Cold November Rain

... I was in it all morning. Brr.

First and foremost. I am in love. With Lee Valley. Best customer service. EVER. I took a block plane in that I bought there about 7 years ago. I had dropped it, which I explained to him, and the plate shattered around the blade, making it completely useless. So they replaced it. Just like that. Tradesies. Sweetness. I spent a while ogling the polished chrome plane. Sweet Jesus, it's beautiful.
I digress...

I did go back there tonight to pick up some stocking stuffers (and one schweeet batoning chisel for me), in the hopes of being prepared this year. There's always a first time, right? In closing, let me just say if you have a local Lee Valley (or if you're an internet shopper) check them out, because they have some very interesting things.

While I may be trying to prepare for Christmas, I just want to say, what the hell, stores? Is it really necessary to be decorated already? I mean, merchandise I can understand, but carols and lights and trees? That's just not cool. The only place that should be prepared for the Holidays is Starbucks, and that's because of the Egg Nog Lattes. However, I come bearing a warning: beware the Peppermint Brownie Pop. Delicious? Yes. But the peppermint pieces are reminiscent of glass shards and the pain outweighs the pleasure. Er, I think. Let me try it a few more times and I'll let you know for sure...

I think way back when I promised you something crafty, so here it is: Marcia's Hallowe'en present, a witches heart in a jar.

It really is indestructible!*

*Also titled: Dear God, stop eating the trim!

http://www.westpawdesign.com/articles/pet-care-products/buyers-guide-your-pets-well-being/indestructible-dog-toys

If you have tough chewers, these really are the best...



Now pardon me while I go sit under my desk for a bit, as the internet has eaten a post that took me 45 minutes. I'll re-do it tomorrow. And may I just say SONO'BENORE!!

I'll leave you with this, especially for Marcia:

It's been so long...

Ahh, Crush. PS. Lori, come back! We will go to the Lower Deck this time!!


So... update... update...


Lori was here. Best. Birthday. Present. Ever. We sang. We danced. Well, we didn't, but it was an awesome visit, nevertheless. We did see a duck swimming in the middle of the road. Yea, we got a lot of rain. Some awesome food, and a trip to Neptune Theatre to see Frankenstein (which was soooo good), many gifts, and lots of dog love later, she left me again. Sad face, sweetie. Remember to keep the crotch of your bodysuit snapped up. Bwahahaha ;D. (That's me, my sister, and my b(i)fl.)

We got portraits taken, because... yeaaa... I'm one of those people now.




I'm not ashamed. I love those hounds. All three of them. Heh.

I made a Plinko Hallowe'en costume for a friend. I have to say, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and more importantly, so was she.

And most importantly, this time, I didn't accidentally drink the brush cleaning water...

I'm making peanut butter bars, and I have no idea what I did, but they came out weird. Checked and re-checked the amount of everything before I baked them, but they were... sticky... softer than normal.... fluffy almost. We'll see how they are when they cool. Hopefully they're good, because all baking and no food makes Trudy a dull boy. Or y'know, a little crazy.

My sewing room is an atrocity. (That is all).

Stay tuned for a Hallowe'en update. And also one from the VV Boutique.

What's everyone else been up to?

Get me off this crazy thing. Called Love.

Two weekends. Two weddings. I'd like to not have to do that again for awhile. They were lovely. Good people. Good times. Good grief, that was a lot of wine. Today, my sister thought I was emotionally distraught; however, I'm just hungover. She understood, and said she just couldn't tell the difference between me being emotional and nauseous. Which makes sense, I usually can't either.

Update:

• 5 sleeps until I pick up my BiFL (that's "best friend for life"; little something I picked up from a 12 year old. Yea, I'm cool like that) from ye old aeropuerto. Exciting because we haven't seen one another for 3 years!! OMG!! It's ridiculous. We met at University, and my first impression was 'How can anyone be that f*&#ing chipper and perky?' Turns out she was just nervous, and it turns out she's quite cynical and sarcastic as well, so we got along fine! We lived together in Halifax for 5 years, and then drove to Winnipeg in 2008 when she was going to northern Manitoba for work, and NOW she's coming back to me! Best. Birthday present. Ever. I'm stupid excited, and I have a lot to do before Friday!


• That's us being smaller than a nickel....
  ...dranking in The Brady Bunch hotel (hahaha)....


• ...and Lori's last day in Halifax. Sad face sweetie...But 5 more sleeps!!

• I accidentally made purple beef stew tonight. It should be delicious, but I made it with fresh home grown purple haze carrots. Which turned the turnip and the onions and the potatoes, well... purple. It'd be great for Hallowe'en!

