Halloween Grinch

I know its terrible but I have become a Halloween Grinch.  I have really come to dislike this evening.  I always loved seeing all the little ones dressed up and trick or treating ----before.   Before Mom got sick. 

Now it's a very stressful evening.   Mom will not have a good night.  The constant banging on the door, the strange looking people - not good.  She gets confused and agitated.  The dog is no better.  Particularly since she is scared of children who run at her too quickly. She knows she's tiny and takes serious evasive measures.   She will probably need a small piece of an Ativan before it's over.  Mom will need the same.  Poor Mom can't deal with the costumes.  Her expression and demeanor goes to fear. I hate it 

Auntie on the other hand LOVES Halloween and prefers to ignore the effects on the rest of us. Mom, Millie and I are sitting in the den trying to stay calm and away from the door.   Auntie is manning the door. 

I predict a very large martini later this evening when all the little beggars have gone home.  (Don't I sound mean?)

Someday I will enjoy this holiday again 

********UPDATE********

It's over.  We survived and nobody required sedation!   All all the candy left is mine....Mwa ha ha ha

And so endeth the streak

I was on a roll.  I had resisted for longer than ever before.  I had the willpower of a champion.  I even somewhat smugly giggled at those of you had had fallen before me (Julie, heehee).  

And then this afternoon, as I moved something to get a bag of wool, I heard something.......

Eat me Kim, eat me Kim.   It was a bag of Halloween candies - Whoppers to be exact.  And so endeth the streak and broke down and opened up some of the treats

Oh well, this is as far as it went.  The rest of the goodies live to be eaten another day.  Hopefully by someone other than me :) 

This morning 2 of the 3 of us were feeling better.  Poor Auntie is still hobbling around.  Home support workers will be back tomorrow so all is good. 

I almost gave up on my big dreams to hook a fabulous mixed background.  It's not turning out fabulous but it still early and I am using this small piece as a learning tool.  Too soon for a picture to post.  I took one and it looks hideous but it's only one small corner.  I think it might look better after a few more hours.  

Thanks for the tips on the honey.  It did put it in hot water and at least for now it has re-liquified.  Not sure how long it will last.

Ok, that's enough.  Time to frustrate myself with hooking techniques.  

Trust your instincts

Seems like staying home last night and drinking hot tea was wise.  I woke up this morning with a sore throat.  And Mom has been congested and sneezing all day.   So it was more tea and honey being served throughout the day.  

Now I have a question for you. (Because you're all so smart).  Do you see my honey squirt bottle above?  Is the way of preventing the honey from hardening?  What's the point of a honey squirt bottle if it won't squirt?  I end up taking the top off and dipping the handle of the spoon in and then stirring the tea.   If I buy "liquid" honey, I want it to be liquid!   Any suggestions??

Since we were all a bit under the weather I thought we should eat more than we usually do on Saturday which is usually just a snack grab kind of day.  I'm never sure if it's "feed a cold, starve a fever" or the other way around.  But I was hungry so I made a shepherds pie. And for the first time ever I made hamburger gravy.  Don't laugh!  I've just never made it before.   I made a full size one and had enough left over to make an individual size one.

I even went a little Martha Stewart-ish and added a layer of sweet potatoes under the layer of plain mashed potatoes.  Fancy shmancy right?  :)

Then I cut some wool for my rug.  You know, that I was too lazy to do last night.   Such pretty colors I think and far outside my usual color choices 

Another experiment I hope doesn't amount to be a waste of perfectly good wool.  I have yet to master the art of a random mixed background in hooking but for some reason I keep wanting to try.  Isn't that the definition of stupid - doing the same thing over and over again, thinking it will be different?  Or maybe it's just stubborn, dogged determination?    Anyway, here goes again!

Happy hour

This week Happy Hour took on a different twist.  By the end of the week all I wanted to do was come  home and curl up with a cup of hot tea.  Friends and martini's can do without me today.  

The weather is cooling nicely.  The boots are all out and ready for duty.  This weekend, hopefully the cozy sweaters will be called into service.  Many of you have inquired about Millie.  She is doing fine although still quirky.  She is drinking water but not yet on her own.  But will drink happily out of my palm.  Baby steps! 

