"BLACK FRIDAY"..? More like "IN-THE-RED"-WEEK!

I'VE $PENT WAY *TOO* MUCH MONEY THIS WEEK!

-- SO I STAYED *HOME*, TODAY!

Besides, the WEATHER was black DARK enough as IT was! RAIN... OVERCAST... ugh!
-- And, I've got STUFF "to-do", *IF* I can muster up the ENERGY... Still have a Couple Hours of WORK left to do on the CURRENT BLANKET.

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**HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, NORAH**!!

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ah. The SUN is OUT... So, it MUST be *MINUS* 20C-Something!

SEEING AS IT WAS A SCORCHING "-5C" *YESTERDAY*...

However though, despite the NIPPINESS, I had to "let" The-ELDERLY-PARENTAL-UNITS go OUT "to Play"...

In the Meantime, I gave MANAGER-DAVE a Call to "HOLD" Whatever was left of the FISHERMEN'S WOOL for Me... And, "celebrated" COUSIN-B's BIRTHDAY by *finally* FINISHING *THIS*!!

"BROWNBURY"

LION BRAND YARNS "Fishermen's Wool"
- 100% Pure Virgin WOOL
- [made in CHINA]
- Colour: 150-125-Brown Heather
- Colour: 150-200-Oak Tweed
- Colour: 150-098-Natural



I'll get FULL PICS done LATER...

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So. How come I got a **BLIZZARD**...

...ON *MY* B-DAY, BUT PRINCESS-TALL-TEEN GETS **SUNSHINE** ON *HERS*??!!

-- WELL, at least I *didn't* have to SHOVEL! - Although, I wouldn't have minded SCOOPING up a bit of...

"MOUSSE-MINT"

LION BRAND YARNS
"MARTHA STEWART Crafts"
- 100% Roving WOOL
- [made in the U.S.A.]
- Colour: 5200-526 - FENCE POST
- Colour: 5200-556 - JORDAN ALMOND





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I'm still *MISSING* several Days of POSTS, but I wanted to get
THIS ONE *OUT*! - The REST will filter in, *EVENTUALLY*!
-- MEANWHILE, I *have* been hard at work Making MORE *STUFF*
- [Check out My PINTEREST Boards for the odd "PRE-Views"!] -
between *REAL LIFE*!!

__________________________________________________________________

Honest! - I REALLY *was* going to SHOVEL!

HOWEVER, SINCE IT DIDN'T *START* SNOWING UNTIL "LATE", I DIDN'T BOTHER...

Besides, I had OTHER "STUFF" to DO! -- That - [in the END] - turned out to not especially LOOK like much... NOT, that IT ever DOES! -- really...

ALTHOUGH... "LATER" in the Evening, I was *struck* by some *CHROMO*-CRUNCHY-INSPIRATION!

Actually, to be Honest, I have Contemplated *THIS* "COLOUR-COMBO" Before. BUT, had never gotten around to APPLYING IT! -- Until, TONIGHT...

Recently, on a GROCERY-GETTING Trip to FARM-BOY, We had come across some "HEIRLOOM"-CARROTS...

THEY looked almost EDIBLE-ish - [*AFTER* a GOOD Scraping!] - And, Their Textured-PIGMENTATIONS were INTRIGUING... They ended up TASTING surprisingly *GOOD*, too!

-- hmm... DON'T I also just HAPPEN to have *YARN* in "THOSE" HUES..??!

BTW, speaking of "ANCESTRAL-WEAVING"...

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUSIN-B!!**

***********************************************************

hmm...maybe that BLIZZARD was a *GOOD-THING* after all..?!!

[..say, WHAT..??!!]

yeah. I know. IT "sounds" CRAZY! - BUT, I'm serious!

okay. So, perhaps the SEVERAL Hours of CONTINUOUS Blowing-Falling SNOW, 15-Minutes of Brushing OFF THE CAR *TWICE*, the Treacherous UNplowed Roads, and 20-Minutes of SHOVELLING *before* I could UNLOAD THE CAR, were just a bit of OVERKILL..?!?

HOWEVER, *had* the WEATHER been "NICE", I would NEVER have ended up in that PARTICULAR Section of WALMART to "DISCOVER" - [sitting on a couple of Shelves at the End of the Aisle in plain sight] - My Fab **BIRTHDAY-PRESENT**!!

oh. right! -- Did I mention that TODAY was My "BIRTHDAY"..? -- And, pretty much THE *only* REASON as to "WHY" I would RISK Driving in THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS?!

