Wednesday, December 18, 2024


 It's snowing here today and will be snowing all day.  And it's cold here too, with the wind, it feels like -28C.  I'm so thankful we have central heating.


Just the backyard, with the snow falling.


I bought my Christmas turkey (breast) this morning, so that's all done.  Much easier than cooking a whole bird for two people.


A very disappointed dog, even though it's too cold to spend more than a few minutes outside, he still wants to go for a walk.  I imagine they'll both sleep for most of the day.


And me?  One more batch of Christmas cookies to be made.  My brother arrives tonight and I'm having brunch with my brother and sister in law tomorrow morning.  My middle daugther is sick in Vancouver and Katie had a good day yesterday, post CBD gummy.  I even managed to get her to a lab and she got her blood work done without much fuss.  

I'm just finishing up a quilt for Jack.  This past summer I found a piece of fabric at the Salvation Army that was a mercator map of the world, and it was accurate.  So I've been working on it, ever so slowly, and hopefully it will be done in a few days.  Jack is obssessed with Africa but doesn't seem to understand that it is a continent of fifty-two countries, not just one big country.  I'm hoping the map helps him with that.  I also made a french knot in the fabric approximately where Edmonton is, so he knows where we are. 

My knees are finally feeling back to normal after six months.  Not sure what I did to them in June but they don't hurt anymore.  I have only mild osteoarthritis in my knees, so I couldn't figure out what was so painful.  My quads were very weak and I have been working on strengthing them.  I started thinking and wondered if stronger quads help keep the knee joint healthier, help to protect the cartilage, by better supporting the knee joint.  Did a little research and found out, that is the case, so will make sure my quads stay strong as I age.  

Now if I could just stay up a little later:)



30 comments:

  1. I'm staying in and hibernating today too. Your Xmas tree is beautiful! And I love the French Knot for Edmonton, lol!

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    1. I wanted to give him a reference point of where we were in the world. Stay warm and safe.

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  2. My left arthritic knee got bungled up 2 weeks ago when I rode the stationary bike
    Lots of jolting and buckling pain since. It is frustrating that is for sure.

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    1. It's so frustrating when you try to do something good for your body and it just doesn't understand.

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  3. The dog looks like me when it snows. Miserable. Good news about Katie and your knees.

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    1. I like the snow but not the cold. I shoveled the driveway three times today. Good exercise.

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  4. That's good about your knees coming good, especially when it is cold. My physiotherapist urges me to build up muscle to take pressure off poor joints. Your garden looks rather different to what it did in summer. The quilt sounds great and it sounds promising with Katie.

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    1. Reading about knee joints reminded me how important stength exercises are, especially as I age. It always amazes me that the garden comes back in the spring.

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  5. We had snow for Thanksgiving, but it looks like it will be a green xmas here *sigh*

    I love the idea of your quilt and laughed out loud at the quote. So glad to read about Katie and your knees (yes, strength and stretching) having some improvement.

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    1. We definitely won't be having a green Christmas, although it is supposed to be above freezing on Monday.
      Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and grandkids.

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  6. Love the map quilt plan. I would have loved that as a kid, also now.

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    1. I'm a fan of maps too. I had to explain to Jack yesterday about paper maps, and using landmarks to navigate. That was interesting.

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  7. I cannot wait to see the quilt. Keeping my fingers crossed that the CBD gummies keep working for Katie.
    Now to go and strengthen my quads....

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    1. The exercise will be good for your brain too sweetie.

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  8. Love the quilt with the map. That's such a good idea.
    Your floors (looking at Charley) are beautiful. Wonderful color.
    That is a LOT of snow.

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    1. It's more snow than we had last year, that's for sure. The quilt is just one big panel and I quilted it along the longitude and latitude lines. Turned out not bad.

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  9. The snow=great, the temperature=NOT. Brrrr. I love to be able to get outside but I also like to hibernate, as long as it doesn't last too long. It sounds like you're doing well with the knee; it's such a relief that Katie is doing OK. I hope you'll share a photo of the quilt! Have I ever mentioned that my older daughter is a geographer and that her specialty is West Africa?

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    1. I didn't know your daughter was a geographer but I did know that you visited her in Senegal I think.
      Katie is much happer and I'm thankful for that.

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  10. That quilt as a brilliant idea, and I'm so happy about your knees.

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    1. The quilt was just a panel that was a mercator map of the world.

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear that your daughter is not well. I hope she gets better soon. But it does sound more positive for Katie doesn't it. Fingers crossed it continues. And I think you're right about your quads. I intend to go back to the gym (I use the weights) in the new year because I know I have to do strength training. Mind you, losing a bit of weight wouldn't hurt either!

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    1. My middle daughter is better and so is Katie. I just have to get myself a schedule so I don't miss working out. I'm good for about two weeks and then let things slide, but once it becomes part of my routine, it sticks.

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  12. Ha! I am in bed at 9:30 every night, so I definitely identify with that last message. The map quilt sounds like a great idea. I loved maps as a kid and would have been so happy to get something like that.

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    1. Jack's seen the map, I just have to finish up the edges, but he loved it.

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  13. I'm looking forward to seeing the quilt. I intend to make my grandson one for Christmas this year, too. Sadly, I didn't.

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  14. That is a lot of snow. I guess. I don't know much about snow, really. To all of my kids, it's something rather magical, something that happens in fairytales.
    It's a good time of the year to bake- helps keep the house toasty. Stay warm, dear woman.

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    1. It was a lot of snow, way more than last winter already. It was horribly cold this week and now it's supposed to go up above zero, and it rained this morning. Messed up weather.
      My problem with baking, is that I love to eat it too:)

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  15. I’ve been reading your blog for a little over 12 months. What an amazing person you are. I know I couldn’t do what you do full stop. I wish you all the best and more. Marie, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia

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