Friday, March 29th - Happy Good Friday

It's about 9:14 pm as I write this post. I'd like to say I was too busy (which is true) but the reality is I forgot. It's been a busy 24 hours. Last night, Thursday, Brenda and Bernie came over in the evening for some snacks and a drink. A lovely evening was had and I was grateful for the time spent as I had to pick James up at the airport at 1:22 in the morning. The family didn't all get on the flight, so just James was coming and the rest were going to try to get to Halifax - and take the early flight in the morning.

The plane arrive a little ahead of schedule and there he was - strolling through the gate dressed in his suit and tie. I couldn't help but notice the people at the airport smiling at him as he walked in looking so handsome. It seems that it works for him as there were two seats available on the plane - one way in the back and one in Executive Class. So his first solo flight was quite a wonderful experience for him as he flew first class.

We got back home around 2:00 am but ended up sitting up and chatting until almost 3:00.  When I got up in the morning, I had a cup of tea and then headed to the airport to pick up Greg and the other two kids (Patti was coming back from London, England and wouldn't get here until late tonight).

While James was lounging and dining in first class, the others were being turned away from the hotel in Halifax because they were full. They ended up spending the night in the airport sleeping on benches - the irony of which did not escape Meghan !

Once they'd all been fed breakfast, and the dishes were done, we undertook the task of building and decorating the bunny house. It took us quite a while but we finally completed the project. James didn't do much on the house as he was busy filming the entire event, and then editing it into a 6 minute video.

There were candies and icing all over the kitchen by the time we were done but it was fun and the kids really enjoyed themselves.

Now that they are older, I notice that there's a lot less arguing and more negotiating with each other. Of course that could have just been because it was their first day at Grandma and Papa's. The house got decorated and they did a really good job. Tristen did very well for his first time using a piping bag. Of course, a lot of candies never made it to the house as they were eaten on the way from the dish to the house.  But overall it was a successful way to spend our morning. We had sent Greg upstairs to have a nap as he'd been up for a very long time.
Once the house was finished, I encouraged them to go outside and play in the snow as the sun was shining and it was a gorgeous day. They found shovels and set about digging tunnels to sit in. Somewhere in the afternoon they came up with a plan that they like to sleep outside in their trench they'd dug.  They got a tarp out of the garage, and boards and worked away at it. Once they were all cold and wet and tired, they came back inside.
Lloyd was away all day helping some friends move and he got back around 4:00.  We finished getting supper ready while they planned their overnight sleep under the stars. So after our turkey dinner, Lloyd headed out with them to inspect their work. He made some suggestions and helped them make some modifications, putting 2 x 6's acro

ss the opening so the tarp would have something to rest on. A few other final touches were added and they were ready. They came in and took off their snowpants to get dry so all went into the dryer while they waited rather impatiently for dark so they could head outside. Finally around 8:30 they decided it was time. Dressed in many layers of clothes, pillows with garbage bags on them underneath to keep them dry, and sleeping bags they headed out. Greg came out with us and it was a chilly but beautifully calm night with lots of stars in the sky and no wind. We got everyone settled in and we headed back into the house. It didn't take long until Meghan and Tristen were back inside. Poor Tristen found it a bit too

frightening and decided he would rather be inside. Once he was inside, Meghan headed back outside. The plan is that I'm to go out and wake them up before I go to the airport to pick up their mom. We'll see if they last that long.  I have to hand it to them - they're pretty brave to do this and I know it's an experience they'll remember for a very long time. I know Lloyd enjoyed helping them and I know he'll remember this experience for a long time as well.  It's now 10:04 and Greg has just gone out to check on them and they are both sound asleep (he did make James wake up enough to confirm they haven't frozen to death!)

Wednesday, March 26th - and it's still wintery out there

Last night I was coming home from town around 6:30 and it was really snowing. The roads were deteriorating more and more the closer I got to my destination. It wasn't that slippery but the snow was building up and the slush was taking over.

This morning we've woken up to just a bit more new snow. It's currently -1' at 5:30 am and we should go all the way up to +1' later with a chance of a rain/snow mix and lots of clouds. The good news is the rest of the week and into the weekend are looking not too bad. It's not going to be really warm but  not rainy either  (I hope). At least if it's dry we can do some outside stuff - although not picking up the branches as I'd hoped. - and certainly not using the lawn tractor as planned.  Perhaps if James comes down later in the Spring to go fishing, we can work on that together. He can drive and I can pick up behind the tractor. I'm sure he'd like that.

