Millies's Mats

Chivalry is alive and well

2012-02-16T19:46:00.000-04:00

I don't usually share a lot of details here about Mom's condition but this story is too cute not to share. Today was Adult Day Care day. I mentioned this before - there is an old fella there who has a bit of a crush on Mom. It is just so cute. He is 91 years old and he is always smiling at her or trying to sit beside her. Some of the staff laugh because if he sees someone else going towards the empty seat by her, he shuffles a little faster to get there ahead. But alas, Mom just ignores him - totally. But he never gives up.

This afternoon when I arrived to pick her up, he is naturally seated beside her. Mom is naturally looking in the opposite direction. LOL Mom can't dress herself anymore and sometimes getting her to put her coat on is a challenge. She won't bend her arms the right ways etc. So one of the staff and I are struggling to get her coat on and before I know it - He jumps up (well, as much as a 91 year old can jump up). He wants to help her. Awwwww, how flippin sweet is that....... Chivalry is alive and well at Day Care.

Once the coat is on and she is ready to go he is saying "Goodbye Dear. Have a nice week and I'll see you soon" . And Mom won't even look at him and she just says "Yeah, Whatever"

Oh my goodness, I had to turn my head away. I thought I might pee my pants laughing.

Three strikes and I'm out

2012-02-14T21:45:00.000-04:00

I did bad today. It was a big faux pas. I completely forgot it was Valentines Day.

I got up this morning and come downstairs to have my coffee and on the kitchen table was a little present and card from Auntie and a special card that Mom had made a Day Care last week.

I had nothing - no cards - nothing. I felt like crap. Strike one.

Then I arrived at work. On my desk is a card and a chocolate heart. Again - I felt like crap. I ate the chocolate though. Strike two.

Later in the morning a friend arrives with a coffee and a chocolate donut filled with raspberry jelly and sprinkles. And again - I had nothing. (Oh yeah, and I ate the donut) Strike three.

I swear if someone had brought me a flower today I might have jumped off the roof!

I can't believe I didn't even get a funny card for my family. Who completely forgets?

Please friends - give me a 2 week reminder for Easter. I'm likely to forget that too.

It's the thought that counts........I didn't even think.

Three Strikes, I'm Out

Maybe I can redeem myself on St. Patrick's Day?

Hooking mojo

2012-02-13T22:50:00.001-04:00

I have been on a bit of a hooking binge lately. I finished hooking this piece tonight. Hopefully I will get it bound tomorrow night.

Now what's next?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Just Because

2012-02-12T19:44:00.000-04:00

I've been saving this post because I wanted to ensure it didn't compete for attention with the charity auction. The other day I came home to fnd a package in the mail. I hadn't ordered anything recently. I looked at the address and recognized the name.

I ripped it open and it was a present from my friend Kim. When I read the card she said it was a "Just Because" present. Aren't those just the best? Look at what she sent me

A beautiful card and note, and some pieces of wool she has dyed herself using Kool Aid. It makes such nice strong, bright colors.

And a sweet little stitched pillow for Valentines. I have always admired her stitched pieces on her blog and always raved about them. In fact, I have secretly wanted one and now I wonder if perhaps I'm not as subtle as I think I am....... LOL

And then there was the little bag of sunflower seeds. If you follow Kim's blog you know she always has lots of big beautiful sunflowers growing on her property in California. And now I have my very own "Field of Dreams" sunflower seeds.

I bet that she blessed them so I just know that they will grow tall and strong this summer.

The only thing better than getting a "just because" present is having friends who are thoughtful and kind enough to send you one.

THANK YOU KIM

Fun, Friends and Charity

2012-02-10T22:45:00.000-04:00

Today was a wonderful day. I told you the other day that there was a surprise in store for my friend Terri. She is the one who organized tonight's event to raise money for Palliative Care in memory of her brother Tim. This is the 4th year.

Well, a friend nominated her for the Maritimer of the Week Award, given to a someone who has made an outstanding contribution to their community.   It was so hard to keep the secret all week. I hardly spoke or emailed her for days, so scared I might spill the beans. I'm not sure what surprised her more - the award or the fact that so many of her friends could keep a secret.

It was a great thing to be a part of and she is so deserving of recognition. She is a very special person and that is why we all go the extra mile for her. We all chip in to help, donating to the silent auction, preparing food for sale. Everything is donated. The place was packed and there were lots of laughs and lots of bidding on the auction items. I won't know the total tally until tomorrow, but when I left my rug was up to a $225 bid. WooHoo!!    Our goal for the night was $5,000. I think we might exceed that.

Before I left she handed me a gift and a card.   A thank you for helping out. I didn't need a thank you for helping a friend but it was very touching.

The feeling is mutual

I'll explain

2012-02-09T22:04:00.000-04:00

I thought I better explain one of my comments last night.

I didn't really mean that I think I ruin all my rugs, but I do have problems/issues with color planning.

However, I really did enjoy reading all your compliments. Hehehe

There always seems to be one color in most of my finished rugs that just doesn't look right to me. I add something and it ends up looking too bright or too dull or it isn't matchy and looks clashy. You know what I mean??

But there is always the next rug to get the colors just right. I live in eternal hope :)

Tomorrow night is the Curling Fun Night and Auction for the local Palliative Care Unit. I'm excited - it's always a great time with good friends. Terri has recieved so many great items for the auction. I have my eye on a few. I want her to make tons of money but I'm hoping the majority of it doesn't come from me. Hahaha

Friends and the full moon

2012-02-08T21:08:00.000-04:00

I've told you this before but you can never say it too much -

I have great friends. And I have used them alot this week. I think it was the full moon - things have been kind of crazy. Some good, some bad. But my friends have been around to make things funny, silly, tolerable etc.

Something special is happening to one of my friends on Friday. I can't tell you until Friday night - just in case she or one of her friends reads this and tells her. Its a surprise. I can't wait to see her face!!

Speaking of friends - you know I have been on a bit of a hooking streak recently. This is my progress on the new project I started this weekend.

This is my favorite stage of a project - the part where I haven't ruined it yet. The potential trouble zone is just to the left of the photo - The spot where things could all go wrong. But I'm still hopeful I can pull it off and get it to look like it does in my head. Lol

The Bright Side

2012-02-06T19:00:00.000-04:00

If you look hard enough, there is always a bright side.   It is true that the extensive coverage of that silly football game went on for days and days but the bright side of that came later this morning.

One of my guy friends always has a Super Bowl party. They actually watch the game. (Crazy huh) Anyway, he called me this morning and asked if I was interested in some leftovers.

Well, sure. So he had me unlock my car so he could drop them off.  My care package include amazing hot and spicy buffalo wings, some louisiana style ribs and to top it off - He even included a bottle of Stella Artois beer.

Ribs, wings and beer - Does it get any better than that??   My supper was great.

I did watch a few minutes of the event last night. I had a friend call me when the half time show started because I wanted to see Madonna. I think she rocked it.

See.......there always is a bright side.

Super What ??

2012-02-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

I may be the only person not watching the Super Bowl today. Quite frankly, I'm a little sick of hearing about it. It's not that I'm anti-sports but I just don't get football.

And what is up with the 4 hours of pre-game coverage? PRE- Game.....like the actual game isn't long enough already. Oh well, it's almost over.

Instead of being glued to the TV all day I extended my burst of hooking energy I seem to be experiencing lately. This morning I drew out a new pattern, scavenged through my wool stash and selected some colors and cut strips to my hearts content.

I have a question for my hooker readers. What do you do with all your rugs once they are hooked? Do you keep them, gift them, sell them?? Every time I start a new one lately I think I might try to sell it but then once its finished I chicken out. Maybe one of these days I will open an etsy shop and see what happens.

Have a great week.

Simply

2012-02-04T22:28:00.000-04:00

I finished up another little mat. That's why I'm so late posting today. I wanted to get it all done and photographed so I would have something to post.

I have a few other projects in the works, plus I want to play around a bit with Deanne's on-line rug hooking course tomorrow.

I need something to keep me busy tomorrow because I am not a football fan and I expect all that will be on TV all day is Super Bowl Hoopla. And rug hooking away a Sunday is more interesting than chores :)

Groundhogs, Losers and Crazy Drivers

2012-02-02T19:06:00.002-04:00

Cheers for our local weather predictor Shubenacadie Sam for predicting an early Spring. I sure hope that weaselly rodent knows what he's talking about.

But I'd rather believe he is correct than consider the alternative. Winter is not my favorite season so any sign of an end to it makes me happy.

And today was the last offical weigh in at work for our wellness challenge. I'm a loser. Yay!! Only a quarter pound this week but thats better than gaining. So for the month my grand total was a whopping 2 and a quarter pounds. Not fabulous but still - down is down irregardless of the number. Of our little group the total was 77 and a half pounds. I think I'll celebrate tonight with a bag of chips :)

Now the driving part of this post. This afternoon I was heading back to work after picking up Mom at her adult day care. I admit - I was in a hurry as usual. I get to an intersection and I'm waiting for this black car to go. Its just sitting there. So I figure - If you're just gonna sit there and miss your turn, I'm gonna go. So I whip out .......... and guess who it was? Deanne. And even worse, she knew it was me. Ooops, sorry honey but she who hesitates is lost (or last) Lol. I'll buy you a glass of wine Friday night.

I admit it - I'm a crazy driver!

A Snow Day

2012-02-01T21:11:00.000-04:00

It's rare to get a snow day once you become an adult. I remember snow days as a kid. If you heard it was supposed to snow the next day, you went to bed and prayed for school to be cancelled.

Unlike today, back in those days school was rarely cancelled unless it was a major blizzard. Nowadays 4 flakes fall from the sky and school is cancelled. Sheesh

But work is almost never cancelled - Except for today at noon. I would say that if I had waited another hour or so, it might have been difficult to get in the driveway without getting stuck. A free weekday afternoon with no chores. It was heaven.

I hooked away on my new rug for most of the afternoon. Well, except for a few times that a jealous little dog required some attention. It's hard to hook when something is staring at you and head butting your arm. But I would be lost without her :)

The snow stopped around supper time and I shovelled for about an hour. It wasn't that bad actually. It was still the light and fluffy kind so I didn't mind it as much as usual. I can't believe I just said that, but it was kind of refreshing out there tonight.

I added a pretty new teal strip to this rug project. Not a great picture but once the rug is finished I will post a proper picture.

February is off to a roaring start. I wonder what the Groundhog will have to say?

Happy Feet and very unhappy eyes

2012-01-30T21:46:00.000-04:00

Today I got a nice surprise in the mail. The contents of the envelope made my feet very happy.

These beautiful hand knit socks from my friend Meg. They are so comfy and the color looks like Spring. I love them. Meg knits all kinds of beautiful things. You can check them out at Little Bit of Knittery.

Now for the 2nd part of this post title. My eyes may be permanently damaged from what I saw tonight. (If you are local and reading this - don't blab) This is probably something I shouldn't share but I can't help myself.

I was working late tonight with a large group. We had about a 5 minute break before the televised portion of the meeting. It was the only opportunity for a bathroom break. I headed to the other side of the building to the washroom. I was wearing my high heel boots and clicked loudly all the way across the tile floors. (This is important as it proves I was making noise - not sneaking)

I got to the door and flung it open........and then IT HAPPENED

The door opened and the bathroom was not empty. He yelled NO - (about 5 seconds too late I might add) at the same time I screamed (more like a traumatizing groan). I slammed the door and ran to the end of the hall. And then the giggles started - uncontrollable I might add. I should note here - I saw nothing (just sayin) But I am traumatized

Like seriously - - - who doesn't lock the door??

This will certainly be a meeting I won't soon forget. I don't typically drink on a Monday night but I think tonight one is in order.

Sunday at home

2012-01-29T21:22:00.002-04:00

Another weekend is coming to an end. It was a bright sunny day that melted most of the new snow. I played with wool and sharpies this morning.

Its hard to go wrong when you spend a day doing something you love. Just a simple little idea on the frame.

I love the early stages of a new project. It could be anything, changes are still easy to do and it always looks great in your head. Lol

I think it was Ellen who asked for the pattern for the knit chemo cap. Here is the link to the very simple pattern http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4634&cps=99999944

Weather, projects and a blank canvas

2012-01-28T20:01:00.000-04:00

All week the weather reports indicated a storm for Friday. Snow, rain and freezing rain - the triple threat. Earlier in the week I had booked off Friday afternoon for another committment. The weather prevented me from travelling but I still took the afternoon off.

I cuddled up with Millie in front of the fireplace and watched the snow blow by the window. I love afternoons like that (especially during the week). I even turned the ringer off on my blackberry. It is nice to have no distractions for a few hours. I knit another chemo cap while I was in between hooking projects.

Although the snow accumulation wasn't much, the freezing rain caused a mess. This morning I had to chisel out both cars and the walkway. Doing that with a windchill of minus 10 was not a fun job. I suppose I should look on the bright side - at least it wasn't a foot of snow.

This afternoon I finished the binding on my auction rug. Now I'm all ready to start something new. I have a half yard of linen and a new pack of sharpies. Yippee I have a few small mats in my head. I don't want to do another bigger project for awhile.

Now its time to think of a few little ideas to reduce the supply of wool strips that are multiplying.

Battle of the sexes

2012-01-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

I supposed you may have guessed from this picture that the weekly Weigh-In did not go well today.

I gained (sob, sob). It was only .4 pounds (that's point 4 - NOT 4 pounds) So less than half a pound but still crappy.

However I was not alone. Seven people gained this week.

Unfortunately it was all the women. All the men lost this week.

