What's happening in your neighborhood?

I guess I'll join in on this forum as the other Canadian Gardening has been down for nearly a week.I hope you will welcome me.Joy in Fredericton

We are awaiting the first big storm of the decade .It's going to last a few days. I'm glad Santa brought. a big snow blower. It has even made paths to the bird feeders!! What a luxury. The birds have been feeding en mass today .They know the storm is coming.I saved some lobster heads for the crows but they didn't seem to like them.They visit every AM. looking for handouts.There is a war between the. crows and the squirrels for the peanuts I put out for my squirrels.My GS says we have the fattest ones in town.The city are having. a problem with the squirrels munching on the LED Christmas decorations.It seems that they like all the colors except red. The city fathers don't want to have a red light district. I think they should feed them peanuts so they would stay away from the lights.The story made the front page of our paper!! JOY

Hi Joy .. welcome to the forum .. WOW .. so nice to have an EASTERNER on board :-)

We generally chit chat about a bit of this n that here .. LOTSA gardening stuff when the season warrents it ... and in between .. well .. whatever else happens to pop up ..

ENJOY

~M~

Welcome Joy, generally as "M" said, we just chit chat..all worry about each other, laugh/smile and sometimes even cry..we've all become an extended family here, so welcome to our home, hope you'll stay with us...lol at the red light district and your squirrels...I've a few in the front yard, keep filling, the odd blue jay comes to feed but mostly I just enjoy the squirrel...you'll have to take photo's for us.

"M" going to pray for Lorna, must be hard for her to keep her spirits up, give her a hug for me..I'm sure 2010 will be her year!!

Guess we are luckier than most...today I only ventured out to the back shed and back in..wasn't that cold out..amazing how you can enjoy the 'white' stuff when you don't have to go out...

Yamning away here...

Made it through another New Years...kept myself extremely busy that always helps...

Thanks for keeping me company...

Good Lord willing we'll gab tomorrow!

Welcome Joy

The serious gardening stuff is on other threads - this is the social thread, sharing what is going on in our lives!
Right now nothing is going on in mine!
I have finished all the dog beds ready for the rescue agility trial next weekend. I swear I wont make another dog bed for at least 3 months! Unless we run out of course!

Next project is a new winter skirt to wear at Lougheed House. I have never made a 1905 skirt before, on advice from a friend who sews, buy some cheap material and make it out of that first before you cut the good stuff. So tomorrow I am heading to the fabric store.Makes double the sewing but if I am careful about what I pick I might even have a spare skirt! The material I have been given to make the real skirt is a lovely dark teal(?)l gabardine I think.

Welcome Joy and Happy New Year to you and everyone else. Been busy readying the house for an open house on Sunday that takes over the whole place. Tomorrow will be final food items as the house is nearly ready. Gets me a clean and tidy house and even though it will get dirty at the party, it will still have the clutter picked up.

Have a good night.

Ann

Welcome, Joy!! Glad to have you join our "motley crew"! We laugh, we cry, we wish for Spring!! :-)
We have some black squirrels here, and all I know about them is that you have to put a squirrel guard on the bird feeders!

Carol - I know the Lougheeds preferred the Hudson Bay company, but I have an Eaton's "1901 Spring/Summer/Fall Winter" catalogue that was re-created in 1970, which shows the fashion-of-the-day.
Don't know if you'd be interested in see it, or not. It shows ladies dress, and walking skirts, and some are very practical, and others are very fancy. Quite something! They liked ribbons on their skirts.

~Susan~

Welcome Joy. I lived in Rusagonis at one point, then on Hanwell Rd in F'ton. Places I"m sure you'll recognize.

We've got DD and her boyfriend, and his yellow lab over for the weekend. Our black lab has his nose out of joint. Both boys, both close to 5 years old, and both ball lovers. There's been some words between them, but for now they're giving each other a bit of room.

Happy New year, I wish all of you a healthy, happy 2010.

Linda

Linda isn't it amazing how these animals are just like children, bring in another and they are instantly out of sorts, begging for attention or hidding in a corner..too cute...

