Wednesday, October 3, 2018

I am around and

hope to be back to posting in the next day or two.  Have a LOT going on..........


Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Flying...........

Do you like to fly on an aeroplane?

I am not afraid of flying, but my body does not do well when flying.

I have motion sickness from the minute we set off on the runway to the minute we land and the plane stops.  Add in that it's always a night flight and I cannot sleep, so I am exhausted by the time we land; it makes for a very unpleasant seven hours or more.  If you need confirmation just ask my hubby and dad who have both flown with me and can attest to how much a pain in the butt I am😏

This is generally how I look, wish me luck!!

Must remember to buy gravol!!!  I am actually feeling a bit green around the gills just thinking it about it😕

Saturday, September 1, 2018

All ready to go..........

I finally got all 10 learn to knit project bags together with the help of Angie; she supplied eight sets of needles and another lady supplied two sets of needles.  I did the rest, and off it went in the mail on Friday:

Each bag contains a pattern, ball of yarn (enough to make an adult hat) a set of needles and a stitch marker.
 I picked all bright colours for this set.
They are going to a ladies/girls group in Northern Manitoba and they will be learning to knit.  Any kits leftover I told the organizer to donate them to someone in their community.  I also included extra patterns and a couple of free knitting kits for a bookmark and a soft toy I got in magazines.

I plan on putting together another box in a couple of months time.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Crazy busy, I mean crazy, crazy busy!!

This week has been super busy with one thing and another.  

As with most things in life everything happens at once.  When I booked our trip to Britain, I said it'll be "sod's law" and we'll end up selling the house and having to buy another one all at the same time.

Well; we have an offer on the house.  We went back and forward with that at the beginning of the week.  We ended up accepting the offer, BUT the buyers still have theirs to sell.  Where it is at it shouldn't be a problem, but who knows?

Meanwhile we have no where to go and are going on vacation in a week or so's time.  Fast forward until today and I have narrowed down my selection of houses to ONE; BUT and there always is a but they want way more for it than it's worth and there is a bit of work to do on it.  So we are going for another look today (Friday) and we'll go from there.

The closing date for our house is October 31st, so only 60 days which isn't long when you go away on vacation in between hands!!

I also committed to send 10 knitting kits up North for a women's/girl's group, so have been busy putting them together.  Finally got that done, as they will be starting the Fall session soon, will do a post tomorrow on those.

Then we to get ready to go on vacation, plus I want to see all the grand children, they are heading up on Sunday with parents for a get together, so that will be 10 adults, 5 kids and a baby.

The home inspection is being done on Monday, so need to get the house tidied up for that.  Small children are like little tornado's and it's amazing where their sticky hand prints end up!

I still have photos to sort through and print out to take with us.  Still have a few things to buy to take with us.  Did get all paperwork sorted to take with us and got cash converted over. 

I know there are a hundred and one other things to do; I need to make a list😉

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

I wish I had a smaller head..........

as wouldn't it be fun to wear one of these.......

 Picked up these for the girls for Christmas.....
 Got them from North of Nine Designs.
They are just so pretty, and I know the girls will just love them!!

Monday, August 27, 2018

Another Sunday looking at houses........

Looked at four homes on Sunday that were having open houses, just so I can cross them off the list, in case we actually sell our house.

First one I walked in and knew right away it wasn't for us.  

Second one was lovely, had a great back yard backing onto trees and a ravine, so no one behind us.  It wasn't fenced in on one side but no biggie and the grass was terrible.  Oh and it was $50,000 over our top budget😕  I could actually see us living there though, which is a first.

Third house needed work which was doable, but didn't like the yard despite the fact it also backed onto trees and a ravine.

Fourth house was okay, could see ourselves living there, BUT despite having a 200 foot deep back yard it was 200 feet down a steep hill, so needed work to make it worthwhile owning it.  Oh and had no fence on one side of it?  Plus the kitchen needed redone and it had no a/c.

Do have a couple of homes that I would like to look at, but they haven't had open houses.  I don't want to bother our real estate agent with them until we have a firm buyer for ours.

Oh well we will know this week if we are going to sell this year or pull the house off the market and put it back on in Spring.  Tired of this house selling thing now!

Sunday, August 26, 2018

My Froggie Stuff

I know what a funny title, but it's actually a Youtube channel that makes furniture and things for your Barbie dolls.  I was standing in line waiting to pay in Michaels on Saturday and got talking to another lady and it got around to Barbie dolls and furniture and she told me about this Youtube channel.  There is also a blog with all sorts of crafts on it with the same name My Froggie Stuff.

