A BETTER (?) HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here we all are...Dec. 31/08 and looking to start another year. My hope for the world is that we all learn to share, stand up and be the hero we are capable of. Give a little in each relationship, follow the Golden Rule, share what we have, be less judgemental, less hard on ourselves, reach out and touch someone in a loving way....e.g. a compliment to a stranger, a friend, a relative. I don't want to get political as there are waaay to many warring factions around the world, so I will say to everyone....

'Please be a Hero and allow others to be one too."

WISHES

I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's almost heeeere!!!

So it's almost here (Christmas) and everything is in order....I think..hmmm, have I forgotten anything? Gifts are wrapped, some given out, some to give and the house looks clean and tidy. Oh, yes, make some bread to give to my excellent new neighbours. They moved in last April, had a little baby boy, Carter, a brother for 12 year old Cole and have been great. Sonia and Jeff, the parents have been busy spruceing up the house and garden and their efforts have been apparent. My other next door neighours, Collette and Gerry, have received their home baked loaf of bread and I hope they enjoyed it. They have been my neighbours since I moved in here in 1992 and they are the best! Collette looks so cute in the Poncho I knit for her 2 years ago and it comes in handy as she is a Crossing Guard. Well, back to the rest of the daily routine....laundry, cooking, cleaning....knitting. I really want to finish the pullover, in Marble Yarn, for myself. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

It's Baaaaack!

It's Baaaack!!!! It's a snowstorm here! I'm going to a Christmas Party today and I hope I can get there. It's really looking like we will have a White Christmas this year for sure. I have a few presents to wrap so I'd better get to them.

Ok, I just got a call from my friend and she is going to pick me up and take me home! Yay for good friends! Now I have to get ready a bit early, but that's fine by me. I don't have to clean off the car now, but tomorrow I will have to and shovel the drive as I'm off to my Mom's for the weekend.

Yep, it's already at 3" of snow, in the last hour!

Getting Closer

Yep, it's getting closer...."Christmas is acomin' and the goose is getting fat, Please to put a penny in the old man's hat! If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do; if you haven't got a ha'penny, then God Bless You!"
It snowed to about 7" here in the 'Shwa and it was nice and light, so it wasn't too hard to clean up. Got me some exercise, I did.
If y'all are running out of ideas for presents, then take a look at the post pic. They are slippers that can be made out of what you have on hand. Look closely and you will find out what those materials are! The embellishments are inexpensive and you may have some left from last year. I have only 2 people to buy for and I know what I will be getting for them, so, for all intents and purposes I AM DONE!

Family Christmas

Family Christmas...we had ours yesterday at baby girl and bg's husbest home. It lived up to all expectations. There was hugs, kisses,( the xband even got a surprise one..I'm such a Baaaad Girl...if only the n.w. was there...oh, well, half a laf is better than none!) laughter,tears, fights (little disagreements really), making up, drinking, eating (good eats by the way), exchanging gifts, drunken difference of opinion...all there! It was aaaallll there and I enjoyed every second of it! Yep, Christmas gatherings, never fail to meet my expectations of comedy and drama. I wish there were more than one Christmas just for the entertainment value. Only down side is the little ones are getting outnumbered by the big ones! The cute factor is still there, but the passing of time makes me realize how much I enjoy my brood of kids, inlaw kids and grandkids. Now, I can look forward to Christmas Day at my nephew's house...there will be much of the same C & D and I can hardly wait for the 25th. I suppose in my advancing years I've realized that I'm not responsible for the happiness of everyone, so it frees me up to just enjoy and store the memories in my heart. Stay tuned for the next bulletin!

IT'S REALLY WINTER

Yes I love Coffee, I love Coffee, I love Coffee......

