HI LADIES ~ well, it was cold today, but only -11 or 12C but there were a few winds which made it feel more like -17C or so; but we just stayed home and did stuff around here. Did some more sorting and cleared all the boxes from our back porch; we've cleared away more than half our boxes so we even have some room in the first storage shed now.

DH put up the bird feeder he bought me for my birthday in October; as we picked up some seed last weekend. Some chickadees were fussing and eating out of it in no time. So fun to watch their antics again: I just love watching them.

I had a bad fall today; DH put my two stainless steel cans that we store the seed in the porch for me, and I went to come back in and first, I tripped over the straw snow mat; caught myself, then tripped over the doorway lip that stops the cold. I have tripped on it before, but this time I went crashing down on my left side: oh, my poor knee took the worst of it. And dear NIKO was so concerned: he came arunning and didn't want DH to touch me (as he was trying to help me get back up), and NIKO kept licking my face and then DH's, so at least we could laugh about it.

I had to lean on the hurt knee to get up; DH helped me but I took the rest of the afternoon off to rest my body. I seem to be no worse for the wear, and I hope I don't feel any pains tomorrows; maybe have a few bruises though. I know we'll laugh over this one for a long time; I was even laughing about it as I was typing it here, so that's a good sign ...

HEY PURPLE ~ yah, you just might get some snow for Christmas this year; they say the northeast has been hit by a brutal cold front, but that it may go away by next weekend. Sure hope so ... It doesn't usually get this cold until January to March. Well, we are managing to stay warm; even if we have to put the furnace up a bit or use my mini backup heater, we'll be OK.

We have all our gifts too; and just have to do my Christmas cards, and get the last few things for Christmas dinner just before as well (like you, a few days before). Will try to get a few inside decos done tomorrow as well.

We had a nice lean pork dinner tonight with a mixed rice, green and yellow snap beans, and sliced tomatoes. This is another of our favorites; nice and lean and healthy. Well, time to go get my tea and warm myself up again.

HI TO MEOWEE, NUMPSTER, AND VAL ~ everyone seems to be very occupied lately; hope you are all OK as some of you haven't been here for a while ... hint, hint, hint!!!

Bye for now ROSEBUD

Hi . . .

Yes, I still exist . . . but my back has gone out again and this is the first time since Friday that I've actually been able to sit upright comfortably enough to actually type on the computer.

And do we ever have snow and cold right now.

HI LADIES ~ well, it wasn't quite as cold today, about -8C with a bit of snow for the morning. We had lots of Chicadees come to our feeders and bells today; we counted over 10, which is the most we've seen at once, so far. I think they called all their relatives and friends over ... hehe

We picked up a timer for our outdoor lights, so that poor DH wouldn't have to keep going in and out to put the light on and off in this terrible weather. At the last place DH had put in an indoor switch which isn't possible here, so the outdoor timer was the best solution and it worked great today.

I got some laundry done today and we only sorted a couple of boxes as we had company drop by twice. One nice fella brought us a chicken as a gift, as they were on sale and they were sold out so we couldn't get any; that was very nice of them to think of sharing one with us (as they managed to get six, or three each). DH's sister came by for a visit, and was telling us about a Christmas party they are holding, and will let us know about the details soon.

HI PURPLE ~ yah, my leg is sore, but I don't see big bruises like I expected but I sure can feel it when I touch it though. NIKO doesn't like the cold either and asks to come in right away; but he does have a make-shift hut that he goes into to get out of the elements.

Today, NIKO was quite naughty and acted up terribly when DH's sister came: I thought maybe that he thought she was my sister as they do look a lot alike. He kept yipping at her for some reason and jumping on her. I know he likes to play with my sister and he just loves my sister's dog, Shibby. She's a beautiful husky-shepherd with the biggest smile and lovely, gentle spirit. NIKO is sweet too but today I had to use a water spritzer to get him to behave and it worked very well. I'm so glad that I found something he doesn't like that won't hurt him. He doesn't like water either, which is something we did notice about him too.

MEOWEE ~ so sorry that you hurt your back so badly; I can so relate to that as I have so many back and arthritis type issues. The cold has really been hurting my legs and feet lately; the pain has been so excruciating, so tonight, I took a pain med to see if that helps a bit. Sending up some prayers for you ...

