uh-oh...that's NOT "GOOD"!!

*cr-ap*!!

ahh... *TUESDAY*!! - oh! LOOK! The SUN is OUT, too! -- A **PURRR-FECT** Day to

**ESCAPE**!!!

[sigh] - IF *ONLY* that was "SO"...

okay. so. I got UP a tad "Later" than I had "wanted"... But, what-the-hey, I'm GETTING-*OUT*-OF-THE-HOUSE-*PAST*-"THE-CURB"-FOR-THE-*FIRST*-TIME-IN-A-?WEEK?!!
- I'll get over IT.

• Bathroom.
• Eat-Read-Newspaper-Check-Grocery-Flyers.
• "Make"-Bed. More Bathroom.
• Get dressed.
• About to leave the Bedroom, when...
• Soft-"Telltale"-YAWING-Sound-of-**STUFF-ALANCHE** is Heard!?!
• oh...

**FRAK**!!!

[*sigh*] - I've been WAITING for *THAT* to Happen... But, IT was just a "teeny" One... IT'll "keep". And, I've got an ESCAPE-PLAN-TO-GET-TO!

I've gotten OUT of the Driveway!! - WOOHOO!!

FIRST STOP - THE-BIG-MALL... Have "BANKING" to do. Then, a "RECCE" of the Place, seeing as I haven't done so in about a Month! -- *Didn't* Buy ANYthing! However, "tempted"...

NEXT STOP - TRAINYARDS... Started at WALMART first for Groceries. And THEN, to MICHAEL'S.

"My"-YARN was back to "Regular"-Price, so I was able to USE a 40%-OFF-COUPON. Just got ONE BALL. And Nothing Else was of "Interest"...

hmm... It looks like THE-GIRLS are RE-doing a bunch of CLEARANCE-STUFF over on the Right-Back-Wall... I'll just have a "Peek-Through" of the OPEN-Boxes... SISTER is doing a "RUBBER-DUCKY" Themed BABY-SHOWER for a FRIEND in March, perhaps I can Find *Something* that She can Use..?

ah. What's THIS lying on the Floor between Them..?


wait. Was that a,

"..hey! Pick me UP!

 BUY ME!!"

I just subliminally heard from that Lonely LITTLE-"SCRAPBOOKING"-PACKET-of-YELLOW-DUCKIES..?!?





Although there's a 79-Cent Sticker on IT, I went to Price-Check IT anyway.
-- "ONE-Cent"!?! --






[THANK-YOU, SHOPPING-FAIRY!!] - I carefully Perused through Those OPEN-BOXES for *any* MORE... no luck...

Time to MOVE ON! ...to FARM-BOY - Just ended up getting some "TAKE-OUT" for My Dinner Later. It was *after* SUNDOWN and I still had OTHER Places on My "LIST" to get to!

TWO more GROCERY-STORES, then to LOBLAWS.

Remember those "YARNY-BOWLS" - [SEE 07JAN2014 POST] - from LAST TUESDAY?

Well, I wanted to get some More... AND, there was this Store-Coupon for X-Many-"POINTS" if You made a $30.-plus Transaction...

The SMALLER 4-INCH ONE is One of the OTHER-TWO
from the UPPER-ABOVE Pic

However, IDIOT-ME decided to NOT "Price-Check" that PITCHER, which ended up being a DOLLAR LESS than I'd *expected* - [otherwise, I would've added-in *another* ITEM!] - RESULTING in being 65-Cents *SHORT* of that "$30." GOAL!! -- aarrrgghhhhhhh!!

[NOTE-TO-SELF -- SHOPPING-FAIRY
goes OFF-Duty at Sundown!]

7:30pm -- Time to GO *back* to "THE ZOO"... And, to EAT!

*crap*! -- I *FORGOT* about the STUFF-ALANCHE!

[**SIGH**!!]

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

My Laneway is Sooooo ICY...

..I'M WAITING FOR A "HOCKEY-FIGHT" TO BREAKOUT!!

Between Sunday Night's bouts of RAIN and Yesterday's *FLASH*-FREEZING WINDS, it's a WONDER that I could actually get OUT of the HOUSE *TO* the GARAGE! -- I've been using the ICE-HOE as a "WALKING"-STICK!

