Shawls, and Skating

A good day if you exempt the constant snow requiring more shoveling. I did not do the roof but expect if snow stops tomorrow I shall attempt it again. If nothing else, I am determined to keep it up if it will stop the daming of ice and subsequent leaking in the spring. I could not bear to go through that again. As it is Harry has started already with his seeds and I expect before too long ( ie within next few weeks,) we shall be into that vicious circle again with heating greenhouses and the daily rituals that go along with that. But for today all is well as I went skating - walked over to the arena and for the first 30 minutes I was the only one on the ice until a few families came. And I finished the shawl except for some simple fringe which I can do tomorrow. I was worried about blocking it but once it was cast off the needles, and I crocheted around the edge, it started to open up and I think will be just fine as is. I am so happy with it that I want to start another - I have some beautiful blue wool that I think I could make up a different pattern and use my experience from this first one, to do even better. I have some mistakes in this first one, but nobody would ever notice except me. I am so sick of hearing about the Hockey and the new contract just reached after 100 plus days of lockout and negotiations. That is all that has been on the news all day - I no longer get CBC and I won't be able to watch the games anymore on Sat nights. I used to watch the games as something to do, but I guess making shawls can fill that void haha  I take the old cat to the Vet onWed for surgery and I am trying to groom him before he goes - he is matted a bit under his belly and he won't let me tackle it without scratching and biting. Well, another week is about to start, so I hope you both have a pleasant week, and I look forward to reading more messages - the blog is acting funny for me right now, so my fingers are crossed right along with you Patty - just for different reasons. Hope you are doing OK and progress continues for you. Take care

Light at the end of the Tunnel

As you both know, my post-surgical journey has been a difficult one. On Tuesday morning, I had a bit of a meltdown, and decided that I was going to go back to the system I used prior to surgery, and to heck with the useless suggestions I've been getting from doctors.  Well, so far so good. Things are going better than they have at any point, up to now.  This is the longest stretch of calm since the surgery, and I am very optimistic.  Fingers crossed and wish me luck.

Glitch?

I seem to be having a bit if a glitch with blog - I cannot read messages without signing in now - hope things will be OK as I really don't want a problem. I just spent about an hour trying to work with the ebook on line. I went to the library yesterday and the Librarian helped me by showing how to log into the Library web site to "take out" ebooks and then she showed me some interesting things about the Kobo. I am able to download free books from the Kobo web site  but when I tried it here at home, it is not working for me. I wish I had more knowledge of such things. However, I have some books to read already, so will stick to that for now. How are things with you two? Short message today....take care

Wow!

When I signed in to write there were no new messages from you but when I pressed publish for mine, suddenly both your messages came up - Now I can backtrack and read them 

Who would like some snow....??

My roof and I are on a first name basis now - how much snow can one manage anyway? Have you folks had lots and lots and lots of snow? I am now reading from my new ebook - The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. A bit slow at first but I am sure it will speed up soon - she is setting the stage and introducing the players I guess. ( I hope) I had heard good reviews about this, her first adult book since the Harry Potter series. There are ice huts already on the lake and sleds speeding around the lake - far too soon since a few days ago there was open water. I almost fear going down to the lake now in case I am witness to a catastrophy. So I have been walking with the dog up the hill and around the subdivision again I used to go this way all the time. There is a path down across a stream and then follows in behind Sundridge - a popular snowmobile trail. But Scooby gets skidish every time I start down this way - something spooks her and she pulls to turn around and head back up the hill. So I haven;t gone this way yet. I am almost finished my first ever knitted prayer shawl - I have worked at it as we watched movies and musical DVDs over the holidays. I will need to wash it and then block it to finish it off properly. So I don't know how I shall attempt to block it - no space or tools to do it - I thought of pricing a big piece of styrofoam insulation which would be big enough and strong enough to block with T pins but haven't gone beyond the thinking stage yet.  Other than this, it has been quiet around our place and I can easily see some cabin fever setting in. I was outside today doing the snow shoveling etc and marveled at how much I enjoyed being out and rambling about. This is why I enjoy the summer so much because I can go outside and stay for hours just doing a bit of this and that!! Hope you folks are all OK and jumping into the new year with a renewed enthusiasm. I told you about my daily flip page calendar that I enjoyed every day last year. I did get another for this year but it is not the same - it has quotations each day instead of inspirational ideas so I hope I find as much solace with it as I did last year. Time will tell... Take care

