What's Happening in YOUR neighborhood today? #15

Gosh .. I had thought the Superstore (or what we call the STUID Store at times) .. was right across Canada !!
Just one of the many 'BIGBOX' stores .. get yer groceries, drugs, clothes, and wine in one place (no garage though)
It's a big ol store .. with nothing CONVENIENTLY close to one another .. as in .. pharmacy on the west wall .. and dairy on the east wall .. good prices ... but you pay in time spent in the store walking from dept to dept.

Starting to look a bit foreboding outside .. dull and grey ..

Best finish doin 'stuff'

~M~

I think it is all across Canada M.

Im a safeway shopped but I go to Superstore once a month or so to pick up some of their frozen meals - they have some good ones.

Was going to walk the dogs this afternoon but decided I didnt want to bother - glad I didnt - apparently wind chill is about -33C!

Alberta vs Nfld tonight! And then Dancing With The Stars.

Indoor gardening activities for me tonight; will make me forget about how darn cold it is out there....

Seeding a couple of kinds of cherry tomatoes and a tropical climber called the Butterfly Pea (clitoria ternatea).

Also planning to do a few more wintersowing jugs; I'm finding doing them inside much nicer (and warmer) than doing them out in the garage...luckily there's lots of snow to bury the jugs in...blah.

Joanne

Joanne,

Costco has huge orchids
Joanne

Yeah, like I needed to know that. You are bad. Ü

Joanne

I agree. I think Superstore IS right across Canada. I've seen them in Halifax and Charlottetown and in Vancouver. Can't say about Newfoundland.

Am back from the first Ottawa Symphony rehearsal - concert in two weeks. I'm glad I played the Dvorak 8 in November with the other orchestra because the Moldau and the Smetana (I can't remember the name of it), both have a H... of a lot of notes. Not particularly difficult for the most part - just will keep me VERY busy playing them all. We have the Ottawa Youth Orchestra joining us for the last two and those kids can all play it.

This morning I played at the performance group which my local music teachers' group has several times each year and I was quite pleased with how it went.

Have a good night.

Ann

Ann .. you certainly are busy .. not a BAD thing. Do you find you can play these pieces from memory after a bit ? I know when I played piano I was that way inclined .. drove my music teacher BUGS as she felt I should be READING the music.

Well .. NO STORM evolved overnight .. and I am doubting it will materialize .. and it isn't that cold out either.

Off to PAY my income taxes this morning .. ya know ..something about having to PAY on money you already paid taxes on seems unfair .. AND .. they want the sum in quarterly installments .. I am paying in ONE lump sum .. I HATE to have that 'payment thing' hanging over my head !!

Am still grousing about how dark it is outside just past 7am .. want to head out, but will wait a bit .. I can see the deer out back waiting .. I wonder what they think of the time change ??

Enjoy your day

~M~

Nope, must have put the wrong name for the store, we've Superstore in Midland and Barrie but this is an entirely different store..I'll check it out on Friday..

Well did attend the portrait session, those girls have been doing it for quite some time, almost intimidating..needed a lightbox and with 10 in the class and only 3 lightboxes, you had to wait your turn...so going to Curry's at lunch and picking myself up one..just incase I take a liking to this art..at least if I have the box I can play at it..

Cold outside and dull as can be..just waiting for suzanne and off for lunch we go...

Joanne, I'm usually quck on the uptake but when it comes to this 'winter sowing' I can't get my head around it..just not sure how the concept works...

I've been receiving seeds from many of my dg friends..haven't been lucky with inhouse early sowing last year..started too early, perhaps I'll wait till after my trip with grandsons to Washington D.C. Easter weekend then get at it..nice little greenhouse (mikey mouse thing) for $49.99 at Home Depot I think it was...anyway, not a lot of money wasted if the plants don't grow..worth a try..

Fancy, knew I missed something..Dancing with the Stars..who are the dancers this year..anyone good?

Ann with the amount of playing you do, you must have them all down patt....your grandaughter sure is a beauty...

Must be nice "M" to look outside and see the deer..on my way to work this morning there was a paddock with horses, a few were getting friskie so 'spring must be in the air'!

Betty: Some pretty good, some so-so some pretty bad but it is only the lst night! Some old pros some new pros!

Very cold again today, a bit more snow last night - suppose to start warming up soon. I stay in and watch the curling!

Fancy, must go key in and see who is dancing...

Betty - there's always more music that I haven't yet encountered. And while some music stays under the fingers, other music doesn't.

Am still working on the photo show for the FC and am nearly done.

Went to aquafit, taught two students, got my haircut, and dropped by the luthier who made my viola. I need some varnish repair - the result of a collision with a cello bow recently which knocked some varnish off the scroll of my instrument. Not a serious injury, but I need to get it touched up.

