Good riddance 2024

I’m kissing 2024 goodbye and good riddance! 

I’ve had enough.  Yesterday I got a notice from the federal government saying that I still owe them more income tax money.    They gave me until January 2 to pay!  Really!!?!  I went to the bank this afternoon to get it done during this rotten year.

Now I’m happy that I’m still here; I survived the 7 hour operation to remove the tumour.  I appreciate my family and friends, my hubby and the other parts of my life especially filling my sketchbooks but I could have gone without the chemo and radiation treatments. 

Anyway, turning the page on this year and moving on!

Happy New Year to everyone! 

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and December 27

Here is what I recorded with my family on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the next day!  I kept the drawings small so I could get it done at the time! 

What really makes me laugh is the portable toilet we bought the kids for their camping trips! 

I love that our daughters friends from university still come to celebrate Christmas with us!  

Oh yes! The play COME FROM AWAY, was fantastic! So happy we finally got to see it.  I think Apple TV has the Broadway performance available if you want to catch it! 

Canada Post delivery resumes

Yippee! The Canada Post mail strike is over!  When I got home from town on Thursday it was dark enough that I wasn’t sure that the flag was up until I got very close to our laneway.  Eureka! The flag was up!  We have mail!  So freaking happy!  Sadly I didn’t make any Christmas cards this year because it is too late to mail out anyway.  As far as I’m aware sending out international mail has only just opened up for us. 

My husband said that I made the mailbox look better in my drawing than it really is.  Yup! That is true!  The poor thing has been battered and bruised for the last 45 years.  First, by kids who use to play “baseball mailbox” back in the day, then by the snow ploughs and work trucks. My hubby has had to pound all the dents out the best he can.  Luckily when he installed it so long ago, he attached it to a swivel so it moves with each bashing.  

So glad the days will begin to get longer now. 

Canada Post strike

This is a page from my 2017 sketchbook.  Yup, no letter to Santa this year because Canada Post has been on strike.  Hopefully, they will be back to work tomorrow but we won’t know for sure until the weekend is over.  Regardless, it might be too late to get a letter all the way from central Ontario to the North Pole! 

Old forgotten journal

What a surprising find. I don’t recall writing in this book but I have done so, off and on for 10 years.  First entry is December 30, 1990 and last November 3, 2000. 

It was a bit “in my face” when I opened the cover to see “Songs for my Funeral” but the page is blank.  I’m glad I didn’t find this before I had my cancer operation (tumour removal) in June.  Geez, it would’ve freaked me out! 

I read a little bit.  One passage was about how my brain felt “spongy” because I was on night shift and I hadn’t slept well.  Gawd!!! I can still feel how awful that was!  Especially so because I’d have to go in to work another night shift feeling like that!  It was also exacerbated due to the fact that at that time I was taking university courses and studying on my lunch break.  I was ever so thankful that I only had to work 2 nights shifts in a row because we worked 12 hour shifts: 2 days, 2 nights followed by 4 days off! 

I’ve put the journal back.  I’ve read enough.  I know it’s there now and can read more later, maybe next year maybe not. 

Opening and Passages

I wasn’t sure how I was going to express the notion of opening and passages until I copied Amy’s double page spread. I think I put my own “stamp” on it so to speak. Then that led me to my second page after I cut out my circular window. 

I used a slow painted piece I had made using Daniel Smith watercolour paint in Rose of Aquamarine. The simple pattern makes me think of the song Purple Rain. If I had it to do over again (likely I will), I would make the door on hinges so it could open. But I hadn’t thought of that yet. I used a fine liner for the flowers and finally decided that it was okay to leave a couple of them white. Copying Amy’s page sparked what happened next.

I don’t recall the names of the patterns. The tiny flowers are from a month or so ago. I saw someone post her paper cut egg and that sparked my next move; to make my own paper cut. I glued most of the paper cuts to the page too; some I painted, some I didn’t. 

I was watching a “stitch-a-long” on U-Tube using a piece of scrap cotton and embroidery floss. I cut out a blob shape and glued my eyelet stitches to the subsequent page. 

This is in my everyday sketchbook, Royal Talen Art Creations. Reasonably priced so not at all precious.  The paper is not suited to most watercolour techniques but I keep it simple. It is certainly an easy paper to cut with an Exacto knife (or scalpel).  The page with the embroidery and bronze/gold paint is where I did my journaling about what I did on the previous 2 pages: paint used and sources of inspiration. I guess you can tell, I’m a more is more kind of gal. 