It really is winter now! Shovelling snow, salting the steps, scraping the car down, putting the treads on my boots...yep all the signs of winter! The gifts are all taken care of for this weekend's Family Christmas at the baby girl's house. One thing I would like to know is...where in the heck did all my ambition go? I could cheerfully sit and knit while watching the 'Judge Shows' and that is not good....sounds ok but it is a downward spiral...the less I do, the less I want to do...so...today I will get my cute butt off the couch and get BUSY!!!! Oh, maybe it's the winter blahs or maybe it's the ageing blues, or maybe it's....LAZINESS....isn't Sloth one of the 7 deadly sins? Yep, I'm getting downright lazy! I'm going to get going RIGHT NOW!!!!

*****SNOW DAY*****

Today has been a snow day....for me....it's too cold out and it's snowing and I'm too lazy to go out, soooo...it's a stay at home, play at home, knit at home, clean the home, snow day for me. I cleaned up the Christmas wrapping stuff aaaand even sorted out the paper and ribbon, etc. for next year! I will soooo love my self (and not in a bad way!) next year when I get out the cards and paper for the Christmas wrapfest! I wanted to start the new sweater with the marble yarn, but, being a good girl, I did all my chores first....laundry, tidy up the house.....how does it get sooo untidy when there's no one here but me? Oh, one more hat to knit before this weekend...and then the SWEATER! with MARBLE!!! :::happy dance here:::

Brrrrrr!!!! Baby it's coooold outside! Blowing and snowing here in Oshawa and I have to go outside today. EEEEEK!!! Yesterday I got 95% of my Christmas gifts wrapped. Yipeee! The other 5% is cash gifts to be put in cards for those people that I think will want to buy the things they really want. Ok by me, money is always the right size and colour! Well, that's it for now, gotta get going. Pitter patter, let's get at her!

Gifts...For Me!

Yes, the Christmas Giving Bug bit me yesterday, and I bought something for..... Myself! I went to Bowmanville to the new yarn shop, Soper Creek Yarn and treated myself to yarn and a book. The store has a great selection with more yarn to come. Barb, the owner, tells us that classes will probably start in the new year. Possibly a knit and kvetch will happen too! I bought some yarn I had never seen before. It's from Britain, called Marble, it's 100% acrylic, (don't turn up your nose you wool yarn purists!) soft, soft, soft to the hand and it has the most delicious colouring. Apparently the manufacturer, James C. Brett, can hardly keep up with the demand....exclusivity...I love to have something that is in short supply...it's the beeotch in me! The book is a cute little, almost like a kids reader, item called "Cables, Mittens, Hats & Scarves". It also has fingerless, and wrist warmer patterns. Perfect to carry around in the Knitting Bag. Of course I couldn't resist the "Cable" part of the title...after all, I am Ann of Green Cables! So today is going to be an indoor one, looking for a pattern to suit the yarn, picking out a pattern from the new book, and ..oh yeah, some Christmas gift wrapping. As Superman says..."Up, up, and away!!!!" to the jobs/fun to be done!

TIRED

Oh I'm tired today! Yesterday I went to the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, at Exhibition Place, with my friend Sher. This is our 3rd year going to the show. Last year we bought an advance ticket and it was a good idea, because we got to sit in the Club One Lounge with a coffee (she had tea) until the show started at 11. We also got a free shopping bag which was very keepable as it was a classy looking bag. We bought an advance ticket for next year. We actually got through every aisle from Z to A! I bought a few things and was dazzled by a lot of the goods offered. Man, there are some hugely talented people out there from across Canada. I would highly recommend the show to anyone. It's definately worth the time, admissions cost and the drive to get there. We got back to Whitby at about 5 and I got home to Oshawa at 5:30. All the walking and shopping effort hit me this am. I'm not exhausted, just not too ambitious. Made bread, tidied up, and now just chillin'. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to check out the newly opened Soper Creek Yarn shop in Bowmanville. I planned on going today, but I'm really too whacked to drive. Anyway something to look forward to for tomorrow!

Oh, oh....DECEMBER!!??

Oh, oh, it's the first of December...time to get all the Christmas items taken care of. Cards to be mailed today, gifts to finish and wrap (I have typed 'warped' three times) , decorations to put up or put away...not a lot on first sight, but....it's all the other 'stuff' that has to be done too. Well, no time like the present (ha, ha, 'present' as in gift) to get going and get it done! Pitter, patter, let's get at 'er!

