Stay Tuned

Its the silly season.  Christmas .... busy busy. Late nights with the hooking just flying trying to get all my xmas presents done.

One of these mornings, or late nights I will tend to this blog.....

My little "eye vent".

ah, what do we say about the Canadian Medical coverage. Sure they pay for procedures but we pay with our crazy taxes. We also WAIT. ....

Presently we are on a waiting list to get cataract operations. Husband and I.

First appt. was in July, next appt was yesterday and my appt is in September. Repeat tests in both appt. so far.  Jim went yesterday expecting to have his eyes measured for the operation but no that's not until June 2019. So another 10 months and then who knows how long after that until the actual operation.

 Meanwhile we both function with cloudy vision, headaches and no depth perception. Is is just me or does this health care system needs fixing....???

At his appt yesterday we were gobsmacked with extra cost options. The government will pay for the basic lens. However, if you want the good lens, you pay anywhere from 800.00 to 2000.00 per eye. Also another 300.00 for pre-tests. Jim said maybe for the  free government option it will come with white canes.

We are opting for free. We will still have to wear glasses but the cost options say you may or may not need glasses and you get halos and glare. .... figure that one out. ....

Also, there is a form to sign which if you are brave or stupid enough  to give the doctor permission to let a "student doctor" perform the eye operation with the professional looking on.  Yeah, lets trust our eyesight with a student......  I say, let those "students" practice on other doctors who require a cataract operation.....

Thats my little rant, vent today. .....

Mixed Bag

Its been a mixed bag this summer. Girls graduating, a summer wedding that didn't happen, trees taken down so they don't kill us or another vehicle, on-going renovations. This is our outdoor bathroom. Every necessity or want you could have out in the boonies. My daughter-in-law , Celest did the artwork on the shower curtain. They are available at Society 6.

 We made  trips to Idaho to pick up Amazon loot and enjoy the most awesome summer retreat ever.

 The weather has been hot and the fires in BC have filled our skies with smoke and haze.

This is Kelowna on a bridge  and you can't see the lake. So sad for the people living there and scary as well.

This is how I made use of one tree stump left behind. Next summer I will pack it with lots of flowers.

We were able to have a somewhat thriving little garden. The tomatoes are plenty and now they just need to get red. This garden faces south so there is plenty of heat and sun

The turtle you  see is a gift from Linda in Yuma .Sign by my daughter Lori.

I stayed with my daughter-in-law Jane's mother Ann for 12 days. She is such a dear sweet lady and has Alzheimer's. It's hard to accept in your mind let alone say it out loud.  So sad for everyone involved. It was very difficult but I wouldn't trade that time because it gave her family a vacation as well as they took their daughter Emma (our granddaughter) to Florida to enrol in a university in which she received a scholarship for volleyball. I knew I could help out with the care .With situations like this you really realize how precious time is and every person you know has so much on "their plate".

Lastly have you ever seen something that you have to have. I saw this in a crochet group and the lady (so talented) crocheted it without a pattern. I love the color combination and the yellow just calls out to me. I will figure this out and do it. Mark my words. Lol.

May Weekend at its best

First of all my third oldest grand daughter Jenny  turned 18 on May 24th

As they say, she was a little girl yesterday and blink now she is a young lady age 18. Sweetheart to the very core!

On May 26 th we attended her graduation and our second oldest grand daughter's graduation.  Jenny and Emma.

Emma and her escort Grady.

Jenny and her escort Corby.

Their gowns were just awesome. I think the two of them felt like princesses. I know I would!

Jenny has the nicest smile ever.

Cousins that could pass as sisters.

Corby has that look like he is wondering how that dress is going to fit in the Camaro

Emma in her dad's Camaro , that comes out of the garage every year ( once).

Speaking of the Camaro that her dad ( our son Dan) owns, here is a picture of Dan and Lori (daughter, his sister) standing in front of the Camaro on Saturday. This same car was driven when Lori graduated in 1991.

Jenny with her Great Grandpa Rocky.

Emma dancing with her Dad.


One more granddaughter to graduate in two years. Sarah pictured below.

Happy Easter everyone

I have named her Shirley after my mom.

The Almost Last Blast of Winter....

Cats and Elephants and Home Sweet Home

This is my recent elephant for a customer. I am a little nay on the color as I like the dark grey one better but whatever,,, this is what the customer wanted., I am kinda getting a love/hate relationship with these elephants.  I sigh relief when I'm done but then I almost want to make one for myself. I wouldn't have a clue where to put it in our home without children but the beauty of them just grabs me. We will see!

This grey and pink scarf and hat went to a customer too and she loves it. I am also teaching her how to crochet.

Jenny and her sign..

On Sunday evening we made signs with my daughter as the instructor. Pictured here is me with the HOME sign and Edith with her sign. She is the person who bought the scarf set and is learning to crochet.

Winter Snow Days

This is probably the 5th time this week Jim has plowed us out. Either by plow or snow blower or both.

Apparently February is supposed to be the worst winter month this year and we will battle it one day at a time with really no choice. It is pretty however.

