Let There Be Light...and a Scare!

Good Morning.  Wow November 28th....another month almost gone and there is so much to do to get ready for Christmas!  I have made a bit of a dent in my Christmas shopping but I'm not finished yet!   I hope next week I can get more or the rest done......fingers crossed!

We use our sunroom as a dining room and have never had a light out there.  My dream is to have a long and narrow chippy farmhouse table and mismatched chairs but for now I have my round table and chairs.....not enough to seat all of us but I have another old table whose sides fold out that I can use out there too.  Anyway........I looked online for a fixture from Home Depot and Hubby picked it up.  Here he is trying to find the wire he had fished in a long time ago....it wasn't that easy of a project. (please ignore that ugly ceiling...what we thought was a bad drywall taping/mudding job turns out to be plywood....how do you mud that?????  Again, my vision is shiplap ceilings and the two narrow walls but that will happen another time  😜)

Here's the fixture....I hate it!  Never, ever pick out something like this from online!  It likely won't last....once I can get to the store and pick out a different one this one will come down and if I can sell it, someone will get a great deal.  It was supposed to be rubbed bronze like the rest of our fixtures but it's black and it's not big enough.  But there is light in there now and that's a good thing! 

I've done a bit of sewing and stitching most of it I can't show because they involve Christmas gifts for friends who read this blog.  😃  But here is a baby quilt that Kim quilted for me....isn't it AWESOME???????  I got the binding on and it's ready to gift.  The baby is due any time now (Dec 4th I believe) so I'd best get it wrapped up and delivered!

A super simple runner for our dresser....it was supposed to be a Zig Zag one but I cut the points off so it would fit!  😆  I had it laid out on my design board, and should have taken a picture, because when I sewed it together it was not in the right order....but I was frustrated and finished it anyway!)

Then I decided to throw caution to the wind and wash and dry this denim rug at home.....I cleaned the lint trap every 5 minutes!!!  This is an OLD project!!!!!!  A course we had in High Prairie years and years ago!  I had finally sewn the strips on one day and it sat waiting to be taken to the laundromat......well it's done now!  

Picked this little monkey up from her daycare one day and brought her home for a sleepover.

Nap time:

Goof ready for bed:

After her time here she got sick....strep throat again!  She wasn't herself while here so I wondered if she was coming down with something.

This past Monday she went to her very first movie at the theatre with her Mommy and Auntie Amy (Frozen II of course!!!)

Stitchers.....I'm offering this warning especially if you have pets.  Our small (well she's very overweight but 'small') chihuahua has had an awful cough....like she's choking on something but she never throws it up.  I have an appointment on Monday for both chihuahua's (Phoebe for a different issue).  We were watching a vet tv show and she had a chihuahua on there with a cough and after having an X-ray, showed an enlarged heart which chihuahua's are prone to get....so we are getting Pixie checked for that.....because of this cough.  The dogs get a small treat every night.....around 8:30....and when Pixie had hers all of a sudden she was scratching at her face and was very agitated.  She has had some teeth removed so I thought the treat had got caught in between some teeth.  I couldn't feel anything and her mouth started bleeding and she was acting super weird and I felt something kind of pokey by her jaw up towards her eye/ear.  I called the vets office and although he didn't sound concerned, asked if we wanted to come in that night or wait until morning.  It has started to blizzard (and I mean you couldn't see far in front of you!) and Hubby wanted her in that night so off we went.....crawling along at 50 kms/hr.  The vet is out in the country about 20 minutes from us....I don't know how long it took us to get there.  Once we were there, the vet was looking, couldn't see anything (Pixie's tongue was blue!!!!) and was almost going to send us home until he felt the poky thing.  He said that definitely is something that shouldn't be there and upon looking in her mouth one more time saw what it was......a needle!!!!!!!!!  He ran to get a needle with sedation, told us not to let her move much and we waited for her to fall asleep. But she didn't so had to be put right out......and he removed the needle with thread attached.  To say I felt HORRIBLE is an understatement!!!!!!!!  The vet said it was a good thing we brought her in.  When I stitch, if anything drops I pick it up right away.  What I am thinking is the cats pulled it out of my pincushion and Pixie proceeded to gobble it up.  A pincushion will no longer sit on the table beside me!  Back to the cough.....Pixie has had this cough for a long time.....months and months.  Since she's had this removed, she hasn't coughed so who knows how long ago this happened.  We are still going on Monday to have her heart checked out but if you are a stitcher, do NOT leave needles around.  Here are the two of them yesterday.....I knew she felt better when I was eating my lunch and she came to see if I would share:

