Waiting with baited breath

A beautiful day.  Warm temperatures, and sunshine.  The snow in the backyard is quickly disappearing.  The birds, squirrels, and rabbit are busy around the feeder.  All appears right with the world.  But we under a severe weather watch for this very nasty Colorado Low, the first of which was to have arrived last night.  The sky was clouding over by supper time tonight, but no storm to be seen at this point.  Our plan, at this point, is to stay home and not venture out until we leave for Neepawa on Wednesday morning.  I certainly can find something to do for the next two days, and David is always willing to help.  

Although I had planned to work on a new table runner, from a re-purposed hanging, David came to help, and we cleaned out all of the bundles of fabric hangings in the the big cedar chest Daddy made.  Most of the pieces were old and have been discarded, but first David is taking off the beads for re-cycling.  I found a couple that I plan to use in the exhibitions coming up later this year.

The party's over....

Thank goodness. We did our thing and got the turkey and gravy down to the Arena by 5:30 pm as requested. The chaffing dishes holding the cut turkey went right into the table top heating pans that were all set up on the buffet table. And we bid them a farewell. What a circus there. In the midst of the Lions trying to get this meal made and out, to the 180 ticket holders ( that is the number of tickets sold apparently) there was some other event going on in the hall with lots of Air Cadets running around. I did not stay long enough to even ascertain what - I got out of there and back to the car.  Harry spoke briefly to the man in charge and his wife who were busy in the kitchen and this man just shook his head and said to Harry `we are too old, you and Ì to be doing this....`He owned the meat deli for years before selling out to another German couple, and now he still works part time at Foodland as a butcher. His wife works part time at the Village Bins store. Both are older ( he is turning 80 years this year) Now I have the tidying up here to do but that won`t take long. Wash a few pots and return the few contents back to the fridge - this will give me a chance to clean out the fridge I hope!
Then Harry and I treated ourselves to Chinese takeout. Before coming home to eat though, we drove down to the lake to see the marvel of Mother nature. In this case Cathy, Mother Nature was at her best. The lake is covered with a glaze of shiny ice - one fellow was actually skating around. And in the middle of this mirror like vision, sat the ice huts like little statues embedded in the ice. Along the shore line the power of the ice breaking up is evident in sheets of ice shooting up at least ten or twelve feet into the air all piled together and by the looks of it growing constantly.. Glorious to see. But I would not venture out on the ice for anything.
I received the $25.00 loaded visa card from Loblaws in response to my registering for the rebate following the class action suit about the price fixing for bread.  Harry was also registered but nothing has come back to him yet. We don`t have an actual Loblaws store near us but can go to No Frills, or ValuMart or Independent which are subsidiaries of Loblaws to spend it.
So take care all...watch that weather and stay off the roads.

Storms and housework

I think this storm is just Mother Nature ‘s way of saying get off your but and do some cleaning. I was trying to straighten my office and the dust was so thick I was coughing and gagging so naturally I stopped and watched tv instead. Last night I did one load of laundry then watched the wildcard brier playoff. McEwen won.  I would love to share a meal with you when you are here Pati we can work out where and what. I am going to find it hard to go back to 5 day weeks once I use up my holidays.  I think I should get a few meals into the freezer for the days I just can’t face deciding what to eat. I have a quiche in the oven for breakfast but tomorrow I think it will jim’s Turn and I am going to think of something different. I am going to have to try to get my laptop working so I can do my taxes this year. I just use simple tax on line. It talks you through it. Quiche is almost ready. Have a great weekend

Trip and Birthdays

Wise decision all around. As long as everyone is amenable to the change it is best this way. No worries about travelling. Hugs still coming from this way though for the Birthday girl!
Yesterday the neighbours husband Gerd came pounding on the front door. There he was with a cake for me returning the plate I had last taken over with cookies.  It is a specialty cake that they purchase from a bakery in southern Ontario called Fruit Cake with Almond filling aka Dutch Stollen.  I called over to Ruth to thank her - she is getting along much better now and anxious, as I am, to have this horrendous weather over and Spring to come so she can get out of the house.  Gerd told me that she went out to the shed to see her rabbit for the first time the other day. He has been the caretaker all the time she has been laid up.
Well third turkey is in the oven. Harry has gone off to the Auction Barn in Powassan to pick up a shelf he bought last night on line auction. Then this afternoon we shall get all the turkey cut and trayed and heated, and gravy made and haul it all over to the Arena, Yeah!  Harry went up last evening to finalize the plan - the man in charge (who commandeered Harry) was making bratwurst sausages with moose and pork mix, Others were running around doing who knows what haha!  I am so glad we are out of that sort of thing ( well, I guess not totally)  Take care. 