Gotta go make dinner as I have another student after dinner.

Ann

DAWG !!! We are in the midst of a huge winter storm off Lake Superior .. someone Hit me over the head with a few WET NOODLES the next time I become a 'NAY SAYER' !!!

Busy day today as we decided to get everything DONE as we are likely going to lose a day tomorrow due to snow ..

I made the SPANAKOPITA and am very happy with the outcome .. and so were the 'Guinea pigs' :-)

Betty .. good luck re the 'light box' .. handy to have I take it ? WHich means I have ZIPPETY doo idea what a 'lightbox is' but am guessing it helps you see things more clearly ?

Ann .. glad to hear your photo montage is nearing completion .. that'll be a load off your mind...

Off to chat with my mentoring student ^_^


~M~

GADZOoooooooooooooKS !!! We have 'about 30cm of drifted snow already fallen, and the wind just keeps blowing in more ..
Am curious as to how we are even going to get out the back door to commence the snow removal .. think I'll have another cup of coffee before I begin that frightful task .. and hoping Lilly will stay in bed just a bit longer this morning or she is going to have to become a 'Winter WADING Westie' ^_^

Have a great day wherever you are ..

~M~

"M" sorry you got the storm, last night on my way home it was just about turning to freezing rain then temps dropped so quickly, a few flurries..could almost count them on my fingers...this morning the sky is heavy, they are calling for high winds 50-90kl..wind will help dry up some of the melting so that's good, providing it doesn't do more damage..best you stay in and enjoy a day of rest..you are always on the go..any more news on a possible trip 'south' meaning here..lol

A lightbox, what does it do, well I can use it when doing stained glass..sometimes you purchase glass and don't see true color, by putting glass on lightbox you get to see what it will look like in your piece..

Then with portraits, you can get proper perspective of the subject you are painting..i.e. eyes/nose/ears in proper location, otherwise who knows what would happen...then for quilting as well, tracing patterns..so multi use...

LeeAnn and Cindy won't be in the office until close to noon, Paul is in Toronto and Suzanne, can't find her for files so she's working hard, ME, well I brought in the lightbox, photo of grandson and I'll just play at learning how to shade with pencils until my next Monday course..

Ann, luthier must be a trade that is slowly disappearing is it? Glad you can have you viola repaired...sorry, must have missed what you are doing with your collage?

Got the final ok last night, am getting the 4 grandsons Thursday afternoon of Easter weekend, travelling to Washington DC with them and returning on Tuesday..Greg & Mel and Lisa&Jeff all think I've lost it..taking them for that long and all together...other trips have only been for 3 days...I'm so looking forward to this outing, sure hope I feel same once it's behind me..lol

Good morning.

Betty - I think there will always be a need for quality instruments and people willing to pay for them and people need repairs and maintenance as well. I think what you referred to as a collage is the picture show. The Food Cupboard which I ran for many years and at which I still volunteer has just finished 20 years in operation. Can't celebrate that, but we decided we CAN celebrate 20 years of volunteers who have made it work.

I've been going over 20 years worth of pictures, identifying people and the last step was putting them all in order. We will give them all to students next week to make a 15-20 minute Power Point presentation for our AGM. They are temporarily on a web site at http://violaann.smugmug.com/gallery/7293768_6vQwo#P-1-15 if you'd like to have a look. You'll need a password - 1989.

I'm about to head in to the FC to volunteer. Will BBL.

Ann

Meant to send this link received this morning to a rendition of Amazing Grace - http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271552717?bctid=1913313052

enjoy.

Beautiful! I have always been in awe of II Divo. Thanks for sharing. ^_^

Wonderful rendition of Amazing Grace ... Celtic Women also performed in that same venue .. absolutely awesome .. thanks for sharing Ann ^_^

Betty .. you must trust your grandsons implicitly to do something as adventurous as you are about to do. I wish you all the best .. make TONS of memories and have a BALL !!!

Snow clean up is at a standstill right now as we wait for any further drifting. Some of the drifts have been in excess of 5 to 6' deep .. even difficult for the big snowblower tractor. Because my wrists are still behaving badly .. I have basically just been doing a moderate amount of shovelling in and around the patio area .. Lilly is almost depressed as I think she thought the snow was going away !!!!!
Seems all the way to just before the east coast folks are experiencing a drop in temps .. the Prairies are in the DEEP FREEZE !!!

Best go check my bread .. take care

~M~

PS .. Betty .. thanks for explaining the 'light box' .. learned something new today ^_^

Snowing ever so lightly, winds are blowing like crazy though..wow is it cold..be glad to get home, have a bath and play lazy, well maybe not, can give the floorcloth a few coats of finish..

