“If you’re feeling helpless, help someone.” — Aung San Suu Kyi

Good Day!
I don't know where the time has gone!
On January 4th my mom fell outside on her sidewalk & fractured her pelvis.
I have never seen my mom in so much pain.
I took her home after 2 weeks in the hospital.
To her house!
She had to promise to shower when someone is there, and not to use her wood stove. Using the wood stove means kindling, going outside, packing wood.  
I  take or make her supper every second day.
Hopefully her sisters visit the days I'm not there! 
It's Chinese New Years Buffet at the a restaurant in town.
I've asked her all week if I could pick her up.
Last night she said, yes, pick me up, I'm feeling better.
Then, no, I'm not going with a walker.
OI!
Anyhoo, she's on the mend!

Vanessa did send me a picture of her Christmas card.
Next to the shaker cards it's her favorite.
That's pretty high praise! 

It's real sparkly in real life!
I realized when she sent the picture, that the wooden hearts I put on look like V's!

I did get some Valentine cards made!

Mom's 

 Kalens

 Vanessa & Harley

 

 

 Bryson

I love that this folds flat!

We had snowmaggedon! Nothing like down east, but it started & wouldn't quit!

This is probably day 4, and Kalen finally got one piece of snow removal equipment working! 

When I complained to my family up north, they said, well 
at least it isn't -40!
It's been raining all week, so the snow is almost gone!

The snow wouldn't quit, so I had a laundry soap making day!  

 

 Fels Naptha is getting harder to find just over the line in the 

U S of A, so I used Zote.

 

The bar is twice as big, think the price is comparable!

I also ordered some seeds online, which surprised me by arriving the next week!

 

We  still want to get some Milkweed, as we seen Monarchs at the lake when the kids were here.

Kalen didn't think they were this far north.

Pretty sure I'm right in their path for the lake!!

Actually, I'd like to plant more shrubs & flowers, cut down on the mowing! 

Also, my front yard is pretty much dirt, so would like to fill in with Hostas etc. It's shady & they are compatible with walnut trees.

 

Better go.

Hope you are well!

Talk to ya later!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing.-Socrates

Ahhh peeps, I'm running on fumes..............
as I slopped coffee all the way to my craft room to talk to you!

I DID get the deadbolt installed............
Took it back to the hardware store, told them my easy install lock turned into a work up a sweat nightmare!
It was threaded wrong....I got a new one.

I DID get the new dryer delivered & installed, and yes, it works, and no it doesn't want to start a fire!

I DID get to the wine & cheese party last Saturday night.
Although I did have to go through the checkstop in town first.
RCMP: "We're looking for impaired drivers, you don't look impaired, are you impaired?"
Me: "Not yet!"
So in 3 hours I had 1/2 a glass of wine, and 1/2 inch of  port..........
not that I would drive drunk, I'm not crazy!

I had an emergency oil change Thursday night!
Yes, there is such a thing!
My check engine oil light came on, and when I opened the hood of the van,
I could see oil leaking out of somewhere onto the lovely white snow!
One of Vanessa's friends stayed late to change my oil for me.
The oil pan plug was loose & so was my filter!
OI!

I DID get the cookies made for the library, and also sent some to Vanessa's work, and took some to mine!

Monday I got to work to this....

 

This next one was on my desk & said "Please Return."

It's sewer pipe people!!!! Ewwww!

 

Remember this post where we were "The coldest place on Earth!?

This was the average temperature on my way to work last week!

 

 

Today the wind is howling, and it's + 3.5 F.

Not good people, not good!

 

Thursday night I got home after 8 pm, and look what followed me home!!!!

The county grader!

I gotta stock up on poppycock!

 

Yesterday I fired up the snowblower,

which doesn't want to fire up for some reason,

and got rid of the foot of snow to the left of the van.

I blew off the foot or so of snow on all the pathes.

Also, the guys from work sent a grader over; but not before I cleaned out the parking lot!

That's ok, the yard is clean!

Another reason for the windy, warmer temp to go away!

It' will turn my newly blown paths to ice!

 

Remember last year

(and I'm sorry I keep saying that; like I ever remember anything!)

I made these......

Well, I'm doing it again!

