yeah...I went and *DID* "IT"...

CRAP! -- THEY CHARGED ME "TAXES" THIS TIME..?!! -- nuts!
- I probably shouldn't have Ordered those "Regularly"-Priced - [Yes. I have just Purchased Something at *FULL-Price*! - so, Get OVER it.] - KNITTING NEEDLES...

6.5mm - Stainless Steel - 6-inch DOUBLE-POINTS... Actually, the PRICE was Good. And, IT was the First Place that I've seen ANY "METAL"-Ones over 5.5mm!-- I really haven't come across Them in any of the Stores around HERE. And, I felt like "Treating" Myself!


MEANWHILE...

*ANOTHER* PARCEL showed up This Morning! - Via the SAME COURIER-COMPANY... hmm..?

Although IT was "IN" My Name, IT was actually FOR MOTHER! - Some AWESOME *LEFTOVER* "BITS" from One of the VENDORS at Last Month's "SIGNATURES"-CRAFT-SHOW!

I still have to get around to taking some Pics of IT all... Our BRAINS have been just BUSY *CHURNING* away ALL Day, TRYING to Think of *ALL* of the COOL, "WORTHY" THINGS that We can USE IT *ON*!! -- Needless to Say, We BOTH "PLAN" on spending the Upcoming YEAR, getting "CREATIVE" with THIS STUFF!

**IF**, We can FIND the Time *BETWEEN* "THE WEATHER" and, the Usual-Pain-In-The-***-MINUTIA-That's-ALWAYS-Overtaking-Our-LIVES..?!

ahh.. SISTER is going to *Love* THIS STUFF!

ANYHOO... UNTIL I can Post Pics - PLEASE, EVERYONE - pop-in and *thoroughly* CHECKOUT the Company's SITE - "HIDES IN HAND" - of Our very GENEROUS and LOVELY *BENEFACTRESS*, TERESA PAUL...

www.hidesinhand.com

And, TRUST Me, THEIR PRODUCTS are FABULOUS to *TOUCH*!! -- So, if ANYONE is still on "The HUNT" for a *SPECIAL* HOLIDAY-GIFT... ORDER NOW!!

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well. So much for THAT "New-Product-Line" Idea...

really!? FOR *ONLY* $2.40 EACH? -- HOW *DO* I COMPETE AGAINST THE "CUTENESS"..??!!

MEANWHILE, I'm sitting on a TROVE of *Quality* "RAW MATERIAL" just begging to be Transformed into NON-GLUE-GUNNED-HAND-HEWN-CREATIVE-CRAFTINESS that can be SOLD in the $5. to $10. Range, however, with $15. to $20. looking "Workmanship"! - AND, that will give Me enough "PROFIT" to cover THE ELVES' "PAYROLL"! -- Not to mention, Craft-Show-TABLE-Booking-COSTS, Sled FUEL...

oh. well...

HEY! *LOOK*!! -- SNOW SQUALLS! - AND, Me having to SHOVEL almost 2-Inches of IT before heading to THE MALL... ROAD-CONDITIONS were *not* Favourable enough to Venture over to TRAINYARDS.

BTW, did I "mention" the Part about having to *SHOVEL*..?!!

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Pre-SHOW BLOOG-DOWN...

"...sorry... You're too late... THE-AUNTIE has already gone into Pre-SALE-LOCKDOWN. - Please, just leave a *COMMENT* and come back Later... Thanks!"

"OH! - And DON'T forget to drop by the CRAFT SALE!"

[The CAST of "DEER-DYNASTY" waiting for Their *RIDE*]

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well.. The WEATHER "Improved" at least!

IT WAS "SHOP & GO" EARLIER... The SUN was OUT for the most Part, but IT was also quite COOL and Windy...

And, still too UNpredictable for MOST-PEOPLE to Set-Up any YARD-SALES... So, of course, IT got much *BETTER* Later on! -- Sweaters were Removed...

ANYHOO, GROCERY-GETTING and BARGAIN-BROWSING were the Orders-of-the-Day...

