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.

Books

I just finished a book (actually I just sent Detta to grab them from my bedroom). I spent all morning in bed reading and now it is noon. The book is called 'The School of Essential Ingredients' by Erica Baurmeister. It is such a lovely book, I really enjoyed reading it. It was about a cooking class and the lives of the teacher and the students, very sweet.

Yesteday I finished another book called 'The Lost Garden' by Helen Humphreys. It was also a lovely book but had a very sad ending. I cried and I cried.

Anne had a big clear out of books and I have two huge bags to read. I also took about 10 boxes (wine bottle size) to get rid of. I am going to take them to Gnu books who buys back used books. I was going set up an account for Anne.

My New Hat

I forgot to put pictures of my new hat. Well not actually my hat but the hat I knit for Jan's daughter who is having her first baby. The hat matches the jacket my sister Kath knit. I love the colours Kath chose. They look really good. I would have never thought of putting those colours together.

I am still finishing the socks but they are knitting up quickly. I love the socks, I will be knitting more of them.

What a couple of Days

On Tuesday night, Kath called me and asked if I wanted to come over to her friends on Wednesday as she was dying!!! I thought that seemed a bit strange. Why would I want to watch someone dying!! What Kath meant to come and see some fabric being dyed!

So on Wednesday morning after my dentist appointment which went very well except at my next appointment I am having my gums measured. My husband informed me that it is excruciatingly painful, thanks for that darling. Anyways I went to meet Kath. I know Kath's friend also but we will just call her Mrs. P.
Mrs. P was demonstrating how to dye wool for hooking. She was finishing dying the background for a friendship rug. We had a very good demonstration on dying fabric though I can't remember what this method is called.

While the material was cooking/steaming, we went through a bunch of Mrs. P's quilt and rug books. I just might hook a rug myself. I found one of a cow I really liked. I also finished the heel on my sock. We then left there and had lunch in Orono. I had a beef sandwich with fries, delicious. By the time we got to Kath's house there wasn't much time to help pin her rugs but I did get the wool to start a hat to match the baby sweator Kath knit for her friend Jan's daughter.

I was home by 5:30 and started casting on the hat. After a couple of trys I got it right and started knitting. But then it was dinner, Hugh cooked a lovely dinner of baked chicken, vegies and rice. It was delicious. Everyone loves this chicken.

Then Detta and I were off to Pathfinders. We were all meeting at Greenwood Conservation area and going for a hike. Detta and I forgot our whistles, water and flashlights. We were not very well prepared. Anyways the hike was great, what a workout. This is the trail I was trying to find when we went on the snake hunt at Easter. The boys would love this, right by the river and lots of mud. I was so sore, up and down hills. I want to do it again this weekend. My legs and butt were killing me.

I knit more on the hat while watching CSI. I did say I was going to stop watching CSI. The episodes seem to be in for the thrill factor and their lack of wearing protective gear for the crime scene is beginning to irritate me. I just love all the high heels and loose hair!!!!

Today I headed to Kath's early. I was so stiff I could hardly get out of bed but I was there by 9am! We had some coffee and Kath started to put the finishing edge on her carpet. I think it is called 'Queen Anne's Lace'. It is so pretty. I kept knitting at the hat and finished it. The curly q's on the top look so cute. It was a good morning and afternoon.

I had a really had a surprise when I came into work. I had a message from one of the staff in the fashion dept. Earlier in the week I had bought some raffle tickets and then you put them in the envelope of the item that interests you. Well I had put all of mine in this Dior make up set (there were quite a few of them). So guess what, I won one!!! YES. I better go and buy a lottery ticket now.

Socks

I was given this kit for the contest I entered at Soper Creek. This is the first sock I have ever knit, it has been so easy and fun. What have I been missing all these years? Those socks I have that don't fit well (I have small feet), now I can make my own! I even went on Youtube to find about grafting or the Kitchener stitch as its called. Now that I have one finished I can't wait to get the second done. Next time I do a pair I will make them a bit longer though.

My entry for the contest at Soper Creek was a hat from a Mission Falls book using there 1824 wool. It is so soft. Kath won second prize with her socks. Joan also entered the contest with a tea cosy. For the contest we bought a kit with selection of wool from Mission Falls 1824. We had to use the wool in the kit but we could use more and other wool from our own stash. If you remember Kath won first prize last year and I tied for second.

