Friday. Hmm.

Double hmm.  Can't thank of a catchy post title!  Feeling a bit scattered ... must be TGIF! ... so this post is probably a bit scattered.  We've been INUNDATED with these creepy crawlies:


Sorry, a bit fuzzy ... it was taken with my cell phone which, of course, is a Le Cheapo model.  There are two caterpillars in the above photo, one crawling upward on the branch from the bottom left, and one crawling downward on the same branch from the top right.  They are gradually working their way through our city in the uber-quadrillions and eating every leaf off every tree and bush in their path.  Can you say bare skeleton trees?

To my surprise yesterday, I noticed new growth on some of the barest most ravaged trees!  It's a second spring!


 This has been keeping us entertained today ... it's a BIG BIKE ... a fundraiser/awareness campaign by the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Teams of 30 volunteers are peddling it around the city all day today.  Naturally, each team tries to out-do the previous team in boisterous enthusiasm.  My office is on the "main street" now, so we get to see this kind of stuff.  It's such fun!

 Speaking of my office, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is tomorrow ... wear something purple! ... so today I've bounced between office and the information display we have at a local mall.  We will have our display there until 9 pm tonight and again all day tomorrow.  Always interesting to talk to strangers about a touchy subject (but important) like this!

 

 While at the mall earlier today, I noticed the above sign.  It's so true!

Have you ever read this book?  Or one of it's 4 siblings?

 It's a British "who-dunnit" set in the 1950s and told from the perspective of a very precocious motherless 11-year old with an obsession for chemistry.  If you want a light-hearted entertaining read, this is it!  A member of our book club says there is a new book out in this series, but I haven't seen it yet.

This isn't a "who-dunnit" ... it's a "what is it".  Sorry, fuzzy photo due to cheap cell phone again.  It's kind of creepy with beautiful little lavender coloured bell-shaped flowers.  Weed?  Flower? 
 

Well, TGIF ... hoping to do more of this over the weekend ... and you???

Squished Finger

Haven't been blogging regularly again, eh?  Shame on you! 

What?

Oh ... I haven't been blogging regularly lately?

You're right.  Shame on me!

But I have an excuse ... I squished my right index finger with the heavy new bear-proof garbage dumpster lid outside my apartment building.  Do you know how hard it is to type without using your right index finger???  Take my word for it ... cuz I truly don't recommend squishing your finger with a dumpster lid!!! ... it's really challenging.  And worse than that ... I can't knit or crochet with the danged thing all battered and sticking straight out!

'Pre-squish', I was busy crocheting bunnies ...

... with floppy ears and fluffy tails.

Then I devoted a weekend to finishing these socks.
(A strange woman on the city bus handed me a
plastic bag one morning and said 'here, finish these
and you can have them, needle and all'.  She had
already knit one entire sock and was past the heel
on the second sock ... I guess she decided
knitting socks was not for her (to my benefit)!

Socks finished, and more bunnies to go, I foolishly decided to do a quick lick of housework and take the garbage out.  That's when I discovered the heavy new bear-proof garbage dumpster lid.

Le sigh dramatique.

Oh well ... last year about this time, Wildlife officials had to destroy a (hungry) young bear who kept 'shopping' at our dumpster, and that was very sad.  Better me with a squished finger than a dead bear!

So ... without THAT outlet, I had to find new ways to satisfy my creative urges.

I participated in a day-long roundtable with folks from
all over our province who are involved in front-line
care services for seniors ... it was held in the BEAUTIFUL
Administration building at our local university ...

... in the University Senate Chambers. 
I've never been beyond the carved Senate Chambers

doors before.

 

I read THIS book.

And I tried a couple of recipes ...

salad type things.

Yummy!

But I'm not impressed with the author's suggestions

to SNEAK beans into brownies and spaghetti ...

some foods just don't need extra beans!

However ... if you are interested in sneaking beans

into other (regular non-bean) foods, then

I recommend this book to read.





I read THIS book.
Fascinating yet disturbing.
I highly recommend it.

I am now reading THIS book.
I'm not very far into it, so will reserve judgment for now.


Getting a little tired of reading here, so ...


I got all gussied up
and had me an evening out.
NOTE TO SELF:  those red patent leather high heels HURT!
QUESTION TO SELF:  how did that happen?  Used to love
wearing them!

 

Another NOTE TO SELF:  do NOT take eyes off cat
when wearing dangly earrings with feathers in them!

 Meanwhile ...

"It was not me who put those nose prints
all over the bathroom mirror.
It was definately not me!
I do not get up on the bathroom counter
and talk to myself in the mirror.
No, I definately do not!
I am innocent!
See ... don't I look innocent?
DON'T I???"

Since this is such a boring post, here are some random thoughts that I have written down in a small notebook that I carry with me on the city bus.  You may or may not chuckle at some of them ...

