Happy St. Patty's Day

Wow, I can not believe that it's been almost two weeks since my last post. I'm still on bed rest and waiting to hear from the surgeon, although my family doctor and the neurologist figure that I will need decompression surgery. The problem is I already had decompression/fusion surgery in that spot on my spine and they are not sure they can do it again in the same L4/L5 region (have no idea what they are talking about - hate doctor speak!).

I have some of the most wonderful aunts and they have been keeping me supplied with books while stuck in bed. I have read 3 Joanne Fluke books. I am really enjoying those and would love to be able to get into the kitchen and try some of those recipes since they look kind of easy. I have also read Devil Bones by Kathy Reich (she writes for the TV show Bones and the book is based on her character Dr. Brennan). I have just started Just Take my Heart by Mary Higgins Clark.

Between books I have also been able to do some stitching on my WIP Achoo. It still doesn't look like a dog yet but at least it doesn't have that adult in nature look any more. I'm a day late with my TUSAL '10 picture but at least I remember.



The temperature has been in the double digits here +10F to +12F and really sunny and I have been stuck in bed. Here's a picture of Ozzy playing on the last snow bank in the yard. He has his electric collar on and he hates it but it keeps him safely in the yard and off the street so I'm afraid he is going to have to life with it.
He doesn't look very happy does he!

Take care very one and Happy St. Patty's Day

So far March has pretty much sucked!!!

I haven't been able to post every much lately. I thought my legs were getting better then a few days ago I went to get up from the chair and I couldn't move my right foot or toes. After seeing a neurologist, pain management doctor, and a physio therapist; I now have to wait to see a surgeon on the mainland (5 hr drive away from my house). It's looks like I have a pinched nerve but because my back is so bad no one wants to do anything because they can not guarantee that 1) it will fix the problem and 2) that if the surgery does work it won't come back.

So now I'm on bed rest until the mid of next week when I go back to see my family doctor to see if there are any changes.

The only good thing from this, is that I'm getting a lot of reading and stitching done. Hopefully I can get to my computer soon to post some pictures. My son has been amazing and he has been letting me use his laptop so I don't have to get up and go to the computer room to use mine.

Wow what a hockey game.

Okay I can honestly said that up until today I can count the seconds on one hand the amount of time that I watched the Olympics (I'm terrible I know) but other than European football (soccer) I'm not much of a sports person. However, this evening I turned to the last hour of the canadian/usa hockey game. It was an intense game, won in over time 3-2 for Canada (wahooo!!!!). While I was very happy for the Canadians, I also got teary-eyed for the Americans players they looked so heart broken and some were in tears, understandably. I can understand how people get caught up in the game my emotions and nervous were all over the place. I didn't play the game but in some ways it felt like I did...:)

Yesterday it snowed all day and night. Woke up this morning to snow covering everything. It was perfect for snowballs. Not good for shoveling, very wet and heavy. One good thing about a snow storm is you can get some stitching and reading done. Finished my first book by Joanne Fluke, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and I enjoyed it very much.
Picture of our snow cover street this morning at 7 am after the snow plow went by

Picture of my son shovel a path for himself on his way down to get the snow blower from my dad.


Here's an update on my latest WIP - Achoo

Survivor -- Don't think I'd make it

Had a terrible night sleeping last night (leg was hurting like crazy) and even worse day. I accomplished nothing. Even tried to stitch and was unable to concentrate. Did start reading a new book that my mom bought me. She knows that I love mysteries, and she bought me 3 new books by this author Joanne Fluke. I have never read anything by this author before but what I have read so far I have really liked.


I'm sitting here watching Survivor. I usually don't watch Survivor because I'm watching my fav tv show Supernatural and Vampire Dairies but they are repeats so I'm giving Survivor a try. Besides the physical aspect of the show which I could never do; I would never be able to handle all the lying. I'm terrible at lying everyone says that I smile if I try to lie so that would a be a dead give away. But I think the worst part is that they can be so mean to each other. I understand it's a game but still -- wow!

Snow and a stitching update

I feel like such a bad blogger -- it's been a while since I have really posted anything. Legs and back are still not great but at least I can sit for a bit longer now without wanting to cry -- that's always a good thing. Just realized that a week from today will be March 1. Another month almost over already.

Yesterday we woke up to snow. Not very much (less then 5 cm) and it's almost all gone now but it was so pretty as the snow was stuck to the trees. These are two pictures of some of the trees in our backyard.


