Friday Five: Happy Fall!

Five things I've got on my mind as we roll into the last quiet weekend for a while:

1. I really want to soak up this weekend.  Don't get me wrong - everything that is coming up is FUN and I am super pumped about all of it - but literally every weekend in October has filled up.  To the point where I'm worrying about finding the time to do the fall things I love, like baking pumpkin stuff and watching sorta-scary things.  But I seriously cannot complain - Thanksgiving?  A Haunted House? Car Rally? Scary Movie Marathon?  I love EVERYTHING about these events.  I will find the time to do the other stuff.  And I will enjoy this last weekend of lounging, relaxing, and enjoying the beginning of my very favourite time of year.
   
2. So what is on tap for this quiet weekend?  I'm crashing Sam's Movie Night in Beechgrove tonight to watch The Mighty Ducks with him, which I'm very much looking forward to.  Tomorrow morning, I'm taking some family photos for my friend Caryl, and then returning to my home to cozy up for the rest of the day.  I'm hoping to make it my Fall Movie Marathon Weekend!  Remember a while back, when I said I'd picked up a few movies from another blogger's fall movie list?  So I have Sleepless in Seattle on Netflix, and You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally on DVD.  Also, I may possibly watch Dead Poet's Society too.  These movies will be spread out between Saturday and Sunday.  In between movies, I may bake some cookies if the spirit moves me. And there will be crocheting and coffee with Pumpkin Spice Baileys and reading and a Scentsy warmer glowing with Pumpkin Roll scent in it.  Mmmm.  These are the kind of days that make my heart so happy.
3. I'm contemplating making October a "No Spend" month.  Credit cards are paid off (finally) and it would be nice if I could save up some coin for Christmas shopping ahead of time instead of the usual credit card bill pile-up that occurs in November and December.  I'll have to give it some more thought, though.  October has a lot of stuff happening that will cost money, that I cannot (and don't want to) avoid - all of the above-mentioned events, Halloween candy, etc.  I'm just thinking of  my glaring areas of over-spending in the past year:  frivolous Amazon purchases, clothing (I'm lookin' at you Rickis), Tupperware, and yarn.  Could I actually go a month without buying any of them?  I honestly don't know.
4. To order Crave TV or not to order Crave TV?  That is the question.  Well, it's not really a question.  It's just a matter of when to order Crave TV.  I'm almost done Parks & Rec, and I'm not sure what to move on to next.  Netflix has some intriguing stuff coming up in the next month: Season 2 of Making a Murderer and The Haunting of Hill House intrigue me.  Plus, all the scary movies I like watching this time of year.  Once Halloween is over, I'll be pre-occupied with all of my traditional Christmas movies and specials, that is a guarantee.  So I think it's most wise for me to save Crave for the new year.  I'm super-excited about it, though, which makes it difficult to wait.  The Handmaids Tale, Big Little Lies, Game of Thrones, Letterkenny, True Detective, and now they have Castle Rock too - ALL shows I'm dying to watch!!  But like I said, the next few months will provide little time to absorb myself with them.  I may just go with something light in the meantime, like New Girl on Netflix.  
   
5. Big Brother 20 wrapped up on Wednesday night, and I actually stayed awake to watch it in real time so that I wouldn't find out who won on social media.  *SPOILERS AHEAD*  I have to say, I was really OK with how it all went down.  I was glad that JC won the second-last HoH and took Angela out, as she was annoying me.  Was JC as deserving to sit in the Final 3? Probably not.  But he won when it counted most, and he took his shot.  I really felt Level 6 had gotten too cocky, and I was pleased their perfect plans ended up foiled, at least a little bit.  With the Final 3 set of Kaycee, Tyler, and JC, I suppose I was rooting most for Tyler.  I felt he played the hardest.  That said, I feel like Tyler really failed in his final speeches and answering the jury's questions.  He rattled on a lot, often not even answering their questions, and almost always had to be cut off by Julie for time restraints.  Kaycee was concise, played up her social game, and the fact that she was genuine.  At the end of the day, the 5-4 vote landed in her favour, and I couldn't blame them for it.  She played hard, was a beast in competitions, and stayed friendly with pretty much everyone.  It was a satisfying conclusion to what I thought was a truly wonderful season.  The only flaw in the finale episode?  That cheesy, ridiculous proposal with Swaggy C and Bayleigh.  They only spent a few weeks together, he was voted out second, and she's been in the jury house since the first week it opened.  Seriously? It had me rolling my eyes, and also cemented them as two of my least favourite people who played this summer.  Blech.
   

