Visiting Good Things

I was offline all day yesterday. My one friend came from Oakland and my other from Detroit so the three of us met in Toronto.  We had a delicious lunch at a lovely little bistro. Just inhaling the scent of baked cinnamon pastries was enough to satisfy my craving. We spent the day shopping through and for windows. Whenever it rained, we dashed into a store. We may have bought a few items on those occasions. It was rent payment for keeping us dry. 

We found this amazing dress with lots of buckles that was more like an overdress. It wouldn't have looked out of place on Firefly. Four of us tried it on and it was completely different on each of us. We were/are varying sizes so the hem landed at various lengths changing look entirely. 

The shop owner gave me all the pennies in her till to add to my charity pile I amassed for my birthday. That was very nice.

Up and down the street we went, back and forth, criss and cross.  We laughed at so many things I can't even remember any of them just the sheer joy of spending time with imaginary friends I met on the Internet.

My only requirement was that we be somewhere in front of a television in time to watch the puck drop. We all agreed I'm a horrible friend but they enjoyed the game too - especially when Toronto won.

I got up early this morning and went for a hike. One Good Thing about only my committee partner in crime showing up was we were able to explore the trail in detail. There are a couple of tricky spots that we had hoped to reroute. There's a reason we're using the tricky spots. We both suffered minor injuries. My poor foot has had enough.  The slide down the mud to jam against a rock was too much.

Yet, the trilliums were beautiful.  The red-tail hawk flew over us a couple of times in the woods.  The squirrels flicked their tails and chattered at us before darting off into the leaves.

Instead of going home and putting my foot up, I showered, picked up Mom and my friend then headed out to a craft show.  All of the vendors were local, the wine was yummy and I could spent all of my savings as well as the mortgage payment.  Messenger bags made from repurposed fabrics and exquisite ceramic buttons, savoury shortbread, hats, hats and more hats, handcreams, dry shampoo and soap, jewelry made from classic books and Hawaiian coffee. 

We finished the night off with wine, chocolate and NASCAR. 

This ad made me laugh til I cried.

Lemonade

One Good Thing about mushy too-ripe bananas - banana bread.

Drinking water fills me up. I eat less when hydrated.  Adding lemons to the water adds flavour.

One Good Thing about finding two ticks in my hair - they were both dead. I credit the lemon in my water - and the 1/2C of homemade bug spray I doused myself in yesterday.  Lemon, peppermint, lavender, geranium essential oils.  I keep my hair braided from now til the Deep Freeze and that's why.  The ticks were at the end of my braid.  My clothes were all bug free.  Ten years ago, I'd never seen a tick. Now they're commonplace. Yuck.

One Good Thing about all the walking I've been doing is the sprint to the corner store barely winded me. I caught up with the person I was chasing and we had a good chat.

One Good Thing about dropping the olive oil on the floor is how shiny it made the floor. I've since washed it. So another good thing. My kitchen is clean.  Really clean.

I've yet to make lemonade out of all the lemons in the fruit bowl but my life is benefiting.

How are things with you?

Hockey, hiking and words

One Good Thing about hockey playoffs - the bonding. I spent most of the night texting back and forth with one of my die-hard Leaf fans.  I thought she was going to have heart failure.  It was lots of back-and-forth, end-to-end hockey.  Another Good Thing is that I got to rest my foot. Another 7km walk today that just destroyed my injured foot.  Ice and good boots are my best friends.

One Good Thing about getting to the trail early was running into a guy who had just hiked the closed trail.  We learned a lot from him - and he signed up for the walk on June 22.  It poured rain but the leaves kept the bulk of water off us. Then the sun came out and we dried off. I met four new volunteers which was great.  It was a good walk.

We saw lots of trilliums.

One more Good Thing - I wrote all morning. I haven't done that for awhile. Other things (read the last month's worth of blogs) have taken up a lot of my time.  I'm not complaining but I needed to get back on track. Being so productive in other areas of my life has helped me cut to the chase on the blank page. I'm pleased with all that I accomplished.  Even if it is creepy.

Exhausting good things

The day started with a hike just under 15km.  I'm really pleased with it. I think my hiking boots need to be exchanged for a different pair of hiking boots. I'll try the blue ones out tomorrow.  For some reason my baby toe seems to have changed shape. It's weird.  Regardless, the walk was incredible. A lot of work has been done to the trail, the weather was perfect and it smelled so good along the whole route.

Then I came home and DNe helped me put the new repaired liner into the pond. The two of us literally stood there and watched it fill.  Being a boy, he had to play with the hose a bit.  The water level hasn't changed in ten hours so we went ahead and put the plants and fish back.  Tomorrow we'll put the stones around the outside.

One Good Thing about the neighbours taking down their huge linden tree is that we now have two wooden benches. The ability to identify that tree scored me two bottles of wine the year we moved into the neighbourhood. It was a bittersweet memory as that neighbour died the following year. I still miss him. Bob was quite the character.

Last night's fleece is dry and ready to be bagged up but I'm going to leave it for another day. Tomorrow, I'll clean another batch. I love the smell of wet wool. Honestly. It smells like sheep in the spare room. 

One Good Thing about having a friend who really really likes lemons is the book I bought for him had some great tips about lemons repelling insects.

I may be exhausted, I smell lemony but I'm not covered in ticks.  Good day.

Chores can be Good

One Good Thing about riding my bike to work is the satisfaction of actually getting up the hill. It's steep enough that I usually have to walk the bike but today I got up halfway.  Of course, I couldn't breathe but I was pretty pleased with myself regardless.  I'm looking forward to the day I ride all the way. 

Another day in the pond.  This time I consulted an expert.  Fish were caught. Plants moved to buckets. 

Water bailed.  Now we wait for the repair to cure.

One Good Thing about crochet is how quickly it makes up.  Apparently, the cloak is too short so I pulled the hood apart and made it bi-colour.  I can take the leftover main colour and add it to the bottom without any trauma.  The trim will tie it all in together.  I'm anxious to see it finished.

I also spent some time tonight washing my birthday fleece. Isn't it pretty?

I love the smell of wet wool, very sheepy. Ky is in puppy heaven.  If only it would jump off the drying rack and race around the house.

Bittersweet Sunday

One Good Thing about this being my penultimate Sunday shift is that I won't miss NASCAR any more.  Although, today's race was red-flagged for rain so even though I went to a birthday party after work, I still saw the incredible finish.  It will be sad not to see my coworkers, or the Sunday patrons.  So many changes for all of us, some temporary and some permanent.

My goddaughter's 18th birthday party was today.  Where did the time go?  She's a poised beautiful young woman who knows where she's going to college in the Fall, and what she's going to study, because she has a passion to help children with special needs. Her momma raised her well.  All of her parents did.  It seems like she was three years old just last week.

I lay in bed this morning and listened to the birds sing. Yoda sang back.  He has no interest in going outdoors, not after the time he freaked out and got stuck on the roof for three hours.  He's a funny little bird.  DNe is his playmate while I'm his love. He's very affectionate with me, coos and snuggles into my hand. 

I realized today that I view my social life as a chore. Hmmm, need an attitude adjustment. Or maybe it's all the people all the time. I love my friends. I love my job and all the people I meet through work.  I even adore all these walks and the people I've met as part of the Legacy Trail but it's the relentless interaction that's wearing me down.  Perhaps, if I curtail activities so that I can recharge in between all those exchanges of energy...

Tonight I will finish a cloak for a friend's birthday.  This is the last of the gifts I've been making since last summer. I'll be able to work on a couple of pieces for myself, not to mention learn to sew so that I can make a Regency dress for the end of June.  It's strange not to have a project where I think of the recipient while I make it. 

Bittersweet I am.

How about you?