Before anyone thinks I'm enabling the problem, let me set this straight.  This house is often chaos.  Between my full time job, household duties, Mom's care and now Auntie with a severe bout of sciatic back issues - I am doing whatever I have to do to keep things moving.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice common sense and just get it done.  So if I can get her to drink out of my hand in 2 minutes, I'm doing it.

Are you picking up on the fact that by the end of the week I am exhausted?  I thought some rug hooking might be relaxing tonight.  I hooked about 15 minutes and needed to cut a little more wool.  Instead I just put it all away.  Sad, right?  

I decided to just drink another cup of tea with my baby fur ball at my side. 

Crows and farm girls

Some times at the adult day care program they make the cutest little crafts.  Today this is what Mom made

Isn't he cute!  Nice and simple little crow.   It must be hard for them to come up with ideas that patients with varying degrees of incapacitation can manage.  Mom was pretty proud of this guy when I picked her up today.  

I picked up my vegetable box today from the CSA farm program.  I looked at this and suddenly realized I would not be a very good farm girl.  

I had absolutely no idea that this is how Brussels sprouts are grown.  I'll admit it - I felt a little foolish.  I was kind of fascinated.  I don't know how I thought they grew but I never would have guessed they popped out of this stalk.   It sort of looked like a green lupin.  Larger ones on the bottom and smaller and darker towards the top.   

Did you know this??  (Please protect my dignity and pretend you thought they came all separated in a big bin at the grocery store)

Really, this should illustrate how little it takes to amuse me some days.  And how fascinating my day was that THIS is all I have to blog about :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

There's a fair amount of random coming up.  Not much happened this weekend to warrant a separate post.  Millie is doing better but is far from "cured".  She has lots of quirky antics she employs to get a drink.  She still needs some help.  I threw some treats in her water and roared at her antics to try and get them out without actually drinking from the dish.  Crazy dog!

I had a headache Friday.  Not too bad but it did progress.  By Saturday morning it was bordering on migraine status. I had a few errands I wanted to run.   My first stop at Deanne's studio (in case I felt like hooking later).  I did get some pretty rose colored wool but I should have stayed home.  I was beginning the queasy stage of migraine.   But it was the end of the Fibre Arts Festival plus Deanne had just launched her new book venture.

The illustrations are her rugs!  I peeked at a few pages but decided I better not stick around.  Can you imagine this ......"Nice book Deanne" and then throw up on one!   I will grab one this week when I can truly appreciate it.  

I had one other necessary stop at my friend Stephanie's shop.  She was displaying some of my rugs and one just sold on etsy so I wanted to get it ready to be shipped.  I walked in and the combo of the smells of strong fresh brewed coffee and the normally lovely collection of fancy soaps just flipped my migraine queasy stomach.  Her husband looked at me and said "are you ok?"  I wasn't !  I said No but I need the Santa crow rug......quick!!   He grabbed it, threw it at me and I just made it home.   Bed for the rest of the day and this morning I felt fine.  

Today I found a piece of burlap I had drawn on and discarded.  I drew another design over it.  Now it just looks like a mess a 2 year old would draw on a wall.  Hopefully by the time I'm ready to start hooking I'll be able to sort through the lines.  Then I decided we needed a comfort food kind of supper.  I made my brown sugar meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  I was feeling good and then a friend posted on Facebook that she was making lobster bisque.  That kind of took the Oomph out of my nice meal!  Lol   But it was good, even if it wasn't 5 star restaurant fare. 

I guess that's all that barely qualifies as blog fodder.  Have a great week ahead :)

SHE DRANK

I don't know how or why but my baby finally drank some at supper time.  I came home from work and she was freaking out.  Climbing and clinging to me like the world was ending.  Auntie said she had to hold her all day.  She wouldn't settle down or even sit down all day.   I looked around the house and poor auntie had different water dishes filled and placed all around the house.  She was worried too. 

