Thread: Everyday Chatting & Waffling {2020} Let's get to know each other!

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@lilyann cleaning out my mom’s place after she needed to go to a care home was a huge task, she had her stuff, and most of my late sisters stuff that had never really been gone through, and a bunch of my nieces stuff. We took the few sentimental items, posted a bunch on local buy sell fb groups, and free to take groups. Many trips to the dump. I still haven’t sorted the items we kept to see if I still want them or not. Good luck. Mom rented so there was no buy out involved.
 
I feel sorry for the garbage men tomorrow! The whole curbside is full with contractor bags of garbage! It seems like my sister is going through everything and taking what she wants and if I want it too we split similar items. Than I still have to go through everything again and decide if I want it, want to donate it, save for a garage sale or toss it.
 
Wow, Lily Ann, he only time I’ve thrown that much away has been bags of yard waste. That can’t be an easy task, going through all that stuff. Making decisions like that is rough for me. (((HUGS))) to you and your sister!

As for me, I am doing all right. Enjoying plenty of cuddles, feedings, and helping baby to sleep. Sometimes it even works! I’m amazed by all the technology they have for babies these days. It’s really cool. I have a migraine today, but it’s already going away. I miss scrapping and find myself reading a lot. I’ve got to stop buying books or there will be no room in my suitcases for anything else. :)

I hope y’all are doing well, getting to do the things you love and staying safe! Take care!
 
I have not popped in here lately....

Lilyann - Sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. I hope you cope with all the packing and sorting.

Sherri - you brought back memories of when my mother went into Aged Care. It was a big task even though it was only a 2 bedroom unit she lived in. she still had her engagement cards. When it came to her linen we discovered we had to go through all those very carefully as we found $50 notes in amongst tea towels.
 
Hi everyone, it has been quiet around here for the most part, but I did feel the need to open up a little bit today. Right now I am honestly not all that happy with our situation, the house hunting thing is pretty much at a stand still (there are going to be more COVID related restrictions starting tomorrow and with the freeze on evictions, there just aren't places to be had). Hubby is staying and working with a friend about an hour and a half away. I am still at mom's house mostly because of the dogs, but also to do what I can to help with the baby. It is hard, but we have to do what we have to do. Busy with getting ready for Kathryn's 18th birthday in a couple weeks and also Christmas.

I am excited about Christmas this year even though it is going to look a lot different. I am just happy with the fact that I am in the situation that I can get the kids the things that they want for Christmas and I'm not having to get any kind of assistance this year. I've finished shopping for everyone except for the kids and they are mostly done too.
 
LilyAnn said:
I feel sorry for the garbage men tomorrow! The whole curbside is full with contractor bags of garbage! It seems like my sister is going through everything and taking what she wants and if I want it too we split similar items. Than I still have to go through everything again and decide if I want it, want to donate it, save for a garage sale or toss it.
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I know I have already said I am sorry about your dad, but I feel so sad for you. I am so glad you have the opportunity to have your 'new' house, though. It sounds as though you will be able to remodel any way you want. As for the garbage, it makes you think on the value of saving things, doesn't it. We are going through our stuff and paring down as much as we can so when the kids have to go through our stuff it is easier. My stuff is mostly crafts. My husband's stuff will be a nightmare.

AJsRandom said:
Wow, Lily Ann, he only time I’ve thrown that much away has been bags of yard waste. That can’t be an easy task, going through all that stuff. Making decisions like that is rough for me. (((HUGS))) to you and your sister!

As for me, I am doing all right. Enjoying plenty of cuddles, feedings, and helping baby to sleep. Sometimes it even works! I’m amazed by all the technology they have for babies these days. It’s really cool. I have a migraine today, but it’s already going away. I miss scrapping and find myself reading a lot. I’ve got to stop buying books or there will be no room in my suitcases for anything else. :)

I hope y’all are doing well, getting to do the things you love and staying safe! Take care!
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Glad you are getting in lots of cuddles. I hope you are getting loads and loads of pictures to scrap :)

A-M said:
I have not popped in here lately....