Busy Good Things

One Good Things about such a busy social life is the number of good friends enticing me out into the world.  We have birthdays and bonfires, cake and hotdogs, guacamole and wine.  I'm exhausted and cranky for it but oddly in a good way.

The weather has been fantastic - sunny, warm with a slight breeze.  I've walked, ridden my bicycle and worked on the pond.  I have brutal sunburn - but excellent lotion that soothes it.

The animals continue to amuse me.  Yoda and I wrestled over the food dish last night while watching the hockey game. He likes to do that sometimes, unhook the dish so the food spills to the floor.  I grabbed it so it was hanging on by the one side.  When I righted it, he jumped so that he landed inside the dish. Then looked at me with great amusement.  How does such a tiny body hold that large a personality?

Between work and meetings and social engagements, I'm home long enough to change clothes, feed everyone, catch the first period of the game. It's not long. Ky twists himself inside out to show his appreciation for my return.  I rub him down from nose to tail then play with his ears.  Milo launches himself onto my lap as if he can weigh me down and hold me in place longer than ten minutes.  Just as I start to get irritated because they are furry and warm and I'm already hot from exertion, I thank the gods that they love me that much.  It's mutual. 

Honestly, they are the ones most likely to break through my crankiness and remind me why I do half that I do, that life is good and love surrounds us if we take a moment to feel it. 

Gratitude

I was thinking today that I have such a wide variety of friends.  Many different demographics, cultures, beliefs, careers and even humour.  I'm truly blessed in that department.

Standing thigh deep in the pond while I repaired it - again - I tipped my head back and breathed deep.  I love all the smells at this time of year.  I can't even begin to describe them.

My head is full of many things today. Mostly, I'm grateful for the people I love. Nothing prompted that awareness. Just woke up aware of the amazing people who share my life.

Thank you

Colourful things

I walked 13 km today.  I'm building my endurance so that I can participate in the Laura Secord commemorative walk. I'm at the spot where Ky can no longer join me and apparently he's faster than I am.  According to the app on my phone, walks without Ky are 1km/hr slower.  You'd think he'd hold me back as he stops to sniff.  It was quite warm and as far out as I go, I have to turn and walk home.  It was beautiful.

 

A few hours later, I drove to work at the other end of Niagara.  I cannot believe how many different shades of green were interspersed with pink, white, cream, red blossoms, yellow dandelions, grape hyacinths.  The windows were down so I could smell the LIFE.  It was incredible.

As many stressful, scary work-related moments as we've had in the last couple of days, it was so calming to just experience so many good things in wonderful weather, good friends and the reminder that life evolves.

Pond things

It was another beautiful Spring day - which was great because I spent four hours working on the pond leak.  Last night, I noticed the water level was unbelievably low so I went and bought a new pond liner. I used an online calculator to determine how much liner I needed. About five feet more than the calculator told me.  I laid the new liner over the old liner, then used garbage bags to cover the small area that didn't overlap.  So far, it looks good. No leak. Fingers crossed. I thought I'd fixed it the other day.  The fish are in a tub in my car right now.  It was too stressful to catch them so I'll leave them be until I'm confident all is well. I poured every single bucket of pond water through the fish net so that I didn't lose anyone in the muck.  I need more pond plants. Only three pieces survived. 

The important thing is the fish are alright. And it was soothing to be outdoors working so hard.  Soothing shouldn't be the right word but my mind did settle into a pattern of contentment. Plus, my skin feels great after the mud bath.

The good thing is I'm tired enough to sleep tonight. Yay.

Sorry I didn't take before pictures. I'll take an "after" picture tomorrow.

How was your day?

Blooming good things

One good thing about living around here is the beauty of Spring.  This tulip blooms in the library's garden.

 I've been busy busy the last couple of days. Hiking the Laura Secord Trail, work, Mom's actual party, work, hockey, racing, soccer, puppy belly rubs, committee planning, LIFE.

After today's meeting, I drove home via the orchard route.  Remember last week's lunch surrounded by apple trees?  This is what it looked like today.  Everyone, breathe deep.

Springly good things

It's a beautiful day outside. I rode my bike to work. I sat on the low stone wall by the museum for my break. It was too lovely to stay indoors. We weren't that busy for some strange reason.

It is my mom's birthday. Every day we have to spend with her is a gift.  I bought some gerbera daisies, a carrot cake and gorgeous glass pendant and earrings. They're white shot through with copper and a pale blue. I should take a photo of her wearing them. Holy smokes, I just remembered while writing this that I made socks for her weeks ago.  Sheesh.  At least I'll have something to give her at my brother's tomorrow.

I can hear cars racing at the local dirt track a few miles away.  There are a few fields between us and the low roar makes me think of summer. 

I ordered patterns for my Laura Secord costume.  Next week, I'll go look at fabric.  Then I'll learn to sew. 

How are things with you?

Active Good Things

One Good Thing about walking 10k this morning?  Both Ky and I are exhausted. We didn't see deer this time out but we did run into three dogs off-leash. Ky was not amused as he was leashed for the entire walk. There are a couple of places that he could have run free but I'm more comfortable having him attached to my waist.  I love my SPORN harness and hands-free leash.  So does Ky

After lunch, I went out and cleaned the garage. I also fixed (fingers crossed) the leak in the pond. It was so great to see Phin and his plethora of progeny swimming about.  I saw a vole scurry out from beneath the lining where it overlaps the rocks. That was the only rodent I saw.  The garage didn't reveal any large rodent habitation either.  Phew. That's why I was cleaning out there. I also set the rain barrel back up. I think we're good for deep freeze for a few months.

I haven't planted it yet but I bought myself a Spring blooming heather. Isn't it lovely?

Varied good things

Spring blooming heather, belly rubs for the dogs, lots of seedlings reaching for the sun, the smell of Spring rain(there's nothing quite like it)a lovely visit with my Great Aunt Jean, pretty jewelry box filled with memories, sweet green grapes and firm blackberries, hummus, laughing as my friends tease each other, Merry's quick wit, joking with my parents, pride in DNe's art, new hand soap that reminds me of my great-grandmother, a no-longer leaking shower.

Life is good.  For you also?

Frustrating good things

Our practice walk was canceled due to weather.  That worked out alright as we ended up addressing the leaking tub. Again. 

I got a few things removed from my to-do list. I accomplished a bunch of things that weren't on there. 

The bananas were too ripe for smoothies so I made gluten free, sugar free banana nut bread.  I learned how to make it vegan so I'll give that a whirl next time. It was delicious and very filling.

I'm working on a birthday present and don't have quite enough yarn. Fortunately, I have the wrapper and saw many many balls when I originally purchased yarn several weeks ago.  It's going to be a toasty warm gift though.

Tomorrow's to-do list is very long. 

The best thing about today was watching hockey with my dad. Mom was engrossed in a movie so he came up to my apartment to watch the first period. It reminded me so much of when we'd watch the Leafs with Grandpa.  My kid is a seven year old parrot who was cheering for a NASCAR driver while we watched the game. On Sunday, he will likely cheer for the Leafs. He knows which sport is which. He just likes to mess with us.

I'm going to read for a bit. Books make me happy. 

How about you?

Catching up

The last few days have actually been full of good things but I've spent so much time on the computer I keep forgetting to check in.  By the time I'm done my work, I just shut the sucker down and walk away. My apologies for not letting you know that the last few days have actually been pretty good.

