Stimulating the Economy - One BUS at a Time!

WELL, here's a Shocker for You -- The SUN was out for MOST of the Day!!

When I last left the CRYSTAL BALL Meteorological Predictions for the Day, it was suppose to Rain until NOONish, and THEN clear up... "What" happened - any Rain cleared out by Dawn, then it was mostly Sunny. However, WHEN I set off for Downtown around 1:30ish, a bunch of suspect CLOUDS were making an appearance, just looking to MUG the Sun.

And, there I was WITHOUT My RAIN Coat!  Much "mental" scowling ensued.

Caught My first Bus with surprising ease. -- Oh. Cool. They've finally installed that Automated-STOP-Announcement System. About time!

Had to make a quick stop at My BANK at The BIG MALL. An expected cheque had arrived in the Morning Mail! It's always a "special" moment, when I can co-ordinate My Plans for the Day and don't have to reschedule the Errands because something didn't show up WHEN it was supposed to.

BTW, *what* ARE the "Knowledge" Requirements for working as a BANK Teller these days...? I only ask, because, when I deposit a cheque [no matter the amount] and ask for $20. [a nice "even" number] in CASH to be SUBTRACTED, I *DON'T* expect to SEE The-TELLER-Whip-Out-A-*CALCULATOR*-To-*DO*-The-MATH!!

I'm thinking here... She probably doesn't use ACTUAL Money in REAL Life?! -- Thankfully, Little-Miss-Money-Bucks clued into the Sound [over My annoying whiny cough] of My Eyes rolling back in My Head and, put the Device down... Saving Me the trouble of having to inform Her, that
"...stimulating Neurons causes Split-Ends..." was indeed, an "Urban Myth"!

As I left to catch My next Bus, I noticed that a *new* DOLLARAMA Store had opened up across the Corridor... Hmm? I wonder if They're still hiring CASHIERS?! -- I "know" Someone...

So, got through My Downtown appointment with little fanfare. Although, was surprised to see the Sun continuing to win out over the Clouds... Then, dropped by The RIDEAU CENTRE MALL for a quick run through.

SWEET! OLD NAVY has 50% off the CLEARANCE Items! Yeah, I know... I've got more Clothes than I know what to do with! [..I have a pile that's starting to give K-2 competition!] I'm just doing My
"Civic Duty" here by "stimulating" the Economy!

The FINAL Tally came to $20.60 for 5 lovely assorted TOPS that would have been $98. PLUS Tax at their Original Prices!

When I left the RC MALL, the Wind had picked up. Grabbed a Bus back to The BIG MALL again. Wanted to checkout that DOLLARAMA since I now had a bit more Time to. -- The Place is deceptively HUGE! AND, apparently, had JUST opened Today!

Didn't stay long, or hit the REST of the Mall. Jumped on another Bus Homeward to THE MALL. Just wanted to make one of My regular "FACTORY ENDS" Bin Checks...

BTW, a funny thing happened on My way through the Store to THE BIN... I ended up following 2 strapping PARAMEDICS with a gurney who were headed for the Restroom Lounge at that end of the Store. -- Never did find out WHAT was going on, BUT, *did* find a Package of YELLOW Yarn!

TIME to GET Home! ...with the help of one more promptly arriving Bus.

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Meanwhile, I'd like to give a "Shoutout" THANK YOU back to KRISTIN NICHOLAS -- a "Regular" over at the PBS Show - KNIT AND CROCHET NOW. She was kind enough to give Me a very
unexpected "mention" on Her BLOG Today. Be sure to CHECK Her Site at:

 http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/

She's a CROCHETER, KNITTER, AUTHOR, TEACHER, and OWNER of a Big HERD of "Pre-YARN"! -- [SHEEP] -- Just to name a FEW of Her numerous Talents!

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Got Some MAG-nificent Mail Today!

SO, of course... it was just RAINING Squirrels and the Neighbour's Leaves!