Pixie is the black one.  Her face on the affected side is a bit swollen and her bark was a bizarre sound yesterday but I heard her barking at the cats this morning so she is on the mend there too! 

And here is crazy Archie and the way he was laying the other day:

Goofball!

 

A Pie for Dad

Well.......once again (for the one millionth time) it's been awhile....so this may be a picture heavy post!  Grab a coffee or tea!  (joking!!!!!!!)

My dad came down for a visit.  He had meetings in Calgary the Monday and Tuesday so came down for a few days before heading there.  This I made for him:

Apple pie and it was yummy!!!!  (can you tell I have totally fallen off the WW wagon and am dragging underneath??????  😩)

I had some time to recover and then this little dude and his Mommy came down.  Jenna is taking an online course and had her practicum at SAIT for two days so Jude and I hung out.  Man oh man he poops me out!!!!  LOLOLOL  Busy is an understatement but he can play with his action figures and it's so cute to hear him "act out".  

She has an exam for one day the beginning of December and then practicum from the 17th to the 22nd of December so I have to be organized and ready for Christmas by then!!!!  Whew!

Halloween 2019:

Miss Lyla....with the hook for going to daycare and the sword for treat or treating!

Master Jude as Captain America! 

I challenged my sewing ladies to make something out of a mini charm square pack I gave each of them.  There were some GREAT projects and I think they all had fun doing it!!! 😊 I whipped this little pincushion up for a prize....I drew a name from a hat.  

We were supposed to meet yesterday for sewing but the church is renovating their bathrooms and apparently found mold!!  Too bad....it's a fun group and nice to get out and visit but we will have another one someday soon I'm sure!!

I was putting some stuff away and came across this OLD project!  I have hauled this, my very first hexie project, from north to south and now here and it was never finished......still attached to freezer paper templates (I don't do them that way anymore).  As I was going to tuck it away with other table mats I thought  "Just finish it!"  So I did.  Found a piece of wool from a jacket or something I had found at a thrift shop and stitched a backing on.  There are some VERY old fabrics and BAD stitching but I like it!  

Winter has arrived here in Central Alberta.  I'm not sure it's going to go away although yesterday we had rain.....and it knocked alot of the snow down.  Here was the view out my back door:

And here is Mr Plow.....he came home from work early on Thursday so he could have daylight to clear the driveway.  He LOVES doing this!!!!!!!!!

Then yesterday morning (and last night) it rained and I have never seen a morning rainbow and to the west:

It was pretty!!!!!!  The snow is all gone off the trees now.....but it will be back!  

So this weather made me pack up and put away my fall decor.  I rearranged the livingroom (again!) and am enjoying the clean uncluttered space.....and I think I will keep it that way.  When it's time, I will only put up my skinny Christmas tree (that's all there is room for!!!) and keep decorations very minimal.  My kids will complain but they can decorate their homes as much or any way they wish!!!  😁

We are to get snow today/tonight.  I do not have to go anywhere!!!!!  I have Christmas music playing (and have listened to it for a week now!!) and might just go get another coffee.  But wait, my post wouldn't be complete without a picture of my kitties.....here they are, all snuggled.  They were spayed/neutered on Halloween and came out of it perfectly!!  

Enjoy your day doing something you love!  

My Wonderful Adventure!

Wednesday morning I headed north on my adventure.....to my old hometown!  A long drive (6+ hours) but the weather was perfect and there wasn't much traffic.  I arrived at my Dad's who left for a meeting but when he got home my brother Steven came over to watch the Oilers game so I had a visit with him too.

