Fifty Five

 This is 55.  My birthday was yesterday and I NEVER post pictures of myself primarily because I am overweight and feel terrible about my looks.  With age comes wrinkly necks, chin hairs, grey hairs, saggy boobs, back fat, spare tires, declining eye sight.....the list goes on.  Why I feel the need to hide from those things?  I'm not sure as I know no one is perfect!  I do vow to do something about the weight in the near future....once again!  A rollercoaster for me and many.  We've started a walking group at school and we go right after school which is great!  That's a start!  In my 55th year I want to make some changes all related to my health and well being!  Onward and upward!  Wish me luck!!

Besides doing this all for myself I want to do it for these two.......my loves!

Man oh man they fill my heart!  I'd like to be around for them for a very long time. 💗💙

I also have to be around for another 100 years (at least) to finish all the quilt projects I have let alone all the ones I continue to buy!!!!!  ARGH  Here's a lovely fat quarter pack of Lori Holts Autumn Love fabric.  She has a free pattern out but of course I would need more fabric if I wanted to make that!  LOL  It's a disease!!!!!!

A gift I did complete for my friend Kim and her 50th birthday (which was in MARCH!!).  

Family friends of ours (great friends of my Dad's) were racing at Millarville a couple of weekends ago so we went with Daughter1 and Lyla to watch.  

She loves the horses and races!  (and I had a taste of Shady Orchards wine and it's yummmmo!  I have to remind my Dad to bring me some when he comes next weekend!!!!)

Then this came:

Then it left and then it came and then it left and now it's back.  I haven't even pulled out my fall decorations but I haven't put lawn furniture away either because I am hopeful we will still be able to enjoy it before this white crap comes to stay!  I don't know what I will do if we have another long winter....I really don't................

Work has started since I last posted and it's going "okay".  I am working with a sweet little girl but there is another EA in the same classroom I don't know I can handle being around for the whole school year.  😐  She's been there for decades and I don't know if she ever plans on retiring!!!!! 

Time will tell...............

So that is my world in a nutshell for the past almost month...........maybe I will have to post on here progress pics or results at least of my weight loss  😉  Feeling hopeful!!!!!!  

Checking Things Off the List!

Well, this is it.......the last few days of summer vacation......I go to work for a full day Wednesday and then only the morning on Thursday then get back at it after the long weekend when the students arrive Tuesday.

I had sooooo much I wanted to do this summer and seem to have got a few things done just this past week!  The stuff I didn't get done can be done anytime regardless of the weather as it's all inside....and mostly painting or purging/organizing.

One of the BIG things was to attack this:

The dumping ground for "stuff".  Stuff I haven't used for a year since we moved. I seemed to have made a bigger mess then it looks here but have most of the stuff sorted and organized...a couple more boxes to get through.   I am planning on having a garage sale this weekend........

Another item on the list was washing windows.  Here is my helper!!!!!  We got them all done though!

Hubby helped to take the garden out this weekend.....it was the most pathetic garden I have ever had! I had another little helper:

Hubby and I popped into town Saturday night and on our way home came up behind then passed this......should have hijacked it!  HAHAHA!  Mini donuts.....😋😋

Daughter1 and Lyla came for a sleepover on Friday and left Saturday afternoon.  Sunday morning I cleaned and got ready for a visit with Hubby's cousin and her daughter.......I had this little girl in my dayhome with she was 4...she is 14 now and going into grade 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Good Lord...where does the time go???????

And here Ms Molly is....pooped from all the work she did! I think she is up to 4 mice and 2 birds now.....thankfully she doesn't eat them but she has to bring them to the front step to play and show us!  LOL

What a character!

Another thing on my list was having an eye exam......did that Friday and yep progressives are coming!  Now, I could have opted for just readers but I am getting tired of putting on glasses, taking them off, plopping them on top of my head, them falling to the floor.  I am getting a bit of help with distance too with the progressives.  I'm worried about getting used to them but they said to give it a good two weeks at least.  I'm truly thankful both our benefits covered the cost of them!!!  I hope I like them when they arrive.......Daughter1 helped me decide too.

Guess this isn't getting anything done.....it's a drab, cold day and I really could just stay in my pjs and stitch or something but I would regret it come the weekend!  It feels good to get things accomplished!  Off to find that motivation!

Sunshine and "Blue" Skies

Well, I can see the sun and blue skies this morning and although the blue isn't clear it's still blue!  I don't smell smoke and it is going to be an awesome day!!!!!

I did a whack of things yesterday....cleaned the house, shampooed the furniture (but not sure it made a huge difference.....) and even tried my hand at pickled garlic.  Hubby will tell me whether or not I was successful.....I won't be eating it!  😜  Today my plan was to wash windows....I hope to find that motivation soon.  hahaha

Here is my prepped-for-stitching block 3 from The Little Red Hen's Wooly Mystery group on Facebook.  Of course the 8th one was just released so I'm a bit behind!  They are all cats and I love them!  I used staples to hold my pieces down this time...I bought one of those long-arm staplers (or whatever they are called) and I just finished up another project using them to hold my wool pieces and I love it!  The thread doesn't get tucked around a pin or they aren't falling out.  And you can't see where they were once you remove them.  I will get started on the stitching soon.

