In which I babble on....

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the art of Harrison Fisher ( Harrison Fisher (July 27, 1875 or 1877 – January 19, 1934) ).  He drew many amazing images, primarily of women but many also featured couples.  

The thought is in my mind to perhaps use some of these wonderful images to create some sort of crazy quilt. 

Maybe.

Perhaps.

A wonderful story!

Today I don't have a picture for you.  What I'm currently working on isn't in a state where it can be photographed.  So....instead I am sharing a wonderful thing I read about this morning.  Sometimes things just touch your heart and this was one of those times.  We've all heard of 'paying it forward' but this is an unique twist...

Two cups of coffee, one here, one on the wall.’
I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighbouring town of Venice (Italy), the city of lights and water.
As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us.
He called the waiter and placed his order saying, ‘Two cups of coffee, one here, one on the wall.’
We heard this strange order with interest and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two.
As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying ‘A Cup of Coffee’.
While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall.
They had the two cups of coffee but paid for three and left.
This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, ‘A Cup of Coffee’.
It was something unique and perplexing for us.
We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.
After a few days, we had a chance to go to this coffee shop again.
While we were enjoying our coffee, a poorly dressed man entered.
As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, 'One cup of coffee from the wall'.
The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.
The man had his coffee and left without paying.
We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin.
Now it was no surprise for us – the matter was very clear.
The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town made our eyes well up in tears.
Ponder upon the need of what this man wanted... He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem… he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee… without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him.
He only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.
Probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see will be our wall of good deeds on the Day of Judgement.
This is what is Charity when you give from one hand and other hand does not know about it.
May the Almighty help us all to spend for the poor and the needy.

Shared by 'Rafiki' 

Today your quote is from Neil Gaiman..."I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes; because if you are making mistakes, then you are trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world"

Assorted bits and bytes

Christmas this year was great.  I rarely am gifted with anything connected to creativity and this year I received several things, one of them being this beautiful piece of fabric art...

Created by Lynda Noe
of Scissors & Silk Studio
Gore Bay, Ontario

I think you can click the picture to embiggen if you'd like.  I love this piece and it was accompanied by not one, but two, online classes from Craftsy, both of which will help me to learn to create my own fabric pictures.  Woo hoo!!!  

One of the other special gifts I received was a beautiful antique gold necklace, gifted to me by our daughter-in-love.  The necklace belonged originally to her paternal great grandmother and is a family heirloom for sure.  It made me cry that she would want to give me such a precious piece of her family history.  Once I have it cleaned I will share a picture so you can see how wonderful it is. 

Your quote today is from Arnold Bennett...."The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance.  The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life.  You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose"

******

Finally, I want to extend my very best wishes to you and yours for the very best that the new year can hold.  May it be filled with joy, laughter, love and many hours filled with new leaves.

The aftermath

The hectic part of the season is over and now it's time for the cocooning to begin (at least here at Chez Magpie).  After Christmas for me has always been a time to sit down and delve into as many books as I can manage to read until the urge passes.  The projects for Christmas giving are done and nothing new is clamoring to be created (not to say that the to-do list isn't trying to attract attention!).  My studio is as tidy as it ever gets and I hate the thought of messing it up, at least for a few days.  

I think this was one of the best Christmases I've ever had.  I actually got a few things that are for creating with - something I am always happy to get and rarely do.  I was even given a couple of online classes through Craftsy - both of them about creating pictorial quilts which is something I have wanted to try out for some time.  I have a glimmer in my brain that I would like to attempt to re-create old decrepit barns in fabric.  So many of them are falling down in total disrepair and nobody seems to care. Perhaps trying to recreate them in fabric might be a good thing.  On the other hand, the technique is so far removed from my normal range of ability and I'm quite truthfully terrified to even try it. Maybe now I've put my dream into print and shared it with you I will be honour bound to at least give it a try!

Alas there are no pictures of my creations to share with you today, so how about I show you one of Jack's creations instead?  