Christmas Cards, Fa la la la..la la laaaaa

So, having got out all the Christmas decs and wrapping, along with the cards, I started doing the Fa la la la things. Addressed all the cards, wrapped a few pressies and put up a few decs. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...." as the song says. I'm not going overboard with the decs because I's the one to put them away and that is a booooring job.
I must finish that pillow cover for the Jacky boy. All stocking stitch and kinda boring, but I can do it while watchin the Judge Shows. Man, I'm warped....love to see the dirtbags, asshats and bums get their just due! Judge Judy is my fave. She should rule the world! Nothing gets by her!
Well, back to my knitting and a cuppa. Fa la la la, ...la, la, la, la...Deck the halls with Boston Charlie, Nora's freezing on the trolley, fa, la, la, la,........

What The $$**@@!

Okay, annoyance factor going up here! It took me a couple of hours to get the internet going. It kept coming up cannot display page. WTF!!!!! I just fiddled around, wasted MY valuable time, until I got it going.

I RULE!!!!!

ARGGGGHHHHH! It's now almost 1pm and I have done some things, but am totally PO'd about this stooooopid machine! CPU? read Crappy Pissy Unit!

Later the same day: Deep breathing, another cuppa coffee and some knitting....calmed down now and will get on with my day. Got out the Christmas decs and other Christmassy things and now I'ma gonna dec-or-aaaate!

LOL - aka Lady of Leisure

I am a Lady of Leisure today. Just gonna sit an' knit. Have a pillow cover to finish for the little Jacky Boy(youngst grandboy) before Dec. 13th.

I have cleaned 4 houses, including my own, this week. Not really hard work, as I love the finished job...everything in it's place and looking serene. Am I a 'clean freak'? No, definately not, I just get off on the order and peacefullness of the whole thing. Okay, slightly freak-ish, but I believe that if your surroundings are neat and peacefull, your mind and body will follow. I do make quite a untidy area around where I am knitting, and crafting, but when I'm finished it's all cleaned up ready for the next mess.

Also, roasted a chicken, slow-cooked a beef roast, made chili con carne, processed other meats...all last evening so I am set for a while with ready-to- eat meals in the freezer and 'fridge. Would I say that I have earned a LOL day? Betcha boobs!

SNOWWWW

Well, we got hit with a good dumping of snow last night. Had to find the boots, the shovel, the mitts/gloves, so I could dig out the car. Wasn't too bad and I got on my way without too much trouble. When I got back home at 1:30 my neighbour had shoveled both our driveways! Yay for good neighbours!!!! I think I'll bake them a loaf of bread as a thank you. Now to get busy on that pillow cover for baby Jack.

SNOW!!!!!!!!

*********************************************************************

Aaaggghh! Our first real snowfall! Must admit it looks very pretty...the novelty will soon wear off, but for now, I'll just enjoy the view. Have to find all the winter gear so I don't freeze my tasty bits! I think I'll enjoy wearing all the nice knitted-by-me sweaters, hats, scarves and mitts. This just the kind of weather to get into my stash and start some Christmas knitting. So, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, let's turn the lights way down low, and let it snow, let it snow, let it snooowww.! **************************************************************************************

November -- Snow?

So, we are well into November, and had some snow--a mere sprinking--so now to get out the boots and toques! There are still leaves on the trees and the grass looks green still. Hard to get into the "Get ready for Winter" mode. Winter tires are now on the car, thanks to #1 son, and also oil undercoat. Isn't he a gooood boy? My girls are very good to me too. They look out for me and make sure I'm okay. I guess I did something right when I was raising them. Well, yeah their Dad did help too, shouldn't discount that. Now that the weather is turning chilly, guess I should start some indoor projects...toute suite!!!

Hello

Hello: Haven't posted in awhile, I have been busy with Mom and other personal things.

Plus, I don't have that interesting a life! LOL.