Picture of a neighbors house and tree laden with snow


I have been able to do some stitching on my latest project but it's still really hard to tell what it is. My Dad saw it and asked if I was stitching something "adult in nature" and then suggested a candle...lol. Showed him the picture and all I got was an Ohh.

Sorry for lack of updates

My back and legs have been really bothering me lately and I haven't been able to sit very long and do an update. I hope to have more of a post tomorrow.

Well I had a good day

Did you ever have one of those days that nothing seem to go right? Well for once it wasn't me; however, my son did had one of those days. He had to replace something on his truck Saturday and then again today (garage bill $901 in two days); then he had to go to work early this morning and slept in and then on the way home for lunch he was driving my dad's truck because his was in the garage and someone ran into the truck ($800 damage on my dad's truck) but no one was hurt. The insurance company told my son that he would have to pay half even though it wasn't his fault but because he was in the mall parking lot it is 50/50. The police had a statement from the guy that ran into him and the man said that it was all his fault (his car stalled and rolled back down the hill) and it wasn't in the parking lot but in exit drive (guess that makes a difference). So now the man has to pay the whole bill.

I did manage to get the house work done that I wanted to do and was able to go for a nice walk. It was mild here today great for getting outside. Plus I managed to get some stitching done. All in all I had a great day.

Happy Valentine's Day

Accomplished absolutely nothing today. Didn't even cook dinner. Went down my mom's for dinner (steak and potatoes -- the way to my dad's heart). Dad I spent most of my visit driving my mom crazy discussing how you don't have to be human to buy a lotto ticket. There is nothing in the rules. Ya I know, dad and I are insane.

Hope everyone had a good day!!!

It's Complicated

Didn't make a post yesterday as we went to the movies. We went early so we could see Lovely Bones but it was sold out so instead we saw It's Complicated. It was actually pretty good. I don't usually watch romance movies however this one was kind of funny. The guy that played Harley (he's from the Office) had some funny moments. I guess we'll have to go see Lovely Bones another evening.

Did some stitching on my newest project today. I find the light colors hard to work with. I'm trying to do all the "colors" first before I start doing white on white.


Here's a picture of my orts for the last month. I was late getting started with this project so there isn't much in the jar.

It's been a rough day.

So yesterday the doctor changed my prescriptions and took me off 3 different pills for my back and started me on a new pill. After taking it for one day it hasn't help me any (and didn't think it would after 1 day) but I do manage to have most of the side effects: dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, tiredness and drowsiness. Always thought tiredness and drowsiness were the same thing anyway how does that happen that the side effects kicked in so quickly!

I did manage to do some stitching between naps. It's hard to stitch when it seems that the paper and canvas are moving...lol.

How terrible is it that I'm off to have another nap (after napping all day) before Supernatural comes on.

A new project

It was a beautiful day here today. It got up to about 6 degrees and the sun was out and I spent most of the day at the Doctors office (that's not fair). I have to go see another specialist now (that makes 4 different specialist in less than a year for my back/legs) I'm not sure exactly what his official title is but he's the doctor that sticks the needles/electrodes in your body. I don't mind the needles in my legs but I find it really hurts when they turn on the electricity. Not looking forward to that visit.

After coming home from the doctors with another new prescription, I got myself ready to start a new cross stitch pattern. I'm doing Achoo from Dimension. I tried taking a picture of the picture. Hope it turns out. I checked this pattern out first from my stash and there are no fractionals -- yeah!!!

A finish sort of!

Woke up extremely early this morning and was able to get my yesterday's to do list finish and wipe down the kitchen and my appliances. Unfortunately, my today's to do list never got done. All I managed to do was call the Doctor's office for an appointment (my legs and back are very painful lately and the pain meds are not working like they should) and finish my cute as a button pattern.

This is my 3rd finish and the first finish for 2010. Although it's just a small pattern I'm kinda proud of myself because it's the first time I did fractionals and used beads and I think I did okay. Now to find something else to work on.

Busy Day

So I went shopping/looking for a new floor covering for my kitchen-dining room with my Dad today. Wow, there are some really nice flooring choices out there but I just want something on the floor not lay gold on the floor. Talk about expensive. I'm thinking of going with a laminate flooring but with a stone look not a wood look (there is a name for it but I can not think of it).

My to do list today included:
Shopping/looking for flooring
look for beads
work on cute as button
find a jar for the 2010 Totally Useless Sal
take Ozzy for a walk
wipe down kitchen counters and appliances
cook supper

I got everything done except for cleaning the kitchen. There is always tomorrow.

So I'm trying to post a picture a day. Well I didn't post yesterday (Superbowl party) but I did remember to take a picture or two of the bit of snow that was falling last night. It was so quiet out on the street last night when I took these pictures. You could almost hear the snow falling very peaceful. Helps that there wasn't any wind and it wasn't that cold.


I'm not really good at French knots yet so I decided to try and use beads for eyes on my cute as a button. I think they turned out okay.

some cross stitching, some knitting - it was a good day

So I had the day to myself today. Kyle actually worked a day shift so it was just me and Ozzy home alone. So what did I do with myself while on my own for a change. I scrubbed down the bathroom. Yeah there is loads of fun and excitement.

I did manage to finish off my knitted IPod cosy/purse. It's great for walking I can put my house key and my IPod in it and that's it. This is the 3rd one I have made but it's the only one that I got to keep for myself.


I also did some back stitching on my Cute as a Button project. I just have a few things left to finish stitching.

Spent most of the day doing housework. I'm not sure how 2 people and 1 dog can make such a mess in less than a week - every week. So between dusting, vacuum, and mopping I can hardly move. I did manage to start my new book, The Harlequin. I read a bunch of Laurell K Hamilton books years ago and really enjoyed them so I'm hoping this is going to be a good read but if not I'm only out a $1.99 for a hardcover book. Not a bad deal.

It seems Facebook has changed it layout again. I just got used to the last round of changes that they made and now they have gone and changed it again. ARGH!!!! I'm not much of a Facebook person. I do like it to keep in touch with family.

Since I'm trying to post a pic a day. I forgot to do it so I just took a picture of Ozzy. Usually he is a willing subject, tonight however I had to chase him around the house to get a picture.

Thursday = Supernatural

Found a great website for a Canadian store that sells cross stitching items and I found the pattern of Neuschwanstein Castle that Shelly had on her blog. I'm so excited. It was a little pricey but it's one of my favorite places that I want to visit but probably will never get there. So if I stitch it, I'll always have a little piece of it.

Did a bit of stitching on my Cute as a Button. It doesn't seem like I'm getting any where with it but with my back and legs I can only sit for short periods of time before I need to get up and change positions so for me stitching for hours might only be a short period of time.

LOST the other night was great. Unfortunately it just added to the list of questions instead of answering them but it was still a great show. Tonight is Supernatural another favorite.

Think I'm coming down with the cold

I woke up this morning with a headache and a sore throat and as the day progressed so did my headache. I did manage to get to the hair dressers to get my hair chopped off (it's really short, at least for me) and I picked up a few hardcover books at Zellers. They were on sale for 7.99 but when I got to the check out they were only 1.99 each. I got 2 Janet Evanovich books and 1 Laura K Hamilton book.

Since I wasn't feeling well and it was sort of a miserable day my thoughts turned to traveling and one of my all time favorite places is the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavarian Alps of Germany. I have always wanted to go there.

As I'm checking my emails, I find a post to a blog http://shelleysartsyfartsylife.blogspot.com/ where she has finished this pattern in cross stitch (I'm so jealous..lol). I now have to go on a search mission for this pattern or one like it.

Lost tonight!!

Is it a bad thing to be excited about the start of a TV show. Tonight is the start of LOST - the final season and I can not wait. It better start answering some questions

I know I said that I only baked if it came out of a can, box or bag but I do make Raisin Buns. It was my great-great grandmother's recipe and I have been making them since I could reach the cupboard. I made them today and because we are on a health kick I switched the cup of sugar for a cup of Splenda. They certainly smelled good and they tasted good but I find they have an after taste from the Splenda. I'm going back to the cup of sugar next time. My son got to the pan before I was able to get a picture of the full pan. He just about burnt his lips off...lol.

Did a bit more stitching on my cute as a button.


I'm off to watch LOST!!!!

It's February

Boy another month gone by already. It's funny how the older you get the faster time seems to go by. I really don't like February and March so I'm hoping that they go by quickly.

I'm not really much of a cook or a baker but I can make good homemade soup. Today I made Heart Lasagna Soup. Here's a copy of the recipe

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

3 1/2 cups Beef Broth (Regular, 50% Less Sodium or Certified Organic)

1 can (14 .5 ounces) diced tomatoes

1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed

1 1/2 cups uncooked mafalda or corkscrew-shaped pasta

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Cook the beef, onion, garlic and parsley in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, or until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.
• Stir the broth, tomatoes and Italian seasoning in the saucepan and heat to a boil.
• Stir the pasta in the saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir in the cheese. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.