I extended the back of the toque I made Jim so he keeps the back of his neck warm. A couple of days ago it was 40 below! Every once and awhile we get a "poke" of the warm temperatures in Yuma but if we were there I am sure we would do the same thing to our family back home. Been there , done that.

I hunker inside and create, cook and bake. Netflix has become my TV viewing of choice.  With fast Internet now we have it made! Last night we went for my belated Birthday dinner. Splurging once and awhile is always a treat.

Here is my "in between projects" when I am weary of working on my second elephant. I have made two of these and they are so much fun and useful to make. I am sure I will whip up some more for gifts.

Looking forward to another paint sign night on Sunday with a couple of friends and our sign guru Lori!

All is good in the Baking Department!

Our great grandsons, Jack age four and Jamie age 2 were over at their Grandma's house, Celeste their grandma made them Minion cupcakes!

Jamie was very upset and took a complete hissy fit when Celeste put them outside to cool so they could eat them

He was banging on the door and screaming. He probably couldn't believe why his grandma put them outside!

All turned out good thou as you see!

Create and Rest

Slammed with the flu bug. Hunkered in to sleep, get better and crochet. I finished this scarf set for a customer. I love how it turned out, I may have to make one for myself but it requires a trip to the store to get some white yarn. I love the pink white combo.

I have another order for the crocheted elephant rug. I am making this one a lighter grey.

Jim is still plowing and using his snowblower and keeping the wood stove in our cabin going. We hope to tidy it up soon and put a couch in there. Right now it is more or less a work shop!

The Story of the Trivet

This trivet was given to us. Jim's mom as we affectionately call her "Granny" who turned 95 on December 31th wanted to give us this trivet. Not just any trivet, a trivet that was hand made by a blacksmith with horseshoes  over 150 years ago. This blacksmith was Jim's grandfather's grandfather from Scotland.  The design in the middle is the Scottish Thistle. The craftsmanship in this piece is perfect. Just holding it gives you goosebumps as you realize how old it is and to think of its travels through the family lovingly made using the National Flower  of Scotland by a Johnston blacksmith 150 years ago.

Every little weld done to perfection and there is a wire on the back which was most likely to hang the trivet.

We will treasure this piece for a few years and then hand it to our oldest son so he can keep it for future Johnston generations.

Last month of 2017!

Christmas Eve afternoon we had a family gathering at our place. We wanted everyone to come early so they wouldn't have to drive home completely in the dark. We also know they have their own Christmas Eve events to attend.

Jack was excited to open up some presents and Jamie was tearing around the house as two year old would do!

I made lots of snacks and a few hot appetizers. Apparently to my horror there were a few deviled eggs with shells on them. What's an event without one or two epic fails! However....

Pictured here are my daughter-in-law Jane's mother Ann and then three of our granddaughters, Sarah, Emma and Jenny. My daughter Lori also.

For Christmas dinner Jim and I as well as my Dad went to town and had Christmas dinner at my son Danny's house.

The food was amazing! Turkey, quantities of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and all the fixings. I have to get Danny's recipe for the brussel sprouts.

For Christmas I made 7 toques for the boys and 9 headbands for all the gals.

Yesterday I finished two custom orders of the messy bun hair toque. They will be sent off to BC on Friday.
I just went with my own pattern.

Before I send them I will paint the interior of the buttons. ( Lori's suggestion)

Last but not least are these fabulous fun pictures of my grandson, his fiance and their two boys ( our great grandchildren Jack and Jamie) For New Years eve they left their home and stayed a night in a hotel that has a water slide. All this in the same City they live in. How special is that.

Happy New Year and stay tuned for lots of blog entries in 2018 now that we have internet that WORKS!

TiS thE SeaSOn

We loved putting up the tree this year and digging out the ornaments that we have not seen in 11 years. So many memories in those ornaments and new ones to be made.

Speaking of "made.". I crocheted this bear for the tree and then to just sit on my dresser.

He is quite tiny and was done with crochet thread.  I also made this Christmas tree skirt using round tree slices from the trees that fell here all summer long.

Jim just loves this tree skirt and how it lays around the tree like a bell. I made one for Lori too.

I made hers bigger which I wanted to do with mine too but I was a little crunched for time. I am crocheting Christmas gifts this year for the family.

Jim wants me to "get" making a bunch more Christmas tree skirts to sell next year. Seems we don't have a shortage of wood around here.

Jim has chain sawed countless truck loads!

Like I said in my last post our tree top that was laying around in the forest for awhile actually looks really nice. Somewhat Charley Brown but thats the charm!

I have two of my moms ornaments on the tree. These were from the 50's and they are as precious as can be.

My daughter in law Celeste  made this little gingerbread felt ornament in 1997

My other daughter-in-law Jane made me this one I believe in the same year.

My coffee table needed something festive too.

Our great grandchildren are decorating their tree in the elf hats I made them.

Jack age 4

Jamie almost two!

Lori had me take a picture of the sign I made at her sign party

  Lori has sign parties where she pre prepares the sign the customer wants and then a hostess has the party where the girls finishing making their signs.

She had another party last night.

Four parties booked for January. I like to help pepare as it kinda fun.  And with that...

Merry Christmas everyone!