Apparently, I had gone OUT to "CHOP" about 2-Hours TOO Late! The TEMPS had DROPPED too quickly and the WIND was FREEZING the WATER-TRAPPED-BETWEEN-THE-ICE-LAYERS almost as soon as I could "FREE" IT!! -- It didn't take long for it to be pretty much of a LOSING BATTLE! -- After an Hour, I "SURRENDERED"!!

However, "TODAY", the SUN was OUT! - More just for "show" I imagine, as the TEMPS were back in that -25C Range again... NO MATTER, I had SHOP-FARI-ing to DO! -- *ALONE*, this Time!

Anyhoo... ROAD CONDITIONS were Better than EXPECTED as I made My Way to COSTCO for the "MILK-RUN"... As well as being LESS CROWDED than the Last Time! Although, by the Time I LEFT There, the SUN was Dangerously IN My Eyes for *most* of My Journey to TRAINYARDS! -- The SLOWER-TRAFFIC along the Way was actually HELPFUL!

So, FIRST-STOP was FARMBOY for some GROCERY-GETTING... pooh!! They're NO longer carrying My FAV BLUEBERRY-JUICE!?! - [That only leaves Me with ONE Source now!] - ggrrrr...

Somewhat PERTURBED by that "NEWS", I headed to MICHAEL'S for some - *hopefully* - "BARGAIN-THERAPY"..?? -- yeah.. okay.. Not *that* much... But, enough to need to USE a "COUPON"!

Strangely, I did *NOT* "Buy" ANY YARN!! -- It *must* be THE COLD..!?!

Speaking of Which, the Hour was "LATE" when I Departed, *still* with had MORE GROCERIES to GET!! -- Time to Head *closer* to HOME...

By Now, MOST of "CHRISTMAS-STUFF" at LOBLAWS had already been pillaged and picked-over by the "HOARDING-HORDES" - [like - *cough* - MOTHER]

HOWEVER... I did SPOT These YARN-TEXTURED DISHES!!

 Since I already had a Lot in My Cart, and the TEMPS were a tad harsh for CERAMICS, I only "RISKED" Buying TWO BOWLS and TWO PLATES... - [seriously. I *needed* to buy Something "YARNish"!!] - On Later "Reflection", though, I probably *should* have gotten MORE! - There were some CANISTERS that were also Tempting...

*IF*, THEY're still THERE *and* ON-SALE the NEXT TIME that I go, then I WILL get MORE!

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

YARNing to SALE 2 the HEART of ART...

I COULD'VE BOUGHT A COUPLE MORE...

BUT, I would have gone WAY *over* "BUDGET"!! -- And then, there's that *LACK* of WALL-SPACE Issue...

Anyhoo, BEFORE We had wandered on over to that ESTATE-SALE Yesterday, We made a QUICKIE-STOP over to The SALLY-ANN. -- I wanted to CHECK-OUT the AUCTION LISTING. Several NEW-ITEMS had arrived Last Week, but I *couldn't* get a GOOD-Look at THEM, *Then*! - We weren't going to the AUCTION, however, I did want to SEE "WHAT"
I would have "Missed"!

AS IN, a FEW rather NICE "NAUTICAL" PAINTINGS! - Though, still a tad too Pricey...
-- We MOVED ON...

AFTER the ESTATE-SALE - and, on the WAY to TRAINYARDS - We stopped-by for a Short-Bit at Our FRIEND, BOB-THE-BUYER and His FAMILY at Their semi-Monthly CURBSIDE-SALE.

BOB buys and sells LOTS of ANTIQUE & ESTATE "TRINKETS" & CURIOS...

I'm thinking that He was likely a PAWN-BROKER in a "PREVIOUS"-LIFE

-- As I, was likely a CURATOR in at least TWO!!

He also, Posts TERRIFIC SALE-"SIGNS"!! -- NEON-GREEN, *Every* BLOCK - stating how Many Blocks "to go" in CLEAR READABLE-While-You-Drive-By-SCRIPT!

ANYWAY... He had a Few PAINTINGS that Caught My EYE... However, I just settled on the "ABOVE" 8x10-Inch ONE for $5. -- [Which I Suspect, might have been BELOW His *COSTS*?!]

