Odds and sods!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few odds and ends that I want to mention so here they are!!!!!!!!!!!!


The participants on this upcoming crazy adventure of mine are hooked up on line and so we can ask each other questions. The subject of saddles has come up. Now I SWEAR by my BROOKS saddles. I won't ride my bike with anything else (distance that is - short rides, it isn't an issue). One of the ladies was asking about different models. HMMMMM - I have NO IDEA what model I bought or what is the difference between the two that she mentioned. A quick peek at a site that sells BROOKS saddles and I am DROOLING.......................


Take a look and scroll down - you will see what I mean.  (sorry - can't copy their pictures - they are copyrighted)


Brooks saddles


How cool are they!!!!!!!!!!!  Well - no need to change.

Why are these saddles so good????   Have a look...............

This is the seat on my touring bike (the one I travel with). See those indentations on the seat. Those  were molded there by my butt. That makes that seat MINE!!!!!   And you can get more comfortable than when something is molded to you. 

This is the seat on my road bike which isn't as broken in as the other one. 

Sorry - but I started this post yesterday. Then I spent MOST of the day trying to find a picture that I was CERTAIN I took. It was of a bicycle we saw in Amsterdam with a Brooks saddle on it except there was very little leather left on the wire frame of the seat. Well  - I searched and searched and have come to the conclusion that I did NOT take that picture. I am sure I did, but my memory cards tell me otherwise.

Speaking of memory cards - oh dear. As you would guess, when my memory card is full on the camera, instead of downloading the pictures (like normal people would), NOPE - I just buy a new one!!!!   Which makes me laugh because Mary was on vacation recently with her daughter. She ran out of room on her camera and her mean old daughter made her delete pictures. She wouldn't let her buy a new card. Thank goodness M would NEVER do that. She would help me find a camera store where I could buy a new card.

And how many cards would I have?????   Well.....................

These are the cards I have for the big camera. And yes if you count up the GB (don't forget the 32 GB that is in the camera) and well you have 80 GB of room. I know - who knew - 80 GB is a LOT of space!!!!!!!!!!!!!   This used to be worth a LOT of money, but those cards are so cheap these days - it doesn't make sense to NOT have a few extra on hand. 

And here are the cards for the small camera. - including the one in the camera - I think we are talking 32.5 GB. OK - so I won't need to buy any for a while!!!!!!!!

There is a problem with keeping the pictures on the cards - they take longer to access through the computer and that is probably why I have so much problem with the memory. So I decided to download my camera cards - it took all day yesterday and I am still downloading this morning, but almost done.


The other problem is that when the pictures are on the cards, they have no tags so it makes it hard to find them. And then when you download them, you have to tag them for the card, not each picture. Once they are downloaded onto my EXTERNAL hard disk that was purchased just for pictures,  FIRST - I must go through them and DELETE DELETE DELETE. I don't know how many pictures there are yet - I think I will be afraid to see that final number. Plus I have to move those that are my computer to the external hard disk - then all pictures will be in one spot. Yes - back to that LIKE things together. Then find some free minutes - set up a file structure, tag the pictures and start sorting. I am actually looking forward to that because there are LOTS of pictures that I would like to access more quickly.

I have to laugh - on the radio the other day, they said that people who frequently complain of being bored are 2.5 times more likely to die of heart attack or stroke. Those people need to take up a hobby - photography, blogging, reading, cycling or quilting are goods ones - they are all time consuming!!!!!

Have to wait to load the pictures this morning because I am downloading!!!!


Last week - we finished the dress class and while I am not done my dress - I made up good time in the last two classes - I'll show you another day. I think I have convinced myself to take another class. This one is on jacket making. I even have the pattern that they are going to use. I recently saw that pattern and do you think I could find it a couple of weeks ago. NOPE - I checked the basket that it came from (with clothing fabrics in it) - not there. So I checked the next logical place - the pattern box for clothing. NOPE - not there either. Now this made me wonder about my filing system. I seem to be very organized and YET - why can't I find that pattern. Yesterday, while waiting for the pictures to download, I went back to the pattern box. OH BOY - there is the pattern. I guess I might need new glasses or something!!!!  The darn pattern was there all along. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!    Anyway - then I dug through the basket with clothing fabric and found the fabric I was going to use for the jacket and well - it is in the dryer as we speak. OH YES - I think I will do the class. Why not - it will get rid of more fabric.

Here is the pattern

Yesterday was so nice, I was actually in the garden (yes - parts of it are dry enough to work in). BUT we are going to need some major work in there this summer. MAJOR mulching needs to happen and THIS needs to be repaired...............