My Quickie-2-Minute-CYBER-CARD from SISTER [right]
- I think IT's from My 4th-Birthday..? Or, the 5th..?
-- IT's been a WHILE!!

ANYHOO... I began the "FESTIVITIES" by *not* getting TO Bed *until* 8am!! -- Not that I was really DOING ANYthing of "NOTE", I just wasn't "Sleepy"... Until, I *had* to get UP around 1pm.

oh. Look. IT's been SQUALLING since 11am... So much for ANY Notions of heading over to TRAINYARDS. -- But, I'm sure that I can Find *enough* to keep Me "ENTERTAINED" over at THE-MALL..? *Besides*, IT's within WALKING-Distance - IN the EVENT of any "CAR-TROUBLES"...

Soooo... I managed to minimally SKID on over THERE...

WALMART was My First-Stop. And, for once, I was going to more *thoroughly* PERUSE the Place! -- As in, a Check of Their rather pitifully *SPARSE* "SEWING"-CRAFTS-Section...

[NOTE -- Before leaving, MOTHER *Gifted* Me

with a *Certain*-Amount of "FINANCES" toward

WHATEVER I wished to GET for Myself]

I was in NEED of some of that "TAN" Colour, too...

Oooo...

*HAPPY-HAPPY*. BIRTHDAY. *TO*. ME!!

And, *THANK YOU!*, "KARMIC"-SHOPPING-FAIRY!!

hmm... I've NEVER seen THAT BLUE in the BIG-BALLS of COTTON YARN before!? And, it's been YEARS since I've seen ANY in GREY! -- Needless to Say, I *grabbed* ALL that was there!!

Although, I'm also left to *Wonder*, "for-how-long" has THIS STUFF been *sitting* Here??! - AND, had there been MORE?! -- Whatever, I will HAVE to Keep an Eye out for ANY "Future" RE-Stocking!!

well... Let's see What ELSE is in the Store... ah! Finally. The "Particular"-FLAVOUR of CANNED-BEANS that FATHER likes are ON-SHELF. - Time to Use that "RAIN-CHEQUE"...

With a FULL-Cart, I headed back to THE CAR to Dump My HOARD-of-HAPPINESS... As well as, to REMOVE the *FIRST* FOUR-INCHES of FLUFFY-FLAKES *cocooning* My VEHICLE! - [I would be glad of My Foresight later on!]

The BULK BARN was Next... seriously. What *IS* a BIRTHDAY-IN-A-SNOWSTORM without *Copious* AMOUNTS of "JUNK-FOOD", huh?!

...and, on to LOBLAWS... Where, I *needed* to Buy "Certain"-ITEMS in order to get "X"-MANY-Store-POINTS, so that, I could "CASH"-Them-IN for a GIFT-CARD that I'm going to NEED on TUESDAY!

However, because I spent *too* much Time doing THAT in the JOE FRESH Clothing-Section, I ended up MISSING-OUT on MOST of the FOOD-SAMPLINGS! - [pooh!] - LUCKILY, I managed to snag the LAST Portion of some really TASTY RICE & PORK from the SWEET-OLD-GERMAN-GUY! - Including, getting to "use" what barely remains of My considerably *Limited*-MANY-Decades-Old-"High-School"-GERMAN-Linguistic-"Knowledge"...

NUTS! -- The "POINTS" for the Clothing DIDN'T "show-up"!?! - [ggrrrr...] - Some CYBERness will be in order Later to Rectify THAT!

ahh... ANOTHER-4-INCHES-to-*SPEED*-BRUSH-*OFF*-of-THE-CAR so that I can SEE to *Slide* HOME!!

[...ONE More REASON "WHY" being a "WINTER-BABY" totally SUCKS!!

- BTW, the afore-mentioned SHOVELLING afterward didn't "help", either!]

[Although, the $5. LOTTERY *WIN* DID!!]

hmm... I think the PAPARAZZI are going to need a GPS-LOCATOR-BEACON to *FIND* The GROUNDHOG, Tomorrow!

***********************************************************

ADRIFT...Across the WIND-Swept...

...LAWN...LANEWAY...WALKWAY...

hmm... I wonder Who that Sliding-Down-the-Road-Black-Trash-Can-Lid belongs to..?