Oh, and My previously reported "mild" COLD - that is now a Week old - has progressed to the annoying-whiny-Throat-COUGH Stage. The DAMPNESS isn't helping any, either. Nor, the Thought of having to go OUT Tomorrow! On the Buses. Downtown...

Rumour has it, that the RAIN is "suppose" to "END" around NOONish...? uh-huh... Saving My Money - NOT making that BET!

Okay. So. As HOPING.... Another of the Decor Mags came in Today!! -- Let's have a LOOK!

November CANADIAN HOUSE AND HOME -

• COVER - Designer Sarah Richardson's daughter ROBIN is just SO going to be taking over The Business!! SOON!
• P. 70 - Alas! Bookshelves filled with BOOKS!! And, I love how the ones with Artsy Covers are placed outward - like ART.  Actually, if One is lacking said Type of Covers, then Small, GENUINE ART is an excellent substitute!
• P. 100 - This is cute. Simple. Can work with other Holidays too.
• P. 128-137 - Sarah Richardson's Country House done up for Christmas. Overall, I really am liking this. There actually is a subtle WARMTH about the place. Even with the High End Furnishings, they ALL give off an atmosphere of being Loved and USED! Oh, and GREAT Tree! -- Personally, I don't believe in killing Trees for THIS particular purpose - unless, it was already Destined for some enduring practical use later. But, I too, would need a Tree that tall for MY Ornament Collection!
• P. 138-143 - CH&H Editor Suzanne Dimma's place... Granted, it was likely during the sweltering Summer when this was Photographed, however, despite the very exquisitely stylish appointments - I'm just not feeling any of that "Christmas-y" coziness... It's MUCH better suited for that swanky New Year's Eve Party!
• P. 144-151 - LOVE that whole Entranceway - INside and OUT! Great use throughout of the ANTIQUE pieces! That Dining Room Dominican Sideboard is begining to grow on Me. And those Prints on top of it, remind Me of the TIN TILES that I bought a couple of weeks ago. Hmm...
• P. 152-157 - Another ginormous Home with wonderful Antiques, but perhaps with one WHITE piece too many...?

BTW, the MUCH awaited IKEA CATALOG *also* arrived Today! I'm still checking it out - lots of Pages... Perhaps Tomorrow, or the Day After, I'll do My "Review"..?

Meanwhile... BECAUSE You've all been Patient of Late, whilst I've been working on The LSP -- Here's a little SOMETHING to occupy You! One of My SISTER's many "Seasonal" VIGNETTES!

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WOOHOO!! -- **Decor Mag Day!!** -- FINALLY!!

HAPPY DANCE!!

My November STYLE AT HOME has Arrived!!

We've been getting different Postal Delivery People for a week or so.. And, oft times with LATE deliveries. I was beginning to suspect that My Mags were being hoarded IN the "SORTING" Department over at the MAIN POST OFFICE Building! 

--Because, IF their Break Room is sporting ANY *new* Furniture or even a fresh coat of Paint... ggrrrrrrr......

Whatever.. Let's just peruse this Puppy and see if IT actually was WORTH the WAIT!?