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

On Tornadoes and other things...

• So... Tornadoes.  Yeah.  We don't get tornadoes here.  We sometimes get warnings, but nothing really ever develops.  Just doesn't happen.  Until last Friday.  I had weather warnings and watches, several mentioning potential for tornadoes, coming through on my phone all day long.  There was a little chatter about it around the office, but not much.  Nobody was overly concerned.  I got off work early and headed to my mom's, because Caden and Danica were there for their PD Day.  My sister was coming up after work for supper and to pick them up.  We ended up getting a thunderstorm during supper time, and all of a sudden, our Facebook feeds were filled with reports and videos of tornadoes all around us.  Across the river in Dunrobin, down the highway in Luskville and Breckenridge, in the Mont-Bleu area of Hull, in the Craig Henry area of Ottawa...Environment Canada has now reported that there were 6 different tornadoes that touched down in our area that afternoon/evening.  SIX.  Kara and the kids and I all slept at my mom's that night.  Though I had no damage - and never even lost power for any length of time - it was one of those nights where you just needed to feel close to loved ones.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I am so grateful that our little town was largely untouched.  We had storms and torrential rain and high winds, but nothing of the magnitude that many in our area dealt with - and are still dealing with.  The aftermath is devastating. It's like something out of a movie.  That said, it has been heart-warming to see communities pulling together, neighbours helping neighbours, strangers offering help, food, shelter, anything they can to others in need.  It helps to restore our faith in humanity to see how people come together after a tragic event such as this.  
• The tornadoes on Friday seemed to knock my whole weekend off-kilter.  I felt very unsettled and antsy all weekend, even though I was not directly affected.  I went home early Saturday morning after my restless night on the couch at Mom's, got cleaned up and dressed, and then immediately crawled into bed and slept for another 2 hours.  I felt like I had been hit by a truck.  I was exhausted.  I guess it was emotional stress that I had largely been suppressing.  Tying to be calm and cool during a time like that can take a toll, I guess.  I spent the rest of the day trying to be normal - I baked pumpkin bread, I crocheted, I watched TV (regular TV because the Internet was down, no Netflix, ugh #firstworldproblems) - before Mom called me to come back up for supper, Kara and Chris and the kids were on their way back because they still had no power.  So we hung out again at Mom's, but this time I went home to my own bed.  One night on the couch this weekend was enough for me!
• Oh, also on Saturday - while I was sitting watching TV and crocheting in the afternoon, there was a knock at my door.  I was so surprised and happy to discover our former minister Rev. Nancy and her husband Reg had stopped by to bring me a bottle of Pumpkin Spice Baileys!  I had put out a Facebook request last week that if anyone saw it to please pick me up a bottle, but I hadn't actually expected it to happen, especially not from a couple that live in Orleans, well over an hour away from me!  It was such a nice surprise, and I have been enjoying it ever since.  Yum!!  Thank you Nancy & Reg!!
  
• Sunday we had church, and then I had a short meeting after church, before heading off to a "Meet & Greet" to meet my newest little cousin, Raymie Mack!  My cousin Kayla and her hubby Ben had welcomed their first baby two weeks ago, and I was drying to snuggle with him.  He is adorable, and having him in my arms was definitely my best moment of that crazy weekend.
  
• Yesterday was a rainy, crappy day.  I had plans to go to the city with Lindsay after work to get pedicures and catch a movie, but we decided to put it off for another day.  It was just the kind of day you want to curl up and be cozy.  I daydreamed all day of what I would do if I were at home: change into comfy clothes, curl up and read, watch a movie, crochet, and make comfort food.  I couldn't make most of that a reality because, well, work doesn't stop for a rainy day, but I did go home and fulfill my rainy day comfort food daydreams.  I made homemade mac & cheese and a pumpkin cake for supper, then spent the evening crocheting while watching old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries.   A perfect dark & dreary evening!
  
