Strange sleeping arrangments

 OH MY GOSH --- I feel like I'm sleeping in my nephew's basement. WAIT --- I am sleeping in a basement -it's not my nephew's. My host is a single, youngish man (used to be a bank manager, now drives a school bus, from India), and well, it's rather a very bizarre situation, but I feel perfectly safe, and you just learn to roll with the punches. 

It's all a good lesson to book a hotel in advance, because you never know when a rodeo is coming to town! 

And the house is in a decent part of town, so that's OK. Some parts are sketchy, but this one is not. What's hilarious is that I lived for a very short time in North Battleford - probably less than a year in total- and I lived in two places. For several months, though I don't recall the exact number, I lived in this huge house. My boyfriend and I shared the top floor of this beautiful old house. And if I remember correctly, at one point, a friend of mine lived on the main floor or the second floor. I don't remember the details. That was a very, very long time ago. I remember Jacques would climb out that long window up top and sit on the roof. OH!!!

My second apartment was on the third floor

Anyway, the house where I'm currently staying is two blocks away from that one. I think I heard that one family bought that big house and converted it back into one house. It would be fun to see the inside. It is a very unusual house in this area. The house I'm in is TINY! But it works. 

And I had company as I fell asleep last night. This is Zorro. 

Zorro

And Zorro is a BIG dog. I keep calling him a him, but I'm not sure - I didn't check. Let's just say that he makes Murphy look like Bear. He stayed there for a while, got bored, and went upstairs. And YES -- that is a plywood floor. Seriously! One has to remember that there is a different mentality to life here, and hey, I grew up in a house with no running water until I was 16, so a few inconveniences along the way are not a big deal. It's bug-free, which is all I care about. 

And really, all I want is a bed. I got a bed. And I paid slightly more to stay here for 5 nights than I would for one night at the hotel. So yes, I can be a snob, but I can also live with less. Good grief - I just camped on a mountain in a tent! 

After I wrote the blog yesterday, I went back to sleep and slept for hours, which was good, so I didn't need a nap in the afternoon. 

Then I drove to North Battleford. I spotted fields of birds along the way, with one field standing out as entirely white with birds. My Mom thinks they were likely snow geese. I didn't stop to take a picture. Then I spotted a slough (pond) that was filled with ducks. Again, I didn't stop to take a picture, but I knew where I could get a picture of the birds. 

Between the city (North Battleford) and the town (Battleford), there is a bird (hmmmm) sanctuary? I don't think that's what it is, but it's a spot designated for wildlife, especially birds on the migratory path. There's even an observation tower. 

The observation platform

That's where I stopped, and this is what I saw. The water was filled with Canada Geese, and they were honking like a church choir. It was pretty cool to see and hear. I wonder why they were only in that one section, though, and not spread out more. Was that one flock?  

The birds

I stopped at the local Fabricland because I had some time to kill and I wanted to check it out. They are an independent store, so while they stock much of what the corporate stores have, they also have a pretty decent quilt shop in the store. 

I saw some amazing panels and a wide variety of cool Halloween fabric. Alas, I didn't buy any. But I did purchase something for my jacket class that I thought was cool, and I also picked up a couple of $3 patterns. 

I asked about their plans for selling patterns, and they intend to stock patterns from a different company, though no specific name was mentioned. I wonder what that will be. 

Then I was going to stop at Tim's to get some lunch, and what? Tim's is closed for renovation and will be closed for a month. While there is another one back in the city, I wasn't going back. The town and the city are literally on the river banks - the city on the NORTH side of the river, and the town is on the south side! 

So instead of going back to the north side to that Tim's, I popped into the grocery store to buy a sandwich. And I passed by the baseball museum, so I had to stop and get a picture of this. Canada's Biggest Bat and it is HUGE!!!!! 

Canada's Biggest Bat

When I finally got to my parents, I had to check out the puzzle they were working on. This is set up in the common room of their building. Oh my -- I just had to put a few pieces in as no one else was around. And that is my favorite color after all. YES -- I need to clear a spot to set one up at home. Not to spend hours, but to have a diversion when I need one. 

The jigsaw puzzle at the apartment building

Then I had to go out on an errand for my Mom. My Dad refuses to go to Walmart, so I had to get some yarn for her. I am always fascinated by the variegated stuff. I didn't buy any yarn for myself, but I did find something unusual in a quilt magazine that I bought. I'll take pictures of it today and share them with you. 

