Blessing? Or Omen.....?

You know "those" people?  The ones who appear to breeze through life with no complications and everything seems to go their way.  Well, I'm not one of those people!  My Mom used to say they had a four leaf clover up their butt. Lol 

I was planning to start vacation at 1:30 today. You know, have the afternoon to get ready for my trip, in a leisurely organized manner.  Hrumph!  In actuality I ran out the door at 4:30, leaving a pile of papers and to-do's that were screaming at me as I turned my back and ran.  Whatever!  

Then I stopped at the garage for a quick car check up.  I was ready to leave when one of the guys looked down and there it was......a nail in my tire 

And of course they didn't have that tire in stock.  So they put in a plug and we all said a prayer.  (Confession, I was more like muttering profanities but....). 

You could look on the bright side and say how lucky he saw it before I got stranded somewhere.  Yeah, probably the right attitude.  But I hope it was not a foreboding travel omen......(insert dramatic music here)

One more sleep and I'm on the road!  Look out New England -- Here I come!

Secret's out......soooo excited

Last post I mentioned I had given myself a little birthday present.   I'm giving myself a little vacation

A Girls Getaway Weekend!!  I leave Thursday and I am heading into Maine and New Hampshire and I'm meeting up with a couple of "hookers".   There is talk of lobster, wine, shopping, wool and lots of FUN.  I'm sooo excited.  It's been so long since I have been able to get away and I am so happy that these lovely ladies have included me in this weekend.  

AND there is going to be a visit to the Dorr Mill Store. (Hear the choir of hooker angels singing hallelujah?).  Wool heaven!!   In the event I go insane buying wool and get thrown in customs border jail -- will anyone of you help pay my bail??

Better than the first

Birthday weekend has come and gone.  How's that old saying go? --- "another year older and deeper in debt".  Lol. Not really.   I'm happy to report this birthday was better than my first ....

Look at that face!!  Apparently something displeased me.  I would guess that I probably went into full blow tantrum mode after this picture was taken.  :)

In the interest of full disclosure I should confess that I sometimes still make this face!

Today (after leftover birthday cake for breakfast) I started a new little chair mat.  It seems I'm still in my "chicken" phase.  

This is Henrietta Little, a pattern by Deb Day that is in the latest Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine. It should finish up quickly.  And so far I'm using only leftover worms - haven't had to cut yet. 

I hope everyone had a great weekend (and a long weekend for my American friends).

Oh, and I'm giving myself a little birthday present soon.  But more on that later 

Betwixt and between

I hate it when I'm in between hooking projects.  Especially since I've been quite productive hooking lately.  And I know once the weather gets hot I won't get much done.  I have several fun patterns in the to-do pile.  

Recently I've hooked a few patterns designed by Yvonne Buus and really enjoyed them.  A couple of weeks ago she mentioned on Facebook that she had a brand new design and was looking for someone to hook it along with her and post our progress.  I of course jumped on the offer.  So I'm waiting for it to arrive.  I didn't want to be in the middle of another project so I'm waiting.  I can't wait to see it.

In the meantime I'm adding more projects to the to-do pile.  Tonight I picked up a copy of the Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine.  I've never bought one before and I am loving this edition 

And there is another Yvonne Buus pattern inside - Keeper of the Bees.   Good thing I'm going on a wool shopping spree soon (wink).   So many projects, the hook will be sending off sparks!

And the new Taste of Home magazine arrived so I can keep up my strength for all these projects. 

It's almost the weekend...........

It was great while it lasted

The first long weekend of summer is over.  It delivered rest, relaxation and even some warm sunny days.  You can't ask for more than that.  (Well, it could have been longer but....)

I did get my Colonial Williamsburg rug completed and yes, even the binding.  It's a Vintage Heart Primitives design and it's listed in my etsy shop.  I love her little linen apron :)

One last thing to mention that is almost over....it's the Dancing With The Stars finale.   Hence my short post.  Gotta go cheer for Maks

I was waiting

I guess I was waiting for something exciting to happen - something blog worthy.  But since that hasn't happened I decided to post anyway.    I did manage to squeeze in a hair color and a massage.   Other than that, I just worked and hooked some more on the Colonial Williamsburg pattern.  It's all hooked and is waiting for the binding (groan).  

