What's Happening in your neck of the woods?

Marilynne - do you have a neighbour who would take pity on you at least for SOME of that laundry? Today's laundromats are a far cry from those we used in our youth. Although, I suppose my house would sell for more than 10 times what we paid for it too.

I know I posted yesterday saying we had 'snow'...yep, went to lunch and you could barely see for blowing snow; guess it had to come but why so soon..

I only go to laundromat when I'm doing the large blankets and just hate spending the big $$$..how can poor families who don't have washer/dryers possibly afford a laundromat???

Good thinking Ann, it would only be for this week right? am sure one would come to your rescue...did the old set get picked up?

Carole, funny how these furry friends know how to make you feel bad, can't talk but they sure know how to give you the evil eye..

Cold here today, didn't look outside yet this morning but perhaps I ought to start the vehicle and let it warm up a tad before rushing off to work..think this weekend along with doing costumes for the kids is putting summer clothing away and getting out my winter garbs.

Gab later

Morning everyone .. TGIF ^_^

Rainy (showery) morning in Thunder Bay this morning .. NO 'S' predicted !!

I have had offers of machines, but, in all honesty the way my schedule (if you can call it that) runs, I never seem to be able to commit to a specific time. So .. even though I am getting NO receipt from these machines, Sears is certainly going to hear about the cost and inconvenience, and, we are ensuring we don't generate a lot of laundry. Luckily I had just changed the sheets on the beds .. and I'll use a dish cloth and tea towel for 2 days instead of 1 now.

Carol, I sure hope Journey comes back around post his grooming ... I am having FITS about taking Piper. Have already warned Becky (our groomer) and she is quite confident she'll have no problem. If she does, she stops the session and calls the customer to come and get the dog.
Seems we are turning corners with him, albeit SLOWLY .. he will now take the leash and LOVES to go walking, and, HURRAH .. he slept from 8pm til 5am last night !! Went out, and came back to bed with me and snoozed til 6:30am .. a hecuva lot better than getting up at 3am and staying up!!

Taking the rest of my pots down this weekend .. best do it now while I don't have to slip and slide in 'S' !!!

Enjoy your weekend everyone !!

~M~

M. the vast majority of dogs ( just like kids) are better behaved with the groomers and the trainers ( and the teachers and nurses in he case of kids) when Mom or Dad is not around!

Journey was back to normal when I got home probably because I rescued him from the hated crate in the car!

lol..just like kids..

Blizzard going on outside, seems to be just in the Barrie area! Just have to be cautious for the first few times driving in snow/slush...post card pretty though, all pines covered, boughs ladden with snow..am sure it will pass

You are both dealing with younger puppies and I coming up the stairs this morning could see Sailor laying, her face is turning so white, glazed eyes just looking up not wanting to move for me to pass..poor old gal...

AWwwwwwww .. I know the heart wrenching sadness of watching a beloved pet lose ground so to speak .. awful .. but, at least with our pets we have the option of helping them along on their journey.
PUPPIES make ya crazy fer sure .. however, as I have mentioned, I do believe Piper has turned some kind of corner .. and, if you can believe all that is said with regards to neutering, once he has that procedure done, he will be less wild .. one can only hope.

Actually turned out to be a lovely day here today .. I got onto a Zucchini kick and now have 4 loaves to share .. plus many 1 and 2 cup bags frozen for future use.

The Municipal elections on Monday are all the buzz here .. we have just 2 candidates for Mayor/Reeve in my little Township, but Thunder Bay has at least SIX running .. it will be an interesting race ..

Take care all

~M~

Very quiet here "M" re elections, mayor is already in, 2 were going to run against him but withdrew due to personal reasons..

Hope Piper does better with neuturing than Ned, if anything else Greg says he's more hyper and that's hard to believe.

Wish I lived closer, love zuchini bread..

Going to call it a night, other than some black stripping, I'm finished sewing the Michael Jackson costume for Noah, hopefully it will fit!!

Just love making costumes that you don't know if they will fit or not..

Tomorrow it's Enzio-Assassin Creed costume and then if I finish it it's Max from lost animals (not sure of the name, I was given a photo)

These grandchildren have more faith in me than I have in me...lol

Hope you all enjoyed your day..