HI NUMPSTER AND VAL ~ hope you ladies are having a good week; I know that it's getting quite cold up there in Thompson, Manitoba right now, VAL: bundle up good to keep warm.

Well, it's getting late and I'm gonna try and put my legs up if I can; the one is sore so it's hard for me to put them up how I normally like too. Take good care ladies, your friend ROSEBUD

Good Morning . . .

My back is feeling about 80% functional this morning and our really strange weather continues. After lots of snow on the ground with sunshine and a high of -9 yesterday; today we are supposed to get +13 and bunches of rain and wind (that's 16F yesterday and 55F today).

Nothing big in my plans . . . still have a little wrapping to do (local stuff) and will continue my reading and back resting that's been the story of my life for most of the week. Still taking the Robaxicet, of course. The added muscle relaxant in it really does seem to help a little.

I'm sure it would work even better for muscle pulls, but I'm pretty sure this is the old pinched nerve in the sacro area and now I'm just waiting for the poor nerve to get over the trauma it suffered. My father suffered from the same problem . . . maybe it's a family trait that the nerve fibres in that area are too long and thus get trapped in strange places from time to time.

Hope the rest of you have a great day . . .

HI LADIES ~ we had another very cold day today, but we also had the full day of sunshine: I sometimes think that is GOD feeling very sorry for us that it's so cold, so He sends along some sunshine to make it warmer. It dropped to -20C around dinner time, but it's about -18C right now. Our gas furnace is working at full capacity trying to keep up; I can hear the $$$cachings$$$ as she goes!

MEOWEE ~ so glad to hear that you are feeling better today; definitely take it easy until things are back to normal. I have two discs that give me problems from old injuries; and they aren't the ones involved in the SPINA BIFIDA: those are in my lower back where you bend and the spine isn't fully closed there. That's why I have such difficulty walking sometimes, esp in snow and sand; and cold, damp days.

I'm still trying to get that scrape in my leg to heal; it keeps scabbing over, but not falling off like it should. Had to use a creme the doc gave me today; it worked and now we start again. I am going to try something different this time to see if that works; I'm praying (literally) that it will work. DH and I both have been having trouble with CHARLIE HORSES in our legs lately; maybe it's the sudden freeze, so we are doing light stretches to see if that will help (it seems to be helping me, so I just shared that with DH).

I heard from NUMPSTER today; they went to NITA's funeral on Saturday; had a busy three days with all that, and they had to arrange the music for the funeral and the pics at the family gathering for everyone too. Hope they get some rest time now; as her DH is trying to fight off a bad flu bug too.

HI TO PURPLE and VALDINE ~ hope both you ladies had a good day today.

I managed to get most of my cards done today; just a couple left as I was waiting for new addresses. It's that time to hit the sack again, so take good care of yourselves now ladies, your friend ROSEBUD

Good Morning, Chickies . . .

Back is still about the 80% level -- guess I just have to be patient with it. At least I'm semi-mobile now.

Won't be doing the normal Tursday Mall Crawl today. Actually nothing will be moving very far or very fast around NS today. Don't know why they seem to manage to get the forecast right when it's for the most dreadful of the winter dreadfuls -- freezing rain -- it's a skating rink outside this morning and since all the snow had melted before this stuff started, there isn't even a little cushion of white stuff under it all.

At least I'm better off than some because I have electricity although I did think my telephone lines were down first thing this morning but that turned out to just be a minor 'cat'astrophe. I don't know what they do at night sometimes or how I manage to sleep through it. You would think that knocking the phone of the table and half way across the room would be noisy enough to wake you up.

It's supposed to turn mild again tomorrow so hopefully the ice will be mostly gone by the weekend and hopefully my back will let me get out and about a little bit.

Have a good day, gang . . . see you later . . .

HI LADIES ~ we had lots of snow today and much warmer temps; thank you, GOD, for that! I would much rather have the snow and warmer temps, as the cold bothers me much more these days. I just saw another thread where other ladies were saying that they have the same problem; they had some good tips on there and I'm gonna use them too. I have been going around with my fleece robe on over top of my clothes some times, and with wooly socks and slippers, to boot. It warmed up to -5C and now it is about -11C, which is much better.