Saturday was the party.
Sunday was recovery.  Reminiscing with a friend, finishing off open bottles of wine and laughing about character tweets for Vikings.  Looking at myself in photos from the night before I realized I am deep as well as wide, pretty much round all the way.  For some reason that kept us in giggles all day, the fact that I am deep. 
Monday was a good day at work followed by lots of paperwork then time in the yard. I filled the pond, moved old tree branches, planted freeshia bulbs.  DNe and I went to see Revolution to celebrate Earth Day.  To be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed by all that needs to be done on that front.  Without a planet to sustain us, it doesn't matter how healthy our bank accounts, relationships, bodies.  It's a mindset that still causes a lot of consternation to contemplate.  To me, it's a no-brainer.  I came home and researched a few other things we could do to lessen our impact. 
I rode my bicycle to work today.  The weather was perfect. Neither too hot nor too cold, it was a Baby Bear kind of day.  Apparently, all the walk I've done lately hasn't prepared me in the slightest to ride 2km.  That will improve with more practice.
A patron told me that shade of purple, almost fuchsia, is a great colour for me to wear.  Good thing as I really like it and have several outfits in that colour.
After my meeting this afternoon, I stopped at the market and bought a salad which I ate in the orchard.  Yes, I took the plastic home, washed and recycled it.

Great Things

Yesterday was amazing.  Up early and out the door to climb the escarpment as we scoped out another section of the legacy trail. It was a workout. The weather was ever-changing. Spring in the valley, winter snow on top of the trail.  The views were incredible. The idea that a lone woman made that part of her walk in the dark, fifteen hours after she'd left her home.

This is Laura's rock not far from where she would have crossed 12 mile creek

The evening was all about friendship.  Our house was full of laughter, cheering (Toronto's hard luck Leafs made the playoffs for the first time in nine years) and mingling all the different aspects of my life.  I am so blessed.  Blessed in all aspects of my life, and overwhelmed with appreciation for every single person who has shared themselves with me.

We had water in margarita glasses, kids jumping Wii over our heads, pennies for local and global charities, memories of hot tubs, chicken wings and newborn pups, Icelandic knits, Guinness exploding over walls, hipping the water tap, melting in the kitchen, one lone rock concert lighter standing in for candles, Boston jerseys, admiring art, planning writer retreats, discussing Aunt Jean's hundredth birthday party, and poignant moment with Casey tapping his brace against a friend's prosthetic leg.

I'm tired today but full.  Work was good, one friend is still visiting, more wine was purchased. We're spending the evening finishing all the open bottles, admiring her new hats, opening the cards that were neglected last night and appreciating all the fun we had last night.

Someone wished I would have something wonderful happen to make me remember the day. It did indeed. 

Lots of good things this week

No doubt it's been horrible but if nothing else it's been a week that's made me more aware than usual how blessed we are.  DNi and I were bitching our way through chores tonight when I interrupted that things could be so much worse. She started to list them when I interrupted again.  Things are good.  People are good. And we listed all the ways we thought that while the future looks different than we expected it to, it's definitely worth sticking around to see.

We have each other. We have family and friends. Two words that encompass both a feeling and individuals.  We love and are loved in return. We have roofs over our head, food in our bellies, jobs to keep us all going and good company.  We entertain and are entertained.

When bad things happen, we gather together to shelter and protect one another but also to share what we have - including faith that we'll make it through. We take turns carrying each other to safety. And on those tragic days when not all of us survive, we unite to ensure no one is forgotten.

We are blessed.

Fresh good things

One good thing about hosting a party in two days is the way the house is getting scrubbed. DNe has been a godsend - painting, cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping. I washed the floors and walls with the lemon/vinegar solution from the recipe Stashaholic gave me.

I had a great lunch with two writer friends.  Much was accomplished, birthday cake consumed.  I love how often we've been connecting with each other. It makes such a difference in staying creative.

One Good Thing about it being middle-of-the-summer hot was being able to wear a cute dress to work.  It was fun to see one of my favourite young patrons dance in wearing bright pink sunglasses, off-center braids and ponytails and a frilly pink skirt.  Her dad looked pretty good too.  It's the time of year we can see what people look like. Cold weather will make a reappearance, which doesn't bother me in the least. 

I do like how the air smells 

Busy day

One Good Thing about morning tea with my friend is we always have deep conversations.  Today's topic, as it is for most North Americans, was the state of humanity.  My friend suggested we need to get back to the sense that we are each of us connected to all of life. We cannot continue to think of ourselves as separate. Yes, we are individual and unique, but our actions affect so many more than ourselves.  It was a conversation worth skipping breakfast for.

Then I ran around doing errands. By the time I reached the grocery store, I was hungry.  All of my purchases were healthy.  I shocked myself.  I found peppermint in a pot and a hardened tomato plant so that I could have fresh produce in my lunch. 

A good portion of my list was crossed off with good results. Rooms were painted, phone calls made, bird cage scrubbed, chapters finished.

I was going to bail on my walk toDeCew House but it was such a lovely day out that I wanted to take advantage of it.  I knew Casey wasn't up to the challenge so my dad shocked all of us by taking his dog on his own walk. Ky and I sprinted the 8km distance between the historic house and our home. We heard frogs, followed a robin who never let more than half a dozen feet get between us and him, and admired a deer in the field beside the highway. Ky made me laugh when crossing the bridge. He kept popping his head up so he could see over the cement railing. He's a curious dog.

Here he is in front of one of the fireplaces at DeCew House.

2 Good things

I was outside this morning and noticed the water level on the pond was low. When I put the hose in to top it up, who swam past but Phin (named after a Jennifer Crusie character in Welcome to Temptation, not because he's a fish.  It took three years for me to notice the pun). The heater had failed this winter, freezing the water so I assumed the fish were all lost.  Phin is a red and white comet goldfish from the feeder bin at Petsmart. He's not alone in the pond.  Shubunkins and moors have joined him over the years, and bred, but he's the oldest at ten years.  I was so happy to see him today.

The other thing that made my day was this post from Patton Oswalt about the aftermath of the Boston Marathon. I truly believe that man is inherently good. I believe that good will always triumph over evil.  I'm heartened by how quickly that post went viral.  "The good outnumber you - and we always will".  Truer words...

A little perspective

I was having a really good day.  I dealt with a bunch of annoying little things at work, some of which I'd stuffed on the shelf two weeks ago.

My meeting was a huge success. The event is so much bigger than I'd realized. The team is full of great ideas, contacts and experience. We're going to pull this off and it will be amazing. It's had the added bonus of inspiring all types of creativity in my life.

On the way home, I stopped at the lavender farm. There's an antique store there. No luck on the cabinet door front but lavender shortbread eased the disappointment.

Then I came home, saw the horrible footage out of Boston.  I'm grateful to be home with those I love all accounted for. 

Morning walk

One Good Thing about getting up so early on my day off is that I got to stand at my kitchen window and watch the baby doves have breakfast while I ate mine.  Usually, the nest is higher in the tree, on level with my second storey window. This year, it's down a few branches, right about where I had planned to prune.  No I can see right inside the nest. The chicks are big enough, and feathered enough, to be two weeks old. I'm not sure how I missed them. They're about the same age as the starling chicks in the garage. They were impossible to miss.

The second leg of the Laura Secord Legacy Walk was incredible.  The weather was sunny, cool and dry - much better than the forecast of mixed rain and snow.  We did ford a stream or two but my boots kept my feet dry.  Here are a couple of quick pics I snapped with my phone. The backpack I'd taken didn't make the cut.  It was uncomfortable and difficult to shrug in and out of so I ended up leaving it on my back, camera stowed safely inside.

Progress

It seems like a million years ago that I dragged my lazy ass out of bed and walked to work. I can still remember the dream that was interrupted by my alarm. Friends had put an addition on their house that was an artist's dream workshop. It was huge and 2/3 of the way across they'd created a wall out of blown/rolled glass that looked like barn boards to create a sitting room off the workshop.  It was beautiful. My friend's DH insisted it drop two feet from the vaulted ceiling to allow for airflow to keep the room from becoming an oven. I'll have to ask him about that when I see them next week.  It's the kind of thing they would do.

