Best/Worse/What did I learn today?chat with friends old/new

How great to see you post Judy. And a bonus!!!! That is wonderful. I now know why I had so many thoughts of you lately. Sending prayers for your memories to always be good ones.

Spent today putting up some of our things on the walls. A few pictures of the kids/grandkids and some of my handwork. It does make me feel good to see them displayed... I finished a table runner and wheelchair lapghan this week. Can't show pictures until after it has been received as I don't want to spoil a surprise. Hope to do some sewing for me now.

Busy week coming up with Brandon's 18th birthday!!! Can't believe it is so. I've been looking through some pictures this week and he has grown well over the years into an outstanding young man. We saw his school progress report yesterday and even with all his activities with the horses and band, he earned all A's for six subjects. Yes, we are proud!!!

Hope today is a great one for everyone. I'm drooling for a taste of pie "M"!!!!

I know your very proud of him, he has done so well! Wow! 18 already. My Granddaughter turned 14 last month, the time sure does go by quickly!

We used to have trouble with vendors selling imported items but claiming they were handmade....they might have been but not by them. If we didn't catch them until the show opened then we would tell them they had to "pony up" for the business fee or be shut down. It didn't take long after that for them to start listing products as resells.

Hello Judy, I can feel oh so well what you must be going through this weekend.

Okay, this southern lady doesn't know what Yes Pie is...explain please. I usually find I am baking pumpkin pies all during the year. My son loves them as does one of the GDs. Frequently I will get a call just asking me to make one. Always make my heart sing.

Marion, I have never heard yes pie either!

Betty, have tou figured out what our Christmas project will be?

Dianne, hope your going to start taking names soon for our Santa Warren Christmas exchange? Looking forward to our swap!

I'm assuming , at least it is for me, when they all come and see their their favorite pie a YES comes out as I've their favorite.

Oh Barb, Brandon's already gong to be 18..He's a couple of months older than Kyle who will turn 18 on dec14..drats, you kow, just maybe he could be 19?? Nah, am sure it's 18

Bet with the photo's and some of your treasures out it feels like you are finally home.

LindaKay, always difficult finding something to keep within the $20 mark for supplies and shipping so I keep looking..in fact had some of my books out lookng when I take breaks from sewing

Any ideas everyone??

You know when I went to look for photo of pies on last Thanksgiving thread I saw where we had a list already made for craft day..wasn't much off that did the Santa Warren exchange list go up as well

Betty are you ready to start the Santa Warren Gift Exchange list? everyone if you are interested please either post here on Betty's thread or Dmail me personally so we can add you to the list.

"yes" pie is one of everything - you got it Betty. We rarely had dessert in my house growing up but Santa Warren's family always did. In fact they would chose dessert over meat and potatoes.I always made a pie for Warren and then a pie for the rest of the company.

You are right Marion the resellers can slip by quite easily even for the experienced eye. That is why some shows now have you apply in person with your craft for the jurying process. I have several friends at Meaford Betty - quite the varied artisans. All I spoke to you via IM last night or this am said crowds were up and they were all waiting to get out of there and buy their Honey Crisp apples. Of course all true artisans resent the people who buy offshore and then resell. We just can't compete with their prices. Which makes me wonder if the lamps in the candle tent were offshore too. Do Terry and Dianne still own the candle business? I remember their very first show - it was Art in the Park in Windsor. They set up in our booth space and the organizers made them tear down and set back up in their own spot. The spot wasn't that special we would have just set up in theirs but the organizers said NO!!

Spent the day trying to amuse the pups. Duke is still afraid of the rain so won't leave the car port. I think I am going to start to either knit or crochet an afghan just for something to do. I need something I can put down quickly and pick right back up. Probably will crochet as I feel more comfortable with that. One year I crocheted 6 fisherman knit sweaters for special people in my life. I was pleased with the results but since I haven't crocheted in over 20 years I'll start with something simple. The ends of my fingers were so sore from the SG I stopped using yarn all together.

Bonus Judy!! Wooo hooo! Make sure you spend it or some of it on yourself.

Watching China Beach - 2 episodes on this afternoon. I finally was able to retrieve my email here on the laptop default but still no go on the desk top. I have Bell Betty - Rogers doesn't come to the boonies yet.

Happy Birthday to your handsome DGS Brandon Barb. Seems like just last week he was born, right?

LK I am so sorry to read about your DS. Sending positive thoughts for a quick recovery.

Dianne

Lotsa good karma floating through the room today, I LOVE IT when there's HAPPY stufff goin on.

Baked to FER SURE 'yes pies' especially according to Lorna and DH LoL .. Gord will have a slice of each, Lorna the apple and me, well, a toss up because we have a loaf of Peasnt bread from the Market, and I would love a slice with supper.

Blows me away the age of my son, but just heartens me to see him handling HIS teens. Where the time goes is anyones best guess, but, thinking back over years gone by, the majority of my memories are HAPPY .. yes there were sad times, times that made us all grow closer together, but, right NOW, I am pleased as punch with the fam! Gads, now watch someone call me and give me awkward news :-(

Judy, so nice to see you posting .. and, like everyone HURRAY re the BONUS !!

Dang me is it COLD here .. while we were sitting packaging the dog food, we had several windows opened as the heat from the woodstove heats the kitchen quite a bit, I went to have a wee nap arounf 2:30, and when I wakened and walked ino the kitchen I noticed a 'change' .. DH came in wearing his 'bushman's jacket, GLOVES and a toque !!! I wanted to SCREAM and run back to bed LoL
Have a roast a beastie in the oven and garden veggies, Gord is going to steam a small cabbage he grew, he cuts it into quarters and steams it for about 15 minutes, then tosses it in butter and Mrs Dash .. to die for !!

OK, best get the wheels in motion .. or I should say hips !!

Take care

Toodles

~M~

PS don't watch the weather channel, you'll freak out at the snowfall in South Dakota/Montana !!

Watching wedding planner..gee whizzz must have watched it so often that I should know dialogue. Lol. And yet I still watch it!

We should prepare a sign up list and deadline list Dianne for Santa Warren exchange, I get so excited about this one..we'll figure out dates and get it listed at beginning of every thread as we did last year.

Dianne, you have to have your wit about you doing fisherman sweaters..not something you can pick up and put down but talk about nice.

I have 2 pieces to finish in stained glass, Suzanne and my cousin Doug's piece..you kow when I look on my calendar and see all I have planned until Christmas it almost scares me and to think how early I started..wasn't it January 26th 2913??

We sure have 'snow' on our minds today..

Dianne has her wood for this winter and I still have winterizing..just have to pick up what I need to close in the back porch, start putting things away and have nightmares about not having all the leaves raked.

You supper sounds yummy "M"
Love cabbage

I have spaghetti ready, cooked a dozen of corn I picked up yesterday, took the roast I cook and froze out of the freezer for sandwiches this week..applesauce for deset and voila a meal without any muss or fuss

Feel like turning the seeng machine off but Lordy I'd I don't keep going the quilt blocks won't get mailed tomorrow so better keep pushing

Well the forecast rain we were supposed to get from the depression Karen turned it to just passed us by. We were/are sitting like the hole in the middle of the donut. Talked with my DIL who lives just 6 miles north of me and it was pouring there. Guess I will need to water tomorrow. Bummer.

All this talk about pie is making me so hungry! I love apple, cherry and rhubarb pie. The later is something I learned to eat when I spent my year in Canada with my late brother and SIL. When ever I would go visit he would always see there was a pie for me. Nice thing is, his SIL has taken over the task. Gotta love them.

Diane, I used to pull my hair out with some of the vendors who would argue about paying the extra fee but it was in the rules and they should have known. As much as I enjoyed those 20 years, I am so glad that is all behind me now. Fantastic memories, made some wonderful friends but just can't handle the year round hassle of dealing with perspective vendors any more.