HI MEOWEE ~ yah, with that kind of weather, you are better off staying at home anyways; and letting your body heal a bit more. Yes, kitties can get up to all kinds of shenanigans during the night, but they can be so fun to have around and good companions too. Prayers ... that you are feeling better real soon.

We spent the day wrapping a few gifts that are being shipped down south, finished off my Christmas cards, and took some extra boxes to the shed so that I could set up my sewing machine for mending jobs. This place is starting to look like a home. DH's sister stopped by the other day and said that this place is noticably smaller than our old place; the livingroom is longer and narrower, but we will call it cosier. It is plenty big enuff for us though, and we don't want it too big or it would cost too much to keep up.

Well, it's time to put my feet up with my hot tea and do a puzzle; and rest my poor leg that got bruised when I fell the other day. Will be going to bed earlier tonight to as it took me a long time to get warmed up last night for some reason; hence, longer to get to sleep, but it should be better tonight, we hope.

HI to PURPLE and NUMPSTER and VAL ~ TGIF ... just one more day ladies, as tomorrow is Friday!!!

Take good care, your friend ROSEBUD

Our roller coaster weather ride is continuing . . . still raining of course but the high today is supposed to be between 15 and 17 C (60 to 65 F). My front porch is still looking a little ice-covered right now but it is melting fast.

Other than that . . . SSDD

HI LADIES ~ well, apparently the temps dropped down to -30C during the night, but we had lots of blankies on the bed, so we didn't notice it until we woke up to cooler air; but we slept very well. Today, we had full sunshine again and -20C temps out there now, and I can even see a few stars.

We got our parcel and the last of our Christmas cards out in the mail today; so that's out of the way. Just have a few gifts to wrap to put under the tree for a friend and DH, then I'll be done too. I did some housecleaning; put away some laundry; and baked some banana-bran muffins for DH and I put some chopped dried prunes in a few for myself, and I added a Christmasey touch by adding a few spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, etc. They are quite nice actually.

WOW, MEOWEE ~ those are pretty warm temps you have there; they say it is supposed to warm up here too, but haven't seen that just yet: maybe tomorrow will be the lucky day.

HI PURPLE ~ nice to have you drop by; but we knew you were quite busy with a lot on your plate right now. Glad you had fun and some good fortune at your whist drives: very nice of you to pass those "naughty" prizes on to others, who may want them. Hope you have a nice visit with your parents this weekend too.

HI NUMPSTER ~ hope you had a good week. I sent DH to M & M's meat store to pick up those Italian Meatballs for only $9.99 box of 130-140: I will make my own sauce to go with them. They also had shrimp platters on for the same price, for those who like them (I never did); and I saw a pic of those Chinese h'oerderves (sp?): they do look yummy too, and nice and light as well.

HI VALDINE ~ hope things are going well for you right now, esp on your new job. Are you planning to spend Christmas or any of the holiday with your parents this year? What about your brother: how is he doing? Was he able to find a job of some kind? How are things going with your apartment? Well, I hope ... drop by for a few minutes sometime, and let us know how you are doing, ok?

Well, tonight we had an old favorite of "baked" fish & chips; trying to enjoy some meals we always loved (as DH just loves fish), but also make them a bit lighter as well. We had a nice coleslaw and sliced tomatoes with this as well.

I have on a pair of DH's wooly-type socks and they are keeping my feet nice & toasty; and soon I will put my feet up to do a puzzle or two as well. We are just staying home tonight and taking it easy as the weather out there is frightful, but yes, the snow is delightful ... Many more people are putting their lights on; our neighbour to our right decorated a huge fir tree on the other end of their lot with large blue lights: it really looks lovely, I must say.

Hope all our friends here are having a wonderful Friday night and a restful weekend; take good care ... ROSEBUD

hopefully i will find a moment to stop by this weekend.

My brother did find a part time job at grey hound cleaning buses. It pays much better than his walmart job did unfortunatly he left his junker truck unplugged on the street for four days while it was below - 35 celsius. SHOCKER! now the battery is D E A D sometimes I think that kid just seriousy needs to grow up. ugh.

