We made the long drive to Grande Prairie, AB for the long Easter weekend. It takes about 8 hours to drive there. Ron's parents drove over from near Barrhead to meet up with us. We shopped till we dropped on Saturday. Spent Sunday with the in-laws. Jesse was having such fun with grandpa. He doesn't get to see them nearly enough. But Sunday night things got BAD. Jesse got a fever and was crying and not sleeping. I was up all night. Around 6am he threw up in the bed (we were in a motel so this was NOT good). By 7am, we gave up trying to sleep and decided to head home. No breakfast with Ron's parents and a really abrupt goodbye. We stopped to grab coffee and gravol. Luckily Jesse only got ill once on the way home and he managed to warn us this time. It was a long drive on no sleep though.

Next day I woke with a sore throat and Jesse was sneezing. Now we both have really heavy colds.

So much for having a fun weekend eh? At least we had one good day with Ron's ma and pa.

Knitty just blew me away with all of its new designs. The best issue to date. Check it out!

My fave has to be Alison's Rosebud but I also really like Grace and Otis.

Spring has Sprung!!!! In Hay River that means you spend hours diverting the water that is trying to head for the basement. We had about 3 feet of snow around the house and the melt happened really fast this year. Yesterday I spent hours clearing snow from near the back walls and emptying garbage cans full of water. The eves-troughs were overflowing at one section and it was all heading towards the house. I grabbed the garbage cans to collect the water. Jesse thought it was all such fun though. He was soaked when I finally got him to come in.

Today the driveway melted and that began to come in near the basement windows. So I was syphoning water from that area all afternoon. The snow on the grass is now so soft that Jesse keeps loosing his boots. Soon it will just be under water - then what do you do with an energetic 2 year old????

You should see the ice crossing on the river. It must be 2 feet of muddy water. But everybody is still driving back and forth to the reserve. I won't be taking my shiny van across any more until it freezes again next winter. A couple of years ago a truck went through the ice. That was the most exciting thing to happen here in years

Finished Meg's little crocheted dress. It sure looks cute. I think it is too big for her but she will soon grow into it. Hope to get a pic of her wearing it as soon as I can.

Still knitting a few rows per night on my dishcloth for Brenda's Dishcloth-Along . I find cotton hard to knit with...wears my poor wrists out too quickly. (And all this snow moving has just added to that - plus blisters). I guess I am about halfway along now.
Here is the progress photo.

Distraught!!!

Hold it All Handbag is finished and felted. And just as I was trying to shape it as it was drying, I noticed an error. Falls on her knees in complete sadness I clearly started the strap in the wrong place so it doesn't match on both sides. Can't believe I messed up so badly. All I can say is that I was probably more worried about running out of yarn (which I did) than paying enough attention to my work. DUH DUH DUH!!!!!!!! The bag is useable or carrying Jesse's spare pull-ups and stuff and probably I am the only one who will ever notice that it isn't symmetrical but......

Oh well! Now I guess I need to make another bag and try doing it correctly this time.

Thought spring was finally arriving this weekend and then back came the -25c and snow. It is windy out too so the windchill must be bad. Poor Jesse just wants to go outside and play but it is too cold.

Been working on the taxes. It is a lot of stress as I do the books for my business and DH's taxes too. Hopefully we can Netfile them tonight and then I can do the GST return tomorrow. After that, perhaps I can take a break from stressing myself SOOOOO much. My name is Jackie and I am a work-aholic. And working from home means that I often find reasons to come in the office and work when I could be relaxing. Crazy!

At last the White Buffalo yarn arrived so I can finally finish the Hold It All Handbag. It has been bugging me that I was so close to the end.

Also started knitting a dishcloth for the Dishcloth-Along. I decided (though God know why) to use straight needles. Managed to knit two rows and my arms were really aching. Now I remember why I much prefer to use circulars for any work - not just knitting in the round.

The pattern that I am using comes from this book. Nifty Knit Dishcloths The design I chose is the beige one in the bottom row.