Lilyann - Sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. I hope you cope with all the packing and sorting.

Sherri - you brought back memories of when my mother went into Aged Care. It was a big task even though it was only a 2 bedroom unit she lived in. she still had her engagement cards. When it came to her linen we discovered we had to go through all those very carefully as we found $50 notes in amongst tea towels.
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It is lovely to see you popping in.

When my aunt died, I went to England and helped my Uncle with her stuff. She had money stucked everywhere. I found thousands of dollars for my Uncle. She had jewelry stashed in shoes, all sorts.

Firstoscartgrouch said:
An article by the Northwest Territories tourism board about my daughter’s grad trip

https://spectacularnwt.com/story/gi...Tgdg9f6WQBCRxnUshkam6zo2UWJj9ar2JOZdAAjcnwR6I
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This is a fabulous article and I love the pictures.

dorannmwin said:
Hi everyone, it has been quiet around here for the most part, but I did feel the need to open up a little bit today. Right now I am honestly not all that happy with our situation, the house hunting thing is pretty much at a stand still (there are going to be more COVID related restrictions starting tomorrow and with the freeze on evictions, there just aren't places to be had). Hubby is staying and working with a friend about an hour and a half away. I am still at mom's house mostly because of the dogs, but also to do what I can to help with the baby. It is hard, but we have to do what we have to do. Busy with getting ready for Kathryn's 18th birthday in a couple weeks and also Christmas.

I am excited about Christmas this year even though it is going to look a lot different. I am just happy with the fact that I am in the situation that I can get the kids the things that they want for Christmas and I'm not having to get any kind of assistance this year. I've finished shopping for everyone except for the kids and they are mostly done too.
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It feels as though you have been unsettled forever. It would be lovely for you to find somewhere to settle down and have your family all together.

Me..........................

My Harry Potter shower is over. If anyone is interested in seeing the decorations and food, they are here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24632618@N03/albums/72157716919251078

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24632618@N03/albums/72157716919194876

Here is a pic with me, Karen, Sarah (Karen's best friend) and Tina (my best friend and Sarah's mother). An optical illusion is making me look much shorter than I am sure I am.

50612324272_6f85e653de_b.jpg
 
WOWSERS Lynnie, this is the best shower EVER! You are so very talented and creative leaving no detail behind. Awesome job and I can't wait to see the baby pics in all those cute onesies.

FormbyGirl said:
Me..........................

My Harry Potter shower is over. If anyone is interested in seeing the decorations and food, they are here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24632618@N03/albums/72157716919251078

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24632618@N03/albums/72157716919194876

Here is a pic with me, Karen, Sarah (Karen's best friend) and Tina (my best friend and Sarah's mother). An optical illusion is making me look much shorter than I am sure I am.

50612324272_6f85e653de_b.jpg
Click to expand...
 
More restriction here starting today with only essential in stores...our numbers are sky rocketing so I am fine with that! My son who lives at home was not feeling well and was tested Wednesday, waiting for the results so we all are self isolating. His bedroom is getting smaller by the minute...praying for negative results.

Black Friday in Canada is today so I will be shopping on-line for a few Xmas gifts since I will NOT be store shopping this year. I am ordering myself a sit-stand desk that I need so badly. Since I started working at home I am sitting way to much and am having some hip issues. I will however miss browsing through stores, admiring all the Christmas decorations, humming to the holiday music and seeing the long line up of eager little ones standing in line to see Santa.

Anyone shopping on-line this year?

Take care and be safe everyone!
 
Hi everyone, Just heard my Discover layout was chosen for LOTW. If you like it and want to vote for me here is the layout, 3rd one down. Thanks for looking.

 
I'm doing OK. Although when we went out to eat last night, I just put my head down a quietly cried missing my father. Cleaning his house is coming along. Lots of garbage went out again. My sister took her pick of what she wanted. Some things we both want (specifically a sterling silver utensil set) we will probably sell it instead so we don't argue over it.

