Retail Therapy

"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it." - Jane Wagner

Ain't that the truth!!

Lately I've been dealing with, or at least attempting to deal with stress. Where does it come from anyway - really I don't think my life is all that complicated ... I know I like to keep busy 'cause I hate just sitting around, but me thinks I'm a wee bit too busy for my own good! Anyway I've been trying to get other people to take over some tasks and/or just let certain things go... 'cause it just isn't worth it anymore!

So, this past weekend a friend and I did a little retail therapy - Whoohoo! It was a quilt shop hop, but the weather was not kind (major snow storm), so the driving wasn't fun, luckily it wasn't me driving. The company was great and we got to visit several "new" stores which is always fun, and we both got lots of new fabric and books! Now if only I can find the time to put all this retail therapy to good use! HA!

Simone updates ..... she has been coming up the stairs and peeking over the threshold into the main living area. I thought I might just tempt her into coming all the way out when the mighty Iris decided to defend her home turf and scare poor Simone back into hiding in the basement. She now comes out of "hiding" when I enter the basement in anticipation of the treats I'm trying to tempt her with - er I mean train her. Like I keep saying ... two steps back one step forward!

Tablescape for October
note the 2 devil cats!

TTFN

Full Moon Crazies Part Dieux

So, last night was another guild meeting, and my personal full moon crazies were in full bloom! Not only did I forget the two library books I had earlier in the week very carefully placed on the bench at the front door - my quilt bag was placed on top of them thus neatly hiding them from view, but I also managed, upon leaving the meeting, to decamp sans the fabric postcard donations. Yikes! panic struck the moment I entered my doorway - what will happen if I can't retrieve them - how will I ever explain this to the ladies! What kind of dork am I, have I totally lost my marbles ??? Ok, deep breath, breath, breath, relax ..... follow our fearless leader's example and blame it all on menopause .... That works for me ;).

Now for all you out there in radioland, if you're still concerned re the previous full moon crazies entrée let me reassure you that a truce has been called and we are now on speaking terms again and all is well in quiltland ... Tomorrow is another day and we'll be deep into this year's first workshop. Why do I sign myself up for these things - it's just going to become another UFO/WIP .... I ought to know better, and even though it is supposed to be another scrap lap quilt I still went out and bought co-ordinated fabric. So much for using up the stash!!!

Now on to the important updates ... its seems one step forward and three step back for sweet little Simone. I recent located a wonderful site on the web from Best of Friends which provided a 51 page (yes you read that correct) a 51 page pdf on Socializing Very Fearful or Timid Cats. I think Simone fits into this category (pardon the pun). I thought we were making pretty good progress as I had begun to coax her out from under the couch using kitty treats (she is definitely food motivated), and allow my finger to remain next to the treat as she ate, not touching me, but she did sniff my finger several times. Pretty good eh?
Well, Iris decided to come for a visit and silly mom (must be those full moon crazies again) decided to kiss and hug and make a show of Iris in front of Simone. It seems this was not my best idea, and now poor Simone is back under the couch! Darn ! I feel so sorry for the poor thing. When she does eventually stand up she appears to be rather stiff (from all that crouching under the couch) and she comes out of hiding she always, always always backs away from me, frequently she won't even stand up but remains in a hunched position as she backs away. What's even more disappointing is that I went out and bought her a nice plush bed - just for her - and some of that cat pheromone spray to help her understand this is her bed. Will she get into it? NO, she'll eat the treats out of it then go crouch on the floor! It almost makes me cry to watch her, but I am inspired by the above linked pdf to continue to work with her. I may perhaps have to revise my original deadline of December though. Let's see, maybe February or March or next Easter ? (Wha wha wha - I want my basement back!)

Wish me luck
TTFN

Colours of my Gardens

I didn't know how much I love red Maples until I bought my condo.
I moved in May and spent that first summer making minor improvements to the insides and trying oh so hard to overcome my personal feng shui issues 'cause the address was an odd number ... totally silly I realise, but it did take me several months to overcome a definite sense of I don't belong here.

The next summer I got busy landscaping, important as the previous owners (university students) had merely been interested in how many people they could stuff into this place!

So, with the University's contribution I went out and dropped some bucks on trees. Now at first the brainless secretary in HR argued that I couldn't spend my 25 yr award on something as useless as trees, the money was supposed to be spent on a gift of "lasting value", you know like a golf club or a barcalounger. What? The university is supposed to be an Arboretum and they don't think trees have lasting value? DUH ...

As you can see I won this debate. Building on the empty garden beds I planted a couple of Peonies, a "Burning" bush, a dwarf Lilac, a couple of Weigelias, two different varities of Weeping Caraganas, a couple of Forsythias, some Rose of Sharon donated from a friend and .... a red Maple. That's probably the best gardening decision I've ever made!

Since then I have added a garden in the lower portion of my property planting a salmon coloured Rhododendron which flowers for too short a time, more Weigelia, a climbing Hydrangea which has yet to flower to cover the wall and a white snowball Hydrangea to hide the AC unit.

I also invested in several garden architectural pieces, a couple of tripods, two trellises and several other misc pieces. This summer I added a Hibiscus shrub in the same bed as the red maple, a rusty old milkcan rescued from the garbage and now proudly displayed on the front step, and a wrought iron flower urn to house the non-perrenial flowers I choose to purchase for the front step.


All in all I'm rather pleased with the gardens I've created for myself. Having lived in apts for 20+ years with no balcony or access to the grounds, I think I've created a somewhat lovely garden scape for myself and hope my neighbours enjoy it as much as I do!

TTFN

Bugs on a Screen Door

Update #1: the number of Simone sightings have increased. The couch in the basement is now propped up against the wall so she can not truly hide under the couch, although she still takes shelter -in the "shade" of the couch. Since she appears to be food driven I have increased the amount, variety and times for food treats, and have started to use them to actively attempt to coax her out from the shade into the sunlight! I have also begun to move her food/water dishes out of the basement room and will slowly move them up the stairs, thus coaxing Simone into our society. Iris has been going downstairs, voluntarily, and it seems the growling has stopped. BIG Step!

Update #2: I have finished the Bugs on a Screen Door baby quilt, YEAH . It is now bound and awaiting inspiration for the label. Otherwise DONE. The quilt is hand appliqued, and hand quilted and will shortly be off to the family to help celebrate the birth of their one and only son (they already have a girl). I hope they like it!Update #3: I have been off work sick with this nasty cold that's making the rounds. Working with the public can be fun, exciting and stimulating, but it's not always good for your health! For me it started as a cold just after Thanksgiving, morphed into a sinus infection about a week later, and has now upgraded into laryngitis - ah well, people tell me I talk too much anyway!!!

Update #4: Speaking of October, you may remember my recent Full Moon Crazies blog entry. I am determined to take the high road on all this schoolyard silliness and not be dragged into unproductive discussions. It is what it is, no one is right, no one is wrong. I may have over reacted (I'll admit I can be drama queen), but the "incident" was the culmination of months of unsophisticated behaviour I have endured patiently from this person, and does not excuse her use of physical force.The point is it doesn't have to leave a bruise to hurt my soul.

