Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trees. Show all posts

Saturday, January 18, 2014

So You know, SNOWing-up as a SHOP-FARI-*SHERPA* was NOT on My SPEND-SATURDAY-SCHEDULE!

ESPECIALLY, WHEN *NO* YARN WAS "INVOLVED"! -- [What's THAT about?!]


FIRST OFF, I wasn't really certain about Today's WEATHER... FRIGID-TEMPS are One-Thing, however, SQUALLS and FLURRIES are *another* Matter altogether! -- Honestly, I really wasn't THAT keen on going OUT...

*BUT*, MOTHER "INSISTED"!

SNOW-PELLETS had just begun to Fall when We left the HOUSE on the Way to Our First "DETOUR"! - There was a "DOLLAR" Store that She wanted to GO TO...

oh. LOOK!

BIGFATFLUFFYFLAKES-*COVERING*-The-CAR-in-*SECONDS*!!

We did *not* Stay for long...

Once past the Short-lived SQUALL, We managed to CAUTIOUSLY make Our Way to MICHAEL'S... She wanted to *Checkout* those "CLEARANCE"-Items for Herself! -- [I *knew* I shouldn't have mentioned Them...]

However, as MOTHER pillaged through the LAST of the "CHRISTMAS"-CRAP-STUFF, I scavenged-up These SCRAPBOOKING BRADS for SISTER....




*OVER* an Hour LATER, They were ALL that *I* came away with - [The YARN was ON-SALE, just NOT at a Price that I felt like Paying FOR - This Week!] - whilst MOTHER, *FILLED* a Cart-worth of CRAP-For-SISTER-That-I'm-NOT-Sure-She's-Going-To-*WANT*!?

Not to mention, that IT was *also* a tad infested with GLITTER - [I *HATE* GLITTER!] - and, somewhat awkward to Pack into THE CAR, *IN* the FLURRY-of-SNOW-That-I-Could-Hardly-Keep-AHEAD-OF-to-*REMOVE*-From-SAID-VEHICLE!!

Although TRAINYARDS had *not* been ADDED to MY "DAILY-SHOP-PLANNER", had the WEATHER NOT been *so* MISERABLE, I probably *would* have Ventured over to That WALMART to Check on Their "Supply" of Those New STORAGE BINS - [SEE 16JAN2014 POST] - However, the Time *was* getting ON and We still had to get to THE-BIG-MALL...

THEY were having a "SIDE-WALK-SALE", that had been on BOTH of Our "ITINERARIES"!
-- At least, there's COVERED-Parking!

Browse.
Peruse...
Didn't Buy.
Don't "Need"!

Eventually, We ended up at HUDSON'S BAY - [formerly THE BAY] - and MOTHER wanted to See "IF" there were ANY of *Their* CHRISTMAS-STUFF "Left"..?

okay. Now THAT, I *didn't* have a Problem with. The Store usually has some GREAT-Stuff. -- It took a Few Minutes to finally Find the tiny Display-Area...

Oooo... And, EVERYTHING is ON-SALE! - Plus, *another* 15%-OFF if You Use THEIR "CHARGE-CARD"!

hmm...



There were TWO of These STEEL-Plate PLATTERS
- [down to about $7.50!] - but I only Bought ONE...
A Decision that is likely to Haunt Me *Later*, I'm sure!
-- Then again, IT does weigh about 5-Pounds!


























This STEEL CANDLE-"STICK" was the *only* RED ONE remaining! -- There were Several WHITE Ones of a slightly Different "DESIGN", but I didn't get Any...

At just over $3., that was no doubt Another BAD Choice on My part!





The TIN TREE was also the SAME PRICE!

Athough, seeing as IT's almost 2-Feet High and I had ALL of that OTHER METAL to TOTE around, I didn't get a Second One...



Once PURCHASING was Completed, I then had to DEAL WITH being LADEN-DOWN with Several POUNDS of *STUFF*!! - And of course, THE CAR was on the OTHER-Side of the MALL!

No worries. MY Stuff. My "PROBLEM". -- I'll *COPE*...

But THEN, a Few Stores further along, We came across CRABTREE & EVELYN. -- MOTHER hasn't been in "THERE" for quite some Time... And, usually enjoys Looking at WHAT They have during the SIDE-WALK-SALES.

ahh... The Store is "CLOSING"..??! -- [They've been Here for DECADES!] - huh.

*ALL* there's LEFT... a Couple of Shelves of "PRODUCT" that We *don't* USE, the "CASH"-COUNTER, and TWO-NICE-YOUNG-BUBBLY-PRETTY-CLERKS in the rather EMPTY BRIGHTLY-LIT Store... "CONVERSATION", naturally Ensued!