• Speaking of which, I need to start my costume if I'm going to be a sock monkey. ;)

• I just got a message on facebook about a fundraiser for Litters and Critters (a local animal rescue) called Howl-O-Ween. There are prizes, and bobbing for hot dogs! Would it be wrong of me to dress them like the Blues Brothers? Or maybe the Snooze Brothers. Y'think?




• Adam's aunt gave us an old dresser, 3 drawers with casters on the legs.... I have a plan! (but no pictures yet!)
  
  
  
• I would like to remind everyone that the Roast of Charlie Sheen is tomorrow.

Erm. Yes. I believe that is all. That comes to mind right now anyway. I'll leave you with a picture.

Water Dogs

Pantyhose are the bane of my existance.

So I'm rushing around trying to get ready for a wedding, last minute of course, because of course I couldn't be relaxed and early, so I pull up my thigh highs and pull the lace half off one. I figure I can go with this, it won't be so bad. Then I put my thumb through it and BAM runs right to my ankle. So I decided I would give-in and wrestle into some pantyhose. So along with breaking out in a sweat, I got angry right away, because seriously, f*@k right off. It's like trying to wrestle yourself into a baby's onesie. Also, I'm so short the only way they don't cut me in half (which leaves a lovely silhouette under a dress)is to haul them right up. Like, right up; picture the pants of an 80 year old. *le sigh.* Alas, this was not the fate of these hoses. Because as soon as I got them to waist level.... wait for it.... BAM! runs from my thigh to my knee. Honestly. Who came up with this?? And don't even get my started on the spanx I tried on yesterday. I'll just haul on a slip, and let it all hang out, thanks, because those things would send me into a homicidal spiral. Y'know... if I could have hauled them up all the way....

Anyway, the wedding was lovely, it was great to see everyone, even if I hate that I'm at the age when this is what brings us all together again. And we had to leave a little earlier than normal because I feel bad when we leave the dogs.... loser.....


There are no pictures of us... whoops... but we get to do it all over again next weekend (yay) and I'll be rocking my awesome $10 clearance dress, so I'll make sure some pictures are had. I haven't been making anything, and I have 2 weeks to get my sewing room cleared up, because my wife is coming to visit after three years apart omgwthbbq. so excited!! How about a veggie harvest picture? Adam just pulled a few of the carrots, and the leek to test them out. I think our zucchinis are just about finished up, and... well... a moment of silence for the peas please... This week at work, we're renovating a bathroom in an old building, which is an awesome part of doing what I do: I get to take garbage home! Exciting, I know. Antique brass drawer pulls and cast iron bathtub feet:

Okay. We're off to buy a washer... Crafty updates... well... someday, maybe....

Weely Update without Kevin Nealon

On with it then. Rocco loves his life jacket. Or, since he hasn't come out and said that, I'll say that he doesn't mind it, and hasn't sunk helplessly again, so I love his life jacket. Even if I have had to explain approximately 62 times why exactly he's wearing a life jacket (I thought it would be self-explanatory). So far I've fought the urge to tell someone that he's terribly afraid the ship will sink, and refuses to take it off.

So lets see... the week was full of stupid, stinky work, and not really anything else.

This weekend we took the the dogs to the park, and to the lake, and I saw my first leech and ohmygodohmygodohmygod I would rather face a shark ohmygodsogross. (I'm ignoring that I had to work this morning because it was only for a few hours, and it wasn't so bad).

Does anyone else read Tess Gerritsen? I enjoy her a great deal.

I've replied to an ad on kijiji about a book club, and I am intrigued. I posted an ad about starting a brown owls type club as well, so hopefully there's enough interest. They're starting to take applications for the winter Halifax Crafters market, and I'm definitely, for sure, applying.

Oh man, I love almond M&Ms.

Yesterday, I finally managed to convince Adam that yard sales are just the shiz-nit. He got some golf clubs, but what sold it for him was the $5 sub. Also not pictured is my $1 yard stick (I'm collecting them to frame the chalk board in the kitchen). The afghan was $3, the cabinet was $5 (I'm going to paint it, and we'll use it for tools in the basement)....

(now up close and personal...)

...the grater/peeler was free and I have a Christmas plan for it, the book was $1 and will be used for crafting, and the glass insulators were $1 each (weird because I had just been thinking about them the other day).

Any day now, I'm going to be organized and start making things. Just as soon as it gets cold, and I don't feel like I need to be outside soaking up every spare second of summer. I mean, how can you say no to these faces?

Royston was 12 weeks yesterday... I think we're gonna need a bigger place... ;D