Lloyd had his PEI Beekeepers meeting to attend in town last night so I had the evening to myself, after meeting him in town for a burger first. I took advantage of the opportunity to sort out where everyone will sleep when they come to visit. I think I've got it all worked out.

Then I put the leaf in the table so I could try out the new table runners I wove last week. They are far from perfect but I'm still pleased with the result. Considering it wasn't the greatest of yarn and I did make a few weaving errors, they turned out not too badly (although a real weaver might not agree!)

I'd seem this idea in a magazine quite some time ago and I really liked it. The angle doesn't give you the full idea but he runners are meant to form placemats at each setting.  Of course this configuration won't work when there are seven of us at the table but at least I know it will work. They could have been a little longer but I didn't allow enough length for shrinkage I suppose. Like I always say, nothing like doing it wrong to learn how to do it right! The next ones will be better.

It's been a very busy few days at work so I'm really looking forward to a few days away from it. It will be busy but a better kind of busy! I'm hoping we can get our walk in the wood this time. I think the kids will really enjoy it. They'll have to use their tracking skills to find the trail markers on the trees.

Monday, March 25th - Winter doesn't want to let go this year

I awoke to another dusting of new snow on the ground again this morning. It's currently -1 and we're only going to 0' later and stay cloudy all day. We had a bit of new snow yesterday morning as well but fortunately nothing like Friday. I actually ended up taking a snow day. We had such snow and wind on Friday that just prior to time for me to leave for work, they announced on the radio that they were considering taking the plows off the road - enough said. If it's not safe enough for a snow plow, then it sure isn't safe enough for me. A large number of businesses and services didn't open on Friday although all the car dealerships did. But it was worse out this end of the island and I think I made the right decision. It was more the blowing snow that was the issue causing white out conditions so I decided it just wasn't worth it.

Brenda and Bernie came over in the morning but it took Bernie three tries with his big heavy truck, to get in the lane. My little car would not have made it. He confirmed I'd made the right decision by staying home, after driving the short distance from their house.

Lloyd and Brenda spent the morning making sausages with some assistance from Bernie. As I wasn't meant to be there anyway, I just stayed out of the way and worked on my weaving. I had three table runners to work on  and I was able to finish the whole project by mid morning. I took them off the loom, serged the ends and then washed and dried them. Because the yarn is an acrylic that was actually originally meant for carpeting (it's a long story) they were quite rough to the touch when they were finished but once they were washed they softened right up. I'm quite pleased with the result but there are a couple of spots where I pushed on the wrong foot treadle and it shows, but overall I'm pretty  happy with the result.

Saturday morning was sunnier and quite different from the day before so I had no problem getting to work. It was a pretty ordinary day, not too busy but busy enough to pass the time fairy quickly. When I got home, Lloyd was out somewhere so I made a snack and sat down to watch a bit of TV while I ate. He'd gone out to get some lunch at a local restaurant and ended up chatting with someone he met there for quite a long time. By the time he got home it was after 4:00 so he had an interesting afternoon.

Sunday morning we woke once again to a light dusting of new snow. It was overcast and didn't look that nice out but Brenda and I had decided we should head out to Brookvale for one last ski. She picked me up around noon and we headed into town and picked up her cousin, Maureen. By the time we got to the ski park it had brightened up a bit and the weather was quite mild. The trails were actually in pretty good condition and we had no problems. It was a good day and when we finished the trail, the sky was filled with big patches of blue sky and then the sun came out. By the time we got back to town it was a gorgeous sunny day. We were ever so glad we made the decision to go out. It was the last day for skiing at Brookvale and the downhill area was filled with people enjoying the last day of their March Break. Today it's back to school for everyone.

All in all it was a pretty good weekend. I was hoping the ski park might be open for one more week but if we get any more mild weather the trails might not be so good anyway.  Too bad because the kids really enjoyed their time spent there a couple of years ago.  Oh well, another time.

Friday, March 22nd - it's a dark and stormy morning!

It's still dark but we can hear the wind howling outside, as it blows around all the new snow that fell last night and continues to fall this morning. My first look out from upstairs didn't look too bad - no snow on the car, but when I got downstairs I realized it's because it all blew off. Until the sun comes up I have no idea how much snow is piled in the driveway, apart from what the plow just pushed in. Good thing my driveway's on a hill! We'll see how it goes at 7:00.

