Knitter's Frolic

This morning, I headed off to attend my first Knitters Frolic. It was being held at the Japanese Cultural Centre. Once I arrived I was directed to the overflow parking, it was that busy already. I was very excited. I had decided not to attend any classes this year but I may give them a go next year. Kath was unable to go with me as she and Alan were getting food ready for the Mother's Day dinner which their Church puts on.

Anyways I got inside the building, paid my 5 dollars. There were so many vendors. I bought some lovely types of yarn. All really nice sock yarn. Since I have discovered socks, I can't wait to knit more. I bought a pair of antique sock stretchers for Kath and myself. I also got a free calendar and some knitting markers. There was a lot of different vendors. There was even yarn which you could spin yourself. I don't know if I will go that far. When I left it was pouring with rain but I didn't get too wet.

When I got home I decided to start knitting the little sweater for Detta's teacher last year. She is having her first baby. I am using the Shepherd Classic, it knits up so nicely. I was only about 5 rows into the sweator and realized I had no bright yellow. So I jumped in the car and drove all the way to Soper Creek Yarn. But they didn't have any. In fact she is going to no longer carry this brand of wool. The owner did say she had some at home which she could bring. That was so nice of her to offer but I am sure Kath has some. I am seeing her tomorrow so I can get it then.

Sugar Scrub

Yesterday Detta and I went shoe shopping for her Grad shoes. Detta ended up with some nice shoes, low heels and two pairs of sandals/flip flops. I also managed to find a pair of very nice black slip ons, so nice in fact I may go buy a second pair. We then went over and picked up Detta's friend to spend the night with us.

Detta had this sugar scrub she wanted to make so I had to go out this morning and buy sugar and grape seed oil, not the cheapest oil. The girls had lots of fun measuring and mixing. Donovan also had his hand in with the measuring, though he is not very keen on trying it. I think Donovan thought we were making something you could eat especially with all that sugar. I love all the colours in the containers.

I finished another book this afternoon, 'Diva's Don't Knit' by Gil McNeil. It was very good, takes place in England. I must find the next one to read.

OMG - THE VASE

I can't believe it!! I was packing the vases for the candy buffet in a box and as I lifted one of them out to reorganise, it hit the top of the tallest vase!! The centre piece of the candy buffet. A piece about 4 inches long came off the top!!! I am devastated. And of course this had to happen at 8:25 pm. As I stood speechless, well maybe a few profanities, Hugh said 'get on your bike'.

Well I jumped in the car, in the middle of a huge rainstorm, at least the thunder had already passed. I raced up to Homesense (I just drove quickly), the electricity was out in the middle of Ajax. At least the stores still had power. I found an inexpensive vase and bought it. Then I quickly went over to Pier Imports and found another one, bought it. And one more stop was to be Bouclairs but the electricity was out so I gave it a miss.

It took longer to drive home. DOES NO ONE KNOW HOW TO USE STOP LIGHTS WHEN THEY AREN'T WORKING????? Well not too many here know. IT BECOMES A FOUR-WAY STOP!!! PLEASSSSEEEEE!!!!

Flower Arranging

Today after heading into the kitchen I realised I had forgotten to make the brownies for the rehearsal party. So at 7:30 I started mixing up a batch of brownies, no walnuts though. Then after they were finished I made a second batch. I headed out to Joan's about 9:30 and they were still hot in the boxes.
When I arrived at Joan's, Kath was there with Peter's Mum, Margaret and her sisters, Anne and Lisa. Names like this will make it easier for me to remember their names. They were all preparing the flowers to put in the vases which were spread around Joan's dining and living rooms. Anne arrived just in time for tea and brought some lovely squares with her. Lisa and I ended up going out and getting boxes from No Frills to carry the flower arrangements to the hall. I think Andrew is going to pick them up tomorrow. Joan has put most of the flowers in the arrangements but there is still filler, the bonbons and candy to put in. Detta and I are going to pop over tonight and help.

Oh I forgot, Hugh and I had a trial run of the candy buffet last night. We set the vases out and started filling them with candy. We are supposed to make candy skewers but I think that may be removed. I may just fill the dishes with jelly beans. And then there is also red twizzlers to put in. It is going to look really good.

