Ann - I hope that surgery goes well. Doesn't sound like much fun, but best to get it taken care of now. Gal who now runs the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard needs similar surgery. She had a neighbour's large dog run her down a few weeks before Christmas.
Heading out to a concert of the large orchestra in which I used to play. They are doing a series of 7th Symphonies. Tonight it's Bruckner. And Julie Nesrallah singing some Wagner songs as well. I'll enjoy listening. Have played the Bruckner twice and it sure had a lot of scrubbing in the viola part.
What's happening in your neck of the woods friends? Jan 2011
Betty - no news on sale of trailer.
Ann - does NOT sound like fun, but I agree with ViolaAnn - best to have it done and over with. You're young yet - you'll heal fast (seriously - it's not like you're 60 or older, so you will heal fast!)
ViolaAnn - sounds like a great concert - time to sit back and enjoy, eh?
FEBRUARY arrived with little fanfare here .. just 2 dogs barking at a few deer out back !!
The Chinese say 'Rabbit-Rabbit' to people they meet, at the beginning of each new month. Supposedly brings the person good luck during that month. AND .. since Feb. 3 is the Chinese NYears .. and the commencement of the
"YEAR of the Rabbit" .. I feel DOUBLY sure that when I say 'RABBIT RABBIT' to all of you .. it will bring you luck, health and happiness for the remainder of the year !!
SO ................... RABBIT - RABBIT ......................... :-)
Ann .. ACL not unknown to me .. my son had an ACL repair at the tender age of 15 following a ski misadventure.
Mind you .. back then he was kept in hospital for 4 days. I really think the mindset of getting people OUT of hospital ends up costing more.
I do think, and hope, you will do well .. and you will be riding this summer ^_^
Just reading the reports of the storm in the American mid section and moving north and east .. looks and sounds brutal.
Betty .. were we to have to go east, we would drive ... can't fathom a plane trip with all the equipment Lorna would need to bring. In fact .. I am considering (I will) see if there is a Shoppers Home Health Store near her parents so that we might be able to rent some of the stuff as opposed to having to bring it .. am thinking it'd be tough for her (right now) to sit on a plane for 90 minutes. Course .. I talk a lot .. so perhaps the time would fly by LOL
ViolaAnn .. is Julie Nesrallah a 'mezzo soprano' I think I may have heard her on a program our of Ottawa a few months back. Hope you enjoyed 'ENJOYING' :-)
Not sure what's up today .. need to get gas .. looked at the gauge yesterday and the car has about 1/4 tank left. I say TO HECK with the warning light on EMPTY .. warn me WAY before !!!!! Gas here is 1.20/L
Take care all
~M~
Ouch on the Gas thing, ours is 98.9 for Reg. I filled up yesterday as I try not to let it get too low incase I'm stuck in traffic or a rut!
Can't imagine all the "equipment" Lorna would need.
Road was plowed when I got home last night and my front sidewalk had a 4' high 4' wide berm of snow and ice chunks blocking it. I started and my DH finished digging it away.
I have noticed that the sun is up longer and longer each day, Yahoo.
The knee thing will be nasty but these days they do it with small cuts arthroscopicly (sp)
So hope to have minimal discomfort from incisions. Also I am a pussy and will want good drugs to manage the pain from the drill through the tib/fib thing. I want to be mobile for the spring and summer so timing couldn't be better.
I have been feeding the birdies and we have some very pretty House Finches, nuthatches, chickadee's and even a wood pecker that are coming on a regular basis.
I will get a photo of them and show you guys they are so cute! Even the sparrows are interesting, they all chirp away, it's a nice sound.
Anyone else have some interesting feathered friends around?
Ann
Want to chat but will have to come back later..we've blue sky but it's calling for the white stuff..mega white stuff so I've been working hard at cancelling everything for tomorrow, printing off schedules and before leaving this aft. I'll switch the telephone to my house..regardless of the weather I'll have tomorrow off..it will either be a snow day or 'groundhog' day off..
Gas here it about the same "M"..scarry when you pull up to the pump...wish I could go with you to the concerts Ann..think they said the storm might miss Ottawa???
Ann my girlfriend was saying the birds were chirping today and all in a flutter, could be they are aware of the storm that's coming
Please all be safe..no travelling out in bad elements..
