One Month Until the Big Day

 There is something about November and December that makes the time go faster.  It is like the hole that allows the sand in the timer to move to the bottom of the hour glass has expanded to twice the size.  A lot of my time has disappeared into various medical meetings.  Both husband and I have had at least one a week and the cat got in there last week.    Hubby and I each had procedures that had to be done in the hospital and both have to be redone so we are booked into January.  Mine is for eight in the morning at a community a good hours drive away.  Anyone who knows me at all, knows, I am NOT a morning person.  We are thinking of staying overnight but then have to arrange care for our wee dog.  My test involves two steps so I have to wait 4 hours and then have the second one.  Life is fun.

Winter has settled in and everything is nice an white outside.  All outside decorating is done and I really haven't thought much about indoors yet.  I have got my Christmas cake made so that is another item to cross off the list.  The postal strike is going to make gift and card giving difficult but we will deal with it.

Blessings

Energy Returning

Halloween is over, daylight saving is over and Remembrance Day is on the horizon.  Fall is well and truly on its way out.  No snow here yet but rain has been non stop.  That will be good for the trees and other plants.  I have started the semi annual changing of the clothes.  Summer packed, winter out.  that always takes a while as the temperature changes are not immediate and I have lots of clothes.  Not going to say too many but others might.  I obviously don't think I have enough as I still keep buying.  Hubby says I am a clothes horse and he is right.

I took the children's clothing to my friend who is going to take them to the orphanage in Cambodia.  This little task went much better than I could imagine and I have been given fabric already to start another lot.  

My current task is making fleece hats which will be sent to a First Nations area in northern Ontario.  Our church does hats, mittens and scarves every year.  This is the second year for them to go north.

It is nice to be able to do small projects that have a big impact on the lives of others.  I consider myself to be so blessed both to have and to be able to pass on.

I have been feeling quite a bit better which is such  relief.  I am regaining my energy and my brain doesn't feel as befuddled.  It turns out that in addition to the esophagus problem, I also have and infection.  The latter is what has cause (or contributed to)  the fuzzy brain.

Hope all are well and looking forward to the coming season.

blessings,

Do What You Can

 It wasn't easy but I have made a bit adjustment in my life.  I have been a member of the Burk's Falls Art and Crafts Club for many years.  I served in a number of areas and did very well in selling my products.  My greatest pleasure though were the members themselves.  In addition to being the most artistically gifted people I know, they are also very caring and encouraging.

As I have been experiencing some health changes lately which has left me with reduced energy and time, I decided it was time to cut back on some of my activities.  With that in mind, I have decided not to renew my BFACC membership.  It wasn't easy but I can still pop into the Legion on Wednesday and see everyone while they work.

The last of our summer company went home the middle of last week so hubby and I have our home to ourselves and the animals.  It has ben difficult to adjust from seeing family members every day to knowing they are, once more, thousands of miles away.  We have been very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with family so I am trying not to fuss.

We are still enjoy fall weather and colours so my daily walks are extra enjoyable.

I have a new favourite quote:  Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are. T. Roosevelt

Isn't that encouraging?

Blessings

Blessing Others

Hello all.  I hope my Canadian readers all had a blessed thanksgiving.  Some of my in-laws came here for a pot luck style meal and the weather was nice enough we could eat outside.  The younger members of the family were trying out some of their motorized vehicles and, while the neighbours might not have appreciate the lack of mufflers, the kids had fun.  They were thoughtful and stopped after a couple of trips down the driveway.

The food was, of course, wonderful and little cleanup to be done afterwards.

Hubby and I are still not feeling 100% but we have to be better tomorrow as we are taking our grandson to his aunt and uncles where another family member will ferry him to the airport.  It has been wonderful having him here and he will be greatly missed.

I have mentioned that another lady and I are making clothes that will be donated to children who have been freed from the sex trade. In the photos attached, you will see a little dress.  I made it and my friend made the trouser set.  She is a very good seamstress.  Other people have donated underpants and ready made clothing.  I can only imagine the difference these items will make to these poor little ones.

Blessings,

Beets Galore

 As fall is settling in for its time of year, thoughts' turn to gardening and processing the fruits of our spring and summer labour.  We have a good crop of beets this year ranging in size from an teeny to 'oh my goodness'.  Most will be pickled but I discovered that hubby likes Harvard beets, so I will use some of the smallest for that.  Nice that after 30 plus years of marriage, I am still discovering new things about him.

I will cook all the beets today and then to the pickles etc. tomorrow.  I try to divide the big jobs so I don't wear myself out.

We had quite the rainfall last night but the sun is shining today.  If this weather continues, I will get at transplanting bulbs and adding more to my feature garden.  Again, I am cutting back but a little work has great results.  I am hoping that after I get the scope done, the doctor will be able to do something that will restore some of my energy and remove the symptoms of whatever I have.

Hard to believe we are in October already but we all say that every year.  I am thankful that we don't live in an area that gets hurricanes, tornadoes, floods etc.  Our main weather event is snow and, while it can create some nasty problems, it is rarely life threatening.

Hope you are all doing well.  I am getting some of my small quilt projects finished and looking forward to starting more.

Blessings,

Passing Time

 I see it has been nearly a month since I last posted.  I am still not feeling healthy and now hubby has been ill with some sort of tummy bug.  To top it all off, I had work done on my computer and I lost some of the info I need so am working to get that back

I had a wonderful time with my sister and her grandson while they were here visiting.  Of course, the time never seems long enough but we did get some things done.  A neighbour was able to do some landscaping on her property so there is a place to put the camper.  She met some of my dearest friends  and agreed with me that I was very fortunate to be able to call them friends.  She and I did a bit of shopping, some walking and a lot of talking.    It was hard to adjust to the lack of her presence but our grandson is now here so that has helped.

I can't remember if I mentioned this but we had a problem with a mama bear and her two cubs.  She wrecked the hen house trying to get at the feed and then something got the chickens.  We did manage to save 3 and they are being fostered by a neighbour.  We (as in hubby) will be installing an electric fence which, hopefully, will discourage any more bears.

I hope everyone enjoyed the summer and are easing into the fall.  We haven't been getting a lot of colour yet but perhaps it is still early.  Here is a photo from the past which I still enjoy.

                                    

                                                           An oak tree shrub in our back yard.

Blessings,

Lions Tigers and Bears. Oh, My

When you live in a rural area, you get used to sharing the land with other critters.  Through the 16 + years that we have lived here, we have dealt with a number of wild life including martins, mink, raccoon, fox and all manner of deer.  A friend was accosted by a stag recently and we know there are moose at the pond as well.  

In the past month or so, there have been lots of bear sightings in and around the village.  A momma with a couple of cubs seems to have been the  most frequent visitor.  We hadn't seen her which was good as we have a coop full of chickens that would make a tasty meal.

On Monday morning when hubby went to feed and tend the chickens, he found the coop with big holes in two places, the fencing down and a bunch of hens missing. The feed bag had been torn open and some remaining food scattered outside.  As hubby was repairing the damage, the chickens started wandering back.  Apparently and wisely, they had scattered.  Mrs. Bear was more interested in the feed than the birds.  Thank the Lord.

Yesterday evening, hubby took his small caliber rifle out to sit for a bit and see if anything turned up.  It didn't take long for some shots to ring out.  I went out to make sure he was okay and he said that he had treed the bear and cubs.  Chickies were in their house and all was safe and sound.

That was enough excitement for the week. We need to purchase some sturdier fencing and make sure the food is kept in a place away from the hens.

My sister is arriving from England in a couple of days so there will be a different and more welcome excitement

Blessings