We spent Christmas with our #1 son, daughter-in-love and grandson and their dinner theme was 'southwestern'.  Pecan pie is, of course, part of that.  Jack is well known for his amazing butter tarts, so it wasn't much of a stretch to create a pecan pie.

Your quote for today is another one from an anonymous source...  "Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.  So, love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.  And believe that everything happens for a reason....if you get a chance, take it; if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it would be easy.  They just promised it would be worth it"

Christmas wishes

To you, 

and those you hold most dear,

we wish to extend our best wishes

for a very happy, healthy, and safe

Christmas.

First of all, I want to share one of the pieces of music that I find the most meaningful this time of year.  It's not an old carol and I don't think it's one that you will likely hear too much on the radio.  However, it reflects the true meaning of the season and has the additional side effect of making my cry every single time I hear it (and no, it isn't sad....just beautiful).  Please go HERE for my Christmas gift to all of you.  

Today your quote is one I know I share every year, primarily because I am obviously still a kid at heart and never grew out of my love for Dr. Seuss and The Grinch...  "And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  "What if Christmas", he thought, "doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

Another search

Another search for something to show you today yielded this...not very exciting perhaps and not a great picture, but desperation is as desperation does!!

and I noticed, after I took the picture, that one of the
beads on one of the ornaments is crooked.  oops!

Every year I create a series of ornaments for gifting; some are gifts in and of themselves, and others are used as 'bows' on other gifts.  These are two of the ones I made this year...no two were the same (as is the case of real snowflakes!).  Even better was that all the raw materials came from my stash so they cost me nothing (shhh, don't tell!!).    These were really easy to make and a couple of evenings in front of the tv created all 20 ornaments that I needed.  

Today your quote comes from an anonymous source (but thought to be from the heart of a 7 year old)...."Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen"

Still searching, and a warning

I'm still searching for something that I can share with you and so I thought I'd post a teeny little bit of my current project...

I can't show you any more than that, but suffice to say it's definitely something that's outside my comfort zone!

And this is something that appeared in one of my groups this morning and I thought it was something that should be shared as much as possible.  

This is a warning from police, applied to both women and men...

Beware of a piece of paper on the back window of your vehicle - it's a new way do a carjacking.  You often don't see it until you get in the car and shift into reverse to back out of your spot.  You notice the piece of paper and stop and get out to remove it, leaving your car running AND your purse on the front seat.  Just enough time for a carjacker to leap in and take off with your car AND your personal information, including your house and car keys.  Police recommend that if you see such a paper, drive away.  Do NOT stop and remove it until you get home!!

Please consider sharing that information!

Today your quote is from Calvin Coolidge... "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas"

Searching

In my search to find something (anything!) that might be post-worthy today, I suddenly remembered that I don't think I shared this particular piece with you.  

This is a family tree picture that I created for the 'Crazy Quilt Gatherings' Autumn 2016 issue and was conceived during one of Kathy Shaw's online crazy quilt classes.  I don't normally work from a pattern per se, but tend to just wing it (which can get me into some 'interesting' situations).  Anyway, the class module required that I design a block, including all the stitches I planned to do.  The design languished in my files until Pam Kellogg issued a challenge to come up with something genealogy-related for the magazine.  This is what I created.  

For those who I know will ask...

my paternal grandparents on the lower left,

maternal grandparents on lower right,

moi in the middle and my parents on either side,

my husband and sons on the top.

Today your quote is from Harlan Miller....."Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words"

• 
  

All I have....

Today, fittingly, your quote is about boredom (because I'm sure you are thinking that about some of my posts!)...and comes from Nicholas Hoult...."Long-term boredom can't lead to anything good"

Fill it up, Santa, please!

Our newest grandson HAS to have a Christmas stocking for Santa to fill, don't you think?

One of the little monkeys from yesterday

is already tucked in the toe!

There is no pattern per se for this one - It pretty much came out of my head, although I did find the reindeer on the internet.  

Today your quote is from 'Maxine'...."Christmas is just plain weird.  What other time of year do you sit in front of a dead tree in the living room and eat candy out of your socks"

Two little monkeys!