I gave my notice at Reitmans, my casual job. I cant keep doing it and working my current hours at the City. Which I still love! Who knew a position in my field of study would actually invigorate me every day? I'm very lucky. Now just to keep my health completly in check.

I'm still on a plateau. though I think of it as a self imposed one. I'm happy where I am right now. Anyways. more later I hope!

I know that Canadians are famous (or maybe that's infamous) for talking about our weather a lot; probably because we get so much of it. Nova Scotia is still on the same roller-coaster. Yesterday we broke fifty-year-old records by hitting +20 C (68F). Today -- our high is going to be -2C (+28F) with a little snow before we also head back to about +10/11 C (+37F) for tomorrow. Oh well, out in Cold Lake, Alberta (where my oldest son is) today's high is going to be -25C (-13F); so guess I should be thankful for small mercies.

Well, I really have to go out and brave the cold and the crowds for a bit today since the larder is looking a little bare and I do have one more gift to get. So I'd best get moving in the hopes of beating the snow. Which, of course, will likely melt again tomorrow. Won't be a long wandering trip because the back is still not quite right and i don't want to aggrevate it any more than I have to.

Have a great day . . .

HI LADIES ~ wow, lots of posts over the last couple of days to read. Well, we did get those lower temps and had some sunshine, to boot! It was around -20C when we got up, but that came up into the single digits with the sun, and now it's holding at about -7C.

We got a lot accomplished today: we put up our indoor Christmas decos, which is a lot of little annoying jobs, but I love it myself. Deliberately kept it simple this year so it went much faster for DH who does all the climbing and nailing, which he insists is his job. And, that's OK with me!

YES, MEOWEE ~ talking about the weather is indeed a favorite Canadian pastime; and you are probably right that it is becuz of the varied weather and extremes that can come our way all across this beautiful country. Glad that you feel well enuff to venture out for a little shopping today; that's a good sign, for sure.

HI PURPLE ~ I do the same thing with the muffins; I make lots and put some in the freezer. They keep well there, and then we just grab one at a time for a snack. I try to make them as healthy as I can, using a low-fat recipe and always adding lots of fruit to them, as that's the only way I can sneak fruit into DH.

I really fooled him this past week, as I chopped up a pear and put it in our chili pepper spagetti sauce just to see how it would be. DH said that he didn't even notice anything except that it just tasted really good. I got the idea from another recipe I heard about by EZMONEY's daughter. I think the recipe had sauteed chunks of chicken breast with chunks of apple, pear, and sweet green peppers.

HEY NUMPSTER ~ you said that you were coming in to post this weekend, and I haven't seen anything yet. Hope you had a good day of rest today. I know that you are all going shopping next week. I just have a few small gifts to wrap this week and still have lots of time. Here I was concerned that we'd be behind with the move and trying to unpack and find everything for Christmas, but we've managed to find all the most important things. Tonight, we went on a hunt for batteries for our Christmas Clock (a gift from our nephew). I found some with my MP3 player and camera bag. DH wanted to just go buy some more at the store; and I said, 'Why do that, when I know we have lots here somewhere?' He hates looking for things, so now I tell him that I'll look for the stuff, not to worry about it ...

HI THERE VAL ~ so nice to hear from you; and I am so glad that you are lovin' your new job so much. It makes the change all the more worth the risk, doesn't it? And, I'm really pleased to hear that your DB has another job as I sent up some prayers for him on that one. I also have a tip for him about the truck battery: when it's that cold here, in the past, DH brings his batteries in the house (here we have a back porch that will do or on the floor of our coat closet just inside the door on a piece of cardboard from a pop case to protect the floor); charge it up overnight and then he can put it in his truck only when he needs it and he will be good to go anytime. I have a weather map and was looking at your temps, and yes, you get some pretty low ones up there too! I love your new avatar pic, and yes, learning to maintain yourself at a comfortable weight is a very important goal in itself, and you look great too!

Well, that's about all the news for now; just taking it easy for the rest of the night. Take good care of yourselves, your friend ROSEBUD