Here's the Hot Chocolate on a Stick, before it's on a stick.

 

My first batch of fudge was too hard, so I had a redo!

 

But don't worry, nothing will go to waste,

Vanessa and I have already giggled about who's friends will get what, and LIKE it!

 

Here are the bags I made to put 2 each into.......

 I need 50 pieces of Hot Chocolate on a Stick!

 

I skipped a step making the bags once I caught on, and my top flap is 1 1/2 inches!

 

Here's the process, with some bagged!

 

And here they are in their little gift giving bags!!!

 

I made a 3 X 3 card so Ray's sister could add her business card.

 

She wanted something different for her clients, and this is what I did.

She only wanted the Hot Chocolate on a Stick;

these bags were my idea.

 

Vanessa's sure she'll love them!

 

I got tired last night so still need 10 more, but will getter done!!!!

 

That's all I have on my "Have to Get it Done Yesterday" list!

 

I'll get some Christmas cards addressed today;

I have to quit saying my cards are not done.

People think they're not made yet!

hahahaha

Of course they're MADE, just not addressed & in the mail!!!

And I hear stamps are going up!

A LOT!

 

Kalen will be home next weekend.

Vanessa & I have to take a whole whack of her stuff out to the seacan for storage.

I also need to get some blankets out of the camper!

One of the kids (Vanessa) will be camping out in the living room.

 

This week shouldn't be so crazy.

Ha, I say that now.

 

I have dinner with the gf's twice this week, different gf's.

 

I have to go to one of the gf's for a lesson on how to get into the neighbors house,

cause I'm signed up to look after both while they're away at Christmas.

Last year I couldn't get the key to work!

It was darn cold, and I just waited for her plants in the window to die,

then I would know the furnace was out!

hahahaha

Hey, I did feed her birds!

I have my priorities!

 

Better go, have to get the laundry out of the washer,

probably have to go find the lid off Shadows food. AGAIN!

 

Gotta get those 10 bags of chocolaty goodness done!

 

I'm sure I'll get side tracked 20 times, but stuff will get done!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!!!

Happy 2013!

This post was started Saturday the 5th
I got the pictures added on Sunday!

OMG!
Life just gets in the way sometimes!~

In last weeks episode I was going to clean off the roof.
Let me tell you, last Saturday I cleaned off around the satellite dish, cause I only had 1 channel in the craft room.
I told Ray, & he said: "yeah, I couldn't even get the news"........HELL O!
Tuesday I cleaned off the whole north side of the house....I was a hurtin' unit!
Thank GAWD for the jacuzzi!
More from dragging around the evil ladder, than pulling the snow off.....Wednesday I had supper with the gf's, and Thursday & Friday I was back at it!
I'm DONE! Stick a fork in me!
Finished early this afternoon, and you'll never guess what the forecast is.......yup/ SNOW!?

Alrighty, got the pics added.
Had to go through Picassa??? Anyone?
Very painful!

I can't do the far east end of the house, cause the weight would collapse the little deck, and I'm not a make work project...I'm only moving that snow ONCE!

One day when I was going back to work from town it was so unbelievably foggy!
I work, right in the middle of this picture!
Unreal huh! Up at the top is blue sky and the sun was shining!

 

 

Christmas got put away this morning; you do know that for the next week I'll be rolling my eyes every time I spot something that should have went to the closet!
The snowmen get to stay out until the snow's gone or Easter, whichever comes first!

Here's a picture of my desk.
I made some poinsettias with a punch I bought before Christmas, I've got quilling on the go, I finished coloring a HM I had started before Christmas, and made some 3-D trees.
Eventually they will all go on something! Sometime!

I've also filled the furnace, scrubbed a bathroom, did the laundry, and dishes, (in the sink...I'll turn the dishwasher on later!), fed the birds, cats & dog, my supper in the slow cooker should be done, then I'm back in here to try this technique! Looks like fun!
http://scrapbookgirl.typepad.com/paper_scissors_and_superh/2012/11/chalkboard-art-meets-stamping.html

Hope you're all well!
Talk to ya later!
Ta ta for now!

Don't expect a great day; make one. --- Author Unknown

Hello everyone!
Hope you're well!