Today Brenda and Lloyd are going to spend part of the day making sausages. They've both prepped their meats for this mornings grinding and stuffing of the latest delicacies. When Lloyd was away, he took a trip to a sausage making supply company in the US and came back with all kinds of flavourings for various types of sausages so it's anybodies guess what we have for supper tonight. That's assuming Brenda can get here! Bernie has a big truck  but he'll likely be out blowing snow first thing this morning.

Yesterday was quite an experience for young James. A young police officer was killed in Guelph last week and yesterday was the funeral service. They were expecting over 6,000 people to attend so two venues were being used.

One for the main service and the second one for the overflow crowds where the service would be broadcast onto big screens. The Air Cadets were asked to assist as ushers so James was allowed to take the day off school to participate. It was his first activity with the Cadets so he was a little nervous. How do we know he was nervous? He gotten halfway to the arena when he realized he'd forgotten his tie - this from a boy who takes every given opportunity to wear a shirt and tie!

 Patti was watching the procession of thousands of officers from all across the country. She could see James from where she was standing but not close enough to take a picture. She tells me that they were standing beside the Guelph police as the casket made it's final pass and he looked very formal and very solemn. It was certainly a huge event for his first time out and I pondered what might be going through his young mind as he witnessed the final send off for this officer. I look forward to talking to him about his experience when he comes to visit next weekend.

I didn't know Jennifer, the officer killed, but one of her platoon members spoke at her funeral and it was a young man I worked with many years ago in Corrections.  And yesterday Patti learned that Jennifer  did her police training at Conestoga College at the same time that she was doing her nursing program. It's become such a small world and our lives are all so intertwined, whether we realize it or not.

RIP #72

Wednesday, March 20th - is it really the first day of spring?

All indications are that we are supposed to receive up to 10 cm of snow this morning but as of 5:40 am it's not started yet - at least not here. It's looking like we could get even more on the weekend so winter isn't finished with us yet this year. It's currently -5' but feels like -12'.  I just looked back on this time last year and it was a sunny and warm 16'.   But we did still receive a little bit of snow after that so we do have to remember it is only March. The nice weather will come soon enough, we just have to be patient. Besides I really wouldn't mind if we still had the huge drifts out back when the kids come for Easter. I can see snow forts in there if James has anything to do with it. But if it rains later in the week that may not be the case.

Monday was a great day. Sheila and Trudy arrived right on time in spite of the snowy conditions. We got right to work and finished the warp that was on my loom. We adjusted a few things and got it working as best we could. I've had some issues with it and we've determined that a few parts are just old and perhaps slightly warped over time. But we got it functioning not too badly and I'm off and running. My first project is a series of three table runners like some I saw in a magazine once. When you put the three on the table they form placemats at each seat. I'll post a picture when I'm finished and you can see what I'm thinking. Then I think I'll try doing a throw just to see how it differs to work on a large project. I've only ever done narrow pieces so it will be a different experience to try something larger. I have a lot of balls of various colours of chenille yarn that I picked up at Zellers for 9 cents a ball so that will be good to practice with. If it turns out, then I can use some  better yarns for the next project. There's lots to learn and I need lots of practice.

I've also put my scrapbooking stuff away for now and cleared off my table so that I can work on my quilt. I set the sewing machine up on the table so I can work on it a little bit at a time.  I certainly didn't get any scrapbooking done this winter. I really don't know where the time has gone. It's not like we were out skiing all winter - only got to do that once. Life just happens I guess.

Brenda should be back today, if she didn't get home last night. Of course she could also be snowed in over in Halifax.  She's off this week for March Break so she and Lloyd are planning to get together one day and make sausages. That should clear up a bit so space in both our freezers.

Not much else is happening today, just waiting for the snow - if it all arrives during the day the commute home could be interesting!

Monday, March 18th - winter's back!!!

It's a VERY chilly -13' this morning, feeling more like -24! It will warm all the way up to a balmy -9 later and only feel like -13. We received a bit of snow last night but until the sun comes up it's hard to tell how much. The wind is howling outside, as it's been all night.  Guess springs not quite ready to make it's final appearance just yet.

