Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

It's a Boy! New Puppy in our Lives!

I have been MIA for so long but who knew a little puppy could take over your life so completely!? We somehow ended up with an 8 week old Yellow Lab pup, the spitting image of his almost 14 year old "brother". He was so sweet and sleepy at the breeder's and within days, turned into a Tasmanian devil before our eyes! He is lucky he is so darn cute because this 'mouthy' teething stage is so hard to take. We all have polysporin and bandaids in our reach and the scars and bruises to prove our suffering.

This little guy will eventually settle down (only took our first Lab 9 years!) and become a productive part of the family. We are counting the days until grownup teeth come in and isn't quite so shark-like.

He is growing so much already and all set for puppy training classes to begin. He is smart and has learned quite a lot already from what I remember the last go around. Cooking, cleaning, any sort of crafting or Pandora play, has certainly ceased as this boy takes my attention 24/7...literally, very little sleep or exposure to sunlight or people! We have already had a bout of giardia and an injured leg (bathtub mishap) but he has come through both. I am mourning my former freedom and looking forward to a little more life in my life. Until then, I will try to get through each day knowing this stage, just as with babies, will not last long and will soon be a memory for laughs around the dinner table (when we can eat dinner at the table again!).

Hope you are all well and I miss talking to you more often! <3 

Road ID

I'm like a boy scout...always prepared. I plan, I organize, I insure, I ensure, I record, I anticipate. Maybe by being super ready I feel more in control at avoiding disasters or maybe I just want things to go as smoothly as possible. It's just in my nature.

About 8 years ago my hubby was participating in his first marathon. Through the 'running world' grapevine I heard about little dog-tag sort of ID plates that could be attached to running shoes. Because, obviously, runners carry very little if anything at all with them while training, during the race or on the trail, it is extremely important to have a form of ID along for the run. I ordered one of these custom-made shoe pouch IDs and felt much better about having hubby out on the road. Data such as name, birth year, hometown, and emergency contact information is added to the plate and whether attached to the shoe, wrist, neck or on wearables, it is the perfect way to be identified in case of an emergency when one is unable to answer for one's self.

Now that we are riding our bikes longer distances, and trying to do that with as little extra weight and baggage as possible, I went back to ROAD ID to order new IDs for both of us. I opted for a wrist band this time that has a strap like a fitness tracker. I added our updated info, selected our favourite colours, and even picked out some charms to decorate the bracelets. I chose a bike chain link for myself and 'run' for hubby (along with a medical alert symbol for his allergy).

The bands arrived in a really nice little tin (which can be re-used for all kinds of fun things - check the website for all the ideas!) and the bands were simply excellent. They are comfortable to wear and while the personal information is all there, it is not something someone could read in passing (e.g. on the subway, standing in line, etc.). Hubby loved his band and was happy to have the allergy alert and specifics on his person at all times. In addition to being great for exercise situations, Road IDs are also really a smart idea for travel, children, seniors, and I believe, everyone.

Here are the top ten reasons why one should wear one of these identification tags (as quoted from the Road ID website):

1. If you can't speak for yourself, Road ID will speak for you.
2. Road ID enables First Responders to immediately contact family members and friends.
3. Road ID enables family members to provide additional details about your health or give consent for potentially life saving procedures.
4. Road ID enables hospital staff to locate vital medical records.
5. Road ID can communicate medical conditions or allergy information to medical staff.
6. Road ID can prevent serious delays in treatment by saving crucial time during the "golden hour" of medical treatment.
7. It's far better to have Road ID and not need it than to need Road ID and not have it. It's not just a piece of gear, it's peace of mind.
8. Accidents happen far more than you think they do. Each year approximately 450,000 of us are taken to hospitals unconscious and without identification.
9. Road ID looks good on and makes a statement about your athletic lifestyle – not to mention that studies would probably prove that people that wear Road ID are considerably smarter than those that don't.
10. Road ID can save your Life. Period.

