Weekly Musings of the 29th

 Good Morning Friends and Family.  Another week in the rearview mirror again.  We shook up our routine this spring so we got to do a couple of things that had slipped away.  Monday we kept as our home puttering especially on this new computer.  There are so many things that come along and need to be worked out but I am having a lot of fun with it all.  

Hubby and I decided to finally get to work on our photos that we had been meaning to get to... well... since we moved here when I retired.  Especially the cleaning out of pictures, we all know we don't need 30 pictures of a kid wearing the same outfit just with different expressions.  Picking the best one and dumping the rest.  I got some kids pared down from 800 pictures to nearly 100 and who knows that might go lower in the end.  Every person involved in our family photos has a copy of every picture so we don't need to keep them all just in case and if we are no longer looking through them as the file is too big why bother.  Older pictures are in old blog posts with explanations or stories so they have been sorted from when mom past, no need to keep those of people neither of us know who they are either.  So, that is kind of ongoing.  

Tuesday had a light grocery list because among shaking up my ocd routine was to let go of meal planning and letting hubby suggest too, doing it together.  Making a list of what we are out of but allowing spontaneous choices too.  Wednesday off to Tim Hortons, a place we stopped going to years ago, not because we didn't care for it but because it was easier not to go.  I think that is how people slowly get stuck at home, not because of anything physical but because it is easier not to.  I know we have to stop that because it is so easy to slip into 'can't be bothered' and then years slip by with nothing done.

 Our town has a farmer's market every Thursday and when we first moved here we went only a couple of times but then house chores took over and we didn't get there anymore, it as before became easier not to go. 

https://simcoefarmersmarket.com/

What an eye-opener I had.  As I walked through the market so many things had changed and even got better.  It has been in the building close to the street before and that was tight and kinda dark but now it is under the grandstand with more open air stalls too.  We wandered around taking everything in and making future plans to come back here each week. 

Odd errands on Friday as it fell that way and house chores for Saturday when I am not a fan of doing any shopping then anyway.  

Another funny story about that when we first moved here no one did their laundry on Thursday so we decided that was the best day.  People began thinking so too and especially one lady who loved to use all the machines even if it meant putting a handful of clothes in each machine.   So, Saturday I found was very quiet and Thursday seemed like everyone wanted to do their wash, that was when we decided it was time to change up the days for this kind of thing.  It was quiet when I went down and used the machines.  When I came back to pick up my dry.. who was there... filling up all three machines????  You guessed it, there was her smiling face with her full basket loading up.  I swear I am not changing again for awhile.  How she knew we were doing laundry on Saturday I will never know but we shall see.  - LOL

Remember this.  I saw this and thought.  Funny how the youngers think we were so bad at filling the dumps and yet.  We had 25 year warranties on our appliances and they still lasted longer than that and we had repairmen who came to fix them.  Now these smart ones break and you have to toss them and get a new one and no one expects them to last beyond 10 probably less.  That includes the televisions that may be flat and hang on one's wall but when they break, you can't get them fixed all you are told is to toss them and get a new one.  

They did work forever.

Well, that is this week and I wish everyone a lovely weekend whatever you get up to, especially if you are Pootling.  

P.S. Found that spice blend at Wal-Mart here in our town that Paula mentioned.  Thanks Paula it is really good!

       

Weekly Musings of the 22nd

 

Hello family and friends!  Here we are at another week's end.  Just a few things this week but one that is kinda fun.  Of course, Monday was Victoria Day so we stuck around home although I did walk over to attend the morning Mass.  I like to do that when the time is changed to 10, I can make that time but anything earlier is pretty tough - LOL.  

So, Tuesday became errand morning and a pretty fine was it was although there is a funny tale about it.  I got the notice that my prescription was ready and as I was making my grocery list I wondered if I should write it down to pick it up as the pharmacy we use now is at the grocery store and an easy stop by.  Silly me said, nah I don't need to do that, I will remember.  Famous last words.

We did all the groceries, paid for them and as we loaded them in the car, I remembered the prescription and that I totally forgot about it.  Hubby stayed at the car as I dashed back into the store and hurried to the other side of the huge store to pick up my order.  Should have known better... always write things down.  The good thing was at least I remembered while we were still at the store and not all the way home.  

One thing we do as a couple since we are both so tough to buy for at anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas is pick a large ticket home item and that is our present to each other.  Sometimes the idea comes early in the year to us and other times it is later in the year.  This time it came early when once more our 2013 vista computer couldn't do one more thing.  The poor old thing has really done well and given it's all and we cannot say that we haven't gotten our full money's worth from it.  So our anniversary/birthday/Christmas gift this year was to get a new computer.  We went to the nearby Staples so I could show hubby what kind I really liked and it turned out it was on sale for one more day.  Well... we got it. 

