Blooming

The love and laughter has continued throughout the weekend.  I think that the concept of celebrating your birthday over several days should catch on - it is so much more fun that way!

I did go out to dinner with some girlfriends last night.  We did "howl" a little - well.....howl with laughter!  The food was great, the drinks were flowing and the company was excellent.   I think we need to do that more often. 

The thunderstorm that threatened all day never materialized so late in the afternoon I grabbed the camera to capture a few backyard images. 

The lilac tree is just ready to burst with blooms.  This is the best this tree has blossomed in years.  It suffered some ice damage a few years back and looks like it is recovering nicely.   I just love the smell of lilacs.

Can't you just smell them?

You know I hate to garden but I am actually considering planting a few flowers this year.  I have a bed in the back yard that is a mess of ugly perennials.  I wish the Garden Fairy would come over and dig it all out so I could start over.  (Do you think that might actually happen?  Probably not eh!)

Since there is still potentially one frost left, I will wait another week and then see how I feel about digging in the mud. (Blahh)  So, in the meantime, here are some "voluntary" flowers.

I think I have the only camera shy birds in town.  The yard is always full of birds - - until I take out my camera.  Seriously, as soon as I bring out the camera they just scatter. 





There was a bird in front of this birdhouse when I snapped this picture.  I swear!!   Stupid birds.

At last

So, things are better today.  At last, I did get our tax stuff delivered to the accountant.  It should be ready tomorrow and then e-filed. 

Then I went to the post office and got both packages sent.  Holy cow, postage rates are expensive.  One box was less than half a gram overweight and the price difference was $5.60    Less than a gram........ and it was a small box.  But the clerk was kind so I got the lesser rate.  Still over $10 but way better than $15.  Yay!

 Work settled down some today too.  A co-worker popped in today.  He laughed about yesterday.  He said he looked in my office and the look on my face said "Do Not Ask Me For Anything".  (He was right - I was rather close to the edge yesterday)

At last, my tulips in front of the house are starting to open.  This photo is from last year, because by the time I am writing this it is too dark to show you tonight.   And I see some green leaves sprouting on the orange bush.  The lilac tree is struggling but I think in a few days I might see some leaves.   SPRING!!

And in the the final, most amazing "at last".......Today I discovered the best thing.  A little exciting, an idea whose time has come, a bit dangerous for me.......

How many times have you been looking for the perfect pair of shoes?  You might find a cute pair, but the wrong color.  Or the right color but the wrong heel.   Well, brace your self ladies.......   I found a website where you can DESIGN YOUR OWN SHOES.

Yes, at last!   Why did it take so long for me to discover this?   Why didn't someone think of it sooner?   You have to go to this site - Milk and Honey Shoes    You pick your own style, a huge selection of materials and colors,  select your heel type and height, add some fancy embellishments and then they make them and send them to you.

It's like I died and went to shoe heaven!!!   Have any of you ever used this site??  And if so......why did you keep it a secret from me??   I have been playing with it all evening.  The possibilities are endless.  Too many choices, but so much fun!    I get a little giddy just thinking of it.

Spring blooms

I bought 2 bundles of daffodils yesterday.  The Cancer Society sells them each year.  When I woke up this morning they were all in bloom.

What a cheerful way to start the day.

The weather continues to be spring-like.  Dare I say it....?  I think we have seen the last of the snow.  I might even tempt fate by making an appointment to get my snow tires removed next week.

Not much happening here.  I did get a nice surprise when I got home from work yesterday.  Remember I mentioned a few weeks ago that my rain gutter was hanging down precariously?  Every time the wind blew I feared it would snap off and become a flying projectile.   But now it is fixed.  Yippee.  

I casually mentioned it (begged, really) to a neighbor the other day.  Apparently he took pity on me and fixed it before I got home from work.  Now that I know he is handy and easily guilted, I'm going to start a small list :)

I added a few more items to my Etsy shop today.   I packaged my sheep rug for shipping the other day.  I took extra care to pretty it up with tissue paper, stickers and tied it all up in a springy ribbon. I was so pleased with myself.  I took it to the post office and watched the lady fold it up and jam it down, hearing tissue paper ripping all the way.   Uggh, so much for trying to pretty up the packaging.