Friday after work I picked Brenda up from her bus and we had supper at the Dublin. It's been a while since we did that and we really enjoyed it. We had thought about going to a movie I thought I would like to see but the reviews on it weren't great and it was getting a bit snowy so we thought it best to call it an early evening.

Saturday morning I worked and then stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. Brenda and Bernie were coming over for supper. Lloyd made some ribs and I made a cauliflower salad and a flourless chocolate cake for dessert. I also got to try out my new French Bean Cutter on some green beans. Gotta try the new toys, don't ya know!  We had a lovely evening, before Brenda headed out for Nova Scotia on Sunday morning. Hopefully she didn't run into the snow we got later in the day.

Sunday was pretty much taken over with getting my loom set up for today's class. The ladies should be here around 9:30.  Sheila is bringing over muffins for us to have with our coffee and I'm making a simple Asian inspired soup for lunch. Hopefully there's not too much snow out there to have any affect. If I recall, the last time we got together to weave, we also had snow overnight. Seems to be a pattern.

Friday, March 15th - Happy BIrthday Cathy!

It's a chilly -2' this morning and it's only going to move slightly to 0' by this afternoon. We MIGHT get up to 10 cm of snow between this morning and tomorrow morning but we'll see. Hopefully there won't be quite so much.

The last couple of days have been very mild and lots of the snow has melted. Our lane was very soft and squishy on Wednesday but the warm temperatures really helped dry things up yesterday. When I got home the large pool of water sitting in the middle of the back yard was greatly reduced and the lane was quite a bit firmer. It's still soft but at least you could drive up it without fear of getting stuck part way.  If we do get any amount of snow,  at least we know it won't be around too long.

I really must be careful what I ask for because it usually creates more work. Yesterday morning I asked if there was any possibility that my new sink might get installed before Easter. The response was 'probably not' and I was okay with that. So you can imagine my surprise when I got home yesterday from work to find  Lloyd on the floor with his head under the sink and the contents of the cupboard strewn across the kitchen floor. He was just about done and had one more thing to fasten before it was finished. He completed what needed to be done then kept his fingers crossed as he turned on the water that there were no leaks - and there weren't.

We spent the next little while sorting out the stuff from under the sink and throwing half of it out. Some of it were things that have been under there for almost 4 years and never used - time to get rid of them.  Once that was complete we had supper and then I washed the dishes. I have to say, I love my new sink! It's quite a bit deeper than the old one and just looks so much nicer. So a big thanks has to go to Lloyd. It was supposed to be a rainy day so he thought he might as well get to it as there wasn't really anything else he could do. How were we to know that it would turn out to be a beautiful mild and sunny day! But the inside of the garage is still quite icy from rain and snow that came in over the winter and will need a bit more time before he can work out there.  So I guess that really worked to my advantage !

I didn't plan to, but I ended up stopping in at Zellers again yesterday at lunch. It was the last day for their closing out sale and there was very little left. I'd been in the day before and they had a huge bin of various knitting yarns outside in the mall. I looked at them but the colour choices weren't great so I left it. Some of it was a chenille type and I figured I could weave it but I really don't need any more supplies, at least until my work space is complete. Problem was I went back yesterday and they had reduced it down to 9 cents a ball - now really, how could I not buy more?  So I came home with a huge  bag of various yarns that ended up costing a whopping $5.00 I'm sure I'll come up with some kind of projects I can use it for.

This afternoon Brenda has to bring her bus into town and leave it for March Break so she'll need a ride home at the end of the day. Gosh, she needs picking up just as I'm finished work.  Guess we'll just have to stop in town somewhere and have some supper and maybe a beer or glass of wine! Funny how that works out sometimes!  She's headed off to Halifax in the morning and won't likely be back until Monday. She and Lloyd are going to get together later next week and spend a day making sausages. They both have a lot of meat that's been designated  just for that purpose, in the freezer, and I know Lloyd is anxious to try out some of the supplies he picked up when he was away this last time.  Should be a good day for them.

Lastly, a Happy Birthday to my friend Cathy, in Ontario. We went to public school together and with the number of times I've moved in my lifetime, I'm happy that we've managed to keep in touch all these years.  I never have trouble remembering her birthday on the 15th of March because someone on the radio always says "Beware the Ides of March" so there's no chance I'll forget! Have a great day Cathy!