• P. 36-38 - I'm starting to see RED being used. A lot. Accented with IVORY / BEIGE / CREAM Tones...
• P. 40 - Many CLASSIC / TRADITIONAL type SETTEES. Most are in lighter Shades. None, quite suit My Fancy...
• P. 42 - Hmm... TEXTURED Pillows... Interesting looking, although a few are really NOT that Practical. And, don't get Me started on the PRICE of the "Knitted" One! -- I'm going to have to start Raising the PRICES on *My* BLANKETS!
• P. 44-52 - An intriguing array of CHANDELIERS. With a new take on the overly-done Antler style.
• P. 54-58 - Samantha Pynn's use of LAVENDERS has given Me some future inspiration. -- I have a LOT of Stuff in the PURPLE "Family"!
• P. 82-86 - It's looking like TIFFANY BLUE and WHITE could be THE Colour Combo for the Holiday Season. All that TURQUOISE from the Summer may still have some repurposed Life left.
• P. 102 - I LOVE this Place Setting! But would probably have to break into one of Martha Stewart's Houses to FIND such a great looking piece of BLUE MILK GLASS!
• P. 134-141 - ANTLERS / Horns appear to be the underlying accessories throughout, amongst Evergreen garnishings. Yet, surprisingly never mentioned, except for one Deer Sculpture...
• P. 142-151 - Exquisite FURNITURE. However, several of the so-called "Bold" accoutrements border on Garish in their Volume! Alone, they might "work", but together.. I'm just not seeing the Harmony! Even the Tone of WHITE Paint is blindingly LOUD. -- As I gaze upon some of these Pages, all I'm hearing is Slot-Machine Music drowning out Yo-Yo Ma!
• P. 152-157 - And then, it's the stereotypical COUNTRY CABIN look.. A lot of RED. Some of which, are a Paint-Chip or two on the Pinkier side for My Tastes. They could do with being warmed up just a tad.
• P. 158-166 - Ah, more of that "Party at TIFFANY's" Look.
• P. 173 - Oooo! Smoked Salmon Sushi! -- My Tummy just growled!

Well, I have to get back to The LSP now...

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I've gone TWI-BAL! -- I think...?

IT'S difficult to say...

TWITTER was somewhat snickety earlier Today... And, I spent waay too much Time THERE checking out My numerous LISTS! Where, I discovered this "TWIBES" thing... It's NOT a Part of TWITTER, but, sort of a Cyber "Meeting Place" for TWEEP Groups to HANG OUT..?

I joined "OTTAWASTYLE" and "BUYHANDMADE". Hopefully, it'll "help" with My little BUSINESS...
- Couldn't hurt.

Meanwhile, SORRY that THIS is seriously SHORT Today, but it's LATE and has been a BEYOND non-descript Day! Seriously. And, STILL *NO* Decor Mags in the MAIL - YET, either!!

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PART 2 and 3 of The LSP...

TODAY, was primarily devoted to DOING as much of The "LITTLE" SECRET "PROJECT" as possible! -- AND, a much NEEDED Load of LAUNDRY...

Despite, PART 1 not being fully complete just yet, I thought that I'd "change" the Task up a bit and get started on PARTS 2 and 3 simultaneously. Seeing as, BOTH are of the SAME Design, only DIFFERENT in Colour Selection. Strangely enough, I think it may even be quicker to do it THIS way. AND, it definitely helps with maintaining a uniform TENSION between the Two.

Here's another TEASER Pic!

Shot WITHOUT a Flash! The MILKBLU is pretty much dead on, but the BUBBLE GUM should be more PINK. Subtract the YELLOWISH Lighting and, the Colours, would be almost "accurate"...

Sorta...

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SPLAT!

OCTOBER. "Frost on the PUMPKIN Time"! It was crispy COLD this Morning - AND, *SUNNY*!!

Well, at least for *most* of the Day... There was the odd Cloud System BLOWING by! Almost forgot about the Wind... Oh, and later, a spit of Raindrops. But, in the end, the Sunlight won out!

I suppose, the CHILL discouraged most People from having YARD SALES, as we only found a few. Resulting, in Me NOT getting ANYTHING!! A shock to My Hoarding Little Heart, let Me tell Ya! Of course, MOTHER saved HER Residential-Retail-Reputation with purchases of some FABRIC and YARN. Yeah. We *needed* MORE of that around here.

We started the Grocery Run early. Decided to try a different Route - there was an Intersection that I wanted to check out. There's been a mess of Construction going on there for some time and I'll have to go through there next Month. I was curious as to its progress...?

Eventually, We ended up in BIG-BOX-STORE Country - but, skipped a few of Our regular stops. MOTHER wanted to check out some NEW ones a little further down the Road... Thankfully, not TOO far. -- Otherwise, a couple of more kilometers and You sort of FALL off the EDGE of the CITY!

