Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Antique JQ Colors
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Tough times!

2/25/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
February is almost over and spring is a few weeks away.  I can’t say that I’m disappointed to see winter go, for me, it never really started….it’s been rather agreeable this year!  I look outside on the 25rd of February and all I see is mud and feel the double digits of plus 12  making it seem almost balmy.  Last year we were pummeled with snow and cold weather, every day was a groaner.  Just when I thought the backyard couldn’t handle another flake, another ton of it dropped as if the clouds held a grudge against us.  The money we spent on ploughing last year could have fed a third world country for months!   

And the back breaking shoveling, how I remember it well!  Of course hubby was away most of last winter so I bore the load.  Shoveling is man's work, I'll argue that point! Time likes to drag when I'm in discomfort as if it wants me to feel every blasted second of pains.  I did a lot of soaking in the claw tub last year working out all the stiffness and muscle aches and I burned up the phone to complain to my guy in who was working in Alberta….I’m no stranger to whining, ask him!

This year, things are different.  Hubby is off work, he hasn’t been in the field since last October.  The oil industry has gone down the crapper so a lot of folks are laid off.   It’s scary to not see work on the horizon.  Always waiting for the phone to ring and it did with bad news, no work this winter at all, perhaps something later in the spring, early summer.  Yikes! 

Normally, we live frugally but we’ve trimmed it down even further and battened down the hatches for the long haul.  No more meals out or frivolous spending on anything that isn’t absolutely necessary.  The pups are looking a bit shaggy without their monthly trim, but I’m sure they appreciate those long coats when they’re outside, no need for jackets when they look like sheep.  We are keeping them brushed and combed so they don’t matt and I trimmed their faces over the weekend, quite successfully actually, it was an improvement over what they had so thumbs up.   I might start scissoring their backs and legs this weekend.   I know what they should look like and will try to mimic it.  All I can do is try even though I’m not enjoying this job.  I like taking them to Bob with his 40 plus years’ experience.  They come home looking magnificent!  With me wielding the scissors, they might end up looking like a patchwork quilt!

With all the sacrifices, I won’t be giving up Larry the Cleaning Guy!  He’s my cigarettes, my booze, bingo and my pot, but because I don’t have any of these vices to waste money on, I deserve one luxury to hang on too.  Larry keeps me sane!  He gives my home order and more importantly, he’s very popular and if I gave up my spot I wouldn’t get him back when hubby gets back to work.  I laugh and say that I would eat dog food before I give him up but that’s no hardship at our house with their natural, homemade diet, some people say my pups eat better than they do.    The rule is, there will be no compromises on food, soap or toilet paper, all else can go.  But when things get really bad, the pack , hubby and I we will be smelly and forage the forest for meals, then squat and looking for a leaf big enough to do the job.   

I might be selfish about having my house cleaned, but, and there’s always that but, I have a business to run and any spare time is dedicated to it, especially now with being the bread winner.  I don’t have time to clean toilets and scrub floors or chase the dust around!   I’m too old to be working myself to the bone and I remember the stress of trying to keep my house clean before Larry so he stays!  Remember all the complaining I did when the spiders and webs were taking over the house and I was hiding behind the locked door if anyone knocked on it, too ashamed to allow the mess to be seen?  Well those days are gone and unlike bell-bottom pants, won’t be coming back! 
  
As time passes I might start stress-gnawing my fingernails but in the meantime we’ve tightened our belts and will wait out the worry.  I’ve been joking.  “Once our bank account is in the red, we’ll start eating out every night.  So....what night would you like us to come over?”   When life gives me lemons I’ll try to trade them in for apples and make jokes all the way to the poor house, cause no matter how bad it gets, a sense of humour will make it better. Maybe I'll have to ditch this craft and go into real hooking....although at my age and flexibility, it would take awhile to see gain at $2.00 a pop...... 

And back to the weather…..I have an opinion as to why winter is speeding by this year.  I think perhaps it’s because hubby is home, hauling all the firewood and shoveling any snow.  I didn’t have to lift a finger doing all the things I’m usually responsible for.  He kept the home fires going and feeling warm has a way of soothing the soul so I’m pretty content and that means happy times.   When he isn’t around to help, I’d work all day and come home to a fidget house.   Now I walk through the door and instead of starting a fire with my coat and hat still on and lying on the sofa with the pups under a duvet shivering until the warmth radiates from the stove, I can make dinner and function, enjoy my evening.    

There’s still about a month to go for winter but the steady rising temperatures seem to offer a sense that perhaps we will slide into spring on mud, instead of mounds of snow. 

Note:  Of course I'm joking....I'll pass around a hat before I have to hit the street corner! 


4 Comments
Cathie Mourre
2/25/2016 02:58:59 pm

I sure love to read your postings.
I was just thinking... If you ever want to make some extra $$$$$$ write a book. You have such a way with words, you make me smile.

Reply
Della Ann
2/25/2016 03:22:23 pm

Your posts always make my day! And I do so enjoy all the eye candy on your online site. If only I lived close by!!!

Reply
Elaine
2/25/2016 08:10:24 pm

Enjoy ur blog,,,, you make me laugh.

Reply
Charlene
4/21/2025 06:04:56 am

EFFECTIVE LOVE SPELL TO GET EX HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND OR EX WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND CURE HERPES AND INFERTILITY THAT WORKS WITHIN 24 HOURS.

Contact Great Odunga at [email protected] OR Whats App/CALL +2348167159012

I got my ex husband back to me and also got fertile and gave birth to twin girls after 12 years of marriage.
When I came online last year, I saw a testimony about Great Odunga and how he has been helping people with marriage issues and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at [email protected] and later he gave me his Whats-App number which is +2348167159012. He assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. Great Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contact. The third day, I received natural herbs for fertility and after using it, I became fertile and conceived. My husband and I reconnected, had sex and I was pregnant. Presently I am happy to say I am the mother of twin girls and this is ALL THANKS TO GREAT ODUNGA. I came online to say this: If you need help, I believe you are saved with this man.

Contact his email at [email protected] OR [email protected]

Whats App/Call +2348167159012 and you too will give a testimony too to help others

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    August 2024
    January 2024
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are closed as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local:  902-624-0370​
[email protected]

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL