Happy dance

I'm so glad to hear that you're coming Beth. I know you've been thinking about it. However--ta da--yesterday Dianne told us that she has been accepted into Sioux Narrows and will be with us Friday and Saturday nights--maybe even Sunday. I know she isn't really family, but, she IS a friend and she makes me laugh--when she doesn't have pneumonia.

I know you need rain, Cathy. The ground here is very, very dry. But this is weekend is the "big sale" at Ft. Whyte. We have been snowed on and flooded in past years, and were hoping that this year we might have nice weather. So we'll truck on and hope for the best. All sorts of warnings about not planting too soon, but you see people out there woring like beavers. David has been puttering inthe yard. He does a bit and then rests for a bit. He has cut off the top of the beautiful pyramidal cedar in the back yard. It was just short of the Hydro lines, and we knew that there were problems ahead. I know it'll keep growing, but hopefully we've delayed the inevitible for a couple of years. I think it might prove expensive to cut down.

I have joined a couple of artists' groups. One is out in Selkirk, and I phoned and offered to volunteer up to 10 hours a month. I know they will be wanting more, but I'm determined to be firm here. The other is local and offers cheap classses to members. I want to get back to my sketching and painting. I've also decided to try Morning Pages again. Somehow the idea of a "brain dump" appeals. That way I can rant there and not dump my insecurities on you two.

This morning we are off to have David's eye measured for an implant. There was a cancellation, and he got in much earlier than expected. I also have to shop. Gillian's birthday was yesterday, and I forgot. It drives me crazy! I had it firmly fixed in my mind until last weekend.

Rain

is in the forecast again. I hope that it is finally going to happen. We had a tiny bit yesterday, but we are desperate here. It is soooo dry. Of course they are calling for snow this weekend, so I hope that part of the forecast is wrong. The dinner on Sunday was quite good. The only comment I might make is presentation. Everything was beige Chicken souvlaki, spanikopita (spinach pie) and roast potatoes. Pita and dip. Desert was phylo pastry, layered with custard and honey. The Greek Salad was on the tables and it was wonderful (I was able to avoid all the olives) The evening ended early so we were cleaned up and home by 9pm Being back at work on Monday was a bit of a shock after a week in Winnipeg. It has not been busy lately so I am catching up on my plan registrations. We had our first VCC meeting without an administrator on Monday. The financial reports were skimpy, but all of the work is getting done. They had about 13 applicants for the jobs and interviews will be next wednesday. I finally buckled down and did my cancer canvas this week (it is due on Friday) Every year I swear that I will do it early and every year I am last minute. Donations were up this year. Too many people with cancer touching our lives. Allergie season (and woodticks) upon us again. Sniffling and scratching. What more could one want to do with their lives. Enjoy the rest of the week

Be - It snowed yesterday

In North Bay yesterday for shopping and violin lesson, and it was snowing a bit and sleeting a bit and cold, cold wind blowing. And yet today worked in the yard all day ( yes, I said all day) and it was nice, shirt sleeve weather. We have had frost every night for the past few nights and hopefully tonight will be last for a few days as the weather forecast indicates it is getting warmer for the nights. It means no heaters need to be put on, and no closing up the greenhouses. Today we did a major cleanup of both greenhouses - took all plants out, redid most of them, adjusted a few of the shelves and then put them all back in. Sounds like an easy chore, but believe me it is not.
Monday night the little cat knocked over my violin onto the floor from its stand, and did some damage. I was terrified that it may be so bad it might require repair job but I took it into class and the instructor fixed the bridge, fixed the strings and the fine tuner screws, and all was well. Apparently not as bad as I imagined. Needless to say, I have changed how I store it so I won't have a repeat of the cat's mischief.
I am making plans to drive to Winnipeg again this year - I bought a case of 24 water bottles on sale for $1.97 so I am now committed to the trip, right? Patty, I hope that my tenting at the Lake is still an option for the August long weekend? I have a new tent - larger ( 12 X 8) with more room to actually stand up and move around, and a new cot that sits off the floor with a blow up mattress. They are both up in the back yard right now - and with the strong winds of late, it has been a good test of its durability. Now, it has not yet tested rain, but I'm sure will weather that as well ( if it happens to rain at the Lake, haha!)
Anyway, must go for now and get things ready for Mothers tomorrow - it will be hair cutting day again so I must take my shears as well as the food for lunch.
Take care

And here it is tuesday..

where do the days go? How was your dinner Cathy? You seemed to be quite looking forward to it when we spoke. What treasures did you find Beth? I appear to need a new can opener (after only 15-20 years--go figure). Not that it would be worth your while to send it here, even if you found one still in the original wrapping. Worst part was that it started mis-behaving while I was trying to open a can of Tim Horton's coffee. ARG-g-g-h!