I don't have the time to be making Barbie furniture at the moment, but I do have the time to watch the odd video while knitting.  These would make great Christmas gifts and seem pretty simple.  I watched the one on how to make a Barbie sized refrigerator and a sectional sofa.



I guess I need to be saving all my empty boxes and buy some foam core board!!

Saturday, August 25, 2018

New project I am working on...

I am putting together along with my friend Angie this learning to knit project bags for the women (and possibly men) in Northern Canada.

I am making small project bags, and inside of them I am putting a simple knitted hat pattern, a ball of yarn, a stitch marker and a pair of small circular needles.  All in all enough to make an adult knitted hat. 
Angie is going to donate the needles, and will also be asking her store patrons for donations for the needles.  I will supply the rest and the shipping; unless anyone wants to donate some items?

I wanted to use the circular needles as they fit really well in the project bags.

I will be putting together 10 sets for this first shipment and hope to get them off by the beginning of September.  I haven't made up my mind yet, exactly who will be getting them, as there are a couple of options.  I am not sure to donate to the elderly or to younger girls/women?

Any input would be welcome?

Friday, August 24, 2018

My first shipment to the Uquutaq Society

I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $25 Amazon e-card and put together an order for the Uquutaq Society.  Must say I had fun figuring out what to send up to Iqaluit and stay within my budget.

I decided to concentrate on the Homeless men this time and included the following:

3 packs of 10 disposable razors


 2 packs of 10 bars of soap
 12 washcloths
 2 boxes Ziploc plastic bags (15 per box) to put above items in.
This little lot cost me out of pocket $22.94 which was $2.94 over my $20 budget, but never mind it was worth itI read online that one of the things the homeless have on their wish lists are things to keep themselves clean.  Which is why I chose those things.  I may concentrate on toothbrushes and toothpaste next time.

Now I have to build up my Swagbucks points back to 2,000 before I can cash in and send off my next box to them.  I am at just over 100 points, so a bit to go yet!!😊

I am also putting together another box of things to send up North which I'll post about soon.

If anyone else wants to put together a box of things for the homeless click here to read about what they are looking for and their address.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Got the Atlantic Ocean in my ears....

Been fighting on with this for well over a week now with over the counter medication and it's just not cutting it.  Tried making an appointment with our family doctor and couldn't get in for over a week to see him.  Tried to get in to see the nurse practitioner again a week to see her.  

So I gave in and went to our local walk-in clinic.  I have to say I had a pleasant experience.  The doctor was super nice.  I "only" waited 1 1/2 hours, which may seem like a lot but for a walk-in that is pretty good going.  If I had gone to our family doctor, it's an hour to drive there; an hour to drive home and anything up to an hour waiting to see him.  So probably a three hour experience.

Turns out I have congestion on my ears and boy are they sore.  So another nasal spray for me for the next two weeks.  I was concerned if my ears don't clear up before we fly to the UK I would be in severe pain flying.  So fingers, toes and everything else crossed my ears will have dried up well before we fly.

Do you have good or bad experiences when using a walk-in clinic?

Talking of ears, some songs can be "earworms," as they get stuck in your head.  So if they bother you, don't watch this Youtube video!!







Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Donating blood

I have written about this before, but thought it was well worth talking about again especially after reading the following article which had this headline:

"Canadian Blood Services Urgently Needs Donors, But Still Won't Accept Gay Men"

Not only will it not accept gay men, it still won't accept the following people, as per the Canadian Blood Services site:

"Some people are deferred from giving blood because of where they have lived or visited. For instance, donors who have travelled to locations outside of Canada, the continental U.S. and Europe have a waiting period of 21 days after their return home before donating blood. These new criteria were introduced in February 2016, to identify donors at greater risk for acquiring illnesses spread by mosquitos such as Zika virus.
Other deferrals include those for malaria and vCJD.
Because the risk of infection diminishes over time, people from a country where malaria is prevalent are deferred for three years after departure from the country. Those who have visited a malaria risk area are deferred for one year after departure.
Because of the theoretical risk of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vcJD), Health Canada concluded that deferring donors who had spent time in the following places balances the safety of Canada's blood supply with the need for donors:
  • a cumulative total of three months or more in the United Kingdom (UK) between January 1980 and December 31, 1996
  • a cumulative total of three months or more in France between January 1980 and December 31, 1996
  • a cumulative total of five years or more in Western Europe outside the U.K. or France from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 2007. Western European countries affected are Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Republic of Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein.
  • a cumulative total of six months or more in Saudi Arabia from January 1, 1980 through December 31, 1996

Donor screening deferrals are based on risk factors. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity."
What this means that despite me, my husband, son and daughter living most if not more of our lives in Canada we cannot still donate blood.  It's a crying shame............