Thursday morning I was up and at 'em to meet my friend Kim at the grocery store. We needed supplies as we were going to spend two glorious days at her cabin to sew!!!!!!!

Here she is ready to go!!!!!

The first night was beautiful.....here's a pic of the sunset view from the cabin:

I completed a queen sized Wicked Easy (that was it....I brought so many more projects to work on!!  😂) so I could give it to her to quilt on her longarm machine.  (I gave her two other quilts as well!)  Here are the blocks laid out to be sewn together.  

We stayed up late (3 am!) and sewed and watched Mrs Browns Boys and a couple of movies.  Oh we laughed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (you have to googled Mrs Browns Boys bikini wax on Youtube....HILARIOUS!!!!)

Saturday morning came and we were off to the quilt show that is put on annually by the guild we both used to be involved in.  I didn't take any pictures because I was so busy visiting!!!!!  Saw a ton of wonderful people there but didn't buy much. (discipline!!!!)  Wish I had more time to visit....but the show closed at 5 pm!  Kim left for home and I was off to visit my friend Pam.  

A very tired me ready for bed Saturday night:

Back home on Sunday......this trip was just what I needed.  I needed a change of scenery but most importantly, I needed time with my friends!!!!  Thank you Kim for the yummy casserole and soup, the use of your beautiful cabin and your company.......we ALWAYS have belly laughs and can talk about ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  💕 Wish we were closer.........

Monday was cleaning day and I spent most of the time rearranging the livingroom.  A little change (which Hubby needs time to adjust to!  LOL) but I like it.  Laundry was washed and dried and my day was done.

Tuesday I decided I needed a walk so did my walk, got ready for town and my nail appointment:

Then to the drugstores for magazines, a few groceries and a car wash.....stopped for an Apple Cinnamon fog at Timmies then home....where it decided to rain!  LOL  Oh well, my vehicle is cleaner then it was.  Laundry was put away and I made a roast chicken for us for supper.  Today is windy but sunny.  I should be walking again today but my neighbour told me she was bit (second time) by a dog in that area.....argh.  She no longer walks which is very sad.  I didn't see any animals on my Tuesday morning walk except deer.  I need to get groceries today and spend some time in my sewing room.  I have bedding to wash as we will have some company this weekend....my Dad is coming down so my daughters and maybe one son will be here.  Unless the weather turns crappy up there (they had snow yesterday!), but he has to be in Calgary for meetings on Monday.

Okay now I am babbling and have likely lost anyone reading this!!!!!  I feel like there was so much more to talk about but that will be it for now!  HAHA😄

Enjoy your day!

Thanksgiving 2019

 Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!!!  🦃  (we didn't have turkey!!  We went Ukrainian and had ham and sausage instead)  I think the meal we had is my favourite!  It was delicious!!!!  The weekend was busy, noisy, messy, exhausting but wonderful all at once!

I met Daughter1 in Calgary Thursday and picked up Miss Lyla.  Friday we made this snowman......(there is only an outline of a snowman left as of today!).  She "helped" me get stuff ready on Saturday morning before the arrival of the rest of the crew!!

Jude and Lyla get along very well now.  Lyla watches Jude to see what he is going to do and follows along but when I hear them playing, it's her that tells him how they are going to play and what they are going to do!  Funny and at a fun age! 

Here they are in Judes Gator which stays here now.  Jude does all the driving...Lyla just hangs on! 

Once everyone left on Sunday (early afternoon) I got the house back in order and cleaned.  I couldn't relax until I did!  Yesterday Hubby and I put the lawn furniture away for the winter and then went to vote.  I putzed in my sewing area when we got home and got things ready for the sewing groups Birthday Block Club.  On October 25th & 26th we are having sewing days and will be exchanging our fabrics.  We will start with blocks for our January Birthday girl.

