Take Three Thursday - Ugly?

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week?  
 
Have a peek at what others have found this week:
Karen at Random Reflections
Maggie at: FarmersWifeDayByDay 

I'm kicking off the Christmas season of Take Three with something I think is fun.  It's the Ugly Christmas Sweater. This theme is everywhere.   I don't think of them as really ugly, there are some that are rather rude, but overall I think the Christmas sweaters are fun.  Many years ago a friend made me a Christmas sweatshirt with a panel of what could have been a photo of the three cats I had at the time.  I wear this "ugly" sweater every year, along with my Santa hat on the last day at work. 
 

For this year's clinic's Winter Comfort draw, I got to make all the purchases & I went with fun; an Ugly Christmas Sweater cookie making kit, an Ugly Christmas Sweater mug with hot chocolate (same as the one I bought my friend AJ) & a Tim Horton's $10 gift certificate.  The Tim's mugs this year are made to look like knitted wear so the gift cards are reflecting the same knitted wear.

Two years ago at the clinic we made a day for all the staff & patients to wear their best Ugly Christmas Sweaters & to those that did, we gave chocolates to them.   I think this year we could certainly do with some Christmas fun & levity so maybe I'll "ask" the boss if we can do again!

Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt Links

 Winter 2017/2018 Photo Scavenger Hunt

Eileen at: Bracelet of Days & her good friend Joy  are co-hosting another Winter Photographic Scavenger Hunt this year, and they would love you to join in with all of us. The only "rule" is that all photos should be taken during the duration of the hunt, which is 1st December 2017 to 21st March 2018. There will be a monthly linky on both Eileen's & Joy's blogs, and also a Facebook page is already up and running, so please feel free to join us either way, or both.

Good luck capturing all or some - it's a good way not to hibernate the winter away!

  The list.

1. Men at work
2. Luggage
3. Domestic trivia
4. A Winter's Tale (or tail)
5. Passengers
6. Wrapping paper
7. On the water
8. Silver
9. In the making
10. Having fun
11. Library/Book shop
12. Stationery
13. A line of ...
14. Stones
15. Bow
16. A sense of history
17. Many
18. Signpost
19. A pair of ...
20. Detail
21. Handle
22. Symmetry
23. A heart
24. Steam/smoke/mist
25. A peek inside

Memo, Mail & Me: It's Monday November 27th

It's the (cyber) Monday after the wild in person shopping frieze of Black Friday!   Is Black Friday a big deal outside of North America?  In Canada we only took on this day as to keep Canadians from crossing the border & spending their holiday dollars south of the border.  With so much online shopping now, I don't think it matters much, but it's over powering.  There are now sales leading up to Black Friday, the week before Black Friday sales; pre-Black Friday & on & on.  Too much!

Locally the school boards timed one of their many PD*days (professional development days for the teachers) to be on Black Friday.  The malls were packed with kids having nothing to do but hang out & adults shopping for more stuff. There were warnings to stay away from the mall on several F/B groups. After a short shift at the clinic,  I stayed home, had tea & read a little of my latest from the library; Origins by Dan Brown.  Not sure yet if I like.

On the weekend I attended a workshop for Christmas card making.  I made 16 (2 of 8 designs) cards.  It was a time of stamping, embossing, glittering, gluing & working with sequins (which apparently distresses environmental scientists, glitter that is). I don't like working with individual sequins, they cause me to swear.   I won a door prize of a set of retired Christmas stamps.  We also all received a package of retired 6X8" Christmas paper.  So all in all a  nice haul.

The mail has been sparse, not even a lot of flyers.  I am hoping to finish off any card making this week as I like to mail my Christmas cards on December 1st.

Thank you everyone from last week for the support to my continued hiring dilemmas, which I think are quieting down.  A memo was sent to everyone as I did hire back the young lady who quit without notice.  We had a chat about that & what my expectations of commitment are for this role.  I also made some switches to our day time (other than me) front desk person, she is/was really struggling on the 3 therapist Tuesdays, plus two of the therapists made a complaint about her seemingly inability to multi task.  I had a chat with this person & said it is not punishment but support to her to move her shift  to the quieter Monday as she can gain more experience during a quieter, one therapist shift.  So I am hoping that all things are settled for the remainder of the year.

