I've been stomping snakes

.........this is what Bill says I am doing when I get carried away and do more than I should.......................I packed 17 boxes today and I am very sore. I just can't do as much in a day . Well off to have a hot bath and go to bed.

chaos reigns supreme

Does anyone else feel like their life goes from one crisis to another?????????
Two weeks ago Jill was driving my car down the lane and someone came roaring out of the underground parking and smashed ino the passenger side front of my car. Fortunately no one was hurt. So the turn signal light left over from the last time someone ran into the car will come in handy and Bill has the tools to bang out the dents in the fender.

When Jill took it into ICBC the conversation went like this.
Adjuster:- "You again"
Jill:- "Yes ...... Why is it every time I borrow my Mother 's car someone runs into it. I mean it looks like a F%^&*$ Bumble Bee (her father taught her that language)." This comment was followed by gales of laughter from the office staff.
Adjuster:- "You know we are going to write it off again?"
Jill :- ".... and you know that Mum doesn't want that. She loves this car?"
Adjuster:- "I know so we will do the buy back like last time. Okay?"
Jill:- "Okay"
So far the other party hasn't reported the accident so we are waiting.

Last Thursday Bill is on his way back from the BC/Alberta border. Mid afternoon he calls-"I am Okay" ........................ I am waiting for the but ...................... The truck hit an icy spot as the automatic transmission shifted, the rear tires started to skid, the truck heads for the snow bank on the far side of the road, after flipping over and who knows what else the truck is in the snow on the far side of the highway , facing the highway. So far Bill is okay other than being very stiff, sore, and badly bruised. (Friend Lisa thinks he is a cat who has used up 5 of his 9 lives.) He is not up to working but that is okay because he doesn't have anything to work in. Fortunately we were well insured.......................................................................................
....................... so the new truck is a mess and maybe written off . All his stuff is still in the truck............. The pilot car thingy on the top off the truck went flying somewhere............. Thank the Lord he wasn't hurt badly............ Well after the trip to the hospital and the interview with the police he waits until 4:00 am Friday for the bus (only 1 a day through Clearwater). He gets home at 12:30 Friday. Lost his glasses in the accident but is home so all else doesn't matter............... I am a wreck ............the crisis is over and I am coming apart at the seams............

ACCORDING TO SHELBY
On hearing about Bill's accident her comment to him on the phone was "Grandpa , it's a good thing you have a big stomach because it saved your face."

It is now Wednesday and things have settled down. The house is in chaos as we are moving at the end of the month and I am trying to pack this house AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH............................WHY DID WE COLLECT ALL THIS STUFF????????????????????
Okay, Okay I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.............I have a plan ......................... I mean other than packing willy-nilly with boxes every where and paths through the chaos.............................TA DA .............we will have organized chaos.

I will start with the treadle sewing machine in the craft room and work out from there. Once that room is packed up I can put boxes of stuff from the other rooms in there. Is this possible???? When we moved in here the craft room boxes in the craft room were piled 6 feet high with a three foot empty square just inside the door.................. Well I have gotten rid of bags and bags and bags of stuff out of that room. Not that you can tell by looking ..................................... but honestly I have .............really.

So life goes on and I am excited about moving into the house. I will post pictures after we move. I might even take photos of the craft room before we move. We are having a packing party on Saturday. Have to get some wine (Not whine ......I have done enough of that) and cheese....................... plus MORE boxes........

On a nice note Brian chose my blog as one that he enjoys................. Thank you Brian.........
Well I think I should go to bed as it is 11:25 and I have to get up tomorrow and do................can you guess.............................
MORE PACKING.

Oh yes the ABBA women got together for lunch on Sunday and we had a great time. They bought me lunch. I really do have wonderful friends. Yesterday I took my friend Molly out for a Birthday lunch and frivaling. We had a great time. Tonight was sock knitters and that is always fun.................. well I did say I was going to go to bed so Good night all.

Pity Party

No ABBA get together AGAIN. Today we were supposed to do a "lunchy-brunchy" thing at Glen and Margaret's but Lisa and Rene are renovating the bathroom, Sherri and Larry are looking after a sick child, Bill has bronchitis and I am coming down with a cold............. @&*#$^%@*()(&*@) DARN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was going to be a fun day but we have postponed it AGAIN until next Sunday. I think I am going to have a PITY PARTY .............. I'll go soak in the tub with a glass of wine, a bowl of popcorn, my book and feel sorry for myself...............

