Easter Sunday

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

God bless.

Good Friday

Wishing you a blessed day. 

Kris is here so I am busy visiting right now, and checking out his wounds. 

Will have a longer post tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 

My supper out last night was wonderful, I really enjoyed not having to cook and clean up after. Today, however it is back to normal. No real cooking I just need to warmup the leftover meal from Monday and slice up some cucumber and wash some cherry tomatoes as our side. 

As the weather is supposed to change with drastically reduced temperatures overnight, I decided to go shopping today. I am going to cheat a bit and use this shopping trip as a January one. Only out by a day really. 

My cart was not very full at all and for meat all I purchased was a 1 kilogram package of bacon, and a smallish beef roast. Both of which were on sale. In fact most items I purchased were on sale, and yet my total cost was outrageous. I did not cut down the grocery line on the new budget, but there will be lots of me trying to get under budget this coming year.

There are a number of ways I am going to try and get our spending under control. These are my challenges for the upcoming year.

The first challenge to myself is No Waste. Everything will be used up food, fabric, yarn, paper, and clothing.

The second challenge is a bit different than most bloggers and YouTubers. I will keep track of no spend days. I think that even spending on food, bills, and such is still spending. Money is leaving the account. So I am going to count no spend days and hope I have lots of them each and every month.

The third challenge is I am going to continue to shop at home first. This is really helping me clear things out of my various stashes and make good use of what I have. Cooking wise this has taught me a great deal about substitutions. It will also help me to perhaps learn some new skills, like making yogurt or puff pastry. 

The fourth challenge is I am going to declutter 500 items this year. Yarn or fabric can only be counted in this if the item is actually leaving the house.

The fifth challenge is to start exercising more and having some look after Jackie time. You know facials, perhaps even giving myself a pedicure. I have very dry heals. I always put this down and by March I  have completely forgotten to follow through on this. 

I think that these will keep me plenty busy over 2025.

Before I leave I want to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my ramblings.

I also want to wish you all

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Winter Solstice

 I am working on some long term goals for next year. Hopefully they will work well with my monthly goals. I have really not posted about my long term goals other then the decluttering one. This upcoming year there will be a few more and those could be slightly more complicated to keep track of. One is me trying to have more low spend/no spend days and another is trying to cut some budget lines. There are a few more that will inter-twine with these. I will list the rest come the new year.

Longest night of the year ahead, now the days will be getting longer. Looking forward to being able to work on projects a bit longer each day.

Kris and the Grandcat are home and Kurt is about 2 hours away. Supper will be held off until he arrives. So looking forward to having both the boys home and staying for a number of days. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits And Stuff

 

The house is quiet once again, perhaps too quiet right now. Work, other than slowly hand stitching the quilt went by the wayside this weekend. 

My back was much better, just a twinge now and again. With Kris's help Thanksgiving dinner went well. He helped by putting the turkey in the oven and taking it out. Saved my back for sure.

Kurt was outside helping Harvey cut branches off the trees. Those now need to be cut down, the bigger portions saved for the firepit, and the smaller ones hauled to the dump next weekend. He then raked the leaves and smaller sticks up for easier disposal. 

Eiko, our grandcat is getting more and more used to us being around. She is still a bit skittish, but at least does not attack us, claws out when we walk by. 

I spent some time yesterday cutting scrap fabric into strips, 4" squares and 6" squares. One more project finished this month. Sure glad that I only have a few small ones left to do. The 6" squares are being edged and then I will be using them as tinkle cloths... Should have enough now to last more than a week. I got the first 20 or so done this afternoon. 

There are tomatoes left to either process or eat. I do think there are too many to eat, but shall give that a try. I have made 6 containers of tomato sauce, 6 jars of salsa and have numerous bags in the freezer of frozen tomatoes to use in chilies and stews over the winter. 

The days are drawing in and soon we will be turning on the heat. Not something I am looking forward to, but Harvey is complaining that it is pretty cold in here mornings. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can manage to keep it off until at least the end of this week. The house does warm up considerably during the day. 