One of our previous students from the clinic has graduated from her masters program,  who with her partner, he graduated with a PHD,  are taking the next 9 months to travel.  She sent me this photo from her  first lag of the travels as she knows, trees, mountains & water are my favourite places to be - this is in the Canadian Rockies.  I would never grow tired of this view.  They will be spending Christmas with family & then January 2nd leave for travels in South America.

Mr Man & I are off today for his 3rd eye injection with the new local doctor.  What a relief not to have to drive to Toronto.  So many new rules in place about driving on a particular street there, I would surely receive a ticket for not turning right after one block. Yes that's it, you can only travel north for one block at a time, after a block you must turn right, zig zag up & over to get back on the street & again for only one block at a time.  Too much!

 And that as they say is a wrap for the day.  Happy week everyone, see you Thursday with my threesome. 

Take Three Thursday - It's Beginning

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week? 

Have a peek at what others have found this week:
Maggie at: FarmersWifeDayByDay 


Christmas outdoor arrangements appearing in all the stores either in the pieces you need to make yourself or already put together.  These were at a local grocery store ...

Memo, Mail & Me Me: It's Monday Nov 20th

Good Monday Morning & what a powerful day it is.  I trust that everyone is well.

There was a combo memo/email received late Friday.  One of our students that works at the clinic part time has decided to give up the position as it's her 4th & maybe final year at university, she wants to spend more focused time on her studies.  I must admit I am not disappointed, JM is rather a difficult staff member for various reasons but of late it is primarily her lack of attention & focus on the job at hand which has lead to several errors. Previously The Boss has indicated he would like to dismiss her, but her resigning saves him the headache.  I must admit, I was impressed & thankful that she did give us several weeks notice, so her last day is late December just before we shut down for a Christmas break.

The dread of resume reading - again!

Again on the email front, I sent out an email to previous student employees to ask if any of them know a friend or school mate that would be interested in a part time position.  I found this saves time & dollars posting on social media sights such as Indeed.  I was quite surprised when one of our non-student previous employees replied she would be very interested in this part time position!  It would be a great fit as she was a good worker, the patients really liked her & I wouldn't have to spend any time training her, maybe just refresh her on some of our clinic protocols.  The only negative is that when she quit the clinic she gave absolutely no notice.  That lack of courtesy still rattles my chain.  I am thinking long & hard about this one ...  What would you do?

The fur girls have been not very helpful while I was in the living room making some preparations for the soon Christmas decorating.  In particular Sooty was up on everything in that room & knocked over a plant stand with pot (no plant in it).  Thankfully she wasn't hurt & the pot did not break, but let me tell you I was not happy with her naughtiness.  

Did I Do That?

Just a short 30 minutes later she was entertaining Mr Man & me with her antics in a rather too small box with a catnip heart.  
 

Sooty giving us cuteness overload

Where as Smokey is much more an observer & sat in the window to watch the snow flurries

Oh cats!   

This Sunday was a mixed bag of weather & for me a mixed bag of emotions.  I talked to my best friend, who lives in Calgary, Alberta, for a short 2 hour conversation.  I miss her terribly, I miss her with such an ache in my heart.  She is my friend that is a safe harbour for my heart & soul.  

Then at church on Sunday, one of the ladies told me she liked my beret (hat) she said she had one too but only wore it on days that her hair was unwashed & behaving badly.  I was so taken back by this compliment that seemed to also smack me about the head.  
 

Snow Flurries Across The Open Field

 Then to finish me for the day, we were running errands in the city closest to us & I found in one store the perfect birthday gift for one of my in town friends, who I am meeting for lunch on Tuesday.  AJ is an ugly Christmas sweater & hot chocolate fanatic.  When  we got home, I unpacked my bags & saw that the gift was not in any of them.  I called the store right away, yes they found it still sitting at the cash, so they have put aside for me to pick up, which means about 1 1/2 hours round trip to go fetch.  Darn.
 