• I have a whole bunch of scary movies saved to my lists on both Netflix and Amazon Prime, and yet I still keep feeling like it's too early to dive into them.  Rosemary's Baby, The Conjuring 2, Canada's Most Haunted... and yet when I have the need to watch something creepy, I keep going back to old Unsolved Mysteries. LOL!  I guess with October arriving on Monday I'll finally feel like it's not "too early" anymore.  Bring on the scary season!
• Have I mentioned lately how much I love fall?  October holds so much fall fun in store, I can't wait to get it rolling.  Thanksgiving is next weekend (?!? already!!!), I'm going to a Haunted House on the Hill event at Billings Estate, a historic site in Ottawa the following weekend, Car Rally is October 20th, and Scary Movie Marathon is the 27th.  I already have my Halloween costume.  I can't wait to carve pumpkins and make treat bags.  I really, truly adore this time of year!!!
  

Wednesday Loves

Here's what I'm loving this Wednesday!

• Cooler temperatures! Finally! We still have one hot day to go - Friday is to go to 29 - but it felt so good to step out into a brisk, cool morning air today.  Once Friday is over, I'm eager to do some baking and to make spaghetti sauce.  Come on Fall!!!
  
• One of my fall "cravings" has suddenly sprung up and I'm dying for a good ol' grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.  Who doesn't love a grilled cheese & tomato soup on a chilly day?  Supper tonight perhaps!
  
• Oh my gosh, you guys, I WENT FOR A WALK.  Miracle.  It wasn't long, and it was depressing because I felt like I was plodding along like an old cow, but at least I went.  And while I don't enjoy feeling like a plodding old cow, I know I need to feel like that for a while before I get my mojo back. No pain, no gain.
• I'm planning to go shopping tomorrow night and I'm planning to buy a couple of cans of pumpkin.  Let the season of pumpkin spice everything commence!!!
  
• I so love Parks & Rec.  I'm reaching that part of a TV series I love where I want to watch 10 episodes every night, but I'm trying to space them out more because I don't want it to end.  I don't want to live a life without Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson and Andy and April and Ben and Tom and Donna and Jerry/Garry/Larry.  They have brought so much joy to my life.  And now I'm down to just one season left... sigh.
  
• By extension, as you all know, I truly, madly, deeply LOVE Chris Pratt.  I haven't had a celeb crush like this in a long time.  When I'm done Parks & Rec, I don't know what I will do without my daily dose of Pratt... double sigh.
  
• I'm totally loving the blanket I'm working on right now.  The pattern is simple and working up quickly, and I'm so pleased with the colours.  I'm hopeful it will make a little girl happy on Christmas morning! :)
  
• I'm loving that it's soon time to return to "Hygge" season!!  Thoroughly enjoying cozying up by lamplight, with my Scentsy warmer going and my rock salt lamp on beside me, working on my crocheting while watching TV in the evenings.  Once these temps finally dip, I can put on my cozy leggings and sweaters, my new moccasin slippers, and really soak up the Hygge.  Can't wait for the full experience!

What are YOU loving this Wednesday? :)

Random things in my brain today.

• Last Thursday, the Ottawa Senators traded Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks.  Even though I knew a trade was coming - it was inevitable, nobody was even trying to deny it - I still can't believe they let the best player to ever wear the Sens uniform go.  Especially while he's just entering his prime.  Especially for a bunch of no-names I'd never even heard of. I love my Sens, I always will, but all I can do now is pray, the same as all the other fans, that this current ownership and management be dissolved.  How can they recover from this?  How can they expect anyone to respect or get over this decision?  It's incredible.  It's frustrating.  Above all, it's heart-breaking.  I have never felt so discouraged with this team as I do now.  I look towards the upcoming season bleakly.
  