So you can imagine the conversations. There was considerable gloating.

About mid morning I heard a couple of the men down at the end of the hall talking in exaggerated loud voices. This is how part of the conversation went:

"I think we better call the Engineering Department to come up here and check out the building. I'm not sure it is structurally sound enough to hold all the extra weight on this floor."

I'm sorry, but there is no other word .........Assholes !

There is one week left in the challenge and now the ladies are all riled up. Look out boys - We're gunning for you next week!

Just a small town girl

2012-01-25T21:32:00.000-04:00

Today I realized just how much of a small town girl I have become.   I had to travel into the "big city" today for a meeting.

There was a time when I would use any excuse to go to Halifax. It was vibrant, exciting and all that good stuff. So many stores, specialty shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs etc.   But today I realized those feelings were from my 20's.

Today, in my 40's it was nothing like that. It was crowded, chaotic and annoying. Too much traffic, so many lanes, merging, turning, bicycles whizzing in and out of traffic and pedestrians who (apparently) think it's OK to just dash out in front of moving cars.    Oh and don't forget the maze of one-way streets downtown - so if you turn left one street too soon, you have to take 20 flippin minutes to loop back around the circle.

And parking downtown.........HA ! I arrive downtown just at lunch hour (when all the pedestrians are running freely through the streets oblivious to traffic laws). I get to the hotel where my meeting is being held. No apparent guest parking. Directly across the street is a parking lot. The signs say paid hourly parking but both entrances are wide open. No toll booths or ticket machines. I thought "this is just too good to be true". I parked and as I walked across the street I started to get that nagging feeling. "This can't be right. What if I come out a dusk and rush hour and my car has been towed??"

I walked into the hotel lobby where I was met by Mr. Snotty Concierge.  I told him I was at the hotel for a meeting and wanted to know where I could park. (This is a reasonable question, Right?)
He looks at me and in a very bad faux british accent says..."Well, I don't know"............

Huh? What do you mean you don't know?  Aren't you the Concierge for this hotel?? So I am a bit taken aback, so I tell him I have parked in the parking lot across the street. Is that OK? He scrunches up his stupid face and says "What parking lot?"

Now people - - - the ONLY thing across the street from this hotel is a parking lot. The-only-thing!! So now I am starting to get annoyed, like a lot.    We walk out the door and I point across the street like a moron. As I am AGAIN asking him about this lot - TWICE he put a finger up in the air, then clutched his friggin headset and says (in that fake British accent) "ooh, I'm being summoned".    Seriously ?? He was prancing around with that headset like he was running The Plaza in New York City.   Its a flippin Marriott for pete's sake!

He's prancing around with that fake accent and that stupid headset like he is all that and a bag of chips!
Now I'm mad. I ask him when they host meetings/conferences, where do people park?    Jeeves looks at me again. Then he stumbles out some babble about having to contact the meeting organizer to ask about parking blah blah blah.

Finally I'm so close to doing something really special with that headset - I take a deep breath and remind him - I am prepared to pay for parking - I expect to pay for parking - I know its the city - you pay to park - I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE

Sigh....Jeeves is now befuddled and I am just fed up. I said never mind, I'll take my chances in the mystery lot. If I get towed that would still be a better experience than this exchange.    I plopped my fed-up butt in the lobby lounge to wait for my session to start. (Yes, bitchy I know)

A few minutes later Jeeves prances over and says.......(are you ready for this?) "The valet can park your car underground for the afternoon for $10"    WELL, why didn't you friggin say that in the first place??

I was so happy to get back to my sweet little small town tonight. When I was younger "they" said it would happen. I didn't believe it. As I get older I am becoming a cranky old woman!

First finish of 2012

2012-01-22T21:22:00.000-04:00

I just finished the hooking on this rug. I pushed it hard this weekend to get this part finished. It will be a couple of days before I get the binding completed but it is a sigh of relief to get this completed with a little time to spare.

This is my donation to a fund raiser for Palliative Care in memory of a friend who died from cancer.

The colors are off a bit because this is just an iPad photo, but you get the idea. Now I need to start thinking of a new project. I get twitchy without a plan.

Thanks for your patience while I continue to play around with the blog settings.

Dangerous

2012-01-21T19:28:00.002-04:00

Consider this a warning - especially if you are one of those trying

to drop a few pounds this month.

Do not go to the grocery store before lunch !! There is danger around every corner.

I breezed past the fruits and vegetables and then saw these

Amazing! And when it says on the label "bursting with flavors" - It is telling the truth.

And before you ask, I have no intention of reading the nutritional info on the back. It will just ruin this fabulous new relationship.

I just puttered around today and hooked a little. I won't be finished this rug by tomorrow but I will show it to in tomorrows post. And then I wasted some time on pinterest.

I found this and it was too cute not to share. Lauren, this is for you

Problems?

2012-01-20T13:20:00.000-04:00

I struggled last night with some of the settings in blogger. I tried to make some changes but it wouldn't work. I did hear from a couple of people last night that they couldn't leave comments. But that could have been when I was messing around with the settings.

I just tried to change a couple of settings regarding comments and it seems to be ok - not freezing like last night.

I hope this works and that you can still comment. I do so love to get your comments :)

Let me know, OK

UPDATE: Blogger: 1 Kim: 0 I give up. Frustration level overload. All I want to do is change my comment form back to embedded from pop up window. It will let me change it but then the screen freezes - every flippin time. Arrgh - I give up. Blogger, you win. Bahhhh

It's Loser Thursday

2012-01-19T11:23:00.000-04:00

It is weigh-in day at work for the weight loss / wellness challenge.

Drum roll please . . . . . I'm a Loser. Only .6 pounds this week though. And by the way - I just want to draw your attention to the .6 which is slightly more than half a pound. I am not rounding down for reporting - I want credit for every ounce. LOL So the total weight loss for 2 weeks is now 2 .4 pounds (but if you want to round UP in this instance to 2 and a half - I'm OK with that.)

It's funny how we are with rounding numbers eh!

I know that any amount down is a good thing, and that is exactly what I would tell any of you - but the truth is - I'm a little disappointed.

I had hoped it would be more but the truth is I know what happened. I didn't drink as much water each day as I should have and I didn't really do a lot of activity. All of which are important. And I spent a lot of time in long meetings this past week - sitting on my butt for 3 -4 hours straight.

But now I'm focused and motivated again. I want to see that number on the scale drop more next week.

I wonder if this would work ?

Wouldn't it be nice if it was this easy ?

A chat with Wendell

2012-01-17T20:00:00.000-04:00

I'm going to join in again with Everyday Ruralty's Chats on the Porch. Our usual hostess Patrice is taking a little break and has handed off responsibility to her handsome and charming friend, Wendell the horse.

Here are the questions this week.

What's your favorite kind of chili?

I happen to think I make the best chili. Nothing fancy, but lots of meat, tomatoes, beans, mushrooms and spicy. And then add a little more spice :)

2. What do you usually do when you feel a cold coming on?

I thought I was coming down with a cold last night. I made tea with honey and went to bed early. I don't really have any special home-style remedy but if you have any - let me know.

3. Rice, potatoes, or pasta?

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes - any way

4. What kind of camera do you use?

I use a Canon Rebel SLR. I'm dreaming of added a wide angle lens this year.

5. Are you a night owl or an early bird?

I've always been a night owl. However, as I get older I do appreciate the quiet of early mornings.

Comforts

2012-01-15T22:08:00.001-04:00

We are in a cold snap. It makes you crave the comforts of home. A cozy fire and a good old fashioned meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Miss Millie went missing earlier. I called her name and this little head popped up from underneath a nest of blankets she created. What a spoiled little pooch.

Afternoon social

2012-01-14T22:19:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I was invited to a friend's house for a little afternoon social. Well, sort of. Actually it was one of those selling parties - like those old time tupperware parties.

I hate those things. You always feel obligated to buy something and the prices are always high. (Its OK to say this, she doesn't read my blog)
But I don't get to see her very often so that part was nice and I saw some other people I knew. I had a nice time. And yes, I bought some things.

The party was for Epicure products. Its a line of spices, seasonings and bakeware. I ordered a few spice blends and a new silicone steamer.

And I even behaved at the snack table. I sampled a few dips with veggies and stuck close to the fruit tray.   And tonight, although I am dreaming of potato chips, I am munching on grapes (zero points)

I am spending less time on the computer the past few days and more time hooking. I peek in on all of you every once in awhile but am not leaving as many comments.   I will catch up with you all soon, but I really need to get this rug a little further along before I can relax.

So, here is another little piece of the puzzle.   Short post, but just wanted you to know I was still alive.

I'm a Loser

2012-01-12T20:50:00.000-04:00

Now, before you all jump to conclusions that I have plummeting self esteem issues . . . . .

Today was the Week 1 weigh-in at work for the January Wellness Challenge.

Despite a ridiculously delicious high calorie french cuisine feast Friday night that led off a weekend of grazing on snack food - - - I managed to lose 1.8 pounds

I was pleasantly surprised. So that gave me the motivation to keep going for the next week. After the weekend I figured I had blown it but now I'm ready to repeat the losing trend next week.

I still haven't cracked the 10,000 step threshold with the pedometer yet but I'm hopeful.

Sparks

2012-01-11T21:23:00.003-04:00

The sparks have been flying off the hook the past couple of days. It feels great to be working on a new project again. And the extra push of the looming deadline doesn't hurt either.

My friend Julia from Of Petals and Wool blog asked me if I was going to let the new rug design be a bit of a guessing game again. Well, Yes I am. Mainly for the reason that I think it could get boring if I show you the whole thing and then just keep updating with smaller and smaller blank spaces.

That's no fun. So I think I'll just show you different areas of the rug - like little puzzle pieces. Here is the next installment

Sorry this post isn't more lively or informative but this should hold you over for a few days, until something exciting, aggravating, annoying or just plain crazy happens.

Kim :)

P.S. The toe has stopped throbbing and is less purple and more violet today. Progress !

This little piggy

2012-01-09T21:52:00.000-04:00

Remember the children's story about the little pigs. Well, one piggy went to market, one little piggy stayed home, one little piggy ate roast beef . . . . . .

And my next little piggy is BROKEN! Swollen to at least twice its normal size and the loveliest (not) shade of purple.

I have a terrible habit of kicking off my shoes under my desk and tucking my feet under me when I am in middle of a big project. I went down the hall to the copier in my sock feet and heard my phone ring. I ran to catch the phone and BAM - caught my foot on the edge of the desk. Stupid

Despite that unfortunate incident I got two big projects completed and submitted today. I think having those hanging over my head at work was stifling my creativity at home. Since that little breakthrough I have picked up the hook again. Plus the looming deadline of needing a new rug by February 10th was additional incentive.

So the countdown is on. (And the throbbing continues)

Women

2012-01-08T11:26:00.000-04:00

This was the 2nd rug I hooked several years ago. It is a Deanne Fitzpatrick design - Coastal Girls. I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it. Having grown up along the Coast and being surrounded by some incredible women, I loved what this rug expressed. This rug resides beside my bed. It is the last thing I see at night and the first thing I step on in the morning.   As soon as I got up this morning, I knew how this post would develop.

It has been several days since I blogged. There has been a lot going on - some good and some not so good. But in all of it I experienced some extraordinary women.   There was an evening of laughter. I sat and looked around at this particular group of women - all different in ages, personality, background etc however all extremely accomplished in their own lives.   It was an experience I am happy I allowed myself to participate in. I am learning a lot about myself in the past few years. I am more open to new experiences, to stepping outside of my comfort zone. That is perhaps one of the things that struck me this weekend - the confidence and openness of women.

The other spectrum of the weekend involved laughter and tears. I spent some time with a friend who was facing a different type of personal challenge. Sometimes, through no fault of our own, we find ourselves at a crossroads. And sometimes neither option is appealing. There are times when you get caught up in someone elses "Bat-Shit Crazy". Over the past couple of days, we have had several conversations and I had tried to encourage the high road.

I was so proud of her for chosing quiet dignity as opposed to a few moments of satisfaction. We all know that sometimes the desire to "stick-it-to-someone" can be strong and alluring but it doesn't last.   It was just another reminder of the strength and power of women in our daily lives.

Take some time to look around and appreciate the women in your lives. You will see strength, kindness, support, generosity, compassion, knowledge, and leadership. Surround yourself with good people and good things will follow.

Clever Marketing or . . . . .

2012-01-04T21:06:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it is a fine line between savy, clever marketing and down-right manipulation.

To what am I referring ? Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal. The clever marketing part - "specially formulated to make you feel full longer"

The actual truth - It is so bad that it actually removes your desire to ever eat again. Yes people - It is that BAD.

This morning I removed it from the microwave (following the package directions exactly) and as I stirred it up - it was like a glue-like substance. I bravely and against my better judgement took a bite. N-O-T good. I picked up the spoon, turned it upside down, shook it a little and it didn't move or fall off. I have another marketing suggestion for the company. . . .

It could be used by bricklayers as a substitute for MORTAR. Each bite I gagged down seemed to fall to the bottom of my stomach and meld together into one glue-like lump. At the mid point I even added some extra milk to try and thin it out a bit. The milk just disappeared and it didn't get any thinner. That part was a little disturbing.

The only accurate part on the packaging was that I didn't want to eat the rest of the morning. That lump remained ever present for hours, effectively removing any desire to eat - - - anything. And there was also a very disturbing coating of the inside of my mouth, even after brushing my teeth. Aaackkkk.

