Toronto's Parkside speed camera cut down for 7th time in less than a year

This isn't funny, as you shouldn't go around doing this, it's illegal.  I do find it funny though that they haven't been able to catch anyone who has done this?

However on the flip side, I was dinged with one of these camera's where we live on New Year's Day of all days.  I was doing just over 50 km per hour in a 50 km per hour zone.  BUT, during the week there are flashing lights as it is a school zone and the posted speed limit is 40 km per hour.  New Year's Day was a week day........BOOOOOO!!!!  Cost me over $100 but luckily no points on my license.  

So people think all these camera's do is make money for the cities and that's why they are disliked.

I wasn't impressed........

 in fact honestly I was a little scared when I saw these in Home Depot the other day.....

That scarecrow is 15 feet tall.........

Those dogs eyes were creepy

All those things moved........

That scarecrow is $498, which is crazy

I know some people are into Halloween, but some of those things will terrify small children, oh and me!!

Now the following photos are more me, when it comes to Halloween. Saw these in Homesense:

However, I think I will just stick with my one plug in plastic pumpkin!!

$1 House

I have been watching this series on You tube since day 1.  She is such a lovely young lady, and very industrious.  Granted I wouldn't do everything the same way she has done, but she has done a lovely job on a very tight budget.

A new episode comes out each week on a Sunday morning.  

Sewing

Did some more sewing this past week to use up some bits and bobs of fabric.  Barely made a dent though 😞

This used up some squares I had from a kit.  It's 14 inches square, with batting between the layers and quilted.

The back of that one.

More fabric from the same kit, but in black, white and grey.  Again 14 inches square.

The back side of that one.

Four more lanyards.........I haven't asked daughter if she sold anything, as she was super busy at work.

Then I decided to try out this pattern for a chap stick holder.  It uses scraps of fabric.

It's way too fiddly for me and my poor arthritic hands, so won't be making any more.

Not sure what I will do with all these items.

Riddle

I was over at Angela's @ Tracing Rainbows and she was talking about the word "riddle" the other day.

Not only does the word riddle mean solving a puzzle, but it can also mean to sieve something where we come from in Cumberland/Westmorland, which is now the county of Cumbria in the UK.  My Pop used a "riddle" in the garden to sieve the soil when planting his garden.

That got me to thinking about dialect.  Although we have lived in Canada since 1989, both hubby and I still talk with a British accent.  My dad lives over here as well and he too still talks with a British accent.  When we go back to the UK, people notice a difference with the way we talk, as we say garbage instead of rubbish, and many other Canadian words.  They also think we now have an "American/Canadian" "twang" to the way we talk.

By the way most people who don't live in Canada or the States, think we sound alike or pretty similar.  Just like South African's and Australian's and New Zealander's sound similar to me.

Now back to the dialect subject.  When I am talking to my dad we automatically drop back to using words that are used on a regular basis back in Cumbria.  The same way I do when talking to my mam or brother's who live in the UK.  Although I don't consciously do this, I do, do it.  My mam will call me out for using a broad Cumbrian word, like "nowt," instead of nothing.  As in, "there's nowt that I can do about it."  Instead of "there's nothing that I can do about it."

I know I have said this "many a time," but I totally forget I have an accent, and am puzzled if someone doesn't understand me here in Canada.  In the States, I am more aware of having an accent, as everyone comments on it there.  I am a talker which doesn't help, so will talk to anyone and everyone when out and about.

One of our grandkids will call me out when I use a Cumbrian word instead of a regular Canadian word, or pronounce it differently.  Instead of saying the word "Garage," I will occasionally pronounce it "Garidge."  He will tell me that's not the way you say it!!

Finally for those of you who don't know what a soil riddle is, here you go:

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX

RIP Robert.  

Called my mother when I heard this, as when we asked her: what are you doing today?"

She would always say: "Depends whether Robert is coming to pick me up!!"

Now she's going to have to say: "Depends whether Brad (Pitt) is coming to pick me up!!"

This was my favourite Robert Redford movie, brings back memories of when I was a child.

What is your favourite Robert Redford movie?

The teacup theory........

 

Just reading what's on that picture makes you relax.  I love to hold my tea or coffee cup in both hands, and it does feel good.

The image is from Autumn Rosewood.  Her whole website feels relaxing to me.  Wanting me to go into a quiet room, snuggle up in an armchair with a cup of tea in my hands, and a blanket over me and watch the world go by out of the window.

I think I may just go and do that, but instead of watching the world go by I may just have a wander through Autumn Rosewood's website.......

Katrina: Come Hell and High Water | Official Trailer | Netflix

Did anyone watch this?  I watched two episodes but couldn't finish the third episode.  I found the third episode just dragged along.