Now after everything was picked though, now I have to go through it again and throw away what I don't want as well. Slowly but surely. It is a long process. Hopefully the house will be able to be put in my name before the end of the year so we can start construction.

My family and I are almost non-stop talking about how we are going to fix the house to become our home. We will definitely need a contractor for all the repairs. We are leaning more towards cosmetic changes as making the bathroom bigger and making one of the bedrooms bigger and into two would get too expensive. I guess my two teens will still have to share a bedroom.

We went to IKEA today to look at the furniture to get ideas and share our likes and dislike for what we would like to get for our "new" home. It was a fun day and much needed break from working on the house. Well I did some cleaning when we got home.

Sorry I wrote so much but I have to get it off my chest and it makes me feel better.

Hoping everyone stays safe. Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
 
I voted for your lovely page, Karen. :)

Lily Ann, I just want to give you a hug! I know what it’s like to lose a parent. I was young but I think it hurts no matter how old you are. Best of luck with your sorting and cleaning.

I am doing pretty well. Had a nice walk today with my little family here in UT and am feeling more tired than normal, which is good. But it was nice to get out of the apartment! I’m having a good time and can’t wait for the rest of my family to join me on Monday.
 
Hope all is going well for all of you.

LilyAnn, my heart goes out to you. It is hard losing someone precious this close to the holidays. Then you go back and forth between the relief that you don't have to deal with all the issues any more, relief for him also, guilt that you are feeling relieved, the excitement of the new house and then the guilt that you are excited. It is a never ending circle of ups and downs. I just want to give you a big hug. I am so happy for your new house though, and I think your dad would be really happy for you.

Karen, I love that layout... it is wonderful.


Me...
Thanks for all the lovely compliments on the shower. Believe me, you have not seen a fraction of what we did. Some of the stuff did not turn out as planned. I spent hours drawing owls on balloons and they were absolutely adorable. The balloons were not blown up when I drew them. Sadly, when the balloons were blown up, the drawing faded into nothing and for whatever reason, the balloons insisted on resting upside down on the ceiling. I was going to redraw the owls, but did not have time. It would have been easier the second time because the image was already there....
Here is an upside down, faded owl...They would have been adorable if they had worked out :)
50611522273_fcb68cc6f2.jpg


In addition, the photo props were not finished. Karen was supposed to add the sticks and did not get it done, so they were just hand held, and they kept blowing away so we put them in a box. They were so adorable and barely got used.

I made chocolate frogs, but the intent was to make the boxes also with the cards in them. They proved to be too time consuming, so we made tons of frogs.

I had such a good time doing this though because I got to use a dozen different crafting skills and I loved every minute of it.
 
Route66 said:
More restriction here starting today with only essential in stores...our numbers are sky rocketing so I am fine with that! My son who lives at home was not feeling well and was tested Wednesday, waiting for the results so we all are self isolating. His bedroom is getting smaller by the minute...praying for negative results.

Black Friday in Canada is today so I will be shopping on-line for a few Xmas gifts since I will NOT be store shopping this year. I am ordering myself a sit-stand desk that I need so badly. Since I started working at home I am sitting way to much and am having some hip issues. I will however miss browsing through stores, admiring all the Christmas decorations, humming to the holiday music and seeing the long line up of eager little ones standing in line to see Santa.

Anyone shopping on-line this year?

Take care and be safe everyone!
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Say what, I thought black friday was still coming up?

My son is bought for, as is my daughter. My husband give me some ideas? I still cannot get in to see my Mom, I am not sure what to get her if anything. Small families don't buy much.
 
I am making most of my gifts this year :) I am excited about it. Little things, like painting rocks for my daughter's veggie garden that say what is in that patch (carrots, tomatoes, etc.)

I am excited to paint her boyfriend's rock. He has a business Facebook page for Jonny Beats Good Productions. He is a drummer and does amazing sound work. Anyway, he does a veggie garden too. One of his rocks will say Jonny's Good Beets! :) His name is Jon, not Jonny, but I think it was a takeoff on Johnny be Good!