The goal for the weekend it to finish hooking the current project.  I am not happy with it and just want to be done with it.  I have a few ideas I want to start after this one.   Wish me luck.  Motivation for a project you don't like is always low.

Sweet Satisfaction

At last, the sweet satisfaction of nature's goodness



I went to the corner store at 5pm and got the last block. 

I talked to the owner and he said they had a large delivery this

morning and by 5pm I got the last one.

A creamy block of pure sugar

Was it worth the wait?  Oh Yeah

Satisfaction.....(and a mild sugar rush)



Sweetness delayed

It's Maple syrup season in Nova Scotia.  Sweet!!

This is how I remember it as a child - trudging through the woods in March and checking the buckets nailed to trees with a simple spigot.  Sap buckets were collected each day and taken back to the "Sugar Camp" to be boiled down and turned into a variety of sweet delights. 

Today its not the same - it has gone moderately high tech with tubing going direct from tree to tree and into the camp.  Its just not the same to me.  I still remember checking the buckets.  But although the process has changed, the sweet products remain the same tempting delight.

Today was the ideal day.  Sap runs the best with warm sunny days and cool nights.  All day I daydreamed about a block of maple cream.

After work I stopped at a couple of stores.  The story was the same - Sold out.  The last clerk laughed and said everyone had the same idea today.   They are expecting another delivery tomorrow.  Yummm

So my sweetness fix will have to be delayed until tomorrow.  

Could it be?

Is it possible that Spring is on the way?  It certainly felt like it today.   What a perfect day! 

Blue skies, sun, temps way above normal.  Snow was melting like crazy and I felt a little bit of Spring Fever creeping in.  You could almost smell the tulips.

That is the best thing about March - you get a few of these days that just make you happy and hopeful after a long winter.

A little update on Millie.  She is still acting crazy.  I did enjoy reading all your comments and suggestions.  I have tried all that and more.  It was also nice to hear that there are other eccentric, spoiled fur babies out there.    We get a few seconds of progress and then immediately back to crazy town.   I just thought.....maybe she has Spring Fever too.

I finished the little Believe mat tonight.  All hooked, whipped and ready to be delivered tomorrow.

I'm sure I had more things to tell you but I seem to having a mental block right now.  Maybe something blog worthy will happen tomorrow.

Now it's official

Even though the calendar  said that Spring was here several weeks ago, there were very few visible signs around here.

Maybe it's my old fashioned tradition, but it seems like Spring isn't official until Easter arrives.  And the weekend didn't disappoint - beautiful spring weather -- it was no jackets and flip flops.  It wasn't just me either ~ the neighborhood was full of kids of bicycles and the occasional road hockey game broke out.

And the buds have finally finally started to appear.  I know that this may seem like not much to many of you in warmer climates but around here (after the looong winter) this IS a happy sign.

And the tulips in the front yard actually have a flower head now.   So in a few weeks I will see color.

Speaking of color, you know I have mentioned that I want to have a bunch of dwarf sunflowers in my backyard this year.  I should mention that I do not have a green thumb.  I have killed just about everything I have ever tried to grow.  Two years ago I planted a lovely snowball bush.  It was doing great and I thought the curse was over.  All of a sudden for no reason it just died.   My family actually suggested that it committed suicide to avoid my killing it.  Can you imagine??  What a family, eh.......Lol

Anyway, back to the sunflowers.  Today I bought some fiber pots and planted some seeds to get them started inside.

I think I'll post regular updates.  I don't know why I am so optimistic.  It is highly likely that nothing will happen.   And I am ridiculously impatient.  I know that tomorrow morning I will look - hoping to see a sprout.   See.....this is why I don't garden.

One last sign of Spring - Millie went missing for a short while today.  This is where I found her.

She goes to what ever room has the largest sun spot of the floor.  When the sun moves, so does she.  She is a bit annoyed that I temporarily blocked her sun to take the photo.

Thanks for your comments and advice on the bird houses.   My problem is I love them both but I have to gift one of them.  I think I will keep the red one and hope that Donnie makes lots more next winter and I will get myself another one.  (or two)

Back to the grind tomorrow. (sigh)

For the birds

Yesterday I went to a unique event - a Bird House Sale.  Building these one of a kind bird houses, all from recycled materials, is a hobby of a local minister.  The minister of my church actually.

