You tube stuff
Funny, I was in a mood to take a break a few min. ago (after spending 2 plus hours decorating) and got on Youtube and looked at the Walmart people at 3 AM--Oh, I feel so skinny and beautiful after that! I guess people don't check themselves in mirror, or don't care if their behind sticks out. I'll check out the Hallelujah singing after I get off here.
My DH's friend from college left this morning, after FSU lost to VA. Tech over the weekend. It was cold in Charlotte, NC, they went out and bought long underware, and hand and feet warmers. Snow and some rain for the first 15 min. Now I'm washing dark red shirts, etc. and the normal Monday laundry. I'm glad they went and had a bit of fun, even though their team didn't win.
My cleaning lady cancelled on me today. AGH! Glad I put the party off until next Monday, or I'd be in a panic. --actually I was at 9:00 AM, but gave myself a good lecture, put on Christmas music on CD player and calmed down----
The fake Christmas tree is lying in the middle of the kitchen floor, taking up lots of room. DH promissed to help get it set up tonight. I've triped over it about 4 times already today.
We are supposed to have below freezing temps tonight, and through Sat. night. Have one tropical plant covered, but the majority of them are on their own. Too many to cover, lots of wind to blow the covers off also.
OK, off to have some lunch and something hot to drink.
Sara in Fla.
Ads & a Christmas chuckle
Okay, how do these ads work on the chat board. Are there little gremlins reading our postings and then finding ads that fit in with what is being said. I still say...let's discuss Viagra and see what the ads do.
Winter is here and along with it a youtube thingy...what do you call them...videos? Not sure...but a glider friend of himself sent this one, which in different variations, I've seen before. This has to be the funniest one I've seen so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbejNNCTr7kRosey
Hallelujah Chorus, a question, and just checking in...
Another great view, similar to the one Doris posted is this one: http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU. It's the Philadelphia Opera Company and multiple smaller groups in a mall committing "random acts of culture."
The church group that was quilting my friend's quilt finally finished after almost 2 years. It is a king-sized spread, for two very large people. I need to get the binding on it. I noticed a few places where the batting is showing because one of the quilters pulled a knot all the way through the front, and damaged the fabric a bit. Does anyone have any advice on what to do about it? Does Fraycheck stain after a period of time?
I've been having a rough semester. I'm hoping it's just that the mix of personalities in my lower level classes is bad, and that next semester, with new students, I'll have a better attitude. This semester is taking their End of Course for the state on Tuesday, and then we only have a week of class before exams. I'm praying that the real test is a little easier than the practice test they have posted.
On a postitive note, my Academic Team just took 1st place in a tournament this weekend. Very much happy dance time for all of us! We beat one of the private schools in Nashville that has been the bane of our (competitive) existence. Personally, the coach there has been very encouraging and helpful to our students and to us as coaches, but nobody ever likes losing all the time!
It went from shirt-sleeve weather on Thanksgiving Day to miserable today. I've actually seen sleet. Last year was record breakingly cold, this summer was record breakingly hot, and now we're breaking record lows for this time of year again. I don't like this kind of climate change...a bit of middle ground for awhile would be excellent.
Y'all take care, and I'll try to post a picture of the quilt when I get the binding on it.
Laura
Winter . . .
We had snow flurries all morning, but the ground is too warm for the snow to stick and temperature is hovering right at the freezing mark. It is supposed to go down to 22° tonight. I think winter has arrived.
This site can't post links, so you will have to copy and paste to see this 5-minute Christmas video on youtube: "Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
Enjoy!
Sunday morning
and it is a cold one this morning.....says it is only -10C but windchill factor makes it feel like -22.....and the forecast for the rest of the week is no better....didn't pop my head outside all day Thursday....got brave on Friday and did some errands in afternoon and found it very pleasant//no wind at all.....for about an hour or so.....thank goodness the new vehicle has a wonderful heater and also the seats heat up.....that wasn't an option on the one we had ordered but was on the one we took off the lot....it does make it a bit more comfortable.....
Yesterday was another day spent without having to go out !! DH was busy with a son most of the day and I was able to get some serious sewing done....I am very happy with all five of the grandkids quilts being finished except for the handsewing of the binding....I have had my doubts that I could get 4 twin size and a generous crib quilt done all for the same time....it has been a battle to keep at it.....so many other projects kept tempting me.....but now there is that full satisfaction of accomplishment....now I think I have it in me to do the matching pillowcases....that shouldn't be too bad....serger makes it fast work.....now if I can only remember the do's and don'ts of the serger......
Yesterday as well the youngest grandson Preston brought his parents for a visit.....it is unbelievable to think he is almost 7 months old....such a character....knows how to work a room for sure....