Just got home from watching the local skating club ice show. It was the best that I have seen yet. Watching all these tiny tots wobble about on the ice just brings me to tears. Heaven help me when Jesse starts skating next winter. I will be the blubbering mom in the bleachers. Some of the skating was quite impressive for a little town of only about 3500. The new coach that was hired in 2002 really seems to have improved the abilities of the skaters in all age groups.

But the highlight of the evening had to be McKenzie Pederson. She is a grade 8 student from Okotoks, AB who came up to do a show as guest skater. If I am not mistaken, she is heading for great things. What amazing talent! She has poise and charm of a skater much older. I can't find a photo of her online but I did find an article about her. Read it here. If any of you are skating fans, remember her name. I think she will be a top ranked skater in Canada before too long.

Finally took a picture of the little dress that I was crocheting for Meg before I hurt my wrist. Still have a few inches to go on the skirt.

  Pattern is American School of Needlework's Crochet Summer Sweeties

Going to try to do a little crocheting this evening...will try not to use the left hand much. Really good that it was my left hand and not the other one.

Can't stop Hubby from driving since we got the van. We are getting to the point where we just might start arguing about who drives LOL. Everybody looks at it when we are out. It does really stand out, especially when the sun is shining.

Here is a better pic of the new van complete with just about the worst photo of me. Talk about toothy grin!!!!
Photo was taken at DH's workplace hence all the telephone cable reels in the background. But check out that blue sky! It is about -25c but so sunny. Love days like this!

So long as I don't do much, I can use my wrist again. It gets sore fast if I overdo it. No knitting yet.

Well I have officially become a "frump ordinary family person". That is what my neighbour said anyway. We bought a Ford Windstar van today. Had spent 3 sleepless nights trying to make up our minds. Test drove 2 . Last weekend we tested the following for 2 days - a 2000 Ford Windstar SEL NWT Diamond Limited edition (NWT being Northwest Territories which is where we live and Diamond most likely is some celebration of the diamond finds up here over the past years). Last night we had a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport. The latter was driven by Hubby who wouldn't comment. Then I drove it a bit. It just didn't seem such a nice ride as the 2000 model. It bounced from side to side more. The engine was noisier too. Hubby then commented. He thought exactly the same as me.

Jesse loved the first van. He kept saying "Back! Van!" every time we went anywhere near the sales lot. He is a totally different child in a van than when he is in the truck. Just that alone was a huge selling point for us.

So now I am a frump. I never would have guess that I would have ever owned a van. Felt they were boring. I always drove the fast sporty type cars in England. Here I drove a F150 truck here which I felt drove me, instead of me driving it. HATE rear wheel drives. That truck was traded in for the van. Now I am back driving a front wheel drive. And this has so many bells and whistles including and power opening passenger door...and that really caught Jesse's attention.

Here is a bad pic of it at the showroom. Will try to take some good ones soon. It has chrome along the side which looks just awesome.

What color of sock yarn do you prefer?
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Thanks for all the concern over my wrist/arm. It isn't broken (huge sigh of relief).

It seems I have trapped a nerve and also sprained the wrist. The doc did a bit of manipulating which seemed to help a bit immediately. Right now it is strapped up and I am trying not to use it at all. Ha Ha.Ever tried to not use an arm when you have a two year old whirlwind son?? It is impossible. But I am not typing with it and Ron is helping me with my business as much as he can. Unfortunately I also acquired a really sore throat and fever this week.