So clearly by now you have figured out this is not a paid endorsement from the Quaker company. Lol

Other than that little experiment, I have stuck to the Weight Watchers plan today. There was a tiny moment of weakness around 3pm but I powered through it without cheating. I'm going to have to bring a piece of fruit or something to work for mid afternoon. I even have a few points left to spare today.

Now - On to more serious business (If anyone is still here reading this foolishness) I need your help

As many of you know I always hook a special rug and donate it in February to an auction to raise money for Palliative Care in memory of my friend Tim.

Well, it is one month away and I have nothing. I have a nice new piece of linen and a brand new pack of sharpies but no ideas.

Since I'm crunched for time, it can't be a very detailed rug. Something fairly simple. And just to muddy the water a little more, I have always incorporated hearts into the past 3 rugs. Any ideas ? Suggestions ? Design thoughts ?

Please help me Ladies - This is for a good cause.

Starting Fresh

2012-01-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

I thought I better keep my hands busy typing a new post so I won't use my hands to stuff food in my mouth.

Today was the first day back to work and if that alone wasn't rough enough - I had a mental fart and signed up for the January wellness challenge.

What Was I Thinking ??? I must have been distracted by the discomfort of having to wear real, presentable clothes for the first day in 2 weeks. Oh, how I missed my jeans and baggy sweater this morning.

All the chips, pretzels etc are gone from the house. (I miss them already) I went to the grocery store after supper and picked up some . . . . . "healthy food". Gosh that was hard to say. I didn't even walk down the fun aisle. You know that magical aisle where all the chips and cookies live. (sigh)

Tomorrow morning this will be breakfast (plus a coffee which has zero calories)

The box says it is specially formulated to make you feel full longer. Hmmm, I supposed you wouldn't be hungry after eating soggy sawdust. I also bought some fresh raspberries to throw on top. I plan to pretend each spoonful is actually a cookie. Wish me luck.

I also strapped on the pedometer as soon as I got to work. I'm going to keep a log of steps each day.

Since I was at my desk for most of the day, I didn't break any records. But every chance I took the long way to try and get a few extra steps in. So the count so far (and I don't expect it to climb much more tonight) is just under 6000 steps.   I'll try to do better each day.

I also began tracking my food/calories all day. I did it in both Weight Watchers on-line with the point system and also in Livestrong.com by calories. I'll continue with both for a few days to see which system I like the best.   (So far WW is winning because it says I still have 3 points left whereas stupid Livestrong says I exceed my calories by 200) Pfft Whatever.

I contemplated starting a new blog to track this journey, but to be honest - - - I'm not sure how long my committment to this will last. LOL Might as well be honest.

But for now - I'm giving it a try.   My goal is 10 - 15 pounds and for my arms and legs to not jiggle so much.

Wish me luck - I'm not well known for having a lot of self control :) By the way, did anyone ever notice the first 3 letters in diet - - - - D.I.E Just sayin

First Chat of the Year

2012-01-02T21:53:00.000-04:00

I'm joining in with Patrice over at Everyday Ruralty for another chat session. It's always a fun way to  share and learn a little more about each other.

But first an update. The foot is a little better today but still sore. I haven't done much today and that seemed to help. It's not bruised or swollen, so still kind of a mystery.

There is also the theory that it is psychological. I am signed up to participate in a January weight loss/fitness challenge at work. I wonder if my foot decided to save me from all the trouble ?   LOL Probably not !

The first weigh-in is Thursday morning so my strategy has been to eat like a demon for the past two weeks so I can have a heavy weigh-in for week one and then look like a star for week two.   I have been attacking the rest of the junk food in the house today. The only flaw in my plan . . . . . . I may have forgotten that it isn't as easy to take off the pounds as it is to put them on - especially when you are 40-something.   Dang it - there is always a glitch in my plans :)

Anyway, now on to Patrice's questions

What's your favorite kind of tree?

There are lots of beautiful flowering trees but the blooms never last long enough for me. So I will say that my favorite is a red maple. And the leaves are just as pretty on the ground as they are on the tree.

2. How did you celebrate the New Year?

Sadly, I stayed home and fell asleep on the sofa sometime before 10pm. Hopefully next year I will have a much more exciting answer to this question.

3. Do you have any family traditions for the New Year?

Hmmm, another boring answer here. I don't think we have any special New Years traditions except that everyone gets a small gift on the morning of January 1. This year everyone got socks. (We really didn't put a lot of thought into this year eh)

4. I'm so glad I____________ in 2011.

I'm so glad for many things in my life. I can't narrow it down to just one

5. Did you have a nickname as a child?

My grandfather called me "The Baby". The name stuck for years. A few years ago my cousin told me her entire family always referred to me as "Baby Kim"

There are just a few precious hours left of vacation. Back to work tomorrow (big sigh)

A New Year Mystery

2012-01-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

I stayed in last night and the highlight of New Years Eve was skyping with Baby Emerson in the Netherlands. He is usually sleeping when I call (those 2 month olds are so lazy). But last night he was wide awake and ready to party. He has grown so much. It is so amazing to be able to video chat half way around the world.    Then I fell asleep on the sofa. I am a PAR-TAY  ANIMAL.

This morning I got up with the mission to wipe out Christmas decor from the house. I'll probably find the odd nick-nack here or there for a few days but I think I made a pretty good sweep of the house. Countless treks up and down the ricketty basement steps and super-hero feats of strength as I lifted large heavy totes up on the high shelves. I was really missing the handy-man today.

Then sometime later in the afternoon (here is the mystery part) I got up from the sofa and my right foot hurt. Each step a little worse. ? ? ?   So, what happened . . .   I have no idea. And before you say it - I had nothing to drink last night or today.   How can it be that you can barely walk on your foot and have absolutely no memory of hurting it ?

I don't know what happened but I can hardly put any weight on it tonight and the top and side and kind of burning a little now. Sheesh.    I mean seriously, how can you hurt your foot by doing nothing? I'm hobbling around tonight like I'm a 90 year old.

And not only am I starting the new year lame, I am also starting out looking like a sexy beast

Don't ya just love the sexy red jammies and super-hot purple socks. I mean really - - - - Lol

The outfit is partly due to the fact that it is just so darn comfortable but also because I did not do laundry today. I read on someone's blog recently (sorry, I forget which one) that it is bad luck to do laundry on New Years Day. Has anyone ever heard of this before ? I didn't want to take any chances - my foot might actually fall off

2011-12-31T09:33:00.000-04:00

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone so quickly. It has been quite a year. As I prepared to write this post I tried to reflect on the past 12 months. There have been a lot of changes, some wonderful new experiences and some tragic losses.

I’m not for making New Years Resolutions – they tend to just be a reminder of failure J Although, I always strive each year to gain more patience. It often eludes me but I do think I am a bit better in this area than in past years. I guess it’s a work in progress.

I’ve learned

- that being stubborn can have its price.

- it’s never to late to try something new.

- sometimes the simplest of gestures can mean the most.

- There are times when you just need to let some things go - And that's OK.

This blog has been such a positive experience for me. I have interacted with some wonderful people and made some very special connections. I have discovered that what may appear to be a random thought can often create a relationship that has multiple benefits. Though blogging I have learned a lot of things. There are many people dealing with the same issues and we have been able to help each other. There are many different forms and stages of caregiving and often when you are the most frustrated, someone steps forward to share their experiences. Being able to share, vent, rant (if needed) is an invaluable tool.

I so appreciate each and every one of you who take the time to visit here and leave a comment. Thank you so much for your coming along for the ride with me.

Health, Hope, and Happiness to each of you in 2012

It's the result that counts

2011-12-29T20:14:00.000-04:00

Well, it appears I am not the only funny knitter. After reading the comments I have quite a few new members for my O.K.A. group.

The "thigh" method is no stranger than the "armpit" method some of you referenced in your comments. And Pat knits the most beautiful things and she's a thigh knitter too.

And its not how you do it that matters - its the end result that counts. Maybe someday I will learn to hold the needles differently and be able to knit something fun with those crazy circular needles.

But for now I will carry on with my (apparently not so rare) technique. This is the chemo cap I finished knitting today for a family friend.

I'm getting closer to narrowing down a new rug design, so I will probably be putting the knitting needles away for awhile. I can't stand not having a project, so when I get stuck I dig out the needles and yarn until I figure something out.

I'm a little behind on commenting and responding to emails. I will get caught up eventually. I think my brain is still on lazy vacation mode.

I need to confess

2011-12-28T19:27:00.000-04:00

They say the hardest part is admitting it. So often we keep the most shameful parts of ourselves secret. Too ashamed to bring the nasty thing to the light.

Fear holds us back - fear of the mocking and being shunned.

But then one brave soul steps forward to publicly announce their problem. At first you are horrified but eventually you come to the realization that their brave confession could help bring a dark secret to the surface. Soon others start to admit that they too are afflicted.

Thanks to the bravery of Andrea, I am now ready to say it out loud . . . . . I need to join O . K . A (Odd Knitters Anonymous)

Hello, My name is Kim and I knit funny

There . . . . . I've said it. Whew, what a relief. Until Andrea's confession, I thought I was all alone. I have never seen anyone knit like me before. The resulting product looks the same as everyone else, but I hold the needles "funny". I jab one needle into my leg and hold it there. Once it's nicely wedged in place I just move the yarn with that hand. I have no idea where I picked up this stupid habit. (Meg, Stop Laughing)

I can't knit any other way. I've tried holding those stupid needles tons of different ways. Nope. I've tried the circular needles. Nope. And forget trying to knit with those crazy 4 little double pointed things. Nope. It's MADNESS

So are there any other people out there who need to join Odd Knitters Anonymous with me and Andrea ? I wonder what the 12 steps would be for this program . . . . .

The aftermath

2011-12-27T20:04:00.000-04:00

This picture kind if sums up how I have been the past 2 days.

Once Christmas Day passed my enthusiasm level took a nose dive. I have been lazy, lazy, lazy.

And is doesn't help that all the yummy holiday cooking is still lingering around. I have been "grazing" for days. If I'm not careful I will be waddling back to work next week.

I think every visitor who came here this week brought some baked goods. It is everywhere and it is so good. I tried to resist but it is just not humanly possible to know there are peanut butter balls or homemande donuts in the house and not eat them.

I thought we better take a break from turkey leftovers today so I made a clam chowder. Mmmmm. Mom even had a big bowl. That is one of the upsides of this Alzheimers thing - Mom has forgotten she was a picky eater and now tries most things I make. Tomorrow I'm thinking a turkey rice casserole.

I'm a little restless tonight so I was browsing pinterest looking for inspiration for a new rug. I need to have something done for mid February. But nothing grabbed my attention so I'll hope maybe tomorrow I will have more luck. I think I'll knit something tonight until I figure out a rug.

I think the title of this post should have been "random thoughts" - Gee I'm all over the place tonight.

Thank you for all your comments on my last post. I'm glad you all understood how special that little ribbon is to me.

Christmas Blessings

2011-12-25T22:34:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful day full of so many Christmas blessings.   Starting last evening we hosted some friends after the church service. Good friends, food and laughter - a great start.

By the time we went to bed we were about ready to drop. Tired but a happy tired.

Santa found all of us, even little Millie.

One of the greatest blessings of the day was that Mom was in a great mood. There were even a few funny moments from her. This is rare and was a lovely gift for me.   We had a morning visit from my cousin Mike (you know - the boy who killed Santa for me) and he brought a cake.

I had Christmas Dinner ready at around 1 pm. I cooked a 20 lb turkey and all the fixings. Yes, I said 20 lbs - for the 3 of us. Lol But that means I get a couple of days off from cooking. Mom ate a huge plate of food.  Another rare treat, as her appetite is not the best anymore. She seemed to be on her best behavior for me today and I was so grateful.

I want to show you my most special Christmas present. Two weeks ago when I picked up Mom at day care the supervisor handed me this package with instructions not to open until Christmas.

Despite being curious, I wanted to wait. I knew this was going to be special. Their project that week was to make something special for their loved ones. I am blessed that the staff at Mom's program are caring enough to think of something like this. What was held inside this little package ?

A simple little beaded bookmark. A few beads on a simple white ribbon. But it was enough to bring me to tears. It has been so long since Mom has participated in holidays, the fact that I knew she actually made this has made it so special.

Sometimes it just the little things that make a day special - like a small gesture from an angel. I hope you all had a blessed day and have some angels in your life.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours

A White Christmas

2011-12-23T16:30:00.001-04:00

This is what I woke up to this morning.

Nothing better than a White Christmas

Batteries not included

2011-12-22T19:49:00.000-04:00

I'm officially on Christmas vacation. So this morning, instead of sleeping in (which was what I really wanted to do) I jumped out of bed early and started knocking things off the list.

I was organized and I had a plan. That in itself was like a minor Christmas miracle.

I took Mom to her Adult Day Care program and came back and grabbed Auntie and we headed out to tackle THE LIST. I was like the Energizer Bunny - I just kept going and going and going.

And conveniently near lunch time we ended up near Bella's Cafe, so I convinced Auntie to buy me lunch. (Convenient or a devious plan on my part ? Hmmmm)   We had a lovely lunch and patted ourselves on the back a lot for all that we had accomplished so far.

We continued shopping until 1:30 pm and then I dropped her at home and she wrapped and bagged and I delivered. This took the rest of the afternoon. As soon as I finish this post I have to go to the grocery store - - - That's it. I think I'm done.   Maybe I shouldn't say it out loud just in case.   But I "think" I have thought of everything.

If I'm right (please, please, please) then all that will be left to do tomorrow is have my annual pre-Christmas lunch date with friends at the tavern.

