There's Always Something To Do

I tackled a few things on my 'to do' list this week. Yesterday I began the process to book the flights to Madrid for my knitting tour next year. While there, I had the travel agent look into Christmas Market Rhine cruises for next November or December. The Christmas Market tours have such a narrow window - last week of November until the end of December. Most folks want to be home for Christmas so really there's less than a month available in any given year. They're already taking bookings for November/December 2027. Saturday I go back to the travel agent and make deposits and payments for the trips.

Aside from the Iceland/Norway trip last March/April I didn't go on any big, fancy trips this year so I have a real urge to get things lined up for next year. A week at a resort in Mexico or Costa Rica would be fun, too.

At stitching on Monday, I got most of the bottom of Ginger's dress done. I had stitched the vertical motifs on the weekend so I just needed to fill in with the green.

I haven't had a lot of motivation to do much. I really have to force myself to start a chore or task. This gloomy weather never used to bother me as much but it really weighs me down. However, when the sun breaks through it is glorious.

I indulged myself with a couple of Amazon purchases. Just for fun, I ordered a Peanuts jigsaw puzzle that I'd been eyeing for a while. My preference is puzzles with blocks of colour like this one.

I started it last night and stayed up WAY too late and finished it this morning after yoga class and bringing in provisions. I think I need a nap after this.

This week is also our penultimate yard waste collection so my task when it stopped raining yesterday was to haul the 16 bags of leaves to the curb. I'm glad to have them out of the garage. I don't think I'll need to rake any more unless a big wind deposits the neighbourhood leaves in my yard within the next two weeks.

This week I also finished another Little Buddy, Percy. I love his furry little face.

He has been welcomed to the BFFs (Best Furry Friends).

Ernest, Davis, Reginald, Percy, and Rusty

I finished my 13th octagon for the second Persian Tiles blanket. Will start another one tonight.

While watching a FlossTube video, someone mentioned Brenda Gervais might be designing some charts for the US semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary next year. It occurred to me that the exclusive design she's presenting at the Hobby House Retreat next June might be one of those patriotic charts. Ugh. I was so disappointed with the design that Paulette Stewart and Beth Twist designed for the retreat I attended last April. Although the theme was love, the depictions were motifs from the US Revolutionary War. Not a historic event of significance to Canadians.

I messaged Brenda and asked her about the design. She hasn't thought that far ahead but couldn't promise that it wouldn't be patriotic-based. So Poppy and I have decided to give up our spots at the retreat. I'm pretty sure there is a waiting list so it shouldn't be hard for them to fill our spots. I hope we can get most, if not all, of our deposit money back. We're going to do a road trip here in Ontario instead. Wheeee!!! Not that I need to buy anything...

I will be going into The Big City to have a visit with my step-son, James. Plans are to have a rotisserie chicken meal at Union Chicken (yes, a chicken restaurant at Union Station) and then take in the lights at the Royal York Hotel across the street. 

After a nap today, I plan to get my tree up and decorated. I'm hosting stitching on Monday and want to have it up for that. I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with all my hand-made ornaments. I didn't bother putting the tree up last year as we spent Christmas in the Dominican Republic.