Kath's Socks & Joan's Tea Cosy

Casual Job

What a surprise, I had a call last week from a previous job. They want me to come and work casual. This means of course I will only be called if someone is on holiday or sick so that just might not be very often. But it is a "permanent" casual job, how exciting.

Because it is a hospital and a permanent job, I had to do blood work, tb test, mask fit and I had a tetanus shot (which hurt). I hope I get called for holiday replacement soon, the pay is good.

George Brown Visit with Pathfinders

Today was our visit to George Brown in Yorkville with the Pathfinders. One of the girls mothers works there and she arranged all of this for us. Instead of taking public transport, we all met at the church and the girls were divided up between several different vans. I knew exactly where the place was, as this was where Alex took her make-up course (I was a model for her)

Once we arrived, the girls had a introduction to cleansing, moisturizing and generally looking after their skin. This was one of the students who was doing the presentation for us. She did a very good job. Then the girls were divided into two groups. One group was having a manicure done and the other group went through the steps of cleaning their faces. I think everyone had a great time. All the people doing the manicures were students from the cosmetology course.

Then we had lunch which was provided for us. It was a great lunch of wraps and salad. It was delicious, I had to have seconds of both. The after lunch the groups switched places so everyone had manicures and facials.

One of the Pathfinders volunteered to have her make-up done. The teacher demonstrated to the girls the correct way to put make-up on. I think all the girls loved the way they could watch on the big screen. But by this point in the afternoon, I think everyone was getting tired, at least the leaders were.

Drive Thru's

Why do I use them? I have made it a standard practice for myself not to use Drive Thru's. I have been doing this for the past few years. But yesterday, the children and I went to the KFC drive thru. We placed our order and paid. Then we were told the popcorn chicken would take 3 minutes and could we drive around to the doors and wait, I said sure. 8 minutes later I had had enough and walked in, the food was just being put in the bags. I don't mind waiting, especially if the food is freshly cooked but tell me 8 minutes not 3!!!

You think that would have been enough for me but at the next stop, Wendys, I went to the drive thru. We placed our order and went to pay. Well my bank card wouldn't work. They swiped a pile of times and no luck. I then had the supervisor tell me it was because my bank card wasn't a chip card and perhaps I should have it changed. I informed the supervisor that the card had been used less 10 minutes ago and there was nothing wrong with my card. So I then gave them my credit card, lo and behold, it didn't work either!! The supervisor then asked me if I could come inside and pay as the hand held device wasn't working!! What a surprise, no apology mind you. So I went inside to pay and then asked to speak to the manager. I told the manager that I did not appreciate her staff giving me a lecture on my bank card . She didn't even give me an apology and just said she didn't know anything about my issue. You would think if a customer asked for the manager, they might take a few moments to discover what the problem was especially as it took this manager some time to come and speak with me. As you can tell I was totally unimpressed by the service I received. I made a complaint on their website.

I think I will go back to my old method of parking and going in. I thought that since there was no queue, it would be quick. That was the reason I stopped using Drive Thru's because of the lineups. I don't like to waste my fuel sitting idling in a queue. Also it is nice to see and speak to a person when you place an order.

Donovan Skating

Donovan had his first skating class. He was so excited though he was not at all keen on wearing snow pants. Detta is a program assistant (volunteer) during the canskate session. Donovan fell down so many times, I thought he would not want to go back.

The first time I took him skating at a parent/tot class he cried the whole time but that was quite a few years ago. Anyways this time, he loved it and we came back for the second class.


Look at the video, my little baby skating backwards!

New Years Day

Not only is it New Years Day but Joan's birthday also. Joan decided to have a craft party this year so she invited her sisters (me, Anne and Katherine) and a couple of friends, Laurie and Sue (who is visiting from Australia). We are going to make polymer bracelets. This is something we can all make in one session. Joan and I have already had a test run where we made Christmas buttons, Christmas trees and candy. They are very cute.

Joan had a large selection of colours and after much deliberation, we all chose our colours. Then we had to mix, roll, and twist many times. We had to stick a skewer through each one, and then the beads were cooked. We did two different varieties. We had a great time threading the beads and putting the clasps on, I became so fed up, Joan did mine!

Joan made us delicious panini sandwiches for lunch. Some of us had to have a second half. Then there were presents, tea and cake, of course. We all came away with two bracelets which were very cool. I will have to do this with the children, they would really enjoy this.