Taking a Break

MY MOM waving to all my friends in Blog World.


I'm taking a break from posting as I will be visiting with my Mom over the weekend. Looking forward to having a good time with her. Catch up with y'all when I get back. Cheerio!

The SUN, Boss, the SUN!!!!!!!

Does anyone remember Fantasy Island with Ricardo Montalban? In my head I am saying ...Faahntassseee Eyelaaandd; and RRRReecarrrdo Montaaalbaaahn. His aide de camp was a little fellow (no disrespect) named Herve Villechaize and he would always say "the plane, boss, the plane!" He was always soooo happy to see that plane! Well I am soooo happy to have seen the sun . The sun shone the WHOLE DAY!!!!! I could hardly believe it, as hour after hour, the rain STAYED AWAY!!!!!
I got so much done. Mainly my friend Sheldon (he's the 16 year old son of my friend Tammy) got a lot done with regard to the unwanted inground pool that was developing in one area of the garden. After he dug a hole and put 3 bags of sand and 3 bags of stones, then put mulch over it it looks like the pool will have to say Adios, Sayonara, Au revoir, Cheerio, So long and Gooooooodbye! After he left I did some more gardening and got to be a 'dirty girl' in the best sense of the word! I am tired, but happy and perhaps if the sun deigns to shine tomorrow I could consider sitting on the deck and admiring the results of all the hard work we did. Aaaaand I will take pictures for your edification and delectation. Good night and Sweet Dreams to all my kind, generous, funny blog friends. <3 <3<3 (those are little Love hearts)

Looking for Noah and His Ark!

This is my second post today, something I don't usually do. Explanation follows.
This morning and into the early afternoon it was a perfect day to be outside in the garden. (See my previous post) I got a lot done in about 2 hours, which is my limit to do physical work. So, then I thought I'd reward myself by having lunch on the deck and admire my handiwork. About an hour into the eating and admiration, the skies clouded over and a little sprinkle of rain starts. "Oh well" I thought, "into every life a little rain must fall and you've at least sat outside for awhile."
Did I day a "little" rain. Oh my goodness! It turned into a thunderstorm and the rain was coming down so hard I couldn't see outside my windows. After about 1/2 hour of this, something told me to put on my boots and go check the area under my living room window. I'm so glad I did, as the rain was starting to pool and it wasn't running off. Now this wouldn't be too much of a problem, except that it was getting dangerously close to the vent for fireplace in the basement family room.
I should explain. The fireplace has a vent behind the fireplace doors, in front of the place where one would burn wood. This is to pull in fresh air to keep the fire going. Of course there is a proper chimney for the smoke and some of the gases to escape. The aforesaid vent is somewhat like the dryer vent you would have in your house. It goes to the outside wall and is covered by some metal mesh and a little hood. It should have been put higher on the outside wall, but as I am not the one who had it done, c'est la vie. (I'm the third owner) I could see that all this rain water was going to go down the vent opening and then into the fireplace and make all the bricks damp and perhaps even cause water damage to the floors and walls. I think that has happened before but not to a great extent, as in past years the hearth would feel a little damp which I put down to it being a basement which sometimes gets humid.
Well, I got the spade out of the shed and started to dig a trench to drain the water.
By this time I was sinking into the mud and of course soaked even with rain gear on. I kept digging and finally the rain let up, and the trench did its job of draining the water away from the vent. While doing this and thinking how to remedy this on a permanent basis, I had an inkling of how terrible it must have been for our soldiers in the First and Second World Wars to be digging trenches in the rain and losing their horses, equipment and most horrible of all, their friends to the sucking mud. Also I have so much more empathy for people who are in extreme conditions of flooding and must fight for their lives and their homes. My boots were sometimes stuck and it was difficult to move, but I could extricate them after only a little effort. I did not let myself, after getting that epiphany, even think for one second that I was being hard done by. Rather, I was thankful that I had the energy and tools to divert the 'flood'. I was also thankful for the nudge or premonition that took me outside so that my little disaster would be fixed.
If you've taken the time to read this far, I thank you.
Also I would like to say, if you spend your time thinking of how unfair God and the universe is to you, God and the universe will only hear the "unfair" part and you will get more of the same. If you can, think instead of the blessing God gives you. "As you think, so will you be".
Keep smiling my friends and "Just Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" (those of you born in the 40's will remember this song and the Andrew Sisters)

Here Comes the SUN

Carpe Diem.....Seize the Day.
<---This little guy is the closest to a Sunny picture that I have. He makes me want to break in to song..."Here comes the suun, dah dah dada, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right". If you are a Beetles fan you'll remember that one.
Yep, the sun is out and I'ma going out to work/play in/on the garden...again! So, enjoy the sun if it's out where you are, or look forward to it coming out soon. Gotta gooooo.
::here comes the sun, here comes the sunnn.....lalala::

