Back to Reality Again

First, today is our grandson Dale's 3rd birthday!  How did three years pass already?? Happy birthday Little Buddy!

Well I didn't fall into a deep depression when we got home like I did after our trip in August, but it was really hard to get motivated for the rest of November.  I didn't do any craft shows this year.  We had our first measurable snow mid-month but fortunately it was mostly gone by the next day.

Did one short walk on the Canal but my foot hurts so bad so that was a quick trip.

After we got home from the trip I was desperate to get to see 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in the theatre so I went one afternoon and he went to a different movie called 'Overlord'.  BR is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life.  If Rami Malek doesn't get nominated for....and win...an Academy Award it'll be a sin.  His performance as Freddie Mercury was mesmerizing.

Speaking of movies, we also went to 'Fantastic Beasts:  The Crimes of Grindelwald'.  I was a bit confused after it and probably should've watched the first movie before we went.  I left with a lot of questions.  It was good and all, but it's hard to like this franchise as much as Harry Potter because there are a lot of timeline changes with the characters that don't quite match up.  The Fantastic Beasts movies are more like someone's fan fiction brought to the big screen, even though JK Rowling is involved with the screenplays.  I would prefer if these would be released as books.

Thanksgiving was really quiet.  Val had to work till about 2 and her mom was doing her dinner at 6, so there wouldn't have been enough time for her to come all the way over here.  Since Nick & Karmyn just got engaged, we told them that it was OK if they wanted to play through at her parents' house all afternoon and then go to his mom's for 6.  It was just Russell & I and a whole lotta delish food!!!

Val's birthday was over Thanksgiving weekend.  This is the card I made her. 

Also made her a carrot cake from scratch.  

She came over the day after Thanksgiving and I took her to see 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.  It's very rare that I go to a theatre to see a movie twice but this one is worth a second look.  The last time I did that was in 1991 when 'Dances with Wolves' came out.  Here we are waiting for it to start.  This theatre has recliners and I honestly don't think I can go back to regular movie seats again.

She also turned me onto Stroopwafels.  I've never heard of them or seen them before but wow are they tasty!  Just picked up a box!

One of my friends posted a pic of a cross stitch and wrote 'please make this for me'.  So I did.  I love fast projects like these.  

Another instant gratification project.  This was a free kit with a bead embroidery I got.  It came with  the little paper frame and a magnet for the back.  Took about a half hour or so.

My friends Cindy and Michelle destashed some of their craft supplies and sent them all to me.  There are several little cross stitch ornament kits, and then this one of West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec, Maine. This just took about 3 days to complete.  I'm finding it harder and harder to stitch on 16ct Aida, especially white-on-white.  My eyesight is so shot.  😢

Can't believe Christmas prep is in full swing and then another year come and gone way too fast.

March 2018: In Like A Lion

Looks like it's going out like a lamb though.  We were hit with four Nor'easters in 21 days which was nuts.  We lost power in the first one which was heavy rain and wind.  We were good on the 2nd but lost power when we had a blizzard a few days later.  It went out about 7AM the day the snow started and since it was cold and dark, all we did was sleep.  All. Day. Long. We got up a few times to let Sagan out and feed him, and grab a bite ourselves but then right back to bed.  The power came on at 2AM and went off an hour later but came back at 6 which was heavenly cause the house was ice cold.  It took several days for power to be restored in the region.

At least with March snowstorms, you know they'll melt quickly.  This is the 2nd day after the blizzard.

Been busy in the craft room.  Made a key mobile.   I just love making things with keys!

Bought the float in PTown last summer and finally added beads and mirrors to the bottom.

Been having terrible pain in my thumb, still, but I put together this cable car metal model. 

Deathly Hallows symbol made from chopsticks, embroidery hoop and winged keys.

I saved the Moby Dick model for last.  The words from the book are etched on the metal although it's way too small for me to read.  The ship was absolutely the hardest part.

There's a tiny Ahab on the Pequod!

This was another project I'd wanted to do but it took awhile to find a shadow box at a thrift shop.  The pic is from Scusset Beach.  Painted glue onto the bottom part and added sand, and glued pebbles, shells and a piece of glass to it.

Sagan turned 13 on March 11th.  He looks thrilled.

And our adorable granddog, Sadie.  She's a sweetheart too.

Life's been pretty crazy with family stuff and medical stuff.  I seriously wasn't cut out for this adulting crap.  I hate talking on the phone and that's all I do lately.  As I write this, our daughter in law is within 2 days of having our 2nd grandson.  If she doesn't have him before Friday night, she's being induced at 7PM that day!!

Well apparently winter decided to make a March appearance this year.  I was hoping we were home free but alas, putting away the winter boots bit me in the ass.

How cute is Sagan sleeping under his stuffed puppy?