The Ground Hog Day storm will be hitting here too tomorrow - it is a big system to cover from Ontario to the Maritimes. Making plans at work today for an early closing tomorrow. Glad I don't have far to travel, only takes me about 10 minutes to get home, some have a much longer drive than I have. They are saying 35 - 40 cm for here just don't know where we are going to put it. Here is the bank in front of the greenhouse - I usually start spinach and lettuce in there around mid February and have fresh salad fixings by mid April but don't think I will see the inside of the greenhouse for quite awhile this year.
Marilynne - Julie Nesrallah is a very fine mezzo-soprano and she did a wonderful job on the Wagner songs last night. I looked on YouTube and found a few videos - mostly with Daniel Bolshoy on guitar. One example is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkArbN-FmUk
I think they were an item for quite a few years. Must have broken up around the time she took on the radio host job. My interaction with them has been as a duo with the Chamberfest in the summer and with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra although earlier she sang with the Ottawa Symphony once or twice. Anyway, she's a real Ottawa favourite.
Ann - I too love to feed the birds and have sparrows, finches, redpolls, nuthatches, chickadees but like my woodpeckers the best. They have been coming to suet on the deck for many years and I am getting to know them all. This is a hairy woodpecker and would be the baby that was born last year. He is pretty shy but posed nicley for this picture. The covering around the suet is to keep the blue jays out - there is lots of other stuff for them to eat and they will clean out the suet feeder quite quickly.........Laurie
Ann (edmonton) .. arthroscopic surgey is decidedly less painful .. I do believe they will put you in 'twilight sleep' ? Not quite out but almost .. in fact .. I do think a general anaeshtetic might be used.
Whatever happens .. you will be better off for having had it done.
Lotsa birds flittin about here over the winter .. love the black capped chickadees, the nuthatches, blue jays and whiskey jacks. Have a Piliated Woodpecker who looks so much like a TURKEY when he flies over it's incredible.
Today I watched in awe as 3 Ravens took 2 minutes and 12 seconds to scorf down the trimmings (skin/fat/bones) from some chicken thighs I had cleaned up for the dogs .. these Ravens watch this property all the time it seems ..
Thanks for the link ViolaAnn .. will have a boo later this evening ..
Hope all in the 'eye of the storm' weather it well .. we simply have COLD !! Don't have to SHOVEL cold ^_^
Off to put supper out
TTFN
~M~
Laurie
Super photo of the Woodpecker Laurie and I think it's the same type that have come to my feeder. We did have a Pileated one last fall and I have the goofyest photo of it in the early evening but was able to id it with my bird book. I put out a feeder that the bigger birds can't hang on too so that keeps a bunch away leaving it for the song birds. Now that all the food is covered with snow I feel that I have to keep the feeder going now till "other" food is available.
Hope your snow fall is light and fast and you are on your way to spring without too much disruption!
Ann
Nice day here- warmed up to single digits- guess Alberta was setting low temp records over the weekend. Glad it warmed up since I no longer have the use of a garage! Walked the dogs this afternoon- first walk since last Thursday, they obviously enjoyed it although they don't complain if we don't go. Now I have to get back into the morning walk every day habit! It has been 2 months since I walked them regularly !
Hope you all stay safe down east- sounds pretty bad.
Morning all, didn't make the coffee or the muffins as I'm sitting waiting to see what Wiarton Willie says about the winter..his USA counterpart just said 'early spring'! They are having a bit of difficulty getting Willie out into the elements as they have blizzard conditions but soon we'll hear.
I would love to feed the birdies but always worried about my kitties thinking they need to hund..wouldn't be fair and thus not many in my yard but sure can hear them chirping.
Love the photo's
Did hear the east coast will be hammered later today, wasn't as bad in my region but Toronto got the brunt of the storm as it passed by on it's way to you Laurie...be careful..many of the companies told their employees to stay home...I'm glad my boss was one of them..
Have a rag quilt to finish, a swap box to finish and if I get them done I'll be a happy camper.
Going to the u-tube site as well Ann, am sure I'll enjoy!
Be careful out there all of you if you must go out, otherwise enjoy the day!
Getting lots of snow here, started around 10 this morning but didn't get heavy till around 2 this afternoon. Closed the bank at 3 and I was home by about 3:30 - after we got all the cars cleared off and some had to be pushed out. Quite a mess out there now, glad I didn't have far to drive but I worry about those that do.