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Toms....

Dd was buying the girls a pair of Tom's each for indoor shoes for school/daycare and so I hopped on board and got her to order me a pair as well.
 Lots and lots of hearts....
 Perfect and so comfy.
 My old ones are a bit worn down 😔

Monday, August 20, 2018

Saw these three on Sunday........

All are the apple of their Nana and Grandad's eye.......





Actually took the photos (other than the last one) with my camera....haven't used it in ages.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Mini Project Bag........

I wanted a smaller project bag than this one to carry my knitting in while we are away, so hunted out some fat quarters ( a fat quarter is a piece of material that is 18 inches long and around 22 inches wide) and made one.

This one used two fat quarters and a 2 1/2 inch by 22 inch wide strip of material.  So ribbon/webbing for the drawstring, and general sewing equipment.

I cut out 4 pieces of material 11 inches long and 11 inches wide, from two fat quarters.  What was left of that material I used for the pockets and the red you see is from another fat quarter, the 2 1/2 inch strip to make the casing to put the drawstring in. 


 As you can see it will hold your needles and a large ball of yarn and a few other bits and bobs, but not much else.
 Inside there are two large and two small pockets in the outer fabric print.
 The two large pockets on the outside will be handy as well.  Angie was good enough to give me those circular needles to use as they are cheapies and it's no biggie if airport security takes them off me.......
 I have had this material years so no idea what it is called.
This is the perfect size for me to pop in my carry on tote on the airplane and it will keep my knitting clean.  Saw something similar on Etsy for $30.  Made this in around 90 minutes.  Probably would take me less time now I know what I am doing!!😊

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Using Swagbucks to help others....

I have been a member of Swagbucks for a number of years now, and have earned nearly 148,000 Swagbucks since joining.  I cash all mine out for Amazon e-cards, and for us in Canada 2,000 Swagbucks = $25 in Amazon e-cards.

I enjoy doing the surveys on Swagbucks and you are rewarded for you time.  There is also the daily polls and watching new items and other things also earns you Swagbucks.  You can also earn points buy visiting sites and buying things via the Swagbucks site.

It's like those money back sites, but in this case you get Swagbucks.  Some of the online sites I buy from are Amazon, The Gap, Book Outlet, and all give me Swagbucks back.  

There are daily codes you can earn Swagbucks from and also when you do a search using their search bar, you can earn Swagbucks there as well.  

Overall there are many ways to earn Swagbucks.

Recently I have become very interested in helping others in Northern Canada and have joined a Facebook Site called Northern Canada Mini Projects.  Various organizations in Northern Canada are requesting items for various projects.

I sent a box of books up for a Summer Literacy programme via Book Outlet.  They are looking for sponsors for a Thanksgiving Extravaganza for the Elders in Taloyoak.  There is a programme to help the homeless in Iqaluit.  Plus many more for children, women, for soup kitchens and general needs.

One of the issues I find though with helping people in Northern Canada are the shipping costs.  Unless you can find one of the flat rate boxes which I talked about on this post, it is super expensive so any way to save on shipping costs is a HUGE help.

So this is why I am talking about Swagbucks today.  As Amazon does ship free of charge on orders over $35 to certain areas in Northern Canada.  Iqaluit being one of those places.  So it is a win, win situation for all.  As I am sure like me every penny we earn we need for something, but we all want to help others as much as we can.  So why not use the Swagbucks we earn to cash in for Amazon e-cards and order things off, of Amazon and send them up north?

I tend to cash my Swagbucks in when I reach 2,000 and get a $25 e-card.  Think of all the toiletries I could send up the the Uquutaq Society who looks after the Homeless in Iqaluit, and it would only cost me $20.  For example I could purchase a 10 pack of Ivory soap for $3.96.  If I buy ten packages, so 100 bars of soap for $39.60 + the 13% taxes = $44.75.  Use my $25 Amazon e-card I got from Swagbucks and it is less than $20 out of pocket.

If you would like to join Swagbucks , you can click here, or if you would like to join using my referral link it's here.  If you have any questions about Swagbucks please ask away and I will do my best to answer them.  You can access Swagbucks via your mobile phone; I personally do not do that and just use it on my home computer.  

If you are on your computer or mobile phone on a daily basis you may as well use the Swagbucks site and earn Swagbucks while on there.