Most people are getting painted rocks as one of their gifts. And custom masks. I think we will need them for a while, so I will make special ones for my family. I guess I had better get going, time is short :)
 
Hey everyone. Checking in after being immersed in Disney CT layouts for Miss Fish and Shepard Studios. I may just get previous trips scanned after all.
Its been snowing frequently but not really accumulating.
We have some restrictions going in on Nov 30 but I personally don't think Alberta is doing enough. Our numbers are forecast at 5,000 a day infections by Christmas if we don't do something. More surgeries are being cancelled.
I did the Costco run yesterday at 8am for my daughters meds, and went straight to that section and didn't go anywhere else. Thank heavens for the disabled/seniors hour.
Hope everyone is doing well.
 
The numbers here in Kentucky are continuing to climb, scary really. All restaurants are closed to in person dining until at least the 13th of December and schools are closed for at least another week for in person classes. Can you all believe that some of the private schools had the audacity to sue the governor of our state for infringement of freedom of religion because of the decision to close ALL schools to help control the spread.

I fear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. I mean with Thanksgiving just past, I know a lot of people were travelling despite the fact that it would be a lot safer to stay at home. Even my mom and sister, and the baby were going to go to Indiana, but they didn't at the last minute because Oliver was ill (he had a urinary tract infection and ended up spending his first Thanksgiving in the hospital).

As for me, not really doing a lot of in person shopping this year, I figure that it is better that way, however, I will still buy clothes in person because I can't see them and touch them online. I am mostly done, just need a couple outfits for Kathryn and pajamas for both of the kids.

Oh, and I just can't believe that Kathryn is going to be 18 on Friday, wasn't she just a baby yesterday?
 
Hi everyone! I am back home after lots of baby cuddles and Thanksgiving goodness! :)

I'm glad to see everyone doing well & staying busy. After a 5 am rise to catch a plane, I am stiff and bushed, with plenty to do. Gotta get back to that "new normal" life after all, lol.
 
Checking in everyone, Lots of closures here too! I don't mind though as I have finished my holiday shopping all on line. I bought a few things local, a few things Canadian and few things abroad. Feel so good to get it all done and now I am just waiting for the trucks to line up outside with all our parcels...LOL!

Lynnie...thanks for awesome idea of a ZOOM Christmas. I spoke with my son (he is a techie) and he agreed that was an awesome idea. We are going to try it with a twist. He is making the turkey and desserts I will do the sides. We will split it and I will do a run to pick/up drop off dinner and gifts at his place, then come home and tune in on-line to enjoy the evening together! I will however go visit Mom Christams Eve and the siblings will do Christmas and Boxing Day. Just a week ago I was dreading it and I can hardly wait for Christmas now!
 
Route66 said:
Checking in everyone, Lots of closures here too! I don't mind though as I have finished my holiday shopping all on line. I bought a few things local, a few things Canadian and few things abroad. Feel so good to get it all done and now I am just waiting for the trucks to line up outside with all our parcels...LOL!

Lynnie...thanks for awesome idea of a ZOOM Christmas. I spoke with my son (he is a techie) and he agreed that was an awesome idea. We are going to try it with a twist. He is making the turkey and desserts I will do the sides. We will split it and I will do a run to pick/up drop off dinner and gifts at his place, then come home and tune in on-line to enjoy the evening together! I will however go visit Mom Christams Eve and the siblings will do Christmas and Boxing Day. Just a week ago I was dreading it and I can hardly wait for Christmas now!
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My pleasure! It was fun - we would look down the table and they would be there! It was as though they were with us. We had the computer connected to the big TV so they were life size!! I wish the web cam had been more wide angle or the table had been a tiny bit further away. We had to move the web came from time to time to make sure everyone was in the frame on our side, but other than that it was amazing.

We have to make the new (temporary) normal FUN or we can get caught up in what we don't have. The more inventive we are, the more we will have to scrap about and laugh about and our kids will say "When I was young, one year we had a remote Christmas!" It also opens up holidays with long distance families - things we might not have thought of before the pandemic.