The two episodes I did watch though were really interesting.  I learnt a lot of things I did not know.  For instance about how the pumping stations did need replacing before Katrina hit.

What didn't surprise me was that one level of government/authority could not work as a team with other level's of government/authority.  That's the same all over the world.  Working together for the common good seems to go out of the window with people in positions of authority to my mind.

I did like General Russel Honore, who was the commander in charge of the US Army in New Orleans after Katrina hit.  I thought he led with common sense, where other's didn't.

I will say, it confused me as to why people choose to live in a place that hurricane's hit on a regular basis and is below sea level?  I guess if they have lived there all their lives it's all they know?

I will say it did make me think; which is always a good thing.  I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, especially during Mardi Gras, but would want to view the parade from a balcony away from the crowds in the street.  So I don't think that will ever happen.

Have you ever visited New Orleans?

A great way to start a Saturday.......

Our biggest Canadian Bookstore chain Indigo was giving away 10 thousand books on Saturday the 13th of September to people over the age of 18.  This is the second year of doing this and they are going to make it an annual tradition.  Heather Reisman is the CEO of the company and is behind all this.

You got to choose one of these books:

I took hubby along and we lined up outside just before opening.  There was probably 20 or so people in front of us, and it was very well organized.  A lady came along the line and asked us what book would we like.  We told her and she gave up a slip of paper with the name of the book on it.

I made hubby chose this book, he doesn't read:

Here is a link so you can read the synopsis.

I chose this one:

Again here is a link to the synopsis.  I am really looking forward to this one and will take it on vacation with us.

I am reading this book that I picked up at the dollar store.  It's one of those books that you don't have to think hard to follow the story!!

You can read the synopsis here.

After I have finished that I may start on The Grey Wolf.

I must say as a reader I do appreciate a company that encourages reading, especially in adults.  I will of course pass my copies on to other readers, so they will be well used.

I also admire Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, that is such a great cause also.

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theate...

This to my mind it will be like saying good bye to a family friend, for me it's a must see.  Not sure when it will be released over here in Canada?

Do you plan on seeing it?

Imperfect.......

 

(credit)

I think that quote says it all.......as no one is perfect and this world is far from being perfect, at least in my eyes.

Gardening

 

Here is a link to the article.  For some reason the whole picture above wouldn't copy over.  I am in zone 5 a/b so this applies to me and I will make a point of trimming down what I have in my garden.

I have bought a bunch of Spring bulbs to plant, but honestly it's still too warm here, so I will wait until early October to plant those.  

2025's gardening season was a bust, due to the hot dry weather we had.  Our grass took a beating and honestly it looks terrible.  The only saving grace in this, is that so does everyone else's.

I enjoy having a garden but I am finding I don't have the same interest in it, that I used to have.  I will not let it go to rack and ruin, but I need to find more ways of making it more self sufficient, the older I get.

Are you a gardener, and are you finding it harder the older you get?

So true.......

 

Hubby worked hard for 50 years to provide for me and the kids.  He even worked a year longer than he should have; actually he could have retired at 60 rather than 66, but he wanted to make doubly sure we had enough money.  And then he was still worried..........

So thank you hubby and you deserve all the freedom you want, you worked hard for it.

(I will be doing a post about how the first year of hubby's retirement has gone closer to the end of the month)

Interesting

I have no idea what is going on, but I am guessing SPAM/Trackers/Robots..........are visiting my blog, because believe me when I say this, I am NOT that popular that nearly 2,000 visitors view my blog as they are interested in me!!!

I do have a good security system on my laptop and desktop, but this is making me a tad concerned.  Any suggestions?

 

Bonus Redemption at SDM

 SDM - Shopper's Drug Mart

I had a few points saved up, 130,000 to be precise, so I knew I could do 2 bonus points redemption.  My level was redeem 50,000 points for $75 worth of free product.  It would normally be only $50 worth of free product.

Now the key to doing these redemptions is to get as close to $75 before tax as possible.  This is what I got with my first 50,000 points.  Just bits and bobs we needed in the house, other than the wine gums.  I was just under $75 before tax, so picked these up for $3 to get me over.

So I ended up paying $5.47 out of pocket.  If I wasn't getting these things for free I wouldn't have gone out of my way to buy some of these things, as they were a little more expensive than I would generally pay; especially the yogurt.

This is what I got for my second 50,000 point redemption.  I had to bite the bullet and get hubby some razor blades, as they are so hard to find at a good price.  These were around 20 cents more expensive per blade than the ones on sale, which of course they didn't have in stock.  I swear they take them off the shelf when it's bonus redemption time.

I ended up paying $12.41 out of pocket, but only because I had to pay $10.06 in taxes.

