Friday and Saturday

1 A  freak snowstorm means we rush down to the store to get eggs and other ingredients for our cookie baking. But we didn't know about the scheduled power outage so we are again in the dark. This time it's 10 - 2, not too bad.
2 Their favourite show tonight is Justin Time. Very cute little cartoon with good stories and meanings.Justin Time

3 Our story tonight is Love You Forever. She likes me to sing the song to her and each time I do she snuggles in closer. Kesler misses it all, he's already asleep.
4 Sugar cookies with Isabelle and Kesler. They are both excellent at the icing part!

5 My oldest son comes for dinner. He's been on his own for a few days while the kids have been with me. He's greeted with big love.
6 A few minutes of quiet time to clean up and write this blog. I've been reminded of how valuable that can be.

Monday through Thursday

1 Learning the ropes at the Rec Center. Wow, great place to work if you like laid back. I spend the morning learning point of sale, checking in seniors for pickle ball and just settling in.
2 The house is warm when I get home. I only worked a half day so it was noon and the house hadn't cooled yet.
3 Setting the thermostat to do it's thing just how I like it means that it's 'perfect for me' any time of day or not. At least until Mr P gets home on Sunday.
4 Day two of training and I find myself working on my own. Someone has gone home sick so I'm tossed into the deep end again!
5 I love the Dollar Store. Always lots of fun things there and at such low prices. Perfect for picking up craft supplies for the grand kids..
6 My hair is shorter than I expected again! I think I'll have to be more assertive with my stylist next time. I like how he colours but he just can't seem to let me have it long.
7 The power went out late last night. Thankfully I woke up before the alarm and go myself to work on time. Turns out we were the only facility with a generator so we worked and everyone else got to go home! We spent the morning supplying the public works staff with hot coffee and a place to warm up and decorating one of several Christmas trees.
8

9 The grand kids and i get to spend time together. It's been a while since they've had a sleep over and so it took a few extra rounds of the song I sing to them. It won't be long before they won't want me to tuck them in so I'm cherishing these moments together.
10 Kes and Izzy go to story time at the library today. She finds it difficult to sit still but eventually settles a bit more. I think with time she'll figure it out. Kes on the other hand just loved the carpet that's covered in letters from the alphabet and couldn't contain his enthusiasm :)
11

12 The snow is melting and tonight it's warm out. Tomorrow the forecast is for all this lovely white to be encased in a deep freeze.

Silent Sunday

two for you

1 There's something special about walking in the cold weather. I feel like a young girl again when I watch how the steam from my breath curls and dances away.
2 I'm so tired that I don't even remember falling asleep.
3 There's a strange noise outside. The wind is howling and the chimes are playing but this is a strange scraping sound. I hear it a couple of times and then decide I should investigate. I open the door to the deck and the sound makes me turn my head quickly and I see it. The noisemaker. The wind is so fierce that it's moving the lawn chair across the deck and I'm so close it that I can see it and catch my breath as it stops about a foot from my feet.
4 Up and out of here early. It's time for the craft fair. Only time for one cuppa java and it's time to roll.
5 Sam makes it so fun. I'm a novice at craft fairs, In fact, it's my first time and I'm a little unsure, okay, more than a little. But she's patient and kind and I find it's much more social than I'd imagined.
6 I love my new mug that I bought as a gift for myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something new. Sam is the artist who has created this loveliness. I love her work. It's in a word, extraordinary .

craftiness, options, thanks, and please don't blow me over

1 It's been more than a few days of organizing and printing, signing and more organizing. Just about done and ready for Saturday's craft fair. (I have no idea how to put this together but I'm tryin'!) It's the first time I've ever participated in a craft fair so I'm excited about the process and so pleased to spend time with Sam.
2 Feeling pretty good knowing that I've got work options for the holidays. Mr P says he's home for the holidays so perhaps there should be an adjustment in the thought process on this one.
3 Thanks to K for the arthritis supplements she brought to share with me Here's hoping they provide some well needed relief.
4 The wind blows my car all over the road on the way home tonight  Even now it's not settling down but continues to howl and rattles the wind chimes.