1. Alarm clocks are self-inflicted torture.




2. Always leave a spare pair of boots at the office.



3. As a rule, people who use the express lane at the grocery store can’t count.



4. Bears like apples even when the apples are in a sturdy box in the carport.



5. Beetle-killed wood is really beautiful.



6. Brainstorming is best done with pen and paper.



7. Bugs bite.



8. Bus shelters were not designed by bus shelter users.



9. Chocolate is indeed an essential food group.



10. City transit buses are only good for the next connecting bus and bus drivers tell each other who is transferring.



11. City transit buses never run on statutory holidays / after 9 pm.



12. “Company dinner” with hunting friends does not mean moose meat will be on the menu.



13. Crows are humorous.



14. Don’t tell me your personal life story ... I don’t want to know!



15. Downtown PG stinks.



16. Downtown PGers care.



17. Every student should wait tables to learn people skills.



18. Everyone came from somewhere else.



19. Everyone in my building listens to CBC Radio.



20. Fabricland is only 0.1 hours away.



21. Formal wear is always optional at formal events.



22. I don’t “get” jogging.



23. I have come to terms with my roots.



24. I like nice pens.



25. Internet users outside the downtown core have dial-up service.



26. It’s a dry cold up here.



27. It’s not unusual to see people wearing sandals and winter jackets at the same time here in PG.



28. Local transit schedulers are not church-goers.



29. Lower BC Mainlanders have no idea about life beyond Hope BC.



30. Moose are much bigger than you think.



31. New underwear is too frequently an overlooked pleasure.



32. News is always bad news.



33. Northern BCers are very generous.



34. Northern BCers are very resourceful / creative.



35. Northern rivers are REALLY cold all summer long.



36. October is definitely too early to put up Christmas lights.



37. Offer free food and they shall come.



38. PGers leave everything to the last minute.



39. Shouldn’t the Tim Hortons Drive Thru sign say Tim Horton’s Drive Thru?



40. Summers may be short up here, but oh! The incredible gardens!



41. The same people who ask businesses to display their event posters in store front windows should return AFTER said event to take down their posters.



42. Thongs are great but you might experience chilly butt cheeks.



43. Trucks rule in city intersections.



44. Via Rail trains give me itchy feet.



45. Waiters always ask how your meal is when your mouth is full.



46. We have Dollar Giant, Dollar Store, Dollarama ... but their merchandise costs $1.25, $1.50, $2 ...



47. Wearing gloves is not eccentric.



48. White Zinfandel is great wine.



49. Why do they put gravy on your meat instead of on your mashed potatoes?



50. You can always talk about the weather.

 
So until next time, cheers from
LD with the squished finger.

Falling Leaves

Have I mentioned this is one of my FAVOURITE LYSes these days???  If not, let me mention so now!  They have an ever-growing selection of goodies for yarnaholics like me (yes, I confess this openly!) and are just plain fun to visit.  And visit I did yesterday afternoon.

Check them out on Facebook ...

 You see, these fun and very wise people give their customers these wonderful cards ...

Two 'smooches' towards my next big project already!

 I've been knitting socks all summer and fall, collecting 'smooches' bit by bit, and finally decided to use my 20% off for enough Galway Heather wool to do a cozy cardigan for myself.  (Sorry, no pix of the wool ... camera battery sputtered out ... next time!)  The Galway is a lovely stormy turquoisy blue.  Not as dark or grey as these clouds ... more like a clear but broody lake at the beginning of winter.

Ah!  The colours!  The golds and greens!
My FAVOURITE time of year!

 This has been a SPLENDID October!  A nice gradual slide into freezing temperatures accompanied by a GLORIOUS display of autumn colours.

This pix is looking from my 3rd floor balcony ...
geraniums still blooming bravely a week ago  ...
cottonwoods turning to gold in the distance.

 After a few nights of minus 5 degrees there isn't quite so much colour to admire.  Leaves are dropping fast.

One single marigold on my balcony ...
poor brave little thing just won't quit!
Looks like Rhonda the Flamingo is saying
"time to fly south, you foolish little flower!"

As always, I've truly enjoyed my little balcony garden ... especially the fresh herbs ... all summer and fall, but it's officially finished now.

Lemon Balm can't survive minus 0 temperatures.

While I look forward to cooler temperatures (can't imagine any more how I ever survived Okanagan Valley summers!), Miss Boots is NOT a fan of the chill ...

Hey!  What's that mysterious lump under that afghan?

Miss Boots:  "Do you mind?  It's warm and cozy under here!"

Every fall, I admire the autumn colours and wish for some creative way to capture their glory and preserve it to enjoy during other seasons.  I can't paint, so that's out.  I've tried quilting with little pieces of autumn colours ... but truth be told, I'm not that big of a fan of tiny fabric pieces, especially when it comes to matching corners perfectly!  I've thought about knitting, but have never been able to come up with a suitable design to do all the amazing shades of autumn justice.