Well, at least IT's **SUNNY** Out!! -- Although, the severe WINDCHILL and *WRONG* Wind-DIRECTION could've been done without!? - Shovelling INTO the Wind, NOT "easy"!

BUT, the SNOW *is* DRY and "LIGHT". Whether *THAT* is a "BLESSING" or not, remains a Subject for "Debate"! --Even though IT *DRIFTS* more readily, IT's still a potential HAZARD in this *SHIFTING*-WIND! - However, just not as WEIGHTY to Handle...

IF ONLY, IT would STAY PUT!

Then again, I suppose that in *some* Way, THESE CONDITIONS are "fitting" for the Day's rather SOMBER "MOOD" around HERE..?

EARLIER, We had received a CALL from ENGLAND regarding the - [inevitable] - Peaceful PASSING of a CLOSE-RELATIVE that We haven't seen in DECADES... But, WHO will *ALWAYS continue* to be greatly *MISSED*!

For once, spending a Couple of Hours SHOVELLING, actually "HELPED"!

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SHOVEL-SHIVER-*KNIT*...

OH! AND, A BIT OF CROCHETING, TOO!

I didn't get OUT to SHOVEL until Late into the Afternoon... When the WINDCHILLS were just a tad on the NIPPY-side! - But, there was some TIDYING-Up to do *AFTER* Yesterday's "DUMP-FEST"!!

LATER, I had just enough "ENERGY" Left to Finish LITTLE-PRINCESS-BIG-RED's HAT! - [SEE 21JAN2014 POST] - REMEMBER, that I was gonna TRY "Something-*NEW*"..??

whaddaya think?

The FRINGES are CROCHETED... If I'd had the Time *and* "Patience", I probably could have KNITTED Them..? - HOWEVER, I didn't and *DON'T*! -- CROCHETING is sooo much FASTER and *EASIER* for Me! Besides, They turn-out THICKER "THIS" Way...

"NIGHT-BLOSSOM"

PATONS
"Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 00226-Black





LION BRAND YARNS
"MARTHA STEWART Crafts"
- 100% MERINO
- [made in the U.S.A.]
- Colour: 5300-501-MILK GLASS PINK: pale pink



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If ANYONE "Asks"... I will DENY *ever* of having Said "THIS"--

-- THAT IT'S JUST *TOO* COLD TO GO "SHOP-FARI-ING"!!


okay. GRANTED, I've been "OUT" in *much* NIPPIER TEMPS... HOWEVER, at Present, I'm in NO "need" of STUFF that would necessitate *any* VENTURES into the "Current" FRIGIDNESS!! - [-31C WINDCHILLS] -- Actually, I'm rather ENJOYING My "HIBERNATION"!

NOR, am I Feeling "TEMPTED" to *BUY* STUFF that I have NO ROOM *FOR*!

Besides, I'm still *trying* to "ORIGAMI" the STUFF-ALANCHE-"SURVIVORS" as it is... Not to mention, getting BACK to ALL of My STITCHY-PROJECTS that had to be put "ON HOLD"!

THIS - eventually - will be for LITTLE-PRINCESS-BIG-RED...

BTW, *SPOILER ALERT*, I'll be ADDING "SOMETHING-NEW" to the DESIGN!
-- BUT, You're gonna haveta WAIT until IT's DONE!! - [oh yeah, I'm *EVIL*!]

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well, at least I didn't have to Shovel...

- ONE OF THE *PERKS* OF THAT "POPSICAL"-SETTING ON THE *SEIS*-MOMETER!


TEMPS have been Dropping ALL Day! - "Mean"-TEMPS are in the MINUS-TEENS-[Celsius] with WINDCHILLS in the MINUS-UPPER-TWENTIES...

WAY too COLD Out to SNOW! - [THANK YOU!]

However, JUST the "Perfect"-Weather for INDOOR-"vegging"!

*AND*, FINISHING-UP some STITCHINESS!! - BTW, I Doubled-Up on the MERINO-Strands to make THIS *extra*-THICK in order to keep CADET-JUNIOR WARM!!

"WRANGLER"

PATONS
"Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 77248-Harmony

LION BRAND YARNS
"MARTHA STEWART Crafts"
- 100% MERINO
- [made in the U.S.A.]
- Colour: 5300-506-IGLOO: softest blue



**************************************************************

There was a SLUSH-TIDE...

THAT WENT ABOUT 5-FEET *INTO* THE GARAGE...