AJ's Birthday Gift

I just remind myself, that this to shall pass ...  

Happy week ahead everyone & to my American friends Happy Thanksgiving this Thursday. Remember turkey is the only food you can gobble.

Take Three Thursday - Tree Bathing

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week? 

Have a peek at what others have found this week:
Maggie at: FarmersWifeDayByDay  
Linda at lindasphotoblog.blogspot.ca 
Karen at Random Reflections 
Artful Journey at nanskidrewski.blogspot.ca

 This week my Three use a throw back of photos with current noticing.  

I have recently been reading, watching, attending & listening to a lot of information about our world, our environment.  It stresses me to think how careless we as humans are with the only place of residence for us.  Every where we look there are effects from global warming, the delayed results from over consumerism, the attitude that it's there for our taking.  One suggestion was that we need to re-connect with nature so that we can appreciate it so that we save it from us.  Nature also heals us & provides for us to live a sustainable life.

One of the things I have "discovered" or probably more likely late to another party, is something called Forest Bathing.  It was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a method of preventive health care.  The Japanese call this Shinrin-yoku, Forest Therapy.  Maybe this is the natural out of doors version of Hygge.    You can read more about the wonders & science of Forest Bathing here:  Forest Bathing

After accumulating stress, I always find myself naturally drawn to walk in some of my favourite woods.  My three this week are three of those places.  All three do have a water element within which makes it easier for me to entice Mr Man to walk with me.  We both always feel better for these walks, even if someone takes more encouragement to get out there ... I'll say no more.

SO this week I share some of my favourite nature bathing sites.

Memo, Mail & Me: It's Monday November 13th

Good Morning! It's a chilly one.

On the memo front, I received a rejection letter from our workers compensation board denying my claim for my injury at work.  If my claim had been accepted it would have meant that any physio or massage treatments I needed from my fall, would have been completely covered.  My claim was rejected because my boss did not pay premiums for this coverage (I was not aware).  And yes I agree, considering I work for a physio/massage clinic, you would think my boss would offer to waive the costs for at least a few treatments!  I'll say no more ...

On the mail delivery, we received one of the many glossy & very colourful flyers for Christmas decorating & gift guide.  Canadian Tire is a national brand & it's roots, I believe started out in automotive parts & needs but over the years has expanded to be an everything store other than grocery or pharmacy.  Canadian Tire is what many call a national treasure, they even have their own dollars. Every Canadian has a stash of Canadian Tire dollars at home in the junk drawer.

Out in the garden, I finally got the rose huts on, just hours before the first snow fall.  We had record low temperatures for this time of year & I think many people, including us, got caught out with the sudden deep freeze & with so many gardening things still to be done, like drain the water barrels.

In the shopping cart this week was a couple of purchases needed for the house; a dehumidifier for the main floor of our house.  We run one in our basement but being that our house is 4 levels; affectionately known as a back split; we decided we needed one on the main floor to help with the moisture build up on all the new double glazed vinyl windows!  I'll say no more ...

Another purchase was a set of icicle Christmas lights.  When Mr Man & I were shopping a few weeks ago I stopped & admired these lights.  I think the light running up & down the plastic icicle makes them look so like real melting icicles.   Mr Man bought me a string of 20.  I am not sure where we will hang them.  The string is 10 feet with 20 lights so not enough for the whole front of the house.  AND no, we aren't purchasing any more strings - got that Mr Man!?

Now that Remembrance Day is over, in only one day, stores & shops are in full on swing for Christmas.  McDonalds started issuing their holiday cups, which are 3 different designs & exclusive for Canada.  McDonalds in the US of A has a different pattern(s).  I am not a Starbucks fan so I have never got caught up in their red cup program.  Canada's other iconic shop; Tim Horton's will have 3 holiday designs released this week, along with the traditional chocolate donut covered with candy cane sprinkles.  Now this is a tradition I can get behind & if I do too often, I will have quite the behind!