After the flowers, Joan, Anne and I headed out for Reitman's. We bought some clothes and used up our $25.00 vouchers. I bought a skirt, jeans and 2 blouses. Then we headed over to Pickle's which is now called Wimpy's. But the food is just as good. I had a roast beef dip (again). It was very good, the gravy was not too thick.

Anyways I must decide tonight if we are going to do the skewers or not. Then I need to press my dress lightly and find the boys trousers. Detta probably needs something so I better go and get my last minute preparations done. Tomorrow morning Detta and I go to the hairdresser and then pack the candy in the cooler. Oh yes it would be a good idea to pack the vases tonight.

Wedding Preparations

Today I headed into Toronto at 9ish. I wanted to be at the Bay on Queen when it opened. I wasn't far off but it was incredibly slow driving along Richmond, just past Jarvis, it went from 3 lanes to 1!! I found a gorgeous black dress from Jones of New York. It is very 'Little Black Dress', very Coco Chanel. I also bought this gorgeous silk skirt in black and beige. It is beautiful, that may be returned if I wear the black dress (not on sale). There wasn't much to choose from, all the spring/summer clothes were on sale which obviously had started several weeks ago and there wasn't very much in for the autumn collections. Very sparse. I then headed over to Reitman's in the Eaton Centre. I found a lovely jacket to wear with the dress (but I may return it).

I headed home from there, took Miles and Detta to McDonalds for lunch. Funnily enough I ran into the lady, Jeanette who I met when Detta and I were flying from Belfast to Heathrow. What are the chances of meeting someone, you met on a plane in the UK, in McDonalds!! Yes she does live in the same town as me.

After lunch, I insisted Detta stop watching television as we needed to dress shop for her. We went to the Laura outlet. A very nice saleslady helped us choose about 10 dresses for Detta to try on. We finally settled on two so I bought them both. They were marked down so I thought why not! I found a lovely white jacket with black buttons which will look excellent with the black dress. I think this jacket will look much nicer than the one from Reitman's. We then headed to Walmart for ribbon, but Detta found shoes she liked there. They will look nice with one of the dresses she choose. I also found some shoes, maybe not for the wedding but they look great. It did take me a while to find the second shoe but I did persist, on the floor looking between the racks did it.

We then stopped at Bulk Barn. I liked the gum drops Joan had, so I did like Joan and just picked out all the pink ones. I think I got them all. Then our last stop was the Dollar store for a couple of vases which we are putting our candy skewers in.

Now I am putting my labels on the chinese boxes and tying very small bows, all 120 of them. I have more than half the green ones done and Detta is putting the ribbons with labels on the pink ones. I will then tie all the bows. I need to buy more ribbon though, I need ribbon for 23 more green boxes. Detta and I were over at Joan's yesterday evening, we finished all the bonbons!!! YESSS!! Detta skewed all the candy and put them into little baggies for each table arrangement. Joan sorted the bonbons for the table arrangements also. Everything looks so pretty.

I keep downloading pictures from my camera but most of my trip to the UK is still on the camera. I just don't want to remove them yet. There are only 540 pictures on the camera.

Lisa & Peter's Wedding

We are really starting to get the flower arrangements done for Lisa & Peter's Wedding. Last night Detta and I went to Joan's house and made bonbons! Well not really bonbons, but styrofoam balls covered in pink or green tissue wrapped in cello paper and tied at each end like a bonbon. They look really pretty. We only have 120 more to make!!

Today, Detta and I met Kath for breakfast. I had the sausage scrambler, it was very good. Detta tried the egg blt wrap. She ate most of it, I am very impressed with all the new foods Detta is trying.

We drove back to Kath's house and started on some flower arrangements. We did 3 big ones for the church. They took us about 3 hours to make. Kath did most of it. Andrew helped with the cutting of the flowers. He also held the rectangular ones up, one of them may be on a piano. After some grilled cheese sandwiches, made by Andrew's friend, Alex, Kath and I went for a nice dip in the pool.


Then Detta and I headed back to Whitby. I went to Valentino's to get my hair cut. It looks great. Nice and short and really thinned out. I lost my pendant that Miles gave me for Christmas though. I am sure I lost it at the hairdresser but it could have been any number of places. It was the first Christmas present that Miles every gave me. I am very sad to have lost, I wore it all the time.