I've been busy Knitting for my sis in New Brunswick, so she'll have some pretty hats, scarves, and mittens to sell. People in Cambridge-Narrows, (which by the way, is a place you should visit in New Brunswick) are happy to have her Studio/Gallery to shop in, learn weaving from her. This is her at King's Landing in NB (again a place you don't want to miss) in costume and setting up a loom. She is soooo talented, I wish more people knew about her work.

So, today looks bright and sunny for November...I'm going to get me some outdoors today!

What?

So, I asked myself what did I get up to today? I did go out today with friends for lunch and some shopping...that was fun, but, I think I have too much time on my hands. Yes, I could sit and knit all day, but that's not as productive as it sounds. I need to vary my activities, not sink into a sitting posture for hours on "end". Well, what am I going to do about it? First, a plan...I love plans...to get real physical activity in my routine as well as the sit down stuff. Housework is a given, but not really a hard physical job. I think the morning is the best time for me to work out....soooo starting tomorrow (I mean it!) up at 6:30 am ....which means no TV after 10pm and in bed before 10:30pm....and an hour total on the rebounder, bike, walkfit, weights. You vill swett mein heren!! Und you vill luf it!!! We hef vays to make you hellthee. So, that's the plan, Stan. NOW DO IT!!!!!

Beautiful

Today is beautiful. I was driving around and it still looks like it's early Fall. Too bad I have to rake some leaves soon. I'm catching up on the knitting for Sis's Gallery in NB and so I'm using that as an excuse to not rake the leaves.

I had a visit with Brianne this am. She had an orthodontist appt. that her mom couldn't do, so I got to drive her there and back. She's growing up so fast! So well-spoken and cute for 12.

So now back to the knitting...click, click, click....

Old Friends

I have just come back from a lovely lunch with an old girlfriend I met ...I can hardly believe this...51 years ago at my first job out of high school. When we were just 18 we went to Bermuda and New York City for a total of 2 weeks. We were in each other's lives until marriage and moving around kept us physically apart. We had connected a few times over the last 30 years, but completely lost touch about 18 years ago, when I divorced and moved again. We found each other through Facebook and her daughter who found me and asked if I knew her Mom. Well, we, along with her husband and daughter went to lunch. Geez we better keep in touch from now on! We're both too old not to! Pushing 70 is not giving us a lot of time to fritter away!

Cleeening Woooman, Cleeening Woooman (Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (film)

Yep, I gotta get some deco done here in the ol' homestead. First tho' I gots to get me up offen the couch and clean up the mess I seem to leave behind me. I think I'm related to that little kid in Peanuts who walked around with a cloud of dust and dirt. Biggest thing for me lately has been that I'm easily distracted by ...oh the Rav site, my curren wip, the telephone... I have an incentive today....'cause tomorrow an old galfriend I haven't seen for decades is comeing by for a visit.....clean house, clean house, clean house! So guess I should get off the computer and actually do something!

Post Hallowe'en

So Hallowe'en is over for another year and now it's back to standard time. Turn the clocks back 1 hr. and what am I going to do with that hour? Probably sleep it away! I must finish my WIPs and clean up the hobby/craft room...again! That place is like a black hole in space. It sucks stuff into it and somehow they are never to be seen again! I think I should turn the dining room into my h/c room. Then, if I had to look at the mess every day instead of just closing the door, I would get more done and find what is missing. Oh yeah, like that's going to happen! I can hardly have a dining room on the second floor! Well, rethink and try something else!

Family

I've been away from the computer and not posting because I went to visit with my Mom in Toronto. She's 92. Her health is not good and she's getting more frail. My brother takes care of her at home, but he's getting overwhelmed with the responsiblity. So we arranged to have home help and ultimately she will go into full time care at a senior's facility. This a hard reality to face up to and none of her children (she has 6) really want to stress her with the fact that she is going to go to somewhere that is not the home she has lived in since 1940. Anyone who has had to go through with the placing of a loved one in care knows how hard it is. I keep telling myself that my feelings don't really matter....it's Mom's safety and health that takes top place in my heart. She won't like it, I'm sure, but she will get accustomed to being in a nice place where there is always someone to talk to....she has a lot of stories.....and we will visit with her a lot. Every day she will have someone visit her. I hope she doesn't give up when we have to take her there.