So my dear friends, it appears as if my goal of not visiting any stores on Dec. 24 is going to happen. A first for me.   I think I feel some of that holiday "zen" happening.

I'll close with a picture of my last hooking project. I don't think I ever showed the finshed product. I delivered it to its recipient this morning. I hope she likes it.

I hope you all get that last burst of "energizer bunny"

and experience a little holiday zen.

Merry Christmas

As it draws nearer . . . .

2011-12-20T15:23:00.000-04:00

Several blog posts today reminded me that it is indeed December 20th

The big day is approaching very quickly.

So I thought I would show you how that makes me feel . . . .

So very relaxed and zen-like

***

Come on people - I hope none of you believe that crap

This is actually closer to the truth . . .

There are still a list of gifts to buy, wrap, deliver.

There are still things to bake.

There are still ideas for the hard-to-buy-for that I am hoping will pop magically into my head.

There are annoying, crabby, pushy people in the stores that I want to run down with my cart.

(Hmmm, Is it possible I am one of them . . . . . . )

My dream of starting vacation at 4:30pm today is not going to happen.

Plan B - Noon tomorrow (fingers crossed)

This is starting to look plausible . . . .

Ho, Ho, Friggin Ho

What matters . . . . .

2011-12-18T19:39:00.000-04:00

This weekend was full of reminders of what this holiday season should be for everyone. Its not about shopping, spending, and driving yourself crazy trying to do everything perfectly.

What should be the focus is spending quality time with family and friends. And that is exactly how I spent my weekend.

Saturday I travelled to Truro for a family cookie exchange. I listened to Christmas music in the car for my hour drive and had a lovely afternoon visiting with the Jones family. My cousin hosted and prepared some appetizers and cider and of course, the table full of cookies. We talked and laughed and spent way too much time trying to complete what appeared to be a very simple little puzzle. Nine pieces . . .   How hard could it be ? Well, according to the box there were approximately 300,000 wrong combinations. Well, we never did solve it. (The key has to be in the double club piece . . . .) It was frustratingly fun though.

I drove back home, singing Christmas carols all the way, to arrive at party #2. My friend's family hosts an annual Christmas Family & Friends Extravaganza the Saturday before Christmas. Their home is always packed with people and there is just no end to the food. Huge pots of chili, seafood chowder, meatballs, rice, noodles, sweet and sour pork. Then a fruit/cheese and dessert spread on the dining room table. And lots of Gloria's famous divinity fudge (my favorite).    I'm sure I gained 5 pounds just this weekend.

The perfect end to Saturday night was coming home to discover my favorite movie was on TV - It's A Wonderful Life. I'm sure I have seen this movie 100 times, but I can't resist it. I love those old Christmas movies - the cheesier and hokier the better.

AND FINALLY - - - I decorated my Christmas tree this morning. Yippee - now it actually feels like Christmas in this house.

And in a tradition that began after losing a beloved uncle about 15 years ago - I hid the "Christmas Frog" within the branches of the tree.   Can you see him ?

Just a few more close ups of the tree. My overall tree shots were all blurry. I'll try again another day.

A little Christmas Spirit

2011-12-17T12:38:00.000-04:00

It was bound to happen. Three Christmas parties in 2 days has let a little Christmas spirit creep in to my previous Grinchy heart.

Last night's staff party was great. The meal was excellent, the performance was very funny and the company was entertaining.

Now it is a road trip to the Jones Family Christmas Cookie exchange. And as a bonus, the weather is perfect for travelling this time of year. I think these look great and passed inspection/taste test from Auntie. (She is quite a critic, so I consider these good cookies)

It has been a few months since I have seen them and I am really looking forward to it. Then this evening is supper with a group of great friends. Busy day but all good. Spending a day with all the people I love.

CHEERS (yes there might even be a few opportunities tonight to raise a glass) wink

Dear Santa

2011-12-15T23:08:00.001-04:00

I think the first thing on my Santa's wish list this year is a few extra days between now and the 25th. Do you think Santa can deliver that ?? Not likely I suppose. My tree has been up since Saturday and still has not been decorated. I plan (hope) to start that tomorrow in between baking cookies.

It is definately time to put myself into 2nd gear and push forward.   I have tomorrow off and have a list of to - do's

The rest of the weekend is jammed packed with 3 parties. Our staff party is tomorrow evening - a local dinner theatre production with a hip of beef buffet. Then two back to back events Saturday. I am looking forward to a little fun.

It has been a week that has dampened our Christmas spirit at work. Earlier this week we lost a long time employee suddenly. Such a tragedy at any time yet it seems so much worse this time of year. The funeral service is tomorrow afternoon.  Not exactly a good lead in to a holiday party. The mood will certainly be more subdued than in the past.

So that is what is happening around here. Wish me luck with my cookies tomorrow.

P.S. Santa, it would be great if you sent an elf to decorate my tree while I sleep tonight. Just thought I'd throw that out there.    Isn't there a saying that "ask and you shall receive"? Just testing, in case Michael was wrong and you ARE real . . . . . . .

Chatting on Patrice's Porch

2011-12-13T20:36:00.001-04:00

Today I thought I would join Patrice for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch. Each week Patrice posts some get-to-know-each-other questions.

Questions

Where is your favorite place to think, reflect, or pray?

I think my favorite spot to think is near the water. It doesn't matter if it's the ocean, lake or a river. I just feel better when I can look out at the water. The sounds of the water lapping up on the rocks is just so soothing to me. It always makes me feel better. Someday I'm going to retire on a beach.

2.    Did you believe in Santa as a kid?

YES. Even though I was terrified to sit on his knee, I did believe. You know those pictures you see with the little kids screaming in fear on Santa's lap - - that was me. LOL I still remember my cousin Michael telling me he wasn't real. I ran to my grandfather crying and sobbing, begging him to tell me that Michael was lying. Grandpa was NOT impressed with him.    When Michael and his wife had their first child, I held her in the hospital and told her in a few years I was going to tell her what her Daddy told me. Michael roared laughing and told his wife from now on to refer to me as "Crazy Aunt Kim" around the baby so she wouldn't believe anything I said. Can you imagine?? He told me I can tell her on her 18th birthday. I have 7 years to wait.

3.   What's your favorite kind of Christmas cookie? You can add a recipe if you have time.

Hmmm, all cookies are good, but I look forward to the coconut cherry surprise balls and gingerbread. I also make a mean nutmeg log.

4.    Did you grow up around any of your grandparents?

My Father's parents were gone but I saw my Mom's parents every day growing up. I think they were my most important influences in life. I was the only grandchild so I spent a lot of time with them. They each taught me things that have carried me through life.

5.     What's your favorite winter sport-skiing, skating,sledding, other(?) ? If you are in a warm place, what is your favorite winter sport to watch when the Winter Olympics are televised?

I skated a lot as a child and we lived near a great sledding hill. Not a big fan of climbing back up the hill though. (haha)   I tried skiing twice. (Once for a guy) It is not for me. I still don't understand why sensible people would strap sticks to their feet and hurl themselves down a mountain. . . . . . . . Lol

Since we are being honest here - I'll confess - I'm the kind of winter sport girl who gets dressed up in a cute ski / skate outfit and then sits by the roaring fire with a drink and a plate of food.    Love the outfits - hate the winter activity.

Faalalala

2011-12-11T11:25:00.001-04:00

I feel a little more Christmassy now. Attending the performance of the Nutcracker Ballet was a great idea. I went with my friend Teri and her Mom. We had some special little girl's in the performance.

The youngest was one of the mice and later a dancing gingerbread. Her sister was one of the toy soldiers. They looked adorable and did a fantastic job.

I was impressed with the whole production. Very professional and well done. And some of those ballerina's were just amazing. Not bad for a small little town.

Before the performance started we did a little shopping in downtown Sackville. I found this great little carrier. It looks perfect for when you have to take treats somewhere this time of year.

When I got home I discovered the beautiful pointsettia garden (in the first photo) had been delivered. And one of Mom's Home Care workers stopped by and delivered this cute little mug with greenery.

He makes one for each of his clients, as many of them live alone and don't have a Christmas tree anymore so they enjoy the little wisps of real greenery. It is so sweet and thoughtful.

And the last (but certainly not least) bit of Christmas spirit I found this weekend . . .

A bottle of Chocolate Vodka Martini

Now that's some Christmas Spirit - Right . . . . .

I'm thinking garnishing the glass with a peppermint patty or maybe a mini candy cane

I'll let you know my review after I "test" it tonight.

Remember - Be Nice

2011-12-09T21:23:00.001-04:00

Sometimes we all need a little reminder to be nice. Everyday stress plus all this holiday hoopla can take a toll on the nerves and common sense.

And especially at this time of year (you know, with Santa watching and all) we should all be on our best behavior :)

Do you remember in a post earlier this week I mentioned getting low on a pretty piece of plaid wool? Well, last night I got a message from a friend that she found a piece of it in her stash and was willing to part with it. Another example of the generosity of hooker friends.

So on my lunch hour I stopped in to pick it up (before she changed her mind LOL). As I was leaving I mentioned I was on my way to a local store to raise heck about an trouble-filled purchase. I was all wound up and loaded-for-bear. And then she hits me with this . . . . . "Now Kim, Be Nice" Dang it. Don't you hate it when someone is right ? (And I had a really good rant all worked out for the store manager too) And even worse, she had to remind me to be nice after just giving me a kind, nice gesture. Sheesh, sometimes I need a bonk on the head.

As I left and was driving to the store I realized I was smiling. I looked down at that pretty piece of wool on the seat next to me and giggled all the way to the store. And as I arrived in the parking lot I was repeating "Now Kim, Be Nice" So I WAS and got my issues all straightened out. Sometimes we all need a little reminder to be nice.

Tomorrow I am going to see the Nutcracker Ballet. That should help with the Christmas Spirit.

Hello Sunshine

2011-12-08T18:18:00.001-04:00

I had a lovely surprise last evening when I got home - A blog award. And who doesn't like to receive an award ? I'd like to thank the Academy.... Well, actually I'd like to thank Andrea from the blog Maybe It's Just Me. Andrea writes a very funny and honest blog. It is worth a trip over to visit her.

She has passed on the Sunshine Award. I think its just the nicest compliment if someone thinks you are like Sunshine ! "The Sunshine Blog Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blogosphere". How great is that ! Thank you so much Andrea.

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

1. Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it. (Thank you Andrea)

2. Answer the following questions below.

3. And pass the award to 10 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them.

Here are my answers:

Favorite color? It changes, but lately I'm drawn to reds and golds

Favorite animal?   Ahhh, I would be in big trouble if I didn't say Millie the Wonder Dog

Favorite number? 6

Favorite drink? coffee or a martini with 3 olives or a nice glass of dry red

Facebook or Twitter?   Facebook. I've never twittered or tweeted or whatever it is you do :)

Your passion? Hmm, so many - but taking care of my family is probably #1

Giving or getting presents? Can't I say both ? Giving the perfect gift is a great feeling - but getting is good too, right

Favorite day? Thursday

Favorite flower? Sunflowers. They always look so cheery

Now for the last part I am going to cheat on the rules a little bit. I'm not going to specifically name 10 blogs to pass the award on to. (Last time I got in a little trouble) Plus it is just too hard to select just 10 fabulous bloggers because you are all great.   So I will offer the award to my 10 most recent followers. Feel free to grab the award and pass it on.

Spread a little sunshine

Still looking. . .

2011-12-06T21:08:00.001-04:00

I'm in need of a little smack on the head from the Christmas Spirit Fairy.

A lot of you are decorating and baking etc. I'm still waiting for the spirit. Even loading up the ipod with Christmas music hasn't worked yet.

I think I got smacked in the head by the Bah Humbug Fairy this year. Lol

Clearly it should be obvious to you by now that I am lacking a good post idea tonight. Instead - you get Random Kim. (Sorry)

I hooked a little tonight on another little gift mat. I am down to the end of this piece of plaid wool. I now consider each strip to be a little piece of gold, since it will be awhile before I order more from Heavens to Betsy.

I think this is one of those color issues with photos. It looks better in person. The colors compliment each other better than it appears. Trust me.

Is it just me or does it feel more like Thursday than Tuesday?

Maybe this is the kind of Christmas spirit that will kick start me . . . . . Just sayin

You can call me Jill

2011-12-03T18:12:00.001-04:00

Last evening was the 2nd time our Women's Dinner Club met. This month 12 ladies met to enjoy a night of stories, laughs, fellowship, wine and great food.

This has turned out to be such an enjoyable event. I went home with a sore face from laughing so hard. Part of the humor was due to the theme of the month. Our menu was "Asian Flair". And as we got seated around the beautiful dining room table we noticed something was missing........silverware. Yes, you guessed it - - we had to eat the entire meal with chopsticks.

As you can imagine, this led to all sorts of fun. We had one "pro" in our midst who had studied in China for several months. She attempted to teach us and then she laughed at us - a lot. It's not as easy as it looks.

During the appetizer portion, while we were all just chatting in the living room, I noticed the lady next to me called me Jill. Well, we were all in a big conversation and I just let it go. Later in the evening someone across the table asked me a question, using my name. Then the other lady realized and said, "Oh I've been calling you Jill all night". I said, Oh thats OK, you can call me Jill. We all laughed and it kind of became a "thing" for the rest of the night.

So it begs the question - When someone you have just recently met calls you by the wrong name, do you correct them ?? Do you let it go once ? But then if you don't correct it and it goes on for too long, can you correct it then ?

