Holy Frozen Nose Boogers Batman!!!

Holy frozen nose boogers Batman, its cold outside!! Not just nippy, not just crisp, its down right freezing out there and I don't want to go out. In fact I have managed to stay snugly tucked up inside for the most of the weekend. Go Me!! However..............

Yesterday when I got up it was a blizzard. Snow, blowing snow, freezing winds, snow drifts, just the perfect day to stay inside but I, loon that I am, got up and headed out to Wally World and the grocery store. Both Minou and I need supplies, so I had little to no choice. Well that is not true, I could have stayed in and waited out the storm which ended at noon, then I could have gone out in a million degrees below frozen hell. I chose to brave the winds and get groceries. Which I did in record speed and then managed to get my self back here and stayed put. I stayed put even though I was invited to go see Saving Mr Banks, which I really really wanted to see but could not convince myself that going out in the cold was worth it.

Now I am trying to convince myself to go out and shovel the back path. I made myself get out and shovel the front sidewalk to day. Frozen nose hairs and scuttled back inside even thought the back desperately needs doing. I snowplowed my way through knee deep snow  on Saturday dragging things in from the car but it was no fun at all. Needs a shovel but I am having little to no luck talking myself into donning coat and mitts to do it. Sad because it will only take a very few minutes. The cold is not the only deterrent. My ankles, knees, and lower back are aching something fierce today. The cold does this old lady no good at all. I feel like the tin man out in the rain, if I get much stiffer, I shall cease to move at all. Yikes.

So, while I debated with myself, I finished quilting on my wall hanging. I have literally had this material for years and only now have gotten around to making it up. I finally finished the quilting and the binding to day.

I had forgotten about it to be honest, but on of my co-workers has one hung up in her office this year and it reminded me of my own. I am glad to have it finished. Now I can move on to the next project, a new little hat for Tater Tot.

I also go the last of the Santa's for the Santa Parade this year. This Jolly old elf is the last one to complete the staircase. I found him at Stupid Store and I love the fact that he looks like he is in his sweats, ready to relax until next year. A very round little chap isn't he? There are 18 Santa's in the parade. A storage nightmare but I like them so I deal with it.

Not much else going on here. I plan to make soup, porridge and some sort of supper at some point today. Soup and porridge for breakfast and lunches in the coming week. I am looking at getting back to living more frugally again and that starts with cutting out eating out as much as I do. Not to mention its far healthier to make your own. Steel cut oats on a cold winter morning are just delicious!!

Well I am running out of excuses and time. Shoveling needs to be done and done soon unless I want to be out there in the dark.........not!! So since miracles are not happening and the snow is not melting, elves are not out there doing it for me, I am going to get me boots on!! Sigh. I just keep telling myself how good it will feel to have it finished.

Toodles
Linda

All Done but the Clean Up

So Christmas is finished and Boxing day is complete. Now is the time to start looking at de-decorating the house, getting back to normal and starting the cleaning that comes after Christmas. I don't know about you but I always get the urge to purge after the holidays. I am going to take advantage of the feeling this year. I dearly want to purge out some of the Christmas decorations that I don't put out anymore. Some of them I am just tired of and oh my Lord I have a lot of Christmas decorations!!. That's just me, if one is good, eleven is better and a hundred is best. Sigh, I missed out that minimal gene in my make up.

Today I had just planned to stay home. There are no bargains out there to tempt me to go shopping today. I am just not able to stand the crowds anymore. So I planned to stay home, watch the Mrs. Brown's Boys marathon on BBC Canada and quilt on a Snowman wall hanging. I have had the hanging for literally years, long before I moved into this house but I just never bothered to quilt it. So I started it yesterday and planned to continue on today. Happy Surprise, I did not stay home, I got to go out for lunch.

The Hostess was in town so she called me up and we made a Sushi lunch date. Teddy Bear came too and it was lovely. We got to have a visit, eat good food and spend some time together. I like sushi but I only seem to go with the Hostess. We has a long leisurely lunch, then scattered to the winds. The Hostess to the mall, Teddy Bear back home and I back to my quilting.

Its back to work tomorrow, only for one day and then its the weekend. (Not a bad week this). Not sure what I will do with my weekend. I could start to put away the Christmas stuff. I should but I have not decided yet. I may leave it until after Jan 1st.  I shall leave it as see how I feel come the weekend.

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas.

Toodles.

Linda

Counting My Blessings

Still no lights 

So my Christmas at home began at 1:00 pm yesterday when my office closed its doors and Teddy Bear and I went out for lunch. On the way home I stopped and got tuna fish for Minou. Its her treat and everyone deserves a treat at Christmas. I came home, had a nap, made tea with some lovely homemade cookies which were a Christmas gift from one of the No Cook ladies, then I cleaned the kitchen. The table is still junk free so it took no time at all. I also finally got the cover put on the air conditioner, what a difference that has made in the house temperature. How I forgot I will never know!!

Christmas eve supper was scallops, bacon wrapped chicken, coconut shrimp, spring rolls and brie and fig cups. Chocolate cream puffs rounded off the meal as desert. Yummy!! I have lots  left overs to use for New Years Eve. I then watched Christmas in Connecticut and White Christmas. I was going to indulge in a Christmas Carole but I just could not stay awake. Annoyingly I  have developed a chest infection and a rotten cold, so rest was more important.