He really Likes Us, and is always Offering Us STUFF *AT-"COST"*!
- A "Courtesy" that I try *not* to "abuse"...





So. I couldn't Find a "Date" on the PIECE, but from the Condition of the FRAMING and CANVAS-BACKING,
I think *over* 30-Years would be a "SAFE-BET"..?


-- Actually, at some point That FRAME *will* be getting TRASHED!



We only "Pilgrimaged" at MICHAEL'S for about an Hour... I just got - [SEE BELOW] - ONE BALL of PURPLE ROVING... Afterward, We headed to the ST.LAURENT MALL - I had a few Errands to do There...

Like, *finally* getting around to "Cashing-IN" My HBC-Points! -- Needless to say, I did a bit of "SHOPPING" LATER... BUT, *NOT* to Worry! - I *still* have MONEY "Left" on that HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY *GIFT CARD*!!

As We were heading to a CHECKOUT-COUNTER, We passed a "DISCOUNT-TABLE" of DISHWARE...

These TWO 4-INCH HEART-DISHES were just sitting there... Looking LONELY... I checked the STICKER. The PRICE was "Right". AND, THEY *were* from PORTUGAL... I really DIDN'T "NEED" THEM!

I walked away about 20-Feet... oh! what-the-hell! -- I SPUN *around* BACK and Snatched THEM UP! - After all, it was *just* the TWO of THEM... About to end up being for "FREE"!

-- HOW could I, Say "NO"?!

NEXT... We headed to a *Certain* ART-"SHOPPE", that shall remain Nameless! AS, Their "SALES"-PRICES really AREN'T *so* much!!

Their YARN was "20%-OFF"... Which, was still about 4% *ABOVE* MICHAEL'S -

[Who really *aren't* Noted for Their LOW "REGULAR"-PRICES, either.

Honestly, other than the FANTASTIC-STAFF and YARN-INVENTORY,

IT's Their SALES and COUPONS that keeps Me coming back!]

 - *REGULAR*-PRICE!?!

However, THEY also have a Couple of COLOURS that I haven't seen at MICHAEL'S... yet...

So, seeing as I had been getting BARGAINS and FREEBIES all Day, I decide to *SPLURGE* on These TWO BALLS of YELLOW!!

I think it was Those HEARTS that MADE Me *DO* IT!!

We FINISHED the Day with GROCERY-GETTING...

MEANWHILE, *Nothing* of NOTE for Today! -- Just the USUAL "SUNDAY-CHORES"...

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

CLAMmering for COLLECTION...

SWEET!! - THAT "ESTATE"-SALE IS ON *AGAIN* THIS WEEKEND!! - [SEE 17AUG2013 POST]

And, YES! - I bought a Couple of MORE BOOKS... Smaller ONES, *this* Time! And, that are somewhat more "LITERARY". - [SEE BELOW] - Just a DOLLAR for BOTH.

However, TODAY's "COUP-DE-COLLECT"...

A FITZ & FLOYD "COQUILLE" TUREEN!

• Porcelain. And HEAVY!
• Made in JAPAN.
• The PLATTER - [14-Inches] - is Dated as 1982, while the REST is from 1981.
• oh, BTW... There's a *teeny-weeny* CHIP at the Top -- Which I'm sure I can *Mask* later.
• NOT that it "matters", AS I only PAID $10. for IT!! - [I found only ONE on EBAY. "Clean", but with NO LADDLE. Their "PRICE"... $249.99!!]
• And, have SEVERAL *OTHER* ITEMS to GO with IT!
• hmm.. I should *probably* LEARN how to MAKE "SOUP"!

MEANWHILE... For another DOLLAR-Each, I Added THIS AMETHYST GLASS LAMP CHIMNEY to My AMETHYST "COLLECTION"!



















Also, THIS Mini-FLAT-CHAIN-MAIL-'KERCHIEF.

Well, I need to "Wrap" THIS *UP* - BEFORE "DAWN"! - Sooo... MORE to SHOW, Tomorrow!

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

nuts! I probably *should've* SNATCHED that FABRIC after all..?!!