Friday, August 17, 2018

Stinking cute.........

I mentioned the other day that "R" requested a couple of pouches for Nitara and Jeina to put their hair stuff in.  I had cut out the material the other day, and decided on Thursday afternoon after I came in from knitting to do a bit of sewing.

Like all grandparents, I can't make something for one without the other and I know the next time I will see the girls I will be seeing Nora and Paige as well, so wanted to run a couple up for them as well.  The larger pouches are for Nitara and Jeina as I know what they want to put in them, the smaller ones are for Nora and Paige.

The material is so stinking cute it is Woof Woof Meow for Moda.  If the outside fabric is cats, the inside is bones.  If the outside is bones the inside is balls of wool.

 The white trim for the handle came out of the 50 cent bags from Fabricland, there was only enough for 3 handles.
 This ribbon came free in a magazine.
I think the girls will like them.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Trouble x five!!!

These guys all try to get together for a play date once a month.

I didn't go as the weekend traffic is horrendous during the summer.  Will be seeing them all at the beginning of September.

Haven't they all grown?  When dd told me she had taken a couple of photos of them, I commented that they must have all been eating, as that's the only way you would have got them to sit still.

There is a splash pad at this park, so that's why they have their bathing suits on.

I do love them all, along with our little Liam. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

A couple of quick makes..........

Had some dishcloth yarn in my stash, so I decided to knit a couple of dishclothes:

"R" called and asked if I could find a couple scraps of material to make her two girls some pouches to put their hair things in.  I have so much material I could make hundreds of pouches!!  So what do I do I make Sammy a pencil case, as I don't want to leave him out.
This literally was made with a scrap of material.  Good news is that I have cut out the girls pouches and that will be today's job sewing them all together.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Just saying......

Over on Mamasmercantile Blog, she went to a motor show.  One of her photos was of a little mini car, like this one:


Everytime I see one of those cars it makes me think of the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral, with Hugh Grant.  One of my favourite movies, the car in the movie was also red; as per this source.

Do any car's make you think of other things?


Monday, August 13, 2018

Pro diet tip.........

If you are craving something sweet.........smell this soap!!

It smells so, so good, just don't eat it😉

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Photos can be so deceiving...........

As you may or may not know we are "trying" to sell our home.  No luck as yet and we have said all along if we sell, we sell, if we don't no problem we will put it back on the market next year.

One thing we don't want to do is buy another home before we sell this one; makes sense right?

We have viewed some homes however that were having open houses; so no appointment needed and no need to go in with a real estate agent.

On Saturday one house that looked "really good" on paper and in photos was having an open house, so we thought we would take a look.  As soon as we walked in our first reaction was the photos make this house look so, so much better.  On looking around, the place needed a good clean.  The kitchen cabinets had been painted; quite poorly.  The window tracks had NOT been cleaned in years.  The floors were "bouncy," so not installed properly.  The a/c wasn't on, she said the owners didn't like a/c?  And on and on it went.  $50,000 and you could fix the majority of the issues, but it was already at the top of our budget.

Another house we looked at, in the main bathroom they had put the FULL bathroom garbage bin behind the shower curtain in the bath tub?  I am quite sure I am not the only one who pulls back the shower curtain to see if there is mold on the tiles or the grout needs redoing?  That was just laziness on the owners part.  

I am not sure if we are just picky, or what but I am beginning to despair that it is going to be an uphill battle to find another house if we do end up selling ours.

Have you viewed a house for sale and seen strange things?

Saturday, August 11, 2018

The other daycare mother's must hate her....

I know I am biased but we have a very talented daughter.  It was crazy hair day at daycare on Friday and this is what she did Nora.  Very effective don't you think?

This is what she did the other year......
Me personally; I have no talent when it comes too hair!!!

Friday, August 10, 2018

My new Fable Bag

This is my own pattern and design and I have named it The Fable Bag.  I decided to make a new handbag to go away with and I had just enough of the blue cork to make one with.

The patterned fabric is from Free Spirit and the Fibs and Fable Line (you can read more about this line of fabric here).
The lining is Essex Linen.
Blue Cork from M M Cork Supply.

 Bag is approximately 11 inches high by 14 inches wide
 Made a zippered pocket to keep our passports safe.  Along with a sewn in fob to keep keys on.
 Three deep pockets to stash all your bits and bobs in.
 The usual ties at the side, I love those....
 Fell in love with this right away.
I am lusting after this green cork to make another bag with!!  However I know this purple cork would also work........decisions, decisions........




