Challenge for today...

I read a lot of blogs on line and they are always so 

interesting 

or moving

or informative

 or all of the above.

Then I sit down to write a little post and before doing so, 

I read a friends' blog.

Her poetry is beyond beautiful, no matter the topic.

And what was I going to write about------

the mess that I am in. I thought that I would accomplish one small cleaning up item per day. I usually 

begin with my den area, because I am never satisfied with how I have set it up. I dug in, going through 

old cards, old magazines, old drawings...everything that I hadn't looked at or used in a year or more.

'They' say that if you haven't used something in a year then you probably won't use it 'ever'.

I don't really know who 'They' are, but they seem to have a lot of knowledge about a lot of useful, and

useless things. I digress......

It is deciding where to put my books and supplies in order to get at them easily....hah.

What I really need are floor to ceiling wall shelves and cupboards. But since that will never happen, I am

driving myself a little nuts trying to decide where to put what.

I should have left well enough alone, because you know what happens when you start a 'small project'.

It becomes a big one and then it gets bigger, and then you have a mess all over the floor so that 

you can't move, and you haven't a clue how to finish up this one small cleaning project.

I decided to take a break and so I am typing this.

If I end up putting things back in the same place, what will have been the point of all this? I shall have to think
on it a bit. It is mid afternoon, and I shall soon run out of steam so I had better get going.................
I just realized that this small room has 3 walls and an archway. If I were going to put shelves up where would
I put them? There are windows in two of the walls and a door on the other......
That's why I'll never have shelves....
And even if I did have shelves, I would probably still not be satisfied with where to put the wool, books, wood items, frames, empty cans, rocks, shells, CD's, old tapes, microscope, ( I used to look at bugs from
the orchard and berry fields), paints brushes, waterdish, canvases ...... oh dear.
Well, I guess I needn't prolong the inevitable....

Till next time.......

Of Blueberry Bushes and Princesses

Just finished working in the blueberries, trying to weed them out. Stopped and came in and feel all shakey and funny. Maybe too much sun, maybe not eating.....maybe both......

There always seems to be something going on with my poor

physical self, never mind my mental stability.

Keep on keeping on is about all I can do.

**************

Last evening I attended an Princess Tea at a neighbouring Community Hall.

My granddaughter is the Princess representing this community in a local annual celebration

called Gala Days. 

She made a little speech, as did her counterpart from last year, and then was presented with her 

'crown'. She will have a very busy time leading up to the labour day weekend.

Coffee, tea, sandwiches and sweets followed the speeches and presentations, and the girls

spent some time chatting with the folks present. 

I was a little hyper, a result of not feeling that great. I get a little foolish, and people laugh. Strange.

Definitely no pictures of me. Facebook took care of that.

Sadie having a little rest on the doorstep

**********************

The clouds are building up, though the sun is still shining through. We are supposed to be in for a 

rainy day. 

Catching Up

     How can I catch the tail end of a TV program that the Captain was watching, and end up in tears because one of the characters died. Grant you, it was ER, but I haven't seen that show for years. What is up with me.
Weird?

     I had this open, hoping to at least start a post. I've been thinking that I might try posting this way. I don't always have a lot to post, but if I start, save, then do a bit more till I feel I am finished, then publish....I'll see how that works. It's worth a try.

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     Another day - We went to a community picnic last evening, an annual event. People from two small communities get together to eat, laugh and catch up on news. The communities have changed a lot over the years, and now there are a lot of little ones. They had special games for the kids, including a pinata. They had a great time swinging at it, and of course gathering up the fallen candy. What I really enjoyed was the opportunity to play my uke with three other gals, one on a mandolin, and two with guitars. We had a fun time. It was a new experience for me, playing with others. We played a lot of old songs, some I didn't even know, but just followed along. We played before folks ate, and then for a while after. I was having such a good time I didn't realize how sore my left hand and arm were getting. I finally had to stop, though I hated to. Today, my hand and arm are a little sore, but it was well worth it. Such a great time.

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     Desire to do something different hits me every once in a while. I was going through my cupboard, and saw my clay supplies. One package had not been closed tightly, and was drying out a bit, and not very malleable. Mmmmmmm, waste not, want not. I tried to soften it a bit with water, but it really wasn't workable enough, so I formed some different shapes and then began scraping, which is something else I do to lose myself in. 