Carol, I'm sure you will do fine, wow that will be a lot of work, duplicating the process but you don't want to waste good material do you...watch, you'll get it on the first try and shake your head that you weren't more courageous and do it fromt he beginning...

Susan I have a 1927 Sears Catalogue and often go through it...do comparison often of wages versus cost of item, forget now how much out we are with buying power..might give me something to do, look it up..lol

Ann, how busy you are..the open house is for what purpose? friends/family? or you musical group...you'll be glad to get back into a routine as well..

Guess I'd better get busy, going to be at Home Depot when the doors open..they've a 2 day sale and have a cupboard quite reasonable..says 'while quantities last' that usually means there are but a few ..going to measure another area and might get 2 while the price is so cheap, just for storing craft supplies so doesn't have to be top of the line...guess I'll be putting cupboards together this weekend...how hard can it be..ohhh don't answer that...

Betty - back when I was running a Food Bank, I hit upon post holidays (Epiphany) as a time that I could entertain while Christmas decs were still up. The Epiphany Open House has become a tradition now. Invited are friends from all walks of life and truly, I'd be in big trouble if everyone came.

As it is, I expect around 80, but experience has shown me that I'm likely to lose 10 on the day due to illness, unexpected guests or other occurrences, etc. It's always interesting and I ask them for no hostess gifts, but a donation to the local Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard if they wish. I generally collect a pile of food.

Lots of work, but it DOES result in a tidy house after all the clutter is picked up. :-)

Ann .. I hear you on the love/hate realtionship re company and cleaning the house .. but .. as you say .. in the end the clutter is gone and you wonder how you managed to work around it for so long LoL

Carol .. perhaps if you got some light cotton material for the first go around with the skirt , you could use it as a slip or liner UNDER the REAL skirt ? Listen to me prattle on re sewing, the extent of my sewing is BUTTONS or, a hem or two !!

Hokey doodle is it COLD here .. -32 with the windchill .. the house gives a good loud crack every now and then and Lilly barks and runs around trying to find out where the noise came from :-)
Joy .. did you get the predicted snow ?

Heading into the city to take back a litter box .. it's probably for KITTENS, Smokey won't even give it a second look .. seeing him beside it I realised it was just too small .. thankfully I put NO litter in it ..

Have a super day everyone ^_^

~M~

Bundle UP...brrrr...just got back in from town..-36 ..windows of the car wouldn't go down, had to get out at Timmy's to place my order..lol..hand are frozen...

Managed to get 2 cupboards..laughed, there were about 5 cars in parking lot, when the man and lady got out car over from me I said, talk about being anxious..he laughed and said, hope you are not going in for what I'm going in for...yep, cupboards..regular $119. for $59.99 he wanted 6 and I wanted 2..I was in first, asked for directions..omg there had to be 30..won't be there long as everyone else who came in after us were in for same thing...

Then quick trip to Walmart, needed wool, wallet and jeans..probably 2 people in the entire store other than staff..home by 8am..not bad ...

It's starting to snow and blow so if I can find someone to help bring the cabinet boxes inside I can start to assemble and enjoy not being outside...

Prayers for those who have no homes...lordy I've plenty of room, wish I knew where to find some of them...must be a place to do so...

Ann, sounds like a lovely party..you are so right, every time I get company I go through every corner, kids always joke they can't see any difference, but I feel better about it..
enjoy and don't work too hard..get to mingle with the friends...

Better go enjoy that Timmy's coffee and bagel before they get cold...

Stay safe and keep warm...

Thanks for the sewing tips ladies!
The skirt is actually fully lined and I thought to use the lining for pratice but I would have had to rip it all out as skirt is made with what they call 'flat lining" in other words each skirt piece is sewn with the lining. ( clear as mud eh?)
It is a 5 gore skirt and my only concerns are length because the hem has a facing so the skirt must be the correct length before the facing is put on. Also the cut of the back of the side pieces is almost on the bias and sewn to a piece which is not so has to be done very carefully!
Here is the pattern - Im just making the skirt in walking length but then will be making the whole outfit in an evening fabric . SHould be fun - the bodice is actually fully boned!

