Home from my adventures

Played Crib on Saturday Morning... I did okay until my first 69. By my second 69 I guessed that I was probably out of it. They were giving out free drink tickets for a hand of 17 (In honour of St. Patricks day) and 24. I tried to convince the organizer that I should get a drink for the two 69 hands because that was pretty unusual. He didn't fall for it and told me I had to do better than that. The very next hand I got a 24. Didn't win the game, but I got a drink. I told everyone after that that I wasn't there to play cards... I was just in it for the booze. Wouldn't you know it!? I got two more drinks tickets. As least my trip wasn't wasted. The Pas Legion did a wonderful job. They were so organized and had so many volunteers. The food was wonderful. We expected maybe some muffins and coffee in the morning but they had full breakfasts. We entered the Rainbow Auction and we won a tool chest for Jim. We had car-pooled with another couple and fortunatly they had a van that we could fit it into. It is a two story tool chest on wheels. Not great quality but certainly better than the nothing we currently have. It is a long drive, but since Darryl went at 120 almost all the way it was shorter than it could have been. 546 Km one way from here. Our clubs are sharing the mileage so we will only put in for the one way, and they will claim the other half from Gladstone Legion. All in all a really good time. And I still have today off work! It is thick fog right now, but supposed to clear up. Of course they are predicting snow by next weekend. Welcome to Manitoba

Busy weekend

Busy for Cathy too, with her trip up North.  I was thinking of you and hope you did well.

Yesterday I went to the local quilt guild meeting, but didn't stay for the entire day, I was just too tired. Today we had an all day meeting out in Pinawa.  It turned out to be a pleasant day.  There were two formal presentations in the morning, and I found both of them very interesting.  There was a very nice cold lunch catered by a restaurant in Beausejour ( they delivered!), then the formal meeting in the afternoon, which went well.  We were even able to bring some left over food home for supper.

Tomorrow I hope to spend some time in the studio.  It needs a clean-up, and with the machine still in the shop, this is a good time to do it.  I've been struggling with two different projects, unable to get a firm grip on either. Friday night, I threw one down on the table in frustration and it landed next to the other.  I looked  at them side by side, and realized that I needed to take a part of the second one, and add it to the first one, and the first one came together quite nicely.  Serendipity again!

So, for tonight, I think it's just getting into my nightie,and a glass of wine, and early to bed.

Home again, home again Jiggety jig

A busy two days and we both came home exhausted.  Saw both the plastic surgeon and the OT Wednesday morning before we left, and everyone is happy, with a return appointment on April 30th.  Keep the finger immobilized until then.

This meant that we left Winnipeg via hwy 75, but once across the border  took a side trip through Hallock and got back onto hwy 59.  We just didn't want to travel both ways by the same route. Spent the night in Mahnomen, where they gave me a very nice notepad case for my birthday.  Thursday we headed for Fargo, where I bought beads ( lots of beads!).  Then home in time for supper.  There was snow to be seen going down but very litttle coming home, one day later. Lots of geese around, but the ditches are mostly dry and there was very little water on the fields. The visual image of the very low water in the rivers was a little frightening, as, usually, this time of year they are overflowing.

Today, Amber and I are going for pedicures, something we had planned some time ago. Tomorrow I have a quilt guild meeting, and then on Sunday, an all-day meeting out in Pinawa. Cathy, I wish you pleasure and success on your trip to The Pas.   I hope you do well, and I'll be silently cheering you on over the weekend.

Birthday greetings to one of our own!!

....and she is off for a two day vacation celebration! Good on you, Patty, for doing something wonderful to celebrate your birthday – and may you win a fortune at the casino haha or at least have a nice supper. Ontario government is making some big changes to the Lottery Corporation and announced closure of three slot machine locations at horse racing establishments and rumour has it they want to put up a big casino in Toronto. They want to tap into the millions/billions of dollars available but at same time show acknowledgement to the "addiction" aspects of gambling as is being reported by help groups trying to cope with this epidemic.

We went to see the Tommy Hunter  Farewell Tour last night. Well worth the free tickets that we received through the radio station. It really was a fabulous show and I enjoyed myself immensely.  He is now 75 years and still able to entertain with songs and stories. I had forgotten that he played the fiddle and last night put on a good display of these talents as well. Harry also won a $20.00 gift card for McDonalds and so for lunch we went there to spend the card. OMG – although it was lunch time and it is March break, I repeat OMG! The food is actually awful and the place was a zoo! But it was free so I guess I get what I pay for???

Milder weather allows some flexibility in manning the greenhouses but still requiring some vigilance on my part. I did the watering and transplanted some seedlings today but thoroughly enjoyed the sun and outdoors. I agree Patty, the sun is a big incentive and I cannot wait to get out more and enjoy it by puddling around. The dog loves to be out with me and she is unleashed and enjoys wondering around the yard and so far stays close by.

