New Year's Eve 2017

So we have come to the end of 2016, a year full of surprises and not all of them good. However we all soldier on, living our lives the best way we know how.  This morning, before 7 am, I've made cheesey cauliflower soup and hemmed Hubby's new pair of pj's. Both of us are so short, we have to hem everything !! So that's two more items off my list.

We thought we would be alone tonight, but because the maternal grandmother has the flu, we will have YGS here tonight. As I feel I have cooked all week[ well I have been ! ] I mentioned hot dogs and Hubby said that would be good ! So hot dogs it is for our New Year's Eve meal with sone raw veggies and maybe ice cream for the YGS. When I think of how we used to plan meals/ go out, it seems quite comical to me. I guess the older we get, we realize that it is just another day. The only important thing is that we have to remember to write 2017 !

Early this evening, I'll. Phone my sister. She was supposed to be having knee replacement surgery this month, but has come down with shingles !!  I might phone the other one, it all depends on how I feel or remember later on. She is a sister that although she demanded gifts for her kids, never sent ours gifts. I made sure I sent gifts for her granddaughters, although she hasn't seen them for decades. She has never even sent a card for their births ! Once my mother died, actually even before, her extended family was not important to her . Now she is a widow and has been alone for 5 or 6 years. Her son has just moved back home with his ex wife. They divorced after 4 months of marriage and 25 years later are back together. Living in her basement !! so now she has family around her again which is a good thing although she has become a grandmother to another family.  I am sure, in fact we know, that her friends do not think we are very good to her, but they do not know the whole story. Everyone will praise her, not realizing what she has done to the family for years. So be it.... We know the truth.

Later today, Hubby will do the laundry and I want to flip the bed before we remake it. The floors and dusting need doing so I'll tackle that while he goes out to get peppercorns, hot dogs and hot dog buns !1 Whoo hoo exciting !!  We'll settle in to watch the WJH game at 1:30.  An exciting day ahead !

Final Friday

Final Friday of 2016, that is . I'm just sitting down now after a busy time in the kitchen. There ended up being 24 cups of turkey pot pie filling. The pastry was stretched to make four pies which are now outside freezing. I'll keep three and send one over to the kids. One day I'll learn how to make good pastry; it is always hit and miss with me probably because I make it so seldom. The six egg whites leftover from the Creme brûlée were made into macaroons. When I was cleaning out a kitchen cupboard I found an Easter Egg. So some of the macaroons were plain, some with the egg and smarties and the last third  has dehydrated sour cherries. Quite tasty. I think I am done baking !!

Hubby was working in the basement today. Not for long, but a little bit everyday will get it done.He's had a week off so he better put in some time the next week !

I'm alternating between the quilt and the poncho. I'll have to scour the TV guide to see if there is anything to watch  tonight . I may end up reading to keep awake !

Shopping

Today was the day I went shopping !!  Out of all the females in my family, I am the only one that does NOT like to shop !  However I had gift cards to use.......and I haven't had a new winter coat in 15 years +  I can't remember how long ago I bought the coat which I have loved wearing.  It is so worn at the sleeves etc, it looks dirty.  So off I went .......

On Tuesday ED decided she needed a new bed as hers was 24 years old. Initially she was going to go to Leon's but I said, no - Let's go to Sleep Country. It took quite a while because  there were  several beds/ firmness she tried out. There was no pressure from the salesman and she got a heck of a deal !! The bed is to arrive on Friday. I treated her to lunch at  our favourite Vietnamese restaurant. I had ,earlier in the winter ,said not to let me go another season without buying a new coat ! So she said she'd pick me up today at 10:00........and she did !!

Found a coat by Anne Klein, a white long sweater, a blue long top, a white blouse, and a pair of socks !! For only $8.33 out of pocket ! Then we trundled over to Michaels and I bought 3 different lots of wool for poncho/shawls. I still have money left on my gift card ! Then to the bank and onto Superstore for bread etc. Picked up a few things that were on sale. Can't pass up a sale when you have the money !

The first two rows are joined together and they do look lovely. I've started a poncho for me with the factory mill ends wool to try out the pattern. It's a dusty blue with some flecks of red.  I finally figured out the proper colour of the tartan shawl - Heather !! I can hardly wait to wear it to school.

Tuesday we had BLT's. YS came home earlier than I expected because he said he was sooo bored. Last night we had small steaks and tonight  one of our favourites, creamed turkey on toast.  I tried Jamie Oliver's Brussel Sprouts recipe and it was quite good. YS really liked it so I'll make it again.We still have loads of turkey , cheeses and veggies to use up. In fact we haven't touched the cheese at all. I find every year we eat less and less. And not just us old people, which is a good thing !

I actually slept in til near 7 this morning.  I think knowing that I have a whole other  week to relax is quite freeing.  I just saw a. Poncho on the tv and know I have one nearly identical. Now what have I done with it ?/ Guess I'll hunt for it tomorrow !! It gets quite cool in some of the classrooms at school.

Now that everything is pretty well over- we don't go out for New Year's at all; in fact I think we are babysitting, I need to make a list of things that need doing.  I'l do that tomorrow morning.

A Day To Relax

Ahh The big day is all done and dusted ! Yesterday I stripped the turkey and made broth, skipped the fat off the made gravy and in the jar with the turkey juices and combined them. The delicious is now delicious . I somehow rearranged the fridge and got everything in ! LOL  Gifts have been put away and the decorations gathered up. And the filthy kitchen floor was washed ! I certainly spilled a fair number of things making Christmas Dinner !!

This morning I made turkey soup and then beef soup with the leftover roast beef and gravy. I managed to freeze  two servings of roast beef and gravy for later use. I'll package up some soup to make its way to the kids house.

ED came over  in the late evening to sit in the hot tub. Her back is in bad shape. Hopefully she had a good sleep last night and is on the mend. ES and YGS. Weren't able to go over to W's house as she went into emergency with her back. He'll phone later today to see how she is. I suspect, as she had a new kitchen put in, that the 4 days she spent organizing and putting things away, did her in. ED cleaned her fridge and that is what did her back ! Lesson-- don't clean and organize !!

Hubby had to go out and sweep the snow off the hot tub and clean the steps and  deck. He opened the top for her as that would have been too much of a strain on her back. Lots of pain there.

The  maternal grandparents loved the stockings that Liam gave them. I'm sure they would have been thrilled just to see Grandma and Grandpa  written on them. They will be off to China in the new year.
This was the first year that ho mention was made of the egg donor at all. It is as if she no longer exists.

Today I'll dust the floors upstairs and tidy up the closet.  Then it will time to relax !! Joining the rows of blocks is going to be a long task. It is taking me forever to join the first two !! Maybe it is because I  have been working on it for so long  and I'm getting tired ! But as all there is on tv is hockey [ everything else is a repeat ! ] So I'll soldier on.

YS should be home later this night. He only had to house and pet sit for two days.
The sun is shining brightly and the temps have warmed up. Hubby has just gone to check his lottery tickets and gingerbread houses. They certainly have not come down enough in price for us ! We'll have to keep an eye on them.

Another pyjama day I am thinking ! :)

A Very Good Day

I've just eaten some leftover gnocchi with prosciutto that somehow made it home with me last night. All the veggies are prepped ready to be cooked, the turkey is in the oven and the Creme brûlée is ready to eat ! ED, ES,YS, YGS and Hubby have gone to see Rogue One so it is blissfully quiet !

Yesterday all the family but Hubby and me, went to eh watermark. They spent 5 hours there !! Needless to say there were a lot of tired people on Christmas Eve. There were whiteout conditions on the highway on the way to YD's house but thankfully it is only about 20 km. YGS's other grandparents came and they are becoming more and more comfortable. A gave me a beautiful work shawl from Scotland. She said when she saw it, she thought of me and Outlander ! it is gorgeous . EGS and GD were surprised and shocked about their trip to Disneyland. They had never questioned the money they received, just said thank you ! then they 'got it' spending money ! They left early this am for 5 days.

It is cold here and windy. Again I am handful that we just had to travel to Ed's in the next subdivision. Everyone got that which they wished for, and a little bit more.  The amount of gifts YGS received was incredible, especially the trunk load he came home with after visiting his other grandparents !! We had a nice breakfast, packed up  and I came home and started prepping. It was a very nice, simple day and I know that supper will be good, with all our favourites. One could not ask for anything more !

I Think I' Ready !!

Today's was a bit of a marathon ! The first thing I did after waking up at 4 am was to clean the oven !! Now isn't that Christmasy ! Hubby put batteries in the downstairs smoke detector  yesterday . When he heated the oven at supper, the alarm went off !! Yes, it did need cleaning. Not sure what had shattered so badly as it wasn't long ago that I cleaned it.

After the oven, I wrapped all my gifts and put the stocking stuffers  into named bags. We'll transfer them later tonight into ED's car and they'll put them in the stockings. Then I started baking; shortbread, butterscotch square, peanut butter bars and Creme Brûlée . There were pears that we're going soft so I poached them in a mixture of pomegranate and blueberry juice. They smell nice and will go nicely , I think, with the Creme Brûlée .