Remember I said I thought we were only going to have 30 boxes of books............................. I may have been mistaken.
I have packed 17 boxes , made 2 give away stacks of books about 30" high and I am only about half way there. Mind you that only adds up to 34 which is still less than 40 ................... right.
Well I think I have had enough coffee that I can go make some breakfast but need to watch the end of 'Bones" first.

How weird do they think I am

I can't believe this................... my own daughter.

Yesterday Jill came over for coffee. The machine had just finished brewing when she arrived so as she went to the kitchen to get her coffee, I gave her my hot chocolate mug from the night before. I never thought to say anything. As there was still half a marshmallow in the cup I just assumed that she would put the coffee in a clean cup. This is a reasonable assumption don't you agree?
Jill came back with 2 cups of coffee. Mine had HALF A MARSHMALLOW FLOATING IN IT!!...................................................... YES YOU READ IT RIGHT HALF A MARSHMALLOW FLOATING IN MY BLACK COFFEE ............................. I looked at her and said" Why would you put coffee in this mug? There is a marshmallow in it!"
Her reply:"Well I thought it was a little weird but you do weird things all the time."
My reply;"I am not that weird"
Jill "Yes you are Mum. All my friends think you are weird too."
(DH is nodding his head in the background)

Now I hope you are sitting down in a very stable chair. Apparently the reason her friends think I am weird is as follows;
1) I go to a Wednesday Night Sock knitting group.
2) I go away on quilting retreats where we drink wine and do alot of laughing. (we quilt as well)
3) I go away on spinning retreats, no drinking but lots of fun and laughter.
My reply:" None of my friends think I am that weird!"
Jill " That's because they are weird too!"

So to all my WEIRD friends out there be very careful or you too can end up with MARSHMALLOW IN YOUR COFFEE!!!!!!

I forgot

Daughter Cory's dog, DJ, is fine.

ACCORDING TO SHELBY
I don't think there is anything wrong with the dog. He probably just thinks he is retired like Grandma

I just can't do it every day

I mean write on this blog everyday..................... there are other things I can't seem to do everyday but we won't go into those............ Today is Friday and we are still looking for a place to move into. Have 2 places to visit tomorrow so we will see.
I have managed to pack one bookcase (6 boxes) I think we will only have about 30 boxes of books this time as opposed to the 40 we had last time we moved. All the CD's are packed and I did manage to take the tree down and put all the decorations away except the Santa at the piano that plays a story tape........................... why do I always seem to miss one thing. Oh well it only has to go in a box and then to the other side of the room. My Craft room is well organized in that most things are already in boxes. I got a couple of Ikea bags to put fabric in ( the stuff that isn't already in boxes.)

Yesterday I went to look at a "house" in Burnaby. That was an adventure. I didn't wake up until 10:50 ............. can you believe it..............I can't .............. don't know why I slept that late. Jill says it is the stress. Me ........... STRESSED ............
NAH .................. not me. We only have to find a place to live, change all the utilities over, e-mail and snail mail the new address and PACK THIS HOUSE THAT IS JAM PACKED WITH STUFF .............. then there is the crawl space .............not even sure what is there any more. The back porch has two freezers, a cooler, all my canning jars, Bill's assorted stuff, a camping cooler and at least 1 unwashed fleece . Am I off topic or what. Went to Burnaby , forgot that Sprot Street only has an exit from the west and an entrance from the east. Remember this entrance as I didn't . Ended up going to
Willingdon, turned right instead of left..................... turned around and went down Canada Way .......... missed Sprot again....... finally found to place...... NOT a house but a 2 bedroom suite with NO STORAGE.
PACK-RATS NEED STORAGE.
It was nicely finished and very bright , the best so far but not right for us. So I head for home, here is where you need to remember about the freeway entrance.I DIDN'T. Driving along and the exits don't look right ...........................................
............ AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH....................I am going WEST not EAST. ..................... Get off at Hastings and follow it into Port Moody ........................... made the trip in just enough time to pick up Jill and get Shelby from school. Its probably a good thing the suite wasn't for us. I would spend all my time going the wrong way...........LOL......................
When I got home Bill said" How was your day" I said "I am not sure. I don't think I was there."



Now here is one of the cones of "YELLOW" yarn that was mentioned in Sharon's WNK report........VBG...........This is the yarn I am going to use for my "Spring Shawl Surprise"









Here are 2 finished projects ........... a fisherman style scarf in ...............uuuuuuummmmmm.................... something soft.
The long, thin, beaded scarf is for a tall, elegant friend. Both scarves are my own design.......... and very simple.