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Two little monkey finger puppets all ready for two little grandsons.  Pattern is 'Sock Monkey Finger Puppet' from HERE.  

Today your quote is from Suze Orman...."No woman can control her destiny if she doesn't give TO herself as much as she gives OF herself"

Some knitting - who knew?

Our oldest grandson is currently in like with "dine-O-soars" (his word) so what could a doting grandma do but make him his very own DineOSoar sweater for Christmas?

The pattern is from a Beehive booklet called "Knit Menagerie" and was made using Paton's Canadiana yarn.  As a little side note, Logan's Uncle Shawn had the very same sweater when he was little, but his was red and was made by one of my friends.  Wonder where it ever went.

Today your quote is from an anonymous source...."The greatest gifts are not wrapped in paper but in love"

some you-know-what

Today your quote is from Andrew Weil....."The power to heal is in you, and nonetheless there is a tendency in our culture to project onto other people and to want them to heal us"

Today I don't have a post from me - the tears are too strong

Christmas Story: For the Man Who Hated Christmas
By Nancy W. Gavin

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it—overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma—the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids—all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came.

That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.

Mike’s smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition—one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children—ignoring their new toys—would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn’t end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.

Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.

**********

and now, for something other than quiet books!

Today I thought you might like to see a project that I did for the 'Crazy Quilt Quarterly' magazine, winter issue.  For some time I have had visions of a crazy quilted santa claus dancing about in my head and I finally acted upon it and this is the result...

His beard and his hat were done with crazy quilting and the face was appliqued using an image I found online.  

Hopefully you can see more of the details in the closeup.  I think you can likely click on the pictures to embiggen them more.

Today your quote is from Ediwn Osgood Grover...."Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows;  who shares his joys with those who are sad; whose hand is never closed against the needy; whose arm is ever outstretched to aid the weak; whose sympathy is quick and genuine in time of trouble; who recognizes a comrade and brother in every man he meets upon life's common road; who lives his life throughout the entire year in the Christmas spirit"

Would that we could all be like Santa Claus.

Finished book!!

The quiet book is finished!  I really don't think it should be possible to have so much fun making something, but this project certainly fits into that category.  I'm almost sorry that it's done!

The cover (above) has pictures of our grandson, son, and daughter-in-love.  The back cover (below) is a Mr. Potato Head, waving goodbye.  The pattern for him came from HERE.

The pages measure approximately 11" square which seems to be a good size overall.  If you ever plan on making one of these books, I would recommend not trying to sew the spine with your sewing machine....not that I would know that the needle would snap and leave the sharp point lurking within the confines of the book...why, no, I wouldn't know that.  I ended up hand stitching the spine using dental floss (and my handy dandy pair of pliers!).  

Almost done!

These are the final two pages for inside the quiet book (tomorrow I'll show you the covers).  

I decided to add something to the inside of the flap that opens to show the inside of the house so I added the lunch plate...just so he would have something to see when he opens it.

The truck below has a zipper across the top and inside are felt transportation pieces (boat, bus; truck, car, airplane, and train).  

This book has been so much fun to make and I know I could go on and make a lot more pages, but it would be totally unwieldy if I did!

Your quote for today is from Mother Teresa...."Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless"

A couple more

Today it will be a quick post, but thought I'd pop in to share two more pages in the quiet book with you...

This page is a barn, and the X's are flaps that open up

to reveal farm animals beneath...

And this page is just shapes that are

velcroed so he can remove and replace them...

Today's quote is from Barbara Bush...."To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there"

Another page

Here's another couple of pages in the quiet book...

The above page has textures that he can feel.

Below is a page idea I found on the 

internet and translated into my own

design.  

The airplane and the car move back

and forth on a ribbon.  

Today the quote is from Meister Eckhard...."If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "Thank you," that would suffice"

and another....

Here's another page for the quiet book...

I know it's hard to tell in this picture, 

but there is lace in all the windows.

The entire 'house' opens (in one piece...see the stitching along

the left side?) to reveal this...

Here's another one....

Here's another page for the quiet book...