Then just as DH and I were debating about what to have for supper....our other two grandsons convinced their parents to come to grandma's for supper.....thankfully they brought pizza....we had to hear all about the Christmas party and visit with Santa ..... such fun to hear the almost 3year old talk and feel Christmas so excitedly......I had to keep wiping away the tears as I remembered this one's own father and his brothers when they were young and the innocence of childhood was in full bloom and so magical....the almost two year old wasn't really sure what all fuss was really about but gladly jumped up and down cheering on his brother and agreeing about it all.....
Rosey....the pix of the grey skies and snow outline could have come from here.....we too often have those grey days and for too many months......then on the days it is bright and sunny (like this past Friday) one can get fooled and not realize depsite the sunshine it is bitterly cold........I am definetly tempted the next time the sun is shining to go and find a place to curl up and just enjoy that warmth as all the dogs seem to do......
Just listening to the forecast and apparently there is still the lake effect snow storms happening in the great lakes basin/southwestern Ontario area....and not letting up for another couple of days......we have no snow predicted just cold air masses !
Well the dogs are restless and looking for breakfast....which when I come to think of it itsn't that bad of an idea......
Hope you are all staying warm and my wish for the holidays for everyone is to enjoy the simple wonder of the season ...... thru a child's eye......
Heather
ads
Mine, after your post, Marion, tells me what to do if I want to move to New Zealand!!
4.5 days to go before I retire. Yippee!
I can take a hint !
The Google ad. following my last post, asked if I would like to turn my blog into a book.....?!?
Marion.
Therapy..
I think that posting about the mining accident, has been helpful to me over the past two weeks , so thank you for bearing with me... In such a small country as ours, it really did seem to affect everybody. Yesterday there was a moving "West Coast" memorial service. So sincere and unsophisticated.
This from todays newspaper : " It was a day of for weeping and holding each other. A day for standing together to show support and solidarity. About 10,000 gathered at the Omoto racecourse near Greymouth, to honour the 29 men who lost their lives two weeks ago at the Pike River coalmine. in the Paparoa Range. On a glorious, sunny day, the West Coast community was joined by dignitaries from around NZ and overseas to remember men who went off cheerfully to do a day's work and never came home. Powerful speeches, prayers, hymns and songs combined to create an unforgettable , poignant service that all NZ hopes will provide some comfort to the 29families who have lost their loved ones.."
DH and I watched it all on TV. I found it very moving. Set in among the hills, the race course provided a perfect setting. There were 29 tables set out in the front and the families had covered them with things of particular significance to them. The singing was unaccompanied and led by locals. School children sang a beautiful song about life on the West Coast, and moving words of hope and encouragement were offered from the dais. A day to remember.
Marion.
Another one for Marion & others
This was sent to me yesterday. It is taken in Prince Edward County which is on Lake Ontario east of the city of Toronto. The filtered daylight is a reality for us as a rule for most of December and January. The sun starts shining again in Feb. But it is pretty, isn't it.
Sunlight helps us all, Sara.
Doris, you're always learning something new in sewing...good for you.
Rosey (again)
Cold in Fla also
Burrr. . . . It was 82 on Monday, and about 36 last night. Lots of wind for about 48 hrs. and cooler weather. The sun is out, so that makes all the difference. It is a windy 50 out there now. My DH and his college friend are going to play golf today, then drive up to Charlotte, N.C. for the Fla. State-Va. Tech game on Saturday. They have their heavy gloves, coats, etc. out to take with them. DH's heavy coat had a hood on it also.
I wouldn't be able to take the gray sky for months at a time. Virginia was that way when I was growning up there. Maybe that was responsible for depression starting for me. So thankful for sunny skys.
Jane in N. C. did you get any of the flooding and storms that went your way? Hope nobody got flooded out.
Since DH and friend just drove off, I'm going to finish up the fleece jacket I've been making. (The quilty room doubles as the guest room) Tonight is our quilt guild Christmas party, so want to be able to show it.
After I do the hem in the jacket I'll make a heart block to send to N.Z.
While DH is gone over the next few days I plan to get all the decorating done, except the tree. He took the rubbermaid bins out of the attic just now.
OK, that's about it for me! Hot tea with O.J. is my drink of choice in cold weather. Going to microwave another cupa.
Sara in Fla.
weather, sewing, etc.
Jane in NC - Good to know that you survived the foot surgery. You've been on my mind, and I'm relieved to see you are up and about, and posting here.
Marion - I'm so sorry about the mining tragedy. Bad luck sometimes seems to come in waves. Please continue to post about your weather, even if it is hot & dry. It is nice to be reminded that it is summer, somewhere, while I am wearing my wool socks, silk long underwear, and flannel-lined pants. I mentally imagine I am down under, and thaw out a bit. ;o)
Kathi in Idaho - Wow, that is some snowfall. We've had a few like that, too, darkness and all, but they are not the norm in Tennessee. It got down to 26° here last night, and we should have a solid week of cold-ish weather. Our autumn lasted a long time this year. Actually, our autumn was short---summer lasted a long time!