Got a few cards to show you!

Finished Vanessa's Christmas card...of course it's blue!

 

Gonna send it right away, cause I've already 'lost' Kalens!?

 

This is the card I made for Kalens room mate!

I bought a bunch of  Bugaboo stamps from Stampalicious.

I'm not 'into' digis....I have done them;

I don't have a good program, so it's painful to resize them etc.!

 

 

The inside says "He Knows Where You've Been on the Internet."!

I decided I don't always have to do 'cute' & 'nice'!

 

In other news...the weather report!

 

 

Still snowing!

Visibility was crappy, I can't even see 2 power poles down the road!

 

I need to fire up the snow blower again!

I might have a minute Thursday night!

 

I have to buy another flag from the county office, so the nice grader man can come again!

It must have snowed 6 inches this evening!

 

Dinner with the gf's tomorrow night/ one is in Trinidad,

and one just got back from Florida and a cruise!

I'll bet she's wishing they stayed!

 

Craft sale again on Saturday.

Meeting some peeps there for lunch!

Then next week the fun begins with Christmas celebrations with friends;

Daddy & Me at the Christmas Tree at the Library........

I've volunteered since they started....I help the little dumplings e-mail their letters to Santa!

That's always good for a laugh!

 

I keep forgetting to ask if we're having a Christmas party at work this year!

Should put that on a list for tomorrow!

I like to be prepared; they always send me shopping!

 

Better go, I'm working on a House Mouse card for the Monday challenge.

It's not too late to join in!

 

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Light tomorrow with today. --Elizabeth Barret Browning

Hello peeps!
Hope you're all well!
I have a minute, maybe 10; and I am drinking a beer, but thinking about going to blow snow!
I did get the Advent baby gift delivered this week!
It was a BIG hit, and they were excited for the weekend (today) to start!!!

Monday this week I had an FCSS (Family & Community Support Services).
It was short & sweet so did dinner with a friend!

Tuesday was a FOML (Friends of the Manning Library).
That was short & sweet too, and afterwards we had a whine wine & snack get together with the Library Board.
This was my contribution + a bottle of Two Colors wine from Dr. Zen Zen.
These are 2 Bite Cheesecake, and Rum Balls

 

Earlier this week I saw this guy!

 

Not the same as the Hogwarts Owl last year, but maybe someone's cousin!

 

Buster thought I was working too hard one day, and strolled into my office,

and flopped his head on my knee!

Or maybe he just wanted a little TLC!

 

 

WE let him in the office to thaw out on cold days, cause he won't go in the shop.

 

These guys were on the road!

It's SNOWING again, so the least snow is on the road!

 

 

 

The weather forecast shows no snow for Thursday!?
THURSDAY!? SERIOUSLY!? 
WhooptyFreakinDo! OY!

I did Happy Hour at the Old Folks Home last night. And it WAS happy!

This morning was a funeral for one of my old friends from the OFH!

He was the one who took an alarm clock to a picnic, cause his watch broke.
The alarm wouldn't shut off!

He sat behind me on the bus, and told EVERYONE that would listen that I drove 100 mph.
We're metric here people....he just didn't get that memo! We had a talk!
He also didn't get to sit in the seat behind me anymore!

I have a ton more stories; I tried to be sad, but we'd just get the giggles.

He had a tiny framed picture of him & I that sat at his place in the dining room when I quit!
He showed it to me one day.
Me: "Where are we?"
Him: "Idunno"
Me: "What are we doing?"
Him: "Idunno"
Me: "Well we're sure happy!"

The family's going to give it to me!

I was an honorary pallbearer, and it WAS an honor!
I think he was autistic (somewhat), also obsessive compulsive, I learned a lot of patience with him;
he was exasperating at times, but always made me smile!
I'll miss him! He was 84.

I came home and made 3 batches of poppycock!

One of Vanessa friends in Vancouver wrote this about it earlier this week!

Yaaay!!! Haha. Gail, are you making poppycock this year? If so, I would love to place an order. Its not Christmas without your poppycock!! Xo
You're the best! I rave about your poppycock here!!!
That's how much I love it. Whatever you can do...no pressure. I'll live without if you can't. Totally OK! :-)

I left out the part about how it must be laced with CRACK cause that's how addictive it is!
GAWD!
Anyhoo, as you can see, there's no pressure (yeah right), so I got right on it!
Gonna mail it out on Monday, cause he's not coming home for Christmas.