Wednesday, March 13th - it's been a bargain hunters week so far

This morning it's a damp 5' and we'll reach a rainy 9' later. We really need that to get rid of the snow. The one big storm that blew in huge drifts, has left big piles of snow in area around the yard so we really need some rain to take care of those. It's been slowly going down but the rain and mild temperatures will surely help out.

Monday at lunch I headed out to a local used furniture store that was closing down. I was a little late getting there as pretty much everything was gone. I hadn't realize they were closing until last week and forgot all about it until we drove by on Sunday and saw the sign for the second time. So I took a browse around at the few remaining bits and pieces. There was a large harvest style of table sitting in the corner. It looked fairly big so I asked just what the measurements were. I want to put  a table in my craft room, when it's finished, measuring 8 ft by 4 ft. So the fellow measured this one and it's 8 ft by 44 inches - close enough for this kind of work! So then I asked how much it was. He asked what I wanted to pay for it and I replied that I had no idea what it was worth. Keeping in mind that he has to have everything out of the place by this afternoon (Wednesday)  he was eager to strike a bargain. When he suggested a price of $25.00 I was sold. But it had to be moved out on Tuesday. So I paid for my new find and left. Later on Monday evening I picked Lloyd up at the airport at 7:00.  While we were driving home I asked what his plans were for Tuesday and he kind of just smiled and said "I guess I haven't been told yet!".  So his job was to get the trailer unstuck out of the ice and go into town to pick it up. Last night I helped put it into the garage. It seems to be fairly well made because it weighs a LOT. Of course the yard in front of the garage is very mucky so it was no easy task to get it inside but we did it. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

It was a bargain type of day because while I waited to go to the airport, I dropped into Zellers which is closing in another couple of days. There's very little left at this point but I did find some table napkins that were 80% off so that was good. I have some white ones that are quite old but and some of them are getting kind of stained and it's time they were replaced. So it was a great day for me! Those who know me know how much I love a good bargain!

Last night when I got home I participated in a conference call with the girls involved in our IAAP conference. It lasted longer than I had expected - from 5:30 to 7:00.  It was a good meeting and a great way to iron out some of the details, especially with the distance involved.  Once I was off the phone, and had supper, then I set about sewing together my sample quilt block. I was afraid it might be tricky because the blocks are sewn on the bias but it actually went together better than I expected. Now that I know I can make it work, I can start on the real quilt. I found some pretty fabrics yesterday that will be nice for a baby but aren't the traditional baby blues and pinks. I think the new parents will like it.  I think I'll enjoy making it.  But the baby is due the beginning of June so I'd better get busy. I also have my second weaving lesson on Monday and I need to have my warp wound and fastened onto the back of the loom so I'd better get cracking on that as well. As Tristen will say "Focus, Grandma, focus!"

Monday, March 11th - it's beginning to look and feel like spring

It's a cool -2' this morning but we should reach a high later of 6' with a mix of sun and cloud. More and more snow is melting and the wildlife has returned. I saw three raccoons  just down the road on Friday night and there was a dead skunk in the middle of the road on my way to work on Friday morning - definitely a sign of spring - but we could still get some snow. I've heard it's not uncommon to get a snow storm around St. Patrick's Day, which will be this coming Sunday. We'll see.

Friday was a nice sunny afternoon and the day ended with a concert at the Rec Centre. Two people I've gotten to know quite well were performing and they did a great job, in spite of having never played together before. Judging by the results, it won't be the last time. Unfortunately Brenda and Bernie missed it as they were in Moncton for a farm equipment show. It sounds like they had a good time though, as they ran into lots of people they knew, not just at the show but at the mall as well.

Saturday was overcast but not too cold. I worked and then did some groceries on the way home. The sun had come out by then and it wasn't a bad day. I made an early supper then sat down to watch some TV while I finished the scarf I was knitting for Brenda. She called around 7:00 to advise they were home from Moncton. I was surprised as I thought it would be later when they got back. We caught up a bit and then she went to peruse the papers and get up to date on what happened on the island while they were away.

Saturday night the clocks went ahead so it does tend to throw your schedule off a little. I got up fairly early and did some tidying, sweeping, laundry, etc. I assumed Brenda would be calling when she got home from church. She did call at 11:30 and we made plans to go to town. I met them at their place as we were going for breakfast. I had just finished cooking my breakfast when she called so I wasn't hungry but I joined them anyway. Will and Ethan met us at the restaurant and Bernie was quite disappointed to learn that the breakfast buffet that was set up right beside our table wasn't available any longer. Instead we had to order lunch. I just had tea and enjoyed everyone's company.