Thursday, August 9, 2018

Robert who?

You'll never believe who brought a couple of people to look at our house last night............none other than ROBERT REDFORD!!!!!  I mean who knew he was a real estate agent on the side😊

The following is a true story, which made this all the funnier.  Whenever I talk to my mother I'll ask her what she's going to be "up too/doing" this coming week and she normally replies:

"Well it all depends on whether Robert is coming over or not."

The Robert she is referring to, is of course Robert Redford.  Suffice to say, I will be popping his business card into my purse to take with me to Britain to show her.

I was talking to the receptionist at the real estate agents office and her last name is BOND, asked her if she had a James in the family and yes her uncle is called James Bond!!

I would think it would be annoying to have the same name as someone famous.  What do you think?

Must say I think Robert looked the best when he was filming this movie.  Which reminds me must watch this again as I haven't seen it in a while.
It turned out that the movie star Robert, looked a lot more dashing to my mind than the real estate Robert!!

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Took a while but I found it..........

The flight to Britain takes 6 + hours.  The flight back home 7+ hours, so I figured I need something to do to keep me out of mischief as I am a rotten traveller.  I decided knitting would be the way to go.  Knitting a ribbed hand is an easy thing to do and doesn't take up much room, especially as I am sitting in the middle seat of a row of three.

So after much searching I found this site that tells you what you can and cannot bring on a plane.  It seems knitting needles are fine, which is good, as if you are a knitter you know how expensive the needles are, so don't want them confiscated by customs.

Here is the latest hat I have just knit:
This is for Liam and it's the second one I have knit for him as the first one was too small.  The little guy has his father's big head!!

Now I am back to knitting twiddlemuffs.  Have a couple I want done before the end of the month.  You can read more about twiddlemuffs here.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Seriously???

Had to go to Michael's on the weekend to pick up a photo frame and saw this:

Everything you need to make your Christmas Wreath's?  I mean who is thinking about this?  It was hovering around the 40 oC mark this past weekend.  Halloween things were in the store along with the Fall decorations, which is bad enough, but Christmas things, way, way too soon for me!

Monday, August 6, 2018

Speaking French...........

Despite living in Canada for over 29 years, I still speak with a British accent.  I took French in school and sucked; really I was terrible but I took it for four years.  I left school a "number" of years ago and have never really had the need to speak French.

Fast forward to yesterday and we were in MacDonald's down the road from us and me being the nosy person that I am, was listening to a strained conversation at the counter and gathered the poor woman who was trying to order didn't speak English.

I said to the young kid behind the counter don't you take French in school, he said not; which I found strange as we are a bilingual country for heavens sakes.  Anyhow, my British schoolgirl French kicked in and we had a conversation on what she was trying to order.  I don't know who was more surprised me or dh.

Now granted my pronunciation was terrible but the lady understood me enough so I could double check the order and make sure it was correct.

I still couldn't get over the three kids, nor the manager didn't even know a bit of basic French?

So now I can add another thing to my resume/cv; TRANSLATOR!!!!



Sunday, August 5, 2018

My Fitbit week.............

starts on a Sunday through to Saturday.  So I am starting a new week today.  I managed to walk 35.45 miles this past week which was pretty good.  I also managed to lose 3 1/2 lbs.  When I cut out the cookies, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice, this is what happens, I drop the weight.  Cookies, specifically granola bars are my downfall.

Also when I sit down on a night to watch tv that is when I have a habit of snacking, so now I have to keep my hands busy and if I have something to eat it is fruit or fat free yogurt.

Bought a big watermelon yesterday and had two big bowls of it last night while watching tv.  

Note to myself: do not eat two big bowls of watermelon on a night, as you will be up countless times peeing😉

Have a great Sunday!!

Friday, August 3, 2018

I'm not a vegetarian, but

I don't eat a lot of meat.  The following is one of my favourite meals.  It's a big pasta bowl full of lettuce, cucumber, red onion, tomato, raw cauliflower, alfalfa micro greens and canned mixed beans.

 I don't skimp on the salad dressing and usually use Three Cheese Ranch dressing, it's my guilty pleasure!!

I buy these cans of beans from Wal-Mart, and they are a great value (!!) at under $1 a can.

 Looking at the nutrition chart, they are also good for you and a great protein source instead of meat.

By the time I chomp through that bowl of goodies, I will be full.

What is your go too low calorie meal?

Hotel Stay

First of all thank you for all your birthday wishes.  Each and every one of them was greatly appreciated.  The kids bought me/us an overnigh...