It has been cold in NB but no snow yet. Yesterday was high of 3 with winds gusting to 60 km so was definitely a winter coat day. Couldn't find my gloves anywhere so have to go a buy a pair today. Sunny day today but still have that cold wind blowing.
Has been a busy week - year end at work is the end of the month and is always a busy time. Yesterday was party day though, breakfast and prizes and awards then home made lasagna for lunch and a wine and cheese party after work, all in all it was a pretty good day. There is an award called the Best of the Best awarded each year to 3 people and I was one of the lucky ones this year. It was a trying year this year for me so nice to know I at least did my job properly. Get points to redeem at a website and name goes into a draw for a trip to Jamaica. That will be drawn Nov 9th.
Have been having a lot of trouble with my birdfeeders - something keeps tearing them down at night - also knocked over a few fences in the process. Have left them empty for the last couple of days but feel sorry for the little birds out there so will fill them again today and hope that whatever was around has moved on. I will know tomorrow morning.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

It's dreary here, maybe close to freezing, still in my jammies sewing but although I said I'd stay in them all weekend while I do the costumes it's 9:30 and I feel guilty so upstairs I go and get at least a track suit on..lol..

How wonderful to be acknowledged for the work you've done..omg wouldn't it be spectacular if you won the Jamaican trip, would it have to be taken this year or can you pick a date yourself, is it for 1 or 2...oooh, saying a prayer you'll be the recipient!

Now that my kitties are starting to spend more time indoors I want to fill the feeders, see some bluejays almost pecking at the front window asking where the feeder is that they ate from all of last year..sign they are hungry so best I at least put that one up.

Finished Michael Jackson costume, now doing Ezio-he'll be well dressed, only part I've done so far is the boots..going to clean upstairs for a bit then it will be arm shields..ho hum, what age do kids not do Halloween, know I'm only joking, will miss it when the little tykes no longer ask me for costumes..

Be back later

AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .. time to sit down for a few minutes and catch up !!

Laurie .. MEGA congrats on your award .. I think that it's just such an awesome honour to be recognized as you have been ..
JAMAICA MON !!! ^_^ sounds wonderful with the cold temps creeping in right now ... fingers and toes crossed for ya !!

Betty .. what can I say cept 'YOU ARE the best Grandma' ... making costumes is no easy task, and each year you make such amazing ones !!!

Weather here in Thunder Bay ahs been seasonal all weekend ... cool, drab (ish), but, as of yet .. no snow !!! YAY !!!

Today is the YEAR anniversary of Lorna's SECOND amp .. the one that went above the knee caused by her fall.
We celebrated by going for a 'walk' :-)
Her in her prosthesis and rollator walker, and me with the TWO dogs on their extendi leads .. now .. we only did the driveway and the trail at the back, but, when you are wearing a prosthesis, that's pretty darned good ..

Woo hoo ... election day is tomorrow, don't ask me why, but I just really look forward to following the races and results ..

Anyway, I should go and get my vitamins poured for the next 2 weeks.. takes me awhile !!

Have a SUPER upcoming week

~M~

Morning,

Imagine, snow the other day and thunder/lightning all during the night..went to let the kitties in and it was so mild, will be interesting come daybreak to see the temps..

Election day it is, really hard to vote when you don't know any of the candidates, they did have a gathering last week but I was away. Haven't seen any great issue in the community over the past few years so guess it will be whoever is already in office ..

"M" Lorna sure has come a long way, although a very difficult and demanding time; I'm sure much of her strength was because you were by her side each and every step she took..not many have friends like that..

Speaking of friends, will have to post when I get to work about my friend Geraldine who called me last night...

Got to run be see you this morning when I'm at work as I'll have more time.

Chilly and snowy here- still have not taken the dogs for a walk - I do them two and two so it is double the time for me! Think I better get out my winter jackets!

A quiet weekend - finally got the last of my bulbs in although the fact they have been sitting out in the heated porch has not helped them much!

New foster Journey got me up two nights in a row barking at 430 and wanting out to pee. So I have removed the water dish from about 8pm. Last night same thing but I decided to wait it out and he stopped after a bit and we all went back to sleep until almost 7. His incision is pretty well healed and I am going to try not putting his panties on today .