• Yesterday, I grabbed some bulbs of a plant that were here in the office in a box, because my mom wanted some.  They were prickly seed pods for the brugmansia plant (angel's trumpet).  One of the prickly pods "bit" me, and my finger is so sore.  I can see the little thistle or spine or whatever you call it in my finger, but I can't seem to get it even close to the surface to pull it out.  One of those things that is so teeny-tiny, and yet all-consuming.
• Remember last week, when I said I failed at my goal of immersing myself in Jurassic Park last weekend?  Well, I was fully successful this weekend.  I watched the original on Saturday night, and Jurassic World on Sunday night.  If my Chris Pratt obsession was bad before, it's extremely serious now.  Holy sweet baby Jesus, he was a chiseled, buff, beautiful specimen of a man in that movie.  A far cry from the goofy but lovable chubby Andy Dwyer I've come to adore in Parks & Rec.  
  
• Being in love with Chris Pratt has done something to me.  Triggered the loneliness factor or something? I'm not sure.  Because suddenly, I'm desperate for a boyfriend.  Or a dog.  (Yesterday, it was a boyfriend. Today, it's a dog.)  I know that this too shall pass, but for the time being, I'm just going to keep watching him in everything I can and pray this needy feeling goes away.
  
• So I'm about half-way through Season 6 of Parks and Rec.  There's only 7 seasons, so I'm on the down-swing.  What to watch next?  I'm thinking Ozark, I keep hearing good things about it.  I'm also strongly considering ordering Crave TV this winter, to watch some of the shows on there that aren't available on Netflix, like The Handmaid's Tale, Letterkenney, Big Little Lies, and I think they have Game of Thrones, too.  That might be a post-Christmas investment for me.
  
• Yesterday, I felt like absolute trash all afternoon.  I couldn't stop yawning, felt totally lethargic, and wished I could just put my head down on my desk and sleep.  I have no idea why.  I got lots of rest throughout a quiet weekend, no late nights, lots of zzz's.  It was baffling to me.  When I got home, I got laundry going before crawling on to my bed, put Parks & Rec on the tablet to watch, and instantly fell asleep.  I hate doing that, but it felt absolutely necessary.  I felt miserable.  I woke up feeling groggy but a bit better and proceeded with my evening..  Today, I feel back to normal.  Whatever it was, I hope it doesn't come back again this afternoon.
• Have I complained about my pigeons on the blog?  I can't remember.  There are a million pigeons hanging out on my roof this summer.  I have a feeling they're living in the old chimney behind the church, but then come over to my roof to party every day.  There is bird shit literally everywhere.  My back deck is covered in it.  And I have googled how to get rid of pigeons, but none of the methods sound like something I can do, because I'm not going up on that roof.  On Saturday, I tried sitting out on the deck and between the pigeons and the wasps and the ungodly heat, I did not enjoy it at all.  I'm so done with summer.
• Oh, and a quick little BB update: Remember that post I wrote about this season, and how loyal I am to the Level 6 alliance?  Well, they pissed me off last week by voting out Brett.  Tyler and Angela are starting to annoy the hell out of me.  I guess I'm still rooting for Tyler or Kaycee to win, but there is a big part of me that's starting to hope that JC or Sam can upset the apple cart.  That bunch have gotten too big for their britches.

That's all the random from me today.  Happy Tuesday friends!

Random Ramblings on a Wednesday

• Well, I was getting all geared up for fall.  Last week, the temperatures finally dipped a bit and I was feeling it.  I was envisioning cozy days curled up crocheting, I saw a list on another blog of perfect "Fall Movies" so I ordered a couple that were super-cheap on Amazon, I ordered some new fall clothes from Rickis.  I was already daydreaming about cups of tea and pumpkin spice treats and making pots of soup.  But now, a September heatwave is upon us.  The next five days are to be hot and muggy, so I guess I'd better put my Fall excitement on hold for another little while. *sigh*
• I've been battling a sinusy headache all week.  Just a weird sinus pressure and face-tingling on Monday, a headache that developed late yesterday afternoon and was pretty intense all evening, and then woke up with it again this morning. ugh.
• On Saturday, I went to a moccasin making workshop with some ladies, and we had a fun day.  I found the process of sewing to be a mostly relaxing experience, with only a few meltdowns lol!  However, it was a more challenging task than I expected, and by the time the class was over, we were all going home with only one moccasin - we had to make the other one ourselves.  I was worried I'd forget the process and I was anxious to wear both of my new slippers, so I decided to dive right in as soon as I got home, for fear I'd never do it if I didn't do it right away.  That was probably a mistake.  By the time I was finished around 7 PM, my fingers ached, I had stabbed myself with the needle multiple times and I was bleeding, I had roared out loud several times, and I was exhausted.  I really hated my slippers in that moment.  Thankfully, I got over the frustration and I really like them now.  I guess the final verdict is that the end result is worth it.
  