I am off on an adventure tomorrow and will post all about it once I get home!  I can't wait and only hope the animals survive with Hubby!  😅 

 🐈🐈🐕🐕

Off to pack!

Printing Pictures

For my birthday, 3 of the kids went together to buy me this:

It prints pictures from wherever....phone, etc.  I feel as though we live in an age where all of the memories we capture are on our devices and not in albums like they used to be. (I still have envelopes of pictures yet to be placed in an album!....one of these days I will go through my albums and remove excess and consolidate so there will be less of those around too.....I know, I should scan them and put them on a 'stick' and not have the bulk of albums but.....it's like books....I love looking at the pages....feeling, touching, turning the pages....nothing beats it!)  So maybe with this handy device I can start printing pictures again, being selective of course.  

It was sunny yesterday.....I wouldn't say it was warm though.....but a lot of the snow did melt from the trees and driveway.  Going outside it sounded like rain as the snow was dripping off the trees and plants.  The temperatures are to improve so I am hopeful, by the end of the week (end), all this white stuff will be gone....and for awhile!!

I had the hair-brained idea to repaint all the trim upstairs in our house.  It was all chippy and gross and I'm sure there are 300 layers of paint on them.  To be done right they should have been sanded, etc but I just slapped paint on paint on paint!  It looks better and ideally they should be replaced but that likely won't happen any time soon!  Anywhoooooo what a BIG job!!!!  I tend to overdo it when it comes to this stuff and my body retaliates in pain.  I am trying to take it slowly..........and the bedrooms with big beds won't be done until later....just the door trim and door frames...and eventually the doors.  Once I finish the kids room I will head into the living room.  If I only had the trim along the floor to do, I would be laughing but it's the windows and doors that are a PAIN!!!!!!  I can't even avoid the stuff that isn't chipped as the color now is an off white and I am painting white so it all has to be done!  I have a hair appointment today so I am not sure if I will get into it but I will commence tomorrow!  Maybe some stitching for now.  

Enjoy the day!

WOW...How Could I Forget????

I knew there was something I was forgetting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My amazing friend Kim gifted me this incredible wallhanging for my birthday.  Kim is a CRAZY WONDERFUL long arm quilter (Prairie Patchwork Co. in Grande Prairie, AB...check out her Facebook, Instagram and Etsy)  I haven't got a hanger big enough for it yet and this picture DOES NOT do it justice (better pics on her FB page) but I feel so incredibly special!!!!!!  

Thank you Kim for a gift that I will cherish forever!!!!  💗💗💗

Smells GREAT In Here!

Good Morning.....it is 7:30 am but I've been up for forever!  Hubby left for work at 5 and I've been up since....I think even before that as I saw the clock at 2, 3, and 4.  I'm a great sleeper so I don't know what is happening!!!!!!!!!!  ARGH!  I don't ever nap but today might be a first!  😴

Remember I told you about my new favourite candles??  Here they are!  I have Momma's Kitchen melting right now.......Fall Harvest was yesterday and as I mentioned, Pumpkin Spice the first day.  They are amazing!!!!!

Yesterday was a good sewing day (more on that in a bit).  I had the tumblers sewn together for awhile and yesterday decided to add the borders.  It finished at 60" x 78".  I have a jelly roll in this fabric line too (Farmer's Daughter by Lella Boutique) and have border fabric left over so I will see what I can make with that.

My "helper".  She was soon fast asleep after this picture was taken!

So here is the reason it was a good sewing day:

We got more after these pics were taken.......maybe it will stop today????  I saw that we had snow on the first day of fall last year so I guess it was "late" this year!!!  UGH!!!!  😩  I believe it stayed last year but I sure hope it doesn't stay this year because we had crappy summer weather (or NO summer weather) and if we have a long winter it might drive me to drink!  🍷

I made use of my new baby:

And had a lot of cuddles after I was done in my sewing area:

Survived the day......today doesn't look much better although at this time there are no flakes coming down!  🙏

It is cleaning day and ......  I'm not sure.  I might have to fit a nap in later on but I'd best get moving before I fade!