Birthdays and Taylor Swift

We are in the big city today because tomorrow is our granddaughters 13th birthday!  

She is a “Swiftie” and was lucky enough to attend one of the concerts in Toronto.  I was watching “The Social” on Canadian television last week and saw a segment with the author of this book.  It all about the Taylor’s sense of style thought out her career.  What I really love is that the edges of the pages are gilded with glorious gold.  Always love gold especially on books. 

I included some of the gift wrap I used even though the package said it was wedding paper. 

My mothers engagement ring

I thought I should document that I found the box that holds my mother’s engagement ring.  I had forgotten all about it because I had hidden it away for safekeeping, then I happened upon it.  When I tried, the ring fit so it will stay with me now. 

I checked online and I could buy a similar vintage Birks jewelers bell-shaped silver box for $295CDN.  Wowzers!  My father always had expensive tastes (on a beer budget mind you).  They married in 1952 in Goose Bay Labrador (Canadian Air Force Base).  I think my dad was stationed in Bagotville before going to Goose bay so he might have purchased the ring in Montreal where Birks Jewellers began.  Maybe they even had a store in Quebec City but I don’t know. 

I used my Blackwing pencil, Violet Blue Prismacolour and Gold for colour. 

What I wore

So happy that I had something “new” (new to me at least) to wear for my meet up with my friend this week.  I already had the earrings and jeans and luck was with me last week when I found the sweater and blouse at the Sally Ann (Salvation Army) charity shop.   The tone-on-tone dots are a lot smaller on the fabric than what I have depicted here.  I used the flat end of a skewer.  I bought it because I love the deep blue colour and for the tactile nature of the dots.  Kind of felt a bit like flocked wallpaper without the ick of said wallpaper.  I don’t buy lots of green stuff so when I tried it on and it fit, I grabbed it too.  All washed up and good as new! 

I love thrift store shopping!  Often I come out empty handed but last week was an exception. 

I got to wear my Sailor Girl earrings again too, they are handmade glass beads.  I usually only wear them in the summer time, now they can see the light of day this winter.  I the artist at an arts and craft fair in town (Kempenfest Art and Craft festival, Barrie Ontario) but I bought these from her on line.  I see that she has a store now that sells her jewelry on Queen St in Toronto Ontario.  I might make a point to have a look sometime. 

If it’s Tuesday it must be….

Today is Tuesday so I put my rings in my recycled ring keeper before I went to physio. 

I used mostly graphite with some soft pastel (and used unscented hair spray), and coloured markers. 

I found that my mother’s engagement ring fits me now so it’s in the little glass jar already. 

Strange Brew

Supersonic Puppy Dreams is a “must try” (for some anyway) even though it is a STRANGE BREW!  The Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery is an 20 minute or so drive to the south of us. They normally brew beer and have created this new beverage.  I can taste the pineapple and the orange creamsicle but there is just something about it that is strange to my tastebuds.  I can’t put my finger on it.  I guess I will have to try it again and see what I think then.  I love all the bubbles and the gentle straw colour reminiscent of a fine bubbly wine.  

It is available at the grocery store here in Ontario since it is produced by a craft brewery.  Grocery stores and other outlets have to reserve a certain amount of space on their shelves for products made here and by craft breweries. 

I noticed on the can that it is exported stateside and is imported by a company in Canton Ohio, USA. 

The Lost has been Found

I thought it was about time to get rid of my husband’s suitcase that he hasn’t used since 2015!  Unbelievable but true.  Anyway, he has been telling tales for years and years about how I must have thrown his prized autograph out.  Yes, it’s true I do throw stuff out but I wouldn’t do that without checking.  This is the stuff that I found in HIS old suitcase.  Not just the newspaper with the Pete Rose signature on it but the pill container from Rome that he thought he had lost.  

Yup, he’ll be eating humble pie for awhile over this. 

Coincidence

So weird!  I’m not much for coincidence so I couldn’t help but notice this one.  I’m not into numerology so I don’t know if there is another way to understand what this might mean. I don’t have a “lucky” number per se since I’ve never won a lottery.  For me, it’s just a simple coincidence that my employee number at work was 111.  Could be that I had the “old farts” (retiree) breakfast on my mind.  Who knows.  I created a page in my sketchbook. 