I love variegated yarn

My Dad and I spent some time discussing finances. It's always fun when the government comes calling when they shouldn't. And for someone who is 93, he does a pretty good job with the computer and online banking, but he needed a few pointers, so hopefully, he'll remember how to do that next time. 

But we both struggle with the same thing. I remember years ago, I wanted to pay my credit card. To show a ZERO balance. Guess what? That is NEVER going to happen with the way transactions get posted. That also bugs my Dad to no end, and I keep telling him it doesn't matter (I'm over it). You will never see a zero balance unless you stop buying for three days to let everything post, and then you pay it off. As long as you are not being charged interest, all is good. 

Well, I see it's not as cold this morning as it was yesterday, and it actually warmed up quite nicely. I didn't go for a walk, but I might just do so today. 

Once I edit this, I might just take another wee nap and then get up and get the day started. I haven't seen Zorro this morning and I"m still in my bed downstairs. It's a weird house with a lot of noise from people, but there are only two people upstairs. Oh well, it's a cheap place to sleep and more comfortable than sleeping in the car. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Too tired to care!

We had a fabulous day yesterday!!! I took no pictures as it was a hectic day. I had all my stuff sorted in the classroom, so it was super easy to get set up. All I had to do was connect the computer. I forgot to bring another piece of cable equipment to hook up my camera. It's been a while, so I must make a list and put it in the cable box for the next time I travel. But no worries—it all worked out. 

There was an excellent restaurant/market beside the store, and we had yummy sandwiches for lunch. The moment you walked in, you got a whiff of fresh apples. This is apple country, and I wanted to buy lots, but there was no way to transport them home. 

I did not even get a chance to shop at this store, and we had a huge crowd of people—well, it's easy to feed off the energy in the room! We had a grand time, and I couldn't feed them information fast enough!

Then I packed up my suitcases and put them in the car. I confess that I did not repack the suitcases well, so I will unpack them this morning and sort them as I'm doing the same two presentations today at another store. I won't have much time when I arrive at the store, so they have to be in piles, more or less, to get them in order. 

One suitcase is in my room, and the other is still in the car. 

But I have to share this hotel story with you. I am not a complainer, as a rule—I can eat almost anything and sleep anywhere, and nothing really bothers me. But this is a bizarre place—not really in a bad or creepy way, but it's just so different. 

Thanks to Sharon for mentioning the Holiday Inn website ihg.com. I always forget that and search, which always takes me to a redirect. I need to go there first!!

Before I tell you this story, let me mention those redirects. I think this is true for almost anything you search—you need to be very careful when clicking on the sites that come up after you search. So many of them are sponsored, so they get bumped to the front of the line. And they are not what you are looking for. 

The other thing that drives me crazy about searches is that I might be searching for something very specific, and all these sites come up that don't even sell that product. They come before the site that sells that product. It is such a waste of time!!!!

OK—now for the story, and this is going to sound so silly. The picture of the hotel on the website looks like a typical Holiday Inn. I had to deal with traffic as I drove from Chilliwack to Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. I was starting to get hungry on the drive but had no food in the car, as I had eaten everything the day before on the drive from Penticton. 

I really should have delayed my start and gone back to that restaurant/market to get something to eat. I did not. 

Anyway, I arrived at the hotel, which I had called in the morning to book a room, as I'm not sure what else is around here. I got quoted a price, and then the guy on the phone dropped the price by $50. I have no idea what that was all about, but I'll take it. 

The rooms are a bit dated, but I can live with that. This is the first Holiday Inn in a long time where the furniture is not the same as other hotels. It's like going to McDonald's to discover that the Big Mac is not the same! I told you it's bizarre. 

When I got in the room, I was so tired that I went to bed. I had plans to work, but that didn't happen. I was on the second floor, and there was a light shining in my room, and I was too tired to even close the curtain. Thankfully, I can sleep just about anywhere. 

I still think I got the worst room in this place, though, because I can hear the thrum of the air conditioner or whatever it is, and there is a fan in my room, so it's as noisy as ever. 

But the interesting thing was dinner. Again, I'm not a complainer about my food, but last night? Well, that was interesting. Oh, and I forgot to mention that they are renovating the hotel, so two guys were standing in the lobby with armfuls of tiles that they were moving to another floor. Do they not have a cart or something to do that? The tiles looked very heavy. Only one elevator was working, and it was slow. 