Registered for a class 'portrait' little intimidating to say the least..only got the eyes done..

Yesterday went out and got the lightbox, brought it in today and played sketching..should have had proper sketching pad..yuk, doing grandson Noah's photo, turning out ok now I throw it in garbage because it's done on photo copy paper..lol

Oops time to go home..talk later

well here it is - another year older.
Someone, when I told them it was my "double nickle year" said I would be 100 years old, then LOL

Not celebrating today (no TIME!!). I started out running late for a meeting I didn't want to attend, then had lunch with someone who really dislikes me, and tonight I won't be home from Handbell practice until 9:30, so no time today (we ALL have days like this, eh?!)

I've had 3 people sing "Happy Birthday" to me, so far :-)

Hope everyone has a Sunny Day, today!!

-Susan-

For you SUSAN ^_^

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1791136425801&source=jl999

~M~

Well .. I am just a tad disgusted with the way the world works ... have been reading , and watching the news coverage of the carnage in Germany and in Alabama ..
Incredible :-(


~M~

Thank you, Marilynne, for noticing Susan's special day and sending a lovely card. I also hope Susan has a wonderful birthday.

Betty - that picture looks good to me. What a shame to throw it away because of the paper.
You could keep it for awhile.

Ann

Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you....sshhhh..did anyone notice it was off key..Happy Birthday Susan...

"M" did you send that storm south..from Barrie to Hillsdale you couldn't see a thing..omg, almost lifted my little Aveo right off the ground a couple of times..I did say 'holly h@ll' maybe 4 or 5 times...then it cleared but winds continue...few things down in the yard..yuk...

Hope I can stay up tonight and watch 'Lie to Me' and 'Bones' although 'Bones' is getting a little over the top, maybe I'll skip watching it..

Off for hot bath....

Stay safe everyone..

Happy Birthday Susan. Hope you are having a GREAT Day!!

Susan
Happy B day and you can celebrate for twice as long if it's the double nickel one. Party all week long!
Ann

Happy B Day Susan. Hope you had a luvly, luvly day ^_^

Awwwwwwwwwwww thanks lots, ladies!!
Marilyn, the card was so sweet, and Loverley.... :-) Thank you Anne, Joanna, Betty, Leslie

Well, it's been a busy one, but much nicer than I thought it would be - last year at this time was difficult (no job, no church, and although my hubby (who is a wonderful person) was here, I didn't have anyone else from my family around, and very few Calgary friends .
This year is as opposite a year as I could wish - love my job (boss got me a cake), I have a lovely church family, handbell practice went well tonight, and I got lunch bought for me at work. Then I come online & find my DG friends wishing me a happy birthday! And I have other new friends who are sending me wishes as well. WOW!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone!! I'm feeling so blessed! :-)

This message was edited Mar 11, 2009 9:29 PM

You are quite welcome lovely lady, a special day is what we hoped for you...

Snow has stopped, got nothing like you "M" ..are you still snowbound...

Quiet here today, trying to fill me day..might take a ride to the art studio for a few things, if not the new Canadian Food Warehouse...or even the Garden Gallery..something to peak my interest.....bored to death...lol..tonight I'm at genesis painting class 2nd of 6 classes..could work on my project this afternoon to pass the time of day...

What are you all up to...

So WANT spring to arrive...

Lovely pic Susan :-)

I am home !! Been just a day here and it ain't over yet.

Lilly had to be at the groomers by 9am .. I had to have my baking to the AIDS office by 9am .. and Gord to the Opthalmologist by 9:30 .. got it all done .. most frustrating part was the 2.5 hour wait at the docs .. his office was PACKED .. seems Tuesday was cataract removal day and the post ops were in the office for their check ups.
We only have TWO Opthalmologists in TBay .. so .. you can imagine whe patient load they carry with the population aging ..

After the eye doc we went a looked at new woodstoves as ours is 18 years old and I tend to think it should be replaced .. nothing much has changed 'looks wise' .. cept now you can get them with fancy LEGS instead of the pedestle .. I stil like the latter .. a woodstove raised up over the hearth is just one more place to have to clean or chase dog toys out from under LoL

GORGEOUS afternoon here .. brisk .. but sunny

Have a meeting at the police station tonight .. best figure out supper ..

LATER

~M~

Our weather has cooled off here somewhat.....last night it was -36 with the windchill. The days are still cold too. We are suppose to getting some milder weather in the next few days which would be nice. I would LOVE to start seeing this snow melt!!!