The weather was brisk and gloomy today but the ground is greening up, weeds have already shoved their way through the cold earth.  I'm always impressed with nature and its regeneration. Baby birds are cheeping in the garage.

My body hasn't started to reflect the choices I've been making this week but I can feel the difference.  I'm back to walking regularly. Yesterday, I walked out of the store without purchasing any chocolate.  That's a first in a very long time. Today, I turned down a Tim Horton's run.  I ate a couple of homemade oatmeal cookies but that's not a big deal. They're oatmeal/coconut/hemp hearts/olive oil/palm sugar/egg/vanilla and chocolate chips.  Easy to make, low on glycemic index.  I have no idea on the calorie count.

My idiot neighbour shot off fireworks tonight. One Good Thing - and nothing to be minimized given the trauma in the past - Ky's eyes rolled towards the window but that was the extent of his reaction. When the fireworks stopped, he went back to bed.  Progress!

Warm good things

I really like my jobs. That's a good thing considering I don't have a day off for another week. My last day off was Easter Monday.  I am blessed in that at least one thing a day happens to make me laugh, I help at least one person per shift and I usually make someone smile.  Books, movies, people - I'm a matchmaker at least half of the time.

My coworkers took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.  It was fun, and generous to spend their evening that way.  A retired coworker joined us for the evening and shared pictures of her grandbabies. They've grown so much and it was great to joke around with her.

I've got some stuff rolling around in my head but it's all good stuff.  I will share details and/or photos when the stuff makes sense to anyone other than myself.

As the wind tears at the eaves, I am very grateful for a sturdy house that isn't phased by rough weather. We're all warm and snug indoors watching racing.  Life is good.

I hope yours is as well.

Silver Linings

I was driving home a different route this afternoon. I wanted to scout out the second leg of our practice walk on Sunday.  I thought all the trees were blossoming, I was passing an orchard. When I pulled over to take a picture, I realized it was freezing rain.  There are no buds on this tree.

That impromptu photo shoot saved the dogs from being pelted by hail.  Had I arrived home on time, we would have been out walking when the hail hit.  It was pelting down when I pulled into the driveway so the walk was cancelled. The dogs got extra belly rubs as consolation.

One good thing about wearing pants to work was that it was far more modest for climbing beneath the desk to reattach computer cords.

DNe is flipping back and forth between a show about fraud and one about hand transplants. I'm typing this up and wondered how the hell some guy stole a woman's hands.   Glad I was mistaken.  And now we're watching hockey.  Phew, at least I looked up this time to realize there was a switch.  I love that kid. Really I do.  He enriches my life every single day.

Variety of good things

It was a monsoon when Ky and I headed out for our walk this morning. I had no idea how much Casey was slowing us down. Or perhaps Ky was motivated to get the exercise over with and back home to a dry house. Regardless, it took us slightly over half the time to walk further today just the two of us, drenched to the bone, than three of us managed yesterday.

After a warming shower, I went to meet my friend for tea and run some errands.  I forgot my wallet at home. We wandered around looking at stuff so my list was much longer when I went back after work.

One good thing about the delay was I took rubber boots off the list. Mine leaked this morning but I realized I can use the same stuff we use to repair Casey's brace to make them waterproof again.  

I didn't buy lunch out. I went home and made something yummy and halfway healthy (garlic pizza with red peppers dipped in hummus).  Work flew by for some odd reason. It was good.

I did so much transplanting yesterday that I had to take a picture off the top of the shelf to put cucumber seeds in that window. I found a lovely frame today so I can hang that sheep picture from Scotland on the wall.

Here's the Icelandic sheep photo being crowded by seedlings.  Milo is off to the right, confident that will never happen to him

More walking, less eating

I hauled my lazy ass off for a  mile long walk with the dogs. Casey was exhausted but a trooper.  Ky could have kept going despite being five years older than Casey.  I did notice that as we got closer to the lake both dogs picked up the pace. I went further today than we did last week and when we stopped by the willow at the water's edge, they both surged forward to take a dip. Fortunately, I still had leashes firmly in hand. That is not our usual swim spot, nor is it a good choice.  It did make me rethink the walking agenda.  Ky and I will do the Laura Secord training.  Both dogs will swim once a week to get Casey's shoulder back into shape. He walks so much on that foot without the brace but he's packed on way too many pounds over the last year and a half.  I want both of us back down to fighting weight.

I had planned to ride my bike to work. Good thing I didn't. The sky opened up and the rain hasn't stopped.  The storm drains can't keep up with it all.

The good news is that all the exercise today meant I wasn't all that hungry.  I didn't stress eat tonight at all. So maybe there's a correlation.  I just want to feel healthy again.

How was your day?

Walking good things

On my walk into work this morning, I passed a blooming hyacinth. It made me happy to see it. The temperature was a bit cooler than I'd anticipated but I'm happy to be back into skirts.  Spring is definitely on its way.

I also walked all over several used furniture stores looking for cabinet doors. Still nothing. I did see some frames that are the right size but I'd have to buy four. I think we could build doors for that price. BUT, I scored canvases for my DNe. He helped me empty the car and showed off the piece he'd worked on while I was running errands. It's beautiful, bright and cheery.  I love that shade of yellow, almost an orange.  I'll share photo if he lets me.

I didn't get out for a walk with the dogs before the rain came tumbling down. Tomorrow will be better. Rain or shine those puppies are getting some exercise.  It's good for all of us.

How was your day?

Alright in the end kinda day

Blergh.  Mixups at work.  Everything turned out alright in the end but it was frustrating. 

Bacon appeared on my sandwich despite the fact that I stressed three different times that bacon was not wanted.  It makes me sick. Literally. The poor girl who dealt with my complaint handled it very well but what a waste, throwing that sandwich in the garbage.

It was so windy everyone was out of sorts.  I hope tomorrow we're all back in sorts.  It was all petty stuff.  Everything turned out alright in the end.

I'm home, the critters are well. I just watched a great movie with my very darling nephew.  Searching for Sugar Manis thought-provoking documentary about searching for an obscure American artist who is bigger than Elvis in South Africa. His music inspired a nation during the Apartheid era.  Do yourself a favour and see it.

In the end, everything was alright.

Tired good things

Lots of overtime and no days off for another two weeks putting me just shy of three consecutive weeks at work.  My bank account is pleased. I'm a bit tired so I opted to stay in bed an extra hour this morning. It was disappointing to miss out on a great walk in such lovely weather but sometimes you have to take care of your body.  The timing was off anyway.

Work was crazy busy but I learned how to do some new tasks today. I always like that.  We're abandoning Dewey this summer and there's a lot of prep. It's taken me a few months to accept the possibility that the Dewey Decimal system is out-dated and not User Friendly. I grew up with it but other than hard core readers and librarians does anyone really know where to poetry, quantum physics or Canadian prime ministers?*

We returned the pine bookshelf to its rightful owner tonight. I'm still on a quest to find glass cabinet doors so the yarn is in a giant recycle bag, several rubbermaid containers and a hamper.  I suspect this project will take awhile.

I took my camera with me on the drive and snapped some orchards with the barest hint of buds.  It will be interesting to watch them unfurl.  We're due for a week's worth of rain.  You know what they say, "April showers..."  I'll share photographic progress as it happens.


*811, 530.12 and 971.0643092

Misplaced good things

Have you ever tried to find a bamboo knitting needle on a wooden floor?  I had no luck either - because it was in my knapsack.  The good thing is I didn't drop it somewhere between home and my friend's house.

Dinner and a movie with good friends. We all turned down wine. You know we're either 1)old, 2)exhausted 3) out of our minds to turn down wine.  I suspect it was all three.