Making Thank You cards

I was diagnosed last November (5) with cancer.  I started chemotherapy treatments in January and radiation in March and April.  After a rest period and a 7 hour operation, I had the tumour removed on June 10th.  These (along with others) will be mailed out today to friends who sent me cards and beautiful art. Their kindness brought me so much joy.  I LOVE receiving snail mail. It’s a 400 foot walk down our lane way to our mailbox and I am always happy to see the flag up on our box! Yippee we have mail!

Wonderful Wednesday

No prompt- Yesterday was quite eventful in a mundane sort of way but I think it is still worthwhile recording it. 

Every second Wednesday I get my knees massaged and Nick (the physiotherapist) checks in with me to see how I’m doing.  Is his exercise plan too much?  Does it needs modification?! 

The best find was this summer skirt!  Skirt sounds close to shirt!  I got the skirt because it is “fairly” well-made.  I’ve never heard of the Worthington brand before. I’ve been sewing my own garments since Grade 9 Home Economics class. We had to sew a dress for class.  I stopped sewing when my employer forced us to wear their ugly uniform.  That was okay though since my Bernina sewing machine blew up anyway (after 25 years of quality service).  If I was making this skirt I would have added pockets and a nice deep hem.  Of course, that is just me. 

  I ended up going to that “store that shall not be named” to get the work shirt for my husband.  He had ripped the last one to shreds and he finally had to put it in the garage. 

I’m not an eavesdropper

Honestly, I wasn’t “eavesdropping”!  I had no choice but to hear as I was standing a couple of feet away.  I found it interesting that I had just assumed that the “orange is the new black” would be applied in Canada too!  Apparently not. What a wierd way to learn something new!  Not that I needed to know about this in the first place.  I also learned that the young woman has a court date next week.  It’s entirely possible that she actually knows what goes on in “the Penn” (penitentiary)! 

Fence Post Friday

Wow! It’s another Fence Post Friday already!! 

As with last week, this isn’t really about the fence, it’s about the gorgeous tree.  Loving the brilliant colours that continue to surround us this week. 

When we first were married we lived about 2kms north of this farm.  I would pass by on my way to work.  I’m glad the road has reopened as it had been closed for a week or more for road repairs. 

Back at Physiotherapy

I am thrilled to be back at physiotherapy!  I’m happy that my oncologist wrote me a prescription for physiotherapy to “improve my lung function”!   My physiotherapist told me that he knows a fellow that lost two lobes and can still enjoy skiing!  YES! Not that I will ever go skiing (nope not this chick) but it means that I need to stop worrying about the fact that I lost one lobe (after all I still have 4)! 

It is just so glorious here in Ontario!  The colours are absolutely glorious. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I have to say, I really enjoyed making this page.  It is Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada so I don’t have many supplies.  I used my grand-daughter’s pencil crayons, Lego (for tracing around) and Spirograph.  I had a Staedtler matte black pencil in my pen case.  I think I used 10 coloured pencils on my base layer. 

I actually think I could do more but resisted the urge.  I think I’ll have another go on the opposite page with my next idea and see how that goes! 

I got my RSV shot

No prompt- I thought I should document the fact that I could finally get my RSV shot. I had asked the surgeon and he said to get everything I can!  It is important as it will take another 6 months for my lung to heal from the surgery and the radiation. 

I got my first King Charles “two-nie” (2 dollars) in my change too.

A watercolour Selfie

Here is another selfie, I used watercolour pencils.  I don’t seem to have a good selection of colours but I used what I had.  I worked on this for a long while.  I spent so much time that I grew tired of my drawing.  But here it is regardless, another selfie under my belt. 

Sketchbook Revival tangle

My results from Anita’s lesson.  I applied the watercolour ink before I had watched the video. 

Thanks for the lesson Anica; I enjoyed learning something new.  I really liked the way you spread the paint with the plastic sheet.  Will definitely give that a go soon. 

I’m finally in remission

We went to Toronto (Canada’s largest city) so I could see my oncologist and radiation specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.  So happy to provide this health update.  I’m in remission and no further treatment is required at this juncture.  I will get another CT scan in 3-4 months time and I’ll be reassessed at that time. 

I’d like to thank everyone for your support during what seemed (to me) to be a never ending journey.  I really appreciate all of your kind comments, thoughts and prayers.  Special thanks for the lighting of candles and saying of mass on our behalf.  The support that I have received has made this horrible trip just a little bit easier.  I appreciate the sharing of your own personal stories of living with cancer.  I would like it if you could accept this message as a personal and virtual hug from me. 

