Looking forward

Here we are at the end of another year.  Traditionally I look back at my posts of the last year.  Tonight I did not, I have chosen to look forward.  I see 2016 as a gift, a chance to start new.

It's not that 2015 was bad, but it was a year of adjustments.  Within a few days of its start I lost dear little Millie, the worlds greatest dog.

I still miss her everyday but was blessed mid year by this little curly black ball of energy named Abby.  She is a perfect combination of delight and challenge. Lol. And I wouldn't have it any other way.  

So I look forward to welcoming 2016 tomorrow and tonight I intend to see out 2015 quietly with Abby, a nice bottle of red wine, and a new rug project.   Can't think of any better way to end the year 

I truly appreciate all of you who read my little blog.  I've made some lovely friends and wish you all the very best in the new year.  

Post Holiday Bliss

The hustle and bustle is over and all that is left to do is enjoy these remaining vacation days.  I had a lovely Christmas with Auntie. I think we've spent more time together the last week than we have in the last year.  Our relationship has had its challenges so this was especially a nice time for us.  Now it's time for me to nest for a few days and recharge.  This evening I decided it was time to start to put the house back in order.  The Christmas decorations are all put away for another year.  Except for my ceramic Christmas tree.  It still makes me happy so it will stick around for a bit longer.  I've been spending a lot of time like this

We have had a couple of small snowfalls and some sub-zero temperatures so there is nothing better than fuzzy socks and warm pj's .  Abby is mimicking my relaxation mode 

A few more days off work, a few more pj wearing days and I think I'll be ready to meet 2016

The Eve

It's the day before the big day and I'm actually feeling the Christmas spirit.  I honestly wasn't sure I would feel it again.  Two years ago we spent Christmas in a Palliative Care room with my Mother. Not the cheeriest of holiday memories.  Then last year, my first without her I just wished Christmas would disappear.   There were no tree, a few decorations that friends insisted I put up.  I didn't want any part of it.  It was a very sad time and I was grateful when it was over.  But this year is different.  I want to be a part of it.  I have a skraggly little tree that leans a little.  Just like me.  Lol

Tonight auntie and I will go to church to the candlelight service .  I might be just me but I think this is the prettiest church sanctuary  .anywhere

Then we will host a little drop in for family.  I'm looking forward to it all.    Merry Christmas to you all

The elves have been busy

Things are starting to take shape.  Decorations are popping up  

  The stockings are hung  

There is one missing but retrieving it requires a ladder and since I've had a little wine post-dinner, I think I'll wait until tomorrow to fetch it .   The cookies are baked

The wreath is on the door

I think I just might make it by the 25th

Let's have some fun

First thank you for all the sweet comments on my last post.  It was a sentimental day.  But now I think I need to switch gears and lighten things up a little.    I have an angel on top of my little tree.  I discovered the other day that her arms move.  I decided to have a little fun with her.   Please caption the photo for me.  What do you think she is thinking??   

  This is going to be fun.  I have a lot of followers with a wicked sense of humour (like me).  Let's hear it.......

It happened today

My old grinch heart grew 3 sizes today.  It was a day full of sweet and bittersweet memories.

It's funny how you get more sentimental as you get older. Many months ago I was chatting with a friend and I don't know how we got on the subject but I told her my Mom used to have one of those lit ceramic Christmas trees and how I wished I still had it.  Well, today she presented me with this

She's been scouring thrift stores ever since looking for one.   Just looking at it makes me happy, not only for the memories it brings back but that I am blessed with such a thoughtful and caring friend.   But that's not the end of today's sappy sentiment.  Last weekend we lost a dear family friend. She was a vibrant 98 years old.  She was an incredible cook and that theme of her food and baking was a common thread throughout her eulogy Monday.  Every year since I can remember a huge box of Christmas baking arrived at the house.  Once I became a licensed driver I was summoned each December to pick up the box.  I loved my visits with her.  She was not only kind and generous but incredibly funny. The last few years she lived in a retirement home in a small apartment.  She always had a scandalous tale of the goings on there.  Cracked me up.   Even last Christmas, at the ripe old age of 97, she called for me to pick up "the box".  Usually 3 dozen cookies, a couple of different cakes and the best part was a homemade apple pie.   Following the funeral her daughter called me aside. She said "Mom didn't forget about you, she started her baking early". And today "the box" was delivered.  And of the items in it was one final apple pie 