This morning, I got up, did not get out of my jammies, I simply came down stairs, lite up one of the trees, flipped the fireplace channel onto the tv and made myself ham, eggs, toast and hashbrowns. I then sat down and while I munched up my breakfast, I counted my blessings.I have may blessings to count, to name a few, I have a warm house, , family and friends that love me, a full fridge and freezer, a job that pays the bills, a good car, presents under my tree and I could go on and on. I am blessed in a million ways and am grateful for each and everyone.

Breakfast completed, dishes done, presents opened and admired, the Queen's speech watched, now I am looking foreward to more old Christmas movies, some crafting, more coffee and maybe a nap or two. I may not get dressed today, I may just stay in my pj's and lounge around. I will see how I feel. This infection and  cold are still here but its not getting worse so again I am grateful. Oh yes and I am grateful for the Buckley;s cold pills I found in the cabinet.

I hope your Christmas is lovely and as wonderful as can be.

Toodles
Linda

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

Ok I could get used to this. Days off, home with the family, come back, work two days, two days off, work a day and a half then two and a half days off, work one day, two days off. Not a bad schedule if you ask me. I have been having the best weekend!! I don't want it to end. I am in the middle of this wonderful short work weeks and its just the best!!

My wonderful weekend started with No Cook Friday as always which is great fun. Those friends of mine are so fun to spend time with. Saturday allowed me to get out and get some errands done then I did some fun shopping. I have a few stores that I like to go to each year around Christmas time. I had not done that yet so I hit a few of them up on Saturday morning. I also went to a couple of second stores. I totally scored at one of them

Partylite candle Thingys that I would not have bought full price because they are rather expensive, Great quality but pricey.  I got these for $3.00 at a second hand store. There is one more piece that I want so I need to keep my eye open for it. I am completely tickled at my find.

Shopping is not all that I have been doing, I have been finishing some projects that have been lingering about my house for a couple of years now. First one was this wall hanging, I got it two years ago and have just now gotten it quilted and hung for the season

Its the 12 days of Christmas. I have it hung at the top of the stairs over the Santa Parade. Glad to have it finished.

Today I fished this poor abused sweater out of my "possible projects" pile. A co-worker washed this lamb's wool sweater and shrunk it, felted it and generally made it unfit to wear. I saved it from the garbage can and today turned it into this:

I did not get the foot cut out quite right but I am pleased with the result. It makes a nice Christmas stocking and it now hides the legs of the table I stuck the Pig Tree on in a last minute decision. I really should have totally unfolded the table cloth under the tree before I decorated but I didn't. Its like the lights on the tree, I just forgot but now its hidden and the stocking looks ready for Father Christmas to fill.

It would not be Christmas unless I made one or two Christmas runners. I love runners and I like to make them.  This one I made for E as she is really hard to buy for but she does appreciate a handmade gift. I may make myself one but I have to think of where I would put it, I am running out of need for runners, (I have several don't you know. )

It has not all been fun work around here I do get out to play once in a while, last night I went to see Frozen with a couple of friends, what a sweet little movie. I recommend going to see it. We were out for coffee afterward then I stopped at Stupid Store to pickup a couple of things for Christmas Eve. I wanted scallops. Stupid Store has cheap scallops. I fully intend on observing the appetizers for supper tradition on Christmas Eve even though I shall be here and the family will be other wise engaged. Appetizers, White Christmas and A Christmas Carol (with Allister Sim) on DVD will be my evening. I was not going to brave Stupid Store during the day, its a mad house but at 10:30 pm it was not so bad. During the trip there I got the last Santa that will complete the parade on the stairs. There is literally no more room there for any more of the Jolly old boys. I have not taken his picture yet but I will, he is the roundest of the Santa's and totally a cutie

Iam going to make candied pecans with the rest of my day, wash the bathroom floor and the hallway, put fresh clean sheets on the bed and crochet until bed time. Thanks to Scentsy my house smells totally of cinnamon and cloves. The lights are twinkling in the Dickens village and one of the trees. (yes I have not put lights on the one I forgot and it looks like I never will)  Candles are flickering in the Partylite pieces. My home looks wonderfully Christmasy. Its cold outside and I am snuggly tucked up in my little house, no place to be but at home, relaxing and taking it easy. Yes I could get very used to this!!

I hope you are having a wonderful time on this lead up to the Big Day!!

Toodles
Linda

Tonight You Are Going Down!!

Tonight I face my nemesis..........my kitchen table. Once I am finished scarfing down some Christmas cookies and tea that is. For some reason this year my table insists on being totally covered in piles of stuff!! My fault, totally my fault because the table is right there.......right there by the back door, where I walk in with stuff, easy to put down stuff and leave it there until its piled so high its dangerous. Seriously it could decapitate you if it ever decided to slide. I have to spend an incredibly long time sorting and putting things that should have been sorted and put, days ago once I decide to clear it off. I do clean it off, yes I do, I pinky swear I do but I turn around and its back to the way it was before because I cannot seem to grasp that simple idea of put stuff away where it belongs!!! Argh, childhood issues opening up all over like a big old can of worms. So tonight, I am going to once again clean that sucker off. Will I have learned my lesson???????? I hope so. Then if I have learned that maybe I can apply it to the rest of the house. ( why am I hearing laughter in my head???). Being a work in progress is so hard.

So many issues to be dealt with, so many things to be improved on. Oh well, I suppose as long as I keep working away at it, one thing at a time I have hope.

Cookies done, tea done. Wish me luck I am going in!!!!