Here he is looking very sorry for getting into the trash and eating half a boneless pork roast and some mashed potatoes, plus coffee grounds all over the place including a coffee ground footprint on the rug.

I put him in the craft for about 20 minutes so I could clean up and he didn't make a peep, then spent the rest of the day not looking at me.  The funny thing is, I didn't even yell at him when I saw the mess.  Just said, 'Sagan!  Bad boy!'

Gnomey's had about enough of this.

The flamingoes have just given up.

Did everyone get out to see the pretty full moon?

I didn't make these....I got them in Salem.  They looked pretty in the late afternoon sun.  Man alive my windows need washing....

Most of the eastern seaboard got killed with a huge snowstorm on the 14th.  It turned to rain around here so we actually ended the storm with far less snow than at the beginning.  It was a nice, cozy day, listening to the wind and driving rain.  So I worked on my zenbroidery with some new rainbow floss I just got and just LOVE.  Also added a Grateful Dead themed design in the heart.

Finally got a long overdue day to myself where I didn't have to leave the house at all, so I broke out the beads and started filling in the top.  I was going to wait till the end but I just couldn't stop myself.

The sequins and beads really make it pop.

As of March 16.

Seriously hard putting this one down.

Winter 2017

Well winter's arrived.  We've had some snow events, cold temps and lots of wind.  Been pretty much staying close to home trying to fight the blahs.  I'm very excited though cause a Planet Fitness is opening nearby.  There's been a large, empty storefront in Wareham and I've been saying for the past 5 years that it'd be awesome if Planet Fitness would take it over, and they are!  Whoo hoo!  I joined...it was only $1 to join and it's only $10 a month.

Been cooped up in the house for too long.  It's been too icky to take any more walks.  It seems like all the seasons have moved forward by a month.  January isn't bad, but winter now starts in Feb.  I know puppy would like to get back out to his walks.

We had a snowstorm last Thursday and the power was flickering a lot and the internet kept going out too, so I took the opportunity to stitch and stuff the swirl latch hook into a pillow.  I did the peace sign the next day.

Another batch of peanut butter fudge.  I'd promised my daughter in law, her mom and grandmom that I'd make them some.  

Nice sunset the night of the Superbowl.  That was quite the comeback in overtime.  Pretty amazing stuff.

After the snow storm last week.  Gnomey wasn't very happy.

And then there was my problem child, the advent calendar.  All attempts at doors failed.  So I had to "Plan B it" and just make it a hanging altered art piece.  I edged it with twisted pipe cleaners and added the coloured brads to the six points that stick up in the top and bottom.

Added a sled and snow to the top.

Red & green sparkly ric rac down the sides and which make the hanger.

And sparkly red felt on the back.

So the day of the snowstorm I had to do colonoscopy prep.  This was my first one and I was pretty terrified, mostly of the prep.  And my prep fears were pretty accurate.  It was one of the most miserable days ever.  I was so glad that Marsha told me to use a straw.  Everything I heard about the prep drink was right.  It was horrendous.  Next to impossible for me to choke down.  And then running to the bathroom all afternoon and night.  Not being able to eat meant headache.  I was worried about getting to the hospital by 7:15AM given the weather conditions.  But my hero and rock husband got me there in plenty of time.  I was exhausted from about 3 or 4 hours sleep, hungry, cranky and scared.  

I was so glad when they finally got me into the procedure room.  The anesthesia was easily my fave part.  Once she started to administer it I could feel the warm fuzzies setting in.  The last thing I remember is saying, 'oh yeaaaaaahhhhhhh' and the nurse saying, 'starting to feel it?'  It really was like waking up a few minutes later when in reality it was 25 minutes.  They gave me a blueberry muffin and some gingerale, then discharged me to home.  The rest of the day I was extremely loopy but I don't have to have one for 10 more years so YAY.  If they don't come up with a better prep drink then I won't do it at all ever again.

Got these sand treasure things last year.  Russell didn't want me to do them...he kind of wanted to keep them pristine, which surprised me.  So I only did one last year and I felt like doing another one a few days ago so I did.

You just put it in some warm water and use the flat wooden thing to scrape the sand off.  It's like clay so this should not be thrown down the sink unless you want a brick of clay to clog the pipes.  I took mine outside and dumped it in the snow.

This one contained a real tektite meteor rock (top left) and some lovely polished stones.  I wasn't sure if the tektite was real cause it looks and feels like plastic, but I performed a "hot paper clip test" on it and the surface didn't melt so I guess it's real.

I was watching LOCI the other day, enjoying a rare Bobby Goren episode, when Sagan got up and stood right in front of me as if to say, 'Ai more innewesting dan Bobby Gowen'.  Actually it was almost 4:00 pm and he wanted his dinner.  

I hope you all had a nice Valentines Day.  We're observing it this weekend with dinner out at Mezza Luna.  Although knowing us it'll be more like take out from Mezza Luna!