Finally we got the snow removal flag down to the end of the driveway, BEFORE the grader went by, and here he is!!!!

 

I was so happy to see him, I ran outside with a bag of poppycock for him too!

Tis the season after all!

 

I DID make a card this week; when you ask?

.........Must have been in my sleep!

I have to make the kids different Christmas cards this year (usually I make them the same);

they post them on Facebook these days!

Not sure if it's a competition or what!

 

I still want to make a Thank You for Kalen & his friends for hanging out with me while I was there!

 

Anyhoo, here's the card!

 

 

I got the inspiration over here!

I have a few more cards in my pointed little head,

but I really think I'm going to fire up the snow blower!

 

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. --W. Clement Stone

I want to be just like all of you!

My 'Snow Days" are ending tomorrow!
Thank goodness!
The laundry is ALL done, the floors are sparkling, and Ray said he'd be home tomorrow to fix the snow blower! Whoo hoooo!

I can only take so much of this down time (unless I'm on vacation)!
I might or might not have e-mailed my peeps at the county office this morning,
and said, "Nobody's getting their AVON until I get out of here!"
The grader went by at 2:50pm!
I can imagine what my desk looks like at work, and I'm the Handi Van driver for the Community Run this Thursday, and next!
There goes those mornings!

I also had a minute to read my book, and have an awesome drink!
You know I make my peeps different coffees & hot chocolates, cause I got nuthin else to do!!!???
Sometimes I have left overs, and I decided to try one this afternoon.
I'm going to give you the recipe cause it goes in milk, and you know how I feel about that, so it MUST be good!

Hot Choco Coffee Mix
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup instant coffee
Mix together, put in decorative jar.
Directions: Heat 1 cup of milk in a large mug in microwave on high for about 2 minutes.
You want this really hot.
Add 1-2 Tbsps. Hot Choco Coffee Mix. Stir.

I used 3 tablespoons, and yummo! I had 2 mugs of the stuff!

I also made 10 Sympathy cards for the stash.

 

I have a couple packages of these blue & brown cards with envelopes.

I used the SU Medallion stamp, and Hello Doily.

They're all a little different.

The ribbon hides where I screwed up stamping!

Why are you not surprised!?

The ones with ribbons & buttons are a little bulky, but I'll probably use them locally.

 

Hope it's warmer in your neck of the woods!

Snowfall Update: It's still snowing!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Always hold your head up, but be careful to keep your nose at a friendly level. - Max L. Forman

You people are getting a twofer today!
Cause I got nuthin better to do!
hahahahaha
Just Kidding!
I'm having a snow day, so I played over at the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge!
Awesome blog hop they got going on!

Yesterday, Ray's BIL came & plowed out the drive way, and a little of the parking area!

Here comes the calvary!

 

First person to say all that snow is lovely might get a smack.....

if I could get out of here!

I texted my boss this morning,

and told him I'd be along when the snowplow came down the main road!

 

I had a meeting at 4:30,

so I started my van,

drove down the driveway,

and turned around and came home!

I should've taken a picture......it's not been cleaned off!

I'm not going anywhere!

It's still snowing!

 

On the PLUS side, cause I'm a glass half full kinda gal.....it's quite warm!

Not warm enough to melt the snow, but warm enough to work up a sweat when I'm shoveling!

And that's enough to make me laugh!

The wind blows it right back in!!!!

 

Oh well, keeps me out of trouble!

 

I can show you this card I made for my friend Bonnie.....she got it today!

 

She doesn't 'do' Halloween, and her favorite color is pink!

I just wanted her to know I was thinking about her!

 

Better go, maybe I'll whip up a few more cards, or maybe I'll type up the minutes from our meeting about a month ago! hahaha

 

A BIG welcome to my new followers!

Not sure if you'll learn anything here, but you'll probably get a laugh or two!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I will be having a 'SNOW WEEK!"
I can already tell!
Here's what it did overnight!