This one is a simple colour-match page done in the shape of a ball.  I don't know if it shows up in the photo very well, but I embroidered the colour names on the underneath ball so he can not only match colours, but also match  shapes and learn the words at the same time.  It's pretty basic, but it's a good learning tool I think.

Today your quote is from John F. Kennedy...."Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.  And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, the pursuit must go on"

Beginning....

Over the weekend I started working on a new project which will be a Christmas present for our newest little grandson.  I made a quiet book for our older grandson when he was born and I just *have* to make another one because they're so much fun!  Time consuming, but fun.  

Here's the first page I did...

This one is fairly simple.  I found a little 'person' shape online HERE and created it out of felt.  I made a little felt shirt and pants which attach to the person with dome fasteners so they are removable.  The page was complete with a little quilt and a pillow.

Second page...

The tie-up shoes were also created from felt and real shoelaces.  I still have to finish the ends of the laces (a quick dip in some clear nail polish should do the trick.  

Over the next while I will share more of the pages as I create them.

Today your quote is from Ben Franklin.... "Take one thing with another, and the world is a pretty good sort of a world, and it is our duty to make the best of it, and be thankful"

A Christmas project

Here is another completed project as further proof that I really haven't been idle!

I had a special request to create an

advent calendar for #1 grandson

Close up 

This was created using a pre-printed panel.  

Today your quote is from Frank Outlaw....

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

A little bit of knitting, and a little you-know-what

Here's another bit of proof that I really haven't been idle...

These are three more hats I completed for #1 son, daughter-in-love and grandson.  The green one is a free pattern I found on Ravelry by M. Nishioka and is called 'Button-Tab Knit Hat'.  The grey & red striped one is the 'Double Rib Toddler Hat' by Torunn V. Espe and is also found on Ravelry.  The black one, also free on Ravelry, is from 'She Makes Hats' and is called the Sandoval Hat.  

Today your quote is from Mother Teresa - "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving"

Well, never let it be said!

Most of you know already that computer illiteracy reigns supreme at Chez Richardson and also that recently I had to start over with my computer.  Some of you may already know that I am also stubborn (I know, who...moi?).  I hate to say that some of the lack of pictures on this blog has been a result of my not being able to figure out how to get my camera and my computer to go off in the corner and play nicely.  They have been squabbling.  The discussion going on has been quite disturbing.  First the computer says nope, I don't wanna play on your swings.  And then the camera says well, if you don't want to play on my swings, then I don't want to play catch with YOU.  And so it's gone.  One side trying to best the other and poor little ol' me in the middle, trying to be a peacemaker.  

There has been infighting.  And swearing (not that I would EVER resort to such tactics!).  There has been removal of programs and installation of programs.  Finger crossing.  Muttering and (dare I say it) mumbling too!

End result of all that is to say that I think I have won.  

Maybe. 

 Perhaps.  

So...here goes nothing....

Well, will you lookit that!   It worked!!!!!  

Phew!  All this angst, just to show you something that I made over the past while.  This is a Christmas card that is currently winging its way to my cousin in Australia.  Hope she likes it!

Today the quote (and a fitting one, I might add) is from Steve Wozniak....  "Never trust a computer you can't throw out a window"

Still suffering from alas-ness-ess

Hah - bet THAT word made you stop and wonder didn't it?  And I know it's not a real word, but in an effort to make this blog at least somewhat interesting I thought I'd make you wonder about the state of my mind.  

Ahem.

Today your quote is another from an anonymous source.  I would love to give credit to the author, so if you know who is was, please let me know.

THE POPPY

Nature created a flower

With petals of brilliant red.

Who'd have thought such a beautiful flower

Would be used to remember the dead?

For when all the guns have stopped firing

And there's only the mud and the rain

God sends down his little red flowers

To cover the lads who remain

So remember every November

When we hold our remembrance day

Of the lads who lie neath the poppies

And the price they had to pay.

Alas

Yep.  You've probably guessed it already.  No pictures today - only mumblings.  I know.  What's this world coming to!