Humour is a life-saver. Sure, it won't jump into the ocean and pull you safe to shore or beat off creepy crawlies with your best shoe but it will definitely keep you sane.  Fortunately, everyone's humour is different.  My friends were howling over some television show they all agreed was in poor taste. I wasn't amused by the discussion BUT the sound of their laughter made me giggle too.

Giggling. Not just for six year old girls any more.

Today, I was adding a title to the collection. The real title is Pirates, Ho!.  I put the comma in as an apostrophe.  Fortunately, I caught the mistake immediately.  It's a children's book. 

I hope your day had some humour in it as well.

A variety of good things

It was a beautiful day out today. Sadly, the flamingos took flight to warmer climes. I was disappointed when I came home but I think the dogs are happy to have their yard back.

One of my favourite patrons came in to the library tonight. His darling little daughter is adorable beyond words. Tonight she wore a frilly purple skirt, green/yellow/purple striped tights and purple socks.  She always bounces through the door and announces her arrival in a large young voice. Then whispers because she's in the library.  She is the only child I've ever heard cry, "I don't want to go to McDonalds, Daddy. I want to stay at the liberry."

In other news, a large box appeared on my porch this morning. going by smell, Ky was confident it was for him.  The contents were a beautiful Polwarth fleece from Fibre Garden. It was a generous birthday gift from Stashaholic with a sweet message from the guys and puppy in Jordan.  I really need to stop in there and say hi.  I might be too busy spinning for the next thousand years. It's going to be fun.

How was your day?

Flamingo Good Things

Today was an odd day.  I went to work, picked up my plate stickers, had great snail mail, photos in the email and wonderful notes all over my facebook page. 

When I was leaving work, an older gentleman followed me out to my car to ask me how I like that make and model. He's a regular patron so I let him sit in it, answered all of his questions then rooted around in the various different dashboard pockets while we talked. I found my flamingo necklace that my brother had tossed in the console over a year ago. I love that flamingo.  I bought her after a reading at Book and Co, in Dayton Ohio for Agnes and the Hitman.  My friend bought Hot Pink. I bought Cerise.

Then a friend popped by with a lovely purple orchid as a gift. We were talking about Death's Oven Timer which is a line from Agnes so I pulled the book out to find it. I petted the flamingos on the cover and laughed about the trip we  had for that book signing. A lot had happened in my head during the day so I honestly did not make a connection between the necklace and the book until later.

I went outside to help my friend empty her car and this is what I saw

50 Pink Flamingos!!!!

I hope you had as fabulous a day

Expectant good things

My passport has been renewed and should arrive within two weeks. I was able to keep my old one with all the cool stamps.  Little thing but it makes me smile to remember the places I've been. 

Had lunch with a good friend.  We admired the hats I'd made for each of us. Mine needs a photo. You've already seen hers.

She helped me adjust to the fact that tomorrow I can no longer deny I'm middle-aged.  Yes, women in my family live into their late nineties, one hundred years or older.  So middle age.  I thought my life would look so different than this so the last few days have been full of woe. I wasn't sure why, I actually like my life a lot.  We concluded that I was trying on the expectations and perceptions the rest of society have about how I should look/act/feel at this age.  I gave that back. It didn't fit, wasn't attractive and was a style that didn't suit. I was horribly uncomfortable. I feel much better now.  Amazing what a good conversation can accomplish.

Hope your day met your own expectations, or better.

Historical good thing

When I was young and visiting my great-grandparents in their wooded home at the base of Brock's monument, I used to imagine I was Laura Secord trekking through the woods with my cow to warn the British that the Americans were coming.

Many years later, I'm going to take part in the commemorative walk from her homestead in Queenston to DeCou House in Thorold.  I met with members of Friends of Laura Secord.  It's going to be an amazing walk and I encourage everyone who can to come out and participate.  I'll be taking my camera.  There will be no cows,other than those we pass along the way.  That was a myth.

I came home and made brownies. All that talk of walking made me hungry.

Well, that and the fact that I spent the afternoon rushing around trying to find doors for the cabinet.  No luck. None whatsoever.  I did find some interesting old windows, though.

No one played a practical joke on me, either. Yay!

How was your day?

Phenomenal Good Things

While the day has already had some very good moments in it - raisin bread french toast with my parents, a forty minute walk with the dogs(2/3 of us, not Ky, need to get back into shape and Casey was a real trooper, I expect he will nap for the rest of the day) I'm in in the process of making spinach dip, an aparagus/mushroom/quinoa dish as well as sweet potato/quinoa dumplings and listening to the Canadian Tenors - scroll down to the video that says Shine to hear Lead with your heart, the windows are wide open(take that! you firework shooting neighbours) and all is well in my world.

I popped over to the Loch of the Lowes webcam which has crashed due to volume so I checked out their blog. I've been watching over there for several years now. Theresa and I were several miles away and had considered a quick visit when in Dunkeld.  Had I known then what I know now, I would have made the effort.  We'd already walked five miles, what was another five? 

Wildlife lead precarious lives. Not only are weather and predators a factor in their existence, man has made some catastrophic changes in their habitat.  Long lives are relative.  By all calculations, twenty two years for a nesting Osprey is phenomenal. While the resident female, Lady, usually comes back the last week of March, last year's male has already returned, as has a young female. They've mated a couple of times and many wondered if Lady's time had ended.  She's unringed, has no tracking so there's  no way to know where she is or if she's still alive.  The average osprey lifespan is 10-15 years in the wild.  She is in her mid-to-late-twenties.  I doubt I'm alone in crossing my fingers each Spring.  So you can understand why this post made me cry. 

I hope your heart lifts at least once today.

Spring is on its way

One Good Thing about it being so busy at work is that the day flew by. I didn't make many inroads on the piles of books that need to be added to the collection but I did answer the phone a lot. "No, Skyfall is not available. It is out."

It was a lovely Spring day. I was able to experience it when I carried books out to the car for one of our regulars. She wasn't too steady today and needed the help.  She did me a favour. Fresh air. Mmmm, nice.

We had some discussion in the morning as I was unlocking the door as to whether the greenery shoving its way up and out of the dirt was daffodil or crocus.  Based on years of watching the same behaviour, I announced crocus with great authority. As we left at the end of the day, we noticed said greenery had grown four inches and now had some yellow staring at us.  I might pop over there tomorrow with my camera to confirm my announcement.


I hope your day had a hint of Spring.

Good Good Friday

Ky and I had a great afternoon. We went to visit my friends who live on thirteen acres. It was sunny, no precipitation so the humans built a fire in the pit in front of the back porch. The chickadees, nuthatch, cardinal and red-winged blackbird all kept us company. Ky chased sticks, and another dog for awhile.  The miniature donkey on the neighbour's donkey serenaded us. It was restful and enjoyable and a great reminder of all that is good with my life.


I hope your Friday was as good as mine.

Stream of consciousness happy thoughts

McB asked everyone to take pictures of the things that make us happy.  Walking to work today, I tried to narrow that down but almost everything is a mental image.  DNi's laughter, Yoda's muttering just before he goes to sleep, the scent of the roses by the back door that remind me of the smell of Germany, (dark earth and fresh potatoes do the same thing), wild garlic growing on Kate's property (I seeded some in my own yard), the burst of flavour on my tongue when I eat raspberries fresh from our yard, watching Ky gently pulling the berries off the bush with his lips while Casey yanks the entire branch through the fence then eats all of it - berries, leaves, cane, Mom wiggling her toes in her new socks, Dad with his arms crossed on his chest telling us stories of Egypt, Sardinia, Iceland, Scotland, and/or Cyprus, the colour of the sky as it danced its way across Northern Ontario, floating on my back in the lake at midnight while the dog swam lazy circles around me, the roar of the Falls as we walked along the trail, an Irish wolfhound greeting us on the path, lions moaning in the garage, late nights laughing and talking and saving the world, margaritas, red wine, pub beer, fish and chips, s'mores around the fire, cheddacorn, poutine, Greek salad, chocolate that melts on your tongue, letting the chickens out of the coop, chasing piglets through the village, sitting on the hill for hours sketching eagles, hawks, and a crow named Stanley, plotting the perfect murder, making the antagonist pay for it in the end, movie night, theme dinners, full moon ritual and walking on fire, holding hands as little ones learn to walk, watching DNe create amazing images, the sound of passion as he discusses his art, sound of pride as he tells me another painting sold, wind in our hair as we race our bikes along the canal, hiding from the dogs in among the reeds, careening down the ice-covered hill on cardboard and garbage bags...