I have peace of mind knowing that husband and I have our ID with us when we ride.  It was fun to customize our designs and colours...and I love the cute tin! If you decide to order one of these IDs, make sure to contact the company prior (I used the online 'chat') and ask for the $5 discount code!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wish you much love in your life!

Update...

We are all ok, including mom. A team of many family members has been working hard to clear her house and get it ready for sale. No small task, let me say! We have put in several 10 hour days and still not 'there'. Ninety-one years of life leads to a grand accumulation of stuff and it is not easy to purge when it is someone else's treasures. We have made great progress and are united in our efforts to preserve the important keepsakes yet remove the unnecessary items. I'm proud of us!

There has been little time for my own continued unpacking and in fact, I've re-cluttered some rooms in the new house...for now. I'm trying to be patient with myself and not panic but it can also be very overwhelming - both physically and emotionally.

Everyone who sees my multiple machines asks if I actually use them and sew. Oh, how I would love to be able to start a new project and simply stitch away the hours rather than cleaning and sorting, packing and removing! Soon...I hope! I also have the new task of scrapbooking years of photos from my mom's stash. It might take me ten years to get to it at this rate!

Hope you are all well!

Hey, Remember Me?

UPDATE: Unfortunately, "no news is good news" does not apply. My sister called at about 10:30 to say that mom was on her way to the hospital in an ambulance. She had been found in the night on the floor and despite seeming well, by breakfast she was complaining of pain and that was that. I'm awaiting updates and will keep you posted. :(

I have been M.I.A. for over a week! Last week my mother went into her new retirement home after being at my sister's for a month. My niece stayed over for the first night and nurses checked in regularly. I couldn't believe it but I got a call saying mom had been admitted to hospital that very first evening! What a disappointment.

X-rays showed a mild pneumonia but as you might imagine, I just didn't feel comfortable not being there. We all know the elderly (mother is 91-1/2 now!) can have a hard time getting over an infection and in her weakened condition, I was just so worried about her. I got this news in the afternoon and DH, DD, and I left as soon as we were able to get the dog in the kennel. My family left the next day but I stayed with my sister for a week to visit mom in the hospital and offer support to my poor sister who has been dealing with this. I know how it feels as I did it for 13 years and when there is illness it is absolutely very stressful.

I have never been away for that long without my hubby and not on vacation. I also didn't have a car so it was challenging for me. Add to that the emotions of seeing mom uncomfortable and confined to a hospital bed and it was not a very pleasant situation. After 5 days the patient was discharged and we got her back to her 'new' home and settled. We hired care workers for the times we couldn't be there but that will take a bit of adjustment on mom's part. I stayed with her the first night back and I didn't sleep at all. She was very weak and disoriented and she is struggling with her breathing. It was not a good start.

However, the next few days saw much improvement. She has been eating well and feeling better. The services we've arranged have made her feel more secure and at home and we have been visiting 2-3 times a day. She came back to my sister's for an afternoon getaway and everything seems to be stable. I really needed to come home so my hubby and kids came to get me. We spent a couple days together there and now I am finally back!!!!! I was so excited to see my dog and since I'm still unpacking my house and organizing, it felt awesome to walk through the door again! It smelled so nice. Last night I had a wonderful soak in my tub and a pretty good sleep in my own bed. There is a ton to do to catch up with my life and I'm hoping to reschedule my missed appointments. One of those was to install my new cutting table countertop so that was a real bummer to have to cancel.

Mother spent her first night last night without a family member sleeping over so I was a little anxious. I'm hoping it all went well. She had the same caregiver tuck her in as dressing her for breakfast so that continuity perhaps provided a bit of security for her. This has been the most stressful year of my life I think! I am looking forward to working on some new-old machines I've rescued and sharing them with you. I am excited for some fall baking too. I don't know but this summer just slipped away and was one of the weirdest ones yet. I'm keeping my finger's crossed for a more even keel in the autumn!

Here are some gorgeous roses I found for my mum as a house warming. Mauve is her favourite colour and these were just the right shade! It was a massive bouquet!