Oh Marion I so understand what you mean about the hassles of running shows. Lots of people forget about the job the people hosting the shows are facing. Never envied your position at all. I too can say as much as I enjoyed the over 20 years I was on the circuit and miss my friends (we truly did become family) I don't miss the hassle of setting up and tearing down, packing the truck, driving miles and miles only to start all over again. And oh ya finding time to actually make my wares. I became very close with a family who made wooden toys and puzzles. Were the Michaud's at Meaford Betty? They are usually in the curling rink. The 3 boys took very good care of me when Warren wasn't there. In fact they called me their mom on the road. I never had to drive once I was set up both in Toronto and Ottawa as they would pick me up even if we weren't staying at the same hotel. I was spoiled but of course I spoiled them back.

Rhubarb pie probably my favourite but then I like lemon pie too. I have enough rhubarb growing to feed the village. I am probably going to regret not freezing some rhubarb. I also like it stewed with hot biscuits.

Betty how is Noah doing? I think about him every day and wonder what the school is doing to address his problems. I just hope they are not just sweeping everything under the rug.

It is so foggy here that I cannot even see across the lake. What about you M and Betty? Debbie do you have fog?

Need to decide what I want for dinner. All your choices sound wonderful Betty.
Dianne

Dianne - I'm in for the Santa Warren exchange!!!!
Betty - I'm in for the project this year!!!!

Come on everyone - now's the time to sign up.....

Dianne, fog is moving in as it gets darker.

Well I have never participated in the Santa Warren swap but it does sound interesting. Need to see detail and dates before committing.

I would also like to join thos e of you in the 'Santa Warren' exchange.
First time for me, so, you'll have to 'splain it to me.
Only thing we ever mailed betwixt one another on here in Canada was Garden Gnomes, so, this is kinda exciting ^_^

Make it so :-)

~M~

Not foggy here Dianne, guess its not warm enough.

Think my favorite pie would have to be strawberry rhubbarb although I can't seem to make it, always too juicy? Any suggestions?

Dianne, when Noah had left that day after Greg/Mel called police and were worried sick he'd do something to himself they found Noah and some marijuana and charged him. Think with not getting the help he needed in the hospital They were hoping that something more positive might come of it which it did when he went to court the other day. Meh has to take full responsibility of meeting up with a therapist appointed by the courts once a week..Mel has Pauline's number, the lady I met at Foodland and will contact her for sessions.

Dianne there were a few wooden toy makers , the lady who does custom dolls seemed to be getting a lot of orders..you kow, didn't see the stained glass vendor?


Girls, when Dianne's hubby was so ill heDianne organized a Santa swap, he got such enjoyment watching as each of us got our pressies

Each of the participants were given a name by Santa Warren, last year Diesel , doggy elf helped Dianne pick who our friends name..poor thing, did he even get a bone for his troubles?

I will get a list going tomorrow

Also for the last what 5 or 6 years we've had an online craft day, I pick a project in hopes all can do it, includes participants from other threads as well ..I provide a thread once shipping is done and I give nest ructions as to how to do the project and always available should there be questions

Lordy we've done victorian Santa sleighs, candle holders,Victorian santa's, snowman trio and everyone ended up with wonderful pieces..am sure I'm missing something

Rita and I just had supper, I'm almost ready for bed, tired even though I did little today..knee didn't hurt a bit, don't understand what could have happened.

Well now this is exciting. I was checking out the winners in the DG County Fair and saw a familiar name. I have been doing our family genealogy since the 90s. In fact it's why I got a computer and went online in the first place. I sent a D Mail to the person and son of a gun if we aren't related, well actually to her hubby. They are also involved in genealogy and have a web site. It is of course a very distant cousin-ship, but it's always so exciting to find another person to trade family info with.

Morning all

Would love to have a "p.j." day

Dreary outside, rain and wind..now close your ears, would rather have snow than this..would be much brighter Han seeing all dead flowers in the garden and leaves on the ground!

