Terrible storm passes through today...

 Just a brief note to describe the terrible weather we have had today with "alerts" being broadcast of tornado warnings. Just 2 hours south in Barrie, Ontario a tornado did touch down with 'catastrophic damage" reported. We had torrential rains and water and more water with winds. With all the heavy rain, our new roof held true as far as I can see, so for that I am happy.  I wonder what kind of weather you folks are actually having even though I check The Weather Network it is not always accurate. Not a nice day. So for now i shall go to bed and read for awhile to settle me down and hopefully get some sleep. Thinking of you all...take care.

Happy happy...

 Doesn't it just feel great to have that haircut. I felt the same way last week but alas no Starbucks to celebrate. When all is well with the world, what more can we ask for and lately the messages have all been upbeat and happy. 

I too, have been enjoying a Time Team show and I must say how much I am still looking forward to having some time to sit and watch an episode or sometimes even two episodes at a time.  As well, I have downloaded the schedule for CFL Football broadcasts on TSN and with fingers crossed I hope to be able to catch a few of the games. I used to watch all the CFL games when I had CBC on the TV way back when, and with being able to log into Shaw now on the computer (thanks Cathy for the prompt and password) I just may be able to bring back those memories and watch it again.

Lots of work outside but gradually I have also been making little areas around the yard where one can sit and rest - my early mornings may see me utilizing these special areas soon as I do my walkabouts. At one time I would sit on the sit upon but after that was torn down (rotten and falling down actually), I did not have a nice place to call my place haha!

Soon time to do my nightly chores ( cats, birds, rabbits, dogs ) and then a bit of reading before lights out. I picked up a silly book - a romance novel I think, but it is ok for me to read at night as my mind has nothing to do but read. It is written by the author who wrote If Wishes were Horses, so I thought it might be good.

Please stay cool best you can and hope that it will rain there to help you get through.We are supposed to have a thunderstorm tomorrow but it it comes with rain i shall be happy as well.

Thinking of you....💖  ps I heard a doc on CBC last night about emogies and the hidden meanings of using them so at this point I am almost afraid to put one in, in case it is misinterpreted? Have you folks knowledge of such things? XX

"Tis done!!

 My hair has been cut.  It sure didn't take her long to do it.  I had thought that it would take awhile, as it was so long.  And it is what I had wanted, which doesn't always happen.  By way of celebration, the rain started, just as I was leaving the hairdresser.  Another reason to be joyful.  So I stopped at Starbucks, and discovered that the Egg Bite that had been taken off the menu during lockdown, was back, so had lunch there.  I sat on the patio, under an umbrella, and read my book in the rain, just for fun. We may be facing a dreary day, but things are going well around here.

Has life become slothful?

 Maybe it's the result of the pills, but I seem to have stopped worrying about anything.  Yes, the housework is suffering, but the house doesn't appear much the worse for it.  I have  list of things that need doing, and a space on my BuJo for it, but am happy to get one item done per week.  David is doing more, and I very much appreciate that, but feel guilty, just the same.  Not too guilty, though.  I'm quite happy to  sit in the garden, when it's not too hot, and don't worry about having a book to read--which is very much not like me.  I've always had a book on the go, since I was a child.  I even used to read the back of cereal boxes, when Mom wouldn't let me take a book to the table.  So, while my outlook has changed, has it really changed for the better?  I do have to admit that I'm learning a lot by watching episodes of Time Team.

My productivity has lessened, in the studio, as well.  But I'm not really worried about that.  I'm on my 6th charity quilt ( see other blog), and have 2-3 at the back of my mind.  This is getting rid of a lot of fabric, but with minimal creativity.  But, I am learning to use my new sewing machine.  Still, it makes me happy, even if I only get 1-2 hours, and not every day.  So I'm complaining a lot, but have to admit that life is good right now.  Maybe I just have to have a serious talk with myself, and keep my thoughts to myself--or not.😄

Tomorrow I get a haircut.  This is wonderful, and well past time.  It isn't with my usual hairdresser, but I can't worry about that.  I fully plan to stop for coffee on the way home, as a way to celebrate.  But for now, I plan to sweep the kitchen floor, and then head for my shower.