TTFN

Simone Sightings

I hereby cheerfully announce two, not one, not three but TWO, yes TWO Simone sightings - today. For my dear readers who are as yet not introduced to Simone ... she is a beautiful, yet terribly timid Siamese/Ragdoll cross I "adopted" from a cattery on Oct. 6th, 2008.
I was informed that Simone was "spastic" (no evidence of spasms so far), had only produced one kitten, hence was being given away for free by the breeder, and was bullied by the other free roaming cats in the cattery. I was Simone's "last chance" at life, so she immediately came home with me as I have an oh too soft a heart.
Simone has been in hiding in the basement since Oct 6th!Most "experts" will tell you to keep cats separated while the new one adjusts to her surroundings, hence the basement. Being extraordinarily timid, Simone immediately picked a hiding spot behind the TV in the entertainment unit! I allowed this for 1 1/2 weeks since she seemed comfortable, but have since pushed back the TV forcing Simone into a newer - more accessible hiding spot. She is now residing under the loveseat. Each week I pin up another portion of the skirt on the loveseat to reveal her more and more. We currently have the loveseat pulled away from the wall so Simone can not back up against the wall. Every day 2-3 times per day I go down and lay on the floor and talk and purr and sing and make all kinds of silly (but quiet) noises to Simone. I have attempted to reach out with my hand, but she has quickly reminded me (claws in luckily) that she is not yet ready for any touchy feely stuff.

Soon I will have to upend the loveseat so Simone can not hide under the couch at all! Iris at first was taking this all with great difficulty, hissing and growling and much tail wooshing! Now she goes downstairs into the basement and looks at Simone then walks away. It seems to be a Mexican standoff at this point. Wish me luck - here's hoping that lovely Simone comes upstairs by the holiday season.
TTFN

The Generosity of Friends ...

So, for our friends at sea, and those who might wonder Does this woman have any friends left? YES, I am very happy to relay that I have many many friends, and most of them are very supportive, sensitive, thoughtful, and in this case very generous. I was recently overwhelmed with the gift of this fabulous Eastlake parlour table, which as you can see immediately received the place of honour in my front window! The time of its inaugural portrait was our Canadian Thanksgiving, hence the pumpkin decorations. I expect I will be auditioning several fine linens/crocheted tablecloths until I find just that perfect one! This could take months ... so expect a possible series of pics. How did she know ? How perfect for my room? How exquisite! How do I say thank you?

By bragging about it to everyone I know!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU !

I must admit I have been remiss in expressing my gratitude as at the time of the table receipt was also the occasion of adopting psycho Simone, my new 18 month Siamese/ragdoll cross. In hind sight I should have taken the more friendly Flamepoint Himalyana/Scottish Fold cross, but Simone was just so beautiful, and I hope will in the end be a better friend to Iris. No pics yet as psycho Simone is still hiding under the couch in the basement - we're going into week three now .... stay tuned - it's going to be a bumpy ride!

My Messy Life

So - here it is ladies - MY creativity room (or at least one part of it). As you can see I need lots of visual and auditory stimulus, hence the TV, the bulletin board with way too many notes, and all the rest of the clutter. BUT - it's organized - sort of, cobbled together over the years! My sewing table is actually one half of my former dinning room table (a garbage salvaged piece of furniture) the other half extends off to the left under the TV tower. On top of the TV is a vintage porcelain lady pin cushion I purchased at a local auction.
Behind the sewing machine (one of 4) I have a vintage paper stand which now holds my freezer paper role 'cause I do a lot of applique and like the freezer paper method. The small wooden plaque on the wall above me is from Moscow, a souvenir from my father's last trip to Russia. You can just see my little Babuska doll on the small doll's table.
From a former bathroom I am re-using the toothbrush holders, and glass flower frogs, to hold some of my frequently used sewing utensils, like my seam ripper, tweezers, tube turner, and mini iron. I also use the soap dish to hold current bobbins and threads, and finally a cotton ball holder to house all my various sewing machine feet (hidden behind the sewing machine). Tucked beside the sewing machine is a former treadle sewing machine drawer which houses several varieties of pins, and a pamphlet box with my machine manuals. The drawer unit contains some of my ribbon collection, button collection and other odds and sods which we all collect!

Under the sewing table tucked beside the counter I keep two large wicker baskets. they were originally purchased for under the bed "out of season" storage, but quickly became fabric storage!!! One houses all my Batiks - which quickly overflowed into two more sea grass baskets under the ironing board. The other holds my "favourite" UFOs ....... To my right is a shelf tower which holds a couple of treadle sewing machine drawers filled with thread, plastic organizer boxes filled with misc much needed supplies, like buttons and bobbles and ribbons and lace, and fastners etc. Just before the window you can see one of my door knob hangers I made last holdiay season! I used a vintage glass door knob and decorative brass washer (is that the name for it?), drilled a hole thru a painted wooden plaque and Voila! I have one in my bedroom where I hold recently worn scarves or necklaces ... very handy object d'art!

Here's a front on shot of my cutting counter (cutting mat leaning up against it!) As you can see I have this month's fabric postcards arrayed on the white metal fan a friend gave me for this very purpose (shout out to C M-R and Thank You). The counter is also a salvaged kitchen unit my father dumpster dived for one day (he'll never admit that he dumpster dives ... but I got the bug from him), then repainted and resurfaced with a useful but ugly arborite top. It's just the perfect height and width for cutting fabric, and since it backs up onto the room's window - it's wonderful to stand at and rotary cut on a beautiful sunny day.

On the left is another cobbled together book shelf with way too many quilting books - but how can you get rid of any??? In front of the bookshelves is my wooden ironing board, currently draped with my 2008 "Blue Hawaii" challenge piece. Behind the ironing board is my design wall ... 2 pieces of styrofoam insulation with baby flannel stretched over top and held together and held on the wall with large alligator clips. The pressback chair is one of a pair I purchased while garage saleing one day - a real bargoon - $25.00 for the pair whoohoo!

So, that's my sewing room, messy as it is. It goes together with my messy life...
TTFN

Lost Brains

So it's official ... I have finally and perhaps irrevocably lost them. I don't really know where I put them but they have definitely left the building.

This past weekend I had another one of my all too frequent I Don't Know What I Was Thinking episodes - you know the kind, where you go out, and against your better judgement purchase something/ volunteer for something, or, in my case adopt another psycho feline!

WHAT WAS I THINKING ???

Well, I was thinking that poor little sweetiepie Iris is driving me crazy wanting to play all the time, and I, lazy mummy that I am, want to sit and quilt...
So, now that Iris is all settled in and happy and well adjusted, I had better find her a companion. When the Kijijii cat deal fell through silly me then responded to a Penny Saver ad to "give a home to a wonderful Himalyan/Persian/Ragdoll - FREE" . Yes ladies - you guessed it, I once again got taken in by the "FREE" word.

So, now I have psycho cat (a beautiful cross between a Siamese and a Ragdoll), ensconced somewhere in the nether regions of my basement - ohhh I hope she's still in the family room and not in the laundry room where she can get into the rafters and hide forever ....

Ok, ok, calm down. I must remain calm. Let us remember back to the early days of Iris
(named after the famous British woman writer Iris Murdock) who hid under my bed for 2 weeks and would not come out! Maybe we'll get lucky again and this baby will warm up to Iris and me tout de suite. In eager anticipation I have decided to go ahead and name this new, as yet unseen baby ....... wait for it ....... Simone, after the famous French feminist Simone de Beauvoir. From what I can remember seeing of her at the kitty mill - she looked French. I know - she's half Siamese ... so I suppose she's actually Indochine which means she must then be related to Margeurite Duras, another favourite French feminist writer.... Come to think of it I did have a all white cat one time named Pearl which I always associate with Duras' famous novel The Lover. Oh .... don't get me started down that existential path!

Pics will be forth coming whenever Simone finally decides to come out of hiding and pose for us!
Wish us luck!!
TTFN

Iris - The Mighty Huntress

I know I know, she doesn't look terribly ferocious, but looks can be deceiving!!!! Last night Iris Sweetiepie Norris surprised her mommy and a poor recently fledged avian. I was in the front watering my Fall mums for - well maybe a whole 2 minutes, when I went back inside there was Iris Sweetiepie with a wee sparrow in her mouth.

ECK! What's a Mommy to do?