The dough is in the bread maker for dinner rolls which YS will finish whenever he gets home. I did Deviled Eggs and Taco cream cheese spread.I'm bringing some Red Onion Marmalade with Port to go with the rolls and cheese. We're expecting to go to YD's around 5:30. All the kids and grandchildren are at the water park. I know they expected to leave by 2, but it doesn't look like that happened. They must be having a good time !! ED put her back out yesterday and planned on relaxing in the hot tub and lazy river. Hope it helps ! At least this year she won't be  wrestling with a turkey !!

The snow started last night and hasn't quit ! A neighbour used his snowblower and did the city sidewalks, but you'd never know it. YS shovelled this morning and he'll have to shovel before we leave.

The plan tomorrow is to go to see Rogue One in the afternoon. I have no interest so I'll cook dinner and relax !! Turkey, Stuffing balls, Mashed potatoes, Turnip, Butternut squash ,Brussel Sprouts, Brocolli and Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries and bacon, Cruidites, pickles and Olives, Creme Brûlée and Christmas Baking.  Breakfast will be with ES and ED at their house.


Christmas is here !

A Week To Go

One more week !! At least it is supposed to be milder so the kids can go out to play. They were sent out for morning recess and lunchtime, but had to come into the school off the buses. You see, parents don't always dress the kids properly so we couldn't let them stay out in the cold.

Last Sunday I did not get any baking done. I always underestimate the tine it takes me to do the stockings. I keep adding more details ! However they were well received. L's husband couldn't believe that I had actually hand knit them . Well knitting is something I do very quickly because I have done it for so long. Now I should put all my supplies away. And wrap gifts, and bake and decorate and.....

Last week was very long at work. Having the concerts the first week makes the second very difficult ! this week, there could be carol singing, parties etc which means it should go a little quicker. The ' EA' has bee noticed leaving 40 min early for lunch, just as she always used to do. So infuriating.  I am sure she is laughing at the rest of us who put in a full day's work, or even more.  Who do work at home  and plan and prepare. Her lies are growing. She talked of being on a special diet before her colonoscopy--- yeah right. Again she keeps telling the RN who has also had  the procedure. One of the problems that the three teachers she works with do not want her in their classrooms. They also figure that as a responsible adult she should do what is right ; not take off from work. My hubby figured out that she has probably gypped the taxpayers  of around $80 000. Just thin if there is one like her in every school !! She tells Teacher A she is with Teacher B, and Teacher B she is with Teacher A. Over 20 years of this !

I finish the last row so now I start to sew them together. Just have to figure out the best way to do it Which to me. Means fastest and easiest.

Today we went grocery shopping and picked up another turkey  At $0.95 a pound. You cannot get a cheaper protein. The Hubby and YS went to p I know up an electric fireplace for the basement. Course he can't use it til he finishes the place. So that was his Christmas present, done and dusted. Later YSA cleaned the lights downstairs for me, taking the globes down and washing them. Then he pried the rubber tiles off the hot tub deck and we brought then in to get off all the ice which had built up. So we have been busy, but aside from a banana bread in which I put dehydrated sour cherries, no baking was done.

Menus have been planned. I need to write up a list of last minute things for Christmas Day  like radishes, green onions etc. I bought a large amount of Brussel Sprouts ! Some of us really love them ! I am thinking that I might make Creme Brûlée for dessert. I've never made it before, but I did buy some cute little bowls for the dessert !

We have warmed up, but the wind is horrendous. Freezing rain maybe tomorrow. I hope not as I want o pop into Walmart to look for some heavy socks for the guys. Other than that, I guess the shopping is done !

I've just popped the potatoes around the roast so it's time to have my shower before supper is ready. Another week of school awaits !

So much To Do !!

It's 4:45 on a Sunday morning, but I couldn't sleep any longer so I thought I might as well get up. The coffee is made, the dishes done, butter out softening for baking and rags at the ready to wash the floor ! The temperature is supposed to be whatever with a windchill of -39* this am. We won't be going anywhere !

The best thing I did this past week was to use an old bag from wine in a box to use as a hot water bottle ! It is just lovely. OUr room is always cold in the winter so that. With piles of blankets and afghans have kept my toes so warm ! I look forward to getting into bed and resting my feet on the warmth.That bag is at least 25 years old. I used them camping that many years ago !! I may ask at work if anybody still buys wine in a box and then whether I could have their bladder !Sitting here at night my feet get cold so it would be even more wonderful if I could rest my feet on some warmth ! LOL

The second thing that I had never done before was to make soup using some leftover beef gravy. I watered it down, threw it into a pot after softening some onions. Added water, vegetables and the tiny bit of leftover roast. I added pot barley, hot sauce, and worstershire sauce and emptied some little packs of ketchup . Near the end I threw in some peas.It was delicious. And to hint I used to throw the gravy out ! Mind you it was a dee rich gravy.....

By posting the 5 stockings I had finished up last Sunday on FB, I got an order for 3 more !!  I knit like a mad fool ! So, yesterday morning, instead of starting to get the appliqués ready, I decided to downsize and make a small one for the teacher who placed the order for a friend of hers. Her friend really admire L's, and wanted to buy three - until she found out her ex hadn't paid some bills. L decided to buy them for her so I made her a small stocking for her cats !  This morning I should finish sewing up the stockings to be ready for tomorrow morning.

Today I want to wash some floors and make oatcakes, butterscotch square and sour cherry oatmeal cookies. Then I need to organize the prescription receipts and enter them into my health spending account to get all the 'handling fees' back. In between I need a shower !

It was so bitterly cold this week's we had indoor recess the whole week ! Looks like we'll start off with the same this week. Our resident nutty EA told a really tall tale this week.  She apparently said she went to ER twice as she thought she was having an allergic reaction to her mess. The third time she went to her Dr who told her that no, it wasn't an allergic reaction. It was because she had cancer somewhere in her body !  Sure that's what a doctor would say !  She told the w ring person who is an RN [ who stop laughing about it ] I am guessing she needs some more sympathy as she is not getting any from anyone. And her teachers are making her work hard. Paging her even to the classrooms !

The grandchildren ate up every bit of the Shepherd's Pie on Thursday night ! I thought I might have some left for school, but no not a mouthful was left. YD had had two concerts at her school so long days for all of them because it was 9 before she picked them up.

Time to get a move on to get as much accomplished today as I can !

Cold, Bitter Winter is Almost. Here !

The wind is beginning to pick up and the skies are darkening.  By this evening we're supposed to have snow with a windchill around the. _30* mark. The cold is sweeping down from Alaska . Oh yeah...... The last few winters have been fairly mild so we are not looking forward to the next ten days or so.  Yesterday we were up to 4*C and it was lovely. Now we're battening down the hatches. Winter clothing out and extension cords for the block heaters.  And the tea is on !

 It was a busy week. There were parent - teacher interviews, book fair and report cards. My assignment has changed. I'll be in a grade 7 French Immersion class so that'll keep me busy.WE have 3 straight weeks of school until  Christmas break, not finishing until the 23rd .The kids have not been the best behaved the past week, I can hardly w it to see what they'll be like this week. NOT !!

I am the one strange sister in the family; I do not like shopping. On Thursday night, YS and I went into a kitchen shop owned by a member of the baseball team. Beautiful high end wares. I was able to buy all my gifts for my chosen person. It was a ten % off night with wine and cheese. I remember being shocked when I asked for a total  and went and bought some more things !! They gave me 15% off the item and then 10% off the total ! [ and the wine and cheese were delicious.] Downtown Edmonton was beautiful with all the lights in the snow.

Saturday I tackled 4 Christmas stockings. Two for a sale and two for YGS's grandparents. YS is going to bring the two stockings into work... To people can see. Who knows I may get some new orders !This morning I tackled the last one, for ED's youngest dog. I've finished the sixth row of the quilt and have just started the seventh and last row.

Early this morning Hubby and I went grocery shopping .  We were able to pick up some Christmas gifts as well. The order was high enough that we were able to get a free turkey !! It is nestled in the homemade cooler on the deck that Hubby made. We've never used it in the summer, but it is a great thing to have for extra food in the winter. Hubby complains about prices, but we have a huge upright freezer that is stuffed to the gills as well as the fridge top freezer.  If Christmas was tomorrow I would be all set ! Except of course I would need some Brussel Sprouts ! Can't have Christmas dinner without the sprouts.

YS and I were talking about Christmas. We need our stockings, turkey, mashed potato  stuffing balls and sprouts. Everything else is just extra ! I've enough butter for a couple of batches of shortbread. Good thing I bought it weeks ago as the store was out. Problem with a supplier they said.

We're having our two eldest grandchildren for two or three days this week as sil is on a business trip. As we are not absolutely sure which days, the menu is flexible this week. GD loves shepherd's pie and I've a frozen meat lasagne ready to pop in the oven. If we have a third night, I'll meet meatloaf. Good thing I picked up two huge packages of ground beef. I need something that is able to sit as we have piano lessons, cheer and swimming practice ! Tonight we are having roast beef with roasted potatoes, corn and salad. I might even make a  butterscotch square. Tomorrow  it'll be leftover  roast. I'll throw in some chicken or sausages  for a couple of meals, maybe even some frittata although we had that for lunch this past Saturday.