EIGHTH-INCH MIDNIGHT-NAVY & WHITE PINSTRIPE LIGHT-WEAVE COTTON... However, "Optically", IT was just a tad *nasty* on the Eyes! - Although, IT probably would have mixed well with Something ELSE on the "SOLID"-side..?

Anyway, a MOOT-Point *now*, as SOME-OTHER-YOUNG-WOMAN Latched-On to IT *before* I could get BACK to IT...

oh, well... I suppose I've Saved Myself from *certain* BLINDNESS for a bit Longer, so that "SOMEDAY", I might to able to DO "Something" with the Piece of COTTON FABRIC that I *did* BUY...

The CLOTH is somewhat "THIN"-nish... BUT, might hold-up IF IT were "CROSS-STITCH"-*QUILTED* to some THICKER "Backing"..? -- IT would be a rather Interesting, if not, TIME-CONSUMING "ENDEAVOUR"! -- *SOME*-Day...

MEANWHILE, during the Rest of My SHOP-FARI through The VALUE-VILLAGE, I came across THIS TAPESTRY-YARN...

Still a tad Pricey at just Under $2. even *with* the SENIORS'-DISCOUNT - but, I Liked the Colour!

Whilst at HALF the Price, I also acquired THIS BLUE & WHITE WALL-MOUNTED-VASE...

hmm... I NEED to Find some "WALLS"!

wait. -- SISTER has Some...

Perhaps, I can FILL Them UP while She and BIG-D are busy "CELEBRATING" Their **ANNIVERSARY**!?!

...or, not...






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

Just Picking-About...

SEEING AS I HAD AN ERRAND TO RUN, OVER IN BEACON HILL...

...I thought that I would keep My "SHOP-fari"-PLANS along the Route from THERE to HERE! -- As well as, TAKE a bit of Time to BROWSE...

The "Local"-Branch of FABRICLAND will apparently be CLOSING "soon"... Hence, a "SALE" or Two is to be had... sorta...

However, I found that "PICKINGS" were somewhat on the UN-impressive side to My Likings.

In the end, I only came away with THESE TWO PIECES at $3. per Meter...

The BOTTOM-One is just over a METER of a COTTON-LINEN Blend. - Last of the Bolt...

There was more of the ABOVE-One, but I only got 2-Meters... IT's a Light-Weight COTTON FLANNEL. -- I was drawn to the "STITCH"-Pattern... Actually, I'm almost TEMPTED to REcreate IT!!

A Run through The SALLY-ANN, snagged Me FOUR of THESE BLUE-WHITE SAUCERS from ENGLAND at 59-Cents-Each.

-- I Searched for the *Matching*-CUPS, but They weren't to be Found. - pooh!



WHATEVER, I just rather Liked the SIMPLICITY, and UNDER-Glazing of the BLUE...



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

After TWO-Weeks of "TOIL & BROIL"...

NOW, IT'S "SHOP & *BAKE*"!! -- We're beginning to get the HUMIDEX "Equivalent" in DIRECT *HEAT* THIS Week...

BTW, "I checked" - We were just ABOVE HONOLULU's TEMPS Today!! -- **MINUS** the BEACH and SURF and TRADEWINDS and the New Season of *HOT*-HUNKY-"HAWAII FIVE-0"-GUYS Production starting-up...

[..I *REALLY* need to get a PASSPORT!!]

ANYHOO...

We hit a Couple of YARD-SALES in BEACON HILL - that were *still* OPEN!

For $3. - I couldn't RESIST THIS *ANTIQUE* Bit of STONEWARE!! -- NICE-YARD-SALE-LADY was Selling IT for Her ELDERLY-AUNT, Who had gotten IT from Her PARENTS... IT's *Definitely* a CENTURY-Old!

Despite the LACK of HALLMARKS, except for a *Y* "DATE"-CODE, and after spending a Few Hours of RESEARCH, I've Determined that IT was Made by "PEARSON's" of CHESTERFIELD [ENGLAND]. Although, I've YET to nail down a DATE...

As to "WHAT" IT is... According to *My* Belief and GENERAL-CONSENSUS, IT's a BED-WARMING HOT-WATER BOTTLE. -- HOWEVER, there is *also* a "possibility" that IT might actually be an EARLY-Version of a "POP"-Type Bottle..?? - As for "Fizzy"-Beverages like Ginger-Beer..? - [a.k.a. a "SHANDY" - which would be fitting, as That's My Nickname!!]