OK—so there is a restaurant attached to this hotel, which is unusual for a Holiday Inn. I'll go there—it's easy and close. It took a minute for someone to see me at the desk, and then I got seated and got the menu. 

I was hungry, but yet I was tired. I got a sprite - just because I wanted one. But it was filled with ice, and I swear it was so watered down that it barely had any fizz. Yes -- I should have said something, but I was so tired. I ordered clam chowder, and while it was good and very hearty, it did NOT look appetizing. And it had a - what the heck do you call that on the top. It looked like the dish had been sitting for a while, and all they had to do was heat it up. The temperature was fine, but not great to look at. 

Then I ordered a spinach and artichoke dip with some chips. OK -- the cheese on top of the dip was so hmmm -- what's the word -- I could not break it up with the chips as it was too hard, and I struggled to cut it with my knife. The taste of the dip itself was good, but it wasn't the best I have ever had. 

Oh, and there were some thin bread crisps with the soup, and they were awful! It is so unlike me to complain about food, but this was not a restaurant that I would recommend to anyone!

Let's say that it is completely unlike the Holiday Inn in North Vancouver, where the food at the restaurant was amazing. However, the omelets did not sit well with me, and I couldn't eat anything else the entire day! Hmmm—maybe I need the cafeteria restaurant most often found at the Holiday Inn for breakfast only. I do like the cinnamon bun! 

So, I have a coupon for a complimentary breakfast at that same restaurant this morning. I think I might just find the nearest Tim's. It will be a different chef (hopefully), but I don't want to chance it! 

I don't often get a dud, but this was a dud!!!

And that's it for today. I think I might need another quick nap before I really get organized for the day. The curtain is now shut, and the fan is off. AH—so much better. 

Have a great day!!!

Ciao!!!

Highway of memories!

Yesterday was a long day but also a very exciting day. Not only am I totally relaxed now because I have SEVEN FREE days next week, but just because! There is no point in being frazzled unless there is a very good reason. 

I had prepped most everything the evening before, so all I had to do was write the blog and take the girls for a short walk, which was better than no walk. Then, I was in the car for a long drive. 

I'm not the best with long drives, but I made out OK. I should know better, but I stopped for gas at one of the Service Ontario spots along the highway and paid $1.57 per liter. Shortly after, I got into the smaller areas and spotted gas for $1.45. Sigh.

However, it's not such a big deal if you do the math. My car takes 45 liters of gas, so even if the car was totally empty, which it was not, I would have paid a difference of 12 cents per liter, which equals $5.40. Hardly anything to get upset about. 

I chuckle when they announce that the gas prices are going up by 3 cents at midnight, and everyone flocks to the gas pumps. Again - if my car was completely empty, I would save $1.35. It's hardly worth the effort to go out. However, if my vehicle used 100 liters, that might be a different story, but it depends on how empty the tank is. 

I stopped at Thimbles and Things to say HI to Paula. Sue happened to be there teaching a class, so it was also fun to say hi to her. Since the Fireside Retreat closed, I don't get up there that often. Then, three ladies from the Tequila Lime class stopped in to buy their fabric, so we had a grand chat. It was so lovely to meet them in person. I can't wait to see what they bought! 

And, well, I did a bit of retail therapy shopping myself. I bought a few more fabrics (batiks) for my Tequila Lime, so I have a nice variety now that will help with the gradations I expect to use throughout the quilt. I bought a half meter of a funky print for some journal making (more on that in January) and two patterns. YES -- I didn't need either of the patterns, but they are super cute!

Sorry -- it all got winged into the car, and I didn't take pictures of any of it. Interestingly enough, Sue asked if I was still teaching tuffets! I had to laugh because we just finished one last week for someone who purchased one of my kits. I am DONE with tuffet making! 

I arrived a bit before the store opened, so I pulled into a parking lot and had a 15-minute snooze. Yep -- I can do that, and I felt great the remainder of the way.

The roads were excellent, with no construction or very little. It was a bit like an old home week as I drove past the house where Fireside Retreat used to be. Nothing much has changed - I noticed a nice table on the back deck and a hammock! Oh - that would be nice. All the barn quilt block signs are still up. Such fond memories of that location. 

