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



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

..SPIN...SORT...PACK...SHOVEL!

yep-per! THE SNOW-"CATION" IS *OVER*!! -- And, We're BACK to SUN-*LESS* SUNDAYS!

For Once, getting-UP "late" was pretty much a MOOT Point! - The SNOW-FLURRIES began around 9:30am and didn't look to be Stopping at ANY Time "SOON"!? - Besides, MORE are "Expected" for Tomorrow..? Not that I was "Planning" on going Anywhere, any way...

Sooo...

• I took My Time to have "BREAKFAST".
• Read the WEEKEND-NEWSPAPER. - [Didn't get a chance to LAST Weekend!]
• Finished up Last-Night's LAUNDRY.
• "SORTED" through and "PACKED" that 2-FOOT-*PILE* of STUFF-ALANCHE-PRINTED-MATTER for Tomorrow's "PAPER-RECYCLING"-DAY - [the OTHER Reason for Tomorrow's Precipitation-Predictions!]
• yay! It's STOPPED SNOWING!
• 5:00pm - Time to HIT-The-SHOVELS!

Surprisingly, IT was only a Few-INCHES of DRY-LIGHT-FLUFF! In just over an Hour, I had EVERYTHING Done! -- What ICE that is left out There, I didn't bother with... TEMPS will be Dropping again further into the Week, and What *could* be CHOPPED, has already been!

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

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...

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

there must be an INCREASE in *SUNSPOT ACTIVITY* that NO ONE "warned" Me about..?!!

BECAUSE, *THAT'S* THE *ONLY* SANE "REASON" FOR THE LAST 2-DAYS OF CYBER-*CRAP* GOING ON!!

- [As if the REST of My "PROBLEMS" haven't been enough..?!]

FIRST, IT was the WEIRD-ANNOYING MESSAGES from My "SECURITY"-SOFTWARE... THEN, "Stuff" *NOT* Happening when I "CLICK" certain Thingies to FIX-DO-TELL-ME-SOMETHING-*USEFUL*!?!!

And ohh, let's NOT *FORGET* how *many* times THE-BLUE-SCREEN-OF-DEATH has Blinded-Sided any "productive" Efforts and/or *Curative*-Security-UPDATE-"Downloads"..?! - [really?!]

PLUS, My Downloading-SPEED is about the same as that "MELTING"-ICE Outside! -- I *know* My "DIAL-UP"-Speed is *crap* most of the Time as it is, but STILL! - I have been *PAYING* DOUBLE for the Last Year for what appears to be HALF of the "Service" that I got BEFORE!?!

ALL of Which - [FYI] - will be a MOOT POINT in about 5-Months,

WHEN I'll have **NO** SERVICE!!

aarrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!


seriously! - Sometimes, "ADVANCES-IN-TECHNOLOGY" aren't always SUCH a "Good Thing"...


BTW, "Remind Me" to not Say "I-TOLD-YOU-SO" when the NEXT *nasty* SOLAR FLARE - [or Whatever] - hits and ALL of the CELL-TOWER-SATELLITE-SIGNAL-POWER-GRIDS go **DOWN**!?!

oops. NO "APPs" for THAT!! huh? - [KARMA's "BAD"!]

HEY! - Has ANYONE seen My RABBIT-EARS? I think I might have left Them with that PIECE of STRING and those TIN CANS..?? -- hmm... I'd better slap on some Sunscreen, that UV-Reading looks to be on the High-Side...

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

keeping to the "PURGE"-PLAN...

...sorta..?

DESPITE being considerably TEMPTED by the MEGA-SALE-ish Pricing, I did NOT Buy *any* MORE Clothes while at OLD NAVY! -- However, I DID *succumb* to the "Spend-$15-or-More-Get-a-FREE-$5-GIFT-CARD" Deal at BULK BARN on "Junk-Food" - [it was the Last Day on the COUPON] - And, AFTER "YESTERDAY", I was in *NEED* of a bit of *BINGE-ING*!!

ah. ANOTHER "GOOD"-WEATHER Day! - WOOHOO!! -- So, *eventually*, I was off to COSTCO for the MILK-RUN... Although, when I left There, a few Suspicious CLOUDS were moving in..? Hence, I kept My subsequent SHOP-FARI-ing somewhat more Closer to HOME.

Time to hit THE-MALL...

hmm... Now THOSE look *USEFUL*!?

I came across some ON-SALE STORAGE-BINS at WALMART that are just slightly Larger than the Ones I'm currently using for My CRAFT-SHOW STUFF... THESE are a bit more squarish *and* have a really Great LID with Double-Fasteners that can actually be Secured! -- Ooooo...

Granted, even at THAT - [$10] - Price, They're *more* than what My OTHER-ONES Cost... BUT, with the Way that They "Lock", I won't have to keep buying MASKING-TAPE - [that really doesn't work well any more] - to HOLD the LIDS down! -- THAT alone will SAVE Me at least 10-Minutes when I have to PACK-UP at the end of a SHOW! - Not to mention, the SKIN-LOSS off of My FINGERTIPS!

yeah... I'm gonna have to keep an Eye out for FUTURE SALES on THIS "MODEL"!
I would've gotten MORE - [just got TWO TURQUOISE ONES] - but there's **NO** ROOM at the Moment!!

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

TRAPPED in The STASH!! - [The Temporary-Under-Construction VERSION]

okay. "THIS" is going to take a while to DO. Not to mention, to "deal" with the *MEMORY*! -- So, if You really want some of the Basic Details, READ THE SIDEBAR...

Meanwhile, I'm going to POST **THIS** as not to hold-up the FOLLOWING POSTS and, "perhaps" be able to CATCH-UP..? FINALLY?? - [haha]

ANYHOO, when I've gotten "THIS DAY" done, the TITLE will be changed up so You'll know.

SORRY for the POST-"HOLE"!

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

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**!!]

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