After leaving the restaurant we went down the street to a local hotel that was hosting a motorcycle clothing and accessories sale. It comes to town a couple of times a year. I picked up a pair of lighter gloves for wearing in the warmer weather and Brenda bought some gloves and a leather vest. She happened to go downstairs to find the washrooms and discovered a quilting workshop going on. So she gave me a call and I joined her downstairs. It was the yearly workshop put on by the local quilters guild. I took classes from one of the members a couple of years ago and I had just missed her. I spent a bit of time chatting with two ladies and I just might go out to the meeting on Wednesday night. It starts at 7:00 so I would just stay in town after work. I'll see how the rest of the week goes first.

I had been thinking of making a crib quilt for someone at work who's wife is expecting a baby in June and this gave me the inspiration to get started. I already had a block in mind but had never made it before. I found a tutorial online and when I got home I cut out some pieces left over form a previous project to try it out. It looks good laid out but we'll see what it looks like when I sew it together. I think with a white on white background and some pretty pastel prints it will make a nice gift. But I won't get ahead of myself just yet. We'll see how easy it goes together first.

Brenda came over for a glass of wine and she was surprised that I had cut it out already. I'd been planning to give it a try for quite a while and the visit to the quilting event just gave me that little push I needed to get started.

With any luck, Lloyd should get back this afternoon. If not it might be the midnight flight but at least he'll be home. We'll just have to wait and see.

Friday, March 9th - there's a chill in the air this morning

It's a little cooler this morning at -4' but we should reach at least 1' in the sunshine so we'll lose a little more snow. It's gradually disappearing rather than quickly with a lot of rain. That's a good thing if you have a leaky basement I should think. These cold temperatures certainly make for some icy conditions underfoot early in the morning but by lunch time no boots are needed, at least not in town. Out here in mud city, it's another story. But eventually it will all dry up and be great.

It's been a quiet couple of days. Not much going on so I've been getting some things done. First I finished the scarf that's been sitting on my loom now for well over a year. Now that I know what to do with it, it was much easier to just whip through it. It's going to be a very warm scarf. It was a bit of an experiment. I had bought some synthetic knobby type of yarn but when I got it home it was extremely difficult to either knot or crochet so I knew it wouldn't get used. Then in a eureka moment, I thought - hey, I can weave this. The first part was so stiff and thick there was no way it was going to be usable as a scarf. But I had gone to the trouble of putting the warp on the loom so it just sat there. Then when Tristen came to visit he wanted to try weaving. I figured, what the heck, it's not like I'm going to do anything with that project anyway. So I put in some knitting yarn and let him go to town. He spent half a day just working away and has a piece about 10 inches long. I told him we could make a pot holder for his mom when it came off and of course, it's still there. Then some friends from Guelph came to the island on holiday and came for supper one night. Same thing - the two kids wanted to try it. So I gave them a different colour of knitting yarn and they had a go at it. I promised I would send them their pot holder when it was done. They're also still waiting. So after my class on Monday, I tackled it again. The result is much better when you have a vague idea of what needs to be done. The resulting scarf was completed in just a few hours over several evenings. I was ever so pleased to take the projects off on Monday evening. Now I need to get Lloyd to help me with tightening everything up as it's a bit loose in some of the joins. Then I'll be ready to put on my next warp before the ladies come out to inspect my work on the 18th.

I've also got a knitting project that's partly finished and I worked some on that last night, and I also have a partially finished crochet project that I hope to finish off this weekend as well. It's good to get those little things out of the way before I move on to the next one! (something I'm not always so good at!)

I received this photo from James' IPOD the other day. He looks so grown up in his uniform! He also looks so proud. I think he's really enjoying his new experience. I've talked to a couple of people here that had sons go through the cadet program and they both speak very highly of it and what it does for the kids.

I talked to Tristen the other night. He was calling to tell me they are coming for Easter! That's not very far away. I'm really looking forward to that. I do have an ulterior motive though. I have a LOT of branches that fell off the trees over the winter. I think if I enlist some help I could talk James into driving the lawn tractor with the little trailer on the back and the other two kids and I can put the branches in the back. Then we can haul them to the fire pit and when we're done we can have one huge fire. I know they'll like doing that (the fire bit, not necessarily the picking up bit - but we can't have one without the other) . The Easter Bunny will have a great time concealing eggs here - there's lots of hiding places to choose from.

Brenda and Bernie are off to Moncton this morning for some farm stuff, and will be staying overnight. They will miss the little St Paddy's concert at the pub at the Rec Centre. So I'll just have to attend in their absence. I want to talk to the two musicians that will be there about our event in 2014 as I need to recruit some local talent. They were going to be my first targets and they will both be in the same place - how convenient is that!

Wednesday, March 6th - spring is definitely in the air

You can certainly tell spring is on the way. The snowfall we had on Monday has pretty much melted and the large banks of snow around the perimeter of the yard are slowly going down. We've not really had any wind to speak of (a rarity out in these parts, for sure) but the water is definitely running in spots. This morning it's 0' and while it may not get much warmer we are in for sunny weather for at least the next 4 or 5 days so that will take care of a lot of the snow. We do, however, need some of that wind to return, to help dry things up a bit. My lane is getting quite squishy and our road down at the bottom end is a sea of mud. Brenda had mentioned on the weekend that it was pretty bad and I see what she means. Sheila and I came across it on Monday on the way home and what a mess. Now I know why Brenda has changed her route slightly with the bus.

Monday was our weaving day and it was wonderful. It was good that I'd previously had a little instruction to get me started because now I understood a little bit about what I'm supposed to be doing and now I had specific questions. There was just my neighbour Sheila and I with the instructor so it was a really great day for both of us. In spite of the fact that Sheila is a very experienced weaver, I think she also got lots out of the day. It's been a while since she wove and a refresher course was just what she was looking for. I now have a much better understanding of what I'm doing so it's inspired me to get back to it. I was doing some things wrong that was making the whole process much harder than it needed to be. We're going to meet up again in two weeks and I have some homework to do before then. I have a small  project on the loom right now that I will complete, I'm hoping by the end of the weekend, and then I have to wind a warp and thread it through the reed. Both ladies are coming here to help get it put on properly the rest of the way and then I should be good to go. On the way home we stopped at Sheila's and I saw some of the pieces she's been recently working on and they were absolutely gorgeous. I realize now that those type of things just might be possible one day. They are intricately woven but it's all  the same process, just a bit more concentration required but I'm confident that one day I will be able to do one of those types of things as well. Now I really can't wait for my craft space to be ready!

I had the biggest laugh on Sunday evening. I was talking to Patti and the kids and Tristan came on the phone. He had to take the phone into his room and close the door to talk to me - really serious secret stuff. He said "Grandma, I have to tell you why we can't come to your house for March Break". I asked why and he said "Because I'm going to camp". I assured him that was okay and there would be another time. Then he was asking about Papa's progress on the garage. He is patiently waiting for the barn that he thinks Papa will be building sometime really soon. Meghan has already put in her request for a rabbit that will be just hers and won't be made into rabbit stew. Tristen had informed us that he wanted a baby pig. Well, on Sunday night he told me that he no longer wants a baby pig. I asked him if he was afraid that Papa would eat it one day. He sort of chuckled and said no, then he said "Grandma, they're really ugly when they grow up !" so that's why he no longer wanted a pig. Instead he wants a bird,  a red jay, (don't know where that one came from) and that he would have to buy one that's tame so it would just stay in the barn and not fly away. I suggest maybe a peacock, as they are so beautiful but he said that wouldn't do because he wants a bird that flies, just not away.

What a character.

I'm just waiting for someone in Ontario to send me a photo of James. He had his first Cadets meeting last night in his uniform. He's very proud of his boots that he's spent a lot of time polishing in preparation for his first appearance in uniform. Can't wait to see him.

Last night I enjoyed a glass of wine with Brenda. Due to a miscommunication, she was all dressed up with no place to go, so to speak, so she came over and we had a bit of a visit and caught up on our week so far. A pleasant way to end an uneventful Tuesday.

