Tidying This Head of Mine

What is it about the heat that makes me want to get my head tidied up. Humidity plays havoc with this hair of mine, I guess is why.   With that in mind I decided to get a professional cut.  First Choice is a bargain hairdresser chain here so I figured why not give them a try.  Whoever cut my hair couldn't do any worse than the job I do on it myself.  I don't remember if I had a professional trim last year or not; I'm thinking it's been two years now.

Of course, those of you with nice straight  hair won't understand what it is like to have a curly mop that as soon as a bit of humidity appears, every hair flies off in a different direction and decides to frizz up at the same time.  Then hair spray with extra humidity control is my best friend.

 So off I went and what a cut!  The very young woman had my head practically shorn in five minutes.  I think it is the shortest cut I've ever gotten but I like it.  It is an excellent cut and she left just enough on the top for me to fool around with a little bit.

 Here is a picture of me about three weeks after the shearing.  Kind of hard to tell but my wings are gone...those especially frizzy ear flaps I was sporting on each side of my head.

I'm liking this enough that I might keep my hair clipped super short from now on.  The daughters aka my fashion police, are getting used to it; thought it was too brief in the beginning but like the way it is growing out.  And I am getting a little spoiled with how easy this is to take care of.
  More time for stitching, right?

Choosing The Right Book For a Holiday and Just CrossStitch News

Somebody asked why I chose The Luckiest Girl Alive to read on a trip.  And there is a special reason for it which I think I wrote about before.  The thought is giving me a deja vu moment, blog-wise.  Anyway, the reason is this.
  I once saved a 'good' book for my second (and last) trip to Florida.  Hefty in size and serious in nature, I thought Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky with its fantastic reviews would be wonderful to take me through my holiday.

I began reading it the first morning after settling down on a bright blue cabana on the beach, happy to have left the snow and cold so far behind me, if only for a few days.

 This book begins with the story of the Parisian family having to evacuate their home ahead of the Nazi German invasion during World War II. It was well written and I immediately felt drawn into the direst of circumstances a family could face.

 From time to time I would glance up from the page to look at the pelicans rising up and down from the ocean or to look at a child happily shouting or to smile back at the smiling people strolling the beach.

 It wasn't long before I couldn't continue Suite Francaise.  It is somber, very somber.  I began to feel badly that here was I sitting on a beach on a lovely little holiday while there were people who had actually lived through these horrific events. It was definitely not the book for me to read on holiday.

 There was no way I could get another book so I was a bit lost without one.  At one point I thought of canvassing the fellow vacationers to see if anyone had a book I could read.  LOL
Anyway, since then, I do not take a 'heavy' book on vacation.
Has anything like that happened to you?

Meanwhile, in other happier news, Christmas in July was happening all over the stitching internet.  Almost passed me by completely this year but I did get to follow a couple of lovely projects and ogle the results.  I love Christmas so would love the idea of working something Christmasy in the summer time.

The annual Just CrossStitch special Christmas Ornaments issues have become collectors' items.  They always offer the most beautiful little Christmas/holiday designs.  There is something for everyone of all skill levels amongst the 70 projects.  You can preorder your copy from Annie's Craft store for $9.99 US.  That link is HERE.  It will be on the stands the end of August.

I notice Prim like designs are sneaking in there.  I love all these you can see on the cover.  Amazing how there can still be fresh variations on the same themes yet there always are.

Stitchers' creativity is a wonderful, inspiring thing...always.

Hard Way to Lose Weight, Father of the Bride House, Floral Bouquet Cross Stitch

Apologies to new readers just tuning in and thinking so where is the stitching, the quilting, the crocheting??  She has lost her therapy!

Well it's all here, and gradually emerging from that awful dream of boxes and packing tape and $10 Canadian Tire plastic totes.  One of the longest conversations Hubby and I had during the packing frenzy was about said totes...should we 'invest' in totes rather than boxes; yes was the answer.  That opened a can of worms about which kind of totes and we quickly found out the world is awash in totes galore it seems.  Heavy duty, snap on lids, carrying handles, small, medium, large, jumbo...oh it seemed we almost came apart at the decision making about the darn totes. 

 But in our defense we'd just come off the decision making about the kind of packing tape to use, equally as confusing.  Note: if you buy cheap tape it will just stick to itself and nothing else and will peel off in tiny, albeit long, but very frustrating narrow strips.
Okay, I promise that is the end of the packing chatter.