Several years ago I met a woman at a function. The next time I saw her she called me Susan. It was just a hello in passing so I let it go. Then it happened again. Well, I let it go before so maybe it was too late to correct it now (thats what I told myself) About a year later I was at an event with Auntie. This woman again says "Hi Susan". Auntie scrunched up her face and whispered "Did she just say Susan ?" I grabbed her by the arm, pulled her along and said "Just go with it - Its gone on for 2 years now." LOL

Hooking and Cooking

2011-12-01T19:50:00.001-04:00

I have another holiday rug started. I hope this one turns out nice as I have it planned for a special family lady. Here is a little peek

I like it so far. If it turns out really nice I wouldn't mind making another. I usually don't have success hooking the same pattern twice. It my notorious short attention span - I lose interest quickly once its done.

Now, as promised, here is the Gumdrop Cake recipe. I can't believe how many of you commented that you had never heard of this cake. It is such a staple this time of year around here. I did ask a few more questions about the mystery of the green gumdrops.

Some of the family say that the green gumgrops have a stronger minty flavor than the other colors and that may be why she didn't use too many.

Susan suggested that green candies make you amorous........LOL Well I don't know about that but I doubt that was Grandma's reason for omitting them. She thought my grandfather was the "cats pyjamas" so if Susan's theory was true, she would have used ALL green.

Here is the recipe:
1 cup butter or margarine
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tsp each vanilla, lemon, almond extract
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
16 ounces gumdrops - cut in half or thirds

(save 1/2 cup of the flour to toss the gumdrops in - otherwise the gumdrops will all sink to the bottom)

Bake at 325 for an hour and a half.

Try it - you'll like it.

Drama Queen

2011-11-29T14:50:00.001-04:00

Yes, I admit it - I can be a bit of a drama queen. But today I just may be taking it to the max.

Prepare to mock me - it's OK - I know I deserve it. Even I am mocking myself.

This morning I was at the hospital. Nothing serious but it involved me getting . . . . . .(brace yourself) . . . . . a few stitches.

ACCKKK Nothing, and I mean nothing is more horrifying to me than stitches . . . . in flesh . . . . my flesh. Gross

At this point if Yaya is reading this (she works in an Operating room) she is probably on the floor laughing at me.

Seriously I am dying here. You would think I had a major amputation or something the way I am carrying on. I left the hospital and was all "jello-legged" and my stomach has been squeamish all day. Its gonna be a long week. And I don't even want to think about what happens in a few days when I have to change the dressing myself. I will probably faint - Seriously.

(Gumdrop Cake recipe to follow - maybe tomorrow - unless I die tonight from the stitches) seriously - Gross

Meet Me On Monday

2011-11-28T10:58:00.001-04:00

Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

1. I really need to clean my __________?

My closet. It is a disaster. I can never find anything, especially in the morning when I am not the brightest. In case you are wondering - this photo is NOT my closet. Well, only in my dreams.

2. What food makes you think of Christmas ?

Gumdrop cake. I love it. When I was a kid I would only pick out the gumdrops and leave the cake part. Then someone gave us a recipe for cream cheese gumdrop cake. Mmmmmm. And family legend says we only use a very few green gumdrops. I don't know why but it was Grandma's rule and she was a good cook so I listened to her. But everytime I make one I wonder why . . . . ?? Has anyone else ever heard of that ??

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be ?

Now that's a tough one. Sure, I used to be thinner, prettier, no gray hair or teeny wrinkles but I am smarter now and I know more so I would not trade a few gray hairs for that. I don't want to get stuck. I want to keep changing and growing and evolving. I know I could kick my 30 year old ass in a number of categories now. :)

4. What was your first paying job ?

At the age of 16 I got a part time - after school job as a cashier at a Department Store. Luckily I didn't experience the "Black Friday" phenomenon back then. The closest to that craziness I witnessed was grown women rolling around on the floor in a heap fighting over Cabbage Dolls. Yes it was the early 80's. Sad !

5. Have you read the Twilight Series ?

No. I think I am the only person left who hasn't read it. I have the first two books but they sit on my bookshelf in a pile of other un-read books.

If you get a chance, check out some of the other participants in todays Meet Me on Monday linky. Click on the link on my sidebar.

Too close for comfort

2011-11-27T15:24:00.001-04:00

Well, here we are again - less than a month from Christmas. This startling revelation hit me this weekend. And then that sick, panic feeling started to creep in. I better get my crabby, bah-humbug butt in gear. So far I'm not feeling the holiday mood.

Even putting up the Christmas Shower curtain (you know - the naked santa) didn't help. I did get a few little decorations up and I hooked another small table mat. I'm not going to blog it until I decide what to do with it.

I did make a list. Not a naughty/nice list like Santa does - but a OMG . . . . this is what's left to do list. Now if I could just tackle it quickly. Actually the list made me feel better.

Because I read about all your Thanksgiving menus, I am hungry for a big dinner with all the fixins. A chicken is in the oven and the vegetables are waiting to be peeled.

I hope to draw out another little gift mat tonight and maybe make the Christmas card list. I am also going to continue my subtle campaign to switch to an artificial tree this year. Dear old Auntie is holding out for a real one. (But she isn't the one who does all the work) I may have to get devious to get my way.

I realize this is a bit of a rambling, dis-jointed post. It sums up the day as it seems I have hopped from one thing to another. I hope this is not a pattern for the month.

Thankful ?

2011-11-24T18:33:00.001-04:00

Even though it's not Thanksgiving in Canada, I am going to jump in on the Thankful theme . . . well, sort of

Naturally I am thankful for all the usual stuff - family, friends, blah blah blah (FYI this is not a mushy post)

Most importantly today I am thankful that every day doesn't start like this morning. Did you ever notice that however your morning starts it seems to color the rest of the day ??

As you know, we had our first significant snowfall yesterday, about a foot and a bit. So last night I had the bright idea that I should re-adjust my car in the yard to make it easier for the plow driver. Well, that didn't work and I could feel I was starting to get stuck so I left it in its awkward position and figured I'd move it in the morning.   (Dumb move #1)

So this morning I mis-calculated getting up early enough to shovel the walk etc and was pushing it for time as I had a meeting first thing. I haphazardly shovelled and jumped in my car and tramped on the gas pedal. (Dumb move #2) Well, I started to slip and slide (in the wrong direction) and ended up off the driveway, onto the lawn - - - the still unfrozen lawn. So now I'm really mad and you know when I get mad I sometimes get stupid (no comments please Lol) and I started giving it more and more gas. (Dumb move #3) Which of course just spun my front wheels deeper and deeper into the lawn.   Geez Louise - the air in the car was blue. I'm glad none of you were in my yard to hear some of the crap coming out of my mouth.

Almost late for work, I left that car sideways in the yard and grabbed Auntie's keys and hijacked her car for the day. So I arrived at work just in time for the meeting but completely red lining. I swear I could have burst a blood pressure cuff if someone had taken my BP.

I won't go into the details of the rest of the day at work but the trend continued.   And I still had to worry about how to get my car out. I was tempted to leave the friggin thing there til Spring.

Then after lunch a White Knight appeared and offered to meet me at my house after work to push the car out.   Yippee - It worked. I was so happy he offered because I wasn't going to ask - mostly because I was embarrassed but also because I knew I would get teased. The Knights silver armour was only tarnished a teeny bit when he laughed and asked me how in the world I manged to get the car in the bizarre position it was in.   Don't you hate it when they do that ? However I was so grateful I let his mocking go was just thankful for my White Knight.

Tomorrow will start better. I'm ordering new snow tires.

Oh and for those of you who invited me to travel across the border to have Thanksgiving Dinner with you - I really did plan to come but now you know why I didn't arrive - Stupid stuck car. LOL But I really did appreciate the offers :)

P.S. Thanks Michelle for confessing that you also had to get half naked in front of co-workers for your flu shot. I feel better now!

And so it begins . . . Part 2

2011-11-23T19:07:00.001-04:00

I knew the weather was too good to last. The weather witch was right - the first storm of

season arrived as predicted.

This was the view from my office window this afternoon

And so it begins . . . Winter. BAH

Within a very short time after the snow began there were multiple fender benders throughout town. People seem to forget how to drive in the snow from year to year. You could see morons flying down the streets and then skidding and sliding through stop signs. Sheesh

It is still snowing with some rain mixed in. Just a perfect combo for a mess.

There is only one thing that could warm a cold, frosty heart on a day like this

- - - - -

Coming home to find a big box of Heavens to Betsy wool had been delivered.

That almost makes the weather tonight tolerable.

I hope all my American friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day

filled with family and friends.

Torn between two lovers

2011-11-22T18:47:00.001-04:00

Last night I found myself torn between 2 lovers. What a dilemma.   What to do, what to do ?

The basis of my problem . . . .

The conflict of Dancing With The Stars and Sidney Crosby's triumphant return to the hockey arena on TV at the same time . . . .

It was Part 1 of the DWTS Finale but Sidney, Nova Scotia's hometown hockey hero was playing in his first game in over 10 months after an injury.     Oh, the stress of it.

Then it came to me - a technological triumph . . . . watch DWTS on TV and follow the hockey game on my iPad with the Hockey Night in Canada App.   GENIUS   I didn't miss a thing. The wonder-boy scored the first goal and then another with 2 more assists - 4 points.

I don't even like hockey that much but had to witness Sid's return, and I was not disappointed. It was certainly all the talk around the office today.    And equally impressive was JR's performance on DWTS. Fingers crossed he takes home that tacky mirror ball trophy tonight.

And since I'm here typing I might as well tell you about a little wardrobe malfunction today. Only me, right ? Murphy's Law is back over my shoulder.

Today was the flu shot clinic at work for employees. I forgot and ended up at work wearing a top with the sleeves too tight to pull up high enough and a neckline too tight to pull down far enough. And of course we do 2 employees needles at a time in the same room - - without a screen.

Do you see where this is going ?? In my time slot I was paired with a male employee. . . . naturally. After a few minutes of contemplation - What the heck - I turned my chair around, told him not to dare peek and pulled my arm out of my sleeve exposing half a bra.   The nurses were keeping an eye on him and we were laughing. The good part is that he was so scared about getting the needle, I doubt he was worried about me. Plus I doubt a young guy like that was really interested in peeking at me - - I'm just trying to make myself feel good. LOL

I better go find the snow shovel in the basement. The weather witch says a storm's coming.

Meet me on Monday

2011-11-21T13:39:00.001-04:00

Today I am joining up with a blog hop hosting by Java at Never Growing Old.

This is what it is all about, in Java's words:
Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!

So each week she posts 5 questions for us to answer about ourselves. Here we go

1. I wish I had more time to . . . . play a musical instrument again.

I played when I was younger for about 6 years and have stopped for about 28 years. But lately in the past few weeks I have wanted to resume this pastime. However after 28 years, it will be like starting from scratch.

2. What is your favorite kind of soup ?

I think I would have to say chowder, or really any kind of cream soup. No matter what it is I always tend to gravitate towards the one that's not good for you :) (P.S. This goes for more than just soup hehehe)

3. Where will you eat Thanksgiving Dinner ?

In Canada, we had our Thanksgiving last month in October. The family and a few friends all gather at my house. It is a favorite holiday of mine and I am a bit jealous of you Americans for having it now. So, I am open to invitations if you want to invite me over ! Lol

4. What is your favorite time of the day ?

This one is easy - first thing in the morning. I have my cup of coffee, the morning paper and then a few blogs to read. It is really the only time I have to myself for the whole day. Its my time to re-charge and have a few quiet moments.

5. Did you start your Christmas Shopping yet ?

Well, I was all gung-ho and got a fair number of gifts bought in August. (a first for me) I have since picked up a few more plus made a few. I'm not done by far, but am in better shape than other years at this time.

Make sure to stop by Java's site to check out the other participants in todays hop.

JOY

2011-11-20T14:43:00.001-04:00

Last night was a blast. We had a great time at Sandy's party and the Parade was lovely. And before you ask - Santa was all lit up. Not in our "Baileys" kind of way - his float was covered in tons of twinkly lights. Murphy's Law was visiting someone else last night. :)

However the weather has taken a turn today with gale force winds and scattered rain showers. It is so windy I am considering putting ankle weights on Millie the next time she has to go out to pee.

This morning I got busy and finished binding the last of the 4 little holiday rugs. Woohoo. You have only seen a sneak peek of the final rug. Here is Joy

I decided to whip the border on this one. I could not find the off - white whipping yarn. I am sure I have a half a ball left but I couldn't find it anywhere. So I decided to try something different and whip with a contrast color. It was either that or put it aside to sit with all the other unfinished projects. And I did promise to bind all four rugs. This soft green was a ball of Bernat Roving yarn. Very soft and pretty but I would not recomment it for whipping. It broke and frayed so easily. But in true stubborn fashion, I kept going.

And so it begins

2011-11-19T14:17:00.001-04:00

It is officially the start of the Christmas season in my town. Let the hub-bub and chaos of the holidays begin.

Last night was the Official Town Light Up. Our crews have been working for 2 weeks to get all the Christmas lights and fixtures ready to go downtown. Last night we hosted a celebration in our newly renovated downtown square. The streets filled with people and the Mayor flipped the switch to turn on all the lights at once. After the light up and the Christmas Carols in the church, people headed to Dayle's Department Store where they revealed their Christmas window displays and lights.