Change in plans

The ladies who will be helping to hang our show in Neepawa were quite concerned about the nasty weather forecast for Monday.  So, after consultation with Rrain, and frantic e-mails between myself and the three ladies, our trip is being postponed until Wednesday.  Considering this, I contacted the motel in Neepawa to change my reservation.  After much discussion and growing frustration, I discovered that, originally, he had put me down for February 5 rather than March 5th, as I had requested.  When I didn't show up, he billed me as a "no show".  Now, this gentleman neither speaks nor understands English well.  It's obviously not his first language, so I don't think I'm the one who made a mistake here.  But I kept my "cool", and have been promised that I will not be charged for my stay on March 7th.  We've stayed at this motel before without difficulty, but I will think twice before going there again in future.  I tend to believe that the ownership and/or management has changed since our last trip, as communication was certainly not an issue last time.

Unfortunately, Cathy, this means that we won't be able to spend your birthday with you.   The opportunity to spend birthdays together happens so seldom, that it's a shame to lose this one.  But, do you think there might be a chance we could share a meal?

Your Scenic view

What a nice daily view from your front window Pati - to see the Church sign to brighten your day. That Church has been a source of many exciting events in your life over the years hasn't it?
So as you prepare Pati and Dave to venture to Neepawa Monday take care on the roads. Hope your setup at the Centre will go well. And more importantly. hope that you all get together to celebrate Cathy's Birthday. I shall be with you all in spirit.
Here I watch the weather closely as well. Yesterday I went to the Hardware and bought two long stove pipes. These are to be used to try to divert water coming from the downspouts off the eaves. Most of the ground is still frozen solid from all the previous melts and freezes, but the water is melting off the roof and the snow creating nice little lakes and streams that I don't want to enter the basement. I have the sump pump ready at the door to set up quickly for the front sidewalk if necessary. Oh, I really do not like this time of year.   Yesterday on the CBC Show "Q"  I enjoyed a long conversation the host had with Randy Bachman. I really like to hear all his stories and so often references to Winnipeg that bring back memories. Pati, I am sure you will have a good time at his Show the end of March.  He is just releasing a new album called "By George, by Bachman" which highlights remakes of George Harrison songs (from the Beatles)
In meantime we are cooking turkeys. I have cleaned out the fridge into coolers best I can and for the next few days the fridge will be taken over by cooked turkey and gravy. I shall be so glad to see the end of it Saturday night (maybe toast it with a drink?)
Here it is Friday again and so I send best wishes to all for the weekend. Cathy you are on days off now so please enjoy - have you planned a trip or two , or are you watching that weather the same as all of us. Wouldn't be good to be on the road if a storm comes through.   Take care 

The church across the street

The illuminated sign across the street changes about every two months.  This is what we're seeing now.

Today I learned something new.  We wanted to have the car washed before heading to Neepawa, and I had to drive it into the car wash. Of course, I forgot to give the keys to the attendant, and he had to chase us down  the aisle, but I got the darn thing in!

Yesterday, with a last minute invitation, we joined the children and their children for a birthday dinner for Loren, at Red Lobster.  the menu had calorie counts with every dish, which was really helpful in finding something to eat.  The chicken breast I ordered came with two side dishes, but the only one with a reasonable calorie count was broccoli, so I ordered broccoli twice.  Then Loren ordered double broccoli with his entree.  Our waitress appeared fairly experienced, but even she expressed surprise at that.  It was nice to see everyone, as even Darren showed up.  No pictures though.

The weather is great right now, but a Colorado low is forecast for the weekend and Monday--through Southern Manitoba.  Not sure what that might mean for our trip on Monday, but we're keeping watch, and I've contacted the ladies coming with us.