LOBLAWS had another "NO TAXES"-Day! -- Some SCHOOL-OFFICE SUPPLIES were finally REDUCED...

WALMART was CROWDED! -- But, Lots of SALES going on There, too... Got a Few more STORAGE-BUCKETS that were at BARGAIN-LEVELS. - NOW, I just have to *FIND* a "SPOT" to put Them OUT of the Way! -- I suppose I'll have to "Take Care" of THAT, Tomorrow..?

MICHAEL'S had more NEW SALES... And, NEW INVENTORY... *EXCEPT*, for My YARN!
-- However, I've *never* let THAT Stop Me before... eh?

So, HERE's *SOME* of WHAT I got...

I've NO CLUE - yet! - as to WHAT I'll be *Doing*
with This MULTI-COLOURED LOT of CARD-STOCK!
-- BUT, the $2.50 Price was RIGHT and I got Distracted by
ALL of the PRETTY COLOURS...

The REST of My ORTS & ENDS...

The TOOLS were a CLEARANCE-BIN FIND for just over $4.-- The STRIPES and STARS STUFF are actually Boxes of MINI-PLAYING CARDS... Great HALLOWE'EN PUMPKIN-BASKET-STUFFERS!

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Ooo! "SCARY"! -- I *almost* got...

..."EVERYTHING" ON TODAY'S "TO-DO-LIST" DONE... **TODAY**!! -- No "Wonder" that METEOR-SHOWERS are PREDICTED for Tonight!?!

just saying...

ANYHOO... 'Tis was a Day of THIS and of THAT... LAUNDRY-Finishing... GARBAGE-Gathering-Up... CYBERNESS... UNplugging some SINK-PLUMBING... "PINNING"-away... Breaking-IN that *New* Shiny-Red-RESISTANCE-BAND... And of course, a bit of STITCHINESS!

MEANWHILE... SISTER has been at it with the WREATH-Making again! -- THIS ONE is "COW-GIRL" Themed for a FRIEND's TWO-YEAR-OLD-DAUGHTER's BIRTHDAY PARTY.

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Some of *WHAT* SISTER has been UP to Lately!

...BETWEEN THE MANY, *MANY* "OTHER" THINGS THAT SHE DOES!!

Meanwhile....

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOUNTIE-MAN-S**!!

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Leaving a Legacy of THRIFTY-*LOVING*!

*MANY* A TIME, IN MY "EXPERIENCE", the FINAL-Bargained-Down-Agreed-Upon-PRICE of a "THRIFTY-TREASURE" is *more* often than not, Achieved with My PROMISE that Said-OBJECT "...WILL be *LOVED*!" -- EVEN, if IT ends up being Packed-Away for DECADES!

AS usual, We didn't Leave until LATE! - [12:30!!] - There was that Large "Charity" YARD-SALE a few Streets over... I got a Few ITEMS. But, I'll save THEM for Tomorrow.

After, a Few Other Stops on Our Way to BEACON HILL around 2:30-ish, We got Lucky and found ONE *still* OPEN! -- A NICE-30s-SOMETHING-LADY and Her TEENAGED-DAUGHTERS...

Where, I picked up THIS "TOLL"-PAINTING for $2...

IT's been done on a WOOD-PLANK that was supposed to be atop of an UNfinished Bench... Since IT wasn't "attached", She KINDLY let Me have IT. - The PIECE, along with Several Other ONES had been Painted by Her MOTHER...

Personally, as Pleased as I am to *have* and Cherish IT, I find it Disconcerting that The-GIRLS wouldn't want to "Preserve" ANY of Their GRANDMOTHER's rather Skillful WORKS!? -- Doubtless, in a Couple of Decades from Now, They'll probably be Wishing that They HAD!

NEXT, We continued on a TRAIL of ORANGE "ESTATE SALE" SIGNS... And, the Day's "GOLD-MINE" of *TREASURES*!!

Although, the PLACE had been "picked-over", the Remaining Items still gave Evidence of a Home that had been - [mostly metaphorically] - RICH in ART and CULTURE. -- I came across a Formal NAVAL-OFFICER's Dinner Jacket in one of the open Closets. Which, explained the "Source" of many of the House's more "EXOTIC" Items and READING Material...

