Wakeful Wednesday - Stop playing the game

I am blaming it to the Kindle Fire.  During the day, I don't think of playing the games on Kindle but I don't understand why I like playing before going to sleep.  When I was having difficulty sleeping, I use it to make my eyes tired and it did help for a while.  There was a time when Jeff made the rule that there is no games allowed in bed.  Well, you know that only lasted for one day.  Sometimes I don't need it but other nights, I would play only for half an hour, then sometimes an hour.  The bad part is that sometimes it actually keeps my mind so active that I stay more awake.  Of course I will be so tired in the morning and will sleep in until 900 am.  It's good that I am retired because I would never get to work on time.  I am sure it's the same as those people who are on other social media.  If I start playing the games longer and keeping me awake, Jeff might reinstate the rule.  We don't have a TV in our bedroom because it's suppose to keep you awake.  I agree with Jeff on this.  Here's some of my favorite games on Kindle and my phone.

Twigging Tuesday - Creative and resourceful

It was time for Jeff to trim off all the branches and twigs of our fruitless mulberry tree.  This past weekend was my day to help Jeff with yard work.  I picked up all the branches, took off the leaves that was still left, rake the leaves that was on the ground and sorted the branches according to the projects I am contemplating on doing.  There's a few photos to share so I will let you decide which item/design that you like.  I will have to do more next weekend and hopefully finish all the ideas that I have decided to make with these twigs.

My SIL asked why am I being obsessed with TWIGS and the response is I like making use of time and love being creative.  The gratification of finishing a project in a couple of days makes me feel that I have accomplished something and the items will be a conversational piece.

Millionaire Monday - Fridge magnets a priority

One of the things on their wish list when searching for a house was that the fridge was not stainless steel because they want to be able to display their 30 magnets which they collected through their travels.  The couple I am talking about was on the House Hunters episode.  It was a little weird that it's almost a deal breaker if they can't have a refrigerator that can't hold their magnets.  Their budget was 2.5 million as they are relocating in the LA area near Santa Monica or Venice.  A condo, an older home close to the beach and an updated home with some unplesant surroundings.  By the end of the show, they chose the condo because it was move in ready and it had the fridge that can hold all their magnets.  If you had that kind of budget for a home, what would be on your wish list?  I bet you it's not a place to hold your magnet collections.  Here's what I would do if I have a million dollar.

A tiny house located somewhere in Ontario.

A small log home somewhere in California

A condo for my daughter and my SIL somewhere downtown TO

I've always wanted a truck.

 

Skeptical Sunday - Becoming an American

By the 5th of August this year will be my five years residency in the USA. Wow, it has been that long. What does this mean? Well, at first I thought that I needed to wait for five years in order to apply for citizenship.  When I actually checked the rules on their website, I only needed to be here for three years because I am married to a real American (Jeff was born and raised in California). Now you are probably wondering what am I waiting for.  I wanted to be sure that if I became a citizen of this country that I won't lose my Canadian Citizenship.  According to both websites, it appears that both countries allow dual citizenship.  If that is the case, than having dual citizenship would mean having the best of both worlds. There's only two benefit for becoming a US citizen, vote and no more renewing of PR card.  Medical coverage is the number one for remaining Canadian. Wait, I am still skeptical about the process which apparently doesn't take as long as it used to be. There's at least seven more months to decide where to apply or not.  Does anyone have any reason why I shouldn't?


                                 

Second hand Saturday - A new clock

Many years ago, my uncle gave me a clock that is so different and it has always been a topic of conversation when guests arrived at our B&B.  Lately the clock is not keeping time even after changing batteries.  Jeff decided to take a chance to open the clock and see what the real problem is.  The clock face is made of paper and it seems like the glue is making the paper a little more uneven therefore causing the second hand to stick as well as the hour and minute hand.  After taking the paper off, the clock actually keeps time and that's when my creative idea comes in.  I used one of the pages of my 2014 calendar and cut out the same exact pattern using the old paper.  Then I used some of the letters and numbers from my scrapbooking collections to add something to bring out the pattern I picked. This was the perfect to make a new one for the New Year.  Here's the before and after photo.

OLD CLOCK FACE

NEW CLOCK FACE

Fruit Friday - A different marmalade

When Jeff came home yesterday from his mother's house, he brought some more lemons and oranges.  The produce are from my MIL's tree.  Since we cannot keep up eating these fruits, it was time to make another batch of marmalade.  I really enjoyed making my first batch.  It turned out really good that it was good enough to give some away.  I only kept one for myself so that is why I am making another batch.  This time I am being spontaneous and creative.  This is my own recipe of Orange, Lemon and Pineapple marmalade.  I started last night and realized I did not have enough jars for the finished product.  We ended up doing a last minute trip to Target to buy a dozen mason jars.  I was happy to see that they jars I got had some fruit design on the front which is a perfect container for my marmalade.  My sister saw my post about the marmalade and it's appropriate for me to send her a sample.  It's just too bad that it's a little expensive to send packages in Canada.  Even when the box is small and it's not heavy, it would still be over $10 for the package.  Most of the packages that I have sent usually is more expensive than the contents.  Anyway, the jars have been filled and the lid just popped.  Now that I know how to make jams and marmalade, I will have enough supply for this year.

Timeless Thrusday - Happy New Year

Welcome 2015 and a happy new year to all.  I am sure everyone will agree that 2014 went by just like that.  One of my BFF gave me the idea of today's post - timeless.  It's just that today did not feel like any other day.  Most of the stores were open as well as restaurants.  My daughter was surprised that I went out today to get some groceries.  The couple of shopping plazas that we passed by very busy.  What will this year bring us?  Hopefully warmer weather specially for my family and friends in the east coast.  Maybe a healthier 2015 without too many sick days, right!  That's not a lot to ask.  What will the year of the sheep bring? The sheep is the 8th sign of chinese calender.  The number 8 is suppose to be a lucky number.  Just think of what the shape of the number 8 - it's timeless, no end and no beginning.  Does this mean it's only lucky for all those born in the Year of the Sheep?  Who knows what this year will bring.  I am not making any list of resolutions nor plans because this is the year of winging it, be really spontaneous and easy going.  Wait, that's how my life is already.  Oh bother!