I did manage to get Joan and Kath the same shirt I bought for myself last night at Marks Work Warehouse. The shirts were $5.00 each, a great deal. Actually I have an extra white one which I may see if Anne wants.

Kingston

Detta and I slept in later today and had a good rest. My legs are so sore! We took the bus into Kingston to do some shopping. No rain so far today. I didn't have breakfast so Detta chose McDonalds for me. Much different than ours, very modern decor. I loved the chairs.


First stop for shopping was John Lewis, of course. But I don't think the John Lewis here is as big as the one on Oxford Street. But I managed to find a few things which I had to buy, they are having a big sale right now. Kingston is lovely for shopping. It has a huge pedestrian area. And there are so many cafes and sandwich shops. Detta wasn't particular hungry so we skipped lunch and headed back to Kate and Alan's house for a rest. Kate has a library event at a local theatre tonight on Twilight. Detta is very keen to go.

I have managed to get hold of people. We are going to see my friend, Lisa on Saturday morning for coffee in Croydon and then we will meet Juliet and go to her house in Sanderstead. Then on Sunday we are going to Cambridge, Andrew lives up in Newmarket so we spend the afternoon with Andrew and Jackie.

My legs are feeling better to have gone for a walk! I keep this up and I will be wearing that skirt I bought for my niece's wedding.

Busy Week

Joan and Tom popped around last Sunday on their motorbikes. Joan looks very flash on her bike. I have no desire whatsoever to get on a motorbike again. I think Joan is very brave especially in Canada.

While out in the garden I discovered that the baby pigeons were still hanging around. They were found under the shrubs or on the floppy cedar tree. I haven't seen them for the rest of the week though.

Work passed by quickly, two new jobs were posted at Seneca forLibrary Technicians but you have to be a full time employee to apply for them. I don't expect they will replace their jobs once the new jobs are filled. A cost saving approach by Seneca to stretch the work amongst its employees. I did apply for a job at the Ontario Legistlature and another one at Baycrest so we will have to see what happens with those. I am thinking of appling for a Radiation Protection Technician at OPG, you only need a high school diploma to apply. I am not quite sure if I would be suited to this job though.

The children and I went to see Land of the Lost last night. It was very funny and gross. The children loved it. I especially like the mosquito part and the dinosaur's brain the size of a walnut.

Detta and I had a busy day today. I wanted to get some more yarn for a scarf I am knitting, it is silk and seaweed. We dropped by Anne's house to pick her up to borrow her sewing machine. Her kitchen has been totally removed at the moment. Andrew and a buddy are doing it this coming week. We drove downtown with Anne, stopped by and bought some fried rice Chinese buns to eat plus a few for Hugh - Curried Beef and BBQ Pork. The bakery is called the Yung Sing Bakery and it is on Baldwin Street. Excellent food and service. The first time I went there, was when I worked for Sick Kids hospital in 1986. I would walk over at lunch time have a fried rice bun and a vegetable spring roll.

We went to see Alex at her store but the Much Music channel were getting ready for their awards ceremony at the City TV building and it was crazy. We found Alex and Detta is taller than Alex now. We went out for crepes, they were so good. I had dark chocolate and strawberries, Detta had dark chocolate and ice cream, oh yes I had cream also. Yummy. We left there to go to Romni wool shop but I didn't end up buying any more, one they didn't have and two the ball I had weighed 100 grams. We drove back to Anne's and stopped by for Lizzie. The traffic was terrible, College St and Bloor were closed!! Lizzie's flat is very nice and then we went to Anne's. I was so exhausted from all the driving. Anyways I am home now, enjoying my new office. Anne lent me her yellow ball for sitting on but I need to put a bit more air in.

Geese

Yesterday as I was leaving work, there were some geese at the top of the stairs into the parking lot. Someone had just walked by them, so I went by quickly. There were 3 grown up geese and 2 babies. As I passed them, the little one in the middle came at me hissing!! I couldn't believe it.

Anyways, I made it through safely. I drove over to Oshawa to meet Kath. We went to Montana's for dinner. I did very good, though we did split a sweet potato fries, they are so good. I had chicken with a mushroom sauce and a baked potato with salsa. I was so full. We then popped over to Reitman's. Kath bought a bunch of clothes, she also bought me a skirt (the one like Annes) and a necklace for Detta. Kath bought this black dress, it looks really good on her.