I am half-way through "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". It has been on my to-read pile for a while, and I finally made time to begin reading it over our Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone else I know has read it and recommended it. It is an easy read, quite engaging (no spoilers, please) I have "Guernsey L&PPP Society" on the pile to read, too, along with a Maeve Binchy book. Not enough hours in the day ...
I am off to a doll-clothes sewing class today. The teacher has tons of experience at making doll clothes for her daughters' American Girl doll (18" size doll). I am taking advantage of the learning opportunity while I can. I may never have a granddaughter, but the sewing technique is different from adult clothing, I guess due to the smaller scale. I'm never done learning…..
Realities of snow dwellers
Marion, I love reading your posts...the nice thing about the board is that it represents all kinds of weather, all kinds of different living conditions; all kinds of different people and their live's experiences. Jean, who has daffodils in February far to the north and west in Canada, where the climate is temperate compared to the rest of Canada, is under snow...unusual for her at this time of year...or she has been...maybe it's melted by now. Down east in New Brunswick, because of the oceon effect, the winters are very heavy with snow. Here in Ontario, we can have a very 'wintry' winter with lots of snow, too. The city of Toronto, less so because of Lake Ontario and many of the storms that come through do so on the south side of L. Ontario and hit Cleveland and the Buffalo areas. If Russell still wants to experience snow, you know where to come. Just ask him to bring a shovel, high snow boots, snow pants, heavy jacket, woolen toque (hat), scarf, heavy mitts (waterproof helps) and a willingness to spend several hours each day it snows outside pushing a snow blower. He will need lots of books to read and be prepared to haul wood for four months or more of the year. Also, he may suffer sun deprivation by the end of January so he may need an anti-depressant or a good bottle of scotch. He may become withdrawn and not wish to see people (living in the country, that is) and feel isolated because of the many snow storms. But, otherwise, he can appreciate the utter beauty of winter while sitting in the midst of it or he can look at pictures, such as Kathi's posting....note...the heavy grey look to the photograph is not underexposure...it is reality. No, please don't stop contributing to the board. I wish more people would. If they tune in to read it, please contribute. Our lives are no more interesting than yours...
Rosey
Oh ....so beautiful though....
Kathi, thank you for posting the lovely photo. A snowfall like that makes everything look so fresh and clean. I do know that it doesn't last like that for long but it is magical for awhile. We seldom get a real snowfall here but I do remember, as a child in England, the fun that we had in the snow. My mother used to say that the best place for snow was on a Christmas card !
Rosey, the conditions you describe made me shiver with cold. I hope you were safe out there on the roads.
I went into
Rangiora on Tuesday, to drop off my "hearts ". It was nice to meet Shirley Goodwin. She's
definitely a "woman on a mission" and already busy dealing with incoming heart blocks. There was a photo and an article about her quilts, in the paper yesterday, so she is getting lots of publicity. I'm sure that your ""hearts" will all be welcomed and used. There are so many disasters happening around the world, with sickening
regularity. It's somehow reassuring to know that people can still react with kindness, even to complete
strangers in such a far off place as NZ.
Loved the book
Rosey, thank you.(Major
Pettigrew's Last Stand) A perfect book for last w/end when I was able to take time out and enjoy it. I certainly "recognised" some of the characters ! It made me smile.
A busy week with end of year and Christmas get-
togethers.. NZ closes in January , or so the saying goes , so it all has to happen before Christmas.
My name has appeared, far too often on this page in the last little while, so I'll sign off for now and make room for more
interesting posts !
Take care.
Marion
Winter has struck with a vengeance!
This is what we woke up to this morning. We don't normally have snow for another month in this part of Idaho. This is our second storm of the season, sandwiching 0*F temps. I'm pretty much ready for a trip to the tropics! The older I get, the less I like the snow and cold.
Kathi
Four heart blocks from Canada
My three quilt ladies who come here every Wed. morning to quilt/sew were met at the front door with.....having prepped one already who brought the necessary fabric, tools, etc......do you want to make a whole quilt or just one block. So, four small heart blocks will go into the mail from Ontario, Canada this afternoon for New Zealand and Shirley Goodwin's project mentioned by Fran below. It is a very tiny contribution to some child's Christmas which in no way will ever make up for the terrible losses faced by the families of miners. I'm sitting on the packet now squashing the air out of it. Believe me, that's a very big squash!!
Grey, drizzly day here and the part of winter no-one likes. Snow makes things look pretty and clean. We have hints of snow tucked in and around the bushes and long grasses but otherwise, we're looking at freezing rain, which makes driving treacherous. A good day to stay home, which I'm not doing unfortunately. The only thing that makes our winter more bearable this year is knowing that Vancouver Island has had more than it's share of snow before us, which is rare in itself. Even more rare, Jean can't crow about her fine weather out there. She starts having daffodils in February out on the west coast of Canada. Go figure. She's a whole lot further north in the hemisphere than we are here in Ontario but she has a 'stream'...not the Gulf Stream...flowing by Vancouver Island......which makes the weather temperate there....what 'stream' is it, Jean?
Rosey