This morning I headed to the "Bethlehem Market" at another downtown Church. There were lots of treats and goodies to buy and all the workers were dressed as sheperds. Very cute, plus I got to see lots of people I don't regularly see. I think half the town was there. One booth was staffed by one of my favorite people. He retired from my office a few years ago and is just the loveliest person.   His booth was selling hugs for 50 cents, but I got mine for free . . . . SWEET

And then tonight is the main event - SANTA is coming to town. Yes, it is the Annual Santa Claus Parade.  Our Parade is held in the evening and all the floats are covered in lights. It is beautiful. I'm invited to a friends house for her Parade Party. She lives right on the parade route and each year we get a front row seat on her front lawn. Plus she has a huge buffet of treats and in case we get cold there is an ample supply of hot cocoa or coffee sweetened with Baileys. And you know how I love that !

I have to tell you a little story about the Santa Float. My office is responsible for Santa's float. About 5 years ago I was tasked with re-designing the town's float. Its kind of important to make sure Santa's ride is impressive. If I do say so myself - it turned out fabulous. His sparkly sleigh and the reindeer are on top of a roof and we even had a smoke machine so smoke would be coming out of the chimney. The night of the Parade that year I was so excited to see it make its debut. I stood out in the cold and waited patiently for the parade to end as Santa is the last float.   All the other floats went by all brightly lit and festive.   And then I saw our truck . . . .  Santa was sitting on top of the float - - in darkness. We had put hundreds and hundreds of lights on this float. Darkness.

WTF ?? I got on the cell phone looking for answers. Apparently about 10 minutes into the parade route, the driver looked in his rear view mirror and the generator was on FIRE . . . .   Can you imagine ? I guess you just can't prepare for everything. It's never happened again, plus we have a back up now. I can laugh about it now but I wasn't laughing about it at the time.

Half crazy and half done

2011-11-17T21:04:00.001-04:00

Where did it go ? The week - it has vanished. It seems like I just posted Sunday night and POOF it is Thursday. I had an email from a dear blog friend today who asked me if I had been run over by a giant SUV. Lol Nope, nothing that dramatic. It was just one of those weeks that got away from me.

Well thats the half crazy part. Now for the half done part. Some of my regular "hooker" readers may want to sit down before they continue reading. It's for your own safety.

I have finished the binding on 2 of the 4 little rugs . . . . . . . . I know - it is SHOCKING !

Two rugs bound in one night. I can hardly believe it myself. I finished the edges Deanne style and it went by quickly - plus the rugs are smallish.

Still on the snowman theme - today was Mom's adult day care. They usually make some kind of craft while they are there. Today she came home with this cute painted glass snowman.

The staff and volunteers at this program are angels. I doubt I would have the patience to make a craft with 12 alzheimers patients.

Now I'm off to catch up on what you have all been doing all week.

Weekend Update

2011-11-13T18:59:00.001-04:00

Hi folks. You guys made me laugh with all your comments about yesterday's "almost" road rage incident. I was still fairly mad all the way home but once I typed out the post I was laughing too.

I had lots of things I should have done this weekend but instead I retreated to the hooking frame and forgot about everything else. I will probably pay for it tomorrow but it felt good to not think about anything and just create something.

I finished the candle mat and also finished another little holiday mat. I love the wool I used for the border. I think I have enough left for another little something. Just waiting for the idea.

There is enough linen left for one more little mat on the end of this piece. The only downside is that when I finish I will have 4 mats to bind before Christmas. And it is a well established fact that I do not enjoy that part and procrastinate, and procrastinate, and procrastinate. Fingers crossed that I don't do that this time.

Here is a little peek at the current mat. I added a little sparkly ribbon to this one. I love this ribbon and luckily I bought some ahead because you can't get it anymore. I treat it like gold now.

So that is the results of my lazy weekend. Have a great week.

A letter

2011-11-12T12:31:00.001-04:00

Dear Kind, courteous driver:

This letter is for the sweet man driving the enormous white Escalade I encountered at the intersection of Mapleton and Trinity this morning.

I'm sure you were just distracted by your cell phone when you cut me off and almost creamed me with your giant SUV. I'm sure you thought it was OK because you were bigger than me. But I'm sure you have heard before that size doesn't matter. In fact, I'll bet your wife has said this to you a time or two.

I am sorry that I could not make out all the words you were saying, as you were looked down on me when you pulled up beside me at the traffic lights. I could make out a few of your words though. I may have missed some of the fine nuances as I watched your big fat lips flapping at me through the glass of the windows.

I was afraid that perhaps you wouldn't hear my responses so I chose to respond in sign language. I truly do hope that you were able to fully understand my gestures. I have a feeling you have seen them before.

Thank you for making my nice, quiet little drive to Moncton for a few errands so very special. I hope you have a SUPER day, and that a thousand fleas infest your armpits - Asshole.

Sincerely, Kim

P.S. BITE ME

Remember

2011-11-10T19:08:00.001-04:00

November 11 - Remembrance Day

Take a moment to thank all the Service Men and Women in the military

past, present and future.

Introducing Cousin Emerson

2011-11-09T11:17:00.000-04:00

I am so proud to introduce little cousin Emerson

My little sweetie is less than 1 hour old here. He was born early this morning

in the Netherlands.

His proud Momma is my baby cousin Angela, but I will

be Auntie Kim to Emerson.

Great name, eh (I picked his name)

This was a very high risk pregnancy and I have been a nervous wreck awaiting his arrival.

Momma and baby are both doing fine. It is so hard to be so far away at times like this but modern technology makes it a little easier. I can't hold him but can Skype with them both soon.

Welcome to the world Emerson

Small and simple

2011-11-07T21:14:00.000-04:00

In my quest to get my hooking mojo back, I decided to just draw out a small, uncomplicated little pattern that didn't require a lot of color planning and thought.

This little mat is approx. 12 x 12 and I am amazed at how quickly it is hooking up. I dug out my #8 cutterhead for the background. Now I can't remember why I put that #8 away - I love it. I will be leaving it in my cutter for awhile.

I think I have my mojo back. I still have some room left on the end of this burlap. Any suggestions for the next little 12 x 12 project ?

Feeding the soul

2011-11-06T18:40:00.000-04:00

Where would we be without our women friends? They are the people in our lives who support us, encourage us and lift us up when we need it. Sometimes they are also the ones who kick us in the butt when we need it.

But no matter what, the bonds formed by women are important. I was reminded of that this weekend.

Friday night I attended a Women's Dinner Club. As I told you before the guest list was a secret. It was a little like Christmas morning, as each time the door opened we anxiously awaited to see who was on the other side. Each one was a new gift.

It ended up that everyone knew at least 2 - 4 people out of the 16 invited. It was certainly an interesting collection of women - all different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. It is going to be a great journey getting to know more about each of these women as the winter progresses. In attendance were 2 gals I went to high school with and hadn't seen for many years. It was so fun to reconnect with them.

And the food. . . . . . outstanding ! But then again, anytime a man cooks and serves a group of women - its going to be a treat. (hehehe) I am very much looking forward to our next gathering in December.

The remainder of the weekend was equally enjoyable. Saturday morning there were a few craft shows around. I shopped a bit and got a few little bits and bobs and also got a few new craft ideas. Now if I could only find the time to try and make them.

Next stop was to the International Food Fair that was being held in my Church. There were 12 different countries represented with food. And it was (conveniently) lunch time as I ventured in. I sampled some tasty treats from El Salvador, Cuba, France, China, the Congo, Vietnam, Lebanon, Thailand . . . . . I can't remember the others. Well I tried all 12 samples. I hear they are planning to expand it for next year. I will be there - for sure.

I'm glad I wasn't counting calories this weekend - but I certainly enjoyed myself. If its been awhile since you got together with your gal pals - - - pick up the phone and make the arrangements. You won't regret it.

Guess who's coming to dinner??

2011-11-04T13:51:00.000-03:00

Well, it's not Sidney Poitier for sure, but that is about all I know.

I have been invited to join a Women's Dinner Club. Tonight is our first get-together. And for now, the guest list is a secret.

There are 16 participants - dubbed an "ecclectic" group of women by the organizer.

So tonight I will arrive and find out who I will be dining with monthly throughout the winter. I'm excited. Our meals will be catered by a local chef.

All week I have been trying to guess who might be there. . . . . . I love the surprise aspect of it . . . . but I'm also curious (and we all know what curiousity did to the cat).

The suspense is almost over. I will let you know how it goes.

A gathering of 16 different women - This is shaping up to be a very interesting evening.

Ever have one of those days??

2011-11-03T14:41:00.001-03:00

Just Sayin . . . . .

The spoils of war

2011-11-01T21:02:00.000-03:00

It's over again for another year. We had about 50 little goblins begging for treats at the door. And you will never believe this but the very first knock on the door last night was a CLOWN......Yes it is true - luckily it was less than 3 feet tall so it didn't send me over the edge.

Millie is much quieter tonight. I do think her throat must be sore - she out-did herself with the barking last night.

My patience was running low with her but the one thing that didn't run low was the treat supply. We had over bought on the treats. I have tons left. I took a big bag to work this morning to get rid of some, but unfortunately several other employees had the same idea. There is temptation everywhere. I think the peanut M&M's are the worst - I can't resist. I need to find a new home for some of this candy - - - quickly !

Changing topics - Have you been watching Dancing With The Stars ? I was always a fan of Maks - I like his sarcastic edgy attitude but last night I think he went too far. I was not impressed.

But J.R. Martinez . . . . what an inspiration ! I think it is his season - at least I hope so.

That's it for now.

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T11:25:00.001-03:00

Hi everyone, it's me - - - Millie

My Momma dressed me all up today. Don't I look pretty ??

Hmmm, wait a second - - I remember this orange dress

Gasp . . . . . I only wear it once a year . . .

It's that terrible night when creepy looking people bang on

the door for hours . . . .

Oh no - I'm gonna get a sore throat from all the barking I will have to do.

And even worse than all the banging and barking . . . .

Mommy gives treats away to all the little beggers

Hmmm, she always told me it was impolite to beg . . .

What's up with that, huh ??

Oh, Momma says to say . . .

P.S. I hope no clowns come to the door or Momma's gonna freak

An inside kind of day

2011-10-30T16:48:00.000-03:00

It is totally the kind of day to stay inside and be comfy and cozy. What I like to call a "special coffee" day. Well, mine didn't look as pretty as this one but it sure tasted good. (Note to self: Buy more Baileys)

Just what you need when the temperature outside is barely above zero and the rain/snow mix is blowing horizontally at the windows. Not nice at all.

Millie and I spent the morning curled up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. It didn't take long for her to scratch around at her blankets to make a little nest. She loves to get in the middle of a nest. What a sookie baby !

This is the kind of day she almost refuses to go outside. I also finished hooking my little snowman guy and started planning the next little mat. I definately enjoy doing the smaller projects.

Supper is in the oven. I am loving getting the fresh vegetables every week. This weeks delivery consisted of red skinned potatoes, rutabaga, carrots, beets and parnsips. I cut them all up in chunks to roast in the oven - glazed with maple syrup. I can hardly wait until they are ready.

Mine are still in the oven but this is what it is supposed to look like....

With asparagus stuffed chicken breasts. The smell is driving me crazy. I'm surprised I'm still hungry because being trapped inside all day has put a dent in the halloween treat supply. :)

Small town blessings

2011-10-29T14:54:00.000-03:00

There are so many wonderful things about living in a small town. And my particular small town is pretty special.

As you know, it is not the spot on a map that makes a community - it is the people that make a place special.

This week we had an opportunity to be reminded of the great people who call this place home. A very special Flash Mob happened the other day.

Our local elementary school Principal has been battling cancer for the past year and a half. He is not only a wonderful educator, adored by children and parents alike, he is a friend of mine.

The schools Physical Education teacher is a cancer survivor and developed this idea. He has been working with all the kids in the school all year, learning the words to the song "I Believe" and choreographing some dance moves.

Thursday, the entire school - about 600 students, teachers and parents walked to Mr. Kelly's house and performed a Flash Mob on his lawn. He was able to come out on the front porch to watch. I don't think there was a dry eye from anyone who witnessed this. Many of the children held signs that said "Believe" "We love you Mr. Kelly" etc. There are multiple videos of this posted on facebook. I cannot watch them without crying. I am so proud of these people.

This is just another example of what makes my small town so special.

I did try to post the video from my facebook page to here but after several failed attempts I gave up. I wish I could share it with you.

Good Grief !!

2011-10-28T09:23:00.000-03:00

I think Courtney said it best in her comment on my last post

LOL

Don't bother to click on the link to Julia's new blog just yet

It has vanished . . . . . . . . . . AGAIN

It is starting to feel like a Where's Waldo kind of thing

As soon as I find our where Julia is I'll let you know.

(This must be driving her crazy) Heehee

Julia's back and starting over

2011-10-27T13:54:00.000-03:00

Hi folks. Julia just emailed me and it looks like her old blog has vanished into the blogisphere but she is not one to be detered. No way - She has a brand new blog up and running already

More Petals and Wool

Now, Julia has lost all her followers so please go to the new blog and sign up again so you don't miss anything.

Julia's locked out

2011-10-27T08:27:00.000-03:00

Hi everyone, Just passing on a little information to help a fellow blogger. I received an email last night from Julia from the blog Of Petals and Wool.

She is locked out of her blogger account and can't access her blog. Also she is unable to leave any comments on your blogs. She is working on a solution and hopes to be back up really soon. I will keep everyone posted. Julia and I share a lot of common followers so this seemed to be the best way to get the word out.

Good luck Julia, we can't wait until you are back.

Think Pink

2011-10-26T18:46:00.000-03:00

For a minute this morning I thought I needed to get my eyes checked. I reached into the mailbox to get the morning newspaper and it looked strange.