Joannabanana: Thank you so much for posting that picture of your swing greenhouse! I've been racking my brains trying to figure something out to harden off the plants that I've already got going on in my basement and that might just work out perfectly!

OMG, sunshine peering through the office window, calling for high of 6 for tomorrow and 8 on Sunday..oh happy days! Just might be able to get outside and pick up where snow has melted all the tree branch debris..hard winter...

No plans for this weekend other than finish a few projects.i.e. baseboard in living room, finish the 10 coats on floorcloth and just enjoy...

greenmum,

I got the plastic at home depot, vapor plastic is very thick and worked well. It also stood up well against the wind, snow etc. I removed the plastic, flipped it off on nice days. Light weight plastic may not handle that much. I duct taped it together to make the tent.

AWESOME and amazing here in the North country of Ontario. Bright sunshine and wonderful temps to go along with that ..

Am on with VCARS til 7pm .. and so far it has been quiet .. (shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) ^_^

March Break starts here as of 4pm today .. would imagine about half of Ontario wil be gravitating south for some sun. Course, with the Cdn dollar so low .. that may be an incorrect theory.

Looks like a nice pre spring weekend coming up, temp wise .. probably get some sheets out on the line fer sure ..

Have a super weekend everyone !!

~M~

Hi folks. Catching up here. Went out to dinner to celebrate Friday the 13th and then took in the 3rd year recitals of two students at the University - one on violin and one on viola. Came home to find the power out. There was a fire at the nearby Hydro sub station, about 1 1/2 miles from home, around 6 pm and the power was out until after 10 pm when they managed to reroute some power to the neighbourhood. We are being asked to conserve power for the next few days to avoid rotating black-outs. There’s a video at http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2009/03/14/8744646-sun.html

Am trying to declutter but I'm not making very good progress. Also am working on some overgrown, leggy African violets which need repotting. Think I'll head out for some appropriate soil.

Ann

Whew !! We reached about +10 C or more yesterday here in Thunder Bay .. actually dug out some chairs and sat on the patio watching and listening to the snow melt and make HUGE run off puddles which Lilly LOVES to bound through :-)
Seems it'll be more of the same today .. can only hope ^_^

Took in the St. Urho's Day Parade here yesterday http://www.sainturho.com/origin.htm the actual St Urho's Day is March 16, the day before St Paddy's Day .. it's a whimsical little Folklorish celebration .. since TBay has the largest population of Finnish Folks outside of Finland, well, it's kind of a neat day to celebrate. I must say that the Finnish people are a wonderfully happy and giving group of folks ..

Made some 'Irish Soda Bread' for the priest at our little church out this way .. my Mom started the tradition years ago,and I carry it on on or around St Patrick's Day. Father Donnelly is from the same part of Northern Ireland as my family. No doubt we'll be discussing the 'flare ups' over home .. I certainly do hope they can quell the dissent quickly this time .. I'd hate to see a return to the 90's :-(

Hope everyone enjoys their day

~M~

OMG "M" that sounds as though it was a lot of fun..checking out your link..we didn't get quite as high in temp as you think it was +6 and calling for +8 today..drats, the economy affection local news stations..we don't get early morning news for our area..they run re-runs of yesterday news..how sad is that..layed off so many employee's at the AChannel..oh well, I'll take what Mother Nature gives me..

Got outside for a few hours as well, so much tree branch debris..was a hard winter..had a bonfire going..will do a few hours again today..lordy, I'd love to take some of the stored items such as front verandah swing out today but know there is snow yet to come..probably one big snow storm right?

Few things to clean downstairs, although I say that it could take a couple of hours..everything else A ok so it just might be a sitting day and I can play with my sketching..

Photo of my floorcloth done on linoleum...just simple lines with colors picking up that of new furniture..not quite what I wanted, bit too busy, although it does brighten things up, most likely will do another..SIL says it matches her colors to a 't'

I've the one I just took off that is now on the table..will give it a good wash, a few coats of finish to freshen it up and it can go on the front deck..not today, more snow right? lordy I'm anxious

Edited to read...

Now I have to go find new cushions for the chair..one thing always works into a dozen more...


This message was edited Mar 15, 2009 7:28 AM

Excellent job Betty!!!

I love the colour of your walls...is that a green? Would you by any chance remember the name of that colour....I have been looking for something exactly like that for my dinning room. I did paint it a green a while ago but it didn't turn out the way I had wanted....I was never happy with that green. I love yours though.

Sorry Dawn, have the container but no markings as to the mixture..at one time they'd put a label - not sure why this one doesn't have it..it's very soft in color, almost a sage green...

Just gave a coat of varathane to the old floorcloth, my goodness, it's back to being almost 'new' even though it's been used for years..