Young Fiz

Young Fiz

It's tiny, but I got such a kick out of it I have to put it here for you, Maggie ... maybe the only other person I know who watches Coronation Street and reads this blog from time to time.

Wasn't she cute?

Spotted it on one of the Corrie webpages, the Canadian one I think it was.
I haven't been watching the show much lately — who has time for TV? Not me. At least, not much.
There may be plenty of good shows (that is, if the frequency and repetitiveness of commercials didn't spoil them), but I don't want to sit there long enough to watch them.

I'd rather be reading.

Friday Off

A favourite corner of the living room

I am going from room to room, starting one thing, seeing another, picking something else up, and so on. At this rate I won't finish making the bed or getting dressed or checking my bank account for a recent deposit, or ... anything ... till this afternoon. I've left the bedroom half-together — went to the linen closet to exchange one wool blanket for another, saw an afghan Grandma made and brought it into the office, figured I'd check the morning mail, and here I still am! in my soft green housecoat ... but so much to do, never enough time! With patient attention I hope to feel otherwise about that someday. I refuse to live a life of rushing around. Yet I do it to myself anyway.

Breathe, Kathy, breathe ....

For a while there I was giving myself Fridays off.  A lovely leisurely day to bath, bake bread, go to town for Emil and get groceries for the coming week. I was living the life of luxury. Now I have some work that is time-sensitive and will probably need to be done (at least some of it will) on Fridays. So this is a "school day" after all. My schedule is always changing, it seems. When spring weather comes, I wonder how I'll manage to keep my nose to the grindstone indoors.

^~^ If you like the painting above, go have a look at Wendy Klein's gallery: CLICK HERE. Wish I had the wall space to bring home quite a few. Alas ... but she sells them as greeting cards too, which is so smart. They do give the recipient a lift.

Venturing Out

Late Afternoon

It was a working day, and a cold one, but I girded up and went out anyway after my work was done. This is the first time this winter my fingers have come in stinging after my mitts were off just a few moments to take this picture from the back step. The birdfeeders needed refilling (lawdamighty dem boids kin eat) and the cats' water dish was buried under a deep mound of fresh snow and had to be shoveled out. Then they drank like it was the elixir of life.

Deep Freeze

To gaze through the window at this peaceful scene, you'd never guess that it was 31-below last night.

Why You Haven't Heard From Me All Week

I decided to rearrange my desk in order to stand when I work.

Now, instead of taking five-minute breaks to walk around between each hour at the computer, I have to sit down — and let me tell you, that is easier said than done when you constantly see something that needs to be done, or put away.

What it means is that after five hours of standing throughout the day, I've had enough. Standing at the sink to wash dishes or at the counter to chop vegetables for supper becomes a whole different ordeal; now I move the cutting board to the kitchen table. Getting out for a half-hour walk down the road is less of a pleasure. And so on.

Actually it's not half bad. You just have to figure out how to accommodate your complaining legs and the soles of your feet. Longer breaks between each hour of standing means my working day stretches out, but on the bright side: I'm not sitting on my ass all day. This has been my first week doing this and, because the setup isn't easily adjustable between sitting and standing, I just went whole hog and stood the whole time.

Aside from my encyclopedia work, which I do on the iMac you see above, I've started doing 10 hours/week of social media work for an online newspaper. That, I can do from Scott's laptop, so I've taken to sitting at the kitchen table with it between my hours at the iMac. It gives my limbs a rest.

What it all means is that personal reading and writing on the iMac is the last thing I feel like doing at the end of the day. My body is tired by suppertime. But I'm going to keep it up for a while and decide whether the arrangement will be permanent. I think it will. Then I need to shop for a new desk.

(No, I'm not lefthanded. But I mouse with my left hand to relieve pressure on a knot that often appears at my right shoulder when working.)

Whatever's Easiest

Weekend warrior.

Appliquéd PlaceMats

Winter

Spring 

Summer

Fall

Looks like Mom didn't think we had too many sunny days in winter.
Actually it is a cloudy day and I took these just now with a lamp on nearby as well as the overhead light.

India: If you try your hand at these, please send me photos.

Lady Who Froze

The camera didn't catch the sheets of blowing snow. I only walked a mile yesterday because the wind was being windy. (What? I'm not trying to be writerly here.)

Out walking in flustery blustery winter conditions, I usually think of the lady who froze to death walking home from Margo. It was only a mile from town and she wanted to get back to her family before the blizzard blew in, so she set out on foot.

She is buried in the Margo cemetery, and someone put her portrait in one of those little frames you can now purchase to attach to tombstones. The story is probably in the Margo history book, where I likely first heard it.

I'm going to look it up. But not now. Back to work, for me.

Comfort and Food

Ducky will always find the softest place to rest his head.

Emil hoped we'd have leftover spaghetti for supper, and when I said it might not stretch to be enough for three, he was disappointed. So I sautéed onions, garlic, and green pepper, added chili and cumin along with black beans and diced tomatoes, threw in the pasta and topped the whole kit 'n' kaboodle with cheddar. And damn if it didn't make a fine casserole!