Auntie and I shared it and we both ate it with tears streaming down our faces.  It was like she sent it from heaven.   So here I sit, belly full of pie, staring at my ceramic Christmas tree and starting to feel like Christmas and all the things that are important 

What's Happening?

Damned if I know!  How did it get to be the middle of December?  My nice orderly little life has devolved into a chaotic mess.  All week I have lived in fear that someone would come to visit and I would be compelled to tell them I have a horrible contagious disease and they dare not enter.  The kitchen table is covered by my sewing machine and a pile of sale flyers and unopened mail.  The dining room is remnants of a variety of in-progress holiday mess

Why are there 2 pillows on the table?  I have no idea either.  Today I removed the barricade that kept Abby out of the dining  room  She is still having the occasional accident but I couldn't deal with the ugly makeshift barricade any longer.   This morning I put up the big tree at aunties  (no pictures, sorry)  We had it decorated and pretty by noon.  Then this afternoon I brought my skinny little tree in from the garage.    Here it stands, still naked but I didn't want to decorate it until I was sure Abby wasn't going to pull it down.  Every time she went near it I shook a mayonnaise jar full of nails and she hasn't gone near it all evening.  So tomorrow night it might get decorated   

I finally got around to binding one of my finished rugs.  Countless more to go but this is a start. 

The weather forecast says our first winter storm is coming late tomorrow.  Shovel and salt is ready and I went to the store tonight and got 2 bags of cheesies just in case.    I need longer weekends.   

That Fat Lady Sings

Yes, I'm the fat lady and about 5 minutes ago I started singing.  This fall I took a university course and I've been working all week on the final assignment

.   I just hit the submit button.   

Hallelujah!  This course was not enjoyable at all but it's over.  Time to put it behind me and start to think of that other event that is looming in the future.  Abby seems to have caught the fever.  I hope I can catch up to her

This night was a bust

Or more correctly "busted glass".  Today we've had wild winds. I got home from work a little late and was rushing to get Abby out to pee.  The wind caught the back door and whipped it out.  It smashed the outside light.  Smashed to smitherines. 

So it's dark, no outside light and glass everywhere.  Grrrrrr.  I grabbed Abby and threw her back in the house and grabbed an old box to collect the glass.  I got all the big pieces but will have to wait until daylight to see the rest.  I called my neighbor and told her to watch out because of her little dog and the shatter path is between both our back doors.  I'm not a happy camper.  So the weekend isn't starting out as planned.  I would say it calls for a large beverage

Serenity Now.........

This, that and the other

This week was so jammed packed I don't know where to start.  I'll just hit the highlights. There were multiple work events, but only pictures of one.  Since 1971 Nova Scotia has donated a Christmas tree to the city of Boston as a thank you for the help they offered the province during the tragic Halifax Explosion of 1917.  

This 53 foot tree traveled through our town on its journey to Boston.  We hosted a little street party to bid the tree safe travels. Hot chocolate, Christmas carols and a few gifts for the staff travelling with the tree.  I'm anxious to watch the lighting ceremony on tv.  