Es just came over for a cordless drill. They are putting up their outdoor lights in this windy cold weather ! He said they've been running in and out of the house trying to keep warm !!

And for a bit of a laugh, YGS thinks his other grandfather is really boring !! However that man lost his father when he was seven and didn't know how to father. But we still think it is funny !

Busy Saturday

Yesterday just flew by !!! GD was the first up and ready to eat ! The last thing she said to me before going to sleep was what did I have planned for breakfast ! Usually I make waffles, but she didn't get up til after eight so that didn't happen. EGS decided to stay here instead of going home so Yd picked him up around noon. Laundry was done, my bathroom cleaned and the kitchen floor washed for the second time in as many days.

I finished a stocking, got the names on and fixed an error in the name of one I had done last winter. In English we write Maxine and in French Maxime. Then I thought I'd make two for the YGS's maternal grandparents so I'm nearly finished the names on them. A brain wave~~ one of my sons' friends has an emergency order to protect his daughter who has been hit by her mother. As she cannot be closer than 200 m, he keeps both children together and has a good lawyer from the same firm ES used. I'll find out today if the uncle wants to buy two stockings for them !  It would mean knitting one more and then names and appliqués.

I made another batch of Red Onion marmalade. It takes a long time, but I sure love it and I could give some to the maternal gps for Christmas .We had leftover ribs for supper. Well, Hubby and EGS did. He was very excited to have them again and ate more than his grandfather ! Today I'll make a big stew- remembering not to overlook it ! last time, I simmered too long and the meat almost dissolved ! I may do some baking, that will all depend on how the day goes.

The bed linen is to be stripped , washed and put back on. I want to cut out and sew the appliqués on at least two of the stockings. I like to have an assembly line going so the mess disappears  quickly !  My paper whites I bought and planted last week are growing gangbusters. We've had only one day of sun so that is quite amazing.

We still marvel how blessed we are to have YGS in our lives. He is charming, funny, polite, well behaved and loving. He was not that way when both parents were together. She had a weird way of disciplining and was great at undermining the other parent. Spoiled with trinkets, but not love.

So I guess I'll watch some more Longmire while I sew and sew and sew.

Home Base

This weekend, we are 'home base' for three of our children. Last night we had our celebratory meal to mark the three years that ES has had full custody of his son.  It was delicious and there are enough leftovers for supper tonight with a salad. Shortly after they left to go home, YD and SIL dropped off their two children after swimming practice. SIL was taking YD out for a surprise supper for her birthday.  One child had ice cream and the other a piece of the celebration cake !  Both went to sleep at their appointed time and are still in dreamland. They both have to be up, fed and dressed as one has cheer practice and lessons.

YGS has swimming lessons to which his maternal grandmother will take him. Then he has a birthday party after which he'll be here for a sleepover. It is a baseball night; bowling and laser tag.

ED appears to be having a good time at Gray Cup in Toronto. They will be exhausted when she arrives home on Monday as they put in 18 hour days !

Today I'll try and get the three stocking done. At least I'll finish knitting one and then get the names on. I may end doing the appliqués as well. We'll see because I do want to work on the quilt as well. I knit a fair amount at one session yesterday. I hope that is the last county wide PD day this year.  I need to put the ham bone on and get some soup made. Tomorrow I have stew planned.  Hubby will get the laundry done and we may even get some housecleaning done !


Onward and upward !

3 Years !

Three years ago today, the egg donor dropped of her son, ostensibly for a week, and has not been seen since. It was the best thing that could have happened to my son and grandson. We have celebrated the 25th of November as the start of their new life ! tonight we had ribs and chicken with fries, salad and chocolate cake !

We were so lucky and blessed !

Why are Short Weeks So Long ?

Why are short work weeks so long ?  The kids were loud and hyper on Wednesday, tired and cranky on Thursday and still out of sorts on Friday? Probably because  they stayed up too late, ate too much junk, played too many video games and a change in the weather. Hopefully this week will be better.

On Monday night we picked ED up from the airport. YS didn't even know we had left the house. She had no problem with customs and we delivered her and her suitcase with 8 bottles - 7 wine and one Port, home safely.Tuesday I got my haircut [ got my flu shot on Monday and boy was my arm feeling bruised for two days ! ] When I got home I started my dark fruitcake. I timed it so YS would be home from work to help with the final stirring. Just like last year, the wooden spoon broke !  The cakes took an extra 30 minutes to cook. probably because of the booze we used on the fruit !

I've another two stocking orders. I had one stocking already knit but needed to go pick up a red. While I was at the store I met the other grandmother. Now I really didn't have a whole lot of time to chat as Hub was in the car with the motor running so the fresh veggies wouldn't freeze. Yes, it is that cold. She no longer can make phone calls to her granddaughter. She has phoned and phoned, written e-mails but no answer. She has been sending the girl a care package every month. I am sure the amount is around $ 100 as she includes gift cards, books, clothing and games. Never has she received a thank you. She says one more smaller package and a Christmas gift and if there is still no acknowledgement, there will be only two gifts a year. I told her that the girl would look upon her as a moneybags... And she said yes and as a bad mother. She then told me that she had wanted to take 'the egg donor' to a psychiatrist when she was seven, but he husband wouldn't do it. But even back then, she knew that there was something wrong with her. She also said that if she ever came back to try and disrupt ES and YGS's lives, she would kill her ad willingly go to jail. She said she would not let her daughter ruin any other lives !! This she said in a normal voice in the store !!!

I made my get away because I had a lie of housecleaning and cooking to do for ES and YD's birthday dinner ! There was a lot of prep for a meal for 10 !! Hubby went to the swim meet to see EGS  who had 4 personal bests  of 6 races. His last race was 5:45 so I had to change when I put the ham into the oven. We had Baked ham, mashed potatoes, Brussell Sprouts,  different raw vegetables all cut up, devilled eggs  a ginger sesame salad, pickles and olives. Chocolate cake with two different ice creams for dessert.  I thought I had peeled and cooked enough. Potatoes to have leftovers for today . However EGS thought they were delicious and had two huge helpings. SIL also enjoyed them !! Fortunately there were a couple of tablespoons left for ED. ED arrived late as she had to wait for one person [ out of 24] to bring their beer for their beer Advent Calendar. She passed 3 big accidents on the way home, Yes, the roads were that icy.
Everyone was gone by 9 as YGD has a Cheer event today.






I'm on the 6th row of the quilt !! I've checked out what she of needles I need for the stocking so I've lots to do. I don't think I'll get around to making any Christmas runners. Today I am making Port Red Onion Marmalade. There was such a deal on red onions !! They sure were strong , though
!! My eyes were sure watering.

YGS asked his uncle yesterday when they were going to do their Gingerbread House so that is what they've started now. I think the kits are two years old ! We buy them after Christmas for 1/10th the price !  YS just picks up extra candy. He put two houses together and at this moment they are decorating.

We had ham sandwiches for lunch. Supper will be  hamburger patties and bootlegger beans for supper. I have to pack up the rhubarb apple sauce that I made. YS buys yogurt with apple and rhubarb so I decided to Mae my own as I always buy just plain yogurt. The rhubarb and apples were free so of course a cheap way to dress it up.

ED sent over her extra hair straightener for me. The older I get the curlier, frizzier my hair gets. We'll see how that goes. I am not a hair person. I'll wash my hair tonight and see what happens.


I've put the slipcovers on so the couches looks better. I can hardly wait to get new furniture.  Hubby has been working slowly on the basement.

We have a PD day on Friday. It's a county wide one which we all hate. !!

And so it begins !

And so it begins !! No, no , nothing political ! Hubby is starting to work on the basement ! Two years, or is it three > since the basement has flooded. I'll get the living room back ! I'll be able to get some new furniture !! I'll be able to put up a Christmas Tree !  Maybe not this Christmas , but next year ? Hubby is getting old so he can only do a little at a time. This is very hard for him to do. He likes to go gangbusters but he has finally realized he can only do a little at a time so he doesn't ruin his back. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Yesterday I got my flu shot, did some grocery shopping and popped into Value Village. My arm was sore last night though. I don't remember it being that sore in former years. Today I went and got my hair cut and have made my Christmas cakes done. Well they're still in the oven for another 40 minutes. This is the first time I've soaked the dry fruit in Sherry and cherry bounce, I'll have to see if that increases their cooking time. I've sliced the beef with garlic, fresh ginger, and soy for a stir fry this evening. Just have to put the rice on, slice the onions and peppers and bowl the salad.

I've mended YGS's backpack, planned the birthday meal for Saturday and worked on the quilt. Fall break is over. Tonight I must get out a baby afghan for a teacher at work and a safety pin.


I wrote a member of an Internet group that I have known for 12 or more years. She is a black woman living in Stockton California. She has not been vocal on FB, but I realized that from the posts she had liked, she was certainly not a DT supporter. so I wrote telling her how I felt, how the world felt with snippets of conversations ED had with others at the conference. There was silence for a couple of days so I thought that maybe I had misjudged ! She w rote me back saying that my letter had made her cry. She is frightened, her 8 year old daughter had wakened the next morning and when she heard who had won, she started to cry, saying ' He's going to kill us ! "  For all those that say they are not racist, but voted for DT , THIS is what they did !  The only pleasure I get is how there is a 'knife fight' or Game of Thrones going on with the transition team.

Last night we picked ED up at the airport. We park in a subway parking lot so we don't have to pay for parking which is absolutely atrocious. She is exhausted from the flight- from Lison to Munich to Toronto to Edmonton. But she was back to work this morning although she came home to sleep this afternoon.

Saturday we will celebrate ES's birthday with the whole family. I'll bake a ham with all the usual sides. On the 25th we'll celebrate YGS's start of his new life. It'll be 3 years since he was abandoned by his mother. He hasn't heard a word from her since. and that has been good.

Now I'll sit and enjoy a cup of tea and check on the dark Christmas fruit cake.

A Catasphrophe in the Making

As the world watched, Americans voted in a racist, bigotist, sexual predator, liar extraordinaire , cheater, vengeful uneducated, non reader president.  BUT he is going to make America great again. It ain't gonna happen. America hasn't been great since the Second World War, it only thinks it was.

ED is in Europe. She was having a meal with some Germans who were blown away by the fact that DT was running. " Did they not learn anything from us ? " they asked. Americans at the conference were horrified as much as the other international participants. In a marketing session, many countries were mentioned , but not the States. It w as as if they were closed for business.

Many Republican friends are the most vehement about 'others' criticizing their country. How bad is it that the Americans go to other countries as election observers and have  one of the worst election processes in the world ? Look at North Carolina ! Voter suppression ! Look at the long lines at polling stations. Why were there not enough polls ? Why were they made inconvenient  for voters ? They laugh and deride Canada, but we do do a few things correctly.

DT supporters picked and chose those parts of his rhetoric that suited them, sloughing off the others as campaign banter. They are in for a surprise. The coal jobs will not come back. The world is leaning towards clean energy. Do you think DT will help retrain the miners so they can have productive jobs in the clean air industry ? Oh right, he doesn't believe in climate change. It's a myth perpetuated by China.

Ten years ago , my Republican friends were hurting. They have bec one prosperous in the last few years. All but onwhoImightsay,lived a lifestyle with their huge boat and house which were heavily mortgaged. Sure, they still complained about prices going up etc etc, but so is the rest of the world. They complained about Obamacare, but they do enjoy having it. They  are travelling, redecorating and socializing in clubs and at concerts. They will not recognize the stats that Obama really did improve the economy.

I don't see greatness. I see hatred and fear and loathing. I do not want my grandchildren who will be moving to the states to be brougooht up in a culture that teaches them that their great uncle - a Canadian born Japanese is any less than any white man. That carrying a gun is normal.

There is an America out there that the world knows nothing about - and it is frightening. DT has given license for this America to do whatever they want in whatever hateful way they want.


How long will he be given ? Will the miners and factory workers still think he is the answer when the jobs don't materialize ? 'Cause the world has moved on. . Will they still think he can clear the swamp when they lose healthcare ?  the poorest voters are in Republican states with Republican governors. what have they been doing to help the poor and disenfranchised in their states? It is said that they want less government. Seems to be that the state governments haven't done anything to help them.


The world watches and waits.

The End Is Near

The end is near......the end of the American election, that is. YS and I are going to plunk ourselves here in this room, order in Chinese Food and colour in our maps ! It has been such a soap opera, but sadly this soap opera will deeply affect their country and not in a positive way . However as I have read so much and watched soooo much, I need to see it through to the end.

It is pouring rain today. the leaves on the birch tree are falling as fast as the rain drops ! Hubby owed the lawn one morning and by the time I got home the lawn was again completely covered with leaves ! We've been having some lovely warm weather. It is predicted to go up to 17* on Tuesday ! I'll take it !

Yesterday I finished the stocking for a former colleague . We went grocery shopping and the laundry w as done and put away. This morning  I've mended two tops, made an apple crisp for tonight, washed a couple of floors and back working on the quilt. I've also spent quite a lot of time  talking with ED in Lisbon. I sure enjoy the pictures and videos she sends and posts. My youngest sister has a meeting with a surgeon on the 17th about  her knee replacement. Good thing it w as her phone as we were on the phone for a long time.Watched The Crown which w as a very good series. I spent a lot of time researching things they had brought up in the program that I never knew.

School was as usual; the errant EA was as usual. Sloughing off, taking 50 min breaks !! It is unbelievable how quickly she fell back into old habits. But this week is a short week because of Fall Break and then next week is even shorter ! Only 3 days.  While on Fall Break I hope to actually do some housecleaning and I need to get my flu shot.Hubby got his last week.


Tonight is my night for tv so I'll soon put the roast on.

What a Bother !

It has taken forever to get onto the blog. Since I don't use the blog daily, I have no idea what went wrong !!

We are having a lovely autumn day; clear blue skies with a crispness in the air. After all the snow and cold, I an aged to get the tulips that my ED bought for me. Canada 150 are a white tulip with red markings at the bottom that look like a maple leaf. I still have quite a few plants that are still flowering. We are gradually getting the yard winterized. The most important thing was to get the winter tires on the car ! Two of our trees, the birch and the Evans cherry are still holding on to their leaves. We use the leaves as mulch on the gardens. Looks like hubby will be raking a lot more !

Three years ago was the start of our nightmare. As ES said, it some ways that seems so long ago. Less and less has YGS ever mentioned his mother. Right now he just misses the idea of having a mother.

ED is off to Spain and Portugal this week. As sil is now in Memphis, we are helping out with picking up kids and driving them to swimming.As we just got this week's schedule, I have to redo the menus as they'll be staying one night for supper.

I managed today to repair some jewelry. I think I'll have to go to Michael's and get some studs for my earrings. Don't where they've gone. I've also finally written a letter to an old colleaque; it's only taken me a month !One of my favourite tops somehow reappeared from the wash with a little hole. It must have been snagged by a zipper or something . I shouldn't have hung it up and p it it away in the closet because now I am too lazy to walk upstairs to grab it ! Next time I am up, I'll hang it on the railing so I'll remember to bring it down and stick it in the sewing room The quilt is coming along nicely. It is going to take forever though !

Tonight is lasagne and an apple crisp. We have to choose names for Christmas. We do want an early supper because all our shows are on tonight ! I'll watch PBS and then the rest of my shows I'll watch on demand.

Our 'errant' EA is supposedly coming back tomorrow for half days. We are taking bets as to how long she will last, or til the teachers decide that she can't do her job. Will be interesting to see what happens.

I'm still watching and reading about the American election. Not only was the last debate atrocious, but the charity dinner was absolutely awful !  Their future is grim.

I Just Don't Get It

I'm shaking my head in regards to the American Election. How could the GOP not know what Trump is ?? People all over the world knew; Canadians knew and have known for a long long time. Personally I could never stomach the man and I would think there were many in the GOP  who have felt the same way. Their good common sense was ignored because of their hatred for Clinton and the Democratic Party .

I have been shocked  with the Trumpettes and the surrogates. How easily they have believed every rumour about HC without proof ! How they wished she was killed. And now, with audio and visual. Proof of their leader boasting about his sexual power over women-- they don't care ! How do those Evangelical pastors reconcile their Christian beliefs with his tapes ? How can they preach the Gospel and accept his criminal behaviour ?

I just don't get it !

Too Soon !!

I feel like I am preparing Christmas Dinner instead of Thanksgiving !! We've at least 4 inches of snow on our deck and it is still coming down. Roads are wet, but the bridge decks are slick. Thankfully we are all in town and don't have to worry about travelling.[ But I should have dug my parsnips up on Thursday night :( ]
 
My ED is in Palm Springs where it is going to hit 36*C today !! Hopefully by the time she comes home the snow will have disappeared. She made such good friends when she travelled in Europe and ended up stranded in Budapest because of the volcano in Iceland. They still travel to events/ countries together.

YGS is spending two nights with his other grandparents. Last night they phoned ES to have him speak to YGS as he wouldn't eat the pizza he had asked for. This is so symptomatic of their relationship. They do not discipline him [ didn't discipline their daughter either] Part of that is that they want him to like them ! ES is going to speak to them about this. He is such a good boy because our family does discipline when warranted. As I said, as a mother and grandmother, I do not care whether I am liked or not. That's not my role/ job. I'm here to teach, guide and love. It won't be a surprise if he returns home tonight !  He's old enough and smart enough to ' play' them if they do not nip this in the bud !

Well, well. Isn't the American Election the biggest soap opera ?  IF anyone had written a book with all these scandals, no one would have bought it. It would have been 'too far fetched hed' Well folks, this is real life. This is the American sense of entitlement. This is the Evangalistic Christian outlook on life. Where are all these ' Christians'  decrying the debasement of women ? Where are these good men defending their mothers, wives, and daughters against this sexist, vulgar sexual predator ?  Where are these men declaring that they do not want their sons to treat women as DT does ?

Oh so now Pece is distancing himself ? When he previously has denied things DT has said  ? Which were on video, in print etc. He and the surrogates have lost all credibility. Pence's political career should be OVER. Forever !