At least someone likes the snow - she won't come in now till dark.
Ahhhh look at that, snowdoggie..my St. Bernard was the same, would rather live outside than inside, of course I keep it so warm no wonder he was looking for fresh air!
Wastching storm update and thinking of you being pounded..hopefully you can stay home tomorrow..
Finally stopped snowing about an hour ago..would imagine everything will be cleaned by morning and it will be work as usual..
wish I could have another day at home..lol..getting lots accomplished!
Omg..did you see what Australia is now getting, lordy we've nothing to complain about.
Stay safe!
You young ladies aren't giving yourselve credit..lol..it wasn't overwhelming at all, imagine having 7 items of a sort sitting on your table, it's amazing how quickly regardless how craft challenged you are that an idea comes to you..try it!
Snow has pretty much stopped here now. Hit fast and left fast. Another little bit coming overnight. Abby is not to pleased with me, I just went and shoveled the deck off, I did leave her a little pile of snow to lay in but I guess it is just not the same.
This too will be cleared up by morning and I will be off to work again
You're right Betty - we are lucky here - a little snow is nothing.
Have a good evening!.......Laurie
WELLLllllllllllllllllllllllll .. ya can't shovel COLD ... I feel for all of you who have had the snow ..
It was cold, but so SUNNY here today ...
As for Australia .. well .. fingers AGAIN crossed .. have some relatives in Queensland ...
Our dogs are HELL BENT for running in the snow LoL ...
Off to serve supper .. come on over :-)
~M~
The DGTwins are playing hockey and they have Hockey Cards. I scanned their cards - quite nice.
What wonderful pics of your DGT Ann ^_^
Are they 'enjoying' playing hockey ?
Our GD, Brooklyn, liked it for about a month, then decided she didn't really like getting up early on weekend mornings ..
WHOooooooo is it WINDY here this morning, BUT, the temps have risen .. am thinking it is perhaps -6C this early in the morning !! MUCH nicer than -33C !!!
My 'boo boo tooth' is grumbling again :-( Appt with endodontist isn't til March sometime .. we'll see if I can get by. Starting to think an extraction is the way to go as opposed to the root canal ..
Hope everyone has a splendiferous day !!
~M~
Morning, talk about a sunshine day out there, even the snow on the roads was melting. I was just about to call in sick and keep right on going, perfect day for a ride, now who is close enough that I could have visited with???? hmmmm ...
Ann, aren't they the cutest! Love the hockey cards vs photo..makes them look more professional.
"M" was -30 this morning near the lake, cold/cold..
Prayers with the Australians
I think Nolan likes the hockey more than Amy. She's talking about wanting to do ringette next year. Nolan scored a goal last week. That helps the enthusiasm too.
Nothing like their first goal Ann..I have 3 in hockey, 2 are on rep teams and do a lot of travelling; Noah plays in Collingwood tonight, had 3 games over the past 5 days so quite a commitment for the parents as well.. Braedon plays in Pittsburg in 3 weeks, you just got to wonder if it's not a bit much for kids who just want to play hockey..cuddo's for Amy having tried the hockey league!
"M" how's the toothache?
Ann
Very cute! What a nice way to celebrate them competeing by having cards made!
Our weather is finally in the +'s It's trying to rain now.
M tooth pain is nasty I hope the appointment hurry's up.
Here is the House Finch at my feeder.
Awe he's absolutely 'sweet' !
Although the sun was out it still was quite cool today..decided on my lunch I needed something springlike so off to the Garden Gallery down the road..just starting to do their spring displays..some much the same as last year but still nice to see..
Betty - Amy didn't have much choice. The hockey teams accept girls and her dad coaches the team. The schedule is far more manageable having them both play on the same team. But I'm betting Amy will eventually gravitate to either girls' hockey or ringette. Watching them, Amy seems to have a better idea of skating in anticipation of what will happen than Nolan does. She mostly plays defence. This is Nolan's 3rd year, Amy's 2nd in hockey. His skating is a bit stronger, but she's catching up fast. And of course, while she's older (by about 40 minutes), he's somewhat bigger.
Hmmmm .. the 'toothache' .. well .. I am ignoring it .. simply becaue it really is not an ache (like over Xmas) it's a swollen gum lime around THAT tooth. I called the endodontist .. didn't want to get caught over the weekend .. his nurse says I'll be fine as I had the 'pulpotomy' done by my dentist .. do not need any antibiotics .. the 'bubble' on my gum MIGHT break .. if it does .. I'll be fine .. however .. she has put me on a cancellation list ..