Seems different trying to make no noise with having someone living with me

Rita will be away tonight and likely going to her daughters for thanksgiving , told her she was welcome but know she wants to be with family

Hope you are the ones with sunshine

Rainy and dreary here as well Betty. Coffee is on for all those who want it....
"M" and Marion - you will love the Santa Warren swap. We each get one name and that is who we get for. If you go back to last year's thread it will give you a good idea of what it is all about, how it works , what people sent for gifts etc. I wouldn't miss this one for the world....

Santa Warren would have delighted in your comments about the Christmas exchange Barb and Betty. I am so glad you all helped Warren's last Christmas be so special.

There is no $$ limit on your gift(s) as we decided it would be exactly as if you were buying for a good friend. I know I certainly look as all of you on here as family; Your gift can be handmade or not. Excellent idea to look back and see what everyone got in their parcel. Part of the exchange is posting photos of the contents of your parcel. I'll enlist Duke this year to match up the names.

Gusty winds here this morning. It looks like it is snowing leaves out there. Still wearing my wellies when I go outside and looking for an ark on the horizon. I'm with you Betty on having a PJ day.

Mary how are things progressing for the opening? You both must be getting excited - stressed but excited. Our walk this morning was a wet one. Good day for ducks and we did see over 30 of them in the bay - no hunter around so they are safe. All the hunters are either moose hunting or getting ready to moose hunt. A bear was seen on the next farm over so I guess I had better get some bear spray to take with me on our walks.

Haven't been to sleep yet so think I will try and have a nap now.

Dianne

Morning,

We have wind and rain and thundershowers moving in shortly. I can hear rumble in the distance.

I just loved the Santa Warren exchange. So much fun!

I am heading out before bad weather hits, need a few things at the store.

Have a good day....
Debbie

Gorgeousity day here as far as SUN goes, but, chilly willy with the temps propelled by the winds .. did manage to get out and take a pic of the Sugar Maples in the rising sun, if you look back at the pic I took last week, you can see the change, next phase will be leaf loss .. then, winters slumber .. sigh !!

Am totally pumped re this gift exchnage .. may even start picking up a few things .. but that would be nuts as I have no idea who I would be buying for, and, I would be buying as I haven't a crafty bone in my body LoL .. I can start an IV with my eyes shut, speak in front of a large crowd, but, hand me a needle and thread, and, I'll ask for a button !!!
Warren sounds like a very nice fella .. so nice of all of you to make his days brighter when it was needed.

Off to my rheumatologist today, haven't seen him since I became 'bionic', he knew I was going though.
Lorna is having some 'issues' with the belt (new) that she wears to keep her prosthetic leg on securely .. just know some if not ALL of you crafty ladies could figure out something BETTER than this system. The belt is made from neoprene (not her friend on hot summer days) .. sometimes I look at her struggling with the whole apparatus and I give my head a shake, she is one amazing woman.

Best get going, will see if I catch a sec to download the TREE pics

TOODLES

~M~

We've had over 5 inches of rain in the last two rains this week. We don't need any more. At least the flower beds will be going to sleep satisfied with their water needs!

Cold here, too. 63 now. Yuk. Back to the 70's the rest of the week.

Lots of stuff to do today...love to you all!

love you too sissy

Did it, here's the pics, foggy as they appear even though there's no fog, but, after the fact I noticed a fingerprint over the camera lense on my cell phone (or dog nose print).

Enjoy

Toodles

~M~

Wow...those are amazing! Ours really haven't started here yet. Seems a little late, but we've had so much rain. Guess they're not ready yet!

Glad we have a sunny day if a bit chilly for traveling. We were supposed to go up yesterday but by the time we went to DGSs football game and visited a bit, I was just too tired to face 4 1/2 hours of driving. DD came in from the farm and brought pumpkins for all the kids, gourds for the moms and me some giant sunflower heads for the critters. Our color is getting close to peak so will be a nice drive.

Morning everyone. It was 48 when I got up this morning.
Thanks for the beautiful tree pictures.