Stocking up for the winter will be continuing. Mostly canned items and cold/flu type items are left. Plus a few of the gifts still need to be purchased as well. 

My laptop has been acting up and Kris said it is reaching the end of it's life span. We will be traveling some time soon up to visit with him and he can take me shopping for a new one and then gets the joy of transferring from this one to the new one. He also wants to set me up with the "cloud". Scary proposition as then I would need to learn something else. I do have an external hard drive, so perhaps I can talk him into using that instead. This laptop will be used in my sewing/craft room with my embroidery machine and my Cricut. Should work perfectly fine for those things. 

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of our visit to our (my sister went with me) aunts. One is 92 and the other is 97. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Just thought I would pop in and let you all know I am still around. Company, projects that needed completing, and my bad back have kept me from posting. I hope to get back in the groove tomorrow. 

Wishing all of my Canadian readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Good morning everyone. I think it is probably time I filled everyone in on what happened over Christmas, and how for the first time ever I did not run around snapping pictures madly. I just was in the moment the entire time Kurt and Kris were home. Strange for me. 

Both arrived home on the 23rd. Kris early in the afternoon (he had trouble getting Eiko into her traveling cage) and Kurt just before supper that evening. The usual happened... Kris made himself comfortable upstairs with me, and Kurt made himself comfortable with his Dad down in the man cave. 

The first evening at supper we got caught up on all the news. Harvey and I had thought that Kris was working 2 jobs for the city, turns out he was working 3 jobs as they hadn't filled his old one as of yet. That one should have someone starting today while Kris is still on holiday (he has one more week). Should take some of the pressure off him. So he is doing his own job that he applied for and got, plus the job of the person above him who his out on medical leave right now. 

Kurt has only 4 students registered to go on the trip with him this Easter. At first there was at least 12 that expressed interest but the number dropped as the financial problems of many began. He actually had to pay a bit this time around, and one of the students mothers is going with them and paying full price for her fare. Kurt always thought the school board would put the breaks on overseas trips, but he thinks it could be himself doing so. At least until the financial worries are less.

Shh, now don't let Kurt know I told you (that is if you follow him on twitter (can't seem to call it Xter) or Facebook, but there could be a book from him soon. He was approached by a publisher (who keeps changing their minds on what they want) to write something about hate/radicalization in Canada, that is suitable for Grades 6-9. He has another meeting to discuss this with them sometime in the next week. 

Since we would be heading to Harvey's sister's place for Christmas I made our big meal Christmas Eve. Now that was very strange. Since Christmas will be here next year I plan on making it a meal. 

There was no late Mass on Christmas Eve so we decided to attend Christmas Day Mass which was another very strange thing in this household.

Christmas arrived and the sons were very happy with all their little packages in the baskets. Both asked if they were allowed to keep the baskets as well. Of course I said yes, that I had planned on purchasing new baskets next year. Kurt was very happy with his little recipe book (I have since thought of a few more recipes to put in which will be part of the gift next Christmas), and socks. Kris on the other hand loved the ornaments, little tool set and the socks. 

Kurt got Harvey an autographed picture of George Chavello. He got Kris a Viking bracelet like the one he wears, and a personalized  travel bag for his toiletries. Me he got a set of cast iron stakes for my herb bed with lovely pictures of the herbs I plant (and some I don't, but now will). 

Kris got Harvey two beer brewing kits which will keep him occupied for quite while. He really got Kurt some lovely gifts, a horn drinking cup with a holder and a belt loop as well as a wooden stein. He got me a lovely big box of smelly things from The Body Shop (the box was actually an Advent Calendar) but I opened each box and all are in my cupboard or drawer. One of  my promises for this year is to pamper myself a bit more.

I made Harvey a pair of pj bottoms to replace the ones that ripped beyond repair and became rags. 

Harvey bought me a sparkly necklace which is worn as a torque (think I spelled that correctly). Kind of awkward but I love it.

