Way to early

Up this morning just before 4:30am, various critters talking, first coyotes then wolves, both sounded like they were east and maybe a bit south of my place. Kind of hard to tell exactly where they were because they are always moving. Tried going back to bed when noise calmed down but that didn't work as they soon started up again. So nothing to do but get up, start the coffee and knit before checking puter.

All but one of the parcels I mailed have arrived, still waiting to hear if Maggie's socks made it. Socks to Mel on Vancouver fit and she was happy, two pair of fingerless gloves rec'd one pair to Vanc Island and one pair to KY (pix below). Update Maggie has her socks, they fit and she likes them, so now happy to report all 4 parcels are in their new homes.

Another pair of baby socks went to Jo when she picked up my goodies for the dump, this is going to work just fine. I get to experiment with new designs and color combos and her grand daughter has warm feet. Pair I am working on now is from a leftover ball of Regia wool & silk mix and I think prolly more suited for a boy but will run them by her next time and see what she thinks. Once they are finished back to Monster socks for Isabel.



Yesterday made a large pot of chicken w/ noodle soup, lots of celery and carrots, now have leftovers for a couple more nights (and of course soup will taste even better tonight). Sunday nights are for Downton Abbey on the telly, watch it in Hi Def at 6 and then can get it at 9 on the PBS west feed if I think I missed anything. Its the only thing I watch faithfully, except for the news at either 6 or 11pm.

Vancouver area got hit with a major pineapple express and it was big enuff to catch my valley as well, rained quite a bit Friday and made my driveway into a skating rink, will wait for either more snow or more melting before I give it a try. Hardly any of what is called the north shore mountains escaped, most are bare except at the very top where the wet slushy snow shows up. This ski season was a bust from the very beginning.

Would dearly love to make a trip to town soon, but will wait until weather is a bit better. The main hiway into town was down to essential travel only for a day or so due to ice.

This and That

Last winter traded a friend socks for her 2 kidlets for home canned stewed tomatoes, will never buy canned tomatoes in a can again. Liz's are so much better I've even been known to eat a spoonful right out of the jar before adding rest to soups or chili. So this year have started on more Nolund 10 I think is getting a pair of Opal 6 in faded denim blue color and Miss Maela will no doubt get something in pinks or purples.

Then made a smooth trade with gal living south of me she will stop on her way to the dump and gather up anything I have to go in trade for baby socks for new grand daughter. Slick. Variegated pink pair for the next time she stops.

Dave plowed my driveway so a big truck with round bales could come down, truck can't make the turn into his place so would have to try and find someplace to turn around almost impossible this time of year. Didn't have much notice truck was coming until I heard Jake brakes while coming down the drive, quick grabbed a camera and got pix thru wool room window, wouldn't have had time to get out to porch for unobstructed shot, truck would have been into the trees before that could have happened.

Experiment of trying to slow down with knitting on tiny sock needles didn't make any difference in arthritis in left hand, in fact it might have gotten even more painful while I wasn't using it so much, so back to socks on 2.5 mm needles, Isabel I will be getting back to yours. Have packages to go down to PO today fingerless gloves and socks going to NY, 2 to Vancouver Island and KY. Seems like weather went every way but good since I've had them done, first snow (lots) and as soon as I got my driveway plowed had a batch of freezing rain followed shortly thereafter by the arctic bomb (-34°C) won't try and start my car at those temps, then another 20 inches of snow, so now today rip sh** or bust am headed down to PO to get them on their way.

Weather

All weather alerts, warnings etc. have for now been lifted, bout time. Seems as tho the last half of December and first 8 days of January there has been snow fall warnings, freezing rain, more snow warnings. So happy to see the end of them.

Dave started plowing my driveway yesterday, he is expecting a big load of hay to come some time this weekend and its almost impossible for a big rig to make the turn from the road to his hayshed, its pretty nearly a straight shot via my drive. But since he wants to use it, it has to be plowed.

Knitting is in the slow lane just now, finished the Opal 6 socks for Nolund and am slowly working on the Monstersocks for Isabel, arthritis doesn't hurt so much if I don't push my self. The larger needles and heavier yarn sure goes fast and doesn't seem to aggravate hand so much. I do stretching exercises at least 4 times a day hoping that it will eventually help.

