Wordless Wednesday

Have a wonderful smiley day.  :o)  Tina

The Birth House

by Ami McKay

The Birth House is the story of Dora Rare, the first daughter to be born in five generations of Rares. As a child in an isolated village in Nova Scotia, she is drawn to Miss Babineau, an outspoken Acadian midwife with a gift for healing. Dora becomes Miss B.’s apprentice, and together they help the women of Scots Bay through infertility, difficult labours, breech births, unwanted pregnancies and even unfulfilling sex lives.

Filled with interesting and surprising details, The Birth House is an entertaining tale of the struggles women have faced to have control of their own bodies and to keep the best parts of tradition alive in the world of modern medicine.

I enjoy reading about people and that aspect of this book did not disappoint me in the least.  It was, overall, a good book, I would give it a 4. Not sure than I would read it again, glad I did, wasn't sorry to read the last page.

Happy Reading!

:o) Tina

Fill in the Blank Friday

I am not sure this is a good change - but Lauren at the little things we do has had a baby and is maybe not up for the blanks anymore...  The fun, simple blanks have become one blank and chance to write - more of a writer's prompt than a blank.  I like to write - that is not the problem - in fact the problem is the opposite.  I tend to write too much and I liked the blanks because they offered a little lightness and I could make my answers long or short, ramble or not, now I will almost be forced to ramble....

Anyway, on with the show.

I started blogging to increase flow to my online shop, which is currently in a state of suspense and not open to the public.  I continue to blog in hope that someone, somewhere, enjoys what I write because I enjoy writing it. I can talk about myself, or others, I can whine or brag or gloat or rant  - I can write whatever I want to write.  It is like therapy.  And I have come to love it.

I don't care if no one reads - although I LOVE getting comments and always hear about people have 'blog' friends - I don't but would mind if I did. 

I have had a long and tiring week and don't have much more to say about this today.

See yeah!  :o)

Tina

So Frustrating!!

On March 22 we go into a MVA.  CH, Penelope and I were in the car.  Penelope, thankfully is totally 100% fine and always was (other than the wee bit of emotional upset the day of) - CH and I, on the other had, are a bit of a mess.  He has had hardly a good day since, and I am sore more often than not.  This week, has been torture.

I asked ICBC for an advance on our settlement and was turned down.  I was told that the amount I was requesting was about equal to what my settlement would be.  I was very surprised by that.  I had already spent so much more in my mind (haha) and so, I did what I was trying to avoid doing, I called a lawyer. The guy at ICBC has been so nice up to this point, I am not sure how to deal with this.  I suppose for me it is personal but for him it is business so I shouldn't feel bad. It has been two months of crap days with no sign of it coming to an end - and the amount that he quoted me just isn't what I thought it should be.  At all.

I would love to hear your story concerning ICBC, if you have one. I need some direction...

:o)  Tina

Something New

So there are a couple of things new this week.

First of all, I got a job.  A real, bonified, pay cheque on every two weeks, job. I am quite honestly not to sure how I feel about it yet. I am looking forward to not being responsible in the same manner that I am now in my work - not that I won't do a good job but I won't have to worry about where the money is coming from to pay the telephone bill! I am excited to have an income of some sort after so long of constant struggle but I am so worried about what will happen to the shop. I am going to let it run its natural course.... that is the best I can do.

The other something new I have to tell you is that we are buying a trailer!!!  I am so freakin' excited for some quality family time with my peeps over the summer and fall.  I have been wanting one for like 3 years and now my dream is finally coming true for a meager $1200!!!

Our lovely dining room.

Our fabulous kitchen.

Our bright and spacious living room.

The exterior of our new vacation home - not the roof and deck,
just the 'to go' part of the set up!

I am really really excited!!  Ever ytime I tell someone about it I do a little victory/happy dance. We will be going somewhere - rain or shine - on an adventure in about 10 days.  Possibly with PITA and her three.  No internet, no electricity, no running water BUT lots of relaxing family time.  Doesn't get any better than that!!