I grabbed the nearest water bowl and dipped my fingers in the water and she was ravenously licking it off.  After 3 or 4 tries I gave her some cupped in my palm and she took some sips.  She wouldn't do that before.  I felt encouraged and she was starting to act a little less skittish. 

I refilled the plastic bowl right to the top and sat it down beside her on the sofa.  After a minute she creeped forward and after a very tentative sip she took another and another.   Hallelujah !

Here she is resting after her little belly was full of water.  

At last she has settled down.  Did I mention she woke me up at 1:30am, 3am and 4am?  

Ok Momma, enough pictures.  Leave me alone now.  Buzz off :)

I called the Vet's office first thing this morning.  I was put on hold 4 times and eventually was told someone would call me back.   Seven hours later.........they called back.  Ironically about 10 minutes after she drank.  I was not impressed.  The only info provided was possibly she got a shock from her metal dish.   

Anyway, fingers are crossed that she will drink again later.  But for now I'm just happy she drank at all.  

Thank you for all your concern.  These furry little babies crawl into our hearts and it's awful when you don't know how to help them.   

Crazy times

Millie is having some kind of doggie psychotic episode. It's gone from mildly annoying to flat out serious.  She won't drink water.  I have tried every trick.  At this point she will only lick water off my fingers if I dip them in water.  At only 4 pounds it won't take long for her to dehydrate. 

This is how far I have stooped.  

I went to the pharmacy tonight and asked for syringes.  Naturally, he wanted to know what I needed them for.  I didn't think I looked like a druggie who was going home to shoot up!  I kind of grinned and said I don't want to tell you because you'll think I'm nuts.  Well, that just peaked his interest.  Finally I begrudgingly admitted I needed to give water to a sick 4 pound dog.   Yes, he laughed at me and handed me a handful of syringes. 

This is a good depiction of Millie's reaction to my attempt to trick her with a needle full of water

She was not impressed and obviously smarter than I had anticipated.  She was having no part of it.  

I will have to get her to a vet tomorrow.  She hates the vet.  Yes, she knows the word.  I fact she even knows the street.  If we even drive down that street she starts to shake until we drive past the building.  

Ok, final confession. I even tried to threaten her.  We sat by the water dish and told her we were going to the vet.  You know, the place where they put thermometers up your butt and jab you with sharp pointy needles and make you scream like a banchee.  BUT you can avoid all that if you just take a drink.......

Shockingly, it didn't work.   So it appears we will be recreating this scene with a much smaller version of patient.  

More fun at the funny farm!

Senior's Logic and other stuff

Sometimes I have to shake my head at some of the logic I hear in this house.  This morning when we got up I became immediately aware that Auntie was sick.  She informed me that she was up all night, couldn't breathe, chest felt "funny" etc.  I asked her why she didn't wake me up if she was so sick.  The reply: "oh, I didn't want to disturb you.  I thought about calling the ambulance if it got worse"

..........."You didn't want to disturb me??  And you were going to call an ambulance?  Did you think I wouldn't notice the sirens, and the paramedics pounding on the door and running up the stairs????"  Good grief!!   She admitted she hadn't really thought it through.   Ya think?   So we've had a little chat about waking me up if she thinks she's in trouble.   

She is doing a bit better.  She rested all day but has a terrible chest cold.  You can hear her breathing from the next room.   It sounds like she has a slow leak.  Tomorrow Mom goes to day care so she will be able to rest again.  

But I did manage to get lots done today in between waiting on everyone.   I brought in the hoses and turned off and drained the pipes for the outside taps.  I did several loads of laundry, changed all the bedding, and made a large pot of turkey vegetable soup.  

I have been trying to knit some of those boot cuff toppers.  I can't seem to get the right size.  I knit this one

It turned out fine but is too small.  So if you know someone who is super skinny and only wears one boot, let me know ;).   I started to try again with different yarn and needles and more stitches

But I have a feeling it's not right either.   I have set it aside.  Can't bear to waste another couple of hours on a leg warmer for a chicken leg!  I thought they would be a fun project but instead it was an exercise in frustration.

I drew out a funky little rug pattern.   I'll see if that can frustrate me next.  No pattern, just a free-hand scribble and an idea.   Who knows! 