So .. I approach the weekend with trepidation .. I sure hope she knew what she was talking about !!!
Ann (Edm) we get those (we call'em Red Poles) but not until maybe April? SO CUTE !!
Had some Grosbeaks stop by again today .. beautiful shade of Burgundy ..
The Blue Jays here are SO spoiled .. we feed them peanuts .. as soon as they see HUMAN activity outside .. they feel they are entitled to a handfull. BOY can they cause a rucus if they don't get their way !!
VAnn .. Ringette is a great sport .. can imagine Amy would do well if she is a good skater .
Off to get supper out .. Cod/Veg casserole ... AWESOME ... best recipe ever ^_^
TTFN
~M~
AKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk ... we have SNOW .. coming in from the west .. probably going to get 5cm or so.
Temps are 0C .. so .. the snow will be WET ..
BUT .. it is TGIF !!!
^_^
~M~
Morning, left home and although a dull morning and not so cold out thought the ride in would be fine, no sooner got about 5kl from home it was snowing and blowing..maybe a streamer still left from Wedn. storm.
"M" the more you speak about your toothache the more I'm glad I wear dentures..lol..not a laughing matter though, nothing worse than a toothache..
Would love to have birds in the yard but just not fair to feed and encourage their visit when I've two kitty hunters...
Was listening to the news while driving and heard about the young 15 year old girl who was out with friends, guess she drank, was dropped off by an adult (guess they consider adult over 19) just down the road from her house and they found her dead, had frozen on the side of the road..parents now want the adult charged..rightly so..
Feel sorry for the homeless at this time of year..a 40 year old man was found frozen in a snowbank, they've got him in the hospital and hope they can save him...
Ann, a lot of hockey parents now put their boys/girls in figure skating for a year or so before they play hockey, gives them a good sense of balance...some girls can outplay boys for sure...a couple are on Noah's team..
Ann & Marilyn - hope your teeth pains get eased somewhat..... that can be nasty!! A bubble on your gum, about to burst? That's scary sounding.....
geeze Betty hope they save that poor frozen guy....
Betty - remember in Oct a piece in the paper about a guy finding a newborn baby in a garbage bin and later finding it was his son (he didn't know his gf was pregnant)?
Well, he's still trying to get his son - his GF went back to ON to live, and he's here in Calgary..... poor guy! He said they'd talked about children and he was ready, but she wasn't. Now she has their son, and he doesn't..... because they weren't married, I suppose she didn't put his name on the birth cert?!?! I dunno..... it's sad though.
HAPPY SATURDAY .. especially when the temps are in the PLUS category!!
Susan .. my tooth is under control now, the bump went down on its own .. since I had had the 'pulpotomy' done by my dentist in early January, there's really no worry about the tooth causing me too much grief.
Quite the predicament with the young man and the baby .. hate to hear the gf has it when she really did NOT want children. Imagine throwing a newborn in a garbage can !!!!
Have a cousin (much older than me) in hospital with pneumonia .. as I am told, she is very unwell .. her 2 sons are both city police officers and she has raised them on her own as her husband passed away in his early 40s .. Chris would be about 78 I believe ... everytime the phone rang yesterday, my heart sank ..
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend !!!!!!
~M~
Prayers for your cousin "M"..weather nice here as well although I can tell that the temp is dropping as there is a bit of a chill in my craft room..
Lordy how in the world can it happen that someone throws her child in trashbin and she gets to keep the child?? now that is an injustice for sure.
Susan, the man is doing ok, guess he was found in the nick of time..bet he'll not go on a drunk for awhile.
So much done today and yet nothing I wanted to get done! My friend Pat dropped off a quilt book, omg it's beautiful, think I'm going to tackle it, she's more than 1/2 done and says it's quite relaxing..it's name is
"Spirit of the Northlands' Know it's a lot of work but what a fantastic Christmas gift it would be for Darlene and Mike who have kind of adopted me..lol..going upstairs and read the quilt book a bit..Pat brought the blocks she's done so far and I just oooh/ahhh'd all the time she was showing me..end result will be:
dunno why she was able to keep the baby - had to go in for a psychiatric evaluation, and we never heard how that turned out......