Actually, THEY really didn't "SAY" Much - *Then* - however, I've since Noticed that a Handful of OTHER BRANCHES have also CLOSED. Leaving ONE remaining, waaay across TOWN over at the *MEGA-MALL* of "BAYSHORE"!! -- I haven't been THERE in Decades, either!

MEANWHILE, as MOTHER was Chatting-Them-Up, I was Scanning some "FIXTURES" on a Back-Shelf... -- You know Me, I'm always on the LOOK-OUT for possible *USEFUL* CRAFT-SHOW "STUFF"... I asked if THEY were *FOR* Sale..??


"..No...Someone is suppose to come by to remove them.."
"..Do you want any of them?.."


[INSERT - MOTHER and I *sharing* an "EVIL-GRIN"-Moment!]

SINCE I was *already* OVER-LOADED, I elected to LEAVE MOTHER with Her New "SITTERS" whilst I, *HAULED* back to THE CAR with My Bought-TONNAGE and, subsequently move IT over to a CLOSER Parking-Lot. -- I just HOPED that there would be "SPACE" for the Future *FREE*-LOAD!?



We got about a Half-Dozen of These SLOTTED-SIGN-FRAMES.
Along with as many Small LUCITE-BOXES and Round DISPLAY-STANDS.


It was probably a "GOOD-THING" that THE-BUBBLY-TWINS *didn't* have any "BAGS", hence LIMITING Us to using Our own! Or else, We would have walked out with MORE "BOOTY"!! - [..or NOT... My Load-CAPACITY *was* Teetering...] - Besides, as it stood, I was already PAST the Part where We MOTHER would have to "EXPLAIN" to FATHER about *WHAT* We had just "ACQUIRED"...

well... at least IT's *STOPPED* SNOWING!! -- For now...

Sooo... The "GOOD PART" was, considering the Time SPENT on the FREE-STUFF and the FULL CAR, all Thoughts of Checking-Out the REST of THE-BIG-MALL seemed to have *slipped* from MOTHER's Mind! - [yay!] - Which, left Us with an Hour or so to make Use of the "NO-TAXES"-DAY at LOBLAWS...

ah! Some "needed" APPAREL for FATHER! -- That might Divert His "ATTENTION"..?!

*HOME* at last!! -- And, 20-Minutes of Sneaking-In UNLOADING. Then, SHOVELLING! -- Remember those BIGFATFLUFFYFLAKES from EARLIER??!!

yeah. The WHITE-STUFF, IT's *ALWAYS* around...

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Saturday, January 4, 2014

uh-oh.. Another "SIGN" of *THE APOCALYPSE*!?!

[well, on a "Personal"-Level anyway...] - AS I SEEM TO HAVE JUST TAKEN UP "BIRD-WATCHING"!?!

Actually, IT was sorta of difficult NOT to! - Ever since the Mounds of SNOW have come off the JUNIPER TREE out Front, We've been SWARMED by a FLOCK of CEDAR-WAX-WINGS! -- And, a Couple of ROBINS, who I believe are the "Ring-Leaders"..? - Plus, a Bunch of STARLINGS...

Anyhoo... They've ALL been BUZZING about the TREE like Giant-Mutant-Humming-Birds as They try to FEAST on the BERRIES! - Right Outside of Our high-up smallish Kitchen Window...

Sooo... WHEN I probably *should* have been DOing "USEFUL"-Stuff - [whilst The ELDERLY-PARENTAL-UNITS were actually "OUT-Together-on-a-SATURDAY!"] - *I*, was "Testing" My NEW CAMERA on the Front-Walk AERIAL-SHOW!

BTW, those INDIGO-esque JUNIPER-BERRIES - [and the "Mystery"-RED-BERRIES from the Other TREE-BUSH] - really are a tad STAIN-ish... Especially, *after* being "ORGANICALLY-RECYCLED"... They DO get *on* EVERYTHING! - [..had to *clean* The CAR off when The E.P.U. got back..]


whatever...

HERE are a FEW of the "BETTER" PICS... There would have been More, but by the TIME - [as the Afternoon "Lighting" was beginning to WANE!] - I'd get a "Shot" all lined-up, They'd either FLY-OFF or I'd lose Them while trying to Find Them once again through the TELEPHOTO-Lensing!

-- BTW, I'm still fiddling with the AUTO-FOCUS on that Camera... [Looks great on the View-Screen, but Fuzzy on the Computer...]



- The CEDAR WAX-WING -
It has a bright Yellow Band across the Tip of Its Tail-Feathers.
As if it's been dipped into some Paint!









I thought that there was only ONE ROBIN...



...However, there's actually at least TWO!







a "spying" STARLING with "Winter-Feathers"

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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

"BOUGHS of BLING" in a SPACE Where No ORNAMENT Has Gone Before...

"SOME"-PEOPLE have "ADVENT"-CALENDARS...
MY SISTER has an ADVENT-"FOREST"!!