Well, firstly I calmly separate one very proud kitty from her winged hostage. Then I tossed a kitchen towel over the poor thing which was laying on the floor feigning a broken wing andsomewhat laboured breathing. Then, as calmly as I could I picked up the injured/scared birdie and kitchen towel and walked it out into the yard where I deposited the poor distressed sparrow under a pine tree.
I then spent the evening listening to Iris (formerly Sweetiepie, now renamed Mighty Huntress) meow plaintively at the screen door in a desperate attempt to get back outside and retrieve her prize!

NOT A CHANCE SWEETIEPIE, I mean Might Huntress!

TTFN

I'm on Public Display!!

I'm on public display !! a real gallery, not a quilt show, not to knock quilt shows by any means. As a matter of fact our guild is having a show next month and you're all invited!

 So here' s my Cosmic Pumpkins and my Zebra Duet. The Zebras was a first place winner in 2004!

A Harvest of Quilts 2008
Friday, October 24, 10AM - 8PM
Saturday, October 25, 10AM - 5 PM
Rowntree Memorial Church
156 Elliott St. (at Cheapside)* (London On)
Admission: $5.00
(shamless plug) ;)

TTFN

A Rose by Any Other Name ...

And a great big thank you goes out to my friend who generously gave me 3, or 4, or 5 or was it 6 Rose of Sharon sticks late last summer .... or was that 2 summers ago. Anyway, here's the result of her generosity and my green thumb (?). Oh, and the pic is mine mine mine! Yup, I took the pic with my very own new digital camera, and I (oh, I'm so technoproud) uploaded the pic just to share with you!

At first I thought there was only going to be one blossom, but it appears there are more than half a dozen blossoms now. Why it's flowering so late in the season I'm not sure, but hey- I'm not complaining! Along with the new hibiscus I just planted, I actually have some colour and blossoms in my wee garden. Things are picking up!
TTFN

Lord of the Flies ....

I am Lord of the Flies I have conquered ... they are gone ! YEAH. Of course it has meant a considerable expenditure of effort and homicidal sweat ... and once the dastardly deeds were done I also needed to re-clean the glass in my sliding door and living room windows. Piggy would be proud of my glass cleaning efforts. And to my sorority sister who, not having read last week's entry, tried to insist that I must have a dead body somewhere around, you know, a dead mouse or a dead racoon or a dead skunk or something .... NO, like I stated clearly before - NO DEAD BODIES unless you count the flies, in which case there are hundreds - I'm proud to say!

Besides this rather dubious achievement I can not say I have achieved anything too significant this past long weekend, other than to talk with friends, hang out on the patio (mine as wells as a one belonging to a public drinking establishment), two relatively unsuccessful sewing projects which will need to be repeated/made larger/better/improved in some fashion, and in general relaxed and enjoyed the fantastic weather before the gathering storm.... of the returning hordes!


Wish me luck!
TTFN

YIKES - Flies

FLIES - OMG - the last two nights I must have killed over one hundred of them. I'm a mass murderer, a serial killer, a genocidal maniac! I've battled and swatted and vacuumed up their remains. Soon I'll have to re-wash my windows to remove all evidence of my homicidal rage. Disgusting, buzzing, dirty, disease carrying, annoying insects. YUCK!

Where the heck do they come from ? (rhetorical question ladies ...) My garbage is double bagged, not full and away from the house anyway. The kitty litter is cleaned regularly, there are no dead bodies laying around - at least as far as I know, but then again there is that "mound" in the backyard I jokingly referred to early as the grave.

I've been infested (ooooh I hate that word) - invaded (that's better) by ants before. Ants I can handle, just a few quick sprays with a can of insecticide (I know I know should not use insecticide - should not use CFC sprays), a couple of ant taps and the pesky ants are gone bye bye. But Flies? Euuwww. OK, I did have a few fruit flies buzzing around the basket of peaches a couple of weeks ago, but not a whole swarm.

Of course the cat is totally put off. She' not allowed to go outside because of the busybody who reported her to the Animal control, and now when she comes downstairs to get fed and be friendly mommy's busy swatting flies!

ENOUGH ... I've had ENOUGH
I'm mad and I'm not going to take it anymore
Flies flies go away
Invade someone else's home anyway!

And the saga continues .... TTFN

I'm Back

I'm baaaack. Yup - I survived my so-called vacation. Never worked so hard on vacation as I did this year. Mother moved from her home of 20+ years to an apt., which meant that I (as the do something child as opposed to my sister the do nothing child) helped pack, move then unpack! Phew! Oh, and did I mention that mother stayed with me at my place for the whole 2 weeks! Yikes. On the one hand it was nice to be able to help out and repay mother for the time she let me stay rent free at her place for 2 years - yup I owed her big time. On the other hand, I've never had a house guest for 2 whole weeks ! Glad to have her but also glad she left for her summer vacation!
Now, to catch y'all up on my personal goings ons .... I jumped in and joined the digital age. I purchased a digital camera so will shortly be able to update y'all with countless pics of my very own ... watch out for it. YES, I plan to bore you all to death with endless pics of my projects and my house and my baby (cat), and my life, and my friends and my my my my my - just like all the other blogs ............................................................... NOT ......................................................
But I will try to add a few pics for flavour and to show you my ever expanding creativity (haha) and interests.

What else , what else ... well, another birthday over. Some people remembered - even the ones who didn't know when for sure (thank you thank you thank you), some hibernated (hmmm), some actually did the right thing for a change and celebrated my day and not a combination of me and everybody/everything else in the whole world - well sort of. Imagine that, one whole evening out of 20075 just about me. Is that really too much to ask for? Has been so far.

Got lots of chores done around the house including the floor washed - even tho the newly purchased steam mop for Z...... (you fill in the blank letters) was a bust! 5 bags of shredded papers, patio stones re-leveled, file cabinet moved to office so sewing room is now just that - for sewing! Mom gave me her small freezer, so I got the "stink" out and cleaned it up, now my little ol freezer is defrosted and ready to go to my niece whenever her dad comes to get it. I even got the doorbell fixed - Woohoo. And after all that I managed to read 2 and 1/2 books and even got some sewing done, not enough, but some.

And somehow, while I was off and my brain was functioning on less than normal power ... I became addicted to the Sopranos ! Yes, I know, they're in reruns now - but who cares - its certainly the best summer time tv I've seen in a long time! ;) ;)

Finally, just to kill the suspense, the "grave" in my backyard was finally put to rest (pardon the pun) after 3 2hour power outs by our local Utilities guys, and yes, I also sprung for a new bedroom TV. So no more adventures with the red shoe, although, I recently had a very strange dream about shoe shopping in the old downtown Agnew Surpass (sp?) shoe store . Hmmmm.

Anyway, now it's back to the daily grind, with it's absurdist politics, silly high school cliques, disrespectful administrators and mind numbing meaningless tasks all to earn a meager pittance they call a salary - HA! I could really get used to the retired life, but with this market volatility will have to win a lottery before I can ever retire early. Ah well, such is my life ....

TTFN

Miss Scarlet, in the Library with a Candlestick

So, I arrived home Friday pm after a rather long and anxiety prone week only to find a grave in my backyard! Yup, a grave!
To anyone with eyes it looks exactly like a grave, not a full adult sized grave ( phew! its not meant for me ...) yet not a tiny child sized one either, but a middling sized barrow. What the heck! Now someone with just the tinniest bit of imagination could get all paranoid about this event ... and just one week before I'm to take summer vacation - you know, stay home, relax, sit outside - AND STARE AT THE GRAVE ? Yuck, I don't think so!

Ok, Ok - relax. It seems the local utilities company is laying new underground wiring - or something equally technical and uninteresting. The "grave" is actually some kind of mound where, yes, something has been buried, but there is nothing nefarious about the whole episode. Drat, and I thought I was going to have an eventful week off!
TTFN

Loose Screw

I have a loose screw. I am a loose screw.