For the first time in many, many years I am going to make sloppy joes, have a newly opened bottle of chili sauce, that and some mustard and seasoning should do the trick. I think while growing up it was a weekly staple for family suppers, never liked them as a kid but now that I can control what kind of beef is used (extra lean grass fed) I think they will be much better.

SNOW

Snowfall warning still in effect, while I haven't got near as much as some parts of the province, trust me its enuff. Early yesterday snow just starting and 11 am today after it snowed (fine and dry) all night. Temp steady yesterday at -16°C, has warmed up a bit now to -13°C (8°F). Don't want to go out to measure.

Day 1 and day 2.


Much smarter to stay indoors with my knitting and a batch of homemade chicken w/ rice soup.

Spent a good part of the morning on the phone with TD bank Visa fraud line, several charges that weren't mine, means now I have to get a new Visa card, at least 10 days before it arrives, meanwhile will have to call and explains why card was refused at several places. PITA. One I think was Jimmy Beans for latest batch of Koigu.

Two Junior hockey games on today first will be for the bronze medal then at 5 will be Canada vs Russia for the gold medal, early supper of the chicken w/ rice soup so I won't have to miss any of the 2nd game.

This and That

Sent the red gloves to MG to arrive hopefully in time for her to bring with to WA for her holiday trip. a pix was promised and ta da here it is. I am so happy that they fit and she likes them, always kind of a crap shoot when making stuff for people I don't know in far away places.

Only one other project on needles as of Jan 1, socks for Isabel on Vanc. Island, she wanted brown for the main colour and then whatever I wanted for everything else, fraternal Monstersocks. Quite like whats done so far, with World Junior hockey on later today and football all weekend should (hand permitting) get well along with first sock and maybe even the start of second. Not a very good pix but most of the colours show up a bit washed out. Hoping Isabel likes whats done so far.

A Special Weather Statement in Effect for the next several days, not snow flurries but periods of snow, heavy at times, with temps down near 0°F means what ever comes will be light and fluffy (or so I hope). No plans to go anywhere until next Wednesday and then just to downtown Tatla Lake for knitting bee. All will of course depend on how much snow falls and the conditions of my driveway. I am overly cautious about driving on bad roads, its about 20 miles to Tatla and over some twisty roads, so would rather stay home than take unnecessary chances on roads. Highways does plow pretty quick because school bus runs to Tatla, they usually do the main hiway #20 first then the school bus routes. Driveways are pretty much last (of course).

New Years Eve was more life in the slow lane, think I was in bed just after 10 pm, never heard any traffic on the road coming home from the big party in Tatla, usually at least one vehicle sorta drives for awhile in the ditch, and probably shouldn't be driving. But haven't heard about anything serious.

Life in the slow lane

Watching two squirrels chasing each other on the driveway side of the fence, one will duck into a long dead Saskatoon bush (grizzly trashed it several years ago), then the other comes flying across the open hillside. I'm sure they both are being smart by running so fast just in case an eagle or coyote makes an appearance.

Another little blast of arctic air, -28°C (18° below zero F), am ever so grateful to Sam for getting my furnace going again, without it I would have had to head elsewhere until this stretch passes by. I warm up buckwheat bag in microwave just before getting in bed and its been keeping my feet warm until early morning, briefly thought about nuking it again at just after 5 am but by the time I thunk on it just decided to stay up.

Boiled the ham bone this morning and have now added a split pea mixture to the mix, once bone and leftover ham are cool enuff to handle will get the remaining meat off the bone and back into the pot, onion already in, carrots diced into small pieces and some celery will go in soon. Many meals of pea soup, the best part of my Christmas ham.

Finished the pinkie Monstersocks last night, got all the ends dealt with this morning. Lots of leftover bits from other projects. Next will be another pair of Monstersocks for Isabel, brown will be main colour, then more leftovers and will even get into a few new balls that go well with the brown.