I finished hooking another little mat since I had some room left on the end of a piece of linen.  It's a Bird In The Hand Primitive design.  Cute little mat for the holidays 

Now you know what's next?  The dreaded binding binge. I have a stack of 4 to bind.. I wonder what trauma the sewing machine has in store for me tonight.  I swear that machine hates me 

This sweet little face is looking up at me from my lap.  I do so love this little girl

It almost got ugly

I think I have mentioned here before that I am not really a lover of cats.  But to tell the absolute honest truth, I'm scared of them.  There I said it!  There is no rational logic - my grandmother was terrified of cats, so was my mother and guess what - me too.  And they can sense it, they stalk me.  Seriously!  Lol

So after work I stopped at a pet store to return something.  They have store kittens that free range around the store.  I'm trying to ignore it. And then it happened......... I'm just standing there, minding my own business when a rogue ninja kitten climbs up the back of my coat, past my neck and lands ON MY HEAD AND SECURED ITS POSITION ON MY SCALP WITH ITS CLAWS I swear it in 2 seconds it took for this to happen, my life flashed before my eyes!  Ok, you all know what happens next.  I freaked out  "get it off, get it off".   The clerk grabbed the kitten while I attempted to regain my composure.    Let's just say it took a few moments.  It's lucky the clerk was so close or there may have been a flying ninja kitten because I was close to flailing like a psycho.

Kim - 0  Ninja kitten - 1   I came home and had a drink before supper   

The S word

It's snowing tonight.   This is how I feel about that

But on a brighter note, I got a new follower today.  WELCOME!   I was starting to think my follower button was broken. Lol

Catching up

Days are just flying by lately so here is a quick catch up post.  Abby is back to her wild self again

Late last week she liberated herself from the cone of shame.  I found it one morning at the foot of the bed.  

But she did so good to tolerate it for a week and she was healed up fine.   Most of what I did this weekend was cook and hook.  Today I tried baked beans with molasses in the slow cooker.  Blah.....its just not the same as baked in grandmas old crock.  I won't be trying them again until I find an old crock.   Believe it or not I am almost finished another rug.  It's about 85% hooked.  I had to stop because I don't have the right color for a few motifs.  I need some dirty mustard wool.  Hopefully Deanne's shop has something tomorrow.  Since this is a gift and I'm never sure who is lurking around here, this is all I can show 

It should be about 20x20 inches when done.  Another busy week ahead.  It's Municipal Government Awareness Week and our brand new Police Station is having its Grand Opening.  Oh, and the Christmas Tree for Boston is stopping in town on its way.   Christmas is getting so close.  

Still going strong

I really don't know what's gotten into me the week but perhaps the fear of Christmas approaching has inspired me.  I finished hooking this pillow top just now.  I started it just before supper last night and it measures 16x16 inches.  Might be a record for me

I hooked the lights with sparkly ribbon.  Love the effect.  

There are so many options with this simple design.  It's a pattern by Going Gray and is featured in this months Rug Hooking Magazine.  I have my next pattern selected.  Woohoo

Hook, hook, hook

I think I've hooked more in the last few days than I have in months.  When you get the hooking bug its best to make the most of it :).  I finished my challenge rug but not ready to show it yet.  Still may be an area I want to change.  I finished hooking a Christmas piece and before supper I started this pillow that's in the latest rug hooking magazine.  It's a fun little project.   

The Sparks have been flying off the hook!   This is just a short post tonight.  I am being stared at from across the room.   This is what Abby does when she wants to go to bed.

After a minute of being ignored she will come over and scratch my leg and then resume the staring.  Lol   I'll be so glad to be able to remove the cone of shame in a few more days.   Ok - bedtime.  Can't stand the looks any longer ..

Cozy fall days

That image is a fairly close depiction of today, except it's missing a rug hooking frame :).  The cool fall temps inspired homemade chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate this afternoon.  And it was time to swap out the quilt on the bed for the winter duvet.   Miss Abby continues to recooperate and is doing just fine.  Despite being a tad clingy today.  But who doesn't want to cuddle with their Momma when they aren't feeling well?

I still want my Mom when I'm sick.   She has attached herself to my lap whenever I sit down but she did nap in her pen while I hooked a bit this afternoon.  She looks pretty comfortable eh!

I put my challenge rug aside for now (it's 95% complete) to work on a few Christmas ideas.

I'm not sure if this will be a gift or not yet so I'm not showing it.  Sorry ;) My last bit of work for the day was making a good old fashioned comfort meal.  Meatloaf and scalloped potatoes.  

Time to settle in for awhile and play with some wool.