Back from voting on a drizzly and morose day here in Thunder Bay ..
Ya know, you think you have ALL your 'ducks lined up' when they hand you that ballot .. then you go back to the booth, open it and I swear, I get this HUGE '?' over my head LoL
At any rate, I stuck with what I had gone in there with.

Carol .. we have had Piper for close to 4 months, and I have gotten up EVERY night in those 4 months. I have tried to leave him, but he sets to clammering up a strom, and, he does do his duty when he is let out .. we take the water up, and it still happens,so, all we can hope for is that he'll 'grow into' sleeping the night through.

Hope all is well with Geraldine Betty ..

~M~

M It seems to me that pups are supposed to be able to hold their pee for double the number of hours of their age. How long is he able to hold it?
When do you start to withhold the water- I would start about 8PM and take him out as late as possible before bedtime.( which is probably what you are doing!)

Journey is 2 years old so I really expect him to be able to hold it all night but of course he is used to living outside so could go pee whenever he wanted.

I'll try to capture a bit of her story...

Picture the Beverley Hillbillies, her boys are the same age as mine, Jeff and Claude hung around all through primary grades, Jeff went on to educate himself and Claude followed a few who had no interest in working, just drinking..although brilliant and higher than normal grades he quit school and never did anything with his life..Geraldine and I got to know each other through school events, my being Recreation Co-ordinator and doing programs at Baxter Hall which she attended regularly..

I was 10 months after Roger died in 1991 that her husband passed away at 54, massive heart attach; she had a hard life and was left with a little shack on about 60 acres, some thought it was the town dump, metal from skidoo's/car/trailers and the likes..

I remember the day George passed on, my girlfriend Valerie and I went out and did a grocery order for her and collected $$$ to help her out..George was a drinker but a hard worker...Geraldine although weighing less than 100 lbs. would do what she could to make her home as nice as she could..

Early the next spring seeing many women within the community dealing with the death of their husbands, I contacted our District Government and was able to get a Therapist that deals primarily with grief come down (100 miles) to meet every Monday..

Doing and participating in group therapy isn't the easiest thing I've done but the ladies who joined in developed such a strong bond..

By the end of the year, another friend Betty whose husband had passed on 2 years prior but she'd not dealt with it before our meetings said she felt stronger and would go to Florida for a few months..bought herself a convertible, packed her car and off she went, absolutely no place in mind, said there were plenty for rent and she'd find something, NOT to worry..her children were shocked that their mom would do such a thing..she insisted she needed to do this trip by herself..

We continued in the group but no one heard from Betty until one spring day she came in looking 20 years younger, a smile from ear to ear..she had married while away, Bert had a trailer in the park where she rented a trailer, had lost his wife a few years earlier and both decided this marriage was it!

As Betty lived not far from Geraldine, and Geraldine not having a drivers permit, they often included her in town visits, community center events..etc.

That same summer, just before they were to pack up to go back to Bert's trailer (double wide) Bert went for his morning walk around the lake, came in, Betty was sleeping, made the coffee, brought it to her and saw that Betty had passed on..

He stayed the next two months and then left for Florida..

As the winter passed, Bert and Geraldine would talk on the telephone, became friends and then their friendship started to mature..he's this little lady, living in the backwoods, hillbillie style, not much to look forward to except her belief in the Lord..

One day she came to visit and said that Bert sent her airplane tickets to visit in Florida, never had she been anywhere and never had she been to Florida...her kids and friends were not happy, imagine, going to visit Betty's husband!! Have to say even I was a little nervous about it.


She came back and they talked on the telephone almost every night..Bert was a Mayor of a little community in Michigan and retired only months before, he'd spend winters in the south and came back north for the summer..come summer Geraldine went to visit and I got a call would I come to be in their wedding..off I went along with Jean another close friend of Geraldine's...

What did I find, a little mouse now a princess...talk about diamonds, top of the line clothing, getting ready to embark upon a new life, travels to Europe, almost every Island you could find, Alaska, life had changed to much for her..it was wonderful, I called her Cinderella, for a Cinderella she was...this went on for years..

Three years ago, she and Bert were here for Thanksgiving, I'll have to look for those photo's as I know I posted the story of their getting together and of our time together, they were here from Florida but for a few weeks..he always made sure than Geraldine had time to visit with her family and friends as well..