Rain ,Rain, Go Away

This is what I want to see. Sandy Beach and Sun. It's raining and raining and raining...I am developing webbed feet and fingers. Of course, the grass and flowers, etc. love all the moisture. I suppose I could dig a hole in the garden step into it and pretend to be a plant. Hmmm...what flower would I be? Lavender (my favourite scent) Daisy, Peony, Petunia, Forget-Me-Not, Wild Rose. I think Wild Rose.
Well, all this rain is forcing me to stay inside and do .....aggghh! housework. Nah! House work is Evil and should be banned! I did put some bread in the Breadmaker this am and the house smells good. There are some scrapbook projects I could finish. Well I'll get off my leeetle you know what and go do something. Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.
Some definitions of Rain: (courtesy of Knitwych on Ravelry)

Rainsneeze: Not enough to qualify as a shower, but enough to make the dogs go “WHAT? Pee in the rain!???? We’re calling PETA!”

Rainfart: Is when the skies darken oh so ominously but only three drops of rain fall and they evaporate before they hit the ground.

Rainpsych: Which happens when the skies darken oh so ominously, thunder rumbles in the distance, and the skies flash with lightning, prompting you to race outside to roll up vehicle windows, snatch the laundry off the line, pull the patio chairs up under the eaves so they won’t blow away, and then nothing happens at your house.

A Tribute To My Mother

This is a recent picture of my Mother who is in her 93rd year. She has some health issues, but, overall she is, for her age, okay and eats well, with a good appetite. She's able to get around with help and lives with my youngest brother who has help from "Access To Care" several times a week. I visit her usually on weekends. I will be visiting her next on the last weekend of July. We have our 'moments' of dissension and I must admit that I get impatient with her sometimes even when I know I shouldn't.
This evening I was on a knitting site and happened on this poem. It brought tears to my eyes and a poke to my conscience. I will be 70 a few weeks after she turns 93. I'm not too far from being a Crabbit Old Woman.

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Crabbit Old Woman

What do you see, what do you see?
Are you thinking, when you look at me-
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice,
"I do wish you’d try".
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding the long day to fill.
Is that what you’re thinking,
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes,
nurse, you’re looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who loved one another-
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now, a lover she’ll meet,
A bride soon at 20- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At 40, my young ones have grown and are gone,
But my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn;
At 50 once more babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I’ve known.
I’m an old woman now and nature is cruel;
'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joy, I remember the pain,
And I’m loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman; look closer - see Me.
* *this poem is attributed to Phyllis McCormack**
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If you wish to read a little more about this poem here is the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabbit_Old_Woman

Also check out the References at the end of the information. They make good reading.
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Tell someone today that you love them and really mean it. Put an action to those words and do something for them that will show how much you care. A gift of your time is the most precious thing you can give. It says that the recipient is worthwhile to you. A kind word also goes a long way.
I'm typing this very late at night because after reading the poem I couldn't wait until the morning to post it. Now I can go to sleep and be at peace.

SKILLZ

I don't know about the Dance Skillz, but I think I have downloading skillz today. I have a new (to me) digital camera and I finally took the time to figure out how to download the pictures I've taken into the Laptop. I was able to finally post pictures of two of my finished projects onto my Ravelry Projects page. I am very pleased with myself as I made my brain work for it's living today.
So, dear friends that's it for today. Have a good evening and sweet dreams 'till sunbeams find you, sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you.

Oh P.S. this means that pictures of my garden will be forthcoming....aren't y'all buzzily with excitement? LOL

Who Are You and What Have You Done With Ann of Green Cables?

I don't know who this woman is that has been cleaning my house! She just showed up yesterday and started by dusting, vacuuming and tidying up the 'lower level' (aka finished basement) and today she did the same to the main level. It looks and smells so pretty. I hope she shows up again to do the second floor.
I think I caught a glimpse of her in the now shiny clean mirrors. She looks suspiciously familiar. Hmmm....reminds me of my Mom....oh Heavens to Murgatroyd! It is Meeeee! Well, guess I can't disappoint myself, so tomorrow I will finish upstairs.
There's only me to mess up my little house and boy, can I do a good job of that! I do the everyday cleanup, but sometimes the dusting, etc. gets left in favour of getting outside in the garden (pictures coming soon!). Or, even getting on the laptop and catching up with friends old and new. Ah, the Lazy Me...sometimes she just takes over. Well, today I think she's not in sight...probably still napping in the bedroom.
So, now the weather has cleared up I just might go outside and survey the 'back 40'. Have a great weekend to all. ;o)

This Could be My Garden

This 'could' be my garden.....if I lived on Vancouver Island and I owned Buchart Gardens! It's good to have a goal, and although I know my garden is never going to look like Buchart's I can aspire to get close to it. My friend's son is working hard and the weeds and dead plants are being bagged (10 so far) so when all the cleaning up is done I can replant and divide up some of my perennials.
So, I think I will have some pictures of my own to put up in a few weeks.
Ahhh, the excitement builds! How will it look? Will Buchart's be all jealous? Stay tuned folks....all will be revealed in good time!