Assumptions and Contentment

 Well, Cathy, I guess if you didn't inherit McGrath hair, you must have inherited Hughes hair.  I don't want to think about an alternative assumption.  Even if your hair is white, is it soft or stiff and kinky?  If soft, count your blessings.

The past couple of days have been relaxing, but somewhat productive as well.  The white quilt is finished and on the charity pile.  I've started to put together the orange quilt that's been on the design wall for a few days.  (I must take a picture of it.)  It consists of 4" squares put together in rows.  It started with a small pile of Hallowe'en squares that I won in a raffle.  There weren't enough to make a full quilt, so I had to add squares from my pile of 4" squares that has been hanging around the studio for years.  I needed 100squares.  They were all lined up and I was pinning on little pieces of paper with code numbers identifying their position on the quilt. I just about died when I realized that I had 10 rows of 9 pieces rather than 10 rows of 10.  I have no more fabric that will be suitable.  So, I'll just have to sew them together and add borders, to get the minimum size I need for these charity quilts.  Hadn't counted on that, and it will interfere with the pattern.  But, "needs must".

David and I have been playing at trying to fulfill the challenges that Starbucks issues twice weekly.  We don't always do it, and don't worry if we miss, but we do try.  Well, this week we have to buy a baked good 7 times in 8 days, and we've already missed one day.  So, this afternoon, David offered to go and buy what was needed, while I sorted out my sewing.  Gotta luv 'im!  It arrived just as I finished my work, and I sat outside to read and drink my coffee.  But I found that I really couldn't concentrate on my book, but rather it just felt good to sit and look at the garden and listen to the birds.   Then, I realized that I was feeling contented.  I've spoken about this before, and the more I think about it, maybe we are blessed if we can just find that one moment of contentment during our day.

Hair

 OK, ladies. One of us has had white ( not grey or salt and pepper) hair for about 10 years. So who did I get my hair from??  I do need a hair cut though. I meant to phone today but I forgot. Even if my hair wasn’t white it would have been after today. I was painting a shed. I usually get more on myself than the surface at the best of times, but today I was stirring with the drill and gave it too much power. The paint shot up and out of the can!  My feet and legs were white, as well as the ground. And then, while painting, the ants started to bite my feet. Can you imagine the mess I made slapping at the ants with a paint roller in my hands!!  Besides being filthy my entire body aches from working today. So now I sit having a pre-dinner glass of wine. I may never move again. Good thing it’s left overs for supper. Tomorrow the heat starts to return so I am glad we got some work done the last couple of days. The fire ban went on again a couple of days ago so we have to wait for rain before we can enjoy a fire again. At least we got a few good fires in. We have the habit of throwing the weeds from the garden into the fire pit. Now they are getting pretty deep again but should burn pretty quick once we start. Jim bought a new garden tractor. Just in time since ours stopped today. The motor starts but the tractor won’t move.  We should have the new one on Friday. It’s a 46 inch cut Club Cadet. He’s ordered a bagger too, but we’re not sure when it will come in. The tractor is being brought in from Elm Creek. Have a good evening!

Hair--not the musical!

 So glad you mentioned hair, Beth.  I've been procrastinating about making an appointment, as I'm half liking my longer hair, and think I've maybe found a style that might be easier to look after.  But after reading your words, I realized that I could have the style I want with much shorter hair and be much happier.  I haven't dyed my hair in a couple of years, and it's still  mostly brown, although the grey is creeping in, especially around my face.  It sounds as though you and I may not have inherited the black Irish hair of the McGraths, but have inherited the gene for keeping our brown hair well into our 70's.  I can't speak for any McGraths other than Dad and Auntie Lorrain, but they were both still Salt and Peppery well into their 80's.  How about you, Cathy? I'm just glad not to have inherited Mom's multi-coloured grey, white, brown, and red hair, with the texture of bailing wire, although the white stipes high on the temples, are starting to show up.😠

Beth, you say you would rather be grey than white, but I've often thought the opposite.  I've seen so many stunning styles for pure white hair, many more than for grey.  But--it's wonderful how styles for older woman are being published and acknowledged, and how much more acceptable grey or white hair is.