This is my little tete-a tete table & chairs on the small deck that didn't get put away!

 

This is part of the back yard!

 

The fire pit is out there somewhere....we were out there all weekend 2 weeks ago!

 

I walked around these trees last night knocking the snow off so they don't break.....

I'll be going out again shortly!

 

We've got about a foot & a half since yesterday, and there's still a snow fall warning!

One of my friends that's an EMT had on Facebook last night:

"Everyone STAY HOME we're going to enough accidents"

 

Another friend today commented on a snowy picture;

someone had wrote, "So Pretty."

She said: "Yeah I guess it is,

but it would be prettier if it were December 31st instead of October 20th"

 

This IS kinda early for us!

 

And yeah, I've been out!

The snow blower won't start, Ray's out working, I DID shovel to my van,

but I'm not going anywhere soon!

 

Good thing I have cleaning & baking to do......

I might have to climb up and knock the snow off the dish so I can watch TV!

 

In other news, my friend Barbara had this post TODAY!

I can't like her today!

 

Vanessa brought me this wreath at Thanksgiving!

Remember the one last year she said was from Kalen...winkwink!

 

 

OH yeah...it's on the small deck before the snow!

 

This is the amazing job the electrician did on the outdoor furnace!

 

Waaaay better than my fix it job this Spring!

 

I wanted to show you these trees, earlier this week in my travels!

I DID STOP at the side of the road to take some pictures,

because I just find them fascinating!

 

 

These are Tamaracks!

They are so gorgeous agains the green of the spruce & pines!

Although some people think they're dying!

I really would like one or 2 for my yard!

 

Gonna take a fan over to the pumphouse.

We've decided that we'll keep heating it, even though we have town water.

All our paint & stuff that shouldn't freeze is in there!

 

I'm going to bake for the Silent Auction/ Open House at the library this Friday!

I REALLY do have to knock the snow off the sattelite dish,

I'm supposed to be participating in a TV survey!

I watched The Rum Diaries last night (cause there was no TV/ no signal),

 a friend had put it on a disk for me, and it screwed up right near the end!

 

On a positive note I DID get all my windows washed on the outside before this lovely SNOW!

I've worked the casino!

Pretty sure I'm slipping cause I only spent about $30 at Michaels,

and most of that was for baking stuff!

Guess I really DON'T need anything!

 

I have one meeting this week, dinner with the gf's, and the soiree at the library!

If I ever get out of here hahahaha!

 

Hope you're all well! 

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

There are Only Two Things to Worry About--Either that Things will Never Get Back to Normal, or That They Already Have.

OMG, I have had THEE worse acid reflux going on today!
I even bought some Zantac when I went to town today, and now I'm drinking Peppermint Tea!?
And.I.Don't.Like.Peppermint.Tea!
On my second cup!
Hope something kicks in!

Dentist was wonderful (she says sarcastically)!
Another crown, andthisclose to a root canal!
Had to get drugs so there'd be no inflamation when I unfroze!

These geese were checking out the campground last week.

It's Rays' sister & husbands.

It's where I get the bottles all summer!

This is what it did on Friday night!

The fire pit is out there somewhere!

Took the van to Peace River on Saturday so they could fix my cruise control, 2nd time......still not fixed.
Taking it back on May 4th, when I go get my real crown in!
They're thinking it's wiring, and I've told them I have a short, 3 times!
They keep saying it's not related. Alrighty then!

This is the album I made to keep track of my stamps.

It's a wooden photo album, so is kinda funky.

I cut the stuff out with my Cricut....I think I need to mod podge the whole outside, but it looks great, and is evben kinda alphabetical!

I think I may finally be over the heartburn/acid reflux all day attack!

I even got drain cleaner in town today, as the sink in our bathroom has been getting s l o w e r & s l o w e r!

I dumped half the jug in like it said.

Waited for 1/2 hour.

Went back to run hot water down the drain & nothin'! 

I put the plug in, filled the sink with hot water, pulled the plug and YES!

It works like a charm.......Ray shoulda done that when he started complaining about it!

Better go.

Gonna try some cards tonight.

V's birthday's coming up, and so is Mother's Day

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

p.s. Hopefully there's no scary pictures in this post!