• Saturday night, my plan was to have a Jurassic Park night.  I found the original on DVD for $4.99 at Giant Tiger, and Jurassic World is on Netflix, so my plan was to watch both.  I saw the original as a kid, but I'd forgotten most of it, and Chris Pratt is in the new one - which is leaving Netflix at the end of the month, apparently - so I wanted to see it. (Chris Pratt crush still goin' strong.)  Well, after my moccasin frustration I was so wiped out that I slept through the original and didn't even bother putting on the new one.  Back to the Jurassic Park drawing board this weekend, I guess.
  
  
• Above, I mentioned the "Fall Movies" I ordered.  Three of them that jumped out at me as being movies I've either never seen or have forgotten were Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and When Harry Met Sally.  Sleepless is on Netflix, the other two were super cheap on Amazon, so I'm excited to have a girlie Fall movie marathon one of these days in the coming weeks.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Also above, I mentioned a Rickis order for my fall wardrobe.  It arrived yesterday and I was super-happy with about half of it.  I was a little disappointed that I ordered two plaid shirts that were both just the teeniest smidge too snug on me.  I love everything about these tops - the length, the colour, the style - but I'm afraid after washing, they'll shrink.  I looked online this morning and they are no longer available in the size larger.  I'm in a conundrum.  Keep them and try harder to lose a little weight?  (By try harder, I mean, just TRY. Like, at all.)  Or return them?  What to do, what to do...
  
  
  
  
• Last night while I was crocheting, I put on old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries that are on Amazon Prime.  I didn't want to watch Parks & Rec because I miss too much of it when I'm crocheting.  I just wanted something fun that I didn't have to pay too much attention to.  As it turns out?  Unsolved Mysteries freaks me out as much now as it did 25 years ago.  I had to shut it off it was spooking me so much.
  
• I need someone to confiscate my credit cards.  Too much spending going down lately.  Between Amazon, yarn, Rickis, and a new Halloween costume on order, I've sunk myself right back into another little hole. At this stage in the game, and with Christmas shopping coming into view, I think we can go ahead and call The Year of Saving a GIANT failure. 
• So, I've been trying to wean myself off Facebook a bit lately.  Not giving it up altogether, but just trying to limit the number of times a day I look at it, especially at work.  I just realized that basically anytime there's down time or a quiet moment, I'm scrolling through it steady.  And far too often, I let things I see on there effect my mood.  It's a tough habit to break, though.  I find myself turning to it almost subconsciously.  How sad is that, to be so dependent on a social media platform?  As the days go by, it's getting easier.  I just give myself little pep talks.  "No, you don't need to look at FB right now.  Find something else to do.  Look for something more productive to do."  I think I'll be a happier person if I spend less time thinking and worrying about it.  

Well, that's about all that's going on in my brain today.  Happy Wednesday, friends!!

A Re-Cap of The Fair

A week ago today, I was gearing up and getting excited, not only for a long weekend but for the annual Shawville Fair!!   I wasn't the only one who was excited.  One day last week I came in to work, and found that my friend Lindsay had left me a poem on my desk as an ode to the Fair! haha!