Home Videos to DVDs

I was very organized when the kids were little and I would film them often using an 8mm camera. Immediately, I would transfer them onto VHS tapes so they would be easy to pop into the machine and watch. Fast-forward 18 years or so and we are on our last working VCR/tv combo! With the move imminent and feelings of nostalgia, AND seeing a sign in my copy store that they provide a DVD transfer service, I knew it was time to get this long-neglected task done. Such precious memories are too valuable to leave to chance (VHS tape breaking, no player in existence left on Earth, fire, etc.) and deserve to be protected.

I did the first batch of 16 with #5 missing because when I went to re-wind the tape (oh boy, remember when you had to 'be kind and rewind', lol!!!???) and check it was working I suddenly had a very big Al Roker telling me what the weather was going to be for that day in 1993! That particular year was copied over with the Today Show. Bummer, but it was really interesting to watch the news in hindsight! It is not an inexpensive process so even though I had a few more to have transferred, I started with 16.

When I got them back I checked the first CD. It was so funny to see ourselves at the beginning of our marriage in our first home. Now, 24 years and 4 houses later, here we are and re-living those early days is so amazing. To witness life as new parents of a darling daughter, and later a set of boy/girl twins, you realize you did pretty well. What a flurry of energy!! Of course, I filmed the babies' arrivals, holidays and celebrations, sports and school events, and visits to special places. But, more importantly, I made sure to record the mundane. The kids frolicking in the sprinkler, the interactions with grand parents, eating meals and just playing with toys or splashing in the bath. Those are the most heartwarming to watch and my kids are able to actually see what they were like. There were so many sweet moments between us and the siblings...kisses and tickles, laughing and dancing. I captured some of the squabbles too, (one twin was a biter!), stolen balls, eye patch from a thrown one, and the like. I filmed each house too (originally to prove the condition we'd left it in for each new buyer) which may seem boring but is a wonderful keepsake when looking back. I will do it for this house too.

We were a little melancholy to realize just how long we've been in this particular home and how young our kids were. I filmed as we drove down the road for the first time to show them the house and back then it was a new neighbourhood with tiny trees and open fields. Oh, how things have changed!

As I wax nostalgic for the years gone by I look forward to the next phase in our lives. I tell this tale to encourage you to gather and preserve your home videos and photos and to cherish those representations of your past. My children have joined us each night they are home to work through the CDs and remember their childhood. There was one disc copied from a tape my siblings and I made for our parents long ago. It contained mostly old home film from the 50s and 60s when my brothers were young and it is absolutely fascinating for me to see. The outfits, cars, and homes are so cool (especially now that I'm into vintage machines and adore period shows like MadMen) but seeing my mother and father as young parents themselves, pretty much doing the exact things we did (swimming, hockey, Christmas morning, visiting family) it was just one of those 'Circle of Life' moments. There is only about 30 seconds of footage of me (projector slides and a busy life took over for the movie camera) but it is wonderful to see my sister and me skipping around and playing in the sand. I know how much I enjoyed seeing those 30 seconds and happy I could give my kids HOURS of footage for them to experience.

Exhausted!

I have been working from sun up to sun down. Not sleeping past about 4:00 am, up just after 5, and non-stop thereafter. We have made great progress and I don't think my house has ever looked cleaner, tidier, or more spacious! I think everyone should pretend to move every year or so and really declutter and spring clean.

I am totally exhausted and very sore. On the bright side, I have been losing some weight and I was rewarded for my hard work when I found a whole bag of Ethel's chocolate bars from Vegas! I guess I hid them away to make them last and not eat them all at once. Well, it has been about 6 months since our trip so I guess I succeeded on that front! :) No promises for the coming week though...(there's already one missing!).

Tomorrow we list our house and the next day the agents come through and the professional photographer does her thing. After that it should be much easier to keep things clean and sparkling. I miss sewing so much and my workshop is so inviting with all the counter space and floor space. I know I can't start anything big and messy but I'm hoping we get some offers quickly and can get back to living until closing. Until tomorrow, my friends! I do have one last project to share and I'm really excited about it!