That Christmas Bert passed on..Christmas Eve day..I had just gotten to Florida to spend my winter holidays and called as I wanted to visit with both..what a surprise to hear he had passed on only hours before; from Clearwater to her house was only 1 1/2 hrs. away so off I went to spend time with her...

That year was difficult for her, but with her faith in the Lord she managed to grieve and to look forward to like again..Geraldine is 74 come Nov.24th.

We'd get together each time she came for a visit and when I travelled to Florida we'd meet..usually once a month she'd call to let me know how she was doing..


Last winter she met a gentleman 63, loved to tease her that she was robbing the craddle.. he was a doctor, had a place 4 miles from where her house was, he lived in London, Ontario..they got to be great friends and then became more..

Couldn't believe it when she called to say she had once again found another 'love of her life' ..went on more trips and were planning to move in together this October..he'd rent out his place and they'd live at Geraldine's..I was happy for her..she's a live wire, not bigger than a minute..heart of gold, true believer in her faith..

When she called me a few hours ago, I knew she had news, she always started her call with 'guess what my friend' so I said, 'you went and tied the knot with that young man' and started to laugh...

Her young man passed away October 13th. - heart attach..
she'd been with him for 2 weeks and they were ready to head south, busy talking about plans, future and he died, she called the ambulance but when they arrived they told her he had already passed on..

She is so heartbroken, says she can't even cry, says she's numb. We talked for ages without me saying much, kept apologizing for not having more to say, just so shocked that this happened to her again.

Will go over and visit with her Wednesday or Thursday night, I'll check her plans and perhaps take her out for supper..she leaves for Florida on Saturday morning..wants me to spend time at Christmas with her, would love to but just don't know my plans as yet..

"M" going to vote this evening, I'm more interested in the Toronto election than I am in my own..lol

I just typed on another thread that it was a sunshine day..well it is 70 but it's now clouding over..

Got a few stops on my way home tonight, few decorative pieces I need for costumes..lordy I'll be glad when they are done

Betty - what an amazing story. My heart goes out to your friend.

We made a fast trip to Oakville over the weekend - down on Saturday and back home on Sunday. DH was an Athlone Fellow from 1964 (this was a British scheme to fund 38 Canadian engineers each year to study in England for two years). We went down to Oakville as the group from 1964 has been holding annual reunions and we decided it was time we went.

We had a good drive down and went first to Kleinburg and the McMichael Art Gallery before checking into our hotel in Oakville and attending the dinner. On the way bACK YESTERDAY (oops), we stopped in Belleville to attend church at the United church where our previous much-loved minister is now located. It had occurred to us that the time would be just about right if he hit the road at 8 am and it was. We got home at 3 and I had an evening rehearsal. Orchestra concert this weekend.

Wow Betty .. that's quite the story re Geraldine .. she is quite obviously a Cinderella, but I do not envy her her loses.
I hope you are able to spend time with her this week.

I am TRYING to find some TV coverage or our election, but, not happening .. maybe later .. apparently some of the polling stations have stayed open later than usual ..

Off to a nurses luncheon tomorrow, always WAY too much gabbing LoL

TTFN

~M~

Not much coverage in my area either, did hear about Toronto, I've been following it for months..am sorry that Rob Ford got in (my opinion only)

Have fun at the luncheon..

This old gal is calling it a day..

Have costume to deliver tomorrow..finally finished even cleaned the craft room..lol

Well, Betty, it's only for 4 years and he's only ONE voice on council. We have a new mayor in Ottawa and someone managed to overturn the councillor who has been in my ward for 16 years.

Our news coverage here was sporadic and definitely changed from 4 years ago .. am thinking all these changes with GlobalTV may have something to do with it.
We have a NEW Mayor .. but the city Councillors have reamined basically unchanged.
Our Reeve/Mayor remained the same out here in Murillo, won;t know the complete results until I have the paper in my hands, and the walk down to get it is going to mean getting soaked !! It's pouring here ..

Betty .. quite the crafty lady!! Cherish your talents ..
Promise to enjoy the luncheon .. always do ..

Enjoy your day everyone ^_^

~M~

I dont watch a lot of TV but on election night ( which was last Monday here) I turned it on about 830 and guess what? Danving With The Stars was on. This on a station where the former very popular news Anchor was one of the top contenders for the mayors chair!
The Shaw community channel had everything going, none of the others did.Lots of criticism about that!

