Screwy weather and land-speed records...

The explosion of color has begun!

So here we go again, we’re getting crisp, almost jacket wearing cold days, closing the windows because it‘s too cold at nigh… wait, um… Nope... We’re not doing that yet.

Mother Nature’s gone nuts (not that it had far to go nowadays!) and we are actually having temperatures in the mid-70s, with hazy but bright skies and the continuing change of leaves. The leaves are about the only normal thing that’s going on right now.

In fact, during the night I got up and turned my air conditioner on! (Procrastination has it’s rewards from time to time. HA!) It’s humid and I’m even wondering if it has rained. I can hear a hiss as cars are driving passed my house. It would explain the humidity.

I recently had a dear friend help me make a quilt for a loved one's baby. (Who-hoo! I actually CUT something!) Actual sewing however didn’t go so well. Let’s just say that I didn't set any land-speed sewing records.

Which is a big reason I was cutting. Who knew?

I can say, I may have stitched a few squares to the equivalent of two stitch lines to her, oh lets say... nineteen? But I didn't screw up the cutting. A HUGE accomplishment considering my dyslexia and my overall ignorance of the how quilts are made.

It turned out cute but flawed and I did not take it as a "I’ll-show-you-then-take-back-and-fix” gift. Dad said I should have just taken it "as was", but some sixth sense said no. Man, was I glad.

While opening her gifts in front of all, she received two incredible hand crocheted afghans, three various patterned “tied” fleece blankets and lastly… a hand-stitched quilt! Hand stitched for heaven‘s sake! Who does that!?! (Well… obviously someone that knows the Mommy, and has more talent than I could ever imagine would be my guess.)

Cripes.

Mine would have been a sorry sight among those. I did spend Monday with her, helping with the baby and I told her about it, and she and hubby are anxious to see it for real. So later I will hit Wally World for material, and take it from there. Hopefully, I gleaned enough information to attempt the ‘repairs’ on my own. If not… guess who I’ll be calling right away! Or I'll just log in at, "Is-it-bad-to-stitch-through-my-fingernail?.com"

Winter & Road Construction

First off... I just knew someday I'd get to use this!

How in the world can it be the middle if September already?! What’s really odd is the different events that are coming to light.

Here in The-Not-So-Great-White-North, we have a saying… well, very probably every state in the nation has similar beliefs… anyway, we say, “There are two seasons here… winter and road construction.”

Three years ago, the state began a road construction project with an end date of 2009! Everybody was freaking out about it.

CRIPES!!!

We could not even comprehend dealing with road construction on our main thoroughfare for three flipping years! (With the caveat, of course that weather conditions could delay completion on time.)

Basically? They more or less said, “HA! You’re my little puppy now!!”

The construction became a way of life. We learned which times of the day we needed to find an alternate route, which times when it would be fairly easy passage.

There was an article in the paper recently informing us that at this point in time… they’re ahead of schedule and they are anticipating the opening of the new section sometime next spring. Possibly as early as the first week in April!

Suddenly it’s as if you’ve been smacked in the bean with a golf ball. First off, we are already only 15 weeks from 2009. Which blows your mind and then secondly… The new road is done! The new road is done!

Yes.

You are correct.

Celebrating the near completion of a major roadway? Well, that pretty much defines exactly why I refer to my home as The-Not-So-Great-White-North.

We’re an odd bunch for sure, but it does make life interesting from time to time.

Remember....

To all of those that reached out and touched the face of God....

To all those that perished & those that loved them...

The firefighters that never stopped going up,

even as others rushed down.

United Flight 93 ~ Your sacrifice saved so many others.

New York Police Department

New York Police Emergency Services Unit

Port Authority Police Department

"10-7 WTC" ~ 'End Of Tour'

Those that gave their lives in Service to our Country

And for those that still do...

~ May God Bless You All ~

One of those days...

As I am feeling kind of weird lately, (Shut up!)

I took great delight with this picture sent by a friend.

I know... I'm twisted, but it made me laugh out loud.

So turning 50 wasn't such a big deal. I expected to get a lot more crap but I imagine everyone that will turn 50 after me were too worried about revenge. Actually, I have realized that most of the "friends" that didn't bother to even slightly annoy me, probably didn't even remember it was my birthday. So it just goes to show that as you age, so do your friends. The forget as much stuff as I do! HAHAHAHA!

The weather is finally edging towards fall now. I find myself snuggling deeper beneath my down comforter and went so far as to close my bedroom window around 4:30 a.m. I'm still knocking about wearing a tank top, shorts and no shoes but the weather is definitely on it's way to deep fall.

I am actually looking forward to it. We got quite a storm night before last, but no where near the rain we need. It did however manage to give just enough moisture to the weeds in my yard and they seemingly grew six inches overnight.

Cripes.

Now I have to mow. On the plus side... I have a mulching mower and it'll make a nice start to ridding my yard of the leaves that have fallen thus far. Even though I have a leaf blower (yeah... you should see me with that!) There is an art to proper leaf blowing.

I have not mastered that art.

Although it has brought about occasion to use various other forms of cuss words, as in, "YOU MOTHER-CHUCKER!" (That one made my neighbor laugh out loud!)

Cripes.

Well, this old lady is ready to crawl into bed. Even though it's actually only 11:30 (generally unheard of when it comes to my sleeping habits!) I am tired and have learned that if I stay up any longer, I'll reach that terrible "second wind" stage and be up until the wee hours of the night.

Great... the cat is sleeping on my pillow. She isn't exactly good at figuring out the whole, "That's mine!" concept.

Basically it means while I will push her off to get my pillow back, I will then spend the rest of the night with her draped over my head in one way or another.

Cripes.

I hope she doesn't decide to chew on my hair again. Waking up with cat slimed split ends is truly gross.

The sneakin' little night stalker!

Yeah... it's amazing! They do that here too!