Toodles,
Linda

PS: I have triumphed!! For how long God only knows. Hmmm, perhaps I should switch the sunflowers for poinsettias considering its Christmas time.

Feeling Blessed

Inhaling deeply and exhaling, feeling relaxed, happy and very blessed. Its Christmas time, my favourite time, and I am enjoying it to the fullest. I am finished with Christmas shopping but I do have two gifts left to wrap, then deliver them and one more.  I am having a hard time to think that Christmas is still coming. You see I have already had my Christmas. We celebrated last weekend and oh what a good weekend we had!!

Last weekend as the only free time we all had to get together so that is what we did. We gathered at Miss Mouse and the Farmer's house. The Pilot, the Teacher, the Carpenter and Busy and me all got together to exchange gifts and pass the Tater Tot around for much cuddling, kissing and marveling at his new ability to smile. Not easily caught on camera, this new smile, but oh so much fun to coax out of him. He is just the sweetest little thing. Smiling or not.

I started calling him Farmer Boy but Tater Tot is what pops into my head when I think of him so its easier for me to use that name for him.

Weather and road conditions cooperated to get me there. I arrived to find Miss Mouse and Busy cooking up a storm, music playing and Tater Tot snoozing, content as could be in his swing, right in the middle of all the hubbub. We gossiped, laughed and carried on until we had to wake the baby to feed him. Little man was snoozy, he could not really even wake up to eat. The Farmer and the Carpenter were hauling grain and the other two guests did not get there until later around 9:30. 

Once we were all present and accounted for we had our traditional Christmas Eve supper of appies and drinks. Super scrumptious as always. Off to bed to wait for Santa to come and he did. Miss Mouse got her wish of sleeping through the night as Daddy and Grandma were more than willing to do feeding and diaper duty through the night. 

We are very lucky in this family, we are able to give and receive with out hardship. This year it was fun to indulge the Tater Tot. We waited so long for him and he is such a precious gift, its hard not to give him stuff.

Not to mention his parents have lots of friends and family that are celebrating him this year. We could hardly find him in the pile of his presents.

Lots of books and clothes in this pile. A few toys and one big wagon to ride around in when he gets a little bigger. This picture makes me smile. I don't imagine we will be able to make him wait for his presents next year. All the years of having no little ones, we got into the habit of opening one gift at a time while the others watch to see what you got. I think that little tradition is on its way out. Tater Tot will take care of that in short order.

Busy has taken up the role of doting Grandma with amazing ease. Not to mention the Carpenter does a very good job of being Grandpa.

It was nice to see the Pilot and the Teacher again. Its been awhile. They have good news, she has a shiny new rock on her finger. Looks like she is a keeper. Wedding plans were a hot topic for the weekend.

The rest of us joined in on the gift opening. 

We had a lovely weekend but this is what makes me the happiest, seeing Miss Mouse snuggling her baby boy. That is just simply the best thing ever. I love how he sits with his little hands clasped. If I could just get a picture of him smiling.

We dined on our usual Christmas morning breakfast. Breakfast Bruchetta, Monkey nuts, Fruit and Mimosas

Beautiful flowers where a birthday gift to Miss Mouse from her parents, another tradition. Prim rib for supper instead of turkey. Totally delicious. The evening was spent playing games. We all had to go our separate ways on Sunday. A short and sweet family gathering. I am so blessed that they include me in their Christmas. I am included and wanted not just tolerated out of duty or obligation. There is a big difference and believe me a person knows when they are merely tolerated. 

Lots of hugs and good wishes on Sunday as we all scattered to the winds. The weather coming home was not the best, lots of snow and blowing snow but I made it, safe and sound. I took three days off from work to relax and get ............. I am not sure what but I can tell you now I am wishing I had taken the whole week off. Whatever I hoped to get on these three days, I could use more of it. I don't know where the time is going or what I have been doing but all I know is that tomorrow is Wednesday and my house still looks a mess. I have made a Christmas runner, three pairs of pajama pants and a crocheted hat in the last two days. I guess I have managed to do something but not any house work it seems. 

Toodles,

Linda

Tired but Happy...Getting Christmas Stuff Done

The baking is done, the baking is done!!! I am one happy little Christmas Elf.  Yesterday I did this

And then today I did this

So I have the baking completed to take with me for Christmas. I enjoyed every minute of it but I have to admit I am tired. I am looking forward to an evening of crocheting and movie watching.

The lights, ornaments, wreath and garland plus bows are up on the front of the house.

We have more snow this is an old picture but the house looks the same. 

The Santa's are parading down the stairs

Mom's tree is the center piece of the Christmas Village as it is each year:

And while I did not put up all the trees, the Pig tree is up. It has no lights because I have not worked up the energy to put them on but its up. I got a bigger tree this year. I am still collecting ornaments of the piggy nature so I need more room to hang them. I usually do a large regular tree, a ginger bread man tree for the kitchen and a Family tree for the entry. The family tree has all the little ornaments on it that I have made each year for the family.

So I think the house is as decorated as its going to be this year. Not a fraction of the stuff is out but that is fine, its nice to downplay it some years. I am pleased with it all and while I have some things to finish up I am feeling good about things. One gift to purchase, three to finish making and then presents to wrap. Stocking stuffers are done, decorating is done, baking is done. Its good.

So I think I will go have a little nap, get up and tidy the house then spend the rest of the evening crochet hook in hand, snuggled in my favorite chair watching some Christmas movie. Sounds like the perfect end to the evening to me.