Monday, March 4th - it's a winter wonderland out there this morning

After a mild and wet weekend, we have new snow covering the ground this morning with a windless -1'.  It was above freezing yesterday and quite a bit of melting was going on. It's an unsightly mess when that happens as you have dirty snow everywhere you look. At least this morning everything is nice and clean and white once more.
Friday evening I was treated to home made soup and hot out of the oven homemade bread at the Van Gaals for supper. Simple fare but it really doesn't get much better. Saturday it was raining so I really didn't mind working. One of the bosses daughters was there and helped me considerably with the huge pile of filing I had sitting around. It was a very productive day and I was pleased with the results. I've left a couple of piles of stuff to be taken upstairs and with any luck it will be be gone when I go back tomorrow.
Saturday evening I spent sorting out a bit in the pantry area as we seem to have acquired a couple more gadgets ( and no, they aren't mine!) so I needed to rearrange things a bit as it was getting more and more crowded  out there. I just put on some music and got to work, while my large pot of vegetable stock was simmering. We had made leek and potato soup at Brenda's so had these lovely leek tops left over. Combined with some carrots and celery and a few potato skins, we now have some great stock for a quick soup.

Sunday was shaping up to be a mild day as well, however just a little above freezing but enough to make everything sloppy and wet. No skiing for us that day. Instead we opted to attend the Home Show in Charlottetown. Before heading back home we enjoyed supper at Boom Burger. I haven't been there before but I will definitely go back again. The fries were great and the burger delicious and juicy. They have an amazing selection of toppings for the burgers including fried onions and grilled mushrooms and even hot peppers. YUMMMMM. When Lloyd gets home we'll check it out for sure as I know he'll like it.

Today I have taken a vacation day to attend a weaving class with a lady who lives in our area. She's picking me up at 8:30 and we're going to Cornwall for the day. I'm really looking forward to it.

Apparently work is progressing on the plane. I talked to James on Saturday and his only comment was 'I can't wait to fly papa's plane!"  He's really enjoying being a small part of this project and I'm so glad he's had the chance to help out. Those are memories he will carry with him all his life. He was busy all weekend at a speed skating meet in Oakville. No gold medals this weekend but still a good finish for him. One of the races was 1500 metres which means 15 laps around the rink - I can't even begin to imagine. He's really quite the little athlete. There's certainly no lack of physical activity with those kids!

Friday, March 1st - already!

March is going to come in like a lamb here on PEI but not so for other parts of the Maritimes it seems. Currently it's -2' and we should reach a high of 0' later this afternoon. I fully expected to wake up to some freezing drizzle and/or a bit of snow but such is not the case. It's still dry out there although windy, for the first time in several days, certainly a novelty for these usually windy parts. We will likely see some snow over the weekend but nothing compared to what other areas are expecting.

So, the soap nut project continues. I did a load of towels on Wednesday evening and I must say I was very impressed with the results. They came out clean and fresh smelling - almost the way they smell when you bring them in off the clothes line. I will do some regular laundry over the weekend and see how that works out. I can see where they would be excellent for use by someone who has skin that's very sensitive to the perfumes and chemicals in regular detergents and fabric softeners. I will report back next week on the further results.

Last evening I met Brenda and her friend Janet in town for some supper followed by a movie. We enjoyed our meal but took our time about heading over to the theatreas it's usually pretty empty . Well, apparently this is a very popular movie because there were three seats left and we had to sit in the very front row. Who knew ? The movie in question was called "The Quartet" and it was absolutely delightful. Maggie Smith played the lead character and with her in it, how could it be anything but entertaining. We thoroughly enjoyed it and it was one of the few movies that when it ended, you wanted it to continue to find out the rest of the story. I highly recommend it. As for the facility portrayed in the film, I'd like to live in that retirement home when I get old and decrepit and can no longer look after myself. It was quite a beautiful place. 

The PEI homeshow is on this weekend and I suspect we will be heading off to that sometime in the next couple of days. I missed it last year, but I can't think why - Brenda must have been away!

James had a snow day on Wednesday so spent the day hanging out with Papa. There wasn't a lot that he could help with, but a few little jobs were found for him. I'm sure he didn't mind as long as he could be part of the process. He brought along his new Cadet boots so Papa showed him the proper procedure for putting the perfect shine on them - layers and layers of polish, with lots of rubbing in between. He's got the idea now so they should be in perfect shape by next Tuesday's meeting.

Lloyd's managing to keep busy up in Ontario but his diet isn't doing too well - dinner every night with a different group of friends from the sounds of it. Today he and Patti shuffling off to Buffalo for a day of shopping. Hope the weather cooperates for them.