Ann, you weren't far off my neck of the woods..the weather must not have been the greatest of weather..Kleinburg is such a pretty town..I've always wanted to go to the Craft show they have when streets are closed down but never seen to make it, perhaps this year...Glad you had a visit with old friends and minister...how are the renovations going on your church?

"M" and Carole, still don't know who the Council is in my area..listened to the news, listened to the radio on my way in and no results..all related to Toronto, but did enjoy hearing Hazel McCallian - re-elected Mayor of Mississauga, imagine getting in with about 75% of the votes..amazing what one little woman can do..lol

Barely found the office today, so foggy..mild out, will take more of this..

My goodness Hazel is still in there? How many years has it been?

My brother lives in Mississauga.

12 terms - total of 31 years..she's 79

Not sure where the girls are that asked for the link to the 4th Annual DG Christmas Craft Workshop frequent so will post it here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1137473/

Betty - the weather on Saturday was fine. We didn't get rain until we got into Oakville on the QEW. Of course, we had rain all the way home on Sunday, but the 401 across Toronto on a rainy Sunday morning at 8 am was wide open. Very little traffic at all. :-)

The question about the progress on our church - this is from an Oct. 24 update on the web site

OMG, bet you are all disappointed but as you say you've great contacts offering you space. Just think how wonderful it will be once completed. Had you all known you could have remained until the permit was issued!!!

Boy, what a busy group.

I hope the washing machine comes soon. I don't know what I'd do without mine, though the laundromat is just down the block.

And pants for dogs!! Learn something new each day. I think if I saw them on the street, I'd just stand there and giggle, they sound so cute.

Betty, tell Geraldine that she has many admirers. I don't know her, but will think of her as a role model for how she handles adversity and how she keeps just getting on with things. She must have a wonderful personality and character to have such devoted friends.

Me, I've been trying to find out where the mice are getting in. Each spring and fall I'm inundated with a new batch, and keep finding some spots to clear up and seal, but obviously still some I've missed. One of the problems with having an old house, I guess. They're really bad this year for some reason, and even getting into the bird cage - I can't figure that out - and eating the bird's food, so I have to put the dishes in the fridge every night when I cover her. If any one knows any good mouse repellent herbs, I'm all ears . . .

It's nice and mild here today, but very overcast, threatening rain and "they" have said it may be a big storm. Was hoping to get one last lawn cutting in, but it's been too wet so far.

Keep warm and dry -
~marilyn

Marylin, I've never had mice before and this week Missy has caught one inside and 2 outside, who knows, she rushes in the door when I open it so quickly that she may have brought it inside..hope so..have been looking for places a critter could come in but haven't found anywhere...need a recipe as well.

It's been mild here as well, sky is getting quite dark, if it storms sure hope I get home..but, the red alart keeps coming on on screen, saying it's in the south, so you be very careful..

Called it quits with regards to lawn cutting on thanksgiving..

You are indeed lucky then..speaking of storms please be cautious if you are in a storm warning zone..

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=ontarios_severe_thunderstor_261010&eccode=WWCAON0005A&warningdisplay=ec&warningtype=aw&placecode=caon0430&ref=wxeyeactiveweatherv4&pbg=0_4

Betty
I loved Geraldine's story and I hope that she will continue to be an inspiration to those who know and hear of her. Give her a hug from me please.

Back from Kananaskis with 40 grade 8 girls! I had tons of fun and learned so much about our water, rocks and Bull Trout. I think I had more fun than the girls! I was the only parent who was able to get the time off work and go, I'm very grateful that my DD had no trouble saying that I could come.
Getting to know the young women who spend all the time teaching and mentoring 13 yr old girls was also a blast, they have so much energy........
Bye for now I have a community league meeting to attend.
Ann

WA HOooooooooooooo !!! We had a HUGE wind/rain storm yesterday, still homes and areas without power this morning ..
Lake Superior was just churning and boiling over the break wall yesterday .. the luncheon I attended yesterday was at a restaurant that overlooks the lake .. I think the reason for the decline in idle chit chat was the fact we all became mezmerized by the power of Mother Nature.
Wind is still a factor today and quite possibly we will receive a further 25 to 50mm of rain as well .. HEY .. if it was snow we would be in BIG trouble, so, we count our blessings it is not, and, the temps are mild until tomorrow.