Toodles, 

Linda

Christmas is Nipping at my Heels

Now that is a pretty visual but its true, The sand in the hour glass is sailing along at warp speed and I am dancing as fast as I can. We, as in my family, as in my brother and his family and they include me are having Christmas on the 14th. Everyone can be together on that day so that is when we will gather. I have a mile long list of things I would like to do, things I always do and things that I think I can do. Some of it will get done, the always do list which is of course gifts and baking, that is under control and will definitely be done.

The decorating will be drastically toned down this year and it will get done. Inspite of the fact that I managed to put up a smaller tree this year, totally decorate it only to discover I missed putting the lights on it. Sigh, my days as a fruit loop are getting more and more often. Thankfully its the smaller tree I usually have in the dining room so I can redecorate and add lights once I get the essentials taken care of. I am only doing two trees this year not the usual four. The Santa parade will line the stairs but I am not sure if I will put out all the Santa's. I will see how the time goes. The Dicken's village is out and just needs Mom's ceramic tree to complete it. Thanks to the Hostess I have enough houses and stores for my village now, it is complete. I used to always give my Mom grief about her ceramic tree but she loved it. Now she is gone I put it out every year. It has become a cherished decoration in this house. I look at it and think of Mom and it makes me happy. It lives in the center of the village in pride of place and I would have it no other way.

Christmas lights will go up tomorrow night on the veranda, since I finally got them out of the basement, along with the garland, bows and giant Christmas balls. It will take no time at all now I have them up and ready to be hung. I have to say I love how my little house looks, all dressed up for Christmas. Saturday morning will see the last of the Christmas shopping done.

Tonight I mixed up the first two batches of cookie dough and it is chilling in the fridge to be baked up over the weekend. Every year I happily make snackens, lemon crunch, cherry refidge cookies, candied pecans, butter tarts and this year I am adding gingerbread cookies. These treats will be produced and packed for consumption over the Christmas festivities. I love to bake and its a treat for me to have a chance to do lots of it. I have to say again I LOVE my kitchen aid mixer. I zoomed through the cookie dough tonight. Whee!!!!  

Stocking stuffers are present and accounted for. I am almost finished making the last of the Christmas gifts that I had planned. I have mended Miss Mouse's quilt and finished the Blarney night quilt for last year. Just did not have time to get this year's made to take with me. I will quilt it up after Christmas. All in all I am feeling good about what I have done and what I have left to do. I am not going to be able to do all the things that I wanted to but that is ok. I can aim for it next year.

My kitchen is a disaster and the house is a mess but oh my goodness I am going to go nuts this weekend and getter done!! I am going to stay home except for shopping Saturday morning. No more goofing off, just buckling down and getting my home ready for the holidays. I love this time of the year.

I hope your Christmas preparations, if that is what you are celebrating, are going well.

Toodles,
Linda
 

Baking Tarts and Cheesy Christmas Movies

Doing a little happy dance around my house tonight. I managed to make 3 dozen perfect (well almost) butter tarts. I made 2 dozen last week and followed a tip from the internet, Pinterest I think, and they burnt black!! I was furious.

Tonight I went back to following the method my darling Mama used, and that woman could cook. I used her way, the same way I have been doing them for years and look what I got. Not a burned mark in the bunch. They bubbled up but not over, pastry is rich and flaky. I am completely happy. I can give them to the person that paid for them at the office fundraiser and stroke that off my Christmas to do list. I have enough pastry left to make for my own family at Christmas. Win Win I say. Mama was right once again. ( can you hear her hooting YES!! from heaven, I can)

Whilst baking tarts, I was watching Christmas movies on tv. You know the kind, predicable, cheesy, soppy and I love them. Its putting me in the mood for the season. This weekend I am hoping to get the lights up outside, finish the Christmas shopping and in general tackle the to do list. I have decided not to do all the decorating I usually do this year but I can't wait to get some stuff up. This weekend is Dec 1st and in this house that means its time to get the decorations out and up.

Well its late and I am tired. I have lists dancing in my head, things to do, places to go, people to see. I am sure it will all get done. I just have to keep chipping away.

Toodles,

Linda

Busy, Busy Busy and a Baby

Oh my its happy baby arrival's everywhere. First Miss Mouse and the Farmer welcomed the Farmer Boy and now more good news. Mamabug, Daddybug and Ladybug got to welcome Babybug this Monday. Little man made his appearance and it is wonderful. I have yet to meet this little boy but I will. So excited for all of them. They had some sad times but this is a wonderful, joyful, blessed event. I am so happy, cause I am going to get to play being Grandma again.  A little girl and now a precious boy. Good times!!

This past weekend I had a fantastic time. The Banker and I went to a scrap booking retreat with Princess Diva and some other friends.

We were in a church camp building by a lake and we had tons of room to work. A big table to ourselves to spread out and get scrappin'. The last crop weekend I went to was so cramped and crowded it nearly put me off for good. Not the case here. 

\

26 scrapping crazy women spent the entire weekend working on projects. Family treasures, special events, fabulous holidays, all being preserved in the most creative albums. How interesting to wander about and see what every one is doing. To share and help and encourage. It was so much fun. Serious laughter took place as did lots of sharing and making of new friends.

One of the nicest bits was that it was not run by a company. It was a group of like minded women, spending time creating without any hidden agenda. You could do whatever you wished. Princess Diva made mosaic stars. I split my time between my scrap book and a crocheting project. You could go for a walk, sit by the fire, read, eat, chat, nap...... just do as you please. 