Setup was easy and I am slowly working on it being more easy for the two of us to work on it.  Remember when you bought a computer and it had to go in the back for a couple of weeks while they set everything up?  Then you would come back to pick it up and could only then plug it in and use it?  Sometimes a guy had to come over to wire it into the internet and do the set up because  you couldn't possibly figure it out? Now you take it right away, it finds your internet and walks you through set up.  I do like Windows 11 for home, it is a lot more user friendly than Windows 10 (on hubby's laptop) ever was.  Our old faithful computer has now moved to hubby's room where he uses it for music, games and minor internet stuff.  Since his laptop became such a pain in the butt, we cleared it up and are recycling it and this one will take it's place.  At least until it will no longer turn on which could be years down the road considering how long it has lasted so far.  

The old vista one could not be used on many secure websites as they would block old programs as unsafe.  Now we can go to those sites once more, the store clerk said that banks would be doing the same soon and old vista wouldn't be able to go there either.  

So, that was the rest of the week tweaking and setting up and adjusting things.  Hubby did the same in his room so it would be easier for him as well.  He loves the new set up and I am loving the new computer.  

Reading-wise with all the computer set up I only got to one book.  It is the second one of the series.

These were a Bookbud deal and so worth getting.  It is a good read, I don't think I would have picked them up if not for Bookbud but for that price they are worth it.  

These are set during the time of St. Paul's travels and the people he met and spoke to.  How their lives were changed and what the times were like then.  

And that was our week that was, today we are off to the reserve for the monthly fill up and I am hoping that it hasn't gotten silly busy after the local news just had to do a story of the savings of filling up at the reserve.  Anyway, a few errands and then back to puttering here once more. 

 Have yourself a lovely weekend and new week ahead.

Weekly Musings of the 15th

 

Here we are my friends and family although I have noticed that the blogger reading list has gone wonky and the latest posts from friends are not showing up and one has to dig.  But I am good with computer digging so I will find them.  

So this past Sunday was Mother's Day and I heard from my girls which was really lovely.  At Mass there were first communions, mother's day and our Lady of Fatima celebrations so there was a lot going on.  The procession was concluding at our church after beginning on Saturday evening.  This tradition began because there is a large Portuguese community in our parish and they wished to continue the celebration from their home country.  

In our Ottawa community they celebrated St. Anthony with a procession in June.  I just love these traditions and connections to community.  I do hope the generations that come after us continue them.  

Anyway, on Tuesday the call came that Sparky was already once more and the cost was less than was quoted which was really nice but this business has always treated us really well so it wasn't completely unexpected. 

So, errands were run once more and everything back to usual.  On Wednesday I had to go to my hearing aid place for what I thought was another test but it was just a regular cleaning and I actually got the date wrong but they could take me anyway.  After I got back home I did some checking and yes, I mixed up the dates and it wasn't the reception's mix up but mine.  Oh well, I carefully booked the next one and as I put it in my phone calendar I made sure to read it back to make sure I got it right.  After leaving I went across the hall to my eye doctor's offices and book that appointment too.  Again, making sure that I had the date and time confirmed in my phone.  Not sure how I made this week's mistake but I guess I need to pay more attention.

Great news when it came to the Women's Hockey.  The finals are between Montreal and Ottawa this year.  Not that Minnesota is not a great team but they have won the Walter Cup for the first two years and someone else needs to win it this year.  I am pulling for the Ottawa Charge but if Montreal takes it I won't be that sad either.  I am wondering about the PWHL's swift expansion whether it is a good idea to get bigger too fast adding Hamilton, Detroit and Las Vegas.   There might be another to move it to 12 teams.  Anyway, enough Sports (CFL is starting the pre-season next week too - LOL)  

Oh I read a really great book this week. One that I just couldn't put down.

Now, I have seen movies, read the old testament and books about Moses and the plagues and exodus but this one was different.  It was from the point of view of an ordinary Egyptian family and how they endured the plagues and exodus.  It was really very well done and I enjoyed every page and was kinda sad that I finished the book.  

Now I am onto another point of view in another extraordinary woman in the bible.

 
 This was from Bathsheba's point of view.  Pretty good so far.  Although I can put it down and get to sleep and not catch myself reading until after midnight like I did with Plagues and Papyrus.  

And so here we are at another long weekend which means that I don't go near stores for shopping because of the crush of people in this panic because the stores will be closed one single day.  Funny how times change people's view of things like a store closing for a day.

 

Wishing you a lovely weekend and week ahead.  

Weekly Musings of the 8th

 

Here we are again at the end of another week.  You ever think you have done really not much of anything but then as you look back you see that yup, you have gotten this or that done and that was perfect. 

Monday found us doing are usual shopping for groceries and the like even though on the weekend I was sure I really didn't feel like doing that on Monday.  

Tuesday was our sacramental anniversary and of 5 years so we went out to supper to celebrate.

I like having two anniversaries because if the weather is miserable on our January one we stay home and in May we can always go out.  It was a lovely dinner in spite of how expensive dining out has become.  Thank goodness having breakfast out is not too bad yet.  

Wednesday I was able to pick up my rings at the other jeweler and I was very pleased with his work and his price, since I felt so uncomfortable with all the security items at our old place I think I shall stick with the new place near our pet shop.  It sure is nice to have my rings back on my hand and not around my neck on a chain.