What Did You Say?

Snow. It just does what it does.

Emil goes back to Aylesbury House this afternoon.

Several times a day:
"Mom. Did you enjoy your whole two weeks with me?"
After the first 20 times, I'm getting impatient.
I reply:

"It was fabulous! Best two weeks ever!"
Or:
"Absolutely. I've never enjoyed myself more!"

And before the words are completely out, I'm grinning and believing it.

Draft Horses in Saskatchewan

Water shenanigans are ongoing at our house, so yesterday I made a trip to the laundromat. There began a conversation with a local man about web design, proofreading and publishing — that is, (having not met before), after we'd figured out who was related to or knew whose mutual acquaintances and that we'd both lived in the same rental farmhouse once upon a time.

Merlin Ford has published a book about draft horses. It contains 600 photographs so promises to be a real tome.

I've added his website, Clippity Clop's, to the list on the bottom half of this page, under Saskatchewan of course. You can read excerpts from the book and will find Merlin's contact information should you want to pick up a copy.

"Your webpage gets the 'proofreaders' stamp of approval,' Merlin," she says.

Still Christmas

This bow was Emil's gift to us; it got hung on a nail in the porch.

Mom gave me this needleworked hanger; I hung it on an available tack.

This silver and red finery came last year in a flower arrangement (thank you to the Bohls!) but I had to ask  Faye to make it look pretty in a vase after the living flowers had wilted.

Favourite Christmas tree, doesn't require undecorating.

Tree and lights near kitchen sink.

It's not your usual Christmas-decorating scheme, but I make my own rules, thank you very much. Might leave the lights up all year too.

The Light

North of farmyard late afternoon

South of farmyard not five minutes later

O the light

In the Maple Tree

As soon as I fill the feeders, they flock in. The pine grosbeaks...

...the white-breasted nuthatch ...

...and blue-eyed Lacy, who thinks she might catch one of the dozen chickadees that practically land on my hand. It's thrilling when they're so close. When  I don't get out there and refill the feeders early enough in the day, they fly right up to the windows to remind me: get my butt in gear. Cheeky buggers. 

There is also one lone Harris's sparrow, which must have lost its own flock, poor little jigger. There are six magpies but they don't come close till I leave; Scott asked the other day if I mind if he shoots them. Yes I mind! I hope he won't do it. He's all talk no action anyway, when it comes to that. I'm glad.

Lacy there would like to be a house cat again. I brought her back with me from Shelly's this summer, but she has never warmed to the cats that were already here, or they to her. Any takers out there? She's a lovely, affectionate one-year-old female. If she survives till spring (she has the entire barn to herself, and it's full of straw or hay so there are plenty of warm places; it's not the cold that kills our cats, it's the foxes and coyotes), she should have some nice kittens. Hope she doesn't eat them this time. Blechh.

Another Exciting NY's Eve at GG Farm

I purchased a vacuum robot; its test run is in the master bedroom.

Emil can relax; he's been saying all day, "I'm glad you're back to normal, Mom."

And so I am! Almost. Close enough to be singing and dancing around the house and celebrating the fact that oh my goodness, when your body feels right, it is great to be alive. I feel fabulous! (Is it possible I needed all that sleep?)

This is what he's been saying to me during my down days:

"Mom. Are you ever going to get dressed again?"

And:

"Mom. I can't wait till you're better so you can keep me company."

I haven't been the best companion today, because I've been slogging away at my desk here in the office, trying to rack up work hours I wasn't able to tackle while under the weather. We can be thankful he was here because, without him, our kitchen counters would be a filthy bacteria soup. He's done all the dishes by himself the whole time I was down, and if you know Emil, you might guess that each round of dishwashing took him a much longer chunk of time than it would have taken you or me.

I didn't manage to get in all the work hours I hoped today, but to hell with it. It's New Year's Eve, it's 9 at night, and money isn't everything.

Here comes 2013 ....

Check out Kathleen Winter's blog entry about visiting Chief Theresa's Spence's tipi:
click here. I am behind this woman all the way.

Flu Day 3

Still down with the flu.

It's not that I feel so bad; I've had worse. Just that I'm weak and nauseated, with no appetite.
This too shall pass, and the sooner the better. What a bunch of wasted days. I could've been working like a dog and earning money! I could've been doing things with my boy, who is home all week again and is getting pretty worried about me. I keep assuring him I'll be fine tomorrow, and then I'm not. I could've visited with my school buddy Bev this afternoon, since she's home visiting family in the area. Rick and Faye were going to come over tonight. Alas, none of it was to be.

Anyhoo, must get this fruit and spinach and buttermilk smoothie (couldn't even stand at the counter to cut fruit, had to make my way, panting, to the kitchen table and sit to do it) down my neck, and keep it there, and go back to bed.

Boy am I glad I don't get sick very often. And it's a good reminder that when someone else in the household is sick, take care of them! Feed them, water them, and cuddle them up. They don't have the energy or ambition to do any of it themselves. It's hard to realize that when you're on the outside looking in, and feeling good yourself.