My family has been essential to making our journey easier.  Our daughter opened her home to us so we wouldn’t have to travel back and forth to Toronto.  Of course, my biggest supporter has been my husband who has had to battle with his own health issues at the same time as I was going through mine.  It has been a difficult time for us and we appreciate the kindness shown to us by everyone!  I’m sure I’ve forgotten to mention someone and  I’m truly sorry but I wanted to get this message of thanks out without more delay. 

To celebrate, we had a lovely lunch and spent some time at Toronto’s Distillery District (circa 1864-1920’ish), a national historic site.  I drew our beer and my lunch.

We chose to drink a lager from High Park Brewery, Toronto. High Park is Toronto’s largest park.  I found out that the Sakura cherry trees were gifted to the people of Toronto by the Japanese ambassador to Canada on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo.  I enjoyed some wings and some warm olives.  Yum! 

Brunch at Sunnyside Grill

I don’t usually draw my husband but I thought I’d give him a go on Friday.   We don’t eat out much at home so it is fun to walk a few blocks and have brunch. That is not something we can do living in the country.  My husband bought this silly shirt earlier this summer.  It should say: What is the mosquito say to the other mosquito??!  He loves it!  It must be the boy inside the man. 

We are in the big city again.  I’ve learned to not wear a brassiere on CT scan days so I didn’t have to “gown up”.  I had thought I had forgotten my cell phone at the house but it turned out I had left it in the Wheels of Hope vehicle!  My driver came back and dropped it off at the front desk for me!  How sweet was that!!! Thankfully, since I needed it to call for my car ride home after the scan.  I get my results next Friday when we return to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.  I’ve read the pathology report so I’m nervous but I’m waiting to see what the experts have to say about my options.  If you have been following me, YES, the saga continues. 

The disappearing 9-patch

I’ve been watching Kathryn Chambers or k3n clothtales on U-tube since January.  I haven’t been able to complete many of her projects this year but I have done a few.  This is my most recent!   Now, there are many ways I could have reassembled my quarter squares.  I liked this one the best because I’m not making a quilt, just one quilt block.  What a concept, the disappearing 9-patch!! 

Wood worm

I am using paint from this escargot dish that I bought at a thrift store many moons ago. Many of you know that quality watercolours last a v-e-r-y long time. The Cotman #1 brush is the smallest that I have. Amy called her pattern tunnel; my inspiration is from the backside of a piece of bark. I’m calling it wormwood. My fave is the E-shape path the worm left. Okay, so I just looked it up and these tunnels are actually made by beetles or weevils. 

Mindful Art Challenge

Here is my entry for the Mindful Art pattern challenge from yesterday-overlapping.  I’m just using leftover paint.  I painted over two blue lodges on my piece of paper using my new triangle brush.  The “vessel” is left over from cutting out the roundish and egg shapes.  I used cheap 90 lb watercolour paper. 

Another milestone achieved

Another MILESTONE achieved!  I’ve made friends with Bertha again this week.  I have to admit though that I don’t wear the seatbelt assembly properly.  I just fling the cross body strap behind my arm.  I can’t stand anything touching my chest.  It’s “good enough” for me, I need my freedom! I drew this on Monday just before we drove to the small city to the north of us. It isn’t a grand depiction but it’s “good enough”!! The yellowish green in the windshield represents the cedar trees that I park in front of and the yellow in the rear view mirror is the trees and bushes at the back.   I didn’t want to make them too dark as in real life because I wanted to write in that space.  I guess I could darken the rear view mirror reflection but I’ve turned the page already. 

A friend of mine gave me that lei that I have draped on my rear view mirror.  Now that so many people have black cars, it makes Bertha look prettier and easily recognizable! I’m not the only one who owns a black Toyota! 

I’m stitching again

Last week we were in the big city visiting the family.  My husband finally bought himself a new MacBook Air and our son-in-law found a new home for his old horrid PC. 

I finally found that I wanted to stitch.  I was hoping to do more on this portion of the 9 patch vintage quilt but at least I did something.  This particular quilt block didn’t require work as the fabric was in good shape so I just stitched it.  Stitching will keep its strength intact.  I didn’t have a plan other than I started with the circle, then started adding lines.  Next time I’m there, I should be able to finish the block and move on to the next one.  I haven’t counted the number of blocks but the quilt is sized for a double bed. 

On the health front:  I asked my husband how long it took him to have his chest feel normal after his double bypass;  he told me a year. E-gads!! My chest feels like I still have a ghost impression of the weight around my heart and on the right where the lobe of my lung was.  Bottom line: I still can’t sleep on my side (either one) so sleep can be slow to happen.  Last night was one of them.  I hate night time.