In this week's church service, the visiting minister told us that we are either goats or sheep.  I have absolutely no idea what those metaphorical references were about, so while I ponder which I am, I hope everyone has a wonderful & warm week ahead.

Take Three Thursday - Colour Right To The End

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week? 

Have a peek at what others have found this week:

Maggie at: FarmersWifeDayByDay  
Karen at: Random Reflections 

This week what I am noticing is the deep colour veining on the maple leaves that have fallen off the trees.  There are some rich colour combos in the leaves & I like as I walk about to see bunches of leaves that have been artfully grouped.  

Five in Five On The 5th - November's Builders

Joining in with Sandie's Five in Five On The Fifth at: Sandie At Itchifingers

This month my five are of the nests that the busy busy squirrels have been making in the trees about the neighbourhood.  There is one tree that has 3-4 nests in it, which we have named the condo tree.  Squirrels can be territorial so the majority of trees will have one nest.  Most of the nests seemed to have been built in a branch crotch, but one brave little soul built at the very top of a tree. I am worried for him in the midst of a winter wind.

In the trees on our property it seems our squirrels aren't that good at nest building as they have all fallen apart.  Mr Man & I often wonder if we built nest platforms would the squirrels use but then again it's a really bad idea as we don't want to encourage the squirrels to nest & raise a family in our yard as they can be quite problematic & destructive.  I also question their logic, why not built your nest in an evergreen tree, that way you, Ms Squirrel will have more protection from the winter elements.  

Thankfully our beloved chipmunks nest underground!

Condo Tree

The Risk Taker - built at the very top of the tree

Memo, Mail & Me - It's Monday November 6th

Gracious me, it's Monday strolling in already. It was a very wet, damp dark weekend with lots of rainfall both Saturday & Sunday.

 

 For a memo this past Sunday was the date on the calendar to turn our clocks back an hour.  We have a lot of clocks in our house!  Thankfully, computers, security systems & the TV all look after themselves. 

 In the mail, we received an invitation to attend a showing of designer jewelry from our local jewelry store.  Over the summer I had taken in several rings to be repaired & sized,  now we are on their hit  invitation list.  I do like jewelry but I really have more than enough.  When Mr Man gets stuck in what to buy me for birthday, anniversary or Christmas, he gets me earrings.  Some of my favourites are my pearl & diamond studs or all the blue opals from Australia.  I tend to wear stud earrings rather than dangling ones.

For me, I was sorting through my 2018 planners & have them ready to transfer dates & appointments in.  This year I have gone with a smaller desk daytimer without all the fancy extra pages.  I haven't used them in years so I decided against the expensive version. Simple is the key word for 2018.  I keep a small slim line for my purse.  

Staying with me, I attended another card marking workshop Sunday night.  At this time of year I am really cautious driving at night with all the wildlife about, especially the deer.  Even with putting the clocks back an hour, it was very dark both driving there & coming home as we had torrential  rains all day/evening Sunday, so that added to the darkest of the roads.  But fun time making the cards.

From my fall 2 weeks ago, I am feeling loads better, although still stiff in my neck & turning my head to either left or right is tight & difficult but I think it's not as bad as that Monday.  Hoping everyone has a fab week ahead.

Take Three Thursday - Determination

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week? 

Have a peek at what others have found this week:

Maggie at: FarmersWifeDayByDay 


I am always impressed & amazed at the strength & determination of Mother Nature & her children, the trees.  I noticed on some of my recent walks that some trees have more to overcome than others.  


Tree One:  the tree's determination to just grow where it was planted, overcoming another one of Mother Nature's children, rocks.  This is one very determined tree.

Tree Two:  in spite of a man made obstacle, the wire fence, this tree just decided to embrace it's obstacle & grow around, through & over it.  Well done tree.

  
Tree Three:  this is a lucky tree because there was a man made obstacle to creating the fence, these people decided to work with the tree's natural branching growth & built around rather than taking the easier option of just cutting it down or cutting off the difficult branch.

Some how I think there are several lessons in these trees.  Well played Mother Nature, well played.