The house that used to be Fireside Retreat

Then, past Bracebridge, where there used to be a quilt shop (bought and sold several times). This was when we went to the Quilter's MisBehaven retreat near Raymond, Ontario. There's the highway exit to get to that house. I didn't drive by as it's a bit off the road. Don't Google that one -- it's been closed for YEARS. I think it opened in 2006 or something like that, and it existed for 10 years? 

AH -- there's the exit to get to the Seams Appropriate quilt retreat (still in operation), which is just on the other side of the highway. I no longer book that one as two retreat houses are much closer to me and those who attend. 

Then, past Huntsville, where there used to be a quilt store and a fantastic drug store with the largest selection of quilting magazines. Sadly, that is long gone. So many memories along that section of the road. 

Once I was past Huntsville, it was "new" territory. Ah -- but there's the exit to where Maryke lives, and then, there's Morgan's' exit. They chat about them during our Virtual Retreats, and well,  I felt right at home along that stretch of the highway. 

Then I arrived in North Bay, and it was easy to find the Gem Sewing shop. They have a BEAUTIFUL classroom area. OH -- I did a bit of damage at that store as well! I found some things that I had been trying to find, which was exciting. I bought a new fabric mat for my digital cutter because I will need one based on what I plan to do with it in 2024. The best part was that it went in the car, and there was no need to worry bout shipping it. 

I spotted this in the washroom at Thimbles and Things. 

Spare time activities for a quilter

I thought it was cute, and honestly, I don't have much spare time, but I do this with fabric regularly! But it was nice to buy - just for the sake of buying. I have not done that in a long time. But the things I bought were mostly things that I wanted and couldn't find elsewhere. I'll take pictures and share them!

As you know, I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants person who never pre-books hotels. I've been caught once or twice, but not yesterday. When the first event finished, and I could get away, it was already 4:30. I popped out to the hotel (YES - I know I could book online - hate it!), and they had a "couple" of rooms left. What does that mean? 

Anyway, I got a room, and I was good for the night and ready to return to the store for the second event. OH -- we had been talking about senior discounts the other day. Someone mentioned that you need to be careful because sometimes the senior's discount works out to MORE than the real price. Wait a minute -- there is NO REAL PRICE any longer. The price is different if you book online versus in person versus having discounts through CAA or Senior or whatever. It is one of the most confusing things around. 

What I am very cautious of is booking online. The hotel has NOTHING to do with that, so if you need to make changes or need information or even the bill -- the booking company provides that. I HATE that, so I refuse to book with those booking agencies! I prefer to book in person! I take my chances, and I've been caught a few times where I had to go to several hotels, but I've always found a room. The worst case is that I have to sleep in the car, which has never happened. 

This is the wall when you exit the elevator on my floor. It's an appropriate color, I would say. 

Outside the elevators on my floor

And yes -- as I arrived at my room, which was completely at the end of the long hallway, I discovered my room key wouldn't work. OK -- there has to be something wrong with me. So I trundled all my stuff back downstairs to get the key redone. Back up to the room, and CRAP -- it won't work again. AH -- I turned the key around, and it worked, so it probably worked the first time. 

My room is the LAST one

I am so NOT good at this. What is wrong with me? I looked at the key, and the logical way to put it in was NOT the way it worked! My brain must be wired differently. But I need to try the other way if the first one doesn't work. No worries - I needed extra steps because I did NOT walk far. 

My technology setup worked like a charm. I now have the hang of it and can easily switch between the camera and the presentation. But that requires a few cables to make that happen. 

My cable collection

Some of those are power cords, some are HDMI cables, and when I set up, I think one was missing. Where the heck did I put that, or maybe it's all mixed up. I need to sort it out because I will need that third cable tomorrow. And Margaret's advice is to put my name on all of them, which is excellent advice because it's easy to get things mixed up!

At the evening presentation, I met Morgan, whom I've known virtually for several years. It's hilarious when you finally meet in person because you feel like you know that person! Thanks for helping me get all my stuff to the car!

I woke up this morning and peeked out the window, and I swear I saw snow! Nope -- just heavy frost on the vehicles!

Today is a travel day, but it is relatively short, which is good, so I plan on getting set up at the new location and going for a long walk. Then I have some computer work, so it's all good. 

One more day of presentations tomorrow and then the long drive back! 

On that note - I'm out of here. I usually eat breakfast while blogging, but I guess I could have gotten dressed and gone downstairs and blogged at the breakfast table, but I didn't. I'm in casual mode today!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!