I also got some more stitching done on my Cute as a Button ornament. I'm hoping to get some more done on it this evening while watching Castle. It's another favorite show. Usually I only like sci-fi tv shows but I love the character Castle. One minute he can be like a child but when he comes to dealing with his daughter he turns into this great dad.

Back on line

So the internet seems to be working now; which is always good. I was going through withdrawals last night and of course there was nothing on TV which made it worse. You would think that I would have done some stitching but no that would have been productive. Instead I flipped some old magazines that I found in the closet from the 60's I wasn't even born in the 60's I'm not entirely sure where they came from. They were craft magazines with a lot of knitting patters which were extremely over my skill level, lots of crochet patterns (again over my skill level), rug hooking and some embroidery patterns.

I tried the new (well new for me) windows live writer when I tried an early post. I was sure I used the paragraph button but when I posted the entry it was one long post. It didn't show like that in the preview. I'll have to play with it some more.

Here are some pics I took yesterday of my son out shovel and my fur baby playing in the snow.


I tried to take a picture of the moon this evening as it was so bright in the sky however my picture taking skills are not the best and this was the best I could get.


I'll update my cross stitch Cute as a Button tomorrow. When I get more stitched.

Already broke one of my resolutions

One of my New Years resolutions was when I started a blog I was going to blog every day and do the Post a Photo every day challenge.  Well I took a few pictures yesterday of my son and dog out in the snow but when I tried to log onto the internet last night I was unable. 

So although it wasn’t really my fault I still feel bad.  So today I’m posting two entries.  This short little rant and then another one later this evening. 

I’m also trying out the window live writer which is suppose to post right to my blog without having to log into blogger.  So this is sort of a test post.

Finally some snow

Since it was a snowy/windy and cold day, I spent the day inside and re-potted some plants. I found this tip on the net and since I'm an avid tea drinker I had the tea bags and thought I would give it a try.

Prepare planter for potting

For healthier potted plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before potting. The tea bags will retain water and leach nutrients to the soil.

I then spent the remainder of the day cleaning up the potting soil. Wow who knew that potting soil could get up and walk. I thought I had it contained to the kitchen but when I went down the hall I found traces of soil going from the kitchen to down the hallway, into the bedroom and into the bathroom. I'm blaming the dog...lol; as I didn't even go to those places while I was re-potting.

I didn't get any stitching done today but I have high hopes for this evening and tomorrow. I have plans to do nothing tomorrow. Lets see how that goes.

Took some pictures this morning of the snow that we received over night. It wasn't much but at least it some snow. We are suppose to get a few more centimeters this evening. I'm hoping!!!!

Another beautiful day

Weather wise it was a beautiful day! Sun was shinning and it was quite warm out. Since I was up early decide to take Ozzy for a walk up to the back field.

Here he is waiting for mom to make it up the hill


You would think looking at this next picture that field was huge and went right up to the trees in the background. However there is a 4 lane highway between the field and the line of trees in the background.


Here's the highway. It's never usually this quite. It's only because we were up and out early (well early for me) after morning traffic.


Picture of Pottle's Lake which is one of the major sources of drinking water for our town and surrounding communities. This is only one section of the lake. It's a pretty large lake.


Once we got home Ozzy needed a bath as he was covered in mud. He fell through an icy puddle and got his legs and stomach covered in water and muck.

I think I found my next cross stitch project. I wanted to do some kind of English cottage but I found this pattern instead and really liked them. Just hope I have to the skill level to do them justice.

Spring Day???

It was +5 today and the sun was shinning. It was just like a spring day. Ozzy and I did our normal walk around the block a couple of times. Kyle worked last night so he slept most of the day which means I had to be quiet so he could sleep. The harder I try to be quiet the more noise I seem to make.

I cleaned up my craft room a bit (needs alot more work) and while I don't have much stash in the line of thread I did find a number of cross stitch kits that I didn't know that I had; which was a lovely surprise. Not to mention the hundreds of knitting, plastic canvas and cross stitch magazines that I have. I love English cottages so I'm looking for a pattern for my next cross stitch project when I done the Cute as a Button.

Here are some of the kits I found today while cleaning.