The list goes on and on and on.  So many things I've experienced that fill my heart with joy.  I am truly blessed.  Thank you, McB, for the gift of those reminders.  It's a gift that continues.

Finished projects

I turned this refugee from Stashaholic

into this lovely hat for another friend

I also finished the socks for Kate's DH.  They're curled up around each other like puppies.

Because I took my mom to the seventh circle of hell, aka Costco, I didn't finish up my own hat. It's from a pattern written in 1913 for a motor cap. The photo is fuzzy so I'm not quite sure what it will look like but I think the shape is right. Unless I'm making the wrong one. There are three patterns on the page.

Costco was only so horrible because 1)I'm not that fond of people 2) everyone was shopping for Easter candy 3)that's a lot of people 4) right turn signals indicate the car in front of you will turn left. From the right hand lane 5) a man rammed his cart into my ankle and didn't apologize.  He said, Oh, when I said, Ouch. 6)I'm not that fond of people.  My mom, on the other hand, was super happy to be out and about chatting with strangers while she tried everything at all of the sample tables.  She was tickled with the little chocolate Easter bunnies inside the wire and wooden cages. We bought 4.  Her joy made the seventh circle almost tolerable.  It's so easy to make her happy.  She wanted me to take pictures of the socks I made for her but some stuff happened so we'll do that another day.  We'll make a fashion show out of it. 

Here's the important thing people tend to forget, myself included.  Mom has always liked to be a girly girl.  Just because she's not well doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy the entire hair/make-up/nails/clothes primp fest.  There's no reason not to do all that with her. 

I came home and played with the dogs outside between rain showers.  Ky went grocery shopping with me.  Actually, he kept DNe company in the car while I picked up every thing that Costco didn't have (95% of my list).

Tomorrow, we're going to turn this

 and this

into a yarn cabinet (sheep and cat are exempt from the project). It might take some time but I will post pictures of the finish project of that.

How was your day?

Long distance good things

I had a brief chat on the phone today with a friend who lives in Virginia. We confirmed our plans to spend time together at the end of May.  That made me so very happy. Just hearing her voice made me smile.  We will be with several other friends but have made sure we get some time just the two of us to catch up on life.

This evening, my new satellite receiver was waiting for me when I got home from work. I've had a run of bad luck with electronics lately. The lovely customer service rep in Montreal suggested the Full Moon would work in my favour. It usually does, and today was no exception.

My coworker thought another volcano had erupted in Iceland.  Apparently, it's rumbling.  But looking at photos taken by Jon Gustafsson the last time one did, one can only hope his camera is packed and ready to go.

Little things really, but anything that puts a smile on your face should be celebrated.

Entertaining Good Things

We spent the afternoon with my Great Aunt.  She's going to be one hundred years old this June and she's still sharp as a tack.  She's funny and smart and kind and a true sweetheart.  When I went to Scotland in 2010, it was to take a picture of the farm on which her mother was born. 

I had intended to call my aunt when we were there but I was so swept away by the fact that I was walking in my great-grandmother's footsteps that I forgot.  I came home with over 200 photos of the farm and nearby village of Dunkeld, every one of which tickled my aunt no end.  Now whenever we see each other, we share tea and Campbell's shortbread.  That trip always comes up in conversation.  It's not the only thing we talk about - gardens, bagpipes, travel, religion and art we are up for discussion today. 

As always, my dad shared a story I'd never heard before, this one about hockey.  He has some great hockey stories. Everyone on their street played it. Some of them went on to play in the NHL.  He has no illusions that he was ever good enough to join them.

Tonight, everyone was home for a change so we had an impromptu hockey party.  My roommate is a die-hard Leafs fan.  She gets so excited that anyone sitting near her when they score is in danger of bodily injury. She leaps around while screaming. It's not much better when they are scored against.   The cat hopped off her lap tonight and headed to the chair across the room. He kept one eye on her as the Leafs scored.  No one knows if it was coincidence or extreme self-preservation but his timing was impeccable.  Sadly, the Leafs lost in a shoot-out but we were well-entertained.

Was your day entertaining?

Wild Good Things

It turns out I didn't fail at Earth Hour. I did shut off lights. I thought it was about powering down.  Sheesh.  They don't aim very high on that one.

A nice drive to Niagara with my dad meant we were able to catch up on a few things.  Some of it was family history, some of it was science and some of it was reminisces of Scotland.

Speaking of Scotland, great news from the Loch of the Lowes.  The osprey are on their way back for another, hopefully, successful year of nesting.

We also saw a red squirrel on the drive home.  They were prolific when I was younger but it's been years since I've seen one around here. I wish I'd had my camera with me.  Maybe next time.

How wild was your day?

Shameful Saturday

I forgot about Earth Hour. I remembered for most of the day. I had a plan. I spent hours getting things ready to enact the plan (interact with the animals and conversation with the humans for an hour with most of my focus on the former) I shut down most of the electronics, turned off lights etc in anticipation. Then I cleaned a few small appliances so they'd work more efficiently and the next thing I knew it was 935 instead of 830.  I had quizzed the kids earlier in the day yet I'm the one who forgot Earth Hour.  Shameful.

We had a productive day cleaning, taking furniture apart in order to create more furniture. I sorted through some books that I doubt I will re-read. Two boxes and all that resulted is less piles on the bookshelves, no real space found. 

I have too much stuff.  I use most of it though.  I'm cyclical with my crafts, not quite seasonal, but some supplies remain dormant for years at a time while I work in one particular medium for awhile. I always circle back and pick up the old craft.  It's all better organized now.

I reference my books a lot.  Their value lies within the pages and information, or in some cases entertainment. I can count on them to fill a need with a touch.  It makes it difficult to give them up. I never know when I'm going to need one.

Two really good things about the day were my niece and nephew. He helped me clean, organize and disassemble. She reminded me how to have fun, be silly and really enjoy every thing you do.  They allow me the smug satisfaction of "I didn't contribute to the seven billion global population crisis" statement while affording me the joy of watching the next generation grow.

How was your Saturday?

Artistic Good Things

DNe came home, made French Toast with a dash of cinnamon for dinner. That was nice. We had a good visit then watched a movie about Jean Michel Basquiat.  Brilliant acting combined with incredible artwork made for a fascinating evening. 

By coincidence, an hour later I stumbled across a CNN special report entitled 81 Minutes about an art heist in Boston 23 years ago.  That show reminded me of an art gallery visit with a good friend last year in Washington, D.C.

Both programs left me with a strong urge to hit the paintbox.

Green Good Things

The lime green of my shirt. It generates a lot of compliments, this colour.

The green leaves of the arugula on the pear and brie sandwich my friend made me for lunch was a darker green than the green ring on the dinner plates.

The unbelievable ribbon of green dancing across the night sky as seen from my friend's roof in Iceland. 

What colour was your day?

Good things that amused me today

I didn't fall over at work today. WIN!  I'm still wobbly but had serious cabin fever being at home for the last four days.  As long as there isn't too much movement in my peripheral vision, I'm staying upright.  Ginger.  It helps a lot.