Until yesterday.

Did I mention that my latest favourite LYS is above a book store???  How convenient (for bookaholics like me)!!!  Even better, said book store has a delightful little coffee shop!  Naturally, after spending my 20% off upstairs, I HAD TO stop downstairs for a gander at the books and a refreshing soy chai.    

I found (and of course bought) this book.
Yes, I have a rather large knitting library ...
and yes, it keeps growing!
Yarnaholic/bookaholic, remember?

I happened to flip the book open to a random page, and this is what I saw ...

Fair Isle knitting designs BASED ON AUTUMN LEAVES!!!

This really is a great book.  Not only is the author a Shetland Islands "local" with "inside" understanding of Fair Isle knitting ... she has included all kinds of fabulous technical information, including tackling those frightening steeks.  I'm really looking forward to exploring me some Fair Isle knitting ... but alas! It will have to wait for my next completed 20% off card.  I still have a few pair of socks to knit, and, of course, my Galway wool cardigan.  I also have an Aromatherapy course to finish over the next two months, and that includes a research paper and final exam.

This working for a living seriously gets in the way of all the fun things I'd rather be doing!

Miss Boots:  "Seriously, hu-mom!  This studying and stuff
sure gets in the way of all the fun things I'd rather be doing!"

Cheers, y'all!

Weekends

LAST WEEKEND I was out and about.

First thing Saturday morning, I dropped in for my favourite radio station's open house.
Radio hosts NEVER look like you imagine them!

The open house was REALLY a jam-packed place ... lots of people!  I enjoyed chatting with the hosts and various other acquaintances, but eventually gave up on fighting my way through the crowd to the free coffee and goodies.
Fortunately, Tim's was right next door.
Have you tried their new Sun-dried Tomato and Asiago Cheese Bagels?  I highly recommend them!

Then it was off to the Civic Centre ... a short walk from Tim's.
Nice walk.
Leaves falling ... cool autumn air ...

Last Saturday was the annual Mennonite Fall Fair ... a "must not miss" event!

Jam-packed with people in there too!
There were crafts and baking and books and fresh produce and perogies for sale ...

I treated myself to these two pairs of earrings from the "Ten Thousand Villages" shop there.
The ones on the left are teeny tiny embroidery and beads, made in Vietnam.
The ones on the right were made in Kenya from scraps of aluminum pop (soda) cans.

I also bought this ... it's a little pillow with a pocket for a remote.
But the fabric made me remember how often I lose scissors, crochet hooks, etc ... so I will probably use it for that purpose.
Besides, I don't own anything that uses a remote!

I bought this cute little wood ornament ... cuz it's a pig with wings.
Haven't you ever said "Yeah, WHEN PIGS FLY!" ???

Miss Boots:  "A flying WHAT?  Let me see that!"

I exhibited amazing restraint in the used books department and only came home with these two.
"Christy" is a classic.  I think I read that 30 years ago.  I read it again (quick) last Sunday, and enjoyed it just as much as I did 30 years ago.
Interesting how you "get" something different out of a book when you read it at a different time and place in your life, isn't it?
I started reading "One Hundred Years of Solitude" a long time ago too, but lost the book (I think I left it on a bus) and never finished it.  FINALLY, I shall be able to find out what happens!

Speaking of books, if you haven't read "Room" by Emma Donoghue, RUN DO NOT WALK TO GET THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY!
It's an amazing story told through a five year old's eyes.  The five year old was born to a young woman held captive in a garden shed for seven years.
This book will make you laugh and cry, and then want to read it again!

I wonder what THIS WEEKEND will bring???

HAPPY (Canadian) TURKEY DAY!

National Volunteer Week

Mid-April is National Volunteer Week here in Canada, and my organization usually participates in two different ways. First, we join our central volunteer organization at an Info Fair in a local mall.

It's always fun trying to devise an eye-catching display as well as come up with a gimmick of some kind to draw potential volunteers to our booth, especially when there are 50 or 60 other booths in the mall also trying to do the same thing! This year, I took my button jar to the mall. Lots of great conversations ... "My Mom used to have a button jar!" ... "My gran kept her buttons in a cookie tin!" ... although guesses were WAY off. There were actually 3,311 buttons in the jar. Yes, I dumped it out and counted every blessed one before taking the jar down there! I had no idea my button jar was so well endowed.

The second way my organization participates in this annual week is by hosting a lunch for our own volunteers. Despite our limited budget, we always try to do something fun. This year we enjoyed entertainment by a drama troupe from one of our local seniors' activity centres. Oh my, I laughed so hard! However, I can't begin to do justice to their skits by describing them ... it was one of those "you had to be there" things!

The best part of our volunteer lunch was having our volunteers introduce themselves and tell everyone a little bit about WHAT they do for us, HOW LONG they have been volunteering for us, and WHY they volunteer for us. I was really touched by the diversity ... seniors, students, mentally handicapped adults, new immigrants, housewives, businessmen ... all pulling together to make our community a better place for seniors. Reminded me yet again why I love my job, even if 12 hours at a booth in the mall makes for a very long day!

Miss Boots, naturally, was not too impressed with her hu-mom coming home after 9 pm. Her dinner time is 6 pm!

No time for our evening play time when the hu-mom gets home that late! Consequently, she was on serious play time overdrive Saturday morning ... and made my morning Chai and newspaper routine impossible! I would have been annoyed, but knew I had to be gone most of Saturday in order to set up and clean up for our volunteer lunch. However, Miss Boots and I spent quality time together Sunday (yesterday) to make up for it, so all is forgiven!

It was a busy week and busy weekend, but I managed to finish reading a great book ...... The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. This story is based on real people and events, young Sarah Carrier and the Salem witch trials in the late 1690s, and is written by a descendant of young Sarah. Sarah's mother, Martha, was arrested and hung as a witch and for a time, young Sarah was incarcerated under the same charges. The language is picturesque, the story fast-paced and attention-grabbing, and the realization that fellow human beings are still hated or imprisoned or killed because some group or another objects to their "different-ness" keeps screaming from the pages. If you are remotely concerned about women's issues or human rights, READ THIS BOOK!

This book ...... Complete Book of Indian Cooking by Suneeta Vaswani ... caught my eye in the bookstore in the mall. I LOVE Indian food! And I love cook books ... what a perfect combo! Each section of this cookbook is subdivided into four geographical regions of India with explanations of the overall food and lifestyle, methods of cooking, and common ingredients including spices for each region. Most ingredients listed are available in the ethnic foods section of any major Canadian grocery store. The photography ... both regional and culinary ... is superb, and the author has included lots of personal and family snippets about different dishes and customs. I can hardly wait to start taste-testing, and have an interesting grocery list to take to the grocery store after work tonight!

Have a great week, y'all!

Isn't it time for a holiday yet?

The past couple of weeks have been REALLY busy for me at work ... several major projects in the works and thus crucial grant proposals to write and multiple meetings to attend. One of our important community contacts walked into my office this past week, and for the life of me I couldn't imagine which project she was there to discuss! She must have wondered why I looked at her with such a blank duh expression. Throw in our Annual General Meeting along with the kick off of our annual Christmas Hampers Campaign and I feel like I'm doing this ...

... and ... YIKES! ... not very well! How do I know this, y'all ask? Because when I sit down for a few minutes I FALL ASLEEP! My body has developed its very own special way of addressing stress. Oh, and I kill alarm clocks ... yes, clockS plural ... they ring and I throw them and smash them into pieces without every waking up. It's most annoying! Especially when I have this book ...

... for 7 days! It was on the express shelves at our Public Library and I thought sure, no problem, I'll just whip through it over the weekend. Nyet. Nope. Didn't happen. (The naps were refreshing though.) Now I have four choices:

1. return the book unfinished and never know what happens in the end.
2. cheat and read the last few pages quick before returning the book.
3. keep the book and pay $1 per day late charges until I'm finished.
4. suck it up and buy the book so I can read it at my leisure.

Any advice????

I did deliberately book last Friday night off to attend our local Studio Fair, the BIG craft fair of the season in PG. It's the only craft fair I've attended so far, and will probably be the last one for this year too. I bought these ...

... a $6 pair of natural bees wax candles. They smell delicious. I REALLY wanted to buy a coffee table made by a local woodworker from beetle-killed pine.

In case y'all don't know, northwest Canada has been experiencing a very serious epidemic of Mountain Pine Beetle which is killing off pretty much every pine tree around. It's devastating the commercial lumber industry. Beetle-killed wood from those pine trees has a distinctive denim blue stain from whatever chemical process that happens as its being killed by the beetle. While the wood is useless for commercial export, some local entrepreneurs are cashing in on it and making small items that feature the blue stain. And it's GORGEOUS!

I've been thinking about buying a coffee table, and would love to own some pine-beetle wood. These felted coasters ...

... would look fab on it! But I wasn't willing to pay the craft fair price. Instead, I took the guy's business card and will call him after the holidays to see if I can negotiate a more reasonable price.

Studio Fair reminded me that I haven't been adequately pursuing the creative things that nourish my soul ... so many projects and so little time! I really need to address this problem.

On a brighter note, look what I discovered this week ...

... one of my Christmas cacti has opened its first flower. It has quite a few buds so will be a really pretty show in a few more weeks.