Here's the back. That shows the long train but I will just make it with a 6 inch train.

This message was edited Jan 2, 2010 8:32 AM

Great pattern. The skirt pieces cut nearly on the bias should help it to drape well. And best not to make it too long if there are lots of people around when you are volunteering - lots safer a bit shorter. It's the boning that is challenging. I made a strapless dress for my DD once that had boning in it. Of course, lots easier to fit on young, lithe figures than on the more mature figure, I think. Good project and good luck with it.

Ann

You girls are so ambitious .My days of entertaining are over.I live in a granny apt beside my son and family in our old family home. My DIL is an Acadian and and loves to cook and entertain so she has taken over that part of the celebration.She has an open house on Christmas Eve .All our friend and neighbors of all ages come and enjoy Lobster Chowder .I'll try to post a picture of the table.
Linda I live in Sunshine Gardens so I know the Hanwell road well.Did you know Stephen Storey? He sold plants for the garden near the bottom of the hill.He passed away just before Christmas.
The storm has finally arrived...light snow and no wind so far.We are snuggled down for the duration. Lots of food and wine.I'll put my TV on the fireplace channel...it even crackles like a real fire JoyOpps wrong picture.Those are my Ochids on Christmas eve.

What a beautiful dress, Carol!! I love the sleeves, and the neckline, and the train!
I agree with you and Ann about the train - people are likely to step on your skirt as they follow you around. OMG what a beautiful dress. and in teal?! mmmmmmm I love it. Please post pics as you're working on it, and when you're finished. Is the lace going to be white, or cream? I think the lace is so dainty and ladylike.
Would you like some antique handkerchiefs? I have a few, and never use them, and really can't think of a single reason i have them, other than they are pretty.

~Susan~

Im not making the blouse/skirt as pictured ( that is a future project) Just the skirt in this dark teal blue ( thats what I call it anyway and it is darker than in this pic ) and in walking length so no train just a bit longer in the back than the front like the skirts I currently wear there.
Susan thanks I'll let you know about the hankies - probably I need a lot but I dont have any yardage on the pattern.

Salivating re both Joy's awesome Orchids AND the LOBSTER Chowder .. mostly the chowder LoL .. I am (by default) an African Violet grower .. inherited my Moms when she died in '97 .. and they seem to like me !!!! Sometimes way too much !!!

Carol .. I envy you (and Betty and Ann and Susan) I only wish I had learned to sew .. I think I would have been OK at it cuz I am sort of fussyish re 'details' .. seems the Sisters of St Joseph felt Latin was more important :-( ahhh well .. helped me once I got into nursing !!

Ann .. wish you all the best tomorrow .. but, as Betty says , do mingle .. have had open houses here over the years and seem to have completely been consummed with babysitting an oven or replenishing trays etc ..

Leftovers tonight .. gotta get some room in this fridge !!!!!

Take care

~M~

BRRR omg went into town again, put 1 of the 2 cabinets I purchased this morning together and 3 of the tabs for shelves were missing..was going to do the 2nd cabinet by you know, my energy is fizzing..I'm best at 5am..lol so an easy night, feet up, crochet or knit..so much to organize downstairs..how come when you clean you make 10 times more of a mess...GOT to have it all spick and span by tomorrow, back to work on Monday..I've so enjoyed..

Carol, how stylish..you have to be experienced to sew such garments...I'm ok with costumes and things, did do a wedding dress for SIL years ago but don't do much now and lost it...

"M" no time like the present, why don't you join a sewing class am sure you'd enjoy..I know you are saying, 'just what I need!' lol

Joy am sure you've done your entertaining and now it's time to pass it on...DIL tries to do some of the major functions but I still enjoy doing it..guess she's ready when I'm ready to give up .. only time I do REAL cooking so guess she doesn't want to take that away from me...

SENDING OUT AN S.O.S.

Was just telling a few friends the other day that I missed having those slippers, remember the phentex slippers that were knitted and the wool done in checks and criss crossed...well didn't Zellers have Phentex..bought a few skeins and although they give you a slipper pattern on the label it's not the one I was looking for...

Do any of you have the pattern..

PLEASE/PLEASE if you do, could you post it for me...my feet are cold...


Wonder how long this cabinet with my sewing goodies will stay this clean...

The 2nd cabinet will be in the craft room..have mega supplies in those shelf tower units made of plastic and on wheels...don't like....let's hope the cupboard will hold what's in 3 of them..
PLEASE/PLEASE if you do, could you post it for me...my feet are cold...

Stay warm and safe everyone

.I took Home Ec. at Acadia University way back when...I'd love to be making period clothing .I had to stop sewing when I lost the sight in one eye.It really shocks me to see the prices I have to pay for ready made garments .There is so much Polyester. So little wool and silk.I used to love nice fabrics.I always had a pattern and fabric ready for a storm day like today when my stoe would be closed and I could sew in peace! JIY

OH BETTY .. Lorna's Mom knits those slippers .. but .. by the time I got the pattern someone else would have posted it ..
Good luck on that ..


~M~

Marilynne - I WILL mingle. Have hired a teenager to help out with serving and keeping the crackers topped up, etc. Had a wonderful gal last year - recommended through the church family and while she couldn't come this year she recommended another teen. It was worth every penny to pay them for the afternoon.

My timer is ringing for dinner.

Ann

Hi Joy. Nice too see you back on DG.

Betty, I don't think I have any slipper patterns. I like this plain one better than the checkerboard one. This is an old pair that my Gramma gave me and I can't throw them out.

Haven't much to tell you, but I do enjoy your conversations.

Betty if you google knitted slipper patterns there are many many different ones- probably you can find the one you want.

I used to make them for every occasion for my children Valentines Easter etc. Hearts bunnies etc I've lost the pattern long ago.My youngest is 43.

oh, I remember some that were drawn in at the toe, so left a small hole. Are those the ones? I used to have the old Homemaker magazines and I'll just bet those had the pattern, but unfortunately I don't have those mags anymore.......

They weren't in my Creative Hands books either - I checked all 21 of 'em.
You wouldn't believe the patterns I found though - real trip down the '70s memory lane - cloche hats, knitted lace stockings (up to the thigh), knitted pantsuits and outer wear jackets, etc!

Have had several pairs of those slippers over the years .. both the phentex 'hole at the toe' ones .. and the other kinda 'bulkier' ones that kinda hurt the soles of my feet when you walked in'em without SOX on .. I am so NOT a sock wearer !!

Lawsie is it COLD here !!! Tree snapping, snow crunchin weather .. but .. I'll take that over the heavy wet snow on the east coast !! Fella on the Weather Channel was saying they got thumped but good !!!

Think we'll just hunker down here .. I had hoped for better temps tomorrow as Lorna and I are off to the hospital for an appt .. one good thing is, the test is set for 8am, so, chances of getting good handicapped parking NEAR the hospital as opposed to out in the boonies, are good. The city/gov't consturct a beautiful (inside) hospital .. and the parking lots are FAR FAR away from the entrances .. it's OK if you are fit and well .. in fact, the walk is quite enjoyable .. BUT .. in winter or rain .. when using a wheelchair and/or walker .. makes for a L O N G trek !!

Best get a buzz on here .. Lilly wants to go out, she KNOWS it's cold .. have her jacket warming by the woodstove .. is THAT not spoiled or what !!!

Take care all

~M~

Thanks everyone, will look further for the pattern, just after posting my ticker started to give me the what for..so a night in the hospital, just got home..talk later

Betty, this is not what we want to hear. I do hope you are not alone. Please take care of you.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=7423616

Here is Betty's post from her other chat thread.

Oh Betty, do take care of yourself and get some much needed rest. Sounds like a specialist is what is warranted here. They'll get you in tip top shape again...if you follow their direction and quit being so danged stubborn. Hugs and well wishes coming from down south. ^_^

Follow the doctors orders lady!

Tickers need to be looked after -= where would we be without them?????????????