A new mug!!  LOLOLOL  Yep the cupboard is overflowing!  This one came from the Home Hardware Store in Sundre....they have a little room full of cute giftware, etc and this one called my name.  😆

Here is my Molly pic.....stretched out on my lap, chin up.  When I was calling her in last night I saw she was playing with something...yep a mouse.  That's the second one and add that to the bird, she's a killing machine.  (not happy about the bird though)  She was only playing and hasn't eaten any thank goodness because she gets too cuddly rubbing on my face and I'd rather not have "mouse breath" that close!  We have never seen signs of mice here the whole year we've been here and these are tiny things....Hubby said field mice....but I hope they don't make their way into our buildings.

I am nervous now though because yesterday evening a HUGE owl flew close to the house and Phoebe, our big chihuahua, was on the deck.  I'm sure the owl was after her but the deck on the front isn't wide so it likely couldn't swoop down.  So now I am scared about Molly and the dogs being outside!!!!!  I keep watching for it but I can't be watching all day every day and Molly loves it outside!  Argh....country living!!!!!  I would DIE if I saw a big bird carry any of them off....could you imagine???????????????????  😳😢

Well, best go find some motivation!  These sun room windows will be the first I do once I find a tall ladder....right now they aren't in the sun.  It's going to be a nice one out there!

Holy Smoke!

Here we are, another day of smoky air.  I feel myself whining and complaining about it (to no one but the animals!) because I have a splitting headache and feel almost sick but then I think of the fire fighters and cannot imagine what they are going through.  I know they have masks, etc but it must be awful.  As well, for the people who have respiratory conditions.  Praying for rain and winds that move the fire back onto itself.  It is supposed to be a nice, sunny, warm week but this is the sun here this morning:

Yesterday I had big plans to pop to town and grab a few groceries for a recipe I wanted to make, go to the registries office and FINALLY change the address on my drivers license....little things to get me out and about.  But instead I spent the entire day in my sewing space!  Not accomplishing much but cutting out two projects ready to sew, cutting strips for another so I can complete it, and putzing making these:

What I SHOULD have been doing was FINISHING a project (or 10!!) that I have started!  Nope, I just added to the "to be quilted" pile!  I'm thinking though, that the last rearranging of the sewing room might have helped with the bit of motivation!  (I did a switch of a couple of things even yesterday)  Oh and I even mended the knee on a pair of work pants for Hubby.

I never went to my appointment in Calgary on Monday.....I woke up not feeling great and after I had got myself ready, felt like I really shouldn't travel.  I am waiting on a call about a re-book or, at the very least, a review of my mammogram.  Nothing as of yet.

This morning I had a nice call from my friend and former neighbour Deb.  It was great hearing from her and missed our lunch date Monday too.  I am hoping we can get together one day soon.

Booked Ms Molly for her shots and an eye exam for me.  Molly goes tomorrow and I go next Friday. 😄  I really should have done this at the beginning of summer vacation.  Oh well, if I need glasses I want to make sure to use our benefits before we don't have them anymore.  

Hmmmm what to do today........I do have to go to town but I will go later on this afternoon.  Sewing room it is!!!!  Maybe I won't smell the smoke down there.

The Big Squeeze, A Rodeo and A Rearrange

Well, another week has passed and I have two and a half more until I go back to work for a day or two (not really sure what the schedule is!) 

On Friday I had my annual mammogram appointment.  I didn't get a pic of myself in a gown because here to you into the mammogram room and strip down!  No time for modesty!!!!  I didn't need an ultrasound but they wanted me back in 6 months to check out the surgery site again......I don't know what they are concerned about but I go to Calgary today and will ask my Dr there.  If he sees nothing and Red Deer doesn't call to make an appointment I will not worry about it.  

I had plans on spending the day in Red Deer shopping before and after my appointment but this little monkey and her Mommy came for a sleepover so we just did a little shopping before (Winners) and after (a quilt shop).  Here she is having lunch....and a cotton candy milk drink!  I think she likes it! 👍👍 

It was another HOT day!  I saw this get to 39 at one point!  When you go for a mammogram you aren't to wear deodorant....well I told them I did because I wasn't subjecting anyone to that in 39 degree weather!  No big deal...you just wipe it off.  😄

I felt a bit rattled after my appointment....I felt like I should have asked more questions but it was hard standing right by the full waiting room and I never think that quickly on my feet!  Lyla was sleeping so I found and shopped (over spent!!) at this cute little shop!!  Lyla woke up and her Mommy was bringing her in to find me as I was just coming out of the store.  