I listed the Olde Holiday Branch on my Etsy shop last night (PleasantHillStudio).  It's a Buttermilk Basin design.  

Now it's time to relax and eat another piece of pumpkin pie.

Thankful

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for - my family, my great friends, a job I enjoy most days, a full pantry......I could go on and on.   But right now, after finishing our huge thanksgiving dinner, what I am the most thankful for is LYCRA.   God Bless stretchy pants!!  

The leftovers have all been put away.  So that means tomorrow I don't have to cook.  Bonus!  At some point tomorrow there will probably a turkey soup simmering on the stove.  Maybe even pumpkin pie for breakfast.  I love thanksgiving!

This brings up the annual thanksgiving debate that was likely heard in many houses this weekend.  Jellied or whole berry?  Cranberry lovers generally have strong feelings one way or the other.   Here in this house it's JELLY.  None of that yucky lumpy stuff on my plate.  

I was finishing up the grocery shopping Friday and standing in front of the cranberry shelf next to this little old prim and proper lady.  I was half panicked as all I saw were cans and cans of whole berry sauce.  You can't have thanksgiving without the comforting slurp and plop of that jelly falling out of the can!  There was a brief exchange of chit chat with the lady who was seemingly becoming frustrated with my moving all the cans out of my way, straining to look at the back.  There had to be one can left. The old bitty crinkled up her nose and looked at me with "berry" superiority and announced "I only eat the whole berry".    Well......whoop-de-friggin-do!!!   

Finally, I moved another can and low and behold there was one lone can way in the back.  I grabbed it.    I smiled at the lady in victory and felt compelled to note that most people must prefer the jellied because it was sold out and there were about a hundred whole berry cans left! 

Jelly or lumpy?  What's your choice?

Happy Thanksgiving 

Artisan Fair

It was a great day Downtown.  It was the final Artisan Fair of the season.  We did one in the spring, summer and fall.  There were local vendors lining the sidewalks and inside many stores.    Food, games, and crafts everywhere!  

And weather was perfect too - sunny and crisp.  As usual I didn't take a lot of photos of the vendors because I was too busy talking.  I did sit for a break at Deanne's Knitting Room and have a cup of tea in between shopping.

This is the list of vendors just on one corner alone! 

And who doesn't love the sidewalk food vendors?  Today I grabbed a couple of pulled pork tacos and a few vegetable dumplings.

I even got some of Janey's famous cinnamon buns and some homemade chocolate bars.  (Gonna need some stretchy pants tomorrow)

It is so nice to see our business community pull together and put on these events.  Our Downtown has really taken on a vibrant spirit.    

A good day!

Quick swap

I considered my options for the background.  I really favored a dark option but I didn't have a lighter green appropriate for the branch and leaves.  I also considered going some bold, bright color.

In the end, I dug through the stash and found this.  Nice and neutral

I may hook this pattern again in the future and try something different.  But for now I stuck to basics.

Just wanted to post a quick update.  I chased around doing chores this afternoon so now I'm finally sitting down to hook a bit.  I'd like to finish this rug before the weekend is over.   

There is a downtown festival tomorrow so I might go check things out.  Stay tuned :)

Tuesday tidbits

I'm over halfway through my work week.  One day left and then 5 glorious days off.   I noticed a spring in my step today.  A little pre-vacation attitude perhaps.  Millie always has attitude.  I found this picture on Facebook and it summed up her attitude.

If this dog was silver I would swear it was her!

Mom started going to adult day care twice a week now.  She seems to enjoy it and l think it is good for her to be around other people.  Today they made a cute turkey centerpiece today.  And then when I was bringing her home and trying to get her jacket off, she sat on it.  Oops.  

I have started hooking the background on my rug.  I think I've made a mistake.  I don't think the light background is working.  

I may rethink it and go for a darker beige.  I'm putting the hook down tonight to consider my options while I watch our provincial election results.

Lipstick, Boots, a start and a finish

Last night I went out on the town.  Yes, I was out after dark. (Alert the scandal magazines).  A rarity for me lately.  But I have been in a rut and saying no far to often.  And luckily I have great friends who keep inviting me anyway :). 

