to quit curling as it may be a few weeks again before I can participate and likely not a good activity to continue with retinas that like to tear and bleed all the time. More to come - Take care

Home again

after a flying trip up to Cathy's to pick up the poultry she and Jim had bought for us at the Colony. I had awoken feeling pretty rotten, but the day picked up nicely after Cathy gave me a T3, shortly after we arrived. Cathy made a very nice soup for our lunch, but it was drive up, eat and come home. Just before we left there was a flock of about 10 Evening Grosbeaks at the feeder. They were beautiful! I've never seen them before and I think they deserve a prettier name--Golden Grosbeaks, maybe. My book says that they love sunflower seeds and can empty a feeder in a very short time. Sure hope Jim was ready with refills when they were needed. The birds sure weren't shy about coming when there were people there,but a little more cautious when the dogs were out. Cathy and I talked about recipes, and bored David to tears so he ended up watching TV with Jim, and then we all took a walk to look at the swath of devastation through the bush. All of us really feel that it must have been a small tornado that almost touched down. We were stopped by a RCMP check on the way out, just west of Headingly, right by the scale. We waited in line until the officer came to us, and then he just told us to wait a moment and then signalled us back onto the highway. The people that were pulled over onto the shoulder were all young men, so, for once, we were glad to be over 50!

Stopped at Dollarama on the way home and picked up some real cheap acrylic paint. Then I made four more pieces in the same technique as my class from Wednesday. So far, they look better than the three pieces I did in class with the very expensive paint, but I have to wait until the first layer dries before I can put the finishing touches on them. This is a technique where you squeeze some paint on and then spread it with a credit card. Then you look for figures in the swirls, and do a bit of brush work to bring them out. Except, during class I couldn't see any figures. Another student found some peppers in mine, and then we looked at each other, and she said " Alright, I know they're really penises, but I didn't want to say that". This from a very proper lady whom, I believe, may be older than I. Maybe not so proper, she talks about travelling with the "man I'm seeing", and is still wearing her wedding rings, so who knows.

A meeting out in Selkirk tomorrow afternoon. I've done a little preparation, but it may still turn into contentious meeting. I'm not looking forward to it. Thank Goodness, I still have a little left in the mickey of Southern Comfort I bought to take to the Retreat.

Good night all.