Morning, cold out but so far no snow.
Sewing on a quilt today, should keep me entertained most of the day. Nice when you are at work and put in a lot of driving to just stay in and make the most of the weekend. Would imagine those of you who are home all day look forward to getting out, so let's hope no snow in your neck of the woods.
And they wonder why some children are abused throughout their childhood, prime example I'm sure with this child..how would you ever grow up knowing your mom threw you in a garbage bin at birth? Eventually comes out...
SPLENDIFEROUS day here in Thunder Bay ^_^
Water is running down the gutters, and, unfortunately .. icing up on the down spout .. but .. it's a yearly occurrence .. nothing some MORE sun won't remedy.
Took the dogs for a walk .. still takes about 10 minutes to TRICK Piper into taking the leash .. once he's on he's raring to go .. weird is all I can say ..
Lorna walked the length of the driveway and up the road a bit .. she's feeling better with the new knee .. on the 10th she gets the new and improved top piece 'socket'.
Good to see her doing so well with these changes ..
No news re my cousin who is ill, 'No news is GOOD news' usually.
Have learned that my nephew (Gord's sisters son) is having the dickens of a time with a broken leg he incurred in October.
He is a long distance runner, for sport, and lives in Minnesota .. he broke his leg and the healing has been fraught with problems!! Infections of the bone are NEVER good. He had surgery last week to remove a plate holding the bone together, and, one of the screws broke off :-(
So .. not sure what that is going to mean in the long run .. but .. not good I would think .. his Mom (an RN here in TBay) would dearly like to have him come here for further treatment .. not easy as he works (for Gallo wines) and has 4 small children .. sometimes life is just WAY too interesting !!!
May watch a BIT of the Super Bowl .. not really a football fan, altho I have a bet with Lorna's Dad that GREEN BAY will win ^_^
TTFN
~M~
How's the quilt Betty? That pic is wonderful !!!! Anyone who likes 'NORTHLANDS' would be thrilled to receive that !
Down into the deep freeze here again, hear there is more snow coming. Didnt even take the dogs out today.
Joanne and hubby John came over this morning and put together my light garden! Too early to do any planting and I need to go buy trays and a few other things . Bought some begonia tubers yesterday but won't be starting them for a while yet.
Here's the finished product!
I was changing the picture on my desktop today and thought it was time to think about spring so thought I would share it. This is part of the daffodil plantings across my front yard.
Evening, house full off and on but did work on the 12 days of Christmas quilt for the strip of the month..cut out 3 (2 for Christmas gifts) and came to a halt..because my pattern has not come in Friday as promised she gave me the first 2 pages of her pattern, well think there was a page missing..as we gabbed about the quilt as you go process and it was unclear as to what she wanted me to do thought I'd best leave things as finished today...know that if I do random stippling I could never take it apart so there the piece sits on the table until next week...
Sunday is company day, Ann came over , needed a hug..dealing with DH's cancer is taking a tole and then kids dropped in for a visit, got my pathways all shoveled and now I see it's snowing and Sunday is all but gone.
"M" you hit it on the nail when you said life sometimes is a little too interesting!!!
OMG doubt he'll be running any marathon for awhile..sounds as thought it was a terrible break! Let's hope your cousin is improving with each passing day... too funny about leash, I have to trick Sailor for going outside, got to say 'Sailor good girl, Sailor want a cookie' and out she goes but now she wants out 20 times a day just to get a cookie, wasn't smart of me...
Carole, look at the hours of fun inside gardening you'll have..it's a big unit..will you wait until March to start your seeds ? It is time for a spring photo on the desktop, better still, will be nice to see spring..it really hasn't been a long winter..think my walks in the Garden Gallery in Barrie is making me yearn to get into the garden...ooooh perhaps not, didn't clean up all of the leaves last fall..easier in the spring when they are wet and cannot blow away..lol. my excuse for not doing so anyway.
Well, dozing off here at the computer so best head to bed..
Gab in the a.m.
"M" here's the strip
Carol - daffodils are some of the cheeriest flowers!! So sunny ^_^
Well, got sent home sick from work today, so gonna go rest with some Vicks, turn on the mattress warmer and go to bed........ Either beginning of bronchitis, or a viral cold (lots of people are getting that!)
Into bed with that jar of vic's Susan..nice that your boss had the good sense to send you home