I put on the high boots and even lipstick!  Woohoo.  

We went to a musical play put on by a local comedy troupe.  Several of our friends were actors in it.  Our little town sure is packed with talent.  A few glasses of wine, some appetizers, some laughs and some great music.  I really enjoyed the evening and the company.  

I've posted the Ho Ho Ho runner to my etsy store.  Check it out!  I'm still hoping for the first sale in the newly named Pleasant Hill Studio etsy shop :)

And today I started a new one - a Buttermilk Basin design.  I drew it on the burlap this morning and started hooking it this afternoon.  This is the before pic.

So far the bird and half of the branch and leaves are hooked.  I had intended a black background but can tell already that it's not going to work.  I'll worry about that later.   I found some sparkly ribbon in my stash and I'm trying to work it in.  I think holiday mats deserve a little bling.

Even though tomorrow is Monday, it's a short week for me so I'm not immersed in the typical Monday morning dread.   Hope you all had a great weekend.

  

Reversal of fortunes??

Guess what came today??  It's the phone bill.  Are you as excited as I am to see what little surprise is inside this month?  Is this the month that it is finally correct......

I open the envelope and unfold the paper.....

ARRGGHHHH..........  When I first looked I just noticed the amount and I was raging.  I jammed it into my purse so I could call those idiots when I got back to work.  Once I settled down and looked at it again I noticed this......it appeared to be a credit!     So at least now their mistakes are in my favor.  Lol 

I called.  I was frustrated.  The girl on the phone was lovely and patient.  She said you have a credit.  Would you like it applied to your future bills or would you like a cheque?   I said, well I'd love a cheque but you don't owe me any money.  

We started at the beginning - in June.  We went through every statement I had, every record of my phone complaints, she talked to a supervisor and even accounts payable/receivable.  No one knows what is going on but "their system" says I have a $516 credit.  

The girl had such a lovely personality but there were just no answers.  She completely understood my frustration as she reviewed my info.  At one point she lowered her voice and whispered "If I were you I'd take the money and run".   Lol. I laughed and said sure I'd love to go shopping but next month you'll tell me I owe $750 or something.  

She has put an "escalation" ticket on my issue.  Someone is supposed to call me in 24 business hours.  I thanked her for being so patient and I wished I would get her every time I called.  Then she gave me her first name and her employee ID number.   Now THAT is how a customer service rep should act!

Hmmm, if I'd taken the cheque and ran I could have bought those fancy new boots!     

Ra-Ra-Random

I had at least 8 random things to talk about this afternoon.  Now I will be lucky to think of 3.   Why is it that great blog post ideas only come to us when we are not near a computer??

Today was like summer again.  I'm still wearing sandals.  It's entirely possible I may transition from sandals directly to boots.  Gotta love it. 

Last night I had to run to the mall before supper.  Big mistake!  I accidentally wandered down the snack aisle of the pharmacy.  Somehow several boxes of toffifee and cookies jumped into my arms. Oh yeah, and I'm not the kind of girl who can open a package and just have 1 candy at a time.  Thank goodness bulky sweater season is approaching. 

Today I temporarily disabled my twitter account.  Saturday I noticed a few weird things on there and then I got an email that it appeared my account was hacked and I had to re-set my password.  I got nervous, was this a real email or a phishing spam email?  I decided to re-set the password.  But since Saturday it has happened 3 more times.  So I'm off twitter for now.   Apparently I have 30 days to deactivate without losing anything.   Has this happened to anyone else?

The lawn was mowed today for the last time this year.  Did you ever notice that it never smells as good as the first few mowings of spring?  Remember that great smell of fresh cut grass in April.   Why does the smell fade throughout the season?  Have you ever wondered this?  Is it just me?

Today I got an envelope full of some new paper patterns that I ordered a few weeks ago.  It was just like Christmas!  I can't wait to start hooking one.  But I had to finish this one first

All hooked and waiting to be bound.  The plan is bind it tomorrow night  and then have a clean project slate to start the new pattern on the weekend.  Yay!

That's all the random I can squeeze out tonight.