Ann (Ottawa) ... My goodness .. it IS a wonder the Church didn't suffer more damage in that earthquake !! One would wonder about the integrity of the building following.

Ann (Edmonton), can't imagine being in the company of 40 grade 8 girls .. glad you had a good time though ^_^

MICE !!!! Well .. they seem to habitate our garage, wherein I park my car, AND, the little beggars have gotten INTO the car and into something called a CAB filter .. we have traps set with peanut butter as the lure .. and have also started using the stickly glue ones which I have now put the KYBOSH on as they have caught NO mice, but are doing a wonderful job at allowing me a window to view the ENORMOUS amount of SPIDERS in the garage !!!!!
Good luck trying to find the entrance hole Marilyn .. when they came into the house a few years ago we found the 'holes' between the bricks on the front of the house, used steel wool to stuff in the holes .. no more mice, apparently they will not gnaw through steel wool.

Not sure what the day holds .. may assault the laundromat again .. I use the word 'assault' as there are about 20 machines in this laundromat .. and it is a real learning curve .. musta stood there staring at the machine I chose trying to decide (figure out) where the dang soap went !!

Hope the sun shines for you all

~M~

Morning all,

Calling for high winds today but no rain, so much damage done though through USA and Canada, sure hope no lives were lost!

Ann, always went on school trips with my boys, you'll both cherish these memories and you got to learn about your environment.

"M" did they tell you when your machines would finally be delivered..they should have left the banged up ones IF they were operational as it would have saved you the frustration of going to the laundromat.

Quiet week here at the office, broughtin some scratch art to do, some crochet..hard life this working..lol

Anther chilly day here, a bit of snow early this morning but nothing to stick!
Got all the dogs walked ( two by two!) and then groomer arrived to do Bailey and Abby. Also a fellow who is going to do some handyman jobs for me came over to see what I wanted done- some jobs just a few minutes for sure. He will charge $45/hour if I pay cash.

Put the flannel sheets on the bed yesterday and certainly enjoyed them last night. Anybody know how to keep them so nice and soft once they are washed? I think I will go buy another pair - these I got last winter by which time there was not much selection available. I had put holes in the foot of my old ones too many times to keep mending.

And I need to get a new pair of jeans and get the ones I bought last winter taken in - imagine I think I can go down to a size 16 this year! Been a long time!

Nothing like getting into comfy sheets..I've got those new ones, not flannel,soft type and talk about warm..what I like the best is I toss/turn and when you use them nothing moves, barely have to make the bed in the morning, they keep you snug as a bug in a rug!!!

A client of our yesterday was in, ask what size my bed was, almost choked, and why pray tell do you ask..lol he's in the bedding business and because he said Suzanne and I were so helpfull he wanted to give us sheets.. hmmm odd but Suzanne was meeting up with him today so likely tomorrow I'll have new sheet!

Please do not send the snow our way..it's beautiful out there, trees are swaying from side to side in the high winds, sure wish I was off this afternoon to enjoy.. snow won't stay right?

Shucks, $45.00 per hour..think we've been in the wrong business but when you can't do things on your own you got to pay...

Betty do you mean the jersey sheets? Maybe I should try them!

Maybe that's what they are called, they are just too comfortable!

Well .. IT has happened ... I was outside with the dogs a while back .. and I felt 'something' hitting my face .. YEP .. SNOW!!!!!!! Not lots, just a few flurries and intermittent .. sigh .. no turning back ..
Winds started up around 2am .. still gusting to 60K/h

Betty .. my machines are scheduled to RE arrive on Nov. 3 .. fingers crossed on that !!!

Jersey sheets are YUMMY .. I have a set, used them for a few weeks .. seems my 'ETERNAL Internal furnace' .. aka menopause .. put a stop to using them ..

Lorna goes in today to see the prosthetist .. will again try to fit into the 'new prosthesis' .. pretty frustrating for her .. she has laways felt that her prosthesis would be an EASY thing to manage, but, it isn't .. it's not like putting a shoe on .. it has to be pulled on over special socks and belted around her waist .. as I said .. frustrating for her.

Have a super day everyone ^_^

~M~