After this we headed for home!  Sundre was having a Bulls and Wagon rodeo so off we went......again, sweating bullets, but this little girl had a blast!  I wish I could post the video of her dancing.....oh she cracked us up!!!!!!  😂

Saturday after they left I decided I HAD to clear out some of my kits to make room for new stuff I bought.  I have to have a sale and have a lot more to go through once I decide when I will have that sale.....I want to purge so much more.......books, patterns, fabric, precuts........I also rearranged my space and now I feel like sewing something!  I made a list of the kits I do have too......and will organize projects I want to do that aren't kits.  I have sooooooo soooooooo much stuff!

I best go and get ready to hit the road.  I pray for a parking space today.  I am meeting my friend Deb for lunch afterwards....it won't be a long day but it will be nice to catch up with her and it will be the last time before school starts for both of us!

No It's Not Another Bat

Nope, not another bat friend.  It's really hard to take a picture of a hummingbird who flew into our sunroom (I keep the door open a bit so the dogs and cat can come in and out while I am enjoying my coffee in there) while shooing a cat away and preventing said bird from moving into the rest of the house!  He/she didn't and I was able to direct it to the open door and it flew away.                             

SO I had Hubby pick up a feeder and I am hoping he/she will come back!

When my friend Pam was here for a visit, she got me hooked on hexies!  She had sent me a picture of a project using hexies which made a mug rug....well, my hexies made my pumpkin too big for a mug rug!  Here I am stitching on my deck one beautiful day.

And here is the completed pumpkin.......now to figure out what it will become.  I may border it and make a little pillow....

These three "homies" came to visit on Saturday.  Son2 was here so we all had a visit.  The weather wasn't great so we were stuck inside.😞

These two snuggled having a snooze.

My brother and his sons (my nephews😃) got a Matthews family crest/coat of arms tattoo on their forearms.....my brother gave my dad the gift of one as well and he just had it done last week.  Not sure if my other brother is going to get in on the action.  (and I'm not sure why my brother looks so tired in this picture!!!!!!  Late night maybe??  HAHAHA)

I enjoyed the hot day yesterday after our son went home....did some laundry and then started some more hexies (see!!!  I'm hooked!) and continued reading a book I started a day or two before....I finished it yesterday.  Sue Grafton is the author and I had started to read her books when the kids were younger and I read while they were swimming in our dugout.....I took them out of the library.  Quick fun reads...this series is about a female private investigator.....you can NEVER guess what happens at the end...whodunit!  Never!  I have collected some of the series (it goes by alphabet.  I just read M is for Malice.  The series started with A is for Alibi  I hope I can read a couple more but I have sooooooo much to do first.  I could try and read while I am doing these "jobs" but you (I) can't put these books down!  

I've cleaned the house this morning....it's to be another hot one but it is smoky right now.  Maybe I could get around to painting the bathroom ceiling......or I could stitch more hexies or start N is for Noose!

August...Already!

It's August....already.  We start back to work at the end of this month although the students don't come until after the long weekend. I have stuff I need to get done.  I went to a sewing day this week and everyone always asks "have you gone anywhere this summer?" and I got to thinking about that....does a person HAVE to go somewhere over the summer?  Being home, not waking up to an alarm and having leisurely mornings is vacation to me!  Not having to work on course assignments, not being stressed over bad days the kids I work with are having.......so I am quite alright with not going anywhere over the summer.  😀  BUT, I would like to get a few things done here...like going through cupboards, etc and getting some painting done so that a) I feel as though I have accomplished something and b) I will feel less stressed going into the new school year.

Last week was also my nail appointment and I think these cute, summery nails are some of my favourite ever and how simple is that??  They make me smile when I look at them.

I have to get a picture of my crazy cat in on every post.....how can she be comfortable????

My hexies are all sewn together.....it finished quite big 26" x 19" Now to figure out how to finish it.

But not before starting another hex project!!  These hexies are smaller...1" as opposed to 2" and they will be a pumpkin.  I did these late last night, after struggling to find 13 orange fabrics!!....they are hard to put down and some time soon I will stitch them together.  I need to appliqué some leaves and embroider some vines once it is attached to a background.....

Small things amuse me as I went to get the mail yesterday and our ugly old green, beat up mail boxes were gone and this was set in their place!!!!!!!  Having the bigger boxes for parcels will be nice too and will save having to wait to go to the post office the next day to pick one up!  (not that I am expecting anything! 😝

We have had thunder/lightening and rain the last 4 or 5 nights.....today is gloomy and I thought it was to be the first without rain! Daughters 1 and 2 are coming out today with our granddaughter.  Son2 is here for the weekend as well......we were going to have a weiner roast for supper.....might need a plan B.  😞 Grrrrr.  Next week is supposed to be beautiful.....time will tell.