Firstoscartgrouch said:
Hey everyone. Checking in after being immersed in Disney CT layouts for Miss Fish and Shepard Studios. I may just get previous trips scanned after all.
Its been snowing frequently but not really accumulating.
We have some restrictions going in on Nov 30 but I personally don't think Alberta is doing enough. Our numbers are forecast at 5,000 a day infections by Christmas if we don't do something. More surgeries are being cancelled.
I did the Costco run yesterday at 8am for my daughters meds, and went straight to that section and didn't go anywhere else. Thank heavens for the disabled/seniors hour.
Hope everyone is doing well.
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I have so many Disney pictures - thousands - and that is without digitizing them! Karen worked for them for 9 years and was a character and danced in the parades. I have brilliant pictures from her on stage, but also loads of fun ones from back stage.

We are being careful. Even with the restrictions here, so many folks are ignoring them. We just do our best, avoid strangers and shop as little as possible.

dorannmwin said:
The numbers here in Kentucky are continuing to climb, scary really. All restaurants are closed to in person dining until at least the 13th of December and schools are closed for at least another week for in person classes. Can you all believe that some of the private schools had the audacity to sue the governor of our state for infringement of freedom of religion because of the decision to close ALL schools to help control the spread.

I fear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. I mean with Thanksgiving just past, I know a lot of people were travelling despite the fact that it would be a lot safer to stay at home. Even my mom and sister, and the baby were going to go to Indiana, but they didn't at the last minute because Oliver was ill (he had a urinary tract infection and ended up spending his first Thanksgiving in the hospital).

As for me, not really doing a lot of in person shopping this year, I figure that it is better that way, however, I will still buy clothes in person because I can't see them and touch them online. I am mostly done, just need a couple outfits for Kathryn and pajamas for both of the kids.

Oh, and I just can't believe that Kathryn is going to be 18 on Friday, wasn't she just a baby yesterday?
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Time flies, doesn't it. We were talking about my eldest son today and realized that he would have been 48 this year.

I know what you mean about folks traveling. I can't believe how many people thought it would be okay. I do believe we have to make life as normal as possible, but I believe we have to be careful.

AJsRandom said:
Hi everyone! I am back home after lots of baby cuddles and Thanksgiving goodness! :)

I'm glad to see everyone doing well & staying busy. After a 5 am rise to catch a plane, I am stiff and bushed, with plenty to do. Gotta get back to that "new normal" life after all, lol.
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Glad you are back. I hope you got loads and loads of pictures to scrap :)

LilyAnn said:
Karen, where there's a will, there's a way. That sounds awesome and sound like a lot of fun.
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Hope all is going well....
 
Quick hello, ladies. This month has been monstrous at work, I am getting slagged constantly with iOS stuff when my primary purpose is for Android/Amazon/Google Play, and now when things come up, I am getting tagged in on "not my stuff" because there's clear evidence that in spite of it not being my task or position, I will kill it and have a turn around faster... every week except this one, because I am in invoicing. Ahhhhhhhhh.

I have some CT pages I need to do, so that's my goal for the week. Keep me honest if you don't see stuff from me soon!!
 
Checking in to see how everyone is...been busy with our new kitten we adopted from a shelter. She is 6 months and is such a cute thing but has grown so much in just a month and I have so many layouts to scrap of her.

The Covid numbers are soaring here and it is sad to see that our Premier that is giving a firm message to stay at home is being called the "Grinch" who stole Christmas...people just don't get it!!

Hoping all you are all keeping safe?
 
I have been going nuts scrapping my 2021 calendar. I do one for a family Christmas gift every year. I love doing it, but it was stressing me. I design a new one each year and I just could not get a feel for it. I finally settled in and got it done. I do my friend's also (we do together, I design, she tells me where to put pictures!) That inspired me to get my new design finished. I must have redesigned some of the pages 3 and 4 times. I got it finished last night around 3am and uploaded it to the print site. I should have it back in 10 days.
 