As I pulled it out I noticed it was PINK. Yes, I said pink. Not the type - the paper. As I read the front page I learned that it was in honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I have to admit, it looked kind of cool. And it was a good reminder for every woman to get their mammogram. Coincidentally mine is scheduled for tomorrow. About 7 years ago a rountine mammogram detected early breast cancer in Mom. She was lucky.

It's not my favorite thing, but it's not the worst thing either. I found this on the internet today and figured if you have to get your "girls" squished in a vice - you might as well find something amusing about it

Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, but
there is no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each
day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following
practice exercises, you will be totally prepared for the
test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice
exercises right in your home
Exercise 1:
Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast
between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest
friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the
door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds.
Repeat again in case the first time wasn't effective enough.
Exercise 2:
Visit your garage at 3 AM when the temperature of
the cement floor is just perfect.
Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the
floor with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car.
Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is
sufficiently flattened and chilled. Turn over and repeat for
the other breast.
Exercise 3:
Invite a stranger into the room. Press the bookends
against one of your breasts. Smash the bookends together as
hard as you can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet
next year and do it again.

Exercise 4

imagine

Don't forget Ladies - Gram your Mammies

Proud as a peacock

2011-10-23T20:27:00.000-03:00

Yep, I'm a little proud of myself tonight. Since we last talked, I managed to get a lot of little pain-in-the-butt jobs scratched off my list.

I have been without my handyman lately. Poor guy has had a serious health issue in the past few weeks and it looks like he is officially retired. The doctor and wife have both laid down the law. So, now I'm in a bit of a bind.

There are lots of things I can do but not enough to keep this 100 year old house functioning. So I supposed I will have to start auditioning new replacements. Young and buff wouldn't hurt (heehee).

He and his wife came for a brief visit today and he showed me a few things I needed to do in the basement before the weather turns colder. This old house has a rock wall foundation and a mud floor basement, so you can imagine how much I LOVE going down there. (Where the spiders live.....) But I put on my big girl panties, went down (to where the spiders live), reached my hand in a few cobwebs (ewwww) and drained all the pipes to the outside water sources. The last cobweb was a big one, so "find new handyman" is moving high up on the list of to-do's.

Then I tackled that pile of wool I was complaining about the other day. I went to all the various household hiding places and dumped everything on the living room floor and started to sort. I am too ashamed to show you the photo of the entire floor so this is just about 1/4 of the mess.

The last bag I looked in (of course) was the one I was looking for the other night. So now that I had found all the wool, I put all the small leftover worms together in one hit 'n miss bag and the other pieces of un-cut wool are together, somewhat color sorted and stowed away in the bedroom.

No excuses now, so I started to hook again. Yay, it felt great. And in only a very short time I managed to get this done

Doesn't he look happy ? I should have half the background finished later tonight. I wish I had the committment to hook a large rug, but for now I like doing the little ones. Who knows, he might be a pillow soon.

As usual, the weekend has flow by much too quickly. Lets hope the next 5 days fly by so another weekend will be here quickly.

A gift and a mess

2011-10-22T20:02:00.000-03:00

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway from Jacque at The Doodles of my Mind. If you follow her blog you know that she makes the most beautiful quilts. And now I have a little quilted piece of my own.

She calls it Sun Kissed and trust me - her work is perfect. Here is my little sun kissed quilt.

Thank you Jacque. I love it.   Well that is the gift part of this post. Now for the mess......

My hooking supplies are a MESS. Today I got out a piece of burlap and drew out a little primitive snowman. I figured I could hook the majority of it from the scrap bag. I have little bags of wool (cut and un-cut) tucked all over this house. I wasted so much time looking around for a certain bag with the right colors.    Arrrgh, I need an extra room in this house. I got so fed up looking that I gave up.

But at least the pattern is drawn. Maybe tomorrow I will have the patience to attempt to organize the wool.    When I win the lottery I will build myself a little studio. (Yeah, keep dreamin Kim )
But for now it is like a treasure hunt to find stuff.

Time to fish or cut bait

2011-10-20T19:31:00.000-03:00

I think I am at a crossroads with my rug hooking. I can't seem to get going again.

Things got busy and crazy around here and the hooking got pushed to the side for a few weeks. Then another week passed and now it has been almost a month.

I promised myself yesterday that I was going to work on the rug last night. Didn't happen.

I now am of the opinion that the problem is this particular rug. It is too large and even when I hooked on it for an hour or so, it still looked like I had done nothing. So today I debated my options. For awhile I considered tweeking it to see if I could just finish half but that doesn't seem like it will work.

I still like the idea of the rug, but I just don't want to work on it now. So I think I will just put it away. I feel like working on a small something so I can feel like I am accomplishing. The final result - I'm going to cut bait on this project.

I am willing to bet that in the middle of winter I will want to hook again with all these warm colors.

Today is was pouring rain and very chilly. I couldn't seem to get warm today. And poor little Millie actually had to be thrown outside. She hates to get wet, so as soon as I open the door and it is raining, she tries to run back inside.

She got soaked. And then she got crabby. And then she got spoiled.

Awww, how cute is she ??

Wednesday Hodgepodge

2011-10-19T14:36:00.000-03:00

Today I am participating for the first time in the Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce - From This Side of the Pond. Joyce posts some random questions for us to answer and learn a little more about each other.

1. How do you typically react in a sudden extreme, pressure-filled crisis ? Would we want you nearby in an emergency ?

Hmmm, well it depends. If I am the only one around I can keep calm and take control of the situation, doing what has to be done. Then I fall apart after it's over.

2. Caramel apple - Caramel sundae - Caramel corn - Caramel macchiato......of the four, which caramel treat would you choose ?

No brainer - Caramel Macchiato. You all know I have a serious coffee problem.

3. Is there such a thing as destiny ?

I'm going to say no. I think there is a series a random events tied to a series of conscious choices.

4. What's your favorite piece of furniture ? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.

I think that would be my grandmother's vanity. It is in my bedroom and I sit in front of it every morning. I think it is a piece of furniture I would take with me no matter where I go in the future.

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know ? Do you care ? Will you be watching ? Ever been to a professional baseball game ? If you are not an American do you find the title "World Series" annoying or amusing ?

This applies to all professional sports - I am a "Game 7" kind of gal. That is the only time I will watch - when it comes down to the wire. I have never been to a pro baseball game but one of the things on my Bucket List is to watch the Yankees play the Red Sox in Boston.

6. One sound that takes me back to my childhood is _____________

Trains. We lived (still do) near a set of railway tracks. When I first moved away from home I couldn't sleep because it was so quiet.

7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine, how many other participant blogs do you visit ? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts ?

I do pop back once or twice over the next few days to check things out. I can't say I visit all the sites but I do try to visit the majority of them. Isn't that the best part of these linky's - to find new blogs of interest that we might not normally discover.

8. Insert your own random thought here

Getting reacquainted with my kitchen

2011-10-16T15:01:00.000-03:00

I managed to get lots of rest this weekend. I stayed in bed late both days. Thank you for all your messages on my last post.  When I get tired I guess I get whiney.   So I took the advice and slowed down. However, too much of doing nothing kind of gets on my nerves.

I seemed to be drawn back to the kitchen. I guess its true that when you are not feeling quite yourself you crave comfort foods.

It wasn't so much that I was craving certain foods, but I have been so slack with the meals lately. There has been a lot of toaster waffles and sandwiches lately.

So when I got home Friday night I re-introduced myself to the kitchen appliances. I think they missed me :)   Friday's supper was stuffed chicken breast, brown rice and sauteed brussel sprouts. The sprouts are not my favorite veggies but I had them so I cooked them. I cooked them like Dr. Oz recommended and they kind of carmelized in the pan. Not bad but normally I prefer them drowned in some kind of sauce.

Yesterday was coconut rice pudding (my favorite), beef and scalloped potatoes. This morning I opened the freezer and the pie crusts were still in there. Remember the apple pie that never was?? Those stupid pie crusts were mocking me so I made a quiche.

I told Mom that I was making quiche for lunch and she curled up her face and announced "NO, I don't like that."   Well, it was already in the oven. When we sat down to eat I told her it was Breakfast Pie. She ate it and loved it. I guess it's all in how you present it. Lol I also use this trick with yogurt - I tell her it is melted ice cream and she eats it.   Tricky but effective.  She can't afford to lose anymore weight so sometimes I have to be sneaky.

It was pretty good, if I do say so myself. I used asparagus, mushroom and bacon with a blend of smokey cheddar and swiss cheese.

For tonight I have a pork tenderloin in the oven. I feel like I am running out of meal ideas lately. Does this ever happen to you? You just get bored with the same old stuff all the time?

I think I need to learn to make more casserole type things. It is not something we ever had here when I was growing up. We were a meat and potatoes house. My grandmother never made casseroles and neither did Mom. I've been looking up lots of different recipes. Next weekend might be a casserole weekend. Any suggestions ? What is your favorite casserole ?

Finding my way

2011-10-14T20:10:00.000-03:00

It has been a long couple of weeks. There has been a lot going on in my life lately.

I have been managing to plod along but today I am tired. I think everything is catching up with me and I am glad it is Friday and I have a couple of days to decompress.

One of the coping skills I developed as I learned to live with Mom's Alzheimers was to compartmentalize certain problems. I just couldn't deal with all the different things in the beginning that were coming at me every day. Sometimes you just have to deal with the task at hand and put the feelings and emotions aside for awhile.

I would just take certain things and mentally put them in a box. And that is what I have been doing for a long time. But lately I have been collecting a lot of those boxes. They are getting a little heavy. So I guess that means I need to deal with some of them, before they deal with me.

I feel better just admitting that to myself. It is OK to have these feelings. It is OK to take some time for yourself. It is OK to stop pretending to be the energizer bunny.

Actually, I feel better already. Have a great rain-free weekend. I hope to get some more photos of the fall leaves before they all disappear.

Follow Friday

2011-10-14T09:06:00.001-03:00

Today I am joining up with Java's Follow Friday linky

Happy Friday

Good Morning - HA......

2011-10-13T19:47:00.000-03:00

Some mornings start better than others.

This morning when the alarm went off, I must have been in a deep sleep and I think I was in the middle of a dream. I woke up all confused and disoriented.

And to make matters worse I was hearing this terrible noise. It took me a few seconds to figure it out. It was a strange screeching noise and it was loud.

It sounded like someone was strangling a cat.

Nope it wasn't getting strangled. Some darn cat was getting its freak on right out side my bedroom window.   O.M.G.......   Trust me, that is not a sound you want to wake up hearing.   Lol

Then I opened up my contact lense case, dumped it out and refilled it with solution. Hmmmm, I started to think "this isn't right. . . . . ." Good grief - I threw out my contacts.   (At this point I should have just gone back to bed).   So I managed to find both lenses but then I had no way to know which one was for which eye. I did eenie, meenie, minee, mo and just stuck them in my eyes.

They didn't feel just right but I was so thrown off this morning I just assumed my eyes were dry and they would feel better in a few minutes.   I dressed, grabbed a coffee and left for work. Once I started driving I knew something was wrong - I couldn't see right. (great to be behind the wheel, right)

I had the lenses in the wrong eyes. Uuughhh, I got to work and took them out and switched eyes. It was like a miracle - I could see again.

It was like Monday happened twice this week. Tomorrow all I can say is TGIF.

(Don't I lead an exciting life ? Hahahah)

Random Wednesday

2011-10-12T20:19:00.000-03:00

It is one of those days that a single themed coherent post is eluding me. So you will have to put up with a random offering.

Have you heard about the big international Blackberry glitch?? All over today blackberry addicts were dealing with black screens and service interruptions. Some of the people at work were actually twitching by the end of the day.

But not me ! For some reason mine is still working fine. (Yes I just knocked on wood)

Also my hometown has been over- run this week .............. with HOOKERS. They are everywhere. When I drove through downtown I saw several on the sidewalks and the street corners.

Rug Hookers - hundreds of them. This week is the 4th Annual Fibre Arts Festival. This is one of Deanne's babies. You can read more about it here on Deanne Fitzpatrick's blog I'm looking forward to going to the Fibre Market on Friday, but I am going to put myself on a budget. I haven't picked up my hook for about 3 weeks. This might be a record. I hope that a visit to the Fibre Market will push me forward.

Tonight was the weekly vegetable pick-up. I wrote about it here. The vegetables and the selection are amazing. But I have lost my cooking mojo lately but I need to get my butt back in gear. I'm kitchen lazy. I wish I had the kitchen that they had in the Jetson's cartoon. Remember that??

Wouldn't it be great to be able to just push a button on the wall and within seconds your supper pops out? I think I would go crazy in those Automats. That would be fun.

OK, that is enough of my random rambling for now.

The Switch

2011-10-10T22:21:00.000-03:00

This is one of last Fall's photos. It has nothing to do with this post, but I didn't want to do a pic-less post.

Today was the traditional "switch" day. It was time to switch out the seasonal clothes.

What a mess for awhile. Mountains of clothes piled up on the floors of all the bedrooms. The washer and dryer were thumping since early morning.

All the cute shorts and T shirts are history for now and all the cozy, comfy sweaters are back on the shelves.

We kept busy all day and had leftovers to eat so it was nice not to have to cook - just microwave.

Miss Millie was back to herself this morning, running around and begging for treats. I think the sneaky culprits have learned their lesson about being too generous under the table. There were quite a few barks, snorts and growls of protest during supper. Millie is so funny when she is ticked off. She is one little ball of attitude.

It's back to work tomorrow. It is always so hard to get going the morning after a long weekend.