Regardless I am super pleased as I got $167.88 worth of product for only $17.88.  I only have the 30,000 points left, so will build them up until I can cash them in again.

Did any of the Canadian's reader's cash in their points? 

How do our prices compare here in Canada to yours, in your part of the world?

Fall flowers

I was at the grocery store the other day and they had a lovely display of fall flowers for sale.

This tub was $55 CDN which I thought was a tad expensive; especially when we will only get a couple of months use from it.

Didn't see a price on these ones, but fell in love with the colour.

These mums were 2 for $20 which I thought was a good price considering how large they were.

As we are going to be away at the end of the month, I don't think I will bother with Fall flowers this year.  Do you decorate for Fall/Autumn?

Books........

Here are a couple of books I have just read.  The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong and  The Hollywood Governess by Alexandra Weston.   Both are good in their own right and both highlight gender prejudices.  I think I preferred the The War Librarian better as I didn't figure out the twist in the story, whereas I figured it out in The Hollywood Governess.

My next book up is Come Fly With me by Helen Rolfe.  It's the first book in Skylark series.  I have never read anything by this author.  Have you?

Update: from when I originally wrote this post I have read this book and it was really good, plenty of action in it.  I need to look out for the rest in this series.  

All three books were purchased at Indigo in the 3 for $10 section.

Daughter picked up this diamond art project for me on clearance.  Not sure if I should start it now or leave it until the colder weather appears?

What are you reading at the moment?

The Thursday Murder Club | Official Trailer | Netflix

We finally watched this the other night and it was so good.  It was one of those movies that wasn't overly "deep."  You didn't have to think a lot, it wasn't scary and all the actors were familiar faces.

If I had to say something negative it would be Pierce Brosnan's accent in the movie was horrible....LOL

I didn't realize it was the first book in a series of books written by Richard Osman  I hope they make movies of the other books in the series.

If you haven't seen the movie, I would say see it.  We both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Crafting....

 I had picked up this diamond art kit a while back from Michaels.  As you can see it's a bookmark kit.

I had the girls overnight on the weekend and we decided to do this project as I knew it would be a fast one.  The girls are nearly 12 and 9.  Now in the 9 year old's defense she is more of an outdoors girl, so she lasted probably half an hour if that before she was bored.  The 12 year old and I completed our bookmarks in probably 90 minutes.

I also did a little bit of the background of the 9 year old's one as well.  So from left to right; 9 year old's one, 12 year old's one, and mine.

The quality of these are really nice; pretty heavy duty.  It's a simple project especially if it's your first time doing diamond art.  I would say it's probably suitable for ages 10 and up, unless they are very crafty; then possibly younger.

I would buy these again, and I have used these diamond art kits before from Michael's.  

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is a well know coffee shop chain in Canada and they have locations in other parts of the world.  We called in for a coffee the other day and I saw this merchandise which I thought was lovely and well thought out.

They had the insulated travel mugs.  As we live in Ontario, they had the Ontario ones.

Along with the Canada one.  I have a really good travel mug so don't need one.  I did however love the art work on these ones.

They also had the matching coffee mugs.

They also had this bucket hat which I thought was cute.

I didn't pick anything up.  I wonder what the art work is like in the other provinces and territories in Canada?

Hilda Ogden and her "murial"

For those over a certain age and especially is you're British born, you will remember Hilda and her Murial in Coronation Street?

Well when we go to the doctors we go through a town with this "murial" and I always think of Hilda.......this one is much prettier though!

Appleby Lane

For the long time blog readers, you'll remember I set up a "sewing company" called Appleby Lane, which I made sewn items to sell online and at craft shows.  You'll also remember I had to give it up as the arthritis in my hands was making it difficult.

The other week daughter was asking if I could make her some soup bowl cozies, as soup and chili season is upon us.  I said yes no problem.  She was then talking about how everyone at her work loves her lanyards I made her.

As I had a basket of leftover things from my Appleby Lane days, I asked her if she would consider taking the things to her work to see if anyone wanted anything.  Plus I would make extra soup bowl cozies to sell and some lanyards.

Here are the soup bowl cozies I made.  I did have to buy a metre of batting at a cost of $20 for these; the fabric is all that I had on hand.  I am selling them for $20 a pair.

Here are the lanyards.  I had everything on hand for these, and am selling them for $10 each.

I ran out of the silver hooks, otherwise I would have made more of them.

I spent Friday afternoon sorting out the basket of other things I had and pricing and bagging everything for daughter.  Fingers crossed she sells the odd thing.  Then I can get rid of more stuff in my spare bedroom closet!!

I enjoyed the sewing, but if I counted my time for making these things, I would make pennies per hour as a wage.  I do it because I enjoy it, not to make a living thankfully.  I still have mounds of fabric, so need to pull more together to sell.