The sticks are not clay, but carved Popsicle sticks. (Don't ask)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It is now 3 days after my uke playing, and my arm and hand are still hurting. It can't all be from that evening of fun, but I don't know. I have been helping Dawn out in the raspberries, not doing too much, just tending the UPick. I'm not helping today, so I thought I would finish this up and post it. Looking back, it is a real mix of things. I took some pictures in the field, and also the almost finished result of the 'scratching. 

The rows of berries

Even though it is 3 weeks into the picking there are still lots of berries

They are tasty

A berry pickers best Blue and Yellow friend

close up of sunflower, including earwig in petal

clay things, painted, but not varnished

sticks painted up

The varnishing will bring out the colours a bit more

Back to the field, and the rows of sunflowers

The field fairies have built a home in the shade of the sunflower leaves

Picked berries for an order

And....finally I will post this 

Cheers!

An Interesting Day..Sort of..

It was beautiful early this morning, and I decided that it would be nice to sit outside and enjoy my second cup of coffee. I got my coffee ready (I drink instant coffee, so had used boiling water) and headed out to the picnic table. I set my cup down, and then when I picked it up, somehow the thing jumped right out of my hands and spilled all over my legs.  OOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!!!

I felt as though my inner thighs had been stung by a thousand bees, not that I know what that feels like, but you get the idea. Now the embarrassing part. I had pulled comfy slacks over my shorts (I sleep in shorts and t) and I want to tell you that I was not long in whisking those pants off. Oooooh. My legs were so red, and not only that, I had spilt every drop of coffee. Not fun. In to the house I go, legs burning and a real need to get dressed. Gradually the redness faded, but the legs still hurt.

Not that I am a glutton for punishment, but I really needed a cup of coffee now, and carefully made my way back out to enjoy the birds the sun. Now the good part.

As I was sitting there wondering how I had managed to drop the cup, a car drove in the driveway, and out jumped a dear friend, who was on her way to work and stopped by to give me a plate of chocolate squares that she had made for me for my birthday. She is such a sweetheart, and a very brave and strong woman, having just completed several rounds of chemo, and has won the fight!!!!! I think chocolate has healing qualities, as I almost forgot my burn.

Next, my cleaner came, which she does every other week, and when I told her what I had done, she asked, "Do you have any aloe?" Duhhhhhh. Of course, aloe.....the healing gel, the plant that I have sitting on my kitchen window sill.......that aloe. I immediately broke off a bit and wiped the gel over my legs and eased the burning. I told Chrissy that I only had 2 brain cells, and that they were talking to each other, but in different languages. She knows me too well.

Now, that should be enough for a day, but there are just two more little things.

I spent more time weeding, and finally finished clearing the garden area. I haven't cleaned up the roots etc. That will be tomorrow. My right hand is sore, because I managed to build up quite a blister in the palm of my hand. I tried doing the dishes, but (and any excuse is a good one) the hot water hurts the blister.

I decided I wanted to put up our house number, and so I would need something to put holes in the number plate. A hammer and a nail should work........AND..... I smashed my left thumb not once, not twice, but three times. It is now swollen, and bruised, but the number is hanging.

This probably sounds like a Mr. Bean movie, but it is my real life.....I am now tired, and shortly will be going to bed, in order to face tomorrow with renewed strength.
I'll need it.

Absolute Delight

The last few evenings have been delightful......spending special time with my girls....birthday times. Dawn's birthday on the 16th and mine on the 17th, makes for joint celebration.

Heather took us out for dinner at the Port Pub, us being Dawn, Lindsay, Rae and her friend Colton and me. We enjoyed this special time together, with lots of laughs and good food. A wee glass of wine for the birthday girl, helped me relax for a change and just enjoy. So nice!

Then, last evening, Dawn, the girls and Colton and I went to the Fundy shore, at Morden. I hadn't been over to the shore to just sit and enjoy for quite a long time. I only took a few pictures, because I didn't take extra batteries. It is a little difficult to walk on the rocks, but Dawn held her ol' mom up and even took a chair for me. Rae had thought to get a cake for us, but cake on the rocks would be a bit messy perhaps, and so we had birthday cream puffs. Delicious, and so easy to pop in your mouth.