This is where I stopped with the Floral Bouquet; pardon the awful photo.  By the time I found the camera and thought of taking a picture, it was dark outside.

As I've shared, Hubby and I had been house hunting and been successful in finding a house we both like.
What a great time I had during the looking as it is a love of mine to view houses. I have little interest in big but I have great interest in features.  I like houses that are a little unique and as several of you have commented, I think I have found one.
But my old fashioned sentimental favourites are older homes with center hall plan, long windows, a wide staircase, eat in kitchens.  There is something about any of the older styles that appeal to me.
Remember the Father of the Bride house?  It was very popular.

How do you feel about formal dining rooms?  I've read they are used an average of just 4 times a year.  A  dining room was not on our list especially since I didn't want one to sub for a sewing room anymore.

I have actually lost a few pounds since the packing began.  I probably would have lost more except for having to feed Hubby.  I have no worries; I have lots of body weight in reserve (lol) but he doesn't so I had to be sure meals were still ready on time no matter how busy.  

 At one point we wondered if moving household is more a young person's game.
 But on the up side, our brains and bodies have gotten a real workout because of the experience. Photos of the new place next time!

Summer's Sweet Song

In the blink of an eye we at the height of summer. If I don't watch myself, summer will be over and I won't have really taken the time to give it full notice.
 Many of the little towns around are hosting their annual summer fairs and every weekend you can take in a different one within driving distance. Usually they have livestock on display with the necessary warning "Don't wear sandals or flip flops near the cattle barn." LOL

Here is younger grandson enjoying the Dumbo ride at the Carleton Place Fun Fair a couple of weeks ago.  Does he look like he's enjoying it!

 The strawberry crop was a disappointment this year though because of the bad spring we had.  The apple trees on our old property were heavily loaded with baby apples unlike last season's disastrous event.  I guess that's how it goes in farming, up and down.

To tell you the truth, I am struggling just a little.  Every time I sit down to write, my eye falls on something else that needs sorting. And even though most of the messes are now in the storage bedroom, it still bothers me. I didn't realize I liked things so orderly.

Honestly, I tried to be organized, set up a station in each room for things that stay there or have to be moved, moved all the basement stuff to the back hall nearest the basement steps, etc.  But there is so much to do.  Luckily we moved into a pristine home with no cleaning first so I can just dirty it all up as we go.

The Before in the Sewing Room; hopefully it won't be too long before I can show an after picture.

On the Up Side

The dog situation here is much improved over our former house.  With a walkout basement we can bring them in and out more efficiently than before and keep some of the dirt from the main floor.  They have about the same area, over three acres of fenced yard to roam.  We have been taking them on leads around the trails morning and evening to get them used to this place and so far, they seem to be loving it.  Not as many critters here though to interest them as our eleven acres are bordered by urban areas on most sides.
 The immediate effect is Rex and Murphy are much quieter at night; no roaming skunks or raccoons to catch sight or scent of so no more midnight barking.  Halleluja!

But we have robins! A nest on each end of the front overhanging veranda with babies in both being well fed by the busy moms.  I guess the distance apart is just enough for them to deal with as the mothers fly off in opposite directions each time.

We have gone back to the former house a number of times as I've said.  Freezer needed cleaning out, the Christmas tree and gardening tools are still there, all the floors needed another mop, the grass needed a trim, etc., etc.
I feel a pang every time we drive up that lovely long winding driveway but then we get busy with what has to be done and by the time we leave, we are too tired for sentiment.

A Couple of Snaps of the New Place

The first bouquet of flowers from the garden at the new house.  Lots of flowers growing around the property, some I haven't a clue as to what they are.

A look at the kitchen some of you were asking to see; this is my fifteenth kitchen since leaving university.  It is very functional and laid out fairly well.  I have had no problem adjusting.  Though ten years old, it does have some nice features like pull out drawers in the tall cabinet.
 I was told there has never been a mouse here.  Unless we brought one with us...eeek

The side view out the living room window.  Not at all like my old view. Oh a little sad there for a moment thinking about the birds.  Do they think at all; do they feel abandoned.
 I know, I know.  Me worrying about birds in light of all the recent human tragedy in the world, which has given me lots of thought too.

 Everything is much more manicured looking here and even the wood trails are cleared somewhat of roots. That's a good thing...much easier for us old folks to walk around without landing on our face.

The indoor plants survived the trip.

There is now a semblance of order to the main room.  Our t.v. set up in the basement is still ringed by boxes and my sewing room (yes, I have a whole room!) is box free but needing organizing.
Two trips back to the old house to pick up things and deep clean have made us tired; that's a good thing in a way because it is hard to feel sad when you are beat.