I feel like this week has had a few big breaks that I have been waiting for.  I hope it means things are on an upswing! (at long last) (fingers crossed)

:o)  Tina

Panama Pants Bag

This bag is totally out of my comfort zone! It is much brighter and more flamboyant than the things I usually create, but I like to try to work outside of my boundaries a little. I feel it helps to expand my creative horizon to try colour and pattern choices I might normally shy away from. Besides that, I think Nag added it to the pants this use to be to the bag when we went on our shopping spree at the CDS Thrift Store - I am glad that she did because, honestly these where not suitable pants for this town. Maybe Florida, not here. 

I remembered to take a picture of the coat that I used for the lining but alas, not the pants.  I need to take the pictures AS SOON AS I BUY THE ITEM maybe even in the store because once they are home they get washed and dried and put into a pile awaiting transformation.  At night when I sit down to sew I take something off the top of the pile, if it inspires me I cut it up right away and get going and then once I start to sew I think  - CRAP! I FORGOT AGAIN!!! 

The flower on the front of the bag is one of Nag's creations, she has herself a nice little Etsy shop going.   She has a few flowers up but she put me in charge so it might take a while to get them really going.  I tend to be a bit fussy - even when it is not my own stuff.  She made the one of this bag for me using scraps from the exterior and interior of the bag and a pretty clear crystal button. The bag closes with a loop over a lime green button - I thought about putting an orange one on but opted out of that as there is already a lot (although, not too much) going on with this bag.

There is a pocket inside the bag big enough for a cell phone, your keys and lipstick - and maybe one of those travel sized packages of tissue. The bag measures approximately 11 1/2" tall and 14 1/2" wide. The strap is 33" long. 

Tonight I will begin another.  I have a really nice one with a black velvet bird that is waiting for hardware to arrive from eBay - it is driving me nuts.  I prefer not to wait when given a choice. 

If you want to make this bag yours, you can get it on Etsy!

:o)  Happy sewing!!  

Tina

Fill in Blank Friday on a Saturday Morning

So Lauren over at the little things we do had a baby a while ago and has been a little less on the ball with the blanks so I decided I would go back and do the ones that I missed before I discovered them - turns out I am not on the ball (although I do sit on an exercise ball rather than chair) either because it is Saturday and I am filling them in!

These are (from what I could tell) the first ever blanks.  Here goes...

1. Today I am feelinglot of different things. I am excited because I got a job yesterday outside of the shop and (as you know) we really need some extra income. I am also nervous about finding room in my already busy schedule for said job without loosing and of the important part of my life. The worst part, I am feeling resentful because I feel alone - I know CH can't really work, but I feel like he should.  I know it is wrong to feel this way so I guess I also feel a bit guilty. I also feel happy because I am going to be getting a pay cheque, experiencing new things and I work way better when I am busy so I will most likely get more done not less - and you know, a change is as good as a rest and this is my year to get back on top of the pile!!

2. If I were you I'd write me a comment!! I love comments and get them so rarely. When I do, they are so treasured!!

3. Love is: all things. If it is unconditional (which I am so, so blessed to have) it is uncomplicated and reliable, sweet and sometimes a little trying.  But it is so wonderful and amazing to have unconditional love - and I am so lucky to married to a man who has that ability. :o)

4. I always use the bathroom before leaving the house. My Mum always made us go before we went anywhere and it is something that has totally stuck with me. As soon as I think about leaving wherever I am (home, work , and friend or family member's house) I feel the urge.

5. I feel prettiest when I'm wearing something new. Doesn't even really matter what it is - new clothes are my fav.

6. If I had a million dollars I'd pay off my mortgage and rent out my house and buy another one in the my parents's neighborhood, which is the neighborhood I grew up in. I never thought I would want to but the last couple of years have changed my mind. When I was growing up I always thought I would want to live in the neighborhood that I live in now... yet another example in my life of my not being careful what I wished for!

7. I'm looking forward to this summer and owning a trailer! We have been looking, our budget is small, our expectations are small but our plans are BIG!!

I have another post for you for today - I am going to do it separately because it is something I made and I need to list it on Etsy first, it is already on Facebook if you just can't wait.

Have a super fabulous day.

:o) Tina