We have another sale this weekend--a big one--and I just can't seem to work up any interest or enthusiasm. This brings back my chronic "back of my mind" worry--is it depression or dementia? I think I've found in the past that, if I have the insight to consider dementia it probably isn't. Not having much luck shaking the depression though, this year. So I'll go and find something red to wear today. I have season five of my Quilting Arts TV dvds, and I've viewed up to program #10 out of 13. I've seen nothing that really stimulates my interest. Is it me or has the variety of subjects deteriorated? Maybe a bit of both, but I'm quite disappointed and may not buy any more of them.

"Himself" is now asking about breakfast. Better go and feed the "beast".

Home again

They let us leave early on Friday , so early that I am not sure why I had to stay on Thursday, except I got to see Pati. I was home by 1:00 pm. Jim must have missed me, because he had lunch waiting... he wasn't sure what I might like, so he had made spagetti sauce, cut up some potatoes for home made fries and had taken steak out of the freezer. He just wanted to cover all the bases! I didn't expect to be as tired as I was Friday night. By 4pm I was feeling burnt out and I was in bed before 8! The course was good I learned a lot of things that applied to my work. Usually they force us to take courses that really don't apply. It was on work that I am already doing, but that I have had no formal training for. We worked with some of the people in surveys in Winnipeg, but we also got some history on some things that I have been confused about (CLA res, M&M, Sand & gravel, Railway case....... not that you asked :) ) Now things are back to normal. There is a supper here tomorrow night... A Taste of Greece. There was a phone message for me asking if one of us could work the late shift on the bar (we are signed up for the early shift) and could I be there at 9am to help decorate. And for all our help we get our tickets for $25 each instead of $35. I will have to think about the bar. Jim is only going to the supper because of me, and I don't think that he will want to sit by himself while I work the bar by myself, nor will he want to work a shift by himself. At least the late shift will end at 10 pm and not 1 am. I hope you both enjoy your weekend

glad you enjoyed it, Beth.

We had been thinking of you and had wanted to give you a bit of a "pick me up"--similar to the "Get well soon" card I got in the mail today. Thank you. The sale was a pitiful thing, but I got what I wanted--feedback on my series of pieces using recycling techniques and materials. Both Cathy and I were surprised at how much we enjoyed the actual lecture itself--basically on how to be environmentally responsible and encourage sustainable activities in your crafting. I had been feeling a little better by Wednesday, but by that point there was so much catching up David and I had to do in terms of paying bills and buying groceries and gas etc, that Thursday was the first chance Cathy and I had to get together. You'll both be glad to know that we actually bought me a new electric ( battery operated) razor. No more burnt or hairy armpits.

Amber and the children will be coming over for supper on Sunday. It seems like forever since we saw them. I'm quite looking forward to it and will actually take a break from my sewing. Otherwise I'll be spending the next few days working for the big two day sale next weekend at Ft. Whyte.

Late now, and I'm tired. Having trouble working out a balance between sleeping at night and napping. Thank goodness retirement means that I can sleep, more or less, when I want. actually right now I think it's lie down before you fall down. Have a good weekend.

Be - What a wonderful surprise to greet me

........both of you waving a loving "Hi" to me. Just what I needed as I opened up the blog just now!
So it is Friday and the weekend again - I wonder where the week days go but then think of all I have done on each of those days, and I wonder no more.
My big cat had surgery on Wed to remove a hematoma in her ear lobe and now I have scratches, and puncture holes all over me - just from trying to give her antibiotic pills twice a day. It is very hard to treat an animal - they do not respond well to reason and persuasion, haha!
We head up to North Bay early tomorrow morning because it is "junk day" there. So similar to Harry's trip up to Kirkland Lake last week, we shall cruise the streets looking for wares. Harry is looking especially for flower pots and since many people throw them away, we may be lucky.
So Cathy you should be back home after your week in the big city and I hope your course went well for you - will this mean you get more responsibilities?
Wishing you both a happy weekend and hope to see a few words on the blog if you can...Take care