So the Fair opened on Thursday evening, and my mom and I made our traditional Thursday evening Old Lady Venture to the Fair.  By this, I mean that we ate supper (Mom's choice - she usually goes for Billy T's pizza, but this year she opted for Bonnie's instead), did a tour around the vendor/exhibit hall, and then headed over to the arena for the Opening Ceremonies.  This year, my Uncle Garry was honoured by the Fair board with the Dedicated Service Award, as he has been the plumber at the Fair for over 20 years.  As the presenter remarked in his speech, when you think of the Fair, you don't think of plumbing.  But when a problem with the washrooms arises, people get pretty upset about it pretty quick! haha!  My uncle basically lived at the Fair all those years, to ensure he was on-hand should any issues arise.  You couldn't ask for a man more devoted to his job.  Mom and I joined a great group of family and friends who were in attendance to see him receive his award.  I felt so proud to sit there among them all as part of his Fan Club. It was a well-deserved honour, that's for sure!!  It was a cool evening, but we still made our stop on the way out to get ice cream.  The ice cream stand always has Orange Pineapple, which I only ever see at the fair, so I always make sure to have a scoop on the first night before it runs out.  Yum!

Friday night, I met up with my friend Sharon and her family.  I had purchased a ride pass this year, and I was excited to put it to use!  We went on the ferris wheel and I captured my favourite photo of the weekend:

We had a great time, as I once again stuffed my face with awesome fair treats (Billy T's pizza, the Boom Boom Chicken poutine from Big D's, and a Beavertail), and after Sharon's family headed for home, we made our way over to watch The Trews.  I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of the band going in to the show, but they turned me into one!  They were SO good!!  I downloaded a bunch of their songs the next morning and have been listening to them ever since.  As we stood watching the show, I noticed a little girl running around in front of me and realized it was my friend Priscilla's little girl.  It turns out, she was standing just a few feet in front of me, so it was nice to catch up with her too.  I also spotted on of my favourite former Sens players, Chris Neil, standing with a group of people not far from us as well, though I was too shy to go over and say hi.  I just ogled from a distance LOL!

On Saturday, Mom and I went back up to the Fair late morning, because my little buddy Sam was showing a calf in the Peewee 4H show.  I grabbed another poutine from my fave Fair food truck, Big D's - this time, I got the Kicked Up Mac poutine - and headed to the arena to watch the 4H shows.  It is so cute to watch the little ones leading their calves around.  They all do such a great job. (Even if I don't understand WHY anyone would want to drag a stubborn cow around in a ring haha!!)  After a few hours, we decided to head for groceries and go ahead home.  I decided not to go back up that night, and opted instead for a Guardians of the Galaxy Netflix night. (Chris Pratt crush is in full swing.)  It was a flop, though, because I fell asleep during the first one and didn't bother watching the second one LOL.  I need a rainy day or something to watch movies, I always seem to fall asleep these days no matter how good the movie is!

On Sunday, I went to church and out for brunch with Mom, then spent the rest of the day relaxing - crocheting, watching Parks and Rec, and napping.  In the evening, I went up with my friend Lindsay.  Yes, of course, MORE fair food!  I saved the best for last, getting my Nacho Libre poutine from Big D's (my fave!!!) and mini donuts.  That night featured the band High Valley, and they were pretty good.  I was most excited for their show, but in the end, I think I liked The Trews much better.  We still had a great evening though, enjoying the music despite the sweltering heat!!  I always enjoy touring around with Linds looking at the quilts and all the craft exhibits.  We had a fun night!

Monday was the last day of the fair, and the good news was that Caden and Danica were home from Montreal!!  As you might recall, Caden's baseball team had made the Provincials in Montreal and so they were gone all weekend.  They came home Sunday night, though, and Chris brought them to the Fair for the last day.  We went on lots of rides, ate more food (a dill poutine from the Fresh Fry Co. truck, and cotton candy), watched some of the Demo Derby, and after another hot and sticky day, we were ready for home by late afternoon.  A great way to cap off the Shawville Fair weekend!!

This week is going much better for me (aside from the fact that I don't care if I see another poutine again soon... ugh! LOL) -  as I am officially over the back-to-school sick feeling and I'm starting to get really excited for fall.  More on that soon, I promise!  I hope everyone is having a GREAT week! :)