It was a little cool, with the wind blowing, but so enjoyable. Dawn made a little fire, and we toasted marshmallows, which I hadn't done since we camped in Cape Breton a few years ago. The marshmallows were huge, and I had to lick every finger, I had made such a mess. (And Dawn was worried about eating cake :)) I was huddled in a jacket, as was Dawn. The young ones didn't seem to mind the brisk breeze.

Lindsay posing for Grammy

Rae posing for Grammy

Rocky shore

Rae and Colton

Our Yummy Cream Puffs

Toasting marshmallows

Sun Setting

Almost gone

Birthday flowers from Rae

A lovely, lovely time, and this morning weary, but well satisfied with life, I find myself remembering my blessings, the love and the support from my girls, and am thankful, so thankful. No matter what this old world brings, through the ups and downs.......my girls make it all worth hanging in there...

Today is the day......

       ..........cleaning out the freezer totally, and throwing everything......everything but a box of Girl Guide Cookies I bought from Lindsay a while ago. I'm pretty sure that the power being off for three days would not have affected them. Because we have green bins for our food waste and special bags for our garbage and paper/cardboard, my job is cut out for me. Open each package, food in green bin, boxes in recycling bag if they are not too yucky, and garbage.....not sure there is any plastic stuff in there, but there are bag ties.
     You can see that I am procrastinating......the freezer is calling....I turned it off this morning.....it HAS to be done today since garbage pick up is tomorrow. I didn't want to leave meat and fish in the green bin for a week, as it may have provided a picnic site for bears and raccoons + who knows what else. I will have to wear gloves because the freezing cold hurts my hands after a while.

Have I told you the story of.........oh, never mind.  That was my attempt to spend more time at the keyboard and less time in the freezer.......

........all done except for final defrost and washing up of freezer, not to mention all the containers that now await me in the kitchen sink, waiting.......waiting.......

It is a shame that all that food was wasted, but to look on the bright side, the freezer really did need defrosting and cleaning.

It has been a strange kind of day, with beautiful blue sky, followed by dark clouds and a heavy downpour, returning to blue sky and then the cycle repeated. Sadie took turns laying on the rug, then hiding under the desk. She is not partial to thunder storms.

******45 years ago today, Apollo 11 blasted off for the moon, and the famous moon landing, but even more important than that to me, the birth of my first daughter Dawn. Now that's special!

I do believe I'm tired, and so the dishes in the sink and the freezer can wait until tomorrow........

Hay and Grass

It's a bit showery today, and cooler, which is a good thing. I worked too hard on Friday and Saturday, and need a couple of days to recuperate. Yesterday was definitely a day of rest, and I guess I need today as well, though there are still house chores to do.

I did get a picture of Sadie on her hay. She has had a great time 'organizing' the work. She would sit in the yard, and bark at the tractors and trucks and whoever was in the field. Some of the hay was baled in the big rolls. Sadie likes those the best.

She would stay on the bale quite a while if I let her.

They also baled the square ones, but Sadie was not as keen on them

I decided last week that as I was feeling better, that I should attack the front 'garden?' plot. It had not been tended for years, and the grass had taken over. In the middle were Iris, and they were crowded quite badly. I knew once I started on the grass, the bulbs would have to be moved, I am not much of a gardener, but I carried on. I tried to work only a short time and then take a break, but I would get so involved that I would work too long. I mostly garden sitting on a small stool, using hand tools, since bending over hurts in my back and 'rear end.'

I did take pictures to show what I was looking at, and then when I finish, I hope to see a big difference.

Here you can especially see what I was dealing with

And here

The garden strip is right along the ditch, and there is no controlling the ditch and what grows there. Trees are popping up, and there is a lot of lupin growing in the ditch. I suppose I could have just let the bed go back to grass, but I needed a goal, so the garden was it. I have moved some Iris, and I hope that they will survive.

It was so nice spending the time outside, with the birds and the little chipmunk that runs through the grass. I rested at the picnic table and just soaked in the day. I am not finished, but with a break of two days I hope to get back at it this evening or tomorrow.