- In my search for quotes for you, I came across this wonderful poem, attributed to an unknown author.  

A POEM FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

Why are they selling poppies, Mommy?
Selling poppies in town today.

The poppies, child, are flowers of love

For the men who marched away.

But why have they chosen a poppy, Mommy?

Why not a beautiful rose?

Because my child, men fought and died

In the fields where the poppies grow.

But why are the poppies so red, Mommy?

Why are the poppies so red?

Red is the colour of blood, my child,

The blood that our soldiers shed.

The heart of the poppy is black, Mommy,

Why does it have to be black?

Black, my child, is the symbol of grief,

For the men who never came back.

But why, Mommy, are you crying so?

Your tears are giving you pain.

My tears are my fears for you my child

For the world is forgetting again.

If you know the author of this poem, please let me know

so I can give proper credit.

A mixed bag today

Today I have a few things to share with you.  I can't show what I'm working on - at least not yet - so instead I can show you these...

First of all - I had been asked to share a photo of the in-progress vanilla gifts that will be given at Christmas time, so here you go...

Not all that exciting I know!  I will create some pretty labels before they get wrapped, but in the meantime they reside in the cupboard and get lightly shaken every day.  It will be interesting to see/smell/taste the different flavours.

The past week or so I've been busy creating some hats that will be heading out west to our #2 son, daughter-in-love and our wee grandson.  These were fun to make and I hope they like them!

The one on the left is knitted using a pattern  called 'Keep Me Warm' by Anne Gagnon that I found on Ravelry HERE.  The middle hat is also from Ravelry and called Ribs 'n Cables Beanie also by Anne Gagon and can be found HERE.  Both patterns are free.  The tiger is crocheted and made from a pattern I found HERE and is also a free pattern from 'Repeat Crafter Me'.    These should be going in the mail tomorrow.  Tonight I'll start on a set of hats for the other family members.  

Today I leave you with this quote from an anonymous source..."Blessed are those who spoil and snuggle, hug and hope, pray and pamper, for they shall be called Grandparents"

Much cheering, and a new toy too!

Well, there's much celebration happening at Chez Magpie at the moment.  Dare I say that the computer is home and finally working (shhhh.....don't want to jinx it by saying that too loudly!).  Nearly two and a half months of being forced to use the tablet exclusively is finally over.  Don't get me wrong - I like my tablet, but it does have a lot of limitations.  By the time the dust settled I also had to invest in a new monitor, which wasn't a big surprise because I knew mine was old and getting crotchety.  

For the new toy part of this post, I thought I'd share with you what we hauled home across Canada.  See?.....

She's a beautiful treadle sewing machine, made in 1904, and gifted to me by our #2 son and daughter-in-love.  She's absolutely beautiful (both our daughter-in-love AND the sewing machine!!!).  She needs a new belt but otherwise is in perfect working order.  She even came with her original instruction manual and all the attachments, along with a number of wooden spools of thread.  The table needs a little TLC but that's not difficult to deal with.

Our son remembers hearing my stories about how I would be allowed to push the treadle on my grandma's sewing machine when I was a little girl and how special I felt.  I was certain I was being such a big help to my grandma (in reality, it was likely I was more of a hindrance).  The kids thought I would like to have this to re-live the memories and to enjoy using it.

Today the quote is from Bibhu Mohapatra.... "I remember an old Singer sewing machine at home that belonged to my grandmother.  It had a pedal.  My mom taught me how to use it when I was 12 years old.  I used to find it so intriguing, how a flat piece of material could be made into an object that had so many uses"

I still find it intriguing!  

You asked

Several people have asked that    I  share the recipe for the vanilla. Ask, and ye shall receive!

The basic ingredients  are pretty simple.  Vodka , vanilla beans and a bottle.  we decided to experiment  a little and we made some with bourbon  and spiced run too (so three different variations).

