Some Things That Gave Me Joy Today

I retrieved my oboe from the oboe hospital today. It needed a complete overhaul, understandable since I don't remember if I've ever had it serviced in the 54 years I've owned it. 

Pro-rated - $26.85 isn't a lot to pay per year to keep the thing working properly. All the pads and corks were replaced. He even used silver solder to repair a key with a crack in it. The repairer, Alessandro, was very surprised when I told him how long I had owned it. He was also surprised when he learned how old I was. He thought I was younger than my actual age. The compliment and repaired oboe made my drive into The Big City well worth it.

On my way home, (avoiding the DVP) I stopped in at Michaels in Pickering to get the last 5 colours I needed for my Painted Flowers project.

I haven't decided when I'll start it as I'm quite happy with my progress on 'Merry Christmas'.

The band below the trees has been easy to stitch while watching TV. The rest I do with Markup R-XP on my iPad just to keep track of things. I did find one mistake on the pattern which I'll let the nice people know about at Hobby House Press. Will check first to see if it's on an 'errata' list.

Perhaps 'Painted Flowers' will be my start when I attend the Toronto Guild of Stitchery's retreat at the Nottawasaga Inn next month.

Further along my way home I picked up tacos from Cocodrilo, the food truck in front of the Ajax Canadian Tire at Salem and Kingston Rd. They're the best tacos I've had north of the Rio Grande Valley.

I ate 3 and froze 3 for a future meal.

Also, while at Canadian Tire, I purchased a new, non-stick frying pan that I'd been coveting for a while. Gratefully, it was on sale for 30% off.

It's the one with the raised stainless steel grid to create a non-stick surface, not the chemically-treated non-stick one.

The added bonus is that it is manufactured in Canada - in Charlottetown PEI

My easier, less traffic-y drive home was enhanced even further by sunny skies and stunning leaf colours. 

Crossing the Rouge Valley provided breathtaking vistas. I would have taken some photos had I not been driving.

After all that activity, I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the day. 

Tomorrow is a Kimat Designs sponsored stitch day, then tomorrow night will be busy with trick or treaters coming to my door.