The event ran for 2 hours ~~ 1pm-3pm.   I arrived promptly at 1:05pm to make sure I was able to get the best selection.

I was one of the first to arrive and Donnie was at the door to greet all the "bird brains", as he called us.  I think he had about 60 different houses for sale.  I looked at maybe 10 and turned around and the room was FULL of people.   I snatched up these 2.    And as you left you were presented with a bag of bird seed with each house. 

I love the tags on each one.  "Not just for Baptist Birds"  cracks me up!   I would be shocked to hear that the sale lasted until 3pm.   Most people, like me, left with more than one house.

My plan is that one of these houses are for me and the other is a gift.  So...which one should I keep??
Please give me your opinion.   But keep in mind, I am leaning towards the red one (not that I want to influence your opinion.....lol)

I hope you all have a lovely Easter Sunday.  I over-indulged in a large turkey dinner so I have been in a bit of a turkey-coma most of the evening.  

A Good Friday (oh, and don't burn the calamari)

I hope you all had a wonderful Good Friday.  We certainly did.   The sun was shining and it seems that everyone in the house woke up on the right side of the bed.  Nice !

I prepared my World Famous eggs benedict with smoked salmon for brunch.  We had a few visitors pop in, including one of Mom's previous home-care workers.  He hasn't been assigned to us for months, yet he never misses stopping in on special occasions with a little treat for Mom.  He had a little easter bag filled with home-made fudge.

Isn't that sweet??  You can tell the difference between those that just do their job and those that genuinely  care about their patients.

 The evening ended with a great gathering at a friends house.  It's been awhile since I've been out to howl !  LOL

OK, there wasn't really any howling but we did have a great time.  And the bracelet was the star attraction.  I think every girl there wore it for awhile.  So I would say it passed the test as a "statement piece".

My invitation for this party had a notation at the bottom  "Don't burn the calamari".  So I should tell you about the last time I was invited to this house.   When I arrived Teri was just breading a bunch a calamari with cajun spices.  She dropped it in the deep fryer and then took me to see the recent renovations they made made to the hall and bathroom.

We got chatty and completely forgot about the deep fryer until we smelled something......Bad.  We ran to the kitchen (everyone else was completely absorbed in the hockey game on TV and didn't notice - or were too lazy to get up)    So, when you completely BURN spicy calamari ---- the smell is like nothing you have ever experienced.  Think dead decomposing skunk times 100.

We opened a few windows, cleaned up and started again.  It seemed like that was the end of it.......until it was time to go home.  The second we got outside in the air, we could smell it again.  The odor had completely absorbed into the fabric of my shirt. 

It was the dead of winter and I could hardly stand the drive home.  I had all 4 windows of the car down and I was gagging from the smell and my eyes were watering.  Freezing to death in the cold was a more appealing option than being trapped in a car with that smell.  
It was a smell like no other and it seemed to have a life of its own.  So last night the party was calamari-free.  Spending a few hours with good friends was just what I needed and was a perfect way to end a great day and kick off a long weekend.

It is another sunny spring day here and I am going to a Bird House sale.  You can read about it here.

Spring at last

I think it's finally safe to say that Spring is here to stay.  (I hope I didn't just jinx it).

It was a wonderful Spring weekend.  Saturday was very nice but today was even better.  Sunny and warm temperatures.  I took a leap of faith and moved the snow shovels and salt bucket from the sun porch to the basement.

The only flaw to the weekend was that I frittered my Saturday away doing nothing.  Did you ever have one of those days that just slips away on you?   I got nothing accomplished and I don't know why.  And then I frittered away the evening watching movies.  Dirty Dancing and Mama Mia were on back-to-back and no matter how often they are on I can't seem to tear myself away from them. 

So that meant that today I had no choice but to catch up on the chores.  Laundry, vacuuming ( my least favorite chore) and we had company for supper so I roasted a chicken with all the vegetables.  It was already defrosted or else I might have changed things up to do the first barbeque of the season.  Maybe next weekend.  I won't make the same mistake next weekend if the weather forecast looks good.  I'll get all the chores done Friday night so I can enjoy the weekend.