Thankful and Overindulgent

2011-10-09T22:26:00.000-03:00

Thanksgiving dinner 2011 is now just a memory. I had enough food prepared for all of you, but there were only 4 of us. We ended up with an extra at the table. One of Mom's friends plans fell through so I picked her up and brought her here. It's a good thing I cook like my Grandmother

and prepare way more than I need. Lots of leftovers for tomorrow. (So Michelle, you can come over)

I didn't make the pie yet. Yesterday a friend called after lunch and said she had the coffee pot on and a fresh bottle of Baileys. So obviously sitting out visiting her on the deck took priority for a few hours.

And when I got home another friend had dropped off a pumpkin pie and a pan of pumpkin squares with cream cheese icing. I figured that was enough dessert for now.

That picture is pretty much the scene here. We are all stuffed to the max. But poor Millie is worst of all. It would appear that some people at the table (not me) were sneaking treats under the table.

Miss Millie has been sick twice so far. All her blankies are in the washer.

Poor little thing is lying here looking all sick and pathetic.

Aside from that little glitch it was a wonderful thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for - wonderful friends and family here and away. I am especially thankful for the family members who were with me last week at a difficult time.

We shouldn't need a holiday to remind ourselves to be thankful.

It should be a daily mantra.

Thanksgiving equipment and a flashback

2011-10-08T19:28:00.001-03:00

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I think it is my favorite holiday. Completely non commercial - just family, lots of food and beautiful autumn weather.

As the preparations get going for the big feast tomorrow, it's important to check out the necessary equipment.

First - the guest of honor

Next, and almost as important........

And lastly, the Thanksgiving pants........

Stretchy and with a drawstring (in case I over-indulge)

I want to share this Thanksgiving flashback with you. Today I was thinking about my very first Thanksgiving on my own. I was in my mid 20's and living and working in P.E.I. For some reason, which I don't remember, I didn't go home that year and decided to invite some friends over and host the thanksgiving dinner.

I had never cooked a whole chicken or turkey before but had seen it done. It didn't look hard. But when it came time to clean the bird I began to have second thoughts. "I can't stick my hand up there". I tried for a second and after gagging and being completely grossed out about touching all that yucky innards, I knew I was in trouble.

Hmmm, what to do, what to do........ Being the incredibly resourceful girl I am, I decided to spread open the legs and fill the cavity with water and then turn it upside down and shake it. My hope was that all that "stuff" would just fall out. Now, stop laughing - I really thought that would work!

OK so that didn't work. I even briefly considered cooking it with the stuff inside but feared it might poison my guests. Then I had a brilliant idea. I had baked chocolate chip cookies the day before. I put some on a plate and knocked on the door of the older couple who lived in the upstairs apartment. After presenting them with this lovely plate of cookies (AKA a bribe), I embarrassingly asked them if they would clean my turkey. Yes, it was a little humiliating but they thought it was hysterical. And they very graciously did the dirty deed.

Oh, but it gets worse. After the turkey was in the oven I started to get the vegetables ready. I was attempting to cut this large turnip when the knife slipped. The next thing I know is my finger is covered in blood - a really gusher. I got all woozy and my knees got shaky. I am squeamish with blood, especially my own and this was bad. I got to the bathroom where I sat on the edge of the toilet, put my head between my knees and hung my hand over the sink under cold running water. (yes the bathroom was THAT small - I didn't even have to stretch) I kept thinking I had to get it together quick or my friends would arrive and find me passed out in a red puddle.

I eventually got the first aid kit and bandaged it up. It really should have had some stitches, but the only thing worse than blood is stitches. In case you are wondering, I didn't serve the turnip. It looked a bit like a crime scene from CSI. And of course it was my middle finger......so once it was all bandaged up it looked like I was constantly flipping somebody off. Lol Nice.....

So that was my very first Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, they have gotten better over the years.

More of Fall's Bounty

2011-10-07T21:51:00.000-03:00

Here are a few more photos taken earlier this week as I was leaving the Annapolis Valley. It is such a beautiful area, dotted with scenic farm lands, country markets and lots of memories. I spent 4 years attending university in this special place. And I think Fall is the best time of year to appreciate what it has to offer.

And it would be almost criminal to leave the Annapolis Valley without some apples. I bought a bag of Ginger Golds, Honeycrisp, and of course MacIntosh. My plan is to make apple pie this weekend. My grandmother made the best apple pie in the world. Really, she did. The pressure is on to re-create it. I think it is pretty hard to screw up apple pie. Well, I hope so anyway.

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. Pumpkin and apple pies are tradition. This year I do not want to eat store bought pies. Look out - I'm strapping on the apron this weekend!

Some quiet time

2011-10-05T22:00:00.000-03:00

It has been more than a week since I had a new post. I have been blog absent but I hope to catch up with you all over the next few days.

In the middle of last week things went sideways. I needed to take an unexpected trip, but that's all I am going to say about it. Monday evening I needed to clear my head. I left the hotel and found a short nature trail near a farmer's market. It was just what I needed.

Let's Make a Deal

2011-09-27T15:09:00.001-03:00

Remember that Game Show with Monty Hall - Let's Make a Deal?

Well, that is how my morning started - sort of.....

Or maybe it was more like an old fashioned Trading Post

The object of the early morning trading frenzy.......

Coffee K-cups

You know I am a coffee fiend and love my Keurig brewer. A few months ago a friend bought one so I gave her a little gift bag filled with samples from my stash.

Then she could try some out without buying a whole box and discovering she didn't like that flavor.

On the weekend a co-worker bought a machine and I offered the same deal. He was

thrilled to get his treat bag this morning and offered to buy me a replacement box.

I said No, this is today's random act of kindness, but the next time you try a new flavor you like - you have to share.

So the 3 of us got together and made an arrangement to swap new flavors and combine orders to save on shipping. Plus we get to try new blends.

This morning was like the floor of the stock exchange

"I'll give you 3 pumpkin for 2 mud slides and a blueberry..."

It is a little sad what the effects of caffeine can have on otherwise normal people.

When the new order arrives, I will give you my reviews.

In the meantime.....

Rumor has it......

2011-09-25T21:51:00.003-03:00

Rumor has it that this was the first official weekend of Autumn.   That is what everyone is saying. That is what the calendar is saying.

However, the thermometer was saying something else all weekend. It felt more like July than the tail end of September.   Even the trees are slow catching on. This photo was taken last year.

Maybe it's some kind of twisted karma that ever since I bought new Fall duds for cooler weather - the temps have climbed to the mid to high 20's. Today I was sweating in shorts and a T-shirt. Sorry gals, until it cools down I won't be modelling my new purchases for awhile.

I had a bit of a stomach bug yesterday and spent much of the day sleeping on the sofa. I hate it when I waste an entire precious weekend day. Plus that meant I had to cram all the weekend chores into today. The last load of laundry is now folded and I can pull a few loops on my rug while I watch the premier of Desperate Housewives.

I also switched the furniture around in the "Christmas" room. It is actually the front living room that we never use - except for at Christmas time. It is going to become my study room while I start my new courses. I got notice on Friday that my first set of text books have been shipped so I moved things around so I have a cozy little study corner away from the chaos and the constant stream of company this house receives.

Time to see what is happening on Wisteria Lane.   Have a great week.

It wasn't my fault

2011-09-22T18:21:00.000-03:00

Really, it wasn't my fault. Don't judge me....

So, here is what happened and I will let you decide.

I had an appointment this morning in Moncton (shopping heaven) so I took the entire day off work. After I was finished at the dentist office I stopped at the mall.

Danier Leathers had all their windows plastered with SALE signs.

So I figured it wouldn't hurt to just go in and look around.........Right? And my old black

leather jacket is getting ratty (no, seriously) The sleeves and around the elbows are getting all worn and chalky looking so replacing it is not unreasonable.......Right?

Well, the Sale signs were not misleading. All last years styles on sale - major markdowns. I found a simple black lambskin jacket that was originally $450. It was reduced to $140 and it had a yellow sticker so there was another 20%. Total price - $ 111

This is not the actual jacket but very similar

So......it wasn't my fault. I had no choice but to buy it.......Right?

It would have been foolish to leave a deal like that behind.......Right?

And Momma didn't raise a fool.

And then a short while later I walked past a shoe store. (big mistake)

In the window were the most fabulous high black leather"hooker boots"

(Yes Lauren CFM's)

You know they are going to look perfect with the new jacket.......Right?

As a side note - both purchases are still hidden in the trunk of my car until I can sneak them in and mix them in with existing inventory. LOL And yes, I will pretend I had them last year and people must have forgotten they saw them before. Don't rat me out, OK?

I celebrated my purchases over a chocolate pumpkin spice latte. Mmmmm

Today was a good day

A mid week ramble

2011-09-21T19:22:00.000-03:00

No pictures tonight, mainly because I am too lazy to take one or even look for one to go with this post. Isn't that terrible?
Instead I thought I would just ramble to you for a few minutes. Some of you had asked me about the size of the autumn leaf rug in progress. I measured it tonight and it is roughly 20 x 36. I have made a bit more progress but not enough to warrant showing another picture yet.

If you are looking for another way to waste time, you should check out pinterest. It is a really interesting site that has the potential to become really addictive. Check out the button on my sidebar if you haven't already.

I found a new coffee supplier for my Keurig machine. My order arrived yesterday and along with my favorites, I ordered a small sample of some new coffee flavors to try. This way you can test one or two without purchasing a whole box. So far Wild Mountain Blueberry coffee and Chocolate Glazed Donut both get 2 thumbs up. The blueberry one is really tasty.

Well, this is my edition of random rambling Wednesday. Thanks for hanging in with me despite the lack of riveting post material.

My 3 favorite words

2011-09-20T22:12:00.000-03:00

There are 3 little words in the english language that make me feel all warm and fuzzy

I bet you are all thinking it's something like

I love you......

or some other mushy type phrase

NOPE........

COME ON PEOPLE, you must know me better than that by now

My 3 favorite words this week are.............

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Yes, it has been a week of meeting after meeting after meeting

AND it's only Tuesday

Some work weeks are definitely longer than others.

Slow progress

2011-09-17T14:25:00.000-03:00

My attempt at a large abstract fall leaf is progressing slower

than I had hoped. Today when I took it off the frame to

photograph it, I was a little disappointed at how much empty

space I am still seeing. Sigh........

It just didn't seem that large when I was drawing it out on the floor.

Now it just looks massive to me.

I need to get some more filled in before I lose interest. This always

happens to me when I attempt a larger rug, yet I never seem to learn.

I do love the colors though.

Well - Now I've gone and done it

2011-09-16T11:42:00.000-03:00

I realize that some of you have suspected this for some time now. However, today it became official

I have completely Lost My Mind

Are you wondering what thing happened to push me over the edge ? To dangle by my fingertips at the edge of a cliff ? To add one more thing to an already full, busy, often chaotic schedule ????

Today I officially committed to go ...............

What the heck was I thinking ??   (Not sure)   It is true that I was a young nerd and loved school and still love to learn new things. And yes, I still get nostalgic as summer ends and find myself at the store looking at all the Back to School supplies. But then I give my head a smack and get over it.

But the truth is I enjoy learning new things and I try to take the opportunity to take any professional development opportunities as they arise through my work. I really enjoy my job and hope that by expanding my knowledge base I will eventually rise through the ranks somewhat.

For the past year I have been encouraged (gently nudged etc) to investigate opportunities in a more advanced area of my field. I looked around a bit at different programs but always held back, thinking it was a big committment and maybe I didn't have the time. However recently the nudges got a little more frequent.   I looked a little harder and found what is really an excellent program that is offered through Continuing Education, meaning I can participate on-line and submit assignments/exams.

The Progam and the courses being offered are perfect - exactly what we were looking for and I received approval to apply.   But now that the initial excitement has worn off --   Panic has set in. Do you know how many years it has been since I was in University ?   Can I manage everything I already do AND take university courses ?   Well, we are going to find out soon.

If anyone sees a brain laying around, would they please put it in a package and mail it back to me. Mine is apparently missing.

Put on your big girl panties......

2011-09-13T19:30:00.000-03:00

No matter how much you love your job, there are always some parts of it that are less than pleasant.
And of course, human nature being what it is, we always put off, delay, procrastinate those little chores that we dislike.

Well, I couldn't put this particular part of my job off any longer. Uhmm, well I could have but then I would have ended up on the shit list at work - and nobody wants to get on that list!

Somedays you just gotta put on your big girl panties and deal with it !!

So that's what I did. I put on a nice crisp white shirt (to look professional), a little extra make-up (to distract), some high heel shoes (to click when I walk in), and my big metal cuff bracelet (because it always makes me feel like Wonder Woman)

Now that's over with for awhile. Phew! I wasn't the only one who had to put her big girl panties on today. Miss Millie had an appointment at the groomers. She was looking awfully shaggy last night in the photo.

Here she is again -- all pretty and waiting for her treats for being such a good girl.

That is her serious "GIVE ME A TREAT" face.

There was a treat on the end of my fingers a split second before the camera shutter clicked. She swooped in a snatched it that quick.

Ahhh, tomorrow - mid week. Also the monthly management meeting. Think of me tomorrow - I may need to find a 2nd pair of those special undies ! I do not look forward to these meetings.

It's a blank

2011-09-12T22:16:00.001-03:00

My mind is blank tonight. Nothing exciting has happened today, no stupid stories etc. In fact all I can think about is wanting to snack. I've got the dreaded boredom munchies.

So, to distract myself I am test blogging from an iPad app. I have a couple of different ones and am not sure which is more user friendly.

And just to test all the features I'll add a pic of Miss Millie. Oops, I had to wake her for the photo. Doesn't she looked impressed?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad