What a Wonderful World.....

It is a beautiful sunny, warm day here in the country.  Son2 just left for home...he was here for the weekend.  We see him often now that we are only a couple of hours away which I love.  🙂 Hubby has gone off to get a few groceries and dog food.  They went out for breakfast this morning and while they were gone I cleaned the house!  (I LOVE this tiny house!!!)  I also put laundry away that I had washed yesterday and washed towels and bedding....all done before noon!  Sunday a day of rest????  Not for me today......until now.  I am sitting in our sunroom, basking in the sun rays and feeling very content.

Tomorrow is officially our granddaughters 2nd birthday and she had her party yesterday so we drove into Calgary to partake in the festivities!  Afterwards Hubby, Son2 and I went to Red Lobster....a treat we won't do often as I spent a weeks worth of groceries for that meal but everyone enjoyed it so that's all that matters.  Definition of a TREAT:  "something very pleasant and enjoyable"!  😏

Me and my birthday girl!!

The collage Daughter2 did for her FB post tomorrow....oh they grow and change so much in only 2 years!!!!!

The apron I made her as she received a play kitchen for her birthday....and it was full of accessories by the end of the party!!  😃

Son1 took our grandson for a (pretend) skate last weekend.  He scooted him around the ice on his boots and he loved it!  I'm sure he will have him skating by next winter....he will be 2 1/2.

I miss this little man and will be heading up for a visit very soon!

I haven't been doing much sewing.....I still haven't found that mojo!  But I have been stitching a bit and made myself a new pressing mat for my big table I decided to unfold and use!  Why have it if I am not using it right?????  It's a little squishy going around each end but I know I will love the bigger space for pressing AND cutting!  

I stitched the first block in a mystery by Sew Blessed.  The Mystery BOM is called Faith, Family, Friends and I believe is available for free on the Wool Appliqué group on Facebook...in the files....until the next one comes out.  You can order kits from their website www.sewblessed.us  I did mine on a wool background and I think it should have been flannel so will do that for the next ones.

I am part of American Patchwork and Quiltings FB group and they have a UFO challenge.  The project I am supposed to complete this month is my trucks and trees wool table-mat and I have been making progress!  I would be happy to finish in the next week and a half!  👍  We were to make a list of 12 UFOs (Lord knows I have waaaaaay more than that!) which we wanted to complete this year.  Numbered 1 - 12 they chose a number at the beginning of the month and that is the project we are to complete.  We will see.......maybe I will have a great year finishing 12 projects!!  Now, as long as I don't start 12 more!  HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  😆

Off to stitch!  I hope anyone reading this is enjoying their day and here's to a great week ahead!

So Long 2017

Wow, over two months since I posted!  What is that all about?  I will try harder in 2018 because I do use this as a form of "diary".  I don't have many followers or people who read this regularly but I enjoy going back and re-reading old posts as it keeps a record of what goes on in my boring little life.

So this post will not be full of pictures.  It is the end of another year.....eventful for us and it flew by once again.  Starting off with my radiation treatment and then a surprise sale of our High River house and a move to the unknown once again.  Lots of renos with more to be done and then a great job that turned full-time.  There are many things I want to do or change in the new year.  No resolutions....and I will try and think of a word of the year.

I need to relax more.  I don't mean do nothing but put my feet up but I am never relaxed....if I remind myself to relax I can physically feel my shoulders un-tense (if that's a word).  I can feel my jaw unclench.  I have no idea why I am so uptight but I hope to change that...somehow.

I need to take better care of myself.  I need to start moving my body....walking, exercise....and I have to eat better and drink more water.  (I sound like a broken record here!)

I need to worry less about my kids and their lives.  😟

I need to be more creative and either "use it or lose it" when it comes to my sewing/quilting/crafting supplies.  I have a beautiful space that I only look at and sit in and rearrange in.  I have so many projects to do but feel as though I have lost my mojo.  Gotta find it and quick!

I need to "let go".  Yep, I need to clear space.....every closet, under every bed, is full of "stuff".  It's gotta go!

I need to "do".  I need to get things done that need to be done instead of procrastinating.

I need to "go with the flow" more.  Although I am getting better at this I still need some work.


I would like to learn something new....the piano?  a new language?  to knit?  to bake bread?  Something.......

Always striving towards being a better wife, mother, grandmother......person.  A better me. 💗

A Thought

"This is the beginning of a new day, a new week.  You have been given this day to use as you will.  You can waste it or use it for good.  What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind.  Let it be something good."               

                                                           -unknown     

I love this quote and others like it.  Why, then, do I have such a hard time keeping the idea of it in my mind on a daily basis?  I've wasted many, many days.....and the line "What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it." really hits me because you do not get that day back....you do not get a "do-over"..... there isn't a new day added on because this one was wasted.   Hmmmm what will I do today?  😃

I got my nails done on Friday.  I let Jody do whatever she wanted......this is what she came up with.....I love them!  I'm usually so boring with my nails!  hahaha I have one chrome one on each hand.....this was on my ring finger and the other hand it's on my index finger.  So funky for me!

We got to see this little one yesterday.  She went to Daughter2s hockey game with Poppa while Daughter1 did my eyelashes (high maintenance eh???).  Then we all went out for supper.  

The beautiful sky this morning......I'm thinking it will be windy today.  "Red sky at night, sailors delight.  Red sky in the morning, sailors warning"  It sure smells good out there.....I love the smells of fall.  

It's house cleaning day (I'll leave behind a clean house today 😆😆) and I have laundry to put away.  

I did a bit of sewing last week and on the weekend:

Burp cloths....some will be a gift,

And a stuffed cat.....one side is "day time" the other side "night".  I gave it to Lyla yesterday and she said she didn't like it!  LOL  I asked her Mommy if she liked it later and she said "yes, she took it to bed with her!"  Kids!  💖

I'd like to do something creative after cleaning.  I do need to continue organizing the garage and list items for sale that we don't need....seems like an overwhelming job...ugh...maybe later...or Wednesday...or...............

Thanksgiving...Happy??

Well another Thanksgiving in the books.  It was interesting to say the least. There were great things about the weekend and some not so great.

Saturday was Son1's 29th birthday!  Of course he doesn't look like this anymore (lol!!) but man oh man where did those 29 years go???  He was born on Thanksgiving weekend in Calgary so he always seems to get to celebrate with us!  I'm sure he is thrilled about that!  😝

My brother and his girlfriend came down and spent Sunday with us.  He had never been to our High River house so I was happy he decided to finally visit.  

The BEST part of the whole weekend was having these two kiddos with us for three days (almost).  My heart bursts with love for them.  I never thought I could love a kiddo more than my own kids but I've learned you sure can!!

Only one "fight" over a truck.....they are both crying here holding onto that truck for dear life!  LOL  Look at Hubby's face....he's quite amused by it all! hahaha  They did great together besides this little tiff and I could have just sat and played with them all weekend instead of cooking and cleaning!

My Dad was also here for the weekend.....it was so busy I didn't even think of taking more pics with him included....that was dumb!  I don't think he was feeling the greatest....he had a cough.  He was in charge of the turkey and stuffing again and it turned out great.  We were both bossed in the kitchen but I won't get into that.🙄  It likely won't happen here again.  

This house was a bit squished for 10 adults.....the kitchen was really squished for three cooks!  😜  Christmas will be better although Son1 says they might not come....they are thinking about staying home this year.  Needless to say I had a big cry when they left.....I sure hope he changes his mind by then.😢  I can't imagine Christmas without everyone here.......I knew it was going to happen one day but not this soon.  Anyway, I will stay hopeful that he does change his mind.  😊

Back to work today but I don't have to work this Friday!  I plan on spending time in my sewing room on Wednesday.  I have to try and find my sewing mo-jo.....I think we may get snow this week and I really do not look forward to driving in it to get to work.  I know it's going to happen one day but this is too soon for winter!  

Best get going and get ready for the day!  

What a Difference a Year Makes!

I remember writing my post last year around this time talking about my breast cancer........has that really only been a year???  Seems like a lifetime ago!  But things are different this year......new (old) home, no health issues, new job.......life is good  🙋

Today is my 54th birthday......one more year and senior discounts at restaurants, Shopper's Drug Mart, etc!  Woot woot!  😆  I was planning on sewing something...anything in my almost organized sewing area:

Instead I am sitting down here in the cool basement (Hubby has to put the baseboard heaters on one of these days...the furnace isn't cutting it!) doing nothing....but that's okay too.  He is taking me for supper tonight but first we are going to find more cupboards (for all my scrapbooking stuff) and maybe a wardrobe cupboard for down here and then I can get the rest of these boxes unpacked!  (all the ones you DON'T see in the above picture!  hahaha)

Last week I went to where I now get my hair done, and had a pedicure and got nails again!  

Please excuse the feet...they look like the shape of duck feet without the webbing between the toes!  Oh well......my nails were pretty and we are working on getting rid of my old dry heels!  (TMI?? LOL)

Kim...look what I found!!!!!  I like it...not as good as the cherry I usually get but it's fun to have pumpkin spiced yogurt!!!  'Tis the season!!!!!!!

My first day of work went well yesterday.  The little guys I work with were exhausting and made me question whether or not I am too old for this sh*t!  But I will work on them......and hope to see improvement soon.  😼  I do love working in the classroom though...those little people are so fun!  The staff at the school seem amazing and very friendly!  It was dress like a pirate day but I haven't been able to access my emails yet so missed it!  I'll be ready next time!  I miss tomorrow as I have a Dr appointment in Calgary (just my usual) but there is a Professional Development Day on Friday I have to go to......in Foothills School Division the PUF EA's didn't have to go to them but here we do.  Hey, we get paid for it so whatever!  😃  I hope to get a bunch of stuff done this weekend too.  We may have a full house for Thanksgiving so I need to stop procrastinating!! 🦃

It's Getting Close!

It's a wonderfully rainy day today....started yesterday afternoon and is to continue through tomorrow.  Then it can stop!  We have things to do on the weekend but more on that in a bit!

Friday night I went to this little guys house!  Saturday his Mommy and Daddy were golfing in a tournament and so we had the whole day together.  He is BUSY!  When he is awake, he is not still.  We spent some time in the backyard between nap times and eating (he is an awesome eater!) and he wore Grammy out!!  But I loved every minute of it!  Look at that face!!!!!  💖💖

Sunday he came with his Mommy and I to the mall shopping.....I was going only for Bath and Body Works soap but also bought a t-shirt, chocolates for Hubby 😉, and coffee from Starbucks for the Keurig.  Of course I also had to buy this cutie an outfit...picked out by his Mommy of course!  I had a great weekend.  💗

Home on Sunday to the flooring in the basement all done!!!!!!  Woot Woot!  Here is the bedroom down there....we put the bed together last night.....the walls are a bit more blue than this I think.  The color is Smoke by Benjamin Moore (color matched at Home Hardware).

This will be my sewing area.  Hubby got the trim on last night except around the doors which he will get to this week.  I still have to paint the doors and frames.  The flooring guy we hired is likely in his 60s....he commented on how nice and clean the basement was to work in and then proceeded to tell Hubby he didn't like my pink wall!!!  Really?  😆  Good thing I wasn't there to tell him it was a good thing he didn't live in this house then!  🙄

This is the sitting room area:

And the stairs which we haven't done anything with yet and won't bother until all my stuff is hauled down........the door leads to the mechanical room and we have to build some sort of doors for the under-stair storage (which needs to be sorted out!)

Son2 is coming this weekend to help us pack stuff down so I really need it to stop raining by then!  I have ALOT of stuff but it will be nice to have help with the big heavy cupboards, etc.  By next week I hope to have things organized!!!  I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Saturday afternoon we are going to Daughter2s exhibition game and will meet our friends Chris and Willi for an at-the-arena visit!  😃 Maybe we will get to see Daughter1 and our granddaughter too.  Next week is a busy one as I got a job!  It's only part time in a kindergarten class but next week I start on Tuesday, my friend Sue is coming for a visit Wednesday, I have a Dr appointment in Calgary on Thursday (I already had to take a day off work!!) and then I go into work Friday for a PD day.  Whew!  So I will be unpacking, sorting and organizing on Sunday and Monday and every evening for sure!!!!  I don't think it will take me too long although I think I will be short on storage since the big cupboard that held my kits may not fit down the stairs (gotta love old houses!).  Oh I'll make it work!  

I've turned the furnace on and it truly feels like fall......I have yet to decorate at all and my plan is to have a few things out by Thanksgiving weekend.  I don't have a mantle now so I won't need much out.  It's all good!!  

I Love Hearts!...and all things Pumpkin Spice!

I have become obsessed with finding heart shaped rocks!  LOL  Last weekend we took a drive down to the river and while there I found 5 more to add to my collection.....look at that one on the bottom right!  It is absolutely perfect!!!!!!  When we asked my granddaughter what it was she said "heart" right away!!!  Not sure what I will do with my collection.......I'll have to look out for creative ways to display it. 

Last week I ventured into Red Deer and stopped at Value Village....I LOVE thrift shops!!!!  I spent quite some time there (I need to look at everything except mens clothes!  LOL) and found these pjs!  Got them home and all washed ready for flannel season.....I hope they will fit me!  

This top was the only full price purchase I made as far as clothes go.  It was at a shop beside, what I thought, was a quilt shop.  Turned out they only sold machines.  Anyway, I couldn't resist this one either!

Daughter1 has taken a course on eyelash extensions and needed to do 5 models before she could become certified.  I was model number 3.  She did another yesterday and has one more booked for this week.  I'm excited for her!  And I think she's really good at it.  Now, I know she will get faster....this took three hours but her daughter did interrupt us a few times.....I had to lay there, eyes closed for that long!  I would nod off but start to snore so that woke me up!  HAHAHAHA!

Here is the current state of my sewing area of our basement.  Hubby put up the proper lights and I chose daylight bulbs as I didn't want to think I was working with red fabric that was actually orange!  The sitting area at the other end has warm light bulbs....they will be on a dimmer and can be on with or without these brighter ones!  The flooring guy was to come and start today but is delayed until Saturday which means I have time to get the second coat of paint on both this big area and the bedroom I painted yesterday.  That far wall with the chimney (it will be removed!) is going to get a special color!  This sewing room with not be all neutrals (because right now it does look boring!) and I am excited!  I will be sure to take a picture when the color is on!

Here is a picture of my new bathroom light fixture.  I need to frame the mirror now but baby steps!  (and that countertop has to go!)

I finally took my vehicle for a long overdue oil change yesterday.  Sundre has a Jiffy Lube and I have never been to one.......I was impressed with how thorough they were.....Hubby said it was because they wanted to find things to sell me!  LOL  I thought they did a great job for a great price!  Friendly, the place was super clean and it was so nice to be able to drive up and get right in!  I'm sure the 4 Runner is happier now too.  :o)

Because Red Deer is the nearest Starbucks (waaaaay too far to drive for a drink!) and it's Pumpkin Spice Latte season, I came upon a couple of things to add to my Baileys (which I haven't tried yet!) 

Both are "okay" and are most definitely NOT Pumpkin Spice Lattes! I'm sure I will enjoy one or two this weekend when I am up grandparenting my grandson!!  

Must get going to get more paint.......I hope my arms and hand will be able to move by tomorrow!  I also have trim and doors to paint!!!!!!!!!  UGH!  It will be over soon....Oh and trim upstairs too......double UGH!  hahahahaha!  "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming....."