Dealing with a cold

I think i'm in week 2 of this cold and week 3 of feeling terrible.  I'm trying hard to just deal with it but it's pulling me down big time.  The cold is in my chest and my voice comes and goes.  But, i'm fighting it and trying to win the fight.  I'm not giving up!

It was so nice to have everyone here for dinner and a visit on Sunday evening.  Krystal worked until 5 and then they came and Kandice was at the trailer and they came from there.  Funny thing was, I had just messaged Kandi to see if they had decided whether or not they were coming.  She asked what time Krystal worked until and said they hadn't decided yet.  I mentioned that i was making pulled pork in the slowcooker and hoped that was ok with everyone.  She said it sounded yummy and then I asked if they were still at the trailer.  Before she answered me or at least before I saw her answer the doorbell rang and being my hubby had just left it was up to me to answer it.  Guess who was standing looking in at me when I opened the door?  Hannah, Kandice and Chris while Ev was in checking out the garage like any little boy or man would want to do!  Yes, Chris went in too to check it out for a few minutes before rounding up Ev.  Of course this isn't the only time Kandi has tricked me but still I fall for it each time.  Oh ya, she also got me good that day about a snake.  I was looking through some vines for shells and she told me there was a snake.  Not good to do that to me because snakes are one of my biggest fears not matter the type or size.  I thought I was going to die of a heart attack and she thought I was going to cry.  I jumped out of that mess of vines so quick.  Got me again!!!

We had a really nice visit, the kiddos went searching for golf balls with the adults of course, at the front of the house they found 2 and we searched for snail shells but only found empty ones.  Can anyone tell me what happens to the snail inside?  I guess I could and most likely will Google it to find out.

The kiddos weren't feeling all the great with colds like nana so after lunch they had naps and Kandice and I were knitting for a bit while the guys were doing something outside or downstairs.  Oh right, moving the treadmill out of the garage.

Krystal, Adrian and Keira came and once again a surprise for them too...everyone was here for dinner.  Dinner was good, seemed like everyone enjoyed although the kiddos didn't eat much.  After dinner the guys did the dishes and us girls went back outside with the kiddos, once again in search of any golf balls that may have been misdirected to our propery due to whatever it is a golfer does to have a ball cross a highway and land on our property.  This time one was found and Keira got it!  A quick game of basketball with the kiddos and then Coffee and pie outside just before the rain started and then everyone got ready and headed home!

I just love when we have visits like that.  I'm so happy for the close knit family we have.  I love them all very much!

Loving our new home!

I was sitting outside tonight for a while knitting and enjoying my coffee and realized just how much I love it here.  Yes, we are 45-50 minutes away from the girls and their families but I know it's not that far and we can drive there easily enough.  Like I did today!  Anyways, I was sitting there listening to the different sounds I was hearing like the birds singing, the traffic moving along the highway and a tractor or something (I couldn't see it from where I was sitting) over on the golf course doing whatever it was doing at the end of the day and it felt nice!  Yes, I said the traffic moving along the highway...it's not that bad though really. There are trucks and cars but thankfully they are entering an area where the speed drops or is still dropped before heading into or out of Woodstock.  We have a golf course directly across the road from us and yes we have started a collection of golf balls.  It's growing and has now hit 7 if I'm not mistaken.  I was or maybe I still am a little nervous about that, being the other night after having just picked up 3 balls another one came and landed in the driveway not far from where I was standing, wondering how safe it really is living across the road from a golf course.  I think I would be more worried being in a car driving by just when the ball is heading across the road.  We do have a fairly big yard and driveway so they would have to be really driving it hard to get that close.  I think at least!!!

So ya, I'm happy and content here and convincing myself to start learning/googling all I can about gardening and finding out what is a weed and what is a plant in our gardens.  We have a whole lot of vines growing and that needs to be addressed and lots of plants in the front, back and side yards.  The previous owner thankfully left me a book all about plants and such that I'm hoping will help me along with Google and some friends who enjoy gardening very much.  I have to get past the thought that there are snakes out there living on the same planet as me and most likely sharing the same soil as me.  That's going to be a difficult one to get used to especially now that I saw the picture a friend posted of the snake in her yard.  Seriously, it looked huge and looked hungry ( ok maybe not so much hungry) but it did look huge to me.  Kandice didn't think so and said she agreed with others that it was JUST a garter snake...somehow that didn't make me feel any better!  JUST a garter snake that's all!  LOL!

So I'm happy and content in our new home and although there are things that I know other buyers would have changed right away in the house I'm loving it the way it is and will slowly make the changes as we feel the need.  Yes, we have started painting (so far one room) and that certainly helps make it feel more like home but in time we will do the things that need done.  Taps need to be changed, shower heads need replaced, flooring needs to be updated (not a big deal as they are clean and all in good shape) and of course the sink and toilet in the one bedroom definitely needs to be removed sooner than later.  Why you ask is there a sink and toilet in a bedroom?  The only answer I can give you is because it used to be a bed and breakfast the owners put these items in their bedroom so as not to disturb any of the guests they may have had staying in the house.  We don't need or want them in the bedroom so out they come.

Arend is slowly getting his garage together, its taking time being we have been at the trailer on the weekends and it's after 6 when he gets home from work and we have been busy with other things in the evenings.  The stereo is  hooked up and the wires are hiding for the most part and the speakers are hanging like we wanted.  And, a door has been put on at the top of the basement stairs.

Now, it's time for me to get some sleep!  Good night!  or morning, evening depending on what time you are reading this!  Thanks for stopping by!

Missing my little ones!

I've been a terrible blogger! It's been way too long since I last posted. So much has happened in that time. We have recently moved which kept me busy for a while. We are pretty much settled in to our new home although we are still working on things to get it the way we want it. That will be an ongoing thing but bit by bit things will get done. Painting is one of the big things as it freshens everything up and brightens the house and shows everyone your style and taste. We are very happy here so far other than the fact of being 45 minutes away from the kids and the little ones which makes me sad. I really miss the little ones now that I don't babysit but when I hear how they are adjusting and enjoying daycare and summer camp it makes me smile a little more each day. My little man has been working on the change the hardest though but he is coming along pretty good I think. Going to daycare instead of having mommy or nana there with him during the day is a huge change that is for sure. I check with Kandice each day to see how the transition went in the morning and it seems to be getting a little easier for him. Kandi says the director of the daycare seems to have a nice affect on him and she can calm him down easier if he is having a rough go at the morning entry. I really do miss seeing the kiddos everyday though that is for sure. I think overall it is a good thing for each of us though because now I can be NANA again rather than just the babysitter. I remember Hannah saying some mornings that she wanted someone to play with other than "the babysitter or Nana" so now she has that.

Some of my memories of babysitting my 3 favourite people!  I miss you guys so much!

I have so many more pictures and memories which I look at quite often and laugh when I think of all the fun we had together for those 7 months.  Thank you Keira, Hannah and Ev for sharing that time with me and I hope you had as much fun as Nana/The Babysitter had.  Love you to bits and pieces forever and ever!

Knitting Video and Audio podcasts

My daughter has passed on her love of knitting video and audio podcasts to me.  She was telling me about them way back in the summer so I started watching/listening and really got hooked on them as well.  I have a few that are my favourites and tune in most every week or play catch up when I miss them.  I will make a list to share with you. 

In December my daughter decided she was going to try her hand at video podcasting as well.  She is doing great with it although since Christmas she hasn't had time to record one.  Christmas was busy, busy with little kiddos and of course the flu made its rounds through their home and everyone got it there.  I'm hoping she will record again really soon as I enjoy seeing them.  One episode she had her sister on who is the blogger behind a wonderful book blog called Krystal's Stellar Book Blog.   Anyways, Kandice did her knitting segments and Krystal did her book segments and it was great!  They are pros at video podcasting!  Be sure to stop by Tangledknits blog as well.  If you are on Ravelry she also has a group there called Friends of Tangledknits that you can join.  Kandice recently had a giveaway going on in her group and plans to have others so check it out!

So as promised here is a list of the podcasts I watch/listen weekly or as often as possible.

Tangledknits  also on iTunes!  Kandice is a busy mother of 2 kiddos who loves to knit and shares her love for knitting in her video podcast.  She has had a giveway and plans to have more as she gets her videocast up and running.

Knitabulls  also on iTunes!  Dianne is so much fun to watch.  She shares her love of knitting and spinning and has giveaways as well.

The Knit Girllls also on iTunes!  Leslie and Laura keep us entertained while sharing their love for knitting and of course spinning.  They have giveaways and do book reviews as well.

Dramatic Knits Steve and Callie are the personalities behind this videocast.

Stockinette Zombies Megan and Amy are the personalities behind this videocast. 

KnitPurlGurl Karrie shows off her knitting, crochet and sewing projects, she also has giveaways and does book and product reviews.

There are others I am just starting to watch/listen and I will add to my list as I get more into them.

Welcome to 2012

Wow, we are at the middle of January already.  Christmas was wonderful with time spent with family and enjoying the excitement of our grandchildren.  Watching the smiles and hearing the giggles of the girls while they opened their gifts and played with their new toys was wonderful.  Watching Everett opening his gifts which he seemed to catch onto very quickly and enjoyed doing so was super fun too.  His excitement with seeing new cars and trucks and books makes Christmas so special.  The kiddos certainly got lots of new and fun toys that is for sure.

I rec'd lots of wonderful gifts including gift card for Old Navy, panties, Iphone, a sweater, handknit fingerless gloves, ornaments, knit project bag and pattern holder, a gift card for hubby and I to go to a very nice restaurant in town, gift cards for Shall we Knit (LYS), Timmies Gift Card, some items from Lush and then for my birthday I got a new coat and boots! 

Since Christmas we have all had a bout with the stomach flu with the exception of my husband who somehow missed it (lucky him). It wasn't as horrible as other flubugs but still not something you want to go through.  Now, we are hoping that the rest of 2012 will be free of any sicknesses.

My husband had been laid off from his job in Dec and man it has been a struggle so far.  He picked up a job with a framer who also did work for the company he was working for so that helped and he also does weekend work with another guy as well.  It's been stressful for both of us but certainly on my husband.  He is not one to sit around doing nothing and he likes the stability of knowing he has a good job and one he enjoys going to although as with any job there are always the stresses that come with it.  Hopefully, in Feb he will get called back to his original job.  Fingers crossed!

This year I am hoping to spend more time knitting and posting more here about my passion.  I would like to try new and challenging patterns this year, maybe try my hand at using my daughters drop spindle, do some crocheting (christmas ornaments).  I am starting the year off by choosing to knit a really nice pattern that I won as part of giveaway from Friends of Tangledknits, a group on Ravelry.  Along with the pattern which was gifted to me by Kandice of Tangledknits I also won pattern magnets from Slipped Stitch Studios and a skein of handspun from The Wacky Windmill.  I was so excited to have won a great prize like this.  Yay for me!  So that pattern I choose was The Hitchiker by Martina Behm.  I went to Shall we Knit and used one of my GC's from Christmas to get some beautiful Fleece Artist yarn in a gorgeous colourway and started knitting today!  I'll take pictures and show my progress here.  I'm so excited!

I'm looking forward to a great year after the ending of 2011!