Or at least, it *seems* THAT way! -- Given the Floor-"SPACE", She'd stick a "THEME"-TREE in *EVERY* Room!!

HERE are a FEW from *This* YEAR's "SELECTION"...



SISTER's "SHINY-WHITE-BLING" TREE







The "SANTAS" are What Our Sister-In-Law, MAID-MARE, makes!



BIG-D's "SCI-FI" TREE



I think just about EVERY "Sci-Fi" *HALLMARK* ORNAMENT from the Past 20-YEARS is probably on This THING!



The "POWDER-ROOM" MINI-TREE


For MANY of YOU, IT's "THAT TIME" already!

Sooo...

**MERRY CHRISTMAS**!!

*HUGS* from AUNTIE "STASHER"

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Saturday, August 31, 2013

*DISCOUNTS*! Cashed-In "POINTS"! NO *TAXES*!! - Oooo...LOOK!!

A *SHINY-NEW* "LOONIE" ON THE GROUND!! -- **WOOHOO!!**

huh. Now... IF I can just WIN Today's "LOTTERY"..? Then, *MY* Little-UNIVERSE would be Complete!! -- yeah... right... I ain't holding My Breath on THAT ONE, either!

right. so... MICHAEL'S *didn't* have ANY of That YARN I Wanted. Although, a Couple of the OTHER STORES had Some IN-STOCK... I just have to Call THEM up to See IF THEY have the *NEEDED* DYELOT!

Needless to Say, with MONDAY being a HOLIDAY, that *only* leaves Tomorrow as the ONLY Day LEFT to take Advantage of the WeekEND-SALES... And, "Reduced"-SCHEDULING on the BUSES does NOT *HELP*!

Anyhoo, We must have Spent an HOUR at MICHAEL'S - *mostly* due to MOTHER's *NEED* to Look at EVERYTHING!! -- ALL I got, were THESE "FELTED" 3-PACK ORNAMENTS that I happened upon in the "CHRISTMAS"-AISLE...




I got Another Set of the TREES, and, Several of the REINDEER - I Now have a HERD!

THEY were Tucked UNDER a Short-Shelf... HIDING! -- I just Thought that THEY were *CUTE*, and that I should GET THEM before ANYONE *ELSE* "Discovers"THEM - Besides, I had all of these COUPONS... Which, I also Used to get a BALL of GREY ROVING YARN... I *had* to Buy SOMETHING after watching MOTHER *Load-UP* on some ON-SALE DOLLAR-BALLS of FUZZY YARNS...

We *eventually* popped into the Nearby Grocers, but came away with just some JUICE...

Time to head over to LOBLAW's for ITS "NO TAXES". And, "Where" I was almost *Blinded* by that **SHINY** LOONIE!!

BTW, "WHY" is it that there's NEVER a *LOT* of STUFF to GET on THOSE Days...??

MEANWHILE, I also got around to "CASHING-IN" My STORE-POINTS for GIFT CARDS at FUTURE SHOP... There are some DVDs being Released soon that I wanted to GET! - I'll be needing NEW-STUFF-TO-WATCH as I KNIT & CROCHET in the Coming MONTHS...

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Branching-OUT...

I PROBABLY "PAID" MORE THAN I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE...




..BUT, *HOW* COULD I RESIST??!!

Afterall, This 10-Inch STARFISH DISH from VALUE-VILLAGE does Combine so many of My FAV Attributes...
  • The AQUATIC-Hues of RECYCLED-GLASS.
  • *IS* GLASS!
  • A "FISH".
  • Is USEFUL as well as Decorative.
  • The HOT-"BEACHY"-Weather has waned This Week, I needed a "SOUVENIR"!

I had the COSTCO "MILK-RUN" to do. And, to Pick-up some Stuff that I had FORGOTTEN to the Other Day... Otherwise, I kept My EXCURSIONS on the Shorter-Side...

A "GOOD THING", as I got HOME *just* IN Time to "spot" FATHER's "LUMBERJACK" *ACTIVITIES*!! - [This is the PART where MOTHER was NOT Amused with Him being on a Ladder..?]

Anyhoo... A Fair-Sized LIMB is now MISSING from the JUNIPER-TREE and, no longer Leaning against the Roof. -- And, THANKFULLY, *didn't* cause any DAMAGE on the Way DOWN!

Although, I SUSPECT that a Number of the LOCAL-FAUNA will be a tad Peeved!?!

hmm... I was just Thinking... I'm probably going to get MORE SNOW-DRIFTING on the WALKWAY now..? -- crap!

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Monday, July 1, 2013

Those MAPLE LEAVES just get *Everywhere*!

**HAPPY CANUCK DAY**!!



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Saturday, July 21, 2012

My Version of "P-B"...