I took a goofy picture of myself this morning.  I was playing around with my camera just because I could. The burgundy of my dressing gown looked great with my glasses so I humoured my inner three year old before I got dressed like a grown up.  Sometimes, you just have to be silly.

Osprey are headed back to Dunkeld, Scotland.  Will Lady return for a record 23rd year on the nest?  She should be back toward the end of next week. 

Photographic Good Things

As requested, here's the dollar store greenhouse in action. 

The radishes, tomatoes, celery and sunflowers are the green things you can see. Snapdragons and peppers are peeking through the peat while the beets and carrots are slower. Thanks not a bad thing.

This is the corner of the bed that I want to turn into a cabinet. It should be interesting to see what happens.  Huh, that cover is much darker than that. If I remember correctly, the shutter stayed open for a bit longer than I expected. 

This darling bird has been shrieking his head off for the last two hours. I don't know whether he doesn't want to watch the wildlife channel or simply wants DNe to play with him. I'm guessing the latter as he's been quiet for the last few minutes since DNe went out for the night.  Thank goodness, I may love Yoda but some days...He is cute.

Rearranging good things

I couldn't sleep last night so I plotted how to turn the wood from my bedframe into a cabinet with glass doors. I might have to utilize the one bookshelf as well. I have a cabinet maker coming to look at it next week to determine how viable my middle of the night plan is.  If it's a go, I'll take before and after pictures to post.

My DNi and I planted seeds last week in those little peat pots you buy at the dollar store. We used seeds I'd harvested from the garden bounty a couple of years ago (last year was a complete bust). Today, I moved everything over to the living room window, popped the plastic lids off and stuck all six containers beneath the large dollar store greenhouse tent. It takes up the entire table top.  My Icelandic sheep photo is tucked behind it.  Since ten o'clock this morning, the radishes have grown more than an inch. I guess they like the extra room.  We didn't expect the seeds to sprout so quickly.  They're going to need to be transplanted long before the outdoors is ready for them.  It's all good.

How's your life rearranging itself into a better model?

Familial Good Things

I had dinner with my parents. We engaged in several great conversations, mostly about my Great Aunt and other family members.  I'm always fascinate by family history. Sometimes, I look further back than my own parents. They had many great adventures, met interesting people and immersed themselves in a variety of cultures.  I learn something every time we sit down and chat. Even now, when age and illness have shaped their lives, they continue to share insight and opinion.  They are both well-read and interested in the world as it continues to change. 

It's never a dull moment around our house.  And when I take the time to listen and ask questions, it's actually quite interesting.

Odd Good Thing

Today was my friend's dad's memorial service. You wouldn't think I'd count it as a Good Thing but it was a true celebration of this man's life. Standing room only, the auditorium rang with voices raised in praise, in laughter, and song. Of course there were tears.  A man so full of joy, wonder and silliness is going to be deeply missed.  I was so proud of my friend, of the words he chose to sketch an honest picture of his dad.  Doug McLean touched a lot of lives. Whether you met him once, or knew him for a lifetime, he made a deep impression.

He was full of schemes and ideas and curiosity about the way the world worked - as well as how to make it better.  He opened his home to all that needed that a hand, shared all that he had, all that he'd learned. 

His son and I have known each other for lifetimes. It's not always been easy to share space but we've persevered.  Father and son were very alike in both the maddening and magical.  Guess which usually wins out?

It was nice to sit at the back of the room with our friends and my mother. To watch people celebrate not only Doug's life but the life he built with his wife of 60 years, Betty, and their children. To see his sons stand with his stance, waving their hands to make their point. To hear their laughs, deep and booming, full of humour and appreciation for a story well-told.

I held my mom's hand and was so grateful to be sharing the day with her. To know that my life has been full of people that care about each other, help each other and teach each and every one of us that life is an amazing gift. Unwrap it, enjoy it, revel in it.

Silly Good Things

Epiphanies exploded all around me today. It was fantastic. I'd lost my way a bit during the week but it's all better now. I no longer have green skin and shoot fireballs from my palms, but I know now that potential is always there. It's okay to channel it into clearing out space for more beneficial things.

I still have post-migraine brain so colours actually hurt my head. That interferes with my plan to have more colour in my life.  It will go away now. I willed it so.

This will come as no surprise to anyone, but LAUGHTER, no matter how big or small, is the absolute best medicine for all of us, short or tall.  Being able to laugh at oneself, that's the best medicine of all.

Holy rhyming, Batman. It wasn't deliberate but apparently Dr. Seuss has taken up residence in my brain. 

How was your day?

Medicinal Good Things

On top of the temple headache I've had for months, today I was hit by a migraine that drove me insane. It was a particularly sunny day, which I appreciated plenty this morning. Then halfway through my work day - whomp. A coworker gave me some advil then I took some naproxin several hours later when I got home from work. It took hours to get relief.  But finally. I'm pressing on the ear seeds like the madwoman I am.

Oddly, what really helped settle my stomach was coming home and burying my face in Ky's neck fur. It was the only smell that didn't make me feel like heaving. Weird. I pet him for awhile and it really helped. In all liklihood it was more a relaxation factor than anything. I don't really care. It worked.  I'm writing it here so I remember for next time.

I hope you were able to enjoy the day.

Good writing things

The idea of focusing on the positive was discussed at length today. It doesn't negate or even counter-balance the negative but it feels better. I hate being miserable. I don't enjoy the physicality of it, let alone the emotional pummeling.  Laughing feels better. Smiling feels better. Optimism feels better.

Today, I met with two of my writer friends for lunch and brainstorming. We've been each other's support team for seventeen years. We've all grown and stretched as writers, as human beings - as friends.  We fleshed out Brenda's new series, named my last character and let down the side for Marilyn.  We did set a new schedule and deadlines for each other to meet.  Accountability goes a long way to increasing productivity. 

We also came up with a game plan for at least two writing getaways this year.  Fingers crossed that I can switch up some of my vacation time to accommodate those plans.

Funny Good Things

Stuff happened today. Some of it was my stuff triggered by other people's stuff.  Technical stuff happened too. Good and bad.

Ultimately, everything is fine. When it wasn't, I amused myself by catching up with The Bloggess. She has no idea how much she makes me laugh. Not only that, she inspires me. Bad things happen in her life, in her head.  While we only see a glimmer of her life but she always puts a funny spin on the insanity.  Perspective, she has it.  And she shares, so I often walk away from her blog with more than I went in with.  I really tried to make that last sentence grammatically correct but it sounded very pretentious when I said it out loud. 


What makes you laugh and/or gives you perspective when you need it most?

Mostly Harmless* good things

Today's Google doodle made me smile the second I saw it.  I sill miss Douglas Adams.  My favourite memory is when So long, and thanks for all the fish came out. We literally sat at the breakfast nook and watched each other read.

Weather was Spring like for the second day in a row. Rain threatened but didn't deliver until AFTER Ky and I played out there for a bit.  I love when his fur smells like fresh air.

Not an earth-shattering day of Good Things but some days the little things go a very long way.

Was your Good Thing awesome or alright?

*entry about Earth in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Good socks

I've just finished a surprise pair of socks for my mom. She was tickled pink (and green and blue) by the yarn and the finished project.  Much thanks to Stashaholic for the yarn in the first place. I benefited from a bit of a stashbusting on her part.

Now I'm using the swift to wind a skein onto the nostepinne. I preferred Stashaholic's notepinne to my own but it's all good. My friend Kate bought this yarn to make socks for her husband but never got a chance to do anything with it before she died.  I'm going to finish that project for her. 

I still haven't finished my Tunisian crochet scarf out of Stashaholic's handspun but I will. It's light enough that I can do it as the weather warms.

Speaking of which, today was lovely and warm.  I wasn't the only one out there with a Spring in her step. 

I hope you had lots of fresh air and at least One Good Thing today.