I think it is Monday................

No ABBA dinner on Saturday darn .....darn ....darn......so we are doing brunch next weekend. Hurray more time to visit.
Well I think it is Monday but I am not sure. We have DJ , Cory's dog and he is not well. It may be constipation so without going into details we gave him some tablets and things seem to be moving.

"ACCORDING TO SHELBY"
we are not to worry as dogs go through stages and that is all this is. But it only happens to boy dogs not girl dogs.

I got a hair cut today , did two loads of laundry, some quilting, some knitting, bought some Kroy sock yarn on sale at Micheals,had a small melt down, a bath, chocolate and a glass of red wine. All in all it wasn't a bad day. OH yes we had snow.
I have finished another pair of socks and the beaded scarf. Will post photos probably tomorrow.

a New Year and am I overloading myself.............

Well Shelby was here yesterday. It is amazing how one small child can leave her mark even though she put the toy's away. There were the books, her drawings, her chair, doll and sweater. Plus she left her games box in the middle of the living room. She is definitely her Mother's and Grandfather's child. .............. they all leave things where they finish with them.................. is it a wonder that I have grey hair?????????????
Have almost finished the socks I was knitting for no one in particular. Have started another pair and I am signed up for two mystery shawls. I finished testing a dishcloth pattern but haven't finished my winter DJ swap blocks that need to be mailed by the 15th of this month. I finished the beaded scarf for one of my friends and just have to finish up the binding on a table runner for another friend. Still need to finish the quilts for my kids and do two more blocks for a different DJ swap (Susan's fault)
Oh here are pictures of the items I made for Son and SO. Laura was modeling them but put the cowl on upside down to start.





This is the "Ice Queen" pattern from





http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTicequeen.html
I used a little heavier mohair than it called for as they live in Regina, Sask. I did put the beads on but they don't really show up in the photos.


This is the way the cowl should be worn although she does look rather like a 'flower' with it on the wrong way.............. LOL........ but I don't think it would keep your neck warm.





My son's helmet is from "Homespun-Handknit" from Interweave Press. This should help keep him warm !!!







Tonight is supposed to be an 'ABBA' dinner but Margaret and I think that Lisa has forgotten or double booked herself AGAIN and we aren't sure if Larry gave Sheri the date calender and if he did we are not sure that Sherri remembered. This maybe changed to a "Lunchy/Brunchy thing" next weekend. Time will tell.

Nag, nag, nag

Okay so I haven't written since Breakfast with Santa but I have been busy. After Breakfast with Santa we went to our ABBA dinner. Then there was the mad kniiting and quilting for Christmas. Needless to say I planned more than I could do ............as usual......LOL. Did finish some things like DH's socks.










Dec.15 - DDs, friends and I did centerpieces.In the evening it was DH's work party.





We had a very nice dinner and I got to meet some of the people he works with.
Dec.17 - quilting but it doesn't look like the quilts will be done for Christmas
Dec.18 - shopping at Wineberries quilt shop with Margaret. We both had won $25 gift certificates at our quilting retreat. Margaret bought fabric. I will put in a photo of what I bought. Margaret and I had a good time together. We need to get together more often but she still has to work so it is hard.
I bought mostly sock yarn...VBG ...........I bought 4 of these balls of yarn with the gift certificate, one was a gift for my birthday. The others were on sale and calling my name so of course I just had to buy them .........................LOL.





Dec 19 - Knit and sew at home . Granddaughters over for supper.





Dec 20 - Molly and I went to this Japanese shop in Richmond where everything is $2 . There was lots of neat stuff but I tried to restrict myself to things I needed for Christmas gifts. I am going to go again one of these days. Molly was looking for a Buddha that is standing on money but we didn't find one except in this one Chinese shop and it was way out of the price range. Got some nice tea in this little restaurant/shop. if we asked about a tea the lady would make a small pot and give us some in a shot glass size of cup to try.
Dec. 21 - Brianne's Birthday
Dec. 24 Bill went to the dentist. All was quiet at our house. Neither of us felt like it was Christmas so I sat up and listened to Christmas Carols on the TV. It felt a little more like Christmas after that.
Dec 25 - IT'S SNOWING .............. VBG ........... it is really starting to feel like Christmas. The snow only managed to cover the ground and then it melted so everyone was happy.
What did I get for Christmas ; we got a gift certificate for Chapters, a musical globe (to add to the collection) and a house for the Christmas village,a Tassimo coffee maker, a bathroom book and new photos of each of the DGDs. I got a bobbin winder, cotton yarn for dish cloths, cochet cotton that I think was what DH was given when he asked for lace yarn,and three CDs of romantic music from DH, three dragons from DD, dragon jewelry and a yoga kit with mat, ball and strap from the other DD. Inge dropped of a quilting calender yesterday. All in all I did very well.
Dec. 26 - Jill and I went shopping. I can't believe I did that but it wasn't bad and we got some good buys.
Dec.27 - Our 38th wedding Anniversary. Family came for dinner and Shelby opened her Christmas presents. Shel had gone to her fathers for Christmas.