Sun?day

Not much sun today. I thought we were going to have a torrential downpour. It came down so hard while I was on the highway that I almost pulled over. It stopped as suddenly as it started. But then about 8pm we had THUNDER AND LIGHTNING! Scary stuff. I was living in the Barrie, Ontario area in 1985 when they had a tornado and I never want to be around that kind of weather again! The aftermath of that was like a war zone. So ever since then I am suspicious of the sort of weather that precipitated the tornado we had that day! I am now safe and sound in my little house in Oshawa, Ont. and the rain has stopped , the lightning has stopped and I'm happily knitting (again) my little green beret.

Rain, rain, go AWAY

Ya well it's been raining off and on all day, so I thought that it would be a good idea to catch up with the ironing that's been hanging around for about 2 weeks! Finished the eyeRonning and got somewhat creative and made 2 new pot holders to go with the new chair seat covers in the kitchen. That should have been easy, right? NOT!!!! I don't know what evil sewing gnome gets into that machine, but it would not sew properly....all loose stitches and breaking of the thread! But that evil G was not going to get the best of me! I finally got them done and they look so cute....hanging over the stove. Take that!!! you evil scum sucking sewing Gnome! Now if I have banished the little effer I will finally hem the curtains I made for the hobby/craft room. Now I will sit down and knit my leeetle buns off this evening. Sy on era!!!

Birthday Evening Out

Just got back from dinner out. My good neighbour and friend Collette took me to Kelsey's for my Birthday! Ahhh Beer and Food and Good Company! What could be better? We had a great time So, onward to another year!

Dancing

Guess who's comin' to my Birthday Party?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday to meeeee! (click on that)Yep today is ma Barfday!

I'm SIXTY FREEEEKIN' NINE!!!!!!!!!! How did I do that? In my head I'm a mature 18 year old! Got some really fun cards from my 'adopted' family....the Leayrods....Nya nya and Fart cards from the kids and a 'Church of Briantology' card from Brian. Sher gave me a sweet and funny card. Lotsa laffs. Oh and this am at 8 Gail and the kids sang Happy Bday to me! Who know what's gonna happen later?Happy Birthdat

Cording

EEEEK! I've discovered Cording. It's totally mindless and for some reason I'm smiling as I do it! What does this mean? I am finally brain dead?

WhooHoo

WhoooHooo! The weather outside is deeelightful today. Got to get out there and breathe in that sunshine. First I must clean up my act....like kitchen, bedroom, etc.

I am admiring the new seats on my kitchen chairs...did them myself and they look quite good if I do say so mahseluf! Got out my staple gun, my set of screwdrivers, scissors and went to town! It didn't take too long, about 1 1/2 hours, including clean-up. The first chair was the longest as I hadn't done this kind of thing before, and the 2nd chair was a breeze. Gee, I might do this again on other chairs!

On a down note...I completely ripped out the latest beret, it was ripped back somewhat twice, completed and it still didn't look right. So, I performed euthanasia on the poor thing. It would have lain in the drawer pining to be worn and that wasn't going to happen. Kindest thing? Undo it and do something else. The yarn will re-incarnate as a better item of knitting. Peace to you poor undone Beret.....you will come back as a better knitthing...Promise!

SNOW!!!!

Hey it is SNOWING here in Oshawa. And it is RAINING. And I guess Fall really has arrived. Oh well, maybe tomorrow the weather will be better.

Tuesday

Another great day in Ontareeaireeoooh! Lots to do....lots to NOT DO!

Cosy

Here's a tea cosy

isn't it too Kitchy?

.

Clean

Finally!!!! The hobby/work room is sorted!!! Now I should be able to actually do some work in there. The Scrapbooking materials are still taking up more area than they neeed to, but that shouldn't pose too large a problem, as it can be stored in a better way.

I solemnly promise NEVER to let the mess take over again! Good....In the sight of God and all those gathered here today...I now pronounce me an organized knitter/scrapbooker/crafter and tidy room.