getting it done, shopping, and keep it together will ya

1 I think I have lots of time until I change my plans and then I'm scrambling to get anything done! But most of it's done.
2 Christmas shopping for the grandkidlets for books, clothes and an extra special battery operated guitar for Isabelle. I'm sure we'll all be ready for a battery extraction but the end of Christmas day!
3 I like working with J. She's pretty down to earth and I really enjoy her sense of humour. Our work atmosphere is casual, hilarious at times but we manage to stay professional even when we are holding back laughter!

sleep patterns, plaid, and connected

1 And by the way, what is up with not sleeping? It's an interesting phenomenon to wake from a short nap and then have sleep be elusive. Last night the fire lulled me into slumber and later when I couldn't sleep, a boring book lulled me again.
2 A simple blue and red plaid shirt that will be perfect for work. Layering is perfect for this time of year. 
3 Mr P and I both giggle over the silliest of things. It's one of those moments that just connects us together even though we're hundreds of kilometers apart.

too early, the office, and dining

1 I wake up when it's dark and start to get ready for work but after a few minutes I get the feeling I'm on the wrong shift. A quick call to work sets me straight and I head back to sleep for a few more hours.
2 The office is a combination of hilarity and shenanigans.
3 Dinner with L and a couple of her friends. Lovely to meet new people and see someone in the 'real' world instead of at work. Very entertaining!

Silent Sunday - self explanatory

the week in review

1 Gaile and family are here for the evening and she's spending two extra days with me. We talk, laugh, eat, drink and shop, watch movies and give and get best friend hugs. Perfect!
2 Our early dinner was amazing, delicious and just the right amount for each of us. The restaurant decor is a combination of soft comfy seats, concrete and huge, and I mean HUGE light fixtures. I'll be sure to post a photo next time we eat there.
3 It's cold and windy but we quickly find our spots near the fireplace.
4 A heated blanket for keeping warm. It's been on a chair for many years but now moves about the house, warming me.
5 The sun shines so brightly that we have to close the blinds to see each other while we chat about just about everything.
6 Morning comes early and with it a sliver of sunshine through the foggy clouds.
7 The grandkidlets and I make chocolate cake with tons of icing and star sprinkles for their daddy and mommy.
8 Kesler slowly and deliberately spreads the icing on the cake and then all of a sudden his fingers are covered in icing and he plunges them into his mouth to lick every last bit.
9 Two grandkidlets with chocolate icing on their cheeks, noses and lips.
10 Another friend comes for a visit and we enjoy Thai food and green tea until we float out of the restaurant and head home to talk into the night. So good to catch up.
11 It's so cold you can see your breath.
12 I think I'm falling in love. Yes, you heard me right, I love toasted blueberry bagels smothered in cream cheese.
13 Voted.
14 The lady at the polling station looks at my ID and says yes, you're fine. And I smile and reply, "Yes I am fine" and we laugh at how that sounds.
15 The skies are a pinkish hue now but each time I look out the window the shade is different until it's just blackness.

third time's a charm?, sleepyheads, and special visitors

1 Cell phone saga. My cell phone is in need of repairs yet again and it's frustrating me to no end. I get a loaner phone for the third time and this one is the worst of the bunch. I think it's at least 10 years old and doesn't even do photo attachments on text messages! Too funny, I think I'll use an old beast we have lying around here.
2 Izzy and Kes come for a visit but he's sleeping before we get home and then she asks to go to sleep It must be the cold weather making us all sleepy.
3 Gaile is coming tonight! So looking forward to seeing her and her hubby and grandson. Should be a fun evening if we can all stay awake! :)

rethinking, building, forgiveness and junk food junkie (at least for tonight)

1 I like the way he's thinking while he's away. His focus is on being healthy, working out and not the monotonous routine of daily camp life.
2 A conversation. A conversation where we share things just between us and know that our trust is building a very special friendship.
2a Sometimes it takes a little perspective to see where another person is coming from. Mr P and I have both experienced sharp words and ridicule at the hand of someone dear to us. We have a choice, bitterness or forgiveness? We both choose to forgive; lessons learned will not be forgotten.
3 Nacho chips with salsa and sour cream. Could my dinner have been more decadent? Okay, I added a few pieces of chocolate just to be sure that it was!

thursday, friday and saturday

1 Another day of rest. I'm so grateful that I can rest and recover from this icky flu/cold that's gotten hold of me.

2 How nice to get messages about our book club gathering. We had so much fun, eating, drinking and finally talking about books, and some rather risque media news here in Canada.