And now that all the shovels and winter crap have been removed from the sun porch I am on a mission to get it spruced up.  It kind of becomes a dumping ground  all winter.  I love reading out there in the sun and we often have lunch out there when the weather gets warm.  It's really the only spring cleaning I look forward to.

This week's word is.......Anticipate
an·tic·i·pate   [an-tis-uh-peyt]
verb, -pat·ed, -pat·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1. to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee: to anticipate pleasure.

2. to expect; look forward to; be sure of: to anticipate a favorable decision.

3. to perform (an action) before another has had time to act.

4. to answer (a question), obey (a command), or satisfy (a request) before it is made: He anticipated each of my orders.

5. to nullify, prevent, or forestall by taking countermeasures in advance: to anticipate a military attack.

6. to consider or mention before the proper time: to anticipate more difficult questions.

7. to be before (another) in doing, thinking, achieving, etc.: Many modern inventions were anticipated by Leonardo da Vinci.

8. Finance . (a. to expend (funds) before they are legitimately available for use.

b. to discharge (an obligation) before it is due.

–verb (used without object)

9. to think, speak, act, or feel an emotional response in advance.

I am anticipating the arrival of all things Spring.  Green grass, tulip sprouts, new blossoms on trees, putting out the patio furniture, throwing something on the bbq for supper, sitting outside without needing to wear an arctic parka......

Yesterday it was plus 11 degrees and then it rained.  So virtually all the dirty crusty old snow has disappeared.   I anticipate road trips with the camera to get that perfect spring image.

I am also anticipating that our annual operating budget will be passed soon so we can get on with business.  I am REALLY anticipating getting approvals to proceed with the hiring of our summer students in the next month.  Mainly because I am sick to death of parents calling me "daily" to give their kid a job.  Here's a hint people.......send the student in themselves so I can see that they are ambitious and want to work.  (Arrgh, sorry had to get that rant in there)  Oh, and P.S.  stop bugging me at the grocery store.  You see me there every week and barely nod but come April I'm your favorite person.  I'm not stupid !

I also anticipate the Easter weekend coming soon.  Since Easter is later this year, the darn easter candy has been in the stores since February 15th and I am sick of eating it.  (yes, I know....self control.  Well I don't have any !)

Speaking of no self control, I am anticipating a call from the accountant any minute telling me our taxes are done - so I can see how much wool I can buy.  (hehehe  Watch me jinx it and end up owing money!)
What are you anticipating this time of year?

Weekend Update

Another weekend is coming to an end.  They go by much too fast and rarely without a minor hiccup.  I was planning to travel to a family birthday party today.  Mom woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  It was drama, drama this morning so I cancelled my plans.   So Happy Birthday Aunt M. and here is a photo of the bouquet of daffodils I planned on bringing with me today.  I'm afraid you will have to enjoy them here instead.

The bit of snow we got Friday night is all gone now.  That's the good thing about Spring snow, it doesn't last long.

Now, on to current projects.  I showed you some photos the other day and some of you guessed that they were purse fronts.   Sorry......they are not purse fronts.  

They are small sachet bundles.  I will be filling them with dried lavender buds.  They are cute huh!

I made 3 practice ones.  I have tweaked the assembly a bit.   With a few minor adjustments, I plan to make some more.  Great idea for hookers to stick in with their wool stash as the lavender will keep the moths at bay, or anywhere you just want to freshen up.



AND, yesterday I hit 100 followers!  WooHoo.   It seemed like I was stuck at 99 for too long.  I kept waiting for someone to put me out of my misery....LOL   Thanks Karen !   There is probably a giveaway in the near future to celebrate.   Stay tuned. 

A surprise and not an April Fool's

As previously mentioned, work has been busy lately so  I decided to take a vacation day today.  After Wednesday I thought if I have to look at another spreadsheet I'll lose it for sure.

So this morning I decided to do a few random errands.  Because I was on vacation I headed out in comfy clothes and no make up.  A decision I would soon regret.  Lol.  After a few stops I ventured towards Deanne Fitzpatricks Rug Hooking Studio.  She recently posted pics of some new pillows she created and I wanted to peek at them. 