Have really been enjoying the World Junior hockey games, the guys are there to play the game very little fighting or dirty play, they know they will be ejected if they get into it.

Heat

Sam local electrician in yesterday to look house furnace over, turns out to just have been the pilot light blew out during the high winds of the 9th. Except for 2 old baseboard heaters I didn't have any heat in main part of the house from the 9th until the 23rd. First time in 2 weeks that I don't have on several long sleeved shirts and a wool sweater.

Several people are more concerned about me being here on Christmas day without any company, but really its just what I want. Will be cooking a small ham and maybe scalloped potatoes, carrot salad and a small yam. Lots of leftovers then to be followed by either bean or pea soup.

Today its relatively warm -6°C with lots of sunshine and blue sky, if the sun would have made an appearance while furnace was out sure would have been a lot better.

Not much of a fan of country or rock n roll Christmas music and right now that is about all the radio I can get is playing, so will put on some old stuff on the CD changer, Phil Coulter, Gordon Lightfoot, Jennifer Warnes, Kenny G and knit on current monster socks.

Town and stuff

Got into town Wednesday after lunch time at knitting bee, worried all night about roads but considering the snow and weather we have had they were in good winter conditions, compacted snow out west then gradually tapering off until no snow in Williams Lake. Stayed over night with friends then started early Thursday morning in town, first got into SaveOn for groceries (first time in 8 weeks) so needless to say I needed lots. Bought 3 kinds of lettuce and a box of spinach, then 3 colors of peppers, celery, carrots, cabbage and close to one of whatever else was in the produce isle. From there just across the street to Staples, then Tim Horton's for their Christmas cups.

From Timmies I got my gas (wow down finally to $1.01 a liter), then a needed car wash, bank, then just time enuff for a hair cut, met Lorelee at 11:30 for lunch, headed west just after 12:30. Picked up Lucas my car unloader at 3:30, after car was unloaded he reloaded with stuff to go to the dump, after the dump dropped him at his driveway with 2 boxes chocolate granola bars and a brand new $20 bill, he was happy and I was as well. On my own would have taken 2 + days for me to get everything in the house. So after everything needing refrigeration was taken care of had a mandarin orange and a big glass of V8 juice (had been craving that). So considering the time of year it was a good trip. The only thing I didn't get done was the auto store to buy new wiper blades, but may have last years still on hand, better conditions than whats now on the car.

Will have a nice ham for Christmas supper with carrot salad and a yam, the ham will give me lots of meals, sandwiches then either a big pot of bean or pea soup. Took current fingerless gloves in with me but was way to tired Wednesday night to knit anything that small, then last night fell asleep at the end of the football game, woke up just after (9:30) got quick shower and in bed by 10.

The F word is back

Flurries, every once in a while environment Canada sorta guesses right, this time the flurries arrived right on schedule but now doesn't know when to quit. Heavy wet snow has been coming down (again) for the last 6 hours or so, but would much rather see the snow than more rain. The rain we did get is more than usually comes down all winter and most of the spring. Even brought the river up a lot.

Working on fingerless gloves going to KY., waiting to hear if she wants identical of fraternal. Just 3 fingers left to do on #1, when this pair is done am taking a break from tiny needles (2.25 mm) and might go back to slippers on giant needles to be felted, will see how left hand reacts to the change in sizes.

Made meatloaf last night for supper and now remember why I haven't made it for at least 10 years, mine isn't very good. So will finish it off today in a sandwich with lots of mustard.

Nasty

From bad to worse. Tuesday night the main furnace in the house quit, no problem electric baseboard heaters keep house sorta warm, but then power went out yesterday just before noon, so no power no heat, then the frosting on the cake the phone quit as well. Never in my life have I been so cold, had on 3 layers and over top my heavy winter parka. Finally went to bed to get warmed up, flannel pj's and big down comforter did the trick. Again this morning house was way to cold, again 3 layers topped with my boiled wool jacket, not good. Had just begun thinking about going to Tatla for a hot breakfast and coffee when at just after 10 power kicked on, and shortly thereafter the phone was working again. If this should ever happen again will get my butt out of here and go visit someone with wood heat.