At least that's what my neighbours must think ...

Ok, now let me explain. My bedroom TV has this rather annoying and stupid, yes I mean stupid little idiosyncrasy. You turn it on, and just as soon as you get nice and cosy under the covers with your weary head on the pillow the screen turns a lovely shade of blue. No picture, no sound, just blue. Not navy blue, not royal blue, not azure blue, not robin's egg blue ---------- JUST BLUE! It's driving me nuts!

Let me explain something else, in my middle years I developed insomnia and have come to rely on the idiot box to get me through those wee hours in the middle of the night. Somehow I developed the habit of sleeping with the remote in my hand, so when those vexatious wakeful moments/hours occur I can quickly turn on the boob tube, tune out and hopefully zone out just enough to fall back to sleep.

Except ...... just when whatever on the idiot box becomes ever so slightly captivating and my mind climbs up into consciousness - well, that's when the stupid machine turns blue !

So, somewhere along the line I have learned to beat the $#%@)*&*(# machine with a red shoe! I have stashed one of my ruby slippers (ok, not red, burgandy if you must be precise) on the floor beside the TV - close to hand so that I can quickly leap out of bed (ok , ok - stumble out of bed) while still in a state of semi consciousness and wail away at the boob tube.
I usually only need to beat the TV once per beddiebye time but last night, at 2 AM - there I was beating the machine with that garnet pump with such a fury that was surreal , and for some strange reason rather exhilarating, hilarious and satisfying. My neighbours must reallllllly wonder what the heck is going on! They must thing I've a screw loose somewhere - a real nut case! I know the cat certainly things I'm wild.

After that I got back to a wonderful albeit short sleep.

TTFN and happy ZZZZZZs to you all.

Perspective ...

Once again the world has brought me back to reality, an appreciation for the things I have and perspective on things I don't have, have missed out on, don't care to go there, or whatever ...

Recent conversations with friends and other readings has once again given me a new lease on life (yeah for friends!) It may not be a mansion, nor compare with your abode, but my castle is just that, and I'm happy! It's large enough to hold my stuff (and I don't know about you, but I have way too much stuff), yet still small enough for me to manage (aka clean - occasionally).

I may not earn as much as you, but I do have a stable income which gives me some extra $ above and beyond the bare necessities. Someday I will take a real vacation, someday I will plant that extra garden, and from time to time I blow a few $$ on something silly ... Another YeaH.

My job is not my dream career, it may not have the status of your position, but it is secure. I'm lucky 'cause I'll not experience the meat market called looking for work, and I'll not experience the daily stress of trying to push myself ahead in your dog-eat-dog ambitious world. Besides, I'm a cat person ;)

I don't drive a Mercedes, but I also don't pay for one . My car is in a Red/Green stage, with duct tape plastered all over the front bumper to hold onto the last scraps of paint. Never mind, it gets me where I want to go quickly, efficiently and affordably. YEaH

I don't dress in the latest fashions, a new outfit for every occasion. I do manage to get something new each season and am not too out-of-date. Neither do I look like a middle aged frau attempting to be the perennial teenager. I know who/what I am and dress accordingly. I have a good sense of colour and what styles look good on my body frame. Yes, I watch What not to Wear

I don't have my very own DH (I'm really beginning to hate this particular abbreviation), and guess what - I DON'T CARE! I don't have any kiddies or grand babies, and guess what - I DON'T CARE ! I really, truly am a well adjusted, happy independent spirit ... I have an active social life, lots of friends, interests and hobbies - enough to keep me busy for a lifetime. YEAH

SO THERE - Large raspberry to all you doubting Thomases/Thomasinas. There is life, real life, meaningful, fulfilled, happy life without a DH, kiddies, professional status, wealth or big cars.