I am going to start that part tomorrow. And I am going to make her a little apron to attach to her dress. Well, that's the plan for now.  

Spring weather has arrived and the leaves have finally popped out on the trees and shrubs.  A few nice sunny days in a row was all we needed.  Yesterday and today were gorgeous.  Lawn chairs on the back deck with a coffee and a book.  I dug out a tank top and a pair of shorts and discovered something terrible......

My shorts seem to be a wee bit more snug than last year.   Uh oh!!  I tried to blame it on the clothes dryer for shrinking them but I don't think anyone is buying that story.

And it happened again.....

I can hardly believe this actually happened again but it did.  And it leads me to wonder just how often it happens and people don't notice.  

If you remember I recently blogged about getting a large bill for prescriptions for Mom after she passed away.  I ranted about it here 

http://milliesmats.blogspot.ca/2014/05/here-it-comes-rant.html

Things were supposedly fixed and I got the correct billing amount for February and I payed it.  (After multiple phone calls).  So then yesterday I got 2 envelopes from the pharmacy.  I opened the first one and it showed my payment and a zero balance.  Yay!  Then I opened the 2nd one and it was another $200 bill for prescriptions in April.   APRIL.......!

Luckily I kept the name of the rep who helped me before.  I called her again and when she went looking in the computer it appears there is another lady with the same surname who lives in the same facility Mom was in.  Apparently our account numbers were 1 digit off so I have been getting her bills.  

Geez, can you imagine?  You would think with something as important as medications in a nursing home they would be a little more careful.  I wonder if Mom was still alive if I would have scrutinized the bills so close.  I probably would have just payed it.   

I need a vacation!

Changing directions

I had to do it.  That other rug is now at the bottom of the pile - the ever growing unfinished pile.  Pfft, who cares.  I had developed a mental block on that rug.  

But it's amazing how a little change in direction can motivate you.  I drew out a new pattern yesterday and hooked the rest of the afternoon.   Projects hook up quickly when you're enjoying it, instead of plodding along just to get-er-done.

This is the Colonial Williamsburg pattern from Vintage Heart Primitives.

Not much more accomplished tonight.  Gotta watch Dancing With The Stars!!

When it's not working

What do you do when a project is just not working?  For some reason (which makes no sense to me now) this seemed like a great idea for a smallish rug last weekend.   Well it's not working out like I had hoped.  Actually I'm really not liking it at all.  

This afternoon I convinced myself to just keep going - it would get better.  (Somehow miraculously transform into something I like).   Every strip I pulled was torture.  It just feels like a waste of wool.  I think I'm going to abandon for now

What do you do when a project goes sideways?   Do you keep going or throw it in the "someday" pile?  One cross stitching blogger I follow has an interesting way of dealing with these situations -- she burns it.  Lol 

I have to show you this sweet gift I received yesterday.  A watercolor of forget-me-nots in a teacup.  I just love it 

A quick Whodunnit -- neighborhood style

It's never dull in my neighborhood.  We have had a real mystery on our hands.  (Ok, prepare for some serious mocking ahead).  Recall my recent post about how this is municipal Clean-up week where you can put all your crap and garbage on your front lawn and it will disappear.   Scavengers have been in their glory.  Whatever is left behind the town will pick up for disposal.

So apparently I have a genius on my street.  A vacant house has been under renovation for awhile.  When I say awhile, I mean it.  There has been scaffolding up for over 2 years.  This guy shows up about once a month and does adds another strip of siding.  Not kidding!  About 2 weeks ago he put an old claw foot bathtub on the front lawn.  

Do you see where this is headed yet??  At some point between Monday evening and Tuesday morning it disappeared.  Those old things are valuable and in high demand so no surprise, right?  Then later in the day the police are knocking on my door - interviewing all the neighbors about the missing tub.  

LOL.  This dude called the police and reported his tub stolen.  Apparently he said he wasn't throwing it out (although he put it with the rest of his garbage pile).   And THEN today he put this on his front lawn

You really have to wonder!!  :)