A Weekend From Terrific to Terrible

I waited a long time to attend the Creative Festival and was so excited when the day finally arrived. Despite missing my exit on the highway I found my way back to the venue and had an awesome time shopping, learning, shopping, and visiting with my favourite vendors. I spent my allotted budget (and maybe just a wee bit more on some heavenly Aurifil thread, my personal weakness!!!) and have so many fun and cool things to share. I'm getting behind on my product reviews because I have been buying so many lately. You are all going to think that all I do is shop for stuff for my workshop (which wouldn't be too far off the mark!!!).

However, after my terrific day out I spent all of Sunday in the hospital emergency room with my mother. It has been a terrible couple months for her health wise. After the cut-short Florida trip where she ended up in the hospital we finally got her home after 5 weeks of recovery. She was home for a couple weeks and then had to return to sis's house for a follow-up. Well, didn't she end up falling and back in the hospital! We got through that and home again and today she had pain from the drain she has in and we ended up back in emerg. Mother has once again been released and I hope we have some smoother sailing in the weeks to come. We are both exhausted!

All the kids are officially moved back in and my space and time have shrunk considerably! I won't have as much time to create but I'm sure to have more opportunity to write blog posts as I hide out with my computer! I promise to get on here tomorrow with something new! Please hang in there with me and check back. I appreciate you all so much for visiting! :)

i-Phone Camera Fleck

So I've had a problem with my i-Phone camera since early December. I use my phone for almost all my photos, personal and for the blog, and of course was horrified to see a big, black fleck suddenly appear in all my pics. I took it to Apple and they opened it up and tried to clean it but determined the fleck was IN the camera lens itself and said it was most likely a scratch. I also thought it could be a crack from dropping my phone on occasion! The fleck was obvious enough in a regular shot but huge when I cropped or zoomed. Can you spot it??

It really sucked because the convenience of having a camera on me at all times has made me dependent on it and even though I have a 'good' camera, it's bulky (and expensive) and a pain to carry around. I'm not eligible for a phone upgrade under my contract for another year and a half so I figured I was really stuck with creatively situating the 'fleck' in dark areas of my photo compositions, editing it out, or switching to my Nikon for important subjects (which I did for blog posts & Christmas and it really does take fantastic pictures!).

Then, and you can file this under the 'must be living right' category, I think I dropped my phone again and the fleck disappeared! I suppose it was a hair or shaving of plastic or something and when the phone got knocked, it bounced out of view! I am so, so happy and thankful and truly relieved that I have my camera back in my front pocket. It is amazing how reliant I am on my i-Phone and I'm just so glad it is now back to being my camera too!

(Also around Christmas time my i-Pad stopped charging. I hadn't done anything differently and I'm super careful so I was irritated it wasn't working all of a sudden. I hadn't realized just how much I use it until the battery life was ticking away and I couldn't do anything to restore it. Apple said it would be an outrageous $200+ to replace the connector but I tried an off-sight place and they quoted $110. I left it there and within an hour or so they told me it was just a loose connection and the $35 pre-paid deposit was all it would cost and I was all set to go! I was really relieved then, too!).

HELLO!

Just dropping in via my ipad to say hello and give you an update. I'm picking up my computers today now that my data migration from PC to Mac is done. I'm very excited about the new system and can't wait to get back to work. I already have a few things to share with you when I'm connected again - some new fabric, an awesome beauty tool, a pasta recipe, and my review of an AMAZING new Craftsy class. It has me so pumped to get going basting my DWR quilt. I found a room to baste it in, I just have to get that backing pieced first. If I could find five minutes to be at home, that would be helpful. I have to travel to get to the nearest Apple store and my kids are away at school in opposite directions. It's all worth the time and driving, especially when I proudly watched my daughter make her Teacher's College oath!