THE GOOD NEWS -

• "MOST" of the DIAMOND-HARD-ICE had the Density of FROZEN-JUICE Today after a Night of ABOVE-FREEZING-TEMPS! - At least the Stuff on the Laneway...

THE BAD NEWS -

• As for the FRONT-WALKWAY... Not so much... Just *slightly* LESS WATER-OVER-ICE... IT's pretty much a LOST-CAUSE at Present.

Besides, I had a GLACIER to CRACK while the TEMPS were "UP" and the Skies were devoid of "Precipitation"!!

Anyhoo, it took a Few HOURS to "STRATEGICALLY" REMOVE what ICE that I *could*. Because of the rather weird SLOPING of the Laneway's "Surface", there were *certain* STRIPS of ICE that had to act as DIKES in order to Prevent any *further* FLOODING of the Garage! -- EVERYTHING *ELSE* that COULD be Chopped, *was* CHOPPED!

Then, SHOVED off the Curb so that IT could MELT and DRAIN into the SEWER-GRATE... If I toss IT onto the Lawn-SNOWBANK, IT'll just end up on the Laneway AGAIN! - Best to eliminate the MIDDLE-MELT while I could...

So. *SEVERAL* Cubic-Feet of ICE is now **GONE**!! - And, My HANDS are *KILLING-ME*!! - It's the "Chopping"-BACK-Bounce-"SHOCK"... That and the ARTHRITIS, not a "great" mix... IT's a WONDER that I can *still* KNIT and CROCHET!

MEANWHILE though, Out in the WILDS of Central ALBERTA... My SIS-IN-LAW - MAID-MARE - was *quietly* Celebrating Her...

**HAPPY FIVE-OHH BIRTHDAY**!!

ahh... To be THAT "YOUNG" AGAIN!!

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"THE GRINCH" made Me do it...

ACTUALLY... NOT SO MUCH... BUT, I WAS BORED...

And, didn't really have ANYthing to BLOOG-about, *and* I've got a bunch of STUFF to *DO*! -- Sooo, for You "HOLIDAY-Loving" - [bah! humbug!] - "CATTY-PEOPLE", Here are a Couple of My SISTER's CREATURES...

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wow! - Has it really been TWO YEARS already..?!!

HE WAS SUCH A LITTLE GUY, BACK THEN... [SEE 06DEC2011 POST]

And NOW, My GREAT-NEPHEW is WALKING and TALKING and "TECHING" and, is NOT so "TINY" any more!

How *much* do You want to *BET*, that He just asked SANTA for
"THE"-LATEST-*IPAD*..?!!

**HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, CADET-JUNIOR**!!

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ohhh...My POOR-BABY-*SHOVELS*!

THEY'RE JUST NOT USED TO SUCH HEAVY *WET* SNOW AT "THIS" TIME OF YEAR!

sooo....

The "BAD" NEWS

yeah. We got *DUMPED-ON* by that BIG STORM Overnight! At least a FOOT-DEEP over the Laneway... Almost Twice that at the Roadside, "courtesy" of EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY!

BTW, This SEASON's "PLOW-POOP-MOUNTAIN" is off to an INcreasing-Start! - About a METER-HIGH when I last left IT. And, "SEWER-CANYON" has been neatly Carved out....

The "GOOD" NEWS

After 3-HOURS of FLAKE-FLINGING, I'm actually Feeling BETTER than I thought I would! - [huh..] - And, We appear to have MISSED the NASTIER bits of THE STORM..? - NO RAIN! - "Freezing" or Otherwise! - [seriously. I'll take SNOW over FREEZING-RAIN *Any* Day!!]

The "EXCITING-GREAT" NEWS

Remember FAIRY-T's Daughter - The *SCIENCE*-GRAD turned *JOURNALIST* - "COPY"-KAT? - [SEE 20FEB2013 POST]

well... GUESS "WHO" **WON** a Couple of *AWARDS* at the BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL Dinner-Thingy in COVENTRY, earlier Today..?!

So, if I've got all of This Correctly, She took SECOND-PLACE for Her DOCUMENTRY "WITHOUT A DIAGNOSIS"!!

And then, was Awarded "STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR"!!

hmm... I think I might just have to Impose on Her "GENETIC"-SKILLS to "TEST" My *SNOW*..? - AS, I'm beginning to SUSPECT that IT's *actually* "FAIRY-DUST" from an *OVER*-ECSTATIC "FAIRY-MUM"!?! - [Those GLITTERY bits just get *EVERY* where!!]

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