House cleaning

Since I've done little except the most basic housekeeping since Oct., my plan for the week is to get busy on it.  I have always mimicked Cathy's method of taking one room each day and finishing it, then relaxing until the next day.  Of course, I always start with the easiest room, then move on to the next easiest and so on, usually leaving the kitchen to last.  But this never works, as I usually give it up by about room #3, acknowledging my weakness and laziness.  But this time I have company coming next Monday and Tuesday, and one group will actually be in the living room!  So today I started in the living room, dusting, washing and polishing.  I even polished the bases of the floor lamps that are hidden behind chairs.  (OMG! What have I done!  Set a precedent!)  I have recently read that a lot of clutter takes away from a room, so the terrible clutter of framed pictures on the shelving unit was taken away, the frames put in storage and the pictures put in an album.  I found an album of fairly recent family pictures with a lot of room in it, and it just felt right that they go there, especially after I went through the album and found many fairly recent ( last 20 years) family milestones.

Then I tackled the spare room.  Even dusted the blinds.  Raised so much dust that it got to my breathing, and I quit for the day.  But that room is done too.  We haven't done any vacuuming, yet, but that's okay.
So now I feel I've accomplished something today, and for that I am grateful.

Yesterday, for his birthday, David wanted to have supper at the casino and spend the evening.  Loren and Amber joined us for supper, and we had a long leisurely meal ( I think they may have wanted to kick us out of the buffet, but it was only just over an hour and half.) Loren pointed out how long it had been since the four of us had spent time together, without partners of children. We figured that it had been more than 20 years.

 I was showing Amber how a machine worked and Loren sat an one nearby, after telling us how much he disliked slot machines, because he never knew how or why he won.  Then, as an example, he said "it says I won $38.00 but not how". When I checked he had won a random progressive jackpot, and he was complaining!!?  So he took his winnings and left to check out the blackjack table.  He came back about an hour later with a handful of chips asking where he could cash them in, as he was quitting while he was ahead. Amber played and did quite well, winning two progressive jackpots and a hand pay, while we were there.  She was well ahead of the game when we left, (with empty pockets). It was a pleasant evening, and a joy to spend it with my children.  Another thing to be grateful for.

Happy New Year

I didn't make it til midnight.  I didn't even make it until 10:00 pm, but at least I am getting my sleep.  It was a quiet New Years Eve, but we partied on New Years Day.  We were at the Legion Levy from 1 to 4 and then went over to Stu & Barbs from 4 to 8.  It was almost a continuation of the levy since 2 other couples from our table were also at the party.  I ate sooooo much food yesterday!  And it was all really good.  My friend Lynne came to the levy as our guest.  Her husband couldn't make it 'cause his lungs are poor and he avoids crowds and their related illnessess.  We had a nice visit and she ended up comparing wounds with John (She recently cut the tip of her finger off on a table saw)  John's wife and I tried to ignore their conversation.  At Stu & Barbs we all talked about just about everything. It was really nice.  We so seldom go out so this was a treat for me.  Jim didn't want to go, but he was the one that ended up staying! I was going to take a bottle of wine, but I left it on the bar at home.  Next time.  Barb went all out with munchies and food.  She says a New Years drop in was always a tradition with her and she wants to continue it here.  Back to work today.  Mallorie is gone and Patty is sick, so it has been a very busy day so far.  At least I can still log into the blog at work.  Good reason not to retire.