Sunday Ramblings

It is the Third Sunday in Advent and the candle this week stands for "Joy".

Right now it is hard to feel joyful as a good friend and upstanding member of my parish passed away on Friday.

Sister Adelaide was a fixture at Sunday Mass (and weekday Masses). She has worked for the parish ever since her order left Estevan. Sister was the only one to say she was not leaving when the order recalled the others to Toronto. Here was this tiny, little person (she only came to my shoulder) standing up to her Mother Provincial and saying she would not leave. That we needed her here (quite true).

Her smiling face at Mass brought joy to so many people. I became an Associate of the order many years ago and so I got to know Sister on a more personal level. She had a sense of humor second to none and I can remember driving to meetings and laughing the entire trip. I can remember all the hugs she gave me during the hard times in my life, she saw me through the death of my in laws and my parents. We traveled together to give talks to the youth of the parish on vocations. I also got to look after her love birds whenever she would go on vacation.

Her selfless work in the parish was something to behold. Since she did not drive you could often see her walking to and from the church. It didn't matter if it was raining or snowing and icy, there she would be this small nun making her way to and from church. I would often stop and offer her a ride if I was nearby, but Sister Adelaide would smilingly say, "I need the exercise." and continue on her way.

I will miss you greatly, Sister. Thank you for the joy and laughter you brought into all our lives.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

My Favorite Christmas Movie

While I have many favorite Christmas movies the one I can watch over and over again (in fact I do) every year is ..........

So this evening I will be sitting with my knitting, laughing, smiling and crying as I watch.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

It was a lovely day today. No sun, but no real wind either. We now are getting a light dusting of snow with more to come tomorrow. As long as it doesn't get to be bone chilling once again I will be happy as I can go for a short walk every morning. I love walking outside.

Today a few things were accomplished. I managed to finish the third pair of mitts out of the leftover grey yarn.

I do have to sew them up yet (my least favorite part of knitting), but that will not take much time in the scheme of things. I have also started some navy ones as well. This is using up some leftover navy yarn from another project. Sort of decluttering all the leftover bits and bobs I seem to collect.

Harvey finished what he says is my birthday present this year.

 I am now the proud owner of a donkey and cart to plant some more flowers in my yard this spring. I think he did a wonderful job.

He has now started on another project. Of course it is not the table for my sewing room and I am beginning to think he is putting off that project for as long as he can........

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

It's that time of the week again, seems to be coming faster and faster each week. Must be because it is the end of the year.

Monday

Leftover Stew from the freezer. Served with slices of homemade bread.

Tuesday

Leftover Chicken. I think I will make Chicken a la King.

Wenesday

Leftover Frozen Chili, served over pasta.

Thursday

Clean out the fridge Smorg.

Friday

Salmon Casserole and a salad.

Saturday

Leftover Ham made into some type of casserole. Served with the remainder of the salad.

Sunday

Pork Roast, roast potatoes, and beets.

So there you have it. Kind of a use it up week so that I can manage to get other things done before Christmas.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

 The Second Sunday of Advent has come and gone. Today we lit the candle for Peace.......

This week has ended on a very peaceful note in the Phillips household. It has been so bitterly cold that we have gone no where for the entire weekend. When the wind chill makes it feel like almost  -40 C a person just stays in as much as possible.

Peace is something we all reach for, but in this world is so far away from our reach. We lost a wonderful statesman this week with the death of Nelson Mandela. A man who reached out to those of his country men and women in need. He is so right hate is learned at a young age while love is something that is in our hearts from the time we are born. To have true peace one must love all of mankind no matter their race, belief or even unbelief. I hope sometime that I can be even half the person he was.

I spent today in the sewing room for the most part. I was busy making fabric gift bags.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I came up with.

The glitter glue ones are still drying, but the others are ready to use. The green and gold ones were made out of an old Christmas table cloth, the red ones were made out of leftover red fabric from an altar cloth I made for the school and the green ones were made out of a drapery panel from our living room. There is enough of the green damask material to make a few more, which I plan on doing later this week. This was good frugal use of fabric. I do have some snowmen fabric I want to use up as well. All these bags were made with items from my stash. Got to love a good stash!!!!

I am also using up bits and bobs of yarn knitting mitts. Slowly but surely I am decluttering both my yarn and my fabric.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Getting Things Accomplished

After two days and a terrible back ache from bending over too much I have finally gotten my tree decorated.

This is the first year we have placed the tree downstairs and because the ceiling is so low my poor angel will not fit on the top. I have placed her to the side of the tree on a ledge that runs around the room. The tree just does not seem finished without her.

I also finished Kris's afghan!!! A whole three and a half weeks before Christmas. My knitting needles are now busy with mittens. I plan on having a few pairs of those under the tree as well, using up the bits and bobs of leftover yarn from previous projects is going to make these very frugal gifts.

Here is a picture of the finished afghan......

It should keep Kris toasty warm in his chilly apartment. When the temperature drops below -30 C he says it gets a bit cool. Let's just hope Ray does not take over this one as well.

Harvey has been busy as well. Here he is working on a project in his workroom in the back part of the basement.

He is busy painting a new addition to my flower baskets. I have a feeling that once it is totally done it will be beautiful.

Weather wise it has been extremely cold here with the wind chills making it feel like something in the -45 C range. Perhaps this is why I got the afghan finished today, there is no way I want to be out when exposed skin can freeze in 10 minutes.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

It's a good thing that our trip to the UK taught Harvey and I how to go for a long stretch using the least number of clothes that we possibly could as it came in handy. Since our washer broke down things have been tight clothing wise. We were getting the most wear out of what we put on as we possibly could.

The part we ordered that broke was supposed to come tomorrow, and we were lucky enough to get it delivered to our door late yesterday. Harvey installed it today and we are back in business. I tried out the washer on the sheets I had stripped off the bed just before it bit the dust. It worked, and I now have a working washer!!!!

This is the part that broke, the door latch....... The part was inexpensive, but the shipping was outrageous!!! I just hope that the washer lasts a bit longer after all 4 years is no time at all.

It is getting really cold here and after three days of work I am so glad to finally be staying put in my nice warm house. I was supposed to go to Book Club tonight but just could not face the bone chilling temperature of -24 C (-11 F) with the wind making it feel like -37 C (-35 F). It is not a fitting night to be out and about.

Harvey is busy in his workshop down in the basement, I hope to have pictures soon of what he has been busy building. So far it looks pretty darn good and it is keeping him out of my hair.

A few more pictures of my decorating endeavors.

This was a gift from my sister many years ago.

An old fabric tree that I made at a Christmas craft workshop many, many years ago.

 Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.