The lodge had lots of room to work, a separate eating area, plenty of bedrooms upstairs and a row of windows that looked out onto the lake. I mean seriously this view was worth the trip and keep me enchanted while I downed my first coffee of the weekend.

I could happily have a cabin with a view like this. We were fed extremely well. 

The Banker and I worked on our Ireland scrapbooks and it was so much fun. We got to relive the entire holiday. She remembered things I had forgotten and the same thing happened with me. I got half the trip scrapbooked minus the odd picture and some journalling. I was very pleased with what I got done over my time there. It is interesting to see what she did with the same pictures that I have. No two scrapbooks are ever the same. Creating is so individual.

In no time at all it was time to pack up and head home.

This weekend I am headed off with Teddy Bear to visit the Hostess. Its our first chance to check out her new house and new home. Hopefully the weather will be good and we get there and home again with no problems. Winter has finally arrived in my neck of the woods. 

Toodles,

Linda

I Was Going To Do Some Baking Today But.....

Its Remembrance Day and I don't have all the ingredients that I need to do the baking I had wanted to do. I should have gone shopping yesterday or on Saturday but I was busy with other chores. I am not going shopping on this day. Its a day to remember, not to be shopping. I will do that another day. Today I will be quietly at home, puttering and thinking, mostly about my Dad and Uncle Tom. The uncle I never got to know because he died in the war. A teenager really, far to young to be dead and gone. While I do not think war is right, I am eternally grateful to those who serve and protect us, the ones before and those that safe guard us now.

How lucky am I that I am safely content in my home, warm, fed, loved and most important....safe. I can spend my time puttering at the bread an butter details of life with little to no concern for my safety, my rights and my quality of life. People gave their lives for this gift and we need to always be mindful of that.

Saturday was dedicated to reclaiming the kitchen, cleaning, putting things in their proper place and getting it back to where it should be. There was a lot to be done and there is still a few more things to be done. The Halloween decorations need to go back tot he basement but all in all its ready for company. I hauled out tons of recycle, finally put the new vacuum together, and did a mountain of dishes. I can see the table top again and the counter tops. The stained, old, really need to be replaced counter tops. Sigh!!

I also tackled a mountain of laundry. I have not washed clothes in two weeks, I had towels, sheets and floor mats to do. So I whipped up a batch of laundry soap and went to town. I am still working on it. I have two loads of towel to dry and then the mats to wash. My dryer takes its time drying stuff. I prefer to hang things to dry but towels are nicer done in the dryer. In the cold weather, I just do them in the dryer, it the warm weather I choose a windy day and hang them out.

Today, I am going to get going on a quilt. I found a spare loot bag that I made last year and so I am going to make the name tag for the little Farmer Boy. He has to have a bag for Christmas just like the rest of us. I got the last of the Ireland pictures ordered so tomorrow I can pick them up. I will be ready to make my Ireland album this coming weekend when I go on my scrap booking retreat. Ordering the pictures took forever. I took the time to put the pictures in chronological order, so I had to pull all the ones I put in regular photo albums out because I realized I had the stuff mixed up. In total I will have like 1300 pictures, yesterday I placed an order for 230 of them. When the Walmart site recommends loading only 40 at a time, it takes a while to upload them, crop them and then order. Its done!! Whoot.

Now I am off to sew the backing for one of the church quilts. I want to get quilting on it asap. I would like to have it and the other one done by Christmas so I can get them delivered. I will need to get stitching.

Toodles
Linda

This Weekend I Met a Miracle

This little farmer boy, cuddled up on my chest, snoozing away, content, happy, well fed, well loved, adored and oh so wanted, is a living breathing little miracle.

Because the woman who gave birth to him, searched her heart, knew she could not care for him, nor could the biological father. She decided to give him a the best she could in life, she made a selfless, heart breaking decision, she gave him to Miss Mouse and the Farmer. Well lets be serious, they gave him to our whole family. What a gift we got, what a get big, nothing else like it gift. Words are not big enough and grand enough to cover what they did for us, for him. Nothing covers it completely. Miracle is just the start.

He is doted on by his grandparents:

Every move, squeak and facial expression is watched, marveled at and documented:

He is the new core of this family and it does not matter one speck where he came from, he is ours.

precious, miraculous, sweet baby boy. Our best gift ever!!

Toodles,

Great Aunty Linda.

Its Sunday Already

My oh my how quickly these weekends go by. Today was wonderful, I did not wake to the sound of the alarm clock going off. It does not matter if I am getting up to do something I REALLY want to do or if I am getting up for work, I do not like to wake to the sound of the alarm. I did find it seriously amusing when I woke for the first time this morning it was exactly at the time the clock would have gone off. I had a chuckle, rolled over and went back to sleep.

After breakfast, I trotted my self and my Canadian Tire money to the store and finally got another vacuum for the downstairs. I can take the other one back upstairs again and no longer have to step over it in the dining room. Getting the new one for $20.00 made it all the sweeter. I love Canadian Tire money. I heard a rumor they may do away with it. Sigh, I like to collect it and then get stuff for the house for cheap or for free.

Its cold, overcast and just a typical fall day today. It was a perfect day to be in the sewing room, a spicy scented candle burning, (making the house smell like fall), working at the sewing machine. I had the best day. Nothing I like better than creating something and today I spent the entire afternoon and most of the evening, creating. Fun, fun, fun. I cannot post pictures just yet, these creations need to be seen by their owner first before the rest of the world gets to. I am pleased with the outcome and I am hoping the recipient will be equally pleased.