There were Lots and LOTS of BOOKS! And, SOMEONE was also a KNITTER - [I'll have "Stitchy"-Type Pics Tomorrow] - and a Lover of the NEEDLE ARTS...

As indicated by THIS *AWESOME* FOLIO BOX of *Actual Size* PATTERNS!! - IT's Dated from 1963. The Heavily-Papered Contents are in Excellent Condition! -- For ANYONE into Replicating AMERICAN "Historical" Needle and Textile Crafting, THIS is a MOTHER-LODE of INFO!

And, of course, MORE Additions to MY ART-"LIBRARY"!

Plus, THIS Addition to My "REFERENCE"-LIBRARY... The TOME literally contains a TON of Biological Knowledge, AND *WEIGHS* as much!!

So... And how MUCH was This STACK-of-STUFF..?? -- well... Along with MORE STUFF - [that I'll show Tomorrow] - IT *ALL* came to JUST "$5."!!

THEN, as I was Paying for IT, I noticed THIS PAINTING on the Wall...

Despite being Originally Priced at $18., and since the PLEASANT-ESTATE-AGENT-LADY Liked Me - [MOTHER had been Chatting Her up!] - an Offer of $9. was made... Which, "normally", I would have GLADLY Paid...

HOWEVER, I *REALLY* wanted to ADHERE to My LIMIT on My "$5.-and-Under"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION... I "mentioned" Such, with the added Incentive, "...IT'll be LOVED..."

...By Me, and hopefully, ALL of YOU as well?!

Now, I just NEED to *FIND* some WALL "SPACE"... And/Or, PROGENY *willing* to Properly CONTINUE The LEGACY..?!

Speaking of My MUNCHKINS...

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEP-NEPH-PRETEEN**!!

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"WHAT" was Bought THIS Week on *THE BLOOG*!

...BESIDES "GROCERIES"!

Overall, it's been a BUSY Week with COMINGS and GOINGS and PLANNINGS and TRYING to get *ANY*THING Worthwhile DONE!!

oh. yeah...

And, "apparently" there were a Couple of "Nearby" - [within 40-Miles] - EARTHQUAKES
This MORNING!! -- WHICH, I "apparently" **MISSED**!??! - sorta... I think *something* Woke Me up enough to just TURN-OVER..?

What can I Say? ONCE I'm Asleep, I'm usually a Heavy-Sleeper. Besides, a "5.2"..? oh, pul-leeze! The FURNACE Turning-ON probably clocks in at "4.5"!!

Anyway, My Bed is in a Semi-Basement Corner. The HOUSE has STEEL-Framing and We're on BEDROCK. Not to mention, NONE of My surrounding TOWERS-OF-PILED-*STUFF* moved either! - So. NO Probs!

HOWEVER though, MOTHER *did* FEEL IT and was just a tad Freaked over IT...

..seriously? - WHAT did She "Expect"? - The TEMPS just shot UP and The SUN was OUT!!
-- OF COURSE, THE PLANET is going to "REACT"!! - duh.

But, ENOUGH of Our "LOCAL" TERRESTRIAL-TREADMILL... ON to THIS Past Week's *PURCHASES*!

The TRAINYARDS-TOUR-de-TUESDAY garnered Me MORE of These GIANT-CLOTHES-PINS - [BELOW] -and JOURNALS from MICHAEL'S - [LEFT]

Most of Which, went to SISTER for *another* BRIDAL-SHOWER that She'll be doing Next Month! -- I Kept the GREEN PINS...

As to the Could-DO-with-Some-Paint-EXPANDING-RACK-that's-*Only*-Missing-a-"Hanging"-HOOK, I actually ended up getting IT for **FREE**!! - [psst! Don't tell MANAGER-DAVE!]

NEWER-CASHIER-GIRL had Entered a Wrong Amount - [as in over $40,000!!] - Corrected IT. Then, FORGOT to Enter the PRICE!

-- Granted, I was probably "Distracting" Her with My COUPONS..?