My first Coptic bound sketchbook

I DID IT!  I made my first Coptic bound sketchbook.  I watched a tutorial by Lindsay, The Frugal Crafter on U-Tube.  This actually took me several days as I had to do a work around because I don’t have the exact products she used.  I don’t have mat board so I used an unwanted book that was “close” to the size of my paper.  I don’t have the fancy crocodile gizmo she had to make holes in the book board so I used my Japanese screw punch, I couldn’t find my bookbinding thread so I used crochet cotton and waxed it myself (of course, I found it afterwards).  I used the mixed media paper from this book that I cannibalised awhile back.  It’s a bit “Lucy goosey” but it does lay flat.  I know I will make more and I’ll improve my skill.  I invite you to check out this tutorial if you have been wanting to give this a go. 

Health Update:  I’m still not sleeping through the night but I’m able to get back to sleep.  The weight on my chest is much reduced and it’s mostly just feels weird.  I can feel where the weight was, it’s like it has been imprinted into my flesh.  It sometimes causes enough discomfort that I still take a Tylenol at night time.  When I touch my chest with my palm it feels weird too; sensitive in places and numb in others. When we were away I had to get my husband to drive me to a store to pick up a sports bra to capture “the girls”.   Apparently they don’t like to be jiggled.  When dudes have by-pass surgery they don’t usually have to think about that so I didn’t get the heads up from my hubby.  I still get the odd jolting pain so I’m not driving yet.  I’m not napping during the day anymore but I do rest when I feel the need.  And of course, some days are better than others but it’s mostly “pretty good, not bad, I can’t complain”! (I think that’s from a John Prine song). 

Awenda Provincial Park and Giants Tomb

We drove half an hour north yesterday to Awenda Provincial Park, also situated on Georgian Bay.  I’ve lived in this county for 45+ years and have never been.  It is a huge thickly treed park with beaches and lots of camp sites.  We ate our packed lunch and I drew this using my cheapo woodless water soluble pencils.  I added more colour back at the cottage.  This time I used 3 different colours of blue in my scribble water.  I left white space for the whitecaps and smooshed over some of it with my watercolour brush.  That is the best explanation I can do for my “kinda sorta” technique for creating water.  I should spend more time on the sky but I’m done with this page. 

I love the indigenous legend regarding the naming of the Giants Tomb Island and the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay.  I’m paraphrasing here, the Wyandot legend went something like this:  Ketchikewana fell in love with a woman who was already betrothed.   In anger, he grabbed up a large ball of earth and threw it away in the water creating the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay.  Then in despair he fell down on this island and died. 

Woodland beach

This is the page I did on the first day we arrived here.  Lots of activity going on out on the bay (probably because it was Saturday). 

I used cheap water soluble woodless pencils.

Thrilled that I’m feeling so much better.  My chest gets prickly but Tylenol keeps it at bay.

First Black Toonie

We found our first “black toonie” in our change!  The black nickel band is to pay tribute to a Queen Elizabeth II and her long reign 1926 - 2022.  And yes, we call our $2 coin a Toonie and our $1 coin  a Loonie (because it has a loon on the back). 

I didn’t have my paintbox with me so I used the water soluble crayons that were available.  I bought them a long time ago at a little art shop in North Bay Ontario while I was at a conference. 

Negative Painting

Health Update

Day 9 ICAD Hopeful

Day 9 - One more sleep before I have my operation and get my tumour removed tomorrow.  I have to be at the hospital at 0830 for admission, I checked my on line patient portal and I see that the operation is scheduled for 1030, it is anticipated that the operation will take 4 hours, 1 hour in recovery, some time to be spent in ICU then finally to my room for the next 5 days.  If all goes well, I’ll be home after that.  So I’ll be “off the air” so to speak and won’t be making anything for sometime.  I anticipate that I’ll feel good enough to see everybody’s posts here. 

Here is my “heart of hope” where I used another bleeding tissue background.  I had this piece of wool roving for ages and ages; I should have spent more time needle felting my heart shape.  Oh well, I do like the puffiness around the stitches.  I liked the silk square so much that I added some matching bright pink beads in the heart.  

I’m “hopeful” that the surgeon can remove the whole tumour and I won’t need further treatments (chemotherapy or radiation).  I don’t think my hope will be realized but I believe that I need to maintain a belief that it could be achieved.