I also made a quick trip to Michael's to get some of the stuff for my Ireland scrap book. I have to get back at ordering pictures so I have the ones I need for my scrap booking retreat in November. I cannot wait to get it done. I just have to get the stuff to make it. Lots of stuff on 50% off at the store today I got some stickers, paper and an album. Its a start. I have done one scrap booking weekend before and it was ok. I have high hopes for this one. Its going to be less formal and more fun. Fewer people and I know most of them. Not that would make a differenc, but I know these ladies are fun!! The Banker is coming with me so it will be a super fun weekend. We will both be working on our Ireland books, it will be like reliving it all again.

Now I am going to start on the church quilts. I have the time to get at them and would love to have them done before Christmas time so I can get them delivered. The tops for these are made so I just need to quilt them. I need to do one for myself as well but I still cannot decide if I should widen the quilt on my bed because I love it but its a double and my bed is now queen, or if I should make an entire new quilt. I have not found a pattern that grabs me and I do like my old one but its 10 years old and really could be replaced. I think I will have to give this decision some more thought. Perhaps the universe will show me the answer.

Well its time to go check the dryer and see if that load of laundry is finished. I was amazed today at something that I never used to give a thought to.  I make my own laundry soap and today doing the last load I ran out of my own stuff. I have some commercial soap on hand for just this situation but it has been a long time since I have used it. Oiy the smell!! It was so perfumed I nearly gagged!! It was so weird to see the tub fill up with suds. It looked so wrong!! I will get another batch of my own made asap, needless to say. Turns out I perfer it to the bought stuff. Who knew????

Toodles,
Linda

Puppets on Parade

So this morning I boxed up all the puppets I had on hand and hauled them out to a neighbouring small town for a trade show. I started out being a little concerned because most of the people there are trades, you know Tupperware, Scentsy, Sun Set Creek etc and my guys are crafty things. The day started slow and then I really got concerned because I was thinking that I had done all this, hauled them out for naught. Not to mention I am was not feeling the greatest. I am thinking a touch of food poisoning but more about that later.
I need not have worried. I did a decent day of sales. Lots of compliments on the cuteness and I can never hear enough of that. I was also invited to partake in a couple of other sales if I was interested. If I had the stock I might think about it but I don't. I have quilts to make, the puppets need to take a back seat for the moment.

 I am inching closer to the long awaited goal of a new oven for me. I have container of puppets left over but I am not concerned, I will get rid of them. It will take time but I will get them sold. I totally forgot to take my camera but I have a pic from another craft sale that sort of gives the impression of what my stall looks like.I had some different puppets and the kids clothes were not there. Just my puppets. Aunty Linda's Critters.

Its work but it was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday. I came home and had a hour nap before I counted out my loot!! The Banker, Kit Kat and the Sailor drove out to the sale and give me some moral support. The Banker bought me lunch, I will say it again, I have lovely friends.

So I am not feeling great. On Friday I had hamburger at two different places, at lunch and at supper and by 9:00 pm I was seriously queasy. I will spare you the details but it was around 5:00 am before I felt I could function. I still am not 100% but I am ok if I don't eat a lot. I had lunch which was fine but it took ages to eat it and tonight supper is not holding any appeal what so ever. I am hoping its food poisoning and not flu, I am due to visit the Little Farmer Boy this weekend and I will be some sad if I cannot go. I do not want to give him anything. 

Well I think an evening of knitting and tv watching is in store for me. Don't feel up to doing much else.

Toodles,

Linda.

Sunday Stuff or You Know its Cold When

Ok you know its cold when you walk into your house and the furnace is running. What is significant about that you may wonder? Well my furnace was turned down to 10 C. (I have not turned in on this year yet). It got cold enough in here that the furnace came on all by its self. I was going to turn  it on this weekend but Mother Nature beat me to the punch. The flannel sheets go on the bed tonight. I have been meaning to do it for a while now but today is the day. I don't want to walk into my bedroom and see Mother Nature remaking the bed because my own dumb self has not gotten around to it.  Icy sheets have lost their appeal. Hot flashes be darned, I need some snugly soft sheets.

I have been a busy bunny, No time for much of anything this week and I LIKE IT. I have had something on the agenda every night and its been wonderful!! Started out with an evening spent attached to my sewing machine doing all my mending jobs, then Book Club, then local theater production of Shrek, then No Cook Friday, Saturday trip to the big city to shop out Ikea and Costco, then off today to another city to have my cards read with friends. I am at last at home and trying to do somethings about the house before Monday then I am back to work and  off to the ballet in the evening.

For someone who still has not dealt with all the things that she brought back from Ireland, the Ikea and Costco booty don't stand much of a chance. My house could star on Hoarders at the moment. This afternoon  I did manage laundry, dishes and soup making. I have moved half the Costco stuff to my kitchen and out of the entry way. I have sorted out the Christmas gifts from what is mine in the Ikea bags and that is it so far. Oh yes and I am washing and re-blocking a piece of cross stitch for a friend.

I have to finish my puppets for the sale on this coming Saturday. I have one mouse and a turtle to create then I will have all I am taking with me. I have to do the neck inserts, a neck insert is a small pocket sewn into the neck of each puppet to keep the stuffing in their little heads and allow your finger to slide into the head with ease. Sounds painful but I assure you the puppet feels nothing. I have not done one of them yet and I have over 60 puppets. I see nothing but little neck inserts in my coming week. I should have done them as I went along but I didn't because for some reason I don't like making them. Its strange I know but I just don't like doing them. Perhaps I will develop a fondness for them after 60 all at once.