LATER, I headed over to VALUE-VILLAGE and Found This SET of THREE CHROME-WIRE-PAPER-TRAYS and a Never-Used CROSS-STITCH CANVAS. -- $1.99-EACH minus the TUESDAY-20%-OFF-"SENIORS'-DISCOUNT! - That I manage to Get *without* being the "Required"-AGE!

On SECOND THOUGHT, I'm not sure IF whether THAT's a "GOOD THING"..??!! -- Then again, to the CUTE-PERKY-Somewhat-MATH-CHALLENGED-*YOUNG*-CASHIER, I'm sure that *ANYONE*-Over-40 probably *fit* the Criteria!!

But hey, for "20%-OFF", I'll get "OVER" Myself!!

MEANWHILE...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY,

SISTER-S & MOUNTIE-MAN-S!!

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We *BEGIN* "YARD-SALE"-SEASON Tomorrow!!

THE *TRUE* "SIGN" OF SPRING!! -- oh! AND, that the WEATHER has been DEVOID of NASTINESS for Several Days in a Row, too! - [for the MOST part...]

The CROCI are also in Full-BLOOM! -- Although, Our TULIPS are just "Breaking-Ground"... Looks like THE-"NATIONAL-CAPITOL"-GUYS will be a tad *BUSY* This Week, Prepping and probably PERSUADING those "CITY"-TULIPS to *Begin*-BLOOMING *IN* Time for the Start of The CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL - [MAY 3 - 20] - OTTAWA's Annual *BIG* SPRING Event!


MEANWHILE, SISTER is still AT it Making Her WEDDING-WANDS...

hmm... We might have to Stick a FEW in the GARDEN to give the FLORA a much needed "CLUE"!!

Well... I have to *TRY* to UP "EARLIER" for Tomorrow's TOUR-de-THRIFT!!

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

We had a MUCH more "CHIC" than "CHICK" EASTER VISITOR, Today...

IMAGINE OUR *SURPRISE* WHEN MADAME-Q SHOWED UP AT OUR DOOR!!

We haven't SEEN Her in AGES! -- However, She could only Stay for a Short-While... Though, Long *enough* to MAKE Our "Day"!! - Especially, seeing as IT was somewhat Overcast with a Spot of RAIN Later on...

MEANWHILE, since Nothing ELSE "EXCITING" Happened, I thought I'd POST THESE to *BRIGHTEN* THE "HOLIDAY"... SISTER has been a *BUSY*-BUNNY with Her EASTER
"TREATS"!!

THEY *almost* LOOK-*TOO*-CUTE-TO-EAT, eh?! -- And probably, would have Fitted NICELY into These EGG TINS that I got at MICHAEL'S Last Week... I *Love* COLLECTING THESE!!

**HAPPY EASTER**!!

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

STUFF to DO! PLACES to BE! - Now, IF I could *ONLY*...

...GET TO TURN "LEFT" AT SOME POINT IN MY *LIFETIME*!!??

The INTERSECTION of MONTREAL ROAD and ST.LAURENT BOULEVARD - I'm in the WESTBOUND-LEFT-TURNING-LANE in Spot-15ish? I've been There for OVER 10-Minutes!! WHY? -- Because...

• TRAFFIC. Obviously.
• The LEFT-TURN-*ARROW*-LIGHT is only ON for about 10 to 12 Seconds..?
• The FIRST CAR **DOESN'T** TURN until "SECOND-8"..!!??
• *MAYBE* 3-Cars GET through at each SIGNAL-ROTATION..?
• PEOPLE? Get a &^%%$^%&^ CLUE!!

Needless to say, WHEN *I* was FIRST at the LIGHT - waiting - by the end of SECOND-*2*, I was already THROUGH the TURN!!

WHAT was supposed to have been a "Quick" Stop at a "MEAT"-Store - since IT was just across the Road from the GROCERY-Store that I *had* to go to - ended up taking a good HALF-HOUR *CHUNK* out of *MY* Time!! -- IT was bad enough that I had Left the HOUSE Later than WHEN I had "PLANNED"... A REvised "FLIGHT-PLAN" was being "Filed"!