Santa Brought the Flu

Still covered with hoarfrost

Quite often I gleefully agree with Mr Rick Mercer when he rants on his TV show. But this time, no. He was saying that those who refuse to get flu shots are being selfish, inconsiderate and foolish because, although they may not believe they need the shot themselves, there are many others who don't survive it and those who haven't had the shot may be passing the flu virus on to them.

These people who feel they are at risk from the flu: have they not got their flu shot? You would think it is their responsibility to do so.

And if they have gotten their flu shot because they believe it works so well, what have they got to fear from people who haven't had the shot? Do they not feel they are protected? And if they don't believe that, what is the point of getting the shot?

Around here, we got the flu for Christmas. Thanks so much, Santa. Gunnar arrived with it on Christmas day, Scott came down with it on Boxing Day, and I spent yesterday aching, fevered and unable to eat much. Which means that I also got a migraine. Double whammy! However I'm back on my feet today, a little weak and slow but a far sight better.

Until I got a flu shot at Mom's request in 2004, when she had cancer and was afraid we might pass the flu on to her in her weakened state, I hadn't had a flu for 30 years. Three days after the shot, I got the flu and was down for a couple days, and the following year I got it too. I haven't had a flu since then -- till this week.

Being sick is depressing. It makes me think about people with chronic or longterm illness, and wonder how on earth they do it. It's not possible to avoid fear or to keep one's spirits up (is it?). All I want to do is bow out till I'm feeling better.

Bing, Bowie and Bob

Have a Good One

TrashCrafts

front cover

When Cathy met me in Regina last week, she came bearing gifts. 

One of them was a notebook made entirely from recycled material. 

Each page is a one-side-printed sheet of paper folded in half — and you can peek inside and sometimes see handwritten corrections in ink where the former user, perhaps a student, had proofread typewritten notes.

The back cover

Emil and I have just returned from town, where I did the bulk of my Christmas shopping in less than an hour. The drugstore was busy and one of its tills was out of order, so there was a lineup at the checkout. It's nearly 30-below today, so I was comfortable in the street but indoors got a little sweaty, standing there with half a dozen boxes of chocolates and a T-shirt in my arms. Those are Emil's gifts; he had no Christmas list, but advised that he wouldn't mind some chocolates.

 Across the street at the dress store, I was the only customer and it took all of 5 minutes to pick out Scott's presents. The clerk wrapped 'em up all pretty, so I won't have much to do tonight.

I have not hauled from the china cabinet my tiny but beautiful origami Christmas tree yet. I have not strung one light onto a houseplant. I have done no seasonal baking. I haven't sent a card. Nothin. I'm not even planning to take the entire day off, tomorrow.

And fortunately for you, dear friends, I am not looking for more video performances of Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. It seems the spell has been broken.

I did get a treat this morning when, after he'd done his work in the basement, our electrician joined us for coffee. Leonard and I were in the same grade at school in our home town, Margo, so I was happy to have a chance to sit and visit a bit with him.

Emil and I went to Karen's yesterday for a delicious potluck dinner and spent the afternoon with her family and our uncle Neil and his family, so there were lots of grandchildren about and one incessant fire siren on a brand-new riding toy. The food and fine company were worth it, though. We don't see our cousins nearly often enough. Family gatherings have changed a lot since we were all kids.

Poor old Scottie fed and watered cattle and then worked in the basement and perhaps at his aunt's as well. He's preparing to hook the new well up to the house and so on ... there is no rest for the wicked, as the saying goes. Or is that for the weary? Well, he's both, so I'm still right. Right?

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

The birds flock to the maple tree.

I'm heading out for my walk.

My trusty companions.

Looks like some kind of weird moonscape

Across the fields

It's cold; Ducky's gone ahead into the yard but Jenna waits for me.

Had Enough of Regina Yet?

Ice bar at La Bodega, where we met an old friend for drinks and "appys." Inside the restaurant of course.

Regina was oh so pretty.

Artsy Fartsy

Lots to see, that's for sure.

Beautiful inside and out.

We only had 45 minutes to run through the Natural History Museum. I'm going to drag Scott back there with me:

It was fabulous, and we only saw half of it.

There are scads of old buildings (my pics of those didn't turn out) mixed in with new ones. And then cover it all with the thickest snow that won't stop coming.

Gerry: I got the bar, but no pic of you. Shoot! Next time.

Inside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building

 A bust of Tommy Douglas, revered by the people of Saskatchewan for fighting the fear and ignorance that opposed universal healthcare and bringing it, in spite of furious objection by fools, to the province. The federal government followed suit not long after, and the rest is history: medical care is now provided to every citizen of Canada, and not just to those who can afford it.

I had dropped my camera in the snow just minutes before; note the fuzzy blobs on some photos. They wouldn't have been great pics anyway, but let me tell you, that place is awe-inspiring, as I suppose it was meant to be.

The Feedjit gadget at the bottom of this page is kept because occasionally it brings a link to a wonderful new blog, and because you never know what kind of Google search will bring people to you. Here's one from the last 24 hours:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania arrived from google.com on "Back at Golden Grain Farm: July 2009" by searching for dads buttcrack always showing.