Day 7 ICAD

June 7th-  I’ve been looking at this card that I had put some watercolour paint onto all this week.  I had thought it might end up in the discard pile, then it dawned on me: circles!  Decided I needed another shape for interest sake. 

Day 5 ICAD

 
A fabric collage featuring organza, lace ribbon and seam binding 

ICAD 4- A dot-a-day

Day 4.  This is another bleeding tissue background.  I was inspired by Jeri Bellini over on UTube after watching her “A dot-a-day” project.  I don’t think I’ll do it but I enjoyed making this card. I used 3 different fabrics with some simple stitching.  I made some white eraser stamps awhile back so I used them to fill in the empty space. 

Day 3 ICAD

I really like this quote; “Flowers are like friends, they bring colour to your world”!  The card colour was created using bleeding tissue, then I collaged on the napkin.  I completed the large flower with stitching and some green leaves with watercolour.  The petals looked kind of boring so I added some colour to some of them as well.  I dug out some acrylic markers to make some marks. 

Daisy Yellow ICAD

Day 2- I hadn’t figured I’d do this today because I had no plan!  I had been fooling around with some bleeding tissue paper and had a different idea for a card.  Then I decided to re-use the tissue since it still had some colour. 

I used watercolour, acrylic paint, acrylic and Tombow markers.  I stitched the “petals” of the flowers to the card. 

It’s June so it’s the start of ICAD

Here is card 1:

I used dried up paint from an old watercolour palette and the drip made me think of a flower so I went with it.  I have to admit u do like stitching on paper. 3X5 index card. 

Pre-op appointment

This is what happened on Thursday at my Pre-op assessment appointment.  I had a blood test and I’m happy to say that my hemoglobin has come up to 100; still lower than the normal 120 but moving in the right direction.  My neutrophils were within normal range too! Things are looking up and I saw the operation listed on my on line patient portal. So I’m hopeful that my tumour will be removed on that day.  I had my blood pressure checked; okay there.  My last test was just an X-ray!  The green card meant I didn’t have to wait my turn; just until the next machine was available. 

I received a whole list of instructions: do’s and don’t.   Luckily, I take my allergy meds at night and they are the only prescriptions that I’m on.  Anyway it was a long day and it took us an hour to go across the city from east to west to get back to our daughter’s house. 3 pm is the start of rush hour in Canada’s largest city. 

A sole rubbing

A few days ago, I was about to throw out a pair of old sandals.  These were shoes that are battered enough that can’t be given away.  The soles caught my eye so I kept one.  I tried to put paint on the soles with a brayer but I didn’t like the marks it left. On the paper.  Then , yesterday I wondered what a rubbing would look like.  I used my 9B Lyra chubby graphite crayon, it didn’t give me super dark marks but it does give way more interesting detail.  I like it much better and will have to make more rubbings with it before the sandal hits the garbage. 

HEALTH UPDATE:  Sadly, I must report that my surgery has been postponed to June 10!!!!! I know the reason but it certainly doesn’t make the wait any easier.  I’m so freaking disappointed! Okay, whining over, turning the page (so to speak). 

Hair is growing

I used the camera function on my iPad as a mirror to make this drawing in my sketchbook and document the return of “some” hair on my head. I didn’t measure my facial proportions just went straight in with my cheapo BIC pencil.  I had to use a Staedler Mars Lumograph Black pencil because the HB just isn’t up to making the dark I needed for my glasses.  I should have spent more time adding more graphite with the pencil but I wanted to enjoy the sunshine and 21C temps.  I wore the solid blue hat on this perfect spring day. 

I don’t look at my head much, not after my hair loss and I still wear a hat because my head gets cold.  I thought that would change with the warmer weather.  No matter, it’s growing and I’m happy about it! 

Stapled hems

No prompt- I hope I’m not the only one who has had to think up something that might work really quickly.  I WANTED to wear these new pants!  then I realized the error of my ways, I hadn’t checked to see what the leg length was like.   When I did yesterday, I knew it was too late for me to sew the hems properly. 

Then a memory popped into my head, I’ve done this before!  The first time I did it was on a hem that had fallen down on a skirt while at work.  I don’t know what prompted me to use the stapler but it was all there was at hand. 

I used pencil crayons ( strange, my Prismacolors aren’t as soft as I remember) and watercolour. However, I turned the stapler over so I got just the 2 humps showing and not the long bar of the stapler.  Not that I was worried that people would actually notice my hem since I’m a woman “of a certain age” and hems just aren’t that important.  So I figured, once again, I was safe.