Lazy weekends

Another lazy weekend. We sat around most of the day doing nothing and now Finn has gone to play hockey with my brother. I felt kind of sick so I didn't go, and of course now I feel fine. I do like watching him play. When I first met him he had only been in Canada a month and was desperate to learn how to play "real Canadian hockey". Unlike most Irishmen, he's not that in to soccer but he just loves hockey. So I introduced him to my brother and they've been playing on various men's teams together ever since. Finn couldn't even really skate two years ago, now he's just as good as Tim, who has been playing for ten years.

Anyway. I changed my Etsy shop today. Turns out there is a photographer already using the name Fjordscape (what are the odds?!) so I figured I'd change my name now while it's still early. I didn't have too much feedback to lose. So the new name is Quiet Katie. I think it suits me perfectly.

I've only got a few stuffed bird ornaments listed so far, but I have a few things to finish off and then the shop will look a bit more filled out. I have a few trees that have been sitting patiently on a shelf for a week now, just waiting to be photographed. I also have a really pretty white felt lamb that needs a bit more sewing and she will be done. My first attempt at making the lamb didn't turn out so well (see my Flickr) but my latest try has turned out quite pretty. I can't wait to get her in the shop.

It's almost snowing

I didn't get the job I was so hoping for. The manager called me this morning and said that although my interview was "just fabulous", they need someone with decorating experience already. Because of Christmas coming they don't have time to train, they want someone who already knows the suppliers and whatnot. So I'm disappointed. I was so sure that I would get it. I'm not sure what to do now. No one in this stupid town seems to be hiring, not even for Christmas. I've only put out one resume in two weeks. My unemployment is up at the start of February, so I have a few months left but I'm really starting to panic.

Anyway. We had my parents for supper on Saturday night which was nice. I ended up making chili instead of salmon. I like just throwing stuff in the crockpot and then getting on with the rest of my day. On Sunday I decided that one table needed to be moved in the living room and ended up tearing the whole apartment apart. I still haven't quite put things together. I don't like the way this place is laid out, long and not quite narrow but not really wide. The fireplace is on an angle in the corner directly across from the front door, which makes it really hard to place furniture. I've tried every configuration I can think of in the year that I've lived here but nothing is working for me. I wish I had the money to have a stager come in and set it up for me.

It's very cold and rainy outside, the kind of rain that looks like it could turn to snow at any moment. A perfect day to do some baking (banana muffins, maybe some chocolate chip muffins) and then cozy up in front of the fire with my knitting and a movie.

The epitome of autumn

On Sunday Finn and I went up to my parent's house which is only a 20 minute drive out of town, but feels a world away. I would give anything to live in the country again.

We were only going to stay for supper but ended up staying the night. My favourite Sunday night rituals take place at my parent's house. Mom is in the kitchen cooking some sort of gigantic roast or ham or chicken, with lots of veggies and nice crusty bread. This time of year she'll light a candle that smells like pumpkin or apples and it fills the whole house. Dad lights a fire and watches football. Then when supper is ready we eat in the dining room with candles lit. This Sunday my Mom made squash with butter and cinnammon - my favourite. Then everyone helps clear and we watch 60 Minutes and eat whatever dessert my mom got, usually pie and ice cream.

On Monday since Finn didn't have to work we spent the day helping my Dad load firewood in to the old tack room and then took the dogs for a long walk on the trail through the forest behind the house. My parent's moved to this new house in April and everyone was quite sad that we wouldn't have 100 acres of farmland to wander, plus the conservation area directly behind us. Now they only have 24 acres with a bit of a forest in back, but yesterday Finn and I discovered that it is actually more beautiful back there than at the old house. We couldn't get to it before because the grass in the field behind the house was so long, but my Dad took the tractor to it. The trail isn't as long, but it's perfect for taking the horses on, or for a nice walk. And this time of year the leaves are so beautiful it catches my breath. These pictures don't even remotely do the landscape justice.















It was nice to find out that we can still continue our Christmas day tradition of eating breakfast and taking a walk. Especially since the last few Christmas' have been so sunny, it's always so beautiful in the woods.