So speaking of puppets I need to get at the last two. I hope you all have had a lovely weekend.

Toodles
Linda

Giving Thanks

Just home from a lovely weekend with family. The Carpenter and Busy invited me to come and share the weekend, turkey dinner and some family time with them. We had such a good weekend. The Carpenter was working, that man is always working but we did get to see him in between jobs. Busy and I get along very well and as a result we managed to put in the time very nicely. It was a weekend spent catching up on all the family news and baby talk.

I helped her finish canning her tomatoes, I subjected them to my Ireland pictures and I finally got to see her pictures from Peru. We had lunch with her Mother, went for a walk on a perfect Autumn day and we ate. Lordy we ate well. One never goes away hungry from their house. None of the kids were home but there were lot of photos of the little Farmer Boy to be oggled and I even got to see him on skype. Squeee!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the little man. I hear from very reliable sources that he is a snuggle bug who loves to cuddle up with you. We had a full turkey dinner, and their boarder, a handsome young man who comes from Poland, joined us for the feast.

As always, Thanksgiving makes me look back and think over all that I have to be thankful for and trust me the list is miles long. I am blessed with a good family, good home, extremely good friends and  a very good life. Its a lot be grateful for and I cherish each and every one of my blessings. I got to go to Ireland (a life long dream come true) I am going to finally get to go to the Huron Carole, and my No Cook Friday Group is still going strong after three years of getting together. I could go on and on and on, but I will say there is one bright and shinning moment in the year that out does all the rest.

It is captured in this one picture. This fills my heart, and leaks out my eyes with happiness. Seeing this happiest of smiles on this most beloved face, put there by  the precious bundle snuggled safely in his Mommy's arms is almost more happy than I can stand.

Words fail to convey the feeling but know that this grateful feeling  is big and grand and heartfelt. If this feeling makes me puddle up when I think about it, I think I am entitled. Sweet baby boy, you have been wanted, expected, loved, prayed and hoped for, you are a wish come true.

Welcome, welcome Little Farmer Boy, I loved you before I met you and I am so glad you are part of our family. 

Toodles

Great Aunty Linda

Weekend Windup

Why is it the weekends just fly by? There is never enough time to get everything done and its Sunday night the second after its Friday 4:30. I certainly enjoy my weekends I just wish they were longer.More time, more energy and more things crossed off the old "to do" list.

Its been a lovely weekend, cool and crisp. I love Autumn. I love the colours and the coolness to the air. I have decided that its time to get out the flannel sheets and shut the windows at night. Sigh. Time just keeps moving on.

I actually made a big pot of vegetable soup tonight. Its delicious, if I do say so myself. A big bowl of soup and herbed biscuits with sweet butter were a perfect supper for this fall day. I finally have something to take for lunch next week. I have to get back on track again, take off all the pounds that have snuck back onto me again. Dang things never seem to go too far before they are back again. So its got to be back to healthy eating and back to walking again. I am soooo tired of dragging this around with me.

This weekend I did precious little in my house, no yard work but I did do some knitting and worked on some puppets. The Banker and I went over to Teddy Bear's house and we tiled some trim around her bath tub. It looks really good. It took all after noon Saturday because we spend more time chatting, drinking coffee and giggling than actually working.

Today I was at Hummingbird's house, helping her get her head wrapped around making slip covers for her couch and chairs. I did precious little but offer the odd suggestion and guide her along. She has the right idea but she needs a little courage to make the start. I cannot wait to see the finished project. I think she is going to do a fabulous job.

I came home from there, did laundry, made soup and knit. Oh yes and I continued to order prints of my Ireland pictures. This is proving to be a lengthy process. I do not care, it gives me a chance to look them over again and again and again. I will eventually have a photo album to take to show people and lots more prints to keep to myself. No one will want to be subjected to having to look at all of the pictures. I have a lot of them :-)

Miss Mouse called this afternoon with emails and pictures of the quilt set she wants for the Farmer Boy's nursery. I am as happy as a wiggly puppy over this. I have waited for years to be able to do this for her. She has picked her own pattern and material, I shall simply do that assembling. I am looking foreward to it. I love to make baby things. With Mamabug expecting again and the Farmer Boy showing up I have the potential to get to do more than one or two baby things. Happy! Happy! Happy!

Toodles,

Linda

I Am Still Here

Poor sad, neglected little blog. I have been ignoring you of late. Seems there are not enough hours in the day for me to be day dreaming, ignoring housework and not doing what I should be doing. Well actually I have been busy, purging, recovering pillows and working on my Ireland pictures. I am in the process of ordering prints and its taking an age. That's what you get when you run amok with the camera. I do not care, I have had my wonderful trip and I am determined to have the pictures to remember it by. So slowly and steadily I am sending them off to be printed out and I will have a delightful time sorting them out, making albums and scrap-booking some.

I purged out two big boxes and a garbage bag of stuff out of the dining room and kitchen, sadly without really trying too hard. It all went off to the Canadian Diabetes Association today. Sadly, as always with my efforts to purge, the results are not visible to any eye but my own. Ah well, I have started now I need to continue on. There is a gold mine of purging to be done in this house. I think one room at a time and I shall start upstairs. I should pick one night a week and make that my goal. My weekends are not long enough.