Dec 29 - The girls came over at 10:00 and we packed everything in Jill's car, met Cory on the ferry and headed to Grans (MIL). Ferry lands the car won't start, so they jump start the car and off we go. About 10 miles later we stop so I can change seats with Cory who is crying because she is so crowded in the back and very sore because of her back. Off we go again ... Half way to Arbutus Ridge the car dies, so the girls and I push it off the roadway. DH can't push so he has to drive. We made Shelby stay in the car so she was 'mad as a wet hen' because she didn't get to push the car. She got out and tried to push it herself and actually managed to rock the car. She is 7. After much complaining on her part about not being able to help we decide that the car NEEDED to be a little closer to the edge of the road so Shelby got to help push. Meanwhile DH has phoned his brother who comes and rescues us........ much discussion between DH , BIL, SIL and DD ......... hook up the jumper cables ................... wait for the battery to charge. They have decided it is the alternater. Time to go we all get back in our vehicles and off we go. By now it is dark so we need the lights and raining so we need the wipers all of which draw power. Finally at 5:00 we make it to Gran's, BIL goes to pick up a battery charger for us and they charge the battery. We open gifts as Shelby says "we always open gifts before dinner".


Then sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner. Lovely meal and good company over all. No issues with SIL. Time for bed and we have to go to the motel where we again plug in the charger. What a day.
Dec.30 - DH wakes up with a very sore throat, hardly able to talk. We decide that we will go back with the girls. DH doesn't want Mum to get his virus so we have a short visit and leave about 3:00 planning to catch the 4:30 ferry. Meanwhile we are driving along with the window open to keep the windshield clear.........needless to say it is COLD...... Cory keeps saying "we should have brought my van" until Jill looses it......#^$*&^%##@*&........... Peace finally ensues until we arrive in Nanimo and we run out of batttery power.....#$@$^^&^+)_________ Jill and I go shopping for battery charger cables and Cory tries to get someone to give us a jump start.
By this time we have not only missed the 4:30 ferry but also the 5:00 one...........aaaarrrrghhhh ........ The next ferry is at 7:00 and we are praying that we get on it. Finally get to the terminal and have to get another jump start................... wait 1 hour 45 minutes to get on the 7:00 ferry. Fairly peaceful trip then it is time to go. Again we need a jump start which lasts until we get off the ferry and around the corner into the underground parking about six feet from Cory's van. Thank goodness we didn't have to push the car up the slope. Cory pulls the van out.... we all (Shelby) included push Jill's car back into the parking spot............LOAD EVERYTHING INTO CORY'S VAN......pay $24 dollars to get out of the parkade .................. we are headed for home .........arrive at home and the girls leave . Peace and quiet reigns.
Dec. 31 - Bill has to go to work. The $ %&^ told dispatch he was able to work.
Jill and I get in my car and head for the ferry terminal where we charge the battery and get about half way out of the parkade. Try 15 minutes of charging and off we go just as the ferry is unloading.......... cost $15 to get out of the parkade........... My car doesn't like hills so Jill gets way ahead of me. Soon the phone rings...........Jill ...she is just past exit 18 on the freeway. I find her off to the side where I can pull along side and recharge the battery.......... managed to go 19 k................ 15 minutes later off we go again and get within about 6 blocks of home. Charge the battery again and I tell Jill go to our house as it is closer. She says "DAD said take it home and park it in backwards". I said Dad isn't here and we are going to our house it's closer. So Jill now has my car and hers is parked out in front of our house.......... New Years Eve was fun ........ Bill , Shelby and I bang on pots with wooden spoons, make a lot of noise and then go to bed. I know that one day this trip will be a funny story but not yet..........
Jan. 1 2008 - Today we went and looked at a new place as we are going to move. The place is big enough but not enough natural light. Have another place to look at on the weekend so we will see. I HATE MOVING. The landlord was over but Bill wouldn't let him in the house............. Talked to him outside with me YELLING comments thru the door.