Hard to see in this picture, but that ledge on the pond is collapsing and our fence needs an overhaul. Oh dear - that is going to be fun to fix. 

Our house seems to have a revolving door for dogs!!!!!   The big black dog and the fuzzy dog have had lots of company.

Kaylee was here last week and she how she and M shared the sunshine on the carpet in the living room!!!!!   The fuzzy dog - would have NOTHING to do with them. 

This week it is cute little Chloe. She fits right in and well - I'll tell you her story tomorrow. 

I did get some sewing done yesterday as well, but no pictures yet. I did manage to get as much of Stonehenge together as I could.

Waiting for the last two blocks. 

This brings up another issue - I have a couple of things missing.................

The last log cabin block for the Stonehenge Meets Jamestown quilt - I made it - I know I did and where is it????

Oh shoot - there are a couple of other things missing, but I can't even think of what they are now!!!!   How funny is that. At least I did find that pattern. Oh yes - a while back, I couldn't find the latest book by Bonnie Hunter. I KNOW I bought that book, but couldn't find it. So I bought it again. And then at some point, I realized it was sitting on the work table mere inches from the bag that held the other copy. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR - any one want to buy a copy of String Fling by Bonnie Hunter??????




And on that note - I had better find the pictures that go with this blog and get on with the day.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Routine

Did you ever pay attention to your day? How much of it is routine? I have to say that the first part of my day is more or less routine and then all heck breaks loose.

And the other thing that I love? Technology!!!!!!!   Yes - despite all my woes, I love when things work. Like having my calendar on Google. Which talks to my phone. So when I book an appointment on my phone - by magic it appears on my calendar on my computer. OK - so it is all connected, but still nice to have it all in one place. And alarms - well I get TWO notifications on the phone and TWO on the computer or and TWO on the iPad - so if I miss something - well it is because it is NOT on the Google calendar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a "typically" routine day.

Started by finishing a customer quilt - a BIG one. By lunch it was trimmed and the customer had picked it up.

Customer quilt

detail of quilting

Then off to bridge class where my brain is full - just full. If you have these cards, then you need to use this code word to tell the entire table what you have. If you have these cards, but not those cards, then you use a different code word. I want to know why you just can't say - I have 5 hearts - what do you have????   Wouldn't that be a whole lot easier??????   All this secret stuff - it's like being part of a secret society. And here I thought it was a bunch of little old ladies (oooops - you know what I mean) out for tea and cookies in the afternoon!!!!!   NOPE - this is secret spy stuff!!!!!    I can see that a LOT of quiet study time in going to be in order to get my brain wrapped around all these rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M and I went to our dress making class last night. Guess what???????   Yes - I finally got the dress cut out. But I am glad I waited because they were doing fittings and I learned a LOT about how to put in the lining and fitting BEFORE I start to sew. Now let's see who is smart??????    I don't think the teacher had made this dress so that makes it a bit tough for her.


Of course - put a camera in the hands of a kid and look what you get.....................

Scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even scarier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh - here is the nice one. Notice she did NOT take a nice one of me! Thanks kid!!!!!!!!!!

The "gate" at the end of our drive. It is getting bigger, but I can't really do much more. The rest of the snow is deep and solid ICE. 

 M did very well on her dress. Don't forget she is using SLIPPERY satin. A pain to sew, but she is doing pretty good. Slow, but good. And I am coaching her so it is hard for me to get something done. We have TWO weeks before the next class, so I had better get myself together and sew my dress.

A true sewer - M was covered with threads when we left!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a gorgeous day yesterday and the girls were outside. Sparky got up on the hot tub so she could survey the backyard.

Kaylee is here at the moment and it is funny to see her and Sparky play. Sparky stays in one spot - barks and Kaylee goes running hysterically around the yard. Then comes back to Sparky who barks and then Kaylee goes running off in the opposite direction. It is a hoot to watch!!!!!!!!!    I shall try to get a video. 

Kaylee loves to sit and watch the backyard. There are raccoons, rabbits and squirrels out there and she feels it is her duty to do TWO things. First she must alert us that something is in the backyard. Doesn't matter that it is 10:30 PM, 7:00 AM OR EVEN 3:30 AM, but a BIG RESOUNDING    WOOF  soon lets you know that there is something lurking out there. Second, she MUST go out to chase the danger away from the house!!!!   I feel very safe, although Sammy is a bit miffed because that is her job and she isn't as fast as Kaylee!!!!!

Kaylee checking out the backyard. 

On that note - I am out of here. Another busy day and I am PUMPED to get a lot done.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School is for losers!!!

MOM - MOM - MOM - where are you???????????????


No matter - I am HERE and having FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!


At the moment, I am RESTING. I am exhausted!!!!!

HEY LADY - I can SEE you taking a picture of me!!!!!   You are NOT that clever!!!!!!

Mom - I LOVE MY BOY!!!!!!    He took such good care of me while you were gone. We did cool stuff and the day he dropped me at my cousins, we went to see one of his friends in the morning and when I arrived at my cousins. I was EXHAUSTED. I didn't even have the energy to run around the house and grab something from the girl's room. I said hello to the cousins and well - I wasn't too energetic.

But MOM - I don't get it - why does my boy keep having to go to school????   I went to school for eight weeks and I got a certificate and everything. I am smart. Is my boy not smart????   My boy had to go home to clean up the house before he went to school. I guess he is smart enough to know to clean up the house before you come home - right Mom??????


Anyway Mom - this place is so cool and guess what I did before it was bedtime?????

YEP - found some toys and shredded them!!!!!!   Oh what fun!!!!!!!!    

I even got to try out the NEW rug. I love it!!!!!!   It's fluffy but like a back scratcher. 

Well that lady is feeling better and she better be - I am HERE TO PLAY and someone better keep up with me. Those old cousins of mine - well they are OLD and SLEEPY all the time!!!!!


That lady says she is getting BORED of reading magazines. But she is still plugging away and just one more week and she will get through that first pile. Do we think she will be able to do that?????   MOM - I don't think she can!!!!!!    She is weak and she will give up!!!!   I just know it!!!!



But that lady sat at the kitchen table and listened to her audio book and got the binding on Berke's quilt DONE. THEN she made a label for it and now the quilt is gone. Berke picked it up on his way home from work and I didn't even get a chance to sleep on it. MOM - something is dreadfully wrong that I didn't get to test the quilt before it left the house. That lady did NOT get a picture of it, but she will but she is EXCITED because she gets to write something on the COMPLETED projects page in her yellow book. You know MOM - it doesn't take much to get this lady excited. Oh yes - I forgot - she is sick!!!!!


That lady also spent a LOT of time puttering. You know when she putters she is NOT paying attention to me and I don't like that. But she seemed to be happy so I did leave her alone, but I really did try to help. Look at what that lady found in a project box..............

A pair of pliers AND a foot for the sewing machine. 

You know MOM - it is no wonder that lady (and Berke) complain when they go to find a tool and there isn't one in the tool box. That lady seems to blame others, but I think she is the one who has lost all the tools. Maybe when that lady gets through all this stuff - well, let's hope that all the tools will be back in the right spots.


And LOOK - MOM - she has cleared off more tables.

More clean tables (behind the magazine table)

I think that lady is getting tired of cleaning up and MOM - she is running out of room. That lady has been very creative in finding spots for things, but MOM - there is NO MORE ROOM. I don't know what that lady is going to do, but packing the extra in boxes is looking real good at the moment. I think that lady just wants to get it out of her eye sight. Then that lady can deal with it next year - which won't be so bad cause big progress was made this year. I think it would be OK if that lady carried some of the mess over to next year. It isn't a lot.


And then bonus because that lady has this BIG bag of batting scraps in the stash room. It is getting HUGE and I would love love love to play in it, but that lady said NO. Then someone e-mailed yesterday and wanted some of the batting scraps. That lady was VERY HAPPY. Someone is making small projects and these scraps are perfect for the small projects.

The big bag of batting scraps. Someone has asked for HALF the bag. Perfect. 

 Well MOM - I do not know what we are going to do today. More BORING magazines and more puttering. I want something seriously fun to happen today. First I need to rest up.


Have a good day!!!!!!!!!!





Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



PS - MOM - did you know that EVERYONE is jealous of how many numbers are behind my name in the tag list. MOM - I have the MOSTEST!!!!!!    Cause I am the BESTEST!!!!!!   Love you MOM!!!!   Give Dad a big hug and a slurpy kiss from me!!!!!!

Take a walk with ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other day, I showed you some recent walks that M has taken. Today I am going to take you along with me on a recent walk.

Let's compare..............

Her footwear

My footwear   (got those heels are HIGHER than the tops of my boots)  (and thanks Helen Ann for the comfy wool socks - they are super)

Where M walks

Where I walked!!!!

Pretty funny.


Anyway - the other day it was a GORGEOUS day and although I had lots to do in the house, I just could not bear to be inside. The weather was going to turn colder and well - who could waste a beautiful day.

I called Marian - she was downtown and on her way home, but I could NOT wait. I know - what was the matter with me????   Anyway - I was going hiking close to her house and KAYLEE was home so I picked up Kaylee.

That poor dog did not know what happened to her. I went in the house, called her name (she was sleeping upstairs). Next thing she knew, her leash was on and she was whisked out to the car where her cousins, Sammy and Sparky were waiting. WHOA - where are we going??????

We ended up going on part of the Bruce Trail which is a fabulous facility so close to us. I really wish I could make more use of it.

Now we all had an excellent walk.....................

Sammy in all her cuteness

It is hard to get a picture of her because she wanted to stick to my heel like velcro!!!!!  This is mostly what I saw of Sammy - the top of her head

Although there were times when she did wander off. She is also my camouflage  dog. She is pretty much dead center in this picture, but she sure blends into the dead leaves. 

And Sparky had a fabulous walk as well...................

Sparky - cute cute

What is that crazy Kaylee doing - stay on the PATH!!!!

But Sparky still had energy to burn at the end of the walk

Sparky and Kaylee at play

However Kaylee - well Kaylee was like a six year old at Disneyland with NO PARENTAL SUPERVISION. Have a look.....................   can you tell what Kaylee's favourite things were on this walk............

OH - there is water

Oh my god - there is more water

Oh - this water is so good!!!!

And look at me running out of the water

Ooop - a mud puddle filled with water

Another mud puddle filled with water

An even BIGGER pond of water

Hey - there is something in the water

My there is a stick in the water

See - here is the stick I pulled from the water

And I am trying to run ON the water

Ooops - face plant in the water

I can LEAP out of the water like a dolphin

This pond is the BIGGEST yet

I found sticks in this water as well

Look - the water is so deep - I can swim

Look - I found a stick in this big pond of water

Well - did you guess what her two favourite things were????   If you guessed sticks and water - you would be right.

Honestly the second we saw a DROP of water, Kaylee was on it.

However Kaylee needs a few lessons of Bruce Trail etiquette. First you are supposed to stay on the Bruce Trail. There are blazes on the trees to help guide you...............

See - blue or white blazes on the trees

But wait a minute - what is that sign on the right - NO TRESPASSING. Well it appeared to be positioned to not go off the path to the right so we stayed on this path. 

Then at one point we saw these signs. Hmmmm - do you think we are NOT on the Bruce Trail any more???

I started to check the signs and OOPS - I don't think we are in Kansas any more. We turned around and OH DEAR - here are the blazes again (we probably walked 2 KM on NON Bruce Trail).   I wasn't even paying attention - I was just following the girls who seemed to be following the beaten path. Well the Bruce Trail did NOT follow this path all the way.

Kaylee is trying to learn what a blaze is!!!!

 Needless to say - we passed some interesting terrain on our walk - both on and off the Bruce Trail.

This is OFF the Bruce Trail. 

So was this - DEEP ruts

This was ON the Bruce Trail

Bruce Trail

NOT on the Bruce Trail - it was about here that I decided to turn around

Bruce Trail - pretty rocky terrain to walk on

Bruce Trail. Yes - that is Sammy way in the back. Or should I say the FRONT. We were heading home and I was diddling with their water bowl and the camera and the leashes and she was getting impatient and went ahead to wait for me. 

Now one more thing to do when out for a walk is to get a group shot. Well that was easy - Climb up here girls and I'll take your picture. This was the BEST I got from them.

Group shot of the girls

Then I thought it would be nice to have a group shot of ALL the girls including me. So we searched for just the right spot.....................

A perfect spot for me to sit

Just opposite this great tree limb (used as a shelf for the camera)

 And the results........................

At first they thought it was a game and all came running over

The log I choose was rotten and they were making me fall backwards!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kaylee is trying to lick my ear - Sparky couldn't care less

LADY - this is getting OLD quick. Let's move on. 

There you have it - we were out for a couple of hours at least and no idea how far we walked - 6 - 7 KM?????   The terrain was NOT the easiest to walk on and my feet were tired when I got back to the car.

The girls - they were ECSTATIC  I am sure they will be begging me to go again!!!!!   Anybody want to come along next time?????   I need to remember a back pack as it was a challenge to juggle the camera, three leashes and a portable dog bowl/water bottle and eventually my scarf once I got too warm.



Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!