Diane please add my name to you list.

Will do LK. So far we have:

Betty,
Dianne
Barb
Marilyn
LK

I am thinking if we have the parcels mailed out by Dec 1 everyone should receive theirs before Christmas. Well we can't count on my mailman but he's just special. Could I please have your answer by Fri Oct. 11. That way we can get the names out early.

Jean I am sitting here listening to the Tedeschi Trucks Band's new album Made Up Mind. I also have a new artist to me Son House who or is it whom you probably already know Jean. Hope you are improving as each day goes by.. Just listened to a Sam Cooke CD - his voice is pure heaven.

Katie where are you? You have been on mind a lot and I am wondering if you are living up to your end of our bargain. I was going to go up a ladder to the roof on Sat and thought about our pact so left the chore for Steve to do.

It is absolutely pouring here right now and it is so windy the rain is going sideways. Glad we got at least 1 walk in before it really started to pour.Poor little Duke is wasting away to a shadow or at least he thinks so, so I had better feed him lunch. He eats his breakfast around 4 am so is more than ready for his kibble. He is starting to gain some weight so some of the guantness is gone.
Later,
Dianne

Was Debbie adding her name Dianne???

want to gab but spent all day cutting out fabric for Jim's 3 bags, one for my SIL's 65 and still a bit left over yellow and black so thought why not put a package together for her

so 5 bags cut out in total and it's homeward bound for me

gab when I get there

just stopped raining

YAHOO!! Saw my rheumatologist, and, all is A OK .. only 'off thing' is my low blood sugar, and the blood value that shows an inflammation in the body is elevated .. but, on the whole, I am good to go til next April, still have to take cancer drug every Friday, but, I can live with that.

Dianne, it had to have been tough doing the circuit like that. DH picks and choses the venues he and his buds show at .. they do Sportsmans Shows .. pretty boring, altho, there were some vendors that worked so beautifully with leather ..

Just a gorgeous day here, about to start making SAMMIES, going out into the Boreal forest tomorrow .. Lorna has never been, so Gord and I are taking her, and the puppers, and a picnic lunch which I am about to make !!!!

Toodles

~~M~~

YES Debbie is on the list please!!!

Well I have VERY good news FINALLY.

DS called...had phone interview this morning,
and face to face this afternoon...and was hired...for Apple/IBM as a service phone tech!
They were so pleased with all he knew. He is just floating on air!!

AND...Jeanna got a new job also. Are you ready for this...at Yahoo!!! From 256 people...they hired just two!!! AND...Shannon got a job at a place also...does car financing and leases.
SO...deep breath...and a "Thank you God" for these blessings.

These kids have struggled so much!!! So have their parents. lol

"M" Great news!!!

Betty, rest!!!

I have fresh cookies...who wants some?

Debbie

Can't rest, got to do a happy dance for all the good news tonight

Debbie, bet you are beside yourself with all you've been going through to finally get calls that the kids have jobs and that all is well in their world! Oh oh only thing is, unlikely Shane will come home now but knowing he has $$for food and accommodation will relieve some of the worry.

"M" your health report also is grand news..now tell me a little about Boreal Forest..must look it up
Enjoy the picnic..hard to believe the weather is cooperating you being so far north.

LindaKay, got you flannels on?

Mary, if you are lurking kow we are all praying for your FIL and wondering if you will meet your opening deadline.

Katir, like Dianne, starting to fret

Hugs going to Susan

Talked to mom..been to the hospital 3 times this week, apparently the skin they had to take off the front of her leg is slow growing..has a nurse that comes every morning to dress her leg..was telling me She asked Jim to was her feet because they were dirty and ant reach, black didn't come off, only to find out she had 3 broken toes from her fall

Drats, think Debbie hid the cookies on me seeng I through a rock at her

I want cookies please!! Oh Debbie I am so excited about all your good news. Shane and Jenna must be on top of the world.

My goodness Betty your mam really did a number on herself. Darn broken toes there is nothing they can do for it.