Where is Summer?

Here we are in mid July and it still feels like Spring, not Summer. Now, don't get me wrong, I like the weather to be "liveable" around 75F (I don't use Celsius, so sue me LOL) and a little breeze is nice. I would like to go swimming in my neighbour's pool or at the beach, so could 'the powers that be' PLEASE get the weather up to par so it feels like summer?
No more whining, about the weather. I'm not up to much today, a wonky stomach....probably my body's revenge for eating those fantastic, tastey cookies I had after supper. Won't admit how many, but obviously I can't eat that many again! Oh, pain and nausea are such good deterents aren't they? I've learned my lesson (again!) that I can't undulge like that anymore.
Now, after some ginger tea and a banana, I'm off to the great outdoors....my garden to pull up some weeds and wage war against the squirrels and chipmunks that invade the bird feeders.
So, my friends, take care..........and stay out of the Cookie Jar! (at least for today ;o) )
3:00 pm: I'm going to post pics of my garden when all the renovations have been done. Right now it's all dug up and kinda bare looking. My intention is to separate and replant the Hostas, the Tiger Lilies, the Peonies, and the Irises on the little hill at the back of the yard. So, my friends something for you to look forward to!

FAMILY

It is a beautiful day here in the "Great White North" and the start of a great weekend.
I'm off to visit my 93 year old Mom, who still lives in her own home, in Toronto,(since 1940) with the help of my 'baby' brother and Community Access to Care helpers. She has health issues (who wouldn't at 93), but she does her best to get around with her walker and wheelchair. I'm confident that we will have a great visit. It's my goal to take her for a 'wheel' around the block if the promised rain doesn't interfere.
Thought for Today
Look for positive things and positive people and you will find them.
Look for negative things and negative people and you will find them.
The choice is up to you. My choice is positive every time!

FRIENDS

I have recently been fortunate to link up with new friends, via their blogs. I have Marcy to thank for that. Their blogs are listed on the page for you to tap into and perhaps you will make some new friends as well. I can't remember exactly how I found Marcy's blog, Blessings Each Day, but I believe she was a gift from our Maker and I appreciate that gift more than words can say. Please check out all my links and perhaps you will be blessed as well.
The picture I've posted today is of two of my favourite little sweethearts. They were brought together through me and they are fast friends. My hope is that their friendship will last a lifetime.
It's a beautiful day here in Oshawa, and now I'm going outside to enjoy my garden. By that I mean actually sit on the deck and enjoy the view which is now minus 90% of the weeds. Sunday should be a day of rest as it says in the bible, and I'm not one to argue with God. There would be some bad consequences I think. LOL ;o)

I Love My Garden.. buuut..

First, you should know, this isn't what my garden looks like. It's what I WISH it looked like, it's what I WANT my garden to look like, buuuttt, right now I'm still playing catchup with the weeds that want to overtake my garden. It's either been too hot, too rainy or perhaps the 'Lazy Bug' bit me, but I am nowhere near getting the garden where I would like it to be. Well, you say to yourself "if she wants to get the garden in shape, why is she posting here instead of being outside?" Answer: I'm taking a lunch break and then it's back outside. I'm just being a wuss and complaining (a little). I really do enjoy getting out there and riiiippping out those nasty weeds and I like the clean look it gives to the yard. I will be getting some help next week in the form of the 16 year old son of a friend who wants to earn $$$$ to help him go with his class, next year, to visit France and WW I and II historic sites. So, enough complaining, go out now silly girl and do the work. (Tell yerself it's FUUUNNNN!) LOL

IT'S CANADA'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Happy Canada Day to all! This our 142nd Birthday! This is a great country and we welcome you to celebrate with us. To all who have sacrificed to keep us safe and free, THANK YOU. We owe you a debt that can only be repaid by constant vigilance to keep our country free. That vigilance must be tempered by a sense of justice. To those in the world who use terror to subdue their people, shame on you. Whatever your beliefs, know that this world's possessions will turn to rust and when you meet your maker you will answer for your deeds.
LONG LIVE FREEDOM!!!! LONG LIVE CANADA!!!!