EVENTUALLY, I made IT to THE BIG MALL!

• The BANK First... "Empty"! - TELLERS are "Standing-By"... YAY!
• Next, had a LETTER to POST...
• Afterward, a Circuit of the Mall...
• THE GAP - yeah, of course, I Bought SOMETHING! - A *heavy* COTTON ZIPPERED-CARDIGAN. Was already over HALF-OFF, then *another* 30%-OFF! And, IT's "NAVY". -- IT'll be WORN!
• THE BODY SHOP - WooHoo! The SHOWER-GEL I like that wasn't "IN-STOCK" the Last Time I was IN, now "IS" *and* HALF-PRICE?! -- I picked-up a FEW. - oh. Have to RENEW My "DISCOUNT"-MEMBERSHIP, too... No prob. Still getting a "Deal"!

Off to MICHAEL'S... "SENIORS' DISCOUNT DAY"!! - Been a WHILE! - [silly HOLIDAYS being on TUESDAY!]

TODAY's "MISSION" - Get MORE of what *might* be LEFT of the CHRISTMAS STUFF! - [SEE 05JAN2013 POST] - I loaded-up on Those "TAKE-OUT"-BOXES! Thirty *more*! And, another BALL of the "LEMONGRASS" YARN! - That "SMART-CAMERA" 40%-OFF-COUPON was still GOOD!

Got some RIBBON. The One with the LADYBUGS was actually part of the "75%-OFF-RETURNED-ITEMS-CLEARANCE" Stuff. AS were the KNITTING NEEDLES! - [$1.87 *before* other Discounts!]

The Chrome WREATH-HANGER was a little over a Couple of DOLLARS... IT's a great Hook, I'll probably Use IT for Something ELSE. There were More available, however, My SENIORS'-Discount didn't "APPLY" to IT. -- Maybe if They're still around Next Week, I'll get Extras...

At about 40-Cents, the *LAST* Green METAL-BELL was just begging for a New Home! Same Price for the COOKIE-CUTTERS...

And THEN, there were the CLEAR-PLASTIC-"BULBS" -- There was this "Basket" FULL of Them... Staring up AT Me... "Subliminally"-Shouting, "..BUY US, AUNTIE!! We *know* You'll think of *Something*-Profoundly-PITHY to put INTO US!!"

IT was Large Basket... Had about 20 or so BULBS... But, at 62-Cents for the Larger-FLAT-Ones and 57-Cents for the ROUND-Ones -- ah, what-the-hell! -- I Bought Them ALL!

hmm..."pithy", huh? -- How's "SHEEP-IN-A-BUBBLE", sound?

THOUGHTS..?

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"STRUCTUBE"-ular Shopping Savings!

I LOVE "FREE" STUFF! - I LOVE **COOL** FREE-STUFF EVEN MORE!!

"Normally" on Saturdays, when the Weather is "good", We do the YARD-SALE-Circuit... However, considering how **HOT** the Temps have been, I figured that MOST-PEOPLE would likely Skip "this" Weekend and just head to "The COTTAGE" or Hang-Around-the-POOL, instead of dealing with STRANGERS on Their BARBECUE-DRIVEWAYS..?

Besides, MICHAEL'S had one of those "TIME-LIMITED-15%-OFF"-SALES! -- Oh, and the "FISHERMEN'S WOOL" was HALF-PRICE, too!! -- I don't recall seeing *THAT* happen before...

So, after the briefest of Non-Purchasing-"Stops" at the One YARD SALE on Our Street - [the Same One where I picked up that SEWING BOX of "GOODIES" Last Saturday] - along the way, We headed out to the TRAINYARDS...

hmm... for a Saturday, IT seems to be rather "Quiet"..??

As MOTHER piddled about with the Outside-Bins, I pointed Myself toward the YARN-Section
- with a toss of another RIBBON into My Cart...

ah! I was hoping to find some of that PATON "Classic Wool" in an IVORY-shade! - [I have
"Plans"..] - Meanwhile, there wasn't any "Sale"-Signs around the "FISHERMEN'S WOOL", so I had to "ASK" about IT. -- [I'm going to have to start bringing "The FLYER" with Me, as there are *never* ANY in The Store!]