Packing

Newspaper ink all over my hands even under my nails.
 I've been packing the stemware which sounds a little grand for the wine glasses we use daily but is probably suitable for the selection in the china cabinet that hasn't had an outing in decades.  I wonder does glass break down with just age not use.  So I've been busy.  My old problem of not knowing how to pace myself when a job has to be done.  If it is my job to do, then I want to work at it till it's done.  The result is marathon sessions with boxes, newspapers and horrible packing tape that tears off with the most awful screeching sound. 
Anyway, the good news is the wood house is ours, the movers are booked and we are a bit giddy with the thought of all that has to be done.  But I'm so tired at night I can't form the necessary thoughts to be scared about any of it. 

Last look at my design wall ( plastic tablecloth)...

I was having so much fun with the fusible applique and I look forward to getting back to it. 

Meanwhile, here are my constant companions who are hating the sound of that tearing tape perhaps even more than I am.

This is their perpetual look these days...worried.  They are such creatures of habit, especially these two with our isolation, they must sense change afoot and feel ill at ease.  Poor things; if only you could explain and they could understand.

I've been  too tired to type and our internet will be off while we make the change over.  I'll be thinking about you all and will get back as soon as I can. 

The Very Big Clean Out or What Is This?

Or as littler grandson calls it' keen' out.
So down in the basement we  go.  My decision to start beneath us. I've spoken of the basement before because it has been the repository of the most interesting collection of items for many decades.
For instance,
 3 pin ball machines.
  A pet bathtub for large dogs
A kiln
just to name a couple of the larger items.

 Hubby is proud of his fix- it skills as I've mentioned before.  To that end he has collections of things.  Big boxes each filled with possibly useful items...various sizes of metal tubing, many pieces of wire of varying dimensions, all the old small appliances from his father's house and his, all the electronic stuff, plus all the nails, brackets, and bric a brac from triple decades of trips to the hardware store.  In one corner is a collection of old mops and brooms saved for their wooden handles that could be pressed into service if needed. I know without asking that all this will move with us if we go.

A genuine LLadro, perhaps relegated to the basement because she has a slight fracture in her headband.

So to begin the little clean out, we start by moving  things around, pulling out things pushed deep to the back of shelves.  We uncover not one but two hammocks...obviously new, never unrolled.  Hubby has no memory of either.  We decide to save them.

We find a stash of camping equipment, two bed rolls, tarpaulin, a small pup tent, and an old Coleman's lantern still in its box.  Hubby has never been camping in his life (they had a cottage) and has no idea how he came by this stuff.  Too good to be thrown out, we put it in the Value Village pile.

 We discover a metal box containing three old blue coloured  bottles.  Hubby does remember these; he had found them at the site of the original home on the property. We keep these and add them to the ones I knew about in the storage room.

 We find a box of New Year's Eve metal noisemakers he is pretty certain came from his parents.   A banker's box of his old daytimers' notebooks  and several boxes of old notebooks once opened reveal what looks like a strange language though English words are dotted here and there. He explains these are some of his old coding books; he wrote computer code for a number of start up tech companies back in the heyday of the computer revolution. I'm interested by how this looks on paper..indecipherable yet clearly a language. He wants to keep them all.

Wall 'plates' from England and Greece;we have found 5 now.

I'm curious about several flat boxes containing a rock and mineral collections.  Turns out Hubby's dad took up mineralogy as a hobby after retirement. There are books, several instruments and glass vials containing tiny rock specimens and I decide I would like to keep all these.

 A small and interesting piece of furniture turns out to be a wooden sewing box; I can't believe I haven't spied this before.

 There is a pile of wooden crates containing vintage coca cola bottles.
Our rooting around reveals several old motorcycle helmets.  We examine the one that was his very first and can't believe how small and inadequate it looks compared to the one he wears today.

 We find his first cross country skis and poles. Wooden and clearly vintage.
  I have to start reminding myself to stop saying that word, vintage...a reminder to Hubby just how old he is. :)

The Complete Set of Denby Dishes Arabesque design so popular in the '60's and 70's .A  testimony to its durability that only the teapot and one cup has been lost.

Sentimental things too....memories of his pets. Old dog coats, collars and identification tags
. Three boxes of photos and slides and the empty photo albums to go with them...no one got around to filling them in.

There are still other places on the property to explore...the barn loft and garages.