Sunday

Today the weather is again beautiful....I'm driving to Bowmanville to help my friend Beth and on the way I'm stopping in to give #1 daughter the cardigan I started in Feb.

SOME TIME LATER: Daughter loves her cardigan and was/is planning to wear it to her office tomorrow.

Craft Day

Today I went to the Bowmanville Apple Fest with 2 of my girlfriends. Wow, it's a lot bigger than the last time I was there, many years ago. So many beautiful crafts and fresh food. Then we went to the Taste of the Country at the GM Centre. Again so many talented people! I bought some things at both places and I very happy to have started (continued ) my Christmas shopping.

True Confessions

I confess....I bought more yarn today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will use it ...Proooomise!!!!

HATS

I am knitting HATS....my sis needs them for her Gallery in New Brunswick. Don't I look cute!?

Great Site For Kids

I have discovered a great site for children. It has been designed for Autistic children, but it really is suitable for all children. It's called Zac Browser. Find it at http://www.zacbrowser.com.

Errands and Shopping

PHEW! I got a lot done today. Took the car in for an emissions test so I could get my licence plate renewal and got my picture taken for my new driver's licence. Went to get it Tuesday after voting and as I was in line for about 5 minutes I thought I'd get out the papers and make sure I had everything in order. To my chagrin..I had missed the notice that my car needed an emissions test. Scooted out of there (thank goodness I hadn't got to the front of the line)and went immediately to Cooper's..(the BEST auto service place in the world!) and they booked me in for 9:00am this morning. so I could go back and give the government my $$$$ for the privilege of driving. It was beautiful outside so I went for a drive to my local Michael's and Wal-Mart and of course bought some more yarn and a few groceries from WM. I should have gone for a walk, but the hobby room was calling out for some more organization and I have made some inroads on the mess. I SWEAR I will never let it get so messy again!!!! Ya, ya, I know, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, but THIS TIME I MEAN IT!!!!!! ;o)

I Voted

I voted this a.m. and I hope my vote will mean something. You know it takes everyone doing their part to make a difference in this country. I want a great place to live in for my children, their children, and their children....on into the future. We need to be more active in this great country in the way we treat our earth and air. I want to look down from heaven (hopefully) and say, "Yup, they are doing good down there."

VOTE

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE Get out and vote today!

Cleaning

I'm feeling verrrry virtuous right now...I have actually cleaned up my bathroom vanity! Even thrown out all that OLD cosmetic stuff (I can't say how old some of it is/was) and I won't EVER let it get that bad again! So, time now for a coffee and Knitting!

MONDAY

Happy Thanksgiving Day Canada! Most of us celebrated TG day yesterday and are now lazing around thinking of the leftovers in the 'fridge and asking yourself "Do I feel hungry today? Well, punk do you"? LOL Hunger does not enter the equation...leftover turkey and dressing are good anytime, anywhere, hot or cold. So, go for it people. Then wash up and pick up the needles to knit a 'one size fits all' something so that you will feel good about yourself....after all one needs refueling when you are knitting!

God's Blssings on Everyone...Remember..He provides and you will always have enough!

Weekend Off

Hi: I have taken some time away and will be back after Thanksgiving (Oct. 13) ;0)

THURSDAY

Hmmm...Thursday..looks like a good day. Going to visit with my friend Sher and go for coffee at the new Zeller's. What more could a girl want? A friend, coffee, and the possibility of shopping. Got to check out what is available in the yarn department. So, I'm off to a great day! ;o)

Wednesday

Hi..Just a short note today...got to catch up on the House work as the Bedroom is getting scary! I am getting verrrry lazy about keeping up with the everyday cleanup. Too wrapped up in the fun stuff, like knitting, cooking, looking out the window at the garden (don't actually want to WORK in it!), and playing on the Computer. Oh, oh, seems I need a boot in the derriere to get up and get going! Well, heeeeeres yer BOOT! b! (that's supposed to be a boot) Gotta go ...pitter patter, let's get at'er!