Anyhoo... She went into some "Party" Store, whilst I checked out the nearby STAPLES. Which, was "where" I discovered THIS Little Guy!

Meet, SPLAT!



I was weeding through a CLEARANCE Bin and had inadvertently picked IT up to see what was underneath... Nothing of Interest caught My Eye or Wallet - UNTIL, I took a closer look at WHAT was IN My Hand!

Hmm... PURPLE. [It's actually more Grape-ish - remember, My Purple-Pic-Problem.] The Shape is wickedly weird. It has a Useable Function...

Oooo! And, check out that 27 Cent Price-Sticker!

SOLD!


Okay... So "what?" if It *needs* a New Battery... It's COOL looking! And, I DIDN'T buy Anything ELSE, Today. Besides, It was just BEGGING to be BLOOGed! -- A cheap, weird, purple "SPLAT"... do The MATH! -- AFTER, the Fresh Battery is IN!

Across the Way from that bunch of Stores, was the new WALLACK'S Art Supply Store. MOTHER was looking for some Special "Paper"... As She did, I was admiring several CANVASES done by some of the Employees. Two in particular, struck My fancy...

One was of a GOTHIC-like RUINS, at Night... Very dark in Tone, with a wonderful GRAPHIC NOVEL feel to It!

The Other, was done by the Store Manager - who I spoke with about His work. A Navy Blue, White and Red Abstract piece. Mostly horizontal Strokes, but it looked like cascading water-steps... His first attempt with a Palette Knife. A rather successful one, I'd say. The Work had a very pleasing aesthetic to it. Worthy of Decorating around.

And, of course, I had left My camera IN the Car.

From there, it was back toward the direction of Home, with stops at COSTCO and The MALL. Nothing exciting going on There - except, perhaps for the PET HALLOWE'EN Photo Sessions at the small Pet Shop.. Caught a glimpse of this really curly BLACK Dog sitting in a very BLACK Cauldron... Have to "wonder" HOW that Pic turned out!

Hmm..now WHERE did I put those BATTERIES...?


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It's FRIDAY -- Guess Which DISNEY "Dwarf" I Am?!

I. HAVE. A. COLD.

Granted, just a very mild one, but still... I have one. I can't remember the last time I did so... My "guess" on the CAUSE - after being subjected to the Large Pressing CROWD of WOMEN last Saturday, with their various "Fragrant" Products and, the many VENDORS also hawking such Wares... I suspect that My IMMUNITIES had been weakened.

I suffer from a number of Chemical "Sensitivities", along with My Asthma. Throw in the rest of that exhausting day, other possibly "infected" People, the dreary damp Weather... Something was bound to HAPPEN! And then, there was that unusually HIGH Humidity on Tuesday... THAT, I believe was the CATALYST!

All that MOIST air I was inhaling. Just one WRONG Germ and I was done for! It was Wednesday Morning when I awoke to the SORE Throat...

Anyhow, NOW, it's just running through its paces. The sore throat part is done. I'm currently into the semi-stuffy slightly drippy ticklish-need-to-sneeze Sinuses... Haven't taken anything for it, other than My regular Asthma Meds and more VITAMIN C and fluids. As I said, it's MILD. Should be done with by this Time NEXT Week. No big deal.

Besides, the UPSIDE... It's given Me SOMETHING to BLOOG about!!

Meanwhile, I have to get back to The LSP... Here's another Pic of My progress from Earlier Today.

Ignore the wrong BLUE [that should be more WEDGWOOD] and the PERIWINKLE [that should be more LAVENDER].





Tomorrow is YARD SALE DAY again!  Also, the OTTAWA HOME AND DESIGN SHOW is on at LANSDOWNE this Weekend. We're still undecided on whether We'll go or not... Probably, not, seeing as one of the BIG Seasonal Craft Shows
will be over There in a few weeks. And, for a much better Admission Price! -- Not to mention, with waay cooler STUFF!!








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