Well, I must go and get supper ready and then think whether I will stay up to watch Republic of Doyle ( 9 pm on CBC). I watched it last Wed night for the first time in two years and realized how much I enjoyed it having being a dedicated follower the first season. I had to stay up to pump water outside so spent the time revisiting this show which I like very much. I stopped watching because of the late timing but I think if it brings me pleasure – why Not??  Take care for now – let us know about your trip Patty – and Cathy, happy "29's".

Hurry up and wait

Tomorrow I go back to "Plastics", for 8:30, and then to the OT.  Then we take the sewing machine in for a tune up ( the timing is out),  then find breakfast, and then-finally- hit the road for the States.  We've been getting ready for days, it seems, for a two day trip.  We'll be back Thursday evening.

The melt continues.  There is snow only over the flower beds on the south side of the back yard, and a pile on the front lawn where David was blowing it off the driveway.  This morning we enjoyed the sight of a little girl ( accompanied by Mom and a younger sib) stomping on the ice over the puddles where the driveway meets the city sidewalk.  She looked to be 3-4, and was having an absolute ball.  Mom even helped her where there was a stubborn patch, but by afternoon it was mainly gone.  It feels good to have the sun in my face, and yet, I know myself, and expect that I won't be leaving the basement to sit in the sun too often.  I never do.  However, depending on what happens with my finger, I may be doing a lot less sewing, over the next few months.  When I was Urgent care they said 6 weeks of immobilization, then the OT said 8 weeks, and Friday my own doctor said 12 weeks.  And if that doesn't do the trick it is another 6-12 weeks, and then they might consider Surgery, which would mean another 6-12 weeks.  As happened last year, David will help out with anything I ask, but I still get frustrated at not being able to do things for myself.

Boy, am I ever getting a lot of books read! There was a review in the paper last weekend of a biography of Humphrey Bogart, and I asked about it at the library.  They gave me a choice of regular or large print, and of course, I asked for the large print.  I guess if you remember Humphrey Bogart, you're old enough for large print. I've read a few biographies lately, and have been surprised at how much I enjoyed them. 

So today I'm grateful for the sun, and I'm grateful for the ability to read-I would be beside myself without my books.

Must run in the family this week...

Another one of those weeks ( same as you both apparently !!) and try as I might to write a few words, nothing came to mind. I figured if I told you exactly what I was doing, you probably would think I was making it up for dramatic purposes. Thus the airwaves from here stayed closed, but as I opened up the blog just now, was very happy to read your notes and brought back some inspiration for me. I will be thinking of you in The Pas Cathy and send my best wishes for an enjoyable sightseeing kind of trip as well as productive in the Crib business. The weather has had me stumped for the last few months and also has had me running to keep the homefires burning ie the greenhouses and I now say plural because we started up the second greenhouse yesterday – and this came as a result of some very tricky work to cover the top with polyethylene after removing the broken glass panels. There were others things I had to do to get it ready over the last few days but I really won't get into it – remember I'm not going for the implausible dramatic here!! And we also are using the propane heaters in there which scare the living bejesus out of me! But we enter another week starting tomorrow so I have high hopes of some light at the end of the tunnel, as they say, especially with the weather. Our roof is all but clear of ice and snow now – I had the roofer over to look this week, as I complained to him when we started to have water dripping in the front hall. Apparently it has been a bad year for ice and I have two options – next winter be sure to clear off all the snow around the bottom every time it snows so the ice won't build up, or install electric wires around the bottom. He said he would install them free in the Fall if we wanted to purchase them – he would come and measure and tell us what we needed. I guess I'll be cleaning the roof of snow a lot next winter haha  So thats it for now, and to bed for some much needed rest as I said, tomorrow starts another week all over again. Take care

and a long week it was

Not busy, just a long week. I started my birthday by slipping on some snow covered ice at the office. I did some wild gyrations and then I fell onto my hands and knees. Must be old age I guess. I neck and shoulder were really sore for a couple of days, but I rubbed locota on them and used a hot pad. They started to feel better so that I could notice how sore the rest of me was. Then I caught a cold. What a week. On a brighter note, at work, Elizabeth bought flowers and a cake and a card (I'm sure everyone chipped in) It was the perfect card. On the outside is an old women saying "The secret to staying young?" "Lie about your age. " Then you open it and the same woman is saying "If there is anything I have learned in my 29 years it is that" Elizabeth says she saw that card and there was no decision to be made. Of course it is fitting as it is the 29th anniversary of my 29th birthday. (short break while I made breakfast) I am still really tired at night and can't seem to stay awake beyond 8 or 9 pm. Kik says maybe I am low on iron but I know they checked that last time I had tests. Jim is bar-b-queing steak for supper. It is my birthday supper. I was supposed to be warm last Monday, but the forecast changed. Today he is all set. They are calling for 18 and 19 on the weekend. Of course I will be in The Pas, which is still forecasting nice weather... about 7. I have never been to The Pas, so I hope I have a chance to look around. Other than eat and sleep and work I have done nothing all week. It has been good.