Back in Oct, 2003, I sent in my paperwork to get a Permanent Residents Permit. I am a Landed Immigrant already but after 911, Canada changed its rules. So I paid my $50 and sent in a mass of paperwork all correctly witnessed. I know they take forever but this was getting silly. If I had to rush back to England, I would not be able to get back into Canada as it stands now. So I checked the status on the website. The card was approved Jan 5, 2004. I would get a letter to collect it within 4 weeks. Now nearly 8 weeks has passed and no letter. Found a 1 800 to call. Spent 4 days trying to get through. Finally got through this morning and tried to talk with a toddler shouting at me. Well I wasn't going to call back when it took 4 days already!!!!!! She said the card was in the local office. "And where is that?" I enquired - knowing full well there is no office in Hay River. "Edmonton" was the reply. TOO FUNNY!!! As if I would drive for 12 hours to collect it. Not paying $600 to fly down either. So now I have to see why Edmonton has the card and not Yellowknife. It seems the RCMP in Hay River have given some cards to other immigrants. I wonder why mine went to Alberta.... I just HATE all this hassle. It is like this every time I try to do anything connected with a bank or government office. Grrrrrrr.

And that took forever to type with one hand!!

Here is a pic of the love of my life - Jesse

Oh the pain.

Fell over one of Jesse's toys in a dark room and crashed down on a wooden captain's chair. My left arm and boob took most of the fall. Amazed I didn't bounce right back when my boob hit :-))
My arm and wrist hurt but eased up the next day. Well today I stretched my arms above my head and something gave in my wrist. And it hurts so bad. I can only type with my right hand. Can't knit, can't crochet, can barely work. Hubby has to come and cut boxes for me and pull tape off rolls. The pain just shoots up my arm. I have a wrist support on and will take some painkillers too. Then I guess just rest it and pray.

Dear Brooks has allowed me to sell another one of her designs. The Shire Scarf modelled by her other half.

Check it out!

Saw this on Terri's blog. Terri showed the US states that she has visited.
Well here is my version - the countries that I have been too. Remember that I live in Canada, come from England and spent 8 years in Sweden too.
Listed - England, Belgium, Germany, Luxmebourg, Netherlands, France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Austria and 2 states in the USA (Idaho and Montana) and of course Canada.



create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide

You are pink aluminum.
Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic
things. If they're 99 cents at Goodwill all the
better! You are moved by striking colors and
tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch
session in the sun. Just remember, while
you're being kitschy cool, don't get too cold.
Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails,
baby!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
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My yarn to finish Hold It All Handbag STILL hasn't come. I so want to finish that bag. I can't frog it back and make it smaller as the yarn basically falls apart if you so much a pull on it slightly. (White Buffalo yarn).

We were convinced we were all coming down with colds yesterday. Jesse was sneezing, I had a streaming nose and DH was moaning (Men when they feel ill are just the pits!). I got out the Echinacea and gave each of us a dose. Today we are all just fine. No idea if the Echinacea did the trick or if it was just a one day bug.

One of ThOZe daZe!!

Overslept this morning - think my body was trying to tell me something.

Heard a little voice in Jesse's room whispering, "O Oh, o oh".

Walked in to find a semi naked 2 year old, no diaper and poop EVERYWHERE. About that time I thought I might still be asleep and this was a nightmare. Telephone began to ring. Jesse went to try to help clear poop. Mommy panics. "Can't answer telephone. Must deal with this". Forgot that I was supposed to be going out and it was my ride on the phone. Then the business phone began to ring........ dog pooper scooper in one hand and brain telling me to forget the phone.
Carpet steamer wouldn't work....Jesse's trying to help, didn't help...but you had to give him credit for trying. Telephone rang again....I tried to get there and tripped over the carpet steamer and pulled a muscle in side. It was WRONG number.

I looked at the calender and wondered if it was Friday 13th. Oh no, that is tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.


What kind of yarn are you?
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And there was me hoping to be Chenille or Fun Fur LOL!!!!

Still can't finish my bag as the yarn is on back order. Ho hum. Started crocheting a dress for Meg (Jesse's 2 year old best friend). Had to frog once as my gauge was way off. I am so bad at checking first. Slap my wrists!

Feeling tired still but slightly better. Was hoping to get out tomorrow morning. Tumble Tots is on Tuesdays and it is a nice break from the house. Was loads of mums there last week. BUT we have a blizzard outside. It rained this afternoon which is REALLY weird for us at this time of year. Then the snow started and it just got worse and worse.

