Walk Along the Speed River

Itty Bitty and I went for a walk along the river tonight.  It was drizzling a bit, but not enough to keep us from a stroll down to feed the geese.  Both of us were stunned to see a couple of these little guys swimming along the bank of the river.  At first, Itty Bitty though they were some kind of otter, but then we saw that big flat tail come up out of the water, and we knew we were looking at a pair of beavers!



Most of the baby geese are now awkward adolescents (and ugly!)  But they were the mostly likely to eat right out of my hand - absolutely fearless.

Went to a Quilt Store

Today's goal was to find a Dr. Scholl's Custom Orthotics kiosk for Hubby. I've been bugging him for years to have orthotics made, but his doctor refused to give him a referral.  Standing all day in a kitchen causes him lots of foot pain.  We had to go to Kitchener (where we always get lost).



Pretty soon we found ourselves in Waterloo - might as well go to St. Jacob's right? We had the very yummy brunch buffet at the Stone Crock.  Well worth the drive!



I remember hearing that Reichard's from Elmira had moved St. Jacob's, and decided if I saw it, I would stop in to check it out. It's not on the main street, but I turned a corner to get turned around, and there it was!  The air conditioning was fantastic!  Hubby and I just stood under the vent - ahhhh!  I have to say that I didn't like this store as much as the old one.  It's cramped, and the staff asked Hubby if he needed help...what the?????  I didn't see anything on the walls that inspired me.

On the way home (the return trip was back roads - I'd had quite enough of Kitchener-Waterloo roads for one afternoon) we listened to "Tapestry" (you can listen online) on CBC Radio, which featured an interview with Jeanette Winterson talking about her memoir "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal".  It sounded so interesting, we went directly to Chapters to pick up a copy.



I believe today is day 3 of Black Cohosh.  I think it is helping.  I slept like a LOG last night - even slept in!  I didn't get out of bed until 10:30 this morning.

Back to work in the morning.  I forgot to mention that my funding has been extended, so I have another year in Guelph. YAY!!!!  We are thrilled!

My Favourite Neighbourhood Personality

My favourite neighbourhood personality no longer believes that I emigrated from Roma with him. He's also learned my name.  Isn't that sweet?

Except he comes into the office and yells for me.  (He knows I keep pudding cups and cookies in my desk.)

I've tried to talk to him about it. I told him he can't keep doing that or I'm going to get FIRED!  He told me that his brother would take care of me if that happened, and that I don't need a boss when I have a brother like his. I'm not sure what that means....but said in a very thick Italian accent??? Should I warn my employer that she may soon hear of an offer she can't refuse?

I was out of the office yesterday attending a meeting.  Seems my buddy came in looking for me.  Our new admin guy told him that I wasn't in.

"Heh. Mebbe she dead."

My Inner Child is Playing with Matches!

I've had the air conditioning on since March.

I fantasize about paddling around the North Atlantic on an iceberg.

My colleagues threatened to turn on the furnace last week.  I threatened to take my clothes off.

I'm hot.

So hot.  

Very very hot.

And recently?  You can add grumpy, mean, short-tempered, and bitter.  But mostly hot. I snapped off the head of a co-worker today who whined about the chilliness of 72 Frickin' Degrees Farenheit!!!!!  That is the DEFINITION OF ROOM TEMPERATURE PEOPLE!!!!

I met with a woman this morning (she works at another agency up the street from my office) and expressed my dissatisfaction with the temperature of HER office.  She recommended Black Cohosh and sent me to the health food store.  She swears it did her a world of good.  Not surprisingly, my colleagues are cheered up by the thought that I'm taking some action.

Doors Open

Have you heard about Doors Open?  Nothing like a Sunday drive - to leisurely learn more about the places and people around us.

A few weeks ago, Hubby and I went to Doors Open Hamilton.

 Hamilton Harbour

 Love the tiled floor at Dundurn Castle!  It looks like a Bonnie Hunter quilt!

 I'm always charmed by these schoolgirl samplers -disappointed that anti-glare glass is not in the frame.

 We spent a long while in this Serbian church.  It was like taking a trip to Europe! 

The frescos that covered the entire interior were painted by one man, and took him five years to complete.  There are no pews in this church - the congregation stands during mass (although there are benches around the perimeter for those who may need a bit of a rest).  And the burning of incense is not reserved for special occasions - spicy smoke filled the church.

 Smokestack at the Museum of Steam and Technology

 Baby chicks hide under the skirts of a 'pioneer girl' at Westfield Heritage Village

Also at Westfield Heritage Village

Been readin'

It's been a couple of months...

To be honest, I haven't been quilting AT ALL!  I've been in a bit of a funk really.  By the time I get home at night, I can barely keep my eyes open - just no energy for anything.  I know it's not particularly healthy to be going on like this, but I believe a few more weeks of sunshine and warmer temperatures will do me a world of good!  

In the meantime, I've been reading lots of books.  One of the best I've enjoyed:

No Sew Sunday

It's been a good weekend! (Even though I didn't do any sewing.)


Hubby's brother and family came up for a visit on Friday evening, and took us out for dinner to a local place new to all of us called "Einstein's Cafe" to celebrate Hubby's Half-Century birthday.


Yesterday, we went out for breakfast, and had a little walk around the neighbourhood. In the afternoon, we took a drive in the country and visited Fergus and Orangeville.  Downtown Orangeville is very pretty. Lots of tea rooms, bakeries, book shops, thrift stores.  I'm surprised I'd never been there before!  Couldn't find a quilt store though (sigh).


Today we were just bums - - puttering around the apartment, doing this and that.  I've got a big week at work ahead of me - I don't think I have a single empty slot in my appointment book!  Tomorrow morning I'm doing a presentation for 40 people, and in the afternoon seeing two clients, and then two meetings to talk about the newest discussion paper from the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. 


Now that I think about it - - I sort of DID do some sewing this weekend .  I did MENDING!!!  Itty Bitty needed a pocket on a hoodie fixed, and Hubby needed a pocket inside a jacket stitched back up.  EW!  MENDING!!!


Funny...doing nothing is so tiring!  I'd like to go to bed, but have to stay up to watch one of our favourite shows: Downton Abbey on PBS. We adore Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Grantham!