Betty I read a column in today Toronto Star entitled "Our youth deserve more mental health support". I don't know if you can access it online or not. The article was by Michael Kirby. It mentioned that up
to 795,000 children and youth in Ont. have at least 1 mental health issue the most common of which is anxiety disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity, conduct disorder, depression and substance abuse.. What's shocking is only 1 in 4 receives the help they need. Sort of scary isn't it?

M years ago we used to do the Toronto Sportsman Show - we either had a fabulous day or 1 of the worst days ever. One day my husband stood there for 12 hours and sold only a $10.95 pig. Man he sure was down when he got back to the hotel. One of our favourite shows was The Cottage Life Show in Toronto. I spent as much as we made as there was always such super exhibits.

Mary how are things? Sending positive thoughts your way.
aadianne

Debbie that is awesome news. Congratulations to all of them.
Pass the cookies please?
Betty it is 70 right now but will be cool again in the morning.

They are chocolate chip!!! Very good!

Thanks for the congrats for the kids! It has been hell paying bills for the two youngest to
help them out when we could.

DS and I had a talk that if he couldn't make rent & bills for November, he had to come home.
He agreed....so now this. Double edge thing for sure. BUT, I think he will make better choices
there than back here with the group he was with. I think that was my reasoning for helping him,
because the kids here would have all ended up in jail with him.

Wonderful news Debbie, I am so happy for you.

Oh my Betty, that is really scary how much damage your mom did with her fall. I have a 3 story house and it does concern me for the future. I have discovered the set of stairs that still has carpet on them are the ones I always trip on. Think the carpet will be going very soon.

Oh chocolate chip cookies Debbie, will trade you for either a slice of sour cream pound cake, apple strudel muffins, lemon poppy seed muffins or cranberry orange muffins. Yeap, the oven has been working over time. There is a conference at Kim's school Wednesday so she volunteered to make some of the dessert for the event. House does smell good!

Ohhhhh apple strudel!! I love apple strudel!!

I am trying so hard to loose weight...I did very well limiting my cookies. lol

I don't know if the apple muffins are good or not.....Kim won't let me try one. :-( Maybe when she goes to the dentist in the morning, I can sneak one with my coffee....she won't miss it.

Come out come out....

You sure do know how to draw a lurker out there (HUGS) To all

Debbie I am overwhelmed and grinning ear to ear on your news.... finally a break for Debbie... THINK Positive things from here on out for you my friend....

Your kiddos are SO smart ! Yahoo... etc. great jobs...

Dianne... needing a good walk. So glad the doggies are getting along....THANK YOU For the positive thoughts.... working.....it's working....

Hesitant but saying "Count Me In" For Santa Warren's Swap ! I am scared of the next few months but I've been okay so far although the "worst" is yet to come....

FIL is still in the hospital. Hubs and DSD1 were there today we took her to the "shop" and out to dinner today she goes "home" back to school tomorrow. I will try to make it by Wednesday back to the hospital to relieve MIL who is there 24/7 because she doesn't trust anything that happens if she leaves.
Work is busy (which is excellent because witchy can't fuss)

We had another casualty today (another person quit). No one ever complains when they quit because the TV Station is so dominant and you don't want to burn bridges.

I'm minding my "p's and q's" waiting for the shoe to drop when they find out about "the shop"

I've resigned myself that we won't open before Trader Joes (10/31) but it should be soon after. I don't need to rush... we have a great location regardless....

Hubs resigned 2 weeks ago but they are keeping him via a meeting all day today and he has promised to keep his cell phone to help with the next auction. (REALLY! ? They paid him peanuts and he is offering to help.... it's crazy)

Things will work themselves out. Your prayers are helping (A LOT) because although we have had set backs...they have been workable.

Our "Shell" now has walls and floors and a back door....no front door. Hubs will begin moving some equipment in tomorrow (sandwich prep table and gelato case )

Love and hugs to all .....old and new ....veterans and "newbies" to Bettys Blog...

Mary