 I finished all 28 blocks now I have to start cutting and basting the pink hexie fillers. In the meantime I have knit one stocking and halfway through another. I delivered the six I did for a colleague who was very pleased with them, very pleased. One of the EA's came over and asked where I found the pattern. Never seen her move so quickly ! I said it was MY pattern !!  Now if she wanted to, she could google it. Or she could buy one and figure it out as I have done with other patterns. No way am I giving 'my' pattern away !

GD is coming over for the afternoon so I got out some glitter pens for her to play with. I've got one pair of pants to mend and on Monday I'll tackle the jewelry mending. Today I'll finish the floors, knit , read and relax !

And Boom !!! It's October !!

While some of the days in September dragged on and on, the month flew by !! And now here we are in October , which arrived with a cloudy, grey rainy day. Some of the street lights came on in the middle of the day ! Today was bright and sunny. We made a quick trip to do our grocery shopping stocking up on vegetables and picking up a turkey for next weekend. Then Hubby went to Canadian Tire as they had our coffee on sale.So full freezer, fridge and pantry. All the laundry was done and put away yesterday, vacuuming was done. A good way to start the week.

Our 'injured ' EA returned this week. In one conversation, she had a sprain, then a broken ankle, then a break on the top of her foot. She has a walking cast that is way too big, has crutches but is afraid to use them as se might trip. She walks from the north wing of the school, through the library, down the halls Ito the office and sits and puts her cast on. Complains no one will help her and that adjusting the air cast is so difficult. ow we've had broken ankles and an air cast in our family. You take it off to shower; you do not walk on it. You wear a shoe which has the same thickness as the cast - not flip flops !  And if you are at work, you do your job !! She didn't show up for classes. Teachers were fuming !! And after two days, she's taken off another week and a half !!  Most say she didn't really break it; many are saying she won't be back. Time will tell.

I'm on my last hexagon block. Once that is finished I'll finalize how I am going to lay them out, choose the 'background' hexes and cut them out. I've a couple of things to mend, but chose to read instead ! They are not going anywhere. One of the sweaters I bought in the summer has a little hole on the cuff of a sleeve which is easily reparable. I've gathered some jewelry to mend with some gorilla glue. I have another stash somewhere that needs doing; just have to remember where I put it !

The funeral we attended last Monday was the saddest[. Not in a sorrowful way] funeral we had ever been to. The pastor was terrible and G was not honoured, nor was her life celebrated. Our staff former and present, numbered around 50. After the service such as it was, the two children stayed outside the church while everyone went downstairs. G's mom was all by herself, a lady in her 90's ! It was awful. Just cemented my wish not to have a funeral.

Although we have so many apples I picked up an apple pie on sale !! Time to go have some !  Oh we also bought a new shed to replace ours. The squirrels have eaten through the roof, sides and floor !! It's held together by foam insulation and chicken wire ! It'll be put up in the spring but with 20% off, it was the right time to buy it.

Good Grief !

I can't believe that two weeks have flown by !! School has been going fairly smoothly. I've rather enjoyed the Grade Eight teachers 'tuning' their students. Quite delightful actually; I spend my time grinning at the back of the room. Finally there are adults that are not treating them with kid gloves ! This past week was my week to clean the kitchen at school, loading and unloading the dishwasher etc and on this past Friday, cooking for Cake Day. I made two Lemon Loaves, two Caraway Seed Cakes and a Butterscotch square. So that's done for another five months !

Last Saturday YS and I went to Wine Club at ED's house. He good nature day wore a kilt and I sewed up a sporam . For the party I made Almond Squirts from the Outlander Kitchen and we brought along some of our Cherry Bounce, both of which people loved ! It was a late night for me so I suffered. Last Sunday !!

The usual sewing, mending and tidying has gone on. Today I am cleaning the oven and kitchen widow having thrown the curtains into the wash. Once the oven is finished,I'll clean the window  and that'll be one more thing off my list.

One of our long t I've employees died on unexpectedly on Tuesday. Unexpected perhaps to the family, but she has been ill for so long with all parts of her body failing, that truly, we were not surprised. The funeral is this coming Monday at 11am so we'll scoot out of school to attend and then hustle back. Different people will be covering for others so we don't have to get in a lot of subs. Also on Monday, our 'delinquent' EA is returning half time. I am sure she'll want to go to the funeral too. We're wondering how long she will b e able to last at her assignment this year. Since she cannot do grade 3 math and is in a grade 5 classroom ! The teacher will not be pleased if she continues with her habit of abscences. It will be interesting to watch !

Last weekend we harvested all from the garden except for green beans which are still flowering and producing, the parsnips and the pumpkin. Tomorrow I want to get out and  work on my perennial beds. We'll be having stew and an apple crisp with apples from my son's inlaw's trees. I might try and bake another batch of oatcakes as the last lot disappeared very quickly !


Only another couple of books to read and we'll have to take another trip to Value Village !  Lovely fall weather which I hope will last for a long time ! Still no frost !!

Frost Adisory

Oh how we hate to hear that warning !! We've been lucky as in years past we've had frost advisories in August.. Of course once everything is decimated by frost, we'll have lovely warm weather !

I spent 2 hours on my feet baking the oatcakes and a  butterscotch square which I very nearly burnt. The stew is wonderful ! ES was sorry he was going to his mil for steak as he'd rather have the stew. I brought both sons a taste of the meat which just melts in your mouth .They were out in the hot tub , again, relaxing their muscles  after 3 games of baseball today. They had fun so that's all that counts. Their uniforms are a mess as it has been raining all day.

Now I'll watch Churchill's Secret on PBS and continue sewing.

15 Years

Fifteen. Years ago today,  ED called me from Ottawa where she was working . She said to quickly turn on the tv. We watched the second plane hit the tower while on the phone.  While the Ottawa media was saying there was no need for panic, ED watched as streams of government workers fled Parliament Hill and all the government offices. I wanted her to get out of downtown Ottawa as quickly as she could.
  I used to watch the news, local and national, but not religiously. Now it is the first thing I do every morning. I check Twitter throughout the day. 9/11 forever changed the world.

A short week at work always seems so long. It has been a fairly good start to the year; in fact it has been amazingly quiet.  There appears to be only one person that is extremely negative and unhappy. The last two years have been rough for her; she thought she had 'power' and found out she doesn't ! She is just like the rest of us which has been hard on her. Fretted quite a bit as to where she would leave her purse as she has always had a desk/ room for her stuff which she could lock. Now , like the rest of us, shove your stuff in a locker or desk drawer !!  You can choose to be sad or happy. If you choose to be sad and angry, then you need to quit your job and move on. She is older than I am; her house has been paid off for decades; she needs to retire.

Colds are going around. ED has a horrible one and has worked from home most of the week. Their University office does allow people to do that so the germs are as contained as much as possible. YAD had to put her youngest dog down as he had a cancerous tumour. We had the kids over here after school on Friday and EGS was very mature about it; had done research on tumours etc, so while he said he was sad and had cried, he realized it was the best thing to do for Winston.

WE had YGS Friday night as the sons are in their last baseball tournament. This is his second home so he is no trouble at all, especially as he was exhausted from school. This was the first week he went to school four days in a row ! This coming week it is 5 days in a row !! He is also fighting a cold. We went shopping on Saturday. The store had Blade roasts on for a wonderful price; limit of two so of course I bought two ! I've just used 1/2 of one to make stew. It was boneless and  the fat was less than minimal !! Never seen such beautiful blade roasts. I haven't bought them in years because there was so much wastage, but not this time. I saved the scraps and a hunk of the meat to freeze and use for soup later on. I also whizzed oatmeal in the food processor to have some oatmeal for oatcakes. I never baked last weekend. Hopefully I'll make some today . The temperature is going down to 6*C so it's a good day to put the oven on.

YGS was supposed to go to his other grandma's but she wasn't feeling well. She has had some bad health scares and the biopsy on Friday left her drained and swollen. She wants to have YGS today as she is leaving for Scotland  on Thursday for 2 1/2 weeks. We'll see what time she arrives as I said to keep care of herself first. [ Her husband is  already in Scotland so she is alone ] Ah, she's just arrived at 10:30 !! She just got up and this from a person who does not sleep in so good for her.


So now I can have a shower and do my hair. Time to relax !

Full Swing into Fall

It has been a very cold weekend, more like a weekend in October than early September !  No sooner had I written the last post when ED phoned to see if I wanted to go to n Estate sale with YD and GD; so off we went !
  There was a lot of STUFF, but we managed to find some antique jewelry. I just bought a necklace, but the girls bought quite a bit. The prices were the same- $5 for a necklace regardless of their value. The grandfather had been collecting 'stuff' for over 70 years !! There were 30 outbuildings that they have had to go through. YD picked up some glass insulators as well.

  After that we stopped into a Farmers' Market which was really just home businesses such as Tupperware. Then off to lunch. GD ate a huge bowl of Wonton soup !

Value Village has just opened up in our city so we popped in there. There was beautiful material ; I am kinda kicking self that I didn't pick up some grey drapery material for the dining room. I did pick up some material to back the English paper piecing quilt and some flesh coloured  felt. Mixed in the. With the material were some beautiful saris.  The girls also picked up some very expensive shoes - some around the $300 price !!

  I added more things onto my list and have nearly checked each one off. I haven't started the book, and I don't think I am going to get to that. As I was madly sewing  to get all the hexes done, I started watching Suits . Well, there goes that book.I've changed over my purse and coat; I have to straighten out the sosck drawer, but I'll do that after supper.

Last night I made Round Steak in mushroom gravy; we haven't had that for years !! It was so good with the  mashed potatoes and mounds of beans from the garden. Tonight it is a simple supper of pizza - the $5 ones from Superstore !  I might do some baking while I have the oven on for the pizza ~~~ or not !...cause I've ' hit the wall'

Summer is Over

Summer is over !   We've been back in school for a whole week, although the children didn't start until the Wednesday, August 31 st. So what did we do? We went to a division wide meeting, rah, rah, get us pumped !! { Never works, we just sit and listen ! This year they put more chairs on the floor of the gum so we at least had some back support. } That over we made our way to our school and had a pot luck lunch.  Most of the support staff worked in the office or library for the rest of the week. It was only just before dismissal that we were sent an e-mail telling us our initial placements. It looks like mine is the same as last year.


The most interesting thing was that no one could find Carole, our delinquent EA.She wasn't t the High School, she didn't turn up at the school. Office staff who have protected and enabled her for years said they didn't know ! Tuesday we were told she had broken her ankle and would be back on Wednesday. Wednesday passed, and no Caarole. Eventually we find that she was just going for an X-Ray on that day. Overheard by a support staff was that she had to have a doctor's note. She wrote a note herself and somehow dropped that in or had it delivered. A note was written on that note -- she MUST have a doctor's note, not a letter in her own writing telling supposedly what the doctor said ! 

Immediately when told of her broken ankle was that she was probably lying that it isn't broken. I figure she was drunk and might have broken it. Time will tell. However several of us have said, that her name for abscences is not put up on the board; everyone else's are. That it is the appearance that she is getting away with taking days off, getting paid but not having them recorded. Now we have been told no, every abscences is recorded........ But we d on't believe it. You can't take a day a week off work and have any sick days left. We do know that some Monday's it is because she is incapable of coming to work. We do know she blacks out. We are all interested to see what happens next. 


Last night I just finished reading The Girl on the Train. I'll pass it along to ED to read and then return it to my friend.This morning I have the ham bone on simmering . I'll make soup later today with lentils and vegetables. I've already repaired the sleeping bag I bought for YGS. A three inch seam by the zipper had to be sewn; now it is as good as new. One Christmas present done !  Sure love Value Village !!

Today I have a list of things I want to get done
* Repair sleeping bag
* Organize my sock and scarf drawers
*Go through the swim suits
*Wash the downstairs shower curtain
* Make soup
* Wash out fruit and vegetable crispers
* Sew a minimum of 12 hexes.
* Start the 4th book of the Girl With The..... Series so I can return it.


I also want to try and catch The Tour of Alberta 

We'll see what we can get accomplished !

Suffering Olympic Withdrawal

Once the Olympics were over, there was nothing to watch on TV !! So I read and read and read ! The weather has continued to be awful. We couldn't even have a campfire when all the grandkids were over !

I've managed to clean and organize my closet and our bedroom a good clean. Still sewing away on my hexagons.  I've had my dental check up and my hair cut.

Yesterday I went with ED to Value Village. She was looking for serving dishes; I was looking for nothing. I picked up two pairs of jeans for YS for work. ( He owes me the cost ), a sleeping bag for YGS, a new top for me , 5 books and some more tartan material for ED's party. YS took all the cans/ bottles to the bottle depot so we were able to order in Chinese Food. Actually  he picked it up cause that's even cheaper !

Today we're having baked ham and scalloped potatoes. I've just given the upstairs bathroom a swish . Now I'll decide what to bake / make for tomorrow's potluck at school.


Last day of summer for me------ and the furnace came on !

Who Needs an Alarm Clock ?

Who needs an alarm clock when the thunder wakes you up at 4 am !! I got up to check windows; I had left the window in the computer room open so it was a good thing I got up to check ! 

I tried going back to sleep but no go. So I processed 15 pounds of sour cherries !! One more thing off my list ! There are still cherries on the tree. If we get them picked, I'll process them, but if not we'll leave a feast for the birds !  So by 6 am, I've already been working . Once YS leaves for work, I plan to scrub the kitchen floor.

Well yesterday sure flew by ! I accomplished all that I set out to do and then red, sewed and watched the Olympics. YS and ED are preparing for their hike in the Back Country.  You have to book your space in the Back Country in January ! Several people cancelled this past week because of the thunderstorms. One is exposed up on the ridges which is not good  during a storm with lightening strikes. Here's hop;ing the weather holds for them.Hubby tried to drop off the oil etc at the Recycling Centre but they don''t accept it. We will have to go into the city to do that.

The fog has just rolled in this morning- in the last  5 minutes ! It is quite thick ! Honestly we have had the strangest weather this summer. One is never sure if one should water because we have been under so many Thunderstorm warnings. Yesterday ED was caught in a storm as she made her way to her car after work. She has 3 umbrellas but of course all were IN the car ! She said she was actually dripping as she drove home. We didn't have a drop !

I was counting my white hexagons ad sorting them.  Out. It is amazing how many shades of white there are, and I have some with a white on white pattern. It is going to take me forever to do this quilt !

This morning I took out some sour cherries that had been used to make Cherry Bounce . I"lol make a small batch of boozy jam with them. This morning [ as all rowing events have been cancelled ]

So Trump has said another stupid, but potentially dangerous thing. He needs to quit- he'll never be presidential or statesmen like; he is too narcissistic. He full well meant to say that someone should shoot Clinton; his 'explanation'  was just a lie.  Stupid dangerous man. I am constantly amazed by the stupidity of his followers. Maybe he should be elected and the US would soon find out how bad he is. The country would descend into chaos.

All Checked Off

 Monday afternoon and I have managed to check off every item on my list !

These are the Christmas Stockings made  to order for a blended family.

And then I finished off the shawl , cowl and an infinity scarf for ED's Outlander Wine party.

So now I'm back yo working on my quilt.

Hubby is still organizing his garage. He went to the recycling centre to put in his oil etc. But it was closed today ! Good thing garbage is tomorrow as he has another bag of trash to get rid of. Finally he has removed wood that he had standing in front of the window !  Now if he can do the same in the basement I will be most pleased.


I've had a devil of a time doing photos. Apparently Picasa is no more, ending in May although I have used it since ! So today I 'faffed' around with Google photos. 

Just noticed that the renters next door now have a cat ! Or at least the girlfriend that has stayed over has one. No wonder I've been chasing cats out of my flower beds. I know they are NOT allowed pets as the former tenants wrecked the house and yard with pets and machinery. Now these new tenants seem to be very neat although they do have an extra truck and quads parked on the grass in their yard. The owner spent a small fortune redoing all the flooring- he put in laminate flooring all by himself and a new bathroom. I'll wait and see if the cat remains and I will phone him. 

Off to read for a bit before I make pounded pork for supper. ES and YS have baseball tonight so we this is the night we have pork. YS does not like pork although he loves bacon, ham and sausages !! Pounded pork is just tenderloin cut thin and coated with breadcrumbs, herbs, garlic and Parmesan cheese. In the winter I would bake it, but I'll sauté them lightly tonight .

I may cook some pirogues that YS can heat up when he comes home. That is if they end up playing as we are under a severe thunderstorm watch. Tomorrow I must do something with  the 3 ice cream pails of cherries totally around 15 pounds.


Off to read and watch the Olympics.

A Lazy Sunday

A lazy Sunday is planned, after all it's the Olympics !  And Canada won its first medal yesterday; a Bronze in the 4 X 100m freestyle relay for women. Yeah !!! I still can't figure out Rugby 7 

Yesterday I finished putting all the names on the stockings so these are the jobs that are left;
1. Cut out 6 snowmen
2. Cut out 6 top hats
3. Embroider 3 tophats [ for the girls]
4. Knit 6 scarves
5. Cut out and attach the eyes, mouth and 'coal'
6.Cut out holly and berries.
7. Cut out batting, pin and sow the snowmen onto the stockings
8. Sew up the stockings


I'll do all this while watching the tv, of course !

The Cherry Chutney turned out quite well. I think I'll make another batch and maybe a batch of jam. We'll see who will pick some cherries for me, because I'm much to busy with the stockings. Once I have finished them, I need to tuck the ends in on the two Infinity scarves and shawl I made for ED's Outlander  Wine Party.

Hubby was out in the garage again yesterday. I can hardly wait till he moves to the basement. I so need it all done ! 

Last night I made Salisbury Steaks with mashed potatoes and salad. YS really enjoyed it; his medication that he was on for an inflamed ligament really did something to his tastebuds. he said nothing had tasted right ! But last night I guess the drug is finally out of his system. Tonight I think something really simple - hot dogs. With bootlegger beans and coleslaw.

We have trapped  6 squirrels so far. There is at least another one around that is chattering at us. they had almost completely destroyed our shed. We took 3 compost bins of pine cones out of the shed last spring. They had chewed holes in the sides and floor; this spring we discovered they had chewed a hole in the roof !! I am sure the shed is only being held up by the repairs we've done. 

Off to sew the snowmen !

Just An Ordinary Summer Week

Just an ordinary laid back week of summer. Lazy days, especially for me ! I set little goals for myself - I had to finish the 'green' round of hexagons on my blocks before I could knit  the rest of the stockings which I finished yesterday. Today I have to finish putting all the names on before I continue with my Cherry Chutney. We have so many cherries and can only freeze so many. I'll try this recipe out and if it is tasty, I can make some up for Christmas gifts.

I am fairly organized because the Olympics are on and I just love the Games, Winter or Summer. I was not too impressed with the opening ceremonies. I found them quite disjointed and the precision was just not there. The Olympic Anthem was sung by a lovely choir of 40 children, but their voices  could not do justice to the hymn which needed the stronger adult voices. Now if they had had a Brazilian Olympic song for the children to sing, it might have been perfect.  Honestly, nothing grabbed me, more should have been done IN the stadium instead of all the fireworks OUT of the stadium.

Hubby has spent a few days in the garage cleaning and organizing. He'[s been quite ruthless which is good. I have nothing in the garage of mine; it's all his junk !! Now he needs to move down into the basement when he finishes the garage. I have very little down there-- it's mostly HIS stuff, so he needs to organize it so we can redo the floor.

The lawn looks the best it has in over 20 years. That's how much rain we have had !! Grass is growing where grass hasn't g town for years !  WE went out to YD's place as she had bought an outdoor pool for $150 and it is terrific. We watched the kids play in it for a while and came home. Their grass has NEVER looked so good. When you live on an acreage you cannot afford to water so the lawn had been suffering.
At night, after watching all the news on the American election, I've gone upstairs to read. I have really enjoyed Lee Childs and just read a terrific book by Jeffrey Archer. If someone wrote a book about an American election such as is going on now, no one would have read it ! I cannot believe the thinking of the radical Republicans.  On Twitter, they will never admit that Trump has ever put a foot wrong ! Facts mean nothing to them. Bizarre, really bizarre.

I must get on with my over stitching of names so I can get on with the cherry chutney.

Thunderous Days

Thunderous ? Is there such a word ?  We have never had so much thunder, cracks and rolling thunder that has gone on and on and on. And the rain !! My gardens are soggy; don't know how the root vegetables are going to fare. Our grass looks the best it has in years. We finally have grass growing on former sparse parts. Alas, we also have mushrooms  as do our neighbours ! My ED says that is a good thing that mushrooms are growing in the lawn, something she had learned in her Master Organic  Gardener course. However they really annoy my husband. The lawn is so wet, we won't be able to cut it til we get some drying weather. 


Blogger is acting up today. It is very frustrating !

We have spent the weekend just pottering about, doing a little of this and a little of that, a lot of reading ! The mosquitos are so bad, they limit the time to work in the gardens. 

The last storm we had on Saturday was so bad that visibility was atrocious. A friend of my YD's mother hydroplaned and her jeep rolled . Thankfully she wasn't badly hurt but my ED went out to help ferry 5 children to my YD's home. The woman who witnessed the accident [ and who had also hydroplaned] didn't even phone 911. Ambulance and police said they would not come out to the scene as they had too many bigger accidents to attend to ! 

Strange, strange weather ! If someone does not believe in climate Change, well they have not been paying attention.
Only another 4 weeks and then I am back to work !! July has flown by. It'll be even quicker as we have the Olympics in Rio and I am an Olympic nut ! I am going to finish the third round of hexagons and then I'll start work on the remaining stockings. Should be able to finish them completely during the Olympics.

Not much going on today . A howling cat woke me up this morning, Hubby, too, but he was able to go back to sleep !!

Must think of what I want to use up in the freezer as I need room for more sour cherries. I processed 10 pounds yesterday. YD wants some so she had better come pick quickly as they are starting to split with all the r a in. I need to send Hubby to the store to pick up some sugar to start making some jam.  Other than that, I'm reading, eating and sewing.

Busy Day

Busy day yesterday. We set off to Marsha;;'s Fabric store on the southside of the city. I went there to pick up some large spools of thread. They are much cheaper there than anywhere else. That accomplished we headed to WEM to pick up new crocs. With the problems with my feet, knees and hips, Crocs are the most comfortable footwear for me. Our last pair of crocs lasted three years ! I had bought a new pair to wear in the hospital - and then found out that no, I needed lace up shoes ! I wear them every day so I certainly got my money's worth out of them. 

We popped into TNT but I found the prices even more expensive than our usual grocery store. Disappointed there. We set off for The Wholesalers and again I was disappointed so we drove back home and did our grocery shopping where we do 90%  of our shopping.  Firstly though we stopped at a Walmart on the west end of the city and I found the colours that I was looking for. I tried on a couple of bras and two clearance items, but they were all too big. As Hubby was, as usual, chomping at the bit, I gave up and will go by myself later on. It's been 3 or 4 years since I have bought bras !!

Because I cleaned the downstairs freezer, we didn't pick up any meat. Just fruit, veggies and cheese with a few other items. It is so nice to have fresh fruit and veggies because the crisper a were empty for a few days !! For lunch I had cucumber. It was lovely !  

While Hubby and YS had chilli for supper, I stripped the rotisserie chicken and made soup. That will be for our lunch today. For supper, we'll have ham, potato salad, coleslaw, devilled eggs and corn on the cob. In the cooler weather next week, I will make s one recipes from the Outlander Kitchen. Today is to be near 30* C so the oven will not be turned on.

While watching the Democratic Convention I worked on my quilt. I have had to make some more hexagons  in the green gingham to complete the centre blocks. Thank goodness I had a few scraps left !  I've decided I need to finish the 28 blocks before I finish the last three stockings.

YS has gone to work today. The medication was quite harsh on his system.ED went to Diner en Blanc last night. Looks like she had a good time. ES is going up to Slave Lake to do some fishing. The other grandparents are going to look after him. Hmm 4 days....They are exhausted after one day !

This morning will be a toss up - outside or down in the basement. 

Summer Time Lists

Lean to

Hubby, Es and YS

Replace roof, reshingle, put up the new posts. 

I will replace the interlocking blocks and tidy up around the shed.

GARAGE

I WILL HELP HUBBY ORGANISE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GARAGE. LEFT SIDE IS ALREADY IN GOOD SHAPE. THEN WE'LL SWEEP OUT ALL THE DUST/ DIRT

AND THROW OUT JUNK !!

WE CAN DO THIS EVEN IF IT RAINS 

BASEMENT/ Work shop

1. A good sweeping !

2. Organize work bench.

3. Build a shelving unit to hold caulking, glues, tapes which can't be out in the garage.THERE MUST BE 20 TUBES OF CAULKING !

4. GET rid of JUNK !

BASEMENT  PROPER

1. ORGANIZE BOXES SO NEW FLOOR CAN BE LAID.

2. WORK IN BATHROOM TO RE INSTALL TOILET AND SINK

3. FIND HIDDEN TREASURES, LONG FORGOTTEN. DUST, WINDOWS.

4, FIND MOUSE ENTRANCE/ CLEAN UP. FOAM INSULATION ??

5. REPAIR HOLE CUT INTO DRYWALL.

6. REPLACE WOOD PANELLING.

MASTER BEDROOM, COMPUTER ROOM, SPAREBEDROOM, UPSTIARS BATHROOM, CRAIG'S ROOM

1. BASEBOARDS IN ALL ROOMS.

2. REPAIR CEILING IN UPSTAIRS BATHROOM.

3. BUILD CLOSET DOOR IN BATHROOM

4.CLEAN OUT JUNK !--LINENS ETC.

5. DOOR FRAMES IN ALL ROOMS, INCLUDING MASTER CLOSETS.

6. DECLUTTERING.

WASH ALL WINDOWS  INCLUDING BASEMENT WINDOWS AND GARAGE.

 

And We're Home !

The trip home was uneventful which is always a good thing. The gate was open, ready for us to back in.Thanks YS !! And the lawn had been mown so the yard looked good. Lots of growth on the plants. It is amazing how much a garden can change in just a few short days ! 

The first day home was spent doing washing, cleaning the trailer and car, disinfecting water carriers !! We still cannot find the clothes line and clothes pins. I know I saw them before we packed up. I'll get in there this week and do another 'sweep' of the trailer. Hubby degreased the camp stove  so we're all set if we set off again this summer. 

At. Baseball, ES was hit in the nose by a baseball. They were at the hospital til around 11:30 to make sure it was broken. Then YS had a doctor's appointment-- he has an inflamed ligament which attaches to the pelvic area. ( But the mess seem to be too harsh as he is in pain from the mess this am.) This afternoon he goes for an Ultrasound to make sure it is not a hernia. 

Yesterday I cleaned the downstairs freezer as someone had not shut the door completely and there was some ice build up. It needed to be done anyway. It is all organized. ( Since I had had my knee operation and the other knee needs one, I have not often been down into the basement. No matter what anyone else says, it was not organized ! Hubby would buy meat because he couldn't find what he wanted in the freezer -- or he left it too late to defrost so he bought new meat ! )  We will not have to buy meat for 3 or 4 months !! Good thing we like ham - I have three of them ! And yes, there IS bacon !

Also the basement is an absolute disgrace. While I was recuperating from my knee surgery, the basement flooded again. Boxes, junk, everywhere ! My goal this year is to redo the basement so it is again livable and I can get Hubby out of the living room. There is no way we could sell the house with it being the way it is and we need to get rid of JUNK !  I am going to try and work a little bit each day to start the process.

We also need to put down the rest of the bricks by the side of the shed. I think by now the ground has settled and we need it to be safer to get under the lean to and  clean up near the shed. We old people just need to do things slowly and quit before we hurt !

I have a list of things that I want to accomplish this summer and winter. Guess I'll have to let Hubby in on my plans.

Today we might go in to price Crocs- it's been three years since we last bought ours.  Some models are cheaper on line so we'll see what happens. We also have NO veggies in the house so we need to pick some up. Only the peas are ready to eat right now which we had the other night and they were delicious. I also want to pick up sugar as I think I will make some jellies as I have crabapple juice as well as sour cherry juice. Our sour cherries are nearing perfection so we'll have to pick and use them.

Til everyone gets up, I'll soak my feet and do some hand sewing. I still need to. Pick up a few colours of wool to finish my stocking order. So much to do and summer is half over ! Yikes !!

Camping In The Foothills of the Rockies

 We set off with no problems on the way except for a warning that a tire had lost pressure. Fortunately we were just a couple of km from Tomahawk so we were able to check. One tire, the last checked of course, had lost 3 or 4 psi. That done, we continued on our way. After a stop in Rocky Mountain House for gas and an ice cream, we made out way to Fish Lake Campground. We chose a site, but we're not thrilled. We dropped the trailer and headed down the highway to Gold Eye Campground. I think we were out checking every empty campsite before we found one that would fit our of needs. So we paid for that site, drove back to the other campground and hitched up the trailer.

We set up the trailer and them waited for ES and ED to arrive. Hubby went to get water-----oh no ! The water is not potable ! Yikes ! First time in over 50 years of  camping that we had been in a campground without water ! The toilets were just dry pits but there was the Hand sanitizer dispenser outside the cubicles. On the way to the toilets were the garbage bins, bear proof of course.  Another camper said that as Hubby and YGS passed, their talking chased away a yearling bear ! Yikes ! When ED and ES arrived, they set up the kitchen tent and their tent and we were set !!

Hubby, ES and YGS did a fair amount of fishing. Hubby and ES were out in the kayak. ED and I read and took a trip to Crescent Falls. We also found where we could get water after buying new water carriers as ours were now contaminated with the pump water. Thank goodness ED had bought a huge case of water !!

We did try the 'ice cream' cones with marshmallows and chocolate chips. They were quite good, although YGS didn't care for them. WE also made 'insideout' knee pads which were delicious. Of course everything is better with bacon !

I spent time picking up garbage around the site. It had obviously not been cleaned for quite a while. I only did the edges although I spotted some farther in the bush. An old camp chair was by the side of the driveway. It was rusted so had been there a long time. Firewood times were not the best. By the time the weekend had arrived, the hand sanitizer had run out and was NOT replaced. The bathrooms were getting dirtier. Garbage was. Late being picked up. A group of young guys partied and drank 24/7-- no one ever came round to ask them to quiet down.

We would never go back to these campgrounds. No services and the cost was too high. The campsites and campground were not well kept. There would be no recommendation from us !


It was such a shame as one is surrounded by beauty,

Thunder ! And more Thunder !!!

Those series of thunder claps woke me at 4 am this morning ! I got up to see if there was a warning in place to not. Fortunately no warning, just a good ol thunderstorm. Hopefully the  storm is moving east and we won't have to pass through any storms on the way to our new camping site.
  Monday we had our two oldest grandchildren over as their mom was teaching yoga to the Evergreen Summer students.  When my eldest son came over, they all went off to play Pokemon Go. He had 3 kids and two dogs ! LOL. After lunch, they decided to go off again to Jubilee Park which is a fair distance, expecially for YGD is  not the outdoor walker the others are.  But apparently they had a good time ! YD arrived and decided to wait here til they came back. She scrounged some perennial plants off me.

EGS  ended up carrying the puppy Dexter home as he refused to walk. I am wondering if the pavement was too hot for his little paws ? To he has realized that it is a lot more fun to be carried than walking or hiking !  He is nearly six months so it might just be the laziness of his 'pugness' coming out !

I finally took down the cot in our bedroom.  Our bedroom is very big. We have a queen sized bed, and can accommodate a cot and two sleeping mattresses, as well as bedroom furniture . When we have a sleepover, all the kids sleep with us upstairs. However, enough was enough and into. The closet it went ! I can get into my closet so easily now. Gradually I am getting some housework done and some decluttering.
I made a huge pot of child. After the meat was browning, I searched for a can of kidney beans or black beans. I had no cans ! I did have some dry kidney beans so I had to cook them up to use. There were at lest 30 cups of child divided into 3 containers. Two were frozen and one will come with us for Saturday night's supper. One was kept in the fridge for YS to use as he cannot get time off work. 
  Tuesday we threw on a couple of loads of wash and headed out to do some messages and grocery shopping. We stopped at Walmart to look for some wool. Why do they never have green !! I was only able to pick up a smaller ball of purple. We picked up a couple of treat and most of it was paid with a gift card that I have had for ages. One less gift card in my purse . Then we headed off to the Dollar store to find a colouring book and new booklet for YGS to draw and write in. I had him choose 5 of the books we bought at VV to bring to read in the car.
We only picked up necessary items , such as bananas for the car trip and some snacks. We forget that YGS eats constantly as did his father at the same age. I'll make a separate bag to keep in the front and dole out to him. 

Most of the trailer is packed. WE just have to throw in one cooler and our clothes. We are bringing two bags and a crate of wood. ES and Hubby put the kayak on the car, but it stuck out just a little bit too far so they couldn't get the garage door closed. Oh well, it won't take them long to get that done this am before the hitch up the trailer. Then we'll be off ! Hoping to score a campsite.

ES got a fishing license and bought YGS his first fishing rod.  I have my books and hand sewing so I am all set. The lake where we are hoping to go is stocked with rainbow trout so I am thinking I had better pack a lemon ! [ which I have done for years and Hubby has never caught a fish ! ]I had to rinse out and disinfect two of our water containers. It has been a long time since we've been at a campsite with only an old fashioned water pump ! As we will have no idea how far away we'll be from the pump, I decided 3 containers would be best . We might have to use a car to fill them up and drive them back ! 


And so off we go on another adventure !

A Sunday of Sewing

 Plans were for a relaxing, slow Sunday. I was up watching Le Tour at 4:45 and what a good stage it was !  I was working on my English Piecing Quilt as I need to buy the accent colours before I finish the other 3 stockings. 
  Hubby , when he finally got up, was working on the trailer and then got his fishing gear out. Where we hope to go, there are lakes filled with Rainbow Trout and the creeks have Brown trout. Maybe I should even bring a lemon ! ES is going to pick up a license today and get YGS his own rod.  Then, of course it rained so outside work on the trailer w as suspended.

ED came over with her hiking pants to hem, along with a pair of jeans to hem, a pair of jeans to have the zipper repaired, a Japanese kimono to be hemmed and a top to have repaired along the neckline[ which was a b*&# to do ! I worried about that top, but then thought she couldn't wear it the way it was so if I messed up, it was really no loss. But I got it all done !  I am not a confident seamstress so I do get stressed even when repairing. There is this fear of making a wrong cut , that I measured incorrectly. My shoulders get tensed up so much they actually hurt. Now neither of my daughters can sew. I don't know if they even know how to sew a button or hem anything ? Neither have them have had any interest in sewing or knitting. I asked ED what she's going to do when I am gone ?? When she was in Ottawa she s pent $10 to have a pair of pants hemmed. Now if you get some bargains like I do with jeans, the hemming would cost 3X as much as the cost of the jeans ! 5 changes of thread and now I must reorganize my thread box. It is nice to have the time to do all these little things, instead of just dumping and shoving away when time is a premium.

ED gave YGS a Samsung tablet that she had been given over 4 years ago. He is absolutely thrilled and certainly lets us know about the battery life and the fact that it is a Samsung ! Afterthe hot  tub, he and his dad and uncle went off to the nearby park to catch a Pokemon. After supper my town kids went out to play Pokemon Go. At least it got them outside and I think they had fun. I was in bed by the time YS got home.

The rest of the day was spent reading. Good thing we bought all those books  at Value Village. 

Today our other two grandchildren will be over for 'a couple' of hours though we know it will be longer than that. I'll watch Le Tour, take down the cot in our room, do some handsewing and recheck my lists for camping.  Tomorrow we'll do the wash, and go shopping. Or at least that's the plan !