TIRED

No idea what is the matter with me but I am totally worn out. I can barely struggle through the days this week. Maybe it is winter, cold weather, lack of walks or maybe I am just trying to do too much.

My ex neighbour and her little girl took Jesse to the library for the little ones reading, songs and craft time. I had loads of orders to do, laundry and a floor that needed washing. It was the first time that anybody had taken Jesse for me since the day we adopted him. He just waved bye bye and was as happy as anything. Mum, meanwhile, had tears in her eyes watching her little boy go off. I am so soft.

Anyway, I thought that Jesse would be tired this afternoon. When he came back from the library, he had lunch then we walked to the mailbox. Afterwards he wanted to play outside in the snow. He was pushing snow for 45 minutes. But would he nap? Nope!

So is it just 4.20pm and I feel like I will collapse with exhaustion. I can't work out if this is normal or not. I often get tired but not this badly. I am a bit worried.

Anyway, Jesse had finished watching Max and Ruby so I need to fly.

Almost finished the bag and ran out of yarn. I knew I would. Drat! I have ordered another ball but it will probably be a few days before it arrives. I was so looking forward to felting the bag.

Weather has warmed up to a hot -15c. It really does feel warm compared to the temps that we were getting. I might even go outside (SHOCK, HORROR) and kick a ball around the snow with Jesse. He needs to escape as much as I do.

Weekend was quite nice. Ron took Jesse out on the snowmobile on Saturday and Sunday. Must say I was jealous. We normally squish all 3 of us on. The German Shepherd used to come too but then Jesse took her spot. I need to get my own machine but we never had time to sort one out this winter. It has probably been too cold to have been used much anyway.

Still bitterly cold up here. But warmer than the -51C that we had on Sunday. I don't think I have ever experienced such cold before. Yes, it gets mighty cold up here each winter but Sunday was the worst!

Hold It All Handbag is coming along nicely. It is a wonderfully straightforward pattern. I really like the way "Two Old Bags" patterns are written. My only worry is that I may run out of wool. It seems be disappearing a wee bit fast than anticipated.

Have a bad headache so I don't think I will be on the puter much longer tonight. This is what I call a "Toddler" headache. He screamed all through supper and never ate a thing. We have nightmares at mealtimes. I am trying to train Daddy to ignore the "Monster" outbursts. I don't know who has least self-control - Jesse or his Dad :-)

BRRRRR
-31c (-41c with windchill)
My throat is really dry from lack of humidity. Since contracting Whooping Cough a few years back, my throat and chest have never been quite the same. (Was immunized against that as a kid too). For the past two winters, I had to go to Emergency as I got such a dry cough and couldn't catch my breath. I sure don't need that again this year.

Tried to start a sweater with Sirdar Snowflake but I got pretty frustrated. The yarn is dark so I don't think that helped me see the stitches. One row too many sts, next row too few. I frogged. Tried again. Frogged. Maybe when we have more daylight hours I will attempt it again.

I think I might try to make a Two Old Bags purse. Received stock of these patterns last week and have been eyeing up one pattern in particular. The Hold It All Handbag Need to get Hubby to help me wind some wool though...and he keeps finding reasons to do something else. The link goes to my new website - and, if anybody has any problems with the menus taking up nearly the whole screen, can you let me know? It does that on one of our old computers but not on the new ones. I wondered if it was just that puter....sure hope so.

Design spurt over. The crocheted dog sweater design that I have been working on is complete. Had a few people pattern test it for me as I am not good at typing up instructions with a 2 year old having a terrible two melt down right next to me.



Itsy (my Shiba Inu dog) is the stunning model. She doesn't exactly need a coat as her fur is so thick. And she wasn't too happy being model either. Her tail should be curled up on back but she holds it down when she is depressed. Poor baby!

For any crocheters reading this, the pattern is available to purchase as a pdf file in the Patterns to Dowload area of my website.