Entertaining Good Things

I stayed up late reading Oz the Great and Powerfu this afternoon. It was much better than I expected.  It entertained us.  Go see it. You won't want your money back. Some of it just needs the big screen to get the full effect.  We passed on the 3D version. 

We stopped for groceries on the way home.  DNi grabbed everything and wouldn't let me carry.  I teased her.  "You're young and beautiful. Save yourself."  She immediately shot back with, "I want to be strong too."  She will do well in life, that girl.

I explained International Women's Day to her and asked who she thought was a woman she admired.  Her answer - Harriet Tubman - included an (unprompted) explanation of the Great Conductor of the Underground Railroad.  "Although she only led ten mission, she was responsible for booking passage for over 600 people."  The kid has her dad's memory banks.

Then she followed up with Laura Secord - and Me.  I've taught her the importance of family and loyalty. Wow.  I thought we were goofing around a lot today. Silly walks. Bright colours.  Twilight movies.  It turns out she pays attention to all of the day-to-day stuff as well. 

I hope your days was as entertaining and profound as mine.

Technical Good Things

I called Shaw Direct yesterday because the satellite receiver was toast. That was the official diagnosis.  It would take three to five business days for the replacement to arrive.  Less than 24 hours later I have a bright new shiny HD satellite receiver.   Thanks to the helpful gentleman who helped me set it up I can watch HD on my HD TV.  It's neat to actually see that feature in work.

I've been on a roll with customer service lately.  That's good. 

How was your day?

Yin and Yang Good Things

I got a lot of piddly, mathematical tasks accomplished today. That's a big deal because I'm not a fan of numbers. I'm dyslexic in that regard so math can pose a challenge. Mistakes were made but they weren't mine. They were fixed, at no cost to myself, so that was a Good Thing indeed.

I rediscovered Howard Skempton's music tonight.  I asked an old friend about a mixed tape he'd made me years ago and Skempton was his response. Lento was commissioned by the BBC for their symphony in 1990.  It's haunting and sticks with you.  I haven't heard it for fifteen years but was instantly transported back in time within three notes.

What music soothes you most after a hard day?

Fantastic Things

While it was an okay writing day for me personally, it was a great writing day for me to observe ideas and writers.

I took a notebook downstairs and asked my dad to list all the places he'd traveled to through the Canadian military. My list was three pages long. It should have been four but I doubled up the columns on one page.  He has not been to South America, Australia or Antarctica. He has been to all ten provinces and two territories when that's all they were called back in the 70's.  In seventeen years, my father saw the world. It has changed a lot since then.  Listening to him talk about those experiences is better than any show on the History Channel.  Well, except for Vikings. I really like vikings.

This evening was the third installment of Wine and Words. This time was hosted by Chateau des Charmes.  Way back in college, my first year film class made a film that followed the grape from the field to the bottle. We shot the bottling sequence at this winery.  It was nice to be back.  I had the chardonnay paired with salmon and horseradish butter on a sour cream and chive scone.  Delicious.

Tonight's author was Terry Fallis.  He's a dynamic speaker and an excellent writer.  He involves the audience in the entire experience and has a great sense of humour. I laughed so hard, I knocked over my wineglass and broke it. His latest book, Up and Down is a fun journey with some poignant moments about a PR firm that launches two civilians, one Canadian and one American, into space.

I was fortunate enough to receive a free copy tonight. Out of the kindness of someone's heart. There was no contest, no hidden agenda. I didn't have cash on me and the vendor didn't take debit.  I was stunned and touched by the generosity of the gift.  I had Mr. Fallis sign it for my dad.

Next month's author is Maureen Jennings. In keeping with ties to my college years, one of my former classmates is a writer/producer/director on the Murdoch Mysteries which is based on Ms Jennings books.  I'm looking forward to that night out. Coincidentally, it will be held on my birthday. It would great to have you all come celebrate with me that night.

Random thoughts that are all good

McB has this One Daily Thing philosophy so that you don't get overwhelmed by chores. Just do one a day.  I've never been good at that. Stuff needs to be done and I need to do it all at once. Lately, I've found myself adopting a bit of her philosophy and it's working. I cleaned most of the back room today. It needed a lot of organizing.  And tossing of junk.  One little corner still needs work but I was tired and out of room.  Garbage day isn't until Friday.

Why are my shin bones exposed and my calves fat?   It's not One Good Thing but it is something I wonder on occasion.

Some progress was made on the never-ending bathroom leak.  Friday should see more progress. I'll let you know.

Thanks to some brainstorming with friends, I'm on the penultimate scene of the first section of the horror story.  Tomorrow's afternoon plans were canceled so I should be able to finish knocking that out.

I had a great conversation with Mom today about travel.  We'd like to see the world. My dad's seen it. He'd like to stay home and read the paper.

How was your day?

Little Boy humour

My friend's little boy is six years old. He's autistic but I think most of the funny things he does are because he's a boy. She called me tonight to tell me his latest exploit and while it may not tickle everyone's funny bone, we laughed for a solid five minutes.  There may be something wrong with us.  He was very proud of the fact that his penis could connect with the hole on his rubber duck.    At one point in the summer she had to tell him not to touch the flower with his penis.  Honest to God, I laughed so hard, tears came to my eyes.


He will kill us when he's older and learns we told these stories on the Internet.  Her Facebook statuses about her son are hilarious.  A few months ago, she went into the kitchen for a moment. When she came back, he'd turned on Spongebob. She told him she didn't think that was a good cartoon to watch. He suggested she leave the room.

I love little boys. Their sense of wonder is so different from little girls. My niece will be staying with me this weekend and now that she's 11 our activities will be so much more adult than they used to be. I miss the silliness.  At least she doesn't have a penis that can do all those amazing tricks.

Timely Good Things

I woke up laughing this morning. Silly dream.

There was time for me to have a smoothie and a chai latte with a friend before I headed to work. I thought I was going to be late but the slow-moving truck in front of me turned left and I went straight.

I was home in time to watch the last 74 laps of the NASCAR race in Phoenix. Congratulations to Carl Edwards, though I highly doubt he reads this blog.

Ky and I played a lot while supper was cooking, then again while oatmeal bars baked.  Yum.  He thought they were for him. Silly puppy.

We turned the Canadian Screen Awards on in time to see some of our favourites celebrated at home.  It may not have the glitz and glamour of the Oscars but it definitely had the talent.

I hope your day had some great timing.

Clean good things

Last time I visited with Stashaholic she showed me a jar of lemons filled with vinegar. She swore by its incredible cleaning power.  I came home and filled an old pickle jar with three quartered lemons and some white vinegar. Every time I ate an orange, I tossed the peels inside the jar.  That was a few months ago. You're supposed to strain the contents after two weeks.  I did it today. I filled a smaller jar as well as a spray bottle with citrus vinegar.  I tossed all of the lemon and orange peels into the food processor and pulverized them. I toss the mulch into a bowl, added some baking soda and stood back. That stuff bubbled up and over the lip. A wooden spoon caught the overflow. I have SCRUBBED my bathroom with the mush.  Actually, all I did was toss a handful into each of the basins.  The vinegar and baking soda did all of the work.  I seriously thought of tossing some into the wash with my whites but was afraid of pulp in the towels. 

I didn't know that I have a zillion little cuts on my hands. I do know. However, a soothing salve made from a blend of coconut and olive oils fixed that up.

It's so nice to have the house all to myself tonight. It might stay clean for more than five minutes.  I doubt it will be more than six though. The animals are all home and wanting attention.

How's your day been?

Remembering good things

Brutal headache until I pressed on my ear seeds. I love those things.

Dinner and a movie with three good friends as we remembered Kate. Stories were shared, laughter occurred and my yarn disappeared.

How was your night?