TODAY HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU, BY PURCHASES THAT START WITH THE LETTER "P"...

okay... *So what!* that the "WOOL" - [SEE BELOW] - doesn't *quite* meet the Day's CRITERIA - IT's **YARN**!! Same difference! -- Just work with Me here, People...

IT all began with the One & ONLY YARD SALE in BEACON HILL... Rumour had it, that there had been Tons of Stuff EARLIER..? HOWEVER, My "ZEN-SHOPPING" Motto - [If, IT's meant for Me to BUY IT, IT will STILL be There!] - prevailed as I quite literally, *SWEPT* through What-Was-Left...

WHAT I got...


"PAINTINGS"




In keeping with My "NAUTICAL-COASTAL-BEACH-ORIGINAL-ART-for-Under-$5.-so-far" COLLECTION, I picked up These TWO PAINTINGS. Both are 8x10" Canvases set into 14x16-Frames. $5.-Each.

I'm thinking that the ABOVE ONE will "Group" well with those 2 OTHER Little-PAINTINGS - [SEE 09JUN2012 POST] - I got Last Month.

As for the BELOW PIECE... I probably should have "passed" on IT. I'm not really a "YELLOW"-Person... And, the "Basket" IS a bit MUCH! I'm going to Blame the SEAGULLS on This One!

-- IT's going to be "Filed" under My "ART-THAT-I'M-WILLING-TO-PART-WITH-AS-IT-WILL-LOOK-BETTER-IN-SOMEONE-*ELSE'S*-HOME!" Collection.

ANY TAKERS..??





"PALM TREE"




At $2. I instantly Snatched This PALM TREE CANDLEHOLDER! -- Made in INDIA. Seven-Inches high. IT's Heavy... Could be IRON..? But, more likely COPPER or BRONZE? - "Whatever", certainly Worth *more* than I Paid!

BTW, I'm not a Big "CANDLE"-Use Person, either... Although, I *do* have a "Thing" for the odd, COOL-Looking "PALM TREE"! -- hmm... IT would be a Useful Place to put Loose-Change or Car-Keys onto.



"PLATTER"




Originally, This Heavy 15-Inch GLASS "HOLIDAY" PLATTER was going for a DOLLAR - BUT - *since* I was Buying ALL of the OTHER-STUFF, I got IT for "FREE"!!


NEXT, Time to Visit The SALLY-ANN... Briefly.



"POTTERY"





Honestly, I really don't remember *why* I ventured a Closer "Look" of THIS - As, neither am I *into* "Organic"-Style-Stuff. Per se...

Maybe, IT was the GLAZING Quality that *subliminally* Caught-My-Eye..? -- Whatever. I picked IT up...



"...CUBA..."


..and IT's "Signed"...



Both of those DETAILS
"suggests" to Me that IT's possibly "ART-Pottery" destined for the EXPORT-Market..?



- Tomorrow is going to be
"Reseach-Day"! Unless, SOMEONE recognizes IT..? IF so, let Me know!



Anyhoo, after MOTHER's
"Seniors' Discount", IT cost all of $2.69!! - I'm certain that I can get PAST *any* Qualms over My Personal
"Tastes" regarding Ceramics!

-- Actually, IT's beginning to
"Grow" on Me!











Meanwhile... I forgot to "mention", that MICHAEL'S was having one of those "LIMITED-Time-15%-Off-SALES". Hence, My SPEEDY-"STUFF"-Shopping!

We got THERE, with *just* Enough Time. Although, there really wasn't much that We "needed".
MOTHER found a Couple of Items, and I had a 40%-OFF-Coupon to Use on the WOOL - [SEE Way ABOVE]

As I made My way through CHECKOUT, MOTHER chatted-up the CAKE-DECORATING-DEMO-LADY.

Later, a bit more Looking-Around was done. Then, on the way to THE CAR, the "Witnessing" of the Two-30-SOMETHINGS-BFFs Who-Apparently-DON'T-Know-HOW-To-Drive-Their-SUV-OUT-of-a-Parking-Spot-*Without*-SCRAPING-The-CAR-NEXT-TO-THEM HAPPENED!!

Sooo GLAD I **DIDN'T** Park "THERE"!!

After THAT little bit of "Entertainment", We set out to Peruse the REST of The TRAINYARDS.
-- Mostly, Stores that started with the LETTER "B", apparently...

BED, BATH, & BEYOND
BOWRING
BOMBAY COMPANY

Then, FINALLY, over to WALMART... Where, We were Beyond-ASSISTED by "ANDREW",
a rather "Dedicated" CUTE-TALL-STRAPPING-YOUNG-LAD-SALES-CLERK! -- I'll definitely have to "Remember" HIM!!


OH!! - [..speaking of "Dedicated" CUTE-TALL-STRAPPING-YOUNGER-"LADS"..] - I almost FORGOT!! -- **HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOUNTIE-MAN!!**

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