Well, we have been having locking problems with Sparky as the car locks and unlocks when you try to get in or out of the car.  It was weird and annoying to reach for the handle to open the door and have the lock go back on again.  We took the car in.  Of course Sparky being an older car they no longer have the parts for that problem but they do have a fix for it but of course they must wait for parts coming from Montreal.  We said that keeping the car was okay although the price for repairs is much higher than usual but that is what it is.  So we are without a car until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.  At least we can walk to most places to get anything we need.  

I also realized it was not too bad because it prevents us from going to brunch after Mass on Sunday and since it is Mother's Day the place we go too will be way too busy with people taking their mothers out to enjoy our time there.  It actually is good to skip it this week and I wouldn't have remembered that if the car was here.  

So this morning we shall be walking to the nearer grocery store to pick up a couple of things and probably do the same thing a few times over until Sparky is back home.  

I read this story this week and really enjoyed it as it was from another different perspective.   This time Elizabeth's life had not gone like she had thought it should, more so than just not having a child when she and her husband were young.  I found it really interesting for thought as it was so different and yet it could really have happened that way too.  

I picked up this one as a choice from my BookBub recommendations so it was only a dollar.  Those books I will sometimes take a chance on whether they are a good read or not.  Since they are either free or a dollar or two, it is worth taking a chance.  I was super surprised with this one.  There was a lot of depth and thought put into the story and I am really, really enjoying it.  

And so the week puttered along with lots of blessings both noticed and noticed after the fact.  

So whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope it is a lovely one and to all the Mother's, have a lovely Mother's Day. 

For all kinds of Mothers

 

Weekly Musings of the 1st

 

Well, here we are in May already.  Today is the 121st day of the year.  We have already lived another 121 days since we celebrated a new year.  When I think on stuff like that it just boggles my mind at how fast the year seems to slip on by.

This past week I had an appointment to see my regular doctor.  I thought since my last hearing test (which there was some blockage in one ear) might have made me miss some sounds I would have her check in my ears and clear out anything that shouldn't be there.  There was nothing, she said - clean as a whistle.  While there I spoke to the receptionist and asked for the number for the rheumatologist that the doctor referred me to as I could not seem to get the receptionist there to stop making appointments for me that I would just cancel since talking with that doctor made me realize that I (at least at this time) do not wish that kind of treatment and I am trying to make space for one who really needs it.  The doctor receptionist handed me the number and let me know if I still had trouble to let her know and she would make sure it got cancelled.  

With number in hand I called when I got home, funny thing how useless conversations in your head are because when you finally do get to handle things, most times it goes completely different than the way you thought.  This time I got the answering machine, left a message as instructed and got a confirmation email cancelling the appointment without ever having to speak to the person who treated me as if I was a two years old (because I am a senior, she spoke that way to all seniors who came to her desk).  All those conversations, useless.  

Next day I got my usual haircut and it is so much easier to get into place each morning with it being so short and it looks a lot fuller than when it is longer.  I was not a fan of the downtown area of our little town, it has changed.  According to my hairdresser the cities are moving their homeless to small towns away from them.  Sad.  The jeweler I usually go to for small repairs and the like, no longer has an unlocked door, you have to buzz to get in and the entire counter has bars all around it.  You can reach your hand in but nothing else.  They were going to be going on vacation today so I decided to take my resizing of my rings to the jeweler at the same place we get our kitty supplies.  Since my fingers have gotten a more regular size once more and have stayed that way for nearly a year I figure it is safe to get my rings fitted once more and be able to wear my wedding ring on my finger and not on a chain around my neck.  

This is the puzzle I did this week and I have to say, this one was really a lot of fun to do and I was sorry it was finished.  

I, also got working on the border of the blanket having finished off the top of it.  My hands didn't seem to mind it all that much either.  As well, I finished the book of my favourite author about another adventure in Sinful which was just as much fun as all the rest of them.  She really has made a huge variety of adventures and not stuck to a rote thing that most get into after a time.  

Headed back into my TBR pile for another biblical fiction by an author I hadn't read although it is part of a collection of stories by all different authors.  I like that because you get to discover new writers to enjoy.  

 I have read a couple of other authors who have written about Abigail and King David but each have done a different perspective and made me think about it from another view which is what I love.  I may know the story but different people's ideas make me think on it a different way.  So far it is a really good read.

Yup, I know I finished my cookbook but I know my pages are out of order with new recipes that I, of course found the moment I said I was finished.  I have an idea to fix that up with coming week.  

Did some exercises with the watercolours as well and enjoying the playoffs by the women's hockey teams of the PWHL.  The Frost (Minn.) have won the cup the first two years of the PWHL so I am really hoping that another team takes the cup with year.  The women's hockey is so much faster with hardly any fights, just some pushing when tempers flare.  It reminds me of how the men use to play hockey before it became the huge moneymaker it is now.  If you haven't check out the PWHL, truly give it a try, they are pretty amazing. 

Anyway, another playoff game tonight on Prime so we shall be watching.  So, a pretty productive week all around.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sounds like a great thing for a rainy day.