I have puppets to finish for the craft sale in October, quilts to be done and delivered before Christmas, knitting and painting to be done. So much on the list and yet I opt to spend my weekends out and about instead of being at home. It will all get done, it will all work out and I will be all the happier for it. I love to have lots of things to do and lots of plans with friends.

This weekend I hope to get some yard work done. I plan to change the bed of day lilies  into a hosta bed. This means I need to make a date with my shovel. I also have a dead dogwood bush that needs to be dug out so it can be replaced next spring. Sunday is earmarked for these jobs. I am going to help do some tiling in Teddy Bear's bathroom on Saturday. What time is left over from that will be spent on groceries, errands and house cleaning. The shed needs to be finished painting, mosaic stars to be created, and the list goes on and on. AND yes I know I have nattered on about this before but if I do not keep repeating it now and then I will not keep all the projects first and foremost in my mind. I shall see something shiny and be off on another tangent.

I have plans for the creation of some little things for the new little farmer boy in the family. I am making a trip in early November to make his acquaintance and I cannot wait. This special little man, I have been waiting and praying for for a long time. I am tickled pink to know he is part of the family and I cannot wait to get my hands on him. I have several things in mind and I have also realized that I need to make his loot bag for Christmas. Little Man needs to have a place to put his stocking stuffers.

So as you can see I am alive, spinning in circles as I usually do, thousands of plans and projects to be done and not enough time or ambition to do them all. In other words situation normal.

I shall be back soon. I will keep you posted as to the progress. I trust all is well with you.

Toodles,
Linda

The Fish and Chips Have Come Home to Roost.

So after waltzing all over Ireland and indulging in fish and chips, scones and bacon, (oh my the bacon), Guinness and wine with supper. I stepped on the dreaded scales the other morning. Crappity crap crap. Apparently I brought more home with me than just Irish knick knacks. Those yummy chips and fish have come home to roost all right, right on my butt, thighs, belly and anywhere else they could cling. I willingly undid all the good I did before I left and am back to square one. (Sigh). There is something innately wrong with the fact the pounds go on so much faster and easier than they come off. Time to get back to working on this again. Walking, eating healthy and generally starting from ground zero and heading up again. Oh bother.

I would like to say I regret it all but I don't. I loved every single mouthful and enjoyed myself to the full. Ireland was a dream come true and I made the most of my time there. I will now slide back into my routine again, battling this weight thing, ah yes the fight of a life time. Go me!!

Next week I will get back to the walking track, I have not been there for a long time and it really is the best thing for me. I can actually do it. I don't like it but I can do it.

Right now, I am going to go play on Pinterest!!

Toodles,
Linda

I Have Been To Ireland!! Pinch Me!!

One week ago today I landed back in Canada having accomplished the dream of a life time. I could not believe it was going to happen, then I could not believe it was happening and now I cannot believe it happened and its over and yet I have pictures and memories to prove it happened. I would go back in a heart beat. Lovely country and wonderful people. It was all I wanted from a vacation and more.

I went with The Banker. She is a wonderful travel companion. We managed two weeks together and we are still friends at the end of it. We did not do a tour, we were on our own time table, we started in Belfast.

This charming little bed and breakfast welcomed us in for the first three days. We made the Titanic museum a first see.

Between the Banker and I we took over 1500 pictures. Before you faint I will not inflict them all on you, I will try and hit the highlights. We saw old castles.

Gorgeous scenery. Yes this place really is as green as they say it is;

Lots of fat and happy sheep grazing in tiny little fields.

We say the ocean

The Giant's Causeway:

We moved on to Gallway, which is a pretty little city full of tiny windy streets and quaint shops.

Neat old pubs. We checked out several all over Ireland and had our fair share of Guinness. We sat in side in this one, just inside where the open window is. Its really old!!

We did a day tour out to the Cliffs of Moher, with some stops along the way:

An ancient Church

A burial sight that is thousands of years old but I don't have a picture of it because The Banker took the picture and I don't have her's yet. But I do have a picture of the cliffs.

Still cannot believe I was there!!

On to Limmerick and the River Shannon

Then a day at Bunratty Castle, and the folk park, topped off with a medieval feast!!

I cannot believe I climbed these narrow windy stairs but I did wish on this fertility goddess for Miss Mouse and the Farmer!! IT worked we now have a little Farmer Boy!!

We then moved onto Cork and Blarney Castle

That fuzzy blob up there is the Banker kissing the Blarney Stone. I did not make the climb, I was happy to sit and watch. I have enough blarney in me already.

Wexford was next. No a really big tourist area but we walked the little winding streets and shopped and had a lovely day anyway.

This was the view out our hotel room. Not too shabby.

Winding narrow streets, quaint little shops, lots of pubs and cafes were the pattern for each city we were in. We moved on from Wexford to Dublin. A city that is a thousand years old. We toured it all, saw Trinity College and the book of Kells, The Temple Bar area and the Guinness storehouse.

This is the Zero Gravity  lounge at the top of the storehouse. We downed a free pint of Guinness while looking out over a 360 degree view of Dublin. AMAZING

Fabulous architecture, something new to see around every corner. All top soon we were back in Belfast and at the airport headed home.

Its just memories now but oh what wonderful memories. I will cherish them. Not often your life long dreams come true. This one did for me and I cannot articulate what that means to me.

Slainte Mhaith!!

Linda