TTFN

Think Think Think - Read Read Read - Google Google Google

Some of my quilting friends have been asking how is the internet changing the Library world? Well , my best answer to this question comes from an article "Is Google Making Us Stupid? by Nicholas Carr at Atlantic Monthly July/August 2008.

Mr. Carr provides a wonderful explanation as to how the internet, and Google is changing the way people think, read, research and, sad to say, interact with libraries and each other. He makes the point that the media theorist Marshall McLuhan pointed out in the 1960s, "media are not just passive channels of information. They supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought." Carr postulates that the "the style of reading promoted by the internet, a style that puts efficiency and immediacy above all else, may be weakening our capacity for the kind of deep reading". This is all rather worrying for academia and libraries. Carr continues that "The result is to scatter our attention and diffuse our concentration As people’s minds become attuned to the crazy quilt of Internet media, traditional media have to adapt to the audience’s new expectations"

For Nicholas Carr, deep reading is " a sequence of printed pages promotes is valuable not just for the knowledge we acquire from the author’s words but for the intellectual vibrations those words set off within our own minds. In the quiet spaces opened up by the sustained, undistracted reading of a book, or by any other act of contemplation, for that matter, we make our own associations, draw our own inferences and analogies, foster our own ideas. Deep reading, as Maryanne Wolf ( Center for Reading and Language Research Professor of Child Development) argues, is indistinguishable from deep thinking. " Carr asserts that "we risk turning into pancake people — spread wide and thin as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button.”

OUCH - pancake people! I'm flat chested enough and don't need to be challenged in any other way! I know my life and my job have been dramatically affected by the internet. Although I agree with much of Mr. Carr's thesis, I still wouldn't be without Google or the internet! What to do, what to do ...

TTFN

Restoration!

Thank goodness for the restorative powers of weekends!

Not that my weekend wasn't busy - never fear superwoman (me), was able to accomplish ever so much AND work a very dull Saturday. Managed to squeeze in a haircut, getting new tires (yup - the ol car is once again a safe beastie) and made it out to the local quilt store for brown "wood" fabric for the screen door baby quilt I will soon design. Also managed to sit on the patio a while reading, completed some vacuuming (yech), re-hemmed the sleeves of my new jacket, took in/altered 3 pairs of summer pants, did the dishes and took mother and her friends out to dinner to celebrate mother's 81st birthday! Phew!

And, just to validate that I'm not crazy, and my personal feelings are not just menopausal blues ..... this afternoon I came across a book on the new books shelf, Upon on opening this book to random pages I came upon these gems of wisdom:

"Being divorced and without children places a woman 'out of sync' with the majority of her peers in a world where the roles of wife and mother are still central to the perceived worth and value of women.
Despite significant social progress, these overwhelming pro-marriage, pro-natalist mandates continue to drive women's lives in pervasive ways.
The pathologizing and stereotyping of women who are, for whatever reasons, (not married) divorced, not remarried, not living with anyone, not in a traditional full time relationship, and childless, is a reflection of continued attachments to patriarchial paradigms about the expectations of women's roles and functions.

Divorced, Without Children. D.D. Castaldo

See ladies ....  Just what I've been telling you for years ..... It's not just my personal rant - it's actually being studied seriously by academics and clinicians ... FINALLY! Sometimes its just nice to know you're not crazy!!!!
TTFN

Grand National!

Water, by Catharina Breedyk Law

So another road trip, yes ladies, my friends and I are travellers! This time to St. Jacob's Quilt Shows and Merchants Mall, followed up by the Grand National - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery. The exquisite image above is my "favourite" pick from all the wonderful art quilts in this exhibition. What more can I say .... we lucked out once again with wonderful weather, good company and that handy GPS gadget that got us into KW and back without a mixup (yeah).

And to top it all off at the end of the day Iris the cat came out of hiding, down the stairs to greet my friend and even allowed herself to be petted by a "stranger". Will wonders never cease???
TTFN