Things have been extremely busy for me! Still cleaning out my fathers' apartment which we will be taking over. Have to change the papers over into my name still. Have to clean his stuff out and clean our stuff out because whatever we are keeping will have to be brought downstairs. I didn't think it would be SO much work. When I'm not at work, I'm home taking care of cleaning and organizing (but you can't really organize if you don't know where the permanent home for things will be yet.)

Than there is reading through the mounds of papers. I found his enlistment paper that was torn in half because they didn't accept him! That's a find!!!

Than there is one of his retirement papers that he had his mother as a beneficiary. I have to get her death certificate. I tried but it hasn't been 50 years so the place that needs the death certificate has to write to the register asking for it. Another hassle I have to deal with.

I was told I need a lawyer to write up the deed for the house so I can take it over. I thought I could just go down to the county office with his tax bills and his death certificate but no! I couldn't be that easy.

Little things make me cry. Just driving to work the other day I was thinking and just started crying. Twice this week I just drove past a turn I was supposed to make because I am thinking. Maybe too much thinking lately. LOL!

On the bright side, we took about 38 pictures for our "Christmas cards" be it digital, mailed or just sent via email, but we had some fun doing that. Hopefully I will have time to scrap them soon!

Numbers of Covid are going up quickly here now. Please everyone mask up and stay safe!
 
I bought Christmas cards this year. I send out rather a lot and I still mail them. Making them was just overwhelming this year. I am not sure why it felt that way, but I pressed the EASY button and bought them. But I did scrap a little card with a picture of me with my husband. The picture is 4 years old, but he really loves it and asked me to use it again. I used it two years ago also. He is a nut :) I printed those out, sorted out my card list for the year and started writing. I write about 120 cards to friends, and an additional 30 or so to the members of my local chapter of the Daughters of the British Empire chapter, since I am in charge of it, I feel obligated, and another 20 or so to the students who took my graphics class this year. Anyway, it is a lot of cards. I think this is the last year for so many of them. I will cut my list down to super close friends and ones who do send cards, or people I know will really enjoy them. I also like to write a nice little personal message in each one, rather than just scrawl my name. So I got about 1/4 of them written last night, the international ones and a few others. I always sort my list so the international ones are first.

I also FINALLY finished my family calendar and uploaded it. I must have scrapped the 28 pages of the calendar three or four times. I just was not happy with what I did, and was constrained by the fact that I use the pages for my friend's calendar also. We both do our family calendars every year like this and they are so popular. I also use the calendar page as my desktop each month. This is the 8th calendar we have done and folks love them.

FUNNY STORY though... I went over my friend Pam's house and took about 8 hours to wrap up her calendar. She wanted to use last year's template, because she loved it so much. I was so inspired, I went home and finished mine and uploaded to the printers. This is where it gets funny. It was 3am by the time I got finished and uploaded. You get price breaks depending on how many you order. I really only need 10, which would have been about $90, but for an extra $20, I could double my order. It seemed like a good deal at 3am, so I did. I get up the next morning and wonder WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH 10 EXTRA CALENDARS. Anyway, I ordered them and I have extras now...

Last... I have my book club today and realized that our next book is going to be MY book - and I haven't quite finished it. So I have been scrambling wrapping that up. I took a break to check in :)

Back to finishing up book for book club. :)
 
Well, Kathryn had a good birthday. Her boyfriend came up from down south and stayed the weekend up here. I have to admit that I wasn't all that comfortable with that arrangement, but it is my mom's house and she approved it, so I kind of felt outnumbered. I mean I do like Chris a lot, but I still see my little girl as just that, my little girl, not an adult. But then I think about myself at that age and realize just how lucky I am to have her as a daughter (I could have gotten the mother's curse of having a daughter just like myself).

I am so close to being done with my Christmas shopping that I can taste it, I need to get some pants for Kathryn and pajamas for both of the kids and I will be done.
 
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