Hugs from the cold and snowy west!

Once your test results are back a plan of treatment will be worked out .. until then Ms Betty, I would think a bit more REST and a lot less bustle is in order for you. That said .. I am as stubborn as you, and likely would have not gone to emerg either .. if you read any articles written by cardiologists discussing women and heart disease .. you will inevitably read quotes that read like this' ... a large % of women do NOT seek out help or attention for chest/ left arm or jaw pain because they feel they are too busy to do so .. ' Women's signs and symptoms for heart attack are much different from mens.

Glad you are home and resting Betty.

Have just finished yet another card game with Lorna in which she kicked my butt !!!!! LoL

Off to make supper

~M~

(((((((((Betty)))))))))) - rest, young lady!!
I know that you think you have to be Superwoman, but you don't - those days have long gone when women needed to 'prove' themselves to be better than men at everything (yeah riiiiiiiiiiight!!)
You do need to take it easy!

lots of gentle hugs for you.

♫♪~§usan~♪♫

Betty - sure hope you listen to the advice you are getting and get some rest. We'd like you with us here a lot longer.

Ann

Betty
I ditto all above advice for you! Something very simple may fix you up! You won't know untill you get checked out!

Quiet here today (on the forum) hoping Betty is OK ..

How'd the Epiphany Open House turn out Ann ? Thought about you on Sunday .. hoped your free ourdoor freezer was working LoL

Trip to the hosp for an appt went OK this morning .. just SO early and .. SO COLD .. did get a GOOD handicap parking spot so didn;t have to push the wheelchair very far at all .. hope that happens again for Fridays appt.

Have a lethargic and mopey pusser here ... Smokey is off his food .. sleepy .. has a vets appt on Wednesday. He's 13 .. hoping he's OK ... he and Lilly are so close .. don;t know what she'd do if he passed.

Remains cool here .. not quite AS bitter ... but .. the skies are clear and choc full of stars .. usually means cold weather ... have been reports of either 'thundering' or some kind of 'rumbling' in the area in and around TBay .. I was skeptical until about a half hour ago when I had Lilly out .. I did hear what I thought was thunder ... someone (a DJ) on the radio was trying to let on it was SPACE SHIPS LoL

Off to watch a movie ..

~M~

Marilyn surely it is possible for you to drive up to the front door of the hospital, unload the chair and get Lorna in it and push her inside the door then go park?

Rather nippy here and more snow coming overnight. I did run out to Cdn Tire for some storage boxes. After years of always putting the Xmas light s and lots of the decorations back in their original boxes I am getting efficient! Threw out all the cardboard boxes today, putting everything in nice big clear plastic bins which fit perfectly in the cupboard where I store all the Xmas stuff. so no wasted space.

Interesting, this cupboard has 10 large sections and when I first used it the Xmas decorations took up the top two and one on the next level down. Now takes up 6 1/2 sections and there are a couple of large boxes that hold some outside decorations that are too big to go in there! Better stop collecting!

Of course things like these giant balls on the outside trees do take up a bit o f space
And they will have to stay on the trees until some of that snow melts!.

Marilynne - we had some snow and the roads got a bit greasy which I think contributed to a lower turnout than expected. I had about 75 who said they would come and 53 who showed up. I do expect to lose about 10 on the day of the party due to last minute things that come up or illness, but it was a bit lower than I expected. I also sent out the invitations a bit earlier this year than usual due to our trip and some people may have forgotten.

I DID collect a carload of food for the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard. I ask people to bring food rather than a hostess gift. I don't need to finish up this party with a whole host of chocolates, flowers, wine and preserves. And I have enough left-overs that I won't have to cook much this week.

The porch was a good freezer - maybe it would have been better yesterday as a fridge. But I was able to keep my ice lanterns outside behind the house rather than stowing them in a freezer at the Food Cupboard. They looked real pretty along the driveway once it got a bit darker.

And the house is nice and tidy although I still have a bit of post party work to do - putting things away, arranging for carpet cleaning - it's time, etc.

Have a good night.

Ann