A trip to the dollar    store yielded perfect bottles.It's best to do a little looking around for the vanilla beans....we found a wide variety in  prices.... $11.99 in one place and the exact same thing elsewhere for $3.99.  You can also find them on the internet.  Cut 2 -3 vanilla  beans lengthwise and place in your chosen bottle.  Fill   with chosen  alcohol, and  cap.   Store   in a cool dark place and gently shake once a day.  Leave to mature for at least a month   (longer is better  !).

The bottles we used hold about a cup and a half of liquid  and two beans should be fine.  Obviously  if you are using larger bottles you will  need  to  add more beans.

As for the poo spray.....experiments are underway and I'll share that one after I get it the way I want it.

What do poo and vanilla have in common?

Yep not having a computer has driven me over the edge.  Maybe I'm even certifiable.  Withdrawal  has driven me to drastic measures.  All  that, and waking up to the realization  that a particular date in December  is rapidly  approaching  has just been too much for my fragile psyche.

So...I made three different kinds of vanilla  today, just because I could.  Two or three different people will receive a set of bourbon, rum and vodka vanillas.  Provided I don't drink 'em all if my computer soon doesn't come home.

And...because into every life a little poo must fall....why not go entirely off the deep end and  make some poo-pourri  spray too.  Only select people will be receiving those under the Christmas  tree!  In case you are wondering (and I know you were!)..the potion gets spritzed into the throne before  nature takes its course and eliminates the need for those highly priced and hugely scented after-the-fact commercial sprays.

Hurry  up computer...I'm losin' it.....

Oh my aching.....

.....feel free to insert whatever  bone or muscle of your choosing.

The floors  are pretty much done other than a bit of trim and some caulking  in  the  bathroom.  And I'm pretty much  done in!  Jack and I had a decent system...I parked myself on the floor and stayed there doing the laying of the tiles and grouting  and Jack did the cutting and acted as a good go-fer.  My knees aren't good so it was much easier to just stay put...altho  I did end up with a bruised butt cheek   (I know...,too much information!).

I took a couple of pictures  so you can see (and  no....NOT of my aforementioned  bruise...this is not an X rated blog!).

The picture quality  isn't great  but still don't have my main computer  back from repairs.

I haven't  forgotten  your quotes of the day  but it's  a tad difficult  to do with the tablet.  I promise they will return!

Living in a construction zone

...or is it more aptly described as a DE-struction zone?  While we were away we had asked our building  super to replace our bathroom, kitchen  and entryway  flooring.  We arrived home to find nothing done and are now having to tackle the project ourselves.  I had planned to repaint the bathroom too.

As of now the bathroom  painting  is well underway and this morning Jack removed the carpet in the hallway.  Imagine our disgust when we saw what lay beneath!  How can workers think that it's right to just lay carpeting over top of that much dirt, cement dust  and chunks of cement!  We know that the carpet in this building has been replaced a number of times since it was built so why has no one bothered to sweep up the construction  mess?  Sure does explain why our allergies  are so bad!

Tomorrow  I'll put the final coat of paint on the bathroom and we can start laying the tiles in the hallway.  Next will come the kitchen and then the floor in the bathroom.  We will not be  removing the old tiles because we're pretty certain they are asbestos and we aren't willing to open that kettle of fish.  The building  people fall all over themselves  trying to assure  us that they're  not asbestos but considering when the buildings were built the odds are they're  the bad ones.  One more reason to cover them up!

I don't have any pictures  to share....still waiting for my computer to be repaired.

I'm b-a-c-k!

The travelers  have returned!  Road weary and happy to be home and sleeping in our own bed.  The trip  was  amazing  and we are so glad we did it.  It was a very  long time to spend in the car (4508 k out and 4281 back).  It was so worth it though  to be able to spend time with our family and to be able to snuggle with our wee baby grandson.  His name, btw, is Theo Hao-Hsuan   Richardson .  He was 7 lbs  15  oz   and 22" long....taller than his currently  6'8" daddy was at birth.

I'm posting this using my tablet which is very annoying .   So...don't expect me to post much until my main computer is repaired.  I can't figure out how to post pictures here (for that matter I can't download them off my camera either).

Bear with me and I'll  return to my normal mumblings in a few more days.