I'm chatting and browsing and three ladies walked in the door.  I looked at one of them and recognized her right away.  It was Julia from Of Petals and Wool.  We have been blog buddies for awhile but have never met.  I said "Julia, its me, Kim".   It was so much fun.  She grabbed me and hugged me.  Nobody else knew what was going on but after we explained everyone had a good laugh.  She was travelled to a Fiber Retreat with her daughter and a friend.  I think her daughter thought we were crazy for a few seconds.

Then, of course, she and Deanne got their camera's out.  Ladies......never leave the house without makeup !   You never know who you might run into who is going to post your picture on their blog.  A lesson I learned today !  I'm sure Julia will post them after her weekend retreat.  I warned her not to post any that looked "troll-ish".   Hahaha

It's so much fun to meet a fellow blogger and especially so unexpectedly.  It was a last minute decision to pop into Deanne's but I am so thrilled I did.

Oh, and Mother Nature has a nasty sense of April Fool's humour.  It is snowing and freezing rain mix.  We are supposed to have 7-10 inches of snow by morning.   Not funny at all Mother Nature !

A couple of finished rugs

I finished hooking my new Spring rug last night.  All you have seen of it is a little peek.  And tonight I buckled down and bound them both.  An amazing feat for me.

(Aren't you proud of me?)

Here is the newest rug - Spring Birdhouses

 

And continuing with the spring theme here is the other little Spring Chicks rug.

You have seen it already but not bound and ready for a new destination

(yet to be determined)

Now all that is left to welcome Spring officially is a shoe shopping binge. 

I'm getting the urge.

But first, this weekend, I need to try a sample of my Pay it Forward craft idea.

Fingers crossed.

One Season Closer

Happy Spring.  We are now one season closer to summer.  Not that I'm rushing spring because it took forever to get here this year.   We are still a few weeks away from images like this but today I wanted a reminder.

I'm getting a little anxious to start taking more photographs again.  Now that the weather is improving and the snow is going I like to get up early on the weekends and head out for a drive to nowhere with the camera.

The sun is shining.  It's a perfect way to start a new season. 

Spring forward

While I love the extra hour of daylight in the evening, I am missing that extra hour of sleep last night after turning the clocks forward.

Plus dear Auntie will drive me crazy for at least the next week as she refuses to accept the new time.  Today at lunch time she announced she wasn't hungry because it was really only 11am.  She will do this ALL WEEK.  It makes me crazy and I suspect that is why she does it !   When I get old (well....older) I pray I don't do this to someone.  LOL

It was a beautiful Spring weekend here.  The snow is disappearing so quickly it is almost unbelievable.  The front lawn is BARE.  There is still snow cover in the back yard but it gets lower every day.  It makes me happy.

My 5 days off were a bust.  I did nothing I had planned.  This chest cold has a hold of me and I can't seem to stop coughing.  It hasn't flattened me but it has sucked all the energy out of me.  I basically just lounged around all weekend and did as little as possible.   And I had such high hopes for all the things I was going to get done around the house.  Oh well, there is always next weekend.

I did start a new little rug.  No great plan and absolutely no advanced color planning so naturally I got so far and now I'm stuck.  No idea what to do next.  Maybe I will get inspired to pick it up again later.
Here is a little corner of it so far

As you can see, I still have Spring on the brain.   How was your weekend?

Looks like Spring is on the way

I have never seen the snow levels drop as quickly as they have in the past week.   It has been a slow steady melt.  I can see a change everyday.  I can now see all 3 back boards on the backyard bench.  I am sure by tomorrow morning I will be able to see the seat - if not more.   And with a forecast of rain for most of the weekend, all this dirty snow could soon be just a nasty memory.

I finished hooking the little Spring mat last night. 

It isn't bound yet because there is still enough room to the right to hook another small mat.  Now all I have to do is think of something.  The hit and miss squares pillow is also still on this same piece of rug warp.  So by the time I design and hook another small mat I will have 3  projects to bind at once.  And you all know how much I hate that part of the project !
Oh and here is another fun update on my 3 vacation days - remember 2 were spent with the migraine and I woke up this morning with a sore throat and cough.  Isn't that just perfect ??  Its not too bad - just more annoying than anything else.  

Have a great weekend.