Now since my birthday falls on the 29th my boys usually have my birthday gifts under the tree as well. I open them Christmas day as I have since I was a child (usually did not have a party growing up as it was so close to Christmas). Harvey got me the matching bracelet to my Christmas gift, Kris got me a gift certificate to Fabricland, and Kurt got me a beautifully carved stone angel. I can not for the life of me remember the type of stone, but it has a lovely sheen and reflects light amazingly well.

I think I have rattled on long enough for this post. More to follow on the visit tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Year's End

 

Wishing all my readers the best New Years Eve. We will be staying home, and probably be hitting the bed early. Gone are the days where we would go out and celebrate. Much safer to stay home.

I have almost caught up on all the tasks that I let slide while Kurt and Kris were here. 

Regular posts will start again with the new year and I will be spending some time catching up with all of you.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Merry Christmas

 

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas. I will be taking the next few days off of posting, but will be back after Christmas.

Off to visit with Kris and then get supper started. We will probably be eating a bit later as Kurt got a late start home.

Everybody have a wonderful holiday spent exactly how you like.

God bless.

Easter

 

Feeling better today, but not by much. Hopefully back visiting and posting very soon.... Testing negative, but who knows. Harvey tested faintly positive yesterday.

Everybody have a wonderful Easter. 

God bless.

New Years Eve

 Oh dear, by the time I gathered the energy to come on here it is late and time for me to make supper. My energy seems to come and go. I felt good enough for a bit of a walk down the street this morning, but once home I just collapsed. I did manage to call my brother, and input the budget figures but that is about it for the days tasks. 

I hope to pay you all a visit yet today. 

In the meantime.....

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

This is our Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. I want to wish all my Canadian readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for. 

Everybody have a wonderful day. 

God bless.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

I thought that today I would share a few pictures of our holiday. Only the ones we took while we were at Kurt's and on the way home as if I shared them all you would be pretty bored.

Kurt lives in Drumheller, Alberta, the home of dinosaurs and in the heart of the badlands. In fact his backyard opens up into the hills surrounding the valley. 

Have I said I love his yard cause I really do.

It is so relaxing and private with no homes behind him.

We spend a great deal of time on his deck enjoying our visit.

Since he went to the gym one day while we were there, we decided to go shopping. 

Now of course we needed to take a picture of one of the many dinosaur statues downtown (really they are scattered throughout the city).

Harvey decided he needed to sit with this one.

They look kind of mad at each other.

On the way home we had a surprise.

This is a blade for a windmill traveling down the Trans Canada Highway. They are huge and I couldn't get the whole blade in the picture. We actually passed two of them on our way home. All I can say is thank heavens for double lane highways. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

He Is Risen

 

May you all be blessed this Easter Season.

Enjoy your family time.

God bless.

Happy New Year

 

Everyone have a wonderful year.

God bless.

Early Morning, A Wish For All of You

 

God bless all of you. Enjoy the holidays, reach out to family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Merry Christmas

Everybody have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

God bless.

Happy Thanksgiving

It is the Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. I want to wish all my Canadian readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

Off to visit with Kurt and Kris. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Hiking to Regain My Sanity

I am not really an extrovert and being around lots of people for a very long time drains me for days. Harvey is pretty much the same way. So on Sunday (after a full day and a half of family, some of whom drive me crazy) we took off for a hike, or two.

I love seeing the different flowers and such that grow in various areas of my country. Thought I would share some with you. I haven't figured out what they are as of yet, so if anyone knows.....fill me in.

Pretty pink stalks of flowers and one of the many white blossoms we saw.

More of those white blossoms that I know I should remember the name of but for some reason just can't.

I think these just might be bluebells. There weren't too many of these to be found beside the trail.

What would a woodland trail be without ferns, and lots of them.

The fern bed from another angle, it seemed to stretch on and on.

I think if you look closely, hiding there in the tall grasses of a pond you can make out the water lily.

We weren't the only ones enjoying all the flowers, a lovely swallowtail butterfly was there as well. None of those pictures turned out as that butterfly would land for just seconds before flitting off to land just a bit farther on. 

Every national park in Canada has these red chairs and so far in our journeys and hikes through the various parks we have found them all.

We came back to the cabin and the family reunion in a much calmer state of mind.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.