Musings on a Small Life

A quick hello to say welcome to March, albeit a few days late! A reporter recently referred to March and early April, plus November, as "gutter months." Presumably because of the overflowing street and house gutters, with the accompanying rain and general mess that "spring" tends to bring here. No matter, I'll take March over January and February any day, thanks.  :-) There's nothing exciting here, last week and the weekend were the usual work and life stuff. I did go to Value Village on Sunday, not for their half-price sale, but for books. I was in a book-buying mood.😊 I found10 (not part of the half-price sale, but you buy 4 and get the 5th free), just easy/feel good bedtime reading, or as in the case of the two hardcover photo books on the bottom of the pile, bedtime viewing of the professional photos of cats and kittens. Regarding the "Ellen" books: I don't watch her show at all, but I have her more recent...

It's half price at Value Village today for super-saver members, in advance of the general public sale tomorrow. I spent what I consider to be a fortune (average of $4 per item, with tax) and came home with 15 sweaters, 4 pj/lounge bottoms, a brand new scarf that matches perfectly with my maroon winter coat, and a terrific tote bag (Denver Hayes). Everything is great except for three sweaters and three pj bottoms that will go back next weekend, for exchange. But I'm keeping the cat.  :-) Peace.

Okay, I'm not really a shopaholic, and my budget doesn't allow for anything high end, but I certainly can't pass up a half-price sale at Value Village! I went yesterday (Sunday) for their pre-50% off sale (for "members"), with the public sale being today. I had an awesome thrift-store jaunt! Two cardigans One fleece pullover One zip-up light "jacket" for indoor or outdoor wear (the navy, far left on the couch) One homemade tote bag (far right, back of couch) Two pretty scarves Nine tops (mostly long-sleeved, one was short-sleeved), one of which I knew would be touch and go for fit and did turn out to be too tight for my fat muscular upper arms One pair of pj bottoms Two pretty floral mugs One brushed nickel over-the-door rack (being used in my bedroom now) Two nice wicker baskets (OMC, I need a basket intervention!) The baskets and the door rack were not on sale, being "housewares", but everything else was 50% off. ...

Brrr, our sub-zero temps continue -- too cold, too early! I missed a few days at work this past week, sick. Not the flu, just whatever nasty cold virus has been going around. I was home Wednesday, went in on Thursday but lasted only two hours, then was home Friday too. I'm still coughing and congested, but I'm sick (ha) and tired of lying around on the couch all day, doing nothing, so I'll be going to work this week. I have a few things I'd like to take care of anyway, before we're off for the holidays. I'll just pack up my "pharmacy" and take it all with me.  Being home part of this week did give me an opportunity to take a few snapshots of the boys, enjoying the sunshine.   Nicki in the sunbeam in the hall. Derry enjoying the warmth. I had to lighten the snapshot quite a bit, though, taking it into the sun as I was. (I know, a no-no.)   Nicki on one of the faux fur mats I ordered from Ikea (on my bed).  Derry draped over the ...

Fifty percent off at Value Village today for card members, in advance of the general sale tomorrow. I hemmed and hawed, but decided to go and am glad I did! Seven short-sleeved tops for the warmer weather (I didn't try them on, but any that don't fit well enough for work can be worn on weekends or with pj bottoms), a small cushion with a removable cover (the only way I'll buy a pillow second hand is if it had a removable/washable cover), a textured fabric shower curtain and a table runner, for less than $31 including tax. Woohoo! The most expensive item was the shower curtain at $4 (regularly $8). Cute little pillow for $3.   Nicki approves of the shower curtain.   Close up of the shower curtain. Nicki's not so sure about the table runner. It was $1, so I don't care if I have his approval.   He fixated on the shower curtain. LOL.   All the great finds!   As for Nicki himself, he was feeling perky enough this morning to scratc...

In spite of the snow we're having, I headed out around 9 AM with the intent to go to Home Depot for a specific item. I thought I might as well stop in to Value Village on the way, for quick look, half an hour at most. An hour and a half later I left the store with a bag full of bargains, having tried on 23 tops--which surely counts as an aerobic workout, right? I scored 9 tops, including two shrug-style cardigans, which I specifically was looking for, perfect for the office. I also found the two inexpensive prints, above. I'm sure they weren't more than $10 each at full price, if even that, but I paid $3 each. They're perfect for my bedroom! I headed home after that, passing on Home Depot. I'll stop in another time! Now we're all snug and cosy in the house, while the snow swirls outside. We have more accumulation now than in the snapshots below, and we're slated for 10 - 15 cms overnight and into tomorrow morning. What a change...