Awaiting My "Answer" at the Front of the Store, I just *happened* to NOTICE the
"MISSING-DAMAGED-CLEARANCE-ITEMS"-Rack...

IT's *right* inside the Door,
I'm surprised that I had MISSED IT!!

Oooo... Some *Interesting* STUFF!



Originally-Retailing at $54.99, the MARTHA STEWART Crafts "Knit & Weave Loom Kit"
was going for $13.74... With the "DISCOUNT", I got that down to $11.68!

- The 2-*missing*-Pieces can be *easily* substituted with the OTHER-Enclosed-Ones...

Jammed into the Lower-Shelf of The RACK, was This "BEAD-LANDING" STORAGE KIT!!

-- LOTS and *LOTS* of SEED-BEADS!!

"INSIDE", there was a Pair of Wire-Cutters, Wire, a Bead-Scoop... The
"Damage" was only to ONE of the 5-Containers, which I'm CERTAIN that I can "REMEDY"!!

Previously $36.99, I eventually got IT for $7.85!! -- I Love little BEADS!! And, soooo MANY Colours...

hmm...that LOOM might come in Handy after all.
-- [GATE-GIRL..? STOP Drooling!!]

BTW, halfway through My "Digging", MOTHER *finally* came INTO the Store! -- She found a Couple of Small-Items-of-Interest for Herself...

ONCE We were *OUT*, sitting in The CAR for a few moments, MOTHER "spotted" a Particular-Store across the Roadway that She had never "noticed" before - [despite, IT having been "there" for a WHILE!] -- I'm just not a big *Fan* of the Place, so I haven't been over to that Section...

However, NEXT DOOR to IT IS an ESTABLISHMENT that I *have* been meaning to "Check OUT"!! -- So, We drove on over... MOTHER went into "Her" Store, and I went into STRUCTUBE!!

THIS STORE, is now on My "LOTTERY-*SHOPPING*-LIST"!! And, quite surprisingly, the "PRICES" were considerably *Lower* than I had Expected! ..ahh, IF ONLY, I had "the ROOM"... Not to mention, WALL-*SPACE*! -- There was this One ART-PIECE that "Caught-My-Eye"...

Anyhoo... The *BEST* Part of My Pre-Potential-Purchasing-PERUSAL was the equally Surprising **FREE** 5Meter-RETRACTABLE-METAL-TAPE-MEASURES that the VERY-**NICE**-FRIENDLY-STAFF were GIVING-OUT!! -- MOTHER received One as well, when She came in.


I will *definitely* be GOING BACK!

-- THEY did have an intriguing "Decorative" SILVER BALL that I have a hankering to Acquire..?

WALMART was Next... Just picked up some of My Fav JUICE -- which, appears to be on the way of being "replaced" by SMALLER BOTTLES..??!! -- pooh!! NOT. HAPPY...

From There, a few more GROCERY-GETTING Stops, then LOBLAW... I think I might have
"JINXED" THEIR "Financial-Systems"..??

I have THEIR Charge-Card... And, when I had used IT earlier at WALMART, I *mistakenly* used a Different PIN... Hence, "Freezing-up" the Card, ecetera. A "Problem" that I could not RECTIFY until I got HOME and made a "CALL"...

Meanwhile, I had accepted the Fact that I would "Lose-out" on acquiring any "Store-POINTS" for My Purchases, WHEN SUDDENLY... Over the PA-System, it was "Announced" that there was *some* "TECHNICAL-DIFFICULTY" with THEIR "Banking-Connection" and that THEY could **ONLY** accept "CASH"-PAYMENTS!!

oh-kaay... NOW, I don't Feel *so bad* about Those "Points"!

-- oh, Look! All of the LONG-CHECKOUT-LINES have moved over to the BANK-MACHINES!!

A "GOOD" THING that I actually *have* CASH "on Me", huh?!

ahh... KARMIC-ECONOMICS, gotta Love IT!!

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