Back to work

and back with a vengeance.  Jim starts hauling potatoes tomorrow and the car  pool is picking him up at 5:15.  I guess 4:30 is in my future!  I have his sandwiches in the fridge and sliced cucumbers.  The tomatoes are ready and I have a can of soup to heat up and tea to make.  And, yes, I know he can do it himself but I will wake up and won't be able to stay in bed  (for this first day anyway) so I might as well get up and help.  I have an optometrist appointment at 9am tomorrow.  I have had this appointment for almost a year.  I knew when it was but I just didn't realise it was now!  Summer has fled!  Then I have an appointment in Brandon for a test on  the 14th.  Time sure does fly.  I have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.  A catch all phrase I know, but at least I now have a name for what has been bothering be for so long. Now I can take steps to control it.  It's the eating regularly and balanced meals.  My diet is so irregular that this will be a challenge. With Jim away for a month I will have a chance to work on it and get it to be a habit before we have meals together again.  Now I better get to bed before 4:30 comes!

The crazy old woman

As they were getting ready to go to the store this morning the crazy old woman, with her tongue in a knot, told her husband she needed a "pick quee" before going.  I know what she meant, why should he be confused?

Accidents at home.

Yes, I have read the back. And so far the book is a good read but I'm only into it a little - read enough though that the murder has now taken place. Wouldn't it be nice for us all to spend some time at the Three Pines B&B together?
It is said that accidents with injuries are most frequently experienced at home.  So this morning, to prove this theory, I decided to fall down the stairs from the kitchen to the landing - three stairs.  Once I recovered my well being from the fall, and picked myself up, I examined myself for injuries.  Oh, I knew I had broken my foot but when I removed my sock, the little toe was at right angles to the rest of the foot.  So I strapped it into alignment best I could by taping it to the next toe, and putting on a fairly sturdy but comfortable shoe. It hurts, but I shall have to bear it and hope the darn bone shall heal itself.  "heal thyself..." she says!
I'm busy with all sorts of produce trying to catch up.  Enjoying myself and playing music as I work.  I just made a smoothie with peaches, bananas and yoghurt - and I had to have another laugh at your expense Pati, while I put the yoghurt into the blender!
Well, back to work as I limp around.  Silly me.....XXX

The latest Gamache book

I have to share, and no, I haven't got the book.  There was a review of the book in today's Free Press--a good review.  So now I have a loose idea of the plot.  The reviewer mentions a"remarkable and moving personal message" contained in the acknowledgments at the back of the book, so be sure to read that, Beth.  He also gives an excellent review of the B&B in Three Pines, stating he and his wife would check in any time.

Another day

to scratch off the calendar. 

Damn depression is barking at my heels, and I realized that it's at its worst, while or just after, I drink the green tea.  A lot of the green teas, and at least one other that I've tried, disagree with me, but I had thought the two I'm using would be okay.  I'm trying to drink a large cup with every meal.  Maybe I'll just have to cut it back to 2/day.  The hardest thing about rigidly following the diet is cutting back on the Dr. Pepper.  I manage about 1/2 the time.  At other times, the stress it's causing just isn't worth denying myself, and I'm really struggling with that concept.  But the scale is a little lower, so I persevere, and sit here with a bottle of lemon water.  A bit of a surprise is how much I enjoyed the cold cod, in a salad.  I've had it twice this week, as I think the cod cakes are awful.

I'm exploring a new writer--Allison Brennan.  I've enjoyed a couple of her books, and have now ordered others.  No word on the newest Louise Penny book, but I can wait.

I have three different projects on the go, but only get an hour or so in the studio, in a day.  I have much more energy, but my working speed is still quite slow, and I still have to pace myself.  Still, it's so much better than it was 6 months ago, that I think the whole losing weight bit is worthwhile.  I took most of a day off the housework this week, and couldn't believe how much it piled up.

Here I am quick , but off current topic....

It was 5 :30 pm and I was out dumping compost into the barrel. The phone rang. I recognized the Library number - and was sure the Stone Barrington book I ordered must have come in.  Denise, the Librarian ( also friends of ours) said "guess what...the next Louise Penny book just came in, and I thought I would give you a call right away before it went on the shelf"  I raced up in the car, took her a bag of fresh peaches and nectarines that we bought this afternoon at the orchard people's place on the lake, and came home with the nice new book.   So I guess I am bragging a little but I know you will both get your hands on it eventually.  And no spoiler alerts - I just won't tell you about it, haha!
....Now to do dishes, tidy up, get ready for bed, and start my reading!  Move over Stone Barrington - you'll just have to wait......I'm with Inspector Gamache again.
Take care.

Gov't cheque for glasses

Cathy, we both went through this.  The cheque takes months.  One of ours took so long  we forgot it was coming--(a nice surprise, when it did come).

re:The cleaning and sorting.  This is exactly the same thing we went through getting ready for the reno.  Out dated food--out with it.  Can't figure out what something is, or why we ever bought it in the first place--out with it.  The shock and awe that comes with realizing exactly how bad things have become and how much really needs to be done?  A glass of wine, of maybe a bottle of wine, can solve that. I'm still working on my cleaning "to do" list that came out ofgetting ready for the reno.  That's what having the carpet cleaning in on Monday was all about.   Today I get to tackle a couple of the room doors upstairs with a Magic Eraser--the only thing that appears to work on the general grime that develops over years where you touch them.

But the need to evaluate everything that goes in my cupboards, especially when I have fewer cupboards than a couple of months ago, has lead to a much more organized, and functionally useful kitchen.  We are still having to make small decisions about where would be the best place to put things, almost every day.  Believe me--it's worth the effort, just don't try or expect to finish it all in one day.

How do you know when you're maybe not going to a have a good day?  When you make a smoothie by putting most of the ingredients in the blender, and then get your special spatula to help get the yogurt out of the little plastic dish, and carefully scrape it all into the compost pail.