WHATEVER. -- IT's *OLD*! And surprisingly, *still* FUNCTIONAL! - As a HOT-WATER BOTTLE! - OR, as a DOORSTOP... PAPER-WEIGHT... ANCHOR... [IT weighs about 5-plus POUNDS! EMPTY!!]

Anyway, We've been to This Location before... ACTUALLY, it was after Buying some Old YARN There 3-YEARS ago, that I became "Motivated" to START *KNITTING* again a Year Later!! - [SEE 05JAN2012 POST]

MEANWHILE, at the OTHER SALE - [that was right *across* the Street from *where* SISTER-S Last Lived in OTTAWA] - I picked up THIS SHINY ALUMINUM LAMP for $5.!

-- I would have "Haggled" the Price DOWN, but THEY were running a "FUND-RAISER"... And, IT's in Great Condition! AND, "goes" with *STUFF*... BTW, did I Mention My "fondness" for buying LAMPS..? - [We need more *OUTLETS*...]

AFTERward, We popped into The SALLY-ANN for Quickie-Peruse... NO Purchases, either. - Though, I did *consider* a Couple of PAINTING that were OVER My "THRIFTY-ART" Budget.

Some Minor-GROCERY-GETTING Next... Then, HOME! - An Hour EARLIER than "Usual"!? -- Well, it was 110F in THE CAR... with the Windows FULLY-OPEN!

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

Actually, in the "Long-Run", being LATE probably was for the Best...

AND, CHEAPER! -- well... sorta... perhaps..? - yeah. okay. *maybe* NOT so much...

So. Of course, MICHAEL'S just happened to be having this GREAT "Time-Limited" 40%-OFF-*ENTIRE*-Regular-Purchases-SALE until 1:00... A perfect Opportunity to "HOARD-UP" on that NEW PATONS ROVING YARN! -- And, LOOK! NO *RAIN*!! - [just OVERCASTness]

right. THAT "happened" *NOT*!! -- By the Time EVERYONE got UP and "ready", there was NO way that We were going to make THAT Deadline!

oh, Look! A "YARD-SALE"-SIGN for the NEXT-STREET-OVER...

There were a Couple of SALES. However, BOTH were Packing-UP! -- I managed to Pinch These TWO RICE BOWLS for a TOTAL of 50-Cents!

THEY're an ample Size... And, got Me to Thinking that, THEY could be Handy to use for Small KNIT-Projects..? - YARN-BALLS could be run through those Holes...


ANYHOO... Eventually, We made it over to MICHAEL'S - *after* 1:00 - and, "Power-Browsed"... MOTHER hasn't been There for quite some Time. -- I Introduced Her to the WALL-of-WOOL!

Meanwhile, seeing as there were NO "40%-OFF"-COUPON Deals going on, I opted-out on getting any MORE of the ROVING YARN. -- for now... -- Instead, I Gathered OTHER-STUFF - [SEE Further BELOW]

So... As I was heading Across the Store to put an Item back, I "stumbled" onto a Carousel of MARTHA STEWART YARNS... hmm... *SHE* makes ROVING YARN, too?? huh. -- And, on the BOTTOM-Basket, there's the REST of the CLEARANCE-[$1.99]-PRICED *MERINO*!

After Acquiring the ENTIRE Lot of GREEN Last Week, I had wondered about whether or not IF there were ANY *MORE* to be had at THAT Price..?! -- Needless to say, I Grabbed THIS ENTIRE LOT as well!

seriously. I was about to Leave *WITHOUT* WOOL!?! - I *had* to GET THIS BUNCH!

I noticed that there was a Softer-GREEN in Those TIN-POTS that I'd gotten Last Time. - I have a *USE* in Mind for THEM, so I got More.

Those Little PLASTIC-BOXES were also Priced Lower... I'm sure that I'll Find SOMETHING to put IN THEM! -- Perhaps, Those WOODEN-CLOTHES-PINS..?

And, BTW... ONE can never have *enough* STRIPPED RIBBON!!

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