3 The night ends with a chat with my dear friend J. She's the kind of person that I would describe as 'real'.

4 No rest for the weary and we are busy with the work, work and more work.

5 The grandkidlets come to spend some time with us and for a sleepover. Both of them haven't been here for a while for sleepovers so this is exciting for us all. Kesler seems to adjust easier that our little miss, but soon she's figuring things out

6 Mr P is busy installing more cameras on the house We are secure. Now we just have to figure out a few specific configurations and we're done.

7 Izzy tells us that every day at the park is a fun day Today's no exception and we have fun in the leaves again. 

8 Gaile is coming! So very happy we can spend time together. Not sure for how long, but it doesn't matter as long as we get to see each other.

9 I'm pondering in my head, why I am not taking my big camera out with me more often. More thinking is needed, I'll get back to you.

grandkidlets, redone, and book club

1 Izzy and Kesler come for a short visit today. They had been at our house for an hour before I arrived home from shopping and she's so excited to see me that she can't sit still in her chair one minute longer and runs over to give me a big hug. Kesler is too busy eating mac and cheese but later I get a bit of a hug and then it's off to nap time for them both.
2 Coffee table remade done! It was a wood table that I repainted black and put black and white photographs under glass!
3 Dinner with Book Club! Tonight it was my turn to host and it ended up being a great evening for all of us. A few came early, some came late with lots of laughs, great food and my book, well some liked it, some found it depressing and a few even rethought it.
3a Here's an appetizer recipe that Helen brought. It was A-MAZ_ING!

Creamy Shrimp Scampi

8 oz. Medium shrimp 

4 garlic cloves

2 tsp fresh parsley

2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

3 Tbsp mayo not miracle whip

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp butter

4 oz. Cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup white wine

Method:

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9 inch baking dish. Melt butter in skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp, garlic, red pepper flakes. Cook until shrimp turns pink stirring occasionally about 2 minutes. Stir in wine, lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and stir in cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, parsley, 1/4 cup mozzarella and the parmesan. Spread mixture in the prepared pan, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top. Place in oven and bake until bubbly and golden brown. 10- 12 minutes.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

1,2 3 Work seems to be the consuming topic of late. I am busy with a new job and doing two sets of training. Not sure which of the 4 jobs I will keep but I'm giving myself just a bit of time to figure it all out. To be sure though, switchboard stays, the rest...well I have to think hard about what works, what doesn't and why.

4 He makes a good dinner of garlic smashed potatoes/yams, salad, roasted stuffed portobello mushrooms, and steak! Oh yes, apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

5 I miss the grandkidlets. Tomorrow we will have them for a few hours while their parents work on some stuff around their home. I think it'll be a park day if nice, otherwise maybe the library or just crafts here.

6 She's coming for a visit soon and it can't come soon enough! 

7 Book club is tomorrow and I'm not even close to being prepared for hosting it. Tomorrow I can throw it all together if I make my lists tonight.

8 Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel is the book I've chosen for our group. 

9 Here's my book review. 

The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence

This book will NOT be for everyone. If you're looking for a quick escape, lots of action or a strong romance, this is not the book you want. However, if you enjoy books that aren't your usual fare and are strong on psychological tension, this is a good choice.

I loved this story of an elderly woman, who is a rather judgmental, cantankerous person. I like novels that show how a person grows and changes and I find slow change to be most believable and true to life, as it is in this book.

It might be easy to see Hagar Shipley's life as being rather ordinary, even dull. But I didn't – she was married to a man she eventually saw as inferior and coarse, her relationships with her children, her desire to make a proper home and better herself - were all quite realistic to me. Sometimes, I was filled with sadness and pity, sometimes I laughed out loud, and sometimes, I just wanted to shake some sense into her. As she becomes increasingly frail and dependent on her son and daughter-in-law, she also comes to see her life in a different way. Hagar's struggle with her own painful life memories as she tries to protect her independence and maintain her pride is quite heartrending.

It is a reminder of the hardships of past generations; how foolish pride is, and how it stands in the way of freedom and happiness.

10 I stay home from work today and just rest. So welcome, so needed. I've only had 3 days off in three weeks!

11 Mr P eats the soup I have made and I eat the salad he made. Funny, how food someone else cooks always tastes better.

12 I'm sitting in the living room imagining the new sectional we will have here one day. Not yet, we haven't found the 'right' one. But soon.